April 15, 2020 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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MEDI C A L MA RI JU A N A

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BEST DISPENSARY

thehealingcenterusa.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

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BY JARED WICKERHAM

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APRIL 15-22, 2020 VOLUME 29 + ISSUE 16 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor ALEX GORDON Senior Writers RYAN DETO, AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers HANNAH LYNN, JORDAN SNOWDEN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Digital Media Manager JOSH OSWALD Editorial Designer ABBIE ADAMS Graphic Designers JOSIE NORTON, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Events and Sponsorship Manager BLAKE LEWIS Senior Account Executive KAITLIN OLIVER Sales Representative ZACK DURKIN Operations Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Events and Marketing Coordinator BRYER BLUMENSCHEIN Business Manager JUSTIN MATASE Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, JESSIE SAGE Intern OLLIE GRATZINGER National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Lia Savini puts away products at the end of the day at Solevo Wellness in Squirrel Hill.

THE BIG STORY

CHRONIC CONDITIONS

How Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program is proving itself essential during coronavirus

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

O

N MARCH 19, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all “non-life-sustaining” businesses in Pennsylvania would be forced to close operations to help slow the spread of coronavirus. There was a lot of anxiety and confusion about what businesses were deemed essential during the pandemic and which were not.

Luckily for Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana patients, the program was deemed essential and dispensaries across the commonwealth could continue to operate. But like any business open during

the pandemic, medical-marijuana dispensaries had to adjust how they operate and customers had to follow suit.

Those adjustments, however, appear to be reinforcing how essential Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program is. Reports indicate that demand is up for medical marijuana during coronavirus. Social distancing measures like limiting patients allowed into dispensaries at a time and drive-up services haven’t slowed anything down. Actions from the state government have also expedited efforts to get

patients medical marijuana cards and medication.

Additionally, the rule changes passed last year, like including anxiety as a qualifying condition, appear to be contributing to the increase of new patients. At a time when anxiety is high for everyone, these changes came at an opportune time.

Dispensaries in the Pittsburgh area and across Pennsylvania are under added pressure due to measures to help stem the spread of the virus, but they too recognize the special circumstances. They know every adjustment is necessary, since the CONTINUES ON PG. 8

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

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CHRONIC CONDITIONS, CONTINUED FROM PG. 7

HOW TO GET A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD IN PENNSYLVANIA

1. CREATE AN ONLINE PATIENT PROFILE Adult patients (18+) must first fill out a form with accurate and up-to-date personal information, including name, address, and date of birth, at the Pennsylvania Department of Health website (padohmmp.custhelp.com).

Tip: Make sure addresses are inputted exactly how they appear on a patient’s driver’s license or stateissued ID. Do not include punctuation marks; abbreviate words like “street” or “road”; and when directions are included in an address, patients are advised to input only the first initial. For example, “100 E MAIN ST” is the correct way to type 100 East Main Street.

A similar form must be filled out by caregivers for medical-marijuana patients who are minors, have a disability, or require in-home support.

2. GET A DOCTOR TO SIGN OFF Patients with one of the approved medical conditions, as defined by state law, can qualify for a medical-marijuana card, but first must have a physician certify that they have at least one of those conditions. (A full list of approved conditions can be found at pa.gov.)

According to the state health department, there are now over 125 practices in Allegheny County that can certify medical marijuana card applications. An up-to-date list of physicians is available on the Pennsylvania government website (health.pa.gov).

Note: If your primary doctor has treated you for one of the approved conditions but is not certified, you can CONTINUES ON PG. 10

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Employees with Maitri Medicinals

cannabis they provide is a necessary medication for patients.

“You adjust, there is the fear of the virus, and the panic that sets in generally, but you have to handle both,” says Chris Kohan of The Healing Center dispensary.

“It’s not just adjusting to the virus, but adjusting to the people.”

On March 21, the Pennsylvania Health Department announced new coronavirus-related rules for the state’s medical-marijuana program. They included eliminating the limit on the number of patients for whom a caregiver could supply medical marijuana.

(Previously, caregivers could only pick up medication for five patients at a time.)

This, in turn, made caregivers de facto delivery services for patients.

As part of the coronavirus rules, dispensaries are now allowed to provide curbside pick-up for medication

as well, and doctors can qualify new medical-marijuana patients online or over the phone, when before it had to be in-person.

Kohan is the head of The Healing Center, which operates dispensaries in Cranberry, Monroeville, and Washington, Pa. He says there was an initial surge in medical-marijuana purchases when people thought dispensaries might close, too, but even since then, people are buying more product than they normally would.

He thinks anxiety related to the pandemic is leading to more patients to embrace medical cannabis as a treatment. “We continue to get a large surplus of new patients,” says Kohan.

The Healing Center has responded to coronavirus social distancing guidelines by implementing several changes at their facilities. Kohan says patients don’t ever have to make contact with door handles

thanks to a guard who activates the automatic door when patients arrive. The dispensaries also only allow one patient in at a time, and plexiglass screens have been installed at the store’s booths. There are never more than 10 people inside the buildings at a time, including employees, says Kohan.

Cleaning and disinfecting measures have also been increased. Employees are wiping down all surfaces multiple times a day, and the Healing Center is using an electrostatic spray machine to disinfect all the nooks and crannies of the dispensaries. Patients can also place their orders online ahead of time to limit their time inside the dispensaries.

“We are really keeping our buildings very clean,” says Kohan. “We have masks for all of our employees. And everybody has gloves.”

In terms of patient preferences during CONTINUES ON PG. 10

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

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CHRONIC CONDITIONS, CONTINUED FROM PG. 8 HOW TO GET A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD, CONTINUED FROM PG. 8

download your medical records and take them to an approved practice.

The price of certification varies by provider. Both Compassionate Certification Centers (compassionate certificationcenters.com) and Get Your ID Card (getyouridcard.com) are two practices that will take medical records and charge about $200 for a new patient certification. During the pandemic, doctors can also authorize a card over the phone or online.

3. TURN IN APPLICATION AND PAY FEE Once certified by an authorized physician, patients must return to the state’s health department website (from step No. 1). Patients then fill out the rest of the necessary information, including the approved physician details and certification information (from step No. 2). A $50 application fee must be submitted to complete the process. Some patients who receive government assistance are eligible for discounts. A card will arrive by mail within two weeks.

4. VISIT A DISPENSARY Once you receive your medical marijuana card, you will need to take it to one of the following dispensaries to make a purchase. First-time patients will need a consultation before placing an order, but once registered, dispensaries offer online ordering for easier pickup.

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Co-founders Chris Kohan (left) and Jay Richards (right) at The Healing Center in Cranberry

CY+ cydispensary.com 2116 Penn Ave., Strip District 201 Pillow St., Butler 4 Kensington Square, New Kensington The Healing Center thehealingcenterusa.com 270 Executive Drive, Cranberry 130 Mall Circle Drive, Monroeville 799 West Chestnut St., Washington Maitri Medicinals maitrimedicinals.com 5845 Centre Ave., Shadyside 27 West Main St., Uniontown Solevo Wellness solevowellness.com 5600 Forward Ave., Squirrel Hill 22095 Perry Hwy, Zelienople 200 Adios Drive, Washington •

the pandemic, Kohan says he’s seen an increased popularity of the flower form of medical marirjana. He says it’s been a small shift, and it could be because of patients’ apprehensions about vaping.

Last year, there was a spike in hospitalizations linked to vaping and e-cigarettes.

Health experts have said that respiratory illness makes people more vulnerable to health complications related to COVID-19.

Kohan notes that patients are supposed to vaporize the cannabis flowers, though that’s still different than the cartridges and e-cigarettes that were reported to be linked to vaping health concerns.

The Healing Center isn’t the only Pennsylvania dispensary that has seen a slight increase in business. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sanctuary Wellness Institute in Chester County has

seen business pick up significantly since the pandemic hit, and the doctors at the organization are beginning to take in about 300 calls a day from prospective medical-marijuana patients.

According to numbers released by the Department of Health last week, about 180,000 residents are actively participating in Pennsylvania’s medicalmarijuana program.

Samuel Britz, chief operating officer at Solevo Wellness, also notes a slight uptick in patient volumes. He says there was a large increase when the closures were first announced and that things have leveled off more or less since then.

Solevo operates dispensaries in Cranberry, Squirrel Hill, and Washington, Pa. Supply shortages have been an issue for dispensaries in the past, but Britz says that supply is keeping pace with

demand during the pandemic.

“We have always been a high-volume purchaser of product, and because of the long-standing relationship we have established with the growers, our inventory levels are high,” says Britz. “Growers continue to provide routine weekly deliveries. We are currently stocked with our highest inventory level since the inception of the program.”

Solevo has also taken extra steps to clean and disinfect their dispensaries.

Britz says they added plexiglass guards where appropriate, installed ion air cleaners, and disinfect the buildings with antimicrobial spraying once a week. Britz says that only 10 patients are allowed in the dispensaries at a time to maintain social distancing. Each station is cleaned after every consultation.

Britz says that Solevo’s new online CONTINUES ON PG. 12

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

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CHRONIC CONDITIONS, CONTINUED FROM PG. 10

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Customers line up outside of CY+ in the Strip District

ordering system has also helped with social distancing, and that more than half the dispensary’s patients are currently using the online system. He says supply has been abundant enough that patients have not been running into any “sold out” situations when ordering online.

“We have done everything we can to adjust to the situation and, for the most part, the patients have been very cooperative,” says Britz.

Cresco Yeltrah, which also goes by CY+ Dispensaries, operates locations in the Strip District, Butler, and New Kensington.

CY+ spokesperson Jason Erkes says that the Butler and New Kensington dispensaries are offering curbside pick-up to help promote social distancing. Erkes says the Strip District location is large enough that proper social distancing can be adhered to.

“We are trying to minimize the time we spend with each person,” says Erkes.

“Everyone is adapting to this new normal no matter what industry you are in.”

CY+ is also doing pre-packaged orders

to limit physical contact. Erkes adds that the company’s dispensaries have also seen an uptick in orders, but he says it’s hard to determine exactly what is causing it.

He says that maybe people are stocking up more because they want to adhere to stay-at-home orders. Under the new coronavirus rules, medicalmarijuana patients can stock up on medication that will last 90 days, instead of the previous limit of 30 days.

Erkes has been very pleased with Pennsylvania officials’ response to the pandemic in terms of adapting the rules of the commonwealth’s medicalmarijuana program. He says CY+ has “always been advocating in making cannabis as accessible as we can” and that online ordering and doctors’ consultations have been very beneficial.

In the future, Erkes would like to see dispensaries themselves allowed to carry out deliveries (current rules only allow certified caregivers the ability to pick-up medical cannabis), but notes that the “state has been great to work

with and very open minded to adjusting the rules to keep patients safe.”

Erkes says the rule allowing caregivers unlimited patients has really helped in maintaining social distancing at CY+ facilities. “We are seeing a lot of caregivers taking care of multiple people and this minimizes the amount of people exposing our staff,” says Erkes.

Kohan says that ultimately, the state and dispensaries involved are responding to the coronavirus crisis without compromising the goals of the medicalmarijuana program. He says that compassion to patients was what led the state to create the program, and that compassion to dispensary employees, owners, and all the medical-cannabis patients is what is driving decisions during the pandemic.

“You have to be compassionate and you have to keep your people safe,” says Kohan. “Got to do as much as you can without totally disrupting everything.

We are dealing with all of those perspectives in a compassionate way. That’s been the biggest thing for us.”

Follow senior writer Ryan Deto on Twitter @RyanDeto

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

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.FOOD.

MUNCHIES: FOR YOUR HEALTH

BY ALEX GORDON // ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

F

OR THE PAST six weeks or so, I’ve

been collecting answers to a survey about Pittsburghers’ favorite healthy-ish munchies. I used a threepronged approach: ask for answers on Twitter, ask for answers on Reddit, and then write those answers down. I’ve learned a lot, most notably that far more people than I expected eat frozen grapes on the reg. Not only was this a common answer on Twitter and Reddit, but I also found it elsewhere on the web in a number of healthy-munchie listicles. While it’s not something I expected, it did back up the underlying trends of the overall field: cold is better than warm or hot, sweet is better than salty or spicy. So there you go: frozen grapes.

I received around 90 answers altogether, including submissions from me, my girlfriend, and a handful of friends.

Since “healthy-ish” is a fittingly vague descriptor for this kind of deeply unscientific experiment, not all the answers

are explicitly good for you. I think the general consensus is to define “healthyish munchies” as anything that isn’t brazenly junky or fried. Do not judge.

Here’s what people had to say.

1. Fruit (39) Pretty much every fruit I could think of, plus some I couldn’t, was mentioned here. Grapes, frozen or not, came out as the big winner, followed by apples, berries, and mangoes. One showoff submitted “figs.” (While I did receive a number of votes for cucumbers and tomatoes and those are technically fruits, I have never cared for that scientific fact so I’m ignoring it and saving them under the vegetable umbrella.)

2. Vegetables (25) A couple of weeks after I put out the tweet, I got an upsettingly tasty Caesar salad from a local pizzeria. This was nothing that could possibly squeak

by as healthy, or even healthy-ish; it was more of a parmesan/crouton/dressing medley featuring lettuce than a salad.

Nevertheless, it inspired me to change my submission to the survey and vowed to be more of a “salad guy” in 2021. Other popular veggies included cukes and tomatoes (because they’re veggies), carrots, celery, and bell peppers.

3. Dips (10) While No. 3 may seem far down the ladder in terms of actual votes, I noticed that the “hummus” bloc had the most enthusiasm for their candidate. Every vote for hummus seemed to autocomplete with a handful of exclamation points and emojis. Hummus inspires passion. Only one vote for salsa, which saddened me.

4. Nuts and legumes (8) A lot of diversity among this crew, almost no overlaps: peanuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, pistachios (shelled).

Follow managing editor Alex Gordon on Twitter @shmalexgordon

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5. Spreads (6) Butters (peanut and almond) dominated this class, whether paired with a cracker or vegetable, or spooned out for a direct deposit.

6. Crunchy stuff (4) Maybe my followers and I are getting older and wiser when it comes to sodium intake, because there were very few salty chips or junk food listed here. This is growth.

7. Some one-vote-only favorites: Milk (I disagree), omelets (meh), sorbet (oddly the only dessert submission), pepperoncini (like you get on a pizzeria salad?), roasted seaweed (of course), kimchi (gut health!), and lastly, green beans, which prompted someone on Reddit to respond, “Bro that’s nasty” and “This is generally terrible advice.” I feel that was an overreaction, but to each their own.

Bon appetit.

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.LEGALIZATION.

A TIME TO ACT

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

G

ETTING A RECREATIONAL cannabis

bill passed is no easy feat. Only 11 states have done it, while 33 have legalized medical marijuana. Bills have been introduced in Pennsylvania over the years without ever realistically coming close to passing. But the turmoil caused by the pandemic could actually bolster the argument for legal cannabis in the commonwealth, as recordbreaking unemployment and dormant businesses threaten the economy and the state’s budget stretches to provide for more emergency funding.

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In February, State Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Hill District) announced HB 2050, a bill that would legalize the growing, selling, and consumption of adult-use cannabis, while simultaneously clearing the records of those who have currently or previously faced drug charges for cannabis. Tax revenue from sales would go toward housing programs, student loan reimbursement, and after-school programs. In short, it would create jobs, revenue, and a new sector of the economy from which Pennsylvania has never benefited. Wheatley says that before the

pandemic hit, he thought the bill was still a couple years away from serious consideration. But now, he believes it could plausibly happen much sooner.

“The demand on our tax system behind this pandemic, I think will be thus that we’re going to be looking at all available options,” says Wheatley.

“I’m not pushing this just around the economics of it — I think it’s just good policy in general — but I think the fact that it has the potential to have such an economic impact on our budget, and this budget is being so strained, I think

we’ll have a better chance within the next six months.”

Given the proposed tax rate, the number of people who use cannabis or support its legalization, and models from other states, Wheatley “conservatively” estimates legal adult-use cannabis could bring in half a billion dollars in its first couple years. Sales tax for cannabis would begin at 6% for the first two years and incrementally increase until capping at 19% tax. The adult-use cannabis system would not interfere with the current medical marijuana system.

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An October 2019 poll released by Franklin & Marshall College found that 58% of registered voters in Pennsylvania support marijuana legalization; 67% of Democrats and 45% of Republicans support it. Though the total percent of support has remained about the same since 2017, it has increased significantly in the past decade. A 2010 poll showed 33% of Pennsylvanians supporting the legalization of marijuana.

BLACK ADULTS WERE 3.6 TIMES AS LIKELY AS WHITE ADULTS TO BE CHARGED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION. In 2019, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman completed a listening tour of all 67 counties in Pennsylvania to hear constituents’ opinions on cannabis and later released a report finding that 65-75% Pennsylvanians support its legalization. The report also cited “near-unanimous support” for the expungement of “non-violent and small” cannabis offenses. In response, Fetterman and Gov. Tom Wolf called for the General Assembly to “seriously debate and consider the legalization of adult-use, recreational marijuana.”

When he announced the bill in February, Wheatley cited a recent survey from Compassionate Certification Centers on the demographics of medical marijuana cardholders, which found that 86% of patients are white. There were 21,789 marijuana arrests in Pennsylvania in 2019, while a 2017 report from the ACLU of Pennsylvania found that Black adults were 3.6 times as likely as white adults to be charged for marijuana possession. These statistics seem to indicate that Black Pennsylvanians don’t have equal access to marijuana as a treatment for an array of illnesses, but are disproportionately punished for using it illegally.

The “clean slate” portion of HB 2050 would release inmates currently serving time for nonviolent marijuana charges, expunge criminal records with marijuanarelated offenses, and reinstate any licenses, registrations, or vehicle privileges that were lost because of cannabis offenses. In addition to Wheatley’s previous adult-use cannabis bill, there are restrictions for employers, including that an employer could not fire or refuse to hire an employee because they test positive for cannabis.

“We think [this] aspect is very important because it gives people a true opportunity to live the type of life that they need and deserve,” says Wheatley, “and not let this failed drug policy prevent them.”

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Follow staff writer Hannah Lynn on Twitter @hanfranny PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

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.OP-ED.

WE NEED WEED. PERIOD.

WHY DOESN’T MONTHLY, RECURRING PAIN QUALIFY AS CHRONIC?

BY HANNAH LYNN HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A

FEW YEARS AGO, an article went

viral featuring a statement from a doctor claiming that periods can be as painful as a heart attack. There is no research to verify the claim, and he was just one doctor in one article, but it was shared nonetheless because so many people felt validated by a professional acknowledging their pain.

In 2016, ResearchGate reported that there were five times as many research studies about erectile dysfunction as there were about PMS (premenstrual syndrome). They also reported that 40% of those with PMS, with 150 “commonly listed” symptoms, don’t respond to treatments currently available. And this is just regular, run-of-the-mill PMS. More severe cases often don’t get diagnosed until later in life because doctors don’t believe their patient is having more than regular period symptoms, like PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), which causes extreme mood changes, or endometriosis, which causes severe physical pain.

The usual treatments for periods include ibuprofen, Midol, heating pads, the fetal position, a hot shower, and searching “yoga for your period” on YouTube. These can all work fine to relieve physical pains like cramps, backaches, and boob soreness, but those are just physical. What no one ever seems to want to discuss is that periods can manifest emotionally just as much as they can physically. Periods can make a

person sad, anxious, irritable, depressed, and moody for 1-2 weeks every month, and no amount of Advil is going to help.

But what also goes undiscussed is that marijuana can actually help with both the physical and emotional toll of having a period, something people who both get periods and smoke weed know well. It can soothe cramps and other pains, as well as lift your mood.

Medical marijuana is already used to treat several conditions involving physical and/or mental pain. Periods can share symptoms with several of the conditions that qualify for a medical marijuana card. Yet, PMS and other syndromes related to periods do not qualify for a medical marijuana card in any of the 33 states with legalized medical marijuana.

Only Alabama, which passed a medical

marijuana bill through its senate in March, includes PMS (and menopause) on the list of qualifying conditions.

It might seem silly to argue that something as banal as a period deserves a medication that is also used for those with cancer or ALS. Then again, why doesn’t something like period cramps, which range from mild discomfort to searing pain, count as chronic pain? Why doesn’t monthly, recurring pain qualify as chronic? Why would acclaimed film star and EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg launch a (now defunct) marijuana company specifically targeting menstrual cramps if it weren’t an effective treatment?

If the medical community, and general population of Earth, took women’s pain more seriously, then they might believe it

and warrant more research. Studies show that the majority of people impacted by chronic pain are women, that women’s physical pain is more likely to be misdiagnosed as a mental health problem, and that women are more likely than men to be prescribed sedatives instead of pain-relieving drugs.

I’m not a doctor, so I have no authority to say whether or not PMS is medically qualified to be on a list of ailments treated by medical marijuana. But I do know from personal experience, from the experience of friends and acquaintances, that marijuana helps alleviate both the physical and mental pain of being on your period. That for some, it’s the only thing that works, and that it would help a lot of people to be able to access it legally.

•

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.HEALTH.

TOPICAL RELIEF

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

L

INDSAY FRENCH, FOUNDER of local CBD boutique Hippie & French, started selling her first batch of hand sanitizer last week. With the release, the store was following in the footsteps of many local distilleries who stepped in to produce sanitizer in light of shortages. But unlike distilleries, the Hippie & French version included 100 milligrams of cannabiodal (CBD) and 100 milligrams of cannabigerol (CBG).

HIPPIE AND FRENCH 5122 Butler St., Lawrenceville. hippieandfrench.com

The hand sanitizer (and most of the Hippie & French products) are produced by a manufacturer in Colorado. French’s sanitizer recipe is a fairly standard mix that adheres to guidelines put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: ethanol (at a concentration of at least 60%) as the main ingredient with glycerin, essential oils, CBD, and CBG. French notes that the two included cannabinoids — CBD and CBG — carry their own antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which makes them the perfect partner to a disinfectant.

French says the hand sanitizer will work similar to other topical CBD treatments, though it’s effective for “different reasons.” Typically, she explains, a pain-relieving topical treatment should contain 300

milligrams of CBD. Because the purpose of hand sanitizer is to disinfect, not relieve pain, a lesser amount is just as effective. And, French notes, the addition of alcohol only enhances the efficiency of the cannabinoids’ antibacterial qualities.

Since the pandemic hit, French says her store has seen a spike in product sales. The first batch of Hippie & French hand sanitizer sold out in 24 hours.

“People are sitting at home and anxious about what’s going to happen to themselves, their friends, or their loved ones. I’ve been so grateful to be able to provide some anxiety relief amongst all the chaos and uncertainty,” French says.

“But it doesn’t feel good to necessarily be profiting from this time,” she adds.

With that in mind, French has decided to donate 100% of the profits from her hand sanitizer to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Additionally, 10% of all profits made at her boutique in April will be donated to the food bank. “[The donation] was not something I had originally intended,” French says. “But I’m watching the news of these huge lines at the food bank. Having been foodinsecure myself at one time, I can’t imagine any one of my customers struggling like that. It breaks my heart to think of anyone in our city not having food to eat right now. It seemed like the obvious thing to do.”

French is expecting two more shipments (100 bottles each) of the four ounce hand sanitizers.

•

Follow staff writer Maggie Weaver on Twitter @magweav PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

23

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Medical marijuana patients in Pennsylvania can purchase products in a variety of intake forms.

.MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

DISPENSING WISDOM

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

F

OR NEW OR INTERESTED patients,

navigating the world of medical marijuana can be intimidating.

What are the best products for pain or anxiety? How should you take it? What dispensaries are available, and where?

Pittsburgh City Paper spoke to local patients and cannabis product reviewers about what works for them.

Jen Webster, founder of Keystone Buds Medical marijuana patient since March 2018 as treatment for chronic back pain and mental stress related to a failed microdiscectomy I find the most relief from indica concentrates and indica dry flower. Concentrates tend to be a higher percentage of THC and

you have more control over how much you consume at once. They can quickly knock out my back pain and spasms completely. Dry flower, what most people simply call “weed,” is my nighttime way to relax before bed. Everyone is different, but for me, flower creates a much more relaxing experience overall.

In addition to physical relief, it helps a lot with the mental stress of always being in pain. Daytime use is a little bit different. I need to be alert and fully functioning. My go-to is an oil cartridge vape pen. It takes off the edge enough that I can tolerate my physical discomfort. [It is] also significantly easier to use. Just twist the cartridge onto a battery and you’re

ready to go. A good hybrid (both sativa and indica) strain can keep me going while also relieving the radiating pain in my back.

A good place to start is the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Education Center on Penn Avenue. You can check them out at pammec.org. Keystone Buds is available for anyone to send questions if they would prefer to speak in private. We can also help people get hooked up with the right resources. A lot of certification centers are available for telemedicine certifications. I know Medical Marijuana Specialists are participating in that (mms4relief.com).

Even the pa.gov mainpage has a link for medical marijuana information.

Follow senior writer Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP

24

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

David Carlock Instagram: @pa_kushy Youtube: PA Medical Kushy Carlock Medical marijuana patient since October 2018 as treatment for chronic back pain and drug addiction recovery I’m a concentrate guy. I love dabs, you don’t need much (a dab will do you). [I] Love indica strains with high THC and CBG (cannabigerol). CBG is great for my back pain, really helps. There’s [an edible] product called RSO (Rick Simpson oil) I highly recommend for patients dealing with opioid problems or pain management, but be careful, [it’s] super powerful.

I found out I’m not a big sativa fan,

some strains just make me too awake.

I try to stick to the indica. … [For] new patients that never tried medical cannabis, I would definitely recommend an indica strain to start.

My go-to spot is [CY+ Dispensary] in New Kensington. It’s the closest to me.

If you’re looking for variety, the Healing Center in Monroeville has a big selection.

The Education Center on Penn Avenue is the best place to stop if you have any questions [about] what strain you would like [or] how to get a medical card.

MEET YOUR MARIJUANA FRIENDS Dispensary menus include the following types of plants in product descriptions. It’s important to remember, however, that every patient is different and a type that works for one person might not work for the other.

Sean M. Radziminski, head cashier at Smoke Glass & Vape in Brentwood and Dormont Instagram: @steelcitybudz Medical marjuana patient for eight months as treatment for chronic pain, migraines, anxiety, and depression I personally prefer concentrates, that’s what works well for me. I also use the vape cartridges because depending on where you are and what you’re doing, it’s easy to medicate that way. The medical effects last longer for me.

I recommend Maitri Medicinals [in East Liberty]. I still have to visit a few more in the area. I go to Maitri and also CY+ Dispensary in the Strip District.

INDICA Often recommended for Evening Use: Calming and Sedating

Alexa Loveridge, employee at Dinner By Heather Medical marijuana patient since October 2018 as treatment for symptoms related to traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome, including migraines and vomiting I like flower because it’s tried and true, and let’s be honest, the program is expensive, so by vaping my flower, I can save the already vaped bud for infusing into butter.

I enjoy cartridges because they’re convenient, discreet, easily accessible, tasty. I have come to love dabbing concentrates. I started with a dab pen, and now I have a High5 E-Nail for temperature-specific dabbing. When all else has failed to quell my pain or keep my stomach in its place, time to do a dab! [And some edibles], whether it’s homemade gummies, or dropping some infused coconut oil in my morning coffee.

Strainwise: My migraines and headaches respond well to Durbans, Girl Scout Cookies, Cherry, and Sour Diesels. I like to try different strains outside of those staples because sometimes I’m surprised, and find something that helps my muscles and back relax. … Turns out my back pain responds really well to things that have high CBG. Maitri Medicinals is my favorite. Delta 9 just opened up recently, and it’s in my neighborhood, which is convenient af.

•

SATIVA Often recommended for Daytime Use: Increased Energy

HYBRID A combination of Indica and Sativa PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

25

MUSIC TO RELAX TO Need to chill out? Start off with these tunes, then listen to Pittsburgh City Paper’s full playlist on Spotify

Twin of Myself

by Black Moth Super Rainbow

.MARIJUANA.

CALM YO SELF

Good News

by Mac Miller

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

C

The Soil and the Seed

by Buffalo Rose

ANNABIS IS ALL fun and games until that one inhale, bite, or drop pushes you over the edge. Maybe you have a low tolerance. Maybe you misjudged the strength of that edible.

Maybe it’s your first time trying tinctures. Either way, you’re anxious, your heart is pounding in your ears, and ... is that a blanket in the corner or a ghost?

Here are a few ways to calm yourself down and return to that mellow, feelgood place you were aiming for.

Keep Calm and Carry On Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Now I hope your experience isn’t anywhere that scary, but remember, “This too shall pass,” or whatever quote that you prefer to remind yourself that you will get through this phase. The effects of marijuana aren’t all that long-lasting, and sobriety will return to you soon.

Lion of the Heart

by Childlike Empress

Food and Water Grab one of your favorite snacks and

savor each bite. This will give your mind something else to focus on. Water or any other beverage (not alcohol) will also relieve any dry mouth, which can sometimes be the source of discomfort.

If you’re feeling ambitious, bake or cook something. These can provide a form of mindfulness. Your mind is concentrated on measuring, the smell, etc., and will help bring you out of a bad moment. But be sure to remember to set a timer and double triple-check that you turned off the oven or stovetop burners when done.

For quick relief, according to science, black pepper and lemon help to relieve the effects of Mary Jane.

Caryophyllene is a compound found in peppercorn that’s a potent selective CB2 antagonist, meaning it ups sedating effects of THC. Lemons also have calming compounds, like limonene, that will help you relax. Squeeze lemon juice in water. Inhale the smell of peppercorns or pop a few in your mouth to chew.

Music Music is another way to distract the mind. Turn on a chill playlist, like CP’s “Music to Relax to” (see sidebar on this page) or some of your favorite calming tunes that you can zone out on or sing along with. To up the ante, search something along the lines of “chill visuals” or “relaxing visualizer” on YouTube.

On the other end, if you’re already listening to music and feel it’s freaking you out, turn it off and revel in the silence.

More ways to calm yourself down: • Take a shower or bath • Get some fresh air. Go on a bike ride, run, or walk • Create something — paint, color, make music • Yoga/mediation • Talk to a friend • Watch a cartoon • Play a game (video or board) • Take a nap • Play with your pet; they are not high and will not judge you

Follow staff writer Jordan Snowden on Twitter @snowden_jordan

26

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

•

.MARIJUANA.

S

CANNABIS CARE

Pennsylvania and Allegheny County

BY AMANDA WALTZ AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

your weekend out in Pittsburgh but

The 5th Judicial District of T

Pretrial Services urges you to enjoy

make the right choice,

TARTING A MAGAZINE is difficult

enough on its own. But starting a magazine only to weather a pandemic less than six months after launching it, would be a mammoth task for anyone.

But that’s the situation Gina Vensel, publisher of Sensi Pittsburgh, faced when the COVID-19 outbreak became a full-blown crisis for both large and small print media outlets.

That Sensi caters to a niche market — medical cannabis users — presented an even larger challenge, as area dispensaries still had to get approval from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to run as an essential business.

“When all of this was happening, I was really unsure of how the government was going to respond,” says Vensel, who also owns and operates the marketing and event company Easy Street Promotions.

With medical cannabis providers in the clear, she wants to continue the mission that drove her to bring the free, monthly magazine to her native city. Sensi is part of a nationwide, pro-cannabis publishing brand operating in 15 cities. As Vensel explains, Pittsburgh was the very first version of Sensi to open in a medical-only state, while others are in markets where cannabis is legal for recreational or adult use.

“It was important to get the magazine launched while we were still a very young cannabis community,” says Vensel, who grew up in Pitcairn and attended the University of Pittsburgh.

She saw Sensi as a way to use her background in marketing, publishing, and event planning (this includes stints at the Pittsburgh City Paper) for good, and views the publication as a way to serve registered medical marijuana patients and CBD users. She also wants to “educate the community around cannabis” as a treatment for anxiety and depression, chronic pain, and other conditions (currently, the state Department of Health

don’t drink & drive.

FRESH CONTENT Every Day. PHOTO: EASY STREET PROMOTIONS

Gina Vensel of Sensi Pittsburgh

lists over 20 medical marijuana-approved conditions).

Besides highlighting local cannabis culture, the lifestyle magazine also focuses on the arts, food, and music scenes, as well as important figures like Leah Lizarondo of 412 Food Rescue and Dr. Jim Withers, the founder and medical director of Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net. “We’re progressive by nature, and that’s around more than just cannabis,” says Vensel. “I love being a part of this community, and to be able to tell those stories and help make a platform for Pittsburgh in a much bigger way is what really drove me to want to be a part of Sensi.”

While Vensel says Sensi Pittsburgh’s content stays true to the Department of Health’s definition of cannabis as a medical offering, ultimately, she wants to see it fully legalized in Pennsylvania and across the country.

“It’s a basic human right and it’s medical for everyone,” says Vensel.

“Cannabis is an amazing plant, and we’re going to do what we can to talk about that, especially during this pandemic when people don’t understand why it should be deemed essential.”

That designation, she says, is one step toward decriminalizing it. “This is going to make it more difficult, I believe, for the government, post-pandemic to go back on this,” she says.

She believes making it legal for recreational use will create more economic opportunities and give patients more access. She stresses that any changes should include justice for those incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses.

“Now is the time for us to get all of the non-violent cannabis offenders who are in jail right out of prison because it’s been deemed essential,” she says.

Her immediate concern, however, is how the pandemic has affected everyone, including those in the cannabis community. She becomes emotional when talking about the recent death of Charlotte Figi, a 13-year-old patient who, along with her family, fought for the right to use CBD oil as a treatment for her severe, constant seizures. Figi died on April 7, with news reports calling her a “likely COVID-19 case.”

“This virus knows no bounds,” says Vensel. “This is going to touch everyone, it’s going to touch young people, old people. This virus is spreading and it’s up to us to social distance and care for one another.”

Sensi Pittsburgh is helping to care for others as a media partner for Chronic Relief, a day-long telethon happening, appropriately, on April 20. Hosted by the global cannabis marketing company, Farechild, the event will raise money for the nonprofit Feeding America.

“Instead of giving money to the cannabis industry, it’s more important for us to make a bigger impact for people suffering right now,” says Vensel.

•

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ARIES (March 21-April 19):

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

Aries artist Vincent van Gogh got started on his life’s work relatively late. At ages 25 and 26, he made failed attempts to train as a pastor and serve as a missionary. He didn’t launch his art career in earnest until he was 27. During the next ten years, he created 860 paintings — an average of 1.7 every week — as well as over 1,200 additional works of art. For comparison, the prolific painter Salvador Dali made 1,500 paintings in 61 years. During the coming twelve months, Aries, you could achieve a van Gogh-like level of productiveness in your own chosen field — especially if you lay the foundations now, during our stay-at-home phase.

Libran rapper and activist Talib Kweli says, “You have to know when to be arrogant. You have to know when to be humble. You have to know when to be hard and you have to know when to be soft.” You Librans tend to be skilled in this artful approach to life: activating and applying the appropriate attitude as is necessary for each new situation. And I’m happy to report that your capacity for having just the right touch at the right time will be a crucial asset in the coming weeks. Trust your intuition to guide you through every subtle shift of emphasis.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Most authors do their writing while sitting on chairs in front of desks. But long before there were standing desks, poet Rainer Maria Rilke and children’s author Lewis Carroll wrote their books while standing up. Novelist Henry James had eight desks, but typically paced between them as he dictated his thoughts to a secretary. And then there have been weirdos like poet Robert Lowell and novelist Truman Capote. They attended to their craft as they lay in their bed. I suggest you draw inspiration from those two in the coming weeks. It’ll be a favorable time to accomplish masterpieces of work and play while in the prone position.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

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While sleeping, most of us have over a thousand dreams every year. Many are hard to remember and not worth remembering. But a beloved few can be life-changers. They have the potential to trigger epiphanies that transform our destinies for the better. In my astrological opinion, you are now in a phase when such dreams are more likely than usual. That’s why I invite you to keep a pen and notebook by your bed so as to capture them. For inspiration, read this testimony from Jasper Johns, whom some call America’s “foremost living artist”: “One night I dreamed that I painted a large American flag, and the next morning I got up and I went out and bought the materials to begin it.” (Painting flags ultimately became one of Johns’ specialties.)

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Ford Madox Ford (1873–1939) was a renowned author who wrote The Good Soldier, a novel that has been called “one of the 100 greatest novels of all time.” Yet another very famous author, Henry James (1843–1916), was so eager to escape hanging out with Ford that he once concealed himself behind a tree so as to not be seen. You have astrological permission to engage in comparable strategies during the coming weeks. It won’t be a time when you should force yourself to endure boring, meaningless, and unproductive tasks.

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Scorpio artist Marie Laurencin (1883–1956) enjoyed a colorful fate. One of the few female Cubist painters, she was a prominent figure in the Parisian avant-garde. She was also the muse and romantic partner of renowned poet Guillaume Apollinaire. But there came a turning point when she abandoned her relationship with Apollinaire. “I was twentyfive and he was sleeping with all the women,” she said, “and at twenty-five you don’t stand for that, even from a poet.” Is there a comparable situation in your life, Scorpio? A role you relish but that also takes a toll? Now is a favorable time to re-evaluate it. I’m not telling you what you should decide, only that you should think hard about it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1596–1680) was a prodigious, inventive creator. One scholar wrote, “What Shakespeare is to drama, Bernini may be to sculpture.” He designed and built public squares, fountains, and buildings, many in Rome, which embodied his great skills as both sculptor and architect. Unlike many brilliant artists alive today, Bernini was deeply religious. Every night for 40 years, he walked from his home to pay a devotional visit to the Church of the Gesù. According to my reading of the astrological factors, now would be an excellent time for you to engage in reverential rituals like those — but without leaving your home, of course. Use this social-distancing time to draw reinvigoration from holy places within you or in your memory.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): As I understand the current chapter of your life story, you have been doing the unspectacular but yeoman work of recharging your spiritual batteries. Although you may have outwardly appeared to be quiet and still, you have in fact been generating and storing up concentrated reserves of inner power. Because of the coronavirus crisis, it’s not yet time to tap into those impressive reserves and start channeling them into a series of dynamic practical actions. But it is time to formulate the practical actions you will take when the emergency has passed.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

I hope that during the coronavirus crisis you have been entertaining wild truths and pondering the liberations you will initiate when the emergency has passed. I trust you have been pushing your imagination beyond its borders and wandering into the nooks and crannies of your psyche that you were previously hesitant to explore. Am I correct in my assumptions, Leo? Have you been wandering outside your comfort zone and discovering clues about how, when things return to normal, you can add spice and flair to your rhythm?

Aquarian poet Jacques Prévert offered a variation on the famous Christian supplication known as the Lord’s Prayer.

The original version begins, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” But Prévert’s variation says, “Our father who art in heaven: Stay there.” Being an atheist, he had no need for the help and support of a paternal deity. I understand his feeling. I tend to favor the Goddess myself. But for you Aquarians right now, even if you’re allergic to talk of a divine presence, I’ll recommend that you seek out generous and inspiring masculine influences. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will benefit from influences that resemble good fathering.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

I like this quote by the author Jake Remington: “Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.’” Although this passage is more melodramatic than necessary for your needs in the coming weeks, I think it might be good medicine that will help you prevail over the turbulence of the coronavirus crisis.

Getting yourself into a storm-like mood could provide you with the personal power necessary to be unflappable and authoritative. You should also remember that a storm is not inherently bad. It may be akin to a catharsis or orgasm that relieves the tension and clears the air.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): How skillful are you in expressing what you want? Wait. Let me back up and reformulate that. How skillful are you in knowing what you want and expressing the truth about what you want to the people who might ultimately be able to give it to you or help you get it? This is the most important question for you to meditate on in the coming weeks. If you find that you’re fuzzy about what you want or hazy about asking for what you want, correct the problems.

Go to realastrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text-message horoscopes.

The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700

THIS WEEK ONLINE AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM

NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION DURING THE PANDEMIC • An ongoing tally of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths • Allegheny County has released coronavirus data by race • Port Authority issues temporary social distancing policies for bus and light rail • How the Department of Human Services is supporting Pennsylvanians with disabilities

Socially-distancing herself but still broadcasting LIVE Every Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m. Listen in at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com

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9. Conductors locations 10. “I just took a ___ turns out I’m 100% that bitch�

11. “Huh, hombre?�

12. 180s 15. Pop’s sis 16. Did phenomenal on 17. Letter in the WSJ?: Abbr.

18. Building material used in many kids rooms?

19. Water-filtration company 20. Real S.O.B. 22. On-line coupon 24. Like the WHO: Abbr.

27. Four-sided shape with two 90Âş angles 29. Tik Tok user, likely 30. Ridiculous 31. Standing position?

36. With 39-Down,

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48. Keep to oneself 49. Dish sometimes served “au poivre�

8. Of ___ (helpful for) 9. Biblical measurement that is roughly 18 inches 10. “Mad Men� man 13. “Where The Mountain Meets the Moon� author Grace 14. The clap, e.g.

15. NBA Hall-ofFamer Mourning 20. ___ store by 21. Long military attack 23. Depressed urban area, for short

25. Gambled 26. Safety item under your airplane seat 28. Ruler by birth 32. Oil treatment inits.

33. High peak 34. Ultrasound’s target 35. Have a long-lasting hate for 37. Small obstacle 38. Allergic reaction 39. See 36-Across 41. “World On Fire� actress Brown 44. Fully appease

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 15-22, 2020

31

CCC ANNOUNCES

TELEMEDICINE EMEDICINE

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related ailments

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