Ganja Tea – Cultural Norms of Cannabis

Caribbean's have a long history with cannabis; When one thinks of cannabis, I am sure Jamaica is the first country that pops into mind.

Jamaica has a cultural attachment to the normalized medicinal use of cannabis. A carefree spirit along with, locs, reggae and, Bob Marley are the most notable mainstream images of Jamaica’s cultural ties to the use of cannabis, a.k.a Ganja, which have travelled the globe.

Within my family, who is of Jamaican descent, cannabis has always been acknowledged as a form of medicine. Only until my teenage years in high school, did the conversations of cannabis as an illicit drug or gateway drug ever touch my ears. I was confused, to say the least as the only things I ever heard were positive and healing. As a teenager, I knew so many cannabis smokers and consumers, I never heard of people with an addiction to it. Neither did I feel it was addictive as my teenage years had been filled with amazing days with fun and friends, hotboxing in cars and basements.

Brief History of Cannabis Sativa in North America:

“The relevance of Cannabis as a versatile crop for oilseed, fiber, medicinal, and recreational drug production spans millennia. Between 1000 and 2000 BCE, Cannabis was introduced to Western Asia, Europe, and Egypt [and many parts of Africa] as a fiber crop for producing cloth, ship ropes, and paper. After 500 CE, the cultivation of Cannabis was widespread across Europe; however, it was not until 1545 and 1606 that it was introduced to South and North America, respectively. Despite its centuries-long cultivation, the beginning of the 20th century saw its recreational use outlawed and medicinal use strongly curtailed by an addendum to the League of Nations’ 1912 Opium Convention. This act pushed countries around the globe to restrict and criminalize Cannabis.”(Monthony, Page, Hesami and Jones, 2021)

Present Day Cultural Norms

To acknowledge cannabis as deeply rooted in culture, makes me reflect on the overreach of governments. Government overreach can be disastrous and affects the everyday lives of people who choose to use cannabis (or other natural medicines) to treat a wide range of ailments and illnesses.

For example, My Jamaican aunt is 60 years old. She smokes daily. She grows her cannabis in the comfort of her backyard. She recently had her hip replaced after a dangerous fall down a flight of stairs. She owns a business. Cannabis helps her function by decreasing her pain and anxiety associated with pain, without any of the dangerous side effects opioids and other painkillers can cause.

Another example is of my aunt’s mother, my great aunt. She regularly consumed a strong brew of cannabis tea, aka Ganja tea, made from the mature leaves of the plant. Her method had no psychoactive effects but, the medicinal properties diminished the pain in her arthritic hands! She also lived to the ripe old age of 96.

Traditional (non-psychoactive) Ganja Tea is made from the mature plant leaves after the buds have been harvested. Benefits include alleviation of morning sickness in pregnant women; reduction of chronic pain; relief from autoimmune symptoms (ex. Rheumatoid Arthritis); reduction of inflammation; anxiety reduction.

Recipe:

• 3 cups of water (preferably filtered or spring)

• 1/2 cup of mature leaves (or more for a stronger brew)

• Honey (to taste)

Instructions: Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Once water is boiling reduce heat to low and add in 1/2 cup of mature cannabis leaves. Simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Strain. Add honey to taste. Enjoy!

Ganja Tea (psychoactive) is made from the flowers/buds of the cannabis plant. All the above benefits of cannabis are the same, except pregnant women shouldn't consume this form of cannabis tea. Effects can occur 30 – 90 minutes after ingestion and may last for 4 – 8 hours. THC is fat-soluble, therefore a carrier oil must be used. Some people use butter or extra virgin coconut oil but I prefer to use MCT coconut oil (medium-chain triglycerides). MCTs are easily absorbed into the body’s cells more readily, digested easily and sent directly to your liver, where they positively alter your metabolism. MCT coconut oil also doesn’t rise to the top like regular virgin coconut oil and blends up nicely. You can also infuse your cannabis tea with another choice of tea.

But, before you get to make it you must decarb (decarboxylate) your cannabis:

“Decarboxylation involves heating marijuana to a specific temperature for a certain length of time. This not only activates its THC (and unleashes its psychoactive effects); it also activates all the other cannabinoids inside.

Cannabinoids are the active ingredients in marijuana that cause effects such as making people high, sleepy, hungry, and more.

THC Decarboxylation

All of the cannabinoids in raw cannabis plants start as acid forms with an extra carboxyl ring attached to them. This means that THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is first THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). THCA isn’t considered pharmacologically active until it loses its carboxyl ring – otherwise known as being decarboxylated.

Once this process happens, non-psychoactive THCA turns into psychoactive THC. This is one of the main reasons to decarboxylate marijuana; without decarbing, it can’t cause a high. THC decarboxylation is necessary to unleash many of the effects most valued by marijuana users – especially those using it for recreational purposes.

CBD Decarboxylation

Similarly, cannabidiolic (CBDA) must be transformed into CBD (cannabidiol) in order to become pharmacologically active. For a long time, CBDA was considered a rather useless cannabinoid and was largely ignored by researchers. In recent years, however, scientists have been studying its potential in the medical world.

For everyday users to make the most of it, however, CBD needs to be decarboxylated first. While CBD isn’t intoxicating even in its decarbed form, it still produces mild effects and is often used to calm anxiety, relieve pain, and help with insomnia.” (Harris, n.d.)

Recipe:

• 1 gram of high-quality cannabis flower

• 3 cups of water (preferably filtered or spring)

• 2 teaspoons MCT coconut oil

• 1 – 2 tea bags of choice (chamomile, green tea, etc.)

• Honey (for flavor)

Instructions: Start by decarbing your cannabis by adding 1 gram to a heatproof mason jar with a metal lid on. Heat your oven to 240 degrees and place the cannabis jar in the oven for 30 minutes. Add 3 cups of water to a pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn the temperature to low heat. Add your choice of tea bags if you want. Simmer on low for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags once infused. Keep your pot at low temperature and then add 1 gram of decarbed cannabis directly to the pot along with 2 teaspoons of MCT coconut oil. Simmer on low for approx. 25 -30 minutes. Strain. Add honey to taste. Enjoy!

So try brewing some tea, sit back and relax.

Sources:

Charles W Webb, S., 2014.Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis: A Patient Survey. [online] PubMed Central (PMC). Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998228/> [Accessed 5 February 2022].

Harris, D., n.d.What Is Decarboxylation and How Is It Done? - CNBS. [online] CNBS. Available at: <https://www.cnbs.org/cannabis-101/cannabis-decarboxylation/> [Accessed 5 February 2022].

Monthony, A., Page, S., Hesami, M. and Jones, A., 2021.The Past, Present and Future of Cannabis sativa Tissue Culture.