Apr. 2022 - Alaska Leaf

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

#72 | APR. 2022

THE GLASS ISSUE

SOULLESS GLASS' TREVOR DAVIS IN HIS ANCHORAGE STUDIO F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

Enjoy your stay with your first 506 Merhar ave fairbanks ak

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907-474-good www.goodtitrations.com

onsite consumption experience k next to walmart and lowe’s

Ask Your Budtender for that

Award-Winning Cannabis Wonder Woman

Black Rose

2020 Great Alaskan Cannabis Bowl WINNER!

ShnozBerry

Best Sativa Best Terps

SweetMatanuskaGreen@Gmail.com | SweetMatanuskaGreen.com Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence.

There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

APR. 2022

30 FEATURE

DARBY ANDREWS

42

CANNTHROPOLOGY HISTORIC HEADSHOPS

WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM

32

ART BY TREVOR DAVIS

O'HARA SHIPE

09 10 12 16 20 24 28 30 32 34 36 48 42 44

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EDITOR’S NOTE NATIONAL NEWS HEMP INDUSTRY BUDTENDER Q&A SHOP REVIEW STRAIN OF THE MONTH JEREMIAH THROCKMORTON DARBY ANDREWS TREVOR DAVIS EDIBLES CONCENTRATES TANNINS & TERPENES CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

O'HARA SHIPE

JEREMIAH THROCKMORTON

O'HARA SHIPE

HOUSE OF GREEN

F E AT U R E

O'HARA SHIPE

GLASS

THE GLASS ISSUE LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

20 SHOP REVIEW

#72

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6

APRIL 2022

issue

L RETURNS W O B F A E FOR L A RO SK A L UN A D E H 2 T

PRESENTED BY

INTAKE POWERED BY

AWARDS CEREMONY AND FREE EXPO JUNE 11 TH AT THE EGAN CENTER ENTRIES ACCEPTED FROM 4/20 TO MAY 20TH AT GREEN JAR ENTRIES $420 EACH (WITH $20 FROM EACH ENTRY GOING TO AN ALASKA WILDLIFE NONPROFIT)

EXPO BOOTHS AND LIMITED SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

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E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0

T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E

N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / A L AS KA L E A F / M A RY L A N D L E A F / CA L I F O R N I A L E A F / N O RT H E AS T L E A F

A B O U T T H E C OV E R Choosing a single artist to grace one of our staff’s favorite annual issues was no easy task, and picking out the photo for the honor was an even greater challenge. We also wanted to document what it takes to create this kind of glass artistry, so ultimately, we went with this striking action shot of Anchorage-based glass artist Trevor Davis, known for his creative pieces under the moniker of Soulless Glass. The dramatic close-up was captured by Alaska Leaf's own O'Hara Shipe. Read Kelly Pinell's interview and see more beautiful pictures from Trevor's studio on pg. 32.

PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R

CONTRIBUTORS

wes@leafmagazines.com

OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ, PHOTOS

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER + AD SALES ricker@leafmagazines.com

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES EARLY, PRODUCTION

DANIEL BERMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

daniel@leafmagazines.com

KELLY PINNELL, FEATURES

O'HARA SHIPE C O N T E N T D I R E C T O R + W E B ohara@leafmagazines.com

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JEFF PORTERFIELD DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY C O PY E D I T O R

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

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O’HARA SHIPE, FEATURES

CONNECT WITH ALASKA LEAF Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @NWLEAF

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EDITOR'S NOTE PHOTO by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ @OKIAVE

ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the Glass Issue of the Leaf!

GLASS HOLDS a special place within Cannabis culture, as it both defines our movement through artistic expression and provides the tools necessary to consume our plant. Without glass pipes, bongs and dab rigs, we’d be stuck smoking joints and out of apples in a return to college shenanigans. Today, glass pieces regularly sell for five to six figures and a rig can define a stoner’s personality – the same way a cool car or pair of shoes do. It’s through the beautiful combination of fire and borosilicate that an artist shapes both how we smoke and how we perceive that act of inhalation, and this annual Glass Issue of the Leaf is dedicated to celebrating the artists and art that shape the visual arm of our industry.

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While I generally keep my editor’s note focused on the theme of our issue, I want to dedicate the remainder of this space to sharing a message of hope and world peace. Last month we saw humanity edge closer to world war and nuclear proliferation than ever before, something that simply cannot happen if our species and planet are to survive. My heart breaks for the millions of displaced Ukranians, the Russian soldiers sent to kill or die at the hands of their neighbors, and the whole of Europe waiting to see if war will spill across their “MAYBE THE borders. There is no justification for the aggression we are seeing in Ukraine, and HIPPIES OF I’m sure that the victims of other recent wars of aggression like Afghanistan and THE ‘60S WHO Iraq are having their own “Me Too” moment of grief as the global war machine THOUGHT PEACE, LOVE AND DRUGS shifts attention from the Middle East to Eastern Europe.

COULD SAVE THE

WORLD WEREN’T As much as global politics and media propaganda have bled into the societal views JUST HIGH ON of war and justice, it seems clear now that the powerful deciders of humanity GREAT LSD, BUT are bent on destruction. Whether it’s traditional war for power or resources, the WERE ACTUALLY genocides of religious divides, or the exploitation of the planet and the poorest ONTO SOMETHING.” humans, our species is rushing angrily into a century that many had high hopes for. Information technology has the potential to bring equality and awareness to all corners of the globe (no flat earth pun intended), but we continue to see those with the power using it for manipulation and profit.

This brings me to Cannabis and the role it might play in changing our collective trajectory.

Almost every industry in the world is built on profit at the expense of the people and the planet, but the Cannabis and hemp industries are breaking that mold. Not only is our industry shedding the old ways of one-percent wealth building and breaking the vestiges of the drug war, it’s also bringing enlightenment and peace with every gram and joint sold … and smoked.

I honestly believe that if Putin would smoke some weed, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Who gets baked and decides to invade anything other than the refrigerator? The same can be said for conflict around the planet, where one side profits at the expense of the other – not exactly your typical stoner behavior. Maybe the hippies of the ‘60s who thought peace, love and drugs could save the world weren’t just high on great LSD, but were actually onto something. It’s only once they swallowed the capitalist success that the boomer generation went from “we” to “me” – but it’s not too late for the coming of age millennials and Gen Zs to embrace the idea of world peace, one puff at a time.

Perhaps that’s just my high hopes for our future, but I’d like to think that Cannabis has the potential to save the world.

-Wes Abney APR. 2022

leafmagazines.com

JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism.

JERRY WHITING, FEATURES Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of Alaska Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, LeafMagazines.com. Email ricker@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with Alaska Leaf!

WES

national news LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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sports

NCAA RELAXES MARIJUANA THRESHOLDS; REDUCES PENALTIES

T

he NCAA announced last month that it will be relaxing its marijuana policies, raising THC threshold levels and reducing punishments.

Under current NCAA policy, one failed marijuana test gets a six-month suspension. The NCAA will raise the threshold for THC from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter. This change brings them in line with new World Anti-Doping Agency standards. There is no punishment or loss of eligibility for the first positive test, if the school “provides a management plan and education” for the athlete. For the second positive test, there could still be no punishment if they are compliant with the management plan. If they are not, an athlete would miss 25% of their games. Should a third positive test happen, there could still be no punishment if the athlete still complies with the management plan. If not, they will miss 50% of the games.

east coast

PENNSYLVANIA OFFERS FINANCIAL AID TO MMJ PATIENTS

P

ennsylvania Department of Health has expanded its financial assistance program for state medical marijuana patients.

The program includes waiving annual fees for eligible patients enrolled in financial hardship programs such as SNAP, MedTHE STATE SAID IT PLANS TO icaid and WIC. “The departDISTRIBUTE CASH BENEFITS ment is pleased to be able to TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS. expand assistance to medical marijuana patients and caregivers who may be experiencing financial hardships,” said acting Health Secretary Keara Klinepeter. “Patients deserve to have access to their medicine to treat medical conditions, and cost should not be a barrier.”

central america

middle east

COSTA RICA LEGALIZES MEDICAL CANNABIS

ISRAEL DECRIMS CANNABIS; EXPUNGES RECORDS

I

srael has decriminalized the adult use of marijuana and is expunging the criminal records of those convicted of personal possession or use of the plant, President Isaac Herzog and Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced in March. Those with adult-use convictions can submit a request to have their records voided, and those with pending criminal proceedings can contact the police with a request to drop the charges. The move, said the statement, will “lift the criminal labeling and the stain that accompanies it” and “complement” decriminalization regulations published in February. The new regulations don’t apply to those also charged with other offenses alongside Cannabis use, including those possessing drug paraphernalia, those convicted during military service, and minors.

C

osta Rica’s Congress passed a bill in March which legalizes the use of Cannabis for medicinal purposes. The bill also allows marijuana cultivation for industrial use.

The cultivation and sale of adult-use marijuana for recreational purposes, however, will remain banned. Supporters of the bill say it will boost farmers and increase jobs. Costa Rica joins a host of other Latin American countries where medical marijuana is legal. weird

the south

MIKE TYSON’S WEED CO. LAUNCHES EAR-SHAPED GUMMIES

COPS PAY OUT $900,000 FOR BUSTING 64 AT POT PARTY

L

T

his comes 25 years after he was disqualified from the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Championship for biting his opponent’s ear. Tyson’s marijuana brand, Tyson 2.0, named the new product with a smirking reference to what’s become known as “The Bite Fight.” That’s the 1997 bout against Evander Holyfield where the infamous incident took place. Tyson’s weed brand announced the news via Twitter on March 15. According to Tyson 2.0, the gummies will soon go on sale at dispensaries in Massachusetts, California and Nevada. The retired boxer and current weed dealer even put his stamp of approval on the marijuana-infused edibles, writing, “These ears actually taste good!”

$0

fines for marijuana were approved in March by the Green Bay City Council.

APR. 2022

5

untaxed grow sites were raided over the past five weeks by Calaveras County, Calif. deputies.

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aw enforcement has settled a lawsuit over the mass arrests of 64 Georgia partygoers on marijuana charges. Cops charged each of the 64 individuals at the 2017 lingerie-themed party with possession of under an ounce of marijuana. Police, who found less than an ounce of marijuana outside on the ground, arrested all 64 partygoers. They said they did this because nobody would claim the weed. Gerald Griggs, an attorney and past vice president of the Georgia NAACP, organized a campaign to get all the charges dropped. “It’s a very large settlement,” Griggs said, according to WSB-TV. ”So it sends a message to Georgia that if you violate somebody’s civil rights, the NAACP and civil rights attorneys will hold you to task and protect those young peoples’ rights.”

marijuana plants were seized when an indoor grow was raided in DeKalb County, Ala.

700

voter signatures are needed in Gluckstadt, Miss. to overturn the city council’s decision to opt out of medical marijuana.

742 80k New York farmers are authorized to grow hemp.

Cannabis plants will fill West Virginia’s largest medical grow facility by 2025.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence. There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. #17336 #10301 #10299 #10747

greatnortherncannabis.com/strains

Great Northern Manufacturing Pure Plant • Great Northern Cannabis

EXPERT OPINION

HEMP INDUSTRY

HEMP I

ndeed, hemp is more than just a flower … perhaps a better title would be “CBD Isn’t a Synonym for Hemp.”

Almost everyone in the industry, especially hemp farmers, think of industrial hemp as a CBD factory: Grow it, extract it. Want to know why the hemp industry is struggling, the price of hemp biomass is so low, and hemp farmers are scaling back their future plans? The singleminded fixation on CBD extraction has put blinders on the industry and its future. My dark fear is that the industry will wither or at least flounder and never reach its full potential.

PHOTO BY ADOBE

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

ADD VALUE BEFORE CASHING OUT. You’ve grown and harvested 100 acres of hemp. So? A lot of other folks have, too. Average crop, average prices. Instead of selling bales like everyone else, do something that adds value before you sell it. Decorticate and separate the hurd from the bast. They’re destined for different markets, so take that first step and raise your prices. Chip and bag your stems and seek out hempcrete buyers. Chip and press hurd into wood stove pellets, either 100% hemp or a hemp/wood blend.

IS MORE THAN JUST A FLOWER!

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HEMP ISN’T MAGIC. It should be part of one’s crop rotation. It shouldn’t be an all-or-nothing exercise.

Only plant what you can afford to lose. Treat it like your other crops: line up buyers before you start. It won’t save your farm with its magical powers.

ORGANIC MATTERS. The hemp industry was founded

APR. 2022

Jerry Whiting

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO EAT HEMP. Dehulled hemp seeds (hemp hearts) and hemp milk are common items in stores across the country. Hemp is an ingredient in bread and cereal. Don’t stop now. There’s cellulose in hemp stems and edible mushrooms (including oyster mushrooms) consume cellulose. Plant-based foods are hot. Trust me when I say, mushrooms are going to be front and center in people’s diet. (Full disclosure: I’m growing oyster mushrooms at home and have started growing them on hemp fiber.

Film at 11:00…)

HEMPCRETE ISN’T THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN. Biofabrication builds things using biomass. Mycofabrication uses mushroom mycelium to bind fibers together. Oyster mushrooms grow quickly on cellulose rich biomass like hemp stems. Instead of growing a full cycle and picking the mushrooms, growing just the mycelium results in a solid mass that can be molded into different shapes. Packaging, coffins, insulation, art and a host of other uses come to mind.

HEMP FIBER HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE. Whether it’s paper, textiles or hempcrete, we can all agree by hemp activists. Many of WHETHER IT’S PAPER, that hemp fiber is an industry us see hemp as part of our TEXTILES OR HEMPCRETE, that has barely gotten off the lifestyle. We eat and live WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT ground. But it’s coming, in a organically, and we spend a HEMP FIBER IS AN INDUSTRY big way. Grow hemp fiber, little more to do so. Organic cut and dry it, and set it aside can be less expensive to grow and THAT HAS BARELY GOTTEN until the market catches up fetches higher prices in the market.

OFF THE GROUND. with you. Keep it dry. Be smart Pesticides aren’t welcome. about it. Seek serious buyers, because the first question they’re going to ask is if THERE’S MEDICINE IN THE ROOTS, TOO. CBD, you can provide a steady supply moving CBG, other cannabinoids, terpenes, etc. aren’t forward. “I have two years experience the only medicinal compounds in hemp. Hemp growing hemp under my belt. If you need roots were used by the Romans and Chinese as a bulk, I can bulk up.” poultice. Instead of plowing them under, farmers should be harvesting them like carrots. I’ve made THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. Daydream long topical products with hemp roots for 10 years term, and start pushing hemp into the future we – it’s LeBlanc CNE’s secret sauce. They can be all want to live. No one’s going to do it for us, dried and stored for future use, so stop tilling but we can do it for ourselves … together. them under.

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN by JERRY WHITING for LEAF NATION // LeBlancCNE.com/podcast

A la s k a C a n n a b is E x ch a n g e

interview

ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

ZARA SMELCER HOW DID YOU FIRST ENTER THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? Honestly? I was going through a divorce and was looking for a second job to make sure I could keep my house. Although I had just started using Cannabis, I thought it would be a cool job.

When I went to my first dispensary, they were cool as fuck and I immediately felt comfortable there. So, I just kept going back and bugged the manager to hire me.

YOU FIRST TRIED CANNABIS AT THE TENDER AGE OF 27. WHAT WAS IT LIKE GETTING HIGH FOR THE FIRST TIME AS AN ADULT? Well, I was definitely using it kind of badly at first. Like, I would just smoke and then lay on the couch and snack. But then I learned about sativas and how they could be mood and energy boosters. I started using them to help get me to the gym and I ended up becoming a whole lot hotter (laughs).

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YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY – CANNABIS HEALS. For sure!

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FLOWER? Definitely Fuzzy Bear and Lemon Ice Pucker from Greengo. They’re both light and happy strains that give me the energy to power through the day.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

NOW THAT YOU’RE A MANAGER, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A GOOD BUDTENDER? You have to be personable.

Ultimately, weed sells itself. People who come to the dispensary are there to buy weed, so you don’t have to convince them to do anything. But to make sure they come back, you have to create a fun vibe and genuinely listen to them. Caring is a big part of the job. I feel like that’s something I do well, so I still spend about 80% of my day working with customers. I really love it!

“YOU HAVE TO BE PERSONABLE …

CARING IS A BIG PART OF THE JOB.”

A

FTER three years working as a budtender, Zara Smelcer has earned her position as Canna Get Happy Anchorage’s store manager. Despite her promotion, Smelcer says her favorite part of the job is getting behind the counter and serving customers. We caught up with the former psychology major to talk about selling flower, self-care and what makes a great budtender. Follow her on Instagram @zara.zrs

APR. 2022

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND AFTER A LONG WORKDAY? Right now, I am really focused on learning how to podcast. I’m actually going for another degree in media and journalism, just so I can learn how to run a successful podcast.

WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE PODCAST GOING TO BE ABOUT? I want it to be me and Joe Rogan just talking about nothing. Like the Seinfeld of the podcast world (laughs).

CANNA GET HAPPY

2321 E PALMER-WASILLA HWY @CANNAGETHAPPYANCHORAGE OPEN 9AM-10PM DAILY

STORY by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

LEAF MAGAZINES IS HIRING! THE ENL IGHTENED VOICE

#70 | FEB. 2022

E XC L U S I V E I N T E R V I E W !

BERNER

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

#67 | NOV. 2021

How the rapper, mogul and iconic face of the Cookies brand is diving into new markets and elevating the Cannabis community.

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

CANNTHROPOLOGY

BOB MARLEY HERBAN LEGEND FEATURES

CANNABIS COUPLES SHARE THEIR STORIES TRIXIE GARCIA AND GARCIA HAND PICKED RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE STAR LAGANJA ESTRANJA CANNABIS FASHION TRENDS AND DESIGNS F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM

#60 | APR. 2021

THE CULTURE ISSUE INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

THE HARVEST iSSUE EXPLORING CANNABIS ACROSS THE LAST FRONTIER F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM

Glacier Grease grown by RockHardNugz in the Mat-Su.

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

THE GLASS ISSUE MOTHERSHIP GLASS

F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM

Come cultivate the future with our growing Cannabis media family! info@leafmagazines.com

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

Sales Reps Content Creators Project Coordinators

Looking to fill full-time, part-time, and contract sales, content and operations positions.

shop review

HOUSE OF GREEN ENVIRONMENT & VIBE With just over 700 square feet of retail space, HOG is one of Anchorage’s most petite dispensaries – but it also has one of the busiest parking lots in the city. As space is tight, HOG has made an extra effort to expedite service by getting to know the needs of its regular customers. But that doesn’t distract from the warm, inviting vibe.

PRODUCTS

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One of the perks of being vertically integrated is unparalleled access to fresh flower. HOG’s basement grow, Bad Ass Marijuana, provides the store with killer strains like Birthday cAKe and Sensi Star. However, the real star of the show is HOG’s Fat Boy pre-rolls. Weighing in at 1.5g, Fat Boys are the perfect size for sharing – but you might have some difficulty getting your hands on one because they sell out fast! Not a fan of flower? HOG also carries resins and sugars from Refine, Top Hat, Will’s World and Babylon Company. You can also find a wide array of edible and CBD products from all of Alaska’s heavy hitters.

BUDTENDERS HOG’s budtenders come with extensive industry knowledge, and they are stoked to share it with customers. The second you walk into the store, you’ll be greeted by an enthusiastic budtender who makes it their top priority to send you home with the right product. Unlike some dispensaries, HOG’s budtenders sample all products that come through the store so they can give you informed opinions. Star budtender Drazen Hill can even teach you how to take the perfect selfie. Talk about exemplary service!

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

SPECIAL PERKS Have you ever experienced the frustration of going to a dispensary expecting to find a product, and it’s not there? Brutal, right? Well, HOG has made it their mission to prevent this from happening. Their entire menu is updated on Weedmaps in real-time, so you’ll never make a trip in vain. HOG also has a robust rewards program and daily specials to make your visit even sweeter.

QUICK HIT Resurrected from its previous life as a trap house, 3105 Minnesota Drive has been reborn as House of Green. “HOG” (as it’s affectionately nicknamed by its regulars) is a dispensary in the Spenard area focused on providing premium products and job opportunities to the local community.

APR. 2022

House of Green's star budtender Drazen Hill.

WALKING INTO HOG FOR THE FIRST TIME FEELS LIKE BEING AN EXTRA ON THE SET OF CHEERS. ONE VISIT AND HOG’S STAFF WON’T FORGET YOUR NAME …

OR YOUR ORDER. HOUSE OF GREEN 3105 MINNESOTA DRIVE, ANCHORAGE, AK 8AM-MIDNIGHT DAILY HOUSEOFGREENAK.COM @AKHOUSEOFGREEN (907) 929-3105

Fresh Sensi Star flower from House of Green's basement grow, BAM.

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTOS by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

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Y

ou don’t have to go to a far-away galaxy to experience the impact of something akin to an intergalactic battle cruiser. Thanks to Scorpion Grass’ expert cultivators and their out-of-this-world offering, Deathstar Cherry Pie Rozay, you can orbit without leaving the couch.

With a name like that, we expected a complex flower that would live up to its posh moniker. We were not disappointed. The beautifully irregular-shaped buds we sampled were light in color and accented with enough shine from the trichomes that we didn’t doubt the nearly 27% THC content listed on the label. That, coupled with the contrast from the abundant orange pistils, made it very appealing to the eye.

The bud was well cured and easy to break apart into bowl-sized chunks without a lot of crumbling, while the color and consistency stayed true down to the modest stem. Breaking apart the buds sent our noses on an enjoyable ride through an aromatic bouquet featuring hints of rose, citrus and diesel. This flower is basically screaming “SMOKE ME!” With our mouths still watering from the smell, we took our first hit. The taste upon inhale had a pleasantly distinct floral overtone that continued through the exhale. The aftertaste left a mash-up of floral and tonguecoating diesel hints that made us want to wait to take another hit while we enjoyed the lingering flavors.

The initial hits produced an incredible euphoria that had us wanting to reinvent the wheel, chart unknown galaxies and ponder the impossible. The euphoria lasted anywhere from 20-30 minutes and settled into a continuous happy vibe for another hour or so, before rounding out the high with a feeling of intense relaxation that proved its indica heritage. It was the kind of relaxation that made us want to throw on a Steely Dan album and get lost in the music until sleep kicked in.

In short, Deathstar Cherry Pie Rozay is a universally enjoyable experience from start to finish … leaving you wanting, but not needing, to smoke another bowl when you flip the vinyl.

GROWN BY

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

SCORPION GRASS

"AN INCREDIBLE EUPHORIA THAT HAD US WANTING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL, CHART UNKNOWN GALAXIES AND PONDER THE IMPOSSIBLE."

DEATHSTAR CH APR. 2022

SCORPION GRASS SCORPIONGRASSAK.COM @SCORPION_GRASS 26.8% THC | 0.12% CBD 2.36% TERPS | INDICA

HERRY PIE ROZAY REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

“Why fly? When you can enjoy the most beautiful ride on earth”

ANCHORAGE TO HOMER June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Anchorage Arctic & International – 724 W. International - Garrett’s Tesoro Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 300pm Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 500pm All times are approx. Stage Line Summer Schedule HOMER TO ANCHORAGE June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Homer 830am 1242 Ocean Dr Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1015am Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1115am

VISITING ALASKA

Sights seen from the road

SEWARD TO HOMER June 1st – August 31st Mon Wed Fri

Locally owned and operated by a Departs Seward 100pm lifelong Alaskan, Stage Line offers call ahead for pick up point passenger transportation, freight, parcel, and courier service, between Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 200pm Anchorage and the Kenai Soldotna 300pm Peninsula. Our schedule includes, All times are approx Anchorage to Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kasilof, Ninilchik, HOMER TO SEWARD Anchor Point. Homer to Seward, June 1st - August 31st Soldotna, Cooper Landing. And any The Stage Line PO Box 353 Anchor Point, Mon Wed Fri points in between! MP flag stops AK available! Private party charters Departs Homer 1242 Ocean Dr 900am The Stage Line 1242 Ocean Dr Homer, Ak available! Reasonable rates, saves 724 W International Anchorage, Ak of Commerce time and money for travelling or your Soldotna Chamber Staging points only 1030am 907-868-3914 907-235-2252 shipping needs.

Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1130 E-mail: stage.line@yahoo.com One of the top 10 most scenic www.stagelineinhomer.com highways.

JEREMIAH THROCKMORTON

the glass issue

@ CO S M I CG L A S S I N C

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE to talk about Wasilla-based glassblower Jeremiah Throckmorton without mentioning cosmic connections. It is these guided-by-the-universe happenings that’ve been mystically influencing every step of his career.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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"I randomly came across a High Times magazine when I was working at an Anchorage liquor store in 1999. I remember seeing the glass and being really excited by it. That's really how I got started making pipes," said Throckmorton.

He jokes now that his parents always wanted him to be a lawyer or a doctor, but he decided he could best put his hands to work with glass. However, his ascent to becoming one of Alaska's most prolific pipe-makers wasn't easy.

"It took me and my now ex-wife 20 years to build Cosmic Glass LLC. I spent years working as a sloper to get enough money for the equipment. Once we got rolling, she managed the orders and I spent long hours in front of the torch banging out bulk orders. It really became a family business," said Throckmorton.

With business booming, Throckmorton lived in relative anonymity … precisely the way he liked it.

"I never put my face or name on the pipes,” said Throckmorton. “I've just never been the kind of person to like being out there. I think that also kept me focused, because I wasn't looking up to see what my competitors were doing. I was just focused on making the best work I could.”

Three months ago, Throckmorton decided it was time to step out from behind the torch and become the public face of Cosmic Glass LLC. Although he admits it's been a challenge, he is enjoying the notoriety he is beginning to receive from his weekly glassblowing live streams.

"I think it's kind of cool for customers to finally know who is behind the pipes they use. It adds some character and personality that wasn't there before," said Throckmorton.

His embrace of social media has helped him infiltrate the Lower 48, with over 100 headshops and dispensaries from Alaska to Maine currently carrying Cosmic Glass LLC. "When I stop to think about it, it's pretty cool. I've definitely come a long way," said Throckmorton with a smile.

APR. 2022

“ I R A N D O M LY C A M E AC R O S S A H I G H T I M E S M AG A Z I N E W H E N I WA S WO R K I N G AT A N A N C H O R AG E L I Q U O R S TO R E I N 1 9 9 9 . I R E M E M B E R S E E I N G T H E G L A S S A N D B E I N G R E A L LY E XC I T E D BY I T. T H AT ' S R E A L LY H OW I G OT S TA R T E D M A K I N G P I P E S .”

STORY & PHOTOS by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/ALASKA LEAF

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DARBY ANDREWS

the glass issue

@COSMICGLASSINC

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30

APR. 2022

IN THE EARLY ‘90S, Darby Andrews' life looked a lot different than it does now. The Cold War had just ended and the U.S. was bracing itself for the Gulf War. At the time, Andrews was stationed in Germany working as a heavy-wheel mechanic. Soon he found himself deployed in Saudi Arabia, and that's when his life changed forever.

"I developed a massive blood clot in my leg. At first, I thought it was just dehydration, but within a few weeks, the clot had moved up to my groin, and that's when I knew it was serious," said Andrews.

The threat of impending death if the clot were to move to his brain changed how he saw the world.

"Being in Desert Storm taught me how little people really need to live. It also taught me how little life can be worth. So, I figured I should probably start trying to live a life I loved," said Andrews.

Officially a disabled vet, Andrews returned home to Girdwood, intent on discovering his passion. He tried everything from working in a restaurant to leatherworking and bookbinding, but nothing captured his imagination quite like glass. So, armed with only his curiosity, Andrew apprenticed with master glassblower Jamie Meeks.

His first iterations of glassblowing were making beads and pendants for hemp bracelets that he would sell at the Girdwood Forest Fair. They sold well and cemented his love for the medium. But with Cannabis becoming an increasingly important part of Andrews' self-care routine, he found himself transitioning into making pipes and bongs.

"I used Cannabis to ease myself and other vets off of the massive amounts of oxycodone the VA was providing. It worked for a while, but you get to a point where you can't smoke enough to keep up with the amount of pain you're in. There's really only so much smoke a human can inhale," said Andrews.

Looking to find a solution, Andrews began creating homemade edibles, tinctures and creams. As word of Andrews' miracle products spread, he found himself transitioning again – this time, the focus would be on easing others' pain.

"I shifted what I was doing with glass, too. People wanted ways to memorialize and keep their loved ones with them after they passed. So, I started making cremation pendants. Sometimes it's hard working with “THOUGH ANDREWS' ashes because G L A S S B LOW I N G you can still FOCUS HAS CHANGED feel the perOV E R T H E Y E A R S , son's soul. But I ONE THING HAS focus on creatR E M A I N E D CO N S TA N T ing something – H I S LOV E O F lasting, someCARING FOR thing beautiful OT H E R S .” in honor of the deceased," said Andrews.

Though Andrews' glassblowing focus has changed over the years, one thing has remained constant – his love of caring for others.

"I focus on intention and energy transfer in everything I make," said Andrews. "That love and intention is what makes my work uniquely mine, and that's something I'm proud of."

STORY & PHOTOS by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/ALASKA LEAF

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TREVORDAVIS

the glass issue

S O U L L E S S G L A S S .CO M @ S O U L L E S S _ G L A S S

32

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WHEN SPEAKING to the owner of Soulless Glass, Trevor Davis, about the beginning of his adventures in the artform, he’s quick to share a story from 2016 when he decided to not show up for his shift as a security guard one evening. It was a change he has never regretted. But it was seeing all the cheap, factory-made glass being sold in the Cannabis industry that served as an inspiration for an entirely new path – one where he could produce unique works of art for the weed-smoking scene, rather than the mass-marketed, so-called “tools” overflowing online and at headshops.

“TRAVIS IS PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR HIS SIGNATURE PRODUCT, LOST SOUL PENDANTS, BUT HE ALSO PRODUCES FINE CUSTOM GLASS FOR THE CANNABIS CONNOISSEUR. ”

APR. 2022

In 2019, Trevor moved from his in-home workshop and into a facility in midtown Anchorage, where he could be free from distractions and pursue his talents in earnest. However, watching him work, you'll swear that he has been doing this his whole life.

Travis is probably best known for his signature product, Lost Soul Pendants, but he also produces fine custom glass for the Cannabis connoisseur. One of his signature trademarks are over-sized carbs (10mm or bigger) that allow for a more intense draw.

Trevor feels that every piece he creates should be unique in the same way that every person who purchases them is unique.

His finely-crafted pieces can be found on his website, but I would suggest following Travis on his nightly Facebook Livestream (along with his 77,000 followers from all over the globe), where you can work with him directly on designing a custom piece that will surely become the centerpiece of your collection.

“We shouldn’t be afraid to pursue our dreams,” says Travis. “Just go after them with all you have and it will pay off in the end.”

STORY by KELLY PINNELL | PHOTOS by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/ALASKA LEAF

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34

FIJI AND FRANCE may have their own artesian water brands, but is their water bottled from hand-harvested Alaskan glaciers? We think not. And that’s what makes Holocene’s sparkling water special.

Utilizing broken chunks of sea ice from Prince William Sound, every drop of water in a can of Holocene has been hand-collected by an Alaskan. If that wasn’t enough, a 12oz can also has 10mg of nanoCBD from organic hemp.Although water isn’t exactly known for having a distinct flavor profile, Holocene’s water does have a noticeably mineral taste. Perhaps enhanced by carbonation, the flavor is akin to

APR. 2022

drinking from a stream while hiking. Both refreshing and distinctive, Holocene has also stepped up its game by offering black cherry and raspberry lime varieties. The smell is more robust than the taste, so to make the most of your drinking experience, we’d recommend sneaking a whiff of the water before each sip to fully enjoy the flavor.

With 10mg of CBD per serving, Holocene isn’t a heavy hitter. But don’t knock it just yet … if you’re anything like us and suffer from wicked cottonmouth after toking, Holocene is a great way to quench your thirst while also enhancing your high.

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH

BABYLON C O M PA N Y

SOUR RAINBOW SUGAR

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36

"A flavorful punch wrapped in a pillow of comfort."

72.45% THC | 0.18% CBD INDICA DOMINANT HYBRID

APR. 2022

Between the March blizzards, rising gas prices and pandemic fatigue, it’s pretty obvious that life has become a bit harder lately.

Thankfully, such storms tend to be followed by a rainbow – and Babylon’s Sour Rainbow sugar just might be the one that breaks through the clouds.

Upon opening the container, we were met by a glistening gram of sugar the color of freshly crushed tangerines. Even though this sugar isn’t an edible, it sure looked good enough to eat.

The concentrate was soft and pliable with a pleasing aroma that left a sweet scent on our fingers. With little effort, the sugar easily separated for the perfect dab. As we heated our Nectar Collector, the product released a crisp barrage of sweet-scented citrus vapor that brought a hearty smile to our faces. The intake pull gave off a clean sour taste that became more refined upon the exhale.

We were left with an enjoyable flavor of grapefruit supported by complementary floral and fruity undertones working to balance it all out.

The effects worked their magic slowly, beginning with a relaxing head high that moved its way through our entire bodies within about 15 minutes after the first pull. The effects lasted for over an hour and had us floating lazily down a river of relaxation in introspective contemplation. While the mind wandered, our bodies relaxed into a quiet numbness that allowed any aches or pains we’d been feeling to dissipate. As we sunk into our high, the outside world faded away and we felt sublimely content.

Bottom line, this indica dominant hybrid packs a flavorful punch wrapped in a pillow of comfort – hitting you hard, but leaving you feeling like you have just been wrapped up in your favorite blanket.

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

TANNINS & TERPENES LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

38

C O S M I C S E AW E E D X D E N A L I S P I R I T S

SKYWALKER OG CART & LEMONDROP

We’re not sure how Luke Skywalker would have fared against a Kraken, but this combo of Cosmic Seaweed’s Skywalker OG cart and Denali Brewing’s Seattle Kraken Lemon Drop suggests that they would have become fast friends.

With a rich amber color that hinted at a divinely earthy flavor, we couldn’t wait to puff on the Skywalker OG. Our initial drag revealed a subtle taste that was somewhat hard to define. However, on the exhale, we detected a pleasant dash of spice and a sweet fuel that had us licking our lips. The effects of this offering crept up slowly as a foreshadowing of what was to come … but testing at 79.76% THC, we knew this indica was going to ease us into a relaxed, peaceful state.

Within minutes, Skywalker OG delivered. We felt our pain dissipate in each exhaled cloud of vapor and sank a little deeper into the couch with each hit.

Next, we cracked the tab on a fresh can of Denali Brewing’s Seattle Kraken Lemon Drop. The cool liquid hit our taste buds and immediately woke them up with an explosion of flavor that seemed to dance on our tongues. The vodka-infused drink tasted like a real cocktail, not just some jazzed-up juice in a can. The added bitters took what could have been an often-repeated lemon-vodka combo to new heights, and the layers of flavor kept us coming back for more.

So what happens when one pairs two finely crafted pleasures into one experience? Pure enjoyment! When layering the beverage on top of a pull from the cart, we found that the drink accentuated the somewhat subtle flavors of the vape, yielding a gratifying and earthy taste. But when layering the cart over the drink, we discovered that our dancing taste buds were even more in tune with the spicy hints experienced on both the inhale and exhale.

In the end, we found ourselves channel surfing and enjoying a pain-free and relaxing high while slowly sipping the tasty beverage in our hand. This is the perfect pairing for a weekend chill session, or even for a quiet Tuesday night without much on the schedule.

"The drink accentuated the somewhat subtle flavors of the vape, yielding a gratifying and earthy taste."

SKY WALKER OG 79.76% THC, 2.18% TERPS 0.5% CBD | INDICA

COSMICSEAWEED.COM DENALIBREWING.COM

APR. 2022

SEATTLE KRAKEN LEMON DROP 6% ALC/VOL

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

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PRESENTS

Historic Headshops Profiling the pioneering purveyors of paraphernalia.

BOBBY BLACK

cannthropology

42

WORLD OF Cannabis

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Before the advent of the internet, there was only one place to find all of the stoner essentials: a headshop. From blacklight posters to bongs (excuse me …“water pipes”), records to roach clips, vibrators to vaporizers – the classic headshops were not only emporiums for all things sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, they were also hubs where counterculture art, ideas, information and publications could be disseminated.

THE PSYCHEDELIC SHOP The very first headshop in America opened its doors to the public on January 3, 1966 – in precisely the location you’d likely expect: at the center of the drug-fueled hippie revolution in San Francisco. Called the Psychedelic Shop, it was founded by Army Vet Ron Thelin and his brother Jay, who used $500 of savings to lease a storefront at 1535 Haight Street, then plastered the walls with burlap, mandalas and hallucinogenic art, and stocked it with esoteric books, beaded jewelry, incense, pipes and other paraphernalia.

Almost immediately, the Psych Shop became a hub of the emerging hippie scene – selling tickets to concerts and other happenings, serving as a meeting place for the Diggers activist group and distributing underground literature. The Thelins even used some of the shop’s revenue to start their own counterculture newspaper, which later became the San Francisco Oracle.

Predictably though, their establishment drew unwanted attention from law enforcement; that November, the SFPD vice squad raided the shop and arrested one of their employees for selling a copy of “The Love Book” (a compilation of graphic sexual and religious poetry) to an undercover officer – charging him and Ron Thelin with distribution of obscenity.

Their subsequent court case became the longest-running criminal trial in San Francisco’s history and a nationwide cause célèbre for freedom of speech.

apr. 2022

Above: The archetypal headshop—Captain Ed’s Smoke Shoppe. Left: Jay and Ron Thelin in front of their Psychedelic Shop on Haight Street, 1966.

Despite this setback, the shop continued to thrive throughout the Summer of Love … but by the fall of 1967, the crowds and commercialization had become too much for the Thelins. Believing the hippie ideal had gotten lost in the circus sideshow of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, they decided to close the Psychedelic Shop. On October 4-6, Thelin and the Diggers organized a “Death of the Hippies” happening – giving away everything in the shop, placing the store’s sign in a casket and leading a symbolic funeral procession through The Haight. And just like that, after less than two years, America’s first headshop was history.

VILLAGE VANGUARDS While the Psychedelic Shop was the first ostensible headshop, it would be a similar store which opened four months later in New York City that would give the new industry its name.

In May 1966, an ex-architect from the Bronx named Jeff Glick and his wife Betsy opened an alternative smokeshop on East Ninth Street in the Lower East Side called simply the Head Shop. Though Glick never officially explained the reason behind the name, common wisdom assumed that the word “Head” referred to the colloquial term for a drug enthusiast, such as a “pothead” or “acid head.”

Though there are a few other urban Trippy promo for the legends about the Head Shop in NYC. origin of the name, Glick’s shop is, to my knowledge, the first official use of the term and therefore deserves the credit.

Psychedelic Shop’s first anniversary poster (1967).

BOBBY BLACK

CAPTAIN ED’S In 1967, stoner buddies Edwin Marsh Adair III and Bob Silverman rode from Venice Beach up to a little underground headshop on Van Nuys Boulevard to score a “Captain Ed” Adair & his pack of rolling papers (which, smoke shop in Van Nuys. in those days, weren’t as easy to find). While there, Silverman inquired about what it might cost to open a similar shop, to which the owner reportedly replied: “Why do you have to open one? This one’s for sale.” Well, the two friends did just that – they bought the shop and renamed it Heads & Highs.

Thanks to Silverman’s business acumen and Adair’s welcoming personality, the store became such a success that by 1969 they’d opened a second location in Reseda. In fact, Adair was so adored by his patrons that they gave him the nickname “Captain Ed” (a reference to the Walt Whitman

In 2017, Captain Ed’s Smoke Shoppe celebrated its 50th anniversary and is now the oldest continuously operating headshop in America. poem “O Captain! My Captain!”). One such customer was a veteran around Adair’s age named Jack who had only recently gotten high for the first time, so Adair took him under his wing – encouraging him to seek out as much information on Psychedelicatessen Cannabis as he could. storefront (above) Jack embraced his menand one of their ads tor’s imperative, gradfor pipes (left). ually compiling all the historical information he collected into a definitive Cannabis reference book. That book was “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” and that vet was Jack Herer.

Herer went on to become a headshop owner himself, opening High Country in Venice Beach in 1973. A decade later, he became the first proprietor in the Valley convicted under state law for selling drug paraphernalia. After a brief stint in jail, Herer moved up to Portland and opened another headshop called The Third Eye. Like Jack, Adair Jack & Ed: The faced his own legal worries Hemperor and with Heads & Highs. Under his Captain. the Reagan Administration’s hardline drug policies, the Feds targeted the shop over its name, which they insisted implied illicit drug use. Under legal pressure, they renamed the store Captain Ed’s Smoke Shoppe. Despite having to change its name, being busted and having its inventory seized multiple times, and the eventual death of its founders in the 1990s, this legendary shop has managed to survive. In 2017, Captain Ed’s celebrated its 50th anniversary and is now the oldest continuously operating headshop in America.

EAST-WEST Captain Ed’s might be the longest operating headshop on the West Coast, but back East that distinction falls to an eccentric little “rock ‘n’ roll superstore” in Union City, New Jersey called East-West Novelty.

After being turned on to weed by his Army sergeant in Vietnam, Cuban-American Veteran Alex Savino returned to New Jersey and began working at a headshop in the West Village called the Thieves Market. Tired of commuting,

he eventually decided to open his own shop closer to home.

“I opened it so that people like me didn’t have to travel into NYC,” he explains.

“There was no headTop: Alex Suvino behind the shop in New Jersey yet counter at East-West Novelty … the Village was rein 1974. Above: Suvino & son ally the only place that Luke circa 2015. had anything at all.”

With just $900 startup money, Savino opened the shop in 1971 and began selling posters, pranks, t-shirts, records and smokeware. He named it East-West, after his favorite album by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Initially, the shop was only pulling in less than $50 a day … but that changed drastically, Savino claims, once High Times hit the scene.

“When High Times came out in 1974-75, that was the explosion,” this colorful character recalls.

“To see that lifestyle and culture mass-distributed to America, it opened up the door to major things. We really flourished.”

Despite the paraphernalia crackdowns of the 1990s, East-West managed to endure by strictly enforcing the ban on words like “marijuana” and “bong” within the store and by bringing in new, non-drug-related products like skateboards —the suggestion of Alex’s son Luke, who has now expanded the family business. In 2019, Luke officially put the “West” in East-West when he moved out to Colorado to open a second location in Steamboat Springs.

“A headshop is more than just a store … it’s almost like a museum,” Luke observes. “There’s so much to look at, there’s always good music playing … people often come in and don’t even buy anything, but they always come back.”

Speaking for us old stoner outlaw types, I find it comforting to know that the magical, taboo places known as headshops still exist...and as long as they do, we’ll keep coming back.

STO RY b y B O B BY B LAC K @ CAN N T H RO PO LO G Y for LEA F NAT IO N

BOBBY BLACK

Glick’s initial $500 investment soon blossomed into a $3,000-per-week revenue stream, allowing him to open a second location in the West Village. Before long, more headshops began sprouting up all around – most notably on St. Marks Place, where smokeware artists and vendors began to line the street (and still do today), and on Avenue A, where another infamous institution also opened its doors in 1966: Psychedelicatessen.

Like the Psych Shop in San Francisco, Psychedelicatessen served as a hippie hub in NYC. Located just up the block from Tompkins Square Park, it became a hot spot for all things underground, controversial and cool – luring in counterculture icons like Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary and even getting written up in the February 24, 1967 issue of Time magazine. But alas, like its SF counterpart, it was gone in less than two years. It seems that owners Rick Southworth Swede and his wife Susan – who were also the leaders of a psychedelic drug cult (similar to the notorious Brotherhood of Eternal Love) called the Church of Mysterious Elation – were allegedly dealing drugs out of the shop. As a result, on June 22, 1968, Psychedelicatessen was raided by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and permanently closed.

stoney baloney LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

44

IT SURE SEEMS like everyone has a trigger or 50 these days. Not to say that people haven’t always been fragile, but now we have classified the proper terminology that pinpoints that moment where something clicks like a slipped disc in your mind and propels you down a rabbit hole of displeasure.

Obviously, the term generates from the trigger of a gun – activating an emotional response that equates to a heightened reaction. The catalyst kind of hits you like a bullet, too, creating an abrupt shock to your mood. You may not be entirely aware that your reaction to the incident stems from something traumatic in your past that is affecting your attitude in the moment, but either way, your current state is altered and provoking an immediate reaction.

In this modern age of psychology, we’ve become very efficient at analyzing nuances in the human temperament and identifying how drastic changes can exacerbate symptoms. Like a hundred years ago, people just called it rattling the nerves. But once you place a validated medical term on it, people can clutch onto the diagnosis like a life preserver … a safe zone. But the problem with that is we’ve become accustomed to having a technical explanation for everything we feel, raising expectations that because it is well-defined, there must be a simple way to resolve it.

And it’s usually with a pill. Or a drink.

Or a fit of rage.

And the misunderstanding from which most people suffer is thinking that acting out negatively is the most effective way to resolve the situation. But as we all have learned from experience, these confrontational reactions only exacerbate the problem. And therefore, I would like to share my philosophy on settling an issue before reacting in a way that could prove irreparable.

My lighter is a trigger.

And my bong is my gun.

apr. 2022

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