Maryland Leaf — June 2019

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

# 66 || JJ U UN N EE 2 0 1 9 ISSUE # 9

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The standard in clean, natural and sustainable medical cannabis cultivation. SunMed cannabis is rooted in the tradition of local Maryland family farming and perfected with European greenhouse technology.

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E X P E R I E N C E A H I G H E R S TA N D A R D Visit us at 6656 Dobbin Rd Suite E Columbia, MD 21045 Open 7 Days A Week 10AM - 9PM

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Call (443) 542-0948

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JUNE 2019 leafnationmd.com

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7 Editor’S Note 9 NATIONAL cannabis news 12 by the numbers 14 highly likely 16 patient of the month 18 garden of the month 20 budtender q&A 22 shop review highlight 24 strain of the month T H E t r av e l I S S U E 28 best stoned hikes 30 munchie destinations 32 music festival guide 34 mexican president 36 heaven or humboldt 38 klamath falls, oregon 42 Cannabis recipes 44 concentrate REVIEW 46 stoney baloney

PHOTO by CLEOPATRA COHEN FOR MARYLAND LEAF

THE TRAVEL ISSUE A bed and breakfast in Humboldt,Ca

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

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

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

WES

ISSUE #6 | JUNE 2019

ABNEY

Editor’s Note

T H E T R AV E L I S S U E

Thanks for picking up the Travel Issue of Maryland Leaf!

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INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

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

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It feels progressive to be talking about traveling and Cannabis, when only a few years ago the concept was entirely a pipe dream. I remember hiding small amounts of weed or vapor pens and having panic attacks trying to 7 get through airport security, or hiding the dab rig as a car headed into California at the fruit check station.

My, how things have changed.

Today I have clients who have rented private CANNABIS AND jets simply to transport their Cannabis, and the TRAVEL GO TSA official policy on all drugs seems to be “if you HAND IN HAND aren’t a dealer we won’t bother you.” Now that AS JOINTS our favorite drug of choice is spreading around ARE PASSED the country and world, we Cannabis lovers get to AROUND THE choose our vacations around the plant-- and they WORLD, AND don’t include a jail cell.

THIS MONTH’S Cannabis and travel go hand in hand as joints ISSUE DIVES are passed around the world, and this month’s INTO SOME issue dives into some great local and national opportunities to experience Cannabis. Whether it’s GREAT LOCAL AND NATIONAL eating high, hiking while medicated, or melting OPPORTUNITIES into a music festival, there’s a lot of opportunity to enjoy your medicine while having fun this summer. TO EXPERIENCE CANNABIS. A known side effect of Cannabis is feeling good, so get out and enjoy it!

With Cannabis Bed & Breakfast retreats opening all over the country, consumption lounges popping up in California, Nevada and Alaska, and major events like Cannabis Cups happening in the US and elsewhere, now is the time to be a Cannabis pioneer.

While we always recommend traveling safely and cautiously, the only thing I am scared of is missing a good time. I hope you enjoy this amazing issue of Maryland Leaf, and remember to take it with you to guide your adventures this summer.

Thanks for reading and sharing the Leaf!

-Wes Abney

JUN. 2019

CALIFORNIA MIGHT TRIPLE LICENSED POT SHOPS IN THE STATE Golden State lawmakers are pushing to require municipalities to lift bans on Cannabis stores if voters there supported Proposition 64, the 2016 initiative through which voters legalized the sale of marijuana for recreational use in the state.

A bill moving through the Legislature would require those cities to permit at least one marijuana retailer for every four bars or restaurants with a liquor license, or one for every 10,000 residents, whichever is fewer, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Assembly Bill 1356 would mandate 2,200 new marijuana stores throughout the state, more than three times the 631 shops currently operating legally, according to estimates from state officials. Democrats behind the proposal note that while Prop 64 was approved by voters in 388 of the state’s 540 cities and counties, two-thirds of local governments have banned pot shops.

The legislation opens a second front in a feud between state lawmakers and cities and counties over marijuana sales. A month ago, local governments sued the administration of Governor Gavin Newsom to challenge the legality of a rule allowing home delivery of Cannabis in cities that have banned pot shops.

midwest

NORTH DAKOTA QUIETLY DECRIMINALIZES CANNABIS

North Dakota officially decriminalized marijuana last month, making it the 25th state to do so. Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed a decrim bill, but his office didn’t even announce it.

The law makes first-time possession of up to half an ounce of weed an infraction that only carries a fine - no longer a criminal misdemeanor with the potential for jail time. Possession of larger amounts, repeat offenses, and sales or trafficking can still result in harsher sentences including incarceration. east coast

MARYLAND LEGALIZES EDIBLES FOR MEDICAL MARKET

MARYLAND GOV. LARRY HOGAN

Maryland has legalized the sale of edible medicinal Cannabis products, likely providing a substantial boost to medical marijuana businesses in the state’s growing market.

GOP Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill into law along with a Cannabis-related antitrust bill on May 13th. State lawmakers passed both in April. The antitrust bill provides that individuals may own up to four medical marijuana dispensaries.

State regulators may issue only one grower or one processor license to each applicant, however. The edibles bill allows research institutions, such as universities, to purchase medical Cannabis for their research needs.

A new graduate program for the study of Cannabis science and therapeutics is scheduled to begin this fall at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, reports The Baltimore Sun. On May 7th, university officials submitted a proposal to a University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents, hoping to make the program available at UMB and at The Universities at Shady Groe, according to the document.

The graduate program is slated to include both online and face-to-face instruction. It is designed to “foster a deeper knowledge and understanding of the science, clinical therapeutics, and policy related to medical Cannabis,” according to a summary provided to the regents.

University officials hope the program will attract healthcare practitioners, scientists, growers, policy professionals and others interested in medicinal Cannabis.

Medical marijuana was legalized in Maryland in 2013, and is regulated by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.

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

CANNABIS CONVICTION WAIVERS TO BE ALLOWED IN WASHINGTON STATE On May 13th, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill aimed at erasing old misdemeanor marijuana convictions. The move came seven years after state voters approved I-502, an initiative which legalized Cannabis in Washington.

Judges are now required to grant requests to vacate misdemeanor marijuana possession charges that occurred before Cannabis was legalized, provided the defendant was at least 21 at the time.

The measure goes further than an earlier Cannabis pardon process announced by Gov. Inslee, which had stricter requirements for eligibility.

“This is a matter of fairness and justice,” Inslee said. “We should not be punishing people for something that is no longer illegal in this state.”

The new law takes effect 90 days after the end of this year’s legislative session, which translates to July 26, 2019.

legalization

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CONGRESS MAY FINALLY ALLOW YOU TO BUY WEED WITHOUT CASH Going on seven years after Washingtonians approved weed legalization, customers making purchases at the state’s more than 400 pot shops must pay cash for their purchases. This weird bit of doublestandard schizophrenia exists because most banks are too skittish to work with statelicensed Cannabis businesses - because of that pesky federal law still insisting that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance.

Something of a remedy, bandaid wise, is now moving forward at the federal level, reports Crosscut. A U.S. House committee in March advanced legislation that would get federal banking regulators off the leg of financial institutions providing services to licensed weed businesses. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act is expected to pass the House, though things look much dicier in the more conservative, GOP-controlled Senate.

“What we believe is this is the first marijuana-related bill that has ever passed out of a House committee,” said an excited Congressman Denny Heck (D-Washington).

JUN. 2019

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UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE CREATING GRAD PROGRAM IN CANNABIS

justice system

national news

west coast

national news

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legalization

OREGON FAILS TO VOTE ON A BILL TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS SOCIAL CONSUMPTION LOUNGES A bill to legalize Cannabis social consumption lounges in Oregon will not go on, according to industry sources and Marijuana Business Daily. Senate Bill 639 got a public hearing before the Senate Committee on Business and General Government at the end of February, but nothing since. The deadline to vote the bill out of that committee has passed. The bill is “100% dead,” according to Sam Chapman, legislative director for the New Revenue Coalition, the industry group backing the bill, reports the Salem Statesman Journal. Oregon residents may get to vote on the issue of legalizing Cannabis social lounges in the November 2020 election, if an initiative petition submitted to the Secretary of State’s office in March gets enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

west coast

GUN-RELATED SUICIDES FALL AFTER MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IN CALIFORNIA The total number of suicides per year in California, including those committed with firearms, declined after state voters legalized medical Cannabis in 1996, according to a new study, reports Marijuana Moment.

Researchers speculated that people with mental conditions such as depression, for example, may find that Cannabis alleviates their symptoms. The same goes for people with alcohol use disorder, which is associated with an elevated risk of suicide.

Another theory is that since guns are less accessible to medical marijuana patients, that may have precluded some people from purchasing firearms.

“Findings reveal that rates of total suicide and gun suicide dropped significantly in the aftermath of Prop 215,” researchers concluded.

The impact of medical pot on non-gun suicides in the state was deemed “ambiguous,” however.

Phylos Bioscience in portland, or

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east coast research

BALTIMORE JUDGES DENY STATE ATTORNEY’S REQUEST TO DISMISS POT CONVICTIONS

OPEN CANNABIS PROJECT DISSOLVES AMIDST BACKLASH AGAINST PHYLOS BIOSCIENCE

City judges have thrown out the request from Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby to erase the convictions of nearly 5,000 cases of marijuana possession, according to a story by The Baltimore Sun. The decisions by Circuit Judge W. Michel Pierson and District Judge Kathleen Sweeney, struck down one of the most progressive moves of Mosby’s administration. State Attorney Mosby said she was “deeply disappointed” by the move.

“The role that courts play in our society is to be a place of last resort for people who have been wronged,” Mosby said.

“I am deeply disappointed that this ruling did not afford us any opportunity to present legal arguments and essentially eliminated the court from being a safe harbor for those that were harmed by the discriminatory enforcement of marijuana laws.”

Mosby announced in January that she would stop prosecuting marijuana possession cases.

She also asked courts to throw out thousands of pot convictions going back to 2011.

An Oregon nonprofit, the Open Cannabis Project, had the AFTER PHYLOS LAST MONTH laudable goal of protecting the marijuana genome from patent ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO trolls. But the organization dissolved on May 6th after an intense LAUNCH A BREEDING backlash against its former business partner, Phylos Bioscience, PROGRAM TO CREATE reports Willamette Week.

“NEW, BETTER STRAINS As a nonprofit, Open Cannabis Project spun off from Phylos OF CANNABIS AND HEMP,” in November 2017. But suspicions about Phylos, an ag-science MANY FARMERS WERE company, continued to run rampant in the Cannabis community, FLABBERGASTED, BECAUSE according to executive director Beth Schechter.

THEY HAD PROVIDED After Phylos last month announced a plan to launch a breeding GENOMIC DATA WITH THE program to create “new, better strains of Cannabis and hemp,” UNDERSTANDING THAT many farmers were flabbergasted, because they had provided IT WOULDN’T BE USED TO genomic data with the understanding that it wouldn’t be used to ENHANCE A BREEDING enhance a breeding program.

PROGRAM. Mowgli Holmes, executive director of Phylos, told Willamette Week his company can’t do much with the data it has, because the data set is too small and lacks crucial context. However, that would carry a lot more weight if Holmes hadn’t already told investors almost the complete opposite: that the DNA samples Phylos had collected from farmers would give the company a “huge lead” in creating new strains.

In a video clip publicized by Cannabis Now, Holmes says “We have more trust in the Cannabis industry than any other science company,” and boasted that “it would be impossible for anyone else to collect this data set at this point.”

“Dr. Holmes’ presentation to investors confirms many of the ears the community has had about Phylos’ intentions for years,” Schechter said. “We also feel we have been deceived.”

JUN. 2019

BY STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA | PHOTO BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

/ MDLEAF @MARYLANDLEAF

L E A F N AT I O N M D . C O M

by the numbers

6 50 12 23k In 10 Illinoisans want recreational Cannabis taxed and regulated like alcohol

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

Dollars is the fine proposed for 2 ounces or less of Cannabis under N.J. decrim

Is the dollar amount home values rose in cities with recreational Cannabis dispensaries, according to a new study

70 6.8 Pregnant women are being sought by the University of Washington for a study of Cannabis and pregnancy

JUN. 2019

Percent is the amount Canadian beer sales have fallen since Cannabis legalization

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

highly likely

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

VANESSA LAVORATO

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AS THE ONLY REMAINING ORIGINAL HOST OF THE VICE CULT-CLASSIC SHOW BONG APPÉTIT , VANESSA LAVORATO HAS BECOME ONE OF CANNABIS’ MOST INTRIGUING AND RESPECTED FIGURES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. Lavorato’s calm and collected personality goes against the stereotypes that we usually associate with celebrities that embrace a Cannabis consumption habit. Her demeanor demonstrates a sort of professionalism not usually found in a person that is consuming large quantities of Cannabis. But make no mistake - Lavorato definitely consumes large quantities of Cannabis.

Lovarato is Canadian and American, growing up in Canada (where her father was a player for the CFL), and then moving to the Bay Area in high school. After graduating college and before joining Bong Appétit, Lovarato started her own Cannabis infused chocolate company, Marigold Sweets. Marigold was designed to aim at a higher-end clientele, with high-quality confections that were accurately dosed – this during the medical era of Cannabis where infusions of Cannabis could top 300-500 milligrams in a confection.

Lavorato is inspired by Alice B. Toklas – an arts patron and cookbook author from the 1950s who tried to normalize Cannabis usage among everyday people, in a time before this sacred herb moved outside of society and became associated with counter-culture. In many ways, Lavorato is making an attempt to do the same thing with her work on screen and with her chocolate company.

JUN. 2019

Lavorato often advocates for responsible use of Cannabis, encouraging consumers to enjoy themselves but not to take it too far.

In an interview with the literary blog No Tokens Journal, Lavorato talks about her own approach to infusing and dosing Cannabis for her chocolates.

“I want people to see it as an herb — excess is never good,” Lavorato said. ”If you put too much garlic in something, it’s not going to be good. Educating consumers on how to use it is important.”

This ethic, the idea of responsible use, and learning what dose works best for the individual is opposed to the way that most people think about consuming substances in our overloaded culture, but it is the way that Cannabis will continue to be normalized in the future.

On Bong Appétit, Lovarato is a calm and inquisitive personality. The show was her first ever on-camera gig, and she quickly demonstrated a knack for being in front of the camera. The show is entertainment, of course, but viewers also learn something about cooking and Cannabis infusions from the show, and that’s mostly due to Vanessa’s interpretations on screen.

Vanessa Lovarato is one of the new breed of Cannabis advocates that straddled the line between pre-legalization culture and this new era that we find ourselves living through today. Without celebrities walking the careful, nuanced line that Lovarato occupies in the world, we might be further behind than we are currently.

VICELAND.COM @VANESSAMARIGOLD

THE ENTERPRENEUR AND TV SHOW HOST IS INSPIRED BY ALICE B. TOKLAS, AN ARTS PATRON AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR FROM THE 1950S WHO TRIED TO NORMALIZE CANNABIS USAGE AMONG EVERYDAY PEOPLE, IN A TIME BEFORE THIS SACRED HERB MOVED OUTSIDE OF SOCIETY AND BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH COUNTER-CULTURE.

By PACER STACKTRAIN

Patient of the Month

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ABAYNESH GIRMA CBD IS LIKE THE SEGUE ONCE THEY REALIZE THIS ISN’T AS INTENSE AS SOME OF THE MOVIES AND MEDIA MAKE IT SEEM, PEOPLE ARE A LOT MORE WILLING TO TRY CANNABIS.

A

baynesh first tried Cannabis in her early teen years. “I smoked for the first time when I was 14, I didn’t really get high that first time though,” she said. “I came back to it again later. Before I started smoking I was an angry and anxious person, now it helps to calm me down.”In her adult life, after three horrific motor vehicle accidents in the span of less than a year, she got her medical card in Maryland for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. “The medicine now helps me to focus and keep my anxiety levels really low at the same time,” Abaynesh said.

MDlEAF.COM

Fighting back tears, she told us the story of her PSTD experience and how much it affected her before she started using medicinal Cannabis. The accidents left her with high anxiety levels as well as spinal/back issues including muscle spasms from nerve damage.

“All the accidents were very recent and in a short time period, the last one was in December. They gave me Percocet at first for the pain but I didn’t like them, I ended up throwing them away. The one time I took them felt like I was in and out. I didn’t feel conscious and I didn’t like not being aware of what was happening,” she said. Unfortunately, her parents were very against Cannabis at first, but it ended up being the best solution for her ailment. “They had no idea really at first, until I got my job at Remedy (a dispensary in Columbia),” she said laughing. Now her family is a lot more on board, with her mother and aunt both taking CBD products to help with pain issues such as arthritis.

Her family found out about the CBD products through the news and Abaynesh was able to help inform them of the benefits. “CBD is like the segue - once they realize this isn’t as intense as some of the movies and media make it seem, people are a lot more willing to try

JUN. 2019

Cannabis. People are always willing to take pills like Percocet and oxycodone, but to me that was the worst high I’ve experienced,” she said in response to her family trying out CBD/CBN for arthritis.

Since beginning her Cannabis journey, Abaynesh has been able to create a lot of positive outlets through the medicine. One thing in particular she started is called “Puff and Paint”, which started two years ago in D.C., and is now in Maryland. We’ve all heard of sip and paint events, and this is very similar. The difference here being it’s a medicinal Cannabis consumption event that’s run by a patient for the patients. She holds these two-hour events, with roughly 20-30 guests, monthly at the Overhills Mansion in Catonsville. Guests come in and enjoy joints or other smokables (and perhaps some wine), and paint the night away in a great atmosphere while enjoying even better company. “I love to see people of all different backgrounds come out. We’ve got one thing in common and that’s smoking. It’s really nice to become a big family and you get to see everyone’s personality really come out and just pop! You really get to know the people through the painting,” she said when explaining the events.

After starting to paint as a positive creative outlet to put her energy toward when she would smoke, Abaynesh realized her friends would take interest in her painting. So, she asked them to join her. “Paint and Puff started as something for me to do that was more social and out of my comfort zone. With the industry currently, not a lot of social things are going on. No one wants to talk about it, no one feels it’s appropriate,” she noted.

Abaynesh has also had to deal with the difficulties of finding a venue that would be perfect for the cause, and always remaining completely compliant with the law. “I always triple check everything for the events. I check ID/card numbers and make sure they’re valid beforehand during signups, and then recheck upon arrival,” she explained. The steps she takes to make sure everyone is in a comfortable and safe environment really helps the experience. “I like for people at the events to feel comfortable, like they’re at home. It’s a safe place that’s open to talk about the medicine, without having to worry about talking about the medicine,” she says. “It ends up with a lot of people talking about their uses of Cannabis, and what works and what doesn’t. It’s great for the community.”

STORY by MATTHEW NEWTON @JIMMYNEWTRONNN | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

@ITSABAYNESH

GARDEN OF THE MONTH

FIRE IN, FIRE OUT

CULTA HEAD PROCESSOR MICHELLE SPRAWLS AND HEAD CULTIVATOR JAY BOUTAN

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M

aryland has developed some of the highest standards for clean medical Cannabis markets in the country, placing specific emphasis on pesticide regulation and product testing. This has allowed for the production of some of the safest Cannabis products on the market. Maryland’s medical Cannabis community seems to produce companies of a high caliber by default, meaning that Culta’s strong reputation as a leader in the Maryland Cannabis market also positions them as influencers of East Coast Cannabis culture on the whole!

If you’re an MMCC patient, you have definitely heard of Culta. As they have grown, this Cambridge company’s flower, extracts, and culture have stood out as some of the highest quality Maryland has to offer. Opening any one of their flower or concentrate containers offers robust and nuanced olfactory sensations that the connoisseur and the layman alike can appreciate as stellar medicine.

Culta doesn’t stop at just producing top quality medicine. They make sure to be actively involved in the community - hosting and sponsoring events, cultivating a social media presence, providing educational outreach, and just generally advocating for the normalization of Cannabis.

Naturally, we had to go and tour their 20,000 sq ft facility and get to know the staff responsible for making some of the more exquisite and potent Cannabis products on the market. Michelle Sprawls and Jay Boutan are the head processor and head grower, and they guided us through their vertically integrated facility, giving us a glimpse into the magic that is Culta production.

Having been through many an over and

JUN. 2019

“A GENTLE RUB OF ONE OF THE BUDS BURSTS OPEN RESIN GLANDS, EXPOSING THE NOSE TO PERFUMED ODORS RANGING FROM FRUITY TO SPICY, AND WOODY TO FLORAL.”

STORY by TAYLOR MARTIN @MDCANNAINSIDER | PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

underground grow, I was not surprised our GPS led us to a non-descript warehouse park as our final destination. It is quite common to see white market grows converting traditional warehouse spaces into monuments to hydroponic excellence, and even some black market grows with a big budget. What is less common is having such a warehouse directly adjacent to a police station! Here, their warehouse has an added security measure by the simple virtue of locating themselves directly next to the Cambridge Police Station, which I will admit created a bizarre combination of anxiety and excitement as we approached our destination.

Diving into their products, let’s start with their superb concentrates. For this we went to their 6,000 sq ft extraction facility to meet Michelle Sprawls - their head processor who is already making an impact on the industry as one of the few female leaders in this traditionally male dominated space.

This author would also like to acknowledge that the insidious nature of patriarchy dominates most, if not all industry. Michelle Sprawls not only defies such a trend in the Cannabis industry, but industry itself.

That being said, if you have dabbed any of the concentrates out of Culta’s lab, you will already know that Michelle is doing much more than just disrupting gender trends in American industry. She is responsible for producing some of the highest quality extracted medicine we have on the market.

Michelle guided us through the lab with calm, efficient confidence, walking us through the variety of machines and various steps required for Culta to make us the medicine we know and love. Primarily a hydrocarbon extraction lab, they are equipped with machinery that at once is capable of handling 10,000 grams of dried flower a day, yet only requires two extractors to maintain. Regardless of top quality machinery, they still require an efficient system and knowledge of the plant that makes extractors closer to artists or chefs, rather than chemists.

Michelle is not alone in her lab, as she heads up a very impressive processing staff that at first glance nearly all female. After inquiring, Michelle casually mentioned that there are only three males working

in the whole processing lab, before pulling out some gigantic shatter slabs and jars of diamond sauce for our smelling pleasure.

Before letting my focus drift completely into the bouquet of fresh, raw bulk concentrate in front of me, I took a moment to process what she had said.

The gassy, fruity, floral aromas of concentrates wafted around me as the steady work flow hummed in the background, and I was struck with how special this lab is, as their staff seemed to operate with a vibratory energy and attention to detail that produced a harmonious workplace, capable of churning out top shelf concentrate on the regular.

In the next building over we were greeted by Jay Boutan, head grower at Culta. Yes, wafts of Grapefruit Sour Dream and Lemon Meringue invaded our olfactory senses immediately after entering the facility. But let’s be honest, every great Cannabis grow has great Cannabis smells. So even though I appreciated the nose on some of my favorite strains, my focus was directed to the cleanliness of the facility and efficiency of its design.

Everything about the design was thought out to maximize not just the production of the plant, but to minimize contamination and really try to preserve a robust and healthy growing environment.

With an average of 590 plants per room being cycled through the facility - from clone to veg to flower, on a three week harvest schedule - Jay is surely busy. The facility aesthetic was nothing short of pharmaceutical, but still carried the familiar Cannabis community vibe which I think encapsulates Jay as a grower - where high quality meets low stress.

As we went about our tour, each and every room revealed itself to be pristine with hearty, vibrant plant growth happening in all stages of life, with virtually no signs of contamination or pests. The staff was mid harvest that day and everyone had smiles on their faces, moving to music in headphones or animated conversation, and taking down plants and moving them to drying with the efficiency and vitality of a well choreographed dance troupe.

Taking a moment to look around the flower room at the trichomes glittering up the sugar leaves, I

reveled in the variety of color nuances in the bud, stem and leafage, with a nose titillated by terpene rich air. I dwelled on the fact that in spite of being in an artificial, man made environment, clean medicinal life was flourishing sans any sense of contamination. All of my senses came together to provide an overwhelming feeling of health and vitality associated with the medicine around me.

Jay got his start out in Colorado, working in under and above ground grows, dispensaries and even an edibles company before finding his way to Maryland. Originally charged with helping Culta build out and design training/SOP, Jay fell in love with Culta and decided to stay on full-time as the head grower. His system moves plants seamlessly from room to room as they progress through their life cycle, and each room is filled with a variety of strains growing like amiable neighbors.

Moving through some of the rooms, I was able to look in more detail at the health and quality of the plants. And if you have smoked their flower, then you can probably guess just how healthy and resinous the plants are. A gentle rub of one of the buds bursts open resin glands, exposing the nose to perfumed odors ranging from fruity to spicy, and woody to floral.

There is an old maxim used by concentrate makers that I think really sums up Michelle, Jay and Culta as a whole, and that is “Fire in, Fire out”. “Fire” is a common Cannabis term for top quality, and the maxim means that we can’t make good extracts from bad flower. Good flower goes in, good extracts come out. Michelle and Jay are some fire that went into Culta, that has definitely sent some fire out into the Maryland Medical Cannabis community. The pairing of head grower Jay Boutan and head processor Michelle Sprawls is an homage to the time honored maxim.

Overall, my time spent with Culta reinforced my love for their products and assured me of their quality, from seed to sale. It was a pleasure and an honor to talk with and get to know Michelle and Jay - two leaders whose influence echoes from their work space in Cambridge out across Maryland and soon the entire East Coast.

CULTA.IO

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BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

BRANDON COLEMAN

What made you want to get into the industry?

My first “job” after college was serving active duty in the Air Force as an officer. I used this opportunity not only to gain invaluable leadership skills and technical abilities, but to serve my country, see the world, and afford a higher education. After leaving the military and serving in various sales roles, I came home to Maryland and became a second generation career firefighter in Howard County. When I resigned from the fire department due to my epilepsy diagnosis, I thought of the Cannabis industry as an opportunity that truly served as a unique crossroads for the biggest aspects of my life - people, culture, and science.

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“WITH THE QUALITY AND VARIETY OF PRODUCTS PUT OUT BY ALL OF MARYLAND’S GROWERS AND PROCESSORS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW FAVORITE ALMOST WEEKLY!”

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INTERVIEW by ALAINA DORSEY @BUDBIZLLAMA PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

GREENHOUSE WELLNESS

4801 Dorsey Hall Dr., Suite 110 Ellicott City, MD (410) 910-8702

JUN. 2019

How did you become a budtender?

The very first dispensary I visited as a patient was Greenhouse Wellness. I was impressed by its modern design and cleanliness, but what made the experience unforgettable was the staff.

Everyone at Greenhouse makes you feel right at home and despite being employed at the time, I was ready to get into the industry and couldn’t think of a better place to start that journey than at Greenhouse Wellness.

After a series of persistent emails, calls, and store visits, I finally won that interview and was hired on the spot. I couldn’t have been happier!

How did Cannabis come into your life?

I’ve always been somewhat of a closet connoisseur because of my work history, however, since being diagnosed with epilepsy in 2018, I’ve taken a much deeper dive into the science and benefits behind the plant we all know and love.

One of the first things I noticed when I joined the industry was the knowledge gap that exists when it comes to Cannabis as a medicine, and for this reason I spend a lot of time educating myself so I can pass that knowledge on to patients.

Cannabis plays a huge role in my life and is just another reason why I love my job.

How do you prefer to use Cannabis?

I love flower. I’m a creature of habit and the ritual of rolling a joint is very enjoyable for me. I always try to get my hands on the latest strains on the market and make the best recommendations for patients and their needs.

What are your favorite strains and producers?

There have been so many great products put on the market lately.

As a flower person, I love getting into the chemical profiles and seeing how each strain differs from one another, and crunching data on what works for me and what may work for patients depending on their condition.

I have recently taken a liking to Banana Puddintain by SunMed and Purple Obeah by Evermore. With the quality and variety of products put out by all of Maryland’s growers and processors, there seems to be a new favorite almost weekly!

What are your hobbies outside of Cannabis?

Cannabis is a big part of my life, and when I’m not in the dispensary working, I’m either working from home or I’m doing some kind of learning for myself regarding Cannabis. If I don’t have my head buried in a textbook, you can find me taking spontaneous international trips whenever time and my wallet allows me to. I speak Russian as a second language and used to live in Ukraine, so I enjoy taking every opportunity to immerse myself in another culture and experience a different way of life.

Do you take Cannabis with you when you travel?

I do not. I try to find it while I’m there. I try to travel to places where I know the language - so like Spanish or Russian - and then I try to befriend someone in the local area. So, someone I can trust and get better quality stuff - but also someone who’s reliable unlike a stranger on the corner.

Is there a more widely accepted Cannabis culture in other countries?

Yes actually! A couple months ago I went to Colombia. There’s this island, San Andreas - a Colombian territory just south of Jamaica.

And there’s a huge Rastafarian population. So it is widely accepted there. It was almost like you could literally drive up to a bar on the side of the street, and with your beer you get a joint. It was really cool how it’s widely accepted - it’s just a part of the culture there. It was really cool.

Where do you want to travel?

I want to go to Amsterdam. I’ve never been to Amsterdam. Not just to go to the coffee shops, but to actually have a chance to get out to some of the grow facilities they have set up in some of their Dutchstyle greenhouses. That would be awesome.

GOT A FAVORITE BUDTENDER? TELL US WHY! WYATT@LEAFNATIONMD.COM

SHOP REVIEW

gLeafWellness Solutions THE STAFF AT THE DISPENSARY IS FRIENDLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT EVERYTHING CANNABIS, FROM TERPENES TO CULTIVATION OF THE PRODUCT.

leafnationmd.com

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A

new dispensary from a familiar name has arrived on the scene. Located near downtown Frederick, gLeaf Wellness Solutions opened their doors late last month and are welcoming the community with open arms. Considering that gLeaf has grown heavy hitters like Mai Tai, Grease Monkey and Blue Cheese, you will feel compelled to visit the dispensary. Your expectations for gLeaf Wellness Solutions should be met, because this shop has a welcoming and knowledgeable environment like none other. When you depart from gLeaf Wellness Solutions, both you and your wallet will be grinning from ear to ear.

Upon entering the dispensary, one immediately feels welcome and comfortable - all while knowing you’re going to have any medical needs met. The staff at the dispensary is friendly and knowledgeable about everything Cannabis, from terpenes to cultivation of the product. I left my transaction with more knowledge about Cannabis than I originally came in with, which should be the goal of any dispensary. The shop is large and spacious, with accessible seating and a private waiting area. Even during a time where there were many people in the same room, nothing felt cramped and my wait time was still minimal. The dispensary was incredibly busy, despite me visiting there at about 12:00 PM on a Tuesday, which to me was a good sign. After all, a dispensary full of people is usually a good sign that you came to the right place.

Despite being vertically integrated, gLeaf has an impressive menu that includes brands throughout Maryland. gLeaf carries not only their own products, but huge names like Culta, Curio, and Liberty.

Their menu is extensive in every category: flower, concentrates, topicals, and vaporizers. One could easily end up spending longer than they are used to deciding on what to get, as there are so many delightful options.

And their pricing is fair, especially with concentrates of most products only costing $50 a gram. gLeaf Wellness Solutions also sets themselves apart with a free delivery service that delivers anywhere in Maryland, except the Eastern Shore. This service is available to use right now, with the Eastern Shore option coming soon.

Anything on their menu can be delivered without worrying about gas, weather or traffic. This feature is incredibly useful for patients that may have a difficult time traveling to the dispensary. gLeaf Wellness Solutions clearly has the patient in mind as far as pricing, accessibility, and customer service. I find myself eagerly awaiting my next visit to Frederick so I have an excuse to visit again.

4606 WEDGEWOOD BLVD, FREDERICK, MD | GLEAF.COM | (800) 208-9333 | 10AM-7PM MONDAY-SATURDAY, 10AM-6PM SUNDAY

JUN. 2019

FLOWER

5/5 The flower selection was abundant and had many different strains from almost every brand, despite just recently opening.

EDIBLES

5/5 Tinctures, gummies, RSO, and tablets are all available for those looking for non-smokables. They have brands like Curio, Verano, and The Feel Collection.

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CONCENTRATE

5/5 The concentrate products are the most impressive part of their menu. The selection for concentrates has not only high end products, but also has them all priced fairly. Their cartridge menu is also extensive.

ENVIRONMENT

4/5 The staff is warm, knowledgeable, and inviting. The environment is ideal for any customer. However, one could find the interior design a bit lackluster.

OVERALL

19/20 gLeaf Wellness Solutions is the kind of dispensary I hope to see more of in Maryland as time goes on. The team behind gLeaf clearly takes pride in quality medicine and service, which is shown through their shop.

TODAY’SHAUL

I purchased from gLeaf both concentrate and flower, but what stood out was some Peanut Butter Breath bubble hash. The hash is processed by gLeaf and has a delicious taste on the exhale. I found the effects to be relaxing without being too sedating. This strain was great for managing mild anxiety and pain.

STORY by ARIANA FOOTE @INDICAWIFE/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS BY WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

GLEAF.COM

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

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PINEAPPLE KUSH

MDlEAF.COM

A

s we continue on our quest to better understand terpene profiles and which chemovars work best for us, it can become discouraging when profile after profile shows low total concentrations or highly similar terpene profiles, harvest after harvest.

The truth is that some terpenes are just far more common than others, and the nuances of growing that coax out terpenes are not common knowledge. It takes highly skilled growers like the ones over at HMS to produce not only a super terpy cultivar like Pineapple Kush - coming in at 3.86% total concentration - but a terpinolene dominant chemovar no less!

This makes the HMS Pineapple Kush a unicorn of a find! While there is no exact science to the culture of Cannabis terminology, briefly, I would define a chemovar as a plant with a profile containing a single terpene that exceeds 50% of the total concentration. With a total concentration of 3.86% terpenes, half of that total is 1.93%, which puts the Pineapple Kush just over the line of being considered a terpinolene chemovar - having 1.94% terpinolene concentration.

Terpinolene is not one of the most understood terpenes, but it is rapidly becoming prized for its unique flavor, aroma, and effects. Many terpenes have distinctive smells, and are easy to pick out with their specific citrus, woody, spicy, or floral aromas.

However, terpinolene exhibits an exquisite coalescence of woody, floral, and citrus all at once, creating cognitive sensations of an ocean grown jungle of fruits and rare trees, complemented by flowers floating about a warm summer breeze.

There have been studies wherein terpinolene was shown to be sedative in rat models, but there has been increasing amounts of anecdotal evidence that terpinolene synergizes with cannabinoids to create an energizing effect. I would invite everyone to remember a fundamental truth when considering their personal medication strategies: we each have our own unique amalgamation of biochemistry and we do not all

JUN. 2019

“IT TAKES HIGHLY SKILLED GROWERS LIKE THE ONES OVER AT HMS HEALTH TO PRODUCE A SUPER TERPY CULTIVAR LIKE PINEAPPLE KUSH.�

respond the same way to the same things, or even consistently to the same thing throughout our lives.

On our quest to map the personal biochemistry of our Cannabis treatment strategies, finding chemovars rich in individual terpenes is an excellent tool for exploring specific terpenes’ effects on your personal entourage effect. I personally am in the energizing camp and find terpinolene to be animating and focus inducing, much the same way I would expect a combination of pinene and limonene to stimulate me. With Pineapple Kush’s next two highest terpene concentrations being myrcene and caryophyllene, I find the energy to be slightly tempered to prevent too much mania or euphoria - something I am prone to. Often when exploring some of the more energizing effects of Cannabis, we can find ourselves in a manic and anxious place without realizing it. The myrcene and caryophyllene temper the aforementioned, and I feel offer a good safety net for exploring terpinolene as a stimulating chemovar for your daily medication.

Being one of the few growers to utilize humidity control packs in their packaging, HMS really makes an effort to have their well cured flower reach the patient in that ideally cured state, perfectly preserving moisture and terpene content. This makes a huge difference in the end experience for the patient, and for quality and flavor of smoke.

Pineapple Kush is one of the few cultivars that hit all the marks of providing an interesting and useful profile, that has been cured to a high degree, and then preserved pristinely from grow room to patient.

Every puff of the joint yielded a complete sensory experience in tune with my initial expectations from opening the packaging. Puff after puff produced a tropical buffet that lingered long after the exhale, dancing around my sinus cavities as a pleasant addition to sensory perception. Truly a wonderful flavor experience, I was also encouraged by my clear headed energetic reaction, as well as stimulatory focus.

Regardless of my reaction, I am very interested in yours! Please look to understand your own relationship with Cannabis profiles and share with the community.

Chemovars are rare finds in Maryland, so also pay attention when growers like HMS shine through with highly useful cultivar profiles - particularly when they demonstrate as much care for the patient experience as they do for company profits.

26.45% THC REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN @MDCANNAINSIDER | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

HMSHEALTHLLC.COM

THE TRAVEL ISSUE

GET YOURSELF

A HIKING HABIT...

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Cunningham Falls State Park

Frederick County, 14039 Catocin Hollow Rd. Thurmont Md 21788

Beautiful paths span across two unique and distinct areas, the Manor Area and the William Huock Area. You can find a lake with a beachfront atmosphere, as well as rich forest streams leading to natural waterfalls. Camping, hiking, canoeing and fishing are common activities but again, just getting out into nature is what it’s all about. This area is rich in plant life producing a robust atmosphere and hypnotic water element - useful to recreate in as well as to lend an added degree of serenity to a symptom-aiding experience.

SINCE THE SCIENCE OF FOREST BATHING HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED AND TERPENES ARE PRESENT IN ALL TYPES OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, WHY NOT INCORPORATE A LOW IMPACT HIKING HABIT INTO YOUR LIFESTYLE?

S leafnationmd.com

hinrin-yoku is the Japanese term for “forest bathing” referring to walking through forest spaces specifically to take in the terpene rich atmosphere of the forest for therapeutic benefit. A large portion of this environmental saturation technique relies on the fact that terpenes have a very real effect on our bodies, thus forest bathing is becoming a cornerstone of Japanese preventative healthcare.

Cannabis synergies with terpenes are becoming increasingly well understood and patients are incorporating aroma therapy, herbal teas, herbal smoking blends, and even forest bathing into their Cannabis treatment strategies to bolster their desired symptom relief. The use of terpene profiles and the appropriate entourage effect is itself becoming a cornerstone of Cannabis based healthcare. Since the science of forest bathing has been well documented and terpenes are present in all types of natural environments, why not incorporate a low impact hiking habit into your lifestyle?

Please never forget that your Cannabis is still a federally illegal substance and consumption on federal land is frowned upon and technically illegal. Please plan your hike accordingly to accommodate the law as you see fit.

JUN. 2019

Great Falls State Park Maryland Side, C&O Canal National Historic Park 11710 MacArthur Blvd. Potomac MD 20854

Every Marylander, let alone patient, should take the time to visit this amazing state park. Offering some of the most picturesque scenery and views in the state, with multiple viewpoints of some of the most powerful rapids in the country, Great Falls truly produces a powerful vibratory energy that is palpable on any number of trails available to explore. This park definitely has very difficult and challenging trails, but it also has quite casual, flat and easy trails - both of which are full of the vitality of the forest and Potomac River. Additionally, it has a blend of medium hikes which makes this park excellent for a patient building a physical training regimen that requires incremental degrees of difficulty.

Pataspsco State Park, McKeldin Area 11676 Marriotsville Rd. Marriottsville, MD 21104

The McKeldin Area is a great place to get some low impact activity done in nature that can get you forest bathing and moving in a fun, active environment. With wide trails parallel to the main and south branches of the Pataspco River, you get the added element of running water with your forest bathing experience. Both branches converge to create stretches of paths that are alive with rapidly rushing water, and the trails are large enough for horses to gently trot by. The park is also littered with casual walking disc golfers meandering around the park, enjoying a low impact activity offered free to the public.

Burnt Mills East Special Park and Northwest Branch 10701 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring MD 20901

Tucked away in an easy to overlook part of Silver Spring Maryland is one of the secrets of Maryland’s bouldering community. This very rocky, but easy to navigate path leads the patient through a maze of gigantic boulders that are at once wondrous to behold and tempting to climb. Indeed, many people come here specifically just to try to climb various rock puzzles at much lower height than traditional rock climbing. But whether you are interested in using your upper body to get in touch with your inner primate or not, one cannot deny the quiet calm and intimate space that the boulders create along the path. The boulders have waned over time and lead to a man made path along a scenic stream, where idyllic lighting creates one of those special blends of warmth and contentedness that is perfect for a tumultuous mind or pain ravaged body.

THE GREAT INDOORS. . .

Calvert Cliffs State Park 10540 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby MD 20657

Calvert Cliffs State Park has long gentle paths that span 24 miles of the Chesapeake Bay, offering easily accessible camping for an overnight, complete with 24/7 terroir immersion. While there is plenty of traditional Maryland forest around the park, this tidal cliffside forest contains the flora and fauna most influenced by the bay and will embody the terroir of Maryland itself. There are dazzling cliffs, where one might happen upon an ancient fossil as easily as a water polished stone, and there are accessible options for full immersion in the environment for maximum terpene exposure. As you quest to heal and maintain, please consider your own biology and the influence that the Chesapeake Bay played on your development, and take some time to recharge in a uniquely Maryland environment.

Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens 3100 Swann Dr Baltimore MD 21217 For those of you who don’t enjoy getting out into nature or don’t have the access, you can still find a way to enjoy a robust forest bathing experience in the heart of Baltimore City. This conservatory is a masterpiece of plant care, including five rooms with a distinctive terroir in each room. Patients can walk through and experience the terpene bouquets of plants from the Mediterranean room, the tropical room, the desert room, the orchid room, or the remarkable glass enclosed palm house.

STORY by TAYLOR MARTIN @MDCANNAINSIDER | PHOTOS from CREATIVE COMMONS

THE TRAVEL ISSUE

TOP 10

MUNCHIE SPOTS

A serious case of the munchies can be crippling if one is ill-prepared for the uptick in appetite - but fear not, as we ate our way across ten local restaurants that are sure to hit the spot for whatever you’re craving.

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FULLCIRCLEARTISANPALACE-$$

leafnationmd.com

Forget about Fractured Prune and Krispy Kreme donuts, and make the trip to Hampden to visit Full Circle Artisan Palace. With a background in the Cannabis industry in DC, owner Courtney Fix has firsthand munchies knowledge. Not only are these donuts tasty, but they are beautifully presented in a boutique bakery fashion (some are even infused with CBD). Our favorite donuts were the Chocolate Cardamom and the CBDinfused Birthday Cake Oreo.

KIPPORAMEN-$ A serious case of the munchies can be crippling if one is ill-prepared for the uptick in appetite - but fear not, as we ate our way across ten local restaurants that are sure to hit the spot for whatever you’re craving.

Ramen has always held a special place in my heart, and makes for the perfect meal after a joint or two. Kippo offers a variety of broths for you to choose from, our favorite being the Pork Tonkostu - a ton of food for $12. They also have a small menu of sushi, sashimi, and nigiri, plus a large selection of sake. Anime is projected onto the wall for you to watch with your meal. If you are a ramen lover like me, give Kippo a try.

JUN. 2019

BARCLAVEL-$ Hands down, our favorite place to get Mexican in Baltimore is Bar Clavel, also known simply as Clavel. A lively environment makes for an exciting evening out with friends full of tacos, ceviches, cocktails and mezcal. They even have a deconstructed Mexican street corn bowl titled “esquite.” They do not accept reservations, and they are only open for dinner during the weekday and brunch on Sundays. Make sure if you’re with a larger group, arrive before they open at 5:00 PM to ensure you get a table.

AZUMI-$$$ For some of the freshest fish and high end beef in Baltimore, flown in directly from Japan, head down to Azumi on the inner harbor. While Azumi is very pricy, the quality of the fish and meat cannot be beat. Our go-to meal here is the chirashi bowl and a side of wagyu fried rice. During this trip, we shared a 6.5 oz Miyazaki A5 Wagyu steak served with flames on the plate. Having recently built an outdoor patio bar, this is a great place to celebrate a night out with friends and family. Kudos to Atlas Restaurant Group for yet another amazing restaurant.

A mural outside r-house

R-HOUSE-$ With a group of indecisive eaters? With several different types of restaurants and a bar under one roof, R-House has something for everyone.

Indoor and outdoor self seating make this an easy place to roll up to any time of day. Our favorite dish was the sushi burrito / poke bowl.

Some of the other options include coffee / breakfast, handmade pizzas, arepas, shwarma, Mexican street corn, and even a fully vegan placed called Stall 11.

THEPOINTINFELLS-$$ The Point in Fells has a comfy feel to it, and the food from executive chef John Creger is excellent.

The service here also makes for a very pleasant experience, and we were never without something we needed. One of our favorite dishes was the Sriracha cauliflower, which not only was beautiful but packed a punch as well. The Point gets very busy for brunch during the weekends, so try to call ahead or arrive on the earlier side.

THEDELIATLIGHTHOUSELIQUORS-$$

Lighthouse Liquors is a great weekend hangout located right by the water in Canton. The craft beer selection is out of this world, including taps and bottles/cans, and limited releases too. They have a full service deli (with vegan options), beer by the glass, and an artisan cheese counter. During our most recent trip to Lighthouse, we had the “Foghorn,” a chicken cheesesteak sub with mushroom, onion, banana pepper, tomato, mayo, and provolone. One word - fire.

CHAPSPITBEEF-$ A Baltimore staple, Chaps Pit Beef has been serving up the best pit beef, turkey, pork, BBQ chicken, ribs, and sides since 1987. Odds are if you have lived in Baltimore a long time, you have heard of it. Chaps has been featured in the Washington Post, Food Network, Zagat, Man V. Food, Diners Drive Ins and Dives, the Travel Channel, and many more. Our favorite sandwich at Chaps is Guy Fieri’s creation Guy’s Triple D - which consisted of pit beef, corned beef, and sausage.

THEFOODMARKET-$$$

CAVA-$ Coming from Pikesville, Columbia may be a little out of the way for us, but Cava makes that drive well worth it. They allow you to build your own bowls and pita wraps with a wide variety of Greek inspired ingredients. Everything on the menu is responsibly and locally sourced, giving you a good feeling about what you’re eating. I always go with a brown rice bowl with braised lamb as my protein.

Baltimore Native Chef Chad Gauss is the owner and executive chef at The Food Market in Hampden. The food can be characterized as comfort food that has Chad’s twist on each one in a different way. We went during brunch on a Saturday afternoon, and the restaurant was full and lively.

We had Amish beer pretzels with cheese fondue, and some shrimp with grits to die for. Definitely make your way down to Hampden for a home cooked feel outside of your home.

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

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The Travel Issue

Find Your Strain of Music

Summer is upon us and festival season is officially aflame. But are you more sativa, indica or hybrid minded when it comes to your music? Consider these fine festival options for whatever your taste may be. . .

Sativa - High Energy EDM Music (Electronic Dance Music)

Electric Forest

Holy Ship! Wrecked

Electric Forest Festival is an eight-day, two-weekend, multi-genre event with a focus on electronic and jam band genres. It is held in Rothbury, Michigan, at the Double JJ Resort. The original event was called Rothbury Festival, debuted in 2008, and focused on jam bands and rock bands. Headlined by the ever popular The String Cheese Incident, and accompanied by bass heavy music like Bassnectar and Krygo, this camping festival is always super popular and sells out quickly every year.

After 8 years and 13 sailings, Holy Ship - previously a cruise has landed ashore in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Next year’s festival will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

This is the EDM music fesitval for those seeking a little bit of luxury with their music, a daily hot shower, and easy access to food and beverages. This is a chance to dance on a beautiful beach under the stars listening to some of your favorite and most talented performers in the world. Lineup to be announced.

Where: Rothbury, Michigan June: 27-30, 2019 Link: electricforestfestival.coM Phone: (323) 513-6222

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Where: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic When: January 22-26, 2020 Link: cloud9adventures.com Phone: (561) 368-8922

Hybrids - Jam Bands mixed with Electronica

The Peach Music Festival

Lockn Festival

The Peach Music Festival is a music festival started by The Allman Brothers Band and Live Nation Entertainment, that has been held annually since 2012 at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain and Montage Mountain Ski Resort in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Montage Mountain is a great location with many solid amenities and fun tree camping. This year’s lineup also includes members of the Grateful Dead, with Phil Lesh and Friends playing featuring Warren Haynes - who did a stint with The Dead when they performed after Jerry passed. Also performing is the Trey Anastasio Band, Baltimore’s own Pigeon Plays Pingpong, The String Cheese Incident, Lotus - just to name a few. Talk about a solid lineup! This is one of the best in the country this summer.

Lockn’ Festival, formerly known as Interlocken Music Festival, is an annual four-day music festival held at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia. The festival focuses primarily on jam bands and other music improvisation acts. Presented by the owners of Relix Magazine, this festival often includes members of the Grateful Dead, as well as Phish.

This year both Trey Anastasio of Phish and Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead will perform with their own solo acts. Also performing are upcoming starts Khruangbin, an interesting trip out of Texas playing unique surf style meets Texas twang, a must see! This is also a camping festival that offers general camping, as well as a VIP package that includes unique acoustic and electric late night performances.

MDlEAF.COM

Where: Scranton, Pennsylvania When: July 25-26, 2019 Link: thepeachfestival.com

JUN. 2019

Where: Arrington, Virginia When: August 22-25, 2019 Link: locknfestival.com

Festival. . .

Indicas - A BIT mellower than the other music festivals

Jam Cruise 18

Where: Miami Florida / Ocean Cays, Bahamas / Costa Maya, Mexico When: January 7-12, 2020 Link: jamcruise.com

Electric Zoo

Where: New York City When: August 30-September 1, 2019 Link: electriczoo.com Phone: 646-561-6400 Electric Zoo is an annual electronic music festival held over Labor Day weekend in New York City on Randall’s Island. The festival represents all genres of electronic music, bringing top international DJs and live acts from multiple countries to four stages. As the largest and longest-running electronic festival in the city, the park transforms into an electronic playground for a three-day, jam packed festival. Headliner acts include Excision, Zedd, Diplo, Cash Cash and Kaskade to name a few.

Jam Cruise embarks on its 18th cruise this year returning to the MSC Divina. This is a truly unique music experience, combining some of the top jam bands and electronic music with a luxury cruise hitting beautiful ports. The cruise has themed nights each year that inspire the “Jam Cruisers” as they are known, to incredible heights of creativity, making them a large part of the overall experience.

Music starts at 7:00 PM departure and goes until the wee hours of the morning in the infamous Jam Room - where you can see collaborations of artists that will only occur once in a lifetime. This year’s headliners include The Claypool Lennon Delirium, moe, Lettuce, Lotus, not to mention Baltimore’s own Cris Jacob’s Band and Pigeons Play Pingpong. Top that off with some sunny days in Ocean Cays, Bahamas as well as Costa Maya, Mexico. The food on the Jam Cruise is always pretty solid, with the highlight being the Chef’s at Sea Midnight buffets to fuel up for the late night Jam Room sessions, where collaborations of musical extremes occur. Add this all up and it makes for an amazing luxury musical experience.

Camp Bisco

Hot August Music Festival

Camp Bisco is the Northeast’s largest electronicrock festival, featuring three nights with over 100 performances. Hosted by the power house electronic band The Disco Biscuits, this festival features bands handpicked by the Disco Biscuits’ members that they want to promote and help their careers along. Big names like Bassnectar, Odesza, Tipper, STS9, and Humphrey’s Mcgee perform on the same stage as smaller acts. A bit rowdier then the other two hybrids, we will call this one a sativa dominant!

Hot August Music Festival is in its 27th year, brought to you by local promoters who have a love of the local music scene.

Baltimore’s own Pigeons Play Pingpong are the headliners, backed up by the always great Jerry Garcia Band, featuring organ virtuoso Melvin Seals. Locals The Old Part of Town, Cedric Burnside and Vanessa Collier will be holding down the Back to the Farm Stage. This is a great family oriented music festival, very children friendly, easy to attend, easy to get tickets to, park and have a great day. You are welcome to bring in small tents and set them up behind the main dance area, lawn chairs are permitted, and suntan lotion is a must!!!

Where: Scranton, Pennsylvania When: July 18-20, 2019 Link: campbisco.com

Where: Cockeysville, Maryland When: August 17, 2019 Link: hotaugustmusicfestival.com

STORY by EARLY/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS from CREATIVE COMMONS

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THE TRAVEL ISSUE

INTERVIEW WITH A PRESIDENT The tiny plane lurched to a stop in Leon, Mexico.

Among the normal passengers that day were a mix of attendees bound for Cannamexico to be held later that week. With a murder rate more than double that of Chicago, Leon didn’t attract many tourists, and it was easy to spot the only gringos on the plane.

leafnationmd.com

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former mexican president vicente fox

JUN. 2019

Rob, our cameraman, chatted up a group of seniors who seemed out of place. A talkative woman in a bright floral dress proudly announced that they were coming in from Orange County and would be guests of President Vicente Fox during their stay. My ears perked up at the mention of jefe Fox. One time Coca Cola Mexico CEO, Vicente Quesada Fox had been elected president in 2000 as member of the National Action party. His win represented a major cultural shift, defeating the Institutional Revolutionary party for the first time since 1910.

Fox himself had once joked that if Cannabis was legal in Mexico, even he would own a business in it - and we were here to interview him on just where he stood in the emerging Cannabis scene South of the border.

Signs written in Spanish guided us through the tiny airport as our trio made its way towards customs. An enforcement officer manning a podium checkpoint blocked our way. Next to her was a red button and she motioned for each passenger to press it as they passed by. I led up the rear behind Rob and Jeremy, watching as they took their turns at the button.

I had packed an ounce of good flower in my carry on and was now reconsidering my position heavily.

Rob and Jeremy passed through with ease and I maintained my nonchalance smiling warmly at the officer as I pressed the button firmly. The attendant frowned back as a red X appeared on the screen next to her.

Still frowning, the woman motioned me towards a second line. My stomach groaned as I saw what I was in for. Half a dozen people ahead of me, much gruffer looking enforcement officers thoroughly checking each bag, unfolding clothes and examining luggage for items that might be secreted away.

It had never occured to me that the police would be looking for something coming into Mexico, and I cursed myself silently for indulging in my need for good American weed abroad.

Looking around for an out I realized that the woman from Orange County had also been diverted with a friend and was now complaining loudly behind me. “I think they’re confused,” she stated plainly, motioning towards the attendant. She turned to the operator of one of the other baggage lines.

“Excuse me sir,” she said though the man clearly spoke no English and was doing his best to convey that to her. “I think

they put us in the wrong line. We’re just going to go,” she said again as if the man could understand her.

I jumped in place next to her like an overgrown grandchild, resuming Rob’s conversation from the plane as she headed for the exit. No one protested as I held the exit door open passing into Leon, Mexico with our luggage unmolested.

I let out a sigh of relief catching back up to face the jeers of the crew.

A small bus had been there to greet us and I collected my thoughts on the drive through Guanajuato towards Centro Fox. Since his time in office, Vincente had taken some interesting board seats, most notably among them High Times Magazine and a Colombian Cannabis company by the name of Khiron. It was clear that the ex president wanted to position himself in the Cannabis sector, and I was here to ask him how exactly legal Cannabis was to take place amidst the chaos of the cartels - which currently controlled the illicit drug trade in Mexico including marijuana.

The farmers themselves were paid a few hundred pesos a kilo and contributed little to the violence making headlines. No one could believe that making Cannabis legal would somehow force out the illegal players, but maybe legalization meant a better life for the farmers who now faced random prosecution. It had only worked for a small few back in the states. Many had found themselves shut out of an industry they helped create after recreational took over.

Our bus arrived at the gates of a large compound, a guard waved the driver to enter, and we pulled into an ornate roundabout centered with a fountain and a large eagle rising out of it. I all but rubbed my eyes. The stark comparison between the poverty outside and the wealth inside was shocking. Large bullet ridden walls encircled hacienda de Fox and included the vaulted library next door, which sat below ground level.

It was billed as a hotel but every guest was there by the request of Mr. Fox, and the place seemed to be coming alive for our arrival.

Fountains hummed to life and workers added water to the pool. An attendant greeted us with margaritas giving us a brief tour of the grounds.

Our interview with the ex president was set to begin the following day, and we settled in for a night of drinking, smoking, and eating with some of Vincente’s staff who fawned over the imported Tangie I had snuck in my bag.

I paced around my room the following morning with a joint hanging from my lips. The time zone was fucking with me and I had woken up earlier than I needed to. The sun was already streaming in through the cracks and I could smell food being cooked below me as I opened the wooden shutters to peer out. It was 6:30 A.M. but the hacienda was abuzz with action.

A female tucane sounded loudly from her cage as if directing the commotion, and I couldn't help but think of Pablo’s hippos.

The crew was up now, by the time President Fox made his first appearance they had already finished breakfast and were nervously going through an equipment checklist. Mr. Fox’s assistant Victor checked in with us.

“The president is ready,” he announced in perfect english, his arms open wide to convey his excitement. Victor was a clean cut kid in his mid 20s who had played soccer in school and was now the smiling face of Vincente’s Cannabis interests, and our point of contact while we were in Mexico. We had met in Spain, becoming fast friends and had spent the previous night getting high and exchanging war stories in the rear of the hacienda.

I followed Victor to an open corridor where Rob had arranged a small interview area near the President’s private suite. Mr Fox’s imposing figure came out to greet me. He was well over 6 feet and still carried himself with the regal air of a once president extending his hand to greet me.

“Good afternoon Mr. Jonah,” he said smiling. His grip was firm and his hand steady. “Good afternoon Mr. President, it’s an honor,” I replied almost grinning. Rob gave us the thumbs up from the camera and we took our seats.

It had never occured to me that the police would be looking for something coming into Mexico, and I cursed myself silently for indulging in my need for good American weed abroad.

I could tell the first few minutes of the interview were routine for him, as he pantomimed responses he had given a hundred reporters in the past.

We worked our way through the easy stuff as I circled towards the question I really cared about. “What did all this mean for the cartels?” I finally blurted out. I could tell the question paused him but he responded quickly. ”The way I see it is that we all together were able to take this plant - this beautiful plant - from the criminals who made wrong use of this beautiful plant, and now it is in the hands of the entrepreneurs,” he stated, explaining that the farmer who was currently engaged with the cartel would now be a legitimate business man.

I frowned at his response as I calculated my own.

“If the cartels currently control Cannabis in Mexico, isn't it illogical to think that legalizing Cannabis would take away from their market share? Wouldn’t it just allow the same players to operate in the light?” I asked. This time it was Mr. Fox who was smiling at me. “Of course,” he said. “But we have to allow the players to make the transition to becoming legitimate businessmen.”

He was right of course.

Cannabis in the U.S. wasn't given to us, we had taken it. Through the voting system, but we had taken it nonetheless.

Most of us had come from the black market in some way or another - illegal growers and extractors all quietly setting up clandestine businesses that would one day become legitimate operations.

Who knew where all this was headed but one thing was for sure, Mexico was a production region and they wanted in.

Cannamex was a relative success, drawing in interested parties from around the region. Ed Rosenthal railed against alcohol from the mainstage as complimentary drinks were served from the back, and Dr. Dina gave a speech about the importance and dangers of celebrity brands to an attentive crowd who listened via translators.

As we boarded the Aeromexico jet bound for home, I thought back on the scene we had witnessed.

For the guys in suits this was about national exportation, about emerging markets, and staking a claim not just on a state but on the whole world. For better or for worse, Cannabis was getting bigger - and for now I was just happy to have a place in it...

STORY by JONAH TACOMA FOR MARYLAND LEAF

35

THE TRAVEL ISSUE leafnationmd.com

36

heaven or humboldt?

Taking a trip through California’s majestic Redwood Forest and beaches has been a favorite travel destination of mine since my first visit over a decade ago.

Northern California forests are truly a natural wonder, full of the mysteries of creation, peculiar and unique species of forest animals, and lush plant life. On the coast, where the ancient giant Redwoods meet the sea, the ocean waves flood the rocks and caves, drenching the driftwood of the giants until they petrify. There is a sense of magic and mystery in the splendor of this forest’s offerings - it reminds me that Mother Nature always provides what we need, if we can take the time to connect and find gratitude for her gifts.

JUN. 2019

A SHORT CAR RIDE INLAND AND EASTWARD, down the 36 from the 101, led us down a country road lined with blossoming wildflowers and surrounded by majestic forested hills. We arrived in the evening, when the tree cover blocks out any trace of light, leaving us in a darkness that even swallowed up the high beams, allowing only a few feet of dimmed light in front of us.

I saw the evening lights and heard the laughter increase as we finally approached the farm. I realized quickly that the pictures I saw prior to arrival had not captured the grandeur of the property. This feeling, these vibes, the inviting smell of the herb, the bright celestial blanket of millions of stars could never be seen in a photo anyway.

Warm amber lights lined a white washed wooden fence that bordered the property. As we turned in, our path was illuminated by an amber lit apple orchard. I could tell by their incredible size that they had been growing and sustaining life there since the farm’s origins.

A warm summer night’s breeze blew through the sheer linens in the window, wafting out laughter, a dank aroma, and the smell of Chef Desiree’s filet, grilled to perfection with a creamy red wine and wild mushroom reduction. It was then that I finally got to meet Chef Desiree Robinson, a mother, wife, boss, and master of her culinary craft. As if my senses were not already aroused and euphoric, she proceeded to let us know that she would be making breakfast fresh weed waffles, topped with house made vanilla whipped cream and Rebel Moon maple syrup. I am never leaving, I thought to myself.

About that time, she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a few ingredients that were obviously homemade, clothed in huge mason jars. “What is that?” I asked in anticipation. She told me those were very special hemp oils, infused with medicinal farm herbs, and set with intention for healing and enlightenment. All handmade by Sunshine Johnston of Sunboldt Grown. It was clear their ambition was driven by a vision for the future of our health, wellness, and for betterment of her community for future generations to come.

Our menu choices of her healing medicines were truly a gift from the Earth: -Wanderlust Olive Oil blood orange & fennel salad with roasted beets, goat cheese and toasted walnuts.

With the recent wave of Cannabis legalization, when I travel to recreational states, I can now also expand my nearby travel interests to include the scoop on the local “green market” activity, just to see what’s shaking in that county -Pennywise CBD Hemp Oil – ever so slightly drizzled in warm butternut squash soup with bacon and sage.

As she recited the description of these unique dishes, I thought to myself with a big sigh, “Okay, I can’t stay here forever and eat, I have things to do. But maybe a few extra days won’t hurt?”

With the recent wave of Cannabis legalization, when I travel to recreational states, I can now also expand my nearby travel interests to include the scoop on the local “green market” activity, just to see what’s shaking in that county, and seek out more experiences like Riverbar Pharms. Most licensed Cannabis companies are not able to market and advertise themselves the same way, or as effectively as traditional companies can.

Cannabis gets treated like the tobacco industry in that regard, and it is very frustrating to those fighting to change the stigma of it all. Some common sites that restrict or delete any Cannabis and hemp content include Google Ads, Instagram and Facebook, Yelp, and ticket platforms like Eventbrite and StubHub. As Cannabis brands, you could not promote on these without fear of being shut down or losing revenue and attendee contacts.

Be in the know. You really have to know where and how to search the web to discover the greener goods and local happenings in the Cannabis industry. Despite legalization, most Cannabis companies face a daunting uphill battle to promote themselves effectively in any mainstream media markets.

Companies like Eventhi.io, founded by tech revolutionary Ali Fahkri, are solving these challenges by pioneering a promotion platform that has fostered a growing edge in the Cannabis events industry for the last several years. They set out initially to simply provide the industry with a safer, less costly but equally as effective, alternative to Eventbrite type sites that were creating havoc amongst small business owners.

Although the words Cannabis and hemp are not usually a choice you can filter out on Trip Advisor’s drop down menu, you can still find the

finer things in life by just going and experiencing the local scene and asking around at the nearby dispensaries.

Can you imagine if your filter options included things like: • Fresh ingredients every meal organic and raised/harvested within 10 miles • Michelin Star quality cuisine • Renowned chef to personalize all of your meal requests • A weed fairy, aka licensed Cannabis delivery service in Humboldt • CBD massages and wellness gurus at your beckon call • Plant alchemists to introduce you to new concepts and nature’s secrets • Bed & Breakfast guest Krayzie Bone, a member of the Grammy winning hip-hop group, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, to take you on a forest hike, to a lost beach coastline, and introduce you to his new Cannabis brand, “Strains of Legends.”

I experienced all of these things and more at my recent visit to Riverbar Pharm’s Bed & Breakfast. Like most girl bosses, Chef Desiree Robinson has completely transformed the original 1904 farmhouse into one of the most progressive hospitality establishments in America. With the help of her husband and talented team, they are cultivating the beginning of a new kind of hybrid industry between hospitality and health.

Next up for this dynamic team is the potential for the first ever Cannabis café in Eureka California. Chef Desiree wants to combine her world class culinary experience with Cannabis in all aspects. If approved, she would host a daytime café serving raw CBD juices & CBD espresso, and in the evening a more delectable upscale dinner menu, plus a smoking lounge.

On site will be mandatory parking spaces, with drivers during all operating hours for guests’ safety. They also have plans to create a first run protocol for the state, by training restaurant staff to monitor and regulate tolerance to avoid over consumption.

This sustainable business model for the Cannabis industry in Humboldt did not legally exist in the United States before them. This peaceful sanctuary is not just a stoner’s utopian fantasy - it is in fact, very real. Unless this could be Heaven? Or were we still just in Humboldt?

STORY AND PHOTOS by CLEOPATRA COHEN for MARYLAND LEAF

37

THE TRAVEL ISSUE

38

luxx retreat

Located in beautiful Denver, CO, this luxurious, Cannabis-friendly bed and breakfast offers travelers the chance to enjoy some of the region’s finest herbs, all in a relaxing and soothing atmosphere.

Q & A | Owners wyatt beebe & max shine

What inspired you to start a Cannabis friendly bed and breakfast? We were both working at a

medical/recreational dispensary in Fort Collins a couple of years ago, and due to how close we were to the Wyoming border a lot of the clients we dealt with were out of state tourists looking to indulge in the exciting Cannabis market.

One day in particular, we had several groups of tourists, back to back, each group spending hundreds of dollars at a time. The question they all seemed to ask at the end of their transaction was “Where do I go to smoke this?” And at the time, the only answer was nowhere. We watched countless groups of people get frustrated, scared, and confused at how to legally and safely use the product they had just invested so much in. Thus, the idea for Luxx Retreat was born.

Should people be nervous to smoke weed at Luxx?

There’s no need to be nervous as a Cannabis consumer at Luxx Retreat. Our focus has always been guest experience and the ability to ensure that everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, can feel comfortable and refreshed when they stay with us. Everything we provide and the way we provide it is legal and in compliance with local authorities. Our home is comfortable and inviting, close enough to downtown that necessities are still convenient, but just far enough away you avoid the sirens and hum of the city.

We also maintain about 18 different consumption devices that are all free and available for use, so whether you’re a veteran or brand new to the world of Cannabis, there is something pleasant and efficient for you to consume with.

now that psilocybin is decriminalized in colorado, can people consume mushrooms?

leafnationmd.com

As for the use of psilocybin mushrooms at Luxx Retreat, we at Luxx are very proud of our local community in becoming active in advocating for their own rights in self treatment and personal liberty. However, the focus of Luxx Retreat now and for the foreseeable future is to provide amazing experiences enriched with Cannabis to our guests.

what made you call the b&b, Luxx? We have a unique eye for detail that seems to be sorely lacking in our sector. Everything from the consumption devices, to the artwork on the walls and species of indoor plants, was specifically chosen to enrich the space and make it ultra luxurious. We put the time and resources into researching the best of the best when it comes to the dispensaries and service providers we choose to network with. It’s the extra amount of compassion and diligence we put in to maintain our own high standards that makes all of the actual luxury possible.

JUN. 2019

What additional experiences do you offer?

We hand selected our network of service providers so we could be sure to have industry leaders in quality and compliance with us. Currently we offer black car service, private massage, yoga, private chefs, guided meditation, and a grow facility tour. All of our services (except the tour because it’s at a licensed facility) are all either Cannabis infused, or Cannabis friendly. Most of our services are in-home, as well as polite and affordable.

what is the coolest story you can share about someone’s stay at luxx? We respect our

guest’s privacy a lot, so without giving away too much, we can say that we’ve helped people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and friendship.

The coolest story is always getting to be there when a guest consumes Cannabis for the first time. The reactions, emotions, and comments are so pure and honest, there’s nothing else like it.

What are your future goals for Luxx?

We strive to be an international company, a global leader in luxury Cannabis accommodations and a helping hand to short term rental operators who just can’t seem to make their property reach the potential they know it has. Making money was never the main goal and that won’t change for us, from the get go we’ve strove to help bring up the people around us. We’re already starting to set trends in the canna-tourism industry and we certainly intend to keep leading the way.

LUXX RETREAT / DENVER, COLORADO / HISTORIC 3-BR VACATION HOME ACCOMODATES UP TO 8 GUESTS CONTACT@LUXXRETREAT.COM (720) 353-4244 @LUXXRETREAT

Why choose Denver for Canna-tourism?

Denver has been a talking point for Cannabis for almost two decades now, and in a lot of aspects it’s still ground zero for the industry. We were the first state (along with Washington) to legalize recreational Cannabis and that has given us a major advantage in being able to develop our market, culturally and technologically. So for real Cannabis enthusiasts, Denver is a can’t-miss tourist stop. And because product purchased in the state can’t leave the state, the only way to enjoy all the high quality and unique Cannabis products in Colorado is to come to Colorado!

Do you consume Cannabis with the guests?

Some people like in person demonstrations or just to sit and smoke and get to know us as their hosts. We have a tolerance higher than the average consumer so it’s easy for us to partake with a group without becoming intoxicated. We cannot provide any Cannabis or marijuana infused products, so anything that gets consumed has to be purchased by the guest and then shared with us. Cannabis is a really amazing socialization tool that lets people interact more openly, it’s been incredible to see.

Where do you see Cannatourism in five years?

Federal legalization will be the most influential factor for canna-tourism in the coming future. If we do go legal nationwide it will be an interesting thing to watch play out, because from what we’ve learned canna-tourism doesn’t follow regular hospitality trends. Non-traditional, one of a kind, and experience based vacations are proving to be desirable to travelers.

Everything from the consumption devices, to the artwork on the walls and species of indoor plants, was specifically chosen to enrich the space and make it ultra luxurious.

INTERVIEW BY MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS COURTESY LUXX RETREAT

39

/ MDLEAF @MARYLANDLEAF

L E A F N AT I O N M D . C O M

RECIPES

Summer Desserts

ORANGE CAKE WITH WHIPPED YOGURT AND BLUEBERRIES Serves 12

Baking spray 1 cup plus one tablespoon EVOO 4 tablespoons canna-oil 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 ¼ cups whole milk ½ cup orange juice zest of one orange 1 ¾ cups sugar 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder Powdered sugar for dusting 1 cup Greek yogurt, whipped* 1 cup blueberries

42

WE’RE STEPPING UP THE FANCY FACTOR THIS MONTH FROM OUR MORE CASUAL APPROACH. SINCE IT’S JUNE AND NOT TOO HOT TO BAKE YET (AND THERE’S LOTS OF FRESH STUFF TO BAKE WITH) COOKING AND EATING SEASONALLY IS A MUST. #DONTFEARTHEEDDIBLE

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE Serves 8

leafnationmd.com

2 large eggs, lightly beaten ¼ cup granulated sugar 2 ½ cups heavy cream 2-3 tablespoons melted and cooled canna-butter 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (about 1 cup) 1. In an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar for 4-5 minutes.

2. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of the cream with the canna-butter until just before boiling. Allow to cool for 3 minutes. Slowly pour the hot cream into the egg mixture and combine with the mixer on low.

3. Return the hot liquid to the saucepan and cook for five minutes, stirring constantly. It will thicken. Do not let it come to a boil. Remove from the heat and add in the chips, stirring until melted. Chill mixture for two hours.

4. In the bowl of the electric mixer, whip the remaining cream until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the chilled chocolate mixture. Use a rubber spatula, and fold until the cream is no longer visible. Serve plain or with a dollop of freshly whipped cream.

JUN. 2019

1. Heat oven to 325. Cut a piece of parchment to fit the bottom of a 9-in. springform pan. Spray with baking spray.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oils and eggs, whisking well to combine. Add the milk, juice, zest and whisk to incorporate. Whisk in sugar.

3. Add dry ingredients and mix ‘til combined (don’t overmix).

4. Pour the batter into prepared pan and place on a baking sheet. Bake 65-70 min.

Cake should be golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Top with whipped yogurt and blueberries.

*Whipped yogurt - in the bowl of an electric mixer, combine 8 ounces of Greek yogurt, 6 ounces of heavy cream, 3 tablespoons honey, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine all the ingredients and whip for 4-5 minutes. Start on low to avoid cream flying all over the place.

43

STRAWBERRIES WITH MASCARPONE Serves 4

2 cups washed and trimmed strawberries, sliced 1-2 tablespoons sugar, (optional) 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ½ cup honey 4 teaspoons canna-oil 1 cup mascarpone

1. In a large bowl, toss the berries with the lemon juice and add optional sugar.

2. In a small bowl, combine the honey with the canna-oil.

3. Divide the berries between four serving bowls. Place a dollop of the mascarpone on top of the berries and drizzle infused honey.

RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF

Concentrate of the Month

Grapefruitz

by EVERMORE

44

“AS A LOW TEMP DAB, THE VAPOR WAS HARDLY MORE THAN A TICKLE ON MY THROAT - SMOOTH AND BOISTEROUS WITH AN IMMEDIATE RUSH OF CALM, CLEAR-HEADED EUPHORIA.”

MDlEAF.COM

TESTING DATA:

75.45% THCA | 2.05% THC | 2.06% CBGA | 0.30% CBG ~ Total Terpenes: 11.847% ~ 0.291% a-Pinene | 0.394% β-Pinene | 0.209% β-Myrcene | 3.999% β-Caryophyllene | 1.719% Limonene | 2.542% Linalool | 0.938% Nerolidol | 1.559% Humulene | 0.196% Terpinolene

E

vermore demonstrates their love of Cannabis by exploring some of the craftiest Cannabis products in existence. And by explore, I mean succeed in creating a truly exceptional medicine. It’s here that the complete spectrum of the Grapefruitz genetic (Grape Ape x Grapefruit)

JUN. 2019

is refined into the creamy, resinous rosin and preserved for us to enjoy as a community.

The inhale and exhale were packed with fruity, almost candy like flavors, changing slightly between breaths and leaving a nice aroma of grape, papaya, and lime floating around my sensory palate. As a low temp dab, the vapor was hardly more than a tickle on my throat - smooth and boisterous with an immediate rush of calm, clear-headed euphoria.

As previously reviewed, the Grapefruitz flower has been grown by Evermore with great expression of the plant’s genetics, and this very much carries over into the extract. In the flower, I noted a low myrcene concentration combined with a linalool dominance, and we can see a similar profile, but clearly a different batch.

With over 11% total terpenes on this beauty I

knew I was in for a flavorful dab. The hash rosin did not fail its reputation as a quality craft product, lending itself to be a distinctly smoother, creamier experience than the run of the mill concentrate.

This batch did contain over 2.5% linalool, but the most dominant terpene at 4% is caryophyllene - which increases its potential to be a crowd favorite profile. Caryophyllene dominant profiles tend to notably stimulate the entourage effect by binding to our CB2 receptors, synergizing many of the same effects as CBD, as well as snowballing the effects of the other terpenes in its bouquet to enhance the therapeutic intentionality of the patient.

Overall, if you are looking for one of the most flavorful, robust, euphoric and unique craft experiences available in Maryland, please consider Evermore’s Fresh Frozen Grapefruitz Hash Rosin!

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN @MDCANNAINSIDER | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

INTRODUCING DISCOS

TM

Dance Your Pain Away Now Available in Maryland Dispensaries • Made with Full Extract Cannabis Oil • FECO contains pure cannabinoids & the full entourage of cannabis compounds • FECO allows varietal nuances to burst through Ingredients: raspberry juice blend, honey, gelatin, organic cane sugar, lemon juice, FECO, citric acid, potassium sorbate, organic mct No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.

Do not store in a hot car.

For use only by qualifying patient.

www.evermorecompany.com © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Evermore Cannabis Company

STONEY BALONEy

46

Pot-Purri

leafnationmd.com

My roommate had a bag of Funyuns. I had a bag of Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos. My other friend had brought over a bag of Sour Cream Ruffles with ridges that he mistakenly left on the coffee table the night before next to the bong, the rolling tray, and the dab rig.

There was a Domino’s pizza box with a couple slabs left over, too. We heated up the pizza and placed one slice on two separate plates, then as a side dish, combined three handfuls of each style of chip and mixed them all together. We called this dinner a Pot-Purri.

One time my cat, whose name is Todd, nibbled a bud that had somehow trickled its way underneath the recliner, where it sat undiscovered for months. Well, when Cannabis gets aged, the THC slowly degrades into CBN through oxidization - creating a very relaxed, sedated result when used. So, when the effects started to take hold, Todd proceeded to find his favorite spot in the apartment - atop the pile of dirty laundry, right next to the water heater in the pantry - and didn’t move for 24 hours other than to get up, take a drink of water, dine on some Fancy Feast, and comfortably poop. There were a couple times we thought to take his pulse to make sure he was still alive, if it weren’t for the continuously vibrating circadian motor in his chest, accentuated by an unmistakable Cheshire smile. We called this Pot-Purri.

And by the way, last time I was in Pier 1 Imports with my girlfriend I saw this $16 bag of dried bark and walnut shells that smelled like grandma’s foot deodorant. They called that Pot-Purri.

What the hell is this world coming to?

JUN. 2019

More episodes at stoney-baloney.com

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