Sensi Magazine - Emerald Triangle (December 2019)

EMERALD TRIANGLE D E C 2 0 19

FEMME

FARMERS

These powerful entrepreneurs are proving that agriculture is a woman’s world. ›››

HOLIDAY HOST Throw an elevated shindig HIGH CLASS Luxury markets embrace cannabis

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EMERALD TRIANGLE SENSI MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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F E AT U R E S

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Femme Farmers

The light of legalization shines on women who are proving their role in cultivation.

SPECIAL REPORT

Haute Highs

How luxury has gone to pot.

Woke, Not Wasted

What is the sober-curious movement, and can sobriety really be fluid?

D E PA R T M E N T S

9 EDITOR’S NOTE 10 THE BUZZ News, tips, and tidbits

to keep you in the loop AT YOUR CORE Pilates is no longer your mother’s exercise regimen.

GET LIT Three products to light your way in the dark SENSIBILITIES Our editor-in-chief’s hottest hits of the month

34 THE LIFE Contributing to your

40 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip

hangouts around town CALENDAR Only the Emerald Triangle can say goodbye to the 2010s like this.

50 THE END

Meet motorcycle girl gang The Litas Humboldt.

ON THE COVER Siobhan Danger Darwish faces the many challenges of farming—often considered a boyʼs job—and says, “We Can Do It!” PHOTO BY JACQUELYN WARNER EDITING BY JOSH CLARK

health and happiness HIGH HOST Your guide to hosting an elegant elevated gathering

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A DV I S O R Y B OA R D

Coldwell Banker Sellers, Sandi DeLuca Real Estate

SoHum Royal Mixed Light Farming

Canna-Envy DIY Cannabis

Southern Humboldt Business & Visitors Bureau Tourism

Genius Products T, Inc. Recreational Cannabis Products

Sunnabis Regenerative Cannabis Farming

Heartwood Mountain Sanctuary Eco-Retreat Center

ULEVA Hemp Products

Hendrx Farms Cannabis Nursery HK Innovations Inc Hash Bags Humboldt Patient Resource Center Dispensary

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Wildseed, LLC. CO2 Extraction

FACE BOOK Like Sensi Media Group for the parties, topics, and happenings we’re obsessed with right now.

Humboldt Redwood Healing Community Humboldt SWAG Brand Management Humboldt Vape Tech Vape Accessories Kathleen Bryson, Attorney Law Office

T W I T TER Follow @sensimag to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Sensi cities.

KC Financial Services Accounting Mountainwise Farms Topicals Redwood Roots Distribution

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I NSTAG RAM @sensimagazine is home to exclusive photos and content.

Magazine published monthly

by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved.

EXECUTIVE Ron Kolb CEO ron@sensimag.com Tae Darnell President tae@sensimag.com

A

Alex Martinez Co-Chief Operations Officer alex@sensimag.com

Mike Mansbridge Co-Chief Operations Officer mike@sensimag.com EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson Editor in Chief stephanie@sensimag.com Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com Nora Mounce Managing Editor nora.mounce@sensimag.com Leland Rucker Senior Editor leland.rucker@sensimag.com Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large robyn.lawrence@sensimag.com Helen Olsson Copy Editor

Melissa Hutsell, Patty Malesh, Laurie Riihimaki, Lori Tobias, Liz Wilson Contributing Writers DESIGN Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak, Kiara Lopez, Josh Clark, Jason Jones Design em@sensimag.com PUBLISHING Lelehnia DuBois Publisher lelehnia.dubois@sensimag.com Daniel Bridge Associate Publisher daniel.bridge@sensimag.com Shannon Golightly Associate Publisher shannon.golightly@sensimag.com Tad Sarvinski Associate Publisher tad.sarvinski@sensimag.com B U S I N E S S /A D M I N Kristan Toth Head of People kristan.toth@sensimag.com Amber Orvik Director of Administration amber.orvik@sensimag.com Andre Velez Marketing Director andre.velez@sensimag.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

After two million people endured blackouts

all over California this fall while thousands fled raging fires in Sonoma and Los Angeles, the season of light has a new meaning this year. More than ever, it’s a time to let go of consumer obligations and focus on the abundance of now. In the words of Pa Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life, “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.”

While it’s easy to post an inspirational quote on Facebook, shirking consumerism is quite challenging in practice. In our globalized world, we are constantly exposed to a vast and bottomless marketplace. Come the holidays, companies are armed with unprecedented levels of data about our families, dreams, and weaknesses. While I’ll still be wrapping up a few consumable goodies this season (with upcycled paper!), I’m joining a growing majority in supporting local, sustainable businesses that craft small pleasures to spark joy.

Beyond shopping local, here are a few out-of-the-box ideas for experiential giving: • Give the gift of self-care: Put a date on the calendar in January and invite friends over for a self-care night. Gather tea, manipedi supplies, and face masks—and actually make good on the promise to “see each other more.”

• Give the gift of childcare: The United States offers parents some of the paltriest childcare options in the world. Donating a few hours of childcare for a special night out or hosting monthly playdates is an unforgettable gift.

• Give the gift of good health: While the rec marketplace offers a wide variety of medicinal products, there’s nothing more rewarding than DIY gifts. Not a gardener? Shop at your licensed dispensary for cannabis-infused oils and tinctures to elevate your favorite recipes and homemade treats.

• Go for a hike: Taking an excursion into nature is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Give friends or family a “coupon” to cash in a hike—and quality time—with you in 2020.

While I’ll still be wrapping up a few consumable goodies this season, I’m mostly supporting local businesses that craft small pleasures to spark joy.

From our family to yours, happy holidays!

Neil Willis Production Manager neil.willis@sensimag.com Hector Irizarry Distribution distribution@sensimag.com M E D I A PA R T N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Nora Mounce nora.mounce@sensimag.com DECEM BER 2019

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THE

It’s Called Puh-lah-teez Pilates was brought to the US in the 1920s by Joseph and Clara Pilates as a method of physical rehabilitation. Soon after, dancers and performers popularized their method by recognizing the value of Pilates to help improve technique and recover from injuries. Today, over 12 million people practice Pilates in various styles, which all retain the eight core principles of Pilates: breath, concentration, centering, control, precision, alignment, flow, and integration.

Pilates instructors use gravity and resistance to target specific muscle groups by using whole10 E M E RAL D T R IA NG LE

body movements. Variations include matte, barre, and reformer classes, each with the goal of reeducating movement patterns to restore balance to the body.

Angelique Velazquez (above left) owns Vida Sana Studio in Old Town Eureka, where she teaches beginner to advanced classes. She is a Pilates for Neurological Disorders specialist and often works with clients living with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Velazquez emphasizes that Pilates is “a great way to cross-train with other exercise modalities because it focuses on strengthening smaller

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muscle groups.” She opened her studio to spread awareness that having a strong core is important to your health and to create an all-inclusive space for everyone to feel comfortable.

Cheri Champ has been in the fitness industry for 20 some years and began her Pilates journey to heal injuries and rebuild her core strength after a C-section.

As a certified Pilates instructor, personal trainer, and fitness director for The Club for Fitness in McKinleyville, Champ believes that everyone can do Pilates.

“Professional athletes are turning to this work to help im-

prove core strength, stability, and flexibility along with those with chronic pain, neurological disorders, and women who are preand post-natal,” says Champ.

Pilates classes are now offered in most gyms across the country. In the Emerald Triangle, boutique studios like Mendocino Pilates in Ukiah and Vibes Yoga Studio in Arcata offer up beautiful environments with several instructors and styles to choose from. With benefits including increased core strength, improved mobility, flexibility, and balance, there is a Pilates practice for everyone.

PHOTO BY H.A. PEARSON

Highly trained instructors and stylish studios are helping the community embrace Pilates for health, strength, and healing

CONTRIBUTORS

Patty Malesh, Laurie Riihimaki, Leland Rucker, Doug Schnitzspahn, Liz Wilson

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

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Oleo lets you get that shot of CBD on the go, putting it in flavored packets that you can add to water, smoothies, or other creative concoctions. We are personally big fans of the coconut flavor after a workout or before bed. oleolife.com

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lost power across Northern California during Octoberʼs historic rolling blackouts.

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are strung on the “Tallest Living Christmas Tree in America,” on display in the Victorian Village of Ferndale.

Lumabase Kits

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Lumabase’s weather-resistant plastic kits give that same inviting atmosphere without putting nature at risk. Battery-powered versions are available in warm white light or color-changing lights, and come with a recurring daily timer. lumabase.com / from $25 / Use promo code Sensi20 for 20% off.

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SUNNABIS FARMER’S RESERVE PREMIUM EIGHTHS AND PRE-ROLLS Collaborating with Seed2Soul distribution to bring only the best craft cannabis from our farm to you.

We believe that only cannabis grown with conscious choices results in superior product. Our multi-generational small family farm cultivates energetically dynamic plants utilizing regenerative agriculture practices so the flower that comes from our farm is of exceptional quality as well as maintaining minimal environmental impact. (Basically we care about our planet and our product so you can feel good about loving our flower!)

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THE BUZZ

VOX POPULI

Question: What do you think of first when you hear “Emerald Triangle”?

SARAH SEIBERT

RACHEL MOATS

JOSIAH GALLAGHER AUSTIN ALLISON

OCEAN MALANDRA

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___________________

___________________

___________________

Accountant San Rafael, CA

The Wizard of Oz. Just follow the yellow brick road!

Budtender and Cannabis Sommelier, Las Vegas, NV

Best year of my life. My life goal is to get back to Humboldt.

Filmmaker and Nurse Nashville, TN

City of Eureka Council Member Eureka, CA

Moonstone Beach, Arcata Pizza & Deli, Big Trees, Pacific Coast Highway, Strawberry Rock, succulents, Amanita muscaria, Trainwreck, Trinidad Bay Eatery.

Our colorful rivers and the colorful people who call the Emerald Triangle home. Like rivers, the people are unique and invigorating, bubbling with creativity and determination in carving their own path.

___________________

Writer Bogota, Colombia

A gorgeous and isolated slice of coastal California where the rest of the madness of the world completely drops away.

VAPE EXPECTATIONS New research suggests vitamin E acetate may be to blame for a mysterious disease.

In September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom allocated $20 million to reduce youth vaping consumption and promised to work with state lawmakers to ban flavored vaping products in response to the mysterious illness that has affected several thousand nationally. The recent incidents, including 39 deaths, have unquestionably been linked to vaporized products, and most cases have been reported in states where adult-use cannabis is illegal. In early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced researchers had discovered a connection between the lung illnesses and vitamin E acetate, which is used as an additive in the production of some e-cigarettes and vaping products.

Scientists continue to investigate the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses tracking. Questions remain about bootleg THC cartridges, which can be perfect knockoffs of legitimate ones— and what the cartridges contain, whether they were bought

legally, and whether they might have been tampered with after purchase. The CDC continues to recommend that people avoid using vaporizers. In early September, the CDC also warned of the potential of lipoid pneumonia, a rare condition that occurs when fat particles enter the lungs.

The CDC continues to work with the FDA and individual states to find out whether the illnesses are linked to specific devices, ingredients, or contaminants. At least part of the confusion is because vaping cartridges are poorly regulated by federal and state governments.

Expect more regulation of cartridges in the future as this plays out. The main thing for consumers, however, is simply to exercise common sense. Never buy cartridges off the street, no matter the price. And if youʼre doubtful about any product, follow your instincts and donʼt buy it.

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THE BUZZ

FUNGAL JOLT Historically, cordyceps mushrooms were grown on the backs of rare caterpillars that live in Tibetʼs high mountain ranges. The fungus lays claims to providing everything from long life to a boost in male sexual prowess. Coffee is that jolt you canʼt live without. Combine coffee and cordyceps mushrooms in this mix, and you get a morning drink that really gets you, um, pumping.

The mix of the shrooms and the caffeine means you get that energy boost without feeling jittery.

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee $15 for 10 packets / us.foursigmatic.com

SENSIBILITIES WHAT MATTERS THIS MONTH BY STEPHANIE WILSON

1 GOT ANY VACATION DAYS LEFT IN 2019? Use them! Last year, 55 percent of American workers did not use all their vacation days, leaving a record 768 million days on the table. That’s about $65.5 billion worth of forfeited benefits. Don’t be a sad statistic.

______ 2 NEW RULE: Catching up on your emails during the holiday break is forbidden.

Emails breed emails, so every reply or forward you click sends that task to someone else who is either a) trying to enjoy their holiday break, or b) trying to clean out their inbox as well. No more. If it’s in your inbox on December 22, it stays there until January 2. Deal? Deal.

______ 3 I REPEAT: No tossing your forgotten/low priority to-dos on other people’s plates when they are on vacay.

______ 4 IF YOU’RE RESOLVING TO CLEAN UP ANY BAD HABITS IN 2020, go all

in on them in December. Really indulge your vices: have that second drink, dab, dance, swim in the chaos, make bad decisions. You’ll not only get it out of your system, you’ll be so over it come January 1.

______ 5 IF YOUR VICE IS CONSIDERING THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR MEANS IMAGINARY (thanks Oscar Wilde), disregard the above advice. You can lose the

holiday weight if you stop overeating, but credit card debt doesn’t work like that.

It grows, no matter how much you believe Santa will take care of it.

______ 6 SMILE. The magazine you’re holding right now was made with a whole lot of

enthusiasm by some talented magazine junkies who have been working on the details of this redesign for the last year. This debut is like our Oscars, and we hope you like it. I love it.

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down."

-Lily Tomlin, Comedian

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TM PHOTO by DAVID WILSON

AMERICA’S CANNABIS HEARTLAND TM

THE MAGIC

SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT

VISIT SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT www.elevatethemagic.com

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FEMME FARMERS Agriculture has long been considered a maledominated field. But as the light of legalization shines, women are stepping up to lead the cannabis industry.

TEXT MELISSA HUTSELL

RIVETING TIMES: Siobhan Danger Darwish is the co-owner of Humbolt Countyʼs Blessed Coast Farms and cofounder of Grow Sisters, a collective of women in the cannabis industry.

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PHOTOS BY JACQUELYN WARNER

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esearch shows that women have shouldered the agriculture load—quite literally—throughout history, according to a study conducted at the University of Cambridge.

In the study, which was published in Science Advances in 2017, scientists found that existing research on agriculture and tools in prehistoric societies had only focused on male skeletons. So, they set out to study the bones of Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age women. Their bones showed evidence that their lifestyles were largely defined by intense manual labor, suggesting that females farmed, while males hunted.

Prehistoric women, it seems, were instrumental in the development of agriculture, from tilling soil to grinding grain to harvesting crops.

Despite science and history, society views modern farming as male dominated. Today, the cannabis industry is changing the conversation.

As a true champion of counterculture, the cannabis industry is embracing its femininity—becoming one of the first billion-dollar markets to do so.

In celebration, we spoke to the badass lady farmers

nabis farm in Humboldt.

Along with her partner and a friend, Willett grows organic vegetables, hops, and fruit trees alongside cannabis. “It’s Cost of Compliance old school Humboldt, The daily farm chores Ebb and Flow where you get the family Chiah Rodriques was born only scratch the surface of the physicality and grit environment mixed in and raised on a “back-tothe-land hippy commune” required to run a canna- with the cannabis production,” says Willett. bis farm—especially in in Mendocino County’s Like Rodriques, Wilthe era of compliance.

Redwood Valley, where lett misses working with River Txai Farms is she still lives today. Rothe plants. “I’ve taken on transitioning into the driques is the cofounder more of a CEO position, state’s track and trace of Mendocino Generations, a collective of com- system. Though the team which means that I’m responsible for compreviously used a simipliant small farms—23 pliance,” she explains. lar system, there’s lots percent of which are “[With Proposition 64], to learn—and increased owned and operated by paperwork, compliance, women—and the market- overhead costs. “We branding, marketing, have to hire somebody place director at Payne’s who does all of our track and chasing down disDistribution in Willits. tribution for sales is a and trace, and accountIn addition to her fulling data entry,” explains full-time job.” Still, it’s time job, Rodriques and her husband own and op- Rodriques. “This is new. one she wouldn’t trade for anything: “No white erate River Txai Farm, and Farms used to nevpicket fence for me!”

Arcanna Flowers, a collec- er, ever write anything says Willett. tive of organic, sun-grown down. We were trained to hide our notebooks.” cannabis farmers. Their Shifting Paradigms Nowadays, cultivators farm is home to their fammust keep track of every- For decades, cultivation ily, a 10,000-square-foot thing, including how much (known colloquially as cultivation facility, and a “growing”) was thought nutrients and water are 12,000-square-foot nursused. “There are so many of as a male role, while ery, which provides two women were relegated to harvests per year. Typical details a farmer has [to trimming and leafing. As mind just] to keep their days on the farm consist the founder of Emerald head above water,” she of watering, monitoring, Employment, a staffing and pest control, says Ro- says. “We spend so much agency that connects time with paperwork and driques. They use a rainwater catchment system, computers that it’s hard to workers with jobs at compliant cannabis facilities, get out in the garden.” so pumping and cleaning Willett is noticing a paraTime management the farm’s pond is a condigm shift. is also a big challenge stant chore.

“We’re finding that for Brooklynn Willett, In addition to cannamore females are getting co-owner of Lagniappe bis, Rodriques and her into basic cultivation Family Farms (prohusband grow companfrom start-to-finish,” she nounced Lan-yap), a ion plants throughout explains. “It’s opening their property. “There’s a 6,800-square-foot canof the Emerald Triangle about life on the farm, and the challenges and opportunities of being a woman in the cannabis industry.

constant ebb and flow of what needs to be planted and what needs to be harvested,” she says.

“Women have a strong intuition for things that grow.

There’s nothing more beautiful than watching women working with this female plant that heals.”

—Brooklynn Willett (above), co-owner of Lagniappe Farms

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up a lot more job opportunities to the people who were locked into the old way of doing things.”

Misogyny is a reality on the hill, and off it. It’s not uncommon to hear of women being strongarmed out of sales or partnerships, or cat-called by neighbors or farm hands.

Siobhan Danger Darwish is the co-owner of Blessed Coast Farms, the first licensed farm in Humboldt County. She explains that the issues affecting women in cannabis are the same nuances in every other industry.

“The difference is cannabis has the opportunity to raise the standards across the board,” says Darwish, who cofounded Grow Sisters with her sister, Sloan Reed, a collective of women in the cannabis industry. “With the attention and financial momentum emerging in our industry, now is the time to draw attention to these inequalities,” she explains.

Darwish also created the Sister, Grow Your Own and Know Your Farmer educational video series to empower plant and people—and spotlight inequities in the industry.

protection from some of the dangers and isolation of the black market. “It opens things up more, not only for women, but to everyone,” says Byers.

Byers speaks from personal experience. Prior to Sisu, she cofounded a 215 compliant brand. After 18 months building the business, she found herself forced out—and on the receiving end of threats.

Rather than risk her free-

“There’s a constant ebb and flow of what needs to be planted and what needs to be harvested.”

—Chiah Rodriques, cofounder of Mendocino Generations

dom, Byers chose to wash her hands of the situation but suffered harassment and online trolling for two years.

“It was really pursuing real licensure and legitimacy at a state level after Prop 64 that enabled me to have a legal foot to stand on,” Byers explains.

Byers moved to Humboldt from Ohio in 2013 to study holistic medicine at the renowned Dan-

CULTIVATED: Chiah Rodriques was raised by Mendocino back to the landers. Today, she runs a collective of farmers.

Building Safer Spaces Shannon Byers, cofounder of Sisu Extracts, says the light of legality offers DECEM BER 2019

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delion Herbal Center.

There, she established strong relationships with women herbalists who were also cannabis cultivators. “Being able to go to facilities that were run or managed by these women made it safe for me to [visit alone],” Byers explains. “I was able to obfuscate a lot of dangers that I’ve heard other women encounter by being completely off the grid.”

Byers was inspired by how other female farmers operated. “They propagated a culture of respect for the plant, respect for the earth, and respect for their employees,” she says.

Byers strives to do the same at Sisu, bringing women into the fold and “treating our community of employees as close to family as possible by giving them a real stake in the game,” via employee ownership plans.

Sisu’s supply chain is run entirely by women who help coordinate pick-up and production schedules, run machines, and distribute manufactured goods.

“I respect the hell out of everyone fighting the good fight of legalization,” says Byers. “But I really feel impassioned when I get to collaborate alongside other women in the industry.”

WONDER WOMEN: Farmers like Darwish follow in the footsteps of hard-working prehistoric women.

“I respect the hell out of everyone fighting the good fight. But I really feel impassioned when I get to collaborate alongside other women.”

—Shannon Byers, cofounder of Sisu Extracts

A Strong Intuition for Things That Grow “Cannabis is a female plant,” says Willett.

“Women have a strong intuition for things that grow. They have a gentle hand and a nurturing spirit. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching women working with this female plant that heals.”

Rodriques believes women bring unparalleled creativity, resilience, and beauty to the cannabis industry, whether it’s in the garden or with their brands.

Plus, she adds, “Women get shit done!”

Growing up in the industry, Rodriques and Darwish recognize the intrinsic role of women in its past, present, and future. “Women were

the cultivators, the product makers, the kitchen witches, and the ones to sell the products. That was the cannabis movement,” says Darwish.

Now more than ever, women have the opportunity to lead the industry, she adds. “Where a man’s focus might be to get the job done, a woman is more likely to get to the heart of the job,” says Darwish. “We’re more likely to put the delicate touches into the products by giving love and time to the plant or the job.”

Like the women who came before, the females of cannabis are pioneers, nurturing human wellness—and their own inherent skill sets—along the way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Hutsell is an award-winning freelance writer and editor based in the Bay Area. She specializes in business and cannabis with a focus on global market trends, statewide policy, equity, industry innovators, and leadership.

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PHOTO VIA ALICE + OLIVIA AND KUSH QUEEN 22 EM ERAL D T R IA NG LE

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HIGHS A

t the end of October, the Wall Street Journal ran an article titled “Cannabis Open Houses Are Putting the High in High-End Real Estate.”

The trend piece by author Katherine Clarke revealed the emerging discovery being used by developers and real-estate agents to move luxe properties in communities where recreational cannabis is not just legal but widely accepted.

It’s not unlike Los Angeles, where the rising industry is being hailed as an untapped source for buyers of high-priced homes. Throwing cannabis-related events—everything from elaborate seven-course pairing dinners with vapes in lieu of vino to live trimming classes—at multimillion-dollar properties on the market is garnering attention, building social buzz, and attracting buyers with money earned in, around, or on cannabis.

Not everyone sees the genius behind the trend, however. Clarke spoke

SPECIAL REPORT

Luxury has gone to pot.

TEXT LORI TOBIAS AND STEPHANIE WILSON

to one agent in New York, where recreational cannabis is still a pipe dream and old tropes live on about munchie-motivated stoners. “When I think about cannabis, I don’t think about buying an expensive house,” says Warburg Realty’s Jason Haber. “It’s not a call for action as much as a call for Doritos.”

Someone should tell him friends don’t let friends make tired stoner jokes anymore.

Especially ones implying cannabis consumers indulge their munchies with mindless consumption of unhealthy snacks when the reality is cannabis appeals to what The Economist dubs the “health-conscious inebriate,” citing a poll that 72 percent of American consumers thought cannabis was safer than alcohol. A 2018 The New Yorker headline declared cannabis to be a wellness industry in California where, in fact, a cannabinoid cousin of THC and CBD is starting to garner a whole lot of buzz.

Instead of stimulating appetites, THCV may suppress those hunger pangs. When 2021 is declared the year of THCV, you can say you heard it here first.

CONSUMPTION AND CONSUMERISM Cannabis has moved so far beyond the clichés of yore. Tie-dye tees, bell-bottom cords, dancing bear patches, plastic bongs, Ziploc baggies: these tired trends are so out of style, some have already circled back and left again. (Looking at you, tie-dye.) The stoner kids of yesterday are the cannabis entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and connoisseurs of today. And as they’ve aged, their tastes in cannabis aged with them, like the fine wine they can now afford. Cannabis consumers have money to burn.

And since we live in a capitalist society (an unjust one where people remain locked up for nonviolent drug charges in states that earn taxes off now-legal cannabis DECEM BER 2019

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BARNEYS NEW YORK, INC.

The High End at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills

sales—that’s a whole layered story for a different day), money makes things happen. And what’s happening now is the emergence of a cannabis experience elevated to a higher level.

If you were paying attention to the pop-culture cues over the decades, you would have seen the high-end highs coming. When cannabis prohibition began its slow-and-steady march to its forthcoming end, it emerged from the black market with an established following of consumers—loyal cannabis consumers with no brand loyalty, because cannabis brands didn’t exist. Dealers did, growers did, activists, advocates, and believers, too. But the concept of cannabis brands was all brand-new.

With strict laws surrounding where the substance can be marketed,

sold, advertised, distributed, and more, establishing customer loyalty in this industry is more difficult than it would seem on the surface.

What differentiates one edible brand from another, one vape pen from the next is complicated to discern for those who aren’t well versed in the modern verbiage or its meaning. (Full-spectrum distillate, live resin, 2:1 ratios, oh my!)

This is where marketing and branding comes into play. And with marketing and branding comes the emergence of new market segments, including the ultra-luxury category. It is from within that category that future trends are likely to emerge. That’s how trends play out, as Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) explained to her new assistant in one iconic scene of The Devil Wears Prada. (If

“Expensive breeds expensive things. You wouldn’t have expensive cannabis if you didn’t have people who wanted to buy expensive cannabis.”

—Karyn Wagner, Paradigm Cannabis Group

you haven’t seen it in a while, a quick refresher: “The color of the shirt you are wearing right now was determined years ago by high-end designers preparing their collections for fashion GOT MONEY TO BLOW? week runways.”)

This Caleb Siemon Trickle-down trends Blown Art Glass are a hierarchical proWater Pipe will cess whereby individuals set you back with high status establish about $950. fashion trends, only to be imitated by lower-status individuals wearing cheaper versions of the same styles.

“It’s always been a thing,” says Karyn Wagner, CEO of Paradigm Cannabis Group, a women-owned extraction company specializing in pre-rolls and extracts made from small-batch sun-grown flower. “There’s always been those products that are better than others. But now, with adult use, we have to be more brand-conscious. With DECEM BER 2019

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that, how do you distinguish yourself from someone else? Why is this better? What makes it better?”

PHOTOS (FROM TOP): KATHLEEN HARRISON, KIKOKO HIGH TEA / COURTESY OF BEBOE

SOME LIKE IT HAUTE With any luxury good, consumers want the assurance of quality and efficacy, Wagner says.

But you can never underestimate the prestige that comes with a high price tag. “The moneyed class always loves expensive items,” she says. “This normalizes it in their world. It brings in folks who didn’t normally have the desire. It made it OK in their class.

Expensive breeds expensive things. You wouldn’t have expensive cannabis if you didn’t have people who wanted to buy expensive cannabis.”

Jenny Le Coq, president of Le Coq & Associates, a marketing and communications firm in San Francisco that represents Kikoko cannabis-infused botanical mints, points out that most people typically don’t seek out a cheap bottle of wine, but look for something fine, trustworthy, and familiar. They want to know the winery, its reputation, who recommends the vintage. “People are looking at wines today with a more discerning eye—how their grapes

With any luxury good, consumers want the assurance of quality and efficacy.

Luxury doesn't always have to indicate price, but what it must indicate is quality.

are grown, for example,” Le Coq says. “People are looking at cannabis in the same way: with a discerning eye.”

“Discerning” can add up to big money, for sure. Anecdotal stories abound in national media outlets, suggesting couples in Colorado will drop several bills on “cannagars” and other high-end party favors to celebrate weddings and anniversaries. At The High End, Barneys New York’s luxury cannabis lifestyle shop in Beverly Hills, shoppers can splurge on a $1,475 sterling silver bud grinder or a $950 water pipe. New York fashion brand Alice + Olivia partnered with luxury cannabis brand Kush Queen to debut a CBD wellness line earlier this year—bath bomb, body lotion, bubble bath with lavender. Alice + Olivia packaging features CEO Stacey Bendet’s signature “StaceFace” motif, with big sunglasses and a bold red lip. A timeless statement-making style that trendsetters of every era make their own while trendy types try to emulate the overall aesthetic. That’s just the way things work.

To be fair, luxury doesn’t have to mean $$$$. What it must indicate, however, is quality.

“Luxury is an assigned

label. It is typically assigned by marketers,” Le Coq says. “So, what do you want cannabis to be? As a consumer, how do you perceive luxury?

The concept is really defined differently by every person. We want people to experience something that is luxurious.

Not only the packaging is beautiful, the taste is beautiful, the place you are put into mentally is a nice, beautiful place.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lori Tobias is a lifelong journalist based on the Oregon Coast, where she lives with her husband, Chan, and two rescue pups, Luna and Monkey.

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WOKE, NOT WASTED They say they’re not alcoholics, and they’re certainly not anonymous.

What is sober curious—and can sobriety really be fluid?

TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

I

drink badly, and I have a lot of fun doing it (when I remember). That’s a lethal combination, and when you throw in my unfortunate discovery of White Claw—I can drink as many as I want and never feel full!—I flamed out with alcohol last winter.

On February 1, just as everyone else was celebrating the end of Dry January and just ahead of the Summer of the Claw, I swore off the seltzer.

I figured I’d give myself one month (note: the year’s shortest) to reset. It wasn’t an easy 28 days, but when March 1 rolled around, I felt better than I’d felt in years. The

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chronic inflammation I had attributed to everything from gluten sensitivity to genetics was clearing. I saw the light, and there was no going back.

I thought sobriety would be lonely, that every Saturday night would be Netflix. I forgot the Brett Kavanaugh generation isn’t in charge of culture anymore (thank God).

Millennials and Gen Xers aren’t interested in swilling beer until they black out like we did in the ’80s. Sober is sexy—or, as hipsobriety.com sees it, “sobriety is the new black.”

On Instagram, there are influencers such as @stylishlysober, @thesoberglow, and the darker @fucking_sober

and hashtags like #soberliving, #soberAF, and #sobercurious. Millie Gooch, who posts as @sobergirlsociety, encourages her nearly 60,000 followers with inspirational messages like “Mocks not cocks” and “Sobriety: a surefire way to improve your wellbeing and your Uber rating.”

Just like that, I’m a cool kid—with a huge range of new options on Saturday night (and beyond). I’m exploring elixirs made with raw cacao, maca, and horny goat weed at Tonic Herban Lounge just a few blocks from my home in downtown Boulder (I can walk home after imbibing, and it amuses me that I don’t need to). I can

do yoga and shake it before dawn at a Daybreaker dance party (daybreaker.com) in Denver, one of 27 cities where the alcohol-free early morning rave pops up and invites people to “sweat, dance, and connect with ourselves in community.”

I’m surely not alone in this realization that life is better without booze.

Worldwide, alcohol consumption fell by 1.6 percent last year. Led by young people, heavy-hitting countries like Russia, Canada, Japan, and the UK are seeing drinking rates as well as tolerance toward intoxication decline. An international survey found that about a third of people wanted

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cus, Presence, and Deep Connection” is February 14–16, 2020, at Massachusetts’ renowned wellness retreat center Kripalu). Her take is that a lot of Americans might not have a “problem” with alcohol but see it as getting in the way of their healthy lifestyles. “We eat well. We exercise.

We meditate,” the press release for Sober Curious states. “So, why do we… still drink?”

Warrington wants to to reduce their alcohol APPS FOR THAT know why the only peointake because of everyple who don’t drink are Loosid: Digital platform for sober dating, destinations, and meetups Sober Grid: “The worldʼs most popular mobile sober community” thing from sexual regret the ones who can’t and Twenty-Four Hours a Day: Inspiration through daily meditations and embarrassment to asks, “What if I am just…a little bit addicted?” physical health. A 2018 Call me old school, survey found that nearly but a little bit addicted 40 percent of global consounds a lot like a little sumers want to drink less pushing more women, mi- As Sean Paul Mahoney norities, and poor people writes on The Fix, a web- bit pregnant. I worry that for health reasons. to the bottle, according to site about addiction and In the US, CNBC repeople who shouldn’t ports, 52 percent of adults a study published in JAMA recovery, “I didn’t get so- will take the advice of ber to be cool. I just got John Costa, who writes are trying to lower their al- Psychiatry. The national on twentytwowords.com cohol intake, and underage Institute for Alcohol Abuse sober to stop dying.” and Alcoholism reports drinking has steadily dethat being sober curiclined in the last 10 years. that 17 million adults in A LITTLE BIT ADDICTED? ous is like being bi-curiBut only 21 percent of US the US are alcohol de“Sober curious” became ous—you don’t always adults in a CivicScience pendent, and the Centers a thing after Harperhook up with people of poll said they had any for Disease Control and Collins released Ruby the same sex, and you interest in drinking less Prevention says one in Warrington’s Sober Cudon’t have to cut out or not at all, and most of six binge drink—defined rious: The Blissful Sleep, drinking forever. “Be those were 21- to 34-year- as drinking four or more Greater Focus, Limitless sober half the time,” he old, vegan-leaning flexitar- drinks over two hours or Presence, and Deep Conwrites, “and sauced the ians who practice yoga and until blood alcohol reaches nection Awaiting Us All on other half.” He’s joking, consume cannabis daily.

0.08—nearly once a week. the Other Side of Alcohol but those are dangerous Women, especially those For this White Claw guzin 2018. Warrington also words for me. That’s the in their 30s and 40s, are zler, that definition is, well, has a podcast, runs Club life I was living: sober by drinking more than ever. sobering. I called that hap- Söda NYC (featuring day + tanked by night = Booze still rules for py hour. sober events like Kundbalance. most Americans, and Giving up alcohol isn’t alini Disco), and stages Like all disorders (and “increased stress and dea hashtag for a lot of peo- events (“Sober Curious: pretty much everything moralization” is actually ple. It’s not even a choice. Choosing Sobriety for Fo- in our culture), alcohol

SOBERING STUDIES

Alcohol accounts for nearly 1 in 10 deaths of people aged 15 to 49 and is the leading risk factor for disease and premature death.

Source: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Binge drinking rates in states where cannabis is legal fell to 9 percent below the national average and 11 percent below non-legal states in 2016.

Source: Cowen & Co.

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SPIRITS FOR NEXT-GEN PARTIERS The joke goes that nonalcoholic drinks are like listening to porn on the radio, but times have changed. Theyʼre the CBD of the alcohol world. Nonalcohol (NA) beverages are a bright spot in a declining alcohol market, and their sales are expected to grow 32 percent by 2022, according to a Bon Appetit report. Todayʼs creative, health-inducing craft beverages are a lot more than just alcohol-free.

BEER

Athletic IPA: Robust alcohol-free craft brew Heineken OO: The OGʼs first NA brew OʼDoulʼs: Anheuser-Buschʼs classic has new limited-edition meant-for-Instagram cans by local artists in New York, Chicago, and LA

WINE

Napa Hills: Blend of fruit-flavored water and VitaRes (antioxidant blend with resveratrol, red grape skin, and red wine extract) with as many antioxidants as red wine O.Vine: Grape-infused wine water with “the health benefits of the real thing”

use runs on a spectrum. I was at the end that spent hours upon hours researching whether drinking while on this antibiotic would really make me projectile vomit and scoffed at friends as they struggled through Dry January, Dry July, Sober September, and Sober October. I wasn’t interested in giving up drinking for any reason or any amount of time, until I had to give it up for life.

Warrington, who sees reducing alcohol intake as another step in the wellness revolution, is at the other end of the spectrum—and she is aware of the difference between recovering from alcohol addiction and feeling better during yoga. I hope all of her fol-

lowers are, too, because the last thing most drinkers need is a loophole.

I want to believe the trend Warrington is leading toward spirits-free activities and thoughtfulness about alcohol’s role in our culture—where every ritual, celebration, loss, entertainment, and even sporting event is cause for a drink—is not a trend but a movement.

That we’ll look back at “mommyjuice” like we shake our heads at “mother’s little helper” pills from the ’60s and ’70s. The infrastructure to support sobriety is being built, and public opinion is turning. After centuries of going hard, America is getting woke, not wasted.

Cheers to that.

SOBERING STUDIES

A British study of Dry January abstainers found that 82 percent felt a sense of achievement, 62 percent slept better, and 49 percent lost some weight.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence is the author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis.

SPIRITS

Curious Elixirs: Individually bottled alcohol-free craft cocktails High Rhode by Kin: “Euphorics” made from nootropics and adaptogens, including 5-HTP, rhodiola, and caffeine Ritual Whiskey: “As a veggie burger is to beef, or almond milk is to dairy, Ritual is an alternative to traditional whiskey” Seedlip Spice 94: Gin-like blend of Jamaican allspice berry, cardamom, and citrus peel Stryyk: “Zero-proof spirits,” including Not Vodka, Not Rum, and Not Gin Three Spirit: “Social elixir” made from yerba mate, lionʼs mane, damiana, and cacao

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THE

The High Host’s Handbook How to properly throw an elevated gathering

TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

I’ve thrown some damn good parties since I started cooking with cannabis in 2009. I’d even say some were epic. There’s nothing like reaching the crescendo of a meal orchestrated to open people’s minds and senses and connect them with their dinner partners, the food’s tastes and aromas, and the finer notes of everything. Everyone blossoms, blissed and blessed.

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This is no small thing to pull off, and of course I’ve had disasters—thankfully none too epic and way less frequent now than when I first started. In the beginning, serving cannabis to guests was cripplingly intimidating.

For me, hosting a cannabis dinner is a lot like teaching a yoga class. As the leader, I’m responsible for every person’s well-being and experience, from understand-

ing their physical limitations and apprehensions to curating a playlist that keeps them motivated, relaxed, and flowing. They should leave happier than they came.

That level of culpability makes me nama-cray-cray. It kept me from teaching yoga after I got certified and could have strangled my inner canna-hostess, too, if I hadn’t stumbled onto the opportunity to learn from the very best

while writing and promoting The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook.

When you need confidence, there’s nothing like going straight to the experts—and a beautiful thing about the cannabis community is how willing anyone who loves this plant is to educate and share.

Keep them in the zone.

In legal states, a thriving cannabis hospitality industry employs professionals in everything from event planning to budtending.

Consumers dab in elegant lounges, sip canna-mocktails, and indulge in CBD coffee stations and s’more bars stocked with infused chocolate. They taste cultivars as they’re paired with courses like wine. They dine on infused foie gras custard while inhaling from bowls of terpene vapor at $500-a-plate dinners.

Chris Sayegh, the Herbal Chef behind those half-G-a-head banquets, considers himself a shaman. He conducts every dinner, explaining to the journeyers how the night will go and how they can expect to feel. His servers act as guides, keeping people on track and helping them if they get uncomfortable. Diners’ glasses are constantly filled with water throughout a dinner engineered to keep them in what Sayegh calls the “euphoric zone.” Afterward, they retreat to a decompression lounge, where they can wipe their faces with eucalyptus-scented towels and get a massage.

Sayegh says his specialty is “understanding how people can get this really beautiful effect without ever being overwhelmed,” a skill anyone who entertains with cannabis should be honing. Stupe-

Hosting a cannabis dinner is a lot like teaching a yoga class. As the leader, I’m responsible for every person’s well-being and experience, from understanding their physical limitations and apprehensions to curating a playlist that keeps them motivated, relaxed, and flowing.

They should leave happier than they came.

fied or paranoid guests suck the soul out of a party as quickly as obnoxious or passed-out-drunk ones—and then there’s that part about being responsible for their well-being. If you haven’t had nightmares about diners slumped over their plates and leaving in wheelbarrows like the hobbits at Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday party, you probably shouldn’t be hosting a cannabis shindig.

Have an “Oh, Shit Kit.” Overconsumption happens, even with the pros. Though he rarely has to use them, Scottsdale, Arizona–based chef and restaurateur Payton Curry stocks up on water with electrolytes and Undoo softgels (a mixture of vitamin E, olive oil, and olivetol that promises to “unhaze the blaze”) when he hosts cannabis-infused dinners.

For a few larger events, he’s even hired nurse practitioners to administer IV bags.

“Americans have been programmed to sleep it off or make themselves throw up if they have too much to drink,” Curry says.

“With cannabis, it’s different. We say, ‘Here’s a pizza, a movie, and six gallons of water.’”

At Denver-based Irie Weddings and Events, the staff keeps an “Oh, Shit Kit” full of homeopathic rescue remedies; lavender, eucalyptus and chamomile essential oils; 5-Hour Energy; and ground pepper (said to mitigate anxiety and paranoia).

Budtenders at these events always ask about guests’ experience and tolerance, and signs at the bud bars remind people to sit down or call over a friend if they feel lightheaded or dizzy. No matter what, they never lets anyone suffer alone.

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THE LIFE

Know your own limits.

Hosting with the most means being there for someone who thinks they’re dying. (It’s physically impossible to overdose on cannabis, but the time for a biology lesson is not during a crisis.) You need to control your own consumption— or even wait until after the party.

That’s why you might want to hire pros, says Andrew Mieure, owner of Top Shelf Budtending, a service that offers certified “cannabis sommeliers” who present a holistic introduction to the plant’s botany, tastes, aromas, and effects. Mieure specializes in serving first-timers and people returning to cannabis after a long while, and they heighten his sense of obligation to deliver only smooth, groovy adventures.

“Their experiences,” he says, “can make or break the future of cannabis in America.”

PHOTO BY ELKIYA MENES

Your Best Party Ever If you’ve read all those terms and conditions and feel ready to host your own elevated evening, here are a few of our best tips for what to have and what to know as you plan.

Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe by Elkiya Menes, HumYum / Makes one 8-inch cake

stirring often, until chocolate and butter are melted and smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in 5 egg yolks, one at a time.

• In another mixing bowl, beat 5 egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form.

IN STRUCTIONS • Using a rubber spatula, fold • Preheat oven to 325º F. Grease one quarter of egg whites into an 8x2-inch round pan and line chocolate mixture. Fold in with parchment paper. remaining until no more white • Combine chocolate and butter streaks remain. in a large heatproof bowl. Set • Pour into pan evenly. Set over a pan of simmering water, pan in a large shallow baking IN G RE DIENTS

1 pound semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 10 tablespoons (11⁄4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces 5 large eggs, separated

Know the legal ins and outs. Cannabis has been legal for less than a decade, and laws vary by state. Experienced professionals can walk you through legal and logistical watching the door and checking gray areas and customs, plus do the hard work during the event so IDs and/or medical cards. you can socialize.

Create a designated consumption Know your venue’s cannabis poli- area. A dab or smoking lounge procies. This should be the first thing tects other guests from fumes and frames a ceremonial space. you ask, long before you book.

dish or roasting pan, then set baking dish in the oven. Pour enough boiling water into pan to reach halfway up the sides of the cake pan.

• Bake for 30 minutes; the interior will still be gooey.

• Allow cake to cool completely in refrigerator or overnight. To serve, run a thin knife around cake’s perimeter and invert on serving dish.

• Slice thin wedges and top with warmed HumYum caramel sauce.

Get to know your guests before the party. Mieure suggests including a questionnaire with your RSVP to help you understand how to serve each guest.

Tailor consumption methods to For larger affairs, get security. It’s Have a policy for minors. Are kids your revelers. Dabs are probably a little much for Midwestern relaallowed? Are they allowed in the required at some venues now, and it’s crazy not to have professionals area where adults are consuming? tives who haven’t smoked since seDECEM BER 2019

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THE LIFE

nior prom, while canna-mocktails allow for accurate microservings and are more discreet.

Have music. If you won’t have a DJ or a band, make a playlist long enough to last throughout your soiree, and test it. Even at operational consumption levels, you don’t want to be messing with the music—or worse, not have any.

Think brunch. Having a late-morning gathering allows your guests the afternoon to enjoy being high and happy.

Keep your cannabis to at least a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD. Offering CBD-dominant food lets newcomers and hesitant consumers experience infused food.

“Cheat” with store-bought ingredients. With all the premade tinctures, oils, butters, chocolates, beverages, and even water-soluble additives on the shelves these days, there’s no reason to spend hours making your own infusions.

Accurate servings are easier to pull off with tested ingredients from a trusted establishment.

PHOTO BY LIZ WILSON

Moderate alcohol. Drinking alcohol thins blood, allowing for more active THC to enter. If both are being served, limit the servings and potency of each.

Vegan Carrot Cake Recipe by Liz Wilson / Makes two 8-inch cakes

IN G RE DIE N TS

1 cup brown sugar 1 cup sugar ¾ cup plant milk + 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar ¾ cup vegan sour cream 2 teaspoons vanilla ¾ cup canola oil 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon salt 3 cups shredded carrots ½ cup vegan cream cheese ½ cup vegan butter 4 cups powdered sugar

INST RUCT IONS For the cake

• Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease • In a large mixing bowl, add two 8-inch cake pans and line butter and cream cheese. with parchment paper.

Beat until fluffy.

• Whisk together plant milk • Slowly add powdered sugar and vinegar. Set aside. and continue beating. Add • In another bowl, whisk flour, plant milk to reach desired baking soda, baking powder, consistency. Add vanilla. salt, and spices.

• Assemble and ice the cake • In a large mixing bowl, add the after cake layers have fully brown sugar, sugar, sour cream, chilled. Top with nuts if desired. oil, vanilla, and milk mixture.

CHEF’S NOT E Mix. Add in dry mixture and • Our favorite vegan blend until combined. substitutions are Earth • Fold in carrots.

Balance, Miyokos Kitchen, • Pour even amounts of batter and Follow Your Heart into each of the pans. Bake brands. for 30–35 minutes.

Make some non-infused goodies, too. If you choose to allow minors at your party, or if anyone doesn’t want to consume, they’ve still got to eat. (You can even keep your sweets healthy with these healthy sent (in writing for larger events) cake recipes.) before photos and videos are takHave plenty of water. Keeping en and posted. guests hydrated is beyond crucial. Send them off with gifts. The Be a witness protector. Make sure you have every guest’s con-

For the frosting

party shouldn’t stop when guests walk out. Cheri Sicard, author of

The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook, sends them home with infused cookies during the holidays.

Make sure no one drives home impaired. Lyft and Uber make it so easy.

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THE

On the Calendar

Each December, the community comes alive with parades, music, and light.

TEXT NORA MOUNCE

Whatever the holidays mean to you, December is a time to celebrate the magic of life in the Emerald Triangle. From candlelit walks in ancient redwood groves to the twinkling lights of a Victorian village, everything sparkles in the spirit of the season. During this busy month packed with shopping and holiday parties, be sure to pencil in some time to relax with loved ones. The kiddos will enjoy catching Santa from Ferndale to Lewiston, while grown-ups (naughty or nice) deserve to sneak out after shopping local for a belly-warming cocktail. The best part? After long visits with relatives and extra sweets, the season of light wraps with a big party and a fresh start.

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10th Annual Lighting of Festival of Lights America’s Tallest Nov. 29–Dec. 22, Living Christmas evenings Tree Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg gardenbythesea.org

Lewiston Bridge Lighting & Fireworks Nov. 30, 3–7 p.m.

Lewiston lewistonbridgelighting.com

Hayfork Christmas Festival Dec. 1, 3 p.m.

Hayfork Park, Hayfork

Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.

Ferndale visitferndale.com

This tree lighting ceremony has been a tradition in Ferndale since 1934.

Pink Martini Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

Van Duzer Theatre, Humboldt State, Arcata centerarts.humboldt.edu

Peking Acrobats Dec. 4, 7 p.m.

Van Duzer Theatre, Humboldt State, Arcata centerarts.humboldt.edu

BELOW: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS RIGHT: MENDOCINO QUARTET

Herbal Holidays Gift Making Dec. 4, 7–9 p.m.

Moonrise Herbs, Arcata moonriseherbs.com

Willow Creek Tree Lighting Dec. 5, 5–7 p.m.

Corner of 299 & 96, Willow Creek

Lighted Truck Parade Dec. 6 Garberville Town Square, Garberville

Eureka Symphony’s “Celestial Celebrations” Dec. 6, 8–10 p.m.

Arkley Center for the Performing Arts, Eureka arkleycenter.com

The Mendocino Quartet Dec. 6–7, 7:30 p.m.

North Coast Brewing Co., Fort Bragg northcoastbrewing.com

30th Annual Ukiah Symphony Candlelight Walk Orchestra: Dec. 6–7, 5–8 p.m.

Finnish & Prairie Creek Redwoods Unfinished State Park, Orick redwoodparksconservancy.org

Santa Claus in the Victorian Village Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m.

Ferndale visitferndale.com

Dec. 7–8 Mendocino College Center Theatre, Ukiah ukiahsymphony.org

Humboldt historic landmark, Artisans Crafts & the tallest lightMusic Festival house on the West Dec. 8, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Redwood Acres, Eureka

Arts Alive!

Dec. 7 Eureka eurekamainstreet.org

Point Arena Lighthouse Full Moon Tour

This free monthly arts walk is held in historic Old Town Eureka.

Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m.

Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena pointarenalighthouse.com

Douglas City Fire Belles’ 40th Christmas Bazaar Dec. 7, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Hall, Douglas City

Enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and coast from the lantern room at the top of the Tower. Docents will guide you into the past and explain the unique history of this

Coast. Champagne, sparkling juice, and snacks will be served—take home an etched Point Arena Lighthouse champagne flute as a souvenir.

Ki-Man and the Masters of the Universe Dec. 12, 9–11 p.m.

Savage Henry Comedy Club, Eureka savagehenrymagazine.com

Arts! Arcata Dec. 13, 6–9 p.m.

Monthly Art Walk, Arcata

The Nutcracker Dec. 13–18 Arkley Center for the Performing Arts, Eureka northcoastdance.com

Loleta Holiday Craft Fair Dec. 14–15, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Loleta Firemanʼs Pavilion

Holiday Craft Market Dec. 14–15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Arcata Community Center, Arcata bit.ly/33Jxo3J

Super Diamond Dec. 28, 8–10 p.m.

Blue Lake Casino, Blue Lake bluelakecasino.com

Don’t miss this cover-band tribute to Neil Diamond headlined by Randy “Surreal Neil” Cordera.

The Undercovers New Year’s Eve Dec. 31, 9 p.m.–12 a.m.

Blue Lake Casino, Blue Lake bluelakecasino.com

Whitewater n Surf Safari Dec. 31–Jan. 2 Mendocino liquidfusionkayak.com

Ring in 2020 with three days of sea, river, and surf kayaking.

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PESTICIDE FREE G E N E T I C A L LY V E R I F I E D PREMIUM CLONES

Grow with us.

California!

We are sure you already know, but anyone can now grow their own 6 plants.

At HendRx each plant is bred & selected by our Humbolt County team of specialist growers, ensuring that your crop is pesticide & pathogen free.

Grow with us & know your plants are the very best from the heart of the Emerald Triangle.

Plants available at Fine Cannabis Retailers

www.hendrx.farm 707.840.5667 CAL18-0001546

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P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E B O L D T BAG S

Handmade in Humboldt

where customers can watch their bags being made and repaired. According to Kaufman, Boldtbags is the only store in the world that is 100 percent dedicated to selling hash-making equipment. Boldtbags are shipped internationally, and every few weeks, a flood of orders comes in as another It didn’t take long for word to get state goes legal. out about the quality craftsmanship of Kaufman credits the success of Kaufman’s bags. Soon, people began Boldtbags to the fact that the bags borrowing them and then asking are made for and by “hashologists”— where they could buy them. Realizing people who are passionate about that the cannabis industry needed his creating high-quality hash. He stands products, Boldtbags was born. behind his products and even provides With Boldtbags immediately educational support for his clients. gaining a reputation for producing “We’re here to guide and support quality hash, Kaufman’s phone started people in their process and craft,” says ringing off the hook. In the years since, Kaufman. “We’re the real deal.”

Kaufman has watched the popularity of hash rise and fall in the marketplace, but he never stopped producing his top-quality Boldtbags.

Boldtbags Today, Kaufman operates a factory IG @boldtbags in Eureka that includes a retail store boldtbags.com

Custom industrial-strength extraction bags

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efore finding his way to the Emerald Triangle more than 15 years ago, Harrison Kaufman studied architecture and design in the Bay Area and worked as an industrial designer. When his mother suddenly fell ill with cancer, he dropped out of school to focus on making medicinal hash for her. Unimpressed with the hash-making bags he found on the market, Kaufman enlisted the help of his sister to design their own.

Sewn with a machine hooked up to a generator, Kaufman’s first prototypes were made in a yurt somewhere in the Humboldt hills.

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P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E HRPC

Humboldt Patient Resource Center Serving Humboldt County since 1999

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stablished in 1999, the Humboldt Patient Resource Center (HPRC) was one of the first medical marijuana dispensaries in the country.

Founded with support from the City of Arcata, HPRC has grown with the Humboldt County community. In 2019, HPRC opened a second location in Eureka with an adjacent community-based health and wellness center called The Connection.

At the dispensary, HPRC offers medical and recreational consumers a carefully curated selection of cannabis products, from flower and wax to seeds and clones. Many of the most popular products are grown by expert staff in the dispensary’s on-site garden and sold under the HPRC brand.

Jurkovich, HPRC’s director since 2004.

Going above and beyond what’s offered by your typical dispensary, HPRC has a philosophy of health and community that fits in perfectly with the culture of Humboldt County. HPRC shares in the heritage of Humboldt County, with a story of love, care, and healthy cannabis.

In everything it does, health and wellness is the focus at HPRC. In addition to a staff of well-educated and experienced cannabis consultants, a qualified nurse practitioner is available daily to consult with patients. HPRC has zero tolerance for pesticides or mold; products that test positive for even trace amounts are pulled from the shelves to protect patients’ health.

Community involvement defines HPRC. HPRC’s The Connection wellness center is open to everyone and offers free weekly classes, from yoga to recycling to tai chi. During Eureka’s monthly celebration, Arts Alive, The Connection opens its doors with live music and local art.

Humboldt Patient Resource “HPRC is your dispensary, this Center is your place,” explains Mariellen hprchumboldt.com DECEM BER 2019

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THE END

The Scenic Route Laura Beebe and her motorcycle sisters, The Litas Humboldt, enjoy the thrill of taking the road less traveled.

Always an adventure-seeker, Laura Beebe, 31, discovered the thrill of riding motorcycles in the Emerald Triangle two years ago.

“I find that living life on the edge makes me feel alive,” Beebe says.

An avid surfer, Beebe found it hard to juggle her surf addiction with the demands of a full-time job. Riding gave her something she could do on her own time to get the blood flowing. “Let me tell you, nothing makes you feel more alive than riding through a rain50 E M ERAL D T R IA NG LE

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storm by yourself down Highway 101,” Beebe says.

Most days, Beebe rides a Sportster 1200, and she always takes the scenic route. Though she typically rides by herself, Beebe is a member of The Litas, an all-inclusive women’s motorcycle group. “It has been such an honor to be a part of something so unique and uplifting,” Beebe says. The Humboldt chapter of The Litas formed recently and often organizes ladies’ rides for its

“motorcycle sisterhood” throughout the back roads of the Emerald Triangle.

“Humboldt County is such a beautiful place to ride a motorcycle—no traffic and endless back roads,” Beebe says. She’s also been charmed by how friendly folks are once she hops off her bike. “People love talking to you when you’re on a motorcycle,” she says. “You become more interesting, I guess!” @lauraashleybeebe / @thelitashumboldt

PHOTO BY BEN CROFT

TEXT NORA MOUNCE