Philip Andrews’ love of woodworking is a family tradition, passed down through generations from his grandfather, Gerry Oorthuis, who migrated by boat to Canada from the Netherlands with his wife and daughter in 1956.
“My grandfather was introduced to fine woodworking from his brother, Henk – a renowned violin and harp maker,” he shared. “When my grandfather immigrated to Canada he opened a woodworking shop of his own – where I learned. He built furniture and custom cabinetry until he passed away at the age of 80.”
Today, Andrews is still working in the same shop his grandfather built, with a new shingle and focus as Tree Trunk, with Gerry’s son, Uncle Tom, beside him. His uncle, he said, is the true master woodworker and link between the generations.
Growing up in Canada with a Dutch mother, Andrews said cannabis was never portrayed in a negative light.
“My mother smoked cannabis in the 1960s and 70s, and still occasionally smokes at 73,” he shared. “On the day Canada legalized she went with a friend to attend the large public celebration, and smoked a joint at midnight in the crowd.”
Andrews’ first experience with cannabis was in high school, when he smoked with some friends.
“It was in the middle of the afternoon – we smoked in a car, then went and laid around in the park, laughing,” he continued. “Cannabis use, for me, is both medical and recreational, depending on the situation. I suffer from migraines and use cannabis for pain relief, as well as a creativity enhancer during my design process.”
A Childhood of Pain
As a child Andrews remembers being in intense pain, crying, and throwing-up from migraines.
According to Healthline.com migraines are a neurological condition causing multiple symptoms, characterized by intense, debilitating headaches. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound.
A paper published in the National Institute of Health’s website in April of 2017 states, “currently there is not enough evidence from clinical trials, there are sufficient anecdotal and preliminary results, as well as plausible neurobiological mechanisms, to warrant properly designed clinical trials.”
A quick search on YouTube brought up several testimonies of success in using cannabis for migraines, with Dr. Shivang Joshi of the Dent Neurologic Institute giving a presentation on both help with migraines and cluster headaches, another debilitating neurologically-based disorder.
Dosing is a key issue in any cannabis protocol, and Dr. Joshi discusses decreasing pharmaceuticals, specifically opiate dependency, while increasing cannabis tincture dosing slowly, with realistic expectations. He states that it can take up to two weeks of consistent use to notice positive effects with CBD alone; but that whole plant, with the psychoactive compound of THC, can alleviate pain immediately. Transitioning from pharmaceuticals, he says, is a slower process due to withdrawal symptoms from the pharmaceuticals.
“I microdose using a vape pen to keep the migraines at bay,” Andrews explained. “If it’s real bad, I’ll only take an over-the-counter remedy with cannabis. I don’t like pills or prescription drugs.”
Trees, Trunks & Trays
His own stash box comes from his woodworking shop, under the Tree Trunk brand, which includes rolling trays, storage trunks, and other accessories in the works.
“The To-Go tray is always part of my stash because it’s small and portable,” he explained. “I use all of our trays, but enjoy the little one for on the go.”
His line of trays and trunks that lock are available at Higher Standards in New York’s famed Chelsea Market; and is also in collaborations with MedMen, with pieces available at locations throughout California.
“I like using the flower vape from Pax, because you can really taste the cannabis and its flavor profile,” he said. “Pax also makes the best cartridge on the market, in my opinion – the ERA – which is a pen and pod system, makes consumption and micro-dosing very easy. When I want to enjoy concentrates, I turn to my Puffco Pro 2. I’m not a big concentrate person, but the pen is amazing.”
The ashtray is a classic from the Lowell Herb Co., gifted to him from the company after commissioning Tree Trunk to make a custom storage trunk for their products.
The lighter featured on his tray is from MedMen, in homage to its collaboration; the other lighter is Tree Trunk swag. The grinder was purchased in The Bull Dog coffee shop on a trip to Amsterdam a few years back, and is a sentimental personal favorite.
“Some people collect refrigerator magnets or coffee mugs on vacations, I brought home a grinder,” he laughed. “I love the coffee shops in Amsterdam and The Bull Dog is a favorite due to its history.”
The glass spoon pipe is made by Illadelph, a high-end glass company established in 2002, found in shops throughout the U.S.
“Using a pipe is one of my preferred methods of smoking cannabis, and Illadelph makes one of the nicest spoons, in my opinion,” he added. “I feel the same way about papers, and RAW is another go-to. For fancy joints I use Shine 24K. I also love Elevate’s Colfax Dugout, and have been a huge fan of theirs since its inception.”
Shine papers are made out of 24 karat gold, and are the Champagne glass of the cannabis industry; the go-to for special celebrations. According to its website, the gold burns slowly and better, leaving gold in the ashes. But, they warn (with a smile), you can’t take the ashes to the pawn shop for cash.
Lastly, the flower of the day on his tray depends on where his work takes him. While in California, his favorite cultivar comes from Cru Cannabis, a craft flower from Santa Cruz, California. It’s stored in UV airtight jars for storing flower, referred to as Tree Trunk Flower Pots.
“I’m lucky enough to be able to partake in many types of cultivars from many regions, due to my travel for work. I smoke for pleasure, but I also smoke for pain – so, great flower is important to me,” he surmised. “That’s really what this is all about – the plant. Excellent flower makes any stash look good. It’s synergistic and tribal.”
