APRIL 2016
THE PREMIER GUIDE TO ALL THINGS CANNABIS
*This magazine is intended for individuals over 21 years of age.
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DON’T BE THIS GUY! 955 E 58TH AVE. UNIT B • DENVER, CO 80216 • 303-362-1873 THETRIMMERSTORE.COM • INFO@THETRIMMERSTORE.COM
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4 April 2016
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A LETTER TO OUR READERS
“Is marijuana addictive? Yes, in the sense that most of the really pleasant things in life are worth endlessly repeating.” ― Richard Neville As spring fever takes hold here at THC Magazine we are furiously working on our expansion. We are proud to announce the release of our first ever national magazine this April. We will continue to bring you quality cannabis content here in Colorado every month and we are excited to be lending our voices to cannabis normalization on a national stage on a quarterly basis. Speaking of shiny new things, our newly redesigned website went live in March and we launched THC Entertainment earlier this year. THC Entertainment will be providing digital video coverage on a variety of different topics. To check out some of those videos and our website redesign, visit thcmag.com. The 4/20 holiday is fast approaching and there is no lack of events to attend this month. We will be participating in more than a few ourselves. It is truly amazing to live in a place that embraces cannabis year round. In Colorado, 4/20 is something that everyone should experience. I have participated in 4/20 celebrations in Denver for several years and each year the turnout for events like the 4/20 Rally and the Cannabis Cup has gotten more and more impressive. It is overwhelming to think about how far we have come, but we still have a long way to go. So this 4/20, while we are able to celebrate the cannabis freedoms that we voted into the Colorado constitution, remember there is still a fight going on. The need for cannabis activism still exists. There are far too many prisoners of prohibition incarcerated in the money machine that is the United States prison system. It is easy to get lulled into a false sense of security if you live in a place where cannabis is so easily accessible. But it is important not to dismiss the struggles that still burden so many. Until cannabis, medical or otherwise, is legal everywhere, until legal cannabis businesses aren’t treated like criminal enterprises by the IRS, until all nonviolent drug offenders are released from prison, until CPS in every state recognizes that using cannabis does not make you an unfit parent, until employers stop using THC as an excuse to not hire or fire qualified workers, we need to remember we are all advocates for change. Together we have come this far and together we must continue to cultivate acceptance for our lady Mary Jane. So this 4/20 season, enjoy your freedom, spark up a joint for our fallen comrades in the war on drugs and start a spirited conversation with someone about cannabis, a stranger or a friend. Keep the momentum going. Have a safe and happy 4/20!
Christianna Brown Editor-in-Chief Director of Sales & Marketing Michael Bright sales@thcmag.com WWW.THCMAG.COM
Editor-in-Chief Christianna Brown Managing Editor DJ Reetz Senior Designer Caroline Hayes Junior Designer Stacey Roland Photographer Ashley Rose Photographer Samuel Farley Cover Photography/Design Kim Sidwell, Cannabis Camera
6 April 2016
Sales Managers Jason Brown Chris Mercer Dominique Wogan Louis Zerobnick Printer Publication Printers Corp. 2001 South Platte River Drive Denver, CO 80223 PH: 303.936.0303 www.publicationprinters.com
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CONTRIBUTORS
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MIRIAM CRONKHITE
Miriam Cronkhite is a professional journalist, specializing in digital media and social media marketing. She received her B.A. from the nationally accredited Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. Currently, she is the CEO of cronkhitemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MiriamCronkhite. www.miriamcronkhite.com
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DR. NICOLA DAVIES
Dr. Nicola Davies is a psychologist and freelance writer, with hundreds of copy in ten countries. Her area of expertise is within the field of Health Psychology and Pharmacology, the former of which she holds a Master’s with Commendation and a PhD. She is a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the BPS Division of Health Psychology. She is also a Qualified Person-Centered Counselor, as accredited by the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP). You can follow her on Twitter (@healthpsychuk) or sign up to her free blog: healthpsychologyconsultancy.wordpress.com.
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ASHLEY ROSE
Ashley Rose has been honing her skills as an edible chef for the past four years. She works in the legal cannabis industry, where she uses her depth of cannabis knowledge to help connect patients and recreational users with the right product for their needs. Fol-low of her on Instagram @mindfullylifted.
SAMUEL FARLEY
Samuel Farley is a writer and photographer who graduated from Drexel University, in Philadelphia, PA with a B.S. in psychology, with a concentration in writing and publishing. He began working for The Hemp Connoisseur in 2015. He has previous industry experience as a bud tender in a medical and recreational facility in the Denver area. In addition, he is currently working on a book about cannabis and how it as helped him handle the symptoms of multiple serious injuries and hopes to be a positive voice for medical cannabis.
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ERIN HIATT
California-born, Utah-bred, and NYC living, Erin Hiatt has covered the cannabis industry for the past three years. When not hunting down compelling stories, she works as the Dancers Outreach Coordinator for a not-for-profit dedicated to entertainment industry professionals. Ardent hiker, rapacious reader, and political junkie, Erin has a B.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from Weber State University in Ogden, UT and is a proud member of Actors Equity. Follow on Twitter @erinhiatt.
DJ REETZ
DJ Reetz is a writer, cannabis enthusiast and consummate smartass. He’s been covering the legislative, developmental and cultural aspects of legal cannabis for nearly three years. He lives in Denver,
KIM SIDWELL
Cannabis Camera™ was established by Denver-based photographer, Kim Sidwell. Kim has 15 years of experience as a professional photographer and has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in photography from the Art Institute of Colorado. Shortly after her graduation from the Art Institute in 2009, Kim focused her work on the cannabis community with the goal of not only documenting this historical time in Colorado’s (and our nation’s) history, but also to provide quality photography services for marijuana and hemp industry professionals in an effort to ensure that business owners have the ability to market their products in a respectful and professional manner.
MATTHEW L. VAN DEVENTER
After attempting to follow the path of his business degree, Matthew returned to his original dream of writing in 2014 and he hasn’t worked a day since. The first paper he worked for was the Ridgewood Times in Queens, NY who he badgered until they accepted an article of his and gave him a beat. Now Matthew writes about politics, sports, business, development, and marijuana for Westword, Evergreen Newspapers Inc., and DenverVOICE and blogs for small businesses. He lives with his wife and two year old in Denver, CO.
CAROLINE HAYES
Caroline Hayes is a native Midwesterner who moved to Colorado in 2008 to pursue a journalism career and to enjoy the greatness of the west. She graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, IN with a B.A. from the School of Journalism, with a focus in magazine design and writing. Caroline started as a freelance writer for The Hemp Connoisseur four years ago and has furthered her position doing layout design and editing. She has worked in the cannabis industry for more than six years now and believes in the dream of legalization nationwide.
Contributors not pictured: Ben Hoopes, Stacey Roland, and Louis Zerobnick
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IN THIS ISSUE | SPRING 2016
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36 30
64
70 10 April 2016
15
THE GREEN SCENE
29
LIFESTYLE
30 30
HEMP | CANNABIS INFUSED RECIPES
42 36
FEATURED ARTIST | WJC
40 40
NGAIO BEALUM
43
BUSINESS AND POLITICS
44
CANNABIS NEWS ACROSS THE GLOBE
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BRAZIL LOOKS FOR DRUG REFORM
54 48
MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORMON STYLE
50
CANADIAN CAPTIAL
52
LEADERSHIP IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
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THE SMOKIN’ GUN APOTHECARY
58
WAITING FOR SOCIAL USE
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COMPASSIONATE CARE AND CANNABIS CASH
69
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
70 70
UC BOULDER CANNABIS GENOME PROJECT
72
WIDE AWAKE
74
POT-LITICALLY INCORRECT
81
DISPENSARY GUIDE
87
COUPONS
89
DIRECTORY
Events, Products We Love, Tasty Meds, Featured Strains Livin’ that Cannabis Life Delicious, healthy and some of them medicated Colorado glass artist William Justin Cothren An interview with one of comedy’s best Cannabusiness in Full Bloom News briefs to get you caught up
Potential drug decriminalization for Brazil The oppressors of Utah’s MMJ system
Marijuana investors look across the U.S. border What does it take and who is blazing trails? Glendale’s newest dispensary addition
Colorado’s cannabis law’s shortcomings Florida’s broken MMJ system For Your Information
Setting the framework for applied cannabis research Cannabinoid therapy as a possible treatment for insomnia Cannabis Self-Righteousness
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M A H AT M A CONCEN T R AT E S.COM
In This Issue
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12 April 2016
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THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY HAS MADE IT THE FASTEST GROWING SECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING NEARLY EVERY INDUSTRY.
CWCBEXPO 2016
NEW YORK CITY - JAVITS CENTER
JUNE 15-17, 2016
The cannabis industry’s premier brands and thought-leaders will be at the only show that focuses on the advocacy of the businesses behind the cannabis industry. Will you? The CWCBExpo is the leading forum for: Dispensary Owners, Growers, Suppliers, Investors, Medical Professionals, Government Regulators, Legal Counsel & Entrepreneurs
VISIT WWW.CWCBEXPO.COM TO REGISTER TODAY
14 April 2016
EDUCATION Learn how to navigate regulatory, legal, financial and logistical challenges. DISCOVERY Explore the technology and services that are revolutionizing the cannabis industry. NETWORKING Meet face-to-face with the top manufacturers and innovators in the industry. GROWTH Gather the keys that you will need to profit in the cannabis industry.
THE GREEN SCENE
Our top picks for April
photo Š dmitriylo
Events, Products We Love, Tasty Meds, & Featured Strains
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Cannabis
Events
NCIA’S 2016 CANNABIS INDUSTRY LOBBY DAYS
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF EVENTS VISIT THCMAG.COM/EVENTS
May 12th-13th Washington, D.C.
PoTourist West April 19th
DETAILS: NCIA members from all over the country will be at this event sharing cannabis success stories in order to change the minds of representatives about current banking and tax regulations that the industry faces. This is an event to demonstrate how legitimate the cannabis industry is in hopes to fix those federal policies. This is an event for NCIA members only. Register at cannabisindustry.org.
Commons on Champa
Denver, CO
DETAILS: The first convention for cannabis travel planners. Learn which hotels are 4/20 friendly, your guests’ rights as well as your own, and so much more that goes along with cannabis tourism. Enjoy breakfast, conferences, speakers, lodging, Happy Hour and so much more at the PoTourist West. Visit their website for more info on this event medmj. info.
420 AT THE GLITTER DOME W/ PAUL WALL April 20th The Glitter Dome Denver, CO
DETAILS: Houston rapper Paul Wall, a.k.a. The People’s Champ, will be at this event all day getting the crowd hyped. This 12-hour event starts at high noon and there will be free swag. This is a 21 and over event.
BOISE HEMPFEST April 23rd Boise, ID
DETAILS: This Idaho-based cannabis education hemp festival takes place in Julia Davis Park, located along the beautiful Boise River. Come help change the minds of the people of Idaho and other surrounding anti-cannabis states about cannabis. Visit their website to see if they are still accepting applications for speakers, non-profit and informational booths, craft and commercial vendors. Visit boisehempfest. org or email boisehempfest420@ gmail.com.
16 April 2016
Matt Robertson Glass Sheep Oil Rig
BIG INDUSTRY SHOW April 26th-27th National Western Complex Denver, CO
DETAILS: BIG Industry is heading back to Denver for another awesome networking experience. The building will be buzzing with vape companies, glass blowers, clothing designers, hemp companies, media, grow suppliers and pretty much everything that encompasses the cannabis industry. Don’t forget to check out the expo within the expo, the BIG Galleria Glass Exhibition. Visit bigindustryshow.com for the schedule and ticketing information.
MARIJUANA BUSINESS CONFERENCE AND EXPO May 9th-11th The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center Kissimmee, FL
DETAILS: Orlando awaits you for this big event. Among the entertainment will be Tommy Chong giving an interview, keynote speaker and consulting expert Chuck Underwood and more cannabis industry gurus. Breakfasts, cocktails and dozens on dozens of exhibitors and vendors, marijuana business crash course and so much more. There’s just too much to list so check mjbizconference.com for all the deets.
CANNABIS LIBERATION DAY June 12th
Flevopark Amsterdam DETAILS: A hemp and marijuana event that will showcase a hemp market, cannabis film festival, history and more. Cannabis Liberation Day in Amsterdam is all about celebrating the plant and showing all the good it has to offer. This is a free event. Performers are TBA so visit cannabisliberationday. org to learn more.
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CHOCOLATE GUM-e BITES EXTRACTS VAPE ePENS TOPICALS
Consume Responsibly.
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These UV jars from 420 Science protect your stash from harmful rays and come in various sizes and printed concentrate related designs. The silicone DabDish comes in two sizes and fits snugly inside the small or large UV jar. Super practical and handy, www.420science.com.
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UV CONCENTRATE JAR & DABDISH PRO | $7-23
MOUTHPEACE | $13
With 4/20 creeping up on us there will inevitably be some smoking circles in our future. This thing fits in most smoking apparatuses and provides you your very own Mouthpeace, you can share the experience without sharing germs. Check out its many other uses at www.moose-labs.com.
Products
We Love
The THC staff wants to share our favorite products for April We hand-picked and reviewed every product on this list, highly enjoying each and every one. You can find detailed product reviews at thcmag.com. Enjoy!
DR. GREENS FLASH™ CLEANER | $3-8
This fast-acting cleaner works wonders on dirty, resin covered smoking accessories. It is affordable and available in 4-ounce and 8-ounce sizes. Just pour it in, agitate for 30 seconds and revel in the sparkling clean glass, www.drgreens.com.
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MEN’S WAVEOFF LACE TO TOE OXFORD | $63
Stylish Oxfords with a hemp and leather upper, memory foam insole foot beds, and rubber soles. These simple, casual shoes have a somewhat sporty design and are a perfect fit for a spring or summer wardrobe, www.shoes.com.
THE GREEN SCENE | PRODUCTS WE LOVE
H2FLO ELITE | $220
A handheld, portable dry herb vaporizer that comes with an interchangeable air and water chamber? Yes please. The ceramic convection system provides even heat and a true vaporization, no combustion. Use the water chamber to create an ultra-smooth experience. Flyt Lab offers a 10 year manufacturer’s limited warranty, www.flytlab.com.
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KARGO HAMMERHEAD | $150
MEAN SKREENZ ROSIN TECH BAGZ | $25
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Water pipe and stash jar in one innovative design. Made by 420 Science, it comes complete with a double-sided hammerhead perc and takes 14mm male accessories. It stands 7 inches tall, the base is thick glass and is 4.5 inches wide, making it very stable, 420science.com.
These reusable, polyester-fiber rosin bags are chemical and solvent resistant and used to make one of the newest type of concentrates - rosin. Just pack full of shake, trim, kief or buds, squeeze with hot press in between parchment paper, and scrape product off parchment. Laser cut in Boulder, hand-sewn in Englewood, Colorado, www.meanskreenz.com.
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SUMMIT TRIPLE INSULATED WATER BOTTLE | $27
This eco-friendly, stainless steel, 17-ounce water bottle comes in a variety of colors. The lid is equipped with a flip straw. It keeps liquids cold for 36 hours due to the fact that Eco Vessel utilizes TriMax Triple Insulation Technology, ecovessel.com.
20 April 2016
THE GREEN SCENE | PRODUCTS WE LOVE REMOVABLE BEAR BLACK HEMP FITTED HAT | $50
Comes with a black or tan hemp bear to switch out depending on what you’re feeling that day. The hat and brim are made from hemp while the inside is silky and cottony, grassrootscalifornia.com.
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MY BIG FAT ORGANIC NUT (MILK) SACKS | $16
Make your own almond milk, cold brew coffee, juices and more with these cheesecloth-like bags. Made from organic hemp and organic cotton these nut bags are free of dyes, glues, or anthing else toxic. They are reusable, easy to clean and comes in a set of two bags, amazon.com.
LIMITED EDITION HEMP HAND PROTECTOR | $20
The Hemp Hand Protector has been around for a while but this limited edition version has a special purpose. For every unit sold, $2.20 will be donated to The Body Shop Foundation. The donation supports The Body Shop’s “global target to protect and enrich our planet, our people and animals, and our oceans,” thebodyshop-usa.com.
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK TOKER POKER | $25
Toker Pokers are a long time staff favorite for us. Now it comes in a recently released glow-in-the-dark version. Like all Toker Pokers, it fits a full sized Bic lighter and comes complete with a built in poker and tamper. This thing glows really bright. Never lose your lighter in the dark again, tokerpoker.com.
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Tasty Meds
Reviews of Colorado’s best medicated products
SOUR AND SUGAR FREE DROPS BY GAIA’S GARDEN reviewed by Monocle Man
Gaia’s Garden was founded in 2009 and has been making delicious edibles ever since. They make a variety of chocolates and hard candies. For this review I tried out their Sour Drops and Sugar Free Drops. These tasty treats are 100 mg for the total package of drops. There were about 20 drops in the package, putting them at 5 mg per drop give or take a few milligrams. The Sour Drops were the perfect amount of sweet and sour to tingle your senses. The flavor was that of mixed fruit, which all tasted great. The Sugar Free Drops were just as good as the Sours. The Drops come in brightly colored, child-resistant, pop-top containers. Hard candies always kick in much faster than other edibles, especially if you take them sublingually. Within 15 minutes of having two of each of the drops, I could feel a slight body high. Thirty minutes later my eyes were getting heavy and I was ready to relax. If you haven’t tried any of the Gaia’s Gardens products before, check out their website at www.gaiasgardengroup.com to see where you can buy them near you.
BLOCKHEAD X HEADBAND SHATTER BY DABBLE EXTRACTS reviewed by Monocle Man
The good people at Dabble Extracts and The Green House, a medical-only dispensary in Colorado Springs, came together to make this incredible hybrid Blockhead x Headband shatter. This concentrate got me medicated quickly and took away all of the knee pain I was experiencing after a weekend of yard work and heavy lifting. I live in Colorado because I am able to have access to medical cannabis for a variety of health ailments and many people, including myself, prefer concentrates because they allow for a quicker medicating process and a more potent dosage. After a long weekend, my knee was pretty inflamed, but luckily I had most of the Blockhead x Headband shatter left in my freezer. The strain is both very cerebral and effective for pain relief. The product is incredibly fresh, and it’s recommended that it be kept in the freezer until you are ready to medicate. This shatter has a strong citrus smell once you open the tiny jar it’s packaged in. The flavor is almost sweet and stronger than some other extraction brands. I felt the tight grip of couch lock set in a few minutes after my third dab and I was happily planted and watching Netflix pain free. If you’re a fan of concentrates check out products by Dabble Extracts and The Green House on their websites at dabbleextracts.com and www.thegreenhousecs.com.
DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED GUMMY BY ROBHOTS reviewed by Hazy Cakes
You can put chocolate on almost anything and I will love it. The Dark Chocolate Covered Gummy from Robhots was no exception to my chocolate rule. Weighing in at 100 mg this tiny treat is no joke, as it’s extremely potent and works like a champ. The dosed portion is the actual gummy, which is then dipped in dark chocolate and finished with an orangecolored chocolate drizzle. Truth be told, I am a lightweight (although my tolerance for edibles has come a long way), so I cut this into about six pieces, making each piece roughly 16.5 mg, which worked out well for me as far as a functional high goes. This particular gummy was hybrid-based which didn’t make me sleepy or paranoid, as some edibles do, and of course I slept amazingly that night. The chocolate covered gummies also comes in strawberry and all Robhots are made with activated butane hash oil. Disclaimer to migraine sufferers, I don’t recommend butane-infused hash edibles to treat any sort of head pain. From my experience, that type of concentrate almost always makes my headache worse when ingested orally, however, on the flip side of that, strong concentrated-infused edibles always work with my other aches and pains. As always, medicate with caution. Visit robhots. com to check out all their flavors.
22 April 2016
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THE GREEN SCENE | FEATURED STRAINS reviewed by Monocle Man & Samuel Farley
GOLDEN GOAT
70/30 Sativa Dominant - Island Sweet Skunk x Hawaiian-Romulan Master Grower: Cory McCain and Phil Griffin Grow Medium: Coco coir Grow Cycle Duration: 65 days in flower Curation Time: 2-3 weeks Medical Applications: • Anxiety • Appetite Stimulant
Social/Personal: • Great before bike rides • Uplifting • Youthful High
You can always have a good time on Colfax, just make sure to start your adventure at The Colfax Pot Shop. They have a great selection of flower, concentrates, and edibles to choose from. Their Golden Goat was looking on point and I had to give it a try. This Hawaiian Romulan and ISS cross had big, dense nugs and nice trichome coverage. As soon as I popped the container open the sweet smell of citrus grabbed my attention. I found myself just smelling the buds for a few minutes before breaking them up to smoke. The high on this Golden Goat was very strong. A sativa head rush started me off for a few minutes then went into more of an indica body high. This is the perfect example of a hybrid that has both indica and sativa traits. You get the perfect balance of the two with this Golden Goat. Take a trip down Colfax and stop in The Colfax Pot Shop for their friendly staff and quality product.
www.thecolfaxpotshop.com
MEDICAL & RECREATIONAL
SUPER LEMON HAZE
80% Sativa Dominant Hybrid - Lemon Skunk x Super Silver Haze Master Grower: Timothy Charlesworth Grow Medium: Soil Grow Cycle Duration: 10 weeks in flower Curation Time: hand trimmed, one month Medical Applications: • Migraines • Appetite Stimulant • Internal Cramps
Social/Personal: • Uplifting • Energizing • Motivating • Mood Enhancer
I recently had the chance to check out the flower, edibles and concentrate products that are available at New Age Medical, a medical and recreational (by location) dispensary in both Denver and Colorado Springs. I tried their Super Lemon Haze, which is an incredible strain that smells exactly like its name and could be compared to shoving your head into a giant jar of Lemon Head candies. A sativa dominant hybrid that combines the genetics of Super Silver Haze and Lemon Skunk, the flower was light green in color, covered in trichomes and sprinkled with orange hairs throughout. The flower from New Age Medical is hand trimmed and the strain is a patient favorite because of its uplifting and energizing effects that help with appetite and improving mood. The flower was fluffy and rolled up nicely into a joint made with natural hemp rolling paper. I noticed the effects immediately, the buzz was strong and heady. Although I wasn’t experiencing a migraine, I can see why the flower would be a great choice for those days because of its heady effect. It made me feel relaxed and focused without being too intoxicating.
www.newagemedical.com 24 April 2016
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26 April 2016
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28 April 2016
LIFESTYLE
Living That Cannabis Life
photo ŠNataliSven
Hemp Eats, Canna Eats, WJC Glass Artist, & Interview with Ngaio Bealum,
RECREATIONAL ONLY thcmag.com 29
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HEMPY, HEALTHY, DELICIOUS
PESTO CHICKEN AND PASTA
1/2 Tablespoon crushed garlic 1/2 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice 2-3 Tablespoons hemp oil
Ingredients: 1/2 cup hemp pesto (recipe below) 16-ounce package fettuccine 1/2 Tablespoon hemp oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 medium zucchini sliced 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add more oil if needed to reach desired consistency.
Serves 4
30 April 2016
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant, then add in chicken. Add red pepper flakes and zucchini. Cook until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165˚F or the juices run clear, flipping every 3 minutes. Add chicken, cherry tomatoes and pesto to stockpot with cooked pasta. Toss to coat evenly. Top each individual serving with the Parmesan and serve right away.
photo ©Viktor1
Pesto recipe: Makes 1 cup 1/2 cup baby spinach 1 cup fresh basil 1/2 cup hemp seeds Himalayan pink sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook according to package directions. When done, drain and place back in warm pot.
LIFESTYLE | HEMP EATS
ROASTED ARTICHOKE WITH LEMON AND HEMP OIL Serves 6
Ingredients: 6 cups water 5 Tablespoons lemon juice, divided 6 medium sized artichokes, halved 3 Tablespoons hemp oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 large garlic cloves, minced 2 rosemary sprigs, chopped 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced Directions: Heat oven to 425°F. Fill a large bowl with water and three tablespoons of the lemon juice. Start by peeling back the tough, outer leaves of the artichoke to reveal the inner yellow leaves. Peel the stem leaves back and trim them down, leaving a half inch at the base. Cut off the top 1/2 inch of the artichokes. Halve each lengthwise then add to the water and lemon juice mixture. Let them marinate for as long as you can, up to a day or two.
photo Š Iryna Denysova
Heat an ovenproof skillet to medium-high heat on the stove. Whisk together hemp oil, salt, pepper, and garlic in a large bowl. Remove the artichokes from the water, pat them dry with a paper towel, place in a bowl and add the hemp oil. Toss to coat. Place as many artichokes as will fit in the heated skillet, flat side down. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, until lightly browned. Flip and do the same for the other side. Repeat with remaining artichokes. When all have been browned on both sides, place all halves core side down in the pan. Top with remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, chopped rosemary and the thinly sliced lemon. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the stems and serve immediately. Optional to serve with an aioli or melted (medicated?!) butter.
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s i b a Cann
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MEDICATED, CREATIVE, GLUTEN FREE Photos and recipes by Ashley Rose
VANILLA ALMOND BITES Ingredients: 10-12 cups rice Chex 8-10 cups confectioner’s sugar 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 2 cups chunky almond butter 1/4 cup infused coconut oil 1 -1/2 cups white chocolate chips 1 Tablespoon cinnamon power 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract Directions: Pour the rice Chex into a large bowl and set aside. Whisk together the coating ingredients; confectioner’s sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour mixture into a large zip top bag, or Tupperware container and set aside.
Remove from heat and pour mixture over the rice Chex. Mix thoroughly. Once the Chex are fully saturated move the mixture into the zip top bag or Tupperware that contains the coating mixture. Shake until the Chex are fully coated. Enjoy!
32 April 2016
photo ©Ekaterina Kondratova
Over medium-low heat, melt the almond butter and coconut oil. Once melted stir in the chocolate chips, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
LIFESTYLE | CANNABIS EATS
PEACHY COFFEE CRUMB MUFFINS Makes 12 muffins
Crumb ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1-1/2 cups gluten free all-purpose flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 light brown sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon coriander 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg Muffin ingredients: 1/3 cup infused coconut oil 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 cup buttermilk 2 eggs 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 1 can organic peaches in juice, drained and chopped 1-1/2 cups gluten free all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cornstarch 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 1 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon coriander
Icing ingredients: 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/2- 1 cup powdered sugar Directions: Preheat oven to 350째F. Line the muffin tin with paper liners. Make the crumb topping by using a fork to combine the butter, flour, sugars, and spices. The consistency should resemble very dry sand. Set aside. In a large bowl beat together the coconut oil, sugar, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Once fully combined, stir in the peaches. Sift together the remaining muffin ingredients, adding them to the wet mixture. Fill the cupcake liners with the muffin mixture, about 2/3 of the way full. Pack with crumb topping, about a 1/4 cup each. Bake at 350째F for 12-15 minutes. Make icing by mixing the heavy cream and powdered sugar together until smooth. Let muffins cool for 30 minutes before icing and then drizzle over top of the muffins.
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BLUEBERRY LEMON HAZE BARS Makes 1-10x10 pan
Crust Ingredients: 1/2 cup cannabis-infused coconut oil 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 egg 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 1-1/3 cup gluten free all-purpose flour 1 cup almond meal 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 1/4 teaspoon salt Filling Ingredients: 16-ounces cream cheese 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste Topping Ingredients: 1/3 cup lemon curd 1 cup fresh blueberries Directions: Heat the oven to 350째F. In a large bowl, cream the coconut oil and sugars for approximately 5 minutes. Then add the egg and vanilla, mixing until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, almond meal and the rest of the dry ingredients, then mix them into the wet. Line a 10 x 10 pan with parchment paper, then press the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan. Set in the fridge. While that is chilling, make the filling. Using a hand mixer, blend all filling ingredients until smooth. Spread the filling mixture over the top of the crust. Next, dollop the lemon curd onto the top of the filling, then using a knife swirl the lemon curd throughout the pan, not cutting to the crust. Sprinkle the blueberries on top. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
34 April 2016
LIFESTYLE | CANNABIS EATS
HOLY CHOCOLATE CANNOLI CUPCAKES Makes 18-24 cupcakes
Cupcake Ingredients: 1 cup gluten free all-purpose flour 1/2 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder 2 Tablespoons Cacao powder 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cannabis-infused coconut oil, softened 1-2/3 cup granulated sugar 4 large eggs 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 1-1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/3 cup strong brewed coffee 1 cup mini chocolate chips Icing Ingredients: 2 sticks butter, softened 8 ounces mascarpone cheese 16 ounce ricotta cheese, strained 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 9-11 cups confectioners’ sugar mini chocolate chips chopped pistachios Directions: Heat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, Cacao powder, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together the coconut oil and sugar for about 5-7 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time allowing for each egg to be fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the vanilla, and add the Greek yogurt and coffee until fully blended, folding in the chocolate chips in just before poring into the cupcake tins. Bake cupcakes for approximately 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting. Start by blending together the butter, mascarpone, ricotta and vanilla until fully incorporated. Mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, until desired consistency is achieved. Pour frosting into a Ziploc bag, cut off the corner and frost cupcakes by piping frosting out of bag. Lastly, top the cupcakes with additional mini chocolate chips, pistachios or powdered sugar.
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Featured Artist
Southwestern Mandala Photo ©wjcglass
WJC William Justin Cothren
As cannabis and the culture surrounding the plant and its consumption continues to grow, the role of glass artists has become increasingly important. Everyone who consumes uses some type of apparatus to enjoy their cannabis. For many, consuming the plant is a spiritual experience and the tools that are used really matter. Many people within the culture are aware of some of the larger players in the glass pipe industry, but some of the smaller and more talented companies are comprised of a single individual that creates some of the most incredible works of art out of glass. William Justin Cothren, or WJC, is such an individual who is creating some of the most beautiful and meaningful pieces of artwork out of glass in the world. Known for his incredible color combinations and Flower of Life patterns, Justin began his involvement with cannabis at an early age and always had an interest in glass pipes. The transition to glassblowing came when he turned 21 once he decided to make the investment in the required equipment and tools. He taught himself how to blow glass and by the time 2012 came around he was making his full time living as a glassblower. The technique used to create the intricate patterns was taught to him by a fellow glassblower, Scott Deppe and the Flower of Life pattern was actually the result of experiences with the psychedelic compound DMT. Following the experiences, he began looking into the Flower of Life and the
36 April 2016
glass
by Samuel Farley
meaning behind it and then began to draw and hone the patterns on paper that are used today in his glass work. One pattern can take three days of work and some pieces have five patterns and multiple color sets. Some of the intricate pieces of glass require more than 60 hours of artistic labor. WJC loves his work because he knows the value is beyond a dollar amount. He understands that the lucky individuals who own his work value not only the artistic quality but also the spiritual relationship people build with their pieces. “It’s all a state of mind. That (as he points to a piece of glass) is worth more than any amount of paper someone can give me. Sure, I can do stuff with that paper but this piece will outlast that paper. There are not many people today documenting their perspective of reality into something that’s going to be around for a long period of time.” The clientele for his work is extremely private and the glass isn’t available at any retail locations. Getting a WJC piece is nearly impossible and to get on the very small list of future clients would be a sincere feat for most in the glass world. His work can be seen on Instagram at @WJCglass and at the Heaterz Glass Show that will take place Dec. 9 and 10 at the Space Gallery in Denver. One day glass pieces created by WJC and others will be featured in art galleries where collectors can gather and enjoy incredible works of art and celebrate the culture. A
Photo ©Samuel Farley
LIFESTYLE | WJC GLASS
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Top Left: Icaros of the Heart, ©wjcglass | Top right: WJC X ADAM G, ©Samuel Farley | Center: ©wjcglass | Bottom left: DMT Spirit Molecule, ©glassotaku | Bottom right: ©Samuel Farley
38 April 2016
LIFESTYLE | FEATURED ARTIST
Photo @weirdkidmedia
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30 Minutes with Ngaio Bealum by Stacey Roland
Y
ou might have seen him on Getting Doug with High, judging for the High Times Cannabis Cup, hosting the Seattle Hemp Fest, Portland Hempstock, Boise Hemp Fest, Madison Hemp Fest, Kushcon, and the THC Hemp Expo. Or maybe you read his articles in the Sacramento News Review, his Monterey County weekly column, his work with Freedom Leaf magazine or his blog posts on Sprout News. Or maybe you caught one of his many stand-up comedy shows throughout the country. In any case, we are happy to introduce you to Ngaio Bealum. Ngaio is a major presence in the California cannabis community as well as an activist, actor, writer, musician and comedian. He infuses humor and a passion for cannabis into everything he is involved in and we are glad to have him as a part of the THC team.
40 April 2016
LIFESTYLE | NGAIO BEALUM When and how did you get your start in cannabis?
Like weed in general? College. I’m kidding, sort of. 1988 was when I found out how cool weed really was and a few years after that decided to not only become a full-time weed smoker but also an activist. Because it is such a cool thing and for it to be ridiculously illegal was kind of dumb and not common-sensical. So activism was the way and it is always cool when you get to hang out with activists who have really good weed. It is a win-win and I have always thought that marijuana activism is a way to take care of a bunch of different problems through one solution. I love weed. Weed has come through time and time again, weed has been there when nothing else has.
What do you want people to know about you?
would have been in a lot of trouble. I mean the last time I was in North Carolina there was a kid with dab rig in his backpack. That’s great. It is also not just for hippies and liberals anymore. There are so many squares and suits starting to come around to the concept of freedom. Do you think Big Tobacco is going to have a huge impact or do you think this can be maintained on a smaller level? You can try to control the big guys for a bit but you can’t stop them. For every Budweiser there is a craft microbrew. Some people will want to smoke the big name and the other guys are going to want to be the connoisseurs. And that should never be an argument against legalizing marijuana.
I’m kind to small animals, it is better to see comedy live rather than on video and I am right-handed. Also, I’m cute, I’m tall, I’m nice to people and I love weed.
I read online that you are an award-winning juggler, is that true? I am. 1994 People’s Choice Award winner of the International Jugglers Association Fest.
I met you almost six years ago at Kushcon, how have you seen the industry change in that amount of time? Dear lord, has it been that long? The biggest challenge has been capitalism, businesses feel the need to compete even though there is enough weed and money to go around. No reason to be selfish. When the people, not as enlightened as some hippies, come in and try and to create monopolies and when free trade isn’t always as free as it should be. Selling weed back in the day was easy, you needed a quarter pound and a pager and now it is endless permits and licenses. The difference with this industry is that it started out with outlaws so they don’t give a fuck because they were already outlaws. The other problem is rushing the process and ending up with sub par marijuana. Not letting it grow as long as it needs to and using pesticides and bullshit and not showing it love. If love is not your first ingredient than everything you cook is going to taste terrible. We need weed more than weed needs us. Colorado needs weed’s money not the other way around. Weed sells itself.
You do so much in the industry and otherwise, comedy, writing, acting, music, juggling, activism, the list goes on. Which of those do you enjoy the most?
You have your own strain. Tell me more about that.
High Life Team. Naturalcannabisteam.com. It started like a lot of other things, they asked can you talk to Doug Benson for us? And I said, I can but he might not be interested. I, on the other hand, love weed and would love to have my face on a “weedies” box.
We have reported on the racial divide regarding cannabis business owners, what is your opinion on that?
You mean the white washing of the green rush? I am on the board of the Minority Cannabis Business Association which is a great, diverse, goodlooking group of people, who also want to make weed legal. We have to remember to create opportunities for those who are most impacted by the war on drugs. Black and brown people are four times more likely get a record for weed but are also four times more likely to be invited to a marijuana business conference. Businesses with more diverse workforces make more money and do better things and don’t make shitty tone-deaf mistakes.
What have you enjoyed most about writing in the cannabis space? The weed.
Fair enough. Besides the weed, what else?
Well, I mean I love to smoke weed and then write about it. Granted sitting down to write is not as easy as it is to stand up and talk about it for me. Also, seeing how far we have come in the last five years, 10 years, 15 years. I remember when the first clubs opened up in the late 1990s, and it was crazy. Now people are kind of snobs. Like they get upset if they only have 20 kinds of weed and 15 kinds of hash. That is amazing. I’m kind of mad at the kids but also amazed. I remember a party when there were two kinds of weed. There are kids alive now that have never not known legal medical marijuana. I love the growth. And it has expanded so much. I have been to New Mexico and San Antonio, Texas recently and people have bags of weed and it is no big deal and there was a time when they
All of them.
Equally? Weed and comedy are my favorite. Weed is a great drug for comedy. It makes you feel all full of love and humor. Music is great too because people are in tune with their visceral emotions and that is intoxicating in a way as well. It creates a nice vibe, which is why I like weed over other recreational drugs we partake of here in America. Do you foresee any turmoil for the industry with the upcoming election? If the GOP gets in office, there will be challenges. It is still federally illegal after all. Which makes it important that we continue to elect leaders that promote growth in the industry. But there are also a lot of people that have invested millions of dollars into the industry and there would be an uprising. It will be harder to convince people again to legalize it if we have a setback. We thought weed would be legal in ‘92 with Clinton. We kept fighting and badda bing badda boom, here we are. It was much easier to throw a weed party back in the day though, print some fliers and get some weed. They wouldn’t throw 35,000 people in jail. But now people are invested and don’t want to lose their business due to a party. But I would still prefer a weed party to a booze party because there is less violence. But just last year we had to go sit in at a city council meeting because they tried to deny the Portland Hempstock a permit. Based on the fact that people were smoking weed in Portland which, people have been smoking weed in Portland since it was invented, damn near. Now that it is legal they don’t want us. The mayor spoke up and said that it was ridiculous. We need more open-minded squares. Nothing wrong with liking marijuana, some people abuse religion or yoga or cheeseburgers but who cares long as you handle your shit.
Is there anything else you want Colorado to know?
I actually want to thank the people of Colorado for being one of the first to get it together. California has been trying for a long time and hasn’t quite made it. A big thank you to everyone who has worked so hard, the THC staff and all of the business owners that have sacrificed money and friendships to make it happen. It is great that I can roll around Colorado with a bag of weed. And legalization has created a very nice industry too. Everything from cases and pipes, to security and computer software, to packaging and labels. Everyone needs new packaging and compliant labels. It is great how many new jobs have been created. We are excited for our future collaborations with Ngaio Bealum. Going forward he will be contributing to the magazine, bringing with him humor and a fresh perspective. For more now, check out his article about traveling with cannabis in the recently released, very first national issue of The Hemp Connoisseur. a
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LIFESTYLE | TRAVELING WITH CANNABIS
COTTON FARMING USES 25% OF ALL PESTICIDES WORLDWIDE
HEMP IS NATURALLY WEED RESISTANT AND REQUIRES VIRTUALLY NO PESTICIDES HEMP IS ALSO 4 TIMES MORE DURABLE THAN COTTON AND PRODUCES TWICE AS MUCH FIBER PER ACRE
HEMP IS THE ANSWER BROUGHT TO YOU BY: NATIONALHEMPASSOCIATION.ORG 42 April 2016
photo Š Incredible_movements
BUSINESS & POLITICS
Cannabusiness in Full Bloom
Cannabis News, Brazil, Mormon Marijuana, Canadian Investments, & Much More
RECREATIONAL ONLY thcmag.com 43
Cannabis News Supreme Court Rejects OK, NE Lawsuit The lawsuit brought against the state of Colorado by the Attorneys General of Nebraska and Oklahoma over the state’s legal cannabis has been rejected by the United States Supreme Court. The lawsuit, which was filled directly to the Supreme Court over a year ago, alleged that legally purchased marijuana was flowing over the Colorado border, harming the ability of the neighboring states to enforce their own sovereignty. Six of the currently eight Justices agreed that the court should not hear the case, with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissenting, citing the Supreme Court’s role in mitigating interstate disputes. The case had caused some concern in the cannabis crowd, as it potentially could have forced a federal intervention in Colorado and set a precedent against legal cannabis, which remains illegal at the federal level. According to NPR, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson has vowed to continue the fight against what he calls the “unconstitutional facilitation of marijuana industrialization” in Colorado.
Hemp Coming to Minnesota Minnesota may soon be joining the coalition of hemp-growing states after agricultural officials there received a permit from the Drug Enforcement Administration to begin a hemp pilot program. The state’s legislature voted last year to begin the program in accordance with the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill, which allows state departments of agriculture and institutions of higher learning to grow test crops of hemp for research and developmental purposes. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is now looking for farmers to grow the pilot plots. “My hope is that we will have a few acres planted in Minnesota in 2016,” said Geir Friisoe, director of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s plant protection division, according to Minnesota Public Radio News. “I think, just given some of the challenges we’ve had, I think that’s a good start to getting this off the ground.”
Legalizing Cannabis in the UK Would Generate £1Billion in Taxes A study carried out by a panel of experts including scientist, academics and members of law enforcement, has concluded that legalizing and taxing marijuana sales could generate as much as £1 billion per year in tax revenue for the United Kingdom. The study also found that legalization would help mitigate the harms done to users and society at large by continued use and prohibition of the plant. The study was commissioned by the nation’s Liberal Democrat Party and is intended to form the basis of the party’s new drug policy, under which cannabis could be legally grown both at home and by governmentrun retail stores that would scale price based on potency, according to the British online newspaper The Independent.
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The conclusion reached by the Liberal Democrats seems to be part of a rising tide of cannabis liberalization in the UK. An editorial published by The Guardian in March also called for the legalization, or at least decriminalization, of cannabis in response to the study, citing the harm done to users by cannabis prohibition and the money generated by criminals due to the illegal nature of its supply. “It is obvious that the existing regime is failing and that a rational, evidence-led review is overdue,” concluded The Guardian.
Hemp Legislation Introduced in Alabama A bill legalizing hemp research in Alabama has been introduced into the state’s Senate. The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Paul Bussman and Ken Johnson, would allow the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries or state universities to begin to grow research crops in accordance with the 2014 Farm Bill. If the bill passes, the state would still need DEA approval to begin the program, and would face the difficult task of importing seeds. “We look forward to giving them the research that they need to grow the product in the best way and the fastest way and the most productive way that they can,” said Bussman, according to Alabama news site AL.com.
Attorney General Rejects Ohio Medical Marijuana Measure Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has rejected a proposed initiative brought forward by the Marijuana Policy Project to legalize medical marijuana in the state. The decision was based on language in the proposal’s summary, which DeWine determined differed too greatly from the actual proposed amendment. DeWine cited differences in the summary and amendment in the number of allowable production facilities, differing interpretations of impaired driving and differing dates on which patients could begin receiving their registry cards. Gaining the Attorney General’s approval is the first step an initiative must take before supporters can begin collecting signatures to get the measure on the ballot, and supporters must still collect more than 300,000 signatures once this first step is completed. Ohio was at the center of a controversial battle for adult-use marijuana this past November, when an initiative that would have capped the number of production facilities created divisiveness amongst pro-marijuana groups over concerns about the creation of a marijuana monopoly.
Americans Not Open to Legalizing All Drugs Despite a majority of Americans now supporting cannabis legalization, most do not support the legalization or decriminalization of other drugs, according to a poll conducted by Vox in conjunction with Morning Call. The poll assessed the opinions of nearly 2,000 registered voters,
BUSINESS & POLITICS | CANNABIS NEWS
Across the Globe
by DJ Reetz
and showed that 59 percent of those queried supported decriminalizing cannabis. Psilocybin mushrooms, on the other hand, only managed 22 percent support for decriminalization, with 68 percent of respondents opposed and 10 percent undecided. Results for outright legalization were even lower. The results are surprising given the increasing number of Americans recognizing the failure of treating substance use as a criminal issue when it comes to marijuana. However, marijuana remains the most widely used illicit substance in the world, so chances of respondents having personal experience with the plant are much higher than that of other drugs.
CDC Wants Doctors to Stop Testing for Pot A new set of guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the prescription of opiod painkillers seems to urge doctors not to test for the presence of THC when prescribing the drugs. The guidelines were intended to help stem the rising tide of opiod addiction, but included the interesting caveat advising doctors not to test for substances “for which results would not affect patient management or for which implications for patient management are unclear,” such as THC. The guidelines go on to advise against dismissing patients as a result of any unexpected results from a urine analysis, as doing so could lead them to find opiods from other less controlled sources. “We applaud the CDC’s reasoned approach to the use of urine testing and its drawbacks when used on pain patients,” said Ellen Komp, Deputy Director of California NORML in a press release.
Tennessee Farmers Shying Away From Hemp After a beleaguered first season, many farmers in Tennessee are choosing not to grow hemp in 2016, the Chattanooga Times Free Press is reporting. Farmers faced a difficult process of obtaining seeds, with imports held up at U.S. Customs and Border Protection until well into the growing season. One farmer was able to sell his meager crop of seeds for only $7 after paying $254 for the permit required by the state, according to the report. The number of farmers applying for hemp licenses during the 2016 growing period is half of what it was last year, according to the Times Free Press, down to only 25 applicants. Officials, farmers and activists had all hoped that hemp would be a valuable addition to Tennessee’s agricultural production, replacing or surpassing some of the other crops in the state that have seen a decline in demand in recent years, such as tobacco. But the trouble obtaining seed and the underwhelming growth as a result is steering farmers away. “I’m just not willing to take that chance this year,” farmer Chuck Mason, told the Times Free Press.
Cannabis Cup Leaves Colorado
Colorado will not be hosting the U.S. Cannabis Cup, one of the only such events in the country not limited to medical marijuana. After facing permit problems in Adams County and failing to find a suitable home in Pueblo County, organizers decided to move the event to California. For the past two years, the U.S. Cannabis Cup had taken place at the Denver Mart in Adams County. Issues with the open consumption of cannabis at the event forced some scrutiny in 2015, and county commissioners ultimately decided not to allow the event to occur at all in 2016.
Pennsylvania Cannabis
Legislature
Working
on
A bill establishing a hemp pilot program in Pennsylvania sailed through the state Senate last month with unanimous support. Senate Bill 50 would establish a pilot program in Pennsylvania similar to those seen in other states complying with the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill. The bill was passed with a vote of 49-0 in the Senate, and is now under deliberation in the state House of Representatives. “It will start out small and gradually increase, and as soon as federal law expands further, then we will have the flexibility to open it up further,” said Erica McBride of the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council, according to ABC-27. Meanwhile, a bill legalizing medical marijuana in the state is moving back to the Senate after passing the House with significant alterations. The bill originally passed the Senate as a 69 page measure, but grew to 154 pages before passing the House. Though the earlier version of the bill passed the Senate handily and bipartisan support overwhelmingly passed the altered version in the House, rectifying the two could prove tricky and potentially derail the entire endeavor. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to sign the measure should it pass the legislature, according to Philly Voice.
Former Bronco Advocates for CBD Former Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer showed support for the use of cannabidiol in a recent interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio. Plummer, who played for the Broncos from 2003 until his retirement in 2006, said that CBD has assisted him in his recovery and helped him to avoid more dangerous and potentially addictive painkillers. “I’m not thinking about it but the thought crossed my mind because my body feels great after playing for 10 years in the league and being retired. I owe a lot of that to CBD and what it’s done for me,” he said. Plummer is currently part of an effort to encourage the NFL to examine cannabinoid therapies for players. That effort is centered on CBD and does not include THC, which has also shown potential in mitigating brain damage. A
For the first time since the beginning of adult-use marijuana sales,
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by Ben Hoopes
T
he ruling on the largest drug decriminalization in the world is expected to be released this month. The ruling would apply to more than 200 million people in Brazil, the fifth largest country in the world by population. Brazil’s Supreme Court ministers have been hearing testimony since the fall in this landmark case. About half of the justices have already released their opinions, some in favor of full drug decriminalization, and others in favor of solely cannabis decriminalization. Currently in Brazil, except in extremely limited cases, the use or possession of cannabis is strictly prohibited. The only way a cannabis company can do business in Brazil is to import CBD extracts for treatment of epilepsy. It cannot be produced locally, which makes the price very high because of transportation costs, import tariffs, and the recent currency devaluation in Brazil. Only certified patients, who somehow know about the treatment and can find a doctor familiar with it can get prescribed, with lots of paperwork, money and red tape to go through. Obstacles and red tape are also high for the distributor. Meanwhile, traditional pharmaceutical drugs are essentially free to low-income patients. “We are setting up a distribution company to participate in that very small business,” native Brazilian Eduardo Sampaio of Piauhy Investing explained, “Our belief is as this business continues to grow, and as it becomes more accepted to treat illness with cannabis, this client base will increase.” Piauhy is also investing in companies in the medical cannabis
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space in the United States. “We think the medicinal use of cannabis is the next greatest thing in terms of pharma industry,” he said. Though it’s not easy to get medical cannabis in the country, drug users are no longer jailed for possession for personal use. In 2006, President Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva signed a bill that stated drug users found carrying a “small quantity” (and “small quantity” was not defined) the perpetrator would be released by the police within a couple of hours, and the court would likely assign them to some amount of community service hours. Prior to that, small-time drug possessors faced between six months and two years in prison. Five years later, on May 21, 2011, one thousand Brazilians protested the country’s cannabis laws in a march known as the “Marcha da Maconha” (Marijuana March) and were attacked by police with rubber bullets and tear gas. However three weeks later, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that protesters should be allowed to organize to protest in favor of more open cannabis laws. Now, the Brazilian Supreme Court is considering decriminalizing all drugs, as Portugal did in 2001, and is expected to issue a ruling soon. The case involves a defendant from Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, who was arrested for possessing three grams of marijuana. The amount was deemed to be for personal usage, and he was convicted and sentenced to two months community service, but he argued that this violated his constitutional guarantee of privacy. Glenn Griswald of The Intercept
BUSINESS & POLITICS | BRAZIL DRUG REFORM reported in September: The Court is deciding whether the right of privacy, guaranteed by Article 5 of the nation’s constitution (one’s “intimate” and “private life” are “inviolable”), bars the state from punishing adults who decide to consume drugs. In other words, the Court seems prepared to accept the pure civil libertarian argument against criminalizing drugs: namely, independent of outcomes, the state has no legitimate authority to punish adult citizens for the choices they make in their private sphere, provided that those choices do not result in direct harm to others. Dr. Rubens Casara, a criminal judge in Rio de Janeiro state who presides over drug cases, told The Intercept that such a ruling on privacy grounds has the potential to be debate-changing both inside Brazil and globally:
Supreme Court ministers and public authorities relate to three things when it relates to cannabis: addiction, a point of entry to other drugs, and legalization leading to social unrest.” According to Sampaio, university researchers have been testifying that cannabis addiction and cannabis leading to harder drugs are largely myths. With regards to social unrest, Brazil has major crime and drug-related societal issues that need to be fixed. It is being argued that the police should be chasing real criminals rather than teenagers going to rock concerts. “By legalizing it, on the one hand you’re taking the money out of the hands of criminal organizations,” and on the other, “there is a huge number of individuals who are small time users who have been arrested and have been wasting the resources of entire judicial system.” If the Supreme Court rules in favor of decriminalization, it would be
Now, the Brazilian Supreme Court is considering decriminalizing all drugs, as Portugal did in 2001... The principal thesis is that nobody can be punished for what they do if their actions do not harm third parties. For example, under Brazilian law, attempted suicide is not a crime. If someone tries to commit suicide and does not die, it is not a crime. Why? Because it is understood as selfharm, it is a problem that only concerns the individual. And this creates a paradox. If a person tries to kill himself, it’s not a crime. If you smoke a joint or use cocaine, or use crack or whatever, you are punished for that. The idea is that drug usage, if there is a harm, is only self-injury, only harms the individual and thus cannot be the object of state punishment. The state must respect the individual liberty of whomever wants to use drugs. There is a growing consensus in Brazil that the war on drugs has been a failure. Despite the country’s conservative nature, this is an issue that both progressives and conservatives are getting behind. Sampaio explained, “From a social standpoint, most of the concerns from the
the largest such action in the world to date, affecting a population of more than 200 million people. “All of the sudden, depending on the ruling of the Supreme Court, you could have a market of 200 million people, more than California.” Uruguay, Brazil’s southern neighbor, has never criminalized drugs for personal use and took action to fully legalize marijuana two years ago. While Uruguay has not yet defined commercial regulation, residents of the country are allowed to grow up to six plants. According to Sampaio, as of early February, more than half the ministers were still yet to vote and had not issued opinions yet. He believes that at the very least, cannabis will likely be totally decriminalized, which will open doors for treatment and allow police to focus on other problems, such as crack cocaine, which is major issue in Brazil. It is even possible that the court could decide to allow the commercial marijuana production and sales. The final ruling, including the fine print of the law, is expected to be issued sometime soon. A
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Medical Marijuana Mormon Style by Erin Hiatt
At the foot of the stairs leading up to Utah’s State Capitol sits a sculpture of the state symbol, the beehive. Etched in hard stone and in permanent flight are the worker bees, circling the hive in constant toiling endeavor. Utah is famous for their majority-Mormon populace known for their shoulder-to-the-wheel work ethic, unabashed teetotaling, virtue, and abstinence. So it may surprise you to know that the Beehive State already has a medical marijuana program. Well, more apropos, a nonpsychoactive-CBD-for-one-condition program. “Charlee’s Law” passed in the 2014 legislative session, uses a strain similar to Charlotte’s Web that patients have to get special permission to bring across the border from legal states. Signed into law after the tenacious prodding of parents whose children suffer from intractable epilepsy, people suffering from other debilitating medical conditions urged lawmakers to consider their needs as well. Answering the call was Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs, the grandson of late Mormon prophet Ezra Taft Benson and a medical marijuana patient himself while living in Colorado. Along with Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, they presented to the Utah legislature SB 73, a law intended to greatly expand the treatable conditions, allow for a dispensary in every county, potentially treat up to 80,000 patients, and include patients under 18 with parent or guardian permission. Turns out that Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, and Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, had a medical cannabis bill of their own, SB 89. And while SB 89 also expanded upon the treatable conditions, it was much more limited with a potential patient population of 20,000 at the high end, only five dispensaries, and no exceptions for minors. But what clogged up the press pipelines and got the lawmakers, residents, and Mormon Church all aflutter was the defining difference between the two: THC. SB 73 called for whole plant medicine that could get you high; SB 89 was to be nonpsychoactive CBD only. The elephant in the room when it comes to Utah politics is the Mormon Church. With the Salt Lake Temple acting as the epicenter of Salt Lake City’s street grid and the Church Office building reaching more than 400 feet into the bright Utah sky, the domed capitol and the church’s headquarters are separated by an eight minute uphill walk, literally
48 April 2016
facing each other. Prominent among Mormon teachings is the Word of Wisdom, a revelation counseling that Mormons abstain from wine, hot drinks, and tobacco. It has grown in myth and lore over the years, and some go so far as to put caffeine of any kind and even herbal tea in the no-no category. Founder and first Prophet Joseph Smith couldn’t have anticipated cannabis as medicine, but its tacit that using marijuana or indeed drugs of any kind would be proscribed. And the Mormon faithful take this very seriously; it plays a great role in Utahn’s lifestyle, culture, and politics. Straying from its teachings can prevent a Mormon from being “in good standing”, possibly jeopardizing their ability to partake of the sacrament, receive temple recommends (where Mormons are frequently married), and their relationships with fellow ward (similar to a congregation) members. When Madsen first considered being treated in Colorado, he worried that using medical marijuana would endanger his church standing, so immediately after consulting his doctor, he sought advice from his bishop (a Mormon spiritual lay leader similar to a pastor). Madsen told The Salt Lake Tribune, “So I went to my bishop and he was very forthright, and just said, ‘Try it in Colorado. As long as you’re in a place where it’s legal, I’ll issue the [temple] recommend.’” But when SB 73 was first introduced the Mormon Church swiftly opposed it, their spokesman citing “the potential harm of the hallucinogenic compound THC,” federal illegality, and the American Medical Association statement urging more research (a tail-chasing prospect given that more research is difficult to perform because of its federal ban). The church showed no such opposition to SB 89. Supporters of SB 73 were quick to pounce on the hypocrisy of the church’s statement, pointing out that the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health reported that Utahns have seen an increase of more than 400 percent in their abuse of prescription drugs in the past decade. Prescription drug abuse is often correlated with higher uses of heroin, currently near epidemic proportions everywhere, but there’s been no clarion call from the Church for more studies on prescription drugs, presumably because they’re legal. J. Michael Bailey is a professional actor and graphic designer, describing
BUSINESS & POLITICS | MORMON MMJ himself as “the happy father of five extraordinary children and husband to the greatest wife on the planet.” He is a former Utah resident, active member of the LDS church, went on a Mormon mission, and has been given many callings in his ward. He currently lives in Oregon, but he discovered medical marijuana at the coaxing of a friend while doing a production of Les Miserables in Los Angeles. He explains, “I have had several blood clotting issues as well as a pulmonary embolism which nearly killed me. As a result, the pain in my legs due to the scarring and continued inflammation of veins is a constant and sometimes very difficult thing to bear. Also, as a side effect of the drugs I am prescribed, I have developed gout arthritis, which makes walking and sleeping difficult.” J. Michael agreed to try medical marijuana very reluctantly, having grown up with the propaganda and scare tactics surrounding marijuana use. Bailey did indeed worry that using medical marijuana would endanger his relationship with the church, the people in his ward, and even his family, but he says, “I have come to the conclusion that it is not any of their business. It is between me, the Lord and my wife. After all, we have been instructed through our health code (the Word of Wisdom) that the herbs of the field are to be used for our benefit.” He believes that when it comes to many Mormons dismissing marijuana as medicine that it boils down to just plain ignorance. “They think marijuana users are all the stereotypical ‘burned out, stupid and lazy stoners.’” Perhaps it’s because of the Word of Wisdom that Utah politicians have a penchant for moralizing their politics (it’s estimated that the legislature is 77 percent Mormon as opposed to the statewide 60 percent). Because of their positions on issues like alcohol, the infamous “Zion Curtain” law was put into place to protect children from the sight of a bartender preparing alcoholic beverages, and a hate crime bill was stopped in its tracks because of protections for the LGBT population. The legislators have also passed some head-scratching laws just this year, grandstanding on abortion law (the “Fetal Pain” bill), public land use, setting aside some $4.5 million to sue the federal government over land they said was “promised to them at statehood,” and last but not least, funding to
the tune of $250,000 the appeal of Phil Lyman, the San Juan County commissioner who went on an ATV joyride up Recapture Canyon and got himself convicted on federal trespass charges. When the church publicly opposed Madsen’s SB 73, he practically became a contortionist to appease them, changing it from whole flower to extract only, excluding smokeable medicine in any form, allowing municipalities to deny medical establishments for any reason at all, limiting the number of dispensaries, and outlawing any packaging that could entice or confuse children. Thus declawed, SB 73 lurched to its death and the church gave their support to the much more innocuous SB 89. But the fate of SB 73 was likely a done deal before it ever got in front of the House Health Committee. Reporter Ben Winslow wrote for Fox 13, “Madsen said some House members have said they aren’t bothering to read his bill, declaring they will vote against it anyway.” On the last day of the legislative session, emails exchanged with Froerer were succinct: “73 is dead we will find out about 89 this p.m.,” followed up about two hours later with “looks like 89 is dead as well.” Fox 13 wrote that “In the end, it wasn’t lawmakers who voted down Senate Bill 89 -it was the budget. A $3 million fiscal note was attached to the medical cannabis bill, and the legislature did not budget for it.” Medical marijuana advocates are vowing to continue the battle, telling Fox 13 that they are moving ahead with a political action committee and a ballot initiative in 2018. Even though about half of House Republicans didn’t even want to debate the medical cannabis bill, Daw, co-sponsor of 89, said they would work on it over the summer and bring it back next year. In the meantime, the only patients who can get medical marijuana treatment, or rather one strain CBD treatment, are people with epilepsy. Everyone else who could get some relief will have to buy on the black market or just be out of luck, and Madsen, the Senator who has worked on medical marijuana bills year after year, well, he’s moving to South America. A
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BUSINESS & POLITICS | CANADIAN CAPITAL
Canadian Capital Marijuana investors look across the border to put their money to work
by Ben Hoopes
D
50 April 2016
sister operates one of the four medical cannabis licenses in Vermont. Ford is particularly bullish on Massachusetts and iAnthus has several investments in the state. “The new administration and governor set up a fair process for licenses as opposed to a cage match. Some jurisdictions had set up a system with one winner per zip code, which created an unhealthy environment for corruption, political favors, and whatnot. Massachusetts recognized this and changed it. It’s more like a driver’s license: you pass background check, show wherewithal, and a good business plan and you get a piece of paper that says you may compete within the state. Then you have to work within the local community. It is left up to community to whether you will be a good business partner.” To date, many American cannabis companies in the stock market have gained a “Wolf of Wall Street” reputation. Ford explained, “Some companies are real, but that’s the minority. You’ve had 200 to 300 U.S. companies that have changed their name from Joe’s Mining to Joe’s Marijuana and put out a business plan. That’s the extent of what the business entity is. The stocks got driven up tenfold, and then got driven back down twentyfold. That’s the nature of bubbles and hype. We are different in that we work with real companies and are making real investments in companies with real cash flow.” The company differentiates itself by offering investors a portfolio of diversified cannabis companies across states, handling all of the due diligence and investment structures, and offering investees management advisory. Their long-term bet is that cannabis will become de-scheduled in the United States and that United States institutional investors will participate in the industry. But until then, iAnthus is happy to bridge the gap between the growing cannabis markets in the United States and top tier capital in Canada. A
photo © Jiri Flogel
espite the introduction of some promising bills that hoped to remove a few of the barriers to capital for cannabis entrepreneurs, such as the CARERS Act, the future of financing for the cannabis industry remains in limbo. With that uncertainty comes a high cost for capital, with many established companies paying upwards of 20 percent interest rates. Innovation and creativity will be key to filling the fundraising gap and iAnthus Capital Management believes they have found a viable solution in our northern neighbor, Canada. Due to the national legalization of medical marijuana in Canada, the mainstream financial markets are less sheepish about putting their money to work in the industry, which has resulted in lower borrowing costs. The largest Canadian cannabis producer, Tweed, is traded on the public stock exchange. It has a market capitalization of more than $180 million and sees more than 200,000 of its shares change hands every day. The company can raise money as it needs to through offerings in the stock market and investors feel safe in knowing that they can buy and sell, rather than being locked into a private investment. And yet, Canadian institutional investor appetite for cannabis stocks is currently stifled. With less than 10 of the 29 licensed producers in Canada being public companies, Canadian institutional investors are looking for more cannabis companies that can put their capital to work. Hadley Ford, the co-founder of iAnthus, plans to change that by raising capital in the Canadian public markets to finance American companies. “We can raise money inexpensively in the Canadian public markets, put it to work more dearly in the U.S. private markets, and thereby provide much needed institutional capital to the legal U.S. cannabis industry,” he said. Cannabis is somewhat of a family business for Ford. His brother is the market share leader providing cannabis in New Mexico and his
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Leadership in the Cannabis Industry by Erin Hiatt
52 April 2016
t
his year may prove to be the year that blows the cannabis industry wide open. Fortune magazine has predicted that six states will say yes to legal markets this year: Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Nevada. The ArcView group, an angel investing network focused on the cannabis industry, found in their most recent annual “State of the Legal Marijuana Markets” that “legal cannabis sales jumped 17 percent, to $5.4 billion in 2015 and they will grow by a whopping 25 percent this year to reach $6.7 billion in total U.S. sales.” By 2020 they predict the market could see sales of $21.8 billion dollars. To put that in perspective, that’s more than what the NFL is projected to make in sales that same year. With that much money at play and the rules governing the industry still in flux, it may be time for marijuana industry leaders to step up their game. Betty Aldworth is the Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and has a record of reform advocacy going back seven years. Instrumental in the creation of Colorado’s legal market, she currently works with college students, grooming them to be the industry leaders of the future, educating them in cannabis culture, policy, and industry reforms. “In order for these reforms to be sustainable and in order for these reforms to be okay with the American public, it needs to have the three characteristics: It needs to be transparent, responsible, and accountable. Like more
BUSINESS & POLITICS | LEADERSHIP seek to educate humanity on the importance of their quest, and their goals are to solve a serious problem facing the natural world with fiduciary gain being a byproduct of their accomplishments.” Women in the cannabis industry, as opposed to their more mainstream business counterparts, are really taking the lead. David Downs wrote for the SFgate, “About 36 percent of executives in the cannabis industry are women. By comparison, just 22 percent of executives in all U.S. businesses are women.” Having strong female leadership may be key in tamping down one of the industry’s lingering problems; objectifying women to sell and brand their products and some frat boy attitudes around hiring, a big turnoff for more conventional consumers, and giving the industry a more approachable feel. People who work in the industry are also by and large more educated. A Marijuana Business Daily survey showed 87 percent of executive or management leaders have a degree or some kind of certification post-high school. The U.S. Census Bureau found that only 68 percent of workers in similar roles throughout the wider economy had achieved the same levels of education. Aldworth hopes for the creation of a compassionate industry that takes care of all of its workers, and Giannotti would like to have in place non-profit communities that advocate for values and conditions that create and/or expand
“Most successful young leaders that we see are driven, are fearless, are experimental, and highly analytical....They’re strong critical thinkers.” so than basically any other [industry],” explains Aldworth. Continuing, she says, “we have people like Kevin Sabet who is talking about big marijuana developing marketing and ads intended like Big Tobacco to get young people hooked on marijuana like tobacco. We need to guard against those sorts of products and behaviors that, while probably don’t actually match Kevin Sabet’s worst fears, do, in the eyes of some, contribute to that kind of perception.” It would be desirable if the leaders of culture, policy, and industry could more easily come to agreements in the scenario Aldworth describes. But there remain strong differences of opinion about how to achieve industry objectives, or even what those objectives are. Since the industry itself is shaped by the reform movement, leadership styles can get more and more heterogeneous as businesses continue to set up shop in states with varied regulations. Aldworth explains, “It used to be the only people doing this work and the only opportunities for leadership were with the four or five leadership organizations that were all led by charismatic leaders, all very strong personalities and very dominant influences over their workplaces. But now there are thousands of companies out there where new leaders of industry are all getting developed.” And these differences are sure to be magnified as those waiting on the sidelines of legalization jump in. Scott Giannotti is the leader of the New York Citybased Cannabis and Hemp Association, and he encourages members of his association to weave advocacy into their business strategy. “The values I find of a great leader are that they live their cause, becoming seemingly inseparable from it,” says Giannotti. “A leader does more than work, they
their market. But these business practices are still finding their way in largely uncharted territory and aren’t widely practiced in the for-profit corporate world. Aldworth sees bright things for the future of the industry because her SSDP students have a high level of civic engagement, a strong desire to do work that is meaningful to them, and coming of age in the worst recession since the Great Depression, are ready to work hard. “Most successful young leaders that we see are driven, are fearless, are experimental, and highly analytical,” says Aldworth of her millennial protégés. “They’re strong critical thinkers.” Giannotti thinks that, “The industry needs leaders that understand the importance of community organizing, giving people a platform to come out of the shadows, and network in like–mind [sic]. “The cannabis industry is much like any other when it comes to the wealthy and those with access to capital dominating positions of power, leaving many in the middle and poor classes behind. But this could be a call to action. “The less [sic] restrictions on cannabis,” he continues, “the more opportunities there will be for people to get involved in the industry. The only way middle to lower class will get their share of the industry will be through the organizing of many groups seeking coalitions to accomplish what they want at every level of government.” The current leaders of culture, policy, and industry share the same qualities of fearlessness, critical thinking, and drive as Aldworth’s students, and she believes that when thinking about how the cannabis industry should move forward that now is the time to do something different. And there needs to be smart, conscientious, politically savvy, and tenacious leaders to do it. A
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The Smokin’ Gun Politics of Cannabis Tourism
Said, hey little boy you can’t go where the others go ‘Cause you don’t look like they do Said, hey old man how can you stand To think that way, did you really think about it Before you made the rules? He said, “Son, that’s just the way it is Some things will never change That’s just the way it is Ah but don’t you believe them” – Bruce Hornsby It’s a little different context, however, the words from that particular song seem to enter my head whenever I think of Shotgun Willie’s and a little municipality of about 5,000 residents that sits squarely in the middle of Denver known as Glendale, Colorado. Glendale, and one of its businesses; The Smokin’ Gun grabbed national media attention just by the announcement of its construction last fall. It’s right back in the spot light again today as the grand
56 April 2016
by Louis Zerobnick
opening, scheduled for the first weekend in March, coincides with the madness of the current political season. As it has been for a few cycles, cannabis legalization is a central topic again this time around. The Smokin’ Gun is a “sister” business to one of Glendale’s most famous landmarks and tourist attractions, Shotgun Willie’s Gentleman’s Club. The original gentleman’s club located at the northeast corner of Colorado Boulevard and Virginia Avenue in Glendale since the 1970s was demolished last summer after an entirely new building was constructed in the back half of the lot occupied by the original. There was no speculation at all about what type of business was going to occupy the new building at the front of the lot. Construction fences on the new building let everyone know that a cannabis shop was on the way… There has been some controversy over The Smokin’ Gun’s opening sparked by Luis Toro. Toro is the head of a nonpartisan political watchdog group called Colorado Ethics Watch. Toro has brought a formal complaint to the Glendale City Council because his organization believes that Glendale’s Mayor Mike Dunafon committed
BUSINESS & POLITICS | SMOKING GUN
budtender, Monica Robles, inside Smokin Gun an ethics violation by casting the tie-breaking vote that allowed Debbie Matthews, Shotgun Willie’s owner, and Dunafon’s wife, to move forward with the new business. The opening of The Smokin’ Gun in March will make Matthews the only woman in the world to own both a gentleman’s club and a cannabis dispensary. Initially, Dunafon had recused himself from the vote because he thought that his participation might be perceived by some as a conflict of interest. When the vote became deadlocked in council, it became Dunafon’s job to break that tie. Dunafon believes the complaint against him to be frivolous. He and Matthews were not yet married when the vote in question occurred. Additionally, a second vote was held later in Glendale City Council without Dunafon’s participation. In the second vote, two council members who had originally opposed the business opening reversed their earlier positions. The Smokin’ Gun has been designed and built to be a little more than just the corner cannabis store. The store’s design is a mixture between a classic speakeasy and a cannabis prohibition museum. As you enter the building you will be transported into the lobby of a speakeasy. The details are well conceived, right down to the Victorian–era wallpaper, filled vases and comfortable leather chairs. The lobby is outfitted with state-of-the-art electronic displays. The giant display behind the counter is to provide customer information, while the set of three monitors on the other side of the room will run looping information on the failed war on drugs as well as RSS feeds with all the latest cannabis and hemp legalization news updates. The door to enter the actual cannabis dispensing area of the store is a secret wall panel marked with a sign stating, “You are about to enter the Bank of Hibernia.” It’s true… Debbie Matthews and partner Lindsey Mintz (T-Bar) actually purchased a bank teller window that dates back to New Orleans in the 1870s, to be used as the main transaction
counter of the store. During the 1870s this nation’s first drug laws were passed in an attempt to regulate the Chinese opium trade. Emblazoned on the floor of the dispensing area is the seal of an American eagle with hemp in its talons in place of the traditional olive branches. Next to the teller windows is an authentic reproduction of a Mississippi jail cell from 1941. This will be used as the area where consumers can buy cannabis in bulk up to the maximum amount allowed in Colorado. That’s a full ounce for Colorado residents and a quarter ounce for residents of other states who are in town visiting. You will be able to pick and package the buds you want in this area, all of which takes place among a bunch of period proper signs saying things like: “For what you’re about to buy, you’d get life in prison.” Consumers are going to dig this setup! For a more timid cannabis purchasing experience, the store organized extremely well. Items are clearly marked and displayed in the manner of a fine art, jewelry, accessory or fragrance boutique. You will find a wide variety of cannabis-infused lotions, tinctures, vapor cartridges, concentrates, edibles and drinks available at The Smokin’ Gun. Some of the pre-packaged cannabis flowers are actually dispensed in shotgun shells. I thought that was pretty innovative for sure. The staff (all fully clothed) was also extremely knowledgeable, engaging and helpful. I used the word engaging because the manager and employees really did go out of their way to make me feel welcome and assist me. I know it wasn’t “special” treatment either. I didn’t tell them I was there to write a story until the end of our time together. A
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Waiting for social use Now in its third year, Colorado’s cannabis law still has one conspicuous shortcoming by DJ Reetz
58 April 2016
BUSINESS & POLITICS | SOCIAL USE
I
n a smoke filled room in Colorado Springs, a group of combat veterans have come together for a very specific reason. This gathering at the Dab Lounge, one of several cannabis clubs that operates in Colorado Springs, is organized by the Veteran Farmers Alliance and is intended to connect veterans with medicine and grow supplies — a means for them grow their own. The space is filled nearly to capacity with veterans ranging in age, though most of the crowd is made up of soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Attendees pass joints and share dabs. For many, it is a break from the isolation that accompanies PTSD, and the opportunity to socialize in a comfortable setting serves as as much of a medicine as the cannabis itself. Less than a week later, the Colorado Springs City Council would vote to close all such cannabis clubs that have been operating in the city. The 6-3 decision by council members seemingly a reaction to the recent proliferation of clubs, and the reimbursement model that several of the clubs operate under — a model in which club operators provide cannabis products to paid members for a reimbursement, effectively skirting the ban on recreational sales in the city. Proponents of the ban have made the claim that Amendment 64 forbids such clubs from existing, though club supporters are quick to point out that the amendment simply doesn’t allow “open and public” consumption, placing private clubs well within the legal boundaries of the state’s constitution. “Cannabis clubs actually provide numerous benefits. They act as recreation and civil centers, hold charitable functions, and contribute greatly to the community arts. Truth be told, their social impact is probably immeasurable,” writes Jaymen Johnson, owner of Speakeasy Vape Lounge in Colorado Springs, in an email to THC. Speakeasy has operated without incident for the past three years, says Johnson, and the decision was likely the result of pressure from recently elected Mayor John Suthers. Under the ban, clubs in Colorado Springs that were in operation prior to Sept. 23, 2015 will have eight years to phase out operations, though any clubs operating reimbursement models will have to cease immediately. The ban provides a license for existing “consumption clubs”, which requires a $200 application fee and an annual fee of $90. Council members viewed the window of legal operation as a compromise, intended to give business owners the opportunity to recoup their investment before being forced to close. But for club owners, the eight-year window presents the opportunity to change public perceptions about their businesses and perhaps alter the political landscape before they are forced to close. “While I am obviously very disappointed with this council’s regressive decision making and the refusal to acknowledge our community contributions … I find myself overwhelmingly optimistic about the future. Given the eight year amortization period we will have seen two new councils within that time and I find it hard to believe that cannabis perceptions will somehow revert back into ‘reefer madness’ given almost a decade,” writes Johnson. To that effect, Johnson has begun work on a City Council campaign, aimed at taking the seat of District 3 incumbent Keith King, who voted in favor of the ban. While cannabis clubs have flourished in Colorado Springs prior to their ban, in Denver a different story is playing out. While officials in the Springs have been slow to take action against such clubs, the city of Denver has actively sought to prevent their establishment at every junction. Such was the case during the 2015 4/20 weekend, when police raids put an photo © Volt Collection
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BUSINESS & POLITICS | SOCIAL USE end to the two most prominent cannabis social clubs in the city. The “I think we as cannabis consumers need to prove ourselves almost,” enforcement action was seen as a clear message from the city: social says Person. If cannabis consumption were to be allowed at bars, the cannabis use will not be tolerated. first incidents of violence or intoxicated driving stemming from such a In Denver, where adult-use cannabis sales are now in their third year, location would surely be blamed on cannabis, she says, and a cannabisthe glaring lack of locations in which to consume presents a problem only approach allows for a more clear demonstration that cannabis can not just for residents, but for tourists drawn to the city that may find be consumed safely in a social setting. themselves without a place to legally consume their legally purchased However, Mason Tvert sees the restrictive nature of the proposal as cannabis. a hindrance, and seems to view the NORML Not long after the raids, a group made up of proposal as an obstacle in discussions with some of the activists responsible for Colorado’s the city government. “It certainly muddies Amendment 64 took up the mantle of dealing the waters,” says Tvert. “I think that the with the issue in Denver. A proposed initiative conversation has slowed since this other group quickly gained the necessary signatures to proposed their potential initiative.” make it onto Denver ballots in November. Tvert, an integral part of the passage of The language of the measure was broad, and Amendment 64, was also one of the people would have allowed for cannabis consumption behind last year’s social use proposal and the in age-restricted establishments such as bars, continued efforts to work with the city. Tvert provided such smoking areas complied with was behind a measure in Denver in 2005 clean air standards and were not in public that decriminalized possession of less than view. While activists saw the measure as an ounce of marijuana for those 21 and over, bringing cannabis usage in line with that of as well as a 2007 measure that set marijuana alcohol, as had been promised by Amendment enforcement as the lowest priority of the city’s 64, the measure was opposed by officials and police department. He’s no stranger to the business owners worried about potential prevailing attitudes in the city government issues that would arise with insurance and when it comes to marijuana, and he lacks liquor licenses. However, shortly before the optimism regarding the NORML measure. November elections backers withdrew the “We’ve got a history in Denver of passing initiative, citing a desire to work with city marijuana related measures at the city level officials to reach a compromise. and our officials needlessly ignoring them, At the time, several council members and we don’t want that to be the case again,” expressed interest in working toward a he says. solution when reached for comment by THC, “We’re surprised by how restrictive the but months after the election no action had proposal is and hope to see some changes been publicly announced. The perceived made following their review and comment lack of action on the issue prompted another hearing with the city. For example, their group to take action, the recently formed initiative prohibits marijuana from ever being Denver chapter of the National Organization consumed anywhere that provides prepared for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The group food. Not only would marijuana-related events had formed in 2015 to deal with some of the be banned from taking place in restaurants but lingering issues relating to legal marijuana, also places like movie theaters. You also could such as pesticide regulation and banking never hold a private marijuana-related event Jordan Person, Executive Director, Denver NORML access, but saw the lack of a solution on the in any concert venue, bar, restaurant, or other social use issue as their primary concern the facility that has a liquor license, even if alcohol previous voter initiative was dropped. isn’t being sold at the event. We don’t really “We decided to pick up where the last understand why they would include these initiative effort left off, and we decided to take hard-line prohibitions that will be difficult to a very pragmatic and basic approach to the change, when they could have made it a much issue,” says Jordan Person, Executive Director more flexible proposal that would account of Denver NORML. “We wanted to try to for varying circumstances,” wrote Tvert in a come up with an initiative that would go over follow-up statement. well with the city and its voters — we would But while Tvert sees the current proposal ruffle the least feathers.” as overly restrictive, Person sees it as an The group created a proposal that would opportunity to create new and interesting allow for cannabis consumption in licensed places for people to enjoy cannabis. clubs and create a special events permit for “A lot people are viewing this as closing cannabis-centric events like the Cannabis off business models, but instead I feel it is the Cup. To appease some of those who stood in exact contrary. We are opening the market to opposition to the earlier proposal, cannabis clubs and events would not a lot of different types of businesses that want to try and do this,” she says. be allowed to serve alcohol or food. Since the NORML proposal doesn’t demand that social consumption “I want nothing more than to walk into somewhere and order an areas require a membership, businesses will be forced to generate revenue appetizer, a martini and light my joint. But that’s not going to happen yet. in other manners, simply allowing patrons to consume cannabis while on We have to start somewhere,” says Person. The less aggressive approach site. “Places that you normally go high anyways, it’s going to give them of the NORML proposal is intended to acclimatize regulators and that opportunity to make it be that way instead — that you can just smoke opponents to the idea of social consumption, while laying the ground there,” says Person. The initiative would permit businesses like museums, work for broader measures to come. bookstores and art galleries to allow on-site consumption, and as for
“I want nothing more than to walk into somewhere and order an appetizer, a martini and light my joint. But that’s not going to happen yet. We have to start somewhere.”
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BUSINESS & POLITICS | SOCIAL USE food, Person points to the thriving food truck community in the city as a possible solution. The Denver initiative may be creating some divisiveness, even amongst the pro-cannabis activists, but the clearest solution may come at the state level. “The first thing that I really try to deal with when I’m talking about marijuana is looking at the public safety component of it, and we really cannot address all of the public safety components unless we address how marijuana is actually consumed once it’s purchased. So we’ve done this very unfortunate almost bait and switch,” says state Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont. “It’s just created all kinds of problems, whether it’s people who are frustrated on the 16th Street Mall or in our public spaces who are being subjected to marijuana smoke, or whether it’s cannabis patients that are renters who live in an apartment that can’t consume their own medicine where they live. This is a bill that will try to address all of those things by making sure that we create a policy of responsible social use.” Singer is in the process of authoring a bill that could rectify the issue by allowing not just private clubs where cannabis can be consumed, but changing current state law that prohibits sale and consumption in the same location. The added caveat creating the cannabis equivalent of tasting rooms goes beyond the municipal initiatives that have been introduced thus far, which can’t alter the law prohibiting such businesses at the state level. “These are very successful models of safe social consumption, and it’s something I think we can do on a state-wide level for marijuana,” he says. “This is a model that already works for alcohol, so I think it makes sense to try the same thing for marijuana.” Additionally, the current proposal allows for cannabis clubs in areas that do not allow for adult-use sales, such as Colorado Springs, though they would operate on a strictly BYO-bud basis. Singer says that all establishments — be they cannabis tasting rooms or private smoking lounges — would likely have to be vaporization only for the foreseeable future in order to comply with the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act, which bans smoking of any kind indoors. For Singer, the decision to sponsor this kind of legislation isn’t about appeasing cannabis consumers, it’s about dealing with the practical realities of legal cannabis. “If you are novice, if you are a tourist, you don’t just want to basically stop at the equivalent of a liquor store and have someone sell you a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and then you’re sort of left to guess how much Jack Daniel’s you can drink the first time you’ve ever consumed it,” he says. Opponents of social use ordinances often make the claim that allowing social consumption will lead to increased rates of intoxicated driving and more dangerous roadways. While it is the job of an effective legislator to consider such ideas, Singer sees it differently. “I think this is something that will hopefully lead to better public safety, but I see that sword cutting both ways. And I think that the same people that don’t want this should probably be also asking for the elimination of bars and alcohol service in restaurants,” he says. In the past, Singer has established himself as the go-to representative for marijuana related issues, and his work in that regard has included the passage of a bill to regulate medical marijuana caregivers that managed begrudging support from people on both sides of the issue. But while some of his work has enjoyed bipartisan support, Singer doesn’t foresee this proposal going as smoothly. “I have passed consensus marijuana bills. I don’t think this is going to be one of them,” he says. The issue will remain though, whether opponents of legal cannabis want to deal with it or not, and Singer says he’d rather not ignore it. “The feeling in the legislature is that this is a problem, it is a bridge that we are going to have to cross eventually, because the only other option really is to allow local government — cities and counties — to decide how to do this outside of our state–regulated system. There’s a certain danger in that if the locals do it wrong,” he says. Creating regulations at the state level eliminates the regulatory patchwork that would arise if social use
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Mason Tvert
“We’ve got a history in Denver of passing marijuana related measures at the city level and our officials needlessly ignoring them, and we don’t want that to be the case again.” remains an issue being handled solely by municipalities, creating a more difficult situation for law enforcement officials tasked with upholding the differing laws. “I really don’t think law enforcement really likes writing tickets for public consumption, I don’t think that they see this as really engendering a whole lot of good will in their communities,” says Singer. “They didn’t really like arresting people [for marijuana], they don’t really like having to sort of play cop with a nuisance issue, and they’d love to be able to tell a consumer, ‘You know what? You can’t do that here, but here’s where you can do it. Go walk two blocks that way.’ It’s one of those things that will hopefully actually make their jobs a little bit easier.” While the issue may seem straightforward for cannabis consumers, the reality of creating legislation that will actually be enacted is anything but. The path ahead is arduous, but Singer says he hopes to have a bill introduced before the current legislative session comes to a close in May. “It’s about a process that works for everybody, whether you like marijuana, love marijuana, or just don’t want it in your own back yard but agree that it should be done safely. This is one of those things that will get us a little closer to all of that,” he says. In the meantime, Colorado will be celebrating its third 4/20 holiday with legal adult-use sales of cannabis without clearly defined, legally allowable locations for consumption outside of private residences. As the rest of the country and even the world looks to Colorado for answers about cannabis legalization, this glaring omission remains. “We’re still looking to put in the finishing pieces to our pot puzzle,” says Singer. “And this is going to be one of those larger pieces.” A
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Compassionate Care and Cannabis Cash The State of MMJ in Florida by Miriam Cronkhite
While the majority of Florida residents have shown support for medical marijuana, in Florida that majority must be “super” in order to enact change.
Medicating in Florida
In November 2014, the Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative was spearheaded by United for Care and financially supported by attorney John Morgan. Known as Amendment 2, it was successfully placed on the ballot and received approval from 58 percent of the voters. However, that mere two percent was enough to lose the super majority of 60 percent that is required by Florida law for the amendment to pass. “This is Florida, the rules are different here. It is the only place in the world where you can win a vote with 58 percent public support and still lose the election,” said constitutional rights attorney Norm Kent. Even so, it was the third highest medical use vote so far in the United States, surpassed only by results in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. Florida has long been under scrutiny for its reputation as the hub for the pill mills, forcing into effect a prescription drug monitoring program used to track all drugs. E-FORCSE (the Electronic-Florida Online Reporting of Controlled Substances Evaluation) began operating in 2011 and the database is managed by the Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2012, health care providers in the United States wrote 259 million prescriptions for painkillers. Yet, as Floridians are swallowing overly prescribed pills by the handful, patients are being denied the benefits of natural methods of pain management found in medical marijuana treatment. According to a July 2014 report from the CDC, 46 people die daily from an overdose of prescription painkillers in the United States. Yet, there have been no known deaths caused by a marijuana overdose. As citizens become more frustrated with the adverse outcome of western medicine, marijuana is often the only viable treatment that doesn’t leave patients with side effects that are as damaging as the original ailment.
Empty Laws
Perhaps in an effort to appease voters, in June 2014 Gov. Rick Scott signed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. The law photo © Vitalez
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BUSINESS & POLITICS | FLORIDA MMJ allows for cannabis-derived medications low in THC but high in CBD to be distributed to qualifying patients that suffer from cancer and chronic seizures or severe muscle spasms such as in epilepsy. Florida physicians who are authorized are able to prescribe this strain for patients who meet the criteria. However, the legal dispensaries are not yet in operation. The law states that it must be sold through an organization that is licensed by the state Department of Health. Therefore, the program has yet to be effectively useful since the medicine cannot be acquired legally and locally. It has been speculated that this legislation was only introduced in order to steer focus away from passing a medical marijuana amendment that would contain less restrictive terms. This restrictive law dictates that intake of the drug must be in an oil or vapor form only. Also, there are only five growers authorized in the entire state. To apply, businesses must be Florida nursery owners who have been operating for 30 continuous years, are producing at least 400,000 plants and can post a $5 million performance bond. With current regulations, growers will be assuming huge expenses to reach a small potential market.
Further Complications
The delays continue as the process of selecting approved shops faces multiple legal challenges and lawsuits claiming discrimination and bias by the Florida Department of Health. More than two dozen eligible growers applied for the license from the state to cultivate, process and distribute the CBD oils. Nurseries chosen as dispensaries were selected by the Florida Department of Health using a scorecard that rates the applicants on cultivation, processing, dispensing, expertise of the medical director and finances. The Office of Compassionate Use lists the organizations that were chosen based on the highest rankings: Northwest Region: Hackney Nursery (Gadsden County) Northeast Region: Chestnut Hill Tree Farm (Alachua County) Central Region: Knox Nursery (Orange County) Southwest Region: Alpha Surterra (Hillsborough County) Southeast Region: Costa Nursery (Miami Dade County) More complications arose in February, when three nurseries filed a lawsuit to halt the selected nurseries from growing until the legal issues have been resolved. Though it doesn’t appear to be stopping production. The law also places serious pressure on the doctors. By ordering the medicine and dispensing it, doctors will be in violation of federal law because a federal DEA license is needed to prescribe any controlled substance. This is a risky endeavor for physicians, especially considering the very limited number of patients who will qualify for the treatment.
The Future Goes to Pot
In March 2016, the Florida House and Senate approved legislation to permit terminally ill patients access to medical marijuana. House Bill 307 expands the 2015 “Right to Try Act” to include medical marijuana, allowing those given less than 12 months to live access to experimental drugs that have not been approved for general use by the Food and Drug Administration. Scott signed the bill into law on March 25. However, with the utter failure in properly enacting the 2014 law, supporters of the action do not have high expectations for actual results despite the law’s passage. It has been almost two years since the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 was approved, and patients have still seen no progress in being able to legally obtain medical marijuana. The measure will increase the number of potential patients and permit approved dispensaries to produce and distribute full strength marijuana. The bill allows for expansion of the number of licensed nurseries only if the total number of medical marijuana patients in Florida surpasses 250,000 - a number that no state has yet to reach.
Lawmakers might be missing their last opportunity to control the terms regarding medical marijuana initiatives in Florida. “The legislature has the opportunity to restrict the amendment by passing the bill and controlling the restrictions,” said Kent. However, once a constitutional amendment passes, it can only be changed by another amendment. High Hopes It seems Florida lawmakers are not in line with public opinion that medical marijuana should be legally available to patients who can benefit from its use. Senate Bill 852: The Florida Marijuana Act sought to repeal Florida’s restrictive 2014 Compassionate Use Act in order to replace it with a broader medical marijuana law that would significantly increase the number of qualified patients. However, the bill died in committee in March. Therefore, citizens have once again chosen to initiate a constitutional amendment that will be on the Florida ballot in November. United for
Yet, as Floridians are swallowing overly prescribed pills by the handful, patients are being denied the benefits of natural methods of pain management found in medical marijuana treatment. Care leads the campaign to support the measure. The 2016 version of the Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative is very similar to the 2014 proposal, both are commonly known as Amendment 2. Under this law, treatments could be authorized for many conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, PTSD, multiple sclerosis or any “other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.” In 2016, Morgan adjusted some of the language of Amendment 2 to address genuine concerns of the opposition. For example, the new initiative is clear that minors cannot acquire medical marijuana without parental consent. However, despite some language adjustments, the proposal is basically the same. The measure puts the decision back in the hands of the voters and medical providers. Super Supporters Needed A referred amendment needs a supermajority of 60 percent of the vote to win in Florida. Though the percentage seems very attainable this year, in 2014 the vote fell short by a sliver of two percent for multiple reasons. The 2014 campaign quickly drew a flood of investors, entrepreneurs and opportunists. Some say this green rush of greed buried the healthcare issue and alienated voters, costing the victory. Analysts anticipate a large turnout of voters in this year’s election due to a U.S. Senate and presidential race. Ongoing medical marijuana polls continue to show public support. Kent, also serving as Vice-Chair for NORML, predicts Amendment 2 will pass in November. “I am very confident that it will pass this year. Even the Florida sheriff ’s association is not vigorously opposing us.” Younger voters are also expected to flood the polls this year, a group traditionally more receptive to marijuana initiatives than previous
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BUSINESS & POLITICS | FLORIDA MMJ generations. Bills were introduced in 2014 to legalize marijuana in Florida for recreational use, but failed despite the proven success other states have experienced. However, many cities and states are moving toward decriminalization for minor marijuana violations. A positive attitude toward cannabis in general seems to be gaining support and facing less opposition.
Side Effects of the Election
Sen. Bernie Sanders, may become the first U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana use via legislation action, rather than being initiated by voters. This could be another massive breakthrough in national acceptance of marijuana use. Currently, marijuana remains illegal under federal law, despite current state legalization in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia. As of March 2016, medical marijuana is legal in D.C. and 23 states. A
With marijuana dispensaries operating at a high success level, Kent speculates that Florida’s economy could see up to $100 million a year in
“I think it will surpass oranges as the major source of revenue income for the state.”
tax revenue from medical marijuana. “I think it will surpass oranges as the major source of revenue income for the state,” said Kent. He went on to say, “We have the opportunity to become one of the first states to adopt medical marijuana law at a time when the federal government is more receptive.” However, a republican president could radically change things. The decision made by the Obama Justice Department to allow dispensaries to operate, despite federal law, could be reversed. Although, republicans generally claim to support states’ rights. This year the state of Vermont, home of presidential hopeful and U.S.
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68 April 2016
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY For Your Information Cannabis Genome & Insomnia and Cannabis
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photo ©Sopotnicki
University of Colorado’s Cannabis Genome Project
SETTING THE FRAMEWORK FOR CANNABIS APPLICATIONS by Matthew L. Van Deventer
Despite a country-wide push for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis over the past decade, the plant’s intricacies and uses are still widely a mystery in the scientific and medical worlds. A lot of research, both private and public, is being done around the globe, but some of the foundational research needed to tap into cannabis’ fullest potential is being done just north of Denver at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In the Ramaley building on the CU Boulder campus, Dr. Nolan Kane has been managing student-driven projects for the past two years that focus on mapping the cannabis genome. It’s a part of an effort to understand the plant better so that its components can be more effectively applied. “Basically using modern sequencing approaches to understand the genetic make-up of any kind of organism gives us a lot of insight into how that organism works,” says Kane in his office that leads to a laboratory where some of his students work. “A lot of my stuff on sunflowers and chocolate and now cannabis has an aspect that could be applied.” Kane says that cannabis is one of the more diverse plants he’s studied, with 800 million DNA bases, the stuff that carries an organism’s genetic information. But it falls short of sunflowers, which have four times as many as cannabis, as do humans. It also has dozens of cannabinoids, or chemical compounds that uniquely affect transmitters in the brain. The well-known tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a cannabinoid that gives consumers and patients the “high” feeling where cannabidiol (CBD) may affect an individual’s body feel instead of their head—both are a part of the many cannabinoid compounds in the cannabis plant. And there are many
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other cannabinoids that can affect the body and mind in different ways which haven’t made it into the spotlight like CBG, CBC, and THCB, to name a few. Some of cannabinoids can increase or decrease hunger, alertness or nausea, and others may have anti-seizure effects, according to Kane. However, Kane says that while there are dozens of these cannabinoids, only a handful have been studied and most of the data available is purely anecdotal. As a result, when it comes to marijuana, medicine administration has changed from a system based on prescription to one based on a sort of trial and error basis. Kane sees this as problematic, but can also understand its benefits. “A lot of that science is very shoddy at this point,” says Kane. “On the other hand some medical doctors find that approach to be better than traditional medicine because the patients are able to have some say in creating their own treatment and finding what works best.” Kane continues, “Compared to the potential value for medicine and other science and other purposes, it’s relatively understudied.” Post-doctoral student, Dr. Daniela Vergara is an evolutionary biologist and Kane’s lead researcher. Vergara started with Kane in 2013 after getting her PhD from Indiana University. When she moved to Colorado she started with sunflowers, but was concerned about funding and discovered Kane’s cannabis mapping project. “What we’re doing is going to open a lot of doors to this research in general,” says Vergara, who is getting her post-doctoral degree in genetics “If you’re going to learn genomics, [Kane’s] the guy.”
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | CANNABIS GENOME research, Fleshner is working on testing a variety of high-concentration CBD strains on small animals that exhibit similar symptoms to post traumatic stress disorder. Her method is based off of a model supported by the Department of Defense that exposes animals to environments similar to what a soldier may endure, thereby causing symptoms of PTSD. Fleshner wants to test certain CBD compounds that could protect an animal — and later a human — from adopting PTSD symptoms acquired during stressful situations. While CBD doesn’t provide the “high” many pot smokers are familiar with, there are some receptors in the brain and immune system Dr. Fleshner wants to explore. “If we could have something that people — during times of high stress like a divorce or an extremely extensive examination period — if there is some compound like CBD that you could take like a vitamin that would actually protect you from those negative consequences of those stressors during those high-stress times, wouldn’t that be cool?” asks Fleshner. But Fleshner can’t do that research right now because she only has a Schedule II-IV researcher’s license and is waiting for a green light from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Fleshner has been working with the DEA for about two years now to get a Schedule I license in order to get the cannabis samples, even though her samples would meet the THC requirements set by the university. “I know, it’s really strange,” says Dr. Fleshner who says she could just walk around the corner or down the street and get what she needs for her research. But she can’t do that either because the DEA needs to approve the source of her samples. Her project is in the midst of a complicated journey of interpreting the law and a series of approvals that will need to go as high as the university’s president. “As a consequence, it’s delayed a lot of very important work that could be done to get at some of the basic physiological mechanisms of whether we can actually study these compounds and demonstrate some of the positive health effects that people who are just experimenting on themselves are reporting,” says Dr. Fleshner. For reference, pharmaceutical grade cocaine and methamphetamine are on the Schedule II list and are therefore more easily researched. Linda Watkins is a professor in CU’s Department of Psychology. She does pain research and is looking to see how CBD compounds can be applied as well. Several other professors at the university are also researching the different ways cannabis can be used. Last year Ryan Lynch graduated from CU with the first PhD in cannabis genetics—one of Kane’s students—and is working in the private sector. “We’re all set to do this stuff, hopefully we will,” says Fleshner. Kane notes that there is a lot of significant work being done in both the private and public sectors like John McKay at Colorado State University, Jon Page at the University of British Columbia and Medical Genomics in Massachusetts among many others. “But I think a lot of the stuff we’re doing is definitely pushing the envelope so that nobody else is doing things quite in that direction,” says Kane. “People seem to be learning a lot from what we’re doing and starting to think about applying it to other things.” For more information and to donate to Kane’s work visit www.nkane. weebly.com. For more information and to donate to Vergara’s non-profit visit www.cannibisgenomics.org. A
photo ©Emilia Stasiak
Vergara is also the president and founder of the Cannabis Genome Research Initiative, a funding and informational vehicle for cannabis genetics projects. According to the website, www.cannabisgenomics.org, it is “a small group of scientists with diverse interests” who are very much involved in cannabis research. Mapping the cannabis genome will help better understand the relationships and differences between strains, says Vergara. Furthermore, it will help clarify which of the plant’s genes contribute to its physical attributes. In turn, other scientists, growers, or breeders will be able to cross breed more efficiently to get a desired trait out of the plant. For example, finding the best hemp plants for seeds, oil, fiber, and construction materials. Kane reassures that these genetic studies don’t involve genetically modified organisms—a controversial topic between naturalists and globalization advocates. According to Kane, the cannabis plant has enough variation within it that there is no need to introduce other genes or DNA. “You just need to know who to cross with who,” says Kane. “Because there is so much variation that you just need to figure out how to shuffle your deck of cards around.” It is a practice that has been done by plant breeders for centuries. At the same time, Vergara says, “I don’t think that necessarily we need to genetically modify it, but modern technology, as long as you use it wisely, and as long as you use it with good intentions, I think that can be very helpful.” Kane is permitted to grow low-level THC cannabis on campus for his research. According Malinda Miller-Huey, CU’s director of media relations, distinguishing between marijuana and hemp is very important in regards to Kane’s project. Even though funds for the genome mapping project come from small contributions all over, CU does receive federal funding and cannabis is still illegal on the federal level. Miller-Huey says CU is allowed to perform a wide variety of academic and agricultural research on cannabis without getting a Schedule I license, as long as samples contain THC levels of less that .3 percent. “The ‘Notwithstanding the Controlled Substances Act’ clause [under the United States Code] takes the regulation of industrial hemp out from under the regulatory authority of the federal government,” says MillerHuey. Kane’s plants are tested by sampling a snippet of cannabis leaf to tell what sort of potency it may have as an adult—an inexpensive testing method Kane says growers can use on their own plants. This constraint, however doesn’t limit Kane’s studies. Businesses and research facilities from all over the world send Kane and his crew data they may not be able to get from samples in the lab. That data — which is from plants of different THC levels — is then incorporated into the project’s research. Regardless, Kane has found that since the legalization of pot, the desire to have plants yielding high THC has gone down significantly. “The whole market was geared toward the illegal side of things. And now that it is broadened out to apply it to all kinds of different personal uses that people have, it turns out that a big chunk of that is people that are not at all interested in getting high,” says Kane. Dr. Monika Fleshner is an integrative physiologist at CU Boulder studying how stress affects the mind and body. Based off of Kane’s
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graphic ©MSSA
WIDE AWAKE CANNABINOID THERAPY AS A POSSIBLE TREATMENT FOR INSOMNIA by Dr. Nicola Davies
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S
cientists estimate that the endocannabinoid system evolved in early life forms like sea squirts as much as 600 million years ago; then when humans came along, the endocannabinoid system played a part in regulating the homeostasis of the body – that is, making sure physiological processes remain in a state of balance. So, how does this work? Within our bodies we have cannabinoid receptors, known as CB1 and CB2 receptors. They are found throughout the body, but CB1 receptors are most prevalent in the central nervous system and the CB2 receptors in the immune cells. Cells produce molecules called endocannabinoids whose activity is similar to that of THC; and when they are broken down by hydrolytic enzymes, they produce an effect on the CB1 and CB2 receptors similar to that of THC and cannabidiol (CBD) extracts derived from the cannabis sativa plant. They help regulate a natural flow of sleep and waking, known as the circadian rhythm. When this rhythm goes out of sync, insomnia is the result.
What is Insomnia?
At some period in their lives most people will suffer a bout of insomnia — an inability to drop off into a deep dreamless sleep to later wake up refreshed. Some will have acute insomnia, during which they will be unable to sleep for a few days. This could be due to changes in sleep patterns caused by jet lag, shift work, financial or emotional stress, or pain due to an injury. Once the stress has passed, the person will usually resume their normal sleep patterns. However, for people with chronic insomnia the cause goes deeper. Usually, it is related to a health problem like cancer, motor neuron disease, depression or sleep apnea. Doctors attribute insomnia primarily to stress, a physical condition that causes an imbalance in our natural endocannabinoids.
Cannabis Helps Obtain a Deep Sleep State
It is the endocannabinoid system that is believed to regulate sleep, and when an abnormality occurs in the system, sleep patterns are adversely affected. Scientific studies have shown that administering THC to subjects experiencing difficulty sleeping enabled them to sleep for longer periods, have less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (the stage of sleep where dreaming takes place), and a longer period of Stage 3 sleep — one of the deep sleep states. Better breathing is also reported as a benefit, but scientists are not quite sure how this works. One study has shown that systemically administered cannabinoids were able to decrease the index of apnea (failure to breath during sleep) and hypopnea (very shallow breathing) in both rats and humans. However, in his research paper, ‘Intranodose ganglion injections of dronabilol attenuate serontin induced apnea in Sprague-Dawley rat,’ Michael Calik states that, “Cannabinoids have effects on both the central and peripheral nervous systems, and the exact mechanism of decreased apnea/ hypopnea index with cannabinoids is unknown.” Anecdotal reports indicate that smoking a joint before going to sleep leads to a good night’s rest. However, this isn’t always the case, as demonstrated in a study by Dr. Anthony Nicholson and colleagues investigating the effect of Delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on nocturnal sleep and early morning behavior in young adults. Healthy volunteers were chosen to participate in this study, which involved administering doses of THC and CBD in varying strengths. From recorded electroencephalograms during the sleep period, it was found that giving CBD with the THC meant less Stage 3 sleep — the higher the dosage, the more wakeful the participants were. Nevertheless, they did find that administering 15 mg
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | WIDE AWAKE of THC alone had a sedating effect, while the 15 mg of CBD counteracted the THC, giving participants less Stage 3 sleep. It would seem that the experts agree that a lack of Stage 3 sleep, during which the brain waves slow down, is the most damaging for a sleep-deprived person.
Doctors Divided
While some doctors might not be averse to prescribing cannabis for insomnia, most are cautious. Doctors tend to be very precise — they want to know exactly what the predicted pharmacological action may be for a substance; and with cannabis, which has over 100 cannabinoid elements, this can be difficult to determine. Scientists have found, however, that the natural elements in cannabis are superior for inducing sleep rather than isolating only one element and manufacturing it synthetically. Marinol capsules (dronabinol) containing synthetic THC are given to cancer patients experiencing nausea due to chemotherapy treatment or to AIDS patients to increase appetite — but some users report that it has a positive effect on their insomnia, sending them into a deep sleep. The effects of using THC alone may, as Nicholson and his team reported, make people less mentally acute the next day, which could also cause mood changes. Studies have not yet discovered the precise function of REM sleep and whether reducing REM sleep may have an adverse effect on health. These may be linked to mental acuity and mood, but requires further investigation.
Effects of Cannabis on the CB Receptors
In a paper by Dr. Ethan Russo and associates, ‘Cannabis, Pain and Sleep: Lessons from therapeutic clinical trials of Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine,’ it is noted that in phases one to three of clinical trials with over 2000 participants, there was a “marked improvement in subjective sleep parameters in patients with a wide variety of pain conditions including multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathic pain, intractable cancer pain, and rheumatoid arthritis.” The trial also demonstrated that that the THC was more sedative, while the CBD produced a more alert state.
Control is Key
Scientific studies have, to date, discovered that it is the small controlled doses of THC combined with CBD administered to subjects participating in studies that have the best effects for insomnia. When the dosage was increased the same elements that were lulling people into a peaceful dreamless sleep had the opposite effect —subjects became more stimulated and alert, preventing sleep. Doctors generally warn that people who self-administer cannabis for insomnia need to be careful of how much is taken in. Smoking seems to be a preferred method for people selfadministering as after each puff they can decide how they are feeling and stop when they feel sufficiently relaxed. Scientists, on the other hand, prefer the THC and CBD to be administered via an inhaler, where they can precisely control exactly how much of each is inhaled and chart the effects. People suffering from insomnia due to the stress of a disease are finding relief through cannabis. Using the cannabis may help give natural endocannabinoids a chance to bring the system into homeostasis — in other words, self-repair. While doctors may not have unequivocally proven that cannabis cures a number of diseases as claimed by users, they do now have scientific proof that extracts from cannabis help with sleep disorders. However, the doses need to be controlled and regular to achieve the optimum effect. A
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Cannabis Self-Righteousness
Be a better person — smoke some weed. Sometimes they get to me. Despite all my well-mustered bravado about cannabis, and my own glaring self-righteousness, sometimes they still get to me. “They” of course being the dicks who hate on cannabis consumers. As much as I like to believe that the world would be a better place if everyone would just smoke some weed, the truth is the majority of people don’t and won’t. Despite the ever-increasing number of people supporting the end of the monumental failure that is the last hundred years of cannabis policy, being a cannabis consumer still places me in the minority. I’m an outsider in a world that has demonstrated over and over again that it agrees with “them” more than it agrees with me. When “they” talk about what a scumbag I am for using cannabis it’s hard not to listen. When potential employers are still firing people for engaging in this behavior, when the majority of the civilized world still treats the activity I engage in as a crime, and the not-so civilized world still goes as far as to kill people over it, I can’t avoid some due feelings of shame. Then I take a puff of something uplifting, something stimulating, something that invigorates and revitalizes me. Then, as I have been
74 April 2016
by DJ Reetz
known to do, I come to the singular conclusion that I find so freeing: Fuck that. “They” might want me to feel bad about my cannabis use. “They” might even be pretty good at convincing other people that I’m a shitty person for using cannabis. But you know what? I’m a better person because of my experience with cannabis, and here’s why.
It’s made me more of a critical thinker
Cannabis made me ask questions about things that were told to me by people in positions of authority. It made me more aware of the fact that sometimes people will lie to you
POT-LITICALLY INCORRECT as a result of their own ulterior motives. But most importantly, it made me acutely aware that sometimes the prevailing opinions can be wrong. Maybe you think that questioning authority is a bad thing. Maybe you think that the world works better if everyone shares every opinion and no one questions what the powers that be tell them. Maybe you have no business existing in our democracy and should just get the fuck out.
It’s made me more empathetic
I was fortunate enough to be born into the apex of the current human hierarchy. As a white male born in the United States, I understand that racism, sexism, homophobia and all types of bigotry exists, whether I am personally experiencing these things or not. I also understand that affirmative action is pretty fucking far from the most oppressive policy currently being enforced anywhere. Cannabis use gives you a momentary window into what being part of an oppressed minority group is actually like, or at least it did before it was legalized. It exposes you to a viewpoint in which the police are not your friend and the powers that be do not care for you. Even though you may not feel as though you are a criminal, others will treat you as such, and by virtue of knowing this single facet of your character some people will dismiss, belittle or condemn you. I would never claim that being a cannabis consumer is the same thing as being part of a minority group that faces this kind of prejudice. I can always shut my damn mouth about cannabis use and hide that part of who I am from people; it’s not something you can see in my face as I walk down the street. But it has provided me with the insight, however momentarily, into what being discriminated against is actually like. And it’s helped me to understand the experiences of others.
Smoking weed has exposed me to a wider array of differing viewpoints than any of my academic pursuits ever did. Differences in race, class or upbringing didn’t matter; the circle unites us all and incites a dialogue. It forced me to experience diversity
The smoke circle is a funny thing. It welcomes all who wish to join, creating a moment of camaraderie and acceptance. Smoking weed has exposed me to a wider array of differing viewpoints than any of my academic pursuits ever did. Differences in race, class or upbringing didn’t matter; the circle unites us all and incites a dialogue.
It made me demand social justice
Sorry, Sonia Sotomayor, but the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement didn’t happen in the ‘70s; it’s happening right now.
Institutionalized racism isn’t something that disappeared with the passage of the Civil Rights Act or shortly thereafter, and there is no more clear demonstration than in the enforcement of drug laws. Personally using cannabis meant that I wanted the plant to be legalized for my own selfish reasons. But after spending time dealing with the realities of that proposition, one is forced over and over again to confront one insurmountable reality: the war on drugs is straight-up racist as fuck. What may have started as a personal desire to not be made a criminal because of the manner in which I choose to intoxicate myself has turned into a more cogent desire to not live in a country — or world — that adheres to the ideas and policies of racist dicks.
It’s made me less of a dick
Probably hard to tell from what’s written here, but consuming cannabis has helped me to be less of a dick. When anger boils up to the point of blowing the top off of my cute little tea kettle of a psyche, marijuana has helped me to relax and come back to a place free of the counterproductive and selfdestructive impulses dictated by anger. It has allowed me be more meditative and less reactionary, more contemplative and less vindictive. Basically, using cannabis helps me to be the chillest bro possible. “They” may have a problem with cannabis users. “They” may have, for the time being, the advantage when it comes to dictating policies. But I have the patience to wait them out, thanks partially to cannabis. I’ll just light up a j and watch as their control on the world erodes like an ignorant sandcastle during the high tide of reason. Maybe the biggest problem cannabis use has produced in me is this feeling of self-righteousness. But “they” seem to suffer from that problem as well; the difference is I’m not fucking the world up because of it. A
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www.preferredorganictherapy.com
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A New Look
at the Best Deals! Over 5,000
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DISPENSARY GUIDE
by DJ Reetz
DENVER
82 B•Good 82 The Clinic 82 The Health Center 82 Infinite Wellness 82 Karmaceuticals 83 LivWell 83 Northern Lights Cannabis Company 83 Preferred Organic Therapy 83 Sticky Buds 83 Walking Raven
COLORADO SPRINGS 82 Canna Caregivers 83 LivWell
NORTHERN COLORADO 82 Infinite Wellness 83 LivWell
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B•Good
80 S Pennsylvania Street Denver, CO 80209 mastergrowers.com If you haven’t visited B•GOOD yet, you should. Here’s why: • • • • •
Boutique-style store creates a comfortable environment for you. We offer top quality strains so you know what to expect. In-store and patient specials ensure you always get the best value. Our discreet storefront puts you at ease from the moment you walk in. Our experienced staff will help you get the medicine that is right for you.
Our patients also have this to say about our Denver dispensary: “Medicine That Works!” We’ve added that to some of our advertising because it’s reflects on our commitment to quality medicine.
The Health Center 2 Locations www.thchealth.com
The Health Center is a top notch cannabis dispensary with two convenient locations in the heart of Denver. Boasting upwards of 70 varieties of award winning strains at any given time, the individuals who comprise the THC team pride ourselves on offering the best variety, potency and effectiveness of any cannabis in the region. Not only is The Health Center focused on cultivating the finest quality medicine, but also employing the finest quality staff. Each time you visit, you will be greeted with knowledgeable, friendly associates who take pride in working with you to find the best available options to meet your medical needs.
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Canna Caregivers
Canna Caregivers - West The Canna Center www.facebook.com/CannaCaregiversTheCannacenter The CC Group consists of three leading medical dispensaries in Colorado Springs. Their knowledgeable and friendly staff will make you feel right at home. Visit one of their three locations: 3220 N Academy Blvd #4 Colorado Springs, CO 80917 1914 W. Uintah St. Colorado Springs, CO 2306 N Powers Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Infinite Wellness Center 2 Locations www.infinitewellness8.com
We believe in the infinite possibility of total wellness and in the infinite modalities to achieving this wellness within and without. We offer our patients a dignified environment with friendly compassionate staff here to facilitate the needs of our patients. It is one of our goals to help dispel the negative press, thoughts and attitudes toward utilizing marijuana as a multi-beneficial medicine. We have set a standard to provide quality medical marijuana and edibles in a wonderful variety while upholding the laws set forth by both state and local governments. We plan to participate in fund raisers and charity events to engage in the needs of our community. It is our intention to bring light and awareness to a fresh view of well being and peace.
The Clinic
5 Locations www.thecliniccolorado.com The Clinic is an award winning marijuana center with five Denver metro locations. The Clinic is Denver’s premier medical marijuana center having won over 20 awards for both it’s high quality cannabis, concentrates and charitable contributions! The Clinic’s staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly while the atmosphere at their locations reflect the immense amount of care that they provide to their patients as well as their medicine. The Clinic is also a long time supporter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and has raised more than $100,000 for the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National MS Society since they first opened their doors in 2009. Make sure to stop by The Clinic and see why their mantra holds true: Our Patients Live Better.
Karmaceuticals
4 South Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80223 www.mmjkarma.com Karmaceuticals strives to maintain the highest quality available in patient care. We are in the business of helping people, by making their live’s better. We cater to each patient’s individual need, demanding a higher quality of life for each and every patient with which we interact. Whether it’s advice over the phone or internet, or carrying an exotic, hard to find strain or product, we are here for the Earth’s patients. Life simply must be better, and with our focus in cannabis products, we believe our karma based philosophy can and will drastically improve the world’s health. Come in for a Karma Klone. We guarantee healthy klones with no mold or mites. Any klone you purchase will be fully rooted and strong!
by DJ Reetz
LivWell
Northern Lights
2 Locations www.nlcannabis.com
8 Locations www.livwell.com Colorado’s Price Leader since 2009 LivWell dispensaries are your one-stop cannabis shop, offering a wide range of high quality concentrates, edibles, premium flower strains, glass and cannabis accessories.
Our mission is to provide outstanding cannabis to our customers at the most competitive price, with excellent service. We offer Colorado Cannabis at 9 front range locations; in Denver, Lakewood, Garden City, and Colorado Springs. Please note: medical patients visiting our Broadway and Larimer locations must be aged 21+. All other medical locations are 18+.
January 1 2014, at 8 AM the first legal cannabis sale took place here at Northern Lights Cannabis Co, one of only 24 retail stores to open that day for recreational sales! The history made that day continues to resonate with every legal cannabis transaction, including yours. Shop with us and make history! Our staff is friendly and our knowledgeable budtenders will guide you to the perfect product. No pre-packaged here. Your purchase comes from the jar you sampled. Our shop has provided the finest Medical Cannabis since March 2010. Today we provide that same quality Medical and Recreational Cannabis to adults 21 and over from around the world. Coco grown, our frosty genetics are provided by TGA Sub Cool Seeds, DNA Genetics, Paradise Seeds and other reputable producers. Stop by and discover “Where Your Buds Are”!
ORGANIC THERAPY ESTD 2009
Preferred Organic
1569 South Colorado Boulevard Denver, CO 80222 www.preferredorganictherapy.com Preferred Organic Therapy & Wellness is a medical marijuana center that empowers quality-minded patients with a revolutionary approach for treating the mind and the body. Together, the staff ensures that their patients are the most well-informed in the state of Colorado. They do this by combining patient-driven strain testing that breaks down the distinct properties of each strain, as well as its unique effects, with visual educational aids and enhanced strain titles. Their second-to-none selection of additional treatment products are made even more valuable given that they are combined with the ability to browse detailed information at a leisurely pace. Come see why Preferred Organic Therapy & Wellness patients are raving about them.
Sticky Buds
2 Locations stickybuds5280.com With a dedicated focus on quality – in service and product – we infuse every interaction with compassion and care. From hand-watering and hand-trimming our own locally grown plants to using only organic pesticides to provide the healthiest, safest nugs, we ensure our medical and recreational cannabis is the greatest quality we can produce. Whether this is your first time visiting our dispensary or you’re an old friend, we know the experience of purchasing the right cannabis can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we take great care in making sure every guest is given personalized, one-on-one service. Our knowledgeable budtenders take pride in knowing the lineage of each strain, allowing them to answer your specific questions and offer strain specific joints. This focus on understanding our plants and products allows our budtenders to educate you – from seed to smoke – giving you the confidence that you’re getting exactly what you need.
Walking Raven
2001 S. Broadway Denver, CO www.mmjmenu.com/walkingraven NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 21+, NO MEDICAL CARD REQUIRED. Walking Raven Retail and Medical Marijuana Center is one of the first dispensaries in Denver. Our mission is to provide high quality products and care at an affordable price. All prices are out the door and we have different tier levels of bud quality. We also offer a range of edibles, concentrates, and novelty items. We take pride in our organic and meticulous cultivation process; we do not cut any corners and give our cultivators access to the best nutrients and equipment for their hand trimmed buds. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is trained to assist you in finding a specific products for your desires. Walking Raven MMC is home to the Hong Kong Diesel, our top selling hybrid. Never settle, only shop PREMIUM QUALITY!
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DIRECTORY COLORADO SPRINGS Blown Smoke Shop 424 W Fillmore St Colorado Springs, Colorado 719-473-5747 Canna Caregivers Medical Only 3220 No. Academy Blvd., Ste #4 Colorado Springs, CO 719-597-6685 Canna Caregivers - West Medical Only 1914 W. Uintah St Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 637-0420 The Canna Center Medical Only 2306 N. Powers Blvd., #100 Colorado Springs, CO 719-597-9333 Healing Canna 3692 E Bijou Street Colorado Springs, CO 80909 719-637-7645 www.healingcanna.com LivWell on Murray Medical Only 570 N Murray CO Springs, CO 80915 719-574-8443 livwell.com LivWell on Nevada Medical Only 3234 N Nevada Ave CO Springs, CO 80907 719-622-6652 livwell.com LivWell on Tejon Medical Only 1414 S Tejon St CO Springs, CO 80905 719-634-0420 livwell.com The Organic Seed Medical Only 2304 E Platte Colorado Springs, CO. 80909 719-465-1845 coloradospringsmmj.com Original Cannabis Growers Medical Only 2625 E Saint Vrain St Ste A Colorado Springs, CO 80909 路 719-475-9333 www.ocghome.com Speak Easy Vape Lounge Vape Club 2508 E Bijou St Colorado Springs, CO 80909 719-445-9083 speakeasycannabisclub.com
DENVER - CENTRAL B GOOD Medical Only 80 S Pennsylvania St Denver, CO 80209 303-777-5239 mastergrowers.com
The Health Center Medical & Adult Use 21+ 1736 Downing St. Denver, CO 80218 303-622-3787 thchealth.com Karmaceuticals Medical Only 4 S Santa Fe Dr Denver, CO 80233 303-765-2762 www.mmjkarma.com LivWell on Larimer Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2863 Larimer St Denver, CO 80205 303-484-1662 livwell.com SweetLeaf Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2609 Walnut Street Denver, CO 80205 720-328-2227 www.mmdofcolorado.com
DENVER - EAST
DENVER - SOUTH
GARDEN CITY
The Clinic Colorado Medical & Adult Use 21+ 3888 E. Mexico Ave Denver, CO 80210 303.758.9114 www.thecliniccolorado.com
LivWell Garden City Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2647 8th Ave Garden City, CO 80631 970-616-6007 livwell.com
The Health Center Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2777 S. Colorado Blvd Denver, CO 80222 303-622-3787 thchealth.com
LAKEWOOD
LivWell on Broadway Medical & Adult Use 21+ 432 S Broadway Denver, CO 80209 720-428-2550 livwell.com Preferred Organic Therapy Medical & Adult Use 21+ 1569 S Colorado Blvd Denver, CO 80222 303-867-4768 preferredorganictherapy.com
The Bomb Headshop 4815 E Colfax Ave Denver, Colorado 720-328-8006 www.TheBombHeadShop.com
Sticky Buds Broadway Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2262 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80210 303-282-0200 stickybuds5280.com
The Clinic on Colfax Medical Only 4625 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80220 303-333-3644 www.thecliniccolorado.com
Walking Raven Adult Use 21+ 2001 S Broadway Denver, CO 80210 (720) 327-5613 thewalkingraven.com
Sticky Buds Colfax Medical & Adult Use 21+ 4615 E Colfax Ave Denver, CO 80220 720-398-8805 stickybuds5280.com
DENVER - HIGHLANDS The Clinic Highlands Medical & Adult Use 21+ 3460 W. 32nd Ave. Denver, CO 80211 303-997-7130 www.thecliniccolorado.com The Giving Tree of Denver Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2707 W. 38th Ave. Denver, CO 80211 303-477-8888 www.tgtree.com SweetLeaf Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2647 W. 38th Ave. Denver, CO 80211 720-389-7911 www.mmdofcolorado.com
The Clinic on Jewell Medical Only 12018 W Jewell Ave Lakewood, CO 80228 303-997-9171 www.thecliniccolorado.com The Clinic on Wadsworth Medical Only 3600 S Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood, CO 80235 303-484-8853 www.thecliniccolorado.com Ajoya Medical Only 11950 West Colfax Lakewood CO, 80215 303-232-3620 compassionatepm.com Infinite Wellness Medical & Adult Use 21+ 1701 Kipling St. #104 Lakewood, CO 80215 720-458-0277 infinitewellness8.com
DENVER - WEST
Kind Pain Management Medical Only 2636 Youngfield St Lakewood CO 303-237-5463 kindpainmanagement.com
LivWell on Evans Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2193 W Evans Ave Denver, CO 80223 720-361-2981 livwell.com
LivWell Lakewood Medical Only 5660 W Alameda Ave Lakewood, CO 80226 303-922-9479 livwell.com
EDGEWATER
LOUISVILLE
Northern Lights Cannabis Co. Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2045 Sheridan Blvd. Edgewater, CO 80214 303-274-6495 www.nlcannabis.com
Ajoya Medical & Adult Use 21+ 1116-7 W. Dillon Rd. Louisville CO, 80027 303-665-5596 compassionatepm.com
FORT COLLINS
PUEBLO
Infinite Wellness Medical & Adult Use 21+ 900 N College Ave. Ft. Collins, CO 80524 (970) 484-8380 infinitewellness8.com
Leaf on the Mesa Medical & Adult Use 21+ 1917 Santa Fe Drive. Pueblo, Co 81006 719-544-5323 www.leafonthemesa.com
Urban Dispensary Medical & Adult Use 21+ 2675 W. 38th Ave. Denver, CO 80211 720-389-9179 www.urbandispensary.com
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DIRECTORY
OTHER: EVENTS
BIG Insustry Show bigindustryshow.com Cannabis Charity Open fecebook.com/events209031729472213 CWCBExpo www.cwcbexpo.com
GLASS BLOWING Glasscraft Glasscraftinc.com
HEMP CBDRx cbdrx.com Colorado Cultivars www.coloradocultivars.com Green Remedy www.greenremedy.com Bluebird Botanicals www.bluebird-botanicals.com
Dr. J’s www.drjsllc.com Edipure edipure.com GH Labs gh-labs.com Incredibles incrediblescolorado.com Julie’s Natural Edibles juliesnaturaledibles.com Mahatma mahatmaconcentrates.com Medically Correct medicallycorrect.com Mountain High Suckers mountainhighsuckers.com
MMJ EVALUATION Amerimed 2257 S Broadway Denver, CO 720-532-4744 www.amerimed.com
INDUSTRY GROUPS
CannaQual 6795 E. Tennessee Ave., Ste #175 Denver, Colorado 80224 303-690-4882 www.cannaqual.com
Cannabis Business Alliance cannabisalliance.org
SERVICES
Cannabis Consumers Coalition cannabisconsumer.org
Dr Green Plumb 720-470-9197 drgreenplunb@gmail.com
Colorado NORML www.coloradonorml.org NCIA www.thecannabisindustry.org Marijuana Policy Project www.mpp.org consumeresponsibly.org
SMOKING ACCESSORIES Dabsolute www.thedabsolutepen.com Indica Vape www.indica2.com
INDUSTRY SERVICES
PURR purrsmoking.com
Cannabis Camera www.cannabiscamera.com
TOURISM
Colorado Pot Guide coloradopotguide.com
Cultivating Spirits cultivatingspirits.com
NHA National Hemp Association nationalhempassociation.org
High Country Cannabis Tours highcountrycannabistours.com
NVG, Nichols Venture Group www.nicholsventuregroup.net
TRIMMING SERVICES
Leafbuyer Leafbuyer.com
The Trimmer Store 800-429-6034 thetrimmerstore.com
INFUSED PRODUCTS Canna Creations 720-483-8228 Canyon Cultivation canyoncultivation.com
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Thank You to Our Advertisers 13,82 | B Good 4 | BIG Industry Show 61 | Blown Headshop 76 | Bluebird Botanicals 61 | The Bomb Headshop 80 | Bong-a-Thon 82 | Canna Caregivers 82 | The Canna Center 28 | Cannabis Charity Open 84 | Cannabis Clinicians Colorado 47 | CannaQual 13 | CBDRx 86 | Center Mass Media 5,7 | The Clinic 14 | CWCBExpo 39 | Dabsolute 25 | Edipure 55 | GH Labs 54 | Green Remedy 87 | Healing Canna 27,82 | The Health Center 66 | Healthy Choices Unlimited 4 | Horticulture 360 17 | Incredibles 68 | Indica Vape 23,82 | Infinite Wellness 85,82 | Karmaceuticals 49 | Kind Pain Management 79 | Leafbuyer.com 63,83 | LivWell 11,13 | Mahatma 17 | Medically Correct 42 | National Hemp Association 91 | NVG, Nichols Venture Group 92,83 | Northern Lights Cannabis Co. 33 | Organix 26 | PoTourist West 77,83 | Preferred Organic Therapy 51 | Purr Glass 12,78 | Speak Easy Vape Lounge 67,83 | Sticky Buds 3 | The Trimmer Store 2,83 | Walking Raven
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