NorthwestLeaf_Sept2025

TIME WARP PET NAT PAIRED WITH OOOWEE CARTRIDGES AND VAPES

WEEKLY SPECIALS

SOOTHING SUNDAY

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 and 30% off Smokiez

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

9AM UNTIL 9PM

At PenPack, we specialize in printing small runs of

Order as few as 1,000 units — split between multiple strains of the same cut shape — and get exactly what you need without overordering.

This includes printing percentages, cross strains, lot numbers, barcodes and any other custom data you may need on your packaging.

Our easy online portal lets you add custom data to each strain quickly and efficiently, saving you time while delivering professional, ready-to-sell results.

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

MICHELLE NARANJO COPY EDITOR michelle@leafmagazines.com

MATT JACKSON SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD mattjackson@leafmagazines.com

ABOUT THE COVER

Over one fun-soaked afternoon, the Northwest Leaf team collaborated to create this bubbly, colorful cover. Leaf Creative Director Daniel Berman and longtime contributor Angela-Jordan Aguilar worked together to capture and style six awe-inspiring Cannabis combinations. For the cover, we were drawn to this delightful pairing of Ooowee cartridges and all-in-ones, and a satisfyingly not-too-sweet bottle of Time Warp Pet Nat. Be sure to check out all of the reviews pg. 44-54, and visit LeafMagazines.com to see more pairings from around the country!

PHOTO BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, FEATURES

ANGELA-JORDAN AGUILAR, FEATURES

JORDAN BADRAN, PHOTOS

DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS + DESIGNS

BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES

JACKIE BRYANT, FEATURES

JEFF DIMARCO, GLASS

DAVID DOWNS, FEATURES

JAMIE EVANS, PHOTOS

REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS

ELLEN HOLLAND, FEATURES

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

DANSTAN KAUNDA, PHOTOS

SHARDELL MONIQUE, PHOTOS

JAMIE OWENS, FEATURES

KELSEY STEVENS, PRODUCTION

TERPENE TRANSIT, DISTRIBUTION

TERPODACTYL MEDIA, FEATURES + PHOTOS

LENA B. WHITE, AD S ALES + PRODUCTION BRUCE & LAURI E 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 Tannins & Terpenes Issue of the Leaf!

This month’s focus is on the dynamic and experiential bliss that comes from pairing Cannabis with delicious drinkables, as our dedicated writers sipped and savored to bring the freshest heat for your reading pleasure.

The Tannins & Terpenes Issue has been an annual tradition since 2011, when the idea of pairing wine and weed together was edgy and illegal. Back when Cannabis was marijuana, and having a few grams of the sticky icky could cost time in a real jail cell, the Leaf set out to pair flavors and break down barriers.

In pre-legalization, early medical days, the science of Cannabis was still in the stoned ages. The concept of strains was not yet cultural knowledge, and most people thought of pot as pot. Among the maturing medical Cannabis scene, the concept of strains, terpenes and flavor profiles was sprouting, thanks to deli-style sales where patients could smell flower before buying, leading to awareness of the beautiful and varying flavor profiles in the plant.

At the time of our first pairings, testing for THC and potency did not yet exist, so all Cannabis in medical shops was judged on a combination of smell, looks and effects. No high-THC-chasing bullshit clouded the growing or buying process. In many ways, the early medical days were the purest when purchasing Cannabis. The focus was on personal experience, flavors and effects, with a spirit of healing and gratitude for the plant that was emerging from the closet of criminalization.

"IN PRELEGALIZATION, EARLY MEDICAL DAYS, THE SCIENCE OF CANNABIS WAS STILL IN THE STONED AGES. THE CONCEPT OF STRAINS WAS NOT YET CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, AND MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT OF POT AS POT. ”

To honor these flavors, we launched The Tannins & Terpenes Issue. The idea was to highlight Cannabis varieties alongside wine, which is culturally known to have wide differences in flavors, styles and even effects. We needed to transform the vision of weed as a singular plant to that of wine, in that it all comes from grapes, but the results are based on the cultivar, cultivation method, region and how the grapes are processed into a final wine. For growers, this should sound familiar.

Over the decade-plus of this project, I’ve worked with sommeliers who can blind sip a wine and name the style, region and production methods that led to the bottle’s bombastic flavor. I’ve seen the same evolution with Cannabis, which today is known for thousands of strains and crosses, all with unique flavor profiles and highs for every occasion.

LEAF!

Whether you sip and savor a glass of wine with your favorite flower or are California sober like me (skipping the booze) and prefer to pair heady hash with classic sodas, you’re in for an equally invigorating and tasteful experience. No matter how you pair weed with your favorite drink, one thing is certain: you won’t have cotton mouth!

STYLING & PROPS BY ANGELA-JORDAN AGUILAR @AJ.OG

INTRODUCING

“THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH THESE DOORS...”

TREY ASCHEMAN

Trey Ascheman hails from Gig Harbor. His longtime passion for Cannabis started when an accident left his brother with a severely broken wrist. Trey had heard about the plant’s healing properties and decided to learn how it could aid in his brother’s recovery journey. It was not long before he realized and visualized some of the amazing healing and pain management that CBD, THC and other cannabinoids can provide.

FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, Trey has been doing his part by helping educate consumers. Today, and for the last three years, you can find him at Clear Choice Cannabis in Tacoma, where he focuses on recommending strains that heal ailments. “When a client comes back in for that second round of a product that works for them, is the best feeling I can get,” Trey said. He enjoys Clear Choice’s professional atmosphere and dedication to client services. Unlike a lot of places out there, “the customer comes first when they walk through these doors,” Trey said.

When asked about his current preferred strains, he simply replied, “Anything with blueberry notes. Shiskaberry is my absolute favorite.” When Trey isn’t at the store, he can usually be found at the gym or hanging out with the team they’ve built over the years at Clear Choice. They are a tight-knit group with a real family vibe and a hankering for good times. Whether it’s lighting up on a hike or swinging in a hammock, you can always find a smile on this guy’s face. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi to Trey.

You’ll thank us later.

@INDEPENDENCETREY

BUDTENDER RECOMMENDATIONS

Rosin Sky

Sin

Good

Rosin

GREENLIGHT GREENLIGHT

On a sunny morning in the Spokane Valley, I had the pleasure of walking into Greenlight, a legacy Spokane location that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month (September 20 to be exact). As soon as I stepped through the door, I knew there were a lot of reasons this place has been around since the beginning of Initiative 502. My initial i mpressions of the shop would be cleanliness, positive vibes and selection. Bo bby, Cinthia, Miranda and Trevor gave me a warm welcome and a tour of the shop.

GREENLIGHT has all of the latest and greatest brands, and the rosin fridge will make you salivate. You can see some of their favorite flowers are Fire Bros, Skord, Sky High, K.Savage and more. I also found some killer local Redbird selections on the shelf. They have it all — vapes, edibles, RSO and topicals — and they know their product lines. Though stocked with plenty of options, the displays are easy to navigate, well lit and spaced in a way where products aren’t jumbled up.

The well-trained, long-term staff have the experience and professionalism needed to help guide clients to a new favorite while making each interaction fun and easygoing. Manager Colton Harrington has been with Greenlight for about six years, and he says his favorite part of servicing the valley is all of the diversity it has to offer. Additionally, he says he feels “so blessed to have one of the most educated and customer-focused teams in Washington.”

Do you need some recreational or medicinal tools? Check out Greenlight’s great selection of glass offerings, as well as Puffco, Karta and Ario e-rig options and a great selection of papers and wraps. Are you looking for discounts? This store has you covered with an entire section dedicated to savings of up to 40%. You’ll find goodies from every category here, including their glass selection. On top of that, they have daily specials on their website and are always coming up with new, fun promotions. Greenlight even offers all customers a free spin on the prize wheel on their birthday. It’s obvious that this extraordinary Cannabis retailer has built a home that is based on community — from the budtenders you’ll meet here to the repeat clientele that call the valley home. This team has smiles for miles! When visiting the Spokane area, you’re going to find yourself in the valley at some point, and when you do, make sure to stop by Greenlight.

“THE WELL-TRAINED, LONG-TERM STAFF HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM NEEDED TO HELP GUIDE CLIENTS TO A NEW FAVORITE WHILE MAKING EACH INTERACTION FUN AND EASYGOING.”

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

Leaf Bowl Verdelux Awards

CHOCOLATE

RUNNER-UP

Carmelo Meltaway

ALTERNATIVE

Maui

RUNNER-UP

Summerland Cherry Lush Gummies

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Verdelux is a special place. I was honored to be invited and given an in-depth tour of this long-standing facility in Bellingham. Though some of their methods are proprietary, there’s a lot I’ve been permitted to share.

If you weren’t aware, Verdelux makes their high-quality full-spectrum RSO inhouse, which allows them to control the quality and consistency of the potency. The base flower for this is also specifically sourced from local growers who are utilizing the highest standards of excellence at their farms. This means well-tested, documented and clean Cannabis strains containing the necessary composition of THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, etc. for the products that Verdelux creates.

The ingredients are not premade or sourced in search of higher profit margins — only the best will do. The amazing peach flavor of their Chelan Peach Lush gummies starts with actual fresh peaches from the Chelan area. The melt-in-your-mouth chocolate in the Meltaways and Bon Bombs is a handmade recipe they have used for more than a decade in professional confection creation. The list goes on, but my point is that a lot of thought, energy and research go into each ingredient in every product they make.

The most important part of the entire Verdelux process is teamwork. I could tell by the stories I was told, the genuine smiles and each team member’s dedication to their specific duty that turnover here is low. These are seasoned professionals with a specific focus and fortitude to conquer goals and solve problems with dexterity and skill.

“These are seasoned professionals with a specific focus and fortitude to conquer goals and solve problems with dexterity and skill.”

I've seen many parts of the manufacturing process automated at other facilities, but at Verdelux, those parts are done by hand. This is another way that they can ensure their consumers receive a consistent experience and the high quality they are known for.

As far as distribution goes, I hardly ever step into a store that doesn’t have a wide selection of Verdelux products. Give their edibles a try, and I promise you’ll find one that fits your specific palate.

And, oh boy, don’t forget about their topicals. Check out the August Leaf reviews for more information on their Salvation and Mercy topicals. They were created solely for medicinal purposes, and from experience, I can guarantee that these two topicals are extremely effective.

Additionally, I have to mention Verdelux’s success at the 2025 Leaf Bowl, where they swept both the Chocolate and Alternative Cannabinoids categories. VERDELUX.COM

PREMIUM QUALITY

COMING SOON COMING SOON

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

THE SMELL TEST

What the minimization of weed’s sensory experience means for Cannabis consumers and the industry at large

The smell of Cannabis has never been neutral. It was once an unmistakable warning sign, drawing the attention of police or neighbors and making consumption a risk. At the same time, that skunky punch was a signal to the initiated, a kind of social bat signal that weed was near. To this day, smell remains one of the most recognizable parts of the Cannabis experience. And yet, in the supposed era of normalization, it is being targeted in ways that reveal how little has actually changed.

Scent, especially, is under pressure. Products are marketed as being low-odor, discreet and “lifestyle-friendly.”

Vaporizers, edibles and tinctures avoid the smell altogether.

Even flower, the most aromatic format, is increasingly sealed inside multiple layers of plastic and cardboard designed as much to mute odor as to comply with regulations. The message is clear: Weed should be consumed politely behind closed doors without notice.

But scent is not a superficial detail. It is memory, emotion and culture. Consider how fragrance is utilized in other industries. Perfume houses build entire empires on the power of scent. Food is unimaginable without aroma. Coffee, wine and whiskey all rely on deeply developed vocabularies to describe their smells, which in turn are celebrated as central to the experience. Cannabis has its own lexicon — skunk, gas, fruit, pine — and those descriptors connect directly to how the plant feels, grows and works in the body.

"The smell of Cannabis can be a comfort, a warning or a reminder of history. It is never neutral."

IN RECENT YEARS, “nuisance” complaints have become a primary tool in policing Cannabis. Homeowners associations enact weed bans under the cover of neighborhood decorum. Cities pass odor ordinances that treat the plant as if it were toxic waste. These rules may not look like Prohibition, but they carry its spirit forward. They rely on the idea that Cannabis should stay hidden.

Simultaneously, the legal industry has found its way of downplaying Cannabis’ sensory presence. Packaging has become sleeker, quieter and more “design-forward.” In California, to give just one example, you can’t even smell the buds before you buy them. Talk about antithetical to the spirit of things.

The idea is to make Cannabis products resemble skin care, matcha or boutique supplements — anything but weed. Of course, there are arguments in favor of this strategy: a wider audience, less stigma and easier retail placement. But the result is a flattening of the culture and enthusiasm that allowed Cannabis to become semi-legal at all, that ushered in a subculture. The unruly qualities that made it distinct — its funk, visibility and reputation as a disruptor — are now subdued, disguised or stripped out entirely.

There’s also a political truth to odor. It has long been used to criminalize. Police officers regularly cite smell as probable cause. Landlords use it as justification for eviction. Municipalities treat it as a public health hazard, despite lacking evidence to support claims. When brands or consumers lean into the idea that weed’s smell is something to hide, they reinforce those structures, whether intentionally or not.

At the same time, there is something deeply human in the way Cannabis odor has historically built community. People remember catching whiffs at concerts, in college dorms or on city streets and feeling both curiosity and recognition. Scent draws lines, sometimes between safety and danger, but also between inclusion and exclusion, familiarity and fear. The smell of Cannabis can be a comfort, a warning or a reminder of history. It is never neutral.

What we’re witnessing now is a reshaping of weed shame into something softer, but no less real. It is not the blunt force of Prohibition, with raids and arrests, although those still occur in many places. It is the pressure to assimilate. To keep Cannabis presentable, muted and palatable enough to pass in spaces that still don’t accept it fully. More polite does not mean more freedom. If normalization is going to mean anything beyond market growth, the sensory reality of Cannabis has to be included. It is integral to the plant’s identity, science and culture. To deny that is to deny the very thing that made Cannabis powerful in the first place: its ability to announce itself, unapologetically, to the world.

FIRE FOLLOWER HEMP LEGALIZATION TURBOCHARGES CLONE SCENE

THE ANNUAL North American outdoor Cannabis crop is weeks away from finishing, but indoors, a robust “clone” season runs all year long. And hemp legalization has supercharged the clone scene. Put a clone in a grow tent today, and you’ll have fresh zaza by the new year.

The 2018 Farm Bill change that legalized hemp also laid the groundwork for a utopia of Cannabis cuttings, or clones. Since these snips of stem and leaves don’t have any THC in them, they are legally equivalent to the starter plants at your local gardening store.

In 2025’s U.S. clonetopia, you can get starters of vintage and hype strains for sale at events or shipped to you alive. These cuttings have the same DNA as the mother, a clone of an already hit strain. Clones can go for $20 to about $100, with Rebel Grown’s Double OG Chem #15 far exceeding that at $420,000. The price varies depending on how commercially exciting the mother is.

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

Breeders newly offering direct-to-consumer clones in 2025 include Rebel Grown (maker of Double OG Chem) and James Loud Genetics with Cereal Milk, RS11 and GMO (loudclones.com). Hash strain experts Bloom Seed Co. and maker of the modern hit MaiTai, Clearwater Genetics, both offer clone lists via Discord and their websites. In California, groups like Phinest, Purple City Genetics, HendRx Nursery and Constellation Nursery shine bright.

THE $420,000 CUTTING

Double OG Chem #15 won The Emerald Cup Breeder’s Cup four times, including three times in a row. “The loudest, gassiest fuel herb we have found in over 25 years,” Dan Pomerantz, founder and CEO of Rebel Grown, stated.

For September, Pomerantz is listing new clones on his website every Friday, especially “reliable, trusted classics” like OG Kush, Triangle Kush, Headband and Cherry Pie (rebelgrowngenetics.com).

Pomerantz listed the Double OG Chem 15 at $420,000 as “a little bit of a joke,” he said. We mere mortals can smoke the strain in Arizona, Ohio and New York starting this month.

James Loud Genetics ships a slate of hype in custom containers all year, like Violet Dripz and Candy Dripz (two Grape Gas crosses). Violet Dripz is a Black Runtz x Grape Gas cross that makes great rosin. “It’s very grapey — like an Alexander the Grape Otter Pop,” founder and CEO James Loud said.

You can jump on the Leafly Strain of the Year 2024, Super Boof, with clones from breeder Blockhead or selector Mobile Jay (beanfiendz.com). Blockhead’s Breeder Cut, aka Pink Panty Cut, is $600 at blockheadbuds.com.

MR. SHERBINSKI CHANNELS VOICE OF THE PLANT

Mario “Sherbinski” Guzman — popularizer of Sunset Sherbert and Gelato — is working on his next project, Voice of the Plant (voiceoftheplant.net).

Twelve years after launching the Sherbinskis flower brand, he said he was ready to get his hands dirty and be more punk rock. This fall and winter, Voice of the Plant has new rec flowers for New York, a podcast in development, six recordings with M-1 from Dead Prez and a seeds show at MJ BizCon in December.

“I was looking to start something from scratch. No investors. I wanted the challenge,” Guzman said from New York.

Guzman says VOP aims beyond the profit of “a cookie-cutter flower brand” to be a community catalyst, to have fun and to connect. Working with his wife, he is raiding his contacts for collaborators to cross-pollinate with.

“I WAS LOOKING TO START SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH. NO INVESTORS. I WANTED THE CHALLENGE.” -SHERBINSKI

“I might make an organic vegan frozen food line, why not?” Guzman said. “We just want to connect people with plants through food, art, music and business.”

This next chapter is Sherbinski “paying it forward,” he said. Guzman says it’s also an answer to the part of himself who wants to be more than a “one-hit wonder” for Gelato. “A brand or a genetic does not define who we are,” he said.

CANDY DRIPZ

PHOTO BY JAMES LOUD GENETICS

DOUBLE OG CHEM

PHOTO BY REBEL GROWN

REBEL COOKIES

PHOTO BY REBEL GROWN

VIOLET DRIPZ

PHOTO BY JAMES LOUD GENETICS

CANNABIS TAKES FLIGHT

Jamie Evans brings the mentality of wine tastings toweed.

On a traditionally chilly July evening in San Francisco, a small group gathered at a wine bar for an event that combined the aromas and flavors of wine alongside another one of California’s most celebrated agricultural products: Cannabis.

TUCKED IN a narrow street near San Francisco’s famed Zuni Café, Hotel Biron is not a hotel, but a wine bar and art gallery. This summer, Hotel Biron joined with certified sommelier and Cannabis author Jamie Evans to take part in her educational series, Terpenes and Tannins. The series, which has also taken place in areas best known for their wine production (such as Napa Valley and Anderson Valley), presents how Cannabis can complement a meal following the road map of wine tastings. At the events, Cannabis and other culinary ingredients are placed in wine glasses for sniffing (and sometimes smoking) as Evans demonstrates how the aromatic and flavorful elements of the world’s most favored flower can enhance the tastes of wine.

“There is this level of connoisseurship when you think about Cannabis,” Evans said to introduce the evening.

“When I came into the space, what I thought was interesting was learning about how farmers think about Cannabis. It’s very similar to how a grape farmer thinks about wine, and it’s really about that sense of place and practice. Cannabis does have that sense of terroir.”

As a loyal reader of Leaf Magazines, you likely already know about the gospel of departed hash educator Frenchy Cannoli. But if not, “terroir” is a French word that’s most often associated with wine and the characteristic aromas and flavors created by environmental factors, such as the climate, soil and farming practices. As Cannoli often said, the best Cannabis showcases a sense of place.

Evans approaches enjoying Cannabis in the same way that people appreciate wine at a tasting: meeting the producer, talking about how the products were created and breaking down sensory characteristics like appearance, aromas and flavor balance.

SAMPLING FLOWERS AND FRUITS

Terpenes are aromatic and flavorful compounds found in plants. Terpenes are in flowers (like Cannabis) and also in fruits (like grapes). Tannins are present in Cannabis, but these chemical compounds play a larger role in red wines and black teas. They taste bitter and make your mouth dry.

For the event in San Francisco, Evans combined a cabernet sauvignon — a grape known for its high tannin content — with a Blueberry Cupcake grown by Sonoma Hills Farm. Blueberry Cupcake is a cross of Blueberry Muffin and Wedding Cake bred by HendRx that’s true to its name in expressing elements of cake batter and blueberries.

HendRx reports that its terpene profile includes myrcene, limonene, pinene, beta-caryophyllene, humulene, linalool and guaiol.

Located in Sonoma County, the Cannabis grown at Sonoma Hills Farm originates from a delineated grape growing region, or American Viticultural Area, called the Petaluma Gap.

“She definitely does give blueberries to me,” Joyce Cenali, chief operating officer of Sonoma Hills Farm, said.

“She’s one of the ones that you notice in the field immediately when she starts to flower. She goes in a cheese direction as well.”

The proteins and fat in cheese combat the puckering sensations of tannins in wine and have been paired since the early days of winemaking. Because cheese and wine have a long tradition of being coupled, it makes sense that Cannabis strains that express cheesy smells and tastes would go well with a tannic red wine. Evans explained that the pairing she chose isn’t as tannic as cabernet sauvignons from the Napa Valley. The night’s selection was from Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard located in the Yakima Valley, the first AVA in Washington state. The wine Evans selected for Blueberry Cupcake takes on the berry notes the region is known for, she said.

CLEARING THE SMOKE

It’s 2025, and even in states where Cannabis has been legalized, it’s challenging to find venues that are open to hosting weed-themed events.

HOTEL BIRON

ANDERSON VALLEY WEED & WINE PAIRING

Because smoking Cannabis or tobacco isn’t allowed in bars in California, the tasting in San Francisco involved touching and smelling the weed, but not smoking it.

Hotel Biron’s owner, Ron Ramsubhag, is an organic chemist by day who, in 2024, became the proprietor of the bar he used to patronize.

“A lot of our regulars here, even staff, enjoy (Cannabis), even myself,” Ramsubhag said.

When asked if he was afraid people would start toking up inside, Ramsubhag said the thought had crossed his mind, but that ultimately he knew “it was going to be a fun educational experience.”

“Our regulars that come to the bar, they’re advocates for weed and marijuana and the medical properties that come with it,” he said.

TAKE FLIGHT

The San Francisco tasting event also included Pink Jesus, the signature strain of Sonoma Hills Farm. Pink Jesus is a cross of Pink 2.0, Starfighter and Heirloom OG. Cenali described the Cannabis as having notes of ginger, pink bubblegum, black raspberry and licorice. The primary terpenes in Pink Jesus are ocimene, beta-caryophyllene and humulene, she said.

Evans followed in describing the wine pairing, a cava rosado. The pink sparkling selection was from Spain and is a blend of two types of grapes, garnacha and trepat. Evans described the wine as having notes of cherries and strawberries and the aroma of rose petals.

"What I

thought was interesting was learning about how farmers think about Cannabis.

It’s very similar to how a grape farmer thinks about wine, and it’s really about that sense of place and practice.”

Guests were invited to smell the wine and the Cannabis side by side to evaluate if they could identify any similarities or differences.

“The truth is you can evaluate your Cannabis just like you can wine,” Evans said. “So this is what we’re trying to demonstrate tonight: that you can find different aromas and flavors in different strains. You can almost have like a flight of Cannabis and taste through it just like we do with wine.”

THE OCCASION

When it comes to choosing weed and wine, Evans said pairings come with occasions.

“When you’re out on the beach or you’re enjoying something on a hot day, you’re probably not going to reach for that big Napa cab,” Evans said.

“You’re probably going to go for that chilled albariño or like a grüner veltliner or something like that. And I think Cannabis is the same. You think about the occasion that you want to pair with, like how do you want to feel? And then you can customize it that way.”

Thinking of it that way, a full-bodied red wine is the indica of weed. It’s best when you want to relax in the evening.

For daytime affairs, Evans recommends going with lighter-bodied white wines and strains that contain terpenes associated with uplifting and energizing effects, such as pinene, which was in the rosemary that was passed around in a wine glass at the Terpenes and Tannins event.

Evans said when you’re in doubt about what wine might work best with your weed selection, go with bubbly.

“I think with bubbles, with sparkling wine especially, it very much cleanses your palate,” Evans said. “You salivate. It’s such a good match, so I always say champagne or cava, and bubbles and Cannabis is one of my favorite pairings.”

THEHERBSOMM.COM | @THEHERBSOMM

STORY by ELLEN HOLLAND @HOLLANDBUDS | PHOTOS by JAMIE EVANS

CANNABIS SOMMELIER JAMIE EVANS PHOTO BY MONICA LO/HIGH TIMES

CANNESCAPE WEED & WINE PAIRING

September Sandos

1. Toast the rolls.

2. In a small skillet, heat the oils. Add the onion, and cook on very low heat until soft and caramelized, about 20-25 minutes. If they are sticking, add a splash of water. Stir frequently, and let cool.

3. Distribute the onions between the two rolls.

Canna Cubano

Makes two sandwiches

2 (8-inch) Cuban-style rolls (or soft rolls), cut in half lengthwise

1⁄4 cup mayonnaise

2 teaspoons canna-oil

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

6 slices roast pork

6 slices Swiss cheese

6 slices ham

16 dill pickle chips

1. Spread the mayo on the bottom half of the rolls, and spread the tops with the mustard stirred with the canna-oil.

2. Layer 3 slices of roast pork, 3 slices of Swiss, 3 ham slices, and 8 pickle chips on the bottom of each roll, then top the roll.

3. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.

4. Cook the sandwiches, pressing down frequently with a spatula, until the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted, 7 to 9 minutes.

Talking Turkey

Makes two sandwiches

2 ciabatta rolls, cut in half lengthwise

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons canna-oil

1 large yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced

4 strips jarred roasted red pepper

6 slices havarti cheese

8 slices turkey breast (roasted or smoked)

4. Layer 2 pepper strips, 3 havarti slices and 4 turkey slices on the bottom of each roll.

5. Slice each sandwich in half before serving.

Vegged Out

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F.

2. Combine the oils and pour onto a rimmed baking sheet. Put the zucchini, bell pepper and onion slices on the baking sheet, and sprinkle with the cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Toss to coat, and bake until the vegetables are tender, 20-25 minutes. Let the veggies cool a bit.

September is that tasty in-between month when there’s still a little summer, but it’s almost harvest time. These Cannabisinfused sandwiches fit right in. The talking turkey brings fall vibes with caramelized onions and melted havarti, perfect for lunch, casual dinner or when you get a case of the munchies. Adding a few strips of bacon wouldn’t be a bad thing. The vegged out hummus with roasted vegetables is farmers market fare, and if you haven’t tried hummus on a sandwich, you’re missing out. The canna Cubano is one of the best sandwiches the world has known. The mustard, pickles and pork create a fantastic combination of flavors and textures. My infusion strain of choice was Pruf Cultivar’s Tangie Biscotti. It’s not always available, so grab it when it is. It is easy, uplifting and the best of both worlds: euphoric and fun, yet it offers stress reduction, and sleep comes easily. The flavors are citrus, cheese and an earthy quality. Myrcene is the dominant terpene, hence the emphasis on relaxation. Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons canna-oil

1 small zucchini, cut into thin strips

1 bell pepper (any color), seeded and cut into thin strips

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano

Salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground pepper, to taste

3/4 cup hummus (your favorite brand)

4 slices whole-grain bread

3. Spread the hummus equally on all four slices of bread.

4. Divide the vegetables between 2 bread slices, add more salt and pepper to taste and top with the remaining 2 slices of bread. Slice each sandwich in half before serving.

Makes two sandwiches

Port of Ilwaco

Cowlitz River at Kelso Downtown Longview

State Route 4 Cathlamet

Milk & Cookies Milk Cookies

WEED AND DESSERT GO TOGETHER LIKE MILK AND COOKIES, SO WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH REDBIRD CANNABIS TO DUNK THE MIND INTO A MILKY CLOUD OF GAS THAT DELIVERS WITH A FRESH-BAKED GUARANTEE.

“LIBERALLY

COATED IN FROSTY THC, THESE BUDS OOZE CREAMY LEMON-VANILLA NOTES...”

Cookies Cookies

NESTLED in an industrial park area of Spokane, Redbird’s facility combines technology and innovation to grow aeroponically. While most plants grow in soil or coco, the aeroponics method is unique, as it involves housing a plant with its roots dangling and suspending it in a chamber that is misted with water and nutrients at 100 to 120 pounds per square inch every 200 to 300 seconds.

Lifting a plant out of a growing bin reveals long tendrils of white roots, which are fed with atomized water so that the smaller water molecules feed the roots. It’s efficient and clean, and it focuses the plant’s energy on growing above the roots, which means tasty buds for us to enjoy.

Opened in 2015, Redbird flower is certified by the Department of Health to be patient-friendly and pesticide-free, with its flower found in over 150 stores. Redbird’s other unique feature is its focus on eighths only. You won’t find grams or quarters of their top-shelf flower, just eighths of premium weed and half ounces of B buds.

This focus on repeat experiences and quality drives the Redbird brand to fly high and keep the freshest weed on shelves around the state.

Always ready for a treat, we couldn’t wait to dunk this cross of Cookies & Cream x Triple OG into a bong and get baked to 420 degrees Fahrenheit. The first look at these chunky and frosty nugs teases the senses like a warm cookie on a plate, with a beautiful colorway of deep purple, light green and frosty white trichomes. Liberally coated in frosty THC, these buds ooze creamy lemon-vanilla notes and a fuel-like, chocolaty funk with a sharp OG smack that releases when a dense, well-cured nug is snapped open.

Each solid nug breaks down easily, creating a sprinkle of trichomes as the fluffy, thick flower is loaded into a bowl. Ripping a bowl releases a smooth and sweet smoke that sends a rush of cookies with more cream and gas, transmitting a wave of chillaxation to the mind as the jaw unclenches and the body loosens up. Burning down to a white ash, this flower is extremely clean, letting the flavor shine as effects wrap around the body like a cool glass of milk surrounding a cookie. Superbly stoney and ready to turn any moment into a treat, look to the Milk & Cookies for your next weed dessert adventure.

(COOKIES & CREAM X TRIPLE OG) 17% THC, 1.3% TERPENES

SNIFFING OUT SOLUTIONS TO FIND TRUTH IN TERPS POTENCY PROBLEM

HIGH STAKES AND NUMBERS

It’s no secret that potency drives the Cannabis market, even though patients and producers alike have been screaming about the plant’s many other beneficial compounds, like terpenes, for 10-plus years. This trend — driven by a lack of general consumer education and a viciously volatile market where producers are forced to compete at all costs — has snowballed into a situation where it seems no side is winning.

Breeders and growers are discarding unique profiles in favor of culling cultivars that produce potency. Shops are stuck with stale shelves that won’t sell. Consumers are paying premiums for results they can’t trust and, more importantly, missing out on a pivotal part of the plant’s experience. Cannabis testing labs are at the forefront of this issue, stuck in the same cycle of survival where potency pays the bills.

To dive deeper into this problem, we sought the expertise of Taylor Pearce. He is currently the lab director at Green Leaf Lab (Sacramento), and he has a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and over 12 years of testing experience (spanning four companies) in Oregon, Arizona and California.

TESTING STANDARDS

Similar problems plague all of these markets. From California to Arkansas, class action lawsuits have been filed against brands and labs alike for inflated THC numbers.

In California, a 2022 independent study reported on by Cannabis Industry Journal showed that out of 150 products tested, 87% were greater than “10% deviant of their labeled values.”

Legalized states around the nation are facing the same story, with state reference laboratories continuing to find flaws in private-party potency results.

Pearce adds that testing standards lacking state-to-state fluidity and scientific language stunt the evolution of overall testing procedures, while market pressure pushes producers to “shop around” for labs more likely to inflate numbers. With such great variance from lab to lab Pearce adds that, “potency results vary so much, you can’t even rely on them.”

UNTAPPED TERPENE TREASURES

After years of what Pearce accurately calls “lukewarm public attention,” terpenes have failed to gain real traction among the masses as a marker, largely due to a lack of state-mandated testing and, therefore, consumer information. But these compounds offer a vibrant picture of aroma, flavor, effect and overall experience.

Terpene testing has caught on in multiple markets as a way for concentrates, in particular, to set themselves apart. But it’s up to brands to push the trend and labs to inform them of their testing options.

Pearce acknowledges that this has its own obstacles, like the same risk of percentage inflation and the limitations of the tests commonly requested. His proposed solution: relative abundance terpene testing.

A FULL FINGERPRINT

The relative abundance method doesn’t focus on exact percentages of top terpenes, but on whether a terpene is “present at statistically significant levels.” This provides a much deeper look at a profile’s unique “fingerprint.”

In 2024, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission investigated seven of the state’s (then) 11 licensed testing labs for inflating THC results, citing three. One year later, the problem persisted. A 2025 report by the OLCC and the state’s Cannabis Reference Laboratory found that “third-party laboratory results were 13% higher” than CRL’s findings. For consumers, this is bad news. If the only metric the masses rely on is unreliable, then what markers are actually meaningful?

“A 2022 independent study reported on by Cannabis Industry Journal showed that out of 150 products tested, 87% were greater than ‘10% deviant of their labeled values.’ ”

“I think the approach to terpene testing is wrong. We’re often asked to look for the top two or three terpenes, which generally results in the same ten or so common compounds across strains,” Pearce shared. “The more interesting question is: What is the full terpene fingerprint? That’s where you really start to see how two strains with similar THC can have such different effects.” If we can’t count on THC as consumers, a more comprehensive snapshot is necessary. The latest research points to the presence of nearly 120 terpenes in Cannabis. Limiting our understanding of a profile to THC and just two or three terpenes restricts our ability to wield its effects, whether you’re looking at this from a marketability or medical perspective.

GREEN LEAF LAB SACRAMENTO DIRECTOR TAYLOR PEARCE

flavor savor

JUDGING FLOWERS BY THEIR FLAVORS (AND TERPS) AT THE LEAF BOWL

Since we launched the Leaf Bowl competitionsinlate2021,the Leafstaffallagreedthatweneeded tomovebeyondthethreetraditional flowercategoriesofIndica,Sativaand Hybrid.Somuchprogresshadbeen madeinunderstandingthenumerous terpenesandothercompoundsthat giveCannabiscultivarstheirdistinctive aromas and flavors that those old classifications had become outdated for judgingpurposes.Andso,wecreated ourownflowercategories based on flavorprofiles.

BUT SOON AFTER, while judging hydrocarbon concentrates for the Emerald Cup, I learned about the terpene classification system developed by PhytoFacts and SC Labs. And while the categories we came up with were very similar, their categories were based on a detailed analysis of thousands of different strain samples. So last year, with SC Labs’ blessing, we adopted their data-driven classifications as the official flower categories of the Leaf Bowl, with the addition of two of our own nonterpenebased groupings: CBD and Open Category. Ideally, all flower samples should be entered into the flavor category that best fits their terpene profile. That way, our judges can rate each entry against other entries with similar characteristics. For anyone hoping to enter or judge the Leaf Bowl next year and beyond, here is a brief overview of our flower classifications...

SPECIAL THANKS TO PHYTOFACTS AND SC LABS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK IN DEVELOPING THESE PROFILES AND ALLOWING US TO UTILIZE THEM FOR OUR COMPETITION.

Flavor/Aroma: Orange, Tangerine

Typical Cultivars: Tangie, Mimosa, Forbidden Fruit // The most recent addition to their classification system, this category is based less on terpene dominance and more on the prevalence of an orangey-smelling compound dubbed “tropicanna sulfur,” which often overpowers the terpenes.

Flavor/Aroma: Piney, woodsy, fruity

Typical Cultivars: Jack Herer, Trainwreck, various Hazes

// Most associated with what we’ve historically considered “sativas,” these cultivars are dominated mainly by a combination of myrcene, caryophyllene and terpinolene.

// Cultivars with unusual terpene combinations that don’t fit into any of the previously outlined categories, including those with high levels of less-common terps like ocimene, humulene or linalool, among others.

Flavor/Aroma: Spicy, sweet, doughy

Typical Cultivars: Girl Scout Cookies, various Cake and Gelato strains // Cultivars featuring a codominance of caryophyllene and limonene.

Flavor/Aroma:

Sweet, hoppy, herbaceous

Typical Cultivars: Blue Dream, Grandaddy Purp, Cherry AK // These cultivars exhibit high levels of myrcene, accompanied by secondary codominance of pinene and caryophyllene.

Flavor/Aroma: Varied

Typical Cultivars: Charlotte’s Web, Ringo’s Gift, Cannatonic // Strains of any flavor profile that have a significant percentage of CBD.

Flavor/Aroma: Sweet, gassy, peppery

Typical Cultivars: OG Kush, Chemdog, Sour Diesel // Closely related to Desserts, cultivars in this category also feature a codominance of caryophyllene and limonene, but with the addition of a heavy myrcene presence. Many strains in this classification also feature high levels of thiols, the compounds that give Cannabis its fuel-like aroma.

Flavor/Aroma:

Tropical fruit, flowers, herbs

Typical Cultivars: Hawaiian, In the Pines, most Pineapple strains // These cultivars have high levels of ocimene co-dominated by myrcene and/or caryophyllene.

// This is a catch-all category we created for competitors who don’t know which category their entry belongs in or who prefer to have their entry compete in a broader field rather than against similar strains.

Mimosa 1937 Farms

Jack Herer Curio Wellness

Blue Dream Sky High Gardens Flyin’ Hawaiian 1937 Farms

Gelato Cake District Cannabis Sour Diesel Sense Cannabis

Dutch Treat WoodWide

Blue Raspberry Icee Terp Mansion

Cannatonic x Ringo’s Gift Hogwash Pharms

As always, Mother Nature has shown her love for us by spreading terpenes around the plant kingdom, and we happily sip and spread those on our achy joints for natural pain relief.

TANNINS

Seattle is the birthplace of modern coffee culture, thanks to a corporate entity we won’t name or shame, but it doesn’t mean we have to get our caffeine served with ultra-processed syrups and enough sugar for an entire day in one plastic cup. That’s why we looked to GoKo for a new twist on refreshing energy, with a blend of sparkling coconut water, a hit of pineapple and the essential ingredient: caffeine. The terpenes found in pineapple include myrcene, limonene and pinene, which are also present in many Cannabis strains and the citrus-forward MJ Esthetics skINFUZED Orange Grapefruit CBD Salve. As always, Mother Nature has shown her love for us by spreading terpenes around the plant kingdom, and we happily sip and spread those on our achy joints for natural pain relief.

TERPENES

MJ Esthetics is a Washington topical company that’s woman-owned and focused on natural plant medicines that go beyond Cannabis alone. Check out our interview with founder Jessica Mills in our May Northwest Leaf at leafmagazines.com. Mills makes her topicals with all-natural ingredients, focusing on synergistic properties between the natural plant world and the healing power of CBD. With salves, liniments and even lip balm, you can literally cover yourself in healing terpenes with the skINFUZED by MJ Esthetics lineup.

PAIRING

Nothing brings refreshment like a cold drink and a rubdown with infused topicals. We cracked the GoKo and reveled in the light, bubbly taste of coconut water with a delightful kick of pineapple that added the perfect amount of sweetness to this fizzy pick-me-up. With 95 milligrams of caffeine, this hits like a cup of coffee but adds hydration with electrolytes at only 80 calories. Rubbing salve and spraying liniment from the skINFUZED line brightens the senses and releases tension as the CBD and natural plant medicines — including willow bark, dandelion and witch hazel — combine forces with hemp-derived cannabinoids to crush pain and inflammation like an empty drink can. We love the citrus salve that rubs easily onto sore spots and gets the body floating. With the skin high and the body hydrated, the only thing missing is a favorite flower or dab to kick the next adventure into go mode.

POTENCY SKINFUZED

1,000MG CBD SALVE, 1,00MG CBD LINIMENT

AVAILABLE FROM (STOREFRONT) SKINFUZED

30331 US-2 #4 SULTAN, WA (FARMERS MARKETS) BELLINGHAM, SNOHOMISH, SULTAN, SEATTLE WATERFRONT MARKETPLACE

TANNINS

Nothing sells the Pacific Northwest like clean air and water, which grow the best weed and help distill the highest quality spirits. The Cascadian Vodka by Oregon Spirit Distillers uses the freshest mountain water to deliver a 100% wheat vodka that’s smooth, gently sweet and ready to add a smooth buzz to any drink recipe. Support local distilling and taste the freshness of the mountains with each sip or shot.

TERPENES

Evergreen Herbal is the true OG when it comes to Cannabis edibles and drinks. They’ve been in the game since 2012, and their current menu is full of delicious gummies, chocolates and drinkables, including the newest Blaze Soda lineup. The Strawberry Lemonade is sweet, syrupy and fizzy, with perfect lemon and strawberry flavors teasing the senses. If tropical is more your flavor, relax with a POG, which is bursting with passion fruit, orange and guava that hits the palate with a fresh-squeezed buzz that’s so natural, it’s easy to forget that there’s 100 milligrams of THC floating inside these crushable cans. Effects hit hard and melt the mind and body into a puddle, continuing the legacy of excellent edible highs from Evergreen Herbal.

PAIRING

Vodka and juice are always a winning drink combination, so we went all in on the new Blaze drinks to sip a simple cocktail that’s ready for happy hour. The POG leads with a bright hit to the senses of citrus and guava, with a mellow passion fruit finish that lends itself to a cocktail perfectly, as it tempers the gas of the spirits. We poured a full can with a shot or two of vodka, and then we added some more sweetness with a spritzer of the Strawberry Lemonade for a fruity punch drink that smacked our senses. Easily mixable separately, add fruit or a garnish with ice to either for a fun buzz that will lift your spirits and plant your body in a chair like a tree to its roots.

We poured a full can with a shot or two of vodka, and then we added some more sweetness with a spritzer of the Strawberry Lemonade for a fruity punch drink that smacked our senses.

Sipping this beverage while rubbing on Solace rewards the palate with refreshment, as the cooling topical layers and wafts notes of wintergreen, cooling mint and eucalyptus.

TANNINS

Sometimes, we feel like dying, especially after a long hike with a supersized a la carte order of bug bites and sunburn. When the body hits the point of no return, it’s time for Liquid Death, and Doctor Death is the closest thing to a Dr Pepper that can legally be made, but it’s water. Much like a Cannabis success story, this canned water company has gone from a Warped Tour idea to a billion-dollar brand. Liquid Death has branched out from simple waters into fizzy and flavored soda replacements that are ready to refresh without a glut of sugar and calories.

TERPENES

Cannabis topicals are powerful medicine for healing and recovery, which is essential after pushing the body to its limits. Green Revolution’s Solace Comforting Body Cream is loaded with 1,000 milligrams of CBD, 200mg of CBN and 30mg of THC. The CBD and CBN work wonders topically, penetrating through the skin, the body’s largest organ, to deliver relief to sore muscles and drive away inflammation. When it comes to recovery — for burns, scars or pain — we’ve found topicals to be an essential part of the healing process.

PAIRING

Getting back to the parking lot after a hike or day at the beach is both a reward and a sad experience, as the weight of the day hits hard. Shake it off with Doctor Death and a lathering of Solace. Sipping this beverage while rubbing on Solace rewards the palate with refreshment, as the cooling topical layers and wafts notes of wintergreen, cooling mint and eucalyptus. Spreading on sore knees and muscles feels like a treat for the body, and the quality topical has a light texture that absorbs quickly, with aloe vera, shea butter and oils (including hemp seed) aiding in the absorption. Within 20 minutes, we felt tension release and muscles relax, and with a sip of Doctor Death, we felt ready to keep on trucking and defeat pain and inflammation with Cannabis medicine.

TANNINS

First distilled in 1953, this Maker’s Mark 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky was aged five years before the first bottles were released with the distinctive hand-dipped red wax neck, maintaining this high standard into the modern era. Aged in American oak barrels and distilled with a soft red winter wheat, this whisky is known for a sweet flavor with notes of vanilla, oak and fruit that remind us of cool fall nights after hot end-of-summer days. Known for the distinctive mark of the red wax and the passion that goes into aging fine whisky, we felt it deserved a pairing with a strain grown by breeders with a similar passion for cultivating and curing topshelf Cannabis.

TERPENES

1937 Farms grows craft-scale, award-winning Cannabis, with the pinnacle of its lineup being the Breeders Batch, including this unique cross of Chimera 4 x Dip N Stix to create the Autumn Sunset 57. Inside the glass, the nugs shine with huge visible trichomes that cover every bit of surface area, teasing and sparkling from buds that have a fall-themed color palette of light green, purple tips and orange hairs. Opening the jar releases a rush of warm citrus and sugary notes of earth, wood and pine with a maple-spiced, mineral finish that’s complex and delicious.

PAIRING

A true sip and savor pairing, we prefer the whisky neat with ice, which brings out the earthy and sweet notes with a sip that smacks the palate and warms the body from the tummy to the chest. Nothing cuts the fuel-like flavor of premium whisky like a hit of smoke, and the Autumn Sunset 57 is ready to end the night on a high note. The perfectly frosted nugs break up easily, with pillowy soft bud that burns exceptionally smooth, releasing a rich and earthy rush of warming smoke that cuts the sharpness of the whisky with a creamy, smooth and spiced exhale. The effects rush to the frontal lobes, slowing time and centering the mind and body in the moment, staying smooth until the last hit of summer escapes into a chilled harvest night. @MAKERSMARK @1937FARMS

Nothing cuts the fuel-like flavor of premium whisky like a hit of smoke, and the Autumn Sunset 57 is ready to end the night on a high note.

TANNINS

Whether you call it soda or pop, the fizzy and sugary concoction has had a huge impact on culture and flavor. A cult classic today, Frostie Soda started brewing in 1939 in an old Maryland jailhouse. Using the jail cells to store equipment, the company started with just root beer and later added offerings like Blue Cream Soda, Cherry Limeade and our special pairing flavor, Strawberry Watermelon. Made the old-school way, served in a cold bottle, this soda delivers nostalgia and flavor in each big sip.

TERPENES

Washing Tons is a craft processor that focuses on high-end rosin, and their hard work shines with Strawberry Pie, a cold-cured live hash rosin that’s stunningly beautiful with a light golden color and a terpy, slightly oily consistency. The first notes are bright and full of ripe strawberries that dance with a fizzy, gassy and grassy brightness tempered by a deeper cherry-banana-pie finish that sets our mouths to watering. The first hits are bright and gassy with a fruity-berry zing that ignites the mind with a creative euphoric buzz.

PAIRING

@WASHINGTONS_502 FROSTIE-SODA.COM LINEAGE STRAWBERRY BANANA X CHERRY PIE

Embrace the California sober lifestyle by ditching booze and going all in on weed with this heady hash and soda pairing. Both soda and rosin deliver a childlike wonder when a classic flavor hits the palate and a sugary THC rush hits the mind, which we chose to replicate with the best of both worlds. The first sips of strawberry and watermelon goodness coat the palate in a syrupy, fizzy soda that’s hard not to chug, but with an e-rig belching clouds, we sipped back and forth in revelrous delight. The Strawberry Pie slows time as a sense of wonder and happiness hits with each puff, transporting the mind to a simpler time when soda, sun and fun were the primary goals for a fall day.

The first notes are bright and full of ripe strawberries that dance with a fizzy, gassy and grassy brightness tempered by a deeper cherrybanana-pie finish.

Dive into the vibrant taste of Peach Ringz with SLUSH.

TANNINS

Slow down time for your next happy hour with the light and bubbly Time Warp Pet Nat that’s fizzing with notes of raspberry, berries, grapefruit and white peach. A pét-nat, aka a pétillant naturel, is a sparkling wine that is bottled before fermentation is complete. With less fermentation than a Champagne, which gets two hits of fermentation, a pét-nat finishes in the bottle and is ready for brunches with a lighter alcohol level.

TERPENES

Ooowee is a brand that kills the flavored vaporizer game and is also the sound we make when a new pen and 510 cartridge combo gets dropped off at Leaf headquarters. Their new design features a sleek, branded battery with an updated cart design that has the logo cloud and name embossed on the tip. It has a big window to see the golden oil and the strain name listed on the cartridge, which makes remembering much easier when super baked.

The Super Raspberry Boof unleashes a wave of warming citrus raspberries with a creamy, gassy finish that’s refreshing and uplifting.

PAIRING

Lightly sweet and easy to drink, we love the sip and savor opportunities with a beverage in one hand and a custom vape pen battery in the other. The Super Raspberry Boof unleashes a wave of warming citrus raspberries with a creamy, gassy finish that’s refreshing and uplifting. Washed down by a bubbly sip of the pét-nat, we switched hands and puffed the Washington Peach, which tastes like a fuzzy, fizzy weed version of a mimosa, with bright, smooth terps smacking the palate and frontal lobes with a heady, happy buzz. Together, the fruity flavors combine for a happy hour buzz that’s freshly picked and baked for our pleasure.

BEYOND THE BUD

GROWING TANNINAND TERPENE-RICH PLANTS FOR THE BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT

Long before pharmaceutical laboratories and prescriptions, the Native American medicine chest was the home garden, and the pharmacy was nature. In Ayurveda, the ancient system of wellness born in India over 5,000 years ago, plants are more than just food or fragrance. They are sacred allies, each carrying a unique vibrational signature and a spectrum of botanical compounds that nurture the mind, body and soul.

TWO OF THESE botanical treasures, tannins and terpenes, are often celebrated in fine wines, craft beers and Cannabis. However, they aren’t just found in bottles and buds; these potent plant gifts are alive and thriving in the lush green world surrounding us.

Tannins are plant polyphenols: potent antioxidants with a knack for detoxifying, reducing inflammation and toning tissues. They protect against cellular damage and help the body release what no longer serves it. Terpenes are found in the essential oils of plants. These are the compounds that

give herbs, flowers and trees their distinct scents and colors, as well as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and mood-elevating powers.

Cannabis is a rich source of beneficial terpenes and tannins. For example, terpenes like myrcene (found in Blue Dream) ease stress and relax muscles, while limonene (abundant in Super Lemon Haze) uplifts mood and boosts immunity. Cannabis tannin content contributes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, especially in sun-grown, full-spectrum flower.

CULTIVATING AROMATIC HERBAL WISDOM

Want to cultivate an elevated medicine chest? Here are four plants that are guaranteed to overflow with beneficial tannins and terpenes.

HOLY BASIL (TULSI)

In Ayurveda, Tulsi is called the “incomparable one,” and for good reason. This fragrant green goddess is a terpene powerhouse, exuding eugenol and other aromatic oils that soothe anxiety, balance the breath and ignite spiritual clarity. Her tannins bring immune-boosting and detoxifying strength, making Tulsi a daily tonic for both body and spirit. In tribal traditions, Tulsi’s leaves are often brewed into teas for purification rituals. Plant her in a sunny spot, and she’ll fill your garden with sacred vitality.

ROSEMARY

Rosemary is a garden guardian and mental clarity muse. terpenes like rosmarinic acid and cineole give this plant focus-enhancing and antimicrobial gifts, while its tannins lend astringent and anti-inflammatory magic. Indigenous herbalists have turned to rosemary to awaken memory, stimulate circulation and protect against illness. A simple sprig in your tea or tucked into your hair during meditation can invite focus, courage and clarity into your day. Additionally, drinking a cup of rosemary tea twice a day helps prevent parasites.

When we welcome these plants into our home grow, we are weaving ourselves back into an indigenous relationship between humans and the plant spirit world, a relationship of care with these plant teachers who, in return, care for us. As a true OG full circle wellness advocate, I encourage all OGs to welcome this Native wisdom into your garden. Bond with them, grow with them and harvest their gifts with gratitude.

SAGE

Known to Native American tribes as a sacred ancestral teacher, sage has been burned in ceremonies for purification and spiritual clearing for centuries. Beyond the smoke, her leaves are rich in terpenes like thujone and camphor, which support respiratory health and soothe inflammation. Her tannins act as natural antiseptics, helping the body’s tissues heal and tighten. In Ayurvedic wisdom, sage tea is used for digestion and cooling excess heat in the body. Keep her near the entrances and exits to bless the energy of your home.

POMEGRANATE

The pomegranate tree is a tannin-rich beauty that bridges sweet fruit with deep medicinal potency. Its bark and rind hold concentrated tannins that cleanse the gut, strengthen the heart and act as natural antimicrobials. Terpenes in the flower and leaves stimulate anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing benefits. In Indigenous traditions, the pomegranate is a plant of fertility, abundance and longevity. This plant is worthy of a sunny corner in any sacred garden.

AMORP SYMPHONY

HOUS

Kensington, Pennsylvania, a place that has become a Philadelphia art haven, is where this artist’s journey began. It was a typical hot, humid summer, but this particular evening would include a small thunderstorm while another large spark was happening below. It was July 26, 2017, and Amorphous Symphony was born into the world of glass art. A few of Brandon Spencer’s friends saw his interest piquing, and they decided to enable him to follow his inspiration by renting him space at their glass studio. Since that point in the timeline, Brandon’s switch has always been in the “on” position.

At the 2025 Mini Masters Champs Glass Games in Las Vegas, Brandon took home first place in the Expanding Consciousness category for his “Shivasaurus.”

COMMONLY KNOWN for his love of dinosaurs, paleontology themes shine through in his creations. This subject matter requires an amazing amount of dexterity in regards to sculptural skills, which he shows prominently in each piece. After being exposed to a variety of his Amorphous Symphony works over the years, I would point out that his colorways definitely set him apart, as well as his attention to detail with his connections and shaping.

ANOTHER THING BRANDON travel. He’s not constantly on the road, but when he is, you can guarantee he’s making solid connections with people and enjoying all the culture he can find. Speaking of traveling, Brandon recently won first place at the 2025 Mini Masters Champs Glass Games in Las Vegas for his sculpture, “Shivasaurus,” in the Expanding Consciousness category. Artists were limited to a 4-by-4-inch box of prep material and only six hours to complete the project.

I CAN’T

Massachusetts, Rip Tide in Belfast, Maine, and Beaufort Glass Art Gallery in Beaufort, South Carolina. A U.K. Dino drop and a few more openings will be posted on his social media, so stay tuned.

Amorphous Symphony continues to push the boundaries of borosilicate art.

a few years ago, and his kind demeanor and obvious dedication to the craft set him apart from a lot of the artists that were coming on the scene at that time. I would see this kid call it a night when the party was just getting started. He knew he needed to be well-rested to perform his best every day. Now, to be clear, there have been nights when I’ve watched the sunrise on a New Jersey shore with him and an amazing group of people.

But most nights, he’s focusing on his art and what goes into it, whether it’s learning new techniques or collaborating with some of the world’s most renowned artists.

Amorphous Symphony continues to push the boundaries of borosilicate art.

When Brandon isn’t on the torch, you’ll find him hanging out with his girlfriend and dogs, watching anime or playing video games.

Four artists at the top of their game showcase the wonder of functional vessels.

A CUP ABOVE

@FRITGLASS GLASS

PORTLAND, OR

Anthony Charles hails from Long Island, New York, but he’s made Portland, Oregon, his home over the last 10 years. For years, he was predominantly a marble artist, and then for many more years, he was mostly a pipe maker. During a slow period around 2019, Anthony started making cups. He was doing some gig work to make extra money, and he would come into the shop and make a whole cup in a couple of hours versus making a rig that took two days. When the cups started doing well at auction, he was able to go back to just doing glasswork full time. When COVID-19 hit, he thought it would slow down, but it was the exact opposite. Demand for craft beer glasses exploded during lockdown, and sales of Anthony’s one-of-a-kind drinking glasses

He would come into the shop and make a whole cup in a couple of hours versus making a rig that took two days.

Although Ben Burtoni is mostly known for his intricate marbles and sculptural designs with a tropical avian influence, he also likes to make very unique drinking vessels. One of them features a complex wigwag pattern with highlights from a satin turquoise color known as “neptunium.” In another example, we have that same color, but it has been ghosted (a technique that allows the artist to control the density of a particular color) for more transparency and paired with an epic hand-drawn cloud scene. And finally, we have what I call a perfect breakfast set: two handled glasses and one larger tumbler. You never know what Ben will come up with next, so don’t miss out on the constant evolution on his Instagram page.

One of them features a complex wigwag pattern with highlights from a satin turquoise color known as

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

@BURTONIGLASS

@WHITNEYHARMONGLASS

WHITNEY HARMON GLASS

BELLINGHAM, WA

Whitney Harmon’s talents spread far and wide, and you can enjoy a few of his cup designs here. Each piece is completed with a lot of focus on cold work. You’ll notice beveled edges and lapped bases among other small details. These are celebration pieces, but they are sturdy enough for daily use. The unique layering utilized with his millefiori and some luster makes this masterpiece really pop. His utilization of reticello patterns for border and center pieces makes for a clean look. And how about those platinum bands? They are actually painted by hand on the piece, adding another spectacular dimension to the colorways and shaping of these works of art.

@MOTHERSHIPGLASS MOTHERSHIP GLASS

BELLINGHAM, WA

These are celebration pieces, but they are sturdy enough for daily use.

To say Mothership Glass never disappoints is certainly not an exaggeration in this case. The level of intricacy in the patterns on both of these sake sets is stunning. With a tokkuri and matching cups from the “Temple” and “Dragon’s Gate” series, these sets command a presence anywhere they go. Along with clean lines, perfect shaping and insane graphic details is the perfection in wall thickness and finishing touches that Mothership is known for. If you are looking for a gift for the sake lover in your life, you may have found it.

With a tokkuri and matching cups from the “Temple” and “Dragon’s Gate” series, these sets command a presence anywhere they go.

“Dragon’s Gate,” left, and “Temple” Sake Set, right.

On July 27, the Cannabis community lost one of its most consequential activists: Richard Lee, the paraplegic medical marijuana user turned entrepreneur who came to be known as the “Mayor of Oaksterdam.” This month, we look back at Lee’s life and his role in transforming Oakland into one of the nation’s Cannabis reform capitals.

The Mayor of Oaksterdam

THE ACCIDENTAL ACTIVIST

Raised in a conservative Republican household in Houston, Texas, Richard Lee was an adrenaline junkie from a young age — developing passions for riding motorcycles, diving, flying gliders and live music.

In 1984, he dropped out of college and spent the rest of the decade as a roadie, eventually landing a gig as a lighting tech for Aerosmith on their 1990 Pump Tour. One day, while working at New Jersey’s Meadowlands, he slipped and fell from a catwalk. Tragically, the accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, condemning him to life in a wheelchair at the age of 27.

In addition, Lee also suffered from chronic nerve pain and muscle spasms, and soon realized that Cannabis was the best treatment. But it would take another unfortunate incident a year later to turn Lee into an activist.

“In 1991, I was the victim of a carjacking, and the police response time was 45 minutes, which angered me more than the actual carjacking. I blamed the lack of police protection on Cannabis prohibition,” he told High Times in 2009. “I felt like,

here was this wonderful medicine of Cannabis that had helped me so much, and why were the cops going after people using and selling it instead of the psychos and sociopaths who are out there robbing people?” Lee later told SF Gate. “I thought I should do something about it.”

GOING TO CALIFORNIA

In 1992, Lee opened one of the nation’s first hemp shops in Houston, Legal Marijuana - The Hemp Store, and began publishing a pro-pot newsletter. It was while handing out these newsletters at a smoke-in on the steps of the Colorado state Capitol in Denver in 1993 that he met a young activist from South Dakota named Jeff Jones, who was inspired by the information in the pamphlet.

The following year, Jones moved to Oakland, met activism icons like Debbie Goldsberry, Ed Rosenthal and Dennis Peron, and dove headfirst into the movement. In mid-1995, he started a Cannabis delivery service, and within a year, it had blossomed into one of the nation’s first dispensaries, the Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Cooperative. The club was so popular that, in July 1996, the city of Oakland

officially endorsed it four months before Prop 215 was even passed.

After visiting Jones in Oakland in 1996, Lee offered to provide the dispensary with Cannabis at a discounted rate. Upon returning to Texas, Lee began mailing pounds of weed to OCBC, which alarmed Jones.

“I’m like, oh my God — I can’t do business like this!” Jones recalls. “So I got him on the phone and convinced him to move to Oakland.”

Lee relocated to Oakland in 1997, co-founded the Hemp Research Company, set up an indoor grow and began supplying the shop with high-quality, low-cost Cannabis.

U.S. V. OCBC

Under Prop 215, OCBC was thriving, servicing upward of 2,000 patients. Unfortunately, the feds would soon step in to reassert their authority.

On January 9, 1998, the U.S. government sued the OCBC in an attempt to shut it down. The district judge issued an injunction prohibiting them from operating until the case was

Lee’s hemp shop in Houston.

MIKKI NORRIS

resolved. When their appeal was denied, Jones defied the injunction and continued to distribute medicine. As a result, he was held in contempt, and on October 19, federal marshals shut down the OCBC for good. Jones instead opened the Patient ID Center to help Cannabis patients.

Meanwhile, Jones continued appealing his case all the way to the Supreme Court, hoping to force federal recognition of medical Cannabis … but on May 14, 2001, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected Jones’ medical necessity defense.

BRINGING AMSTERDAM TO OAKLAND

Nevertheless, Oakland’s other activists remained undeterred. After its closing, OCBC’s CFO Jim McClelland opened a speakeasy-style dispensary called the Zoo. And in 1999, Lee opened his own dispensary, the Bulldog Coffeeshop, modeled after Amsterdam’s classic Cannabis cafe.

In 2003, he opened a second coffee shop called SR-71, which was renamed Coffeeshop Blue Sky four years later. Lee’s goal in opening these Cannabis cafes was to “bring Amsterdam to Oakland,” as he later explained in a 2010 NPR interview: “Amsterdam is our model city. When I go there, I see tourists and jobs and taxes being created from the Cannabis industry, and I think we can do that here.”

So naturally, it was only a matter of time before McClelland thought up the brilliant pot-manteau “Oaksterdam.”

In 2005, Lee opened the Oaksterdam Gift Shop and partnered with activist couple Chris Conrad and Mikki Norris to publish the Oaksterdam News, a quarterly newspaper covering all things California and Cannabis-related. But it was while attending the 19th Cannabis Cup (to receive High Times’ Freedom Fighter of the Year award) that Lee got the inspiration for his most impactful endeavor: Oaksterdam University.

SCHOOL OF POT

“Oaksterdam University started after I went to Amsterdam in 2006 and saw the Cannabis College, a kind of small information center,” Lee once explained. “I thought it would be a good idea to take it to the next level by actually offering classes.”

And so, Lee and his team wrote up a curriculum and launched Oaksterdam University. The first classes, attended by 22 students, were held on November 10th, 2007, in a small room across the street from his gift shop.

Three months later, Jones began hosting classes at his Patient ID Center (Oaksterdam’s LA campus). It was here that Dale Sky Clare entered the picture. In the summer of 2007, Clare was working with a medical marijuana doctor in Orange County when she contacted California NORML director Dale Gieringer for some information. Gieringer referred her to Jones, who not only won her over to the cause but also won her heart. Within a year, she was dating Jones and working full time at OULA.

By 2010, the university had expanded into a 30,000square-foot space that included multiple classrooms, an auditorium, a theater, a horticulture lab, a nursery and even a museum, as well as auxiliary campuses in Sebastopol and Flint, Michigan. That July, Clare became Mrs. Jones.

Despite heavy opposition, Lee spent $1.3 million of his own money (his life savings) to get his initiative, Prop 19, to the finish line.

MARIJUANA MEASURES

The media attention surrounding the university drew tourism and revenue to Oakland. Lee used the profits generated by his businesses and the goodwill he’d garnered among local officials to advance a series of local legalization initiatives.

In 2003, he formed the Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance and put forward Measure Z, a city ballot question that made sales, cultivation and possession of Cannabis the lowest priority for law enforcement. The measure passed in 2004 with 65% of the vote. Next came Measure F, another citywide initiative seeking to impose a 1.8% tax on Cannabis businesses. In July 2009, the measure passed with 80% of the vote, making Oakland the first city in America to tax Cannabis sales.

With two electoral victories now under their belts, Lee and his crew were emboldened to swing for the fences: full statewide legalization and taxation of Cannabis.

PROPOSITION 19

In 2009, Lee, Jones and others drafted a four-page voter initiative entitled the “Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010,” and began the laborious task of gathering the 434,000 signatures needed to get it onto the ballot for the November 2010 election.

Among its provisions, the measure would repeal all previous local and state Cannabis laws and expunge all convictions under those laws. It would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of Cannabis and cultivate a personal garden up to 25 square feet.

Despite heavy opposition (including from some within the movement), Lee spent $1.3 million of his own money (his life savings) to get his initiative to the finish line, collecting almost twice the number of signatures needed in less than half of the time allotted. Polling at 56%, Proposition 19 (coincidentally, the same number as another legalization initiative in 1972) was on track to pass.

Unfortunately, a pair of October surprises ultimately caused Prop 19 to fall short. What’s worse, their near victory once again drew unwanted attention from the feds.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On April 2, 2012, agents from the IRS, DEA, ATF and U.S. Marshals Service raided Oaksterdam University, as well as Lee’s home and other businesses. Hundreds of outraged locals protested outside as officials looted Lee’s establishments, shutting down streets, brazenly blazing, booing and cursing at the police and chanting “Shame!” and “DEA, go away.” Ultimately, authorities confiscated around 60,000 plants, as well as all of their computers, files and bank accounts.

Lee was detained, but was not arrested and never charged. Nevertheless, the raid forced Lee to reevaluate his situation. Facing a mountain of debt and likely future “criminal enterprise” charges, he decided it was best to retire early. And so, Lee divested from his businesses and entrusted them to the longest-standing employee in each company, which, in the case of Oaksterdam University, was Chancellor Dale Sky Jones, who became president and CEO.

KEEPING THE FAITH

With the loss of most of their assets, faculty and students, Sky Jones would have to start from scratch — relocating to a smaller space and rebuilding the staff and curriculum to keep the school afloat. Under her stewardship, the university rose from the ashes to become more successful than ever. Today, the school is mostly online, offering dozens of courses and boasting over 100,000 alumni from 116 countries.

As for Lee, he continued to inspire Cannabis justice nationwide. In 2018, he moved back to Houston to care for his mother, with whom he founded Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition (RAMP).

Richard Lee died in a Houston hospital on Sunday, July 27, from cancer-related complications. He was 62 years old. The announcement of his death elicited memorial messages of admiration from all across the Cannabis community.

“There are few people who have single-handedly advanced our cause as much as Richard Lee,” Paul Armentano, NORML’s deputy director and Oaksterdam University’s science chair, memorialized. “His contributions and his legacy will not be forgotten.”

To read the unabridged version of this story and hear Bobby’s interview with Jeff and Dale Sky Jones, visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.

MIKKI NORRIS

Lee campaigning for Prop 19.

Celebrating Measure Z’s passage at Lee’s Bulldog Coffeeshop.

Protesters outside Oaksterdam Univerity confront authorities conducting the raid.

Lee with Dale Sky Jones at OU.

CHRIS CONRAD

OAKSTERDAM.COM

COURTESY OF MIKKI NORRIS

HOW CANNABIS INSPIRES ART

TREVYMETAL

Known for his intricate glass engravings, vibrant illustrations and creative vinyl figures, Philadelphia-based artist Trevy Metal (Trevor Johns) has a playful, recognizable style that has helped design products for brands like Chinatown Market, Dab Rite and Diamond Supply Co.

HE’S COLLABORATED with just about every big-name glass artist out there, and his collection of art and merchandise has been the focus of gallery shows nationwide. Raised in tattoo shops where his dad was working, Trevy Metal says he’s been largely inspired by things that were in the background during his childhood. This meant a diet of Heavy Metal magazines, Ralph Bakshi cartoons and the world of illustrators like Peter Max and Mark Bode.

Looking at Metal’s work, it’s easy to see his connection to comic books, Jim Henson monsters, pop culture from the last 50 years and Japanese animation. “My dad loved ‘Astro Boy’ and ‘Speed Racer,’” he said. These are the types of things, he says, that stay with him in his studio today.

“Right now, obviously, you’ll hear a lot of Sabbath and Ozzy on repeat while my TV plays all the ‘Aliens’ movies, but I’ve also been hard into ‘Plastic Beach’ by the Gorillaz.”

As an artist, he says Cannabis helps him “dig into the deeper themes” in his head. “I think even during my early experimentations with Cannabis, I noticed these dreamy states that let me zone out and uncover themes and concepts in a way that a typical daydream or free drawing session doesn’t fully do,” he told the Leaf. He described how it’s not just the state of being high that allows him to connect with his past for ideas, but that it also helps him feel calm enough later to sit and sift through that intense flow of images to consciously decide which idea to pursue. “The afterglow of getting high is when I get most inspired,” he said.

Metal says his art is also born out of everyday occurrences in life.

“I live in a big city on purpose. There’s something new around almost every corner, and you never know what might trigger a memory or idea,” he said.

“I can literally get inspired by a pile of trash on the ground if the trash is the right color or texture.”