Tis the season! The last month of the year is one of the busiest and most remarkable times of the year. The rush to holiday parties, holiday shopping, and year-end reports can be both exciting and stressful. On a sadder note, the holidays also have a tendency to bring depression and loneliness. The reminder of loved ones who have departed this world can bring a world of hurt for some people unexpectedly. I am sure I am not the only one who has experienced a real-life Scrooge in the month of December. You know that unhappy person in the stores who just can't seem to crack a smile for one reason or another, or that one neighbor who seems to be filled with coal and not a drop of holiday cheer.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of these people are experiencing seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression that is related to changes in seasons and begins and ends at about the same times every year. For many people this "same time" period is between the months of November-January. Some will attribute the drop in mood to the shorter days of the winter solstice and the ending of Daylight Savings Time, the one-hour shift backwards that reduces the amount of light exposure most people receive in a 24-hour cycle. Others will attribute it to the loneliness they endure during the beginning of the winter months and during the holidays it amplifies the feeling.
While I will not try to sit here and discredit antidepressants or any other pharmaceutical aids, what I will say is that if you are one who is interested in the potential of cannabis and how it helps with depression, then you have to come the right place.
The one thing that every cannabis enthusiast shares in common is that they attribute their better mood to Mary Jane. Whether its to help with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or fatigue there is a strain of cannabis that can help improve overall mood and help overcome depression. As you may, or may not, know there are hundreds of strains of cannabis. Many of them addressing the same issues. Of course to list them all would be impossible but here is a short list of the best weed strains we have in DC that can help make your holiday season a little brighter.
Jack of Spades is an indica-dominant strain that is often sought after for its full-bodied effects. The high starts with an immediate head high that offers a boosted mood. These effects are long-lasting in nature and won't typically end in sleep unless you toke too much.
Crybaby OG is an indica-dominant bud that won’t leave you crying! The Cry Baby OG high comes on slowly with a subtle mental lift that fills you with a sense of happiness without affecting your energy level or causing anxiety. As these effects build, a potent body high will creep up on you, suddenly taking ahold and dropping you into a state of tingly relaxation.
Midnight Snack is an evenly balanced hybrid that will definitely bring it on. The high starts with a relaxing effect that flows through your body with warming sedation, filling you with a sense of calming ease and a lifted sense. This quickly works its way into your head, leaving you high-flying with a sense of pure happiness and ease that is unfocused and hazy, but totally blissful. But as the name suggests, a pang of hunger is to follow so make sure you have good food nearby.
LA Kush Cake is a balanced hybrid that will have you head over heels in no time at all. The high starts with a slam of uplifting effects that rush through your mind with a numbing effect, easing you into a warming and tingly relaxation. As your mind settles, your body will begin to follow suit, dropping you into a sedative state that quickly turns powerfully sleepy, leaving you dozing off in no time at all. This strain is perfect for if you need relief of daily woes so you can end up in a peaceful sleep.
Those are just a few strains that are new to the Butter of Sheba menu that can help combat depression and seasonal blues. Cannabis has always been an easy way of uniting people. More often that not strangers become friends just by chatting over a casual toke. Know someone who could use a little uplifting? Host a small smoke session with family, friends, or neighbors. This small gesture can really help someone who is struggling with depression or loneliness. Butter of Sheba has some of the best strains targeting depression and anxiety. If you ever need help looking for the right strain, use the spyglass function on the website, type what ails you into the search bar (headaches, anxiety, fatigue, PTSD, etc) and it will return all of the strains, products, and blogs that pertain to that ailment. Pretty cool, huh? I swear these people just keep thinking of everything.
Happy Holidays!