the concentrates issue
ABOUT THE COVER
Canadian artist Liam Wesley Goodman spent 89 hours working with Terpodactyl Media photo references across a 19-by-24inch illustration. This impressive spread was created with 18 colored pencils and an obsessive commitment to realism. Prismacolor wax-based pencils built the foundation; Faber-Castell Polychromos oilbased pencils pulled out every last detail. Goodman told Leaf Magazines his goal was to “capture each element with the same level of attention to detail as the artistry found within concentrate-making culture.”
To learn more about his process, check out our Studio Sessions feature by Matt Jackson on pages 46-47.
ILLUSTRATION BY LIAM WESLEY GOODMAN @LIAMWESLEYGOODMAN
CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER
wes@leafmagazines.com
MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com | advertising opportunities
TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com
DANIEL BERMAN CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER daniel@leafmagazines.com
BOBBY BLACK LEAF BOWL DIRECTOR & HISTORIAN bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com
MATT JACKSON CA CONTENT DIRECTOR + SOCIAL mattjackson@leafmagazines.com
MICHELLE NARANJO & CARA WIETSTOCK COPYDESK michelle@leafmagazines.com | cara@leafmagazines.com
WES ABNEY, FEATURES
AJ AGUILAR, FEATURES
BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN
TOM BOWERS, FEATURES
JACKIE BRYANT, FEATURES
GINJA CLUB, PHOTOS
JIMI DEVINE, REVIEWS
DAVID DOWNS, FEATURES + PHOTOS
LIAM WESLEY GOODMAN, ILLUSTRATION
ELLEN HOLLAND, FEATURES
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES
ROGER KISBY, PHOTOS
KANDID KUSH, PHOTOS
TERPODACTYL MEDIA, PRODUCTION
MITCHELL PETERSON, PHOTOS
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES + PHOTOS
DIANA THOMPSON, PHOTOS
KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES
BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES
We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of California Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. Email ricker@leafmagazines.com to start advertising!
WITH CALIFORNI A LEAF
Journalism
Thanks for picking up The Concentrate Issue of the Leaf!
The greatest country in the world turns 250 this month, so we celebrate with a juicy dab that sends fireworks of THC to dazzle the brain. America is the only truly free nation on this planet, and I’m thankful to live in incredible times of physical, mental and spiritual freedom that are unprecedented in human history.
We live in the safest period of human history, in the only system of governance where freedom of speech, religion and constitutional rights are sacrosanct and enshrined in law. These are noble and pure causes that our ancestors sacrificed for America fought a War of Independence and a Civil War for rights and freedom for all. But the only wars I saw as a young man were for oil and power. These conflicts did not inspire me to join the fight until I was dragged into the last remaining fight, one worthy of struggle, and perhaps the most unjust conflict of all: the war on drugs.
When I first started smoking, the smell alone could lead to a jail cell. Possession of a plant was a prison sentence. Today, we float into a Cannabis retailer and choose our favorite flavor of resin or rosin in a ready-to-go pen form, tasting the best earthy Lemon Kush or the bluest raspberry cotton candy the flavor scientists can concoct. This is proof of freedom, of evolution, of change. This is what makes America the greatest country on Earth.
AMERICA MUST ADHERE TO THE TRUE MEANING OF THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AND FINISH THE SHIFT FROM A WAR ON PERSONAL LIBERTY TO A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM.
Not because it’s perfect, but that we strive to be. Our Founding Fathers understood the mission, enshrined our Bill of Rights and established a document to create a constitutional republic. Through representative lawmakers, our country has the ability to adapt to changing times and the will of the people. There is no better modern example of this evolution than the freedom to hit a Dr. Dabber Switch² loaded with rosin from a legal Cannabis farm.
Despite this progress, the war on drugs isn’t over. Our country, world and species are imperfect. God gave us free will, and we exercise it, for good and bad. But in these times of uncertainty, there is hope! As the Bible says, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
America must adhere to the true meaning of the pursuit of happiness and finish the shift from a war on personal liberty to a celebration of freedom. Freedom to speak, pray, gather and consume the plants and medicines that were designed for our mental and spiritual evolution. The final fight is for self-control, the last right to be established in this grand experiment. That’s a fight worth fighting. And our country — which is trying to be better, to adapt and to lead the world into freedom — is worth celebrating. Happy 250th birthday, America!
HEADY DAYS OFTHE SESH
Reminiscing about the Cannabis concentrate scene in the late 2010s
Back in my early days of smoking weed, I used to go to the Oaksterdam University student lounge to attend the movie nights. I was never a student at the world’s first Cannabis college, but I was a Cannabis enthusiast, and I loved the idea of being able to go to a lounge space and smoke with other people. It was there in the lounge, somewhere around 2013, when I saw my first dab rig. A person at the lounge showed me how to use it, and I immediately loved how high I got smoking Cannabis concentrates as opposed to flowers. Before the lounge closed, I bought my first dab rig for myself, a tiny pink beaker, which I coupled with a titanium nail and a butane torch that I acquired through my work as an editor at Cannabis Now magazine. The 2010s were the heyday for Cannabis concentrates. New extraction methods made butane hash oil more plentiful, and the dabbing culture began to rise. I used to call BHO “pizza box slabs” because I’d often see it drying in pizza boxes. During this time, other methods of Cannabis extraction also became popular. These were the days when I began to see ice water hash heated, pressed in parchment and smoked off the cleanest quartz nails.
My friend Allie Butler — the force behind the Hepburns brand, which made hash-infused joints — used to haul a giant industrial
press along with her to demos at dispensaries and press out fresh rosin from flowers that she squished. I loved how the culture that came up around Cannabis concentrates also meant new words. We’d laugh about not “chazzing” the nail, otherwise known as making sure there was no residue left on ultra-clean quartz bangers. People would bring bottles of isopropyl alcohol and Q-tips along with them to gatherings that we’d just call “the sesh.”
SESH AND SETTING
At first, I was dabbing exclusively from titanium nails heated with a butane torch. Later, I moved up to a tabletop e-rig that my work colleagues and I would plug in and attempt to take sneaky dabs off of in the Cannabis Now office. That first e-rig I tried had a ceramic nail that you would attach to your own glass piece.
Back in the 2010s, dabbing culture in the San Francisco Bay Area got so popular that concentrate enthusiasts would meet up all the time to sesh together. The sesh culture led to some strange places to get high. We dabbed in a pet store that was closed for the night. We dabbed in a Jewish synagogue, where one of our smoking circle buddies was the son of the rabbi. We dabbed in a gym. We dabbed at a biker bar. One time, I drove more than an hour away to dab at a roadhouse in the middle of nowhere.
Almost every week, we dabbed at parties hosted by Stoney Steve (also known as Little Stevie on
“Weed Wars”). At these parties, you’d sample all the concentrates first before buying them for prices that were much cheaper than the ones you’d find at dispensaries. At the end of the night, Stoney Steve would buy stacks of Little Caesars pizza for all of us who were stoned out of our minds.
Dabbing was huge at the 2014 High Times Cannabis Cup in Denver. I sampled a lot of dabs at that event and also went to a few private smoking clubs. One was inside the Grassroots hat store. Another was way the hell out of town near the highway. I loved the adventure of finding new places to get high.
E-RIGS DOMINATE THE SCENE
As dabbing culture continued to evolve, the e-rigs that came as all-in-one devices, complete with glass elements, started to dominate the scene. This meant no more butane torches to heat the nail. And while this method of dabbing did eventually take over because of the convenience of these e-rigs, some people still swear by the taste and high of concentrates heated by a butane torch.
BACK TO THE BEGINNING
I lived through the days of THCA diamonds. I watched live resin and live rosin come into being. I have all the dab accessories I could ever need. These days, the butter drawer in my fridge is filled with concentrates, and I still smoke them occasionally, but my heady days of dabbing have passed. When California made Cannabis legal for adult use, it killed the sesh scene.
At first, the underground Cannabis markets still existed due to the high taxes in the legal scene, but somewhere along the line, and I can’t mark just where, my Cannabis community stopped gathering together like we used to. In the years after COVID-19, nothing is the same. I will smoke with other people on occasion, but it’s nowhere near the levels that I did when I was less in tune with the potential health risks of sharing a dab rig.
Inthe yearsafter COVID-19, nothingis thesame.
Throughout my time smoking concentrates, I always enjoyed the traditional form of hashish. My main mentor in the weed game, esteemed Cannabis cultivation author Ed Rosenthal, once gifted me a hash hammer, which remains one of my prized possessions. Smoking traditional hash doesn’t require fancy equipment.
You can just put it on top of a bowl of flower in a pipe or sprinkle it into a joint. It’s been fun to watch hash holes become a product in the legal Cannabis market, but people have been rolling up hash “snakes” into joints for a long time.
Hash is always going to have its place as the beginning of Cannabis concentrate culture, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see the scene around dabbing evolve even further. For me, though, I will never be as high as regularly as I was back in the late 2010s. The sesh scene was a time that I miss because it brought me together with so many different people. The only real thing we had in common was that we liked to get really, really high. And, fueled by the encouragement of my weedy community, I got the highest back then. Here’s to stoney nostalgia — maybe I’ll pick up the torch again tonight.
Ellen Holland is a San Francisco Bay Area-based freelance writer, the former editor of High Times and the author of multiple books, including "Weed: Smoke It, Eat It, Grow It, Love It" (2024).
ADOBE STOCK
We accidentally created an eRig that has no atomizer to replace every few months.
Our apologies to companies before us that rely on their customers continuing to spend money on their devices based o a failing part.
No Atomizer Ever
Completely Customizable Heat Modes
Quartz Insert Out of the Box
Drop Heated Loading Tool Included Built to Last
The All-In-One eRig. No atomizer. Completely customizable heat modes.
FIRE FOLLOWER EXPLORING COMPOUND GENETICS’ BLACK AMBER
THE WORLD’S CHASERS OF HOT ZAZA HAVE A NEW LINE FROM THE TOP BREEDER, COMPOUND GENETICS, TO SINK THEIR TEETH INTO THIS SUMMER: BLACK AMBER.
NAMED AFTER a dark, sweet Japanese plum, the set of eight crosses is debuting on the European event circuit as well as in domestic and international seed banks. Compound is enamored of this Full Moon Genetics-bred cross of GMO and OZ Kush Bx2 due to the size, the loudness, the look and the washability. So the breeder reversed their favorite phenotype of it, made pollen and bred it to their stable of Compound classics and current hits. Now, the seeds are out as feminized three-packs targeting the newly legal German market, and Compound is hunting through them for keepers that it will then license worldwide.
Black Amber itself takes the gassy, limey, candy, green bud of OZ Kush and straight-up bulks it out, adds more color and gives some funk from the notorious GMO Cookies. GMO is not technically a genetically modified organism, but it still has this divisive reputation for being rank, wrong and oh-so-funky. It’s for flavor chasers bored by more conventional fare. Oddly enough, the GMO terpene dives under the Black Amber crosses, lurking beneath the surface, adding volume and body without the stank.
“I thought GMO was going to punch everything in the face,” said Ruby Wagner, Compound Genetics’ head of marketing, when she dropped off a box of samples of all the crosses in flower form. “It didn’t. I don’t think there was anything (GMOlike). I was shocked. It just added a little back-end funk, body and weight.”
Full Moon Farms had originally dubbed the cross High Fructose Corn Syrup. Compound Genetics renamed it Black Amber and tied Egyptian art themes from artist Brian Steely, a heady, high-end concert-poster designer from Atlanta, into the packaging.
Orange Moon #2 smelled and tasted like a fruit punch Capri Sun.
You can see Compound ranging far and wide for strain names, because “everything is taken,” said Wagner. They’re often inspired by places, food or music. Black Amber on Gastro Pop #5 yielded the first sellout of the line: Gastro Funk. The cross to Compound’s hit Pink Certz is dubbed Nakamarra. The Apples and Bananas with Black Amber cross is called Shake Back and is sweet and fruity with a lot of potential keepers. The Pinana cross is dubbed Solazo. The Private Banana cross is called Tostones. Two standouts for me include Jahrassic and Orange Moon. Wagner shouted out the longtime San Francisco-based breeder and brand JAHnetics for the Jahmagic and Black Amber cross JAHrassic. I’m guessing the name
refers to how beastly these nugs are amid the era of runty strains. The winner of the bunch might be the Ice Cream Man #5 and Black Amber cross called Orange Moon, which name-checks singer, weed goddess and doula, Ms. Erykah Badu.
Orange Moon #2 smelled and tasted like a fruit punch Capri Sun with an orange Creamsicle finish.
“It’s wild,” Wagner said to the Leaf. “I don’t know why you’d be getting that off of Ice Cream Man and GMO.”
Meanwhile, Orange Moon #44 has a distinctive Jack terpene, aka terpinolene, which also comes out of nowhere, given the parentage.
Orange Moon #2 was also oddly racy and enervating like a sativa. Yet Orange Moon #44’s sativa smell hits much more hybrid and mellow than Orange Moon #2.
There are so many genes interacting here, you just kind of throw your hands up, set aside the bro logic and accept what your senses tell you.
With just five people, Compound Genetics casts a huge shadow as it chases “flavors by design” and “herb that checks all the boxes,” said Wagner. There should be some washers in here for hash heads, given the GMO, you’ll have to pop some packs and see.
The team has about 30 Black Amber phenotypes across eight strains that they have narrowed down to about nine keepers for potential licensing. They also held back Madvilliany, a Black Amber and Mad Rabbid cross that name checks MF Doom. Look for that strain to come out and sell out fast this summer.
Subscribe to their excellent email newsletter to stay abreast of their work, and drool over their gorgeous bud photos shot by California artist Ginja.Club.
Also, don’t miss Compound’s return of their hit Grape Gas cross, Mellowz, which came back in seed form June 12 at Mary Jane Berlin, along with its new crosses.
BLACK AMBER SEEDS PHOTO BY DAVID DOWNS
COMPOUND GENETICS
ORANGE MOON COURTESY PHOTO
With just five people, Compound Genetics casts a huge shadow as it chases “flavors by design” and “herb that checks all the boxes.”
CAFTERNOON DELIGHT
SHARING IS CARING WHEN IT COMES TO CANNABIS
annabis has always made more sense outdoors — it’s a plant. So it holds that the lifestyle around its consumption would flow that way, too: on patios, around fire pits, in backyards, where people settle into lawn chairs and accidentally stay until dark and sometimes fall asleep. It belongs to long conversations, warm evenings and the particular luxury of having nowhere
else to be.
THAT WAS what I kept thinking about at Rose Buds, a recent first-time gathering hosted by Bri of Blazin With Bri and Erica of Alternative Standard in San Diego. They plan to make it an ongoing series. On a hot Sunday afternoon, a few dozen women spent several hours arranging flowers, rolling herb-infused joints, sharing flower from Moon Made Farms and doing something the Cannabis industry talks about constantly but the Man doesn’t always make easy: simply spending time together over a toke.
The setup was thoughtful without feeling overproduced. Erica’s floral company, Florera Era, led a bouquet workshop. Geli Taase — better known online as @geli.fication and as the founder of Antisocial CannaMom Club — hosted an intentional bong-hit station. There was brunch, flower, conversation and plenty of opportunities to wander from one activity to the next without feeling like you were missing something important. The whole shebang was sponsored by dispensary owner, author and Cannabis activist J.M. Balbuena.
My favorite part was that nobody seemed particularly interested in optimizing their afternoon. I’ve been to enough Cannabis events to recognize the usual rhythm. Conferences, networking mixers, launch parties, educational panels, trade shows. There is always another event somewhere on the calendar. Most of them are useful. Many are genuinely enjoyable. But they often carry the low-level hum of productivity. People are making connections, building businesses, introducing products and chasing opportunities. Even when everyone is having a good time, there is usually an underlying purpose, and it can feel stale after a time.
What we don’t have are many places where people can casually gather around Cannabis without a transaction attached.
Public consumption remains heavily restricted. Lounges are still relatively rare. Even in legal states, Cannabis is often something people purchase publicly and, I think, mostly consume privately. Access, as we know, isn’t exactly all there most places you go, even in California, the socalled home of Cannabis culture.
As a result, genuinely social Cannabis experiences still feel uncommon, and the irony is that Cannabis itself pushes people in the opposite direction: A joint passed around a circle changes the pace of a conversation almost immediately.
Stories get longer, tangents become the point. People stop worrying so much about what comes next. The ritual encourages lingering, which may be one of the reasons the plant has remained socially relevant for so long.
Watching people move through Rose Buds, I kept noticing how quickly strangers became familiar. Conversations expanded and contracted throughout the afternoon.
People drifted between flower arranging, rolling joints, sitting in the shade and talking. Some attendees arrived with friends; others came alone.
Not everyone worked in the industry, and those who did had plenty of other things to talk about: parenthood, fashion, politics, our childhoods.
The Cannabis industry talks constantly about community. Sometimes I wonder if we mistake proximity to the industry for community itself; I don’t think they’re automatically the same thing.
Community isn’t a panel discussion or networking opportunity, though, sure, it can be part of it. It’s not just a carefully curated marketing activation. Most of the time, it’s much less impressive than that. It’s people spending enough time together for familiarity to emerge.
“Not everyone worked in the industry, and those who did had plenty of other things to talk about ...”
It was at Rose Buds that I realized: The Cannabis industry has plenty of events, but what it lacks are social spaces. That’s a strange reality for a culture built around sharing joints.
We have dispensaries, brands, increasingly sophisticated products, celebrity partnerships, investor decks, educational seminars and every imaginable consumption format.
Rose Buds wasn’t memorable because of the flowers or the bong station, though both were lovely. It was memorable because it felt ordinary.
A group of people sitting outside, smoking weed, arranging flowers, talking for hours and lingering longer than they intended should not feel unusual in 2026 — but it actually still does. And I suspect it’s that way for many tokers across the nation, especially in less-legal states. That says as much about the state of Cannabis culture as any conference ever could.
STORY by JACKIE BRYANT
Summer’s Companion for the road, trail and beach
Topical healing cream for sore bodies and irritated summer skin
A ‘Shall not be infringed’
In a landmark Supreme Court ruling, the nation's highest court decided that the use of Cannabis fails as a reason to disarm citizens, ending a de facto ban on the right to bear arms for millions of Americans. Since 1968, the federal government has had the authority to deny any user of illegal drugs their constitutional right to bear arms. This includes Cannabis, even in states where it was legalized, which has led to many otherwise lawful citizens facing federal firearms charges for otherwise legal behavior.
2022 SUPREME COURT DECISION set a historical precedent for the court to consider when reviewing gun laws, applying a test reviewing modern gun laws to the intention of the Constitution. Using this test, and comparing the use of Cannabis to that of habitual drinkers, the court found no historical argument for disarming and denying the rights of peaceful users of Cannabis.
The “unanimous 9-0 decision makes it clear that the government cannot make it (a) crime for people to own a gun, which the Supreme Court has held is a fundamental constitutional right, simply because they use marijuana,” Cecillia Wang, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said. Wang represented Ali Hemani, the Cannabis user indicted on federal gun charges for possessing a legally purchased gun and Cannabis.
The writers of the Constitution’s understanding of the nature of power came from Britain, where centuries of oppression, warrantless searches and unchecked authority by the Crown led to the first uttering of “don’t tread on me.” In knowing the true nature of tyranny, the tools to fight oppression were enshrined in the first two amendments of the document that binds the constitutional republic that is the USA.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The Second Amendment guarantees the First, by ensuring the people have the right to self-determination via the right to bear arms. This essential right is the only means for a population to protect against tyranny from within, threats from afar and to secure their own home and property.
Law-abiding citizens had to choose between using Cannabis and carrying a firearm or risk federal charges for possessing both, regardless of legality in the state.
The First Amendment of the Constitution, protecting freedom of speech and religion, secures the voice of the people against censure or overreach, with a free press guaranteed in America since the Revolution. It’s also the reason the Leaf was able to begin publishing the truth about Cannabis as medicine in 2010, when Cannabis was illegal federally and in every state in the country.
America is the only country in the world to guarantee these rights explicitly. It is no surprise that we are the only country truly free to speak, to protest and to publish our own opinions.
In the U.K. — where firearms are largely banned, social media posts can lead to arrests and air conditioning requires a hard-toget permit — more people die annually in Europe from heat than from guns in the United States.
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
These First and Second Amendment rights are at the heart of what it means to be American. There was no exception, no asterisk, no question of the intention of the words “shall not be infringed.”
For millions of Americans since 1968, this has not been the case.
Law-abiding citizens had to choose between using Cannabis and carrying a firearm or risk federal charges for possessing both, regardless of legality in the state. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, we return to the historical intention of the Constitution, that only those whose behavior is dangerous to others should be disarmed. With federal and state background checks in place, mandatory waiting periods and red flag laws, there is a significant safety net to prevent those who should not own firearms from purchasing them. With this unanimous ruling, Cannabis users are no longer on that list.
CHRISTOPHER ALLYN
Christopher Allyn
said his 2 1/2 years working at Jaderoom in Torrance have cemented his love for this industry and a passion for compassion. “It just feels like where I’m supposed to be,” Allyn told the Leaf.
ORIGINALLY FROM the Sacramento area, Allyn said his experiences using Cannabis for anxiety and pain relief gave him the original idea that the Cannabis industry might be a fit, but it wasn’t until he moved down to Los Angeles that he started out by driving for a delivery service.
On a visit to a dispensary to help his motherin-law pick out some Cannabis items to help with sleep, he said they had a less-than-helpful budtender who wasn’t interested in answering the questions they had. Allyn naturally picked up the slack, and afterward she told him, “You’re good at this, you should be doing this as a job.”
That moment, and a desire to get more knowledge than he could get from delivery, drove him to enter the budtending space, which he’s been in love with for three years now.
Helping people is a part of the job he enjoys the most, being able to answer questions and concerns to guide them to a product, whether that’s an alternative cannabinoid or the new strain they saw online.
Allyn is a flower smoker primarily, but said he also really enjoys vape cartridges:
“I got my start with 510 carts back in college because it was discreet, and that’s still a form of consumption I use daily.”
We asked him if there were any strains that held a special place on his shelf.
“I love the euphoric feeling of smoking Blue Dream,” he told the Leaf, citing the Coastal Sun phenotype as a great example of the strain. “If I had to choose something to smoke for the rest of my life, it’s probably Connected Biscotti.”
“IF I HAD TO CHOOSE SOMETHING TO SMOKE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, IT’S PROBABLY CONNECTED BISCOTTI.”
For anyone stepping into a job in retail Cannabis, Allyn said one thing people often overlook is knowing the basic rules and regulations for their city, county and state.
We asked what his dream Cannabis job is, and though he doesn’t have cultivation experience, Allyn would love to someday grow a community garden that provides Cannabis and fresh vegetables to people.
He feels that there are a lot of doors left to open on his journey to discover more about Cannabis. “It’s still a budding industry, and it has its hiccups,” Allyn said. “But if you’re ready to hold on, it’s an amazing ride.”
@CHRISRTALLYN
ATRIUM
If you like to sesh in the San Fernando Valley, chances are you’ve heard someone mention Atrium. Their Topanga location in Woodland Hills has become one of the most talked-about destinations in Cali Cannabis, thanks in large part to its legendary Baller Bag Saturdays. What started as a creative customer appreciation promotion has evolved into a full-blown daylong event that draws people who drive from hours away into Los Angeles. In this traffic? Groundbreaking.
ON THESE BALLER BAG SATURDAYS, Atrium brings a vibe that feels more like a Cannabis festival than a weekend shopping trip. The core concept is simple: spend a qualifying amount to unlock a swag bag filled with goodies. But the bag itself is only part of the attraction. The shop is packed with brand reps, live activations, free swag and up to 60% off on top products. No wonder connoisseurs come out from all corners of Southern California.
The hype is so real that Atrium even features a live countdown clock on its website leading up to each Baller Bag Saturday. But don’t worry if your schedule doesn’t line up with the big event. The shop features rotating daily deals you can always catch and one of the most thoughtfully organized online menus we’ve come across.
The concentrates section, in particular, is a dream for hash heads, with products sorted by trending strains, top sellers, premium picks and budget-friendly favorites. You can count on Atrium to have a consistent supply of
fresh releases from respected brands like 710 Labs, Have Hash and Alien Labs, as well as bangers that won’t break the bank. Of course, great products only tell part of a dispensary’s story.
Much of Atrium’s success can be credited to regional sales director Ty Mehra and the team behind the counter, who have helped shape it into a true community hub. While the Baller Bag may get people through the door, it’s the atmosphere that keeps them coming back.
THE CONCENTRATES SECTION, IN PARTICULAR, IS A DREAM FOR HASH HEADS.
The shop has cultivated a culture that truly feels both elevated and approachable, stocked with high-end products but staffed with down-toearth people. In a city overflowing with dispensaries, Atrium has found a way to stand out by creating something people genuinely look forward to. See you at the next Baller Saturday.
ATRIUM TOPANGA
GARLIC Cocktail
CULTIVATED BY VESUVIO GARDENS
When it comes to amazing strains from over the last decade that have stayed a bit under the radar, Garlic Cocktail has to make the list.
“It has become a cult hit among growers on the hunt for the best hash strains possible that also hold up great as flower.”
probably my favorite to grow.”
The flavor of the hash and flower is an excellent pairing of Garlic Cocktail’s lineage. The heavy GMO terps are accented by the Mimosa on top, leading to a truly unique flavor. While it leans indica, it didn’t put me down. It’s more of a relaxing high than anything.
“In a greenhouse, it looks like mixed light, honestly, it looks like indoor. In full sun, it looks like mixed light,” Jacovini said.
“It dumps in raw hash, it does well in my cold extract. It did well in static.”
That strong hash yield does not mean producers are sacrificing quality to get their numbers up. Garlic Cocktail has found itself on hash podiums like those of The Emerald Cup over the years.
To this day, hash producers pay a premium for the limited amount of material available for processing.
The bud structure of the plant itself plays into that premium. The GMO-heavy structure makes for limited leaves. Trimmers can blast through pounds of it in a day, but this also leads to a scarce amount of trim.
Jacovini claimed there is basically no waste from it, and if he had to choose one strain to grow forever, it’s a toss-up between Garlic Cocktail and Dirty Taxi.
When it comes to concentrates, there are so many factors for consumers to consider. Brands, strains, physical consistencies, extraction methodologies and terpene compositions. The list is practically exhaustive. Knowledge is power, but the amount of information one needs to make an informed decision in the modern-day Cannabis industry can be overwhelming.
SIEVING UP THE TRUTH
FOR HASH, and hash rosin specifically, there’s a metric that seems to be getting more attention and creating more confusion among prospective dabbers. In 2026, it’s fairly uncommon to pick up a jar and not see some variation of numbers and words like “90u”, “70u-119u” or “full spectrum” printed on the label. This number, or range of numbers, indicates the size of trichome heads, or resin granules, in micrometers that were extracted to create the product contained within.
WASH, SIFT, SEPARATE
Before we both literally and figuratively get into the weeds here, it may be helpful to review the process by which most modern-day hashish is made. Hashish can be broken down into two categories: dry sift and ice water hash.
Ice water hash, also known as bubble hash, is made by agitating flower in a container of ice-cold water to separate the resin-containing trichomes from the rest of the plant material. Instead of sieving the product with metal screens, as in dry-sift hashish processing, layered microfine mesh bags with variously sized holes are used to collect the resin into distinct strata.
A MATTER OF MICRONS
Regardless of which extraction process is utilized, these microns dictate the gauge, or diameter, of resin particles that are collected during the wash process.
While dimensions and settings can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, sizes typically range from the smallest hole, 25 microns (μm), to 40 or 45μm, 70 or 73μm, 90μm, 120μm, 160μm, 190μm and upward of 220 or 224μm (the largest hole).
This raises the question: What is the ideal micron size or range for the best consumer experience? And through what metrics are we measuring quality itself?
THE SWEET SPOT
“Usually 70u to 159u is the common thing, and the prime stuff is from 90u to 159u,” Camden, of Pua Extractions and processor for Nelson and Company,
The Great Micron Debate
explained. “But for some strains, it can be anywhere between 70u and 224u. Some plants hold onto their plant material so well that the 160u comes out really clean and flavorful.”
“We sell 70u to 159u on the market,” Jonah Miller of Whale Oil Extracts said. “I will sometimes enter (a portion of) the 90u in competitions because it’s usually a bit lighter, sometimes a little bit wetter. … But for me personally, I like 120u.”
Yet, some marketing in both recreational and traditional spaces seems to assert (through pricing, if nothing else) that resin collected via the 90μm bag represents the “best” or highest quality possible, with products made from material found in other ranges representing a less ideal, or less “premium” version.
“I fear equating micron ranges or a specific isolated micron to quality may be doing the customer a disservice,” said Stefan Howansky, Oregon Leaf’s Budtender of the Month at AmeriCanna RX. “The 45 to 73 of one plant can be vastly different than another. … I’ve seen grams in the 90u to 149u range that look green.”
NUMBERED NUANCES
It may seem like these numbers serve as an easy reference point for shoppers to judge products, but in reality, micron size might not be a foolproof way to discern hash quality.
“For full melt, certain strains do produce the best melt at 90 microns, but you can also land on any micron, whether it’s the 40, 25, the 70, the 90, 120 or 160u,” Anthony O’Bannon of Roots Rosin and hash maker for Brave Hearts and Lower Left Organics said. “I’ve done side-by-side comparisons of the same strain 73u to 159u and 90u in rosin. The 90u is good, don’t get me wrong, but you’re losing out on some of the profile from the whole fresh frozen plant.”
While it seems that 90μm can be a sweet spot for many cultivars, it isn’t always the case. Some selections, like Chem D, Death Coast and GMO, produce bigger heads on average.
SIZE BY DESIGN
Cannabis breeder Shwale of Farmhouse Studio has spent years researching trichome adaptations and intentionally crossing strains to produce genetics with colossal, multigland trichomes.
“The multi-gland trichomes correlate with larger glands and a kind of adaptation to make them even bigger,” Shwale explained. “There's something going on with the genetics that the plant is going, ‘Hey, I should wall off and separate it to where, if (the resin gland) bursts, it’s not as big of a deal.’ … Whenever you measure the multigland trichome itself, it will usually be about 220u or something altogether.”
Larger glands mean more resin, which, in turn, correlates to higher yields during wash. Despite the bulky trichomes intrinsic to Shwale’s genetics, the quality of the resin being processed can still be considered “premium” outside of the isolated 90u.
EVERYTHING ELSE ENTIRELY
Even when the resin distribution is ideal in any individual cultivar being processed, there are still so many variables between growing and hash making that can impact the quality of the end result: the grow medium, use of nutrients, cleanliness of the grow environment or lab, day harvested in the growth cycle, how the flower was handled, fresh-frozen timing, number or length of washes, heck, even the shape of the paddle or machine used during processing!
These factors significantly impact the product's flavor clarity, medicinal value and overall cleanliness. Of all those important factors, not one is consistently or reliably reflected in the information on the average jar.
So, here’s the scoop — there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to the microns used in hash production. While some cultivars will have a resin distribution that leads to the highest-quality output falling mostly in the 90μm isolated range, other strains might wash at a higher yield and produce a better end product in other
Whatis the ideal micron size orrangeforthe best consumer experience?
ranges. Additionally, separating microns may protect cleanliness or melt quality in some cases, but it could also be removing some nuance from the expression, including important flavor or medicinal features that dabbers are actively looking for.
EXPLORE, EXPERIMENT, EVOLVE
We know that, in most cases, producers aren’t trying to deceive shoppers. They’re just trying to keep up with a constantly evolving industry. But on a systematic level, it’s still crucial for consumers to explore, experiment and learn about their own preferences when it comes to Cannabis.
It’s similarly paramount for brands to present information in a way that is clear to prospective customers. At the end of the day, we want to make sure we don’t fall into the complacency of propping up any one variable as an end-all, be-all way to quantify quality because that strategy hasn’t gone particularly well in the past (we’re looking at you, THC percentages).
Hype has its place in marketing, but if we want Cannabis to remain an accessible alternative to pharmaceuticals, it’s essential to empower consumers to be more knowledgeable in the way that they access the plant medicine, especially when it comes to concentrates. After all, with great hash comes great responsibility.
REVIEWS
PAX Golden Goat Live Rosin with Diamonds Pod
Veteran vape brand PAX has been working on itself. Down in their literal lab at the San Francisco headquarters, they have a CT scanner, a FLIR camera, a gas chromatograph and more Batman tech to ensure two questions: Does it hit, and is it pure? Yes and yes. No clogs. No leaks. No contaminants. This Golden Goat pod hits 92.83% total cannabinoids. The gold oil is clear like morning sunlight, and it smells and tastes mild, authentic and like a natural vintage sativa. The terps modulate the beaming-high THC — great for yoga, dinner or date night. The classy, gold battery base is reusable, and each pod purchase removes double its weight in plastic from the environment through a plastic negative program. How positive! pax.com | @pax_official
Tempo Baja Blaze AIO
So cute! This Tempo Baja Blaze is perfect for a girls’ night out, as the all-in-one fits into a tiny clutch and totally rips fat clouds of “natural” fruit terps that’ll cut through the vodka Red Bull on your breath. Kapow! The fruity, berry, lime-distillate terps and 87% THC lift you like an angry bouncer — a small but mighty one. The palm-sized device runs on USB-C with a preheat function and multiple temperature settings for the weed nerd in the group. Tempo is the specialized flavored vape side of Punch Edibles and Punch Extracts, with enough flavors to make a Slurpee machine nervous. findyourtempo.co | punchedibles.com punchextracts.com | @find.your.tempo | @punchextracts
710 Labs Sour Tangie Persy Badder
It’s hard to think of a name more synonymous with hash than 710 Labs. For this issue, we’re honoring one of the company’s longest-standing cuts. If you enjoy a clearheaded wake and bake, then Sour Tangie is your breakfast of champions. With plenty of sour and citrus in the mix, this cut has been with the brand since the company launched in Colorado back in 2009. East Coast Sour Diesel crossed with Tangie, this is their Persy-level badder, representing the top-tier, non-limited harvests from 710 Labs, delivered in a black executive box. Energizing without being racy, this is brain food. 710labs.com | @710labs
New to the scene, Hasher is a small-batch rosin brand rooted in a lifestyle of handblown glass, fine art, and Southern California’s skate culture. This Garlic Breath cold-cured rosin, made with living-soil indoor flower, reeks of a funky, peppery smell, even when it’s straight out of the fridge. Steve Hasher told the Leaf this is a cross of GMO and Mendo Breath that he got from breeder and hashmaker So Cal Dank, who reported that this cut leans more on the GMO side. Most dabbers turn to GMO for its fast-acting, hard-hitting effect, and this does not disappoint. hashheadoutfitters.com | @hasher_life
Heavy Hitters x CAM Jack Herer Cured Resin AIO
Heavy Hitters has a name to live up to, so this vape blows thick clouds right out of the box. Inside the regal gold and black box sits a collaboration with Sacramento’s indoor boss CAM: 1 gram of cured resin, not live resin. “Perfection through patience” is the mantra behind the Jack Herer flower, which is slowly cured after harvest. The single-strain, medium-gold oil hits 86.1% total cannabinoids with 7.12% terpenes, and there’s nary a molecule of fake, ahem, “natural” terps. It smells like it hits — sweet, fresh and natural — with no strong terpinolene “Jack” terp, funnily enough. So, even a Jack hater can rip this thing. heavyhitters.co camdispensary.com | @heavy @camstr007
Have Hash Lemon OGZ 70-149μm Rosin
Humboldt County’s Have Hash is a resounding force in Northern California’s concentrate scene, as is Mendoja Farms, where the material for this release was grown. Lemon OGZ is a cross of Archive Seed Bank’s Lemon Cane and Mendoja Farms’ Z28 (OGZ #28), which is a pheno Mendoja’s Justin Wilson found from seed, Wilson told the Leaf. The gassy, Z-laden wave hits you right in the nose before a rush of lemon terps keeps you from passing out. We all know color isn’t everything for rosin, but it’s impossible not to be impressed with how bone white and loud this rosin came out. havehash.com | @havehashh
Hasher Garlic Breath Cold Cure
REVIEWS
Humboldt Terp Council Amerelo Live Resin
While the hydrocarbon vs. rosin debate has exploded back to mid-2010s levels in recent months, Humboldt Terp Council has never wavered on the topic. Their rendition of Amarelo is a perfect example of the championshipquality extracts they’ve been pushing out of Humboldt County over the last decade. The Symbiotic Genetics-bred strain features the breeder’s Banana Punch #9 selection paired with Str8 Organics’ famed Lemonade. The best versions of the hash smell like a smoothie with a light hint of fuel on top and deliver a very cerebral experience. The material was grown by Rustic Farms in Trinity County. humboldtterpcouncil.com | @humboldtterpcouncil707
The Bryantist Whitethorn Rose 73-149u Rosin
One of the top dabs in the state this July has hit the recreational market. Widely lauded hash maker The Bryantist released 250 grams of Whitethorn Rose, among the most award-winning strains in California’s contest circuit. Bred by Huckleberry Hill Farms and grown by Mattole Valley Farms, this fullsun, fresh-frozen flower fully expresses the hit varietal. The Bryantist said this “alien plant” turns the hash water fuchsia, pink and purple. The live rosin is peachy, rosy and amber with a fruity, floral funk. The versatile effects take you up or down as needed. The Bryantist prefers to dab it off high-quality quartz, but the medium-dry resin makes a great hash hole worm, too.
@the_purplealien9
Punch Extracts x True Classic
LA Dulce de Papaya Rosin and True OG Flower Rocket Hash Hole
When Punch Extracts originally released the Rocket in late 2023, it was an immediate player in the rapidly expanding hash hole segment of the marketplace. The level of trust Punch has already built with its hash was a major factor in the success of the rollout. Their interpretation of the hash hole features 1.3 grams of top-shelf indoor flower with 0.3 grams of their spectacular hash encased in the middle. The collaboration line with True Classic LA that we tested was dominated by the excellence of True OG flower paired with Punch’s Dulce de Papaya rosin. punchextracts.com trueclassicog.com @punch_extracts @trueclassics.og
Heritage Hash Co.
Grape Congolese Temple Ball
Over in Ukiah, Cherry Blossom Belle is producing temple balls for Heritage Hash Co. using traditional methods she learned from Frenchy Cannoli. Despite being aged for a whole year, these compacted balls of fragrant cured resin are marshmallow soft and smell like grape bubble gum. Made with material grown by Heritage Herb Co., this cross of Red Congolese and Grape Soda puts you in a happy, energetic mood. It’s great in a hash pipe, on top of a bong rip or rolled into a joint. Beyond being hard to find Congolese on the market these days, this rare treat is a chance to experience the tradition of hashish by enjoying something that took over a year to produce. heritage-mendocino.com @heritage
Punch Extracts x Chameleon Craft
New York Sour Diesel Live Rosin Badder 73-149μ
An authentic Sour Chem Diesel bite awaits enjoyers of this bone-white live rosin badder made by Punch Extracts. Again, they’ve teamed up with the heavily decorated grower Chameleon Craft. Fabulous in a dab rig or a Puffco, this badder also worms up wonderfully for a hash hole. Authentic old-school Sour often lacks the flavor translation of modern palate-staining strains. Punch remedies that by concentrating the goodness — punching it up, if you will. The strong sativa-hybrid effects help charge up gaming, biking, hiking, chores and parties. It’s perfect for a hot summer night. This is perhaps the most superb Sour D live rosin I’ve ever seen and smelled from a strain that is not known for washing or squishing well. punchextracts.com | punchedibles.com | chameleoncraftcannabis.com | @punchextracts
Original Dunkz Airheads x Papaya Bomb Live Rosin Infused Hand Roll
Get ready to get the whole clique lit. Rolled by hand in a cool room in Oakland, each Dunkz features 1.5 grams of flower from 710 Labs — custom paired by the batch with a half-gram of live rosin — as well as a glass tip and a cigar band. That’s 678 milligrams of THC to the face, so bring several friends. Our Dunkz had a dry hit exactly like a roll of Sweetarts. It lit and pulled easily, and it burned evenly with devastating indica-hybrid effects. Led by equity operator Armande Milhouse, Original Dunkz is on a tear, with a Canada expansion going hard during the World Cup. originaldunkz.com @originaldunkz
REVIEWS
The ability to combine rosins into one complex flavor and aroma is a talent reminiscent of craft whisky in Japan. According to Brayan at Umma Sonoma, Paya Mosa blends Jam Pack, Papaya, Limesicles, Papayamosa and Hard Candy crossed to Zkittlez. A little whip reveals a layered fruit aroma. The flavor starts very citrusy, like sweet satsuma with lime and papaya. On your second and third exhales, a wave of nostril-burning Zkittlez rises and electrifies your face. That Hard Candy within the mix seems to help provide a strong and swift onset that locks you in place. ummasonoma.com | @ummasonoma | @_karisma._
Raw Garden is a name that’s been repping incredible live resin for around a decade. Their farm in Santa Ynez produces material for their concentrates that is both Clean Green and Environmental & Consumer Compliance Organization certified. Anyone can go to their website, look up each batch and find the test results, plus the lineages for the 789 strains they’ve worked with. God’s Breath, according to the website, is Peanut Butter Breath and Strawberry Pinecone. It’s super smooth with a fruity back end and a bright citrus front. Expect a swift onset and even flavor notes at low and high temperatures. rawgarden.farm @rawgarden
The Pairist Rosin Infused Prerolls
This is an award-winning preroll that doesn’t just pair Cannabis strains; it partners with them. Working with farms like Esensia Gardens, Huckleberry Hill Farms, Moon Made Farms and Whitethorn Valley Farm, The Pairist offers rosin-infused preroll packs with five half-gram joints in each jar. Blueberry Jam, Cara Cara and Orange Creamsicle are just a few of the exclusive flavors they put into these singlesource quick hitters. thepairist.com @the_pairist
Umma Sonoma x Karisma Paya Mosa Rosin
Raw Garden God’s Breath Live Resin
scaled his mixed-light greenhouse and indoor operation to cover multiple product categories in multiple states around the country. The Preferred all-in-one vape line combines quality equipment with premium oil to offer a high-grade, convenient experience. The Verzace Juicebox offers a slight fruity sweetness and a smooth draw, and the sleek, unmistakable, fire-engine red hardware makes for a reliable, consistent experience. preferredgardens.com | @mr_preferred
Wavvy Supply Co. Lil’ Wavvys G41 Cannabis-Infused Doinks
Just short enough to smoke during a pre-encore set break, the Lil’ Wavvys dog-walker-sized joints infused with live hash and rosin oil make for an efficient, expedient trip to the next plane of existence. The G41 delivers on the confectionery characteristics of the Gelato lineage. It had us lifted from the second pull. Featuring five doinks per jar, this is a great choice for a concert or to share at an afternoon cookout. wavvysupply.com @wavvysupplyco
Wavvy Supply Co. Zoap Live Resin Sugar
They say never judge a book by its cover, but Wavvy Supply Co. is a worthy exception to the rule. Fronted by Wavves’ indie-power-punk front man Nathan Williams, this brand collaborates with artists such as Killer Acid to present “terplicious” flavors that bend the palate. The Zoap Live Resin Sugar is a loud, overdriven take on the modern classic strain bred by Deep East Oakland. It makes for a clean, heady dab, with a slightly astringent, gassy foundation overlaid with candied top notes. wavvysupply.com | @wavvysupplyco
Rosin Tech Labs and No Till Kings Elmer’s Glue Rosin and Hash Burger Flower Hash Hole
Rosin Tech Labs decided to put its Emerald Cup-winning quality of rosin into hash holes. It went on to immediately also take top honors at Northern California’s biggest Cannabis competition. Deciding to collaborate with the live-soil gardens of No Till Kings proved it was possible to further take it up a notch. The hash hole featuring 1.3 grams of Hash Burger flower and 0.3 grams of Elmer’s Glue rosin is a testament to still being able to find some funk in a market full of candy and dessert weed. The Hash Burger’s high resin content just adds another layer of hashiness to the flavor. rosintechlabs.com notillkings.com | @rosintechlabs @no.till.kings
Buddies x Ember Valley Wingsuit Cured Resin Cartridge
When a brand grows to be as widespread and well known as Buddies, it becomes hard to manage quality and consistency, especially across multiple markets. But this group continues to put out top-tier offerings across multiple categories, with carefully chosen strains and collaborations. The recently dropped Wingsuit cartridge makes for a prime example. Produced in concert with cultivators Ember Valley, using indoor-grown genetics developed by Compound Genetics, this cross between Red Bullz and Gastro Pop #5 shines with bright amber tones and sips smooth with a slightly sweet exhale. Plugged into a Buddies battery, this cart really rips. buddiesbrand.com @buddiesbrand_official
The Resin Connection
If you’re a hash head, there’s a good chance you’ve already had a session soundtracked by the unmistakable voice of “The Hashish Inn.”
For the past eight years, founder and host Shoragim Amir has been behind the mic, sitting down with some of the most respected hash makers, cultivators and breeders in the game.
WHAT STARTED as a podcast has grown into a global resin-fueled journey. Amir has traveled as far as the Patagonia region in Chile and northern Thailand to record episodes and also visited places like Italy, Hawaii and beyond as a judge at competitions. Along the way, he’s helped build community by co-hosting immersive, multiday experiences like The Smoking Jacket and The Coffee & Donuts To Go Tour. These events bring resin lovers together for curated tastings, educational panels and local pairings rooted in their host regions.
At the center of it all is a consistent focus on quality resin — and a very personal relationship to the plant that has only deepened over time. After being diagnosed with lymphoma years ago while also managing ankylosing spondylitis, Amir has been vocal about the role hash specifically has played in helping him through some of his most difficult health challenges.
As he puts it, the potency and immediate delivery are the closest to “instant relief” he’s found.
“The use of hash and resin when it comes to dealing with the effects of chemotherapy and a debilitating spinal condition has been incredibly beneficial for me,” Amir explained. “With the chemotherapy, it provided pretty instantaneous relief of nausea. With the ankylosing, it sometimes is the only thing that relaxes my body from terrible spasms.”
He points in particular to strains like Mojito Especial by Yeti Melts and Starburst OG by Portal Provisions as having real medicinal value.
After five years of remission, Amir is now facing a second battle with lymphoma and continues to turn to resin as a source of relief and stability. This time, many of the same voices he helped platform through his podcast and events are coming together in support.
The Fuck Cancer Seed Benefit was organized by Andrew of Terp Fountain Genetics, a former “Hashish Inn” guest known for creating genetics like Piegasm and Berry Fizz.
Breeders have opened up their personal vaults, contributing some highly sought-after genetics for auction. Amir is especially excited for people to hunt through the Candy Fumez Z BX3 by Harry Palms and a cross of Zcube and BPPZ by Hidden Forest Farms to potentially find some gems for their own gardens. Beyond just beans, acclaimed artists — including Professor Sift, Lot Comedy and Leaf Magazines’ own Action Matt Jackson — have thrown down on some artwork for the auction. All proceeds go directly to supporting Amir and his family through this time of recovery.
The response, he said, has been unexpectedly grounding and provided some much-needed peace of mind during one of the hardest parts of his life.
“I'm honestly a bit of a loner, so I've never really seen myself as part of a community, more just like sharing a common interest with so many people who are passionate about highgrade resin.
“The use of hash and resin when it comes to dealing with the effects of chemotherapy and a debilitating spinal condition has been incredibly beneficial for me,” Amir explained. “With the chemotherapy, it provided pretty instantaneous relief of nausea. With the ankylosing, it sometimes is the only thing that relaxes my body from terrible spasms.”
But the Fuck Cancer Seed Benefit really made me feel like a part of a community, something that I didn't expect to feel,” Amir reflected. “In all honesty, at first I resisted the idea when Andrew proposed the auctions to me, but it made me feel a lot more comfortable to hear him tell me, ‘In the end, they are just seeds.’ That line caught my attention because it all came back to Cannabis, which is the whole reason this project ever even started for me.”
If you want to tune in next time you smoke some head stash or show your support, you can listen to “The Hashish Inn” wherever you get your podcasts and check out @thefuckcancerseedbenefit.
@SHO.RAGIM @THEHASHISHINN | @THISMOKINGJACKET @COFFEE.DONUTS.ADAM | @THEFUCKCANCERSEEDBENEFIT
Shoragim Amir onstage at The Smoking Jacket tour.
Page Burner
This month’s reading sesh setup: a fresh jar of hash, a summer afternoon rainstorm and a couch you’re not planning to leave anytime soon. Load a glob on that dab tool and dive into the Leaf's lineup of page-turning thrillers.
middle of the night by Riley Sager @riley.sager
Two boys fall asleep camping in the backyard of their idyllic suburban neighborhood, but only one wakes up in the tent. This story spans a 30-year search for a missing best friend with an ending you truly won’t see coming.
my husband's wife by Alice Feeney @alicewriterland
A woman goes out for a run. But when she returns home, her key doesn’t quite fit the front door, and her husband doesn’t recognize her. Nothing is as it seems at Spyglass, a mysterious mansion built into the cliffside of Hope Falls.
listen for the lie by Amy Tintera @amytintera
Lucy hasn’t seen the small Texas town she grew up in after being the prime suspect in her best friend’s murder — an unsolved crime she’s never remembered committing. Years later, she’s forced to return and confront her past when a hot new podcast reopens the case.
the lake escape by Jamie Day @jamiedaybooks
Three best friends, two missing women and one annual Vermont lake trip that quickly turns dark when a new girlfriend disappears after an argument at the same shoreline.
the compound by Aisling Rawle
Twenty beautiful contestants wake up in a remote desert compound, competing on a live-streamed reality show for communal necessities and luxury rewards. While alliances soon form, only one can win the ultimate fame and fortune.
“I'm also constantly inspired by the women, queer artists and other minority artists in our community. Working in a male-dominated industry isn't always easy, and seeing us carve out space and succeed is hot, and I love seeing it.”
In 2007, Danielle
Wieboldt started her glass journey when she was 20. In her words:
“The glass industry helped raise me.”
LOOKING BACK, I feel lucky to have entered the industry when it was still fairly underground,” Wieboldt said.
What’s she cooking with, you might ask? She prefers her GGT Delta Elite for its deep penetrating flame and her Smith hand torch that has a custom Blast Shield tip on it.
When the Leaf asked Wieboldt who currently inspires her in the glass world, she said, “Honestly, I'm really inspired by the next generation of glass artists right now. They have access to platforms and opportunities that didn't exist when I started. It helps push the craft forward and motivates me to keep evolving while staying on top of trends and not get stuck doing the same old things. Basically, reminding me to just have fun.”
Wieboldt added, “I'm also constantly inspired by the women, queer artists and other minority artists in our community. Working in a male-dominated industry isn't always easy, and seeing us carve out space and succeed is hot, and I love seeing it.”
While she dedicates a lot of time to the craft, when she’s not in the studio, you can find this true Pacific Northwest native outside.
Some of her favorite pastimes include fishing for salmon, hunting mushrooms, rockhounding and sitting around strumming a guitar while singing a ditty. There are also four extremely fortunate cats that she spoils in between rounds of Fortnite at home. Wieboldt also tries to make time to attend festivals and concerts to dance.
“There's something so healing about really good music,” she stated.
These days, you can find Wieboldt in eastern Washington, the Tri-Cities area to be exact. With the high temperatures there, she switches her schedule to nights for the summer to beat the heat.
A project she is very dedicated to and working hard to progress is opening a women-run art studio that gives artists access to equipment and space they might not otherwise be able to afford. Her positive energy and determination precede her everywhere she goes.
The Leaf encourages you to get online and check out Wieboldt’s upcoming projects and very diverse portfolio via her website, Instagram and Linktree.
If you want to meet the artist and see some of her latest works in person, you can find her at upcoming events, including DFO July 2426 in Portland, Oregon, and Puffcon Oct. 3-4 in Los Angeles.
THE FOCUS FREQUENCY
FOUR CONSCIOUS BIOHACKS TO ELEVATE YOUR MIND
In a world engineered to harvest our attention, concentration has become a sacred act of rebellion. Every notification, advertisement and doomscroll is competing for one of your most precious resources: focus. Neuroscientists have identified a network in the brain known as the reticular activating system, or RAS, which helps regulate wakefulness, attention and conscious awareness. I think of it as the gatekeeper between the spirit and the endless stream of information flowing through your senses. What you repeatedly focus on becomes what your brain learns to prioritize.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE describes the RAS as one of the primary systems involved in arousal, attention and consciousness. So, how do we create an environment both internally and externally that supports the RAS for optimal performance?
For the last decade, I’ve been fascinated by what I call the art of concentration. Through meditation, conscious biohacking, intentional habit-building and reconnecting with Mother Earth, I have discovered a handful of practices that support my RAS while consistently elevating my focus, creativity and productivity.
So if you haven’t sparked up yet, this is your cue to puff, puff, pass and journey with me through my 2026 concentration-elevation discoveries.
MEDITATION AS A LIFESTYLE
If there is one ritual that has transformed my ability to focus more than any other, it is meditation. Not meditation as an occasional stress-relief tool, but meditation as a way of life.
My path led me to Anapana and Vipassana meditation, ancient practices rooted in observing the breath and bodily sensations with unwavering attention. Each time the mind wanders and we gently guide it home, we strengthen the mental muscle of concentration. Long before neuroscience could measure brain activity, Indigenous wisdom keepers, yogis and meditators understood a profound truth: Where attention goes, energy flows. Modern science is beginning to echo the same message.
A systematic review of studies examining long-term Vipassana practitioners cites potential changes in brain regions associated with attention, emotional regulation and sensory awareness. Additional research suggests mindfulness-based practices can improve attentional control and cognitive performance.
My own understanding deepened during a 12-day silent Vipassana retreat. Somewhere between the stillness, isolation and consistent, steady breathing, I discovered that concentration is not something we force. It is something we uncover when we stop feeding distractions.
The daily ritual of Vipassana meditation is something that I highly recommend to every living OG who is interested in self-mastery. For readers who would like to explore this path, donation-based retreats are offered worldwide through dhamma.org.
“Methylene blue has recently captured the attention of biohacking researchers studying brain energy metabolism and cognitive performance.”
METHYLENE BLUE — A FASCINATING DISCOVERY
One of the most unexpected yet fascinating allies in my concentration journey has been methylene blue, a believed cognitive biohacking tool with a simple liquid tincture delivery.
In hopes of discovering solutions for mi abuelita’s current dementia battle, I was deep into research centered around holistic lifestyle solutions. It was in this research that I first discovered methylene blue. Soon after, I sourced a tincture for daily use. I immediately noticed an increase in mental clarity, stamina and adrenal recovery after long writing sessions.
Originally developed in the 1800s and still used today to treat a rare blood disorder, methylene blue has recently captured the attention of biohacking researchers studying brain energy metabolism and cognitive performance.
The science is still emerging, but a 26-person study published in the journal Radiology found that low-dose methylene blue measurably increased activity in brain regions associated with short-term memory and memory retrieval.
While the findings are intriguing, caution is essential. Methylene blue is a powerful compound, not a casual supplement. Harvard Health Publishing warns that it can interact with antidepressants and other medications, and may cause serious adverse effects when used improperly. Dosage matters. Anyone considering methylene blue should thoroughly research contraindications and consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.
The result was worthy of celebration. Focus stopped feeling like something I had to chase. It became the natural by-product of a more intentional life. If concentration is your goal, OGs, consider this book required reading.
TEMPERATURE REGULATION THERAPY AND THE WISDOM OF MOTHER EARTH
My first introduction to deliberate cold exposure didn’t come from a wellness podcast, self-care influencer or biohacker. It came from mi mamá.
Years ago, I spent countless hours working at a computer screen. By midafternoon, brain fog would roll in like the greenroom at a Slightly Stoopid concert, and my energy would crash.
For me, this discovery served as a reminder that focus is not always about pushing harder. Sometimes it is about supporting the biological systems that create clarity in the first place.
ATOMIC HABITS AND THE STRUCTURE OF FOCUS
Few books have upgraded my daily reality more than ”Atomic Habits” by James Clear. Its central teaching is beautifully simple: Extraordinary results are often created through tiny actions repeated consistently over time.
One line hit me like a strong Durban Poison dab, bright and awakening, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
That insight transformed the way I approach concentration. I began creating environments that naturally support focus — fewer digital distractions, dedicated creative spaces, scheduled writing blocks. Small rituals that tell my powerful brain it’s time to lock in.
My mother offered simple Indigenous advice: step outside, take off your shoes and place your bare feet on our Earth Mother. The first time I tried it was a cold winter afternoon, and I felt an immediate shift. My senses sharpened. My breathing deepened. My mind awakened. Today, science may be beginning to explain why. Research from Stanford indicates that exposure to cold or outdoor environments may increase norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter associated with attention, alertness and focus. Additional studies examining cold-water immersion have reported participant improvements in mood, positivity and stress resilience. Of all the natural biohacking practices I’ve encountered, cold exposure remains one of the fastest ways to interrupt mental fog and awaken the senses.
In a culture that profits from distraction, choosing where we place our attention may be one of the most radical acts of self-love available to us. Whether through meditation, conscious biohacking, building better habits or placing our bare feet on our Earth Mother, each of these rituals invites us back into relationship with ourselves. So spark up, breathe deep, touch the soil beneath your feet and remember, OGs, concentration is not just a productivity tool. It is a pathway to presence, creative potentiality and living in harmony with the sacred rhythm of life.
mom’s got
Millions know Natasha Zhatko for getting high and going out to eat. Behind the videos is a story about recovery, chronic pain, motherhood and finding her way back to Cannabis on her own terms.
the munchies
Natasha
Zhatko didn't set out to become one of the most recognizable Cannabis creators on the internet, but she is. "This was one huge happy accident," she told California Leaf.
EIGHT MONTHS AGO, she was experimenting with video formats and trying to figure out how to make content about Cannabis without getting buried by social media algorithms. Smoking was out; the platforms hated it. Edibles, she figured, might slip through unnoticed.
"So I was like, ‘How can I get to the stoners some way that is gonna kind of trick the algorithm?’” she said. “These gummies — there's no way that the algorithm is gonna pick up that it's Cannabis."
At the time, she was borrowing product from her brother's business, Power Smoke, and filming herself getting high and going out to eat. She wasn't expecting much. Then the videos exploded.
Today, the California-based, New York-born mother of two has built an audience of nearly 1.5 million followers watching her consume what many would consider heroic doses of edibles before heading out in search of the perfect meal. Her standard dose hovers around 100 milligrams of THC. People regularly ask how that's possible. The answer starts long before social media.
Zhatko grew up in Manhattan and describes her teenage years as turbulent. By her early 20s, she was cycling through rehab programs and struggling with addiction. The process wasn't always helpful, especially because she wasn’t truly ready to enter recovery. "I just learned so much new stuff in rehab that I ended up leaving with new addictions," she said.
Zhatko's story touches a lot of worlds that aren't often shown together: recovery, motherhood, chronic pain, entrepreneurship, Cannabis and internet fame.
Around age 20, Zhatko landed in a recovery house in North Carolina that approached things differently. "I was thrown into a house with a bunch of other girls with the same issues as me, and we were pretty much told, 'Hey, either do it or don't do it, it's up to you,'" she said. She stayed sober for six or seven years.
Cannabis returned much more intentionally to Zhatko’s life after that time. During those years of sobriety, her severe anxiety never really disappeared.
After moving to California and building a life that included marriage, children and work in the Cannabis industry, she slowly began reintroducing the plant. "I was like, 'Oh, this makes sense now,'" she said.
When endometriosis became especially painful after the birth of her second daughter, Cannabis took on another role. Faced with prescription narcotics, she chose edibles instead.
"That's kind of where my tolerance-growth journey began," Zhatko said.
Long before the videos, Cannabis was already part of her career, too. After following family members to Southern California, she learned cultivation, manufacturing and retail operations before eventually running a Cannabis delivery service cheekily called Rehab.
"Our slogan was 'Addicted to feeling good,'" Zhatko shared with a laugh.
The internet only discovered her later, the way it picks up on other formulaic videos with a catchy hook. One thing Zhatko’s audience didn't know at first was that she is a mother. She intentionally kept that part of her life private while building the account. When she eventually started talking about it, the response was mixed. "I got a lot of hate, but it's definitely way more love than hate," she said. "I get a lot of love from the 420 parents,” she added about the particularly popping cannamom corner of the internet she didn’t realize existed.
One of the things Zhatko hopes people take from it all is a broader understanding of who Cannabis consumers actually are. "We're all here," she said. "Your lawyers and your doctors are all partaking in Cannabis."
Zhatko's story touches a lot of worlds that aren't often shown together: recovery, motherhood, chronic pain, entrepreneurship, Cannabis and internet fame. The reality is less tidy than the stereotypes. She knows how differently Cannabis is treated depending on where you live, what resources you have and who you are.
"I just think it's so crazy that we live in a state that's so normalized and beautiful and accepting, and there's places in the country where people are sitting in prison for 20, 30 years for something that I am able to do freely," Zhatko said. "That's just kind of so unfair to me."
The videos may have started as a happy accident, but the platform that followed has become something else: a very public reminder that Cannabis consumers don't fit neatly into anyone's expectations. Natasha Zhatko certainly doesn't.
@NATASHAHASTHEMUNCHIES
COURTESY
Summer Drinks High-Drating
MANGO MADNESS
Makes four smoothies
2 ripe mangoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 large banana, sliced and frozen
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup milk of your choice
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
4 teaspoons canna-oil Mint for garnishing
1. Combine the first seven ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
2. Pour into four glasses, garnishing each with fresh mint.
PITCHER PERFECT
The heat is on. When the days get steamy, one of the best things you can do is to stay hydrated. Drinking throughout the day is one way to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs and keeps you at the top of your game. Another thing you can do, if you are so inclined, is add a little THC or CBD to keep your spirits up and your stress levels down. I have been starting my day with 5mg of CBD in my matcha — sometimes hot, sometimes cold — and it’s definitely made a difference in my mood and sociability. These thirst-quenching libations, infused with Pruf Cultivar’s dynamic, prize-winning Jack Herer, make it all good. I highly recommend it! laurie@laurieandmaryjane.com
RED BERRY BLEND
Serves 2 2 cups assorted berries 1 cup strawberry yogurt 1/2 cup apple juice
2 teaspoons canna-oil
1-2 tablespoons honey
1 cup ice cubes
Strawberries for garnish
1. Combine the first six ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
2. Pour into two glasses and garnish each rim with a strawberry.
PITCHER PERFECT
Serves 6
2 tablespoons canna-oil, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons agave
Blueberries and sliced lemons
1. Combine the first five ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
2. Pour into a pitcher.
3. Stir in the sliced lemons and blueberries.
4. Pour into glasses filled with ice.
RED BERRY BLEND
LIAMWESLEY GOODMAN
They say it takes 10,000 hours to achieve mastery at something — if that’s true, then by the end of summer, Liam Wesley Goodman will be a master at drawing Cannabis. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Goodman is a mainly self-taught artist who has set out to conquer the world of Cannabis realism.
HIS COLORED-PENCIL WORKS display insane levels of detail and are often mistaken for actual photos. He told Leaf Magazines he’s always been fascinated by art.
“Growing up, I was terrible at everything. Last place in track-and-field, I couldn't play an instrument and I was terrible at school, but my parents couldn’t get me away from the drawing table,” Goodman said.
As he went through school, Goodman had two separate teachers who offered the same piece of life-changing advice, a phrase that Goodman would form into the mantra that rules his art to this day: Draw what you see.
The first teacher showed Goodman how to take the phrase literally, to examine and take in each item that makes up the scene, setting him off down the path towards a career in realism. Later, another taught him that drawing what you see meant harnessing the ability to view a subject in many ways. Something difficult, like the crook of a thumb or the head of a trichome, can be a single image, a series of dots, a pattern of lines or shifting shades of color — it's all in how you choose
Deciding to draw Cannabis was another gift from the universe. Almost a decade ago, Goodman won a talent contest and was offered a show at Toronto’s Vapor Central lounge. The one catch: He needed some Cannabis art. This was the moment that set him on this current path. Goodman Googled “Cannabis realism” and couldn’t find anyone specializing in the field. Here, he saw his chance to stand out as an artist and carve out his own space within both the Cannabis and art communities.
Having recreated nearly every form of concentrates, we had to ask our cover artist what the most difficult or time-consuming thing to draw is. Goodman answered without skipping a beat, “(THC) Diamonds."
Since then, he’s gone from drawing flowers to trichomes, then concentrates; each time discovering something new about different kinds of people and plants.
Having recreated nearly every form of concentrates, we had to ask our cover artist what the most difficult or time-consuming thing to draw is. Goodman answered without skipping a beat, “(THC) Diamonds. I often have a no diamonds rule.” This is because his technique is to capture a piece one square inch at a time, letting his brain drift so it can take in the natural pattern of things. Goodman said there’s no way to intuit a diamond’s pattern as it takes in the light around it; there are no patterns or shapes for the brain to latch onto, something he described as organic chaos.
Working as an artist full-time, Goodman told us he feels like he needs to be constantly stimulated to keep working, something he’s used Cannabis for since he was 13. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he decided to try his first tolerance break, going from a gram or more of rosin a day to consuming a massive amount once every five to six weeks.
“I was constantly chasing terps for that flavor and experience. I needed to take a beat to find the things in my life that also gave me that flow state. Plus, my thoughts are way more random now that I’m not smoking every day,” he shared.
The soundtrack to that new flow state is still a mix of classical music, audiobooks and soundscapes, along with early-2000s pop hits to push that nostalgia button. A self-identified nerd, Goodman said fantasy epics like “The Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter,” like classical works of music, mirror his style in their length and complexity, which helps him channel that energy into his own work. Generating that feeling of being energized and creative gets him locked in on the hours it takes to complete a piece.
For Goodman, the hours aren’t a reflection of pricing his work, but a way to log all the pencil lead, sweat and tears into a form that anyone can interpret — and a way to show himself just how far he’s willing to go to master this craft and then push its boundaries.
“I was constantly chasing terps for that flavor and experience. I needed to take a beat to find the things in my life that also gave me that flow state ..."
