Letters to the Editor

A drought for all seasons

To the Editor:

After the proliferation of so-called THCa weed  —  weed harvested according to Trump’s farm bill to have less than 0.3% delta 9 THC at time of harvest, which experienced smokers will know is weed harvested early and therefore not fit to smoke —  finding herb in Western North Carolina has been more than a challenge. 

As a disabled person fighting off social isolation on top of anxiety and depression, the herb is a lifesaver, but my drought had extended from the pandemic on, and as I fought off alcoholism as most of us did, the cruel irony of being surrounded by fake weed persisted.

Enter the EBCI who overwhelmingly legalized recreational cannabis. Being their neighbor, I was beyond relieved — finally a safe place to access the medicine I need. But as anticipation built to 420 and the lack of official word left the area assuming we’d be toking on the high holy day, everything fell apart a week before as the dispensary went medical only until a date that wouldn’t be revealed for a good chunk of the year to come.

Not having health insurance — the North Carolinian way — it would take me a while to get my hands on the sweet Mary Jane, and according to the harvesting data on the dry grams of Tinto De Verano, it was that week before 420 that the weed I was smoking was pulled from the grow room and sent to dry and cure. Notwithstanding the three-to-four weeks fresh cannabis needs to be ready to smoke, the time beyond is generally a loss of potency and a product which burns at a three to four times the rate.  

I’m happy to report the potency of the Verano doesn’t suffer much — it’s not bad, what one expects from 19% THC flower — but it’s gone so quickly. The Skoden is even better at a higher THC, but again, was harvested back when Biden was still a presidential candidate. 

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If this is what Cherokee has to offer the larger public, the operation will be over before it starts, much to the chagrin of people in an area where — considering I can’t walk down the street without passing someone on meth or fent — it’s desperately needed. 

J.D. Bost

Asheville

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