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inside
contents 6.2018
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Nothin’but Net
As a former NBA champion, Olympian and entrepreneur, Lamar Odom shoots for success with his newest enterprise in the cannabis industry. O n the C O V E R :
P ho t o b y J oh n G ilhoole y
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features 32
Guided Growth CULTURE revisits the progress of young Maddie Holt who started using cannabis in 2015.
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Power in Pride Cannabis consumers unite with the LGBTQ community in celebration at this month’s international Pride rallies.
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Industry Insider Chairwoman of Women Grow, Dr. Chanda Macias, brings a plethora of knowledge and experience with the science of medical cannabis.
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Hemp is Life Organizations like the Pennsylvania-based Rodale Institute are running groundbreaking hemp research studies.
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departments 10 Letter from the Editor news 11 Legal Corner 14 By the Numbers 16 Local News 17 News Nuggets reviews 18 Strain & Concentrate Reviews 20 Store Highlight 22 Cool Stuff 23 Entertainment Reviews reviews 40 À La Carte 42 Growing Culture 44 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d Thomas Jefferson University Opens Cannabis Patient Registry d Thailand Discusses Loosening Laws on Cannabis
Vol 9 IssUE 12
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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, Caroline Hayes, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Carl Kozlowski, Emily Manke, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Michelle Aguirre Graphic Designer John Venegas Associate Publisher & Bob Waters Advertising Director Account Executives Rebecca Bermudez, Alex Brizicky, Angie Callahan, Molly Clark, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Rocki Davidson, Matt Knuth, Casey Roel, Rick Schwartz, Annie Weber, Vic Zaragoza office manager Mikayla Aguilar Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla INTERNS Cole Graves, Cecilia Juarez Publisher David Comden
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout Washington. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 815 1st Ave | #220 Seattle | Washington | 98104 Phone 888.694.2046 | Fax 888.694.2046 www.CultureMagazine.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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LETTER
FROM
THE
EDITOR
Safety in Sportsmanship
Justin Timberlake “The only thing pot does for me is it gets me to stop thinking. Sometimes I have a brain that needs to be turned off. Some people are just better high.”
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BA Playoffs, World Series, Super Bowl Sunday and March Madness— chances are you’re familiar with most of these sports terms, and for good reason. Sports are a pivotal part of the American lifestyle. So, while cannabis consumption continues to gain popularity across the “Land of the Free,” it’s unfortunate that most professional sports leagues are still hesitant to accept the plant’s medicinal value. Cannabis serves as a substance for recreation, and it’s also a plant that provides us with wellness. Every day there are more and more individuals ditching dangerous substances like opioids and alcohol in favor of this greener and nonlethal alternative. However, many professional sports players are still prescribed dangerous and addictive opioids to deal with their sportsrelated injuries, while cannabis remains a banned substance in most American professional sports leagues. Brave heroes of pro sports, both active and retired, are coming forward to express the benefits they’ve received from cannabis. Veteran National Football League (NFL) running back Mike James was the first player to request a “therapeutic use exemption” for cannabis in March. His story aired in a Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s CNN series entitled “Weed 4: Pot vs. Pills.” James bravely shared how he depended on prescribed opioids to manage chronic pain following sportsrelated injuries, which led to numerous surgeries. He shared how he was able to discontinue his use of opioids in favor of medical cannabis, which ultimately provided him a safer alternative for pain relief. Unfortunately, the NFL leadership was not receptive to his powerful story, denying his request for an exemption in late April. Despite the setbacks, many retired professional athletes continue to lead the charge in demanding sports leagues embrace the medicinal benefits of cannabis. CULTURE’s cover story this month focuses on none other than Lamar Odom, who didn’t hesitate to discuss how his new line of cannabis products can help others 10
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on their road to recovery, much like cannabis did for him years ago. The connection between sports and cannabis is now stronger than ever. As cannabis continues to be an important topic on Capitol Hill and supported by pro athletes in all leagues, it will be interesting to see if sports leadership will finally embrace the medicinal benefits of cannabis, once and for all. Either way, we remain poised to continue fighting for our human right to consume this miraculous plant. c Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
Sound Decisions
How to ensure your federal trademark a p p l i c at i o n i s d e f e n s i b l e By Alison Malsbury
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common issue seen with increasing frequency is a misunderstanding of the basic requirements for obtaining federal trademark protection in the United States. While federal trademark protection is not available for goods and services that violate the Controlled Substances Act, it is common practice in the cannabis industry to obtain federal trademark protection for ancillary goods and services that are federally legal. But the key to obtaining such trademark protection is that you must either be using the applied-for mark in commerce, or you must have a “bona fide intent” to do so. We’d like to explore what exactly it means to have a bona fide intent to use a trademark in commerce, and what level of proof will be required to substantiate it. A common scenario is that a cannabis business owner thinks of a name that sounds great—one they would ideally like to use on their cannabis goods and services—but they know they can’t obtain federal trademark protection for anything
that is federally illegal. So, they start brainstorming similar goods and services for which they could register, oftentimes looking to large, established companies’ trademark registrations for inspiration. The problem, however, is that the cannabis company often does not have a plan in place for actually selling those goods or services. This can be a big problem. There are two bases on which one can file a U.S. federal trademark application: Actual use or intent-to-use. An application based on actual use requires proof of that use in the form of photo specimens showing the mark on the goods and a date of first sale. An intent-to-use application, on the other hand, requires “only” that the applicant have a bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce. This is a great tool for start-ups to ensure that their brand is protected while they’re getting their business off the ground. But it also raises the question of what truly constitutes a “bona fide intent” to use a mark? Section 1(b) of the Trademark Act allows federal trademark applications to be filed based on a “bona fide intent” to use the mark in commerce, and this intent must be stated in the application under penalty of perjury.
“A c o m m o n s c e n a r i o i s t h at a c a n n a b i s b u s i n e s s owner thinks of a name t h at s o u n d s g r e at — o n e t h e y w o u l d i d e a l ly l i k e to use on their cannabis goods and services—but they know they can’t o b ta i n f e d e r a l t r a d e m a r k protection for anything t h at i s f e d e r a l ly i l l e g a l . ”
The Act further states that an intentto-use trademark filing must be “under circumstances showing good faith.” This language indicates that there must be some objective evidence of good faith, a position that courts have consistently agreed with. While the United States Patent and Trademark Office does not require that an applicant submit proof of their bona fide intent at the time of application, an application may be challenged on the basis of lack of bona fide intent at the time the application was filed. This is why it is critical to be able to prove your bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce at the time of filing. Case law, including Honda Motor Co. v. Friedrich Winkelmann, provides some guidance for applicants who are unsure if they’ve met the threshold of having a bona fide intent to use their mark in commerce, and helps us understand what types of objective evidence of a bona fide intent must be shown. The Honda case involved an opposition by Honda to Friedrich Winkelmann’s application to register VIC for “vehicles for transportation on land, air or water” and related goods. The Trademark Office in this case stated that in order to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to its intent to use on a motion for summary judgment, an applicant must rely on specific facts that establish the “existence of an ability and willingness to use the mark in the United States to identify [the goods in the application] at the time of the filing of the application.” This case, among others, reaffirms the importance of having documented evidence to support your bona fide intent to use your mark in commerce at the time you file. This evidence may consist of business plans, marketing plans, or correspondence with potential manufacturers, distributors or licensees, but there is no bright line test as to how much or what kind of evidence will be sufficient. When filing a U.S. trademark application, it is important to consult with your attorney about the validity of your intent to use your proposed mark. Sometimes, it may make sense to wait to file until you have a business plan in place, or until your intent is easily substantiated. c CultureMagazine.com
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The approximate number of misdemeanor charges that the office of a Seattle attorney has asked a municipal court in Seattle to (Source: Fox 60) vacate:
540
The estimated price, in dollars, that it costs to conduct one pesticide test in Washington: (Source: The Columbian)
300
The number of Everett City Council members, out of six, who voted to increase the city limit of dispensaries from five to 10: (Source: MyEverettNews.com)
The number of statelicensed cannabis businesses operating in Yakima County: (Source: TDN.com)
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The projected number of people who are expected to be employed in the United States cannabis industry by 2025: (Source: Desert Sun)
630,000
The percentage of American cannabis consumers who said they would vote to legalize cannabis in their home state: (Source: PSB Research)
90
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that was collected in gross product sales of Kentuckybased hemp: (Source: Courier-Journal)
16.7
The number of patients on Florida’s medical cannabis state registry as of May 11: (Source: Florida Department of Health)
108,981
The 44th Annual Seattle International Film Festival WHEN: Through June 11 WHERE: SIFF Film Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, and various locations WEBSITE: www.siff.net One of the largest and most-attended film festivals in the United States makes its return for the 44th year. The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) will be showcasing more than 400 films from 90 countries, with approximately 145,000 attendees. This 25-day event (which began on May 24) screens more than 70 percent of the 4,000 independent films, which are submitted annually. SIFF is the place where people go to discover 14
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and celebrate new works from around the world, featuring films at three of their classic movie houses, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, SIFF Cinema Uptown and the SIFF Film Center. This one-of-a-kind event also features SIFF Education, which is designed to strengthen and train film lovers and filmmakers of all ages, where classes and panels will search deep into film appreciation with hands-on filmmaking experience. (Cecilia Juarez)
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NEWS
LOCAL
Oregon HEMPFEST
Cannabis Conundrum
Josephine County sues Oregon o v e r m e d i c a l a n d r e c r e at i o n a l cannabis businesses By Heather Johnson
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osephine County filed a lawsuit against the state of Oregon in the U.S. District Court in Medford on April 3 over the state’s recreational and medical cannabis laws. Josephine County commissioners claim that the state has violated the federal Controlled Substances Act and is breaking national law by permitting medical and recreational cannabis businesses to operate. However, the county may be using the lawsuit as a strategy to gain more control of the local industry, which in turn would give it the power to call the shots on what happens with local cannabis businesses. After many attempts to work with state land-use officials to regulate farm land used to grow cannabis, the county changed its strategy and moved forward with the lawsuit. When cannabis was first legalized in Oregon in 2014, entrepreneurs from all over fled to Josephine County to start up cannabis businesses, which created a huge recreational and medical industry in the area. Wally Hicks, Josephine County’s legal counsel, described that time as the “green rush,” because so many people began invest in new cannabis businesses in the county. Currently, there are 125 recreational cultivation sites in operation, as well as hundreds of medical cannabis cultivation sites. Since 2014, 390 businesses have applied for licenses to operate in Josephine County. 16
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Local officials have growing concerns about the rush of new processing facilities and cultivation sites, partly due to complaints from other business owners and farmers in the area that work adjacent to cannabis being grown or processed. Due to concerns of local residents, and a lack of funding for public safety, the county decided to sue the state. County commissioners may be looking for a way to gain power in the industry, and now they are challenging the state’s entire regulatory system. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Wally Hicks explained that cannabis regulation in the county is being executed “in the way the people of the county and the governing body of the county have expressed that they would like to regulate it. That’s what is really at issue here. We’re asking the court to declare whether the state lawfully has that ability to limit those options.” State and federal attorneys are still reviewing the lawsuit, and the Oregon
“We’re asking the court to d e c l a r e w h e t h e r t h e s tat e l a w f u l ly h a s t h at a b i l i t y t o limit those options.” Department of Justice is expected to defend the legal industry. Business owners and many others from the cannabis industry are very upset about the lawsuit, and for good reason. What Josephine County is claiming has far-reaching implications, and if the lawsuit is taken seriously by the federal court, it would negatively affect the state’s cannabis industry. It could also set a precedent for similar cases in other states, since the juxtaposition between state and federal cannabis law has not yet been called into question by the federal court. Supporters of Measure 91 think that Josephine County is wasting funds, and most people in the industry are hoping the lawsuit will simply get dismissed altogether.c
The original HEMPFEST in Seattle, Washington is back and has expanded into Oregon. In classic cannabis event fashion, attendees will gain access to over 100 vendor booths, as well as a free car giveaway (and misting tents too, which will be lifesavers if this weekend is a hot one). It will also be the home of the 2018 Growmaster Competition results. Approved cultivators were all provided with the same clones and strain of cannabis, and HEMPFEST will be the place which reveals the most well-cultivated flower out of all the contestants. Live music will also be performed for your enjoyment, and will include artists like Indubious, Rootikals, Iriefuse and One Dollar Check. With the hundreds of vendors, events and guest speakers, this year’s Oregon HEMPFEST is definitely an event that you won’t want to miss. WHEN: Sat, June 16-Sun, June 17 WHERE: 18183 Elkhead Rd., Oakland WEBSITE: oregonhempfest.org
NEWS
nuggetS
U.S. Attorney for Oregon Pledges to Fight Cannabis Trafficking On May 18, U.S. Attorney for Oregon, Billy Williams, outlined five priorities to ramp up law enforcement efforts to abate illegal cannabis activity in Oregon. His five priorities are controlling cannabis overproduction (which leads to interstate trafficking), public health threats, cannabis violations involving violence or firearms, organized crime and protection of public lands from pesticides. “As a preliminary matter, I am fully committed to continuing the long tradition in Oregon of carrying out law enforcement
in close coordination with our partners at the State, Tribal, and local levels, including all Oregon sheriffs and municipal police departments,” Williams stated in a press release. Shortly after, Gov. Kate Brown backed up Williams by issuing a statement that she agrees with his priorities. This follows a February audit of Oregon Liquor and Control Commission, because there were issues found with the commission’s ability to effectively monitor the cannabis program.
Oregon Medical Cannabis Cultivators Subject to Tracking Requirements Oregon’s medical cannabis cultivation sites will have to begin using Oregon’s Cannabis Tracking System (CTS) in order to stay compliant beginning on July 1. “This summer approximately 2,000 medical marijuana growers will need to start using Oregon’s CTS to ensure the marijuana they grow for patients is tracked and reported,” an Oregon Health Authority’s press release stated. “This week the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission launched
Arizona Governor Signs Bill to Legalize Industrial Hemp Cultivation Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona signed legislation on May 14, which allows farmers to cultivate industrial hemp. Senate Bill 1098 allows cultivators, harvesters, processors and transporters to obtain a state license from the Arizona Department of Agriculture, which will oversee the program. Farmers will be able to harvest hemp up to four times per year, thanks to Arizona’s sunny
a series of information sessions and workshops to help growers registered with the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program begin the sign-up process to use CTS.” About 1,800 recreational companies already use CTS, so some businesses will be familiar with the system. Oregon Senate Bill 1544 requires all medical cannabis cultivators use the system beginning in July. Each business must select a cultivator to serve as a grow site administrator for CTS.
climate. That could translate to 1,500 pounds of hemp per acre, according to estimates. “This bill opens Arizona to the possibility of a new agricultural product,” Gov. Ducey stated. “I’m glad to sign a bill that could have a positive economic impact for the state.” Ducey vetoed previous attempts to allow hemp cultivation due to the planned program’s lack of a funding source. Under the new law, anyone caught violating licensing requirements will be subject to strict penalties.
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REVIEWs
strain & concentrate
Triangle Kush by HempKings It’s good to be HempKing! This flower is absolutely phenomenal. Everything about it screams powerful medicine, from the fragrance to the effects. This particular strain definitely has a potent scent though, so if you are trying to be discreet with your stash, be sure to get something smell proof for storage and travel. The fragrance is a healthy blend of pungent and fruitiness that will be sure to please all palates. The CULTURE team used a water pipe to sample this flower and found the flavor to be very fruity at first, with a follow-up of pungent earthy flavors on the finish. Triangle Kush is a straight-up indica, and it behaves as such. If you’re looking for a light creative effect—this isn’t it. At 23 percent THC, this flower will put you at ease, improve your mood and relieve pain. While it’s not guaranteed to give you couch-lock, it is powerful and definitely not meant for doing anything that requires too much energy. This is the perfect flower to chill with, but don’t expect to get motivated to do any physical activity.
Available wherever: Mammoth Labs products are carried.
Available wherever: HempKings products are carried.
White Georgia Pine by Mammoth Labs “So, so good!” is what came out of the mouths of our review team after sampling the exquisite hydrocarbon concentrate known as White Georgia Pine. After using a water vaporizer to try it out, the team noted that the concentrate has a pleasant medicinal flavor. The powerful terpenes, which test at almost 15 percent, have notes of licorice, cherry and pine. It’s also incredibly smooth, which contributes to the medicinal nature of this absolutely wonderful concentrate. After sampling this tasty concentrate, the team noted that the 59 percent THC worked exactly as expected. The effect was fast-acting, long-lasting, incredibly strong and provided a pleasant tranquility. Despite its powerful nature, the fact that White Georgia Pine is a sativa-dominant hybrid does make the effect much more mellow. A burst of joyful energy is followed by chill relaxation.
Rudeboi OG by Kush Family Genetics The ample packaging for this flower is sure to draw attention, signaling that there’s something special inside. A cartoon depiction of a pig in a suit adorns the label of this “Corporate Kush” line, which is sure to make even the most staunch of capitalists giggle a bit. But the package isn’t the only thing that draws attention! The flower itself is intensely fragrant, with a skunky forested scent that emanates from the jar. The container does a good job of masking the fragrance, but this is definitely not flower you want to bring when you go out, unless you’re cool with everyone knowing what you’re up to. After using a dry pipe to sample this sativa-dominant hybrid that tests at 17.3 percent THC, the CULTURE team noted that the flavor was a more delicate version of the fragrance with forward pine notes, and a more subtle skunky finish. This mellow flower is perfect for playing in the summer sun, as it provides a giggly, happy effect that won’t bog you down, and in fact lifts you up. 18
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Available at: Green Collar Cannabis in Tacoma.
Available wherever: GaGa Edibles products are carried.
Caramel Cups by GaGa Edibles Every once in a while, an edible comes along that is so dang delicious that you can’t stop yourself from eating more. Caramel Cups from GaGa Edibles are some of those tasty treats. Flavors of rock salt, orange and caramel make for an epic eating experience that is astonishingly delicious, not just for a cannabis-infused edible, but for any chocolate. At 10mg of THC per serving, you may choose to eat more than one at a time, if you so choose. While the edible’s effect isn’t powerful enough to render most experienced consumers completely indisposed, it is enough to relax you, allowing you to enjoy whatever activity you set out to enjoy. And of course, GaGa’s always tasteful packaging would make these a wonderful gift for any occasion, birthdays, housewarmings or just a nice gift for your summer BBQ host. Anyone who loves chocolate and cannabis will love these Caramel Cups. Available at: Various Local Roots locations in Washington.
Rudeboi by Secret Gardens of Washington You know what they say about things that come in small packages—don’t underestimate them. Rudeboi from Secret Gardens is no exception to this rule. Your perception of this product begins with the unassuming but elegant little jar that packs a big punch. Upon opening, the signature Rudeboi scent was immediately detectable in this flower. Upon closer inspection, the sativa-dominant hybrid’s buds were also noticeably dense and crystalline. Rudeboi’s flavor lined up with the fragrance, and the terpene profile tasted quite intense, but pleasant, with hints of skunk and forest. The CULTURE team sampled this flower using a water pipe, and the effects were delightful—a happy heady effect left reviewers laughing and wanting more. It’s the perfect companion for a walk on the beach, catching a theatrical show or going on a kayaking trip. You can basically perform any activity with this product, but keep in mind that it does require bountiful energy to fully enjoy. CultureMagazine.com
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REVIEWs
store highlight
profile experience. The way we take time to help people is by far the thing that people will experience once they are in our store. We take time to help.
The Kushery in Clearview 18026 Highway 9, Snohomish | (360) 863-3256 thekushery.rocks How and when did your store start up? We opened in April of 2015 after having our medical store open for three years; we applied for licenses and won ours in the lottery. We bring a lot of experience with us from our medical store. We wanted to stay close to our original store to hopefully help the same people we have been helping for the last five years. 20
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What’s the story behind the name of your store? The Kushery was an easy choice for us. You go [to] the bakery for bread, but if you want some good kush, then come to The Kushery. What does your store offer customers that they can’t find anywhere else? The two things that separate us from others is customer service and knowledge of products, such as strains with terpene
How has the cannabis industry changed since you have been in the business? Where would you like to see it go? The cannabis industry went from a community to a more cutthroat industry. Companies are on a race to the bottom trying to cut prices that are going to cause them to collapse. What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a store? . . . Biggest joys? Our biggest concern and hurdle is to make sure we are 100 percent LCBcompliant. With the laws and rules changing every day, it’s hard to stay on top of it. The biggest joy is seeing people’s faces when they come and see all the good stuff we have on the inside of our store; people always leave smiling. That is the best feeling. What is the one thing you want patients/customers to
To p Sellin g Str ain Granddaddy Purple, especially from Phat Panda or Topshelf To p Sellin g Co n centr ate AK 47 by Gorge Gold To p Sellin g Edibles HiBurst from NWCS
know about your store? There are no dumb questions. We want people to know they can come in here feeling comfortable and getting some knowledge, but we are also here for the most advanced smokers with the newest and latest products available to them. What do you hope to accomplish in the cannabis industry? We just hope to make a store that really helps people makes them feel like they are the most important thing to our business, and we appreciate every customer. If we do that and keep the shelves stocked, everything else should fall into place. c
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REVIEWs
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1. All Things Hemp 3 Pack Beard Oil, Balm & Stash Wax by Beard of God™ Men, do you have trouble finding that perfect product for your beloved beards? Beards of God™ is here “to help men groom and maintain their mainly beards” with high quality ingredients. The All Things Hemp 3 Pack Beard Oil, Balm & Stash Wax comes with hemp-infused organic Beard Oil, hemp-infused Beard Balm and wax for your mustache. All-natural ingredients like organic and certified Kosher hemp seed oil, as well as other nutritional oils and vitamin E, will prevent your beard from becoming brittle and dry. This is the perfect gift for any hygiene aficionado in your life, but especially for dads who rock an awesome beard. Price: $34 More Information: www.beardofgod.com 2. Orbit Bluetooth Key Tracker Let’s admit it. We all misplace our phones and keys from time to time. How many times have you searched the couch and every surface of your house for your car keys or your phone? Now just imagine all that extra time you could all be saving if you had an Orbit Bluetooth Key Tracker. Stop endlessly searching for your keys or cell phones, and find your misplaced items quickly with the touch of a button—this device makes losing precious valuables a thing of the past. The Orbit Bluetooth Key Tracker is small, affordable and comes in a variety of colors. Price: $24.99 More Information: findorbit.com/orbit_us 22
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3. Hemp Backpack Made from 100 percent certified organic hemp, this backpack is made from the same hemp as the world-famous Hemp Wick Bee Line. This design is not only functional but fashionable as well, making it one of the best hemp backpacks on the market. This organic hemp backpack is filled with plenty of compartments as well as stash pockets for your valuables. With two adjustable padded shoulder straps, along with a single side water bottle pocket, get ready to take this backpack on all your outdoor adventures. The backpack is available in three different colors—Desert Tan, Oregon Green and Midnight Black. Price: $109 More Information: hempwickbeeline.com
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4. Stone Drink Dispenser Many of us enjoy our favorite drink on the rocks, but now you can enjoy it from the rock—in the literal sense. The Stone Drink Dispenser allows whiskey enthusiasts to enjoy their own little keg dispenser that not only looks cool, but makes pouring another round of drinks even easier. Designed by Jeff Henderson, this item is the ideal gift to accompany a bottle of booze for your thirstiest of friends (or fathers). This particular handmade unit is designed in New Hampshire and made from natural New England coastal stones. It can also be paired with a matching stone lever to boot. Price: $45-$153 More Information: www.uncommongoods.com
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HERE
REVIEWs
entertainment
BOOK
Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana Michael Backes Pub. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers This revised and updated edition of Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana serves as a vital tool to those who would like to better understand the relationship between cannabis and the endocannabinoid system within our bodies. From clarifying the various functions of our endocannabinoid systems to better understanding cannabis consumption in general, this guide is especially helpful to those new to medical cannabis. Readers will be given practical tools to best prepare cannabis and administer it, which includes understanding the intricacies of dosage and titration. (Jacob Cannon)
Release Date: JUNE 15 Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC
GAME
LEGO The Incredibles Dev. Traveller’s Tales Pub. Warner Bros. Film-related LEGO® games have had an incredible run since the first game was released in 2001. So it’s no surprise that Disney is finally bringing its superhero movie franchise, The Incredibles, to join in on the fun. This game is full of everything you would expect, including countless LEGO® bricks, nonstop action, plenty of puzzles—plus, it’s available in both single player and twoplayer co-op modes. LEGO The Incredibles comes with content from the first film, as well as the new film that will be released later this month, so there’s plenty of gameplay to go around. (Nicole Potter)
MOVIE
Black Panther Dir. Ryan Coogler Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures In this age of superhero movie saturation, it can be hard to figure out which films will stand up as all around good science fiction movies, and which are essentially just bloated tributes to excessive budgets, explosions and computer special effects. Black Panther easily makes that leap into the realm of fantastic science-fiction and adds itself to an extremely short list of superhero films that transcend the genre. Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, (Creed, Fruitvale Station) the film brings to life the classic Stan Lee/Jack Kirby created Marvel hero, Black Panther, and his fictional African home of Wakanda and makes it one of the most fully fleshed-out, immersive universes created yet. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
7 Beach House Sub Pop Records Three years since its last release, Beach House has returned with one of the most consistent, focused and beautiful records of its career with 7. Rife with all of the lush, shimmery texture expected from a Beach House record, 7 still sees the band pushing its sound in new directions and working with firmer, tougher sounds and arrangements. These qualities give 7 a definition and a flow that is equal parts interesting and gorgeous. Instead of being content wandering through an exquisite fog or drifting through a sparkling expanse, 7 feels like Beach House taking us by the hand and leading us somewhere incredible. (Simon Weedn)
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“One of my favorite strains is the OG Kush; it helps with my anxiety.”
Photo by John Gilhooley
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How Lamar Odom turned adversity and tragedy into success in the cannabis world By David Edmundson
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amar Odom has held several monikers—basketball phenom, National Basketball Association (NBA) champion, Olympian and most recently survivor, but he is adding a new title to his resume—cannabis entrepreneur. CULTURE sat down with the retired champ to discuss basketball, his miraculous recovery and his thoughts on the cannabis landscape. Odom’s life has been a dichotomy of good and bad since he was a kid. As a youth, he was a basketball standout, but his childhood was marred by the death of his mother at the age of 12, and his father’s ongoing addiction to drugs.
In spite of these early tragedies, Odom became a talented basketball player in high school. He was recognized twice as a Parade All-American when he was a junior and senior and was named Parade Player of the Year in his senior year. After a brief stint in college, Odom was selected fourth overall in the 1999 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. The following year, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. However, in 2001 Odom was suspended for violating the NBA Drug Policy. He was suspended a second time the following season for the same infraction. Following his suspension, he admitted to consuming cannabis. In 2004, Odom traded Clipper red for Laker gold. During his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, Odom won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. He was also bestowed the coveted NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for his efforts in 2011. During his time on the Lakers, Odom began to repair his relationship with his father, who was now drug-free. Shortly after playing with the Lakers, Odom experienced tragedy yet again with the death of his cousin, with whom Odom was close. Exacerbating the situation, Odom was the passenger in a vehicle that struck and killed a teenage cyclist. The motor accident occurred one day after laying his cousin to rest. After these tragedies, Odom played for the Dallas Mavericks for one season before returning to the Clippers for the final season of his NBA career. During his career in Los Angeles, Odom also appeared on a number of reality shows and grew a large fandom off the court. Of course, with newfound notoriety comes the perils of living life in the spotlight. He was addicted to drugs and suffered from terrible anxiety. Odom was found unresponsive and slipped into a coma in 2015. After several days, the former NBA star woke up. However, his recovery would be arduous. It was during this time that Odom began to focus on natural healing and cannabis. His quest for health led him to partner with Camp Green to form Rich Soil Organics and to make high-grade, organic cannabis products. CultureMagazine.com CultureMagazine.com JUNE JUNE2018 2018
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As a basketball standout from a young age, did sports function as an escape mechanism for your traumatic youth? It definitely did, 100 percent. Sports was like a parent to me. It kept me straight and on the right path. It made all my dreams come true. What did sports teach you early on? It taught me everything about teamwork, what it takes to be a good teammate. I’ve always considered myself a great teammate. I always took pride in that. You played in the NBA for 13 years and won two championships. You also represented your country in the 2004 Olympics. Was one more special than the other? I think they went handin-hand. I grew up always paying attention to the Olympics, and that was a special moment. The opening ceremonies are something I’ll never forget. Just like I’ll never forget winning those two championships with the Lakers, but they run neckand-neck. I wouldn’t put one in front of the other. How was it playing for the Olympics with different teammates? At the end of the day it was the worlds’ teams competing, so we were representing America, so it meant a lot to me to be on that team. You describe yourself as a “walking miracle.” How has cannabis helped you in your personal life? It helped me regain my motor skills. After I woke up from my coma, I couldn’t walk or talk, and I think
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marijuana helped me with my motor skills. Of course, it helps with pain, and I was addicted to drugs as well. It has helped my recovery out a lot as well. Several NBA players have come out recently supporting cannabis. Did you hear a lot about cannabis consumption when you played in the league? Not really. I mean I think guys smoked, but of course when we weren’t in season. But now that it’s becoming a big business, a lot of players are trying to take advantage of the business aspects and of course helping people. I want to help people if I can. Do you think you ever played with or against someone under the influence of cannabis? Did you ever play under the influence? I did consume cannabis during my career. It was the wrong decision, because I was suspended for smoking marijuana. I think that rules will be changed in the NBA soon. I think they’ve come to terms that it’s not unhealthy, like some other drugs. You played during David Stern’s reign as commissioner of the NBA, where he enacted very strict anti-cannabis rules. Recently though, he has come out in support of removing cannabis from the restricted list. Did you notice a change in cannabis’ perception from when you entered the lead, compared to when you left? Well I think in America as a whole, I think marijuana is definitely more socially acceptable. Just overall, in general.
Photos by JuanMarquis “Jay” Johnson | Location: SCSA South Coast Safe Access
“I found that I could help my anxiety through the use of certain strains of marijuana, as opposed to Xanax or other things that had opiates in it.”
Elite athletes are under a lot of scrutiny. Do you foresee a future where cannabis is something that’s not tested for and is no longer banned? I hope so. I hope it gets to the point to where it’s not even a slap on the wrist, and no big deal. Plus, they need it for the pain and for the recovery. I don’t think they’re using it just to get stoned, because they need to be active during the day for professional reasons. I’d recommend them a good strain of Rich Soil’s sativa; that’ll keep ’em up. You have recently gotten into the cannabis business arena. Can you tell me about your partnership with Camp Green, Rich Soil Organics? I had a mutual friend who approached me about Camp Green. They were growing organically, which is very clean. But it wasn’t something I just jumped into. We got to know each other, the whole team. We’re a minority-owned company, and we got to know each other to see if we clicked, businesswise. And from that point on, it has been working pretty good. I read a lot of studies on the power of natural healing. I found that I could help my anxiety through the use of certain strains of marijuana, as opposed to Xanax or other things that had opiates in it.
Do you find that cannabis has allowed you to overcome your anxiety and make better decisions in life? One-hundred percent. As the world saw, I was in rehab. It took a lot of time for me heal. During my recovery, I did a lot of research into the healing properties of cannabis. I suffer from really bad anxiety, and that anxiety led me to make terrible life-changing decisions off the court. My decision-making was terrible, because I was so anxious. One of my favorite strains is the OG Kush; it helps with my anxiety. Was it important for you that the company you partnered with is an organic grower? Yes, I want to help people, not hurt them with poor quality products [that are] full of chemicals. Photo by John Gilhooley
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Is it equally important being a minority-owned company? Yes, it’s time for change in every which way in America. Because change is always good if it’s not hurting anyone. Black business baby! Black excellence, that’s what we support. What kind of feedback have you received from your customers? Everybody seems to like it. We went down to San Diego, and we got good reviews. Everybody seems to love it. You grew up in New York, which has a pretty strict medical cannabis program. How does the presence of a medical program impact those who live in states with stricter, or in some cases, no cannabis program? I mean, of course it’s going to affect consumers. If it’s legal in one area, but not another, that’s where you run into trouble. From our community, it’s horrible for it to be illegal in some of the black communities, because we’re going to find a way to sell it and make money off of it. Hopefully other states will legalize it and regulate it.
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There are two approaches to fighting for cannabis legalization, medical and recreational. Is one of the two more important to you? You got to fight it both ways. Fuck it! I want it all, we want it all. We want to smoke and enjoy it and heal ourselves at the same time. Your ability to bounce back from adversity is an inspiration to many. What words of advice would you give to people who are suffering from drug addiction problems? Put your higher power first, and you can overcome anything if you do that. With the tremendous highs and scary lows you have experienced in your life, what is the message people can take away from your life thus far? That I’m a fighter, that I’m a survivor, and I’m Godfearing. Anything that comes my way, I’ll overcome. What would you tell 20-year-old Lamar if you talked to him today? Just chill out and think. Think everything through. c
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Photo by John Gilhooley
Favorite Cannabis Strain Rich Soil OG Kush Favorite Movie The Hurricane Favorite Song “Angel” by Anita Baker Coca Cola or Pepsi? Pepsi Favorite Candy Airhead Bites Boxers or Briefs? Boxer briefs Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars Pineapple on pizza? Wrong Who’s going to win the NBA championships? Cleveland Cavaliers over the Houston Rockets
www.lamarodom.com richsoilorganics.com
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Still Strong Cannabis continues to provide unparalleled t r e at m e n t f o r M a d d i e H o lt ’ s rare genetic condition By Emily Manke
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magine being told by doctors that your child has only days to live. That is something Meagan Holt has been told about her daughter Maddie, twice. Early on in her young life, Maddie was diagnosed with Zellweger syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes frequent seizures, vision loss, hearing loss and many other symptoms. Maddie’s prognosis was not good. According to all of the doctors that Meagan consulted, Maddie’s life would be short and heavily medicated. In 2015, Maddie was put on hospice, sent home, and Meagan was told she would likely die the same day. But Maddie didn’t die. In fact, Meagan gave her cannabis oil for the first time at home, and something miraculous happened. Maddie went eight days without having a seizure, which was a record for her. CULTURE covered Meagan and her daughter Maddie’s story in July of 2017. Since then, cannabis treatment has improved Maddie’s quality of life dramatically. CULTURE caught up with Meagan to get an update, and while cannabis will never cure Maddie’s genetic disorder, the treatment has made incredible improvements in the young girl’s life. “Since last speaking with CULTURE, Maddie has done amazing things.” Meagan 32
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said with pride. Since last July, Maddie’s liver became so hard, that she had a massive internal bleed. This was due to her condition, which causes organ failure. Maddie was given a rapid blood transfusion. Because of her condition, and the fact that she is a cannabis patient, Maddie is not eligible for a liver transplant. Instead of a transplant, Maddie had a shunt put into her liver, which allows blood to bypass the liver.” The surgery to install the shunt took seven-and-a-half hours. Despite the severity of this surgery and her condition, Maddie went through the entire procedure without opioids, and she was able
to leave the hospital in five days. Then, in late 2017, her medical team discovered a massive vascular malformation in her esophagus, which required blood transfusions every six to 10 days. Because of this, and the toll it continued to take on her compromised liver, Maddie was once again placed on hospice. But true to form, Meagan didn’t give up. She increased Maddie’s CBG dosage, started using raw cannabis juice, and the results were once again astounding. The massive vascular malformation, also known as blebs, went away entirely, and Maddie is once again off hospice.
“Medically, it’s been overwhelming with her.” Meagan said, in an admirably understated and hopeful manner. Maddie is currently weaning off of her last traditional epilepsy medication, down from 26 medications to two including cannabis. Another upside to Maddie’s cannabis treatment is that it has been changing the hearts and minds of the medical professionals treating her. “My relationship with her care team is impeccable,” Meagan stated. “A good example of why we have to continue to reach out to the medical community and educate them—I actually became an advisor for Seattle Children’s Hospital and do a lot of policy work with them now. They now have a policy for off-policy use, so I can administer cannabis to Maddie while she’s inpatient, and the hospital isn’t liable.” All of the doctors who work with Maddie tell Meagan to keep doing what she is doing. While the doctors can’t legally come right out and recommend cannabis use, Meagan knows that they support her. Doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital often refer parents whose kids are out of other options to Meagan, because they know she can tell them what they cannot regarding cannabis treatment. Meagan has also been hard at work in Olympia. She helped draft Maddie’s Law, Senate Bill 5290 and the companion House Bill
1060, which would have allowed students to be administered medical cannabis by their parents at school. While the bills didn’t pass, Meagan lobbied for it intensely in the last two legislative sessions. Meagan is disappointed about the outcome, and she wonders why Washington State has fallen behind other medical cannabis states like New Jersey and Michigan, which allow the kids who need medical cannabis to receive it in school. Meagan has some advice for parents with children who are out of other treatment options, and considering cannabis as an option. “The most important thing is, no matter what they tell you, don’t ever give up. Until they’re taking their last breath, it’s not over until it’s over,” Meagan said. “When I started treating Maddie with cannabis, I never expected it to save her life. And I don’t think any parent should start treating their child with cannabis with the intention of it saving their child’s life. The only intention you should have is for them to have a better quality of life than they have right now.” Maddie’s condition is terminal, and cannabis isn’t going to change that. But what cannabis has done, is drastically improve the quality of Maddie’s limited time on Earth and give Maddie and Meagan more precious time together. It’s hard to believe a plant capable of such miracles, is still so controversial. c
“ W h e n I s ta r t e d t r e at i n g M a d d i e w i t h cannabis, I never expected it to save her life. And I don’t think any parent should s ta r t t r e at i n g t h e i r c h i l d w i t h c a n n a b i s with the intention of it saving their c h i l d ’ s l i f e . T h e o n ly i n t e n t i o n y o u s h o u l d have is for them to have a better quality o f l i f e t h a n t h e y h a v e r i g h t n o w. ”
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and cannabiS T h e c a n n a b i s a n d L G B T Q comm u n i t i e s s h a r e s i m i l a r a g e n d a s — th e p u r s u i t of civil liberties By Addison Herron-Wheeler
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t’s that time of year again—rainbow flags are flying and love is in the air while inclusive, raging parties are happening across the world. It’s Pride season once again, and even if you aren’t a member of the LGBTQ community, it’s still the perfect time to show solidarity with those who are. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Pride and cannabis together, especially in states that allow cannabis. In a lot of bigger cities with a saturation of cannabis and dispensaries, cannabis professionals sponsor Pride,
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showing up with floats and booths to help spread the word about the acceptance that goes hand-in-hand with cannabis culture. Local businesses host Pride specials and give discounts to those celebrating.
“ T o d ay P r i d e i s a b i g g e r c e l e b r at i o n than ever, much l i k e o u r r e c e n t ly p a s s e d h o l i d ay, 420, which gets bigger and better every year.”
But at the heart of it, sponsorships from liquor and cannabis companies aren’t what Pride is all about. Just like people who love cannabis, the LGBTQ community loves to party, but the community has also undeniably faced a lot of oppression over the years. And more so than sharing a love of entrepreneurship or catching a good buzz, cannabis activists and queer people share a passion for making positive social change. Despite the challenges being imposed by current leaders, which have recently introduced both anti-cannabis and antiLGBTQ policies, queer issues are still at the forefront of many people’s minds, and for every setback, progress inches towards acceptance.
Today Pride is a bigger celebration than ever, much like our recently passed holiday, 420, which gets bigger and better every year. These days, Pride celebrations aren’t just excuses to party and get wild; they are celebrations of all the social and political activism that is being done, both in the cannabis community and in the LGBTQ world. For decades, cannabis consumers were arrested and tried as felons for supplying cannabis to others, or simply for medicating. LGBTQ folks were being arrested just for expressing love for people of the same gender or crossdressing. Despite the setbacks still faced today, the communities have come so far. So, this year as Pride rolls around, don’t just think of it as a chance to wear bright colors and party with your friends. Make time to reflect on the how far cannabis and queer issues have come in 2018, and celebrate the achievements made, while recognizing that the fight for representation and acceptance is still far from over. c
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Industry Insider
Health Care Hero D r . C h a n da M acias o f t h e Nati o n a l H o l istic H e a l i n g C e n t e r p r o m o t e s r acia l e q u it y a n d s o u n d sci e n c e
By R. Scott Rappold
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he U.S. government has said for decades that cannabis has “no accepted medical use,” lumping it with drugs like heroin and LSD in terms of its medical potential and legality. But Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the nation’s most powerful marijuana foe, would only have to travel 10 blocks from his office in the nation’s capital to see otherwise. That’s where Dr. Chanda Macias provides medicine for 2,400 patients at her medical cannabis dispensary, 36
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violating federal law like every other cannabis seller in America. Her National Holistic Healing Center is one of five dispensaries in Washington, D.C., a small market that is symbolically large by virtue of its location. Dr. Macias expects sales to rise from $5 million to $8 million this year. As a result, she has emerged as one of the industry’s most prominent faces, a clean-cut scientist and mother of four with an impressive educational background, who doesn’t consume cannabis herself. Along with running the dispensary and studying the
plant as a scientist, she was also recently selected to serve as chairwoman of Women Grow, a nationwide organization with dozens of chapters and hundreds of business members. “Being operational for almost three years, I see what a tremendous difference in health care benefits it provides my patients,” said Dr. Macias, 43. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve seen recovery from certain ailments. I’ve seen improved quality of life for a lot of different patients. It’s miraculous what I’ve seen this plant can do for patients in the D.C. market.”
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H e a lt h C a r e D i s p a r i t y
It was on a trip to Ethiopia that Dr. Macias began to draw parallels between the health crisis in that impoverished nation and the situation facing millions of Americans at home. A cell biologist with a PhD from Howard University, she received a grant to bring students there to study diseases like malaria, which were often fatal because of a lack of medicine and available doctors. She had studied cannabis’ medical benefits and its potential to fight a number of diseases, from glaucoma to cancer, and decided to do something to help Americans gain access to it. “What I needed was to bring awareness to this health disparity that everyone experiences due to the deficiency of cannabinoids in our systems, understanding that those cannabinoids are putting us back in balance and giving us an improved quality of life, because that balance is something we need in order to not see these different progressive disease states,” she said. “It’s having access to the right medicine, and the medicine I feel can have the biggest impact on a patient is medical marijuana.” Around this time, 2013, Washington, D.C. was in the process of approving its first dispensaries. Dr. Macias applied, and two years later, was approved as the fifth and final one. She quit her job at a large pharmaceutical company to sell cannabis.
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Scientific Approach
“I can’t change who I am, which is a scientist. So I still have to indulge in that,” said Dr. Macias, who takes that approach to dispensing cannabis. When a new strain is ready, she and other scientists on her team examine the cannabinoid properties to determine what specific ailments it may be best used to treat, a concept known as “strain alignment.” Laboratory research is a major focus of the dispensary, along, of course, with its eight warehouse grow operations in the city. And it’s not just Washington, D.C. residents who can reap the benefits. The city allows medical cannabis patients from 16 other states to gain access to dispensaries, a big deal in a city that receives plenty of visitors, from tourists to government employees, who don’t need to go in search of the black market. Expanding access and knowledge about cannabis was why, in February of this year, Dr. Macias accepted the job of chairwoman of Women Grow. It’s an opportunity to not only
help women prosper in the industry, but to raise awareness of women’s issues, such as using cannabis to treat endometriosis, a painful swelling of uterus tissue, and allowing children who use cannabis to treat epilepsy to medicate at school instead of having to be taken home.
“ . . . Overall if I ever question my decision of g o i n g i n t o t h i s i n d u s t r y, I l o o k at m y 2 , 4 0 0 p at i e n t s , a n d I s ay, ‘ I d i d t h e r i g h t thing. No question.’” A.
A Polarizing Issue
Dr. Macias’ eight-year-old son isn’t allowed to say “marijuana” or “cannabis.” He can only call the plant “medicine.” It’s to protect him from getting in trouble if someone asks what his mother does. It’s also to avoid a misunderstanding that could result in social services being called. Such are the risks of running a dispensary in a region that is years behind the West in terms of the legality of cannabis. It’s the same attitude she has come up against during her entire academic career. “When I went to school, it was still the ‘War on Drugs’ and the thought of marijuana was there was nothing medical about it. It was just a pipeline to prison,” she said. When she studied cannabis, it was by reviewing the laboratory research of others, because of the legal hurdles in America to studying a Schedule I drug. Some of her scientific colleagues have applauded Dr. Macias for getting involved in medical cannabis, while others warned her it would be detrimental to her career. “I get both responses, but overall if I ever question my decision of going into this industry, I look at my 2,400 patients, and I say, ‘I did the right thing. No question,’” she said. “I’m very happy to be in this space,” she concluded. “I’m happy to create awareness and meet some pretty dynamic people who really are changing the face of health care.” c CultureMagazine.com
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Sowing Sustainability T h e Ro d a l e I n s t i t u t e h i ghl i ght s i t s l e a d i n g h e m p r e s e a r ch p r oj e ct i n ho n o r o f H e m p H i s to r y W e e k By Benjamin M. Adams
H
emp’s rich history is embedded in the story of the United States. What was once a staple crop in early American society, hemp’s legacy eventually fell— but it is slowly returning to its former glory. With uniquely sustainable qualities, the plant is an ideal agricultural product that could also help combat the fingerprint that mankind leaves behind on planet Earth. This month we celebrate Hemp History Week (which runs from June 4-10), and to honor another year of progress in the hemp industry, CULTURE spoke with the Pennsylvaniabased Rodale Institute, which is conducting groundbreaking agricultural hemp research. 38
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Although hemp was once a major industry in Pennsylvania for over 260 years, 80 years of prohibition made hemp farms an impossibility until recently. “According to Penn State Extension, the fiber of both hemp and flax was used to produce everything from clothing, to rope, to paper in colonial times,” Tara Caton, senior lab technician with Rodale Institute told CULTURE. “Historical records from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania reveal that over 100 hemp mills operated in the state to separate the fibers from the bark and the core. Industrial hemp became a victim of the 1937 banning of marijuana, a different
variety of Cannabis sativa, because of morphological similarity of the two species.” The 2014 Federal Farm Bill, however, opened the doors to hemp cultivation once again, for research purposes. Hemp and cannabis have very different purposes, but many remain uneducated about making the distinction. “According to U.S. law, hemp is the stalks, stems and sterilized seeds of cannabis; marijuana is the leaves, flowers and viable seeds of cannabis,” Caton explained. Legally, hemp is defined as having less than 0.3 percent THC, and the plant is typically grown for its fiber content.
Now operating in what used to be one of the United States’ most popular hemp cultivation areas, Rodale Institute is making great strides in research. It’s one of 16 projects to receive a state-issued permit to cultivate hemp and unlike those other projects, Rodale Institute is one of the few organizations that is conducting independent agricultural research on hemp, directly on hemp farms. The institute is conducting a four-year research project, with an emphasis on sustainable farming. “We’re thrilled to have a new tool in our kit to find solutions for American farmers,” said Caton. “We’re honored to be included among the first research institutions granted access to experimenting with hemp. One of the most pressing issues for organic farmers is how to best fight weeds. Hemp, used as a cover crop, has the potential to not only suppress weeds but to provide a higher profit for the farmer in comparison to other cover crops (e.g. sorghum Sudan grass).” A cover crop is a crop grown for the purpose of soil enrichment, suppressing weed growth and helping to control unwanted pests and diseases. Hemp is more sustainable than many other types of plants, and members of Rodale Institute are very knowledgeable on the subject. “Hemp has a short growth phase and can be incorporated into a crop rotation, increasing the overall number of crops getting onto a field in a given year,” Caton explained.
“We’re honored to be included among the first research institutions granted access to e x p e r i m e n t i n g w i t h h e m p. ”
Caton also noted that hemp has a short growth phase, making it possible to cycle through multiple crop rotations in a single year. “This allows us to keep the field planted at all times, reducing erosion and runoff, and to increase soil carbon as the plant sequesters it from the atmosphere and returns to the ground,” she said. “Hemp is also less labor intensive than other fiber crops (e.g. cotton); one machine can harvest an entire field of hemp whereas hundreds of workers are needed to hand-pick cotton. Hemp can be harvested and its byproducts sold, but it’s also a great cover crop in
no-till systems because it leaves a lot of biomass behind, useful in building soil over time.” For its unique positions as a leading hemp research facility, Rodale Institute is being featured in a documentary called Deep Roots, in honor of Hemp History Week’s 2018 theme of the same name. With sustainability as the focus, the Institute is regarded as a prime example of success. The new short film documents the cultivation of hemp within a regenerative organic no-till agriculture model. “No till farming has many benefits,” Ross Duffield, farm operations manager told CULTURE.
“Limited disruption of the soil allows for the living organisms and fungi to grow and live undisturbed and in turn helps increase soil organic matter and soil quality. No till also helps keep soil in place and reduces erosion that is a big problem in tillage systems after extreme rain or drought.” The regenerative notill model is still a work in progress, Duffield admitted, since weed management is key to success when dealing with plants like hemp. “By rotating livestock through a grain or even a vegetable rotation and limiting the amount of tillage during a year, the regenerative organic approach can improve the health of the soil, the livestock, that and the farmers themselves,” Duffield said. “This approach not only sustains the organic land but improves it over time and will leave it in a better condition for future farmers to manage.” Rodale Institute is helping to create hemp awareness through its research and its complex cultivation strategies. In honor of Hemp History Week, it’s important remember how hemp cultivation changed the past, as well as how it can contribute to a more sustainable our future. c
Oliver Stone “[Cannabis legalization] can be done. It can be done legally, safely, healthy, and it can be taxed and the government can pay for education and stuff like that. Also, you can save a fortune by not putting kids in jail.”
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Outdoo r C O2
GROWING CULTURE
THE EXPERIMENTS CONTINUE By Ed Rosenthal
Sex Expression
A
few issues ago, I wrote about an experiment performed in the 1930s by Sister Mary Etienne Tibeau. She conducted various fertilizer experiments with hemp—depriving seedlings of all fertilizers or giving them a complete fertilizer (except that it lacked Nitrogen). I have been replicating that experiment. I germinated the seeds between two layers of hand towel cloth, and then planted them in rockwool cubes. They were supplied with tap water that had 70 parts per million (ppm) dissolved solids but no Nitrogen. They were kept under constant fluorescent light for 10 days and then the lighting was changed to 12 hours with each light and uninterrupted darkness to induce flowering. The plants are growing very slowly without nutrients. They look comparable to the seedlings that Tibeau recorded in her studies. As you can see in the second photo below, they are beginning to form primordial flowers. At this point, their sex cannot be determined. By next month, we will see if the lack of Nitrogen has an effect on sexual expression, as Tibeau reported.
Plants in the experiment are stunted because they are receiving no nutrients. The first flowers are beginning to develop. 42
Close-up of beginning of the first flowers developing under flowering regimen of 12 hours light, 12 hours uninterrupted darkness. The flower’s sex was undetermined, at this stage but will become apparent in the coming days.
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I first saw the use of CO2 outdoors when I was on a trip to Australia. A single cannabis plant was growing in the yard next to the house [that I was at]. A gas water heater was sitting outside, to one side of the plant. Every time the hot water was turned on, the propane was fired. It heated the water as well as produced CO2 and water vapor. The side of the plant receiving the gas was much more robust than the other side. This was an extremely well done, albeit an inadvertent experiment. It was performed on a single plant so the genetics was the same, as well as all environmental conditions except for the enhanced CO2 on only one portion of the plant. This showed that even outdoors, CO2 enhanced air results in higher yields. I recently visited a legal cannabis farm in California too, where the cultivators
Open tunnel greenhouse with regulator and CO2 releasing tubing.
were performing CO2 experiments on open tunnel gardens in order to learn the most efficacious way to supply it. They have a large tank of liquid CO2, which is held under pressure. The gas is delivered to the top of the canopy through tubing with micro-pore holes to release the gas. CO2 is heavier than air and it is cold so it drifts down to the plant tops. Light intensity, wind and temperature are all taken into account as they are developing logarithms for gas release. Results will be tallied after harvest. Meanwhile, you can try this method on your own. Regulate the gas tank using a timer and CO2 ppm meter. Set the timer to release the gas between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is most intense. Set the ppm meter to about 800 ppm. This turns the gas flow on and off which keeps the CO2 levels stable. Don’t run it on windy days though, you’ll just be wasting gas. c
Close-up of tubing running over the plant canopy.
The experimental regulator and environmental measuring device is connected to a large liquid CO2 tank.
Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.
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News of the
Weird
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
LEAD STORY—BOLD In the tiny Denver suburb of Castle Rock, Colorado, the motto might be “If the house is rockin’, DO come knockin’!” Residents on Avery Way are in a tizzy about the Thunderstorm Play Palace, a 7,500-squarefoot home where, neighbors told KDVR-TV, the owner invites swinging couples and singles to gather for wild sex parties. Invitees must make a “donation” ($70 for couples and single men, $20 for single women), and the parties include drinks, snacks and potluck dishes. “One had four crockpots,”
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said a neighbor, “showing up like they’re going to a Bunko party or something.” On the invitation, guests were asked to bring their own condoms and show respect for the “new furniture.” The host is a married father of three who feels harassed by the neighborhood, but he counters that he’s taken steps to be discreet, including installing soundproofing and making sure “there are no open areas.” But neighbors claim they hear “disturbing sounds” coming from the house. “You can hear people doing what they’re doing,” one resident told reporters. Castle Rock Police say the man is not breaking the law because he’s only taking donations, and the activities are contained to his home. DO NOT CLIMB! Black Panther isn’t feeling
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the love in South Korea lately. The Walt Disney Co. sent two statues of the superhero to Busan to celebrate Marvel Studios’ filming along Korea’s southern coast. But on March 17, according to The Korea Herald, a 32-year-old drunk man was arrested after he vandalized the statue in the Gwangbokro shopping district, and on April 21, the statue near Gwangalli Beach was toppled and part of its head broken off. An official from the Korea Film Council thought someone had probably tried to climb the statue, despite numerous off-limits signs. In the seaside village of Lytham St Annes, England, Douglas Cholmondley Travis, an 88-year-old member of the local Neighborhood Watch, was
on patrol Oct. 10, 2017, when he and an 87-yearold watch colleague noticed a van turning into Lytham Park Cemetery. Regarding the vehicle as suspicious, they began taking pictures of it until Antony James, driver of the van, there only to visit family graves, grew angry and stopped, according to Metro News. James got out of his van to confront Travis, causing a panic, according to defense attorney Robert Castle, that resulted in James being knocked down by the Neighborhood Watch vehicle and Travis charged for reckless driving and assault. “This is all terribly sad,” Castle told Blackpool Magistrates Court in late April, as his client is “one of the eyes and ears of the police.” Travis was fined 40 pounds plus court costs.
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