The EVOLUTION Magazine August 2022

Canna Newsroom —Kansas Lawmakers Update — Will They Finally Get Medical Cannabis Done?

Faces of MMJ Biz — Out & About in Missouri Patient Education — Cannabis and Hypertension

Ask Leah — Edible Consumption 101: How to Responsibly Consume Edibles

Industry News — It Takes a Community to Build a Veterans Village Patient Advocate— A Vehicle Accident Resulted in a Medical Cannabis Business Growing Tips — A Propagation Primer — It Starts with Seeds Cultivators Corner — Ever Wonder What Live Resin Is and How It’s Made?

Cannabiz News Adult-Use Initiative Petition, What You Need to Know – Expungement (Part 1 of 3)

Elevated Learning Step-by-Step Guide to Making Hemp Milk

Patient Feature — Nicole’s Story, A Missouri Medical Cannabis Patient and Mom Budtender Picks Summers Series Products — Find These at Your Dispensary Reflections — Cannabis Nurses, On a Mission From God!

Alien by Bill C, Background image Webb Telescope, Stephan’s Quintet (Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI)

(Cover photo by Clayton Stallings)

Bill Cromwell, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief

What a Difference Three Years Makes!

Three years ago, this month, prospective Missouri Medical Cannabis industry licensees had already spent months hammering out solid business plans and spent thousands of dollars in the “hopes” of securing an MMJ industry business license. The stress of getting it right made many applicants sweat long hours late into the night to meet the August 17, 2019, application submission deadline.

The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) would then award licenses for 192 dispensaries, 86 infusedmanufacturing licenses, and 60 cultivation licenses, plus more for testing facilities and transportation businesses. More than 2,200 applications at a cost between $6,000 to $10,000 per application in each category were received by the DHSS for scoring, but not all would be awarded licenses — the state issued only 350. Each applicant could apply for five (5) dispensaries, three (3) manufacturing licenses, and three (3) cultivation licenses.

Now into our third year since the process of applying, to completing construction, to the DHSS completing commencement inspections, we now have 191 dispensaries, 70 infused-manufacturing, and 49 cultivation businesses approved to operate by the state. Hooray! And better yet, those businesses currently serve 190,112 (and growing daily) Missouri medical cannabis card-holding patients and caregivers.

However, as a patient, you may have noticed the ever-changing dispensary names. Not all originally licensed winners have been successful, with many already selling their business or being acquired by a larger national-type company. It’s been tough for us to keep up with the name changes for our dispensary guides on pages 56-59.

In fact, you’ll notice in this issue, we’ve again made updates to those pages. Good Day Farms, based in Little Rock, AR, originally operated its Cape Girardeau dispensary; however, as of July, it owns/ operates six more dispensaries. Two former Shango dispensaries and the Ozarx Botanicals in Springfield are now Good Day Farms dispensaries, as well as the Shango in Joplin, Taste Buds in St. Clair, and the Missouri Wild Alchemy in O’Fallon. Patients will see new signage at each of those locations.

Much has changed since August 2019, and there will certainly be more changes to come. Ultimately, patients benefit from the 191 Missouri medical cannabis dispensaries open for business, offering alternative medicines and stocked shelves with an ever-expanding variety of choices.

This month’s cover is the first issue featuring real people rather than awesome art. We couldn’t pass on the fun photo featuring two wellknown, well-liked RNs, Dolores Halbin and April Hatch, within the MMJ industry and patients alike. They are two of the most diligent when it comes to MO Medical Cannabis Activism.

Here’s what our Copyeditor Victoria Cromwell had to say about Dolores and her monthly column.

Dolores’ knack for making me want to shout “Yes” as I read her articles explains how her thought-provoking storytelling abilities evoke the reader’s emotions. The trauma that she and her husband suffered set the stage for this extraordinary woman to write from her heart about various subjects not exclusively associated with cannabis and hemp. Sometimes, I find myself unintentionally quoting Dolores, “With faith, we just breathe.” “…find joy like Buggs Bunny.” So, everyone in the cannabis community, like Dolores says, “Put on your black sunglasses, folks. We’re on a mission from God” (see Dolores’ story on page 52).

Have a cooler August, and happy shopping!

Missouri’s First Educational Medical Cannabis Magazine

Published Monthly by Native Kansas City, MO, Advocates, Publishers and Writers. A True Missouri Born Grassroots Effort to Educate and Inform Patients, and to Provide Businesses within The Missouri Cannabis Industry an Economical Forum to Tell Their Story. We hope you join and enjoy “The Evolution.”

PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Bill Cromwell News, Articles and Advertisement Requests should email to: Bill.C@TheEvolutionMag.com Corporate Office: 816.878.4509 Kansas City, MO Mail to: P.O. Box 2196, Independence, MO 64055

MANAGING EDITOR, VP OF OPERATIONS: Victoria Cromwell

DIRECTOR MARKETING and EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT: Clayton Stallings

CREATIVE DESIGNER, GRAPHIC ARTS and EDITORIAL: Bill Cromwell

PHOTOGRAPHY: Clayton Stallings, and guests photographers

Our Team of Expert Writers and Cannabis Industry Leaders

● Danielle Buntyon ― Elevated Learning

● Karla Deel — Cannabis Culture and History, Product Profiles

● Kassie Ferrero ― Dispensary Product Reviews and News

● Dana Howard — Cooking with CBD and THC

● Dolores Halbin, RN — Patient Advocate and Awareness

● April Hatch, RN ― Patient Feature Columnist

● Sean Keast ― Product Profiles and Dispensary News

● Peter Kershaw — Health and Safety Columnist

● Leah Maurer — Health, Awareness, Ask Leah Columnist

● Jason Mispagel, — Home Growers Education Columnist

● Dr. Poppa, D.O., M.B.A. ― Medical Health News

● Alexandria Stith ― Patient Feature Columnist

● Monthly Guest Writers — Cannabis News & Patient Advocates

The EVOLUTIONTM Magazine offers a monthly print magazine that is distributed throughout western Missouri, select St. Louis locations, eastern Kansas and the Lake of the Ozarks region. Free printed copies are found at nearly 360 locations including CBD stores, MMJ Dispensaries, Garden and Grow Supply Stores, doctors offices, restaurants, sports bars, resorts, and many other select locations. In addition, the monthly magazine is offered online in an inter-active E-magazine at www.TheEvolutionMag.com.

NOTICE: The publisher/editor reserves the right to reject whatever material does not fit with the vision or intent of this publication. Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher and do not imply endorsement, nor are we responsible for the products or services advertised. The contributing writers, staff or owners of THE EVOLUTION Magazine LLC cannot be held liable for hardship or losses incurred due to any content associated within this publication or websites. Written views, advertisements and information expressed in this publication belong to the writers or advertisers and do not reflect the sentiments or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff. We cannot be held responsible for; views, opinions, changes to scheduling, prices, rates or the occasional typographical errors.

ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE: Advertisers have the right to terminate promotions or special offers/coupons, change rates or fees without notice. All listed guides, rates, fees and information herein are non-binding reference material only. Always check with listed businesses or advertisers for its latest updates, current prices and/or special offers.

FDA Disclaimer: Any statements/claims made within this magazine have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No articles, products or Ads featured within these pages are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent any disease, ailment or disorder. Medical decisions should not be made based on advertisements within these pages. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products. Products mentioned within for use by adults age 18 and older. Keep such products out of reach of children. The information within is a sharing of knowledge and information based on the writers research, opinions and/or educated experience.

© 2019 – 2022 The EVOLUTIONTM Magazine . All Rights Proprietary and Conceptual Designs Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this publication’s contents is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Publisher or Managing Editor.

Kansas Lawmakers Form Special Committee, Will They Finally Get Medical Cannabis Done?

by Lisa Ash Sublett, contributing writer

All Kansas advocates were heartbroken and angry when the Kansas Senate failed to get medical cannabis over the line in the 2022 session. State lawmakers finished their final day on May 23, and medical cannabis was left on the table by the Senate, which has continued to stall making meaningful advances in recent years.

That inaction is particularly frustrating as medical cannabis is legal in 37 states, including Kansas neighbors: Colorado, Missouri, and Oklahoma. We have not heard of a clear date just yet for the next Kansas lawmakers session to meet on this topic. We were only told summer, and then we were told the interim committee would be held mid-August. So we wait!

The legislature failed to take action on a House bill passed two sessions ago in 2021, and a Senate bill introduced by Republican Senator Rob Olson in March. Kansas House Democrats released a statement on May 23 demanding lawmakers remain in Topeka until their “legisla tive duties are complete,” list ing five main items to address, including medical cannabis. Olson, who chairs the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, issued an apology, citing the “heavy load of the committee.”

Olson’s sponsored legisla tion, Senate Bill 560 (S.B. 560), the Medical Marijuana Regulation Act, sought to include more than 20 quali fying conditions for potential patients.

pilot program for medical cannabis, and employment discrimination. The committee will be meeting for three days in August, but three more days can be added by leadership if they choose.

Gov. Laura Kelly (D), for her part, has been a great friend to advocates over the years and a true supporter. She wants to see medical cannabis legalization enacted. Earlier this year, she said she “absolutely” thinks the bill could pass if “everything else doesn’t take up all the oxygen.” Gov. Kelly previously pushed a separate proposal that would legalize medical cannabis and use the resulting revenue to support Medicaid expansion, with Rep. Brandon Woodard (D) filing the measure on the governor’s behalf. Kelly has said she wants voters to put pressure on their representatives to get the reform passed.

While advocates, as always, remain hopeful — I mean, what else can those of us stuck in this state unable to relocate do but remain hopeful — the fact is we have had interim special committee action before, in 2019, and nothing came from that.

For years, cancer patient David Auble (in wheelchair on lower far right) would travel to the Kansas capitol advocating for patient rights and legalization.

Some of the key difference between efforts in the two chambers include S.B. 560’s wording to include “any other chronic, debilitating, or terminal condition that, in the professional judgment of a physi cian, would be a detriment to the patient’s mental or physical health if left untreated,” as well as required patient-physician medical rela tionships, reciprocity for out-of-state patients, equity licensing, and effective dates. There were some additional outstanding items that members hadn’t quite decided on as of April’s meeting and said they needed additional time to work. Those issues are related to advertising requirements, rules for cultivation facilities, licensing fees, creating a

We hope the voters will continue to pressure their district senators and repre sentatives over the summer and fall. The only real hope for those who are suffering in Kansas has always been, and will always be, when our healthy neighbors care enough to express their support to our lawmakers and to vote for those that support our right to legally access medical canna bis. So, while everyone else looks to the lawmakers, I continue to look at the rest of the voters and wonder if they will vote for compassion? Will they vote for us to be #FreeToHeal?

See the full report at https://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/ Publications/CommitteeReports/2019CommitteeReports/2019ICRto 2020Leg-Supp.pdf

Lisa Ash Sublett is the President and Founder of Bleeding Kansas Advocates. Contact her at president@bleedingks.org or 913.396.9675.

Written views of the contributing writers expressed in this publication belong to the writers and do not necessarily reflect the sentiments or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff of The EVOLUTION Magazine.

What else can those of us stuck in this state unable to relocate do but remain hopeful?

Out & About in Missouri!

The Faces of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Industry

▲ The Flora Farms team launched its marijuana infused products (MIP’s) with Bubba Fett and its exclusive Silver Ghost cured resin cartridges. Many of the lab technicians are long-time Flora Farms cultivation employees that transitioned into the MIP side of the industry. In photo are team members (front) Jesse Ruark, (left to right) Roxie Duran, Seth West, Dan Trogdon, Clayton Stallings of The EVOLUTION Mag, Peter Radford-Kapp, and Austin Vincent.

▲ Clayton Stalling of The EVOLUTION Magazine with Mac Mo Green, AKA MajorPac, a UFC Fighter (in back) who competed July 29th at The Cable Dahmer Arena and was broadcasted on UFC Fight Pass. Watch for future events and support our local medical cannabis advocates and UFC Fighters. In photo (left to right) is Clayton Stallings with Dontavious Young, Owner of Equal Minded Café, which has event space for any cannabis or non-related cannabis events.

▲ Meet Kran Organics CEO, Alex Kranzberg (on left), and Aleck Bratt, Director of Operations. Kran Organics recently launched its new edible brand “Chill cakes,” a frozen vegan treat, available at Local Cannabis Dispensaries. You can find its products at CoCo, Kind Goods, Kansas City Cannabis Company, and many more soon.

▲ We caught up with Matt Blake, the artist formerly known as blakeArt®’s, who’s paintings and digital art pieces deal with the complex concepts, forms, and issues that are prevalent in these very challenging times. Blake says, his Cannabis-influenced new philosophy, simulation assumptions are an attempt to motivate those who have similar inclinations into action. Learn more at www. Reality-ReDesign.com.

Selfies & Photos by Clayton Stallings

Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.

Cannabis

and Hypertension

by Peter Kershaw, contributing writer

Hypertension is a condition in which the force of blood exerted against artery walls is excessive. Long-term elevated blood pressure can lead to health problems, including heart disease and stroke. In severe cases, hypertension presents with headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or blurred vision. In mild to moderate cases, hypertension may be asymptomatic. Hyper tension is considered so common among Americans that an estimated 50% of adults are thought to have the condition. Some have argued, however, that hypertension is one of the most over-diagnosed diseases; therefore, this high percentage is unjustified. Neverthe less, where a patient has been validly diag nosed with hypertension, it should be treated seriously and steps taken to mitigate it.

The general consensus is that a “normal” pressure is around 120/80 mm Hg. But there isn’t a consensus on where to draw the line on “high” blood pressure. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) argues for 140/90 or higher, while the American Heart Association (AHA) argues for 130/80 or higher. The latter ropes in far more patients for treatment than the former, thus improving the bottom line for physicians and Big Pharma. Some have argued these benchmarks err on the side of extreme caution, sans hard clinical evidence, perhaps even being concocted to benefit Big Pharma.

Even the very issue of getting an accurate blood pressure reading is problematic. Patients errantly assume the most accurate blood pressure test can only be done by a doctor or nurse. But the opposite is often the case. Stress and anxiety can elevate blood pressure, and there’s no better place to have your anxieties spike than in a doctor’s office. You’re actually better off checking your blood pressure in the tranquility of your home with an inexpensive blood pressure monitor, readily available online, at a local pharmacy, etc.

Hypertensive drugs are a multi-billion-dollar industry. Big Pharma spends many millions annually advertising and promoting antihy pertensives to doctors and patients. Antihy pertensives are categorized as:

; Diuretics

; Beta-blockers

; ACE inhibitors

; Vasodilators

; Angiotensin II Receptor blockers

; Calcium Channel blockers

; Alpha-blockers

; Alpha-2 Receptor Agonists

; Combined Alpha- and Beta-blockers

; Central Agonists, or Peripheral Adrenergic inhibitors

They each have side effects, some potentially severe. Depending on the underlying cause of hypertension, some of these drugs may prove beneficial, in severe cases, perhaps even life saving. In all cases, however, they come with risks. Patients should carefully weigh risks vs. uncertain rewards, especially if they find themselves used as a guinea pig in the pursuit of, “That last drug didn’t work out so well, so let’s try this next one and see what happens.”

Holistically-minded doctors will delay recommending drugs and quickly recommend lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, exercise, meditation, supplements, herbs and de-stressing “adaptogens” (e.g., Ashwa gandha), etc., while patiently monitoring over several months for a drop in blood pressure that is likely to follow. Holistic approaches to hypertension have often proven remark ably effective and are dramatically safer than pharmaceuticals. However, most M.D.s are not of such persuasion. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Hyper tension, 1 only one in five doctors recommend lifestyle changes alone for hypertension. Even where doctors do recommend lifestyle changes four in five do so subordinately to pharmaceutical prescriptions. This can place the patient in the horrible predicament of

seeing any health improvements accom plished with lifestyle changes undermined by the side effects of antihypertensive drugs.

Taking a patient’s blood pressure is routine in doctors’ offices. If, in the doctor’s view, blood pressure readings are “elevated,” though not above the 140/90 mm Hg benchmark, they quite frequently “pre-treat.” Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D. writes: “What must be the most common pre-treatment for pre-disease is what happens when you go in and the doctor finds your blood pressure a little high. Ignor ing the fact that your hypertension might be temporarily caused by your very presence in the office, you’ll most likely leave with some sort of anti-hypertensive drug.”2 According to Dr. Mendelsohn, antihypertensive drugs are over-prescribed and usually unnecessary where the patient is willing to make lifestyle changes. Since 1970 when he wrote his book, things have only gotten much worse with far more antihypertensives coming onto the market and a resulting increase in doctor prescriptions. Has America’s health improved due to the ever-increasing use of antihyper tensive drugs? National statistics on strokes and heart disease indicate we’re worse off — a classic case of the cure is worse than the disease

Cannabis and Lifestyle Choices

While some people might be genetically predisposed, in most cases, hypertension results from unwise lifestyle choices, includ ing poor diet, lack of exercise, lack of stress mitigation, smoking, excessive alcohol, etc. Improvements in these areas can go a long way toward reducing high blood pressure. Exer cise need not even necessarily be strenuous to be beneficial. Just a daily walk in a tranquil park setting may prove highly beneficial. The same can be said for just 5-10 minutes a day in quiet meditation with slow deep breathing exercises. The goal is de-stressing. Cannabis is renowned for reducing stress and, for that reason and others, can be considered part of a healthy lifestyle.

Cannabis and Hypertension

Studies have shown that cannabis acts on the numerous CB-1 and CB-2 receptors that line arterial blood vessels, veins, and capillar ies. These receptors help maintain and balance blood pressure. Some of the very first research done in this area came in 1976 from The Glaucoma Clinic of Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC. The study found that a relatively small amount of smoked cannabis (at 2.8% concentration) produced a substantial reduction in intraoc ular pressure in glaucoma patients. The study also demonstrated an overall lowering of blood pressure.3 The study confirmed that THC acts as a vasodilator, thereby lowering blood pressure, in some cases significantly so.

Later studies confirmed that the endocannabinoid anandamide (commonly known as “the body’s own THC”) has a significant impact on regulating blood pressure. In 2009, a Nottingham Medi cal School, UK, studied injected hypertensive and non-hypertensive rats with anandamide. The hypertensive rats showed a substantial reduction in blood pressure as a result of vasodilation, while the non-hypertensive rats showed no change. Many people are deficient in anandamide and other endocannabinoids, or what has come to be known as “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome.” Canna bis can serve as a natural supplement to overcome such deficiencies.

Which Strain(s) To Choose?

As studies have shown, it doesn’t take much THC to lower high blood pressure. Therefore, more isn’t always better. In fact, consuming the typical recreational high-THC strains may not be such a great choice for hypertension. While moderate THC consumption reduces stress and anxiety, excess THC can induce anxiety, perhaps even paranoia. Go with strains that are moderate in THC that contain some CBD. Generally, Indicas are relaxing and, therefore, suitable for evening and bedtime use. Sativas tend to be elevating and, therefore, good for daytime use.

Peter Kershaw is a Patient Caregiver, an organic cannabis cultivation consultant, and extraction consultant. Contact him at pkershaw.email@gmail.com or text to 417-230-4445. As with all writers within these pages, if you’ve benefited from Peter’s articles, please let him and all writers know. They appreciate your thoughts.

Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience. The content is for general informational purposes only.

Edible Consumption 101 How to Responsibly Consume Edibles

by Leah Maurer, contributing writer

Edibles are some of the most widely used and available cannabis products, as ingestion is a very common consumption method for medical marijuana. Whether you make them at home or purchase them from a dispensary, there are almost countless ways to create edibles, with everything from pretzels to chocolates to suckers as options. However, edibles can be tricky to dose and predict the effect, far more so than other methods of cannabis consumption that involve inhaling smoke or vapor. It is important to know how to properly dose yourself when consuming edibles since there is no standard for this yet, as cannabis is still a federally illegal classified controlled substance, and no one wants to have a bad experience from overconsumption or not feel enough effect to alleviate symptoms or conditions.

Always start with a small dose of edibles and gradually increase until you find your ideal dose. I recommend starting with a dose of 2 milligrams to 3 milligrams (mg) THC, waiting for at least an hour to see how you feel, and then taking another dose of 2mg to 3mg THC if needed until your symptoms subside. If you were taking ibuprofen or some other standard over-the-counter medicine, the label would inform you of the correct dose for your age and weight. However, since there is no other way of knowing what an ideal dose is due to the federal prohibition of cannabis, this personal trial and error method is really the best way to figure out your desired dose. It can be tedious, but it is tried and true, and you are much less likely to have a bad experience due to overconsumption.

LeahLeah Maurer, a native Missourian, is now a canna-journalist and activist living in Portland, OR. She is a co-owner of www.TheWeedBlog.com , a top national cannabis news and information publication, where she serves as the Editorial Lead. In 2014, Leah founded Moms for YES on Measure 91 through grassroots efforts alone, it proved pivotal in the passage of the Measure, successfully legalizing recreational/adult-use cannabis in the OR. Leah is a social justice and cannabis activist at the core and hopes to see an end to the prohibition of cannabis globally.

The endocannabinoid system is complex; everyone metabolizes cannabinoids like THC and CBD differently. This means that what may be a tolerable dose for one person may be intolerable for another. People can also build a tolerance to THC over time, meaning that an appropriate dose for an experienced user will be quite different compared to someone who is just starting to explore.

However, each individual has an ideal dose best suited for them and their body. The strength of an edible depends on many factors, including the type of edible, dosage, tolerance, body weight, and metabolism. Two people may respond very differently to the same type of edible with the same dose — one may feel a very strong effect, and one may feel little effect, depending on the above factors.

If you make your own edibles using raw cannabis or extract, you will need to know how much of each cannabinoid is in your flower or concentrate. If lab-tested, this is often given in milligrams, but it’s often given as a percentage with extracts.

When making your edibles, it is important to note that cannabinoids can only bind with a limited amount of lipids (fat molecules). A 1:1 ratio of cannabis and cooking oil is the most you’ll need to make the oil maximum potency. So, if you’re infusing 50ml of cooking oil with cannabis, you would want to start with probably 5-10 grams of cannabis. However, if you decide you want more potency, you would only be able to max out at 50mg (if still using 50ml of oil). That would be a very high potency and not one I would recommend unless you are an experienced consumer. I feel it is important to make this point because I also don’t want anyone wasting their cannabis!

It is a good idea to measure the amount of cannabis you’re willing to use when making your edibles at home. Even if you do so, creating a product that is consistently and evenly dosed in each bite is extremely difficult. You’ll get spots that contain lots of cannabinoids and other areas of your edible that contain little. Even the best edible makers can find this difficult, so don’t worry about having similar troubles. When you go to eat them, again, just start slow and low.

As an example — In terms of reading a label on the packaging of edibles you purchase from a dispensary, most companies making edibles give the total amount of THC and CBD in the product and often mark out the amount of THC in each piece to divide it yourself. So, a product like gummies may be dosed at 10mg each, but a bar of chocolate might be 100mg total, with perforations at 10mg (so 10 pieces total in the bar).

Whether you choose to make your edibles at home or purchase them from a dispensary, it is important to know what dose is right for you and how to make sure you are creating your edibles accordingly or reading the packaging appropriately.

As always, when in doubt, ask the budtender at your dispensary. They can help answers your questions regarding dosages and guide you to the best products to suit your needs. If they cannot, find another dispensary with more knowledgeable budtenders. Have a

a St. Louis native and a cannabis activist since 2010! Leah is excited to help answer all your medical marijuana questions. Please send questions to leah@theweedblog.com. Your question may be featured in a future issue of The EVOLUTION Magazine.

It Takes a Community to Build a Village

MissouriCannabisBusinesses― HelpingTheirCommunities.

by Cathryn Farley, Contributing Writer

The Missouri Medical Cannabis community came together on June 13 to help “Build a Village” and more. Green Precision Analytics testing labs partnered with CLOVR, a vertically integrated MMJ company, joing forces to host a golf tournament at Loch Lloyd Country Club in KCMO. The event raised funds to benefit the Veterans Community Project.

“We wanted to do more than just thank our veterans,” said Josh Mitchem, CLOVR CEO. “We wanted to make a difference in our community, and our veterans will benefit from the generosity of all those who care enough to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Veterans Community Project (VCP) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation founded by a group of combat veterans in Kansas City, MO, who resolved to stand in the gaps of a broken system that left too many of their brothers and sisters behind. By providing critical support services and an innovative transitional housing model, VCP has served thousands of at-risk and home less veterans since 2016. Using Kansas City as a blueprint, VCP is expanding its program to Longmont, CO; St. Louis, MO; Sioux Falls, SD; and Oklahoma City, OK. VCP’s long-term goal: ending veteran homelessness nationwide.

VCP Village is an innovative community of 49 tiny houses for veterans experiencing homeless ness. Each tiny house includes a fully functional kitchen and bathroom. When a new resident moves in, the house is fully stocked with new furniture, appliances, housewares, bedding, and food. All of this is free of charge to the veterans. More importantly, VCP Village provides sanc tuary and the emotional space needed for the veteran. VCP’s specially trained Veteran Support Services team works with each veteran to address the underlying causes of their homelessness.

a personal support network. Once their individual goals are met, VCP assists them in securing a permanent housing solution and transition ing to a new life. The transition success rate is 85%, and the average length of stay in VCP Village is 11 months.

All tournament proceeds benefited VCP. Specifically, the funds created a Team 49 Sponsorship. Team 49 is a special group that serves those who served us by supporting the life-changing work of VCP village. Team 49 members ensure that critical resources of case management, health care, utilities, and household goods are available to every veteran in the tiny house community.

The residents of the Kansas City VCP Village represent every branch of the military and nearly five generations of service. Approximately 10% of the veterans are women. Their shared experiences of service and homelessness create a unique and powerful sense of community. When a veteran knows someone has his or her back, their fear is diminished, strength is revealed, and hope is restored.

Studies show that the veteran population is two times more likely to become chronically homeless than other groups. Approximately 20% of home less males are veterans, while female Veterans are the fastest-growing demographic of unsheltered people in the United States. Of those, 89% received an honorable discharge, 50% are 51 or older, 47% served in Vietnam, and 51% have service-related disabilities.

“Before I got to VCP, I was at a standstill; I felt like I had a brick wall in front of me and a brick wall behind me. They helped remind me who I am. I am not the same person I was when I walked in the door of the tiny house.” ~ K., U.S. Army Veteran.

With the support of their case managers and the other residents (battle buddies), the veterans work to achieve incremental, lasting results in health and wellness, income stability, education and training, fiscal understanding, and the development of

The root causes of veteran homelessness are varied and complex. Long periods of unemploy ment, mental or physical illness, substance abuse, and a breakdown of traditional support networks all contribute to a veteran’s loss of basic human needs.

Many people associate VCP with its tiny house village, but VCP also provides critical support services for veterans through the Veterans Outreach Center. The Veteran Outreach Center is a walk-in center located on the tiny house campus. Any veteran

Cannabis Care Team Offers a Free Patient Treatment Journal

Cannabis treatment can be over whelming with the abundance of options available at dispensaries. Cannabis Care Team (CCT) offers patients a free Journal and Shopping Guide, as well as a few other documents that it believes could be great resources to help make things easier.

To access free patient treatment documents, visit www.CannabisCareTeam.com and select the Services Tab and then Patient Resources. You’ll be asked to complete a very short submission form. Once filled out, you will be directed to a new page that will allow you to download the Patient Journal and Shopping Guide documents. These are great resources that every patient will find useful.

The mission of CCT is to provide qualify ing patients with the education, support, and advocacy they need to experience the medical benefits of cannabis and consume it safely. CCT provides registered nurses and guidance tailored for “Your” individual needs. Its team is dedi cated to providing the support and education patients need to truly benefit from this plant.

The team at Cannabis Care Team

AVehicleAccidentResultedin aMedicalCannabisBusiness

by

The last person Jess Dickerson (Founding Partner of Blue Sage Cannabis Company) had to convince that cannabis is medicine was himself, or was he just the beginning?

Let’s start at the beginning. As a younger man, if you were any of Dickerson’s friends, you knew better than to bring the “devil’s lettuce” around him. Unfortunately, he was a role model student for the stigma of the war on drugs.

On August 1, 1987, Dickerson picked up his future wife LeAnne in Columbus, KS. They had been dating for nine months, and on this fateful night, they were heading to the rodeo in Lamar, MO. “On the return home that night, LeAnne fell asleep on my lap,” explained Dickerson. “I fell asleep at the wheel and woke up when I felt the truck going off the road. The truck was going off the left side of the road when I overcorrected to the right. The next thing I remember was an EMT standing over me.”

stitches in her lower back. She did not need to undergo any surgery, but based on the damage to the passenger side of the truck, if she hadn’t been sleeping in his lap, she may not have survived the acci dent.

Dickerson was in the hospital for about 45 days, and the doctors were doubtful he would ever walk again. “My spleen stopped bleeding after about 10 days, so they felt I could go through surgery on my back. They operated on my broken vertebrae T2 and T4. They took a bone from my hip and graphed it on my back and wrapped a wire around my spine.”

Dickerson would eventually regain his ability to walk but never regain full strength in his legs. Nerve damage and chronic pain would haunt him his entire life. Never again would he experience a full night’s sleep, nor would he ever have a steady stream while urinating. For over 30 years, this was his life.

Only minutes previously, Dickerson had hit an embankment, and the truck (picture above) started flipping end over end. Both Dickerson and LeAnne were thrown yards from the vehicle. When the dust settled, LeAnne was able to flag down a passerby to get help — they eventually found Dickerson 30 yards from where the truck landed.

“I was taken by ambulance to Pittsburg, KS, then to Joplin, MO,” Dickerson continued. “Ten days later, they life-flighted me to KU Medical Center in Kansas City. I had a broken back in two places, a broken neck, three broken ribs with one causing a collapsed lung, and a busted spleen.” LeAnne had compressed vertebrae and had 87

In July 2018, both Dickerson and LeAnne were retired, living in Garden City, MO. They owned a pharmacy in Harrisonville, MO, and had two boys (Boston and Montana in photo above) who had grown and were out of the home. “I received a phone call from a friend asking if LeAnne and I would be interested in applying for Medical Marijuana licenses in Missouri,” Dickerson explained. “My response was — Hell No! Later, LeAnne talked to some of the physi cians in our medical building, and they told us we should consider applying because of the holistic benefits of cannabis and its ability to help combat the growing opioid epidemic.”

Clayton Stallings, The EVOLUTION Magazine

After more persuasion from peers and their sons, Dickerson decided he wanted to hear what the public had to say about Missouri Medical Marijuana (MMJ). In October 2018, they held a forum at the Beck Event Center in Harrisonville, MO, open to the public to give their opinion. About 200 people attended to speak both for and against MMJ. The first lady spoke of her child, whose 100 seizures per day forced them to relocate to Denver, where cannabis helped reduce the seizures to 10 or less a day. Another man with Parkinson’s described how it felt to be able to feed himself for the first time shortly after eating his first MMJ edible gummy.

Story after story was enough to convince the Dickerson family to start preparing to apply for Missouri Medical Marijuana licenses. However, there was one monumental experience that sealed the deal. While in Colorado doing field research to prepare for license appli cations, Dickerson tried cannabis for the first time. “I had 1/3 of a 100mg Keef root beer soda. I remember going to dinner — 20 minutes later — and telling my sons that I didn’t think it was affecting me. They promptly told me to wait another half hour, and I would feel the effects. They were right; about 30 minutes later, I told them that I needed to go back to our hotel room. We paid for dinner and made it back to the hotel. I fell asleep shortly after getting to our room and slept for nearly 12 hours. I woke up feeling rested and very surprised that it was light outside. Because of the pain in my back and neck, I rarely sleep for more than a few hours at a time, so this was a pleas ant surprise.” If that wasn’t enough, Dickerson went straight to the bathroom and had the first solid urine stream since his accident 32 years ago.

Although he (Dickerson) was the last person who needed convincing to pursue his goal of taking part in the Missouri MMJ industry, it was just the beginning of convincing his friends, family, and the commu nity of all the possible therapeutic benefits cannabis offers. Through sharing his story with others and providing educated budtenders at Blue Sage Dispensaries for Missouri MMJ patients, cannabis educa tion is now a part of everyday life for the Dickerson family and employees.

It’s stories like Dickerson’s that bring to light the possible benefits medical cannabis as an alternative medication can offer some patients.

Blue Sage Cannabis Deli is a Missouri leader in the medical cannabis industry with a combined 80+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical field. The Blue Sage family brings that experience and best practices to the Missouri Cannabis community. It sources cannabis from Missouri growers and processors to deliver the highest quality product to every state-qualified patient. It offers two locations in Southwest Missouri with a variety of high-quality cannabis products along with a knowledgeable staff to ensure its patients find the best solutions for their alternative healthcare needs. For more information and locations, visit https://bluesagecanna.com.

Stallings is the Director of Sales & Marketing for The EVOLUTION Magazine

Clayton

Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.

APropagationPrimer Growing

by Jason Mispagel, contributing writer

Jason Mispagel is the co-owner and operator of Year-Round Garden, a grower’s supply center serving both home and commercial customers since 2016. His extensive growing experience in hydroponics and soil dates to the early days of legalization in Colorado, where he served as one of the state’s early caregivers. Year-Round Garden. 1225 W 103rd St, Kansas City, MO. 816.216.6917 FB: yrroundgarden ● IG: @yrroundgarden

Getting started is sometimes the hardest part of a grow, even if you’ve done it a hundred times. Granted, the seed stock, health of a mother plant, or vigor of a genetic variety can play a major role, but if certain rules are followed, the likelihood of successful rooting increases exponentially. Somehow, it’s easy to forget (even as a longtime grower) the basic principles behind propagation, so let’s review.

We’ll divide propagation into seeds (sexual) and clones (asexual).

Seeds

Sexual propagation occurs when pollen reaches a female pistil, contacting a stigma “hair” and traveling down through the bract and into the ovule, where a seed begins to form. For this article, we’ll consider sexual propagation to include feminized seed production, where the pollen doesn’t generate from a male plant with both X and Y chromo somes but rather from a female plant contain ing only X chromosomes. Regardless, pollen reaches the ovule and forms a seed. Once the seed is mature (typically dark brown with speckling), it will either fall from the plant or can be removed manually for future planting. (For more information about seed storage, see the article “Proper Storage and Germination of Seeds” in the November 2020 edition at www.TheEvolutionMag.com .)

Cannabis is an annual plant, meaning that in nature, it grows and dies during a single year. The only way for it to perpetuate the existence of its species is to produce seeds — from hundreds to thousands per plant. Why so many? Not only must they reach the ground without being eaten or damaged, but they must survive the winter. I keep this in mind when germinating new plants from seed — they’re resilient and can often sprout even when conditions seem less-than-ideal.

When spring arrives, so do warmer, humid, moist conditions, acting as a trigger for the seeds to begin anew. Each healthy seed contains all the necessary energy to perform two lifegiving tasks:

1. Grow a primary root, called a “taproot,” that will allow the young plant to begin its uptake of water and nutrients.

2. Sprout enough foliage to begin performing photosynthesis.

Once those two objectives are met, the plant can continue to grow by harnessing a combination of the sun’s energy with macro

How to GrowBIGPlants

and micronutrients found in the environment or provided by an attentive gardener.

So, how can we take the lessons learned from nature and translate them into sprouting one or two seeds in the comfort of our own home? For starters, we need to place the seeds in a warm, humid, dark envi ronment, similar to what they’d experience as they lie in wait for spring, just below the soil’s surface. This can be done directly in soil, but neutral media such as peat pellets, coco coir, Rockwool, or other root cubes would also suffice. No need for expensive, nutrient-rich soil at this point. Remember that each seed already contains every bit of energy needed to sprout and develop roots.

Clones

Asexual propagation occurs when a branch from an existing plant is cut, forms roots, and becomes a plant of its own. Technically, the new plant is genetically identical to its “mother,” meaning its DNA is indistinguish able. We term this process “cloning,” but if you think about it, we’re actually allowing the original plant to exist in multiple places at the same time. Ponder this one; it just may become fuel for a deep discussion during your next smoke sesh! I’ll give a quick shoutout to tissue culture, another form of asexual prop agation where the slightest scrape of tissue from an existing plant is used to isolate an individual cell, replicate it, and grow a whole new plant. Although a much more involved process that takes significantly longer for the new plant to form, it’s still cloning. However, we’ll focus on the more traditional cloning method by branch cutting.

Remove the branch from the cup of water and place it firmly in a pre-moistened grow media of your choosing. Remember, no nutrition is necessary at this point, so a neutral media like any of those used for start ing seeds would be acceptable. The media’s goal is simply to provide support for your clone and keep it hydrated as roots develop.

Pre-moisten the grow media and place it in a seedling tray, cup, or insert to hold it in place. The seeds should be planted just below the media’s surface. A high humidity level will encourage the taproot to emerge from its shell. The easiest way to create this is by placing a translucent humidity dome or cover over the grow media.

Temperatures should remain in the high 70s to low 80s during this phase. Low temperatures mixed with high humidity levels are an invitation for mold, and extremely high temperatures will basically cook your tender plants. If you’re struggling to keep tempera tures warm enough, a seedling heat mat with a thermostat can be placed under the tray, cup, or pot to ensure optimal conditions.

Once the green sprout emerges, it’s time to remove the cover or dome and begin provid ing the seedling with low levels of light and nutrition. It now has roots and foliage, which means it can begin performing photosynthe sis to fuel its continued growth.

The first step in the cloning process is iden tifying a healthy mother plant. It should be well hydrated (i.e., watered in the last 12-24 hours) and free of pests or disease. Identify a branch that has at least four to eight inches of length, measuring from the tip of the branch back towards the plant. Cut off this portion of the branch at a 45-degree angle and place it in a cup of regular water, cut-side down. The water will help keep your cutting from wilt ing and prevent air from entering the stem.

As mentioned briefly in our discussion on seeds, cannabis needs both roots to uptake water/nutrients and leaves to perform photo synthesis. We have the foliage portion under control, but our fresh cutting lacks roots. Fortunately, the cells within our branch have the ability to reprogram themselves from focusing on vegetative growth to developing new roots. The key to this process is provid ing the proper environment, beginning with high humidity levels and warm temperatures like those ideal for sprouting seeds. And just as with seeds, cuttings don’t require any nutrients and will need very little light. In fact, nutrients applied via a foliar spray and/ or excessive amounts of light may actually slow the rooting process and potentially damage the cutting.

Monitor the grow media to ensure it remains moist, watering as necessary, never allowing it to dry out completely. Within two to three weeks, you’ll see white roots emerging — a sign that the clone has now become a plant of its own.

But wait…there’s more!

We’ve covered basic propagation principles in this article, but that’s just scratching the surface. Keep an eye out for next month’s article in The Evolution Magazine, where we’ll discuss specific propagation techniques along with more advanced seed-starting and cloning topics.

For more information about YRG, visit www. year-roundgarden.com or call 816.216.6917 and be sure to tell them The EVOLUTION Magazine sent you.

Scan QR ► to see video about “Types of Horticultural Lighting.”

Male Plant Female Plant

It Takes a Community to Build a Village

Continued from page 24

needing help navigating the VA and their benefits, identification services, mental and physical health referrals, financial counseling, and employment supports can receive assistance.

Serve Those Who Served Us: If you would like to do more than say “thank you” to a veteran for their service; join VCP’s mission and help ensure that those who fought for your freedom can live with dignity. There are several ways you can help:

1. Volunteer: It takes a community to build a village! VCP volun teers help build and prepare the houses for veterans, manage administrative duties, assist VCP with community events, and much more.

2. Donate: VCP is community funded! Corporate and individual donations help provide and maintain housing and one-on-one case management for Village residents, along with critical outreach services for veterans in crisis.

3. Participate: Several VCP and 3rd party sponsored events happen year-round. It’s a great way to connect and give back.

4. Share: Spread the Word! Stay up to date on VCP news and learn about community events by following VCP on social media or subscribing to the monthly Intel Brief newsletter.

Learn more about events, monthly giving, corporate sponsorship, and ongoing Village support by visiting www.veteranscommunityproject. org.

About CLOVR: Headquartered in Kansas City, CLOVR is a canna bis-infused product manufacturer that believes in safe, consistent, and quality cannabis products for Missouri’s medical marijuana patients. For more information about CLOVR, visit www.clovrcannabis.com.

Green Precision Analytics is a licensed Missouri Medical Marijuana Testing Facility located in Kansas City. For more information, visit https://gpakc.com

Thomas, an Army veteran, moving into his new home in the VCP Village. (Photo courtesy of Veterans Community Project.)

Ever Wonder What Live Resin Is and How It’s Made?

by

We asked Larry Decristofaro, the Director of Processing at Proper Cannabis, to help guide our readers through the process of making “Live Resin” and provide a deeper explanation of the process. Proper Cannabis is a vertically integrated cannabis company — it is licensed to operate in all phases of the Missouri Medical Cannabis industry, from cultivation to manufacturing and retail dispensaries. It’s based in St. Louis. Defarocristo began homegrowing in 2009 before moving to Colorado in 2014, where he won multiple Cannabis Cups for both hash and flower. He moved back to Missouri to work with Proper Cannabis and share his vast knowledge of the cannabis industry. Here’s is what Defarocristo had to say when asked questions about the process of making Live Resin for patients.

Q: First, What is Live Resin?

A: Live resin is an accurate representation of the living plant in a concentrated, smokeable form. A great way to think about it is to compare a living and dried plant. Their smell is dras tically different

Terpenes are incredibly volatile — you can lose up to 70% of them during the drying process. That means the living plant has a much more complex smell and flavor; in turn, that complexity comes through in live resin form.

Q: What’s your process for producing live resin products?

A: Our [Proper Cannabis] process for live resin starts with strain selection. We go through our next-to-be-harvested room, make a report based on what’s available and what we want to see in hash form, and then decide what to freeze.

For example, if we’re going to pull down Alien Rock Candy for live resin, we have the cultivators harvest those plants, then our processing team freezes them in our cryogenic freezer or directly on dry ice.

We maintain those low temperatures throughout our extraction process; we achieve those same low temperatures with our chiller and dry ice. This allows us to have all the volatile terpenes and flavonoids that typically boil off in the drying process in our final live resin product.

A: Since around 2008, though it wasn’t really a marketable term until Kind Bill made it so in 2014.

Q: How long has live resin been in the market?

Spencer Pernikoff, contributing writer

Billy’s keeping an eye on some upcoming Cookies + Cream at the Proper cultivation facility.

All photos courtesy Proper Cannabis Brands

Q: What solvent do you use in your extractions?

A: Our live resin is produced with 100% n-butane. It’s got a very low boiling point, which allows us to run it at a very low operating pressure, helping us to create the ideal hash. For anyone worried, we purge all the butane out, and all Proper Cannabis extracts go through rigorous analytical lab testing.

To ensure that our extracts are true representations of the plants — whether they’re single strains or mixes — we diligently clean our extractor between each production batch. That means, between each run, we take the time to do an additional run to make sure the machine is clean and void of any additional terpenes or small remnants of hash that may be left behind. You will experience the differences in flavor and effect in our products because of this cleaning process.

We don’t take any shortcuts. Our extracts never see a secondary solvent or a Color Redamation Column (CRC).

Q: What kinds of extracts does Proper make?

A: We sell badder, diamonds and sauce, and live resin pens.

Badder is a form of extract that is physically agitated by hand. That means that when you smoke badder, you’re smoking thousands of tiny crystals covered in a terpene solution, which is what gives it that consistency. Incorporating small amounts of oxygen allows it to get a “whipped” texture. On average, badder takes roughly 24 hours to create.

What Is Live Resin?

Our live resin pens are the “Diamonds and Sauce” — and realistically, the closest thing to having high-end dabs in a cartridge form. We melt the diamonds and reintroduce them to the sauce with out having exposed them to the heat required to melt the diamonds. This process delivers a live representation of the plant in a portable, discreet, and easy-to-use cartridge. We also use a variable voltage battery, which allows patients to control the temperature that they’re hitting the live resin with an adjustable airflow cartridge.

Q: What’s your preferred way to consume Hash?

A: I prefer to dab through a mini-tube on a quartz nail somewhere between 450-500F. My favorite piece to use is by @Deestrukt.

Q: What are Proper’s future extraction plans for 2022?

A: My goal is to have 40 different mixes or single-strain extracts across pens, badder, and diamonds and sauce available statewide by year-end or sooner. We also hope to offer solventless extracts by the end of the year.

Diamonds and Sauce are realistically the same product as badder, just finished differently. The so-called “Diamonds” are created using heat, pressure, and an extended amount of time. We allow our crystals to form naturally in a low-temperature environment, growing as large as possible, which can take anywhere between 14 and 60 days. On average, it takes about 30 days to make. As the THC crystals form and sink to the bottom, the terpene solution stays on the top. We then separate them completely and purge them separately, which, in the end, gives us a higher quality product.

www.properbrands.com/retail. For its product updates and news, visit www.facebook.com/ProperCannMo

Proper Cannabis’s St. Louis area dispensaries are open in Crestwood, South County, and Warrenton. Each location is stocked with flower, edibles, concentrates, and more. Its products are available at dispensaries statewide. Find Proper Brand products and locations at

Qualifying Marijuana Offenses

In broad strokes, qualifying marijuana offenses vary depending on the offender’s status.

1. No longer incarcerated or supervised: Qualifying offenses are all misdemeanors; and subject to exclusions, felonies and any marijuana offenses that would no longer be a crime under the medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis amendments to the Missouri Constitution.

2. Upon completion of incarceration and supervision: With no exceptions, all class A, B, and C felony marijuana offenses and all class D felony marijuana offenses for possession of more than three pounds of marijuana qualify.

3. Currently incarcerated and currently supervised: Qualifying offenses are all offenses that would not have been an adult or juvenile offense or would have been a lesser adult or juvenile offense had medical and adult-use marijuana law been in effect at the time of the offense. Subject to exclusions, a misdemeanor, a class E felony, or a class D felony involving possession of three pounds or less of marijuana also qualify.

Excluded Marijuana Offenses

Exclusions to qualifying offenses also depend on the offender’s status. The general rule is that marijuana offenses are excluded if they involve (i) distribution or delivery to a minor, (ii) violence, or (iii) the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of mari juana. Exceptions to the general rule, for example, include a blanket right to expungement of marijuana misdemeanors for individuals who completed incarceration and any supervision.

The Initiative’s intention is, in part, “to prevent…penalty for personal possession and cultivation of limited amounts of marijuana ….” By focusing on fulfilling this intention, the Initiative’s expungement provisions may be more consistently implemented statewide. You can help yourself now by investigating the Initiative’s impact on your marijuana offense, including reaching out to organizations already helping with record expungement, such as Exit-Now.

Next month we’ll dive deeper… Stay tuned!

Denise B. McCracken practices cannabis law with a compliance focus at her St. Louis-based law firm D.B. McCracken Law, LLC, also doing business as Dogwood Advisors. Ms. McCracken represents licensees and third-party service providers in various cannabis-re lated matters. She was voted Missouri’s Best Industry Lawyer in 2022 and is the author of “Missouri Canna bis Laws and Regulations, 2020.” A Notre Dame Law School graduate, Ms. McCracken is licensed in Missouri and Illinois.

Notice: This publication provides general information only and should not be construed as formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client rela tionship. Always consult your attorney for any legal advice.

HempMilk

Plant-Based–Protein-Rich

A Step-by-Step Guide to Making This Healthy Alternative

by Danielle Buntyon, contributing writer

What is Hemp Milk? Drinks made from hemp seeds and water are non-dairy alternatives to milk. The fatty acids in hemp seeds, as well as the protein they contain, make them extremely nutritious food. In addition to this, it is also full of protein and fatty acids. To increase the nutritional value of some commercial brands’ products, they may add even more vitamins and calcium as part of their fortification. There are only two ingredients in hemp milk — hemp seeds and water. Sweeteners and thickeners may be added too.

Some benefits of Hemp Milk

The first time I heard about hemp milk was back in 2018. We have since become hooked on hemp milk, which is now a staple in our house. This milk has many benefits that make it an excellent alterna tive to dairy milk. Here are a few of them:

● It is well known that hemp seeds contain polyunsaturated and omega fats, both of which are beneficial to your general health.

● In addition to a wide variety of essential vitamins and minerals, hemp seeds provide several other nutrients as well, including vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, B vitamins, etc.

● The use of hemp seeds for treating several neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Multiple Sclerosis has been found to possess an antioxidant effect that may offer protection to the brain along with providing treatment for many neurological diseases.

● Hemp seeds have been shown to be beneficial in supporting a healthy heart.

● It has fewer calories — as a result of its lower calorie content than dairy milk, it is a perfect option for those looking to eat well and be healthy. Unsweetened versions are the best choice for these purposes.

● It’s not allergenic — the odds of you having an allergic reac tion to hemp milk are slim (but not impossible).

Since hemp milk contains an impressive array of vitamins, minerals, and proteins, the body manages to respond with a stronger immune system, healthier circulation, better skin and hair, and cholester ol-lowering omega fatty acids make the heart healthier. Hemp milk is the perfect solution for those who cannot tolerate animal milk or dairy products and those who choose not to consume animal milk due

DIY Recipe

You do not need to purchase prepackaged hemp milk to enjoy its benefits, despite its availability. Make it yourself! Go to your local health food store and buy shelled hemp seeds. Make your tasty drink by following the recipe below.

Ingredients:

1 cup of hemp seeds … 5 or 6 cups of purified water.  … If you want it to be creamy, use less water … CBD or THC infused (optional) honey – for sweetener

Combining Ingredients

To begin, you need to place the hemp seeds in a blender and blend them. It is most effective to mix this with the water-based on the amount of creaminess you would like. Simply blend everything until creamy, and then taste. It is possible to add a little bit of raw honey or agave nectar to taste and mix again. After you have achieved your desired flavor and consistency, strain it through a cheesecloth, and there you have it! You have homemade hemp milk in your hands. Before drinking, give it a good shake. The hemp milk should last about four days in the refrigerator.

to personal reasons. Or simply for those seeking a healthy alternative to cow or animal milk!

Other Ways to Use Hemp Seeds

To avoid wasting hemp seed particles, it is wise not to discard the larger seeds after you have strained out the hemp milk. Gather the larger seeds and wash them thoroughly with water. Then, after they have dried, you can use them to scrub your face or your body. If you feel they are too harsh for use on your skin, you can always place them in your compost pile as an alternative. You can also make hemp tofu or other products with the remaining particles.

Some Questions to Ponder

Q: Does hemp milk have CBD or THC?

A: CBD can only be found in the buds and flowers of female hemp and cannabis plants; not the seeds. So, since hemp milk is made from seeds, it does not contain any CBD (or THC).

Q: Can I get high with hemp milk?

A: No, you cannot unless you add the THC or CBD honey for an infused drink.

Q: Can I make the hemp milk last longer than four (4) days?

A: Yes, you can add a preservative like sorbitol or some citric acid.

Q: What is the taste of this hemp milk?

A: It will have a nutty flavor with a robust aroma. You will really like the smell if you’re a cannabis lover.

Hemp milk is a smooth, healthy alternative to dairy milk. We’re not saying you should throw out your regularly preferred milk. However, this one is a great treat for any cannabis lover, and it allows you to get a better understanding of the many prop erties the cannabis plant contains.

◄ Hemp milk can also be purchased at health food stores and online at places like Amazon.

Danielle Buntyon, the owner of Jades Elevation LLC, left corporate America to join the hemp industry in 2018. She specializes in solventless extraction of CBD hemp. She earned certifications from Ganja Talks University, and completed New Farmers Academy at Tennessee State University. She consults countless farmers and producers with farm and marketing development.

She has a Master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Sport and Leisure Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Memphis. She’s lobbied the Tennessee capital to support cannabis law reform as a former board member of the Memphis Chapter of NORML. Contact her at www.jadeselevation.com.

Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience. The content is for general informational purposes only.

●

●

Clean

Chicken Salad Infused Oriental

by Chef Dana Howard

When it is hot outside, the last thing I want is a heavy meal. I prefer lighter options during August because I am usually out in the field working in the hot sun. I love cooking chicken when it is hot outside because it is low in fat and doesn’t weigh me down. For this recipe, we will make one of my all-time favorite salads. It’s an oriental chicken salad. We won’t name drop for the article, but this is something that I used to get all the time at a favorite restaurant. And better yet, we are going to infuse it!

I always infuse the salad dressing when I make a salad because it is just the easiest way to incorporate it into the dish. I will use infused MCT oil for this recipe because it doesn’t have any flavor. So, when blending your salad dressing, just add a touch of your MCT oil at the very end so it can get mixed in nicely. I also like to make sure mine is nice and light, but you can add as much infused oil as you want — depending on the infused dose you desire.

Dressing Ingredients … 3 tablespoons of honey

1 ½ tablespoons of rice wine vinegar

½ teaspoon of infused MCT oil

¼ cup of mayonnaise … 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon of sesame oil

Grilled Chicken Ingredients … 1 lbs of chicken … Salt

Pepper … Garlic Salad … 4 cups of romaine … ½ cup of red cabbage … ½ cup of napa cabbage … 1 carrot shredded … 3 tablespoons of sliced almonds

The Method

1. Blend together all dressing ingredients, adding the oils at the end. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

2. In a large saucepan, preheat oil over medium-high heat.

3. While that is warming up, cut your chicken breast into several long thin strips. Set aside.

4. Place some water in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, panko, salt, and pepper.

5. Dip the chicken strips in the water and then into the flour, coating completely.

6. When the oil is hot, carefully add chicken strips and fry for 3-4 minutes or until cooked through or golden brown.

7. Set your cooked chicken on a paper towel to cool. Once cool, cut into bite-size pieces.

When I choose my salad ingredients, such as the cabbage and romaine, which we’ll use here, I always use the freshest possible. Often, I use what I have growing in my garden, and if I don’t have any currently growing, I will get what I need from the local farmer’s market. The farmers I know at the market can be trusted because I’ve asked them to explain their growing process. This is much like the relationship that you should have with your caregiver if you have one. The more open they are about their growing process, the more you can decide if they have something you want to put in your body. So, with that said, I bought cabbage from a farmer at the market that I know, and I used romaine that I had growing in my indoor space. This salad will be super delicious and super healthy. Lastly, remember always to wash your produce thoroughly before you cut it. This helps to keep your meals clear of any contaminants that may have been on your produce.

8. To prepare your salad, combine the romaine, red cabbage, napa cabbage, and carrots. Add in your chopped chicken pieces and sprinkle with almonds to taste.

Last, we’ll top it off with our delicious oriental honey dressing and enjoy!

Chef Dana Howard is a Kansas City native and 15-year catering professional. Woman-owner and operator of Infused KC, a new catering concept that infuses world-class menus with CBD. Dana loves to cater anything and everything, including weddings! Visit www.infusedkc.com or email dana@infusedkc. com.

Nicole’s Story, A Missouri Medical Cannabis Patient and Mom

by Alexandria Stith, contributing writer

The term “Canna Moms” may be new for some; however, for the moms that understand both parent hood and the cannabis world, they are all too familiar. However, that doesn’t negate the fact that these “canna moms” face a harsh reality from not only their peers but the very world where they are told to raise their children — moms shouldn’t use cannabis. After speaking with a few self-pro claimed “canna moms,” one thing was also very clear — they are not only devoted parents but also present parents. Something they felt could not have been achieved with out the support of being a medical cannabis patient.

The age of being a cannabis consumer comes with both familiar and new territories that define this unique market. The traditional glass of wine before or after dinner has now “grown” to become something else. What was once accepted and normalized has now shifted to a more holistic approach for handling stress and anxiety, especially in parenthood.

Meet Nicole, a Missouri medical cannabis patient and mom. Through Nicole’s journey of being a cannabis user, taking the medical approach versus the good ol’ “I’m just trying to get baked” shifted the trajectory of the type of mother she wanted to be to her children. “I remember much of my childhood and not having that emotional connection to my mom because she was always so tired from working and being a single mother,” she said. “I almost wished that she would have sought an alternative to the medication she used to treat herself, and maybe our bond could be closer than it is now. I don’t want that for my children.”

Born and raised in the St. Louis area, Nicole had a traditional upbringing centered around family and the church. Like most of us, Nicole wasn’t introduced to cannabis until she was a bit older, only really seeing its use through recreational purposes while she was in college. After graduating, she found herself putting cannabis on the back burner as she tried to navigate her career and what the rest of her life would look like; sound familiar?

after,” explained Nicole. Understanding the “immediate” benefits, she dug a little deeper. The results, in her words, “It was a complete game-changer. I could build a connection that, at the time of having my first child, opened a whole new door to me in terms of understanding the medicinal side to this. Not just for patients that are suffering from debil itating ailments in their last days. There are actual benefits.”

Through doing her own research, as she said, it opened something in her life she hadn’t felt before. Becoming a little obsessed with the different uses, she was able to understand the benefits of knowing and understanding the effects of identifiable terpenes. If you aren’t familiar, terpenes are the aromatic oils that color cannabis. You may be familiar with distinctive flavors like citrus, pine, mint, and even berry in some of your favorite strains. The tricky thing with the world of terpenes, however, is that studies have identified over 400 types. However, according to recent stud ies, only a handful can be used for specific effects. Nicole said, “It just amazed me; all the things it could do. From understanding cannabinoids to actual medical preventive measures, it was amazing.”

Fast forward a few years, and Nicole now finds herself facing a new battle trying to conceive. “You know, I remember for two years, me and my husband tried, and noth ing was happening. Funny enough, it wasn’t until I smoked cannabis again at a concert that my daughter was conceived shortly

With a newfound understanding (and love) of cannabis, Nicole knew she needed to visit the place we all know to be a canna-users paradise — Denver, CO. “When I visited for the first time, that’s when it sort of hit me that my heart belongs to the cannabis community. It was just amazing, the community and the people. For the first time in my life, I feel like I belonged,” said Nicole. “I wasn’t scared to talk to people; I wasn’t afraid of their judg ment. I had a sense of belonging that I had never experienced before in my life.”

Nicole visited Colorado twice. During the second visit, she knew this sort of camaraderie within the community was something the Missouri market not only needed but was a necessity. “I stayed at a 420 hostel during my second visit, and that for me was it,” explained Nicole. “That’s when I started asking myself, ‘how I can bring some thing like this back to Missouri?’” With that question, she networked with a cannabis-centered platform that connects the canna-friendly to the canna-curious.

Nicole’s quest for community led her to several ideas she plans to bring to fruition once she settles more into motherhood. Nicole’s instincts kicked in when her youngest was diagnosed with special needs. Managing a group home for Developmentally Disabled adults, she was able to identify the road her child would face immediately. “She’s [Nicole’s daughter] currently in therapy five days a week so she can be ready for the world, and it won’t be something that she’ll feel she can’t face,” said Nicole. Her priorities immediately shifted to her children’s needs. “As much as you want to pursue things all the time, sometimes you must take your own interests and put them aside for your children. However, you can be a canna-friendly family and still be the best version of yourself all at once. I’m finding out that it doesn’t have to be either-or, and it’s made me a better mom because of it.”

Nicoles’s understanding of smoking cannabis was, at the time, riddled with what the world had to say about parents who smoke cannabis. “When I first started smoking after having my daughter, I was so paranoid that she would be affected in the same way with my connection to cannabis,” she said. “From research, I’ve discovered there is always a healthy balance that can be found. If you’re uneasy, do the research or find me on Instagram. Because that’s the mark I want to make on the cannabis community — the chance to provide resources and to help moms who may be struggling.”

Alexandria Stith (Alex) is a St. Louis, MO, native and experienced budtender. She is a freelance writer who quickly identified that her love and understanding of cannabis could leave a posi tive impact on someone’s life. She expresses that through her writing. A graduate of the University of Central Missouri, she is currently studying for her Master’s at Webster University. Never expect ing to change the trajectory of her Digital Media Production career to cannabis, Alex hopes to elevate her career in both cannabis and writing by capturing stories and voices of an ever-expanding and ever-changing industry.

Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience. The content is for general informational purposes only.

Summers Series Products

by Kassie Ferrero, contributing writer

Happy August, canna fam! This month will start a mini-series featuring exceptional cannabis brands now available in Missouri. First, we’ll look at Head Change, the “Terp Kings” of Saint Louis. An offshoot of the Curador manufacturing company, Head Change provides rich, flavorful concentrates and cartridges to patients, all of which are sourced from unique cultivars.

To help guide the experience, Head Change provides curated “hash notes,” a short description of the flavor profile within the specific strain, printed on the bottom of each container. Not only is the medicine superior, but the people behind the magic are of the utmost quality. They have a lot of love for the Missouri medical community and truly believe in their mission, which is evident in every product it makes. If you are in the market for a new concentrate or cartridge, check out these great offerings all by Head Change:

a softer texture and a deep golden-yellow shade. The flavor on the inhale is bursting with juicy lime notes, like a Sprite, while the exhale offers a smooth, stone fruit piquancy. Shortly into the medicating session, there is a noticeable mental uplift, resulting in a focused, alert mindset while the body remains neutral. If you are looking for a strain that will help jump-start your day, look no further than Sacred Citrus Blossom!

Sacred Citrus Blossom badder, described with hash notes of “lemonlime with apricot,” is a flavorful concentrate by Head Change. The lineage is lengthy, starting with a cross of Clementine x Forbidden Zkittlez, which is then crossed with Katsu Bubba x LTP, resulting in a lemon-lime confection with hints of stone fruit. The badder has

Fresh Produce #3 (Katsu Bubba x Mimosa x Runtz) is a relaxing hybrid option for all-day use. The badder is a light orange-yellow shade with the texture of whipped butter, slightly chunky but mostly smooth. The dominant terpenes in this strain are Limonene, b-Caryophyllene, and Myrcene, which can be easily detected in the “eucalyptus fruit peel” hash notes. The inhale is complex in flavor; Citrus and diesel are in the forefront, accompanied by undertones of menthol, bringing a cooling sensation. The exhale is more straightforward, with notes of orange and earth, resulting in a smooth finish. As I revel in the unique flavor experience, I notice a weight behind my eyes. Shortly after, the body enters a state of mild relaxation, helping manage pain without feeling debilitated. Fresh Produce #3 is a great option for daytime pain management or a gentle wake-and-bake.

Sacred Citrus Blossom 1g Badder

Fresh Produce #3 1g Badder

Purple Circus 0.5g Cart

While this may not be a concentrate in the traditional sense, Head Change cartridges are sourced with diamonds and sauce and packaged in sturdy hardware for ease of use. A Purple Chem and Animal Star Cookies, Purple Circus features hash notes of “Lemon Nilla Wafer.” As expected, the flavor and scent are most like Purple Chem, smooth and fruity with tangy notes on the inhale. The cerebral effects are uplifting while helping maintain focus, making it perfect for daytime use. The body effects are complementary, relaxing but not heavy by any means. I recommend this product to a patient in need of daytime pain relief or looking for a relaxing wake-and-bake strain.

Moon Flower 0.5g Live Sauce Cart

With cartridges featuring Head Change’s exclusive diamonds and sauce, dabbing on the go has never been easier! Moon Flower, a heavyhitter cross of Hibernate and Katsu Bubba, is a necessary option for the evening medicine rotation. Moon Flower contains hash notes of “tropical moonbeams,” displaying a sweet, fruity palate with hints of floral and earth. The mind is first to enter a state of relaxation, beginning with heaviness behind the eyes that eases throughout the body. Once that weight travels, a deep couchlock feeling sets in, making this a preferred option for nighttime use. Both mental and physical effects are reminiscent of Hibernate, a strain that is known for its sedating effects. If you need a new nighttime item in your artillery, give this Moon Flower cartridge a try!

These are a few products to consider exploring on your next dispensary visit. Be sure to watch for next month’s issue when we’ll profile more exceptional Missouri cannabis brands within this mini-series.

Kassie Ferrero is a musician with a Master’s degree in music performance. She’s an educator, homebaker, and cannabis advocate. Kassie is currently the Inventory Control Lead at Kansas City Cannabis Company (KCC), bringing together her love of cannabis with her detailoriented work style. When she isn’t working at KCC, you can find her furiously baking all kinds of desserts or performing on her bass in a multitude of settings. Stop by any of KCC’s four locations to say hi to her, or you can find her @kassievferrero on Instagram.

Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience. The content is for general informational purposes only.

CannabisNurses On a Mission From God!

by Dolores Halbin, contributing writer

“I don’t want you dead,” author Ali Waj said. “…Invest in joy. You have to make the intention, and almost like exercise, you have to put in the discipline...to say I deserve to be happy. I want you to live long and be happy. And if I invest in joy and find joy, it means I’m happy, my family’s happy. The next generation of writers, authors, activists are looking at my model and saying, oh, this is attractive to me and sustainable. And this is how we will win.”

It was a sweltering day last summer when my phone rang, showing “ML,” bringing an instant smile to my face. I could hear the highway rolling by in the background. “I want to stop by!” she shouted into the phone. “Send me your address.”

Eight hours later, my over-heated old friend and her over-heated fur mama pulled in my driveway. We got the fur mama cold water and let her lay down in front of the fan. The big, soft, fluffy yellow lab has the look and feel of an old, well-loved blond teddy bear. She was a 12-year-old comfort dog in uncomfortable heat when their AC went out, and I am lucky to call them both my friends.

ML, founder of Patients Out of Time (POT), was heading home to Virginia from visiting family in North Dakota. During the drive, she was deciding where to hold the POT 2022 conference. As an exuberant “HERE” escaped my lips, my brain engaged to hit the verbal brakes too late. Kansas is one of the last three states with no protection for patients. We have a vibrant cannabis community in Missouri. Of course, we wanted the conference here.

We could do this!

By the time ML toured Kansas City, met our nurses April Hatch, RN, MSN, owner-operator of Cannabis Care Team, and Leigh Carr, RN, Kansas Cannabis Coalition, and been shipped to Karin Spinks and the rest of our community at the MOCann Biz Fest last August, Kansas City was a done deal. ML called on the road from St. Louis and said, “My God, you guys have an army!” To my recollection, this was the moment God got involved.

Now My Work is Done

As we passed the end of January and the team coalesced, volunteer Karin Spinks, owner/operator of Imaginarium Events, laid out a pretty long and expensive journey on which we were about to embark. I realized I was out of my bailiwick during our first zoom when I had to google “what is a lanyard.” I happily assumed the role of a passive participant. I have made no bones about my desire to retire and have a simple relationship with plant consumption. Then the restaurant happened.

April Hatch and Dolores Hablin, The Blues Nurses. (Photo by Clayton Stallings)

“Have you been smoking marijuana?” The man was younger than me but old enough to know better. Pointing at me, he addressed the entire Kansas Town Topic, “I think she smells like marijuana. Is it just me?”

We all think we will have a smart-ass answer in times like these, but that’s not what happens. Fright/Flight is what happens. The sympathetic nervous system kicks in, and 3000 separate chemical reactions simultaneously happen that enable us to pick up cars off toddlers. I grabbed my three-year-old granddaughter; my son grabbed our food, we jumped in his truck, and left instead of sitting at the counter for our burgers as we had planned. Back at my son’s, we couldn’t eat. As I drove home that day, I realized how every human being feels when they are publicly attacked, whether over smelling like a plant or the color of our skin. It is a terrifying feeling that inspires fear.

In light of ignorance, there is only one thing to do — educate more. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

This conference became a Mission From God to pluck more feathers out of prohibition, prejudice, and stereotypes.

Road-trip

I’ve been to two of these conferences on the east coast, where POT has a lot of name recognition. Both went as smooth as warm butter, but this isn’t the east coast. We needed a plan.

“If a couple of wacky blues musicians can put on a concert in three days and save an orphanage, we can put on this conference,” I told April.

We never once stopped to consider The Blues Brothers as a work of fiction. We looked on the internet for a giant speaker we could strap to the top of the car, so we could drive around town announcing, “Three days only, Patients Out of Time, Educational Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, Unity Temple on the Plaza, June 9-11.” We plastered posters everywhere we went. Booking as many radio and podcast shows as would take us, we hit the road, beginning with a trip to Rolla, MO, for the Waxy Brown Show. We were joined in Rolla by Mark Pederson, a longtime supporter of POT, and another OG (I assumed the term meant Old Guys), along with Tiger, the service dog. The pup added so much to the room!

From Rolla, we traveled to Jefferson City and passed out fliers for Nurse Lobby Day. We ratted out the governor to local media for investing in marijuana and not expunging marijuana records. Then we traveled to St. Joe to be guests of the Big V Show. And we laughed. We laughed and laughed and laughed some more. Somewhere along the way, around mile marker 420, I found that joy I wrote about last

spring, inspired by Sam Samuelson and Ali Wajahat. I found my inner Bugs Bunny.

The Team

Our team amazed me every day. Corina Merritt volunteered to organize the volunteers, all the while working the night shift at St. Luke’s on the Plaza as a med tech and dealing with life. The month before the conference, Corina’s landlord sold their rental house, giving them 30 days to move. Her sweetheart’s dad passed away unexpectedly the Friday before the conference. Despite all, and after working all night, Carina would show up at 9 a.m. Tuesday’s at Winsteads on The Plaza for our planning sessions, and her volunteers were smooth as melted butter. Well done, young lady!

Karin Spinks began putting together all the AV moving parts with surgical skill, all while planning The Blaze, her own annual event in St. Louis. There was no break between the two events. Those of us who witnessed and participated in this show of woman-strength are better and stronger people for it. We cannot thank you enough, Karin, for your boldness, patience, time, and example of showing us what we can do.

Mission Accomplished

We did it. We had the conference and three epic parties, including a slime fest with our canna kids and Lucy, the baby goat from Shady Frase Farm (thanks, Jeff!). For 24 hours, the marquee at Midland Theater read, “Marijuana is Medicine.” Many thanks to my friend, Blues Sister Bonna Yost, for bringing in Kansas City’s finest Blues: Dirty Dan Rice, Mo Paul and The Old Crows, Fletcher Christian and Friends. And we had a double rainbow at the after-party across the road from Pride Fest while dancing to the magic of Riley Voth and Pleasant Trees.

And a special thanks to Victoria and Bill Cromwell and Clayton Stallings for help with marketing the conference in The Evolution Magazine, for all your community support and offering this magazine a source for necessary education to promote change in the world of cannabis.

Someone said to us, “You guys made magic!” To which I replied, “Nope, God made the magic. We just showed up to work.” Mission From God accomplished!

Halbin, doloreshalbin@ gmail.com.

Dolores Montgomery Halbin, RN, BSN, and Ordained Nurse Minister, resides in SW Missouri. After her husband passed in 2015, she retired from nursing. She worked with the 2014-2018 Missouri campaigns for legalized medical marijuana. She continues as a cannabis reform activist volunteering with Canna Convict Project and working toward Federal decriminalization through educational speaking and freelance journalism. Dolores

“If a couple of wacky blues musicians can put on a concert in three days and save an orphanage, we can put on this conference.”

Benefits Wheel for CBD THC and More.

CLOVR Dispensary 17211 S Highway

Belton MO 64012

Terrapin Care Station 114 E NORTH AVE

Blue Springs MO 64015

Belton MO 64012 Stairway Cannabis 490 SW MO-7 HWY

Kansas City Cannabis 1713 NW BURDETT Crossing Blue Springs MO 64015

Greenlight 201 S WILDWOOD DR Branson MO 65616 3Fifteen Primo ► 18031 BUSINESS 13

Branson West MO 65737 Thrive Branson West ► 18490 BUSINESS 13 Branson West MO 65737

The Dispensary 460 State Hwy 76

Cassville MO 65625

Blue Sage Cannabis Co 429 Peachtree Dr. Carthage MO 64836

CoCo Dispensary 941 WASHINGTON ST Chillicothe MO 64601 Sunrise Dispensary 280 MO-7, Clinton MO 64735 Green Releaf Dispensary 204 E BROADWAY Columbia MO 65203 Shangri-La Super Store 1401 CREEKWOOD PKWY Columbia MO 65202 Shangri-La 3919 PEACHTREE DR Columbia MO 65203 3Fifteen Primo 4003 PONDEROSA ST Columbia MO 65201

High Profile Cannabis 1500 INTERSTATE 70 DR SW Columbia MO 65203 Liberty Cannabis 1400 FORUM BLVD Suite 12 Columbia MO 65203 Hippos Dispensary 5320 INTERSTATE 70 DR SE Columbia MO 65201

Heya Dispensary 1812 HIGHWAY 54

Eldon MO 65026

Kansas City Cannabis 149 CROWN HILL RD Excelsior Springs MO 64024

BesaMe Wellness 509 N MAIN ST Gallatin MO 64640

Verts Neighborhood Dispensary 509 N Main St., Gallatin MO 64640

Nature Med Dispensary 207 NE 72ND ST Gladstone MO 64118

Releaf Resources 13836 S US HIGHWAY 71 Grandview MO 64030

Greenlight 1408 N STATE ROUTE 291 Harrisonville MO 64701

Flora Farms 68 E 300th Road Humansville MO 65674

Greenlight 16820 E US Highway 24 Independence MO 64056

Nature Med Dispensary 15823 E US HIGHWAY 24 Independence MO 64050

Greenlight 3721 S Noland Rd Independence MO 64055

FROM THE EARTH 19341 E US HIGHWAY 40 Independence MO 64058

Health & Wellness 1404 MISSOURI BLVD Jefferson City MO 65109

Jefferson, LLC 2118 MISSOURI BLVD Jefferson City MO 65109

Good Day Farms 2401 E 32ND ST Joplin MO 64804

Greenlight 1729 E 7TH ST Joplin MO 64801

Tribe Dispensary ► Opening Soon 14787 Manchester Rd. Ballwin 63011

Greenlight Dispensary 844.785.9333 4451 Brown Rd. Berkeley 63134

TERRABIS Dispensary 11062 Olive Blvd. Creve Coeur 63141

Hippos Dispensary 17409 Chesterfield Airport Rd Chesterfield 63005

N’Bliss Dispensary 314.627.2699 15396 Manchester Rd. Ellisville 63021 Swade Dispensary 314.924.6501 16075 Manchester Rd. Ellisville 63011

Kind Goods Dispensary 636.492.6400 180 Gravois Bluffs Cir. Fenton 63026

Greenlight Dispensary 844.785.9333 517 S Florissant Rd. Ferguson 63135 Star Buds Dispensary 1168 W Gannon Dr. Festus 63028

CoCo Dispensary 573.719.3252 2000 US-61 Suite A Hannibal 63401

TERRABIS Dispensary 7766 N. Lindbergh Hazelwood 63042 North Dispensary 929 Peachtree Plaza Dr. Hillsboro 63050 BKind Dispensary 636.467.2323 1229 Imperial Main Imperial 63052

Heya Wellness 120 South Main Street Kirksville 63601 Missouri Health & Wellness 660.956.0560 215 East Charles St. Kirksville 63501

N’Bliss Dispensary 314.627.2499 1266 Old Orchard Center Manchester 63021 Kind Goods Dispensary 636.484.9400 14173 Manchester Rd, Suite M Manchester 63011

Good Day Farms 636-317-1184 1140 Technology Dr. O’Fallon 63366

Nature Med Dispensary 314.939.1076 1193 Bryan Rd O’Fallon 63366

TERRABIS Dispensary 1172 W Terra Ln. O’Fallon 63366

Heya Wellness 10417A St Charles Rock Road St. Ann 63042

High Profile 636.224-6033 1416 Harvestowne Industrial Dr. St. Charles 63304 Root 66 Dispensary 636.373.8329 3004 S St Peters Pkwy. St. Charles 63303 Captiva Healing Dispensary 314.462.9899 9933 Watson Rd. St. Louis 63126

Greenlight Dispensary 844.785-9333 8542 N Broadway St. Louis 63147

High Profile (Sunset Hills) 10425 Watson Rd. St. Louis 63127

Nature Med Dispensary 314.939.1076 234 Kingston Dr St. Louis 63125

Proper Cannabis 314.328.0446 7417 S Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis 63125 Organic Remedies 11420 Concord Village Ave St. Louis 63123

Root 66 Dispensary 314.282.7978 6660 Manchester Ave. St. Louis 63139

Root 66 Dispensary 314.257.0816 3737 S Grand Blvd. St. Louis 63118

SWADE Dispensary - Cherokee 2316 Cherokee Street St. Louis 63118 SWADE - The Grove 314.924.6503 4108 Manchester Ave. St. Louis 63110

Luxury Leaf Dispensary 1463 South Vandeventer Ave. St. Louis 63110

3Fifteen Primo 314.226.7326 5501 Chippewa Street St. Louis 63109

Sunrise Dispensary 6407 Michigan Ave, St. Louis 63111 The Source 636. 355.9333 859 Robert Raymond Drive Lake St. Louis 63367 Heya Wellness 4300 North Service Road St Peters 63376

Kind Goods Dispensary 636.626.2300 3899 Veterans Memorial, Suite J St. Peters 63376

Mint Dispensary 150 Mid Rivers Mall Cir. St. Peters 63376 SWADE - St. Peters 314.924.6500 146 Jungermann Rd. St. Peters 63376 Green Releaf Dispensary 636.775.2708 109 N Lincoln Dr. Troy 63379 3Fifteen Primo 314.924.0101 839 Meramec Station Rd. Valley Park 63088

JANE Dispensary 314.464.4420 6662 Delmar Blvd. University City 63130

Eastern MO and St. Louis Region Dispensaries

Those Listed inBlue Find Ads Within These Pages.

The Valley, Dispensary 573.760.0200 800 Valley Creek Drive Farmington 63640

Greenlight Dispensary 888.995.0420 903 E. Washington Street Hayti 63851

North Dispensary 636. 224.2885 1709 State Hwy Z Pevely 63070



VERTS Dispensary 573.554.3765 1803 W Business U.S. 60, Dexter 63841

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VERTS Dispensary 636.896.5202 1340 Thornton St. Pacific 63069

Heya Wellness 100 Strauss Drive Park Hills 63601 Greenlight Dispensary 573.507.3562 1435 N Westwood Blvd. Poplar Bluff 63901 Greenlight Dispensary 1817 E Malone Ave. Sikeston 63801 Good Day Farms 636.888.0381 1909 N Service Rd. W. St Clair, 63077 High Profile 231 Saint Robert Blvd. St. Robert 65584

Trinity Dispensary 205 State Rte B St. James 65559 The Source 417. 419.9333 1636 Bruce Smith Pkwy West Plains 65775

CBD for Pets Q&A

How much CBD oil should I give my dog?

American Shaman recommends giving your dog two to 5mg of CBD per 25 lbs of body weight daily. 5mg is equal to half a mL of our tinctures or water solubles, one of our hard dog treats, or two of our soft dog treats per day. All dosage recommendations can be found on the product packaging. CBD oil can also be given to dogs as needed ahead of particularly stressful situations like the vet or the groomer.

How much CBD oil should I give my cat?

American Shaman recommends giving your cat two to 5mg of CBD per 8 lbs of body weight daily. 5mg is equal to half a mL of our tinctures or water solubles. All dosage recommendations can be found on the product packaging. CBD oil can be given to cats daily as recommended on the product packaging or as needed for the cat’s specific needs.

Can I use human CBD oil on dogs?

The ingredients in CBD products for pets are the same as CBD products for humans. The only difference is the flavor! We do not recommend giving our human CBD prod ucts to your pets, and it would be difficult anyway because dogs and cats do not like to eat the flavors of our human products. Our CBD tincture for dogs is beef and cheese flavor, while our cat CBD tincture is real catnip flavor. That way, you can easily get your pet to take their dose of CBD!

Content provided by CBD American Shaman

What Is CBG Hemp Flower?

It’s known as the “mother cannabinoid” or the “stem cell”cannabinoid.

CBG hemp flower is a type of hemp flower rich in Cannabigerol (CBG).

A new addition to the hemp space, CBG flower is an internationally sought-after hemp flower that allows users to enjoy the benefits of a minor, but essential cannabi noid.

Just like CBD flower, CBG flower is non-in toxicating and naturally contains very low levels of THC. Meaning, smoking or vaping CBG flower is not going to get you high and is completely safe to use by every adult.

Consumers use CBG-rich hemp flower the same way they enjoy CBD flower — trimmed and prepared for consumption.

In comparison to CBD flower, CBG flower is very delicate and demands better care by growers. Cultivating high-CBG flower is not the easiest process because, if handled improperly, the flower can lose potency.

Aside from smoking or vaping, CBG flower can also be used for extraction to create oils and tinctures rich in CBG.

Most hemp strains contain low levels of CBG — typically less than 1%. That’s why CBG is the most expensive cannabinoid to extract from regular strains.

To produce the same amount of CBD oil made from CBD flower that contains 20% CBD, manufacturers need 20x of CBG hemp biomass.

This CBG Hemp flower research is provided by https://mrhempflower.com/cbg-flower.

A Custom CrossWord by Gail Marie Beckman

Medical CBD Stores Western Missouri

Missouri CBD Stores

Stores Listed Alphabetically

Blue Springs Botanicals .........816.295.1921 1412 MO-7 STE G, Blue Springs, MO

Brookside Holistic Solutions 816.524.4367 819 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit,

American Shaman .................816.491.2452 19321 E US Hwy 40, Independence, MO

CBD American Shaman 816.434.5059 3520 SW Market St, Lee’s Summit, MO

CBDAmerican Shaman 1638 SE Blue Pkwy, Lee’s Summit, MO

CBD American Shaman ........ 816.601.0241 4201 South Noland Road Suite S Independence, MO, 64055

CBD American Shaman ........ 816.625.1127 701 S. Broadway, Oak Grove, MO, 64075

CBD American Shaman......... 885.526.6223 5501 #104 S US Hwy 71, Grandview, MO

CBD American Shaman......... 816.680.8805 2008 N MO 291 Hwy, Harrisonville, MO

CBD American Shaman.........885.526.6223 1036 W 103rd St, Kansas City, MO

CBD American Shaman 855.526.6223 307 A NE Englewood Rd, KC, MO

CBD American Shaman 500 NE Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO 64118

CBD American Shaman 816.437.8261 13125 State Line Rd, Kansas City, MO

CBD American Shaman 816.702.1042 6302 N Chatham Ave, Kansas City, MO

CBD American Shaman.........913.249.7794 1005 Middlebrooke Dr, Liberty, MO

CBD American Shaman ........ 816.272.6195 921 NE Woods Chapel, Lee's Summit, MO

CBD American Shaman......... 855.526.6223 9438 E 350 Hwy, Raytown, MO

CBD American Shaman 139 N Belt Hwy Suite S., St. Joe, MO 64506

Missouri CBD Stores Missouri CBD Stores

Complete Care CBD 816.520.3304 18801 East 39th St S, Independence, MO 64057 (inside Independence Center Mall)

Ed’s CBD Oils ........................ 816.569.3142 9025 E US 40 Hwy, Independence, MO

Emerald Garden Dispensary 816.506.4284 9500 E 55th St, Raytown. MO

Emerald Garden Dispensary 816.977.8848 110 E. MO Avenue, Kansas City, MO

Exotic KC and Vape 3919 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO

Green Lifestyle Boutique ....... 816.736.4038 119 West Kansas St. Liberty, MO.

Happy Living Medical Sales 5911 NW Barry Rd #200, Kansas City, MO

Happy Rock Smoke Shop & Vape

.................................................. 816.436.0226 334 NE 72nd St, Gladstone, MO

Happy Rock Smoke Shop & Vape

...................................................... 816.415.3814 603 MO 291 B Liberty, MO

It’s a Dream Smoke Shop . 816.753.5733 3942 Broadway Ave, Kansas City, MO

It’s A Dream #2 1223 W 103rd, Kansas City, MO 64114

It’s A Myracle 816.621.9401 214 N Rte 291 Hwy, Liberty, MO

 KC Smoke & Vape 816.931.4434 1605 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO

KC Fumes 13608 Washington St., Kansas City, MO

Midtown Kava ....................... 816.541.3144 1415 D W 39th St, Kansas City, MO

Nettie’s Living Naturally ....... 816.617.7290 545 NW 1501St. Rd., Holden, MO 64040

Candy Smoke Shop 816.214.5110 904 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO

OG Smoke Shop 816-298.7390 3527 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111

Rustic Oils CBD 816.434.5284 618 SW 3rd St Ste J, Lee’s Summit, MO

 7th Heaven …................... 816.361.9555 7621 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO.

 7th Heaven …................... 816.229.8006 600 MO-7, Blue Springs, MO 64014

Slappie’s Glass ....................... 816.325.3190 10516 Grandview Rd., Grandview, MO

 Smoke Hut 11902 Blue Ridge Ext., Grandview, MO

 Smoke Tokz 1263 W. 103rd, Kansas City, MO 64114

Smoke Tokz 431 SW Ward Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO 64081

 Vape Tokz 816.631.5151 1259 W 103rd St., KCMO 64114

The Hub Smoke Shop 816.701.6267 500 Delaware St, Kansas City, MO

The Hub Smoke Shop ............ 816.420.0404 6410 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO

The Hub Smoke Shop 816.321.2398 4027 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO

The Hub Smoke Shop 816.492.5466 2631 NE Vivion Rd, Kansas City, MO

True Balance Wellness …...... 816.326.8303 5510 Antioch Rd, Kansas City, MO 64119

Columbia Missouri CBD Stores

CBD American Shaman 1400 Forum Blvd #40, Columbia, MO 65203

Grass Roots Smoke Shop 573.449.4769 203 N 10 St, Columbia MO

Grass Roots Smoke Shop 573.443.7668 202 E Green Meadows, Columbia MO

Hemp Hemp Hooray …........ 573-355-1285 Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201

Your CBD Store – Columbia 573.442.6706 1408 Interstate 70 Dr. SW. #106, Columbia, MO 65203

Springfield & Joplin

Region CBD Stores

 Alice CBD ........................ 417.310.6052 5399 State Hwy 43 #D, Joplin, MO 64804

 Alice CBD ......................... 417.717.0614 530 N East Rd Suite A, Webb City, MO

Bodegas Botanicals

515 S. Main St., Joplin, MO 64801

Cali Ways Smoke Shop 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO

CBD Republic

Find

Lake of the Ozarks and Jefferson City Area

CBD Stores

American Shaman Mid MO... 573.616.2524 3702 W Truman Blvd. Ste. 200, Jefferson City, MO 65109

Buddha Leaf 573.658.9675 1418 Missouri Blvd Ste E, Jefferson City MO

CannaBiz Depot – Osage Beach 573.693.9995 4398 Osage Beach Parkway, Osage Beach, MO 65065

CBD American Shaman Lake of the Ozarks 573.317.9131 www.cbdloz.com 10 Camden Ct Suite 1C, Camdenton, MO

Hemp Hemp Hooray - CBD ... 573.355.813 3797 Osage Beach Pkwy Suite F-1, Osage Beach, MO 65065

SQeZ Juice & Health ............. 573.552.8790 3869 Osage Beach Pkwy, Osage Beach, MO

Medical CBD Stores Eastern Kansas

Find The EVOLUTION™ MAGAZINE at most locations on this page and many more.

Kansas CBD Stores Kansas CBD Stores

American Shaman Legends Outlet ........... ................................................913.499.7355

1843 Village West Pkwy C-124 Kansas City, KS 66111

Blue Cloud Essentials ........... 913.724.4422 13944 Mitchell CT., Basehor, KS

CBD American Shaman Bonner Springs... 913.745.6667 608 Tulip Dr, Ste G Bonner Springs, KS

CBD American Shaman......... 913.270.3120 1819 E Santa Fe, Gardner, KS

CBD American Shaman......... 913.228.6000 8043 State Ave, Kansas City, KS

CBD American Shaman......... 785.424.7500 1530 W 6th S. Ste C, Lawrence, KS

CBD American Shaman 6027 Metcalf, Mission, KS 66202

CBD American Shaman......... 885.526.6223 15165 W 119th St, Olathe, KS

CBD American Shaman......... 913.324.1520 13624 S Blackbob Rd, Olathe KS

CBD American Shaman ....... 913.490.3195 16551 W 151st Street, Olathe KS

CBD American Shaman......... 913.217.7476 6933 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS

CBD American Shaman......... 913.217.7123 10069 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS

CBD American Shaman. ....... 885.526.6223 11050 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS

CBD American Shaman ........ 913.647.3999 7703 W 151st St, Overland Park KS

CBD American Shaman (Inside the Hen House) 6900 W 135th St., Overland Park, KS

CBD American Shaman ........ 913.271.3120 23 W Wea St,, Paola, KS

CBD American Shaman ........ 913.766.0430 13213 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Shawnee, KS

CBD American Shaman 22354 W 66th, Shawnee, KS 66226

Gifts & Decor KC .................... 913.782.4244 123 S Mur-Len Rd, Olathe, KS 66062

Into the Mistic......................... 913.766.9906 5727 Johnson Dr, Mission, KS

Phoenix Natural Wellness ....... 913.730.8520 9627 W 87 St, Overland Park, KS

Phoenix Natural Wellness ........913.257.5717 7932 W 151 St, Overland Park, KS

 Vape Attic ......................... 913.440.9334 1323 E. Santa Fe Rd. ,Olathe, KS

How To Get Listed Here?

To be listed here as an CBD Store or Medical Cannabis dispensary, please email us your: business name, address, phone, website and verifiable email address with contact info to Bill.C@TheEvolutionMag.com

MO Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions

All Medical Marijuana Patients must have one of the following chronic or debilitating

What conditions qualify?

Any terminal medical illness

Alzheimer’s (Agitation)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Autism

Cachexia

Cancer

Chronic medical condition that is normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to dependence

Chronic medical condition that is debilitating or causes severe/persistent pain or muscle spasms

Crohn’s Disease

Epilepsy/seizures

Glaucoma

Hepatitis C

HIV/AIDS

Huntington’s Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Intractable migraines

Multiple Sclerosis

Neuropathies

Parkinson’s Disease

Psychiatric disorders including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist

Sickle cell anemia

Wasting syndrome

Contact a Medical Cannabis certification doctor (page 46) to see if you qualify for a medical marijuana ID card in the state of Missouri. https://health.mo.gov/safety/ medical-marijuana/faqs.php. See certifying doctors list on page 66

Missouri Medical Cannabis Certification Doctors

NOTICE: Any Missouri state licensed medical Physician (M.D. / D.O. only) that wants to participate can write a certification for a Missouri Medical Marijuana Card. The following list of Missouri doctors are now serving patients near you.

Kansas City MO, Area

Blue Bird Wellness Center 816.944.3654 656 SE Bayberry Ln. Ste 102, Lee’s Summit, MO.

Green Health Docs ........................877.242.0362 2335 N. Belt Hwy, St. Joe, MO 64506

Green Health Docs 877.242.0362 5748 N Broadway KC, MO 64118

Green Flower Clinics 816.615.8690

Dr. Name: Dimitri Golfinopoulos, D.O. 401 S. Platte Clay Way, Kearney, MO 64060

Green Sage Doctors 816.820.3004 Offering TELEHEALTH

James McEntire D.O. (DocMac) 816.237.8583 www.TheGreenPotClinic.com Progressive Osteopathic Therapies

Kind Remedy Cannabis Clinic .... 816.379.6557 1713 NW Burdett Crossing, Blue Springs, MO www.kindremedykc.com

Midwest Health & Wellness Center ... 816.836.2200 Dr. Marc K. Taormina MD Offering TELEHEALTH www.midwesthealthandwellnesscenter.com 3601 NE Ralph Powell Rd, Suite A, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064

Missouri Cannabis Clinic ........ 816.353.0420 Offering TELEHEALTH 10001 E. 67th St. Raytown, MO 64133 ► 2nd Location in Wesport, KCMO.

My KC Green Wellness . 816.301.5598 8120 NW Prairie View Rd. Kansas City, MO 64151

The Releaf Clinic 816.897.4494 19201 E. Valley View Pkwy, Suite C, Indep, MO.

Dr. Woods Wellness 816.888.5200 300 Unity Circle North Suite A., Lee’s Summit, MO

Dr. Laura Voss, DO 816.600.4132 1505 NE Parvin Rd, Suite 1517C Kansas City, MO 64116

East & Southern, MO Area Columbia, MO

Dr. Alt Holistic Care 573.875.4877 1715 B West Worley, Columbia, MO 65203

Green Health Docs Columbia ........ 877.242.0362 303 N Stadium Blvd, Regus Building, Suite 200 Columbia, MO 65203

Marijuana Card Clinic 573.326.4496 3919 Peachtree Drive, Suite 102, Columbia, 65203

Marijuana Card Clinic 573.326.4496 1401 Creekwood Pkwy. St.102, Columbia, 65202

Springfield, MO

Elite Pain Mgmt. 417.888.0167 222 E Primrose St. Suite E, Springfield, MO

Green Harvest Clinic 417.863.2222 2049 E Cherry Street #120, Springfield, MO

Green Health Docs ........................ 877.242.0362 225 East Sunshine, Suite 102, Springfield, MO

Green Leaf MD 417.695.5050 222 E. Primrose St., Springfield, MO. 65807

Nature’s Green Health & Wellness Clinic 417.771.5737 330 W Farm Rd 182 Suite F, Springfield MO 65180

Shealy-Sorin Wellness Institute 417.351-5221 2840 E Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO.

The Higher Care Clinic (THC 2….417.413.3899 2424 South Campbell Avenue, Springfield, MO.

Dr. Gil’s Immediate Care Center 417.848.6100 3000 East Division St., Springfield, MO 65802

Southern MO

Green Health Docs 877.242.0362 809 S. Maiden Lane, Joplin, MO 64801

Roark Family Health & Medical Spa 417.847.1111 Dr. Lisa Roark ● 1101 N. Main St., Cassville, MO.

How to Get Listed Here as a Missouri Marijuana Med-ID Doctor. To be listed here as an active Medical Marijuana certification Doctor (Licensed Missouri Doctors Only. Assistant Physicians, PA and NP, Chiropractic Doctors cannot certify.) Please submit your full business name, doctor name, phone, address, website and verifiable contact info to Bill.C@TheEvolutionMag.com

Find The EVOLUTION™ MAGAZINE at many of the locations on this page and many more.

St. Louis MO, Area

Bell Chiropractic & Pain Mgmt. ..... 314.838.1983 493 Rue Francois Suite 1A, Florissant, MO

Green Health Docs STL. 877.242.0362 909 Watson Rd, St Louis, MO.

Health City 314.200.1555 1760 S. Brentwood Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63144

Kathmandu Clinic 918.814.3996 111 Prospect Ave Suite 20 2D, Kirkwood, MO.

Green Cert MD 314. 596.9955 2325 Dougherty Ferry Rd., Ste. 206 St. Louis, MO 63122

Medical Cannabis Outreach 636.466.3871 Dr. Nassar: 7721 Clayton Rd. Clayton, MO 63117

Vo Medical Clinic - Dr. Thanh Vo ... 314.776.1467 3334 South Grand Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118

660.205.2215 Lotalivin 816.305.2169

Possess up to 8 oz of flower (or 64 mmes)

● Those with a homegrow or caregiver may possess up to 12 oz of flower (or 96 mmes) at once

More about Purchase and Possession Limits

One milligram (mg) is equal to 1/1000 grams (g). The only way to accurately measure in Grams or Ounces is to use a scale. Tools, such as kitchen cups and spoons, only provide rough estimates.

A Patient is: A person who has been registered by the state of Missouri and received a license to use medical marijuana (a $25 fee); may apply for a cultivation license for an additional $100 fee

A Caregiver is: A person 21+ who is responsible for managing the well-being of a qualified patient; has been authorized by the state to purchase or grow Cannabis for patients

NOTE: If you are a patient; who, for example, wants to medicate with higher THC levels like RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) or what some call FECO (Full Extract Cannabis Oil), then the purchase and possession limits listed above may be raised by “two” independent physician certifications. For more Missouri MMJ rules and regulations about purchase and possession limits, visit www.medicalmarijuana.mo.gov