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Contributing Writers
David Pogge david@headquest.com C: (404) 477-7009
Jonathan Branch
Therese Galati accounting@headquest.com
Matt Weeks Rudy Carrillo
Ryan Mills
Jonathan Branch
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CONTENTS
22
Smoke Signals
Quick, fun reads that are almost as believable as the real media. Don’t believe a word.
32
Women in Cannabis
Plesio Health founder, Rebecca Abraham is curing with chronic.
Heads of Industry
44 Purr(fect) Glass: How the pipe dreams of a bong business became a ripping success.
The Green Room
52 A living legend: Dana Beal has been on the frontline of the culture war for 60 years. He’s not stopping.
HQ After Hours
Come explore the fun side of adulting.
64 The Science is In. We told you weed enhances sex. Now we have proof.
68 PleasureQuest
A Katy Perry-approved toy, and a vibrator that syncs with your needs.
HeadSpace
Weedy topics for wonks and chin-scratchers.
72
Cannaversities?
Sneaking weed into universities is now part of the syllabus.
80
Pothead Pros
Pro Athletes are changing the game and powering the cannabiz.
EdQuest
Puff, puff, class in session!
84
The Hemp Report
New state regulations come through on the nascent hemp beverage market. It’s a mixed bag.
88 Everyone Get Some Botany Bay’s Ginny Saville serves up retail gold with a detailed explanation of her employee incentive program, developed over 27 years.
96 Straight Up Vapes
Back to the basics: Everything a beginner needs to know about vapes, from whip to cartridge.
104
Quest 4 the Best
Creature x GEAR Collabs, Gadgets, Goodies… and more!
110
Industry Associations
The AVM is back with their hard-hitting monthly column, sifting the fact from the fiction.
Unique Hydrating Experience
SLOW BURNING Smooth & Mild
CENTER IMAGES: A MACHINE RENDERING OF OUR THEORY THAT THE REALITY CONCTOCTED FOR HUMANITY BY THE MACHINES HAS ENCOUNTERED PROGRAMMING GLITCHES AND DESCENDED INTO CHAOS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO TRY TURNING OFF REALITY AND TURNING IT BACK ON.
1Not intended to be a partisan statement; it’s just reality, and right now, reality is f*cking weird, which is our only point.
features Fun-Sized
High-Fructose Corn Syrup for Your Brain
MATRIX THE IS BROKEN
5 REASONS WHY WE THINK REALITY IS UNRAVELLING
The sitting president has dropped his bid for reelection with only 107 days left. The Republican party, traditionally the herald of law and order talking points, is backing a convicted felon, and it looks like those soft-handed “libs” just annointed a prosecutor1. Meanwhile, the Holy Land is being bombed back to the time of Christ, and Taylor Swift is in what appears to be a healthy relationship. The Matrix is broken. We should have taken the red pill. Here are 5 more signs that Neo is getting his ass beat by Agent Smith right now.
Note: All five of these are true stories, but admittedly, some of our creative musings about said stories may be inaccurate.
Cocaine Sharks
Forget the action/horror movie Cocaine Shark from 2023. Real cocaine sharks have been found in Brazil. It turns out, however, that sharks aren’t throwing three-day raves; instead cocaine from human feces and urine are apparently making its way into the sharks’ ecosystem. Thus far, no sharks have complained.
Depressed Bears?
Yes, even the bears are saying f*ck it all. Floridians have been asked to stop taking selfies with a bear on the side of the highway that according to Walton County Sheriff’s office, is “clearly not in the mood for pictures. The bear has shown signs of severe stress.” Me too, dude. Me too.
Church Gives Away AR-15
A church in Johnson City, Tennessee ,raffled off an AR-15 during Independence Day weekend. Someone might be taking “the full armor of God” a bit literally. But remember, if Jesus had a handgun, he wouldn’t have been nailed to a cross. Checkmate, atheists!
Bullet Vending Machines?
Bullet vending machines are using Artificial Intelligence and facial recognition software to sell bullets like candy bars. When asked for comment the vending machine responded, “Bullets don’t kill people, humans do.”
Hello Kitty: Not the Species You Thought
Hello Kitty, the white, furry creature with whiskers and pointy ears, is not a cat, according to the company who created this (apparently) human little girl. They also claim she’s five apples tall (is that an English measurement??), loves to bake, and is filled with the existential dread that living is temporary and we’re all just meat husks waiting to die in a malfunctioning simulation. We may have injected that last part. Anyway, this comes as a shock to some fans who are in denial, while others insist it’s just a normal furry fetish.
Roller Coasters were intended to distract people from sin. no Sh*t?
&Garfulnkel.
Content curated and composed by Jonathan Branch & David Pogge
DIY Herbal INfusion
The Easy Butter Company is Back!
Back to School: A Parent’s Surivival Guide
The kids are heading back to school, so it’s time for the infamous Target run to get whatever they need to survive the school year. While you’re out, make sure you take care of yourself too; you deserve it. “Hit the gas mask first,” as the adage goes… right? Here’s our top three must-have items to make it through the semester.
Hemp Gummies. THC gummies are our favorite way to partake in public, and they’re easy to share with others, so be a pal and help out your fellow child-havers. And be sure to bring a bag to the school play; your kid will be the next Tom Hanks. Got a kid in band? Don’t worry; if weed can make Phish listenable, it’ll make the school troupe sound like the London Symphony. For a nice, grown-up buzz with just the right balance of the cannabinoids we love, check out Know Natural’s new line of chewy treats. Their clever blends of terpenes, cannabinoids and functional mushrooms work some serious magic.
Hemp Salve. Some parents like to sit in the back and some are out there shaking hands and kissing babies. If you’re running for PTA president, a great hemp-based salve for those rugged hands is a must. You’ll feel great, and anyone who shakes your hand will feel great too. If you’re not sure what to grab, consider giving Sam’s Cooling Pain Salve from Yin Yang infusions a whirl. It’ll soothe your aches and moisturize those rough edges away.
An Incognito Vape. It’s important to be prepared if the gummies take too long to kick in. Any “head” worth their salt has a vape on hand, and the more low-key, the better. For optimal results, reach for the Pulsar DL series. This pen is designed for discretion with a housing that looks like a disposable nic vape and slides over a classic 510-threaded thick oil cartridge. The 2.0 unit o ers five voltage settings, an option for breath or button control, and boasts a 1000mAh batter for extended sessions on the go.
Long ago, back even before TikTok was a thing, there was this fantastic little business called the Easy Butter Company, with a flagship product that shared their namesake. If you were around back in the mid-2010s, you probably remember them, and likely have been wondering whatever happened to their ingenious little herbal infusion unit. Well, wonder no more; they’re back, and they’re absolutely on fire with a blazing new line of products for the DIY growers and homemade edible enthusiasts out there. We were fortunate enough to score a few minutes on the phone with their founder, Damon Pfeifer right at press time, and he was kind enough to fill us in on all the exciting new developments.
So, it’s CHAMPS week. Are you guys in Vegas?
No, we are revamping everything and working hard on bringing a dozen new products to the playing field, including over 24 new products from our sister company, MarijGro, which is a fertilizer company. By the time your article comes out, everything will be launched and active on our website.
Great. Let’s talk about the journey and inspiration behind Easy Butter. You started in hydroponics over 25 years ago and then pivoted into developing the Easy Butter Maker in 2013. What led you to move into herbal infusion products?
I was inspired by the great results of Rick Simpson Oil, which helped shrink cancer tumors. I wanted to find a fast way to make cannabis butters and oils so people could produce their own medicine for different diseases and chronic illnesses. That’s how we developed the Easy Butter Maker, a simple and fast way to strip out cannabinoids and make medication.
I remember the Easy Butter Maker being simpler than other machines on the market. It wasn’t heavy on digital components or mechanized processes. You could just set it on a stove and it would do the rest, right?
A hundred percent. You can take it camping with you, no electricity needed. You just need a heating element like a Coleman stove. There are no mechanical or electrical parts to fail.
Let’s break down the process.
To operate the unit, you unscrew the bottom, add the cannabis in the filter—you need about 9 grams for two sticks of butter— and fill the bottom with butter, oil, or milk, along with two
Continued on Page 24
of Toyota Prius is Toyota Prii.
Strawberries and raspberries are not berries, but bananas are.
Smoke Signals
Trade Show Roundup
Colorado Convention Center 700 14th st Denver, CO 80202
Begins: 09/24/2024
Ends: 09/25/2024
CHAMPS Trade Shows
Las Vegas Convention Center 3150 Paradise Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89109
NACS Show 2024
Cobb Galleria Centre 2 Galleria Pkwy SE, Atlanta, GA 30339
Begins: 10/07/2024
Ends: 10/10/2024
Begins: 10/08/2024
Ends: 10/12/2024
ounces of water. The water creates pressure, pushing everything through the center and infusing the cannabis. We recommend running your plant matter through three times to extract maximum cannabinoids.
You have a gummy mixer in the works, too. How does it work?
Yes, we have a gummy mixer coming out, but first, we should talk about our gummy mixes. They come in a 6.4 oz package and are available in four delicious flavors. After making the oil with the Easy Butter Maker, you can add the results to our gummy mix. Then, you can use our mixer that heats and stirs the mixture for you. Typically, if you run it three times like we recommend and follow the recipe, you get a consistency of around 9-10 milligrams per gummy. It’s incredibly cost-effective compared to buying gummies from dispensaries. But you’re not limited to just what you make with the Easy Butter Maker; you can add whatever you want to the mix—like vitamin powder or mushroom powder—to make gummies.
What’s the target retail price for the gummy mixer?
Evolve by Phish: Recommended for Fans of Phish
By Jonathan Branch
Do you enjoy tripping on mushrooms and getting nonsense advice from your deadhead dad? Then plug in your phonograph and give the new album “Evolve” by Phish a spin. This concept album is a series of lullabies written for a child that you want to keep confused. Traumatizing kids is hard but with lyrics like, “In this pepperbush of colonial ice, The cashier’s fan is a life-saving gun” your kids will stay confused well into their 30s. The title album song “Evolve” is currently used at Montessori schools to teach the creation of the universe. And if anyone can explain what a “pillow jet of sound” is, please email david@ headquest.com so he can pass it on to the team. We’ve all stopped working until we can figure this out.1 1Virtually none of the facts posited in this blurb are in fact, factual.
Don’t forget! You can now absorb all the brilliance of HQ without even sounding out the vowels (besides these). Introducing HQ2, the official podcast channel of the top publication in the counterculture industry. Tune in for in-depth bi-weekly conversations where we nerd out hard on the space’s stickiest topics, or just pop in for audio versions of our top feature articles, perfect for on-the-go listening. HQ isn’t just a magazine anymore; it’s a full sensory experience.
Between $69 and $79, with a one-year warranty. We take care of all warranties right here in Lancaster, Ohio.
Anything else you want to add about your products?
We have nice food-grade molds in different shapes, which are wonderful. We’re also coming out with shakes for gummies. And by shake, I mean a powdery coating that can be applied to the surface of the gummy. A lot of people like to add shakes to their gummies, especially the sour ones, so we’re really excited about that too. Our goal is to make everything fast, easy, and fun.
That’s great. What’s next for Easy Butter?
We’re working with our sister company, MarijGro, on eco-friendly fertilizers and an all-in-one grow kit. It includes everything you need to grow a plant, from soil to seeds to fertilizers. We aim to democratize medicine and make it accessible for everyone.
So, between the two companies, you have a series of simple solutions that cover everything from seed all the way to gummy. Very cool. It’s almost like you guys are developing the home brew kit for stoners and I love it.
It goes back to our Slogan: We put the fun back in baking—and that follows through our whole product line. We just try to bring simplicity with everything we make. It doesn’t have to be difficult.
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FRESH WHIP
made of the highest–quality materials and are engineered to the highest standards, reflecting in over 60 years’ manufacturing expertise. FreshWhip places emphasis on product design, quality and innovation. FreshWhip Infused Chargers are filled with the purest, highest quality Nitrous Oxide (N2O) gas available.
Our FreshWhip products are made of the highest–quality materials and are engineered to the highest standards, reflecting in over 60 years’ manufacturing expertise. FreshWhip places emphasis on product design, quality and innovation. FreshWhip Infused Chargers are filled with the purest, highest quality Nitrous Oxide (N2O) gas available.
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SUPREMEWHIP 8.2G CREAM CHARGERS come in 24, 50 and 100 counts.With our luxury Platinum Edition and Banana 100 Count being our unique honorable mentions. NITROUS OXIDE GAS
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• Guranteed no oily residue or industrial aftertaste.
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• Made of 100% recyclable steel.
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• Universal - standard 8g fitting.
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By Rudy Carrillo
Rebecca Abraham is yet another extraordinary human facing another heroic task. A nurse by trade and more importantly, by inclination Abraham is working to convince the relatively conservative American medical community that cannabis does indeed have a role to play in clinical practice. She believes that including the plant’s use as part of the healing process in hospital and home settings would benefit many, including those who suffer from chronic pain, inflammation, or cancer; in other words, those who are in the most need of a nurse’s (and the cannabis plant’s) healing touch.
The American story is filled with such stories of everyday heroes. If you read closely, you’ll see that many of these storied individuals are themselves invested in the health and well-being of those around them. Sometimes they’re even first responders. And if you read between those mythic lines, you may also notice that many among that cadre of heroes are women who heal.
Abraham is one of those, or all of the above, if you prefer. No matter how you spell it out or categorize it, Nurse Abraham is a healer. We had a sit down with the founder of Plesio Health to learn more about the learned practitioner’s philosophy, current work, and background in the health sciences— all very important aspects of a soul whose mission rests on at least three foundations of modern medical practices: science, compassion and quality of life.
CARE OF THE FUTURE
Abraham’s story has its roots in her youthful work in a traditional hospital setting. But the tale really began to grow, revealing strong branches that reach outward when she left that setting.
As she looks back on that departure, her words are poignant.
“When I think about what led me to leave a very stable, traditional career in the health sciences in order to venture into a relatively new area in health care and then to gamble everything on that venture I’m reminded of what a friend of mine, an epidemiologist once said: ‘I truly believe that plant medicine and cannabis are as game-changing for symptom control in medicine as were antibiotics for infection control.’”
I’VE BEEN PRESENTING AND LECTURING ON CANNABIS AND ITS MEDICAL . . .
Now, that may seem like a heady statement, and certainly, it’s been argued before. But maybe not with the outright compassion, determination, commitment to patients, and sense of revolutionary action that Abraham uses to drive her vision and her enterprise forward, planting seeds as she goes.
“I think we’re witnessing profound changes in healthcare,” she continues. “This is one of the biggest changes we’ve seen in 100 years, and I’m like a shark; I keep swimming, and I’m very motivated to keep up with that sea change.”
Abraham was certified in cannabis nursing at the beginning of her hero’s
journey. “I’ve been presenting and lecturing on cannabis and its medical efficacy since nursing school, way before it was fashionable. Then I got certified, and some doctors [that I worked with] were like, ‘That’s a business because you really can’t do that sort of work in a hospital.’ They implied that although they wanted to help patients, they weren’t comfortable sending them to a retail dispensary. But they could, it turns out, send them to a nurse for medical guidance. That’s how the idea began and where we began to establish ourselves, as it were, in the soil of the patient community.”
The resulting relationship between business and client was mutually beneficial. It turns out that, as Abraham’s vision blossomed, what she thought would be a smallish boutique business grew into a much-needed, service-oriented organization capable of providing patients with healing powers discovered by the latest in medical science and its ongoing investigation into cannabis.
. . . EFFICACY SINCE NURSING SCHOOL, WAY BEFORE IT WAS FASHIONABLE.
“It grew naturally and with the community it serves, as patients determined that cannabis should be part of their medical regimen. I’d be out talking to people about what we do at Plesio, and patients would come forward and say, ‘I really need that’ or ‘My mom needs that,’ so there was a lot of connecting with the community. The result was that our little boutique business became a nationally recognized start-up.”
Continued on Page 36
one-on-one dosing sessions with one of our nurse practitioners; the plan includes three appointments,” Abraham explains, outlining their process. “First, we do a medical assessment. Then, we go through the resulting care plan, what to buy, and what range of cannabis to use. Then, we discuss other nonpharmacological interventions that will stimulate the endocannabinoid system, as well as diet and exercise. And we follow up closely. About fifty percent of our patients do great after those three appointments; some will book more appointments. Our medical director is really passionate about connecting with our patients’ care teams.”
Getting her vision of the world to sync with the views and practices of a very traditional professional culture hasn’t always been easy for Abraham, but she remains optimistic and, most importantly, maintains a sense of heroism about the journey she’s on.
We have a hypothesis we can prove. We test, and we publish our results. We’ve been published a couple of times now for our case studies at Plesio Health.
When asked if patients are referred to Plesio only after traditional clinicians run out of effective treatments for significant medical issues like pain management, Abraham was upfront and optimistic about the medical milieu: “It’s not necessarily that doctors don’t believe in it. About fifty percent don’t know the science. The fifty percent who do know about the science—and agree with it—aren’t officially taught about it in med school. The end result is that they don’t feel comfortable making any recommendations. Additionally, the dosing that we do often requires fine-tuning over time. Most physicians don’t fit that sort of procedure . . . into the traditional appointment time, complicating matters. So, we’ve become a muchneeded extension of the traditional system, much like nurse educators, diabetes nurses, home health care nurses. We’re absolutely needed and absolutely changing the perception of how cannabis benefits certain patients.”
Plesio Health basically provides a bridge between traditional treatments and outcomes and a personal medical model of the future where patient needs and the latest cannabis science are on the frontline of treatment efforts. “For a pretty low price, around $300, patients get a personalized plan that includes
“Having worked in academic medicine myself, as a bedside nurse, at one of the best medical centers in the country—which means that there are a lot of highperforming, over-achieving professionals in that setting—I realize I had this thought the whole time: How do I convince doctors, who are not inclined to listen to an RN, that cannabis works for their patients? Eventually, I figured I would do it like I did anything else in my life, using science, determination, and compassion. We have a hypothesis we can prove. We test, and we publish our results. We’ve been published a couple of times now for our case studies at Plesio Health. I’d like to think I was a very good nurse, but more importantly, that I am doing what works and what is safe for patients. That’s what makes us different from many cannabis-ancillary companies; some of them are moving away from traditional medicine and established scientific norms, whereas we dove right in.”
TMAKE ME P Ü RR Purr Glass: Innovation, Agility & Longevity
here’s something about small companies. They move fast. They innovate. They provide god-tier customer service. Okay, maybe that’s not true for all small companies. But it is for Purr Glass.
Started as a college side hustle, the high-quality glass producer has become a reliable crucible of new ideas and innovative products. But more impressive than its functionally engineered pieces is the company’s ability to crystalball its way to the front of competition again and again.
“We’ve been at this a long time. We’ve seen a lot of companies come and go,” says owner Linda Zindroski. “Our ability to stay in the market really comes down to our ability to change, a lot of hard work, a willingness to be thoughtful and insightful, and listening to our community.”
Purr has been at the forefront of some of the greatest changes in glassware in the last two decades. Many of the concepts that are now industry standards—scientific hammer bongs, Sherlock double bubblers—were first offered by Purr.
“We were doing glass tips before glass tips were even a thing,” Zindroski says. “I remember going to trade shows and thinking, ‘Why is no one doing this? It’s such a great idea! They improve the smoking experience so much.”
Starting Small
In the modern economy, it’s Desire—not Necessity— who serves as the Mother of Invention. So when an art student trained in glass blowing realizes they can build a better functioning, better-looking bong, well…
“It was really just humble beginnings,” says Zindroski. “Just someone blowing glass who needed to make money and liked to smoke weed. We wanted something better than what was offered, wanted a little more ingenuity and innovation—and boom! That’s how it all started.”
Purr’s initial innovation was the perforated down stem. It’s a simple idea: add slits at the bottom of the percolator to allow for cleaner, tastier, and smoother pulls. The perforations filter out more of the non-THC material, ultimately delivering a better experience. (Today, this idea is more often known as “diffused” down stems, but the principle remains the same.)
Inspired by German craftsmanship, the company that would become Purr Glass started to create water pipes that combined elegant engineering with a sleek aesthetic. Finding success in their creation, Purr sold its first creations to head shops around Northern California.
“In the beginning, it was a completely wholesale, doorto-door only operation. We could only sell it as far we could drive,” Zindroski says. “It was all about catching a smoke shop owner who would be willing to talk at all and then trying to see if they would sell our stuff.”
Slowly, the quality caught on. Shop owners called and asked for more glass; things got serious. From 2003 onward, Purr began to grow in earnest. Seemingly overnight, they went from art students selling glass to a recognizable name brand.
“It’s not like I came from some sort of massive business background or anybody gave us money to start this business. It was 100 percent bootstrapped and has been to this day,” Zindroski says. “We’ve learned everything from the ground up. We came from an era where social media wasn’t something we grew up with. None of us had used it in our personal lives before having to learn it for the business. So, like everything we’ve ever done, it was completely new to us, and we had to sort of figure it out.”
Selling Big Without Selling Out
Becoming a real business came with challenges. An artist’s job is to reflect the state of the world back to the people; a business’s job is to predict the future. Becoming a business wasn’t what Purr had expected. But they used that to their advantage.
Beause their goal was always to create highquality glass, they weren’t concerned with how it happened. They didn’t fall in love with any one way of
Continued on Page 48
It’s not like I came from some sort of massive business background or anybody gave us money to start this business. It was 100 percent bootstrapped and has been to this day,
We are a small team. We used to be just a momand-pop shop. Some people think we’re this huge behemoth with investors, but no. We’re a very tiny operation, but we've managed to do a lot of things by being very thoughtful and thinking ahead.
doing business. That was fortunate because just as Purr entered the market, the cannabis world began changing—and fast.
“Not long after we started selling more, we decided to go to trade shows—and that was really scary because that opened us up to a lot of risk and vulnerability because that was the era of Operation Pipe Dreams,” Zindroski recalls. “But the shows introduced us to a much larger national and international market. Then, as legalization was starting to happen, the import market from overseas really started to impact wholesale trends. We quickly saw that we needed to pivot. We couldn’t just rely on wholesale because it wasn't going to cut it. So we decided to start connecting directly with our end users.”
And so Purr made the leap that doomed so many other brands: they successfully added a B2C component. The company was among the first to provide a modern e-commerce experience, building a sophisticated online store and informative website while most competitors were still betting on in-store sales.
“I truly feel like that always set us apart. Even today, I feel that our website experience and our customer service are second to none,” Zindroski says. “We are a small team. We used to be just a mom-and-pop shop. Some people think we’re this huge behemoth with investors, but no. We’re a very tiny operation, but we've managed to do a lot of things by being very thoughtful and thinking ahead. I think we also make very intuitive products and I think that's why our products have become such mainstream staples in the industry.”
Euphoric, Adaptogenic B E V E R A G E S
M o o d S h i n e H i g h
4 1 9 - 7 7 7 - 1 3 9 7
LIFE AFTER
By Matt Weeks
Have you ever wondered what happened to the idealism of the 1960s? It died . . . alongside cannabis activist Dana Beal.
Luckily, they’re both back now.
As the founder of the Youth International Party (aka the Yippies), Beal bears responsibility for a large part of American counterculture. He demonstrated at the 1968 Democratic convention. He marched with Dr. King. He’s been arrested time and time again, most recently for ferrying a van full of weed through Idaho (as of this writing, he’s out on bail).
DanaBeal: SIXDECADESOF SPEAKING TRUTHTOPOWER
And, yes, he died. Briefly.
Slight, but somehow imposing, with his shock of white hair and bushy handlebar mustache, Beal cuts a figure somewhere between David Crosby and Sam Elliot. He delivers stream-of-consciousness monologues in a gravelly tenor that barrels from the clinical to the political to the personal at breakneck speed, mixing factual recall with fantastical theorizing.
And he may be the best hope addicts have to get a new, controversial treatment using psychedelics.
“The problem is, I actually died,” he says. “It was a very eye-opening experience on a certain level. It took a while for it to sink in . . . What I have now is a whole second life. I died at 65. I’m 77, so I did have a life after death, but it was a different life. I’m still trying to figure it out, but it’s interesting. I’ll tell you, it’s a lot more interesting than being dead.”
DEATH
To hear him tell it, Beal was clinically dead. But also maybe in a coma. Either way, medical science brought him back. Now, he’s determined to see his life’s work reach a new milestone. While he still crusades for cannabis, he’s more interested in spreading the gospel of ibogaine.
For the uninitiated, ibogaine is a psychoactive compound found in the bark and roots of a Central African shrub. Native tribes chew the plant to stave off hunger and keep alert. In the 1800s, European explorers brought it home and sold it as a stimulant. More recently, it’s gained attention both as a recreational drug and a way to treat a variety of disorders, like
I died at 65. I’m 77, so I did have a life after death, but it was a different life. I’m still trying to figure it out, but it’s interesting. I’ll tell you, it’s a lot more interesting than being dead.
[IBOGAINE] ACTUALLY IS THE PLANT SACRAMENT. THAT’S NOT RHETORIC . . . THINK OF TREES IN WINTER. AT SOME POINT, THEY’RE GOING TO PRODUCE BUDS. AND THOSE BUDS, AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE SPRING WHEN THE LENGTH OF DAY GETS TO BE JUST RIGHT, THEY’RE GOING TO BLOOM AND THEY’RE GOING TO BLOOM FAST AND HAVE THIS TROPHIC REACTION WHERE THEY REACH OUT TO THE SUN. AND THAT IS WHAT [IBOGAINE] DOES TO YOUR NEURONS. IT MAKES ‘EM SPROUT.”
addiction, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries.
Although the medical community isn’t convinced of ibogaine’s efficacy, Beal is certain it can deliver real, lifechanging results. His zeal has led him to co-author a book about the drug and, more recently, travel to Ukraine with the hopes of convincing the army to treat their soldiers with it.
He likens ibogaine’s power to the Holy Grail from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Pour some on Sean Connery’s bullet wound, and it will rejuvenate the cells and kick-start a miraculous healing process. Even more impressive, however, is what it does to the brain. It functions in a similar way to SSRIs, such as Prozac, although its effects feel closer to a dose of magic mushrooms.
“It actually is the plant sacrament. That’s not rhetoric,” Beal says. “You can see what it does to neuroblastomas. It makes ‘em like sprout, like causing a leaf to bloom. Think of trees in winter. At some point, they’re going to produce buds. And those buds, at a certain point in the spring when the length of day gets to be just right, they’re going to bloom and they’re going to bloom fast and have this trophic reaction where they reach out to the sun. And that is what [ibogaine] does to your neurons. It makes ‘em sprout.”
American law classifies ibogaine as a Schedule I substance, mostly due to its reported side effects— seizures, anxiety, arrhythmia, and hallucinations. In a few instances, it’s been linked to deaths. And some researchers claim the drug can lead
Continued on Page 56
to harrowing 24-hour psychedelic trips, although there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of that occurring.
Internet communities devoted to the drug tend to share Beal’s enthusiasm for ibogaine’s efficacy but steer clear of advocating for its recreational value. Across social media and message boards, users share how the drugs helped them to quit cigarettes, overcome depression, and turn their lives around. But because psychedelic effects only kick in at high doses, known as “floods,” many caution against taking ibogaine outside of a treatment setting.
Beal is unconcerned about the recreational side, anyway. He’s concerned with its medical benefits, which require much smaller doses. At worst, a dose of ibogaine can give users a feeling of experiencing a “waking dream.” More commonly, users simply feel a little more alert.
“[Ibogaine] acts like serotonin, but it’s not serotonin,” Beal says. “One end of it is shape is like serotonin, but the other end is completely different, so when it gets in there, it has another action that is to express the nerve-growth hackers.”
He also believes that right now is the right moment to embrace the drug. As Americans warm to the mental health benefits of psychotropic drugs, it creates an opening for ibogaine. Published research, including some funded by the federal government in the 1990s, shows
it has the potential to help heroin users kick the habit. And treatment centers in Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, and Costa Rica all use ibogaine in addiction treatment.
For Beal, that’s simply not enough. He’s tried to get politicians of every stripe to endorse it. So far, he’s had few takers at the highest levels, so he’s going back to his roots with grass-roots activism. If he can spread the word, it might be the crowning achievement of his life. Or at least one of them.
“The Yippies were leading to ibogaine, basically,” he says. “Finally, we come up with something in the end, which is what the beatniks were looking for in the beginning: the holy grail.”
The Yippies were leading to ibogaine, basically. Finally,wecome upwith somethinginthe end, which is what the beatnikswerelookingforin thebeginning:theholygrail.
DOCUMENTING A LEGEND
Dana Beal: A Liftime of Service
1947
Born (January 9). 1963
1968
Gained recognition for his involvement in the 1968 Democratic Convention demonstrations.
1971
Referred to by The New York Times as a “major theoretician and behindthe-scenes leader of the underground youth movement.”
1978
The Yipster Times was renamed Overthrow.
August: Hitch-hiked to Washington, D.C., to attend the March on Washington and heard Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. October: Organized a demonstration of 2000 people to protest the Ku Klux Klan’s 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham.
1972
Founded the Yipster Times newspaper in Miami Beach, Florida.
1989
Helped organize the Rock Against Racism concerts. 1994
Marched at the head of the New York City Marijuana March. 1999 Major organizer of the worldwide Global Million Marijuana March (GMM or MMM).
2008
June 3: Arrested in Mattoon, Illinois, on suspicion of money laundering.
August 6: Charged with obstruction of justice related to the Illinois arrest.
2009
February: Organized the Boston Ibogaine Forum at Northeastern University. September 30: Arrested in Ashland, Nebraska, with 150 pounds of marijuana. 2011
January: Arrested in Barneveld, Wisconsin, with 186 pounds of marijuana.
September: Sentenced to 2½ years in prison in Wisconsin. September 27: Suffered a heart attack and underwent double bypass surgery. December 29: Prison sentence reduced by six months due to health issues.
2017
September: Helped organize the European Ibogaine Forum in Vienna.
December: Arrested in California with 22 pounds of marijuana.
2012
February: Turned himself in to the Wisconsin prison system. April: Moved to Saunders County jail in Wahoo, Nebraska, for a bench trial related to the 2009 arrest. December: Sentenced to 4-6 years in prison in Nebraska.
2015
Given an Honorary Board Seat on the New York State Committee To Legalize Marijuana.
DOCUMENTING A LEGEND (CONT.)
Dana Beal: A Liftime of Service
2018
Supported Sex and the City actress, Cynthia Nixon for New York Governor.
2023
Promoted ibogaine
2016
Organized a demonstration with a 51-foot inflatable marijuana joint at a Hillary Clinton rally.
2021
Organized “Joints for Jabs NYC” to encourage COVID-19 vaccination.
Gooding County, Idaho, after returning from on bail but not permitted to
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By Ryan Mills
Cannabis in the bedroom is not a half-baked idea. Whether you smoke it, pop an edible, or use a topical all over your body (dealer’s choice), the results are clear: Marijuana makes sex better. Is this a hot take? Maybe lukewarm at best. But it gets very spicy when science starts backing it up.
Some studies say it can make women more aroused and lead to more and better orgasms. Let’s close that orgasm gap! And for men, it can help reduce performance anxiety and related symptoms like the psychological causes of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. But let’s break it down.
Action, Satisfaction
A huge study (50,000 people-huge) found that folks who use weed tend to get more action. That’s right, lighting up might mean you’re getting something else up more often in bed. Not only that, but it can make your sexual experience better. This study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, found a positive association between marijuana use and sexual frequency. In simpler terms, people who toke up seem to get it on more often. The findings were consistent across all genders, age groups, and demographics, suggesting a broad potential influence of cannabis on sexual activity.
Another smaller study (200 people) of both women and men who already use cannabis found that a majority reported an increased desire for sex, while nearly 74 percent reported increased sexual satisfaction. But remember, everyone’s different. This study highlighted that many participants used cannabis specifically to enhance their sexual experiences, with a significant portion reporting improved sensations and pleasure.
Does Cannabis Really Crank Up the Heat?
There’s some back-and-forth on this. Some studies say weed can make you more aroused and lead to better orgasms, especially for women. But, the research on men isn’t as thorough. Plus, controlled studies are still
Continued on Page 66
LIGHT UP FOR BETTER SEX
kind of rare, so take this with a grain of salt. For instance, one study involving 373 women suggested that weed could increase arousal, enhance performance, and lead to better orgasms. Yet, this study was limited to a single office of a medical practice.
Another study from 2023, involving over 800 participants, found similar results but was also predominantly focused on women. The lack of male-focused studies leaves a gap in understanding the full picture of cannabis’s effects on sexual arousal and performance.
But the through line throughout most of these studies is that there are numerous benefits women experience as a result of combining weed and sex. Namely that it helps with common detractors of sexual activity like sleeplessness, anxiety, self-image, and pain and that’s a win.
Which Strain Works Best?
leave you too stoned to bone. Frequent use can affect your mood (hello, anxiety), memory (don’t you wanna remember that great night?), and appetite (munchies aren’t always a good thing). It’s all about finding that sweet spot where you feel relaxed but not incapacitated.
But like everything, sex is a subjective experience everybody likes what they like, and people like different things so do what makes you happy. If you enjoy smoking weed and having sex, keep on enjoying it. If you’re unsure, talk to your partner about mixing weed and sex. And if you don’t feel horny or sexy when you smoke, there’s no reason to force it. If you have a lot of anxiety about sex and smoking a joint generally alleviates stress for you, then marijuana may be an aphrodisiac for you.
. . . it’s not a magic bullet for everyone. If your goal is a night to remember, make sure you’re comfortable, relaxed, and open with your partner.
Honestly, there’s no magic strain. Avoid ones that make you paranoid or sleepy. Go for those that relax you or make you feel euphoric. Remember, sex is super personal—do what feels good for you. There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence about specific strains being better for sex, but without solid research, it’s all about trial and error. Some popular strains reported to enhance sexual pleasure include Sour Diesel for its energizing effects and Granddaddy Purple for its relaxing properties.
Weed vs. Alcohol
Both can lower inhibitions, but in the wrong doses, both might also mess with performance. While alcohol might loosen you up, it’s notorious for causing whiskey dick, and too much weed can
Weed and sex can be a fun combo for some, but it’s not a magic bullet for everyone. If your goal is a night to remember, make sure you’re comfortable, relaxed, and open with your partner. The key is to enjoy the moment and have fun. After all, the best aphrodisiac is feeling good and confident in yourself.
Fun fact: Did you know that
astronomer Carl Sagan was a longtime marijuana user and that he also weighed in on the benefits of combining weed and sex? He wrote in a 1971 essay that cannabis “enhances the enjoyment of sex” and “gives an exquisite sensitivity.” Anecdotally and science notwithstanding, that’s proof enough.
PLEASURE quest Insert Here for Grown-Up Fun
Trysta Neo
Get ready to roll into ecstasy! In the wide world of vibrators, there are a few who stand tall . . . by putting you flat on your back. Svakom has rolled out just that something special with the Trysta Neo, an interactive and intuitive rabbit vibrator featuring a firm ball that rolls around inside the head of its angled shaft, designed specifically to give your G-spot the attention it craves.
The rolling ball is complemented by Intelligent Mode–a feature that mimics the rhythm of sex with automatic changes in vibration mode and intensity. It’s like having a partner who doesn’t ask, “Did you come?” because they already know you did. Twice.
The Trysta Neo is part of Svakom’s Connexion Series, featuring FeelTechnology. This fancy tech allows you to sync your toy with adult video content, making your fantasies come alive. Plus, with the Svakom app, you can customize settings and even enjoy long-distance toy control and partner interaction.
Let’s talk presets, because the Trysta Neo is loaded like a teenager’s browser history. You get three G-spot ball speeds, and vibrations in five modes and five intensities. And here’s the kicker: you can turn the G-spot ball, shaft, and clitoral stimulator on or off independently. It’s like having a buffet of orgasms at your disposal.
Womanizer PREMIUM 2s
Let me upgrade you. The Prada of pleasure has arrived with the Womanizer PREMIUM 2–the newest iteration of the bestselling clitoral stimulator with Pleasure Air Technology, the star of the show. Imagine getting a gentle yet insistent oral delight, but with air. Yep, you read that right. The Womanizer doesn’t need to touch you to drive you wild. It’s like the lover who knows exactly how to tease you, getting you right to the edge without ever laying a finger on you. Gentle air vibrations both suck and massage your clitoris simultaneously, leading to an orgasmic experience that’s so intense, you might just see stars.
The Womanizer packs a punch with mind-blowing features such as:
Smart Silence – Ensures the toy only starts when it meets your skin.
Autopilot 2.0 – Alternates between intensity levels, keeping you on your toes, or should I say, on your back, in sheer ecstasy.
IPX7 Waterproof Rating – For those who like to take their adventures to the tub, shower, or even the pool (hey, no judgment here).
14 Intensity Levels – There’s a setting for every occasion.
With two sizes of stimulator heads and 240 minutes of marathon runtime, the Womanizer PREMIUM 2 is the kind of luxury we all deserve (do the math, that’s a lot of orgasms).
As cannabusiness grows, the nation’s colleges and universities are staying relevant by training the next generation. Well, they’re trying, anyway. Academic institutions have designed courses, certificate programs, and degrees to equip students with cannabis industry knowledge, but many live in fear of a shutdown.
Not that you can tell by the offerings. Colleges offer courses in cannabis genetics, marketing, regulations, and more, spanning every aspect of the industry. The University of Maryland’s School of Pharmacy offers a graduate certificate in medical cannabis for those who want to become more informed practitioners. At Harvard, future attorneys can take three hours on cannabis law. Want to become a certified Cannabis Cultivation Specialist? The City University of New York lets you take classes online.
Even technical colleges are “going green.” At Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, students prepare
for jobs in testing labs through the school’s cannabis major in laboratory science. The twoyear program’s curriculum mixes applicable standard classes, such as microbiology, with cannabisspecific courses that span both the arts (Humans, Cannabis, and the Forgotten History) with the sciences (Indoor Crop Production, Industry
Collegescoursesoffer in cannabisregulations,marketing,genetics, and more, spanning every aspect of the industry . . . Even technical colleges are “going green.”
Regulations & Compliance).
The benefits of such programs often go beyond the ivory tower. Like
many other schools, Hocking makes double use of their equipment by also running one of the state’s official testing labs. In the same way that college extension programs pass on the latest in agriculture breakthroughs to farmers, cannabis research centers can act as conduits to move the latest research and discoveries from academia to growers, sellers, and medical professionals.
Cannabis programs aim to boost local economies and prepare students to land jobs in a rapidly growing, well-paying industry. It should be a win-win scenario, but nothing about cannabis can ever be that simple.
Keep it in the Lab
Campuses are some of the most jarring juxtapositions of state and national laws. A syllabus may require a student to study weed in the lab, but their dorms prohibit it from crossing the threshold—sometimes under penalty of expulsion.
Coninuted on Page 74
ACADEMIC PROBATION
Even in places where medical and recreational uses are legal, the federal government can withhold funding from institutions that play too loose with the rules. Losing federal dollars does more than harm a school’s bottom line; it threatens long-term research projects and would likely cause a public relations nightmare.
Thus, meeting—and often exceeding— legal requirements is a must, and universities have come up with several creative ways to make things work. For example, many resort to stocking labs and growing gardens with low-THC hemp instead of allowing students to use the real stuff.
Outside of the classroom, the rules
are even murkier. To keep the feds away, colleges severely limit the kind of industry partnerships that define the modern college experience. Many schools ban cannabis companies from bringing branded merchandise to job fairs and prohibit them from advertising job openings on official university channels. The number of cannabis major scholarships, sponsorships, and partnerships are far lower than they would likely be if the industry were federally legal. The lack of connections deprives colleges of the kind of investments that fund state-of-the-art facilities, which in turn attract the best students and faculty and often lead to research breakthroughs.
For a college administrator, walking these fine lines can feel agonizing. The legal gray areas ensure that even the most meticulous policies can
sag under the strain of strict scrutiny. At any point, grandstanding pundits might drum up a new college scandal that foments public pressure from lawmakers and concerned parents.
Imaginethroughgoing the kangaroo court of a hearingdisciplinarysmallpossessingfora amount of legal substance that you’ve taken on $30,000 in student loans to study.
For college students, the rules can seem absurd. Imagine going through the kangaroo court of a disciplinary hearing for possessing a small amount of legal substance that you’ve taken on $30,000 in student loans to study. It’s enough to make anyone want to study Kafka.
While expulsion is rare, students caught holding, using, selling, or being under the influence of cannabis on campus can face punishments as severe as the loss of financial aid to criminal charges.
The Athletic Angle
As colleges work to rebrand themselves as both cannabusiness-friendly and anti-marijuana, their athletics consortium has also changed with the times. In June, the NCAA Division I council voted to take cannabis off its list of banned drugs for athletes participating in the football postseason.
Officially, members of the body claimed they were more interested in student health than in banning legal substances that do not confer a competitive advantage. In the minds of many in the public, however, the move was simply a nod toward reality.
Top-tier student-athletes, the kind who regularly make college football’s postseason, can make millions through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. And many are legally allowed to buy and use cannabis in their states. Disqualifying these athletes for weed not only damages the (very lucrative) product on the field but also hurts the feelings of the businesses and boosters who pay those student-athletes so handsomely. If a company pays a 20-year-old $5 million, they want to see him in the championship game, even if there’s a bit of weed in his system.
At the same time, most states have laws that prohibit cannabis companies (and others) from sponsoring NIL deals. In other cases, colleges themselves impose similar morality restrictions on sponsorships from companies in the business of alcohol, tobacco, pornography, and gambling.
That states, even those who have legalized all those things, try to keep them away from college students makes an odd kind of sense. Our society likes to pit its cultural battles on college campuses. They represent the country’s future, and their strange mix of tradition and progress speaks to both sides of the political spectrum.
But outside of the academic arguments, it’s clear that cannabis has been a part of college culture for generations. That it’s now become legitimate can feel like an inversion of the natural order; professors know more about weed than students. If legislators dislike that idea, it’s their own fault. As lawmakers continue to reduce college funding, academic institutions will act more like private businesses to recoup those losses. Responding to market pressures by offering cannabis education doesn’t just make for smart studies; it’s good business.
CANNAVERSITY
EST. 2012
SCORING HIGH
Pro Athletes: Pro Cannabis?
I know some of you still have a bit of pothead paranoia from when we would see professional athletes punished for smoking a joint or just getting caught with marijuana. The next day, we’d see articles shaming these players for setting a bad example. ESPN would fearmonger the audience about how cannabis is hurting the athletes and inhibiting them from competing at an elite level. How many of you remember the uproar over 23time gold medalist Michael Phelps ripping a bong at a South Carolina frat party? Remember how he lost a $100 million advertising deal with Kellogg because of a bong rip with the bros? The superhuman swimmer who held our undivided attention during the Olympics is a fellow 420 enthusiast. One of the all-time great running backs in NFL history, Ricky Williams, was suspended for the entire 2006 season due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy because he tested positive for marijuana. Now, the current pothead but retired athlete told USA Today that “in the future, teams are going to be supplying cannabis for the players.”
Luckily, cannabis rules are much more lax now due to collective
By Jonathan Branch
bargaining agreements and players’ unions. Now, in all major professional sports leagues, players who test positive for marijuana cannot be suspended, although they can face fines and mandatory
Now, in all sportsprofessionalmajor playersleagues, who test positive for marijuana cannot be althoughsuspended, they can face fines and mandatory treatment programs.
treatment programs. Back in 2019, the MLB removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. The NBA, as of 2021, has suspended random
marijuana testing and is only interested in performanceenhancing drugs and hard drugs. Both the NHL and MLS do not punish players for testing positive for marijuana but instead treat it like alcohol, where the focus is on treatment and education rather than punishment. It seems like we owe some former professional athletes an apology. It’s safe to say that the role of cannabis in professional sports has changed drastically and the worst that will happen is a “safety meeting.”
Now, almost 25 years after the birth of the modern internet and 15 years after the explosion of Facebook, players can take charge of their public persona. If you’re any kind of sports fan, I guarantee the algorithm has targeted you with some kind of talk show. I swear, my socials had Travis Kelce cotton mouth for months. I could not shake his podcast from my feed. It feels like just about every highprofile professional athlete has their own podcast, such as recent Super Bowl
From top to bottom:
1. Ricky Williams | Mertex | CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Allen Iverson | Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons
3. Al Harrington photo | Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-sa/2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons
4. Calvin Johnson Jr. | Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
5. Stephen Jackson Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
6. Travis Kelce | All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 | https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons
7. Matt Barnes photo | Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons
Professional athletes aren’t just talking about weed; they are actively getting involved in the business. Former NBA basketball player Al Harrington owns the largest Blackowned cannabis brand.
winner Patrick Mahomes and one of the best NBA players of all time, Kevin Durant. Former NBA player JJ Redick was able to use his podcast to become the head coach of the LA Lakers.
You’ll even find “special” episodes by former players.
The podcast “All The Smoke,” which is hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, has a special 4/20 episode where they each burn down a nice fat blunt and reminisce about cannabis. Matt Barnes talks about how he would smoke a blunt, take a nap, and then go play an NBA game. The realities of cannabis culture in professional sports are becoming mainstream and unfiltered by traditional media.
Professional athletes aren’t just talking about weed; they are actively getting involved in the business. Former
NBA basketball player Al Harrington owns the largest Black-owned cannabis brand. His company, Viola, has been dishing out to customers since 2011 after he saw the pain-relieving effects it had on his grandmother’s glaucoma. Legendary NBA player Allen Iverson introduced his own strain under the Viola brand called ‘96, which is an Indica strain crossed between Secret Kush Mints and Grape Stomper. Ricky Williams has a company that uses cannabis and herbs as an alternative to Western medicine called Real Wellness Herbal. Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson Jr. and his former teammate Rob Sims founded Primitiv, a medical marijuana company that offers everything from flower to candies to tinctures.
It’s safe to say cannabis is part of professional sports culture when you can see LeBron James partaking in the ‘air blunt’ celebration. Athletes are now advocating publicly for further changes to these player rules for their benefit, both recreationally and medicinally. More players are joining the cannabis business every day, and the stigma around the plant in sports is fading. I’m still holding out for the Snoop Dogg onfield weed accessories, with the obvious Martha Stewart collab.
THE HEMP REPORT
August 2024 Edition
Comparative Analysis: Three States’ Tackle the Hemp Beverage Question, & the Results Diverge Dramatically
By Nick Zavakos & Jeff Beverly
The increasingly popular hemp-infused beverage industry has found itself at the forefront of a wave of legislative changes and challenges across the United States. A patchwork of regulation has set the stage for an open economic laboratory.
In this piece, we’ll examine the latest developments in Louisiana, Iowa, and Minnesota, focusing on how these new laws impact hemp beverage product offerings for local businesses and comparing their economic impacts. We’ll highlight the challenges faced by companies in Iowa and Louisiana and celebrate the forward-thinking regulations in Minnesota.
Lousiana: A stifled market
Banning Sales in Gas Stations
Hemp beverages can no longer be sold in gas stations, significantly reducing their accessibility to consumers.
Restricting New Establishments
New restaurants and bars are barred from selling these beverages unless they have been grandfathered in with a permit obtained by June 17.
portion size reductions
The allowable THC content has been reduced from 8 milligrams per serving to 5 milligrams, with a maximum of 40 milligrams per package.
Sales Limits
Louisiana
Good Ole Boys & Grandfathers
In Louisiana, new legislation has significantly tightened the reins on the sale and distribution of hempinfused beverages. The recently passed House Bill 952 introduces several restrictions aimed at curbing the growth of the hemp beverage industry (See sidebar on right.)
The move gatekeeps the permit process for hemp drink sales in bars and restaurants seems to be a protectionist
maneuver by the alcohol industry, which views the rising demand for hemp beverages as a threat to their bottom line. However, this isn’t just about business competition; it’s a fight for the survival of over 2,000 hemprelated businesses in the state. Joe Gerrity, CEO of Crescent Canna, expresses mixed feelings, considering the legislation a partial win but lamenting the additional hurdles it imposes on the industry.
Coninuted on Page 86
Drinks are now considered a single serving, and only four bottles or cans can be sold together.
iowa: troubled waters
THC Limits and Serving Sizes
The new law limits THC in consumable hemp products to 4 milligrams per serving, but fails to clearly define what constitutes a serving.
Inventory Seizures
Local beverage companies reported that under the new guidelines, 80% of their current inventory is noncompliant. Businesses had until July 17th to sell their remaining inventory, otherwise it would be seized and destroyed.
Iowa’s hemp beverage companies are facing their own set of challenges, having recently filed a lawsuit against the state over new restrictive laws. The crux of their argument is that the new regulations, derived from House Files 2605 and 2641, are overly
Iowa
Legal Battles & Uncertainty
vague and conflict with federal law. (See sidebar for key points.)
Field Day Brewing Co. and other plaintiffs argue that the state’s own Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has historically approved
minnesota
beverages with varying serving sizes, add-ing to the confusion. As the lawsuit unfolds, the hemp beverage industry in Iowa have had to adapt their product offerings to maintain compliance while they fight for fairer regulations.
A Model for Progressive Regulation
In stark contrast, Minnesota has adopted a more progressive approach, fostering a thriving hemp beverage market. The state’s new law, effective July 1, allows breweries to sell hemp-derived THCinfused drinks on tap, provided they display the
necessary information otherwise required on a label. (See sidebar for key points.)
Dan Schnabel, taproom manager at Headflyer Brewing, notes the positive impact on business, with growing interest from both
Call to Action: Stay Engaged!
local and national retailers. As Minnesota gears up for legal marijuana sales, the state’s robust hemp program positions it well for a future of continued growth and innovation in the cannabis industry.
iowa (cont.)
Federal Precedent
The companies argue that the state law is preempted by federal regulations that already dictate serving sizes and THC content standards.
MINNESOTA: IDEAL CONDITIONS?
Reasonable Dosage Caps
Local beverage companies reported that under the new guidelines, 80% of their current inventory is noncompliant. Businesses had until July 17th to sell their remaining inventory, otherwise it would be seized and destroyed.
Economic Boom
The state has seen significant economic benefits, with over $11.5 million in revenue from hemp products in just 11 months. This success is attributed to the fair and well-regulated market that encourages innovation and growth.
Consumer Accessibility
Allowing these beverages to be sold on tap in breweries makes them more approachable and integrates them seamlessly into the existing beverage market.
The legislative landscape for hemp-infused beverages is rapidly evolving, with states like Louisiana and Iowa imposing stricter regulations that challenge the industry, while Minnesota serves as a glorious example of balanced and beneficial regulation. For hemp business owners, staying informed and adaptable is key. As we continue to advocate for fair and supportive laws, the successes and setbacks in different states provide valuable lessons and opportunities for the future.
Nick Zavakos and Jeff Beverly are founding partners at Know Naturals, a brand that offers an assortment of federally compliant, hemp-derived Delta-9 consumables, actively working to help steer state-by-state legislation, as well as provide products that remain compliant within those new frameworks . “Stay in the Know with Know Naturals!”
SKIN IN THE GAME
An Employee Incentives Program That Actually Works; Tips From a 27-Year Veteran
By Ginny Saville Co-written by Ryan Mills
I began my business in 1996 out of the trunk of my car. In the almost three decades in this industry and three locations later, I’ve seen my share of shake-ups. Covid-19 has been no different. I know those early days were intense and really messed with all of us, but navigating the fallout post-Covid has been just as tricky.
If you’ve been scratching your head trying to figure out how to keep your team motivated and your business thriving these days, let me share my approach with you.
Shakedown Street
So, we all know the pandemic flipped everything upside down, right? The labor market went bonkers, and suddenly, finding reliable employees felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. Is the labor market really that different now? Is it a Gen Z issue? Is it a result of the current economic forces? Probably all three. After hiring people in the same town for over two decades, I’ve seen a major shift. The pandemic just made it more obvious. We had to rethink how to manage and motivate our team. Any way you dice it, employees were not what they used to be, and I needed to come up with some sort of fix.
The Fix is in
Here’s where things get interesting. I introduced a team-based commission structure and incentivebased pay system that essentially makes everyone accountable for their work. Now, they get paid like
It’s a beautiful blend of teamwork and individual accountability. The results have been phenomenal, and the unexpected perks are off the charts.
I do. No more coasting along!
Each shop has a specific daily sales goal. Hit that goal, and $100 goes into a commission pool. Every two weeks, we divide the pool based on hours worked, ensuring everyone gets a piece of the pie. There’s a guaranteed minimum, so even the slowest shop gets about a $1 per hour boost—no one gets left behind.
This not only incentivizes employees to meet sales targets but also ensures they are rewarded for their collective efforts. It’s a beautiful blend of teamwork and individual accountability. The results have been phenomenal, and the unexpected perks are off the charts:
Self-Motivation. Now, everyone
has skin in the game. Employees have become their own toughest critics. Being late or slacking off can mean a dip in commission, so they stay on top of their game. It’s like giving them a superpower, and every two weeks, they get a fresh start. Messed up last time? No worries; there’s always another chance to get it right. It’s a continuous cycle of self-improvement.
Team Spirit. With everyone working towards the same goal, teamwork skyrockets. If someone is slacking, their coworkers aren’t having it. This friendly peer pressure ensures everyone pulls their own weight, as it directly impacts their paycheck. It’s amazing to see how this structure has fostered a collaborative environment.
Employee Transformation. Those employees who seemed like lost causes? You know, the ones you are ready to cut loose? Hold them accountable, and sometimes, they’ll surprise you in the best possible way. One of the most surprising and genuinely rewarding outcomes has been that the same employees that were previously struggling have unlocked a whole new world of potential. I’ve seen employees do a complete 180, transforming from ‘Why did I hire this person?’ to ‘Wow, they’re really killing it now!’ They’re harder on themselves than I could ever be. It’s like they’ve tapped into a new level of hustle, and it’s incredible to watch.
Cost Control. Linking pay to performance keeps labor costs in check without constantly upping hourly rates. I can reward my top performers without worrying about a bloated payroll.
Sweet Leaf
To sweeten the deal, I started offering direct commissions for selling branded merchandise. This means extra cash for employees who push those high-margin items.
For instance, if an employee sells a piece of branded merch, they get a 15 percent commission. Initially, this commission went into the general pool, but now, with a better tracking system, it goes straight to the individual. This has been a game-changer, giving employees extra incentive to push products that benefit the bottom line. Win-win.
The commission isn’t just about sales. It’s also tied to behavior. We operate on a system of half, full, or no commission based on behavior. Late without a good reason? Half commission. Major infractions? No commission. Yes, this is a tough-love approach, but it has made a world of difference in punctuality and has resulted in a more responsible crew.
The Final Cut
More than just a new pay structure, I enjoy going above and beyond for my team. Dental bills or car troubles I’ve got your back if you’ve got mine. I know it’s clichè, but my crew are family. I believe in taking care of my people because they take care of my business.
There’s something magical about a system that brings out the best in people. When your team starts performing with integrity and a sense of responsibility, the whole operation runs smoother. It’s not just about doing a good job; it’s about doing the best job possible with pride and professionalism.
A little creative problem-solving has truly turned things around for us and created opportunities out of challenges. The pandemic highlighted the importance of collaboration in the workplace and across the industry. My vision for the future is a cannabis industry where everyone works together, sharing knowledge and resources to elevate the entire field. By fostering a collaborative environment, we can ensure that everyone—from the smallest startup to the biggest player—thrives.
Ginny Saville is the owner, founder and selfdescribed “benevolent dictator of The Botany Bay, a wildly successful three-store chain in the greater metro area of Lexington, Kentucky that just celebrated its 27th year in business. When Ginny isn’t benevolently dictating at one of her locations, she can likely be found somewhere in the front row of a Revivalists concert.
TTECH HIGHS
Combustion-Free
Inhalation: A
Begginer’s Guide
By Rudy Carrillo
he first vaporizer I used looked like part of the archaic yet obscene drug inaling technology pictured on the cover of Ween’s second album, The Pod. Either that, or something used for nasty nebulizing by Lynchian bad guy Frank Booth in Blue Velvet. In either case, it wasn’t pretty, but you can be sure it did the job. And how. For a consumer used to the hot smoke of regular combustion, the smooth vapor produced by these units was nearly shocking.
That fresh difference is due to the heating process. When you burn a substance, like cannabis flower for example, that’s called combustion. Incomplete combustion produces smoke. That smoke, containing cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as other less beneficial substances like tar and oil, goes right into the lungs, but much is also burnt away.
those extra, potentially harmful substances – especially Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or PAHs, a chemical compound found in all types of smoke as a byproduct of burning material –while rendering the remaining plant material, extract, or oil into a highly potent, cannabinoid and terpene filled vapor. The idea behind vaping is that you are heating your cannabis at a lower temperature to activate the cannabinoids without chemically destroying them, while also decreasing the health risks associated with smoke.
On the other hand, the low, full range heat produced during vaporization prevents the creation and release of
Taking advantage of the benefits of vaping is just a matter of knowing about the types of processes and products available to consumers. Complete combustion or vaporization of cannabis products using a welldesigned and efficient vaping device is very important here, but it’s also important for consumers to know about the technology they’re embracing as they vape away the blues.
Note: The term ‘Nic Vapes’ relates to vaporizers and vaporization products that use nicotine as opposed to cannabis and/or its derivatives. This article is not addressing these products.
Continued on Page 98
Dry Herb Vaporizers
These devices, designed to heat dried cannabis flower and produce a vapor rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, have become a cornerstone in the vaping world.
Conduction Heating: Conduction vaporizers use direct contact between the heating element and the herb. This method heats the flower quickly but can sometimes lead to uneven extraction. Devices like the G Pen Pro utilize conduction heating and are popular for their rapid heat-up times and ease of use.
Dry herb vaporizers have evolved significantly from their rudimentary beginnings, providing users with a diverse range of options to suit various preferences and lifestyles. These devices, designed to heat dried cannabis flower and produce a vapor rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, have become a cornerstone in the vaping world.
Portable vs. Desktop
Portable dry herb vaporizers offer convenience and discretion, perfect for on-the-go use. These handheld devices typically feature rechargeable batteries, compact designs, and a variety of temperature settings, allowing users to customize their vaping experience. Popular models include the PAX series, known for their sleek design and consistent performance, and the Mighty by Storz & Bickel, celebrated for its robust build and powerful battery life.
Desktop vaporizers, on the other hand, are designed for home use and prioritize performance over portability. These larger units, like the iconic Volcano by Storz & Bickel or the Arizer Extreme Q, deliver superior vapor quality through more advanced heating systems and larger herb chambers. Desktop vaporizers often feature whip-style or balloon bag attachments, providing flexibility in how users enjoy their vapor.
Heating Methods and Chamber Types
The heating method used in dry herb vaporizers significantly impacts the overall experience. There are three primary types of heating methods:
Convection Heating: In convection vaporizers, hot air passes through the cannabis flower, evenly heating it and producing smooth, flavorful vapor. These devices, like the Firefly 2+, are renowned for their efficient extraction and exceptional vapor quality.
Hybrid Heating: Combining the best of both worlds, hybrid vaporizers use a mix of convection and conduction heating. The Crafty+ by Storz & Bickel is a prime example, delivering consistent vapor production and precise temperature control.
Chamber materials also play a crucial role in the vaping experience. Stainless steel, ceramic, and glass are common materials used in dry herb vaporizer chambers. Ceramic chambers, like those found in the DaVinci IQ2, are favored for their even heat distribution and purity of flavor, while stainless steel chambers offer durability and quick heat-up times.
Battery Types and Customization
Battery life and type are critical considerations for portable vaporizers. Lithium-ion batteries are the most common, offering a balance of power and longevity. Some devices, like the Arizer Solo 2, boast impressive battery life, allowing for extended sessions without frequent recharging.
Others, like the Grasshopper Vaporizer, feature replaceable batteries, ensuring that users can always have a backup on hand.
Customization options are another significant factor. Advanced vaporizers offer features like precise temperature control, allowing users to fine-tune their sessions to target specific cannabinoids and terpenes. App connectivity, seen in devices like the PAX 3, provides even more control, enabling users to customize temperature settings, track usage, and update firmware via their smartphones.
Concentrate Vaporizers
Concentrate
Vapes and Vape Pens
make use of THC oil or concentrate stored in a cartridge or chamber. When a heating element is engaged, the stored substance is vaporized, complete with beneficial chemicals like cannabinoids and terpenes. Vape pens were first introduced to American consumers circa 2009. They are portable and require a battery to make the heating element do its thing. Vape heating elements are typically metal, quartz, or ceramic.
The Elements
Metal atomizers are the most common, and stem from the start of electronic cigarettes. These vapes are considered inferior and studies show that the oxidized metals may leach heavy metals into your cannabis extract.
Quartz heating elements dodge the side effects of metal, but come with their own issues. Quartz is a form of glass, and thus prone to breaking, and can drain your vape’s battery quicker because of the additional power needed for maintaining high temperatures. These vapes also achieve a much higher temperature, which can cause your extract to taste burnt. But don’t count Quartz out yet; despite its fragility, it is more resistant to thermal shock, meaning no heat-related cracks. It’s also known to produce a clean flavor. Just don’t overdo it; quartz can achieve very high temperatures, making it more likely to give you a burned aftertaste.
Ceramic heating elements have high heat retention, which results in a smoother and better tasting cannabis
experience. It does, however, have a slower heating time, which may be frustrating for impatient consumers. It’s also a bit more expensive to produce, but as they say, you get what you pay for.
The latest innovations in vape pen tech include variable-voltage batteries that allow for adjustable heating of the oils and waxes: different vaporization temperatures have different physiological effects, ranging from mild euphoria to anti-inflammatory.
Straws Don’t Suck
Vape Straws, colloquially referred to as “nectar collectors,” are a simpler alternative to a clunky dabbing rig. Take the quartz glass (or titanium) tube, heat the tip, dip the tip into your cannabis wax and inhale. It’s a simple yet effective way to partake in your favorite concentrate. Now you can find electronic vape straws, such as the Randy’s Path or the Dipper, allowing you to leave the butane torch behind. It should be noted that the term “Nectar Collector” was originally coined by glass artist Kristian Merwin of Wasatch Glass, who was the first to introduce the concept back in the early 2010s. Though a true Nectar Collector is exclusively a product of Wasatch Glass, the term has come to represent the genre as much as Merwin’s original design, just as the brand name, “Kleenex” can now be used in place of “facial tissue.”
A Cartridge in a Pear Tree
Cartridges of various sorts – for storing and using vaping material in vaping pens – are available in a variety of forms and recipes, using different sorts of extracts that have been obtained through differing methods. These methods may include distillate, full spectrum, live resin, Co2 Oil, etc.
Disposable Cartridges are now available to consumers not interested in owning a personal vaporizer or vaporizer pen, much to the chagrin of the environmentally conscious. These are generally one-piece, one-use units that sometimes include an integrated battery and heating element designed for immediate use and disposal.
As the name implies, hybrid vaporizers are designed to handle both dry herb and concentrates. These devices allow users to switch between vaping dried cannabis flower and various concentrates, such as oils and waxes, with ease. Hybrid vaporizers often feature interchangeable chambers or dual-use capabilities, providing the flexibility to enjoy different forms of cannabis without needing multiple devices. There are plenty of well-made hybrids out there, but our general advice is to approach this category with skepticism; the underbelly of expanded features is often a compromise in overall quality (pictured units excluded).
Vaporizers hybrid
Bud Love – Makes Bud Better Creature x
Elevate your high with Bud Love! Bud Love is a Premium Herbal+ Mixer that was created to make your bud better by adding the perfect combination of natural herbs to complement your favorite strains. They use marshmallow leaf, which gives you a smoother smoke without the cough, and CBG is used to guarantee a social and paranoia-free experience. Pick up a sample pack for $23.99, which includes their uniquely crafted Active, Inspired, and Relaxed blends. Their Buds N’ Roses (Rose) seasonal strain is sure to create the perfect vibe for your summertime. Adding Bud Love to your roll lowers the amount of flower you use while still giving you the buzz you need. This flower power is made for smokers who want to craft the perfect smoke sesh experience. Combine Bud Love Premium Herbal+ Mixer like a cocktail mixer and help your flower go further.
QUEST
4 the Best
Headway Designs - Big Solo Display
Creature Skateboards and GEAR Premium have launched a new collaboration, and we can’t get enough of it. Creature Skateboards are known for their horrorthemed designs with an old-school punk rock flair, and through this groundbreaking collab, they’ve brought that spooky twist to Gear Premium’s high-quality glass with a new fleet of branded hand pipes, water pipes, dab rigs, and accessories that are sure to take you vertical—whether you’re on the ramp or not. Grab the Coffin Hand Pipe for a toke of ganja beyond the grave, go bare bones with the Bone Hand Pipe, or reach for any of Gear’s standard hand pipe, water pipe, or dab rig designs adorned with Creature’s signature macabre imagery. Save your rolling for the pavement; grab a Creature X Gear Premium glass piece today!
Make way for Headway Designs, offering the most eye-catching and tubular display for any headshop. The massive acrylic Big Solo Display is the ultimate way to showcase your larger-than-life Headway selection. The display features six-foot pipes that will have customers pining to take one of these big boys home and show it a good time. If six feet is too much to handle, the display offers not only four seventy-twoinch pipes but also 60, 40, and 30-inch pipes, with a total of 16 high-quality acrylic pipes. The wholesale price comes in at only $440 for the display, which, if you do the math, is $0.50 an inch! Subway sandwiches can’t even beat that deal. Headway Designs takes pride in offering some of the most unique and robust lineups of acrylic water pipes. They’re a family-run business that strives to push the boundaries of ordinary headshop wares while maintaining ethical business practices.
The Lorivu Automatic Roller is a fantastic way to catch a buzz while saving time. This top-ofthe-line machine allows you to instantly fill your cones with your favorite flower, give the tip a twist, and take a hit. Simply grind your green, fill the feeding tube, lock in your cone, and let the Lorivu Automatic Roller do the work for you. Spend your time laid back and relaxing instead of fumbling with flower and marvel at the tightness and size of the rolls this contraption produces. Your friends will be hella impressed with the perfection of your joints—and let them be. They don’t have to know the Lorivu did it for you. Let the good times roll . . . automatically!
Stoned - THCA Chocolates
Wonka almost had it right, but what if there was more to chocolate than just the savory sweetness? Like, maybe a little buzz to keep you feeling good, complementing the silky-smooth taste of perfectly tempered chocolate. Toy with hypotheticals no more; Stoned is here with a collection of delicious chocolate bars infused with 1,000mg of THCA per square—that’s 10,000mg total of THCA per bar! The Stoned Brand Collection has five amazing flavors to choose from; go with the classic milk chocolate that never disappoints, or maybe add some creamy sweet caramel with a hint of salt to tantalize those tastebuds. For a crunchy treat, try the salted pretzel flavor, or take it back to the classic Cookies and Crème. Celebrating another year? Commemorate the day in proper style with the Birthday Cake flavor. Experience the ultimate blend of flavor and euphoria—grab your Stoned THCA chocolate bar today and elevate your indulgence!.
“The mark of greatness is when everything before you is obsolete, and everything after you bears your mark.”
Dave Chappelle
Smoxy’s Odor Eliminator Spray and Candle
Does the dank odor of your chronic bother your neighbors? Smoxy’s Odor Eliminator Spray can help remove any unwanted scents and keep the air smelling fresh. Forget the Lysol; Smoxy’s Odor Eliminator Spray is designed specifically to eliminate the sweet, skunky smell of the sticky icky. Available in 12 different scents, including Birthday Cake Kush, Vanilla Dreams, and Purple Haze, this spray will clear your house of any lingering evidence of your sesh and leave it smelling fresh to boot. If you prefer to relax with a candle by your bedside, Smoxy also offers an amazing line of Odor Eliminator Candles, available in the same 12 scents as the spray. Grab a candle—or a can—and enjoy a lit, odorless experience.
Lorivu Automatic Roller
PRODUCT DISPLAYS
THE NATURAL RIGHT TO VAPE
A Philosophical Defense of Nicotine Use
When I switched from cigarettes to nicotine vapes more than a decade ago, I did so to improve my health and set a good example for my son. I’m proud to say that I achieved both of those goals, but there’s another fundamental point that often goes overlooked in the vaping debate:
Adults have a natural right to use nicotine; any attempts to infringe upon this right should be met with resistance from everyone who values their liberty.
No harm, no regulation
First and foremost, it is essential to acknowledge that the use of nicotine vaping products is a personal choice. Adults, as rational and autonomous individuals, have the right to decide what substances they consume, as long as these substances do not harm others. This principle, known as the harm principle, was first articulated by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill in his seminal work, On Liberty. According to Mill, “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”
By Alli Boughner Vice President American Vapor Manufacturers Association
for a variety of reasons, including to mitigate stress, reduce depressive symptoms and, most importantly, quit smoking. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which release toxic chemicals into the environment that can harm non-smokers, vapes emit aerosols that experts widely recognize as significantly less harmful to others.
In fact, a 2019 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that “while e-cigarettes are not without health
Personal
responsibility, denied
Adults have a natural right to use nicotine; any attempts to infringe upon this right should be met with resistance from everyone who values their liberty.
risks, they are significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes.” In other words, smokeless nicotine reduces harm and thus there is zero reason to prevent adults from using it.
Smokeless nicotine is clearly not harmful in this context. It is a mild stimulant–not very different from caffeine–used voluntarily by adults
By criminalizing or heavily restricting the use of nicotine vaping products, governments are effectively denying individuals the opportunity to lead healthier lives. This is not only a violation of their personal autonomy but counterproductive from a public health standpoint. Liberty makes people healthier, in other words.
Another important consideration in this debate is the role of individual responsibility. Adults who might choose to use nicotine vaping products should be aware of the potential risks and benefits, then make a decision based on that information. This is no different from the countless other decisions that adults make on a daily basis, such as whether to engage in extreme sports or drive a car—the latter of which kills people every day.Prohibiting adults from vaping nicotine because of the potential risks involved is therefore a hypocritical attempt to restrict a relatively harmless behavior more harshly than we regulate all sorts of far more dangerous activities. The bottom line is that adults have a natural right to use nicotine vaping products. It’s not a privilege granted to us by the bureaucrats at the FDA or the do-gooders in Congress. We make our own health decisions, they do only what we allow them to do. If they don’t like those rules, they can find new jobs.
