July 2013
The Colorado Marijuana Experiment Story on page 6
Marijuana changes on horizon Also in this issue | Grower’s Corner - Plant Parts and their Functions | The Hash Man | Legalization Next for Vermont Anti-Marijuana Legislation is Wrong | Bud-O-Scopes | Edible Review & Recipe | News of the Weird
2 The Colorado Marijuana
Monthly Savings
Experiment
Check out the Ganja Gazette each month for savings on your medication.
1
Buy an 1/8th $ Get Two Pre-Rolleds
00
Not valid with any other specials - Limit 3 coupons per patient, per month. Cannot be combined with Daily Deals on same product. Expires 7/31/13
$
10 Grams
Bubble/Scissor Limit 2 Grams
HASH
Not valid with any other specials - Limit 3 coupons per patient, per month. Cannot be combined with Daily Deals on same product. Expires 7/31/13
15
1/8th Bud of the Day $ Quarters - $30 Limit 7 Grams
00
Not valid with any other specials - Limit 3 coupons per patient, per month. Cannot be combined with Daily Deals on same product. Expires 7/31/13
PICK YOUR SPECIAL
$20
Pick Anything We Run Throughout the Week And Apply it to your Purchase Not valid with any other specials - Limit 3 coupons per patient, per month. Cannot be combined with Daily Deals on same product. Expires 7/31/13
Buy One Get One
1/2 Off
MarQaha Drinks
Not valid with any other specials - Limit 3 coupons per patient, per month. Cannot be combined with Daily Deals on same product. Expires 7/31/13
Must be a licensed Colorado medical marijuana patient to purchase medicine.
Altitude Wellness Center
3435 S. Yosemite St. Denver, CO 80231
303.751.7888
altitudewellnesscenter.com
Natures Herbs & Wellness Center
522 27th St., Garden City, CO 80631 970-353-1170
naturesherbsandwellness.com
story on page 6
IN This Issue Cooking With Cannabis Page 4 Sudoku Page 4 The Hash Man
Page 5
Page 6
Elsewhere on Marijuana
Page 7
Edibles in Review
Page 10
Cover Story
The Colorado Marijuan Experiment
Bud-O-Scopes Page 11 WonderWord Page 11 Grower’s Corner
Page 12
Plant Parts and Their Functions
Anti-Marijuana Legislation is Wrong Page 14 News of The Weird
Page 14
The Ganja Gazette is a monthly publication. The first copy of each Ganja Gazette is free. Each additional copy is $4.20. For more information call 970-353-1170. Š2013 Natures Gazette, LLC
Early Bird Specials from 9-10 am Donuts and Juice Available
MEDICATION
at a higher level
Shelf
Gram 1/8 1/4 1/2
Top Shelf
$12
DAILY SPECIALS
$35
$70
Oz.
$120 $200
Premium $10 $30 $60 $110 $180 Bud of The Day
$5 $1850 $35 $70 $140
Kickin’ It Sunday:
$7 Grams on Premium
Medicate Me Monday: 2 Pre-Rolled Joints for $7
Tokin’ Tuesday:
15% Off Bubble Hash
Wheelin’ Wednesday:
Spin The Prize Wheel After Any $20 Purchase For Your Chance To Win Sick Prizes!
Sassy Grass Thursday:
Altitude Wellness Center 3435 S. Yosemite St. 303.751.7888 altitudewellnesscenter.com Open 9am-7pm Daily
Buy One Get One 1/2 Off On The Edible Of The Week
Twisted Friday:
Buy A Top Shelf 1/8th And Get A Pre-Rolled For A Penny. Buy A Premium Cap1/8 And Get a Pre-Rolled For $1.00
Pick Your Special Saturday: Pick Any One Of Our Daily Specials
4
7/2013
How to make:
Canna-Sugar Cookies Provided by: Tucker Eldridge
We have added a new delight for you to savor...
Ambrosia Station $15 for 1/2 Gram • $30 per Gram
The Ambrosia or Cannabis Caviar is created by taking the strain of your choice from our case, then its drizzled with hash oil testing at 88-90%THC and is topped off with a sprinkling of Keef (Sativa, Indicia or Mix) creating a a very strong and potent high. If you are wanting a stronger, longer lasting high, The Ambrosia Station will suit your needs.
Natures Herbs and Wellness Center
522 27th St., Garden City, CO 80631
970.353.1170
Ingredients Needed: • • • •
2 cups canna-butter 8 cups flower 2 cups sugar 6 eggs
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). 2. Melt butter or margarine over low heat. Remove from heat and add 4 cups of flour and the sugar. Beat eggs in one at a time until it is all blended. Slowly add in the remaining 4 cups of flour. 3. Roll out the dough on a floured area to a thickness of about a 1/4 of an inch. Cut cookies using cookie cutters and place the cut outs about 1 inch apart on the cookie sheet. 4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.
5 Hashish Practicality
The Pressing and Storing of Hashish Trey Gochenour The Hash Man Hello, fellow hash lovers! Congratulations on last month’s contest winners! They say great minds think alike, and May proved it. Both winners for the month chose the same strands to be made into hash. Now for a very important lesson on pressing and storing hash. The preparation of resin is generally referred to as pressing. The preparation method, and the presence or absence of contaminants or adulterants, affects the quality and potency of your hashish. Pressed resin powder, along with those contaminants and adulterants, is compacted together to form a solid piece. Pressed hash can be stored and transported more easily. The conditions by which you store your hash directly affect the potency and flavor. Improper storage strongly influences changes in the chemical make-up and can cause degeneration. There are two forms of hash that are commonly used. The first is by hand and the second is mechanically, either with or without. Hand pressing is generally performed with the palm of one hand and the palm or thumb of the oth-
er. This warms and compresses the resin powder Into a piece of hash. Hand rubbed hash also drives off moisture. Hand pressing is the easiest and most preferred way of pressing resin powder, releasing volatile aromatic terpenoids, which are what give hash its flavor and fragrance. Machine pressing is used to process large quantities of resin powder. The machines include book bonding presses, auto jacks, or even a simple boot (yes, a boot, as in that thing you wear on your foot!). Resin presses put an extreme amount of pressure on the resin powder, however, it does not cause the breakage of every gland. This can affect the potency and evaporation of essentially oils. Hand pressed hash is usually darker and more pliable than machine pressed varieties since it has been worked longer and more resin glands are broken. The breaking of the glands makes it darker and gives the cannabinoids more exposure to air, which in turn leads to the oxidation of the resins. Machine pressing makes the hashish more course and granular. Heat and added moisture are used to press stubborn resins that lack any natural
stickiness. Too much heat while pressing causes the pieces to dry out.Indirect heat or steam, applied carefully, is usually best. Let’s talk about the way you store your hash. The container used for storing resin
powder or hash must always be sealed tightly during aging. Moisture, oxygen and light are all your enemies! They lower your potency, and no one wants that to happen! Properly stored and aged hashish mellows the
smoke, improves the flavor, and reduces coughing. Storing your hash should be done in a glass or metal air-tight, light-tight and dry container in as cool a place Continued on page 12
6
Cover Story
The Colorado Marijuana Experiment Marijuana Changes to Come Lacewing Ganja Gazette You may have heard recently that Colorado became one of two of the first states in the union to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. As of December 10, 2012, Amendment 64 became law—thus beginning the most interesting governmental experiment of the decade. As of the beginning of May, Colorado took a huge leap in making the sale of recreational marijuana practical by finalizing the regulation and tax system. “House Bill 1318 establishes a tax on the commercial sale of marijuana for recreational use. The legislation would impose a 15 percent excise tax and a 10 percent statewide sales tax on retail marijuana purchases – a high rate that some Coloradoans have starkly opposed, but which nevertheless takes a major step in the implementation of legalization,” according to RT.com. A similar bill set regulations for legal blood alcohol levels, “allowing drivers to be
stoned with no more than 5 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood. HB-1317 also requires stores to keep the drug behind the counter, and bans cities from operating pot shops that operate tax-free or against the new regulatory laws.” These bills were passed successfully and mean that at the beginning of the year 2014, marijuana will be available through licensed sellers to adults over 21. The big question now is, how will this ultimately affect our community? On a business level, a great many regulations will make selling marijuana as difficult, or more so, than alcohol. As outlined on ThinkProgress.org, dispensaries will need to follow strict rules regarding the sale of marijuana. “The law authorizes local ‘time and place’ restrictions on marijuana dispensaries and limits on the number of dispensaries, which will likely take the form of zoning laws. Statewide, it prohibits marijuana businesses from sitting within 1,000
feet of schools, drug treatment facilities, or child care facilities, mirroring similar restrictions in many state marijuana laws. Also particularly noteworthy is that the law permits local jurisdictions to not only implement their own independent licensing schemes, but also to entirely ban retail marijuana establishments, a move that has been controversial and subject to court challenge in other states.” As for profits— the main goal of any business—it’s a guessing game. Estimates from 2012 put profits at roughly $65 million dollars per year, according to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy— but that was before the bills regulating taxes were approved. A more recent study done in Washington, which approved a similar tax plan, predicts that the state will generate $1.9 billion over the first five years of marijuana sales. Either way, money will be coming in. Talk of these profits leads to more important concerns for how
this will affect our daily lives, and the lives of our children. As part of the deal for approving recreational use of marijuana, a significant amount of money will be going directly to our school systems. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “under the provisions of Amendment 64, the first $40 million collected each year from the excise tax would be put toward public-school construction.” Some are questioning whether that is realistic or not— only the future can tell. Either way, to be more specific, the money will be going toward the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Program. “The BEST Program was established to provide grants to public schools to rebuild, repair, or replace the worst of the state’s K-12 facilities,” describes the Colorado government website. Every county is given a certain amount of money each year to put toward maintaining their schools—and a large amount of the
profits garnered from the sale of marijuana will be a significant aid to that cause. Furthermore, the regulation of recreational marijuana has proven to decrease the illegal use among youth and teens. Although every step of the process to legalizing marijuana is an experiment in every way, signs point to a successful exploit. Governor John Hickenlooper, despite personal reservations about legalization, has honored the voters’ wishes. The voters themselves have made every effort to keep the conversation moving, making concessions on taxes and regulations for the greater good. The entire country is watching with mixed feelings, and Colorado has an opportunity to be an example of innovative and cooperative lawmaking. Continued on page 15
7
Elsewhere on Marijuana
Legalization Next for Vermont Alvin Dy Foreign Correspondent In Vermont, possession of small amounts of marijuana now carries a lighter penalty. Instead of a criminal record, those who are caught with less than five ounces of hashish or less than an ounce of marijuana will be slapped with civil fines instead. If you are under 21 years old, possession of marijuana will merit the same penalties as possession of alcohol. This means that for the first offense, you will need to go to court. However, you will face criminal penalties, suspension of driver’s license and civil penalties if you are caught a third time. While Vermont has not legalized marijuana in any form, removing criminal penalties associated with marijuana possession is a welcome move. This comes as no surprise, really. We would like to highlight Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin’s remarks, though, after he signed the new law earlier this month. Shumlin commented that the decriminalization “makes sense” because the state has a limited budget. This meager budget should
be put to good use; the state should focus on the more serious and real problems of addiction and abuse of really dangerous substances such as meth and heroin. Possessing small amounts of marijuana should not distract the state from the really dangerous drugs. Governments have been spending way too much money, effort and time pursuing and persecuting individuals who possess small amounts of marijuana. In the end, marijuana just might prove harmless and even beneficial to people who have debilitating diseases. These resources are better used elsewhere. As Shumlin said, decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana could free up resources and allow these to be used for more serious stuff. On top of that, the money saved by the state could be used for other programs, such as those related to education and benefits for the elderly. Marijuana legalization has been fast gaining support in various regions of the United States. Two states, Colorado and Washington, have even legalized the recreational use of marijuana, in addition to making medical mar-
ijuana readily available to patients. We are expecting other states to follow soon. Vermont should be one of these states. For one, Vermont has two separate bills that call for some degree of marijuana legalization. Pending in the Lower House is a bill that would make it legal for individuals 21 years old and older to carry up to two ounces of marijuana. The bill also allows people to grow up to three marijuana plants inside their homes. Meanwhile, the State Senate has its own bill providing for the creation of a committee that would research legalizing and regulating marijuana. Both bills are currently under discussion. Rhode Island has also recently made the possession of small amounts of marijuana a mere civil offense and not a criminal one. Starting April 1, 2013, those caught with less than one ounce of marijuana are no longer facing criminal charges. Instead, they will only pay a $150-fine. Like Vermont, Rhode Island also has pending marijuana legalization laws. Aside from Rhode Island and Vermont,
15 other states have similar marijuana decriminalization laws. Some people confuse the terms decriminalization and legalization. To be clear, decriminalizing marijuana means that it is still illegal, but you are only charged with a misdemeanor. Pay the fine and you are most probably free to go. That is on paper. The reality is that in states where marijuana is decriminalized, possession of marijuana remains to be illegal and that, along with other charges, could result in jail time. So in states where marijuana is decriminalized, you still cannot go around smoking it without fear of going to jail. For example, if you have been caught with marijuana paraphernalia, possessing the marijuana in itself would add to your offenses. With legalization, nobody would be able
to arrest you for having marijuana on your person. This means that there is no danger of going to jail or being forced to pay a fine. And then there is the issue of how much marijuana you can actually possess andgrow. With decriminalization, you are allowed to carry up to a certain amount of marijuana and still be slapped with only a civil offense, depending on where you are. Do not be confused, however. Again, this does not mean that you can carry marijuana with you and go scot free. For example, in Vermont’s case, you can carry up to one ounce of marijuana. If you are caught, you will get a misdemeanor and fines. If you carry more than that, you may be charged with a criminal offense. You still have to be careful, but any step forward, no matter how small, is encouraged by all!
And Wellness
Natures Herbs 970-353-1170
OPEN DAILY 8:00 am to 7:00 pm NaturesHerbsAnd Wellness.com
522 27th Street Garden City, CO 80631
Daily Specials Kickin’ It SUNDAY
$7 Grams on all Premium Caps
Medicate Me MONDAY Two Pre-Rolleds for $7
Tokin’ TUESDAY
10% OFF Bubble Hash
Wheeling WEDNESDAY Spin the Prize Wheel with a $20 Purchase for a Chance to Win Awesome Prizes!
Sassy Grass THURSDAY Edible of the Week Buy One Get One1/2 OFF
Twisted FRIDAY
Buy any Top Shelf 1/8 & get a Pre-Rolled for 1¢ Buy any Premium Cap 1/8 & get a Pre-Rolled for $1
Pick Your Special SATURDAY Choose from any Special of the Week
EARLY BIRD SPECIALS from 8-9am -Juice & Donuts Available!
Everyday Low Prices
Gram 1/8
Top Shelf
$12 $35 $70 $120 $200
Premium
$10 $30 $60 $110 $180
Bud of the Day
1/4
1/2
Oz.
$5 $1850 $35 $70 $140
4th of July Specials! Open to 4pm on Thursday, July 4th at Both Locations
Bud of the Day
$4 Grams
Pre-Rolleds
5 for $15 Top Shelf 1/8th Buy One Get One
1/2 OFF
Keef Kola Xtreme
$35 4-Pack
Natures Herbs & Wellness Center 522 27th St., Garden City, CO 970.353.1170 naturesherbsandwellness.com
Altitude Wellness Center 3435 S. Yosemite St., Denver, CO 303.751.7888 altitudewellnesscenter.com
10
Edibles in Review:
You had me at “Shatter” Fu-Qua Johnson Ganja Gazette
Hello dear friends! I know summer is in full swing for many of you. This is the first time I get to have the whole summer off, and I am taking full advantage of it. I am going on vacation to see family and friends for the entire month. I hope all of you get to do at least one thing that you enjoy over the summer. Everyone deserves a little “Me Time,” as my dad calls it. Before I get to the review for the month, I want to talk to many patients in the Northern Colorado area. I cannot say I fully understand Amendment 64 and I am hearing too many rumors of what 64 really means for adults over 21 in the state of Colorado. An issue that I have been following is the “Too High to Drive” limit. Last I checked the law was that 5nm of THC in the bloodstream is considered over the limit. I don’t know about you but I know some people that get more done in a day medicated than a person sober as a judge. I know many of you right now could be considered over the limit but I bet you can function better then someone that has been drinking. Sorry, but that was my rant for the month. I promise I won’t make a habit of it. So, let’s get on with the show. I hope everyone enjoyed the review about the Peanut Budda Buddha bar from Incredibles. They are a small company now, but they are growing like a “weed”, no
pun intended. I got lucky and toured their kitchen in Denver and got to meet the owners and the chef of the wonderful edibles. I can’t wait to share with you what I learned and what will be coming out in the future from Incredibles. Anyway, this month I want to try something new to me, but many of you (patients) already know the skinny on this product because it is constantly sold out AT Nature’s Herbs and Wellness. It took some work, but I finally got a hold of some Shatter hash. These bad boys come in one gram packets and they are worth every penny they cost. I have been told that the lighter the color, the better the hash, but I am not promising anything. Since it is summer, DO NOT LEAVE THIS PRODUCT IN THE CAR OR SOME PLACE HOT!!! Keeping them in a cool, dry place will ensure the hash will break apart or “shatter” consistently (hence the name). If not, it will melt altogether and it’s a bitch to try to use when it’s warm. Just a friendly warning from me. In the April issue, I suggested some fun methods of medicating during 4/20. I mentioned “solar burning” on a nice day. Well, that is how I used this product. The Shatter is a CO2 extracted hash and the word around the camp fire is that this is the cleanest and purest method of removing the “good” stuff from the plant and none of the “bad” stuff you might see in other types of hash. The machine used for this method is very expensive but it
definitely does the trick. Being so pure and clean, this might be the reason why the hash is almost clear or see through. Let me say you do not need a lot of this to feel the effect. My friends and I went on a day long hike, and stopped throughout the day to enjoy the view, fresh air, and of course to medicate. We found really nice spots along our hike to duck away and enjoy all the glory of being outside in the mountains. We had plenty of sunshine so it was no problem to solar burn. We figured since the Shatter is pure, we would use a light that was equally pure, the sun. Using a magnifying glass, we placed a small piece of Shatter on some medication and let the sun do its thing. The taste of the hash and medication was amazing because of the magnifying glass. Since we are not using a butane light, the smoke was extremely clean tasting and the effect was amazing. The hash is what I consider a “full melt” hash. It will melt into the pot and will make it last a lot longer as well. I liked this product so much; I now buy it reg-
ularly so I can always have some. I highly recommend this product for anyone looking for a little stronger kick to their regular medicine and I promise you will not be disappointed. Enjoy the fireworks on the Fourth, and try to stay cool this summer. I will keep you guys posted on any more news about Amendment 64 or any other news related to MMJ patients. Like always, medicate with care and have a wonderful month of July.
11
Bud-o-Scopes Aries
Mar. 21 - Apr. 19
Turn up the beats and get your boogie on, disco style. Can you believe the disco phase only really lasted a few years? Time to bring it back!
Taurus
Apr. 20-May 20
Take the heat in the air this month and turn it into romance! Take some risks and express yourself like never before—and this still applies to the folks who’ve already got their true love.
Gemini
May 21- June 20
You should redecorate your bathroom. Pick a crazy color combo and just go hog wild!
Libra
Sep. 23 - Oct. 22
You have an opinion deep down inside, and now is as good a time to voice it as any. The reaction may not be what you’d want, but it will all turn out better in the end than if you had kept it all bottled up..
Scorpio
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
Don’t be scared to embrace the changes coming in your life. Change is the only constant, as they say, and usually brings bigger and better things.
Sagittarius Nov.22 -Dec.21
The summer is dwindling away very fast. Catch those rays while you can, and take advantage of the great outdoors!
Cancer
Capricorn
Take an interest in some local attractions. Think of somewhere nearby that you’ve never fully explored and set aside some time to do just that.
Think happy thoughts and smile your way through any hard times to come—everything will be so much more bearable.
June 21-July 22
Leo
July 23 - Aug. 22
Go to Chicago and tell someone you hate the Blackhawks—but only if you’re in the mood to start a riot.
Virgo
Aug. 23 - Sep. 22 Don’t forget to backup your files!
Horoscopes at a higher level
Dec. 22 -Jan. 19
Aquarius
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 Don’t fight the feeling….
Pisces
Feb.19 - Mar. 20
People can be frustrating. Your choice is to either bury that frustration or confront those people. Whatever is the harder thing for you to do, do that.
7/2013
12
GROWER’S CORNER
The Pressing and Storing of Hashish
Cannabis Plant Parts and their Functions Tucker Eldridge Ganja Gazette As a cannabis seed sprouts, and it begins the life cycle that will help transform it from a tiny little seed to a living, producing, flowering plant, each part of the plant plays a critical role in contributing to that process. As cannabis smokers, we often forget that this plant grew up in nature, like everything else, with the intent of carrying its genetics on to a new generation. This means that, as enjoyable as this plants resins may be to us, their intent in producing these things is not for human gratification, but rather about surviving and thriving. After our seed has sprouted, our baby plant produces a pair of baby leaves, or cotyledons, small rounded leaves that provide its first means of photosynthesis. These leaves do not actually resemble true cannabis leaves in any way, and it is not until you get your second set of leaves that these characteristics start to lend themselves to our leaves shapes. As the plant grows in
size, the leaves will expand in both size and surface area, effectively providing the growing plant with a means of increased photosynthesis, the plants means for providing itself with energy. This energy must then be transported throughout the plant to be used in the various metabolic functions of the plant, and this is where our stems come in. The stems of a plant would best be compared to a combination of our circulatory system and our skeletal system. It contains hard plant tissues known as collenchyma and sclerenchyma that account for the sturdiness and stiffness of a plants stem. Collenchyma is responsible for plant rigidity during vegetative growth, and as a plants stems cease elongation during flowering, the most sturdy plant cells of all, sclerenchyma, offer their superior rigidity to preventing heavy stems from snapping. Interlaced among these structural tissues is our plants vascular system, the phloem and the xylem. The
phloem accounts for the primary transport of carbohydrates throughout the plant and consists mostly of soft tissues. Consider them an energy highway, with most of the traffic moving from the plant tops where the most production is occurring, down throughout the plant with detours in locations where the energy might be needed, and down to the final storage place for carbohydrates in cannabis plants, the roots. The xylems are primarily used by the plant to transport the opposite direction. Things that are taken in through the roots and need to be taken up, such as nutrients absorbed in our soil, and the life sustain water that our plants require for so many functions, are taken through the woody, more fibrous xylem tissues. These tissues have a lot of traffic to move through from the roots, so they tend to have larger diameters than the phloem do. Our roots are our plants work horse. They bring in most of what the plant needs to sustain itself, and they also provide the plant its primary
Continued from page 5
means for interacting with its surroundings. In healthy soil, as a plant seeks out water and nutrients, its roots come in contact, and develop a symbiotic relationship with, native soil microbes. The roots facilitate this by providing the microbes with a carbohydrate source and organic waste on which they are able to thrive. In return the microbes break down organic byproducts back into usable nutrients, and these nutrients encourage the continued expansion and development of the root system; and more roots feeding from more places translates into more nutrients readily available to our ever growing plant. The symbiotic relationship between all of these parts allows for the cannabis plant to thrive and sustain itself throughout its life span. They also facilitate the growth of cannabis flowers, and more specifically the female variety which we all appreciate so much.
place as possible, like a refrigerator or freezer. This slows down the degeneration of your hash. Steer clear of all plastic or rubber sealed containers. Believe it or not, the resin will eat away the plastic and rubber, ruining your stash! Once dry, properly stored hash will keep its consistency and potency for years. Obviously, the outside of a pressed piece of hash will lose its potency faster than the inside. This gives it its color. The higher the temperature, the faster oxidation takes place. Even in frozen storage, the THC eventually decomposes, changing into CBNs. In short, the longer its stored, no matter the storage conditions, the lower the hash’s psychoactive effects. Removing all moisture is essential to prevent spoilage. High heat, moisture and adulterants damage hash quality. Just so you know, both Nature’s Herbs and Wellness and Altitude Wellness Center store their hash in a cold, dark place... Known as the refrigerator. This is the last month of the contest for choosing the strands you want made into hash. Keep an eye out for the new contest starting next month. Until then, keep your stash full of hash.
Sam’s Sam’s Birthday Birthday Extravaganza Extravaganza Pin the Tail on The Donkey for your Chance at
July 2nd!
Smokin’ Prizes!
Top Shelf 1/8
$25
$5 OFF
Dabba Chocolate or Peanut Budda Buddha
Natures Herbs & Wellness Center 522 27th St., Garden City, CO 970.353.1170 naturesherbsandwellness.com Altitude Wellness Center 3435 S. Yosemite St., Denver, CO 303.751.7888 altitudewellnesscenter.com
14
Anti-Marijuana Legislation News of the Weird Huh, that’s weird... is Wrong Chuck Shepard’s
Question of Valor
In February, an off-duty Tampa police officer and an off-duty sheriff’s detective from nearby
Hernando County were awarded the sheriff’s office’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for exemplary bravery in an October incident in which a 42-yearold naked woman was shot to death by the officers. The woman was holding a gun and had made threats, and a 5-year-old boy was inside a truck that she wanted to steal. However, even though a neighbor had simply wrestled the woman down earlier, the officers still thought their only move was to shoot to kill. Said the woman’s brother, “They shot a mentally disturbed, naked woman. Is that valor?”
By: Alvin Dy The road to marijuana legalization has been very bumpy. The reason for this is due in part to the wrongful information being fed to the public. Like it or not, even with the benefits proven to come from marijuana, there will always be people who are going to oppose it. And in order to get more people over to their side, those opposed are going to come up with myths, fantasies and downright lies about marijuana. These are the top three arguments that opponents of marijuana legalization have come up with over the years-and why they are ridiculous. 1. Marijuana sold nowadays is much more potent than it was 20 to 40 years ago.
While this statement is true, there are some things you should know. One, when you say potency, most likely you are talking about the increased THC content in marijuana today. You could also mean that there is a higher ratio between THC and CBD. Both of these cases can lead to what you might call bad trips: panic attacks and getting high. It is not true, however, that the more potent marijuana that we have now is more addictive.
Studies into that have been inconclusive. The higher potency is not proven to be a cause for addictions. Also, this fact should not be used against marijuana legalization. Marijuana legalization is not going to legalize all forms of marijuana across the board. All marijuana manufacturing and sales will be regulated, so even if potency was a factor (if it was to ever be proven to have any correlation to Continued on page 15.
15
Anti-Marijuana Legislation is Wrong scary stories on a camping trip. You can only carry small amounts of the stuff and you cannot sell it, even in the most liberal legal marijuana states. So where did all the talk come from? 3. Legal marijuana will only encourage more youths – and even adults – to try it, or use it. This may not sound too good for you, but if you were born after 1960 and you had a normal childhood, there is a 50% chance that you might have experimented with marijuana before you even reached the age of 21. Let’s admit it, this happened even while marijuana was illegal everywhere. Making it illegal is not a good deterrent for young people who want to try marijuana. Good parenting is. You should never pass your parenting responsibilities off to the state. Furthermore, it would not be legal to sell marijuana to minors, even if the marijuana legalization laws are in place. It would only be for adults. The best example to refute this argument, though, is the Netherlands. The Dutch have fabled legal marijuana laws. You can get it in coffee shops, and it is tolerated over there. Does that mean that everybody there is a pothead? The answer is no. And this is where it gets amazing: they even have FEWER marijuana smokers compared to that in the U.S. Among 15 to 64 year olds in Holland, only 6% have used marijuana in the
past year. In the United States, where pot is largely illegal, that number almost doubles at 11%. We are not going to be hypocrites and say that people who have feared getting arrested would not go out and have their first try of recreational marijuana when it becomes legal. Of course, some people would do that. But we doubt that the surge in consumption would be sustained months after.
Experimenting with Ganja
Continued from page 6 As the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the force behind the initiative getting passed to begin with, has proudly said since the start, “Passage of this initiative [is] historic, resulting in Colorado becoming [one of] the first states in the nation – and the first geographic area in the world – to make the possession, use, and regulated production and distribution of marijuana legal for adults.” We are the experiment, and the best experiments succeed with patience. Keep informed and keep voting.
120 Wings
or Large Party Tray of Boneless only $79.99 + Large Tray of Homemade Chips *Feeds 10-15 people!
Garden City • West Greeley • Loveland • Windsor 7/2013
Continued from page 14 addictiveness) it could be controlled. That is right, regulated. If the problem is higher THC content, then regulation could put a limit on the amount of THC present in marijuana. If we continue to make marijuana illegal, we lose out on the chance to put these restrictions in place. 2. The thought of marijuana being sold everywhere is frightening. And as parents, it should frighten you. Taking a look at Colorado’s legal marijuana laws, you should be taking comfort in that your worst fear will never happen. Marijuana, even if it is legalized, will not be as ubiquitous as, say cigarettes and alcohol. To wit, Colorado allows you to grow six marijuana plants and this is only for personal use. Starting January 2014, you can buy up to a quarter of an ounce of marijuana at designated stores. If you are a medical marijuana user, you can freely get it from dispensaries in the state. Ideally, marijuana legalization would pave the way for people to be able to grow marijuana for their own personal use. Or they could buy it from dispensaries and other retail outlets that are duly licensed by the state. You cannot have more than a certain amount of marijuana and you cannot sell it on your own. So you see, all these boogeymen talking about marijuana being sold on every street is the equivalent of telling
e c r i p a p t A i o s n ’ r D e a y w o July 31, 2013 rG
Premium Shelf $ 20 for 1/8th
Top Shelf 1/8th Buy One Get One
1/2 OFF!
Spin the Wheel All Day With any $20 Purchase Natures Herbs & Wellness Center 522 27th St., Garden City, CO
970.353.1170
naturesherbsandwellness.com Altitude Wellness Center
3435 S. Yosemite St., Denver, CO
303.751.7888
altitudewellnesscenter.com