Apr. 2021 - California Leaf

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

#12 | APR. 2021

CAL I F O R N I A

THE GLASS ISSUE MOTHERSHIP GLASS

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

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

THE glass ISSUE

#12

feature Mothership Glass Founder Scott Deppe talks with Leaf Nation about his legendary career, finding inspiration in water, the future of the business, and their iconic Hologram series.

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DANIA CABELLO OJO DE LA SOL

39 PRE-ROLL REVIEWS

44 American Pipe Dreams Long before you could safely walk into any ordinary head shop and talk about bongs and pipes with abandon, Operation Pipe Dreams and the megabust of Jerome Baker Designs was making headlines.

////////// story by bOBBY bLACK photo by SLY VEGAS

apr. 2021

cannthropology

NATE WILLIAMS

COOKIES SACRAMENTO

off the shelf

COURTESY

16

women in weed

DANIEL KIM

shop review

Steven Jones of The Clinik in Chatsworth.

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EDITOR’S NOTE N AT I O N A L N E W S LOCAL NEWS BUDTENDER Q&A COOKIES SHOP REVIEW DANIA CABELLO WIW STRAIN OF THE MONTH MOTHERSHIP GLASS AVATA R G L A S S S TA N A L B A BLUEGRASS GLASS HAAPS GLASS CHRIS CARLSON SKYLER BAISCH KGB GL ASS PA PA & B A R K L E Y PRE-ROLLS OFF THE SHELF C O S M I C C O N C E N T R AT E S SWEET RELEAF TOPICALS CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

KAITLIN PARRY

DANIEL BERMAN

budtender of the month

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issue

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APRIL 2021

CAL I F O R N I A

All Things Cannabis For All People PODCAST leaflifepodcast AVAILABLE NOW:

beardedlorax

rickerdj

#107 VIDEO GAMES AND CANNABIS V2 #108 ANCIENT CANNABIS #109 READING ENERGY

#110

MOTHERSHIP GLASS w/SCOTT DEPPE

NOW ON Photo by Lucas Reilly

LISTEN ON:

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment.

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

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 Featured on the front cover is a photograph provided to Leaf Magazines by Mothership Glass and captured by Lucas Reilly. This shot showcases Mothership’s most recent Hologram Series, titled Adrift. From left to right, you’ll find a Cerulean Bubble Cap, Smoke Mirage Exosphere, Smoke Mirage Egg, and a Dark Blue Moonstone Klein, to name a few. Learn more about their wonderous company through an in-depth interview as well as a Leaf Life podcast with owner Scott Deppe. Head over to their website for details on their next release!

PHOTO by LUCAS REILLY @PHOTOJOURNALUCAS LUCASREILLY.COM @MOTHERSHIPGLASS MOTHERSHIPGLASS.COM

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES EARLY, PRODUCTION MAX EARLY, FEATURES STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS SAMUEL FARLEY, FEATURES ALEXA JESSE, REVIEWS DANIEL KIM, PHOTOS KAITLIN PARRY, PHOTOS LUCAS REILLY, PHOTOS MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS ZACK RUSKIN, FEATURES CHARLES TAGGART, PHOTOS SLY VEGAS, PHOTOS JAMIE VICTOR, ILLUSTRATION NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES JAMIE ZILL, PHOTOS

WES@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DANIEL BERMAN | VISUALS & DESIGN

DANIEL@BERMANPHOTOS.COM

SALES DIRECTOR NATE WILLIAMS | ADVERTISING

NATE@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM 415-717-6985

CONTENT DIRECTOR TOM BOWERS | EDITORIAL

TOM@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEAF

Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @NWLEAF

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ABNEY

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

I MADE MY FIRST PIPE out of an L-shaped carburetor part that I cleaned and polished into a workable Cannabis smoking device in my dad’s auto shop. This was back when smoking weed meant choosing between an apple, a pop can – or the one friend who was lucky enough to have a disgustingly resinated pipe. These early days of Cannabis slummery gave me an immense appreciation for clean and functional art, which we have documented in the Leaf for a decade now.

One of my earliest stoner memories was buying a bong (tobacco water pipe) for the first time at Piece of Mind, with a feeling of sexy fear that came with smoking an illegal drug in an inspiring way.

Walking through the glass shop full of colorful art shaped my view of Cannabis as more than just a drug to consume, but a lifestyle defined by art that is delivering the best feeling in the world: getting baked!

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TODAY, GLASS CULTURE HAS BLOWN UP INTO AN ACCEPTED FORM OF MAINSTREAM ART THAT’S RAPIDLY EXPLODING IN AWARENESS AND VALUE.

Today, glass culture has blown up into an accepted form of mainstream art that’s rapidly exploding in awareness and value.

Custom pieces fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars and get millions of views on social media – transfixing the heady community with innovative displays of art that will get you stoned just looking at them. And on a more functional level, each piece made by hand carries the energy of the artist into each sesh – with the intention of the creator carrying the smoke and vapor into the lungs of a lucky recipient.

It is an honor to be featuring the legendary Mothership Glass and Scott Deppe – who also came on @leaflifepodcast to talk about the history and vision of Mothership – along with a ton of other amazing glass artists in this visually enticing edition of the magazine. We have unique pieces spotlighted in all editions, with different artists highlighted in each, and I hope you take a look at our brand new website – leafmagazines.com – to see our complete gallery and tons of other unique content, podcasts, and the highlarious Stoney Baloney.

Remember to buy American glass whenever possible, to support your local head shop or glass artist, and to always smoke from clean glass!

-Wes Abney

Have a strain, product, or news tip that the California Leaf staff needs to know about? Contact us at tom@LeafMagazines.com!

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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. 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 nate@leafmagazines.com for more info on supporting California Leaf!

WES

cannabis NEWS

Politics

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Dozens of young staffers in the Biden White House have been suspended, asked to resign or placed in remote programs due to past Cannabis use, reported multiple news outlets in March.

The news disappointed staffers and activists who were pleased by initial indications that past recreational marijuana use wouldn’t be immediately disqualifying for jobs in the administration, according to people familiar with the situation, reported The Daily Beast.

The policy even affected staffers whose Cannabis use was exclusive to areas where the herb is legal. A number of young staffers were either “put on probation” or A NUMBER OF YOUNG STAFFERS outright canned because they admitted past WERE EITHER “PUT Cannabis use in a document they filled out ON PROBATION” OR as part of their lengthy background check.

OUTRIGHT CANNED “I find it absurd that, in 2021, marijuana BECAUSE THEY use is still part of a security background ADMITTED PAST check,” said Tommy Vietor, who was on CANNABIS USE IN A DOCUMENT THEY the 2008 Obama team and subsequently FILLED OUT AS PART worked as a National Security Council OF THEIR LENGTHY spokesperson.

BACKGROUND CHECK. “To me, marijuana use is completely irrelevant when you’re trying to decide whether an individual should be trusted with national security information.”

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NE GOVERNOR CLAIMS MARIJUANA IS ‘GOING TO KILL YOUR KIDS’

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APr. 2021

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Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts’ remarks on the supposed dangers of marijuana were widely condemned after he said at a press conference, “If you legalize marijuana, you’re going to kill your kids.”

“These words didn’t elevate the discussion,” scolded the Lincoln Journal-Star in an op-ed.

“Rather, his oversimplification of the topic ignored the pleas of parents with sick children – and that the legislation being debated later that day was specific to medical uses.”

Despite the mild-mannered nature of the newspaper’s rebuke, the fact remains that Gov. Ricketts’ remarks weren’t “THESE WORDS just an “oversimplification,” of course – they DIDN’T ELEVATE were an outright falsehood. Nebraska, along THE DISCUSSION,” with Idaho, is one of just two states left that have SCOLDED THE absolutely no protection for medical Cannabis LINCOLN JOURNALpatients, not even a lowly CBD law.

STAR IN AN OP-ED.

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

Navigate the cannabis universe Download the app, get educated, and explore all things weed.

local news

CALIFORNIA

Local Cannabis Workers Will Qualify For Early Vaccinations AT THE START of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the Cannabis industry as an “essential” service – allowing businesses to remain open during the subsequent lockdowns. Now, one year later, that classification is bearing another benefit: vaccination prioritization.

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Creating One Cannabis Bureau to Rule Them All

leafmagazines.com

AS PART of his budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to combine California’s three existing Cannabis licensing bureaus into one overarching new authority.

If adopted, the measure would establish a new Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) under the aegis of the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency as of July 1 of this year. This new DCC would encompass the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC), as well as the Cannabis-related divisions of both the Department of Food THE BUDGET and Agriculture and the ALLOCATES $153.8 Department of Public Health.

MILLION – WHICH WOULD BE USED TO To facilitate the formation FUND THE LOGISTICS of this new entity, the budget INVOLVED IN, AMONG allocates $153.8 million OTHER THINGS, – which would be used to TRANSFERRING fund the logistics involved AROUND 600 EXISTING in, among other things, POSITIONS AND CREATING A COUPLE transferring around 600 OF DOZEN NEW ONES. existing positions and creating a couple of dozen new ones. This reorganization would reportedly not affect the states’ upcoming, highly anticipated Cannabis appellation and organic certification programs.

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According to a recent California Department of Public Health bulletin regarding the state’s vaccination rollout, employees at medical marijuana dispensaries are categorized under Phase 1A (along with health care workers) and are eligible to receive the vaccine immediately.

Non-dispensary Cannabis industry workers (those involved EMPLOYEES AT in cultivation, production, distribution, etc.) are classified as MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES ARE Phase 1B, Tier 1 – meaning they are next in line to qualify for the CATEGORIZED UNDER vaccines (along with seniors 65 and older, and workers in the PHASE 1A (ALONG agriculture, food service, emergency and education industries) WITH HEALTH CARE starting on March 15. It’s unclear as to which of these categories WORKERS) AND non-medical dispensary workers will fall under.

ARE ELIGIBLE TO Some, however, are pushing back on the new guidelines.

RECEIVE THE VACCINE Complaining that dispensary workers should not be vaccinated IMMEDIATELY. ahead of law enforcement, firefighters, teachers and grocery store workers, the San Diego County board of supervisors is choosing to ignore the CDPH’s priority classification and instead place all Cannabis workers in category 1B. Nevertheless, it’s gratifying to see the state respecting the necessity of our Cannabis workers and the risks they take to keep us safely medicated.

Workplace Weed Discrimination

Bill Quirk

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMAN Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) has introduced a new bill intended to end workplace discrimination against Cannabis users. Sponsored by California NORML director Dale Gieringer, Assembly Bill 1256 would prohibit employers from firing or refusing to hire individuals based on evidence of Cannabis use, as commonly done via a urine or hair test.

These drug tests have long been decried as discriminatory against legal Cannabis users since they cannot differentiate whether an employee is actually impaired on the job, or whether they’ve merely consumed Cannabis lawfully outside of work hours. The bill also includes a provision that allows individuals to initiate legal action against a company if such discrimination were to occur. There are a few exceptions included in the bill, however – most notably for employers in the construction industry and those who are federally required to drug test.

STORIES by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420 for CALIFORNIA LEAF

DOT COM WE ARE ONE

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interview

W H O ’ S Y O U R FAV O R I T E B U D T E N D E R ? T E L L U S W H Y ! E M A I L N O M I N A T I O N S T O T O M @ L E A F M A G A Z I N E S . C O M

“IT’S MORE THAN JUST SMOKING A JOINT AND GETTING HIGH. KNOWING MORE ABOUT WHAT IT DOES, SO YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN LOVE WITH MARY JANE?

One of my first jobs was as a trimmer at 18-years-old, working in a Cannabis shop called Daddy’s Pipes and Collective on Van Nuys and Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. They were one of the first shops in the game.

WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A CANNABIS CELEBRITY IN L.A.?

It’s amazing, you know. You can always try the new strains that come out, and marijuana has come so far. Being able to meet new cultivators and innovators in the industry – they’re doing great things with rosin and live resin in extraction. It’s amazing, to be honest. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I want my own strain.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THE CLINIK? I love the budtenders I work with! I have an amazing team that’s very professional and knowledgeable, not to mention the state of the art collective we work in just sets the perfect relaxed atmosphere for any person or guest. The vibes are always 10/10, and it’s just a pleasant place to be. My managers and CEO are the best.

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DO YOU SMOKE IN THE STUDIO? IF SO, WHAT GETS THE CREATIVITY FLOWING? Yeah, for sure. In the studio, I

definitely have to smoke a good hybrid. I prefer a Gelato.

I’m smoking some Potato Runtz right now, from the Bay. A good hybrid gives me some good creativity and doesn’t get me slumped and going to sleep. Sometimes I like to go with a sativa-leaning hybrid, but sometimes it gets too racy – so I like to go with the indica side to keep me balanced.

My favorite strain is the Legacy Malibu 91 OG. It always leaves me with a euphoric feeling - always happy and chill.

It’s super stoney and is the perfect for relaxing on.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING IN CANNABIS?

leafmagazines.com

@chefboybonez

STEVEN “CHEF BOY BONEZ” LEAF JONES CALIFORNIA Budtender of the Month Music producer, TV personality, weed celebrity, artist, influencer, Cannabis connoisseur. Steven “Chef Boy Bonez” Jones has made a name for himself in L.A., in part because he was born with the ability to pop his eyeballs out of his sockets. He’s an unforgettable character on the budtending crew at The Clinik in Chatsworth, where he loves showing off the eye-popping strains that roll through the shop. We connected with Jones to learn more about his life in the game.

Connecting with people of all different ethnic backgrounds and all different medical problems. I’ve suffered from insomnia in the past and Cannabis has helped me out. …

There’s a lot of people who are allergic to certain types of medicines and the plant really works for them. Some people just want to get stoned, but some people have problems – they suffer from fibromyalgia, depression ... they need things that can help them. It’s kind of like being a doctor without a degree.

WHAT’ DO YOU LIKE TO KEEP IN MIND AS A BUDTENDER?

Knowledge is a big thing. Know what the strains and the products do. Having a lot of knowledge in the career. It’s more than just smoking a joint and getting high. Knowing more about what it does, so you can help people.

WHAT’S REALLY LIGHTING YOU UP RIGHT NOW? Live resin.

I’m loving Roach vapes. You used to smoke and walk into a restaurant, and you’d smell like weed. The vapes that they have right now are really convenient, and you don’t smell.

T H E C L I N I K 2 0 4 4 7 N O R D H O F F S T. C H AT S W O R T H , C A | ( 8 4 4 ) 4 2 5 - 4 6 4 5 | 1 0 A M - 9 P M D A I LY | T H E C L I N I K .C O M

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INTERVIEW by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by KAITLIN PARRY

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SACRAMENTO

apr. 2021

shop review

COOKIES

SACRAMENTO The same Sacramento-based crew that brought us the first Lemonnade-branded store in the nation is bringing Cookies back to California’s capital city.

BRING THAT BEAT BACK Considering it’s one of the largest Cannabis brands in the state, it’s been a bit surprising that Cookies hasn’t had a major presence in the Sacramento recreational market. It wasn’t always that way, according to Head of Operations and Purchasing Paul Clemons, and Marketing Director Dennis Luong, for the recently launched Cookies Sacramento. Back in the medical-only days, Luong and Clemons said that Cookies flower had a major following in SacTown. That’s one of the reasons they and the crew of local Cannabis entrepreneurs they work with decided to bring Cookies’ unforgettable approach to fire flower, retail aesthetic and lifestyle branding to Midtown.

FEEL THE FLOW When you first step up to the Cookies storefront, you’re immediately drawn in by that unmistakable sky blue that’s become ubiquitous in the California weed scene. Though all Cookies retail locations are individually owned and operated, they all bring that same slick, dialed vibe their legion of fans has come to expect from the brand. When you pass through the welcoming room and into the heart of the shop, you’re greeted by music, friendly and knowledgeable budtenders, sleek lines and tables filled with sniffing samples.

Floor-to-ceiling portrait paintings bring social justice messages to life with vibrant colors.

Everything here presents with meticulous attention and intention – like Apple, Nike and Tesla, Cookies knows exactly what it is, and what makes it popular. You know you’re getting that experience from the jump.

WEED OF LEGENDS

COOKIES SACRAMENTO

Curating fire strains and products from a number of partnerships with amazing California cultivators including Backpack Boyz and Ridgeline Farms (featured in this month’s Strain of the Month column on page 24), Cookies continues to deliver the goods with what’s been their calling card since the beginning: premium flower. Star collabs, such as Ooh La La (a Run the Jewels strain) and Gary Payton, created in partnership with the local basketball legend, take the celebrity-based Cannabis game to new levels – without compromising on quality.

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ROLLING DEEP Though they’re known for bringing the fire in the flower game, Cookies Sacramento offers a solid selection of concentrates, cartridges, pre-rolls and edibles, including – you guessed it – Cookies brand cookies. The shop’s approach to inventory management ditches the sheer-volume model employed by some retailers, instead curating a manageable number of high-quality brands. The Cookies and Lemonnade labels lead the lineup, with guest verses by brands such as Grandiflora, Wyld, and House of Platinum bringing diversity to the set.

MASTERING THE MIX Everything about Cookies broadcasts intensely high production values. The interior design, the branding, the friendly and well-trained staff, the flower – it all blends masterfully to deliver an experience that plays like a single cut with a million-dollar studio budget.

Floor-to-ceiling portrait paintings bring social justice messages to life with vibrant colors.

YOU’RE IMMEDIATELY DRAWN IN BY THAT UNMISTAKABLE SKY BLUE THAT’S BECOME UBIQUITOUS IN THE CALIFORNIA WEED SCENE. STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by DANIEL KIM @DKIMREPORTS

CA Licensed Cultivators Pre-order large seed-grown plants now!

Guaranteed female and ready to plant on your schedule.

Personal Use Growers Retail sales start mid-April!

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feature

women in weed

DANIA CABELLO OJO DE LA SOL

leafmagazines.com

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Dania Cabello wants us to take the power of healing back into our own hands. As the owner and operator of Oakland topical brand Ojo De La Sol, Cabello has navigated a slow, intentional road to bringing her very personal line of products to the regulated public market.

Combining her own experiences as a former professional athlete, an herbalist, and her family’s own history with traditional medicines, Cabello’s Ojo De La Sol is currently making a name for itself for all the right reasons. With an expansion to Los Angeles looming, Cabello spoke with California Leaf about the “Sol” supply chain she’s established and her efforts to destigmatize Cannabis use for athletes.

OJODELASOL.COM | @OJODELASOL

apr. 2021

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND OJO DE LA SOL? One of the things that has become clear to me is that Ojo De La Sol is really a synthesis and a braiding of all of these components that I spend most of my time learning and reflecting on. It all falls into this category of healing and what I call critical wellness, and my personal journey of learning how to heal myself.

WAS THAT A JOURNEY THAT STARTED WITH YOUR SOCCER CAREER? As a pro athlete, it is common practice to overmedicate with ibuprofen and to have our bodies injected with cortisone so we can play, because it numbs the pain from the physical beating that our bodies take … that’s become normalized. There’s this ‘no pain, no gain’ philosophy. I played Division I soccer at UC Berkeley for four years and then I returned as a graduate student in education to really hone in on the language of critical pedagogy and the ways in which we think about freedom – both with and through the body. During my last season of pro soccer, in 2011 with the Bay Area Breeze, I decided to take ownership of my healing by decolonizing Relief Salve my health and indigenizing the practices that were always a part of my life. I’d been working with an urban farmer for 15 years and I wanted to explore what it would look like to make alternative medicine outside of smoking the flower. I had a chronic heel injury, so I started with a topical and then I was sharing that topical with family.

My family shared it with their friends and literally, within about a month, I was getting outreach from aunts and uncles and people I hadn’t seen for years asking about it.

WHAT PRODUCTS DOES OJO HAVE AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT? Right now, I make Recovery Bath Salts two topicals. They are my pain relief salve, which has about 300mg of THC to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and neuropathy. It can also help with muscle tension and skin regeneration. That’s been my top seller for a decade. The other is an Epsom salt soak with about 75mg of Cannabis. Both of my products are two of the strongest on the market but that wasn’t a strategy – it was actually just me delivering on what’s been the most effective for my loyal customers. As far as availability goes, you can get Ojo in most Northern California markets, plus, Ojo is also now available in Southern California through a direct-to-consumer platform called AllezOop.

“DURING MY LAST SEASON OF PRO SOCCER, IN 2011 WITH THE BAY AREA BREEZE, I DECIDED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF MY HEALING BY DECOLONIZING MY HEALTH AND INDIGENIZING THE PRACTICES THAT WERE ALWAYS A PART OF MY LIFE.”

OJO DE LA SOL IS PART OF A BAY AREA COMMUNITY OF BLACK AND BROWN OWNED CANNABIS BUSINESSES THAT SEEM TO REALLY SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN A WAY THAT’S UNIQUE TO THIS INDUSTRY AT LARGE. WOULD YOU AGREE? As a medicine maker, I can’t necessarily spend all of my time lobbying and writing law. That’s why we have to be a team of people that have different fields of expertise. I really leaned into that aspect with what I now call the ‘Sol’ system. That’s the ecosystem that Ojo De La Sol lives in and it’s the only reason why Ojo is still in existence. It’s not because of some large investment. It’s because of the friendships and the efficacy of the medicine that I make. That’s what allowed Ojo to move slowly and grow at a time when it’s really difficult to get started in this industry without the normal financial backing that comes with this big, billion-dollar industry.

STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by OJO DE LA SOL

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A MULTITUDE OF MOUTHWATERING CANDIED FRUIT NOTES, LED BY THE UNFORGETTABLE PRESENCE OF LIMONENE. APR. 2021

R I D G E L I N E FA R M S .C O M | @ R I D G E L I N E _ FA R M S

CAL I F O R N I A

IDGELINE RUNTZ

grown by

RIDGELINE FARMS 24.7% THC

REVIEW & PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/CALIFORNIA LEAF

Hailing from Alpine in the legendary growing region of Southern Humboldt, Ridgeline Farms earns its stellar reputation with every harvest. Owner Jason Gellman and his cultivation team won first place in the last two pre-COVID Emerald Cup competitions, and for good reason – the Ridgeline team is intensely skilled at the craft.

This attention to quality in cultivation is why we chose Ridgeline Runtz as our strain of the month for this heady issue, where we celebrate 4/20 and the wonderful world of glass blowing.

Ridgeline won the Emerald Cup with their version of this strain in 2019, and the second you crack open a jar from the most recent harvest, it’s obvious why.

The terpene-rich aromatics wafting from these tight, sparkling nugs contain a multitude of mouthwatering candied fruit notes, led by the unforgettable presence of limonene.

There’s a deep, round richness underlying the bright confectionery sweetness, and the fruit carries through to the flavor – sampled in both a flower vaporizer and twisted up in a joint, the Ridgeline Runtz didn’t lose the flavorful punch telegraphed by the aroma.

Swiftly elevating the senses to a place of intensely energetic euphoria, this flower has quickly raced onto our shortlist of favorites currently available on the market.

Enjoyed in the afternoon, you might find yourself wanting to go for a long, leisurely walk. Sampled before bedtime, it may just inspire you to stay up a little longer, perhaps drawing while listening to records.

It’s a stunning crown jewel leading the stellar lineup of strains from the Ridgeline hoop houses – trust us and go snag some before the upcoming holiday.

the glass issue

26

MothershipGlass Water is known to be impacted by human intentions, thoughts and sounds.

After many years of research, Japanese scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto has shown the world the powers of positive thinking and its immense impact on the water molecule – where his studies have concluded that our ideas and feelings have the magical power to alter the molecular structure of water. Much like water, there is a strong synergistic relationship between the incredible energy encapsulated within Mothership studios and the glass art that they produce.

leafmagazines.com

Mothership Glass has risen to the top echelon of glassmakers in the world. Their remarkable and one-of-a-kind designs include the Klein, Ball Rig, Torus, Egg, Exosphere, BKT(Ball Rig/ Klein/Torus), and FKT(Fab/Klein/Torus). They are now applying their incredible skills to dry pipes, glassware and soon-to-be, home goods.

This close-knit, family-owned, and operated business is home to 35+ employees, including Scott Deppe’s mother, Alisha, and four of his siblings named Eric, Travis, Katie, and Jayson.

Each team member provides a diverse and unique skill set, which helps tie together the organic, symbiotic connection found at this otherworldly studio.

Our team had the extraordinary opportunity to take a look behind the scenes and see the way Deppe and his team have taken the glass world that we once knew and flipped it upside down. Using wizard-like techniques, Deppe has reinvented the wheel when it comes to fuming with his breathtaking Hologram series. Keep a close eye on their Instagram page for all updates on future releases for your chance at grabbing one of their prized and sought-after works of art.

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Founder Scott Deppe holds onto his 50th Anniversary Grateful Dead tribute collab with Rose Roads, and Mothership Glass artists hard at work at their Bellingham, WA headquarters. PHOTOS BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

“Using wizard-like techniques, Deppe has reinvented the wheel when it comes to fuming with his breathtaking Hologram series.”

Can you shed some light on how you brought a scientific approach to the glass pipe industry?

How do you concoct some of these mind-melting designs? With the immense love for Cannabis and hash that I have, I am always searching for a better way to enjoy the two. I nerd out on things hard and am always trying to create a more enjoyable experience for myself. It’s a lot of experimenting – by seeing what’s out there in different facets of nature, engines and technology – amongst many other things. As water acts with a mind of its own and wants to do certain things, we incorporate its natural flow state into our pieces. Overall, this provides a very high-quality function and flow for our pipes.

When coming up with concepts for the incredible Hologram series, where do you draw inspiration? Over the years, there have been many transformative universal messages that I have received. We are constantly searching for ways to tell folklore stories through our glass that have a deeper meaning. In collaboration with our in-house artist Max McNett and sandblast expert Erin Bohn, we work together to bring the industry some of the most innovative glass art imaginable.

Our skilled and artistic staff often have very imaginative ideas that end up projected into concepts for a hologram series. The unique relationship shared between our artisan glass blowers helps us work together and generate an infinite amount of ideas. With our up-and-coming Catalyst series, we depicted the classic Stoned Ape theory. This thesis touches on monkeys eating mushrooms in the savannah, where they furthered the evolutionary process by altering their prefrontal cortex. Our Strange Deities, like our other series, are heavily influenced by space-like objects, as well as crop circles.

I see that your company is experimenting with glassware and laser-etching of wood. What new expansions do you see Mothership Glass expanding into in the future? We will be getting into some home decor, including intricate coffee tables and chandeliers that will tie together your sophisticated sesh table and connoisseur ambiance. One day, we hope to have the rooms in your house decked out with an enlightened style, matched by the works of art that we offer.

MOTHERSHIPGLASS.COM @MOTHERSHIP_GLASS

STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | GLASS PHOTOS by LUCAS REILLY @PHOTOJOURNALUCAS/MOTHERSHIP GLASS

Listen to Leaf Life Podcast show #110 | The Scott Deppe Interview

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Avatar Glass M A N I F E ST I N G YO U R PAT H

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The artwork and culture that surrounds glass continues to expand in artistic exploration, function and overall popularity.

Avatar Mccravy, better known as Avatar Glass, is a perfect example of how the underground scene of glass pipes and art has helped form an entirely new generation of artists.

AT 22-YEARS-OLD, Avatar feels like he is just at the beginning of what he knows will be an exciting career in glass. Avatar was born in 1998, only a few years before the infamous Operation Pipe Dreams took down many in the glass community, pushing the art scene further underground.

He grew up on the East Coast in Asheville, North Carolina with parents who were big live music heads, travel-

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was 16 and I remember someone hitting me ing the country to see bands like Phish and the up asking for a custom belt buckle and they’d Grateful Dead. In what may seem like a quick give me $100, and that was it.” rise to the upper echelon of the glass art scene, He quit his regular job and continued to the career of Avatar has actually grown consishone his skills with his home-brew studio, tently and equally with the amount of love and completing his high school graduation project effort he has put into the art form. on lamp working – with most of his first sales When asked where his drive comes from, he of pendants and belt buckles going to his local was quick to speak of his mom’s inspiration: high school friends.

Avatar’s mother raised five kids by herself in a By age 18, Avatar began having the desire three bedroom apartment, and he watched her to make his pieces more and hustle and work extremely hard, more complex – largely due to eventually becoming a nurse to collector demand. support her family.

This is when the AstralcyAccording to Avatar, all of his cler design was manifested. early inspiration came from direct “Astral means ‘of the stars’ life experiences and getting into and everything on this earth the glass game was tough. “I came from them. Stars are remember calling my mom and like a reactor, they take fuel telling her that I thought I could and convert it into something really do it for a living,” Avatar else. They form hydrogen into recalls. “I picked it up quickly, but helium, and helium is built I was always just willing to put in into carbon, nitrogen, oxygen hours. Everyone would almost and everything else we are laugh at me when I was 12 and made of. It’s a way of bringing telling people I wanted to be a it back to the origins of our creglassblower. People would tell me “It’s a way of and how in this universe, I had to do this and that first, and bringing it back ation everything is connected,” says basically go through all these levels. to the origins Avatar.

I just wanted to put in the hours.”

When asked how he’s gotten In 2011, the legendary documen- of our creation to this point in his career in tary “Degenerate Art” was released and how in glass art so quickly, Avatar says, and Avatar really saw the different this universe, “Really what it comes down to levels to the glass game. is showing up every day and So at age 15, he everything is having this discussion with the decided to approach connected.” muse. That you’re there every glass with an entrepreday and you’re sending the signal to the unineurial attitude, got a second job, verse that you’re ready to work.” saved up money and set up a mini Avatar’s first official show was held in March torch in his mother’s garage.

2021 with Hickory Smoke Shop in California “Because I was under 18, no – a full body of work with a series of Mythoone wanted to teach me how to logical Sphinxes and other works representing make a pipe,” says Avatar. his love, vision and output of energy into the “So I had to do it myself, and artform he has spent his life pursuing. it definitely gave me that ‘do-itmyself’ attitude. I changed my Instagram to Avatar Glass when I AVATARGLASS.NET | @AVATARGLASS

STORY & PHOTOS by SAMUEL FARLEY @THC_SAMUEL for LEAF NATION

the glass issue

California

COLLAB WITH MIKE LUNA

Stan Alba

Stan Alba apprenticed with the legendary Bob Snodgrass after meeting the master in the parking lot of a Grateful Dead show as a teenager, and learned the intricacies of the “fuming” style that Snodgrass invented. Alba

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moved down to California’s Humboldt County in 1998, blowing glass in the Emerald Triangle, where he currently lives on his own swath of property. Alba’s stunning style of fuming and building pieces is intensive, sometimes taking him three months to create one piece. Alba loves to collaborate with other glass blowers, creating lasting friendships with every stunning work of art.

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@STANALBA

COLLAB WITH JD MAPLESDEN

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COLLAB WITH MR. GRAY

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS | LEAD PHOTO by JAMIE ZILL @JLZILL | ADDITIONAL PHOTOS by @WINDHOME

COLLAB WITH GRASSLAB

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COLLAB WITH KARMA GLASS

Bluegrass Glass

Bluegrass Glass owner Ari Rom brings a hyper-scientific approach to his artwork. His introduction to glassblowing began in a lab equipment shop in New Jersey, where he crafted glass for laboratory equipment before getting into the Cannabis world. “The big kicker was the economy crashing in ‘08,” Rom said. “The market was all fucked up. The whole scientific industry was going to shit, and at the same time, the weed industry and the glass industry was booming.” Now living in Humboldt County, Rom’s distinct lamp-style pieces have garnered such a following that he has a six month waitlist for a piece, and most of his new creations go to collectors who already own one. @BLUEGRASSGLASS

COLLAB WITH GATESON RECKO

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS | PHOTOS by @TCINMENDO

the glass issue

WASHINGTON

Haaps Glass

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Hailing from the PNW, Ian Haapala is easily one of the most prominent up-and-coming glass artists in the game right now. Living in Washington state his entire life, he moved to Seattle with the motivation and inspiration to learn more about borosilicate and the art of pipe making. For the past five years, he has diligently spent his time blowing glass nearly every single day. With a primary focus on spiral cane millie, Haapala continues pushing himself to produce unique and innovative patterns. As featured, this style of rig named “quasi” showcases UV-reactive Orange Sunshine from Portland, Oregon’s Glass Alchemy. @HAAPSGLASS

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STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JAMIE ZILL @JLZILL

OREGON

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Beginning his glass blowing career in Los Angeles in 2001, Chris Carlson is well known for his perfectly executed sherlock pipes and basket weaving technique, amongst many other creations. Now

Chris Carlson

living in Oregon, Carlson pulls a flat ribbon of glass with beautiful stripes, then chips the glass into smaller squares. From there, he rearranges the glass to form incredibly intricate patterns.

Carlson also offers unique crate and collector sets that often include matching rigs, dry pipes, pendants and jars. This 2021 Chip Collectors tube has 164 pieces and is a part of a big crate set in the collection of @steeloandrasta. @CARLSONJONES

STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by CHRIS CARLSON @CARLSONJONES

the glass issue

ALASKA

Skyler Baisch spent his early years on a horse ranch in Colorado before moving to the wilds of Detroit. In his early teens, he was uprooted again and found himself deep in the backwoods of Wasilla, Alaska. Predominantly known

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for producing some of the state’s best Cannabis, Baisch’s new home was the catalyst behind his love of the plant and blowing functional glass. Although Baisch was actively producing glasswork in his early 20s, he put his passion aside to start a family. After years of working in landscaping, the perils of COVID-19 put his small business on the ropes and signaled his return to glass.

“The landscaping business was falling on its face. I mean, who wants to call somebody to mow the lawn or cut down a tree when you have to worry about a pandemic,” explains Baisch.

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With a focus on providing for his family, Baisch has set up shop in a gutted 1969 Shasta trailer in his yard. For the moment, the cost of shipping glass materials, limited space and the Alaskan market have dictated that Baisch focus on creating spoons – but don’t be surprised if you see big things coming from him soon. @SKYLERBAISCH

STORY & PHOTOS by O’HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/LEAF NATION

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There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.

the glass issue

Maine

KGB Glass Brian Owoc moved to Portland, Maine in 1998 and was staying at a YMCA when he got his first job working the night shift at Dunkin’ Donuts. He really

enjoyed making them, because “donuts make people happy.”

During this time, he decided to rent out a section of his garage so that his friend could build a small glass studio, with the promise that the friend would teach him to blow glass.

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It wasn’t long before he started to get the hang of it and decided to try and make his first Donut Bowl.

While selling his pieces of glass to local headshops, he met his girlfriend Sarah Marblesbee, who was working as a manager at one of the stores. That was 10 years ago. They now share a studio in Portland where she also blows her own glass pipes, as well as adding her business degree and background to his creativity and workaholic style.

Some glass artists teased him about making Donut Bowls, but that didn’t stop Brian. Now his Donut glass pipes, rigs and pendants are collected and sold throughout the world. Some people have accumulated more than 100 of his pieces!

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KGBGLASS.COM | @KGBGLASS

SARAH AND BRIAN CREATE GLASS TOGETHER.

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STORY & PHOTOS by CHARLES TAGGART/KIND BUD PHOTOS @KINDBUD.PHOTOS for LEAF NATION

EDIBLE OF THE MONTH

PAPA & BARKLEY

PA PA A N D B A R K L E Y.C O M

Papa & Barkley THC Releaf Chocolate What sets popular topical maker Papa & Barkley apart is their dedication to getting the simple things absolutely perfect.

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When it comes to Cannabis-infused chocolates, we are certainly not starved for choice. Instead, there are now any number of options for Cannabis consumers looking to combine an affinity for sweets with a dose of THC. But what sets popular topical maker Papa & Barkley apart is their dedication to getting the simple things absolutely perfect. Headquartered in Eureka, the Papa & Barkley crew has been churning out top-quality salves, transdermal patches and tinctures for years.

Now, on the heels of an expansion into concentrates, they’re back again with two varieties of THC-infused chocolate.

Available in Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt, each bar comes packed with 100mg of THC (5mg per serving) courtesy of

solventless, fresh-pressed rosin.

This infusion technique may just seem like fancy words, but when it comes to biting off a square of Releaf chocolate, the result is that one can expect to taste the rich flavors of the chocolate itself, without any distasteful reminders of the infusion process.

For those who prefer the light stuff, Papa & Barkley’s Milk Chocolate Bar rises to the challenge while featuring 84% Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients.

It also has an impressively silky texture, which only makes it all the more difficult to stop at the desired dose – which, to be clear, offers plenty of punch at its intended serving size.

The same can be said for their 66% Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Bar, which features 99% Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients with a dash of sea salt.

My personal palate favors dark chocolate and salt by default, so it was this latter option that truly won over my tastebuds.

That said, both formulas are equally dosed, meaning it’s really just a matter of chocolate preference. Once again, Papa & Barkley has proven that simple is often best. Who’s hungry?

Papa & Barkley Releaf Chocolate 66% Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt 96.73mg THC/package 4.83mg THC/serving $20-$25 Papa & Barkley Releaf Chocolate Milk Chocolate 103mg THC/package 5.15mg THC/serving $20-$25

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REVIEW by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS

CLSICS

infusedPRE-ROLLS

Fire OG x Melon Ringz Dabber’s Pre-Roll

off the shelf

S M O K I N ’

Rosin-enhanced, this CLSICS pre-roll came highly recommended as a “dabber’s pre-roll” from the staff at NUG, so we had to try it out. Smooth and slightly fruity, this highly potent preroll amplifies the interest in the sensory – physical, audial, mandible – and also causes the mind to jump around a bit. You may find yourself able to focus in laser-like fashion on singular topics, but in rapid fire succession – creating that effect where you begin a task only to pause, think about something else and forget what you were doing. We recommend you put on a nice record, flip through some art books and enjoy the ride. ~$29, 27.23% THC, 28.38% total Cannabinoids. nug.com | @nug Available from: NUG Sacramento 1918 16th St., Sacramento SWEETZ

Triangle Kush x Premium Jack Sorbet Hemp Wrap Blunt

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This tight-rolled, hemp-wrapped, tobacco-free blunt scratched that “Belly” itch – as in the movie “Belly.” Drawing huge clouds through the glass tip rolled into each of these pre-rolls from NUG’s in-house brand harkens back to the days of watching DMX and Nas blow through red lights in front of the cops, puffing on blunts and feeling invincible.

The wrap leaves a slight sweetness on the lips as the flower offers an upbeat, slightly mind-racing euphoria that settles into a long, heavy stone that lives right behind the eyes. ~$18, 19.9% THC, 0.42% CBD. nug.com | @nug Available from: NUG Sacramento 1918 16th St., Sacramento MYCHRON

Motorbreath x Motorbreath Hash Infused Pre-Roll

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ach month, our Off the Shelf column highlights a handful of products in a singular category. We rely heavily on budtender and reader recommendations as we curate these products. This month we explored the category of extract-enhanced pre-rolls. Spark one up and enjoy!

REVIEW by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

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This outfit came up in 2017 making coldwater bubble hash in bags in Oakland, before moving into a diversified product line in the wake of Prop 64 and the adult use market.

Along with live resin cartridges and live resin dabbables (check out their line of microdiamonds), Mychron hand-stuffs an entire line of hash-infused prerolls. The Motorbreath flower (cultivated by Grouse Valley Farms) amplified by Motorbreath hash lived up to its name, with fuel so loud the exhale was like exhaust. Slightly disorienting euphoria complemented muscle relaxation, and inspired a bout of furious media consumption – music, articles, social, you name it – the Motorbreath made the mind hungry for more. ~$17, 24.95% THC, 25.41% Cannabinoids mychronextracts.com | @mychron Available from: Metro Cannabis Company 6492 Florin Perkins Rd., Sacramento

concentrate of the month leafmagazines.com

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E X T R A C T E D by C O S M I C C O N C E N T R A T E S

R PU PL E MEDUSA C U L T I V A T E D by N O R S E O R G A N I C S

Live Resin Badder

This February, I had the great privilege of judging the hydrocarbon extract category of this year’s Emerald Cup competition. Among the nearly 40 excellent entries I was able to sample, one of the flavors that stood out the most was the Purple Medusa live resin badder from Cosmic Concentrates.

H

eadquartered in Santa Rosa, Cosmic Concentrates is a recent offshoot of Cosmic Distribution (a subsidiary of Radiant Farms/Labs). They specialize in small-batch production based on unique and exotic genetics sourced exclusively from just a few legacy farms around the Emerald Triangle with whom they’ve developed personal relationships.

As its name suggests, this strain is a particularly purple phenotype of the Medusa strain – a Mendo mutt from the Spyrock area that’s been passed down for at least three generations. I hadn’t heard of it before, but local lore has it that it’s actually a cross between Afghan Skunk and a strain called Misty, which itself is a cross between two other legendary strains: crystally White Widow and uber-indica Northern Lights (likely where that purple pheno comes from). It’s reportedly been nicknamed by some “The Nirvana Strain” – both for its even balance between indica and sativa, and the belief that it’s a descendant of the Misty Kush from Nirvana Seedbank.

The plants used in this run were organically sungrown, and the entire crop was immediately fresh frozen on-site to -40° within 30 minutes of harvest. It was then processed using hydrocarbon extraction into live resin, then post-processed to ensure solvent-free purity.

Cosmic currently offers eight different extract flavors (available as either sauces or badders), three of which were entered into this year’s Emerald Cup: the Medusa live resin sauce, the Purple Medusa live resin sauce, and the Purple Medusa live resin badder. Each of their varieties is 100% strain-specific, unadulterated, full-spectrum concentrate, with no added terps or cannabinoids, and comes with a personal note from the growers on the inside of the package (a nice touch).

The Purple Medusa badder comes in a custom, newly-redesigned box that features striking art by SoCal-based Joshua Jacobs. The badder has a deep golden yellow color and a near-perfect consistency – moist but not wet, waxy but not greasy, soft, stable, and easy to scoop up and dab with any type of tool with no drip or mess. It contains around 74% THC and 8% terps – predominantly myrcene, caryophyllene and terpinolene.

It has a strong, fresh floral aroma and a creamy, tropical flavor – like smoking a Dole Whip (whose color and consistency it resembles), with underlying notes of lime and herbaceous essential oils.

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The Purple Medusa badder comes in a custom, newly-redesigned box that features striking art by SoCal-based Joshua Jacobs.

Like the gaze of the snake-haired gorgon of Greek mythology after which it’s named, the Purple Medusa badder stoned me to my core.

Its immediate effect was energizing and uplifting – tickling my frontal lobe and inducing a subtle euphoria that had me feeling funky, floaty, friendly and functional. That was followed soon after by a noticeable easing of pain and tension in my back. I put on the classic groove “Bald Medusa” by Ides of March (for obvious reasons), and to my dabbed-out delight, I found that the song paired perfectly with the head vibe.

Though it may not have scored high enough among the judges to take home the Cup, the Purple Medusa badder was – in my humble opinion – one of the most unique and enjoyable dabs in the bunch. Its light and sweet aroma, potent potpourri of flavor and balanced high kept me coming back for more.

A high-end extract at middle-tier pricing, Cosmic’s concentrates retail for up to $50 per gram and are available at a handful of select dispensaries in Sonoma, LA and Riverside counties, as well as San Jose.

REVIEW & PHOTO by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420 for CALIFORNIA LEAF | COSMICDISTRIBUTION.COM

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self care spotlight

FEEL IT ALL AROUND

Topicals are an incredibly effective form of pain relief when you find the right product for your specific needs.

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S

weet Releaf – a family-owned legacy brand formulated in Grandmother Didi’s kitchen in Marin for her 35-year-old daughter, who became disabled in a severe multi-car accident – was born out of the need to provide pain relief and bring more comfort into the world.

This sentiment is evident in the mindful ingredient selection consisting of full spectrum, sungrown Cannabis oil, essential oils, and additional ayurvedically formulated ingredients blended to elicit purposeful effects.

Flower is sourced locally from small farms in the Emerald Triangle and made into oil using closed loop CO2 extraction, leaving the beneficial plant compounds intact.

Sweet Releaf topicals employ high THC ratios – a contrast to the high-CBD topicals prevalent on the market, and a nod to recent research and

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take advantage of the tingly effects of cranberry observation that shows THC delivers potent relief oil, rosemary, eucalyptus and jasmine, helping to needed to address chronic pain. dissipate swelling and inflammation.

Their 14:1 THC:CBD Comfort+ Body Butter is Ever since I tried Sweet Releaf I’ve been using a whipped emulsion of terpene-rich THC, THCa, it daily (or let’s be real, more like CBD, aloe, shea, coconut butter, hourly). As a car accident victim, I “This aloe-based, sweet orange, frankincense, know all too well what it’s like to live clove and white camphor, non-transdermal with chronic muscle aches and nerve creating a delicious scent and formula hydrates and now I don’t go anywhere texture that melts into aches and the skin and provides pain, without my travel-sized Comfort+. pains. This aloe-based, noneasy absorption with It consistently eases some transdermal formula hydrates no psychoactive excruciating lower back and sciatic the skin and provides easy effects.” pain. If I could take a bath in this absorption with no psychoactive product, I would. effects.

It has also worked wonders for sore muscles pre Their THC-rich Comfort Dry-Oils – available in and post Pilates class – working to aid in muscle Warms and Cools – provide a discreet, residuerecovery and elasticity, inflammation and pain free roll-on application for reaching difficult relief – so I can move my body safely and get the places like the lower back and shoulders, offering most out of my workouts. pain relief within minutes.

The Warms line stimulates blood flow utilizing spicy natural ingredients like mustard seed oil, SWEETRELEAF.COM | @SWEETRELEAF black cumin, ginger and nutmeg, while the Cools

REVIEW by ALEXA JESSE @ALEXAJESSE | PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS

cannthropology

WORLD OF Cannabis PRESENTS

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American Pipe Dreams When it comes to glass smokeware, it doesn’t get much more old school than Jerome Baker Designs.

JBD helped to establish the modern glass industry and became the largest bong producer in the world … that is, until Operation Pipe Dreams caused the company to go up in smoke. Now, nearly 20 years later, they’ve risen from the ashes to reclaim their place of prominence in the glass game.

PYREX PIONEERS The Jerome Baker story begins, unsurprisingly, in the parking lot of a Dead show in Massachusetts in July 1989. It was there that a college student from Miami named Jason Harris met a hippie pipe maker from Eugene, Oregon named Bob Snodgrass. Known as the Godfather of Glass, Snodgrass invented two groundbreaking glassblowing techniques: fuming (aka color-changing glass) and the “pushed-in bowl.” His individualism and ingenuity would inspire and influence all those to follow.

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Jerome Baker Designs

“There was just some magical attraction to Bob—he’s just that kind of being,” Harris says. “He was the coolest dude I’d ever met. I just wanted to be like him instantly.”

After graduating in 1991, Harris enrolled in the art program at the University of Oregon, moved out to Eugene and reached out to Snodgrass.

In the months that followed, Harris saved his money, bought a torch, and began studying under Snodgrass as one of only 10 apprentices.

“There was an energy in the air surrounding that scene at the time,” he recalls fondly. “It was magical.”

In 1993, Harris and fellow apprentice Chris Shave (founder of Jah Creations Glass) started working together—first in a small garage down the street from Snodgrass, then in a larger studio with another fellow student, Dan K. It was Dan who introduced the group to the big Carlisle CC Burner torch and heavy wall glass, as well as the “wrap and rake” technique—all of which were game-changers for the budding industry.

Harris and Shave sold their pipes on the Dead tour, as well as at headshops in New York. To set himself apart and earn more money, Harris began making bongs rather than pipes—a technique he learned from Snoddy’s top student, Cameron Tower. He also took advantage of his mom’s flight attendant privileges to fly around the world and study glass art—working at glass shops in Italy, Germany, and even as far as India.

Among those caught up in the dragnet was famed Cannabis comedian Tommy Chong, whose companies Chong Glass Works and Nice Dreams had been entrapped by undercover agents into selling a bong across state lines.

JBD “pre-op” frog bong

COURTESY JBD

he moved to Maui and focused on surfing and creating high-end, non-functional glass art for tourists under a new company called Maui Glass Blowing.

OPERATION PIPE DREAMS But even though JBD was no longer making smokeware, Harris Around 6:00 a.m. on the morning of Monday, February never abandoned the brand—instead transitioning it into a skater/ 24, 2003, Harris was awakened by a pounding on his front surfer lifestyle brand. While this never paid off financially, it kept the door. Moments later, dozens of DEA agents in SWAT gear JBD brand relevant within the culture. It wasn’t until he experienced raided his home, hogtied him, threatweed’s newly legal recreational status at ened to shoot his dog, questioned him the 2012 Cannabis Cup in Denver that extensively, then hauled him off to county he decided it was time for JBD to make a By 1999, they’d become the jail. Unbeknownst to him, his headshop, comeback. Using his skills, connections, largest smokeware company warehouse and production facility were name recognition, and an exciting new also simultaneously being raided. marketing tool called social media, Harris in the world—employing It wasn’t until Harris was watching TV was able to re-establish JBD’s place of 70 glassblowers and through the bars of his jail cell that he prominence in the glass industry within just earning $4 million a year. realized the extent of what had gone a few years. Before long, they were prodown that day: In a news conference held ducing custom pieces for A-list celebrities, by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft, and in 2018 made history by creating the he learned that his arrest was part of a world’s largest bongs. The biggest of the multi-agency sting targeting glass producbatch—dubbed “Bongzilla”—stood 24-feet ers across the country called Operation tall and weighed 80 pounds, making its Pipe Dreams. debut in October 2018 at Las Vegas’ Can“Holy shit,” Harris thought to himself, nabition exhibit. That same year, JBD also “I’m in serious trouble!” opened their new headquarters in Vegas, Among those caught up in the dragnet which they named the Dream Factory. was famed Cannabis comedian Tommy Last fall, JBD released a line of limited Chong, whose companies Chong Glass edition Chong Bongs with fellow former Works and Nice Dreams had been enOPD target Tommy Chong, and this trapped by undercover agents into selling month are premiering a new glassblowa bong across state lines. To spare his ing competition show on YouTube Harris, Snodgrass family, Tommy took the full rap—pleadcalled Operation Pipe Dreamers and a giant bong. ing guilty to conspiracy to distribute drug with Chong as one of its judges. paraphernalia. On September 11, 2003, According to Harris—who’s now he was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and a year celebrating his 30th anniversary in the business—the show of probation. Of all those charged as part of Operation Pipe has two primary goals: The first is to document glass art and Dreams, Chong was the only one to see actual prison time. culture for posterity.

“By putting the celebrity in jail, they were using the justice “If I make a bong and somebody buys it, and there are no pictures system to make a political statement,” says Harris. “That’s of it, it doesn’t get logged in our history,” says Harris. “We need to what they did with Tommy.” make sure that the OG vibe gets remembered and embedded into Thankfully, Harris’ deal allowed him to avoid jail time. what this culture’s going to become.”

In addition to paying massive fines and legal fees, he was And the second goal? To help finally get Cannabis legalized sentenced to just one year of house arrest and five years nationwide. “Manufacturing drug paraphernalia is still illegal on a probation. federal level. They can still come bust our doors down at any time,” he cautions. “The laws have to be changed.”

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK With pipe making off the table, Harris needed a new way To go behind the glass with Jason Harris, listen to Episode #10 of our podcast at to earn a living. First, he accepted a teaching position at his worldofcannabis.museum/podcast. Story and photos originally published on alma mater, the University of Oregon, as well as co-founding worldofcannabis.museum and reprinted with permission. Read the full and working at the Eugene Glass School. Then in 2006, extended version of this article on our website.

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @CANNTHROPOLOGY for LEAF NATION | MAIN PHOTO by SLY VEGAS/SLYVEGASPHOTO.COM

WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM COLLECTION

He also took courses at the esteemed Pilchuck glass school in Seattle, where he continued to hone his skills and expand his horizons. Then in 1995, he and partner Jordan Schefter formed their own company, which Harris decided to call Jerome Baker Designs—“Jerome,” an homage to Jerry Garcia who had recently died, and “Baker,” as in someone who gets “baked.”

“I wanted to have a brand name that everybody could get behind—something besides just my own name.”

One of JBD’s trademark styles was the Mothership—an orb-like base with a long shaft and a “snap and pull” downstem (a flared tube with a rubber seal that you pull out to carb)—an idea they borrowed from the Graffix bongs of the time. Unlike heady pieces, in which individual artists create unique works of art, JBD focused on production pieces, with various artists in their shop crafting different components and combining them in assembly-line fashion. This proved highly successful: By 1999, they’d become the largest smokeware company in the world—employing 70 glassblowers and earning $4 million a year.

I TALK TO MYSELVES

It's

46

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

by Mike Ricker

true and I can admit it. I do it a lot. I mean, not out loud so much … well OK, out loud. But at least I’m hyperconscious about maintaining the flailing arms to conceal any evidence of my attempt to reign victorious in the current internal debate.

But doesn’t everyone respond to those nagging inner voices with some form of discourse? I mean, it is part of being human to socially interact whether it is with a person, a pet, or a volleyball with palm shoots for hair named Hanes. Wait, what I meant was Wilson. Hanes was his other friend.

And by nagging, I mean it never stops.

The conjecture feels like a perpetual flow, with the impatient expectation of logical responses. Because if you’re a critical thinker or even someone who questions the meaning of your existence, you’re hardwired to answer reasonable inquiries – whether or not they’re self-provoked.

You can only ignore yourself for so long.

They say that there are three necessities in life to survive: food, water and companionship. And in these times of fewer and fewer options for companions, sometimes you’ve got to turn to yourself for a good chat.

And I’m my own bestie – especially on those Saturday mornings that begin with a dab of Green Queen and a cup of coffee. Bam! Me, Myself and Irene are off to a roaring start, gossiping it up while the eggs get fried, the lawn gets mowed, and the Stoney Baloney gets wrote.

First, there’s the voice who offers advice, then the one who loves to criticize, followed by the one who offers condolence, etc. Of course, as I continue to work on the royal “we” through self-care, the rebuts are often careful considerations for the emotional, sensitive myself. Except for the times when I feel like being a brat. But let’s not bring him into it.

Hey, I’ve gotta go. I’m receiving a butt dial from me.

aPR. 2021

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