July 2023 - Oregon Leaf

CONCENTRATES THECONCENTRATES THE

&EXTRACTS EXTRACTS ISSUE ISSUE

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

AMANDA DAY STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR amanda@leafmagazines.com

MAKANI NELSON STATE SALES DIRECTOR makani@leafmagazines.com (808) 754-4182

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

ABOUT THE COVER

This playful project highlighting the nectar of our beloved flower was styled by Alex Dubs @workdubs and photographed by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media. It’s an ode to the essence of the plant that we’ve come to know and love in many forms. To create the hummingbird, these creative collaborators chose the live rosins of Lofty, Focus North, Oregrown, and Decibel Dabs, along with Squishy Scientific’s temple ball and Dr. Jolly’s cured resin. The sculpture (seen feeding from Oregon’s Flower of the Month by Echo Electuary) offers a taste of the current market as it continues to lean into solventless selections.

CONTRIBUTORS

DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

KATELYN COLLINS, REVIEWS

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES + PHOTOS

ALEX DUBS, STYLING + REVIEWS

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

RYAN HERRON, FEATURES

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS

PROFESSOR SIFT, PHOTOS

TONY SIMONELLI, PHOTOS

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

KAT WOLF, REVIEWS

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. Email makani@leafmagazines.com to learn more about our range of affordable print and digital advertising options to help support Oregon Leaf, the state’s longest-running Cannabis magazine!

CONNECT W I T H OREGON LEAF!

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Concentrates Issue of the Leaf!

Our Concentrates Issue is my favorite of the year for one simple reason: I love dabs!

My first dab was around 2011 – in the century-old boiler room below the now closed Northern Cross Collective Gardens – and I remember feeling the oil touch the red hot nail as the vapor burst into my lungs with the force of a thousand bong hits. The world closed in around me and I felt the reverberation of raw THC as it pulsed through my blood and into my mind, sending me away for the next few hours, humming with a high that was unlike anything else.

Over the last decade of publishing and working in Cannabis, I have personally seen the concentrate world evolve from homemade Rick Simpson Oil and open-blasted butane hash oil, to highly medicinal mono-cannabinoid extracts and vaporizable concentrates of all kinds, to being the precursor to a new world of edibles, topicals, capsules and more. For our Concentrates Issue we sought out the best examples of the different types of extractions, to share how they affect the body and the science behind the scenes.

Concentrating Cannabis means exactly what it sounds like: taking a full plant and using a process or solvent to extract the purest essence of it. This makes it incredibly important to only consume high-quality, pesticide-tested concentrates. Quality concentrates have the ability to impart healing values that Cannabis flower alone cannot replicate, delivering a pure flavor and experience that captures the taste and effect of fresh Cannabis in a perfect dab. Look closely and you’ll see that concentrates cover every aspect of Cannabis – every product beyond flower – from medicinal to recreational uses and benefits.

Our comprehensive Concentrates Issue covers the different extraction methods, terminology, ways to consume and much more. So take a dab, flip through this beautiful and informational issue, and learn something new that you can share with someone in need of Cannabis – as both a plant and a medicine. And as always, thanks for reading and sharing the Leaf!

“FOR OUR CONCENTRATES ISSUE WE SOUGHT OUT THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXTRACTIONS.”

PHOTO BY AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA STYLING BY ALEX DUBS @WORKDUBS

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) in June decided to delay the issuing of state licenses for marijuana businesses. The board cited possible irregularities in the scoring of applicants.

AMCC did not say if it had evidence of wrongdoing. “I know we’re all concerned about it, but it would have been just a catastrophe if the applicants went through their numbers and found an error,” said commission director John McMillan.

"The vote came a few days after the commission awarded 21 licenses to grow, process, distribute, transport and test medical marijuana."

The vote came a few days after the commission awarded 21 licenses to grow, process, distribute, transport and test medical marijuana. Several companies that didn’t get licenses said they weren’t clear on why some firms prevailed.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER ANSWERING DOOR

A Kentucky man was charged with trafficking marijuana after answering the door with drugs in June. Oak Grove Police say they went to the home attempting to serve an arrest warrant and 28-year-old Pedro Gelpi answered the door with a Cannabis blunt behind his ear.

During a search of the home a large amount of marijuana, along with money, was reportedly found. Gelpi was arrested and charged with trafficking marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

MARIJUANA LICENSE REVOKED IN MICHIGAN UNLICENSED CASE

The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency ordered an already suspended marijuana business in Shiawassee County’s Corunna to destroy all of its marijuana products, and then revoked its license.

The CRA in a statement issued in June said inspectors discovered suspected illicit and unlicensed marijuana, in addition to other rules violations. The discoveries happened during an October 2022 site visit to discuss the business’s inoperable camera system.

“When licensees don’t act within the laws and rules that govern the Cannabis industry, we must act swiftly to protect the public,” CRA Director Brian Hanna said.

MINNESOTA VETERANS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN 2024

Thousands of Minnesota veterans will be able to access medical marijuana for the first time in 2024. Veterans receiving care through the VA System have faced some unique challenges, according to Office of Medical Cannabis Director Chris Tholkes.

“Those providers are not allowed to certify their patients for the medical program because of the federal standing of marijuana,” Tholkes said. “So, we are tasked with developing a new way to get veterans into the program.”

2.5

ounces of Cannabis is the new possession limit in Nevada.

D.C. WOMAN BLOCKS NEIGHBOR SMOKING MEDICAL WEED

A D.C. resident just won a private nuisance case to block her neighbor from smoking medical marijuana.

The ruling – in a first-of-its-kind case in the District over Cannabis smoke – may influence other judges and landlords, reports the news website, Axios.

"Veterans receiving care through the VA System have faced some unique challenges, according to Office of Medical Cannabis Director Chris Tholkes."

4

medical marijuana products were recalled in Arizona due to salmonella.

Cleveland Park resident Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd was so bothered by the smoke she sued her nextdoor neighbor, representing herself.

“Cleveland Park resident Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd was so bothered by the smoke she sued her nextdoor neighbor, representing herself.”

A judge ruled last Monday in her favor. The judge ordered Thomas Cackett to stop smoking inside his own home – or anywhere within 25 feet of IppolitoShepherd’s address, The Washington Post reported. Medical and adult marijuana use are legal in D.C.

5

ounces and less convictions would be expunged by the Ohio Adult Use Act.

14

grams and less convictions are eligible for expungement in Louisiana after 90 days.

FLORIDA TO VOTE ON ADULT-USE CANNABIS LEGALIZATION

IN 2024

Aconstitutional amendment to legalize the adult use of Cannabis could be on the Florida ballot next year. The proposed amendment is inspiring both support and opposition.

Suncoast NORML Executive Director Chris Cano has issues with the petition, but it already received enough signatures to put it on the 2024 ballot. Cano said if passed, it could benefit businesses more than consumers. The Adult Use of Marijuana initiative would allow the legal sale of Cannabis to anyone over 21 by medical marijuana treatment centers. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court. Once allowed on the 2024 ballot, Floridians can vote to legalize personal use of Cannabis.

normalization

NCAA PANEL RECOMMENDS DROPPING MARIJUANA FROM BANNED DRUGS

AN

NCAA panel is calling for the removal of marijuana from the organization's list of banned drugs. The panel suggested that testing should be limited to performance-enhancing substances.

The proposal released in June from the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports would mark a big change for the NCAA. The organization has been drug testing at championship events since 1986. Committee members recommended halting Cannabis tests at events until a final decision is made this fall.

“Legislation would still have to be introduced and approved by all three NCAA divisions to take effect.”

Legislation would still have to be introduced and approved by all three NCAA divisions to take effect. Administrators in Divisions II and III had asked the committee to study the issue. The recommendation comes as the U.S. is seeing more states allowing medical or adult marijuana use.

3,000

states have legalized Cannabis for adult use since 2012.

Kansas Citians have had their old weed charges cleared from their records.

HOW DO YOU ROCKET?

Tried THCV Tried THCV ?

THCV is the Super Sativa you ' ve been look

Focus and energy minus th clouded mind and munchi

Ask your budtender for whole plant, n THCV in Kites Super Sativa prerolls.

KANOP KANOP

The first thing that catches your eye when you pull up to Kanopy 7 in Medford is the massive mural on the side of the building done by Mike Fudge (@MikeFudgeart). Once you walk into the shop, also known as K7, you are greeted by knowledgeable budtenders who have been working together for years – they’re an extremely welcoming crew and so is the vibe.

The interior woodwork was completed by one of the owners himself, bringing the dispensary to life with acoustic sound diffusion. The wavy paneling not only creates visual appeal, but also helps to create a more intimate atmosphere – with more artwork from Mike Fudge adorning the countertops alongside the K7 merchandise rounding out the creative scene. Behind it, we met with Inventory Manager KD, customer service aficionado Brandon, and budtenders Jonah, Joshua and Krista.

K7 does not carry any products with botanical terpenes, mixed oils or additives, and won’t even accept samples of them. They are critical of the products they bring into the store and pride themselves on their highly-curated selection. Diving into our Concentrates and Extracts Issue, we wanted to get some information from the crew on the subject.

Given the shop’s extremely selective nature when it comes to products on their shelves, they’ve created an atmosphere where consumers can rest assured they’ll be led in the right direction. The crew personally tests everything that comes into the shop – bringing authenticity to every transaction in an effort to truly know what they are selling you.

“Since we already curate the menu so much,” KD explained, “we don’t have to weed out a lot of products ... we feel comfortable suggesting everything because we back everything that is in here.”

We couldn’t help but wonder: If this crew was giving advice to someone who was brand new to extracts, what would they say? KD replied excitedly, “I love those people! I try to make it as easy as possible because dabbing is super complicated when you are first getting going … Start them off with cold starts because it is the easiest way to get someone to not burn their dab.”

Dave recommended starting out “with some of the cheap things and level up. If you go straight to the top, you may not appreciate how good the top is.”

As for us, we wanted to leave with some staff favorites, so the team sent us on our way with some 24K from Bo’s Nose, Z Hash Rosin from Echo Electuary, Umami Full Melt from Fuji Melt, and Amaretto Sour flower from Lower Left Organics.

The Kanopy 7 team will be celebrating their five-year anniversary on July 29 – complete with a food truck and festivities. And to take the celebration up a notch, they’ll also have a secret menu. We’ll see you there!

“They are critical of the products they bring into the store and pride themselves on their highly-curated selection.”

ALTERED ALCHEMY ALTERED ALCHEMY

TUCKED AWAY in downtown Medford is Altered Alchemy, and this company is making some major moves! Lead Processor Noah Kelley gave us a tour of the location, starting in the finished goods room, where we were met by Kendra and Casey who were busy labeling some new extracts. Led into the lab, we met Jose – the guru of the distillate machine. He explained that temperature is one of the most important aspects of this process: It's all about finding the sweet spot. Noah shared that timing is also important. Trying to go too fast may result in a “dirty crash” – something nobody wants.

altered Alchemy has been on a mission to become a single-source establishment. They now have two farms that supply enough material to keep their finished products stocked up. Since that change, their menu has grown substantially.

The company originally started with cured resin, but over the last few years, have added live resin, diamonds, distillate blended cartridges and most recently, strain specific FECO (full extract Cannabis oil).

Now that they have their own farms, they are able to create multiple types of extracts using the same strain – so whichever type of extract you prefer, you can stick with the cultivar that works for you.

Noah explained that single source has “really changed” their game, but the team still collaborates occasionally because they like working with other growers and keeping those connections.

Collaborations aside, the team truly has all it needs at home with one another. “Jeremy (a co-owner), I have known him since sixth grade,” Noah shared. “I bought my first pair of skate shoes from him and we’ve been friends ever since. He kind of got me into this – of course, I have always been interested in Cannabis, but he got me interested in the extraction part of it … I had somewhat of a knack for it, but there is always so much more to learn.”

The company originally started with cured resin, but over the last few years, have added live resin, diamonds, distillate blended cartridges and most recently, strain specific FECO (full extract Cannabis oil).

One thing that really stood out was the cleanliness and organization of this lab. When Noah opened the doors to their storage, each and every pan was meticulously labeled with product information. He is very particular about weights and adjustments and everything that happens here – ensuring compliance each step of the way.

It’s always a wonderful experience meeting people who are excited about their work, and this crew of Altered Alchemists – matching lab coats and all – represented that in the purest fashion.

Making smoking concentrates convenientand customizable

THE CARTA 2 | FOCUS V

LATELY, I haven’t been leaving the house without my handy CARTA 2 – an electronic rig from Focus V dreamt up to help hash heads “dab smarter.”

Seriously, I think I may use this device more than my own cell phone.

The thing absolutely rips – with a larger atomizer than the classic model and a 360° heating element for optimized airflow, they say “the CARTA hits hardaaa.” Even with more power, the design is sleeker than ever before. She fits right in my car’s cup holder or coat pocket and comes in an adorable mini backpack that is both portable and stylish.

Besides being thoughtfully crafted for onthe-go usage, the amount of personalization

the CARTA 2 provides is perhaps its most significant differentiator. Some of my personal favorite features are the ability to upload custom screensavers and change the LED color to match my mood or the vibe of the sesh I’m at. Here at HQ, we obviously like to keep our device on-brand – glowing green with the lil’ Leaf Nation logo as our screensaver. A whole slew of more fire features certainly makes it easy to customize your own concentrates experience with the CARTA 2.

Originally available in black and clear, Focus V recently dropped four fresh colorways: Grape, Midnight, Mint and Forest, as well as new Chromatix glass tops attachments and a limited run of custom branded Tuff Tethers with matching Zach Harrison carb caps.

AN OLED DISPLAY SCREEN showcases all the quick stats you need to see and tactile buttons on the base make for quick time and temp adjustments in between hits or users, or even mid dab. If you want to go digital, there’s the mobile app that makes it possible to fully control the device from your phone – changing the temperature or hit duration, saving color presets and LED light shows for different sesh vibes, or even heating up your dab – all from across the room and with the press of a button.

“We created the piece so that it could be yours,” explains JR, the brand’s Director of Product Development. “Choose your colorway, upload a custom screensaver, or mix and match accessories. We wanted to push the E-Rig space and innovate in personalization and individuality to help destigmatize dabbing. With our device, you can turn the LED light pink, put the temp down low, and heat up a dab for your grandma from your phone. It makes the whole process not only more personal, but more accessible to people who might not try dabbing off of a rig – which can seem scary with the torch, or overwhelming because it requires a lot of accessories and ongoing costs like filling up butane.”

Beyond building a device that functions effortlessly and looks sexy doing it, I’m all about being part of the Focus family because I love what they’re doing to bring the concentrates community together. The founders all have a legacy background in the Cannabis industry, currently operating with a “small but nimble” team that is incredibly passionate about hash, based out in LA with an East Coast hub in NYC as well.

Sam, the company’s CEO, goes on to tell me how, “Eight years ago, I started Rosin Tech – one of the first companies to pioneer solventless hash extraction equipment. That evolved into Rosin Tech Labs, which is now one of the leading hash companies in California. We have always championed hash-making at all levels and continue to push this passion through our products like the CARTA 2 and the network of industry functions you can always find our team at.”

The brand has been a part of international events from Spannabis in Barcelona to Hall of Flowers and Legends of Hashish in California, and collaborated with other industry leaders like Blazy Susan, Mystic Timber, and SakiBomb. A popping Discord channel creates a community for users to connect virtually, while tracking technology and social features through the app allow you to keep a count of device hits – and see how much your friends are seshing, too.

There’s even an international leaderboard of app users where you can upload your dab count and become a world champion. Finally … someone has made smoking concentrates a sport.

Thank you, team CARTA.

“WE WANTED TO PUSH THE E-RIG SPACE AND INNOVATE IN PERSONALIZATION AND INDIVIDUALITY TO HELP DESTIGMATIZE DABBING,” EXPLAINS JR, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AT FOCUS V.

PHOTO BY FOCUS V

– Yup, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

Our products feel different because they are made differently. We specialize in lipid infusions of cannabis. Inspired by a traditional herbalist method of steeping herbs in fats or oils, our proprietary process produces a sparkling-clear, golden-colored infusion that is mild tasting and highly bioavailable without using unhealthy solvents or gimmicky tech. This pure process captures the exceptional phytochemical diversity of Oregon’s best regeneratively-grown cannabis, preserving a full spectrum of naturally-occuring cannabinoids and terpenes.

Luminous Botanicals is proud to be the world's first Sun+Earth Certified manufacturer. Sun+Earth certifies cannabis that is grown under the sun, in the soil of mother earth, without chemicals, by fairly-paid farmers.

GARBANZOS FOR THE ROAD

4 SERVINGS | 5MG THC PER SERVING | 20MG THC TOTAL

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 teaspoons canna-olive oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon turmeric

½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper

3 cans chickpeas/garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

2 grilled chicken breasts, thinly sliced shredded carrots

pita chips

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the pita chips and mix well to combine flavors. Allow to sit for 30 minutes before serving.

HIGHJULY

The chickpea salad is healthy, easy and makes a great warm weather lunch or dinner. You can leave out the chicken entirely, or sub a different protein like tofu or shrimp. This smoothie is my weekend morning treat – starting the day with a bang, not a bong. If you have never had a citrus curd, try this. Creamy like velvet, tangy and sweet, the crunch of the toasted bread, the luscious fruit … you just have to try this at home.

LEMON LIME CURD WITH TOASTED BAGUETTE

12 SERVINGS | 5MG THC/SERVING | 60MG THC TOTAL

2 large lemons, zested and juiced

1 lime, zested and juiced

1 cup granulated sugar

5 egg yolks, lightly beaten

4 tablespoons canna-butter, cut in pieces

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt

12 slices toasted baguette

1 cup berries, sliced if large

1. In a medium bowl, combine the zest and sugar. Mash together with a wooden spoon or potato masher.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine the zest and sugar mixture, lemon juice, yolks and butters. Stir to mix well. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens, about 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat and place in a bowl. Stir in the vanilla and salt.

3. The mixture will thicken as it cools. Allow to come to room temperature, chill in the fridge for two hours.

4. Spread the curd on the toasted bread. Top with berries and toasted flaked coconut.

Sometimes I bring my lunch to work and make this salad with CBD. And I share. When infused with THC, folks have to come to my house to eat it … and they have to promise to stay ‘til the THC feels are gone. This salad is good for you and only gets better as the flavors commingle.

2. Serve with pita chips. I like to mix them into the salad – the dressing and crunch go perfect together.

GREEN DREAM

SMOOTHIE

2 LARGE SERVINGS

5MG THC/SERVING

10MG THC TOTAL

1 ripe avocado

1 ½ cups almond milk, or milk of your choice

1 banana, peeled and sliced

½ cup almond butter

1-2 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons canna-oil or butter, (melted and cooled)

chia seeds

1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth.

2. Divide between two glasses and top with chia seeds. I never thought I would enjoy drinking avocado anything. I also didn’t know how healthy avocados are. But this drink is fire. Get a ripe avocado (yields to gentle pressure) and give it a whirl in the blender with the rest of the ingredients. I wonder if a savory version with the stuff that goes in guacamole would be good?

Pipe Dreams Dispensary

For those who choose to stand out, be di erent, and create their own path

“The Lemon Royale bred by Swampboy Seeds was passed on to Echo Electuary by the flavor-chasing crew at Eastwood Gardens.” Lemon Tree x (GMO x Triangle Kush)

For our Concentrates and Extracts Issue, we’ve decided to explore an exclusive look at Echo Electuary’s supreme Lemon Royale to see how this cross of Lemon Tree with GMO and Triangle Kush shines in flower, as a live budder extract, and in (solventless) live hash rosin badder form. We’re celebrating all of the actual lemon scents, alongside concentrated candy flavors and the similarities and differences in each. Let’s dig in.

Flower

This flower smells like walking through a Pacific Northwest forest, finding a hidden lemon grove, and realizing it’s smack dab in the middle of skunk mating season – layered lemon aromas with undeniable gas and funky flavors just beneath. The heightened lemon peel at the forefront and a loud pine forest middle with hints of greasy funk as a base note have us drooling.

The flower breaks down like a dream – exposing trichomes coating every conceivable surface of the buds and scenting the room with an overabundance of citrus as it spins around in the grinder. Showing off an excellent cure, this sticky flower handily makes joint rolling a breeze. Slow-burning and highly aromatic, the Lemon Royale’s ember glows steadily and provides a buzzy, euphoric high.

Live Budder Extract (right)

The light caramel-colored oil showcases an entire rainbow of candy flavors that make Lemon Royale a standout. Picture juicy, sugar-coated lemon and orange jelly candies and you’re halfway there. Warm woods, dripping pine sap and sweetened funk comprise the rest of the profile in the jar.

The budder is dense but lively, dancing like panna cotta on the end of a dab tool. Once it hits the warmed quartz it melts like a dream, expanding on the nail into a cloud of bright flavors and mood-elevating effects with a quick onset. The expertise of the extraction is apparent in the complex balance of candy and gas flavors mingling in each low-temp dab.

Live Hash Rosin Badder (left)

Fresh from the fridge, this taffy-textured oil reeks of Starburst candies layered over nose-wrinkling funk. As it warms, more savory-leaning aromas compete with the exceptionally loud candied-lemon-peel flavors at the forefront – creating a mouth-watering wallop of flavor.

Potent even at low temperatures, this oil hits the quartz and immediately shifts the mood. Chatty and lively. Each draw hits hard and builds on the last to foster a relaxed but focused effect.

The Lemon Royale bred by Swampboy Seeds was passed on to Echo Electuary by the flavor-chasing crew at Eastwood Gardens. Echo has been doing it justice ever since, filling rows of their greenhouses and cultivating flower destined for the top shelf extraction and concentration. Now, fans can keep an eye on their brand new Eugene dispensary – Hive Cannabis Connect – for the release of Echo Electuary flower.

DAB VOCAB' DAB VOCAB'

Concent Extracts explained.

FRESH FROZEN

The process of freezing Cannabis plant material right after harvesting it, typically with dry ice, to preserve trichomes for concentrate extraction.

ICE WATER HASH

Made when trichomes are separated from fresh frozen plant material using nothing but ice, water and filter bags. Also referred to as bubble hash, it is usually dabbed but can also be mixed with flower and smoked.

FULL MELT

The highest grade of ice water hash, usually rated at five or six stars. Fully melts and leaves very little to no residue or char on the banger.

STAR SYSTEM

What stars are we talking about here, you say? Ice water hash is rated on a scale of one to six stars based on quality and meltability, with one being the lowest quality and six being the highest.

FLAG OF HASH

Pressing out water hash using parchment paper into a flag shape in order to dab it off a nail.

TRADITIONAL HASHISH

Produced for centuries in countries such as Morocco, Afghanistan, Nepal and India, traditional hashish is made by either separating the trichomes from a live plant with one's hands (charas) or by agitating dried, cured plant material over a screen (dry-sift), then compressing the collected resin to form a solid brick or ball of concentrate that is typically brown in color.

Six star bubble hash that’s been washed and cured using a unique process that preserves resin. It has a consistency similar to soft fudge and can be cut with a knife.

LIVE ROSIN

Solventless hash oil made by using water and ice to agitate the trichomes off of the fresh frozen plant material, which is then placed into a rosin press that uses heat and pressure to extract the rosin.

FRESH PRESS

Rosin that goes directly from the parchment paper it was pressed onto and into the jar. Tends to have a glassy, stretchy consistency like taffy.

COLD CURE

Fresh-pressed rosin that has been stored in a jar, cured at low temperatures, and agitated until it has more of a batter-like consistency.

FULL SPECTRUM EXTRACTS

Includes all compounds of the Cannabis plant such as cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, rather than isolating just one specific compound.

WAX

An umbrella term used to describe concentrates that appear soft and waxy in appearance. Typically extracted using butane or hydrocarbon solvents, and comes in a variety of forms referred to as butter/badder, honeycomb, crumble, sugar and more.

BHO

Butane Hash Oil, or a form of concentrates extracted using butane, and available in various consistencies. Excess butane is purged using a vacuum oven.

DISTILLATE

An extract made with a distillation process that separates all materials and compounds from one specific cannabinoid, often THC. Can be used to dab or vaporize, but is most often found in edibles, topicals, vape cartridges and other products.

DIAMONDS

Cannabinoids which have been purified and isolated to form crystalline solids that look like diamonds.

FECO

Full Extract Cannabis Oil. A dark, tar-like extract made by soaking plant matter in a solvent – typically grain alcohol. Often used for severe pain relief. Sometimes referred to as Phoenix Tears or Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), after the Canadian engineer and Cannabis advocate who helped popularize its medical use to treat tumors and other cancers.

SHATTER

Named for its glass-like consistency that tends to crack or shatter when broken, typically gold or amber in color.

HASH HOLE

Also referred to as a “donut,” hash holes are rolled with a snake of hash rosin surrounded by flower. As the flower and rosin burn together it creates a perfect ring of hash resembling a donut, with bubbling rosin in the hole.

JAM

Bubble hash that has been pressed and heated until the microcrystals of THCa separate from the terps in the rosin, creating a jam-like consistency with small chunks of crystals.

EXTRACTION

The process of removing the resin from fresh frozen plant material to make a concentrate.

SOLVENT

Extraction methods can use solvents, such as butane or CO2, to create products like BHO or CO2 extracts.

SOLVENTLESS

Extraction methods not dependent on solvents can use techniques involving ice and water, or heat and pressure, to remove oils. This is used to create products like rosin or traditional hashish.

SQUISHING

Also called “pressing,” this is the process of using a rosin press to apply heat and pressure in order to “squish” live rosin out of the plant material.

RESIN

A sticky substance found in trichomes that can be collected or extracted from the plant to make various forms of concentrates.

MICRON SCREEN

A series of mesh screens that allow trichomes to fall through to each successive screen while

HEAD STASH

Your personal, private reserve stash of those extra special or rare terps you don’t want to share. “My roommate better not have smoked that jar from my head stash while I wasn’t home.”

HEADIE

A piece of glass you’re proud to pull up to the sesh with. “Hey man, can I take a dab of this fire off your new headie?”

GLOB

A dab of epic-sized proportions. “I need a giant glob after the day I’ve had.”

710

The dab version of 420. And if you haven’t gotten it yet, “710” spells “OIL” upside down and backwards. “What event are we pulling up to for 7/10 this year?”

WOOK

A hippie who likes to take a lot of dabs and hang out at music festivals to see jam bands. “Wow, there sure were a lot of wooks on lot at the Grateful Dead show last night.”

DAB RIG

A water pipe that is used to inhale Cannabis concentrates.

E-RIG

A device that electronically heats a nail for dabbing rather than using a torch. Learn more about Focus V, one of the innovators in eRig technology, in this month’s issue or at LeafMagazines.com

NAIL

An attachment that connects to the downstem of a rig, like a bowl in a bong, to hold and heat up the concentrate.

BANGER

A bucket-shaped attachment on a rig to dab concentrates off of, made in a variety of materials, sizes and designs.

QUARTZ

A common material used to make bangers that can withstand high temperatures for longer periods of time, making it the most common and ideal material for taking dabs off of.

TERP SLURPER

A style of quartz banger with a dish attached to the bottom, invented by glass legend JP Toro. When a concentrate is heated up and melts, holes in the bottom of the banger allow oil to seep out into the dish, enhancing flavor and minimizing waste.

CARB CAP

A device that seals around the banger to help regulate the amount and direction of air going to the nail on a dab rig.

DABBER

A tool that is used to scoop up dabs and place them on a banger.

DAB MAT

A mat made of non-stick material that is placed underneath a rig when dabbing to protect the glass and keep it in place.

TERP PEARL

Small balls that spin around the bottom of the banger while dabbing to distribute the concentrate and heat evenly.

TORCH

A device filled with butane that is used to heat the nail of a dab rig to high temperatures.

ISO

Referred to simply as “iso,” isopropyl alcohol is great for getting sticky resin off surfaces and is used to disinfect and clean dab tools and rigs between uses.

THE HASH >THE HYPE

AS CANNABIS continues to march across the world, transforming policy and becoming more of a mainstream product, hash has become the counterculture hero – picking up the slack by representing classic elements of stoner society.

The crowd buying these items might account for a small fraction of a dispensary’s customer base, but this group is a veritable terp army that’s grown to represent the loudest voice when it comes to cost and demand, with a two-gram jar of rosin recently going on the private market for $1,000.

Fuji Melt

PoonTang Pie #5 melts into a Jake Mizer Glass “Heatmizer”

Photos by Amanda Day (right, and upper right)

People in this world have a prerequisite that you show a certain level of knowledge about glassblowers, genetics or hashmakers to sit at the session. E-rigs have undoubtedly made it more mainstream, but the question is: How and why has hash risen in the last ten years from tradition to trend?

Though a shift to highlighting solventless products like cold cure rosin has begun to slide through the beverage, edible and vape menus in recreational states – hash, in several of its most superb forms – has yet to find firm footing for the retail store.

Why is it that some of the plant’s most prized products only exist in either the gray area, the internet, or the freezer? That’s what we’d like to ask you, dear reader. To get you started thinking, consider two types of sought-after hash that have a difficult time getting to and sitting on the shelves at your local store: full melt and piattella.

FULL MELT

Six star or full melt hash represents the top of the game for any serious fan. It’s not the average consumer’s go-to. In fact, most of the hash you see in stores is the three and four star variety. Full melt is expensive, requires careful handling, burns at lower temperatures and needs to be stored in a freezer to keep the trichome heads from solidifying – also called “greasing up.” Producers have had trouble introducing this to the retail crowd since it isn’t as shelf stable as certain rosins.

Along with that, there’s a process to smoking it – and while flattening some and watching it melt away in a banger is a top-shelf experience – it’s one that carries a non-introductory price tag. Even vendors will tell you people who shop for full melt rarely buy the same jar twice. Still, many regular hash smokers consider it a rare treat and will prize it over a fresh press or cold cure.

PIATTELLA

Coming out of Europe, piattella has been all the hype after 2023’s Spannabis event. Named after the Italian word for, amongst other things, a tiny brick – it’s bubble hash that’s been cured and shaped into greasy rectangles that glisten with terpenes.

Innovated and perfected in Spain by people like Uncle’s Farm and La Sagrada Farm, many have called it the best hash experience they’ve had in years. Only a handful of clubs in Barcelona offer the product and even fewer are releasing piattella in the U.S. market.

Archive in Oregon experimented, but described the challenge of presenting it to consumers after it’s been sliced and portioned down from the mouth-watering patty they saw online. Sunburn Cannabis in Florida, the first to drop some on the American market, had their two-gram jars see a positive initial reception – but there’s no telling if it will catch on after the clout of posting some online dies away.

QUICK HIT

Looking at these two prized varieties, it’s hard to say if there’ll be a day when you see a filled-out full melt or even a piattella section at your local stores. We hope reading this inspires you to take a look at the hash in your favorite shops and see what’s causing such a stir with stoners

Hash is where some of the strongest remnants of stoner culture exist – where the old symbols still hold sway. Dabbing takes equipment, knowledge and practice to enjoy properly. At a time when puffing a joint or eating an edible has never been easier, you have to put in some effort to smoke hash.

120-90u Animal Cookies piattella, delicious any way you slice it.

Photo by Professor Sift

“THE CROWD BUYING THESE ITEMS MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR A SMALL FRACTION OF A DISPENSARY’S CUSTOMER BASE, BUT THIS GROUP IS A VERITABLE TERP ARMY…”

CARTS, PODS & RSO

FARMER’S FRIEND EXTRACTS

JOKERZ FULL SPECTRUM CO2 EXTRACT CARTRIDGE

It’s a wonder how Farmer’s Friend was able to coax the rich flavor of Jokerz into this crystal-clear extract. Puffing on the sleek cartridge perfumes the air with the thick scent of Jokerz’ dessert-forward profile. The fading vapor leaves nothing behind but a subtle vanilla aroma and mood-improving relaxation. 82.34% THC

4.19% Terpenes

1.82% CBC | 0.61% CBG.

White Runtz x Jet Fuel Gelato

Cultivated by Siren | ffepdx.com | @ffepdx | @sirencanna

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

BUDDIES

GRAPE MOUNTAIN LIQUID DIAMONDS

LIVE RESIN CART

Cedrene may be a lesser-known terpene, but it makes its presence known in this woody cartridge selection. Something sweet sits inside there too, and as the gentle caress of myrcene makes its way into your lungs, it brings a well-rounded balance to the boldness of cedar.

81.56% THC | 2.92% CBG

8.83% Terpenes | buddiesbrand.com | @buddiesbrand

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

LOYAL OIL CO.

WHITE LABEL EXTRACTS

WHERE’S MY KUSH? LIVE RESIN CART

CALYX CRAFTS

GRAPEFRUIT MOONSHINE LIVE RESIN POD

Calyx Crafts’ rechargeable, one-gram units offer roaring rips of this citrus-forward flavor. Grapefruit genetics found their way to the forefront of the cultivar, and it’s apparent from the first whiff. The full-bodied airflow and big vapor production provide approximately 100 servings per pod – each packing a colossal cloud with little effort. 75.25% THC

8.36% Terpenes | Grapefruit x Vintner’s Moonshine calyxcrafts.com

@calyx.crafts

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

This refreshing selection saturates your senses with a whopping 11.65% terpenes. Terpinolene takes up over 5% of that real estate, but the flavor is far from overwhelming (for once). We like to think that’s largely due to a beautiful balance of background genetics: They’re a heyday of sweet, sour and smokey Hazes and Kushes that come together in a harmonic fashion. 67.24% THC | 11.65% Terpenes | Where’s My Bike? x Sour Fifty Six Cultivated by Benson Arbor | whitelabelextracts.net @white_label_extracts_ @bensonarbor

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

KUSH MINTS FRESHLY SQUEEZED CART

Loyal Oil’s limonene-dominant, bright-gold liquid is a terpene-infused distillate serving up smooth hits of Kush Mints. The ceramic cartridge hardware is sleek, clean, and a consistent provider of pillowy puffs. The cultivar leans into its myrcene content mid-hit, before bouncing back to the comfort of a woody Kush.

71.6% THC | 8.1% Terpenes Bubba Kush x Animal Mints | Cultivated by Grown Rogue theco2company.com/loyaloil

@loyal.oil.co | @grownrogue

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

CARTS, PODS & RSO

HIGH LATITUDE EXTRACTS

LEFTOVERS DISTILLATE & CANNABIS-DERIVED TERPENES CARTRIDGE

The nearly-clear liquid is a Cannabis terpene-infused distillate from a single source. It’s calm and creamy, leaning into the gentle bouquet of Luvli’s Leftovers. The cultivar offers a mild, earthy, musky mix of flavors that are hard to pin down but easy on the lungs, from flower to cartridge.

77.5% THC | 4.4% Terpenes

GMO X Biscotti Sundae

Cultivated by Luvli | highlatitudeextracts.com

@highlatitiudeextract | @luvlipdx | Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

SISKIYOU SUNGROWN

THC RSO

HIGHER CULTURES

ZAHITI TRIANGLE LIVE ROSIN CART

Made from Clean Green Certified Cannabis grown down in Grants Pass. This full-gram rosin pen has a complementary citrus flavor that’s equal parts Tangie and Lime. The exhale really manages to add to the profile by giving you a comfy undertone of Kush that creeps up as you puff for a wonderfully full flavor.

12.42% Terpenes | Triangle Kush x Tangie x Zahiti Lime

Cultivated by Güd Gardens | HigherCultures.com

@highercultures @gudgardens Review by Matt Jackson @actionmattjackson

ORIGINAL MELTS

ORANGE CREAM SODA 70-120

LIVE ROSIN DISPOSABLE MELT STICK

When it comes to pods, this device from Original Melts might be the cutest we’ve seen yet. Though don’t let the trendy colors and slick form factor deceive you, this gadget turns syrupy rosin into thick and flavorful clouds. Hit after hit, a light citrus flavor shines through in this subtle profile. 73.57% THC | 7.35% Terpenes Orange Crush X Juicy Fruit | @originalmelts

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

An old-faithful in our concentrate lineups and medicinal arsenals alike, Siskiyou Sungrown’s RSO is a full spectrum staple for Oregonians seeking non-dabbable cannabinoids. This whole plant potion is a potent option made with organic solvents for anyone looking to maximize input and minimize the pesky process of medicating. The crew at Siskiyou even provides empty capsules in each package for easy ingestion.

643mg THC | siskiyousungrown.com

@siskiyousungrown |

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

HYDROCARBON

DR. JOLLY’S

ORANGE CREAM CURED RESIN EXTRACT

The sunset-tinted Orange Cream extract has a sugary applesauce quality that makes portioning and scooping simple. Terpinolene slaps your senses immediately and together with caryophyllene, takes your taste buds through a pungent path in a woodsy setting enveloped by trees. The pine coats the palate and lingers long after each dab.71.11% THC | 11.30% Terpenes drjollys.com | @dr.jollys.or

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

MAMMOTH LABS

LOST CAUSE LIVE RESIN

ROCKS ‘N’ SAUCE

Bright and fruity flavors abound in this jar of sauce-covered diamonds. With gems that range from carats bordering on boulders, each jar is a chooseyour-own-adventure of what to dab. At lower temps, this oil reads as candy sweet with a limonene kick. For those who like to go in a little hot, expect terpinolene to dominate the profile.74.10% THC

3.67% Terpenes

Amnesia Haze x Do-Si-Dos mammothlabs.com

@mammoth_labs_oregon

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

NW KIND

SANGIOVESE LIVE RESIN JAM

Sangiovese, a beloved grape from Italy, is just as likely to end up in a popular red as a premium wine. Sought out by both the novice and connoisseur, it’s a versatile fruit that’s enjoyed by many – and the same can be said about this extract. On the quartz, fruity, sharp and sour flavors create a perfect sweet and tart dab. 74.90% THC | 0.14% CBD | 4.92% Terpenes

Brandywine x GMO Cookies

nwkind.com | @nw.kind

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

CAPITAL CANNABIS

HAWAIIAN

GUAVA CAKE

BUDDER BUCKET

Imagine the thrill of stumbling home late at night and finding a bakery preparing for a busy morning. This extract has all the notes expected in a mystery-fruit pastry plucked fresh from the delivery truck. The aroma of freshly-baked bread, luscious fruit jam, and an intriguing, slightly earthy undertone emanate from this compact 2.5-gram container. 66.1% THC | CBD 1.56% | 6.23% Terpenes capcannabis.com | @capital_cannabis710

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

CONCRETE JUNGLE EXTRACTS PANAMA SPICE LIVE RESIN

With a lemonade color and scent to match, this sorbet-like live resin holds heavy amounts of limonene and terpinolene from the moment you pop the top to the very last dab. The combination is something close to citronella, although it seems to repel woes better than mosquitos…

71.70% THC | 7.61% Terpenes | concretejungleextracts.com

@concretejungle.life | Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

HYDROCARBON

QUANTUM ALCHEMY

T-1000 LIVE RESIN ROCKS + SAUCE

Regarding diamonds, the gems in this jar are so large they could be considered icebergs. Doused in a coating of T-1000 terp sauce, the profile of this Old Family Purple selection by Tigard Farms shines through clearly. Each diamond provides a powerfully relaxing puff that showcases flavors of nostalgic candies and endless pine forests. 80.9% THC | 2% Terpenes Triangle Kush x Purple Urkle | Cultivated by Happy Hollow Farms quantumoregon.com | @quantumalchemy_or

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

LUCID BY MANA EXTRACTS ORANGE APRICOT MAC DIAMONDS

For those seeking a high-cannabinoid experience, look no further. Chunky THCA formations offer an easy-to-dab extract with potent hits and a slight orchard-fruit flavor. The diamonds in this jar are nearly pure, with just enough terp sauce included to give them character but still showcase the clarity of Mana’s extractions. 89.1% THC | 1% Terpenes manaextracts.com | @mana.extracts | @mana.farms

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

RIP CITY DABS

PINEAPPLE ORANGE CREME CANNABIS EXTRACT WITH NON-CANNABIS ADDITIVES

For those of us who aren’t purists, a world of delightful flavors exists just beyond the norm. Rip City Dabs uses pineapple and orange essence to enhance their extract and the outcome is a hit that leans heavily on juice box flavors, with a hint of haze and fresh-cut Cannabis.

61.8% THC | 0.3% CBD | ripcitydabs.com | @ripcitydabs

Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

ALTA GARDENS

BLUEBERRY MUFFIN #4 CURED RESIN BHO

All Afghani on the exhale, this nearly-clear, wet mixture of tiny diamonds is impolitely potent. The Blueberry nose is gentle, providing a balance that brings in some softer tones and eases you into the spicier side of this experience. The daze that follows is definite and lasting, for those looking to explore a heavy-headedness that’s here to stay.

73.3% THC | 10.5% Terpenes | Afghani x Blueberry altagardensor.com

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

SOLVENTLESS

PIFF STIXS

BERMUDA ROSIN

Pop the jar and you’ll find a sand-colored, playdough-like substance. But this flaky rock of rosin offers up a chunky, chalky consistency that breaks apart for easy scooping and slips right into the banger. It smells of sour cheese with faint floral notes – a profile that follows through from nose to smoke. 69.95% THC | 0.19% CBD piffstixs.com | @piffstixs | Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

FOCUS NORTH

GARY PAYTON ROSIN

A puddle of rosin rests in this juicy jar, glossy and glistening with terps. The savory flavor is just waiting to show you its peppery pizazz as a relaxing dose of caryophyllene complements the pungent profile with each lift of the lid. Following through until the end, it clings to the palate like you forgot to say “stop” when the waiter was spinning the mill. 73.11% THC | 0.16% CBD | 11.44% Terpenes

The Y x Snowman | focusnorthgardens.com | @focusnorthgardens

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

KALYA TROPICAL SORBET

FRESH PRESS ROSIN

Opening a jar of Kalya is like staring deep into the quantum realm. This Tropical Sorbet smells like expensive suntan lotion and the flavor is a strong Papaya that’s peppered at the edges and ends with something light and hard to immediately put your taste buds on. Welcome to Oregon, we’re glad you’re here. 74.58% THC | 0.21% CBD | 8.03% Terpenes (Papaya x Mimosa) x ZT Wilson

Cultivated by Tuxedo Llama | kalyaextracts.com @kalya.oregon | @tuxedo_llama

Review by Matt Jackson @actionmattjackson

SAND CASTLE HASH CO.

STRAWBERRY

GUAVA 6-STAR

WPFF LIVE ROSIN

Smells like a fruitcake that’s been soaked in booze and left out to dry. The taste is an overwhelming, almost confusing expression – like a bag of candy mysteriously labeled “fruit flavored.” Whole plant fresh frozen is an arena where Oregon tends to shine and this is another example of that excellence – which Sand Castle calls a six-star example. 66% THC 0.1% CBD | 6.38% Terpenes | sandcastlehash.com | @sandcastlehashco

Review by Matt Jackson @actionmattjackson

BONSAI

OBAMA 90μ LIVE ROSIN

Coming in beautifully redesigned packaging, Bonsai outdid themselves with rosin that’s floral, doughy and a little bit funky, with the color of white peach nectar. This brand uses exclusive AI technology to help them grow strains for their single-source concentrates. The 90μ Obama is an amazing rosin that carries a beautiful floral scent when it’s heated up. 69.69% THC 0.04% CBD | 8.42% Terpenes | bonsaioregon.com | @bonsaisolventless2.0

@bonsai.farms | Review by Matt Jackson @actionmattjackson

SOLVENTLESS

LOFTY

CAP JUNKY 70-149μ HASH ROSIN

Lofty’s rendition of Capulator and Seed Junky’s cross is a luxurious, whipped butter consistency and color. The nose comes through with a creamy dough that dances close to its Alien Cookies origins. Something feels faintly fruity about this profile, revealing an earthy vanilla upon further investigation. But there’s a hint of mint that makes its way through the nose, appearing again for a grand finale on exhale.

68.36% THC | 0.17% CBD | 7.10% Terpenes | Alien Cookies x Kush Mints | loftygrowers.com

@loftysolventless | @loftygrowers

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

OTIS GARDENS

STRAWBERRY MINTS LIVE FRESH FROZEN ROSIN

Located in the Hood River Valley, this indoor hydroponic brand presses its own fresh frozen flower into some impressive live rosin. The smell on this is delicate and subtle, but in the flavor, doughy mints and strawberries compete for dominance in a taste that sits low in your mouth.

78.45% THC | 0.19% CBD | 7.2% Terpenes

Melon Mints x Strawberries & Cream F2

otisgarden.com | @otisgardenshoodriver

Review by Matt Jackson @actionmattjackson

TJ’S APPLE JELLY LIVE ROSIN

Creamy, fruity and smooth until the end, this single-sourced beauty is something to behold. The heavy Gelato background opens the way for a slightly sweet, velvety profile that both looks and tastes like a warm Golden Delicious apple pie in your banger. Filled with flavor and kind on the mind, this powerful little snack is great for any time of day. 73.26% THC | CBD 0.19% | 11.74% Terpenes | Jealousy x Apples and Bananas | visittjs.com | @tjsoregon

Review by Alex Dubs @workdubs

OREGROWN

OISHII LIVE ROSIN BADDER

Spicy then sweet, this perfectly malleable bucket of flavor tingles the taste buds in an invigorating way. The first inhale bites through the senses with a smoky whiskey taste that truly showcases the Flavor Pack parentage. The unassuming incense quickly transforms into a sweet perfume that lingers long after the banger cools down. The effects are relatively strong, making it the perfect nightcap to end the day. 71.70% THC | 5.4% Terpenes | Flavor Pack x Moonbow Cultivated by Terra Australis | oregrown.com @oregrownindustries | @tacultivators

Review by Alex Dubs @workdubs

EUGREEN EXTRACTS

DONNY BURGER

FRESH FROZEN LIVE ROSIN

Beyond the elite genetics, Eugreen has outdone themselves with this concentrate. Cracking the seam on this jar is a guaranteed ticket to flavor town, filling the room with a savory, funky scent. The terpy rosin melts beautifully even at a low temp – releasing the fully loaded flavors of garlic, gas and pine forest. Fries sold separately. 87% THC | 9.7% Terpenes | GMO x Han Solo Burger @eugreen_extracts | Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

SOLVENTLESS

SQUISHY SCIENTIFIC CHILE VERDE TEMPLE BALL

Glossy as a fish eye, these temple balls are a gorgeous light blonde color. With a little stirring, the taffy-like consistency lets out a gassy roar that’s like the plastic on a new car. A lavender aroma springs out after applying heat and the taste is funky and fruity, with something smokey at the back of the line. 70.8% THC | 6.24% Terpenes

Key Lime Pie x Lavender | Cultivated by R&D Northwest squishyscientific.com | @squishyscientific | @rdnorthwest

Review by Matt Jackson @actionmattjackson

DECIBEL DABS

APPLE SLAPZ #3 90μ LIVE ROSIN

This soft, granola-tinted badder is reminiscent of a baked apple and cinnamon pie left cooling under an evergreen tree. That crisp, sour apple start is complemented by a kick of Kush that lasts through your last exhale. Dancing all the way down the tongue, the Kush carries you through the finish line. 65.4% THC | 7.03% Terpenes | (Apple Fritter x Sherb) x Kush Mints

Cultivated by Decibel Farms | decibelfarms.com | @decibelfarms

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

VERDANT LEAF

PICARD LIVE ROSIN COLD CURED BADDER

At first dab, this three-way mix of solventless hash tastes like a balanced mix of fruity, fresh and funky. Upon closer inspection, each strain offers a unique profile that complements the other flavors and melds into something distinct. With a complex flavor and spacey effect, it’s no wonder the crew is calling this mix Picard.

67% THC | 0.4% CBD | 8.1% Terpenes | Vulcan Fuel x Tally Mon x Lemon Cane verdantleaffarms.com | @theverdantleaf | Review by Ryan Herron @theloud100

NELSON AND CO.

TRIPLE BURGER LIVE COLD CURE HASH ROSIN

FORTE

MR. COOKIES 90μ LIVE ROSIN

A deep, minty pine protrudes through the hashy hits of this gray-gold rosin with a pudding crust-like quality. It softens as the dabber dips in, and opens up to exude even more pine with a creamy, earthy undertone. The inhale hits the inside of your throat with a menthol sensation, lending your lungs a woody awakening.

71.09% THC | 8.80% Terpenes

Cultivated by Decibel Farms decibelfarms.com | @fortehash | @decibelfarms

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

Triple Burger brings nothing but the funk for those seeking the seductive, full flavors of the genetic equivalent to GMO-cubed. Dipping into the dab’s cookie-dough texture only releases a plume of fumes that further solidify the concentrate’s full-course meal of garlicy, French onion soup served in a sourdough bread bowl.

74.57% THC | 8.09% Terpenes

GMO x Double Burger

tinyurl.com/nelsonandcompany

@nelsoncompanyorganics

Review by Amanda Day @terpodactyl_media

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Trail Blazers

From the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, hundreds of thousands of hippies traveled to the Far East in search of adventure, enlightenment and the world’s best hashish, along what was known as the Hashish or Hippie Trail.

BEAT IT

After World War II, the U.S. experienced an economic and cultural boom – leading many well-to-do Westerners to begin vacationing along the old Silk Road (also known as the “overland route”) and later publishing accounts of their adventures. These tales, along with beatnik author Jack Kerouac’s groundbreaking novel “On the Road” – which glorified a Zen, vagabond lifestyle – incited a wanderlust in America’s youth. In 1957 (the same year that “On the Road” was published), Kerouac himself visited Tangiers, Morocco – meeting up with fellow beat writer William Burroughs, who lived there for a few years.

As the ‘50s ended and the Beats evolved into Hippies, more counterculture icons began heading East: Beat poet Allen Ginsberg moved to India in the early ‘60s, and in 1967 the Beatles also headed there for a meditation retreat at an ashram. As a result of these cultural influences, hundreds of thousands of young Americans disillusioned with capitalist consumerism and Cold War paranoia began a decade-long exodus to the East – seeking a freer, simpler life and the ultimate mystical high. Though they didn’t actually call themselves “hippies” – reportedly preferring the terms “intrepids” or “freaks” – this pot-smoking pilgrimage to the hashish capitals of the Old World became widely known as the “Hippie Trail” or “Hashish Trail.”

ON THE ROAD

Following in the footsteps of such legendary explorers as Alexander the Great and Marco Polo, countless counterculture vagabonds undertook some or all of the nearly 6,000-mile overland journey across Eurasia. Typically starting off from a European city such as London or Amsterdam, these “intrepids” would often travel by train, car, motorcycle or “Kombi” (often garishly painted Volkswagen minivans). But the cheapest, most common modes of transportation along the Trail were either hitchhiking or via the several bargain bus lines that emerged to serve the ever-growing influx of hippie hash seekers, such as the Indiaman Bus Company (who offered rides from London to Bombay for around $45), Amsterdam’s Magic Bus, Budget Bus and Swagman Tours (a.k.a. the “Asian Greyhound”). These companies marketed inexpensive fares to the hippie crowd via underground publications and bulletin boards at various Hippie Trail hotspots.

Main photo: Chicken Street in Kabul, Afghanistan—one of the hippie hubs on the Hashish Trail. Above: route maps from the Swagman and Indiaman bus companies. Left: Swagman bus tour makes a stop in Kabul (1970).

While there was no formal or definitive trail, these journeys typically followed one of two main paths: a Northern route, passing through Tehran, Kandahar, Kabul and Lahore en route to India and Nepal, and a Southern route, through Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Pakistan. Regardless of the specific route, however, almost all of these pilgrimages (which would take several weeks or even months to complete) passed through certain hubs that offered travelers access to rest, restaurants, resources, connection with fellow Cannabis-loving compatriots and of course, killer hand-made hashish.

THE PUDDING SHOP

As the only metropolitan city to straddle Europe and Asia, Istanbul, Turkey (a.k.a. the “Gateway to the East”) was where all routes converged. And for any freaks passing through Istanbul, there was one essential stop: The Pudding Shop.

Opened in 1957, the Lale Pastahesi (Turkish for “Tulip Pastry Shop”) was a small restaurant/dessert shop on the city’s imperial avenue (Divan Yolu) that was nicknamed “The Pudding Shop” by Western visitors who frequented it due to its variety of cheap and delicious Turkish puddings.

The Pudding Shop became the hub for all hippie activity in the city – a phenomenon the owners encouraged. To capitalize on the increased patronage and publicity, they actually had new signs made with the nickname to hang in front of the shop. They also installed a bulletin board where travelers could leave messages, post travel tips, and solicit or offer rides. Remarkably, this message board became the only place in the city where information about inexpensive transportation to Asia was available to Western tourists.

KABUL & THE HINDU KUSH

Long before the U.S. or Soviet invasions, or the Islamic Revolution, Afghanistan was actually a pretty progressive place that was warm and welcoming to Westerners. Various accounts from that time – including those of future travel gurus like Rick Steves and Lonely Planet founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler – tell of bus drivers, hotel managers, and even customs agents smoking hookahs with travelers and offering them gifts of free hashish. According to the Wheelers, by the early 1970s, Kabul was actually “in danger of becoming a tourist trap” – with an average of around 5,000 hippies in the city at any given time.

Like in Istanbul, there was a specific part of town that catered to the influx of hippie tourists. In Kabul, that place was called Chicken Street – a narrow, two-block-long mar ketplace crammed with eateries, hotels and various shops selling clothing, rugs and trinkets. Oh … and you could buy hashish and opium there, too.

Leaving Kabul, the route continues along the southern edge of the Himalayan Mountains in a region known as the Hindu Kush (or, as the Greeks called it, Cau casus Indicus), where the potent, portly “indi ca” variety of Cannabis first originated. It was Hippie Trail travelers who first brought seeds

of these strains (such as Afghani and Kush) back with them to Europe and North America – and it was those genetics that then laid the foundation for most of the popular cultivars we enjoy today.

GROOVY GOA

Next, the Trail traverses the infamous Khyber Pass into Pakistan and India. At that point, travelers had a choice: either turn south into India, or continue southeast along the Himalayan foothills and up into Nepal.

In the winter, many would head down to the state of Goa on India’s west coast for its warm weather and water. Originally a Portuguese colony before being annexed by India in 1961, Goa retained many of its European sensibilities and famously welcomed foreigners. In fact, Goans have a trademark term for their indolent, indulgent lifestyle: susegad, from the Portuguese word sossegado, meaning “quiet.” That philosophy, along with its beautiful beaches, lack of police presence and accessibility to drugs (particularly hashish and LSD), made Goa what has been described as “a counterculture Nirvana.” Indeed, Anjuna Beach’s legendary full moon parties have attracted many hash icons over the years, including Mila Jansen and Frenchy Cannoli.

K-K-K-K-K-KKATHMANDU

During the warmer months, however, the most popular terminus of the Trail was Nepal’s fabled capital of Kathmandu.

Boasting one of the oldest hashish-making traditions in the world, Nepal is renowned for its hand-collected, hand-pressed hash known as “charas.” Charas is typically rolled into what is called Temple Balls, which were sold legally at cafes and hashish shops all around the country. And just like Chicken Street in Kabul and The Pudding Shop in Istanbul, there was one particular section of town that the hippies all gravitated to: in this case, Jochen Tole Street in Kathmandu Durbar Square, better known by the nickname Freak Street. Freak Street became the epicenter of the counterculture in Nepal thanks to its concentration of hotels, eateries, tattoo parlors and most importantly, its three dozen government-licensed

hash shops – the most famous of which was the legendary Eden Hashish Centre. Opened in around 1970 by owner Devi Dhatta Sharma (nicknamed the “Ganja Raja”), Eden was a five-story Cannabis dispensary catering exclusively to tourists that featured a warehouse floor, a showroom floor, and a consumption lounge floor loaded with comfy couches and beds.

Sharma brilliantly marketed the shop to Westerners with a series of calendar posters featuring images of Hindu gods and goddesses and English writing that served as perfect souvenirs – and later, as sought-after collectors’ items. The business became so successful that in 1973, Sharma opened the Eden Hotel: a nine-story luxury hotel one block south of Freak Street, whose “Heavenly Pleasure Room” served a selection of hash-infused foods and drinks.

Unfortunately for him, the flow of tourists was about to dry up.

END OF THE TRAIL

Sadly, during the mid to late ’70s, several wars erupted that would spell doom for the Hippie Trail –including America’s War on Drugs. In 1973, the Nixon Administration reportedly paid a $47-million bribe to King Zahir Shah to have him declare Cannabis and hashish illegal in Afghanistan. Three years later, bowing to U.S. pressure, Nepal also banned Cannabis products. Then, a series of military conflicts across the Middle East and Asia – including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 – quickly made many nations along the Trail inhospitable and dangerous to Western travelers, effectively ending tourism in the region.

Today, few remnants remain of the old Hippie Trail. The Pudding Shop is still open, but other than some old photos and clippings on the wall, it’s essentially just a tourist trap. The hash shops on Freak Street were long ago replaced by conventional businesses, and tragically much of the neighborhood was destroyed or heavily damaged by an earthquake in 2015. But hey – I hear Goa is still pretty chill, at least…

To hear one hippie’s tales from the Hashish Trail, listen to Episode 23 of our Cannthropology podcast at worldofcannabis.com/cannthropology or wherever you get your podcasts.

Nepal is renowned for its hand-pressed hashish known as “charas,” which was sold legally at cafes and hash shops all around the country.

Hash shop in Kathmandu.

Outside the Pudding Shop in Istanbul (early 1970s).

Temple ball hash.

Eden Hash Centre on Freak St.

PUDDINGSHOP.COM

Eden Hash Centre promo calendar & restaurant menu.

Daily Mirror article on hash in Kabul (1971).

MICHAEL PALMIERI

Hippie chick selling Manali hash in Goa.

DUDE, WE WERE HAVING A GREAT NIGHT, AND THEN... It appeared that the late shot of elixir was what transformed Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde, escalating the exuberant whiskey-burn growl into an ear-piercing screech.

And that’s where the off-switch appears to have malfunctioned.

Like a shark upon the first scent of blood that triggers the wide-eyed feeding frenzy, in an instant, what was a composed practice in cocktail etiquette became an all-bets-are-off mission to Mercury. This was the turning point where the motor skills became erratic and sloppy – effectively turning the leaking lip into a lawn sprinkler that sprays the bar with nonsensical gibberish.

And here I am, hyper-aware of every tic and touch while you decimate the vibe of the room with nails-on-a-chalkboard karaoke. The turkey strut turns to a fumbling act of foot balance and mumbled lyrics – thoroughly entertaining yourself whilst the room second guesses the system of open mics and over pours.

Dropping the microphone, you parade to the bar demanding attention – lambasting those who won’t share in your fist-pumping, shot glass-pounding camaraderie, measuring the patron’s moxie in ounces.

Your jerking, brutish arms are weapons of buzzkill. And then there you go, swapping spit with the wobbly sea hag who appears like a ball to the barstool chain – deliriously charmed by your advances. She cackles with delight while you attempt to dance her around before stumbling to the filthy floor like limp bags of garbage meant for the dump.

Meanwhile, her cross-eyed cougar friend peers towards me, on the hunt for the thunder from down under. So, I grab your arm and shuffle out of the impact zone as the bouncer gets anxious.

Thankfully, I just use Cannabis. So, you have a friend to drive you home.