Oct. 2020 — California Leaf

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#6 | OCT. 2020

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OCT. 2020

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ISSUE 06 7 EDITOR NOTE 8 NATIONAL NEWS 9 LOCAL NEWS 10 SEEDS OF CHANGE 12 HIGHLY LIKELY 14 BUDTENDER Q&A 16 STONER OWNER 18 WOMEN IN WEED 20 RISA MARA MACHUCA 22 SYNCHRONICITY HOLISTIC 24 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 26 CBD PRODUCT GUIDE 30 CBD FOR DOGS 32 DAVIS HEMP FARMS 34 ANANDA FARMS 36 MARY DAME 38 RED TAPE JUNGLE 40 TANNINS & TERPENES 41 EDIBLE OF THE MONTH 42 CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH 43 TOPICAL OF THE MONTH 44 CANNTHROPOLOGY 46 STONEY BALONEY ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

BECCA BATISTA

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18 WOMEN IN WEED

LOUISE MITCHELL

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30 CBD FOR DOGS DOES YOUR BEST FRIEND NEED HELP?

WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM

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RACHEL KING | CHEF & CULINARY DIRECTOR

in these stressful times, CALIFORNIA LEAF TAKES A TRIP TO SYNCHRONICITY HOLISTIC in carmel-by-the-sea.

44 CANNTHROPOLOGY REVIEW by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ

EXPOSING POT PROPAGANDA OF YORE

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THE HEMP ISSUE

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humboldt seed company’s nathaniel pennington chats with california leaf on growing, breeding & more

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STORY by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/CALIFORNIA LEAF

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

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

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

WES A B O U T T H E C OV E R “Portland, Oregon based Cannabis photographer Curtis Taylor has shot some of the most exquisite captures of elite quality hemp in existence.

This close-up of Bubba Kush dazzles the eye with colorful fall hues. Bred by Sovereign Fields, and cultivated by Liontree Farms in the state’s famed Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon, this strain was grown to perfection by world class Cannabis farmers using beyond organic practices. While many are growing hemp by the tens or hundreds of acres, Liontree’s small-batch approach translates to more hands-on time with each plant – resulting in a level of quality rarely encountered.”

-Nate Williams @natew415

PHOTO by CURTIS TAYLOR @CURT_ICE LIONTREE FARMS @LIONTREEFARMS SOVEREIGN FIELDS @SOVEREIGN_FIELDS

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BECCA BATISTA, PHOTOGRAPHY BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES TOM BOWERS, FEATURES SKYE CABRERA, FEATURES DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS DIANE JONG, PHOTOGRAPHY LOUISE MITCHELL, PHOTOGRAPHY MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOGRAPHY ZACK RUSKIN, FEATURES JOSH SONDERFELT, PHOTOGRAPHY PACER STACKTRAIN, FEATURES CURTIS TAYLOR, PHOTOGRAPHY NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES

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Editor’s Note Jack Herer once said, “I don’t know if hemp is going to save the world, but it’s the only thing that can.” Before his death, the activist, author and foreteller of things to come became convinced that hemp was the most important plant in our battle against climate change. Sitting here in Seattle after a week-and-a-half of wildfire smoke, in the middle of a pandemic, I have to say that my hope in hemp has been fully renewed.

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Hemp is a bioremediator plant, meaning it takes bad chemicals, unwanted nutrients and heavy metals out of the soil, while returning healthy nutrients and phytochemicals that are needed for the soil to live. Yes, soil is alive – and hemp is also the only crop that can be grown year round, as it gives back to the soil and doesn’t need to be rotated. Why does this matter? It’s the reason that hemp is planted at both Chernobyl and Fukushima, where nuclear radiation has poisoned the soil, water table and overall environment. Hemp is able to clean the soil, while also processing CO2 from the air, making THANKS FOR PICKING UP it essential to the cleanup effort at these most disastrous of places.

THE HEMP ISSUE Hemp can also make wonderful fibers for clothing and paper, is able OF THE LEAF! to be turned into compostable plastics, makes amazing building materials, and can be integrated into almost every single aspect of industrial work. Not to mention the abundance of CBD that we as humans need, which can be introduced into animal feeds via hemp-based nutrition.

The only real question I have is this: Why aren’t we turning to hemp to save the planet? One hundred years ago when Hearst and DuPont hatched a plan to demonize the plant, they set in motion a century of plastics, paper burning and environmental destruction. Today it is our duty to undo the damage and correct what we can, while we can. If we want our grandchildren and future generations to have the ability to live in harmony with the Earth, we must take action.

Climate change is real and the effects are being felt around the planet.

So, how can we help? Ask for hemp milk when you get a latte, or for hemp options at your local clothing outlet. Look for hemp products when you search online – algorithms dominate our technical world and demand leads to integration. If you have a yard, plant hemp! And look to hemp seeds for nutrition – they’re really good for you, and the planet.

A decade ago, I began the Leaf to tell the truth about Cannabis, which I believe will help save our species from the over-prescription of pharmaceuticals and a general disconnect with medicine, healing and the right to feel good. Today, I feel that the battle for our planet – and hemp – is the most important one we have. If we want to have a future free from smoke, chemicals and plastics, hemp is our only option. And what a wonderful one it is!

So please enjoy this issue, share it with friends, and look for ways to use hemp in your life as a consumer and activist. Together, we can change the world – and feel good while we do it.

-Wes Abney OCT.2020

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ABNEY

NATIONAL NEWS

politics

northwest

BIDEN-HARRIS PLEDGE FEDERAL CANNABIS DECRIMINALIZATION

WASHINGTON STATE’S MARIJUANA ODOR TASK FORCE MAY BE FIRST

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alifornia Senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has put Cannabis policy on the ticket’s agenda as an issue for the November presidential election.

Harris promised that she and former Vice President Joe Biden would “THIS IS NO TIME FOR HALFdecriminalize Cannabis.

STEPPIN’. THIS IS NO TIME FOR Harris announced the position at a virtual town hall in September.

INCREMENTALISM,” HARRIS SAID. “Under a Biden-Harris administration, we will decriminalize the use of marijuana and automatically expunge all marijuana-use convictions and end incarceration for drug use alone,” Harris said. “This is no time for half-steppin’. This is no time for incrementalism,” she added.

“We need to deal with the system and there needs to be significant change in the design of the system.”

The Biden-Harris position on Cannabis is “encouraging” and shows momentum for marijuana reform at the federal level, according to Steven Hawkins, Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project.

east coast

PENNSYLVANIA’S FARMERS WILL GROW BETTER POT THAN NEW JERSEY’S, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAYS

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ennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf called on state lawmakers to bring him a bill legalizing Cannabis and directing the revenue to disadvantaged businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. He also urged restorative justice as a priority for communities harmed by marijuana criminalization, reports the Philly Voice.

PA Lt. Gov. In September, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman took it to the next Fetterman level, stressing that delaying marijuana legalization could put the state at “THE GOVERNOR AND I THINK OUR LEGAL MARIJUANA IS a disadvantage if New Jersey gets a headstart by going first.

BETTER. WE THINK OUR FARMERS “New Jersey is going to vote to legalize marijuana, and 40 percent WOULD GROW BETTER LEGAL MARIJUANA THAN NEW JERSEY. of the population will live within a 30-minute drive or less of legal WE THINK WE SHOULD REAP THE marijuana,” Lt. Gov. Fetterman said at the Capitol. “The governor and BENEFITS, NOT NEW JERSEY.” I think our legal marijuana is better. We think our farmers would grow better legal marijuana than New Jersey. We think we should reap the benefits, not New Jersey.”

New Jersey residents will vote on a legalization referendum on November 3. Recent polls suggest the measure will pass. A push to legalize Cannabis in the New Jersey Legislature narrowly failed last year.

RACIAL DISPARITIES PERSIST IN ARRESTS DESPITE WASHINGTON, D.C. LEGALIZATION

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early 90 percent of people arrested for Cannabis-related crimes in Washington, D.C. were Black between 2015 and 2019, although African Americans only make up 45 percent of the city’s population. Weed has been legal in D.C. for five years now. But racial bias is still quite prevalent in marijuana related arrests in the nation’s capital, according to an analysis of police records by The Washington Post.

MULTIPLE STUDIES HAVE Multiple studies have shown comparable rates of Cannabis use among SHOWN COMPARABLE RATES OF white people and Black people.

CANNABIS USE AMONG WHITE PEOPLE AND BLACK PEOPLE. D.C. voters in 2014 approved Initiative 71, a ballot measure permitting possession of up to two ounces of marijuana by adults 21 and older. The initiative also allowed adults to gift up to an ounce of weed to other adults, and for the home cultivation of up to six plants.

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is the amount of THC in the strain Cannabis America, according to Orlando, Florida-based Bazelet Oglesby.

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grams is the amount allowed in a legalization bill currently being considered in Israel.

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percent of Cannabis consumers said they’ve received marijuana through delivery services during the pandemic.

550

percent is the incredible growth rate of Cannabis ‘subscription boxes’ on the service Cratejoy.

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ashington State’s Marijuana Odor Task Force is believed to be among the first in the U.S. to examine an issue that has already caused lawsuits targeting the Cannabis industry. The state is seeking an outside expert, reports Marijuana Business Daily, to advise regulators on the possible impact of Cannabis odors on human health.

Other agricultural businesses, of course - prominently among them livestock and poultry farms - are well acquainted with odor issues and public complaints.

Many Washington state Cannabis OTHER AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES ARE WELL businesses are reluctant to accept yet more ACQUAINTED WITH regulations. But with some opponents of ODOR ISSUES AND the marijuana industry weaponizing legal PUBLIC COMPLAINTS. maneuvers, companies can be tied up in costly lawsuits before they know what hit them.

The request for proposals for the project, titled “Marijuana Odors and Emissions Detection and Research,” went out August 10, according to the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board. The state is seeking a vendor that can detect and report on odors from licensed marijuana companies, and then determine whether the smells are potentially harmful to those who live or work near producers or processors.

WASHINGTON STATE WARNS CANNABIS BUSINESSES ABOUT TEXT MESSAGING SCAM

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he Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) has alerted Cannabis businesses about a text-based scam that has, over the past year, taken in a number of shop employees.

The scam, called a ‘Fire Extinguisher Scam,’ entails contacting employees through text message using spoofed phone numbers, reports Big Country News. The text appears to be SCAMMERS TYPICALLY TELL STORE EMPLOYEES coming from the store owner’s attorney or THAT A ‘GOVERNMENT even the owners themselves, according to INSPECTOR’ IS ABOUT TO COME TO THE STORE the LCB. TO VERIFY THE FIRE Scammers typically tell store employees EXTINGUISHERS ARE IN that a ‘government inspector’ is about COMPLIANCE. to come to the store to verify the fire extinguishers are in compliance. The scammer will then have the employee send photos of the extinguishers, exit signs, business licenses and other regulatory items. Through a series of text messages, the victim is asked to bring a large amount of money to a location, where it’s handed off to someone the employee does not know.

$1.2m

was the cost of an eight month licensing delay, according to Massachusetts dispensary Northeast Alternatives.

$57m

in venture capital funding was received by Cannabis companies between July 1 and mid-September.

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

San Diego Hemp Farms Burn In Historic Wildfires

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wo state licensed hemp farms were lost in the Valley Fire, which is just one of hundreds of

Santa Clara County Approves Hemp Cultivation

blazes currently raging across the state. Jamul is a small community of just over 6,000 residents, located roughly 30 minutes east of downtown San Diego. No Boundaries Farm and Inya Hemp Farms were both badly damaged and sustained major losses, including cultivation infrastructure, plants and buildings. Fortunately, no lives were lost - even as the community in Jamul received zero support from local fire departments. Brooke Campos, one of the founders of No Boundaries Farms, explained, “Our understanding is that all fire support was deployed on the Alpine side of the fire, not the Lawson Valley/Jamul side.” Campos assumes the reason is that the fire started on the other side of the valley, but said she and her family “personally feel that land in Jamul may not be as valuable as Alpine to the county.” gofundme.com/f/no-boundaries-farm-rebuild

Supervisors in Santa Clara County unanimously approved guidelines which will allow for the creation of hemp farms up to 250 acres, but not until federal

AB 2028 Hemp Bill Scratched After Industry Outcry

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he California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA) had been hard at work negotiating with legislators and developing AB 2028. This bill, if it had passed, would

THERE WAS ONE PROVISION THAT TRULY MADE THIS BILL A LOSING DEAL FOR BOTH CONSUMERS AND CALIFORNIA’S NASCENT HEMP INDUSTRY.

regulations ease. The county has adopted regulations to support this currently nonexistent industry, paving the way for up to 27,640 acres of eligible land across 1,845 parcels to be converted PAVING THE WAY FOR into industrial hemp UP TO 27,640 ACRES OF ELIGIBLE LAND farming operations.

ACROSS 1,845 PARCELS Some members of the TO BE CONVERTED hemp community voiced INTO INDUSTRIAL HEMP disapproval for the new FARMING OPERATIONS. regulations due to a provision that mandates farms to maintain a 200 foot setback from public and private rights-of-way.

The setback stipulation inherently benefits large farms and harms small ones.

On a 67 acre property, this right-of-way setback would eliminate nine acres of cultivation area. Regardless of some tinkering that may be necessary to create more ideal regulations, this move by Santa Clara County is certainly a step in the right direction.

UC Davis Expands Hemp Research With Local Partner

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he University of California Davis recently announced a partnership with The California

Hemp Corporation to begin researching hemp in California’s Central Valley, with the stated goal of one day making the region the country’s epicenter of hemp production. Headquartered in Oakdale, the group plans to gather data and develop a localized breeding program that will eventually provide genetics specifically acclimated to the area’s warm, dry climate.

GENETICS SPECIFICALLY In addition, the university also recently launched a new research program through the ACCLIMATED TO school’s Department of Plant Sciences called “Plant to Products,” which will focus on THE AREA’S WARM, genotyping, phenotyping, pre-breeding and breeding for both hemp and Cannabis.

DRY CLIMATE.

STORIES by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF

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have allowed hemp CBD and other derivatives to be legally manufactured and sold in food, beverages and dietary supplements across the Golden State. While the bill included language that provided a legal framework for a number of aspects of hemp, there was one provision that truly made this bill a losing deal for both consumers and California’s nascent hemp industry: It stipulated that, unless specifically FDA sanctioned, hemp could not be included in “processed smokeable products, including, but not limited to, electronic cigarettes and nicotine,” as well as “smokeable flower.”

As this was an obvious and glaring issue with the bill, the California Cannabis Coalition (CCC) stepped up to help mobilize the community to get vocal, subsequently putting enough pressure on legislators for them to squash the bill.

local NEWS

CALIFORNIA

expert opinion caliFornialeaf.COM

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seeds of change I believe hemp can change the world, if it hasn’t already.

When I was a kid, I had no idea that hemp and Cannabis had anything to do with each other.

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he talk of Cannabis was taboo, even if my grandfather – the Venice Beach herbalist of the family – was pushing the idea of hemp milk in his cereal for optimal health since 1995. He swore it was the nectar of the gods and the greatest alternative to ween me off of dairy.

Fast forward to 2020.

Nike just made some hemp kicks.

It’s in my coffee and sprinkled as seeds on my salads for protein. It seemed weird to us back then – we just weren’t ready.

I’d pass by natural grocery store aisles with my mom and have no clue what I was even reading on labels.

Just a word and something no one ever talked about on the East Coast, until maybe 2008.

In fact, if you ask some 40+ year-olds, these days they still don’t understand the correlation or know what hemp is. And it’s likely you’ll have to explain that the CBD they recently started taking for chronic arthritis pain is a derivative of hemp. While the look of surprise can be priceless, it’s also strange because hemp has been around since before Jesus Christ – and in places you would have never imagined.

In 800 BC China, the first cloth fabric was made using hemp. 1200 BC marks a time when hemp fiber was actually used in Egypt to help construct the pyramids. In 1425, knights were already drinking hemp beer. And that famous Van Gogh painting “The Scream” we all know and love?

LATTC Industrial Hemp Alliance | @ihahemp bringingithomemovie.com

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That was created on hemp canvas. Mind-blowing, I know, and perhaps another explanation for the subject’s iconic look of shock.

A little closer to home, we find that the actual Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper in 1776 and that the Pentagon was built on an old hemp farm.

All of the aforementioned dates display just how versatile and innovative this plant actually is, and how it has been used for centuries for things we still do today. And if hemp can basically replace almost everything – including gasoline for our vehicles – why haven’t we been tapping into this? It might be because the American government has been quite adamant in disallowing its production...

For the longest time, hemp has been left to fall through the cracks of American consumerism.

Nowadays, its low THC and high CBD make it an acceptable conversation to have with parents at the dinner table when they are seeking alternatives for a family member’s pancreatic cancer, or for assisting with a Veterans’s PTSD. Beyond CBD, hemp is almost certainly going to help the planet and quality of life of its inhabitants in more ways than one. While some will argue that climate change isn’t real, temperatures in states like California have been on the rise and wildfires have raged – not only displacing thousands, but releasing harmful pollutants into the air that have long-lasting impacts. It makes you wonder what exactly you are breathing in, and if creating a more sustainable future is possible.

According to indie documentaries on YouTube like “Bringing it Home,” more and more people are realizing the benefits of hemp because of its ability to absorb pollutants in the atmosphere and help repair devastated land, as well as possibly salvage many homes from completely burning to the ground.

And materials like hempcrete – concrete made out of hemp fiber – are replacing traditional ways of manufacturing homes in countries like the UK and Spain.

I recently spoke with Los Angeles based activist and hemp enthusiast Abigail Cuevas from LATTC Industrial Hemp Alliance (@ihahemp), who along with her twin sister Noemy, is dedicated to educating her hood and the students at LA Trade & Trade College about the importance of utilizing hemp as an alternative for many things in our everyday lives.

Her motto: We are on a mission to Hemp out the World.

Their passion for this purpose began over their common love for Cannabis – but especially when Abigail developed a skin irritation and opted to use hemp lotion instead of her average moisturizer. After a notable change, she made hemp into a lifestyle.

Now they aim to advance the industry through entrepreneurship, advocacy and research. They host hempcrete workshops where students learn how to manufacture healthy sustainable homes, provide hemp fabric for students in clothing design and host their own unique hemp fashion shows. They even host culinary demos and a ‘Hempsgiving’ every year, showcasing all the ways we can immerse this life-giving plant into our diets.

“We want to show people that they can do everything they are doing now, but incorporate hemp into it,” says Abigail. “From skin care therapy to science and technology – we want to be the first community college in LA to become sustainable.”

During this time of devastating fires on the West Coast, Cuevas assured me after taking a training program for hempcrete in Idaho, that these fibers are actually flame retardant. Tests have proven that it isn’t flammable and doesn’t get easily burned. This phenomenon is something to consider, especially given the current conditions.

We close our conversation discussing the importance of swapping healthier materials like hemp for home-building – not just for the inhabitants – but for the many immigrants exposed to these materials daily during construction. It’s clear that hemp is what the world needs, and that we need to make it affordable and accessible. We need tiny homes out of hemp for the growing homeless community, and we need curriculum in schools teaching our kids how to cultivate it and build more sustainable futures.

So, where do we sign?

For the longest time, hemp has been left to fall through the cracks of American consumerism.

STORY by SKYE CABRERA @SKYE.CABRERA for CALIFORNIA LEAF

highly likely

Highly Likely highlights Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance.

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CLIFF ROBINSON CLIFF ROBINSON WAS ONE OF THE MANY GREAT ‘CHARACTERS’ TO PLAY IN THE NBA’S GO-GO 1990S AND INTO THE 2000S. HOWEVER, A DEEPER DIG INTO HIS LIFE REVEALS A MAN WHO WAS FAR MORE THAN JUST AN ATHLETE.

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obinson played for almost a decade for About that stint with the Blazers; Robinson the Portland Trail Blazers, and during was part of the team that was - to fans, at least these years with the team from 1989- affectionately referred to as ‘The Jail Blazers.’

1997, he made the playoffs almost every year.

There he earned the name ‘Uncle Spliffy’ (a During his time in the league, he scored derivation of his moniker ‘Uncle Cliffy’ better more points than some of the NBA’s greatest known to Blazers fans) from NBA writer Peter players, including Magic Vecesy, following numerous Johnson, Isaiah Thomas and suspensions due to Cannabis“I think Scottie Pippen, with Robinson related incidents while in the Cannabis will currently ranked 54th on the NBA. eventually be NBA’s all-time scoring list. He But there was nothing funny recognized was an excellent defensive about this label - in truth, player as well - making the many Blazers’ players were as a help NBA’s “All-Defensive Team” subject to racial profiling for athletes, twice during his career. by the Portland Police rather than a But while basketball was Department, most of the time hinderance.” something that Robinson was for Cannabis. supremely gifted at playing, it Unfortunately, due to this Cliff Robinson did not entirely define him as Robinson became a target for a person. law enforcement, resulting in a Robinson was a family man and he loved SWAT raid of his home.

Portland, so much so that he began moving his Post-NBA, Robinson became outspoken family and friends here shortly after starting his on his love for all things Cannabis. Once stint with the Trail Blazers in the late-1980s. legalization took hold, Robinson signed on as

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an ambassador for Pistil Point in the infancy of Oregon’s legal Cannabis industry.

Robinson became a fixture at Cannabis events in Portland, and spoke about how beneficial the herb can be medically especially for athletes. “[I want] to knock down the myth that athletes and Cannabis don’t mix,” Robinson told the Oregonian in 2017.

“I played 18 years in the NBA and I used Cannabis on and off along the way, and I didn’t have a problem. The more we continue to stay out in front of it in a positive way and continue to push being responsible with it, I think Cannabis will eventually be recognized as a help for athletes, rather than a hinderance.”

Robinson will always be remembered for his friendly personality and warm smile - and by many accounts, for his wonderful singing voice.

While Robinson’s passing away in late August 2020 after a long battle with lymphoma is a big loss for NBA fans and Blazers’ faithful, for the Cannabis industry, we lost a true leader.

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interview

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

JORDAN VINSON CALIFORNIA LEAF

Budtender of the Month YOU WORKED IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY BEFORE COMING INTO CANNABIS. HOW DID THAT LINE OF WORK PREPARE YOU? That’s where I dialed in my customer service and basically learned how to hustle.

I started as a busboy and then became a server. After that I had a sales job with a third party company that worked through Xfinity and AT&T, where I was retailing as many products as possible and would stand in Walmart with a tablet and pitch internet, cable, etc. I feel like each job subconsciously prepared me for my next position and gave me something to build upon.

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WERE YOU STONED WHEN YOU SERVED TABLES? Definitely (laughs)! It was common for bussers and servers to smoke on our tens and thirties, or before work. And now that Cannabis is legal, I’d say that it’s probably a pretty standard practice.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BUDTENDING? One of the reasons I love my job is because I get to meet all different walks of life and we all have a common appreciation for Cannabis.

Conversation and communication are a craft and I think it’s important to be “WE ARE ALL involved in the community one way or PEOPLE FROM another, and I feel like Cannabis is a great DIFFERENT platform for that to take place. Sometimes BACKGROUNDS, BUT I’ll have a book out that I’m into and THAT COMMON people will engage with what I happen to THREAD OF OUR be reading at the moment, and we’ll get APPRECIATION FOR into a discussion about the context of the THE PLANT BRINGS literature that doesn’t directly pertain to US TOGETHER.” Cannabis. So, what is cool about working in the Cannabis business is that there is a mutual appreciation for the plant that started the conversation. It’s almost like Cannabis itself is its own platform. At the end of the day, we are all people from different backgrounds, but that common thread of our appreciation for the plant brings us together.

420 F STREET DISPENSARY 420 F St, Davis, CA | (530) 746-5122 | 420Fstreet.com @davis.fstreetdispensary Jordan is a budding visual artist out of Sacramento and has been in the cannabiz for two years, where he has high hopes of bringing a fresh perspective to not only the industry he loves, but the world as well.

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YOU ARE AN ARTIST. WHERE IS YOUR CREATIVE SIDE LEANING THESE DAYS? I’m really into traditional Japanese art right now. I’ve been digging on Kawanabe Kyosai and Takashi Murakami.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT? Everyone should check out the Amazing World of Gumball. Gumball is a cartoon cat and his best friend is a fish named Darwin. You won’t be disappointed.

INTERVIEW by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by 420 F STREET DISPENSARY

EXCLUSIVE CULTIVARS FROM CALIFORNIA’S CANNABIS CAPITAL SEEDS: Feminized, Regular, Autoflower, Photoperiod THC and CBD CLONES: Strain license agreements available from our 2018-2019 Unprecedented 10k Plant Phenotype Mega-Hunts!

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HumboldtSeedCompany.com

stoner owner

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED GROWING IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY?

Well, I’m originally from the East Coast.

I’m the son of a preacher man and was born in New York, but grew up in Philadelphia. As soon as I graduated high school at age 18, I moved out to California and started helping out on grows. It was 1995 – still the guerrilla growing days before Prop 215 – and we had to hide the plants from everyone. I learned from a few mentors out in Eastern Humboldt, in the mountains.

AND HOW DID THAT EVENTUALLY LEAD TO PRODUCING SEEDS AND STARTING UP A SEED COMPANY?

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To make a long story short, I started by helping growers and within a few years, rented my own place and began a grow of my own. By ‘97-’98, I realized I needed to create my own starting material that was better than the clones I could occasionally get. So I started taking different strains that I could find and crossing them with other varieties that were available at the time, for my own purposes. Breeding my own seeds seemed to me to be more stable and a DIY approach to growing Cannabis. It was 25 years ago and there were still people that were getting locked up all around us.

So, my interest was sparked by needing genetics that worked well for Humboldt – and always having access to them.

The most secure way to do that at the time was to make them yourself, and out of that necessity sparked a great interest that became a passion and eventually a business. But it happened over time.

It wasn’t like a light bulb went on above my head and said ‘I want to start a seed company’ – because back then, the idea of having a formalized business infrastructure based around Cannabis seeds was not a good plan. Keeping records wasn’t a good idea.

Of course, if you’ve ever made seeds, oftentimes you get extra and have more than you really need for yourself. So, I would always just share them with friends.

And that’s a classic Humboldt thing – we’ve always passed genetics around to each other, so I think I had a little bit of a reputation as someone who had solid genetics. By around ‘98-’99, people had made it their tradition to come see me around December. At the time, I wasn’t charging them for the beans – just bring over a six-pack or something. It was actually my girlfriend at the time who convinced me to start accepting money.

The best businesses seem to spring out of an obvious need.

ocT. 2020

NATHANIEL PENNINGTON HUMBOLDT SEED COMPANY

Nathaniel Pennington founded the Humboldt Seed Company in 2001 to produce natural, high quality Cannabis genetics for growers, patients and connoisseurs. Working with heritage varieties from the famed Emerald Triangle of California, he crossed and stabilized local genetics in order to improve terpene profiles, flavors and scents, as well as the allimportant potency levels. We recently sat down with him for a chat about what it takes to breed new strains and his new partnership with California’s largest Native American Tribe to produce CBD-rich seeds for the emerging hemp industry.

HUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY.COM

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE STRAINS YOU WERE WORKING WITH AT THAT TIME?

One of the really popular ones was called Salmon Creek Big Bud. That’s one we incorporated into our breeding without really knowing who came up with it originally. I don’t think it was actually anyone from Salmon Creek, because you didn’t want to tie anything to your neighborhood and I would venture to say that the residents didn’t really appreciate that kind of recognition. Nobody wanted to be a target for law enforcement.

But that strain was well-bred for this region and produced massively. It reminds me a little bit of what eventually came out as Green Crack, with a little more of a peppery twist to it like an Afghani Kush flavor, but it grew a lot like Green Crack or Dream Queen or whatever you wanna call it. And another one I did a lot of work with was Purple Haze – some people call it Purple Craze. That came out of Oregon.

A lot of what was worked with were just unnamed batches of seeds that had been maintained by growers throughout Humboldt and Southern Oregon. It was different back then because no one was interested in being credited for anything.

Of course, that’s all changed. What I worked with were strains endemic to Humboldt like the Arcata Train Wreck and the Big Sur Holy Weed.

WHAT DOES BIODYNAMIC FARMING AND BEING CARBON NEUTRAL MEAN, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Along with ganja breeding, I ended up writing a ton of grants working for a nonprofit group here in Humboldt that was doing salmon restoration.

We focused on fixing up Humboldt’s rivers and the salmon, and this big project that’s embroiled with controversy right now – called the Klamath Dam removal effort – that I’m still involved in. According to National Geographic, it’s the world’s largest river restoration project.

There’s some rare salmon that were on the edge of extinction and we teamed up with a coalition of tribes and nonprofit groups to try to save them.

As a company, what we do is make seeds – but we want to offset the impact we have locally, so we are a carbon neutral farm in that we make all of our electricity from solar and a micro-hydro set up. We’re not tapped into the energy grid and we’re not running big diesel generators.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PHENOTYPE SELECTION PROCESS. WHAT ARE THE DESIRABLE TRAITS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

“WE ARE A CARBON NEUTRAL FARM – WE MAKE ALL OF OUR ELECTRICITY FROM SOLAR AND A MICRO-HYDRO SET-UP. WE’RE NOT TAPPED INTO THE ENERGY GRID AND WE’RE NOT RUNNING BIG DIESEL GENERATORS.”

In the summer of 2018 we ran a 10,000 plant pheno hunt at different farms. It was a shit ton of work and I really burned the crew out that year, but we had a huge celebration at the end with about 40 people testing everything out to determine what to get rid of, because we only kept -NATH like 0.5% of the genetics.

We had a list of variables and everybody filled them out. There were dispensary owners and nursery owners – we chose some incredible genetics to keep alive.

ANIEL PENNINGTON

THIS IS OUR HEMP ISSUE AND I SEE YOU NOW HAVE HEMP SEEDS AVAILABLE. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YUROK TRIBE.

The Yurok Tribe is California’s largest Native American Tribe and a huge presence here in Humboldt County, with a massive amount of reservation land.

I worked closely with them on the fish biology work and restoration, including the dam removal effort. I had a level of comfort working with them and more importantly, I think, they had a level of comfort with me that they didn’t have with other folks in the Cannabis space.

Now all of a sudden, flash forward to the Farm Bill that legalized hemp federally in late 2018. The Yurok Tribe moved quickly to see if there were ways that they could stimulate their economy and get some benefits locally from hemp.

At first, I was concerned because Humboldt is a great place to grow craft Cannabis, but not so much for big agriculture. I didn’t think they could compete with 2,000-plus acre farms in Oregon, Montana and Colorado, but at the same time, we could breed hemp without requiring a ton of land.

Seeds are a much higher value product than flowers, so I brought our skillset, experience and brand to the table, and we’re now selling feminized autoflower and regular CBD-rich seeds across the country under the name Two Snakes Seed.

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE STRAIN OF YOURS TO SMOKE?

I would say our Blueberry Muffin, if I had to choose. It’s so comforting to me and a lot of people say it doesn’t give them any paranoia.

It’s fun and it makes me goofy – which is nice because I’m usually working, so it enhances that experience. At night, when it’s finally time to relax, I’ll bust out something more gassy.

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 DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/CALIFORNIA LEAF | GROW PHOTO by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS

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women in weed

RACHEL KING KANEH CO.

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Before she was creating delectable Cannabis treats, Rachel King was already acclaimed for her role in the restaurant world. Among her numerous honors was a 2013 nomination in Food & Wine magazine for Best New Pastry Chef. Since 2016, however, she has served as the founder and culinary director of Kaneh Co. As a family-run company located in San Diego, Kaneh Co. is dedicated to producing high-end desserts with premium ingredients.

Chef King generously spoke with me about her company’s plans for expansion, tips for baking at home, and the importance of placing women in roles of power.

HOW DID KANEH CO. FIRST GET STARTED?

I was transitioning out of restaurants. I had been a pastry chef for about 10 years and I connected with some business partners who had extensive Cannabis industry experience – whether they owned dispensaries, previously owned an edibles brand, were growing, all of that kind of stuff – and we created this brand together. We were in the medical market for quite a while and then we transitioned to recreational when the guidelines changed. We’ve been around for over five yearsAT now.T HIt’sE been I N T aE roller R S E Ccoaster.

T I O N If I thought the restaurant industry was crazy, I was O F C O M P A S S I O N , definitely kidding myself. I thought this E D Uwas C ATgoing I O NtoAbeN Deasy and relaxed, but here we are. ISthink O C I AweL had J U like S T Ifive C E total employees when we started and now we have around 65.

We’re also in Oklahoma and soon to be Michigan.

ocT. 2020

FO U ND E R | C U L I NA RY D I R E C TO R

WHAT’S THE STATUS OF OPERATIONS IN OKLAHOMA AND MICHIGAN? We are not [in Michigan] yet. We are

planning to launch around November 1, fingers crossed, but that’s if everything goes perfectly. The first state we got into was Oklahoma, which was not on our radar at all.

People were like, ‘Oh, you’re in Oklahoma? That’s random.’

But they reached out to us. There are a few different options: You can go and set-up there, but then obviously, you have to run production there. It’s different operations everywhere because of the state laws. People think that we’re just opening another branch or whatever, but that’s really not how it works at all. It’s a separate business each time and that’s not just due to distance. All of our head people are from San Diego, basically, and we have families, etc. here so we thought it would be best to license.

What that means is that we are working with other entities that are local to that state, and they are making our products and distributing our products there. That just makes it easy on us and it’s also beneficial because they’re local to the area. They have a better understanding of the market and more interpersonal relationships with people there. In terms of Michigan, we do have some partners who are actually from there, so that was an easy transition. The markets, both in Oklahoma and Michigan, are still pretty young. That’s what appeals to us, because we don’t really want to go into a mature, oversaturated market. We’d rather become a favorite brand in the infancy of the industry, so we’re really excited for Michigan.

I KNOW KANEH CO. HAS MADE A PRIORITY OF PLACING WOMEN IN POSITIONS OF POWER. CAN YOU SHARE THE NUMBERS? Yes. I would say, at any

given time, 60% to 70% of our staff are women. 50% of our management staff are women. We have a lot of moms working here, so you know we get stuff done! It’s a good environment. It would be hard to have a female founder and not believe in hiring women for managerial positions, right?

WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH CALIFORNIA’S ADULT-USE MARKET BEEN LIKE SO FAR? It really has

been a roller coaster ride, for many different reasons.

Regulations played a huge part in that – just riding those out – and licensing played a huge part too. However, at the end of last year, 2020 was predicted to be this doomsday year for California Cannabis businesses. We were very aware of that coming into this year and it really is interesting how it has played out. Our sales are better than ever and we’ve been able to hire people who were working in restaurants and got laid off from their jobs. Our expansion has helped to create some different jobs and stuff like that, which is not what I expected for this year, but it’s been great. I know that’s messed up to say, but it’s true.

DO YOU FEEL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE STILL FAILING TO CONNECT LEGAL CANNABIS WITH JOB CREATION? Yeah. I won’t go down that rabbit hole. I’m

really upset about that because it’s ridiculous. I mean, our main employees that have moved up that are managers now, have been with us since the beginning, and a lot of them are looking into buying homes now. That makes me feel a bit emotional and also proud that this is what this company can provide to people: a living where you can strive and grow in whatever way you’d like.

WHAT IS YOUR CHIEF FOCUS WHEN IT COMES TO EDIBLES? I would say that taste is foremost. Myself and a

lot of our kitchen staff and our COO all come from a culinary background, so I think we might create products in a different way from other companies because of that. I’m thinking like, ‘Okay, this is what I want to make, but how can I make it to fit with the regulations? What about shelf life?’ We really just want our customers to enjoy the taste, and obviously, the effects – and feel good about what they’re eating.

“WE REALLY JUST WANT OUR CUSTOMERS TO ENJOY THE TASTE, AND OBVIOUSLY, THE EFFECTS – AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE EATING.”

been our mainstays since the beginning, although we are coming out with some new chocolate flavors that we’ve never done before. One of the flavors has some CBN in it, so that’s going to be something new.

ANY ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER TO ASPIRING HOME CANNABIS COOKS AND BAKERS?

There are a few different ways you can go about it. I don’t really recommend making your own Cannabis butter because you won’t really know what you’re getting. You can follow guidelines or a recipe, but it’s not going to be the same as buying a lab-tested item. For that reason, I would recommend buying a tincture. Then you can dose your item that way, whether you’re baking or even making something like a salad dressing. There’s fun stuff to do with pre-made products, you know? You can make s’mores with an infused chocolate bar or make ice cream sandwiches with medicated cookies. That way, you don’t have to deal with the tough part.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS?

Our brownies are by far our bestsellers. We have four different types and they’ve

KANEHCO.COM | @KANEHCOMPANY

STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PORTRAITS by BECCA BATISTA @ BECCABATISTAPHOTO

patient profile caliFornialeaf.COM

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La Reina de Las Olas

From New York to Nayarit, San Blas to San Francisco – Risa Mara Machuca is a badass Latina who makes waves wherever she goes. She’s a two-time National Longboard Champion who runs her own surf school, represented Mexico in the 2019 Pan American Games, and has won bronze and copper medals from the 2013 ISA World Championships. In addition to being a semi-pro surfer, she’s also an awardwinning independent filmmaker who has worked on music videos for Snoop Dogg and Santana, with her work appearing in over 150 film festivals worldwide.

ocT. 2020

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @WORLDOFCANNABIS.MUSEUM for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by EMY DOSSETT @SALTY_SEE

How did you get into surfing?

I’ve always been an ocean person because of my parents. My dad was a fisherman and my mom was a beach hippie. Even though they split when I was very young, I spent summers with my dad in San Blas and it had a big surf scene. So it was something I always wanted to do, but never did because I was a chubby girl and boys teased me. But at 27, after breaking up with the guy I thought I was going to marry, I said fuck it – I’m going to take a six month sabbatical and learn to surf. So that’s what I did.

Tell us about your surf school.

I came back to Mexico about 10 years ago to care for a family member and ended up moving to Sayulita and getting a job as a surf instructor. I loved it, but they tried to force me into an unfair contract, so I had to quit. Luckily, I had a reputation here, so clients just began contacting me directly. I started seven years ago, renting out surfboards to give lessons – now my partner and I have about 50 boards of our own. The school is called Surf it Out. My idea was that if you’re angry, lonely, sad, excited – whatever’s going on in your life – you can surf it out.

So, surfing as therapy?

Exactly! A few years ago I teamed up with a life coach and started a women-only retreat here called Surf Your Soul. We only do it twice a year and we only allow eight women max. It’s very intimate and focused. You surf, you talk things out, you get coached a little. You feel emotionally bare when you’re out there on a board, in your bathing suit with nothing – your makeup’s gone, you don’t have your phone, you have nothing to concentrate on other than what you’re doing.

There’s something replenishing about feeling the energy of the ocean and releasing your energy into it. People have these emotional breakdowns in the water – for a lot of them, it’s a life-changing thing. It gives me goosebumps talking about it ... I’m really proud of it.

RISA MARA MACHUCA You’re also an amateur filmmaker.

Yes. After graduating college in New York, I got an internship in San Francisco as a production assistant – so I got to learn the entire production process from behind the camera, from beginning to end. In 2006, I co-directed a short film called “Shortstop” that won runner-up for Best Short at SXSW. After that, I did another short called “Asi Es” about a young man who goes on this mysterious surfing trip. It was making its run through the film festivals and had won runner-up at Bend when I had to move to Mexico. I didn’t start getting back into film until I injured my back; I couldn’t walk for two months, so I started thinking about what I could do creatively.

Was Cannabis part of your recovery? Absolutely. I started using it a couple of years ago when I re-injured my knee. Somebody gave me this homemade CBD massage butter and the first time I used it, I was like, ‘Holy shit, this works really good!’ And also to sleep at night ... to sit down and have a joint at the end of the day with a glass of wine and watch the sunset definitely helps me chill out.

What’s next for you? I’m starting a bathing suit line for sporty, curvy women who are active. It’s hard to find good surf suits that fit my body and I know I’m not the only one. And within the next two years, I want to make a full-length movie of “As Esí ” – like an extension of the short, except the lead character is a girl. I’ve been working on the script for the past nine years, so that’s my passion project.

surfitout.com | surfyoursoulretreat.com

“ T h e r e ’s s o m e t h i n g r e p l e n i s h i n g a b o u t f e e l i n g t h e energy of the ocean and releasing your energy into it.”

SHOP review

SYNCHRONICIT

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Cannabis-By-The-Sea ocT. 2020

TY HOLISTIC SETTING THE STANDARD

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA

SYNCHRONICITY HOLISTIC 26390 CARMEL RANCHO LN, STE 4, CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA 10AM-7PM SUNDAY-THURSDAY 10AM-8PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY SYNCHRONICITYHOLISTIC.COM @SYNCHRONICITYHOLISTIC

The two words that best define this stunning store are craft and community. And when your location is a pebble’s throw from a world class beach and golf resort, it makes it easy to accomplish with smiles. That’s why the warm exuberance of these educated friends will rub onto you like a lovely, menthol topical that inspires the senses.

Founded by local Valentia Valentine, who is a Cannabis patient herself, this medically inspired citadel is a direct representation of her positive charge toward diminishing the negative stigma surrounding our precious plant. The end goal for this benevolent woman is not only to aid in the comfort of locals in need, but to create a prototype that resonates toward a more globally accepted way of treating ailments, while stimulating health and wellness for the human brain and body.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH Creating an environment that makes this bellwether shop more of a wellness center than a dispensary, Val works tirelessly inside and outside to spread the education that she first benefited from in her personal bout with MS. Initially, she offered free sage medical advice from her home, before becoming instrumental in convincing the city council to get dispensaries allowed in the area. Helpful to this crusade were a couple events that she organized at the local senior center, educating on her condition and beyond, all the while being a significant donor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. If you’re in the market, stop on in as she is happy to offer personal consultation, or you can choose from one of the many nurses. There’s even a licensed pharmacist on staff for added assuredness!

ATMOSPHERE The most important aspect of creating this lovely oasis was to showcase a venue where newcomers to Cannabis would feel welcome and appreciated. And as if just being in Carmel-By-The-Sea isn’t enough of a reward, the marble floors and walls will afford you the feeling of high luxury. Adorned with crystal chandeliers and gold touches, the clean aesthetic is there for you to relish, all the while internalizing a sense of security from the exceptionally informed staff. Should there be any doubt upon entering of the platinum intentions of this beautiful place, they are sure to be quelled when one notices the words imprinted on a massive slab upon entry that read: FULFILLMENT OF INTENTION.

PRODUCT SELECTION Like most quality minded connoisseurs, you often look to the pioneers who paved the path for sound guidance. So, when it comes to flower, it makes sense to work with mostly Northern California brands like Fig Farms, Clout King and Talking Trees. When you’re on the hunt for tinctures, capsules and edibles, Care By Design has a plentitude of offerings behind the elegant, custom infinity glass cases. You see, low dosage is the name of the game for beginners and that is the modus operandi here, so you’ll never be pressured to attempt the big plunge before first dipping a toe. And when tinctures, salves and transdermal patches are your preferred method of easing the tension, Mary’s Medicinals is always available and trustworthy. Finally, if inconsistent sleep is your nemesis, the ABX Time Capsules will right the ship, as well as a plethora of other wonderful CannaCraft products.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CREATING THIS LOVELY OASIS WAS TO SHOWCASE A VENUE WHERE NEWCOMERS TO CANNABIS WOULD FEEL WELCOME AND APPRECIATED.

SPECIAL PRICES/SPECIAL PEOPLE This small, boutique team of patient educators have more Cannabis background and medicinal training than any Cannabis retail shop in the state of California.

Chances are you’ll be greeted with the huge personality of Kendra, who will confidently direct you to your best fit. The licensed pharmacist, David, worked in the pharmaceutical industry and now advises on dosage protocols according to current drug medications that you may be taking. The deals are profound too, with Manic Mondays where you buy two eighths and get the third for a penny. Tinctures and topicals are 15% off on Tuesdays, with the same discount for all edible purchases on Wednesdays. In fact, there’s a special every day of the Owner Valentia Valentine week with a daily discount at 20% for Veterans, and even 10% for golfers, teachers and students.

STORY by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ /CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by SYNCHRONICITY HOLISTIC

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

CAL I F O R N I A

JACK’S BLEND

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G ROWN b y G L AS S H OUSE FA R M S

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mokable hemp flower continues to be a rapidly growing sector of the market and professional Cannabis cultivators, such as Glass House Farms, are diversifying their crops with the addition of select genetics bred specifically for this purpose.

Packing over 22% CBD, this Jack’s Blend strain was grown from seed provided by Kumbaya Farms and has an attractive coat of easily visible trichomes – an attribute many hemp flowers lack.

After shredding some choice nugs, I cracked my grinder open for a whiff.

The freshly ground herb emitted aromas of lemon-lime soda, grapefruit rind and fermented pineapple, with just a touch of herbaceous, spicy pine needles. The flowers produced a smooth, light-bodied smoke that quickly delivered a calming and mellowing effect felt throughout the body, while simultaneously instigating a noticeable mental clarity.

The strain is terpinolene dominant, meaning it will provide an uplifting and energetic effect in most users. This flower was grown outdoor in virgin, never-before-farmed soil in the Mojave Desert, using absolutely zero pesticides and aquifer-drawn water.

While we know and love Cannabis, it’s good to know there’s an increasing amount of quality, cleanly grown alternatives for those looking for smoking options without the THC.

GLASSHOUSEFARMS.ORG | @GLASSHOUSEFARMS 22.25% CBD | .27% THC

oct. 2020

THE FRESHLY GROUND HERB EMITTED AROMAS OF LEMON-LIME SODA, GRAPEFRUIT RIND AND FERMENTED PINEAPPLE, WITH JUST A TOUCH OF HERBACEOUS, SPICY PINE NEEDLES.

STORY & PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415 /CALIFORNIA LEAF

THE HEMP ISSUE

** Hemp Hemp? That’s like, the cousin to Cannabis, right? Why do people buy that stuff?

It doesn’t even get you high!

As hemp increases in both popularity and legality year by year, we are hearing these types of comments more frequently.

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The infamous Jack Herer was quoted as saying, “I don’t know if hemp will save the world, but it’s the only thing that can.” This incredible plant can be used to produce food, medicine, textiles, building materials, clothing, paper, biofuel, environmental remediation and literally thousands of other things.

There are more than 25,000 documented uses for hemp.

Likely the most diversely utilized plant on the planet, hemp has been a part of human history for millennia. Hemp cloth dating back to 8,000 B.C. has even been uncovered in ancient Mesopotamia, which is modern-day Iraq and Iran.

caliFornialeaf.COM

Hemp matures in 90 days, removes toxins and heavy metals from its environment – both from the soil it’s planted in and the air around it – converts more carbon dioxide to oxygen per square acre than trees do, is naturally pest and mold resistant, and requires less water per acre than both cotton and trees to produce.

Pain Relief REVIEWS BY W YAT T E A R LY @ E R R LY W YAT T

CBD FOR LIFE TOPICAL SPRAY For quick and easy on-the-go pain relief, I always go to my CBD for Life topical spray. Sometimes when I’m on the road for long hours, my legs and back begin to tighten up. I chose this spray because it’s so easy to use and there’s zero messiness during application. I simply spray the area of my body that is experiencing pain, wait a few short seconds for it to dry, and I can move on with my day. I found that one to two sprays provided me with lasting pain relief. Another thing I really enjoyed about this product was the minty and sweet smell - which is important if you’re going to be spraying it on your body.

100MG | CBDFORLIFE.US

BIOSPECTRUM CBD PAIN RELIEF ROLL-ON

In this special Hemp Issue, we’re taking a look at where the hemp plant came from and where it is today, highlighting hemp products developed for a wide variety of uses, touring a craft-focused hemp farm, and sharing stories about how people have improved their lives with this literally Earth-changing herb.

Roll-on products can be a highly useful tool in managing your level of comfort. After a week of catching crabs on the shore my back was killing me, providing me with the perfect opportunity to test this product out. Within two minutes, the FDA approved lidocaine, menthol and camphor created a cooling sensation that soothed my pain. That’s when the broad spectrum CBD distillate had a chance to work its way into my body, providing me with lasting pain relief. Even on unusually painful days and nights, one morning application and one evening application definitely quelled any discomfort.

- N AT E W I L L I A M S @ N AT E W 4 1 5

1000MG | BIOSPECTRUMCBD.COM @BIOSPECTRUM.CBD

Today, hemp is federally legal via the Farm Bill of 2018. However, like Cannabis, each state, city and county have varying laws regulating the production, processing, and manufacture of hemp and hemp products.

ocT. 2020

CBD product guide Finding Focus REVIEW BY BARRON WOLFE @BARRON.WOLFE

MAUI CBD COLLECTIVE AWAKENED MIND TINCTURE

R E V I E W S B Y W YAT T E A R LY @ E R R LY W YAT T

Helping Anxiety EXTREME TERPZ CBD SOFTGELS

MAX AND STEVEN’S FULL SPECTRUM CBD DROPS

The Hawaiian Indiginous Permaculture program is bringing ancient farming practices back to life in modern-day Maui.

Say aloha to Maui CBD Collective, one of the local Cannabis and superfood cultivators who align with these centuries old no-till grow methods and keep the traditions alive. To help find our focus, we tried Maui’s Awakened Mind 1000mg herbal supplement. The rad part about this pure tasting full spectrum MCTbased Cannabis tincture isn’t even the sungrown Maui Cannabis - it’s the Gotu Kola - an indengenious super-herb with more healing and cognitive enhancement properties than are currently known, harvested at a local monastery nearby and likely blessed by monks. Also worth mentioning, Maui CBD separately blesses all of their products before they ship them out. Google Gotu Kola and this brand - you will definitely want to try it.

1000MG CBD | MAUICBD.COM @MAUICBD

R E V I E W B Y M A X E A R LY @LIFTED_STARDUST

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Over the past couple of years, I have become very familiar with the full product line from Extreme Terpz. These softgels have made their way to the top of my list, providing me with an immense amount of anxiety relief. I truly enjoy these versus many companies’ CBD capsules, primarily due to the fact that they are small and very easy to swallow. Creating a routine where I took two softgels every morning put me in a healthy and relaxed state of mind to begin my day.

This consistency also helped to build up the level of CBD in my system, arguably making the softgels and any other CBD product I ingest more effective.

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about CBD are tinctures. With the wide array of tinctures available, it’s important to know exactly what is in yours.

Max and Steven’s is a trusted Baltimore brand that can put your mind at ease. They have certificates of analysis on every batch produced, which are publicly accessible on their website. To start I took half a dropper of the tincture and placed it under my tongue, allowing it to absorb fully. After 30-45 minutes, I began to experience noticeable anxiety relief. Coupled with a joint of medical Cannabis, this is definitely getting added to my morning routine.

With the help of East Fork Cultivars’ uplifting Sour Space Candy, Peak Extracts has used its proprietary Terp-Lock process to bring the industry a full spectrum CBD tincture that provides a substantial boost of energy. With a powerful blend of minor cannabinoids, flavonoids and rich in terpenes, consumers are rest assured that they are getting a well-rounded dosage of cannabinoids, including CBC. Are you tired of waking up feeling groggy?

Add a dropper or two of this tincture into your morning tea or lemon water to start your day on a high note - without the high! 2 OZ., 638MG, $60.00

10MG CBD | EXTREMETERPZCBD.COM

500MG | MAXANDSTEVENS.COM

PEAKEXTRACTS.COM @PEAKEXTRACTS_CBD

PEAK EXTRACTS SOUR SPACE CANDY TINCTURE

REVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

THE HEMP ISSUE

CBD product guide

Furry Friends REVIEW BY NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

VET CBD FULL SPECTRUM HEMP TINCTURE

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Vet CBD is California’s premier infused pet products brand.

The company was founded by Dr. Tim Shu, a certified Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, who developed the brand and products behind it with the belief that all pet owners should have access to the therapeutic use of CBD. Drawing from his knowledge of veterinary medicine, he formulated the products to be safe and effective for use in animals.

The tincture features an olive oil base infused with American grown hemp oil and is packaged with a plastic syringe for precise dosing. The packaging itself has the directions and approximate doses appropriate for your pet’s weight clearly displayed on the rear of the box. Each batch is thoroughly tested for cleanliness and a QR code linking you to the product’s test results is available.

My 11 ½ -year-old Australian Cattle Dog x French Bulldog mix loves the taste and after a week of adding the oil to her dinner nightly, I decided to test her fondness for the product as best I could, given the fact she’s unable to orate her enjoyment of the tincture. So I pulled the appropriate dose given her weight into the syringe and called her over, and as soon as she smelled it, she began licking at the bottom of the syringe to get to the oil – lapping every drop up as I delivered her ‘treat’ – which is surely as positive of a review as a dog can give.

VETCBD.COM | @BYVETCBD

caliFornialeaf.COM

R E V I E W B Y M A X E A R LY @LIFTED_STARDUST

SACRED HERB MEDICINALS BLUE LINE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY LOTION Well known for their OLCC licensed Cannabis products, Sacred Herb Medicinals uses a unique blend of 15 different herbs, essential oils, waxes and decarboxylated Cannabis to offer a wide variety of products with multiple application options. I highly enjoyed the effects of their Blue Line (CBD only) Anti-Inflammatory Lotion, which is ideal for applying to large areas after a long workout. After applying approximately two pumps of lotion to areas of concern, the pain and pressure rapidly subsided, leaving my muscles and joints fully relaxed. I no longer felt as sore and avoided having to take Ibuprofen or anything comparable. Sacred Herb Medicinals definitely works fast and absorbs completely into the skin, leaving your body very moisturized with no greasy residue left behind.

4 OZ., $34.00 | @SACREDHERBMEDICINALS.COM @SACREDHERBMEDICINALS

ECO SCIENCES ECODROPS RELIEF TINCTURE Combining a unique blend of terpenes and cannabinoids, including humulene, limonene, linalool, myrcene, terpineol, CBD, CBDV and CBC, Eco Sciences’ naturally flavored Relief tincture is a perfect addition to your protein shake after the gym. This 3,000mg tincture contains vitamin E, fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, making this an ideal option for those looking for a CBD product that offers a wide variety of health benefits.

ECODROPS utilizes a full spectrum CBD, which is very beneficial for inflammation and muscle recovery. After a week of use, I felt a drastic improvement in my overall workout routine – having more energy and feeling less sore than ever before! ECOSCIENCES.COM | @ECOSCIENCESCO

Rest & Recovery REVIEW BY WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX

ENTANGLED BIOME PET WELLNESS TINCTURE

LEBLANC CNE HEMP TOPICAL & HEMP-INFUSED TINCTURE

Have you recently noticed your pet experiencing a loss of energy or a decrease in movement abilities?

Look no further, as Entangle Biome’s CBD Pet Wellness Tincture is sure to help give your furry friend an overall boost in their quality of life. After giving my dog, Astro, this tincture for the past year, I can confidently say I have seen a drastic improvement in his overall mood, health and happiness. Every morning when he gets fed, I give him a dropper full of tincture on top of his food and he scarfs it right down. With only two ingredients – organic sunflower oil and full spectrum hemp oil – it is no surprise that he loves taking his tincture just as much as I love taking mine in the morning!

Hemp for medicine should be grown with care and love, much like this thoughtfully produced hemp tincture. Organic and Oregon-grown, this product provides full spectrum cannabinoids, terpenes and the essence of full plant medicine in a sweet, slightly earthy tincture perfect for general or specific CBD goals. Unlike many tinctures made with hemp isolates from unknown sources, this farm-to-bottle relationship honors the plant, is pesticide-free and safe to consume for all ages with confidence. Hemp-based cannabinoids can also do wonders for the skin and muscles beneath, making roll-on topical oils beneficial for a variety of uses – from eczema to sore muscles and everything in between. Made with “ingredients we’d only serve our own mother,” this roll-on combines classic topical ointment ingredients using grapeseed oil, hemp and the hemp roots, lavender, linalool and myrcene. With an easy to use format and a light, non-greasy application, this topical is perfect for however you choose to use CBD on your body’s largest organ – the skin! LEBLANCCNE.COM

ENTANGLEDBIOME.COM | @ENTANGLEBIOME

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R E V I E W S B Y M A X E A R LY @ L I F T E D _ S TA R D U S T

REVIEWS BY DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT

Getting Intimate FORIA WELLNESS INTIMACY NATURAL LUBRICANT WITH CBD

SARA JAY’S SELF CARE COLLECTION LONG NIGHT PERSONAL LUBE

Since 2013, Foria has been at the forefront of the hemp for health and sexual enhancement movement, with their plant-based products leading the way to relief and pleasure. Their MCT coconut oil-based lubricant is infused with lab tested, broad spectrum CBD from sungrown and regeneratively grown hemp plants - with no added chemicals or fragrances. The natural, vegan and gluten free lube is safe to ingest (oral-friendly), long lasting and in sustainable packaging. Use their Awaken Arousal Oil with CBD prior to applying the lube for the full effect and sensation.

Who better to put out a line of sexy CBD-infused products than veteran adult film legend Sara Jay? The AVN Hall of Famer has been a Cannabis user for decades to treat migraines, muscle pain and insomnia, and once she discovered the benefits of cannabidiol without THC, she was all in.

“If you know me, then you know I like to make people feel good,” says Sara Jay and users of her lube will certainly enjoy relaxation and supreme satisfaction. It’s infused with 200mg of active CBD from full spectrum hemp extract products, extracted by supercritical CO2. Pair the lube with Sara’s massage oil for a long night of happy endings. SARA JAYCBD.COM

FORIAWELLNESS.COM

R E V I E W S B Y M A X E A R LY @ L I F T E D _ S TA R D U S T

THE BROTHER’S APOTHECARY GOLDEN DREAM TEA Drift away into a place of peace and serenity with this warming, comforting and grounding Golden Dream Tea. This floral and refreshing blend of organic chamomile, spearmint, orange peel, lemongrass and pure hemp is sure to help take a load off after a long day. With each sip, you can positively feel the love and passion put into their small-batch teas. Utilizing sustainable business practices and a renewable energy powered facility, customers can feel proud of supporting this owner-operated business - all the while greatly benefiting their mind, body and soul. Pro tip: refill your cup with hot water when you finish your first cup to reap the benefits of all the full spectrum CBD.

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Sleepy Time

20 PACK, 50-60MG PER TEA BAG, $90.00 THEBROTHERSAPOTHECARY.COM | @THEBROTHERSAPOTHECARY

FOCUS HEMP CO. FULL SPECTRUM CBD TINCTURE Having issues getting into a deep REM sleep? Look no further, as Focus Hemp Co.’s Full Spectrum CBD tincture is sure to do the trick! Loaded with lavender essential oil as well as herbal infusions, a 40mg serving of this liquid relaxation in a bottle will help you float away on a calm cloud to an uninterrupted night’s rest. After a solid week of using this product, I can genuinely say I look forward to taking it nightly, knowing my quality of sleep has drastically improved. Utilizing handpicked hemp grown in Southern Oregon, Focus Hemp Co. ensures their products are as clean as possible, as the flower used for their tinctures, topicals and gels are free of any heavy metals or pesticides, and organically sourced. Do your ECS (endocannabinoid system) a solid and pick up a bottle for yourself today!

1 OZ, 1,200MG, $49.99 FOCUSHEMPCO.COM @FOCUSHEMPCO

REVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

the hemp issue

CBD FOR DOGS

“As a pet sitter, I often recommend owners give CBD a try.”

30 >> Lisa with her beloved Kodi Bear

DOES YOUR BEST FRIEND NEED CBD?

caliFornialeaf.COM

I met Lisa Moncrief at a Sacramento house party in 2015.

We’d only been chatting for a bit before she excitedly pulled out her phone to show me her dog Kodi Bear – and I instantly understood Lisa’s huge heart for our furry friends.

Lisa grew up in Louisiana and Oklahoma with her family dog Peaches, and by the time she hit California as a young adult in 1989, she had developed a love for dogs that would grow into a lifelong passion for their care – even when she’s not their ‘person.’

Lisa first became a dog mom in her mid-20s, adopting a tiny puppy that would be called Roadie, because her then-boyfriend’s bandmates found it tucked inside in a cardboard box at a rest stop after a gig. They shared nearly 13 years together before Roadie passed, and three-and-a-half years later in 2007, Lisa met and “instantly fell in love with” a fuzzy-faced one-year-old rescue from the Sacramento SPCA. She’s never had his DNA analyzed, but Lisa’s best guess is that he’s a “Chow Australian Shepherd mix who looks like a little Red Panda Bear.” Lisa named him Kodi Bear. While five years ago Kodi Bear was still active in mid-life – an avid hiker and swimmer who went everywhere with Lisa – now 14 in people years, Kodi Bear’s physical decline is obvious.

FOLLOW LISA & KODI BEAR’S ADVENTURES ON INSTAGRAM @SEEKING.THEBEAUTY.INTHE.WORLD | @KODIBEAR_BRINGSSMILES

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How have you observed Kodi Bear changing through the years?

He was about a year old when I got him, super active, loved hiking – any adventure he was always down for.

Then slowly he started aging. Last year, we went on a big road trip and he was able to get in and out of the car with me helping only a little bit, but this year it hit really hard. In March he was able to still do some running, and then in April he didn’t even want to go down to his favorite spot on the river. He’s just really slowed down to a snail’s pace – it’s super hard for him.

Was it these recent observations that led you to start Kodi Bear on CBD? Yes. I just started it, since his mobility seemed to change for the worse all at once.

Did you yourself ever try CBD before giving it to Kodi Bear? Yes, an 18:1 CBD tincture I took for anxiety.

I tried a full dropper and it mellowed me out quickly, but it also made me feel like I needed to take a nap. Now I take a quarter of the dropper and I feel pretty even-keeled. And I’ve started giving it to Kodi Bear for his inflammation and pain – for his mobility issues.

How did you discover the proper CBD :THC ratio and dose for Kodi Bear? He stayed with my friend while I was away pet-sitting this past Fourth of July, and my friend gave him the 18:1 ratio. She said it really helped Kodi Bear with anxiety during the fireworks, so I bought the 18:1. But after giving myself a full dropper of 18:1 and knowing how affected I was, I thought about 10 drops for Kodi Bear (who weighs roughly 60 pounds) would be sufficient for him. But I’ve played around with it and I’ve upped him to 15 drops per day.

What specifically shows you that CBD is helping with Kodi Bear’s mobility?

The main things I keep an eye on are how well he is able to get up and down stairs, and his pace.

Are there any particular brands of CBD tincture that you recommend? I’ve used Care By Design 18:1 and VetCBD 18:1, and I like both.

What advice do you have for dog owners who are curious about trying out CBD for their dogs? It’s definitely worth a try! As a pet sitter, I often recommend owners give CBD a try.

People seem to feel apprehensive about it, but for me it’s a natural medicine, so I don’t think people should be averse to giving it to their dogs.

STORY by LINDA ANH for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by LOUISE MITCHELL

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the hemp issue

LA PINE, OR

Davis Hemp

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estled in the quiet and cozy hills of La Pine in Deschutes County, we find the elusive

grow known as Davis Hemp Farms. After purchasing the 390-acre property in 2015 to grow recreational Cannabis, they sadly were informed that the county opted them out of their zone of cultivation. During that time, owner Jeremey Klettke worked on several legislative acts in Bend, including the Carve-Out Bill and House Bill 4060. While reprioritizing their focus and going back to their roots, their team’s attention had been shifted towards something else: producing a hemp seed line designed for smokable hemp flower with medicinal value and rich in terpenes.

One of the many facets that set this garden apart from the rest is its unique genetic pool, including American feral hemp varietals.

For those of you who are unaware (I was myself until this visit), feral Cannabis or wild Cannabis - often referred to in the United States as ditch weed - is naturally growing Cannabis, most commonly descended from industrial hemp plants. Previously, the main usages for these were for fiber, with little to minuscule amounts of THC. In 2013-14, owners Jeremey Klettke, Tim Klettke and Scott Rainwater acquired 423 seeds from seven states, then went around to a handful of older hemp fields, asking their colleague’s grandfathers which genetics were best. From 2015-18, their small

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team started a hemp breeding program by putting their colonial varietals out in a field with the end goal being to offer cultivars with a total THC content of less than 0.3% at complete development.

Since then, Davis Hemp Farms has gone on to work together with numerous top ranking universities nationwide to create a boatload of high quality, predictable and stable lines of genetics for hemp seed.

After carefully selecting two phenotypes from their American ferals, #5 and #22, they then took several resin-producing cultivar anomalies and bred them together, including Oracle, better known as AC/DC. That said, most people visualize AD/DC as a terp-less and junky plant - which is

not something said about their allmighty Oracle.

Following three years of intensive R&D, they released their first line of stabilized feminized seeds, using a cultivar with high resin production as the dominant cross.

It is important to note that Davis Hemp Farms takes a significantly longer time than other breeders to dial everything in, ensuring the solidity of their genetics.

Their refined process is well worth it, as their homogenous seed line is federally compliant, tests at a ratio of 30:1 CBD:THC, 10-10.5% total cannabinoids, 100% feminized and a germination rate of 98-99%.

Their genetics are naturally resistant to pests, mildew and mold.

Davis Hemp Farms has gone on to work together with numerous top ranking universities nationwide to create a boatload of high quality, predictable and stable lines of genetics for hemp seed.

T

he magic that makes Davis Hemp Farms so unique unfolds in their 6,000 square foot indoor facility for seed production, with a space that is home to over 100 carefully selected and prized mother varietals. Being that all of their current genetics are seed-born at the facility, their team can confidently say they do not require the use of any types of integrated pest management or sprays.

Fast forward to today, Davis Hemp Farms now offers a wide variety of stabilized genetics, labeled as their Mariposa line (butterfly in Spanish).

Here you will find six different offerings that got their names from beautiful species of butterflies: Painted Lady, Apollo, Skipper, Sylphina, Eighty-Eight and Purple Emperor.

Following my visit, I couldn’t help but marvel at the amount of love and passion these individuals have for cultivation, the planet and humanity. This love has continued to help them set the bar for cultivators who see CBD dominant, terpene-rich plants as a medicine, not industrial.

With oversight for providing future generations with new genetics, they make it abundantly clear that they are in this for the long haul and hope to see more farms using their seed line to help their brands become even more successful. Together, we can all create a brighter and more sustainable world from the use of hemp-based fuels, fibers and medicines.

Farms

DAVISHEMPFARMS.COM | @DAVISHEMPFARMS

Owners Jeremey Klettke, Tim Klettke and Scott Rainwater

STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/OREGON LEAF | PHOTOS by JOSHUA K. SONDERFELT @SONDERFELTLLC

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the hemp issue

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Jennifer Stenuf and her wife, Sarah Stenuf.

FULTON, NY

ANANDA FARMS

caliFornialeaf.COM

In the Sanskrit language and Indian Hindu philosophy, the word Ananda refers to the bliss one feels when released from the shackles of the body. It is a higher awareness achieved through meditation, yoga and inner peace that can be hard for anyone to accomplish – but especially harder for Combat Veterans and first responders suffering from post traumatic stress, as well as physical and mental injuries. With this in mind, Sarah and Jennifer Stenuf founded Veteran’s Ananda Homestead and Retreat, a 22-acre hemp farm where volunteers can work, heal, and receive treatment and training.

S

arah Stenuf served in the US Army for four years. As an Apache Helicopter Crew Chief from 2010-11 in Afghanistan, she knows firsthand the pressures of recovering from trauma. Sarah’s service, like most Combat Veterans, did not come without a price. Her first years “back home” were filled with isolation, drugs, alcohol and even thoughts of suicide. Without help, Sarah found herself at her wit’s end and did not know which way to turn.

With traditional treatments for Vets emphasizing pharmaceutical medications, she soon found herself taking over a dozen different types of pills, including antidepressants, anti-psychotics, sleeping aids and more. Sick and tired of barely living in a cloud of funk, she decided to integrate a plant-based and holistic approach to her treatment and is now seizure-free and off all 13 prescriptions. She credits Cannabis and CBD (cannabidiol) with saving her life.

After her medical discharge for epilepsy and PTSD, she vowed to do something to help other Veterans.

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“Working in the hemp fields makes them feel whole again and gives them a purpose that they crave. And because we understand them, we’re not just trying to help get them back on their feet. We want to empower them to be leaders of the industry!” S A R A H S T E N U F

<< Veterans, first responders and their families are welcome to stay free of charge in micro-homes on the property.

ANANDA FARMS ANANDAFARMSNY@GMAIL.COM 315-399-6469 @ANANDAFARMS VETERANSANANDA.ORG | ANANDAFARMSNY.COM

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Before long, she and her wife Jennifer, an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) and therapist, purchased a 22-acre farm in Upstate New York and proceeded to create their vision for a plant-based program of short duration and high impact retreats.

With Sarah’s understanding of the issues faced by people seeking treatment – as well as her training as a mechanic and Jennifer’s experience with alternative healing therapies – they combined to create Veteran’s Ananda and Ananda Farms, becoming a part of the solution to the problems they’ve encountered.

Jennifer calls it aggro-therapy – or the act of growing plants and taking charge of creating your own medicine. She sees the direct results of this type of work in the healing that occurs among their guests.

Veterans, first responders and their families are welcome to stay free of charge in micro-homes on the property, built by school kids through the Tipp Tiny House program out of Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio. Homebuilding students design and produce the houses that are then donated and transported to the Veteran’s Ananda farm.

The guests can choose to volunteer to work on the farm or just decompress and relax on their own time.

Other activities include four-wheeling around the grounds, evening bonfires and working on cars in the garage. There are ducks and chickens to care for and eggs to collect – with plans for even more animals as they expand.

For many who arrive here, this is the first place they feel any sort of serenity or calmness, hence Ananda.

Sarah explains, “Many of them show up here addicted to opiates, depression meds and alcohol. We see people suffering from PTSD, MST (military sexual trauma) and much more. Working in the hemp fields makes them feel whole again and gives them a purpose that they crave. And because we understand them, we’re not just trying to help get them back on their feet.

We want to empower them to be leaders of the industry!”

I mention to Sarah that many of the large grows I’ve visited hire Veterans due to their work ethic and she says, “Vets solve problems. People say, ‘Since we hired Vets, we have less problems.’ But that’s not true – they still have problems, but the Vets solve them. They show up early and work hard because that’s how they’ve been trained.”

The nonprofit Veteran’s Ananda is powered by Ananda Farms, their CBD brand of high-quality products made by Veterans from hemp plants grown on the farm. This is only their second year growing hemp plants.

The first year, they only grew cover crops – clover, ryes and soybeans – in order to improve upon already healthy soil.

The previous owner was a Mennonite farmer, so everything was already organic and all-natural, but Sarah, Jennifer and their volunteers also added foop (fish poop), mushroom compost and a bunch of additives donated by Coast of Maine. In their second year of hemp farming, they are growing 12,000 plants on their main property and 8,000 more nearby at their Red Creek satellite location. They put their Berry Blossom hemp seedlings out two weeks after Memorial Day and hand-watered them for a full summer of vegetative growth.

At the end of the day, it’s the overregulation and hoops they have to jump through that slows things down the most. Sarah sighs as she explains, “Growing hemp is two-thirds paperwork and one-third actual farming. And as hard as taking care of thousands of plants is, it’s the ever-changing rules and requirements that frustrate us the most. In this state, you either give up, go broke or become a millionaire. I’m a disabled Veteran lesbian woman and I can’t get a loan!”

U P O N H A R V E S T I N G at the end of September and early October, the hemp plants are processed on site and the CBD-rich MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil is turned into warming and cooling rubs, a 1500mg tincture and a super-powered 4000mg tincture, as well as infused massage oil. The products are now available throughout the country and four more micro-houses are on the way to help Veteran’s Ananda continue growing.

STORY by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by BRIAN JAHN @BRIANJAHNPHOTO

company profile

OW NER S AM AL I A M OSCOSO AND DEBBI E BATR E S

caliFornialeaf.COM

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MARY DAME STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF

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Mary Dame is a female-owned, operated and focused Cannabis brand preparing to enter the market this Fall. Their unique edibles were born from need and are crafted with intent - each one designed to address a different symptom. We caught up with owners Debbie Batres and Amalia Moscoso to learn more about them, their goals and their products.

A BUDDING FRIENDSHIP

Debbie Batres and Amalia Moscoso have been friends since the time they were five years old. Inseparable from the time they met until they were 10, they grew apart for a few years and reconnected in their 20’s as if no time had passed at all. When they did, they dove into business together.

Batres came from the real estate industry, forming her first company at the young age of just 20-years-old. The company was quite successful and would end up providing her with significant business acumen and leadership skills.

Moscoso came from the beauty industry, having also started her own consulting and services company around the same time.

When they reconnected, they merged their talents and passions, deciding to launch House of Dame - a think-tank and product incubator creating innovative products for women. The two acquired patents on several hair and beauty products, which they then began licensing to various brands.

As they began looking for ways to diversify and expand the business, it was obvious that adding wellness products was a natural progression for their brand. This would end up being the impetus for Mary Dame, though the two didn’t know it yet. And when they dove down the rabbit hole of educating themselves around this sector of the market, they made several discoveries and realizations that would lead them to developing Cannabis infused products for women.

ENTER, CANNABIS!

Moscoso had discovered she was allergic to antibiotics and most pharmaceutical products years ago, leading to her self-educating and creating her own natural remedies to relieve her symptoms. Through this, she would discover Cannabis and its amazing healing capabilities.

Batres had always been passionate about holistic medicine and healing modalities, and started using Cannabis in the same way: to help her feel her best.

As the two began to engage with the plant more, they got a feel for the newly recreationally legal market and the products available in it.

In doing so, they became aware of their own preferences. And since neither of the two wanted to smoke or vape, edibles were the natural alternative.

As modest consumers, they had a hard time finding edible products that didn’t leave them

feeling groggy the next day. While there were a couple of 5mg edibles on the market, there really wasn’t such a thing as an intentionally lowdose edible available to modest or THC-sensitive consumers.

Batres and Moscoso realized there was a huge hole in the market and wasted no time in getting to work to be the change they wanted to see. Products conceptualized and designed for women are few and far between in the Cannabis space, which has left ample opportunity for the duo to step up and craft the products they believe women really want.

“We knew we could do something really unique in this space that would serve women in a very special way,” explained Moscoso. “That’s when we birthed our brand: Mary Dame.”

During their time creating female focused products in the hair and beauty space, they dove in to really get educated more about women, researching everything from their buying habits to what makes them feel good. Using the knowledge they gained through this process and their own experiences with Cannabis, the pair began developing the branding and product lines their new brand would produce.

These first three edibles will be a peppermint chocolate crafted to help ease into sleep, a fruit drop intended to brighten one’s mood, and lozenges to relieve stress and soothe nerves. Each is backed by healthful botanicals like ashwagandha, evening primrose and holy basil, as well as proprietary adaptogens and nootropics.

All of their products utilize high terpene, full spectrum Cannabis oil derived exclusively from sungrown plants, cultivated by discerning farmers in Northern California.

W E L L N E SS F O R … WO M E N ?

Interestingly enough, despite being geared towards women, it feels like Mary Dame’s products are what we all need right now. In a time where over-everything (over-eating, over-buying, over-consuming media) has led to some very real life issues for our planet, it feels right to take a step back and return with a more reserved and deliberate approach - including with our use of Cannabis.

This plant is supposed to aid wellbeing, functionality and happiness, not hinder those things. Cannabis is both a medicinal and recreSOMETHING DIFFERENT ational substance - understanding the nuances behind Neither Batres nor Moscoso are what qualifies products as self-described ‘Cannabis people,’ one or the other, and what and use the plant sparingly to aid quantifies as a single dose things like sleep, stress relief and - goes a long way towards Amalia Moscoso mood. This modest method of having a positive experience consumption, and the ailments the with the plant, each and evduo were both using Cannabis to treat, became ery time you use it. Unlike many currently in this the premise for their initial product line. space, Mary Dame’s goals as a company speak Their first offering will be a trio of botanically to a higher cause. infused, low dose, purpose driven edibles made “Our goal is to offer as many women as poswith all natural ingredients and bolstered with a sible an alternative to pharmaceuticals for their variety of herbs and adaptogens that are each daily symptoms, and to help them create homeospecifically designed to aid in a different area. stasis within their bodies,” Moscoso describes.

These unique products are far from your While the branding and approach are focused average sugar-laden, distillate infused edibles around women, it seems as though Mary Dame trying to pack as much THC into their products is stepping up to fill a void to provide anyone as possible and offer it at the lowest price. sensitive to THC, or those seeking healthier and Instead, each product is infused with what is more functionally dosed products, with wellness essentially a micro-dose of THC and is then baloriented edible options. anced with CBD, offering ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and I look forward to seeing what other products 3:1, with the 2:1 and 3:1 being CBD dominant. and lines these awesome ladies roll out in the Given their low dose, these edibles are decoming months and years, as they’ll surely be signed to allow users to function at their best, some uniquely intentional offerings. quite a departure from most of what’s available on store shelves today.

M A RY DA M E .CO M | @ M A RY DA M E M D

“We knew we could do something really unique in this space that would serve women in a very special way.”

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by DIANE JONG

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RED TAPE JUNGLE Uncertainty and confusion reign for CBD industry amid DEAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new interim rules STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS for LEAF NATION

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The pathway to cannabinoid legalization weaves through a thick jungle of red tape.

Advocates hack their way through the tangles using scientific rigor and popular support, but with every swing of the machete, more vines cascade from the stifling canopy of bureaucracy.

The legal cannabinoid industry took a huge leap forward with the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products as long as they were manufactured from plant material that contained less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight.

As the summer of 2020 came to a close, the DEA released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding cannabinoids that have people questioning whether the drug enforcement arm of the government is opening a backdoor that will allow for the prosecution of the CBD and nascent delta-8 THC industries.

“If they go ahead with this, we’ll be back to the, ‘It’s technically illegal, but we just hope you won’t enforce it.’ ” T E D B E R N H A R D , C U LT I VA L AW O R E G O N O F F I C E M A NAG I N G D I R E C T O R

M I T I G AT I N G T H C O R M I T I G AT I N G R I S K

When it comes to legal products, the Farm Bill clearly outlined what constitutes federally legal plant material. According to the text, hemp flower with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC is considered legal.

The problem with the bill, and the DEA’s new IFR, is that it muddies the water regarding extraction. Just ask Ted Bernhard, Managing Director of the Oregon office of Cultiva Law, which operates Cannabis industry-specific law practices in Washington, Oregon and California.

“During extraction and processing, they may end up over the 0.3%, even if their end product is compliant and less than the 0.3%,” Bernhard said during a phone call in September.

Think about that for a moment. The way the IFR and Farm Bill are written - even if the flower and the end product are both compliant - during the extraction process, the material could enter the realm of noncompliance. That’s because the extraction process concentrates the compounds, which then undergo dilution later in the manufacturing process.

“They technically would be in possession of illegal marijuana at that point,” Bernhard said, referring to the extraction stage.

As an exercise, consider if it were alcohol.

Many states have rules regarding alcohol content for end consumers. During distillation, alcohol content can reach concentrations of 90% before being diluted down. In its 90% stage, it would be illegal to sell in many states - hence the dilution. Imagine a governmental enforcement agency putting rules in place that would allow them to bust down the doors in the middle of the distillation process, before the alcohol is diluted into vodka.

According to Bernhard and many others familiar with the situation, the DEA’s proposed

rule has the same effect for the hemp industry.

The IFR effectively makes it possible for the DEA to bust into an extraction facility during this midpoint, and charge operators with possession of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Though the IFR isn’t entirely off-brand for the DEA, lawyers, policy geeks and industry business owners are gobsmacked by the vagueness and potential for harm it introduces to the hemp industry.

“What actual harm is it if during the processing process, it rises above that percentage? It’s not an environmental hazard,” Bernhard said. As long as the end product is compliant, he argues, it should not matter.

D E LTA F O R C E

In its current state, the IFR could cause damage to the huge CBD industry, as well as the emerging delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) market - which in the years since the Farm Bill - has been gaining popularity with entrepreneurs and patients in the therapeutics community.

According to the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine, delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an analogue of THC with “antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties,” and offers those potential benefits with a significantly lower psychotropic potency than delta-9 THC, which is the compound responsible for the classic high most people associate with traditional Cannabis consumption.

Studies have shown a significantly positive impact on the side effects of chemotherapy when delta-8 THC is administered, with the potential beneficial uses of the cannabinoid generating a significant and growing demand in the market.

The Farm Bill and the IFR create two problems for the delta-8 industry. First, as currently written,

the rules prohibit the manufacture and sale of “synthetically derived” THC. Bernhard says the definition of “synthetically derived” is too vague, leaving it open to interpretation, and thus exposing manufacturers to risk of prosecution.

Since DEA rules prohibit the creation and distribution of synthetic cannabinoids, as well as the extraction of cannabinoids from any plants with more than .3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, the only avenue for those who wish to produce and market delta-8 is from hemp. But then manufacturers run the risk of temporarily being in the possession of material with greater than 0.3% delta-9 THC during the extraction process, running into the aforementioned issues.

Unless the language is clarified in order to allow for the extraction process, involvement in both the CBD and the delta-8 markets will be rife with risk.

“It could cause people not to stay in the business, or decrease the supply,” Bernhard said.

“I’m not seeing anyone who’s getting out of the business because of this, but I think the hope is to get some greater clarification.”

The way Bernhard sees it, unless the rules are changed, the entire hemp and Cannabis industries will take a huge step backward.

“If they go ahead with this, we’ll be back to the, ‘It’s technically illegal, but we just hope you won’t enforce it,’” he said. “That’s not good for raising capital, that’s not good for planning.”

For those who want to help influence the future, it’s not too late. The DEA is currently accepting public comments on the IFR until October 20.

For the time being, Bernhard remains optimistic for the industry and hasn’t seen much panic at this point.

“As of now, people are staying level-headed,” he said. “Pushing for change and submitting their comments.”

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tannins &terpenes

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

PACHAMAMA COFFEE WITH ELMHURST GOLDEN MILK HEMP CREAMER AND BIG PETE’S TREATS CINNAMON & SUGAR COOKIES

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TANNINS | PACHAMAMA COFFEE WITH ELMHURST GOLDEN MILK HEMP CREAMER

Sacramento-based Pachamama Coffee not only tastes fresh and finely roasted, but is entirely owned and governed by smallholder farmers across South America, Mexico and Ethiopia. Their Five Sisters medium roast blend is a coffee lover’s paradise – not too strong, but not too weak. Prepared through my preferred method of French Press, even if brewed with slightly too much water, this blend stands strong and does not lose its potency. Its low acidity, amber hue, and tones of grapefruit and honey go perfectly with agave – or equally pleasant without. Five Sisters truly carries that caffeine boost we all love, without the added bitterness of most brands.

Instead of my usual almond milk, I combined Five Sisters with the creamy Elmhurst Golden Milk Hemp Creamer for a robust boost of spice and turmeric. The nutty and creamy texture were reminiscent of a spiced eggnog, bringing a flavor profile that keeps you on your toes naturally without the jitters.

Overall, a mindful cup that nourishes the body and mind.

ocT. 2020

TERPENES | BIG PETE’S TREATS CINNAMON & SUGAR COOKIES

The Feurtado Family from Santa Cruz delivers big love in small bites – and they make it nearly impossible to eat just one of Big Pete’s Cinnamon & Sugar Indica Cookies. As a cookie alone, it’s delicious.

As soon as you snap the bag open, you are smelling the beginning of sweater weather, sprinkled with the nostalgia of falling leaves and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Soft yet crunchy, these cookies have a prominent yet pleasant cannabutter taste that melts on your tongue.

With 10mg of THC in each tasty cookie, this high had me active, focused, positive and productive. After two cookies and in just two hours, I was organized and packed for my flight, worked out, walked the dogs and still had enthusiasm to catch a few shows on Netflix with family.

It sends you to bed gradually without the couch-lock, so you’re able to keep the good vibes for an early morning rise the next day.

These products combined not only complement each other taste-wise, but are an overall immunity booster.

Follow @pachamama_coffee @elmhurst1925 @bigpetestreats *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.

THE PAIRING

I couldn’t have found a better pairing to be coupled together than this. Especially to kick off October and the flavor preferences that fall tends to bring.

The Five Sisters Pachamama blend with the Elmhurst Golden Milk Hemp Creamer and Big Pete’s Cinnamon Sugar Cookies are a culinary heaven for my taste buds. For mindful eaters, the ingredients of cinnamon and turmeric are essential when combatting inflammation of the lungs – especially during fire season on the West Coast.

These products combined not only complement each other taste-wise, but are an overall immunity booster. Give this feel good pairing a try and send profit right back to the Pachamama farmers of its origin, all the while uplifting yourself for the world ahead.

REVIEW by SKYE CABRERA @SKYE.CABRERA for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

BALANCE BLUEBERRY CBD GUMMIES I usually opt for CBD tinctures, so these Plus Balance Blueberry Gummies were a new way to ingest this specific cannabinoid for me. What stands out the most is the clean packaging and blue labeling - not just because it’s my favorite color - but because blue is said to psychologically induce ease and calm just from looking at it. No wonder these gummies are called Balance.

edible OF THE MONTH

PLUS PRODUCTS

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700MG CBD PER TIN 50MG CBD PER GUMMY PLUSPRODUCTSTHC.COM @PLUSPRODUCTS

I booked an insanely more expensive flight without losing my head, swayed softly past crying children, and floated to my newly appointed window seat.

REVIEW by SKYE CABRERA @SKYE.CABRERA for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

caliFornialeaf.COM

It was a short 20 minutes prior to boarding my Sacramento-bound flight when I decided to call upon these CBD treats for assistance in easing the tension of flying and standing amidst a crowd during a global pandemic.

Neatly packed in a round tin container, the glistening with sugar goodies were undoubtedly reminiscent of blueberry flavored Sour Powers and upon eating, boasted a firmyet-chewy texture with a slight sweetness that wasn’t over-the-top.

Indeed, it’s a bit like candy, for adults. And in about 15 minutes, ease and calm set in - just in time for me to miss my flight. Before I knew it, I was navigating my new reality with belligerent customer service agents with a beautiful display of rational and calm behavior.

I booked an insanely more expensive flight without losing my head, swayed softly past crying children, and floated to my newly appointed window seat - all while these gummies worked to disintegrate my anxiety over altered plans and unexpected costs.

Instead of counting problems, I read poetry. I popped a second gummy, looked at the night stars, and then drifted off to the best sleep you could have in an upright position. Sometimes under stress or pressure, all you need is some good sleep and a bit of CBD.

concentratE OF THE MONTH caliFornialeaf.COM

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GOODEKIND Good hemp can be hard to find.

Fortunately, the folks at Goodekind have us covered.

NOTORIOUS CBG CRUMBLE

Hints of pepper, ginger and clove bring a sparkling aroma.

GOODEKIND.COM @GOODEKIND

As a woman and minority-owned social enterprise, the California company bills its focus as “creating organically grown and consciously sourced hemp products.” While the volume of hemp-infused products hitting the market continues to rise, one item that truly sets Goodekind apart is their Notorious CBG crumble.

If dabbing a concentrate that contains no THC offers limited appeal, consumers may prefer to ‘top off’ a bowl of Cannabis flower with a generous helping of crumble. In either case, CBG (or cannabigerol) is reputed for its properties in treating inflammation, anxiety and pain.

As a rarer and costlier cannabinoid to manufacture, Goodekind’s retail price of $40 per gram offers a relatively affordable entry point for concentrate heads curious to see what all the CBG fuss is about.

In pre-combustion form, the crumble resembles small rocks one might expect to find in a New Mexico desert. Though they offer a vague aroma of plant matter, the familiar terpene notes expected from a concentrate are absent here. Instead, hints of pepper, ginger and clove bring a sparkling aroma. And while quite delicious, the real magic happens once you set this stuff to flame.

Using a PuffCo Peak at the 450 °F setting, I sampled some Notorious CBG crumble (a fitting tribute to the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg) both with Cannabis flower and on its own.

Dabbed solo, it became difficult to quantify the sensations experienced.

Though extremely subtle, the hit did seem to clear the mind and refresh the senses.

Even better was what transpired when this crumble was paired with a bit of local NorCal sativa. When combined, the CBG properties worked in tandem with the THC-rich Cannabis to provide a wonderfully well-rounded and substantial high.

Regardless of how you choose to enjoy this unique Goodekind offering, you can be rest assured all the boxes are checked when it comes to ethics, quality and most importantly, the experience itself.

ORGANICALLY GROWN AND PESTICIDE-FREE $40/G | 81% CBGA | < 0.3% THC

ocT. 2020

REVIEW by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN | PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF

Despite the tumultuous nature of 2020, some things seemed destined to survive all circumstances.

Beyond the durability of cockroaches, we can also count on the arrival of Autumn ushering in a dizzying array of products bearing the words ‘pumpkin spice.’

Naturally, the Pumpkin Spice craze has extended to the Cannabis and CBD industries.

500ML,17OZ, $19.99 MADE WITH 100% PURE NATURAL HEMP SEED OIL.

HEMPZ.COM | @HEMPZOFFICIAL

REVIEW by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN | PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF

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Beyond lattes and baked goods, the popular scent is now also available in candles, air fresheners and a wide array of lotions and creams. For some reason, one can also purchase pumpkin spice hummus, but please don’t. Naturally, the party now extends to the Cannabis and CBD industries as well.

In a crowded sea of potential choices, there’s a lot to like about Hempz® Pumpkin Spice & Vanilla Chai herbal body moisturizer. For one, the California company has been around since 1998, bringing over 20 years of experience to their vast line of hemp seed oil-powered body, hair and face care products.

What makes their key ingredient such a star? While hemp seed oil won’t get you high, it does have some powerful components.

As Hempz® explains, “Nothing hydrates quite like hemp seed. The oil format delivers powerful moisture, vitamin E acts as a natural emollient, and omega fatty acids help strengthen the skin barrier.”

In sampling their Pumpkin Spice & Vanilla Chai moisturizer, I found the scent to be pleasant. This was chiefly thanks to the inclusion of the chai, which balanced out the sweetest notes of the pumpkin spice to create something more aromatically complex and appealing.

As a lotion, the product applied well and I experienced a brief tingling on my forearms after lightly rubbing in a pump or two worth.

Shortly thereafter, the hydrating and soothing properties of this limited edition offering from Hempz® set in as well. If you moisturize regularly, dig what hemp has to offer and feel like welcoming the smells of the season into your home, this is the topical for you.

topical OF THE MONTH

PUMPKIN SPICE & VANILLA CHAI HERBAL BODY MOISTURIZER

HEMPZ®

cannthropology

WORLD OF CANNABIS PRESENTS

ASSASSINS OF TRUTH Profiling a publication 44

with a prominent piece of prohibitionist propaganda

caliFornialeaf.COM

MUCKRAKER MAGAZINES

In 1906, a publication that had undergone numerous name changes over the previous three decades rebranded itself one final time as The American Magazine. Originally distributed

by Phillips Publishing, it had up until then been known for its “muckraking” writers—a term used to describe investigative journalists who exposed corruption. After being acquired by Crowell Publishing in 1911, however, the magazine began featuring less provocative content in an effort to court a wider readership—or so they said.

Some, however, saw this not as a harmless shift in editorial focus, but as a deliberate attempt by corporate interests to silence journalists who were speaking truth to power.

“The right of free speech in America is in jeopardy,” warned noted muckraker Cleveland Moffett in a New York Times article. “They are trying to muzzle the magazines. Several magazines…have come under the control of interests, and in each of them the muckraking features will cease.”

YELLOW JOURNALISM

As it turned out, Mr. Moffatt’s fears were well-founded; over the next two decades, many

ocT. 2020

publications that were gobbled up by media conglomerates would adopt a new reporting style anathema to the muckrakers. Dubbed “yellow journalism” (what we would today call “tabloid journalism” or “fake news”), it relied on sensationalism, fear-mongering and sentimentality, rather than investigative acumen, rationality and hard facts. Undoubtedly, the most egregious perpetrator of this unsavory editorial practice was media magnate William Randolph Hearst.

Hearst hired a writer named Winifred Bonfils, who under the pen name Annie Laurie, wrote a series of columns for his news syndicate railing against the evils of narcotics—eventually turning her typewriter against weed as well. Eschewing the familiar terms “hemp” and “cannabis,” which had been used by Western culture for centuries, these articles rebranded the widely used plant as some dangerous new drug called “marihuana”—the foreign-sounding name used by the Indigenous peoples of Mexico, who at the time were pouring across the border at an alarming rate.

Through the 1920s, Hearst published a flood of Laurie’s yellow journalism articles about these murderous, marijuana smoking Mexicans throughout the thirty-odd newspapers and mag-

azines in his print empire, which were read by nearly a quarter of all Americans.

Many amatuer historians, including legendary activist Jack Herer, have speculated that Hearst’s motives for condemning cannabis went beyond mere racism—that he and Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, among others, saw the hemp industry as a threat to their financial holdings in the timber, oil and chemical industries. But upon serious research, this argument doesn’t seem to hold water factually.

Regardless of the reasoning behind it, however, it was this procession of propaganda—later appropriated and amplified by one notorious anti-drug zealot—that would eventually lead to America’s criminalization of cannabis.

That zealot was Harry Jacob Anslinger.

ANSLINGER ATTACKS

A former inspector and corporate spin doctor for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Harry J. Anslinger landed a job as an assistant commissioner in the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Prohibition— thanks in part to the convenient fact that Secretary Mellon happened to be his wife’s uncle.

When the Bureau was transferred to the Justice Department in 1930, Uncle Andrew appointed

Anslinger as Commissioner of the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics (the precursor to today’s DEA)— making him America’s first defacto drug czar. Initially, Anslinger seemed indifferent to cannabis, reportedly saying in regard to the notion that cannabis made people violent, “There is probably no more absurd fallacy.” So what changed his mind? The end of Prohibition and the dawn of the Depression.

The Depression forced significant budget cuts to a number of law enforcement agencies, and with the Volstead Act repealed, they’d need a new substance to demonize if they wanted to maintain their power. With his agency’s funding in jeopardy and sensastionalized reports of cannabis use among Mexicans and “negro” jazz musicians on the rise, the racist and opportunistic Anslinger decided to shift gears and launch an all-out assault on the herb.

With no scientific evidence to support his new crusade against cannabis, the only way to further his agenda was by perpetuating past propaganda to stoke white America’s xenophobia and economic anxiety. Anslinger culled around 200 articles, accusations, and anecdotes about the exaggerated dangers of cannabis use from Hearst’s papers and crime reports to compile what he called his “Gore Files,” then used them to crank out his own steady flow of press releases and articles designed to stir up hysteria among the populace and bolster his efforts to get Congress to outlaw the herb.

ASSASSIN OF YOUTH

Perhaps the most infamous and influential of these was a piece Anslinger co-wrote with crime author Courtney Ryley Cooper entitled “Marijuana—Assassin of Youth.”

The article lays out his version of the drug’s history and its evil effects on the nation’s youth, illustrated by a series of sordid stories about various “marijuana addicts”— some of whom allegedly suffered from hallucinations, mania and selective amnesia—who’d engaged in acts of violence, theft, sexual depravity, and even murder while “on the weed.”

These include a 17-year-old boy killing a police officer, a girl who jumped out of a window after smoking reefers at a party, and a Florida teen named Victor Licata who hacked up his entire family with an ax, all supposedly while high on the “muggles.” In what periodical was this flagitious feature published? In the July 1937 issue of…you guessed it...The American Magazine. (An abridged version was reprinted around seven months later in Reader’s Digest, and a Reefer Madness-style exploitation film bearing the same name soon followed.)

Researchers later concluded that nearly all of Anslinger’s “Gore Files” crime attributions to marijuana usage were either false or misleading, including that of Licata who had been diagnosed as mentally ill from an early age. Nevertheless, Anslinger’s scare tactics worked like a charm: The legislation he’d drafted was submitted to Congress in April, signed into law on August 2, and went into effect as the Marijuana Tax Act on October 1, 1937. Though it didn’t technically outlaw cannabis, it allowed those possessing or selling it without the proper paperwork to be arrested and jailed. That law remained in effect for three decades—until it was challenged by counterculture icon Timothy Leary and overturned as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1969. Unfortunately, it was replaced within a year by Nixon’s far stricter Controlled Dangerous Substances Act—further codifying Anslinger’s irrational cannabis crusade into law and kicking off the modern-day War on Drugs.

Modern-day muckrakers still struggle against the scourge of fake news serving the agendas of politicians and media moguls.

“Marijuana is the most violencecausing drug in the history of mankind.”

Harry J. Anslinger

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EPILOGUE

Anslinger died in 1975 and was buried at Presbyterian Cemetery in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania—not far from his hometown of Altoona (just in case you’d like to pee your respects). The American Magazine published its final issue in August 1956, but sadly the practice of yellow journalism remains alive and well. Today, over 80 years after the publishing of “Marijuana—Assassins of Youth,” we modern-day muckrakers still struggle against the scourge of fake news that serves the agendas of politicians and media moguls, and continue to strive to counteract the malevolent misinformation about marijuana that Hearst and Anslinger first unleashed into our nation’s zeitgeist.

» For a deeper dive on this topic, listen to Episode #2 of the

Cannthropology potcast at worldofcannabis.museum/podcast, or find it available on all podcast platforms.

This content was originally published on worldofcannabis.museum and is reprinted with permission.

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @WORLDOFCANNABIS.MUSEUM for LEAF NATION

CIGARETTES ARE HEALTHY! he cigarette industry has really taken it in the butt this century, so can we please focus on some positives? After all, as we evolve toward a more tolerant society insistent upon creating a level playing field of fairness for everyone, we really should stop the addiction shaming. Sure, those fine orally fixated folks are willingly welcoming a small forest fire into their respiratory system with each flick of the Bic, but who are we to judge? After all, it is their human right to laminate their lungs with a fresh chimney soot smoothie powered by a benzene boost.

You know, there’s a reason they call them cancer sticks: It’s because the cancer sticks to your lungs.

Anyway, smoking is literally exhausting. Which explains why if I were to be blindfolded and asked to identify the mystery scent effervescing from your mouth into my fresh nostrils, my first guess would be exhaust.

Because when you waft that wheeze, I recall a frantic chase toward a departing metro bus as the tailpipe burps out a cocktail of scorched, highly refined fossil fuels directly into my clenched face.

But hey, not everyone is addicted, right? I mean, some users will claim they strictly smoke for enjoyment. Unfortunately, this enjoyment leads them out the door to an area 25 feet away from the building entrance an average of 10 times a day, just to light up. But am I the only one who sees this ritual for enjoyment as a monumental inconvenience?

And cigarette abusers will vehemently defend their crutch with any explanation in the attempt to convince you that there is at least one positive result from the act of smoking cigarettes. “It calms my nerves,” they will confidently assert.

No, it doesn’t. You know what calms your nerves? Counseling.

Cigarettes are awesome! And healthy! Marijuana cigarettes, that is.

T

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by Mike Ricker

oct. 2020

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