HARVEST 2007 ISSUE 2 $4.20 HUMBOLDT
MENDOCINO
LAKE
DEL NORTE
Harvest Heartbreak
6
Progressive Growing
8
Zip-Tag Program
10
Ganja Budder
14
Importance of Organics
20
Emerald Triangle Legacy
23
Maui in Mendocino
25
Grow Girls
27
Reader Submissions
29
Editor-in-Chief: Bruce Bartlett Contributing Photographers: Joe Jeffe, Tom Green, and Bruce Bartlett Art Design and Production: Scott McKenzie Writing: Jasmine Starfire, Nemo, Sumo Burnstadt, Tom Green
Humboldt County Grow Magazine assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this magazine or in any advertisement nor do they encourage the illegal use of any of the products advertised within. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Please address all correspondence to: humboldtgrowmagazine@ gmail.com or the following address: Humboldt Grow Magazine P.O. Box 4648 Arcata, CA 95518
VOLUME 1
ISSUE 2 003
Harvest Heartbreak Just when you think the season is over and all of your hard work is about to be harvested...
With the sun shining high and the helicopters flying low, at the end of every summer medical growers are visited by Sheriffs’s Deputies to determine if medical gardens are within the guidelines of prop 215. One grower in particular, Nemo, from Mendocino County was caught in an unfortunate situation during one such visit from the local authorities. He didn’t have any medical recommendations on site and he told officers that he intended to sell a portion of his harvest to other medical patients. “One powerful tool the deputies used in my case was our recorded conversation”, Nemo explained. “In many cases the fate of your garden is determined by this. The audio recorder is used to gather information about your possible intent to sell.” explained Nemo. “They asked questions like, how many plants did I have? How many pounds per plant did I think I would harvest? what are my other sources of income? How much income did I receive last year from marijuana? What is my telephone number? Do I know anyone else growing?” Based on the answers he gave, they determined his home garden was commercial with the intent to sell and they took it in 1 hour. Nemo offers a few words of advice to medical growers: “Here is where I went wrong: I owned the proper number of doctors recommendations but were not posted at my garden site; totally stupid. I had the naive thinking that my garden was small enough to go unnoticed.” Nemo recommends that medical growers be informed. “Make sure your are within prop 215 guidelines at all times! Do not answer questions that you don’t understand. Research the state and county guidelines. Be an educated medical grower. Treat the sheriffs with respect and don’t be greedy.”
The law made sure that this medical garden was never harvested. The photo above shows a 20’x20’ medical grow for 4 medical patients. Just a few days after the photos of this garden were taken, Mendocino County Sheriff deputies arrived and took virtually every plant. The garden contained a mixture of Domina, Maui, and Sage varieties
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Pink Jasmine
Progressive Growing with
Jacob Dillion
Six lights of Maui growing in 5 gallon bags.
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hen you want to have a wonderful strain produce to it’s full potential you must have a good start. If you clone for yourself make sure the plant you are cutting off of is of peak health and vegetative growth. Select 3”-5” cuttings of green fresh growth. No disease, bug, or hard stem (woody) should be present at all. Contrary to popular belief no nodes need to be present to have rooting occur, just nice fresh green stem.
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t is important to leave the top 2 leaves. (Note: Do not tip them unless your rooting area is under 45% humidity.) Cut any node to 1/16” next to the stem and end the clone with a 45* cut. Through the years of cloning I have found that if you cut a clone 1”-3” longer than the desired clone and let it soak in a cup of PURE water (R.O. or Machine filtered) for the one day they soak up a lot for the first stage of their new journey. Then when you prep your clone later simply recut the bottom to desired length. Using rooting products is the best idea for great success but not necessary.
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f all rooting mediums that are on the market only one has all the pro’s I’m interested in. It’s organic, renewable, inert, excellent water to air ratio, long term growth potential, and that is the compressed bark/mix plug (see left inset photo). This sponge-like plug comes in a wide selection of sizes with the 72 cell tray being my favorite. I personally have had them in trays for 1 month after rooting with proper feeding. Keep your cloning area at 76 degrees and humidity at 55%. Once roots start to poke out of the plug transplanting ASAP is very important. The longer the start stays in the plug the longer it takes for soil adaptation when transplanting. When transplanting use your favorite soil, we all have one, (Fox Farm Ocean Forrest and coco coir) and use the Endo/Ecto Mycorrhiza Fungi so you have a protected root system. This treatment also maximizes nutrient uptake. When putting this product into your hole make sure to add Earthworm castings. Top dress with Castings, Kelp, Alfalfa, and an organic 5/5/5 or equivalent with endo/ ecto mycorrhiza added in. Companies like E.B. Stone, Whitney Farms, and Peace of Mind offer a variety of products that you can use for top-dressing.
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pecial note: If you use coco or cocoblend be very careful with dry organics breakdown is not the same as in soil. Put under bright fluorescents (T-5, VHO, power compact sq.pin) or HID lights at appropriate height above plants based on wattage.
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Mendocino County’s Medical Marijuana Zip-Tag Program The following information is from the Mendocino County Sheriff Office’s official website: http://www.mendocinosheriff.com
Why was this program created? We wanted a better way to quickly determine whether marijuana plants belong to a legitimate medical marijuana patient or that patient’s designated caregiver. At the same time, we want to protect the confidentiality of medical marijuana patients. How did we arrive at this program? The State of California created a statewide medical marijuana identification card for patients and their designated caregivers. State law provides that, in general, patients and their designated caregivers who are in possession of a valid medical marijuana identification card shall not be subject to arrest for possession, transportation, delivery, or cultivation of medical marijuana so long as it does not exceed certain possession limits. Cities and counties can adopt higher limits than those set by the state. In Mendocino County, the current enforcement standard states that a patient can have no more than 25 marijuana plants and that these plants, when measured, must take up no more than 100 square feet. The zip-tag program provides a mechanism for quickly identifying the 25 plants that a pre-identified medical marijuana patient may possess. The program also eliminates the 100 square foot limit. Who is eligible? The program is open to medical marijuana patients who possess a valid, state-issued medical marijuana identification card and who are growing (or plan to grow) medical marijuana in Mendocino County. Is it confidential? Yes. We take a copy of your medical marijuana identification card, but we don’t ask for your name, address, phone number, driver’s license number or anything else that
would reveal your name. We also don’t ask about your medical condition. You don’t even need to tell us your name when you speak with our staff. Can’t you get my name from the State? No. We can only verify whether or not your card is valid. How do I get the tags? 1. Go to one of three Sheriff’s Office locations: * Business Office, 589A Low Gap Road, Ukiah; or * Fort Bragg Sub-Station, 700 S. Franklin St., Fort Bragg; or * Willits Sub-Station, 125 E. Commercial St., Willits. 1. Present your state-issued, medical marijuana patient identification card. 2. State the number of tags you need, up to 25. A staff member will copy your identification card onto a form that lists the serial numbers of the tags you are issued. You will be given a copy of this form, and we will maintain a copy in our files. How do you keep track of the tags you issue? Your patient identification card number and the serial numbers of your tags will be entered into a secure database. We can search the database by patient number or tag number. How many tags can I obtain? No more than 25. How much will the tags cost me? Through December 31, 2007, the tags are free. As of January 1, 2008, we will charge a fee for the tags. The fee will be set by the Board of Supervisors in a public hearing.
When do the tags expire? The tags expire and become invalid under the following circumstances: * At the end of the calendar year in which they were issued; or * Upon expiration, revocation or surrender of the patient identification card used to obtain the zip-tags; or * Upon the patient’s death. How do I attach the tags to the plants? Wrap the tag around the base of the plant, just above the ground. Push the small end through the enclosed ratchet. Tighten it to the point that it cannot be slipped off the plant. Can the tags be reused or moved to another plant? No. The tags are for a single use on a single plant.
Some of my tagged plants died. Can I move the tags to healthy plants? No. The tags are for a single use on a single plant.
Afwreck growing outdoors in a professional medical garden
My tags were lost or stolen. Can I get replacements? Not at the present time. During the introduction of this program, and through December 31, 2007, we will not be issuing replacement tags. Please report lost or stolen tags to the Sheriff’s Office. I only grow small plants, and I have a doctor’s recommendation that 25 small plants would not meet my medical need. Can I get more than 25 zip-tags? No. The limit is 25 zip-tags per patient. No exceptions. Can I give some or all of my tags to my caregiver? Yes, you can give some or all of your tags to your designated caregiver. Can I use the zip-tags on marijuana plants grown in another county? No.
Can I obtain the zip-tags anywhere other than the Sheriff’s Office? Not at the present time. I gave some of my tags to my caregiver, but now I’m changing caregivers. What should I do? Health & Safety Code Section 11362.76 requires you to notify the county health department within seven days if you change your attending physician or designated primary caregiver. If you fail to do so, the State considers your card expired, and that means your zip-tags become invalid. Once you have notified the health department of the change, you need to recover the zip-tags you gave to your former caregiver. If they are unused, you can give them to a new caregiver. If they are in use, they cannot be reused. What should I do with the zip-tag receipt I get from your office? Keep it in a safe place. Have it (or a copy) available to show to a Deputy if he or she
asks to see it. If your designated caregiver is growing plants for you, make sure he or she has a copy of your receipt available for review. Think of this like having a registration card in your car. We can run your license plate and get your registration information, but you are still required to have the registration card in the vehicle. I have a doctor’s recommendation to use marijuana, but I don’t have a state-issued patient identification card. Can I still participate in the zip-tie program? Unfortunately, no. Requiring participants to possess a statewide medical marijuana patient identification card was the only way we could verify medical eligibility without having to collect medical information. I’m a caregiver for a terminally ill patient.
Are my patient’s tags still valid if he/she dies? No. The tags cannot be transferred from person to person or to next-of-kin.
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Mendocino County’s Medical Marijuana ZipTag Program
I’m sharing a garden with another patient. Should we both get tags for our plants? It’s up to you. The program is completely voluntary. Will the other law enforcement agencies in the county recognize your zip-ties? We can’t require other law enforcement agencies in the county to recognize this program. They are however required to follow state law regarding state-issued
medical marijuana patient and caregiver identification cards. Contact your local law enforcement agency if you have questions about their enforcement policies. I’m not sure if I want to participate in this program. If I don’t participate, do I give up any rights? Will my non-participation be considered suspicious? This program is entirely voluntary. We aren’t required to provide it, and you aren’t required
to participate. You don’t give up any rights if you decide you don’t want to participate. We’ve specifically told our deputies that non-participation in the zip-tag program will never be used as evidence of any crime.
Surf Mendo
013
Ganja Budder
by Sujen
In the top of a 4-quart double boiler put 8-10 cups dried organic bud shake. Add 2 pounds organic butter, 2 cups organic oil blend (such as olive oil and or canola and or safflower oil). Add 2 cups vodka or brandy. A double boiler can be improvised by putting a smaller pot with a lid inside of a larger one. Be sure and secure the handles with rubber bands or string to prevent the inner pot from jumping around when the water boils. Cover the mixture with a lid that has a couple of vents. Heat over gently boiling water for three to four hours or until you think the alcohol has evaporated. Be sure to remember to keep adding water to the bottom of the double boiler as it evaporates. Press down the leaves into the melting butter and oil and stir the mixture a few times. The mixture will become quite green. Remove inner part of double boiler from the water and let it cool down. When the mixture is cool enough to handle place a large sieve over an empty bowl, grab a hand full of the mixture and literally wring it with your hands over the sieve squeezing out as much of the oil as you can. Pour this “budder� into one cup size containers before it starts to harden. Cover and place in refrigerator or freezer until ready to use. Any of your own favorite recipes that call for butter or oil can be made using ganja budder. You can make the your baked goods weaker by decreasing the amount of ganja budder and substituting it with plain dairy butter.
Harvest Reflection For thousands of years people have gathered together in the time of harvest. We as humans have worked hard all season long to bear the fruits of our labour. Harvest, a time to gather with family, friends, and loved ones; to give thanks to our Mother for all the blessings the Earth has given us. Let us become aware of the beauty in our lives, of the gifts we have been given, of the time we have had together. If we reflect on our struggles and how they enable us to grow, if we close our eyes and see the blessings of this world and this life, if we feel a sense of gratitude, we become aware of the beauty.
Original Artwork by Scott McKenzie
Humboldt Honey Calendar
This calendar features twelve Humboldt County women in twelve natural locations chosen by the women— including Fern Canyon, Patrick’s Point, Avenue of the Giants, and the Lost Coast. The women, chosen from a pool of contest entries last October, have each selected a Humboldt County charity— including the North coast Environmental Center, The Raven Project, The Humboldt Community Breast Health Project and the North Coast Rape Crisis Center—and each will receive a percentage of the profits from the calendar’s sales. “This year 60% of the profits from this calendar will be divided among the charities chosen,” said calendar publisher Peter Martin of Trinidad. “It’s our hope to continue the Humboldt Honey project in future years, and establish it as a non-profit foundation dedicated to good works in Humboldt County.”
The calendars are being sold county-wide at locations including the North Coast Co-op in Eureka and Arcata, Moonrise Herbs in Arcata, Humboldt State University Bookstore, Borders in Bayshore Mall, Blake's Books in McKinleyville, and many others.
For more information, or to order the calendar online, please visit www.HumboldtHoney.org.
Sabel Rose, June model for the 2008 Humboldt Honey calendar, soaks in the Humboldt sun near Jacoby Creek./Kyana Taillon
005
The Importance of Organics for Medical Marijuana Patients
b y originally
S u m o published
Maui flowering outdoors in a greenhouse
in
Issue
B u r n s t a d #9
of
The
Bullhorn
Magazine
The Importance of Organics for Medical Marijuana Patients
W
hen trying to figure out if organics is growing. Of course this may be “bad science” since important or not it might be good idea the article appeared in “The American Journal of to know what the term organic actually means. Physics”, not in a white paper by Cargill or Monsanto. Organic is a term with several different But reducing production costs and building meanings. To the chemist it means a compound soil health are not the main concerns of most that contains carbon. To the USDA medicinal marijuana patients, so why it means whatever will increase should they care if their medicine is The fact that we are agribusiness profits. To the usual grown organically or in a chemical still alive after eating organic truck farmer it means vat? It’s a one word answer – residues. “chemmie” foods not using “artificial” (petroleum indicates that for most Fertilizer residue is probably not based) fertilizers, herbicides or healthy people it is of too bad, however, herbicides and pesticides. To the biodynamic small immediate risk. pesticides are specifically designed to farmer it means adhering to a Long term reactions kill organisms. Shocking as it may be complex philosophical system. and individual for some, homo sapiens are constructed reactions may vary. I use the term organic to mean out of exactly the same building blocks This is particularly not using industrially produced and processes as the rest of the organisms true for people with artificial chemical products and, on the planet Earth. If a compound can to a limited degree, adhering to compromised immune kill a spider mite, it might have an effect systems whether a holistic systems approach to on a person. One of the most insidious the immune system growing. What we are trying to realities of chemical pest control is that has been impaired accomplish is the production of dosages must increase and toxicity of the unintentionally through healthy unadulterated produce by chemical must increase to compensate disease or intentionally insuring and increasing the health for the adaptability of the pests. by chemotherapy. For of the soil and all the organisms Another benefit of developing a healthy these folks a dose of in and around the garden. organic soil is that healthy plants are systemic pesticide can much more resistant to exactly the So how does this relate t o be deadly. conditions that the chemicals are conventional agricultural trying to control. Healthy organisms practices. An accurate of any species are less apt to have summation of current diseases or parasites of any genre. agribusiness methodology was made by A. A. Bartlett: Aids patients are especially at “Modern agriculture is great danger from common fungi the use of land to convert and molds, which would have petroleum into food.” This an exceedingly minor effect on statement was made in 1978 healthy people. Unfortunately, and since then the use of many of the chemicals sold to petroleum based fertilizers, control these pests are extremely pesticides and herbicides toxic, since these primitive life has increased several forms are very resilient and need hundred percent while pest the “Big Hammer” approach to damage has also increased and yields per acre attempt to control them. Better you should grow have decreased. It would appear that modern a healthy plant that provides its own defenses. ag practices do not conform to natures way of
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T h e Emerald Triangle
Legacy
Pink Jasmine
It was a perfect end-of-summer day to be working in the greenhouse. The weather was still warm enough to produce sweat on my brow. Just as the sweat was about to drip from my feverish face, the much anticipated falltime breeze came through to add a refreshing crispness to the air. That is when I became inspired to let everyone know why I began growing this beautiful and spiritual plant, marijuana. My husband and I left Humboldt County to further our professional careers. We were given the opportunity to move to Idaho to manage a 26,000 sq.ft. grocery store. When we left Humboldt I was pregnant and looking forward to building a family in a new location. Time passed quickly working 60 hours/ week. Our daughter was born at home, despite the discouragement from several doctors in Idaho, who are not enthusiastic about the idea of home births. After our daughter finally arrived on this earth, I knew that I could not just leave her at the baby-sitters all day while I went to work. Knowing that our family was back in Humboldt, California, my husband and I decided to move back and start growing medical marijuana. At the time there was not a “grow store� on every other corner, when we came back from Idaho growing marijuana was not as socially accepted or as much part of the culture as it is today. To be honest, in the beginning of our growing adventure, I thought this would be a great way to make quick and easy money. As time goes by my thoughts and spirit have evolved into a higher thinking. Growing allows me to stay home and raise my child, something that I am thankful for every day, but it also allows me to help many people in my community that desperately need it. As my husband and I were novices at this growing game, we continually worked together. The process of learning to grow marijuana really brought my husband and I closer and it allowed us to quench our creative thirsts, constantly building and planning for the next run. We learned what it takes to have a successful harvest. It was not as easy as so many may think. We were sceptical to buy any of the informative grow books, so we came up with our own methods of what worked for us and our growing style. The more I think about where I was 11 years ago, the more I realize the positive effects that marijuana has had in my life. I am extremely gratified for the doors that it has opened for me in my mind and my heart. After meeting so many people who use marijuana for medical purposes, I realized why I have been drawn to this miraculous herb; suffice to say that I became a medical marijuana caregiver. I saw how horrible that health care system is in this country throughout my pregnancy, and that has been the major focus of why I grow marijuana; for medical reasons. Everyday there is someone new who discovers marijuana to be helpful for whatever ailment they may have. Whether it be headaches, MS, sleep disorders, PMS, stress, glaucoma, cancer, and the list goes on. The evolution of my mind has allowed me to realize the benefits
Contrary to popular belief, many growers
of marijuana in so many lives. There are numerous families are hard working, tax-paying, home owning, my husband and I have helped and productive members of our society. with growing marijuana. Not only the smoking of the herb, but the The following story is from the perspective monetary value that goes along with it. of a family that must constantly negotiate I am proud to say that I have the twists and turns of earning a living by helped put students through State Universities with the good paying work growing medical grade cannabis. that growing marijuana generates. Also just imagine if those 3.5 GPA and higher students did not have their medicine to help relieve their college stress. It is nice to know that they will not be owing the Government loan money after graduation. I am sure some of you have worked with ill people before, and if you haven’t I’m sure you will see someone dear to you become ill. The hardest thing for me, as a caregiver, is to witness patients who are debilitated, taking doctor prescribed pharmaceuticals, getting weaker and sicker. One case I just witnessed was a dear friend going through an internal problem. I believe with all of my heart, that if it were not for medical marijuana, this man would be dead. His problem became so extreme that he could no longer smoke marijuana, because of the coughing after inhaling. I made marijuana butter for him to put in his food, so he could continue to medicate with marijuana. If he was not able to get relief from marijuana, I believe that his health would have deteriorated rapidly from an inability to eat food and hold it in. America’s health care system was watching him get weaker. Since the doctors can’t see you fast enough and the emergency room unable to help, he had to wait for 3 months, after which a doctor said that his condition could be fatal if not taken care of ASAP. It is my perception that insurance companies can have a lot of people die before payout on surgery if only they wait a little while. His condition lasted for a little longer than five months and recovery was 3 months and now he is doing unbelievably better! There are also the numerous, often forgotten by the Government, Veterans of War for whom my husband and I are frequently providing our services. It gives me great pleasure to pay my respects to these heroes and supply them with medical marijuana. Lending a helping hand has always been something that I enjoy. Lightening another persons load, whether it be manual labour, an empathetic ear, or simply a hug and a smile has always brightened my day. I was raised to believe that marijuana was one of those “bad drugs”. As an adult, I know that what I was taught to believe must become my personal experience to know what is right in my heart. It is a difference of believing what is told to you and accepting that as truth, or using your own mind to know your own truth. I am proud to be a partner in Generating Righteous Organic Weed and to be of service to so many patients. Gratitude is the open door to abundance. Keep growing organically. In light, peace, and love.
023
M A U I
I N
Maui flowers late outdoors.
Outdoor harvests in Mendocino County are ready during the last week of October, often requiring a green house or the ability to tarp the growing area in case of wind and rain. Outdoors, Maui becomes very large. One maui plant needs to have an eight foot diameter growing space to reach its full potential. At
M E N D O C I N O
the end of the outdoor season Maui turns beautiful shades of red and purple. The longer you leave a maui plant to finish, the more purple it will turn. Plants started indoors in January have yielded four pounds on a single plant. Average outdoor plants started in May under optimal conditions yield between two to
three pounds per plant. Plants started as late as July 20th have evolved into .5 pound to .75 pound plants in Mendocino County. One of the greatest qualities of this strain is it’s flexibility and willingness to bend and supercrop.
GROW Girls! What can we say about these beautiful girls, Don’t stop the magic!! Go GROW GIRLS!
These grow girls know how to get it done. From transplanting, to watering, feeding, topping, cleaning, and harvesting. It’s all done with a lot of hard work and dedication. These girls from Northern Humboldt have completed another successful season.
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new features
HUMBOLDTGROW.COM V
isit our new website to get the latest up-to-date features and current grow-news. Visit us at www.humboldtgrow.com and on myspace.com/ humboldtgrowmagazine
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f you like some of the unique artwork and photography that you see in the magazine, take a look at some of the products that we have available in the Humboldt Grow Store. We currently have sweatshirts, hats, and women’s tank-tops available.
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ake a look at humboldtgrow.com to see the lates photos and artwork as it comes to us in the humboldtgrow office.
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he Humboldt Grow blog can help you keep track of what is going on concerning medical marijuana policy, law enforcement, festivals, live shows and anything else.
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id you miss out on the first issue? Take a look at the first issue by downloading the pdf or you can also order a hard copy from the Humboldt Grow Store. If you would like to send us an idea for an article, product review, photos of your grow, or anything else, please email us at info@humboldtgrow.com or humboldtgrowmagazine@gmail.com
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n the next issue of Humboldt Grow : • • • • • •
2007 C.A.M.P. statistics Lake County; Outside the Triangle 2007 Cannabis Cup results SoHum Guerilla Crop More on the Arcata residential grow debate Hash Making 101
PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
Send us pictures of your grow! Send images to humboldtgrowmagazine@gmail.com
A
n old man stood in the night time shadows on the end of Mainstream Drive. He was tall and thin, with long silver hair and an even longer beard, which was tucked under a belt whose buckle was a large, silver, seven-pointed leaf. His blazing red eyes were hidden behind half-moon mirrored spectacles, which sat on the tip of a long, crooked nose. He wore a heavy purple robe with blue trim, pants with yellow and red stripes, and a long undercoat interwoven with intricate patterns of the same leaf as that on his belt. The leaf appeared again on
the large buckles which adorned his highheeled boots. All of his clothes were made of 100% pure hemp. The man’s name was Alwaze Duinthadope. He reeked of marijuana so strongly that police dogs were howling thirty blocks downwind. Duinthadope didn’t seem to realize that he was in a neighbourhood where everything from his scent to his buckles was unwelcome. He glanced up at the thin sliver of moon, then looked impatiently at his wristwatch, which had five hands and the number 4 at all twelve points on the dial. “Almost 4:20 in Moscow...” he muttered to himself. “I hope he gets here soon.” DANA LARSEN is the author responsible for creating Hairy Pothead. Dana was the editor of Cannabis Culture Magazine for 10 years (1993-2003) and he is also the author of the Pot Puzzle Fun Book. You can read more of the story at http://www. hairypothead.net