By: Sharon Letts Barry Hertzberg first used cannabis recreationally in 1972 when he was 15 years old. “Even at 15, I knew almost immediately that I would continue to love this plant for the rest of my life,” he shared. “It’s become my daily stress-reducer, and so much more.” In college he subsidized his income, […]
By: Sharon Letts
Barry Hertzberg first used cannabis recreationally in 1972 when he was 15 years old.
“Even at 15, I knew almost immediately that I would continue to love this plant for the rest of my life,” he shared. “It’s become my daily stress-reducer, and so much more.”
In college he subsidized his income, meeting supply and demand via the black market. Little did he know that years later the plant that could have put him in prison would become his remedy, replacing opioids for a severe back injury in 2007.
“I was actually surprised to find I was able to eliminate opioids altogether,” he shared. “Cannabis also relieves my chronic insomnia and a lifetime of gastrointestinal issues – and I can regulate my doses using tincture more easily than with the pills.”
Prior to ingesting for real ailments, for years Hertzberg said he only dabbed concentrates.
“My partner, Felix, and I opened a dispensary in Pacific Beach in Southern California,” he shared. “We had a dab-bar and served super-premium BHO we extracted using a Closed Loop System called a Timisium. My tolerance went through the roof and it took more and more concentrates to get me to the same place – both mentally and physically.”
Realizing he needed a better combination of cannabinoids for his particular set of ailments, he began experimenting with ingesting, specifically tinctures and topicals for pain.
He and partner Felix also began Original Nectar, his first oil-making company in Southern California, using Eden Labs large-scale CO2 distiller, manufactured in Seattle, Washington.
Using cannabis as a serious remedy didn’t come onto his radar until Janie Maedler reached out for help when her daughter, Rylie, was facing reconstructive surgery on her face, after having nearly two-thirds of her facial structure removed from bone cancer.
Hertzberg helped with the formulation for Rylie, her face regenerated in less than six months – no reconstructive surgery necessary, and the man who dabbled in concentrates was educated to the power of the plant.
Today, he is Co-Founder of Rylie’s Sunshine, LLC, and with Rylie’s mother, Janie, they have their own formulations and line of cannabis products, still using Eden Labs equipment. The site also offers support via education and consultations.
A Day in the Life…
Hertzberg said his wake-up remains smoking flower, with his daily dose beginning with a puff or two from a joint.
“If half a joint is still remaining from the prior night’s medicating, I’ll take a hit before getting out of bed,” he continued. “This straightens out a number of issues for me immediately – it settles my stomach, relieves occasional morning nausea, and relaxes my back.”
Though he prefers smoking joints throughout the day, to insure he’s pain-free, he’ll medicate with tincture every four hours or so.
“I use 50 milligrams of THC activated tincture, sublingually; and a dose as high as 100 milligrams on weekends or days where my workload is light. We make the tinctures ourselves, and I tend to prefer a sativa dominant hybrid – but indica works just as well for me.”
The tinctures are formulated with whole plant extract, using Eden Labs Super Critical CO2 equipment. The mix is proprietary for the Rylie’s Sunshine brand, along with an MCT carrier oil.
He’s also use a topical cream for immediate relief of pain made by Southern California maker, Ma Kush.
To unwind in the evening, Hertzberg said he loves to smoke flower, albeit, with more tincture, for the entourage effect. “Before bed I typically take 100 milligram of whole plant CBD tincture sublingually, extracted from the cultivar, AC/DC,” he explained. “It really clears up the inflammation that flares up in my shoulders and back when I sleep. I also take an equal amount of indica dominant THC tincture for pain and to help me sleep.”
In being interviewed for this piece, Hertzberg had an epiphany.
“Wow, I never really thought about how much I rely on cannabis in different ways every day!” he exclaimed. “I never focused on my own illnesses and pain until I saw first-hand how much it did for Rylie. Like I said, at 15 I knew weed would be my mode of recreation for life, I just had no idea how much it would become my work and medicine for life.”
For more information on Rylie’s Sunshine visit, ryliessunshine.com
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