Mary and Jane Sunny Review: vibing with kanna and THC
The latest generation of adults is turning to cannabis and other holistic supplements over alcohol. Euphoric herbs like Blue Lotus have graced pre-rolls, and South African succulent kanna is gaining interest. Kanna is a succulent plant also called channa, and kouged (when fermented), that has been used in traditional healing practices for centuries.
Various brands have released kanna products, each with its own value. One has proven valuable for a full time working mom looking to add a plant powered mood boost to their daily supplement routine that will not make them dragging or feeling sluggish.
Mary & Jane is one of many brands with a line. The suite of melts stands apart from competitors by also including hemp-derived THC. Since initially launching microdosed Sunnies, Mary & Jane has grown to offer a suite of kanna and THC melt products to the ever-evolving line.
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Feeling Sunny with kanna & THC
Kanna is a succulent plant found in southern Africa. It has been prepared and used in ceremonies for generations. It has recently found its way into the Western wellness world.
Products like KA! Kanna Chews are bringing more attention to the compound, and it even inspired my first legal kanna product review. Since it is a serotonin inhibitor, anyone taking prescriptions (especially mood-altering SSRIs and similar pharmaceuticals) should consult with their doctor before trying kanna to avoid contraindications.
Mary & Jane co-founders Rachael Dillon and Laura Roos shared more with GreenState about how these novel cannabis products came to be.
“I first read about kanna in a newsletter from CAP Beauty,” Dillon divulged. “They described the herb as being known for ‘its ability to promote happiness’ and ‘to encourage a light mood and spritely spirit.’ I’ve always been curious about new herbs and supplements, so I decided to give kanna a try.”
Promote happiness and encourage a light mood, it does. I ate one melt, which contains one milligram (mg) of THC and 15 mg of kanna. I tried it with a full stomach and equal parts black coffee and water in my system. I swear, in just a few minutes, my heart started to spread into a serene pool, and my fingers got a little floaty. By the 15-minute mark, I was fully vibing.
At the floaty finger portion of the come-up, I started worrying that I was about to be more out of my head than I had planned. However, the floaty feeling lasted only five to ten minutes, and then I was on the road to smiles and a mellow mood. I was fully available for my kid, just with a small dose of goodness.
As an anxious, generally clenched-up person, kanna is a gentle reminder of what it means to truly live relaxed. The company also has a THC-free version called Simple Sunnies, with 30 mg of kanna per melt, and Super Sunnies, which offer higher doses at two and a half mg of THC and 30 mg of kanna.
The brand has also crafted a product meant to help people get to sleep and stay there. Dreamy Melts contain one mg of THC, five mg of CBN, reishi, magnesium, and tart cherry extract. The mixture utilizes some of the same ingredients as the Sleepy Girl mocktail.
Like the original Sunnies, this product was made for the founders’ needs.
“I had been taking a plant-based melatonin product, but oftentimes, I’d find myself lying awake for an hour if my two-year-old woke up for some reason,” said Dillon. “So we were focused on that and making sure our supplement wouldn’t make us feel groggy in the morning.”
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This care has always gone into every Mary & Jane product.
Grab another Sunny
Mary & Jane set out to find a happy hour replacement for their preferred glass of wine. They wanted to create something relaxing, promote a good mood, and provide a bit of energy. These goals made kanna and cannabis a natural pairing. The co-founders were proven right after trying the first samples of their proprietary formulation.
“Laura and I both have little kids, so the after-work hours are usually pretty chaotic. But everything seemed so much easier with Sunny,” Dillon described. “We felt happier, more present, and more patient. It was almost opposite of the effects we would experience when taking a typical edible or gummy, which tended to lean more in the direction of lethargic.”
The melts are as mind-altering as a cup of coffee–noticeable but not taking me out of the game. From no-THC to extra, each Sunny melt achieves that for individuals. The original one mg of THC and a proprietary amount of kanna helped me feel the relaxing properties without any edge. I didn’t find Super Sunnies incapacitating, but I could also feel the extra kanna.
Sunny speaks to consumers on both ends of the spectrum, according to Roos.
“Heavier cannabis users appreciate the uniqueness of the effects and the ability to dose up,” Roos shared. “Those newer to cannabis love the ability to start ‘low and slow.’ And people trying to reduce alcohol consumption feel more energized and social, delivering more benefits than a typical mocktail.”
Mary and Jane Sunny review
My experience with each Mary & Jane product has been positive, even as it wore off. The KA! kanna chew felt a little more intense than this one, which was exactly as described: simply sunny. That’s definitely a feat in Washington state, most months.
I felt comfortable parenting when these kicked in. Two hours after consuming, driving was no big deal either. However, this was my experience. Everyone should try the product themselves before assuming this is how Sunny will affect them.
There weren’t many negatives, but there are some things to note. First off, the product does not melt quickly under the tongue. Mine took about five minutes before I ended up chewing it. As for staying focused, it worked at first. I stayed keyed into a task and did great work, but when it came time to shift to a new task, that was harder. Have a dosing plan if you want to get stuff done. Make a list of tasks to stay on track, or use another method to guide the experience.
In this stressful world, a relaxation ripcord is a blessing–these kanna products are just that. Bright days are likely ahead for those who enjoy Sunny kanna melts and friends.
