Since he was a child Devin recalls dreaming of being an artist, collecting objects to paint on trips with his grandmother to the thrift store, painting his skateboards, and taking any opportunity to practice. The grit and determination he learned from skating permeated his work. Whenever he has a moment he is working to expand his body of work, building and defining his series called SHAPED.
Devin’s work is rooted in geometry, which he sees as a way to “create a universal conversation”. Evolving to this structured work took years of extermination and growth, working through different styles over the course of his life, leading to SHAPED. Everything in the series is custom, and hand done. It started from painting on flat wood boards, the first piece a human broken into a puzzle of geometric shapes. An arrangement of shapes, reminding the viewer of a jigsaw puzzle, arranged to exist together yet separate.
If you step back and view his work you will notice that there are a series of primary shapes he repeats. A spiral, triangle, and a square. The spiral, an Archimedean spiral, was studied by Archimedes in 225 BC and now is applied in engineering, biology and even psychology. But if you have ever studies a fern, or a millipede, or a fingerprint, you have observed Archimedean spiral.
Devin has developed a technique to create them by starting from the centre, slowly progressing outwards. Maintaining an equal distance between the lines.
Yet each piece he creates, is different, using this base list of key ingredients. More recently Devin has begun to add lettering, expanding the complexity of the visible silhouettes.
But in the end, his method feels meditative, allowing him to derive pleasure from the process. We asked why he considered taking on ceramics, as his past was well rooting in in two dimensional work. The ability to create ceramics by hand, itself a timeless art, linked well with his own experience of making art. It requires “focus and precision”, becoming meditative much like his structured line work. The final application of his geometry to pottery adding a level of depth, drawing together his history and future as an artist.
When we reached out to Devin, he knew it would be a challenge to apply his geometric work to an already angular ceramic piece. As a long-time cannabis enthusiast, the Hexagon caught Devin's eye, as it “[felt] more like a sculpture or vase than a bong”. Most of his ceramic work is round, which juxtaposes his SHAPED series. We were excited to see how Devin would approach creating the ultimate aesthetic bong to showcase as a unique artist-made bong.
The final art piece Devin created took his years of work with SHAPED, and was skillfully adapted to work with the angular and multi-faceted form of the Hexagon ceramic bong. He used enamel paints with tape to carefully apply the medium.
More about Devin:
Currently taking on work for murals, canvas, panels, skate decks, ceramics, hand painted jackets & custom sneakers made to order. He is open to exploring new ideas and mediums that align with his style.
You can find him being active on instagram @devin_agar , and his soon to launch website shaped.studio
]]>
All photography on this post was by Elena and used with her permission.
For further information please head to her website https://elenakulikova.com/
You can also say hello on Instagram.
]]>We reached out to ask if she could take a couple photos of our Peach Haze Hexagon, but in her own style.
A: I would describe my personal aesthetic as beachy, retro maximalism. When it comes to my personal brand, more is more. From decorating my living spaces to choosing the perfect outfit, you can always expect an excess of colour and pattern with a touch of retro wonder.
A: I love working in cannabis because of this industry’s ever-changing frameworks along with its collaborative community. The cannabis industry is never stagnant. Whether with new regulations or new brands, there is always something happening that requires attention and a change in strategy.The cannabis industry also has some of the most welcoming community members. Everyone is constantly working together to move this industry forward. The community feels much more grounded and intentional than more traditional industries. It is an absolute blessing to spend my days working with so many knowledgeable and creative people.
Here are 5 ways to serve cannabis while skipping the smoke this Mother’s Day Brunch:
Saka Spark MIMOSA combines premium, alcohol-removed sparkling Chardonnay with a Mimosa Strain-specific live resin emulsion and natural essence of orange blossom and tangerine.
Sourced from California’s cool, coastal vineyards, Saka Spark is unlike any infused beverage available today – an elegant and refreshing twist on a classic.
With delicious flavors like Lemon Lavendar, Grapefruit Rosemary, stronger Hi-Boy options in Blood Cardamom, lite options that are sugar-free, and even Unspiked to let others partake, CANN has a wide selection of seltzers you can pour over ice to enjoy. If you are unsure about which flavor to start with, you can grab a mix packs.
Make a decadent coffee to kick off her day. Using an infused chocolate, like Coffee & Doughnuts chocolate bar by CODA, all you need to do is brew her favorite bean, drop a square into the bottom and pour the steaming joe on top. Give it a good mix to infuse the coffee and top with extras like whipped cream and caramel.
Serve High Tea at the table. Tea is a simple way to include cannabis and allows the adults at the table to adjust to their preference. All you need is hot water and tea. We recommend you check out Kikoko, a botanical wellness company founded in 2015 Jennifer Chapin and Amanda Jones for a friend with cancer. They have a wide variety of doses and options, including CBD dominant products.
A modern wake and bake option, cold brew coffee. Mirth Provisions stood out as a brand you can leave out at brunch. You can sip directly from the fun stubby bottle or pour over ice with a splash of cream.
]]>Trova impressed us with their thoughtful and state of art biometric security the moment we came across their social media last year. We tested the Trova Go and are huge fans of the functional and beautiful design applied to the portable case. At first glance, it may not be clear what the product is used for, a sleek minimal surface with a single button gives little clue to what may lie inside.
Founders Scott and Jonell reimagined what locking away your personal rituals could look like. Working with design agency Aruliden, the final product is durable and discrete. Created using aluminum die forging, CNC machining, and an anodization process resulting in a portable safe. A silicone seal helps hide odours, for those that like to pack fresh cannabis.
Inside the device houses a money strap, ring clip, and optional medication case. Making it versatile and perfect for housing any small and precious item.
Trova uses biometric security native to your phone and bluetooth to provide simple one button access. The case also has a “never lost” feature, using the app you will be able to see the last known location of the case.
]]>
Make sure to tag @brntdesigns on Instagram if you customize your piece.
]]>
The Hexagon ceramic bong is a perfect material for those looking to add a personalized touch to their cannabis accessory.
The Hexagon bong is already glazed, so you will be applying paint on top.
Materials:
How to paint your bong:
Prep Bong:Once you are done painting, if you don't love the result, you can wash off the paint before it drys. If you allow the paint to sit, it will air dry. We don't recommend the air dry method as per the enamel paint instruction, the piece shouldn't be used for 21 days. No one has time for that.
Curing your paint: We recommend baking to finish your piece. If you want to go one step further you can. Once cured/baked you can add extra protection by applying Clear Medium on your bong.
How to bake/cure FolkArt Enamel paint: Let your piece dry for 1 hour to be sure all layers of paint have dried. Place piece in a cool oven. Set oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake project for 30 minutes. Ceramic must heat gradually with the oven to avoid breakage. Do not place your ceramic bong in a hot oven. After 30 minutes, turn the oven off. Let the bong cool completely in oven. Do not use for 72 hours.
After curing, projects can be hand washed or cleaned in the top rack of your dishwasher.
Things to consider:
]]>
Simon Grigenas, the CEO & Co-Founder of BRNT, said the initial inspiration for The Prism came doing research in light fixtures you would see in museums and art exhibitions.
“I was watching a documentary on interior design, and there was a ceiling light that caught my eye, it terms of shape, and how it housed the light bulb,” said Grigenas. “It was deconstructed, had a steel wire frame, and had geometric shapes made out of steel bars. We wanted to create a shape that is complimentary to the hexagon, but still has a sleek, geometric aesthetic. Something that doesn’t look like a pipe at first glance.”
After Grigenas had the initial inspiration, he reached out to co-Founder/Production Designer, Andrew Feltham for a hand with getting his design off the screen and into a tangible item. The duo went through multiple mockups before settling on the final product.
“There were a few iterations, mostly on the bottom.” said Feltham. “The bottom has an elongated hex, but played around with a pentagon and a couple more geometrical shapes before we finally decided on one.”
When asked about the final product, Feltham said it’s fairly similar to the initial sketch. “We really wanted to make a multi faceted pipe that you could stand on multiple surfaces.”
In mid-June 2019, in collaboration with Toronto-based photographer Tobias Wang, BRNT Designs began unveiling the finished product on various social media platforms. To the naked eye they may appear to be simple silhouettes of the pipe, but like everything BRNT does, there is a story behind the concept. The launch of the Prism happens to coincide with Pride Month across the globe, and inclusion is something at the forefront of the campaign.
Wang had been experimenting with silhouette photos with friends for a few months. Starting with simple photos of him and some friends having coffee. Next came silhouettes of hands. When he was approached with an opportunity to help launch the Prism, Wang knew exactly where he wanted to take it.
“The original idea was to use the pipe in a silhouette format. I thought it’d be great to spell out ‘LGBTQ’ in sign language, while balancing the pipe on the hands.” said Wang. The first image posted shows two Prisms side-by-side, in the shape of a heart. “It’s really about encouraging positivity and inclusivity.”
From the beginning, Grigenas thought it was a perfect match. He added the campaign is able to not only stand out, but really resonate with a broad demographic.
“At the end of the day, it might look very simple, and it might perform the same function, but we always ensure that there is a layer or a story behind how the design or the concept was thought of initially. All the way down to angles and how it feels in your hand. What we sought out to do with the accessory side of things was about destigmatization and breaking the mold behind what a traditional cannabis accessory was seen as.”
The Prism is available here.
If you are a regular cannabis consumer (or are becoming one), eventually you or someone you know will “Green Out.” In the simplest of terms, Greening Out is when you have consumed too much cannabis too fast, and the effects go from wonderful to unpleasant.
What are the signs of Greening Out? If you suddenly feel nauseous, dizzy, overly anxious, and/or sweaty, you are probably Greening Out. These effects can hit you all at once, one at a time, and to varying intensities. Really, everyone’s Greening Out experience is unique to them.
All of these effects are internal ones, so how can you know when a friend is Greening Out? Ironically, not by seeing if they turn green (although, as noted, nausea is one of the effects of too much cannabis consumption). The earliest signifier usually is their complexion, though: people who are Greening Out tend to become really pale, and start sweating a lot.
So what should you do when you or a friend are Greening Out? Here are some quick tips:
Find a buddy. Have someone a bit more sober stay with you and watch you in case something goes off the rails.
Go to your safe space. This doesn’t have to be a particular spot, but just find a quiet place where you can sit down and ride the effects out. It also helps to keep a bucket nearby (for the pre-mentioned nausea).
Stay calm. As far as we know, nobody has ever died from cannabis overconsumption. So as awful as you feel, and as anxious as you’ll get, just remember that you will make it through and you will be fine.
Cannabis is a drug that causes psychoactive effects when it interacts with your body, which means that it’s possible to overconsume cannabis to the point where you get negative effects. In the simplest terms, this is what happened when you Green Out.
As we’ve mentioned before, cannabis is made up of dozens of chemical compounds called cannabinoids, which connect to cannabinoid sensors around your body. When you get high, you are actively triggering these sensors, when your body would naturally trigger them on its own.
It turns out that pressing those buttons in your brain once in a while is ok and feels good, but pressing that button too much is not good. Your body will start to “panic,” making you feel nauseous (your body’s attempt to get rid of whatever is causing it to act in an abnormal way), dizzy, and anxious.
But stay calm. As we’ve mentioned before, there have been no documented deaths from Greening Out. There have been deaths when people start panicking and put themselves in dangerous situations after overconsuming cannabis, but as long as you remember to stay calm and stay put, you will be fine.
There’s that old saying: Everything in Moderation. It’s a good one to follow when consuming cannabis, especially as a novice smoker. Knowing your limit and staying within it is an important way to stay safe while getting high. And just like alcohol, the potency matters – don’t think that two puffs of a strain with 10% THC is the same as two puffs of a strain that’s 18% THC.
There are other factors, too. There hasn’t been a huge amount of research into cannabis overconsumption, but there are studies that suggest that consuming alcohol along with cannabis is a fast-track to Greening Out. Alcohol may allow THC to bond with the cannabinoid receptors much faster, which would result in a much more potent high, and a greater chance of Greening Out. So don’t mix your substances!
Here’s a Vice interview with Dr. Freddy Vista that deals with the medical effects and dangers of overdoing your cannabis experience which is both an enjoyable and informative read.
And here’s a great document from Drug and Alcohol Research and Training, Australiaregarding what to do if one of your friends is Greening Out.
]]>A new addition to the list, maybe? The global alcohol industry. And cannabis might be a contributing factor.
Fortune.com recently published an article titled Cannabis May Pose a ‘Long-Term Risk’ to the Alcohol Industry. The article notes that global alcohol sales fell 0.8% worldwide last year, and while that doesn’t sound like that much, it’s actually enough alcohol to fill 160 million bathtubs.
Meanwhile, North American investment into cannabis hit an all-time high in 2018.
A Drop in the Bathtub
We know it’s not totally fair to compare markets of different sizes with each other, especially if we’re trying to draw correlations, but humour us for a moment. According to a new study by BDS Analytics and the ISWR (a top “beverage alcohol” analytics company), consumers-at-large – and Millennials specifically – are spending more money on cannabis and alcohol.
“Our research shows that up to 40% of adults 21 and over consume cannabis in states where it’s legal,” said Jessica Lukas, vice-president at BDS Analytics.
(Fortune)
Simply put, more and more people are experimenting with cannabis, especially as stigmas surrounding the drug start to dissipate and the medical effects of cannabis become more apparent.
Investors poured $10 billion into cannabis in North America in 2018, twice what was invested in the last three years combined … and the combined North American market is expected to reach more than $16 billion in 2019.
And this is a change that isn’t going away. Instead, as the market across Canada and the United States continues to grow, more and more money should be expected to be pumped into the cannabis industry. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s less money going into alcohol, eventually consumers will run out of money.
Changing Habits
The alcohol industry isn’t one of the things that Millennials should take the rap for killing. Instead, Millennials might actually offer the alcohol industry a glimmer of hope moving forward, due to their different consumption habits.
A growing number of consumers, especially Millennials, are showing a preferences to consume both booze and buds, versus older generations which tend to stick with just one.
(Fortune)
Older generations have tended to not mix purchasing cannabis with purchasing alcohol – choosing to almost exclusively consume one or the other – a trend that alcohol giants have taken advantage of. As different alcohol brands have popped up and grown, brands have concentrated on building incredible brand loyalty to promise consistent sales.
This building of brand loyalty isn’t unique to the alcohol industry, but most industries aren’t usually besieged by a quickly blossoming competing industry, either. However, the only real danger to overall alcohol sales comes from producers not anticipating and adapting to the changes in the market, especially if the trend of Millennials appreciating and consuming both holds true for later generations as well.
So what can we take away from all these numbers, trends, and studies? Well, we know that alcohol sales are shrinking. We also know that money is being poured into cannabis. The two might be related, and they might now. Really, we don’t know how the two will interact and impact each other in the next decade. But one thing is certain: both are here to stay.
]]>The Ascend is a statement, a sturdy and stable addition to your cannabis accessories collection. Poured from concrete, and given either a matte black or white marble finish, the Ascend is built to blend in with your Faro, Briq, and Malua. The first concrete rolling tray from BRNT, the Ascend’s minimalist design makes cleaning – and rolling – easy.
We’re very excited that more people will be able to get their hands of the Ascend than ever before. Welcome to the future.
Click this link to purchase the Ascend.
]]>What we’re saying is, there are people who “like” something, and others who “really really love” it. And cannabis, as a thing that can be enjoyed, is no different.
We’re not naive enough to say that October 17th was the first time Canadians tried recreational cannabis, ever. However, we are coming up on four months since Legalization Day, and maybe the people who first tried cannabis last October want to start developing their newly-legal interest in cannabis. For those people, we would like to welcome you to the wonderful world of terpenes.
Just like experienced coffee drinkers can tell the difference between coffees brewed from Arabica and Robusta beans, different strains of cannabis each have their own unique flavour. These flavours come from terpenes, natural oils that give each strain a unique scent and flavour.
Terpenes aren’t solely found in cannabis – they’re also what give plants their unique scents. Terpenes are what make lemons smell like lemons, and pine trees smell like pine trees.
There are more than 20,000 terpenes in existence and at least 100 produced by the Cannabis plant. Terpenoid production evolved over time in plants, including cannabis, to attract pollinators and to act as defense compounds.
(From Green Relief)
Unlike cannabinoids, of which there are two to keep track of, there are dozens and dozens of prominent terpenes. Which is bad news if you want to become a comprehensive, walking cannabis encyclopedia, but very good news if you are a picky connoisseur.
If you love camping and the smell of the great outdoors, try to find a strain with Pinene (that’s the stuff in pine trees). If you’re in a more flowery mood, Linalool might be a better bet, as it’s found in plants like lavender and coriander. And if you’re feeling the citrus, Limonene will bring that lemony smell to the party.
Maybe you’re a more recreational smoker, and so how your cannabis tastes and smells is of utmost importance to maximize your enjoyment. Plenty of people, however, take cannabis for medicinal purposes. For them, terpenes become a lot like broccoli: you might not like the flavour, but you still eat it because it’s good for you.
Like with the rest of the crazy world of cannabis, there hasn’t been a ton of research done in these fields. But what research exists suggests that terpenes effect how your endocannabinoid system interacts with good old CBD and THC (click here for our post on these cannabinoids).
The effect profile of any given terpene may change in the presence of other compounds in a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. More research is needed to understand each terpene’s effect when used in harmony with others.
(From Leafly)
Linalool, in addition to smelling like pretty purple flowers, might also reduce the levels of anxiety brought about by big doses of THC, making it a popular terpene in the THC-heavy strains that are being cultivated right now. Humulene, found in cloves and hops, might play a role in lessening your appetite, making Humulene-laden strands munchie-resistant.
It’s not all good news for terpenes though. Myrcene, for example, is a potent muscle relaxer, which might “couch lock” (when you feel like you can’t lift your limbs) you if your strain is made up of more than 0.5% of the terpene. As always, if you’re taking cannabis medicinally, you need to talk to your doctor before exploring anything by yourself.
All in all, our growing awareness of terpenes is broadening the ways we think about cannabis as a recreational substance, as well as a medicinal drug.
Your cannabis label might not tell you what terpenes are in which strain, but your growers might. We highly suggest talking with your growers to select the strain for you.
]]>There’s going to be a lot of speculative information in this post – that’s just because we still don’t really know how cannabis works – but this is something we do know: inside your body, right now, is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Now, what that system actually does is still the subject of even more research, but what we can tell you is that the ECS serves a crucial role in making sure a bunch of your body’s functions actually work together.
Here’s what the Government of Canada says about how cannabis works:
Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical substances. Over 100 of these are known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are made and stored in the plant’s trichomes. Trichomes are tiny, clear hairs that stick out from the flowers and leaves of the plant. Cannabinoids have effects on cell receptors in the brain and body. They can change how those cells behave and communicate with each other.
So basically, there are hundreds of chemicals in cannabis, and they each do different things by bonding with different receptors in you brain and in the rest of your body. There are two chemicals that we are looking at today: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Or, as they are better known: THC and CBD.
Effects-wise, both THC and CBD are fairly similar: they generally relieve pain, help reduce inflammation, and lessen feelings of anxiety, among other effects. But THC is also an intoxicant, a word which here means “makes you feel as high as a kite.”
What makes THC so special? Well, let’s go back to the receptors.
Receptors are protein molecules that bond with other chemicals that then make your body do different things. In short, these receptors are how your brain knows what’s going on inside of your body. Scientists have identified two major receptors used by the Endocannabinoid System: CB-1 and CB2.
(Before we get too far into the weeds here, we should mention that this can get really complicated really, really fast. We’re going to be very vague and brief with our explanations here, and if you want more accurate, more specific information, we encourage you to read into this subject further.)
CB-1 receptors are mostly found in the brain, but they are also found in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Whereas CB-2 receptors are basically confined to your immune system. And each receptor does its own thing: CB-1 (at least, the ones in the brain) react to cannabinoids and make sure they don’t completely overpower your basic brain functions, and CB-2 mostly helps to regulate pain.
THC and CBD are almost identical on the atomic level: they’re made up of exactly the same stuff. And when we say “exactly,” we mean it: there’s no difference between the chemical makeups of THC and CBD. The difference comes in how those atoms are arranged, and again, it’s super close: THC and CBD have one atom that’s arranged differently.
That might seem like a super microscopic difference that can’t possibly have that huge of an effect, but as any identical twin will tell you, there’s a huge difference between a person and their twin. In fact, they’re entirely different people! In this case, that one atom of difference allows THC to bond with CB-1 and CB-2, while CBD can only bond with CB-2.
To put it simply:
Because CB-2 receptors aren’t located in the brain, CBD doesn’t affect the brain at all. That’s why you’ll find a growing number of medicinal cannabis products that have more and more CBD and less and less THC. While THC also bonds to CB-2, and therefore has many of the same health-related effects as CBD, it also bonds with CB-1, which means that getting those same effects comes with getting baked.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but many medicinal users rely on the effects of cannabis at times when getting high would be inappropriate, like at work or a fancy dinner with one’s grandmother. Or, medicinal cannabis users might just not like the sensation of being high.
As more and more people become comfortable with cannabis as a legal substance, more and more research on THC and CBD (and the other dozens of cannabinoids) will discover more and more uses for the plant. There may be even more differences we uncover in the years to come regarding these two wonderful chemicals.
]]>Spark.BRNT is a cannabis blog, not a Lord of the Rings fan page. Which begs the question: what does Gandalf have to do with the cannabis industry in Canada?
For one thing, nothing you can say can convince us that the “pipe-weed” is entirely tobacco (even Leafly made a go of that, and couldn’t change our minds). For another, Gandalf’s advice could have been swapped out for the Government of Canada’s recent warnings regarding buying cannabis, and no one would have noticed.
Wait, what?
As we all know, recreational cannabis became legal in Canada on October 17th. As we also know, Canada became only the second country in the world to sell legal cannabis. The issues started popping up even before Legalization Day, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a memo saying that Canadians could receive lifetime bans if they had smoked pot at least once in their life.
And even though a later announcement said that Canadians who work in the cannabis industry would avoid these bans, 12 Canadians on their way to the Marijuana Business Conference & Expo were detained at the border before eventually being let through. One Canadian executive received a lifetime ban of his own.
The source of the confusion is the federal status of cannabis in the United States, where it is labeled as a “Schedule One” drug – the same classification as heroin and ecstasy. Even in states where cannabis is legal recreationally – like Michigan – you still have to cross the border, which is under federal control.
How would the U.S. CBP find out that you smoke up? Well, they can ask you. And if you say “no, I haven’t,” but they think that you’re fibbing… they can pull up your records and check. And since the U.S. CBP is a federal agency with access to reams of information, and your credit cards are owned by American corporations, Border Control can see if you have ever used your credit card to buy cannabis.
Which brings us back to the Canadian Government
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) exists to protect the privacy rights of Canadians. Part of that is making sure that corporations and organizations adhere to the Privacy Act, but they also work to make sure that Canadians know their own privacy rights and also advises Canadians on how to keep their information private. They mostly do this through public articles, like they did when they published an article titled Protecting personal information: Cannabis transactions.
Cannabis is illegal in most jurisdictions outside of Canada. The personal information of cannabis users is therefore very sensitive. For example, some countries may deny entry to individuals if they know they have purchased cannabis, even lawfully.
Since cannabis is now legal in Canada, the official stance of the OPC is that whether or not you consume cannabis is none of anyone else’s beeswax. Now, they can’t stop the U.S. CBP from checking your credit card statements – they do that legally – but the OPC hasbeen advising Canadians to keep their cannabis purchases off of their credit cards altogether.
That’s right: the Canadian Government is officially telling Canadians to only use cash to purchase legal cannabis.
If you are concerned about using your credit card, and the option is available, consider using cash to purchase cannabis.
There are other tips as well. The OPC suggests asking your cannabis retailers if they keep your information anywhere, and if so, to make sure that the information is kept inside Canada. They also advise to keep as much information to yourself as possible, while acknowledging that you may have to present a valid I.D. to buy cannabis in person.
Of course, these tips aren’t perfect. If you live in Ontario, for example, the only way for you to legally purchase recreational cannabis is online, which requires the use of a credit card (we suggest looking into getting a prepaid credit card). But even if these suggestions don’t mesh with your life, the underlying theme is a good one:
Thanks, Gandalf.
]]>However, the Canada Cannabis Act sorta prohibits us from doing so, since as active sellers in the cannabis space, we could be seen as promoting consumption. Which is a big no-no.
All of this to say, we can’t show you exactly how to smoke a bong. But we’re still going to tell you how they work.
The Advantages of a Bong
Don’t get us wrong: any time you’re putting smoke into your lungs is going to be less healthy than if you didn’t. But when it comes to consumption, there are a couple advantages to adding a bong to your cannabis consumption arsenal: some of the heavier particles in the smoke will get filtered out as the smoke passes through the water that would otherwise go straight into your system if you were smoking a joint. Again, “clean smoke” is an oxymoron, but cleaner smoke? Maybe a bit.
Did you know: Some of the earliest bongs were found in tombs from the Ming Dynasty in China, and were made in the late 1500’s.
Some of the stuff that might get left behind in this process is some THC, the cannabinoid that scientists think gives you that “high” effect. But especially for newer cannabis consumers, that could be a good thing: it’s harder to “green out” (when you consume too much cannabis too quickly and start feeling nauseous) when you slow down the process of getting high. It’s not the most efficient way to consume cannabis, but it may be the best, and the easiest to stop once you get to where you want to go.
Bong Anatomy 101
Bongs come in hundreds of unique designs (but none look as good as he BRNT Hexagon), but they all have the same parts.
A. Bowl
Where you put (and light) your ground-up cannabis.
B. Stem
Links the bowl to the chamber.
C. Chamber
Where the smoke is filtered through and cooled by the water.
D. Tube
Where the smoke escapes the bong and is breathed in.
We Still Can’t Tell You how to Smoke a Bong…
But here are some tips for a smoother experience anyways!
Unappreciated Secret #1: The Grind
Take it from us: investing in a good grinder is well worth the money, even if you’re just an occasional or casual smoker. While it’s possible to break up your bud by hand, grinding it up first keeps the stuff you don’t want (like stems) out of the bowl. It also lets you pack the bowl a lot more evenly, which means more consistent airflow, which means fewer coughing fits.
Unappreciated Secret #2: The Freezer
Bongs are great for casual smokers because the water takes a lot of the “bite” out of the smoke, making it a smoother, less aggravating hit. Throwing your ceramic bong in the freezer for a few minutes before lighting up can make the smoking experience even smoother and arguably more pleasant! But make sure your bong is freezer-safe before trying this at home (like our personal favourite Hexagon).
Unappreciated Secret #3: The Breath
While it makes sense that the longer you hold the smoke in your lungs before exhaling, the more intense the high will be, it’s actually a bit of an urban myth. In reality, most of the cannabinoids (the stuff that makes you feel high) are absorbed by your body in the first couple seconds. So don’t drive your lungs crazy by holding everything in – let it out nice and slow.
]]>It feels like so long ago, but when cannabis was legalized back in October, we said that everyone was watching Canada. As the second nation to legalize recreational cannabis across the board, and by far the largest, both pro- and anti-cannabis groups sat with bated breath and waited to chart the effects of the monumental change:
Would the world end after a drug which many consider dangerous (it’s not, generally) became widely available?
Well, just under two months have passed since legalization, enough time to see some of the effects of the change, and we have a breaking news bulletin:
The World Hasn’t Ended
At first, things didn’t look great for the pro-cannabis side, as police in Winnipeg made the first cannabis-related driving under the influence (DUI) charge within the first hour of legalization (we’ll call that one an “oopsie”). But things quickly calmed down and returned to normal.
Actually, the cannabis-related DUI rate has barely changed at all, claims an article from the Canadian Press. There have been drug-related DUI incidents reported by every major police force in Canada (most sources don’t distinguish between cannabis and other drug impairments), but the numbers are roughly the same as the weeks and months before legalization.
The common thread across Canada was simple: just because it just became legal, doesn’t mean that people weren’t getting high and driving before. And while casual consumption might have gone up since October 17 (or it might not have, we don’t have the numbers), those who are comfortable with getting high and then driving are more veterans than neophytes.
Area | Incidents Before Legalization | Incidents Since Legalization |
Manitoba | 1 | 3 |
Halifax | 0 | 0 |
Nunavut | 5 | 5 |
Toronto | Not available | 2 |
Vancouver | Not available | 18 |
What’s happening in Vancouver?
There’s one stand-out number on the chart above: Vancouver’s whopping 18 cannabis-related-driving incidents in the month since legalization. And while “BC Bud” is a colloquial term referring to the province’s apparent love of cannabis (one report found that, prior to legalization, support for cannabis was higher in British Columbia was higher than in any other province), the answer isn’t that Vancouverites like smoking that much more than other Canadians; it’s that the rules for what’s considered a “cannabis-related incident” is different in BC.
Every province has their own set of laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and cars. All of them are consistent in one thing: don’t drive high. But different provinces also restrict what passengers can do, and how to store cannabis while driving. In most provinces, for example, just making sure that your cannabis is in a sealed container and out of arm’s reach of the driver is ok, but in Manitoba, all cannabis has to be kept in a secure compartment (like your trunk), and in Ontario and BC, it’s an offense for passengers to be smoking cannabis, regardless of whether or not the driver is sober.
It seems to be these ancillary regulations, and the lack of knowledge of them, that caused the spike in the Vancouver numbers above. That’s what BC police are saying, anyways.
Cannabis and cars don’t mix
The challenges, police across Canada say, is more education-based than impairment. Canadians should look up the rules and regulations before getting behind the wheel after consuming cannabis. And when in doubt, stay out of the vehicle. It’s much better to be safe than sorry.
And while there are still many, many more incidents of alcohol-based DUI incidents, remember that cannabis is not safe to consume before driving as well. Seriously, we can’t stress this enough: keep these numbers down. Don’t drive high.
]]>
Rolling Stone
Gift Guide 2018
When we dreamed of being featured in Rolling Stone, it was because we thought our high school rock band was totally going to break out, not because we made the sleekest bong on the market. But we’ll take it.
Pot accessories are going luxe, and a prime example is Brnt Designs’ new Hexagon. Put it in the freezer for smoother hits, then throw it in the dishwasher.
NOW Toronto
Stoner Stocking Stuffers
We fully applaud the alliteration here, and also the superb logic and testimony regarding Malua from NOW Toronto.
You wouldn’t store food in any old container and expect it to stay fresh, so why would you store weed in a plastic bag? Treat your cannabis right and prolong its scent and flavour with the Malua container from Edmonton’s BRNT Designs.
Herb.co
From Budget to Beautiful, These Are The Best Pipes in the World
Faro got some love from cannabis culture behemoth Herb. Their review filled us with some holiday cheer.
[Faro] is a pipe you’ll be eager to pick up daily being that it’s gorgeous and powerful, yet uncomplicated, a rare combination in the pipe industry.
The Growth Op
2018 holiday gift guide: 15 recommendations for cannabis-friendly buyers
Both the Briq and the Hexagon drew some attention in this holiday gift list from The Growth Op. Two mentions in one? Somebody has good taste!
There’s durable and then there’s durable squared. Consider the poured concrete/walnut combination of the Briq ashtray, available from Edmonton-based BRNT Ltd. The approach is simple: maximized function meets minimized design.
Leafly
25 Days of Cannabis: An All-Canadian Gift Guide for the Holidays
More love from Leafly, this time in a wonderful shoutout for the Hexagon.
]]>Founded by students of the University of Alberta, BRNT Designs offers a line of contemporary cannabis accessories including the Hexagon water pipe made from Canadian clay.
A slightly-less incredible feeling is when your mom calls you to ask about what all these different strains of cannabis are and which one she should get because, quote: “you’ve been smoking since you were sixteen, so you probably know what you’re talking about.”
Gee, and here we thought we were being discrete all those years.
So this is a post for all those millennials who are suddenly expected to teach their parents about the magic of cannabis consumption. Or, if you’re new to the cannabis space, this post is for you too!
And the first thing we want to focus on is the classification on the side of your packaging, Indica and Sativa (and Hybrid strains): what is the difference?
Indica and Sativa are different types of the same cannabis plant. Scientists are on the fence as to whether or not they’re biologically the same, or if they’re technically their own separate species (it’s a bit of a debate). Think about the difference between, say, a bulldog and a chihuahua – they’re clearly different, but how different are they? Actually, not much is known about the difference between the two strains, since there hasn’t been much research on the effects of different strains of cannabis.
The biggest takeaway here is that everybody’s body is different, and that means everybody will react to cannabis in a different way. So everything we’re about to tell you is a generalization.
(If this is a bit confusing, don’t worry, we get it)
Without getting lost in the weeds too much, let’s dive in and talk about why you would use an Indica strain, a Sativa strain, or a Hybrid strain.
If you’re looking at the dried flowers and you see splashes of purple in the tighter, denser bud, then you’re probably looking at an Indica or Indica-dominant strain. Classically, Indica strains are what you probably think of when you hear “cannabis” – they’re the strains people use to relax after a long day. Indicas relax your muscles, and the higher THC (the chemical in cannabis that gets you “high”) can spike your appetite.
While Indicas probably won’t give you a full out-of-body experience, they will heighten your physical senses and increase your reaction to certain stimuli, like music or watching a movie. They also have a tendency to put you asleep, so most people consume Indica strains at night. Medically, Indica strains are great for those who have trouble sleeping, or who experience pain. But we want to stress: you should probably talk to your doctor before using cannabis to treat your own symptoms.
Sativa buds are longer, wispier, and have flecks of orange. They’re also looser, which makes sense: in the wild, Sativa plants have been known to grow to over twenty feet tall. Sativa strains give most people a very different effect than Indica strains: instead of slowing you down, Sativa speeds you up, giving you an energy boost, and making you more alert.
These effects make Sativa strains ideal for daytime users, especially you creative-types. Some reported effects include laughter and an increased ability to hold a conversation. When you think of Sativa, you should think of increased creativity, more ideas, a more focused, productive day, or keeping you awake and battling fatigue. Sativa is also occasionally used to combat chronic pain and joint inflammation, but again, talk to your doctor!
And then we have the Hybrids. Remember the bulldog / chihuahua comparison above? Well, just like you can crossbreed different dog breeds, so too can you crossbreed Indica and Sativa strains to create Hybrids. Hybrids take certain characteristics from Indica strains and apply them to Sativa strains, and vice-versa.
There’s the (classically named) OG Kush, which is a Hybrid strain, bred to be relaxing like Indica but uplifting like Sativa. Some Hybrids are pure Hybrids, with the effects split right down the middle. And then there are Indica-dominant, and Sativa-dominant strains, which obviously keep more of their Indica and Sativa traits, respectively.
The crazy thing is, recent research has shown that the centuries-old stereotypes surrounding Indica and Sativa strains may be more wrong than right. Modern science has identified the things that actually make cannabis work, and they are called Cannabinoids. The two major players here are THC and CBD, and we’ll look at them in a later Mind(Full) post here on Spark.BRNT. But we think we’ve kept you here long enough for today. Thanks for reading!
]]>
But in the wake of such a victory for common sense and public opinion (a majority of Canadians have wanted legalized cannabis since 1997), we also have to remember that for almost a century, Canadians have received criminal convictions for possessing marijuana. Those convictions did not disappear overnight: over 500,000 Canadians are currently living with criminal records relating to cannabis. That’s why we were happy to hear that the Federal Government has promised to move forward with easy-to-access pardons for Canadians.
Pardons explained
The technical term is “Record Suspensions”, and according to this Parole Board of Canada document, it doesn’t actually erase your conviction. Rather, getting a Record Suspension means that your prior conviction won’t appear in any police searches or background checks done by prospective employers. It’s like when you take all of your favourite chocolate out of your Halloween stash and hide it separately from the rest of your haul so your siblings don’t steal it – the chocolate (your conviction) still exists, but other people can’t find it.
If that sounds like a bit “not as good as it originally sounded,” then yes, you’re correct. Canadians will still have to acknowledge their criminal status on official government forms. Canadians will still have to identify themselves as a convicted citizen at international borders, which may still impact travel opportunities, even if it’s now easier to find work in Canada.
And this isn’t a new thing, either. Canadians were always free to apply for a Record Suspension, as long as they paid an oddly-specific $631 fee and more than five years had passed since their conviction. The proposed plan put forth by the Federal Government (there’s no legislation yet, but it should be coming soon) just waives the fee and the wait times, as long as your conviction was solely for cannabis possession.
Expungement: should it happen?
Critics of the Federal Government are calling for more drastic amnesty steps, including Expungement. Expungement would totally destroy all records of criminal convictions. Earlier this year, Justin Trudeau expunged convictions related to Homosexual activity, in part because, while these activities were illegal at the time, the laws themselves are now considered immoral. So could the potentially-immoral prohibition of cannabis also result in expunged records?
Possibly, but not likely. While some would call the prohibition of cannabis in Canada to be wrongful from the get-go, precedence is not on their side. In the 1920’s, Canadian provinces prohibited the sale and creation of alcohol. We checked and as far as we could tell, the Canadian Government did not expunge the criminal records of bootleggers and those caught illegally consuming alcohol. This seems to be a more relevant example to expunging cannabis criminal records, and it doesn’t point to expungement happening any time soon.
A good step
We’ve been sounding a bit critical this whole post, so let us take a step back and say: this is a good thing. While pardons have always been accessible to Canadians, there have also always been hoops to jump through. Removing those hoops should be applauded as a good thing, especially since cannabis prohibition has disproportionately hurt those who couldn’t afford to jump through those hoops.
At the end of the day, even if we think more should be done, this is a good first step.
]]>The discrete design allows this storage solution to blend effortlessly into your life, and its durable concrete construction helps it stay there. Underneath the pure walnut wood lid, which helps to seal the smell inside the container, you will find a dual-compartment system that expands your storage opportunities. You could store two strains in the same Malua, keeping them distinct and separate, or you could keep some buds on one side, and some ready-rolled joints on the other. The possibilities are endless!
You can purchase the Malua on our website. Click here to check it out.
]]>Design meets design as our two brands merge in the META retail environment … We believe in Canadian companies that are inspired by cannabis products being merchandised in new ways.
-Matt Ryan, VP of Marketing at META.
META provides us with an incredible opportunity to expand our reach across Canada, and allow BRNT customers to get their hands on our entire line of BRNT Accessories.
You can read the complete press release by clicking this link here .
]]>The specifics vary from place to place: you only have to be 18 years old in Quebec to purchase cannabis, whereas in most provinces you have to be 19; and while you can smoke cannabis anywhere you can smoke tobacco in Ontario, you can only consume cannabis in private residences in New Brunswick. But the through-line is the same: if you’re over 19 years old, you can legally consume cannabis in all ten provinces and three territories of Canada, from sea to sea to sea.
This is just the second time in the world that a country has legalized recreational cannabis: Uruguay legalized the drug in 2015. But there are some key differences: the population of Uruguay is only 3.3 million people, which is slightly less than the population of Greater Montreal, and less than half the population of the GTA. And at the time, only 25% of Uruguayans supported legalization. Today, 70% Canadians think that legalizing cannabis was a good idea. Canadians from all walks of life are rallying around legal cannabis, and it’s amazing to see.
It’s not a stretch to suggest that people around the world are watching us right now. Some are looking for justification for continued prohibition of cannabis in their own country. Others are looking to Canada to be an example of cannabis legalization done right.
So what we’re saying is, today is a special day. And what happens in Canada over the next few years will heavily influence how the rest of the world treats cannabis. While Uruguay has started paving the way, what we are doing here in Canada is basically unprecedented. Being the first G7 nation to legalize cannabis is huge.
We want Canadians to buy in to legal cannabis. To us, “buying in” means taking the cannabis space seriously. There will always be those who will only think of cannabis consumers as “potheads,” and it’s all of our responsibility to change that perception of cannabis consumers to something that more accurately represents the cannabis consumers of today: ordinary people who happen to consume cannabis.
That means creating serious accessories for cannabis consumption, fostering educated and responsible consumption, and continued innovation in the space. We’ll come back to all of these topics here on Spark.BRNT. But for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy a particular recently-legalized activity.
Between you and us, we intend to.
]]>The first bong I ever purchased came from the corner-store head shop, where I picked out the cheapest glass bong I could find. A month and a half later, I knocked it over and it broke, and that was that.
– Simon Grigenas
(That’s Simon talking about his first experiences with glass bongs, leading him to want to create what would later become the Hexagon).
When Simon and Andrew sat down with Leafly, we hadn’t launched our crowdfunding campaign. We had just finished our Hexagon prototype. We hadn’t designed any other products. And a year later, we’re set to launch a full line of BRNT Designs cannabis accessories online and in brick-and-mortar stars across Canada just over a month from now.
Oh, what difference a year makes!
You can read the full article from Leafly by clicking this link here.
]]>NOW Toronto got their hands on our Hexagon, Briq, and Faro, and told everyone exactly what they thought of our new products.
Edmonton-based BRNT Designs is all about creating sleek, design-focused cannabis accessories. A $180 sculptural hexagonal bong isn’t for everyone, but with legalization looming, there’s a budding market for premium paraphernalia.
We would actually disagree: the Hexagon is absolutely for everyone. But of course, maybe we’re a little bit biased. You can read the full writeup by clicking this link right here .
]]>