CANNABIS: THE HEALING OF ALL NATIONS

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GANJA WAR VETERANS

FORWARDING INTO 2024

It seems like an eternity since I have had the time to update this website. My last post was early in the year 2023. The year is now ending, and so much has happened in my personal, family and business life. In terms of maintaining continuity on this website, it is my sole responsibilty at the moment. Needless to say updating my webpage is not a priority in lifing. So I chose in order of most pressing in the present tense. Having shared this, I do so, to express my vulnerability as a Goddess living this Human Experience in the Kingdom of Hawai’i. Still seeking Reparatory and Restorative Justice, through cannabis and criminal legislative reforms. These few words and pictures may give you an idea, why I have not been able to keep up with this website.

2023 AT A GLIMPSE

As we’re nearing the last days of 2023, I felt compelled to share some highlights of 2023 for Balm of Gilead family of Ganja War Veterans. ¹ If you have been following us on this website, or on other social media platforms. Then you would have learned that Balm O.G.360 LLC, is the recipient of a seed grant, from RAW, awarded by the JustÜs Foundation.² A social justice group based in New York. ³ We are so grateful for this blessing from our generous donors. To receive this grant is an affirmation from the Divine Powers in my life that I must continue on this path of service in order to achieve the goals of effecting meaningful, sustainable, transformative changes in cannabis and criminal justice legislative reforms in Hawai’i. This seed grant has provided us an opportunity, to add value to Balm O.G. 360 LLC in ways which we will describe and share a glimpse through our visual narratives, and comments.

February 2023

Participated as a Flower Judge in Hawai’i Island Cannabis Cup

& Attended last day of 6th Annual Hawai’i Cannabis Expo

Speaker & Vendor at the 7th Annual Hemp Festival at Uncle Robert’s Kalapana

Flower Judge at the Jungle Cup Hawai’i

Steady on the Grind, the Work continues.

Although, you may not find me active on this site, or my other social media platforms. Rest assured in real time, I remain on my journey of Cannabis Health and Wellness. I continue to nourish my body, mind and spirit with healthy, natural in season, locally grown foods here in Hawai’i. In fact, I am currently learning from GoFarm Hawai’i, a community based organization, that teaches local folks how to develop their own commercial farms supporting community based agriculture. I am currently in the 6th months part of the program. Along with my other cohort members, we each were given 500 sq feet of land, to produce enough food to sustain 7 CSA shares for 7 weeks. Thrilled to say, that to date I am going into my 5th week of the CSA, and so blessed to be sharing the foods I grow with my community. There’s nothing like eating foods grown by your two hands.

Finally, I shared these images of cannabis and agricultural events tied to my life, because the two are interconnected. One cannot speak about food sovereignty without including the freedom to access and cultivate cannabis along with all the other agricultural products we can produce. I don’t have much time to go deeper into these connections. If you want to learn more about how the two are connected, then you will have to contact me for a one on one consultation. You can also show your love and support for all the Ganja War Veterans by donating to our advocacy and legal defense funds. For every donations you will receive an original print from iconic Rastafari Artist Ato K. D. Roberts and some of my art. Do scan our barcodes in the image gallery below for more details on how you can support us.

Until such time that we meet and speak. Here are some events where you will find me in 2024.

January 2024: On the land finishing up my CSA shares. 1st Broadcast of 2024 for Clubhouse Room, Cannabis The Healing of All Nations, which is also aired on internet radio globalmedz.net, on the last Wednesday of every month, at 2pm Hawaii time. This month’s conversation will be about the proposed adult use cannabis legislation for Hawai’i.

February 2024: Speaker & Vendor at the 7th Annual Hawai’i Cannabis Expo, Honolulu Hawai’i,

March 2024 :TBA

Ganja War Veterans, a term I learned from founder of Ganja Veterans For Equity, a Cannabis Social Action group. The term defines basically all the foundation O.G. cannabis “black market” cultivators, entrepreneurs, dispensaries, manufacturers, cultural practitioners who have and continue to be criminalized for their association with the plant cannabis. . ↩︎
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231109480415/en/RAW-Rolling-Papers-and-The-JUST%C3%9CS-Foundation-Announce-Recipients-of-RAW-Seeds-Fellowship ↩︎
https://justus.foundation/about-us/ ↩︎

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OUR HEALTH & WELLNESS BEYOND AGE 65

Salutations & greetings to all who are reading my first post for the year 2023. I greet everyone in the Spirit of wellness of body, mind and soul. Special greetings to my community of Vintage aged persons, who have chosen the path of normalizing and utilizing plant based medicine. As we journey on our path to health and wellness beyond age 65. We are confident in the choices, decisions, and action we have taken in making sustainable transformation in our lives. One being how we manage our mental, physical and spiritual health well into our “Golden Years”.

Full Disclosure! I am not a Doctor, a licensed Health Clinician, Practitioner, nor a lawyer. The information shared is not medical nor legal advice. What we share is used for educational purposes only. Before you act on anything said here. Please consult with your medical advisor and or attorney prior to and after reading this post.

ABOUT BALM OF GILEAD

Balm of Gilead Cannabis Health and Wellness Ministry, Balm O.G. 360 LLC. A cannabis family business founded and informed by Our Spiritual way of life as RASTAFARI, as well as our Indigenous Ancestral Afro Caribbean Roots. We have used the plant cannabis as our mental, physical, and spiritual sustenance for over 50 years.

As a founding member, my commitment, service, and work are focused primarily on providing cannabis literacy through advocacy, education, and health and wellness coaching to BIPOC communities and individuals who have been criminalized, marginalized, and adversely affected by the War on Drugs.

Through Balm O.G.360’s advocacy, coaching, and educational services, we offer workshops designed for both medical cannabis patients as well as adult consumers. To assist them in achieving a better understanding of beneficial healthy ways to use cannabis intentionally and to empower and inform them of their rights as medical cannabis patients and adult users.

SERVICES AVAILABLE 2023 & BEYOND

Utilizing our education, professional and personal experience in the informal and formal cannabis industry. We have created and made available the following educational workshops on the following topics of interest to those we service. These workshops are designed to be presented live for groups of 10-50 participants, specifically for local site in Hawaii; or presented virtual for long distance learners. We curate individual or group packages. The following are the current available workshops:

WORKSHOP 1

CANNABIS 101 (HISTORY & USE)

A workshop to examine the historical uses of the plant, why and how it works, and how to effectively use it.

WORKSHOP 2

NORMALIZE PLANT MEDICINE(NUTRITION)

We will discuss and examine stigma around plant medicine use, including cannabis. Demonstrate the nutritional benefits of plants.

WORKSHOP 3

PAKALOLO FOR THE PEOPLE (ADVOCACY)

How to advocate for patients’ rights? This workshop focuses on adult and medical patients’ rights to access, possess and use cannabis in Hawaii. The principles of this workshop can be applied to advocacy strategies for any of the States in the continental U.S.

WORKSHOP 4

WE COOKIN’ WITH CANNABIS 365 (DIY HEALTHY RECIPES)

A workshop to demonstrate, discuss and explain how to create DIY nutritious meals with optional use of cannabis added.

WORKSHOP 5

WOMBMAN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, PRE & POST MENOPAUSAL (BEST PRACTICES)

Workshop explores how traditional botanical herbs, including cannabis can be used to support a Wombman’s Reproductive Health. A workshop for Male Reproductive Health currently in progress. Specifically, designed for the Vintage aged Man 65 years and beyond.(Launch TBA)

lEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS:

According to the following learning objectives, each participant will:

Gain a fundamental understanding of the historical uses of cannabis.

Discuss and determine the cultural, political, and social influences impacting the legal status of cannabis.

Discuss and identify patients’ rights.

Analyze current legislation and impacts on the medical and adult user in Hawaii and other parts of the globe.

Determine how they can benefit from using cannabis medicinal or adult use.

Engage in analytical discussions of workshop materials presented and relevance to participants.
Experiment with innovative ideas, concepts, and multiple perspectives on cannabis as plant medicine.

Participant’s & Presenterʻs performance is evaluated through surveys and other forms of assessments by the end of each session.
Relevant handouts and resource materials provided to participants for each workshop.

Participants will meet those learning objectives stated. Thereby individuals and or groups, will gain a better understanding of different sustainable ways to use cannabis effectively. While leaving each workshop with empowering and educational information that allow them to utilize cannabis in a healthy, sustainable, and transformative manner.

All images used on this blogpost, in workshops content, materials and presentations are the exclusive Intellectual Property of Balm O.G.360 LLC. No part of the workshop content, materials and presentations may be duplicated digital or otherwise, used and sold without the consent and/or compensation of Balm O.G.360 LLC.

Call us at 808-990-6179

email: balmofgilead365@gmail.com

Instagram @wecookin_withcannabis365

Balm O.G. & We Cookinʻ logos designed by Amy Mathews. growhousecommunity.com

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SELF CARE, SELF DETERMINATION, SELF LOVE.

As I reflect on my journey to healing my body, mind and soul, with proper nutrition, exercise, meditation and Cannabis medicine. I would share a few things that resonated with me. The first thing being, where I am today is definitely not where I was last year, or even yesterday for that matter. I’m constantly transforming myself and my life by extension. How am I doing this?

***Probably over 220 lbs then. & struggling with physical and psychological trauma. “…Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others…” Buddha.***

One of the greatest secrets I’ve learned on this journey, is the value of self care. I mean it, seriously! I had to start taking care of myself, otherwise I could not be here sharing my thoughts on the gem called self care. You have to learn how to listen to the body, be in touch with every arteries, cell, muscle, organ and connect to them. Especially, if you are using Cannabis as your food and medicine. So exercise becomes an essential part of any self care routine. Self determination plays an important part in me getting out there too. I made the choice to get up out of that depressing way of life, to battle pain at whatever cost it meant to find joy and relief. That means working on self.

Remember to be kind to yourself, love yourself, and be happy with each step you take to progress in transforming your life. Always, recall that we are all individuals, and we do things differently. So we must be patient with one another in how we travel our paths to wellness. We each have to go at our own pace, and find the best methods that work for us. For me, it’s the walking for miles, that is motivating me to push myself further, in reviving those atrophied muscles, tissues and cells.

I’m also committed to setting and achieving goals for myself. I also keep in mind that if I fail to meet those goals, I must keep pushing. Failure, is not an option for me, but when I don’t succeed at doing something well, I try to learn from that fall. I get up, and I try another way to reach there. This is what I do every day, eat healthy, exercise, meditate, and explore making and using my Cannabis medicine for my 360 degrees of Wellness.

Today, I Approach my life with curiosity, flexibility, an open mind, most of all, with loving myself in all my imperfections. I’m still working on my physical and other challenges, placing greater value on my meditation time than ever before. I’m a work of art in progress, limited edition, one of one.

Weighed myself a few days ago, I am holding steady at 165lbs. and feeling extremely better than I did last year this time. 2022 I will focus on building upper body strength and tightening the flabs from weight loss, with love.

Feel free to sound off and share your thoughts on this journey with me. Would love to hear from you. Please drop your comments, and reach out in the contact section of my website. One love.

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BALM OF GILEAD CANNABIS HEALTH AND WELLNESS MINISTRY

***“HERB FOR MY WINE, HONEY FOR MY STRONG DRINK”***

420 2024 Special Edition

Greetings and blessings to all who take time to read my posts. I donʻt often get a chance to share everything that I am doing related to cannabis health and wellness. Suffice to say that I have not departed from the path to seeing cannabis removed from the Schedule I Substance status imposed by the U.S. Federal Government. The state of Hawaiʻi is still working on revisiting Adult use legislation which failed to pass in the House this year. I for one am elated because I oppose those laws they were introducing.

Why? The proposed adult use cannabis legislation will only benefit a few deep pocket interests. While continuing to criminalize and exclude the Ganja War Veterans and other cannabis alchemists, cultivators, craft farmers, care givers, cultural practitioners, from fair and legal participation in the industry. I am not trying to beat that dead horse, but here is where I stress the importance of being active in the political process. Excercise your voting power and hold those politricians accountable, especially those who support cannabis legalization only for profit. I invite you to join Ras Brian and myself on our podcast Cannabis The Healing of All Nations. Which airs on globalmedz.net, internet radio, on the last Wednesday of each month. 2pm HIT, 5pm PST, 7pm CST & 8pm EST. Listen in, call in, share the link with a friend and even join us as a guest speaker. We love to hear your stories, have you share your experiences and knowledge with our global audience. So do join us.

If you are interested in learning how to incorporate the use of plant based nutrition and medicine, to achieve a mentally, physically and spiritually rewarding lifestyle. Then reach out to us, and we can begin a conversation on how to get you on your path to health and wellness.

When you donʻt see frequent posts on this website. It does not mean we are stagnant. The works are ongoing. If you are interested in supporting the works we do to transform this “legal cannabis” industry into a more sustainable and just market. Then work with us, there are many ways in which you can help build an environmentally and economically sustainable cannabis industry. Be part of the solution and not the problem. Remember to donate generously to the legal defense funds for the Ganja War Veterans. IYKYK.

CANNABIS ADVOCACY, COACHING & EDUCATION, FOR BODY, MIND & SOUL ELEVATION!

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Audre Lorde

I am Grateful to Our Creator, AnkCestars, and the Iniverse for the gift of this Sacred Life and herb Cannabis. Opening up the month of June with a heart of gratitude, humility and great joy to be a Goddess living this Human experience in the Kingdom of Hawai’i. This month is looking quite eventful for me in many aspects. June is a change in seasons, it marks my 66th solar revolution in this lifetime. June brings blessings my first “Spotlight” feature from Hawaiian Ethos Medical Cannabis Dispensary. A local Cannabis business who has found value in my Ministry as a Certified Cannabis Health & Wellness Advocate, Coach & Educator. Finally, June is time for celebrating “Medical Cannabis Day“, an event organized by the “Hawaii Patients Union“, on June 14th, 2022. Their traditional call to action to raise awareness and advocate for medical patients in Hawai’i. What better time to be in the Kingdom of Hawai’i?

Having a cultural, medical, social and spiritual need to full access of cannabis for my sustenance, returning to Hawai’i in 2018 was a wise choice. One made by Divine intervention. Once I arrived, I simply knew if I was to improve my health, I would need access to cannabis medicine. Gratitude for the forces that made at least Medical Cannabis legal in Hawai’i. Honestly, having my 329 medical license, is something I never imagined could happen in Hawai’i. Here I am, four years a “licensed medical patient”. Paying the state to allow me to normalize my use of this plant through their licensing standards. It’s ironic! The same system that criminalized our use of the herb, now wants to profit from it. Even how weird it is having a medical license now, I feel a small degree of safety from “law enforcement”, compared to the terror I felt while living in Hawaii during the 80’s. That is for another blog post. I want to stay on the healing track right now.

For those who may not know, my knowledge and use of the plant cannabis is informed by my cultural and spiritual roots as a RASTAFARI, Wombman. Over the years I have learned from various herb masters, how to make my own cannabis medicine, For the past 43 years of my adult life, I have utilized cannabis as my mental, physical and spiritual food. A supplement that has helped me to effectively deal with illness such as anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, depression and migraines, while reducing my need for prescribed medications for the same ailments. As it was then so it is now. Cannabis remains a central ingredient in my overall health and wellness. I am grateful to share with those who inquire, my experience, knowledge and ways in which I incorporate cannabis with healthy nutrition, movement, meditation and other individually curated modalities of wellness; in order to maintain a balanced body, mind and spirit.

I am inspired and motivated by HPU’s activism on behalf of medical patients in Hawai’i, and regard their work as valuable. Their philosophy of a medical patient’s right to access, cultivation, possession and use, resonates deeply with me, as it is similar to the RASTAFARI philosophy and practice of utilizing Cannabis as our mental, physical and spiritual sustenance. We know that people around the globe have the Divine and in some places the Constitutional Rights to consume this plant without being maligned by law. Finally, June is also a month I associate with life celebrations, new births, rites of passage, planting flowers and fruits, taking long walks, bathing nude under warm rain showers. Speaking for myself, and my “legacy” family members on island, who were negatively impacted by “Green Harvest” & the “War on Drugs”. I’m grateful to be among the living to see such a celebration in advocating for Our Rights to full access to cultivate, process, and use cannabis in Hawaii. In this RASPECT, Our Struggle continues. Partnering with businesses, and organizations that share the same Iniversal vision for Cannabis, is another means to achieve the same goals.

Visit Hawaiian Ethos in person or online check out their link: Hawaiian Ethos Dispensary https://www.instagram.com/hawaiianethos/

Please support Hawaii Patients Union, & the Medical Cannabis Day Event on June 14th 2022. Check IG page & Website https://hawaiipatientsunion.com/ for more details.

**BALM OF GILEAD CANNABIS HEALTH AND WELLNESS MINISTRY**

We are grateful for the return to the Kingdom of Hawai’i, the blessings of being on the ‘Āina(land), from sea to mountain. “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono“, “The life of the land is preserved in righteousness”!

MEET ME IN CLUBHOUSE

“Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine your food” African Proverb
https://youtu.be/DVUgcofW4fQ

CLUBHOUSE ROOM
CANNABIS THE HEALING
OF ALL NATIONS
WEDNESDAY APRIL 27TH, 2PM HIT, 5PM PST, 7PM CST,
8PM EST. JOIN THE CONVERSATION IN CLUBHOUSE.
REASONING ABOUT CONTINENTAL AFRICANS & THEIR
ASCENDANTS IN THE DIASPORA. HOW DO WE USE
HERBS AS FOOD, MEDICINE & SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE?

“Dreadnut” or Coconut Water natural is what I drink before and after my walks. Restores ph balance in body, has potassium and other nutrients, low in fat & cholesterols. “Olena” or Tumeric a traditional medicine and food among many Indigenous peoples of the World including Asians, Africans and Hawaiians. I use it as an extract, tea, seasoning and more. How do you use these two plants and their fruits?

I Am who I Am

My 2022 Greetings, to everyone who has and continues to follow my journey of wellness on this blog. If I have not had the opportunity to greet you on the other platforms, namely IG @wecookin_withcannabis365, I do so now. I am simply living in gratitude for everyday that I am alive. With so many of our close family and friends who have transitioned these past two years, instead of grieving I choose to celebrate their lives. How have I been doing that? I have chosen to be present for those who are living. Welcoming another grandchild on this earth with humility and grace.

Every day I make a conscious effort to Rise with a renewed spirit in gratitude. I am learning how to shift my behavior and thinking to a mindset that will help me discard old, useless habits, while developing new practical and useful ones. Without going into too much detail about my mundane life, the most therapeutic part of my healing journey, has been self awareness. I know that I am the Master of my body, mind and soul, Guided by the Divine Force Within, that I call My Creator. I Am present so is I Creator. I must be able to care for myself well, in order to be of service to others.

In this state of awareness, I am able to care for myself in ways I had not taken time to do in previous years. Moving forward, and not lamenting the past. My current days are guided with brief moments of mindful meditation, throughout my day. I spend most of my time learning, and studying more about the medicinal and traditional uses of healing herbs, roots, foods, and spiritual practices of my Afro-Caribbean AnkCeStars. So that I can apply this ancestral knowledge to sustain myself and the community I live in today, in Hawai’i. How can I be true to others if I can’t be true to myself?

I am a guest among the Hawaiian people and I make no assumptions about their cultural heritage and practices. However, from an over 40 years connection to the people and the land, I have found that we share more similarities than differences as Humans on this planet. This is one of the main reasons I chose to return to family and remain here. I am nurtured, protected and feel safe here in the Kingdom of Hawaii. For the past 3 years since I have returned to the land, it has been my blessing to receive and share the goodness that comes from both Hawaiian and Ayisian cultures. That which serves to restore the health of my body, mind and soul. Using collective memories of ancestral knowledge, engaging in conversation with the elders, masters teachers of Hawaiian and Pacific island cultures, as well as those from my global African community, is an ongoing learning process for me. Each day, I am blessed to live, I am able to access, this beautiful land, and enjoy the herbs, fruits, roots, vegetables, trees, plants and other foods grown here in Hawaii. As part of my mental, physical and spiritual healing.

In conclusion, I think I went on a long route to say, I am still taking care of myself daily. I drink at least 96 oz of water every day, I include coconut water as often as I am able to get them. I continue to exercise by doing some form of movement even while spending time doing household tasks. I am still walking a minimum of 5 miles a week. I eat mostly plant based meals made from fresh local organic fruits and vegetables in season. I am using cannabis with much more intention than I have in the past. Learning how to intentionally track my consumption and dosages, as I use the herb to treat various health challenges for myself, I am finding much more relief and reducing the number of spliff I am smoking. A difference that I am feeling in my lungs, especially when I walk. I am grateful to be among the living in this land called Hawaii. All of this I have shared with you, to say I AM a Divine work of art in progress. Only the Master Creator, can judge when I am no longer needed or useful in this realm. Till that Judgement time! How may I be of service to you on your journey to wellness?

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT CANNABIS, LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR OVERALL HEALTH & WELL BEING. Proper nutrition, exercise and meditation, are key topics we will explore, when considering using Cannabis as medicine. Let’s talk first about nutrition. How do you nourish your body? I use these images taken pre-Covid 19, to illustrate the importance of proper nutrition, while using Cannabis. The first two are examples, rather a testament of my personal & physical transformational story.

**Pic of me in Hilo, Hawai’i December 2019, 220 lbs .**

Comparing & contrasting pics of me above & most recent pics below. I can say my weight loss, is primarily due to my decision to shift from nutritionally depleting eating habits. To developing and practicing healthy, mindful, sustainable shift in dietary habits.

I have been working on a one day at a time healing journey since 2019, I’m still going. I am a work in progress. I went from weighing 220 lbs, then; to now I weigh 165 lbs, as the year 2021 ends.

**Pic of me in Pahoa, Hawai’i , Summer 2021.**

Want to know how you too can change your unhealthy behaviors and poor nutritional habits? Are you seeking to live a healthy, long life with purpose? Let me be your guide through my journey of wellness, of the body, mind and soul.

I will be glad to provide you an introduction to my coaching Ministry. Let’s meet and see how we can be of service, in partnering and guiding you on your way to better health and wellness. While developing and practicing healthy sustainable nutritional habits and life skills, including continuing education on intentional use of cannabis as medicine. Follow me: on Instagram @wecookin_withcannabis365 or send email balmofgilead365@gmail.com

ARE ANY OF THESE FOODS INCLUDED IN YOUR DAILY NUTRITIONAL REGIME?

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