This Puzzled Life is a mental health and recovery blog exploring addiction, trauma healing, LGBTQ experiences, humor, and the strange moments that shape us.
“I’m high on life. Oh, wait, sorry, that’s just marijuana.”
-Unknown
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. And since tomorrow is Child Abuse Awareness and the ribbon is blue, I want to talk to you about one of my favorite strains for PTSD called Blue Dream.
This strain I was introduced in the early days of figuring out the state’s cannabis program. While Blue Dream is a slightly sativa-dominant hybrid. If you’ve been a survivor with PTSD, you understand how very uncomfortable the visual and audio overstimulation can be. It slowly engulfs you until something is able to break the forward motion of those symptoms. This strain is one that does just that for me.
Let’s look at this strain’s lineage. Blue Dream is a 60/40 sativa-dominant cross between Blueberry x Haze. Blueberry is a cross between Purple Thai x Afghan. Haze are landrace strains, which are naturally grown in the wild with no genetic manipulation from Mexican, Colombian, Thai, and South Indian decent. Typically, the hazy strains can taste like a sweaty sock. One of the best things about this strain is that blueberry flavoring is strong enough to offset the hazy flavors. And it lasts from packed bowl to last toke. But despite the sativa side, that hazy indica comes through to help quell anxiety provoking effects.
The top terpenes in this strain are Myrcene, Pinene, and Caryophyllene. The medical benefits include chronic stress, chronic pain, depression, and sleep disorders. This strain is perfect for a one-gram attitude adjustment. Make this strain a staple in your cannabis medicine cabinet. Thanks for reading! And keep blazin.’
Affirmation: I treat myself like I’m my kindest, best bud.
“If God didn’t want us learning about cannabis, he wouldn’t have made half my cousins impossible to tolerate without it.”
-Mavis “Two-Puffs” Delacroix
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy, go on and get. Today, we are gathered here in this living room that smells like lavender spray, and cat hair. This will officially kick off Cannabis Awareness Month under the watchful, judgmental, and wildly unqualified leadership of my three feline board members.
Piper has already climbed onto the podium wearing a green tutu like she’s the spiritual advisor of the entire Gulf South. Coco is in the corner eating something that is absolutely not food. And Tinkerbell is perched high above us all. And blinking slowly as if to say, “I cannot believe I share a mortgage with these people.” And she has no mortgage. So, take a breath. Set your intentions. Hide your snacks. The cats are ready to educate the public. And Lord help us. They have prepared statements.
Welcome back to the only blog on the internet where Cannabis Awareness Month is celebrated with the same energy most families reserve for Easter Sunday and tax refunds. In this house, the educational programming is run by three cats who have never once read a law. Paid a bill. Or respected personal space. Piper is already wearing a green tutu like she’s the patron saint of responsible consumption. Coco is pre-gaming with the emergency snacks. And Tinkerbell is in the corner judging everyone’s life choices with the quiet authority of a Southern grandmother. If you came here calmly, you’re in the wrong place. If you came here for chaos, education, and a sprinkle of cat-led activism, pull up a seat.
Every April, the rest of America politely acknowledges Cannabis Awareness Month like it’s a PTA meeting. Meanwhile, down here in the Deep South, my household treats it like the Met Gala of Mindfulness. Except the outfits are Dollar General pajamas. The snacks are missing (because Coco). And the educational portion is led by three cats who have never paid a bill in their lives. But bless it, they try.
Piper “The Tootin’ Tutu Tornado” kicks off the month by dragging a green feather boa across the living room like she’s the Beyoncé of harm reduction. She hops on the table. Knocks over a brochure and says, “Cannabis Awareness Month means education, mother.”
She’s not wrong. Cannabis Awareness Month is all about understanding safe, responsible use. Reducing stigma. Learning the difference between THC, CBD, and “whatever your cousin grew behind the shed in 1998.” Knowing your limits. And for the love of Mississippi, not mixing edibles with a church potluck.
Piper then tries to teach the household about terpenes but gets distracted by her own tail. Awareness is a journey. Coco, the Snack Lobbyist, takes a different approach. She sets up a “Cannabis & Munchies Preparedness Station.” Which is really just an empty bag of Doritos. A half-chewed cat treat. And a sticky note that says, “PLAN AHEAD.” She insists it’s educational. Coco’s key message is ,“If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” She’s basically a Southern auntie in a fur coat.
Tinkerbell, the dignified conductor of this circus, takes Cannabis Awareness Month very seriously. She sits everyone down for a lecture titled “Cannabis, Calm, and Why Y’all Are Doing Too Much?” Which covers setting intentions. Respecting your body. Understanding dosage. Avoiding the “I’m fine” spiral that ends with you reorganizing the pantry at 2 AM. And the importance of not letting Piper run any more workshops. She ends her presentation by flicking her tail and walking away. Which is cat for “class dismissed.”
Piper stands on the arm of the couch like she’s delivering the State of the Union. Coco is eating something he absolutely should not be eating. Tinkerbell is judging us all. Together, they recite the official household pledge, “We promise to consume responsibly, stay hydrated, respect the plant, and never, ever let Piper be in charge of snacks.” Amen.
And that concludes this month’s household seminar on cannabis awareness is brought to you by Piper’s unlicensed enthusiasm. Coco’s snack-based curriculum. And Tinkerbell’s unwavering belief that everyone else is doing it wrong. As we wrap up, remember to stay informed. Stay responsible. And never let a cat who can’t even find his own tail be in charge of dosage discussions. May your month be calm. Your snacks be plentiful. And your cats be slightly less dramatic than mine. But honestly, I wouldn’t count on it. Longest “Big Beautiful affirmation” in the history of our country. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Thanks for reading! Stay informed.
Affirmation: “I move through this month with clarity, humor, and a heart unbothered by chaos. I honor the plant. Protect my peace,l. And trust myself to stay grounded even when Piper is preaching. Coco is crunching. And Tinkerbell is judging from above. I am calm. I am capable. And I am fully prepared for whatever foolishness this household delivers.”
“Before we begin, I’d like to remind everyone that I am the smartest creature in this house, and that includes the humans who keep losing their lighters.”
-Piper, Chief Chaos Strategist
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy, evacuate the premises immediately. The Feline Administration is now in session. And Lord help whoever thought they could show up unprepared.
Piper, wearing her “I run this agency” bowtie. She steps onto the podium like she’s about to rewrite state law with a crayon. Coco is rustling through the official documents which is bold, considering she can’t read and also ate page three. Tinkerbell sits at the head of the table. Paws crossed. And radiating the kind of judgment that could shut down a whole committee hearing.
Today’s agenda is simple:
Educate the public.
Maintain order (Tinkerbell’s job, allegedly).
Steal snacks (Coco’s only contribution).
Cause chaos with confidence (Piper’s entire personality).
So, inhale peace. Exhale foolishness. And brace yourself. The Feline Administration has convened. They have statements, opinions, and absolutely no qualifications.
Camera clicks. Reporters whisper. Someone drops a pen. Coco eats it.
Piper clears her throat dramatically.
Piper struts up to the podium wearing a crooked green bowtie with the confidence of a cat who has never once been wrong in her life. She taps the mic. “Is this thing on? Good. Ladies, gentlemen, and those who prefer to mind their business. Welcome to the first annual Cannabis Awareness Month Press Briefing. I will be taking no follow‑up questions unless they involve snacks or compliments. As the Chief Awareness Officer of this household, I would like to remind the public that cannabis education is important. For example, dosage matters. Hydration matters. And letting Coco near the edibles does not matter. Because she will eat the packaging instead.”
Behind her, Coco is already rummaging through the press corps’ bags like TSA with no supervision. Tinkerbell sits on a high stool. Paws crossed. And looking like she’s about to veto the entire event.
Coco nods proudly with a granola bar wrapper stuck to her face. And waddles up dragging a bag of snacks she absolutely stole.
Coco: “Thank you. My platform is simple. If you’re going to elevate your mind. You better elevate your snack game. That’s all. No questions.”
She leaves the podium to go investigate a reporter’s purse.
Tinkerbell glides up like a Supreme Court Justice who has had enough.
Tinkerbell: “Let me be clear. Cannabis Awareness Month is about responsibility, education, and not acting like whatever Piper is doing right now.”
Piper is, in fact, chewing on the mic cord.
Tinkerbell: “Know your limits. Know your laws. Know that if you start reorganizing the pantry at 2 AM, that’s on you, not the plant.”
She steps down with the dignity of a queen who has spoken truth.
Piper hops back up, tail high.She leaps back onto the podium, one paw raised like she’s blessing the congregation and threatening them at the same time.
Piper: “Let this be known. Cannabis Awareness Month has been officially observed. Audited. And improved by the Feline Administration. Stay educated. Stay responsible. And for the love of whiskers, stop acting surprised when Coco steals your snacks. That’s on you. If humans spent half as much time learning about cannabis as they do losing their keys, the world would be a calmer place.”
Piper smirks, leans into the mic, and delivers the final line, “Class dismissed. Y’all be safe out there.”
Piper drops the mic. Coco eats the mic and burps. Tinkerbell flicks her tail. Which signals the end of the session and leaves the room. Press conference adjourned.
Affirmation: “I stay grounded, educated, and unbothered. Even when the cats running this press conference clearly are not. I honor my peace, respect the plant, and trust myself to navigate chaos with humor, clarity, and snacks.”
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to tell you about a strain that is good for the time of year where we all begin enjoy the warm sun. This strain is called Suncake.
Suncake is a 60/40 indica-dominant hybrid. It is a cross between Sunset Sherbet x Wedding Cake. Sunset Sherbet is a cross between Girl Scout Cookies x Pink Panties. Wedding Cake is a cross between Triangle Kush x Animal Mints. It’s flavoring consists of a sweet, creamy, berry, vanilla cake, and tropical citrus. However, I just identified light citrus notes.
Top terpenes in this strain are Limonene, Caryophyllene, and Linalool. Patients report relief from conditions such as insomnia, chronic pain, appetite loss, nausea, chronic stress, depression, and mood swings. This strain I would call an easy and slightly indica dominant strain. Yes, you can use this during the day as long as you’re an experienced indica smoker. Novice smokers might enjoy this one better as night. Either way, it does not act real indica. The effects feel much more like a balanced hybrid with a nice elevation in mood.
“Marijuana is proof that plants are smarter than people give them credit for.”
-Unknown
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to tell you about a strain called Tiger’s Blood.
Tiger’s Blood is an indica-dominant hybrid. Many sources trace Tiger’s Blood back to OG Kush genetics. Some product listings suggest it may be bred from Tiger Paw × OG Kush. In the cannabis world, strain genetics can differ between breeders and regional markets. This means that Tiger’sBlood may not have one universally accepted pedigree. And like the snow cone flavoring it’s a mixture of berry tastes.
The top terpenes in this strain are Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Limonene, Pinene, and Linalool. Patients report relief from chronic pain management, muscle relaxation, inflammation relief, stress, anxiety, relaxation, sleep, appetite stimulation, muscle spasms and cramps. This particular strain I’m using in a vape. And I really like it. It’s one that I can use on the go but without the “couch lock.” Thanks for reading! Keep blazin’.
Affirmation: Cannabis helps me slow down, listen inward, and breathe.
“If weed puns are a sin, then I’ll see you inhale.”
-Unknown
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to talk to you about the strain known as Apple Banana Bread. And this time of the year a freshly baked bread sounds pretty good.
Apple Banana Bread is an indica-dominant strain. The genetics include Platinum Cookies x Grandaddy Purple x Blue Power x Gelatti. And this might be one of my new favorite strains. Let’s look at the diverse genetic line a little closer. Platinum Cookies is a cross between OG Kush x Durban Poison. Grandaddy Purple is a cross between Mendo Purps x Skunk x Afghanistan. Blue Power is a 4-way cross between Sour Double x Master Kush x The White x Blue Moonshine. Gelatti is a cross between Gelato x OG Biscotti. What a truly beautiful genetic line. No wonder I love this strain.
On inhale the first taste is something very sweet and somewhat floral. The dominant terpenes in this strain are Pinene, Caryophyllene and Myrcene. The medical benefits include relief from stress, anxiety, pain, mood, appetite, and sleep. This strain has some truly hard-core munchies that hit with gusto. It’s not so strong that it will give you “couch lock.” It feels a lot like blue dream with more indica.
I highly suggest this strain as an everyday use. It can be used on a lunch break if used in moderation. And for nighttime use, it works good enough to send you gently into dreamland. The only thing that would be better would be a concentrate in this strain. And I am headed out to look for it. Thanks for reading! Keep blazin.’
Affirmation: I make health choices when it comes to weed.
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to give you a list of the stop cannabis strains of 2025. I know. I have smoked acres of weed this year. And I always enjoy seeing the top weed strains of the year.
It’s that time of year where we find out top strains from across the country. I manage my healthcare by researching strains that work best on my symptoms. And then, I look to see if any of the strains are found locally. See if you recognize any of these strains.
1. Blue Dream: a hybrid that gives you that nice balanced high. This strain works very well for PTSD.
2. Gelato 41: Abalanced hybrid known for sweet flavoring.
3. Cocolato: A daytime use with chocolate and coconut flavoring.
4. Sour Diesel: This is a classic sativa-dominant hybrid strain used to help with anxiety and fatigue.
5. Lemon Cherry Gelato: An uplifting hybrid popular for citrus and berry flavors.
6. White Runtz: A good strain to help with both relaxation and mental clarity.
7. Pink Certz: Uplifting hybrid that I tried recently that is very impressive with its balanced effects.
8. Godfather OG: A potent indica-dominant strain that has the potential to grant you a “couch lock” session.
9. Ice Cream Cake: I love this strain! It works well on pain, stress, anxiety, and insomnia. And it will make sure you drift off into a nice little cannabis coma.
10. OG Kush: Another classic blend of indica-dominance. This is just a good all-around strain.
11. Permanent Marker: I tried this indica-dominant strain this year. It definitely has the potency and stink that aims to please.
12. South Diesel: Classic sativa-dominant hybrid that is sure to give you some “get-up-and-go” effects while putting a the sour and stink flavors in one luscious bud.
13. Biscotti: This is an indica-dominant hybrid that is known as a “dessert strain” flavoring.
14. Super Boof: This is a stain that is sativa-dominant that didn’t push my anxiety into a panic attack. But use sparingly if you’re really sensitive to sativa strains. Just a “WOW” strain in my opinion.
15. Cereal Milk: This strain is known for its sweet and creamy taste profile. It’s said to be sativa leaning. However, it feels like a balanced hybrid. A must try for anyone!
16. Blueberry: A classic indica dominant strain that is known as a suppressor for many conditions and rich berry flavoring. This strain is often crossbred to many different strains. And a big genetic factor for strains that work is known to work well on PTSD.
I can say with certainty that these are not the only strains that have been spotlighted for 2025. But it is a list that maybe you have tried and can attest to the power of their medicine. Thanks for reading! Keep blazin.”
Affirmation: Love flows to me, through me, and around me.
“I’m not a great pothead or anything like that…but weed is much, much less dangerous than alcohol.”
-Bill Maher
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to talk to you about the cannabis holiday 11/30.
The cannabis holiday was developed by adding the well-known cannabis holidays 4/20 and the cannabis concentrate holiday 7/10. Together they form a holiday that is about the combination of concentrates and flower. And since Thanksgiving is synonymous with gorging ourselves with food, edibles also seem like a good fit. There are other products known as “doughnuts” or “hash holes.”
The new holiday began November 30, 2023, in Los Angeles and was called National Hash hole Day. It consists of a fat joint of high-quality cannabis with a rosin-filled center. And when it burns there is a hold that is formed all the way down the center. As someone who enjoys these types of products, I can say with confidence that you need to make sure that you have nothing to do. It is a very strong high that has the ability to couch lock you for a couple of hours. It’s like smoking flower and hitting dabs all at the same time (https://www.visithollyweed.com/first-annual-national-hashhole-day-on-11-30-features-berner-marcos-surita/, 2023).
Thanks for reading! Have a safe and happy National Hash Hole Day!
Affirmation: I only share my kindest buds with my kindest buds, and vice versa.
***Don’t forget to watch the video! Because of the cannabis content I wasn’t able to embed the link. But the link is right down there.***
“I don’t smoke weed to escape reality. I smoke it to make reality funnier.”
-Unknown
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negativity energy, go away. This little genetically mysterious strain that will help with the stress of the “Black Friday” hoopla.
Black Velvet is a 50/50 hybrid with rumors of the genetics being a cross between The Black X Burmese Kush. The Black is a 90% indica-dominant hybrid that is derived from Afghan, Vietnamese, and Mexican landraces. But the exact genetics I have yet to find. Burmese Kush is a cross between Burmese x SFV OG Kush (San Fernando Valley).
The major terpene found is Pinene. And this is usually the terpene that handles the added dose of anxiety. However, the dark strains are typically indica-dominant. This will help tremendously with that tiring day of shopping. Patients have reported relief from anxiety, some chronic pain, glaucoma, bipolar disorder with associated mood swings, and eating disorders. Keep blazin.’ And stay safe.
Affirmation: I am choosing a strain and dosage that supports my intentions and enhances my experience.
“The best way I could describe the effect of the marijuana and hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative.”
-Steve Jobs
Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. I’m going to tell you about a strain that will be the perfect “get up and go” that you need to help make it through this Thanksgiving Holiday and beyond.
Green Crack was the name that Snoop Dogg gave to the strain Green Cush. It is a sativa hybrid that will give you a shot of energy and a calmness for dealing with all of the crowds surrounding Thanksgiving. I will warn you about this strain being known to cause an increase in anxiety. For those that enjoy sativas, I will not fight you for this one. But for people like us who have panic attacks, this is an arch nemesis.
This strain’s genetics are a cross between Skunk #1 x and an unknown indica. It’s a 65/35 sativa dominant. And trust me, it’s very sativa. The top terpenes in this strain are myrcene, caryophyllene, and pinene. Pinene is the big anxiety terpene. The other two are used with pain which is usually seen in indica-dominant strains. Don’t get too brave with this one if you have anxiety.
The taste is one that is a mixture of fruity, pine and sweet. And if I’m honest, I would tell you that the taste is actually pretty good compared to heavy indicas that taste hazy. Medical benefits include depression, ADHD, migraines, fatigue, bipolar, chronic pain, appetite, and stress.
The opinion about the effects of this strain are mine only. However, it might work differently for you. The beauty of cannabis is that there is no “one size fits all.” What works for me might not work for you and vice versa. Thanks for reading! Keep blazin’!
Affirmation: I love that I love weed as much as I love weed.
This Puzzled Life 