Evercannabis, August, 2017

AUGUST 2017

EVERCANNABIS evercannabis.com

formerly Spokannabist

MOBILE CANNABIS GAMES ARE DOPE

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

IN THIS ISSUE 4 New opportunities Longtime industrial supplier reaching out

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Seeking super service Area budtenders eager to advise

10 Mean the Green Friends explore new growing venture

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VOLUME 2

ISSUE 3

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review

www.evercannabis.com evercannabis@spokesman.com 509.459.5095

way this industry will survive and thrive is if ….” is a phrase I’ve heard dozens of times from dozens of creative people active in this industry who are realistic but also try to be optimistic.

For instance, there is definitely some concern about the federal government turning off the lights and driving the growers and sellers back underground.

It’s easy to worry, but it’s also just as easy to channel this concern into more awareness and education.

Decent suggestions for “the right formula” have included better relationships between shops and growers; more interest in sharing resources and expertise between growers; more strategic lobbying in Olympia and Washington, D.C; and better branding/marketing to make individual business stand out (I know people!).

I’m impressed that State Sen. Short and Rep. Maycumber plus City Council President Ben Stuckart were willing to sit with the Cannabis Farmers Council recently. Spokane County Commissioners have been willing to discuss land use issues with cannabis farmers instead of simply slamming the door, as some

constituents have requested.

I’m also encouraged by early efforts by the new Eastern Washington Cannabis Alliance to bring together diverse people and create a more united message. And I enjoyed seeing those who showed up to support Lucky Leaf a few weeks ago, even though people were joking that “everyone was too mellow to be too angry.”

Another area that should boost the industry is a recent jobs report from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

It showed that Spokane County has 60 active cannabis businesses that collectively employ 1,189 people, 720 of them full-time, with a payroll of $5.30 million. The average hourly wage for the area is a decent $14.15.

Statewide, there are 6,885 employees, 3,883 full-time, plus a $32.4 million payroll and average hourly wage of $16.27.

A national employment study by Marijuana Business Daily shares that the cannabis industry now outnumbers dental hygienists and bakers, and will soon exceed telemarketers and pharmacists.

The cool thing is that the industry is still considered to be in its infancy, so has all sorts of potential. The more this industry grows, the more difficulty opponents will have to “unwind” it.

We’re looking forward to being able to help spread these messages, and want to continue to be a community resource.

Joe Butler, Managing Editor

Interested in being an EVERCANNABIS FREE distribution location?

Tasty treats Edibles increasing in popularity

EVERCANNABIS

...“The only

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Please contact 509.459.5095 or evercannabis@spokesman.com Marijuana and marijuana-infused products are legal for Washington residents 21 years and older.

It has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. It can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. There may be health risks associated with consumption.

DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING Kathleen Coleman PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Dan Fritts MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anne Potter

LOCAL CONTRIBUTORS

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Trish Merryman

NICOLE SKINNER

SALES LEAD Wes Ward

ELLY BAILEY

STACI LEHMAN JEAN ARTHUR

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW EDITORIAL TEAM CAROLINE HAMMETT JESSE TINSLEY CHAD SOKOL KIP HILL COLIN MULVANY

Proud member of www.spokesman.com 509.459.5400 news@spokesman.com

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

Oxarc SEEING OPPORTUNITY IN NEW MARKET

By STACI LEHMAN EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

Industrial customers throughout the Inland Northwest recognize the name Oxarc. Since the 1960s, the company has provided gases, safety equipment and other chemical materials and supplies.

But not everyone knows that the family-owned Spokane business recently began offering its expertise and equipment to a new type of client: cannabis producers and processors that are seeking safety and quality in the extraction processes.

CannaCon, a February trade show for the marijuana industry in Seattle.

“We had gone to several of the cannabis shows, more as a spectator trying to understand the industry,” said Sutley. “But CannaCon was the first one where we’ve had a booth.”

Initially there were some issues that had to be navigated, including the fact that Washington’s cannabis community legally has to be cashonly.

Today, clients include growers and processors throughout the region, “We made a decision to embrace several where clients were previous the industry because we were getting Oxarc customers in other industries. a lot of inquiries,” said Mike Sutley, Some area farmers also had existing Executive Vice President. “It was a accounts, but added marijuana to collective decision with the upper their crops when it became legal to management team.” grow.

Having a local touch is important The most popular product for too – the company originally began cannabis customers is dry ice, which as a welding company, and today helps freeze the extracted oil and maintains about 20 branches in provides steady CO2 flow.

Washington, Idaho and California.

Oxarc sells industrial gases like CO2, hydrogen, ammonia and chlorine, plus dry ice, N-Butane, a flammable, colorless, mostly nontoxic gas with a natural gas odor; N-Propane, a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining commonly used as a fuel; and isobutene, a chemical compound that has the same molecular formula as butane, but with a different chemical structure.

Available equipment includes gas sensors and monitors, respirators, and safety glasses.

“Dry ice has just exploded,” he said.

“We sold over 2.8 million pounds last year.”

The product has also grown in popularity in other fields as well, including medical and convalescent home industries.

Oxarc is also happy to share what the company has learned about the cannabis industry with businesses that sell similar products in other geographic markets. He also expects growing interest in supporting cannabis businesses.

Because all these items can be used in the cannabis oil extraction process, Sutley said it was a natural move to reach out to growers and processors and let them know that Oxarc can help.

“We’ve been educating fellow distributors to replicate what we’re doing,” said Sutley. “This product is going to create other industries I’m sure,” he said. “It seems to be financially very, very stable. We consider it a niche market.”

The company developed a flyer promoting those preparation and extraction products and added a cannabis section to its website. Staff members had a booth at this year’s

Photo courtesy Oxarc

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

L O B S W S E A RS L G Warrior mini rig, created by Jacob Jarvis, Spokane,

$575, Cinder

R Banger Red Hanger H cr created by Stoney’s Glass, St Tri-Cities, Tr

$ $180, Lucky Leaf Lu

Rig created by James Badger/OG Badger through Montage Glass Art Studio, Spokane,

$575, Cinder

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

The legalization of recreational and medical cannabis has created a new employment position: the budtender, who plays an important role in helping customers learn about what kind of products they could buy and consume.

Be A Better Budtender

Unlike a bartender who fulfills alcohol orders from patrons who already may know what liquor they like, part of the budtender role is education, along with helping their stores make more sales and keep customers coming back.

“I truly enjoy helping and educating our customers,” said Kat Silva, a budtender at Cinder, which has three Spokane-area stores. “There is always something new to learn, even for us. I help customers find what they are looking for by being open-minded and friendly. I always ask a lot of questions.”

When a customer enters a shop, the budtender may be the first person they meet and could be the only person they interact with, especially if they aren’t sure what to do or what to ask for.

Cinder District Manager Becca Johnson says the main requirements she looks for in potential budtenders are a passion for cannabis and experience working with the public.

“I really like to see service industry experience. A lot of people who work for us have also spent time working with producers/processors and have some understanding of the industry,” she said.

Johnson said managers search for the right qualities in their budtenders, and want even more of these qualities in their managers.

“We typically prefer to promote from within, and all our management staff started as budtenders, so we all have a full

By NICOLE SKINNER EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

He or she plays an important role in helping customers learn about cannabis products and what they might enjoy.

understanding of the role,” she said.

Amanda Lane, another Cinder budtender, was originally an optician, another field that requires strong customer skills plus technical expertise.

“I feel like I’m helping people and also helping prove stigmas about cannabis wrong,” she said. “When I moved to Washington, this seemed like the perfect fit.”

This full- or part-time position in Washington typically pays $15-$20 per hour plus tips, based on experience and employer. Some shops offer medical and dental insurance.

Budtenders are encouraged to continue their training and education, including earning various certifications. One popular area is medical certification which teaches employees how to advise shoppers seeking cannabis for pain relief or certain medical conditions. Some patients, for instance, may not be able or willing to smoke, or need something to help with sleep or increase their appetite without other effects.

“A lot of our information comes from us just being pro-active in finding education resources,” Johnson said. “Having positive relationships with producers is also beneficial.”

She also likes budtenders to be familiar with the general quality and effects of different items, but not necessarily everything in the store.

“It can be unrealistic to expect every budtender to try every single concentrate, so we also rely on communication between the budtenders,” she said.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

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Budtenders also should develop relationships with producers and processors, including learning their backgrounds, products and growing methods. This info helps if a customer wants to know about a particular brand or item.

MEET THE TOP PRODUCERS IN THE STATE AT OUR VENDORS DAYS, EVERY OTHER FRIDAY.

“With the amount of brand loyalty we are beginning to see, it’s incredibly important that budtenders are educated about what’s in their stores but also compassionate and understanding enough to meet the needs of a consumer,” Johnson said. “Our budtenders are our greatest asset.”

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Besides strong customer service skills, being a good budtender requires familiarity with different types of cannabis products. Some information can be self-taught, but prospective or current budtenders can also receive advanced certification. Providers include the Cannabis Institute at Seattle Central College, which offers in-person and online courses in topics like ethics, medical marijuana, cannabis use in massage, and legal compliance. The Trichome Institute, a national budtender training organization that focuses on products and sales, covers tolerance levels and how to convert legal personal possession amounts into different products and volume. Since Washington shoppers can buy up to 1 ounce of flower, 16 ounces of edibles, 72 ounces of liquid edibles and 7 grams of concentrate each visit, budtenders must calculate if someone’s planned purchases meet or exceed these amounts.

Area budtenders include, opposite page, Kat Silva, left, and Amanda Lane, right, from Cinder (photos by Joe Butler), and Jonathan Brendle and Daneka Orr, above, from Locals Canna House (photo by Trish Merryman).

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

Spokane County ends outdoor growing ban

By CHAD SOKOL The Spokesman-Review

Spokane County commissioners lifted a moratorium on outdoor marijuana farms in late June, but replaced it with zoning rules that are more restrictive to the cannabis industry.

All new farms and expansions will require a conditional use permit, which can only be obtained after a public hearing process. New growing, processing and retail operations are now banned on rural 5-acre lots and urban reserve lands – sites where urban development may occur in the future.

Despite those restrictions, Crystal Oliver, who owns a farm north of Spokane, called the new ordinance “a really good approach to balancing the needs of the cannabis farmers and the needs of the neighbors.”

The county commissioners imposed the moratorium in a surprise vote in November, citing “a substantial number of complaints” about the smell of growing pot. Without giving any public notice, they decided to temporarily stop issuing permits for outdoor marijuana farms. In January, they extended the ban.

Growers and industry advocates, who organized as the Cannabis Farmers Council,

voiced their frustration at a series of public workshops. Oliver, a council board member, said she also met with each of the county commissioners.

In a letter sent to the commissioners in January, the Cannabis Farmers Council said the moratorium would stifle the county’s marijuana industry, citing combined annual revenues in the tens of millions of dollars, as well as tax generation and hundreds of jobs that stood to be affected.

Growers also questioned the reasoning behind the moratorium, which Commissioner Al French characterized as an effort to help property owners avoid any skunky aromas wafting from neighboring pot farms. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency had received hundreds of complaints about marijuana odor, but a disproportionate number targeted a single farm, Bang’s Cannabis near Cheney. French sits on the agency’s governing board.

There are nearly 160 producing and processing facilities in the county, and Oliver noted that most have not been the subject of any complaints.

Although scientists have found no link between the smell of unsmoked marijuana and any health defects, pot farms, like other businesses in Spokane County, must comply

with odor standards enforced by the Clean Air Agency. Many install fans, filters and exhaust vents on their greenhouses.

French and Commissioners Shelly O’Quinn and Nancy McLaughlin approved the original moratorium in November. It was McLaughlin’s last vote as commissioner; Josh Kerns was sworn in to replace her hours later.

O’Quinn, who resigned earlier this summer to lead the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, previously had said that the marijuana ordinance was among several complicated issues she wanted to see resolved before her departure from the county commission.

The new zoning restrictions generally don’t apply to existing farms, processors and retailers, or those with applications pending with the state Liquor and Cannabis Board.

They would, however, come into play if any existing facility attempts to expand its operations.

Most new pot grows will have to be 100 feet from any property line and 300 feet from any home on a neighboring property, but the county may waive that rule if an affected neighbor allows it, potentially reducing the required distances by up to 50 percent.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

PTSD - ANYONE CAN BE EFFECTED.

We are a compassionate ssionate group of medical and administration lping patients professionals, helping in Washington State, ate, obtain the bis medicinally. right to use cannabis

PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event.

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Asking for help is ok. You aren’t alone. Give us a call. We can help you. Diagnosis only needed to qualify for medical cannabis.

There are four types of symptoms of PTSD, but they may not be exactly the same for everyone. Each person experiences symptoms in their own way.

1. Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms). You may have bad memories or nightmares. You even may feel like you’re going through the event again. This is called a flashback.

2. Avoiding situations that remind you of the event. You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.

3. Having more negative beliefs and feelings. The way you think about yourself and others may change because of the trauma. You may feel guilt or shame. Or, you may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy. You may feel that the world is dangerous and you can’t trust anyone. You might be numb, or find it hard to feel happy.

4. Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal). You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. Or, you may have trouble concentrating or sleeping. You might suddenly get angry or irritable, startle easily, or act in unhealthy ways (like smoking, using drugs and alcohol, or driving recklessly.

We have a referral for a Psychologist.

Spokane City Council Amends Zoning Laws

Ken Rosen, the unpaid care attendant at Old Fashioned Arcade, works on a game.

Photo by Colin Mulvany/ The Spokesman-Review

By KIP HILL The Spokesman-Review

An east Spokane pot shop was handed a victory in June by the Spokane City Council over what some called a sham arcade that had prevented them from moving.

City Council President Ben Stuckart cast the deciding vote in a 5-to-1 tally shrinking Spokane’s buffer zone between an arcade and a marijuana business, from 1,000 feet to 500 feet, for six months. Councilman Mike Fagan, a staunch industry opponent, proposed the emergency law as a way to allow Smokane to relocate in the wake of what he called “shenanigans” by the arcade’s proprietors, which charges no admission fee and operates out of an unfinished office space it rents for $5,000 a month.

Neither the owners of Smokane nor the Old Fashioned Fun

Arcade testified before the vote.

Marco Barbanti, the registered agent of the corporation owning the arcade, Rome-Warsaw Holdings, said no one in the organization had any ties to the marijuana industry and it did not exist to stop Smokane from moving. The Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board has seen at least one case in Seattle in which a competing marijuana business quickly opened an arcade to drive out competition, a point Fagan made before the vote.

City Councilwoman Karen Stratton recused herself from the vote, citing her involvement in the marijuana industry.

The owners of Smokane planned to use the city decision to appeal their license denial from the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board, since a new license was needed for the new location.

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

rural producers COMPLETELY INVESTED IN THEIR OPERATION

Tim Lamb is a co-owner at Mean the Green, a farm southwest of Spokane.

Photo by Joe Butler

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

Joe Stoltz, Steve Dullanty and Tim Lamb never gave much thought to marijuana, let alone how to grow it on a commercial scale.

“I’m a construction guy – I even coached basketball,” said Stoltz, a co-owner of Mean the Green, a cannabis farm southwest of Spokane between Cheney and Spangle. “None of us came from a marijuana background at all.”

Dullanty also worked in construction and flooring, and his wife Diane was a school principal. Lamb sold MRI machines and related medical technology.

Things have definitely changed for everyone over the last four years.

“We’ve pretty much been drinking from a fire hose with everything we’ve been doing and learning. But at least now it’s becoming more like a garden hose,” Stoltz said.

This summer, Mean the Green introduced its first indica, sativa and hybrid strains to cannabis retailers throughout Washington. The owners have spent the last few years perfecting their plants and growing methods, along with selling them to local processors for use in extracts and concentrates.

The farm includes indoor and outdoor elements. Ten hoop houses insulate plants but the roofs can be adjusted to let in extra sunlight as needed. Mean the Green has a Tier 3 license, which means it legally can grow up to 30,000 square feet of plants.

Mean the Green’s ownership focuses on maintaining ideal growing conditions, using natural methods to create healthy soil and consistent strains. They have been working seven days a week getting everything ready for Mean the Green’s public debut.

Besides saving on labor by doing much of the work themselves, the effort also provides hands-on knowledge and experience of every step of the process, from planting to cultivating to drying and trimming and packaging.

“We’re completely invested in this,” Lamb said. “We had to learn everything the plants will do.”

Stoltz and Dullanty also used their construction backgrounds to build the property’s hoop houses, the raised beds and “miles and miles of fencing.”

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Neighbors also benefited from their construction expertise -- Mean the Green is part of a group of 10 growers in the same location who share water and growing strategies, and encourage everyone’s success.

When the project first was getting off the ground three years ago, participating farmers also invited a cannabis horticulture expert to provide pointers in proper cloning, planting, soil management and harvesting.

REVENUE JUNE 2017 SPOKANE COUNTY

“You really have to come together these days,” Dullanty said. “It really has to be a team effort.”

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Some of their wives also help with the growing, the finances and the order tracking -and sometimes remind them to slow down and take a day off once in awhile. Their dogs also enjoy spending days at the farm.

RETAILERS

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“We wake up thinking about marijuana, and think about it when we go to bed at night,” Dullanty said. “It’s such an interesting product.”

“

PRODUCERS / PROCESSORS

The owners are excited about Mean the Green appearing on area store shelves and for consumers to start experiencing their product.

“

By JOE BUTLER

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We already have a following at some of the shops.

We love what we do.

Products: Indica, including Blue Dream, Purple Urgle, Cherry OG, God’s Gift, Elephant and Sour Diesel @MeantheGreen on Instagram

$

11,398,356

CONSUMER PURCHASED

$

7,017,103 PRODUCER/ PROCESSOR SALES

$

3,078,388 EXCISE TAX SOURCE:502DATA.COM

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

Cannabis for canines

By JEAN ARTHUR EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

When Deb Lynam’s golden retriever Benny suffered a major medical episode, she initially sought out traditional veterinary medicine. Unfortunately, she concluded that the recommendation she received could have harmed or even killed him.

Two years ago Benny had a massive seizure.

“It was such a scary event,” recalled Lynam. “His body was flipping out of control all over the living room. But the vet wasn’t going to do anything because it was just one seizure.”

Lynam brought Benny back to the Spokane-area home also shared by Flinn, another golden retriever, and Twosie, a Jack Russell terrier. Then Benny had two more seizures.

“He was so out of it that he grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go. The vet ran tests: idiopathic epilepsy from an unknown cause. She prescribed barbiturates.”

As a nursing assistant at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation’s brain injury unit, she knew that side effects of barbiturates could include stupor, loss of coordination, instability, irritability, and even death, at least in humans.

Her son suggested cannabis oil, which, she never had considered for pets.

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Deb Lynam uses cannabis oil to help h suffering seizures. Her pets also includ Twosie, a Jack Russell terrier.

Photos courtesy of Deb Lynam.

CBD hemp oil is typically hemp. THC is the molecular mental and physical reactio general marijuana use, whi compound that provides pa

Lynam now spends abou for Benny, including CBD o his food, along with Canna organic biscuits suggested items online and at Sativa S

“I’m a big advocate for C dogs,” she said. “I’m stickin hopefully it will continue to

Now, Benny isn’t the only

I finally agreed, and we gave Benny a dose of CBD oil after that third seizure, and another dose the next morning,” Lynam said. “He had one more seizure, which only lasted five seconds.

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He got up, walked away, and has not had another seizure in more than two years.

Flinn, her 9-year-old gold up with a limp so I’m starti has bad anxiety when we g trials, where she gets really dog gummy treats, and she I’m a true believer.”

The American Veterinary encouraged its members to for ailing pets. In a 2013 pro “Veterinary Marijuana?” th further research “could pre from owners’ well-meaning pain and suffering.”

The article continued iden behavior-based disorders, i

her dog, Benny, left, who was de Flinn, another retriever, and

made from low-THC r compound that causes ons associated with ile CBD is another natural ain relief.

t $50 a month on treats ils that she drizzles over -Pet, a brand of flavored for dogs. She finds some Sisters, a Spokane retailer.

BD in treating seizures in ng with what works and o be readily available.”

y pet to benefit from them.

en retriever, “has come ng to use CBD on her. She go to agility and obedience y nervous. I give her CBD e seems better in public --

Medical Association has o investigate cannabis use ofessional journal article, e AVMA suggested that vent accidental overdoses g attempts to relieve pets’

ntifying CBD use “to treat including separation

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

anxiety and noise phobia, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and feline immunodeficiency virus infection; for management of pain, nausea, and seizures; and as an appetite stimulant. Cannabis oil is also being used topically to treat tumors.”

During the 2016 Nestlé Purina Companion Animal Nutrition Summit, veterinarian Susan Wynn of BluePearly Georgia Veterinary Specialists’ Nutrition and Integrative Medicine Department, discussed therapeutic intervention and the use of cannabis on companion animals.

Wynn told attendees that although veterinarians cannot recommend cannabis, they can advise on toxicity, since dogs have more brain receptors for cannabis than humans, which makes them especially sensitive.

Similar conflicts in providing advice are seen at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where due to federal funding, cannabis is considered an illicit substance so can’t be researched for possible medical use in pets. But toxicity can be discussed.

Currently, most pet products containing CBD are not regulated, something the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finds troubling. In letters sent to companies selling CBD products for pets in 2015, the FDA expressed concerns about marketing messages and labeling that claimed the products help pets with asthma, cancer, chronic pain, dementia, seizures and other maladies.

This uncertainty over verbiage and effectiveness also caused the FDA to caution owners about using any cannabis products for pets, without first talking to their vet about other treatment options.

Despite the FDA’s lack of guidance, many pet experts report nothing but success in CBD oil treatments. One of those experts is Montana-based Nancy Tanner, certified professional dog trainer, and owner of Paws and People. She has several clients who give products to their dogs for anxiety.

For dogs under 20 pounds, and especially picky eaters, CBD is available in small tablets containing powder in clear vegetarian capsules. Bigger dogs can have oils mixed into food, or dog treats such as Canna-Pet. “It’s not a sedative. It allows a dog to take a deep breath and reset,” she added, noting that it also helps dogs suffering from past trauma, but not necessarily specific events such as thunderstorms or fireworks.

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

WHAT YOU MIGHT MISS WHILE

Chasing High THC

By CLAY SCHUEMAN Guest Columnist

We hear it over and over again – people walk into a store and ask for the highest THC product for the lowest possible price. But a great experience doesn’t depend on THC alone.

THC occurs in three forms of marijuana: delta 9 THC-a, which doesn’t have any psychoactive properties; plus CBN, which provides pain relief; and delta 9 THC, which has psychoactive properties. Ninety percent of THC is delta 9 THC-a.

In order for delta 9 THC-a to become psychoactive, it must be altered/decarboxylated by heat and time. This means blending your cannabis flower directly into your smoothie won’t do much for you.

Some processors can speed this natural process by heating plant material

in an oven, and users also instantaneously decarboxylate while smoking.

strain can vary based on where that flower came from on the plant.

THC molecules can also change to CBN if someone’s flower is improperly stored or exposed to too much heat. CBN is modestly psychoactive, but is also associated with “couch lock,” where you have no motivation to move. This feeling is why most people shy away from old weed, and why good processors properly store their material.

Producers are under pressure to deliver strains that contain higher and higher THC levels because of what consumers believe they want and need. But this can come at the expense of potentially breeding out other cannabinoids and terpenes. Here is an analogy: some tomatoes at the store are red and look ripe and appealing, but many have been altered to survive shipping without bruising. An unintended consequence of this breeding has produced a tomato that has less flavor, inferior texture, and takes away from enjoyment of what would otherwise be a perfect BLT.

But more goes into your marijuana experience than just THC. Cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, and others all play a role in how your brain and body react. (Cannabinoids refer to the 100 molecular compounds in cannabis that can naturally bind to receptors in the brain and body).

Another component is terpenes, the naturally occurring volatile organic compounds found in most plants. Terpenes are what make roses smell like roses and bananas like bananas, and give distinctive aroma and flavor to your favorite cannabis strains. Terpenes can and do affect how THC molecules are absorbed, how it is transferred through the bloodbrain barrier, and how it binds to your cannabinoid receptors.

Terpenes occur in varying concentrations in different parts of the plant. Those found in the top of plants attract flying insects to help pollinate the flowers.

In the stems and branches, different terpenes discourage crawling bugs that may want to eat or lay eggs on it. The terpene profile of a specific

Like “vine-ripened” tomatoes bred for single qualities such as color or shippinghardiness, breeding strains only for high THC levels can lead to a decrease in flavor and lower satisfaction. Focusing on THC alone can result in lower concentrations of other essential cannabinoids and terpenes.

When you go to your favorite retailer, rely on advice from your budtender or processor and remember that sometimes the best product doesn’t have the highest THC.

Clay Schueman is sales manager of Yield Farms/LiT Cannabis, based in Spokane. Visit @ yieldfarms.com on Instagram for more info.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

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Savory Sensations HARVEST DATES USEFUL, BUT

by YIELD FARMS

STORAGE A BETTER GAUGE OF QUALITY

Firecrackers:

Crunchy baked cheese crackers mixed with a proprietary blend of seasonings.

By DANIELLE ROSELLISON Guest Columnist

We’ve all had that bummer of an experience: dried out, crackly bud that goes up in flames the minute we light the bowl. We take a look at the harvest date on the package and say “Ah ha!

That MUST be what it is!”

From that point forward you’re on pins and needles, neurotically checking the harvest date of future batches to make sure it’s the freshest product possible so as to not recreate the unfortunate experience. As a grower, I understand.

However, not everyone knows that if product is cured and stored properly, the more time that has lapsed since the harvest, the better the product.

Let me explain the distinctions: PROPERLY CURED - “It’s a lot like the aging of a fine wine,” explains cannabis breeder DJ Short, creator of Blueberry, Old Time Moonshine and other popular strains. “The benefits of properly cured cannabis include moisture content and a complete breakdown of chlorophyll, which allows the full, clear expression of taste and aroma to emerge.” Good growers take pride in their curing process, ‘burping’ it on a regular basis and storing it in airtight containers.

PROPERLY STORED - Once you’ve bought your legal cannabis, it’s important that you store it correctly.

It should be kept in a tightly sealed glass jar. Extra space in the jar should be minimized, as extra room means extra air, and extra air will dry out your cannabis. Keep the jar sealed as much as possible and store it in a cool dark space since light degrades THC, minimizing the high that you were looking forward to. When cured and

stored correctly, your premium cannabis can last for years.

BETTER WITH AGE - “The long cure has kind of become standard operating procedure for me,” Short explains. “I do periodically check them up until about six months. At that point, if they’re the same as at five months and four months, then I’ll just let them go until I’m ready to sample. Right now, I’m about to crack open a jar from 2009.

Cured that long, the calyxes start to go golden and the herb develops some deep and unique characteristics, based on the strain...” Properly cured cannabis, cured for over six months, will be some of the smoothest.

INCREASED TERPENES - About two weeks after harvest, we did a terpene profile and did the required potency tests. (Terpenes are the ingredients in strains that provide unique flavor). A week later, we did another terpene profile. The first test came back at 2.28 percent total terpenes. The second test came back at 3.42 perecent!! #terpenesdontlie Yes, the harvest date does matter, and can be a negative if the product hasn’t been cured correctly. However, if proper curing techniques have taken place and you store your product mindfully, get ready to experience some of the smoothest flower you’ve ever enjoyed.

Danielle Rosellison is president of The Cannabis Alliance and an executive board member of the Cannabis Farmers Council. She’s also the owner of Trail Blazin’ Productions in Bellingham, which grows award-winning, pesticide free, sustainably-grown legal weed.

Ask for YIELD FARMS Available at Spokane Green Leaf, The Green Nugget, Smokane and APEX.

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THINGS TO DO AUG 7-8

WEST COAST CANANBIS UNCONFERENCE, SEATTLE Learn more about the role of different companies in the cannabis supply chain, including growers, processors, retailers, and manufacturers, and how all of the groups can work together in new ways. Speakers include representatives from the chocolate industry who will describe their successful collaborations. The goal is for the attendees to serve as experts and everyone learns from each other. wwww.wccunconference.com

AUG 18-20

HEMPFEST, SEATTLE The 26th annual ‘protestival’ celebrates the value of hemp and advocates legal reform. Enjoy music, crafts and speakers while learning about human rights, equality and freedom. www.hempfest.org

SEPT 29-30

KING CANANBIS EXPO, SPOKANE The second event promises to bring together producers and retailers, and also let the public see the interesting things taking place locally. There are also a variety of workshops plus entertainment. kingcannabisexpo.com

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

“Canna you hear me now?”

MORE MOBILE OPTIONS ARE CREATING STRONGER CONNECTIONS

By JOE BUTLER

even creating love connections.

When businesses advertise, any site members physically near that location will receive a ping on their phones, which could possibly draw them into the store for that day’s special deal, or share the notification with other members.

EVERCANNABIS Writer

In the pre-legal days, phones and weed weren’t always a winning combo.

Underground entrepreneurs never knew if The Man might be listening in, so some even developed code words, or conducted business transactions face-to-face. Even a decade ago, phones were pretty much used only for talking – how dull was that?

At the same time that the growing and selling of cannabis is becoming legal in more states, we’re also becoming more attached to our mobile devices.

This has led to an abundance of mobile-based cannabis-themed activities and applications available at app shops, from online social networks to entertaining games to office management tools for growers or retailers.

If you’re ready to go mobile to further your marijuana education and entertainment, check out some of these programs.

GAMES Some strains can make you nicely creative, which can explain the brain power that has gone into mobile entertainment options, everything from completely original games to one-off code rewrites of popular non-pot games, such as changing the corn in Farmville into cannabis, the menacing aliens in Space Invaders to advancing pot leaves or the apples in Fruit Ninja into bongs.

WeedFarm. (http://weedfarm.wizkhalifa. com/) Musician Wiz Khalifa launched this game earlier this year which lets players experience the challenges and opportunities

High There. (www.highthere. com/) Launch your relationship with a special someone by agreeing that pot is good and let things blossom from there. That’s the intent of this matchmaking network designed to connect fellow canna-enthusiasts for friendship, group discounts, or whatever.

INFO/REVIEWS of the production side of the industry, including correct planting, growing and selling at a local and national level. Wiz calls WeedFarm “better than Pokemon.”

Weed Shop. (weed-shop.en.uptodown. com/android) If you’re considering opening a retail operation, try being a virtual proprietor first and see how you do. Start with an empty storefront, then buy or grow your inventory, and then start bringing in those valuable customers. Remember, higher quality product means better sales!

SOCIAL NETWORKS More than one start-up social network has claimed “we’re going to be the Facebook of Weed,” but so far, none have achieved the critical mass and market domination to truly deserve this title. But there are a variety of contenders.

Duby. (www.duby.co) This network hopes to bring people together because of a shared interest in cannabis, whether for business interactions, sharing stories or

With some stores offering too many cute/clever strain names, it’s not always easy to make informed choices. Thanks, Internet, for the opportunity for anyone to share opinions on the best batches, favorite shops and greatest growers.

MassRoots. (www.massroots.com/) Get info about strains and edibles and then express your opinion. Search for products by plant type, flavors, effects, conditions, and manufacturer. If anything, it will give you a glimpse of the range of treats out there – did you know there’s Cannabis Caramel Corn?

There’s also a good guide to writing better and more helpful reviews beyond “this (stuff) is gooooood and kinda dank.” The company has also been working on a public stock offering but NASDAQ has declined to list it.

Leafly. (www.leafly.com/) Learn all about strains and where to get them nearby, plus see slick videos on interesting dispensaries around the country. Users can post reviews, which can help or hurt a shop’s ranking, and follow reviewers they consider influential.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

By ELLY BAILEY EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

The nearby city of Yakima dropped its cannabis retail ban in May 2016, paving the way for three retailers: Sweet Relief Boutique, the M Store, and Happy Time. There is also one retailer in Sunnyside.

When Adam Markus opened Station 420 in Union Gap three years ago, he wasn’t sure what to expect. As one of the first approved cannabis retailers in central Washington, In an odd stroke of fate, Station 420 is business was so brisk that the store could only located on Main Street next door to The Slow stay open a few hours each day.

Burn, which also opened in 2014.

“Just keeping enough product on hand was Last year, Markus bought out another seller such a challenge back then,” Markus said just down the road from The Slow Burn, so recently, relaxing in front of a computer screen now visitors can take their pick of the original in the back room of his store. “Now, product is shop or the Mill Creek location. literally everywhere.”

Slow Burn also just opened a second The small store opened on July 8, 2014, location in Union Gap on Market Street. located on the main route through Union Gap, Another key strategy Markus credits for a city of about 6,000 residents just south of robust retail business has been the recent Yakima. hiring of Darin Steen, a local glassblower, to The store was so busy that first summer teach lessons to patrons and perform custom that Markus ran misters in the parking lot glass work. Steen has been making pipes out to cool off lines of waiting customers. A of German Schott glass that are so strong security guard let patrons in two or three at that employee Ryan Bailey enjoys bouncing a time so the handful of budtenders wasn’t them off the tiled floor to show shoppers how overwhelmed by crowds. sturdy they are.

S TATION

420

UNION GAP SHOP OFFERS STELLAR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Now, after remodeling the store’s layout several times, opening a separate glass shop next door, and hiring nearly 30 employees, long waits are a thing of the past—even though the store still serves about 3,000 clients a week, plus more during special events.

Before getting into the legal cannabis business, Marcus sold Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He was inspired to do something to combat rampant opiod addictions following the death of his sister in 2011. She had been dealing with chronic pain problems for 11 years. The family considered cannabis to help her but at the time couldn’t find any legal suppliers.

“The medical patients are where my heart is,” he said. “I love our retail customers to death, but it’s just about every week I’m trying to find a specific strain or something for a medical client.”

4007 Main Street, Union Gap (509) 452-4200, station420llc.com

Steady business from the medical side has helped offset competition from other area retailers and falling product prices. Station 420 has three medically-certified budtenders on staff.

One unique feature that the Yakima area retailer can offer customers is a close connection with growers, Markus said. Wellknown for apples and row crops like potatoes, central Washington is becoming a hot spot for outdoor cannabis growers who want to take advantage of the region’s long growing season. There are currently 39 producer/ processors in Yakima County, the bulk in Moxee and Zillah.

“Four or five times a year, we load up all our budtenders and go on field trips,” Markus said. “We have customers that come in who want to know really specific things, like whether flower is raised with LED lights or not. That connection with local growers is not something that every retailer gets to have.”

Left: Yakima glassblower Darin Steen now works at the Station 420 compound. The store is offering glassblowing lessons.

Opposite page: (Left) Pipe blown by Steen. (Right) Station 420 owner Adam Markus and manager Ashley Plaisance pose in front of their newly-remodeled front counter.

Photos by Elly Bailey/EVERCANNABIS

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

Edibles

Modern consumable cannabis provides expanded flavor, quality

By CAROLINE HAMMETT The Spokesman-Review

The sometimes illicit relationship between brownies and pot has weathered decades. But now cannabis has begun expanding its horizons and has added all sorts of other partners.

As laws and social acceptance of marijuana changes, possible culinary pairings now include caramels, cookies, mints, lemonade, tea, coffee – even coconut oil.

While some amateur canna-chefs enjoy experimenting with their weed in the kitchen, others prefer to purchase their edibles in preciselymeasured dosages from area retailers.

Shilo Morgan, co-owner of Lucky Leaf Co., a downtown Spokane retailer, offers consumers an array of edibles, from Evergreen Herbal “high tea” to caramels to infused coffee. Her personal favorites are Journeyman “Weed Tarts,” chewy candies made by botanicaSeattle.

Edibles account for roughly 10 percent of sales at Lucky Leaf, said Morgan.

At Lucid, another cannabis retailer with locations in Cheney and Newport, purchasers Dennis Turner and Michael Schofield said the edible inventory includes chocolates, peanut butter cups, truffles,

tinctures, caramels and more. Its top edible sellers are the locally-made Blue Roots Cake Bites, Gaga’s Starburst-like Juicies and lemonades.

Edibles are manufactured with different percentages of THC and CBD. THC is the psychoactive part of the marijuana plant and CBD is another natural compound in the plant believed to offer pain relief.

Products containing CBD in recreational marijuana stores must contain a small amount of THC to make the CBD active. The minimum THC allowed in recreational products is 0.3 percent.

One benefit of edibles over other marijuana products is that nothing goes into your lungs, said Morgan.

Edibles are also discreet so they can appeal to broader customer base, from doctors to cancer patients.

Tinctures are especially popular because they can be added to food or drink in controlled dropper-sized portions.

The largest demographic of customers seeking cannabis options at Lucky Leaf and Lucid are 40 to 70 years old suffering with back pain, neck pain and fibromyalgia.

Infused products containing CBD are also used to combat drug addiction and withdrawal.

Morgan said some military veterans opt for marijuana products in place of their prescribed pain medications.

Some who suffer from Crohn’s disease consume edibles to ease pain and aid their dietary patterns, added Turner and Schofield at Lucid.

Chris Rea, Morgan’s hair stylist and friend, has received help from CBD and other

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products. Rea said he is recovering from meth addiction and marijuana helps with his anxiety.

Recovering addicts are often prescribed pills that can cause liver damage, but certain people would rather eat candy that increases appetite and decreases pain, said SchoďŹ eld.

One concern that has surrounded the increasingly appetizing selection of edibles on the market is the possible appeal to children or confusion with non-infused treats.

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SchoďŹ eld pointed out that wine coolers and liquor candies also appeal to children and are sold in many different places besides cannabis stores.

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Blast Packs, a sugary powder infused with cannabis, exemplify the extensive screening edibles undergo by the Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Brian Smith, LCB spokesman, said the agency didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t permit Blast Packs to be packaged in straws because of the close resemblance to Pixy Stix.

Similar denials took place regarding edibles processed as lollipops or Gummi bears.

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The Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, a group dedicated to lessening childrens use of drugs and alcohol, endorses the Liquor and Cannabis Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to screen products, said Linda Thompson, the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive director.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just really support what the Liquor Cannabis Board is doing with making sure that the edibles do not appeal to children,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Retailers also said they support these efforts to clearly show that every product is for adults only.

The majority of edible packaging is plain, dark and winds up resembling health food packaging. Certain packaging, however, like Weed Tarts, has bright colors and designs.

Turner and SchoďŹ eld said producers are getting better at putting edibles in appropriate packaging that kids wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grab for.

Ultimately, responsibility falls to parents and existing law, and even retailers encourage parents to use caution in how they store their products at home.

Morgan and other local cannabis professionals are planning an educational show for CMTV and previously started EWCA, the Eastern Washington Cannabis Association. SchoďŹ eld is an event coordinator.

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Shilo Morgan, one of the owners of Lucky Leaf Company in Spokane, shows a variety of edible cannabis products.

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

CANNABIS NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

MASS. PATIENTS CAN ENJOY POT PIZZA

U.S. ATTORNEYS SAY POLICY CHANGES MAY BACKFIRE

SATIVA SISTERS OPENS FIRST CLARKSTON STORE

SPOKANE SUPPORTERS RALLY FOR LUCKY LEAF

QUINCY, Mass – A marijuana

ASPEN, Colo. – Two former U.S.

attorneys suggest that possible federal crackdowns on marijuana may not work as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions predicts.

Bill Nettles, from South Carolina, and Barry Grissom, from Kansas, spoke in June at a pro-marijuana legal seminar sponsored by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Both said that changing social perceptions, job losses from established businesses and reduction in state taxes could make this reversal less appealing.

“Nothing gets you un-elected quicker than people losing jobs,” said Nettles. “Putting people out of work is bad politics.”

Many Republican officials are conflicted: they advocate job creation and states rights, but they also want to be tough on drugs and support the Trump administration. “(Losing jobs and tax money) is an argument that’s persuasive,” Nettles said. “You lose 120,000 jobs in Colorado in one jobs report, that’s big.”

Both speakers said many in law enforcement seem to be adapting well to legalization of medical or recreational marijuana, even in ‘red’ states that supported Trump.

Nettles has been encouraging South Carolina to legalize medical marijuana within the next few years, which he said can help children and veterans with their health needs, plus reduce narcotic addictions.

CLARKSTON, Wash. – Sativa Sisters

dispensary is offering medical patients the ability to enjoy their pot in the form of pizza.

Ermont opened last fall, and includes labs, cannabis growing areas, retail space and a commercial kitchen, where cooks look for ways to infuse medical-grade marijuana and liquid cannabis extracts into food products, such as sauces and culinary staples such as pizza, cold brew coffee and pub cheese.

The company’s frozen-cheese pizza includes 125 mg of THC and sells for $38.

Many employees have restaurant experience and have developed a menu to help with pain and appetite for the 300-400 daily patients.

“A lot of our patients really wanted to basically figure out a different way to medicate that didn’t always remind them that they were trying to do something to take care of themselves,” said Steve Yaffe, Director of Operations. “It really makes medicating seem like something that isn’t as scary.”

Items come in childproof containers with dosages labeled.

“A lot of our top sellers are olive oil, honey, peanut butter,” Yaffe said.

“We’re working a vegan mayonnaise right now that patients will be able to put on a sandwich.”

The state’s recreational regulations are still to be determined.

SPOKANE, Wash. – Employees and supporters of Spokane’s cannabis community came together in late June to show support for retailer Lucky Leaf.

The downtown Spokane retailer could have been impacted by an unsuccessful citizen’s initiative hoping to restrict cannabis businesses from being 1,000 feet from places of worship.

Though state law prohibits shops from being near schools or certain other businesses, religious buildings weren’t specified.

Lucky Leaf is a block away from the Catholic cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.

A group of Spokane residents seeking the zoning change collected 2,058 valid signatures, but 2,586 were required to put the matter to a public vote.

About 50 supporters of Lucky Leaf stood in front of the business waved to cars, held signs and talked with Lucky Leaf owners Shilo and David Morgan and their employees.

The Morgans provided pizza and water to protesters. They are also collecting signatures for their own counter-petition that affirms that Lucky Leaf is supported, and the cannabis industry is an important part of the local economy and provides employment for thousands of residents.

The gathering/rally was organized and promoted by Origens, a Spokane Valley producer. Co-owner Sam Van Valer also pledged to perform an hour of community service to show his support, and invited others to do the same.

Source: CBSBoston

Source: Aspen Times

recently opened a Clarkston location, near the city’s other two retailers: Canna4Life and Greenfield Company.

Sativa Sisters, which also has a Spokane Valley location, carries cannabis grown by Tacoma’s Noble Farms, and Lilac City Gardens and Wicked Weed, both of Airway Heights.

Owner and manager Eric Skaar said these growers were selected because their products are consistently clean, without chemical residue, and deliver the effect customers like.

Disposable vapor oil cartridges, edible mints, and creams are among the most popular items, Skaar said. Five mg. mints ($35 for 20) sell well, especially among new users who can see how they respond to small measured doses.

Salves and lotions ($15 to $35) are also popular. They contain small amounts of THC and some users report relief from a wide variety of ailments including arthritis, eczema and muscle pain.

An outside deck eventually will be constructed and the store’s inventory will roughly triple.

The store’s all-ages Amsterdam Coffee Club is now open near a common area at the main entrance, Skaar said. A retractable wall separates it from the common area.

Source: Lewiston Tribune Source: EVERCANNABIS

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017

EVERCANNABIS color contest results

Thanks to everyone who entered our Àrst coloring contest! Our EVERCANNABIS mailbox was stuffed with more than a dozen colorful and creative entries throughout the last month. Our expert-ish team of judges had to make some difÀcult decisions, but we ended up choosing Gale G’s, who receives a cool limited-edition EVERCANNABIS gift pack. A couple of other submissions stood out as our next favorites, so we’re reprinting them here as well as honorable mentions. Thanks again to everyone who shared their talents!

Keenan K. Honorable Mention

Gale G. 1st Place Sallie F. Honorable Mention

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman−Review • Friday, July 28, 2017