About a month ago I met Montel Williams at Bud and Bloom in Santa Ana for the debut of Lenitiv Labs, his new cannabis product line in OC. Its first installment consists of a CBD-dominant cannabis shot and a THC-dominant mini shot. In an interview, he told me that the contaminant levels of his products tested at zero parts per million (PPM), where as 99 percent of the products currently on shelves are between 100 and 600 PPM. This information is crucial for a couple reasons: A) If you have a critical illness or disease, ingesting any type of contaminant might dismantle (what’s left of) your immune system, and B) even if you don’t have a disease, long-term exposure to chemical/synthetic contaminants can lead to nightmarish health problems, like dementia, cancer or a breakdown of the nervous system in the future. Thus, using clean cannabis is imperative.
Williams was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1999. The talk-show-host turned cannabis advocate and dignitary has thus been on the frontline of herbal movement for the last 17 years. But you’d never know he was sick (or someone who consumes cannabis every day, multiple times per day) by looking at him. He moves and talks with with ease, conversation with him is fast paced, he works out for an hour-and-a-half every day– and also runs five companies. The Earth-toned disco shirt shirt he wore to the Bud and Bloom meet and greet was also fresh as hell. Considering his illness, his spunk is inspiring.
As a thank you, Williams gave me a few samples to try. I’d held on to them for the “perfect” moment, which (I thought) was this last weekend. On Sunday night, I was struck with insomnia–something I’ve never really struggled with before. I didn’t know what to do. And considering CBD is my favorite way to relax, I figured I’d try Williams’ 9:1 CBD dominant drink. So I pushed the button on the cap all the way down, releasing crystalline forms of vegetables and fruits into the cannabis oil at the bottom of the 1.5 oz container. I shook up the contents, opened the lid and consumed the 10mg of THC and 90mg of CBD.
It tasted like strawberry delight. After laying awake in bed for another 40 minutes I began to feel something, but it didn’t feel like CBD. It also didn’t feel quite like THC, either. For the first 30 minutes of the experience, I didn’t understand the way I felt and didn’t think it was from the drink. Then, like an LSD flashback, I remembered something Williams said to me: “My oils are broad spectrum, meaning they contain an expansive array of cannabinoids.” In other words, the drink is loaded with all kinds of seemingly obscure cannabinoids aside from THC and CBD (think THCV, CBC, CBN, CBG, THCN, etc.). It was an entirely different high. I had no idea cannabis could make you feel that way. My shoulders, hips, ankles, neck, back, wrists and hands felt like they had an internal heating pad in them. My mind was agile, colorful and my creativity was at Empire State Building heights. My solar plexus and heart chakra were radiating; when I closed my eyes I could see the light-energy beaming from those centers of my body. I felt incredible. But I didn’t want to sleep.
After an hour-and-a-half I was higher than I’ve ever been in my whole life. Granted, I’m a lightweight. But make no mistake about it: I felt great. But experiencing Williams’ drink made me realize that every edible or drink we consume from dispensaries (unless stated otherwise) are isolated THC and/or CBD only. Hardly any offer broad spectrum cannabinoids. Although the drink had an energizing effect on me (causing me to lie awake for several more hours before I finally drifted into REM), I can see why someone with a chronic illness (like MS) would benefit from this drink– the medicinal benefits from broad spectrum cannabinoids are undeniable. I would recommend it to anyone who’s struggling with pain or chronic illness.
It’s also one of my new favorite products. Although I probably won’t take it again to try and sleep, I will take it again earlier in the day and see where the broad spectrum takes me.
Lenitiv Labs Mini-Shot: $15 ; Bud & Bloom: 1327 E. St. Gertrude Place, Santa Ana, Ca 92705
