the FREE December 7, 2017 reflector www.TheReflector.ca Retail employees Your guide to Our top 10 Get in the spirit share holiday holiday movie sport stories of by giving back horror stories binge watching the year over the holidays (Pg. 3) (Pg. 9) (Pg. 13) (Pg. 5) 2 the reflector • December 7, 2017 News Editor Anna Junker news [email protected] High times: Legal cannabis is on the horizon How medical marijuana has influenced legal use Lexi Wright Staff Writer The federal deadline for cannabis CBD, the cannabidiol which is And the popularity of medical legalization is drawing nearer. naturally found in hemp plants, marijuana is only growing But how has medical marijuana is non-psychoactive and has been stronger. influenced those who use it and are known for its success in helping Eric May is one of many concerns about medical marijuana with anxiety. individuals in Calgary who uses being addressed in Calgary? Craig Pearce, one of the medical marijuana for both If you’re not familiar with many doctors at Natural Health recreational and medical purposes. medical marijuana, a brief history Services, started studying medical “A couple summers ago I was of the plant will take you on a marijuana after having done his getting really dizzy and had no idea journey through all of its different own research. why. I went to a few doctors and components. “I started to see some of the one doctor suggested that it might In addition to THC — the most patient results, anecdotal of be anxiety. With an [anxiety] pill, well-known chemical component course, and coming from research you feel different, you don’t feel in marijuana and what gives you background it was a bit difficult. like yourself. With weed, I was that “high” feeling — there are We live in a day and age of actually able to lower my dosage of several other cannabinoids. Many evidence based medicine so I really the anxiety pill,” says May. of these chemicals were more wanted to see research but I was After consulting with friends recently discovered, and some are experiencing patient results which who had also been using medical still being tested to find the best were really truly inspiring”. marijuana, May decided that it medical uses for them. One of his most memorable would be a safer and more effective Kait Shane, Director Of success stories was a pediatric option. Community Outreach at Natural epilepsy case. The patient had “You know, the whole fentanyl Eric May smokes a joint of medical marijuana. As of July 1, Health Services, says that the exhausted all conventional crisis is a big deal. Medical 2018, marijuana will be legal across Canada. Photo by Lexi curiosity surrounding medical therapies and after turning to marijuana is way better than street Wright marijuana has been around for medical marijuana, saw huge stuff in terms of potency and just years. success. cleanness. The whole idea of it CBD drops are the ones that really operated stores, while online sales “Before the 1960’s, a lot of “That was probably the most being clean and from somewhere curbed my anxiety.” will be managed by a Government plants had just as much CBD remarkable initial patient result, I can trust really helped with my Future studies are planned of Alberta website. [cannabinoid] as THC in them watching this patient go from 30 to decision,” says May. to evaluate the effectiveness In the meantime, the City but once the recreational market 50 seizures a day to less than half a Contrary to popular belief, of CBD for treating psychotic of Calgary is looking for your hit, nobody could tell what CBD dozen with CBD oil,” says Pearce. you don’t have to smoke medical disorders, arthritis, epilepsy and thoughts on legalized cannabis. was really doing for them. When “It really just takes one or two marijuana. In fact, smoking it inflammatory bowel disease. You can provide feedback on medicinal entered the scene again, happy patients per day to make is not recommended by health Whether you’re an advocate business regulations, retail sales, mainly through parent advocacy you feel like, okay, maybe there practitioners. for legalization or not, legislation use, consumption and growing groups around seizures, they isn’t a whole lot of evidence based For May, CBD oils have proven to has been set for July 1, 2018. it at home. The website engage. started doing a bit more research medicine yet but here are some be the most effective. The provincial government calgary.ca/cannabis is open until on CBD and discovered how anecdotal responses that are really, “If you don’t mind the taste, announced that the minimum Dec. 10. important it was for the medicinal really promising and changing you just drop it under your tongue age of consumption will be 18 and component,” says Shane. people’s lives.” and it starts doing it’s thing. The cannabis is to be sold at privately Percentage of registered medical marijuana clients across Canada as of June 2018. Statistics provided by the Government of Canada. Graphic by Andi Endruhn December 7, 2017 • the reflector 3 This holiday season, remember to be kind to retail workers Retail workers share stories and tips to survive the season Anna Junker News Editor Retail workers are bracing told we wouldn’t be getting any that’s clearly incompetent etc.. of dealing with an upset If you were buying stuff, would themselves for every person more until New Years,” Ryan She then demands to speak to customer over the sold out you really want to hear about that celebrates Christmas hitting said. my manager,” said Ryan. Google Home Mini. all 36 of the dumb promotions the malls hard with dreams of “Within a few days we were all In efforts to appease the “It’s real popular and we’ve that are being offered? Of course finding the perfect gift for the sold out and those things were woman, Ryan went to retrieve been selling out of it every time not,” said Ryan. He adds that important people in their lives. something like $80 a pop. Not his manager and warned her we get a new shipment, and he although it may be part of your Over two million Canadians a single Indigo/Chapters in the that the customer was becoming got really frustrated with me job to offer the promotions, read work in retail, according to city got their stock replenished “irate.” The manager then when I said we were sold out - the person’s body language. If Statistics Canada. The packed before Christmas.” proceeds to reiterate what Ryan starting to get confrontational they seem disinterested, move malls mean those retail According to Ryan, they had previously told the woman. and asking why we were along. employees, the ones who are explained the situation to The store has zero Hatchimals. advertising it if we didn’t have it, “Second, kill them with folding clothes, behind the customers and most took it well. “The customer explodes into a and really seemed to be taking kindness. You may have the worst tills, making your favourite Except for one woman who tirade about how we’re terrible it personally. Thankfully he human being come through your Starbucks drink have to put on walked into the store to acquire a employees and how stupid it is dropped it, but that’s really not till, but if you stay nice and they a brave face, a warm smile and Hatchimal on Dec. 23, two days that we don’t have enough stock. uncommon,” said Tytgat. still treat you poorly, ultimately try their hardest to politely deal before Christmas. The icing on this dumpster fire “It’s unsettling when that you win,” said Ryan. with some of the most difficult “I tell her — in my super nice of a cake was when she said, happens, because even though “Why? Because no matter what customers. retail voice — ‘Sorry ma’am, ‘You’ve f------ ruined my child’s it’s out of my control, someone they say to you, just remember Tyler Ryan, an ex-employee of we’re totally sold out of those Christmas you assholes, I hope wants answers, and I get that, that you’re not the loser being Chapters who worked there for and we won’t be getting any until you’re all happy.’ She then but it really freaks me out [rude] to a retail worker. As one just under four years, has his fair after New Years. No stores in the stormed out of the store but not sometimes.” of my old managers used to say: share of stories of dealing with city have them,’” recalled Ryan. before I got in my ‘Hope you have Ryan says he understands ‘Well they can be nasty to me, difficult customers. “She doesn’t believe me and a happy Christmas ma’am!’” Christmas is a stressful time of but karma is going to make a “I saw some savagery that tells me to go check in the Drew Tytgat works at a home year, especially for parents but bird shit on their car one day.’” only the holidays can produce. backroom because she ‘knows furnishing store and also shared he would like it if people were The third tip, not only can I watched a grown woman rip we have them.’” their thoughts about working more understanding during the retail workers use this, but any a toy out of a crying toddler’s Ryan goes to the back to retail during the holidays. season. holiday shopper can take to hand, I listened to parents get appease the woman and comes “Working retail over the “If the happiness of your heart.