30% off all Redbird, Bodhi High and 30% off all CBD PANDAMONIUM MONDAY DOUBLE POINT DAY
40% off all Panda flower and joints
30% off all other Panda, Snicklefritz, Dabstract, Sticky Frog, and Hot Sugar BEST BUDS TUESDAY
30% off all flower and glass
CONCENTRATION WEDNESDAY
30% off all dabs & cartridges, and 30% off batteries
MUNCHIES THURSDAY
30% off all edibles & beverages
FLOWER POWER FRIDAY
30% off all flower and joints and 30% off Blue Roots and FlipSide
SAFETY MEETING SATURDAY
30% off all flower and joints EVERYDAY DEALS
10% off - Wisdom Discount to Guests over 65
30% off - All CBD topicals, tinctures, and capsules
30% off - Daily rotating deals in every category
ORDER ONLINE 9AM UNTIL 9PM
From Farm to Flame: Dewey’s Sustainable Journey
sun-powered cannabis
water - wise cultivation
eco - friendly packaging
WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER
wes@leafmagazines.com
MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com | advertising sales
TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com
DANIEL BERMAN CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER daniel@leafmagazines.com
BOBBY BLACK LEAF BOWL DIRECTOR & HISTORIAN bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com
KAYL WOHL COPY EDITOR kayl@leafmagazines.com
ASHLEY HIRCHERT SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD ashley@leafmagazines.com
ABOUT THE COVER
Cassie Genc is an illustrator and painter based in Eugene, Oregon. Her love of surreal worlds, bold color and the Pacific Northwest inspire her work. Her main goal: create a rainbow-hued escape amidst the everyday. As she illustrated the cover for the Impact Issue, she aimed to create that surreality of confronting one’s own potential within — joint in hand — and the power of seizing it as a new and vibrant reality. When she isn’t designing graphic tees or textile patterns for Kohl’s retail, she regularly freelances, creates collections for local shows and sells her work at fairs and cons.
ILLUSTRATION BY CASSIE GENC CASSIEGENC.COM | @CASSIEGENC
CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY, FEATURES ADHD DEAD, FEATURES
ANGELA-JORDAN AGUILAR, FEATURES
DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS + DESIGNS
JESS BERNSTEIN, PHOTOS
JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION
WYATT EARLY, FEATURES
CASSIE GENC, ILLUSTRATION
MICHAEL GREENMAN, VIDEO
HEADY HAWAII, PHOTOS
REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS
ELLEN HOLLAND, FEATURES
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES + ART
GREG MALCOLM, PHOTOS
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES
KATE RUSSELL, PHOTOS
KELSEY STEVENS, PRODUCTION
TERPENE TRANSIT, DISTRIBUTION
TERPODACTYL MEDIA, FEATURES + PHOTOS
JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN
AMANDA VILLEGAS, PHOTOS
LENA B. WHITE, AD S ALES + PRODUCTION
BRUCE WOLF, PHOTOS LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES
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!
Thanks for picking up The Impact Issue of Northwest Leaf!
June marks 15 years of publishing the Leaf, which began in June 2010 with the first issue of Northwest Leaf in Washington state. As we publish our 180th monthly issue of NW Leaf, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for our plant, community and the movement I’ve been able to dedicate my life’s work to.
I used to believe I was born in the wrong time, a man meant for a different era. My other passions are fishing and the outdoors, and as a boy my daydreams were filled with adventures in the untamed wilderness. Born too late to explore the raw world and born too early to explore outer space is where I occasionally find myself mentally. But I had a true epiphany recently: I was born at the perfect time to experience the rebirth of plant-based medicines, a movement that began on the West Coast with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest.
In 2010, weed was still illegal, patients were often considered fakers, and the opioid epidemic was raging across America. Legalization brought taxation without representation, ridiculous regulations from clueless go vernment agencies, and over 15 years, Cannabis has gone from underground to mainstream. I’m old enough to have been arrested for weed, to have run from cops and been caught smoking by college professors, and to have seen the first legal gram sold in multiple states.
Having just turned 37, I find myself back in college preparing for law school in 2026 to better fight for the plant and people harmed by the War on Drugs. My goal is not to leave the Cannabis industry or abandon the beaut iful mission of publishing Leaf magazines, but to gain new tools for the fight that is not yet won.
“...I WASN’T MEANT TO MINE FOR GOLD OR EXPLORE MARS, BUT I WAS BORN AT THE RIGHT TIME TO FIGHT FOR PLANT MEDICINES…”
Weed is not legal federally. The War on Drugs grinds lives daily in mass incarceration and for-profit prisons, and it still targets the poor and Black or brown lives disproportionately. In my home state of Washington, it’s a felony to grow a few pot plants in your backyard for recreational use. And in many states, like Idaho or soon-to-be dry Texas, our plant is still completely illegal.
So what was my epiphany? I realized I wasn’t meant to mine for gold or explore Mars, but I was born at the right time to fight for plant medicines and usher global consciousness into a new era of healing, health and light! As a Christian, I feel this purpose aligns with my faith in God, who gave us plant medicines as a tool to connect spiritually and appreciate the wondrous design of this planet and universe.
I also want to say that YOU were born at the right time to have an Impact and raise your voice, along with a joint, as we spread the good news of Cannab is! I’ve seen lives changed, saved and ended with dignity because of the plant. I’ve seen ad dicts become clean, including my two-plus years sober from alcohol, and I’ve witnessed the tr ue healing power of the plant. So please share it! We must plant seeds of change in order to harvest the bounty, and we all can have an Impact by living well with weed, one hit at a time!
We Grow Sticky
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. FIND A
BY THE NUMBERS
40%
The National Hemp Report, released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, shows a 40% increase in hemp production from 2023 to 2024. Industrial hemp production was up 64%, and floral hemp was up 159% in that time. This is a promising sign for the hemp industry and a continuous boom in this market for producers and retailers.
1 in 4
The amount of Native American Tribes in the U.S. who are now involved in Cannabis or hemp programs. The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association released an infographic in May showing the locations of over 100 of these programs around the country. This represents around 26% of all federally recognized Indigenous communities in the U.S. The data “shows that the Indigenous Cannabis industry is trending upward in terms of jobs, community development and overall industry growth, with many Tribes currently scaling to meet demands for global Cannabis distribution,” according to the association.
100k
Utah’s medical Cannabis program has reached a peak in medical Cannabis patients, surpassing 100,000 for the first time in five years. Members of the Utah Patients Coalition, a plant medicine advocacy group that lobbied hard to help pass the 2018 referendum that allowed the medical Cannabis program in deeply conservative Utah, see the milestone as a demonstration that the system to obtain a card is getting easier to navigate, according to Utah News Dispatch. The state, along with help from advocacy groups like UPC, are trying to eliminate barriers to entry for this booming industry.
$123.5m
In the largest bust to date from the state of California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, 105,700 plants and 22,057 pounds of illicit Cannabis products were seized, totaling $123,500,000. In a press release, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, “Let this be a reminder to all who grow Cannabis illegally: We won’t tolerate the undermining of our legal industry and impacts to our environment. I appreciate the multi-agency, cross-county efforts to take on the illicit market.” It’s a scary thought that even in 2025, we still have a state-funded task force going after the black market.
15
The amount of consumption lounges Maryland Gov. Wes Moore licensed after signing Senate Bill 215, but there is a catch. State law stipulates that Cannabis can be “consumed, but not smoked indoors” at a statesanctioned lounge. This means you will not be able to smoke in these lounges but will be able to purchase single-serve edibles, beverages and various other forms. Each serving will also be limited to 5mg of THC, a limitation whose effect remains to be seen. This is a step in the right direction, and the hope is that Maryland’s government will adjust as these businesses open.
£600k
Ex-Arsenal football player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has admitted to his involvement in an attempt to smuggle 60 kilograms, about 132 pounds, of Cannabis into the United Kingdom from Thailand. The haul was valued about £600,000, or just over $800,000. The Cannabis was seized after being found in suitcases arriving at London Stansted Airport in Essex on Sept. 2, 2024. His club at the time, Greenock Morton, has cut ties with Jay as he awaits sentencing in the UK. Thailand seems to be the origin of many recent smuggling attempts.
10-15%
In Minnesota the Cannabis market is nearing its launch. While not even operational yet, it has already seen a 5% tax hike under a new budget agreement. Under the initial law passed in 2023, the tax was supposed to be 10%. Under the revised agreement, the tax is up to 15%, plus an additional 6.975% sales tax and any other local taxes. This does not put a good feeling in the air for Minnesotans who were excited about their state’s upcoming program. Nevertheless residents are happy to have licensed dispensaries offering safe, convenient access to Cannabis.
TEXAS ON VERGE OF COMPLETE THC BAN DESPITE SURGING INDUSTRY GROWTH
THE TERM “Texas legal” has come to mean the ability to buy weed, with a wink and a nod, from stores selling CBD and hemp openly in the Lone Star State. Cannabis is illegal in Texas, which has not passed recreational or medical Cannabis laws. Since the 2018 Farm Bill was passed, classifying weed as having delta-9 THC, people have been selling weed under the THCA loophole. Scientifically, all Cannabis flowers have high quantities of THCA, the acid form of THC, that converts to delta-9 THC when heated and smoked. This allows a gray market industry to flourish, with hundreds of dispensaries selling hot hemp and weed to pot-hungry Texans.
The industry has grown enough to catch lawmakers’ attention, but in typical backward fashion, the Texas House now seeks to ban THC outright. This crackdown ignores that shops have been open for years — and that Texans like to get high like everyone else.
After the House passed a bill 95-44 on May 21, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said, “Dangerously, retailers exploited the agriculture law to sell life-threatening, unregulated forms of THC to the public and made them easily accessible. These stores not only sold to adults, but they targeted Texas children and exposed them to dangerous levels of THC.” Patrick offered no evidence for his claims.
“We are not going to allow these retailers to circumvent the law and put Texans’ lives in danger,” he said. To date, there have been zero deaths caused by Cannabis in Texas or anywhere else on the planet. The ban bill now heads to the Senate, where the fate of “Texas legal” hangs in the balance.
SHAWN KEMP PLEADS GUILTY TO SECOND-DEGREE ASSAULT
SIX-TIME NBA ALL-STAR Shawn Kemp, aka the Reign Man, is back in the spotlight, this time in a true crime story tied to a March 2023 shooting in the Tacoma Mall parking lot.
CALIFORNIA WOMAN HIDES 151 POUNDS OF WEED IN CHECKED BAGS
MANY TRAVELERS have tried to get an airport scale to hit that perfect 50-pound limit to avoid overweight fees, but this woman’s baggage was well over. Diane Bahlawan, 34, was arrested after her four rolling bags were flagged for suspicion. Airport security found 131 sealed bags of Cannabis, totaling 151 pounds. She was headed from San Francisco to Germany, where the world’s largest Cannabis convention, Mary Jane Berlin, is scheduled for June. Cannabis that may cost between $400 and $800 per pound in California can fetch up to 10 times that value overseas, which explains the risk Bahlawan took.
MINNESOTA GETS GREEDY BEFORE LEGAL SALES LAUNCH, LOBBIES FOR TAX INCREASE
“SEEING GREEN” is an apt expression for those states regulating Cannabis, where heavy taxation and a focus on revenue always come before the plant and the people who invest time and money into growing and selling it. Minnesota is the latest state pushing a cash grab before legal sales start. Gov. Tim Walz leads efforts to raise the tax from 10% to 15%.
Known for his basketball career and love of Cannabis, Kemp opened his first dispensary in 2020 and a second in 2023, both in downtown Seattle. In 2023 Kemp’s vehicle was broken into, a common issue in West Coast cities, and his laptop, cellphone and game-worn Gary Payton and Kemp jerseys intended for a charity auction off for charity were stolen.
Kemp decided to follow the cellphone with a tracking app to confront the thief who was in a stolen Toyota 4Runner. But a second person in the back of the vehicle, according to the defense’s trial brief, “fired off a round from a handgun at Mr. Kemp.” In self-defense and attempting to disable the 4Runner, Kemp returned fire as the vehicle fled. Originally charged with first-degree assault, Kemp pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on May 27. His attorney, Tim Leary, told The Seattle Times, “He was presented with an offer from the state that allows him to take responsibility, but I think also recognizes the self-defense nature of how this transpired.”
The governor and his legislative gladhands want to repeal a provision that shares 20% of the tax revenue with local governments, allowing the state to keep all proceeds and hide them in a general fund without oversight. This is separate from the state sales tax, which will also be charged on retail sales.
If approved, the tax hike would move Minnesota from a low-tax Cannabis market to one of the highest rates in the nation. In addition to state and sales tax, Cannabis businesses must also comply with federal Tax Code 280E, which bars them from deducting business expenses except for cost of goods sold. This creates a heavy burden on Cannabis businesses and pushes costs to customers at the point of sale. Still, Minnesota’s proposed 15% tax looks modest from Washington state (home to Leaf HQ), where weed is taxed at 37% plus an average local sales tax of 9.38%, totaling 46.38% at the register.
A LEGACY OF QUALITY, COMMUNITY AND STAYING POWER
This is a story of perseverance, adaptation and vision — one that follows Jeff Clark through the tides of Washington state’s Cannabis revolution. Before legalization reshaped the landscape, and after serving his country in the Marines, Jeff was running a modest garden and supplying local medical dispensaries. Even then, his vision extended far beyond the grow room.
OWNERS
JEFF & KERI
IN MARCH 2013, he opened his first medical dispensary, The Top Shelf, in beautiful Bellingham. It was the beginning of something bigger.
Since then, Jeff has been instrumental in launching several of the region’s most recognized Cannabis retailers, including The Pot Shop, Green Leaf and The Joint. It all began with the fateful purchase of a property next to I-5, complete with one of Bellingham’s few billboards. This location helped solidify his presence and expand his reach. With the eventual launch of a second store off Skagit County’s Cook Road exit, Jeff brought accessible, high-quality Cannabis to a wider audience.
Fast forward 12 years, and his commitment to quality, customer service and community has made him the longest-running Cannabis retailer in both Whatcom and Skagit counties. Now operating under the name Caravan Cannabis, the rebrand honors a legacy business that continues to thrive in a fast-changing industry.
The Bellingham store, conveniently located across from Costco, is bright, clean and welcoming. Beautiful displays, warm lighting and intuitive layouts create an easy and enjoyable shopping experience. Whether you’re a seasoned shopper or a first-timer, Caravan’s staff stands out for their knowledge, professionalism and friendly service. Medical patients in particular will feel right at home here.
BURLINGTON
EDIBLES AT
The inventory is curated with intention, featuring top-shelf brands like Sirius Buds, Fox, Viking Cannabis, Sweetwater, and Mad Mark Farms.
The concentrate and vape selections include drops from Fire Bros. and Bodhi, while edible fans can expect a fresh, rotating stock of Smokiez, Doozies, Verdelux, Moonshots and more.
There are a lot of things that set Caravan apart, but most notably, it’s Jeff’s ongoing commitment to staying in tune with the market without compromising values. In an industry that’s constantly shifting, Caravan remains a model of integrity, longevity and passion. If you’re in the area, stop by and check them out; you’re sure to find something that suits you.
When I asked him what’s in the future for Caravan, Jeff just smiled. Truth is, he’s happy and content still keeping it Top Shelf — just like the old days.
“IN AN INDUSTRY THAT’S CONSTANTLY SHIFTING, CARAVAN REMAINS A MODEL OF INTEGRITY, LONGEVITY AND PASSION.”
CARAVAN CANNABIS
BELLINGHAM
1317 W BAKERVIEW ROAD SUITE 105
BELLINGHAM, WA
MONDAY-SATURDAY 8:00AM-10:30PM
SUNDAY 9:00AM-9:00PM (360) 392-8749
BURLINGTON
9574 OLD HWY 99N RD
BURLINGTON, WA
MONDAY-SATURDAY 8:00AM-9:00PM
SUNDAY 9:00AM-9:00PM (360) 755-0755
BELLINGHAM
DREW STEVENS
Drew Stevens landed the job at Western Bud in Burlington, Washington, just after turning 21. It was his first sales position, and though nerves accompanied the new role, they quickly melted away as he got to know the team. The tight-knit group of coworkers didn’t just make the job enjoyable — they became friends and adventure partners. In his first year, Drew was organizing kayak outings, paddleboarding trips, hikes and ski weekends across the state. The camaraderie was instant, and the bond they formed turned the dispensary into a second home.
“...HE SAW BUDTENDING AS THE PERFECT BLEND OF HIS LOVE FOR CANNABIS AND HIS PASSION FOR MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION.”
BEFORE WESTERN BUD, Drew had been a casual Cannabis user. College in Alaska introduced him to the social side of Cannabis culture, where he found it was a great way to connect with people. Returning to Washington, he saw budtending as the perfect blend of his love for Cannabis and his passion for meaningful conversation. At Western Bud, he not only deepened his knowledge but also explored the medicinal side of the plant with newfound appreciation. As a budtender, Drew takes pride in helping customers find the right product, often recommending favorites like Mt. Baker Homegrown’s Sin N Juice — “like fruity red wine” — or Green Lion’s GMO, which left an unforgettable scent lingering in his room. Dewey Botanicals’ Glitter Party even enhanced a music festival experience at Beyond Wonderland.
While Drew leans toward energizing sativa strains to complement his active lifestyle, he keeps indicas on hand for relaxation.
Outside of work, Drew is constantly on the move — cruising on his electric skateboard, paddling lakes, shredding the slopes at Mount Baker or biking trails at Little Mountain and Galbraith. His dedication is contagious and you feel it when you’re around him. For Drew, the Cannabis industry isn’t just a job — it’s a lifestyle, and it’s one he’s proud to live. @ichanter
DREW RECOMMENDS
Derek is the GM and opened High Point in 2018 for Noo-Kayet Enterprise. His favorite farm is Ascension. He loves smoking from bongs. His off time is all about his kid’s sport’s.
Maria is the Assistant Manager at High Point. She enjoys making her own edibles from Skagit Organics RSO and vaping Plaid Jacket vapes.
Jered is the Purchaser for the store, his favorite way to consume cannabis is to hit some Plaid Jacket Cartridges. He loves working in the industry and meeting everyone in it.
Maxwell is a big fan of the classic strains and loves using a vaporizer to get more flavor out of his cannabis. He also just became a father!
MEET THE HIGH POINT TEAM
Rudy’s main way to consume cannabis is by smoking flower, mainly blunts, but he also presses his own rosin with his brother Vicente.
Alex, AKA The Dab Titan is an avid gamer and can be found catching dubs online. He’s always looking for the next good rosin strain.
Michael loves going fishing in the Alaskan wilderness and golfing with the bros in his free time. He likes White Truffle BX from 1937 and anything from Flawless.
Sam is an avid Pokemon card collector and is always taking edibles. His favorite is the Tropical Lime Blaze soda from Evergreen Herbal.
Sarah has over 20 years of experience as a cannabis consumer and has a deep appreciation for indica strains, because they help manage her ADHD. She loves her kids and dog.
Misty is a Port Gamble S’klallam tribal member, who’s enjoys learning about the natural healing properties cannabis has to offer and sharing it with her community.
Vicente is a hash rosin connoisseur. He enjoys loading some Sky High hash rosin into his puffco. He and Rudy love to press flower into rosin. He’s also a big One Piece fan.
agrocouture.com @agrocouture
“...soft, luscious and bursting with juicy passion fruit, orange and guava flavor.”
The 250th birthday of the United States is right around the cor ner, and Agro Couture has the perfect treats to blast off higher than a bottle rocket in celebration.
rocket’s red blaze
Summertime and edibles go hand in hand. Lounging by the pool, barbecuing too much food and taking afternoon naps are all encouraged activities during the beautiful few months of sunshine the Pacific Northwest has to offer. What’s great about our culture in Washington is the “suns out, buns out” attitude that gets us out of our winter hibernation and ready to play.
Edibles are the essential buzz to mix up your daily high and get in the moment, even if it’s melting into a plastic chair on the deck. We started off full throttle with the Rocket Shot, a 100mg THC shooter that tastes like a melted Bomb Pop. Notes of cherry ice and blue raspberry taste exotic and nostalgic for childhood memories, while sending a blast of 100mg of rapid-effectiveness liquid deliciousness straight to our brain and body. The fastest way to change a day, these 100mg shots are the ticket to a weedy adventure.
Once we were flying high as a rocket, it was time to top off the fuel in our tanks with a few yummy gummies. The POG gummies are soft, luscious and bursting with juicy passion fruit, orange and guava flavor. With one-to-one THC and CBG, every gummy has 10mg of each, with an energetic and euphoric kick from the CBG that takes the buzz to the next level.
The combined effects of a shot and a few gummies collectively sent us into tropical island time mode, which led to sunshine, snacks and naps — in that order. With tons of flavors and unique Cannabinoid options, the kitchen wizards at Agro Couture have the buzz for you this summer!
LIFTED'S ALL-IN-ONE DEVICE WITH A NEW LOOK!
Strain specific, full spectrum, pesticide free.
• Variable temp seings, with cold start.
• Distillate Free, No additives, No B.S.
• 5 click child safe lock.
• Inhale activated.
• No clogging.
Premium cannabis oil, new sleek design.
“...this disposable fills the lungs and satisfies the palate in such a heady twist that it’s hard to believe that the vapor is real…”
Fresh from the flavor kitchen at Flip Side comes the Baja Blasted flavored distillate that’s equal parts nostalgia and epic, followed by a funky and gassy Grapefruit Romulan that’s old school and ready to deliver some serious munchies.
Fast food has dominated American culture for decades, and for millennials and younger, nothing refreshes a combination of cottonmouth and the munchies like a Baja Blast from Taco Bell. Launched July 29, 2004 (happy almost birthday, BB), the soda was kept under lock and contract by Taco Bell’s gremlin lawyers until common sense prevailed and the high-fructose nectar hit stores in 2014.
The newest graduates from Stoner Academy are freshly 21, and in their world, Baja Blast has always been at the mini mart, while both Cannabis and vaping are so normalized they’re buying way less alcohol than previous generations — which is a win!
BajaBlasted
Chef Joe’s Flavored DistillateDisposable
GrapefruitRomulan
Live&CuredBHOResin powered by Plaid Jacket
FLIP, FLIP, HOORAY!
Knowing their audience, the Flip Side Chef Joe Disposable is an ode to the fizzy beverage, with clouds of hazy tropical lime that delight the senses. Sipping on vapor from this disposable fills the lungs and satisfies the palate in such a heady twist that it’s hard to believe that the vapor is real, and it’s getting you completely baked.
Once we’d had our fill of fizzy fun, it was time to hit the gas and double down on the vibes to prepare for our own kitchen adventures. First inhales of this golden blend of live and cured resin lead with a tart citrus that’s balanced by a gassy, earthy-piney exhale that’s complex and distinctly delicious.
Repeated hits send a smack of time-warping cerebral pressure that slows the mind and movements, with an old-school, overwhelming mind melt worthy of the Romulan reputation. The contrast between these two cartridges is stunning, with the plant-derived terpenes and old-school genetics driving the Grapefruit Romulan flavor and effects, and the Baja Blast, which represents the peak of food science meeting plant extraction in a ready-to-go format. Both are equally delicious, represent important market segments and demonstrate the quality and care that Flip Side brings to every cartridge. And while they won’t cure your cottonmouth, they’ll definitely get you very baked!
Sparkling Cider
The saying “shoot for the moon and you’ll end up in the stars” sounds inspiring, but we’d rather be floating in the clouds with puffs of Sparkling Cider to celebrate the occasion.
HERE IN the beautiful state of Washington, we can figuratively be “on cloud nine,” which is characterized by feelings of bliss, elation and even the giggles. This is exactly what we feel after smoking Cloud 9 Farms’ flower, where love for the plant and craft, small-batch production and pesticide-free practices are the leading values.
The proof is in the weed, which bursts out of the glass jar with a robust and ripe hit that feels like a symphony of its parentage, all expressing in harmony to delight the senses. First notes are bright with a Jack Herer-esque citrus that’s immediately overtaken by a gassy, honeyed ripeness that’s all Golden Ticket. This profile matches so well with the Apple Fritter, which delivers a spiced green apples and dough finish that rounds it out. Together they combine for an elegant and nuanced, bubbly citrus-apple-honey funk that’s worthy of the name.
Not just a special flower for the flavor, Sparkling Cider is gorgeous and curvaceous, with thick, frosty buds that have major glass appeal.
Cultivated by Cloud 9 Farms
“The proof is in the weed, which bursts out of the glass jar with a robust and ripe hit that’s like a symphony…”
The chunky buds show smaller foxtails on a chunked-up bud surface that’s equal parts purple and green with a healthy mix of red hairs. The flower has heft and is very dense, but the team at Cloud 9 cured it with excellent detail, and each bud delivers a satisfying snap and lightly frosty fingers when breaking up a bowl. First inhales flow over the palate like honey in smoke form, leaving a sweet, gassy exhale that reminds us this old-school sweet comes with a heavy modern update. The flower smokes smooth and delivers big hits, and a few bowls bring a major rush of cerebral euphoria with the perfect amount of stoniness to keep grounded. Almost like a little sandbag holding a balloon from floating away, the effects are balanced and keep the mind in the moment while the body holds on from below. We recommend this stoney sativa for summertime fun, and if the clouds do dare to come out, simply float above them and experience the sunshine in each new bowl.
THELEAF TURNS15! O
Thank you for picking up the 180th issue of Northwest Leaf! The longest-running free Cannabis magazine in the country exists thanks to readers like you, who love the plant and care about the community that has sprouted from the underground to support it. We might have begun in Washington, but the magazine’s reach has since expanded to 12 other states, our ever-growing Leaf Bowl award competitions, and Leaf Life podcast.
UR FIRST ISSUE of Northwest
Leaf was published in June 2010, made possible by a $1,600 loan and a dream that a publication for Cannabis would help change and save lives. I’d recently left a Division I tennis scholarship and had my first daughter at 20, and my second at 22. The Leaf was born in between those years, at a time when I was searching for purpose and a cause worthy of fighting for.
My childhood was shaped by my amazing parents, who are now retired public school teachers, and it was in long summers that I learned to fish and adventure in ways befitting Tom Sawyer, while also getting a taste of the urban explosion happening in Seattle. My parents raised me with Christian values, to care about others, to stand up against oppression and to be steadfast in faith and my beliefs.
One of the hardest lessons for me growing up, that I still struggle with today, was to accept and trust authority simply because it exists. I’ve always been more of a Ben Franklin fellow, who famously wrote, “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.” A notorious writer and publisher, Franklin was known for creating fake pen names and writing both sides of an argument in his newspapers editorial sections.
Despite my defiance I did believe my parents and teachers when it came to drugs. It wasn’t until I first smoked Cannabis at 17 that I realized it was safer than alcohol, something that was commonly shared with teens my age in events of that era. The first time I got in trouble for weed was when I’d hotboxed with a blunt and left the windows of a Jeep Cherokee cracked equally while I was inside reading a book. My mom was suspicious, and my keys disappeared for a few weeks.
Even then, I pondered the ethics of my punishment. Why was I in trouble for smoking and reading a book?
A few years later my best childhood friend and co-conspirator in early hustles crashed a dirt bike, fracturing his pelvis in three places and dying on the operating table before being revived. His recovery was transformed by medical Cannabis, and he was one of the first patients under 18 in Washington. This gave me the chance to interact with the plant and see the healing powers firsthand. > > CONTINUES PG. 38
Issue #1, June 2010.
Issue #44, Art by Josh Boulet
Issue #100, Styling by Malina Lopez
Sept. 2011
Photo by Daniel Berman
Issue #39
Photo by Daniel Berman
Feb. 2023, Photo by Emily Eizen
THELEAF TURNS15!
I began researching medical Cannabis, talking to early patients and hearing stories of cancer or AIDS patients who could only eat after smoking. I saw the injustice of the War on Drugs and experienced a pot arrest for one gram of weed.
I’d worked on my college paper, The Ebbtide, as the business manager alongside Daniel Berman, who has served as chief creative officer and as Leaf’s photographer and designer since issue one.
The idea was planted to start a weed magazine, and the rest as they say is history.
On the cusp of 15 years in print, I often remember my college professors advising not to go into print. My journalism advisor also commented on my proclivity for getting high before doing homework. They assumed (rightly so) that only a major stoner would be silly enough to launch a magazine in 2010.
What makes the Leaf so special that it has endured the digital smartphone revolution?
The Leaf has been free since issue one. I delivered over 1,500,000 copies in the first eight years of print myself. We’ve always printed magazines and invested in our distribution, because we care tremendously about the reach and value of our product.
Print is tangible. It lasts. Some readers of this column have better archives of the Leaf than I do, with collections of favorite issues stored with love. Because we love the plant, the patients, the freedom and the high; our work reflects that, and our community has supported the Leaf for 15 years!
The Leaf never sells our content. You cannot buy a cover story, or any story, because we only write about what we care about. Rule number one for new writers: If you aren’t excited about the story, you don’t get to write it. This isn’t homework!
> > CONTINUES PG. 40
Issue #42, Dec. 2013 | Photo by Daniel Berman
Cannabis Activist Ric Smith
Photo by Daniel Berman
2014 Cannabis Freedom March at Volunteer Park, Seattle
Photo by Daniel Berman
The Leaf charters a helicopter to get high above Seattle Hempfest | Photo by Daniel Berman
Vivian McPeak | Photo by Daniel Berman
The High Wizard Wizbang and his companion Buddy need your help to get to the land of Dockside. At Dockside, we strive to help anyone on their adventures with weed, no matter where they’re at. And with our app? Exploring what you need is a breeze and there are always ways to save. Access secret app-only flash sales, find products, and manage your collection of loyalty points and rewards. It’s even got a record of every purchase you make, so you can worry about your other quests. So journey forth! Download the app! And forge your own journey with Dockside!
THELEAF TURNS15!
CONTINUED FROM PG.
WHICH LEADS ME to the most important part of the Leaf: the amazing team that has carried the banner and literal bundles of magazines. Those writers, photographers, artists, editors, sales people, delivery drivers, Leaf Content Director Amanda Lopez, our COO Tom Bowers aka the Scorpion King, and business partners including my brosky Mike Ricker all cared enough about the plant to invest their time and passion into a Cannabis magazine and media company. A special thanks goes to Daniel Berman for enduring too many all-night-marathon design sessions; for his timeless and elegant design style driven by a photography-first mentality; and for being my closest friend since 8th grade.
There are too many others to thank individually, especially factoring in the years and some who are no longer here with us, so I want to shout out the entire Leaf team.
You are all so important to me and our mission, and it’s an honor to publish our work together!
I am grateful to God for sending me a community to support the Leaf and a community to be supported by the Leaf!
We tell stories that otherwise would not be told. We fight for the cause of the plant and freedom and rail against the War on Drugs from a position that most can’t. And we highlight the amazing people, strains and stories that make up our diverse and beautiful community that is welcome to all.
The best part is, we’re just getting started!
The War on Drugs is not won, although drugs are surely winning. Our plant isn’t legal for everyone in America, or the world, to use and heal safely. The amazing community of plant people is always growing, giving the Leaf an endless source of inspiration and stories to share with our readers.
As I wrap this 180th issue of the Leaf, I am filled with the same wonder, hope and joy that drove the first issue. I pray that this same energy and love for the plant and the gift of life fill your lungs and heart and that you can pass the good vibes on to the next person you share a joint with.
Thank you to all our advertisers! Without you, we could not publish the Leaf.
In 15 years I have seen so many Cannabis businesses go up in smoke or fall prey to the government’s smothering overtaxation and overregulation. Very few have endured as long as the Leaf, but those that have shared a common thread. They’ve stayed authentic, on mission, while adapting to the marketplace, and they love Cannabis!
Perhaps this is the most important factor.
To be in Cannabis today, you have to love it, for like the ring carried by Frodo, the burden is surely great.
The other factor that long-term brands have? They advertise! Advertising works, and the Leaf is 100% advertising-supported. If you have a brand, project, event or idea, please reach out to the Leaf so we can grow together!
Issue #151, Jan. 2023
Photo by Keti Chikhladze | Styling by Malina Lopez
Recreational marijuana comes to Vancouver, Wash.
Photo by Daniel Berman
A goat at Martin Nickerson’s farm munches on Cannabis fan leaves
Photo by Daniel Berman
Protesting for medical Cannabis
Photo by Daniel Berman
Issue #146, Aug. 2022
Art by Alex Grey & Allyson Grey
Issue #164, Feb. 2024
Art by Cabin 7 Originals
Issue #156, Jun. 2023
Art by Pete Gibby
Issue #145, Jul. 2022
Photo by SteinFarm
Cannabis Activist Jared Allaway
Photo by Daniel Berman
Snoop Dogg performs in Denver, Co.
Photo by Daniel Berman
Issue #133, Jul. 2021
Photo by Tom Bowers
Antoine Creek Farms in Chelan, Wash.
Photo by Daniel Berman
Weed culture today is pushing back on classic stereotypes and redefining and realigning vintage ideas about what a stoner looks like, what we do for fun and what we want to smoke. Whether it’s renting a Gravitron or a Times Square billboard, weed smokers are becoming a more accepted and impactful part of society. Let’s look at some trends that seem to be growing on a national scale.
This is something that’s been brewing up for a while now but is hitting trend status. European seed companies like Barney’s Farm, Sensi, Blimburn, and Royal Queen are creating partnerships between their brand and American names like DOJA, Happy Munkey, Backpack Boys, and Sherbinksis. Last month, Barney’s announced a new collaboration with B-Real of Cypress Hill. What was once an American scene traveling to Europe for genetics has shifted to Europeans promoting American breeding projects and cementing their place within this new global ecosystem for Cannabis genetics.
FOOD COMPANIES
COOK UP CANNABIS SUPPORT
We saw a major lack of the usual brand involvement for 4/20 this year. No big activations or capsule drops, not even the traditional shoe release. Instead, the food sector picked up the torch. There’s even a collaboration between Blazy Susan and Jimmy John’s now. Carl’s Jr., Popeyes, Jack in the Box, Smashburger, Buffalo Wild Wings, Magnolia Bakery and, of course, Jimmy John’s all had stoner specials on the menu for 4/20. We have a reputation for exploring new food combinations, which makes stoners the dream demographic for anyone looking for people to stand in line for a pickle-glaze chicken sandwich.
STONER FASHION GETS A GLOW-UP
We’re breaking down old ideas about how pot-centric people dress. Cannabis brands are shifting into lifestyle brands through capsule drops and collabs. Now fashion is looking at what Cannabis culture wants to see and responding in kind. Carhartt, a major favorite with the scene, announced its 2025 Spring/Summer WIP line will highlight tactile, hemp-blend fabrics. Binske partnered with L’equip to drop a line of high-end clothing that has zero weed references on it. This year, New York’s STAPLE clothing store did a pop-up event with trulyredpanda and EDISTSEW, plus the Alien Labs and HUF 4/20 collection, which is long sold out.
GAS AND SOURS ARE BACK?
Almost every seed bank and breeder we’ve spoken to this year has said some variation of the same thing: “Gas is back.” It’s a trend you can see in strains like Permanent Gas, Brainwash and Bazkittlez. Right now it’s mostly the candy-leaning stuff that’s being gobbled up, leaving us to wonder if this will truly catch fire. Along with gas flavors, sour crosses have hit a definite uptick from both the rosin and flower markets, along with the amount of Sour D. Though, much like gas, it’s the sweeter flavors that are finding an immediate place with consumers looking to “branch out.”
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
There’s a major shift in the way stoners are perceived when we head out for the night. In the last year a ton of restaurants, rooftop bars and outdoor patios became open to hosting weed events or don’t seem to mind the casual pull on an e-rig. As Cannabis lounges become more and more of an accepted idea, so too are the people who frequent them. As such, options for what can be part of a Cannabis event have also blown wide open. Hell, we even saw a Gravitron for Puffcon and a Ferris wheel at Hall of Flowers. What’s next?
SAVING SOPHIE
Radical Love, Remarkable Science: How a Mother’s Faithful Persistence Sparked a Revolution in Pediatric Cancer Immune Therapy
When Tracy Ryan first cradled her newborn daughter Sophie, she envisioned a life filled with milestones and celebrations — not medical charts and prognosis reports. At 8-and-a-half months old, Sophie was diagnosed with an optic pathway glioma (OPG) — a rare, slow-growing brain tumor with a devastating persistence. Doctors offered no cure, only a revolving door of chemotherapy, invasive surgeries and soul-crushing uncertainty. Tracy refused to accept that prognosis. She didn’t collapse under the weight of fear, she rose to the calling. With Sophie’s father Josh by her side, this couple was determined to overcome the impossible. “I co-created this beautiful child and held her in my womb,” Tracy said. “I refuse to believe that anyone has more say in her outcome than we do.”
Tracy testifies
AS TEST RESULTS CAME IN, the diagnosis was documented as a low-grade brain tumor with a 90% survival rate and an unfortunate 85% recurrence rate. With minimal developments in childhood cancer therapy over the last 40 years, chemotherapy was the only treatment option.
Her immune system was compromised, and a growing cyst in her brain was affecting her motor function. High-dose carboplatin was the next conventional recommendation, a treatment known for its toxicity and harsh side effects.
The Ryans knew they needed to find a toxic-free option for treatment; at nine months old, medical Cannabis was Sophie’s first safe, pain-free option for therapy. The benefits were vast, including leading the Ryan family toward a global pediatric Cannabis advocacy journey. In 2013, Sophie was asked to star in the Netflix documentary “Weed the People.”
After bravely enduring more than 75 MRIs, 11 surgeries and eight failed chemo protocols, it became clear that Sophie’s journey toward health would embark on uncharted territory.
With a deep-rooted mother’s intuition and a fierce commitment to Sophie thriving, Tracy stepped out of the conventional medical current and into disruptive scientific territory. Her passion for curing Sophie eventually led to the launch of NKore BioTherapeutics, a cutting-edge biotech company advancing a new class of immune therapies called NK (natural killer) cell infusions. She launched the effort alongside co-founder Dr. Anahid Jewett, M.P.H., Ph.D., a UCLA scientist
whose breakthrough research in immune deficiency therapy has disrupted the medical industry. The Ryans made a brave choice to embrace the new NK cell therapy, holding faith that it would be the answer to their prayers.
In December 2023, Sophie became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive NKore’s experimental therapy, NK101. The infusion had no adverse side effects, and the results were almost immediate. Sophie’s vision improved for the first time in years, allowing her to read from 20 feet instead of just 12.
Between January and June 2024, her tumor volume appeared to grow by 60%, but the increase was small — just millimeters in dimension. The clinical team recognized this as pseudoprogression, a sign that immune cells were infiltrating the tumor and causing temporary swelling. By December 2024, scans showed clear signs of necrosis — cell death inside her once “incurable” tumor. Her immune system was revitalized, and for the first time in over a decade, Sophie’s childhood joy and vibrant energy returned. Was this a scientific miracle? Tracy would say it was an act of unshaken faith, a mother’s tenacity, an unwillingness to give up. “Her brain tumor is crumbling. Her immune system is thriving. This is not a miracle. It’s the future of cancer care as we know it,” she said.
As Sophie’s immunity continues to thrive, Tracy and the team at NKore have started to work with other patients facing life-threatening diagnoses.
One such patient is Jamie Grooms, a 64-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who endured three years of targeted chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic without ever reaching remission. Standard treatments had left his bone marrow with 20% tumor infiltration and debilitating side effects.
In December 2023, Jamie received a single low-dose infusion of NK101. Two months later, his tumor cells had dropped to 5%.
Great Spirit, Divine Mother, Friend Beloved God, We give thanks for the radiant souls of these warrior children, born into battle yet destined for brilliance. May every cell in their bodies remember its divine blueprint and rise in harmony with healing. Wrap their families in grace, their communities in strength, and their futures in the promise of longevity, joy, and vibrant life. We celebrate the miracle already unfolding, and trust that the light of recovery is not only possible — it is inevitable.
Following a second infusion in July 2024, Jamie’s tumor infiltration was reduced to just 0.23%. CT scans confirmed up to 70% reduction in lymph node size. His immune function rebounded, and his cancer entered partial remission. Most importantly, he felt alive and vibrant again.
These clinical stories are not isolated cases. They are data points in a growing body of evidence proving that NK cell therapy is not only safer but potentially more effective than traditional chemotherapies for certain cancers. In fact, these discoveries have forced some outdated therapies to the sidelines, paving the way for an era of less toxic, immune-focused treatment — especially for children.
Tracy’s advocacy didn’t stop at the clinic. Through her nonprofit, Saving Sophie, she became a national voice in pediatric cancer policy. She now speaks annually at the Congressional Pediatric Cancer Caucus, collaborates with Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and has made multiple visits to the White House to advocate for equitable funding.
In 2025, as a result of the current presidential administration, federal grant funding for pediatric cancer was cut from $160 million to $60 million, a huge deficit. This increases the need for community advocacy and donations to nonprofit charities. Please consider donating to Saving Sophie to help families in need.
You can learn more about Tracy and Sophie’s journey by watching the upcoming documentary, “Saving Sophie: The Road to a Cure” — a visual testament to love, science and revolution. It will be available for public viewing in 2026.
Their journey reminds us that the fight against cancer isn’t just in the labs or hospitals, it’s in the hearts of families. It’s in the decision to say “no” to limitation and “yes” to possibility. The journey of healing starts with a liberated mind that does not put blind faith in the system but instead stands in bold defiance of it.
Today, Sophie is not just surviving; she is thriving. Her life has catalyzed a world reimagined.
One mother’s choice to challenge the commercialized medical system that has long since been broken will continue to shape the legacy of immunotherapeutic medicine for the treatment of cancer in patients of all ages. This is a true American story of impactful disruption, a reminder, OGs, that with our voice and determined action, we can usher in a world renewed in faith.
PHOTOS BY AMANDA VILLEGAS
IMPACT PROFILES
NORTHEAST
JOSH ALB
Josh Alb, founder of Cannademix, describes the core of his work as “education as activism.” He explains, “When I started in Cannabis my job was to educate dispensary staff, doctors and consumers about the medical benefits of cannabinoids.”
“IN CANNABIS, THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL IS HAVING A STRONG COMMUNITY.”
Dismantling myths of the industry and how cannabinoid medications work led to deeper conversations and connections that reveal the plant’s broader potential for healing and social change.
Cannademix, which has hosted everything from expungement clinics to job fairs, aims to inform both the community and legislators, bridging gaps that helped create legal markets in New Jersey and New York. Pushing for criminal justice reform and equity, Cannademix addresses the systemic harm caused by decades of prohibition.
“The War on Drugs is a war on people,” Alb says, calling it a class war rooted in colonialism. He urges voters to support lawmakers who back home grow and reminds people that Cannabis consumers could swing elections. “We as a Cannabis community have an immense amount of voting power,” he says, adding that nearly 10% of the state’s population consume Cannabis. “As a community, our voice matters much more than people think, which is why events like Unity at American Dream are so important in showing the world our power.”
Through Cannademix, he mentors the next generation of students, professionals and policymakers beyond what chemistry and cannabinoid science can teach in textbooks: community. “Society does everything to strip people of that sense of connection,” Alb says. “Our industry is made up of undocumented people, and they contribute so much more than people think. In Cannabis, the only thing that makes you successful is having a strong community.” @cannademix @thealbchemist
SHANETHA MARABLELEWIS
Army combat veteran Shanetha Marable-Lewis is a tireless advocate for veterans' access to Cannabis and alternative therapies, driven by a personal mission to save lives. Having lost her mother to addiction and fentanyl poisoning, and over 40 friends and family members to substance abuse, she is deeply passionate about serving veterans and patients suffering from PTSD and addiction.
Her work extends to bridging the gap between federal Cannabis access and veterans, addressing the current limitations of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Marable-Lewis aims to integrate Cannabis into the federal health care system, ensuring safe and affordable access for those who served. Her expertise led to her appointment by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to the state’s Psychedelics Task Force as a researcher.
As executive director of Veterans Initiative 22 and an alumna of the University of Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics Graduate Program, she brings a unique perspective.
As chair of the Committee on Regulations and Governance for the Psychedelics Task Force, she is responsible for drafting a legislative report in Maryland on access models for DMT, mescaline and psilocybin. She also served as an expert witness for Veterans Initiative 22 in the DEA’s proposed national rescheduling of Cannabis. She hopes to pursue a doctorate in neuropsychopharmacology, focusing on Cannabis and natural psychedelic substances, believing these therapies hold the key to saving lives. veteransinitiative22.com
“...DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING VETERANS AND PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM PTSD AND ADDICTION.”
MARYLAND
STORY BY WYATT EARLY
CALIFORNIA
JOYCE CENALI
Joyce Cenali is a Cannabis executive who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. As chief operating officer of Sonoma Hills Farm, Cenali’s background includes both production and compliance.
“Relative to the farm back in the day, I was tagging Metrc onto the plants, I was putting plants in the ground,” Cenali says. “I’ve cloned off many a mother, but now we’ve been able to build a team that does a lot of that.”
SEAN BEEMAN
For over two decades, Sean Beeman was more than just a name in Oregon’s medical Cannabis community: he was a lifeline for countless folks looking to find healing and hope. As the founder of Oregon’s Genesis Pharms, Beeman poured his heart into providing plant-based medicine that truly impacted many individuals’ lives.
His journey into Cannabis cultivation and extraction was driven by his health struggles with hepatitis C. Fueled by a mission to bring relief to others, Beeman rarely allowed personal challenges (like a fire that wiped out the family home and farm) or patient obstacles (like financial shortfalls) to stand in the way of providing care for those pushing through everything from cancer to Crohn’s and everything in between.
Beeman’s approach to Cannabis wasn’t about growing plants; it was about growing trust and a sense of hope. His no-till, pesticide-free farming practices reflected his respect for the earth and the people he served. His products, from RSO to capsules and suppositories, were carefully crafted to improve quality of life. But what truly set him apart was his genuine care for the people who relied on his work.
The Oregon community (and beyond) was saddened to hear of Sean’s passing in early 2025. But his legacy of kindness, generosity and meaningful medicine will continue to inspire for years to come. @genesis_pharms
"BEEMAN’S APPROACH TO CANNABIS WASN’T ABOUT GROWING PLANTS; IT WAS ABOUT GROWING TRUST AND A SENSE OF HOPE. HIS NO-TILL, PESTICIDE-FREE FARMING PRACTICES REFLECTED HIS RESPECT FOR THE EARTH AND THE PEOPLE HE SERVED.
Today, Cenali coordinates with nurseries to procure Cannabis genetics and, after the flowers are grown and cured, works with the farm’s production team on quality control and locating sales channels for both collaborative and blind bulk releases. As co-founder of the Cannabis Media Council (CMC), Cenali is invested in creating and promoting collaborative media campaigns to reach new Cannabis customers.
“I want to see as much choice and as much consumer diversity as possible in terms of how products are going to flow to the consumer,” Cenali says. “I like to say that I want the plant to receive the first Super Bowl commercial and not some singular company just because they can pay the bill.”
The CMC’s “I’m High Right Now” campaign is currently running on Meta platforms, which are notorious for censoring Cannabis content, and has appeared in print in Vanity Fair. Cenali says she volunteers her time with the organization to build a Cannabis industry that includes small businesses alongside multi-state operators (MSO). “[MSOs] are going to exist and we appreciate their leadership and their ability to have lobbyists and whatnot, but we would just encourage those MSOs also think collectively and not singularly about who should have a chance to advertise and seek new consumers,” Cenali says. “It should be ‘all of the above’ as opposed to ‘some of the few.’” @joycewill4u
“I WANT TO SEE AS MUCH CHOICE AND AS MUCH CONSUMER DIVERSITY AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF HOW PRODUCTS ARE GOING TO FLOW TO THE CONSUMER.”
HIGHCRIMES
Cannabis businesses along the West Coast are struggling to defend themselves against armed robberies and dangerous heists, putting the people who tend our plants at risk and driving up the cost and risk of weed for consumers.
STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX/LEAF NATION
The illegal drug business has always been dangerous; it’s the nature of criminality. Visions of narcoterrorists from the ’80s with MAC-11 automatic machine pistols fill the mind, or maybe it’s more Scarface, or gangster, but the streets bring heat when it comes to illegal narcotics. But how much of this is a function of illegality?
This magazine has long asserted that if you made toilet paper or ketchup illegal, there would be a fast and vast black market that would get violent quickly when the shit hits the fan. We saw a glimpse of this during the early days of COVID-19, when price gouging and supermarket fights over supplies hit the nation.
What’s the point of this allegory? When Cannabis was illegal, it was considered the softest of the drugs and the least likely to get a person shot or killed over. Robberies and scams happened, but the farmers and people who sold and smoked weed were rarely violent.
As the underground Cannabis scene merged into medical Cannabis in the early 2000s, the violence largely melted away, as permits for grows and small-time dispensaries popped up.
There would be the occasional robbery of either, but it was less frequent when the drug was illegal.
Even the early years of Cannabis legalization enjoyed a relatively peaceful scene. The players made a lot of money. The states went apeshit with regulations and enforcement. And the criminals waited for the hullabaloo to die down until weed shops were as common as boba and pho in Seattle, before the crime spree targeting Cannabis retailers and production facilities really began.
The weed game gets dangerous, but not for cops or robbers
When weed was illegal, calling the cops on a robbery meant going to jail, so the reports were almost never filed unless the police ended up at a scene by coincidence or in response to a violent crime.
While the same situation for petty crime might cause a shopkeeper to not report every missing Snickers bar, the expectation after legalization was that cops would help protect their businesses when targeted by criminals.
“We called the Seattle Police Department after our burglary alarm went off for the third time in a matter of weeks. Thieves were cutting through a wall in an adjacent unit they’d broken into and cut into our facility, where they were able to steal Cannabis waiting to be sold,” one Seattle grower told the Leaf, choosing to remain anonymous.
“The police didn’t respond for over 55 minutes — long enough that the burglary was over well before help arrived.”
> > CONTINUES PG. 56
HIGHCRIMES
The issue doesn’t just affect grows. A trend started by a gang known as the Kia Boyz began smashing stolen cars through Cannabis retailers several years ago. One retailer in the Seattle area shared a story that after having their storefront smashed in by a car, they hired a contractor to rebuild the front of the store at great cost, only to have another Kia blow through the work in progress a few days later in a second smashand-grab. In these cases, a robbery happens so quickly that there is no danger of the police and criminals interacting.
While many Cannabis companies and owners are reluctant to go public about being robbed, Uncle Ike’s in Seattle has tracked the robberies informally, sharing the data publicly. Their data shows a disturbing trend: 40 robberies in 2021, 60 in 2022 and more than 100 in 2023. What’s most unsettling is that this data represents only reported incidents and likely does not reflect the full extent of the damage. According to Uncle Ike’s database, there are 339 confirmed robberies, with the most recent two occurring in 2025: on April 11, 2025, an armed robbery at Ruckus in Seattle, and on March 10 at West Seattle Marijuana, where an attempted armed robbery included shots fired.
For California, the smash-and-grab is old news and an ongoing problem. In Washington, Cannabis retailers now have reinforced concrete poles or planters, like those outside federal buildings, designed to deter and prevent vehicle attacks.
Nobody wants to be robbed, but very few companies want to authorize lethal force in a retail robbery, regardless of how much cash is (or in today’s world, isn’t) in a safe onsite.
Police often don’t respond quickly or enthusiastically to reports of armed robberies either. In many West Coast urban centers, they simply won’t respond to most non-life-threatening emergencies. In Portland, Oregon, it’s common to be put on hold when calling 911.
The experiment to legalize Cannabis was supposed to begin dismantling the War on Drugs, which has ruined lives through nearly a century of bad policy and discriminatory laws. Today’s Cannabis operators pay excessive state and federal taxes, can’t write off expenses because of tax code 280E, can’t legally purchase firearms or protect their businesses, and risk becoming victims of crime and law enforcement if they respond to a robbery themselves.
Lose-Lose scenario
But a lack of awareness and reporting left a huge target in between the two beleaguered states. Oregon’s Cannabis industry, a longestablished medicinal market, was not ready for a brash wave of robberies in 2024, even after the failed experiment to decriminalize drugs led to unprecedented street and crime issues.
The Leaf has encountered stories of growers sleeping at their facilities to prevent robberies, putting lives on the line while local police and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) sit idly on the sidelines. There’s currently a movement to withhold state taxes on pot until the robbery issue is addressed by the OLCC and local law enforcement. For those living in West Coast cities or other American urban areas, the rise in crime and its spiraling effects on communities are undeniable. Nobody knows this better than the people growing and selling weed.
The War on Drugs hits below the belt
Our Founding Fathers railed against taxation without representation, which is a perfect description of the Cannabis industry today, with an additional caveat being a lack of protection, which is the icing on a gassy wedding cake.
Under federal law, Cannabis users are denied gun rights, a fundamental protection that is enshrined in the Second Amendment. The phrase “shall not be infringed” does not apply to legal Cannabis users. This effectively places Cannabis business owners in a more vulnerable class. When criminals know that an individual or community doesn’t have protection, they are more likely to rob, burglarize or otherwise prey upon that community. Cannabis businesses have the option to hire armed security, but that creates a third-party liability risk for both companies.
Law and justice are evolving practices that shift with political power and public will. Certainly there’s no public support to restart the War on Drugs or lock up nonviolent offenders of any kind. But policy change is needed to protect our industry and the people risking their safety to provide for others.
For Cannabis to truly be legal, our state and federal governments must ensure gun rights and the ability to protect personal liberty and property for all Cannabis users. Cannabis businesses need to feel safe and be able to count on police to treat them not as criminals, but as business owners who deserve protection and service. Most importantly, tax code 280E, which forces cash on site and prevents writeoffs and banking access, must end.
Cash-only industry endangers the system
Today, state governments play the role of the cartel, keeping their growers and sellers under the oppressive thumb of taxation and regulation, with the threat of force as a deterrent. This limits freedom for members while telling them to count on the government for protection. In Washington, where pot is taxed at 47% at the register, plus an additional 20% to 30% federal tax liability, the state takes all the cream and leaves a pittance for the industry to survive on.
“...POLICY CHANGE IS NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR INDUSTRY AND THE PEOPLE RISKING THEIR SAFETY TO PROVIDE FOR OTHERS.”
More than anything, perhaps this explains why so many players are leaving the industry to return to the black market, where there are no taxes, no regulation and the understanding that people are truly responsible for their own protection. Compared to taxation without representation and hour-long waits for police responses, it’s almost as if the industry was designed to fail the people risking it all to provide the plant.
The future of the plant and the industry lies in legal pathways, but until the government can secure a system that provides security and prosperity for those involved, the issues of criminality will always cut the industry on both sides.
Uncle Ike’s Founder Ian Eisenberg at one of his Seattle stores in 2018.
FAST FACTS
Hemp Press is the only print shop in the world solely dedicated to hemp paper.
Switching to hemp packaging can help a mid-sized Cannabis brand save several acres of forest per year.
Somewhere between a joint and a genius idea, Hemp Press was born. What started as a clever way to make business cards double as rolling tips has grown into the only print shop on Earth fully dedicated to hemp paper, and it’s rooted in Oregon.
Founded by Matthew Glyer, Hemp Press isn’t just printing labels; they’re rethinking the entire lifecycle of Cannabis packaging, from how it’s made to where it ends up. In a world full of greenwashing, they’ve grown the real deal: clean materials, compostable inks and a zero-waste process that actually makes a dent. This story explores how one small shop is quietly reshaping the packaging game and why the impact matters to anyone who cares about the plant, the planet and the future of both.
SEEDS OF INNOVATION
Born in California and raised in Eugene, Glyer’s love of nature and commitment to service laid the groundwork for a business with a mission: to protect forests and create smarter, cleaner packaging. In 2012, he invented Crutch Cards, a custom-printed business card made from hemp paper and perforated into filter tips for joints.
“Initially, I sold them with cool printed designs, but everyone wanted their brand and art on them, so I made them a custom product,” he explains. What started with hand-feeding paper into inkjet printers one sheet at a time eventually grew into a 10,000-square-foot commercial print shop that ships worldwide.
“Hemp Press is one of a kind on Earth,” Glyer says. “We are the only print shop dedicated solely to alternative fiber (hemp) papers.” That singular focus grew from a deep connection to Cannabis culture and its community. “I built this business out of a love for Cannabis, so it’s baked into the ethos. The community has been so supportive of the vision of Hemp Press, so we keep giving back in every way we can.”
Before farms had logos, let alone packaging, Glyer was helping shape the visual identity of Oregon’s emerging Cannabis industry. “We laid a lot of the foundation by engineering the first joint box for the recreational market,” he says. “A lot of the classic Cannabis box forms you see across the country originated at Hemp Press.”
COUNTING THE IMPACT
The real turning point came when he started calculating the environmental impact. “One day I started running numbers, and I began seeing how many acres of forest we had protected by using hemp for paper. Add to that our fiber needs facilitate planting roughly 20 million Cannabis seeds a year, and that feels like a fun flex,” he says.
Sustainability isn’t a footnote for Hemp Press, it’s the foundation. Glyer explains that a mid-sized Cannabis brand switching to their hemp paper could conserve several acres of forest annually. Plus, the paper requires significantly less energy to produce than tree-based stock. “Many cultivators and extractors alike can claim a product lifecycle that is carbon/energy negative,” he says.
But part of the challenge is education. “Most paper packaging is coated with plastic and treated with optical brighteners to achieve a shiny, brightwhite finish, making it unrecyclable,” Glyer says. “In contrast, our hemp papers are both recyclable and compostable, and even our inks carry certified compostable ratings.”
DIY TO ISO
From the beginning, Glyer had to work around the skepticism of print shops unwilling to risk their equipment on hemp materials. “Part of why I started a print shop was that no one wanted to print hemp paper for fear of breaking their equipment,” he says. He bought and modified his own machinery to take that risk head-on.
“Now our papers are certified for use on the most high-end and advanced printing presses on the market,” he says. Even shops that approach it with caution are left “pleasantly surprised.”
Over the years, Hemp Press has experimented with every available ink, adhesive and finish. Today, they offer custom packaging solutions that can be printed and shipped in under a week, often including strain and lab data directly on the box, no stickers required. “Like award-winning Cannabis, our work is rooted in craftsmanship and attention to detail, with a zero-waste process where every usable inch of hemp paper is sold,” he says.
Cost, of course, remains a significant hurdle. “Logging subsidies and cheap overseas mills make wood-pulp paper hard to beat on price,” he says. “We’ve had to automate and innovate to keep total costs low for our finished goods.”
BIG HELP FOR S MALL BRANDS
Still, the team is optimistic. “We’ve been part of thousands of product launches, from brand identity to packaging design and engineering to go-tomarket strategies,” Glyer says. They’ve also won numerous packaging awards for form and function and helped brands replace massive volumes of single-use plastic.
Hemp Press also provides consulting and support for smaller, budget-conscious operations. “Choose a flexible, budget-minded packaging partner that understands craft Cannabis,” Glyer advises. “Small tweaks like right-sizing your packaging or streamlining label placement can drive costs down.”
“EVERY CHOICE BRANDS MAKE THAT ALIGNS WITH CONSUMER DEMAND TO PROTECT NATURE IS A STEP TOWARD A RICHER, MORE MEANINGFUL CONNECTION WITH EARTH.”
TRASH THE PLASTIC
Looking ahead, Glyer is excited to roll out two major innovations: an automated assembly line to reduce labor costs and a machine-plus-compostable packaging system for prerolls that ditches the plastic pop-top. “Both are engineered to align with our rapid-turnaround printed packaging solutions, and in true Hemp Press fashion, sustainable materials come as the default,” he says.
He’s also not shy about what he hopes will change industry-wide. “Regulators should rethink today’s child-resistant packaging rules,” he says. “People rip open those bulky, multi-layer plastic containers and throw them away the moment they get home. They generate needless waste without improving safety.”
When asked how he defines success, Glyer simply states, “The future is now when new systems make existing systems appear obsolete. That’s why Hemp Press has proven Cannabis can replace extractive petroleum and forest-based packaging. Every choice brands make that aligns with consumer demand to protect nature is a step toward a richer, more meaningful connection with Earth.”
PAPER WITH PURPOSE
When it comes to sourcing, Glyer is clear about the company’s priorities: “The Hemp Press vision is one of American-made excellence. We continue to develop supply chain redundancies and resilience, with the ability to source fibers as well as process, pulp and mill papers both domestically and in Europe. All of our papers are certified carbon neutral in America, and we plan to keep it that way.”
Hemp Press collaborates with all kinds of national brands (Cannabis and otherwise). However, their roots run deep in the craft Can nabis space, where care, creativity and sustainability may still mean something. For those in the community who are tired of watching the industry pile on plas tic while waiting for regulators to catch up, it’s clear: we can’t afford to wait. Hemp Press offers a way to move forward now, mak ing thoughtful, waste-reducing choices that still meet compliance and look damn good doing it. If you’re ready to take packaging into your own hands, this is a solid place to start.
MAKE AN IMPACT
5 DAILY ACTS TO USHER IN A HEALED EARTH
IN THIS MODERN AGE of climate anxiety and overconsumption, it’s easy to feel powerless, but real impact starts with intentional daily choices. When we root our lifestyle in love for the Earth, even the smallest acts ripple outward, becoming regenerative blessings for the seven generations to come. Here are five soulful ways to live in alignment with Grandmother Earth. Each one is an invitation to return to the sacred cycle of reciprocity and create a positive impact every day.
#1
Smoke with intention and choose Earth-loving tools
Cannabis is more than a plant — it’s a teacher, a healer and an ally. How we consume it matters. Elevate your Cannabis consumption ritual by choosing organic, living-soil, sungrown flower that’s sustainably grown and packaged. Seek out local growers or Indigenous-owned brands that walk in harmony with the land. Ask your local budtender about brands that prioritize sustainable, full-circle growing practices. By supporting these businesses, we are fueling the cascade effect of regenerative agriculture, an impact that extends far beyond a pure vibrant toke. When it comes to consumption, choose locally made, functional glassware and organic, U.S.-sourced hemp wick over lighters. For storage, skip plastic packaging all together. Not only is the plastic toxic for the environment, but it also degrades the trichome and helix structure of your sacred herb.
IMPACT ACTION:
Swap disposable smokeware tools for longlasting, handmade ones. Support Cannabis growers and smokeware artisans rooted in regenerative practices.
For the freshest storage solution, reach for a reusable U.S.-made premium glass Mason jar — or better yet, the world’s first drop-proof, lightproof and child-resistant glass Mason jar: the RE:STASH jar. When your sesh is grounded in intention and care, from flower to flame, it becomes a sacred offering a moment of communion with the Earth.
#2
Bless your water and say no to plastic bottles
Water is life. It’s the original alchemical elixir of Earth and the first element in our being. Instead of contributing to plastic pollution, honor the element by using a refillable glass or stainless steel bottle. Avoid water stored in plastic at all costs. Even the so-called toxic-free or BPA-free plastic options contribute to a catastrophic, toxic production pipeline that harms our planet. Adopt the mindset that no plastic is safe for consumption, because if Earth Mother cannot regenerate it, then we should not be creating it. Treat ecological regions surrounded by water with the utmost care and respect. Choose cleaning supplies that have zero ecological impact, and never dispose of motor oil near waterways. Look up your local services for proper disposal of motor oils, lithium batteries and other severely toxic byproduct waste. When consuming water, whisper a blessing before you sip. Charge your water with positive spoken words and crystals like shungite to ensure it becomes a source of vibrant, refreshing hydration. Water holds memory, and we shape it with our gratitude and intention.
IMPACT ACTION:
Commit to going plastic-free for a week and experience the joy of a toxicfree world. Say a small blessing before each drink of water and feel your connection deepen.
Grow something native to support our pollinator ancestors
You don’t need a huge garden or a green thumb to become a cultivator of life, whether it’s basil in your kitchen, lavender in your garden, mint on your balcony or a single Cannabis plant in your backyard. When you grow something, you’re taking part in Earth’s most primal connection. Tending to a plant deepens your awareness, reconnects you to seasonal rhythms and nurtures reciprocity. Our native North American pollinators are currently facing an elevated extinction risk. Insects like bees, butterflies and moths are particularly vulnerable.
#4
Buy less, trade more, love local
IMPACT ACTION:
Start a mini herb garden this moon cycle. Learn from its native medicine. Speak to it with loving kindness. Give thanks with every harvest.
The world doesn’t need more stuff — it needs more soul. Break the cycle of overconsumption by supporting local artisans, farmers and creators who craft with care and integrity. Join a community trade group. Host a clothing or gear swap with your friends. When you shift from consumer to conscious community member, your resources stretch further and your footprint softens. Sharing and swapping is the original currency of Indigenous culture, and it’s time we return to the richness of exchange.
IMPACT ACTION: Choose one item you would normally buy new and instead trade, thrift or buy local. Make it an act of love.
Choose native wildflower species, herbs, edibles and locally sourced shrubs. Our pollinator community benefits greatly when we decide to garden with intention. The more we root into soil, the more we remember that we, too, are of the Earth.
#5
Reclaim the sacred cycle: reduce, reuse, recycle
We’ve heard the phrase before, but let’s elevate the understanding. Reduce by questioning your consumption. Do you really need it? Reuse by getting creative, such as by turning jars into stash holders, wrapping gifts with old scarves or saving pretty packaging for art projects. Recycle, yes, but make it sacred. Clean it, bless it and offer it back to the system with love. The Earth is a master recycler, so let’s learn from her example and treat every object as a temporary guest, not a throwaway.
IMPACT ACTION: Set up a recycling station in your home with intention. Burn sage or copal near it once a week to keep the energy high and mindful.
You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be consciously present. When we live in reverent harmony toward our plant allies, our water, our community and above all our Earth, we become part of the solution. Remember, OGs, the power is already in your hands. Let your life be the ritual. Let your choices be the change.
Marina
Marina Glass began her journey in 2020, deep in the misty forests of Oregon. Surrounded by towering pines, foglaced mornings and a grassroots community of creatives, she discovered borosilicate glass — and never looked back. What began as a quiet fascination quickly grew into a passionate pursuit: a life shaped by fire, movement and meaningful connection.
NOW BASED in the sundrenched deserts of Arizona, Marina’s art continues to evolve. She’s become known for her highly detailed miniature figurines — each one a testament to both creativity and precision.
Drawing inspiration from the things she loves most, her work often features playful cartoons, expressive animals and surreal clowns. She captures complexity on such a small scale with an expert hand; the process demands advanced technical skill, patience and control over heat and form. But for Marina, this meticulous dance with molten glass is a joy, not a chore. Each piece is infused with her unique voice, shaped by both whimsy and mastery.
Looking ahead, Marina’s plans reflect the same spirit of adventure that fueled her beginnings. A full West Coast tour is next — an art-fueled road trip that will take her up and down the coast, connecting with fellow makers, collectors and creative communities. After that, she’ll head to Chicago for a joint show with her longtime friend and collaborator, Kid Glass.
It’s more than just an exhibition; it’s a celebration of shared growth and vision. Then it’s on to Arkansas to visit Banjo and the family, grounding herself in love, laughter and the kind of community that inspires her at the deepest level.
Throughout it all, travel and connection remain Marina’s compass. Every stop along the way feeds her art. Every person, a new spark! She shows this through her extensive domestic and international travels.
Her dream? To take borosilicate glass into the mainstream — creating more space for events, collaboration and visibility for artists in the flame-working world. She envisions a vibrant scene where stories are told through glass and where community thrives.
Marina Glass isn’t just making art; she’s building a movement one flame, one figurine, one connection at a time. And her journey is only just beginning.
It is almost impossible to pin this artist down. If you’re looking for artwork by Marina Glass, try her directly on socials or inquire at your local glass art gallery for availability. But be warned: Marina’s work sells very, very quickly. @MA.RINA.GLASS
“Her dream? To take borosilicate glass into the mainstream — creating more space for events, collaboration and visibility for artists in the flame-working world.”
Berry Boost
It’s June, and it’s all about the berries. You can use frozen berries, but if you have the opportunity to use fresh, their season is now, and you won’t be sorry. Jack Herer was my go-to sativa for years: reliable and always packed a punch. For a little while, I found that true sativas made me anxious, not an uncommon issue, but I’ve slowly gotten back on the sativa horse, and life is good. Oregon-based Pruf Cultivar’s Jack Herer is a stunning 26.5% THC — definitely a powerful smoking experience — but for the last few months, I have been sativa-related anxiety-free. I find that cooking with this strain mellows it out considerably, though I do think of it as a daytime, energetic way to medicate. Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com
Roasted Strawberry Fool
1 1/2 cups strawberries, trimmed/halved 1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons infused oil/melted infused butter
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1. Heat oven to 340°F. In a baking dish, combine the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice. Roast for 20 minutes, stirring a few times. Puree in a blender. Allow to cool at room temperature, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. (This step can be done a day ahead.)
2. In a chilled bowl, combine the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Whip until soft peaks form. Gently fold 1 cup of the chilled strawberry puree into the cream. Chill for 1 hour.
3. Place two serving glasses on your work surface. Spoon 3 tablespoons of the pureed berries into the bottom of each glass. Divide the cream mixture between the glasses, and top with 1 tablespoon of the puree.
Blackberry Smoothie
1 cup fresh blackberries
1 frozen banana, sliced before freezing, drizzled with lime juice
2 tablespoons lime juice
2/3 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
3/4 cups almond or oat milk
2 to 4 tablespoons honey or agave
2 teaspoons infused coconut oil or melted infused butter Lime slices, for garnish
1. In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth.
2. Divide between two glasses, and garnish with lime slices.
Blueberry
Buckwheat
Cake
Baking spray
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup buckwheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup coconut oil or melted butter
3 tablespoons infused coconut oil or infused melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, for dusting
1. Heat oven to 340°F. Spray a 9-inch baking pan and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, buckwheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
3. In another medium bowl, combine the oils or butters, eggs, buttermilk, maple syrup and vanilla extract.
4. Fold the dry ingredients into the buttermilk mixture until combined. Do not overmix.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the center is set, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool thoroughly, then dust with powdered sugar.
There’s no question that Cannabis is a gateway, but to where is the question. If you read all the classic anti-pot literature, the answer is straight into the arms of a heroin needle and a Grand Theft Auto-style shootout with police.
COINED IN THE ’70S and popularized in the ’80s, the concept of Cannabis as a stepping stone to a life of hard drugs has been used as an argument against the plant for almost 100 years. Even though many of us live in states that accept Cannabis as an “adult-use” substance like beer or wine, this administration’s pick for head of the FDA has already referred to Cannabis as a gateway drug. So, it might be worth having a look at how Cannabis came to be labeled a gateway, whether that science holds up, and what we’ve learned since.
Many attribute the term to works published in the 1970s by Dr. Robert DuPont and Dr. Denise Kandel. Tasked by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study the causes of drug use, Kandel discovered a link between tobacco use and a proclivity for cocaine in animals and found that the statistical link between those substances in humans included the use of Cannabis. DuPont’s book, “Getting Tough on Gateway Drugs,” described weed as one of the most dangerous drugs there is and suggested that without it, the chain from legal substances to illicit ones breaks down. Each of these arguments was founded by the fact that hard drug users had also used Cannabis, but neither proved a link between using Cannabis and using harder drugs.
Kandel has since emphasized that framing Cannabis as the first stone in the chain ignores the giant boulder of easier-to-find substances like wine or nicotine. In fact, she and her husband, Nobel Prize-winning neurologist Dr. Eric Kandel, co-authored a paper on the molecular basis for nicotine as the real gateway drug. DuPont admitted in a 2000 interview that his stance on Cannabis has shifted profoundly over the years and that back then, in a meeting with President Richard Nixon, he was told: “If you make any hint of supporting decriminalization, you are history. Everything else, you figure it out. But that one, I’m telling you, that’s the deal.”
Looking at studies today, there does seem to be some evidence to support both cases for Cannabis leading to other types of drug use. A Colorado study examining whether or not legalization in the state had led to a rise in dangerous crime or drug abuse found no statistical evidence that smoking weed was leading to a rise in things like heroin or crack, nor were people being robbed on the street as a way to score the next joint.
“...framing Cannabis as the first stone in the chain ignores the giant boulder of easier-to-find substances like wine or nicotine.”
However, over in Europe, a Spanish study looked at adolescents to see if Cannabis use increased a chance of opioid use and concluded that there was an increased correlation between those who used opioids and people who also reported using Cannabis.
The American Addiction Centers published a survey showing Cannabis is far behind alcohol and tobacco in terms of the first substance people try. However, that number doubled for Cannabis as the second substance and stayed significantly high in the “third-tried” category. Still, to Kandel’s original point, tobacco and alcohol made up 89.6% of the first-tried category, which supports the thought that Cannabis is present but not the cause of any sort of drug trajectory. So will smoking weed put you on track to dangerous drug use? There are a ton of sociological, economic and behavioral factors that come into play around drug use. And while exposure to drugs during adolescence may increase the likelihood of future use, the data seems to suggest that weed might be along for the ride, but I don’t think it’s the one driving the car.
