Born in the ‘perfect cannabis climate growing town’ of Te Puke, on the east Coast of New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, Te Puke Thunder is quite possibly New Zealand’s most well-known (and most potent) strain of Cannabis.

TPT was the first popular polypoid strain developed in Aotearoa (meaning the plant has a few more than usual chromosomes per cell) with larger, stickier buds, and one hell of a potency. So strong, in fact, that it has even featured in a range of Amsterdam’s brown cafes, has a Wikipedia page, an Urban Dictionary entry, and has even had a cameo appearance on Outrageous Fortune (so I'm told).

It had become so popular that the new owners of the Cameron Road Dairy in Te Puke thought that changing their name to Thunder Takeaways would be a good idea. Sound business decision that would have been - Two fish, a scoop of chips, a pineapple fritter and a $20 special please.

 

Back in the 1970s, the Coromandel peninsula became famous as a prime outdoor growing area. This hilly backwater, largely forgotten after its late 19th century gold rush had come and gone, attracted many young people seeking an alternative lifestyle. Being within half a day’s drive of Auckland, Coromandel soon became a major source of supply for the urban Cannabis market.



It is thought that origins of the Coromandel strains were due to the hordes of keen travelling and enterprising Kiwis - many of which naturally came across some fine local ganja here and there, and then brought back seeds to plant. Sturdy strains of sativa from California, Hawaii, and Mexico flourished in the south Pacific climate, as did indica strains from Asia.

Coromandel Gold has been described as mostly sativa, but very strong with a fruity but unique taste - and straight up some of the best weed in the country.

 

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the chemical primarily responsible for the ‘high’ in Marijuana. Discovered by scientists in 1964, the THC content (tiny crystals growing on the flower of the cannabis plant - the ‘buds’) differs throughout varying strains of Indica and Sativa. The former being a heavier high, and the latter being much lighter.

But just eating raw cannabis won’t get you far, as the chemical only becomes active in the body when it is heated - meaning it can be smoked, vaporised, brewed as tea, or bound together with a fatty substance like coconut oil or organic butter to be used in baking.

Getting high is not all that it’s good for though, as THC & CBD (Cannabidiol - another highly concentrated non-psychoactive Cannabinoid in Marijuana) also have a wide range of medical benefits. CBD in particular has recently been changing the game surrounding the use of Cannabis as medicine - reported to relieve symptoms of chronic pain, nausea, multiple sclerosis, and is even being touted by man named Rick Simpson as ‘natures cure for cancer.’

Friends of THC have described the experience as intensely relaxing, with bouts of uncontrollable laughter and euphoria, an appetite increase, with widespread creative insight and an elevated sense of awareness and spiritual purpose. But like anything, THC is not for everyone, and must be treated with respect. Some users may experience an increased heart rate, paranoia, and anxiety - Although most conditions can be remedied when in a controlled and relaxed environment, and with good company.

Perhaps the most interesting point though, is that contrary to the popular ‘stoner’ belief that Cannabis kills brain cells, THC has been proven to have the ability to protect and even promote the growth of new brain cells through a process known as neurogenesis. What’s more, we even have cannabinoid receptors built into our brains, as our bodies produce chemicals very similar to THC which are used in normal brain function and development. Human breast milk even naturally contains many of the same cannabinoids found in marijuana, which are actually extremely vital for proper human development.

How is that for a synergetic relationship?

 

In one way or another, we’ve all had some kind of experience with Mary J. Whether it be an eye-opening (or closing) hazy Sunday afternoon, a paranoid trip to uni, seeing the redness in your dad’s eyes on a Monday night, the brownies from uncle Jeff, or even an intensely spiritual and enlightening bong hit. After more than 70 years of prohibition, the herb is firmly entrenched in the social fabric of this country, and is cultivated by everyone from business and professional people to the unemployed - NZ leading the world in terms of it’s use. But like anything, it can also be abused.

The secret to life is to have balance. 

As it has been culturally programmed to be a taboo in todays society, there is a complete lack of education about Cannabis in New Zealand, both on and off the street. But if you take anything home from reading this, realize that not only can Marijuana be used as medicine and recreational sacrament, its low THC Cannabis sister plant - Hemp (0.03%THC) has over 10,000 physical uses, and can be used for anything that wood, wool, cotton, plastic, paper, and oil can be used for. Go ahead and read that again.

Hemp produces 10x as much usable cellulose fibre per acre than a forest of trees, and it only takes 3-4 months (rather than 25 years) to mature. To top it all off, Hemp breathes in at least 10x the C02 of trees, and actually gives back nutrients to the soil. It even has the ability to restore radioactive soil through a process called phytoremediation - used successfully to mop up radiation damage in Chernobyl. It’s even a complete 45% protein, and contains natures perfect balance of Omega 3, 6 and 9 for joint, heart, skin, eye and brain health in the body.

People need to realise that the real reason that cannabis is illegal is because of economics and profit. Wake up and see the truth behind the veil, see past the illusions our culture has created. This often misunderstood plant can only begin to live in peace and help to heal the earth with the continued education of the masses. It is time we took our education back into our own hands. It is time we learnt the word ‘Liberation’.

In the words of the great Bob Marley “To make Marijuana against the law, is like saying God made a mistake.”


Stay cool,



Ed.