Where there’s smoke there is fire and the cannabis cloud over Colorado appears to be lingering like smog on a otherwise clear day. Cannabis proponent Apothecanna has positioned itself beyond the pale, as an adjunct measure in pain management and only time will tell if they can remain straight enough to keep their wellness branding intact.
I wrote this piece originally in June of 2015 and removed it from this blog over a reservation about logical reasoning summed up simply by “begging the question.” But let’s talk products for now.
Apothecanna does offer a variety of scents that leave the 1960’s behind.
Stimulating: Ginger Capsasian Grapefruit Lotion
Everyday: Mandarin Cedar Geranium Lotion
Calming: Lavender Cammomile Frankincense Lotion
Pain Relief: Arnica Peppermint Juniper Lotion
The statement on their website detailing the benefits of their “natural” products Topical Cannabis, Hemp Lotion, & THC Spray (located under the tab “learn” and “apothecanna massage”) is simple and basic:
Revitalizing botanicals like arnica and capsaicin combine with topical marijuana to provide natural herbal pain relief .
The Marketing is both Spartan and clever.
“Here at Apothecanna, we’re committed to providing innovative topical pain relievers that combine topical cannabis with other healing and soothing botanicals for a more natural option for topical pain relief. Unlike conventional topical pain relief cream products, our cannabis calming cream offer pain relief without unpleasant “medicine” scents, instead incorporating sense-soothing botanicals like lavender, chamomile, and frankincense. These botanicals make using our topical marijuana products more enjoyable, contributing to a sense of well being that can aid the healing process. In addition to our full line of cannabis cream and THC spray products for pain relief, which are available at over 200 Colorado medical marijuana centers, we also offer several invigorating, calming, and pain relieving cream products made with hemp and arnica cream, as well as other botanicals to soothe your skin as well as your senses.”
Rejuvenate your skin and senses with topical cannabis cream and botanical skin therapies from Apothecanna.
Under the “About” tab are three discreet paragraphs that provide a brief nod to both legality and their position on the role of natural philosophy in society at large.
By reordering the brands statements, it may be a bit more obvious to educated consumers and those who question the politics involved, how the advent of Apothecanna will impact the Spa and Wellness Industry. And in particular, the Professional Massage Community which may utilize such products IN TANDEM with mainstream pain management professionals.
Let’s break it down like any syllogism, but let’s do it backwards and examine the logic of the marketing.
“Our mission at Apothecanna is to spread the wisdom of traditional plant medicine. We believe in the fundamental right of access to the healing powers of nature and promote sustainable interaction with the world around us.”
Preceeding this ‘tidbit’ is the following ‘tidbit.”
“We do not use artificial ingredients, fillers, parabens and only test on humans. We believe that natural treatments are the best treatments, and strive to create products with uncompromised purity, quality, and functionality.”
And the page begins with this introduction:
“Apothecanna is a natural apothecary featuring cannabis extract as the primary active ingredient due to its potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Our formulations combine cannabis with other organic and wild crafted essential oils to create highly functional topical treatments for pain and stress relief, while delivering a host of skin nurturing benefits.”
Viewed and analyzed from last statement to first, Apothecanna’s marketing strategy seems to be suffering from marijuana induced paranoia if not ordinary anxiety. So let me explain or simply point out WHY I just made that statement. Remember this assessment proceeds in reverse order from their official website circa 2015!
The first (last) CLAIM Apothecanna puts forward, is that their products have scientifically proven value. (This is TRUE of Cannabis- as science has admitted.)
The second or (middle) premise Apothecanna offers is that their products are 100% “Natural” and that they TEST only on humans.
In the third (first) STATEMENT that in traditional logic would be called a premise, Apothecanna DOES INDEED draw a CONCLUSION predicated on the two preceding premises! Want some pseudoscience wellness professionals or just a side of religion to go with your health investments and your clientele’s? Prosperity doctrine or bit coin socialism?
Consumers are informed of Apothecannas “rights” and significantly there is an appeal to nature for sovereign status as if this is an innate right, protected by the United States constitution and by the State of Colorado. Oh my! Isn’t this Gnosticism Mitt Romney’s and John McCain’s territory? Are corporations REALLY PEOPLE TOO? Colorado did have a FEMALE TEA PARTY INCUMBENT BATTLE in 2008 DIDN’T THEY…
Since when does any government, at the national or state level have an ability to regulate “unalienable” rights? The Bill of Rights isn’t a LEGALLY binding document. The Constitution however IS. President Abraham Lincoln when in office, dealing with the question I just posed said The Bill of Rights “is a rebuke.”
Gnosticism, gender and Lawd at all the LEGAL PROSTITUTION NEXT DOOR TO COLORADO, over yonder, IN NEVADA…Neither LEGAL governing body DOES have a right to regulate “unalienable” rights, pro Mblex crusaders. American laws deal with ‘inalienable rights.’ LOOK AT THAT “science based” MARKETING OF PHILOSOPHY NOW. How far a walk is from cannabis to religious faith? How far a distance is it from “energy work” and ‘Chinese medicine” to the FSMTB and a “new, improved” State by State Monopoly on the right to practice massage and issue national testing?
The “premise” that any class system is subject to the economic system, which is presumably subject to the political system, which in turn is subject to the legal system, which then, and only then, is subject to a religious system…with a framework, such as one that acknowledges and ensures ‘rights‘ which entail free will, are now on display.
Given that in 99% if not most instances, the defacto and default premise that an esthetics license is required, in addition to a Bachelor’s degree to work for a Professional Spa Product Line and that LMT’s with a Bachelor’s degree are overlooked if they have no outside B2B sales experience ought to give the Spa and Esthetics industry something to mull over when considering the SUBSTANCE of education.
Consider for instance this “new” education offering that is scarcely 20 years old: Disability Studies. It would seem Pain “science” v. “management” rather than “pain itself” is the canker sore in the post-modern lotus?
I will leave it to the “moral educators” with political axes to grind about bell jars, States right’s, healthcare and massage monopolies on entry level right to practice (that the FSMTB fails to call collusion but most certainly calls patriotism,) to pander to their fellow citizens about universal relativism and plan for the future conspiracy theories this trend will no doubt spawn.
Until Next Time Campers!
Ashley M Heidi Carter 