issue 15 // volume 43 life & style // no. ‘Wi Introducing the edge > Three fashion staples to rock out your wardrobe Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor Ee little kid wants to grow up to bea rock star at some point. Luckily for you, you don’t have to put in all that time and effort if you just want to look as cool as one. With a few simple staple pieces, you can turn any wardrobe into one that looks like it belongs to rock royalty, and don't worry—this look is super cheap to pull off, as long as you know where to look! To begin your transition, think back to every rock star or ultimate bad boy/ girl. What did they have in common? Ever since the day of greasers and squares (we're talking the ’50s here, people), nothing says rock star more than a good ol leather jacket. A leather jacket is a really awesome piece to invest in, because they never go out of style, and they can be used to add a little edge to any outfit, no matter if your feeling like pulling off the rock star thing one day, or you want to go for something a little more professional the next. The trick is in the styling. Pair a leather jacket with some ripped jeans or harem pants and you can be casual cool, while then rocking the same jacket with a button up and some dress pants will ingratiate you to any potential employer. Not comfortable with wearing leather? That’s no problem. Technology has allowed us to develop countless vegan alternatives that look just as good as the real thing, but be warned—depending on what it’s made of, you might end up paying a little extra. Reflecting on the rock gods of the past, such as Jim Morrison, Freddie Mercury, and Axl Rose, it’s obvious that you can’t build a rock star wardrobe without a great pair of oversized aviator sunglasses. Aviators, as a style, never really seem to go away. The reason? They're great to hide the fact that you're hung over. The large lenses block out the light to prevent a worsening migraine, while remaining the perfect shape to conceal the dark circles and over-all eye puffiness symptomatic of a rough morning after. However, not just any aviators will do. Kick up the rock star factor by investing in ones with mirrored or ombre colored lenses, and make sure the frames are metallic—not plastic. If all this sounds too expensive, it doesn’t have to be. Sure, you can buy a designer pair of aviator sunglasses for a few hundred dollars, only to regret the purchase later when you eventually break them. Or you can head to any accessory shop and find a pair of knock offs for super cheap. This style is so popular that it is literally available anywhere from Holt Renfrew to Claire’s. Ripped jeans are so iconic to the rocker look that many brand name designers have come out with ones that have been pre-ripped—you know, for people who are too busy to have fun on their own. I’m kidding, but only because I die a little inside every time I look at the price tag of these hobo chic monstrosities. If you're wanting that casual ripped jean look without the high price tag, just do what I did and DIY it. Ripping up denim isn’t that hard. Simply cut a few small holes, and then tear them wider. Use some sandpaper to fray the edges, or to roughen up the denim, and voila! The perfect pair of affordable rock star inspired jeans! is ‘ag oo Debbie Harry, Blondie, 1977. Photograph via Chris Walter/Wirelmage/Getty Images Pot to treat anxiety and depression > The effects of weed on mental health Jessica Berget Staff Writer ot, weed, the devil’s lettuce— whatever you want to call it, and whatever your stance on it is, marijuana has been used as a medical aid for years and, given its popularity in many countries (especially in Canada), it looks like it is here to stay. Marijuana has been used for a variety of health conditions, dating back to almost 400 years ago when it was first used in India to relieve stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Ancient Indian medical literature describes the effects of marijuana as helping the user to be “delivered from all worries and care.” The drug became increasingly popular as it spread through Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Eventually it was prescribed for almost everything, including pain relief, nausea, and even childbirth. Four hundred years later, and pot is still being used and often being prescribed medically to treat a number of physical illnesses. The main ingredient in medical marijuana, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is being used to relieve pain and nausea from such things as cancer, arthritis, and Crohn’s Disease. Although it is used quite often in these instances, the prescription of medical marijuana to treat mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression has become scarce since the days of Ancient India. However, that hasn't stopped people from using the drug, and considering how easy it is to get a dispensary card in Vancouver, why would it? When you sign up for a dispensary card in Vancouver, they ask you to list your mental or physical symptoms that marijuana can help you with, and ’that’s it. Considering these dispensary cards aren't official medical marijuana licences, it’s hard to get an exact number on people who use it, but taking into account the number of times I smell or see people smoking weed in Vancouver, I can assume it’s a lot. The second ingredient prominent in marijuana that relieves the symptoms of anxiety and depression is called Cannabidiol, also known as CBD. Contrary to popular belief, CBD reaps better medical benefits than THC, and strains of medical marijuana are bred and grown with varying levels of CBD to treat a variety of conditions. The effects of CBD provide the users feelings of euphoria, calmness, and better sociability, effects opposite those of anxiety and stress related mental illnesses. As someone who is constantly on edge, I do often use pot to relieve me of my symptoms of chronic anxiety and depressive episodes, and have found it incredibly helpful in managing my daily stress. Since using the drug, I have found Tam much calmer as a person, and I am no longer crippled with feelings of self-doubt and frustration. Although it has worked in my favour, keep in mind that pot effects everyone differently, and different doses have particular effects— and sometimes these effects can be quite negative. Many people report marijuana actually worsening their symptoms of anxiety and depression, and it can give you bad dreams, paranoia and short term Image via thinkstock memory loss. Though not addictive, pot—like all drugs—does still alter your brain chemistry, so using it on a regular basis to self-medicate or to treat severe emotional disorders, such as manic depression or bipolar disorder, is not advised. Although marijuana is helpful in treating anxiety and depression, this treatment is mostly short-term and does not actually cure mental illnesses in the long run; rather it merely helps to manage it. Therapy and medication is the best long term solution for mental illnesses. If you are suffering from a mental illness, pot may not be the answer, but it can be an easy short-term solution.