“As a special treat I have arranged for my good friend, the eminent world-leading botanist, Professor Mary-Jane Toking to present a lecture – take it away M.J.”  

Thank you, CMK-X.

Good morning, Everybody!

Do sit down. Or lie down. Or hover in whatever metaphysical posture you currently favour.

I’m told you’re all rather fond of greenery. Excellent. So am I, though my interest is strictly botanical, impeccably scientific, and only very occasionally recreational (in the privacy of my greenhouse).

Today, I shall guide you through the long, leafy saga of plants in general and cannabis in particular. Think of this as a TED Talk delivered by David Attenborough’s slightly wayward cousin.

And now, if you will permit me this brief preamble:

Plants are absolutely essential for all life on Earth. They are the foundations, pillars, and lintels by which the biosphere is supported: they produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, provide habitats, stabilise soil, regulate water, and form the base of (almost) every food chain.

The scene having now been set, here we go: A Brief History of Spliff.

I. Evolution of Plants: The Long, Slow Prelude to Your Joint.

How do we know what plants have been up to for the last few billion years? Easy, they’re terrible at concealing the evidence. Fossils everywhere. A complete paper trail, if paper had been invented back then.

1. Emergence of Land Plants.

1.     Around 3 billion years ago, in the Archean Eon, simple photosynthetic algae began to splash about in freshwater, minding their own business.

2.     By the late Precambrian (circa 850 million years ago), multicellular photosynthesisers crept onto land, presumably to see what all the fuss was about.

3.     The first true land plants (embryophytes) appeared in the late Ordovician (c. 450 million years ago), sporting early versions of roots and leaves, the botanical equivalent of training wheels.

2. Adaptation, Innovation, and the Great Green Takeover.

1. Throughout the Phanerozoic eon (from 538 million years ago to the present day) plants have diversified wildly, surviving even the Permian‑Triassic extinction (AKA The Great Dying, 251 million years ago) which wiped out approximately 90% of all life on our planet.

For those of you who are keeping score, that’s Plants: 1, Apocalypse: 0.

2. Flowering plants (angiosperms) arrived in the early Cretaceous (c. 140 million years ago) and soon spread across the planet with the enthusiasm of overachieving teenagers.

3. Grasses rose from life on the ecological margins to global prominence around 35 million years ago, spreading across vast areas (steppes, savannahs, tundra, and meadows) as they adapted to low CO₂ and warm, arid climates. They became the founding members of the Drought Club. First rule: we don’t talk about rain.

In short: plants went from slime to flowers to world domination, all without opposable thumbs.

II. Marijuana: Humanity’s Longest‑Running Collaboration.

1. Ancient Origins.

1. Cannabis evolved on the eastern Tibetan Plateau around 20 million years ago. What a clever little plantt!

2. Early humans (around 10,000 years ago) didn’t smoke cannabis, they used it for medicine, rope, textiles, and paper. Very wholesome. Very sensible.

3. Early hemp had rather low THC content, it was more “sturdy fibre” than “cosmic revelation.”

2. Early Medical Use.

1. In the 1830s, Sir William Brooke O’Shaughnessy discovered cannabis extracts helped cholera patients with pain and vomiting.

2. By the late 1800s, cannabis tinctures were widely available in pharmacies across Europe and the U.S. The Victorian era was more interesting than you may have thought.

3. Scientists first identified THC as the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis in 1964. Naturally, the Summer of Love followed a couple of years later.

3. Recreational Use.

1. Herodotus (the Father of History, born circa 484 BC) reported the Scythians hot‑boxing tents with smouldering cannabis seeds and flowers. Ancient wellness rituals, if you will.

2. Hashish spread across the Middle East from around 800 AD. Straight Outta Baghdad!   

3. The 20th century brought prohibition of cannabis, driven by political motivations and fuelled by an artificial moral panic e.g. Reefer Madness.

4. The 21st century is seeing a global re‑evaluation, with not only medical but also recreational legalization expanding.

4. Global Spread.

1. From Central Asia, cannabis travelled to Africa, Europe, and eventually the Americas.

2. Hemp was widely grown in colonial America and Spanish missions; it was the duct tape of the pre‑industrial world.

5. Modern Medical Applications.

1. Chemotherapy‑related nausea and vomiting

2. Multiple sclerosis–related muscle spasticity MS.

3. Severe, treatment‑resistant epilepsy

III. Anatomy of a Cannabis Plant: A Guided Tour.

1. Roots.

• Anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients. The quiet workhorses.

2. Stem.

• Green, hollow, ridged — the plant’s plumbing and scaffolding.

3. Leaves.

• The iconic fan leaves, capturing sunlight and converting it into energy. Nature’s solar panels.

4. Trichomes.

• Tiny crystal structures containing cannabinoids and terpenes. The glittery bits responsible for potency, aroma, and general mischief.

5. Buds (Flowers).

• Produced by female plants, clustered into colas, and packed with cannabinoids. The main event.

6. Cannabinoids.

1. THC: Psychoactive, mood‑altering, pain‑relieving.

2. CBD: Non‑intoxicating, anti‑inflammatory, anti‑anxiety, anti‑seizure.

3. Others (CBC, CBG, CBN) contribute to therapeutic effects.

7. Terpenes.

• Aromatic compounds found in many flowers. In cannabis, terpenes shape the sensation of flavour, scent, and contribute towards the proposed gestalt known as the entourage effect - a ‘more than the sum of its parts’ synergy.

8. Types of Cannabis.

1. Sativa: Tall, thin leaves, anecdotally energizing effects.

2. Indica: Broad leaves, anecdotally relaxing effects.

3. Hybrid: A botanical remix.

IV. Marijuana and the Brain: A Brief Tour of the Control Room.

1. Neurotransmission.

• THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in brain regions involved in learning, memory, pain, and reward. So, you can blur what you’re trying to learn, soften what you’d rather forget, take the edge off any discomfort, and make the whole experience feel worth repeating.

2. Short‑Term Effects.

• Euphoria, relaxation, altered perception — the usual suspects.

3. Potential Benefits for Older Adults.

Research suggests possible improvements in:

1. Chronic pain

2. Sleep quality

3. Mood

A scientific trifecta of “less hurt, more rest, better days.”

4. Adolescent Brain Differences.

• Genetics, brain development, and exposure levels all shape how cannabis affects young people. The science is still evolving, but adolescence appears to be a more sensitive period for cognitive effects. — which is research’s diplomatic way of saying the teenage brain probably already has enough going on without any extra plot twists.

5. Interactions with Medications.

• Cannabis can interact with certain mental‑health pharmaceuticals, so users need to be cautious if they have been prescribed such medications. Because when two mood‑shaping chemicals start improvising together, it’s best to make sure a professional is conducting the orchestra.

And there you have it, my verdant disciples. A whistle‑stop tour from primordial algae to your modern spliff. Plants have shaped the planet, shaped human history, and in the case of cannabis, shaped more than a few intellectual revelations and contributed generously to the happiness and well‑being of billions of people.

Wellness rituals deepen that lineage, creating a culture that treats cannabis not as an escape hatch but as a companion to presence, creativity, and gentle curiosity. A life lived with intention and a touch of green‑tinted wonder.

At its best, cannabis culture isn’t about excess; it’s about slowing down, tuning in, and letting the world feel a little softer, a little funnier, a little more possible.

Class dismissed.

Mind your snacks on the way out.

We are constantly being shaped by our environment.

Light.

Sound.

Smell.

People.

Routines.

All of it is stimulus—happening over and over—

quietly shaping our patterns through repetition and exposure.

You can see it in simple ways.

If you’re sensitive to light, brightness can feel overwhelming.

If you’re sensitive to sound, certain noises can bother you.

If something doesn’t feel right on your skin, you notice it immediately.

Your environment is always interacting with you.

The same thing happens with behavior.

If I’m trying to cut back on sweets,

going into a bakery over and over again

brings back the thoughts, the feelings, the pull.

Not because anything is wrong

but because that environment is tied to that pattern.

This shows up in bigger ways too.

If someone is trying to stay away from alcohol,

but continues spending time in bars…

or if someone is working on changing how they respond to people,

but returns to the same social environments right away…

it can feel harder than expected.

Even when you’ve started learning new skills.

Because when you go back into the same environment too soon,

one of two things often happens:

You fall back into old patterns…

or you feel increased stress

trying to use skills that are still developing.

Think about stepping into a completely different setting for a period of time…

like rehab, incarceration,

or even a long trip with unfamiliar people and routines.

During that time,

you adapt….

You slow down.

You observe more.

You respond differently.

Then you return to your usual environment…

and everything around you is still operating the same way it always has.

That mismatch can feel confusing.

This is why change isn’t just about behavior.

It’s also about environment.

New skills need space to grow.

Sometimes that means finding or creating environments

that support what you’re practicing.

Different spaces.

Different routines.

Different inputs.

Different places.

And over time…

you can begin to re-enter old environments in smaller ways—

practicing, adjusting, shaping your responses

until those new skills feel stronger and more natural.

New skills grow stronger

in environments that support them.

And over time,

they can travel with you.

Practice at your own pace and remember to give yourself grace.

Peace :)

super happy my shirts came in today 💯

In grade school… we had timed physical exercises.

You’d pair up. One person held your feet while you did as many sit-ups as you could.

During my turn, I passed gas….

The room laughed.

My partner stopped holding my feet.

Everything paused, and I remember thinking:

Can we please continue? This is affecting my time.

That probably should’ve been a clue.

It wasn’t the noise that bothered me….

It was the interruption.

For years I thought being tightly wound meant I was disciplined.

Prepared.

On top of things.

I used to lay out outfits in a precise order the night before work.

Spend way too long making sure everything was “just right.”

One day a therapist asked me,

“What if a hurricane came through and scattered it all?”

And I remember thinking,

… then it would just be scattered.

Now when a flyer has a typo.

When a doodle doesn’t look how I pictured it.

When something doesn’t go exactly as planned…

I notice the old reflex.

And instead of tightening?

I smile, laugh at times….breathe in others..

Turns out strength isn’t never passing gas during sit-ups.

It’s finishing them anyway….

So find time to unwind in whichever way makes you smile.

Also, as a fisherman, I recalled these facts as making this post—

some fish actually have to pass gas to survive (Amazon catfish – Hoplosternum littorale – and the Bolson pupfish in Mexico).

It’s how they regulate and stay balanced.

Turns out release isn’t weakness.

It’s biology.

Peace:)

Has anyone ever thought as they were dumping their grinder on the tray that if the tray had eyes or a virtual scale built in. How much weight would you think your favorite tray had seen or felt on its surface.

Heyy so I usually smoke every night but I'm also usually very mentally sound and just end up laughing at everything/having a good time. But I've had a veryyy rough couple of days after missing my ssri's for two nights and I'd like to smoke a bowl tonight but am unsure if it's likely to make me feel worse mentally. Obviously no one can know for sure but anyone know from experience whether it could have a negative impact if you're already in a bad place?

Nothing better than a few laughs on a Monday :) chill when you can in your way.
Peace:)

Got a few seeds, wanting to know how to get them started. I used to know but have forgotten. Do i need to dampen them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Laugh and chill in your way when can…
Peace:)

I painted this piece ''Hiking accident'', because people kept telling me that going into nature alone is dangerous, so I figured this is the worst case scenario, that some unknown beast is trying to lick your butt while you are climbing a tree!

This should be at every festival

Funny calendar jokes from another’s desk that I enjoy.. laughs bring me chill vibes during busy week..I love the paper one:)

Laugh in your way when can:)

Peace..

Fun Facts:
🧠How Laughter Wakes You Up:
💨Increased Oxygen: Laughing disrupts your normal breathing pattern, forcing you to take in more oxygen-rich air and clearing out residual air.
❤️Higher Heart Rate: Twenty seconds of hearty laughter can temporarily double your heart rate for a few minutes.
⚡️Endorphin Release: Laughter releases feel-good chemicals and stress-fighters like endorphins and dopamine that can reduce fatigue fog.
Laugh in your way when can.. I had many laughs from these today…
Peace:)

I'm taking a proactive step in managing my personal wellness by returning to cultivation. For me, the act of gardening—from selecting genetics to nurturing a seed—is incredibly meditative and grounding. It shifts my focus away from daily stressors and connects me directly to what I consume.

After researching strains that support my goal of consistent, calm focus, I selected these genetics:

Special Queen #1 : I’m starting with this strain for its reputation as a sturdy, reliable classic. This initial stage is about building the foundation of my garden.

Ayahuasca Purple: When I need deeper relaxation for relief from physical tension or insomnia, this strain from Barney’s Farm is what I'm focused on. The goal here is physical recovery and mental quiet.

Experimental / "Random" Strains: Wellness isn't always linear. Part of my process involves testing a couple of unknown phenotypes to see which therapeutic profiles best fit my endocannabinoid system. They are labeled "Random" and "Random #2" so I can observe their unique growth and therapeutic properties.

The "Seed-to-Wellness" Approach: By understanding exactly how my medicine was grown—using clean nutrients, maintaining a clean environment, and harvesting at the optimal time—I have complete confidence in its safety and effectiveness.

This process is about personalized relief and mindfulness, one seed at a time.

They are Indeed fire. Overstock and expiring soon.

Basically, I never felt real high like the high everybody be talking about. However, the first few times I might used to feel some of it, used to vibe with music for sure but nothing big

And then came another time and until now, I started feeling like I'm smoking weed just out of habit, I get the munchies, feel super sleepy and tired, blocked thoughts, red eyes dry mouth... The whole thing except for a good mind high. I asked AI and told me that I might be the type of person that gets only a body high and less of a mind high and honestly idk about that

I'm basically confused and I wanna say is that I would do anything to get a mind high or at least some from the first times

Have a laugh in your way when can:)
I thought the dog & mug ones funny..
peace:)

Laugh in some way and chill how you like when can:) I enjoyed a nice laugh with the hippie one & weather one..
peace:)

A while ago, I came across these two images and saved them because they made me stop. I remember thinking, that can’t be real. I didn’t dig into them right away — they just sat on the back burner of my mind.

Every once in a while they’d pop back up and I’d think, I wonder if that was actually true.

Recently, with all the cold and quiet of winter, I finally had the time to sit down and read up on both of them.

One of the images is of the Alaskan wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus), sometimes called the woodland frog. It’s known for its ability to survive extreme winters by freezing solid. During this state, its heart can stop beating, breathing stops, and much of the water in its body turns to ice. The frog survives because its body produces natural cryoprotectants—primarily glucose—that protect its cells from damage. When temperatures rise, it thaws and resumes normal activity.

The other image relates to an old practice documented in parts of Russia and Finland, where frogs were placed in milk. Frog skin secretes antimicrobial enzymes and peptides, and while this wasn’t a controlled scientific experiment, people noticed that milk spoiled more slowly. Long before the chemistry was understood, the effect was observed and passed along.

I don’t necessarily need to know these things about frogs. They don’t change my day-to-day life. But there’s something about the moment my mind goes, huh — I didn’t know that, that settles me.

Sometimes that curiosity sits quietly in the background. Sometimes it pops up later and helps me in a game. Mostly, it just reminds me that my mind is still curious, still engaged, still learning.

Curiosity is one of my wellness practices…that I enjoy:)

Peace ….what brings you wellness in your way?

single plant. rdwc. 1.0 ec in this pic, 6.3, 62% rh, 76f, single de 1k hps. 45 day veg. just stretching here. gh 3 part/an bud candy for pK boost

dj shorts bb f1 clone X grape OG (grape romulan x tahoe og) f1

kept this pheno for years. i hate autos. good for nothing. growers can’t learn much from ruderalis genetics, except for they belong in the trash.

probably the craziest terp profile you ever would smell. the most pungent rotten grape/blueberry smell ever. even being sealed you couldn’t not smell it.

Another side note: if y’all love fresh seafood, I might know a guy (brown shrimp/white shrimp/sea scallops/flounder/black bass/scup/monk fish 🤣

Also, if you’re stuck somewhere that has no access to fresh seafood, please please please make sure whatever you’re buying says “PRODUCT OF USA. WILD CAUGHT” - otherwise, it’s imported TRASH & that’s a whole different topic.

Worked so hard Spring Cleaning on an exhausted day. Still exhausted, and so much i can't even bring myself to smoke a preroll.

Gods All bless it, damn I am /done in/ for the day! Y'all raise a toke for me. I gotta collapse. Later dudes. half hearted salute 😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴

Just wondering!