July 2020 — Maryland Leaf

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JUly 2020

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FEATURES 7 EDITOR NOTE 8 NATIONAL NEWS 10 LEGAL OPINION 12 CANNABIS EQUITY 14 HIGHLY LIKELY BOB MARLEY 16 BUDTENDER FRED FREQUIERE 20 PATIENT OTM ROSALYN VERA 22 BLAIR WELLNESS CENTER 24 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 26 DABBING 101 27 EXTRACTS 202 28 HOW DABS ARE MADE 30 AFS MARYLAND 32 SOLVENTLESS 34 LIVE RESIN 36 FECO/RSO 37 INFUSED JOINTS 38 CO2 OIL 39 HYDROCARBON 40 DISTILLATE 42 RECIPES 43 EDIBLE OTM 44 DYSCO’S CORNER 46 STONEY BALONEY ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

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ABOUT THE COVER

Concentrates have come a long way and we wanted to showcase just how big of an impact the extract market has, with our 2nd annual Concentrates Issue cover. We tapped longtime Leaf contributor and frequent cover artist Brandon Palma for this beautiful and inspiring cover piece that makes us want to get right into it and heat up our torch.

ILLUSTRATION by BRANDON PALMA for Leaf Nation | @8thDayCreate

CONTRIBUTORS

FOUNDER & EDITOR

Steve Elliott, national

WES ABNEY wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721

Heather Dagler, features Amanda Day, features

PUBLISHER

Ariana Foote, writing

EARLY early@LeafNationMD.com

Young Kwak, photography Aniyah Lee, photography Taylor Martin, writing Matthew Newton, writing Baxsen Paine, features Brandon Palma, illustration Bria Price, features Mike Ricker, writing Mike Rothman, writing Pacer Stacktrain, writing Bruce & Laurie Wolf, recipes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com AD SALES / PRODUCER/PROCESSOR/RETAILERS

wyatt early wyatt@LeafNationMD.com 410-961-8779 We do not sell stories or coverage.

We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism.

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ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up this special issue of Maryland Leaf!

Our Concentrates Issue is my favorite of the year for one simple reason: I love dabs!

My first dab was around 2011 - in the century old boiler room below the now closed Northern Cross Collective Gardens in Bellingham, Washington. I remember feeling the oil touch the red hot nail as the vapor burst into my lungs with the force of a thousand bong hits. The world closed in around me and I felt the reverberation of raw THC as it pulsed through my blood and into my mind, sending me away for the next few hours - humming with a high that was unlike anything else.

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LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU’LL SEE THAT CONCENTRATES COVER EVERY ASPECT OF CANNABIS

Over the last decade of publishing and working in Cannabis, I have personally seen the concentrate world evolve from homemade Rick Simpson Oil and open-blasted butane hash oil, to highly medicinal mono-cannabinoid extracts and vaporizable concentrates of all kinds, to being the precursor to a new world of edibles, topicals, capsules and more. For our Concentrates Issue we sought out the best examples of the different types of extractions, to share how they affect the body and the science behind the scenes.

Concentrating Cannabis means exactly what it sounds like: taking a full plant and using a process or solvent to extract the purest essence of it. This makes it incredibly important to only consume high quality, pesticide tested concentrates. Quality concentrates have the ability to impart healing values that Cannabis flower alone cannot replicate, delivering a pure flavor and experience that captures the taste and effect of fresh Cannabis in a perfect dab. Look closely and you’ll see that concentrates cover every aspect of Cannabis - every product beyond flower - from medical to recreational uses and benefits.

Our comprehensive Concentrates Issue covers the different extraction methods, terminology, ways to consume and much more. So take a dab, flip through this beautiful and informational issue, and learn something new that you can share with someone in need of Cannabis - as a plant and a medicine. And as always, thanks for reading and sharing the Leaf!

-Wes Abney JUly 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

policy & law

“In the midst of the many crises we face as a country, it is absurd that, under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is at Schedule I, along with killer drugs like heroin.”

NEVADA PARDONS THOUSANDS CONVICTED OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION

-Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders calling for legalized marijuana and police reform.

ECONOMY

Nevada in June became the latest state with legal Cannabis sales to pardon folks convicted of possessing small amounts of weed, reports the AP. The State Board of Pardons Commissioners voted unanimously on June 17 to unconditionally pardon anyone convicted in the past two decades of possessing an ounce or less. That was the amount allowed when Nevada began allowing adult marijuana sales in 2017.

NORTHWEST

PORTLAND WILL STOP USING TAX REVENUE TO FUND POLICE

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ortland, Ore. Mayor Ted Wheeler in June announced the city will redirect $12 million of Cannabis taxes away from the police department, and pledged the funds toward supporting communities of color. The move came just one day after the Oregon Cannabis Association called upon Wheeler to stop sending Portland cops budget funding derived from Cannabis tax revenue, reports The Morning Call. According to the OCA, police budgets received more than $2 million from Cannabis tax proceeds in 2019.

CALLS FOR ENDING FEDERAL MARIJUANA PROHIBITION

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eforming police departments should be coupled with ending Cannabis prohibition in order to better foster racial justice, said Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) during a Congressional hearing on June 17. At the House Judiciary Committee markup on legislation focused on policing, the congressman linked prohibition to some of the problems the bill seeks to address, reports Marijuana Moment. “One of the issues I’d like to take note of is our national drug policy right now federal Cannabis policy, essentially outlawing Cannabis,” Correa said. “As you know, when we talk about arrest disparities, over 650,000 Americans are arrested every year for violating Cannabis laws.” The Congressman added that black people are significantly more likely to be arrested for marijuana compared to white people, despite comparable rates of consumption.

San Francisco Cannabis dispensaries were robbed on the night of Friday, May 29.

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coveted Illinois dispensary licenses will soon be awarded to minority entrepreneurs.

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eople across the U.S. continue to buy record amounts of Cannabis during the coronavirus pandemic.

Almost all legal states declared both medical marijuana and adult-use dispensaries “essential businesses,” allowing them to stay open as lockdowns “THE MARIJUANA began, reports Dispensaries.com. Massachusetts, the lone exception, TAX FUND IS REALLY THE ONLY has since changed course.

BRIGHT SPOT IN Oregonians bought a record-setting amount of Cannabis in May, THE STATE BUDGET according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

RIGHT NOW,” Sales increased 60 percent compared to the same time last year.

For the first time ever, sales exceeded $100 million in one month, according to TJ Sheehy of the OLCC. “The marijuana tax fund is really the only bright spot in the state budget right now,” Sheehy said, reports Oregon Public Broadcasting. “In terms of taxable sales it was about $15 million that’s going to go to the school fund, city and county governments.”

Oklahoma had records sales for the fourth month in a row. Consumers spent $73.8 million in medical marijuana in April. In May, state lawmakers passed a bill allowing dispensaries to deliver Cannabis, and also allowing out-of-state people to buy marijuana with a 90-day temporary card. Alas, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed that legislation.

West coast

REPORTS CALL FOR CALIFORNIA TO SHIFT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT FOCUS ON MARIJUANA

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FEDERAL LEVEL

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CANNABIS SALES CONTINUE TO BOOM DURING PANDEMIC

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ublic Health Advocates is citing two new studies to argue that marijuana tax revenue in California should go to community-led public health initiatives and investing in communities of color, rather than going to more law enforcement.

LAW ENFORCEMENT “Unfortunately, three years after AGENCIES HAVE AN UNHAPPY HISTORY OF (California voters legalized marijuana), elected officials have made DISPROPORTIONATELY decisions that are failing to meet these expectations and to reverse the TARGETING course of the War on Drugs,” cites one of the two reports released by COMMUNITIES OF the coalition, reports The Sacramento Bee. COLOR The reports come as California lawmakers are considering a Bureau of Cannabis Control budget request to fund an 87-member police force dedicated to cracking down on the state’s billion-dollar unlicensed marijuana industry.

Advocates, citing the two new research papers, say that law enforcement agencies have an unhappy history of disproportionately targeting communities of color when it comes to marijuana enforcement.

The UC Davis study, examining Cannabis arrests from 1996 to 2016, found that black people were nearly four times more likely to be arrested and charged for marijuana-related crimes than were white people.

million dollars ($110 million Canadian) was lost by Aurora Cannabis before ending its partnership with Alcanna in June 2020.

95

percent of its former value was lost by beleaguered multi-state Cannabis company Med Men.

4k

medical marijuana patient authorizations have now been approved in Australia

$50m

dollars was the price paid by generic drug maker Perrigo for a 20 percent stake in Kazmira, a Colorado-based CBD manufacturer.

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

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Cannabis LAW

Concentrates and extracts have emerged over the last couple years as the fastest growing category of the legal market.

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Extracts vs. Concentrates THE BIG DIFFERENCE

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Crumble. Budder. Batter. Dabs. Oils. Rosin.

Shatter. Wax. Hash. You may recognize these forms of Cannabis extracts and concentrates from your local dispensary products list - and with so many different products available - confusion is inevitable.

Here, one of the greatest misunderstandings regards the distinction between concentrates and extracts.

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xtracts are made using solvents to chemically extract the THC, CBD or terpenes.

Some of the solvents commonly used to create Cannabis extracts are butane, propane, carbon dioxide and ethanol.

Concentrates, on the other hand, are made through mechanical processes that isolate the resin heads - where processors create products such as hash using fine screens, bubble hash using water, or rosin using heat and pressure.

Distinctions aside, concentrates and extracts have

emerged over the last couple years as the fastest growing category of the legal market.

Point-of-sale tracking service data shows that, particularly in adult-use markets, people are gravitating toward this stronger, discrete, portable product category. Once fairly rare and considered a specialty item, now concentrates and extracts make up over 27% of all Cannabis products sold.

Waxes and shatters are an extract commonly known as butane hash oil (BHO) - a term that refers to the butane solvent poured over the Cannabis buds. Once the solvent has extracted the cannabinoids and terpenes, the resulting slurry is ‘purged’ in an oven or vacuum at room temperature to remove the hydrocarbons.

Live resin is also an extract and a type of BHO. The difference between shatter and live resin is how the Cannabis flowers are handled pre-extraction. Shatter is made from Cannabis flowers that have gone through the typical drying and curing process.

Live resin is made from fresh flowers that have been flash frozen after being harvested.

The result is a sticky extract that preserves more of the natural terpene flavor profile.

Other extracts use CO2 as the solvent to strip out the desired cannabinoids and terpenes. The CO2 is then used to chemically strip the THC, CBD and terpenes from the trichomes of the original plant matter. The resulting liquid oil is commonly used to create vaporizer cartridges.

Rosin is considered a concentrate, made by applying heat and pressure to the Cannabis buds, kief or trim to remove the plant resin. The resulting resin pressed from the plant has a consistency ranging from a butter to a viscous sap. A solventless extraction, rosin contains many of the original aromas present in the plant.

Regardless of whether a product is considered an extract or concentrate, the resulting Cannabis byproduct created by such a chemical or mechanical process is still considered to be illegal to possess or sell both under Maryland law (if you are not a registered medical Cannabis patient), as well as under federal law. But does the law treat a concentrate or extract the same as the whole Cannabis plant?

Strangely, the answer is no.

Under Maryland law, Cannabis is still known as “Marijuana,” which is defined as “all parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis, whether or not the plant is growing . . . and each compound, manufactured product, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant.”

Under federal law, the Controlled Substances Act defines “Marihuana” as “all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin.”

But THC is also prohibited under both Maryland law as a controlled and dangerous substance, and under federal law under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. As a result, police often charge defendants with possession of extracts or concentrates under the prohibition against possession of THC, rather than the prohibition against the possession of marijuana. This alternate THC charge deprives Maryland medical Cannabis patients of their rights under Maryland law.

This legal peculiarity means that a card-carrying Maryland patient stopped while in possession of a legally purchased concentrate or extract, could result in the crime of possession of THC, rather than possession of marijuana. Even worse, by definition the legal safe harbor granted by Maryland’s medical Cannabis laws for possession of marijuana by a registered medical Cannabis patient would not apply to the patient charged with possession of THC. At the very least, Maryland needs to harmonize its laws to permit medical Cannabis patients to possess extracts and concentrates without the fear of incurring a criminal charge. This legal impediment represents yet another hurdle in the normalization and regulation of the Cannabis plant.

Since 2008, Mike Rothman has counseled clients regarding Cannabis laws and regulations as the founder and principal of the Medical Cannabis Law Group and the Law Office of Mike Rothman in Rockville, Maryland. Mr. Rothman has testified on Cannabis laws and regulations before the Maryland House of Delegates, taught classes, and lobbied the federal government on behalf of patients and businesses. Mr. Rothman’s Law Office focuses on criminal defense, including use of the medical Cannabis defense.

jUly 2020

COLUMN by MIKE ROTHMAN, ATTORNEY & PRINCIPAL | MEDICAL CANNABIS LAW GROUP

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CANNABIS EQUITY

THE SCENT OF MEDICINE

Black Life in the Cannabis Industry

It’s June 2, 2020. Injustice is still happening all across the country to Black people. We’re dying by the thousands! Asking that justice be served to those who are accountable and laws are upheld to protect us. It’s done to no avail, but does it surprise me? No. Laws to protect the bodies of Black Americans have always been in question, even as Cannabis is being legalized at an alarming rate. Discrimination has no face and the Cannabis industry is no different.

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ANNABIS’ HISTORY OF LEGALITY is deeply rooted in racism. But because the white men who dominate the industry say it’s okay to smoke weed and capitalize off of it, it’s okay. Black people are still imprisoned by the hundreds of thousands - all across the country - for something a white person can do at their leisure.

They sell it, smoke it, grow it. Light up outside.

On private property. With their friends. At parties.

At festivals. At restaurants. On TV. In podcasts.

In music. By the beach. While driving. Doesn’t matter. They get to wear it proudly. Bob Marley t-shirts. ‘One Love’ blasting. A joint hanging square off their lips.They get a slap on the wrist.

We get a knee to the throat.

With furrowed brows, they’ll say you’re high. They don’t care about credentials or accolades.

It won’t matter that you genetically engineered a strain. Or made it to the Cannabis Cup. Or that you’re a grower. Or a consultant. Your name won’t even ring a bell. Because less than a fifth of the people involved at an ownership or stakeholder level are black people. So, maybe they’ll ask you to step out of the car. jUly 2020

I am Bria Price. A gifted black, female writer from Baltimore, Maryland who proudly And it doesn’t matter uses Cannabis to heighten my creativity and battle anxiety. There’s nothing better if you’re Black and you than celebrating each day of creating and sharing stories, with soothing sounds, radiate the scent of weed a nice breeze and a fresh batch of Garlic Cookies. because you manage a dispensary, or that you can’t own on your own because you have a prior marijuana conviction.

They’ll pat you down or slap you up.

Which not only bans you from the industry Call the hounds. Invite some friends. but also limits your access to jobs, housJust to get a better whiff. Trash your car and ing and educational opportunities. So your when they find nothing - get angry. dream of operating one is lightyears away.

Now, you’re resisting. For a “crime” that isn’t And that scent lingers with you to your car a crime and one that you didn’t commit. But you while you drive, although you haven’t inhaled were just committed to healing. The same freea puff since 7:00 that morning. But you dom for healing as everyone else. But now that needed that puff to battle the anxieties you same healing has cost you your life. knew you would face as you left your home They’ll draw a gun. Or a baton. Raise a fist. to enter America for the day.

Or bury a knee. Slam you down. Or hem you up.

It doesn’t matter that you were prescribed And when your family turns on the news the it. That it was by a proper doctor. Through next day, they’ll say you were just some thug with the right channels. Rehabilitated. Dosed it weed. Because your skin is Black and theirs is right. It won’t matter once you see those red white. Because to them it’s just “medicine,” but and blue lights creeping up behind you. for us it’s a “drug.”

You’ll be forced to pull over. Even if it’s That is what we’re protesting about. And this for nothing, it’s something. When you roll is just a taste of what criminal injustice looks like your window down, even with your proper for Black people in the Cannabis industry and identification and even with both hands on around the world. the wheel, they’ll smell the scent.

So for those of you asking what you can do, With furrowed brows, they’ll say you’re the answer is anything. Anything to end the high. They don’t care about credentials or systemic racism and injustice currently happenaccolades. It won’t matter that you genetiing. Donate to causes that are fighting these cally engineered a strain. Or made it to the injustices. Protest. Scream Black Lives Matter from Cannabis Cup. Or that you’re a grower. Or your rooftops. Spread the right information. Sign a consultant. Your name won’t even ring a petitions. Bail out the wrongfully accused and unbell. Because less than a fifth of the people fairly sentenced. Expunge minor drug convictions. involved at an ownership or stakeholder level Use your privilege as a shield against police are Black people. brutality. Expose the posers who don’t genuinely So, maybe they’ll ask you to step out of care for Black lives. the car. Chances are they’ll “need” to search Stop wrongfully accusing us. your car - without warrant. But you have to Stop judging us. Stop killing us. get out of it first. Maybe they’ll ask you to Let us live. Let us heal. Let us breathe. step out. Or they’ll yank you out.

STORY by BRIA PRICE @BRIACPRICE for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by ANIYAH LEE

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

The argument could be made that Bob Marley was one of the most important driving forces in creating our modern Cannabis culture and ideals. And for that we should all be thankful, because Marley is possibly the best role model a culture like ours could ever hold up. That’s because he was as close to a pure musician and human being that we’ve seen in the modern era - with much of that owed to his spiritual practice.

There’s the age-old joke about stoners having ‘deep conversations about meaningless subjects,’ but this actually speaks to something intrinsic to Cannabis’ effects on the human body, emotions and mind. That’s because alcohol and other drugs don’t necessarily cause one to introspect, to look inside, in the way that Cannabis does.

So often, we tend to disregard this important sensation that could be called ‘religious’ - because that term falls woefully short and carries Spirituality is often divorced from THE FACT THAT MARLEY along with it all sorts the zeitgeist surrounding Cannabis.

CONSUMED AND WAS of inappropriate Considering what this herb can do for SOMEWHAT OUTSPOKEN connotations. us as people, this is a mistake - and ABOUT HIS OWN LOVE And yet, there’s that Marley in many ways exemplified that.

FOR CANNABIS, LIKELY special something in Because he imbued such a heavy the music of Marley LED MORE PEOPLE TO dose of soul and such a potent that even people who WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT message into his unique reggae don’t use Cannabis sound, Marley helped to popularize IT WAS ALL ABOUT IN THE have felt, perhaps the ideas and religious concepts of FIRST PLACE. helping them to Rastafarianism in the world. And understand on an he accomplished this in sometimes abstract level some of the feelings or sensations hidden, metaphoric ways through song. that Cannabis users achieve when they consume In Rasta culture, Cannabis is considered to the herb. be a sacrament - something that is used as a And, while there’s no concrete evidence of it, holy tool in ceremonies to bring people closer the fact that Marley consumed and was somewhat to God. The purpose for consuming the herb outspoken about his own love for Cannabis, likely isn’t to have fun, relax or party, but rather to led more people to want to find out what it was all concentrate one’s attention on higher things. about in the first place.

It could be said that real Rastas do not For these and many other reasons, today we believe in using Cannabis for recreation, still regard Marley as a pure artist and someone considering it to be a superficial purpose. integral to our eventual acceptance of Cannabis as This is an interesting concept that we can all the holistic healer we see today. I hope you agree, explore. For example, many of us have likely but even if you don’t - it’s probably not a bad felt this gravitation toward thinking on higher idea to listen to his music the next time you light things in both subtle and overt ways when something up. we’ve been under the influence of Cannabis.

BOBMARLEY B EFORE WE BEGIN, we must acknowledge that much of Marley’s image and religious philosophy have been perverted. There’s the cliched scene of his posters hanging in the dorm rooms of college freshmen, a large joint in hand and smoke wafting through the air.

His name has been exploited by opportunistic capitalists in countless ways, marketing products to make money off of his image. Not to mention, the famous ‘greatest hits’ album LEGEND is the butt of many a music snob’s jokes.

Taking a look a little under the surface and we see that Marley was in many ways a once-in-a-lifetime phenomena - an artist who single handedly embodied a nation, a musical genre and a religion at the same time. More importantly for our purposes in this column, he helped to define a different cultural mindset around consuming Cannabis.

In the West, because of the clandestine nature of consuming and producing Cannabis, our way of thinking about this simple herb has evolved to mirror the way we think about alcohol. One consumes for fun, personal pleasure, to get ‘messed up’ in an (often vain) attempt to avoid thinking about life.

The iconic musician stands out in Cannabis history as a global beacon of positive Cannabis use jUly 2020

By PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION | ILLUSTRATION by DANIEL ALVARADO SILVERA/CREATIVE COMMONS

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interview

G OT A FAVO R I TE B U D TE N DE R ? TE L L US WH Y ! WYAT T @ LEA F NAT IO N M D . CO M

maryland leaf budtender of the month

Fred Fequiere GREENLIGHT THERAPEUTICS | 782 MD ROUTE 3 N., SUITE A, GAMBRILLS, MD (410) 650-4150 | GREENLIGHTTHERAPEUTICS.COM | @GREENLIGHT_THERAPEUTICS

HOW DID CANNABIS COME INTO YOUR LIFE?

Honestly, Cannabis has always been in my life as a support system for me when dealing with situations that are too overwhelming. The first time I smoked marijuana, I was 15 and it was a particularly stressful day. A friend and I had been talking about experimenting for awhile and decided to finally try it. I remember feeling that stress melt from the second I touched the product. I fell in love with the entire act of smoking - unwrapping the Backwoods, breaking the weed up in my hands, feeling the smoke in my lungs - very therapeutic.

I followed my preferred form of therapy from Florida to Colorado and got into the Cannabis industry at 24 as a trimmer for a hemp-temp company. It gave me the opportunity to learn about Cannabis from the roots up, before moving to Maryland in 2019.

BEFORE THIS PROGRAM, DID YOU EVER THINK MEDICAL CANNABIS WOULD BE LEGAL IN MARYLAND? Yes, I had high

hopes for the industry going nationwide from my first smoke.

I was further reassured after going to Canada in 2018 and seeing the nationwide liberation of Cannabis there. I was very encouraged that I would see it in my own country/state.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING AT THIS SHOP? To be honest, I love everything about Greenlight

Therapeutics. From our patients to our staff, there is nothing about this place that I don’t like (as corny as it sounds it’s the truth). Our store has a very unique atmosphere that I haven’t experienced at other dispensaries I’ve worked at. It’s kind of like a family. Getting to help people and work in a field I’m most passionate about at a family-oriented business, who could complain?

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WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO CONNECT WITH PATIENTS ON? Product! I love talking to patients about

the different products they’re using and what they’re using them for, especially products that I haven’t tried before and have no experience with. I love to expand my arsenal of knowledge and have information on deck for the next customer who needs it. When you deal with such a wide variety of patients and illnesses, I find the best way to help patients is to connect with them over the products and what they’re using them for.

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IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ANY ONE CANNABIS PRODUCT TO A PATIENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Honestly, it really depends

“GETTING TO HELP PEOPLE AND WORK IN A FIELD I’M MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT AT A FAMILYORIENTED BUSINESS, WHO COULD COMPLAIN?”

jUly 2020

on what their symptoms would be and their experience level with Cannabis. Typically though, a strain I always recommend without doubt for almost any patient is a staple in our store Hennessy OG by Forward Gro. It is a really nice and smooth hybrid, not too heavy on either spectrum. It’s really good for anxiety, which in this day and age we all have. I also like it for its smell and taste - it’s not too fruity or overbearing in flavor, but it has just the right amount of sweetness and funk.

IF YOU COULD SMOKE WITH ANY MUSICIAN, WHO WOULD YOU PICK? David Bowie, I love his music. Just from his tunes, I

can tell that he had a great vibe.

HOW DOES BUDTENDING COMPARE TO OTHER JOBS YOU HAD BEFORE? It doesn’t compare. Before getting into the Can-

nabis industry, I worked in the culinary industry and in sales.

There are some similarities between these fields, but nothing really compares to working with my favorite product and being able to see the healing it brings to so many lives.

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by GREENLIGHT THERAPEUTICS

A woman-owned and well-trusted medical Cannabis dispensary promoting the health and wellness of the Baltimore area for over two years.

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Locally-owned and operated, we at Kannavis are committed to helping educate and empower our patients to live healthier, fuller lives through cannabis.

Visit us in Frederick, MD, conveniently-located just off I-270 (on-site parking available), and explore our extensive product selection with one-on-one guidance from the incredible Kannavis team—or try ordering online with the Weedmaps app!

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8709 Fingerboard Road, Frederick, Maryland KANNAVIS.ORG Must be 18+ years of age. Products are for use by qualified MD patients only.

W E E D M A P S .CO M | P U R E L I F E B A LT I M O R E .CO M Medical cannabis use is for certified Maryland patients only. Must be 18 or older.

35 E Cross Street Federal Hill, Baltimore, MD • 443.708.5683

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MON-SAT: 10 AM-8 PM SUN: 10 AM-6 PM (410) 650-4150 www.greenlighttherapeutics.com 782 MD Route 3, N Suite A, Gambrills, MD 21054

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PATIENT OF THE MONTH

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ROSALYN VERA

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cannabis

“ MAYBE ONE DAY, YEARS FROM NOW, THERE WILL BE A LITTLE RESTAURANT THAT HAS INFUSED RECIPES WITH SALSAS, TORTILLAS...EVERYTHING. EVENTUALLY, IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DO IT. WHY NOT ME?”

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Like many restaurant owners around the country, Baltimore’s Rosalyn Vera is doing the best she can to keep her business operating successfully during the coronavirus pandemic.

But managing stress in these times can be quite difficult.

For Rosalyn’s worries, the chronic has become the tonic.

W

hen times get really tough, like now, I think we can all get overwhelmed,” the New York native said. “But [medical Cannabis] has really helped me out.

I have an edible and take it easy. It keeps me calm and takes me to a better place.”

Rosalyn, 43, co-owns the award-winning Cocina Luchadoras with her mother, Margarita Verdejo. Together, the pair opened the taqueria in 2018, quickly winning the hearts - and appetites - of those residing in or passing through Fells Point.

While both mother and daughter spend time in the kitchen cooking recipes inspired by both family and employees, Rosalyn also oversees every facet of the operation. From managerial duties to social media marketing, and even playing the occasional role of cashier, she runs a 6-member team that she affectionately refers to as family.

She credits their hard work and commitment in helping turn the startup into a thriving business that is entertaining the possibility of a second shop in Hampden.

“We’re going to go through with it,” Rosalyn said. “But we just don’t know when. With all that’s going on, it’s gonna take some time.”

For now, Rosalyn is content in remodeling the outdoors of Cocina Luchadoras to capture the ‘energy’ or Feng shui of the indoors.

The decor of Luchadoras, which translates to female wrestlers or fighters, is covered with posters celebrating the strength of women and people of color. Mexican visitors can often be heard telling Rosalyn how her shop reminds them of home.

“A lot of what you see is from my childhood,” she said. “This is what I grew up with and I really wanted to have the restaurant be a reflection of my personality.”

Since indoor dining is currently prohibited at her establishment due to coronavirus safety laws, Rosalyn has begun expanding the exterior to allow her faithful customers to socially distance while enjoying a taco or three.

The new design, she explains, derives its inspiration from the very same place as the interior: medical Cannabis.

“I just become extra focused and more proactive,” Rosalyn said in regards to medicating. “That focus brings out the creativity and allows me to be able to take action.”

Rosalyn is adamant about using Cannabis responsibly, placing business and above all, motherhood, as her foremost priorities.

Raising a 10-year-old daughter has also allowed Rosalyn to understand her mother’s indifference towards the plant.

“She is not ‘oh-my-goodness’ pro-Cannabis,” said Rosalyn, explaining that due to Mexican laws, alcohol is more prevalent.

“Everyone is allowed to think how they want. To me, it’s a very positive thing. It’s an amazing natural product the Earth has given us. And whatever comes from the Earth should be respected.”

While they don’t often speak about Cannabis, Rosalyn has dreams of one day potentially expanding her growing artisanal brand to include Cannabis-infused dinners.

“I’ve been doing research and there’s so many [recipes] out there!” she said. “Maybe one day, years from now, there will be a little restaurant that has infused recipes with salsas, tortillas... everything. Eventually, it’s going to happen. Someone is going to do it. Why not me?”

Rosalyn is outspoken about her past struggles with anxiety, but her worries never stopped her from exhibiting a bold streak of fearlessness, earning her the moniker of ‘Best Badass’ from Baltimore Magazine in 2019. The nickname derived after a public incident of harassment that included multiple death threats from a person objecting to an anti-Trump political poster on display.

Like the fighters that adorn the walls of her taqueria, Vera is tough and unapologetic about fighting for her loved ones.

“It fills me with so much pride to see all that we have created,” she said, repeatedly attributing success to her staff.

“We’re all trying to live a better life. We’re trying to live the life we want to live.

Rosalyn credits her family, her team, her upbringing and lastly, Cannabis, for making the way towards a better life.

“Not that I owe it [explicitly] to [Cannabis] - that’s more about who I am and what I’m capable of,” she said.

“But with it, it allows me to be more creative, more focused and more successful. At least that’s how it works for me. I use it to be a better version of myself, so then I am able to live a good life. I’m very blessed to have found Cannabis.”

COCINA LUCHADORAS 253 S Broadway, Baltimore, MD CocinaLuchadoras.com | @CocinaLuchadoras STORY & PHOTOS by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for MARYLAND LEAF

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SHOP REVIEW

FLOWER 5/5 There is an

undoubtedly vast array of flower options here, including Cannabis from every grower in Maryland.

I was happy to see some harder to find brands like Shore Natural RX on the menu, including their Lucid Blue. The deli style structure also gives them the advantage of passing on discounts to the patients.

EDIBLES 5/5 If you’re looking for

tinctures, tablets, capsules, chews or even beverages, they have you covered. For people who are unable to smoke Cannabis, this dispensary has dozens of options for you to manage your symptoms. Kudos to the team at Blair for a truly stellar menu.

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CONCENTRATES 5/5 Name any form

of hydrocarbon concentrate and a Maryland processor, and odds are that Blair Wellness has it.

Their expansive concentrate selection is made to serve everyone from the most novice of dabbers, to those with the highest level of experience.

ENVIRONMENT

leafnationmd.com

5/5 You can feel genuinely

comfortable at Blair Wellness, from the friendly and educated staff, to the cozy interior, to the vast product selection. If you’re lucky, the owner’s dog Bear will be in the shop for you to say hello. Whether you live in the area or you’re just passing through Baltimore, stop in and pay them a visit.

5806 YORK ROAD BALTIMORE, MD (410) 323-0100 BLAIRWELLNESS.COM 10AM-9PM MON-SAT 10A-6P SUNDAY

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BlairWellness Center BALTIM OR E

Just down the road from the Senator Theatre on York Road in Baltimore, lies a little slice of heaven known as Blair Wellness Center. Owner Matt Blair is a fellow Marylander, something I personally love to see.

Knowing that I’m spending my money supporting a Maryland-owned business only makes me feel that much better about purchasing medical Cannabis.

You’ll be greeted by a friendly and masked staff member, asking for your ID and granting you access to the waiting area.

Once you are checked in, a budtender brings you into the dispensary room - where the walls would usually be lined with giant jars of Cannabis - but due to Covid-19, Blair Wellness is now pre-packaging their deli style flower to avoid contamination issues.

They still run the same pricing as they did during regular operations, not to mention the daily specials that keep people traveling from far and wide.

THEIR EXPANSIVE CONCENTRATE SELECTION IS MADE TO SERVE EVERYONE FROM THE MOST NOVICE OF DABBERS, TO THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE.

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P R O D UC T R E V I E W

BOG Bubble X Subcool JCB Live Budder Cresco | CrescoLabs.com

THIS CONCENTRATE proved to be the perfect medicine for before bedtime. The flavor was reminiscent of honeysuckle, with peppery sensations lingering on the tongue. As a live budder, it brings through the terpy flavor of fresh frozen Cannabis. At 7.33% beta-myrcene, nicknaming this oil ‘rest’ was a good choice.

The pain relief I experienced, coupled with a noticeable euphoria, are what I enjoyed the most about this budder.

Knowing that I’m spending my money supporting a Maryland-owned business only makes me feel that much better about purchasing medical Cannabis.

STORY & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

STRAIN OF THE MONTH leafnationmd.com

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grown by

SHORE NATURAL RX A CONSISTENT TOP TIER EXAMPLE OF HEALING MAGIC WITHOUT A TRACE OF CLOUDINESS TO THE EXPERIENCE.

JULY 2020

muddled sense of confusion with products. Lucid Blue has had a tremendous dose of pinene each and every batch, and as pinene is the centerpiece of this high, has remained a very consistently powerful, clearheaded experience.

Pinene is the terpene of choice for people looking for sharp focus in their medicative experience, but is often avoided by some people who have a racy, anxious reaction to sativas.

Myrcene, the quintessential couch-locking sedative THEIR LUCID BLUE - originally bred by Green Gage Genetics - is terpene, pairs amazingly with pinene in the sense that it Grateful Breath crossed with a Blue Dream cut that has claimed not just directly counteracts any type of racy and anxious feelings our accolades this month, but a notoriously respectable reputation as that might be brought on by the pinene profile dominance. one of Maryland’s finest wake and bakes.

As such, Lucid Blue provides all Cannabis users a When it comes to Cannabis, reputations, names and hearsay don’t potential daytime smoke (even those who typically avoid really compare to the batch-to-batch nature of modern medical pinene) by virtue of the myrcene temper. production. Where once we relied on trusted underground word The caryophyllene and limonene round 26.5% THC of mouth, now we can turn to a certificate of analysis to better out this profile and definitely contribute to .9% A-PINENE .61% B-PINENE understand what makes our favorite cultivars tick. the overall quality headspace induced by 1.15% MYRCENE Too often I see Cannabis that has Lucid Blue. .36% CARYOPHYLLENE one type of high one day, only to The looseness of my body and a .43% LIMONENE completely shift profiles in euphoric sensibility reminds me that I am the next batch, leading in fact high each and every time I toke to a totally different on this fantastic flower. Lucid Blue is a consistent top tier experience and a example of healing magic without a trace of cloudiness to the experience.

I really admire Shore Natural for being able to produce this profile so consistently, as it is absolutely an essential tool for a medical Cannabis strategy and exceedingly hard to find. Thank you for this excellent addition to the landscape of Cannabis profiles in Maryland!

SHORE NATU RAL RX HAS BEEN QUIETLY MOVING UP THE RANKS OF CANNABIS GROWERS IN MARYLAND, P RODUCING UNPARALLELED CONSISTENCY IN THEIR SMALL BATCH FIRE AND TOP SHELF CU RES.

LUCIDBLUE REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN @MDCANNAINSIDER | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | @SHORENATURAL_RX

the concentrates issue

Dabbing101 The Tools

Technique

RIG: pipe or water vessel for consuming your Cannabis concentrate or extract.

Choosing a dab setup will come down to personal preference, but water filtration will enhance almost any session. Be sure to thoroughly clean and rinse your rig frequently for the safest and smoothest smoke.

ISO alcohol (or bong cleaner) and some warm water should do the trick!

BANGER: the quartz, cup-like device used to hold and heat your Cannabis concentrate or extract.

CARB CAP: a lid-like device used to trap heat and move air around in your banger or nail. This provides a more regulated draw from each dab.

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TERP PEARLS: tiny, quartz balls used in your banger when dabbing.

These aren’t essential, but may enhance your experience by spreading around the warm extract.

E-NAIL: an electronic device used to keep your nail or banger at a continuous temperature without the use of a torch.

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TORCH: used for heating up your nail or banger.

TEMPERATURE GUN: used to monitor your nail or banger’s exact temperature and provide a personalized dabbing experience.

DABBER: the tool to scoop and serve a dab with.

COTTON SWABS: swabs (like Q-tips) are essential for cleaning your nail or banger after each dab.

Quality titanium, borosilicate glass or quartz tools are a must to avoid breakage and potential off-gassing when touching your warm nail surface. Similarly, it’s smart not to skimp too much when picking out your nail or banger. For an effective carb cap, make sure it covers the top of your nail or banger and includes a hole to pass air through.

A heat source will be required to put all of these tools to work. If you’re just getting started, try looking into different types of creme brulee torches for an affordable option. Top of the line torches, heat wands and E-nails offer added customizations if you’re ready for the next step.

Temperature is king when it comes to taking high quality dabs. THC is thought to vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure in the range 250-400º F. Terpenes will vaporize at a range of different temperatures, but are generally thought to have boiling points in the ballpark of THC. This dab devotee recommends starting out around 350º F. Temperatures as high as 550º can yield substantial vapor with minimal flavor loss, so just work your way up to a satisfactory experience based on flavor, vapor and overall effect.

Terminology FRESH FROZEN: material that has been flash-frozen fresh off of the plant to preserve the ‘live’ profile and/or potency.

LIVE: a term used for products made with fresh frozen material and in reference to the plant’s potency and terpene profile while still living.

FULL SPECTRUM: the ‘full’ range of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other compounds present in a particular cultivar.

FULL MELT: also referred to as ‘melt,’ this term is used for hash of the highest quality. The melting reference pertains to the product’s cleanliness and ability to ‘melt’ fully without leaving plant residue on the nail (see Six-Star).

SIX-STAR (6*): a numerical hash rating system from one through six developed to determine quality. The system is based on how factors like cure, contaminant, water content and more affect the overall ‘melt,’ with six-star being the highest quality.

CRC: an abbreviation for color remediation column (or cartridge) used in reference to an added process some producers employ to filter extracts of color and other compounds.

HTFSE: an abbreviation for high terpene full spectrum extract.

Types of Extracts BHO: an abbreviation for butane hash oil, this type of extract is pulled from the plant using butane as a solvent.

PHO: an abbreviation for propane hash oil, this less common type of extract is pulled from the plant using propane as a solvent.

CO2: an abbreviation for carbon dioxide, this type of extract is pulled from the plant using supercritical CO2.

DISTILLATE: a high-potency, essentially odorless extract that’s been stripped of plant compounds like terpenes and waxes through further refinement after original extraction.

HASH: resin (mechanically) collected from the Cannabis plant.

Hash can range from smokeable to dabbable, depending on quality and presence of plant matter in the final product.

ROSIN: generally made from hash, rosin is the product of heat, pressure and a system of screens to filter waxes and plant matter.

Rosin is the product of further hash refinement for a cleaner dab.

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STORY by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

It’s no surprise, either, as new products emerge monthly featuring bright packaging and bold claims. If vaporgate and the flavored vape scare/ban has taught us anything, it’s that we should all be more conscious about what we inhale and allow inside our bodies. Many of us look to Cannabis to help medicinally and the last thing we want is for our harmless plant to become a negative input for a healthy life. Looking to take a deeper dive into the golden pool of concentrates? Study up on these more advanced topics to make sure your dabbing experience is safe, healthy and happy.

Temperature is critical.

Think of dabs like Goldilocks with her porridge. She didn’t want to go too hot or too cold - but right in the middle.

Taking a dab at the right temperature is important for both flavor and effect. Terpenes and cannabinoids break down at high temperatures, so too hot of dabs taste burnt and cause unwanted harshness and coughing. We recommend starting at a low temperature and slowly working your way up to a comfortable range for your dabbing setup.

The perfect dab can be broken down based on desired effects. THC boils at 315 F, CBD at 356 F, and THCV (diamonds) at 428 F. Terpenes are combusted in all of these ranges. Low temperature dabbing is generally 350-450 degrees, with medium temp dabs running 450-600 degrees.

The perfect zone depends on personal preference and type of concentrate, but we never recommend getting hotter than 600 degrees - that’s harsh!

Advanced dabbers will use a laser thermometer to dial in their heat, but don’t feel like you have to get super scientific to get high. If it’s red hot, don’t do it! Wait until the temperature on a banger feels warm to the hand when held a few inches away, not hot. This is a good rule of thumb for taking a low temp dab. Remember: If it’s too cold, you can always reheat!

Don’t hold that hit!

Contrary to the old adage, you don’t have to cough to get off! It’s actually bad to hold dabs in and you definitely don’t get any higher. When taking a dab, the recommended inhalation time is one to five seconds. But an easy way to think of it is like taking a deep breath. Breathe in deeply and breathe out naturally, without an unnatural pause. The reason? The vapor released as concentrates expands and then quickly compresses after being heated and cooled, a process you don’t want to hold into your lungs. Holding your breath for longer than five seconds also deprives the body of oxygen - and you’ll be needing that oxygen to breathe through that big dab you just took!

When Cannabis is processed for concentrates it is being concentrated into a pure form. Think juice concentrate as a condensed version of a bigger jug of fresh juice. When concentrates are made, the end goal is to refine cannabinoids and terpenes for effect and flavor, but any residual pesticides or chemicals will be concentrated as well. We recommend only dabbing concentrates that have been pesticide tested in a laboratory.

Most states require this, but some like Washington do not require pesticide testing. Never dab or consume concentrates from a black market or non-laboratory tested environment!

Consuming chemicals, pesticides or solvents could definitely cause health complications.

Residual Solvents

If you are consuming a concentrate made with a hydrocarbon like butane or propane, be sure to check the parts per million (PPM) info on the packaging. We recommend consuming concentrates under 500ppm of residual solvents, although the best amount is less than 50ppm. While many regulations allow up to 5,000ppm of solvents in recreational concentrates, we know that rules don’t always protect consumers. Also, never dab homemade concentrates or oil that has not been tested! It’s not worth the risk of consuming solvents that have not been properly purged and lab tested.

Cartridges

Advanced dabbers will use a laser thermometer to dial in their heat, but don’t feel like you have to get super scientific to get high.

MANGO JELLY BY GREEN RUSH

From everyone who first heard about dabbing as a dance move, to the absolute stoniest of Cannabis consumers, there are endless questions about the world of concentrates.

Pesticide Testing

There are a couple basic rules to enjoy the best experience with a cartridge. First, ask the budtender if it is cut with any solvent or look on the packaging. We recommend avoiding anything cut with propylene glycol, especially for patients, because there are safer and healthier options available. Also, avoid anything with an artificial sounding flavor like blue raspberry or waffles. Look at the vape package to see if the flavor is naturally derived, and if so, go for it.

While there are no rules currently governing flavors in e-cigarettes or Cannabis cartridges, we feel that strain specific and naturally processed options are the best!

Vaporization can be one of the most desirable and pleasurable ways to consume Cannabis, especially when discretion counts. You should not vape indoors wherever it is specifically prohibited, such as on an airplane or bus.

Feel free to use outdoors when your vapor will not bother others or be near children.

Consumers will find a variety of battery options, from disposable types that have a non-rechargeable battery and last about 200 hits, to ones with USB charging capabilities and adjustable temperatures.

Check out Concentrates Issues from around the Leaf Nation this month Issuu.com/nwleaf

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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the concentrates issue

DABSTRACT LAB TOUR | SPOKANE, WA

leafnationmd.com

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How Dabs Are Made As you exhale those tasty terpenes from your last dab or vape pen hit, do you ever wonder: How did some genius turn a green plant into a beautiful golden oil? The following is an attempt to explain this Cannabis complexity in the most basic terms possible.

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Step 1

The extract process refers to pulling the THCA, CBD and terpenes from the plant matter. This process typically uses a mix of butane and propane to break the trichomes - tiny little sacs that form on the leaves and buds that contain the THCA and terpenes - from the plant. This is done by basically freezing the plant and snapping off the trichomes.

Butane and propane drop below freezing when exposed to air facilitating this process. The Cannabis is frozen and then poured into large sacks that fit into long extraction chambers.

Step 3

When completed, processors end up with a large pyrex pan filled with several hundred grams of concentrates.

From here the product can go in two directions...

These large chambers are carefully bolted into an extraction machine that will allow the gas to travel through the Cannabis, removing the trichomes, fats and lipids.

If it is high quality and desirable to be dabbed, it heads for packaging where a jar is placed on a scale and a weighing technician carefully weighs out one gram, seals it up, and packages for sale on your local rack. At Dabstract the scale was hitting 1.2 grams on every jar!

If it is not of high quality, the oil will be further purified using distillation.

This process involves running the oil over a heated glass cylinder. At different temperatures, certain compounds are able to be removed including THCA. However, when exposed to the heat of glass walls, the THCA is converted to THC and all the terpenes dissipate. The oil is run through this process several times until the desirable level of clarity is achieved.

Step 2

After the gas has traveled through the Cannabis long enough to extract the majority of the THCA and terpenes, crude oil is expelled.

This crude oil needs to be winterized, which is done by combining the crude oil with liquid ethanol, and then frozen or run through a roto-Vape, a device that winterizes at a faster rate.

The freezing process separates the fats and lipids from the THCA and terpenes. After winterization is complete the final process begins, called purging. The oil is placed into vacuum ovens that heat at very even rates throughout and purge the extraction gas from the final oil. This process takes several days and will result in a dabable product containing less than 500 parts per million of residual solvent, or in many cases, zero parts.

This final product can be used in the production of edibles as well as vape pens. At Dabstract they use HTE, High Terpene Extract, which is strain specific and blended with the THC to make pure Cannabis vape cartridges and pods.

The blended liquid is heated a little so it is more viscous, using calibrated machines and injected into the cartridge for your vaping pleasure.

DA B S T R ACT.C O M | @ L A B S _ O F _ DA B S T R ACT

STORY by EARLY @M3EARLY | PHOTOS by YOUNG KWAK @YOUNGKWAK for LEAF NATION

the concentrates issue

LAB FEATURE

AFSMaryland

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DEDICATED PRODUCTION STAFF

DOWN THE COLUMN

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CUSTOM EQUIPMENT

KNOWN FOR TOP-NOTCH CARTRIDGES

DIAMONDS

Bolstered by an agreement with Cresco Labs in mid-2019, AFS Maryland has rapidly begun expanding the vision of its small town medical Cannabis operations in 2020 matching the might of its newfound national partner.

ADAM MERCADO

“It’s been a great transition,” said Manufacturing “They’re another one that just creates really, really Manager Adam Mercado. “And we’ve managed good products in Maryland,” Mercado said. to keep it local. No one came from corporate Since pairing with Cresco Labs, AFS has expanded headquarters or from out of state. Whether it’s law its staff from 10 to 16, while maintaining its producenforcement, veterans, folks from the pharmaceutical tion in a small, inconspicuous building eight miles or food industry, we’re all locals.” from the Atlantic Ocean. From outdoors, its signless Mercado, 25, oversees production at the Snow yellow exterior leaves little to the imagination. But Hill based plant, the most eastern located processor once indoors, the hard working, cohesive staff and in all of Maryland. The Columbia native manages high-tech lab is capable of servicing every dispensary a staff of 16 highly dedicated “connoisseurs” who in Maryland with a variety of products from shatter to pride themselves on creating what they consider the wax to diamonds, and much more. best concentrates on the Maryland “Maryland is a dab heavy state medical market. and right now dispensaries are “It’s a heavily “It’s a heavily connoisseur coming a little short on that,” market, and we have a staff of Mercado said. “There are times connoisseur connoisseurs who take it very seriwhen I’m looking forward to market, ously,” said Mercado, who got his picking up and there’s nothing and we have feet wet in the industry with Curio on the menu that I would want to a staff of Wellness in 2017. “We’re only put on a dab rig. So we’re trying putting out products that we would to put high quality products on connoisseurs want to try as a staff.” the shelves that you’re going to who take Cresco Labs is one of the largest enjoy dabbing.” it very multi-state Cannabis operators in A graduate of Towson Univerthe United States, holding a stake sity, Mercado isn’t just a creator seriously.” in 25 production facilities and 62 - he’s also a consumer. He was -Adam Mercado | Cresco Labs retail dispensaries across 12 states. diagnosed with epilepsy at the They are publicly traded in the age of nine and struggled with Manufacturing Manager U.S. and internationally, claiming recurring seizures throughout his $66.4M in revenue last quarter formative years. In high school alone. Their strong financial backing has allowed he began experimenting with Cannabis, much to the AFS Maryland to increase their monthly production chagrin of his parents. He continued his use during more than threefold ($150k to $500k), despite being college as he studied biology and exercise science, in the midst of a global pandemic. trying to find alternative methods to combat the side “They know what they’re doing,” Mercado said. effects - such as weight gain and mood swings - that “So we take the information they’ve gained from prescription drugs produced. their success in other states, bring it here, and tailor it “I had to get more in touch with my health and my towards the Maryland market.” wellness,” Mercado said, explaining his choice of deAFS Maryland has been creating concentrates in gree. “When I began experimenting with Cannabis, I concert with Grow West and Holistic Industries since noticed that I didn’t feel those symptoms anymore.” prior to its partnership with Cresco. This past month, Mercado calls it “a win-win,” being able to create it added SunMed Growers to its list of clientele. products that keep him seizure-free and alleviate the “We’ve been really impressed with what they’ve ailments of thousands around his home state. been able to do,” Mercado said of the Warwick “We’re not putting out [subpar] products just for based cultivators. a profit,” he said. “It’s about whether this is actually “They really figured things out over there and going to help somebody or be an enjoyable expebegan making some really good products.” rience. And it’s always high quality. We make it our The AFS Maryland staff hopes to use flower from due diligence to source from better growers and get SunMed and Holistic in their upcoming rollout of better material. And our turnaround happens quickly. butane hash oil (BHO) pens, which are set to hit the We get it, extract it and it goes out the month after.” market in July. The company uses Grow West prod“We’re just trying to bring some love to Maryland,” ucts primarily for fresh frozen carts or live resin. he said with a hearty smile.

STORY & PHOTOS by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for MARYLAND LEAF

the concentrates issue

Solventless

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leafnationmd.com

1937 Hurlock Hash

For topping bowls and bongs, there isn’t much better than traditional hash. 1937 is one of, if not the only solventless hash available in Maryland’s medical program today. I found this hash to be very sedating and best when used later in the evening for pain and sleep. It put me in a very relaxed and comfortable state of mind and had the classic clean taste of solventless hash. @1937cannabis 30.79% Total Cannabinoids 1.36% Terpenes

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1937 ATA Tundra Rosin

Opening this jar filled my nose with a spicy and piney aroma. While it may look like a harder budder, the consistency can be described as frothy and light. On the exhale, I tasted some earthy and gassy notes. This rosin was very relaxing and I experienced increased appetite after dabbing.

1937 Bruce Banner Rosin

Bruce Banner is a cross between OG Kush and Strawberry Diesel. Given the 1.75% b-myrcene in this batch, I had confidence in this strain’s ability to help me with sleep issues. After testing it out, I felt a sense of creative euphoria begin to take hold. Taking a dab or two before bed usually puts me in the perfect place mentally to fall asleep with ease.

@1937cannabis | 79.42% Total Cannabinoids 6.05% Terpenes

@1937cannabis | 82.51% Total Cannabinoids | 4.67% Terpenes

Nature’s Heritage Citron Kief

Kief from Nature’s Heritage makes another great topper for bong and bowl hits, or if you’re feeling fancy you can add it to a joint. This particular batch smelled of citrus and sweet flowers. Following a couple bong hits topped with this kief, I felt extremely serene and tired. A wonderful tool for sleepless nights - I use this knowing it will do the trick. @naturesheritagecannabisco 33% Total Cannabinoids 2.09% Terpenes

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | ART DIRECTION by @BERMANPHOTOS

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the concentrates issue

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gLeaf LA Chocolat Live Resin FSE Cartridge

Evermore Grape Pie Bx Live Resin Cake Badder

Grape Pie Bx is another great strain coming out of the Evermore processing lab. Cannarado bred this strain by crossing Grape Pie with Sundae Driver (FPOG X Grape Pie).

Reintroducing the Grape Pie to a strain already crossed with Grape Pie really piles on that strong fruit flavor. The sweetness of this concentrate reminded me of cotton candy grapes. Due to the high concentration of cannabinoids, I only needed one dab to stay medicated for long periods of time. @evermorebrands | 96.21% Total Cannabinoids 2.995% Terpenes

If you have ever had this strain as bud, you know that classic taste of gLeaf’s LA Chocolat. The flavor of this cartridge reminded me of the smooth and creamy smell of the flower. Effects are euphoric and sedative, making an afternoon of gardening quite enjoyable. @gleafmd | 76.31% Total Cannabinoids 6.717% Terpenes

Evermore Huckleberry Soda #5 Live Resin Cake Badder

The name of this strain had me really excited to give it a try, and I was just as excited when I smelled it for the first time. The gassy and funky smells stunk up the whole room within a minute.

Dabbing this left strong notes of citrus and fuel on my palate, and it put me into a relaxed and productive headspace. Kudos to Evermore for constantly bringing new strains to market in the form of concentrate. @evermorebrands | 83.45% Total Cannabinoids 2.753% Terpenes

MPX Biohazard Live Resin X-Vape

Biohazard is a cross between Chemdog 91 and Dosidos, and the classic Dosidos terpenes really came through in this vape. The flavor reminded me of a cookie dough, with gassy tones to accompany the sweetness. A real nighttime vape for me, with over 5% b-myrcene. @MPX_us | 74.09% Total Cannabinoids 12.639% Terpenes

Cresco Liquid Live Resin Cartridges

I was impressed with the overall experience with Cresco’s live cartridges. You get the flavor of a real live resin dab, and the effects to go with it. After trying the Durban Cindy, South West Stomper x Willies Wonder, and Strawberry Lambsbread, my favorite in terms of flavor and effects was the Durban Cindy. @crescolabs | 8% - 14% total terpene content.

leafnationmd.com

Culta Citrus Paradise Live Resin Sugar

It has been nice to check out all the different forms of live resin produced by Culta. This particular batch consisted of golden, yellow, chunky globs of sugar. It was easier to get on the dabber than I anticipated, sticking together nicely on the wide flat surface. After the exhale, I felt relaxed and in the mood to kick back for a movie. The strong citrus notes of this strain stuck out to me both in taste and smell.

Liberty Blueberry Skunk Live Resin Pax Pod

@cultaig | 66.4% Total Cannabinoids

@libertycannabis | 63.5% Total Cannabinoids

2.79% Terpenes

4.23% Terpenes

Live resin cartridges and pods have always proven to pack that extra punch in terms of flavor. This pod tasted of fresh blueberries with a very slight hint of skunkiness on the backend. I felt uplifted after just a few puffs, probably due to the more than 1% ocimene in this batch. I also enjoyed being able to fluctuate between different temperatures using the Pax Era.

MPX Mixtape Live Resin Sugar

The fruity and sweet flavor of MPX concentrates puts me in my feelings every time I dab it. The dense terpene profile on this strain created a wild array of fruity sensations. One dab left me feeling relaxed and relieved some pressure I was experiencing in my head. @mpx_us | 82.65% Total Cannabinoids

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11.176% Terpenes

Evermore Ice Cream Cake Live Resin Cake Badder

Most Ice Cream Cake I have tried has either been leaning toward a more creamy/doughy scent, or a more gassy/fuel like scent. This batch was a perfect blend of the two, keeping me going back for dab after dab. I found this strain to be most useful for sleep and relaxation, in addition to pain relief. Keeping some Ice Cream Cake live resin next to your bedside can come in handy! @evermorebrands

Culta Grapefruit Sour Dream Live Resin Badder

The scents exploded out of this jar upon bursting it open, beginning as very sour before revealing undertones of fresh flowers and gasoline. The balanced terpene profile made this a nice daytime hybrid for practically any occasion. It’s always nice when a concentrate’s smell comes through in its flavor, and this batch was a prime example of that. @crescolabs | 86.71% Total Cannabinoids

As a lover of this strain in flower form, I was excited to pop open the badder and give it a try. Also, with a terpene level so high, I knew I was in for a flavorful and therapeutic dab. It did not disappoint, erupting with flavors of fuel and fruit. I found this concentrate to be very uplifting, giving me a strong boost of energy immediately. I even used this strain before exercise to put me in a clear and less anxious, but more alert, state of mind. @cultaig | 72.4% THCA | 13.15% Terpenes

Cresco Triangle Kush Live Sauce

gLeaf Inzane In The Membrane Black Label Sauce

8.68% Terpenes

Cresco

Live Resin

Mandarin Cookies Live Sauce When I opened up this jar, it reminded me of the smell of making fresh squeezed orange juice. The orange fruit smell comes through very strong in the flavor and I could not stop dabbing this sauce. This strain was very energetic and proved to be a great morning and daytime dab for me.

Topping out at nearly 20% terpenes, saying this strain reeks in the best way possible is an understatement.

Over 5% limonene gives this strain a very citrusy smell, and the taste is a mixture of gas and lemon lime flavors.

After one dab I felt focused and determined, with a tranquil, euphoric buzz in the head. @gleafmd | 79.14% Total Cannabinoids 19.907% Terpenes

@crescolabs | 92.87% Total Cannabinoids 4.86% Terpenes

Evermore Grapefruitz Live Resin Cake Badder

For those of you missing Evermore’s Grapefruitz Hash Rosin, you are not alone. Rest assured knowing we have something similar in terms of flavor profile in this live resin cake badder.

This strain smells like an obscene amount of fresh citrus fruits piled on top of each other. Dabbing it brings through some of the b-myrcene and b-caryophyllene, adding some spiciness to the mix. I have always found this strain useful as a pick me up for tired days.

MPX Lambs Bread Live Resin Batter The consistency of this batter was perfect, not too hard that it fell off the dabber, but soft enough to be full of terpenes. Sweet and spicy flavors are popping in both the nose and the taste of this strain. I found it to be perfect for alleviating pain and perfectly tempered for daytime use.

@evermorebrands | 77.75% Total Cannabinoids

@mpx_us | 91.36% Total Cannabinoids

4.776% Terpenes

8.409% Terpenes

Culta Grapefruit Tangie Diamonds and Sauce

Culta’s sauce is just as beautiful as it is terpy, and for all the citrus lovers out there, this may be the concentrate for you. On the exhale, I experienced strong notes of grapefruit, with the quintessentially delicious Tangie follow up.

With a solid mix of terpenes, this put me in a creative and energetic mindset without making me anxious as some Tangies have done in the past. This made it a great daytime concentrate, not bogging me down during busy work days. @cultaig | 84.2% Total Cannabinoids | 7.04% Terpenes

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | ART DIRECTION by @BERMANPHOTOS

the concentrates issue

FECO Evermore All Natural THC Tincture This tincture is a versatile tool for almost any Cannabis patient. Made of full extract Cannabis oil and coconut oil, each drop is around 1mg of THC. Having 500 drops in each bottle allows you to dose small or large amounts when needed. After taking one dropper, I felt very relaxed and pain free. The flavor is light, without an overpowering Cannabis taste.

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@evermorebrands | 500mg THC per bottle

Full Extract Cannabis Oil

Nature’s Heritage Rick Simpson Oil

I have always loved RSO from Nature’s Heritage for its strength and versatility. You can eat it, rub it on a rough patch of skin, make edibles and do much more with it. For me, taking miniscule amounts of this has been really helpful in treating nausea.

Taking larger amounts has helped me sleep steadily through the night many times. I like to take turmeric capsules, open them up, and fill with .1 grams of RSO. @naturesheritagecannabisco 82.5% Total Cannabinoids | 2.82% Terpenes

leafnationmd.com

gLeaf Painkiller CBD Rick Simpson Oil

A longtime favorite to Maryland patients, gLeaf’s Painkiller is an allin-one pain and anxiety relief system.

After eating .05 grams of this RSO, squeezed directly onto my tongue, I felt as if I could finally take a deep breath. All of the anxiety I usually experience was gone and I wasn’t thinking about my back pain at all.

Another great way to consume RSO is by purchasing empty capsules and filling them up yourself. I also appreciate the small size of this dropper, which made it easy to squeeze out my medicine. @gleafmd | 69.29% CBD, 3.18% THC 1.33% Terpenes

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Evermore FECO Capsules

Verano Motorbreath RSO

@evermorebrands | 35mg THC per capsule

@veranobrands | 89.54% Total Cannabinoids

350mg THC per bottle

0.284% Terpenes

When I can’t get to sleep, I’m always confident in the ability of these capsules to put me right out. About 30 minutes after eating one capsule, I was pain free from head to toe and had a heavy feeling of tiredness behind my eyes. I also did not get any hint of a groggy feeling the following morning. The wide array of benefits from FECO is almost never ending, so ask your budtender about it the next time you visit the dispensary.

One of my favorite tools for recovery following exercise is RSO from Verano. With dropper measurements going all the way down to one hundredth of a gram, dosing doesn’t get much easier.

After a long day in the gym, I use .05 to .1g of RSO to combat soreness in my muscles and joints. I found my pain melting away and was able to fall comfortably to sleep every time I used it.

Infused Joints The best of both worlds

Kaviar Hybrid Pre-Roll

If you feel like treating yourself to something special, Kaviar’s cones are extravagant and badass at the same time. Curio Wellness brought this brand to Maryland and these pre-rolls have steadily held their place as a Maryland patient favorite.

Starting out with the paper, these are rolled in my personal favorite, RAW cones. Inside, we have 1.5 grams of Curio Wellness flower that has been dipped in C02 hash oil and rolled in kief. This trifecta of products leads to a massive amount of tasty flavor. It also leads to a very high potency, making these best for evening use.

Each joint comes in a protective tube with a Kaviar branded glass tip — extremely useful for infused joints. Without this tip the mouthpiece of your joint would be far too sticky to smoke happily, due to the hash oil inside.

After smoking an entire joint, I felt a significant amount of pain relief. I was experiencing all of the best parts of smoking flower and extracts at the same time. For patients that need a large dosage of THC and prefer to smoke Cannabis versus eating edibles, Kaviar joints are the strongest option for pre-rolls in Maryland.

I found that puffing on these slower than normal leads to a very consistent burn throughout the entire joint. These pre-rolls tend to last much longer than ones that are not infused, due to the oil and kief inside, burning at a much slower rate than flower alone. Available from many dispensaries across Maryland, where you’ll find them in indica, sativa and hybrid varieties. @kaviarcannabis | 39% Total Cannabinoid Content 1.15% Terpenes

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | ART DIRECTION by @BERMANPHOTOS

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the concentrates issue

co2 Oil

Rythm Terp Sap Droppers

The list of uses for this product goes on and on, with many different ways to consume it. You can eat it, drop it on top of flower bowls, dab it, rub on a rough patch of skin, or even use it to fill your empty vape cart. After trying Afternoon Delight #4, Fluffhead and Island OG #5, I felt confident in the consistent quality of these droppers. Each one had unique terpene profiles and the flavor strongly reflected those. My favorite of the three was Fluffhead, which is a strain I use frequently in many forms for pain relief. The combination of linalool and b-caryophyllene in Fluffhead melt my pain while relaxing my brain. @rythm_official | Range 80-85% Total Cannabinoids 7-9% Terpenes

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Nature’s Heritage Oro Blanco C02 Vape Cartridge

I always enjoy the packaging of Nature’s Heritage products, from their glass jars to concentrate boxes. This cartridge was neatly packed in a little box, with cannabinoid and terpene information displayed clearly on the back. The flavor is quite peppery and reminiscent of hops, probably because of the 1.32% b-caryophyllene. Knowing this, I used this pen most often to crush daily anxiety - and it did so with ease. @naturesheritagecannabisco 74.5% Total Cannabinoids 2.88% Terpenes

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Select Strawberry OG C02 Live Resin Vape Cartridge

Select became available to the Maryland medical market in early 2020 and they have been making waves. This Strawberry OG cartridge tasted sweet like a bunch of fresh berries and produced a nice cloud from a short rip. The terpene profile of this batch was dense and vast, which makes this medicine multifaceted in the ailments it can help treat.

During daytime or right before bed, this is one of those strains I could use at any time of day.

Curio Captain’s Cake and Sour Lemons Cartridges

Curio’s vape cartridges are unique on the market - being made from C02 and weighed at 0.6ml - as opposed to the usual 0.5 or 1.0. The exhale from these cartridges was smooth and the flavors were true to their name and strain. After trying the Captain’s Cake and Sour Lemons, I found myself switching back and forth between the two. Both cartridges left me feeling focused and relaxed. @curio_wellness | Range 78 - 83% Total Cannabinoids

@select.better | 82.76% Total Cannabinoids | 13.32% Terpenes

5.5-7% Terpenes

Culta Exotic Purple Aqua Cured Sugar MPX Memory Loss Shatter

One of the things that set this shatter apart from others was the high concentration of THCV. This compound has been known to have appetite suppressing qualities, so I put it to the test. After comparing the munchies experience when dabbing this versus a strain with no THCV, I felt a significantly smaller need to eat everything in the pantry. With a nice mix of terpinolene and limonene, this strain tasted fruity and citrusy.

This strain is bursting with woody and earthy notes on the nose. The flavor comes through strong with a smooth exhale and earthy flavor.

The personal effects experienced from this extract can best be described as euphoric and pain relieving, likely due to the 2.71% b-caryophyllene. @cultaig | 85.2% Total Cannabinoids | 6.28% Terpenes

Verano G6 Sunrock Shatter

@mpx_us | 86.76% Total Cannabinoids | 6.799% Terpenes

Verano G6 Raw Wax

G6 has that classic gassy and slightly fruity flavor, coming through strong in this concentrate. Raw Wax is similar to the consistency of ‘crumble,’ and is best handled with a wide, flat dabber.

My mood was undoubtedly elevated after consumption. sending me into a euphoric and creative state soon after.

Sunrock is truly a great nickname for this shatter, as it comes in bright and beautiful golden chunks.

Busting open the jar and unraveling the parchment paper revealed definitive fruity and gassy G6 terpenes. I felt a strong euphoric buzz followed by an uplift in energy immediately after dabbing. @veranobrands | 89.30% Cannabinoids 1.257% Terpenes

@veranobrands | 85.95% Total Cannabinoids .956% Terpenes

Culta Unicorn Haze Aqua Shatter

This batch had 1.53% b-caryophyllene, which left a spicy and peppery taste in my mouth that lingered minutes after dabbing.

I found this concentrate to be most useful in relieving my joint inflammation and back pain. The aqua curing process led to this shatter being noticeably transparent and bright in color. @cultaig | 81.5% Total Cannabinoids | 4.54% Terpenes

Verano G-Wagon Pull & Snap

For those who don’t know what pull and snap is, think of shatter that has a tiny bit more viscosity.

You can easily stretch and twirl it to get the perfect amount of concentrate on your dabber. The flavor was sweet and fruity, just like the delectable G-Wagon flower it was made from. I felt major pain relief and a strong boost of positive energy after a dab. @veranobrands | 91.46% Total Cannabinoids 1.409% Terpenes

Hydrocarbon REVIEWS & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | ART DIRECTION by @BERMANPHOTOS

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the concentrates issue

Distillate AiroPro Distillate Cartridges

Evermore Distillate Cartridges

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I tried out the Big Lemons and Kosher Kush cartridges, and was pretty impressed with both.

Just like their Dart Pods, the cartridges from Evermore produce a large amount of vapor.

This can be really useful when you are on a long walk or on the go and need to medicate quickly and discreetly. They can also be great for patients with mobility issues, minimizing the steps needed to inhale Cannabis.

Differentiating from last year’s review on AiroPro’s cartridges, these are now made with 100% Cannabis derived terpenes. I was excited to try the GG Gelato and Cinderella 99, as both were exploding with terpy deliciousness.

I couldn’t put down the Cinderella 99, which had a distinctly sweet and fruity flavor. It helped me reduce my anxiety throughout the day, putting me in a perfect place to go to sleep at night. @airo.vapor | 81% Total Cannabinoids 11% Terpenes

@evermorebrands | 88% Total Cannabinoids

leafnationmd.com

MPX

Blueberry Phytocannabinoid Rich Tincture This tincture combines a mix of distillate, coconut oil and natural flavoring. The blueberry flavor is unique among tinctures in the Maryland market - giving the palate a refreshing splash that’s hard to forget. One of my favorite ways to consume this tincture was placing a few droppers in a smoothie, as it can be combined with any food or drink. @MPX_US | 200 MG THC

2.9 - 3.2% Terpenes

Strane

Liberty

Bubba OG Cartridge Liberty’s half gram cartridges are made with distillate and Cannabis derived terpenes.

They are a quick and easy way to get a dab on the go. The flavor of this cartridge reminded me of the sweet smell of lavender. The effects were calming, putting me into a nice relaxed state after a long work day.

Dose of Feeling Capsules Liberty formulates these capsules with coconut oil, distillate and different terpene blends. There are five different varieties: Vitality, Tranquility, Clarity, Serenity and Harmony.

Each capsule contains 5mg of THC and between 1.5% and 2% terpenes.

On a tired morning, I took two of the Vitality capsules and felt a slightly euphoric burst of energy.

@thisisstrane | 81.7% Total Cannabinoids

@libertycannabis | 5mg THC Per Capsule

| 3.47% Terpenes

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100mg THC Per Package

Evermore Dart Pods

These little pods and batteries are a discreet way to medicate on the go. The whole thing, ready to puff, is about half the size of an iPhone.

This pod system is also capable of producing larger amounts of vapor than some other cartridges on the market. My favorite was the Gelato, which tasted sweet and citrusy.

As a hybrid, this was perfect for just about any time of day for me.

MPX

Phytocannabinoid Rich Capsules MPX’s capsules consist of extra virgin olive oil and distillate, delivering a strong dose of medicine in a small package. I used these as a tool for sleep during anxious or uncomfortably painful nights. I began to experience pain relief and was able to fall asleep within 30 minutes to an hour of consuming one capsule. @MPX_US | 100 MG THC Per Capsule | 1,000mg per package

@evermorebrands | 89% Total Cannabinoids 6-7% Terpenes

Strane

Dosidos Pax Pod Distillate Pax Pods by Strane are made from distillate and 100% Cannabis derived terpenes. The flavor on this pod was sweet and peppery, with an element of smoothness added from the Pax. After a few puffs I felt focused and tranquil, with an uptick in my appetite almost immediately. @thisisstrane | 88.1% Total Cannabinoids | 7.06% Terpenes

Verano Super Glue Distillate Cartridge

One of my favorite things about Verano cartridges is how smooth of a rip they give while delivering a nice cloud, but the light color of the distillate used in these pens is another high point of appreciation. After a few hits, I felt a strong mind and body high that settled my nerves and soothed my back pain. The flavor is reminiscent of the sweet smell of a fine cologne. @veranobrands | 86.15% Total Cannabinoids | 1.249% Terpenes

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | ART DIRECTION by @BERMANPHOTOS

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cooking with Cannabis

STRANGE SUMMER DAYS

A strange summer this is sure to be. There are lots of things to think about important things that may actually make the world a better, safer place. Whether you are staying home or safely venturing out, the right strain of Cannabis makes a world of difference. I’ve been enjoying Roasted Garlic Margy from Noble Farms.

For me, this strain is a combination of staying clearheaded yet remaining calm.

Particularly these days, I can get uncomfortably racy from a strain - but not this one.

It’s the best of both worlds. #DontFearTheEdible #BlackLivesMatter

CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE

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BAHN MI

In a small bowl combine the water, lime juice, fish sauce, canna-oil,

In a blender combine all ingredients except the chocolate syrup. Pour into glasses and stir in a heaping tablespoon of chocolate syrup.

2 cups chocolate milk 1 banana, peeled, sliced and frozen 4 tablespoons malt powder

BAHN MI is a Vietnamese street snack made with a baguette and filled with a variety of ingredients.

When I am in a rush, I toss the chicken with soy sauce, lime juice and canna-oil, then pile on the veggies.

This sandwich is light, yet satisfying. Pro-Tip: Get the best bread you can find.

leafnationmd.com

1 tablespoon cocoa 2 teaspoons canna-coconut oil Chocolate syrup

[Serves 2]

GUACAMOLE AVOCADOS have become popular because of the tremendous health benefits, as well as the great taste. Guacamole is a great way to showcase this wonderful fruit, yes fruit, and medicate at the same time. Remember to keep the pit in the guac, drizzle with lemon juice and keep covered tightly with plastic wrap to preserve it.

jUly 2020

garlic, soy sauce and sugar. Place the bread on your work surface.

Drizzle the cut sides with the dressing. Lay the sliced chicken breast on the sandwich and top with the shredded vegetables and any remaining sauce.

2 tablespoons water

2 six-inch pieces of baguette,

1 tablespoon lime juice

sliced in half horizontally

2 teaspoons fish sauce

2 chicken breasts from rotisserie

2 teaspoons canna-oil

chicken, cooked, or thinly sliced tofu

1 teaspoon sesame oil

½ cup shredded cabbage

1 small clove garlic, minced

½ cup shredded carrots

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Sprigs of cilantro

1 tablespoon sugar

[Serves 2]

In a medium bowl mash the avocado. I think leaving it lumpy is a good thing. Add all the other ingredients and mix well.

2 large ripe avocados, soft when pressed 2 limes, juiced 4 teaspoons canna-oil ½ small red onion, diced ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro 1 small tomato, seeded and chopped (optional) Salt [Serves 4]

RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF

THEFEELCOLLECTION.COM | @THEFEELCOLLECTION

YOU CAN EASILY INCREASE OR DECREASE THE DOSAGE BY SMALL AMOUNTS TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT.”

TROPICAL & BLACKBERRY

FEEL BLISSED CHEWABLE LOZENGES Fo r me , e d i b l e s h a ve co n s i s t e n t l y p rove n t o b e a u sefu l t o o l fo r ma ny s i t u a t i o n s - a n d ke e p i n g a t o o l k i t o f d i f fe re n t e d i b l e s ca n h e l p p a t i e n t s t h ro u g h g o o d t i m e s a n d b a d .

T h i s m o n t h , I wa s l u c ky e n o u g h t o t r y T h e Fe e l Co l l e c t i o n C h e wa b l e L oze n g e s i n t h e i r b l a c k b e r r y a n d t ro p i ca l fl a vo rs .

T h ese c h e wa b l e s a re 1 0 . 0 3 mg T H C p e r p i e ce a n d h a ve 1 0 p i e ce s i n t h e p a c k , fo r a t o ta l o f 1 0 0 . 3 mg T H C .

DURING MY FIRST TRIAL, I TOOK TWO CHEWABLES IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET A SOLID NIGHT’S SLEEP. I was able to fall asleep fast and stay asleep through the night - and due to having eaten no more than 20mg - I was not groggy in the morning. Sometimes edibles can be overwhelming, and dialing in that perfect dosage for a specific ailment is critical.

At approximately 10mg per chew, you can easily increase or decrease the dosage by small amounts to find that sweet spot.

Now armed with the knowledge that these would not make me groggy following an eight hour sleep, I decided to try them out for back pain. During the early day, I ate one of the chews to combat some lower back pain I was experiencing and felt relief within an hour of consumption - and the amount of Cannabis inhalation usually needed to curb my back pain was lowered.

Taste-wise, I really enjoyed the flavor of both varieties of these chews. The tropical flavor reminded me of drinking a fruit smoothie, with very little taste of Cannabis oil coming through. The same can be said for the blackberry flavor, making my toughest decision which flavor I liked more. Tropical takes the cake for me, but I would be just as happy with blackberry if my local dispensary only had one or the other.

The packaging is another plus, featuring an elegant and discreet design and including instructions for usage on the back. You can also take pride in knowing there are not a bunch of scary ingredients making up these chews! A big thank you for producing such high quality options for those patients who can’t medicate via inhalation - and for those who simply love edibles.

STORY & PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

edible OF THE MONTH

“AT APPROXIMATELY 10MG PER CHEW,

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DYSCO’S CORNER

musings from aparent &Cannabis consumer Head in the clouds

44

“There’s a fine line between stoned and stupid, sis,” my brother laughed, standing next to me in the beach parking lot. “And I’m pretty sure you just crossed it.”

We were appraising the assorted jumble of beach chairs and boogie boards we had yanked out of the back of my brother’s SUV and dumped onto the steaming Summer asphalt. No doubt about it, the pile definitely lacked some key beach necessities - namely the two beach bags I had packed full of towels, sunblock, trashy magazines and a speaker, immediately before puffing on a pre-roll to calm my sciatica. While Tom restocked the car, I bit my lip in concentration, mentally walking backwards through the fog, trying to remember how I could have possibly forgotten everything we needed - except the beach chairs.

leafnationmd.com

HMMM. How to admit this without seeming like a total bimbo?

“I’m so sorry,” I said meekly. “I swear I thought I put them in the car, but maybe I left them at the rental...”

I’ll admit it, Leafers. I was higher than expected and trying to get a mental picture of where exactly I had lost my brain and left the bags, and it was proving to be more difficult than usual.

I should be better at these sorts of mental gymnastics by now. I forget to bring things all the time. Usually, the things in question are the very things needed for said activity. After making sure that the purse I intend to take with me is properly stocked with the appropriate lipgloss, reading glasses and Covid mask, I often get to the grocery store and realize that I forgot to add my wallet to the mix before leaving the house. Seriously - I do this often.

I have not always been so reliably forgetful. Some people’s feet are on the ground while other’s heads are permanently floating in the clouds. Twenty years ago, my feet were planted.

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I remembered everything. I have migrated since then, gradually becoming a more forgetful version of my mother. Before leaving the house, I find myself verbally confirming that I do, in fact, have the basic I was higher essentials needed than expected to leave the house.

The key word in that and trying to sentence is ‘verbalget a mental ly,’ as in out loud. picture of where I look like a crazy person standing at exactly I had the door announcing lost my brain my pre-departure and left the checklist to my fluffy companion, Garcia. bags, and it was “I have my shopproving to be ping list. Good. Readmore difficult ing glasses, check. than usual.

Sunglasses, check.

And hand sanitizer, mask - check, check.

Good, lip gloss, don’t want to forget that. And look, here are my keys - haha wouldn’t get far without them!” And then breezing out of the door for an intended afternoon of shopping.

You may notice the key item missing from that list is my wallet. This happens all the time. You’d think Garcia would demonstrate more empathy after years of watching me return home empty handed, full of angst and annoyance after discovering my mistake - a discovery always made after I’ve finished scanning most of my groceries. On the contrary, Garcia seems to enjoy watching my frustration from his perch on his princess puff pillow by the door. There’s no way to prove it, but I know he’s laughing at me behind his snaggle-toothed grin. Upon realizing I’ve done it again, I will rush back home, competing against the restocking clock on my grocery cart. I’ll throw open the front door in exasperation and announce (out loud, again), “I forgot my wallet.” Most loyal companions would show at least a little bit of sensitivity towards their intensely irritated human by jumping off their princess pillow perch by the door, by perhaps trotting over to lick their human, or even just by wagging their tail and making eye contact. But Garcia doesn’t even feign surprise anymore. He usually just nods and refocuses on watching the squirrels outside eat all the bird seed from my bird feeder.

g

rocery shopping was bad enough before lockdowns, but now? Shoot me if I have to do it twice in one afternoon.

After standing in line just to enter, once in, all the arrows seem to go the wrong way. At this point, the one way traffic aisles at WalMart have made navigating through D.C. seem straightforward. I understand the health implications.

I understand why we, like kindergarteners walking to the cafeteria, are all expected to follow the directional arrows on the floor. But that doesn’t mean I’m good at it.

45 Some of you ‘feet on the ground’ people are better at following directions than us ‘head in the clouds’ people.

But we are trying, and we will all get there eventually.

Like many of you, I’ve been freely roaming through grocery stores and WalMarts for 30 years. Never once did I look down at the floor for directions. So, to the people shooting me angry looks from behind their masks when I go the wrong way down the pasta aisle, please chill out. Be patient.

Some of you ‘feet on the ground’ people are better at following directions than us ‘head in the clouds’ people. But we are trying, and we will all get there eventually.

So, back at the beach, it’s fair to say that I wasn’t really that surprised to discover I had forgotten to bring all of our beach supplies to the beach. Don’t get me wrong, I sure acted surprised. I almost never get to vacation with my ‘very together, very adult’ brother, and I work hard to seem together and adult myself whenever I’m with Tom - to the point that I had decided against my vocal checklist policy back at the rental.

Tom doesn’t need departure checklists - verbal or otherwise- to remember the beach bags. And, I know he’s my brother and that he loves me, but I’m pretty

sure he still thinks I’m nuts. So, wanting to appear not crazy, I had not announced my departure checklist out loud as usual. I am certain this is why we were at the beach while our bags were back at the house, right next to the door where I had left them.

The great thing about Tom is that he never seems to get upset. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d expressed frustration or even anger at my forgetfulness, but here’s why my brother is awesome…

Without skipping a beat, he said, “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. At least you remembered the beer cooler.” He shut the tailgate and climbed back into the driver’s seat.

“What was in that pre-roll, anyway?” he asked, looking at me sideways with one eyebrow arching over his laid back smile.

“Umm, I think it was called Coastal Haze,” I replied as I clicked my seatbelt.

“Yep, that sounds about right,” he said, starting the car again.

-Dysco SUBMITTED

to MARYLAND LEAF

46

46

by Mike Ricker The Shituation Remember that dude on Jersey Shore who called himself The Situation? Well, this has absolutely nothing to do with him. So, now that we have gotten that out of the way, let us pontificate.

As kids, it is safe to say that for most of us the proverb ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ was stuffed into our mushy little brains as much as the Cookie Monster stuffed Oreos into his stoned mouth. In fact, cookies is now as much of an imperative word in the Cannabis vernacular as wedding cake, which makes a lot of sense. Weed gives you the munchies. And the word munchies is synonymous with cookies and cake.

Man, I’ve gotta get a handle on my life. I am getting way off the subject.

That mushy brain has become quarantinged.

Anyway, people are broke. They are lonely and depressed. There will be no festivals to attend, no sporting events, no nightclubs. And who in the hell would have ever predicted a juggernaut in wearable masks and hand sanitizer as positions suggested by your portfolio manager? These are the least sexy stocks on the market, but there is nothing sexy about a pandemic, so it makes a lot of sense.

Is anyone having sex?

Anyway, if you ask me, I think what may have gotten us in this mess is the fact that we are wasteful. Yes, we all love the convenience of pushing a button on your hand-held pocket partner and having products magically appear at your doorstep a day later, but we seem to have lost sight of where the waste ends up. It is awfully nice to pull the toilet handle and watch everything vanish into oblivion or toss your recycling into a bin and bid a fond farewell, but this ecosystem can only handle so much of our shit.

Have they opened the beaches yet? At this point, I would take the Jersey Shore.

July 2020

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@RickerDJ

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