The solar return of The Adventure Issue is our celebration of the many ways that Cannabis enhances the creative journey of our lives. The artist Alex Wight, aka Skully Vibes, has been drawing his whole life. He spent six years as the GM of a major Denver dispensary, where he says he developed a deep connection to the plant and the community. He was taking a dab break, and hiking in the Rockies with his wife, when we reached out for the assignment. "Get outside and catch a vibe!"
ILLUSTRATION BY SKULLY VIBES SKULLYVIBES.COM | @SKULLY.VIBES
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CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY, FEATURES
AJ AGUILAR, FEATURES
DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS + DESIGN
BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES
JACKIE BRYANT, FEATURES
TOM BOWERS, FEATURES
MIKE CLEM, PHOTOS
DAVID DOWNS, FEATURES
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RYAN HERRON, REVIEWS
REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS
ELLEN HOLLAND, FEATURES
WIND HOME, PHOTOS
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES
JAMIE OWENS, FEATURES + PHOTOS
BAXSEN PAINE, FEATURES
SARAH SANDOVAL, SALES
TERPODACTYL MEDIA, FEATURES + PHOTOS
DIANA THOMPSON, PHOTOS
SKULLY VIBES, ILLUSTRATION
BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES
KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES
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Editor’s Note
Thanks for picking up The Adventure Issue of Oregon Leaf!
Buying weed used to be an adventure; meeting a dealer in a fast-food parking lot or a smoky basement carried an element of criminality and suspe nse. Part of the experience was getting ripped off, or at least not knowing what you were getting for your money. An eighth was $40 back in the late ’90s, when a gallon of gas was $1.79, and a Big Mac was $1.50. Oh, how we all long for those simpler times — but not the waiting for a pot dealer part!
Today, the excitement around buying weed comes from the variety, which is immense, and the many ways Cannabis can go into or on the body. A modern dispensary might have hundreds of different vapes, edibles, concentrates, joints and topicals, along with all the ways to consume.
It’s easier than ever to find a product that is ready to puff on the go, and between vapes and gummies, nobody needs to know that you are floating up the hiking trail instead of climbing it.
Weed is the ultimate companion for adventure, no matter what flavor of life you are experiencing. Cannabis puts us in the moment fo r thrills, enhances appetite and sound for food and concert exper iences and helps us recover and relax for post-fun reflection.
"… NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE FLOATING UP THE HIKING TRAIL INSTEAD OF CLIMBING."
As I prepare for fishing season, topicals and vapes are right next to my emergency radio and survival belt. I feel most connected to nature and grateful for the natural gifts of God when I’m smoking on a river or in the woods in pursuit of a fish or a view.
As we head into the summer season, it’s important to pack your weed bags carefully. Remember that not every travel destination has the same laws regarding the green. You can generally get something where you are going in a checked bag or hidden away, but I recommend leaving it there on the way home. It’s never worth the risk of trouble for what we can buy here legally — unless your idea of an adventure is ending up on “Locked Up Abroad.”
So be safe, avoid sunburn, stay hydrated and thank your local pot shop for powering your next adventure!
BARNEY’S FARM IS STILL DOING THE SAME WORK
Derry Brett started collecting Cannabis genetics in the early 1980s, moving through parts of Central and Southeast Asia and bringing seeds back from places where the plant had been grown for generations. Those lines are still in Barney’s Farm’s breeding program — artifacts, yes, but continually worked into whatever comes next as the seed bank's legacy grows.
ARNEY’S FARM now operates as a global seed company with decades of recognition behind it, but Brett doesn’t frame it that way. When the subject of competition comes up, he shrugs it off.
“The market being crowded is a compliment,” he said. “We showed the world what great Cannabis genetics could be.”
He’s more interested in what happens after that first moment of discovery. Finding a standout plant isn’t the problem.
“Anyone can find a fire pheno in a pack of ten,” he said. “That’s luck.”
The work is in getting it to show up again — reliably, under different conditions, for various growers.
That expectation runs through the entire operation. Barney’s Farm has expanded its facilities and invested in lab work, but the release process still comes down to a simple rule: If something isn’t right, it doesn’t ship.
The growers themselves have changed. Brett describes the early coffeeshop years in Amsterdam as a smaller, more exploratory moment.
Now he’s dealing with growers who arrive with a clear set of expectations.
“People know exactly what they want — specific effects, specific flavor profiles, specific cultivation traits,” he said.
That shift has pushed breeding in a different direction. Brett points to the level of terpene complexity now achievable, but doesn’t treat it as a finish line. It’s another variable to stabilize, another thing that has to hold up over time.
The company’s recent move into the U.S. has changed how closely that work is tied to the people using it. Barney’s Farm now handles distribution and is developing genetics in California, where Brett says the conditions allow for a slower, more deliberate pace.
“The quality coming out of that environment is exceptional,” he said, but the bigger shift is proximity — seeing how plants perform and adjusting in real time.
He doesn’t spend much time on the regulatory challenges that come with that shift, even though they’re significant. The U.S. market moves quickly and unevenly. That’s part of the landscape.
What stands out more to him is the broader shift in how Cannabis is treated.
“I’ve spent most of my adult life in an industry that was criminalized, marginalized and misunderstood,” he said.
The change isn’t total, but it’s enough to alter the context in which the work exists.
Brett doesn’t describe the industry as settling into a single shape. Larger operations will continue to expand. Smaller breeders will continue working independently.
“Cannabis has always had a craft culture at its heart,” he said, and he doesn’t expect that to disappear.
“The history of Cannabis is written in these plants.”
The older genetics remain part of that process. Brett still works from the landrace material he collected decades ago, folding it into newer lines rather than separating it.
“Those genetics are irreplaceable,” he said. “The history of Cannabis is written in these plants.”
His focus stays close to where it started. The work is still about taking existing genetics, crossing them and seeing what holds. Some of it traces back to those early collections in Asia. Some of it comes from newer collaborations. Brett mentions Africa as a region he’s watching, but he doesn’t present it as a pivot so much as a continuation.
“What defines us is that we’re still chasing it,” he said. “Still excited by what a new cross might become.”
INTERVIEW | FOUNDER DERRY BRETT
DERRY BRETT
MIMOSA X ORANGE PUNCH
AFGHAN HASH PLANT
FIRE FOLLOWER
Award-winning journalist/author and former Leafly Senior Editor David Downs’ monthly genetics intelligence dispatch.
THE INFLUENTIAL MAKER OF FRUITY PEBBLES OG, STARFIGHTER AND ALIEN ROCK CANDY IS BACK WITH FOUR CROSSES TO HIS KIWI SOURS.
HUNDREDS OF STRAINS bear Alien Genetics’ DNA, including MAC1 and Cookies and Cream. According to Alien and Lady Alien, the two-person team, Alien Genetics is in pursuit of unique terpenes that have a “rotational,” palate-staining quality.
The hottest release of the Kiwi Sours crosses is dubbed Laura Palmer for Alien Genetics’ love of the show “Twin Peaks.” Laura Palmer is (Paris Rock Candy x Marshmallowz) and Kiwi Sours. Get that one before it sells out. Alien made “hundreds” of packs, but that supply is already running low.
The key is the insanely pedigreed Kiwi Sours (Alien Genetics’ Bubble Belts x Moon Arc). What’s in that? Bubble Belts is Rainbow Belts 3.0 and Tahoe Alien Bubble Gum, and it contains some Indiana Bubble Gum. Moon Arc is Moonbow 112 and Alien Rock Candy.
It’s “my favorite thing I’ve made in a long time,” Alien said. “It has a terp profile I just could not get away from. It was sour all over the place, a lot of gas, a lot of kiwi fruit flavor and a ton of candy. It has a bit of a rotational smell: One thing leads you to another, and another, and back around — gas, bubble gum, the kiwi fruit, sour candy. It’s one of those jars you can’t stop opening because it’s a bit of a journey.”
Alien hit Kiwi Sours to (Paris Rock Candy x Marshmallowz), which is [(Perris OG x Alien Rock Candy) x (Hollywood Pure Kush x Moon Arc)]. It’s another epic one in the garden.
“It's one of the loudest flowers I’ve ever smelled. Being in the room while it is harvested is overwhelming and almost offensive to the senses,” Alien said. “I harvested a room of it this morning, and the best way to describe it is: sharp astringent gas, Pine-Sol OG Kush, bitter skunk. It’s got a complex perfume with a bit of candy deep in the background.”
Together with the Kiwi Sours? Yes.
Alien said all the Laura Palmers have the same smell and taste and vary mainly by height. The taller ones yield a little better.
Alien Genetics bred all the Kiwi Sours crosses indoors for organic soil conditions. Alien likes to top them once. They’re going outside in gardens this year. Laura Palmer likes a pretty typical vegetative, flower and harvest process. Alien did recommend some extra silicate.
“The branches just exploded,” he said.
Alien Genetics would love for folks to get some packs and win a hash cup with a pheno, or find a stud and keep on working it. Although it’s tough to think what could improve on all that goodness already packed in there. Alien imagines hitting it back to his Fruity Pebbles OG, but that’s a story for another time.
Founded in 1999 in Honeydew, California, Alien has moved operations to the East Coast, focusing heavily on the New Jersey and New York markets. The company is also currently forming partnerships with commercial facilities from Maine to Florida.
POT FARMER’S ALMANAC
Get your clones May 16-17 during California’s first Clonetopia at San Francisco’s Solful dispensary and 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center in Richmond, California. More than 15 varieties from four nurseries will be available, and you can meet the nursery operators.
HendRx Nursery is bringing out its selection of Tire Fire OG for $1,500 per clone. They also have “Surprise 6” packs of six clones for $150 — dealer’s choice.
Purple City Genetics has the never-before-released cut of Habibi (Z x Moroccan Peaches), as well as Lemon Cherry Congo, Watermelon Dream and Cel-Ray. Talking Trees brings out some GDP x Urkle cuts, as well as Strawberry Pop. Haze Valley Nursery offers three varieties of Tom Hill Haze for $1,500 for the three-pack. Haze Valley is also selling clones of the strains Hashburger and Grape Lobster. Visit sfspacewalk.com to learn more.
It’s clone-hardening-off and planting season, which means slowly getting your baby cutting used to the sun and the weather. Harden off your clones by taking them outside in the morning and exposing them to shaded sunlight for a little bit longer each day for a week. Bring them in at night. Remember: Don’t overwater a clone. After a week of increasing amounts of shaded sunlight, plant the clone in a 20-gallon fabric pot of high-quality organic tomato potting soil, and place it in the sunlight.
ALIENGENETICS.ORG
@ITSLADYALIEN
@ALIENGENETICS.OFFICIAL
@THEALIENYOUSEEK
KIWI LIME OG
KIWI VELVET LIME
KIWI ROOT BEER
LAURA PALMER
HOT FOR 2026
CANNABIS WILL TAKE YOU PLACES!
Weed is a core element of adventure
Surrender to the smoke!
Cannabis has been a part of my professional career path for over a decade, and, before I got my first full-time job in the industry, I used the plant as a guide to manifest my dreams. When searching for the next step in my career, I got high and wrote down a list of things that I enjoy. The list included weed, walking, wine and writing. I believe the act of writing out my intentions manifested a job incorporating two things I love: weed and writing.
SINCE THEN, Cannabis has taken me along on many adventures. After many years of working in weed, this career path has taken me all over the world. As a Californian, I first felt I was making it in weed when I had a work trip to New York City. Getting to the place I had always seen on films and TV, which was all the way across the nation, made me feel like I had it made.
I visited the then-headquarters of High Times magazine, where longtime cultivation editor Danny Danko hooked me up with some award-winning concentrates. Later, I blazed up and went on a walk along the High Line — a public park built on a historic elevated rail line — to the Javits Convention Center. I remember the stoney walk being quite the journey, that shatter that Danko gave me was super strong!
Lately, I’ve been feeling a need for similar inspiration. I’m pulling that from my Cannabis community by asking them: Where is the coolest place that Cannabis has taken you?
When I posed that question to my main mentor, cultivation expert Ed Rosenthal, he mentioned a trip to Australia in the 1990s. He talked about a hidden grow that he had explored, reaching different terraced levels as he descended into a valley, and his time at an event called MardiGrass in Nimbin.
“Since my early youth I had dreamed of becoming a writer and plant scientist,” Rosenthal wrote in a 1999 issue of High Times. “However, during high school and college I was drawn to other matters and studied in a totally different area. Somehow, my natural inclinations broke through. My work as a writer for HIGH TIMES has helped me live a fantasy. I have visited gardens and farms on five continents, and been given the opportunity to experience some interesting, unusual and even extraordinary places.”
Rosenthal has recently been making trips to India, a place that helped form his love of Cannabis back in the 1970s. We’ve talked a lot about that, but it was cool to discuss another one of his epic adventures, which took place at the Nimbin MardiGrass festival in Australia and is depicted in one of his most popular books, “The Marijuana Grower’s Handbook.”
“The event was a wild affair and media event,” Rosenthal wrote in High Times. “This festival is the highlight of the year in the small but very sophisticated town, which has several good restaurants and quite a cultural life, mostly homemade. This is very exciting because so many of the people are in the arts.”
Within the magazine, he also recounts the grow he recently told me about while we were smoking a big jar of hash in his front yard.
“The most exciting part of the trip was my visit to a series of patches going downhill through a national wilderness park,” Rosenthal wrote. “The gardener chose places so remote that he reasoned it just wasn’t worth it for the police to seize the plots. Each plot contained 10-20 plants growing in partial sun. The varieties had a lot of Thai and Dutch genetics. I was enticed on the trip with his comforting words that it was ‘almost all downhill.’ I forgot to ask.
‘How steep?’”
CANNABIS AS A CALLING
This March, as a part of Women’s History Month, I had the opportunity to lead a panel at a Nor-Cal Women in Cannabis event that featured four influential women in the California Cannabis industry.
The panel included longtime Cannabis activists Aundre Speciale (owner of the oldest continuously operating dispensary in the nation, the Cannabis Buyers’ Club of Berkeley), Linda Jackson (who helped hundreds of patients receive their medical marijuana recommendations as a nurse with the state’s first cannabis by telemedicine practice), Debby Goldsberry (who co-founded the Cannabis Action Network and Berkeley Patients Group), and Lynnette Shaw (who faced years of federal prose -
cution as the founder of one of the original dispensaries licensed under Proposition 215, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana).
Each person on the panel had strong ties to the medical marijuana movement and approached the question of where Cannabis has taken them through the lens of their activism.
“Being on the bus with Jack Herer was the craziest, coolest experience of my life,”
Speciale said of a late 1990s Hemp Tour with a traveling coalition of activists who set out to legalize hemp. “Debby (Goldsberry) and I threw a couple of parties at the Playboy Mansion. I don’t know, you guys, if we can even talk about that, but that was a big benefit party.”
the show securely and safely,” as one of the peaks of her life.
“It has been a lot. To quote the Dead, ‘a long, strange trip,’” she said. “We’re not done yet, either. We still have people in jail. We sell persecution, we still have second-class citizenship.”
Like Speciale, Goldsberry mentioned being a part of Jack Herer’s Hemp Tour.
Shaw spoke about her involvement with Dennis Peron, an activist who led the California campaign to legalize Cannabis for medical use.
“It turned me to be the straight, white sound-bite girl because I was photogenic and looked like ivory snow, you know, just to get through to the general public,” Shaw said. “And so Dennis (Peron) sent me as a spokeswoman all over the place; Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Florida. I was down in Los Angeles with Jack (Herer).”
Shaw also discussed being at the Seattle Hempfest “speaking for the cause, playing music and helping run
“Well, on the hemp tours back in the early days, we did 45 states,” she said. “We were always on the Dead tour, because we could give out so much information about marijuana on the Dead tour, like people were coming from everywhere. So we did Dead tour, and then we made friends … and we ended up getting on Further tour, H.O.R.D.E tour, Lollapalooza, a Fishbone tour, a Primus tour, I mean, we had a good time ya’ll, a really good time.”
WORLDWIDE WEED
The women in the panel, along with myself and Rosenthal, also shared international weedy memories of travels to Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a core place for classic heads to make stoned memories together, and it still stands as a cool spot to smoke in 2026. But nowadays, there are so many other places opening the doors to people traveling the world searching for the adventure that Cannabis can bring. This plant is a great connector. Where is the coolest place Cannabis has taken you?
ASHLEY ANN
From left: Ellen Holland, Debby Goldsberry, Aundre Speciale, Linda Jackson and Lynnette Shaw
CARY NEWMAN/CREATIVE COMMONS
DENNIS PERON
BROGAN MILLER BROGAN MILLER
Brogan Miller is a general manager and budtender at the Portland-based dispensary Potland. Born and raised in Rose City, Miller has had a close relationship with Cannabis since his teenage years. “I’ve had IBS since I was 13. So I just grew up with stomach problems, you know, I’ve been a sick kid my whole life,” Miller explained. “Weed really helped in every sense of making me be able to eat, sleep better, just not being nauseous throughout the day.”
MILLER STARTED as a trimmer in the Cannabis industry before transitioning into his first budtending role at Uplifted Botanicals around 2017. He eventually transferred over to TJ’s on Powell and later accepted a budtender role at Potland, where he was given additional management responsibilities and the opportunity to oversee product intake.
Working in a dispensary requires staying on top of inventory, organization and interacting with a lot of different people. His desire to help others, especially medical patients, drives Miller’s passion for the Cannabis retail space.
“It’s really cool just helping people on all different levels,” Miller articulated. “People really need help. I take that stuff
seriously. … When I have people come in and say ‘I’m dealing with chemo,’ I want to take care of them in any way I can. That’s so serious because I’ve lost people that matter to me because of shit like that.”
Miller resonates with organic producers who strive to release the cleanest and highest-quality products possible.
“Banana Cannons (grown by Evans Creek and bred by Ronin Seeds) is the best thing ever in the world,” he explained. “It’s literally my favorite smoke. For hash, Focus North has been destroying it lately. The amount of different strains they are putting out is unreal. Bo has always been my guy too, I love that whole (Bo’s Nose Knows) crew.”
“IT’S REALLY COOL JUST HELPING PEOPLE ON ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS.”
Outside of Cannabis, Miller enjoys playing video games, watching movies and series and spending time with his partner.
“My lady and I pretty much do everything together,” he said. “She’s my person, and we have similar tastes, and that’s great.”
He and his partner love sharing adventures, spending their downtime doing things like taking trips to the coast, visiting the Oregon Zoo and partaking in the rich PDX food scene. Miller is also a big Pokémon-card collector, seeking out events to buy and trade at.
“I don’t really sell a lot, which can be problematic,” he shared with a chuckle.
When asked if there’s anything he would want Leaf readers to know, Miller had a message to share.
“The Cannabis industry is a great industry,” he said. “It has its ups and downs, and I feel like it’s in a tough place right now because money’s tight and it takes a lot of effort to run a tight ship. I really appreciate a lot of the farms and everyone who has been doing this for so long and knows how tough it is. Shout out to everyone who’s been doing this all these years and is still crushing it.”
Miller’s vast knowledge, immeasurable passion and unwavering commitment to excellence elevate the Cannabis retail space and help set a customer service standard.
E ects: Euphoric, Relaxing, Balanced
Flavors: Berry Candy, Creamy Gas, Citrus
Aroma: Sweet, Gassy, Fruity
Lineage: Dante’s Wrath x Blue Nerdz
CLUB SKY HIGH
Club Sky High is a family- and Black-owned, woman-operated independent dispensary located in the St. Johns neighborhood of north Portland. Having the distinction of being the third Cannabis shop to open in the entire state, Rachel and Tobin Jones, along with their son Tim Jones, launched the store in 2013 with a goal of supporting medical patients in need.
“THE MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN: by the patients, for the patients,” Lillie Barr, daughter of Rachel and Tobin Jones, and head of operations at Club Sky High, explained. “We are all patients ourselves and use (Cannabis) medicinally, so we are bringing what helps us to the people.”
A tight-knit family unit, the Joneses all work under the Sky High umbrella. Barr and Rachel Jones run both the dispensary and its neighboring smoke shop, Sky High Glass Gallery, while Tobin and Tim Jones manage a 6-acre property and recreational grow, Sky High Farm, in Grants Pass. Tim Jones is the head grower for the organization, while Tobin Jones is in charge of processing.
The other Jones son, Tony Jones, is the acting manager and also operates a fishing charter under the name Sky High Outdoors.
The store is known as the home of Moonrocks and stocks a comprehensive lineup of Tobin Jones’ signature creation.
Barr’s husband even helps manage the company warehouse in St. Johns — talk about a family business!
“We’ll have people come from all over to see how the Jones family does it,” Rachel Jones noted. “With our history, we’ve got people coming in from Washington, from Beaverton, from the Coast, we’ve even got people still coming from all the way back in the medical days.”
A seed-to-sale model is part of what has set the business apart over the years. For any items not made completely in-house, the dispensary partners with trustworthy brands like Wyld, Buddies and Avitas.
“If people are using this as their medicine, it needs to be affordable,” Barr pointed out. “Our neighborhood is very budget-friendly, so we try to always have those very bottom-shelf options.”
CLUB SKY HIGH
8957 N. LOMBARD ST., PORTLAND
CLUBSKYHIGH.NET
@CLUBSKYHIGHPDX_
@SKYHIGHOUTDOORSLLC
@SKYHIGHGLASSPDX (503) 719-5801
9 A.M. TO 9 P.M. DAILY
The store is known as the home of Moonrocks and stocks a comprehensive lineup of Tobin Jones’ signature creation, made by taking nugs of flower, saturating them in BHO extract and then topping each one with a generous serving of kief or THCA powder. The resulting blend has remarkable potency that can go toe-to-toe against the highest of tolerances.
Club Sky High donates to local organizations, supports community events and hosts a number of giveaways for customers as a means of giving back. Of particular interest, medcard holders qualify for a free joint on each visit in addition to a medical discount. The store also provides a delivery option for increased accessibility, originally conceptualized as a means to reduce barriers for medical patients in need.
From the wholesome community vibes to caring for patients first and foremost, the establishment lives up to its reputation of excellence. They have built a legacy business through the power of family, love and hard work. Club Sky High holds an important place in PNW Cannabis history.
FAMILY BUSINESS
Isaiah Barr
Lillie Barr
Tony Jones
Tim Jones
Rachel Jones
Tobin Jones
A TASTE OF HOME
Yaad Style Jamaican Cuisine is a Portland-based restaurant owned and operated by Jacqueline Das. “Six or 7 was the very first time I remember cooking,” Das recounted.
“My mom is a good cook, and my dad used to work in the restaurant industry as a chef in Jamaica, so I grew up around people who love to cook.”
IN 2007, Das migrated from Jamaica to New York. Then in 2015, she moved from New York to Portland. Originally pursuing a career in education and planning to stay in the Pacific Northwest for just six months to accommodate her job at the time, she found herself falling in love with the city and, especially, its food scene. Aside, that is, from a sore lack of Jamaican food.
“When I got here, there was absolutely no Jamaican food. And if you know Jamaicans, we are big on our food,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where we are in the world; it’s just something that grounds us. … I said, ‘You know what, I’m a good cook, and I think I can open a spot here even though I’m working my nine-to-five.’”
With that, Yaad Style was born, opening in 2016 with a small but powerful crew of just Das and her son.
“I don’t know how we did it, but we did it,” she said. “My mom came in 2018, and we got a little bit more help. Then in 2019, my husband came, and we really got some big help there.”
Das experienced health issues in 2019 that led her to the difficult decision to sell the business. She moved back home to Jamaica with her family and eventually recovered from the ailment. In late 2021, the new owner of Yaad Style contacted Das and told her he was going to sell the business. After some careful consideration and talking it over with her family, she repurchased the eatery, moved back to Portland and built a team — including her husband, mom, son and two additional cousins — to help run the enterprise.
“I love to see people enjoy food when I cook,” Das beamed. “It’s a love for me, and I love that our culture is being exposed. I want people to know about Jamaica, so the food for me is a big deal to showcase the culture.”
With a goal of keeping the menu as close to authentic as possible, ingredients are derived from nonlocal sources, including the Land of Wood and Water itself.
“When you taste the food, you will know the difference,” Das explained.
Before we embarked on a culinary escapade full of flavor, however, it was time to medicate.
Ackee and saltfish, the country’s national specialty
Owneroperator
Jacqueline Das
Jerk Chicken
“TO KNOW JERK CHICKEN IS TO KNOW ABOUT JAMAICA. ”
Magic Number sodas are craft-brewed, Cannabis-infused beverages that come in various flavors and dosages. We selected a 100-milligram can of Magic Number’s Cherry Vanilla Soda to split prior to chowing down. Fueled by Trainwreck live resin, the drink has a tart, cherry fruit taste accented by sweet vanilla reminiscent of soda counter syrups. A perfect gateway to the upcoming gastronomic journey, the edible stimulated the appetite and generated a delightful brain and body buzz.
origins of jerk chicken are storied, reaching all the way back to the 17th century, when there was a need to store food for longer amounts of time without spoilage.
We drank a Magic Number before lunch (no sales onsite)
First up from Yaad Style’s menu was the jerk chicken, a dish that’s synonymous with Jamaican culture and cuisine. The
Enslaved people on plantations in Jamaica would prolong food viability by seasoning meat with natural preservatives — like pimento, Scotch bonnet peppers and bay leaf — and cooking it in a covered, underground pit.
“To know jerk chicken is to know about Jamaica,” Das declared with a smile.
The flavor of the chicken is astonishingly rich, featuring profound layers of seasoning and spice that stain the palate for hours after consumption.
With an external char crisping the skin to utter perfection, each bite reveals a plump, juicy interior.
Next up was the oxtail. This famous dish isn’t actually native Jamaican fare. It’s more of a popular misconception that has since been adopted into Jamaican culture and cuisine.
“It’s not something that we grew up eating. I never saw it cooked anywhere. ... But the way we cook food is perfect for cooking oxtails. You have to slow cook them to bring out the flavor,” Das explained.
This dish epitomizes slow-roasted excellence in the form of the most tender, succulent, falloff-the-bone meat imaginable. It’s decadent and delicious, and it practically melts on the tongue like butter, drawing on the salivary glands with an unforgettable blend of savory gravy and spice.
After that, we were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to sample a plate of ackee and saltfish, Jamaica’s national dish.
“Ackee and saltfish has a flavor unlike anything else,” Das explained.
The selection is light and refreshing with a textural and visual consistency similar to scrambled eggs. The taste is rich, creamy and buttery, accented with an underlying umami and salt flavoring from the cod. It truly is a one-of-a-kind experience and a real Jamaican staple.
Main entrees at Yaad Style all come with sides of rice and beans, slaw and fried sweet plantains, cooked with natural ingredients like scallions, thyme and pimento seed.
The restaurant carries additional Jamaican staples, including beef patties, curry goat, chicken wings, fried breadfruit, homemade banana bread from Das’ family recipe, sweet potato pie and in-house drinks like lemonade and Sorrel, a hibiscus-based beverage with fresh ginger and spices. The bar even stocks traditional rum, so visitors from near and far have the opportunity to try a real deal Jamaican rum punch made with liquor directly from the island.
It’s hard to narrow the menu down to specific recommendations when everything we tried was genuinely incredible.
Food is a love language, and getting to nourish oneself with cooking that someone puts their entire heart into is one of the most tangible forms of endearment, especially when it represents a sharing of culture and humanity. This one-of-a-kind, family-run, woman-and-minority-owned business provides a genuine experience, from the sourcing of authentic ingredients to the extra time and effort put into each meal.
“When the food is made with love, you can taste the difference,” Das pointed out. “For me, it’s a blessing that I’m able to showcase that.”
Jamaican Cuisine
Traditional Jamaican favorites
and have a seat
Surfing and Cannabis go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that Sand Castle Hash Co. — a crew of PNW surfers who love hash as much as catching waves — built its extract business on eco-friendly values and a strict devotion to solventless tech.
IF YOU’VE SEEN a temple ball in the wild over the last few years, it likely came from this crew. They specialize in that classic expression of resin: separated, pressed, rolled and aged into a forbidden truffle of gooey trichomes. While a temple ball is a divine representation of the plant, it is, by modern standards, decidedly old school.
So it was a surprise when I cracked the lid on this jar labeled “Sand Castle” and found zero trace of that old-school hash. Instead, a gram of translucent, glassy rosin stared back at me. It is shockingly stable at room temperature and scents the room with technicolor notes of orange, lime, guava and pineapple. Sand Castle Hash Co. and 54 Green Acres, garden partner on the project, somehow crammed an entire tropical luau into a single jar.
The hash holds up beautifully, even after sitting closed on the coffee table for a few days, maintaining a fun pull-and-snap texture reminiscent of those saucy slabs from the early 2010s.
On hot quartz, it vaporizes cleanly and fully delivers on the tropical profile. Creamy, tiki-forward flavors carry consistently through the exhale. It’s brighter and more expressive at lower temps, with the ability to handle hotter, lung-busting rips without tipping into charred-fruit territory.
After a short sesh, my place had a pleasantly crisp citrus scent that I’d bet my security deposit I could pass off to my landlord as a bougie candle.
With an amped-up Z profile bolstered by candied citrus and just enough gas to give it a room-filling funk, this is a brilliant opening statement for Sand Castle’s new small-batch hash production line.
As always, expect a limited drop — this crew isn’t chasing volume. They’re producing just enough good hash to keep the fridge stocked between trips to the Coast. For flavor chasers who light up when the candy-gas profile leans into a bodega-fueled sugar buzz, this one goes straight to the top of the list.
StrawberrI StrawberrI
StrawberrI StrawberrI
• Classic, nostalgic soda flavors you know and love.
• Packed with 100mg THC per can for a stronger, longer-lasting experience.
• Available at dispensaries throughout Oregon.
to toke
Cannabis complements music in magical ways, but when it comes to concerts, consumers are often left without ways to light up legally. Many generations have snuck smokables past security, stuffing them into secret stash pockets or whatever crevice their clothes could provide passage in. But gone are the days of smuggling smokes, bridled in bras and warm boots — smashed and suspiciously damp — only to be speedily sucked down among the legs of strangers, crouched in the chaotic safety of their shadows. Today, as Cannabis laws and event organizers catch up, there’s a growing movement of music festivals welcoming consumers with progressive policies and official, smokefriendly sections. Check out a few of them here!
n or T hern n i G h T s
IL
The Miracle in Mundelein
While the official 2026 dates have yet to be announced, predictions place this year’s festival sometime in September again. Last year’s lineup featured a blend of jam band, hip-hop, reggae and funk genres — an excellent soundtrack for the official open-consumption policy, where you can spark up “anywhere within The Miracle Concert,” or at one of the grounds' “multiple rolling stations, dab bars, vape bars,” and more. themiracleconcert.com | @miracleconcert
The Dirtybird Campout at Northern Nights Music Festival is tucked into the ancient redwoods of Cooks Valley, California. This music and camping experience features river swimming, art, yoga and over 18 electronic music artists. It is the first event in the nation to allow consumption, dating back to the 2013 medical days. That tradition continues today, with sales and seshes contained to the Tree Lounge for those 21-plus. At Northern Nights, you can choose your own adventure — from free riverside tent camping to shaded Redwood Grove sites, group options, RV hookups and full glamping. Grab your gear and roll up this July 17–19, with musical headliners CloZee, Justin Martin and LP Giobbi. northernnights.org | @nnmfestival
Puffcon
f lorida Groves
If you want to puff where it isn't just accepted, but encouraged, Puffco’s annual downtown Los Angeles block party is where concentrate culture comes to life. While it strays slightly from a traditional music festival structure, you’ll find live music, immersive art, over 75 Cannabis brands and a fully open-consumption policy. That means your rig, pen or preroll is welcome everywhere on the grounds. Puffcon 2026 lands on Oct. 3–4 at LA Center Studios. puffcon.com | @puffcon_la
Florida Groves is another all-ages festival option with a 21-plus Cannabis section. This two-day celebration of music, art and Cannabis culture kicks off at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando. Once inside, you can head to the Green Grove (presented by Cookies) for activations and appearances by budding brands all weekend. Since Florida runs a medical program, doctors are even on-site to get you MMJ-certified on the spot (with an appointment). Check out headliners Goose and Daily Bread holding down four stages, April 11–12, 2027. floridagroves.com | @floridagrovesfest
A Field Guide to Canna-Friendly Music Festivals
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
ou T side lands
Outside Lands is a three-day celebration bursting with music, food, art, wine, beer and Bay Area culture. It’s set across 80 acres of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park with a special section called Grass Lands. This 21-plus Cannabis marketplace and consumption area made history in 2019 as the first official Cannabis sales and consumption experience at a (major) U.S. music festival. This Aug. 7–9, you can hit the joint and then the mainstage to see headliners Charli XCX, The Strokes and Rüfüs Du Sol. sfoutsidelands.com | @outsidelands
r eGGae on T he r iver
Sprouting along the same stretch of the Eel River in Humboldt County, first in 1984 as a community fundraiser, Reggae on the River brings three days of all-ages reggae to the County Line Ranch. The grounds are openly Cannabis-friendly, with direct-to-consumer sales from local Emerald Triangle-family farms on-site. Camp on the riverbed, in the Persimmon Grove, by the lot or glamp your way through the weekend this Aug. 14–16, with headliners Burning Spear, Kabaka Pyramid and Don Carlos. reggaeontheriver.com | @reggaeontheriver
LOS ANGELES, CA
ORLANDO, FL
COOKS VALLEY, CA
HUMBOLT, CA
MUNDELEIN,
GaMe. seT.
board games
For many, board games serve as one of the earliest mechanisms of play, forming a foundation for understanding competition and collaboration as a whole. Over time, the hobby has evolved well past genre staples like Monopoly, growing into an almost infinite range of categories and topics. Choose from strategy games, resource gathering games, social deduction games, heck, there’s even popular games that entail exploding cats or dealing as much dope as possible. Whatever the selection, edibles in the form of low-dose gummies or THC drinks are a great option for enhancing any game night sesh.
Codenames, Werewolf (Mafia), Catan, Azul, Pandemic, Clue, Ticket to Ride, Exit: The Game, Weed-Opoly, Ganjaland and Botany
card
Playing cards have been an ubiquitous source of leisure and social gaming for over a millenium due to their simplicity, ease of access and versatility. With the advent of popular games like Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon, playing cards are more relevant now than ever before. Whether it’s a gameshop-styled competition or Texas Hold ‘Em tournament, the stakes (and more importantly the players) will be a lot higher with some good ganja to puff on. Gone are the days of smoking a Cuban cigar at poker night; a hand-rolled hashhole is the new-andimproved premium stogie.
blackjack, poker, spades, Spoons, Bullshit, No Thanks!, Grass and Puff Puff Pass
TTRP games
Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons are the board game equivalent of stepping through a portal and out into a mystical world of magic and wonder. Entailing strategy, roleplaying and a whole lot of dice rolling, this collaborative storytelling medium is one of the most engaging formats of recreational gaming, providing a sense of adventure and camaraderie that grows with each completed quest. Given the typical length of a TTRPG session, it’s recommended to bring a rig and a favorite jar of concentrate to share in an epic afternoon of swords and sesh-ery.
Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Talisman AND Betrayal on HillHouse
hash. Analog Play in a Digital Landscape
In a world that’s oversaturated with digital media, cryptocurrencies and pixelated avatars, one of the most radical, adventurous things we can do is just log offline and reconnect with other human beings face-to-face. Since the dawn of time, one of the primary ways we relate to others is through play. Within the context of an increasingly virtual existence, analog games have come to represent more than just a break from this progressively techno-feudalistic reality — they personify a cross-section of leisure and genuine human connection that is needed now more than ever. So how do we bring the whimsy of authentic, personal interaction back to the sesh? It’s all in the love of the game.
Making appearances at backyard BBQs and summer picnics across the country, yard games are an excellent source of competition that pairs exceedingly well with outdoor Cannabis consumption. Take a turn, take a puff on a joint and pass it along. Take another turn, take another puff and pass it. Given the more active nature of outdoor games, prerolled joints, vape carts and handheld pipes are all solid choices for medicating while playing. It’s honestly hard to beat the feeling of getting buzzed and soaking in some vitamin D on a sunny day.
cornhole (Bags), bocce ball, croquet, horseshoes and bong pong
YARD games party games arts + crafts
With scenarios that range from the hilarious to the downright raunchy, party games are a lively way to cut loose with some not-so-sober friends. Prompts like “huge nugs of alien weed” or “hitting the bong with Barack Obama” will have the whole room grinning ear to ear before falling over with raucous laughter. Durable smokeware is recommended for safety and peace of mind in a typical party atmosphere. Besides, what better time to break out that 3-foot plastic bong than during a sick rager?
Cards Against Humanity Weed Pack, Telestrations After Dark, Trial by Trolley, Do or Smoke, Smoke Sesh and Charades for Stoners
As a joint activity, smoking and art go hand in hand. While not a game in the traditional sense, arts and crafts can be a superb way to unwind and share time with friends. Artistic mediums provide moments of mindfulness and catharsis that are further fueled by the right Cannabis strain, and there’s no quicker way to light up the right side of the brain than by ripping a fat bowl of Sour Diesel or Super Silver Haze and throwing some acrylic on the canvas.
painting, tie-dye, joint origami, pressing flowers, adult coloring books (@cabin7originals and @liamwesleygoodman), knitting, crochet and pot-tery
hunTer s.ThoMPson hunTer s.ThoMPson
Recently, a friend said that she mentioned the author Hunter S. Thompson to her journalism class, and the students couldn’t come up with a single reference beyond a vague callback to the film version of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”
Indeed, the drug-addled, outlaw persona has overshadowed much of Thompson’s literary work — work that was so impressive.
Author David S. Wills pointed out, “I can’t think of a single other writer so original that he earned his own literary genre.”
A reporter, writer and cultural icon, Thompson is credited as the father of “gonzo journalism.” To oversimplify it, this narrative genre Jumanjis the person into their story as both narrator and character, often blurring the lines between what’s real and subjective. New York Times literary critic William Crawford Woods declared this writing style a product of a time when people’s public and private lives were crashing together, and a style that answered the question, “How to tell the story of a time when all fiction was science fiction, all facts lies?”
In today’s new age of media, there’s a lot that’s been built on the foundation of Thompson’s gonzo method. Much of it can be seen not in journalism but in the content creators we follow online, influential figures reporting on their favorite subjects and engaging a growing fanbase. Looking at elements of Thompson’s approach, we can see additional parallels with modern content creators.
WHAT the godfather of gonzo MEANS FOR THE CONTENT-CREATOR ERA
CONTENT AND CREATOR
Immersing yourself in your subject was a particular focus in Thompson’s writings. To get as far into the situation as you can and push until you and the story are both barreling toward an unavoidable conclusion. Thompson even roped his friends, like illustrator Ralph Steadman, into the fray on more than one occasion. He knew that people not only want to hear a story, but want to know what it would be like to move within the story themselves, even if sometimes it was with all the social grace of MrBeast.
SHOCK VALUE
If you’ve ever seen or read “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” you already have an idea of this. Thompson believed in breaking down conventions to evoke a response, to silence the spell the world has over our attention span and shock the system into a momentary reboot, focusing instead on the incredible sight being described to us. Whether it’s creating a YouTube thumbnail, a call to action for a TikTok reel or a title like “A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream,” each relies on a bit of shock value to get the conversation started.
BLENDING FACT AND PERSPECTIVE
Many of Thompson’s tales seemed too incredible to be true, a result intended by both author and editor. Thompson regularly stated that he thought objectivity was a myth and that fiction was more compelling and true than any kind of reporting. He was known for constantly carrying a recorder to document his experiences. But he felt that it’s not always what happened but how you experienced it that makes for the best final product. It’s said that he once told an editor, “Fiction is a bridge to truth that journalism can’t reach.”
THE GONZO INFLUENCE
What future journalists and creators can take away from looking at Thompson’s work is how to let go and allow events to drift you from main to supporting roles without regard for sponsorship or demonetization. Thompson cared about making money from his craft, but he seemed haunted by his public persona rather than focused on how to merchandise it on a personal level. That’s part of what drew people to him.
Thompson’s unique style and voice attracted eyes, which brought in dollars for the magazines that published his articles, something he played to his advantage to create some incredible articles. Rolling Stone flew Thompson to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cover the historic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Cycle World sent him a $10,000 Ducati motorcycle to test drive. He’s been portrayed on screen by actors like Bill Murray and Johnny Depp.
Thompson would have most likely called social media a “cruel and shallow money trench,” as he did with the music industry. But I also think he would have recognized how important viewership has become in our society and found a way to bring his typewritten words to the small screen — much in the same way he allowed Depp to utter that iconic phrase:
“We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.”
Thompson regularly stated that he thought objectivity was a myth and that fiction was more compelling and true than any kind of reporting.
COURTESY
Johnny Depp’s memorable performance as Hunter S. Thompson in the 1998 film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” exposed a new generation to Thompson’s work and antics.
Issue 1036 of Rolling Stone magazine offered a cover story on their legendary contributor in October 2007.
Mary Jane Berlin Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
berlin buds
DUBBED the world’s largest Cannabis event, it is held in Messe Berlin, a sprawling 5.9 million-square-foot space with 30 halls. Over the last two years, the expo has been expanding to fit, adding a new hall in 2025 with another planned for 2027. Founder and CEO Duc Anh Dang described it in a Business of Cannabis article as “Disneyland for Cannabis.” There’s even a giant Ferris wheel. This June marks the 10-year anniversary of Mary Jane Berlin, and things are expected to pop off in the city.
We talk a lot about the global Cannabis community, but when you’re at Mary Jane Berlin, you really feel like a tiny dot in the Cannabis cosmos.
Last year, 65,000 people attended the four-day event, and for 2026, organizers have said you’ll be able to celebrate with “over 75,000 like-minded people.” To put that into perspective, that’s like filling the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be held.
The B2B-centric programming on June 11 provides professionals a chance to hear important discussions and explore the grounds before the public is admitted. After that, the expo will transform into a full-blown trade show and festival June 12-14, with live musical acts performing on stage throughout each day. The schedule features 90 international speakers, including American content creators Dope As Yola and Koala Puffs, alongside a slew of U.S. brands like Connected, Doja, Archive Seed Bank and Greendawg.
Mary Jane Berlin will continue into the evenings with multiple after-parties around the city. Barney’s Farm Seed Bank will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, so we expect the brand to top last year’s packed house party.
Another big highlight should be the annual High Rollers Cup, where rockstar breeders and cultivators will compete for bragging rights on the bowling lanes, and Redman will make an appearance.
With so many brands aiming their message out into the world beyond their home states, and a few already making moves, the German market is sure to see continued growth. When the Leaf spoke with award-winning Cannabis and clothing brand Golden State Banana, they expected to be running a Berlin cafe spot by the end of the year.
As MunchNews put it, “Germany's legalization has transformed Mary Jane from a cultural celebration into a commercial powerhouse.”
Ekocan, a research group put in charge of studying the effects of the German Cannabis Act, recently published its 222-page report. It stated that in 2025, up to 200 tons of medical Cannabis were available in Germany, only 2.6 tons of which were produced domestically.
With so much interest in Germany's market, and its ability to bring players together on a global scale, we expect a huge crowd at Mary Jane Berlin 2026 — and Leaf will be there to bring you all the news.
@MARY_JANE_BERLIN | MARYJANE-BERLIN.COM
I n f u s e d C o o k i n g O i l 1000mg
One of the most tried-and-true celebratory stoner traditions is something we’re calling “infused movie night.” With the infamous “Reefer Madness” premiering nearly 90 years ago, I wanted to revisit the stoned cinema with some updated tips for 2026. As a seasoned plant lover, I think the most important thing when hosting fellow Cannabis consumers for any celebration is a sense of intention. While any typical Tuesday can feel like a movie after a few special tokes, hosting friends for a more elevated experience is worth the time and effort putting in those finishing touches.
Lights Light Up
Camera
The Leaf Guide to a Stoned-at-Home Movie Night
I ALWAYS RECOMMEND having a dedicated stash spot. Be it a bar cart, a nice enamel tray, like a Blazy Susan, or just a table set to the side, the last thing anyone wants to deal with is spills and splashes.
From there, the next thing to consider is snackage, from your favorite uninfused bites to edibles and homemade baked goods, dosing has to be kept top of mind.
It can be all too easy to chow down one too many times over the course of a movie, and suddenly the final-act surprise becomes a terror-inducing twist for a friend who did not realize they were well past their ideal dose on their third brownie. Or they slumped over, snoring because the marinara was too potent.
That is why dosing is the number one thing to consider. Edibles that come with multiple potency points, like Space Poppers, reviewed last month, are perfect for consumers of all tolerance levels to lock in at a level they’re comfortable with.
As Ina Garten says, “store-bought is fine.” But for the homemade route, there are several infused pantry staples on the market that make DIY edibles easy. Whatever your approach, having a clear recipe and dosing plan is paramount.
To guide dosing, I have been loving the book “How to Eat Weed and Have a Good Time” by Vanessa Lavorato. Combining her background on “Bong Appétit” with an impressive volume of lab testing, Lavorato delivers sciencebacked recipes that have more dialed-in dosing guidelines for those dining and cooking.
Maine Trees Lobster OG & “The Lobster” (2015) Felas NYC Haze & “How High” (2001)
This bizarre black comedy is a bit of a head game. Expect more introverted introspection and a slightly gobsmacked response compared to a more laugh-out-loud comedy. Lobster OG is the perfect strain pairing, not only for the pun, but because of how it will have you laid-back with a deeply sedating and cerebral high that mirrors the film’s strange, detached tone — almost like life as a crustacean.
This is a raunchier film by 2026 standards, but what do you expect when Redman and Method Man make their on-screen debut in one of the most iconic Cannabis buddy comedies? If you haven’t seen this one before, head off to college and expect to recognize more than a few jokes. NYC Haze will take you right back to the early 2000s with its citrus-rich aroma that gushes notes of Tropicana OJ. While it won’t have you speaking to ghosts, the uplifting limonene-filled strain may have you laughing out loud at even the most eyebrow-raising jokes.
She also provides simple infusion techniques for newer at-home edibles chefs.
Another easy approach to measured consumption is to use an infused tincture or drink mixer, allowing you and your guests to dial in their dosage or pass altogether. I keep a bottle of 1906’s THC-infused Spirits on hand — the neutral flavor and 10-milligram dose allow me to quickly enhance any drink to complement whatever is on screen. Infusion method is an important factor, and another reason I turn to the 1906 drink. It is incredibly fast-acting, meaning no one spends the raucous first act waiting for their edible to hit.
Beverages also solve a common problem: coughing over a punchline. While I love a bong or blunt as much as anyone, especially with less seasoned consumers, you will spend as much time pausing and rewinding as seshing with this method. If flower is an important part of your celebration, consider a dry herb vaporizer.
I like Storz & Bickel’s hand-held Venty for personal use and the iconic Volcano to satisfy a whole party without derailing the viewing experience.
This brings us to cultivar selection: Consider what you’re smoking. If you’re settling in for a movie marathon or multihour binge, some strains may be more of an energy boost than you’re looking for. Likewise, if the movie marathon is also a fright fest, some more potent strains might have you jumping at the shadows later.
Major Headband & “Yellow Submarine” (1968)
Enjoy over-the-top psychedelic visuals combined with a soundtrack that reminds you why The Beatles’ legacy is so enduring. You can get up and dance to this movie, or sit back and soak in the lusciously layered animated imagery, reveling in the handcrafted details of this cacophonous, kaleidoscopic visual experience. Headband from Major in New York, a cross of OG Kush and Sour Diesel, is the perfect counterpart. You could have enough energy to sing along and even discover that this gorgeous grow is more than potent enough to immerse you in the battle against the Blue Meanies.
MAUKA TO MAKAI
A PAKALOLO-INSPIRED ADVENTURE ACROSS THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAI ` I
The Big Island of Hawai`i embodies a sense of feral magic; it is both ancient and vibrant with new green life. As you set foot on the ‘Āina and breathe in the ocean air, your whole body drops into awe. You feel Tūtū Pele’s mana rising through the warmth of lava rock beneath your feet, her essence carried on salt-kissed trade winds drifting in from the vast Pacific. The land meets you exactly where you are and whispers, “Slow down and breathe in the blessings.” Mauka to makai — mountain to ocean — this island isn’t just a destination, it’s a living, breathing kūpuna, inviting you to remember what it means to be here now.
329 OUT-OF-STATE MEDICAL CANNABIS CARD
My first stop when arriving on the “Big I” is always for some good Aloha-grown, medical-grade ganja from my h ā nai ‘ohana at Big Island Grown. Hawai`i offers an online outof-state patient card known as a “329 OSP.” A valid home-state medical Cannabis card, matching government ID and a nonrefundable $49.50 fee grants patients access to the island’s best medical-grade Pakalolo. Once approved, visitors can access their electronic Hawai`i 329 OSP through an online account, keeping the journey pono, legal and rooted in respect for the plant.
THE B.I.G. ALOHA SESH — MAUKA SIDE
Every adventure is elevated by the perfect Cannabis pairing, so I asked the good people at Big Island Grown for guidance.
In true Aloha spirit, the team’s lead cultivators invited us on a mauka-side waterfall hike to sesh and connect. We arrived at a hidden gem on the Onomea side of the island, known locally as “6 Tons.” Entering through a small opening in the jungle, we mindfully weaved along a riverbed into thick tropical growth. The trail pulsed with life — roots underfoot, mist in the air, everything breathing. For a moment, I felt completely swallowed by the island, like an ant working within a vast, living garden.
The hike was pono, no rush, no hype, just real conversation and connection. We discussed the nuances of growing in a tropical climate, the importance of respecting nature and the team’s humble mission to give back to the island communities.
spinning, laughter echoing through the trees.
Vinyl records played softly, blending with the birds and breeze. We shared a Cuban Linx joint in her tropical garden bursting with orchids and hibiscus. No rush, just storytelling, connection and genuine joy. It was the kind of high that roots you deeper into the moment.
At the waterfall’s crest, the view opened into a breathtaking, lush, green valley stretching toward the deep blue ocean, reflecting sunlight in the distance.
“Big waterfalls call for big dabs,” Vic, B.I.G.’s director of cultivation, laughed, firing up the torch. He blessed us with a Papaya Live Rosin dab. Sweet, juicy, minty terps melted my tension while my mind hummed with gratitude.
We shared plans for the days ahead, snorkeling Kona-side and playing like keiki in the garden at Megan Love’s. They recommended Maui Girl, a bright, uplifting sativa that felt like sunlight dancing on water. It was perfect for a snorkeling adventure, keeping us present and flowing with the ocean. Cuban Linx was also on their list, a creative hybrid with a citrus spark and social energy that is ideal for making art, movement and laughter-filled garden sessions.
A STOP AT MEGAN LOVE’S: HOME OF THE HIGH, HAPPY, HOLY, HEALTHY, HULA-HOOPING HIPPY
After stocking the stash, we drifted over to the Megan Love bed-and-breakfast in Kona, a hidden gem that provides a heart-centered ‘ohana experience. Megan herself is a whole vibe, radiating mana Aloha. The space felt like stepping into a childhood backyard where time dissolves; barefoot in the grass, hoops
MAKAI ADVENTURE TIME — SALT WATER AND SURRENDER
The next morning began with Kona coffee and a Maui-Girl-sunrise sesh: light, euphoric and expansive. It set the tone for a twohour snorkel adventure along the Kona Coast with Hawai`i Island and Ocean Tours, where crystal-clear waters and underwater landscapes created a dreamlike playground. Dropping into the ocean, everything softened. Vibrant fish drifted through coral gardens as sunlight flickered in the water like a living mosaic.
Guided by Captain Kekoa, we explored secluded reef pockets near the Captain Cook Monument while appreciating Native Hawaiian storytelling and fresh-cut pineapple. One of the highlights was The Grotto, a sea cave carved by Pele’s ancient fire. This lava tube stretches nearly 14 miles before dropping beneath the coastline, connecting land to ocean.
Locals speak of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia falling in love with Hawai`i’s waters in the late 1980s, logging hundreds of dives through its volcanic arches and underwater caves. I couldn’t help but playfully wonder if Garcia ever sparked a doobie deep inside Pele’s submerged cathedral.
In true Hawaiian spirit, this adventure wasn’t about chasing a high. It was about flowing with the breathing essence of Aloha — from stillness in the jungle to childlike joy at MeganLoves to the living ancestral presence in the ocean. Mauka to makai; the island has a way of reminding us OGs that life doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s as simple as good people, open air and moments in nature that take your breath away.
Check out this month’s roundup of books that pair well with taking a few puffs and the path less traveled. Let’s hit the road, readers!
the last season
by Eric Blehm @ericblehmofficial
STEP RIGHT INTO the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, but with a dark twist in this gripping true story. “The Last Season” follows backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, infamous for his ability to locate lost hikers, until he becomes one himself. Equal parts adventure biography and true-crime-esque mystery, this Outdoor Book Award winner pulls you deep into the solitude of nature and keeps you questioning what really happened to Morgenson out there.
high infatuation
by Steph Davis @highsteph
RAW AND REFLECTIVE self-proclaimed “dirtbag climber” Steph Davis shares the highs and lows (literally) of a life lived on the edge. Through a collection of essays and poems, she explores hard-earned lessons in solitude, ambition and resilience shaped by her experience as a professional athlete. You’ll be hanging on every word as Davis takes you from a single-day ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan to weeks spent waiting out storms in a tent in the mountains of Patagonia.
a walk in the woods
by Bill Bryson @billbryson8394
PART TRAVEL MEMOIR, part laughout-loud adventure, this New York Times bestseller follows Bill Bryson on his 2,100mile journey along the Appalachian Trail. From unexpected wildlife encounters to hilariously unqualified travel companions, his sharp humor keeps the trek light and endlessly entertaining. Woven throughout his trail tales are thoughtful reflections on the importance of preserving America’s wilderness, helping you meditate on what it really means to get lost in the wild.
forage. gather. feast. by
Maria Finn @maria_finn1
IF YOU LIKE getting adventurous in the kitchen, this cookbook is for you. With over 100 recipes built around foraged ingredients, Maria Finn makes it easy to turn a walk in the woods (or even your own backyard) into your next home-cooked meal. Rooted in fresh West Coast flavors and seasonal simplicity, some standout recipes include the Pine Scones with Huckleberries, Rose Hip and Apple Jam and Campfire Porcini Risotto (yum).
Simply Spring
These Cannabis-infused recipes are all about keeping things fresh, simple and seasonal. Each dish stands on its own, built around straightforward ingredients and easy preparation, with a light infusion of Strawberry Gelato, a Pruf Cultivar indica-dominant hybrid. I made these recipes for a candlelight dinner on our floating home’s deck. Everyone enjoyed it, and no one fell in the river!
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the lime juice, fish sauce, canna-oil, sugar, onion, chili and garlic.
2. In a large serving bowl, combine the shrimp, papayas and carrots.
Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss well to combine.
3. Garnish with mint, cilantro and peanuts before serving.
3 cups vegetable or chicken stock
2 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons canna-butter or oil
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced leeks, divided 2/3 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest Salt and white pepper to taste
1. In a medium pot, combine the asparagus and stock. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
2. In a medium skillet, heat the butter and canna-butter over mediumlow heat. Add garlic and 1 cup of the leeks, and saute for 7-9 minutes, until tender
3. Add the leeks and half-and-half to the soup, and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Return the unwashed skillet to medium heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the remaining 1⁄2 cup of leeks and cook until golden brown and crisp, 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the leeks to a clean towel to drain.
5. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor. Or, if you have an immersion blender, puree the soup directly in the pot.
6. Return the blended soup to the pot, and rewarm it over mediumlow heat.
7. Garnish the soup with lemon zest and frizzled leeks, and season with salt and pepper before serving.
BRUSCHETTA WITH RICOTTA AND PEAS
Makes four servings
8 slices peasant bread, lightly toasted
4 teaspoons canna-olive oil
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
1. Drizzle or brush the toasted bread with the canna-olive oil, using half a teaspoon per slice.
2. Spread 2 tablespoons of ricotta on each slice.
3. In a small skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the scallions, and saute for 4-5 minutes.
4. Add the peas, and saute until soft and no longer vibrant green, 3-4 minutes.
5. Divide peas among the bread slices.
6. Drizzle each slice with 1 teaspoon of the remaining olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP
BRUSCHETTA WITH RICOTTA AND PEAS
THAI SHRIMP SALAD
TrulyTreets coming soon
Natural Ratios, How Nature Intended
NAMESAKE & OBZRVR
HOW LONG HAVE YOU TWO BEEN ON THE TORCH?
Giovanni Buda: I first got on the torch 14 years ago while I was in college. I was studying interactive design, … and in my second year, I decided to transfer into the Craft and Design program in order to pursue a career in glass. I’m glad to say I’ve been able to work fulltime on the torch since 2016.
Naomi Hernández: The first time I tried flameworking was in 2014, and then for the next decade I would occasionally hop on the torch for fun, maybe once or twice a year. I was mostly making chains to gift my friends and family. … It wasn’t until mid-2024 that I started apprenticing under my partner and learning to blow glass fulltime.
This team hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, in the great white North shows what over a decade of partnership can bring to the art world. Their continued pursuit of creativity and visual expression makes for an unmatched level of sublime works.
WHERE DID YOUR JOURNEYS BEGIN, AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO BLOW GLASS?
GB: I naturally drifted towards flameworking, as I always wanted to make pipes. When I first entered the program, they didn’t allow us to make pipes, but by my fourth year, they accepted my final thesis proposal on a series of networked rigs. Those pieces were also the first pipes to be displayed in the Sandra Ainsley Gallery in Toronto. At school, I had endless time to tinker and experiment with what I wanted to make. That’s what I found so interesting, and still do: … always being able to explore new methods and techniques to achieve a certain result and being able to refine that process.
NH: My journey in glass really started with meeting my partner, Gio, in college. I was a film student. … So, when he transferred into the glass program, I started documenting a lot of his process. I found myself captivated by the cluttered intimacy of a flameworking studio. …
All this time later, and I’d say Gio’s encouragement and passion towards the craft is something that motivates me. It constantly helps remind me there is still so much left to explore.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO CREATE?
GB: I really enjoy making hollow structures like my Sentinel rigs. It was a fun design that came together through experimenting with natural function while I was at school. … I’ve also had a lot of fun
Giovanni Buda @obzrvr_
“My main focus is on realism, but specifically the objects that we tend to overlook.”
-Glass artist Naomi Hernández
working with Naomi on our brand, Pending Approval, over the last year and a half. Recently, we’ve been doing more direct collabs with the Puffco attachments. This has been my first experience with designing concepts for an e-rig, so it’s been really rewarding to explore new areas of the industry. …
NH: My main focus is on realism, but specifically the objects that we tend to overlook. … I am deeply inspired by the work of Matt Eskuche, specifically the videos he would post online of his plastic soda bottle work. … I absolutely loved the idea of curbing the viewers’ expectations. … I bring a lot of that to my work; it’s the reason I set out to make a hyper-realistic glass pencil, as well as other small everyday objects. What has been really cool is seeing that evolve into the work we’ve been doing recently with the Puffco Proxy Core sets. Since the device is designed for discretion, it lends itself well to the idea of making work that is hidden in plain sight.
WHERE IS THE
STUDIO TODAY?
NH: Our studio is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It’s a very small two-person studio, but thankfully,
we were able to design and build it out specifically for our needs. We put a lot of thought into our space and are very grateful that we get the opportunity to work out of a clean and safe studio every day.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENINGS OR UPCOMING DROPS?
NH: There are some upcoming drops and events, but we can’t share many details just yet, so keep an eye on our page for more info! … In the meantime, we will be running Instagram auctions on new prototype designs as we make them.
IS THERE A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE YOUR WORK?
NH: All of our future independent drops will be on Obzrvr.com, but you can also find some work at a wonderful local shop called Glassology. The owners, Matt and Megan, are pillars in the local scene and have always been big supporters of our work.
@NAMESAKEGLASS
@OBZRVR_ OBZRVR.COM
Naomi Hernández @namesakeglass
DAVE ZACKIN HOW CANNABIS INSPIRES
If you live in New York, you’ve probably walked past some of Dave Zackin’s designs while high. As creative director for the New York Regional Plan Association, Zackin has designed New York City’s public space recycling bins and educational recycling stickers. The graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design holds a bachelor’s degree in animation and a master’s degree in both public health and urban studies.
HIS WORK has been featured on hundreds of public information posters throughout the city, but the artist has also gained notoriety for his ceramic pottery, which has garnered him over 100,000 Instagram followers.
Zackin takes discarded pots and clay pieces from Gasworks NYC, the community studio where he creates, and gives them new life and purpose. His creative process begins with raiding the studio for a starting point.
He wraps unfired pottery in wet rags to rehydrate before sculpting over the top of the piece. If it’s already been cooked and the shape is locked in, Zackin paints messages and designs in glaze. These range from a plate proclaiming, “I will eat all of my enemies,” to a candy bowl reading, “one of these candies is poisoned, but the rest are delicious.” Zackin calls these his “good-bad ideas.” This is where he said Cannabis comes in.
“I try to empty my head and come up with some ideas that seem like they’re coming from the outside of the world and looking in,” Zackin said. He went on to add that “pot really helps with this.”
Zackin experimented with Cannabis throughout junior high, high school and college, but it wasn’t until he spent a year dating a medical Cannabis patient that he started smoking on the regular. Nowadays, though he still smokes a few times a week, he considers himself a lightweight. “Two hits off a vape pen does the trick for me,” he said.
“I TRY TO EMPTY MY HEAD AND COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS THAT SEEM LIKE THEY’RE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE WORLD AND LOOKING IN.”
For making ceramics, Zackin explained that it is best to smoke only a little bit before hitting the studio.
“If I smoke too much, I get obsessed with surface patterns and spend a lot of time doing what we refer to in the ceramic studio as ‘cat licking’ — adjusting tiny details on a pretty much completed piece,” Zackin said.
Since Gasworks NYC is a shared studio space, Zackin mostly gossips with friends while creating. Many artists lock themselves away in the studio, toiling away alone, but he prefers the energy of having people there to interact with while he works.
“We also listen to Lower Dens, Stevie Wonder and whatever someone who connects to the Bluetooth speaker starts playing,” he shared. “Sometimes people sing.”
Staring at Zackin’s finished ceramics, I get a sort of Will Vinton claymation vibe, with characters that seem to bubble up and come to life from their clay origins. Sometimes they feature a muppet-like face and arms, or a cup with kind features and large ears.
When asked how he comes up with daily ideas, Zackin said, “Using other people’s leftovers as a starting point allows me to make a lot of work really quickly and not feel too precious about each piece.”
The process, he revealed, becomes much easier after a couple of hits.
