From care-filled cooking to sweet relaxation, consider a ‘green’ gift to spruce up the snowy holiday season.

(image: Consider taking gift-giving to a new place this year by injecting some lively green into this usually white and snowy season. / PHOTO BY SASHA_SUZI / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS)

The anticipated lockdown on many in-person get-togethers this holiday season because of the COVID-19 curveball has put a damper on regular festivities. But there’s no better way to brighten grey days than with thoughtful gift-giving that reflects better times and offers a connection to loved ones.

Since 2020 is the year of never-ending change, it might be nice to switch things up. Consider taking gift-giving to a new place by injecting some lively green into this usually white and snowy season.

A recent survey shows respondents are open to giving cannabis- and CBD-inspired gifts a try this year. In fact, 32 per cent of the 1,507 Canadian adults polled said they would consider giving the gift of weed. And those gifts are not just for friends, siblings and partners; mom and dad are also on the list.

Green wellness gifts are an increasingly attractive option, with Deloitte reporting “the growing use of cannabis as a wellness product or to alleviate pain isn’t surprising.” Indeed, Strainprint Technologies noted in 2018 that back pain, anxiety and arthritis were the top conditions driving those 50 and older to try cannabis.

Here are some green-inspired wellness gifts, from stocking-stuffers to bigger-ticket items, to consider for whoever has made your “nice” list this holiday season.

Get cooking

Not only does the cookbook focus on the delicious, it also offers education for the canna-curious. / PHOTO: COURTESY OF BE BLISSED
Partnering with award-winning entrepreneur, caterer, author and media personality Rose Reisman, Be Blissed is encouraging everyone to get cooking and learn how to be healthy and well. In this newly launched cookbook, Be Blissed:Easy CBD and THC Infused Recipes for Everyday, Reisman shares more than 100 easy-to-cook meals and offers lessons on how at-home chefs can explore cooking with CBD and THC. Feel like shakshuka for brunch? No problem. What about infused and delicious caramelized onion burgers for dinner? Done. And for those with a sweet tooth, consider mega chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Not only does the cookbook focus on the delicious, it offers education for the canna-curious. It can be pre-purchased at its listed price of $35.

Da bomb

Whether raring to take on the day or looking to be more chill, these bath bombs provide the perfect solution. / PHOTO: AS DISPLAYED ON CANNABISNL
Eve & Co.’s wholly owned subsidiary, Natural MedCo Ltd., recently released two cannabis-infused bath bombs, the first company offerings of its planned line of female-focused cannabis 2.0 products. Whether a Dreamer or a Boss, the delightfully scented and potent bombs are handmade with full-spectrum distillate. Based on the company’s popular dried cannabis products, each option highlights specific terpene and aromatic properties. Ready to be empowered and take on the day, whatever it delivers? The Boss option is infused with natural lemon, grapefruit and sweet orange essential oils. Want to feel a bit more chill? The Dreamer is infused with natural lavender and chamomile essential oils, both meant to help take the edge off the day. Priced at $15.49 and available at CannabisNL, each soap/scrub/soakbomb offers 100 mg of THC and 100 mg of CBD.

Go smoke-free

Don’t feel like smoking cannabis? Perhaps a Canadian-made vape is the way to go. Furna Vaporizers has announced the availability of Live Vibrant, a beautifully designed vape with swappable, pre-loadable ovens that is also portable and pocketable. Bearing simplicity and functionality in mind, the fully modular system offers consumers flexibility and convenience whether they choose to use dry herb or concentrates. Product makers note it takes only seconds to swap out the pre-packed ovens or to switch flavours. Heating is also fast, taking as little as 32 seconds, with a full battery charge lasting as long as three hours or about 20 sessions. Available across North American, the new vape is priced at $299 in Canada and US$229 south of the border. Products are expected to become available for shipping starting Dec. 7.

Drink to that

Made in Belleville, Ont., all of the CBD and THC beverages within the portfolio offer a controlled dosage. / PHOTO BY TRUSS BEVERAGE COMPANY
After quite a wait, momentum around cannabis beverages is starting to build in Canada, with greater options becoming available. For example, Truss Beverage Co., a joint venture between Molson Coors Canada and HEXO Corp., recently released a line of cannabis beverages. Made in Belleville, Ont., all of the CBD and THC beverages within the portfolio offer a controlled dosage, with most products having a low to medium dose of THC (2.5 mg to 5.0 mg). The line provides five options, including Mollo, perfect for those moments on the couch, watching a holiday movie or game, and Veryvell, a product to enjoy when you have a holiday moment to yourself. The products are available in several different provinces and generally range in price from about $5 to $8 per bottle.

Skin reap

Salve is designed and formulated by a holistic nutritionist and clinical herbalist. / PHOTO: AS DISPLAYED ON JUSTADDOIL.CA
If beautiful skin (or hair!) is the goal, now available from Earth Kisses Sky is Skin Health & Beauty Skin Salve, which costs $45. The multipurpose product, which comes in a 50 ml bottle, seeks to hydrate and soothe the skin, help relieve acne and itching from bug bites and rashes, reduce skin redness and inflammation and even condition hair. Derived from natural sources, the salve does not contain artificial colours or fragrances, chemicals, parabens, artificial preservatives, petroleum-based products or silicone. It is designed and formulated by a holistic nutritionist and clinical herbalist.

Breathe easy

Its rich terpene profile includes caryophyllene, guaiol and bisabolol. / PHOTO BY BLISSED
Blissed Breathe is a full-spectrum, high-CBD cannabis oil containing 24 to 27 mg/ml of CBD and 0.5 to 1.5 mg/ml of THC that comes with a measured dropper to ensure precise dosing. The indoor-grown, carbon dioxide-extracted cannabis, cultivated in Alberta by Aurora Cannabis, has been blended with MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil. Its rich terpene profile includes caryophyllene, guaiol and bisabolol. Anecdotal reports suggest CBD may help with anxiety, acne, insomnia and pain. Rigorously tested, extracted purified and formulated, the oil comes in a 20 ml size and costs $59.95.

Tea time

The tea features cherry and peach flavours complemented by subtle hints of rose and jasmine. / PHOTO: AS DISPLAYED ON TOKYO SMOKE
Haven St. understands that sometimes you just need to sit and enjoy a relaxing cup of tea. The Peace No. 150 Green Tea Blend contains CBD and is formulated and designed for superior steep and infusion. Smell/taste that? The cherry and peach flavours are complemented by subtle hints of rose and jasmine. Offering the same delayed onset time and smoke-free experience as capsules and oils, onset is usually anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours and the duration is up to 12 hours. At $7 apiece, the tea is sold as single pyramid bags.

To the max

The non-psychoactive formula, featuring 1:1 THC and CBD, is quick-absorbing and offers an invigorating scent. / PHOTO BY 48NORTH
Apothecanna offers a maximum strength solution. The extra strength body cream doubles down by doubling up on the dose of arnica, peppermint, juniper and outdoor-grown cannabis, courtesy of 48 North. Don’t have time to wait around? The non-psychoactive formula, featuring 1:1 THC and CBD, is quick-absorbing and offers an invigorating scent. The 60-gram bottle contains 25 mg of THC and 25 mg of CBD. Depending on the province or provider, the list price ranges from $22.99 to $31.99.

Ease into the night

The package contains 100 mg of THC and 100 mg of CBD. / PHOTO: AS DISPLAYED ON ALBERTA CANNABIS
Made in Canada, Latitude offers infused bath salts called Night Shift. Priced at $29.99, the salts offer a dreamy mix of charcoal-infused Black Sea and Epsom salts. Jasmine, ylang-ylang and patchouli essential oils infused with THC and CBD helps bring the senses to new heights. The package contains 100 mg of THC and 100 mg of CBD. The bath salts are currently available in Alberta, but are expected to be coming to other provinces soon.

Up the anti

Earth Kisses Sky, which manufactures and distributes 100 per cent natural health products, is offering the Pain & Inflammation Skin Salve. The product’s herbal ingredients are said to have excellent analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The salve, which comes in a 50 ml bottle, has absolutely no problem saying “no” to certain things: artificial colours or fragrances, chemicals, parabens, artificial preservatives, petroleum-based products or silicone.

Beach baby, beach baby

True, winter is fast-approaching, but that doesn’t mean people can’t still enjoy the beach. If getting high is not the goal, consider kicking back and relaxing with a CBD joint courtesy of Be Blissed. Cultivated in B.C., this indoor-grown, hang-dried pre-roll features high-range CBD and low THC. Packaged in a reusable and easy-to-carry tube, the Durga Mata II strain produces a mint flavour with light citrus aromas. Its dominant terpenes include terpinolene, beta-pinene and p-cymene. Priced at $9.50, the single 0.5 gram pre-roll contains 10 to 15 per cent CBD and five to 10 per cent THC.