One of the unspoken negative aspects of c*nn*bis legalisation is the effect that large-scale indoor grows and strict Health Canada guidelines on packaging have on the environment. There is a huge amount of emissions baked into indoor c*nn*bis processing as a result of a number of factors, including an estimated 10,000 tons of packaging being dumped into landfills (and that was just in just the first year of legalisation!!!!)

2022 is upon us and for most Canadians it means we are once again allowed the opportunity to grow up to 4 cannabis plants outdoors. While growing your own cannabis can seem intimidating, with the right care and maintenance, it is honestly no harder than growing tomatoes! As a grower of both cannabis under an ACMPR licence and a small-scale vegetable farmer, I feel I can say that!

Have you ever found yourself gravitating towards certain cultivars (strains) because of past experiences, only to one day have a not-so-fun time consuming the same thing?! Maybe you’re finding that once upon a time a certain THC range was the perfect potency for you, but you’re now consuming more grams with a higher percentage of terpenes without it offering the same effects you are accustomed to, meaning you’re burning through your cannabis faster than ever before? First off, let me say you are not alone! This is a totally normal occurrence for daily partakers like myself. Don’t stress! We are in luck!

We love to draw on the incredible depth of expertise and experience our budtenders came to us with. If you’ve been by the shop, you’ve probably been helped through a weed purchase by Madison, but did you know she’s also a certified skincare buff?? We love having her insight on topicals and asked her to choose some favourites off our menu to share what she loves about them!

Welcome back to High There, Bud! This week we are featuring Quinn, who is usually the voice of this Instagram and a P&L co-founder! Prairie and Luna wouldn’t be what it is today without Quinn and her creativity. Her eye for design is the reason the store is as beautiful as it is, she also manages our socials and promotions and is constantly researching new cannabis products to ensure we are bringing in the best-curated selection of weed. She leads our team as the HR manager, balancing the roles and responsibilities of so many talented folks! She also specializes in topicals, if you have questions about CBD lube or vaginal suppositories, Quinn is your guy!

Welcome back to High There, Bud! This week we’re chatting with Jenna, one of our fearless leaders! Jenna is truly the reason this whole thing works. She manages operations at P+L, keeping the books balanced, the weed in stock, and this whole organization compliant. Jenna brings her attention to detail to everything she does and wears her many, many hats with such grace that you’d be forgiven for thinking this cool cucumber is less busy than she actually is. I count my lucky stars every day to have Jenna as my work wife, the Prairie to my Luna, and the brains of this whole operation. Now without further ado, here’s Jenna, telling us all a little bit about herself and her cannabis journey.

The infamous pre-milled flower has taken the country by storm with its popularity. Coming in more and more single-strain and blended options, we can't seem to bring these guys in fast enough! Conveniently pre-ground, for the busiest of bees - just scoop and smoke. 

Cannabis, like anything in our lives, can become mundane and repetitive over time, especially when we allow it to become a routine without intention. At this time of the year, especially, I find my consumption becomes less in-tune with my personal needs and more of a mindless practice that I don’t even give a second thought. Smoking as quickly as I can before my lighter hand freezes isn’t exactly the intentional experience I would like it to be. It’s easy to find quick comfort, letting myself get swept up in what the high allows me to do, rather than staying present in the moment and appreciating the high for what it is.

Pre-sesh intentions are a great way to set the stage for a conscious session. Asking ourselves, how am I honouring myself and the plant that I am consuming? Why am I seeking cannabis at this moment? How do I want to feel once I consume? How can I better nurture myself? Whatever your intentions may be in that moment, bringing your awareness inwards and tuning into the why, can be an immense help when attempting an intentional sesh.

Okay, these little juice shots are so cool that we wanted to share a little about why we chose to bring them in. Firstly, we really love the producer’s focus on sustainability and diverting food waste. Loop Parallel collaborates with major food industry actors to save perfectly good produce that would typically be discarded before it reaches grocery stores, for aesthetic reasons. Their juices are made in small batches and, to close their circular economy project, Loop goes as far as to outsource their byproducts to create nutritious, high-fibre pulp used in Wilder Harrier vegan dog treats. Truly a company with a vision that makes us super happy to support. 

Cannabinoid-infused drinks are great for those looking for a non-smoking consumption method, especially if you’re not sold on the pace of typical edibles. Similar to edibles, the THC & CBD are digested and absorbed through our stomach membranes where they are able to interact with our endocannabinoid systems, introducing all of their beneficial properties to the body. Unlike most edibles, however, cannabis drinks are made with water-soluble encapsulation, allowing the body to digest them much more quickly and increasing their bioavailability.

One thing we sometimes hear in the shop is folks looking to cut back on their smoking, but not necessarily their cannabinoid consumption. Towing that line between the benefits cannabis is bringing to our lives and the risks associated with smoking any combusted product is a tricky balance. We’ve been really excited to see more non-smoking options, besides your typical edibles, coming over from the medical market to recreational shops like ours.

Now that 2021 is officially over, we thought we should take some time to look back on everything that went down. 2021 has been filled with challenges at Prairie and Luna, and it has been so humbling and rewarding to watch our team come together and figure things out day by day. I smoke a lot of weed but I’m going to try my best to recap.

This week, we’re chatting with Paula, who is one of our newest buds. Though she’s only been on the team since this summer, it already feels like she’s been with us for much longer. We love her calm energy and the way she patiently and knowledgeably talks with each person through the door. Paula is a Sativa queen and loves nothing more than to share her personal reviews of products with anyone looking for a good recommendation.

Cannabis plants are made up of multiple compounds that when broken down and consumed interact within our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Second to THC, CBD is the most prevalent cannabinoid within cannabis plants (Jikomes., 2021). CBD and THC alike, are derived from the plant, therefore they’re called phytocannabinoids (Jikomes., 2021). Our body generates its own naturally occurring cannabinoids called endocannabinoids (Jikomes., 2021).

This week we’re chatting with Kait. Now, you’ll recognize this cutieface if you’re a longtime P+L customer-friend, but you may not if you’re newer to us. Kait is currently on mat leave with Baby A, who is the roundest, sweetest little monkey in town. Kait has been with us since our doors opened in Pembroke. She brings wisdom and patience to every conversation she has in-store (with customers and co-workers) and her curiosity and science-mindedness shine through in every interaction. Kait is detail-oriented and so genuine in her desire to help folks find the perfect cannabis product, and she is so generous with the knowledge she has gleaned through her own medical cannabis journey, as someone who reckons with chronic pain conditions. She also wields a power tool like a rockstar and knows math (an enormous asset lol). Without further ado, a chat with Kait…

This week we’re chatting with our dear, dear Em. Em has been with us since day one. She has moved from budtender to floor supervisor to assistant social media manager in just a few short months! If you’ve encountered Em during a visit to P+L, you know how lucky we are to have her on our team. Never has there ever been such a cool cucumber. Em manages a busy rush like none other and her patience and curiosity in matching our customers to their best possible cannabis fit is such a beautiful skill. Plus, she has a stunning eye for design - Em does all our in-store posters and cutie social media graphics!! And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s been doing all of this while cooking our newest little bud. We’ll miss her beautiful energy and adorable baby bump terribly while she’s on her maternity leave, but absolutely can’t wait to meet the newest member of the squad. Now without further ado, a chat with Em…

I believe that we need to support menstruators with a widened margin for care and love, and provide each other with the space to support our bodies in ways that feel right. A connection with the gifts of plants has been just one way that I have been able to experience this, but we can continually inspire new ways for menstruators to access care and create their own. A care that feels safe, understood, and even respected. Choosing to care for yourself during cycle highs and lows is a pathway towards global healing. 

And from this, ripples of care flow from menstruators to our community as a whole.

If you’ve come by the shop when Sarah is working the floor, you know what an absolute gem she is. Whether she’s shocking a bro by detailing her nightly joint regimen as she makes a high-THC recommendation or holding a new consumer’s hand through their first purchase, Sarah leads with so much kindness and enthusiasm. She takes such good care of our team and of our customers, throwing endless baby showers (for our endlessly pregnant staff) and finding the perfect cannabis fit for each person who walks through the door. We are so lucky to have this stoney baloney in our corner, with her bright smile, deep love of weed, and endless patience. Without further ado, let’s hear from Sarah!

For over 20 years I have enjoyed the benefits of cannabis through smoking joints….lots and LOTS of joints! And recently discovered a new love for concentrates and vapes. The joy of being able to discreetly pull out my pen wherever I am and take a few quick puffs, without having to stress about smelling up the space like a Snoop concert (not that there's anything wrong with it, buuuut not always practical in public spaces or when I’m in professional or mom mode). Also, if it’s just too freaking cold to venture outside for a quick pre-roll, my vape pen comes in VERY handy.

Kayla has been with us since day one, first as a budtender, and now runs the floor as a supervisor (and formats our giant wall menus every week!) If you’ve run into her smiling face in the shop, you know that she is as kind and patient as she is knowledgeable and passionate about cannabis. Kayla studied Kinesiology before making her way to us and holds an interest in integrating cannabis into a healthy, balanced life. She also smokes her way through our menu like a champ and can always be counted on to give an honest review of our highest-THC flower.