Oct. 2023 - Maryland Leaf

the tech issue

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ZenLeaf

Leaf Nation's Matt Jackson reviews the Terp Sous Vide and other cool Cannabis gadgets to try.

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ABOUT THE COVER

In crafting Maryland Leaf's cover, artist Michael Gordon embarked on a smoky journey into the world of generative AI. Driven by a passionate belief in AI's potential to unlock human creativity, Michael's creative process envisions a future beyond our horizons. Through visually impactful imagery, he invites viewers to see the world anew – fostering wonder and gratitude for the present while contemplating a responsible bridge to the future. Michael advocates for AI as the ultimate communicator and coach, guiding it towards human-centered solutions. Follow his work @Digiflexlabs on IG.

COVER ART BY MICHAEL GORDON

CONTRIBUTORS

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

AMANDA DAY, PHOTOS + FEATURES

MAX EARLY, FEATURES

WYATT EARLY, FEATURES

MICHAEL GORDON, ILLUSTRATION

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

GREG MALCOLM, PHOTOS

TAYLOR MARTIN, FEATURES

BAXSEN PAINE, PHOTOS + FEATURES

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

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WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Tech Issue of Maryland Leaf!

Technology has taken our humble plant and transformed the ways we grow, process, buy and consume Cannabis in an ever-evolving quest to get higher. While that might sound reductivist, trying to get even more baked has been the bleeding edge of innovation in weed for the last 20 years. From the early days of knife hits and Sobe bottle gravity bongs, to open-blasting BHO or making homemade cannabutter, the mystery surrounding Cannabis has added to the intrigue and experience of getting high.

Today we hear about new tech on a near-daily basis, which is why it’s important to slow down and appreciate the little things from time to time. One such guilty pleasure is the disposable vape. I know – they are somewhat more wasteful than normal cartridges, and I often find myself with three or four in my pocket at an event – but I love the convenience of sneaking a hit of tasty oil from a palm-sized pen. In my lifetime, I’ve gone from the paranoia of hiding the smell of smoke from authority figures of all kinds, to the pleasure of freedom and choice between vape pens in all shapes and sizes at the average dispensary, along with hundreds of other products.

Technology and freedom have combined to provide huge value for Cannabis users via the medicinal treatments and testing of cannabinoids and terpenes that has expanded our understanding of the plant and its place in our world. And while the future of the stock market and the geopolitics of war remain out of focus in my crystal ball, I do have a very strong feeling that the future is going to continue to be great for pot. So I don’t worry about AI replacing humans in the industry, or the government or big pharma stealing our plant back from the people.

We’ve come such a long way in only a few decades and now seeds of knowledge and acceptance are sprouting worldwide. Other countries are advancing the study of Cannabis and legalizing the plant, with global freedom being the ultimate goal. The technology of Cannabis provides credibility, access and information – all powerful tools for shaping policy and ending the global war on drugs. Those same tools also whip up a mighty dab of terpy rosin at 420º in the Carta 2 electronic dabber on my desk … and for that, I’m grateful.

“IN MY LIFETIME, I’VE GONE FROM THE PARANOIA OF HIDING THE SMELL OF SMOKE FROM AUTHORITY FIGURES OF ALL KINDS, TO THE PLEASURE OF FREEDOM AND CHOICE BETWEEN VAPE PENS IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AT THE AVERAGE DISPENSARY.”

INTRODUCING OUR NEW

LIVE SAUCE CARTS

Your favorite strains just got better. Ask for us at your local dispensary.

BOLD NEW FLAVORS, EXTRAORDINARY EFFECTS.

MICHAEL PROCTOR

CHESACANNA

10534 YORK ROAD SUITE 101 COCKEYSVILLE, MD (410) 650-6555

CHESACANNA.COM

@CHESACANNA_DELI 9AM-9PM MON-SAT 9AM-6PM SUN

"I ALSO STUDIED PSYCHOLOGY AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS HOW I LEARNED TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY’RE HAVING A ROUGH DAY. I TRY TO FIND A WAY TO HELP THEM OUT BY TALKING TO THEM DURING THEIR VISIT.”

DID YOU WORK IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRIES BEFORE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? I just worked in retail and customer service before this. That taught me how to communicate with people on a daily basis. I also studied psychology at Towson University, which is how I learned to connect with people when they’re having a rough day. I try to find a way to help them out by talking to them during their visit.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE MARYLAND CANNABIS MARKET? There is an adjustment period we are going through right now with recreational Cannabis. I’d like to see more opportunities for diverse people to be able to call the shots. Diverse people should be able to make more strides in this business. It is very much a straight white man dominated industry. With what other states have been able to do including microgrow licenses and more, I feel like there is more we can be doing to be inclusive.

MICHAEL is an Ellicott City native who believes Cannabis should be a part of a modern, productive lifestyle – breaking the stigma by showing people that being proud of using the plant is nothing to hide.

IN A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE? Probably a bow and arrow, or a crossbow – I want to keep distance between me and the zombies, and be able to do my own thing.

IF MONEY WASN’T AN ISSUE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO EVERY DAY? I would try to go somewhere new as much as possible, and see as much of the world as I possibly could. I have never been out of the country and barely have left the East Coast, so I’d like to experience the world. The first place I would go would be the mountains in Canada, or somewhere overseas like Thailand.

WHAT GETS YOUR CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING?

Definitely Cannabis, but mostly being out in nature and being able to think without any outside interruptions. After talking to people at work all day, it can be nice to separate my mind and connect with myself mentally. I live right by the reservoir, so I am constantly trying to find new trails and get out on hikes.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF? Being able to communicate with anybody and find some way to have common ground. With Cannabis we are all here for a reason, and especially people that work here at Chesacanna. We have a fantastic perspective as to how Cannabis can be used to better your life. Being surrounded by people that also see the benefit in similar ways has helped me to succeed. I can also be reserved sometimes, but I think I have a lot more creative elements and ideas to add to conversation.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO CONSUME CANNABIS? Definitely flower. Edibles don’t actually work for me. I have eaten an entire bag of 40mg gummies … it did nothing. I took an entire gram of RSO and put it on an Eggo waffle, which also did nothing for me. My favorite flowers would be Sunset Octane from Evermore, Guava Lava from Culta, and Compound Z from Strane.

WE ARE LABS, MARYLAND’S NEW SOCIAL EQUITY PROCESSOR; FAMILY-OWNED & OPERATED BY SOME OF YOUR VERY OWN! WE GREW UP HERE, WE LIVE HERE, AND WE WORK HERE. WE’VE BEEN IN THE MARYLAND CANNABIS INDUSTRY SINCE DAY ONE, AND WE KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE! NOW WE CAN DELIVER BY YOUR DEMAND.

INSPIRED BY THE AGE-OLD NEPALESE TRADITION OF HANDROLLED AND SLOWLY-CURED HASH BALLS. CLEAN AND SOLVENTLESS.

GREW UP KNOW

CURATED BATCHES OF MARYLAND’S BEST QUALITY FLOWER. SOLVENTLESS; THE CLEANEST METHOD IN LIMITED BATCHES. LOW IN YIELD, HIGH IN TERPENES.

CRAFT RESIN CONCENTRATES AND LIVE VAPE CARTRIDGES. MADE WITH THE CONNOSISSEUR IN MIND. NEW CROSSES, NEW TEXTURES, AND LOTS OF PASSION.

POTENT & PREMIUM BHO DIAMONDS. THCA-FOCUSED, AND DRIPPING IN TERPENES.

QUALITY SHATTER AND VAPES, MADE WITH EVERYONE’S LIFESTYLE IN MIND. EFFECTIVE, AFFORDABLE, & BOTANICAL.

SUMMIT WELLNESS

SUMMIT WELLNESS is planting its roots in the community with an upscale store on Baltimore National Pike. Store manager Barbie Cyr has endless experience in the Maryland Cannabis industry and is bringing her expertise to the store on all fronts. Vibes were extremely high during my visit to Summit – finding myself engaged in meaningful conversation with every employee that was on the clock. Be sure to stop in next time you’re passing through Catonsville and check out their fire selection of products.

SETTING AND VIBE

Sleek and classy with their layout, vinyl wooden floors meet wood and metal display cases packed full of the products they have on the menu. I appreciated the fact that they actually had everything in the cases available on the menu. It can be a bummer when you visit a store and they have packaging and strains you recognize on display, only to be turned down when you try to buy it. This was not the case at Summit!

BEEZLE EXTRACTS

GRA P E PIE BUZZ VAPE

Beezle has become wildly popular among the Maryland Cannabis market for their quality products and selection of strains used. Grape Pie is a cross between Grape Stomper and Cherry Pie, producing a blend of flavor that is fruity and doughy at the same time. After a couple hits of the cartridge, I felt a euphoric and relaxing high starting behind my eyes and moving throughout my body pretty quickly. I will definitely be using this as a smoke before bed-time.

80.64% Total Cannabinoids

6.40% Terpenes

FLOWER

The offerings here are extensive, with so many options that practically everyone is bound to find something that resonates with their desired experience. Banger strains like Rainbow Belts, Collins Ave and Lamb’s Bread are found next to classics like Gelato 33, MAC 1 and Blue Dream. Flower smokers will be flocking to this dispensary as the word of their vast menu spreads.

CONCENTRATES

Live resin dominates here, plus some guest appearances from solventless concentrates like rosin, Moroccan hash and temple balls. They also have some RSO in the mix of course – something that is essential for many medical patients' consumption regimen. They had a ton of live resin from Cookies, including one of my favorite products on the menu: that classic, citrusy Emergen-C.

EDIBLES

I was genuinely shocked at the variation in different edibles they had in stock. Every company you can imagine, every flavor from those companies, and every potency variation of those flavors. Whether you’re just beginning to dabble with edibles and want something lighter like 5mg per piece, or you’re a seasoned pro and like things around 40mg, they have both and everything in between.

"FLOWER SMOKERS WILL BE FLOCKING TO THIS DISPENSARY AS THE WORD OF THEIR VAST MENU SPREADS."

PATIENT OF THE MONTH

FOUR YEARS AGO, Maddie Thornton got up the courage to try her hand as a tattoo artist. Finding a suitable sensei and allocating $1,000 towards a machine that would allow her to take her artistry to the next level, the then 22-year-old native of Cockeysville was on the cusp of blazing a new path. However, when the time came to begin her apprenticeship, the master had disappeared. “He took my money and fell off the face of the Earth,” Maddie recalled. “It was truly a gut-wrenching experience.”

maddie thornton

A global pandemic followed, leaving the graduate of Franklin High School questioning her path in life. Previous stints in the service industry as a budtender and bartender paid the bills, but hadn’t provided the type of fulfillment she received from creating art.

“I was at such a lost point during the pandemic,” said Maddie. “I began taking a lot of time for myself, doing a lot of hiking outdoors and really trying to center myself so I could see where I wanted to be.”

A trip to Denver proved good for the soul. There, in the RiNo Arts District, Maddie found the inspiration she had desperately been seeking.

“It was some of the most captivating art I’ve ever seen in person,” shared the now 25 year old. “They had these giant murals. It was just so inspiring.”

Upon returning to Maryland, Maddie committed to putting her talents to canvas more often – selling art on the side and working in fine dining to stay above water. By 2022, she gathered the courage to restart her search for a master tattoo artist. The quest took nearly a year, but this past summer Maddie found a suitable match in Norman Wright Jr. of Eclipse Studios, located in Edgewood, Maryland.

“I emailed countless shops and went into a lot of places, but I kept getting the same answer: ‘We love your art, but we’re not looking for an apprentice,’” she said. “Norm was also hesitant, but after sitting down with him and seeing where I’m at, he was willing to change his mind and give me a chance.”

Maddie has spent the past three months learning the ins and outs of the business. She has worked tirelessly to learn how to translate her art from canvas to skin, using a replica called ‘a pound of flesh.’ In September, she crafted her first tattoo –an original homage to the Grateful Dead showcasing a skull and roses.

“It was incredible!” exclaimed Maddie. “I was shaking super hard. I was so nervous.”

Nerves, she explains, are part of the gig. Repetition, she insists, is the cure.

“Norm is old school in the sense that he likes everything to be drawn out multiple times,” she said. “So by the time you actually do the tattoo, it’s basically muscle memory.”

To help spark her creative juices, the medical Cannabis patient often turns to a limonene-heavy sativa to get her brain working.

“For the longest time I thought of myself as an indica girl because I had one too many bad experiences smoking sativas,” she said. “Now I tend to lean away from strains with high pinene levels. It’s opened my mind up to the way I view things and see art.”

Low-heat concentrates provide a quick lift and a low impact on her lungs. Indulging since 16, she recently found a creative resurgence in a strain called London Pound Cake.

“I was so productive on this strain, I couldn't believe I was actually high,” Maddie laughed.

Her productivity will be sought after this fall, when she officially opens her books and begins taking clients at the end of October.

“I am over-the-moon excited about this,” said Maddie, adding that family and friends have given verbal commitments to tattooing her original art on their body. Her art (on Instagram @Nomaddic_Ink) has long been inspired by her mother, a hobbyist, and encouraged by her late father, a former professional baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers. Six years after his passing, Maddie is following her own big league dream.

“This is something I have been thinking about for years and years,” she said. “I finally took the steps to do it and it’s starting to pay itself back. My nerves are high, but by this time next year – I intend to be a full-fledged artist with a consistent and dedicated clientele.”

“I was so productive on London Pound Cake, I couldn't believe I was actually high,” Maddielaughed.

I consider myself a connoisseur of Cannabis and spend lots of time looking for rare concentrates and exotic profiles to expand my palate with. If you are a Cannabis enthusiast, you definitely notice the trends of both products and profiles typically delivered in the marketplace and naturally try to seek out more atypical options on the shelves. Beezle Extract’s Trop Cherries live rosin is the best of both worlds in my quest for uncommon dabs.

When we look at various forms of concentrates, we typically see solvent-based products such as hydrocarbon, CO2 and ethanol-extracted distillates, shatters, budders and resins. Beezle Extracts’ Trop Cherries, however, is a solventless option called rosin that’s produced via pressure and heat only. This is done with freshly-harvested flower to produce a top quality product full of the plant's fresh, natural resin with no chance of solvent contamination or terpene loss in the lab.

TROP CHERRIES LIVE ROSIN

2.46%

2.4%

Pressing rosin is a delicate art and the team at Beezle has clearly been able to rise to the top levels of the craft by preserving this exquisitely rare and delicious profile. For all you terpene nerds out there, this is a concentrate you can’t pass up. Most notably, the Trop Cherries has almost no myrcene content – quite an oddity given that myrcene is the most common terpene Cannabis produces and is also one of the most powerful when it comes to effects. It’s an opportunity to get to know other terpenes in ways that are generally clouded by its dominance.

Here you can explore a limonene, caryophyllene and linalool-dominant profile that, for me, is a silky, cozy, happy headspace that is distinctly clear-headed, calm and creative. And while I am still familiarizing myself with this rare combination, I have been thoroughly enjoying the get-to-know-you stage. For those Cannabis explorers with a high tolerance for novel experiences, Trop Cherries live rosin just might be your jam.

"A SILKY, COZY, HAPPY HEADSPACE THAT IS DISTINCTLY CLEARHEADED, CALM AND CREATIVE."

BEEZLE EXTRACTS

TERP SAUCE

“A couch-locking smooth, mind-fogging heavy hitter.”

SunMed Growers have found a new gem for their treasure trove of Cannabis genetics that goes by the name of Watermelon Gelato – rapidly becoming one of their tastiest varieties and representing the best of its illustrious parentage in ways that Marylanders love. A cross between the eminent Watermelon Zkittlez and renowned Gelato 45, it combines to form one of those rare genetics that are as aromatic as they are potent.

THE SUNMED TEAM delivered on their cultivation by producing a wonderfully delicious and potent profile that absolutely smacks. It boasts traditional indica effects and is pretty evenly proportioned between myrcene, limonene and caryophyllene, with a dollop of linalool to bring it all together. Truly a couch-locking smooth, mind-fogging heavy hitter, the Watermelon Gelato is an excellent candidate to slow down your mind and melt away your pain – bringing that quintessential, stoney smackdown that so many of us love, and so many patients rely upon.

But the profile aside, these are some of the best quality colas SunMed has produced. They have a beautiful, healthy coloration, an aroma that can fill the room, and a dense coating of very sticky, oily trichomes that indicate a heavy resin production.

The nugs would stick to each other and my fingers, and everytime a trichome was exposed, wafts of melon-fruity gas and a smooth dankness would not only reach my nose, but the noses of everyone in the room. I look forward to smoking a lot more of this delicious cultivar, as it's sure to be one of SunMed’s bestsellers for quite awhile. Beautiful nugs, potent effects and delicious aromas are what we should expect from our quality Cannabis – and SunMed treats us to all three in the funked up fruit of Watermelon Gelato.

Gelato

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top tech

GEAR GUIDE 2023

Since last year’s issue we’ve seen some great advancements in the Cannabis sphere, with brands using novel technologies to address the ways we consume the plant. Here are just a few modern marvels.

Leaf Nation's Matt Jackson reviews the latest and greatest in Cannabis consumption.

BILLOW

For anyone who lives in an apartment or condo where smoking is a no-go, meet your new sesh buddy Billow. Place your joint into the chamber and watch as the unit provides you a full inhalation experience – pulling smoke through a hose and mouthpiece before sucking it back into the unit, acting like a filtration system that sends the smoke from your exhale and the joint through a carbon filter layer. Additional fragrance packets can be added to further mask the smell with things like the soothing scent of lavender. whatisbillow.com | $500

PUFFCO 3D XL CHAMBER

Released on the heels of the 10-year Peak Pro update, this is a piece of equipment any Puffco fan will want to upgrade to. The extra deep chamber on this thing is an impressive 78% larger, making it a serious well for dropping globs into. The joystick top has an extra-long extension to reach all the way down and the chamber unlocks a higher vapor setting through your Puffco mobile app for even bigger clouds. puffco.com | $125

TERP CHILLER

The Terp Chiller by TERPS is a portable refrigerated cooler that holds an impressive eight 2-gram myron hash jars at a time, and can bring its interior temperature down to as low as 32º fahrenheit in half an hour. Smaller than a classic Igloo but larger than anything of its kind, the unit has a fold-down top handle and gives you six to eight hours of performance on a full charge. The Terp Chiller comes with both a wall and car charger, but you can purchase additional batteries to change out during a long adventure. terpsbrand.com | $275

> GALLANT GRAVITY

Gallant has created the Greeb, a piece of stonertech bringing the old ways into the future. For anyone who’s never hit a gravity bong, the Greeb is here to save your soul. This medical-grade stainless steel, tapered bowl about the size of an acorn, fits in nearly any size of bottle. Simply pop a hole in the bottom of the bottle or pick up one from their shop, then drop in your Greeb and you’re good to go. The brand offers a stealthy travel set as well as a kit to transform any of your favorite bottles into your custom gravity bong. gallantgravity.com | $24.99

OOKA X SEVEN9

OOKA wants to elevate the way people are inhaling. This cordless, portable, electronic hookah uses pre-filled pods that contain microchips instead of charcoal. The series with seven9 out in California right now brings strain specific and blended Cannabis lines, as well as ones infused with live resin. You can’t load your own flower into the pods, but this is a nifty party device because the function is great and each session will give you around 45 minutes of smoking. getooka.com | $399 unit $36-45 pack of 2 pods.

G PEN DASH PLUS

Adding to what fans of the brand already loved about this flower vaporizer, the Dash Plus has a lot more control under the hood. The zinc alloy body is a little larger in your hand – but in exchange, users now enjoy an LCD screen that shows your heat setting and battery level, as well as controls that customize your temperature at a range of 320º to 420º fahrenheit. This unit features a combination of convection and conduction heating to more efficiently heat up your herb and avoid that burnedoutside/green-inside effect.

FOCUS V SABRE

The most useful electronic dab tool on the market, Focus V took all the issues from previous iterations of this kind of product and fixed it up in the lab until this was ready to launch, and now comes in colors to match each of their CARTA2 units. Three clicks gives you a flashlight and should you find yourself messing up the tip, it's a simple twist to remove and replace with one from their affordable replacement packs. Small enough for the hand but too large to disappear in your bag. focusv.com | $40

TERP SOUS-VIDE

A dabbers high tech, session device. Instead of torching your quartz to temperature and possibly overheating it, simply rest your slurpers, buckets and bangers inside the heating tube of the TSV to reach your desired temperature without using butane or a metal coil. There’s a platform as well that can lift and lower your rig into position above the “heat bath.” Saving butane is saving the planet and TSV is so dedicated to the cause that they even offer payment plans to help people clear that first hurdle. terpsousvide.com | $700

INDUX LABS BIRD

Dial your dabs into the future with the Bird induction heater. Released on the heels of Indux Labs’ two previous models, Bird is a portable tabletop unit that heats up your glass dab inserts without a torch or attached nail and looks like a cross between a theremin and a ‘50s space-age radio. The Bird rips. You can get an impressive amount of pulls off of your dab through this machine, but you’ll need inserts that you can purchase online – so don’t order your new toy without also getting some batteries or you’ll be bummed on Christmas Day. induxlabs.com | $1500

PHOTO BY MITCHELL PETERSON @EXTRACTSDAILY

modern marvels

Meet the cutting-edge tools being used by industry innovators to craft better, cleaner Cannabis products – meaning tastier terps for us smokers!

TSRgrow LED LIGHTS

THE PRESS CLUB TABLETOP ROSIN PRESS

Studies have shown that far-red light can increase crop biomass, and this technology is now being applied to Cannabis cultivation as well. TSRgrow has been at the forefront of using a full-spectrum approach to horticultural lighting that incorporates the more traditional blues, reds and greens — plus far-red and UV diodes. This ensures even indoor plants can fully absorb photons as they would naturally from the sun for optimal plant growth and higher yields. TSRgrow also removed the ballasts from their lights, instead using remote power servers centrally located in cabinets outside of the grow room. Relocating this power source helps reduce the temperature inside grow rooms by roughly 20%, cutting HVAC and cooling costs. This approach means a more comfortable environment for the plants, plus substantial energy savings and lower operational costs for growers.

TSRgrow.com | @tsrgrow_solutions

TROLMASTER

HYDRO-X ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM

The Hydro-X is an environmental control system from Trolmaster designed to help cultivation facilities become more efficient and less wasteful. This all-in-one hub makes it possible for growers to automate their lights, HVAC systems, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and CO2 generators based on each room’s microclimate and plant’s life cycle stage. They can also monitor and adjust these settings from a mobile app, getting warning alerts if a problem arises with the ability to make changes at any time and from any location. For example, if the temperature in a grow room drops below peak levels in the middle of the night, it can be reset remotely without sending an employee in. This level of environmental control prevents issues like mildew and root rot from affecting the plants while eliminating unnecessary time, labor and electricity for cultivators. Trolmaster.com | @trolmaster.agro

The Press Club is known for that proprietary pink stitching on its rosin bags, but recently expanded its product line by dropping the first-ever tabletop rosin presses. Designed to be portable and take up minimal space in the lab, these minis come in two sizes that measure less than one foot in all directions and weigh in at under 45 pounds. They still pack a punch, though – the 3x5-inch size has 10 tons of crushing pressure, while the 4x7-inch comes through with 20 tons of force. There’s also a top handle for easy transport and the whole thing can be set up with just a few screws, featuring patented easy-drip technology to transform from a horizontal to a tilted press in less than three seconds. Driving innovation in compactness and convenience, these presses allow extractors that are working with minimal space or traveling often to still crank out some serious heat. Thepressclub.co | @thepressclub.co

HASHTEK SOLVENTLESS EXTRACTION EQUIPMENT

Hashtek is helping hash makers bring high-quality solventless products to the masses through its ice water extraction equipment that can produce bubble hash, rosin, full melt and dry sift at scale. Washing hash by hand is time-consuming and hard on the body, but most options to help automate this process agitate from the bottom with high-shear vortex style agitation – which can knock sensitive trichome heads off the fresh frozen plant material. Instead of making hash in a blender, Hashtek equipment gently agitates from the top down to mimic hand-paddling and protect trichome heads. These systems also utilize a sanitary stainless steel design that prevents microplastics and plant matter from seeping into the end product, allowing craft producers to do more washes without putting more stress on their bodies or sacrificing flavor and quality in their hash.

Hashtek.ca | @hashtek.ca

ganja GRAVEYARD

Say goodbye to the paraphernalia of the past and hello to their modern replacements.

For this month's Tech Issue and the official start of spooky season, we figured it’d be fun to take a walk down memory lane … revisiting the good ol’ gadgets (thankfully) collecting dust in the sesh tool graveyard and highlighting the ones that have replaced them.

BYE: HOT KNIVES

HIGH: DAB TOOLS

Can you believe people actually used to heat up hash over the stove between two kitchen knives?! These days you can ditch scooping your dab with a kitchen utensil in favor of sleek and sexy tools actually designed for concentrates. Brands like Mystic Timber, Duncan Dabbers and Apex Ancillary are some of our favorites when it comes to grabbing up globs. You can even take your tech a step further with the magnetic tool stand from Apex – keeping all your dab tools sitting upright in one convenient place while housing your carb caps, pearls, head stash jars and more. Freeing up space on your sesh table and avoiding the mess of resin-coated tools sticking to your stuff? Ah, technology. The Apex Ancillary Magnetic Toolstand | apexancillary.com

BYE: STOPWATCHES

HIGH: TEMP GAUGES

All hash heads can agree there are few things worse than a hot dab. You used to torch that sucker ‘til it was red, wait a minute or so, and hope for the best. Now, there’s a variety of tech available to help you get the perfectly temped and terpy dab every time. Convenient eRigs like the Focus V CARTA 2 and Puffco Peak make it possible to choose your temperature with the click of a button or even an app on your cell phone. If you like to go glass rather than electronic, there are also quite a few options for handy temperature gauges … you can use the Terpometer, Dab Rite, or this new Terporium Terp Gun to make sure you’re not dropping in for a hot dab. The laser feature for aiming guidance is so clutch – plus, it just makes us feel cool with the lightsaber vibes. The Terporium Terp Gun | terporium.com

BYE: PLASTIC BAGGIES

HIGH: HEAD STASH JARS

We all remember getting our stash from the sketchy dealer in one of those flimsy little sandwich bags you had to lick to seal. We also probably all remember shoving said bag into the bottom of our backpack, hoping it wouldn’t be too loud when we unzipped it in class. Luckily, modern Cannabis containers like the Staze Preserve, PAX Vacuum Stash Jar, and these Re:stash jars exist to keep your dank more discreet these days. Here around Leaf Nation, we like to keep nugs safe and sound in our custom Leaf Bowl Re:stash jars, but you can find them in a variety of colors and designs to match any sesh station setup. Re:stash Jars re-stash.com

BYE: TITANIUM NAILS

BYE: SODA CANS

HIGH: SPOON PIPES

Many of us were once high school stoners using soda cans to discreetly cop a buzz in the parking lot. Now, if you’ve run out of rolling papers or need to smoke on the go, there’s no need to crush a Coke can and poke a hole in it. Spoon pipes have become a quintessential part of any flower smoker's toolbox, but brands have even evolved the everyday pocket puffer into top-notch toking tech. Take the KØL Pipe by HØJ, for example – a magnetic pipe with titanium-coated stainless steel filters and tiny indentations on the inside (inspired by the gills of a Mako shark) that trap and cool your smoke before it reaches your lungs. Shark tech in our smoking devices? The future is here, people. The KØL Pipe by HØJ | hoj.life

HIGH: QUARTZ BANGERS

If you’ve never had to season a titanium nail to avoid a little extra metallic flavor with your dabs, consider yourself lucky. As the glass and hash scene matured, manufacturers moved to making glass, ceramic and quartz nails, of which the latter is now the new norm. Why the shift? Quartz is a stronger material than regular borosilicate glass and features far better heat resistance and flavor retention – meaning tastier terps with no seasoning required. Now you can grab some quartz from pretty much any corner head shop, but glass legends like JP Toro, Joel Halen and Quave are known for having some of the headiest and highest-quality options around. We personally love these Quave Club Bangers that are hand-made to order in Seattle, right down the road from Leaf HQ! Quave Club Bangers | quavecb.com

school is in sesh

Exploring the wide world of elevated education for Cannabis and Psilocybin

The indoctrinated ideology that higher education is the ticket to success has been on the BS radar for some time now. But this writer is here to theorize that there’s still something special about an environment of education and innovation. If other subjects benefit from the collective curiosity of humankind, why shouldn’t substances like Cannabis and Psilocybin?

Across the nation, traditional and freshly-founded institutions are incorporating standardized Cannabis courses through partnerships with education and training companies like Green Flower.

In states such as Oregon, Psilocybin facilitators are building the foundation of public education and training from the ground up, or with the help of continuing education organizations like Fluence.

The time to grow your knowledge of plant medicines has never been better.

If you’re looking to expand your skills or kick off a new career in Cannabis or Psilocybin, we’ve compiled a list of educational options available online and across the nation.

CANNABIS PROGRAMS @ TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Beal University Bangor, ME

Beal’s fully-online programs include focuses in Medicinal Plant Sciences, Cannabis Sciences, Cannabis Business Administration, and Cannabis Business Operations. beal.edu

City Colleges of Chicago Chicago, Ill.

Colleges like CCC offer job-specific degrees and certificates like Cannabis Applied Studies, Dispensary Operations Specialist, Processing Technician, and more! catalog.ccc.edu

Colorado State University-Pueblo Pueblo, CO

Looking to live the lab life?

At CSU Pueblo you can pursue science-oriented studies like a Cannabis Biology and Chemistry Bachelor or Master of Science degree. csupueblo.edu

Columbia Gorge Community College

Dalles, OR

Like many traditional institutions, CGCC partners with Cannabis content and technology company Green

Flower to provide eight-week, online courses like Advanced Manufacturing Agent, Advanced Dispensary Associate, and Advanced Cultivation Technician. cgcc.cannabisstudiesonline.com

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA

Gonzaga has leaned into larger programs, offering two, $2,950 certificate programs. One is in Cannabis Health Care and Medicine, and the other Cannabis Compliance and Risk. cannabiseducation.gonzaga.edu

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Back in 2020, Lake Superior State University founded the “first program in the U.S. focused squarely on Cannabis chemistry.” Today, they offer programs covering a range of topics from production to business. lssu.edu

Minot State University

Minot, ND

MSU boasts, “one of only two four-year medicinal plant chemistry programs in the nation.” Their Medicinal Plant Chemistry course have lab-focused lessons seeking to secure an understanding of “separation and analysis of compounds from plants.” minotstateu.edu/enroll

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI

NMU provides 24-week, online certificates, from compliance and business to healthcare and agriculture. cannabisstudies.nmu.edu

Pennsylvania Institute of Technology

Upper Providence Township, PA

If you’re looking to learn every level of the grow game, check out the Cannabis Horticulture Degree from PIT. This program explores the plant and process, from seed to extraction. pit.edu/academics/cannabis-studies

Portland Community College

Portland, OR

PCC is another Green Flower partner, so you can expect online, nine-week courses in cultivation, retail, and extraction starting at $800. cannabised.pcc.edu

Saint Louis University St. Louis, MI

If you’re looking for a long list of Cannabis science and operations courses, SLU has one of the lengthier. Classes range from law to production and everything in between. catalog.slu.edu

Saint Joseph’s University

Philadelphia, PA

Thinking of a more thorough education?

At SJU, courses cover six-months and four focuses. cannabisstudies.sju.edu

St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud, MN

Many of these Cannabis programs powered by Green Flower have courses kicking-off in early November. So, check out the course options today! cannabiseducation.stcloudstate.edu

Stautzenberger College

Maumee, OH

Stautzenberger has one of the heftier programs around. Their diploma program in Dispensary Administration spans eightmonths and 53 credits. sctoday.edu/programs/school-cannabis

Stockton University

Galloway Township, NJ

Stockton University offers a refreshing array of individual and certificate courses. But we were especially intrigued by their social justice, sustainability, and public relation topics. Stockton.edu

SUNY Morrisville

Morrisville, NY

This institution’s grow-centered courses are bolstered by a year-round, “Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) greenhouse featuring various hydroponics systems,” and a “four-seasons” farm. morrisville.edu/cannabis

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY

Minor’s are a great way to narrow down your career focus. At the Syracuse University College of Professional Studies, you’ll find foundational knowledge in law, science, business, and cultivation. professionalstudies.syracuse.edu

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA

This institution boasts one of the broader Cannabis course loads, offering a fully online, 33-credit Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Business that spans anywhere from a year and a half to four years. jefferson.edu

University of Denver

Denver, CO

U of D’s Center for Professional Development offers four, 24-week programs powered by Green Flower. cannabiseducation.du.edu

University of Maryland

College Park, MD

The School of Pharmacy here will help you hone-in on Graduate Studies in Medical Cannabis. It’s the first program of its kind in the US and combines online instruction with in-person experiences. Pharmacy.umaryland.edu

University of Rhode Island

South Kingstown, R.I.

The University of Rhode Island’s Undergraduate Certificate in Cannabis Studies supplies “state of the art” courses that include features like, “virtual laboratory experiences.” web.uri.edu

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT

The Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont was the first medical school in the U.S. to incorporate Cannabis certificates. The idea bloomed when an emergency room physician and botanist teamed up to combat the onslaught of opioid overdoses by educating health professionals on a safer alternative. learn.uvm.edu

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Ill.

Western Illinois University facilitates two minor paths. But it’s their Cannabis and Culture Minor that sparked our interest. According to the course descriptions, students can expect to learn about the “socio-cultural, historical, and politics of cannabis use in the United States and around the globe.” wiu.edu/academics/cannabis

school is in sesh

Exploring the wide world of elevated education for Cannabis and Psilocybin

PSILOCYBIN PROGRAMS

Alma Institute Portland, OR almatraining.org

Awaken ABA LLC Salem, OR awakenaba.com

UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA University of California Berkeley is looking ahead, with accredited classes that already meet the necessary Oregon State regulatory measures for psilocybin facilitator training. psychedelics.berkeley.edu

Changa Institute Lake Oswego, OR changainstitute.com

Clinical Cognitive Facilitator Training LLC

Tigard, OR clinicalcognitivetraining.com

Earth Medicine Center Training Program Oregon earthmedicinecenter.com

Entheogen Institute Ashland, OR entheogen-institute.com

InnerTrek

Damascus, OR

Headed by Measure 109 co-author Tom Eckert, InnerTrek hosted the nation's very first cohort of psilocybin facilitator graduates in March of 2023. Innertrek.org

Myco-Method

Rhododendron, OR Myco-method.com

SoundMind Institute

Psychedelic Facilitator Training

Portland, OR

The SoundMind Institute offers a robust board of globally-renowned psychedelic professionals, including the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Dr. Rick Doblin. soundmind.training/program

Subtle Winds Eugene, OR subtlewinds.com

Synaptic Institute Portland, OR synaptic.institute

The Leela School of Awakening Ashland, OR leelaschool.org

The Mending Mindcelium Method Oregon mendingmindcelium.com

CANNABISSPECIFIC INSTITUTIONS & PROGRAMS

Cannabis Training University

Denver, CO

If you’re looking to legends like Ed Rosenthal for education, sources like CTU offer curated courses with access to his e-books and more. cannabistraininguniversity.com

Cleveland School of Cannabis

Independence, OH

If payment is an obstacle, this Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools-approved institution can provide student loans with deferred payment plans. csceducation.com/about

Clover Leaf University

Denver, CO

Clover Leaf University was the “first university specializing in phytotechnology to be approved, regulated, and licensed by the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Private Occupational School Board.” cloverleafuniversity.com

Cookies U

Humboldt County, CA

As part of the Cookies brand social impact initiative, Cookies U is offered exclusively to marginalized community members. Programs are free for selected applicants and focus on seed-to-sale training with paid compensation. impact.cookies.co/cookiesu

Ganjier Northern California

For those seeking sommelier status, Ganjier has gathered a panel of experts to guide you along your three-step certification journey. ganjier.com

GF Institute

Online

Green Flower is the California company behind the curriculum of many (if not most) certifications and programs listed. While the institute itself doesn't offer its own courses, you can check out its website for listings of institutions currently running its curriculum. gfinstitute.org

Oaksterdam University Oakland, CA

Oaksterdam is recognized as America’s original Cannabis University, first opening its doors back in 2007. The institution has since produced over 80,000 alumni. oaksterdamuniversity.com

THC University

Online

Cannabis-specific institutions like THC Uni aren’t restricted to the same standards as many traditional schools. So they team up with industry-experts like Jorge Cervantes to provide programs in everything from “Intro to CBD,” to “Terpene Basics.” thcuniversity.org

The Medical Cannabis Institute Online

This institute aims to educate researchers and health professionals seeking a deeper understanding of Cannabis, offering state-specific courses for practitioners, case studies and more. themedicalcannabisinstitute.org

Trichome Institute Online

This is another place you can find course selections for sommeliers. But this online institute also offers an education in cooking with Cannabis, consultant training, extraction, and dispensary management. trichomeinstitute.com

pot bots

Artificial intelligence, or AI, could be the most impactful technology of this century. But it isn’t new … and as we sit in the ever-evolving churn of Cannabis legislation and legalization, it’s important to look at emerging technological advancements with a questioning eye and ask: Is AI good for the Cannabis movement?

Can AI take the data while we take the dabs?

AI

has been the subject of techno-philosophers and computer nerds for decades, with popularized movies and books portraying AI as an ensuing, all-encompassing, evil entity that will destroy humanity as soon as it’s turned on. While Chat GPT might have influenced a few term papers, the world has not ended since AI was turned on – so let’s explore what it really is.

AI is a tool, first and foremost. It should not be anthropomorphized. It is not an entity, like a person. It does not have feelings, or even think in the way we use that word. AI is more of an enhanced Google – a massive collection of data that can be used as a tool to create, analyze, monitor or action objectives at the direction of humans. And while fear mongering in the media might warn of world-ending outcomes, AI is already here helping human enterprises and even operating the self-driving cars Tesla has pioneered.

The machine does not control us,” said Max Tegmark in his book ‘Life 3.0.’ “We control the machine. And it is our duty to use it wisely.”

As the most potentially powerful tool in human history, AI is to today’s society what Google would have been 50 or even 500 years ago. An all-knowing entity that could answer all questions from the complete database of human knowledge would have been considered a God.

Today, in a world used to asking Siri questions that would have once taken hours of research or been impossible to even answer 50 years ago, we now have a mind-boggling level of accessibility and capability with regard to data and information of all kinds. So, will it change the world? It already has. And should it change how we fight wars or fight fires (especially when combined with robotics), it will likely lead to less loss of human life. But when it comes to our everyday existence, it seems like our “real world” worry is about one thing: How will it affect our jobs?

AI TOOK MY JOB: THE INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

Emerging technology has been stealing jobs since the automatic loom was invented – helping kick off the Industrial Revolution in 1814 and driving competition for skilled mill workers, rather than simple laborers. Much like today’s tech workers, those skilled workers were wooed with libraries and other perks as the lower-class laborers languished – assuming their role in the economy was over.

Gallup has been polling Americans for decades about the fear of technology taking their jobs. And perhaps unsurprisingly, ever since pollsters started asking the question, a resounding majority has answered yes. The modern version of this fear is the “robot workforce” theory that posits we will all be replaced by humanoid robots that don’t get tired or hurt.

For this writer – who moved furniture and built a few houses in college and during the early years of starting Leaf Magazines – the idea of robots doing dangerous or back-breaking work is a dream. But as a society and species, we should look to embrace technology that ends the struggle, aiming to evolve to a social structure that isn’t based upon the trading of time for work to simply survive.

For more on this, check out Universal Basic Income and the four-day work week – keeping in mind the fact that robots are already helping us make cars, computers, and almost anything else with complex machinery processes.

“The countries with the highest robot density have among the lowest unemployment rates,” said Ulrich Spiesshofer, former CEO of leading robotics and technology company ABB Ltd. “Technology and humans combined in the right way will drive prosperity.”

But just how does AI intersect with P-O-T? As we look at the developed economy of the weed industry, there are very few jobs that AI can take – but a lot of ways it can make systems associated with productivity and security run more smoothly. As we know, AI is not a sentient being – it is an efficient tool with the power of infinite data. In the garden, this can manifest in the form of software and sensors to monitor the growing environment – from temperature and humidity levels, to more complex data like light levels, nutrient concentrations or deficiencies, and modeling based on previous data to say which plants to cull early in the process. From a software perspective, AI can provide immense amounts of data to growers and processors that will make cultivation easier and more precise. This will reduce waste and increase quality, while still requiring a human team to run the system. Sounds like a win!

On the retail side, AI is going to make purchasing pot easier – especially for the dispensaries as they procure products to sell.

The weakest link in the entire Cannabis industry is uneducated “buyers” who manage retail inventory for stores without science or data, often using hype or intuition to decide what to buy and then offer to their customers. Uninformed buying leads to old pot on shelves and the hot strains having gaps in ordering. That’s not how Costco or Walmart decide what to sell, and the weed industry could stand to grow in this respect. AI can analyze sales data and sell-through rates to optimize retail selections, helping ensure that the customer preferences are clear and shelves remain appropriately stocked.

But don’t forget: Once the weed is on the shelf, along with hundreds of other options, we humans will still want to hear from another human about which indica slaps, or the sativa that’s a surefire juicer for creativity. While AI is smart, it can’t smoke weed – ergo, we’ll always need budtenders. AI can take the data, while we take the dabs.

As we look further into how Cannabis is bought, sold and smoked, AI’s effortless capacity to help optimize delivery routes, analyze sales data, and even create packaging mockups and artwork, places a dynamic tool at our disposal. But none of that can be actioned without a human, and even the artwork requires a prompting of the AI, which takes skill.

“I think the future of global competition is, unambiguously, about creative talent,” said Vivienne Ming, Executive Chair and Co-Founder at Socos Labs. “Everyone will have access to amazing AI. Your vendor on that will not be a huge differentiator. Your creative talent though – that will be who you are. Instead of chasing that race to the bottom on labor costs, invest in turning your talent into a team of explorers who can solve amazing problems using AI as the tool that takes the busy work out. That is the company that wins in the end.”

From the perspective of this writer, who has seen the Cannabis industry emerge from the shadows of an illegal market to become a multibillion dollar legal industry, there isn’t a wave of jobs to be lost to AI in Cannabis – but there is a tsunami of opportunity with the potential to make the growing, selling and buying processes easier. Considering that most Americans' first bag of pot came in a Ziplock baggie from a fast food parking lot, the co-evolution of technology and Cannabis has only made the world a better place to be high.

STONED &SPOOKY

CREEPY CHAI LATTE

2 SERVINGS

3 cups milk, your choice

3 black tea bags

2-3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 teaspoons canna-butter

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon clove

¼ teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons whipped cream (optional)

2 teaspoons CBD Sweet Spice Blend (optional)

1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk. Once it comes to a boil, add the tea bags.

2. Let the tea steep, off the heat, for 4 minutes, then remove. Turn the heat back on and add the spices and extract. Whisk together.

3. Pour into mugs, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with the Sweet Spice Blend.

STONEY POPCORN

9 SERVINGS

18 cups popcorn, or 2/3 cup popcorn kernels, popped 3 tablespoons CBD Herb + Spice Ranch Blend, or your favorite non-CBD blend

3 tablespoons canna-butter

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1. Place the popcorn in a big bowl. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan, heat the butters on low, just until it melts.

3. Using your clean hands or large spoon, toss the popcorn with the butter, distributing evenly. Immediately toss with the Spice Blend, mixing well.

FEELIN’ NUTTY

9 SERVINGS

2 tablespoons plus one teaspoon

Herb + Spice Blend or favorite spice blend

2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons canna-butter, melted and cooled

1 large egg white, whisked until frothy

3 cups assorted nuts, or just use your favorite

OCTOBER HASHTAGS // # HappyHalloween

# EatYourCannabis

# DontFearTheEdible

# LaurieAndMaryJane # Herb+Spice

IT’S FALL. COOLER WEATHER PREVAILS. HARVEST IS HERE AND HALLOWEEN IS COMING… These recipes were infused with the THC strain Alpine Kush from East Fork Cultivars. It’s one of my favorite indicadominant strains. I’ve created a line of CBD-infused spice blends (also infused with East Fork flower) that I have added to these recipes as well, creating an example of the entourage effect – the best of both strains

1. Heat oven to 250. In a medium bowl, combine the spices with the sugar. Toss with the cooled butter.

2. Whisk the egg white until frothy, add the nuts, then toss with the spices until well distributed.

3. Spread the nuts on a parchment covered baking sheet. Bake until dry, about 45-50 minutes.

contributing to a well-deserved, delightful experience. When I’m not cooking with the blends, I sprinkle the Italian on slices of pizza or the Sweet Spice on my coffee. I’m going for 30mg of CBD per day, and I’m liking how relaxed I feel. You can always reach out to me with questions or concerns, or if you’re just in the mood to talk about Cannabis – I’m down!

Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com

BK Glassware

For Ben Kendall, AKA BK Glassware, blowing glass is a family affair. Growing up in a rural area of Southern Oregon known to the locals as Takilma, Ben is a second-generation glass artist and Cannabis cultivator. His father migrated to Oregon in the ‘70s after finishing his schooling at Goddard College with a focus on glass blowing. Fast forward 20 years with a ton of experience in the hot shop under his belt, he established his business: Kendall Art Glass.

BK and his older brother first got involved in the glass studio around the age of 10, making nightlights that their dad would market on the wholesale circuit. "Working with glass as a child gave me a unique experience with this medium. Watching my dad blow glass over the years allowed me to learn visually," said Kendall.

As he continued refining his technique with soft glass in high school and college, he began marketing his products under the brand BK Glassware –attending craft fairs and pop-up markets such as the Eugene Saturday Market and the Oregon Country Fair.

BK specializes in tumbler and goblet cups in many sizes with just about every color in the rainbow! Their smooth and clean feel blends seamlessly with common kitchen aesthetics.

Another fun fact about Ben is that he owns and operates his own hash brand, Zap Solventless. Made with love and processed with care, Zap Solventless pheno hunts tons of legendary breeder's genetics like Oregon's local Kush Kirk and Washington's Archive Seed Bank.

"Glass and Cannabis go hand in hand, and that’s no different for my family," said Kendall. To see more of his marvelous work – or reach out with any purchase and pricing inquiries – head to his IG account @bkglassware.

"Working with glass as a child gave me a unique experience with this medium.

Watching my dad blow glass over the years allowed me to learn visually."

The Evolution ofVaporization

The concept of “vaporizing” herbs — using an indirect heat source rather than an open flame to evaporate chemical components of a substance without actually burning it — is an ancient one. In the past century, several inventors have introduced some amazing innovations in vaporizer technology … but it was an ingenious old hippie known as Eagle Bill who will forever be remembered as “The Godfather of Vapor.”

HOT STONES & HOOKAHS

The earliest form of vaporization entailed heating rocks in a fire, then removing them and placing various plants and/or seeds on top of them to release those plants’ oils and aromas. Though it’s believed this practice may have originated with the ancient Egyptians, its first written record comes to us in the 5th century BCE from the Greek historian Herodotus (often referred to as “The Father of History”). In Book IV of his “Histories,” Herodotus describes how the Scythians—an ancient Asiatic equestrian culture that occupied the regions north of the Black Sea (near modern-day Ukraine) — used this primitive vaporization method as part of their burial rites to achieve a state of spiritual ecstasy:

“They have hemp growing in their country [...] The Scythians then take the seed of this hemp and … throw it on the red-hot stones, where it smoulders and sends forth such fumes that no Greek vapor-bath could surpass it. The Scythians howl in their joy at the vapor-bath.”

This hot stone “hotbox” method was the only way humankind vaporized for over a millennium—that is, until the invention of the hookah in the 16th century.

The exact origins of the hookah (aka the “shisha” or “hubble-bubble”) are a bit cloudy … but according to British medical historian Cyril Elgood’s “Medical History of Persia and the Eastern Caliphate,” it was invented by a Persian physician named Hakim Abu’l-Fath Gilani while serving the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great in India. After the introduction of tobacco to India by Europeans, Gilani purportedly devised the hookah as a way to “purify” the smoke. Rather than setting fire to the tobacco, it was placed on heated charcoals to release its vapors, which were inhaled through a water-filled chamber to cool the smoke and reduce its harshness. Regardless of its origins, hookah smoking became immensely popular — first among the aristocracy, then later among the common folk. It remained the dominant method of vaporizing for a few hundred years, until the dawn of the electric age.

THE ELECTRIC ERA

The 20th century ushered in a wave of new electric-powered appliances, including radios, refrigerators, and yes, even smoking devices. The first electronic cigarette/vaporizer was invented by a gentleman named Joseph Robinson. In 1927, he filed a patent for what he called a ‘Mechanical Bu tane Ignition Vaporizer’ (basically, a hand-held, electric-powered heating coil) to be used for “medicinal compounds.” But though his patent was approved in 1930, it’s unclear if he ever created a prototype, let alone brought the product to market.

It would be 40 or so years before another attempt would be made — this time, by Herbert A. Gilbert, who in 1963 filed a patent for a “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette.” Unlike his pre decessor, he actually created several prototypes using a primitive version of the technology still used today. Unfortu nately, though, he was unable to find a manu facturer willing to mass produce it, so it too was relegated to the dustbin of history.

It wasn’t until the late 1970s that the first commercial vaporizing devices were made avail able to the public. One such device was The Tilt — a desktop vape featuring a heating plate inside a glass canister that was adver-

Gabriel Ferrier’s “Les Fumeurs de Kiff” depicting some very high Algerians vaporizing kif using hookahs in the 19th century.

Original vaporizer patent - 1930.

tised in the back of High Times magazine. According to its manufacturers RTA Inc., smoking from The Tilt offered 80% more THC and 96% less tar than from a pipe or joint. But alas, after the release of the DEA’s Model Drug Paraphernalia Act (an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act that defined and prohibited the sale of drug paraphernalia) in 1979, The Tilt became illegal and went out of business.

Remarkably, it would take a part-Native American medicine man called Eagle Bill — who was living in Amsterdam during the mid-1990s — to finally get the Cannabis community on board with vaporization.

Unfortunately, Bill wasn’t as lucky the next time he got busted for growing and spent some time in prison. After being arrested a third time, Eagle Bill decided it was time for him to fly — expatriating to Amsterdam as a “reefer refugee” in 1993. Fatefully, it was that same year that Bill discovered vaporizing.

INSPIRATION TO INNOVATION

THE GODFATHER OF VAPOR

The man known as “Eagle Bill” Amato was actually born Frank William Wood on April 10, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised in Georgia, Bill allegedly misspent his youth as a small-time criminal, stealing cars and such before discovering marijuana. His career as a Cannabis cultivator and dealer began quite by accident (or perhaps fate) in the late 1960s: As the story goes, while carrying a sofa outside his house, a random seed fell out of the cushions and into a crack in the driveway, where it sprouted and eventually grew to nearly 17 feet tall. It was that plant that allegedly got him interested in growing.

Within a few years, he’d reportedly become a master cultivator. In fact, according to legend, the first time he was busted, the cops were so impressed by his nugs that they couldn’t help but smoke them, leaving almost no evidence for the police lab to test — which, in turn, led to the charges against him being dropped.

Part Cherokee, Bill eventually moved onto the reservation, where he lived for years during the 1980s as the tribe’s “Cannabis shaman.” He’d sell them weed and counsel them on its medicinal benefits, which he’d witnessed first-hand while providing it to a friend with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. It was there on the reservation that he was given the nickname “Eagle Bill” by the tribe. “I was always high on pot, and I had a hopped-up Harley Davidson that was one of the fastest ones on the reservation,” he once told the crowd at the Cannabis Cup. “And they said, ‘Well, you’re not Bill anymore — you’re Eagle Bill, because you ‘fly’ around on your Harley high on pot.’ ”

Though Sensi Seeds founder Ben Dronkers famously claims credit, other accounts state that it was actually an unidentified grower/botanist from California that first turned Bill on to the idea when he used a paint stripper gun to vaporize his “aromatic blends.” In any case, Bill was so taken by how clean, potent, and flavorful the hits were that he decided to build his own vaporizer. The problem with his first device, though, was that it lost too much vapor during the heating process. As he explained in his self-published autobiography “10% THC – A Cannabis Tale,” the solution came to him one night in a vision:

“In a dream, I saw the answer: a chamber that was made especially for vaporizing with the passageway enlarged so you wouldn’t get blowback.”

To manifest his vision, Bill procured a bellshaped, 10-gallon glass container (originally used to hold olives), bought some glass tubing from a medical supply store, and then used them to construct the prototype of what he called “the peace pipe of the future.” Dronkers was reportedly so impressed by the device that he invited Bill to take up residence at his Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum, where he would demo his new vaporizer and offer hits to visiting patrons.

In November 1994, when High Times opened its annual Cannabis Cup event up to the general public for the first time, Eagle Bill (dressed like a Native American hippie shaman) set up shop at the Sensi booth and vaped out hundreds of attendees. He became a staple of the event for the next decade, winning several Cannabis Cups, vaping out thousands of stoners, and establishing himself as “The Godfather of Vapor.”

Thanks partly to Eagle Bill’s influence, the 1990s saw a wave of patents for new vape devices. In 1994, there was the BC Vaporizer — an electric desktop vaporizer out of Vancouver featuring a metal heating dish inside a glass dome. In 1996, German designer Markus Storz began developing a desktop vaporizer based on the same “hot air” principle as Bill’s, though more technologically advanced and efficient. With its digital temperature control and vapor-filling balloon, the Volcano became an instant sensation and set the new standard for vaporization. And in 2001, a Chinese pharmacist named Hon Lik invented an e-cigarette that would become what we know today as the modern “vape pen,” with a lithium battery, a “cartridge” filled with a liquid medium (typically propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin) containing nicotine (or later, cannabinoids), and an “atomizer” to heat that liquid into vapor.

As for Bill, he went on to release a simple hand-held vape he dubbed the Shake and Vape — a globe-like glass pipe that was later adopted by the Dutch government for use in their medical marijuana program.

THE EAGLE HAS FLOWN

After being diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer in March 2005, Eagle Bill finally returned to America, where he spent his final days publishing his autobiography and enjoying time with family back in Georgia. He died on May 22, 2005, at the age of 63. Sensi Seeds honored Bill with a “Wake and Bake” memorial service at the museum a week after his passing, then later that year, as the first recipient of their Cannabis Culture Award. (A few years ago, they also named a Cannabis strain after him).

Though he never secured any patents or sold a million units, Eagle Bill single-handedly turned an entire generation of stoners on to the joy of vaping, thus kickstarting the vaporization revolution and securing his place in Cannabis history.

For our podcast & more Cannabis history content visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.

Eagle Bill became a staple at the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam for over a decade — vaping out thousands of stoners and establishing himself as “The Godfather of Vapor.”

Recreation of Gilani’s hookah, from the television series “Warehouse 13.”

Eagle Bill’s Shake and Vape.

Eagle Bill vapes people out at the Sensi Seeds booth at the 2004 Cannabis Cup expo in Amsterdam.

DANNY DANKO

I THINK IT IS THE DEVIL’S CANDY. Call me broken, but when the idea of black licorice enters my thoughts, I immediately picture the odd fuck from “Lemony Snicket’s” hiding a sinister grin behind his outreached hand that is gripping its sticky stems like a bouquet of dying flowers. Or that miserable pedophile in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” who goes Richter when out sniffing for children.

Is there one single redeeming quality about black licorice other than the fact that it is candy? At least that’s what they call it … but that’s a matter of opinion. Because the flavor I get is castor oil, not candy. That’s the spoonful of snake pee that children had to choke down when they caught a cold in the days before the Cold War.

For those of you who skipped American History, it wasn’t a war that was cold. Let’s move on.

Black licorice is even worse than candy corn – which doesn’t taste anything like corn – but in its defense, at least it doesn’t taste like black licorice. In fact, it doesn’t taste like anything at all, but it does look just like a giant kernel of corn, which makes it wonderfully stoney, nonetheless.

I think fennel is what gives black licorice this horrific flavor. My guess is that this herb grows in Death Valley, which would constitute it as the birthplace of black licorice. Therefore, I’ll bet that when you’re sent to the fiery depths of hell, it’s actually Death Valley where they serve black licorice sandwiches for lunch with black licorice flavored mayonnaise and a fennel leaf instead of lettuce. Sounds like torture.

Like when I think of drinking a witch’s brew, what appears is the image of black licorice tea with a lizard tail garnish, drunk through a straw from a freshly-harvested water buffalo nostril.

Hey, red licorice is delicious! Green licorice would be dank. Someone should invent it. Although they’d want to take out the word liquor.

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