WEEKLY ZINE VOL 79 by fatnugsmag

CULTURE TRADITION PASSION

NUGS FAT

u p l i f t

t h e

p e o p l e ,

u p l i f t

t h e

p l a n t

an open letter to the American people

you

are under attack

President Bone Spurs, a draft-dodging, silver-spoon orange tyrant, just rewrote history by declaring ANTIFA a terrorist organization, branding thousands of WWII soldiers who fought actual fascists as “terrorists” - including my grandfather who just past a few years ago.

That’s how upside down this country has become. And this is coming from someone who has over 20 family members who are either active or former military, with a relative who has fought in every single war this country has ever been in.

I am completely dumbfounded how anyone could support this disgusting administration in the first place, let alone now after seeing everything that’s happening.

Let’s be clear: ANTIFA is not a group of people. It is a movement. An ideal. A way of living, because everyone should be anti-fascist. If you’re not antifascist, you’ve already chosen the side of oppression.

What’s next?

Make no mistake: this is what the slide into full-on fascist dictatorship looks like.

The gaslighting. The erasure of truth. The weaponizing of fear.

It’s all here now, clawing at the edges of what’s left of democracy, crushing descent and free speech. So remember these moments. Etch them into your bones. And remember this too: cannabis has always been there, right beside you.

Through the chaos, trauma, and relentless noise of a country on fire. While they try to break us, the plant still heals us. Still calms our minds. Still connects us to each other when everything else tries to tear us apart.

As the fascists tighten their grip, don’t forget who you are, and don’t forget who stood by you when the world went dark.

Dustin Hoxworth

now is the time to help each other

Photo by Derrall Peach

September Weekly

zine vol. 79

Pg. 4: Faces of Cannabis - Sofia Gonzalez

Pg. 6: Market Report - Hoodie Analytics By Bethany Niebauer

Pg. 20: DEA vs DEI: Marijuana Is Only as Protected as Our Most Vulnerable Stoners By Peri'lias De Brise

Pg. 24: The Hotbox w/ Daniel Fountain

Pg. 30: Beard Bros LA: Live Sesh Recap By June Blankin

Pg. 10: The Photographers of FNM

Pg. 16: Growing Up Fragmented: Dissociative Identity Disorder, Weed, and Learning to Be Present By Peri'lias De Brise

Pg. 36: CannaHumans: Mike Ballard

Pg. 42: Creator Spotlight: Joshua Jacobs

Sofia Gonzalez Medical Cannabis Advocate.

Sofia Gonzalez grew up around cannabis Her older siblings used it, so it was always familiar As a teen she tried it for the first time and instantly noticed how it eased her anxiety “That moment stuck with me and later led me to get my medical marijuana card at 18 ”

Sofia has been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, and while she tried traditional medications, they often left her feeling numb or groggy. “With cannabis, I found a more manageable way to care for my mental health It lets me stay in control of how I feel.”

“More recently, I was diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), and cannabis has also become part of my pain management I use capsules and salves for relief ”

For Sofia, cannabis isn’t just about enjoyment - it’s about balance, healing, and showing up for herself in a way that works.

THE FACES OF CANNABIS

Photo by Derrall Peach

Greenlight Cannabis Super Boof

Photo by Paola Tello

the photographers of fat nugs magazine

Chris Birdsong: The Technician with Soul

Chris Birdsong came to Fat Nugs from the world of film.

Known in that world as a seasoned Key Grip, he has spent years building the physical backbone of cinematic visions. He understands how light moves and how shadow speaks In cannabis, Chris brings that same technical mastery and creative precision He builds visual worlds out of chaos. Whether he is shooting an intimate portrait in Jamaica or a sweeping scene at an event, his work brings a cinematic weight to the pages of Fat Nugs Magazine. Chris sees structure where others see clutter, and that sense of order and artistry makes him an important part of the photography crew of FNM

Derrall Peach: The Veteran Cultivator

Derrall Peach carries the dual identity of veteran and cultivator, and it shows in every frame he shoots. There is a quiet discipline in how he works, a patience learned from years of service and years of nurturing living plants Derrall knows what it takes to bring something fragile into full bloom He brings that same care to photographing people His portraits in the Faces of Cannabis project carry an uncommon tenderness Even in stark black and white, they hum with life Derrall’s perspective grounds the magazine in reality and reminds everyone who sees his work that cannabis culture is made of people who endure, who grow, and who keep going

Paola Tello: The Artist’s Eye

Paola Tello is pure creative instinct. She approaches photography like a painter, layering color, texture, and energy in ways that feel alive. She is not content to just document moments. She wants to transform them Paola’s work often feels like stepping into a dream, yet it stays tethered to real human emotion She brings a powerful sense of movement and intimacy to the magazine’s visual identity. Her art reminds readers that cannabis culture is not just a business or a trend. It is living art.

Kyea Mofire: The Original Visionary

Kyea Mofire is both cultivator and artist, and that balance gives her photographs vitality. She understands plants on a very personal level and people on a spiritual one. As the original photographer for Fat Nugs Magazine, Kyea helped define the magazine’s visual voice from the beginning She laid the foundation for how our community and culture is seen through the FNM lens Kyea’s images celebrate the raw, unpolished beauty of cannabis They feel alive because they are rooted in the same soil as the plant itself Her work speaks with honesty and fire, showing the industry through the eyes of someone who has lived it.

Photo by Derrall Peach

Gas Petal High West Farms

Photo by Derrall Peach

Psychedelics are not an escape, though they can be if you choose. They are a return, a way to remember that you are of the earth on which you stand, and that you were never broken.

Dustin Hoxworth