CANNABIS START-UPS:
The Time Is Now
ROOTS RESTORED Native Lands & Cannabis
JULIAN MARLEY TIME FOR A HIGHER LEVEL
STRAIN OF THE MONTH HONG KONG DIESEL
GROW
PREPPING THE OUTDOOR GARDEN
CONCENTRATE GOLDEN WRECK HAZE
CANNA-NEWS CANNABIS CAREERS
Celebrate responsibly.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
STATE DIRECTOR NOTE
APRIL 2015 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE ISSUE 03
16 MEDICAL STRAIN OF THE MONTH HONG KONG DIESEL
18 EDIBLES
20 CANNA-NEWS
NCREDIBLES AFFOGATO
CANNABIS ON NATIVE LAND
If taking face-melting dabs is how you get down, continue to do your thing. Into stuffing ounce prerolls? Stuff away! The perception that a storm of joints rains from the heavens and thick fog of smoke hangs low enough to catch a buzz make Denver’s 4/20 celebrations a rite of passage for many cannabis lovers. Lost in the Purple Haze of April is the critical work undertaken by the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). Making sure that businesses in the cannabis industry are treated like any other American industry is their core mission. Since 2010, NCIA has been leading the push to reform the antiquated cannabis laws shackling the industry and economy. Right in Barry O’s back yard, between April 28th-30th, NCIA and its’ members will take Capitol Hill by force during its annual Lobby Days event. Lobby Days isn’t a freak parade, it’s not a smoke out or put together on a whim. It’s the culmination of hard work, dedication, passion and planning.
24 FEATURE
JULIAN MARLEY
30
36 CANNA-NEWS
GROW
WHAXY APP
GET GROWING
44 BUSINESS
STARTING YOUR CANNABIS CAREER
CONCENTRATE GOLDEN WRECK HAZE
WOMEN GROW!
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42 PIECE
GARDEN
BOSS FTK
MEDICINE MAN
46
54 HEALTH
COPING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
64
62 PROFILE
40
BUSINESS
FEELIN’ BRAND NEW
ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
56 ROAD TRIP
LANSING, MICHIGAN
Much to the chagrin of alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical pushers, the voice of our industry is maturing. The mainstream perception of cannabis culture is off base and passé. A pervading D.A.R.E mentality still consumes much of the nation. Narcissism and fear cloud the vision of our lawmakers but we have hope at DOPE. The NCIA’s Lobby Days are focused on bringing awareness to a litany of laws in place hindering the flowering of this industry. The airing of our collective grievances makes this a little like Festivus for the rest of us. A fair tax policy for cannabis businesses where the same deductions can be taken as in any other industry is needed. Currently, providers of medical and adultuse cannabis products are treated more like Freeway Ricky Ross or members of the Cali Cartel than the taxpaying business owners they are. As a general rule, the Federal government accepts the tax-dollars from our cannabis businesses without prejudice. In the absence of common sense, many cannabis businesses are unable to use the basic functions of our financial institutions. Access to checking and savings accounts or lines of credit are just whispers in the wind. Lobby Days provide the gale force necessary to make things a little nerve wrecking for the leaders of the free world. Rescheduling cannabis to be less on par with heroin while ending Federal prohibition are likely years away but the fight has brought to our Nation’s Capitol with gusto and zeal. NCIA has been banging the drum for years and the knuckleheads in D.C. are finally starting to shake a tail feather. The CARERS Act: or Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act if you’re not into the whole brevity thing bring bipartisan support to ending Federal prohibition. The boys over at the Monocle on D Street are probably laughing Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) out the door wondering why they didn’t have the testicular fortitude to get behind the cause themselves. As NCIA’s membership base continues to grow, rest easy knowing our interests are being served with excitement and enthusiasm by an exceptional team of progressive thinkers. Prohibition is an abomination; a responsible and proactive industry such as the one NCIA is building and promoting will continue to shift policy and public perception. Stay Dank, Emmett H.W. Nelson Colorado State Director
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
JAMES ZACHODNI
SHARON LETTS
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EVAN CARTER CFO DAVID TRAN
R.Z.HUGHES DAVID BAILEY JOHNNY HALFHAND DR. KIMBERLY FREE JOSHUA KRAUS
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
CHRISTI TURNER
TREK HOLLNAGEL
CHRIS MARCUS
SALES MANAGER SHANON MELICK STATE DIRECTOR EMMETT H.W. NELSON REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR NATHAN CHRYSLER ONLINE EDITOR MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS JOSHUA BOULET NARISSA-CAMILLE PHETHEAN CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS DANIEL ERICH MARK COFFIN
DOPE is a free publication dedicated to providing an informative and wellnessminded voice to the cannabis movement. While our foundation is the medical cannabis industry, it is our intent to provide ethical and research-based articles that address the many facets of the war on drugs, from politics to lifestyle and beyond. We believe that through education and honest discourse, accurate policy and understanding can emerge. DOPE Magazine is focused on defending both our patients and our plant, and to being an unceasing force for revolutionary change.
JAMIE KRAUS PAMELA LUEDEKE BARON WALTON
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DOPE Magazine and the entire contents of this magazine are copyright 2015 DOPE MAGAZINE LLC, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or part without the written permission from Dope Magazine LLC PUBLISHED IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98109
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ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
@DOPEMAGAZINE
LUSH LIGHTING
STRAIN OF THE MONTH
HONG KONG DIESEL Grown & Provided By Walking Raven
SMELL
GENETICS A WALKING Raven exclusive, Hong Kong Diesel is an all organic, 50/50 hybrid that crosses Hong Kong and NYC Diesel. Its precise sativa/indica balance has earned it widespread admiration, as well as awards for Best Adult-Use Hybrid and People’s Choice at last year’s The Hemp Connoisseur Championship.
PUNGENT diesel and sweet fruit duel for an audience with your nose, and while diesel comes away the victor, fruity undertones linger. When smoked, Hong Kong Diesel loses that sweetness and goes full out petrol, but maintains a hint of nuttiness on the exhale that provides a pleasant epilogue.
WRITER JOSH KRAUS
PHOTOS JAMIE KRAUS
FLAVOR ALTHOUGH Hong
Kong Diesel emits a potent petrol aroma, its fruity flavor evens the playing field, offering a deeply smooth sour inhale and a sweet exhale, keeping cottonmouth to a minimum.
THC 27.62% • TESTED AT • CANNLABS
LOOKS EFFECT THIS strain offers both an exuberant sativa experience and a mellow indica haze. Uplifting and extremely cerebral, it lends itself to calmer outdoor activities and creative endeavors. Coming standard with a typical indica body melt, flexibility is enhanced for better enjoyment of outdoor physical activities or succumbing to a relaxing night on the couch, whichever you’d prefer.
THESE chunky specimens are good and sticky, breaking apart into just the right bowl-size nugs. Each bud trimmed to perfection, Hong Kong Diesel shimmers with sugary trichomes and bright red pistils.
MEDICAL BENEFITS A genuine hybrid, Hong Kong Diesel
contains healing properties that span the cannabis subspecies. As the names of its cosmopolitan parents suggest, Hong Kong Diesel really is the best of both worlds. Pain relief comes swiftly from the indica side of the strain, while the sativa influence lightens the mood and keeps energy up.
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ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
AVAILABLE AT: •WALKING RAVEN
EDIBLES
DISCOVERING INCREDIBLE’S AFFOGATO BAR A Chocolate Latte, Espresso Beans, and Caramel Swirl Cannabis Experience
WRITER CHRIS MARCUS
PHOTOS ALEXIS EMBRY
• DONATED BY •
Incredibles and The Giving Tree
OR THE April
issue we discovered Incredible’s fantastic Chocolate Latte, Espresso Beans, & Caramel Swirl Affogato bar. Now, if you’ve dabbled with edibles before and are now traumatized due to some tasting more like a used sponges than anything remotely “edible”, you’re not alone. It was an extremely pleasant experience to take a big bite of the Affogato bar and feel as though I was eating a Hershey bar that somehow tasted much better. So for those who like coffee, chocolate, and
cannabis, you are going to be giving this bar two green thumbs up, and in the flavor category, we give Affogato a soaring pass. Speaking of soaring, not too long after downing some of this delicious delight, I was feeling really good. Let’s just call it part tingle, part relaxation, part high, but overall just a nice comfortable buzz inspiring me to go out for an exceptionally peaceful walk. So when you’re in your favorite dispensary and an Affogato edible is winking at you from the shelf, do yourself a favor and give that bar a new home. You’ll become good friends in no time!
NET WEIGHT
35 GRAMS
$25
(MEDICAL PRICE)
300 MG THC (LAB TESTED)
WHERE TO FIND The Giving Tree 2707 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 (and other medical and recreational cannabis retailers) dopemagazine.com ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE
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H I G H - Q UA L I T Y H A N D C R A F T E D I N F U SE D E D I B L E S
To all our clients, friends, and family... Old and new. Have an incredibles
!
ks n a h T & -Peace
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CAN I BE BLUNT?
Happy 4/20 from
DISPENSARY OF THE MONTH
NATIVE ROOTS SOUTH DENVER Helping The Industry Thrive
ARRYING on the tradition of its namesake, Native
Roots’ newest location is replete with smiling faces, a minimalistic black and white aesthetic and of course, connoisseur-grade pot. In fact, such a casually hip environment might seem comically at odds with its neighboring businesses, Discount Fishing Tackle and Medicine Wolf Log Furniture. But hey, at least a small subset of the population can finish their errands in one go. The South Denver shop opened its doors in January of this year, making it the franchise’s eighth dispensary. Dan, the retail manager, tells me that the new location will expand Native Roots’ footprint, and introduce the brand to new markets. “This location is going to cater to the locals. With our proximity to Denver University, obviously college students are part of our market, but there’s also the blue collar community, since this is such an industrial area.” Even soccer moms are on Dan’s radar, and ever since Foria, an allnatural, cannabis-based sensual enhancement oil, hit the shelves
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ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
the shop is seeing that particular demographic more and more. Seriously, all your errands in one go people. At eight dispensaries, Native Roots is one of the largest cannabis franchises in the state, and operates more like a corporation than your average pot shop. Dan argues that this is a positive development, “Every other industry in the U.S. has that mom and pop side of things, but then they have that corporate structure to drive business and create that competition, which helps the industry as a whole thrive.” All Native Roots dispensaries follow the same best practices, the same standard operating procedures, and use the same employee handbook. Their signature wallpaper, a black and white patchwork of bong silhouettes and catchy strain names, is plastered throughout every location. “Right now we’re focusing on unifying products across every store, so that if you’re up in the mountains for a weekend, and you see a Native Roots, you can walk in the door knowing exactly what to expect.”
2645 South Sante Fe Drive Denver, Colorado NATIVEROOTS303.COM
WRITER
PHOTOS
JOSH KRAUS
PAMELA LUEDEKE
“At eight dispensaries, Native Roots is one of the largest cannabis franchises in the state, and operates more like a corporation than your average pot shop.” dopemagazine.com ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE
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CANNA-NEWS
CANOPY BOULDER Creating Gems in a Sea of Cannabis Startups
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ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
WRITER CHRIS MARCUS
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
• VISIT • www.canopyboulder.com
OU CAN go pretty much anywhere in the world and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t know what an iPhone is. In fact, that’s how it often works with a lot of technology that becomes mainstream and ingrained as second nature among public consciousness. But what many often don’t see is the process by which some of these technologies and applications come about, which as many entrepreneurs are well aware is not always the smoothest journey from point A to point B. But fortunately CanopyBoulder has created a mentorship-driven seed-stage investment program for startups that’s helping some of today’s finest cannabis entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market so that the public will eventually enjoy them.
capital out there and available, and for those who are willing to do what it takes, opportunity does exist”.
With the recent success of cannabis legalization in Colorado, growers, entrepreneurs, dreamers, and investors have been flocking to the state to join in on the excitment. What many young (and old) entrepreneurs eventually come to realize over time is that there’s a big difference between having a great idea and having a profitable business, which is exactly the gap that CanopyBoulder is helping several cannabis related startups bridge.
These are some of the important variables and dynamics that often get overlooked when focusing just on the technical parameters of the business plan. Of course it’s important to understand how the business is going to make money and create value for its investors, but in the end it always comes down to the people who are involved and especially those leading and running the business. This is what makes the CanopyBoulder program so valuable; you get to be around people who have been there and executed similar projects and learn from their knowledge and experience. To be able to take that training and leverage it into the network of relationships that Canopy has built in the cannabis community is really an exciting opportunity for anyone who’s creating a business in the industry.
CanopyBoulder is currently in the process of launching its first class of entrepreneurs that includes 10 businesses in the cannabis space that are in various stages of bringing their green dreams into reality. It takes a pretty specific skill and mindset to be an entrepreneur, and what’s so fascinating about CanopyBoulder’s model is that in addition to providing the expertise and mentorship of their own team’s experience, they have also created a Silicon Valley-like networking atmosphere among Colorado’s cannabis entrepreneurs, which is an enormous resource in that just being around other like-minded entrepreneurs is often an invaluable part of the process. The goal is to help each business move along to the next phase. For some groups that might require getting to the next stage of capital raising, while for others it might be helping them to get one of their products to the market. The good news is that CanopyBoulder Co-founder and Managing Director Patrick Rea says that, “there is
During our interview with Patrick he mentioned that, “many of the ideas that come our way have the potential to be solid profitable businesses, although like most things in life it always comes down to the people. Do they have the dedication? Does the particular group of entrepreneurs have the drive to still find a way to get things done even when it’s not so easy and things aren’t going well? Are they able to communicate well? Are the leaders of the business charismatic enough to attract the partners and contacts that they’ll need to develop along the way?”
So do you have a cannabis business idea that you know has great potential and you’re determined to bring it to fruition? Are you interested in networking with other entrepreneurs who may be looking to add someone to their team? If you answered yes to either of those questions then you’d be well served to look through CanopyBoulder’s intelligently laid out website that provides a lot of detailed information about how the program works and how you can apply or get involved. Who knows, maybe you could be the next big cannabis Rock Star a year from now.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE
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CANNA-NEWS
CANNABIS REESTABLISHING ROOTS ON NATIVE LANDS HE OCTOBER 2014 memorandum from the Department of Justice regarding cannabis cultivation on tribal lands has grown into a budding medical cannabis operation in Pinoleville Pomo Nation, a reservation located in Mendocino County, California. Entitled Policy Statement Regarding Cannabis Issues in Indian Country, the memorandum acknowledged outreach from tribes regarding the Controlled Substances Act and the ongoing changes concerning the plant’s cultivation for medical, recreational and agricultural purposes. The federal government’s response opened the door for legal cannabis cultivation on tribal lands, stating: “Indian Country includes numerous reservations and tribal lands with diverse sovereign governments, many of which traverse state borders and federal districts. Given this, the United States Attorneys recognize that effective federal law enforcement in Indian Country, including cannabis enforcement, requires consultation with our tribal partners in the districts and flexibility to confront the particular, yet sometimes divergent, public safety issues that can exist on any single reservation.” There are currently 566 tribes officially recognized by the federal government, many of which have disparate views on cannabis. Washington state’s Yakima Nation, for example, banned the plant across all of its over 1 million acres following recreational legalization in 2012. But back to the 250-member Pinoleville Pomo Nation located in the infamous Emerald Triangle-
WRITER
ILLUSTRATION
MEGHAN RIDLEY
JOSHUA BOULET
-a region notorious for ideal cannabis cultivation, where the tribe plans to build a $10 million dollar operation. The tribe has released a statement outlining the cannabis will be used only for “medicinal purposes” and “will be grown in secure, low profile greenhouses located within the tribe’s reservation. The Tribal law will dictate extensive security measures that will be required of the operation. Cultivation will have no significant impact on the reservation’s environment and generate no significant off-reservation impacts.” There have been reports of Pinoleville partnering with United Cannabis out of Colorado, and FoxBarry Farms out of Kansas to help manage the large-scale operation. Their statement further elaborated: “Not only will Pinoleville comply with California’s medical cannabis laws, but Tribal laws will establish an administrative oversight that includes background checks, licensing, and investigation of all employees, managers, and persons associated with the business to ensure that the business is safe and legal.” As the roots of cannabis find themselves reestablished on native lands, there will be an undoubted eye to the issue of substance use, abuse, and the overall integration of the plant into the native culture. However, here we find not just a native issue, but a human issue--and a balance to strike between medicine, recreaction, and the overall wellness agent cannabis can be in this ever-changing dialogue.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE
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JULIAN MARLEY TIME FOR A HIGHER LEVEL
WRITER MEGHAN RIDLEY
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ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
PHOTO BARON WALTON
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
OGETHER, music and cannabis have been taking people to higher levels for generations. But few names bring the two together like Marley. . . The Marley name is synonymous with reggae and cannabis, but Julian Marley is now bringing the next generation of beats and what he calls the “BOOMDRAW” for the new era of Marley fans. And when the Marley name does come up--especially around the 4/20 time of year--it is all the more reason to celebrate the family lineage and the undoubted synergy between music and cannabis. As one of the roots of the Rastafarian movement, Marley summarized the relationship with the simple statement,
“MUSIC IS NATURAL AND HERB IS NATURAL.” DOPE Magazine caught up with Marley for a festive 4/20 Q & A to further explore what budding plans the son of Bob Marley has on his mind and in the works. . .
On the topic of being Bob Marley’s son. . . It is very humbling to know that our father was such a great humanitarian through his music, and I’m very grateful and thank all the people that accepted his music and embraced his message of one love. He was very humble and down to earth which helps us to be down to earth also. It’s a great feeling to know it’s all for goodness.
Thoughts on the medical cannabis and full legalization movements. . . I’ve always believed that herb has a great medical benefit. From what I know of herb, which is over a decade now, I knew this was a special thing with great healing elements in it. Rastas use it for meditation, some people drink and cook with it; it’s an all around plant that is not just for one use. So when we see the benefits of the herb and what it does enabling you to free up the mind mentally, you know it’s special. The plant should have been legal from the beginning as Jah created it. The amount of people that have been prosecuted and the blood shed in Jamaica spans over decades, all over herb. So legalizing it changes that. It’s a great thing and more blessings. dopemagazine.com ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE
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On reggae music. . . It can be said that herb and music go together. With music you always have herb-- especially for reggae music, which is Rasta. Reggae music is the music of everyday life, and herb is a part of that, so the two go hand in hand. Our music is freedom music and the herb is a natural plant, so we are advocates for the legalization of herb.
Current musical projects. . . Currently I am working on a new album due to release this year and have been in the studio working on some new songs. At the moment, I have a new single coming out titled ‘Lemme Me Go’ --it’s about the freedom and legalization of herb.
Enlighten us on your 4/20 rituals. . .
Genetics to create the ultimate “BOOMDRAW” --my term for the best herb.
Strains that are current or all-time favorites. . . I don’t always remember all the names, but OG is a favorite as well Durban Poison, Colombian Gold and Sensemina. Those are the old time favorites and they are hard to find. I’m just an advocate of good herb, the good grade, the boom draw!
On the topic of the dreaded “too high” moment. . . Whether you smoke or eat you need to know your limits. You have to respect it and know when to put it down.
JULIAN MARLEY’S TERM FOR “THE BEST HERB”
Well, on that sacred time and date we give thanks with our family and friends and congregate reasoning about things. Every time herb is smoked there is always some form of educational topic that is discussed, whether it’s about life or music. So on this day it’s all about giving thanks, good food and listening to reggae music.
Flowers, edibles or concentrates. . .
Tell us about your JUJU Royal Premium Cannabis Project. . .
“Rastafarians have always been at the forefront. If you look at our father Bob Marley’s album cover ‘Catch a Fire’ you will see a big spliff. Rastas have always been an advocate for herb. We have always known the benefits and spiritual connection with the herb, they have smoked it from creation, it’s natural.”
Dropleaf has created a full line of premium merchandise inspired by myself, hence the name JUJU Royal. They’ve teamed up with DNA
The natural format is my preference--the bud, the flower.
What Marley sees as his role in the cannabis movement going forward...
In a world where canna-branding is ever-expanding, it is no surprise that investors are seeking out names with notoriety within this once solely black market trade. As the Founder/CEO of Dropleaf was sure to note, “Our goal at Dropleaf is to make the Julian Marley “JUJU Royal” brand the most recognizable brand in the cannabis industry. Julian is an authentic representative that brings a high level of consciousness.” As the cannabis industry evolves, definitely keep an eye out for Julian Marley. As the middle child of Bob Marley, he’s well aware that it’s time for a higher level.
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ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
IGNITE YOUR PASSION www.thedopen.com
ERICH DEMERATH Emmy Nominated Director
www.manvsfilmproductions.com
CHAD COENSON Award-Winning Author/Screenwriter www.chadcoenson.com
GROW
GET GROWING
WRITER DAVID BAILEY
Prepping The Outdoor Garden
HE MORNING frost on my wind-
shield makes summer seem far off but the sunshine has been a nice reminder that planting is just around the corner! Whether you’re growing in super sacks or straight in the ground, now is the time to get the ball rolling. With a supply list, work order and a little bit of sweat, you’ll be well on your way to a hefty harvest in no time! When planning an outdoor garden, location is key. Being that the sun is your entire source of light, you want to make sure you can get the most of it. Ideally, your garden will always face south. In the real world; forests, buildings and nosey neighbors don’t always position themselves in the ideal way for your ganja growing. If you don’t have the fortune of a southward facing hill with no skyscraping trees, find a spot that has as much direct sunlight as possible and yet stays illuminated when it’s not direct. Decision time: Grow bags or Mother Nature. Grow bags are great for controlling nutrients, water consumption and plant growth. If you have lots of time to water, a soil recipe you trust and poor native soil, grow bags are a blessing from above! The downsides are that outdoor grown plants can take as much as 10 gallons of water per day per plant! If you don’t have irrigation, you’re better off dropping them in the ground than carrying hundreds of gallons by hand. Not to mention, underestimating how much nutrients your plant will need can lead to a devastating harvest. With how heavy these trees feed, it can often be easier to take advantage of what’s free and already there! While mowing the lawn has never been my favorite past time, clearing a cannabis field always makes me smile from ear to ear. I like to look out and pretend the ladies are already exploding in summer growth and visualize what complications might come
30 |
Before you go drop seeds in the soil outside, consider starting them inside first. I like to start the outdoor grow with a plant that’s already well rooted, sexed, and ready for the elements. A few days before you transplant outdoors, leave the pot to sit outside for a few hours during the day and bring it back in if it begins to look stressed. The intense light from the sun and constant airflow can be a real shock to a little pot plant! By the time you drop her in the soil, she’ll be acclimated and ready to rock. Growing outdoors is hard work. All the digging, soil turning, clearing of brush, mowing, spraying, building and planning can really add up! The beauty is that you get out what you put in. With a lot of elbow grease, patience and a good attitude, a long summer can lead to a bountiful harvest. And maybe an arm worth flexing too!
ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
8THDAYCREATE .COM
QUICK STEPS TO PREP GARDEN
from how things look now. How healthy are the surrounding plant life? Will there be good air flow? Where/how will I get water? A few days of clearing, tilling, amending and spraying can be the difference between success and failure. Summer bugs are obviously going to find their way to your plants but a few measures now can keep them from consuming your hard earned work. When I mentioned spraying, I like to spray my beds and the entire surrounding area with predator nematodes several times before the season begins and into the first few weeks of production. A lot of bugs that attack cannabis, ex. root aphids, grasshoppers and cucumber beetles, emerge from the soil in the early summer. Predator nematodes make sure they never make it to chomping at your plants or making more chomping babies. Simple brush clearing for airflow helps minimize pests as well. A constant breeze keeps rambling critters on the road.
GRAPHICS
1. Select ideal location
2. Clear off brush, mow
3. Plan water source and how it will get there
A
B
C
4. Designate beds, till and amend with nutrients - I like to top dress the beds in compost to help reactivate the soil life!
5. Install watering system
6. Get those babies started for the summer transplant!
5
4
1
3
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2
SUPPLIES NEEDED 1 Garden tools (shovels, wheelbarrows, knee pads) 2 Soil amendments (talk to your local grow shop) 3 Pump Sprayers 4 Lawn mower 5 Soil tester 6 Compost (If desired) dopemagazine.com ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE
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Less Waiting and Better Prices Equals More Convenient
CANNA-NEWS
How The Whaxy App Just Made Your Next Trip To The Dispensary A Little Easier
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WRITER CHRIS MARCUS
IRED OF having to wait in line when you’re picking up the same thing you always do? Perhaps even more significantly, are you on the dispensary side wondering how much business you’ve missed out on because customers can’t place orders online in advance for quick pick up? If so then you are going to want to thank Brandon Cook, Zach Marburger, and their team of developers at Cannabuild for creating the Whaxy app to solve both problems. Much has happened since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Colorado. Given the digital and social media age we live in, advanced technology customized to cannabis has been an ever-growing part of this developing market. The Whaxy app is currently available for download onto any smartphone and seeks to streamline the online ordering process. Already know the item and quantity you wish to purchase? Easily look up not only who has it in stock, but their prices, and where to go for pick up. Reserve an item at that set price, and know it will be set aside and waiting for you when you arrive. The obvious benefits to businesses are great, as dispensaries adopting the Whaxy technology can tap into a market of online buyers that is currently being underserved. In a society trending towards increased efficiency and online commerce, this is a significant factor. Whaxy is already having great success using online traffic strategies to attract significant numbers of end-users to the app, and in turn to participating dispensaries. Indeed, the Whaxy app is one of the first pieces of technology to come along
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in the cannabis industry capable of gathering data to assess and predict buying trends. Communicating with customers regarding their preferences is always a good practice, and the hard purchasing data can tell an important story about consumer likes and dislikes in this new industry. Whaxy also serves as a basis for future reward and marketing programs, helping dispensaries to develop longterm relationships with repeat buyers. In addition to having a passion for helping businesses increase their profitability and efficiency through the technology, Cannabuild is constantly finding new ways to help dispensaries with their digital presence, and in today’s online age it’s hard to overstate just how valuable that can be. As most of us know, a business can have a stellar website, the best products, and the greatest people running it, but if no one finds the store, it doesn’t matter. Cannabuild spends a lot of time helping dispensaries familiar with the cultivation process but newer to the online commerce model. Partnering with a group that has expertise in bringing all the pieces together can be a valuable asset, especially when combined with an active support team. A fundamental understanding of marketing and online technology is the company’s key to success, and Whaxy, now available nationwide, already syncs with the Adilas point-of-sale technology. Whether looking for your favorite edible treat, or checking out all the new ancillary products and business solutions coming into the market, cannabis consumers and retailers alike can make their lives easier with Whaxy.
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BUDDY BOY BRANDS
GARDEN
MEDICINE MAN A Garden To Learn From
TARTED by brothers Andy and Pete Williams in 2009, Medicine Man has evolved from a small one room operation to a massive twelve room conservatory where the moisture resistant wall panels, reverse osmosis water filtration systems, and server-room grade air conditioning units underscore the company’s commitment to quality. “People tell us this is the cleanest grow they’ve ever been to,” says Operations Manager Tyler Schneider. Our tour begins in the garden’s first wing, which up until a few months ago was the only wing. In October 2014, Medicine Man finished construction on a brand new addition, which doubled the garden’s grow space to a cool 40,000 square feet, and improved upon the first wing by using concrete and metal instead of wood. Both wings have the same grow rooms, such as the twin Green Mile veg rooms, which house Medicine Man’s clone mothers, or as Schneider calls them, “happy moms.” The clones are planted in gallon pots and as they grow they graduate to different stations within The Green Mile, before going on to flower. Like every aspect of Medicine Man, the flowering rooms are models of cleanliness and sustainability. UV filtration technology is used for decontamination while CO2 enrichment systems accelerate plant growth. Medicine Man also honors the ‘screen of green’ method of growing cannabis, utilizing wire trellises to keep the plant canopy at the same level. This approach maximizes light exposure while conserving space, and is one of the many smart strategies enabling the facility to harvest 100 pounds of cannabis per week. “We know how to grow weed fast and efficient,” says Schneider. Midway through our tour of Medicine Man’s garden facility, Schnei der tells us that the Arizona health department is scheduled for a visit the following day. “Everybody’s trying to get ready to open up,” he says. “We’re going to show them what it would need to look like.” With medical cannabis legal and recreational cannabis legislation pending in Arizona, it’s no surprise that its health department is currently in prep mode, and the fact that they’re looking to Medicine Man for leadership speaks volumes about its reputation as one of the cleanest, most efficient gardens in the industry. The tour continues, and we’re led through additional grow rooms, the cure room, and the trim room before finally ending up where we began: the storefront dispensary. There I’m introduced to Schneider’s wife, Shelley, who is also Pete and Andy’s sister. “We put our families, our lives, and ourselves on the line. All of us have everything in” she says. In fact, nine relatives spanning three generations work at Medicine Man, and they are blazing a trail through the industry together as a family.
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WRITER JOSH KRAUS
PHOTOS JAMIE KRAUS
“People tell us this is the cleanest grow they’ve ever been to.”
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PIECE
THE BOSS TUBE FTK Artist Scott Clark
WRITER JOSH KRAUS
PHOTOS JAMIE KRAUS
$3000
HOULD WE really be smoking out of something so beautiful? Absolutely. Scott Clark of Boss Tubes has channeled his wildly creative energies into producing something uniquely all his own using the FTK originally designed by Mothership Glass. Crafted in Clark’s home studio through a combination of lathe and hand blowing techniques, the Boss Tube FTK is technically a rig made specifically for dabbing. Measuring thirteen inches tall and constructed from UV reactive glass, it glows brilliantly under black light. Proprietary colors ‘Half Life’ and ‘Electric Flamingo’ used within the glass emit lightning bolt flashes of striking green and blue, tunneling through the piece like a neon ant colony. If ever invited to a dab-friendly rave, this is the piece to bring with you. Clark’s penchant for fluorescents is just the beginning. To heighten bubble action he’s fashioned a perc downstem, and with twelve cuts
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split into three sections, he gave the piece a flared out base with a thick rim. Also included, a dabber, glow in the dark dish, and two matching pendants. Scott’s friend Justine Pine creates the unique marbles that mushroom out on some pieces like psychedelic hood ornaments. Each hit from the FTK is clean and smooth, and the intricate architecture sends the water funneling up like a tornado, where it reaches an impressive froth. The air passes through two and a half inches of water before reaching the surface, and requiring a steady pull, but it does not clog easily. Clark has been in the glassmaking business for over fifteen years, and this experience is evident in the Boss Tube FTK. Available occasionally at various conventions, he usually crafts each beautifully eye-catching piece of functional art by request.
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM instagram.com/bosstubes
EdipureCO@gmail.com | EdipureCO.com | 720.445.6585
For Adults 21+ and Medical Use. Medicate Responsibly. Keep Out of Reach From Children
CANNA-NEWS
Starting Your Cannabis Career
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Getting a Foot In The Door in Everyone’s Favorite Industry
AVE YOU tasted enough cannabis infused edibles that you want to start making them yourself? Enjoying this incredible Denver herb and interested in joining a dispensary or team of growers? Well, fortunately Colorado’s new legal recreational cannabis market makes things like that possible, and people are flocking from all over the country, and the globe, to join in tvhe revolution. If you are not sure where to start your search for that new cannabis career, we can point you in a few good directions. To start, it’s worth acknowledging that while there is a great deal of opportunity here in Colorado, it takes real dedication and willingness to go searching for those available opportunities. This budding new industry has created many new businesses with new positions available over the past year, and job seekers from all over the country are descending upon Denver to compete for the same positions. The fact that the national economy is still in a recession does still have an impact here, and despite the growing size of the cannabis market, it’s still a relatively small community where folks know each other. This can be good and bad, as word tends to spread quickly, so beginning by treating people with respect while properly considering their time and needs is a great way to start. You never know when the person you’re talking to today will be friends with the person that you’re on a job interview with tomorrow. Again, it’s not rocket science, but you’d be amazed at how often that rule doesn’t get followed, even though it can be the deciding factor in landing a position. You’ll need to pass a criminal background check to receive a Cannabis Enforcement Division (MED) badge if you plan on touching the plant as part of your career. Common entry points for the industry are trimming, working as a budtender,
WRITER CHRIS MARCUS
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or helping out in the garden where prior experience is a plus, but not necessarily a requirement. Fortunately, there are staffing agencies now like Hemps Temps, who are offering short training programs for new industry entrants so they can learn skills before placement within the industry. For those with extensive growing and gardening experience there are businesses looking for your help. You can find updated job postings on Craigslist and other cannabis job boards like 420careers.com, thcjobs. com, cannajobs.com and weedhire.com. Like most other job searches, stopping in the dispensary or finding a way to meet some of the decision-makers at a trade show or industry event can make all the difference. Many experienced business professionals are coming to Colorado in search of opportunities in the business, finance, and marketing side of the cannabis industry. Demand is great for these skills, and open positions for business executives are becoming more prevalent and tend to have fewer qualified applicants. For those with a real passion, who are ready to dedicate themselves, the good news is that the industry is looking for talented reliable people who are in it for the right reasons and have value to add. Cannabis businesses are not so interested in people just looking for discounts and a place to puff all day, and hopefully that doesn’t come as a complete surprise. In the end there is much opportunity out there. Bring your passion and personality, combined with professionalism and a decent work ethic, and you can still place yourself at the front of the line to land the cannabis career of your dreams.
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CONCENTRATE
GOLDEN WRECK HAZE By Evo Lab
WRITER JOSH KRAUS
PHOTOS JAMIE KRAUS
FLAVOR EVO is committed to the cause of terpene
preservation, never heating their products over 95° F. GWH offers up a deliciously rich dab containing pronounced flavors of sweet fruit, tangy citrus, and fresh pine.
EFFECT GOLDEN Wreck Haze honors its
strikingly euphoric ancestors by providing an uplifting, pep-in-your-step high. The makings for a particularly nice daytime buzz, GWH filled me with energy (jittery side effects not included). The folks at Evo say that a few dabs of Golden Wreck Haze is akin to a morning cup of coffee, helping to motivate them at the start of their day. t
LOOKS EVO Lab is pioneering the art of the “sap,”
a unique type of CO2 extract that snaps and sizzles when pulled. The Golden Wreck Haze sap maintains the glossy brown complexion of melted caramel, and has a consistency similar to sap. The stuff is icky sticky, and loads onto a dabber like a dream.
THC 53% THCA 49% • TESTED AT • EVO LAB
MEDICAL BENEFITS EVO’S meticulous method of CO2 extraction
generates a healthier product with no toxic solvents, diluting additives, or cutting agents, and offers a clean, unadulterated dabbing experience. The Golden Wreck Haze strain is known to settle nausea, and Evo’s ops director Ryan, who suffers from two slipped disks, says a morning dab of Golden can provide daylong pain relief.
GENETICS DESCENDED from a Golden Goat/Trainwreck cross, Golden Wreck Haze is extracted by John Kruse, Evo’s cutting-edge alchemist, using River Rock trim. Rather than going the BHO route, Kruse creates all of his products via industry-grade CO2, staying true to the integrity of the flower by distilling only its essential oils.
WHERE TO BUY: •Element Four20
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SMELL DON’T be surprised if you detect the crisp,
tangy-sweet smell of wine after uncorking your container. Golden Wreck Haze oozes a fruity unctuous aroma that makes the mouth water in anticipation, so access your inner sommelier and take a deep whiff.
ENTERTAINMENT
JOHNNY’S COUCH COMPANION Fodder for the Thoughtful Patient-at-Ease
HE MIND. Its appetite ought to be respected, and sated. Louis CK has a famous rant where he observes the statement “I’m bored” is a useless thing to say. “You live in a great big world you’ve seen none percent of. Even the inside of your mind is endless… The fact that you’re alive is amazing.” The point here is invaluable. Curiosity is a virtue for everyone, and we shouldn’t let ourselves outgrow it. Cannabis facilitates this, and may dispose us to more creative or inquisitive pursuits that further our own enlightenment. This is one of the greatest parts of the cannabis movement - the common goal of greater human understanding. A mind sustained and entertained will remain happy, and guide the body with wisdom. When sitting down to medicate and unwind, spend some time trying to better your mind.
JOHNNY’S FEATURED MUSICAL ARTIST RAZ SIMONE Don’t sleep on Raz Simone, because Raz isn’t sleeping - he’s working around the clock. Seattle’s own poet turned rapper entered 2015 with an axe to grind and a message to spread. A marshalling force in the Black Umbrella clique, his sheer creative output is outstanding, putting out new singles and videos on his YouTube channel left and right. With this drive, discipline, and gut-punching storytelling skills, Raz is undoubtedly poised for a breakthrough. In January he released Cognitive Dissonance: Part 2, and posted it on his webpage for free. Disillusionment with the self-serving state of the music industry runs deep through the album. Without holding any punches, Raz calls out ostentatious wealth in Cheap Money, petty beefs in Bullshit and So Many Things, while the anthem Let It Go bangs hard (my personal favorite). Without missing a beat in March, Raz released Macklemore Privilege and Chief on Keef Violence, a mixtape of five singles leaked week by week. Raz’s mission to speak truth to hip-hop titans brings the biggest names in the game to account. Drake & Macklemore’s Platform is masterfully written, produced, and sampled with an archived Tupac interview. Far from a raft of diss tracks, Raz Simone is an uncommon voice of human heart and morality. In The Race he discusses race issues in the wake of Ferguson, leading into Them, a thought-provoking commentary on the silent but violent barriers in our society, and he’s not done yet. His next project, Baby Jesus, is due to be released this monthh.
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WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
JOHNNY’S FEATURED TV SHOW HOUSE OF CARDS What do you get when you cross The West Wing with Game of Thrones? Most likely House of Cards, a highly addictive drama/thriller available on Netflix. The American remake of the British original, it focuses on the ambitious Frank and Claire Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Depicting a dark Machiavellian world, the weak are marginalized and the strong-headed use blackmail, deceit, and whatever hypocritical schemes they can to get what’s theirs. The show’s third season was released last month and continues to shed a bit of dramatic light on the morass of our nation’s capital. SPOILERS AHEAD! In the wake of Frank Underwood’s carefully orchestrated dealings within the White House, he now enjoys the privileges of the Oval Office. Thirsty to build a lasting legacy, he launches a job recovery effort to shore up domestic politics while defending against, and baiting, party competition. Diplomatic matters with Russia get messy, complicated, and personal (not a familiar story at all!), while public affairs enter fifth gear and consume the Underwoods.
JOHNNY’S FEATURED BOOK NAPOLEON: A LIFE by ANDREW ROBERTS It’s like a strange, real life fairy tale - the rise of a Corsican bookworm who becomes Emperor of France - the life of Napoleon Bonaparte gains fresh insight with Roberts’ latest biography. Freshly bolstered by newly released historical documents, we gain new, personal insight into the controversial son of the French revolution. Distilled in enlightenment principles yet very much just a man struggling with his own passions, his manic largesse organized institutions and founded new legal systems. Napoleon ushered in the modern era over the shifting borders and bloody battlefields of 19th century Europe; by the time of his final defeat at Waterloo, at least 3 million people lay dead. Napoleon’s legacy is now known thanks to the thousands of pieces of correspondence he wrote. Roberts describes Napoleon’s infamous letter-writing habits, prodigiously dictating multiple pieces of correspondence at once, a genius that compartmentalized his public and private life, his energy and clarity was truly unparallelled. A scholar, soldier, and eventually statesman, he won initial victories in Toulon as an artillery commander and was promoted to general, leading France to significant victories in Italy. He navigates the smoke and mirrors of exaggerated correspondence deftly and weaves an inspired tale of the political saga leading up to his proclamation as Emperor. A titanic figure such as this tends to polarize historians, and they become depicted as either a hero or a villain. Roberts gives a light personal touch, but never becomes heavy-handed in his judgment of his subject, whom he portrays as very much human, flawed, and anxious, vulnerable to the manifold worries of the limitless responsibilities which he brought upon himself. While Napoleon: A Life may be over 900 pages long, it is one of the most epic tales modern European history has to offer. From Italian mountain passes to the Egyptian desert, Napoleon embarked on epic campaigns that shook the very bedrock of European society. He saw combat ranging from Spain to Russia, and wound up exiled not once, but twice. This book is a fantastic investment of one’s time. dopemagazine.com ISSUE 03 THE FOUR TWENTY ISSUE
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A reliable cannabis grading system you can trust.
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Where an online business directory of legal marijuana retailers and producers/processors is at your disposal. Navigate, review, rate and engage in the growing Washington community.
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WORLD NEWS WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
USA
CALIFORNIA OHIO ALBANIA ILLINOIS
Senators Propose Federal Medical Cannabis Bill bill has been introduced to the U.S. Senate that calls for reclassification of cannabis as a schedule-I drug. The CARERS Act allows states to opt out of the Controlled Substances Act and treat cannabis as a medicinal herb. This will allow for more research, more available CBDs, and access to federal banking. This may be the biggest step so far towards legalization that we’ve seen come out of Washington D.C., one can only hope it passes and is implemented as soon as possible.
member of Albanian Parliament has called for a nationwide campaign for cannabis legalization. Koço Kokedhima of the Socialist Party has not officially filed any proposals with the government but has been pushing the issue through his daily newspaper. Albania has a long tradition of growing cannabis and supplying to to the rest of Europe. Last year Albanian police destroyed two of the largest plantations in Europe, effectively ruining the livelihoods of a couple rural villages. Instead of illegally exporting their potent pot to western Europe, the idea is to regulate it like pharmaceuticals and raise revenue for their country by ending prohibition.
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Law Professor Teaching CannaCourse hio State professor Douglas Berman is teaching a new class entitled “Cannabis Law, Policy, and Reform”. While to others it may seem like a laughing matter or a class that would attract less-than-ambitious students, Berman’s goal is to change perceptions and start a conversation on the constantly changing state and federal laws concerning cannabis. It is an interesting case study where state and federal laws are often at odds bringing in such economic factors as banking, criminal justice, and taxation, teaching about major reform in real time.
Tainted Guacamole olice in Chicago recently found more than 2,100 pounds of weed hidden inside frozen avocado pulp. The cops were notified after the suspicious delivery of pulp had instructions that an urgent pick up was imperative. I mean, come on. Who needs over a ton of frozen pulp overnighted with such explicit directions for immediate pick up? One thing is clear, Frozavo, the purveyors of the frozen avocado in question should stick to their creamy fruit and leave the sticky-icky to the pros.
Pot’s Plane Ticket to Hollywood
BC has picked up a dispensary based show, Buds, for the upcoming 2016 season. Produced by Adam Scott, of Parks & Recreation, the show will center around a legal cannabis shop in Denver and the daily goings on of the cannabis industry. The writer also worked with Parks & Rec so look for a witty, situational comedy that wont settle for the obvious weed puns. As cannabis is becomes mainstream with shows like Weeds and Weed Wars, a prime-time network sitcom will only help cement its status even more as part of the cultural norm.
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HEALTH
COPING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
HabitRPG: A Fun Tool for the Persevering Patient
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WRITER JOHNNY HALFHAND
F KEEPING up with all one’s responsibilities is like treading water, keeping up with responsibilities with chronic illness is like treading water with pockets full of rocks. It gets exhausting. Some days we wake up horrified that the whole ordeal needs to be repeated and motivation can be hard to come by. Living in chronic pain, beyond the scope of medical intervention, is frustrating. Annoying. Overwhelming. It feels like navigating a hurricane, and sometimes just getting up and out the front door is like moving mountains. People often look at us disabled folks and see us as inspiration for merely getting up. But what is really the greatest virtue of the ill is perseverance - creative perseverance that looks for novel ways to make getting up and at ‘em every day just a little bit easier, maybe even more enjoyable. My favorite tool to help me stay on top of things is a simple little game called HabitRPG. Designed like a retro 8-bit role-playing game, HabitRPG is designed to “gamify your life,” allowing you to choose habits to develop, daily activities to master, and even ways to track to-do list items. Completing these tasks gives you experience points, allowing you to level up and gain new abilities; missing dailies will cause you to lose some hit points, and you earn gold with each successful task, daily, and quest. Old to-do items will grow red with time, showing you what you’re avoiding. Your successful habits will turn green and blue
as you complete them more regularly. It is a very aesthetic, understated experience with great potential to show an honest picture how a person is progressing towards their goals. This fantastic little game hints at something deep; our daily activities aren’t really a menial mess to keep up with, but a majestic quest which needs proper motivation, incentives , and organization to keep going strong. This epic avatar reflects the enormous celerity modern living demands of us. Your cascading pile of small victories allowing the purchase of gear to fit out your wee avatar with weapons, armor, robes, party hats, a variety of pets and mounts ranging from wolves and foxes and even bright pink flying pigs. The degree of customization is impressive once level 10 is reached. These little micro-rewards keep you coming back, keeping you loyal to your priorities. You also have the option to set your own gold rewards. Don’t want to adventure through this world alone? Form parties with your friends to go on quests, fighting monsters together by staying on top of your good habits. It is a great way to stay accountable to your friends or family and you can also join guilds, socialize in the tavern, and compete in challenges with other people seeking to work on the same things as you.
WWW.HABITRPG.COM
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ROAD TRIP
ICHIGAN
has been legal for good medicine since the “Michigan Medical Marihuana Program (MMMP) was voted into effect by the people on November 4, 2008. The program is run under the supervision of the Bureau of Health Care Services within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. In the spring of 2014 the program added “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” (PTSD) to its list of ailments, that include cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, and a list of debilitating ailments, such as wasteaway, chronic pain, nausea, etc. It wasn’t until fairly recently, though, that the City of Lansing established its own ordinances on medical Cannabis, via a city-wide vote on its November 5, 2013 ballot. The initiative legalized small amounts of cannabis within city limits, while disallowing a recreational sale, making Lansing a fairly tolerant city. Steve Green is the Cannabis Columnist for “City Pulse Newspaper”
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of Lansing, Michigan. An activist for the plant, Steve has testified before the Michigan House of Representatives and its State Senate on good medicine. He’s personally been in the front lines in the failed War on Drugs, with his own baby taken for six weeks by Child Protective Services (CPS). Thankfully, the child was returned with all charges dropped.
WRITER & PHOTOS SHARON LETTS
Green is serious about good medicine, but he also knows how to have a little fun, posing questions surrounding 420 fun via social media to his readers for column fodder and the occasional comic relief from the madness.
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8THDAYCREATE .COM
420 In The Great Lakes State
Green spends his days walking the talk with court support; gearing up for full legalization in 2016 with a “People’s Initiative;” and following two bills for “nonsmokable” products and “provisioning centers” (dispensaries); while educating Lansing readers in the process. “Through education and collaboration the hard-working advocates will shed enough light on this subject, that the tides with turn,” Green shared. “We are standing in the moment. This period of time in American history will be written about forever.”
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LANSING
4:20 4:20
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4:20 Los Angeles
New York
London
Paris
Berlin
Moscow
Beijing
Tokyo
Sydney
IT’S 420 SOMEWHERE! ROUND the country 420 is a common
denominator when it comes to partaking of the world’s most beloved and illicit herb, and Michigan is no different, although one Lansing man wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. That said, he also thought a “Kardashian” was something you could get a vaccine for. Dude, keep your bowl full and you’ll be alright. How the people choose to partake is a personal choice, with favorites becoming a yearly tradition where the people’s pot holiday is concerned. It can also be a challenge to celebrate the occasion in a public way. It’s against the law to light up on the streets of Michigan, but the people have a way of prevailing when it comes to the plant.
One woman said each year prior to 420 she cleans every piece in the house, and then packs each one, stating it’s an exhausting process! Another does the same, lighting each one up, “gauntlet style” with guests. Medicated waffles are one woman’s traditional fare for the occasion – forgoing the historic pot brownie of the past, but medibles have become the centerpiece of many 420 events. Spencer Wilson of Battle Creek owns “Medie Edie” a gourmet infused baking company supplying Detroit and Lansing dispensaries with goodness. “We are very experienced bakers and have an entire line of fancy cakes – think, ‘Cake Boss,’ he laughed. “We have many patients we bake for, and also do non-medicated cakes and baked goods for special events.”
Sadly, his own town of Battle Creek (birthplace and home of Kellogg’s cereal) closed down its dispensaries a few years ago. Ironic, as Kellogg began as a health spa, of sorts, and its “health food,” the corn flakes that made history, are now laden with GMOs. “It’s doubly ironic our town is named ‘Battle Creek’ because we are battling Kellogg and its use of GMOs,” he shared. “Patients who use cannabis are educated on GMOs and holistic living. We use almond milk rather than dairy, and our cake balls, hard candies and fudge are gluten-free. Everything is vegan and organic and we use blue agave rather than corn syrup.” Wilson said he’ll be filling orders this week for 420 next month, as it’s his busiest time of year. “I like to use 420 as a time to reflect on the year, as if it’s my New Year. I’ll roll a couple of hand-rolled cones and enjoy them with my fellow canna comrades!”
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BURNING INGENUITY
When it comes to burning the herb humans are the most ingenious species in the proverbial tool shed. They can “MacGuyver” the most unlikely of items into smoking devices in no time, and find the most ingenious places to use them. Paper toilet rolls are a classic all-time favorite, adding a piece of tin foil over a small hole, the open ends becoming a carburetor, of sorts. A dryer sheet stuffed into the end of a cardboard toilet paper tube is also an excellent way to blow out a hit and mask the scent. Airplane bathrooms are popular for vaping, but one man following George Carlin’s instructions blew smoke down the suction sink, commenting “I became more paranoid with each hit that they were standing outside the bathroom door, waiting to bust me.” Aluminum cans make a good pipe with a builtin screen when tiny holes are poked in one spot , but easy does it on the aluminum intake as it’s said to cause Alzheimer’s and other neurologically based ailments, and it will break down. Plastic bottles are to be equally avoided. Although they are easy to convert into a bong, the plastic degrades in the very water the bottle held, so probably not such a good idea to heat it up and put that into your lungs. From the garden, the apple is a great natural standby. Simply carve a hole through it, add a piece of tin-foil or better a screen, and viola, you have an instant flavorful pipe with the bonus of a slightly medicated snack afterward. Other fruits worth mentioning are mini pumpkins and bananas with the peel on. In high school one inventive young man created what’s referred to as a “Ray Gun” when he stole a “Graham Condenser,” a steam roller that filled a big tube up when pulling the slide, rolling the vapor into his lungs. Way to use your scientific education, man.
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420 IN MY MIND
Gathering together, whether in public with thousands or in a small group of friends, partaking together of the herb is tribal. Native Americans used a “Calumet,” identified as “Peace Pipes.” Smoking tobacco and other herbs (fill in the blank) was seen as a diplomatic event surrounding war, peace, commerce, trade, and social and political decision-making. Smoking in a circle was seen as a universal sign of solidarity. In Michigan, Green said its “People’s
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Initiative” to fully legalize Cannabis in the state may be their saving grace, stating “As an epilepsy patient who ingests the oil as prevention against life threatening seizures, I feel this plant should not be restricted to only the ill. Everyone should be able to enjoy this miraculous and beneficial plant.” One day our smoking circles may celebrate the day and date our nation legalized and freed this herb. Until then, the way we celebrate and love the herb is evident, with wellness shared with each pass on April 20, at 4:20 p.m. somewhere.
Stay Classy.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGN FOR THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY WEBSITES, BRANDING, PACKAGING, AND MORE WWW.NELLYWHITE.COM/GREEN
PROFILE
WOMEN GROW! National Organization Sows Seeds for Success
WRITER & PHOTOS SHARON LETTS
We are Women, Hear us Roar HE HISTORY of the fight for human rights in America has never been lost on its women. From the moment a mother swears protection over her infant she is a warrior for justice for that child, her loved ones, her home and her community. Education is key to empowerment in any culture, and according to Unicef (www.unicef.org), an international organization supporting the world’s children in advocacy, giving a girl an education empowers an entire community, as their options grow and their children are given more opportunities. It’s a positive trickle-down process enabling choice – a basic human right. Traditionally, women’s protests come from personal struggles at home. Women both began and ended the prohibition of alcohol, seeing both the hazards of the drink and the horrors of the black market that followed. The Suffragettes in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries starved themselves for the vote that would make them equal to men – at least in the voting box. In the mid-1800s Sarah Bagley lead a movement within the garment industry of Lowell, Massachusetts, to improve pay and working conditions for women. She and her co-workers led the fight for the first union for women, by women, with the “Lowell Female Labor Reform Association” (LFLRA), changing the way women were treated within the industry for the better. She was also the first woman to utilize radio to get her message out, something only the boys were privy to prior, opening the door for women in media.
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The for-profit female empowering group, Women Grow, was launched by savvy business women Jane West and Jazmin Hupp in the midst of Denver’s own growth spurt. When the two welcomed sixteen industry leaders to their table in Colorado, each contributed $3,000 toward the start-up. Past professional work for Hupp included organizing large-scale events for non-profits, such as UNICEF and GE Medical, who announced the endeavor with Hupp in attendance during the National Industry Association’s conference in Denver June, 2014. Hupp, who had launched six businesses prior and offered a decade of knowledge in branding and communication knowledge, had already been working with a similar women’s group in California (Women 2.0), helping the organization grow from its home in the Bay Area to events in six countries for 100,000 entrepreneurs. “The second I met Jazmin I knew it was meant to be,” West explained. “She is exactly the sharp, driven talent that we needed for developing the backbone of the organization.” Part of the mission of Women Grow
is to “… connect, educate and empower the Cannabis industry leaders by creating community and events for aspiring and current business executives.” A simple enough statement that could be shared by many – but the heart of the organization lies in good, oldfashioned female nurturing, with its mission clearly defined, “We want to create a supportive environment for women to lead America’s fastest growing industry.” The support is evident, with the organization quickly adding chapters with leaders holding networking events monthly in more than twenty cities and fifteen states across the country. Chapters in newly deregulated Jamaica, Canada, and France are expected, with organizers expecting fifty states on board by the year’s end. Perks for members include monthly networking meetings, workshops, retreats, a newsletter, and an impressive speaker’s panel ready to educate the masses. “We’ve grown so fast, it’s inspiring,” West added. “Women will become the dominant Cannabis consumers and we want to ensure that their interests are being met on both the business and the consumer side.”
The Female Factor The Cannabis industry has been seemingly male dominated for decades, though behind every great farmer there’s no doubt been a woman in the kitchen whipping up good medicine, healing everyone around her in the process. With 61 percent of moms in the U.S. working (U.S. Bureau of Labor2012), it’s safe to say, women are busier than ever and the Cannabis industry reflects their due diligence. Women are natural organizers. From the moment their kids hit elementary school they multi-task myriad appointments, commitments and make things happen, while keeping everyone fed and happy. Julie Dooley is a founding member of Women Grow and President and creator of Denver based “Julie’s Natural Edibles,” a large-
scale, infused, gluten-free baked-goods company that distributes to dozens of retail outlets throughout the State of Colorado. She said she’s worked with many women since founding the company in 2009.“Working together comes easily to women,” she said. “We do not worry about stealing proprietary information – rather, we share and collaborate to protect each other. Working together has proven to be invaluable for me and for my company.” Dooley feels the future of the industry is directly linked to the future of women in the industry, as they create sound legislation, best practices standards, and nurturing work environments that she said will ultimately create a solid foundation to endure the inevitable evolution of the industry in years to come.
Washington State’s Women of Weed The empowerment of women in the industry is evident in Washington State in spite of itself. With good medicine struggling to hold its own under the supervision of the Federal oversight of the Washington State Liquor Control Board, its medicine makers tenaciously carry on, as witnessed within its now infamous Cannabis Farmers Markets that have become a place of education and healing. Women in their 50s and 60s sit before tables of salve, tincture, and oils while offering up a decade’s worth of healing advice, declaring, “Honey, we’ve been doing this for decades,” with even the most arduous recreational users enlightened to the plant’s healing properties. This is what happens when legalization hits a state and its medicine makers feel comfortable to share. Alison Draison is founder of Ettalew’s, an edible maker in Seattle proper that
distributes to dozens of safe access points throughout the state. Draison is active in the women’s movement within the state, attending Women of Weed, Washington Women’s NORML Alliance, MJBA Women’s Alliance (Cannabis Jobs Business Alliance), and now, Women Grow. Business practices, as well as farming have been the focus within the initial Women Grow meetings in Washington, and Draison says she feels there just isn’t enough time at each meeting to cover all the information that needs to be shared. “We’ve had a great turnout of both men and women at our meetings,” Draison declared, “but I believe it’s the power of women moving Cannabis forward socially, environmentally, legislatively and financially. I’ve been around for ten-plus years and have seen changes occur as more women are willing to take risk in the changing climate of Cannabis.”
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Alaska’s Women Grow Inspired by Colorado and Washington’s win, the State of Alaska went ahead and legalized before medical cannabis was in place, leaving ordinances up in the air for debate. Kim Kole became Women Grow Alaska’s first Chapter Chair, with its inaugural meeting held on November 6, just two days after the win. “Most people aren’t quite ready to commit to what they’re going to do – it really depends on what regulations are adopted,” she said. “We’ve had between 20 to 25 members at each meeting, but we are expecting to grow
in numbers as the regulations are written and business plans progress.” While Alaska’s ducks are still being put in a row, Kole said her personal goal has been to prepare and educate potential CEOs of future cannabis businesses. Thus far meetings have hosted speakers representing the Coalition of Responsible Cannabis Legislation; a start-up compliance attorney; a cultivation specialist, consultant; and a member of the Anchorage Assembly, Cannabis Committee. Future speakers include
a tax attorney, a nurse practitioner to discuss the Endocannabinoid System; a security company, and an insurance representative. “It’s important for people to go into this business with their eyes wide open, because this industry carries a greater risk than any other small business venture,” she added.”
Stepping out of the Emerald Closet Humboldt County is part of the vast growing region in Northern California that includes Trinity and Mendocino counties in what is known as “The Emerald Triangle.” The region has been historically covert with its cash crop for decades. The women who filed into Northcoast Hydroponics in McKinleyville in Northern Humboldt for the first Women Grow Humboldt meeting did so with bravery few exhibit in these parts. The Women leading the group have deep roots in the culture of the region, and are well versed in the plant. There will be no growing workshops for this chapter. Their main concern is for the safety of their families, the environment, and finding a legitimate place in the business world, if and when legalization finally happens in California. Women Grow member and co-founder of California Cannabis Voice Humboldt (CCVH), Women’s Alliance, Chrystal Ortiz, has seen decades of strife within the covert industry in Northern California, comparing its conflict with the Federal Government as an all-out war. CCVH is an organization created in an effort to bring the region’s Cannabis community together in the continued battle. The group has an emphasis on environmental issues plaguing the region by large scale corporate interests, while teaching others to be good stewards of the land. “NORML says women are six to ten percent less likely to support legalization than men,
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but those numbers don’t reflect Humboldt County,” she informed. “We have lost our children, our spouses, family members and friends to this civil war. In a country founded on constitutional rights and freedoms, when it comes to cannabis, we have had none. The punishment has not fit the crime.”
was derailed when I shattered two vertebrae that caused my spine to collapse on itself and fry my spinal cord.”
Ortiz feels women bring creativity and collaboration to the landscape, stating, “When women wake, mountains move – and it’s time to move the mountains. Women are poised to be the deciding vote in legalization. We control the majority of household spending, including non-pharmaceutical healthcare and wellness alternatives, like yoga and other forms of prevention. Women are the biggest purchasers of organic food, supporting small farmers. We are also more likely to be diagnosed with a chronic illness.”
“When Prop. 19 was on the ballot for legalization in California we had a few meetings up here to discuss,” Lelehnia shared. “We were told that Humboldt was the “Napa” of cannabis. It was a conversation I had been having for years and now it was here.”
Lelehnia Du Bois is President and co-founder CCHV Women’s Alliance. Du Bois was born and raised in Southern Humboldt, the place where some say it all began in 1969 when “Back to the Landers” headed north from San Francisco after the “Summer of Love,” historically hybridizing America’s finest. “For a long time I was embarrassed from where I came from,” she admitted to the group of women from the podium. “As a young adult, I chose to live in Southern California and distanced myself from Humboldt. When my mom became ill and passed away I returned home to care for my siblings, promising myself to leave when they were grown. Then my life
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Cannabis became DuBois’ medicine and the very thing she was ashamed of became her saving grace, keeping her from being seriously disabled. Needless to say, she stayed put.
Though Proposition 19 failed, the fire was lit with networking and organizing at the forefront. Women Grow member and CCVH Chapter co-organizer Terra Carver said, “It was at that moment I drank the green kool-aide.” As leaders from other mainstream organizations came together to unify they mapped out what legalization and the business of cannabis could look like for Humboldt County. “We women of cannabis are on the front line of this drug war,” Lelehnia said. “It’s time for us to unite our families, our loggers, our politicians. We are the women of cannabis, we are strong and we are survivors. It’s time for us to lead the way in the industry our families before us created.”
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Cannabis Companies Vying for Brand Recognition
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BUSINESS
HE WIDE WORLD of weed is
known for the multitude of strains that continually spawn and are bred into countless new varieties. As anyone who has visited a medical dispensary or recreational shop knows, there is a rotating variety of products with new ones popping up seemingly everyday. The big question that still looms over the nascent cannabis industry is what will take over as America’s brand of choice, the household names, once weed is legal across the nation? As cannabis still cannot cross state lines, even between states that have both legalized it, for now companies are generally very local. All products must be made in state, from seed to sale, so the idea of a multi-state business is not yet viable. Dixie Elixirs, one of the most successful cannabis companies in Colorado offering over 100 different edibles, is hoping to become one of the first companies to cross state lines by licensing their brand and recipes. This would allow them to maintain product consistency and to expand their market share, both of which are key for any national brand.
WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
Celebrities and well-heeled investors have begun to come out of the woodwork bringing new opportunities. The SEC recently allowed California based grow equipment company Terra Tech Corp., who have plans to start a grow and a dispensary, to register in the stock exchange. The SEC made another step in the right direction in December when they decided they would not enforce federal laws pertaining to investment in cannabusiness. Co-founder of PayPal, Peter Thiel, immediately jumped on board with a $75 million investment to the Seattle-based company that owns Leafly, as well as an investment in the highly anticipated Marley Natural line of pre-rolled joints. With that hefty hunk of cash and the blessings of Bob’s relatives, the Marley Natural brand is sure to be a standout before it even hits the shelves. Many celebrities are looking to cash in on the inevitable green rush. Melissa Etheridge
makes a weed-infused wine, B-Real of Cypress Hill owns a dispensary, Snoop Dogg has his own vape pen, and Tommy Chong has his hands in a wide assortment of cannabis-related ventures. The exposure and instant name recognition that these products are receiving because of the face they are attached to is no doubt good for business, but is that enough? Most of today’s larger players in the industry started at the bottom, growing in their basements, or opening businesses years ago when medical MaryJane was first becoming accepted. Of course, with a market as promising as the cannabis industry there will be lots of money exchanged and even larger sums invested, and many will get quite wealthy off of it. However, a strong majority of these successful business owners started as grassroots cooperatives and helped to bring cannabis out of the closet and into the mainstream with smart policy reform and advocacy. Only recently have big names started to attach themselves to a once-taboo product, as there is now very little risk of federal prosecution. Without years of handson experience dealing directly with the plant it seems hard to believe that any newcomers with money could be successful, but then again who wouldn’t want weed grown by a rapper who rhymes about nothing else, or joints from a company bearing the name of a legend with investment from one of the most successful venture capitalists in the world? They would have to be the best, right? One thing is certain: with the popularity of cannabis and the many ways to consume it, there will never be a monopoly on any aspect of legal cannabis. No single brand could ever control the whole market with so much room for healthy competition. The time is now for enterprising souls to hit the drawing board with ideas for brand development and expansion. Nothing is set in stone, and with so many people dreaming of being cannabis’s Bill Gates, it will be exciting to see what brands can set themselves apart as consistent, high quality, and trusted in years to come.
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