MarylandLeaf_Jun2026

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

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

#90 | JUN. 2026

An Exclusive Q&A with Actor & Cannabis Entrepreneur Woody Harrelson INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U

34

MY UNEXPECTED TOLERANCE BREAK 14 PERSPECTIVE

GOD'S BREATH

TREEHOUSE DISPENSARY SHOP REVIEW

jun. 2026

FEATURE

32

SISTERS OF THE VALLEY FEATURE

CABIN 7 18 ORIGINALS STUDIO SESSIONS

42

54

WIND HOME @WINDHOME

BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U

ADAM FROLIC ROMANOWSKI 16 BRANDS

CABIN 7 ORGIINALS

HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U

COURTESY

GROW TOUR

09 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 32 34 36 38 42 46 54

EDITOR’S NOTE RESCHEDULING FIRE FOLLOWER TOLERANCE BREAK BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH SHOP REVIEW PATIENT PROFILE PAGE BURNER COOKING WITH CANNABIS CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH STRAIN OF THE MONTH FROLIC BRANDS PUFF AND PILATES BALTIMORE VERTICAL FARMS MOMENT MARYLAND SISTERS OF THE VALLEY WOODY HARRELSON STUDIO SESSIONS

38

HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U

ARIANA FOOTE'S SECOND ACT

MOMENT MARYLAND

leafmagazines.com

COURTESY

the impact issue

6

puff and pilates

#90

[

JUN. 2026

issue

THE

Must be 21+ to view this content.

eden

Pre

ss e

d

Blo nd eM oro c

ca

n

Ha

sh

solventless

@edensolventlessmd

Products for use only by qualifying patients or consumers at least 21 years of age.

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 ST LEA F / O R EG O N LEA F / M ARY LAN D LEA F / CAL I F O R N I A LEA F /

At a time when many Hollywood types were too afraid to be open about using and supporting Cannabis, iconic actor and Cannabis activist Woody Harrelson was on the cover of High Times calling for legalization and chiding stubborn politicos stuck in the oh-so distant past.

Leaf Magazines Founder Wes Abney sat down for an intimate interview with Harrelson over a few hours at The Woods Cannabis Lounge in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. Our thanks to Roger Kisby for the beautiful portraits of Woody and George — the Macaw.

PHOTO BY ROGER KISBY @ROGERKISBY | ROGERKISBY.COM

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R ricker@leafmagazines.com TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com DANIEL BERMAN C H I E F C R E AT I V E O F F I C E R daniel@leafmagazines.com EARLY M A RY L A N D L E A F P U B L I S H E R early@leafmagazines.com

WYATT EARLY STAT E D I R E C T O R wyatt@leafmagazines.com (410) 961-8779

BOBBY BLACK LEAF BOWL DIRECTOR & HISTORIAN bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com MICHELLE NARANJO, CARA WIETSTOCK COPYDESK michelle@leafmagazines.com | cara@leafmagazines.com

WES ABNEY, FEATURES DANIEL BERMAN, DESIGN BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN MIKE CLEM, PHOTOS DAVID DOWNS, FEATURES WYATT EARLY, FEATURES HAYLEY EWING, PHOTOS REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS ELLEN HOLLAND, FEATURES WIND HOME, PHOTOS MATT JACKSON, FEATURES + PHOTOS JESSE JOHNSON, FEATURES ROGER KISBY, PHOTOS GREG MALCOLM, PHOTOS TAYLOR MARTIN, FEATURES TERPODACTYL MEDIA, FEATURES + PHOTOS JAMIE OWENS, FEATURES BAXSEN PAINE, FEATURES BRUCE WOLF, RECIPES LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of Maryland Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email wyatt@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with Maryland Leaf!

CONNECT WITH MARYLAND LEAF

Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @MARYLANDLEAF

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Impact Issue of Maryland Leaf!

June marks 16 years of publishing the Leaf, which began in June 2010 with the first issue of Northwest Leaf in Washington state. As we publish our 180th monthly issue of NW Leaf, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for our plant, community and the movement I’ve been able to dedicate my life’s work to.

I used to believe I was born in the wrong time, a man meant for a different era.

My other passions are fishing and the outdoors, and as a boy my daydreams were filled with adventures in the untamed wilderness. Born too late to explore the raw world and born too early to explore outer space is where I occasionally find myself mentally. But I had a true epiphany recently: I was born at the perfect time to experience the rebirth of plant-based medicines, a movement that began on the West Coast with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest.

In 2010, weed was still illegal, patients were often considered fakers, and the opioid epidemic was raging across America. Legalization brought taxation without representation, ridiculous regulations from clueless government agencies, and over 15 years, Cannabis has gone from underground to mainstream. I’m old enough to have been arrested for weed, to have run from cops and been caught smoking by college professors, and to have seen the first legal gram sold in multiple states.

9

“...I WASN’T MEANT TO MINE FOR GOLD OR EXPLORE MARS, BUT I WAS BORN AT THE RIGHT TIME TO FIGHT FOR PLANT MEDICINES…”

Having just turned 38, I find myself back in college preparing for law school in 2026 to better fight for the plant and people harmed by the War on Drugs. My goal is not to leave the Cannabis industry or abandon the beautiful mission of publishing Leaf magazines, but to gain new tools for the fight that is not yet won.

Weed is not legal federally. The War on Drugs grinds lives daily in mass incarceration and for-profit prisons, and it still targets the poor and Black or brown lives disproportionately. In my home state of Washington, it’s a felony to grow a few pot plants in your backyard for recreational use. And in many states, like Idaho or soon-to-be dry Texas, our plant is still completely illegal. So what was my epiphany? I realized I wasn’t meant to mine for gold or explore Mars, but I was born at the right time to fight for plant medicines and usher global consciousness into a new era of healing, health and light! As a Christian, I feel this purpose aligns with my faith in God, who gave us plant medicines as a tool to connect spiritually and appreciate the wondrous design of this planet and universe.

I also want to say that YOU were born at the right time to have an Impact and raise your voice, along with a joint, as we spread the good news of Cannabis! I’ve seen lives changed, saved and ended with dignity because of the plant. I’ve seen addicts become clean, including my two-plus years sober from alcohol, and I’ve witnessed the true healing power of the plant. So please share it! We must plant seeds of change in order to harvest the bounty, and we all can have an Impact by living well with weed, one hit at a time!

MARYLAND LEAF MAGAZINE

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

-Wes Abney

jun. 2026

PHOTO BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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

N O RT HEAST LEA F

perspective

Former San Diego Magazine Managing Editor Jackie Bryant joins Leaf Nation to imagine the future of the Cannabis industry.

What's the most important takeaway for operators right now? Medical is now

THEY FINALLY DID IT … KIND OF

ADOBE STOCK

(SOME) CANNABIS MOVES TO SCHEDULE III

ON

April 23, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a final order to move state-legal medical Cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, while leaving adult-use, synthetics and hemp untouched. It’s a narrow yet significant move with potentially massive consequences: 280E relief for medical operators, new questions for dual-license businesses and fresh uncertainty around exports and federal enforcement. It does nothing regarding criminalization, expungement, clemency or anything else regarding criminal justice. To sort out what actually changed and what’s still guesswork, I spoke with Hirsh Jain of Ananda Strategy.

In this Q&A — originally published in my newsletter, Cannabitch, and edited lightly for clarity — he walks through the order and what’s coming next.

10

The attorney general's order indicates that medical Cannabis — Cannabis sold under state-licensed medical programs — is now Schedule III. It's worth pointing out that the attorney general used really imprecise language that confused people. Todd Blanche said we are rescheduling cannabis, which some people took to mean adult-use. But really, he meant medical. The other big thing we know is that if medical Cannabis survives legal challenges, state-licensed medical operators are no longer subject to 280E. What's actually in there regarding 280E relief?

DINA DOUGLASS @DINADOUGLASS

leafmagazines.com

What did the Department of Justice and the acting attorney general do, and what do we know for sure?

H I RS H JAIN

jun. 2026

The attorney general's order indicates that retroactive 280E relief could apply for prior tax years — the AG is encouraging the treasury secretary and the IRS to consider making 280E relief retroactive for medical operators.

It's the first official government statement that 280E could be retroactive. At the same time, the IRS can ignore

Schedule III on paper, with real potential 280E relief and even retroactivity — if it survives legal challenge and if Treasury and IRS follow through. Adult use has been kicked into a DEA hearing process with a plausible, but not guaranteed, Q3 timeline for action. The medical/adult distinction is being hardened on paper even as this move exposes how absurd that distinction is in practice.

So there you have it. One more provision worth noting: Buried in the order is a requirement — rooted in U.S. obligations under the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs — that the DEA nominally "buy" medical Cannabis crops from registered manufacturers and immediately "sell" them back at the same price plus an administrative fee. In practice, growers keep their product, and nothing changes commercially. It’s a paperwork transaction designed to satisfy an international treaty, not, technically, a sign that the DEA is entering the Cannabis business.

What it does do, however, is make the DEA the mandatory intermediary in the medical supply chain, giving the same agency that can raid or prosecute operators a formal chokepoint over the market.

Legal experts note the intent is to make the process as frictionless as possible. Whether it stays that way remains to be seen.

the AG if it wants to. Until we get guidance, in theory, this 280E relief could be retroactive for a California operator going back 10-15 years. That would be incredible. I'll believe it when I see it, but it would be incredible.

What's the timeline on adult use?

The AG has ordered a new DEA hearing to consider the rescheduling of adult-use Cannabis. It begins June 29 and ends July 15. People like Kim Rivers and Boris Jordan — well-placed CEOs — are publicly saying they expect rescheduling to happen sometime in Q3, before the end of the year. Those folks have been wrong before, so that's Medical is now not definitive. But it is notable.

For dual-license operators — someone holding both a medical and adult-use license — how might 280E treatment work? This is a big,

Schedule III on paper, with real potential 280E relief and even retroactivity — if it survives legal challenge

unresolved area. Some people say 280E applies to the taxpayer — if you are a person or a company that is trafficking in Schedule I drugs, your entire operation is subject to 280E. Even if you're doing both.

There is at least one serious theory that says holding a dual license won't allow you to cleanly separate your operations and say, "These things should not be subject to 280E." Nobody has a definitive answer yet, but it's a very real question.

Hirsh Jain is the CEO of Ananda Strategy, an advisory firm that works with Cannabis brands, retailers, distributors, testing labs, technology platforms, professional service firms and capital providers. He has previously served as vice chair of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Directors of California NORML. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

STORY by JACKIE BRYANT @JACQBRY | AUTHOR PORTRAIT by IYDEEN YOUNIS | PHOTO by DINA DOUGLASS @DINADOUGLASS

SUPERBOOF BREEDER PLANS THEIR NEXT BIG HIT SUPER BOOF, LEAFLY STRAIN OF THE YEAR 2024, CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE AWARD CIRCUIT IN 2026. BUT THE STRAIN, ALSO KNOWN AS BLOCKBERRY, IS AS BIG AND HIGH PROFILE AS THE BREEDER IS SMALL AND UNDERGROUND. ONE-MAN SHOW Blockhead works in cramped, noncommercial conditions in Southern California — yet big things are coming from tiny rooms.

His latest release — sold at blockheadbuds.com — is a line of feminized seeds that are all crosses of his current favorite strain, John Truffolta. The project unites work from GG Strains, Thug Pug, Beleaf, Harry Palms, OGKB, Archive, InHouse and Party Time Farms.

DAVID DOWNS @DAVIDDOWNS

perspective

FIRE FOLLOWER

Award-winning journalist/author and former Leafly Senior Editor David Downs’ monthly genetics intelligence dispatch.

SUPERBOOF

W H AT I S J O H N T R U F F O LTA?

leafmagazines.com

12

John Truffolta is based on Truffaloha crossed with Blueberry Sugar. Let’s dig into that: Blueberry Sugar is Grape Cream 2.1 x Blueberry Frosting. The Blueberry Frosting pollen came from Party Time Farms in Santa Cruz. The Grape Cream 2.1 came from Bloom/Harry Palms’ Grape Cream Cake x OGKB 2.1. OGKB 2.1 is listed as OG Kush Breath x Dosidos from In House Genetics. Beleaf’s Truffaloha S1 is Gorilla Butter F2, also known as White Truffle, crossed with his Platinum Punch, which smelled like Hawaiian Punch. PB Breath and Gorilla Glue are in there.

Blockhead, who doesn’t publish his real name because he could lose his day job, said the latest drop is all hand-pollinated, small-batch feminized seeds.

He’s obsessed with John DIABEETUS Truffolta because “it freaking tastes amazing,” he said.

South Africa, Madagascar, Thailand, “It literally smells like HawaiGermany, the United Kingdom, Canaian Punch or fruit punch and da, Mexico, Chile, Scotland, Australia old-school Skunk. It’s super and New Zealand. unique. I’ve “It’s pretty much BLUEBERRY Similar to how never smelled blasting off everywhere,” SUGAR Radiohead made a terps like that,” Blockhead said.

Blockhead said. “Obviously, it’s got bag hard left turn after the appeal. It’s got the yield. It’s super easy to HOT CROSSES album “OK Computer,” grow. It’s just a fire strain.”

Digging into the Blockhead is setting different crosses, there’s aside his careerMOVING BEYOND THE BOOF a Blockberry #5 crossed defining Super Boof Similar to how Radiohead made a hard to John Truffolta for and going in an entirely left turn after the album “OK Computer,” $200. It’s an even bignew direction.

Blockhead is setting aside his career-definger yielder than Blocking Super Boof and going in an entirely new berry, with a heavier stone. direction.

But Blockhead is most “It’s the next album, for sure. I’m super small, so I have amped for the Dante’s Sugar x John to pick whatever the heck it is,” he said. “I really love Truffolta. Both parents are easy to grow Blueberry Sugar, I really love Blockberry, but here’s the and extremely vigorous. next one.”

“It tastes like grape Skittles. It’s not the He said his feminized seeds are for home growers beterpiest up front. Some of the other ones cause they don’t like dealing with males, and big commerare louder. But just in terms of what cial growers only want clones. Sales reflect global interest: everybody says that they want — the

jun. 2026

ALOHA SUGAR BLOCKHEAD

freaking bag appeal, the yields, the THC, all that stuff — it’s good,” he said.

Look out for some GMO-type terps in the Tiger Bomb cross.

“It’s kind of got a fuel-ly, GMO, garlicky, kind of terp, a little bit on the raunchy side, but it has that top note of Blockberry in it,” he said.

He said these John Truffolta feminized crosses grow well indoors or outside.

F L AV O R A B O V E E V E R Y T H I N G

Up next for Blockhead: a flavor-over-everything-else line that sets aside bling, flower or hash yield, THC scores and flowering speed. People constantly ask for the chunkiest, fastest, easiest and highest-THC strain; it’s become tiring.

“It’s whack, bro. I just get the same freaking questions,” he said. “That’s all you care about?”

Blockhead’s new favorite strain after John Truffolta is called Diabeetus.

“It looks insane. But, again, this one is more on the flavor side,” he said. “It’s like a slower grower. Giant-yielding motherfucker, but I’m going to be working that one next, that whole line.”

BLOCKHEADBUDS.COM @BLOCKHEADBUDS2

STORY by DAVID DOWNS @DAVIDDOWNS for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by ALIEN GENETICS

Ellen Holland is a San Francisco Bay Area-based freelance writer, the former editor of High Times

perspective

and the author of multiple books, including "Weed: Smoke It, Eat It, Grow It, Love It" (2024).

The next day, it became clear that I needed to stay with my mom, and I had my husband bring my bag of belongings into the intensive care unit. “I think it’s best to remove the big jar of weed,” I texted him before he brought my bag into the hospital.

I ended up spending two nights in the hospital, sleeping in a recliner in my mom’s room. I hardly got any sleep. My irritable bowel syndrome went into a flare-up and my face began to flush with anxiety.

MY UNEXPECTED TOLERANCE BREAK

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

ADOBE STOCK

14

Self-care often disappears when you become a caregiver Recently, I was hit with a family emergency, and as the circumstances of my life began to fall away from my normal routines, I was faced with something else I did not plan for: an unexpected tolerance break.

jun. 2026

THIS ALL HAPPENED at the end of April. My cousin was getting married and the whole family was invited to his wedding in the Sacramento, California, area. I had packed up a few outfits for before and after the wedding, along with a Mason jar full of Blueberry Biscotti to enjoy during my time away from home. But at the wedding, right after the ceremony was over, it became clear that something was wrong with my mom. My aunt called an ambulance and my brother jumped in the front with the EMTs. That first night, while my mom was still in the emergency room, I wasn’t really thinking about weed at all. The funny thing is that my mom was.

She grew up as a hippie in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s and has more recently returned to experimenting with Cannabis. When I first saw her in the ER, she told me to ask the guy in the next room if he had any weed.

“Mom, we’re in the emergency room,” I said.

She responded, “I know, I thought it would be a funny joke.”

“It is a funny joke, Mom, and I’m going to tell people,” I said, and reader, here I am telling it to you.

DINERS AND DECISIONS In the days that followed, I had to make some important decisions for my family. Once the acute crisis had passed, my goals were getting my mom set up with the home health visits she had been instructed to receive after the hospital stay and arranging an appointment with her primary care provider.

I’ve had friends who have been hit with emergency situations before, and I felt like I didn’t know what I could do to help. Typically, people bring food, and I’ve done that for friends and family in the past, but it wasn’t until I was in the moment of navigating and setting up a million other things that I realized how important that gesture can be.

My brother brought us sandwiches from Cregor’s, the local liquor store and deli. My sister-in-law brought over home-cooked chicken piccata and an easy bagged salad. I took trips to the Thai food spot and Mexican market, where I picked up a family-style meal of al pastor, rice, beans and salsa for everyone to make their own tacos.

In addition to making sure everyone got fed, I started doing things around my parents’ house in Paso Robles, California, to ensure that they would be more comfortable. Part of that meant borrowing my mom’s car (my husband had taken our car back to our home in Oakland) to make a shopping run to the Walmart across town. On the way there, I put on the 90s station, and as I blasted Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” while driving over the Niblick Road Bridge, memories of my youth in Paso Robles wine country came flooding back.

At this point, it had been about a week since my cousin’s wedding, and while I did have a glass of Justin rosé, I had still not smoked any weed. I wasn’t intending on taking a tolerance break, but then again, none of this was planned.

A CANNABIS DESERT While Cannabis is legal for adults in California, the law left it up to individual cities to determine whether or not to allow retail shops. In many places, retail shops are not allowed, and Cannabis delivery services fill in the gaps. Paso Robles is located in California’s Central Coast and has always been a pretty conservative community. When I worked as a reporter at a newspaper in neighboring Atascadero in the early 2000s, a dispensary that opened there — the first in San Luis Obispo County — was chased out of town. The owner of that dispensary, Charles Lynch, ended up opening another shop within San Luis Obispo County in Morro Bay and was greeted with a warm welcome and a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the town’s chamber of commerce.

ADOBE STOCK

I’ve had friends who have been hit with emergency situations before, and I felt like I didn’t know what I could do to help. Typically, people bring food, and I’ve done that for friends and family in the past, but it wasn’t until I was in the moment of navigating and setting up a million other things that I realized how important that gesture can be.

Nearly a year later, the Drug Enforcement Administration served a search warrant on Lynch’s home and the dispensary, and then months later, in July 2007, authorities arrested Lynch and indicted him on several counts: conspiracy to manufacture, possess and distribute marijuana; providing marijuana to people under the age of 21; marijuana possession with intent to distribute; and maintaining a drug premises. This began a nearly 17-yearlong legal battle for Lynch.

After I moved away from San Luis Obispo County, a few Cannabis dispensaries appeared in the city of San Luis Obispo. Today, there is one Cannabis shop in Paso Robles that operates under the loophole of coordinating with a delivery service to get weed delivered there. There are, however, plenty of wineries with tasting rooms.

So here I was in Paso Robles without any weed, and I was stressed out!

But luckily for me, my brother works at Urbn Leaf, a dispensary in Grover Beach, and brought me over some prerolls, an eighth and a THC-infused beverage. I was so grateful. When I went on a walk to smoke the prerolls he had given me, I felt the Cannabis

go into my system and instantly felt calmer. The trees and plants along my walk looked beautiful, the sunshine and movement felt great. The next day, I requested an upgrade, and my brother bought a jar of half-gram Zodashi prerolls from one of my favorite cultivators, Fig Farms.

NEVER QUIT The experience of not having Cannabis during this recent family health crisis helped me to understand how important the plant is to my own wellness. Although there are times when I cut back on it, I know I will never quit it. Cannabis helps me feel more grounded and calm, and quells the symptoms of my IBS, which get worse in stressful situations.

Caregiving is hard, but it’s something that most of us will be faced with as our parents get to an age where they need more help. Make sure that when you’re helping them, you continue to care for yourself.

Don’t forget to eat, get exercise, stay as well-rested as possible and, in down times, enjoy some Cannabis to take the edge off. The road ahead is long, and we need strength for the journey.

Take care.

STORY by ELLEN HOLLAND @HOLLANDBUDS for LEAF NATION

budtender of the month

ADAM ROMANOWSKI WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SHIFT YOU’VE SEEN IN HOW THE OCEAN CITY COMMUNITY VIEWS CANNABIS? For me, it's the pure range of patients that we have and what they are looking for. The common factor is they are all looking for help, whether it is pain relief, depression or the many things in between. This is a community that we all share, and the bias of Cannabis has been dying off gradually. Seeing the judgment begin to disappear is the biggest change I’ve seen.

WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF POSITIVE ENERGY, AND HOW DO YOU KEEP THAT ALIVE DURING A BUSY SHIFT? It’s all about being thorough with people. I treat everyone that comes in as if they just walked into their doctor’s office looking for help with health issues. I’m always willing to give my opinion and recommendations. Those recommendations won’t always be what people are looking for, but it opens a window of opportunity for them to try new products. It opens the minds of patients to try things they might have boxed themselves out from in the past. Peeling away that intimidating layer makes people feel comfortable.

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? Honestly, I don’t really have anyone that specifically inspired me to join the industry; it was on my own.

I have been smoking Cannabis since I was a teenager, and it's nice to see the industry shift in a medical way versus just getting “PEELING stoned with your buddies. Once AWAY THAT you dive into medical Cannabis and see some of the benefits INTIMIDATING behind it, a whole new world is LAYER MAKES opened up to you personally.

16

PEOPLE FEEL

leafmagazines.com

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST COMFORTABLE.” MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT CANNABIS? The comparison to alcohol, for sure. People assume that the intoxication feeling is equivalent to getting stoned, when in reality, it's a lesser effect during which you remain in control. You can, of course, take too many milligrams of edibles and get a little loopy, but you will always come back to a better place faster with Cannabis.

POSITIVE ENERGY

9939 JERRY MACK ROAD, SUITE 500, OCEAN CITY, MD POSITIVEENERGYOC.COM @POSITIVEENERGYOC MONDAY-FRIDAY 11 A.M.-7 P.M. WEEKENDS 10 A.M.- 6 P.M. (410) 877-2017

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TERPENES TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER HEARD OF THEM? I’m a big terp head. Explaining that each terpene provides a unique effect secondary to that of cannabinoids is really important. For example, if you’re looking for happiness or to get out of a depressed state, limonene is a big one that will help you. Whereas, if you give someone a myrcene-dominant product, they might feel couch locked throughout the day, which isn’t always ideal. The combination of terpenes is also worth mentioning, like myrcene and pinene coming together to provide mental clarity and a relieving body high.

NAME ONE THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER AFTER YOU’VE HELPED THEM IN THE STORE. My biggest thing is for everyone not to judge a book by its cover. Everyone that comes in has a different background, look, age. And it's about treating people with respect while getting down to the issues they’re facing.

ADAM ROMANOWSKI is a cinephile, video game lover and avid reader, and he really dives into all things in the entertainment space. On top of that, he has a deep love and passion for Cannabis and helping people achieve a better life through his work. The Eastern Shore has embraced Cannabis, and it takes dedicated people like Romanowski to push the envelope on destigmatizing the plant in that part of the state.

Make sure to pop into Positive Energy OC on your way to the beach this summer and give him a shoutout!

jun. 2026

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by TYLER ODACHOWSKI @SEVENTH.EDGE SEND NOMINATIONS FOR BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH TO WYATT@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

SHOP REVIEW

TREEHOUSE DISPENSARY

leafmagazines.com

18

9413 HARFORD ROAD, PARKVILLE, MD TREEHOUSEMD.COM

TREEHOUSE DISPENSARY is owned and operated by the Sandhu brothers — Manwinder, Jagroop and Manroop — who are all Parkville locals. They put in a single application for a Social Equity Cannabis license and got it, eventually opening the doors to the public on April 13. Despite the many challenges faced by local Cannabis business owners,

9 A.M.-11 P.M. DAILY

it’s great to see that equity licenses are coming to fruition and being utilized in an authentic way. Be sure to stop by

(443) 695-7450

the store and see what new deals they have coming up the next time you’re in Parkville!

jun. 2026

SETTING AND VIBE Treehouse has brought a fresh look to a familiar space after renovating the interior to a more open and approachable store layout. The employees bring some major knowledge to the patients and adult-use customers they serve, with each and every one of them having three to five years of experience as budtenders. The store plans to expand its offerings to a drive-thru window for those of you looking to buzz by and grab some products. Even so, customers are encouraged to come inside and form relationships with the staff and owners.

FLOWER The flower menu is stacked with dozens of options, covering all the areas, including terpene profiles, high testers and hype drops happening in Maryland. The dispensary had 12 different Fade Co. strains in stock during our visit, including E85 Runtz, Dank Dough, LA Pop Rocks and way more. Their preroll selection is also stellar for a quick grab-and-go smoke option. Five-packs, two-packs and individual one-gram prerolls can all be found on the menu regularly.

C O N C E N T R AT E S Having just opened, Treehouse is working on building out its concentrate menu. The dispensary had some Strawberry Jelly Kief available from Nature’s Heritage, as well as Fruit Gushers THCA Diamonds from Beezle while we were there.

EDIBLES One of the main things we look for when evaluating a dispensary's edible offerings is variety. Both in the forms of edible types (gummies, chocolates, baked goods, tinctures, candies, taffy and more), and in the variation of cannabinoid ratios. The menu here covered it all, offering the newest items to the Maryland market while maintaining an inventory of the staple products many of us patients keep in our repertoire.

REVIEW ED:

BL^CK MRKT G-FUNK

THEIR PREROLL SELECTION IS ALSO STELLAR FOR A QUICK GRAB-AND-GO SMOKE OPTION.

An in-house cut from BL^CK MRKT, G-Funk crosses OG and Skunk in a hybrid that takes us back to the good old days. The aroma has a skunky, earthy OG essence with gassy undertones that are loud and funky.

The buds are bright green, with light orange pistils surrounding the structure from top to bottom. After smoking a joint of this flower, I had a calm feeling throughout my body, and my headspace was in a comfortable place.

TOTAL CANNABINOIDS: 27.87% | TOTAL TERPENES: 3.16%

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT @MARYLANDLEAF | PHOTOS by HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

PATIENT OF THE MONTH

20

HONEYBOOK How hard would it be to spot Honey Book in a crowd these days? Not as challenging as you might think. The 76-year-old is quick to introduce herself and start a conversation about anything and everything with a smile on her face and a passion for lifting people around her. But when her husband takes an old picture off their table and tells their children to point their mom out in a sea of people, it becomes a challenge.

THE PHOTO is from the 1969 Woodstock music festival, and while her kids couldn’t find her, Book admits she couldn’t either but knows she’s in there somewhere enjoying herself.

Book was born and raised in Baltimore, growing up off Park Heights Avenue. When she turned 17, she started moving between neighborhoods. She said she started acting out in part due to the environment she was in, and at the time, she was dyslexic and under the impression that no one would be around to help her. To her, acting out manifested in the form of experimenting with drugs, including Cannabis.

“At that point, it was a lot of self-medicating,” she said, with “some good, some not so good” substances. “I also did a lot of LSD, and I think that’s why I’m not a depressed person.”

After graduating from high school, Book felt the calling to leave Baltimore and see the world. Her love of music inspired her to follow the Grateful Dead around and be among the crowd in Woodstock, among other festivals and events she’s attended.

She eventually traveled internationally as well, visiting Afghanistan for a couple of months, where she said the experiences she had there set her on a better path for her future.

“I feel in life that you’ve got to experience what you need to experience to get to that next place in your life,” she said.

After her time there, she went immediately to Amsterdam, where she stayed for six months before coming back home to Baltimore.

“Amsterdam was overwhelming,” she said, adding that she also made the trip home because she had gotten sick and needed to get herself taken care of.

When she came back to Baltimore, she started working various desk jobs and soon after met her husband, Jon, whom she credits as another life-changing experience for her.

“He was playing the guitar, had my heart right there,” she said after seeing his band play.

leafmagazines.com

Admiring terpenes like myrcene and humulene, Book said she enjoys indica flower and OG strains like Blue Dream and White Widow.

jun. 2026

She was honest with him about her travels and Cannabis consumption, something she initially hesitated to share, but Jon eventually came around to supporting it.

“I am always me, and that’s important. To be open and communicate … that’s the most beautiful thing,” Book said.

The two eventually married and had two children, which prompted Book to reconsider going back to school.

She enrolled at Community College of Baltimore County and received an associate degree in interior design.

“It was really good for my brain and self-esteem,” she said. “My kids are 46

and 43 now, and they say what a great experience that was for them to see me struggle through homework and know that they weren’t alone, and we would do our homework together.”

In between jobs, Book would often attend various conferences and events with her husband for his work, and in 2017, she visited a booth that highlighted medical Cannabis. Leaving the conference, Book knew she had found her community and some guidance after some encouragement from Jon. She was trained as a budtender at Curaleaf and

STORY by JESSE JOHNSON @JESSETHEVIBESMAN for MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR

worked there for a few years at the start of the state’s medical program before moving on to being a member of the team at Evermore in 2019.

“Community outreach, that’s my thing. I like to work with people who can’t necessarily make it through life,” she said.

Between senior centers, dispensaries and industry events — to name just a few places she visits for work — you can find her with her own table, giving away swag and being motivated to help anyone she greets.

Given her previous budtender experience, Book puts education at the forefront of her work. She said that when visiting different facilities, it’s important to adjust to the type of clientele when discussing topics like terpenes and THC percentages, even if it means telling someone that Cannabis may not be what they need in their routine.

“There’s definitely a misnomer that Cannabis works for everybody, but it doesn’t,” she said.

“I feel that Cannabis is an enhancer for me. You know, some people say, ‘I want to be like you,’ and I tell them they may not be able to.”

While she uses Cannabis as a sleep aid and for treating anxiety and PTSD, Book said she likes having choices. Alternating between flower, vapes, topicals and, only more recently, edibles, she’s always going to be a flower girl first.

“I was never an edible girl, but it’s because of the stigma of the brownie in the 1960s,” she said.

Admiring terpenes like myrcene and humulene, Book said she enjoys indica flower and OG strains like Blue Dream and White Widow.

Upon registering for the state’s medical program at its inception — and smoking Cannabis long enough to see its growth as a plant and as a medicine through different

CANNABIS FOR A BETTER LIFE

generations — Book said she is grateful and appreciative for how the industry has treated her and what it has brought into her life. Working on a team with younger people, she said she still feels like she learns something new every day, and likewise, she teaches her team something new in return and hopes to keep doing so.

“I’m 76, so I’d like to be alive,” she joked about what the future looks like for her, adding that someone on her team asked the same question recently. “That’s how I see my future. I’m happy to help wherever I can.” @HONEYBOOK1

As readers and stoners, we’re no strangers to censorship. From banned books to Instagram stories flagged for showing off fire nugs,

free speech isn’t always so straightforward these days.

COURTESY

PAGE BURNER

Page Burner

leafmagazines.com

22

transaction denied

by Rainey Reitman | Penguin Random House

“Transaction Denied” by Rainey Reitman explores this issue from a new angle. Financial censorship means cutting people off from financial tools and institutions because of something they’ve said, created or supported. That could look like a glassblower losing access to PayPal for selling rigs or a podcaster being denied a mortgage over political views. Through stories of humanitarian activists, adult entertainers and even one of Leaf Magazines’ own, this book explores the real consequences of financial censorship and the range of communities it affects.

A personal favorite chapter, Cannabis and Industry Censorship, begins with Jackie Bryant, journalist and Leaf content director, unexpectedly receiving notice that Stripe — the payment processor of her Substack newsletter — is removing her for violating its terms of service. The irony? Cannabitch was completely free to read. It didn’t sell Cannabis or distribute products in any form; it simply linked to Cannabis companies as part of Bryant’s reporting.

Stripe claimed those links helped traffic a controlled substance.

Bryant responded the way most writers would: She went public.

jun. 2026

Her account of “raising hell” with the platform went viral, drawing media attention and sparking broader conversations across her 20,000-plus social following. So much so that Stripe quietly reversed its decision.

From nonprofit Muslim organizations to online naked yoga communities, others Reitman interviewed also pushed back against financial censorship by making noise.

“A lot of people I feature in the book were able to find some kind of resolution eventually,” Reitman said.

“That often looked like a public advocacy campaign, like Jackie did, where she was able to get the company to reverse its decision.” Still, “there are a few that I continue to be concerned about,” she explained, “and I hope this book coming out could help them get access to financial services.”

So what can you do? Stay informed! The more we read, share stories and start conversations, the harder censorship becomes to ignore. Pick up a copy of “Transaction Denied” to start; a portion of every sale supports the Freedom of the Press Foundation (co-founded

by Reitman) and its work defending free expression.

STORY by KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC

Waave Cannabis x Holistic INdustries

June Specials

June Specials Limited Availability - Strain Selection Subject to Change Limited Availability - Strain Selection Subject to Change

WAAVE SPECIALS

mdwaave.com mdwaave.com +1 +1 (443) (443) 383-3730 383-3730 7327 Hanover Hanover Pkwy Pkwy Suite Suite B, B, 7327 Greenbelt, Greenbelt, MD MD 20770 20770

FOLLOW OUR IG

$25 Strane Pre-Packed Flower (3.5g)

$25 Strane Pre-Packed Flower (3.5g)

$40 Strane Pre-Packed Flower (7g)

$40 Strane Pre-Packed Flower (7g)

Open 7 days a week! week!

Open 7 days a

$45 $45 Strane Strane Infused Infused Pre-Ground Pre-Ground Flower Flower (7g) (7g)

Open till 11pm EVERYDAY! EVERYDAY!

Open till 11pm

$8 Strane Prerolls (2x.5g) $20 Strane $20 Strane Preroll Preroll Pack Pack (5x.5g) (5x.5g) $10 Strane $10 Strane Infused Infused Preroll Preroll (.75g) (.75g) $8 Garcia $8 Garcia Prerolls Prerolls (2x.5g) (2x.5g) $10 Hellavated $10 Hellavated Juicy Juicy Stick Stick (.75g) (.75g) $20 Garcia $20 Garcia Preroll Preroll Pack Pack (5x.5g) (5x.5g) $8 Strane Prerolls (2x.5g)

$15 Do Drop Gummies (100mg) $20 Strane $20 Strane Live Live Resin Resin Gummies Gummies (100mg) (100mg) $15 Do Drop Gummies (100mg)

$25 Strane Cartridges (1g) $30 Hellavated $30 Hellavated Cartridges Cartridges (1g) (1g) $30 $30 Strane Strane Rip Rip Stick Stick $35 Hellavated $35 Hellavated Cloud Cloud Bar Bar Disposables Disposables (1g) (1g) Disposables (1g) Disposables (1g) Must be 21+ to view this content. Cannabis is for use by adults 21+ or certified Maryland medical patients $25 Strane Cartridges (1g)

cooking with Cannabis

June Joy

SPAGHETTI WITH ARUGULA PESTO

BLT SANDWICH

24

These early summer recipes are infused with Pruf Cultivar’s Rose City Shiska, a strain with a Black Cherry Cheesecake x Shiska Berry cross in its lineage. I love smoking it almost as much as cooking with it. When I send friends to dispensaries around town, that is the only advice I give — Pruf all the way. Whether you’re sharing a casual meal outdoors or winding down at the end of the day, these recipes are designed to be savored slowly, bringing a relaxed, feel-good energy to every bite. laurie@laurieandmaryjane.com

Serves 4 6 cups packed arugula Handful of baby arugula 4 garlic cloves, peeled Salt and pepper 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 4 teaspoons canna-oil 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnishing 1 pound spaghetti

Makes two sandwiches 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 4 slices potato bread 4 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 teaspoons canna-oil or butter 8 strips bacon 4 leaves soft lettuce 4 slices ripe tomato

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse 6 cups of the arugula, walnuts, garlic, salt and pepper until pureed.

With the machine running, add the 1/2 cup of olive oil and canna-oil in a steady stream through the feed tube. Stir in the Parmesan, and set the pesto aside.

3. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.

4. Drain the spaghetti, return it to the pot off the heat and toss it with the pesto and baby arugula.

5. Divide the pasta among 4 plates, drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and top with extra Parmesan.

1. In a small bowl, toss the avocado gently in the lemon juice, keeping the slices intact. Set the avocado aside.

2. Mix the mayonaise and the canna-oil. Toast the bread.

3. While the bread is still warm, spread 1 tablespoon canna-mayonnaise on each slice.

4. Layer 2 bacon strips, 2 lettuce leaves, a few avocado slices and 2 tomato slices on a bread slice, and top with another bread slice. Repeat for the other sandwich.

leafmagazines.com

GARDEN PIZZA Serves 2 8 slices peasant bread, lightly toasted 4 teaspoons canna-olive oil 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped scallions 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen

SPAGHETTI WITH ARUGULA PESTO

JUN. 2026

GARDEN PIZZA

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. Put the crust on a baking sheet, and drizzle it with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Bake according to package directions.

3. Put the salad greens, peppers and onion in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt and pepper, and whisk in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the canna-oil.

4. Pour the vinaigrette over the greens and toss to combine.

5. Top the crust with the dressed greens and goat cheese

RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF @LAURIEANDMARYJANE | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF @BRUCE_WOLF #DontFearTheEdible #BeKind #EatYourCannabis | Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com

concentrate the month THEof impact ISSUE

THCA: 76.73% TOTAL TERPS: 8.6% CARYOPHYLLENE: 2.95% MYRCENE: 1.63% LIMONENE: 1.42% LINALOOL: 0.74% HUMULENE: 0.72% BISABOLOL: 0.41% TERPINEOL: 0.27%

26

RESERVE LIVE SUGAR

VERANO

leafmagazines.com

FLYING DUTCHMAN Verano has captured this month’s concentrate selection with their Flying Dutchman Reserve Live Sugar. This sweet and floral dab is a connoisseur's delight, with a range of aromas that aren’t typical in the market, captured with the care that Verano’s extractors are known for.

THE DAB is a wonderful sugared consistency with just the right ratio of viscous oil to crystallized lumps, making handling and enjoying the product a breeze. The Verano extraction team are true professionals, and it shows in the globs they bring us day in and day out. The subtleties of texture, consistency and viscosity are credited to the magic of extraction, and it is always a delight to find a dab that’s made by true wizards.

jun. 2026

This is an interesting bouquet that for sure has a citrus top note, but is underscored with nuanced florals that I find to be rarer in the market. Typically, with modern Cannabis, we notice a lot of fuel notes in popular strains, be it gas, kerosene, lighter fluid or glue. Pure floral scents are difficult to find, and florals with minimal fuel notes are even harder. The Verano Flying Dutchman is one such rarity that has delicious citrus overtones and hydrangea, chamomile and spice undertones that are not drowned out by even the slightest dollop of fuel in the mix. Such aromas are sought after in all markets, and I personally look out for them as often as I can find them.

The flavor of the dab is a bit on the spicy side, but the citrus fruit comes back to the palate on the exhale, really rounding out each dab for the consumer. With its caryophyllene-, myrcene- and limonene-dominant profile, it functions as a classic, smoothly mellow indica effect that may slow a person down without couch locking them. It is a heavier dab that may help with the pain, sleep and anxiety effectively and substantially.

Verano’s Flying Dutchman Live ugar is a wonderful summer dab, full of nuanced flavors and potent effects.

THE DAB ITSELF IS A WONDERFUL SUGARED CONSISTENCY WITH JUST THE RIGHT RATIO OF VISCOUS OIL TO CRYSTALLIZED LUMPS. VERANO.COM @VERANOBRANDS

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN for MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR

Summit Wellness

June Specials Limited Availability - Strain Selection Subject to Change

$25 Strane $25 Strane Pre-Packed Pre-Packed Flower Flower (3.5g) (3.5g) $40 Strane $40 Strane Pre-Packed Pre-Packed Flower Flower (7g) (7g) 6328 Baltimore National Pike, $45 Strane $45 Strane Infused Infused Pre-Ground Pre-Ground Flower Flower (7g) (7g) Catonsville, MD 21228 +1 (443) 840-8287 $8 Strane $8 Strane Prerolls Prerolls (2x.5g) (2x.5g) summitdispensary.com $10 Strane $10 Strane Infused Infused Preroll Preroll (.75g) (.75g) $20 Strane $20 Strane Preroll Preroll Packs Packs (5x.5g) (5x.5g) $8 Garcia $8 Garcia Prerolls Prerolls (2x.5g) (2x.5g) Sign up for loyalty points! $20 Garcia $20 Garcia Preroll Preroll Packs Packs (5x.5g) (5x.5g) $10 $10 Hellavated Hella ated Juicy Juicy Stick Stick $25 Strane $25 Strane Cartridges Cartridges (1g) (1g) Infused Preroll Infused Preroll (.75g) (.75g) $30 Strane $30 Strane Rip Rip Stick Stick Disposables Disposables (1g) (1g) $30 Hellavated $30 Hella ated Cartridges Cartridges (1g) (1g) $35 Hellavated $35 Hella ated Cloud Cloud Bar Bar Disposables Disposables (1g) (1g)

Must be 21+ to view this content. Cannabis is for use by adults 21+ or certified Maryland medical patients.

$15 Do Drops Gummies (100mg) $20 Strane $20 Strane Li e Live Resin Resin Gummies Gummies (100mg) (100mg) $15 Do Drops Gummies (100mg)

THE impact ISSUE STRAIN OF THE MONTH

leafmagazines.com

28

… its delicate note of Red Delicious apples, baptized in kerosene, really makes the cultivar stand out.

jun. 2026

Big Apple New kid on the block, Maryland Herb Co., has come out with the heavy-hitting Big Apple cultivar for the flower of the month, and boy, does it help them make an impression on Maryland.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, the state is starting up a round of social equity licenses. Maryland Herb Co. is the first social equity standard grower, as well as one of the first new brands to hit the market in years. While the company has been making waves and getting noticed for a couple of recent flavors, the Big Apple is truly one of the standouts in its portfolio. Excellent bud structure, beautiful coloration and sparkling trichomes are the hallmarks of its appearance, but its delicate note of Red Delicious apples, baptized in kerosene, really makes the cultivar stand out.

TOTAL THCA: 26.95% For those of you looking for a heavier varietal, TOTAL TERPS: 1.7% the Big Apple by Maryland Herb Co. hits a sweet CARYOPHYLLENE: 0.65% spot of sedative succulence with its deeply mellow caryophyllene, myrcene and linalool profile. This MYRCENE: 0.5% classic mix of terpenes is an excellent daily driver for LINALOOL: 0.17% the high-toleranced, speedy-minded, pain-ridden HUMULENE: 0.17% folks who appreciate an indica effect with a potent slow down. The caryophyllene and myrcene combination hit me behind the eyes and brought the world to a snail's pace, which I found particularly wholesome after a long day or an overly social occasion.

The team at Maryland Herb Co. is sure to continue building an amazing portfolio of cultivars that will help carve out their piece of the market; Big Apple is evidence of that. The effervescent apple notes combined with the heady and heavy high are a testament to the grow team pumping their heart and soul into the plants. I can not wait to see the company help take our state to a new level of product diversity and quality.

MDHERBCO.COM | @MARYLAND_HERB_CO

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN for MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR

EVERY DAY iN JUNE

5975 BELAiR RD. OPEN 9AM - 9PM 443.438.7494

SCAN TO SEE MARYLAND’S BiGGEST MENU

CANNABIS IS FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS 21+ OR QUALIFYING MCA PATIENTS.

THE impact ISSUE

leafmagazines.com

32

FROLIC BRANDS When paraphrasing the definition of “frolic,” you could say it means to move around playfully and be energetic and joyous in whatever activity you find yourself doing. jun. 2026

stoner owners

Bryauhna and Howard Warren

FOR BRYAUHNA AND HOWARD WARREN, the couple behind Frolic Brands, the word and its definition have become a mindset in both their personal lives and in their business.

“I want you to frolic in whatever you’re doing, and have a good time doing it,” Bryauhna “Bry” Warren said.

Howard Warren shares the same sentiment when he hands a customer their drink or merchandise and thanks them for frolicking.

The idea of starting a business came about not long after the two began dating in the winter of 2023, and coincidentally enough, they were sharing a joint when the conversation shifted to hypothetically naming the business. When asked, Bry Warren proposed “Frolic” almost instantly, and the idea took off from there. There’s a page she follows on Instagram that also consistently uses the word frolic, so she took some inspiration from there as well.

The couple began their business by selling merch like key chains, knit caps and socks, and scored their first market spot at “Give Me My Flowers” in 2024. They also brought frozen cups and sweet treats, which they sold out of relatively quickly, given the high temperature that day. After seeing how fast their stock went and spending some time at the drawing board, they introduced fresh lemonade to their menu at the start of 2025.

“We had perfected the lemonade recipe and introduced it at one of our pop-ups,” Bry Warren said. “It wasn’t easy to make; it was like chemistry. You have to have the proper measurements.”

among their customers, followed by a classic lemonade mixed with cotton candy and the Baltimore 2Step, their take on a half-and-half lemonade and iced tea.

The couple describes themselves as serial entrepreneurs. Outside of running Frolic, they both work separate full-time jobs. Howard Warren is a DJ performing under the name DJ Holliwood and Bry Warren has been a daycare provider for the last eight years. She handles the Frolic calendars in addition to running the social media pages, posting their pop-up schedule and replying to messages, something she takes pride in doing herself.

“We want you to know you’re talking to us and not a brand rep or AI,” she said, “I like to call myself ‘Wade,’ I’m like Wade from ‘Kim Possible’ because I do a lot of our back-end marketing and I’m basically running seven different pages.”

By creating promotions and blasting the schedule on every platform they can, the couple has “We’re bringing harvested a community in back an oldvarious spaces. But in the Cannabis industry, dispenschool culture of and their patrons naturalness, where saries have accepted and supeverything’s right On top of hitting the markets with ported them beyond what their pop-ups, the Warrens have they expected. Some people up front for you been setting up at local dispensaries pull up to a dispensary only to see,” Howard since they started the business. Both when they are there, and being Cannabis consumers, the two Warren said. “We’re there’s been a demand for saw the growth in the industry and more frequent pop-ups in curing cotton mouth certain spots. community and wanted to grow alongside it when the state allowed “It’s like ‘Cheers,’ everyone cup at a time. for recreational use. one knows our name,” Bry Keeping all the “The Cannabis community was Warren said, adding that stoners hydrated.” the couple also wants to already built at the point, but it was building more because it was besupport their customers in coming legal. We wanted to see how their own endeavors, however they can. far we could go because it was still Aside from working some larger-scale fresh and new for us, too,” Howard events in the coming months, the couple Warren said. hopes to renovate a charter vehicle in the They make lemonade in an oldnear future to make Frolic a fully mobile style carnival kind of way with three business. With the prospect of adding ingredients — lemon, sugar, water more dispensaries and events to their ros— and finish it off with a quick shake of the container. ter, the couple will have the opportunity to This type of production, they’ve found, brings a nostalgic frolic with some new faces and extend to factor to their customers while keeping things simple. them an invitation onto their “family tree.”

“We’re bringing back an old-school culture of natu“I have a lot of brothers and sisters, so I ralness, where everything’s right up front for you to see,” didn’t need friends. That’s why I don’t call Howard Warren said. “We’re curing cotton mouth one people friends, they’re family,” Howard cup at a time. Keeping all the stoners hydrated.”

Warren said. “We have a big tree that we In addition to a classic lemonade, the couple has symbolically see in our heads, everyone’s added flavored syrups and other add-ins to their stand a part of our family. Everyone has their to make the experience more memorable for whoever own branch, and they grow with us.” is visiting. The white peach flavor is the most popular @frolicbrands

STORY by JESSE JOHNSON @JESSETHEVIBESMAN for MARYLAND LEAF @MARYLANDLEAF | PHOTOS by HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U

THE impact ISSUE

Puff and Pilates

feature

leafmagazines.com

34

Ariana Foote’s Second Act jun. 2026

A NEW KIND OF HIGH

After closing out her 20s in full stride, Ariana Foote is stepping into her 30s with something sharper than virality in mind. She is seeking longevity, community and control over her own narrative.

THE CANNABIS INFLUENCER, known for her “You want the boring answer?” she laughed. viral reels and plant-forward recipes, went quiet “It’s discipline. Portion control. People think I eat in 2025, stepping away from the algorithm to what they see online every day, but most of the pursue a different kind of discipline. She enrolled time it’s just … ground turkey, chicken, broccoli. in a 350-hour Pilates certification program, trainNothing sexy.” ing on both the mat and the reformer, reshaping By 2026, Foote had merged her Cannabis not just her body of work, but her own body. roots with her evolving wellness identity, launchThe Reisterstown native, previously featured in ing a traveling series called Puff and Pilates — a Forbes, says the shift wasn’t an abandonment of hybrid experience of movement and community her past identity, but an expansion of it — one gathering that now spans Baltimore and beyond, rooted in accessibility and wellness for a Baltiwith upcoming events in New York and Los more community often priced out of both.

Angeles.

“The average Pilates membership is $300 a The concept was born, fittingly, during a month,” Foote said. “People can’t afford to pay a smoke session. $300 bill on most things outside of necessities.”

“I was just sitting there and thought — what That philosophy became the foundation of her if Pilates wasn’t in studios?” she said. “There’s next project: a YouTube channel titled Ari Does always Pilates in the park. I wanted something Pilates, which now boasts more than 10,000 different. Coffee shops, record stores, unconsubscribers. Every class is free. ventional spaces. So I just started cold emailing Her pivot toward Pilates didn’t happen places. Worst case, they say ‘No.’ But they might overnight. It followed a broader recalibration say ‘Yes’ — and that changes everything.” that began after her fitness levels dipped during One recent stop took over The Sound Garthe pandemic. A former Franklin High School den, a record store in Fells Point, where particbasketball standout who was once named ipants moved through a one-hour flow before All-County and later became a college athlete gathering in a longer Cannabis-friendly commuin Pennsylvania, Foote found herself returning to nity session after class. structure through movement.

“Every Puff and Pilates event we’ve had has “I started weightlifting five times a week after been sold out,” she said proudly.

COVID, but I was getting bored,” she said.

Foote describes her teaching style with the “I found barre classes, and they kept pushing same energy she brings to her online presence.

Pilates. It turned out to be amazing “It’s exciting, it’s electric and “It’s exciting, it’s the playlist is going to hit,” she for flexibility, core strength and mobility. I’m 30 now — I’m thinking said. “And yeah — I definitely kick electric and the about longevity.” their asses. But it’s for all levels, playlist is going That shift brought more than all bodies.” strength. It brought transformation.

Now also serving as a Pilates to hit,” she said.

Foote says she has lost 70 pounds, instructor and community manag“And yeah — I but more importantly, gained a er at The Village Well in Baltidifferent understanding of how the more’s Hamilton-Lauraville neighdefinitely kick world responds to her body.

Foote teaches classes their asses. But it’s borhood, “Losing weight affects the world Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for all levels, around you,” she said. “People at 6 and 7 p.m., anchoring her treat you better. People want to talk work more locally even as her all bodies.” to you longer. You hear ‘yes’ way brand expands nationally. more often — especially as a woman. It builds And expansion is exactly the plan. confidence, but it also makes you guarded, In 2027, she intends to take Puff and Pilates because you remember how the world treated internationally, with retreats scheduled in Thaiyou before.” land in January and Costa Rica in April.

And yet, there is still space for joy in the “I still love weed,” she said with a grin. “But structure.

I’m also an instructor now. And I’m loving it.”

Updates for her Puff and Pilates events can be found on Instagram at @Indicawife and @Aridoespilates.

STORY by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for MARYLAND LEAF @MARYLANDLEAF | PHOTOS by HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U

THE impact ISSUE

feature

THE POT PASTOR Getting to know the Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III and his expanding ministry in Maryland Cannabis

leafmagazines.com

36

Baltimore Vertical Farms

When the Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III talks about entering Maryland’s Cannabis industry, he sounds less like a businessman and more like a preacher widening the boundaries of his ministry.

“I’ve resisted being put in boxes my whole life,” Brown said. jun. 2026

FOR A THIRD-GENERATION Baptist pastor “Many people will remember the D.A.R.E. who has spent 26 years preaching, that sentence program, Nancy Reagan, Just Say No. That’s carries weight. Brown, who turned 45 this May, my upbringing, too,” he said. “But it’s time to comes from a family where ministry was practiupdate our thinking and keep an open mind.” cally inherited. His father, grandfather, aunts and Brown said those criticisms are quieter than uncles all served in the church. He followed, but the stories he hears from people seeking relief: with a social-justice lens that pushed beyond the women undergoing chemotherapy, veterans pulpit. managing PTSD, seniors living with arthritis “At seminary, I studied people like James and others who say Cannabis products have Cone and how they were applying a social jusimproved their quality of life. tice and activism approach to scripture,” Brown “What’s louder in my ear are people who tell said. “That lit me on fire.” me this is helping them,” Brown said.

That fire has taken Brown in an unusual direcHis larger goal is to build something that tion: toward a Cannabis dispensary. redefines what a dispensary can be.

His company, Marula Wellness, is expected to Brown says Marula Wellness — named after open in Frederick in late 2026 or early 2027. the marula tree of sub-Saharan Africa, celeThe business is still finalizing a second round brated for its healing properties — will function of fundraising and narrowing down real estate less like a traditional storefront and more like a options, but Brown says the mission has been community anchor. He envisions an apothecary years in the making. feel, with classes, educational programming, While pastoring in Baltimore, Brown watched food and farming workshops and a foundation Maryland legalize medical Cannabis while many that provides training for incarcerated individuBlack residents remained incarcerated for nonvials preparing for release. olent drug charges.

“I think Marula Wellness is going to feel so “The more I learned, the more I wanted to be much like a community center,” Brown said. intricately involved,” Brown said. “I recognized “It’s not necessarily just about making transacthat many people who are incarcerated on tions, but about being a good neighbor.” nonviolent drug charges are people who look He also hopes to transition the company like me. I couldn’t stomach standing by watching to a worker-owned cooperative within five to medical Cannabis enrich some people while eight years, allowing employees — potentially other people were still behind bars including formerly incarceratfor it.” ed individuals — to become “I couldn’t For Brown, the decision was owners. stomach about justice, not retail.

“There is a bit of poetic “Being inside the industry helps justice,” Brown said, “to think of standing by me, gives me a seat to help others who were formerly incarwatching medical those get into the industry,” he said. cerated or left out of the industry Cannabis enrich becoming worker-owners and That perspective has not come without criticism. When Brown some people while getting in the driver’s seat for publicly announced his plans in an their destiny.” other people were April 20 op-ed for The Afro-AmerThat community-first vision ican Newspapers, some longtime builds directly from Brown’s still behind bars supporters and fellow Christians previous work in agriculture. Folfor it.” pushed back. lowing the Freddie Gray protests, “There were some that were very Brown expanded church-based surprised. Eyebrows went up high. ‘What in the food access efforts that eventually grew into world is the good doctor doing? This is blasphethe Black Church Food Security Network. For my!’” Brown said. more than a decade, he has worked with Black He understands why. Brown grew up in the farmers nationwide, advocating for land access same anti-Cannabis culture as many of his critics. and local food systems.

Now that work is intersecting with Cannabis through a collaboration with Alisha Edwards, founder of the Baltimore Vertical Farming Association.

Together, they are exploring a pilot project in West Baltimore: converting underused church space into a 500-square-foot vertical farming site that could eventually serve as a model for larger community-owned agricultural ventures. Edwards’ long-term vision includes reclaiming vacant city properties and turning them into agricultural businesses, including possible Cannabis cultivation if future licensing allows.

“When it comes to Alisha, we are really trying to broaden the ecosystems,” Brown said. “Whether it’s Cannabis or sweet potatoes, we can all benefit from having a better understanding of the ecosystem as a whole.”

For Brown, Cannabis is not the destination; it is simply the next doorway.

For some, he said, Cannabis may never be the front door. Food, farming and education may be.

But he believes all of it points to the same thing: community health, self-determination and expanding what people believe is possible.

baltimoreverticalfarms.org @baltimorevertical_farmingassoc

STORY by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for MARYLAND LEAF @MARYLANDLEAF | PHOTOS courtesy

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

THE impact ISSUE

CANOPY

38

leafmagazines.com

grow tour

MOMENT MARYLAND With equity licenses coming online, Maryland’s Cannabis community is seeing some fresh brands entering the market. jun. 2026

Moment Maryland is the product of Venus Hemachandra, a powerful force who has been dedicated to the industry since its inception. You may remember Hemachandra from Herbiculture, a dispensary in Burtonsville.

INDIA LETMAN, JOSEPH KIELY & JORDAN LAVENDER

“WE SOLD HERBICULTURE back in June 2023, right before adult-use sales began. I was super disappointed to miss it after pushing so hard for legalization,” Hemachandra said in an email to Maryland Leaf. “We even used the dispensary as a hub to distribute lawn signs during the referendum. Ultimately, we offloaded the dispensary because Maryland put a five-year moratorium in the AU bill, which would have locked us in for five years if we didn’t make a move before adult-use launched. So we had no choice but to do it and get our other licenses operational. Herbiculture became the stepping stone that allowed us to get our cultivation and processing licenses operational."

Fast-forward to today, and Hemachandra is using her license to bring a true craft product to Maryland. Jordan Lavender, cultivation manager, gave us an inside look at the cultivation facility, and the setup was refreshing and unique in more ways than one.

Every stage of the plant’s life cycle occurs in its own prefabricated shipping container, with only 150 per container. Downscaling the canopy in each room compared to a standard grow facility creates a new level of control. This way, they can give each strain exactly what it needs and only keep one to two per container. With four flower rooms, they are pulling down 600 plants per harvest, dialing in the craft element to provide a high-quality product.

Before any strain makes its way into the lineup, it must go through a research and development process, which ensures that only strains with specific expressions are grown. If a cultivar doesn’t meet their standards, they either try again with a different phenotype or move on to another strain.

“We are growing sought-after genetics with costs as high as $2,000 per clone,” Joseph Kiely, facility general manager, said.

“We’re still discussing growing the hardest to obtain strains like Toad Venom.”

PACKING TEAM

CLONES

GOD'S BREATH

CANDIEZ

Maryland’s market needed an infusion of this type of dedication to craft Cannabis. Not for the hype, but to truly seek out the best genetics and continuously keep fresh strains available to the public.

As we walked through the flower stage rooms, the distinct aromas seemed to keep getting louder.

The final flower room smacked everyone in the face as they entered through the door, and immediately, we needed to know more about this strain. It was Candiez, a cross between Candy Fumez and Zkittlez, which creates an aroma true to its name. A mix of sweet and sour candy filled our nostrils and intrigued our minds, encouraging us to try this strain once it hits the market.

They are doing things right at the Moment facility, and the company has released an impressive product, especially for being so new. The genetics are top-tier, and the expressions of the plants they grow do those genetics justice.

Growing Cannabis is for everyone, and Hemachandra and her team of dedicated, passionate employees are a shining example of that. Keep an eye out for exciting new strains dropping from Moment as this crew continues to lay their foundation in the Maryland Cannabis industry. momentmaryland.com @momentmaryland

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/@MARYLANDLEAF | PHOTOS by HAYLEY EWING @HAYLEYSHOOTS.U See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

CO PRO M UD M L UN Y ITY SER FO VIN R G 7+ TH YE E AR S!

RECENTLY VOTED “2026 BEST CANNABIS DISPENSARY ON THE EASTERN SHORE”!

Daily Specials

Online Ordering

ACH & Debit Payments

Loyalty Club Veterans, Wisdom (60+), & Cannabis Industry discounts

SCAN FOR

MENU

Conveniently located off Route 50 at 603 Meteor Ave. Cambridge, MD

Mon-Sat: 9 AM - 7 PM Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM

Sunburst Pharm

SunburstPharm

Must be 21+ with a Valid ID to Purchase Adult-Use Cannabis in Maryland. Medical Cannabis is for Certified Medical Patients only.

THE impact ISSUE

By now, you’ve heard of California’s ganja-growing, pot-smoking nuns known as the Sisters of The Valley. Maybe you watched the 2018 documentary “Breaking Habits,” saw them in Forbes and CNBC or caught their depiction as the “Sisters of the Brave Beaver" in the 2025 film “One Battle After Another.”

42

leafmagazines.com

THE HOLY FLOWER THE SISTERS OF THE VALLEY are not affiliated with the Catholic Church. Instead, their order is modeled after the Beguines, a group of women in the Middle Ages who formed communities that practiced a life of spirituality and service free from male or clerical oversight.

Each sister takes a set of vows that include living in practical ways, performing service to their community through plant medicine and practicing environmental stewardship. The meta description on the Sisters’ website NUNS characterizes them as “modern & NUGS Beguine revivalists empowering

jun. 2026

women through Cannabis and ancient wisdom.”

It’s hard not to be captivated by the sight of a nun’s habit set against a pair of sunglasses in a field of Cannabis plants. The very image seems to defy the stigmas and taboos around Cannabis. But despite all the media attention, founder Christine Meesen, who goes

by Sister Kate, says they have been fighting to stay alive for the last few years due to legal complications over trace amounts of THC in their CBD wellness line.

Sisters of the Valley started their brand with salves, ointments and oils made from hemp flower harvested

on their farm in the San Joaquin Valley. The business thrived, especially with the advent of online sales, but since 2024, an oversaturation of brands in the CBD market, along with losing their Better Business Bureau status due to trace amounts of THC in their products, cut incoming revenue to one-fifth of what it used to be. The situation got so bad that Sister Kate said she even contemplated hanging up the habit, “It was like riding a wave to extinction.”

But, as the saying goes, “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” That’s what the Sisters found in an unexpected visit from Jessica Blair of the Traditional DTLA dispensary location and Damian Martin from Catalyst Cannabis stores.

Sister Kate was impressed with their interest in partnering, not just putting the order’s name on a jar.

Later, along with Catalyst CEO Elliot Lewis, the trio outlined a way for the Sisters of the Valley to launch THC products in dispensaries, and to start legal proceedings to get their CBD business back on track. After three days, the group hammered out an agreement to design and release a product line to sell in over 30 Catalyst retail locations. Now, thanks to this retail partnership, Sister Kate envisions a future that is brighter than ever.

“The industry needs some other culture that's not just stereotypical stoner culture,” she told the Leaf during a phone interview.

“There's plenty of room for all manner of representation, but I feel the public should see a medicinal and spiritual side to the plant.”

And so, the sisters packed their bags and left the farm on a pilgrimage to visit each Catalyst store, meeting everyone they could to share the spiritual side of Cannabis and learn how to best serve the retail community.

Sister Kate said these interactions proved instrumental in fine-tuning the product line and introducing people to the order. She believes they couldn’t have gotten such a loving crash course in the adult-use market without the relationships the sisters formed with both customers and budtenders. The response to the products has already been so positive that the first drops sold out in a month.

The order also formed a bond with Traditional's cultivation team as they took on the difficult task of scaling up, and they have gone above and beyond to ensure everything meets the sisters’ standards.

Before every crop is planted, the sisters perform a ground blessing by walking the rows. Afterward, there is a sunrise and two sunset blessings given to the plants before the harvest. In the 10 years the order has been blessing fields, Sister Kate told us they’ve never had one so large that it took days to complete. She joked that next year they might try blessing the field on horseback.

Sister Kate hopes this relationship opens the door to multiple markets one day. They want to use Cannabis sales to build an enclave where Sisters can live, study and train new initiates. The plan is to purchase a 12-unit apartment building with a garden space where sisters can have quarters on the upper levels and offer the lower units to those in need of assisted living.

On the farm, there’s only enough room for six members to live full time, which includes sisters, applicants, postulates and novices.

With many members operating remotely and chapters established in New York, Mexico, Chile and Brazil, they need a space to house their growing order — somewhere they can build communal living situations, taking what they do out on the farm into the city as the very first Cannabis convent.

Find Sister of the Valley products in Catalyst stores, select Traditional retailers and their website sistersofthevalley.org

“The industry needs some other culture that's not just stereotypical stoner culture…I feel the public should see a medicinal and spiritual side to the plant.”

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JARRETT JARMON @KNOW_JRAMA See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

BEST MENU

OPEN 8A-11P DAILY

Trilogy Summer Trilogy

Summer

Celebrate Summer with our top-selling products. Get the ultimate value with Trilogy bud-e bags. Each bag is loaded with preground flower, Trilogy rolling papers and a Trilogy BIC lighter 9291 BALTIMORE NAT’L PIKE ELLICOTT CITY, MD

WWW.TRILOGY.HEALTH 443-539-7372

Products for use only by qualifying patients or consumers at least 21 years of age.

The Full Moon Belongs To

Ask for your

LORE Full Moon Special June 29

July 29

Aug 28

JOVA -- Temple JOVA Temple Hills Hills

Releaf Shop Shop -- Baltimore Baltimore Releaf Storehouse -- Baltimore Storehouse Baltimore Koan -- Hagerstown Koan Hagerstown Cookies -- Baltimore Cookies Baltimore Forest -- Canton Forest Canton Summit -- Catonville Summit Catonville Waave -- Greenbelt Waave Greenbelt and Greenlight Greenlight Therapeutics Therapeutics -- Gambrills Gambrills *Secret Menu Pricing/discount can vary by location

Must be 21+ to view this content - Cannabis is for use by adults 21+ or certified medical patients

THE impact ISSUE

leafmagazines.com

46

Woody Comes Home An Exclusive Q&A with Actor & Cannabis Entrepreneur Woody Harrelson

Sharing a hotboxed treehouse with Woody Harrelson in a lush tropical paradise known as The Woods — the smoking lounge off Santa Monica Boulevard he owns with Bill Maher, John McEnroe and Devon “Samba” Wheeler — he settles in for our interview as if meeting friends for an afternoon sesh. The world has been captivated

by Harrelson’s characters on the silver screen, from “Natural Born Killers” to “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” but the best performance he gives is as himself. His natural drawl is relaxing, his vibe unhurried with an air of mirth and the comforting understanding that as a true A-list star, he doesn’t have to act like one.

WITH A CAREER that began in 1978, he’s seen America and Hollywood evolve and been a voice of reason for healthy living, stewarding the environment and the freedom to enjoy Cannabis. Once a California bad boy for smoky antics, his energy shifted to activism, with notable protests like climbing the Golden Gate Bridge to release a sign saying “Hurwitz, aren't redwoods more important than gold?” and a symbolic arrest in Kentucky for planting four hemp seeds.

This history is why we honor Harrelson with our Impact Issue cover. His career of smoky mystique in the zeitgeist wasn’t a phase, but a true love for the plant. Far from losing his path or purpose with Cannabis, the plant seems to have steered him through the pressures of fame and the changes of the last 50 years, with Harrelson emerging as a Cannabis success story via a household name.

When you look into Harrelson’s eyes, it’s hard not to see film scenes, like the Twinkie search in “Zombieland” or the simmering, about-to-boil-over energy on “True Detective.” Such is the power of acting, the ability to take on a role and embody it so fiercely that we believe in the scene, the moment, the idea that what we are seeing could be real.

Today, Harrelson gets to play himself. There’s no fame to lose, and speaking on Cannabis is no longer a risk. We see the actor who is able to be comfortable in his own role, that of an advisor, mentor and advocate who wants to share the choices and products that have made his life healthy and happy. For a man who continues to impact countless lives on screen, Harrelson now plants seeds of inspiration at his lounge, where sun-grown Cannabis and good vibes are the menu every day. > > C O N T I N U E S N E X T PA G E

jun. 2026

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by ROGER KISBY @ROGERKISBY

Woody Harrelson THE impact ISSUE

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

WE’RE HERE IN THE WOODS, WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHOP AND SMOKE IN A LUSH TROPICAL SETTING THAT’S THE MOST STUNNING AND INVITING CANNABIS LOUNGE IN THE WORLD. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO JOIN THE INDUSTRY, AND WHY A LOUNGE? My buddy Samba, who opened Erba, would bring me to look at places, and it never felt right until I set foot here in this beautiful ganja giggle garden. I fell in love with the property. I always wanted to open a place that, as a stoner, I would want to go to. I’ve been to places that have smoking on site, some legal and illegal, but none that I would say, “Wow, this is the Shangri-La, this is what you want.” Well, here we have it! But it’s not perfect yet, there’s lots more to be done.

HOW WAS THE CLUB RANDOM PODCAST YOU FILMED HERE WITH YOUR PARTNER BILL MAHER? Oh, we were fucked up. You should never do an interview that fucked up, but I feel like I’m right on the border now, by the way.

DO YOU THINK YOUR OTHER PARTNER, JOHN MCENROE, WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCH AN ANGRY TENNIS PLAYER IF HE TOOK BONG TOKES BEFORE THE MATCHES? I honestly don’t know, but something in me doesn’t think he smoked during his career. He was as dedicated an athlete as you can be. I’ve met the highest-level athletes that smoked. Basketball players tend to smoke, and I found over my rather lengthy career in playing basketball that pot didn’t seem to hurt. It hurt if I was stoned playing, that could hurt, I don’t think that’s a good idea. But for recovery, man, come on, it’s so nice.

COURTESY THE WOODS

leafmagazines.com

48

jun. 2026

DO YOU SMOKE WEED WHILE ACTING? I can’t smoke when I act. Well, the very first time I did that, I thought we were done, and I went upstairs with George Wendt after an episode of “Cheers,” and we start smoking. And then I hear the intercom for me to come do the monologue in scene C that I had tripped up in the performance. So to pick it up, after I thought we were wrapped, I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking. What would have taken once took 10 times, and Jimmy Burrows was like, “Is everything OK?” He’s the greatest sitcom director ever!

DID YOU SMOKE WEED WHEN YOU FILMED “WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP”?

There was one moment where me and Wes (Wesley Snipes) are in the car together driving to the location for the scene where I bet him that I can dunk the basketball and I lose, and, uh, unfortunately, we did get high in the car. And I felt like it compromised the scene. It doesn’t work for me because all those things that come so easy to me, suddenly, I get into paranoia, and I’m not comfortable and relaxed, which is really important to be in a state of dynamic relaxation when working in this particular field.

For that reason, I cannot smoke and do my job. But I can directly after!

WORK FIRST, SMOKE AFTER? You know, they call the final shot of a movie set day, on the uh, um … “the martini”!

Dammit, that’s what I mean! How many times have I heard martini in my life? Ten million times, and I couldn’t think of it. This is evidence; I’m glad you’re documenting. You can use this for study later on, the documentation of a brain that has just broken down into a little heap of ashes.

IT’S LIKE WEED INCEPTION. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WORKING STONED WHILE WORKING STONED. That’s another thing. I never get high and do an interview, but of course, it’s the Leaf Magazine, so I have to get high. And because it was Bill, I had to get high, but other than those two examples, I would never do an interview high.

"For a man who continues to impact countless lives on screen, Harrelson now plants seeds of inspiration at his lounge..."

SO THE MARTINI IS THE HEAD-TO-THE-BAR, SHOOT’S-OVER CALL? Yeah, so we call it “the smoker” ’cause as soon as it's done, we’re going to smoke. And the second to last one we call “the twister,” to go twist it up! Hopefully, that’ll become new jargon in Hollywood.

DO YOU THINK IT’S BETTER TO START WITH WEED AT 21 THAN ALCOHOL? I think that straight edge is the best.

I’ve always admired straight edge, and thought I would get there, but I seem to be still on the road to … because if the conversation is should I do a drug, the answer is don’t do drugs. I almost feel like Ronald Reagan: (imitating his voice) “Don’t do any drugs.” There was a time that I had a near photographic memory. Do you know the play “Zoo Story”? Long, long, continuous monologues for this character, Jerry, that I played in college, that I memorized in one Sunday, the whole one-act play. A massive, massive amount of verbiage. And now, I can’t even imagine doing that because I’ve degenerated my memory a bit.

HAS YOUR ACTIVISM AFFECTED YOUR BRAND OR STATUS? That’s hard to say. I think a lot was inspired by playing Larry Flynt in ’96.

It made me think about speech, and that’s when we did the Golden Gate Bridge protest. I was inspired and saw the way he lived his life, and there's a lot I do disagree with about his life, but I thought he was an extraordinary original human, and he made me feel like if you believe in something, do something about it. >> CONTINUES NEXT PAGE

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX/LEAF NATION | PHOTO by ROGER KISBY @ROGERKISBY

THE impact ISSUE

Woody Harrelson

leafmagazines.com

50

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE RIGHT TO PURSUE HAPPINESS INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO INGEST DRUGS, AND THAT WE SHOULD ONLY CRIMINALIZE BEHAVIOR, NOT POSSESSION. HOLLYWOOD IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO DO DRUGS ARE CELEBRATED, POOR PEOPLE WHO DO DRUGS END UP IN CAGES. I agree, but you're talking now of a very important and much larger issue, which is consensual crimes or victimless crimes. There’s no victim to the crime. How is it a crime? Or is it just moralized legislation? In my mind, it’s about the money. The war on drugs, like all war, is lucrative. Somebody is making money with every bomb that drops. It's the same thing for the war on drugs. There's a huge industry around that, including private prisons that basically use slave labor. It’s incredible how feudal it all is still.

WHO WON THE WAR ON DRUGS? I don’t know, it’s been such a great campaign. It’s been such a great propaganda campaign. You have to give credit to the government; they've really made people not give a shit about pot smokers. People who don’t smoke don’t care about the war on drugs; they don’t see the personal level of what happens.

Hats off, once again, to Uncle Sam, coming through strong in the propaganda department!

DO YOU STILL GET EXCITED TO BE ON CAMERA? Always! But the night before I know what will happen, I don’t sleep. It’s always the same. I get so amped up. But I saw Bruce Springsteen recently in Austin, and we hung out before the show. I said, “Listen, there’s something I always wanted to ask you, and you don’t know how helpful it would be to me to hear you answer in the affirmative. So I’m going to ask: Do you get nervous before the show?” And he goes, “Oh yeah, I would call it anticipatory anxiety,” and said he would be worried if he didn’t feel that. I feel that I still get that the night before the shoot, and then it wears away, and by the second or third day, I’m comfortable. Even with a tense character, I want to be comfortable inside the way I’m feeling.

IF THERE WAS A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR CANNABIS, YOU’D BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO CREATE A LEGACY IN WEED AND STILL BE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE PLANT?

jun. 2026

Well, I don’t know what I’m doing to shape it, other than having a place for people to enjoy the plant. There was a time where myself and my PR team and team wanted me to be less associated with herb. And now, of course, having embraced that, there is something beautiful about Cannabis.

Of any drug I’ve done, there’s something about the way it brings people together. When you talk about people brought together over cocaine, that's a different group of people. But this brings a brother and sisterhood of interesting people who are socially, politically, economically diverse, in every way, spiritually diverse people who seem to be attracted to this plant. I love to be a part of this culture. To me, if you are going to do a drug, this is the more benign drug to be doing.

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH CANNABIS? When I was a kid, my mom would be, in the morning, having her cup of coffee, and she was a big cigarette smoker. So she’d say, “Son, if I ever hear (mimicking inhale) about you (inhaling) smoking marijuana, it’ll just kill me.” It’s so funny because there’s all kinds of avenues to get drugs into your body, and some people it’s legal, and some people it’s illegal, but it’s still drugs. I always think that the No. 1 drug in the world is sugar.

WHAT WAS HOLLYWOOD’S VIEW ON POT WHEN YOU FIRST CAME OUT OF THE WEED CLOSET? WAS IT ALWAYS PART OF WHO YOU WERE AS AN ACTOR? Well, everybody smokes, but publicly, nobody was above board on that. For the longest time, it was not OK to say (that you smoked).

WHEN DID YOU FIRST EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF OUTDOOR CANNABIS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA? When I moved here to LA — I don’t live here now — I moved here in the ’80s, and it wasn't long before I was trying that Northern Cal herb. It’s such a cool, spiritual experience. It’s a very spiritual plant. It’s only our abuse of it that makes it less spiritual. I think if we did it a little more religiously, it would be much better for us, but that’s coming from an addict who doesn’t do that.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOVE FOR THE EMERALD TRIANGLE? I just worry about those guys up in Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino. They’re the best, and they’ve been doing it the longest — multigenerational. And now, because of the popularity of indoor, which befuddles me, I still don’t understand it. To me, the elements that are the most important elements of any herb are three things, aside from the genetics: the sun, water, soil. Those three things make the best herb, and the best herb in the world is grown in Northern California. This is the spiritual fight I feel that I want to have, to use The Woods as a place to testify about sun-grown Cannabis.

DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE NOR CAL

GROWER LIFESTYLE? I am a hippie. I love that lifestyle, that really close to the earth lifestyle. And I’ve seen various levels of luxury or comfort up there, but generally it's pretty rural, close to the ground.

There's a certain primalness to it, just to being up in those mountains, among those beautiful trees, and of course, the trees that they are growing as a crop. It’s really special. I’ve had some wonderful experiences up there.

IS THAT WHY YOU REPRESENT SUN-GROWN CANNABIS IN THE DISPENSARY AND LOUNGE? I want to make The Woods a mouthpiece to the Emerald Triangle. I want to speak for the trees, for the outdoor organics, for Northern California. I’m pretty knocked out by the quality of the people, who are kind and devoted, how interesting they are and great at their craft, and they deserve to thrive. I don't get the disparity in why outdoor organic is so inexpensive compared to indo, when to me, there should at least be parity. It’s odd. But it's good for people to enjoy the outdoor; it's less expensive.

THE DOCUMENTARY YOU NARRATED, “KISS THE GROUND,” REALLY EXPLAINED LIVING SOIL AND REGENERATIVE FARMING IN A WAY THAT MADE SENSE TO ME, EVEN AFTER TOURING MANY LIVING SOIL WEED GARDENS, WHERE THE POT PLUS THE SCIENCE CAN GET LOST IN TRANSLATION. WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SOIL, FARMING AND FOOD? You think about how incredibly important is the soil, as is the water and the basic things that we need. Soil, water, air, the real basics. They are ironically threatened by our own activity as a species. So you're seeing a lot of desertification around the world, and the soil is more important than ever. And it's a very practical way to say here's something we can do to make a difference in this ecological catastrophic experiment we call modern times.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO LIVE AS A VEGAN? I went vegan Jan 1, 1990. It was a New Year's resolution, but I’d been wanting to do it since I was 16. I did my first cleanse at 16 — three days of fruit and smoothies — and then I ate a stack of pancakes 3 feet high, and after the second one, I was stuffed.

Back then, I wanted to become vegetarian, and my mom and everyone said you can’t do that, you need protein. For some reason, all this time later, I decided to go vegan, and Laura, my wife, did a couple months later. But I’m not entirely vegan; I love honey and an egg if I can be sure of the happy life of the mother. But I wouldn’t go to a random restaurant and eat an egg.

I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT CANNABIS OPENS OUR MINDS. DOES IT HAVE THAT EFFECT FOR YOU? You think differently after ingesting it. Sometimes it does open a little portal, but I gotta say I’m the last to encourage use of it.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE BUILT A LEGACY IN WEED WITH THE WOODS? With this place, yes, but it’s very difficult because the government wants to fuck you right down the line, start to finish, any way

"Hats off, once again, to Uncle Sam, coming through strong in the propaganda department!"

Nov. 2000 High Times Cover they can. They seem to be just wanting to fuck you. So they don’t give you any breaks. They still treat this industry despicably, especially the overtaxing, the greedy more, more out of the people trying to make a living in the industry.

It’s really hard. I hate to go negative, so let me go positive. There's a lot of good people at The Woods. Every time I come in, I meet new interesting people. I usually come every day when I’m in town.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR THE WOODS? I think it's going to be about not just the best, cleanest, purest, most delicious and best high herb, it's going to be about promoting a certain lifestyle of healthy food, healthy products and healthy cleaning products. The shit I use, and if it interests you, you can have some and buy it. Not like a store, but around what I would call “Woods Goods.” Me and my wife use all kinds of cool products and teas and the cleanest fermented coffee beans. I’m being ambiguous about it, but it feels like we can do more here, and I want to do more. I’m basically almost a preacher in my own way, so let this place preach its message, which is a message of regeneration and truth and positivity and cleanliness and good vibes. @WOODYHARRELSON @THEWOODSWEHO

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by ROGER KISBY @ROGERKISBY See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

30% OFF

Your Next Purchase at Zen Leaf using promo code SUMMER30 at checkout.

Maryland, are you ready to actually

elevate?

In cannabis, visibility is

everything .

Most brands can’t keep up.

Will you?

Elevated Solutions

More presence. More support. More success. mahmut@elevatedsolutionllc.com

/

dishant@elevatedsolutionllc.com

/

guillermo@elevatedsolutionllc.com

TWO DIFFERENT SALES FLOORS

ENU

IALS, M C E P S , U R

DRIVE-TH

MUST BE 21+ YRS OR A MD CANNABIS PATIENT TO LEGALLY PURCHASE CANNABIS.

studio sessions

HOW CANNABIS INSPIRES ART

CABIN7ORIGINALS.COM @CABIN7ORIGINALS

CABIN7 ORIGINALS Bridget Intessimone, owner at Cabin 7 Originals, is no stranger to Leaf Magazines. Her coloring book was recently

featured in our Analog Play story in the May 2026 Adventure Issue, and she illustrated the cover of the 2024 Culture Issue, alongside a profile from contributor Katherine Wolf. This makes her a perfect addition to our Studio Sessions series.

ORIGINALLY RAISED in the South, Intessimone grew up being taught that weed and meth were practically the same thing. She and her best friend tried smoking weed in high school, but she said she found it too intense.

At 18, the artist said to the Leaf that she went through a difficult period and became “a full-blown stoner overnight. It helped me eat, sleep and escape into my art.”

“Cannabis played a major role in my art career from the moment I became a stoner,” she continued. “I invested a lot of time in sharing my art on IG. By the time I was 22, I had 50k followers.”

From there, clients kept finding her, and BRIDGET she went from drawing individual portraits to INTESSIMONE creating marketing materials, packaging and apparel designs for brands in the space.

Cabin 7 Originals seem to have a distinctly different-butequal foreground and background. While the focus is usually on an activity like smoking a joint or hanging with a friend, the backgrounds are fantastical scenes of nature and space inspired by Intessimone’s own travels. You can almost view each as its own piece, expertly dovetailed with the others.

As a very detail-oriented person, Intessimone shared that she’s prone to sensory overload but uses Cannabis to calm her down, sit still and absorb her environment in a way that doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Plus, she said, “finding inspiration is easy when everything looks more beautiful and colorful.”

Intessimone says it only takes a few hits to reach a warm, vibrant flow state where she creates her best work. Once in that state, she said she usually flips on a soundtrack of truecrime podcasts, fantasy romance audiobooks and dark R&B — a genre she described as: “sexy late night haunted strip club music.”

Check out our previous article to learn how she came up with the name Cabin 7 Originals — and see her incredible cover art.

leafmagazines.com

54

jun. 2026

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for LEAF NATION | ART by CABIN 7 ORIGINALS See more of their work at LeafMagazines.com

NOW AVAILABLE IN MARYLAND! V-SHAPED OIL TANK • MATRIX TECHNOLOGY • DUAIR TECHNOLOGY • BIOBALEEN MODULE

Cannabis may only be lawfully consumed by a consumer 21 years old or older, or a registered medical cannabis patient. Consumption of cannabis may impair your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. Please use extreme caution. There may be health risk associated with cannabis use, especially during pregnancy or breast-feeding. A person must be at least 21 years old to view this content.