Education

Empowering Women, Always: Vera Levitt

March 16, 2020 by Renee Smaldino Leave a Comment

Empowering Women, Always: Vera Levitt

Vera Levitt is the Chief Operating Officer at Mankind Dispensary. She is highly regarded in the cannabis industry and has become a huge pillar of change for the people around her, evoking an environment that is not only inclusive, but effective and malleable. She maintains an immense dedication to helping others, while offering her time and energy in ways unyielding.

She empowers the women around her to explore the boundaries we’ve been inherently accustomed to by setting an example of how to graciously navigate around them.

I have had the pleasure of working with Vera for the past two years. Vera is someone I admire for her uninterrupted spirit and her vigor to always gain insight with an unlimited perspective.

She is also someone that is powerful, yet gentle, and helps the people around her feel seen, heard, and understood. She is always willing to rock the boat for the truth and what is right. She has inspired me to invest in personal growth which is why I was so happy to sit down and ask her a few questions in honor of Women’s History Month.

What has led you to the cannabis industry?

Very simple. I needed a job. I left an almost 20 year marriage, was a stay-at-home mom, and needed to go from zero income to not-zero income. So in a matter of about two weeks, I landed four different freelance jobs. One of those freelance jobs was getting familiar with the new compliance regulations for what would be the very first recreational cannabis sales in California for Mankind, which, at the time, was a medical marijuana dispensary. Then, the C.E.O. James [Schmachtenberger] asked that I work on familiarizing and getting us in compliance for January 1, opening day of recreational sales, as well as, getting us through the licensing process, which wasn’t yet complete.

I managed the licensing process in about three weeks and got us compliant by January 1, for all of the new regulations. [At the time] I was working with someone on FDA clinical trial compliance, as one of my freelance jobs, so I was familiar with compliance and what it entails and I had some background in the medical industry.

When I was a stay-at-home parent, I did a lot of work in birth and new mother support, specifically lactation and healing from that. I had a lot of hospital time under my belt, therefore working around compliance and regulations was not challenging and it seemed like a natural move into cannabis.

What hurdles do you think women might face, within and outside, of the industry to become successful professionals?

Well, this industry has a long, cultural history. Specifically, the culture of the industry is very strong, and women have historically been excluded from that. It’s interesting because this industry has more women in leadership and executive positions than most other industries.

So, even though the industry, as a whole, might have a misogynist history, women have found a path to leadership that, I think, because it’s still an emerging industry, has fast-tracked the ability for women to get to more leadership positions. I know, for me, coming from 10 years of not being in the workforce, I found myself quite surprised, [at] the speed at which I found myself able to pursue leadership the way that I did.

And, I did it the way most women do it, which is by proving myself. I started something that was much, much smaller than what I made it into. I think a lot of women do the same in every industry, but because this industry is still emerging, there is more opportunity to grow quickly…if you’re ambitious, if you’re driven, if you have the skills to be successful with new endeavours. It requires a tremendous learning curve, for me, but I don’t know if that is true for other women.

In every industry, not just cannabis, I think that the way women approach the world is different than men typically approach the world. That’s a binary explanation, but, 90% of the world lives in the binary so that is what most people will experience. Men have been traditionally at the helm of business, and I think the way women operate is very different.

It’s certainly my experience on every level of working within this company and in this industry, that women are incredibly supportive; we don’t play things so close to the chest, and I think that is because women are conditioned to be more cooperative. There are anthropologists that will study the cooperative nature of women to get to common goals, and I think that’s inherently a benefit to every company.

In what ways does Mankind empower women to grow within the cannabis industry?

The great thing about Mankind is that the leadership, ownership, and founders, want this company to be set apart. We don’t just want to be a leader in the industry, we want to be revolutionary.

What I’ve noticed, it is a challenge in this industry, and all industries, but it is also a challenge for men. That is because women operate differently, because our ownership and leadership has strived to create a very diverse workforce here and our dynamic is different than most companies. It’s so different here.

In one of the ways it’s different, is where I have worked hard to make sure there is room to be a woman here. Wholly a woman. That is a passion of mine, if you want to talk about what I’m passionate about? That’s it. And when I say, wholly a woman, I don’t mean the BS mantra of women in the media, that women are shrill, or emotional-I mean appreciating and valuing the way a woman comes to the table and the way she operates.

Sometimes that comes with more emotion, but it also tends to come with a lot of passion. With that passion comes a drive, that is unequaled. So when women are allowed to operate, just as they are, those gifts come to the forefront.

When I say I’m passionate about leadership, what I really mean is I’m passionate about people. I love to ignite, or what I call permission giving-or others may call inspiration. Sometimes we just need to see somebody else doing, someone else taking the lead, someone else being courageous. It’s not that I’m not afraid, I just handle fear differently than other people. When I am in fear, I walk into it. That’s the only way I know to come out the other side triumphant. And that is what comes off as confidence to people, just being willing to take that risk. 100% of the time it has worked out because I’m still here and it hasn’t killed me yet!

Who has inspired you?

It’s a population of people. It’s not one. There have been some pretty incredible women that have inspired me in a number of ways.

First, I will say, my own parents have instilled in me, a few values that have proven to be really important in my success. The first is, “the worst they could say is no.” It’s a good value. It helps with fearlessness. The other is, “you’re unstoppable with information and learning…everything you want is possible, if you are willing to learn.” It’s just a value they both have, who came from very different upbringings, and I’ve seen it happen.

They also taught me to treat my employees well. I watch my parents who run their own businesses, my whole life, really go above and beyond for their employees. So that came from them.

I think the piece around being the kind of woman who walks through the world, confident in who she is, comes from four different women.

One of them was my father’s best friend’s mom. Her name was Eleanore. I didn’t know her well but she had so much poise and was so passionate about what she believed in, and was very successful in her life…and she raised incredible children. Her children were so incredibly successful. All three of them. And I have always admired her still having her own sense of identity.

One of her children is another one of the women that have inspired me. Her daughter Karen. She was an incredible dancer, a doctor, a mother, a Judaism scholar-just ambitious, successful, and driven.

There was another woman named Karen, who was the Mother Earth, Jewish hippie mom. I was just always inspired by the way she was so kind. I really tried to incorporate that in my life.

And, the other one is, my best friend’s mom growing up, she owned numerous Montessori schools and was incredibly wealthy but you would never know it. She built something and believed so deeply in it and it grew and grew and grew-and she never wavered from who she was. All four of these women are deeply aligned with who they are. And they didn’t waver.

Now, I think the women who inspire me most are other mothers, as I see what they do. I see the smart, incredibly capable, intelligent group of women that raised our children. Those deep, deep friendships and how they see me, how they hold me accountable, how they lift me up, how they support me, that’s what inspires me. My best friend, her name is Kate. She has a very different personality than me, a very different parenting style than me, but she is my BS caller. She’s driven, incredibly successful, and so different; and I gain a lot of inspiration by valuing our differences.

What is the best advice given to you and what is your advice you might want to share with other women inspired by you?

I have experienced, in this industry, advice around “do it the way a man would do it.” Multiple times. When I first started I was deeply looking for a mentor, desperately looking for a mentor, I felt in over my head and overwhelmed; and, one of the first pieces of advice I got from someone I was hoping would be a mentor, is, “A man would never wait that long. A man would never believe that they weren’t good enough. This is a man’s world, learn how to play with the big boys.”

And, that is very common advice for women in corporate America, but I don’t believe the man’s world is the “right” world. And, I don’t believe the boy’s game is the “right” game. I think by corporate America not valuing what women traditionally bring to the table, as women, they are missing some of the biggest gifts our culture has to offer [our population has to offer].

I do not want to come to the table like a man. I wanted to come to the table like myself. I very much identify as being a woman, so, I honored that, and it may have taken me longer to get there, but, I started in December 2016 and by June of 2017, I was the C.O.O. of this company. So I think doing it my way, worked out pretty well.

I think there is a lot of value to the way women approach things, that hasn’t been honored, and I think this industry offers an opportunity because of how many women are in leadership roles, to be really set apart in corporate America. I think corporate American can learn from what it looks like when women are at the helm of more companies and in leadership roles; and what that looks like and feels like every day.

My advice to all women is to deeply honor all of the parts of who you are… I mean the ambitious part, the driven part, the scared part, the vibrant and vivacious part of you, the nervous or naive, the mother-nurturing, which is really personal to me, as well. That kind of integration of a woman is what is necessary and what is missing from most of corporate America. When all of that is in alignment is when a woman becomes an unstoppable, positive force of change or result.

Interview by: Renee Smaldino

9 Reasons to End the War on Marijuana

February 7, 2020 by Editor Admin Leave a Comment

I remember the first time my grandma tried cannabis. She was 80 years old. We were sitting in my garage in Denver back in 2011. I just about fell out of my chair when she said she’d try it. She was 100% serious.

But the story is even crazier when I tell you about who my grandma is. She’s a sweet little southern Christian lady named Viola who stills calls me Baby Doll. You know what? I’m not mad at that nickname. We’ve always been close.

And the other thing is, she’s always been scared of marijuana. She grew up believing what the government said about marijuana — about how it was as dangerous as other Schedule I drugs likes ecstasy and heroin. You know, all that stuff we all heard about how it made you a criminal, a bad person … a thug.

So back in 2011, it was me and my grandma — the woman who still carries a Bible with her when she travels — hanging out in the garage I had turned into a den. And we were just sitting there talking when she dropped it on me: She had been struggling with chronic pain for a long time.

It was a day I’ll never forget. My grandma had never told me about her pain before. She started telling me about the constant throbbing behind her eyes. It was getting worse, to the point where it was affecting her vision. It was tough for me to see her like that.

“Is that you, Baby Doll? I can barely see you there.” She’d say stuff like that. It was hard.

Al Harrington

She told me that her doctors prescribed her painkillers and other medicine. They weren’t helping, and they were making her lethargic and depressed. She was miserable. It had been going on for years.

Marijuana was already legal in Colorado, but I didn’t mess with it yet. I was still in the league and the NBA tested for it. But even more than that, I still had antiquated views about it. I viewed it the way I saw it as a kid, as a scary drug and nothing more than that.

But on her second day staying with me, she shocked me by agreeing to try it. You have to remember, this is a God-fearing old lady from the South who never touched a drug in her life. She didn’t drink alcohol. She didn’t even like going out to restaurants. My grandma, man … old school to the core. But she was desperate for an alternative.

Nothing’s been the same for her since she tried it.

The day after she had cannabis for the first time, she called my mom to tell her all about it. My mom actually recorded the conversation because she was so shocked. On the recording, you can hear my grandma saying how her the whole world felt “brighter.” She was calling it a miracle. “I can read my Bible again!” she was saying. Since then, my grandma has continued taking cannabis and she’s found the right dose for her symptoms. She’s in far less pain, and it’s pretty incredible to see.

Now you know a little about my grandma. She’s a cool one.

So lemme ask you, is my grandma doing something wrong? According to federal laws, she is. She’s committing a crime.

Is that where we’re at? Are we really trying to put grandmas in prison for using marijuana to treat pain?

I’m gonna tell you what I think is the most important statistic about marijuana.

First we’re gonna have to go all the way back to the ’80s. Back to Orange, New Jersey, where I grew up and lived until I was in high school. You know how some people are always being like, “You don’t know where I come from?” Orange is the kind of place where people say that. If you know, you just know.

To picture where I lived, envision a huge U-shaped apartment complex. There must have been hundreds of apartments in that complex. In the middle of the U, there was this big field of grass where me and the other kids played football, kickball and baseball when we were 10, 11, 12 years old. Almost every day, after we were done playing, everyone would go over to the little convenience store on the corner of Tremont and Scotland. I’d usually get a quarter water and bag of chips. Maybe some Now and Laters. Run me about 65 cents total. In the back of the store they had arcade games — Street Fighter and NBA Jam. If we had any money left over, we’d play those games. Otherwise we’d be outside chillin with all the other kids.

Al Harrington

I came up during the War on Drugs. I didn’t know what it was called. But I knew what I saw. Almost every week, at some time or another, a police car would roll up to the corner. If there was a group of young black men standing on a corner, it was only a matter of time. That was just normal for us. We’d be chilling outside and the police would get out and make everyone empty their pockets. They’d search us, make us stand against the wall, the whole routine. “Who got drugs? Show me the drugs.” But me and my friends never had any. I never messed with marijuana when I was a kid. I knew my mom would kill me if that ever happened. But no lie, I never got used to those searches. I was like 12 years old, man — that shit was scary. Sirens are going off and you’re being searched by dudes with guns. It’s crazy — I always felt like I was doing something wrong even though I wasn’t.

In Orange, it was mostly marijuana they were looking for. I’m sure there was hard stuff there, but it seemed like it was mostly weed. It was the ghetto — and the ghetto means cheap weed. So people would come from all around to get it.

Sometimes, kids got picked up. Sometimes you didn’t hear from them after that. Today I’m 37 years old and sometimes I still wonder what happened to some of those kids. Maybe they made it out all right. But c’mon, if you’re from the hood, you’ve heard too many stories of the opposite — lives changed forever, relationships changed forever, black men who can’t get jobs because they’ve got a non-violent marijuana offense on their record.Advertisement

Al Harrington

I moved from Orange to a nice neighborhood for high school. Then I went to the league right after that. For the first time in my life I was meeting people from all walks of life. Some guys from nice upbringings, some from places like Orange. Most of them had gone to college.

Talking to them, I heard about another side to the War on Drugs. The way some dudes were describing it, marijuana was everywhere in the suburbs and at colleges. But police weren’t really caring too much about it. I was hearing about people selling weed like it was nothing — never getting caught. I was hearing how everyone casually smoked weed in college like it was just another class. Basically, I was hearing how police in some communities weren’t really policing marijuana the same way I was used to.

Alright, now I’m gonna finally tell you that statistic. I came across it a couple years back:

The rate of marijuana use is relatively similar across racial lines. But black people are almost four times as likely to be arrested for it.

Think about that for a second. In other words, yo … everyone uses marijuana at the same rate but not everyone is punished the same.

Enforcing marijuana laws costs the country about $3.6 billion a year, but it hasn’t stopped the use of marijuana, or decreased the availability of it.

More important, people’s entire lives have been altered for using or selling something that’s legal today in multiple states. Today, the cannabis industry makes billions of dollars and there are still people in other parts of the country, mostly minorities if we’re being real about the stats, who are incarcerated for the same substance.

Maybe I didn’t know the definition of the War on Drugs when I was 12 years old, but now I do. It wasn’t a war on drugs. It was a war on certain people who used drugs. And that’s a fact.

I encountered pain early in my career. Then I encountered the pills that they tell you will help. I was lucky I never got hooked.

After my second year in the league, I had to have back surgery. It was my first time knowing real, sustained pain. The inflammation in my back, and then later in my knees, was a battle I fought my whole career. The doctors gave me Vicodin and other strong painkillers for the month or two right after surgery, when the pain was really bad. But then I stopped. I really didn’t enjoy the way I felt. I was having all kinds of side effects — stomach aches, feeling woozy. It was terrible.

But I count myself as lucky, not strong. It was a window into the world of opiates. Painkillers do what the name says. They kill the pain. But it’s temporary … and then you need more just to mask the same pain. Maybe you saw this stat: This year 64,000 people in America died from overdoses on opioids. When I read that, my first thought was about how much of the addiction starts with a real injury, like the one I had with my back. And then spirals out of control from there. That’s why I count myself as lucky.

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

The most common thing I got prescribed was something called Celebrex, for inflammation. I played 16 years in my career, and damn near my whole career I was taking some type of pill for inflammation. I took two Celebrex in the morning and one at night for inflammation, just to be able to practice or play or get through the day. I probably still have bottles of Celebrex in some drawer in my house. Looking back, who knows what effect that’ll have on me long term. But nobody really talks about the side effects or the long-term issues. You’re supposed to just pop a pill and let it do its thing. You’ve seen those commercials on TV where the narrator is always sounding super happy as she lists 43 side effects? “It’ll cure this — but your eyeballs will fall out!” … “You’ll feel happier but there’s a chance of sudden death!” It’s crazy, man. We’ve gotten to a place where side effects are like some kind of background noise. I challenge you to tell me how many overdose cases there have been from cannabis. I’ll wait.

As I said, I was never into marijuana when I was in the league, but I tried everything the doctors could prescribe. After my career, when I was around 32, after seeing what cannabis did for my grandma, I tried out cannabidiol, which is the non-psychoactive form of it — you get the anti-inflammatory effects and the pain relief without the THC, the chemical in marijuana that gets you high. I took the cannabidiol (CBD) as a cream or oil that could be rubbed on topically.

And look, I’m not trying to give out medical advice, so I’ll just say this — for me, cannabis changed my experience with pain. It has worked better, with fewer side effects, than anything I’ve gotten from a doctor. To this day, at 37, after 16 years in the NBA and back surgery and all the miles on my body, I’m still playing ball every week in L.A. Meet me out there. Afternoon runs Tuesday and Thursday. You don’t want none of this!

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A few years ago I co-founded a business that produces non-psychoactive cannabis as well as THC-based products. Marijuana changed my life with regard to pain. Now it’s my second calling after basketball. And in a way, it all goes back to that day seven years ago in the garage with my grandma.

Being a minority in the cannabis industry has made me realize how rare it still is. That’s why I’m active in the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA). The MCBA is about improving access and empowerment for minorities in the industry. It basically comes down to this: We’re the communities most hurt by the War on Drugs. Now that marijuana is legal in so many parts of the country, we shouldn’t be left without a seat at the table as the industry takes off.

Alcohol abuse and the NBA. You don’t hear a lot about it, but it’s there. It flies under the radar.

This is just the reality: NBA players are affected by anxiety and stress. We’re like any other people with a full-time job that involves a lot of emotional and physical ups and downs.Advertisement

Many NBA players have a few alcoholic drinks a day. I’ve seen the progression to where they’re having more than a few — just to unwind a little bit or relieve some pain. Pretty soon, it’s easy to be doing that after every game. That takes a serious toll. Pain is just part of sports, though. Athletes are going to seek ways to ease that pain.

I won’t say names, but in my 16 years in the league, I knew of at least 10 or 12 players who had their careers cut short due to alcohol. It either affected them physically or mentally, but one way or another, alcohol shortened their careers. No judgment from me, just facts. We all should be honest. It’s well known how liquor can destroy lives. But we’re still out here demonizing cannabis while alcohol is promoted at sporting events? It all starts with some honesty.

Jeff Sessions, man. I almost left him out of this … because I’m not usually heavy into politics.

But then I thought, We can’t just let these politicians off the hook.

You maybe saw how Sessions, the attorney general, said, just a few days ago, how he plans to enforce federal marijuana laws in states where it’s already legal. Sessions says marijuana is a federal issue.

But I think he’s confused about his own politics.

When it comes to the votes of the people in states where cannabis is legal, Sessions is all about the federal government’s power. But then when it comes to laws that would make it easier for minorities to vote, he’s a states’ rights guy?

Jeff Sessions, man.

Young people need to run for office. That’s my first thought on that subject.

But not only that, I’ve got some advice for y’all: if you want to win, make marijuana legalization one of your main issues. You could win on that issue alone, I really believe that. Because it’s not just about legalization, it’s about addressing racism, policing, the prison system, sentencing laws — all of that. Decriminalizing marijuana is one of those issues that cuts across party lines.

Some politicians are understanding what we need to do. I’m grateful that New Jersey senator Cory Booker introduced the Marijuana Justice Act, a bill modeled on California’s Proposition 64 that ends federal marijuana prohibition and centers on communities most devastated by the War on Drugs. I worked with the Drug Policy Alliance to support Prop 64 here in California. Now I’m continuing my support of Senator Booker’s bill. I hope you’ll read up on it and see why it makes sense on a civil rights level and a common sense level.

It’s my belief that 70-80% of today’s NBA players use marijuana in some form. I’m not exaggerating. I didn’t do any formal polls or anything like that. I just played in the league for 16 years, and that’s my opinion.

Due to the NBA’s ban on cannabis, most of the guys are doing it in the offseason. But I really think the number is that high.

Here’s why I’m telling you that. These guys are NBA superstars. It’s not the last dude on the bench who’s on his couch getting high. These are global icons — leaders, teammates, parents, citizens. These are world-class athletes, man. They’ve got pain and stress and anxiety and all the things any human has. The NBA has never been more skilled or more fun to watch.

So you tell me: Is cannabis ruining these athletes’ lives? Or are our laws and ideas behind the times?

I started with a statistic, so I’ll end with one. It’s a fill-in-the-blank. Each answer is the same.

An estimated 88,000 people die from _________- related causes annually.
In 2014, the World Health Organization reported that _________ contributed to more than 200 diseases and injury-related health conditions.
Consuming ________ increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver and breast.

Hint: the answer is either marijuana or alcohol.

Do I need to even tell you?

Al Harrington Retired NBA Player

How Marijuana Can Be Used Medicinally

January 23, 2020 by Editor Admin Leave a Comment

One nice feature of marijuana is its medicinal uses. For example, people use marijuana for pain, depression, arthritis, PTSD, anxiety, insomnia and much more. Here’s a look at how to go about it. First things first: You may not even have to leave home.

Order Your Marijuana for Delivery, or Order Online to Skip the Lines

Many people who take marijuana for arthritis and other conditions prefer that their marijuana be delivered. That way, they don’t have to put themselves through physical pain or emotional stress to get to a store. That’s a big reason Mankind Dispensary offers delivery services. Alternatively, customers can place online orders for in-store pickup and skip the lines.

Of course, if you have lots of questions about medicinal marijuana, you may prefer to come in person. Please do! Our staffers are happy to assist.

Know the Conditions Marijuana May Help With

Marijuana helps with a variety of conditions, but its efficacy varies from person to person. Effectiveness also depends on the dosage amount, method of consumption and other factors. That said, people generally report positive results when taking marijuana for depression and these other issues:

Arthritis
Pain
Chronic pain
Spasticity
Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
Anxiety
Inflammation
Pain
Tight muscles (such as those in people with multiple sclerosis)
Lack of appetite
Stress
Insomnia
Underweight

People with Crohn’s disease, Tourette’s, seizures, autism, HIV, chronic illness, cancer and many other conditions take marijuana to help with their symptoms and sometimes, the underlying condition. Marijuana can relax people who struggle in general with social anxiety, stress and other issues.

At Mankind Dispensary, our medicinal cannabis products alleviate these issues along with PTSD, chronic pain, insomnia, nausea, appetite loss and ADHD. One product, Jayden’s Juice Tinctures, was even developed by a father to help his child with autism and epilepsy symptoms.

Consider the Method of Consumption and the Dosage Amount

Each method of consumption has its pros and cons. Smoking and vaporizing allow you to feel the effects quickly, but they disappear faster. Plus, these two methods are not ideal for people with asthma or other lung/respiratory issues. Also, lung damage is possible in the long term. Meanwhile, the effects of edibles can take as long as two hours to manifest, but they last for hours.

As for dosage amount, consuming too much marijuana can lead to side effects such as anxiety, lethargy or dry mouth. Start with smaller doses to test your tolerance. Tinctures (placing drops under your tongue) are an excellent way to find your ideal dose and to save money overall.

Tinctures: Especially good for flare-ups of pain that call for quick relief. Take the drops under your tongue for quick effects that last about 90 minutes. Drop-by-drop dosing allows you to calibrate your minimum effective dose so you do not spend money unnecessarily. Tinctures are low calorie, discreet and have long shelf lives. Nor do you get a “high.” You can also use tincture drops to make edibles and topicals.
Topicals: Good for pain, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, cancer-related symptoms and other concerns. Do make sure your oil has CBD in it. Like with tinctures, you won’t experience a high.
Sprays: Help with a wide variety of conditions, including chronic pain and sore muscles. Sprays are fast-acting and for topical use only.
Edibles, pills and capsules: Particularly good for insomnia, spasms, pain relief and nausea. Like tinctures, edibles are discreet and convenient. They do take longer to kick in but last a good while. They are good choices for insomnia due to the longer-lasting effects. However, because of the delay in feeling the effects, it can be hard to experiment with dosage amounts. Edibles, due to their higher calorie count, may not be friendly for some people on diets.
Smoking: Good when quick relief is needed and no lung and respiratory issues are in play. However, many people taking marijuana for health problems avoid smoking because of the substances they may inhale.
Vaping: Good for quick relief, and you may be exposed to a smaller amount of toxic byproducts compared with smoking. People with lung or respiratory issues who want to vape should invest in a quality vaporizer.

With medicinal marijuana, the focus is on treating or relieving symptoms rather than on achieving a high. That’s why tinctures and edibles are so popular.

Speak with Your Doctor

The sales staff at stores such as Mankind Dispensary are not doctors. They can make product recommendations based on the symptoms you describe, but you should still get expert, professional opinions. So, speak with a doctor as well. This holds whether you are considering medical marijuana or recreational marijuana for medicinal purposes. Doctors take into account your medical history and the medications you are taking. Marijuana can mix with your medications and cause unexpected side effects.

Your doctors can recommend which form of marijuana you should use—if you should smoke it, eat it, apply it to your skin, inhale it or place a few drops under your tongue (or even if you should explore another method). Of course, store staffers are available for additional perspectives.

Take Charge of Your Life

Depression, insomnia, pain, arthritis and other conditions plague many people. Fortunately, marijuana can help in mild, moderate and severe cases. Delivery is a fantastic option, especially when you’re physically unable to go to a store. Speak with your doctor and store sales staff about how to consume your marijuana and the specific products to use. Medical marijuana has the potential to transform your life like it has for many other people.

San Diego’s Best Marijuana Dispensary: Mankind Cannabis

January 14, 2020 by Delonté Leave a Comment

Obviously, being a San Diego dispensary, we’re going to be a little biased about who’s the best, but there are a lot of really good reasons why we rate ourselves highest when we review the local dispensary options. You’ve got a lot of choices in this area, since medicinal cannabis use has been popular and locally supported for years, even before recreational cannabis came to be in the state of California. That means the local scene is active, competition is tight, and the products featured here are often imitated by brands in other locations. In that active scene, Mankind Cannabis still stands out for a lot of reasons, and once you see what they are, we’re pretty sure you’ll agree with our assessment.

Boutique Shopping for the Connoisseur

In any field, one of the hallmarks of a luxurious shopping experience is the ability to examine the product. Our sensory relationships to the things we enjoy are a big part of the process of figuring out whether we like the thing or not, and for those who are deeply in touch with the varieties of flavor and experience cannabis offers, this is just as true as it is for fans of microbrewing, fine coffees, or wine. Like those other experiences, our San Diego marijuana dispensary is built to put you in touch, smell, and sight of the product. A lot of places lock the stock up and cite security reasons, but a well-rounded approach to customer support and risk management offers a more welcoming environment for everyone, allowing you to get a real feel for the different choices available.

Edibles
Concentrate
Flower
Vaping products
Topical treatments
Unique offerings

In addition to the comfortable atmosphere and sense-indulging product presentation, the stock offered at the Mankind cannabis dispensary in San Diego features some of the newest and most unique offerings in the marketplace along with some of the highest-quality brands to define the standard for cannabis products in California. Among them are chocolate offerings from Kiva Confections, the brand that defined the luxury cannabis edible marketplace by offering the first cannabis chocolates in the state crafted by expert chocolatiers. That combination of new and known quantities makes the shopping experience easy, and the staff’s commitment to customer education helps with both short and long-term customer satisfaction.

Medicinal and Recreational Edibles at Mankind

In addition to the new and classic offerings from top brands like Kiva, the wide selection of edibles offered at our San Diego dispensary provide a few common threads that make controlling your dosage easy, so you can get the exact experience needed.

Gummies and edible bars in segmented doses as small as 5mg for micro-dosing
Branded recommendations for rejuvenation, meditation, fitness, or relaxation
Top fruit, candy, and chocolate flavors from the area’s hottest manufacturers, and baked goods too!

Whether you are looking for a snack that packs a satisfying dose of medicine like the caramel corn from Heavenly Sweet or a purely original treat like the popular honey sticks available from a variety of brands, there’s something for everyone.

Concentrates From Top Brands

Concentrates are in demand for a lot of reasons. Chronic pain patients and other medicinal users love them for their targeted relief that can last for hours or even days when used judiciously, and they pack a potent experience for recreational users as well. If you are new to concentrates, it’s worth learning about their various properties. Wax, shatter, and live resin each have different uses, and the best ways to work with them change depending on your goals. For the aspiring cannabis chef, the right concentrate is the key to infusions that bring both flavor and effective medicine to your home confections. Mankind staff are there to help you figure out the right combination of base strain, extract type, and brand for your needs, so it’s easy to figure out how to change your approach if you are trying a few different uses for your concentrates.

Flower Selection and Competitive Pricing

Even with all the innovation in the marketplace, cannabis flower remains ever-popular with medicinal patients and recreational marijuana fans alike. At the Mankind San Diego marijuana dispensary, you’ll find a variety of strains that rotates with the crop schedule of the area’s major suppliers, providing a rotating selection that always has a little something for every taste. You’ll want to check the top choices available today to find out what awaits you in the store. You can even place an order online now and residents nearby can even get delivery, so you don’t have to worry about whether it’s going to sell out before you get there.

Vape Solutions and Other Unique Offerings

No roundup of the services and selection at this cannabis dispensary in San Diego would be complete without talking about the wide assortment of vaporizer cartridges available from respected, state regulated brands. You’ll find new flavors and classics like watermelon and blueberry from a variety of providers, and medicinal patients will also find a wide range of CBD selections. That’s in addition to revolutionary products like topical treatments and other unique approaches to THC and CBD delivery. You’ll have to come in to see for yourself, and we’re pretty sure that once you get here, you’ll agree with us about who is the best.

How & When to Use Cannabis Tinctures

November 13, 2019 by Delonté Leave a Comment

Tinctures are medications usually dissolved in alcohol. Many cannabis users imbibe via tinctures because they’re easy to take and dose. Plus, users don’t have to worry about the smell, and they receive the benefits of cannabis without having to smoke. Tinctures are often used to help with conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, inflammation, nausea and low appetite, among other issues. Keep reading for a deeper look into how to use cannabis tinctures.

Ease of Use

A cannabis tincture comes in a small bottle with an eyedropper tool. It’s incredibly easy to use. Many people dose with 1 milliliter at a time, putting the dose under their tongue for 15 to 20 seconds. Your dosage amount may vary depending on your weight and the severity of your pain/condition. The under-the-tongue method allows your bloodstream to directly absorb cannabinoids, and the tincture has a nearly immediate effect on your body. To maximize the effects, wait at least 15 minutes to eat or drink anything.

Over time, the alcohol in the tincture can lead to irritation on some users’ tongues. If you do not like the taste of alcohol, try diluting the tincture of cannabis in a small amount of water or juice. Fortunately, the possible irritation and potentially unpleasant taste are the only downsides to cannabis tinctures.

Other people prefer to add their tinctures to meals or snacks via sauces, soups, salad dressings or sherbets. Similarly, you can add one or two droppers’ worth of tincture to a glass of water. That turns the water into tea. These methods are not as instantaneous as the under-the-tongue approach, but they work. The time frame with edible tinctures is akin to that of regular edibles. The effects take longer to kick in, but they can last for hours.

The bottom line is that of choice. If you need instant relief, dose under your tongue. If you prefer for the effects to last a while and do not need immediate relief, take your dose with food or liquid.

Smell Contamination

Whether you take your dose under your tongue or add it to soup, there’s no smell like there is with smoking and vaping. Cannabis tinctures are incredibly discreet. No one should suspect you are using cannabis.

Ease of Dosing

Cannabis tinctures allow you to establish your minimum effective dose. That’s the least amount of tincture you need to help with your pain or condition. You are able to test with one drop at a time, something that is not possible with baked goods and concentrates. By using each drop to maximum effectiveness, you save money and heighten potency. This drop-by-drop dosing also keeps your cannabis tolerance low.

As touched on above, an average person with mild pain may prefer to dose with 1 milliliter at a time. However, new users should take it easy and start with half an eyedropper full for three days. This lets them evaluate how their body reacts. If discomfort occurs, they may want to lower the dosage for the next three days. On the other hand, if users feel no effect whatsoever, they should increase the amount they take.

New users should also wait at least an hour (60 minutes) between doses. Otherwise, they risk an aggregate effect that interferes with determining the minimum effective dose.

Before your first dose, try a tiny drop under your tongue to see how the alcohol tastes. If it’s seriously disagreeable, consider dilution.

Good Substitute to Smoking

Smoking or vaping cannabis can worsen certain health conditions such as asthma. Plus, substances such as tar are often present in smoked cannabis and can increase the risk of lung cancer. Tinctures have these advantages over smoking:

Discretion: You can take a dose of tincture at the dinner table, whereas you cannot smoke at the table without everyone knowing.
Healthier for Others around You: There is no risk of secondhand smoke.
Healthier for You: Your throat and lungs won’t get irritated.
Dosage: You’re able to figure out your minimum effective dose.

If you vape, it may take hours to recharge a vape. Plus, vaping can get expensive.

If you are weight-conscious, tinctures have a clear advantage over edibles. You consume fewer calories than you would if eating cookies, candy or baked goods (unless you end up putting the cannabis dose in a soup or sauce you might not have consumed otherwise). The alcohol is about 7 calories per milliliter (an average dose), while a cookie may have as much as 200 calories.

We make it easy to search for tinctures by categories such as pain and anxiety, lucidity, blues away, and vitality. There are also inner glow tinctures to help with the signs of aging. Tinctures mean flexible, accurate and discreet dosing.

Mankind Cannabis for Thrifty Millenials

October 8, 2019 by Delonté Leave a Comment

Millenials after a little cannabis on the beach

Savvy Millenial Consumers

If you don’t want to get caught smoking sugar leaves from your neighbors in the down stairs corner unit of your apartment complex, who most likely didn’t wash their hands before they packed the…you get the jist. Then you gotta understand that millennials (Aka. young adults) are different consumers than their older counter parts, cannabis is no exception. With all the buzz revolving around recreational legalization, taxes, & pricing causing a stir in the legal cannabis market it’s no wonder the younger consumer is shopping a bit smarter these days.

It can be quite fascinating building a rapport with a variety of young consumers, you get a direct link into what their wants and needs are pointing to. Whether it’s dealing with a serious ailment, wanting to take the edge off the day, or making memories in a social environment with old and new friends; cannabis is what most millennials are in the market for. Working in the cannabis industry at such a young age has been an aid in creating this relationship with the younger consumers that experience our services at Mankind Dispensary.

Right Team, Right Products

Mankind has been open for over 3 years, with a steady growing team ready to assist with your everyday cannabis needs. We service over 1000+ customers a day, with an average of 12 customers per consultant, per hour in store. And now delivering to 40+ customers a day, with record breaking deals in store and huge savings on delivery…it’s a no brainer that younger consumers are gravitating towards our products and services here at Mankind.

Sneak a peak at these delectable products available in store or to your door, that won’t break the bank..

Flower In Bloom

Lets start with some flowers for your brain shall we?

(High Garden – Papaya 3.5g $40)

Diving right into the thick of it, comes High Garden’s Papaya, this beautiful strain is perfect for those looking to have an uplifting boost of focus and creativity followed by total body and mind relaxation. With hints of mango and other tropical fruit you may just want to invite a friend over to share this with, and sprinkle on the Tajín. Since you won’t break the wallet on this one.

(Good Flower – 1G Preroll(s) $10-12)

Good Flower Prerolls are a great high for a great price

Ready to roll, always on the go or just lounging in the sun sorta day. You won’t want to miss out on this as your party favor for your next splash parade at the complex pool bbq party. Good Flower offers a variety of quality strains grown under the California sun. Using sustainable practices, fair wages, and pure love for the culture. You’ll feel good inside and out after bringing the good times with a Good Flower preroll.

(Smokiez – Sour Watermelon Fruit Chews 100mg $20)

Smokiez Sour Watermelon are good for your wallet too

“You’re telling me these aren’t candy?! But, but…they sure do taste like it, here let me have another..” said Samantha as she reaches over to grab the bag of Smokies fruit chews. “30mg should do the treat….or should I say trick? Muahaha” If you’re in the mood for an edible that tastes like you just went trick or treating and packs a solid sedating high then the Sour Watermelon Smokies will have your taste buds screaming for more! By offering precise dosage per gummy, it allows you to control your dosage with ease.

(Kwikzzzs – Manzanita & Madrone Indica 60ML 100mg $15).

Herbs and THC to give you the best sleep

A spoon full of Kwik Zzzs helps the eyelids fall down, well…maybe not as intensely. Kwik Zzzs is specially brewed to ease insomnia and those sleepless nights. With the combination of THC and traditional healing herbs you will find yourself catching more than just three z’s. This product is absolutely tasteful and will turn your taste buds into flavor buds. While it is concentrated, you can dose this product out ten times!

(Platinum Vape – Jelly Donut (End Hunger Charity Box**) 1ML $50)

The Jelly Donut by Platinum Vape is absolutely delicious. Having this sweet full flavored sativa in the morning enhances the day bringing on an amazing sense of relaxation while uplifting the mind and body. Providing a focused, stress and anxiety free high as you coast through the day.

**A portion of each Jelly Donut sale will go to REACT program founded by Platinum Vape which is founded in taking action on the most pressing issues facing the world today. This specific purchase will go directly to support organizations addressing hunger in the US and throughout the world.

(Puffco Plus – Portable Vaporizer $99.99)

A Puffco exclusive innovation, the most awarded and flavorful concentrate vape pen on the market, The Puffco Plus. When you make the decision to invest in a Puffco, you are investing in a better dabbing experience. It’s fingerprint less finish creates a sleek and smooth feel to the device while holding it. With its coil-less ceramic bowl you will get the best and purest flavor without the scorching of an old fashioned coil. 3 different heat settings give you the freedom to consume your desired hit every time. Don’t forget to check out sash-mode which provides continuous heat for a full medicated dose.

(Cresco – Alien Bubba 1G $40)

This shimmery sugar is the perfect blend of body and head high. Calm and cheerful are an easy way to describe the feelings after dabbing this. The aroma is earthy and floral providing a smooth exhale. Maximize your high and head down to the beach to watch the sunset, get lost in this intergalactic cross while watching the stars shine, and don’t forget your Puffco.

(High Gorgeous – In Your Dreams 1:1 THC/CBD** Body Crème $40)

High Gorgeous keeps you smooth and stress free

After a long day of writing and rolling, it’s nice to wash off the daily dirt and rub some of this on the parts that feel it a little more than usual. It’s the days where that little extra pick me up is right next to the preroll you’re about to buy since your hands are tired of rolling and maybe just maybe this lavender will help the stress of the week float away. “Ooooo, treat yourself!!” the little angel on your shoulder says, I wouldn’t think twice about that one.

**Product Details: 100 mg THC/100 mg CBD. Without parabens, soy, sulfates, gluten. Always cruelty-free, vegan-friendly.

Whether your budget is $10 or $150, the variety of products available are endless. Keeping our consumers informed of the new and affordable products will always be our goal!

Follow Us

Your must be 21+ To enter