KIND magazine, spring 2022

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BERNER HAS EMERGED AS THE MOST POWERFUL VOICE IN GLOBAL WEED. HE USES HIS MICROPHONE TO SPREAD LOVE. P.8

+ KITCHEN CONFIDENTLY INFUSED RECIPES FOR SPRING

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HIGH FLYERS SKATEBOARDERS AIR OUT THEIR GRIEVANCES

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GREEN THUMBS MASTER GROWERS’ TIPS FOR YOUR HOME GARDENS

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WELCOME TO DOJA COUNTRY B Y

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Kevin Inch is the Master Grower of the premium cannabis brand Doja and he represents the very best of B.C. bud.

Talking to Kevin Inch, Doja’s master grower with twenty years’ experience in cannabis cultivation, it’s impossible to not feel moved by his passion. With an education in ecology, plant science, and plant soil, Inch navigated the legacy market before joining the Doja team in 2017. Doja, one of the top-selling brands in British Columbia, recently went national, and Inch has played an integral

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role in building the brand of this licensed producer, which joined the Canopy Growth network in 2018.

“The Doja team and I have created something special and we’re super-stoked to be sharing it nationally with Canada,” says Inch.

“It’s something we don’t take lightly.”

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Kevin Inch: I fell in love with the journey of finding out how to grow amazing stuff—it involved a lot of experimenting with seeds and has evolved over time.

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BK: What do you make of the current culture?

KI: When I go into the dispensaries and ask for Doja Ultra Sour and they’re like, “Oh, that’s definitely a fan favourite— everyone loves this stuff,” I get excited.

I love telling budtenders where I work.

BK: I know you have farming experience in addition to your cannabis experimentation phase, and your education.

BK: What does it mean to you to have Doja go national?

KI: I didn’t realize growing cannabis would be such a life catalyst, but my education in ecology led to me running cherry orchards in the Kelowna Valley, and gave me the farm management expertise I needed to oversee cannabis grow rooms.

KI: The entire team is stoked. We’ve built this great foundation and we’re beyond excited to share what we’ve built with the rest of the country.

BK: When did the Doja opportunity arise?

BK: And you personally, how do you feel?

KI: When Doja was first starting, I found out that they were looking for help, so I pushed a broom around while the grow rooms were first under construction, and just kept coming back.

KI: In the early days, we were a drop in the bucket, but now we’re making ripples and the entire country is noticing. I never wanted to do anything else.

BK: You were there from day one.

KI: The vision of the original founders was to grow incredible flower that represents the best of what B.C. has to offer—that’s always been our north star.

BK: In the beginning, the Doja team employed legacy growers. How were you able to implement your style with what the team already had in place?

BK: What’s next for you, man, as you keep growing? the hurdles people went through from the legacy market to medicinal to today.

BK: Can you lean into the legacy of B.C. cannabis cultivation? How have you honed decades of cannabis history into something distinctly current—technologically or otherwise?

KI: We gleaned everything we could from the legacy KI: Being true to our forebears is innate in the days, combined with modern techniques and plant Doja culture, we lean on what’s come before us, science and from there, we evolved, and scaled up. but fine tune it and apply the best science with attention to detail.

KI: We’re working in the background on new strains that we’re excited to launch as early as late spring. We’ve got plenty of new, unique strains with high THC and fantastic terpene profiles that we can’t wait to share with consumers.

BK: Congratulations to you on everything. I think our readers are going to be happy to enjoy your smoke.

BK: So what does the Doja brand mean to you?

BK: Like what?

KI: It’s exciting, and there’s still so much to learn. We’re in the University of Life and get to keep learning, keep paying attention to the details and keep evolving with the industry —and get better every year.

KI: We’re not new to this, but we’re true to this.

We represent the best of B.C. bud, along with all

KI: B.C. bud is renowned for being well manicured, so we continue that, while working

To learn more about Kevin Inch and the Doja brand, please visit doja.life.

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tirelessly with science for curing techniques and advances in fertilizers to create the best bouquet of terpenes we can offer.

Ben Kaplan: How did you become the Master Grower at Doja?

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A R T S & C U LT U R E

NO TIME FOR N E G AT I V I T Y BERNER HAS EMERGED AS THE MOST POWERFUL VOICE IN GLOBAL WEED. HE USES HIS MICROPHONE TO SPREAD LOVE. B Y

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Born Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr., the 41-year-old known colloquially as Berner has fought cancer and cannabis restrictions to emerge as perhaps the singularly most identifiable international cannabis personality. Gotti is the name of his most recent album and Cookies, his vertically-integrated cannabis empire, has outposts from California to Thailand to Toronto, where he opened a store which drew lines around the block early this year. With a 24/7 hustle and a thirst to create, and smoke bud, the musician, CEO and global magnate is putting his San Francisco-bred imprint on Canada, and all over the world. KIND editor Ben Kaplan spoke with Berner between rounds of his chemotherapy, and discovered a down-to-earth visionary with a blunt in one hand and a peace sign in the other. This is Berner, from San Francisco, with love.

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Berner: I just took a nice rip.

I’m ready to start.

Ben Kaplan: How are you feeling?

Berner: Feeling good, man. Just taking a little break in this chemotherapy cycle. Feels good to feel normal again for a little bit.

BK: How do you balance your workload with the chemotherapy, with your vibes—without losing your mind?

B: All this stuff going on is what keeps me positive. Essentially, when you do chemo, the best way to describe it is: you’re dying.

That’s what it feels like. Chemo kills all the good cells when it kills the bad cells. But I just think of all the good stuff I’ll be able to do when I come out of it.

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BK: Did you have to train your mind not to wallow, to resist self-pity?

B: The first few days of my break in my cycle, I felt the clarity come back and I was on it.

It was reflective and I started knocking out hella shit. I’ve been working like a madman since I started taking my break and I look forward to when I get done totally—it’s game on. I’ll be appreciating life a lot more and not holding back on nothing at all.

VD: But I can’t imagine that this version of you—opening stores, dropping albums, getting married—is you holding back.

My boys always say that me with my back against the wall is the strongest me, and that’s why I feel like Gotti did well. I was in a place where a motherfucker felt like he

“The positive keeps you laughing, keeps the creative flowing; you never have to put up your guard.”

BK: No Time for Negativity is your mantra, and I feel like how you get it is just as important as what you get, even with your back against the wall. Because there’s different ways to achieve things. But positivity seems to be the jet fuel driving your bus.

BK: As you get bigger, how do you not become suspicious of people who approach?

B: I started learning a lot about energy. If you’re feeling weird, go take a shower and wash off that weird energy. Then I started thinking about people and looking at people like energy—certain people come around and you get fired up. Other people come around and their energy drains your mood; they act a certain way and everything is a downer. And with COVID, we haven’t seen each other and everyone is divided. I was just like, ‘There’s no time for negative energy.’ You have to enjoy this shit and make the best of everything. I’ve tolerated a lot of shit from being a musician and being in the cannabis game. A lot of different types of energy—I decided to push all the negative out.

BK: Have you been burned?

BK: And your circle?

B: My circle is hella small.

BK: What’s in there?

B: Laughter. Laughter is medicine. Being able to laugh with someone and vibe with someone, that’s important. Positive energy.

The creative flow. And pure intention.

Someone who comes in with no ulterior motives. Someone that comes around and

B: It’s the longest interview cycle you can possibly imagine.

B: Bro, do you want to be an angry soul that has to be tried a million times again or a positive ray of light and when your time comes you’re spreading that love and energy all across the world? Look at Bob Saget.

Everyone was feeling that hella hard because he brought a positive ray of energy all across his life, and that’s the ultimate goal—to leave something behind that’s strong. You don’t want to be a dick your whole life and leave that behind. You’ll have to retry this thing a bunch of other times if you do it like that.

BK: We all want cash. We all want fame. We all want money. All things you have. And yet you’re talking B: I’ve built up a lot of people who try and go about not being a dick on earth. around my back and it sucks to say this, but I bring them onto the platform and try and B: If you take the time to open your mind, create a home for them and they want to be you start to realize this is all a big audition the landlord and knock you out of the whole for something else. There’s definitely people situation. At the end of the day, I feel people above us that are overseeing us and guiding out and decide if I want to put my time and us and that gut instinct might not be a gut energy into this person. I feel them out for instinct. It might be someone telling you as long as possible. But I’m not looking to that you shouldn’t do that. You have to work build many more new things. If it comes to see what the next level of this shit is. my way and it’s organic, the dude’s cool or That’s how I look at it. If all you think about the girl’s cool, and it feels like we can do is your physical or monetary lifeform and all something naturally, then I’m down. the positions you have here, you might not be doing enough work soul-wise.

BK: You’ve learned big lessons through facing cancer but how can KIND readers learn the same lessons, without hopefully having to go through trauma?

B: People need to appreciate why we’re all here and I feel like I do a lot better embracing love than anger. It makes a happier place and I feel like people do need people. With AI coming and the internet, social distancing, and when the phone is like your best friend, you can’t forget the good human bond and you can’t forget what people are supposed to do for people. Things

BK: So how do you do that work?

B: A little mushy every now and then might open up your mind and make you really understand.

BK: I heard a little weed also works. What was your first experience with weed?

B: I smoked my first jay in my boy’s backyard. I think I was in sixth grade.

We rolled it in a Wallgreens paper receipt.

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feels good, grace, and is there for the ride and last longer than we think they do. When we brings cool things to the table—like a super leave in our physical form, is our soul going to homey or super homegirl. For me, the positive be here? keeps you laughing, keeps the creative flowing, and you never have your guard up.

BK: Are you talking about life after death?

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dying, so I put it all in there. I feel like that might be my approach to everything, moving forward. Knowing it’s possible that the cancer comes back, you have to put your all in now—get it while you can.

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We didn’t know anything about no Zig-Zags.

We used the receipt from the candy we got and we smoked it, and as soon as we finished it, I was like: ‘I want to smoke another one.’

Everyone was like, ‘Man, really?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t feel it,’ but I was super stoned.

BK: What do you think it was that connected?

B: I loved it as a kid because I just loved it, but it really resonated for me that there was something bigger to it when I first brought California weed to Arizona when I went to visit my dad. They’d never seen Cali weed, and when I saw the look on everyone's faces when they saw that bright green, crystally orange, mango-smelling bud compared to the Mexican brick weed we were smoking on, I saw the power of how that connected everyone from the older brothers of my friends who used to flick our ears and how everyone bowed down to that one little bag.

I was like: ‘What the fuck is that?’ I realized it connected everyone. It was more than a possession. Everyone suddenly became one.

“I want what I’ve done to live longer than me.”

BK: You got your start in the industry while working at a dispensary, right?

B: Yeah, I was 18. Ever since I was 16 I was obsessed with medical cannabis. We’d pay dudes to bring us out brownies and banana breads, even full plants which we’d take and plant in our own backyards. As soon as I got my medical card, I filmed a documentary on medical cannabis at a dispensary and they hired me at the store. When I started working there, I saw all the different people who smoked bud.

BK: It was like an extension on your experience in Arizona.

B: Exactly, and I mean everyone smoked bud, from off-duty cops to AIDS patients, cancer patients, teachers, young, old, black, white, Mexican, Asian—everyone used weed and was just so vibey about it. I was like, ‘Man, this shit is an influencer.’ I have to be involved in this shit forever.

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BK: I feel like the way you’re describing weed is similar to the way people use music. Everyone loved the Super Bowl halftime show.

Everyone listens to, like, Adele.

B: They both play a role in people’s day. People grieve. They celebrate. They meditate. They vibe. They use music and weed the same way. You’re riding in your car, listening to that music for motivation. I wake up in the morning and put on music to set the mood.

Music and weed both affect your mood and your day and, as far as my own music, I was just a fan of it. I’ve always been a fan. That’s why I fucked with it.

BK: Is it hard to wear two hats? Like, the cannabis CEO that’s chopping up P&L Excel sheets and also the artist that’s trying to reflect his life in his words?

B: I’m not like a big-ass celebrity when it comes to music, but when I do see people who fuck with my shit, they tell me, ‘Man, your shit helped me get through some shit,’ and that makes me feel good. It’s not the biggest moneymaker for me, but I love it.

BK: What do you think it is about you, personally, that made you able to step into a vacuum and provide something that didn’t

BK: Yeah, but there’s more to it than that.

Everyone’s passionate and works hard.

B: You know what it is, bro? I have a fear. I want to live forever, bro. Trip on this. Look at the world. I’m in San Francisco, California.

That’s where I was born and raised. I moved to Arizona for a few years, but if something I do in music or weed or even Vibes papers, which was the hardest thing I ever set out to do, if something I do can impact people from all over the world—kids in Ireland and Africa and all through Europe and Mexico—who relate to what I’m doing, that’s powerful, bro.

It’s a statement.

B: That what I’ve done can live longer than me. I became obsessed with that. That’s what drives me.

BK: Part of making it work in weed was crossing over from the legacy to the legal market. Can you talk about that journey?

B: The hardest part about that is the time from harvest to shelf. It sits too long. We have to figure out a way to get the plants packaged right away and put it on the shelves easier. That would be a better experience for consumers and that’s the biggest struggle for me. That, and the pricing. And of course it not being federally legal in the US. I love when I talk to our partners in Canada and they put me on the phone with people in the government. I get goosebumps like a little kid.

BK: Are you a fan of the Canadian system?

B: I love when I’m talking to the Canadian government about selling weed and how to get people more fired up on the legal market. I told them if they see a bright blue building pop up in Canada, legacy players in Canada will feel the urge to sit next to us or come against us, but either way it’s a great thing because it creates a competitive legal market. I think in Canada the government listens to the people who really sell weed. So once the laws in the US change and we improve the turnaround time and the pricing gets better, everything else is simple.

BK: Before we get out of here, I just want to rewind back to the notion of living forever. You travelled from a kid smoking weed in a Wallgreens receipt paper to an executive who might have the biggest weed microphone in the world. How do you make sense of your journey?

B: I’m sitting here on day five of chemo and when I look in the mirror, I look weird. I lost eighteen pounds in my first chemo cycle in ten days. I don’t look good.

But I think about, man, I used to smuggle Cali bud in my pants to show my boys in Arizona—not to sell, but just to show them what good weed looked like, I wasn’t making no money. But to go from that to people in Peru or random-ass places being like, ‘Berner, we want to smoke with you,’ that’s cool as fuck, man.

BK: How much do you smoke?

B: I took a bong hit this morning.

BK: Yeah, but, in the documentary about making Gotti—I smoke weed, but that looked like Keith Richards spending a weekend with Peter Tosh in Kingston, Jamaica.

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B: I’m just so obsessed with the things I do. I’m hands on with it. I think if you’re passionate and hands on with things, you can achieve a lot.

BK: What does it say?

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exist before you? A lot of personalities have come and gone in weed that haven’t crossed over with your level of appeal.

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B: I smoke so much during chemo. The hardest thing in chemo is to put food down—even to think about eating, let alone putting food down. So I just smoked so bad. Back to back to where the whole house was a cloud. I blew it down. My tolerance is pretty high right now.

driving, but we made it very simple for them: we stopped bringing the tour bus and the entourage that couldn’t get in. It became literally me, my DJ and my driver and we went right though. I think actually my best memory of Canada is the Toronto tour when I was a young, turnt-up single man. Canada is the shit.

thin-ass, shady-ass dreadlocks, because I didn’t have any hair, and I was somewhere in Hawaii with a bunch of fruit on a little farm, just smoking bud.

BK: And that was before legalization.

B: Shady dreadlocks, bro. That’s all I want and hopefully I can make it there. In the dream I was old and had fire fruit and good weed, and that was it.

BK: Not in a mansion. Not with an entourage. Not draped in diamonds and gold.

BK: How do you keep it interesting?

B: I always smoke different shit. I get breeders bringing me jars and that’s the best part of my whole life, not the global recognition, but the access to weed. People bring me thirty to 100 jars and I get to try every single one. Smoking different weed all the time you never get used to a certain strain. Some people I know only smoke kush or a certain strain, but that’s not fun.

I wouldn’t want to eat Mexican food everyday for my whole life.

“In the dream I was old and had fire fruit, and good weed, that was it.”

BK: KIND is distributed in legal pot shops across Canada. When you think of Canada, what comes to mind?

B: I fucking love Canada. I remember when we were on tour back in the days with Wiz, each venue would make your food and when we got to Vancouver and Toronto, the food and cleanliness and love and the vibe was so unreal, we were like ‘Damn.’ They were backstage making us fresh pasta and the energy was cool as fuck.

BK: It used to be a real hassle for musicians getting across the border.

B: They used to bother me at the border

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B: When it comes to the US, when we get federal, I just hope our government is as open as Canada. The guy I talked to on the phone with the government in Canada was like, ‘By the way, I just smoked a Gary Payton preroll and it was amazing,’ and I was like, ‘Dude, you’re the man.’ The Canadian government is cool as hell when it comes to understanding weed and I have to salute that.

BK: Take us out of here, bro. 2022.

What are your goals for this year?

B: Just a lot of original content. Food content, podcasting shit and double down on long-form content. I’m working on a show with the creator of Snowfall and the writer-director of Den of Thieves, but that’s a long process—like a $70-million project that’s going to take forever—so in between I plan on working on little independent things.

BK: Can you close your eyes and see where this all ends? When will you be done? What does success, the finish line, a break, look like for you in the end?

B: When I do acupuncture, I try to envision positive things. They say your body can manifest its future sometimes, your health. Yesterday, a guy put a needle on the top of my head—it pings focus, and he walked out of the room and turned out the lights and I was razor-thinking, super sharp, and tried to picture: What am I going to do? What’s my future like? Will it end in cancer? All I saw was me with

BK: When you were coming up, did you want those same things?

B: No, dude. You have to fucking wake your brain up. Brother, in my city and town, I’m a pretty popular guy, but when I was on the floor after that big surgery, I was a regular naked dude on the hospital floor, reaching up for that bell to get a nurse to carry me up, to get that oxygen thing off my leg so I can use the restroom. That shit will humble you the fuck out. Put your life in a whole different perspective. I was always humble, but I’m hella more humble now.

BK: The richer you get, the less you need.

B: My favourite things these days are dog parks and the farmer’s market.

BK: It’s funny to imagine you in that context.

B: I’m high as hell, taking bong rips in the parking lot, stumbling around with red-ass eyes and people trip out. ‘Hey, Bern, here’s a fucking roasted chicken on us, take a tamale.’ I feel bad because they’re there to hustle and make their bread, so now I bring like twelve eights with me to the farmer’s market. They give me free shit and I give them weed, and that makes me happy. That’s the best shit there is.

FOOD & DRINK

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KITCHEN POSITIVITY Chef Jordan Wagman is author of the new autobiography Will – How I Found My Health Through Food, a recipe-laden memoir following Jordan’s journey through stories, recipes and pictures, out now. To keep up with Chef Wagman and order his great new book, please see jordanwagman.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @chefjordanwagman.

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FOOD & DRINK

COCONUT CRUSTED SHRIMP INGREDIENTS 3 cups (750 mL) avocado oil (see tips) 8 each U-8 shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 cup (250 mL) sweetened shredded coconut ½ cup (125 mL) potato starch 2 eggs

W H AT Y O U ’ L L N E E D Paper-towel lined baking sheet Mixing bowls

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Coconut Crusted Shrimp can be baked or air-fried! Preheat the oven to 400 F and bake until golden brown, about ten minutes.

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INSTRUCTIONS 1

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Preheat oil to 375 F.

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In a mixing bowl, combine potato starch, ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt and ¼ tsp (1 mL) black pepper and mix well. Set aside.

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Crack two eggs into a mixing bowl, combine with ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt and ¼ tsp (1 mL) black pepper and mix well. Set aside.

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In a separate mixing bowl, combine coconut with ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt and ¼ tsp (1 mL) black pepper and mix well. Set aside.

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Place shrimp in potato starch and toss to fully coat. Shake off excess starch and transfer to the egg. Thoroughly coat in egg and transfer to coconut.

Evenly coat the shrimp in the shredded coconut and set aside.

A few at a time, place shrimp in preheated oil and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a paper towel–lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining shrimp.

Season with remaining salt and pepper and serve alongside Infused Coconut Dipping Sauce.

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FOOD & DRINK

CRISPY SKIN SALMON INGREDIENTS Medium saucepan with tight-fitting lid Blender or immersion blender 1 cup (250 mL) celery root, peeled and roughly chopped 2 cups (500 mL) water ¼ cup (60 mL) cashews ½ tsp (2 mL) sea salt, divided ½ tsp (2 mL) freshly ground black pepper, divided ¼ tsp (1 mL) MediPharms THC30 oil 1 tbsp (15 mL) avocado oil (see tips) 4 each 6 oz salmon fillets (not salmon steaks)

INSTRUCTIONS 1

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Fresh herbs, basil, cilantro and thyme would all add incredible freshness to the plate.

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In medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, combine celery root, water, cashews, ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt and pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until celery root is fork tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer celery root and cashews and cannabis oil to a blender, reserving the cooking liquid. Puree until smooth, adding the reserved liquid until you achieve the desired consistency. Set aside.

Warm a large sauté pan over medium/high heat. Add oil and the salmon, skinside down. Using a spatula, lightly press the salmon down, spreading it out and exposing the entire surface of the skin to the heat. Turn heat to medium and cook the salmon until the skin is crispy and releases naturally from the pan, about 20 minutes. Flip the salmon and sear the flesh for five seconds. Remove salmon from the heat and transfer to a plate, skin-side facing up, to rest.

To serve, add the juice released from the salmon during resting to the celery root puree and puree well to combine. Evenly divide puree and place salmon, fleshside down into the puree, preserving the crispy skin. Season with remaining salt and pepper and serve immediately.

This method of cooling yields the juiciest salmon you’ll ever eat.

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FOOD & DRINK

FRIED CHICKEN INGREDIENTS 1 bunch of heirloom carrots, rinsed and cut in half 1 large orange carrot, peeled and cut into rounds 3 cloves of garlic ½ onion, diced 3 pieces of cherries, cut in half and pitted 5 pieces of ground cherries, cut in half ½ cup of almond meal ¼ cup of oat flour 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ cup vegan butter, cold in the fridge Wild greens for garnish, edible flowers, nasturtium, whatever you can find Salt + cooking oil of your preference

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I use avocado oil but feel free to use your favourite frying oil.

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INSTRUCTIONS 1 2

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In a blender, combine cherry tomatoes, basil, hot sauce, vinegar, cannabis oil and salt and puree until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

In a mixing bowl combine potato starch, ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt, ¼ tsp (1 mL) pepper and mix well to combine and set aside.

In another mixing bowl, combine egg, vinegar and ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt and ¼ tsp (1 mL) pepper and whisk well. Set aside.

Place chicken into the potato starch mixture to thoroughly coat, and then transfer to a plate and set aside for at least 30 minutes.

In a large saucepan or using a fryer, heat oil to 350 F. Add chicken, one at a time, and cook until golden brown, about 5–7 minutes.

Remove chicken from the oil and toss immediately in the sauce. Coat well and transfer to a plate to rest. Continue frying until all chicken is cooked and serve immediately.

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When choosing a pan to fry in, ensure the oil does not go higher than 1/3 the height of the pan.

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Any cut of chicken works in this recipe, including boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

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FOOD & DRINK

>>>

CONVENIENT CONFECTIONS Devin Connell, founder of This is Crumb @thisiscrumb shares three desserts from her new cookbook Conveniently Delicious, and tells Madison Makepeace about her recipe for success.

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y L O U I S A N I C O L A O U @ P H O T O S B Y W E E Z

Madison Makepeace: What does food mean to you and what have been your biggest inspirations leading you to create Crumb?

Devin Connell: My biggest inspiration for Crumb is teaching people how to cook spontaneously. I don’t really believe in meal planning because it doesn’t allow people to cook what they actually crave.

MM: We are massive fans of your beautiful new cookbook Conveniently Delicious. Your food seems so impressive while being approachable.

DC: I love food, I love eating out at restaurants and I would consider myself a very adventurous eater, but this is not the way I cook at home. I gravitate towards very simple ingredients, cooked well and simply. I try to cook with what I have on hand, and if I have to pick up one thing on my way home from work or school, that works for me.

MM: What advice do you have for our readers who are wanting to cook more at home?

DC: Don’t strive for perfection—especially if you don’t cook regularly. The trick is that each recipe in the book is focused more on simple cooking techniques than relying on exact ingredients- it allows for substitutions or omissions.

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Clear your head, not your schedule, with Jewels Cannabis Tarts. At 1 mg THC per tart and 10 tarts per pack, Jewels Cannabis Tarts are a little dose of cannabis for big days.

With Jewels, you can incorporate cannabis into your routine and still be present for the little things. Jewels Cannabis Tarts are made with real fruit and are vegan and gluten-free.

VEGAN AND GLUTENFREE

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EASY TO MICRODOSE

DISCREET AND EASY TO CARRY

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F R O Z E N PAV L O VA WITH STRAWBERRIES INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

4 cups trimmed and quartered strawberries + a few more for garnish ½ cup granulated sugar 2 pints vanilla ice cream, softened at room temperature to stir-able consistency 3 cups roughly crushed store-bought meringues 3½ oz dark chocolate (minimum 50%) 1 Tbsp coconut oil

Frozen pavlova sounds fancy-schmancy, but it really could not be more easy-peasy.

Super kid-friendly (both making and eating), and so breezy for entertaining— make it well ahead of time and just pull it out of the freezer before slicing and serving.

If you like an Eton mess, if you like an ice-cream cake (if you don’t, move along) you will love a frozen pavlova.

MAKE AHEAD This can be made up to 1 week beforehand and kept in the freezer, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil.

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SERVES 6

Place the strawberries and the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a low boil for 3–4 minutes, until thickened. Spread out onto a plate and place in the fridge to cool completely. It will be very liquidy, but will thicken once cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the ice cream on high for about 30 seconds, until softened. Mix in the meringues. Gently fold in the cold strawberries by hand, being careful not to mix them in completely.

Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Spoon the pavlova into the pan, smoothing the top. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for a minimum of 2 hours, until set.

Before serving, melt the chocolate with the coconut oil in a small pan over low heat, stirring constantly until melted. Remove the pavlova from the freezer and peel off the plastic wrap. Release the sides of the cake pan and using a pie lifter, remove the bottom part of the cake pan and parchment paper before placing the ice cream cake on a platter. Drizzle with the melted chocolate. The chocolate sauce will harden on contact with the frozen pavlova.

Slice to serve and garnish with more berries.

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ORGANIC HARVEST FOOD & DRINK

S A LT E D P E A N U T & D A R K C H O C O L AT E H A LVA INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1½ cups tahini 1 cup salted peanuts, roughly chopped, divided 1¼ cups granulated sugar 4 oz bittersweet chocolate (70%) ½ tsp flaky sea salt

Put it out at the end of a meal with some Amaro and chilled fruit and feel like an actual entertaining doyen. The effortlessness!

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by Random House and available on Amazon and book shops across the country.

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MAKES ONE 5 × 9-INCH SLAB, 2 INCHES THICK

Line a 5 × 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, making sure the parchment hangs over the edges by a couple of inches. This will help you remove the halva once it is set.

Place the tahini in a medium-sized heatproof bowl (metal or glass) and mix in ½ cup of peanuts. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and ¼ cup of water and place over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and then leave to come to a boil for 4–5 minutes, until a thermometer registers 250°F. Very quickly, pour the hot sugar syrup over the tahini and mix vigorously with a spatula until the mixture comes together and pulls away from the outside of the bowl. If you mix slightly too long, your halva will turn out crumbly. The texture at this point should resemble stiff peanut butter.

Pour the halva into the lined loaf pan and smooth the top. Allow to cool at room temperature for 3–4 hours before removing from the pan.

Once cool, remove the parchment paper and place the halva on a wire rack. In a small pot, melt the chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth and glossy.

Pour the chocolate down the length of the halva and spread it in an even layer along the top and sides with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.

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Sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup chopped peanuts and flaky sea salt, and allow to cool completely, about 2–3 hours.

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Slice thinly or cut in cubes to serve. The halva will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

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FOOD & DRINK

C H O C O L AT E CHIP CAKE COOKIES INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut in cubes 1 cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar 2 cold large eggs 1½ cups cake flour ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp kosher salt 3 cups 50% dark chocolate chips Flaky sea salt, for finishing (optional)

This is a different kind of chocolate chip cookie in that it uses cold ingredients, inspired by a technique used by Levain Bakery in New York. These cookies are ridiculously huge, so do take the time to measure out your ingredients just so and ensure your cooking time is consistent with the recipe. You don’t want to improvise these ones. I use a scale to measure out each ball of cookie dough for the exact 4½ ounces. Cream the butter and sugar for the whole 4 minutes recommended. Make sure your dough is cold before baking, and do not flatten the cookies. Baking them at a high temperature, along with the cold butter and eggs, ensures that the cookies don’t spread too much and they stay almost cookie-doughlike in the center.

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SERVES 12

Preheat the oven to 410°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, cream the butter and both sugars together for 4 minutes. It will start out very chunky and grainy, but will eventually become smooth.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating on high for about 10 seconds after each addition.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt, mixing on low until just combined. Hand-stir in the chocolate chips.

Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 1 hour.

Divide the dough into 4½-ounce balls and place on the lined baking sheets, 6 per sheet. Resist the urge to press them down. Bake for 12 minutes. The cookies will be nicely browned on the outside and still a bit doughy on the inside. Sprinkle with some flaky sea salt if that’s your thing. It’s definitely mine. The cookies store well in an airtight container for 2–3 days, but I doubt they’ll make it that long.

SEE YOU TONIGHT

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To learn more follow @Wana.Canada K I N D *Cannabis affects everyone differently. For more information visit www.canada.ca.

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

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Sexual

HEALING Long intertwined throughout history, new cannabis formulations in the legal age are designed to inspire experimentation, get the blood flowing and help you reach next-level orgasms.

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Abby Acham says she would never have sex with anyone who isn’t comfortable with her cannabis use.

The 38-year-old Fanshawe College student says there are a few reasons it’s so important to her. For one, it helps to loosen her hips, which can be sore from arthritis, so she can perform sexually and engage in different positions. But it also helps her mentally, to get out of her head and into her body.

call from London, Ontario. “I find it actually turns me on a little bit and heightens my arousal even more. And I find, especially if I’ve been consuming cannabis and drinking, then I’m like, definitely ready to go.”

Ideally, she’ll relax and connect for an hour or two with a partner over a blunt before heading to the bedroom — or wherever things heat up.

But going through the pandemic as a single woman, it’s been more difficult to find the right partners on dating apps. In addition to not wanting to be with anyone who smokes cigarettes and only desiring partners who share her love for weed or are at least okay with hers, she now has to be wary of Covid-19, and vets partners for their vaccination status and their risk of exposure.

“Cannabis is like foreplay,” she says on a video

“I can count, probably on one hand, the

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amount of sex and sex partners I’ve had during the pandemic,” she says, sighing. “It hasn’t been easy.”

“Cannabis is like foreplay.”

Acham isn’t alone. While it’s not yet clear how the coronavirus pandemic has affected sexuality as a whole, so far it’s not looking great. While some experts predicted a “baby boom” as a result of the pandemic, many others have reported a wilting sexual appetite and fewer opportunities to get busy than ever.

A 2021 meta-analysis of seven international

transcend some of the grimness of the pandemic by combining cannabis with sex?

So far, research indicates that it’s worth a shot. In a 2019 study published in Sex Med, 34% of women “reported increases in sex

2019 findings published in Sex Med, both men and women reported “that cannabis helped them relax, heightened their sensitivity to touch, and increased intensity of feelings, thus enhancing their sexual experience, while others found that cannabis interfered by

And yet there’s an abundance of cannabis, and an increasing number of products designed to increase blood flow and stimulate the senses. Whether you’re spending more time solo and watching porn or looking for something new to try with a partner, there are a lot of different ways to safely experiment and explore.

In Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances: Chemical Paths to Spirituality and to God, writer David Hillman argues that for many pre-Christian, ancient civilizations, “intercourse was religion, orgiastic ecstasy was enlightenment, and drug-induced sexual climax was a mechanism of dimensional travel.”

Take Ancient Rome, for example. According to Hillman, Priapus was the god of erections, characterized in art by his—you guessed it —massive, throbbing cock, which was symbolic of both sexuality and power. As the protector of priestesses, oracles and witches, anyone who wanted to see them was “tied up and ‘purified’ with the rectal insertion of a medicated dildo.” The medication, dubbed satyrion, was a combination of snake venom, cannabis and other substances, and brought on a heady, sexual delirium.

For followers of Tantra in second century India, sex was meditative and transcendent, characterized by lengthy sessions not focused on the finish, but the journey. Before engaging in tantric sex, according to The Great Book of Hemp, adherents would chant and conjure the goddess Kali over a bowl of bhang, a cannabis-derived drink. “Following several more mantras, the seekers would drink the mixture and engage in ritual love-making,” writes author Rowan Robinson.

But now, in 2022, is it still possible to

drive, improvement in orgasm, decrease in pain, but no change in lubrication.” Somewhat astonishingly, they also found that regular cannabis users, whether they used it in conjunction with sex or not, “had 2-10 times higher odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms than those with infrequent marijuana use.”

And it’s not just for women. In another set of

making them sleepy and less focused or had no effect on their sexual experience.”

Armed with all of this encouraging evidence, Canadian cannabis companies have gone above and beyond flower and edibles to develop a number of sex-enhancing topicals and lubricants. Latitude by 48North’s Sex Pot Intimacy Oil, for example, blends natural oils with 400 mg of THC. Proofly makes an infused

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studies published in the journal Sexologies shows that—due to stay-at-home orders; virus transmission anxiety; grief; shuttered clubs, gyms, bars and bathhouses; financial and housing woes; less exercise; or, for those lucky enough to work from home, an endless daily grind living life online in sweatpants or pyjamas—sexual activity has largely suffered since the pandemic hit in 2020.

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lube with 125 mg of CBD, as well as a warming massage oil with 125 mg of CBD. While topicals won’t get you high, they are designed to relax tense muscles, ease pain, increase blood flow and can even potentially intensify physical sensations.

But this year, the hype has really been all about Prairie Grass brand and their cannabis-infused suppositories, inspired by similar products formerly available in compassion clubs. Available so far in Ontario on the adult-use market and in every province for medical consumers, they were developed by sisters Olivia Penner, a registered nurse, and Rebecca Thomson, a pharmacist.

Using cannabis grown on their family outdoor hemp farm and indoor facility in Grassy Lake, Alberta, Relief Pods have 10 mg of THC per suppository, and Eve Pods each have 40 mg of CBD. And rather than the greasy cocoa butter formulations of yore, these are made with an amphiphilic base, meaning they’re water-soluble and should more easily absorb in the vaginal or rectal mucosa.

“The nice thing—this is obviously very anecdotal—is that we often found that an oil

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base has too much lubrication,” Thomson says in a video call. “So what we have found is that this is kind of the perfect amount. It’s not too much.”

“ Intercourse was religion, orgiastic ecstasy was enlightenment, and drug-induced sexual climax was a mechanism of dimensional travel.”

So far, Montreal-based HighOnLove relies on hemp oil rather than cannabinoids in their sex-focused formulations (although their US products, launching in Colorado and a few other states on Valentine’s Day, will contain THC and CBD). And because they aren’t restricted by Health Canada’s cannabis regs, the packaging is creative and the products are wide-ranging, from chocolate body paint to

warming Stimulating O Gel. But founder Angela Mustone says two major trends have emerged in the last year: a mainstream push toward experimenting with anal sex, and personal use products like bath oils.

“It’s all about me-time and allowing yourself to be selfish,” she says.

As for Abby Acham in London, she’s offsetting her sporadic dating life with meet-ups with her fellow Afro Cannada Budsistas, a cannabis community for Black women. Every Saturday, she hosts sex-focused discussions with fellow members on various topics, and if you fit the demographic, you’re invited to join the conversation. For now she’s sticking to vaping and smoking, but she’s excited to try some new formats when the pandemic loses some of its grip.

“I’m curious to try them out, but I haven’t ventured in that direction yet,” she says.

“I’m not having enough sex to want to do that, but when I feel like things are back at peak sexual levels I would be more like: Okay, let me go stock up on condoms.

Let me try some new cannabis lubes.”

AN ALT WAY TO FIND YOUR X Must be legal age. Do not mix with alcohol. ™Truss Beverage Co., used under license. SIP RESPONSIBLY.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

HELP IS ON T H E W AY The sleep aids with CBN are natural, effective, consistent, and life-saving.

Dr. Greg Wells is a performance physiologist and a scientist in translational medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children. His most recent book is called Rest, Refocus, Recharge: A Guide for Optimizing Your Life and he believes that sleep is the bedrock of health and wellness. As all of us know after two years of life in the COVID pandemic and surviving another long Canadian winter, nerves get frayed and everyday life can become a challenge. For Wells, the solution—which he militantly works towards and defends— is sleep.

“I see an awakening in society during the COVID pandemic in the importance of health and wellbeing and the foundation of health is sleep,” says Dr. Wells, a former Olympiccalibre swimmer who still coaches a broad range of Olympic and professional athletes.

“If you sleep well, everything else gets easier.

It enables you to respond to challenges, which is something that over these past two years I know all of us have felt.”

All of us have also felt the pull of pharmaceutical answers, but cannabis companies are becoming more effective at offering sleep aids by focusing on cannabinoid molecules from the cannabis plant. On the market, there are particularly

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good CBN oils that help offer solutions to the age-old dilemma of getting a good night’s sleep. When choosing your CBN products, look out for naturally derived without synthetic materials that are lab-created with an innate accelerant to refine the CBN materials. The way it works is that the CBN products interact with our CB1 receptors, and this new material is then ten-times less powerful and psychoactive than products containing THC. When awakening in the middle of the night overrun with anxiety and stress, CBN products have felt like glistening white knights. Sleep, as Dr. Wells says, is the most important defence for our environment and a good night’s rest can arm you for the world. CBN products can help us achieve the most important evening factor in determining the success of our waking days.

“If you’re exhausted, the chance of hitting the gym is very low, but the chance of you lashing out at someone at work who you shouldn’t lash out at is really high—but that’s your fault, not theirs,” says Dr. Wells, who also adds that achieving healthy sleep patterns is not something that happens overnight. Wells’s daughter grew sick during the pandemic and it took him and his wife six months to re-learn how to sleep. “Don’t expect things to happen overnight, but don’t get

discouraged—keep at it, and try new things.”

Some things that Wells recommends trying is setting your alarm clock—but not for when to wake up, but for when to go to bed. He also stresses consistency in your nighttime routine. “Defend your last hour before bedtime, no devices within an hour of going to sleep and think of your bedroom as a sleep cave, make it pitch black and keep it cool, around 19 degrees Celsius,” says Wells, adding that you’re training your body to release melatonin, which is the hormone released in the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. “Think of sleep as training with your eyes closed. Your body gets fitter while you sleep than it will during your workouts because that’s when the growth hormone is released. When you’re sleeping, the body regenerates itself.”

A lack of sleep and chronic exhaustion has become a plague during the smartphone era and the pandemic has only ratcheted up our need to relocate our zen. Sleep, then, is our best defence against bad decision making and a negative attitude. CBN nighttime products, natural, pharmaceutical-grade but made without synthetics, are tried and true.

It’s a chance, safe and plant-based, to reclaim your life.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

>>>

ORGANIC IS THE DIFFERENCE OF THE GREEN ORGANIC DUTCHMAN

The cannabis company doing good for the environment is also the one making some of the best weed.

“We feed the soil, not the plants,” says Kris LeBlanc, the Master Grower of The Green Organic Dutchman (TGOD), whose innovative, eco-friendly growing techniques help the company produce more than fifteen terpenes per strain. “When you use non-organic chemicals and chemical sprays on flowers, it creates an artificial environment and doesn’t make them grow well, but when you use organic living soil, the way nature intended,

“We feed our living soil a variety of natural ingredients, sourced across Canada—free of chemicals or artificial fertilizers.”

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you produce the truest, fullest expression of your cannabinoids—we just grow really great weed.”

Growing great cannabis is the obsession of the entire TGOD team. LeBlanc explains that the TGOD method of certified organic growing—which is better for the plant, better

for consumers and better for the world—is scalable. TGOD isn’t worried about sharing their secrets. 99% of legal weed isn’t organic, and that number is probably higher on the legacy market. TGOD uses natural sunlight and regenerative, living soil on their cannabis plants, while avoiding all synthetic chemicals and composting 100% of their waste. Any plant waste is composted onto a community farm at their facility in Ancaster, Ontario, which has been used to grow over 33,000 lbs of fruits and vegetables for local food charities— and any living soil can be repurposed for years.

It’s estimated that TGOD saves an area of 3 NHL-sized hockey rinks worth of waste (over 100,000 lbs) from the landfill annually by growing in living soil, rather than the industry norm of artificial stone wool.

“Organic is the harder way to grow, but the right way to grow. Everything in the TGOD flower is from the earth,” LeBlanc says. “We feed our living soil a variety of natural ingredients, sourced across Canada—free of chemicals or artificial fertilizers. This creates the perfect medium for our plants to thrive, rich in terpenes. It was grown as nature intended, and you can see the amazing results in every jar or

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WHAT DO ES O RGANI C MEAN T O YO U ?

KRIS LEBL ANC WANTS YOU TO KNOW YOUR WEED

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“Organic is the harder way to grow, but the right way to grow.” terpene profile.” Through their partnership with Cannametrics, TGOD was one of the first LPs to publish full Certificates of Analysis for every single lot on the market to provide complete transparency to customers.

reusable glass flower jars are some of the most beloved packaging in any industry and their teams continue to be leaders in environmental stewardship across departments from bulk shipping in recyclable cardboard containers to community clean-up initiatives.

After talking to anyone from The Green Organic Dutchman, it’s easy to understand the future is organic.

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All cannabis isn’t grown organically.

Certified organic means that a third party is accrediting the process of a grower as really organic. It’s not just words.

A certified organic growing process means less waste going to landfills. Much less.

By growing without any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, customers know exactly what’s in (or more importantly what isn’t in) their cannabis.

Organic cannabis is how nature intended plants to be grown: plants selecting the nutrients they need from a variety of living soil, natural ingredients in order to grow to the best quality possible.

Organic growing results in more terpenes and cannabinoids.

Certified organic flowers are better for the plant, better for the consumer and better for the planet.

Try the latest strains from The Green Organic Dutchman at your local dispensary including Organic Sugarbush, Organic Maple Kush or Organic Cherry Mints.

The Green Organic Dutchman have been pioneering organic growing methods since first receiving their Health Canada license and, in the ensuing years, have increased quality, potency and consistency. Strains like Organic Cherry Mints and Organic Maple Kush are reaching THC levels in the upper 20s, and the energy in their facilities is contagious. Their plants grow in clean air, natural sunlight and naturally purified rainwater—no tap water, and their organic certification is accredited by a third party. The commitment to the environment doesn’t stop at the plants. Their award winning,

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JASBIR KOONER, MASTER GROWER, FLOWR

“My family owns a large garden centre in Orangeville, Ontario and I got my start as a cannabis grower actually raising gardens first.

I’m obsessed with plants. Growing inside, and I live in a small apartment, I have a bunch of tropical flowers by my window. I’m northfacing, so I grow lots of firs and palms.

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GREEN THUMBS Canada’s best pot growers are also, it turns out, excellent home gardeners.

This spring, as you plot your home grows, listen to what your favourite weed growers advise.

When growing indoors, plant metabolism slows down and they need lots of water, and lots of light, to survive.

In Orangeville, I used to have a nice patch of land for my garden, and if you’re outdoor gardening now, the first step is spring cleaning—make room for your perennial trees and annuals outside. Make a decision when starting your garden: do you want vegetables and herbs or just something pretty? And be prepared to move quickly.

The May 24 weekend gets busy, but Canadians get screwed every year because we can still see frost up until June. If you buy your annuals now, be sure you have somewhere to keep them because they’ll get stressed if you leave them in the cold. And one last tip for starting a garden in a condo: tropicals.

There’s literally hundreds of thousands of different tropical strains and they range in degrees of light needs. A basic palm or majesty palm doesn’t require too much. They’re easy, unlike, say, orchids. Orchids, need a lot of light and heat, but firs and palms are my recommendation if you want to grow your first garden this spring.”

Jasbir Kooner is the master grower for Flowr, a premium cannabis brand based in BC. Jasbir's favorite two strains he grows are Black Cherry and Lemon Ice, and he says be on the look out for his Mango Melong OG this spring.

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“When growing, pH management is one of the most important factors. You can have the best nutrients, environment and plant genetics, but if the pH balance is not in the proper zone, plants can’t absorb the food. First, you need to know the pH of your soil. On a scale of 0–14: tap water is normally pH 7, 0–7 is on the acidic

“Roses are my favourite thing to grow. I have a really small yard and it’s very wet on Vancouver Island but I love companion planting—mixing beneficial plants into my vegetable garden.

Flowers bring me great joy and that’s why companion planting, having something in the garden to feed our birds and bees and deter side and 7–14 is on the alkaline side with 7 being pests naturally, makes a garden feel long-term. neutral. The pH you want for most plants is I mix perennials like chives and lavender with somewhere between 5.6–7.0. Before you start a companion plant like tomatoes and then your garden, try a pH home test. Trust me. my garden feels purposeful, it’s not just for consumption. But I do still have a place for roses.

I grow everything, but my favourite plants to grow are hot peppers—extremely hot peppers. I When I finished horticulture school, I worked in start mine in March or April so they’re ripening a retail nursery with hundreds of rose genetics by the time they get summer sun. Hot peppers and they’re difficult to grow—it takes a green prefer a sandy soil, but the key is to provide a thumb—but you get it eventually, and it makes good nutritional balance, whether it’s an organic you appreciate it even more in the end. or chemical base. I use Gaia Green organic-based fertilizers that contain all your micro and macro The key is pruning our roses and long-term nutrients as my base, and then make my own planning. Find a hot, sunny spot where they get feed for fertigation. I grow these in my backyard, water, but not just on top, we need to feed but you can also grow these on a balcony in the the soil. city against a south-facing wall. Just make sure the pot you use for your potted plant isn’t black Of course I love to grow tomatoes and —that cooks your roots. You can wrap your chamomile and cilantro and if you pick the right roots in a white basket or even spray paint the plant, something like zucchini, you can grow outside of the pot. them vertically, so it doesn’t require that much space.

Remember, every plant feeds differently. Some need one cup a day, whereas others can take up to two gallons. If you see your leaves droop, it’s a sign your plant is too dry. And if you want to grow vegetables, cucumbers are easy to grow. It takes about two months for you to get your first fruit – then remove it, and let more energy go to the rest of the plant. You will be rewarded with a more bountiful harvest very soon.”

Jon Whittaker is a Master Grower at Canopy Growth, overseeing cultivation for Tweed, Doja and more.

Whittaker’s current favourite strains to grow are 91K and Legendary Larry (both from Doja), and he says to be on the lookout for his Garlic Chem this spring.

KRIS LEBL ANC, MASTER GROWER, THE GREEN ORGANIC DUTCHMAN

E M I LY B O U C H E R , C U LT I V A T I O N SUPERVISOR, AURORA

“People need to make sure they have a large enough pot for their plants.

And top dress! Every two or three weeks add a little soil or compost to the top and keeping adding that as the plant slowly imbues with the soil—add compost, and don’t overwater. That’s the biggest thing.

The plant will show it if you over-water by going yellow at the root or having its leaves droop or curl. Me personally, all I grow is food and cannabis. My wife runs our garden but I know as early as April, as soon as you can kick open the dirt, start spreading your seeds. The sooner you get them germinating, the sooner they’ll grow.

If you have children, I recommend growing lettuce, spinach and greens. Stuff they can eat and show them value from their garden.

A four-foot patch of salad greens and you can eat off that for two months. Carrots are also fun to do with the kids. I started farming carrots and every time I pulled a handful I’d feel success in my heart.”

Kris LeBlanc is the master grower for The Green Organic Dutchman, and his favourite two strains he grows are Maple Kush and Cherry Mint, and he says be on the lookout for his Sugar Bush this spring.

A few rules of thumb for your springtime garden: don’t bite off more than you can chew. Stay modest. And have fun with the seeds. Oh, and if it grows well in your neighbour’s garden, odds are it will grow well in your garden, too. I’m also very delighted by the hummingbirds my summer begonias attract.”

Emily Boucher is a cultivation supervisor for Aurora Coast in the Comox Valley. She enjoys the uniqueness of working with hundreds of cultivars in a breeding and genetics facility, and she says be on the lookout for San Rafael ‘71 Farm Gas this spring.

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D O IN G G O OD WI TH TH AT G O O D GOOD Our Kind of Earth Day: Growing Green with Better Impact.

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April 22, 2022 marks the 52nd annual Earth Day: a worldwide teach-in on the state of our environment.

Consider it a moment to pay homage to and celebrate the place that all of us call home.

gas emissions and indoor cannabis cultivation in the US revealed that each kilogram of dried flower results in between 2,283 - 5,184 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, depending on location.

By comparison, a year of driving a car that burns 2,000 litres of gasoline will release about 4,600 kilograms of carbon emissions.

Environmental accountability will be the next evolution for a cleaner, greener cannabis industry, the ability to affect change laying with three stakeholders in the category:

Most cannabis lovers would likely consider themselves some varying degree of hippie, no need to convince us on: a deep appreciation for mother nature, a counterculture point of view, a willingness to stand for what we believe in, often in the face of naysayers. Flower, child.

But some of that spirit has been lost in the race to billions, that green we know and love not really quite as green as we think.

One of the unspoken aspects of legalization that’s often overlooked is the negative effect cannabis production has on the environment.

There are exceptionally high amounts of emissions baked into indoor cannabis processing, a result of a number of factors Ben Gaines, Wyld Edibles including high-intensity grow light systems, HVAC units required for air circulation, fertilizer and bottled carbon dioxide runoff, waste materials and water use. business owners, government regulations and A study by Colorado State University consumer demand. examining the relationship between greenhouse As consumers it’s easy to believe that we

“ We had the power to act as an agent of change, and an obligation toward a greater good—to be about more than simply capitalism.”

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might not have any real say in the matter: that the cost of doing business simply includes an environmental debit. But the power to vote with our dollar - choosing brands that share the same values, ideals and future-forward as us remains. We have a say.

And class of values-based brands are heeding the call: floating to the top as brands and businesses built with care, willing to walk before they talk.

Call it Sustainability, CSR, ESG, FutureProofing, whatever you will: at this inflection point in our time it’s clear there’s a better way of doing business.

Here are four brands in the space who are doing good with that good good.

WYLD EDIBLES “We had the power to act as an agent of change and an obligation toward a greater good—to be about more than simply capitalism,” says WYLD’s Ben Gaines.

WYLD is known for delicious edibles and an enviable ethos. From combatting the war on drugs through record expungement, lobbying and legislative efforts through to their clear commitment to environmental responsibility, WYLD shows up. They’ve invested in an

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WYLD EDIBLES

ecosystem that supports initiatives around future-proofing: achieving carbon neutrality, eliminating single-use plastics, transitioning to paper packaging and bringing the most sustainable sources into the production lines.

And, of course, ‘The Canada Project,’ their fully-compostable, resealable zipper packaging.

Alongside a commitment to planting 50,000 trees, the brand is illustrating the way forward.

“If we can keep being better and inspire real change for the industry,” says Gaines, “then we’ve created a better definition of success.”

WEEDME

of the forest cover, the brand committed to a large reforestation effort, planting back 20,000 trees in partnership with One Tree Planted.

Keepsake tokens representing that tree planted were distributed in-stores, a reminder: even small efforts can have true impact.

THE GREEN ORGANIC DUTCHMAN

diverting surplus food to thousands of charities and nonprofits across the country.

Learn more: second harvest.ca

THE GREEN ORGANIC DUTCHMAN WEEDME

TGOD invests in environmental, social and governance initiatives: the flower is grown in You know WeedMe: cannabis products organic living soil, allowing the nutrient-rich offering ultra-premium products at great blend to feed the plant with an optimal (and prices. From flower, gummies, vapes and clean) buffet of biodiverse ingredients. grinders, WeedMe offers a full array of both By choosing to grow in living soil there’s DOJA format and cultivar thanks to its unique also less waste sent to landfill: over 100,000 lbs (and impressive) genetics library. But you of waste are saved. The company captures and With roots in the Okanagan Valley, DOJA is may not know that they’ve been sharing the conserves rainwater, promoting the biodiversity the West coast craft-grown spirit available for success of their impact by supporting Second of pollinators and birds and supports fullall. Founded in 2017 as a B.C.-based cannabis Harvest Food Rescue by donating over 100,000 fledged energy efficiency—the greenhouse cafe, it was a community destination holding nutritious meals to people in need works on an energy-independent, conversations about cannabis before the across Canada. virtuous cycle. plant was legal. The spirit of dialogue and the Canada’s largest food rescue organization, The TGOD team also has been utilizing their community collective lives evergreen—it’s Second Harvest is a global thought leader on community farm to grow produce that they time to come together and talk about a perishable food redistribution. Operating at the then donate back to local feedback initiatives. So greener tomorrow. intersection of hunger relief and environmental far 32,628 lbs of fruits and vegetables have been Both their genetics and grow techniques take protection, they tackle food waste through grown using organic methods for community place “with respect for the land” delivering a redistribution, research and awareness . feed initiatives. The brand has also helped premium cannabis experience for Canada (and Working with thousands of food businesses community foodbank Neighbour to Neighbour small-batch craft drops for BC) that gives back. from across the supply chain, they reduce purchase over 140,000 lbs of food. Talk about After the B.C. wildfires devastated large swaths the amount of edible food going to waste by passing that Dutch.

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WE’RE NOT ALRIGHT

( A N D T H AT ’ S O K ) Carly Stojsic on Emodiversity

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EMODIVERSIT Y

“People who are emotional are much more engaged. And because emotions are ‘memory markers,’ they remember more.” Thales Teixeira, Harvard Business School.

Cannabis is a mood driver—a natural experience enhancer. The very varietal nature of cannabis lends itself to emodiversity.

Including emodiversity means nurturing emotional literacy and intimacy. This is mirrored in our desire to attain “balance” in our lives as a conduit for happiness. We’re simultaneously developing our emotional literacy as we further understand the plant. Without it, we run the risk of being “too elevated” and almost homogenous in sentiment and communications across the board. I guarantee you that enlightened consumers can smell that saccharin bullshit on your breath.

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(with its extremely robust biodiversity) more than cannabis.

When the legal market was incubating, I spoke of “emodiversity,” which is experiencing the whole spectrum of our emotions as the key to our wellbeing. While most topics today are divisive (especially when referencing emotions and personal realities) – we need not think of them

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EMOTIONAL LITERACY & INTIMACY

“According to Karla McLaren, an emotional expert and empathy pioneer, emotions are crucial to every aspect of our world. They’re vital to our thought- and decision-making process.

Anyone who practices mindfulness or meditation understands the concept of acknowledging passing thoughts—and then allowing any given thought or distraction to move along. These little checks and balances are well-known factors that lead to “a more balanced and peaceful life.”

One cultural trend that’s been gaining momentum and shows no sign of letting up (nor should it) is inclusivity. Acknowledging and including the more obscure, bizarre, and muted feelings and moods make cannabis approachable and realistic. Industry OG’s will agree to “keep cannabis weird.”

in terms of an existing polarity… not yin or yang, nor black or white.

The vast range of greys in between, the nuanced rainbow and the spectrum of colours inside provide an emotional plurality and diversity against traditional toxic wellness expectations.

^^^

Moods and feelings. They’re funny things. I live my life in the grey area. While that statement might lead you to believe I’m completely depressed – that’s not the case.

I’m as completely incomplete and perfectly imperfect as anyone is.

There is no other CPG or product on the market that induces and supports emotional diversity

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EMOTIONAL INCLUSIVIT Y

Given our collective trauma and sheer exhaustion over calamitous events over the last 24 months: we must be mindful not to throw audiences into an ever-elevated psychosis. Because the better part of the population has little bandwidth for any more negativity at this point, the silver linings become highlights of the often overlooked and cast-away grey areas.

If emotions are “memory markers” and cannabis is a catalyst of “memory makers,” how does emodiversity look and feel when it hits the market? In my mind, it’s more like a Venn diagram of our experiences with colliding emotions: an evolving, moving, continuous kaleidoscope rather than a rainbow where the values are running parallel to each other.

Our emotional diversity flows into emotional literacy, and then inclusivity. Here are products that share these values and most likely will resonate with—and even illuminate—your most beautiful grey matters.

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Using different cannabis/hemp product formats and exploring dosage options creates diversity in use-outcomes and can quickly change moods and feelings.

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BEING ORAL STRIPS

Sublingual strips are fast-acting and can be used discreetly to achieve some immediate ease and change. Being Fast Acting Oral THC QuickStrip™ is a smoke-free cannabis alternative that delivers more cannabinoids per equivalent dose, faster, than other noncombustible formats. Being strips can easily be torn into smaller segments for micro-dosing.

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D AY LY T O O T H PA S T E

CBD & THC Toothpaste is a new wake-nbake format providing quick uptake and the essential oils like peppermint oil and tea tree oil work nicely with terpenes to round out the experience. EaseWhite CBD Toothpaste is formulated with 125 mg CBD and 6.25 mg THC. Free from Parabens, Silicones, Sulfates.

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OUID UPLIFT

Ouid’s Herbal Uplift Blend provides a low-dose herbal smoking experience without tobacco or harmful chemicals. Awaken your senses with this revitalizing blend. Featuring tulsi, peppermint and gotu kola, these powerhouse herbs are known for their ability to spark and support energy and creativity.

Fostering emotional literacy and intimacy can be about journeying into yourself and getting close to your body and feelings. Explore the physical differences.

48N B AT H S A LT S

The beneficial act of soaking into water (and feelings) is as old as time to aid personal and spiritual connection.

“ Enlightened consumers can smell that saccharine bullshit on your breath.”

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48N INTIMACY OIL

Physical and emotional intimacy are intrinsically linked. Understanding how cannabis can nurture “ecstasy” deepens emotional literacy and our connection to others. Intended to enhance pleasure, and reduce discomfort for better sexual health and intimacy, Pleasure Peak’s suppository ovules are formulated for vaginal and/or anal use for optimal pleasure experiences.

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OLLI ELDERBERRY LOZENGES

For me, CBD helps me feel more present and not too elevated. With 10 mg THC: 200 mg CBD per package, Olli’s Elderberry Citrus Essential Lozenges help support overall personal wellness using only premium ingredients.

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

3 Inclusivity can/should be linked in a myriad of ways throughout the industry.

In terms of personal use, including cannabis into your daily or evening rituals with various dosage levels and products supports a balanced lifestyle. Just as not everyone is a weed smoker: these products are approachable and welcome people who may be averse to smoking cannabis or tobacco.

The flipside of Inclusivity is on the industry side (beyond consumer) and the need to include Indigenous and small micro-growers to the game as much as possible.

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MEDIPHARM NIGHT CBN OIL

Circadian and sleep health are some of the fastest-growing trends as we know how light and sleep qualities are linked to our overall well-being. Including CBN into your evening and sleep ritual is a wonderful entry point to dreamland. Explore other molecules—this diversity is key to the future of cannabis and hemp use. MediPharm Labs CBN1:2 is a pharma-quality high-CBN Nighttime Formula made using refined CBN material. Each drop of high-quality oil (activation) contains approximately 0.28 mg of CBN, 0.55 mg of THC and 0.03 mg of CBD.

TRUE NORTH HONEY STICKS

Speaking of rituals and connection, the honey products landing in the market are primed for more than just high-teatime! Tea-drinking is on the rise and with our “at home” cooking/baking skills now going strong, THC honey products are an easy, socially-palpable application into edibles. The inclusion of discreet dosing makes cannabis more inclusive to many. True North CBD Honey Sticks is a high-quality CBD-infused honey, individually packaged to deliver 20 mg of CBD per stick. Sweet, natural, soothing.

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WANNA QUICK GUMMIES

Those who are looking for a sweeter sleep support option (without ingesting oil tinctures) should try Wana Quick Midnight Berry Gummies. They have a sweet berry flavour combined with a custom blend of 5 mg CBN, 10 mg CBD and 2 mg THC, and a custom indica terpene blend per gummie. Best consumed at night, they’re handcrafted with pectin, so they are vegan and gluten-free. Wana Quick Midnight Berry Gummies are enhanced with over 30 specialized terpenes recommended for nighttime use. Wana Quick gummies may result in a quicker onset and offset of effects.*

KAWEHNOKE ERI'KO:WA 510 THREAD CARTRIDGE

Industry inclusivity is the right thing to do. Canada’s Indigenous Peoples grew the plant for hundreds of years before anyone else – there needs to be a spotlight on this. Indigenous growers cannot be relegated to the outskirts of the industry if we are to be truly inclusive. From Canada’s first 100% Indigenous Licensed Producer, SEV7N’s Kawehnoke Eri’ko:wa Island Cherry 510 Thread Cartridge is a hybrid strain with sweet cherry flavour and strong THC and terpenes levels.

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T O M A K E G R E AT TINCTURES

Why cannabis consumers in the know are turning to the legendary grain alcohol to create amazing cannabis tinctures.

Cannabis tinctures are a great way of preserving the cannabis flower and a legal format that’s becoming increasingly popular with users. To make a tincture from dried cannabis flower, a consumer simply needs to infuse the plant with vinegar, alcohol or oil. Everclear, the popular, neutral 100% grain alcohol, offers a clear palette on which a tincture can be created. “Tinctures help a consumer get the most from their plants,” says Stacy Bobak, executive director at EduCanNation, a nonprofit supporting cannabis education, and co-host of the cannabis education podcast called “A Tincture of Time.”

Everclear is a solvent with multiple uses, an odourless, colourless high-proof liquid, and a blank slate for new constructions. “Alcohol-based cannabis tinctures offer an alternative way to consume cannabis in a format that can be discreet, avoids the potential harms of smoking and offers a quick onset of effects,” says Shawna Dunbar, certified cannabis educator and executive director at EduCanNation.

According to EduCanNation, using high-percentage alcohol helps dissolve the compounds in cannabis more quickly than oils or water. They also say a 95% alcohol can be potent after the first 15 to 30 minutes.

“Whenever making a tincture, high-quality ingredients are important,” Bobak says.

Everclear is a high-quality ingredient. Tinctures unlock the full potential of your cannabis plant.

A H O W -T O G U I D E F R O M E D U C A N N AT I O N

TINCTURE-MAKING MADE EASY!

INGREDIENTS 10 grams of decarboxylated cannabis flower 250ml high percentage alcohol (like Everclear)

INSTRUCTIONS • Place flower and alcohol in a glass jar with a rust-proof, tight-fitting lid • Ensure that the plant material is well-covered by the liquid • Sealing the lid, shake it daily for up to 6 weeks, being sure to keep it away from heat and light • Strain out the plant material

STORAGE • Store in a dark, cool place • Label with the cannabinoid content of the cannabis used, in order to calculate dosing after you have strained the plant material out

For more on how to use Everclear, see makeityourown.com, @diywitheverclear on Instagram or youtube.com/ EverclearMakeItYourOwn. For more on EduCanNation, see educannation.info.

PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. ©2022 Everclear®, 95% Alc./Vol. (190 proof). Bottled by Luxco®, Inc., St. Louis, MO K I N D

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T R AV E L & A D V E N T U R E

F R O M T E N N E S S E E T O A L L O V E R T H E W O R L D,

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

SPREADS LOVE

Arrested Development is one of the most influential hip hop groups of all time. Led by Speech, the producer, founder and lead MC, the innovator is a two-time Grammy award winner known for blazing his own path. In December, the group released For the FKN Love, and Speech plans to support the album with a world tour this summer (with a Canadian date in London, Ontario in August). Speaking from his home in Atlanta, Speech said, “I believe that governments should grant clemency to nonviolent drug offenders, especially if it was just a marijuana arrest.” After thirty years on the road, we asked Speech to speak about his favourite places to touch down all over the globe.

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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

PA R I S, F R A N C E

I’ve been a minority for 53 years and when I got to Africa, I wasn't a minority anymore. I’d never had that feeling and it’s something most Black people in Western culture don’t know. When I’m in Johannesburg and look at the crossing guard or the mayor or the chef at the local restaurant, it’s Black-owned everything and makes me feel very at home. It almost makes me feel like a different person because of the duality I have to live with at home here in the West. In Africa, I lose the American experience. I am unshackled and almost like a totally different person. It was a huge revelation for me and a place I encourage everyone, but also every Black person, to go.

The crowds are very aware of our music and excited about what we represent as a group. I always find the energy in France to be stellar.

When I first went, I felt like the people were rude and not easy to get along with, but it’s funny how as you get older appearances change.

Now it’s not just one of my favourite places to perform but also has some of my favourite people. I really like the general culture, and this says something because I’m not a wine guy and I don’t do bread, but they do incredible baked goods. Literally, any time I’ve ever had them they are the best in the world, but the people are what I love about France.

FROM “BE REFRESHED” OFF FOR THE FKN LOVE:

From trees to marijauna, to cannabis and the ganja The type of weed you need to grow I got my seeds from Ghana On that she Obama got me minimizing my drama Wedding cake in the winter, Hindu Kush in the summer The exotic come highly recommended, I’m smiley You’ll be feeling so nicely but the ticket is pricey On sativa and hybrid, indica and mo'nightly The medical finally got my body entirely If we growing it as a cure then they’ll try and indict me

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

K Y O T O, J A PA N

I’ve often planned to move here, I just haven’t yet. I like Sydney, but if I had to choose a city, I’d pick Melbourne and again the audiences there are very keen on Arrested Development.

It’s laid back and I feel comfortable in Australia, probably more so than almost anywhere else in the world. It’s funny, because I like Paris and don’t eat bread or drink wine and I like Australia and I don’t surf, but that’s what it is for me—the vibes from the people. When I travel, I like to be around people who I think are good.

This city is very traditional with tons of temples and old architecture from thousands of years back that moves me in a lot of ways much more than modern architecture or most modern things. There’s a style of humility in the culture I respond to. I like the notion of servitude and thinking that way about humanity—how we can be with other people and I think it reflects in Japanese life. As an artist performing in Japan, it’s better than anywhere else on the planet in terms of details: the mix in our sound, the setup of our microphones, everything is well thought out and detailed. We’ve had huge success in Japan and that’s always made me feel very happy.

Whom who refreshes will be refreshed and whom blesses will be blessed, yeah You can join us around the entire globe in every corner Cuz Arrested Development IS A MOVEMENT

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COLOMBIA, MI ENCANTO B Y

C A L I C H É

A Canadian cannabis educator returns to his homeland for the beaches, the soul and the weed.

The last time that I visited my home country, Colombia, was in 2018; back then, as a cannabis enthusiast, I looked for the best flower I could find. However, my quest for some of the best green ended up being just like a regular deal on an empty parking lot; although quite decent and fun, I was not aware of what kind of weed I was smoking, just whatever my dealer had in stock. In that same year, recreational cannabis was being legalized in Canada. This event opened a new path in my professional life, and after having walked that path for the past three years, I knew that one destination was calling me back—pleasant surprises were awaiting me back in the land of Cumbia.

Cannabis has become an integral part of Colombia, both on the legal and illegal ends

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of the equation. The plant became legal in 2015 for medicinal and therapeutic purposes, seed production and oil exports. For instance, Canada alone imports close to 300,000 seeds peryear from the South American country.

Since 2016, the Colombian government has issued close to 1800 licenses for cultivation. In 2021, medicinal cannabis exports brought in US$ 2.2 million between January and May. As expected, alongside the exponential growth in the regulated medicinal cannabis industry, the Colombian “legacy market” also has grown, but with a different approach from the one I got back in the day.

One of these new takes on weed comes from Medellín—yes, that Medellín, the one many still associate with its Pablo Escobar past, but are not really aware of its amazing

present. Here, Santo (as we are going to call him to protect his identity), a 27-year-old Cannapreneur, has decided to combine two of his biggest passions: cannabis and food. He is a fully trained chef from one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country.

Being an avid user of the plant, he decided to start a new trend in Canna-Cuisine: by request, Santo and his small team of collaborators put together tailored and elevated cannabisinfused dinners. Everything begins with a couple of questions for the customer: What would you like to eat? And how would you like to feel about it? Once these questions are answered, he proceeds to elaborate a three course meal (entrée, main dish and dessert) that will obtain approval from the client on both the menu and the amounts of cannabis to infuse the food with. Once the big day arrives, Santo has fully decorated his large and already exuberant house, a 70’s six-bedroom dwelling located in one of the classic and most prominent neighbourhoods of Medellin. A sophisticated and elegant table awaits for the excited guests; Santo opens the evening with a fancy cocktail or some hor d’oeuvres that may or may not be infused. Then as each one of the courses comes to the table, Santo proceeds to describe its preparation process along with a detailed description and information on the cultivar he used. The whole experience is unique, Canadianesque and aims to change the view on how recreational cannabis is perceived.

Of course, Colombia also has some of the most beautiful beaches on its Caribbean coast: Rosario Islands, Cabo de la Vela and

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After a week of sandy beaches, hot weather, mind-blowing landscapes and some of the best organic weed I had smoked in a while, my trip took me to Bogotá, Colombia’s capital

defeated, but then the city reminded me why its sordid chaos was one of its biggest appealing factors: its beautiful randomness was going to be my salvation.

Bogotá, as my friend Ari put it, is completely “tattooed,” a reference to the immense amount of street and graffiti art that covers the city. Almost every week there is a new piece, and the majority of these street art pieces are located in the downtown core and nearby the historical neighbourhood.

As I was approaching the La Candelaria neighbourhood (the historical area which dates from the 16th century), I heard a voice mildly yelling: “Cannabis delights!”

“Cannabis chocolate, candy and Brownies!”

“Cannabis bread and baked goods!”

When I turned to see who was tempting my ears, I saw this skinny young fella walking his bicycle. I decided to inquire about the price of his goods. A full brownie: $3. Two pieces of infused chocolate: $1.50. One small loaf of cannabread: $3.50, and, just because he had some extra Rastafarian ganja, he sold me four grams of super fresh weed for $2.50.

He totally made my day.

“What started as a time to reconnect with my family turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences in my adult life.”

United States, therefore the biggest cultivation fields were located here; in fact, the cultivar Colombian Gold, comes directly from the lineage of the Santa Marta Gold, a classic sativa of extreme and powerful uplifting effects. In the search of this mystical strain, I came across “Ari” (also a nickname to protect an identity). He operates independently as a liaison between indigenous organic growers and whoever wants to try some of their

and the country’s biggest city. This is where I’m from; the memories of my past still live on these streets … Here in Bogotá, is where for the first time in my life I got in trouble with the authorities for smoking marijuana, four years ago. This time around, I had already done some research about whom to connect with in order to procure some weed; however, as these things happened, I wasn’t able to meet with my contact. I felt frustrated, almost

After enjoying a delicious blunt of that fresh weed, I continued my walking trip around the painted streets of Bogotá.

While on my walk, I bumped into Grower’s Culture, a headshop owned by the guys who organized one of the biggest Cannabis Cups in Colombia: “La Copa del Rey” (The King’s Cup). In Colombia, a joint made out of the leftovers of other joints—the roaches—is called “The King of Kings.” Advocating for legalization in Colombia like we enjoy in Canada, the King’s Cup is celebrating its seventh birthday this December.

What started as an escape from winter and time to reconnect with my family turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences in my adult life. I not only revisited some of the places that have always made me happy, but also met amazing people, people who, like me, understand the importance of bringing recreational cannabis to a legal ground in Colombia.

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amazing ganja. This is something that Ari does for fun and to connect with people, not as his main source of income. As part of the adventure, he took me to enjoy some of the majestic beaches, views and the classic Santa Marta vibe. We went to the Mendihuaca sands, an area where a strip of luxury beach hostels offers a variety of attractions and activities that range from yoga to independent music festivals.

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Taganga Bay are some of my favourites to recommend. This last one, Taganga Bay, a small fisherman town, is located 25 minutes away from Santa Marta, the capital city of the Magdalena Department—its surrounding mountainous areas are some of the most desired lands for cannabis cultivation in the country. In fact, one of the biggest Canadian cannabis companies, Avicanna, has their growing facilities here. Santa Marta and the region have a deep and historical connection with the plant. In the ’60s, during the marijuana boom, large quantities of the product were trafficked from and through the Caribbean coast of Colombia then into the

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5 L U X U R Y T O U R I S M O P T I O N S W H I L E I N C O L O M B I A The country is experiencing a significant increase in the tourism industry, and although this boom is new, it’s been developing for the past 20 years. The luxury option is slowly getting a good injection of creativity and mind-blowing options, and here are five that I think you will love in Colombia.

P H O T O G R A P H B Y @ J O H A N _ D R O N E _ A D V E N T U R E S J O H A N VA N D E N H E C K E

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S TAY AT A T R A D I T I O N A L COFFEE ESTATE

Coffee is an integral part of Colombia and its culture. The countryside estates and properties are stunning and maintain a classic look of the 18th-century Spanish villa while offering stateof-the-art and modern amenities and accommodations. These massive pieces of land are known as FINCAS and when their business is coffee, they are called FINCAS CAFETERAS. Each Finca comes with a full detailed tour of how the family coffee is produced from bean to cup. Prices range from US$500 to US$700 a night for the entire estate.

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GLAMP UNDER THE STARS

The Bethel Bio Luxury Hotel gives you a unique stargazing experience. Located in the middle of the Tatacoa Desert, the Bethel is worthy of a Bond movie, with sophisticated villas that balance modern and 15th-century design.

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RENT A P R I VAT E I S L A N D

Just 45 minutes off the Coast of Cartagena lie the Rosario Islands.

And although one has the option to rent a luxurious hotel room, why not rent out the whole island instead? At prices that range from US$1,500 to US$3,000 per night, live the Richard Branson dream for yourself or one of your lucky guests! Each island comes with all the amenities and services including, if you’re really balling, your own yacht.

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DIG THE GASTRO-WALK, “G” ZONE BOGOTÁ

Colombia’s Capital city is a metropolitan giant, and its gastronomic landscape is marvellous. The most refined and exclusive restaurants, bars and bistros are found in “Zona G”— Italian, Moroccan, Arabic, Spanish and Colombian gourmet cuisines are just a few of Zona G’s gourmet cuisines. Five-star establishments like Castanoyles, Criterion or Nazca are mouthwatering. Prices vary, but start from US$75 per person for a three-course meal.

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HELICOPTER TOURS IN MEDELLÍN

These tours not only cover the metropolitan area of Medellín, but also have destinations within the nearby towns like Guatapé, one of the most Instagrammable places on Earth. Some tours include an ecotourist trip on land with five-star accommodation in a boutique estate (finca). Prices range from US$1,000 to $3,000—enjoy.

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F LY I N G H I G H Ever since the first roller skates were pinned to a 2x4 to surf the sidewalks of California, skateboarding and cannabis have gone hand in hand.

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It doesn’t hurt that a lot of skaters consume, but mainstream media has really pushed the narrative of “the pothead skater.”

While both cannabis consumers and skaters have been labeled as outcasts in the past, both are working towards a brighter, higher future. In 2021, skateboarding had its inaugural showing in the Tokyo Olympics. Years leading up to the games, there was a lot of talk about whether or not this was going to be the best thing for skateboarding, but in the end what’s most important is that it’s opened a lot of people’s eyes to how amazing the sport really is. Skaters still get kicked

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out of public spaces by security guards and cops every day, but now civilians will stop on the street to watch and rack their brains about how to control the wooden toy. In Canada, skaters have about 6 months to get as much skating done as possible before the snow and cold take over, but that just fuels their passion to burn hotter. Skateboarding is what you want to make it. Walk down the street, and where most people see benches to sit, stairs to walk up and curbs for parking, skateboarders are always looking deeper into how they can incorporate the landscape around them into their craft.

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J E F F M AT H E S O N – VA N C O U V E R , B C FRONTSIDE AIR This spot is a memorial dedicated to Lee M. Lee found the underpass skate spot and started skating there when it rained. When he passed away fellow skaters banded together to complete and evolve what is now known as Leeside Skatepark.

Photography by Jeff Thorburn

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> > > HUGO BALEK @SCHMALEEKK – MONTREAL, QC KICKFLIP FRONTSIDE NOSESLIDE Hugo has got to be one of Canada’s national treasures. Viral on the internet before YouTube even existed, Hugo brings the good times on any session he’s a part of.

Photography by Ryan Lebel

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EFFORTLESS JOY.

MORE FLOWERFUL. NOT FOR SALE TO MINORS. PAX DOES NOT PRODUCE, MANUFACTURE, OR DISTRIBUTE CANNABIS. I NInc.US D M A G A Z I N E © 2022 PAX Labs, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PAX, X, ERA, ERA LIFE, and ERA PRO are all trademarks of PAX K Labs, and International Patents Pending. Complete list of Patents and Trademarks: pax.com/intellectual-property-list

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L E E YA N K O U @ L E E YA N K O U – TORONTO, ON BOARDSLIDE UP AND OVER THE RAINBOW Most of the spots that Lee skates aren’t accessible to other skaters because they are too tall, too long, or just too crazy to even be considered.

Photography by James Morley

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S C O T T VA R N E Y @6IXGOTH – TORONTO, ON B A C K TA I L S L I D E Hopefully one day Health Canada will let cannabis brands do more lifestyle marketing and we can see cannabis skate teams like brands do in the US. Photography by James Morley

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>>>

> > >

IT HAS TO BE GREAT

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ANNIE GUGLIA @NNIEGUGLIA – MONTREAL, QC NOSEGRIND Annie was one of the few that got to skate in the 2020 Toyko Olympics! If you haven’t watched the recap of the women’s street section, go check it out.

Photography by Ryan Lebel

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“A L L T H E C O O L PEOPLE WERE SMOKING POT” A

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A longtime grower, importer and exporter, wholesaler and salesman, and one of the first Canadians to ever dare open a bricksand-mortar cannabis shop—an effort that earned him three years behind bars—Briere is now a member of Canada’s legal industry, with his store Weeds selling Health Canada– licensed product in Ontario and B.C. But before Briere went legal, he was on the frontlines of Canada’s pot revolution in the British Columbia battlegrounds to legalize weed. Briere recounts his adventures in the cannabis trade.

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Don Briere lives and grows weed in Vancouver’s lower mainland and he’s synonymous with the country’s cannabis journey— from legacy to legal, from the underground to the mainstream.

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Don Briere: I was a grower for 11 years in Vancouver’s lower mainland before I got pinched. We were growing two tonnes of B.C. bud a year before we got raided by 45 cops and I did three years.

Ben Kaplan: Wait, you’re getting way ahead of me. Where did your pot voyage begin?

DB: I was born June 3, 1951 in New Westminster, British Columbia and I’ve been consuming cannabis products for 54 years.

BK: So that means—

DB: I was 14 years old when I started. When we were little kids, we’d see all of our friend’s older brothers drinking alcohol, getting into fights, crashing their cars and not having girlfriends and figured out pretty quickly: all the cool people were smoking pot.

BK: You were around back when Reefer Madness was part of the culture.

DB: They said that if you smoke pot you go insane but we knew it was all a lie and a bunch of bullshit. The laws were based on lies—so we ignored them.

BK: How did you go from smoking weed to growing?

DB: In the lower mainland of Vancouver, we had our grows, and we also had some out of town. Different locations, but all of our grows were indoors.

BK: But where would you buy weed in 1967?

DB: You know all the people who smoke weed, and you’re buying from them. It’s just someone you get to know and I became curious. 1967?

It would have been $20 an ounce, basically Mexican weed with a lot of sticks and seeds.

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BK: Twenty dollars an ounce. I think even at Value Buds and places like that you can’t get an ounce for less than a hundred.

DB: Back then I was making the super duper wage of $2.95 an hour, so twenty dollars was just a few hours of work.

BK: A few hours of work for a full ounce of weed.

DB: That’s how I started selling weed in Vancouver in 1968. I would work enough to buy my ounce, then have weed to sell and smoke for free. I was 17.

BK: What did Vancouver look like in 1968?

DB: I used a record player cover and I’d dump the Mexican weed out on it, and dump all the seeds and sticks. I wanted to make sure my customers got a decent price, I made sure they got a deal.

BK: But can you describe the scene? Take us back in time.

DB: People went to concerts and did all kinds of stuff. The weed was around because people brought it up from Mexico. The people I knew would cross the border from Mexico through California and run it up to Washington State.

The further north you went, the more your weed was worth: so it went from $50 per pound to $100 per pound and then, once they crossed the Canadian border, $160 per pound, and so anyways, there was a lot of weed.

BK: Wow. How much?

DB: When I went to my guy, he’d have 50 to 100 pounds. I’d buy half a pound, but back then there was no shortage of weed in B.C. Ontario was more harsh. Hash, in British Columbia, wasn’t as abundant.

“ The DEA only had two offices outside of the United States and one of them was in Vancouver. We used to go there and protest the war.”

hippies fought against capitalism, consumerism, and the war on drugs.

DB: There was a lot of shit going on. Back then, we had a thing: don’t stand out alone in a crowd, because if the police try and arrest you for smoking a joint, you could lose them in a crowd and the cameras wouldn’t pick you up.

The police used to come out to get you with their sticks on high.

BK: You’ve been an activist for nearly all of your life.

DB: I was in prison for over seven years because of my activism, the cops were just out of control.

BK: What happened in Gastown on that August night?

BK: Could you openly smoke weed in Vancouver in 1969?

DB: You’d be very discreet. You’d smoke in your home or in the park, but you were careful. If you got popped, they’d arrest you and charge you with something.

DB: A bloody riot! The cops like I said went out of control. They had horses right inside a store and there were people shopping with their families, kids—but the police took it too far.

BK: Were you there?

BK: Were you worried about the Feds?

DB: None of the growers were there. I was dealing ounces at the time.

DB: The DEA only had two offices outside of the United States and one of them was in Vancouver. We used to go there and protest the war.

BK: Can you talk about how the legalization movement started?

BK: One of those protests led to the Gastown Riot in 1971, when the

DB: There were a number of us around here consuming and growing, baking, infusing watermelons. There was one woman who used

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to sell down at the beach, her watermelons and infused ginger snap cookies, and she was arrested and handcuffed, but she beat the charge! That’s how legalization transpired, one case at a time.

BK: Buying an infused watermelon on the beach in 1971 sounds like heaven.

DB: Once you immerse yourself in the culture, you meet more like-minded people and you share ideas, and also strategies to do good things. We knew the cannabis laws were wrong. We knew the straight goods. We knew this stuff was not dangerous. How many lawyers were making millions of dollars just to prove something all along we knew was wrong?

wages. We had grows in Vancouver, Burnaby, all over the lower mainland B.C.

“ The police used to come out to get you with their sticks on high.”

DB: We had hash, and Bullrdr, Northern Lights, hundreds of strains. Like a liquor store where you can buy CC or Crown Royal, you could come to me for Black Tuna or Comatose. It was a smoker’s delight.

DB: It’s funny, when I first opened my store, Da Kine, in 2004, I was caught and arrested and served nine months in a maximum isolation compound. Later I went on trial and was sentenced to 25 years of prison, and served seven.

BK: Wow, all for weed?

DB: Hell, yeah. We had so much it became international news. The police had the place under surveillance and were counting up to 300 people coming and going from my 900-square-foot building. If Walmart did sales like that they’d be dancing in the street.

BK: It really makes you appreciate all the sacrifices that were made by the pioneers for the rest of us to get to enjoy cannabis legalization.

BK: What did a gram cost?

DB: Back in the day, B.C. was in a recession.

Plumbers, carpenters, people were making crappy wages, like $15 an hour. People were looking for other means of employment and I mean, the first grow I put together I could do myself, but as I got bigger, I needed plumbers, electricians, carpenters—and I paid good

BK: Am I right, that when Da Kine opened, you could smoke in the store?

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BK: You were part of that?

DB: Hell, yeah. In 2016, they raided 44 stores and five of the stores were mine.

BK: And today?

BK: And I suppose, today, it still is. Only now the Northern Lights are all legal.

BK: Was it dangerous, doing your line of work?

DB: A buddy of mine got caught up with two undercover cops and these guys were going to do one last deal. They went with a couple hundred thousand dollars of government money, walked over with a briefcase, and the guy pulled out a gun and killed him—the drug war killed all kinds of people.

DB: It’s funny to look back on. Weeds is now fully operational and, you know, I opened my first Weeds in 2013 and 36 months later, we had 36 stores across six provinces. We operated for six years full-on before we got raided in Project Claudia.

BK: Can you tell me about your operation?

BK: So you said Fuck the Police.

DB: Police officers in the drug squad were making huge amounts of money. It was well known in Vancouver that if you wanted to make money for overtime, join the squad. Big money. Higher payday. They used to give the drug squad danger pay to enforce prohibition.

BK: It’s so cool that you’ve run the gamut, from Mexican pounds to seven years in the slammer to owning legal pot shops. What a life.

DB: We have 36 stores and two are licensed.

It’s been a long road, but we continue in this industry because we fight for what we believe.

BK: Which is?

DB: When I started way back buying Mexican, I’d clean out seeds and sticks and now with my stores in legal cannabis, it’s the same thing: I won’t sell anything in my store that I wouldn’t give to my family or friends.

DB: Ten bucks.

DB: We were doing dabs all the time.

Someone used to go around with them on a silver platter, that’s where butter first got formulated.

Photos courtesy of Kate Bird from her books Vancouver in the Seventies: Photos from A Decade That Changed the City, a British Columbia best seller published in 2016, and City On Edge: A Rebellious Century of Vancouver Protests, Riots and Strikes, published in 2017. Companion exhibitions for both books were mounted at The Museum of Vancouver.

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CONSUMER CHOICE AWARDS

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BEST NEW PRODUCT AWARDS CANADA HAS SPOKEN! The Best New Product Awards is Canada’s most leveraged and influential 100% consumer-voted new product award. Since 2003, hundreds of brands have been entering their innovation into the award hoping to be voted the best of the best. This year, over 12,000 consumers participated in the survey to crown the 77 winners ranging from food & beverage, health, beauty and household products. In 2021, the Best New Product Awards expanded into awarding innovation in the Cannabis sphere. Without further adieu, here are the 2022 Best New Product Awards Winners in the Cannabis categories.

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Learn more and see the full list of winners at bestnewproductawards.com.

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PLEASE READ THIS

WHILE YOU ARE HIGH Jen Newton Explores Using Cannabis to Encourage Creative Thinking.

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Each of us is born creative, imagination and curiosity part of our most natural youthful rhythms. As we age, our creative life force starts to elude us— after-effects of our attempts to fit in, follow rules, ruffle fewer feathers as we make our way through the world. You hear so many people say it: I’m not the creative one.

I’m of the mind that creativity is not a binary characteristic but simply about perspective: an energy, attitude and atmosphere we choose to impart upon our lives. An inspired lens that begins to colour how one dresses, decorates and expresses through to how they solve a problem.

Cannabis and creativity go hand-in-hand, the plant stirring up a side of ourselves many had forgotten the feel of: wonder. Delight. Possibility.

It’s like Mother Nature saying enjoy, play, revel in it.

Celebrate life a little, while I work my healing ways.

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to deliver us into a state where we’re more receptive to our natural creative flexibility. Our minds begin to make more non-linear, divergent connections—and to approach problems in new ways. We experience an increased sense of focus— a more potent ability to hone in on the task at-hand. And we’re delivered into a more empathetic state—allowing us to better introspect, assess emotions and access important memories.

There are of course some exceptions to the rule, mostly to do with our own

“ Only the insane take themselves seriously.” consumption choices. With great power comes great responsibility.

Most of us have experienced this call back to our wilder, more playful selves. We’re not the first, of course, to discover the explorative, creative nature of weed. The plant is known to have enhanced the artistic output of legends like Shakespeare, Picasso, Hunter S. Thompson, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and (everyone’s favourite) Bob Marley.

Dosage amount (unsurprisingly) plays a considerable factor. While consumption can stimulate divergent thinking—often used as a measure of creativity, allowing individuals to create new ideas and come up with creative solutions to problems—over-consumption inhibits it.

Because alongside the bevy of benefits to health and wellness, cannabis is also considered

But with so much talk around respecting the plant, let’s not forget about respecting the

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experience. When it comes to our weed, perhaps the most important choice we make of all is how we use the high.

I’m in the business of creativity: a strategist, ideamaker and creative-thinker helping build brands inside & outside of the cannabis space. As the world continues to change at rapid pace and businesses begin to implement more AI and corporate outsourced solutions, it’s becoming increasingly clear that creativity is a key differentiator —if not an essential skill.

Shawn Gold is one of the world’s true big ideas guys, spending his career building major startups that have impacted business, culture and trends. Each of his roles innovated new ways of doing business and re-imagined consumer behaviour.

He’s held Chief Marketing roles at MySpace & Wattpad, helped to commercialize innovative offerings like Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty and Fabletics with Kate Hudson, and then found himself in the world of weed (fulfilling a teenage dream) creatively advising brands like MedMen and Charlotte’s Web, then landing a CMO role at Lowell Herb Co. It was just as California was experiencing widespread legalization, and Lowell Herb was pushing the boundaries of what the cannabis experience embodied.

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In his early days of corporate America, Shawn had trouble fitting in, his unorthodox and meandering problem-solving process confusing his higher-ups.

“I’ve always been a little bit of a weirdo—very ADD, couldn’t pay attention in school—and after college, I couldn’t quite fit in at larger, established companies,” he says, “Later on, I really found my niche working for and helping build new businesses, and imagining things.”

Using what cannabis can already do to encourage creative thinking, the Creative Thinking journal presents solvable problems to produce the kind of experience that gets you in touch with your innate creativity.

“ With so much talk around respecting the plant, let’s not forget “When you try to do things differently, it creates about respecting the tension and pushback. Coming up with new ideas, you have to be willing to be wrong. You also experience. When it have to be willing to be right and have everyone comes to our weed, think you’re wrong, and that can be painful. perhaps the most It was creativity that was always Shawn’s true important choice we muse, inspiring him to go on to create Pilgrim make of all is how we Soul Company—a brand on a mission to help people optimize their creativity through exclusive use the high.” cannabis blends, and a community of people helping each other. One of the most impactful things they feel they’ve done so far is launching the Pilgrim Soul Creative Thinking Journal.

“Cannabis is a hack. It does too many things with the brain. It enhances firing in the frontal lobe, which is great for idea production, but it also represses the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is more of the judgment area of the brain that’s repressed when you daydream.”

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We try to help people look at problems in entirely new ways, get out of their comfort zones,

challenge default thinking, and tap into what makes them uniquely creative. It is more about unlocking their innate creativity than it is teaching people to be creative. We are all born creative,” Gold says.

“A lot of people think of creativity as this no-holds-barred, fully-free thing, but I think creativity is really something that transpires much more readily with restrictions.” The journal offers such prompts of inspiration, like little flexes on the brain.

Ultimately it’s about taking more risks, and an openness to receive new perspectives without negative, self-critical thinking. To remain in the flow of possibility—releasing judgment from ourselves.

Remember: if you are going to experiment with your thoughts and ideas or with cannabis, it is essential to laugh at yourself, be vulnerable and be comfortable with your quirks and foibles. Laughter is a necessary part of this; it serves as a pressure valve for stress and anxiety.

We hope you enjoy these creative playthings from Pilgrim Soul’s Creative Thinking Journal, inspired to inspire. Please remember to laugh, play and let that shit go.

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@versus.cannabis versuscannabis.com

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