March 2019 - Alaska Leaf

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

# 35 | M A R C H 2 0 1 9

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

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INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

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This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with con consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

MAR. 2019

11 Editor Note 12 by the numbers 14 national news 18 jerry whiting 20 budtender q&a 22 patient profile 24 highly likely 28 Alaska fireweed 32 strain of the month 36 the sustainability issue 46 women in weed 50 cannabis recipes 54 cartridge review 56 concentrate review 58 hemp tincture REview 62 tannins + terpenes

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38 TKO RESERVE

The humble and talented growers behind Purple Punch and other great strains at this Eagle Point, OR farm share their tips + goals for sustainability.

PHOTO by ALLIE CASSIDY @CANNA.OBSCURA

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MAR. 2019

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ON THE COVER What does sustainability mean to you? How much does our planet mean to you as a grower, and as a Cannabis consumer?

We each wield considerable power of the purse to consider how our lifestyle affects the world around us. Ultimately, Cannabis is another part of that ecosystem!

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Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Sustainability Issue of Alaska Leaf!

After nearly a decade of publishing and activism in the Cannabis industry, it is still strange to be writing about something as progressive as sustainability. When I first started in Cannabis, being sustainable meant avoiding jail or being robbed.

Fast-forward to legalization and the industry we all love is facing a myriad of different issues.

The most important issue I see facing the plant is simply that it is a plant. It grows like a weed. And here in the PNW producers are growing entirely too much pot. I personally believe that the markets will self-correct as farms fail when the price per pound of this agricultural product becomes unsustainable, and that farms will shift to growing less biomass, focusing more on craft and quality.

With 1,000,000+ excess pounds of weed unsold between WA and OR, something has to give.

Let me be clear: exporting Cannabis is not the solution. I hear this consistently from Oregon producers, and my question is this: Why would consumers in other states want to buy weed from Oregon (or anywhere else) when they can grow and process their own? And why should the rights of our overproducing farms here trump those of people in states soon to legalize who deserve a chance to participate in the industry? The short answer is that they don’t. Trying to fix a state’s Cannabis market by dumping excess pot on another state isn’t a solution, it’s a cop-out.

But there are many other issues facing the industry, and they are in some ways more serious than metric tons of unsmoked flower. Cannabis has a massive waste issue, consuming goods and dumping plastic into landfills every time a five dollar preroll is bought. The national industry is largely overrun by rich, white men - and the one percent corporations are lining up to capitalize on the future of federal legalization. There’s a complete lack of minority and women-owned businesses, and the jobs offered by large for profit companies are quickly becoming the low paying, stagnant opportunities we expect of corporate America.

And let’s not forget that Cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, and that people are being arrested and locked in cages for a plant every single day. So what will make Cannabis sustainable for the future? It’s more than a high-tech greenhouse or organic soil amendments. For the industry to survive as we know it, change must begin at the fundamental political level.

Our plant needs to be freed nationally, regulated and taxed like normal businesses, and then we can begin worrying about all the little issues that will shape the planet and our Cannabis economy. Until then, a lot of what will make Cannabis truly sustainable is being lost in the weeds.

TRYING TO FIX A STATE’S CANNABIS MARKET BY DUMPING EXCESS POT ON ANOTHER STATE ISN’T A SOLUTION, IT’S A COP-OUT.

-Wes Abney MAR. 2019

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AKLEAF.COM

photo by daniel berman @bermanphotos

ABNEY

by the numbers

13 350 12 600 Washington residents were pardoned under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Marijuana Justice Initiative.

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warning letters and five online advisories were sent by the FDA to foreign and domestic companies for selling CBD-infused products claiming to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s, among other diseases and health conditions.

million dollars in tax revenues were generated by states that have recreational and legal Cannabis sales in 2018.

licensed Cannabis shops are in business across the state of Oregon.

57 42 percent of Maryland residents say they support recreational Cannabis in their state.

mar. 2019

dollars per ounce is the proposed excise tax on weed in New Jersey.

BY STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

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national news

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politics

legalization

CONGRESS LOOKS AT BANKING FOR MARIJUANA BUSINESSES

SMALL OREGON TOWNS ARE EUPHORIC OVER WEED TAX WINDFALL

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House wants to give banks and credit unions legal cover to serve the exploding Cannabis industry.

Even though a majority of states allow either medical Cannabis or recreational marijuana, weed remains illegal federally.

That has created a strange legal limbo wherein Cannabis businesses must incur serious financial and security risks, because of being blocked from using banks and credit unions.

Financial institutions have been wary of serving marijuana businesses because they don’t want to land in regulatory trouble with the feds. Without access to basic banking services, some growers and pot shops are forced to operate on a cash-only basis, increasing their risks of being robbed.

Lawmakers across the political spectrum are uniting behind a new bill, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, to deal with this problem, reports The Hill.

The measure is sponsored by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado), and would bar federal regulators and prosecutors from penalizing banks and credit unions for serving marijuana businesses if those firms are in compliance with state laws.

“You can’t put the genie back in the bottle,” Rep. Perlmutter said.

“The prohibition is over.”

legalization

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CALIFORNIA COLLECTS FAR LESS IN CANNABIS TAXES THAN INITIALLY PROJECTED Recreational Cannabis sales generated less than $350 million in tax revenues for California during 2018, regulators announced on February 19. This is viewed as very disappointing since annual tax revenues were previously projected at $1 billion.

According to figures released by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the state collected $345.2 million in excise, sales and cultivation taxes imposed on the new recreational Cannabis industry. The market was launched on January 1, 2018, making the state the biggest of the seven which so far permit adults to legally buy and use weed for recreational purposes.

Recreational Cannabis sold by licensed shops in Cali is subject to a cultivation tax imposed on harvested weed, as well as a 15 percent excise tax and standard state and local sales taxes.

mAR. 2019

entertainment

MARYLAND BEAUTY QUEEN HAILS HEALING POWER OF MEDICAL CANNABIS A beauty queen from Maryland says she has all the proof she needs that medical Cannabis works. “It really is the miracle drug,” said Syanne Centeno, who says it can help with things like cancer, seizures, headaches and nausea.

Crowned Miss Maryland World in 2015, Centeno suffered chronic aches, anxiety and fatigue.

“I have osteoporosis, which is a bone disease commonly seen in post-menopausal women,” she said.

“I have a seizure disorder, I have a pituitary tumor, and I also have a lesion on my temporal lobe.”

At one point, Centeno said she was taking 10 pills a day, with little relief.

AT ONE POINT, That’s why she turned to medicinal CENTENO SAID Cannabis oils.

SHE WAS TAKING “I felt like I had to try it,” she said.

10 PILLS A DAY, “I’ve experienced firsthand what WITH LITTLE the benefits are, so now I feel inclined RELIEF. THAT’S WHY SHE TURNED to advocate for it and be a voice for TO MEDICINAL people who are too scared to come CANNABIS OILS. forward and share their experience.”

the south

With more than 600 licensed pot shops across Oregon, many are scattered along rural highways and in small towns.

And these little communities are reaping big rewards from marijuana taxes, reports KOIN6.

Towns like Gates, Oregon, in Marion County, are joyful over this turn of events. Gates has tripled its tax income with just one Cannabis retailer.

The owner of Canyon Cannabis in Gates is Thorin Thacker, former mayor of Mill City, down the road.

The shop has become a staple of the town. It has lots of personality, with custom frisbees and nostalgic records, and it makes bank. “It’s great to see such positive things coming out of such a harmless plant,” Thacker said.

Jerry Marr, who served as mayor of Gates when recreational Cannabis was legalized and Canyon Cannabis opened, said the town’s entire population pays $7,000 in property tax each year.

Canyon Cannabis, paying just 3 percent of its revenue, pays double that now. That $14,000 covers four months’ worth of the town’s entire yearly operating budget. With more than $82 million collected across Oregon in the most recent fiscal year, that’s making a big impact.

MISSISSIPPI HANDS OUT 12 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR OREGON MAN WITH 3 LBS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

east coast

An Oregon man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in Mississippi for the possession of medical Cannabis.

Patrick Beadle, 46, was originally convicted of “drug trafficking” and sentenced to eight years in prison without parole, reports The Clarion Ledger. His lawyer, Cynthia Stewart, said on February 20th that a judge vacated that conviction and let Beadle instead plead guilty to drug possession. The new 12-year sentence comes with the possibility of parole after three years.

Beadle said the medical Cannabis was for his chronic knee pain. He is a licensed medicinal Cannabis patient in Oregon. Prosecutors said the only evidence that supported drug trafficking was the amount of weed, which totaled nearly three pounds.

The marijuana was discovered when a Mississippi deputy pulled Beadle over in 2017 for driving over the centerline line, which Beadle disputes.

Baltimore will cease prosecuting people for possessing marijuana, regardless of the quantity or the person’s criminal history, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced. Calling the move “monumental” for justice in Baltimore, Mosby also requested the courts vacate nearly 5,000 convictions for marijuana possession. “When I ask myself: Is the enforcement and prosecution of marijuana possession making us safer as a city?” Mosby said. “The answer is emphatically ‘no.’” Maryland lawmakers decriminalized possession of up to 10 grams of weed in 2014.

BALTIMORE WON’T PROSECUTE POSSESSION

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national news

legalization

COULD WASHINGTON STATE ONCE AGAIN SEE CANNABIS FARMERS MARKETS?

politics

GOV. JAY INSLEE PARDONS CONVICTIONS FOR 13 WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENTS

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In the first month after Washington Governor Jay Inslee offered pardons to thousands of people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses, only 13 people officially got pardoned. A broader proposal may be gaining momentum in the Washington legislature, potentially clearing criminal records for hundreds of thousands of other state residents convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Inslee, who is mulling a Presidential run, announced his Marijuana Justice Initiative in early January at a Cannabis industry conference.

The governor cited the negative impact of pot convictions, especially on minorities, and the lingering harm to employment opportunities and housing prospects.

The governor’s pardon offer was limited to those with otherwise clean records who were convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses between 1998 and Dec. 5, 2012, when I-502, approved by voters the previous month, made marijuana legal in Washington state. About 3,500 people are estimated to be eligible for pardons under Inslee’s plan. As of February, 160 people had applied, but most weren’t eligible, according to the governor’s office.

Back in the golden age of medical marijuana in Washington State, Cannabis farmers markets became common.

Then recreational legalization came along with voter-approved I-502, and the markets were declared illegal, part of the vast collateral damage to the medical marijuana community that made legalization a mixed bag for patients.

Rick Garza, the state’s top marijuana regulator, speaking at a conference in February, said Washington will consider once again allowing small Cannabis producers to sell directly to consumers.

It’s part of an effort to level the playing field for smaller mom-andpop craft growers, who are suffering financially with oversupply issues and stiff competition from bigger, corporate growers.

Garza, who is director of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, made the remarks at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference in Portland, Oregon, reports Leafly.

The plan he discussed would RICK GARZA, THE set up a system similar to that STATE’S TOP MARIJUANA governing Washington’s alcohol REGULATOR, SPEAKING producers.

AT A CONFERENCE According to Garza, some of IN FEBRUARY, SAID the financial hardships facing WASHINGTON WILL smaller growers are due to the CONSIDER ONCE AGAIN lack of vertical integration in the ALLOWING SMALL state’s Cannabis industry.

CANNABIS PRODUCERS Unlike other states, Washington TO SELL DIRECTLY TO forbids a single owner from both CONSUMERS. growing and selling Cannabis, requiring those activities be split between separate businesses.

Any rule change would require approval of the entire threemember board. “There’s a lot of difficulty in the industry, but I’ve never heard a consumer complain about the system we set up in Washington,” Garza said. Hmmm....

east coast

northwest

HELPING MINORITIES GAIN A PIECE OF MARYLAND’S NEW CANNABIS INDUSTRY

WHY OREGON HAS A SIX-YEAR WEED SUPPLY

Maryland’s Cannabis industry is expected to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars in the next few years, and minority businesspeople want to participate.

Uplift Maryland, founded last year by Kevin Ford Jr., has as its goal increasing minority involvement among the state’s medical Cannabis growing and retail businesses. More than 350 people have registered to participate in Uplift’s training sessions to prepare minority residents to enter the Cannabis industry, Ford said.

“We really want this training to push people to work together, to be able to sustain businesses in the “I THINK DIVERSITY Cannabis industry if they actually IS GOOD FOR ANY achieve a license,” Ford said.

INDUSTRY. WHEN YOU’RE “I think diversity is good for any ABLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT industry.

When you’re able to have VIEWPOINTS AT THE TABLE, different viewpoints at the table, THAT’S HOW YOU BUILD A that’s how you build a thriving in THRIVING IN INDUSTRY.” industry.”

-UPLIFT MARYLAND Uplift Maryland was recently FOUNDER KEVIN FORD, JR. awarded a grant worth $45,000 from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.

The grants are to support educational and business development programs aimed at training minority business-people looking to participate in the industry.

Oregon growers are now producing twice as much Cannabis as the state’s residents can smoke, according to a new study from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. While on the surface that may seem like the kind of problem you’d like to have, it does lead to practical issues — such as the state’s current six years’ worth of weed sitting on shelves and at farms, reports Oregon Public Broadcasting.

True to market forces, the vast oversupply of Cannabis has driven down prices. Since recreational weed became legal three years ago, prices have dropped from $10 a gram to less than $5 a gram.

Consumers are happy about that; Oregonians are now smoking more weed at higher rates than any other state in the nation, according to Portland Business Journal. But regulators worry that the massive oversupply is fueling the black market.

Farmers who have spent all year producing a quality crop, only to learn it’s not worth much in Oregon, are tempted to drive it across state lines and sell it somewhere else. But the federal government takes a very day view of such entrepreneurship. Such illegal exports are likely, according to some industry observers, to lead to a federal crackdown.

mAR. 2019

BY STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

OPINION aklEAF.COM

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BY JERRY WHITING LeBlancCNE.com/podcast

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS BIOMASS

There are a lot things Cannabis and hemp share in common.

Cheap may not always be a bargain. Here’s a little secret of mine: I’d While verbiage to describe the plant isn’t one of them, it should be. If gladly pay one-third as much for biomass with one-half the chemistry. you’re like me, you’re familiar with marijuana and its vocabulary - words If lot A is 10 percent CBD for $100 a pound and lot B is five percent like bud, popcorn, sugar leaf, trim, shake, etc.

CBD for $35 a pound, I’m buying lot B all day long.

Imagine my surprise when I started working with industrial hemp, Let’s go back to our Milk Model. I just bought whole milk, not cream. especially that grown for CBD, and I heard the term “biomass” tossed Here, I’d kief the biomass to collect the trichomes I just bought. Now I about freely. Silly me, the first time I heard the term I thought they meant have less bulk to work with whether I make cannabutter, do an alcohol BMI, or body mass index. Too embarrassed to ask, for the life of me I extraction, or run it through a CO2 machine. Less post processing is couldn’t understand what body mass had to do with industrial hemp. required because I’m running trichomes without leaf matter - so there’s After seeing various examples of biomass I realized it bore little less chlorophyll, fats, lipids and other material to remove. resemblance from sample to sample. In fact, it seemed the term had Assuming you’re growing hemp for CBD production, all I want to little or no meaning at all. Biomass is too broad of a term to be of much buy are trichomes because that’s where the highest concentration of practical use. I’ve seen everything from branches cut with a chainsaw to cannabinoids and terpenes are. The more trichomes in your biomass the flower trimmed by hand, looking at totally different parts of the plant, all more I’m willing to pay for it. Some use what I call a flat pricing model: labeled biomass. dollars per mg of CBD. This works for those My answer is a whole new model and doing reductionist chemistry to make isolate or vocabulary when describing what part(s) of the distillate. I call it flat because it totally ignores “I’VE SEEN EVERYTHING hemp plant is being described and discussed. other valuable non-CBD cannabinoids, terpenes FROM BRANCHES CUT Farmers tend to understand what I call The Milk and other compounds that contribute to a whole WITH A CHAINSAW TO Model the first time they hear it. Pot growers plant preparation. think I’m nuts.

A more nuanced pricing model takes into FLOWER TRIMMED BY HAND, Close your eyes and overlay milk onto a account the full cannabinoid and terpene LOOKING AT TOTALLY hemp plant keeping trichome concentration in profiles, as well as the condition of the hemp DIFFERENT PARTS OF mind. Going from top to bottom, we have heavy itself. The COA with the THC and CBD levels THE PLANT, ALL LABELED whipping cream (trimmed flower), half and half are a given, but what about pesticide test results, (popcorn and sugar leaf), whole milk (trim) and microbial and mycotoxin, or even heavy metals?

BIOMASS.” skim milk (shake and leaves).

Those are worth something. Let’s not forget the The trichome concentration and price goes whims of the market. Is Cherry Wine popular down as you go from top to bottom. with your customers? Will they pay a premium for the Cherry Wine brand?

Back to biomass. If lot A is heavy cream and lot B is half and half, they Does the hemp in question have CBG or THC-V? Both are in demand and may be labeled biomass but they aren’t apples to apples the same. A sought after by some willing to pay for it. buyer needs to consider not only how much per mg of CBD it costs, but Not all biomass is the same. Ignore the finer differences and you’ll also the physical condition of the hemp itself. If it’s trimmed it takes less pay too much or overlook hidden gems. Don’t take my word for it - go work to process, has a higher yield and/or creates less waste material. shopping for yourself. Just be sure to leave the flat pricing model at home.

mar. 2019

PHOTO BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

Budtender of the month

“I LIKE THAT CUSTOMERS FEEL LIKE THEY CAN TRUST ME TO HELP THEM GET THE RIGHT CANNABIS, SHOW THEM NEW CANNABIS PRODUCTS, AND HEAR THEIR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES WITH IT.”

JOSEPH IYAHUK

When did Cannabis first come into your life? My first Cannabis experience was when I was in my late teens. I was always hanging out with my cousin Alex.

He asked me to smoke but I always said no in fear of my mom finding out.

But one day I decided to take a hit and see how it felt. After that I was in love with Mary Jane.

How did you become a budtender? After it became legal, I went to CannaCon at the Denaina Center back in 2017, and took a class and became certified.

I applied at the closest shop to my house and it turned out to have been the best decision I’ve ever made.

What is your favorite part of the job? I like that customers feel like they can trust me to help them get the right Cannabis, show them new Cannabis products, and hear their stories and experiences with it. And meeting different people from all walks of life. It’s great to be a part of the industry, and help it make a positive impact in the community.

What’s your favorite way to consume OR USE CANNABIS? My favorite way to consume Cannabis is vaping, with the various levels of terpenes and higher levels of cannabinoids. It makes for a flavorful and smooth, easy on the lungs high. But sometimes you can’t beat flower.

Joints are my go-to for flower. A nice kief topped bowl is always a good go-to as well.

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What are your favorite strains and producers? I’m a connoisseur when it come to my Cannabis. I love sweeter and gassier strains, strains with higher terpenes. Durban Poison and OG #18 from GOOD are nice. Rainforest Cannabis Cultivation, The Frost Frontier, and Mercy Tree are some of my favorite cultivators. I prefer Co2 for vapes. Frog mountain and Top Hat are my go for vape cartridges.

How do you find the right Cannabis for a customer? I ask a few questions, check to see what they do and don’t like, and see what they’ve had in the past.

Always ask if they are looking for a particular high. I like to open the jars and show them the buds directly, let them smell and see what it is. That usually makes it easier to decide.

Why do you like working at Uncle Herb’s? I love working at Uncle Herb’s. My coworkers are the best. When you have a question or need help, they are always there for each other. The environment is inviting and cozy. The customers are loyal and kind, which makes for a friendly atmosphere. I like that we cultivate in-house and can go play in the garden. Not to mention if you wanted a change of scenery, we have another location in Homer!

aklEAF.COM

What are your hobbies when you aren’t working at the dispensary? My hobbies outside of work are smoking Cannabis, reading, cooking, playing with new recipes, and playing video games. I also like to watch movies and TV shows. One of my favorites right now is Riverdale. I like riding bikes, going out in nature, and frolfing.

UNCLE HERB’S 6511 Arctic Spur Rd Anchorage UncleHerbs.com (907) 561-4372

mar. 2019

INTERVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE / ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA

(1) "Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive;” (2) "Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence;” (3) "There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana” (4) "For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children;” and (5) "Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding;”

PROFILE

MJ MARTIN

HOWCANNABISHELPSAchalasia

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Approximately 1 in 100,000 people are diagnosed with Achalasia, a rare illness which causes the patient to lose their ability to swallow foods easily. The symptoms associated with Achalasia are so intense that some patients have even compared the esophageal spasms to having a heart attack.

Luckily, for people like MJ Martin, Cannabis has been a saving grace for those experiencing the disease and its symptoms.

Martin explained to me that her doctors aren’t sure why she has this condition, but speculate that it could have developed after an extremely severe case of the Norovirus that left her very ill, vomiting for several weeks. The first time Martin was hospitalized for her Achalasia was just about a year after this serious Norovirus episode.

She had been going to doctor after doctor, taking test after test to figure out what was wrong and why she still felt so sickly. She said that “they would throw different medications at [her], but no one knew what was wrong. “[She] had lost so much weight that her clothes weren’t fitting, and [she] was just skin and bones.”

Up until this point, Martin was continuing to work as a manager in a dental office in this condition. Pushing through work days, malnourished with a sick stomach to support her children and family.

One particular morning she woke up incredibly weak and found herself unable to keep much food down. After attempting to force herself to eat a protein bar at work that day, she felt a severe chest pain that she had never experienced before.

Out of breath, she turned to her colleague and said, “there’s something wrong” as her hands and face turned white.

Her coworker responded, noted that MJ “didn’t look so good” and urged her to go straight to the hospital. Martin courageously got in the car and drove herself to the hospital.

While on the phone via Bluetooth, her mother asked her questions to try and figure out what was happening to her daughter. Her mother quickly realized that the protein bar Martin ate had become stuck in her throat, and that day she was admitted to the hospital, unable to swallow.

The doctors had to remove the protein bar and sent her home, although Martin was still malnourished and not feeling well. After a second hospital visit, Martin decided to reach out to a few different G.I. doctors, eventually finding one who would see her for this issue.

Upon examining Martin, the G.I. doctor’s nurse determined that Martin was to be immediately admitted to the hospital. One week and several tests later, Martin was diagnosed with Achalasia.

None of the medications that Martin was prescribed were helping her deal with her symptoms, but they were actually “making it to the point where [she] couldn’t function in life because [she] was on so many.”

Rapidly losing weight and unable to eat solid foods, it was becoming dire for Martin to find a solution.

That solution didn’t come until Martin joined a couple of support groups for people with Achalasia. It was there that she learned that some of her peers were using Cannabis to reduce their G.I. and esophageal spasms and gain an appetite again.

Martin had experimented herself with Cannabis as a sleep aid, but only occasionally. While exploring Cannabis options at her local recreational shop, she met a compassionate budtender who urged her to try Rick Simpson Oil. After her first six week session of RSO treatment was up, Martin became a believer in the healing power of Cannabis, and a daily consumer of the plant. She is a proponent of utilizing the full spectrum of cannabinoids, rather than just focusing on CBD or THC. Her tincture of choice “instantly stops” her spasms, and this blend of THC, CBD, and CBN work together to “relax the soft tissue muscles and take away pain.”

Now that Martin is acclimating back into a somewhat normal lifestyle, she admits that it has been a challenge at times. She was nervous to come out of the Cannabis closet and openly claim Cannabis as her medicine of choice, the plant that “literally saved [her] life.”

Society has placed such a stigma on not only individuals who consume Cannabis, but especially parents and mothers specifically.

Rather than shy away from this lifestyle change, Martin took a different route and created a place for herself where she would feel comfortable expressing her support of the plant.

AFTER HER FIRST SIX WEEK SESSION OF RSO TREATMENT WAS UP, MARTIN BECAME A BELIEVER IN THE HEALING POWER OF CANNABIS, AND A DAILY CONSUMER OF THE PLANT.

Flower Girl Queens is a lifestyle brand that Martin debuted on Instagram to connect with others who have chronic illnesses and to learn more about how Cannabis has impacted their recovery and healing. Currently FGQ vends fashion apparel and handmade jewelry, and eventually Martin is going to offer a line of CBD products as well. Learn more at www.FGQ.life and FlowerGirlQueens.org. mar. 2019

STORY & PHOTO by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

highly likely #43 aklEAF.COM

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WORLD-FAMOUS SINGER/SONGWRITER AND OCCASIONAL CANNABIS SMOKER

B “IF I’M FEELING STUCK ON A LYRIC OR AN IDEA ISN’T QUITE GELLING, SOMETIMES A PUFF OF WEED WILL FREE IT UP.”

ritish musician, singer, songwriter, and actor Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, or Sting, has been one of the most respected voices in arts and entertainment since the early 80s. His original band, The Police, were one of the biggest rock bands of the late 70s and early 80s – winning many an award and accolade for their work on the edges of reggae and new wave music. Since then, Sting has gone on to write and record countless hits for other bands, and for his own solo career, appeared in over 30 movies, and worked in the theater.

These endeavors have earned him countless Grammy awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy and nominations for Oscars. He has his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But beyond all of his success in the entertainment industry, Sting has attempted to give back to society in many ways. He’s been a human rights activist since the early 80s. He’s worked toward environmental causes, world hunger, the global refugee crisis with organizations like Amnesty International and the Tibetan independence movement. Most recently, Sting has worked to stem the tide of technology addiction in children.

In his personal life, he’s an avid practitioner of yoga and transcendental meditation, and apparently, he likes to smoke a little Cannabis now and then. “If I’m feeling stuck on a lyric or an idea isn’t quite gelling, sometimes a puff of weed will free it up,” he told Rolling Stone magazine last year – adding that he’s utilized it as a creative catalyst throughout his life. He said he “rarely smoke[s] it socially.”

When asked to elaborate, Sting said that, “it’s a tool, just as the pen is,” and then went on to note that many musical icons have used certain substances to enhance their work. “I certainly wouldn’t advocate that you have to take drugs to make art, but then you can’t nullify the work of The Beatles. They took LSD and they made fantastic albums. Miles Davis made the most extraordinary music on heroin.”

He offered a caveat. “Some people can cope with it perfectly well. I’m not here to make rules, or even state that there should be any rules.

Drugs are dangerous, without a doubt,” he said. “At the same time, they can be useful tools, but they need to be thought about as tools.”

This isn’t the first time that Sting has spoken about Cannabis use. In 2014 he also opened up to Britain’s Event magazine, saying, “I think if [drugs] are used specifically as tools for a stated purpose [they should be decriminalized]. As in ‘I’ll smoke this joint and I’ll write a song…or I will write a piece of poetry,’” he said. “Then I think it’s perfectly acceptable.”

We agree (of course!). But it’s voices of reason and calm like Sting’s that are slowly but surely changing the tide and finally helping with the process of normalization in Cannabis consumption.

STING

Highlighting Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance. mar. 2019

By PACER STACKTRAIN FOR ALASKA LEAF

THC-infused skin topical.

Lightly scented with essential oils. Alaskan Rescue Balm is now sold in two convenient sizes.

GREAT TASTE

NO FILLERS

100% PURE CANNABIS OIL

MATANUSKA SUSITNA VALLEY, ALASKA AKMIDNIGHTSUN.COM 907.495.0711 MARIJUANA HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING AND ADDICTIVE. MARIJUANA IMPAIRS CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER ITS INFLUENCE. THERE ARE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF MARIJUANA. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS 21 AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE USED BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST FEEDING.

ALASKA FIREWEED

SHOP REVIEEW aklEAF.COM

28

CARRYING STRAINS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, THEY WILL DEFINITELY HAVE SOMETHING THAT PIQUES YOUR INTEREST.

mar. 2019

As one of the first stores to open in Anchorage after legalization, Alaska Fireweed has become a staple in the downtown area that is quickly filling up with retail shops. With a copious amount of space where they are beginning to host events and a very welleducated staff, Alaska Fireweed is definitely worth the visit.

PRODUCTS 5/5

Alaska Fireweed has long had an outstanding selection of all product types at their store. Carrying strains from all over the state, they will definitely have something that piques your interest. This remains true for concentrates and edibles as well, with products that will check off a box from every category.

HISTORY & VALUES

4/5

Being one of the first stores to open in town, Alaska Fireweed has been around while the industry was still in its infancy - and has come out on the strong end of the spectrum. They’ve strived to bring quality products into the store, as well as a very well-educated staff to assist anyone who walks through the door.

29

BUDTENDERS BEHOLD, THE WALL OF KNOWLEDGE

5/5

What stuck out to me most while in the shop was the wealth of knowledge that the budtenders had available to them. Not only were they well-versed in the massive world of cannabinoids, they were also able to speak at length on different product processing methods that concentrate manufacturers use to craft their products. While also assisted by the endless amount of information they make available for every strain at the front of the store, the budtenders here have the tools to do the job right. They were very friendly and didn’t shy away from having conversations that had nothing to do with Cannabis. They have created a very welcoming environment.

ENVIRONMENT & VIBE 4/5

715 W 4TH AVE, ANCHORAGE, AK 10AM-10PM MON-SAT/ NOON TO 8PM SUN (907) 258-9333 | AK-FIREWEED.COM

REVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE / ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA

AKLEAF.COM

On the front wall of the store is a board that will typically have a profile of most of the strains that they carry. This is invaluable information for any store to have easily accessible to the public. Aside from the “Board of Knowledge”, which I just decided to call it, the store has an ample amount of space that they are beginning to take advantage of by hosting First Friday events to further engage with the community at large.

Aside from the space, the store is very well put together with the budtenders and product being at the front of the store - with apparel and glass selections to complement.

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STRAIN OF THE MONTH

THE INHALE HOLDS ALL THE SWEET STRAWBERRY AROMA, WHEREAS THE EXHALE HAS MORE OF THE PUNGENT FUNK FROM BREAKING A NUG APART.

32

MAR. 2019

Grown by CANNA FROST STRAWBERRY COUGH from Canna Frost is another home run. It was very prevalent in years past, cropping up at all ends of the state at one point or another. Strawberry Cough was defined by extremely dense flowers and a sweet aromatic strawberry scent quickly followed by a pungent spiced quality that stuck with the nose for quite a while, reminding you of its flavor with every previous inhale. Based on looking at these flowers, they have done justice to this plant’s roots. It exhibits all of these qualities and then some, being the sweet sticky ganja she was meant to be. The inhale holds all the sweet strawberry aroma, whereas the exhale has more of the pungent funk from breaking a nug apart. The high was interesting, feeling like it starts in the back of your head, then moving to the front of the neck through your chest, where it gives you that classic weighted feeling. I also found myself going into rooms wondering what I was doing there - overall a fantastic smoke!

STRAWBE

AKLEAF.COM

BERRYCOUGH REVIEW by RUSTY SHACKLEFORD | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA

special issue

36

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE W

aklEAF.COM

ith Winter drawing to a close and Spring fast approaching, the Cannabis industry is in full swing.

Cultivation facilities are up and running and shops all over town have established a solid customer base, alongside individuality with their rewards programs and distinct product packaging.

The people of Alaska can now purchase and enjoy Cannabis easily and affordably. As we settle in and our industry becomes routine, we must begin to examine the places in which we can begin to improve and streamline the ways in which we function.

When it comes to efficiency in our industry, sustainability is the name of the game. Nevertheless, a lot of waste is produced in the growing businesses that supply us with our favorite plant. And now that the growth spurts that come with new beginnings have passed, we can begin to rein that waste in and minimize it.

“Power use is a constant game of give and take, and finding the right mix can be tough, especially when running high power lights on long schedules in several rooms.” mar. 2019

WASTE | One of the unique problems with growing Cannabis on a large scale is plant waste.

During the cultivation process, fan leaves, plant stems and trim are all separated from the buds and left to be disposed of.

In recent years, trim has been used in the process of producing hash oils - most commonly extracted with a solvent and then purged of excess solvents and plant matter. This process turns our waste into a product as, if not more, valuable than the buds themselves. Originally hash oil was used to administer high potency doses of THC to medical patients who weren’t able to consume with traditional methods, such as smoking, vaporizing or eating edibles.

Over time, word of the power of these hash oils made it to the populace and “dabs” were given life. This process has been done most commonly with the solvents butane (BHO, or butane hash oils) or Co2 for extraction. By regulation, the fan leaves and stems left after harvest must be disposed of 50/50 with other matter.

If you get rid of 10 pounds of stems and fan leaves, you must also mix it with 10 pounds of soil, coir, or other matter before disposing of them in your dumpster. This waste isn’t out of control, and is an acceptable amount of waste considering it is natural and doesn’t leave a negative impact on our environment.

LED growing at Pakololo Supply Company in Fairbanks.

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ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN THE REALM OF SUSTAINABILITY IS THE WASTE BROUGHT WITH CONTAINERS. Regulations on the sale of

POWER USE | The energy efficiency of the cultivation facilities is another area where we can continue to tighten our footprint.

Using LED lights as opposed to High Pressure Sodium lights is one significant way to minimize power use.

Although a lot could be said for the difference in product output, it’s hard to argue the energy efficiency that comes with this switch.

Power use is a constant game of give and take, and finding the right mix can be tough, especially when running high power lights on long schedules in several rooms.

Most growers will tell you it takes countless crop cycles to really dial in your garden, and this can largely depend on strain specifics as well as grower preferences.

Water source is another of these variables, with reverse osmosis systems putting off a waste ratio of as much as 4:1 if you don’t have a permeate pump. With a pump you can reduce this to a ratio of 1:1, which is still a gallon of waste for every gallon of usable water. It has been found that a sediment filtration system can reduce this waste greatly and help provide water for cultivation facilities.

We live in a gorgeous state full of natural life.

Many people live in harmony with our environment, and technology affords us the ability to properly scrutinize these processes and constantly improve. All these steps are crucial to decreasing our effect on the world around us and reducing the waste we leave behind.

Little adjustments like these can make big gains on such a large scale, and these small steps are going to help us make big leaps as we move forward in the industry.

STORY by WES HARTLIEB/ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

AKLEAF.COM

Cannabis state that the vessels used must be child resistant, and must keep the raw product out of the sight of the public during transport.

Using exit bags with a child lock zipper have been a popular option, but the main method has been an opaque, plastic pop top container.

Many of us have begun to accumulate a large amount of these and they have been one of the biggest challenges of waste in the industry.

With a big concern of increased plastic waste in our world, questions on what we can do with them have begun to arise. Some places do their best to offer glass containers, encouraging people to reuse them with promotional offers or discounts. This has had mild success, but with the volume of product being moved in shops, it’s difficult to provide this option cost effectively for the owners, leaving many providers scratching their heads on how to solve this dilemma.

Several dispensaries have offered promotions

or opportunities to recycle containers and materials, with the most notable of them being Catalyst. They use recycled cardboard for their packaging, t-shirts made from recycled materials, organic processes in their gardens, and a program where you can save $5 on your purchase by bringing back their logo imprinted jars for a refill.

the sustainability issue

Eagle Point, OR

CHARLIE & ALLIE

UNICORN PISS

38

GELATO

ALPACAS

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TKO RESERVE TKO Reserve (Turn Key Organics) began in 2010 as a medical Cannabis operation between Allie and Charlie Cassidy, who celebrated their marriage last year. Focused from the beginning on cultivating craft organic Cannabis for patients, this industry power couple has transitioned into the recreational markets in both Washington and Oregon. The Leaf had the pleasure of interviewing them about sustainable and organic practices, and why they have chosen to cultivate Cannabis and vegetables in this manner as they grow TKO for the future! mar. 2019

INTERVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTOS BY ALLIE CASSIDY @CANNA.OBSCURA

TELL US ABOUT THE START OF TKO RESERVE? Allie: 2010 was our start date, and our business began in 2012. We were all indoor in Seattle, and we always had a passion for being organic, but the sustainability was the hard part up there.

We did a lot of learning there with LEDs and other types of clean energy, but when we moved down to Oregon in 2015, that opened our eyes to the fact that you do not have to be indoors to grow amazing quality Cannabis. So we took everything that we learned from growing indoors with boutique crops and more care for each plant - as opposed to the massive outdoor plots that people do out there - and transferred that to a way more sustainable method.

Charlie: TKO stands for Turn Key Organics, so the whole idea is that we’re not just growing, but also teaching others how to build out their farms and adopt a grow style that is organic, easy and regenerative.

HOW WAS THE DECISION MADE TO GROW ORGANICALLY? A: Being more conscious about ourselves in general and eating organic, we knew that it was more healthy for our lives. We developed a really nice Integrated Pest Management program that allowed us to not do any chemical sprays. I feel like it was just a natural progression and instinct to want to provide clean Cannabis. Especially because in Washington we were really into the medical community. We ran a delivery service that serviced a lot of patients, and so we really wanted to make the cleanest product possible, making sure so the Cannabis was helping and not doing anything destructive in terms of chemicals.

plant, you can isolate that plant and let it survive.

As soon as you spray, the bugs will find a way to survive and they spread and hide in the garden. So you spread the problem by spraying. Sometimes you have to have sacrificial plants to let nature take its course, so that the rest of plants can live in harmony. A good friend always says,”If you don’t want to have any bugs, stop growing.” You can’t control that - all you can do is work with it and know how the environment changes in time.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING A SCALED ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLY FOCUSED FARM? A: The biggest challenge is the scale itself. The pressures of yields and all of the pressure that comes with running a business - like having employees to feed. There’s definitely a lot and it’s challenging, but as long as you really stay on top of the cleanliness you can succeed. It’s similar to brewing beer, where you have to have the cleanest environment possible while maintaining a wild ecosystem you can’t control.

C: The biggest pressures are monetary issues. In Oregon especially, it’s a very competitive market. While we don’t focus on yield as much, you have to make sure to be growing plants strategically with the different strains that you’re growing, and keeping the cycle year round is the hardest part.

quality indoor style product. So getting away from growing in downtown LA or big grows in cities that already have taxed power grids makes sense. You can grow outside like every other plant.

A: All these states are trying to reinvent the wheel and create permits for so many grows - that’s probably what’s most harmful to the environment.

There are so many people not necessarily knowing what they’re doing, growing inside and spending so much money going the grow store route - with the three part whatever solution and sprays - when it’s unnecessary. Especially when there are folks who know how to grow sustainably at mass scale and sell around the country.

YOU ALSO PROVIDE ORGANIC VEGGIES LOCALLY. HOW DOES YOUR FARM DIFFER FROM FARMS THAT ONLY GROW CANNABIS?

A: That’s definitely something that we love, we love growing all things! It kinda started as growing veggies for our team and family, and then we started getting into the community.

Here in Southern Oregon it’s an agriculture based region, “Eventually we so feeding people through the farm and farmer’s market, and found that growing broadening our spectrum of organically created plants is what we like to do to contribute. higher quality

products as an end result, with more flavors and higher terpene results.”

IS EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT ORGANIC CANNABIS AND THE VALUES DIFFICULT?

C: It kind of started as an experiment. When TKO first began we did a little bit of everything. So we experimented with hydro, did a small test with aquaponics, tried a coco medium, etc. We did all types of growing because that was our passion, growing any way we could and testing the limits of situations. Eventually we found that growing organically created higher quality products as an end result, with more flavors and the terpene results were higher. We knew that if we were growing organically and naturally we would never fail a pesticide test.

A: Cannabis education hasn’t reached the peak where the organic label is necessarily noticed or held in high regard, mostly because there’s not that many standards. Anyone can say they’re organic. But in the food industry, you’ll pay a premium price for organic food. It takes a lot of energy, time and sacrifice, plus it’s expensive having to keep your operation organic, as it’s way cheaper to just be mass production. The fact that it doesn’t translate to retail is probably one of the biggest struggles for us.

WHAT LENGTHS DOES TKO GO THROUGH TO ENSURE IT’S CULTIVATING ORGANICALLY AND SUSTAINABLY?

C: Even though it’s recreational, we know it’s a plant with the right essential oils and Cannabinoids that are really helping people, whether that’s because it’s fun or medicine or an escape to relax.

C: We have all different types of animals that we treasure and we compost depending on the animal, plus we overplant extra root veggies for our animals to dig up and find throughout the season. So they’re eating good food, tilling up the soil and fertilizing it as well. We just have fun with it.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? A: What free time? I don’t know! We pretty much live the farm life. But we’re starting to travel more and expand the brand and work with other farms in new states, so it takes us away a little more often. But we put all of our time towards our plants, animals, family and farm.

C: We do some breeding on the side and hunting for more Cannabis strains. We also brew beer every once in a while, and spend time in the outdoors when we’re not already outside all day.

But mainly we live and love our life on the farm!

HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY IMPROVE IN SUSTAINABILITY? C: I definitely think as it becomes nationally legal, we don’t need Cannabis grown in every state throughout the country. There are certain climate zones on the east and west coasts that can sustain regenerative Cannabis farms, and climate controlled greenhouses that produce very top

GOOD HELP IS HARD TO FIND

MAR. 2019

AKLEAF.COM

A: It’s definitely hard!

C: We use several different essential oils, but mainly what we do is plant cover crops for plants - giving a place for ladybugs and other beneficial bugs to have a home and create an environment where beneficial insects and nematodes can exist.

We find that once that balance is created, it stays.

And honestly, when there is a plant that gets sick or attacked by bugs, as opposed to trying to treat that

39

the sustainability issue

Newport, Washington

NEW DAY CANNABIS

40

CHOCOLATE CHUNK

aklEAF.COM

N

ew Day Cannabis is a Tier 3 producer/processor in Newport, Washington - which is close to Spokane and minutes from the Idaho border. One of the most sustainable and efficient gardens in the state, the building began as a hole dug into the naturally insulating sandy earth that the property sits on. Using natural insulation, LED lights, a closed-loop, non-HVAC cooling system and a living soil methodology, the company has put sustainability first. One of the early adopters of pesticide testing, New Day focuses on clean, quality and environmentally conscious Cannabis.

mar. 2019

Q&A | Joe Rammell | President of New Day Cannabis HOW DID CANNABIS COME INTO YOUR LIFE?

I had been smoking in college and then went off into the business world, and when I quit drinking 23 years ago, I found out I was medicating with alcohol. I tried the pharmaceutical thing, and finally I decided that I was retired and when it became legal I was gonna smoke again. And then when it became legal, I knew I wanted to get into the business.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY FROM THE START?

I have a degree in business and I knew that this would get to be very competitive, and that the person with lowest cost of goods sold will be in the best situation. I figured if we could eliminate heating and cooling we would be in a good place. I definitely think we are the most energy efficient grow and building in the state, and that’s how the sustainable thing came up. The other thing was that if we were going to do this, we want to have clean products, so we’ve been pesticide testing for two and a half years. Our motto is the cleanest and greenest, and we try to live up to that.

HOW DOES YOUR BUILDING DESIGN HELP WITH SUSTAINABILITY?

We are sitting on 160 feet of sand and silt from the old Lake Missoula from 1,000 years ago, so we found out and dug down, and basically built a potato cellar out of concrete. The building stays 65 degrees year round. So even though we’re using all LEDs after eight hours, we have a loop taking hot moist air outside, taking it through a ground well where it dehumidifies back from 90 to 65 degrees, and introduce it back in. It’s an all closed loop air system, run on one 20 amp fan. We essentially have no HVAC cost to heat or cool our grow.

DURBAN POISON

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO USE LEDS?

Well, prior to this I was dinking around in my retirement doing LED retrofits commercially, and when I looked at traditional growing, the pure amperage and electricity it takes was really prohibitive. When I looked into LEDs in China, they had been using them in fish and coral farms for years. We’ve tested against HIDs and we can get same production for 40% of the power, which is a big part of it. We also use spectrum adjustable lights and are able to pretty much trick nature.

WHY IS SUSTAINABILITY IMPORTANT TO YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL?

I think as an industry the people in it are obviously passionate about Cannabis, and most come from a lifestyle and belief system where they are concerned about the environment, and that’s a part of our culture. It looks like we’ll be the first ones to use biodegradable packaging within the next month or two, using bioplastic packaging that is recyclable or compostable and biodegradable. As an industry, we are all pretty ashamed of the packaging waste we are forced to go through because @NEWDAYCANNABIs of the rules in the state, and it’s ironic that a lot of us grew out of the hippie area where a clean NEWDAYCANNABIS.com environment is important and yet we are one of the worst offenders there is. I think we need to keep trying to work on the regulations to bring them more into our belief system as far as sustainability goes, and we need to keep hammering on that until we get things going the right direction. It would just be a shame if we became one of the polluters and culprits for using electricity and water irresponsibly. I dont think it’s in our culture to do that, and there may be people at the high end of companies that dont give a shit, but most of the bulk of the industry does care about these issues. I just think we need to lead the way on these issues instead of being offenders.

AFGHAN HAZE

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF RUNNING A CANNABIS BUSINESS?

I was pretty high management in the Fortune 500 world and this is the hardest job I’ve ever had. It’s so demanding, 365 24/7 and it’s really a grind. I think it’s a testament to the passion that we have as an industry for this plant, because people against all odds are continuing to hammer and grind because we believe in it. But for me the most fun I’ve had is building a company and the staff we have. It’s taken a few years to get our building the way we want, grow method dialed and genetics selected, and we’ve been very fortunate to assemble a really cool staff. I tell people I don’t grow marijuana, I’m growing a marijuana company. It’s fun, and actually very challenging, but it’s very rewarding as well. My wife likes to say everything in my life led up to this job, from construction and Fortune 500 to living as a farmer as a kid. I kinda just landed here and maybe it’s my mission in life.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY?

The biggest one for us is the MMJ. Even if they only end up reducing the excise tax or removing the tax for patients. The patient thing is our core value because it’s my personal experience with Cannabis. So I think if we can get things straightened out, we can finally put a robust medical product on shelves. Not just us but the industry, because the patients have really been abandoned by the state.

The sustainability issue is also a financial issue. I think one of the things that everybody, including myself, thought was that “if we grew it, they will come”. That and everybody thought they would get rich, and now they’re in buildings that are not energy efficient and are paying too much for rent, and I think more and more growing will move to areas with more sustainable power out of financial interest. We got lucky we landed where we are. Sustainability is not just a belief system; as a society we have to face the fact that things will get really tough if we don’t start doing things differently - whether in Cannabis or not. I think this water and power and fossil fuels issue is going to really become larger and larger as time goes on. We should lead the way in Cannabis!

COVER STAR HOOSTAGOO

“I tell people I don’t grow marijuana, I’m growing a marijuana company.”

STORY BY WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL THOMPSON @TERPTALK.TV

AKLEAF.COM

DO YOU FEEL THAT THE ISSUE OF CANNABIS SUSTAINABILITY GOES BEYOND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES?

the sustainability issue

Lacey, Washington

GOLD LEAF GARDENS

42

CLEAN GREEN CERTIFIED

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T

hey have a saying in Hawaii, “Aloha ‘aina” or “respect the ‘aina”, which means to respect the land. Mother Earth is the ‘aina. Indigenous islanders have practiced this symbiotic methodology to preserve the health of the land for centuries, which in turn provides for future generations.

As one of the most naturally fertile places on Earth, the locals value the land as sacred and give thanks for what it provides for their families.

Sustainable farming practices are the core of agricultural development in Hawaii, which is where at least half of Gold Leaf Garden’s employees are from. “Grown with Aloha” isn’t just a

mar. 2019

catchy phrase, but a way of life for Gold Leaf.

Growing up on a sustainable, organic family farm in Koloa, on the island of Kauai, set the stage for craft Cannabis cultivation in Washington.

Owner Nate Gibbs explained that the diverse farming backgrounds of his team members is crucial to the success of Gold Leaf Gardens. Hawaii’s fertile soil provided the perfect balance of nutrients to grow bananas, papayas, mangoes, vegetables, and more.

No amendments were needed. Just add water and they had whatever they needed to eat. Anything that wasn’t sold or eaten by the farmers and their families was given to the farm animals.

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the award-winning cultivars of both flower and concentrates coming out of this family-run tier 2 farm, but little know the story of Gold Leaf Organics, and the sustainability that allows for such flavorful medicine to come from this

garden. Switching over from the medical Cannabis industry as Gold Leaf Organics, to the recreational Cannabis industry as Gold Leaf Gardens, illustrated an even higher demand for Gold Leaf to cultivate pesticide-free. There was an influx of new farmers to the hydroponics shops who could be seen sharing knowledge of, and purchasing potentially harmful products and pesticides.

Gibbs comments on the disconnect between Cannabis farming and traditional agriculture, stating that “everything ends up in the plant” - be it pesticides, salt-based nutrients, plant growth regulators, and the like. Except unlike fruits and vegetables that are being consumed and digested, we are combusting and inhaling these potentially harmful components.

One of the biggest resources that organic Cannabis farmers continually purchase is soil. Harvest after harvest, this precious medium is being disposed of

GAVIN WADA HEAD GARDENER

OWNER NATE GIBBS because most indoor Cannabis farmers are not familiar with the biological potential of the soil food web. Gold Leaf is different, because in four years, they have never thrown away their soil.

This respect for the earth is unheard of in most commercial agriculture setups, but it is a way of life for Gold Leaf Gardens.

Rather than no-till, they employ a “low-till” method which involves removing the plants from the soil at harvest, and then giving the soil time to “rest” and break down the remaining roots and nutrients.

The microbes work together in a balanced ecosystem to give the plant what it needs during its life cycle, and then once that growth cycle is over the microbes “will adapt and @goldleafgardens become more dominant, over time becoming very robust.” goldleafgardens.com While the farmers try not to disturb the soil as much as possible, there are workers taking on the challenge of breaking up the root mass and aerating the soil. Those workers are live worms, which provide worm castings free of charge in exchange for a home in the flower beds.

So why choose this style of cultivation? Gibbs explains that the “entire farm is an ecosystem. The entire farm is alive. What you do on one end of the farm, how you treat it, the people who work on it, it’s all part of that ecology.” Therefore, you can’t expect to put poison into the soil, water source, or other grow mediums and expect medicinal results.

Not only is nurturing the soil-food web a way to uplift the spirituality and connection to the plant, but Gold Leaf is also saving resources by reducing waste and reusing their soil.

Another benefit to this practice is that the farm can support small local businesses by buying their natural inputs from KIS Organics, based out of Redmond. They don’t buy bottled, salt-based nutrients or additives from the store. Every nutrient Gold Leaf uses to amend their soil is not only organic, but it’s also sustainably obtained, such as their locally-sourced seaweed.

Entering this realm of “esoteric gardening” - in which they get their hands dirty and make their own soil - has given Gold Leaf Gardens a unique identity in the i502 marketplace. Although it is more common to completely sterilize and automate everything in Cannabis these days, Nate truly believes “gardening is good for the soul.” You can’t automate Aloha.

“Growing organic, sustainable Cannabis may be niche, but that’s what some people are looking for. The people who are hip to it will find you and support you,” said Gibbs.

“Those who don’t care,” he said, “there’s something for them. It’s all good, no judgement.” Craft Cannabis is here to stay thanks to small, family farms like Gold Leaf Gardens.

ROCKIE CALZADA VEG ROOM GROWER

ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS A HALLMARK OF THE BRAND

“Grown with Aloha” isn’t just a catchy phrase, but a way of life for Gold Leaf.

STORY BY DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY | PHOTOS BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

the sustainability issue aklEAF.COM

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“WE WORK TO HAVE TWO TO FOUR NEW STRAINS A YEAR BECAUSE EVERYONE GETS TIRED OF THE SAME OLD THING.” mar. 2019

RICHARD PRESENT

FOUNDER | PONO FARMS | CHENEY, WA TIER 3 CANNABIS FACILITY How did you start using Cannabis medicinally? I had a car accident in April of 1989 on the way to a Grateful Dead concert, and realized that I don’t do good on opioids and pain medications. It helps immensely with my arthritis and nerve damage from the accident. When I got out of the hospital I immediately started growing Cannabis in my apartment.

At one point you were running over 12 dispensaries in Colorado with gardens attached. That’s a lot of work! What made you want to start breeding? We started messing around with that right around 2011.

It was my two partners in CNR Genetics that got us into that. My partner Chris was a farmer by trade and his family had been in the agriculture business for a long time. When he got into the MMJ business it was something he had a passion for.

What strains are you known for creating? Primus, a cross of 303 Kush and Arcadia Train Wreck. Now at 47 years old - I’ve been smoking weed since I was 12 and I’m not a drinker or drug user - I’ve been smoking the Primus straight for 12 years and still love it. To get laid out by the same strain year after year, you could say I found my lady. We also bred strains including Romberry, Strawberry Lemonade, Peaches and Diesel, and Kush Master. Two of our strains are in the Phylos Galaxy, and we currently sell the Primus, Romberry and Strawberry Lemonade under the Pono brand.

Do you sell your strains as seeds? We are focused on in-house breeding and growing. The reason we keep it in-house while working with other breeders’ lines is because we know the Cannabis business is ever changing. We work to have two to four new strains a year because everyone gets tired of the same old thing. We have over 350 different strains of seeds in our safe. We brought in a huge stock which allows us to breed and create new strains, which we do in an undisclosed location. We do the breeding that we do because we are looking at long term viability.

When it comes to breeding new strains, what traits do you look for?

High terpene levels within the strains, and believe it or not, more strains that have hybrid qualities. We believe that people will eventually purchase pot by the ratio of Cannabinoids and terpenes, and that smoking 100 percent indica or sativa can be too much. If you start figuring out what ratios in strains do well for you and your body, it doesn’t matter where in the world you are, because you can look for and find what benefits you.

What are the big differences between the WA and CO markets?

I think that in some aspects Washington is doing a good job with the regulation. However, those regulations lead to monopolies and the types of things that are happening. A big reason is that there is no vertical integration allowed here. In Colorado, we were allowed to have vertical integration and I think that allows more for a free economic Cannabis system, versus being regulated as either a store or a producer/processor.

The other key difference - the biggest one - is the tax rate. Its 37 percent here plus the 9 percent local, whereas in CO it’s half that. And that’s a huge amount. We’ve had this program for over four years and the $1.5 billion in taxes have not been taken advantage of and put to good use in the state. In Colorado, they gave the money to parks and schools, and they’re actually spending the money on the projects they said they would.

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Should taxes be lower to keep the WA market sustainable? I think taxes should definitely be lower. The only people making money in the state are the regulating bodies. And to see them making all the money and not putting it to good use makes them look really bad. There are 15 grows a month going out of business, and hundreds of grows doing $20-$50K a month in sales. We all know those grows have a hard time making it. In a system with 47 percent tax and when we’re not giving back to the consumer, it’s tough.

What is your favorite part of the business? From the beginning we got in this for the patient, and I own a CBD company called Present Naturals and Pono Lifestyle. The reason I have those companies is to keep in touch with the patient. The recreational program took the patient away, but medical was more fun because we got to actually spend time with the patient. We know that nobody is giving an actual medical discount like we thought they would under the law, so what Pono does is provide high quality, high-grade Cannabis at an affordable cost to everybody.

Hopes for the future? Become a big part of the hemp industry and give back when everything works out. Something to do with the ocean, like the surfers who pick up plastic - that’s where my soul is, in the ocean. So keeping America clean and our environment safe, that’s one reason I want to get into hemp. It’s sustainable. When I talk about environmental health and sustainable industries, I think about the hemp industry going that direction.

And to me, that’s the future and I want to be a part of that.

What are your hobbies and outside interests? When I’m not growing weed, I like to travel. I love to spend time in the Hawaiian Islands, and one of my ultimate favorite things to do is try great cuisine. I like to travel and eat, and I’m an outdoorsy guy who loves surfing. I’m also a big Grateful Dead fan. I have been to over 300 shows, and love the festivals and live music events. All with Pono weed to smoke!

INTERVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO by MICHAEL THOMPSON @TERPTALK.TV

AKLEAF.COM

Do you enjoy breeding Cannabis? I guess you could say I enjoy it, sure.

It’s a dirty job shaking pollen everywhere and doing it right, but yeah, I enjoy it because in the long run I know we will come up with something nobody has. That’s what puts the smile on my face, discovering what are we going to come up with next or cross next this year.

Richard Present is the founder of Pono Farms, a tier 3 facility in Eastern Washington focused on sustainable production and breeding. One of the pioneers of the Colorado medical Cannabis scene, Present operated more than a dozen vertically integrated dispensaries in a chain before moving into the Washington Cannabis marketplace. An outspoken and passionate voice for medical Cannabis and hemp, Present is a breeder, grower and consultant who believes that the industry should support healthy business and patient access.

WOMEN IN WEEd aklEAF.COM

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Being the education and outreach coordinator means Lashay can express her love of safe Cannabis in an authentic and scientific way.

mar. 2019

ALFALASHAY

heylo cannabis education & outreach coordinator

STORY & PHOTO by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

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AKLEAF.COM

the wellness side of things, to help compensate for the fact that the medical Alfa Lashay has proven that any challenge life throws your way can side of the industry no longer exists. be overcome through incredible discipline and determination.

Lashay is aware that THC can potentially make the symptoms of anxiety A first generation, self-made college graduate, she is following her and depression that she lives with worse. So, she has spent her time figuring dreams because she knows “the possibilities are endless” for a woman in out which strains personally work for her, that doesn’t get her into that parathe ever-changing Cannabis industry. noia high, and realizing that the terpenes along with other cannabinoids Conquering obstacles seems to come naturally to Lashay, as she have an effect in that. When I asked which strain she would recommend to recounts for me the difficulties she faced while obtaining her associate me for anxiety, she suggests the CBD cultivar Aliens on Moonshine by Casdegree in biology from Shoreline Community College. Most people don’t cade Gnome, processed by Heylo. understand what nontraditional students, like Lashay, must do in order to “[It’s] the most flavorful oil I have ever vaped,” she said. Testing at 22 graduate, such as working full-time jobs in order to sustain herself and percent terpenes with a tropical pineapple flavor. the increasing tuition and living costs in Seattle.

Having spent the majority of her life focusing on putting a positive impact As discouraging as it may seem, she never gave up, and even commitback on the universe, it seemed only fair that the universe rewards her for ted her free time to giving back to the community as a volunteer at Mary’s being so genuinely kind to her fellow humans. Soon after her successful Place and as a social activist. Not being one to seek a handout, she spent mission at Vela was completed, she was awarded a position at Heylo Cana great deal of effort advocating for public transit routes to accommodate nabis – one of her favorite Cannabis companies. Being the education and students who were trying to complete their education. outreach coordinator means that she can express her love of safe Cannabis It seemed like a role in customer service was the perfect fit for Lashay, in an authentic and scientific way. who is no stranger to helping others. Her first opportunity to assist those I asked her what qualities customers were searching for in in the Cannabis realm came when she was offered the role their Cannabis, she shared: pesticide-free, organic, sustainas a budtender at Vela, a retail Cannabis shop which was “CUSTOMERS ARE ably grown and packaged. She also told me that the more formerly located in SODO. Lashay’s goal was to reduce BECOMING MORE information is provided, the more people ask about it. the stigma associated with Cannabis, so she felt it importHEALTH CONSCIOUS, Customers are becoming more health conscious, and cerant to wait until the right fit came along when pursuing a tainly, enjoy the fact that Cannabis producers are becoming retail position in the industry.

AND CERTAINLY, Previous sales expertise, her background in science, and ENJOY THE FACT THAT more open about their practices.

Lashay and I both agree that there is plenty of room for excellent customer service skills made Lashay an extremely desirable candidate for employment in our local Cannabis CANNABIS PRODUCERS authenticity in our industry. She states that she is very proud to work for a company that partners with outdoor and suscommunity. She explains that she wanted to join the indus- ARE BECOMING MORE tainably grown Cannabis farms. try to help people who were intentionally using Cannabis to OPEN ABOUT THEIR The future is looking bright for Lashay, who is soaking up help with any issues they were dealing with. “Whether it be PRACTICES.” the sunshine of the career path that she’s currently on. When chronic pain, cancer patients, or even something like menI asked her where she saw her career in Cannabis headed, tal illness and managing that,” she said. Vela provided to she reminds me that she is still in the process of obtaining her bachelor’s be an excellent outlet for her to use her knowledge of terpenes to find the degree in organic chemistry or biochemistry, which she hopes to obtain perfect blends to help her customers. She notes that since there were so within the next 10 years. many different products available in the i502 market, her job at Vela was As far as her short-term goals are concerned, Lashay is making waves in made much easier by brands like Raven Grass and Heylo, which state the the local Seattle Cannabis community with her Self Care Saturday events, terpene profiles and intended effects on their packaging. hosted through Heylo Sessions. She hopes to one day “create an establishAlthough Lashay cared for many different types of medical Cannabis ment that combines Cannabis with holistic self-care practices. A designated patients while working at Vela, she feels especially connected to patients space focused on the mental stability of the community in an inclusive atmowho are experiencing varying forms of mental illness. She recalls the sphere.” In the most female-dominated trade in America, she is confident switch over from medical to i502 and realized that there was a complete “she will make her mark in the Cannabis industry,” and that anything she lack of the medical community we had come to know and love. She felt puts herself up to, she has the possibility of attaining. it was her civic duty to provide some kind of knowledge that reflected on

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RECIPES

Heat up a bowl...of soup

Photos By Bruce wolf

SPRING IS NOT FAR OFF, but it’s still soup weather. Get your Cannabis comfort on with a steaming bowl that, with a salad and perhaps some crusty bread, makes a potent meal. Of course, the potent part is up to you! In my Cannabis cooking world, a teaspoon of the infusion oil is usually 5mg of THC. That amount is just right for me and most of my buds. If you require or want a stronger dose, simply add another teaspoon per person. Just remember that less is more. There’s no need to get any higher than is comfortable - or fun. #DontFearTheEdible!

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S MINESTRONE SOUP

50

CANNABIS CHICKEN PHO 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs 2 tablespoons Cannabis oil 8 cups chicken stock 2 tablespoons whole coriander seeds 4 whole cloves 2 whole star anise ½ onion or scallion, sliced 1 3-inch chunk of ginger, sliced 8 oz cellophane rice noodles 2 cups bean sprouts Fresh cilantro ½ lime, cut into wedges Sliced jalapenos with seeds removed 1. In a medium saucepan, heat the chicken thighs in the Cannabis oil. Cook until light golden brown. Add to soup pot.

aklEAF.COM

by laurie wolf

2 tablespoons Cannabis oil or butter 1 large onion, peeled, halved and sliced 2 stalks celery, sliced 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-2 inch pieces (about 2 cups) 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried basil ½ teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper to taste 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes 1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes 6 cups water or stock 1 15 oz can of garbanzo beans, rinsed 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill 1. Heat the Cannabis oil or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and cook until they begin to soften, about 8 minutes.

2. Stir in the green beans, garlic, dried oregano and basil, salt and pepper.

Cook 3 more minutes.

TOMATO SOUP WITH GRILLED CHEESE CROUTONS 2 tablespoons Cannabis oil 1 large leek, cleaned and chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, with juice 1 14 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, with juice 4 cups water 2 cups vegetable broth 6 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 slices whole wheat bread ¼ cup cheddar cheese Shredded basil 1. Heat the Cannabis oil in a large saucepan. Add the leeks and cook until softened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and thyme and cook for about a minute.

2. Stir in canned tomatoes. Add water and broth and simmer over medium heat for 45 minutes. Using a wooden spoon or potato masher, break up the large pieces of tomato. Stir in the yogurt and salt and pepper.

2. Add the stock, spices, onion and ginger. Simmer for 45 minutes. Strain the broth into another saucepot and reserve the chicken. Allow the soup to simmer for 10-15 minutes to concentrate the flavors. Add the noodles according to the package directions.

3. Add the diced and crushed tomatoes, and the water or stock to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer 30 minutes.

3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Cook the bread slices in the oil until golden brown. Turn. Sprinkle with the cheddar, top with remaining bread slices and cook until golden on the other side and the cheese is melted. Cut in cubes.

3. Shred the chicken with your fingers or with forks. Divide chicken and noodles into bowls and ladle the broth over them. Serve remaining ingredients at the table or garnish before serving.

4. Stir in the garbanzo beans and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with the Parmesan and chopped dill.

4. Puree the soup in batches in a blender. Stir in the yogurt and salt and pepper. Divide the soup among the bowls, and top with the bread cubes and shredded basil.

Mar. 2019

All recipes serve 6

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product review

CRITICAL MASS FULL EXTRACT CANNABIS OIL

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aklEAF.COM

by RC TINDERBOX

C

RITICAL MASS CBD FECO from RC Tinderbox is superb as far as full spectrum extracts are concerned. This concentrate is made primarily with flower, and with your first taste of it you’ll find that full bodied flavor of the Critical Mass plant. Many FECO extracts I’ve tried over the years have left a harsh taste lingering or a burning tingle in the back of the throat, however, not only is this extract not dark black goo, it’s more of a refined concentrate with amber tones. Effects are very sedating when taking a significant dose, whereas smaller amounts tend to be more relaxing or calming. This was not the initial option I decided on, as I had about a 1/4 gram of it and had the best sleep ever. It seemed to affect more of my body than anything else, keeping me more or less clear minded, while also providing an excellent body high! Definitely an excellent choice for those looking for full spectrum options!

40.47% CBD

“Effects are very sedating when taking a significant dose, whereas smaller amounts tend to be more relaxing or calming.”

Mar. 2019

REVIEW by RUSTY SHACKLEFORD | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA

product review

56

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS CCELL CARTRIDGE & VAPORIZER PRODUCED by GOOD TITRATIONS

aklEAF.COM

F

IRST THING I can say about these little devices is that they are handy to have in a pinch! Roughly two and a half inches long, by about a quarter inch thick, this sleek little vaporizer has you covered for your on-the-go needs. As we all know, there are venues and activities that are enhanced by Cannabis use, and in some of these scenarios there isn’t much room or time for a joint or a bowl. This is where vaporizers come in handy. Being sleek, discreet and strong enough to deliver a solid hit, the Cannabis vaporizer has carved a niche for itself that is irrefutable, and the CCell is the next step in this evolution. Powered by Good Titrations fantastic extracts, this little device delivers the goods with a solid hit and proper exhale.

The concentrate in the cartridge is also half of the equation, as being the right consistency for the coil to wick is tantamount, and what sets cheap vapes apart from quality devices. On this, Good Titrations has delivered. The Pineapple Express was properly represented with this in mind, and gives you a full flavor with all the nice sativa dominant high.

“Sleek, discreet and strong enough to deliver a solid hit, the Cannabis vaporizer has carved a niche for itself...”

Mar. 2019

REVIEW by RUSTY SHACKLEFORD | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA

reviews

“It’s a grounded and centered feeling that can be subtle, but when I tune in I feel a wave of tension release roll down my body as the tincture is rapidly absorbed within minutes.”

SUN GOD MEDICINALS

58

RAHEMP GREEN DRAGON CBDTINCTURE 2 0 mg C B D , 0 . 7 5 mg T H C p e r h a l f d ro p p e r s e rv i n g / O r d e r O n l i n e f r o m S u n G o d M e d s . c o m

aklEAF.COM

R A H E M P G R E E N D R AG O N C L AS S I C C B D T I N C T U R E contains

only two ingredients: organic hemp and organic cane alcohol.

This simple solution is one of the more effective ways to be healed by Cannabis without experiencing the plant’s psychoactive side effects, and can also be supplemented nicely into any high THC medicinal Cannabis regimen.

The bottle of Green Dragon CBD tincture contains roughly 1000mg of CBD and 35mg of THC (~28:1 non-psychoactive ratio), which divides into ~20mg CBD and 0.75mg THC per half dropper serving.

A half-full serving is what naturally comes into the dropper, with one press coming up halfway on the total volume of the dropper.

These servings can either be mixed into a 1oz shot of liquid (I use water but if the taste bothers TASTE 4/5 EFFECT 4/5 you use something you think PKGNG 5/5 will make it more palatable), VALUE 4/5 or placed directly under or TOTAL 17/20 onto the tongue.

Mar. 2019

If placing the Green Dragon tincture directly into your mouth, know that the alcohol can create a burning sensation.

Although some patients don’t mind it, this sensation is why I prefer to take the tincture in a shot of water or other liquid!

However, the burn of the tincture acts as a failsafe to help avoid accidental overdosing, as you would likely want another taste of a sweet tincture or edible.

I encourage varying doses to see what works best for your body and budget!

It’s hard to describe the effect of the hemp tincture. It’s a grounded and centered feeling that can be subtle, but when I tune in I feel a wave of tension release roll down my body as the tincture is rapidly absorbed within minutes. This isn’t to be confused with feeling suddenly sleepy though - call it a calm or centered sensation.

The Green Dragon tincture is a full spectrum extract which is demonstrated by its small concentration of THC - 35mg compared to 1000mg CBD in the whole bottle (28:1 ratio CBD:THC). This is critical

for hemp-based CBD products.

Hemp extractions that are not full spectrum lack the subtle yet important entourage properties that get lost in the chemical isolation process of CBD! Remember that Cannabis is a holistic medicine; you must take the whole plant together to have the best effect.

The more we attempt to isolate certain aspects of the plant, the less effective the medicine is.

At first I wasn’t sure that hemp CBD tinctures had a place in my personal medication regimen, as I already consume so many different THC dominant products and I worried the CBD would be wasted or not felt.

However, after a couple months of trying it, I believe that anyone can benefit from CBD, regardless of your tolerance and consumption of THC. I enjoy that the tincture can re-ground me in the event of THC products coming on in too intense of a fashion. Especially in the case of anxiety from consuming higher doses of THC.

REVIEW by MATTHEW MEYERS | PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

/ NWLEAF @NWLEAF

GREEN SOURCE GARDENS | PHOTO BY @BERMANPHOTOS

tannins & terpenes

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brewed by

ALVARADO STREET BREWERY grown by

GEEK FARMS

Biggie’s Blueberry Brunch Bonanza, paired with Crooked River Blues flower

aklEAF.COM

Biggie’s Blueberry Brunch Bonanza is a scary good blueberry pie inspired sour ale that has multiple layers of flavor converging into one.

Crooked River Blues from Geek Farms has a pungent, blueberry dominant profile followed by notes of raw vanilla beans.

“ Notes of cinnamon, vanilla, sweet bread, and blueberry melded together to make an incredible tasting beer that tastes like liquid pie. ”

I enjoyed a small taster of the Blueberry Brunch Bonanza paired with a bowl of the Crooked River Blues. Each sip of the sour tasted exactly like a blueberry pie crust. Notes of cinnamon, vanilla, sweet bread, and blueberry melded together to make an incredible tasting beer that tastes like liquid pie.

After a few sips, I then smoked the bowl of Crooked River Blues.

The sweet blueberry profile paired perfectly with the slightly tart sour ale, balancing out both of the flavors. As always, we do not suggest exceeding a taster pour coupled with one bowl, as these pairings are purely for flavor comparisons.

Mar. 2019

REVIEW by WILL FERGUSON @710DENCIES | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN & NATE WILLIAMS

Learn more information and stay up-to-date by finding us on

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

Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Downtown: #11966 | Dimond: #16610

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