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TABLE OF CONTENTS ISSUE 20 | DECEMBER 2015 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE

STRAIN

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

BRANDING BUD CANNABIS PACKAGING

GARDEN

FOREVER DANK FARMS

STATE DIRECTOR NOTE

EDIBLES

CANNABIS WORLD NEWS

CANNA-NEWS CROWD-SOURCING

GARDEN

MOJAVE RICHMOND

JOLLY GREENS STRAWBANA LOZENGES

DOPE NEWS

Welcome to the 2015 holiday issue of DOPE! December is the time for giving, and with that comes the general hustle and bustle of the holidays. Travel with us to Santa Cruz in this very special holiday-centered issue, where we journey down Highway 101 to witness the phenomenal work at the collective of Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana before jetting off to the rotunda of Alaska, its resilient people, and their developing cannabis industry. In Give and You Shall Receive, writer Sharon Letts covers charities in the cannabis community, specifically those that feature women helping women. We also cover cannabis-infused topicals for injury, pain management, and massage therapy: a great gift for someone you love. In Back to Basics, DOPE covers possible cannabis replacements for the everyday medications in your home. This holiday issue also includes the second installment of our series, The History of Cannabis, so follow along in this issue’s hundred-year journey of cannabis through history.

DISPENSARY

RIP CITY REMEDIES

NEW LEAF CANNA CENTER

ROAD TRIP

As 2016 rolls nearer, the cannabis industry in Oregon will continue to press forward with recreational cannabis licensing. We have outlined the most recent rules applying to the state’s cannabis laws, and what we can expect for licensing in the coming year in this state. Join us in an effort to continually press forward in an effort to attain freedom for growers and producers, creating healthier patients and happier connoisseurs. In our Health section, cannabis topical is the item of discussion in Cannabis Infused Topical Products: Changing Treatments for Injury, Pain, and Massage Therapy. If you’re searching for that helpful, safe gift that everyone who tries loves, you may look no further! This article explains how and why people apply cannabis topically, and what a truly safe, pain relieving option that many agree works. Try cannabis topical for your romantic Holiday massage! Also in Health, is the Modern Day Medicine Cabinet, where Dope shows what cannabis products could take the place of the pharmaceutical medications that one would typically expect to find there.

CANNA-NEWS

SANTA CRUZ

BALI VASWANI

Stay DOPE!

CANNA-NEWS

CANNANEWS

WRITER•LINDSEY RINEHART

MODERN DAY MED CABINET

WHAT IS THAT

Answers to a New Custom er’s Com m on Questions REGON’S DISPENSARIES are

attracting more customers every day, and now that cannabis is legal for both medicinal and recreational use, even people who’ve never done more than smoke a handrolled joint at some point will be wandering into medical dispensaries out of curiosity. Likely astounded by the options for both strain and form, new customers can certainly benefit from a primer on the matter. Below is a quick tour of the aspects most likely to make customers ask, “What is that?”

52 FEATURE

Extracts are another concentrated form of cannabis. They result from processing cannabis with hydrocarbon solvents such as butane, propane, or hexane, or by using high heat and pressure. Usually, a concentrate or extract is used to make a product that isn’t inhaled, such as an edible, a topical, or a drink.

Tinctures are liquid drops that go under the tongue for a sublingual dose. They can also be added to a drink for an ediblelike effect. Tinctures are commonly made from alcohol, glycerin, or coconut oil, and provide a faster high than other methods.

OLCC ADOPTS NEW 78 RECREATIONAL CANNA-NEWS MARIJUANA RULES PHOTO BY ALLIE BECKETT

As defined by HB 3400, cannabis concentrates are extracted mechanically or chemically with non-hydrocarbon solvents such as water, oil, fat, glycerin, alcohol, or ethanol. Concentrates can also come in the form of tinctures and topicals.

NOBLE GLASS

WRITER•PAUL LONEY

Hash and kief are water-extracted concentrates that can be smoked or vaped by themselves, put on top of flower, or even used to cooked with. Kief is a yellowblonde to green powder, often formed into patties or rocks. Rosin is a newer concentrate made with heat and pressure: oil is squeezed from the bud, and can result in glass-like shards. No solvent is needed.

TINCTURES

WAX “FOR DABBING” & OIL

CONCENTRATES

VS. EXTRACTS GIVE AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE: CHARITABLE GIVING WITHIN THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY

PIECES

1) HASH, 2) KIEF & 3) ROSIN

LAW

PRODUCT MOON ROCKS

GREELEY GALLERY

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container), a dab rig (similar to a bong), a nail (to hold the wax or concentrate while it’s being heated), and a small blowtorch (to heat the concentrate). Often people are surprised to see syringes—not needles, but syringes—full of a light amber or dark green oil. These syringes are full of life-changing cannabis oil. Make sure to ask the budtender what the intended method of consumption is for each one. For instance, one wouldn’t want to dab or vape a syringe of RSO or FECO, as those should be ingested. One would want to eat, dab, or vape a syringe of CO2 oil or BHO though. Cartridges are another way to smoke CO2 and BHO, and a variety of pens used to discreetly vaporize cannabis are now available.

LAW

TOPICALS

MEDIBLES

Topically-applied cannabis products include salves, lotions, lip balms, bath soaks, and personal lubricants. Many of these products are highly praised for their apparent ability to relieve fibromyalgia and arthritis pain, heal psoriasis, and calm muscle spasms—all without psychoactive effects.

Medibles include baked goods, ice cream, pizza, trail mix, dehydrated fruit, candy, soda, lemonade, coffee, and tea. Be sure to ask the budtender about dosages, as ingested cannabis can be very long lasting and much more intense for those who are used to smoking.

The best advice is to ask questions about the products you are interested in. You have the right to understand each dispensary’s testing procedures and to ask about how the buyer sources their cannabis products, so be sure to speak up! They’re more than likely to be excited to tell you about it.

Here a re s even of th e key ta keawa ys from th e 2 0 1 5 OLCC rec reation a l m a r i j ua n a ru l es : dopemagazine.com ISSUE 20 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE

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112

DISPENSARY

Wax and oil are broad terms used to describe butane hash oil (BHO), propane hash oil (PHO), hexane hash oil (HHO), full extract cannabis oil (FECO, also known as Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO), and CO2 concentrates. Concentrates come in many different varieties, including oil, budder, and shatter. The different consistencies are a result of the method of extraction used, the temperature in which it was formed, and the age of the material extracted. Some are suitable for eating, some for vaping, and some for dabbing. Dabbing is the process of heating a cannabis concentrate in order to inhale its vapor. It requires special tools, such as a dabber (to get the concentrate out of its

WHAT’S THAT

118

N OCTOBER 22, the Oregon Liquor Control (OLCC) adopted the Administrative Rules that govern recreational marijuana commerce, and in doing so has created a hard line between medical and recreational marijuana. The new rules prohibit dispensaries from selling both medical and recreational cannabis in one location. In addition, dispensaries cannot grow, process, or provide medical and recre-

PAUL LONEY Commission

Applications must include business plans, outlining how licensees will meet security requirements, what employee qualifications they’ll require and they training they’ll provide, and how they will prevent minors from accessing cannabis. In addition, producers must estimate electrical and water usage and processors must outline the equipment and materials used to make extracts and concentrates.

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Businesses can either use pre-approved OLCC packaging or design their own, so long as it does not include graphics, pictures, or logos.

Labels are also prohibited from including graphics, pictures, or logos, and must be pre-approved (unless they contain only the information required by the Oregon law and OLCC rule).

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CEO

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DAVID TRAN

STATE DIRECTOR

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MICHAEL FOX SALES MANAGER

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

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SALES REP

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OFFICE MANAGER

ART DIRECTOR

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DOPE DESIGN AGENCY

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DOPE is a free publication dedicated to providing an informative and wellness-minded voice to the cannabis movement. While our foundation is the medical cannabis industry, it is our intent to provide ethical and researchbased articles that address the many facets of the war on drugs, from politics to lifestyle and beyond. We believe that through education and honest discourse, accurate policy and understanding can emerge. DOPE Magazine is focused on defending both our patients and our plant, and to being an unceasing force for revolutionary change.

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WRITER • SARAH JANE GALLEGOS

STRAIN

PHOTOS • ALEX FALLENSTEDT

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES BY KHAN FAMILY ORGANICS

GENETICS

THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS

This wildly popular strain’s linage includes Durban Poison crossed with OG Kush. The last strain remains a secret of Girl Scout Cookies’ original breeders, making this strain even more desired. GSC’s high potency makes up for low yields and a long flowering period. This particular hybrid phenotype tends to show more dominant indica qualities.

Patients and wellness enthusiasts alike will enjoy the therapeutic qualities. GSC’s terpenes interact directly with CB2 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, which may make the strain perfect for gastric issues such as nausea and loss of appetite. With a high potency and indica qualities, it’s reported to relax muscles, easing pain and tension.

AROMA

FLAVOR GSC tastes as sweet as its name implies. Initial cherry and citrus notes filled my nostrils, leaving behind a sweet taste that quickly turned to the earthiness of bittersweet chocolate. It’s hard to believe, but cannabis can actually taste similar to a cookie!

Pinching a nug of GSC produces a pleasantly strong and pungent fragrance. Spicy mint and sweet lavender lead the way with an unmistakable cookie scent, demonstrating this strain is a terpene powerhouse. I was tempted to sniff this delicious strain repeatedly.

PROVIDED BY: ROSE CITY WELLNESS TESTED BY: CHEMHISTORY

26.8% THC 0.35% CBD

ISSUE 20 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

LOOKS GSC’s signature hues are hidden under a thick blanket of frosty white resin that covers each bud. A rainbow appears in deep purple leaves with lime green tips that hug dense, dark green calyxes. Orange pistils cover the bud in thick golden fuzz. This strain has been harvested at optimal maturity.

EFFECT This is a fast and heavy-hitting strain. Almost immediately, cerebral effects began to bloom and a pleasant euphoria set in, sparking a deep appreciation for music. My muscles resolved themselves to a state of deep relaxation and I enjoyed the wellbalanced, mind and body effect.

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT • ROSE CITY WELLNESS

blackberry presents

true 50/50 hybrid

Black Domina x Raspberry cough

Low Beta-Myercene Rich in THC Levels Consistent Potency Super Frosty Strong Aromaa Mild-Sweet Flavor

Blackberry has a consistent potency throughout the plant, so whether you get a nug from the bottom of the plant, or one of the top buds, you're always guaranteed to be delighted.

Find blackberry along with our other 48+ strains at your local dispenseries BELMONT COLLECTIVE • EAGLES NEST • GREEN OASIS • HEALING GREEN • NECTAR • 7 leaf collective LEFT COAST CONNECTION • PACIFIC GREEN • PIPERS HOLISTIC ESSENTIALS • PURE GREEN Farma • Powell House • Little Amsterdam • Oregon's Finest

WRITER • JOE SCHOFIELD

EDIBLES

PHOTOS • CHRIS RYAN

JOLLY GREEN’S CANNABIS LOZENGES

STRAWBANA OLLY GREENS HAS an incredible product, and it’s gaining quite a following. The quality of their operation is evident upon tasting the soft and floral sweetness of their Strawbana Lozenge. Taking in the dominant notes of banana with overtones of vanilla, the oh-sosubtle tartness of strawberry adds a pristine complement to the taste. The lozenge dissolves gracefully, without a syrupy thickness, and the balance between sweet and tart is ideal. The strength of the Strawbana lozenge is average compared to their other lozenges: with just 20mg of THC per piece, it falls behind Jolly Greens’ other 30- and 40-mg lozenges. The first one often provides a fun and friendly lift within the first 10 to 20 minutes. I took the second lozenge an hour later, spent an hour chatting with some friends in my neighborhood, and had a great time while riding a strong but totally functional body buzz. The effect later elevated into a euphoria that graced my entire being, inspiring a new dinner recipe and two art projects. While the sensations one experiences taking edibles will always be subjective, my experience taking two lozenges of Jolly Greens was one of bliss, serenity, invincibility, and cosmic unity. Yes, they are that good. If you are looking for the ideal stocking-stuffer for adult friends and family, you will definitely want to pick up a range of Jolly Greens. I personally plan on buy® ing a few packets of all 11 flavors.

”AN IDEAL STOCKING-STUFFER FOR ADULT FRIENDS AND FAMILY, PICK FROM A WIDE RANGE OF FLAVORS.”

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AMERICANNA RX RIP CITY REMEDIES PORTLAND MEDICINE POT AND 47 OTHER DISPENSARIES

ISSUE 20 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

May this holiday season bring you health, happiness, and hours of pain free peace. Happy Holidaze from all of us at Lunchbox Alchemy! Lunchbox Alchemy uses top-quality Oregon grown cannabis to handcraft all extracts. Independent lab testing verifies the elevated standards we strive for: high potency product with no residual solvent, pesticides, fungus, or mold. Here at LBA, we aim to provide high-caliber medicinals that are as safe as they are effective. What’s in your lunchbox?

#lunchboxalchemy | 541-241-6786 | For more information visit lunchboxalchemy.com

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info@dutchmasternutrients.com | DUTCHMASTERNUTRIENTS.COM *Design submissions close December 31, 2015. Design must be posted on Dutch Master Facebook page to qualify. Design must include Dutch Master logo or brand name to qualify. Voting ends January 30, 2016 5pm PST. Each ‘like’ on a qualifying design counts as one vote. The design with the highest number of votes at the time voting ends will win $300 1st prize. The design with the second highest number of votes at the time voting ends will win $200 2nd prize. Cash prizes will be paid to winning entrants via Paypal on January 31, 2015. Winners must have a Paypal account to redeem prize. Each entrant understands and agrees that upon submission of your design, all rights to the design are assigned to Dutch Master Nutrients LLC, granting a worldwide right to reproduce, sell, transmit and display the design, in whole or in part, an unlimited number of times, in any and all media.

GARDEN

MASTER BREEDER MOJAVE RICHMOND

OR THIS month’s garden feature, I had the distinct pleasure to sit down with master breeder and cultivation consultant Mojave Richmond and talk about whatever he wanted to share with our readers. I had just reviewed Mojave’s strain Zeta for our SoCal November issue and dubbed Zeta the “best medicine ever,” for its long lasting effects that include enhanced focus and productivity, and decreased appetite – pretty much the opposite effects of OG Kush, which is one of Zeta’s main components – so I’m excited to discuss that, as well

as get a glimpse into what he is doing now. We met at Urth Caffe in Beverly Hills and our conversation ranged from growing to breeding, to the future of the cannabis industry. We discussed terpene profiles, gene pools, and why, according to Mojave, “not all terpenes are good terpenes.” Mojave describes himself as “a breeder who’s become a consultant, who is now trying to facilitate the creation of a valid cannabis agricultural economy.” I asked Mojave where it all began for him as a breeder. “Well back in the day,” he said, “there was cannabis all over the planet…” and

ISSUE 20 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

then, due to prohibition and the demonization of cannabis by the US government, many of the world’s Landrace varieties were destroyed. When the Netherlands decriminalized cannabis, many growers moved there and started to breed and cultivate. The thing was, Mojave explained, the weather in the Netherlands is usually cold and not always very sunny. So, indoor growing really took off during those years. Mojave said he began noticing the effects of inbreeding on the cannabis gene pool pretty early on and it concerned him, which inspired him to begin breeding.

WRITER •EVAN KOPELSON

“I’VE BEEN A BREEDER FOR 22 YEARS, AND MY WHOLE FOCUS ALL ALONG HAS BEEN ONE DAY ‘THIS IS GONNA BE A LEGAL PLANT, AND IT’S GONNA BE AN AGRICULTURAL PLANT.”

Young growers at the time were excitedly working with the new Dutch seed strains – predominately Skunk #1, Northern Lights, and Haze – so Mojave decided to take his California heritage library of old school seeds, and he began breeding in Holland. It was here in the late 1990s that Mojave created the famed plant S.A.G.E. and then years later he crossed S.A.G.E. with OG Kush to create Zeta. Several years after that, Mojave’s continued breeding experiments created Big Sur Holy. Each of Mojave’s creations aims to recreate the distinctive phenotype/chemotype profiles he remembers from some of the lost California Landrace varieites of what we now call Sativa. I asked him about one picture he gave me that features a cluster of ladybugs, “At the time of the picture, they were all the rage, but Ladybugs are not the best method to get all your spider mites,” Mojave told me. “It’s great to have a ladybug population in your garden, but what happens is, if it’s indoors, the ladybugs

PHOTOS • MOJAVE RICHMOND

fly into the sun, which is your light, and they incinerate. If it’s outdoors, they’ll also fly into the sun, which is your neighbor’s garden. So either way, it’s not very effective, but they’re pretty to have around; they might even contribute. If you’re lucky, they’ll stay around for a while and create a population there and breed, and that’s what you’re seeing in that picture there, a little clustering of them.” When push comes to shove, Mojave said he would rather talk about breeding than growing, because the knowledge is already out there about growing, and it really at this point is about getting new knowledge out there to the world. “How I grow now is irrelevant,” Mojave said. “I’ve been a breeder for 22 years, and my whole focus all along has been one day ‘this is gonna be a legal plant, and it’s gonna be an agricultural plant’, and therefore I should know how to grow this plant on that scale, and I should be ready for that when the time comes.”

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 20 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE

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GROW

EMERALD HARVEST Si mpl e, Ea sy Success

NEW brand of premium fertilizer is building a following in the hydroponic world with their easy to use base nutrients and supplements. Emerald Harvest launched their product line on April 20th of this year and already, it’s being received with pleasant surprise by growers who seek to maximize yields. Founded by Robert and Sharon Higgins along with David Pratt, the rate of growth for the start-up company, with less than ten core employees, is staggering. Their products are already sold in twelve states and Canada with registration pending in many more. As every hydroponic grower knows, the nutrient market is saturated with tons of companies, each of which offer multitudes of formulas, boosters, and enhancers. Are all of the bottles really necessary? How can a grower tell which brand will actually produce results and what makes those products different? When it comes to the Emerald Harvest line of products, the difference is in the quality of the ingredients and the implementation of a streamlined feeding system. They offer a professional 2-part and a 3-part base nutrient series that makes it simple to unlock your garden’s full potential. These easy-to-use fertilizers give your complete a complete nutrient profile while minimizing

bottle space and waste. Packaged in growerfriendly smart bottles, none of the precious nutrients are lost due to spillage, as any drips are caught and cycled back into the bottle, much like a jug of laundry detergent. For indoor gardeners looking for a little something extra, Emerald Harvest also offers seven supplements specifically tailored for different aspects of your plants well-being. The lead chemist at Emerald Harvest, Dr. Dave, is a dedicated craftsman with a lengthy history in organic chemistry and cannabis cultivation. Taking the highest selling products on the market and determining what they all have in common, Dr. Dave formulated a new, compact line of supplements to give growers exactly what they want. The King Kola bloom booster has amino acids derived from hemp seed, a natural and more effective alternative to the bovine byproducts used in other hydroponic nutrient lines for the same purpose. This is the first such product to utilize hemp protein and the results speak for themselves with huge, impressive colas. Their labels are some of the most aesthetically pleasing in the industry, in fact Emerald Harvest took home first place for the 2015 Maximum Yield best overall design for the artwork on their Honey Chome – a resin and aroma enhancer. The artistry on the

ISSUE 20 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

outside of the bottles hints at the artfully concocted formulations they contain inside. While their line of fertilizer isn’t entirely organic yet, they use as many natural ingredients as they can combined with microbial life, kelp, alfalfa, hemp, and many other plant-based nutrients. The hemp seed in the King Kola is a highly effective natural chelator, helping the plants to uptake and assimilate nutrients and get the most out of their feeding. Emerald Harvest works side-by-side with the regulators each step of the way. They know that regulations play a crucial role in the fertilizer industry; without them, someone could produce and market a fake product. They understand that every grower has different opinions and needs, and to that effect, they never push entire product lines or treat stores like cash cows. Instead Emerald Harvest is busy building a corporate culture based on respect among competition, and a premium product line. With the overwhelmingly positive response they’ve received this year, they’re looking to change the hydroponics industry long-term, for the better. [ www.emeraldharvest.co ]

WRITER •R.Z. HUGHES

PHOTOS • EMERALD HARVEST

“THE BLOOM BOOSTER HAS AMINO ACIDS DERIVED FROM HEMP SEED, A NATURAL AND MORE EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO BOVINE BYPRODUCTS.”

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BRANDING BUD

WRITER •DAVID PALESCHUCK, MBA, CLS

CANNABIS PACKAGING AND ITS RELATION How Cannabis Is TO QUALITY & Packaged Affects Its Flavor, Potency CONSISTENCY & Efficacy P

UBLIC OPINION is changing around cannabis in general, and there is concern from lawmakers, consumers & patients alike regarding dosing and consistency. The Journal of American Medicine (JAMA), published a recent article in June 2015 titled, “Cannabinoid Dose and Label Accuracy in Edible Medical Cannabis Products”, and summarized that “edible products from three major metropolitan cit-

ies including Seattle, San Francisco & Los Angeles - (oddly, Denver was not included) – though unregulated, failed to meet basic label accuracy standards for pharmaceuticals. Greater than 50% of products evaluated had significantly less cannabinoid content then labeled, with some products containing negligible amounts of THC.” Because of the inconsistencies, such products may not produce the desired efficacy and/or relief required.

Other products contained significantly more THC than labeled, placing consumers at risk for experiencing adverse effects; because medical cannabis is recommended for specific health conditions, regulation, consistency and quality assurance are required. So why is this? Taking a look at currently accepted cannabis packaging shows the need for the industry to learn from mainstream consumer packaging and preservation.

ROLE OF PACKAGING Packaging plays a vital role in preserving cannabis throughout the distribution chain. Without packaging, the processing of cannabis can become compromised as it is contaminated by direct contact with physical, chemical, and biological contaminants. In recent years, the development of novel cannabis packaging (modified atmosphere & active packaging) has not only increased the shelf life of cannabis, but also their safety and

quality - therefore bringing convenience to consumers. Directly related, and interlinked, with cannabis packaging is the concept of shelf life - the length of time that perishable items are given before they are considered unsuitable for sale, use, or consumption. Consumer packaging is essential and pervasive, and it performs a number of disparate tasks. It protects from contamination and spoilage; it makes it easier to transport and store

cannabis, and it provides a uniform measurement of the contents. By allowing brands to be created and standardized, it makes advertising meaningful and large-scale distribution and mass merchandising possible. Consumer packages with dispensing caps, re-closable openings, and other features make products more usable and convenient. Three primary and interconnected functions of packaging are Containment, Protection and Communication.

Communication

Containment

Protection

There is an old saying that “a package must protect what it sells and sell what it protects”; that is, the package functions as a “silent salesman.” The modern methods of consumer marketing would fail were it not for the messages communicated by the package through distinctive branding and labeling. Consumers make purchasing decisions using the numerous clues provided by the graphics and the distinctive shapes of the packaging.

This function of packaging is so obvious as to be overlooked by many, but it is the most basic function of packaging. Cannabis products must be contained before they can be moved from one place to another without being damaged.

This is often regarded as the primary function of the package: to protect its contents from the outside environmental effects of water, water vapor, gases, odors, microorganisms, dust, shocks, vibrations, compressive forces, etc. For the majority of consumer products, the protection afforded by the package is an essential part of the preservation process. Freedom from harmful microbial contaminants at the time of consumption can also be influenced by the package.

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PACKAGE ENVIRONMENTS Packaging has to perform its functions in three different environments that include physical, ambient & human. Failure to consider all three environments during package development results in poorly designed packages, increased costs, consumer complaints, and perhaps product rejection by the consumer.

Physical Environment This is the environment in which physical damage can be caused to the product, including shocks from drops, falls, and bumps; damage from vibrations arising from transportation; compression and crushing damage from stacking during transportation or storage in warehouses, retail outlets, and the consumer’s home.

Ambient Environment This is the environment that surrounds the package. Damage to the product can be caused as a result of the effects of heat & cold, microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, molds, yeasts) and macro-organisms (rodents, insects, mites, and birds), which are ubiquitous in many warehouses and retail outlets. Contaminants in the ambient environment such as dust and dirt can find their way into the product unless the package acts as an effective barrier.

Human Environment This is the environment in which the package is handled and cognitively understood (or not) by consumers. In the case with medical cannabis patients, many need easy-to-open packaging due to their condition(s). Designing packages that work for everyone requires knowledge of human vision, strength, dexterity, memory and intellect – not to mention the characteristics of the packaging materials and the natural course of organic degradation.

PACKAGING CANNABIS For all the effort dedicated to producing quality cannabis flower, few within the industry are taking advantage of commonly used best practices in other industries concerned with freshness & shelf-life, particularly as it relates to nitrogen flushed packaging of their cannabinoid rich flowers. Oxygen is a major culprit in degradation & spoilage. The most effective way to prevent oxygen damage is to remove the oxygen and replace it with an inert gas like nitrogen. For marijuana and its cannabinoids, the exposure to oxygen tends to convert THC to the CBN cannabinoid – creating oxidized weed. Conversely, inert gas such as nitrogen, does not allow for the conversion of the THC cannabinoid. When food browns, its components join with oxygen, or oxidize, much as iron does when it rusts. The presence of oxygen allows molds, yeast and aerobic bacteria to survive and degrade perishable products. Modifying the composition of the internal atmosphere of a package improves its shelf-life. Similarly, cannabis can be nitrogen packed and sealed for freshness.

Food handlers call this Modified Atmosphere Packaging, a technique used for prolonging the shelf-life of fresh or minimally processed foods. In this preservation technique the air surrounding the food in the package is changed to another composition. Doing so helps prolongs the fresh state of the product. Modified Atmosphere Packaging slows the natural deterioration of the product. Research and development has proven that nitrogen-flushed cannabis packaging preserves THC. In the absence of this process, marijuana that is exposed to oxygen and other gases in everyday environments, THC oxidizes into CBN cannabinoid, which lowers the value of the product as well as its potency. Nitrogen flushing is currently the only known methodology for keeping marijuana rich in THC by stopping the oxidization process. Whether it is for medicinal use to ease pain and stimulate the appetite, or for recreational use such as what we currently see in Colorado and Washington, the loss of THC by exposure lowers its chemical efficacy.

“ Nitrogen-flush packaging marijuana is the only method any serious venture should consider when deciding to undertake all the hard work that goes into growing marijuana properly. “ Dax Colwell, Dama Cannabis Products One would think, that if cannabis entrepreneurs are willing to thousands and in in some cases, millions of dollars for the best strains, the best environment in which to grow, hire the best growers, trimmers, etc., they wouldn’t want their investment ruined by incorrect product packaging. Nitrogen generators for cannabis packaging are not just a good idea — they are essential to the entire industry and the quality of products brought to market.

Further, with the public’s health, safety and money at risk, there is little reason for cannabis patients and consumers not to demand nitrogen-flushed packaging. As the cannabis market(s) continue to grow, so too will external scrutiny and (hopefully) self-regulation. Cannabis products, their packaging, labeling, dosing and consistency will no doubt play a critical role as it relates to the growing acceptability among consumers and lawmakers alike.

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CANNANEWS

CANNABIS company that gives thousands to charity is just what the doctor ordered to help change the perception of the industry. Call it kismet. Call it karma. Call it a calling that has resulted in $350,000 raised by a single cannabis cvompany for a charitable organization and watch how heads turn. Industry insiders realize it’s a natural fit – cannabis and charity. This industry was founded by caring people, and is currently being driven by caregivers using it for medicinal purposes. It’s growing because of the passion of those caring people, and the drive of entrepreneurs who are changing not only the business goals of the industry, but the perception of how those goals will be achieved, and how society will benefit. Ryan Cook is the general manager of the Clinic Marijuana Center in Denver, opened in September of 2009, it’s one of the earliest established, and fastest growing cannabis medical and retail stores, with over 100 employees in six locations in Denver. Soon there will be two in Nevada, and one in Illinois. He found his passion for raising money for charitable organizations a long time ago when, as a young teen, he witnessed a friend dealing with multiples sclerosis. Cook saw the destruction caused by

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WRITER •DAVID HODES

this terrible, neurological disease with no known cause or cure. Progressive MS was taking the life of his friend’s father, and he saw firsthand how his friend, the Clinic’s master grower Jay Price, changed from loving son to careful caretaker. “My buddy spent his youth being a caretaker for a loved one with this disease,” Cook says. “That makes a person very mature very quickly.” Then, in college, Price began dating a woman who quickly became his girlfriend and would soon be his wife. “On the fourth date, she let him know that she had been recently diagnosed with MS,” he says. Treatment for the disease was phased out for her over time, down from the seven pill regimen she had been on, to a combination of just one pill and medical cannabis for the last nine years now. Cannabis is a natural choice for MS, because typical MS medications can have serious side effects, including liver damage, flu-like symptoms, hair loss and the risk of viral infection of the brain. By 2009, those who treat MS and the society itself were coming around to using cannabis for treatment of tremors and spasms associated with the disease. The

“COOK SAYS HIS EMPLOYEES EMBRACE THE CHARITABLE OPPORTUNITY, SPREADING THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND RAISING MONEY PERSONALLY THROUGH THOSE CONNECTIONS.”

national MS organization currently supports using medical cannabis for the treatment of MS. The American Academy of Neurology even recommends using a cannabis extract to treat the pain associated with MS. Cook’s experience with his friend proved to be just a prelude to the future community outreach of his dispensary, where cannabis use to effectively treat diseases like MS and epilepsy, has begun to play a more important role in the evolution, and credibility, of the cannabis business - as just another enterprise with products people want and need, looking to give back to the community. Cook decided that the Clinic would be involved in the MS walk in 2010, in part because he believed that MS is one of the best charitable organizations where the money donated is properly used. “For us being a marijuana and cannabis company, it is a little bit of a challenge to go out and find benefactors that we can provide money to,” he says. Organizations that have national affiliations, like MS, can feel as if it is very difficult to take money from a marijuana company, but that acceptance is coming, slowly. “We just need to realize that we have come that far and we have so far to go.” Cook says his employees embrace the charitable opportunity, spreading the word on social media and raising money personally through those connections. “It’s great that we have the ability to raise money and awareness like that, and that is why we decided that we were going to take this one step further from just doing the walk.” The Clinic put on a golf tournament in 2010, then decided to make

GRAPHICS • BRANDON PALMA

the golf tournament a charitable event using the MS as their benefactor. They now do both the MS walk and tournament each year. The Clinic just had their sixth golf event in August – a sellout - and raised nearly $100,000. “We have upwards of 300 to 400 people attend one of those golf events, between sponsors and golfers and everyone else.” He also says that other companies came out and attended the event. Participating as golfers or sponsors, their participation boosts cannabis business acceptance as mainstream business. “So to be able to use the credibility of the MS organization I think is extremely helpful,” Cook says. “When I talk to people about what we are doing, who we are doing it for, and why we are doing it, I think it makes it easier to get over some of those hurdles of misperception of the industry by telling about our work with MS.” Cook says that as they expand into Illinois and Nevada, each dispensary will have the option of picking some local charitable organization and spending time developing a relationship. “We know that we are still going to do some work with the MS society, but we are also going to branch out,” he says. “We have received some information from some other organizations up to this point. So no decision has been made yet but we are very excited that we have that ability. I think we are human beings regardless of whether or not we are in the cannabis industry,” Cook says, “And so I think it’s good for us to be a part of those kinds of charitable events, to show that we are good people and a good industry.”

TIPS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE A CHARITABLE CANNABIS CONNECTION Make an appointment to sit down with a representative. Tell them who you are and why doing charitable work matters to you.

Talk to them about how your group can help now and in the future (event planning, brainstorming other events)

Choose an organization you believe in. Research what they do with their funds.

Reach out directly to the organization.

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WRITER•R.Z. HUGHES

U.S. Base A Pipeline for Japan’s Pot Japanese customs agents uncovered a major shipment of cannabis that had been sent to an American service member at Yokoto Air Base in western Tokyo. The box contained over three pounds of pot and was confiscated after the changing hands twice – the member of the U.S. Military apparently had no idea what was in the package. While Japan has notoriously strict drug laws, this hasn’t always been the case. Much like the US, Japan relied on cannabis and hemp during WWII as foreign fibers were difficult to import. Cannabis was a cornerstone of Japanese culture, with references in their oldest books of poetry and ninja training, until after the war when the Americans outlawed it along with martial arts.

No Justice for Zach Hammond A 19-year-old South Carolina man was shot and killed by a police officer earlier this year after a “bust” went horribly awry. Zach Hammond was with a friend who was selling a small amount of cannabis and accidentally sent a text about the purchase to a state trooper rather than the actual buyer. Instead of getting a warrant and going about it like a responsible public servant, the officer escalated the situation and ended up shooting Hammond twice in the back within ten seconds of leaving his vehicle. The officer in question was let off with no charges claiming he felt at danger of being run over. At no time was he ever in danger and any threat was due to his ridiculously aggressive action.

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Massive Case of the Munchies A young man in Youngstown, Ohio called police to report that he was too high and couldn’t feel his hands. What sounds like a cautionary tale about cannabis smoking is in fact a cautionary tale about the dangers of processed snack foods and the bodily havoc they can wreak if binged upon. Police arrived at the residence to find the man curled on the floor groaning, surrounded by a smorgasbord of chips, cookies, and candy. The guy did the right thing by calling 911 for a medical emergency but a heart attack from his sodium-rich diet seems a more likely culprit than an herbal overdose.

DEA Targets Tribal Hemp The Menominee tribe of Wisconsin is reeling after a huge raid by the DEA in late October that destroyed some 30,000 plants. The tribe argues that it was industrial hemp and that they sought transparency in their operation every step of the way, but, the Department of Justice claims that they were producing cannabis for sale off of tribal lands. Even if it had been cannabis, this raid is an affront to tribal sovereignty and has damaged the already tenuous trust between the federal government and Native Americans as the feds gave tribes the freedom to decide for themselves whether or not to produce and market cannabis within reservations.

Iran on the Brink of Legalization?

Branson Tries to Keep UN Honest on Drug Policy Outspoken billionaire Richard Branson released a document from the UN calling for the decriminalization of all drugs a week before it was scheduled to be presented at a conference in Kuala Lumpur. He claims he did it so that they couldn’t back out at the last minute; now it is out there for people to see. They did, however, withdraw it due to pressures from an unnamed nation saying it was only intended to facilitate discussion. While they may not have the backbone to stand by their research, at least the UN seems to be moving toward policies of harm reduction rather than criminalization.

With all of the political posturing the goes on between Washington and Tehran, it’s no wonder that many American’s views about Iran are that of a hardline conservative religious state. While Iran does have incredibly harsh penalties for drug traffickers – including death – the Islamic Republic has a surprisingly progressive stance towards users and treatment. Saeed Sefatian, a high-ranking member of the Expediency Council which acts as an advisory board to the country’s leaders, has proposed a plan to grow state supervised cannabis and poppies giving the government control over the supply of what are now considered to be illicit drugs. They hope to reduce prison populations by 60% and reduce addicts that now number around five million.

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HEALTH

CANNABIS INFUSED TOPICAL PRODUCTS Ch ang i ng Treatments for Inj u ry, Pa i n, and Ma ssage

ANNABIS TOPICAL products are quickly becoming a popular alternative to over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pain relief medicines. Used by many to treat a wide variety of injuries and pain, they are also gaining quick respect from many in the massage therapy industry. Cannabis creams are especially helpful to athletes, who employ them for acute injuries, sudden injuries usually associated with a traumatic event such as a fall; and chronic injuries, which develop after an individual engages in a sport or exercise for a long time. Mary Lynn Mathre, a registered nurse (RN) and certified addictions registered nurse (CARN), as well as the president and a founding member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association, a New Jersey nonprofit organization that supports education and application of herbal cannabis says, “Topicals, for the most part, are really safe. They work locally and have minimal risk. I can’t even fathom someone would have a problem with [the cannabis in a] topical, even when it’s really potent.” Ramona Rubin, cofounder of Doc Green’s Healing Collective, a California collective based in the East Bay which produces cannabis creams, said the only concern she has seen from users is minimal pain among some users with past nerve damage. “A few people have reported some pain using our lotion. This might not be a bad thing if their nerves are starting to grow again. The lotion might be helping to stimulate and regrow those nerves,” says Rubin. Cannabis topicals typically have no side effects. OTC and prescription pills and creams have a wide range of negative side effects, from skin irritation and damage to stomach pain, nausea, ulcers, gas, and diarrhea. Topical products can often be combined safely with other medications.

Many OTC and prescription creams, particularly those that thin the blood, do not interact well with other drugs. Greta Gaines, a country music singer, professional snowboarder, and CEO and president of OmniCanna Health Solutions, a Colorado Springsbased company that produces the therapeutic topicals, says they have a subtle delivery. She explains, “It’s almost like you put it on and forget about it. Later on, you realize that you feel very good.” Most cannabis topicals take effect within 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the carrier oil used and many understood, and unknown factors. They generally last for between two to four hours. Mary Jaye Simms, a massage therapist and head of the spa and education departments of Apothecanna, a Denver-based company that produces cannabis topicals, points out some OTC and prescription pain relievers, including Icy Hot and Tiger Balm, “have that very quick, flash and burn effect.” Sims explains, “For 15 minutes, your skin is highly irritated, numb or tingling, then there is a brief period of relief from the pain, and then nothing.” Cannabis creams generally do not cause a user to become intoxicated. Dahlia Mertens, founder of Mary Jane Medicinals, a Denver-based company that produces cannabis topicals says, “I’ve heard of one percent of people feeling a little bit stoned. I think it’s more that they are feeling relaxed.” Topical cannabis is not known to cause a positive test on a blood or urine drug screen. Rubin notes, “We’ve taken people who are total

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“THE NUMBER ONE USE WAS FOR ARTHRITIS AND SORE MUSCLES, AND THE NUMBER TWO USE WAS FOR HEADACHES. THE CREAMY TOPICAL CAN BE APPLIED IN SMALL DABS TO THE TEMPLES.”

WRITER •JESSICA ZIMMER

cannabis novices and had them use ridiculous amounts of our topicals. They’ve taken a test and passed.” It may be possible though for cannabis topicals to cause a positive result on a hair follicle drug screen, but this has not been clinically demonstrated. The phytocannabinoids cannot enter the bloodstream and affect the brain. Cannabis topicals are most often used to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis and rheumatism, soreness, burns, and cold weather ailments, such as chafing. Mathre says phytocannabinoids, plant-created substances in the topicals “work just like our own endocannabinoids.” Endocannabinoids are natural substances produced by the body that bind to receptors in cell membranes. An increase in the intake and binding of endocannabinoids can decrease the amount of pain that an individual feels. “If we take [in] extra endocannabinoids, that helps our system work even better,” Mathre explains. “The topicals work with the body. They are natural, as opposed to a chemical that falsely powers something.” These products typically contain one or more phytocannabinoids; typically tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabiniol (CBD). The amount of the cannabinoid and ratio between the different types determines the power of the product. The topicals are made by mixing the phytocannabinoids with essential oils, like lavender or peppermint, with a fatty base such as shea butter. The oils help the phytocannabinoids penetrate the skin and decrease pain and inflammation. Rubin says cannabis topicals can help with motion, mobility, and flexibility. “The three founders of our collective really started this, and did all of our early product testing while snowboarding in Lake Tahoe. If you apply it before physical activity, you’ll get less sore.” Doc Green’s recently conducted a survey of 80 patient-members. The collective determined that about 16% of those people

used the products for sports injuries. Rubin says “The number one use was for arthritis and sore muscles, and the number two use was for headaches.” The creamy topical can be applied in small dabs to the temples. Elizabeth Sampey, a professional endurance and mountain bike athlete based in Crested Butte, Colorado, says she started using infused cannabis topicals in 2013, after she suffered a severe shoulder injury in a bike crash. “For insurance reasons, I had to wait about three months to have surgery. During that time, I was still riding my bike and doing my work as a personal trainer. I don’t like narcotics and ibuprofen was chewing at my stomach. When I started using cannabis topicals, it cut the pain enough that I was able to ride, coach, and do my training.” Sampey says she now recommends the soothing products to many people that she meets. “At first, they’re usually taken aback. They think it’s just for potheads,” she says, “But I’ve had no negative feedback about it. I recommend it to athletes as well. The only way it affects your [athletic] performance is to eliminate the pain.” Sampey says that before using cannabis topicals, she experienced pain so strong that she could not form thoughts. “When you’re in pain from an injury or from overuse, your brain will focus on that. This form of pain relief allows your mind to get on to other things.” Gaines says she uses cannabis topical products to avoid the exhaustion and mental drain that accompany pain. “I have to be on my game. I don’t want to be high while snowboarding,” she clarifies. Mertens says topical cannabis also has another benefit: it can be used in small amounts. “It accentuates the pain relief so people don’t have to take as much [OTC medications].” She says the topicals also relax the body, which allows people to sleep more soundly. “Sleeping is such an important part of healing. If you can get people to rest, that’s a really big part of the process.” James Kennedy, founder of Apothecanna, says employing cannabis creams in massage therapy has changed the way that people are viewing cannabis. Apothecanna has partnered with LoDo massage, a Denver-based massage and private yoga studio, to offer massages that integrate one or more of Apothecanna’s products. He says “You’ve got to call them (LoDo) weeks in advance. [Massage with cannabis topicals] has been written up nationally

DESIGN • BRANDON PALMA

and in The Denver Post. We’ve had great responses. We’re introducing a lot of people who maybe have never used a cannabis product, and it changes peoples’ minds about it.” Simms says before she started using topicals infused with cannabis, she was only guessing as to whether the experience would offer the client relief. “As a massage therapist, you tend to use Biotone, Bengay, Icy Hot; what is professionally available to use. We (massage therapists) are not able to use prescription products unless the client’s doctor gives us permission.” She paused and then she says something that really drives home how huge these products will be for massage therapy. “Before, I used to say a ‘Hail Mary’ and hope I could help a client. There is so much left to chance. After I started using cannabis creams topicals, I knew I could help them.” She says giving clients the opportunity to think clearly and move beyond their pain has been “so wonderful.” “I’ve been doing the majority of my testing of infused topicals on my existing clients with whom I have built trust,” Simms says. “I know how their body has been behaving, and what’s worked for them, and what hasn’t. That helps me figure out what to do next.” Most of the sources interviewed for this article state they are in favor of larger clinical trials on the power, uses, and possible side effects of cannabis infused topicals. Mathre says it can be difficult for a patient to discuss cannabis creams with their doctor, “Physicians, because they have the power to write a prescription, are intimidated by the federal government. Nurses are generally more open [about discussing medications].” She says patients who are interested in using cannabis topical products to treat pain should first question their doctor on the function of the endocannabinoid system. If the doctor does know, or wants to learn, this is a good indication that they are open to discussing cannabis creams. “If the physician says, “I don’t want to learn,” go find a new physician. Patients have been kicked out of clinics and refused opiates because of their use of cannabis,” says Mathre. Behind closed doors, however, physicians and other health care professionals appear to be having more fruitful discussions about cannabis infused topical products. Mathre explains, “I’ve had very few doctors be dismissive. Most of the doctors are like, “Wow, that’s amazing. Tell me how it’s working.”

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CANNANEWS

WRITER •DAVID HODES

CANNAKIEV CAN-DO

REDEFINING A CLASSIC DISH WITH CANNABIS

SING CANNABIS for pastries or

other similar desserts and snack-foods is great, but what about the everyday foods that you would eat for a nice dinner? That was the question posed to Chef Mike Rakes, a 2008 graduate of Oaksterdam University and a former executive chef for some of the country’s best white-linen tablecloth restaurants. More than extra taste in fluffy cookies or pastries, cannabis can also make a perfect ingredient for a savory dinner dish. Chef Rakes apprenticed in the kitchen of Gilbert/Robinson restaurants in 1980, working his way up through their fine dining division in various assistant chef and executive chef assignments for the upscale seafood restaurant, The Bristol, in Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis and Atlanta. Back at the company’s flagship high-end restaurant in Kansas City, Plaza III, Rakes did research and menu development in the G/R test kitchen for fine dining and specialty restaurants. Later, he opened a few Italian

and brewery restaurants, and, in 1998, was the culinary instructor at Miami Dade Community College. He is now a consultant to the restaurant business from his kitchen in New Rochelle, New York, specializing in new restaurant openings of brew pubs, Italian, fine dining, seafood and continental/French restaurants. He is also a medical marijuana patient. “Cooking with cannabis can be all over the place,” Rakes says. “There are many cannabutter recipes on YouTube that you can check out, for example, but no one seems to agree exactly on the best way to make it.” He says, that with most cannabis infused recipes, cannabutter is typically at the heart of the experience. Using the natural melting and infusion abilities of cannabutter is a great way to bring the cannabis taste into and throughout the main component of the meal. “I chose chicken Kiev because it is representative of the large immigrant culture in New York,” Rakes explains. “Kiev is the capital of the Ukraine, and there is a large population of people from

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Eastern Europe in New York.” He points out that he likes this recipe because the cannabutter can be used for other recipes as well. “I like to make a half pound of cannabutter and roll it up, to keep in the freezer for future use. Later, it can be tossed with pasta and vegetables.” Rakes says that the earthiness of the cannabutter complements the garlic and tarragon in the chicken Kiev. “It gives it another layer of flavor that adds to the overall flavor profile of the dish. I like to think of the cannabis as another herbal flavor to enhance a savory dish.” The cannabis offers just a hint of that earthiness mixed in expertly with the garlic but not overpowered by it. Once consumed, the diner senses the usual dinner after-glow from a good meal, but with a more subtle sense of comfort and an all-body buzz not unlike the sensation that a diner would get from a bottle of good red wine.

CHICKEN CANNAKIEV WITH ASPARAGUS Al a Ch ef Mi ke Rakes CANNABUTTER Total Preparation And Cooking Time = 1 Hour Ingredients: ¼ Ounce high grade cannabis leaf 1 Stick of butter Preparation: Grind herb in either coffee grinder, mortar and pestle or whatever method you prefer. Melt butter over very low heat. Add decarbed cannabis. Simmer on very low heat 45-50 minutes. Stir often. Do not brown the butter. Strain through a cheesecloth otver a strainer over a bowl. Pick up and twist the cheesecloth to squeeze out the remaining cannabutter. Refrigerate or use immediately.

CANNAKIEV BUTTER Total preparation and cooking time = 20 minutes Ingredients: 8 tablespoon cannabutter, room temperature. 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon fresh terragon, chopped ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon white pepper Preparation: Combine ingredients in bowl. Mix with blender or whisk until all ingredients are well incorporated. Place on waxed paper and roll into a ¾-inch log. Place in freezer until set (or at least two hours).

CHICKEN KIEV WITH ASPARAGUS Total preparation and cooking time = 3 hours Ingredients: 5-7 stalks of asparagus. 4 boneless, skinless chick breast halves. Salt/pepper to taste. 8 tablespoons cannabutter with garlic and terragon, frozen. 1 cup flour, all purpose in large bowl. 2 eggs, beaten, with one tablespoon water, in large bowl. 1 and 1/2 cups Panko (also called Japanese) breadcrumbs in large bowl. ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs in large bowl. 3-4 cups oil for deep frying (canola, peanut or vegetable oil).

Preparation: Trim asparagus to eliminate the tough, wood part of the stalk. Steam it for 12-15 minutes then season with salt and pepper, or melt cannabutter over it when served. Pound chicken breasts to 1/8-1/4-inch thickness. Season one side with salt and pepper. Place 2 tablespoon cannakiev butter in upper middle of chicken. Roll from tail end of chicken breast, folding chicken sides over to completely enclose butter. Refrigerate the folded chicken seam side down for at least 2 hours (or overnight). Heat oil to 350 or 375 degrees. Dredge (or coat) chicken in flour bowl.

Dip in egg mixture bowl. Dredge (or coat) in breadcrumbs bowl. Deep fry on each side 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Take deep fried chicken out of oil and place on an oven rack. Let rest for 5 minutes. Check temperature with thermometer. If it’s not 160 degrees, place it in oven at 350 degrees until it is up to temperature. Plate asparagus and chicken kiev. Add small dish of cannakiev butter.

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RIP CITY REMEDIES DIVISION’S PATIENT HAVEN

“I DON’T THINK WE DO ANYTHING THAT DIFFERENTLY, WE JUST DO WHAT WE DO INCREDIBLY WELL.” 36

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N THE HEART of the thriving Division neighborhood lies one of Portland’s oldest and most revered dispensaries. Rip City Remedies is located just steps away from some of the city’s best eats and libations, drawing people in with their simple but attractive natural wood exterior. Glass windows adorned with green and black vinyl ensure patient privacy. Upon entering, a small cozy waiting room with a couple of chairs and literature to peruse awaits visitors. Once on the sales floor, welcoming smiles of their budtenders let me know I’d be well cared for. Large

cases are filled with glass jars containing an assortment of Oregon’s best cannabis. Rip City’s selection of flowers ranges from staples like Cin-X, Chemdawg, and Sour Diesel, to some unique and hard-to-find offerings like Cannadential, 9LB Hammer, and Blueberry Headband. Co-owner, patient, and activist Scott Grenfell explains, “Serving patients is the reason we are all here.” Rip City Remedies was one of Portland’s first medical dispensaries, opening in June of 2011, and the love for patients here is abundantly evident. Most visitors are greeted on a first name

basis, and there is an unmistakable family vibe among the staff and regulars. When asked if he thought their success was due to something done differently on a store level, Grenfell says, “I don’t think we do anything that differently, we just do what we do incredibly well.” Rip City Remedies embodies a patient-centered mindset and takes pride in excellent customer service, seamlessly catering to both medical and recreational customers alike. Top-shelf cannabis products, a knowledgeable staff, and a prime location make Rip City Rem® edies a must visit.

3325 SE DIVISION ST PORTLAND, OR, 97202 (503) 235-6000 OPEN SUN-THUR 10AM-9PM & FRI-SAT 10AM-10PM RIPCITY_REMEDIES RIPCITYREMEDIES.ORG

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NEW LEAF CANNA CENTER

AN UNEXPECTED HAVEN IN OREGON’S WINE COUNTRY

“INSISTENCE ON QUALITY HAS EARNED THEM SUPPORT IN A COMMUNITY WELLSEASONED AT MAKING TOURISTS FEEL WELCOME.” 40

HE HEART OF Oregon’s pinot noir wine country holds one of the most charming regions in the whole state, Willamette Valley. McMinnville is one of the area’s crowning gems, and now home to another great treasure, New Leaf Canna Center. Greg Bogh and his daughter Lauren, along with Jerod, Diana, Cham, and the rest of the crew at New Leaf, have developed a fine varietal of a dispensary. Well-versed in the lineage, traits, and sources of their buds, each member of the crew is really friendly and loves the job, and who wouldn’t? The energy is relaxing and inviting. A large

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monitor on the center wall displays for visitors rotating shots of product, unifying the space perfectly. New Leaf is also the reliquary of some of the rarest strains available: the Land Race strains. The Acapulco Gold on display is a wonder to behold and a dream to smell. While such popular strains sell fast, the team has committed to keeping them in stock most days of the month. Their range of medical products is extensive, and their flowers are some of the best smelling and tasting in the area. Greg built strong relationships with local winemakers while offering excellent

service through his pressurewashing business over the last thirty years. His disarming manner, sharp mind, and insistence on quality has earned them support in a community well seasoned at making tourists feel welcome. “Our business has blended well with the high volume of wine tourism,” Bogh says. “People can see we are providing something wonderful.” The next time friends or family want to go on a tour of the Willamette Valley wine county, be sure to stop in at New Leaf; you’ll wish they were your next door neigh® bors.

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AVID NICOLSON and Sarah Bennett of Forever Dank Farms have been earning the regard of the greater Oregon cannabis community for years. At the 2015 DOPE Cup their Obama strain won first place for indica. Since then, they’ve caught the attention of farmers and connoisseurs across the Pacific Northwest. While good business sense, excellent farming techniques, and solid marketing skills have made the team at Forever Dank successful, it is the loyalty they inspire through treating people well that has established them as a formidable farming network. Their team, Matt, Emily, and Pete, are their second family in every sense of the expression. David and Sarah started out as high school sweethearts. David had offers of a promising career as a professional baseball player, but chose to follow his heart and pursue a life calling as a cannabis farmer. While developing expertise, Sarah established The Human Collective, Oregon’s first dispensary, setting a new

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standard in clean, safe, and legal cannabis access. The family marveled at how cannabis oil provided miraculous breakthroughs for their son’s autism. Three years ago, they and their three children survived the nightmare of having their home raided and trashed by the authorities. The experience was extremely traumatic, but they’ve earned a lot of respect for refusing to stop helping their community. Their indoor farm is a marvel of minimalist utility. Every single angle, from the arrangement of fans, cords, light fixtures, piping, and drainage, reflects David’s years of professional experience in blazing the trail of the farming frontier. There they grow the Fab 5: a prized and beloved set of seasonal strains that includes Multnomah Coma, Sister D, Lucky Charms, Mr. Majestic, and Pink Flamingo, “the champagne of pot.” Supported in long rows of wooden framing (a marvel of carpentering craftsmanship), every plant looks happy. It’s evident that they’re seeing lots of love from

“There is no substitute for becoming one with the plant”

well-trained hands. David’s eyes sparkled as he told us plans for buying another farm in the near future. “We plan on a whole lot of growth,” David says. “This is just a sliver of what’s to come.” It was a fragrantly hypnotic experience to walk through the rows of blossoming Multnomah Coma. “There is no substitute for becoming one with the plant,” Sarah says. “The results are evi® dent when you try our crops.”

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• COLLECTIVE AWAKENINGS OREGON

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.â&#x20AC;? Jack London (American Writer, 1876-1916)

WRITER •SHARON LETTS

PHOTOS • ANTHONY CAMERA

FEATURE

HE UPRISING of the medical cannabis community really began in hospice with the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco in the late 1970s, as friends and loved ones cared for each other in lieu of family or even health insurance to cover the covert, misunderstood, and highly prejudiced ailment. If you didn’t go home to die, you were cared for by sympathetic hospice caregivers, savvy to using cannabis for myriad symptoms from the disease – namely pain, waste-away syndrome and chronic nausea. Within the cannabis community there is often an urgency to help each other with this plant, for once enlightened to its healing properties, many are compelled to share the knowledge. That’s charity. That’s giving at its finest. The failed War on Drugs has now actually brought many together for the greater good, with the plant helping many through terminal illness in the face of persecution.

AMERICANS GIVE Charity was originally brought to America from England. What we called “thrift shops” are referred to as “charity shops” across the pond. The London Charity Organization Society (COS) filled a need in industrialized England, where poverty was high in metropolitan areas, and no different at the turn of the century in America. Charities were said to be specifically created to help bring back a sense of community to workers who were often miles from home in modernized and impersonal cities. America is a generous country. Its people gave $358.38 billion to more than 1,521,052 charitable organizations and 86,192 foundations in 2014, with a 7.1% increase from the year prior, according to the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT). Corporations,

often frowned upon for skirting taxes via loopholes, actually gave a record 17.77 billion to charity in 2014 – a 13.7% increase over 2013’s tally. That said, corporations pale in comparison to the single individual American, who forks over the most cash to charity, at 258.51 billion given during the 2014. The NPT also reports 64.5 million adults volunteered a total of 7.9 billion hours of service, with a value of $175 billion, with the top four activities listed as selling items to raise money; food collection and distribution; general labor transportation; and tutoring or teaching. The top four volunteering communities were in religion, education, social services, and health.

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN Women are the surprising victors in the new and emerging cannabis industry, and are no strangers to charity and giving. Mainstream magazine covers like Newsweek declare the female faction dominating an entire market for the first time in history. Time Magazine boldly declared there is no “grass ceiling” for women in the industry, while the Chicago Tribune reports 36% of executive roles in the legal market are now held by women (per data collected by industry rag, Marijuana Business Daily). Women and apothecary historically go hand-in-hand, so it’s only natural the ladies are stepping up in this nurturing market. Keeping their aprons on and balancing good business practices in high heels, they are ignoring the “good-old boys” clubs altogether while creating their own places of power. Women Grow was founded one year ago by Jazmin Hupp and Jane West in an effort to help women come together in an industry traditionally dominated by men. The old adage, “if you build it, they will come” was never truer than within this networking mecca, inspiring chapters to form in more than 35 cities in the U.S. and two

in Canada via Toronto and Vancouver. Co-founder and CEO Hupp shared that in order to allow more women to travel and attend its “Signature Networking Events,” Women Grow has committed five percent of all ticket sales toward scholarships since its inception, as well as working closely with industry event partners to allow more to attend major conferences and events. “When I first became interested in cannabis I started researching the industry and quickly realized the knowledge I needed was not available locally,” Hupp shared. As an adult with good credit, Hupp said she was able to put thousands of dollars of travel and conference costs towards having an informed strategic understanding of the industry – but adds many people do not have that edge available to them. “We wanted to find a way to make important on-the-ground experience accessible to individuals who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend. Often that one leg up makes all the difference between entering a new field, or staying out.” Many of Women Grow’s scholarship recipients agree, stating they would never have been able to be a part of this industry without the help.

[ Linsey Pecikonis of Refined Bud marketing agency with wife Niki Smolter. ]

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Jamie Goswick is owner of Canna Media Works, a Michigan-based marketing and advertisement agency specific to the cannabis industry. An email prompted her to apply for a scholarship to the “Cannabis World Congress Business Expo” (CWCB) in Los Angeles this past summer. An additional gift of $250 from Michigan NORML helped with lodgings and transportation, allowing her to attend. “My experience was amazing and I will be forever grateful,” Goswick shared. “I made a ton of new connections with both clients and partnerships, including discussing starting up a second chapter in Michigan. When I returned I got to work, and our first signature networking event is January 7. West Michigan is about to see a side of cannabis they didn’t know existed!” A total of 200 women received scholarships to the CWCB Expo in Los Angles, and Linsey Pecikonis of Refined Bud, a marketing agency specializing in the cannabis industry, is another grateful recipient. “Gifts of this nature rarely happen in other industries,” Pecikonis said of the scholarships. “I’m incredibly grateful to the Women Grow team for recognizing the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs. They’ve given me, and so many others, the chance to grow and thrive in this industry — an industry that very few women dare enter a decade ago.” Women Grow member Christa Schadt is founder and owner of “Bliss,” a Canadian-based company that produces a THC infused lubricant said to increase and enhance female sexual pleasure. She had been making it for herself for about a year when she decided to share it with friends. After attending Vancouver’s first Women Grow chapter meeting, she said it changed her life and gave her a career. “I have always felt intimidated by the male-dominated cannabis industry here in

Canada, and was very happy that I finally met like-minded women who were also trying hard to get ahead in this sector,” she shared. “I’ve been able to make quite a few new friends in a short amount of time. The connections empowered me to continue to market my product and certainly made me feel a lot more self-confident.” A scholarship to the CWCB Expo in Los Angeles proved invaluable, reinforcing Hupp’s vision of making a difference by bringing women to top markets. “I spent a lot of energy preparing a business plan, sample packaging, and business cards,” Schadt recalls. “I was nervous, going someplace on my own not knowing anyone, but I’m so glad I went. I learned a great deal about the industry in the states and met a lot of new and interesting people who I am still in contact with.” One of the more heartwarming scholarship recipients from last year’s highly successful Women Grow Leadership Summit up in the mountains above Denver was Hazel Bagwell Tyler, who had just been hired by Clean Green Certified as marketing director and crop inspector for the Emerald Triangle (Humboldt, Trinity & Mendocino counties). The milestone was two-fold; firstly, Humboldt County has been traditionally one of the more covert regions for its cash crop, so venturing out in real time was huge in itself to Tyler. The fact she joined social media the same weekend spoke volumes. “The experience was life changing, as I received the scholarship and was hired as inspector in the same month. Our chapter chair couldn’t make it, so I represented Humboldt County. Networking is huge, and a lot of information is still shared by word of mouth in this industry. Being able to meet people face to face creates a priceless relationship, and to show my gratitude I’ll be sponsoring someone for next year’s summit.”

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[ Jamie Goswick, owner of Canna Media Works, a Michigan based marketing and ad agency specific to the cannabis industry. ]

FINDING A PLACE For a child who literally grew up traveling on the road via a motor home, raised by hippie parents, Jazmin Hupp said she believes now that her parents were on to something. “All of those ideals turned out to be what we needed to be sustainable as a society,” she surmises. “I grew up in an environment that valued cannabis as medicine, organic food, and renewable energy. It turns out the hippies were right. I chose cannabis at 16, at a time when my compatriots were choosing alcohol.” Hupp said when she was in college she read advice for businesswomen that advised others to act like men: wear a power suit, lower your voice, and learn golf. She was preparing to follow the advice that would place her with wealthy people in her cohort. “Then I met a woman CEO who led as a woman, instead of a woman imitating a man. She was clearly a woman, leading, and it was the first time I had ever seen that.” Hupp acknowledges through this woman she discovered a way of leading that’s authentically feminine. “She showed me that I could use my strengths as a woman to my advantage, instead of treating those strengths as detriments. I realized [women’s] abilities to collaborate and listen were an advantage – something mainstream culture has only finally begun to accept and value.” Bringing the nurturing side of women to the boardroom is a trend that promises to become the norm, as women lead in this new and emerging industry. Women Grow is proving to be the leading, and nurturing mother figure, giving women that “leg-up” and hopefully inspiring our male counterparts to follow-suit – so to speak.

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CANNANEWS

WRITER/PHOTOS •SHARON LETTS

CROWD-SOURCING Tips and Tricks from Master CANNABIS P itchman, Robert P latshorn W

[ Robert Platshorn said of he and friend Louie Marchese together at the MMJ Business Conference & Expo in Las Vegas (Nov. 2015), “two old smugglers swapping tall tales from our pirate days.” ]

[ Robert Platshorn and Jeff Mizanskey, with son Chris, at the MMJ Conference in Las Vegas (Nov. 2015). Mizanskey served 20 years for distribution of poundage with no chance of parole, recently released. Photo credit: Johnny Green ]

ITH BANKS and lending insti-

is the only organization using TV, radio, tutions’ hands tied for loans to the billboards and print to educate seniors and the majority of voters on a national scale.” cannabis industry, and patients Now some may actually think that golosing everything in raids with subsequent ing from an As Seen on TV hawker to pot lengthy trials, crowdsourcing has become a pitchman is a stretch. A little known (highly viable option in asking the community for financial help. Everything from raising funds for comparable fact in my mind) is the bridge infamous television Evangelist Billy Graham cannabis oil to treat cancer, to patients relocatmade, from being the top selling Fuller brush ing to a legal state, to paying for legal fees, or man in the country to the most successful starting-up a medibles business, has often been crowd-sourced within the cannabis community. TV preacher in the world. A sell is a sell. Formerly known in the black market as Drug War survivor Robert Platshorn has “The Big Tuna,” Platshorn’s mode of operendi been advocating for the plant ever since his for transporting poundage was within the release following a 30 year prison stint he large cavities of tuna fish via a fleet of fishserved for meeting the supply and demand ing boats he commandeered off the coast of of America’s favorite herb in the 1970s. Florida. He and his cronies’ story is told in His day job, prior to the import business a book he penned, The Black Tuna Diaries, that would land him in prison, was king also made into the movie, Square Grouper. of television infomercials, hawking wares Released into the general population in nationally with great success. This skill 2008 at the age of 64 as a senior citizen, Platsset has proven crucial in his fight to end horn began a campaign to educate the elder prohibition in his home state of Florida and population of the country. The Silver Tour is beyond, with crowdsourcing and social mea 501 c3 non-profit that works to enlighten dia becoming invaluable fundraising tools. and educate the gray haired sect on good “The mantra seems to be, ‘if people only medicine across the country, using the less knew the truth, it would be legal,’” Platsexpensive platforms of social media, emails, horn said. “Surprisingly no one and no radio, local television spots, and billboards. organization had ever attempted to educate the public, especially the most important voting bloc – seniors, by using real commercials and mass media. The Silver Tour

[ Hundreds of senior citizens attend “Rally in Tally,” sharing stories of healing in an effort to change Florida laws on cannabis. ]

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FUNDING GREED & EVIL

[ The Silver Tour uses crowdsourcing as a funding tool, via radio, local TV, and billboards. The Israel reference targets the large Jewish population in Florida. ]

GRANDMA’S GOT WEED The older sect still reads newspapers, they still listen to the radio, and they watch local television. Platshorn knows his demographic, yet raising the funds to spread the word is still a hard sell. His many projects began with a Kickstarter campaign to fund a show for local television titled, “Should Grandma Smoke Pot?” One of his most successful campaigns, the video that features two elderly ladies smoking pot for the first time, went viral, changing public perceptions forever, and inspiring knock-off clips of other seniors, and even retired law enforcement officers, smoking for the first time.“I raised $10,000 to finish “Should Grandma Smoke Pot?” Platshorn shared. “But I do not recommend Kickstarter, as you must reach your goal or get nothing. [I found] that they force you to use Amazon to collect funds, are difficult to deal with, and take months to process. I think I received about $8,200 from ten thousand raised.” Indiegogo was the next platform chosen, and Platshorn said he signed up but didn’t like the terms and decided to go elsewhere. Platshorn decided to hit the road with, “Grandma Lobbies for Medical Marijuana,” and raised $10,000 in finishing funds using Go Fund Me - his favorite site to date. “Go Fund Me was the easiest to use, fastest payout, and you receive funds even if your goal isn’t reached,” he said. “This allowed me to go ahead with all projects even when donations fell short.” Platshorn explains that with Go Fund Me, $91.80 is garnered for each $100 donated, after its processor “We Pay” deducts charges, he said, “it’s a much better return than Kickstarter.” The trip surrounding “Grandma Lobbies for Medical Marijuana” was a huge success, with Platshorn fully crediting The Silver Tour’s efforts to then Attorney General Eric Holder’s subsequent memo stating the Feds would not interfere with state’s compassionate care programs in medically legal states.

His next project is a new book titled Greed & Evil, now available on Amazon. Touted as “the missing link to cannabis legalization,” the book exposes the “corrupt self-serving side of the anti-marijuana propagandists,” listing groups such as D.A.R.E., Straight, Inc., Partnership for a Drug Free America, and SOS as culprits in spreading misinformation about cannabis. Platshorn outs private prisons, along with alcohol and drug industries in his tell-all of the under belly of the failed War on Drugs in America. The book campaign has only raised $3,600 to date, with a goal of $10,000, but Platshorn was able to complete the project with a small personal loan, publishing smaller editions.The Silver Tour hit the road again in 2014, with The Grand Rally in Tally featured more than 400 senior citizens making their way to the steps of Tallahassee’s City Hall in peaceful protest, while sharing their own use of cannabis as medicine publically. “The goal was to raise $25,000, we raised $11,000, and I was able to produce a very strong rally with that amount, because it wasn’t necessary to provide buses and vans – everyone brought themselves. Funds were spent advertising the event on radio and billboards, the venue, a pre-event party and lunch buffet.”

[ Robert Platshorn travels the country speaking out against the prohibition of cannabis. ]

The current project near and dear to Platshorn’s heart is Cannabis Facts, a series of radio spots educating the public on good medicine, but the campaign has had a slow start for the good it can do. “The goal with the radio series was to raise $50,000, so far we have about $20,000,” he said. “This has paid for more than four thousand, 60 second radio spots on top stations in a dozen states. I hope to raise a great deal more to continue the campaign up to the 2016 elections.”

[ Mike Boutin, America’s top grower and star of the Discovery Channel’s “Weed Country,” with Robert Platshorn and the late “El Fumo,” (a infamous west coast pipe maker) in front of the first “recreational” marijuana store in Washington State. ]

I HEARD IT ON THE RADIO The frustration in raising funds for a radio campaign is in getting people to understand what a cost effective platform radio is for educating the senior population on good medicine in this country. “Using crowdfunding takes work,” he explained. “Without a strong following on social media or a good mailing list, it’s nearly impossible to succeed.” Platshorn also shared the obvious, that the average American will never see a single activist post calling out the truth of cannabis on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and that most of the cannabis activists on social media are preaching to the choir, so to speak. “Considering the universal praise and the success The Silver Tour has had, bringing millions of seniors out of the closet and into the activist ranks. I really expected donors to flock to the one organization that has proven itself to deliver by far the biggest bang for the buck,” he continued. “Especially now, in the face of the organized opposition that is ramping up the biggest anti-marijuana campaign since Harry Anslinger. We are so close to ending prohibition, but it may not happen without a major public education campaign.” For all his frustration, he’s made a huge difference to the seniors in this country with The Silver Tour. Florida’s stats on legalization are stronger than ever, with Florida’s own Sun Sentinel reporting upwards of 84% of registered voters approval of cannabis as medicine (April, 2015). “When we started The Silver Tour four years ago, seniors in Florida would not even discuss the medical use of cannabis,” Platshorn surmised. “I’m happy to say, things have changed. Seniors are an easy sell, but no one was using the media to inform them. Using TV, radio, live shows and billboards changed minds quickly. The most difficult part is raising the money for our campaigns.”

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Happy Holidays To One And All

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ROAD TRIP

WRITER/PHOTOS •SHARON LETTS

SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

Historic F irst in Compassionate Care at WAM M Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana

HE CITY of Santa Cruz sits on

scenic Highway 1 just north from Monterey Bay, encompassing breathtaking Pacific Ocean views and dense redwood forests. Mission Santa Cruz was established in 1791 following the Mexican-American War on the heels of California’s addition as the 31st State in the Union. Just under three hours from San Francisco to the north and less than an hour from San Jose, Santa Cruz has the advantage of being near metropolitan areas with a decidedly Northern California culture in the mix. The entire community could pretty much be dropped into the heart of the Emerald Triangle to the north and feel perfectly at home. The city became incorporated in 1866 and today its population is just under 60,000. Industries of the past included lumber, gunpowder, lime, and agriculture. Organic agriculture is huge in the area – encouraged in the 1980s by Bay area local foodie extraordinaire Alice Waters. The University of California at Santa Cruz is famous for its horticultural

[ WAMMfest ]

department, hosting iconic and past pioneering organic farmer Alan Chadwick for many years in its hilltop garden classrooms. Today the county’s above board cash crop is the tourist trade, arriving seasonally for the temperate coastal climate, enjoying the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with its equally historic white wooden roller-coaster in operation since 1907. The breakdown of “top employers” for the region listed in Wikipedia shows the university employing 7,693, the County with 2,351, and the city toting 776. There’s no mention of its covert cash crop of cannabis thriving since the 1970s with hundreds, if not thousands, employed in its operations since then. Valerie Coral and then husband Mike began farming cannabis as medicine in 1974 to quell Valerie’s epilepsy, after Mike literally stumbled upon a study while sitting in a hospital office. “The study was buried by Nixon,” Valerie explained. “We were busted five times, but they could see we weren’t drug dealers and I was medicating for epilepsy.” We speculated how it came to be that the information about cannabis and epilepsy didn’t surface nationally until CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta produced documentary “Weed” in 2013 that profiled the children helped in Colorado. She could only say she’s not a salesperson. Sadly, within the covert community of cannabis, it took legalization in the Rocky Mountain high state to allow medicine makers to feel comfortable enough to share their techniques and stories. Valerie sites she was encouraged to use

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cannabis as medicine for her epilepsy by the late physician Dr. Tod Mikuriya. Hired by the U.S. Government in 1967, Dr. Mikuriya’s job was to debunk Dr. Raphael Mechoulam’s findings of cannabis as medicine after isolating THC at the University of Tel Aviv in Israel in 1964. “Dr. Tod,” as he was known, could not debunk the claims and spent the rest of his life advocating for the plant (Dope, July 2015), historically co-authoring Prop. 215 in California in 1996 with Valerie on the team. “Dr. Tod was a revolutionary and a hero,” Valerie said. “He walked away from the financial security and respectability of a physician in America and spoke the truth, uncovering the lies behind the failed laws surrounding this plant. He exposed the rhetoric.” So educated were the Coral’s they set up shop in 1993 - a solid three years prior to Prop. 215 being voted into effect, with no apologies. They created the non-profit, “Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana” (WAMM). Today WAMM is the longest running cannabis collective in the country, serving Santa Cruz’s sick in a co-op-style environment, where the work and medicine are shared and no one goes without. We needed to create a place where patients could access medicine whether they have money or not,” she shared. “Of course we need to meet the cost of production, but you must understand – there are patients who have mortgaged their homes to pay for traditional therapies like chemotherapy. They lose everything when they get sick; we just wanted to be a safe place where they could get relief with this plant.”

Patient’s pick-up their medicine in the form of flower, tincture, oil, [ Valerie Coral ] topicals and medibles during weekly meetings, where information is shared and education on healing is provided. Once a month the collective hosts a membership potluck, and that’s where Valerie says the real healing takes place. “What the meetings and potlucks do is provide a sense of community within the collective,” Valerie explained. “The weekly meetings drive data collection and conversations about the bigger picture of health. It’s not a ‘take two of these and call me in the morning’ process. No one is standing with one hand on the door knob with a hurried explanation of why you are sick.” Valerie insists it takes more than prescribing a pill to heal a community. The regular Bingo competition is prescribed for fun. It’s a fiercely competitive and bonding treatment, and if someone fails to show up, a welfare check follows – but they call it “connecting.” “It takes connecting to heal each other, it takes a village to heal the village, and it takes that village to heal a nation,” she added. “When you are sick and poor you don’t have funds to eat well, and if you aren’t eating well, your chances of healing lessen. We also work with the food bank, which works with local organic farmers. It’s a whole foods and whole medicine process to wellness within our community.” Medicine is made as needed for whatever ailments present within the membership. This is understood in the world of homeopathy and certainly within the cannabis community. When using cannabis as medicine there are as many delivery methods, or applications of the plant, as there are maladies. “Being a collective we aren’t profit driven,” Valerie explained. “We don’t make a type of medicine, then market it by saying, ‘here, you need this.’ If someone is suffering from cancer we’ll provide the oil, if someone needs a tincture, we’ll make it to their specifications – whether it’s for sleep, pain or what have you.” Critics have countered by stating Valerie and crew have been practicing medicine without the proper licensing – a common conundrum in the cannabis community, as dealers are slowly being recognized as healers in the world of plant-based medicines. No one questions Grandma with her chamomile tea and nettle tincture, but add cannabis to the equation and the proverbial kettle boils over

“IT TAKES CONNECTING TO HEAL EACH OTHER, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO HEAL THE VILLAGE, AND IT TAKES THAT VILLAGE TO HEAL A NATION.” with misinformation and unfounded fear. “What we really do here is empower others to heal,” she continued. “Healing is not just one thing. There is no single formula for everyone, and while this medicine is extremely effective, it also works on subtle energies and the subconscious. I call it ‘Phyto-therpy.’” Valerie explained Phyto-therapy and her philosophy of healing within the body and plant-based medicine, explaining we are a set of systems and our good health depends on the way those systems interface with one another. “The pathway for our systems to communicate becomes burdened by toxicity and its degradation of the body, time and aging. My feeling is there are many plants, that we have evolved with, that our bodies can utilize with similar modalities as cannabis.” As with any long-term cannabis business, life hasn’t been perfect, but the plant has prevailed. In 2002 the farm and office were raided for the last time, with the collective winning in court and a new sense of security ensuing.

“The government made us revolutionaries,” she laughed. “It’s a great feeling now, knowing they won’t interfere with our work any longer.” Though laws, raids and even divorce have both challenged and empowered the little collective that could, Valerie said the future looks green for Santa Cruz and its cannabis community, with just one fear outstanding in the new and emerging market. “One word, greed,” she informed. “There’s nothing wrong with making money. If you have a bowl full, pass it. I just don’t think anyone should make millions off the backs of sick people. It’s up to those already working as healers in this industry to guide, support, and inspire. We also need to continue to be inspired ourselves, and know that we are all connected - that we all really want the same thing – to be healed with this plant.” Elizabeth Jauer has been a member of WAMM for three years, joining post breast cancer tumor surgery for the strong cannabis oil Valerie has named, “Milagro Oil.” The oil

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[ Natural bridge in the sea at Santa Cruz, California ]

is made per the more commonly known “Rick Simpson Oil” (RSO) specifications, with the plant cooked down in a solvent (Dope, August 2015). “I was diagnosed with a Methylation gene mutation,” Jauer shared. “I read an article from an oncologist saying THC may regulate Methylation deficiency in cancer patients. So here I am consuming this beautiful Milagro oil.” Jauer said she stopped taking the oil for a couple of months and felt “somehow less healthy,” so she decided to keep going on the preventive treatment. “I feel much better after resuming the oil. I also felt a lump coming back in the same area where I had the surgery, so I increased my intake, detoxed, worked on my diet, my emotions, etcetera, and the lump went away.” To find out if the oil indeed made her cancer go and stay away, Jauer said she’ll need to have a PET scan, and her insurance won’t allow it. “I feel so fortunate to have met Valerie so early in my cancer journey,” Jauer added. “I

remember telling her that I’ve never tried cannabis before – not even one smoke! I will always remember that special day. For me, the healing started at the moment I met her. She was so compassionate, intelligent, educated, informative, funny and loving! When I listened to her I realized I was hearing 30 years’ worth of cannabis science from an experienced botanist. It was amazing.” The advantages of being the oldest collective in the country are many, and WAMM has seen decades of enlightenment to the healing properties of the plant. “People move to this area because of the energy,” Valerie shared. “They desire to be in a beautiful place, close to the ocean and forests, with an abundance of organic food. The younger generation fueled by the university keeps our energy fresh and the creativity alive. The older generation needs to listen to their language and poetry. Overall, I feel like I’m living in the kind of community I’d like to die in. The healing village is alive and well in Santa Cruz.”

[ WAMM Members ]

[ Members of WAMM join hands in blessing the season’s bounty. ]

[ WAMM in front of Santa Cruz Cty Hall ]

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CANNANEWS

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WRITER •MITCH SHENASSA

PHOTOS • COURTESEY OF BALI VASWANI

ALI VASWANI has followed an interesting career path, dabbling in several industries (investment funds, software, television and news) and living all around the world (Jamaica, China, and the United States) along the way. Taking a finance position from lifetime friends the Marley family, he is now the president of Caribbean Operations for Marley Coffee. He found himself living in Denver in 2012, at the cusp of recreational marijuana legalization. Upon setting up the Marley Coffee headquarters in Denver (chosen for its young and eco-friendly culture), he found something he wasn’t expecting: a learning opportunity nestled within Colorado’s medical marijuana market. When Vaswani first visited the Denver medical marijuana dispensary The Herbal Cure (THC), a he was reminded of the estate around the Bob Marley Museum, where he keeps his Jamaican offices. “I could just envision this big compound,” he says, “with a full tour, a museum, a coffee shop, a gift shop, and of course a ganja shop.” Soon after moving to Denver, Vaswani took another professional leap from Marley Coffee to Colorado’s cannabis industry. He is now the chief ganja officer at Ganja, Inc., The Herbal Cure, and Optional Premise Cultivation (OPC). He says, “In the growing market, I believe you’ll have to become either an attrac-

GRAPHICS • BRANDON PALMA

tion or just a convenience.” Vaswani’s goal is to become an attraction, and he plans to do so by solidifying THC’s Jamaican connection. For instance, he commissioned a massive mural on a building—visible to 200,000 commuters every day—of the Jamaican flag behind the Lion of Judah, his paw resting on a cannabis seed. Having learned a great deal about the industrial cultivation and extraction of cannabis in Colorado, Bali was keen to lend his expertise to his native Jamaica, when the government announced limited research trials in partnership with two Jamaican universities. The Jamaican government has granted cannabis cultivation licenses to two of the country’s universities. The University of the West Indies (UWI) has formed 12 research partnerships with groups that will be cultivating for various projects; and the University of Technology (UTech) has formed an exclusive partnership with Bali’s venture, Ganja Labs. Ganja Labs received the green light to break ground on its cultivation and extraction facilities in November of this year. The first priority is to implement modern professional horticultural techniques to cultivate 28 strains in both indoor and outdoor, as well as greenhouse environments. The first round of research will use seven varieties each of sativa, indica, hybrid, and cannabidiol (CBD) strains. In doing so, they hope to draw con-

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clusions about the effects that different cultivation environments have on yields and percentages of active constituents. This will be the first controlled university study ever done to compare cannabis cultivation techniques, and Ganja Labs intends to release the results in an academic journal. Bali’s goal is to analyze the cost of production against the yield results, in order to establish an affordable nationalized price point on cannabis for Jamaicans. “Right now, the average price for an ounce of good Jamaican outdoor ganja on the black market is $3,000 JMD. “We expect our research will give us the evidence to keep that price point in a legal market. I think that makes sense as a national price point—$3,000 JMD an ounce for outdoor, $6,500 JMD an ounce for greenhouse, and $10,000 JMD an ounce for indoor herb,” (that’s about $30, $65, and $100 in American dollars). Ganja Labs is one of a small handful of players in a uniquely Jamaican cannabis industry. Long held cultural beliefs and practices about cannabis are evolving, as the realities of a formal industry are setting in. “The Rastas in the hills have been cultivating ganja for generations, and they should have their place in the industry,” Bali says. “The government that’s in power right now is the People’s National Party, which is a socialist government, so they are considering issuing cultivation licenses in one-acre lots, to make sure small farmers can compete with bigger businesses.” To clarify, the PNP is a democratic socialist party. As he plans to grow cannabis on the coffee-free segment of the Marley estate,

Balicontemplates the evolving attitudes he’s seen on the island. “You know Jamaicans have a very natural, organic culture. When I first came back from Colorado with a vape pen, everyone said, ‘That’s Babylon! You suckin’ in fumes,’ and things. They thought Colorado’s method of industrialized production was too chemical and not natural enough, but once they try it, they all come ask me for some. Even the Rastas that hang out at the Bob Marley Museum—they know it’s a stronger high and a better flavor.” The future of the cannabis industry in Jamaica is brighter by the day. The country has been discussing the export trade for years, but international law still prevents them from exporting high-THC cannabis. The demand for CBD products as health supplements is strong, and growing around the world, and Jamaicans have high hopes for cultivating and exporting high-CBD and hemp varieties for global export. This area of Ganja Labs’ research is especially promising, as the license for CBD and hemp production allows cultivation over unlimited acreage. If Bali’s team is able to establish a cost-effective production method, the financial benefits for Jamaica could be significant. “There is so much possibility for the future, for all aspects of the industry,” Vaswani beams. “We can change so much financially for the Jamaican people. Right now, the U.S. imports guano and seaweed and coconut coir from the islands, mixes it into soil, bags it, and we have to buy it and bring it back. In the next few years, we’ll move to all locally-sourced materials for our soil—we’ll make it a totally Jamaican ganja industry.”

”THe Rastas in the hills have been cultivating ganja for generations, and they should have their place in the industry.”

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CANNANEWS

BACK TO BASICS

YESTERDAY’S MEDICINE CABINET IS TODAY’S CANNABIS CABINET

ALLING ILL IN OUR society generally means opening the mirrored medicine cabinet in our bathroom and consuming various pharmaceutical “medicines” according to the dosing schedule on the label. Cold medicine, fever and headache reducers, and digestive aids commonly fill a remedy cupboard, all featuring their own warnings ranging from drowsi-

ness to birth defects. Newer generations are learning firsthand lessons about man-made medicine, and the result is an increasing demand for a natural option. Fortunately, the therapeutic properties of cannabis are being uncovered at an astounding rate. With these discoveries comes the creation of cannabis-based medicines.

MINTS

You can find tasty breath mints or mint drops in nearly every store in America, but a downside to the convenience is the unnecessary ingredients listed on every package, including aspartame, titanium dioxide, and artificial flavors and colors. Dirty Arm Farm produces Sublingual Dropz, cannabinoid-infused breath drops without the extra ingredients. Peppermint and cannabis essential oils are blended with hemp seed oil for an all-in-one breath freshener any time, making them a perfect alternative to the standard.

CBD-RICH BUDS

CBD-rich flower is an indispensable item in any modern medicine cabinet. TJ’s Organic Provisions has multiple strains that are highCBD, one of which won the first annual DOPE Cup Oregon. Inhaling cannabis smoke packed with CBD is a great way to relieve a headache or unrelenting tension. CBD is shown to reduce inflammation and tension, even when inhaled. One other unique benefit found in a CBD-rich bud is the ability to counteract the dysphoria that some smokers experience after absorbing too much THC. Be sure to keep a clean glass piece handy, such as the Rastathemed Sherlock pipe shown here. (Find your own at Thurman Street Collective.)

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COUGH SYRUP

Cough syrup brings bitter medicine taste to mind: that acrid, viscous flavor that made us all hide head under pillow as children. Dirty Arm Farm’s Lean Back Sizurp is designed to coat the throat and mitigate coughing. The thin, grape-flavored concoction recommends a dose of one ounce, which includes 80 to 100 mg of activated THC concentrate and 3.5 mg of cannabidiol. It’s a great way to say goodbye to your miserable cold.

CBD-RICH EXTRACTS

TJ’s Organic Provisions also produces prefilled golden capsules of coconut oil and a high-CBD cannabis extract. Derived from their house flower stock, these capsules are a 5-mg dose, highly manageable even for beginners. Just remember to take it slow before taking more, just in case the dose was right the first time.

WRITER •BRANDON KRENZLER

PHOTO • CHRIS RYAN

Newer generations are learning firsthand lessons about man-made medicine, and the result is an increasing demand for a natural option. BATH SALTS

Tense muscles, achy joints, and sore tendons often call for a long, hot bath. Bath additives such as soaking salts are very popular. Sacred Mind & Body’s Epsom Salt Soak infuses Epsom salt with their proprietary essential oil blend, which includes cannabis essential oil, high in both THC and CBD. These salts encourage relaxation and euphoria, lightening the spirit right along with tension.

TINCTURE

A basic tincture is made up of plant material and alcohol, and for that reason it’s one of the oldest forms of medicine. Today, there are tincture mediums in which you can suspend your essential plant oils, ranging from olive oil to vegetable glycerin. Tinctures are a fantastic alternative to store-bought medicine and can be applied either sublingually or topically. Alcohol-based cannabis tinctures have anti-inflammatory benefits and are very effective antiseptic agents for superficial wounds and scratches.

CANNABIS OIL The ultimate heavyweight in the cannabis-powered medicine cabinet is a fully decarboxylated full extract cannabis oil. This concentrated essential oil is believed to be dense with disease-fighting cannabinoids and compounds. Cannabis oil is a broad spectrum medicine that can be used alongside other medicines to initiate healing. Medical cannabis patients use this oil when treating cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and more. Some oils are higher in THC; others are focused on CBD as the main compound. Both professional research and anecdotal evidence show that full or balanced spectrum cannabis oils are the most therapeutic. It is highly psychoactive and sedative, and Delta 9-THC (or activated THC) has been shown to kill cancer cells. Cannabis oil can be smoked, taken orally, or applied topically.

BALM

Leif Medicinals has produced an all-over topical infused with full extract cannabis oil. A potent and highly psychoactive concentrate of cannabis, their balms are widely believed to have therapeutic properties. Both Wood Balm (a combination of orange and cedarwood) and Field Balm (lavender and bergamot) are a necessity in the modern medicine cabinet to heal dry skin, eczema, and other skin irritations—and they smell amazing!

Delta 9-THC (or activated THC) has been shown to kill cancer cells. Cannabis oil is rich in Omega-3, -6, and -9, offering more Omegas per serving than fish, nuts, or vegetable oils. (In fact, it’s only second on the list, just behind Chia seeds!) Since cannabis oil is so rich in Omegas, it increases the efficacy of other medicinal plants when used in combination.

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CANNANEWS

WRITER•LINDSEY RINEHART

HISTORY OF CANNABIS 1914-1 990

ANNABIS HAS an expansive and rich history that is sure to fascinate! Last month, we covered the history of cannabis from 10,000 BCE to the early 1900s. This month the coverage continues as we explore the darker, prohibitive times.

1914

The Harrison Act groups cannabis with other drugs, then makes them all illegal. California and other states make cannabis illegal.

1942

American scientists at the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) develop chemicals to break down the psychological defenses of POWs and spies. The end result is a potent extract of cannabis, used as “truth serum.”

1934-1935

The Chinese government tries to end all cultivation in the country; Chinese Turkestan makes hashish production illegal.

1936

The movie Reefer Madness is released by the U.S. government as propaganda aimed at frightening Americans from using cannabis.

1916

Chief scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduce paper made from hemp pulp.

In a landmark discovery, a Russian scientist classifies a major strain of the plant Cannabis ruderalis.

1926 1928

Hashish production in Lebanon is made illegal.

Recreational use of cannabis is banned in Britain.

Congress passes the Marihuana Tax Act, criminalizing cannabis. Samuel Caldwell becomes the first person arrested and convicted for selling cannabis; his customer Moses Baca becomes the first person arrested for possession. Caldwell gets a $1,000 fine plus a four-year sentence of hard labor at Leavenworth Penitentiary. Baca is incarcerated for a year and a half.

1938

Canada joins the U.S. in prohibiting cannabis cultivation.

1941

Cannabis is removed from the U.S. pharmacopoeia and its use as medicine is discredited.

1951

The Boggs Act and the Narcotic Control Act create mandatory minimum sentencing and increase all drug penalties.

1961

1937

1924

U.S. BOGGS ACT AND THE NARCOTICS CONTROL ACTS

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The U.N. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs concludes, “The use of cannabis for other than medical and scientific purposes must be discontinued as soon as possible, but in any case within twenty-five years...”

1964

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, professor of medicinal chemistry at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, identifies THC-9 as the main psychoactive component of cannabis for the first time. He is then the first to synthesize THC.

1978

1972

The Nixon-appointed Shafer Commission suggests legalizing cannabis, but the recommendation is ignored.

1968

The University of Mississippi becomes the official grower of cannabis for the U.S. Federal Government. The Wootton Report by the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence (U.K.) states, “The long term consumption of cannabis in moderate doses has no harmful effects...Cannabis is less dangerous than the opiates, amphetamines and barbiturates, and also less dangerous than alcohol.”

1970

The Controlled Substances Act classifies cannabis as a drug with “no accepted medical value.”

1971

The U.K. introduces the Misuse of Drugs Act, bringing about their drug classification system. In June of that same year, President Nixon declares a “War on Drugs,” forever changing American lives.

1972

Proposition 19, a measure to legalize cannabis use, is rejected in California.

New Mexico passes the first state law recognizing the medical value of cannabis.

1980

Tetrahydrocannabinol (Marinol), a synthetic form of THC, is tested on cancer patients.

1985 1973

Nepal bans cannabis shops and the Afghan government makes everything hashish illegal. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is also established in the U.S.

The FDA approves Marinol for cancer patients.

1986

President Reagan signs the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, reinstating mandatory minimums and raising federal penalties for possession and distribution, officially beginning an international “War on Drugs.”

1974

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is established. Placed in charge of contracts to grow cannabis for research purposes, the University of Mississippi is contracted by NIDA to grow cannabis.

“Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.”

1988

Judge Francis Young, a DEA administrative law judge, finds that cannabis has a medical use and should be reclassified as a prescription drug. His advice is not taken.

1976

A Federal Court rules Robert Randall’s use of cannabis for his glaucoma “a medical necessity.” The judge dismisses criminal charges against Randall. Concurrent to the ruling, federal agencies responding to a petition filed by Randall began providing him FDA-approved government supplies of medical cannabis. He was the first American to receive cannabis as medicine.

1990

Along with his research team, Miles Herkenham, the senior investigator at the National Institute of Mental Health, discovers cannabinoid receptors in the human body.

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CANNANEWS

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WHAT IS THAT

An swers to a New Cu stomer’s Com mon Question s PHOTO BY ALLIE BECKETT

REGON’S DISPENSARIES are attracting more customers every day, and now that cannabis is legal for both medicinal and recreational use, even people who’ve never done more than smoke a hand-rolled joint at some point will be wandering into medical dispensaries out of curiosity. Likely astounded by the options for both strain and form, new customers can certainly benefit from a primer on the matter. Below is a quick tour of the aspects most likely to make customers ask, “What is that?”

WAX “FOR DABBING” & OIL CONCENTRATES VS. EXTRACTS As defined by HB 3400, cannabis concentrates are extracted mechanically or chemically with non-hydrocarbon solvents such as water, oil, fat, glycerin, alcohol, or ethanol. Concentrates can also come in the form of tinctures and topicals. Extracts are another concentrated form of cannabis. They result from processing cannabis with hydrocarbon solvents such as butane, propane, or hexane, or by using high heat and pressure. Usually, a concentrate or extract is used to make a product that isn’t inhaled, such as an edible, a topical, or a drink.

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1) HASH, 2) KIEF & 3) ROSIN

TINCTURES Tinctures are liquid drops that go under the tongue for a sublingual dose. They can also be added to a drink for an ediblelike effect. Tinctures are commonly made from alcohol, glycerin, or coconut oil, and provide a faster high than other methods.

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ACHIEVING CONSISTENCY IN EDIBLES Why Test Resu lts Vary So Muc h for Ed i b l e Makers

HIS IS a common question that many edible makers ask. It’s especially common with those who are new to the cannabis industry or who have a new product that has yet to undergo the necessary research and development. In this article, we’ll discuss issues that may arise when making an edible, and the steps necessary to ensure a consistent end result. Knowing these steps will not only aid in creating uniformity in product development, but it can help a business transition from a medical to a recreational market, where homogeneity and consistency are vital. That being said, these are general recommendations and are not meant to replace any professional research and development plans. There are multiple steps involved in making a product, and each one creates an opportunity for error. The goal is to eliminate even unexpected errors with a detailed plan. One can do this by gathering information at every step and documenting thoroughly, enabling you to easily pinpoint an error in retrospect. Below, we’ve outlined some common issues that affect edible makers.

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WRITERâ&#x20AC;˘GREEN LEAF LABS

Not knowing the value (in percent or weight) of the cannabinoid base product infused in the item. Without this information, it is impossible to determine the expected final value of the edible, leading to variations from batch to batch.

As we learned in chemistry, every product has a saturation point, at which point a certain compound will no longer affect the product. Using too much sugar in water is a well-known example. Once the liquid is saturated with sugar, the sugar will no longer dissolve and will instead settle at the bottom of the container. Chemical interference would occur if a second, more preferential chemical were added to the water. It would then take the place of the sugar, which would continue to settle at the bottom of the container. This process can occur with an array of compounds, including cannabinoids.

Not knowing the quantity of the base cannabinoid product, such as butter. Knowing the quantity of the base product is necessary to determine how many cannabinoids were added to the edible product or batch.

Not knowing the final volume of the total ingredients used. You have to know the final volume of ingredients in order to determine the expected final amount of cannabinoid products, both in the entire batch, and if properly homogenized, in each portion.

Having varying weight and volume in individual servings. Varying weight and volume in servings make it impossible to assess the strength of the final product consistently.

Lacking cannabinoid homogeneity in the final product. A lack of homogeneity results from not properly infusing the cannabinoid base or separating the cannabinoids from the ingredient base. Multiple factors can affect the infusion process: heating, item viscosity, or compounds not being able to dissolve in the time allotted.

Allowing saturation points, or chemical interference issues to separate the cannabinoids from the ingredient base.

Using a non-decarboxylated cannabinoid base. THCA does not have the same physiological effects as decarboxylated (activated) delta9-THC. If a THCA cannabinoid base is infused in an edible, it may not produce the expected physiological effects. On the other hand, if that same product is heated, it may have much stronger effects than anticipated.

Understanding the parts of this process, and the variables that may affect the desired outcome, is an important component for analyzing methods and processes. Documenting processes with all their variables will allow producers to pinpoint where an error may have occurred, or where methods may need adjustment. Knowing these details will improve product development and make it more consistent, which will be required in a regulated edible cannabis market. Instead of wondering why there is different results each time product is tested, makers should be able to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My product has consistent results every time I test it.â&#x20AC;?

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WRITER • LINDSEY RINEHART

PIECES

PHOTOS • ALEX FALLENSTEDT

NOBLE GLASS A UNIQUE SOFT GLASS COMPANY

DETAILS Noble Glass carries over 40 colors for vibrant designs. Each piece is hand-blown using the old Italian method. All pieces are created locally in Eugene.

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OBLE GLASS uses the old-Italian method of soft glass blowing, insuring that each piece is unique, and that no two pieces are identical, ever. The hand crafted, oldItalian style method of blowing creates unique pieces that Noble Glass prides itself on, and the bright colors of their work is always vividly amazing. This heavy based, pretty-inpink piece is quite stable and not prone to tipping over. The

glass marble attached opposite the bowl is an amazing addition to this functional piece of art. The marble spirals inward to the neck, with gold flecks throughout the piece, and it simply leaves people mesmerized in its beauty. The rest of the piece is equally as stunning, with soft pink and creamy white swirls. The glass itself stands 16” tall, with a stellar, commanding appearance. Deep colors blend with precision within intri-

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cately swirled patterns from the top to the bottom, adding to its one-of-a-kind appearance. Additionally, a deeper colored pink ribbon wraps all around the piece, adding a place to firmly grip while taking a rip! The piece produces large clouds of smooth smoke with very little coughing, and the great bong-bubbling sound produced by her is worthy placement in the opening of a ® song.

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PRODUCT

PHOTOS • ALEX FALLENSTEDT

MOON ROCKS BY CLUB SKY HIGH

AKE PREMIUM BUD, slather it in highTHC butane hash oil, roll it around in hash-grade keif, and you’ve got a Moon Rock. Tim Jones, co-owner of Club Sky High in St. Johns covets the large jar full of these unearthly little gems. (This dispensary is one of the only places in Oregon where Moon Rocks are found.) The Club Sky High team talks about the unique, full body effects delivered by the high potency stones, insisting that every cannabis consumer try these at least once. The potency of a 1-gram Moon Rock tests at about 50% THC on average, a rate that ensures a unique and highly cerebral experience. Blue City Diesel, pictured below, is a cross between Blueberry, the terpene-rich indica, and NYC Diesel, a highly cerebral sativa dominant. The keif covering the hash oil sizzles at the light application of a flame, then

the hot oil bubbles before being absorbed by the cured flower. The flower oxidizes and burns, making it apparent that the combination of coatings extends the bowl’s longevity. A little goes a long way. The smoke is expansive, like that of a dab, and surprisingly smooth. Rolling a Moon Rock is a good option for groups, since the oils cause a blunt wrap to burn slower. The Moon Rocks create a rush of euphoria that feels slightly psychedelic. The body feels light and lifted, all the while maintaining a rooted, peaceful feeling. It’s no doubt that the unique blend of bud, keif, and hash oil brings about this juxtaposition. Moon Rocks are definitely a delicacy meant for cannabis connoisseurs, not likely recommended to ® novices.

The keif covering the hash oil sizzles at the light application of a flame, then the hot oil bubbles before being absorbed by the cured flower. Rolling a Moon Rock is a good option for groups, since the oils cause a blunt wrap to burn slower. The potency of a 1-gram Moon Rock tests at about 50% THC on average, a rate that ensures a unique and highly cerebral experience.

“moon rocks are definitely a delicacy meant for cannabis connoisseurs, not likely recommended to novices.”

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CLUB SKY HIGH 8957 N LOMBARD ST, (ST. JOHNS) PORTLAND, OR 97203 (503) 719-5801 OPEN MON -SUN, 11AM - 7PM CLUBSKYHIGH.NET

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This one-of-a-kind pipe is a great present for the friend that loves science and hates coughing. The sleek design fits comfortably in any pocket and it is virtually impossible to break. The design is based on the principles of fluid dynamics with tiny dimples that create micro-vortexes, which cool and clean the smoke long before it reaches your lungs, leaving them comparatively cool and clean. It is also convenient for smoking on the go; load the bowl at home, slide the top over, and you’ll be ready to take your Genius anywhere. www.geniuspipe.com

JAYN GRENE SKINCARE PRODUCTS This all-natural, all-organic line of body products leaves nothing to be desired – except you. The body butter is non-greasy and smells great, leaving skin soft and supple. Their other two products are formulated for beard health. Beard oil and beard balm help keep men’s facial hair healthy and styled throughout the day. If your follicles need some friendship, or you know a hirsute fellow in need of some herbal love, all of Jayn Grene’s products are ideal stocking stuffers. www.jayngrene.com

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ALASKA’S DEVELOPING CANNABIS LANDSCAPE: Th e Recreation a l State Th at Desperately Need s Med i ci ne

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WRITER •LINDSEY RINEHART

LASKA HAS a small, albeit fascinating, cannabis industry. Driven by the need for medical cannabis, their network of collectives is continuing to grow under an affirmative defense law known as Ravin. In an effort to move forward, Alaskans passed a recreational petition, and the rules were still being finalized at press time. There were many controversial rule proposals for the recreational law. Since it will deeply impact patients, consumers, and stakeholders, activists have been concerned about rules being made without consideration for proper cannabis education. The Alaskan cannabis industry can help over 100,000 people develop a safe access program, bolster tourism through harsh winter months, and help deflate the state’s predicted deficit of $3.7 billion in 2016. Until the rules are finalized and licenses are available, commercial cannabis operations will still be considered illegal in Alaska. Waiting in the wings are potential canna-businesses preparing to operate. Beautiful home grows trying to go commercial—such as local grow company ArcticBlue Farms and edibles company R.C. Tinderbox—have full lines developed and ready to go. Thriving grow stores like Southside Garden Supply are already helping the industry boom, and E-Blunt is here, with an extract company that already has branches in other legalized states. All these businesses have big plans, buildings, and equipment, and are eagerly waiting for the go-ahead to get started as soon as licensing is available. According to Bruce Schulte of The Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation, regulating the Alaskan industry has many challenges. “Time has been our greatest challenge from the start. The board was appointed halfway through the nine-month regulatory period defined in our voter initiative, so we had to hit the ground at a full sprint. The challenge has been to give the regulations due consideration while meeting the deadlines mandated by the initiative, the state’s constitution, and applicable statutes.” He spoke of other challenges the board faced: “While the measure to legalize or regulate [cannabis] did pass, it wasn’t a landslide vote, and we really did have to remain sensitive

to the 47% of voters who did not vote yes.” Those voters, he said, had a “legitimate interest” in the outcome, and the coalition wanted to keep that in consideration. Schulte told me he was confident that, although they would meet the deadlines assigned, they knew the regulations wouldn’t be final. “I think everyone involved recognized that this will be an ongoing process, and that we’ll likely need to refine the regulations over time.” He recognized and explained a need to adjust as the industry is established, in order to improve the regulations over time. “Some people are concerned that Alaska doesn’t have a designated medical marijuana program. I view that as a benefit, because we weren’t hobbled by a legacy program that might have been very narrow in scope. Instead we can have a full-range industry without the confusing and contradictory regulations that other states have wrestled with. Many of us will undoubtedly offer products specifically for the medical consumer and I would hope that the regulations will encourage and promote that success,” he continued. Still, he remains optimistic for the upcoming industry. “I find a lot of this exciting but, in particular, I look forward to seeing a lot of talented growers, extract artists, bakers, and other entrepreneurs coming forward to operate a lawful cannabis business, free from stigma and legal hassles. Being kind of old-school myself, it’s fascinating to see how far the cannabis culture has evolved in the past 30 years.” Some business owners feel that they are safe to operate under what is known as the Ravin Act, which provides an affirmative defense to medicinal growers. They have all utilized private club rules, which aren’t as explicitly clear in regard to cannabis. Ravin allows six plants to be grown per patient, including for a family member who has a qualifying condition. Jeremiah Emerson of the Alaska Cannabis Collective said, “A known problem in Alaska is that much of the government only sees all cannabis as recreational, while most of the local culture views it as medicinal, and won’t hesitate to explain that the laws are backward. To further complicate the situation, the medical knowledge base needs to be further developed to help the state’s patients.”

DESIGN • BRANDON PALMA

Jessica Jansen of Cannafarm Co-Op, a group of like-minded cultivators and extraction artists, is an activist fighting for patient rights in Alaska while the recreational industry develops. She has taken issue with the proposed rule of a 76% cap for THC in concentrates, deregulating clubs, and the suggested milligram limits in edibles. The regulations as drafted are troublesome to many Alaskans, and her public comments on the issue are clear with their defense. “Alcohol has a 76% limit in Title 4 of the Alaska Statutes. The arbitrary THC potency cap of 76% is a dangerous proposition. Creating this restriction will feed the black market and people will be inclined to create these stronger products in a non-commercial environment. The 76% cap is unrealistic, as most concentrate products available in legal markets in other states only begin testing in at 76%, and average somewhere in the high-80 percentage,” she said. “You can achieve a 90% product with $50 worth of materials bought locally, in your own home, with very little time or effort. This is something that is being done now, and is not in the best interest of public safety. If authorities were to allow these products to be manufactured in a legal, regulated environment and available to consumers, there would be no need for people to seek these products from the illegal market—or to make it themselves with the risk of explosion or having a toxic end product.” Not everyone is willing to wait to do business until the rules are finalized. Many entrepreneurs thought they had found ways to serve the developing industry early. Some Alaskan canna-business owners faced scrutiny after they opened cannabis-friendly businesses in Anchorage, most stating they saw voids in the cannabis community that needed to be addressed. At the center of the debate are “private clubs.” Theresa Collins, co-owner of Pot Luck Events, is part of a team that was the first to open a cannabis-friendly events center in Anchorage. The Alaskan rules and regulations do not explicitly allow clubs; they were also not initially forbidden, however. Collins recognized the need in the community for a safe place to use cannabis. Providing an events cen-

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ter where people could safely partake seemed like a great way to fill the void. She defends her business and the service that it provides. “We started Pot Luck Events to provide a safe, fun, and healthy environment for our members to consume and share cannabis,” she said. “We saw the need for places like ours to be available to people that had nowhere else to consume, especially medical patients. We all saw this is as an opportunity to explore the social aspect of cannabis and desired to be a practicum for the state.” Collins said she had no idea how much Anchorage needed a business like hers, but her membership has soared. Pot Luck Events currently has over 1,800 members, who would no longer be able to medicate and consume recreationally, should her business be shut down. She believes her business and others like it could also benefit the tourism industry in Alaska. In a later draft of the rules and regulations by the Marijuana Control Board, the banning of “marijuana clubs” appeared after the board learned of her business. The board said that Theresa Collins, Joshua Tyson-Bird (Green Rush Events), Sarah Backlin, and Dee Edward (Northern Heights), were all sent cease and

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desist letters ordering their businesses to close. However, Collins never received the letter at her business address. Green Rush Events, Pot Luck Events, and Northern Heights do not sell or dispense cannabis and are private social clubs. Northern Heights was allegedly forced to close after the property owner’s liquor license on the same property was threatened. Pot Luck Events and Green Rush Events remain open to their members. Michael Crites of ACDC Delivery, Rocky Burns and Larry Stamper of Discreet Delivery, and Charlene Egby (also known as Charlo Green) of the Alaska Cannabis Club were all raided for “starting cannabis-dispensing businesses as private clubs.” Egby’s club was raided twice: once in March and once in August. During those raids, Egby’s property, including vehicles, was seized. She is facing 24 years in prison but remains open in order to provide safe access. ACDC and Discreet Delivery have also had several vehicles removed at gunpoint. The Anchorage Police Department acted under forfeiture laws because the companies continued to operate. In August, Anchorage Police—in full swat gear—entered Rocky Burns’ home, with

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his children present, and raided it, allegedly pointing weapons at them in the process. His business partner, Larry Stamper, was horrified to find his father’s ashes dumped out, after a raid of his personal residence by the Anchorage Police Department. Rob and Julie Martin provided testing through their company, AK Green Labs, to help keep cannabis safe for consumers and patients. Because the regulations weren’t yet in place to allow for such labs, they shut down voluntarily. They also own Southside Garden Supply, which has three Anchorage locations, and have licensing for their concentrates company, E-Blunt, which they have established in other states. Risking licensing for future businesses was not something this power couple was willing to do. Ryan Smith of Alaska Hydro Gardens provided free medical-grade cannabis to patients in need, and was advised by his lawyer at the time that doing so was legal. He was called out by the Juneau Empire (a local newspaper), even though he was technically operating under the Ravin Act, which allows medical cannabis plants. The medicine at his grow was all carded for patients, and he had met the requirements for the growers to use the

“ I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING TALENTED ENTREPRENEURS COME FORWARD TO OPERATE LAWFUL CANNABIS BUSINESSES, FREE FROM STIGMA AND LEGAL HASSLES. “

space for patients. With a retired officer present, Director of the Marijuana Control Board Cynthia Franklin told him that he could face prosecution and lose future licensing options if he didn’t shut down his medical cannabis operation. “We screened all of our patients prior to accepting them into our program, at an offsite office from the collective grow, and only accepted people who really needed access to safe medicine,” Smith said. “At the time, I was asked to shut down our garden or there would be severe consequences. Since then, I had to witness the loss of two of our cancer patients. I personally told them I would continue to help them, but unfortunately these families did not have the ability to cultivate in their own home. I referred them to some of Alaska’s free donation programs. The feeling of being powerless to help sincerely makes it feel like I personally

let them down.” Jana Weltzin of JDW, LLC represents many of the people in the developing Alaskan cannabis industry. “Alaska has a certain mystic charm—it’s beautiful yet unforgiving, bountiful yet barren, booming yet unchanging. Alaska has seen more cycles of rushes than most of its counterparts—gold rush, oil rush, fishing rush, and now—the green rush,” she said. “Whatever this new rush turns out to be, you can be sure the ones who ‘make it’ will be the ones who believed in themselves and remembered to be kind and honest on their way to the top. I look forward to the uphill journey ahead.” She is not alone. DOPE will offer continued coverage of this exciting time, and we hope that you will join us for the ride!

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DISPENSARY

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GREELEY GALLERY LIVING THE DREAM ON GREELEY AVENUE

REELEY GALLERY IS is somewhat of a unicorn in today’s booming cannabis industry. While most are scrambling to grow as fast as possible, Damian Diedrich’s family owned and operated dispensary is taking the quality over quantity approach. Every detail has been meticulously and intentionally hand selected with quality in mind, from their connoisseur caliber strains and the type of wood used for the display cases to the caring and knowledgeable staff. Diedrich is a grower with intent. “I have always had an intimate relationship with cannabis. From the first time I was on a farm and consumed it, I knew I wanted a stronger relationship with the plant.” After this realization, Damian spent years developing and perfecting how to “grow the best possible product in the most technologically-advanced

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way.” Today, Damian’s Trillium Collective is renowned for its one-off genetics and the flowers they produce. Greeley Gallery is the sole outlet for exclusive strains like New York Pineapple Diesel, Grand Master Chem, General Sensi, Grand Master Diesel, and Green Queen. Truly a homegrown operation, the Greeley Gallery storefront is managed by Damian’s brother Todd, who handles the bulk of the shop’s daily needs. Damian’s wife Shauna, who has a background in homeopathic medicine, makes edibles for patients. “Her approach to healing has always started with nutrition, so for her, making edibles was a natural way to incorporate cannabis into our patients’ lives.” Damian has instilled his values directly into the Greeley Gallery business plan, employing what he likes to call

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“compassionate customer service.” The care, love, and effort put in by the Greeley Gallery team is a reflection of their true dedication to healing. “Seeing a customer’s satisfaction with a product that you personally are responsible for, it fills your heart up and it helps you realize what you’re doing is so meaningful, both ® to you and the patient.”

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OLCC ADOPTS NEW RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA RULES Here are seven of th e key takeaways from th e 2015 OLCC recreation a l mari j uan a ru l es

N OCTOBER 22, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) adopted the Administrative Rules that govern recreational marijuana commerce, and in doing so has created a hard line between medical and recreational marijuana. The new rules prohibit dispensaries from selling both medical and recreational cannabis in one location. In addition, dispensaries cannot grow, process, or provide medical and recreational cannabis at the same location. Current requirements limit majority ownership of cannabis businesses to Oregon residents with a two-year residency requirement. The OLCC expects the Oregon Legislature to remove that requirement in the 2016 legislative session. For that reason, applicants who do not meet the residency requirement will have their applications held under review until after the 2016 Legislative Session, at which point licenses will be granted to those who qualify.

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Applications must include business plans outlining how licensees will meet security requirements, what employee qualifications they’ll require and they training they’ll provide, and how they will prevent minors from accessing cannabis. In addition, producers must estimate electrical and water usage and processors must outline the equipment and materials used to make extracts and concentrates.

Businesses can either use pre-approved OLCC packaging or design their own, so long as it does not include graphics, pictures, or logos.

Labels are also prohibited from including graphics, pictures, or logos, and must be pre-approved (unless they contain only the information required by the Oregon law and OLCC rule).

Any person with a financial interest in the license and the intention to participate in the day-to-day operations of a licensed business must be listed on the application and meet the residency requirements.

Local governments have the right to designate larger canopy sizes for production facilities than what the OLCC sets.

Home deliveries of marijuana products will be severely limited. A delivery person can only have $100 worth of product on them, and can only deliver in the jurisdiction where their dispensary license is located.

Cannabis products cannot be in the shape of an animal, person, vehicle, or character.

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Cannabis Crossword

1. One of the two main types of cannabis, with uplifting and cerebral effects, best suited for day. 1

2. 2008 film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, and a hybrid strain that is the child of Trainwreck and Hawaiian. 6. A solid, non-transparent form of marijuana wax with a brittle texture. Also known as honeycomb. 11. Comes from the Arabic word kayf meaning wellbeing or pleasure.

ACROSS 3. A hybrid strain that is the offspring of Blueberry and White Widow. 4. One of the two main types of cannabis that is relaxing, calming and best suited for night use. 9

5. Legalized recreational cannabis on October 1st, 2015.

6. Abr. for “cannabidiol,” the active compound of marijuana that has healing properties without psychoactive effects. 7. Refers to any strain that grows natively in Nepal. 8. Darth Vadar’s son and an amazing strain by breeder Dutch Passion. 9. Flower kief and Co2 oil wrapped into one. 10. High-grade President of the USA

Across: 3. Berry White, 4. Indica, 5. Portland, 6. CBD, 7. Nepalese, 8. Luke Skywalker, 9. Coma Cone, 10. Obama Kush Down: 1. Sativa, 2. Pineapple Express, 6. Crumble, 11. Kief

V I SI T OU R STOR E S 1830 Goodspeed Rd. Tillamook, OR 97141 503-815-7623

2606 SE Gladstone St. (2nd floor) Portland, OR 97206 971-544-7685

FAC E B O OK .C OM /AT T I S T R A DI NG

4920 NE Cully Blvd Portland, OR 97218 503-477-8981

F R O M O U R FA M I L Y TO YO U R S N THE BE O T FOR OU LOOK ’S

E KANA IN STR E OF TH H T MON

KANE SAYS:

“INDULGE RESPONSIBLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.”

HIGH ABOVE THE REST

29 B E AU T I F U L S T R A I N S ( A N D G R OW I N G ) O F I N DOO R , O U T DOO R A N D G R E E N H O U S E B O U T I Q U E B U D S

P U R E CO 2 E X T R AC T S R E J U V E N AT I N G B E N E F I T S TO P S H E L F P R O D U C T S I N M A R K E T R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S P R OV I D I N G YO U U N M ATC H E D S E RV I C E

GROWING OUR FAMILY DAILY FOR WHOLESALE INQUIRIES PLEASE CALL:

844.910.9333 URBANPHARMS.COM @urban_pharms

PORTLAND

ASTORIA

EUGENE

SALEM

TALENT

SCAPPOOSE

BEAVERTON

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED, PERFECTING OUR CANNABIS CRAFT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

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