NorthwestLeaf_Jan2026

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

#187 | JAN. 2026

The Weed & Wellness Issue F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM

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Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons twenty-one years of age or older.

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TOPICAL ROUNDUP

JOURNEY OF THE HEART

ERIKO KOBAYASHI

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2020 SOLUTIONS

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LEAF EXPLAINER

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BOB MONTOYA IN MEMORIAM

STARTING 26 FRESH

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COURTESY RHONDA MONTOYA

PERSPECTIVE

CANNABIS RESCHEDULED?

BRUCE WOLF @BRUCE_WOLF

SPARKING COMMUNITY

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GLASS ART SPOTLIGHT

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EDITOR’S NOTE SPARKING COMMUNITY GLASS IS DEAD FIRE FOLLOWER RESCHEDULED? IN MEMORIAM SHOP REVIEW BUDTENDER OFF THE SHELF CONCENTRATES EDIBLE REVIEW STRAIN OF THE MONTH TOPICAL ROUNDUP ELEVATE YOUR FATE HIGH ROLLERS YETI SCAT TRAILS PATIENT PROFILE COOKING WITH CANNABIS GLASS ART SPOTLIGHT CANNTHROPOLOGY STUDIO SESSIONS

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TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

2026 GENETICS

One Family's Experience with Low-Dose Cannabis

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ALIEN GENETICS RAINBOW FIZZ

Dementia Relief and Plant Medicine:

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THE weed & WELLNESS ISSUE

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#187

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JAN. 2026

issue

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

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OREGON

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MARYLAND

A B O U T T H E C OV E R Today, most folks are well aware of this plant’s wide wellness potential.

Mary Jane’s been taking care of so many of us for ages. But what about her? Does she ever get a day off?

For this year’s Weed and Wellness cover, Portland, Oregon, Cannabis photographer, Leaf Magazines director of content and longtime contributor Amanda Lopez (@terpodactyl_ media) imagined a day of self-care for Cannabis herself — featuring Dogwalker flower by Luvli (@luvlipdx) and mini bong/lighter by LevelHeady (@levelheady).

PHOTO BY TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R ricker@leafmagazines.com | advertising sales TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com DANIEL BERMAN C H I E F C R E AT I V E O F F I C E R daniel@leafmagazines.com BOBBY BLACK LEAF BOWL DIRECTOR & HISTORIAN bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com MICHELLE NARANJO & JACKIE BRYANT COPYDESK michelle@leafmagazines.com | jackie@leafmagazines.com

MATT JACKSON S O C I A L M E D I A L E A D mattjackson@leafmagazines.com

CONTRIBUTORS WES ABNEY, FEATURES AJ AGUILAR, FEATURES + PHOTOS DANIEL BERMAN, DESIGN + PHOTOS BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES JACKIE BRYANT, FEATURES DAVID DOWNS, FEATURES REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS ELLEN HOLLAND, FEATURES MATT JACKSON, FEATURES DARREN MILLER, PHOTOS LENA B. MONAGHAN, AD S ALES + PRODUCTION MIKE RICKER, PRODUCTION MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS JIM SABO, PHOTOS JASE SANDERS, PHOTOS JOJO SNAPS, PHOTOS MIKE STALTER, PHOTOS TERPENE TRANSIT, DISTRIBUTION TERPODACTYL MEDIA, PRODUCTION BAILEY WHITEHILL, PHOTOS BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of Northwest Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. Email ricker@leafmagazines.com to start advertising!

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Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Weed and Wellness issue!

As a child of the ’90s, I grew up with the well-balanced breakfast commercials that sold our parents processed sugary crap instead of eggs, which are shown to increase child IQ, unlike artificially colored pebbles. This childhood pursuit of the perfect breakfast led me to bong hits and coffee as an adult, which I fell in love with during college seshes with Leaf Chief Creative Officer Daniel Berman, but I didn’t realize how healthy that choice actually was until later in life.

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American culture is shifting from excess, artificial, processed and boozy to natural, clean, healthy and high, which makes celebrating the concept of weed and wellness so intoxicating and enlightening! What was considered a taboo and illegal drug a decade ago is now the leading wellness sector in America. Today, I’m downing dark coffee with a splash of half and half, big hits of gassy terps to clear the morning fog and a high-protein diet blended with lots of edibles and gym time, and I feel better than I ever have, thanks to Cannabis.

Our body’s endocannabinoid system is as large and integrated into our health as the central nervous system, playing an important role in overall mental and physical health. The ECS regulates core body functions within the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. The body even produces natural “WHAT WAS endocannabinoids, with receptors for cannabinoids throughout the body CONSIDERED having an important role in sleep, appetite, mood, pain, stress, memory, A TABOO AND fertility and inflammatory responses. This all happens naturally, just like ILLEGAL DRUG the cannabinoids that can be found in breast milk.

A DECADE Taking the sum of human history with Cannabis, the integration of an endocannabinoid system in our body and the myriad benefits of the plant on the human body, it’s almost as if the plant and our species developed at the same time. To my mind, this speaks of creation and a relationship between us and a plant that was given to the world by God.

AGO IS NOW THE LEADING WELLNESS SECTOR IN AMERICA.”

Science has given us undeniable proof that our bodies are meant to work with Cannabis, and today we can pursue health and wellness while feeling good (aka baked as the nug on our cover). Self-care is health care, so dabs and face masks should be celebrated, especially over a night out drinking, which is terrible for skin and health.

As I approach three years of sobriety from alcohol this February, my heart glows with the love for and benefit of Cannabis, which is why I started publishing the Leaf in 2010. The plant is good news, an ordained gift, for the healing of the nations, and it all starts with sharing a hit. Let’s make 2026 the healthiest year yet with a deep dive into Cannabis wellness, and remember to share the Leaf and invite friends and family to join the fun! You never know who might be saved by this miracle of a plant.

NORTHWEST LEAF MAGAZINE

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-Wes Abney

JAN. 2026

PHOTO BY REX HILSINGER @BOROPHOTO

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perspective

How Cannabis unites us and invites creativity on the road to peace and wellness

SPARKING COMMUNITY People say they want to be writers, but in actuality, many lack the discipline to do so. Like all artistic exercises, writing involves regular practice.

Sitting in front of a blank page and filling it with coherent and creative sentences is not easy.

In fact, it’s so commonly known that we writers lose our creative spark that there’s a phrase for it: writer’s block.

jan. 2026

IF YOU SEARCH “writer’s block” online, there’s a lot of advice for escaping a mental pit of inactivity: Start with an outline, take a break or, my personal favorite, just start typing and see where it goes. But, to be honest with you, if you want to start writing, the best thing you can do is smoke some weed, sit in a firm chair and don’t get up until you’ve at least partially finished what you’ve set out to do.

The weed part is the key. It’s the thing that will spark your brain into uncovering new thoughts you didn’t know were trapped inside. A strong joint and a bright pink winter sunset will do wonders for the creative process. If you have more time to go even further beyond a solo smoke, there’s another great resource for finding inspiration: community. And luckily, smoking weed cultivates that too.

If there’s one thing Cannabis is always coupled with, it’s culture. This plant has a magnetic pull toward shared experiences. Generally, when someone has something they love — in this case, weed — they want to share it with others. Sharing fulfills an emotional need that feels primordial, and sharing weed is the ultimate balm for our troubled Trumpian times. Puff, puff, pass!

When Cannabis is smoked together in a group of like-minded people, it is often a powerful tool for wellness. Bonds between other humans are the most straightforward way to give life meaning.

With weed and camaraderie, we can free ourselves from the things that hold us back: our own insecurities and doubts, worldly obligations and distractions.

When we become part of a community, we open ourselves up to receiving inspiration from others who are happy, creative and productive.

Back in 2023, my friend, Leah Cerri, felt like a lot of us do these days, or at least how I do more often than not: lost. In a professional slow phase, Leah missed one of the main things that made her love working in the Cannabis industry: the close, personal connections she made with other women.

To support herself, she ended up helping others, building a community of women through hosting free smoke-friendly events in Northern California.

The group she built, Nor-Cal Women in Cannabis, has become one of the main ways I find myself still engaging in person with the weed world.

At these events, I’m having fun just as myself, not as a representative of any company I might work for.

I’m smoking tons of weed and laughing with old and new friends.

When Cannabis journalism became my full-time career back in 2013, I started connecting with some of the most special people in my life, and weed became my whole world. I’m an extremely loyal person, so when I got my first job at a Cannabis magazine, I stuck with it until the end, which was the great lifequake of COVID and 2020.

Adrift professionally, I next had the opportunity to write a book on Cannabis appreciation, “Weed: A Connoisseur’s Guide to Cannabis,” which sold over 20,000 copies and got remixed into another title, “Weed: Smoke It, Eat It, Grow It, Love It.” Then, I got what seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to become the editor-in-chief of the world’s most recognized Cannabis magazine. But everything was not as it seemed.

The magazine struggled in many ways and ultimately went under in a big public manner, which resulted in almost everyone in my professional sphere wanting to call me and gossip about its demise.

But I had nothing to say; I was lost again. This last forced transition left me in another precarious place professionally, and I won’t lie and say I’ve made it to the other side.

I’m freelancing for several magazines, including this one, but life as a weed writer is rough. Oftentimes, you’re pestering people to pay you for the work you’ve already done, and sometimes you don’t get paid at all. In a world where writers are still getting paid by the word, sometimes I’m beefing up the text in an effort not to leave any money on the table. And when something feels finished, pulling out more words can feel about as productive as juicing a banana; there’s just nothing there.

Still, seeing something you wrote in print — whether it’s a book, newspaper, magazine or even just online — is monumentally satisfying. At this point, I’m addicted to the idea that I can make my way in this world as a writer, and I’m still pushing for it. But I’m also giving in a bit to where life is taking me next. I’ve found out that success is not linear, and sometimes extreme highs are followed by extreme lows.

Part of the way I’m transforming lately is by finding another community. I have a studio space in an art gallery, and I’m spending time there making art. In the studio, among a community of artists, I’m the weed person.

People making amazing paintings and sculptures want to talk to me about my journalistic endeavors in Cannabis, and I want to speak to them about their creative processes.

I often feel humbled because I’m just a beginner in many of the things I’m doing these days, but even though it feels challenging, I think it’s probably a good thing that might lead to growth.

During the worldwide health pandemic and its aftermath, we lost those in-person connections. We lost our communities. And now, even though my communities are changing, I’m still drawing a lot of hope and a lot of my personal wellness from the connections I’m making with others.

Maybe this column got too real.

Maybe in the future I won’t be blessed with the opportunity of speaking to you, whoever you are, through written words on a page. I consider it an honor that you’ve stuck with me so far.

Three times in my life, I’ve had the chance to write editor’s notes, and it’s always felt a bit like writing a letter, but not knowing who you’re writing to.

This time I’m writing to you.

Know that the path forward is never a straight line. Keep trying to stand up for what you believe in. Keep adapting and growing with change.

If you want to be a writer, sit down and start writing. And if you get stuck, take a puff and find some friends.

Cannabis and community will lead toward better well-being and strength.

The battles in this lifetime are never-ending, but we can’t let our defeats define us. Take care, and stay kind. Share your talents, and let your light shine.

"When Cannabis is smoked together in a group of likeminded people, it is often a powerful tool for wellness."

Ellen Holland is a San Francisco Bay Area-based freelance writer; the former editor of High Times Magazine and the author of multiple books, including "Weed: Smoke It, Eat It, Grow It, Love It" (2024).

STORY by ELLEN HOLLAND @HOLLANDBUDS for LEAF NATION

perspective

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

GLASS IS DEAD

A living retrospective of the Grateful Dead’s visual legacy debuts at The Chambers Project

On a recent December weekend in Grass Valley, California — not far from the redwood-spined heartlands of psychedelic America — The Chambers Project gallery unveiled “60 Years of the Grateful Dead,” a sweeping, reverent retrospective of the band’s visual and cultural impact. Co-presented with the Psychedelic Arts and Culture Trust, the show captures not just the band’s artwork but also the full scope of a still-thriving creative lineage. From Rick Griffin’s molten lettering to Banjo’s sculptural glass reinterpretation of “Aoxomoxoa,” it’s a tribute to what the Dead were, the world they built and what they’ve made possible.

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DARREN MILLER @DMILLDIGITAL

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CURATED BY Chambers Project founder Brian Chambers, the show gathers original artworks, sketches, posters and never-before-exhibited pieces that shaped the Grateful Dead’s visual identity.

“The Dead have always been a nexus of creativity,” Chambers said. “There’s a whole visual vocabulary that followed them and influenced so much beyond them.”

Works by Rick Griffin, Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, Victor Moscoso, Wes Wilson and others anchor the historical core of the show, with seminal items like Griffin’s original “Aoxomoxoa” drawing and Bill Walker’s evolving “Anthem of the Sun” mandala

JAN. 2026

commanding the room. But the retrospective also folds in the future, placing legacy alongside contemporary voices like AJ Masthay and Zoltron — artists who extend the poster lineage into modern counterculture (and the latter of whom co-curated the exhibit with Chambers).

One of the exhibition’s most talked about pieces comes from Banjo, a master glass artist whose career traces directly back to Grateful Dead parking lots.

“I started blowing glass in 1999, and at that time, the artistic pipe scene was still a tiny offshoot of the Grateful Dead community,” Banjo said.

“Bob Snodgrass was selling color-changing pipes on tour with the Dead in the mid-’80s — that’s the genesis of this whole movement.”

Banjo’s centerpiece is a sculptural glass tribute to Griffin’s “Hawaiian Aoxomoxoa” poster, a 1969 image commissioned for a show that never happened. “It’s arguably Griffin’s masterpiece,” Banjo said. “The wings, the sun, the lava, the skull — it’s this elemental invocation of life and death. He spoke about it in terms of ovums and fetuses and skulls. You can feel it all in that piece.”

Over four months, Banjo translated that “People are 2D image into an intricately laydrawn to ered, fully functional glass pipe, (glass) on a complete with miniature surfers, primal level, breaking waves, lava flows and the way we’re a radiant sun chamber. “I didn’t drawn to fire. want it to just be a sculpture Add Cannabis that sat there,” he said. “The to that, and challenge was to make it someit becomes thing that worked, that ripped a deeply and still honored the sacred intentional geometry and composition of Rick’s original.” ritual.”

Glass, for Banjo and many in the scene, isn’t just a medium but a ritual, elemental act. “Glass is earth, water, air and fire. You melt sand with flame and breathe it into form,” he said.

“It’s ancestral. People are drawn to it on a primal level, the way we’re drawn to fire. Add Cannabis to that, and it becomes a deeply intentional ritual.”

Those points of origin IF YOU GO — fire, glass, music and “60 Years of the Cannabis — are where the Grateful Dead” Dead’s influence ripples is on view now most profoundly. “The pipe through June scene literally grew out of the Dead tours,” Banjo 1, 2026, at The said. “It was people selling Chambers Project pipes next to tie-dyes and 627 E. Main St., hemp necklaces. We didn’t Grass Valley, CA have color palettes back Monday-Friday, then. Just the culture, the 10 a.m.-5 p.m. creativity, the weed and a “Glass Is Dead” sense of reverence.”

The Dead Retrospective opens January 31. show puts that lineage on full display. At the opening weekend, a one-night supergroup dubbed White Lightning — featuring Grahame Lesh, Pete Sears, John Molo and others — played the Bodhi Hive in Nevada City.

Simultaneously, a dedicated glass section within the show, curated by Banjo, showcased other leading artists from the functional glass movement.

That section will expand into a stand-alone exhibition opening January 31 titled “Glass Is Dead” — a nod to both the scene’s origin and its continuous evolution.

“There’s been stigma, especially in the fine art world,” Banjo said.

“We were shunned — it was illegal, it wasn’t refined, and people didn’t see the art. But that’s changed. Now, the Corning Museum of Glass is flying me and my son out to teach glass pipe classes. There are pipes in their museum store. It’s finally being recognized as serious, transformative work.”

Chambers sees the exhibits — and PACT’s formal debut — as launchpads. “We’re entering a phase where these shows are going to be curated with museum-level intention and historical grounding," he said. "We’re not just preserving — now, we’re expanding.”

The Retrospective exhibition runs through June 1 with evolving programming that reflects the multiverse of creativity the Dead catalyzed: jewelry, clothing, poster art, projection and sound. As Banjo put it, “It’s not just glass.

It’s a full spectrum of subcultures that emerged because of this one band. And they’re still alive.”

In the heart of the gallery, amid Griffin’s ink lines and Banjo’s molten reimagining, that much is obvious: glass is dead — long live the Dead. @THECHAMBERSPROJECT @BANJOGLASS

STORY by JACKIE BRYANT @JACQBRY | EVENT PHOTOS by BAILEY WHITEHILL Author Portrait by Iydeen Younis | See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

perspective

FIRE FOLLOWER

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

TOP 50 BREEDERS IN 2026 AMERICA’S 3.3 million home growers have a historic opportunity to grow exactly the weed they want to see in the world in 2026. All across the legalization and medical states, access to genetics is at an all-time high. You can obtain seeds and learn more than ever with just some taps on your phone or keyboard.

Starting in November, we ran a public Top 50 Greatest Breeders of 2025 poll online for over a month and marketed it across our channels, gathering 2,773 unique responses. Respondents could cast 10 votes for their favorite breeders from a list of over 100 nominees or write in their own favorite. When we tabulated the results, we narrowed our focus down to 703 “full ballots” (voters who used all 10 of their votes). A pretty strong top 50 list emerged of arguably some of the greatest breeders of the year.

THE RED CARPET PHOTO BY HUMBOLDT CSI

A N D N O W . . . T H E R E S U LT S

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For flowers that yield great hash, don’t miss Purple City Genetics and Masonic Seed Company.

For Los Angeles heat, you can’t sleep on Seed Junky Genetics, Capulator or Umami Seed Company. Seed Junky has been releasing refinements on the top strain Lemon Cherry Gelato. Capulator just finished a huge MAC rerelease project. Umami never rereleases its hype drops — it’s one and done and on to the next one.

For boutique and Emerald Triangle rarities, look to Bodhi Seeds, Biovortex, Freeborn Selections and CSI Humboldt (aka Humboldt CSI). Caleb of Humboldt CSI is spending 2026 building two new California retail stores in Rio Dell and Eureka to stock his seeds and flowers and showcase gardening. He’s mostly known for his Chem work.

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H E AV Y H I T T E R S

Nat Pennington, head of Humboldt Seed Company, said to watch out for his new cross of hitters dubbed “Hyper Za,” plus Honey Bear and Puff Pastry.

One-person breeding powerhouse Blockhead in San Diego County recommends his work on the successor RAINBOW to Super Boof, John Truffolta.

ZEREAL Be sure to keep an eye out for the PHOTO BY ALIEN GENETICS “automatic” seed makers — primarily from Europe — who are on a tear: Fast Buds, Mephisto and Maine’s Night Owl Seeds.

Rebel Grown of California and Vermont has award-winning OG crosses. We also really love Karma Genetics’ European work on the intersection of OG and Z. It’s wild how many breeders hail from so many U.S. states: Sin City Seeds in Nevada, Thug Pug Genetics and Tiki Madman in Michigan and Subcool’s the Dank in Oklahoma.

Don’t sleep on Colorado seeds in 2026 from Cannarado Genetics, Top Dawg Seeds, Ethos Genetics and more.

There’s great stuff from Washington, including In House Genetics and Exotic Genetix.

Of course, no top 50 list is complete without shouting out Archive Seed Bank of Oregon. They’ve reopened their online store, and the Rainbow Belts varieties sell out the fastest.

jan. 2026

BLUE POWER IX2 PHOTO BY SIN CITY SEEDS

AN ERA OF DIVERSITY

One cool feature of modern breeding is how egalitarian the fan bases are.

There’s no one “big dog” in the sector.

The top 50 in our poll all had relatively similar-sized fan bases. Instead of some ravenous leviathan, we have an ecosystem of popular breeders, each with a set of die-hard partisans. That bodes well for keeping Cannabis diverse and vibrant.

GROWING YOUR OWN ‘ G R E AT E S T ’

Fire Follower’s poll included over 100 nominees, but respondents mentioned a total of 505 unique breeders. More than 250 breeders received just one vote, indicating a huge “long tail” of love for a personal favorite. Embrace that passion in 2026. No one can tell you which breeder to stan. It’s clear that super-fandom for obscure favorites is a hallmark of modern home growers, and that’s awesome. Everyone has that band that never made it big, but you know they had the goods to go all the way.

HONEY BEAR PHOTO BY HUMBOLDT SEED COMPANY

IT’S WILD HOW MANY BREEDERS HAIL FROM SO MANY U.S. STATES: SIN CITY SEEDS IN NEVADA, THUG PUG GENETICS AND TIKI MADMAN IN MICHIGAN AND SUBCOOL’S THE DANK IN OKLAHOMA. GROWING FOR WELLNESS

Caleb at CSI Humboldt, who ranked as the second greatest breeder of 2025 in our poll, specifically wanted to shout out Oregon CBD seeds for its high-CBD work. Caleb said their drying room is half CBD strains and half Chems, and Oregon CBD’s Seth Crawford is a real breeder’s breeder. So, if you’re looking for highly therapeutic, Type II CBD-rich cultivars, Oregon CBD is your go-to in 2026.

Now’s the time. Seek out those packs, and prep for an epic 2026 run.

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HALL PASS (PERMANENT PARADISE X WILD CHERRY) PHOTO BY SEED JUNKY GENETICS

STORY by DAVID DOWNS @DAVIDDOWNS for LEAF NATION See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

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THE weed & WELLNESS ISSUE

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RESCHEDULED? leafmagazines.com

Trump signs executive order advising DOJ to reclassify Cannabis

JAN. 2026

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Dec. 18, 2025, to reclassify Cannabis, signifying a new future for Cannabis research, as well as an uncertain one for the recreational THC and CBD markets.

WHILE RESTRICTIONS on things like banking, taxation and research are expected to be reduced, Trump made it clear in his announcement that this is not about Cannabis’ identity as an adult-use substance. “It doesn’t legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form, and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug,” he said.

The president did say that this move is in response to the overwhelming support he’s seen for Cannabis in the treatment of conditions such as cancer. In this vein, he also compared Cannabis to prescription drugs, warning, “just as the prescription painkillers may have legitimate uses but can also do irreversible damage …”

Later, tacking on that “it’s never safe to use.”

Those who were hoping there would be a loosening of restrictions and stigma around Cannabis use were instead reminded by this broadcast that this executive order is about researching CBD and certain cannabinoids as possible medications.

“common sense change.” while another expressed that this Both Oz and Secretary rescheduling has the capacity to of Health and Human revolutionize Cannabis research in Services Robert F. Kennedy three ways: Jr. described how Trump * Democratizing the research has frequently called to process, giving access to all discuss the issue with them researchers on behalf of people like * Providing patients and researchers financier Howard Kessler, with access to reliable medicine for whom they said has trials tirelessly advocated to the * Organizing large, randomized president. Kessler, whom control trials at a national scale.

Kennedy said “without Many watching the announcement whom we wouldn’t be here echoed the sentiments of one today,” is someone who researcher who said, “I never really Nora Volkow, the director of the “drove this change in the thought this day would come.”

National Institute on Drug Abuse, schedule.”

For others, especially those who said future research should Trump, Oz and Kennedy experienced the medical market, the focus on understanding what have all separately thanked green rush and the years that followed, conditions Cannabis can help Kessler for his work on this rings less as a herald of a golden with, learn how to optimally use this decision and for future for Cannabis research and Cannabis for those conditions showing them the medical instead as one that paints Cannabis and discover to whom Cannabis possibilities of Cannabis, as something dangerously similar to might present a danger.

WHAT IS SCHEDULE III with Kennedy stating on prescription drugs.

According to the Controlled Substances Act, record that “cannabinoids State Cannabis markets have spent a Schedule III substance is something with a and THC can have miraculous effects on countless dollars on creating organizations to provide low potential for physical or psychological chemotherapy-induced nausea, chronic standardized dosing and suggested use for products that dependence and accepted medical use. Vicodin, pain, epilepsy, and PTSD.” This statement will are reported to relieve things like chronic pain.

Valium, Percocet, Xanax hopefully help with veterans The sudden announcement seems to imply that current and ketamine are all who’ve found it difficult to get laws and regulations — along with the work done examples of substances approved access to Cannabis by these individual states — are leaving patients and in this category. With for treatment. doctors without adequate guidelines on how to use these this decision comes a Kennedy went on to stress products, “even though they’re still being used,” Oz clear statement from that there are also plenty of ominously added. the administration that valid claims about the negative Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute Cannabis has positive impacts of Cannabis, such as on Drug Abuse, said the goal of this future research benefits to people’s quality psychosis and adverse public should be to understand what conditions Cannabis can of living, but that this health impacts, particularly help with, learn how to optimally use Cannabis for those might not include you to the country’s youth, but conditions and discover to whom Cannabis might present a without proper research. that most of this evidence is danger.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the “anecdotal due to a lack of administrator for the scientific studies.” The studies WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Centers for Medicare and this reclassification will allow, With so much of the future definition of federal Medicaid, spoke to the he said, will provide guidelines Cannabis possibly tied to the results of clinical trials, state audience, saying, “There on standardized dosing, along markets now have to wait and see how this shakes out.

Dr. Mehmet Oz admits there is are some clinical evidence with exploring the difference As many have pointed out, the president doesn’t have clinical evidence for CBD efficacy showing that CBDs provide between botanicals and the authority to sign a paper and make rescheduling a for cancer and chronic conditions. synthetics. relief from common certainty. This executive order directs Attorney General Pam conditions that affect Bondi and the Department of Justice to prioritize this issue.

Americans.” Oz listed some of those conditions, EXPERTS ON HAND Online sentiment for this decision is all over the map, including cancer and chronic pain, citing that A medical Cannabis researcher from with some saying that retailers will be left the most “6 in 10 people who use these CBDs report that Dana-Farber Cancer Institute said the vulnerable, while others point to the CBD and THCa they improve their pain.” Oz also made it a point reclassification would expand research markets as the first in the line of fire. Many are expressing to say that the landmark decision was about potential at an [important] time “and help that this step, however pigeon-toed, is heading in the giving “seniors access to cannabinoids.“ mitigate the anxiety and fear surrounding right direction.

Oz said the reclassification is the delivery patients who enter treatment, especially “in Regardless of your perspective on this as positive or of the promise to find an answer to a difficult older adults.” The researcher thanked the negative, it is another incredible moment where we situation that every president has “whiffed on.” president for “supporting careful sciencewitness the plant, the industry and the culture evolve in He thanked the president for always pushing for based research that puts patients first,” response to a new era.

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by CREATIVE COMMONS

in memoriam

Bob Montoya May 17, 1959 - Dec. 26, 2025

Bob Montoya was a man who served his country with honor, but had one lifelong passion, a love for the Cannabis plant, and later, a love for his wife, Rhonda.

BOB is remembered by Rhonda, who met him at a Cannabis party in 2016, sparking an immediate connection over the plant.

They married in January 2017 with a reception on April 20, 2017. Rhonda recalls Bob’s early roots with Cannabis — smoking hash in Morocco in his early 20s — and how he’d always say “cheers” when sparking a joint.

Bob’s unique life started at 17, when, as an Army soldier in Germany, he was handed a camera and told to spy on East German soldiers.

He fell in love with the camera then and the military, where he served a distinguished career and commanded our nation’s most iconic battlefield weapon group: an Abrams tank crew.

Bob was a fighter, and he proved it in a tale of true grit and survival. In December 2010, Bob was riding his Harley in an annual toy run when he was hit by a car.

He often joked that he was the real “million dollar man,” as it had taken a dedicated team at Harborview Medical Center to save his life. After six weeks in a coma, he returned to this side, and with months of rehab, he was back to riding his beloved bike.

During his recovery, Bob became a medical Cannabis patient and then an advocate, educator and friend of the plant. He could be found at the various Cannabis farmers markets, his nose in a jar, always ready to share his story of recovery and how the plant helped save his life. He coined his own phrase: “We are Cannasapiens!”

Bob shared with me his belief that the plant could perform modern medicine miracles, like reversing diabetes, kidney failure or gastrointestinal failure from pharmaceuticals.

I am certain that his advice helped many others, as he never missed an opportunity to share his medicine.

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He spoke about the plant with the sage wisdom of a believer of lived experience, and he kept a careful diet and maintained a high cannabinoid level at all times, crediting the plant for his pain tolerance and ability to function.

Bob was an incredibly strong man, the type of man who, in pain, would reach to help another with a smile, a kind word and a firm hand ready to lift.

For several years, Bob contributed to Northwest Leaf magazine, photographing and writing a tribute to genetics and craft medical farming called Micro Strains.

His words and photos inspired others, and his love for the plant shone in these pages.

Some of his favorite sayings included “Don’t lie, don’t cheat and don’t steal, and the rest will take care of itself,” and “A saturated endocannabinoid is the way to homeostasis!”

He was very astute, and his favorite plaque in his office reads: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and you can fool all people some of the time, but you can’t fool Bob!” While his first love was surely Cannabis, his true love was Rhonda, with whom he was both husband and best friend.

“Bob would also calculate mileage for our roadtrips and see how many TJs (travel joints) we’d need based on one every 20 minutes!

Bob taught me the science behind my Cannabis cooking. We had countless wonderful adventures in our ten years,” she said.

“I will feel forever blessed in knowing him and being his wife.

He was my soulmate and incredibly loved and admired by so many.”

May God rest his soul — a proud Cannasapian, husband and veteran.

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX @NWLEAF | PHOTOS courtesy

LOBBY DAY JAN. 27

REGISTER TODAY & JOIN US IN OLYMPIA

Each year, The Cannabis Alliance brings our community to Olympia to engage lawmakers in meaningful conversation. Lobby Day empowers members and supporters to highlight the real impacts of cannabis policy on businesses, patients, workers, and communities. By joining us, you’ll learn advocacy skills, connect with others in the industry, and help shape the future of cannabis in Washington State. Your voice is powerful—come use it where it counts.

Washington State Capitol January 27, 8am-8pm

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Morning kickoff & training session Group meetings with senators, representatives, and aides End-of-day legislative reception THECANNABISALLIANCE.US/LOBBY-DAY

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shop review

2020 SOLUTIONS

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JAN. 2026

2020 Solutions was one of the first recreational stores in Whatcom County; their provenance as a previously upstanding medical dispensary made its legacy easy to continue. They have three locations in the county near Bellingham: Iron Street, right off I-5 and close to downtown; the Mount Baker Highway location, a few miles east of the city and a perfect stop on the way to the slopes; and the focus of this article, the Pacific Highway store, just a few miles north of Bellingham right off the Slater Road exit.

THE GREAT PARKING and easy-to-reach location make this stop off I-5 a simple decision. The bright exterior continues inside with a very well-lit store and displays that prioritize organization over packing as much product as possible onto the shelves. The space is well coordinated and very far from claustrophobic. Each section is nicely labeled and stocked with strong values plus top-tier products available in Washington.

The revolving door doesn’t exist at this store; employees are long-term team members with a focus on product knowledge and customer service. As a certified Medical Cannabis store with Department of Health-approved products, patients can find educated recommendations and benefit from the tax relief associated with a medical Cannabis authorization. Furthermore, 2020 Solutions encourages customers to stack tax relief with daily and seasonal discounts, providing the best value the team can offer — something they take pride in.

I was able to spend some time with Isabel Garcia, a four-year veteran of 2020 Solutions, who has climbed the ranks from budtender to inventory manager to her current role as “coach.”

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She is now responsible for floor operations and training new employees across all locations; it’s a perfect recipe for a dependable customer experience across all stores. Her focus is on customer service, product knowledge and overall consistency. She believes in a comfortable approach to sales, letting customers dictate their needs and then helping guide them — based on current market knowledge — to products that fit the bill.

You won’t find a pushy or obtuse budtender at any of these locations. Garcia said it best: “It’s about the guests. You need to be knowledgeable, and we want

people who want to help 2020 SOLUTIONS other people with any of 4770 PACIFIC HWY, their problems — we’re BELLINGHAM, WA kind of like therapists, in 2020-SOLUTIONS.COM a way.” This level of dedi@2020SOLUTIONS_INSTA cation and perspective on MON-SAT: 8AM-11PM the current state of CanSUN: 8 AM-10 PM nabis creates a customer (360) 746-3443 experience that is difficult to replicate.

So whether you’re a Whatcom County local or just passing through, do yourself a favor and visit one of 2020 Solutions’ locations — we’re confident you’ll be more than pleased with the experience.

YOU WON’T FIND A PUSHY OR OBTUSE BUDTENDER AT ANY OF THESE LOCATIONS.

STORY & PHOTOS by REX HILSINGER @BOROPHOTO for NORTHWEST LEAF @NWLEAF See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

budtender of the month

ASHTON JOHNSON

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“IT’S MORE THAN JUST THE THC; OTHER CANNABINOIDS LIKE CBN, CBG, CBD AND CBC CAN MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY OF LIFE.”

HER JOURNEY has led to many roles in the industry. Before budtending, she held many successful positions with manufacturers, from typical production work all the way up to sales and marketing leadership. This experience provided a well-rounded education on the plant and its benefits and helped develop her palate. We all enjoy the buzz associated with Cannabis, as does Ashton, but her deep dive into the medical benefits of consumption has developed into a force to be reckoned with.

Located just off Interstate 5, Sweet Releaf is west of Burlington on State Route 20. It is a Skagit Valley favorite that served as a local watering hole called The Shamrock for decades.

The store is the last stop for most tourists and locals headed out to the San Juan Islands.

Manager Derrick Blake and owner Matthew Plemmons run a very clean shop that they keep stocked with well-known favorites and some of the greatest craft Cannabis brands in the state. With an unmistakable focus on their clientele, the displays are streamlined and far from crowded.

The atmosphere is inviting, relaxing and warm. It is because of this vibe that Ashton, a Skagit Valley local, chooses to budtend here and here alone. Derrick said he’d waited for years to find a position for Ashton (they go way back), and he knew her skills were seriously on point. Fast-forward two years, and Ashton is regarded as a top employee. Listening to clients and helping them procure the right strains and consumption methods based on personal needs is her main focus.

“I just love our customers, from the regular locals to the people coming to enjoy Skagit Valley for the first time,” Ashton said. “It’s more than just the THC; other cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, CBD and CBC can make such a difference in quality of life.”

You can tell this mantra goes deep with Ashton and the whole team at Sweet Releaf.

She is constantly educating herself on the latest products and trends to keep her clients up to date and pass on the knowledge.

So, if you’re in Skagit Valley or on your way to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, stop and stock up your stash and say hi to Ashton and the team!

SWEET RELEAF

Meet our new friend, Ashton Johnson. Not only does she have over a decade of experience in the Cannabis space, but her focus on product knowledge and client care is also absolutely top notch. Follow her on Instagram @hashyterpiana.

jan. 2026

14637 STATE RTE 20, MOUNT VERNON, WA MOUNTVERNONBUD.COM @SWEET_RELEAF_SKAGIT MON.-FRI. 8 A.M. - 9 P.M. SAT./SUN. 10 A.M. - 8 P.M. (360) 588 -2250

STORY & PHOTOS by REX HILSINGER @BOROPHOTO/NORTHWEST LEAF @NWLEAF Who’s your favorite budtender? Tell us why! Email nominations to rex@leafmagazines.com

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dankswarehouse.com | @dankswarehouse.co Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 and older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

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off the shelf reviews

SKÖRD MARIJUANA We love single-source craft Cannabis, where the same flower powers delicious concentrates and cartridges, so we topped off our stash of gas with a lineup of heavy and heady terpenes from Skörd.

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THIS FLOWER HITS THE GAS HARD ON INHALE… TURNING THE DIAL UP TO 11 AND BLOWING WAY PAST THE SPEED LIMIT.

jan. 2026

Fully baked and ready for snacks, we popped a fresh RS11 cart onto our nifty electric guitar battery from Golden Cedar Wholesale and prepared to venture into the rainy world in search of munchies and caffeine. Rainbow Sherbert #11 is a classic cross of Pink Guava X Sunset Sherbert, with a gorgeous golden color that’s fully visible in the clear tank of the cart, ready to be vaporized hundreds of times.

SKÖRD is a Swedish term for harvest, which the team has been doing for over a decade, growing craft Cannabis with a familybusiness-meets-passionate stoner vibe. This lasting legacy of top-shelf flower has propelled the farm to grow through years of changing markets, focusing on genetics and quality while maintaining a scale that delivers consistency, crop after crop.

Everything begins in the garden, where hands guide the plant from fresh starts to thick and juicy buds, and we started our sesh with the Souped Up flower, an intense and heavy cross of Motor Breath X Sinmints

by Sin City Seeds. A gearhead term for built-up motors, Souped Up gets our engine revving with sharp sherbert gas, heavy, funked-up minty kush and a breathy finish that’s complex and indulgently intoxicating straight from the jar.

The buds are thick and heavily frosted, with little foxtails and a sticky snap that leaves fingers super sticky with greasy terps.

This flower hits the gas hard on inhale, burning smooth but thick with resin, then delivering a heavy, breathy and gassy exhale that rips into the senses, turning the dial up to 11 and blowing way past the speed limit.

Once the flower had fully settled into our stoned frontal lobes, we turned to the Key Lime Pie #6, the dab equivalent of dessert.

Golden orange and glistening with terps, this oil reeks of sharp limey gas, layered with frosted, funky creamy fuel that’s ready to ignite the senses. First low-temp tokes release a vapor that’s as bright and refreshing as an infused Sprite, tingling the palate on exhale and quenching our terp thirsts with a citrusy zing. Euphoric and creative, but heavy enough to be noticeably stoned, this is a daytime adventure waiting in each glob.

Ripping the penjamin releases thick clouds of gassy sherbert and sweet, smooth guava that rolls over the palate like a stoney dream. True flower flavor hits the palate with each hit, filling the air and mind with a cloudy high that’s hazy, dreamy and ready for munchies. With a trifecta of Skörd terps filling the mind and body, there’s no better buzz to go soil to oil with, except for the addition of a triple-shot latte!

REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX @NWLEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

TASTE LUXURY

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concentrate of the month

BACON’S BUDS

BACONSBUDS.COM @BACONSBUDS

TABLE FOR TWO Celebrate the new year of terps with fizzy

Champagne Patties and follow it up with a hit of Pink Zugar as we melt our faces and minds with the greasiest living soil terps from the legends at Bacon’s Buds.

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FIZZY TERPS RUSH TO THE FRONTAL LOBES… DELIVERING THE BUZZ THAT ONLY CANNABIS CAN AND THE PERFECT WAY TO RING IN A NEW YEAR!

IN HONOR of our health and wellness, we’ve chosen the tastiest of hash rosins – dubbed Bacon’s Grease – to keep our heads floating gently above the stress and seasonal depression that pours out like rain this time of year.

We start our dab adventure with Pink Zugar, a tantalizing cross between Zkittlez X Straw Guava, which blends classic Z terps with a bouquet of pink floral rose terps that dazzle the palate.

Golden and greasy, this cold-cured rosin oozes with creamy Z strawberries, releasing a wave of bright sugary gas that teases the senses as a glob slips off the hot knife into our banger.

First inhales are syrupy and thick with creamy pink-floral gas that delivers a warming euphoria that sends the mind floating into a cloud of blissful bakedness, relieving stress as the delicious terps take hold.

Mentally, Pink Zugar feels like frosting on a freshly baked cupcake; it sent us into the kitchen for coffee, sweets and 15 minutes of scrolling before we remembered the Champagne Patties waiting for our celebratory second hit.

Popping the lid on Champagne Patties releases a bright and fizzy rush of candied rose petals, bright orange peels and fresh coriander with a complex gassy finish that lingers with a creamy vanilla-strawberry cough slap to the senses. Simply smelling this feels like CHAMPAGNE PATTIES (L) a celebration, with (STRAWBERRY COUGH X MIMOSA) X DOUBLE BURGER fingers gently shaking PINK ZUGAR (R) in anticipation while (ZKITTLEZ X STRAW GUAVA) loading a glob. The living soil organic methodology truly brings out the best of terpenes, flavonoids and the plant itself in an expression of nature that heals and delivers happiness at the same time – it’s why the Leaf loves Bacon’s Grease so much!

First inhales are gassy and warming, smoothly filling the lungs and exhaling with a tingly ztrawberry-citrus-burger blast that’s delicious and captivating.

Fizzy terps rush to the frontal lobes, popping the mind like a cork and overflowing the glass with giggly happiness as Champagne Patties should, delivering the buzz that only Cannabis can and the perfect way to ring in a new year!

BACON’S GREASE HASH ROSIN jan. 2026

REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX @NWLEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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edible of the month

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leafmagazines.com

Load up the bus and head to Weedstock with the newest gummies to hit the Washington Cannabis market.

THERE’S NO VEHICLE more associated with With tie-dye and a reflective surface hippies, drugs and good vibes than the Volkswacalling us in, these gluten-free and vegan gen Bus. First designed in 1947, this follow-up to gummies jumped off the shelf and into the Beetle became an instant classic our tummies.

THE GUMMIES HAVE ... among collectors and road-ready The multipack of 10-milA SUGARED SURFACE, travelers. ligram gummies contains WHICH MELTS QUICKLY, Today, the buses are beloved for Mixed Berry, Tangerine, WaLEAVING A KISS OF ROSIN differences like the front split nose and termelon and Pink Lemonade ON THE PALATE TO REMIND as many as 21 or 23 windows, offerflavors, which are really the THE MIND THAT THESE ARE ing passengers a beautiful view while best parts of the rainbow.

INFUSED WITH POTENT buzzing around — albeit at pretty slow Mixed Berry delights with SOLVENTLESS OIL. speeds, with only 47 horsepower in ripe and bright red and the second-generation bay window models. blue berries, and we mixed it with the In artful homage to the VW Bus comes Mood citrus zing of Tangerine for a juicy bite Cruiserz, a new rosin-infused gummy that comes in of gummy goodness. The gummies have beautifully designed packaging. a thick bite and a little crunch from a

jan. 2026

sugared surface, which melts quickly, leaving a kiss of rosin on the palate to remind the mind that these are infused with potent solventless oil.

The Watermelon is a beautiful red and has a sweet melon flavor, and the Pink Lemonade is waiting to transport the palate to a sunny summer day, with the heat of the sun and terpenes warming you inside and out.

Fuel up your mental Vanagon and hit The High Road with the new Mood Cruiserz for your next gummy adventure!

REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX @NWLEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

strain of the month

STRAWBERRY LOBSTER (STRAWBERRY COUGH x BLUE LOBSTER) OFF GAS (ORIGINAL DIESEL x BLUE LOBSTER) GRAPE LOBSTER (GRAPE LYFE 29 x BLUE LOBSTER)

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LOBSTER TRIO jan. 2026

A trio of new Blue Lobster crosses has emerged from the deep roots of Maine Trees to settle into the Pacific Northwest on the Lifted Cannabis menu, where these curiously named crustacean cuts are the most exclusive heat in the market.

CULTIVATED BY

LIFTED CANNABIS

LIFTEDCANNABISCO.COM | MAINETREES.COM

DISNEY’S “The Little Mermaid” was full of classic fairytale advice, with Sebastian the crab reminding us that the seaweed is always greener under the sea. But we didn’t see any Blue Lobsters hanging around, or that movie would have had a lot more baked clams. Does an underwater bong use air instead of water?

This is what happens when the best weed from the beast coast meets an award-winning PNW garden, and the results are superbly stoney.

The Blue Lobster was bred by Compound Genetics, combining Apples & Bananas x Eye Candy, which became a signature Maine Trees strain and has swept awards shows since winning East Coast Zalympix in 2023.

This trio of Strawberry Lobster, Grape Lobster and Off Gas are the newest children of the Blue Lobster genetic family, all featuring unique flavors and characteristics that are just as special as their parent strain. Lifted’s team loves rare and unique cuts, so they collaborated with Maine Trees to access the genetics and grew this new trio of Lobsters the Lifted way, with stunning packaging and the ultimate care from start to finish.

We start our trio of deliciousness with the Grape Lobster, our fingers gripping the embossed, sexy jar as we twist it open, releasing a wave of grapey, gassy lobster that’s louder than the OceanGate Titan implosion.

Bright trichomes glisten from the flower inside the blackout jar, highlighting an immaculate trim and bud presentation. Thick, snappy and sappy, the flower burns slow and immaculately smooth, sending warm grapes, apples and a creamy, hazy flourish that’s sweet and sultry before smacking the mind with heavy, heady effects.

Wondering if lobsters can dance or hear, we turn up the house music and prepare for the Strawberry Lobster, which glistens and beckons like a siren from the jar.

This cut is all creamy strawberry fields, with bright berries and green, earthy apples rolling into a hazy-banana, bready-Z cream that captivated our stoner senses.

Each nug is perfect, frosty and almost too pretty to break up, but the seaweed beckons as we rip into a bowl, relishing the sharp bready gas and sweet apples and strawberry exhale as our frontal lobes turn into lobster pudding.

A massive tsunami of body high follows a few bowls, and we suddenly understand why “we got no troubles, life is the bubbles, under the sea.”

We finish floating and grab the Off Gas, a cross of Original Diesel x Blue Lobster that smells like the very best old-school weed, with a gentle, appley, fuel-like, citrus haze that builds as the jar sits open, slowly filling the air with additional notes of sharp Candy Markers and a distinct Blue Diesel.

A truly complex and layered gas, it overwhelms the senses and might be the most beautiful of the three. The first hits are smooth, sweet and all gas, rushing over senses and slowing time and thought as the gas permeates the mind and body. Hitting the bottom of the couch like an anchor, this Off Gas sent us sailing for the salty seas of Uber Eats, surely too baked to steer a ship safely.

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

Fresh Harvests for the

HIGHEST Experience This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming.

Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

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THE weed & WELLNESS ISSUE

TOPICAL ROUNDUP

SKINDEEP

The plant doesn’t have to be sparked up to work its magic: Cannabis topicals take a grounded, targeted approach to wellness by working with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system right where you need it. Today, topicals are showing up on shelves in more ways than ever. From post-workout recovery to glow-up skin care routines, these skin-first rituals are redefining what Cannabis care can look like.

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T TRANSDERMAL P AT C H E S SET IT & FORGET IT

jan. 2026

ransdermal patches take topicals to the next level, literally. Designed to deliver cannabinoids through the skin and into the bloodstream over time, they offer steady, long-lasting support without the digestive detour. This slowrelease method is especially helpful for chronic pain, inflammation, cramping or endometriosis. Once it’s on, you’re set for the day.

The LEAF gals swear by Synergy Skin Worx, available in Oregon, Montana, Arizona and Louisiana. We like to cut their patches into smaller pieces for convenient, customizable application and more bang for your buck.

They’re sweat- and water-resistant for any active wellness routine, or provide consistent relief when curling up for an all-day couch-rot sesh. For best results, apply transdermals to a veiny area (such as the inner wrist or ankle) to maximize absorption and keep effects evenkeeled from morning to night.

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STORY by KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

THE weed & WELLNESS ISSUE

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T O P I C A L R O U N D U P > > C O N T I N U E D F R O M P R E V I O U S PA G E

CBD SKIN CARE GREEN MEETS RED LIGHT THERAPY

R

ed light therapy is all the rage in the wellness world, using low-wavelength light to support circulation and cellular repair. Add the power of the plant to the mix, and you’ve got a ritual that goes beyond surface-level skin care. While red light energizes cells and boosts circulation, cannabinoids help calm inflammation and restore balance. Together, they create a synergistic experience that feels both restorative and intentional.

Our go-to move? Apply a cannabinoid-rich serum or cream before your red light session to enhance absorption and create an at-home spa-like ambiance. Enter this CannaSmack Honey Serum: a luxe blend of responsibly

sourced honey and botanical oils like hemp seed, rose hip, argan and orange oil for deep hydration. Bonus points for being a women-founded brand with online shopping and nationwide shipping!

CANNASMACK.COM | @CANNASMACK

THC ROLL-ONS W O R KOUT R E C O V E R Y, E L E VAT E D

M leafmagazines.com

eet your new workout MVP: Infused topicals combine powerful cannabinoids with other ingredients, such as nourishing botanicals or aromatics, to target sore muscles and soothe overworked joints. Unlike ingestibles, these stay local to calm tension and inflammation in skin and muscle tissue without affecting your headspace.

Think recovery, minus the mental fog.

Our crew can’t get enough of Buddie’s Fire & Ice lotion, available in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. This award-winning formula features a soothing blend of menthol, camphor, eucalyptus and cinnamon with an advanced recovery blend of THC, CBD, CBG and CBN. Plus, the roller-style applicator makes it ridiculously easy to apply this liquid-gold lotion on the go. Toss it in your gym bag or keep it in your car cupholder for roll-on relief after Pilates, leg day or an ambitious hike.

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Check with your budtender for personalized recommendations, as topicals come in all sorts of formats, from these roll-ons to balms, creams, oils and more. For next-level results, try applying your topical of choice right after a shower when your pores are open for peak absorption.

BUDDIESBRAND.COM @BUDDIESBRAND_OFFICIAL

RSO POTENT PLANT POWER FOR THE SKIN

RSO

(Rick Simpson Oil) is a highly concentrated, full-spectrum Cannabis extract known for its potency and thick, sticky consistency.

When applied externally, RSO skips the psychoactive effects while offering incredibly localized benefits. It delivers cannabinoids directly to CB2 receptors, which are involved in regulating inflammation and immune response.

Research is still evolving, but anecdotal evidence has sparked serious conversation around RSO’s potential role in addressing skin cancers, including melanoma. In fact, multiple Leaf team members have personally used topical RSO to help minimize or eliminate melanoma spots. It’s also been known to support scar care, inflammation, stiff muscles and dry skin. As more studies continue, the takeaway remains consistent: This oil is powerful stuff.

If you’re exploring RSO topically, we recommend RSO Syringes from 710 Labs, which are currently available in Colorado, California and Michigan. These stand out because they’re cultivar-specific, an often overlooked detail that can heavily impact desired effects.

RSO is widely available in both medical and recreational markets, so ask your local budtender for their own pick.

Pro tip: Less is more, because a little RSO goes a long way! Mix a rice-grain amount with a carrier oil, such as coconut or hemp seed oil, for smooth and even application.

710LABS.COM | @710LABS

STORY by KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS courtesy

Kelso Longview Cathlamet Ilwaco

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Celebrating 12 years of Freedom and Legal Cannabis in 2026!

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JOURNEY OF THE HEART

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Dementia Relief and Plant Medicine: One Family's Experience with Low-Dose Cannabis

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I proudly carry her name, Angela Aguilar, like an ambient ember dancing in my heart, glowing with ancestral lineage and love. My Abuelita is 93 years old, a testament to the strength of our Indigenous American, Native Mexican bloodline.

She’s a woman whose life has shaped the architecture of our familia traditions. She is the cornerstone of what it means to be an Aguilar, the matriarch we could always count on. Her presence, like a great oak tree, always held a sense of strength, resilience, shelter and warmth. As dementia has now woven its shadow across her mind, my family and I find ourselves walking beside her on one of the most tender journeys of our lifetime.

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ACCORDING to the World Health Organization, dementia affects 10 million new people globally per year. In 2021, there were 57 million families worldwide living with its many forms daily.

The U.S.C.F. Fein Memory and Aging Center discovered that dementia unfolds when nerve cells in the brain lose connection, FTL1 proteins accumulate, and as a result, memory pathways crumble.

Entire regions of the brain shrink like dried riverbeds. But nothing that science tells us can prepare the family for how it feels to watch someone you love fade in and out of the present moment like clouds on a windy day.

It began slowly: small childlike quirks, repeated questions, a drifting attention span, loss of short-term memory and a scrambling to identify family names.

Over the course of five years, mi familia developed a steady routine of support.

We felt confident that, even through this challenging phase of life, we could reliably support my Abuela. However, as she approaches 94 years of age, none of us were prepared for the dramatic and aggressive decline we would face.

"It was as though the plant opened a small window of clarity in the dissolution of fog ..."

O

ver the past three months, mi Abuelita’s condition shifted sharply.

Her memory slipped almost entirely, and conversations evapA third of a orated midsentence.

10mg piece each day She could no longer brought relief. follow her favorite novelas. She stopped eating, bathing herself and maintaining everyday functions. Fear crept into her eyes, and she grew distrustful, unhappy and increasingly aggressive. Our once-gentle and humorous matriarch began lashing out violently, and with each change, our family dynamics became strained.

Through it all, I kept offering a path of hope: "Cannabis might help her," the ancestors whispered to me. Every time I sat down in prayer and meditative reverence focused on mi Abuelita, the plant spirits nudged my intuition. Unfortunately, the familia wasn’t ready to try an Earth-grown remedy; fear, stigma and uncertainty lingered like ghosts from older generations.

Dementia doesn’t only alter the person living inside it; it reshapes everyone within its orbit.

We felt the grief first. That quiet, heavy kind of grief that comes before death, when you are already missing someone who still sits right in front of you. As the stress level increased, family tensions surfaced.

Some family members withdrew emotionally; others denied how severe her condition had become. The stress was immense. The house felt heavier, and conversations were shorter. The air was tense in ways we didn’t want to admit.

Questions arose: What’s the right care plan?

Should we move her into a care facility? Are we doing enough? Where is the consistent support from the children she brought into this world and the grandchildren she lovingly guided?

Caregiving is holy work, but it can fracture a family before it unites one.

Eventually, the burden became so immense that only my parents’ compassionate, dedicated love beyond measure could manage mi Abuelita’s around-the-clock care.

They stepped into roles that demanded patience, ing, something we hadn't witnessed in several stamina and a kind of spiritual resilience that months. She was enjoying her novelas, and we stretched them thin from exhaustion. I watched us were finally back to our heartwarming reading all confronting the painful truth that dementia had sessions in which I had the privilege to read her taken our family dynamic and the children's books she once placed it under pressure we’d read to me. never known.

It was as though the plant Then, the breaking point came: opened a small window of Mi Abuelita’s aggression became clarity in the dissolution of fog, unmanageable. Caregivers were where light could pour back struggling to manage support, into her heart and mind. and the nights grew longer.

To witness this healing — That is when her doctors apinitiated by an indigenous proved a progressive decision — plant medicine our ancestors one born not out of desperation, revered — felt like a full circle but out of love and trust. moment of reindigenization.

We introduced a small piece of Cannabis has carried me Earth-grown medicine: The 4.20 through my own wellness jourMini Chocolate Bar Infused with ney, and now it has become Gold Leaf Gardens Hash Rosin the gentle medicine guiding "She was enjoying her Indica, grown with aloha, and the matriarch whose name I novelas, and we were crafted by Evergreen Herbal. inherited. Both the young and finally back to our We cut the 10-milligram piece the old Angela Aguilar are into thirds, giving her just onerestored and renewed by our heartwarming reading third each day. beloved Cannabis. sessions in which I Gracias a Dios, that was the This is reparation. This is had the privilege to read moment the light returned to the reclamation. This is the spirit her the children's books eyes of our beloved Abuelita. of Earth medicine returning she once read to me."

The shift was noteworthy. Her home to its people. aggression softened, her eyes Tonight, as I sit with mi warmed and her curiosity returned. The first night, Abuelita — her hand in mine, her smile soft she slept peacefully, and the next day, she ate a full as dawn — I feel nothing but gratitude. Her meal. And for the first time in three months, she battle with dementia is not gone. The journey allowed caretakers to help her get ready for a new continues, but hope has returned, and with it, a day. She began remembering family names and reminder, OGs, that even when memory fades, having clear cognitive conversations again. love remembers. Even when the mind wanders, Within a week, she was laughing and smilthe spirit knows the way home.

STORY & PHOTOS by ANGELA-JORDAN AGUILAR @AJ.OG @ELEVATE_YOUR_FATE for LEAF NATION See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

THE weed & WELLNESS ISSUE

HIGH ROLLERS

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When we talk about Cannabis as a wellness product, we often stay in the same sandbox: relief for lifelong chronic pain or the elderly and infirm. It was only recently that we embraced and focused on its benefits to sports medicine as well as daily wellness. Only in the last decade have athletes been able to come out in support of Cannabis as a method of not just recovery, but part of an ongoing routine for physical and mental well-being. One sport where support for the plant seems to have taken root from an early stage and flourished is roller derby.

WHAT IS ROLLER DERBY? For the uninitiated, roller derby is a fast-paced sport where two teams race on an oval-shaped track. Each game is divided into a series of two-minute “jams” where players form walls to try and block the opposing team’s designated scorer, known as the “jammer,” while trying to help their own jammer through the pack. This player, identified by the star on their helmet, gets a point for every blocker they make it past, creating nail-biting situations where scores can change dramatically at a moment’s notice.

Angel City Derby is Los Angeles’ premier member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby League. A nonprofit organization comprising four different teams of players, Angel City is ranked as the sixth-best team from a list of 546 rosters worldwide. Started in 2004, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association has grown to become a sport enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of athletes. With its own World Cup and teams in over 50 countries, women’s roller derby is a no-holdsbarred, full-contact sport that’s exciting to watch but is undeniably physically demanding.

I’ve watched players skid into the stands at full speed, kiss concrete while taking a moving tackle and make “Matrix”-like jumps through a pileup of the opposing team. I’ve seen the bruises and doctor bills that often come with athletic performance, so it’s no wonder that derby players are well acquainted with CBD and THC. In fact, roller derby and Cannabis have skated side by side many times. Cheryl Cryer, owner of the Illinois CBD brand Urban Apothecary, has 14-plus years of experience with derby. On the brand’s website, Cryer — who used to compete under the name Crybaby Cryer — said that her company has created products targeted directly to “the demands of this full-contact sport.”

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HIT ME BRUISETON

ONE SPORT WHERE SUPPORT FOR THE PLANT SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN ROOT FROM AN EARLY STAGE AND FLOURISHED IS ROLLER DERBY. Cannabis-as-sports-medicine advocate, athlete and entrepreneur Bethany Semeiks played with Los Angeles’ Angel City for eight years.

Semeiks told a reporter for Sports Cannabis that she had an “ah-ha moment” in 2018 after discovering how Cannabis helped her at night to sleep and feel physically rested. Colorado breeder Cannarado even has a strain named Roller Derby.

Recently, Angel City and Polly Urathang hosted High Roller, a Cannabis-sponsored, consumption-friendly event in Los Angeles, where two teams squared off on a flat track and fans watched a friendly grudge match between 710 Labs and Terphogz. Afterward, when the score was tallied and the skates were off, we asked Angel City if any of their players would be willing to discuss the role Cannabis plays in their wellness routine and what kind of stigma, if any, exists around Cannabis in this sport. > > C O N T I N U E S N E X T PA G E

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for NORTHWEST LEAF @NWLEAF | PHOTO by JOJO SNAPS @THEJOJOSNAPS

ne

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or ma c hi

r y under the infuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana products may be purcha s ed

by persons twenty-one years of age or older. WAC 314-55-155(5). ©2025 Pastime Brands LLC

THE weed & WELLNESS ISSUE

> > C O N T I N U E D F R O M P R E V I O U S PA G E

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HIGH ROLLERS WHAT DO THE PLAYERS SAY? The players who spoke with us all said that while safety is paramount, Cannabis is largely accepted by the derby community as something that helps deal with the bumps and bruises.

Cole Train, who plays for Angel City as a blocker, has been in the derby community since 2013.

She said even those who don’t smoke, dab or eat edibles likely have some sort of topical or other product for recovery purposes.

LaQuanda Stokes, who plays under the name Hit Me Bruiseton, said she doesn’t see as much of a stigma about Cannabis roller derby, but that people she meets are “often surprised when they find out that I am a stoner because I’m very active.”

Being such a physically demanding sport, many of the Angel City players who spoke with Leaf brought up how they’ve found Cannabis to help them in so many recovery efforts from previous injuries, both on and off the track. Stokes, who also uses Cannabis for ADHD, said that she incorporates Cannabis into much of her routine, finding that topicals, flower and even concentrates are a great way to ease the pain and cool down. “I think it helps me relax,” she said, “especially since my body is hurting most of the time.”

COLE TRAIN (RIGHT) COACHING SHORE SHOTS VS SIN CITY

jan. 2026

BEING SUCH A PHYSICALLY DEMANDING SPORT, MANY OF THE ANGEL CITY PLAYERS BROUGHT UP HOW THEY’VE FOUND CANNABIS TO HELP THEM IN SO MANY RECOVERY EFFORTS FROM PREVIOUS INJURIES, BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK.

Cole Train told the Leaf that after knee surgery, it wasn’t playing that caused discomfort, but rather more commonplace activities. “I love to take long walks, and for a long time, I felt like my recovery had stagnated and I was never going to fully heal from my surgery. Over the last year, I have been using Cannabis on my walks, and I have found that it helps me to put my knee through its full range of motion, which over time has vastly improved my mobility, and now my range of motion is closer to what it was presurgery.”

While primarily using these products to relieve the aches and pains of the game, these athletes are really no different than your grandma grabbing a roll-on for her hip. “I’ve used just about every topical over-the-counter stuff for pain, but at the end of the day, I would rather choose a more natural way to relieve my pain,” Juggernaut Joey, Angel City’s recruit trainer, told the Leaf.

Juggernaut Joey, a blocker and pivot skater who also suffers from insomnia, takes gummies or the occasional hit off a vape to help them sleep. She said these things are what help them feel more rested and ready to hit the track for a game. But wellness is not just about muscles, Juggernaut Joey said, as they also have a CBD-based facial regimen. “No bullshit, it’s made my skin so much more vibrant,” she said. > > C O N T I N U E S N E X T PA G E

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for NORTHWEST LEAF @NWLEAF | PHOTOS by JASE SANDERS

THE weed & WELLNESS ISSUE

> > C O N T I N U E D F R O M P R E V I O U S PA G E

HIGH ROLLERS COCO BUTTHER, BLAXYL ROSE & SHAGGY

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MORE THAN A FEELING What makes roller derby players different from some of the athletes we’ve talked to in the past is the way they feel like the role of Cannabis isn’t being demonized in their world.

“We understand the complexities of use, diversity of product and multitude of circumstances that vary by person,” Rachel Rotten, Angel City’s director, explained. More than just a veiled acceptance of CBD ointments, a policy like this makes it possible to have a Cannabis-related post-game, post-workout or daily wellness routine without setting a timer on how long it might stay in your system.

While understanding some of the complexities around using Cannabis for recovery, Rachel Rotten made it clear that policy still maintains that once an athlete laces up their skates, they need to be clearheaded and ready to roll.

As we spoke with players about their experiences with the Cannabis stigma, many of them also talked about how they’ve managed to help defy the stigma of the lazy stoner. It seemed like each one recounted a story about how their active lifestyle and achievements in the sport had helped redefine that caricature for their family, friends and co-workers. None of them recounted, however, being denied accolades or advancement because of their Cannabis use or a time they lost a sponsorship for being a stoner.

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ANGEL CITY DERBY VS LOS ANGELES DERBY DOLLS

ANGEL CITY’S DIRECTOR, RACHEL ROTTEN, MADE IT CLEAR THAT POLICY STILL MAINTAINS THAT ONCE AN ATHLETE LACES UP THEIR SKATES, THEY NEED TO BE CLEARHEADED AND READY TO ROLL.

These hardworking, game-winning machines are an example of what a modernized Cannabis approach to sports can accomplish. As such, roller derby players are helping tackle outdated ideas of Cannabis making you too lazy to lace up some skates, hit the track and live life to the fullest.

ANGELCITYDERBY.COM @ANGELCITYDERBY

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for NORTHWEST LEAF @NWLEAF | PHOTOS by JIM SABO @PAGAN_GOD See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

CRAFT MEETS CONVENIENCE DON’T SETTLE FOR A CONE

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For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product.

GET THE HOOK UP GOOD VIBES. GOOD ADVICE. EVERY TIME. From exclusive drops to everyday favorites, our trained budtenders always make sure you leave with the best deal and the right fit.

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WARNING: Cannabis products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 and older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

producer/processor tour

YETI SCAT TRAILS Yeti Scat Trails is on a mission. As a brand, they have been working diligently for the last five years to produce the highest-quality traditional hash in the Washington market. While a lot of us might know this process as bubble hash, full melt or ice hash, founders Karl Stevenson and Norman P. Johnson, Ph.D., have been perfecting this method over decades, way before we coined those terms.

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GLACIER PUFFS

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POWDERED PERFECTION

CUSTOM LASER ENGRAVING

jan. 2026

KARL CURING TRADITIONAL HASH

TRADITIONAL HASH

GREEN REAPER DIAMONDS

TEAMWORK: Sammy Sanchez-Hash Craftsman, Karl Stevenson GM/Co-Founder-Hash Master & Holly Haynes-Packaging Specialist.

NEPALESE TEMPLE HASH & PATHFINDER CONES

FIRST AND FOREMOST, Stevenson procures the highest-quality flower to begin the process; no trim is used at the facility. Viking Cannabis, Lazy Bee and Methow Growers are the main suppliers. As stated on their website, “We search out the very finest, high-quality varietal flower for making our world-famous traditional hashish. Using techniques preserving the full spectrum of the fruit of the female Cannabis flower, we handcraft each batch of varietal flower by centuries-old methods that purify and preserve the potent contents of the Cannabis rosin pod.”

Curing is arguably the most crucial step in the process; constant monitoring of temperature and humidity is paramount. This is accomplished by

One of our favorites, the Avalanche Tokes, is a temple ball filled with custom-shaped THC diamonds, great presentation and the perfect bowl for a group sesh.

a careful system of air filtration, dehumidification and air conditioning that Stevenson and the team monitor like hawks. I found a lot of systems here that utilized legacy methods but have been adapted using modern engineering and technology.

Stevenson said it best: “Nothing here is too crazy complicated but we’ve taken our legacy tools and modernized them for efficiency and consistency.”

Take their basin rocking system. This was completely engineered by Stevenson and Johnson; the top-mounted cable system suspends the main screen bag on a frame above a collection tub and allows for various ranges of undulation to help the water drain efficiently.

Need I mention that their water is purified on-site?

Let’s take a look at the menu; they’ve got some really solid offerings. There are traditional options like Nepalese Temple Hash, a cured processed product available in 1-gram temple balls in traditional stores and 3.5- and 7-gram balls available on our local reservations. Powdered Perfection is a great bowl topper with a perfect melt and very noticeable buzz.

Their Glacier Puffs are a container of Powdered Perfection covered with a generous topping of THC crystals provided by Green Reaper.

One of our favorites, the Avalanche Tokes, is a temple ball filled with custom-shaped THC diamonds, great presentation and the perfect bowl for a group sesh. Another don’t miss option is the Pathfinder Cones. This fusion of perfectly cured flower and Powdered Perfection burns evenly and really gives a boost to your regular preroll.

Talk about custom products: They have a laser-engraving solution that doesn’t change the hash quality but lets wholesale clients customize their inventory.

Traditional (Nepalese) hash can be overlooked these days, but once you’ve tried it, once you’ve had the OG real McCoy, you’ll know why for hundreds of years this has been a preferred method of consumption. Next time you’re at your favorite local retailer, ask for Yeti Scat Trails and taste literally centuries of tradition in your next bowl.

YETISCATTRAILS.COM @YETISCATTRAILS

WATER FILTRATION

PRODUCTION

STORY & PHOTOS by REX HILSINGER @BOROPHOTO for NORTHWEST LEAF @NWLEAF

patient of the month

JASONCHAMBERS Meet Jason Chambers, known in local circles as “The Captain.” His story starts in simpler times when Cannabis was still on the fringe, especially for this Austin, Texas, native.

He described the scene to me: “In the 1980s, Austin was a big city with small-town living.

You could walk around smoking joints openly, and cops didn’t mess with you unless you gave them a reason to.” Remember, this is the home stage for the epic film “Dazed and Confused.” The Captain had some great memories about the real hazing that went on there and laughed as he said, “That movie was definitely based on real events. I remember running my first mile around that track!”

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We met The Captain and his wife and soulmate, Sammie Chambers, an expat from England, for the first time at the 2025 Natural Remedies Campout, where they pulled out all the stops and provided a curated 20’ x 40 installation.

It included a dab lounge full of amazing glass options and a supply store with everything from chips, sodas, water and basic camping supplies to medical-grade rosin-infused hot cocoa and sweet delights.

We also cannot forget their super fun Wheel of Weed, which attendees could spin for a challenge that, if beaten, resulted in some stoney prizes.

Sammie is the partner in this operation; her positivity and creative directions can be seen and tasted in the amazing edibles she creates, her original artwork that adorns their customized dab mats as well as the marketing work behind Scallywag Solventless.

A lengthy story can be told about the trials and tribulations that have formed this Cannabis enthusiast into a cornerstone of the Washington medical Cannabis community.

“For this couple, THE CAPTAIN’S early years had their (Cannabis) is a way to curveballs, though; he spent ages 15 to 17 in juvenile detention. Shortly after be- responsibly medicate and ing released, he moved up to the Seattle to help others approach area to make new roots where his mother had relocated and his father lived. From here, he began a state of homeostasis.” his trail of recovery, which led to a lot of memorable times with a very supportive woman by the name of Sammie.

Then back to Austin it was; unfortunately, due to relapse, their relationship only lasted 18 short months.

The feeling wasn’t fleeting, though.

Decades later, after what can seem like a lifetime, the couple reunited, thanks to an old mutual friend and MySpace. So let’s fast-forward.

jan. 2026

Foremost, the constant theme that I see with The Captain and Sammie is their dedication to quality above all and being able to provide for their personal circle of friends and patients. Cannabis isn’t a vessel for financial success or bragging rights; for this couple, it is a way to responsibly medicate and to help others approach a state of homeostasis.

Intentions go a long way with all plants, but I do think that Cannabis is specifically influenced by its surroundings and the energy that goes into it. This makes for a medicine with intention, one that will certainly bring you more benefits than a commercially grown crop with nothing but a bottom line in mind. Through every up and down, every hurdle and each obstacle in life, this patient has always kept a smile on his face.

As Wooderson would say, “You just gotta keep livin’, man. L-I-VI-N.” And that is exactly what The Captain does.

SCALLYWAGSOLVENTLESS.COM @SCALLYWAGSOLVENTLESS

STORY & PHOTOS by REX HILSINGER @BOROPHOTO for NORTHWEST LEAF @NWLEAF

THE HEART OF HOQUIAM

The Coast is Calling!

@zia_recreational

Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 and older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment.

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

cooking with cannabis

MANGO PINEAPPLE

MANGO PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE Servings: 4 2 cups frozen mango chunks 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks 2 cups milk (dairy or coconut milk) 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional) 3 teaspoons canna-oil 1 cup ice (optional) Mint leaves for garnish

TRIPLE BERRY RED

1. Add milk to the blender.

2. Add mango, pineapple, yogurt and sweetener (if using).

3. Blend until smooth and creamy.

4. Adjust thickness with more milk or ice if needed. Add mint.

5. Serve immediately.

GREEN PISTACHIO SMOOTHIE Servings: 4 2 cups fresh spinach 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted 1/2 cup shelled unsalted pistachios 2 frozen bananas 2 1/2 cups milk (almond or oat milk works well) 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional) 3 teaspoons canna-oil 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup ice (optional) Chopped pistachios for garnish

GREEN PISTACHIO

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SMOOTHIES TO START YOUR NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT!

1. Add milk to the blender.

2. Add spinach, avocado, pistachios, bananas, yogurt, sweetener, canna-oil and vanilla.

3. Blend until completely smooth.

4. Add ice if needed, and blend again.

5. Serve immediately.

Starting Fresh This January, I’m easing back into healthier habits with a simple, sustainable routine. Each morning starts with a 45-minute walk, followed by a nourishing smoothie lunch built around fruits and vegetables — going light on processed sweets and minimal on meat.

After a season of holiday indulgence, this feels less like a reset and more like a gentle return to balance. I focus on what’s fresh when I can, and when something isn’t available, I reach for frozen fruit with no added sugar or syrups, keeping everything clean and uncomplicated.

jan. 2026

TRIPLE BERRY RED SMOOTHIE Servings: 4 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries 1 1/2 cups frozen cherries or blueberries 2 1/2 cups milk or apple juice 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt 3 teaspoons canna-oil 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional) 1 cup ice (optional) Strawberries for garnish 1. Add the liquid to the blender.

2. Add all berries, yogurt, canna-oil and sweetener (if using).

3. Blend until smooth and thick.

4. Adjust consistency with more liquid or ice if needed. Top with a strawberry.

5. Serve immediately.

To complement the routine, I’ve been enjoying infusing these smoothies with Astral Works (Prūf No. 24), a low-THC, higher-CBD strain crossed from Harle Tsu and TH1. With its citrus and pine notes and clear-headed, calming effects, it offers a mellow, relaxing vibe without a heavy high. It’s the kind of support that helps me slow down, stay present and ease into a be-healthy, try-to-be-happy rhythm — grounded, intentional and kind to both body and mind.

Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com

RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF @LAURIEANDMARYJANE | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF @BRUCE_WOLF #Don’tFearTheEdible #BeKind #EatYourCannabis #LaurieAndMaryJane

Leafing Addiction Behind Sobriety with Cannabis Hosted by The Bearded Lorax (Celebrating 3 years of Sobriety from Alcohol)

Join the Leaf as we reframe group addiction therapy

with Cannabis as a tool for sobriety. Our mission is to create connection and healing without judgment, foster fellowship, and share encouragement and Cannabis in a safe environment.

The California Sober movement has helped many leave alcohol, pharmaceuticals and hard drugs behind while embracing plant-based medicine. Leafing Addiction Behind is the only private sobriety meeting for those seeking to get clean with the green.

Using a support group format with guest speakers, elements of the 12-step program and a Socratic open forum teaching model, our beLeafers will heal, learn and use Cannabis in a safe environment.

We’ll keep the dab bar running, the coffee hot, and the vibes high as we seek to support and heal with Cannabis in its rightful place as a restorative medicine. Register for your ticket to Leafing Addiction Behind and start or continue your sobriety journey on a high note!

February 6th, 2026

4-8 pm • SODO - Seattle Ticket Required for Free Entry Limited Space Available 21+ • No Drugs/Alcohol

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glass art spotlight

Eriko Kobayashi is a native of Tokyo, Japan, where she started her journey in glass art 11 years ago. Her focus started on soft glass flameworking, as borosilicate wasn’t part of the curriculum there yet. After coming to the U.S. a little over five years ago, Eriko saw the popularity of borosilicate glass and gradually started learning the process.

THIS WAS MEANT TO BE; as the pandemic hit, Eriko was still able to create without needing the large facility, team and tools associated with soft glass work. Basically, all you need for borosilicate work is a torch, a countertop kiln and some hand tools. She also likes torch work because it allows her to create larger pieces without the need for multiple sets of hands.

With a focus on contemporary glass art, it’s no surprise that Eriko is inspired by some of the greats. You might be familiar with the work of Danny White (@ethan_windy) and Chris Ahalt (@cha_glass), two of her favorites. But go take a look at the pieces by Eunsuh Choi (@ eunsuhchoi), Karina Guevin (@karinaguevin) and Cedric Ginart (@cedricginart), who are three of her other major influences.

Their work is absolutely stunning.

Three months ago, Eriko moved out of her home creative space to an artist building in Seattle, where she has her own studio to create and plenty of space to grow.

Her installation of “Chewy Thoughts,” made as an homage to “The Gum Wall” (a literal wall of gum in a downtown Seattle alleyway), is now on display at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport between baggage claim 7 and 8 for your in-person viewing pleasure.

“My vision is to continue developing techniques that combine playfulness with strong conceptual grounding.”

The installation will be there for the next six months, so go give it a peek next time you’re flying into or out of Seattle.

When asked about her vision of the future of glass art, Eriko said, “My vision is to continue developing techniques that combine playfulness with strong conceptual grounding. I hope to create work that feels accessible, surprising and uniquely tactile.”

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ERIKO KOBAYASHI

jan. 2026

Regarding the growing market, she stated, “For the industry as a whole, I hope to see more diversity in techniques and voices, more cross-disciplinary collaboration and a growing appreciation for process-driven work. I also want to help build communities where knowledge is shared openly, so that more people can fall in love with glass.”

We tend to feature a lot of functional glass art in this column, but this month, the Leaf wanted to provide something a little different for our readers: art just for the sake of art. We hope you enjoy the images of this amazing work as much as we do. Take a minute (or more) to dive into the visual aspects as deep as you see fit.

Experiencing any kind of art creates space in our mind for reflection, self-healing and an overall focus on our personal wellness.

To find out about the availability of her work or commission a piece for yourself, visit her Instagram and send her a direct message! @ERIKO_GLASS

STORY by REX HILSINGER @BOROPHOTO for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS courtesy See more of her work at LeafMagazines.com

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Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

cannthropology

PRESENTS

Setting The

Standard

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Lifelong civil rights activist Pebbles Trippet is one of the most respected elders in the Cannabis community, and with good reason: it’s her courageous legal battle nearly 30 years ago that established a patient’s right to legally transport their medicine and to possess as much Cannabis as deemed necessary by their doctor — a precedent-setting policy known as the Trippet Standard.

A BORN ACTIVIST Mary Susan “Sudi” Trippet was born Nov 10, 1942, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As early as the age of five, she began suffering from excruciating migraines.

“I just remember pounding my head against the backboard Photo of Trippet from an article about activism on of the bed in order to campus in the University counteract the pain,” she of Oklahoma newspaper recalled. circa 1967.

Between headaches, her youth was dominated by two passions: athletics and activism. At the age of 13, she became aware of Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Emmett Till’s lynching, and they deeply affected her.

“This was a part of my generation … it was happening in real time, and I was paying attention.”

The most important lesson she learned from the bus boycott, she said, was how to beat the system.

“I thought, ‘Oh, so that’s what you do to win — you come together for a common purpose, and you stick together.”

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THE POWER OF PROTEST In college, Trippet devoted herself to activism — joining the Students for a Democratic Society, founding the Committee to End the War in Vietnam and organizing an anti-war rally on Flyer for the SDS campus that drew over March on Washington.

100 people. In 1960, she participated in the NAACP’s lunch counter protests to integrate Tulsa’s eateries. And in April 1965, she helped the SDS organize the first national protest March on Washington against the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, these acts of civil disobedience incited threats of violence against her.

“At some point, a bomb came in my front door, sent by the Minutemen,” she told Fat Nugs Magazine last March. “Luckily, it didn’t go off … but it singed the walls and me a little bit, and I decided to move.”

After college, she moved east — first to New York and then to Boston — where she spent about four years working odd jobs and ramping up her activist efforts. She joined the Socialist Workers Party, but due to ideological disagreements, she and her partner-in-crime, Robert “Stoney” Gebert (aka “Geb”), were expelled from the group.

“They brought me up on charges and kicked us out of the SWP,” she told Fat Nugs. “I had already decided that they were too backwards … the anti-gay policy, and the anti-weed policy, they were no good for me … so I left.”

Amid the growing hippie movement in the late 1960s, Trippet did what thousands of other young idealists did — she headed to California.

CALIFORNIA & CANNABIS In 1972, Trippet moved to Los Angeles, where her activism shifted toward two new issues: LGBT rights (a subject that, as a bisexual woman, was deeply personal to her) and marijuana legalization. (Since first trying Cannabis during college, Trippet had learned that it could prevent the horrific pain of her migraines and had been using it regularly.)

Trippet joined the nascent pro-pot movement in their effort to pass the California Marijuana Initiative (aka Prop 19) — helping to gather the 326,000 signatures needed to get it on the ballot. Despite winning only 33% of the vote, advocates viewed the turnout as a victory. Their second initiative, two years later, also failed, but more localized efforts would soon prove successful: namely, the Moscone Act of 1976, making possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in San Francisco a misdemeanor rather than a

PLEADING HER CASE Throughout the 1990s, Trippet was busted ten times in five different counties. The most consequential of these arrests took place on Oct. 17, 1994, in the Berkeley Trippet & Dr. Tod Mikuriya Hills area of Kensington.

After being stopped for a traffic violation, police discovered around two pounds of leaf in her vehicle and charged her with felony transportation of a controlled substance.

At trial, she first tried a religious-use defense, then a medical-necessity defense. Dr. Mikuriya testified on her behalf, saying that Cannabis was indeed effective for her condition, and that if it were legal for him to prescribe to her, he would. Nevertheless, she was found guilty and, on February 20, 1996, sentenced to six months in jail.

Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality

of the Controlled Substances Act.

But Trippet had expected to lose — the reason she chose to go to trial rather than take a plea deal was to challenge the constitutionality of the law. She filed an appeal, and as fate would have it, her first day back in court was November 4, 1996 — the day before Prop 215 was voted into law. With medical marijuana now legalized, her medicinal defense had new legs. Unfortunately, her attorneys weren’t on board with her strategy, so she fired them and opted to go it alone — visiting UC Berkeley’s law library to educate herself on past Cannabis cases and court procedures.

In addition to her appeal, Trippet also filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Controlled Substances Act — arguing that penalties for medical marijuana are “excessive and disproportionate,” constituting “cruel punishment,” and that confiscating said medicine amounted to “unreasonable seizure.” Unfortunately, the court rejected her petition.

THE TRIPPET STANDARD Luckily, though, she had better luck with the appeal.

Representing herself, she argued that the Compassionate Use Act applied retroactively to her case, and that the right to transport her medicine — Pebbles selling though not explicitly stated activist merch in in the law — was implied the Castro. by it. She also argued that since she needed to smoke up to five “fatties” a day to keep her headaches at bay, she should not be held to the preset legal limit of 28.5 grams.

Remarkably, on Aug. 15, 1997, the First District Court of Appeals agreed with her, ruling that if a patient has a legal right to possess Cannabis, they also have a right to transport it.

They also ruled that the quantity of Cannabis a patient can possess should be “reasonably related to the patient’s current medical needs,” as determined on a case-by-case basis based on the physician’s approval — a new legal guideline dubbed the “Trippet Standard.” Her case was then remanded back to the lower court, where the charges were dismissed.

It would be nearly a decade before that standard was put to the test. In 2003, California passed SB 420 — establishing new regulations for medical Cannabis. In that bill was a section that set a limit of 8 ounces of dried marijuana and six mature or 12 immature plants per pa-

tient — a policy in direct conflict with the Trippet Standard. Two years later, the LAPD searched the home of medical marijuana patient Patrick Kelly and found 12 ounces and seven plants, and charged him with exceeding the legal limit. He was convicted, but the conviction was overturned, and when it reached the state Supreme Court in January 2010, they ruled that Prop 215 trumped SB 420, and thus the Trippet Standard was upheld.

ENDURING LEGACY Thanks to her historic legal victory, Trippet has been honored with three lifetime achievement awards: from the Emerald Cup in 2003, from Women Grow of Posing with her lifetime Mendocino in 2016 achievement award at and from the Califorthe 2024 CA State Fair. nia State Fair Cannabis Awards in 2024 — an award that, like the law she helped establish, has been named after her.

Trippet has spent much of the past 30-odd years living off the grid on her property near Albion, California. While there, she co-founded the Medical Marijuana Patients Union, the Mendocino Medical Marijuana Advisory Board and the Cannabis Elders Council, as well as creating Cannabis Cards - trading cards honoring stoner heroes.

Sadly, though, the long, difficult legal battle has taken a toll on her. Unable to maintain a steady job for many years, she had to sell activist literature and promotional materials on the streets to get by. In 2023, she was forced to start a GoFundMe and sell her cottage in Mendo to survive.

She spent around two years living at Emerald Cup founder Tim Blake’s Area 101 compound in Laytonville before moving in with a friend in San Francisco who now takes care of her.

Now 83, Trippet has also been struggling with several debilitating ailments, including severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which makes it difficult for her to breathe and speak. But despite her failing health, Pebbles’ radical spirit and commitment to the cause remain undimmed.

“A Roe v. Wade-type constitutionality challenge is what matters now,” she insisted. “I’m confident that if some lawyers would just come forward and take it to the Supreme Court on civil rights grounds, we would win.”

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

STO RY b y B O B BY B LAC K @ CAN N T H RO PO LO G Y fo r LEA F NAT IO N | M AI N P HOTO b y M I K E ROSAT I @ ROSAT I P HOTOS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PEBBLES TRIPPET

BAY AREA BUST In the 1980s, Pebbles and Geb formed the California Marijuana Reform Initiative Coalition, an organization promoting progressive ballot initiatives. They got significant measures passed, including an Apartheid Consumer Boycott, a “Nuclear Free Zone” in SF and an AIDS Research Initiative.

“I went to bat for any cause that was about human rights, civil rights, and ways of making change,” she says.

Unfortunately, that activism made them targets of law enforcement. On May 8, 1982, the SFPD raided CMRIC’s offices as part of an undercover sting operation and found small quantities of weed and around 2,000 doses of LSD. Narcotics agents arrested Trippet, Gebert and four others, charging them with misdemeanor Cannabis possession and felony possession with intent to sell LSD. Trippet cried entrapment and accused the police of harassment, claiming that the operation was planned as a way to short-circuit their latest initiative. Nonetheless, she was convicted and served three years’ hard time Despite this setback, she remained closely involved with the burgeoning medical marijuana scene spearheaded by Dennis Peron, “Brownie Mary” Rathbun and Dr. Tod Mikuriya — promoting the Cannabis Buyers’ Clubs, serving on the organizing committee for Proposition 215 and helping to supply Rathbun with Cannabis to make her “benign brownies” for AIDS patients and veterans.

Trippet filed an amicus brief with the U.S.

CHERI SICARD

felony, and 1978’s Prop W, recommending that the city’s district attorney and cops not enforce federal marijuana laws.

After years of splitting her time between Los Angeles and the Bay, in 1978 Trippet relocated to a commune in Mendocino County, where the members all chose new hippie names. She went through several nicknames that didn’t stick before finally hitting on the right one: As she tells it, when a Chinese girlfriend named her Black Jade because it was the rarest kind, she replied that she preferred the commonest kind, so it became Black Pebble. Then, after dropping the Black and adding an “s,” she became simply “Pebbles.”

“It really does fit me … because I am the commonest kind — I am of and for and by the people.”

studio sessions

HOW CANNABIS INSPIRES ART

@OVCHARKART W W W. O V C H A R K A . S H O P

OVCHARKA INDUSTRIES Artist collective Ovcharka Industries creates vibrant and humorous graphics and animations that blend modern techniques with a visual style that’s heavily inspired by the animation of the 1930s.

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YOU’VE PROBABLY come across some of their art while scrolling through Instagram. Described by one of their clients as “dystopian bubblegum,” they say what sets their work apart is keeping a sense of humor to the art.

Cassie and Darlene are full-time artists who have crafted a life traveling together while working on jobs for brands like Apple, Liquid Death, Adobe, and Wiz Khalifa’s Mistercap’s.

Both illustrators and designers, Darlene also handles art direction while Cassie does incredible animations for their work. Since around 2020, the pair has worked freelance after leaving their full-time jobs and devoted themselves to their own merch as well as working with clients.

One of the easiest ways to sum up their work is Betty Boop on acid, and indeed there is a focus on cartoonish hedonism in their colorful illustrations. Many of their pieces feature smiling bongs, dancing nugs, or flowers and clouds sharing cartoonishly large joints, but despite having a running theme of consumption in their work, they told us that they don’t consider themselves big stoners. “We actually don’t smoke that much,” Darlene said in our interview. “We collaborate with brands in the Cannabis space mainly because our style fits so well with that culture: bold characters, humor and a bit of chaos.”

Darlene followed up with a point that really sums up a big part of why I started this column.

“Rather than Cannabis shaping our art, it’s more that our art naturally resonates with that audience,” she said. Proving that it’s not the amount you smoke or how much top-shelf you have that dictates how connected you feel to the plant, or how connected the community feels to your artistic style.

jan. 2026

“ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO SUM UP THEIR WORK IS BETTY BOOP ON ACID.”

Their workspace in Thailand is a collection of large screens and inspirational totems, where they say you can hear “mostly phonk and techno” coming out of the speakers. Alongside that, Darlene told us there are usually horror movies playing in the background. “One of the last ones that shocked us was ‘Together’ from 2025,” she said. Although they break up the continual

feed with global news, as it “keeps things interesting,” Darlene noted.

Most recently, they released a buildable poster with Layer By Layer Prints in the U.K., which lets you place the pieces down until you’ve created a piece of 3D art for your home — a must-have gift for the holiday season.

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON | ILLUSTRATIONS by OVCHARKA INDUSTRIES See more of their work at LeafMagazines.com