Aug. 2024 - Oregon Leaf

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#122 | AUG. 2024

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CRAWN CO.

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PSYCHEDELICS 101

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G R O W T O UR

Pondering The Orb 50

LE AF GUID E

"The Mind Behind the Carnival"

by John Bridges

SHANE MAUSS PSYCHEDELIC COMEDIAN

AUG. 2024

SPHERE THE ART AND FLOATING OF LSD 40 IN LAS VEGAS 46 LIVES ON FEATURE

BLOTTER A R T

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ELLIE PAISLEY @ELLIE.PAISLEY

GLASS ART S P O T L I G H T O N M A R B L E S

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the PSYCHEDELIA issue

#122

[

AUG. 2024

issue

EDITOR’S NOTE NATIONAL NEWS SHOP REVIEW CRAWN CO. SPORES GALORE EDIBLE OF THE MONTH COOKING WITH CANNABIS STRAIN OF THE MONTH PSYCHEDELICS 101 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES DIRECTORY COMEDIAN SHANE MAUSS SPHERE AND FLOATING IN LAS VEGAS PONDERING THE ORB THE ART OF LSD LIVES ON CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

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

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

N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / A L AS KA L E A F / M A RY L A N D L E A F / CA L I F O R N I A L E A F / N O RT H E AS T L E A F / U TA H L E A F

A B O U T T H E C OV E R

For our fifth consecutive year, we’re pushing the boundaries of societal norms by venturing into the kaleidoscope through plant medicine.

This time, Denver, Colorado artist Randal Roberts blesses us with a different bend on "The Simpsons" animated show with a work that has become one of the most popular blotter art pieces of all time. “My work is the intersection of art and spirituality,” says the famed psychedelia artist.

“And through blotter art, I’ve joined the ranks of the renegades.”

ILLUSTRATION BY RANDAL ROBERTS @RANDALROBERTSART

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com

WES ABNEY, NATIONAL NEWS ADHDDEAD. FEATURES + PHOTOS

MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R ricker@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN, DESIGN + PHOTOS BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

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TOM BOWERS, FEATURES RYAN HERRON, FEATURES

DANIEL BERMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R daniel@leafmagazines.com

REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

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ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Psychedelia Issue of the Leaf!

While I might tell stories of trips past or pontificate on how psychedelics will be legalized, I am instead using this space to urge for peace during a time of immense need for our community and country.

11

Last month, the world witnessed an attempted assassination of former President Trump. These are unprecedented times, with nuclear powers on the brink of major conflict, and it has never been easier to hate, to block and to “other” people or groups with different views. Social media has amplified this division, along with the dangerous rhetoric of division spewed by media and politicians on both sides desperately clinging to power.

As the road to destruction continues, I must share a sobering warning: Without change, love, and acceptance of others, we will remember this moment as a harbinger of what is to come, rather than the penultimate chance for truth and change before this chapter in history is fully written.

In these times, I reflect on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who, despite the hatred, racism and evil so present at the peak of the civil rights movement, chose to see the battle for America’s future through a clear and powerful lens. “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

I am here to proclaim that it’s hard to hate with a joint in hand or with THC feeding our endocannabinoid systems. It’s even harder to see another human as other, less than, or evil for simply praying, loving, or voting in a way you disagree with — that is, once you have experienced an ego death during a trip.

“THERE IS NO ROOM FOR HATE IN A HEART AND MIND THAT’S OPENED BY PSYCHEDELICS AND KEPT ON THE POSITIVE VIBRATION OF CANNABIS.”

There is no room for hate in a heart and mind that’s opened by psychedelics and kept on the positive vibration of Cannabis. This is the healing of the nations, the light against darkness, that reemerges at a time of incredible need for our people and our planet.

America is the greatest country in the world, the country that fought a civil war for freedom and equality for all, and today secures world peace and prosperity through our own example of this vision of democracy. What greater opportunity could exist then, to share entheogenic and psychedelic plants and medicines, and heal our people for the benefit of the world?

“When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.”

Whether you believe in God as our creator, and these plants and medicines as His gift to humanity as I do, or seek to find your own creator and inner peace, psychedelics offer a pathway that should not simply be walked. We must proselytize our truth for the world to see!

That’s how healing truth will spread, like a spore in the wind, as a little light shining all the brighter for the surrounding darkness.

@NWLEAF

ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

FREE ONLINE ARCHIVE

-Wes Abney

AUG. 2024

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We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in an upcoming issue of Oregon Leaf. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com.

WES

by the numbers

leafmagazines.com

ith Joe Biden out of the campaign for president and Kamala Harris the presumptive Democratic candidate for 2024 at the time of printing, her past prosecutions of Cannabis users are receiving fresh scrutiny in news and social media.

USA Today reported that within hours of Biden’s dropout statement on X, internet searches surged on Harris, including her positions on Cannabis legalization.

As the District Attorney of San Francisco, she oversaw over 1,900 convictions for Cannabis crimes and later laughed in a recorded interview when asked about whether she had smoked "...voters and Cannabis during that period. lawmakers Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi alike are Gabbard referenced this in the wondering 2020 presidential debates, and her questioning of Harris’ how her shift record preceded Gabbard’s on Cannabis departure from the race. might play out Harris has also been if she wins the dragged by mainstream presidency." media for keeping nonviolent California prisoners incarcerated beyond their scheduled release dates, which contradicts a 2011 Supreme Court ruling requiring the state to reduce its prison population. A 2014 memo from her office as attorney general “claimed that nonviolent offenders needed to stay incarcerated, lest they lose bodies for fire camps [prison labor] in the wildfire-plagued state.”

She also famously fought to keep an innocent prisoner on death row with the California Innocence Project, sharing her statement that “even if Danny [Larsen] was innocent, his conviction should not be reversed because he waited too long to file his petition.”

While hardly a progressive prosecutor, voters and lawmakers alike are wondering how her shift on Cannabis might play out if she wins the presidency.

The Biden-Harris administration has taken the largely symbolic gesture of pardoning federal Cannabis convictions, issuing 211 pardons to date. The administration has also overseen the proposal for rescheduling Cannabis to Schedule 3, a move that many in the Cannabis industry are uncertain of.

She has gone on the record, saying, “Marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd, not to mention patently unfair,” as reported by USA Today.

The question of whether she’ll live up to a tweet, stating, “Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed,” will be largely up to the voters first this fall.

AUG. 2024

25%

The estimated percentage of Cannabis sales in Illinois that come from out-of-state visitors, according to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), in a speech addressing the International Cannabis Bar Association in July.

$

1.2b

The projected value of the Cannabis market in Thailand by 2025, according to Reuters, which notes that the country must still finalize its 2022 laws regulating and decriminalizing Cannabis for recreational use.

27%

The percentage of Cannabis businesses that say they are operating profitably, according to a survey by Whitney Economics in a report for the Minority Cannabis Business Association.

64%

The percentage of support in Florida in favor of a state marijuana legalization ballot initiative in the upcoming election.

47,000 The number of non-citizens that federal officials deported for violating marijuana possession laws between 2002 and 2021, according to a report from the Drug Policy Alliance and Human Rights Watch, reports NORML.org.

DESANTIS REMAINS DEFIANT ON CANNABIS LEGALIZATION

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overnor Ron DeSantis, famous for touting deregulation and freedom in Florida, is scared that “the state will start to smell like marijuana” if the drug is legalized in the upcoming election.

Long accused of blowing hot air, it’s apparent that DeSantis is not interested in switching to bong hits, based on his recent statements at a "He went on a Florida Sheriffs Association conference where righteous rant he doubled down on anti-pot rhetoric. He went full of stoner on a righteous rant full of stoner disinformation, disinformation, asserting that Cannabis legalization “is not going asserting to be good for quality of life,” and that “most that Cannabis people [in Colorado] regret that [legalization] legalization happened.” Polling shows that two-thirds of the Rocky Mountain High region participants believe “is not going to be good for legalization was good for the state. quality of life,” The misinformation about pot wasn’t limited to the governor, as Smart & Safe Florida responded with some mistruths of their own. They’re behind the measure to legalize, stating that Cannabis is already in Florida, “but in a dangerous form often laced with unwanted, harmful chemicals.” This isn’t necessarily true, but statistics and history do support the assertion that legalizing weed leads to safer products and fewer arrests.

While DeSantis might be scared of “a limitless constitutional right to possess and smoke” weed, he might want to take a reality hit and realize that’s what all Americans, and many Republicans, feel should be their right.

GAGE SKIDMORE

KAMALA HARRIS’ RECORD ON WEED BACK IN SPOTLIGHT

W

12

10

The number of certificates of operation out of 200+ applications, granted in the first batch of licenses issued to cultivators and processors in Ohio, which has yet to license any recreational marijuana retailer businesses and has so far declined to set a date when 21+ sales may begin.

florida man

cannabis industry

COOKIES LAUNCH PARTY FACES HEFTY FINES FOR BEING TOO WEEDY

T

he cookie was crumbling in New Mexico earlier this summer as a Cookies store grand opening party was met with huge fines and an extra dose of judgment.

Regulators fined the company that owns the Cookies store "...violations $350,000 for five violations during included promoting the grand opening, including overconsumption, charges of allowing a minor on site allowing public and promoting the consumption of consumption of alcohol Cannabis. and having Cannabis While it’s still legal to take a kid products on display into the liquor store if the parent outside the license area." is buying booze and tobacco, it’s a major no-no with weed. Other violations included promoting overconsumption, allowing public consumption of alcohol and having Cannabis products on display outside the license area.

With a huge turnout to see Berner and purchase Cannabis legally at the store, this expensive, violation-filled party sounds both fun and possibly worth the legal expense due to the free press exposure.

The seriousness of promoting smoking weed was emphasized by Andrea Brown, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, in a statement to Yahoo News: “We are hopeful that this licensee recognizes the gravity of the violations and will prevent this type of noncompliant activity from occurring ever again.”

STORIES by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX & LEAF NATION STAFF | PHOTOS by ADOBE STOCK & CREATIVE COMMONS

WEEDMAPS

national news

election year

shop review

CLIMBING THE CANOPY

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leafmagazines.com

>> TREES is an Oregon and Colorado-based Cannabis dispensary that’s been supporting both medical and recreational clientele since it first opened in 2017. In the years since its founding, Trees has expanded its canopy, cropping up two additional storefronts in Oregon and three more in Colorado.

Chief Revenue Officer Chrissy Schein describes the guiding principle of the company as “Cannabis is inclusive; it’s for everybody.”

Flash forward seven years, and that’s still very much the case. While trends and changes in the industry landscape have shifted the Cannabis market over the years, Trees stands tall as a redwood, unwaveringly espousing its commitment to providing first-rate service to its diverse range of clients.

Flower is a huge focus for Trees, which represents a sizable 80% of their business. When asked what has customers trekking out for greenery

more often than a motivated lumberjack, shift manager August Lazarz explains that it mainly comes down to two factors: freshness and affordability.

Trees helps control these variables by purchasing smaller amounts, cycling strains into different price tiers over time, and converting shelf flower into in-house, handcrafted joints. The goal is to ensure that flower isn’t just sitting around oxidating in the jar for months on end. CRO Chrissy notes, “How much you enjoy the smoking experience has a lot to do with the freshness of the flower. Sure, you can get cheaper weed elsewhere, but the value you get for your dollars in fresh Cannabis here is superior.”

TREES | 1234 NE 102ND AVE, PORTLAND | TREES.MENU/102ND | @TREES.DISPENSARY.PORTLAND102ND | (503) 384-2959 | MON.-SAT. 8 A.M. - 9:50 P.M. | SUN. 9 A.M. - 9:50 P.M.

AUG. 2024

“CANNABIS IS INCLUSIVE; IT’S FOR EVERYBODY.”

THE FAVORITE CUSTOMERS BOARD

Trees maintains a selection of cheaper b-buds, prerolls and even ounce deals that go as low as $40 a unit.

The idea is to provide consumers at all income levels the option to medicate without breaking the bank. For customers looking for alternative options to traditional flower, Trees also hosts a wide assortment of edibles, vape carts, concentrates and a collection of smoking accessories and paraphernalia.

In terms of store volume, Trees remains relatively busy.

In just the short amount of time that Leaf staff was present at the 102nd Avenue location in Portland, several waves of shoppers came in, purchased products, and left.

Working through the crunch seemed virtually effortless for the dispensary staff present.

Throughout the process, employees could be heard addressing patrons on a first-name basis and saying things like “Looking for some more edibles today?” or “We just got more of your favorite farm in,” indicating not just familiarity with the customers themselves, but a more intimate knowledge of their buying patterns. These personalized experiences, combined with the overall knowledge and competency of staff, create a formula for satisfied shoppers.

This specific location even has a “Favorite Customers” picture board, designed by August, that is essentially a collage of dogs that have visited the shop. A nearby electronic water fountain and a huge jar of Milk-Bone treats behind the counter are a solid indication that even your pup is going to be taken care of when you swing

by Trees.

STORY by JAMIE OWENS @PNW.CHRONIC for OREGON LEAF | PHOTOS by DIANA THOMPSON @DUDE.DIANA See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

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grow tour

CRAWN CO. A COMPANY BUILT ON FAMILY AND LOVE FOR THE PLANT

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WHITE TRUFFLE

IN SALEM, OREGON, COUSINS STEFAN AND JORDAN CRAWN ARE TURNING TRIALS INTO TRIUMPHS AT CRAWN CO. Overcoming everything, from financial to health obstacles, they’re cultivating not just Cannabis but a living legacy. This fresh indoor flower facility is fueled by family and held tightly together by these ties.

The Crawn name burns brightly today, thanks to the foundational work of Stefan’s cousin and Jordan’s uncle, Justin Crawn (@crawniccravings); his dedication early on to growing consistent quality under other Oregon brands (and on his own) paved the path for Jordan and Stefan.

aug. 2024

JORDAN AND STEFAN CRAWN

FLYIN HAWAIIAN

“CRAWN CO. HAS ITS SIGHTS SET FAR BEYOND OREGON...”

@CRAWN.CO @OGCRAWN @STEFAN_CRAWN_ @ CIPHER_GENETICS @ ROOKXX

FLOWERING ROOMS

SHERB 98

WHILE THE TWO tell us Justin is not a part of the crew these days, they intend to carry the torch, transforming their foundations into a flourishing future and reminding us of the blossoming promise this plant continues to provide.

There’s mutual respect at the root of the Crawn Co. cousins’ partnership, propelling them forward.

“The main reason I got involved with Jordan was because I saw his talent and knew what he was capable of in the garden,” Stefan confidently recalls.

Jordan shares that Stefan stepped in with support and strategy to bring the vision to life, sparked during a “low point” in their lives. It was “a crazy idea then,” laughs Jordan. But it’s since bloomed into a flourishing family business.

The heart of Crawn Co. beats with the rhythm of family. Stefan, Jordan, and their life partners are the backbone of the operation, handling everything from construction to handwatering. “I owe everything to my wife. She helped me rise up to see everything that I could do,” Jordan acknowledges.

Stefan echoes this sentiment, recognizing his wife’s work ethic and support that permeates from family time to the harvest grind. Justin, a pivotal figure in the Crawn legacy, has chosen to retire and enjoy the many other fruits life has to offer, but he still stops by to smell the flowers from time to time. “Without Justin, the Crawn name wouldn’t be what it is today,” Stefan and Jordan emphasize, underscoring the family’s dedication to their business.

The Crawn Co. facility is a clean showcase of their family’s continued commitment to connoisseur quality. It features four rooms with 600 plants and 200 total lights, poised for further expansion with plans to open a vertical grow space in 2025.

Their growing methods blend attentive hand-watering techniques with innovative nutrient management, combining organic practices with salt-based nutrients to reap the rewards of consistent quality while upscaling. Their dedication to that quality has paid off, earning them an exciting exclusive arrangement to acquire cuts from Cipher Genetics.

“We’re officially the only people in Oregon contracted with Chris Lynch’s Cipher Genetics to get breeder’s cuts,” the team tells us with understandable enthusiasm.

Crawn Co. has its sights set far beyond Oregon, aiming to open multi-state operations in Illinois, Ohio and Florida. Wasting no time, the team even told us shortly after our interview that they’d acquired a greenhouse and grow space in New York.

Outside of inter-state expansion, they want to continue pushing boundaries with collaborative projects, like the upcoming strain-specific cross for JP “Rook” Cappelletty, drummer for MGK. “We’re doing an Animal Cookies cross specifically for him that we’ve been hunting for the last year and a half. We finally found the winner, and it’ll be called Rookies,” Stefan shares.

Collaborations aside, Crawn Co. is about pursuing a generational dream. “It’s all about family and love around here,” Jordan says.

Despite the challenges, their bond has only grown stronger. “This facility has almost torn us apart in some ways. But [Jordan] has never let me down in a moment. He keeps me in check. It’s a great yin and yang balance,” Stefan reflects.

Follow Crawn Co. on Instagram @crawn.co and check out their flower at an Oregon dispensary near you to see what they have in store next.

STORY & PHOTOS by TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA/OREGON LEAF @OREGONLEAF See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

THE psychedelia ISSUE leafmagazines.com

22

Spores 2.

Checking for contaminants

1. Spore collecting

SPORES,

the microscopic bits of fungi that act as the mushroom’s seed, are delicate enough to get caught up in a raindrop or blown away by the faintest breeze.

They’re also robust enough to exist in the harsh climate of outer space. Not to mention, each one carries the genetic information to expand into a vast network of mycelium — the largest of which is still considered the biggest living organism on earth. Mushrooms might just be here to save us, and it’s the humble, tiny spore that’s going to do it. For Kyle Kaszynski, founder of The Spore Drop, these microscopic wonders unlock new realms of understanding and experience before they become the fruits we’re familiar with.

10.

Prepping cap for spore print aug. 2024

11.

Making spore print

S

3.

Placing spores in nutrient solution

pores of “magic mushrooms” are legal in the United States for microscopy purposes only, so The Spore Drop collects and presents them to a hungry public of budding mycologists for just that.

Observation purposes only.

12.

Blue Meanie spore print

4.

Liquid

culture

WHERE MOST STRAIN BANKS have traditionally mailed off a glass slide or cotton swab smeared with a bit of active material, TSD provides a unique solution that marries the clean-roomtype environment needed to ensure a viable sample with the artsy, natural design provided by the mushroom cap.

Overnight, the spores collect onto the plate to create a print, each as unique as the whorl on a fingertip. The finished product is a sealed Petri dish with the perfect stamp of the individual first-flush cap that was placed in the dish, with enough spores to provide any mycologist with a literal lifetime of functional fungi.

Kyle and his partners recognize that we’re still in an emerging industry. Now, they’re offering a collection of strains that are attractive to the folks most interested in studying fast-growing, substrate-ag-

Galore 5.

Rye grain grow medium

6.

Inoculating rye grain medium

7.

Mixing the rye grain medium

nostic, psilocybin-rich cultivars. Their and determining yields and growth,” he collection of cultivars has been growing said. The project allowed him to work over the last decade, including many closely with fungi and experts, simultaexotic and wood-loving species that will neously learning theory and background be ready for closer observation as the while studying how mushrooms grow industry expands. Kyle adds, “I think that and produce in the wild. “That set me those laws are likely to change, especialup nicely for my career, consulting and ly in states like Oregon, California and helping teach people about fungi and Colorado, where the specialization in they are fighting for mushroom-producnew legalizations.” ing fungi and the Kaszynski’s acacultivation of those demic background organisms.” in mycology gives Beyond our own him an advantage minds, there’s plenty over a space filled more to explore with hobbyists. “My here. Testing the master’s thesis was active ingredients in in cultivating oyster mushrooms is just mushrooms on starting to become -The Spore Drop Founder Kyle Kaszynski various substrates more available, and

“I think that more and more of these compounds will be discovered, and I think that those can potentially offer medical benefits that are different than the benefits of psilocin and psilocybin.”

13.

Fruiting

8.

Mycelium

9.

spawn

we still have so much to learn. Looking toward the future, TSD continues to build its massive strain bank. “I think that more and more of these compounds will be discovered, and I think that those can potentially offer medical benefits that are different than the benefits of psilocin and psilocybin,” Kyle said.

In the same way that the tiniest spore contains the grandest potential, we’re looking at the blossoming psychedelics industry with an eye on how it can benefit our mental health, self-actualizations and society in general. Let’s hope the leaders in the space can maintain the same strict standards and values that The Spore Drop has here, producing something visually striking and scientifically valuable by letting the mushroom lead the way.

thesporedrop.com | @thesporedrop

Fruiting

Kyle Kaszynski

14. Taking tissue culture 15. Placing tissue culture in nutrient solution

16. Mycelium

STORY by RYAN HERRON @THELOUD100 for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

edible of the month

Journeying both inward and outward should be a learning experience — not a chore in seeking out something trustworthy. With emerging markets, finding a product you can feel good about either involves a homie hooking you up or finding the right shoulder to tap. Allow us to be that homie and introduce you to EVO-ONE, a burgeoning psychedelics company with a focus on mental health.

From their active ingredient testing to the vertically integrated production, there are plenty of reasons to seek out their microdoses or gummies when planning your next introspective expedition.

“Exaggerated colors and halos followed; shadows lengthened and twisted against the day’s last light, and a warm summer breeze pushed me directly back home and onto the couch.”

leafmagazines.com

24

EVO-ONE PLUS GUMMIES

A TRIP THROUGH EVOONE’s social media shows what the company does best. Those in the know will immediately notice signs that this company is serious about both its mycology and the products that the fruit ultimately ends up in.

Potency tests, custom gummy molds and tubs of exotic fungi fill the page and inspire confidence. The pictures of crystal-clear, sunlit gummies give us a nice preview of what to expect when our packs arrive.

Packed neatly, each cube separated cleanly from the one next to it, allowing me to easily measure my dose and set my expectations before I began my sojourn. The back of the package suggests one to two pieces for a wavy experience and three to four for something verging on melty, so three pieces seemed like a great place to start. The familiar butterflies hit my stomach in anticipation, but nausea never followed. For those who struggle with the queasy feeling that sometimes accompanies a trip, it was entirely absent tonight.

I had plans to sit and examine a few things I had been pondering, but clarity came quickly, leaving me with time to simply enjoy the ride. Exaggerated colors and halos followed; shadows lengthened and twisted against the day’s last light, and a warm summer breeze pushed me directly back home and onto the couch.

I lay there, heavy, for an indeterminate amount of time before settling in, satisfied with my wavy evening.

What could have been an intense exploration of the senses settled into a dialed-in expedition. I never felt as if I had tripped down a rabbit hole — only a journey of uplifting encouragement.

EVO-ONE offers to help “activate your evolution,” which sounds like the big bang of ideas, of course, but real change happens with newfound lucidity and a subtle perspective shift.

EVO-ONE.COM @EVO.ONE.GLOBAL

AUG. 2024

REVIEW by RYAN HERRON @THELOUD100 for @OREGONLEAF | PHOTO by TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

e r n e t d r a w P i t y l h d t u h o e s i n m r O r a r e F P g t o s n! e B

COOKING WITH CANNABIS

SUMMERRECIPES HERE’S HOPING THAT AUGUST allows you to get some vacay, or at least summer Fridays offering you time to chill. You deserve it! These recipes are my go-to for summer entertaining — simple and very delicious. I have infused the recipes with my favorite summer strain, Apples and Bananas from Pruf Cultivar. This hybrid is relaxing but not tiring, quite stoney but not debilitating. Last week, I overindulged in the very potent and delicious strain, Prada Colada, also from Pruf, reminding me that there is nothing wrong with a little restraint. It blows my mind that I still overdo it. I should have learned by now that “less is more” — my company’s mantra! Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com

STEAK & POTATO SALAD 1 pound skirt, flank or hanger steak Salt and pepper 2 pounds small potatoes 1/4 cup sherry vinegar 4 teaspoons canna-oil 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 scallions, cut in pieces 5 ounces green beans, trimmed, cut into pieces and steamed 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce 1/2 cup chopped red onion 4 radishes, thinly sliced 1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Season the steak with salt and pepper and grill until desired degree of doneness.

SERVES FOUR

2. In a medium pot, quarter and cook the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar and oils.

Add the cumin and salt and pepper to taste.

4. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil and add the scallions, potatoes and green beans and cook for 4-5 minutes.

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5. In a large bowl combine the lettuce, steak, red onion, radishes and cooked vegetables. Toss with the dressing and serve.

ARUGULA, SHRIMP & LOVE 4 strips bacon 1 large shallot, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons brown sugar 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2/3 cup olive oil 4 teaspoons canna-oil 8 handfuls mixed salad greens

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20 large cooked shrimp, cut into pieces if desired 1 red onion, thinly sliced 20 grape tomatoes

SERVES FOUR

CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD DAZE 1. In the bowl of a food processor, puree the mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire and garlic. With the machine running, drizzle in the oils.

Transfer the dressing to a jar and add the Parmesan, salt and pepper.

2. Place the romaine in a serving bowl and toss with the dressing to coat. Top the salad with the chicken and croutons and serve.

AUG. 2024

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 cloves garlic, smashed 6 tablespoons olive oil 4 teaspoons canna-oil 1/3 cup grated Parmesan Salt and pepper 2 romaine lettuce hearts, chopped 1 1/2 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken 2 cups croutons Shredded Parmesan for garnish

SERVES FOUR

1 avocado, pitted peeled and cut into chunks. Toss with lemon juice Salt and pepper

1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to paper towel to drain, reserving the drippings in the skillet. Chop the bacon.

2. Heat the bacon drippings, add the shallot and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the brown sugar and cook an additional 2 minutes.

3. Scrape the contents into a blender. Add the vinegar, orange juice, mustard and the oils. Blend well.

4. In a large bowl, toss the greens with the shrimp, red onion, tomatoes and avocado. Add the dressing and toss again. Season with salt and pepper.

RECIPES b y LAU RIE WOLF @LAU RIEANDMARYJANE for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS b y BRUCE WOLF @BRUCE_WOLF #LMJ #Don’tFearTheEdible! #EatYourCannabis #StayHydrated #BeKind #Vote

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THE strain psychedelia of the month ISSUE

FOAM

AUG. 2024

CO-OWNERS AND GROWERS Halden and Nate officially announced Zilem Collective in early 2023. The brand is a relatively new name, but these garden geniuses are certainly not new to the game. Like many in this industry, they’ve been behind the scenes putting in the work with several reputable Oregon farms. But they eventually found the right fit in the stunning Eugene countryside, where they now nurture a true living soil environment and some seriously scrumptious smoke.

This Strain of the Month selection is a superb example: it’s grayish-green and black fades, popping with purple inside each calyx. Foam is a cross of Soap (Animal Mints x Kush Mints) and Zwish [Animal Mints x (Zkittlez x (Biscotti x Froyo))] bred by Umami Seed Co. — strong emphasis on the “umami.”

As the seed company’s website vividly illustrates, “Some phenos smell like a strip club during the zombie apocalypse.”

We don’t know what that means, but it feels right.

Zilem Collective has zoned in on some seriously savory and complex flavors here — and savory might not even be the right word. This writer is even at a loss for lacy descriptors to depict its deliciousness. It’s a really complex profile. Bouncing from antibacterial soap to gym socks, it does seem to land firmly on a very creamy note, but it’s hard to ignore the quick slap of acrid, chemical stench that fans of funk are so fond of.

We can’t understate how smooth and enjoyable this smoke is. There’s a full-bodied flavor that lingers in the mouth long after you’ve let out the last huff from your lungs. That creamy note comes through with a bold mouthfeel that cushions the funkier flavors so sweetly. Pillowy-puff after puff, this is a plush ride to a dreamy state that feels like Sunday. @zilem.collective | @umamiseed 27-29% THC & 3-4% Terps

CULTIVATED BY ZILEM COLLECTIVE “SOME PHENOS SMELL LIKE A STRIP CLUB DURING THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.” REVIEW & PHOTO by TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA @OREGONLEAF

THE psychedelia ISSUE

Psychede Psyched Glossary

Whether you are a newb looking for a first melt or an old head seeking to relive some glory days with a fresh trip to the ego death factory, look no further than our comprehensive guide to getting started on a trip.

Tripping Under the influence of psychedelics

Hit A dose of psychedelics

Mushrooms Psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, of which there are many varieties and effects

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LSD

DMT Dimethyltryptamine is found in countless plants and is hypothesized to be produced in our brains during sleep, birth and death. DMT is used in Ayahuasca ceremonies or synthesized separately for consumption. This powerful drug can induce out-of-body journeys. For more information, check out the book “The Spirit Molecule” or read trip reports at erowid.org.

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Ketamine Legal in most states, Ketamine provides therapy in a clinical setting for depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, and has been shown to help with alcohol dependency.

Ibogaine Illegal in the US, this plant-based medicine has been shown to clear neurochemical receptors, providing a one-time treatment that can end physical addiction to opiates or benzos.

MDMA Also known as Molly, this wonder drug helps with PTSD and depression. Check out MAPS.org for more info on how this misunderstood drug can help with many issues and be a safe party drug when consumed carefully.

Aug. 2024

ADOBE STOCK

EVERY TRIP IS UNIQUE, and the same dosage or drug might have completely different effects on two similar people, so use caution when taking a first step into the world of psychedelics, especially when outside of clinical settings. Lingo is important, so we’ve added a few key terms and definitions for safe exploration.

Properly known as Lysergic acid Diethylamide, LSD was discovered by Albert Hoffman on 4/19/1938 and produces long, intense trips and shows benefits for depression, mental health traumas, and end-of-life therapy.

— What is a bad trip? — Psychedelics change our entire perception of reality, ego, memory, feelings and even how our brains program and process information.

Neuro-linguistic programming can help rewire the brain from traumas and addiction, with or without psychedelics. That said, whenever your world is shattered, there will be those who skip around in bliss and those who start to process the past and present through a new lens. This is having a bad trip, which often involves reprocessing, and it can be triggered even when the intent of an experience is not therapeutic.

Those in the grip of a bad trip need a safe space, low light, gentle music and time. They might loop in behavior and repeat phrases or revelations, or drift in and out of lucidity as the drugs process. With the DMT derivative Ayahuasca experience, purging via puking and pooping is common along with the purging of dark energy, thoughts and traumatic experiences, and is to be expected as part of the trip.

These powerful drugs should not be viewed Having a qualified trip sitter is just as as a guaranteed important as booking a good babysitter when you head out good time in the of town. Much like childcare, it’s important to have a sober way an edible or dab and aware person sitting with an can consistently be individual or group when taking large amounts of psychedelics. relied upon. Always This person can keep everyone be prepared for a safe during the trip and prevent those under the influence from trip to need time leaving the safe space. for introspection, Am I cool to drive? weirdness and for perception to change The only place worse than behind the wheel is in jail while tripping, — if a storm of bad so don’t risk it. We would also feelings hits, know share this recommendation for commercial air travel, but not that it will soon pass. necessarily for the bus, where Do I need a Sitter?

you can jump off if the accordion stretch section starts talking to you in a French accent.

elics 101 101 delics - Set and setting -

This common phrase refers to when and

where you choose to experience psychedelics. It’s always advisable to pick a safe, comfortable setting that is free of stress, annoyances or distractions that you might not be able to deal with. For some, this is a favorite couch with lots of blankets or out in the woods with room to roam and howl at the moon. Always avoid situations where you are unable to stay for multiple hours and have your hydration and comfort items ready. Something as simple as picking a stuffed animal or operating a sink might become supremely difficult when under the influence, so make those decisions before starting your trip.

Macrodose/Hero dose Macrodosing or taking a hero dose will not give

you superpowers in the Marvel sense, but will send you on a deep journey of personal introspection.

Generally viewed as taking anything over one gram of mushrooms or two hits of a different psychedelic like LSD, going macro means a big dose. This can also be called a therapeutic dose, which can go up to 3.5 grams or more, depending on the type of mushroom and potency.

While it sounds intimidating, taking a large dose of psychedelics is where the real trips happen, both in the fun sense and in a therapeutic setting. True ego death and the reshaping of neurological pathways come from large doses, opening the mind, spirit and body to change and potential healing. Large doses can also lead to intense processing and bad trips, and should only be taken with a safe space and a trip sitter present.

—­ Microdosing —

Booking a therapy session

On The Web

Microdosing has been en vogue and going viral for the last few

Many states like Oregon now offer Psilocybin therapy,

If it’s on the internet, it’s probably not what it claims to be, as selling

years, as everyone from celebs to moms try a new buzz for creativity, focus, depression and a fresh outlook. Microdosing refers to taking a small dose of Psilocybin (mushrooms) in the amount of 0.1 to 0.3 grams of a fruiting body (mushroom cap).

Clinical data suggests that mushrooms or other psychedelics like MDMA and LSD taken at small doses consistently reduce symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety and negative mental health symptoms including PTSD. Anecdotally, users often report an influx of energy, focus and motivation, as well as a sense of things being sparkly and wonderful when under the influence of a microdose.

The success of clinical studies seems to suggest that microdosing on a regular schedule, combined with counseling or therapy, could significantly help alleviate negative mental health symptoms and offer an alternative to pharmaceutical treatments.

It’s important to remember that psychedelics change your neurochemistry and brain-bodymind connection. This is not to be viewed lightly, as one is both more open to programming and positive experiences, becoming suggestible and altered during the process.

It’s important to be conscious of the music and media you consume while under the influence, understanding that your brain is open in a way that daily consciousness does not offer.

We do not recommend microdosing for work or school, although many anecdotal reports indicate that this works for some individuals. Above all, we advise treating any use of psychedelics with a therapeutic intent to be consumed in a setting safe for healing and growth, which most workplaces are not conducive to.

A note on dosing your microdose: the intent is not to feel high, but to have a small, almost imperceptible effect on your daily baseline that adds value to a normal daily experience without inducing a full trip. Start with 0.1 grams of mushrooms and give it time.

For this writer, a 0.3-gram dose is a few hours of Pink Floyd and a lost day of productivity, so trusting a dose before work or a deadline is never advisable.

as well as opportunities for therapy paired with Ketamine, MDMA and more. You can find these therapy centers online, though some therapies like Ibogaine are generally outside of the US. Note that insurance will not cover most therapy opportunities.

You can always have more In the world of psychedelics, 1+1 does not necessarily equal 2.

The effects of 0.2 and 0.4 grams are not double; amounts stack up exponentially to where the difference between a half gram and a gram of mushrooms is a trip with 10 times the strength. Therefore, taking a 0.1 mircodose and feeling great does not mean that taking another will intensify that greatness. It could instead change an energetic micro to a thoughtful melt. A good rule of thumb is to commit to a dose and ride it out. Rarely does eating more end up as fun as planned, and if it’s really needed, you can always eat more.

While it sounds intimidating, taking a large dose of psychedelics is where the real trips happen, both in the fun sense and in a therapeutic setting.

—Meeting a Shaman — Amongst professional psychedelic administrators, there is a

dislike for the word shaman, as it has been at times overused or co-opted by those seeking money or power versus spreading healing.

The cultural appropriation of the term often involves individuals making IG videos selling services — a true shaman would never, nor will they operate out of a van down by the river. This doesn’t imply that all who identify as shamans are charlatans, but that you’ll likely find them organically running retreats versus in the urban jungles of LA.

psychedelics is illegal in many places, especially online. Be careful and always try to find psychedelics from a local, trusted source not focused on making money, but sharing healing medicine.

-OverseasJust as we would not advise seeking love via overseas websites, the same pitfalls awaiting a hopeful heart can also befall a trip-seeking psychonaut. Always

be careful when booking a trip, especially to the jungles of South America. Many scams and services over-promise and under-deliver, so thorough research beforehand and seeking references are essential.

Other places like Amsterdam offer consistent mushroom and Cannabis experiences and are generally safe to travel to, but you’ll still want a real trip plan before you indulge in a chocolate truffle and wander the canals.

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX & LEAF NATION STAFF

THE psychedelia ISSUE

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Epic Healing in Eugene.

Alternative S

Therapies Albany

Inner Guidance Services

InnerGuidanceInc.com 904 NW North Albany Rd., Albany (541) 697-3907

Ashland

Omnia Group Ashland OmniaGroupAshland.com 607 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland (714) 203-4780

Beaverton

Brain Brew

BrainBrewpdx.com 4525 SW 109th Ave., Beaverton (971) 223-6188

Fractal Soul

fractalhealthpdx.com Undisclosed office building location in Beaverton, OR hello@fractalhealthpdx.com

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Riversong Integration

RiversongIntegration.com 300 E Hersey St., Ste. 14, Ashland (541) 708-1510

Satya Therapeutics

SatyaTherapeutics.com 638 N Main St., Ste. B, Ashland (541) 930-2478

Bend

Bend Inner Alchemy

Eugene

EPIC Healing Eugene

Chariot

MandalaJourneyWork.com 1973 Garden Ave., Eugene

Hood River

Vital Reset

VitalReset.com 1020 Wasco St., Ste. J, Hood River (541) 645-4485

TripzOregon.com 324 SW Coast Hwy., Newport (541) 961-5693

Heart Fire Sanctuary

7 Gates Sanctuary

Mandala Journey Work

Drop Thesis

AuroraHealingGardens.com 21348 Highway 99E, Ste. 2, Aurora (503) 694-9533

Portland

7GatesSanctuary.com 1034 SE Sandy Blvd., Portland (503) 218-3816

Newport

Aurora

HOWEVER, finding the right facility and facilitator can be tricky, especially with no existing directory of locations — so we compiled one for you. All of these facilities focus on psilocybin services, but you’ll even find some Cannabis, ketamine and MDMA counselors in this field. It’s important to note that many facilitators operate on a freelance basis, bouncing from facility to facility to accommodate client needs. Please visit psilocybin.oregon.gov/license-directory for independent facilitator listings and more resources on these alternative services. Head to the LeafMagazines.com archive to read in-depth stories on InnerTrek, EPIC Healing and Satya Therapeutics.

EpicHealingeugene.com 3003 Willamette St., Eugene (541) 525-0124

BendInnerAlchemy.com 44 NW Irving Ave., Bend (541) 668-6520

DropThesis.com 505 NW Franklin Ave., Bend (458) 202-7111

Aurora Healing Gardens

ervices Centers in Oregon provide a legal location for accessing alternative “therapies” like psilocybin.

Each center hosts an array of state-licensed facilitators operating options like individual, couple, family, group and retreat sessions.

Tripz

ChariotSpace.com

Mindtrek

MindTrek.net 4805 SW Oleson Rd., Portland (503) 914-8381

Project Circle

ProjectCrcl.com 5903 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland info@projectcrcl.com

1839 NW 24th Ave., Portland

Space Portland

Immersive Therapies

SpacePortland.com 11125 NE Weidler St., Portland (503) 498-8862

InnerTrek

The Psilocybin Center

ImmersivePDX.com 1941 NW Quimby St. Portland (503) 343-5590

InnerTrek.org 11 NE Martin Luther King Blvd., Ste. 6A, Portland hello@innertrek.org

Salem

ThePsilocybin.center 2585 State St., Salem (503) 893-2920

Damascus

HeartFireSanctuary.org 14305 SE 242nd Ave., Damascus (971) 302-3143 Satya Therapeutics in Ashland. Photo by Tony Simonelli.

aug. 2024

STORY by TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA @OREGONLEAF

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aug. 2024

THE psychedelia ISSUE

Psychonautical Psychonautical E Comedian Shane Mauss uses humor to report from the realms of the mind

xploring the depths of one’s own mind can be a beautiful and dynamic journey. It can often be hilarious. And sometimes dangerous. Shane Mauss is no stranger to the power of psychedelic compounds and their potential to impact how we perceive the realms within and without ourselves.

HIS RESULTING BODY OF WORK illuminates, educates and entertains.

Here is a man who has consumed the majority of psychedelic substances known to humanity and lived to tell the tale.

He has released a documentary, “Psychonautics: A Comic’s Exploration of Psychedelics,” recorded a decade’s worth of shows for his podcast, “Here We Are,” and riffed on tripping in comedy specials and various late-night talk show appearances.

One could say that Mauss pushed the boundaries so we don’t have to.

And he’s definitely found his limits.

THE POWER There was a time when Mauss didn’t hesitate to eat mushrooms and didn’t fear the power of psychedelics.

Then, a few years ago, a heavier-than-intended Ayahuasca journey unearthed the comic’s latent, undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

“I thought that psychedelics were just always amazing,” Mauss said. “Even when they were a little difficult, that was just part of it. Then I lost my mind. I’ve been much more skittish ever since.”

As a psychonaut who built his career and public persona around psyche-spelunking, it’s been a difficult journey to balance his diagnosis with his exploration of the mind. It adds a complicated layer to the onion.

“I have two things that I hate now,” he said, “one of which is that mushrooms are my favorite psychedelic, and I’m now more scared of them than I’ve ever been.

I have rules about when I do them. And two, when things feel really good in my life now, because I’ve had some severe manic episodes, I can’t just appreciate feeling good anymore. I am on alert a little bit. I definitely don’t do psychedelics if things are going really well, for fear that it’ll lead to a manic episode.”

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t trip.

But he’s careful and intentional with his choices.

“I go on streaks,” he said. “I got very into ketamine for a while because that never made me feel unsafe in terms of having a manic episode … DMT is something that I’m kind of looking to get back into. I’ve had so many DMT experiences, and just oddly enough, it just only gets weirder and weirder and weirder.

I definitely hit a wall with DMT where things were just getting so insane and weird and confusing that I needed a little break for a while.” >> Continues next page

“I had a fairly closedminded-ish upbringing and had my own biases and prejudice and everything else that as a kid I bought into, so psychedelics were very opening and mind-expanding in that way for me.”

STORY by TOM BOWERS @MEGABOMBTOM/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

THE psychedelia ISSUE

Shane Mauss Continued from previous pg.

42

J

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THE PROGRESS

ust like with anything, a psychonaut’s relationship with psychedelics evolves over time. In Mauss’ case, that evolution experienced an acceleration event with his diagnosis. Now, he’s more interested in the growth potential that swells immediately after a trip than he is in the trip itself.

aug. 2024

“When I was young, it was to see a cool visual or to be in this altered state and just to feel different,” Mauss said. “That’s what I was after. With enough experience, all of the visuals and those sorts of things kind of got old and didn’t really do as much for me. (Now) it seems to be that the trip is just a thing that I get through so I can have the integration afterward, which is what I seem to enjoy the most. It’s funny: because I’m on a psychedelic tour, I’m doing the least amount of psychedelics in my life because the tour is so busy that I almost never have two or three days to set aside to integrate an experience. I don’t like doing a psychedelic experience if I don’t have at least a full day free afterwards.”

The evolution of his relationship to psychedelics seems to be happening in tandem with a sea

change in the public perception and use of entheogenic, mind-altering medicines. Mauss points out that the original archetypical American psychedelic explorer of the free love generation saw the experience through an idealistic, kaleidoscopic lens. Not only has the popularization and mainstream implementation of these powerful substances changed how they’re used and why, but it’s also changed the profile of people who use them.

“The idea that everyone would do acid and turn to universal love and peace was probably a little naive, but I think that I would have believed that more (during the Woodstock era),” Mauss said.

“I had a fairly closed-mindedish upbringing and had my own biases and prejudice and everything else that as a kid I bought

into, so psychedelics were very opening and mind-expanding in that way for me. That was always my assumption too, that it would make people more empathetic and sympathetic and mindful and caring. But people didn’t microdose before either, so people were having experiential changes. Now people are doing these optimizing doses, so it’s in this supplement grift kind of category of optimizers.

I think if you would go back to Woodstock and go like, ’Hey, in the future, people are going to do small amounts of LSD to get better at punching people in the head for sport in gladiator arenas.’ I think that would’ve surprised people.”

THE PRESENCE Mauss is currently in the middle of a marathon tour that kicked off at Area 15, the Las Vegas home of

then I had to drive for 12 hours.

It was one of the greatest days of my life. I’m not recommending that to anyone, clearly. I’m not recomThe Leaf asked Shane Mauss for advice on what budding psychonauts mending it to myself. I’m not going to replicate the experience. But it should avoid in their early experiences. Here’s what he had to say: was amazing. It would be dishonest of me to say that it wasn’t one of the a quick, dirty heuristic, more than single greatest days of my entire life.

“I THINK the mirror is not for some dogmatic rule that’s going to It was beautiful.” first-timers. I think you should have be the right thing for everyone. But I “TV is another one. I would your sea legs a little bit because find that there are things like seeing generally stay away from it. It is there are certain things that can yourself as others funny because really add to a psychedelic experisee you [by lookI think early on ence but can also be much harder ing in the mirror you’d hear people to navigate. I would never be like, on psychedelics], I be like, ’Oh, what ’Hey, you know what? You should think is something we should do is do psychedelics and get in a hot that most people eat mushrooms tub.’ That’s about my favorite thing will benefit from and watch a trippy in the world, but I also know the even early on, movie.’ I think that right time. It’s after I’ve peaked even if that’s a if you have animal and I’m coming down. There’s little harder.” documentaries on something about it that can bring “But then there’s mute with just regon another wave for me, and I things like looking ular music playing feel comfortable. Psychedelics can deep into your in the background, already be an overwhelming expedilated pupils and that’s a nice rience, so anything that can make looking into the inatmosphere — it more overwhelming is something finite space of your something that’s you want to have more experience pupils … that’s just ambient that with before you try.” almost concernyou don’t have “I think bathrooms generally are ing the first time to be watching, easy to get yourself lost in. There’s that it happens but you can also just too much stuff going on with to you. But I do get sucked into if bathrooms: germs, nudity, hygiene, all sorts of stuff. I you want to. But tiles. It’s weird, especially when mean, I’ve driven it also leaves a lot you’re in public and there’s just -On using the bathroom while tripping. while tripping. I do to the imagination too much going on. I would always all sorts of things that I don’t ever and interpretation and everything recommend a first-timer just have recommend to people. My best LSD of the experience. Often, whatever a plan: get in and out as soon as experience of my life was when I random song happens to be playing you can. It’s not some hard-andaccidentally did a bunch LSD, and will influence your perception of fast rule or anything, but it is like

...A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM

“I would always recommend a first-timer just have a plan: get in and out as soon as you can. It’s not some hard-andfast rule or anything, but it is like a quick, dirty heuristic, more than some dogmatic rule that’s going to be the right thing for everyone.”

Meow Wolf’s amazing psychedelic tourism attraction Omega Mart.

The shows are a vibrant blend of storytelling set against a visual backdrop from his collaborator Michael Strauss, a VJ who creates digital eye candy-scapes to complement the material.

“I try to combine my experiences with ideas that I have about perception,” he said, “to get at why a human brain would be having this experience at all, so that it’s less about me and more about a universal experience.”

He’s found that the acceptance of psychedelics into the mainstream brings a wider array of people to his shows.

“Being 44, I went through the D.A.R.E. program and all of that stuff as a kid. I mean, I never thought in my wildest dreams that psychedelics would be as

normalized as they are,” he said.

“A decent percentage of my audience on this tour hasn’t done psychedelics. And that’s pretty unusual. Usually, if that happened in the past for a psychedelic tour, it was because someone who was really into psychedelics and a huge fan, or whatever, would drag one of their friends that they’d been trying to tell about psychedelics and get them to come and listen to what I say in the show.”

Mauss sees it as his mission to make sure that while his bits are funny and entertaining, they are informative and, above all, that they’re accurate depictions of the psychedelic experience.

“That’s probably the [top] compliment that I get after a show: the accuracy,” Mauss said. “People are laughing or learning a thing or two here and there.

They’re always impressed by the accuracy, which is a hard thing to pull off.”

how these animals are behaving.

Jimmy Buffett’s on, and you’re like, ’Wouldn’t it be great to be an animal like that?’ And then Pink Floyd starts in on the dark stuff, and you’re like, ’Oh my God, I hope they make it!’ I once watched ’Requiem for a Dream’ on mushrooms. I’d heard it was a trippy movie.” (Spoiler: It was a horrible experience.)

“I actually have a pinned post on my Instagram trying to dissuade people from coming to my show while tripping, because I don’t think you need to do trippy things while tripping necessarily. But, I mean, if you’re into tripping a lot, that’s a different thing. What I would hate is for people to come to my show and be like, ’I’ve never tripped before. What more apt time than now to do my first-ever experience than to eat some mushrooms and go and listen to this guy talk about psychedelics?’ Not realizing that a psychedelic state is best when you can go off on your own in your own world for two and a half hours because that’s what you happen to be feeling in the moment. And then you can get back into whatever social conversation when your capacity and attention span are there.

But standup comedy requires so much attention, and there’s just a lot going on, and there’s information, and people do it all the time.

And I’m like, ’Cool. Hope you had fun.’ And it seems like they do.”

Mauss is recording his next special on October 20 at Meow Wolf in Denver. Find his tour dates and more at shanemauss.com. He also has his own brand of Amanita Muscaria and Blue Lotus gummies inspired by his DMT experiences, called My Purple Lady. Learn more at mypurplelady.com.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @MEGABOMBTOM/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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THE psychedelia ISSUE

Sphere and Floati Float

F

or those who dabble in psychedelics and consciousnessaltering substances, there has been a slate of new boundary-pushing technological advances that are blurring the lines between experience and entertainment.

aug. 2024

From the massive immersive screens of the Sphere in Las Vegas to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, ARTECHOUSE in New York City, and the art installations of artists like Refik Anadol and Jen Stark, these venues provide fertile ground for mind-expanding journeys, offering more opportunities than ever for psychedelic enthusiasts to have their minds blown as unique spots pop up across the nation.

This intrepid explorer wrangled up a few heady friends this summer and ventured out to Las Vegas to see Dead & Company’s residency at the innovative new Sphere. This music hub boasts a state-of-the-art audio and visual system designed for immersive experiences.

The ever-changing digital exterior of the world-famous Sphere displays Grateful Dead art & iconography.

PHOTO BY @ROGERKISBY

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PHOTO BY @ADHDDEAD

“I leaned back and made sure I was still holding onto the ground (and reality) as I feared the band might prank the audience by dropping us ‘Tower of Terror’ style”

In addition to Dead & Company-themed graphics, the venue utilized select artists’ work on the world’s largest, most technologically advanced canvas with eye-catching and, at times, psychedelic results.

The building’s interior design was equally impressive in its aesthetics and its functionality.

It was clear that no expense was spared to create a one-of-a-kind consumer experience that perfectly balances simplicity and elegance.

After breezing to our seats, it was only moments before Bob Weir, John Mayer and the rest of the band kicked things off while the massive screens seemed to open up and launch us into what would be an epic ride through the Grateful Dead universe.

As we blasted off from Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco and into the cosmos, it became a jaw-dropping and seat-clinging moment. I leaned back and made sure I was still holding onto the ground (and reality) as I feared the band might prank the audience by dropping us “Tower of Terror” style back down to Earth.

However, my anxiety immediately reduced as the band jammed and we started floating through outer space.

The stars began to dance and transform into a vortex tunnel of familiar Dead colors and symbols, as the overwhelming visual experience was clearly in the driver’s seat for this trip.

Innovations like Sphere Immersive Sound, a proprietary concert-grade system powered by German audio titan HOLOPLOT, the haptic response seats strategically used by the band at key moments, and custom venue-specific visuals all added to the show’s impact.

Impressive graphics paired with familiar yet new psychedelic jams included 3D skeletons driving a motorcycle, a giant pirate ship, rainbows and color spirals of all shapes and sizes, famous Dead concert venues and classic iconography. Legendary drummer Mickey Hart’s “Drums and Space” was a particular highlight, taking advantage of the vibrating seats, which added a whole new dimension to the drum solo portion of the show.

I was left with my face stolen and my jaw wide open as the band tore through some of their biggest hits with surprising intensity. While this early run clearly limited the band’s ability to completely improvise, it’s a great show that starts to unlock the full promise of where the Sphere can take things in the future.

STORY by ADHDDEAD @ADHDDEAD for LEAF NATION See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

PHOTO BY @ADHDDEAD

There seemed to be no better place to turn on your (my) lovelight with over 1.2 million exterior and 64,000 interior LEDs that are so bright you can see them from outer space.

As a Deadhead, this pilgrimage felt almost sacred, traversing into the mysterious desert to find a magical oasis so rare it could be mistaken for a mirage. As you approach this glowing beacon in the night, even among the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip, the Sphere’s massive LED exterior stands alone.

PHOTO BY @ADHDDEAD

PHOTO BY @ROGERKISBY

ing in Las Vegas ting

THE psychedelia ISSUE

Pondering the Marble Marvels in the Palm of Your Hand

"One Last Inquiry"

by John Bridges

"The Suspicion of Being Followed" by John Bridges

Jes Durfee

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Jes Durfee @jesdurfee

aug. 2024

"Forge of The Gods" Collab by John Bridges & Tim Keyzers @blackfireglassworks | @timkeyzers

W he e Orb

hile Cannabis enthusiasts are familiar with “functional” glass, there is a lesser-known but impressively deep and varied subculture of glass marble makers. These works of art are not only inspired by psychedelics but are also incredibly fun to look at while in altered states.

Paul Katherman

Paul Katherman @paulietwofingers

THESE MINIATURE MARVELS represent a Alternatively, Tim Keyzers of Washington state fascinating intersection between glass and has an approach to marble-making that is psychedelic art. They blend intricately detailed defined by precision and an almost architectural craftsmanship with mind-bending visual effects. attention to detail.

The appeal of psychedelic glass marbles His marbles often feature surreal and enchantextends beyond their aesthetic beauty. For ing elements that take on a fine art vibe. He many, these pieces serve as tools for meditacommonly includes the addition of electroforming tion and focus, particularly during psychedelic metals onto the exterior of his pieces. experiences. The captivating designs and “John Bridges' work seems to transcend the vibrant colors can provide a sense of curiosity artificial concept and design embedded in most and wonder, helping to guide the mind while marbles created today (my own work includenhancing the overall journey. ed), so the results of collaborating with him are Within the world of glass marbles, you will unique,” Tim said of his most recent project with find impressively deep creativity confined to John, entitled “MB Forge of the Gods." small spaces. Artists like Paul Katherman, Tim “Rather than an ‘unfinished thought’ of unfolding Keyzers, Jes Durfee and John Bridges have technique or developing concept, the work just ‘is’ emerged as key figures in the scene, each of — a spark of collective consciousness frozen in time. whom brings their unique style to the craft.

I’m honored to be a part of it.”

We spoke with these renowned artists about John Bridges (Blackfire Glassworks), the spherithe role that psychedelics play in their creative cal synthesist from Oregon, creates mesmerizingly process, as well as how colintricate patterns while incorporating lectors experience their art. playful, fantastical elements in his Paul Katherman first marbles. His creations evoke a sense explored psychedelic realms of childlike awe, drawing viewers on the Grateful Dead lot as in close to explore incredibly fine a teenager while exploring detailing work trapped within a tiny ways to express his creativity. glass universe. For those navigating After finding his calling as a the expansive realms of psychedelia, glass artist, it’s clear these John’s marbles offer unrivaled depth experiences still impact his and detail, making them a delightful approach and his art. addition to any collection.

Katherman is renowned for Finally, we have Jes Durfee hailhis ability to capture chaos ing from Wisconsin. He brings an and order within the confines unmatched spirit to each of his of a marble. pieces focusing on multi-layered “Color, depth and hidden scenes. You’re not quite sure if you’ll little spots that you have to be wandering through space or -Glass Artist Paul Katherman explore to find are really navigating a level of “Super Mario important to me. I want my work to be an Bros.” with how Jes goes beyond the traditional experience that connects with others through round shape of marbles, applying lapidary skills color and patterns that trigger emotions … to his newest pieces.

Marbles are great objects to play with when in The cultural impact of psychedelic marbles is an altered state. With 360 degrees of intricate significant. These tiny, trippy masterpieces have detail and color, it is easy to get lost and take fostered a community of artists and collectors who a journey into one of these glass spheres. This share a deep appreciation for the craft. Events is a big reason I love to make them. I want to and gatherings centered around marble glass art get lost in every part,” Katherman said. allow the opportunity for heady collectors to share His work is particularly appreciated by their treasures and celebrate the artistry that goes those seeking visual stimulation during their into each piece. The work of these artists not only psychedelic journeys. This offers a focal point pushes the boundaries of the medium but also that grounds you while swirling designs and enriches the experiences of those who encounter multiple layers of rich color provide a sensory their art. As appreciation for these intricate orbs feast for the eyes. The marbles often feature continues to grow, so does the recognition of the vibrant colors that seem to dance and shift as profound impact that a small piece of glass can they catch the light. have on the human psyche!

“With 360 degrees of intricate detail and color, it is easy to get lost and take a journey into one of these glass spheres.

This is a big reason I love to make them.

I want to get lost in every part...”

STORY by ADHDDEAD @ADHDDEAD & REX HILSINGER @BOROPHOTO for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS COURTESY FEATURED ARTISTS See more photos at LeafMagazines.com

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THE PSYCHEDELIA ISSUE

T

he history of acid is a rich and storied legacy that traces all the way back to a fateful bicycle ride in 1943, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that blotter paper, dosed with LSD and decorated with tiny designs, took shape as a prominent form of counter-culture iconography. Printed on perforated paper and easily transportable, blotter sheets took center stage for 30 years as the most recognizable and available way to take LSD. Since then, these cultural canvases have become collectors items, and the artform is still being practiced today.

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Paul Foster

Make That Paper

Have A Good Trip

leafmagazines.com

The Art of LSD Lives On

Ellie Paisley

Ziero Muko CONTINUES PG. 42 >>

AUG. 2024

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for LEAF NATION | ARTWORK COURTESY FEATURED ARTISTS & KEY-Z PRODUCTIONS

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the PSYCHEDELIA issue leafmagazines.com

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THE ART OF LSD LIVES ON

Continued from pg. 40 Ziero Muko

Tabitha Spectra

ERIK DAVIS, author of “Blotter: The Untold Zane Kesey is the son of Ken Kesey who, together Story of an Acid Medium,” compiled a history with Neal Cassady and the Merry Pranksters, helped of the art form in collaboration with Mark Mcpioneer the psychedelic experience across the Cloud, whose legendary collection of blotter country. He currently runs Key-Z Productions in art spans over 40 years and tens of thouOregon where he prints and perforates blotter sheets sands of examples. In a lecture at SPUI25, using a custom-made machine he runs by hand. As Amsterdam’s academic-cultural center, Davis 1XRUN put it, “Through Zane’s legacy, the Bicycle recounted how amazing the existence of the Day Collection is deeply connected to a history of art form is considering, as he points out, “You creating art on blotter paper.” don’t need the images to sell the LSD.” Zane is among only a handful of people in the He went on to state that while blotter decworld still creating and releasing blotter sheets. He oration is unnecessary from praised 1XRUN, saying, “They’ve the point of view of profit, the opened up the world of blotter images function in a number art to this whole new community. of different ways including as Plus, for artists, it’s given them inside jokes, political comanother avenue to make art that mentaries, and as a badge of they may not have known about identity during a time when before.” He says hundreds of the cultural push for peace, artists contact him about printing love and psychedelics was their designs on blotter art every beginning to pull back. year.

Today, the mainstream He told Leaf how amazing it is interest in psychedelics has to see these become collectibles never been greater, and you and how that’s really contributed -Printer Zane Kesey can find a number of artists to the longevity of the medium, printing designs on blotter saying, “People buy and display paper for collectors and heads alike. Over at them as art, but it also gives some- acidblotter.com Detroit’s highly respected print house 1XRUN one a chance to reconnect with @1xrun (one-time run), they host an annual show their history.” For many collectors, @zanekesey which honors Bicycle Day (LSD’s birthday) by that simple picture of an elephant re@zieromuko selecting popular names like Tara McPherson, minds them of a night they saw stars @goodtrip Ziero Muko and Good Trip Studios to imagine dance and connects them to others @abrooksart what they would create on a sheet of acid. who shared a similar experience. @mr.melty More than just a group show centered on Whether you bought a blotter @ellie.paisley a medium, 1XRUN has taken extra steps to sheet because you love the artist, @art_by_spectra ensure they pay homage to the roots of the collect the medium, or wanted movement by teaming up with someone whose a souvenir from your past, the whole medium is a involvement in LSD counterculture is part of a living part of art history and a testament to how a family tradition. picture can be worth a thousand words.

“People buy and display them as art, but it also gives someone a chance to reconnect with their history.”

AUG. 2024

Mr. Melty

Aaron Brooks

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for LEAF NATION | ARTWORK COURTESY FEATURED ARTISTS & KEY-Z PRODUCTIONS

cannthropology leafmagazines.com

60

COURTESY KEITH STROUP/NORML

PRESENTS

With his trademark sunglasses, cigarette holder, and bald head, and his passion for guns, drugs, whiskey, and weed, author Hunter S. Thompson was essentially a living caricature — an iconoclastic figure whose eccentric writing and excessive lifestyle redefined journalism and established him as a hedonistic hero of the counterculture.

EARLY YEARS Born on July 18, 1937, in Louisville, Kentucky, Hunter Stockton Thompson displayed passions for writing and rebellion at an early age. After a minor crime spree in his youth, Editing the Eglin Air Force he was sentenced to 60 Base newspaper circa 1956. days in county jail for armed robbery at the age of 17. He was paroled after just 30 days, however, on the condition that he enter the Air Force upon his release; he did, and worked at their newspaper, but was discharged a year early due to “his rebel and superior attitude.”

After leaving the service, he spent several years as a freelance writer, traveling around the Americas and covering an array of topics for various publications. Then, in 1964, he and his new wife Sandra settled near Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, where he was first exposed to the emerging hippie counterculture.

ANGELS, PRANKSTERS & ACID In early 1965, Thompson wrote an article about the Hells Angels biker gang for The Nation, which led to several book offers. As a result, he spent the next year living and riding alongside the Angels

AUG. 2024

Hunter S. Thompson (right) with NORML founder Keith Stroup.

through their misadventures. for word. The article “The Kentucky His book, “Hell’s Angels: The Derby Is Decadent and Depraved” Strange and Terrible Saga of was a frantic, fictionalized, first-perthe Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs,” son skewering of Southern culture, was released in 1967 and was perfectly complimented by Steadman’s Kentucky Derby article an immediate success. manic expressionist scribblings. Thompin Scanlan’s Monthy.

One of the many escapades son thought he’d totally blown the detailed in the book is the time that Thompson assignment; instead, many hailed the piece as “a introduced the Angels to the Merry Pranksters. After tremendous breakthrough in journalism, a stroke of meeting Thompson at SF’s public television studio genius.” One letter of praise from a Boston Globe in August 1965, Pranksters co-founder Ken Kesey editor named Bill Cardoso declared: “This is it — invited him and the gang to his La Honda home for this is pure Gonzo.” Thompson loved the term so a huge two-day party the following weekend. It was much that he adopted it as the name of the new there that he met LSD guru Richard Alpert and beat type of journalism he’d invented. icons Neal Cassady and Allen Ginsberg, and where he and the Angels took acid for the first time.

FREAK POWER IN THE ROCKIES In 1968, Thompson and his family moved to GOING GONZO Colorado, where he purchased the 110-acre plot In May 1970, Thompson pitched a story about the of land in the small town of Woody Creek outside Kentucky Derby to a short-lived publication called Aspen where he would live for the rest of his life Scanlan’s Monthly. Since he refused to work with — a “fortified compound” he named Owl Farm. a photographer, the editor hired a British illustraOf course, Thompson was just one of countless tor named Ralph Steadman, who flew over from intellectuals and hippies who had relocated there London and met Hunter at the racetrack. The pair during the 1950s and ’60s. Many conservatives apparently hit it off despite Thompson’s excessive there, however, didn’t care for the scruffy new drinking and constant threats to mace people. immigrants and began persecuting them. One such Around a week later, with the rest of the resident was business owner turned magistrate Guimagazine already on press and no coherent do Meyer, who hung a “No Hippies Allowed” sign story assembled, Hunter tore out pages from his at his hotel and vowed to rid the area of the dirty, notebook and “telecopied” them to the editor — dope-smoking longhairs — jailing several of them which, surprisingly, they ended up printing word for vagrancy and other minor offenses.

FEAR AND LOATHING Rolling Stone published many collaborations between Thompson and Steadman in the years that followed, the most famous of which was “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream.” Originally featured as a two-part story in the November 1971 issue (then expanded into a book the following sumOriginal Rolling Stone issues mer), this gonzo masterpiece with “Fear and Loathing.” chronicled the deranged, drug-drenched exploits of Raoul Duke (Thompson) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (his lawyer friend Oscar Zeta Acosta) during two consecutive trips to Sin City in the spring of 1971. On the second visit, Thompson even attended a narcotics law enforcement conference whose keynote speaker was drug “expert” Professor E.R. Bloomquist, MD — author of a book titled “Marijuana” that claimed to “tell it like it is.”

“The reefer butt is called a ‘roach’ because it resembles a cockroach …” Thompson says Bloomquist purported. “‘What the fuck are these people talking about?’ my attorney whispered. ‘You’d have to be crazy on acid to think a joint looked like a goddamn cockroach!’”

NORML & HIGH TIMES It was in 1972, while covering the Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach, that Thompson first met fellow Cannabis advocate Keith Stroup — founder of the recently formed National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). In his 2013 book “It’s NORML to Smoke Pot,” Stroup tells the tale of how he followed the smell of marijuana below the convention center bleachers, where he found Thompson toking up. After introducing himself, Hunter shared the joint with him, thus beginning a 33-year friendship. At Stroup’s invitation, Thompson joined NORML’s board of directors and attended many of their conferences in Washington, D.C., helping to boost the group’s counterculture cachet.

“I have always loved marijuana.

“Attendance would sometimes increase as much as 50 percent when word spread that Hunter would be there,” says Stroup. “People brought their best weed from around the country just for the chance to share it with Hunter S. Thompson.”

In fact, Stroup recalls one time at the 1977 conference when attendees began throwing joints at Thompson during a panel after he sarcastically chided them for celebrating a minor political win.

“I don’t know what all you people are so happy about,” Thompson reportedly barked. “How can you be in such a good mood when I can’t find any marijuana? All the progress that you’re talking about doesn’t mean shit if marijuana smokers can’t get good marijuana!”

Through Stroup, Thompson also developed a relationship with High Times magazine — doing several interviews and appearing on their cover twice. For the “Celebrities on Pot” piece in their 20th-anniversary issue, Thompson told HT: “I have always loved marijuana. It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits — and millions of Americans agree with me. I am not an addict, but I refuse to be without it … marijuana’s gotta be there. I can’t talk about giving up weed.”

SUCCESS, SUICIDE & SENDOFF In the decades that followed, Thompson’s counterculture cred continued to grow as he embarked on a series of college lecture tours, wrote nearly 100 articles, and published around a dozen books — some of which were adapted into feature films: “Where the Buffalo Roam,” “The Rum Diary,” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Acclaimed Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau based his character “Uncle Duke” on him, and several filmmakers have released documentaries about him. By the turn of the millennium, Hunter had cemented his status as a literary icon. But despite his outward success, Thompson was suffering internally — both from “unbearable” pain from injuries that had confined him to a wheelchair and from depression. Finally, one Sunday afternoon, he decided he’d had enough.

At 5:42 p.m. on February 20, 2005, while on the phone with his wife, Hunter S. Thompson held a .45-caliber handgun to his head and pulled the trigger. Though distressing, his suicide was far from unexpected or out of character: his second wife Anita said that he’d talked about killing himself in the months leading up to the incident, saying that he “wanted to leave on top of his game.” And that was hardly the first time.

COURTESY KEITH STROUP/NORML

It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. I still think of it as a basic staple of life ... and millions of Americans agree with me.”

“The Death of Dr. Thompson” photo, inscribed to NORML’s Keith Stroup (Owl Farm,1991).

“He told me 25 years ago that he would feel real trapped if he didn’t know that he could commit suicide at any moment,” Steadman wrote in his 2006 memoir “The Joke’s Over: Bruised Memories — Gonzo, Hunter S. Thompson, and Me.” “I don’t know if that is brave or stupid or what, but it was inevitable.”

In fact, he and Steadman had already planned his funeral almost 30 years earlier — designing a cannon in the shape of his gonzo fist logo from which he wanted his mortal remains to be fired. And thanks in part to his pal Johnny Depp (who portrayed him on screen), those wishes were ultimately fulfilled: on Saturday, August 20, 2005, at a private ceremony on Owl Farm dubbed “Hunterpalooza,” Thompson’s ashes were launched into the night sky from atop a 153-foot-tall Freak Power tower.

EPILOGUE Since his passing, Hunter’s widow has founded the nonprofit Gonzo Foundation, dedicated to promoting literature, journalism and political activism. She also announced a Gonzo Cannabis brand featuring strains cloned from samples of Hunter’s head Owl Farm, 1997. stash and established two scholarships in his name. NORML, too, has set up a scholarship in Thompson’s name, awarded him a Special Appreciation Award posthumously, and named their annual Media Award after him.

But beyond all the accolades and articles, perhaps Hunter’s greatest legacy is the countless writers and journalists — myself included — that he inspired to trust their inner voices, color outside the lines and let their freak power flags fly.

After all, as he famously once said, “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”

For more Cannabis history content, and to listen to our Cannthropology podcast, please visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.

STO RY b y B O B BY B LAC K @ CAN N T H RO PO LO G Y for LEA F NAT IO N

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS: HELEN DAVIS

THOMAS W. BENTON

Now, Thompson never identified as a hippie … but after being brutalized by Chicago PD during the protests outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention, he’d become an avowed avenger for civil rights.

And so, he decided to get involved.

In 1969, he persuaded Joe Edwards — a biker/lawyer who defended the arrested hippies — into running for mayor and helped manage his campaign. Then, after Edwards lost (by only six votes), Thompson declared his candidacy for Pitkin County sheriff the following year. He ran on what he called the Freak Power Party ticket — a new organization of his own invention, whose official logo was a two-thumbed fist grasping a peyote button. He detailed the Freak Power platform in his debut article for Rolling Stone magazine entitled “The Battle of Aspen” — a catalog of controversial campaign promises that included disarming the police, locking “dishonest dope dealers” up in stocks in front of the courthouse, and decriminalizing personal use and possession of marijuana and other drugs.

He didn’t win the election, but his campaign catapulted him into a national media spotlight.

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THERE ARE too many damn choices these days. You wake up, throw on the standard comfort wear and now you’re armed and ready to start ruling out inferior options in almost every aspect of life. Thankfully, some of your choices are predetermined, like which coffee you’ll drink, where you’ll sit at the breakfast table and how to get to where you’re going. Then some are not pre-determined.

And so it begins: whether to shave or go with the rugged look; which entertainment or educational outlet to choose for the commute; whether to speed through the yellow light or ease in and stay put at the crosswalk; how far to stay back from the crosswalk; whether or not to run over the pedestrians crossing the crosswalk and disappear to Mexico.

What to have for lunch.

Most presidents go so far as to reduce their everyday clothing to one or two outfits to lower the number of decisions they make daily. Steve Jobs did it. In fact, it has become known that the average human makes around 35,000 decisions in a single 24-hour period, while seven of those are spent sleeping.

Yes, we make decisions while we sleep. Like how to deal with your cat who tells you she wants to move out because she doesn’t like the goofy booties you’re buying for her paws. Or where to hide from the hamburger that is trying to eat you.

Even if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

And choosing doesn’t get any easier when it comes to Cannabis. Will it be a joint, a bowl or a bong hit? A cartridge, an edible or a dab?

Sativa, indica or a hybrid? Or choose all of them.

It’s the right kind of burnout.

aug. 2024

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