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FEATURES

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

7 EDITOR NOTE 8 NATIONAL NEWS 9 LOCAL NEWS 10 CANNABIS HISTORY 12 HIGHLY LIKELY 14 STONER OWNER 16 BUDTENDER Q&A 18 WOMEN IN WEED 20 PATIENT OF THE MONTH 22 SHOP REVIEW SPARC SOMA 24 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 26 ARTIST/MODEL EMILY EIZEN 27 BIPOC/LGBTQ+ COMPANIES 28 LAST PRISONER PROJECT 30 SUCCESS CENTERS SF 32 HOOD INCUBATOR 34 BALL FAMILY FARMS 38 NXTLVL DELIVERY 40 COOKING WITH CANNABIS 41 EDIBLE OF THE MONTH 42 CONCENTRATE OTM 43 TOPICAL OTM 44 TANNINS & TERPENES 46 STONEY BALONEY ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

STORY by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY | PHOTO by EMILY EIZEN @EMILYEIZEN @MAMAWOLFF @EARTHWINDANDFLOWERS

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the equality issue

q&A

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California Leaf chats with SUCCESS CENTERS SF CEO Liz Jackson & Equity for Industry Program Manager, Angela White TO LEARN HOW THEIR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING IS HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY.

Aug. 2020

STORY by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by JENNIFER SKOG @JENNIFERSKOG/MJ LIFESTYLE

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

A B O U T T H E C OV E R

“I would consider myself an artistic activist, striving to uplift Black women and people of color who are underrepresented in illustration. So, when Leaf Nation reached out to design the cover for their Equality Issue, I could not have been more excited. I see Cannabis legalization as a racial justice issue. That is why in the illustration you see the people disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs - weighing more on the scales of justice than the profits from Cannabis legalization. In order to right the wrongs of the past, we have to create a more equitable and diverse future in the legal Cannabis industry.”

ILLUSTRATION by OCTAVIA THORNS for Leaf Nation | @PrettyInInkPress

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS Tom Bowers Features Skye Cabrera Reviews Rachel Bujalski Photography Steve Elliott National News Danielle Halle Features Jeff Porterfield Design Mike Ricker Features Meghan Ridley Editing Zack Ruskin Features Pacer Stacktrain Features Jonah Tacoma Features Octavia Thorns Illustration Jerry Whiting Hemp Laurie & Bruce Wolf Recipes

WES ABNEY | founder & editor-in-chief wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com

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ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the first ever Equality Issue of the Leaf!

We began planning this issue last December, when the idea emerged to shift our Women’s Issue to something broader reaching. I know that none 7 of our staff could’ve imagined the monumental changes and challenges that 2020 would deliver, and I feel blessed to be able to offer the Leaf as a platform for social justice.

When I began publishing the Leaf in 2010, activism was the IT IS THE fuel that pushed each issue out. Cannabis patients and consumers DUTY OF THE were marginalized, persecuted and viewed as second class citizens.

CANNABIS INDUSTRY TO I saw the injustice of families broken and lives lost in prison for CONTINUE TO possession of a plant, faced criminal charges for Cannabis myself, STAND UP AND and realized that I had to raise my voice to make change.

LEAD THE FIGHT Over the years our fight expanded to include prisoner rights and TO MAKE THIS awareness, the preservation of patient rights, the freedom of our CHANGE A plant under recreational laws, as well as more advanced agendas REALITY! like the inclusion of women in the industry.

Today I stand to say that the injustices of the war on drugs - and ongoing systemic racism within America’s criminal justice system and political establishments - are the most important issues in modern history.

And within that fight for equality, the Cannabis industry plays a predominant role. For over 100 years drug laws have been used to target Black and Latinx people. Today this continues while slowly shifting power towards already wealthy and mainly white males of the pot industry, doing nothing to address the injustices of the past or present. This was never acceptable. Change is coming.

The injustices of the war on drugs must end, and it is the duty of the Cannabis industry to continue to stand up and lead the fight to make this change a reality! We are the victims turned stakeholders, who now have the opportunity to drive the change with our tax dollars, jobs and voices.

And while I cannot speak for the entire industry, I know that I speak for my entire staff and family when I say that the Leaf is committed to helping lead this change. We will raise our voice monthly with our Equity Column, holding accountable the broken system as we hope and pray for our country to wake up to a day when we are all equal - free to share our plant, ideas and lives.

This is my hope. And I know that with the support of our readers, advertisers and industry, we will make this future a reality.

Thank you for sharing our inspiration and please share with whom you have the opportunity.

-Wes Abney aug. 2020

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We do not sell stories or coverage. We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism. Email or call to discuss advertising.

WES

NATIONAL NEWS

Pawt patrol

“Like all other patients in Rhode Island, people who use medical marijuana deserve to have access to safe medication, and they deserve to have accurate information about that medication.”

-Rhode Island State Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, on licensing the state’s first medical Cannabis testing lab, Green Peaks Analytical, to sample and test Cannabis products for pesticides, metals or solvents.

LEGALIZATION

east coast

CANNABIS SALES PREDICTED TO SURPASS $15 BILLION

BY END OF 2020

MARYLAND CANNABIS COMPANY INVESTS $6 MILLION TO EXPAND OUTDOOR FACILITY

$

M

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DEPUTY & K-9 FIND 78 LBS OF WEED DURING TEXAS TRAFFIC STOP The Chambers County Sheriff’s Department seized about 78 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop in Baytown, Texas, reports 12 News. After being pulled over for failing to drive in one lane, a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado traveling eastbound on I-10 was approached by Deputy Ethan Kahla. He began talking with the driver, Donald Barrows, 27, of Tacoma, Wash. Barrows appeared “extremely nervous,” according to the report. Deputy Kahla asked to search the vehicle, and after Barrows did not give consent for the search, Harvey the K-9 officer was called in. Harvey alerted on the vehicle, which qualifies as probable cause for a search. The search revealed 78 vacuum sealed, clear bags of Cannabis weighing one pound each, according to the report. The weed was in four suitcases inside the vehicle, according to Deputy Kahla.

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recreational marijuana dispensary locations are operated in Michigan by the chain Oz Cannabis, the latest in Ypsilanti, that city’s first.

aug. 2020

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U.S. states and the District of Columbia have moved to either legalize or decriminalize Cannabis, a shocking plurality.

arijuana sales continued to rise during the global pandemic, according to several data agencies and states, reports the Chicago Tribune. States including Florida and Arizona have set new monthly sales records for Cannabis sales in the past few months. Colorado saw a record $192 million in marijuana sales in May, and Oregon crossed the $100 million mark for the first time since 2015. Projects from the Marijuana Business Facebook expect Cannabis sales to pass $15 billion by the end of this year.

That represents a 40 percent rise in the legal marijuana market between this year and last. Should the projections be borne out, that will mean weed produces more annual revenue than the NBA, toothpaste and hard seltzer, combined.

Maryland Cannabis cultivation company Culta is tripling the size of its outdoor cultivation facility this year. The expansion will increase Culta’s capacity at their Cambridge, Md. location from one acre to three, according to the company. Culta produces Cannabis flower and extracts, and bills itself as the East Coast’s first outdoor cultivator. According to company officials, with the success of the first harvest in 2019, Culta invested more in technology and expansion.

the south

DISABLED VETERAN FACING FIVE YEARS IN PRISON IN ALABAMA FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

S

ean Worsley, a disabled Iraq War veteran with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is facing five years in prison for possession of medical marijuana after being busted in tiny Gordo, Ala. Worsley got his medical Cannabis authorization back in Arizona, where voters legalized medical Cannabis in 2011.

Worsley had relied on Cannabis for years to calm his nightmares and soothe his back THE LEGAL FIGHT WHICH ENSUED HAS pain, reports The Washington Post. So, after his music caught the attention of a local PLUNGED WORSLEY police officer, he consented to a search after the cop claimed he smelled weed in INTO HOMELESSNESS, Worsley’s car. But Alabama doesn’t cut any slack for medical marijuana authorizations. COST HIM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN COURT The legal fight which ensued has plunged Worsley into homelessness, cost him FINES, AND RECENTLY thousands of dollars in court fines, and recently got him a five-year prison sentence.

GOT HIM A FIVE-YEAR “I feel like I’m being thrown away by a country I went and served for,” Worsley wrote in PRISON SENTENCE. a letter from the Pickens County Jail to criminal justice organization Alabama Appleseed.

Marijuana isn’t allowed for any purpose, medicinal or recreational, in Alabama.

1,000 $500k $800k $52m

marijuana dispensaries are now operating in Canada, less than two years after the country legalized recreational Cannabis.

in legal fees may be required to be reimbursed to former CFO James Parker by MedMen, the LA-based pot shop chain.

was the total amount three Massachusetts medical marijuana dispensaries were fined for various infractions last month.

in revenue was brought in by legal marijuana sales in Illinois during the first half of 2020, the governor’s office announced.

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

Despite Legality, Racially Driven Cannabis Arrests On The Rise

Bureau of Cannabis Control Reports On Cannabis Equity Grants

C

ALIFORNIA legalized Cannabis in 2018, however in that same year, African Americans residing in the Golden State were four times as likely to be arrested as their white, Cannabis smoking counterparts.

Despite a 27% decline in total felony Cannabis arrests in California last year, in 2019 that figure not only didn’t improve, it increased to almost 4.5 times as likely. Nationally, people of color are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for Cannabis. This disparity has also affected California’s Latinx population, whose likelihood for being arrested for a Cannabis related crime is double that of white skinned Californians.

The BCC recently issued a nearly 500 page report with details on equity funding made available to a select number of areas across the state that were found to be notably impacted by the criminalization of Cannabis.

In October of 2019, $10 million in funding was delegated to 10 jurisdictions, made possible via the California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018 and the Budget Act of 2019.

DISTRIBUTIONS City of Coachella - $500,000.00 City of Long Beach - $913,991.77 City of Los Angeles - $1,834,156.38 City of Oakland - $1,657,201.65 City of Palm Springs - $100,000.00 City of Sacramento - $1,197,119.34 City and County of San Francisco - $1,338,683.13 City of San Jose - $560,082.30 County of Santa Cruz - $560,082.30 County of Humboldt - $1,338,683.13

Only 2% Of Long Beach Social Equity Applicants Are Still In Operation

ONLY A SINGLE APPLICANT out of 50 in Long Beach’s Equity Program has entered the legal market with a licensed Cannabis business. With Long Beach having granted over $3.6 million in equity purposed funding since October of 2019, only 50 applicants for the program and a single equity owner with a licensed business in operation, the city launched an internal investigation.

They concluded that the primary reason for the lack of interest in the program was tied to potential applicants lack of access to funding. While costs vary greatly, it’s not uncommon to see a $1,000,000.00 bill for building the foundations of a new Cannabis business.

THE VOCAL ANTIWEED RESIDENTS’ DEMANDS...ENSURED THAT THE CITY WILL REMAIN DISPENSARYFREE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

DISTRIBUTIONS City of Clearlake - $98,890.43 City of Coachella - $93,783.26 County of Lake - $150,000.00 County of Monterey - $150,000.00 County of Nevada - $149,999.95 City of Palm Springs - $149,397.90 City of San Jose - $149,300.37 City of Santa Cruz - $147,666.75 City of Stockton - $60,000.00 County of Humboldt - $2,459,581.02 City of Los Angeles - $6,042,014.23 City of Long Beach - $2,700,000.00 County of Mendocino - $2,245,704.40 City of Oakland - $6,576,705.76 City of Sacramento - $3,831,955.93 City and County of San Francisco - $4,995,000.00 To date, the state has awarded a total of $40 million in equity grant funding to support local equity programs.

However, as of the Bureau’s July report, every city and county awarded funding - with the exception of Sacramento - has yet to distribute or utilize these funds in any way. The BCC’s report claims that each of these cities with unused funds has plans to utilize them, but gives no timeline as to when that will happen.

STORIES by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF

caliFornialeaf.COM

This most recent attempt at bringing licensed retailers to Larkspur was proposed by City Councilman Scot Candell, as a potential means of remedying a budget deficit of $2.7 million that the city was facing due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shelter-in-place orders. However, the squeaky wheel still gets the grease and the vocal anti-weed residents’ demands for the continued moratorium on Cannabis businesses in Larkspur have ensured that the city will remain dispensary-free for the foreseeable future. Marin County has a single brick and mortar storefront, CBC Marin Alliance, found about 20 minutes north of Larkspur in the city of Fairfax.

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Then in April of 2020, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the BCC received and distributed $30 million in equity program funding.

Marin County Continues Moratorium If you’re familiar with Marin County, you won’t be surprised to learn that the city of Larkspur recently squashed yet another attempt to legalize brick and mortar storefronts. The measure was voted down 4-1 by Larkspur City Council after more than 50 people voiced opposition in an online forum.

local NEWS

CALIFORNIA

opinion

STORY by SKYE CABRERA @SKYE.CABRERA for LEAF NATION

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AMERICA’S COMPLICATED CANNABIS HISTORY

It

had almost been a year since I had spoken to my 31-year-old, Connecticut-based cousin Edward Greene but Cannabis has a way of bringing estranged ties back together.

From the Nisenan lands in the West to the Mohegan winds of the East, weed transcends all sorts of barriers. I tell him I’ve been asked to write an opinion piece on equality and Cannabis, and that he is the first person who came to mind. Not just because we both enjoy a nice indica hybrid - and conspiracy theory dialogues on how the government is trying to ban all things that bring optimal health, to keep people sick and Big Pharma rich - but because Edward has had a stint with incarceration since his late teens.

As a free man who has witnessed disproportionate affairs, he confirms that he still smokes Cannabis and for good reason.

“I think marijuana has kept me out of prison a lot. I feel like weed is my calm down thing. If I’m angry, it helps me relax, calm down, think it through - breathe. It helps me with anxiety and doing things I don’t wanna really do. I smoke a blunt, I relax and realize everything is gonna be OK.” I never missed one of his collect calls from jail and often we shared the same sentiment that in the ‘real world,’ a lot of the jobs being offered to young POC didn’t pay nearly as much as what the streets were offering - sadly, illegally.

We recalled stories of our selfmade neighborhood friends - highly intelligent street

Aug. 2020

entrepreneurs at the forefront of a now billion dollar industry. With inflation and gentrification rising in our cities and minimum wage staying stagnant, it seemed like a surefire way to keep people behind bars, and most of my friends pushing joy-filled baggies out of Nike duffel backpacks for survival.

We knew that it was a system designed to simply control a certain demographic.

“I view this as a race thing,” says Edward.

“Why give us what helps us? They pick and choose what’s best for us. Xanax or all these pills. But why not make marijuana legal? Because it helps us. They don’t want to see us be productive in society or do anything that helps our brothers and sisters.”

Richard Nixon’s decisions are still attempting to govern our primal need to connect with nature and tap into our own consciousness.

We speak on how the judicial system has been trying to trap minorities or POC for decades, with weed as its scapegoat. It’s that prominent sentence in Tupac’s legendary track, “Changes”: “Instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs, so the police can bother me.”

We speak about Hip Hop culture, adopted trends and the romanticism of blunt smoking in Notorious B.I.G. videos in the late ‘90s.

How every white kid we knew wanted to be included in every puff session and rap cypher in the hallways of the Chelsea Housing Projects of Lower Manhattan in ‘98, but not take the charge if caught.

How someone knew an elite lawyer or doctor who would get someone to bring them an

eighth to their apartment, discreetly.

How if a white guy smoked he was a hippie, but if a Black guy did, he was a problem.

How anything that brought POC joy or even remotely made them feel good was debunked, destroyed, taken or given surplus amounts of jail time.

How Maya Angelou has even written poetry about how happy weed made her feel. How Indigenous tribes and B.C. Egypt had a handle on Cannabis and were healing generations before it ever got into the hands of controlling officials.

How happiness and self esteem might be dangerous to the 1%. How 80% of those in jail for marijuana possession by 2017 were Black and Latinx. How some of them still haven’t been released for petty dealings in 2020.

We speak about mental health. How Justin or ‘J the Don’ was my first psychiatrist at 23.

When my therapist suggested Prozac, it was his hand out with a, “Yo, you wanna smoke?” that saved me and made me trust myself.

We speak on just how warped it is that alcohol and cigarettes are so freely available to consumers, but cause the most damage.

And not only psychologically - we watched cigarettes kill our grandmother and alcoholism destroy our organs.

We pray for the ones who got out of jail and are so traumatized by their incarceration experience that after 10 years, the talk of marijuana at a gathering sparks PTSD. How somehow a plant they once adored has become the one they have come to fear, like

] “No other drug can compete with Cannabis for its ability to satisfy the innate yearnings for archaic boundary dissolution, and yet leave intact the structures of ordinary society.”

]

-Terence McKenna

the stigma imposed by Baby Boomers or conservatives. How they recall handcuffs instead of happy times and Purple Haze.

We speak on how the system of religion once demonized this medicine and its enthusiasts, only to now be glorified in handheld podcasts as rituals for new moons. How it’s been appropriated from the Himalayas to Ethiopia, and used against their same great great grandsons in courtrooms.

We speak on how many friends have a misdemeanor on their record still, and can only get jobs at the local Nissan car dealership.

How weed has become as trendy as yoga and matcha tea lattes, but has had a trail of pain and broken families behind it - with most new users never having to endure or recall the trauma that came to families affected by its criminalization before legalization.

How every city should follow Oakland’s blueprint of bringing equity and opportunity within the Cannabis industry to those previously incarcerated.

How we can’t relive another John Sutter-esque Gold Rush, where so many people are uprooted from their place of prosperity - we all deserve a piece of the pie.

How the government needs to stop being such a damn killjoy.

Because at the end of the day When we ALL sit down to split the nugget, dissect the seeds and smoke the tree We all have the same innate need No matter the race, the color, the creed To just, simply Feel good, feel equal, feel free

highly likely

H i g h l y L i ke l y h i g h l i g h t s Ca n n a b i s p i o n e e rs w h o p a ve d t h e wa y t o g re a t e r h e r b a l a c c e p ta n c e.

A Veteran and the CEO of Simply Pure, a Colorado based dispensary

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WANDAJAMES ONE OF THE WORST WAYS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS RESTRICTED THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF ITS CITIZENS IS THROUGH THE FAILED AND SADISTIC OPERATION BEGUN

BY RONALD REAGAN IN THE 1980S - AND CONTINUING

caliFornialeaf.COM

THROUGH TODAY - KNOWN AS THE WAR ON DRUGS.

Roughly 40 years after his official declaration in 1982, we know that the war on drugs isn’t just a war on your ability to take liberties with your body and mind, but that it is also a racist war. That’s because the war on drugs has disproportionately affected people of color since its inception. It is what has helped to create the privatized prison-industrial complex that has wrought pain and terror on our society. It is truly an evil thing, created and maintained by those in power, and it is high time that it is ended for good.

The subject of our column this month is Wanda James, the CEO of Simply Pure, a Colorado based dispensary and brand that prides itself on quality products and social justice. And James has a spectacular story.

Along with her husband, Scott Durrah, James became the first Black American to own and operate a Cannabis storefront, cultivation facility and an edible company.

James is a former lieutenant in the US Navy, who also served on President Barack Obama’s 2008 National Finance Committee. After her brother was given a 10-year sentence for Cannabis possession, she became inspired to help

After her brother was given a 10-year sentence for Cannabis possession, James became inspired to help right the wrongs of the United States’ failed drug war.

Aug. 2020

right the wrongs of the United States’ failed drug war. She has also worked to get jail sentences commuted for people imprisoned for similar Cannabis related crimes. She has been an ambassador for the legalization of Cannabis ever since.

She’s highly regarded in the industry when it comes to intelligently thinking about operating a business in this burgeoning marketplace.

When asked by Cannabis Dispensary Magazine about whether the Cannabis industry instills the same sort of discipline and goal of serving the public interest as her time in the military and politics, James replied, “No, I don’t think that the industry instills it at all. I think that it’s really vital that you’ve got a good sense of values before you come into this industry, because this industry will rip and will tear at those - and will challenge you at every turn.”

Today, Wanda James continues to fight for equity and equality in the Cannabis industry. In June, she worked to get Colorado House Bill #1424 passed, which creates a social equity license. This allows someone who might not otherwise qualify for a business license to work with a mentor - an established business willing to be a partner and adviser - through the licensing and operational processes.

The bill signing ceremony by Colorado Governor Jared Polis was held at James’ Simply Pure dispensary, where James said it best: “Social Equity is about righting the wrongs of the drug war and giving diversity a strong foothold in the developing industry.”

By PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by WANDA JAMES

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MARLEY LOVELL

CO-CEO | ESENSIA GARDENS

Aug. 2020

“THE CANNABIS GROWING COMMUNITY IN HUMBOLDT IS REALLY ESTABLISHED AND ACCEPTING, AS THERE ARE MANY WORKERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.” -MARLEY LOVE

I had the pleasure of interviewing Marley Lovell, a super positive soul, full of energy and love for the plant. A Bay Area native, brought up by loving parents who had a love for the plant as well, it is no wonder that he and his childhood friend, Ben Blake, are growing some of the finest sungrown Cannabis in the world.

Marley attended Loyola University in New Orleans for a degree in business and music, where he was exposed to a different perspective on how the different classes and races interact and live. Very different from the free flowing and accepting ways found in the Bay Area - and the Cannabis community in general.

HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AS AN OWNER OF A PROP 64 OUTDOOR GROW IN HOPLAND? My childhood friend Blake and I started off hobbie growing in

Anderson Valley seven or eight years ago. We really had a passion for growing and genetics, and we are both really picky. We were already in the system - early adopters in medical (Prop 215) via the tagging system in 2010 - then lucky to get grandfathered in from the medical business and now have a 10,000-square-foot grow on a 100 acre property in Hopland.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN GROWING? My dad is a Rastafarian and my mom is a horticulturalist, so we always had plants LL around the house growing up. When I got out of college, I started growing for fun and was working for Rhapsody Music service. I got laid off in 2015, loved the Cannabis community and decided to give it a go. Ben and I have worked very hard building a full sun outdoor grow, in living soil nurtured by compost teas and organic - although that term is owned by the FDA. We are working on O-Cal, which will be an organic certification through the state. We boast the highest priced outdoor Cannabis in the state.

We are blessed with a great cut of G-13, which we’ve crossed to create Lime Juice (Chernobyl x G13), Pixie Dust (Blueberry x G13) X Haze, and Honey Dew ((Blueberry x G13) X Haze) X Magic Wand. Our testing consistently comes in at 25-30% cannabinoids.

IN THE LICENSING PROCESS, WERE YOU OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE AS A MINORITY OWNER? No, the state didn’t offer any assistance in any way - there is no equity program in

Mendocino. Financing and access to money is a racial issue in itself for people of color, and as you know financing is very difficult for anyone in Cannabis and related industries.

HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY RESISTANCE BEING A PERSON OF COLOR IN THIS INDUSTRY? No, not at all. The Cannabis growing community in Mendocino County is really established and accepting, as there are many workers of all backgrounds. So being a person of color is no big deal. Although I am probably one of the few Black license holders in the county.

DO YOU HAVE A MINORITY EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE AT ENSENSIA GARDENS? We only have a few employees at this time. Our main employee is Philipino, plus a few seasonal Latino workers. We would love to add more people of color to our staff and are also looking to make an impact into the minority communities through donations.

WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON YOU SMOKED WEED WITH? My dad! My parents were separated and my dad would always smoke weed in the car when I was going between my parents. When I was 13 my dad passed it over my way and I took a hit. I was really into basketball, so it wasn’t a big part of my life then. I started playing music at eight-years-old and when I was 18 I started playing more, headed to college and the plant became part of my life.

WHAT HAVE THE BIGGEST HURDLES BEEN FOR YOU TO GET TO THIS POINT? The licensing is super hard. I am well educated and that has really helped me a great deal. It is so hard for so many to get a license, as former drug charges prohibit entry into this industry. And as you know, the war on drugs targets minorities and in general is a huge travesty - counterintuitive and counterproductive.

A Stoner Owner is a Cannabis business owner who has a relationship with the plant. We want to buy and smoke Cannabis from companies that care about their products, employees and the plant. You wouldn’t buy food from a restaurant where the cooks don’t eat in the kitchen, so why buy corporate weed grown by a company only concerned with profits? Stoner Owner approval means a company cares, and we love weed grown with care. Look for the Stoner Owner stamp when purchasing fine Cannabis, and let’s retake our culture and reshape a stigma by honoring those who grow, process and sell the best Cannabis possible.

INTERVIEW by EARLY/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by MARLEY LOVELL

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 N A T E @ C A L I F O R N I A L E A F . C O M

WHAT LED YOU TO A CAREER IN BUDTENDING? The journey to becoming a budtender has been a long, tough, rewarding experience. I’d been using Cannabis for years prior to joining Mission Cannabis Club (formerly known as Shambhala Healing Center), but it wasn’t until after months of work and research that I realized there is so much more to this amazing plant. I am originally from El Salvador - a small, beautiful country in Central America. For most people there, Cannabis is not seen as medicine or a holistic approach. Living in San Francisco, however, has allowed me to experience and learn about the great benefits of this herb. With the knowledge and passion that I now have for Cannabis, I continue to learn and share with my community and everyone who visits MCC. IS MISSION CANNABIS CLUB YOUR FIRST BUDTENDING GIG? MCC is indeed my first and only budtending gig! The first few months were the hardest. Learning in a new field and adapting to a new work procedure was a challenge. I honestly did not expect to keep my job for as long as I have. In fact, there were many times where I questioned myself and my desire to be in this industry, wondering if I was good enough or knowledgeable enough to be here. As the journey continued, I never would have expected to form the relationships and the friendships that I have with my peers and my community; that, along with their continued support, is what drives me to exceed my own expectations.

ANDREA ‘DRE’ VILLATORO 16

CALIFORNIA LEAF Budtender of the Month

WHAT HAVE THINGS BEEN LIKE SINCE SHELTER-IN-PLACE RESTRICTIONS WENT INTO EFFECT IN MARCH? Along with hand sanitizer, the consumption of Cannabis has vastly increased since COVID came into our lives and shelter-in-place took effect. After being deemed essential, me and the rest of my co-workers have been working consistently throughout this pandemic, making sure to take all safety precautions: utilizing gloves, masks, sanitizers, making sure we stay home if we are not feeling well, and being consistently clean.

As far as patients and guests, we all have our good days and bad days. What I can say is that the majority of folks who come in and visit us are usually all grateful we are here. They are being as generous as possible, whether it’s tips, supplies, or even just a great attitude! Regardless, we are grateful.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE WAY TO USE CANNABIS? As of right now my favorite form of consumption is a bong hit! My bong is my best friend and I’m a sucker for ritual. There is nothing like getting home after a long day, grinding down some fire, packing a bowl and taking a massive rip.

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WHAT PRODUCT DO YOU RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE? Hands down one of my favorite products to use and recommend to patients is Papa and Barkley’s 30:1 CBD Tincture. This is a great product for everyone, especially because it aids with general health (bones, cardiovascular, neurological), as well as mental and emotional health. CBD is one of my daily vitamins, which is why whether you use Cannabis recreationally or medicinally, CBD has a place for everyone. If and when you visit, you will probably hear me talking about it religiously.

“CBD IS ONE OF MY DAILY VITAMINS. IF AND WHEN YOU VISIT, YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR ME TALKING ABOUT IT RELIGIOUSLY.”

Mission Cannabis Club 2441 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA | (415) 970-9333 | MissionCannabisClub.com A native of El Salvador, Andrea “Dre” Villatoro’s understanding of Cannabis has drastically evolved since she arrived in San Francisco. Today she’s helping others understand the power of the plant as a budtender at Mission Cannabis Club, a dispensary located in the city’s historic Mission District. MCC combines local culture with an upscale design, welcoming every type of customer San Francisco has to offer with open arms.

Aug. 2020

OVERALL, DO YOU FEEL THE CUSTOMERS YOU INTERACT WITH ARE FAIRLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CANNABIS? Every customer’s knowledge and experience with Cannabis is different. By the time the conversation is over, my goal is to make sure all customers and guests who come my way are informed regarding what they are about to consume, how to consume it and when. We have a handful of expert users who come in and know what they want and how they want it, but we also have novice users who have never experimented in their life - and that is totally okay! At MCC, we take pride in our patience and our customer service. There are no stupid questions. When it comes to your mind and body, you can never know too much. Nine times out of 10, a customer will come in not knowing what they want - but will end up leaving with some good clean medicine, great knowledge and a positive experience.

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER STEPPED FOOT INSIDE MISSION CANNABIS CLUB, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE VIBE AND LOOK? MCC has been around for about 10 years, but we haven’t always looked like this.

From delivery only, to medicinal only, making it all the way to recreational times, our little shop has been through so much. At first glance, our gold aesthetic and fancy lights might be a little overwhelming, and perhaps even intimidating, but don’t let that scare you away. As you walk in and are greeted by our awesome security, checked in by our amazing receptionists and chat with one of our lit ass budtenders, you will see we are not that different - and that everyone is welcome at Mission Cannabis Club.

INTERVIEW by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by MICHAEL ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS

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THE EQUALITY ISSUE

women in weed

THE GALLEY

FEMALE OWNED A N D O P E R AT E D CANNABIS COMPANY / / M A N U FA C T U R I N G & DISTRIBUTION //

ANNIE HOLMAN CO-FOUNDER | CEO & CMO

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WHAT IS THE ORIGIN STORY OF THE GALLEY?

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My background was originally graphic design and marketing, so I had a small design firm for 25 years. I got burnt out doing that, sitting in front of my computer, and wanted to do something else. I got lucky because one of my longtime clients owned an insurance company, and she started to write insurance for Cannabis.

She and I got together and decided to make a brand this was in the Prop 215 days. She actually won a chunk of change at the Kentucky Derby and we opened a little bakery with it. The bakery was called Derby Bakery. We had medical cookies and basically had a lot of really good traction throughout the state because we were one of the first brands to put high-end CO2 oils into cookies.

We were able to produce really nice white chocolate, lemon, macadamia nut, toffee and roasted pecan cookies - thick, chewy, bakery-style cookies that actually tasted good. We won 2nd Place at the Emerald Cup for our lemon cookies and 8th Place for our peanut butter cups.

When Prop [64] passed, we were down in Petaluma and they were not Cannabis friendly. We had to shut down the bakery. I was searching for buildings and I quickly realized that every cent of the three million dollars I fundraised was going to have to be put toward buying a building. I actually got very lucky because I met my current business partners at a trade show in Oakland, totally randomly.

We started talking and she said she had a building in Santa Rosa and wanted to get into Cannabis, but didn’t know anything about it. I was there the very next day that’s how we put this together. We originally planned to do extraction and share space, where a brand could come in and rent the space.

Aug. 2020

But, when I started traveling around to all the events and talking to brands, I realized two things really fast: We didn’t need to do extraction because there were so many great people already doing it in Santa Rosa, and no one wanted to rent our space. Everybody just wanted us to make the products.

Once we figured that out, we had to figure out what we were going to manufacture. We have an 8,300 square foot building, and in that building we have five areas of production. All of these areas have high end, high output equipment - as the idea is to not have to do things by hand as much. We have a commercial kitchen for edibles - double roll rack oven, range - anything imaginable in a commercial kitchen. Next door we have a dedicated beauty product room, including topicals and tinctures, complete with emulsion blenders, bottle fillers, etc.

In the back of the plant we have two rooms that are our candy rooms. One of those contains the candy machine for gummies, hard candies and caramels. And in the second room we have a chocolate machine that makes everything chocolate: chocolate bars, chocolate in molds, chocolate covered grasshoppers. Completely automated.

WOULD YOU COMPARE THE FACILITY TO THE WILLY WONKA FACTORY OF CANNABIS MANUFACTURING? You could say that!…It’s a dream that

took two years to put together. We can pack flower, process pre-rolls, as well as vape pens. Our distribution license allows us to perform fulfillment for our clients.

We will either take the products to the dispensaries or hand them off to the delivery services. We might eventually hire some salespeople, but we have to get the manufacturing all dialed in first.

We just got our licenses in April and we have 15 employees. With Covid-19 it has been a little challenging, I won’t lie, but we have a wonderful Director of Operations and she set up our plant to be very secure. We have strict, stringent rules in place: everyone wears a mask and we have hand sanitizer everywhere.

In the beginning of Covid-19, we decided to pivot because we hadn’t gotten our Cannabis licenses yet, so we decided to make hand sanitizer. That felt really good, because we were able to help out our community.

WHO IS YOUR CLIENTELE? We have a myriad of different clients. The type of client that is particularly important to me is one that is considered a legacy brand. They’ve taken all the risk, paved the way and were booted off the shelves [when Prop 64 passed]. We’re trying to work hard to get them back on the shelves. I have a lot of good sources from years of being in the packaging and design industry, and do my best to pass them on to clients.

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR THE FACILITY?

We sit on two pieces of property, and have our offices on the second piece. We have enough space there to build a second building, so eventually we will expand.

We also built an event center. Our original plan here preCovid was to have all types of events here, in our repurposed shipping containers. We planned to have nonprofit events, educational events, all sorts of things. We had a couple already that were super successful. I’m a cofounder of a women’s Cannabis networking group called Bloom - we had our first event for that here.

WHAT TYPE OF A LEADER ARE YOU? My general

overall way of looking at this business is that it’s about the people first, always. I feel strong about building long term partnerships with people, and also with the other manufacturers out there. I firmly believe in collaboration, not competition. A lot of the brand owners ask, ‘What’s most important to you?’ And I say, ‘You are.’

I have one other woman partner, and so I really value all of my people and their opinions. We have lots of meetings where everybody gets to contribute and collaborate, and my door is always open. I’ve seen too many companies where the person at the top is scary and that just doesn’t work.

It filters down from the top. I’m super transparent with people, but I like that about myself, so I’m not going to change. I’m radically honest, which works for me 80% of the time. I really try to connect people with the right people, and to help others because people are always helping me.

This industry is particularly similar, which means a lot and is super gratifying to me. It all ties back to when I had my medical bakery and was helping patients with my cookies.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE A RISK - THIS INDUSTRY IS GENERALLY A LITTLE NUTTY BUT WOMEN ARE REALLY GOOD PROBLEMS SOLVERS.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT BLOOM, THE CANNABIS NETWORKING GROUP? Formerly a

Women Grow chapter, we came together as a networking group for women - although some guys show up and that’s fine too. We basically get together and support each other and have speakers come in who we find helpful. It’s all volunteer-based. We used to meet at a local restaurant that would sometimes provide food, but we’re going to change the format to meet here in a potluck style gathering.

We meet once a month with a speaker, and there’s a big group of women here in Sonoma County that are absolutely amazing. I want to be able to continue to support this group of people. If they’re experiencing some of the same hurdles I am, being able to help to solve some of those things leaves me beaming at the end of those gatherings. It’s mostly about networking and a little bit about information, but a bit more casual. We bloom together.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNG WOMEN WITH CREATIVE IP OR AN INTEREST IN BUSINESS, BUT NOT EXPERIENCED WITH FINANCIAL PLANNING OR FUNDRAISING?

Find yourself a mentor. I’m actually at the place where I’m looking around for a few people to mentor.

I have a mentor that I talk to from 8:30-9:00 a.m. every day. He’s actually a man, and he’s amazing. He helps me through everything. Find yourself a mentor for whatever you need - there’s tons of women in this industry who would be willing to do that. Finding the right fit is critical.

And get involved with organizations like Bloom, because that’s also how you can meet and connect with the right people. Don’t be afraid to take a risk - this industry is generally a little nutty - but women are really good problems solvers.

We can pivot, and we do all this calmly. If this were easy, everyone would be doing it. If you’re here, you made it. Find a way to hang on. If you want this, your place will become obvious and it will come to you.

This industry is just now getting going.

CONNECT WITH THE GALLEY FB.com/thegalleysonomacounty

STORY by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by THE GALLEY

patient of the month caliFornialeaf.COM

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EMERSON PALMER Aug. 2020

Emerson Palmer is an LGBTQIA+ ally who has transitioned with the help of Cannabis. Formerly a budtender in the Cannabis industry, Emerson now provides outreach to the community via his Instagram page, where he encourages queer individuals to reach out if they have questions or are seeking advice related to the topics of the trans experience, as well as using Cannabis for symptom management.

How did your relationship with Cannabis begin?

My relationship with Cannabis started in my late teens. I had been prescribed medications for both depression and insomnia, and had become more emotionally imbalanced from using them.

I felt numb and almost emotionless. My friends had smoked, so I began partaking with them.

I found that using Cannabis helped both my anxiety, mental stability and insomnia - without the negative side effects I had been experiencing with the prescription pills. At age 18, I went and got my first medical Cannabis recommendation and have been using it ever since, and I am now 31-years-old.

Were you a medical patient before transitioning?

I was a medical patient before transitioning, having also been working in the Cannabis industry prior to my transition. I actually started transitioning from female to male at age 26.

Whether given an official medical recommendation or not, I believe Cannabis can be very beneficial to anyone going through hormone replacement therapy (medical transition). I also believe it to be of benefit for any doctor or therapist who helps oversee an individual’s transition - to be open to the individual’s desire to use Cannabis throughout their transition - as it can help with the emotional, mental and physical changes that may occur throughout their journey.

What is your background/status in the Cannabis industry, if at all? Or do you identify mainly as a consumer/patient?

I’ve worked within the Cannabis industry mainly in the dispensary realm. I’ve had experience as a budtender, have been a general manager of a dispensary, and am now back to consulting patients and customers at a local dispensary. As fun as the term ‘budtender’ sounds, I like to consider myself more of a Cannabis consultant. I have a passion for teaching and educating others on the benefits that this ancient medicine has to offer. I hope to continue my journey with Cannabis by being an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and teaching others, like myself, how we can work with Cannabis to help our daily lives and bring connectivity to our communities.

In what way(s) did you use Cannabis to relieve your symptoms/side effects from HRT therapy?

Did you find certain methods were more effective than others, such as edibles over smoking?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the term for medically transitioning. There is no right or wrong way of being transgender. There are many trans men and women, and non binary people that don’t need to medically transition to feel and be validated within our community. For myself, the use of testosterone does help validate me in the outside physical form, as well as balances both my mental and emotional self.

Introducing your body to different hormones and adjusting your personal chemistry does bring very positive side effects that have allowed me to see myself in ways I never believed possible before. In a positive light, my voice deepening,

my fat and muscle redistributing, facial and body hair appearing; it’s all been somewhat of a second puberty for me. It truly feels like I have been granted a second life within one.

Some unfavorable side effects for myself was a shift in my experience with my emotions, and how my ability to feel them on a more physical level increased.

I remember after a few months of taking testosterone, I began to feel my emotions in more physical cues. This typically happened, I realized, during periods of time called my ‘trough.’

I take my testosterone through intramuscular injections weekly. By taking this, my body experiences peaks and lows of testosterone, and maintains a balance that creates the variations of changes I may experience. Everyone’s body and mind react differently once taking testosterone. For me, during the lower level of T period (my trough), I feel slightly irritable, sometimes less energetic, and more prone to feeling these emotions on a physical level (like heart racing or hands shaking when anxious). I found that when I used Cannabis - for myself I prefer mainly smoking and edibles - I was able to recenter myself and feel less anxious during these periods.

I also felt more energetic and able to work with myself instead of against myself in times of feeling overwhelmed or low. Cannabis plays a great benefit to my mindset and in turn, I am able to refocus on my day and the positivity I can see within myself and this experience.

I also chose to use edibles and topicals during my post operative care after undergoing top surgery.

I found that edibles helped significantly with my pain and mood during the healing process. And 1:1, CBD:THC topical creams have helped with my scar tissue and redness.

How long does it take to complete T therapy?

My transition and testosterone injections will happen for the rest of my life. If I were to stop taking testosterone, my body would essentially begin ‘de-transitioning.’ For my personal journey, taking T has helped my overall value of self and has given me a feeling of balance and joy. Much like, I believe, Cannabis brings these same aspects to many different types of people for a multitude of reasons.

“I have a passion for teaching and educating others on the benefits that this ancient medicine has to offer.”

Has the Cannabis community been supportive?

When I came out as transgender, I was privileged to have been working at the time in the Castro District in San Francisco, at a dispensary named The Apothecarium. Many of the staff were - and still are - queer identifying. They were the first to give me a nametag with my preferred name, and the first to honor my preferred pronouns (he/him).

I remember how important that was to me. I think there is still much growth that can be done in terms of the Cannabis industry as a whole and inclusiveness with the queer community, but dispensaries that are able to create a safe space for queer employees and customers like that can really help make a difference.

Do you think there is room for improvement in how the Cannabis industry represents and supports the LGBTQIA+ and Trans communities?

I think the main thing that the Cannabis industry can do is show inclusiveness. This could come in a variety of forms - such as dispensary management and owners going through classes or training on LGBTQI+ appropriate questions and support, showcasing queer owned and run Cannabis companies, and providing safe spaces for both employees and customers to feel like their authentic selves. Management could make it a point to ask employees and new hires their preferred names and pronouns, and go the extra mile to ask your customers the same upon their first visit. By doing this, we can create safe spaces and a real sense of community.

What does equality mean to you?

It’s difficult to define equality when the foundation of our society is so deeply rooted in inequality.

The people who defined ‘all men are created equal’ were the same people who created inequalities that obviously are still very much alive today. I think there is a lot of uprooting of inequalities to be done before we could create a true definition of equality. I think it’s fair to hope that someday, people would find the value of working on themselves and not see the world from a place of judgement.

I think that place is where equality could grow from.

STORY by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by EMERSON PALMER @PALMER_FIVEVI

SHOP review

SPARC HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF SAN FRANCISCO’S

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CANNABIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

SPARC SoMa is modern, well lit, clean and thoughtfully laid out - a stark contrast to the venue’s location in San Francisco’s notoriously gritty Tenderloin neighborhood. Typically patrons and locals toke up in the lounge area that is available for use by anyone, no purchase necessary, though COVID-19 has caused its temporary closure. This open-to-the-public lounge, the spacious floor plan and multiple POS systems all contribute to what comes off as a low pressure dispensary experience. The sales area boasts an impressive wall with dozens of wooden boxes filled with product that beckon you to find out what’s inside. The shop doubles as an event space with monthly painting classes, comedy shows, charity events and more.

SPARC SoMa

This particular SPARC location regularly stocks over 40 different varieties of flower from both widely known top shelf cultivators, including 710 Labs and Atrium, as well as flower from their in-house biodynamic farm, Marigold. Flowers are available from 1g up to 7g, with pricing starting at $10/g for a Marigold 1g pre-roll. The edibles menu here ranges from just $4 for a 10mg Big Pete’s cookie, to $100 for a 30:1 High CBD Tincture from Papa & Barkley, and includes everything from chocolate bars to ginger beer to tinctures and formulated tablets. SPARC has an absolutely stacked extracts menu, with nearly 200 options between dab and vape, and quality ranging from budget friendly to top shelf. Topical options include patches, creams and balms - all in all a really well rounded menu that any customer would be pleased to shop from.

SPARC has been a pillar of San Francisco’s Cannabis community for over two decades. Since 1998, SPARC has been providing medicine to patients under California’s Prop 215 program and in 2010 they opened their first retail location, SPARC SoMa. Since then, they’ve grown to operate five dispensaries in San Francisco and the North Bay, along with their garden and processing facility. SPARC is a proud supporter of equity operators - both vendors and employees - and makes significant efforts towards expanding access to this industry for those most impacted by the failing drug war. They run programs benefiting everyone from hospice and cancer patients, to the GLBT Historical Society.

caliFornialeaf.COM

The ownership at SPARC has a keen interest in developing quality budtenders. They do so by ensuring each staff member receives budtending etiquette training and ongoing product education.

Budtenders are encouraged to educate their customers about the products on hand and to take as much time as each patron needs to shop. The team at SPARC SoMa is made up of a diverse group of about 30, with many having been hired through the company’s equity opportunity program.

SPARC SoMa 1256 MISSION ST SAN FRANCISCO, CA 10AM-6PM DAILY (415) 252-7727 SPARC.CO @SPARC.CO

Aug. 2020

SPARC is truly a shining example of an independently owned and operated, medically founded and community conscious Cannabis business. Owners Erich Pearson and Sean Kelley have done an outstanding job crafting a menu and staff that reflects the diversity of San Francisco and the neighborhood in which it resides. With approachable pricing, well-educated budtenders, and a clean, consumption friendly space, SPARC is the type of business you can feel good about spending your hard earned dollars at.

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415 | PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

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CAL I F O R N I A

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

SHARK SHOCK

Farmer and the Felon

aug. 2020

caliFornialeaf.COM

WHEN I HEAR SHARK SHOCK, WHAT COMES TO MIND IS A CBD DOMINANT STRAIN THAT IS FLORAL AND LIGHTLY GASSY. THIS IS NOT THAT STRAIN, BUT IT IS THE SHARK SHOCK BY MR. NICE SEEDBANK THAT WAS BRED IN THE ‘90S AND IS DERIVED FROM WHITE WIDOW & SKUNK #1.

It is a classic strain that won multiple High Times Cups long before Cannabis became recreationally legal in California.

The unique aroma displays notes of musky tropical fruit and rose petals. When twisted up in a joint, the flavor translates from the nose nicely with a smooth and subtly peppery fruitiness.

The flower burns proper, expelling a medium bodied and minimally expansive smoke, ending in the form of a clean white ash.

Within a few minutes I’m feeling a heady and cerebral, yet crisp and functional high creep in and settle itself in behind my eyes.

This strain (20.66% THC, .08% CBD) makes for a quality daytime smoke and kept me focused and motivated as I went about my afternoon.

Farmer and the Felon is partnered with the Last Prisoner Project to help both raise

awareness to the 40,000 incarcerated Americans in prison today on nonviolent Cannabis related charges, and contribute to the cause financially.

Along with their parent company CannaCraft, Farmer and the Felon will be donating $10,000 a month to support social justice causes for the remainder of the year, with $20,000 of that committed to the Last Prisoner Project.

FARMERFELON.COM @FARMERANDTHEFELON

STORY & PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

26

“I aim to showcase freedom, diversity and beauty of all kinds in the Cannabis industry.”

What would it mean to achieve equality in the Cannabis space?

The first step is to eradicate the major inequality of incarceration.

There are thousands of people, mostly Black and Brown folks, who are in jail right now for Cannabis - while the wealthy (mostly white males) profit off of recent state legalization. But it goes far beyond just “equality.”

I’m looking past that and looking towards equity and justice.

Black and Brown communities need to have priority access to funds and licences, so their communities can begin to rebuild from the devastating war on drugs. This also goes beyond the Cannabis space abolishing white supremacy in all areas of society, including police, voter suppression and heteronormativity.

caliFornialeaf.COM

So far, which piece of your art would you consider the most meaningful in the illustration of the concept of equality? What was it like to complete the work?

I don’t think I can point to one particular piece that demonstrates equality, rather it is part of my artistic process in everything that I do. Through all of my work, I aim to amplify queerness, especially in the Cannabis industry as a photographer working with brands. I feel a responsibility to use my platform to uplift BIPOC, and pay them to be a part of campaigns. It’s about more than just visibility! I want to bring in as many marginalized people as possible and get them paid in the Cannabis industry. You would be surprised at how many times I hear, “We just don’t have the budget for that right now.” For a lot of my campaigns in Cannabis, I have to either reduce my rate or use my rate to hire talent because of limited access to marketing budgets.

AUG. 2020

Q&A

Emily Eizen QUEER ARTIST & MODEL Emily Eizen is a queer multimedia artist working in the mediums of painting, sculpture, photography, modeling and performance. Her ‘60s psychedelic inspired works showcase the beauty, freedom and diversity Eizen considers essential to establishing equity in the Cannabis space and beyond. Emily’s portfolio and commissions highlight her ability to adapt to different styles and aesthetics across spectrums of gender and sexuality, defying convention. Welcome to the world of Emily Eizen, where the in-demand artist reflects the colorful and vibrant feelings she experiences while merging the cultures of Cannabis and art.

EMILYEIZEN.COM | @EMILYEIZEN

What imagery do you think is the most crucial to implement into the Cannabis industry? I aim

to showcase freedom, diversity and beauty of all kinds in the Cannabis industry - staying true to the creative and psychedelic roots of the ‘60s Cannabis culture, but updating that style to be modern and inclusive. I like to show the people who are actual Cannabis users and healers. People who have been incarcerated. Queer and trans people. I think this type of imagery is more impactful than girls in bikinis holding pounds of weed (not shaming, just saying this type of imagery is prevalent in the industry and upholds this idea of the target audience being straight men who objectify women).

Aside from using Cannabis as a creative medium, how would you advise an aspiring artist to find their personal style? Try

new mediums. Once you get comfortable with your ‘favorite’ medium, try another! That’s how I found my style - by layering elements of different mediums, such as painting, photography, drawing, digital and installation.

The most important thing is to stay true to yourself and your message.

What is your work trying to say?

What do you want your audience to think when they experience your art? How does it feel to create it?

What can Cannabis brands do to honor the advocates who paved the way for legalization? Instead

of having just one month for Pride, celebrate and hire the queer commuinity all year round. Without HIV/AIDS and queer folks, we would not have medical Cannabis in California. Also, in general, brands can help by looking at different ways to allocate funds towards causes such as anti-racism and eradicating mass incarceration, as well as diversifying their board of directors and C Level positions.

Have you experienced a moment where you felt equality as a queer woman in this space? If so, what was it like? Until all of my queer

siblings are free, I will not claim equality. I will not claim victory.

As a free woman with an immense amount of privilege, as an artist, I will not stop fighting and I will not celebrate until the industry reflects a model of true equity and social justice.

STORY by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by RHIANNA COOPER @RHIRHICOOPER

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Dolo Rolling Oakland dolobrands.com

Eleven Eleven Botanicals Santa Barbara 1111botanicals.com

Voyage Distribution Los Angeles voyagedistribution.com

Flower Power Packages Los Angeles flowerpowerpackages.com

Lady Gemini Oakland ladygeminica.com

The Peakz Company Oakland weedmaps. com/brands/green-peakz

James Henry SF San Francisco jameshenrysf.com

Tyson Ranch Desert Hot Springs tysonranch.com

The act of protest can take many forms.

While today large scale actions involving inperson demonstrations are paving the way for long overdue societal changes, taking to the streets is only one of many ways to voice your support for movements like Black Lives Matter. Another way to make an impact is to buy your Cannabis products from Black and minority-owned businesses. In hopes of making such action as easy as possible, we’ve compiled a list of noteworthy BIPOCowned California dispensaries, services and brands. Find the ones nearest you and get shopping!

MAAT Apothecary Oakland maatapothecary.com

IJASUN Los Angeles ijasun.com

Lobo Oakland lobocannagar.com

The Higher Collection LCC Oakland highercollection.com

Amenta Medicinals Oakland amentamedicinals.com

EDIBLES

High Sweetie Edibles Los Angeles chefdaniella.com

SHOKi Beverages San Rafael tribeshoki.com

Mellows San Francisco getmellows.com

Potli San Francisco getpotli.com

Dew Drop Delights Los Angeles instagram.com/dewdropdelights

ANCILLARY Califia Gold - Los Angeles consulting | califiagold.com

Terps & Flowers - Los Angeles catering | terpsflowers.com

Apothecarry - Los Angeles accessories | theapothecarrycase.com

Supernova Women - Oakland non-profit | supernovawomen.wordpress.com

Hood Incubator - Oakland non-profit | hoodincubator.org

Ralina Shaw - Los Angeles consulting | ralinashawpr.com

Weed the People Law - Pasadena compliance | weedthepeoplelaw.com

New Frontier - Los Angeles pr/marketing | bewfrontierdata.com

Hi Medicina - Berkeley consulting | himedicina.com

Success Centers - San Francisco non-profit | successcenters.org

GroLens - Santa Monica compliance | grolens.com

Cannabusiness Law - Napa attorney | cannabusinesslaw.com

Shady Pines Box Club Oakland shadypinesboxclub.com

CULTIVATORS 2 Took Farms San Francisco 2tookfarms.com

Ball Family Farms Los Angeles ballfamilyfarms.com

27

We understand that it’s likely that this list is incomplete. We have done our best to compile this list with as many qualified businesses as we could find in order to help our readers to get a better idea of which companies they can purchase from to support BIPOC-owned businesses in Cannabis.

STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF

caliFornialeaf.COM

Emberz Delivery Van Nuys

Dust to Diamonds California City

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

CALIFORNIA

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

LAST PRISONER PROJECT

The Last Prisoner Project won’t stop until every Cannabis ‘criminal’ is free.

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THE LAST PRISONER. The phrase carries its own gravitational pull.

The weight, the importance, the finality of the word ‘last’ - a terminal statement that means ‘beyond this point, there will be no more.’ Here in the world’s most profusely incarcerated nation - where prison is a multi-billion-dollar, profitable industry that people actually buy stock in - the idea of a ‘last’ prisoner seems unattainable. But that’s exactly what Last Prisoner Project strives to achieve. Thousands upon thousands of nonviolent Cannabis offenders languish in cell block purgatory for committing acts now deemed not only legal, but necessary in many states - and the LPP refuses to rest until the last of those prisoners walks free.

Founded in 2019 by legendary Cannabis activist Steve DeAngelo, LPP seeks not mere clemency and commutation, but the eradication of all non-violent Cannabis convictions past, present and future.

It’s a battle that’s been fought in the street and on protest frontlines for decades, and now that Cannabis is available for legal curbside pickup in large swaths of the nation, the LPP hopes to bring another level of organization to the movement - employing political intervention and advocacy, celebrity awareness campaigns and industry-driven financial firepower in the fight.

C A S U A LT I E S I N A N U N J U S T W A R

A AUG. 2020

ccording to a comprehensive incarceration study conducted by the ACLU in 2010 (and updated in 2018), Cannabis offenses account for more than half of all drug arrests in the United States. And those arrests disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities.

Last Prisoner Project actively advocates for dozens of prisoners currently behind

“AS THE SAYING GOES: WHEN THE DISPENSARY LOOKS LIKE AN APPLE STORE, IT’S TIME TO RELEASE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM PRISON.”

E

nlisting the help of influential figures such as Snoop Dogg, GZA and Chelsea Handler, LPP raises public awareness of cases like Thompson’s, mobilizing the citizenry to apply pressure to policy makers to change unjust laws and fight for clemency for current prisoners.

The organization itself continues to add starpower to its ranks, with advocates such as Melissa Etheridge, Stephen and Damian Marley, and Oregon’s own celebrity Cannabis business owner Jim Belushi currently sitting on its board.

And it’s working. For instance, Bailey said the LPP has engaged with more than 130,000 concerned citizens via FreeMichaelThompson.com in a drive to pressure Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to award Thopmson with clemency.

They haven’t won the fight yet, but with increased awareness, Bailey feels optimistic about their chances.

TEAMING UP AGAINST INJUSTICE

bars for possession and distribution of Cannabis, providing legal and financial assistance and amplifying individual stories in order to shine a spotlight on the injustice of incarcerating nonviolent Cannabis consumers.

Delving into the stories listed on the LPP website, certain common threads weave through the narratives. All are charged either with possession or nonviolent distribution-related activities. Many are racial minorities or are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. And all of them are currently serving or have served excessive sentences.

One of the highest profile Cannabis POWs on LPP’s list is Michael Thompson: A Flint, Michigan resident 25 years into a 40-to-60-year sentence stemming from a 1996 bust in which he sold Cannabis to an informant. The case was exacerbated by prior nonviolent offenses and the fact that after his arrest, two guns were found when executing a warrant to search the then 45-year-old’s home. (Thompson

asserted that one gun was an antique family heirloom and the other belonged to Thompson’s wife). At this point, Thompson will be well into his 80s when he can qualify for parole.

I F YO U ’ R E N OT A N G RY, YO U’R E N OT PAY I N G AT T E N T I O N

The way LPP Managing Director Mary Bailey sees it, everyone who benefits from Cannabis should be infuriated by the imprisonment of Thompson and other nonviolent offenders.

“Anyone who has been incarcerated for Cannabis is a victim of unjust laws,” Bailey said.

“They are the pioneers of this industry and they are the experts in the field. Cannabis has been deemed essential in the midst of a global crisis, and it’s an absolute travesty that there are so many people incarcerated.”

As the saying goes: When the dispensary looks like an Apple store, it’s time to release a lot of people from prison. It’s only fitting that dispensaries themselves get involved in the fight.

“This past year, we’ve really been looking at Cannabis policy reform in our country,” said Emily Carideo, Marketing Manager for Golden Leaf Holdings, a company that operates businesses in multiple states including the Chalice Farms chain of dispensaries in Oregon. ”Once we saw (Last Prisoner Project’s) mission, it really resonated with us.”

Chalice and Golden Leaf Holdings recently committed to donating monthly to the LPP, and to using their retail and social platforms to help amplify the organization’s message.

“Once you hear those stories directly, it’s pretty difficult to not realize that you need to do something,” Carideo said.

Many other regional and national Cannabis and industry adjacent brands have committed to raising money and awareness for the cause, including Oregon’s East Fork Farms, Buddies, PuffCo, Dr. Bronner’s, PAX, Wana and more.

The full list of companies is available by visiting LastPrisonerProject.org.

The way Bailey sees it, the more awareness, amplification and financial firepower LPP brings to the fight, the better chance the organization has of achieving justice for those still unjustly held for nonviolent Cannabis offenses.

It’s a long way to ‘last’ - but the Cannabis community can get there together, one act of clemency at a time. L ASTPRISONERPROJE C T . O R G

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by IANA ALTER

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

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Success Centers was originally founded

by Superior Court Judges in 1983 as an avenue for education and employment for the youth in San Francisco’s juvenile detention facilities. Almost four decades later, they’ve evolved to offer their Equity for Industry program - where the life-changing opportunities now include training to work in the legal Cannabis industry.

success centers sf WHERE DOES ONE USUALLY BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY WITH THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY SUCCESS CENTERS?

Liz: Our outreach is vast and I think our best referrals come from individuals who have been beneficiaries of our work. It could start at our career center, through our schools or one of our training programs. We get funding from the federal, state and local levels, as well as a number of foundations.

Individuals could be brought in by one of our board members.

We conduct community outreach activities that we call ‘Breaking Barriers’ - attending trade shows and job fairs, and visiting public housing properties where we encourage marginalized people to come in and take advantage of our resources.

All of our training programs have a very strong hands-on component. Our construction training program teaches the individuals the basic trade to build tiny houses, including the theoretical components of the construction job. The other half of the day includes understanding the acumen it requires to be successful in that industry. Such as, the requirement of waking up early in the morning to get to a construction job.

Angela has built in the same kind of rigor that is specific to the Cannabis industry within her Equity for Industry program.

HOW HAS THE WAR ON DRUGS CHANGED OVER TIME TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THESE LOCAL COMMUNITIES?

Liz: We were started in the early 1980s, as a result of the War on Drugs. Crack cocaine sales and drug sales were at an all-time, epidemic high. We saw a number of mainly Black, some brown, young people overflowing the judicial system and filling up the detention facilities. That’s how we got started, five judges.

Our community has been decimated by crack cocaine use, drug use - and where folks have not become addicted to drugs, the infrastructure of the family has been destroyed by separating family members and incarcerating them.

Leaving kids with one parent or sometimes no parents, it has debilitated our community for decades. It has had a grave impact on the outcome of the people’s lives that we serve.

They come to us with little to no education, underemployed, no employment, traumatized by the destruction of the community. They give us a chance to help them move into a space where they can legitimately take care of their families.

That’s why its important for us to not only point folks in the right direction by giving them the theory, but to also hold their hands and give them the practicum they need to be able to expedite their learning to get to a place where they can thrive.

Angela: What makes me really excited is to try to bring back some of what was lost and work with folks who were definitely devastated by the War on Drugs. And try to get them to be a part of this industry by working with equity applicants here in San Francisco.

WHAT IS A COMMON CONCERN/OBSTACLE THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS FACE?

Angela: The War on Drugs has created a disparity of wealth in our community here in San Francisco, and the equity programs were supposedly created to connect equity applicants with folks who have the means to get things up and running. The other main problem here is the real estate. We’re trying to connect with folks who are really interested in working with equity applicants, who aren’t trying to give them terrible contracts. This program is about creating generational wealth, but a bad contract with a partner can stop that from happening. I’m hoping that in the future we will come across investors who truly believe in the inclusiveness and fairness of the Cannabis culture.

The portion of Cannabis tax money going to the state that is supposed to go back to the community, that needs to be allocated to the equity program. It’s a very slow process to get approved, which could lead you to paying for your property for up to three years while licenses are being finalized.

Liz: The Cannabis Oversight Committee in the Office of Cannabis is a place for the community to request and share information on the process, but it is slow and their office is staffed with only a few people. With all the taxes charged on Cannabis, that money should be put directly back into building infrastructure to provide more opportunities for social equity applicants and programs to thrive.

ARE THERE COMMON SKILLS FROM OUTSIDE INDUSTRIES THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO CANNABIS? WHAT ARE THEY?

Angela: Of course. Director of Operations isn’t much different in the Cannabis space, besides the compliance and rules. Someone who does marketing from another industry could also come in and do work in the Cannabis space, with a little bit of tweak on the nuances.

caliFornialeaf.COM

DO YOU OFFER SERVICES TO ADULTS AS WELL AS THE YOUTH? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FOCUS EFFORTS ON THE YOUNGER COMMUNITY MEMBERS?

Liz: Absolutely. They are probably equal in percentage to adults, because youth these days is 18 to 24-years-old. We’ve broadened our scope to help anyone who is able to work. Our general population starts from 16 to 99-years-old, if you are still interested and willing.

Most of the young people that we’ve worked with have not had a quality experience through the educational system and are individuals who have been marginalized through some social structure.

They’ve never seen work modeled for them; they’re coming out of foster care, juvenile justice systems, haven’t had good adult male role models - let alone relationships. We target young people so we can help them get on a trajectory to ensure their success.

We want to try and connect them to opportunities that will enable them to increase and enhance their earning potential to create wealth. 80% of the young people that we meet inside the juvenile justice facilities or the jails have committed crimes that are of economic nature.

We want to teach them to use those transferrable skills to function in the legitimate state, and to give them the resources and tools in which to do so.

AUG. 2020

STORY by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by JENNIFER SKOG @JENNIFERSKOG/MJ LIFESTYLE

CEO LIZ JACKSON & EQUITY FOR INDUSTRY PROGRAM MANAGER, ANGELA WHITE

Liz: 80% of the things our participants were doing before joining us were for an economic need. I can’t imagine the kinds of skill it would take to sell stolen goods or solicit anything to anybody. When I meet a young person that can sell well, that’s a talent and a skill that we can easily transfer to give them an opportunity to be in customer service.

Those innate skills that they’ve developed or created over the years can be transitioned to any industry. If you’re willing to stay up all night long and work 20 hours a day, you know you have entrepreneurial skills.

When they go to jail, that kind of industry is run by the same corporations that are here in communities, and wouldn’t give them a chance in the first place.

The only difference is they’re paying them 17 cents an hour, as opposed to 27 to 37 dollars an hour to do the same work.

The onus can’t only be on our participants. It has to also be on the business community and economic drivers out there to see the value in these people and compensate them for the work that they do.

WHAT TYPE OF WORKSHOPS ARE YOU HOSTING ONLINE (EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY) THROUGH THE EQUITY FOR INDUSTRY PROGRAM?

Liz: Learning the lingo is one of the barriers the industry has, and that’s what we teach in one of our workshops. The

street name for a joint is a joint, but in the industry we call them pre-rolls. Terpenes and trichomes on the street would be referred to as the smell and taste, or hair and crystals. We know what that stuff is, but the industry has changed the language and folks are confused. We’re helping people understand that they know what part of Cannabis is being referred to, but the terms are just different.

Angela: We’re constantly bringing industry professionals in to discuss Cannabis specific nuances, from understanding contracts and nondisclosure agreements, to how to handle a cashonly business. Our workshops are free to everyone, because we know our community doesn’t have the means to pay for these lessons.

We’re partnering with Oaksterdam University to give scholarships to community members.

One is the Cannabusiness Seminar that covers everything from purchasing the plant to how to do a security layout of your building, and there’s the horticulture class.

We also offer a trip to a farm in Salinas to see a greenhouse grow and observe in real time what they learned at Oaksterdam University.

“I’m hoping that in the future we will come across investors who truly believe in the inclusiveness and fairness of the Cannabis culture.”

-ANGELA WHITE

SUCCESSCENTERS.ORG | @SUCCESSCENTERS

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

HOOD INCUBATOR

Co-founders Lanese Martin & Ebele Ifedigbo discuss what’s next for the Black-led, Bay Area-born organization committed to reversing the harmful impacts of America’s drug war.

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WE COULD USE A LOT MORE PLACES LIKE HOOD INCUBATOR IN THE WORLD. AUG. 2020

Founded by Lanese Martin and Ebele Ifedigbo in 2016, Hood Incubator is an organization with the stated goal of “ending the drug war and reversing its harmful impacts on Black communities.” Initially, Martin and Ifedigbo focused on their local community in Oakland with a business accelerator, assisting hopeful Cannabis entrepreneurs with the resources, training and mentorship required to land a permit with the city.

“There was this wave of Cannabis legalization happening, first in Colorado and then in these other Pacific Northwestern states,” said Ifedigbo of their motivation to partner with Martin on Hood Incubator. “We were seeing a trend of the industry being whitewashed.

Knowing that California is a leader in this industry - and seeing that some of the factors that we needed to do this work were already in place there - we decided to launch here, in Oakland, and pick up the work from there.”

However, as time has gone on, it has become apparent to Hood Incubator’s founders that focusing too intently on Cannabis justice is akin, in Martin’s words, “to putting on a Band-Aid, but a bunch of blood keeps flowing out.” In this case, blood is taking the form of housing instability, voter disenfranchisement, and the large scale refusal of public institutions and private businesses to fund Black-led endeavors.

“That’s when we realized that we needed to start organizing people to make sure they understood these systemic issues,” Martin explained by phone to California Leaf. “We also want them to know that they have the skillset to dismantle them, both in their local communities as well as nationally. That’s what led us to the current work we’re doing.”

That new work has largely taken the form of organizing and networking. Martin is currently working to add a handful of national Hood Incubator affiliates across the country. With soft verbal agreements currently in place with existing organizations in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and Buffalo, NY, Martin is hoping her organization can assist with eliminating redundant policy conversations by bringing people with past experience together.

“New York City shouldn’t be talking about legislation that Oakland or Los Angeles has already tried and learned doesn’t work,” Martin explained. “You can learn from something that Chicago did or something that St. Louis did, so The game speaks to what Hood Incubator’s founders feel is the we really need to make sure that we start having next chapter in the battle: shining a spotlight on the intertwined these conversations together, especially at the histories of past federal drug policy and the demands for justice local level.” now emanating from streets across the country.

Even as Hood Incubator looks to expand its “Our organizing tenet is to meet folks where they’re at and footprint, it still continues to offer the services that to provide that direct service,” Martin said. “Then you can start first cemented the organization as a vital asset to building the base for the larger issue and that’s what we’re the community. That includes doing. What we have now is a group the aforementioned “Cannabis of people who don’t know how a

BY CONNECTING THE DOTS Accelerator” program, which bill becomes a law outside of that consists of eight sessions held BETWEEN POLICY, POT AND cartoon that we got to watch in over four weeks. In a three elementary school - if they showed it THE POWER OF THE VOTE, series intensive course, parto you.”

HOOD INCUBATOR HOPES ticipants learn about power By connecting the dots between (both generally and as it relates TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES policy, pot and the power of the vote, specifically to the Cannabis inHood Incubator hopes to help local HARNESS THEIR dustry), as well as technical skills communities harness their collective COLLECTIVE STRENGTH. and campaign development. strength. Part of that work involves While those offerings cater reframing and reinvigorating the to individuals ready to make a conversation around the idea that the fight doesn’t end with a full professional commitment to Cannabis, Hood Cannabis permit. Martin points to grassroots campaigns like Ban Incubator also features more laid back, drop-in the Box and Defund the Police as examples of the broader coacurriculum as well. litions that she wants to see Cannabis activists align themselves One example is their “Higher Learning” series: with - if true change is the desired outcome. a monthly gathering to discuss an item of news “We want to tell people that you have the power to dismantle or work of art related to the intersection of Black the impact of the drug war,” Martin said. “It’s less about ‘you’re life and the war on drugs. Martin also previews making money while my cousin’s still in jail.’ It’s about giving an upcoming ‘virtual edutainment experience’ in people the opportunity to get the full, political education of what the form of an online trivia game that will provide went down and what their role is in keeping the status quo. More players both with fun Cannabis facts, as well as importantly, we want them to understand what their role can be in foundational information on the drug war and its dismantling the status quo, so that we can get to the shared vision lasting impacts. of justice that we want.” LEARN MORE AT HOODINCUBATOR.ORG

STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for LEAF NATION| PHOTOS by RACHEL BUJALSKI @RACHELBUJALSKI

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

Q&A | CEO CHRIS BALL From hustling ounces, sitting in prison facing 10 years of federal time, to legal Cannabis business ownership in the most competitive market in the country - Chris Ball’s love affair with the plant spans decades.

ball family farms

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THE EARLY YEARS

caliFornialeaf.COM

Chris Ball grew up with a pretty normal childhood in South Central Los Angeles, in the quiet suburb of Rowland Heights. At the young age of only eight-years-old, Ball had his first exposure to Cannabis - even though he wasn’t aware of what it was at the time. He began to notice that his father would retire to the couch after dinner, grab a rolling tray and twist up and enjoy a funny smelling cigarette, while his mother would relax with a glass of wine.

He would smell the same funny smelling cigarettes and watch his uncles, cousins and even grandmother enjoy them at family functions.

As he got older, he came to understand what the substance was, but was left perplexed by the seemingly opposite paradigms that were being presented to him.

On one hand, the Reagan administration was pushing the “Just Say No” campaign, spreading the message that drugs, including Cannabis, were bad for you and to reject experimenting with any and all substances.

On the other hand, his real world experience showed him that was not the case at all.

The Ball Family would always score their herb from Chris’ cousin Earl and eventually, Ball connected the dots and the foundations of his enthusiasm for Cannabis business began to take shape. His cousin Earl always had the newest sneakers, the freshest fits and a nice car - and Ball realized this was a result of him selling weed. He got his first ounce from his cousin at 16 and got to work learning how to sell Cannabis.

AUG. 2020

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by BALL FAMILY FARMS

MICHAEL, CHRIS AND CHARLES BALL

Dabbling in the weed game was fun and mildly lucrative for him, but Ball had big dreams and his innate athleticism drove him to pursue a professional football career. He used the profits from selling weed to fund his basic needs and schooling at Mt. San Antonio Community College, where he was able to earn a full ride scholarship to UC Berkeley to play football.

A GROWING PASSION FOR THE PLANT

Once at UC Berkeley, he stopped hustling weed on the side as it was no longer a necessity.

The scholarship provided the support he needed to focus on going pro and Ball’s sights were set on the NFL. After he graduated, he was recruited to join training camp with the 49ers but was cut before making the final roster.

Instead, he caught the attention of some CFL scouts and wound up landing a contract to play professionally in Canada. It was there that Ball would be bitten by the cultivation bug.

“Before then, I was just a middle man, you know? I just got weed and then I sold it and made a couple extra bucks,” he recalls.

Chris’ best friend on the team’s girlfriend had a brother who was a grower in Vancouver, and the three made several visits to go and gawk at his garden. Once Ball discovered the per pound cultivation cost, he knew instantly there were amazing margins to work with if he could buy in Canada

and sell in Los Angeles.

It turns out being from Los Angeles and working for the Canadian Football League would provide the perfect cover for Ball to transport product from Vancouver to Southern California without raising any red flags. Establishing this route in 2003 or 2004, he gained popularity in the LA scene quickly because he could undercut the rest of the market’s prices - thanks to the enhanced margins he was working with.

For over five years, Ball ran Canadian packs down the West Coast to LA. Here he was building a name for himself in the scene, as well as a substantial network, all while gaining boots-on-the-ground experience and learning invaluable lessons. What began as a means to simply provide for himself and support his passion for football had ultimately altered his life path in a major way, becoming his new passion.

HITTING THE FAN

Then, suddenly everything came to a screeching halt in 2010 when Ball was arrested and indicted on federal racketeering charges. The move came shortly after Ball began working with a new business partner who, as it turns out, was being watched by the feds. In the long run, Ball would find out that this business partner was working for El Chapo. Yes, that El Chapo. About six months after meeting this new business partner, the author-

ities swooped in and arrested Ball, charging him and 13 others with violating the RICO act. Chris was looking at up to 10 years of prison time.

Fortunately, Ball was able to afford a good attorney who was able to get him an accurate idea of what they had against him.

With it being his first offense and the minimal amount of evidence they had against him personally in the case, Ball and his lawyer worked a plea bargain for 30 months for admitting to his part in the illegal trafficking activity.

His lawyer also worked to get him bail and won an appeal to keep Ball from having to serve his 30 month sentence until the trial was over.

The other defendants would fight their cases and trials, lasting about four years before coming to a close. During this time, Ball lived life on the upand-up and kept his nose clean, working corporate retail jobs and paying his taxes.

As the case wrapped up and it was time for Ball to face sentencing for his 30 month bid, his lawyer came to bat for him yet again and argued that the main target of the investigation and indictment was handed a five year sentence. Whereas Ball, a first time offender, was handed nearly three years and for the last four years had been a gainfully employed, tax paying and law abiding citizen.

The judge gave Ball ‘time served’ and in 2014 he walked out of the courtroom a free man. >> Continues pg. 36

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

ball family farms >> Continued from pg. 35

BACK ON THE HORSE

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There is no doubt that Ball has a deep passion production. By 2017, Ball had gotten wind of for the plant. Within a matter of weeks of narrowLos Angeles’ equity program and realized he ly avoiding a multi-year prison sentence stemqualified. ming from his involvement “pushing the pack,” In January of 2018, California legalized he was filling a 14 light grow room with plants Cannabis and by December of that same and flipping on the lights to take his first shot at year, Ball received an Adult-Use production growing Cannabis himself. license from the state.

Shortly after the trial was finished, Ball went to collect on an owed debt from a former business GROWING PAINS OF A NASCENT INDUSTRY associate. He ended up accepting the grow in Despite Ball’s good fortune to learn of Los place of the money that was owed to him and it Angeles’ equity program early on and obtain was off to the races. Granted, it wasn’t without licensure in the first year of California’s recredealing with growing’s steep learning curve that ational legality, he had no qualms vocalizing he was able to produce anything of value with his disappointment with the way the system the grow. “I burnt up currently functions. “I plants for a good two won’t lie to you,” he says WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS years not knowing what when asked about how OF NARROWLY AVOIDING I was doing,” he exthe program helped him plained. “But the more with the process. “They A MULTI-YEAR PRISON you grow, the more you granted me the license SENTENCE STEMMING FROM learn, the more people and then that was it. It you ask for help. And would be the equivalent HIS INVOLVEMENT “PUSHING you meet people - I met of you getting a football THE PACK,” CHRIS BALL WAS a couple cool cats that scholarship and then FILLING A 14 LIGHT GROW were willing to come in they don’t pay for your and split some equity housing, they give you ROOM WITH PLANTS AND with me and teach me no money for books, FLIPPING ON THE LIGHTS the ropes.” they give you no money TO TAKE HIS FIRST SHOT AT In the same year his for food, they give you trial was finished - and no tutors - they just say GROWING CANNABIS HIMSELF. despite crystal clear you can come to the warnings by the judge school.” that any Cannabis related conviction would have From Ball’s perspective, the system may Ball going straight to jail - he had new partners lower the barrier of entry for applicants to and was taking steps towards vertically integratenter the industry, but it does nothing to ing his business with his new cultivation facility. support newly licensed operators who are From 2015 to 2016, he refined his cultivation forced to overcome a nightmarishly steep skills and really learned the ins and outs of learning curve to stay in business. Had Ball not had years of experience in growing and a substantial network from his prior distribution efforts - learning the tough lessons that come along with being successful in the illicit Cannabis market during that time - he would BALLFAMILYFARMS.COM | @BALLFAMILYFARMS have never made it into the legal market with

AUG. 2020

a legitimate, licensed and state recognized business.

“There needs to be some money, and some help and some consulting behind the scholarship of the license,” says Ball.

Despite an incredibly thorough 75+ page report analyzing potential barriers that may prevent social equity applicants from equitable access to the legal Cannabis industry - along with opportunities to overcome these barriers commissioned by Los Angeles before California legalized in 2018 and having received over $7.8 million in funding since October of 2019 - complicated issues remain. Here, Ball’s real world experience and the overall lack of diversity in the space indicate the need for further investment into the development of the structure of the industry’s equity programs not just in Los Angeles, but across California.

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by BALL FAMILY FARMS

THE EQUALITY ISSUE

If you’re going to start a Cannabis company, it never hurts to learn from the best.

In a sense, that’s exactly what Danielle Walton and Adrienne Mulligan were doing during the 12 years they worked together at Oakland’s Harborside. Founded in 2006 by Steve DeAngelo, the flagship dispensary of Harborside’s line of pot shops is recognized today as the largest nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary in California - if not the U.S. Working for Harborside provided Walton and Mulligan with an extensive education on the ups - and numerous downs - of life in legal Cannabis. From the piecemeal rollout of a framework for recreational regulations, to numerous ever-shifting changes in state policies, tax rates and city codes, the two got a first hand look at what punches might eventually be thrown their way.

Such insights would later prove invaluable when Walton and Mulligan eventually decided to make a go of it themselves.

Inspired by the success of 2016’s Proposition 64 and California’s subsequent

nxtlvl delivery

Meet the concentrate loving co-founders of the Bay Area’s first equity-licensed, woman-owned Cannabis delivery service.

implementation of a recreational market at the start of 2018, what once may have seemed a pipe dream quickly transformed into the makings of a business plan.

When a mutual business colleague made a delivery license within the city of Oakland available for sale, Walton and Mulligan knew it was time to turn their dream into a reality. The result is NXTLVL, a woman-owned Cannabis delivery brand serving the greater Bay Area in California.

C O N C E N T R AT I N G O N C U S T O M E R S

One point of emphasis for the co-owners of NXTLVL is the quality of the products they offer.

“At NXTLVL, we pride ourselves on having one of the best curated menus,” Walton said. “We only carry brands that we ourselves also consume.”

That’s another thing NXTLVL is all about: practicing what you preach.

In this case, that equates to Walton and Mulligan’s own affinity for getting high.

More specifically, the pair are huge concentrate heads.

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STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN | PHOTOS by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS

HAVING STARTED WITH LOCAL DELIVERY IN OAKLAND, NXTLVL NOW ADDITIONALLY SERVICES CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE EAST BAY AND SAN FRANCISCO. THEIR DELIVERY RADIUS ALSO COVERS PARTS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA, SAN JOSE, AND THE NORTH BAY REGIONS OF MARIN COUNTY, NAPA, SONOMA, PETALUMA AND SANTA ROSA.

With their menu, they hope to separate their company from competitors with a far narrower view of what Cannabis products women want. Thus, if you expect NXTLVL’s menu to consist only of bath balms and rose gold vape pens, think again.

For the strain snobs, award-winning local cultivators like IC Collective and Alien Labs are well-represented. Meanwhile, dabbers can rejoice at NXTLVL’s staggeringly deep concentrate selection. At present, the section for concentrates on NXTLVL’s site includes over 70 different products. Live resins, badders, frostings - you name it. The suggestion that extracts aren’t a category of interest for women is one that NXTLVL is happy to disprove with each new sale or customer they welcome.

NXTLVL’s curated menu also features a diverse array of product categories that seemingly offer something for every type of Cannabis consumer. That includes Kingpen vape carts, Kiva’s Camino gummies and three flavors from infused beverage maker Cann. Though generous in quantity, it’s the quality where NXTLVL says they’re still most chiefly focused.

Their strategy appears to be working.

Having started with local delivery in Oakland, NXTLVL now additionally services customers throughout the East Bay and San Francisco.

Their delivery radius also covers parts of the San Francisco Peninsula, San Jose, and the North Bay regions of Marin County, Napa, Sonoma, Petaluma and Santa Rosa.

N O T LO S I N G S I G H T O F T H E F I G H T

Even as NXTLVL grows in scale and strengthens its hold in a hyper-competitive Bay Area market, the company remains dedicated to pairing its economic aspirations with ones of an educational nature.

This comes as no surprise given NXTLVL’s status as an equity-permitted operation.

Designed as a means of providing individuals adversely affected by past drug policy with the first opportunities to turn a legal profit from Cannabis, equity programs in cities like Oakland and San Francisco have been slow to deliver results, but continue to offer the only realistic means of entry for many Black and brown entrepreneurs without the resources of larger, more corporate-minded competition.

That’s why NXTLVL is hoping to help their customers make the connection between modern day protests over racial injustice, and the ramifications of past U.S. drug policy.

A visit to NXTLVL’s homepage, for instance, reveals a prominent link to the Last Prisoner Project. A nonprofit founded in part by Harborside’s DeAngelo, its mission is to see the release of all individuals incarcerated for Cannabis-related crimes in the U.S. Sadly, the Last Prisoner Project’s work has only grown more urgent in scope as COVID outbreaks at facilities like New York’s Rikers Island and the Bay Area’s own San Quentin State Prison underscore the need

N X T LV L D E L I V E R Y. C O M | F B . C O M / N X T LV L D E L I V E R Y 5 1 0

for immediate action.

For Walton, linking their business with an organization like the Last Prisoner Project isn’t a no-brainer as much as it’s a moral imperative.

“Education and activism are extremely important to us at NXTLVL,” she explained. “We are living in a world of uncertainty and we need to continue to educate the public about social injustices and the inequalities of the world. The Last Prisoner Project is near and dear to our hearts. Way too many people are incarcerated for life for something that is now legal in many states.

We need to work together to bring those prisoners of the ‘War on Drugs’ home.”

JUST KEEP GROWING

Along with the bad has come some good in the form of NXTLVL’s success thus far. Since their official launch last November, Walton reports that business has grown by approximately 400%. The operation also now boasts a staff of 11. As NXTLVL’s employee pool has grown, so has the operation’s need for new digs.

As a result, NXTLVL will soon be upgrading from what Walton terms a “tiny location” to a space three times larger in size.

The company has reported that their volume of business has notably increased as a result of the shelter-in-place restrictions put into effect across six Bay Area counties in mid-March. The status of legal Cannabis as an ‘essential service’ has allowed NXTLVL to continue operations during a time when many sectors of the local economy remain shuttered and reeling.

By happenstance, the nature of NXTLVL’s business is one perfectly suited to adapt to pandemic times.

“With everyone switching to ‘delivery-only’ and curbside pick-up models,” Walton said, “NXTLVL naturally started to grow and expand.

Since March, we’ve hired on more drivers and dispatchers to keep up with the crazy demand during COVID.” Things are cooking at NXTLVL. However, no matter how much Walton may have on her plate, she’s never too busy to give a quick plug for her current concentrates of choice.

At the moment, “anything from Kalya or 710 Labs” is Walton’s recommended move, but the beauty of NXTLVL’s concept is that maybe that will change. The gift of NXTLVL’s dedication to constantly refining their menu comes in the form of the freedom it offers customers to evolve their Cannabis palettes in conjunction with industry innovations and trends. Whatever happens, however, you can always count on the ladies of NXTLVL to deliver the best of the best.

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In a medium bowl, combine the sliced banana with the lemon juice and canna-oil. Freeze in a plastic bag. In a small pan, warm the oil. Stir in the cocoa

cooking with cannabis

and agave or honey and mix till smooth. Add the vanilla and set aside. Place the frozen bananas in the bowl of a food processor. Puree until smooth.

Immediately scoop into serving bowls or place in the freezer in a freezer safe bowl. To serve, place a scoop of ice cream in serving bowls, drizzle with the chocolate sauce and sprinkle with the chopped coconuts. Serves 4.

MANGO SORBET In the bowl of a food processor, combine all the ingredients. Process until smooth. Pour the mixture into a bowl. Cover and chill for 2 hours. Pour the mixture into the freezer can of an ice-cream freezer and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Spoon sorbet into glasses immediately and serve or keep in the freezer in a freezer safe bowl or container. Serves 4.

2 medium ripe mangoes, about 2 cups, cubed 1 cup fresh pineapple, in chunks 3 tablespoons pineapple juice 4 teaspoons canna-oil 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 tablespoons agave

MAGICAL BANANA SUNDAE

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3 medium bananas, peeled and sliced 1 tablespoon lemon juice 4 teaspoons canna-oil 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoon agave nectar or honey ½ teaspoon vanilla 4 tablespoons walnuts, chopped

In a blender combine the yogurt, oil and blueberries. Place 1/3 of the blueberry/yogurt mixture in a bowl and keep in the fridge. Divide the angel food cake among the 4 bowls. Pour 2/3 of the blueberry mixture over the cake. Freeze. Remove from the freezer and top with the sliced strawberries. Top with the remaining blueberry/yogurt mixture.

Freeze again until firm. At serving time allow the dessert to sit at

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room temperature for about 5-10 minutes. Serves 4.

ANGELBERRY FROZEN TRIFLE

REFRESH & RELAX Aug. 2020

12 ounces nonfat vanilla yogurt 4 teaspoons canna-butter or oil 1 ½ cups blueberries 1 cup angel food cake, torn in small pieces 1 cup strawberries, thinly sliced

Isn’t this just nuts? Honestly, I am in a constant state of shock, and more than ever, Cannabis is my friend. And for a little extra support, I am adding some CBD oil to my morning coffee and nighttime warm milk. It’s delicious - just warm the milk, add CBD oil, a teaspoon of honey, some vanilla and cinnamon. If you want to make some CBD oil, follow the recipe for THC infusions - you won’t get high, but you will feel better. And who doesn’t want to feel better? These icy treats will refresh! And if you make a bunch, they will be ready in your freezer at a moments notice. Think of all the possibilities in the fruit department. The superb CBD is from East Fork Cultivars and the strain Life Coach is from Noble Farms, where they grow some serious herb.

Last week I made a blueberry almond pie with their Blueberry Kush. It made me a tiny bit happy that we didn’t really have to share the pie. #sixfeetapart #Dontfeartheedible RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF

SPICED HONEY Infused honey has long been one of my favorite edible products, so I was quite excited to have a chance to try this Spiced Honey from Maat Apothecary.

The product is crafted with Cannabis, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon, and offers a lower viscosity at room temperature than your average honey - making it really easy to work with.

The ingredients packed into this honey translate to the palate as a sweet and spicy gingerbread.

The turmeric takes a backseat flavor-wise, but you can feel good knowing it’s there with its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The honey itself is edible on its own as a sweet spoonful, or can easily be added to tea, coffee or even drizzled over ice cream for a unique dessert. As the mellow effects settled in, a noticeable relaxation spread throughout my entire body.

Maat Apothecary is an equity owned Cannabis company producing small batch products out of Oakland, California. Owner and founder Alicia Holcombe is a Town native, an herbalist, Cannabis medicine maker and activist.

Holcombe is part of a multigenerational family of healers and has been crafting Earth derived medicines for over two decades.

A portion of all Maat Apothecary sales support restorative justice, experiential wellness, education equity and poverty alleviation in historically traumatized communities.

The ingredients packed into this honey translate to the palate as a sweet and spicy gingerbread.

edible OF THE MONTH

MAAT APOTHECARY

M A ATA P O T H E C A R Y. C O M | @ M A ATA P O T H E C A R Y C A

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REVIEW & PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

100MG THC/JAR

concentratE OF THE MONTH caliFornialeaf.COM

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INTERREX LABS

PINK LEMONADE LIVE RESIN DIAMONDS

74% THC | .2% CBD | 3% TERPENES

Interrex Labs is an equity owned Type 7 hydrocarbon processor based in Oakland, California. Specializing in live resin extracts, Interrex has recently been throwing down some exotic flavors such as this Pink Lemonade, Melonata, Slurricane and Runtz.

These diamonds were marinating in a pool of golden amber terpenes, giving off a multifaceted aroma with nuances of burnt sugar, citrus rind and pine. The size of the gems and slightly more viscous than usual consistency of the terpenes allowed me to easily manipulate a healthy dab onto my stainless fork tool, before dropping it into a clean quartz banger.

My dab revealed a medium bodied vapor with a dominant lemon lime soda flavor profile that had me stoned before I’d finished my exhale. The effects were immediate and quite pronounced, with the high experienced throughout my forehead, cheeks and temples. My mood shifted and my mind released worry, leaving me to go about my afternoon feeling balanced and positive.

@INTERREXLABS

Aug. 2020

These diamonds were marinating in a pool of golden amber terpenes.

REVIEW & PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

@ N E W E L L S B O TA N I C A L S N E W E L L S B O TA N I C A L S . C O M

DEEP SKIN PENETRATING TOPICAL OIL

THC 42.7 mg | CBG 1.21 mg Cannabinoids 50-60 mg Net wt 10ml /3fl oz

I NG R E D I E NTS: O L I VE O I L , AVO CA D O O I L , E M U O I L , G I N G E R RO OT, CA NN A B I S O I L , CH A M O M I L E E XT R ACT, CA L E N D U L A E XT R ACT, L E M O N P E E L E XT R ACT, A ND VI TA M I N E .

REVIEW by SKYE CABRERA @SKYE.CABRERA | PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

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NEWELL’S BOTANICALS

Their latest magical ointment, Deep Skin Penetrating Topical Oil, carries that same consistent quality of organic ingredients and benefits similar to your grandma’s hearty herbal tea remedy for every ache. Consider this product the ideal choice if you slept in all the wrong ways last night and woke up with a seething neck or shoulder strain you can’t seem to shake off during your day. It’s also perfect if you want to utilize it for a deep tissue massage at home, or like me, for some quick soothing around the knees after leg day at the gym. It even reduced a bit of inflammation for a family member’s arthritic hands - helping him to understand just how medicinal the herb can be.

If aromatherapy and THC had a love child, this is it.

The aromatic and pleasant lemon, chamomile and calendula scent exuded a botanical calm to one’s senses at first twist. Instead of the common menthol, this topical boasts organic ginger root along with 42.7mg of THC, providing that zing and cooling effect that lets you know it’s penetrating and working out those muscle kinks.

The best part of this product is the rollerball that provides users with an easy and quick application, allowing for the perfect usage on the desired areas whether it’s between the shoulders on bike rides or in between tense Zoom meetings.

With cool galactic packaging and sized perfectly to fit in the back of your jeans or shirt pocket, this is an easy addition to your self care regimen - assisting your body in reaching nirvana in less than 10 minutes.

topical OF THE MONTH

Newell’s Botanicals - a POC co-owned and operated, Sacramento based, four time Emerald Cup winner - has been providing the Norcal community with locally sourced and grown holistic Cannabis goodness for close to six years.

tannins &terpenes

T H E A RT OF PA I R I NG C A N N A BI S

VOLCANICA KENYA AA SINGLE ORIGIN COFFEE

TANNINS | VOLCANICA COFFEE COMPANY

KENYA AA SINGLE ORIGIN COFFEE

Africa is well known throughout the world for being cultivators of fine coffee. This Kenya AA coffee is grown at high altitudes and was roasted by Volcanica Coffee Company. My classic pour over was made without haste and served without any cream or sugar adjuncts, so as to experience the best flavor possible.

The nose is dominated by a baking cocoa aroma with hints of vanilla and spice.

The brew has a balanced approachability with mild acidity, accentuated by a pleasant bitterness and flavors of dark chocolate, nutmeg and red berry.

By the time I’d consumed half a cup, I could begin to feel a pleasant mental alertness and the caffeine working throughout my body.

A full cup had me feeling motivated and energized, but in no way jittery or anxious - a big win for someone who is generally fairly sensitive to caffeine.

THE CONGO CLUB RED CONGOLESE INFUSED PREROLL WITH HASH

TERPENES | THE CONGO CLUB

RED CONGOLESE INFUSED PREROLL W/ HASH

The Congo Club’s herb is grown by the efficiency oriented indoor cultivator, Red Top (@_Red.Top_ ) in Sacramento. If you’ve ever grown before or know anything about landrace varietals, you know how admirable of a feat this is.

Landrace ‘sativa’ strains are notoriously lanky, vigorous and take forever to mature. They are well known for busting through greenhouse roofs and going well into November when grown full season outdoors.

Most indoor cultivators don’t even attempt to grow these strains for these very reasons.

All that aside, Red Top has done a masterful job of cultivating this rare varietal. Red Congolese (Congolese landrace sativa x Mexican landrace sativa x Pure Afghani Kush) has a unique mango-lemon-lime aroma with hints of baking spice. The flowers burn to a beautiful bright white ash and emit a smooth, light bodied smoke that tastes nearly identical to the strain’s bouquet.

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31.63% THC | .33% CBD

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THE PAIRING

The Congo Club is an Oakland based, women, minority and veteran owned Cannabis company serving legal California dispensaries, exclusively distributed by Breeze Distro. *California Leaf Warning* Anytime you combine two substances of any kind, you have to be extra vigilant of the effects. We strongly recommend conducting pairings in a safe and private space, in small quantities with friends. Always use a designated driver or have a plan to get home safely.

Aug. 2020

This is an exemplary, high brow version of your classic hippie speedball. The Red Congolese infused pre-roll with hash is a full gram, powerhouse of a joint that blasts you off into a cerebral, focused and invigorating high. When paired with the delicious Kenya AA coffee, you’ve got a winning A.M. combination that will have you feeling loose, motivated, creative and raring to go.

I was excited to discover that this combination didn’t produce any undesirable side effects - a rare find when pairing caffeinated beverages and thin leaf varietals.

There is a lovely congruency in the spice aspect of both the flower and the coffee, bringing it all home for this pairing that delivers on every level I was hoping for.

This duo is truly a winning combo, producing amazingly clear headed and functional effects - perfect for getting my day going on the right foot.

TANNINS

TERPENES

volcanicacoffee.com @volcanicacoffee

breezedistro.com @thecongoclub

REVIEW & PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

emember that television show from the old days called The Dating Game? Before a live studio audience, they would hide an eligible bachelor or bachelorette behind a screen to ask questions to three contestants of potential relationship material. The purpose was to explore compatibility, with the ultimate reward of romance. The questions were saucy, the young and delightful participants were terribly good looking and everyone had a little fun.

Tila Tequila wasn’t even born yet. You do remember her, right? OK, good, we’re communicating.

By today’s standards, this concept seems unoriginal, while 50 years ago the innovative format was blushingly audacious. Free love was still lingering from the revolutionary ‘60s, so it worked.

And the truth is that public dating forums had been kept very discreet by their users up until about 10 years ago when, if someone was brazen enough to create an account on Match.com, chances are they were not public about it for fear of being labeled as desperate.

And we all know that desperation is an extremely effective sex repellant.

So, there was a careful tightrope that the steely dreamer had to balance to maintain a positive reputation, yet still appear appealing. And to announce to the world that you met your partner on the internet would be like saying you met in Vegas.

“It’ll never last,” said their mothers.

Now however, swiping is the preferred form of exploring compatibility, which is great.

On some levels.

Anyway, back to The Dating Game. Not much has changed, really.

The person you are corresponding with is behind a screen and what you get is a television version of them.

Sigh. I think I’m gonna do a dab now.

R

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by Mike Ricker

aUG. 2020

F O L L OW @ R I C K E R D J | G E T T H E AU D I O V E R S I O N & EV E RY E P I S O D E AT S TO N EY- B A L O N EY. C O M