“Oh, really?”
“Really.”
“Do tell,” I challenged.
“First of all, I meant it when I said I believed it will provide valuable data for your research.”
The temperature between my thighs shot up by at least ten degrees. Apparently, I liked it when Orion spoke clinically, just as much as he did when I talked like a biker. I did my best to remain focused on my rebuttal and I licked my lips as I took a deep breath. “I told you, the scope of my research doesn’t contain the psychotropic effects of cannabis.”
“Maybe you should broaden your scope,” he countered. “The whole reason you’re studying cannabis in the first place is to fight disease, right?”
“Of course,” I replied.
“How do you know the scope of the diseases you can treat with cannabis if you don’t know the full effects of the plant itself? Both THC and CBD have their medical benefits, and many effective psychiatric medications produce psychotropic effects.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing but puritanical hot air came out, so Orion continued, “Secondly. You’re going to come across a shit ton of people during your research and every one of them is going to have a strong opinion on the subject of pot.”
“So?” I asked, which was at least an upgrade from nothing.
“So…most of these opinions are gonna be based on third-hand misinformation, anecdotes, fantasy, and utter bullshit. Onbothsides.”
“What do you mean?”
“Some people think cannabis is the devil’s lettuce, right? It’s an evil drug that leads to all kinds of untold debauchery,” Orion said in a mock Southern Baptist preacher voice. “Of course, they’re wrong, but not without their valid points from time to time. On the other hand, you have pot evangelists that want the world to believe that bong rips cure everything from athlete’s foot to brain cancer. Those folks usually just end up muddying the waters of public discussion for medical use.”
“So, how does me getting high fix the fact that both sides are wrong?”
“It won’t,” Orion said.
“Are you sure I’m not stoned already, because I’m really confused. I thought you wanted me to eat the frog?”
Orion laughed softy, gently opened my clenched fist, and took the now warm and gooey edible from me, and held it up.
“I want you to take cannabis so you can relate to both sides. You’re a level-headed woman of science, studying within a field charged with high emotions and opinions, and I think it would be cool if you studied every aspect of what people find useful about this little green plant.”
Orion had nothing but valid points from a research standpoint, I was doing nothing illegal or unethical, and apart from the high sugar content of the gummy, wasn’t putting anything harmful into my body. I was also a grown-ass woman, who was curious, in the company of someone she trusted, and I just so happened to love gummies. I closed my eyes and stuck out my tongue like a parishioner receiving communion. Playing the role of priest, Orion placed the edible on my tongue, which I then chewed and swallowed before opening my eyes.
“You said there were three reasons I should eat the frog, but you only gave me two.”
“The third reason’s a tad less scientific,” Orion said with a grin. “You need a little vacation for a few hours, and I know you well enough to know you’re not gonna do that without a little assistance.”
“I do not have a problem relaxing,” I argued. “I relax whenever I’m not working, studying, or in the lab.”
“Which is when exactly?”
“Lately, a lot! In fact, you’re a bad influence on my work ethic.”
“Me? How do you figure?”
I waved my hands in the air violently. “Look what we’re doing right now? I should be at home studying and you just gave me an edible, while using big boy words that are making me horny.”
Orion laughed heartily. “We’re standing in a lab after school, when you should be relaxing, and the only way you were able to convince yourself to take that edible was to focus on the research benefits.”
Once again, Orion saw right through me and spoke his thoughts bluntly, yet kindly.
“Yeah, well. I don’t even feel anything, so this was probably all for nothing anyway,” I said.
“Edibles aren’t like taking a shot of tequila, or even smoking flower, where you begin to feel the effects right away,” Orion said.
