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Lanette Sullivan lanette@headquest.com
Creative Director Chief Festivus Officer Billing
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
Howard Riell
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CONTENTS
22
Smoke Signals
Short, sweet, easy to read; it’s not exactly juvenile literature, but it’s close.
30
Women in Cannabis
The times, they may be a’changing, but Diane Willis at PT Bags hasn’t at least, not in her customercentric approach to business.
42
HeadSpace
Weedy topics for wonks and chin-scratchers.
Heads of Industry 58
The era for our industry is golden and thanks to Serious Monkey Bizzness, so are the showers.
HQ After Hours
Come explore the fun side of adulting.
50 AI Gets Sexy
AI is getting under the covers with enhanced adult toys; meanwhile, we still can’t get ChatGPT to write an erotic novel.
52 PleasureQuest
We wrote about some f*cking toys. No, seriously.
Florida Man
DeSantis is waging war on legal cannabis and reproductive freedom. Is the Florida hemp industry footing the bill?
66 The Holiday Monster
Black Friday gobble-gobbled up Thanksgiving. Is the rest of the calendar safe?
76 Ibogaine
Activists claim it’s a miracle drug; the gov’t says it’s dangerous. You’ll never guess who’s right.
82
Turkey Jerky
An honest history: We ruin Thanksgiving so you don’t have to!
class in session!
90 Patent, My Ass!
Protecting your IP: The struggle is real.
94 Extracts 101 Wax, shatter, bubble hash, rosin; it’s not really that confusing. You just have to concentrate. (BAH-dum, SPLASH!)
100
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Sometimes, the facade matters; tips from a veteran on getting your shop dressed for success.
104
The fun never ends: THCinfused, zero-alcohol liquor, blunt wraps made from tea leaves, dress up for your lighter, and much, much more! Quest 4 the Best
106
Like a chainsaw wood carver, our pals at the AVM meticulously shave away the faleshoods about vaping until all that’s left is the beautiful truth. Industry Associations
CENTER IMAGES: ULTIMATELY, THIS IS JUST A STOCK PHOTO THAT FIT THE BILL FOR THE MONTH’S THEME, BUT WE CHOSE IT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE LAYERS OF MYSTERY INVOLVED. IF THIS IS A TRADITIONAL FAMILY, WHERE’S MOM? DID SHE RUN OFF WITH THE MILKMAN? IS THIS THE ONE ‘WEEKEND DAD’ WHO DOESN’T BURN THE TURKEY? OR IS HE A MAD SCIENTIEST RAISING THREE THREE ZOMBIE CLONES AS DAUGHTERS? THOSE SMILES SEEM EMPTY; WE WANT ANSWERS.
Juvenile lit
The Authors of this Section are Both of These Things1
TURKEY DAY FACTOIDS
Avoid Politics This Thanksgiving: Use Trivia to Fill the Dead Spaces
As is tradition. Most Americans don’t actually like the classic Thanksgiving dishes you’re serving. Sixty-eight percent of people would rather not eat the traditional Turkey day classics like canned cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, or even turkey. That includes the shitty light beer you serve, but hell, I’ll drink it anyway.
Take your turkey and stuff it. The first Thanksgiving most likely didn’t have turkey, and about 30% of families serve something other than turkey for the holiday. Pork is the runner up, and whatever Larry ran over with his Jeep came in dead last.
Pardon your trash pandas. In November of 1926, America’s coolest president, Calvin Coolidge was gifted a raccoon by some voters in Mississippi for his Thanksgiving day feast–because of course that’s what Mississipians have for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of eating the cute little trash panda he decided to pardon it.
Gobble gobble. Most people don’t know that male turkeys gobble, and female turkeys actually cackle–from looking at the male turkeys according to the research team at HeadQuest. Men, you don’t need special pants for thanksgiving, trust us.
Turkey trouble. If you have any questions about how to cook your turkey on Thanksgiving you can call or text the Butterball hotline for help. It’s mostly older ladies that’ll advise you on how to cook your turkey, or if you need to vent about the judges of the Westminster Dog Show and their poor choices. Call: 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text: 844-8773456–and don’t forget to make your bed.
By proclamation only. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally since 1789, but was not an official recurring holiday until the Civil War in 1863.
Lincoln made the proclamation in an attempt to restore “peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”
I’m reminded of this everytime my drunk uncle tells me how sunscreen was invented by the CIA to give people diabetes.
Content curated and composed by Jonathan Branch & David Pogge
1The latter currently, the former perpetually.
TURKEY TALK: AIN’T NO MYTH-BEHAVING!
Debunking the Thanksgiving Gobbledygook
Plymouth Rock landed on us. George Willison, a historian who devoted his life to the history of Plymouth Rock, says that it didn’t actually happen. Not only is the whole idea of a Plymouth Rock landing false, but pilgrims first made landfall at Provincetown. Plymouth Rock is just one giant public relations stunt, and a thoroughly underexplored musical genre.
Pardon my gobbler. You might think that a presidential pardon for a turkey has been a long standing tradition, but not the case. The first turkey to be given a new lease on life, who’s name was Charlie, was pardoned in 1989 by George H.W. Bush. When reporters asked Charlie the turkey why he was pardoned he responded, “I’m different… I got tiger blood, man. Dying’s for fools, dying’s for amateurs.
your enthusiasm
Medicine’s on the Menu this Thanksgiving!
What’s a Danksgiving edition of HQ without some medicated Turkey Day recipes to add some giggles to the gathering? That’s exactly what we asked, but unfortunately, not until the night before our print deadline. It’s probably for the best; David only recently recovered from full-blown veganism, and Jonathan just showed up to a Zoom meeting eating dry Ramen straight from the pack. We’re not exactly culinary authorities. We are amazing at Googling things, though, which is why we opted to curate a collection of the most mouth-watering medicated dishes out there, courtesy of some of your favorite publications (besides HQ, of course). Bon appétit!
Pile On, Blast O
From green bean casserole to infused cranberry sauce, Cannabis Now’s got 7 recipes to make your Danksgiving feast a true high-light of the season. Lightweights beware: Even if you don’t plan to travel, these are dosed for a journey.
Eat Like Roilty
Chef Jarod Roilty gives Westword the scoop on infused mashed potatoes, herb-rubbed turkey, and more—because this Thanksgiving, it’s not just the pies getting baked.
Fork-get about it. At the first Thanksgiving, the only meat we know they had was venison–and it’s doubtful they had any cutlery. So, next time you get yelled at for grabbing a turkey leg with you hands, just remind your family that you’re honoring the Pilgrims.
Forget about family. The idea that Thanksgiving is about family coming together was never part of the real intention. Thanksgiving was always about people of different backgrounds coming together as a community. Pilgrims invited the natives to join their festivities, and Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a holiday as an attempt to unify the country, not to share conspiracy theories with your siblings while gorging on your mom’s poorly cooked turkey.
For Your Health
Nutritionist and cannabis practitioner Emily Kyle’s cannabis-infused deviled eggs are just the start of a Danksgiving dinner packed with flavor, fun, and a side of relaxation—because why shouldn’t Thanksgiving be a little extra ‘herbal’ this year?
A Toasted Toast
MedWell Health lays out a Danksgiving spread with classics like THC gravy and herb-infused stuffing, proving that a holiday meal can be high on flavor— and everything else. Chef-inspired tips ensure your guests will be toasty before the turkey even hits the table.
Trade Show Roundup
Las Vegas Convention Center
3150 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
MJBizCon
Tapatio Cli s Resort 11111 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020
SSE Trade Shows
Las Vegas Convention Center
3150 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Total Product Expo
Miami Beach Convention Center
1901 Conv. Ctr Dr, MB, FL 33139
Begins: 12/3/24
Ends: 12/6/24
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Ends: 04/05/2025
Alternative Product Expo
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.
MYTHS FOR THE MORNING AFTER
Let’s Ruin Everything You Thought You Knew About Black Friday
Show
me the money.
Most people think that Black Friday got its name because it’s the day business goes from operating at a loss (in the red) to being profitable (in the black). Whoever told you that was a liar! Black Friday gets its name from the mayhem and traffic associated with it. You can thank clever marketing departments for that.
Reality price check.
The best deals of the year don’t always have the best deals. We’ve all been tricked by a sale sign, when you only come to realize that the markdown was only a dollar. Try end-ofseason sales, post-holiday clearance, and Toyotathon!
Wake &Wait.
The days of waiting in line before stores open in the cold and rain are over. You can find most of the same great deals before Black Friday, or online. Gen Z shoppers say they wouldn’t spend over 10 minutes in lines, and only 6% of people over 40 would wait. We’re just waiting for stores to start offering fast passes.
TurdDucken?
Black Friday is busy for retailers but it’s even crazier for plumbers! Plumbers receive 50% more calls on Black Friday than on a normal business day. And if you can believe it, it’s not because Uncle Jimmy won’t admit he’s lactose intolerant; it’s because he never installed the garbage disposal for Auntie Rachael like he promised.
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I
f you told Diane Willis in the early ‘90s that PT Bag Co., her humble family business selling small zip-loc baggies for carrying “jewelry” and “herbal blends” by the gram (we know what they were really for), would stand the test of time and be kicking ass more than three decades later, she’d probably laugh and tell you she was just trying to get through the day. It was the ‘90s, after all — a time when simply uttering the word “pot” would be met with an immediate click and dial tone, and 420 was still a secret code shared only by those in the know.
“Back then, you had to be so careful. If you even mentioned ‘bongs,’ people would kick you out of the store,” Diane recalls. But times have changed, and so has the business. When asked about her secret sauce for survival over the years, she laughs, “I thought I’d be wiped out by big corporations. But, here’s the thing: when you call my company, you’re talking to me.” That old-school, handson customer service has kept her in the game while bigger companies try to undercut her by going directly to her suppliers. Her response? A shrug, and “They tried, but my
SEAL THE DEAL
Diane Willis: Small Business, Big Impact
By Ryan Mills
I thought I’d be wiped out by big corporations. But, here’s the thing: when you call my company, you’re talking to me.
shops across the country, who still answers the phone herself. And in an industry that has gone from underground paraphernalia to mainstream legal cannabis, Diane is both an OG and a trendsetter, riding the green wave with her feet firmly planted in old-school business values.
When Diane first got into this business, the cannabis world was a far cry from the polished, dispensary-laden Shangri-la we see today. The packaging wasn’t flashy back then. It was simple — clear, colored, and functional. But Diane had an eye for detail, and over time, she added flair. Soon, her bags started sporting bold designs — leaves, psychedelic colors, and custom prints that spoke directly to the subculture she served. Her bags evolved with the times, but the way she ran her business stayed the same.
“I don’t have reps, I don’t have layers of customer service. It’s just me and Max, my right-hand guy. If you have a problem, I’ll fix it personally,” she explains, with the confidence of someone who has seen it all.
Diane’s voice softens slightly when she talks about being one of the few women in the cannabis industry in the early days. “It was an old boys’ club,” she says, almost matter-of-factly. “It still is, in a lot of ways.” But if Diane was deterred by the testosterone-dominated world of headshops and paraphernalia, she never showed it. She hustled, outworked the competition, and carved out her niche, one conversation at a time. “Now, I’ve been around so long, people know me. I don’t feel out of place anymore but in the beginning? Yeah, it was tough.”
Diane doesn’t linger on the struggles, though. She’s more interested in talking about the relationships she’s built. The word “customer” doesn’t seem to do justice to the connections she’s nurtured over the past three decades. Many of the shop owners she works with have been buying from her for 20 years or more, and those relationships
Continued on Page 32
DIXON, DIXON GRAPHICS
go beyond transactional. “I know their names, their stories. I’m not just sending a box of bags – I’m sending something that helps their business. That means something to me,” she says, and you believe her. In an industry that has become increasingly corporatized, Diane’s approach is refreshingly human.
As cannabis has gone mainstream, so too has the demand for sleek, highquality packaging. Diane’s Ziploc bags were a staple for decades, but the game has changed. Mylar bags, with their sturdy construction and smell-proof seals, are now the gold standard, especially in places like Montana, where regulations demand fully opaque, childresistant containers.
Diane, ever the adaptable entrepreneur, has embraced this shift. “I’m selling more Mylar bags than ever, but it’s not just about the bags. It’s about the designs, the branding, the feel of it,” she explains. “It’s so different from when I started. Back then, you just needed something to hold the weed. Now, it’s about the whole experience—the look, the feel, the image.”
But even as she embraces the new, Diane is mindful of the challenges that come with an evolving industry. Every state has different regulations, different packaging needs, and different customer bases. “If they just made it all one law across the country, it would be so much easier,” she laughs. But until then, she’ll keep doing what she’s always done: adapting, pivoting, and keeping her customers happy.
Diane has always been ahead of the curve, and as the industry moves toward more sustainable practices, she’s ready to adapt again. While most of her products are recyclable, she knows that the future is in ecofriendly materials. She’s already exploring biodegradable and recycled options, and she sees a shift coming soon. “California is leading the way, of course,” she says, referring to the state’s strict environmental regulations.
So, what’s the secret to staying relevant in a business for 35 years? For Diane, it’s simple: listen to your customers, be flexible, and never stop caring. “I didn’t expect to be here this long,” she admits. “I thought the big corporations would swallow me up. But here I am, still doing it, still loving it.”
At 65 years young, Diane isn’t slowing down yet. In an industry that has transformed from a fringe subculture to a billion-dollar business, Diane Willis is a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and good oldfashioned customer service. And as the cannabis industry continues to evolve, one thing is certain: Diane will be there, making sure that every smoke shop and dispensary has the perfect bag for their bud.
I don’t have reps, I don’t have layers of customer service. It’s just me and Max, my right-hand guy. If you have a problem, I’ll fix it personally
People have really responded to the logo and the name. It’s been something that gets their interest, and they want to know more.
Doug Harrison: Fake Whizz Marketing Wizz
By Matt Weeks
There are fake urine companies, and then there are fake urine companies. Serious Monkey Bizzness is one of the latter. Made exclusively for fetishists, pranksters, and novelty enthusiasts, the goods Serious Monkey Bizzness proffers are the stuff of dreams for a small but underserved market of devotees.
The Family’s Jewels
The company has three top sellers: the Monkey Dong, the Monkey Whizz, and the Monkey Flask.
The Monkey Dong is a plastic belt attached to a rubber male organ. The dong itself, a few inches of neck and a circumcised head, comes in six skin tones to better match the wearer. It helps that its crowning glory looks like the real deal. It’s made from a rubber mold of a lifelike dildo, which gives it the look and feel of an honest prick.
Simply strap it on, fill it with fake urine, and squeeze the golden goodness out until your heart is content.
Or, if you’re not into the male-ness of it all, SMB offers the Monkey Whizz. It’s a belt made from medical-grade cotton elastic that stretches to fit all body types and can stream novelty urine without a member.
Both products come with organic heating pads and a bit of fake urine.
“We started with just those two products—the Monkey Whizz and the Monkey Dong,” says cofounder Doug Harrison. “We added the Monkey Flask as our third product a little later. We’re the only company that offers a flask shape. Most of our competitors do bottles. We wanted to do something different, something that feels a bit better. And it’s become a great seller for us.”
What’s in a Name?
When Ray Kroc last met with the McDonald brothers to buy the rights to their restaurant, he let them in on a secret. Sure, he could’ve built a competitor. He had the means and ability to start and franchise a new fast-food joint, but he knew it would never be successful. A shrewd and uncompromising businessman, Kroc revealed that there was one thing he couldn’t re-create: the name.
He later recounted, “It sounded wholesome, and it sounded genuine. I don’t like these gimmick-type names, burger-this or burger-that. McDonald's sounds like Tiffany’s, which I think we are the Tiffany’s of fast food.”
There’s a similar magic to the name “Serious Monkey Bizzness.”
Run it through a college-level English class analysis, and it’s clear there’s a lot going on with those three words. The name is an oxymoron that smashes two opposite
Continued on Page 44
We get a lot of questions about how close to real urine it is. And this is as close as you can get without being the real thing.
terms together while making nods to both the act of intercourse and the high-quality products. It’s earnest but also fun, evocative but not descriptive, and—importantly for the folks who order online but prefer their kinks discreet— doesn’t imply fake urine.
“I wasn’t sure about the name at first,” Harrison admits. “It was my partner’s idea. The people I talked with were mixed on it when I first told them, but after 14 years, it’s clear that people really do seem to like it.”
Yet it’s the logo that really draws a crowd.
For years, Serious Monkey Bizzness advertised their wares (in the pages of this magazine and others) with a comic strip involving the adventures of their titular monkey.
“I was at a convention, and a guy came up to me and pointed out that our logo doesn’t mention what our products are, and then he asked why not,” Harrison said. “I told him that it draws people in that way. People have really responded to the logo and the name. It’s been something that gets their interest, and they want to know more.”
Take the Pepsi Challenge
Of course, the biggest draw is the urine. And by all standards, SMB produces high-quality stuff. It’s almost indistinguishable from the real deal, provided you’re not looking for a whiff of asparagus.
You want uric acid? It’s in there. Urea? Check and double-check. Even its golden hue is spot-on
yellow. It’s got everything real urine should have—and nothing it shouldn’t.
“We get a lot of questions about how close to real urine it is. And this is as close as you can get without being the real thing,” Harrison says. “The difference between our urine and what our competitors offer is that we don’t have any sort of biocide in it. Ours will grow bacteria in it if you leave it out, just like real urine will. That’s probably the biggest difference.”
The only thing that doesn’t come with a flask of the good stuff is the temperature. Fortunately, SMB has a few tricks for that.
“Our heating products, they’re not like the hand warmers you can buy at the gas station. These are something we had specially made for our products. They will heat up the urine to the same temperature it would be in your body, which is about 98.6 degrees,” Harrison says. “With some of our products, like the dong and the Monkey Whizz, they keep the urine close to your body, and your body will actually heat it up most of the way to about 94 degrees or so. But if you want it to be as authentic as possible, you can use these heating pads and get it all the way there.”
The heating pads are intuitive to use. Just slap one on, and your novelty pee will stay warm for up to eight hours. That’s a full workday full of golden confidence.
The Monkey Whizz, Monkey Dong, and Monkey Flask all come with heating pads. More urine and pads are sold separately.
INTIMACY Artifical AI & Sex: Steamy Love Affair or Recipe for Disaster?
By Ryan Mills
Technology has transformed everything from how we work to how we...well, play. The adult toy industry has been getting a tech upgrade, and artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront, turning basic vibrators into your personal pleasure assistant. It’s like Siri, but, you know, way more fun. AI is reshaping the sex toy market, but this technological revolution might need a few safe words.
AI-Powered Sex Toys:
So, you’ve got your trusty vibrator, but does it know you? AI sex toys do! Imagine a device that gets to know your preferences over time, adapting to your mood, pace, and desires. Forget having to press buttons mid-romp; these toys learn what gets you going and can adjust automatically.
According to market research, the global sex toy market is projected to reach $62.32 billion by 2030, with growth driven by continuous innovation in product design and functionality. Teledildonics (yes, that’s a real term) has come a long way from the simple remote-controlled toys of yesteryear. Today’s AI-powered gadgets can be synced to apps and customized for solo or partnered play. They’ve got Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the power to make your Wi-Fi router blush. With AI learning your every move, it might just eliminate the need for multiple gadgets. You could buy one device that keeps surprising you for years, which is
great for your wallet and top dresser drawer.
But before we get too excited about the pleasure possibilities AI might bring, we should all take a break, get a glass of water and do a quick reset. The idea of a gadget gathering data about your most intimate moments is...well, kind of terrifying. If your vibrator starts analyzing your sexual patterns, what’s stopping that data from being hacked? Imagine a cybercriminal holding your orgasm data hostage: Give me $10,000 in Bitcoin, or the world finds out you prefer setting 5 with a side of pulsation.
Sure, AI can enhance the pleasure game, but caution is warranted in regards to how much these toys know about us. Privacy concerns in some of our most private moments are no joke, so before you start sharing your innermost desires with a silicone lover, you might want to read that user agreement carefully. After all, nothing kills the mood like thinking your vibrator could be spying on you.
Content Creators Want In on the AI Action
Here’s a fun twist: AI isn’t just for toys. Content creators in the adult industry are getting involved, too. And no, not in some freaky robot future where everyone is hooking up with lifelike androids (although, let’s be real, that’s probably not far off). I’m talking about AI’s ability to generate adult content — deepfakes, in particular — creating a whole new set of challenges.
Sex workers and content creators are demanding a say in AI regulations because, surprise surprise, the adult industry often gets left out of the conversation. They’re worried about censorship, non-consensual deepfakes, and their own livelihoods being threatened
Sure, AI can enhance the pleasure game, but caution is warranted in regards to how much these toys know about us. Privacy concerns in some of our most private moments are no joke, so before you start sharing your innermost desires with a silicone lover, you might want to read that user agreement carefully.
by overzealous AI laws. While AI can do a lot of things, it shouldn’t be replacing real, consensual adult work with CGI imitations of people who never signed up for that role.
It’s a fine line, though. The same technology that could help sex workers and educators thrive online might also turn into a nightmare of non-consensual content and over-policed regulations. As Ana Ornelas, an erotic author and educator, recently stated, “It is natural that people will turn to this new technology to satisfy their fantasies.” However, she warns of the dangers, saying that non-consensual deepfakes are “extremely harmful” to the (mostly) women targeted, as well as to adult performers whose careers are threatened by unethical uses of AI. This is a stark reminder that AI can be both a tool for pleasure and a weapon of exploitation.
As with any new technology, the legal side of things is a little murky when it comes to AIpowered pleasure. Governments are still trying to figure out how to regulate AI in general, and when you add sex toys into the mix, things get extra awkward. Laws haven’t quite caught up with the idea of a vibrator that’s smarter than your ex, so manufacturers and users are navigating uncharted waters.
One of the biggest legal issues is how AI data is collected and used. If a company’s smart sex toy is gathering personal data, that information should be as protected as, say, your credit card details. But when it comes to intimate data, the laws just aren’t there yet. It’s not exactly sexy to think about reading the fine print, but in this case, you might want to. Because the last thing you need is your pleasure habits becoming a case study in some tech lawsuit.
Safe Words Needed
Now, I’m not saying we should toss toys in the trash and return to the days of analog sex (can you imagine). Combining AI with sex has the potential to revolutionize pleasure, make sexual health more accessible, and help people
with disabilities enjoy more fulfilling sex lives. But like any good relationship, trust is key. Companies developing these technologies need to prioritize user safety and privacy. Regulators need to include voices from the adult industry in AI discussions, ensuring that the technology is used ethically and safely.
Like all things in life, balance is key. Approach with excitement — just don’t forget to bring a little caution, too. Because nothing should come between you and your fun. Except, maybe, a well-thought-out user agreement. And hey, if your vibrator starts sending you unsolicited texts, it might be time to rethink the relationship.
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Picture this: you’re in the shower, the water’s cascading down, and you’ve got two choices. Option 1: A vanilla scrub-down that leaves you just as stressed as you started. Option 2: Whip out the Hype™ Massager, and suddenly, your shower turns into a scene straight out of Fifty Shades of Clean. With its flexible head and a motor that hums like it’s auditioning for a spot on America’s Got Talent, this thing is ready to soothe . . . whatever needs soothing.
The silicone? Oh, it’s ultra-plush, body-safe, and feels like a silky cloud wrapped around a lightning bolt. And did I mention it’s waterproof? This means bath time can officially become playtime. With an extralong battery life, you’re in for the long haul.
Whether you’re working out those literal kinks or diving into a steamy solo adventure, the Hype™ personal massager line delivers on its name. Double the power, double the pleasure, and trust me, you’ll feel the hype.
Adult Only Greeting Cards, by Warm Human
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So, if you’re tired of playing coy, this line of adult only greeting cards is the not-so-subtle way to ditch the clichés and skip straight to the good stuff. Because sometimes I love you is nice, but I love you, now get naked is so much better.
WHAT NOW, FLORIDA? Enemy
of My Enemy: Florida Hemp Industry Strikes Uneasy Alliance
By Howard Riell
So my great aunt says to me, “A guy like you should be living in Florida. People are free there.”
But are they? You already know the back story. Governor Ron DeSantis’ veto of a bill that would have imposed severe restrictions on hemp products in Florida has, to absolutely no one’s surprise, stirred controversy. Though unexpected, the veto appears to have been part of a strategic move to gain the hemp industry’s support in his campaign against a recreational cannabis legalization ballot initiative.
That veto protected the hemp industry, particularly those players producing hempderived cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-9, which the bill aimed to restrict. Many in the hemp business interpreted this as a gesture of goodwill, securing their loyalty in opposing the legalization of recreational cannabis.
In response, hemp executives pledged to donate up to $5 million to the Florida GOP, with some going to a PAC called the Florida Freedom Fund. This PAC is not only involved in the fight against cannabis legalization but works to oppose abortion rights and could potentially support the campaigns of GOP state candidates.
The relationship between DeSantis and the hemp industry is largely motivated by – again; you will not be shocked to learn this – mutual interest: the industry wants to avoid cannabis legalization, which could increase competition from larger, established cannabis companies.
The relationship between DeSantis and the hemp industry is largely motivated by . . . mutual interest: the industry wants to avoid cannabis legalization, which could increase competition from larger, established cannabis companies.
DeSantis sees this partnership as a way to secure funds and support for broader Republican causes, which has raised concerns about the broader political implications of the hemp industry’s contributions.
There has been concern among some hemp business owners regarding the optics – aligning with a politician whose platform also opposes issues like abortion rights, really? But many justify their support by emphasizing the survival of small businesses.
Things got even more interesting when former President and Florida resident Donald Trump said once again in early September that he supports loosening federal marijuana restrictions and will vote for a Florida ballot initiative seeking to legalize the drug for adult use.
Looming over the drama is the November 5 vote on Florida’s Amendment 3, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, which would legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older and allow individuals to possess up to three ounces.
‘Dark Side Dealings’
Enter Denice Davis, a relatively new resident of Florida – 2023 –who has been part of the cannabis industry for eight years. She began as a marketing director and CBD buyer for a 60-store retail chain in New York in charge of legal and compliance and worked closely with Advantage Marketing
Solutions on cannabis promotion. From there, she obtained a hempcultivation license of her own – she is Denice Davis, LLC – as part of the 2014 National Pilot Research Program.
Davis is in her third season as a licensed cultivator of recreational marijuana and has transitioned to a micro-business license for next year. “I currently handle marketing initiatives for CBD in Florida as well, and look forward to getting involved and licensed in Florida should the legalization pass here.”
Florida’s legalization campaign . . . has raised more money than any other marijuana ballot measure in history –over $60 million as of a few weeks ago. The people are showing support with their wallets just to get it on the ballot. Denice Davis
Of Amendment 3, Davis says, “I believe it’s time for Florida to join the many states that have taken the lead in legalization. Being a state with such freedom in so many ways, it’s surprising to me that they haven’t done so already. Marijuana has always been a product of use for a multitude of reasons, and I think allowing legalization will eliminate the dark side dealings and provide much-needed regulation to
produce safe a product that adults can trust.”
But will the measure ultimately pass?
“I believe it will,” Davis declares. “I spent much time over the past year educating individuals on the benefits of cannabis and found that the public at large is ready for this change. People are looking for alternatives to pharmaceutical options to aid various ailments, as well as recreational alternatives to alcohol.”
Will the industry support it?
“Without a doubt, yes,” Davis insists. “Florida’s legalization campaign, Smart & Safe Florida, has raised more money than any other marijuana ballot measure in history – over $60 million as of a few weeks ago. The people are showing support with their wallets just to get it on the ballot.”
Marijuana’s multitude of health benefits, combined with Americans’ obvious desire for it as a recreational alternative, should help seal the deal, Davis figures. “I believe many would choose to try it if they didn’t have to go to an assigned medical marijuana doctor for approval.
The underground market is a scary one, with so many threats of additives, mold, and unsavory conditions. Legalization would eliminate all of those threats by assuring that you could buy a safe product from a reliable source.”
THANKSGIVING. (A EULOGY)
By Jonathan Branch
How Black Friday Devoured the Harvest Holiday
Black Friday and its commercialism have overshadowed Thanksgiving and are now closing in on Halloween. Once, Thanksgiving was devoted to spending time with family, friends we call family, and weird uncles you wish weren’t family. Now, it’s been monopolized by the search for deals, steals, and checkout-counter death threats. We used to gather around the Thanksgiving feast and say we were thankful for our brother, our sister, or that Christmas was coming soon. Now, families order UberEats and then make a dash for the Best Buy
Black Friday, armed with that discounted kitchen knife set you bought from Amazon, has already murdered Thanksgiving— and Halloween is next.
line or stare at a computer waiting for our dear Bezos to bless us with fresh new deals. Black Friday, armed with that discounted kitchen knife set you bought from Amazon, has already murdered Thanksgiving— and Halloween is next.
The dark origin story of Black Friday started long ago, back in the 1950s and ‘60s—when phones were tethered to walls and women were tethered to their husbands (don’t get mad at me; I’m not the one who kept women from obtaining credit cards
Continued on Page 68
on their own until the ‘70s.)
The holiday of doorbuster deals was first called “Black Friday” by the Philadelphia police department, inspired by all the traffic jams and crazed consumers drowning downtown retailers. Public relations companies in the ‘60s tried to change the name from “Black” to “Big” in an attempt to make the tryptophan-hangover day of family bonding and shopping less depressing. It’s a dark, long, and hard day where corporations pretend to bend over backward for customers
A quick stop at McDonald’s for a happy meal, a ten-piece nugget, and an Oreo McFlurry (if the machine was working) completed the capitalism quest for the holiday season. That’s it. Done. One day, and the agony was over. We were tricked once into buying things we didn’t need, having given into the allure of “roll back prices” and “one day only deals.”
What was once only one day of debauchery and fighting for unbeatable bargains and steals has become so much more. Black Friday turned into Black Friday Weekend, which gobbled up Thanksgiving itself as it evolved into Black Friday week, which then gave birth to Cyber Monday, where you can sit in your recliner and buy things you don’t need, and you’ll never use.
in a last-ditch effort to get them to empty the remains of their wallets.
I remember as a kid in the ‘90s we only had one day of sales, so we had to think critically about where to celebrate our consumerism. Our first stop was always Best Buy for a new TV and video games, Toys “R” Us for Christmas gifts, and Walmart for everything else. If the day ended without fighting and crying then it was considered a success.
What was once only one day of debauchery and fighting for unbeatable bargains and steals has become so much more. Black Friday turned into Black Friday Weekend, which gobbled up Thanksgiving itself as it evolved into Black Friday week, which then gave birth to Cyber Monday, where you can sit in your recliner and buy things you don’t need, and you’ll never use. At this point, there are more versions of Black Friday than Pokemon Generations.
These Black Friday spawns influenced more unmitigated spending deal sprees, which then spawned the creation of the infamous Amazon Prime Day Deals. Eager shoppers huddle around computers, watching the timers tick down until the next sale item arrives. We watch the timer count down with anticipation like it’s the new year, but instead, we’re monitoring a bundle pack of Apple Lightning to USB cables that we don’t need but want because they’re 70% off— and dammit, we’re ALWAYS losing cables. I’ve spent hours scrolling through Prime Day deals, to find nothing but lowquality clothes from sweatshops and electronics that are built to break. Capitalism is supposed to breed competition, but I don’t think this is what Henry Ford had in mind.
I know what you’re thinking; having a few extra days of deals isn’t that bad, Mr. HeadQuest . Like a Yu-Gi-Oh Exodia Card set to obliterate, Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is extending Black Friday into October, swallowing not just one but two holidays. According to an Amazon press release, “The celebration will take place in 19 countries— Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Turkey, and the United States.”
In my role as Chief Festivus Officer of HeadQuest, it is my duty to air my grievances each year, and I’m coming for you, Amazon Prime.
1. How dare you call “Prime Big Deal Days” a celebration? A month of discounted crappy items is not a celebration, nor is it even unique. Stores like Walmart and KMart have been doing this year-round as a business model.
2. How about adding things people actually need to
your deal days like, medication, healthcare, insurance, maternity and paternity leave, mental health services, childcare, elder care, fixing social security, public transportation, and affordable education? No one needs another Alexa listening in on our conversations.
3. A Halloween costume that actually fits and doesn’t look like it was put together by a group kindergarten art class would be nice, thanks.
4. Amazon exists in over 50 countries, so why is this “celebration” only happening in 19? Are the other 31 countries not good enough for your Prime Big Deal Days? Luxembourg is so small you can barely call it a country, but South and Central America only gets Brazil?
5. Even the name of your “celebration” is as boring as white people’s fried chicken — no spice. All you did was stick “Big Deal” into your already existing “Prime Days.” Here are some alternative names for your consideration.
This holiday season, skip the never- ending sales. Spend time with the people who matter, doing the things you love—because that’s the biggest deal you won’t find in stores.
The Black Friday necrotizing fasciitis has gobbled Thanksgiving and has infected Halloween. Soon, we’ll have sales celebrating Arbor Day with discounted toilet paper and half-off Kindle books. Spend time this holiday season with your family and friends. Sneak away from the kids for an adults-only safety meeting during Thanksgiving. Trust me, your mom’s turkey will finally be palatable. Watch a scary movie and pass a bowl on Halloween. This holiday season, skip the never-ending sales. Spend time with the people who matter, doing the things you love—because that’s the biggest deal you won’t find in stores.
By Matt Weeks
GREAT RESET The
Can Ibogaine Really Rewire Addiction?
Sometimes, it seems like the counterculture serves as the guinea pig for the medical establishment. Before scientists got approval to study the effects of the magic mushrooms or THC, the underground ran its own laboratory, testing out the efficacy of natural compounds with a mixture of passed-down wisdom and trial-and-error testing.
That approach paved the way for the breakthroughs of both cannabis and psychedelics. It helped cement CBD as a potent anti-seizure medication. It provided an outlet for thousands to find nonopioid pain relief. And it brought the healing power of hallucinogens into the mainstream of medical research.
The counterculture’s impressive track record in natural medicine has now given it a podium and a chance to be taken seriously. So, there’s a reason to listen to voices on the fringes when they talk about ibogaine, a psychedelic that has shown potential to treat addiction and PTSD.
(NO, NOT THAT ONE)
as magic mushrooms or LSD. Scientists aren’t sure how it works, but many suspect that it causes the brain to create new neurons and enhances neuroplasticity, leading to a literal rewiring of the thinking organ.
At higher doses, the drug induces an intense trip. Those who take so-called “hero” or “flood” doses face a barrage of semisuppressed memories, forcing confrontations that leave them psychologically un-addicted and rewiring their brains to stop cravings. For many users, it only takes a single session to rid themselves of a dependence on opioids, according to research out of New Zealand.
A Quick History
Ibogaine comes from the roots of the iboga tree, a shrub that grows in the rainforests of Central Africa. For centuries, iboga roots were crushed up and used in shamanic practices in places like Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon.
But ibogaine isn’t the same
But ibogaine wasn’t always valued as an anti-addiction serum. For about 80 years, European explorers brought back crushedup iboga roots and sold them on the streets of France and Belgium as a stimulating pick-me-up.
As medical science advanced, however, some strange outcomes present in clusters of ibogaine users emerged. The drug was linked to heart attacks and cardiac arrhythmias. That, combined with its association with Africa, caused many Western governments to ban it outright. In the U.S., it’s still categorized under Schedule I.
. . . there’s a reason to listen to voices on the fringes when they talk about ibogaine, a psychedelic that has shown potential to treat addiction and PTSD . . .
Advocates
Despite its illegality, the appeal of ibogaine never disappeared. It just went underground.
Crusaders like Dana Beal, the ‘60’s icon and cannabis activist recently featured here in the pages of HQ, have long fought for increased ibogaine research and de-scheduling.
“I can tell you that there’s levels that are extremely safe and extremely gradual,” Beal said. “It’s a neurotrophin. It’s not a hallucinogen. It’s something that expresses nerve growth factors, or a neuro-growth effect. And the word is -trophism, like the plant flooring up through the crack in the sidewalk, splashing, and that’s trying to get to the sun. That’s what it does to the neurons in your brain.”
The appeal of the drug is twofold, he said. It resets the brain’s addiction receptors while also delivering a heaping helping of personal insight. In the best outcomes, patients leave having broken their abusive cycles.
The internet buzzes with stories about patients who sought ibogaine treatments from clinics in Mexico, Canada, and the Netherlands. They describe the experience as though they were in a waking dream or as if their brain was a puzzle that was disassembled and then put back together. One patient likened the feeling to the way in which a video game character respawns after dying. Suddenly, he was re-made, whole.
The Pushback
heart rates.
The trouble is that it’s hard to extract the active ingredients in ibogaine when you’re not sure exactly what it’s doing to the body. And while several pharma bros have already developed companies to figure it out, the medical establishment continues to urge caution—especially for people who want to try ibogaine at home.
If it’s tried at all, they say, the best way to take ibogaine is through a clinic in a legal nation. And it should be avoided by anyone with a history of heart conditions.
What the Culture Says
For Dana Beal, however, that’s a lot of hogwash. Treatment centers are set up for extreme cases, which means that most people will never reap the benefits he believes ibogaine can deliver.
“I was always interested in the flood (high-level) dose, but then gradually came to see there was this other dimension to ibogaine, which is the way they do it in Africa,” he said. “They don’t do a flood dose. They do a little bit, but they do it all the time.”
Despite the chorus of life-changing admissions, many researchers and medical scientists don’t like ibogaine.
It’s a neurotrophin. It’s not a It’shallucinogen. thatsomething nerveexpresses factors,growth or a neuro-growth effect.
-Dana Beal
They argue two strong points: No one knows how ibogaine works, and it can cause serious heart issues. And indeed, people have died from cardiac arrest after taking ibogaine, most likely because of its stimulant effects. And, like other hallucinogens, it has led a few individuals to experience psychosis.
Scientists classify ibogaine as a “dirty” drug because it delivers both benefits and drawbacks. The holy grail for researchers is to create a lab-made version of ibogaine that delivers all the brain benefits without the surging
Microdosing the drug can lead to better mood, less depression, and a more flexible, adaptable brain, advocates claim. That all could be true, but research on micro-dosing ibogaine is hard to come by. In fact, all research on ibogaine is limited. The medical establishment prefers large-scale, longitudinal studies that control all sorts of variables, and so far, that hasn’t happened.
What’s available, however, shows reason for optimism. In January, scientists at Stanford published a paper showing that a single session of ibogaine treatment effectively reduced PTSD, anxiety, and depression in combat veterans who suffered traumatic brain injuries. They were screened for cardiac conditions and given magnesium to protect their hearts. All 30 showed signs of improvement that persisted one month after the session when the research concluded.
That’s a good start, Beal says, but it’s not enough.
“I’m going to try to wait a minute (on legalization). “We’re getting somewhere here,” he said. “We’re getting closer to where we’re going, anyway.”
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS? History Unfiltered: Making Sense of the Thanksgiving Narrative
The actual story . . . more closely resembles a welcome-to-theneighborhood casserole passed between two neighbors who, just a short while later, realize they despise each other. It involves pity, broken promises, disease, slavery, and ungratefulness. You know, classic Americana.
By Matt Weeks
Like a Yin-Yang, the Thanksgiving holiday occupies two completely opposite spaces in American culture. Officially, it’s a time for gratitude and togetherness, but it’s also shorthand for the time when families rip themselves apart over minor differences.
But far from sad, that contrast—the light and the dark of the fourth Thursday in November—should be viewed as a good thing.
Think of it this way: as you sit down to pick at dry turkey, tolerate your uncle, and watch some mediocre TV, you won’t be tarnishing the history of Thanksgiving. In fact, if you really want to honor the holiday’s origin story, you wouldn’t try to stop fighting with family. You’d go no-contact.
A Tale of Two Turkeys
Although we’re sold an image of Native Americans and European settlers sitting down together to a feast of modern comfort foods, the real story is considerably darker.
The myth of the First Thanksgiving is a simplistic fairy tale, a caricature of the people and the politics of the time. It casts everyone in the wrong light, and none
more so than the Wampanoag, to whom our great cultural myth is jawdroppingly disrespectful.
The actual story—what we know for sure—isn’t so much a joyous embrace of different peoples who sought to share earth’s bounty and each other’s company. It more closely resembles a welcome-to-the-neighborhood casserole passed between two neighbors who, just a short while later, realize they despise each other.
would benefit from the guns of the Europeans, and the Puritans would have a Native ally who could alert them to nearby threats. Win-win.
an uneasy detente. As the years wore on, more European settlers arrived, more Native Americans died, more wars were fought, and the complexion of the land lightened considerably.
Why Lie About It?
It involves pity, broken promises, disease, slavery, and ungratefulness. You know, classic Americana.
What Really Happened?
In the year 1621, there actually was a “First Thanksgiving.” And it was, by all Puritanical accounts, pretty dope.
The European settlers had just completed their first successful harvest, thanks to a Native American named Tisquantum (who you may know as “Squanto”), who taught them—in English—how to grow New World crops like potatoes and corn.
A member of the Patuxet tribe, Tisquantum had been captured twice by Englishmen, sold into slavery in Spain, and eventually sailed back to what is present-day Massachusetts only to find his people had been wiped out by smallpox.
After that macabre discovery, Tisquantum asked to join the Wampanoag nation, touting his ability to speak to white people as a boon to the tribe. With their numbers declining due to old-world diseases, the Wampanoag used Tisquantum to ink a mutual defense pact with the new settlers. The decimated Wampanoag
This is what everyone agrees on. After that, two narratives emerge.
Some historians believe the Puritans invited the Wampanoag to a typical end-of-harvest celebration.
Others claim the Natives heard gunshots nearby and, fearing the white man had backed out of the deal, sent a squadron of warriors to investigate, only to find their allies trying to shoot some deer—and missing wildly.
Feeling a bit bad for their new partners, the Wampanoag offered to take over the hunt and bring the bounty back to Plymouth Plantation. About 90 members of the tribe showed up, toting three large deer they’d felled with bow and arrow, and joined the Puritans in their 17th-century version of a rager.
Sadly, the meal proved to be the high point of the relationship.
Tisquantum was increasingly seen as power hungry and untrustworthy, many Wampanoag became distrustful of the Puritans, and some Europeans were convinced their allies were plotting with other tribes to ransack and destroy Plymouth Plantation.
Their hard-won deal collapsed under the weight of suspicion, and the two sides generally kept to themselves in
While the Plymouth-Wampanoag feast was a brief and rather insignificant event, the concept of a “Thanksgiving” was already hard-wired into early American culture.
Back then, it wasn’t always meant to be fun. In a land settled in part out of religious zeal, the concept of “Thanksgiving” was not about feasting and family. It was about ascetic self-denial.
In those days, observances of Thanksgiving meant three days of fasting and prayer, usually reserved to commemorate victories in battle. These observances, in which Christians
Continued on Page 84
thanked their creator for the victory and mourned their dead, were regularly celebrated in America since the Puritans stepped off the Mayflower.
Usually, these were local events, but records show the first Continental Congress issued a proclamation of Thanksgiving to mark the end of the Revolutionary War. Presidents at the time also got in the act, with George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison all issuing proclamations.
Abraham Lincoln issued two—the famous one that you learned about in school and an earlier edict that called for the national observance to take place in October.
Lincoln’s holiday wasn’t a celebration of the harvest, however. His famous Thanksgiving proclamation was conceived as a salve for the Civil War. Urged by prominent magazine editor Sarah Hale to declare a single day to be spent on healing and reconciliation, Lincoln asked the country to put aside its differences and show gratitude to a creator.
What better way to nudge the South toward cooperation than to harken back to the very roots of the country’s history? The myth-making behind the First Thanksgiving was, in part, an attempt to quell the violence of the Civil War by painting the lack of cooperation as distinctly un-American.
But that little white lie, however well-meaning, grew into something terrible.
It was an extremely Northern idea. The Union was the epicenter of the abolitionist movement, and calling for a holiday draped in references to Puritanical New England was a sneaky bit of propaganda.political
Modern Interpretations
As the years went on, a fully fabricated tale about “Pilgrims
November to its third Thursday, he wasn’t shy about admitting his goal was to extend the Christmas shopping season.
But that doesn’t let us off the hook. Unlike some other foundational myths, the gloss on the First Thanksgiving has stubbornly persisted. American schools have taught generations of children to extract the wrong moral lessons from their country’s history and chosen to bypass some truly nasty stuff.
A better retelling of the First Thanksgiving should be honest about the Wampanoag, whose tribal name is all but missing from our textbooks. Too often, they’re lumped together with all other Native peoples and cartoonishly depicted as either Noble Savages or Ignorant Innocents. An honest account should also correct a few ideas about the Puritans. They didn’t dress like the Renaissance Dutchmen. They drank beer and didn’t have a moral issue with killing Natives when they wanted their stuff.
The politics of the time were complicated, and what’s come down to us is surely incomplete. But if we’re going to draw lessons from the First Thanksgiving, we should consider what the real story teaches us: don’t let suspicion make enemies of your friends, repeating a lie doesn’t make it the truth, religiosity doesn’t equal morality and always enjoy moments with your friends—because the good times never last long enough.
Editor’s Notes:
1) We acknowledge that the term “Puritan” is used here to refer to the Pilgrims, though they were distinct groups. The Pilgrims sought separation from the Church of England, while the Puritans aimed to reform it. However, their beliefs and customs were nearly identical, and they eventually merged. Thus, for our purposes, the Pilgrims represent the broader Puritan cultural movement of the time.
2) This article was assigned and written not to sow dissent or cast shade upon our nation, but rather to inform, edify and inspire our readers to pursue a deeper understanding of history. It is only in a free and prosperous country that the people have the liberty to examine their past, critique their predecessors, and make the conscious choice to improve upon their methods. It is arguably the most patriotic thing a citizen can do. There are two common sayings at play that converge here, and both should be considered. The first is the reminder that if we fail to learn the mistakes of our past, we are doomed to repeat them. The second is the cynical but starkly accurate observation that history is written by the victors. As such, the narratives handed down to us are warped by a perspective sorely lacking in empathy for the conquered, and thus should be cast aside in favor of an accurate reading of our past that empowers us to make better decisions that help us build a brighter future for everyone.
3) The views and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the publication, its owners, or its advertisers.
My heart got ripped out because I put all my heart into my products. I cried at a High Times event as they awarded the people who stole one of my first ideas. The owner came to me after winning the award, said ‘Thanks for all that hard work,’ laughed, and walked away.”
That’s Rod Santos, owner and CEO of Stache Products LLC, in Rockville, MD, talking,
alone. Intellectual property (IP), trademarks, patents, copyrights and trade secrets, routinely get stolen, especially in the cannabis space, often leaving companies to do little more than whimper, “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
Now, the good news: you can take steps to keep it from happening to you.
‘Drained Me So Bad’
THE OWNER CAME TO ME AFTER WINNING THE AWARD, SAID ‘THANKS FOR ALL THAT HARD WORK,’ LAUGHED, AND WALKED AWAY.” -Rod Santos, Stache Products
relating how – as he tells it –one of his flagship products was ripped off by another manufacturer.
Sucks, right?
But Santos isn’t
Santos’s story, like so many others, reads like something out of Jerry Springer right before the inevitable slapfight and wig-pulling breakout.
“We have had our Stache Pen stolen from us,” Santos recalls. “It was my first product. It drained me so bad I had to drop the patent. Didn’t lose much, as I was just starting off. Only lost the blood and
sweat I put into it, which I see is worth more than money today.”
Specifically, Santos and his partners had seen their connector patents stolen. “It was so fast. It killed the product, as the product was so cheap to make. We still sell it fine, but the potential the product had gotten was killed.”
Santos says he also had his RIO (Rig In One) patents stolen. “This is the one that hurt the most. I put all my money, time, and effort into this product. It was a huge success, (but) the fakes almost closed our door. We lost a $3-million-a-year contract with a three-year term, so overall, there was a minimum $9 million loss.”
There was additional salt in the wound, too. “Not to mention, for every one real product I sold, the fakes sold 10. So, I lost millions of dollars at the end of the day. We fought distributors that sold ours and the fakes. We won or settled those cases. We have closed done hundreds of Alibaba (e-commerce) accounts. It doesn’t stop.”
Those mainly responsible for it were the American distributors, Santos claims, “what I call ‘day traders.’ They aren’t in our industry; they will do anything and sell anything for a dollar. I personally don’t think they should be in cannabis.”
Santos is right when he says that most such cases are not resolved. “We own over ten cannabis utility patents and intend on getting more. I am an innovator and a creator – it will be hard to hold me back or stop me.”
Continued on Page 92
Okay – Now What?
Like an old TV commercial warned, “Don’t let this happen to you!”
“There is a lot of intellectual property misappropriation in the cannabis space, but not all of it is intentional theft,” says Paul R. Coble, the Chair of Intellectual Property for Rose Law Group in Scottsdale, AZ, and the former Chair of the Cannabis Manufacturing Committee at the National Cannabis Industry Association.
“Early in the legal markets, there was a lot of trademark infringement where cannabis brands copied or parodied well-established non-cannabis brands,” Coble explains. “There
can bring lawsuits to stop others from infringing on their brands where they could not do so in the past. We should continue to see upticks in how often these thefts/ infringements result in litigation, assuming the legal landscape continues to trend towards legalization. This is good for owners of cannabis IP.”
if prices are too good to be true, that is probably a sign to investigate.”
The only way shop owners can be one hundred percent sure about their products, Goldsmith advises, is to contact the company that
It would also be nice if the Beltway crowd in DC lent a helping hand. “The clearest answer would be federal legalization of cannabis and cannabis industry,” Goldsmith suggests. “At the very least, this would allow federal protection of cannabis-related trademarks, which would allow companies to far more easily protect their brands.”
The anger I felt, and the pain I felt and still feel, I have turned into will, and to consistently perusing new ideas. A lot has hurt us in the 11-plus years we have been doing this, but nothing will hold us back – ever.
-Rod Santos, Stache Products
Proactively Protect
“It is always best to proactively protect your IP,” Coble says. “This means trademark registrations and advice from a competent trademark attorney on how to properly implement, use, and police branding elements.”
It also means taking a pragmatic approach to protecting trade secrets, not just sending out generic NDAs. “Cannabis companies that develop new or improved products or processes need to institute a program to capture and protect their knowhow and turn it into a protectable asset.”
But most of all, entrepreneurs should keep putting one foot in front of another and not let the bad guys make them quit.
“The anger I felt, and the pain I felt and still feel, I have turned into will, and to consistently perusing new ideas,” Santos concludes. “A lot has hurt us in the 11-plus years we have been doing this, but nothing will hold us back – ever.”
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The Art of CONCENTRATION
By Rudy Carrillo
For thousands of years, humanity has devised methods to isolate, concentrate, and, in most cases, improve on nature. The Egyptians and Chinese, for example, were developing processes three thousand years ago to make everything from plant essences and perfume to booze. Granted, those processes were far more primitive than what we have today, but the underlying concept was the same. This seeming alchemy was significantly improved by the time you and I came around.
This basic chemical process is called extraction, which sometimes makes use of things like evaporation and condensation. I learned all about those processes in Mr. Moscowitz’s seventh grade science class when I used a procedure in an eighth grade textbook to distill wood alcohol from an inert wooden source (tongue depressors). Then I tried to distill nitric acid from hydrochloric acid and almost ended up in the hospital with chemical burns. The teachers didn’t know what to do with me. Luckily, I discovered Bob Dylan that next summer.
But I digress, back to the topic at hand.
Grain alcohol is often extracted from fermented alcohol products. Examples we know are wine into brandy, sour mash into whiskey and agave juice into tequila, thus improving the potency of the final product. Gasoline is likewise distilled from petroleum in a complex set of commercial processes, and clean potable water can be obtained from salinized seawater using extraction techniques. Similar processes are now being used to create high potency cannabis products.
The recent push toward legalization as well as constantly improving techniques have meant a proliferation
Cannabis Extracts Explained: A Newbie’s Walkthrough of the Basics
of processes and products created to fine-tune cannabis’ natural potency. These extracts are an important part of the cannabis space— arguably the most important—and there are many types from which consumers can choose. Here’s an overview of what’s available and how each is made.
Generally speaking, there are two main types of cannabis extracts: solvent and non-solvent (or solventless).
By most accounts, solvent extraction is the most common method. Even ol’ Uncle Sammy has weighed in, reporting that “Using flammable solvents, such as butane, propane, ether or alcohol, is popular because it produces high THC levels, longer-lasting effects, and it’s relatively inexpensive.” Keep in mind, though, that said Uncle also spent 70(ish) years claiming that cannabis was a deadly, addictive drug, so maybe take “his” input with a grain of salt.
Be that as it may, that snippet was accurate. As the name suggests, solvent extractions are made using chemical solvents to separate the desired cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds from the cannabis plant.
Meanwhile, solventless extractions are the methods used in the cannabis industry to extract cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds from the cannabis plant without the use of chemical solvents. These methods rely on mechanical processes, pressure, heat, or ice to separate the resinous compounds from the plant material, resulting in a more “natural” concentrate that some consumers prefer due to the absence of residual solvents.
It all sounds so complicated, but the truth is cannabis extracts of different types are easy to explain if you go to the source. Nestled in the piney forests of Northern
California, Delta Separations is an industry leader in cannabis separation technology. One of the company’s goals is industry education, and to that effect, they’ve recently produced “The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Oil Extraction,” a comprehensive look at the methods and effects of such products. The guide is easy to access and keeps both retailers and consumers in mind with clear, concise language.
In a nutshell, this is what they who dwell in the legendary Humboldt County have to say about extracts and concentrates. Solvent-based extractions produce mostly extracts such as live resin, shatter, wax, and vape oils, according to the technicians at Delta.
Types of Solvent-Based Cannabis Extraction
Supercritical CO₂ extraction is classified as a solvent-based process because it uses CO₂ in a supercritical state (where it behaves like both a liquid and a gas) to dissolve cannabinoids and terpenes. However, CO₂ is non-toxic, and it leaves no harmful chemical residue in the final product. Because of this, many consider it a “clean” or “non-solvent-like” extraction method, making it popular for producing pure and safe cannabis extracts. While it is technically a solvent process, its reputation for cleanliness often leads to the misconception that it is solventless. So, we list it under solvent-based methods with a notable exception.
Concerns about residual solvent contamination and the highly flammable nature of hydrocarbons cause distrust among some consumers. If not properly purged, these solvents can leave harmful residues in the final product, posing potential health risks.
Hydrocarbon extraction is a process that uses solvents like butane or propane to separate cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant. It’s favored for producing potent concentrates such as shatter, crumble, and live resin while maintaining the integrity of the plant’s compounds. While hydrocarbon extraction often results in high-potency products, its yield may vary depending on the strain and the technique used. Concerns about residual solvent contamination and the highly flammable nature of hydrocarbons cause distrust among some consumers. If not properly purged, these solvents can leave harmful residues in the final product, posing potential health risks.
Ethanol extraction has long been used in botanical extraction, boasting a strong safety record. Ethanol is particularly effective with fat-soluble molecules, like THC and other cannabinoids, making it ideal for isolating these compounds in cannabis products such as vape cartridge oil, gel caps, edibles, tinctures, and topicals. Additionally, ethanol extraction can be performed at room temperature or in cold conditions, with cold ethanol extraction often used to minimize the extraction of undesirable compounds like chlorophyll. One of the most popular examples of ethanol extraction is Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), which uses ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to create a highly concentrated, full-spectrum oil known for its potency and use in medicinal applications, especially for treating serious conditions like cancer.
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Fat-based extraction is a method that has been used in kitchens for decades, particularly for making classic pot brownies and other cannabis edibles. This method involves using fats like butter, coconut oil, or olive oil to extract cannabinoids from cannabis by gently heating the plant material in the fat. Cannabinoids like THC are fatsoluble, meaning they bind well to these oils and butters.
While fat-based extraction is popular for its simplicity and safety, it is less efficient at extracting cannabinoids compared to other methods like ethanol or hydrocarbon extraction. However, it remains a go-to for homemade edibles, tinctures, and topicals due to its natural ingredients and lack of chemical residue.
Types of Solventless-Based Cannabis Extractions
Solventless extraction methods are less common, but arguably just as impressive in producing high potency cannabis extracts. These methods maintain the integrity of the plant’s natural compounds and are favored by consumers looking for clean, additive-free products.
Rosin-Pressed Extraction. This method uses a heated hydraulic press to compress cannabis flower, hash, or kief, producing a solventless extract known as rosin. Rosin is popular for its purity and potency, retaining the full cannabinoid and terpene profile. This process can be done at various scales, from home presses to industrial equipment.
Ice Water Extraction (Bubble Hash). Cannabis is submerged in ice water and mechanically agitated to freeze and break off trichomes. The mixture is filtered through mesh screens, and the trichomes are collected and dried, resulting in bubble hash. This method produces a potent concentrate without the use of solvents, preserving a fullspectrum cannabinoid and terpene profile.
Dry Sifting. This method has been used for centuries to produce cannabis concentrates, making it one of the oldest solventless extraction techniques. Dry sifting involves mechanically separating trichomes from cannabis plant material using fine mesh screens. The result is kief, a versatile product that can be pressed into hash or used directly. While simple, this method can be labor-intensive and produces a concentrate that’s less refined than other solventless methods, but it remains popular for its ease and historical significance.
Science and industry are continuously evolving to find new ways of improving cannabis extraction, driving the development of more efficient and potent methods. One of the newer techniques being explored is microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), which has shown promise in speeding up solvent-based extractions by using microwave radiation to quickly and evenly heat the cannabis and solvent. While this method offers potential for reducing processing time and energy costs, concerns remain about the heat’s impact on delicate cannabinoids and terpenes. These essential compounds could break down under excessive heat, affecting the potency and quality of the final product. Researchers are working to refine this process, carefully controlling temperatures to protect the integrity of these valuable components.
As cannabis legalization continues to expand, so too will innovation in extraction methods. From traditional techniques to cuttingedge technologies like MAE, the future of cannabis extraction looks bright. With a focus on improving both the efficiency of production and the safety of the products, consumers can look forward to even higher-quality, consistent, and potent cannabis experiences in the coming years.
Solventless extraction methods . . . maintain the integrity of the plant’s natural compounds and are favored by consumers looking for clean, additive-free products.
CURB APPEAL
Because the Superficial Matters
(Sometimes)
By Rudy Carrillo
If you wanna know about curb appeal, just ask Jay Steinberg; he knows all about the subject. With more than thirty years as an innovator in the head shop and gift shop industry, Steinberg’s one of my go-to guys when it comes to answering questions about what’s what in the land of glassware, tapestries, decals, custom hippie clothing, and Grateful Dead paraphernalia.
Steinberg began his professional journey nearly 45 years ago, and to hear him tell it, the whole process of succeeding in the smoke shop and gift shop industry sounds mythic. At the same time, for the veterans among us, his story is all too familiar.
“Before I moved to Albuquerque [in 1994], I lived in Nashville. I discovered the Grateful Dead and other touring bands and became fascinated with the open markets selling various types of merchandise in the parking lots. I thought that would be a
great way to get into sales. I started going to rock shows and vending in those parking lots. Then, I opened up a business with my brother; it was a head shop called Stone Mountain. Eventually, we had locations in multiple cities in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. When I decided to go out on my own after a few years, I moved to Albuquerque. I have family here. In 1994, I opened Birdland, a hippie store, in the middle of one of Albuquerque’s busiest retail areas, Nob Hill.”
Now, in case you readers are wondering, this is where the concept of curb appeal comes in, a concept that, when activated, grew Jay’s business and brought success to his entrepreneurial endeavors.
“Many people in town know Birdland because of the VW Microbus in the main window and the big cartoon bird flashing a peace sign at the shop entrance; he’s the birdman of Birdland! Let me tell you, curb appeal is everything. People all over, in town and on the internet, know about the VW bus. I think that was one of the big things that helped me generate business while we were in Nob Hill. Now that we’re located near the University, in the heart of the student neighborhood, I’ve made sure to paint my building vibrantly . . . it becomes something people are curious about
- Jay Steinberg | Birdland, Albuquerque, NM
We find that the atmospheric and architectural dimensions have a significantly positive impact on sales.
-Lauren Skinner Beitelspacher, School of Business at Portland State University
and just that beautiful paint job gets customers into my shop.”
Steinberg has some advice about curb appeal for those of us thinking about starting up or improving just about any retail location. “Make your place pop. Influence people on the street or in their cars so that they want to visit—they want to walk in.”
The academic literature suggests that Steinberg is on the right track when it comes to curb appeal.
Lauren Skinner Beitelspacher, a researcher at the School of Business at Portland State University, writes that curb appeal can raise local awareness of your business, boost sales, and help raise the market value of your business property, concluding that
“In the context of retail real estate, curb appeal represents the general attractiveness of a store as viewed from the sidewalk or parking lot that is expected to affect consumer patronage decisions and consequently property values … We find that the atmospheric and architectural dimensions have a significantly positive impact on sales. We also show that curb appeal dimensions are highly correlated with observable building features traditionally included in pricing models.”
So, what can you do to engage this potentially profitable retail model? Here are some simple steps designed to move you forward.
One of my stores in Billings was getting hit too often . . . so we had enough. We plated the fronts for security and art! -
Take care of existing landscaping or commit to installing and maintaining landscaping on the business’ periphery. This also means keeping the exterior free from clutter of any sort. This exterior vision may cause clients to rightly assume that you care about your business—and that confirmation of trust can turn into sales.
As Jay told us, paint the exterior in such a way as to excite and entice customers into visiting.
Use eye-catching signage to make customers curious about what they will find in your shop. This sort of signage can be placed on the periphery of your shop or even up on the roof to garner more attention and reach.
Put up seasonal decorations. Participating in holiday traditions can drive sales. People are sentimental; they like to see their favorite times of the year celebrated in the shops they tra c.
Make sure your shop has excellent parking, lighting, and accessibility features. Safety is a big deal these days and helping to make your customers feel secure at your shop is essential to creating ‘regulars,’ as well as to promoting comfort and fun for every shopper.
Discontent Lifestyle Stores
Billings, MT • Grand Junction, CO • Wait Park, MN
Photo Credit: Discontent Sta
Rusty Steele, Operator
My whole store is covered in local graffiti art. Inside and out.
I’ve been begging my landlord for years to let me tie dye the store front and he finally agreed. This is a big deal considering we’re in the ‘historical district.’
Ultimately, Steinberg’s experience leads him to believe that curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of succeeding in the gift and smoke shop space. “For me,” he says, “curb appeal is a matter of comfort appeal. I want to appeal to people who say, ‘I want to walk into a place that is appealing to the eye, where people are friendly, and you can explore the shop repeatedly, comfortably, in a relaxing, curious way. I think that’s very important. Also, you should be true to your demographic and make sure to appeal to those folks who have an affinity for or curiosity about what you’re selling. With me, it’s a hippie store; people who walk by on the way to class see the vibrant colors and see the word ‘hippie.’ Even if they don’t know what a hippie store is, they walk in, just because of the colorful environment, outside and inside.”
Sky High Smok N’ Accessories
Medford, OR
Photo Credit: Bobby Painter
- Bobby Painter, “Greeter”
Good Habits
Lewisburg, PA
Photo Credit: Holly Golder
- Bobby Painter, “Greeter”
Exxus Vape Go Plus Concentrate Vaporizer
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HoneyStick Ripper E-Rig
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“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
Alan Kay
Twisted Foot Charms
Constantly misplacing your favorite lighter or vape? Twisted Foot charms provide a stylish and practical way to keep your smoking accessories close at hand. These magnetic charms prevent your prized items from disappearing into couch crevices or rolling out of your pocket, while adding a touch of sophistication to your setup. You can easily attach your lighter, vape, or pods to any magnetic surface, ensuring they’re always within reach. Plus, the lighter charms double as a handy tool for tamping out your bowl at the end of a session. Twisted Foot charms are not only a fun way to express yourself, but also an ideal wholesale product for growing your business, making it easy to stay in your customers’ lives through every high.
Stars Aligned CBD
TEEN VAPING PLUMMETS (AGAIN)
“Gateway” Argument Disproven (Again)
It’s time for a bit of good news on the public health front. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that youth vaping has dropped to the lowest level in a decade. Over the last five years, it has declined by 70 percent. Just 1.55 percent of students in the survey vaped daily.
The media continues to speculate about the so-called “teen vaping crisis” despite these results from the latest FDA survey. But the real takeaway is obvious to anyone willing to see it: nicotine vaping is clearly not a threat to teenagers; instead, it is a powerful quit-smoking tool that helps adults give up cigarettes, which the government continues to needlessly restrict.
So Long to the “Gateway” Hypothesis
One of the primary arguments against e-cigarettes is their potential to serve as gateways to traditional cigarette smoking among youth. While this concern may have been plausible when vapes first entered the market over a decade ago, it is no longer tenable with teen smoking approaching zero. It’s time for critics of the vaping industry to follow the facts where they lead and give up their crusade against a product that is saving millions of lives.
adult smokers quit. By providing a less hazardous alternative to traditional cigarettes, vaping has given these individuals the opportunity to make healthier choices that actually fit their lifestyle. Numerous studies have demonstrated that vaping can be an effective substitute for cigarettes, allowing smokers to gradually reduce their exposure to toxins and ultimately quit altogether.
Vaping Prohibition Didn’t Work
By Alli Boughner Vice President American Vapor Manufacturers
that couldn’t comply with FDA’s wrongheaded (and arguably illegal) rules. However, those misguided efforts have only guaranteed that the massive selection of vapes sold on the street is untested and unregulated.
This is a lesson we at the American Vapor Manufacturers (AVM) have tried to teach confused reporters many times over the years. The growing supply of illegal vapes they complain about is a direct result of FDA ‘s crusade against our ethical, law-abiding industry. They put many of us out of business, and an army of unscrupulous distributors who sell questionable products took our place.
As an agency full of selfcongratulating bureaucrats, the FDA has eagerly taken credit for the decrease in teen vaping rates, claiming that ‘This progress is a testament to the relentless e orts by the FDA, CDC and others, particularly over the past half decade.’ It is no such thing.
As an agency full of self-congratulating bureaucrats, the FDA has eagerly taken credit for the decrease in teen vaping rates, claiming that “This progress is a testament to the relentless efforts by the FDA, CDC and others, particularly over the past half decade.” It is no such thing.
Unlike the mythical gateway hypothesis, it’s undeniable at this point that e-cigarettes have helped millions of
The regulators in Washington have closed thousands of vape shops that served adult customers, and they have bankrupted vapor manufacturers
So, yes, teen vaping and smoking have plummeted. And this is undeniably encouraging. But who really deserves credit for this public health victory? Frankly, it’s parents like me, who know how to raise our children. As I’ve argued before, kids are very intelligent. They make smart decisions when we give them good information and take an interest in their well being.
A recent CDC study shows the same thing: when moms and dads teach their kids not to use nicotine, their kids don’t use nicotine. Of course, the government can’t take credit for good parenting so you won’t see a press release from the FDA.
