Leaf Magazine November 2021

Save My CAREER nhc Protest at City Hall in SLO

19 PRODUCT REVIEWS

6 HIGH ON IOWA

7 WOMEN IN CANNABIS

8 STIIIZY - A BRAND FOR GOOD

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CALIFORNIA TOP CROP

16 November 2021

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Advertise on NEW ROCK 104.1 and reach 100,000 Central California adults!

25Yrenaarts ivofe Rock

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Call Senior Account Manager, Jason Drilling at 559-497-5118 / ext 106 O N E P U T T B R O A D C A S T I N G

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LEAF MAGAZINE CALIFORNIA

We have so many exciting things planned for LEAF Magazine. Our APP is ready to share - we will have behind the scenes content, recipes, blogs, give aways and so much more!

You’ll see us popping up at more events as well as hosting our own 4/20 friendly events!

Stay up to date on everything that is happening at LEAF by signing up for our email list at leafmagazineca.com Marie Labbee V.P. Sales & Marketing

Advertise on 95.7 The Fox and reach 130,000 Central California adults!

Celebrating 25 YEARS of Bob & Tom in The Morning & Classic Rock All Day! Call Senior Account Manager, Kirk Kaiser at 559-497-5118 ext 103 O N E P U T T B R O A D C A S T I N G 3

CANNaBIS genetics

7 points strains

HIGH SIERRA HIKER

On a monthly grow rotation, 7 Points shares their current strains and their unique effects.

Kush Mintz Genetics: Seed Junky

P E R S O N A L TO U R S FOR SMALL GROUPS

A high testing strain with a uniquely minty taste.

Kush Mintz provides effects that are uplifting and euphoric.

Apple Fritter Genetics: Seed Junky Sweet and earthy aroma with a powerful and relaxing high

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

Pineapple Mac Genetics: Rev Genomics

KINGS CANYON

Perfect for any hybrid lover who appreciates a super heavy flavor and high. Creates a sense of euphoria and happy creativity.

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PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY Candy Flip Genetics: Rev Genomics Sativa leaning hybrid with a sweet and full bodied citrus aroma

www.7points.biz 4

M a rc o & Va n n e s s a U r a n g a w w w. h i g h s i e r r a h i ke r. c o m 5 5 9. 5 7 1 . 2 3 2 1 5 5 9. 47 1 . 0 7 1 7

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SAVE MY CAREER Cover photo by John Kuebler, Sales Associate, Leaf Media LLC

SUMMARY 3

LEAF fast forward: Marie Labbee

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LEAF PRODUCT REVIEW

8

Women in Cannabis

10

Edibles with Chef Garza

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STIIIZY by Nellie Day

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LEAF Op-Ed by Libby Marks

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California Top Crop in Woodlake

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hnc Fight with SLO City to save careers

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Women in Cannabis

FOUNDER Cecil Lopez, CEO cecil@leafmagazineca.com 559-500-1332 V.P. MARKETING & SALES Marie Labbee marie@leafmagazineca.com EDITOR John Kuebler john@leafmagazineca.com WRITERS Nellie Day Penelope Parsons Bree Leonard Marco Urnaga Marie Labbee Justin Stoner Libby Marks Georgia & Brett ADVERTISING SALES John Kuebler john@leafmagazineca.com 805-550-7609 PUBLISHED & DESIGNED BY Leaf Media LLC / www.leafmediaca.com ©2021 by Leaf Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproductions without permission are strictly prohibited. Articles and advertisements in Leaf Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management, employees, or errors, misspellings and omissions. If an error is found, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us of the mistake. The businesses, locations and people mentioned in our articles are not influenced by advertising.

Keep cannabis out of the reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Consume responsibly.

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TOP CROP 5

WORTHY PRODUCTS

LEAF’S PRODUCT RECOMENDATIONS

By Georgia & Brett

Liiit by Stiiizy Orange Cream Orange cream from Liiit by Stiiizy is a sativa dominant strain that is a cross of Orange Valley OG & Cookie and Cream. The flower had a bright citrus dominant flavor but not too orange like you would find in a tangy. The undertones were more of the traditional piney, skunky taste that are characteristic to old school strains like Jack Herer. The flower was very fresh and nowhere near expiration, which gave it a great bag appeal. The effects were very heady, with a nice euphoric vibe that you find in most sativa heavy strains. Perfect for chillin’ with friends or a big holiday gathering with family!

Cherry Bomb Live Resin Concentrate Cherry Bomb Live Resin Concentrate is a hybrid that is Big Bomb crossed with a fruity mother. Live resin is made in a process that uses fresh frozen flowers which helps keep the terpenes and cannabinoid profiles intact. This gives a full flavor to the concentrate and Cherry Bomb does not disappoint! The flavor is a tropical tart taste with a slight nose tingle. The high THC content provides a happy relaxed high. This strain is made for enjoying on your days off!

Watermelon Z Premium THC Pod Watermelon Z by Stiiizy comes in their signature proprietary THC pod. A hybrid indica dominate strain, watermelon Z is a cross of Zkittles and Watermelon. This Award-winning botanical terpene blend makes for a strong sweet and fruity flavor that is bold and consistent every time. A couple of puffs will send your head to the moon and then it mellows into a relaxing and calming high. The discreet nature of the pod makes it great for medicating without too much attention!

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ADVENTURES

HIGH ON IOWA I stocked up with a nice issue of KANAH Cran-Pomegranate sativa 5g gummies that would kick in perfectly every morning about an hour into the day. I carried a couple Stizzy Pineapple Express hybrid vape cartridges as well. These would come in handy to hit throughout the day as we took breaks at the different small towns and pit stops along the way. I didn’t smoke much of the Skywalker OG Indica vape that I thought I might use at night. Turns out when you ride 80 plus miles in a day you have no problem sleeping.

By Marco Uranga

After the first few days of getting our legs under us and getting past the sore butts we both started having more fun. Ok, I started having a little too much fun. That’s what RAGBRAI is. It’s a rolling traveling party of cyclists. Every nights finishing town is that towns biggest night of the year. Carnival atmosphere, food vendors, anything cycling related, and live music till late. Of course the party can’t go too late knowing we have miles to put in the saddle the next day. However I met many riders who drank beer throughout the day beginning at the first beer gardens usually only an hour into the days ride.

On any particular Sunday I would probably find myself smoking a nice vanilla flavored blunt. It’s kind of a Sunday thing for me. On this particular Sunday in late July of 2021, I would find myself beginning a new adventure on a bicycle for seven days in an endless sea of corn and soy bean plants through the state of Iowa.

RAGBRAI is bike ride, not a race. It was first started by John Karras and Donald Kaul who worked for the Des Moines Register. The journalist’s goal was to ride across the state of Iowa and write,learn, and bring attention to the tiny towns in between. Little did they know what their journey would grow into one day

R.A.G.B.R.A.I. The acronym that stands for the Registered Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Having been a cyclist both casual rider all my life and competitive when I was young. I’ve always found getting on a bike and peddling a good form of meditation.

The day came just like that and it was time to take part in the 48th annual RAGBRAI in late July of 2021. Honestly I thought after 4 to 5 days it might get monotonous but it never did. Amazing things happened everyday. From the Belly Flop contest at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, to meeting 84 Olympic Gold Medalist Nelson Vails whom I just happened to recognize standing in line for a pork chop.

In July of 2021 the wife and I road tripped to the state of Iowa from central California to join 15,000 other bicyclists in Le Mars, Iowa. This would be the start of what would be a 457 mile journey. We would pedal for seven days east towards our finishing city of Clinton, Iowa on the Mississippi River. Registering for this event allowed us the service of having our luggage, tent and sleeping gear moved to the end of each days finishing city. I had both our bikes serviced and ready to go. Every day outfits were neatly packed into gallon size ziplocks. I carried three extra tire tubes and all the bike tools needed in case of any mechanical issues. The wife and I are what I consider “fit”, however this was gonna be different than spin classes and hours of racquetball. How do you train your ass to sit on a tiny seat for 8 to 10 hours a day? This was truly my biggest worry and it would prove to be very challenging for the first two days.

Day one 86 miles...day two 67 miles...day three 55 miles. Surviving these long days and being a daily weed smoker was gonna be tricky in the conservative state of Iowa. As of this article date you can get 6 months jail time for 1st time offense for any amount. Thankfully we have products like gummies and vape pens that are much more discrete than a pre roll.

The truth is when day seven came I was ready to keep going. A sense of accomplishment came over me as we rolled into the finishing town of Clinton, Iowa. It was as big a deal for the people of Clinton who sat in their front yards cheering us on as we rolled towards the Mississippi River finish. The sentiment that we made it, yet I’m not ready for it to end. The oceans of corn and soy bean plants. The amazing people of Iowa and their hospitality. The new friends and new memories of highs and lows. Realizing that your mind and body can carry out amazing things. I see the allure now that attracts this rogue group of 15,000. It’s not the miles, the peddling or whether you’ll make the end. It’s the people, the party, and the camaraderie that comes from friends doing the one thing that brought most of us together as children. Riding a bike.

Marco can be reached at: www.highsierrahiker.com marco@leafmagazineca.com

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Harvesting Your Career: Women in Cannabis Two driven women.

Two journeys. One industry.

Vicky Arcos, Vice President of Product Marketing for California’s cannabis company Canndescent, sat down to share with LEAF readers just how she brought her expertise from other fields to the industry. Along with her collegue Brittny Peloquin, Canndescent’s Product Marketing Manager, the two gave excellent advice for other women interested in careers in cannabis.

Why a Career in Cannabis?

When asked why they chose to pursue careers in the typically male dominated landscape of cannabis, both Ms. Arcos and Ms. Peloquin agreed they were eager for a challenge in the ever changing climate of this industry here in California. Both with strong educational and career backgrounds, they’ve each brought transferable skills to their current roles with Canndescent.

They’ve been working together for nearly a year, in one of California’s most luxury cannabis companies, boasting four brands, and a far reach. Their wisdom can be yours.

Vicky Arcos is an experienced MBA marketer with over 15+ years experience in a variety of industries: food & beverage, beauty and now cannabis. As she brings her education and experience to Canndescent, she readily embraced this new industry.

She was ready to take a risk to join an industry that was in the middle of making history.

Brittny Peloquin is a marketing professional with 14 years of experience and has worked in several fields including specialty tobacco and cannabis. As a natural born leader, she’s become a professional focused on team work, collaboration, and operational efficiency, and data driven planning. She entered the cannabis industry with a marketing background and has paired that with her passion for the products and their benefits.

Women Rising In a Cannabis Brand House, Canndescent is California’s leading cannabis brand house. With that achievement, the products must speak for themselves, but the company’s culture is partly to credit for its success. The company culture has been built on gratitude and positivity, with a mission of creating brands people love.

Ms. Peloquin believes that team members have a voice at Canndescent, and Ms. Arcos was quick to highlight that Canndescent has women as two of its top executives.

In a landscape that is often male-dominated, this company has a woman as the head of marketing and the head of sales!

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ADVICE FOR WOMEN BUILDING CAREERS ADVICE FOR WOMEN IN ANY CAREER FIELD • Be passionate about the space.

• Find yourself a mentor.

• Keep your ear to the ground and sense changes.

• Have a presence in meetings and back your stance up with clear data.

• Use that data to support your strategy or ideas.

• Highlight your transferable skills.

• Your experience is valuable.

• Don’t just figure out how to get in. Instead, state what you bring to the table.

• Most industries need a myriad of skilled team members.

Remember that most companies and industries need professionals with skills in analyzing, pricing, forecasting, branding, marketing, web design, graphic design, accounting, and more. Bring your skills and experience to the field you are passionate about!

UNIQUE ADVICE FOR CALIFORNIA CANNABIS CAREERS • Be ready: the cannabis industry in California is very fast paced with a lot of change.

• Industry professionals must be resourceful and knowledgeable.

• Industry professionals must be flexible and willing to figure things out in an ever changing landscape.

• Have a voice; the industry needs you.

• There’s room for everyone, both as a consumer and for those pursuing the cannabis industry for their career.

• If you are interested and want to put your time in, don’t worry about not being welcome- there’s room for you if you love the plant.

SWITCHING INDUSTRIES • For Ms. Peloquin, California’s cannabis climate isn’t just work, it’s a movement. She had an interest in creating high end accessories that are approachable to everyone, especially women. Brittny now works in consumer packaged goods for Canndescent.

•

For Ms. Arcos, the career change from other industries to cannabis offered a new opportunity for growth in a time when changes within the culture are making history. In fact, Canndescent is making history in their commitment to giving back to the community and fighting for social justice through their groundbreaking brand, Justice Joints.

JUSTICE JOINTS- Giving Back to the Community Setting themselves apart from other cannabis companies, Canndescent has made a commitment to working toward social justice and law reform for nonviolent cannabis related convictions. Out of this passion, a new brand was created.

JUSTICE JOINTS was born as a first-of-its kind brand that donates 100% of their profits to social justice causes. This commitment to changing the landscape for all people, fighting for justice, and helping to advocate for people who have been previously or currently incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis related offenses, is a reflection of the company’s values.

Specifically, JUSTICE JOINTS donates all of their profits from their one-gram pre-rolls to prisoner release, record expungement, and reentry programs.

JUSTICE JOINTS has partnered with an advocacy group to work toward ending and righting the injustices of past and current laws and policies regarding cannabis and its prohibition. Their specialty rolls are currently available throughout California in various dispensaries. Readers can find more information on their products, passion, and purpose through their website at justicejoints.co FINAL REMINDERS FOR WOMEN There is a need for you and your skills in the career field of your passion.

You too can switch career industries. There is room for you in the cannabis culture- all are welcome.

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EDIBLES WITH CHEF

All Kinds of Edibles with Chef Jesse Garza

By: Bree Leonard

Have you ever had the experience of trying a few edibles from your local dispensary only to find you have no reaction at all? Where is the THC? Where is the euphoria? On the other hand, perhaps you have experienced the opposite- only consuming a small amount to discover you cannot even function for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, the edibles market can be quite misleading. Is there really 10 grams of THC in each gummy in your package? Or do some have less and some have more?

Finding reliable high-quality edibles, especially in The Central Valley, can sometimes be a task. You may have a brand that you love, but it runs out of stock. So why not try your hand at making some at home? This can sound like a daunting challenge, but just imagine the fun you can have trying something new!

We spoke with Chef Jesse Garza about how best to tackle edibles in your home kitchen. “My first thing that I made for edibles was some budder (cannabis infused butter) to make some crispy rice treats,” Chef Garza tells us. He even challenged some of his chef and foodie friends to participate by making their own too. “We all came out with our own form of the treats,” he continues. “They were all different. It was just freaking amazing!” Since most of us have made the enjoyable treats at home before, this might be a good first challenge for you. Maybe try some dipped in chocolate for a fun twist.

Chef Garza has made all kinds of pot infused desserts. He has tried everything from cheesecakes to macaroons to little tarts. He has even created gummies using the popular French cooking method sous vide. Vacuum sealing the delights and cooking them in a very precise temperature water bath made them delectable. After much trial and error, Chef Garza knew that he needed to share his creations with others.

Packaging these little cannabis infused goodies in delicate little boxes, the

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public did not know what to make of the confections at first. Everyone had heard of the typical stoner pot brownie, but people didn’t know what to make of other marijuana treats. Now that marijuana is recreationally legal, more people are responding to other types of edibles. It seems they are more willing to try new things.

Chef Garza takes the time to construct his desserts in small batches so that the potency of his products is more dependable. From pixie sticks to chocolate bonbons, your own creativity is your only limit in what you can do with infused desserts.

Chef Garza loves to pair his creations with an entire marijuana-infused meal at what he calls The Chef Garza Experience. You do not have to travel to see The Chef to try some great desserts of your own, however. Read below for a great recipe from Chef Garza and try it yourself.

So does it matter what type of marijuana you use when cooking? It is important to know the desired effect when choosing which strain or type of cannabis to use in your cooking. OG strains and other Indicas give you that relaxed state of mind, which can be great after a fantastic meal.

On the other hand, if you are looking for something more therapeutic and euphoric you should try using Sativas. Remember, the more potent the concentrate that you are using, the more intoxicating your edibles will be.

Different strains do impart different flavors into your foods, so keep in mind the flavor profiles that you are looking for. For example, if you want to import some citrus flavor into your dish you will want to choose a strain of marijuana that has those notes of orange, lemon and lime. Pay attention to what you smell when you open the jar of cannabis you will be using, as you will be imparting those flavors into your cooking. Just like a great bottle of wine, each cannabis strain So where do you even begin?

t y y

o

n

You will want to start by decarbing or decarboxylating your cannabis flower to prepare it for use. What is this process and why is it important? The heat from this process will allow your body to more easily absorb the euphoric effects in your edibles. This can be as simple as gathering together mason jars, tin foil, sheet trays and an oven with a good timer. Be sure to maintain a low temperature and keep an eye on your product! Once you try the process it will be just like any good recipe, or even growing cannabis- practice makes perfect.

You can do this in the oven as mentioned or, as Chef Garza recommends, by using the sous vide method. This may sound intimidating, but you can do this even without an immersion circulator. Just take a look at Chef Garza’s recipe below. By using this water bath method, you will keep your product at a lower, more controlled temperature that will preserve the terpenes and flavor. Either method you choose, it is important not to skip this essential step to decarb your herbs prior to using them for cooking.

Once you have your prepared marijuana flower, you can use that to make some budder or infused oils. From there you can experiment with delectable treats and even savory dishes. Let your imagination run wild! The options are really up to you. For more on Chef Garza please check out his social media @TheChefGarza on Instagram or TheChefGarza.com. Be sure to watch for more recipes and insights from Chef Garza in our next issue.

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When they’re not manning Stiiizy’s 19 retail locations throughout California, you can find the cannabis company’s 2,500plus employees giving back and taking a stand. They’re collecting 150 cigarette butts and joint filters as they pick up trash along Santa Monica Beach with Heal the Bay. They’re assisting young women in Watts as they learn graffiti art. They’re attending anti-racism rallies in San Francisco. They’re loading more than $2,000 worth of food and water into trucks to be distributed to low-income veterans across Southern California.

Though there are many, many causes Stiiizy stands up for, that last one holds a special place in co-founder James Kim’s heart. The 34-year-old SoCal native joined the Army’s 101st Airborne Division when he was only 18. This led to a 13-month tour in Iraq…which led to PTSD. Rather than rely on anti-anxiety medications or alcohol, Kim turned to cannabis. That passion led to the creation of Stiiizy in 2017, which cultivates, manufactures and distributes cannabis products, including flowers, edibles and extracts.

A COMPANY THAT MEANS SOMETHING Stiiizy may stand for a variety of causes and with marginalized groups, but the name literally stands for style and ease. It’s derived from the skater term “steez,” and represents Stiiizy’s relaxed but focused approach to its cannabis products, which are now sold in five states, including Nevada, Arizona, Washington and Michigan .

The three I’s, meanwhile, stand for innovate, inspire and influence.

“I created STIIIZY to make innovative, quality cannabis goods that are accessible and reflective of our culture,” says Kim, who is also managing director of Shryne Group, Stiiizy’s parent company. “As a brand, we follow our instincts and aren’t afraid to take risks. Staying true to our authentic roots and connected to our community is what has allowed us to grow and succeed quickly.”

And grow it has. Stiiizy has 17 additional retail locations in development throughout California. Every store stays true to that city’s roots by featuring rotating artwork from local artists. Its flagship in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles, for example, includes a 29-foot installation by Hollywood street artist RETNA, as well as collectible pieces by local graffiti artists Mister Cartoon and Risk (Kelly Graval).

“I wanted to create a true immersive experience unlike any other for our customers,” Kim continues. “The STIIIZY brand is deeply embedded in cannabis culture and this store is a true reflection of our ‘influence, inspire, innovate’ message. This is what experiential retail is all about. This is not just a store, it’s a destination.”

The message those three I’s proclaim isn’t limited to the in-store offerings, either. They’re part of Stiiizy’s larger core values, which focus on creating positive change and aligning with the causes and concerns of its customers. The company has partnered with a number of charitable organizations and taken up a litany of social equity causes, including LGBTQ, BLM, veterans, Stop Asian Hate, the homeless on Skid Row, at-risk youth and more.

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“The three I’s, meanwhile, stand for innovate, inspire and influence.”

By: Nellie Day

GIVING BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Kim created his own charitable line of strains and products called Blessed by Stiiizy to give back during the pandemic. A portion of all funds raised from this line went toward the organizations Stiiizy has consistently supported. The first exclusive strain released from Blessed was Animal Face, “an indica strain that will give you a full mind and body high that sends you drifting into bliss,” the website notes.

Kim has also previously pledged 20 percent of Stiiizy’s camo battery sales to Battle Brothers Foundation, a non-profit that guides veterans as they transition back to civilian life. Veterans additionally receive a 10 percent discount in all Stiiizy stores.

Stiiizy’s products must be doing something right. The company is the No. 1 overall cannabis brand in California, the No. 3 selling cannabis brand nationally and the No. 1 national selling vape brand. Numbers like these assure that the “ease” in Stiiizy certainly doesn’t stand for lazy. These rankings also prove that a company can take on collaborations, create charitable endeavors and support broader underserved communities while still producing killer product.

“Stiiizy is a lifestyle brand,” says Charmaine Chua, senior vice president of sales for Shryne Group, Stiiizy’s parent company. “It’s cannabis culture.”

Kim has a particular soft spot for street vendors, especially those stationed outside Stiiizy’s Downtown LA headquarters.

“James is huge about giving back to the immediate local community. He was doing this a lot at the peak of the pandemic,” Chua continues. “James loves to help organizations that are in his backyard – those that don’t have the resources or exposure that a national non-profit would. Sometimes that’s street vendors, sometimes that’s small businesses or local entrepreneurs just getting started.”

Stiiizy’s employees are also about 85 percent people of color, making it exceptionally important that the company stand for racial equality and stand against hate. Though Kim would rather take action and assist organizations and causes, versus talk about taking action, thankfully Stiiizy’s on-the-ground endeavors and information-sharing platforms like its blog and social media allow Kim to do both.

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CHEF GARZA

Monthly Receipe

Decarboxylation: sous vide method

• Immersion circulator

• Container for immersion circulator (a large pot or plastic tub would work)

• Vacuum sealer or zip-top freezer bag • Cannabis

• Prepare your water bath by filling your container with hot tap water, and then place

the immersion circulator inside. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines

to ensure the right amount of water is in the container. Set the immersion circulator

to 203 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Grind the cannabis finely. Since the temperature will be so precise, there is no need

to worry about overheating the cannabis and destroying THC, terpenes, or flavor.

However, you do want to maximize surface area, so a finer grind is the best for this method.

• In a vacuum sealer or, using the water displacement method* in a zip-top plastic

bag, seal the cannabis as flat and as tight as possible to minimize air pockets and

maximize surface area.

• Place the sealed cannabis bag into the water bath for 90 minutes, then carefully

remove and let it cool to room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Dry off the bag

carefully, open it and place your decarboxylated cannabis into a container for future cooking.

Water displacement method

• Place the cannabis in the freezer bag and close it 80% of the way.

• Gently lower the bag into a container full of water (you can use the water bath) and

allow the water to force the air out of the bag as you continue to lower it.

• Once the water level is just before the zipper, close the bag completely.

Chef notes: With an immersion circulator, you can dial in a lower, exact temperature that will preserve terpenes and flavor while producing almost no smell.

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h i C t w c u p m i s G

c b f a a p I s

b t b t o o e m w

a w a m

“To be an activist is to act on behalf of solving social and political issues. It is to be at the forefront of a movement, oftentimes compromising your own energy to seek justice and evoke change.

‘To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate is to listen. Society can’t move forward without both.’

To be an advocate is to speak and learn about social and political issues.

It is to bring attention to injustice, subsequently aiding the activist in their fight against that same injustice. Although different, both are necessary to create systemic change. Without one, the other cannot function.”

-Eva Lewis, TedXTeen referenced @ blog.adobe.com

Growing up gardening in the heart of the Northern California agricultural heavy Butte County seeded my passion for regenerative farming and identifying a quintessential human right to clean fresh food and ultimately, Cannabis as medicine. Though I rejected a lot of the knowledge and frankly the hard work of growing as a teen, I come from a large extended family where most everyone had a productive kitchen garden and shared. The other crop of my childhood was never really large enough to earn that label but was utilized liberally by my mother and I proudly claim to be a second-generation pot farmer fully dedicated to medicine. Call her what you will: weed, dope, marijuana, pot…the list of names goes on and on and whatever you call what’s in your doob, it bears thinking about the growing process. All the nutrients, sprays, and top dressings make their way into your lungs and like toxins and GMOs, you should know what you can about what you’re ingesting.

My often hippyish upbringing was guided along by my mother’s varying concepts of compassion and service to others. Generously sprinkled amongst boundaries shaped by her own conservative Baptist upbringing was a passion for human rights. Somehow in all the mash-up, I was raised to cherish the autonomy of my mind and the power of my voice. I have been a vocal and active activist for all kinds of social and political causes, but when I got my prescription for medical marijuana from my general practitioner in Oakland, I found a true home for my dedication to research, and my growing skills slowly shaped by my complex market.

In these days of legal Recreational production boutique family farms have been replaced by large agribusinesses. Despite the complex reasons driving this trend via permitting, accessibility, and cost-benefit analysis weighed by investors, it is up to all of us to speak up for the medicine. Continuing to follow in the footsteps of activists who drove the legit cooperative end of the medical marijuana movement into dispensaries. We should cheer on the advocates opening the doors towards federal reclassification via education and outreach strategies meant to spotlight the healing properties of marijuana. It’s true some folks just want to get high, but regardless of purpose, we are all susceptible to mold, toxins, and the bad cure. Demand quality.

Along the way, there has been this industry’s fair share of racism, sexism, and piracy. There has also been an organic revolution, advocacy against wrongful incarceration, and shattered glass ceilings industry-wide. Amidst all of it has been both my day-to-day activism of biodynamic farming to offer my own brand to the discerning consumer and the hard work of educating

By Libby Marks

my buyers as well as myself about the purpose of why I farm as I do. An old homesteader told me once that ‘Nothing’s more necessary to survival than homegrown’… he meant tomatoes, but who isn’t a fan of like homemade, homegrown, home-processed?

What I think of when I’m sweating amidst my girls is how much I want them to thrive, to conform to my IPM program, and to continue being able to offer my devotion to the world. This likely sounds corny to you, it sometimes does to me too. Yet working myself to the bone to make sure my plants get the best care, the least toxic pest & pathogen treatments, and that my finished product will make me proud. Having competitively cultivated for medical dispensaries all over the Bay Area I take a certain approach that incorporates the agreed-upon concept of “bag appeal” (look, smell, taste, clean slow burn).

More than a decade later I still seek to educate friends, family, and the community at large about the amazing power of cannabis to heal the mind, body, and soul.

This is still the bottom line of my cannabis advocacy in passion and practice. We all want to get high, but the truth is some of us NEED to and our individual and collective voices have power. Smoking helps me manage my PTSD & Anxiety and helps take the edge off my ever-present Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Some growers simply see the profit margin. They try to cut all the corners possible and still produce a sellable product that misses the mark we all deserve. I challenge us all to strive to do better for ourselves and for those who count on the medicine which we coax from seed or clone to flower, extract, and consumables of various mediums.

It isn’t just the cool strain name. It is the soil, beneficial, and compost.

Frankly, it’s also the energy put into the cultivation of the medicine we consume. Just as there is a difference in eating organic, free-range, grassfed, and hormone-free from what’s mass-produced by agribusiness, the same principles should apply to weed consumption. We are what we smoke/ingest.

Why share all this? Because it’s the beginning of our conversation. It’s the genesis of ideas we can cultivate together and the outreach of my education, both higher and Higher. Education and outreach are how we can continue to have our voices heard as we demand clean medicine. Should you want to engage, I love pen pals. please no hate: markslibby76@gmail.com

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HOMEGROWN GOODNESS

By: Bree Leonard When you think of Woodlake, images of

Next is Chad Whited. Chad is a Central

a few years later. Jack was fortunate to get to

orange groves, quaint downtown shops and the

Valley native having grown up in the Visalia and

work with others that had been perfecting their

little airport restaurant that makes such a great

Woodlake areas. Chad spent most of his early

craft for a lifetime.

breakfast all come to mind. Soon Woodlake

career clawing his way up in the construction

will be home to something new- legal cannabis

trade eventually landing in the role of Design

cultivation.

Manager, working closely with architects,

time spent studying with these masters. Jack

engineers and others in the Fresno area.

has had a multitude of successful grows with

Having just broken ground on their state of the art facility, California Top Crop aims to be the

He gained invaluable knowledge from his

yields of more than 300 pounds per year. In 2008, When the housing market crashed, Chad

Jack’s garden was even featured in a centerfold

local source for the Central Valley and beyond.

started to look for other ways to support his

Working in partnership with Relentless Genetics,

developing family. He had family and friends

the business will be focusing on exotic strains

that were growing for the medical cannabis

and high quality extracts. The three friends

industry and decided to give it a shot. With

extraction. These solvent-less extracts are in

that started this business just a few years ago

his wife, Kamee’s, help and a small grow in his

everything from vape pens to salves and even

are excited to get to put their years of growing

garage, Chad’s work became his passion and

edibles. The company will offer healthier, higher

experience to good use. You can follow their

expanded greatly. “I am a cannabis cultivator

quality concentrates like hash, rosin and rosin

journey via Instagram @CaliforniaTopCrop.

and I love what I do. I am devoted to making

vape pens. Jack is also a test grower for a large

California Top Crop a successful business in

genetics company, Relentless Genetics. He

the cannabis industry,” Chad said. Chad will be

implements new techniques and grows a variety

and Jack Aldridge founded California Top Crop.

handling cultivation for California Top Crop,

of strains for testing prior to public release. “Now

Brandon has been running the family pawn shop

ensuring delivery of a quality product to their

I feel it is the time where the laws are changing

for over a decade. During that time, Brandon

customers.

and I can use my knowledge to help make this a

Three friends- Brandon Parker, Chad Whited

successfully opened a second location and finetuned his skills as a small business owner. In

article of High Times Magazine.

Jack currently focusses on ice water

profitable business,” Jack says.

Finally is Jack Aldridge. Jack is the third and

his spare time, Brandon has been working in the

last owner/member of California Top Crop. Jack

medical cannabis market since 1999.

grew up in Woodlake working on the citrus farm

wife, Kamee, who will serve as the Compliance

with his family. Jack was always involved in

Manager for California Top Crop. Kamee left her

agriculture programs throughout his educational

job in corporate America to focus on the rules

his medical product, he will be handling sales,

career and this love for growing made an easy

and regulations of the cannabis industry. She

distribution and public relations for California

transition to marijuana. Officially starting his

understood early on that in order for California

Top Crop. Brandon told us, “I am excited to take

cannabis career growing medical marijuana in

Top Crop to succeed in this ever-changing

the next step into the future of this market.”

1998, he followed his passion and went full time

market, the company needed someone to

With experience both growing and marketing

16

Rounding out the initial team is Chad’s

HOMEGROWN GOODNESS

become knowledgeable about state and local regulations and licensing. “I am currently developing all of the Standard Operating Procedures for California Top Crop to ensure complete compliance, quality control and the use of best practices,” she told us.

California Top Crop will hold a Microbusiness license, which allows for cultivation of up to 10,000 square feet of canopy space, and allows for in-house manufacturing, distribution and non-storefront delivery. Kamee will be working alongside her husband, Chad, and do what she loves. She will be working hands on with all of their employees to ensure best practices and compliance with state regulations.

“I am a cannabis cultivator and I love what I do. I am devoted to making California Top Crop a successful business in the cannabis industry,” Whited said

California Top Crop has a simple yet strong mission statement- “Quality. Craft. Family.”

They will focus on smaller, quality batches of product that can highlight their unique strains and techniques. They are a group of local boys truly following their passion- and the Central Valley consumers will soon get to realize these benefits.

We asked if the friends had any advice for others looking to join the industry. They all agree that it takes a village, but it is possible. You will have to jump through many hoops and deal with a substantial amount of red tape, but they say it is worth it. If you think that cannabis is your passion they recommend putting in the hard work and not giving up. It will take a lot of blood, sweat and tears but these three friends all agree that it will all be worth it in the end.

We are excited to follow California Top Crop on their journey and hope that you will follow along with us. Once they get their building up, it will be about 6 months after their first crop harvest and they should have products available to consumers. Look for a dispensary and delivery service to be a part of their options for patrons. They will also be giving tours so others can see the techniques and strains they are working with. In addition, they will be employing many locals to help with the business.

Join us again in a future issue of Leaf Magazine where we will follow up with California Top Crop and see what it is like once the business is off the ground!

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LOCAL SPOTS

DISPENSARIES

VISALIA

HANFORD

CENTRAL COAST

Central Valley Pure 207 West Main St Suite B (559)372-7744 centralvalleypure.com

Herb N Joy 102 S Douty St herbnjoy.com 650-701-4372

United Growers 15740 E Mineral King Ave (559) 635-0420

Deli by Calva 104 N Douty Ave (888) 688-0303 delibycaliva.com

Megan’s Organic Market 280 S Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, 93401 805-592-1420 /megansorganicmarket.com

LINDSAY

FARMERSVILLE

Valley Pure 133 W Honolulu St 559-788-7640 valleypure.net

Valley Pure 515 West Noble Ave Farmersville 559-690-0411 valleypure.net

WOODLAKE Valley Pure 132 North Valencia Blvd 559-769-2080 valleypure.net GreenBean 515 W. Naranjo Boulevard 559-564-9073 greenbeanpharm.com

TULARE Herb N Vibe 150 N. J St. 559-688-2001 tulareherbnvibes.com

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Token Farms 483 Avenue 295 Suite #A 559-738-8375 tokenfarmsinc.com

LEMOORE Valley Pure 300 E St 559-997-5542 valleypure.net Natural Healing Center 338 West D Street (805) 201-1498 nhcdispensaries.com

Natural Healing Center - Morro Bay 495 Morro Bay Blvd.

Morro Bay, 93442 805-201-1498 nhcdispensaries.com Natural Healing Center - Grover Beach 998 Huston St. Grover Beach, 93433 805-201-1498 nhcdispensaries.com Perfect Union - Morro Bay 1000 Quintana Rd. #A Morro Bay, 93442 805-254-4146 www.perfect-union.com 805 Beach Breaks 1053 Highland Way Grover Beach, 93433 805-668-2228 805beachbreaks.com

Find Leaf Magazine at all these dispensaries.

“ w C a g

N H C R A L LY I N S L O

SAVE MY CAREER

“For the past few years of working at the Natural Healing Center, I’ve worked my way to an affordable salary that I can give back to my family,”

By: Justin Stoner

Kenneth Johnson, 28, credits his job at Natural Healing Center on the Central Coast with helping him achieve milestones in his personal life.

“For the past few years of working at the Natural Healing Center, I’ve worked my way to an affordable salary that I can give back to my family,” he said. “I’ve been able to find a place on my own and marry my wife here in the beautiful county of San Luis Obispo.”

“The favorite part about my job is my relationships with the employees, and helping the community. I personally recommend products to help people get off narcotics, alcohol abuse, fighting cancer, and many other medical conditions,” Johnson said.

Now a manager, Johnson started as a delivery driver. He said he hopes to be part owner in NHC’s flagship store in San Luis Obispo, but that future is now in question as San Luis Obispo city officials revoked the operating permit for the store before it could open.

The action is fallout from criminal charges brought against NHC founder Helios Dayspring, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud and bribery in federal court last month. NHC operates stores in Grover Beach, Morro Bay and Lemoore.

Internal investigations by city officials in Grover Beach and Morro Bay didn’t turn up evidence of wrongdoing, so those stores continue to operate, as does Lemoore. The SLO store at 2640 Broad St. has not yet opened.

19

N H C R A L LY I N S L O

Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson told the New Times, “NHC has followed all guidelines and requirements set forth by the city’s ordinance and is an active member of the legal cannabis industry within the city producing local jobs and tax revenues.”

Dayspring admitted to bribing county Supervisor Adam Hill for favorable votes in 2016, and while no such allegations were made against city officials, San Luis Obispo terminated the operating permit Oct. 6.

“Natural Healing Center would never have received the permit had we known then what we know now,” Deputy City Manager Greg Hermann said. “We are committed to a fair and transparent process that provides a level playing field for legal commercial cannabis companies here, but operators who participate in illegal activities are not welcome in San Luis Obispo.”

Following the criminal charges, Dayspring turned over the business to his girlfriend, Valnette Garcia.

Employees and their families gathered on the steps of San Luis Obispo City Hall Oct. 15 to rally for their own jobs, and heap praise on Garcia for the way she runs the business.

Wearing white t-shirts that said ‘Support NHC SLO’ on the front and ‘Save My Career” on the back, workers told their stories to members of the media 20

even as the city council prepared for a regular meeting inside.

“Hi, my name is Christian, and I am a lead budtender,” one employee said.

“They say that if you want something bad enough, you have to claim it like if it’s already there. So I’m claiming that. It’s more than just selling this and selling that. It’s our livelihood. It’s our community’s livelihood. A lot of people do depend on us.”

Another employee, Henry, described his short time at NHC as an opportunity to learn and help more people than at any other job he’s held.

Photos by: John Kuebler

“Primarily, I’ve worked at restaurants San Luis Obispo, which is not yet open to before this, and I’ve never been in a the public.” position where I can connect so deeply NHC representatives met with city with the community, be able to educate them or provide them with either a good officials the previous week in an attempt or service that can change their lives for to appeal the decision. The city said NHC can seek judicial review of the decision the better,” he said. in 90 days.

As dozens of employees rallied on the During the rally, some of the steps of City Hall, officials issued a press employees choked up with emotion. release to reiterate their stance.

That’s not surprising, according to Joe “San Luis Obispo City Manager Derek Armendariz, who handles government Johnson notified Natural Healing Center affairs for NHC. today that the automatic disqualification “They’re wondering ‘Why is the city of Natural Healing Center’s commercial cannabis operator permit application not on my side?’ They don’t think it’s remains unchanged. The company fair that they’re being punished for cannot activate, obtain, or hold an something that doesn’t have anything to operator permit to conduct commercial do with them,” Armendariz said. “I think cannabis activity at 2640 Broad Street in they are frustrated.“

LEAF california magazine

WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS. We are always looking to add local contributors to cover local and regional events

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BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

Lovina Gonzalez B R A N D E D

C L O T H I N G

Your next adventure starts at FYE Sports www.fyesportsshop.com Serving Tulare County & Surrounding Areas

Cannabis Delivery (559) 205-4143

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L i c e n s e # : C 9 - 0 0 0 0 118 - L I C

Lovina is best described as helpful, warm, and overwhelmingly understanding. She is a natural “people person.” These traits shine in her role at Herbnvibes as a budtender. She is also known for her willingness to go above and beyond to help anyone- both at the dispensary, and in life. She is someone with a knack of imparting joy and understanding to each situation. Last February, Lovina was offered the opportunity to have, what she calls, her dream job. She’s always dreamt of becoming a budtender so that she can help those who need someone just like her. So when given just that chance, shecouldn’t be more grateful.

While seemingly new at this, her boss was without hesitation in picking her for this spotlight. She is able to make anyone she encounters feel comfortable, appreciated, and open. She enjoys helping customers settle their nerves and ask questions, and loves giving patients just what they need to feel well. When asked what her favorite part of budending is, she is quick to answer.

Without a doubt, the best part for Lovina is meeting new people and jumping in to conversation. She loves being able to interact with people she might not otherwise meet, and make everyone feel warm and welcome. This sure seems like a calling. She is uniquely gifted to be a stellar budtender, and Tulare is lucky to have her serving thecommunity at Herbnvibes.

One thing that sets Valley Pure apart is they go out of their way to make sure each customer is matched with the perfect product. We always try to match you with the perfect product the first time, but if for some reason you don’t love what you bought, bring it back and we will keep trying to find you something that you LOVE!

Herb N’ Vibes 150 N. J St. 559-688-2001 tulareherbnvibes.com

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LINDSAY 559-788-7640 133 West Honolulu Street C100-0000665-LIC

LEMOORE 559-997-5542 308 E Street C100-0000666-LIC