April 2019 - Maryland Leaf

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THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

ISSUE #4 | APRIL 2019

TEAM JAPAN MINI BOT ROBOT BY JOE PETERS, JUNICHI “ROSE ROADS” KOJIMA, DISK GLASS, ANDYOSHINORI KONDO, 2018.

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TABLE OF

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GEMINI GLASS

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Clear/Illumiinati Cobalt and Pink Glassket / $500

The Glass Issue

PHOTO by DANIEL APR. BERMAN2019 @BERMANPHOTOS

7 8 12 15 16 18 22 24 28-29 40 32 44 47

Editor’S Note Cannabis News opinion HIGHLY LIKELY BUDTENDER ACCESS PATIENT STRAIN GLASS FEATURE RECIPE GARDEN CONCENTRATE STONEY BALONEY


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*SYNERGY Cool coming 2019



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t’s April, and at Maryland Leaf, that means it’s time to treat your eyes to our special issue featuring exquisitely beautiful and functional glass. This month we look at some national glass artists and their work, but also at two rising Maryland artists, Glasgow and Quasar, and we interview an anonymous private collector with some truly astounding Japanese pieces. Whether you enjoy art glass for medicating, or just to collect, we’re sure you’ll be blown away (no pun intended) by the gorgeous photos in this special issue. And be sure to join us at our booth at the Cannabis Science Conference, April 8-10 at the Baltimore Convention Center (see page12-13). It’s the world’s largest and most technical Cannabis science expo, pulling together Cannabis industry experts, instrument manufacturers, testing labs, research scientists, medical practitioners, policy makers, and interested novices to discuss the science behind our beloved plant. Baltimore icons Ricki Lake and Montel Williams headline the roster. Register with the code LEAF25 to get 25% off, then stop by our booth and say hello to the Leaf team! Finally, we’d like to thank everyone who came out to our very first Maryland Leaf party, a special tribute to the Maryland Cannabis industry, last month at the 8x10 in Federal Hill. It was a tremendous success and we loved meeting and mingling with so many of our friends and colleagues. Stay tuned for future special events for both the industry and our readers. We have a lot in store, so don’t miss an issue!

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WRITERS

WES ABNEY WES@NWLEAF.COM 206-235-6721

MICHAEL HUGHES STEVE ELLIOTT PACER STACKTRAIN TAYLOR MARTIN ERIC EDELSTEIN NATE WILLIAMS LAURIE WOLF SPENCER IMBACH

PUBLISHER EARLY EARLY@LEAFNATIONMD.COM

EAST COAST CREATIVE DIRECTOR BRANDON PALMA @BRANDONPALMA @8THDAYCREATE

MEDICAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR IAN NEWMAN, DC CCSP IAN@LEAFNATIONMD.COM 301-305-0002

NATIONAL EDITOR MEGHAN RIDLEY

Michael Hughes

MARYLAND EDITOR

Editor

marylandleaf

MICHAEL HUGHES MICHAEL@LEAFNATIONMD.COM

PHOTOGRAPHERS MICHAEL HUGHES WYATT EARLY DANIEL BERMAN JOSH STIFLER BRUCE WOLF

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ILLUSTRATION/DESIGN 8THDAYCREATE

ON THE COVER TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CONTACT MEDICAL/NATUROPATHIC IAN NEWMAN, DC CCSP IAN@LEAFNATIONMD.COM 301-305-0002 PRODUCERS/PROCESSORS/RETAILERS WYATT EARLY WYATT@LEAFNATIONMD.COM 410-961-8779 Team Japan Mini Bot Robot by Joe Peters, Junichi “Rose Roads” Kojima, Disk Glass, and Yoshinori Kondo, 2018. Background Design by 8THDAYCREATE.COM Find more on pages 30-39

LEA F NAT IO N M D. CO M This publication is distributed to licensed and approved Maryland MMJ dispensaries and doctors for their 21 and over patients and patrons

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national news

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health

STUDY: DAILY USE OF HIGH POTENCY HERB HEIGHTENS THE RISK FOR PSYCHOSIS A recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry purports to underline the link between Cannabis use and mental health, providing some detail about whom is at risk. “Our study shows that daily Cannabis use, especially of high potency Cannabis, is strongly linked to the risk of developing psychosis,” lead author Marta Di Forti of King’s College London wrote. The researchers define this as the risk of developing DEFINED AS DEVELOPING a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia, and having symptoms A PSYCHOTIC DISORDER such as hearing voices and experiencing delusions or paranoia. SUCH AS SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND HAVING SYMPTOMS They studied 901 patients who had their first psychotic episode and SUCH AS HEARING VOICES a further 1,237 patients who had never had such an episode. They AND EXPERIENCING found that daily Cannabis use, and the use of highly potent strains, DELUSIONS OR PARANOIA. were both correlated with a higher rate of psychosis. The risk of psychosis, to keep things in perspective, is just one in 20,000 as a result of Cannabis use, notes Ian Hamilton, a University of York mental health and addiction specialist. “I think we have to be careful that we don’t exaggerate the risk,” Hamilton said.

WEIRD

TRENDS

POLICE ARREST WOMAN WHO HANDED OUT EDIBLES ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY

AMERICAN’S SUPPORT FOR CANNABIS LEGALIZATION REACHES NEW HIGH

A Wisconsin woman was arrested after handing out marijuana-infused cookies at a St. Patrick’s Day parade, according to police. Cathleen Krause, 57, was charged with delivering THC, possession of THC, and three counts of possession of a controlled substance, reports WBAY-TV. According to a witness, a woman dressed in a leather coat and green hat gave her a cookie with marijuana in it, according to a Shawano County Sheriff’s Office affidavit. That witness then gave the cookie to deputies. The deputies later tracked down Krause, whom they claimed was “visibly intoxicated” and smelled of alcohol and marijuana, according to the affidavit.

The majority of Americans who say Cannabis should be legal coast to coast keeps growing. Support for legal weed hit 61% in 2018, up from 57% two years earlier, according to the General Social Survey. This trend survey is highly respected, according to the Associated Press. The GSS has been measuring support for legal marijuana since the 1970s. The increased support for legalization holds across all age groups and political parties. The poll, taken in 2018, is the first in which a majority of Republicans expressed support for legal Cannabis at 54% approval, up from 45% in 2016. Among Democrats, an overwhelming 76% now favor legalization. Among age groups, 18-to-34-yearolds express the strongest support for legalization, at almost 75%. But oldsters are coming aboard, too. 46% of those 65 and older say Cannabis should be legal, up from 42% two years ago. Most Americans now live in places where marijuana is legal either recreationally or medically. Ten 18-TO-34-YEARstates allow adult OLDS EXPRESS recreational use, with THE STRONGEST at least 30 states now SUPPORT FOR allowing medical use. LEGALIZATION, Meanwhile, the AT ALMOST 75%. laggardly federal government still officially classifies Cannabis as a Schedule I drug, as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than Schedule II methamphetamine or cocaine. “Our time has come,” said Justin Strekal, political director of NORML. “Never in modern history has there existed greater public support for ending the nation’s nearly century-long experiment with marijuana prohibition.”

JUSTICE

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ARIZONA SUPREME COURT WEIGHS EXACTLY WHAT IS MEDICAL CANNABIS? The Arizona Supreme Court held oral arguments on March 19th to clarify exactly what is considered medical marijuana in the state. The case, State v. Rodney Jones, stems from a 2013 arrest in Yavapai County. Jones, a medical marijuana cardholder, was charged with a crime for possessing hashish. An appeals court later ruled that medical marijuana only applies to the dried leaves and flowers of the Cannabis plant, not extracted resin and oils from the plant, including hash. These extracts are in Cannabis edibles and other products used by patients who can’t smoke marijuana, or choose not to. A ruling is expected from the court in about three months.

APR. 2019

OREGON

NEW BALLOT INITIATIVE WOULD PROTECT INDOOR AND OFF-THE-JOB CANNABIS CONSUMPTION Three Cannabis industry leaders in Oregon filed a ballot initiative on March 18th which would alter state laws to allow indoor Cannabis consumption, and to protect workers who consume weed during their off time. The initiative is titled the “Legalization Justice Act of 2020.” It directs the state to petition the federal government to allow for the sale of marijuana across state lines (Oregon Cannabis farmers would certainly love to see THAT), and to redistribute more Cannabis tax dollars to minority communities “disproportionately affected by the failed War on Drugs.” The initiative’s backers—Leia Flynn, Madeline Martinez and Angela Bacca—refer to themselves as the “Oregon Justice League” in initiative documents. Twenty-five percent of Cannabis tax dollars, under the act, would go toward funding and promoting small, minorityowned businesses and to creating micro-lending initiatives. Another 25% would subsidize low-income medical Cannabis patients who don’t have access to growers. The remaining 50% would “continue to be used at the state’s discretion.” Initiative’s backers propose removing “the discriminatory provision under the Oregon Indoor Clean Act so that Cannabis users can inhale inside.” This provision would allow the operation of Cannabis cafes. The backers also suggest that patients with incurable or chronic illnesses be issued lifetime medical Cannabis patient cards through the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, and for organ recipients to not be removed from the United Network for Organ Sharing lists for holding a medical card or testing positive for Cannabis. For Oregon employees, the act would “create employment protections under the law to protect off-the-job Cannabis use and prevent discriminatory and conceptually flawed drug testing.”

MARYLAND

LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS Although attempts by legislators to legalize Cannabis have been pushed into 2020, the Maryland General Assembly has made major strides in expanding medical Cannabis availability in the remaining months of this session. Two bills in particular gained traction: A House bill that would open up prescribing opportunities for psychologists, physician assistants, and physical therapies, and a bill allowing the sale of edibles, which passed the Senate and is now in a House Committee. Senator Bobby Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), a vocal proponent of medical Cannabis, is leading 11 of the 18 bills under consideration, including one aimed at making medical Cannabis available to qualifying prisoners and reforms to the rather stringent current regulations on advertising. The advertising bill would treat medical Cannabis the same as prescription drugs under current federal regulations. Delegate David Moon (D-Montgomery County) introduced House Bill 632, which would amend the state constitution by allowing voters in 2020 to approve of the possession of up to once ounce of Cannabis and cultivation of up to six plants in the homes of adults 21 and older.

WRITER: STEVE ELLIOTT


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PROFILE

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Q&AWITHJOSHUACROSSNEY

PRESIDENTANDFOUNDEROFTHECANNABISSCIENCECONFERENCE So how did this all begin, and what was your inspiration?

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We started the conference back in 2016, with our first show in Portland, Oregon. And we’ve been growing there every year. We created this event because we saw that there was a lack of platforms for researchers, medical experts, and cultivation professionals to come and share their knowledge and research and data. And, you know, when we started this, there were mostly only general business trade shows for Cannabis. Though many of them did a great job, they weren’t really focusing on the science and the medical aspects of the plant. So I truly felt that the science of the research and the medicine behind [Cannabis] is what will continue to move this industry forward.

How has the conference grown since 2016?

At our first show in 2016, we had we had over 800 attendees and 70 vendors. Then in 2018, at our third show, we had just over 3,000 attendees and 150 vendors.

What made you decide to bring the conference to Baltimore?

You know, for me, it’s really full circle to be

bringing the show back to Baltimore, because I’m from here, born and raised. When the business was centered in Oregon specifically, I was doing a lot of traveling out west and internationally. So it’s been great connecting again locally with the Maryland medical Cannabis community over the last few months. We’re just really excited to be bringing the show back here.

What are some of highlights attendees can look forward to?

We have Ricki Lake and Montel Williams joining us. Both are super Baltimore-connected celebrities and very strong advocates for this plant. Montel was diagnosed with MS in the 90s and he was one of the very first celebrities to really put their brand and their name behind this movement. And Ricki Lake, she’s just doing really great work with the pediatric side of things with her film “Weed the People.” I’m on the board of directors of a group called CannaKids in California that really focuses on helping children with cancer and epilepsy and autism. The CEO of that group, Tracy Ryan, and her daughter, Sophie, feature in Ricki’s film and they’ll all be present. We’ll do a Q&A with Ricki, her filmmaker partner Abby Epstein, And Dr. Bonni Goldstein.

We’re also doing a boot camp with Evermore Cannabis Company [see profile in our February 2019 issue]. This is an event that we’ve been doing as a pre-conference in 2016, which is basically a full-day, hands-on industry training workshop that covers everything from cultivation, extraction, sample preparation, and testing. This has been really popular, and sells out every year, and it’s sold out for the Baltimore show. I would encourage Maryland Leaf readers who didn’t get a chance to get into the boot camp this year to really plan ahead for the 2019 show because we are planning to bring it back the same time next year.

Any final thoughts for our readers?

We’ve really seen a medical Cannabis revolution on the East Coast over the past few years with Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and others. So that, paired with the fact that we had so many requests from people to bring the conference here, really made it an easy decision for us to branch out and to bring our platform to Baltimore. I encourage everyone to join us and expand your knowledge of medical Cannabis, Cannabis science, and cultivation with over 80 global experts.

Cannabis Science Conference April 8-10 Baltimore Convention Center www.Cannabisscienceconference.com *Maryland Leaf Readers: Enter code LEAF25 for 25% discount on registration

APR. 2019

WRITER & PHOTOS: MICHAEL HUGHES


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HUNTER S. THOMPSON

HIGHLY LIKELY

T O A C E R TA I N G E N E R AT I O N O F J O U R N A L I S T S A S W E L L A S S T U D E N T S O F C O U N T E R C U LT U R E , T H O M P S O N WA S A P U R E I C O N O C L A S T .

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without honor or loyalty who would gladly go on a double date with the reverend Jimmy Swaggart.” He wasn’t a man to mince words. Since his passing in 2005, Thompson has continued to be idolized by the modern counterculture. Someday soon, we may also get to try the Cannabis he consumed toward the end of his life. His wife Anita is planning to begin selling the Cannabis chemovars that Thompson was smoking in 2005, just prior to his suicide. Though details are murky, Anita plans on cloning the stash that he left behind. She’s also recently donated his 1973 candy apple red Chevy Caprice to the “Cannabition”

attraction in Las Vegas, saying “I continue Hunter’s work by bringing awareness of marijuana laws that target minorities and destroy families all over this country for possession of this plant.” She noted that “The ‘Red Shark’ is a symbol of our journey together as active citizens to stop putting responsible smokers in jail. Cannabition is also doing this work in a way that is fun and informative for guests.” While Thompson passed away some 14 years ago, his writing and spirit is very much alive, though many of us wish that he was still around to pick apart today’s predicaments with his searing wit.

THOMPSON ONCE DESCRIBED CANNABIS AS “A SOURCE OF JOY AND COMFORT FOR MANY YEARS. AND I STILL THINK OF IT AS A BASIC STAPLE OF LIFE, ALONG WITH BEER AND ICE AND GRAPEFRUITS — AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AGREE WITH ME.”

Highlighting Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance. WRITER: PACER STACKTRAIN

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he inventor of ‘Gonzo’ journalism (which placed the journalist inside, often as a participant, of the subject matter they were covering) was a figure who could have only risen to prominence inside the revolutionary and turbulent late 1960s. Of course, most of us in the modern world view Thompson through the lens of the cult classic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, starring Johnny Depp and Benecio Del Toro. While the film opens with the line that they were drifting through Las Vegas in “a car full of marijuana and a head full of acid,” and the movie displays the two friends as doing a lot of different drugs, surprisingly little Cannabis is consumed. Truth is, Cannabis was one of Thompson’s favorite methods for altering consciousness. The writer once described Cannabis as “a source of joy and comfort for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits—and millions of Americans agree with me.” And that’s how Thompson apparently lived his life, too. According to Keith Stroup, founder of NORML, Hunter smoked Cannabis everywhere. Stroup met Thompson under the bleachers at the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami where the author was smoking a joint, trying to be discreet but failing miserably. Stroup went under the bleachers when he recognized Thompson, and the two shared a joint together—right there in the convention hall. In an HBO documentary titled Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge, one can see how far Thompson was willing to go for his beliefs on Cannabis. Recounted by Rolling Stone writer William Greider—who was in the room when an interview between Thompson and then presidential candidate Bill Clinton occurred—“Clinton wanted that interview to make it very clear he was not your standard brand liberal who was for smoking dope.” This hard stance on this harmless plant made Thompson angry, and Greider described Thompson leaving the interview early, only to came back with a cocktail in hand. For the rest of the interview, Thompson sat sullenly in the corner through the rest of the junket. Years later in an interview, Thompson referred to Clinton as a “poison scumbag” and “a man


BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

ALLY DULL How did Cannabis come into your life?

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When I left high school, I had never had a sip of alcohol, I’d never done any sort of drugs. And then I went to college, and it’s like, all around you, right? And then I started dating a reggae drummer [laughs]. And so I was like, All right, I’ll take a puff of this joint you guys are passing around. So for a while, it was really recreational. And then I went to California and my first stint was working as a camp counselor for people with disabilities. And one of our campers had a prescription for two medical Cannabis cookies a day. And I was just enthralled. It just continues to feel right. I’m making positive change.

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How did you become a budtender?

I was working in a really large healthcare organization as a recreation therapist. My job was making sure that people were living happy lives, despite the fact they were in the hospital. I was there to be the fun, excited person, and I really loved that. But the organization and structure is so large, nobody cared. I couldn’t make any changes. I couldn’t influence anybody. It just got really exhausting. Long story short, they drug tested me. So I quit. And that day I applied here [Blair Wellness], and I got this job on 4/20 [laughs].

What is your favorite part of the job?

I just think it’s really cool to be a pioneer in this movement—not just medical Cannabis, but putting people in charge of their health. People can come in here and figure out what they want to get and how they want to dose and when they want to take it. And that’s so empowering for somebody that’s been bogged down by a really broken health care system for so long.

I really love to normalize Cannabis. I want How do you find the right Cannabis for a customer? people to know that Cannabis is healthy and Terpenes. You find the right terpenes. it’s normal. And people that they probably My first question is always, have you used wouldn’t have ever thought of using Cannabis or Cannabis before? And if you’ve not used probably using it. And I Cannabis before, I’ll love talking to people. usually start with a one“LONG STORY SHORT, I just love when a new to-one CBD to THC ratio patient comes in. Maybe THEY DRUG TESTED ME. or a higher CBD strain. I they’ve never been to a ran a cooking class two SO I QUIT. AND THAT DAY dispensary before. And months ago—that’s a I APPLIED HERE [BLAIR I like being the person good way to teach people that they can talk to. how to use Cannabis WELLNESS], AND I GOT without having to smoke. THIS JOB ON 4/20 [LAUGHS]” We’re also “deli-style,” How do you prefer to use Cannabis? and noses are really e from work. It’s rarely a daytime thing important when it comes to [selecting] Cannabis. for me. Because for me, flowers are ritual—I’m going to sit down and I’m going to look at my bud Why do you like working at Blair Wellness? and I’m going to grind it up. And I’m going to I spent a lot of time in large healthcare pack it in. It’s this whole process. And I like to be companies, but now people listen! I feel really really present for it. I also make vegan cookies. heard and respected and seen. One thing that I really appreciate about [owner] Matt is that he’s What are your favorite strains and producers? from Baltimore, it’s local, family-owned, not a So I’m just like incredibly impressed with what big organization that’s come in here. . . So if everyone’s doing and everybody seems to have something needs to change, it changes that day, their niche and the thing that they do really well we don’t have to check in with somebody else. and that’s been cool to watch. I think that’s really important. I’m really into terpenes, so I And we have Bear the dog. He BLAIR WELLNESS CENTER look for strains that have really loves slobbery kisses [laughs]. 5806 York Rd, complex terpene profiles. I’m also a really hyperactive Baltimore, MD 21212 What are your hobbies person, so I like Culta Do-Si-Dos outside of work? (410) 323-0100 Number 22. It makes me rub I’m a yoga teacher and www.blairwellness.com my feet together, makes my cat practitioner. I spent a lot of time Phoebe feel really fluffy, and just at the gym or outside running. enhances relaxation. I’m training And I love to travel and I like to for a triathlon, so I like strains with pinene and read. I like to cook, like to spend time with my limonene that will give me a boost. Grapefruit friends. Yeah, I’m just a super-excited human. Haze by Verano was great, and I trained for a half marathon using Lemon Meringue by gLeaf. @allydull

APR. 2019

INTERVIEW & PHOTOS: MICHAEL HUGHES



ACCESS

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APR. 2019


FLOWER 4/5

The flower selection is robust, dominated by Culta, Curio, Evermore, gLeaf, HMS, and Liberty. As mentioned above, their policy is to never sell and eighth of flower for more than $50. All flower is pre-packaged.

EDIBLES

3/5

Storehouse carries most of the major brands of ingestible products, including The Feel Collection, Dixie, Evermore, Liberty, Kalm, and Healer. They also carry three brands of RSO.

CONCENTRATES The concentrate selection is deep and varied. Cartridges from Airopro, Curio, and Rhythm are abundant, and they also carry a full selection of premium Pax Pods. Culta and OG Clear dominate the shatter and live resin brands, but you can also find choice concentrates from Grassroots and Curaleaf.

4/5

ENVIRONMENT AND VIBE Storehouse is inviting, open, and the modern/industrial decor, with abundant glass and metal, fits well in hip-but-historic Mt. Washington. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and who can resist a game of Pac Man if there’s a wait to shop?

5/5

OVERALL 17/20 Storehouse strikes a great balance of upscale decor, inviting atmosphere, and quality product selection. With a dedication to reasonable pricing as well as diversity in the product line and a roster of informed and friendly budtenders, they’ve cultivated a loyal clientele.

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ENERGIZE 500MG CARTRIDGE LAMBSBREAD

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THC: 73.9% CBG: 2.1% CBC: 1.5% CBN: 1% TOTAL TERPENES: 5.4% BETA-MYRCENE: 0.92% TRANS-NEROLIDOL: 0.73% GUAIOL: 0.48% ALPHA-HUMULENE: 0.46% D-LIMONENE: 0.45% TERPINOLENE: 0.38% With almost 74% THC and a broad range of terpenes, the Rythm Lambsbread cartridge packs a punch. The taste is distinctly Cannabis, with lingering earthy and clove notes. Bodily relaxation hits within seconds of inhaling, thanks to the high levels of myrcene and trans-nerolidol. High levels of limonene dispel any cerebral fogginess, however, so while you may settle into your butt groove, you’re unlikely to drift off to sleep. This cartridge might be a good addition to medical arsenal if you are dealing with anxiety, depression, or need to reduce physical pain and tension while maintaining mental sharpness.

WRITER & PHOTOS: MICHAEL HUGHES

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torehouse, in the northwest quadrant of the city, is the only dispensary in Baltimore’s enormous District 41, located on the Mount Washington Falls Road corridor and easily accessible from I-83, light rail, and city buses. Built in what was originally a row of homes and later a consignment shop, the industrial wood and metal dispensary is well-lit with natural sunlight and feels accessible and welcoming—there’s even a free Pac Man machine to ease the wait. Unlike many other dispensaries, there’s no armed guard on the premises and the wall separating the waiting area from the retail side is largely glass panels framed with metal, so you can see what’s going on inside. CEO Jeff Jacobson directed the design choice: “When you walk in, behind the reception desk, people can see in. You don’t feel like you’re doing something wrong. Our thinking was like, how can we make patients feel comfortable doing something that they’re allowed to do? Because a lot of people, even though it’s legal, they don’t feel comfortable, or they feel like they’re doing something wrong. So first impression was a big one for us. We left stigma at the door when we designed this place.” I asked about the name. “Storehouse has two meanings,” Jacobson explains. “One is a place where you store a lot of goods. The other is a name for the old apothecary—the early apothecaries, or drug stores, are sometimes called storehouses, so we like the apothecary connection and it was like a tie to the old Mount Washington.” Another way Storehouse distinguishes itself from the competition is in its lack of daily promotions, like “Shatter Day” and similar. “We run promotions, but we’re not a promotional shop,” Jacobson says. “Our theory is . . . always have good pricing all the time. And that just goes right back to the mantra of accessible medicine.” As an example, Jacobson mentions the $50 rule: “We don’t sell any eighths [of flower] for more than fifty bucks.” “We also won’t carry anything that has a cutting agent,” he continues. “The scary thing about some of these cutting agents is that they’re proprietary, so even . . . the processor doesn’t know what they’re buying from the manufacturer. It’s unbelievable to me. We also will not carry cheap plastics next to heating elements. We just won’t do it. We’re big believers in nutrition and health from the top down.” Jacobson and Director of Operations Christopher Burke have big plans for the location. “We do community yoga classes here on Sunday mornings,” Jacobson says. “And there’s a separate space where we plan to do classes and educational evens.” Burke also mentions that they’re looking into creating proprietary strains. “At the end of the day, you know, we’re all we’re all in it together, all the retailers,” Jacobson says as he shows me around the building. “But how do you separate yourself? I say, all the time, a lot of restaurants serve good food. But why do you go back to the same restaurants? Because it might be the atmosphere, might be the staff, but sometimes it’s just the whole package. So our focus is always on the whole package and the patient experience.”


A L C H E M Y AT I T S F I N E S T . . . . C O M I N G S O O N ! H E M P I N F U S E D T R U F F L E S , B O DY B U T T E R S , B AT H B A L M S A N D S I M P L E S Y R U P S “


Baltimore

20% Off

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all

Only at Starbuds 5975 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21206 MONDAY-SUNDAY: 9AM - 9PM | (443) 438-7494 While supplies last. Cannot be combined with other discounts or Daily Deals. Offer valid April 1, 2019 thru April 30, 2019.

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Dixie products


PATIENT OF THE MONTH LEAFNATIONMD.COM

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PATIENT OF THE MONTH

KEVIN SYNAN APR. 2019


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“I WAS HAVING BETTER DAYS WHEN I WOULD SMOKE, SO COMMON SENSE KIND OF HIT ME AND I STARTED TO SELF-MEDICATE.”

WRITER & PHOTOS: MICHAEL HUGHES

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hen Kevin Synan was a teenager, his parents took him to his doctor to see if he could be treated for chronic acne. The doctor prescribed Acutane—a drug derived from Vitamin A. Although it is considered the most effective acne medication, it has a wide range of potential side effects. Kevin, unfortunately, became very sick, and he believes the drug was the cause. “I started noticing very bad burning sensations after I would eat. Bad spells . . . I would feel nauseated.” When it became too painful to tolerate, he went to another doctor, who diagnosed him with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. “I used to sweat profusely,” Kevin says. “I would lay in bed and just curl up because it would hurt so bad. It comes in stages, like a real burning sensation at first, and then after that goes away, it’s nausea. You know, like feeling like you need to vomit really bad.” And then, after years of dealing with the debilitating pain, something surprising happened. “When I was about 18, ironically on a church retreat, I was with the bad kids, and they were like, ‘Hey, you ever smoke?’” He smoked pot and played cards with them, then discovered his symptoms had dramatically lessened. “I noticed the the next day at breakfast I wasn’t having any attacks. A week later I was with my best friend and we smoked again and I noticed in the same thing—that I had a lot less stomach problems and everything was calmer. I was having better days when I would smoke, so common sense kind of hit me and I started to self-medicate.” In his twenties, he was diagnosed with insomnia. His doctor determined that his brain produces less melatonin and serotonin than normal, which left him unable to sleep for more than a few hours a night. “It makes the next day miserable. There’s no battery. But with Cannabis, when I get home from my [Uber] shift, I smoke, take a hard nap, and at night I’m able to get a full four or five hours before I get up and start my shift again.” And although he doesn’t smoke during the day because he drives for Uber, he wears Cannabis shirts and has a keychain from his local dispensary, Starbuds, so patients frequently open up to him. “You wouldn’t believe the stories from the people in my car. Medical Cannabis saved my aunt! It’s story after story after story like that.” Kevin has always been open about his medicine with his son, who is now eighteen years old and plans to go into the Air Force. “I’m glad my son gets to see the full benefits. He knows you can use Cannabis and be a successful single dad. I want to help get rid of the stoner stigma. It set us back hundreds of years of knowledge, progressiveness, and medical science. We might possibly have the cure for cancer or a pill for Parkinson’s.” So if you climb into an Uber and see a bearded guy with a Starbuds keychain, be sure to tell Kevin your story. He’ll be delighted to hear it.


Grapefruitz

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APR. 2019


GROWER & DISPENSARY: EVERMORE CANNABIS COMPANY

REVIEW: TAYLOR MARTIN

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his month’s strain is the amazing Grapefruitz by Evermore Cannabis Company. The robust floral and spicy aromas are tempered with slightly fruity and citrus scents hinting at a calming and euphoric smoke. The tight, well-trimmed bud structure was spongy and fragrant, revealing a welldone cure with solid terpene retention. The grind quality of the flower was superb insuring maximum retention of the trichomes and an even burn whether smoked in a bowl, joint, blunt, or vape. At a 21.97% THC, the Grapefruitz is an average potency tier, making it useful to both the low and high tolerance users alike. The flavor profile matches the smell profile with strong hints of the spicy/floral combinations of linalool and caryophyllene on the inhale and the exhale. This cultivar stands out in the Maryland market because of its relatively rare, anxiolytic properties— one of the few Maryland strains to express a linalool-dominant profile. Linalool is a highly effective anxiolytic terpene, generally great for all types of anxiety symptoms, but when combined with the 1:1 ratio of caryophyllene:limonene, truly synergizes into strong mental and physical anxiety relief as well as a general positive mood elevation. Additionally, there is a such a low level of myrcene that the high remains functional and clear-headed, allowing relief from anxiety without sedation. For all my fellow anxious humans out there, this is a profile that is available to patients of all tolerance levels and offers great relief for anxiety/mood symptoms without fogging up your day.

PHOTO: WYATT EARLY

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ONE OF THE FEW MARYLAND STRAINS TO EXPRESS A LINALOOL-DOMINANT PROFILE.

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

THC: 21.97%




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Team Japan Mini Bot Robot by Joe Peters, Junichi “Rose Roads” Kojima, Disk Glass, and Yoshinori Kondo, 2018.

APR. 2019


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“Eushinori” by Eusheen Goines and Yoshinori Kondo, 2016.

PHOTOS: WYATT EARLY


GLASS SPECIAL

When and how did glass art become an interest to you?

I started collecting when collecting started. Bob Snodgrass was the grandfather of glass, before him there wasn’t anybody blowing pipes. Whenever I was seeing The Dead, I would see him making pipes . . . That’s when I started my collection.

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What has been the biggest shock to you about this unique art market?

The genesis of the art form. After Jerry died, I wasn’t collecting Snodgrass or glass for a while. Watched the glass game from afar and was shocked at the prices. The rising prices almost made me angry as Snodgrass used to be so much cheaper to buy and it was from the master and now these prodigies are earning 10 times over that.

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Have you blown glass before?

I just recently got into getting behind the torch. I figured it’s a big enough part of my life, that I’d spend some time on it myself. I’ve been loving it a lot and have a large amount of respect for the artists supporting their families and lives with this.

Do you travel often for shows?

Yes, I think you have to if you’re a serious collector. There aren’t that many large ones. And if you don’t go to them what are you even doing?

Do you have a favorite piece from your collection?

Nope. The most recent addition

has been the Joe Peters and Yoshinori Kondo collaboration bot, which is only seven inches tall, by the way. Been honing the collection . . . like everything, the collection is a journey. I first starting collecting functionals, and looked at pendants and didn’t get it. Started to understand after I saw the market for it. It’s a learning experience. Pendants were foolish, but now I have 100k at least in them and pipes alone. Once you get a grip on what you’re seeing, you start to build a collection around an idea. I’ve started to hone mine to be heavy on the Japanese side of the art. I try and collect the artists that I think are going to hold the most value in the future or be looked at as the most important artists in the game. Right now I’m trying to collect and get artists to make things for me in that specific direction. I’ve recently been in contact with Yoshi (@Yoshinorikondo) to create collaborations specifically for myself.

What has the longest history in your collection?

I have no Snodgrass left, broken more than most have even seen. Back then you’d buy a killer nice Snodgrass sidecar for under a hundred, so things have changed a lot.

How does this glass differ than Chihuly work?

Obvious disconnection is function. Other than that, the skill involved from the artist is equally impressive as any other glass art form. I think you see that from Corning (Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY) especially. They don’t differentiate one glass art form from the other, and they’ve started to embrace the legitimacy of these artists. They are equally compared to the elites of soft glass. A lot of well-known

Team Japan Straight Tube by Yoshinori Kondo and Disk Glass, 2018.


INTERVIEW: ERIC EDELSTEIN | PHOTOS: WYATT EARLY

collectors of boro (Borosilicate glass, the type used in pipes) are performers and big businessmen. Dan Bilzerian just balled out and got a bunch of talented artists’ work. Action Bronson has been doing it for years, too. The only difference in this art is the function and materials composition.

What is the definition of heady glass, and what separates this glass from say, a generic water pipe from the local head shop? Why should someone buy this over that?

Do you feel glass art’s utilitarian aspect takes away from the artistry of the piece?

When I first started collecting oil rigs I was into Mothership [a high-end glass brand creating a large number of clear pipes focused on function that ranged from $1,500 to $100,000]. They are the functionally superior company to almost everything out there. When I first started, I was more concerned about function than aesthetic. The crossroad comes for all collectors [is] what you are more worried about—function or looks. At the end of the day, I bought a pipe to smoke— function first, aesthetic second. If you don’t have the function, you just have

a glass sculpture, that’s my opinion. As a collector of anything, your collection will constantly evolve. The evolution of one’s collection is a definition of their artistic style. There are three main points to value: function, skill/aesthetic, supply/demand.

If you had to introduce someone completely new to the world of glass, which artist would you show them first, and why?

Everdream Studio. Anyone in there. It is just a great studio of talented artists. There are other guys at the same caliber as them, but as a unit, you can’t beat the talent flowing from that one space. Most of these guys are super nice as well. You can find them on Instagram @EverdreamStudio but they each have their own separate Instagrams as well. WJC, Eusheen, Joe Peters, Young blood Avatar, all of them are amazing.

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It really comes down to the artist and the skill. The ability to produce a pipe isn’t as hard as it used to be. But the skill/hours/concentration for these guys to get to higher levels is shown in these works. The decorations and plumbing (function of a pipe, the way the water is ordered to move by

the shape of the tubing) plus time/money/energy to get to that level of craftsmanship and that’s really what you pay for. It is less utility and more art.

“Eushinori” by Eusheen Goines and Yoshinori Kondo, 2016.

Team Japan Mini Bot Robot by Joe Peters, Roseroad Skojima, Disk Glass, and Yoshinori Kondo, 2018.


GLASS SPECIAL

@QUASARGLASS

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Quasar Glass Marble and Millie Sherlock Set.


Quasar Glass working hot glass.

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rey, aka Quasar Glass, is a

22-year-old Maryland native. At the University of Pennsylvania he first encountered handmade glass pipes, known as “heady glass.” He set up a home studio, became a collector, and in 2018 his life changed after he attended the Michigan Glass Project, a three-day charity event where glass blowers create works to benefit various foundations. Quasar watched artists he had admired for years working themselves to exhaustion for the benefit of others, and he decided to follow their lead. The Rorschach-like appearance and shaping of his pipes are inspired by artists Kaj Beck and Elijah “Contrabasso” Copeland, among others. To acquire art from Quasar and support his work, you can find him on Instagram @ QuasarGlass. He also has upcoming work being released at Matchbox in Philadelphia for his first ever gallery showing. Other locations carrying his work are Glass House Gallery in DC (end of April) and Ruckus Gallery in Philadelphia.

Quasar Millie Glass Marbles

WRITER: ERIC EDELSTEIN | PHOTOS: WYATT EARLY

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GLASS SPECIAL

@GLASGOWGLASS_

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lasgow, 29, is a Baltimore native. He traveled to California to go to school, but wound up blowing glass in Humboldt. He returned to Maryland to help his family, and is currently working to set up a public studio for established artists in Baltimore. “Glass artists are getting recognition and respect in the art community,” he explains. “It is related to skateboarding, the degenerate sport and the degenerate art community. Now, skating is like playing baseball, same as glass is to working with clay or metal. Originally, glass artists even obscured their own names, now they can use [them]. The stigma is fading and artists can be proud of their work.” You can find Glasgow’s work at many local shops, including Stash Box in Reisterstown and J. Friendly’s in Towson.

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APR. 2019


Crayola Color Klein Recycler with a faceted cab by Glasgow Glass and Quasar Glass.

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WRITER: ERIC EDELSTEIN | PHOTOS By JOSH STIFLER


WAT C H T H E F R E E F I L M / / Marcel Braun’s Project 33 Vimeo.com/273224968

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@MARCELGLASS

Marcel Braun ART UNIT COINS $20 TO $100

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Marcel Braun is an absolute legend in the glass world. Torching for more than 20 years, Braun is one of the most dedicated and talented glass artists in the world. His connection with glass transcends the personal, and his process and goals for working with the medium are unmatched. He utilizes hand-built equipment to craft his work, and alongside a team of three to seven others, pours about 200 hours into each coin. These coins are not only incredibly intricate pieces of handmade art, they are currency that Torching for more than allows people to make 20 years, Braun is one of an exchange that does the most dedicated and not support the banking talented glass artists in industry and global the world. political corporatization.

APR. 2019


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Mac Bradshaw DON, CHERRYWOOD, AND POT STYLE PIPES F E AT U R I N G N O R T H S TA R C O L O R S / $ 3 0 0 E A .

Mac Bradshaw has been crafting functional glass art since 2010. He started out crafting mini-tubes and working out of a home studio in Laurelwood, OR. However, as he developed his craft, Bradshaw realized his love for traditionally styled pipes, for the last few years focusing on the art of traditional pipemaking. Bradshaw has not just learned the characteristics of over 50 different styles of traditional pipes, but has crafted every single style by hand. Roughly six torch hours over several days went into each one of these pieces. His work can be found locally in Oregon at Mellow Mood, and is also available via several online retailers and from Bradshaw directly via his Instagram.

Bradshaw has not just learned the characteristics of over 50 different styles of traditional pipes, but has crafted every single style by hand.

WRITER: NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415 | PHOTOS: DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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@MACSGLASS


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@BLOSSOM_GLASS

Blossom Glass Blossom Glass has been on the Her handspun pieces torch since 2005 crafting gorgeous take about 30 hours functional glass art. Originally from to construct and Kansas City, Missouri, she relocated often feature to Oregon after making connections intricate chip work. while visiting for a festival and falling in love with its thriving glass scene. Her hand-spun pieces take about 30 hours to construct and often feature intricate chip work - and almost always her signature flowers and vines.

APR. 2019


@GEMINI_GLASS

Gemini Glass “ R OYA L” G O L D A N D S I LV E R F U M E , D I C H R O , N O R T H S TA R A N D G L A S S A L C H E M Y, M O L D E M I T E A N D A M B E R PURPLE / $4500 Gemini Glass relocated to

His elaborate pieces

Corvallis, Oregon in 1998, and feature 24k gold has been blowing glass since 1999. and an incredible Working with some of the biggest variety of color. names in the industry—From Buck to Banjo—@Gemini_Glass has been crafting heady, functional art with some of the best for 20+ years. Gemini, who works from a home studio in Brownsville, Oregon, has found a niche in the glass industry, crafting “Glasskets”—glass disc golf trophies turned functional rigs. His more elaborate pieces feature 24k gold and an incredible variety of color.

“LEMON AND LIME FUNCTIONAL GLASSKET PENDANTS” / $260 EA. WRITER: NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415 | PHOTOS: DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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RECIPES

Celebrating APRIL HAS A LOT GOING FOR IT. Getting its name from the Greek word aperit, which means to open, April is the month when we begin to see the first signs of Spring. Trees are in bud, daffodils are poking through the earth, and it’s 4/20. For the Wolf cartel, April is about 4/20—the celebration of all things Cannabis. Cannabis seedlings are in the ground, Cannabis cookies are in cookie jars, and I begin to infuse a ton of treats for our yearly Laurie and MaryJane company celebration (including a medicated paella!) This month’s recipes couldn’t be easier. Not crazy potent, as less is more when it comes to eating infused food. And we want all of our peeps to be mindful that overdoing it, although not overly dangerous, definitely sucks. Happy 4/20 from Laurie and MaryJane! #Don’tFearTheEdible

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DIP OR DRIZZLE POT CANDY STICKS

15 skewers

3 cups assorted candy and dried fruit you can impale on a skewer 1 1 1 1

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CREAM CHEESE DESSERT DIP

Serves 9

16 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup sugar ¼ cup ricotta 2-3 tablespoons canna-butter, melted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup chocolate chips ¼ cup strawberries or raspberries, chopped About 30 assorted cookies 1. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine the cream cheese, sugar, ricotta and the canna-butter. Beat until fluffy. Add the vanilla, chips and berries, mixing until combined. 2. Place the cream cheese mixture in a serving bowl and surround with your favorite cookies. Cookies are more fun to dip than celery.

This cheese dip is sweet. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but most are savory. This is a celebratory cheese concoction of sorts! Cream cheese and ricotta whipped with berries and chocolate chips. And change it up if you want, there is no wrong move here. Add nuts or sprinkles - it’s all good.

APR. 2019

cup dark chocolate wafers tablespoon canna-butter or coconut oil cup white chocolate wafers tablespoon canna-butter or coconut oil

1. Place 15 skewers on your work table. Lay out all the candy. Thread the candy on the skewers in any order you like. Remember that you will be drizzling or dipping the skewers in chocolate, keep that in mind when you make your choices. 2. Melt the chocolates either over a double boiler or in the microwave. Using a double boiler, allow the water in the pot to simmer and not touch the bowl with the melting chocolate and cannabutter. Stir constantly. 3. In a microwave, melt with the cannabutter on 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir the chocolate, as it may be melted but still holding its shape. White chocolate needs very low heat to melt.

Any leftover chocolate can be spread on parchment paper, topped with some toasted nuts and coconut, chilled and eaten.

POT PUDDING PIES

30 shells (2/person)

2 pkgs phyllo mini shells, lightly toasted and cooled 2 cups chocolate pudding, cook and serve or instant 3 tablespoons canna-butter, melted with espresso 2 teaspoons instant espresso 30 raspberries 1. Place the toasted shells on your work surface. 2. Prepare the chocolate pudding, stirring in the canna-butter/espresso. 3. Use a tablespoon measure and generously fill the shells. If you are using instant pudding work fast, though if it starts to settle you can still spoon it in. No need to smooth, the raspberry will press it down a bit.

WRITER: LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS: BRUCE WOLF


SOMDRELIEF_

S O U T H E R N M A RY L A N D R E L I E F

Produce Create Innovate

Growing Happiness

TM

www.evermorecompany.com Baltimore, Maryland


GARDEN OF THE MONTH

VERANO

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THIN MINT GSC

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he Verano cultivation and processing facility is hidden in an industrial park maze in Jessup, Maryland. You’re likely to smell the Cannabis before you see it. The Maryland Leaf team paid a visit on a chilly March afternoon. After the usual security checks, we sprayed ourselves down with an alcohol mist and toured the cavernous facility. “We control every variable in order to make the finest quality medicine,” says Cultivation Director

APR. 2019

John Dieser, as he leads us through the brightly lit rooms full of Cannabis in various stages of growth. “From the media, to the nutrients, to the type of feed that we’re doing, and how we handle these plants and encourage their environment to when it’s harvested, to the delicate care and handling those flowers, curing them perfectly, and appropriately testing, properly packaging, and handling . . . We can ensure that we don’t compromise any integrity of that flower until it gets to the patient.”


“VERANO IS ALSO THE ONLY MARYLAND PRODUCTION FACILITY THAT HAS A DISPENSARY, ZEN LEAF, ATTACHED.”

Ilyssa Beebe, Verano’s packing manager, agrees. “We do everything by hand. Trimming, packaging, our pre-rolls are handmade and hand-twisted, all our eighths are looked over to decide what nugs are the best, making sure it’s not too dry or too wet…” As she leads us on tour of the packaging room, over a dozen employees are busy trimming buds, filling pre-rolls, and loading up and labeling containers. Along with a few other local companies, Verano now adds humidifying packs to its packaged flower containers—a welcome addition for patients who have been loudly complaining about the dryness of Maryland buds.

“WE CONTROL EVERY VARIABLE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE FINEST QUALITY MEDICINE.”

As a vertically integrated company, Verano also processes their flower into concentrates and other products, like their best-selling microdose tablets, troches (see the review in our February 2019 issue), and strain-specific carts. Darren Weiss, the company’s general counsel, explains their philosophy of product design. “It’s very important to us not to be producing products that other people are making just to have them . . . We make our microdose tablets, troches, and bath salts because no one else is doing them. We want all of our products to stand on their own and be differentiators.” Verano is also the only Maryland production facility that has a dispensary, Zen Leaf, attached. And they’ve started doing deliveries, which you can access through their Zen Leaf mobile app. Being good environmental stewards is an important part of the company’s ethos. A redesign of their HVAC system saved about a million kilowatts a year, Dieser says, which enabled them to receive a $500,000 grant from the state. They plan to build out to 60-75,000 square feet of canopy space in the coming years to meet demand. In the end, however, it’s all about the flower. Dieser is proud of the genetics, especially their landrace [nonhybridized] strain, Mag Landrace, that originated in the mountains of Iran and has now been crossed with their other varieties to create novel strains. And he’s excited for the rollout of three new cultivars for 4/20: Phantom Mile (Mag Landrace x Ghost Train Haze), Papaya, and Thin Mint GSC.

WRITER & PHOTOS: MICHAEL HUGHES

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CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH LEAFNATIONMD.COM

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Curaleaf Slim 0.5g Disposable Vape Pen (Pineapple Blossom Slim) The new line of Curaleaf Slim vaporizer pens follows the trend in products with lower levels of THC, aimed squarely at patients with low tolerance and those who prefer (or need) to microdose. Not everyone, after all, enjoys the powerful cerebral highs produced by the standard concentrate vapes, many of which reach 70 percent or more THC. One patient friend told me, “I don’t do well with being too high, especially if I have work to do. I need THC for my pain, but I want something light.” Hence this slender, bright-green disposable vape series. It’s disposable, with no need for a battery, so conveniently discreet and portable. It comes in a variety of flavors, too, so it’s welcoming to people who may have used e-cigarettes or those who don’t like the taste of Cannabis. Of all the flavors, the Pineapple Blossom was preferred by our sampling team. The menthol, perhaps because it reminded us of menthol-flavored e-cigarettes, was our least favorite (two budtenders, however, told me it’s the top seller). The pineapple vapor is sweet but not cloying, and leaves a very light scent that

V

doesn’t scream “Hey, look, I’m smoking Cannabis!” And it’s a great option for patients new to medical Cannabis or those who haven’t used it since their college days and want to wisely start slow and low. A small puff delivers what is essentially a microdose, while a few deep inhalations can lead to a moderate, but functional, THC high. There’s plenty of room to titrate and find your optimal dose. Ther slim doesn’t contain CBD, but the cannabinoid CBG (cannabigerol), of increasing medical interest as an potential anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogen, is present at .8%. Of a broad list of terpenes, the standouts include beta-myrcene, linalool, terpineol, and two forms of nerolidol. The mix is clearly targeted for relaxation, moodenhancement, and stress-relief, along with THC for aches and pains. Long-time smokers might scoff, and the Slim, with its low THC levels, would not be practical or cost-effective for them. But Curaleaf has produced a vape pen that appeals to a very large audience—meeting their desires for discretion, familiar flavors, and ease of dosing.

“A SMALL PUFF DELIVERS WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A MICRODOSE, WHILE A FEW DEEP INHALATIONS CAN LEAD TO A MODERATE, BUT FUNCTIONAL, THC HIGH.”

APR. 2019

Total THC: 32% CBG: 0.8% beta-myrcene: 0.23% Linalool: 0.35% Menthol: 0.17% Terpineol: 0.21% Geraniol: 0.17% cis-Nerolidol: 0.27% trans-Nerolidol: 0.27% alpha-Bisabolol: 0.20%

Ingredients: Cannabis oil, MCT oil, natural terpenes or flavoring (ingredients vary by flavor)

WRITER: MICHAEL HUGHES | PHOTOS: WYATT EARLY


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The Ultimate High-Five

You don’t have to have a degree in communications to know that one of the most positive connections between two people is the high-five. And by the way, if you do have a communications degree, expect a career in sales. Which leads to closing deals. Which leads to high-fives. . . All things that are celebrated in the world can be substantiated by a sturdy overhead slapping of hands. Because when you think about it from a molecular level, it is a surefire stream of energy produced by opposing palms, creating a small lightning bolt of particles popping like a summer sparkler—undetectable by the naked eye, but dazzling to the open mind. It’s like a human nuclear reactor. High-fives can power the world. My shrink once told me that he went to a silent retreat where no one speaks, and constant meditation is the prescribed medication. I wonder if high-fives were allowed? Or if they were considered a distraction because too much exuberance might upset the collective healing. I’m imagining a NO HIGH-FIVES sign. Sounds like hell. High fives are not a crime. And neither is skateboarding. Do they allow high-fives in prison? The high-five is a true modern form of expression. It represents democracy. You know, some goofballs in college officially initiated a National High-Five Day and it’s on the third Thursday of April every year. April is a good month. On the third Thursday you get a high-five, and if that third Thursday falls on 4/20 you have the hiiiiiiiigh-five. Note: This only qualifies if you are using Cannabis with four friends. If you’re not, then you’re blowing a wonderful opportunity and desperately need to reevaluate your principles.

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Colorado's finest, Dixie and Kaviar, are made exclusively with Curio Wellness flower. 100% Curio Flower | CO2 extracted | Designed with the patient in mind

CurioCurio Wellness is the official manufacturer/distributor of Dixie andthe Kaviar in Maryland. 100% Flower | CO2 extracted | Designed with patient in mind

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