Cannabis 101 event

Happy 2024! We are in the middle of winter, with gray skies and wet weather here in Northern California.  Our cannabis gardens are long since harvested, and our bounty of bud is safe in storage for us to enjoy and benefit from. Penny and Kaisha are using this quiet time to get set for our first event of 2024 – and we are excited about it!  We will be teaching Cannabis 101 at the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library on February 21.

While we incorporate a bit of the Cannabis 101 curriculum in each and every one of our classes on growing, harvesting and kitchen crafting with homegrown bud, we look forward to a longer, more spacious time to teach about our favorite herb. Through our years of teaching about cannabis to folks, we've learned that it's important to see cannabis from three views: as a plant, a medicine, and a Federal Schedule 1 drug.  Each of these points of view offer radically different perspectives, but when considered together it offers a 3D look that helps us to re-see this plant with more completeness.

So if you're in the area, please join us for Cannabis 101 at North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94707, 6:30 to 7:30 pm.  This is a Free Event!

Happy Summer!

Kaisha and Penny are here for you — check out our Consultations page

Happy Summer Friends!

Hard to believe it’s already July! We hope you’re enjoying this ever-changing weather and that your cannababies are thriving. Sharing some quick summertime updates with you:

• It appears a shadow-ban is in full effect for our Wondering About Weed’s Instagram – just another day in the life for cannabis content creators. So we have a favor: please give us a follow and if you’re already doing that, we appreciate a like, comment, save, and/or share! 

• Creating content that resonates and educates is our goal, and we’re ready to expand! Did you know we have a YouTube channel? There’s not much on there…YET. Give us a follow and stay tuned as Kaisha and Penny get ready for the next frontier: video editing! So what kind of content would you like to see from us? Hit reply and let us know!

• And last but certainly not least, we are delighted to announce that Wondering About Weed now offers Consultations! From guidance on the consumer experience and what’s happening in the cannabis industry, to the ins and outs of home cultivation and cannabis infusions and more, Wondering About Weed is here to help. Head over to our website for more information.

Thanks for reading Friends and see you soon!

Kaisha and Penny

Meet Our Panelists

Hello friends!

In addition to delicious food courtesy of Tarocco, we have an awesome lineup for our Spring Forward Sunday Brunch next weekend!

• Amber E. Senter, Entrepreneur|Creative|Advocate, Founder/CEO of MAKR Housew.makr.house/, Co-Founder Supernova Women

• Chanel Durley, Sacred Grief Guide and Founder of 33rd & RiSING Virtual Wellness Center

• Emily Gogol, CEO of Grow It From Home

• Jamie Evans, Author & Founder of The Herb Somm

• Menaka Mahajan, Legislative & Regulatory Consultant and Founder of Mahajan Consulting

• Solomon Johnson: Private Chef, Restaurateur, Chopped 420 Champion

• Zee Handousch, Executive Director, 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center

Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon! Purchase tickets here.

Sunday March 26, 12:30 PM
Tarocco 
2570 Ninth Ave., Berkeley

• Full mediterranean brunch and bottomless mimosas

• Mini-workshops

• A signature Wondering About Weed goody bag full of an incredible selection of products

(Please note: This is non-cannabis consumption event)
We’ll see you soon! 

Penny, Kaisha, and Deirdre

holiday greetings

Hello Friends!

As we near the end of the wild year that was 2022, we can’t help but be grateful…

To everyone who attended a class, referred a friend, watched one of our videos, purchased a book, or shared our website–THANK YOU! Our community means everything to us. We are in the process of planning what will be our most exciting year yet–so stay tuned!

We’re closing up shop for the rest of the year but will be back in action come January. Happy holidays to all of you, and see you in 2023!

Your Friendly CannaQueens,

Deirdre, Penny, and Kaisha

Deirdre, Penny and Kaisha on the Holiday Vespa

November greetings

Hello Friends,

Hard to believe we’re inching toward the end of the year! 

2022 has been a whirlwind of a year for the ladies of Wondering About Weed – big moves and major life changes have been the themes throughout. For us home growers, Croptober represented not only the start of harvest, but a transition into winter, the holidays, and before we know it a brand new year!

But first…The midterm elections are coming up, and voting this year is more important than ever. Even if legalization isn’t on the ballot in your state, now is the time to lend your support to city council members, judges, senators, and representatives in your city who support the legal cannabis industry.

Why this matters: This fascinating report containing data analyzed by Leafly and Whitney Economics shows that cities that opt of cannabis retail ultimately wind up supporting the illicit market. Cannabis has long suffered a misinformation problem, which is why education is so important.

And speaking of education…

Our fan-favorite Holiday Cannabis Craft Workshop is back! Join us on December 1 for a delightful, hands-on workshop where you will learn how to make bespoke tinctures, topicals and edibles with home-grown cannabis. Penny will offer clear instruction on how to craft tincture, canna-oil, and concentrate, with key information about cannabinoids and decarboxylation to aid you in getting the best health and mood results from your grow. Then we’ll work on three recipes together! As always, the ticket includes all the ingredients, a copy of The Cannabis Gardener, and lots of goodies to take home. Space is limited so get your ticket today!

Hosting a holiday party at home? Our private pop-ups are a great way to bring the cannabis education right to you – and we’re booking a few appointments before year's-end for those who are looking for a different kind of holiday party, so contact us today!

We’re planning a roster of classes for 2023, so stay tuned!

Love and thanks from Team Wondering About Weed!

end of summer news

Happy late Summer, friends!

Wondering About Weed has been mixing things up this summer. Penny and Kaisha both moved house (within the Bay Area) and now both are almost settled in.

Penny, Kaisha & Heidi at a Femme Forward event

We've been growing our own weed, of course, and making new friends at Femme Forward. Organized by Heidi Groshelle and Lauren Avenius, this all-women group of leaders in the Bay Area Cannabis industry has been a highlight of our summer. In addition to sharing our varied work experiences in the cannabis industry at a recent get together, we sampled some tasty, trippy phenos with new friends in a gorgeous setting. How cool is that?

Penny at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery with her book, “The Cannabis Gardener”

Penny will be at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery on September 9! At 100 years old, erkeley is a Bay Area institution. As a part of their centenary celebrations, Penny will be talking about her experiences in the cannabis garden, answering questions, signing her book The Cannabis Gardener, and doing a live wet trim sesh!  This free event is at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery on Friday September 9 at 11:00 am. Please stop by—and bring a friend!

Because of the chaos around our moves, we don’t have classes planned in the next month or so. Instead, we'll be doing a couple IG LIVE trimming sessions to help you get the most out of your summer grow. If you'd like to see the process in person, please come by Berkeley Hort on Sept 9 at 11 am for Penny's demo or email us to set up a private sesh!

We wish you all a beautiful end of summer as we slide into autumn.

Penny, Kaisha and Deirdre

Wondering About Weed

Kick Off Summer with a private pop-up

Greetings Friends!

Memorial Day Weekend has officially kicked summer into gear, and we want to take a moment to reflect. During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we were especially mindful of the fact that, for many of us, cannabis is a resource that supports our mental health and wellbeing – and in trying times like these, we in California are so grateful to have legal access to the plant! 

We plan on maximizing that enjoyment all summer long – and hope you join us!

• Now’s the time to gather friends/family for an outdoor grow class right in your backyard! With Private Pop-Ups, Penny & Kaisha bring hands-on instruction right to your doorstep. And when it comes to growing cannabis in Bay Area gardens, June is the sweet spot – don’t miss your chance to learn from the ultimate weed nerds how to grow your own at home – Thursday evening slots open and ready to book! And because you’re a member of the Wondering About Weed community, save 15% off with the code SUMMERFUN.

• We like to remind our community about the importance of using dollars to support small and craft cannabis brands. But unless you’re really into this industry, it can be difficult to figure out who those brands are and where to buy them. To help with that, we’ve put together a very short list of brands owned by underrepresented groups as a place to start – check them out, show your support, and spread the word!

Social equity brands/dispensaries

• SF Roots

• Gift of Doja 

• Blunts & Moore 

• PadreMu

• High Times Oakland

• Posh Green Cannabis Boutique 

POC-owned brands/dispensaries

• Farmacy Berkeley

• Potli

Woman-owned brands/dispensaries

• Sava (check out their great post about women-owned brands here!)

• Kikoko

• Biko

• Garden Society

Thank you, as always, for your support!

Xoxo, Kaisha & Penny (& Deirdre)

Kaisha and Penny digging into summer

Good 4/20 morning!

Good 4/20 Morning!

Whether you’re indulging in the many festivities happening around the country today or you are saving the good times for later in the day or week (it is Wednesday, after all), today is a great time to reflect on how fortunate we are to be able to access this amazing plant. 

Here’s some added goodness for your high holiday…

• Ever wonder how 4/20 became, well, 4/20? This Mother Jones article from a few years ago tells the tale—and, as so often, the Bay Area is at the forefront!

• Last week, KQED Live hosted a panel discussion called “Fixing Legal Cannabis,” which Kaisha and Penny got to check out! Leafly Senior Editor David Downs did an awesome job moderating a truly compelling conversation. Watch the whole thing here! 

• There are SO MANY 4/20 events happening that we can’t keep track! However you celebrate, don’t forget: go low and slow. And here’s a hot tip: have some CBD handy in case that THC gets to be too much!

• Last but not least: More workshops will be announced soon, but did you know that you can book Wondering About Weed for your private event? With our private pop-ups, we create a custom workshop for you and your guests. How about getting your friends ready to Grow Your Own at a private garden party? Or learning how to make gummies in your own kitchen? The workshops are highly interactive, educational, and so much fun! In honor of 4/20, we’re offering our friends 20% off their first private pop-up with code 420Fun!

Wishing you a wonderful 4/20—hope to see you soon!

Kaisha, Penny & Deirdre

Kaisha, Deirdre and Penny

it’s grow time!

As a woman-owned business, Wondering About Weed celebrates ALL women every day. After all, the cannabis plant everybody knows and loves is female, and we’ve built our entire business around celebrating her beauty, generosity, and awesomeness!

And now that it’s March, we’ve got one thing on our mind: figuring out which cultivars to grow in the garden this year!

Speaking of planting seeds…

• We’re kicking off 2022 grow season with How to Grow Cannabis in the Garden! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll show you how to prepare seeds for planting, how to transplant seedlings, and where to plant your cannabis plant. Each Wondering About Weed goody bag will be packed with pretty much everything you need to start growing–just add dirt! Enjoy 15% off now through March 18 with code GROW.

• And some breaking news: We’re celebrating 4/20 this year by hosting our first live Cannabis 101 since 2020! This is the workshop—covering cannabis basics—that put us on the map, and we can’t wait to do it in person on our favorite weed holiday! Reserve a spot today–we expect this one to sell out fast! (And, as with all our workshops, it includes a bespoke goody bag!)

• Last but not least, a request for a favor: Please spread the word about Wondering About Weed! We love hosting workshops for canna-curious people and are always looking to grow our audience—especially in the Bay Area. Please forward this newsletter, share our Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel, or recommend our workshops to anyone who you think might enjoy them—it all counts and is much appreciated!

Thanks for reading, friends, and we hope to see you soon!

~Kaisha, Penny & Deirdre

P.S. Looking for a good read? Check out the fascinating Women in Cannabis study!

Deirdre, Kaisha and Penny with their favorite plant

wondering about workshops?

Hello Wondering About Weed family—Happy Lunar New Year and Black History Month! 

Kaisha and Penny are still flying high after attending last Saturday's first ever Dark Heart Nursery Spring Trials. It was a huge breath of fresh air to meet fellow cannabis growers, breeders, educators, and advocates at Dark Heart's new facility in beautiful Half Moon Bay. 

Kaisha connected with Marley Lovell, co-founder of Esensia Gardens—growers of top shelf, sun-grown cannabis that she interviewed way back in 2020 as part of their collaboration with Oakland-based cannabis brand Chemistry. Penny got to meet Nat Pennington of Humboldt Seed Company and catch up with Dan Grace, head of Dark Heart Nursery.  We were in cannabis plant nirvana, surrounded by mature, flowering plants. We can't wait to share the love with you at upcoming workshops.  

Speaking of which . . . 

• February 10:  There are a couple of spots left in How to Make Cannabis Tincture and Gummies—Valentine's Day Edition. Book your spot before it sells out and so you can do Valentine's Day right with homemade gummies!

• March 26:  Get ready to grow your own at our signature How to Grow Cannabis in the Garden workshop.

• Swag alert!  We have some cool new branded bags for you. Every workshop attendee gets one.

• Check out our new feature, In the Weeds, for a deep dive into cannabis growing and consuming.

We hope you're well, and staying healthy—we hope to see you in person soon!

Penny and Kaisha with Dan Grace of Dark Heart Nursery

Kaisha with Marley Lovell of Esensia Gardens

thc & cbd: What’s The Difference?

THC and CBD are the shorthand names of the best-known cannabinoids found in weed. THC is short for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD is short for cannabidiol. These two molecules are by weight the large bulk of all cannabinoids found in cannabis.

Although THC and CBD are well known, they are but two of the many different cannabinoids found in your weed—and in your body. Cannabinoids are a large group of natural biological molecules. When cannabinoids are made by your body, they are called endocannabinoids. (That's right! Your body is making cannabinoids right now—and has been and will be your entire life.) When a plant makes cannabinoids, we call them phytocannabinoids—so, when most people discuss cannabinoids, they are referring specifically to phytocannabinoids. The term cannabinoid was named after cannabis, as this plant makes a huge abundance of these special molecules. 

Cannabinoids work on specific receptors in the body and brain. Our bodies have a large network of receptors (the CB1 and CB2 pathways) that respond to cannabinoids. Cannabinoids work gently, offering support to the body’s natural health maintenance. Weed makes hundreds of cannabinoids, and most are found in tiny amounts. But THC and CBD are found in large amounts in the resin of the cannabis plant, so we experience their impact strongly—and thus they get a lot of attention.

The High: THC is the most famous cannabinoid, and is what makes many types of weed so potently euphoric and intoxicating—and fun, or giggly, scary, or sleepy for many. While there are a couple different forms of THC, most of it is the Δ9 variety. THC has a wide array of impacts on mood and mental state. At the right dose, you can expect to feel euphoric, mentally fuzzy, happy, mellow, like time has stopped or sped up, forgetful, and in a lighter mood after imbibing. THC is highly sought after by recreational users but also has important health impacts on inflammation and pain, and works synergistically with other cannabinoids to provide strong and gentle help for those suffering with pain, nausea, and inflammation.

The Calm: CBD is the second most famous cannabinoid. You've likely seen products in your local stores that contain CBD. But if cannabis is federally illegal, why are CBD products on the market in my corner shop? CBD can be isolated from varieties of cannabis with low enough levels of THC to qualify as hemp, so it's legal to put in just about everything as a supplement. CBD is generally a well tolerated and effective pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, non-intoxicating, anti-anxiety, anti-microbial, and immune supporting. When CBD is consumed along with THC it impacts the way the THC works, often calming the anxiety that can come along with a too-strong dose of THC. 

If you are using whole flower cannabis, you get an assortment of cannabinoids that the cannabis plant naturally makes. The assortment of these cannabinoids is determined by a combination of the plant’s strain and growth conditions. You can choose strains to grow and use based on their usual cannabinoid levels. However, if you are consuming cannabis in the form of a vape oil, tincture, tablet, or edible you’re likely consuming a human-made recipe that includes specific cannabinoids and other active ingredients such as terpenes. Together, the cannabinoids and terpenes work synergistically to create the Entourage Effect.

Our workshops offer a thorough explanation of all the major cannabinoids in cannabis products, including THC and CBD. You will leave our workshops feeling well informed and excited to grow and purchase cannabis products that will elevate your health and mood.

the gift that keeps on giving…

Seasons Greetings, Friends!

We are ready to wind down 2021—but before we do, we want to share some updates with you!

Our December workshop sold out!

Thank you to those who joined us for the Holiday edition of our super-popular Edibles + Salve-making workshop! We sold every ticket and had an absolute blast—it felt so good to be back to hosting live workshops again! 

There were so many wonderful conversations at the workshop, and we wanted to follow up on a couple of them:

• We briefly talked about cannabis suppositories and how helpful they can be for people seeking relief but unable to consume cannabis orally or via inhalation (smoking or vaping). Suppositories are pretty easy to make—as Kaisha and Penny discovered a while back. Kaisha even wrote about it for The Bold Italic; check out the article here!

• For anyone looking for a good bedtime edible, Kaisha recently tried Camino’s Midnight Blueberry and was pretty impressed. Each edible contains 5mg THC and 1mg cannabinol, or CBN, which is known for its sedative properties. Head over to Leaflyto learn more about CBN.

NEW workshops in 2022!

We are thrilled to announce the dates of a new crop of workshops in 2022—check them out (and reserve your spot!):

• January: How to Make Cannabis Tincture & Gummies

• February: Cannabis 101

• March: How to Grow Cannabis in the Garden

Because you’re a member of the Wondering About Weed community, we’re offering 20% off workshops and gift cards with the code NEWYEAR—it’s our way of saying thank you. Offer expires January 2, 2022.

The gift that keeps on giving!

Skip the supply chain madness and give your canna-curious loved ones the gift of cannabis education! Wondering About Weed offers gift cards that can be applied to our live workshops. Recipients can use them for Private Pop-Ups, where we pack up the workshop and come to you. For those who live outside the Bay Area or wish to learn from home, our On-Demand videos are ready for viewing on your time! 

One gift card, three ways to learn—talk about a win-win!

Thank you for supporting Wondering About Weed in 2021–we look forward to seeing you in 2022!

~Kaisha, Penny, and Deirdre

We’ve got news!

Hello Seshers!

We hope this email finds you healthy and enjoying this autumnal weather!

Over the last year and a half, we have been working on lots of projects for our little company, and we couldn’t be more excited to share what we’ve been up to!

Let’s Sesh has officially become Wondering About Weed!

We changed our name to match our website. Now it’s easier than ever for cannacurious folks (like you) to find us! But that’s not all we’ve changed: WonderingAboutWeed.com also has a brand new look—give it a visit and tell us what you think!

New Live Workshops + More Ways to Learn!  

• We are hosting two in-person workshops before the end of the year! Join us for How to Make Cannabis Edibles & Salve on Saturday December 4. We’ll also be hosting a Holiday Edition of our hugely popular edibles-making class on Thursday December 9. We will be offering more live workshops as 2022 unfolds, including an edibles class in January(makes a great gift!), and our perennially popular Cannabis 101 and From Seed to Sesh: How to Grow.* And as always, with every class, attendees can look forward to a Wondering About Weed goody bag filled with all the key ingredients and equipment you need to make edibles at home (and we mean EVERYTHING)!

• Want to learn about cannabis in the company of a select group of friends? Seeking a private consultation with Penny or Kaisha? With our Private Pop-Ups, we bring bespoke workshops and consultations directly to you! Whether in our space or yours, with ten people or two, we will create a custom workshop just for you and your guests. Get in touch and let us know what you’re looking for. 

• For our friends who live outside of the Bay Area and can’t join us in person, or those who prefer to learn from home, we offer on-demand videosavailable for viewing whenever and wherever you want!

As a thank you to our community, we are offering a 20% discount on your next live workshop! Use code SESHER at checkout when you book the live workshop of your choice! This offer expires December 1;** we will be publicly announcing the workshops on Monday. These classes sell out fast, so reserve your spot today! And stay tuned for more from Wondering About Weed!

~Deirdre, Kaisha, & Penny

 *We ask all live workshop attendees to provide proof of vaccination and be symptom free the day of the workshop.

**20% offer is for live workshops only, may not be combined with other offers, and is valid on orders placed before December 1, 2021, at 11:59pm PST.