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FROM THE EDITOR A
fter traveling to Thailand in 1982, Arjan Roskam — on our cover — decided that it would be his life’s mission to trot the globe in search of unique and rare landrace strains. While these days he is probably best known for his lead role in the television series “Strain Hunters,” he has also been credited with building a prolific reputation in the Amsterdam coffee shop scene. Roskam’s global endeavors with his team of strain hunters are steeped in danger – they lost Franco Loja. Roskam’s right hand man, to a very aggressive form of brain malaria while touring the Congo on a hunting mission. Roskam shares with us his history with the plant, the early days when everyone hated his weed, how his coffee shop almost failed and why he will continue touring the planet for cannabis until his last days.
an invite to one of these intimate dinner parties isn’t always easy, it’s worth the sweat equity required for attendance. From Hush Supper Club in D.C. to Sound & Savor dinner club in West Oakland, Chander’s exploration of these cultural experiences is worth the read.
Podcast host and journalist Mary Jane Gibson takes us to the East Coast of Canada and the United States sharing some of her favorite cannabis friendly spots in Toronto, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Boston and Portland, Maine. She pairs local, tourist-friendly pot shops with must-see-and-do adventures on the Atlantic coast. If you’ve considered touring the East Coast and need a few tips and tricks, be sure to check out Gibson’s recommended ganja getaways.
We hope that this year’s Travel Issue inspires you to get out and explore the world, seeing cannabis from new angles. As always, thank you for picking up this month’s issue. We couldn’t put this publication together without the support of our readers and cannabis allies!
We also interview global yo-yo legend Gentry Stein, who has visited over 28 countries and counting bringing his passion and knowledge of the yo-yo with him wherever he goes. When he’s not competing in national yo-yo championships, Stein can be found mentoring young yo-yoers or inventing yo-yos that are both accessible and affordable for kids to learn on. At only 23 years young, we are keeping an eye on Stein to see what he does next!
Thank you for staying DOPE! We dip into the culture of Underground Supper Clubs with Raj Chander, who notes that secret dinner groups offer refreshingly intimate dining experiences taking food back to its communal roots. While procuring
The DOPE Editorial Team
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EFENDING UR LANT VERYWHERE As a lifestyle publication, DOPE Magazine is dedicated to creating purposeful, relevant conversations. We’ve built a steadfast framework of inclusivity when speaking about gender, race, class, politics, family and culture—with the ethos DEFEND. At DOPE, we don’t just defend our plant, but our people, patients and planet. Our highly curated content continues to focus on those who maintain a relationship with— and advocate on behalf of—cannabis. While cannabis remains the central theme of our brand, it is our belief that creating conversations about real people and relatable experiences is the best way to normalize the role that cannabis plays in society. Our aim is to continue to illuminate issues that deserve our attention and must be addressed if we wish to both promote and create change. We are grateful for your time, we welcome your feedback and are ever appreciative of your participation and dedication in creating positive, lasting change in the cannabis community.
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t’s early afternoon on May 20th, 2019 and on the other end of the phone is Arjan Roskam, best known for his lead role on the television series “Strain Hunters,” although his relationship with cannabis dates back to the ‘80s. In 2005, Roskam approached his team of global strain hunters with the idea of taping the team’s strain hunting expeditions. “I went into my office in 2005 and said, ‘Guys, you know what? We’re going to film [our excursions].’ My partners Olaf and Heiko go, ‘Arjan, you’re crazy. We’re going to die. We’re going to lose our business.’ I didn’t care. I only have one goal: activism and legalizing marijuana. It is more important than my family, as crazy as it sounds.” On January 2nd, 2017 Roskam lost his right-hand man, Franco Loja, when he contracted “a very aggressive form of brain malaria in [the] Congo … we came back, and he died in the hospital here in Barcelona,” Roskam shares. On the day that we speak, it is Loja’s birthday. When asked what he has lost in Franco’s passing Roskam observes, “Nobody ever left our team of people. We are a great group of people. The most important thing that I lost was a great friend.” Loja, like Roskam, was willing to jeopardize his life if it meant more access to the benefit of medical and recreational cannabis. “Him and me,” Roskam asserts, “we had the same philosophy, shy of whatever happens, we’re going to [strain hunt].” From hunting with the Taliban in Afghanistan and the FARC in Colombia to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean all the way to Malawi in southeastern Africa, Loja and Roskam risked their lives many times. “Our [strain hunting] team has nearly been killed in Malawi by drunken soldiers, we lost a cameraman in South Africa, who we found a day later in the bush. We had a huge issue in the Congo, in the north, with a general who didn’t like us and one of us was taking a shower in the river, naked, which was basically the death penalty there. In northern India, we became so sick [from] food poisoning that we all nearly died,” Roskam details. So, how did Roskam get his start in the cannabis business? It began in the north of Thailand in 1982.
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Thailand 1982 – Painting a Picture of a Medicine Man
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I had stumbled upon an early interview with Roskam in which he mentions receiving a gift of cannabis seeds from a medicine man in Thailand in his teens while on holiday. How did this seemingly serendipitous encounter launch Roskam’s lifelong romance with the plant? “Well, you won’t believe the setting. I was very, very young. I think I was 17 [traveling] with my rucksack to north Thailand. [At the time] I had been to Thailand many times. You have to remember I grew up in Africa and Asia so I was kind of familiar with the area, and I went on holiday up in the north to see Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai,” Roskam reflects. At the time, in the early ‘80s in Thailand, many people were suffering from opiate addiction. “[The medicine man] was curing them of their addictions, treating them with marijuana at the time, and I was just a very occasional, recreational smoker but nothing special. I was just looking for a sleeping place actually, because I was going through the mountains and [the medicine man] offered me a sleeping place.” It wasn’t until the early morning that Roskam would realize how devastated the village had become as a result of opium. “I didn’t have a clue where I was until the next morning when I woke up … I see some people vomiting, and I see all kinds of pretty weird stuff around me, which was strange.” “At that time, the [medicine man] was already 78 years old … he was not a young guy anymore. I asked, ‘What are you doing here?’ He responded, ‘We’re treating people here with drug addiction.’” Roskam had only planned on staying one or two nights, but his visit turned into a week-long stay. The medicine man mentions to Roskam that the cannabis is being used in lieu of quitting opium cold turkey. “He gave me a handful of seeds and said, ‘This is a very powerful medicine, it’s very good, it’s used in all ancient medicine in Asia.’ He said, ‘Keep those seeds. Those seeds in the future, they are so powerful. They will be able to overthrow governments.’” Roskam took the seeds and although to this day he is unsure where they ended up — he misplaced them during his travels, but he returned to Europe with a new sense of purpose and started growing. “I basically started working with marijuana because of that man,” Roskam asserts.
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Congo, February 2016 From Left: Arjan, Christo, Simon, Franco
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Holland – The Skunk Years As a young teen intending to become a world-renowned chef, Roskam worked in the service and hospitality sector. “My dream was to become a Michelin star chef,” Roskam laughs. After some serious reflection on his initial life goals, Roskam started growing. “At the time there was nothing happening in Holland; actually, there was no marijuana industry, there were no marijuana coffee shops in Amsterdam.” He notes that at the time the only person who had brought the first skunk seeds from America was Old Ed, a legendary pioneer of the Dutch marijuana scene. “I got ahold of [Old Ed’s] skunk seeds and started growing skunk,” Roskam notes. With his seeds in tow, Roskam started building relationships with some of the early coffee shops. Through the ‘80s he often traveled to Thailand, Nepal and Southeast Asia, bringing seeds back to Holland, and began to breed sativas and cross strains. “You have to remember at that time there was only skunk and orange bud, which were kind of the same thing,” Roskam shares. Between ’87 and ’89, Roskam built his repertoire with Amsterdam coffee shop owners leading to his attempts to sell his cannabis. He desired to do something different and put his skunk days behind him. He would drop off samples, return for feedback, and learn quickly that they hated it. “I came with something new to the coffee shops. They called it ‘cat piss’ (the sativas and the kush). People weren’t used to it. You have to remember [that] Holland comes from a hash culture, so 90 percent of what Holland had was hash from Morocco and a little bit from Afghanistan, some Nigerian schwag, some Jamaican.” Eventually, the coffee shop owners came around, but the problem remained in the “budtender” recommendations. “Back then, the budtenders as you would call them today, they didn’t give a shit about weed, they didn’t think [my stuff] was good, so they wouldn’t promote the product to their customers, which was a bummer of course,” Roskam chuckles. This continued on until 1990 or so when Roskam’s wife said to him, “If you really think this is so good, why don’t we open our own club?” Thus began Roskam’s dive into the Holland coffee shop scene.
Tolstraat 1992 – The Green House Roskam was no stranger to solitude, having spent the ages of seven onward in boarding schools. His wife and he sensed a similar loneliness in the early ‘90s as they attempted to launch The Green House coffee shop on the Tolstraat (a street) in Amsterdam. “I had no money. I had nothing. We were, my wife and I, very, very poor. At one point we were so poor we were kind of living on the street,” Roskam opens up. “We were kind of just cruising around in the center of Amsterdam, and I had one good friend whose sister had four bars, her name was Marsha. She had famous bars where all the theatre people from Amsterdam would come, the left wing [people], the gay community, artistic people, the painters.” Roskam’s connection to Martha was the catalyst for the opening of The Green House coffee shop. “My good friend [Marsha’s brother] we grew up together
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India, October 2009 Arjan and Franco
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age of 12. I said, ‘Listen. I have this great idea. We should start a coffee shop. We’ll make it like an artistic café, we’ll sell alcohol and we’ll sell joints.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’” Roskam and his business partner approached the Heineken brewery with a proposal to open a bar, got a loan for one hundred thousand guilders (the currency of the Netherlands until 2002) with backing from Marsha, and opened up the club. At the time, one hundred thousand guilders was a fortune. “It was a big nightmare. We made [the space] very beautiful, I sent a letter to the mayor inviting him to come for the opening. I sent a letter to the head of police to come to the opening because it [was only] the third coffee shop with alcohol, it was pretty rare, that didn’t exist then. At that time coffee shop licenses didn’t exist … they came in 1995,” Roskam iterates. From the launch, The Green House faced immense problems. The cops showed up and wanted to shut the place down. Roskam’s lawyer worked diligently to keep it open. They had no customers because no one liked the weed they were selling. “People would say, ‘It’s still the same, it’s cat piss, we don’t want to buy it,’” Roskam says. From nine am until one in the morning, Roskam would lay on the couch in the shop waiting for customers who never arrived. “Maybe I was selling 25 dollars’ worth of beer and coffee each day,” Roskam shares. This was in the Spring of 1992. The lack of sales had Roskam’s business partner and Marsha worried. She had vouched for the shop for Roskam to get the initial loan. “My partner and Marsha saw that [the lack of sales] was jeopardizing all of her businesses. After three months my partner said, ‘We’re losing so much money Arjan. I am stepping out. You can keep it; you pay me back whenever you want.’ Which I did later. So here I am on my own, with my wife, with a place that’s not running … nobody likes my marijuana. Then in January of 1993, a car stops in front of the door, a big limo with the Kennedy family*. They stepped out [of the limo] and I had no idea who these people were, I didn’t even know of High Times’ existence. They said, ‘We heard that you have some special marijuana. Do you want to enter a contest around Thanksgiving in November?’ I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ I had nothing to lose.” The limo drove away and some months later in November when 500 people would show up on the doorstep of The Green House coffee shop. “The club’s still not running [well], I’m with my wife, and total panic breaks out and luckily, luckily, luckily we had old enough weed [to enter into the competition].”
* Michael Kennedy was a civil rights attorney who was one of the trustees who took over High Times as a publication following the original founder Tom Forcade’s death in 1978.
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Congo, February 2016 Arjan, Franco and Simon
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India, September 2009 Franco and Arjan checking a drying place on the top of the mountains
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“To make a long story short, there were I don’t know, 25 coffee shops entering into the Cannabis Cup. The award ceremony was like five or seven days later … these were the times of Steve Hager. At that time The Bulldog coffee shop had a discothèque called the Buddha Club, and he gave High Times permission to do the ceremony there.” Roskam goes on to express how crazy a weed world championship contest was in 1993. “Which idiot is going to award the marijuana contest where all the cops are going to come, you know what I mean? There were 25 television stations there to film this because no one had ever seen a marijuana contest. CNN came, and BBC and Japanese television and South African television and the whole lot! I am standing in the back, I think I am 27 at the time, so I am super young. There were six big prizes to give away. Well, guess what? I won five of the six prizes,” Roskam punctuates with excitement. “From there on the whole Green House saga started.”
1995 – The King of Cannabis In 1995 Roskam created kingofcannabis.com. “At that time there was a big repression by the United Nations – from the French, Americans and Swedes. They were bashing on Holland because [they felt] our drug policies were very dangerous for the youth, bad for the world. They thought that Holland should be stopped and that the coffee shops should be closed. We were scared to lose our business,” Roskam flashes back. During this time, Roskam penned his book, “How to Run a Dispensary.” He hoped that American weed entrepreneurs like Steve DeAngelo would take the book and go back to America and spread his message. “That was the plan. And it really worked because I became friends with Bill Maher, Woody Harrelson and Kirk from Metallica. We got 150 A-list supporters and family. Roskam felt that coining himself The King of Cannabis would be a prelude to greater awareness and more opportunity to share his message. In 1995 Roskam along with others in the community created a big cannabis union called the BCD (there is no English term/translation for the union), which still exists to this day. From 1995 to 2005 Roskam built his awareness campaign. By 2005, he had spoken at more than one thousand seminars. “I was educating police officers. I had so many high officials, judges, district attorneys, the whole lot, and it was hard work,” Roskam notes. He began to get fed up with the haters who would bash on him through forums. Roskam took it upon himself to prove through action that his awareness campaign was real and pledged to film his hunting endeavors. “Strain Hunters” was born.
2005 and Beyond – “Strain Hunters” “If you look at the quality of the movies, the first three or four, [it’s obvious] that we were making the films ourselves. You can see the difference in quality [between then and now]. At one point, National Geographic came and picked it up, they did an entire episode. Then Shane [Smith], the owner of Vice [Media] called me and requested a
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meeting in New York.” Vice Media would film, produce and air one “Strain Hunters” episode filmed on site in Colombia. After that, HBO approached Roskam, resulting in another episode. After Franko Loja’s death, the show was put on pause. “Franco died, so the last two years we didn’t do one. But, I am thinking, at the latest, next year we’re going to pick up ‘Strain Hunters’ again and we’re going to make a whole new series, because Franco’s replacement is here and we had to work really hard to find someone [who could fill Franco’s shoes]. Every time I go on a mission, and I go on many missions … I’m looking into my kids’ eyes and they know it could be the last one. It’s not easy, it’s hard … I have to do this because the plant is so valuable and I am very, very sure in the next 10 to 20 years we can cure or prevent [the majority] of cancers.” Roskam is hoping to film another ten episodes of “Strain Hunters” with no intention of slowing down. Removing the many misconceptions that surround cannabis seems to be what his legacy will be built on. It became apparent during our conversation that Roskam’s connection to small communities who employ cannabis holistically appears genuine. “We can see in Morocco, where we were running around, that the chickens and their eggs are much better to eat because in the big marijuana fields in Morocco the chickens live on marijuana seeds,” Roskam states. “In the Congo, we see children suffering with stomach issues due to malnutrition. The oil and seeds from hemp are very, very important for these children who often have nothing else to eat … It’s the ignorance, the stupidity, the politicians who don’t get reelected, the Christians, the Catholics, the pharma, the alcohol industry – they are responsible for the misconceptions about cannabis.” Roskam goes on to say that in Vietnam, they are using hemp to attempt cleaning up soil contaminated by Agent Orange. As we enter into the months of summer, Roskam and his team are wrapping up building a large factory in Canada. “We just acquired the first outdoor license in the history of Ontario, Canada,” he shares. “We are extending our factory and will be producing 12 tons of materials next year.” Roskam’s team has also established a factory in the Congo almost two years ago, which is now currently feeding 250 families and nearly 700 children. Roskam says, “We’re going to be making medicine for the people of the Congo.” He also has plans to globally expand their genetics while keeping all material organic and hopes to begin filming full-length feature “Strain Hunters” films now that the team is in full swing again after Loja’s passing. It appears wherever he goes, Roskam finds pockets of people using cannabis for much more than recreational enjoyment, and he has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
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Swaziland, March 2012 Arjan walking between some impressive sativa landraces in Swazi
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WHERE ON EARTH IS WORLD YO-YO CHAMPION, GENTRY STEIN? DOPEMAGAZINE.COM
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n the mighty Machu Picchu in Peru, on a camel in Jordan, underwater in Hawaii, on the beaches of New Zealand, near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, 2014 Yo-Yo World Champion Gentry Stein and his yo-yo, have been to all of them! In fact, 23-year-old Stein, who was born and raised in Chico, CA, has journeyed to 28 countries to participate in yo-yo competitions, teaching people how to yo-yo along the way, and shooting mind-blowing photos and videos of himself and his travels. When I asked Stein when and why he started to yo-yo, his response was something most of us can relate to, with a twist, “My mom gave me a yo-yo when I was eight years old, and I was immediately hooked, I started taking classes and just never stopped.” We were all given a yo-yo as a kid at some point, right? The twist, however, is that Stein’s classes at The Bird in Hand Toy Shop in Chico, California — which also happens to house the
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National Yo-Yo Museum — inspired him never to put his yoyo down and his weekly yo-yo classes piqued his interest in competing, which Stein began doing once he started middle school. Competing allowed Stein to experience traveling firsthand at a young age, and he found competitions to be “a cool outlet to be creative and meet new people.” His talent flourished knowing that it was all up to him, “Nobody could stop me from being successful except myself, and when I realized the direct correlation between hard work and success, I began winning.” At the age of 18, Stein became the 2014 Yo-Yo World Champion. At this time Stein was sponsored by YoYoFactory, resulting in his signature lines of yo-yos. “When I got my endorsement deal, one of my goals was to create a quality yo-yo that was accessible and affordable for kids to learn on,” Stein shares, “winning the world contest and going on tour was what really encouraged me to create the beginner yo-yo.” He succeeded in meeting this goal by creating the Gentry Stein Replay yo-yo, which costs only $14.99 and is available on his website and sold online through YoYoFactory. So, Stein is a World Yo-Yo Champion. But what does that mean? “As competitors we are judged on a three-minute, choreographed routine set to music, showcasing our individual creativity by way of our own unique yo-yo tricks,” says Stein. While the competing field of yo-yo’ers is comprised mostly of 15-25 years olds, hailing from 33 countries, Japan historically dominates the IYYF (International Yo-Yo Federation) competitions, taking home 80 world titles in the last 22 years. Japan also happens to be Stein’s favorite place to travel, saying “I’ve been to Japan six times, and I love it there. I’ve developed such great friendships with people in Japan,
and I love the culture so much. It’s also been a hotbed of inspiration for my artistic creativity.” Stein frequently travels internationally for competitions as part of the IYYF, allowing him to engage in cross-cultural engagement. Stein takes his notoriety as a Yo-Yo World Ambassador seriously. In his words he is “committed to mentoring youth and coaching anyone I encounter, anywhere along my travels” His 6’3” frame towers above throngs of children vying for his attention and yo-yo wisdom, he is all smiles as his yo-yo flies around, behind and above him in ways that are best left to videos for description. He has also earned a potent social media presence. He posts yo-yo tutorials on his “Gentr y Stein” YouTube channel, fur thering the role of mentorship in his community. His Instagram @Gentr yStein is a testament to the adventures he has taken as he travels the world searching for the most intriguing and exceptional places to yo-yo. He even takes the time to respond
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G E N TRY S TE IN BIRTHDAY: MAY 1ST, 1996 BORN: CHICO, CA USA PREFERRED STYLE: 1A HANDED: RIGHT FAVORITE YOYO: SHUTTER & REPLAY TITLES: 2016 USA CHAMPION 2015 USA CHAMPION 2014 WORLD CHAMPION 2013 USA CHAMPION 2018 2ND PLACE IN THE 1A FINAL OF THE US NATIONAL YO-YO CHAMPIONSHIP ON SUNDAY, JULY 1ST AT THE ATHENAEUM THEATER IN CHICAGO, IL
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personally to his followers, who ask questions in his threads a b o u t w h e re t h e h e c k h e i s , yo - yo m ove s a n d eve n s t a g e fright. His approachable presence on social media and desire to engage with his fans and followers has led to some unique oppor tunities “I’ve been approached for all kinds of things, a n d I ’m a l w a y s d ow n f o r w h a t eve r.” s a y s S t e i n . “ I w a s i n Hawaii on vacation when I met photographer Connor Trimble. We q uic k ly b e c a me f r i e n d s a n d a f ew d a y s l a ter h e g ot t h is idea to shoot me and my yo-yo under water and I was all for i t , we g ot s om e un b e l i ev a b l e s h o ts th a t a re p re tt y u n re a l.” Stein was even approached by the Brooklyn- based band, Baby Raptors. “ They saw some of my yo-yo videos online and reached out because they had this song titled ‘ Strings’ they w a n t e d t o l o o p m e i n t o , s o I p l a ye d t h i s b a r t e n d i n g yo - yo d u d e i n t h e m u s i c v i d e o .” S t e i n p l a ye d a b a r t e n d i n g yo - yo d u d e w h o s a ve s a g i r l f ro m h e r b a d - b oy b oy f r i e n d . S t e i n ended up collaborating on two music videos, “ Strings” and “Lost Bois.” His hypnotizing moves added ar tistic dimension t o the vid e o s , m a ki n g th e m a d d i c ti n g to w a tc h , an d I h a ve t o s a y p e r s o n a l l y m a d e m e s e e t h e yo - yo i n a w h o l e n ew sex ifie d wa y!
JUNE 6
1985
National Yo-Yo Day
The first Yo-Yo went to space as part of the Toys in Space Project
At the age of 23, Gentry Stein has won several National Titles, a World Title, traveled the world many times over and had more awe-inspiring experiences than most Americans can comprehend. And yet he s still this down to earth guy, unassuming, generous and excited to yo-yo anywhere, for anyone.
WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK
GENTRYSTEIN.COM @GENTRYSTEIN @GENTRYSTEIN
1992 Yo-Yo went to space again on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, to film a video on slow motion Yo-Yo
The Yo-Yo has gone by other names in history such as: Come Back, Return, Whirl-a-Gig, Twirler, Returning Top
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Your dose. Your way.
ilove iloveincredibles.com
FEATURE 44
DEFENDING OUR PLANT EVERYWHERE
Y
ears before frenzied rallies, red hats and alternative facts, there was another American president with a signature infrastructure plan: Barack Obama. In April 2009, President Obama unveiled a blueprint for building high-speed rail systems in ten different parts of the country. “These efforts will save money by untangling gridlock, saving lives by improving our roads, and save or create 150,000 jobs,” said the then-new president, just under four months into his first term. “So far we’re ahead of schedule, we’re under budget and adhering to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.” The announcement came on the heels of California’s approval of Proposition 1(A) in November of 2008 also known as the High-Speed Rail Act. The vote earmarked $9.95 billion in state bonds to pay for a high-speed rail system connecting Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco. These trains would get riders from L.A. to downtown San Francisco in less than three hours, at a cheaper cost than a flight. Those were better days for the American bullet train – things haven’t gone exactly to plan since then.
High-Speed Trains Go Off the Rails Massive Republican victories in the 2010 midterms put the brakes on plans for a national high-speed rail system. Newly-elected GOP governors in Wisconsin, Florida and Ohio all killed projects for bullet trains in their states. John Kasich, as governor-elect of Ohio, summed it up best: “That train is dead.” And in California, obstacles began cropping up almost as soon as the vote passed. A series of lawsuits beginning in 2011 and a complex process for evaluating and purchasing private property led to years of delay – ground wasn’t broken on the project until 2015. High-speed rail took another PR hit this past April when the California High Speed Rail Authority announced that the cost of the first segment in the Central Valley region would be around $12.4 billion – $1.8 billion higher than expected, and more than double the authority’s original estimate of $6 billion. Search the issue for more than a few seconds on Google and it’s easy to come across vocal opposition to the rail plan. “Give me and every other California taxpayer a break, and just kill this project right now,” said one Los Angeles Times reader in a letter to the editor. The Orange County Register called it the “bullet train fiasco.” Of course the most prominent opponent of the project is our critic-in-chief, who has turned the rail project into a battering ram to attack one of his favorite targets — coastal liberals.
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“California has been forced to cancel the massive bullet train project after having spent and wasted many billions of dollars ... We want that money back now. Whole project is a ‘green’ disaster!” Trump tweeted in February. And in May, his administration canceled $929 million in federal grants for California’s high-speed rail that had been awarded by Congress but not dispersed. But for bullet train advocates, hope remains. Gavin Newsom supported the project as Lieutenant Governor under Jerry Brown, and now that he’s been promoted to the top office in the Golden State, he’s continued the charge – though he did temper expectations by admitting in January that the project’s original scope from L.A. to Sacramento is unrealistic. Newsom called the Federal Railroad Administration’s decision to pull the money “illegal” and “a direct assault on California,” promising to fight the decision in court. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has also voiced support for the project, calling Trump’s decision “deeply concerning” and reiterating that “California remains committed to completing a statewide high-speed rail system.
“IN 2014, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENT $165 BILLION ON HIGHWAYS ALONE – MORE THAN WE SPEND ON HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AVIATION, MASS TRANSIT AND RAILROADS COMBINED.” Can We Move on From the Car?
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Proponents of high-speed rail view America’s love for driving as an unsustainable addiction, forcing us to spend big on automotive infrastructure even as problems with traffic and greenhouse gases worsen. “This is something we really need to do as a country,” said Rick Harnish, Executive Director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association. “Our current way of doing business is everyone is forced to drive, except in a few cases ... we’re spending gobs and gobs of money on highways and parking lots. Having all that parking makes it difficult to have an efficient, pleasant place to live.” According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 87 percent of daily commuters in America use private vehicles, and traffic jams are worse than they’ve ever been. A report from the Texas Transportation Institute found that congestion in 85 of the largest metropolitan areas went up almost every single year between 1982 and 2003, despite large investments in highways. In 2014, the federal government spent $165 billion on highways alone – more than we spend on housing and urban development, aviation, mass transit and railroads combined. Harnish clarified that high-speed rail and automobile travel aren’t mutually exclusive – he pointed out that increases in rail service will help ease rush hour traffic and make life easier for taxis and rideshare drivers. “The opposition will say I’m telling you [that] you can’t drive,” Harnish said with a chuckle. “I’m not saying that. You can drive, I’m just saying you shouldn’t be forced to drive.” High-speed rail advocates like Harnish point to the long-term resilience of the project as a sign that the bullet train will eventually come to America. “There’s clearly a desire for this. There are two separate projects in Texas, a project that they’re looking at from Portland to Seattle ... despite all those hassles and challenges [in California], the project is moving forward. That tells me that this is something people really want,” Harnish said. The public desire may be there, but ten years after the first proposal for U.S. high-speed rail, there is still much work to be done before Americans can catch a 200 MPH train and ride it into the future of transit. DEFENDING OUR PLANT EVERYWHERE
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TOURISM 50
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he West Coast is famed for its cannabis culture — but the East Coast has its fair share of weedfriendly vacation destinations, too! Take a trip to one of these top pot spots for a new kind of ganja getaway.
TORONTO, ONTARIO Canada legalized cannabis for adult use across the country in October, 2018. Toronto, the biggest city in Canada, is a multicultural hub of business, arts and culture. It’s also the cannabis center of the world, according to Lisa Campbell, CEO of Lifford Cannabis Solutions, a sales and marketing agency headquartered in Canada’s “Big Smoke.” “ Toronto is the heart of cannabis culture, and has been cannabis-friendly since the local police announced weed was decriminalized over 15 years ago,” Campbell says. She points us to the oldest cannabis lounge in Canada, the Hot Box Cafe, located in the heart of Kensington Market, where guests are welcome to consume their weed on the outdoor “POTio.” Four legal cannabis retail shops currently exist in Toronto. Check out Nova Cannabis, a sleek, modern shop housed in an old American Apparel storefront. It has high ceilings, touchpad checkout screens and deli-style service counters. An eighth goes for between $35 and $50. Try an AHLOT sampler pack for five strains of tasty flower from an assortment of Canadian producers, or a Buddha Haze pre-roll from Liiv. Canada’s marijuana laws don’t allow concentrates, vapes, edibles or beverages to be sold yet, but you can browse a selection of dried flower, pre-rolls, capsules and oils. Warning: cannabis oils are not to be confused with dabs — they’re plant extracts dissolved in an edible oil, usually coconut or olive, and are designed to be taken sublingually or in a drink or food. Once you’ve enjoyed your legal Canadian weed, explore the city! Campbell recommends checking out Toronto Island for a 420-friendly off-the-beaten path adventure. You can smoke anywhere tobacco is legal in Ontario, so feel free to puff on a joint while you meander. Bring sunscreen and a towel with you, and get rid of your tan lines on the nude beach. In the evening, take in a show in the city’s famed Theatre District, and enjoy the world-class restaurant scene.
HOT BOX CAFE 204 Augusta Ave Toronto, ON WEBSITE: HotBoxShop.ca “POTio” Entry Fee - $5.00
NOVA CANNABIS 499 Queen St W Toronto, ON WEBSITE: NovaCannabisStore.com
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ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR The easternmost city in all of North America, St. John’s boasts an impressive music and nightlife scene. It’s the ideal destination to smoke and hike — the East Coast Trail links coastal communities with over 300 kilometers of trail along the Avalon Peninsula, overlooking glorious icebergs and sheets of sea ice drifting down from the north Atlantic in the spring. Ten legal cannabis shops lie in St. John’s and the surrounding area. To buy cannabis from an independent retailer, try Thomas H Clarke’s shop, located just a few minutes away from the St. John’s airport in Portugal Cove. THC Distribution has a variety of popular products, including Broken Coast Cannabis’ Ruxton (a sativa-dominant Sour Diesel/OG hybrid) and Quadra (Headstash). An eighth costs anywhere from $27 to $50. Plan your visit for June or July and take a trip on O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Watch Boat Tours out of Bay Bulls, just south of the city. In the evening, stroll down George Street, pop into a pub for a pint, and scarf some of the best fish and chips you’ll ever have. Newfoundlanders are known for their cordiality — you’ll be sure to make new friends. As Thomas H Clarke himself says, “Know that wherever you end up in Newfoundland, you’ll be welcomed as part of the family, and good times are everywhere to be had.”
THOMAS H CLARKE’S DISTRIBUTION
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1614 Portugal Cove Rd Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s WEBSITE: THCDistribution.ca
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PORTLAND, MAINE Maine is on track to open its recreational marijuana market early 2020, officials say. Residents can grow cannabis for recreational use at home currently. Medical card holders can visit shops like Wellness Connection of Maine or Fire on Fore, located in downtown Portland. The shops plan to sell adult-use cannabis as soon as the state finalizes regulations. Newly-minted Maine residents Sue and Lee, better known as Instagram stars 420 Old Fat Lesbians, have been making the most of their access to great East Coast cannabis. Sue and Lee retired to central mid-Maine from Florida last year, and have since gained social media fame by posting quirky clips of themselves smoking out of various objects, dancing and having a wonderful time in general. “The flower prices here are very reasonable,” Lee says. “An eighth ranges from $25 to $40.” Their favorite strain? “East Coast Sour Diesel — very potent.”
Portland is a great place to wander around when you’re high — from the Old Port, full of shops and restaurants, to the bluff of the historic Western Promenade. Fill your eyes with pretty Victorian architecture, and stuff your belly with a lobster roll. And be sure to make the trip up the coast to visit Acadia National Park — the glorious rocky beaches and mountain peaks will take your breath away.
WELLNESS CONNECTION OF MAINE 685 Congress St Portland, ME 04102 WEBSITE: MaineWellness.org
FIRE ON FORE 367 Fore St Portland, ME 04101 (207) 805-1870
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS The legal Boston weed scene is in its infancy, but it’s already making Beantown a top choice for vacationing cannabis consumers. To make your legal cannabis purchase, visit NETA Brookline, just a few minutes south of Boston. The shop is housed in a beautiful converted bank, with ornate ceilings and oiled wood. An eighth goes for $45 to $60. Try NETA Blackwater OG (indica), or Hurricane (hybrid), or the tasty fruit-flavored 2mg D-Line Cubes. Once you’ve procured your pot, the city is your oyster. Bostonian Joe Khoury, who designed the iRollie phone case for stoners on the go, tells us his favorite activity is eating an edible and visiting The Institute of Contemporary Art. The modern museum overlooks the beautiful Boston harbor, and is free on Thursday nights. Stroll around the famed North End neighborhood and buy a cannoli. Then, walk the two-and-a-half mile long Freedom Trail, which winds through Boston’s most historic landmarks, along cobblestone streets, past ancient bars and the famed Boston Common, home to the annual Boston Freedom Rally. Khoury laughs, “History comes alive with a little THC encouragement.”
NETA BROOKLINE 160 Washington St Brookline, MA 02445 WEBSITE: NetaCare.org
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CULTURE 58
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I
f you’re the kind of person who rolls their eyes when someone takes a picture of their plate at dinner or longs for the type of bonding over meals usually reserved for TV sitcoms, one re-emerging trend might interest you: the supper club. Small groups regularly dining together in private locations is nothing new. The concept became popular in the 1930s after prohibition ended, when diners could again legally enjoy a stiff cocktail with their meals. They probably needed it – in 1933, at the Great Depression’s height, unemployment was around 25 percent. People forgot their worries by gathering for dinner, drinks, dancing and conversation. Today, with millennials famously preferring to spend money on experiences over material objects, and the rise of personalization in consumer marketing, supper clubs are experiencing something of a renaissance. Many operate in legal gray areas, making them a natural fit for those who enjoy pairing cannabis with their foods. Others are a vehicle for diving deeply into culinary tradition – Hush Supper Club in D.C. bills itself as a “part supper, part storytelling ... tour of India.” Of course, many of us just want to quit scrolling through Instagram at the table. Some dinner club gatherings are more like social networking events, where people can meet other food enthusiasts in their area. The intimate setting and physical act of sharing a family-style meal remove the friction of building social relationships.
“I think people are feeling isolated with the way modern life is and our reliance on technology,” says Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes, a community platform for people in their 20s and 30s to organize potluck dinners in the Washington D.C. area. “People want a way to turn off and connect with their peers.” Gold tells us that part of what has made MealTribes successful is its appeal to more traditional dinnertime values: participants aren’t supposed to discuss politics or use their smartphones. “Even though they’re strangers, they’re peers with a baseline of shared values ... and people want to belong with their peers,” he says. For professional chef and musician Philip Gelb, owner of the Sound & Savor dinner club in West Oakland, California, those values are vegan cuisine, music and cannabis. Gelb hosts dinners at his industrial loft home several times a month, where he prepares fresh meals for up to 20 people at a time. In between courses, touring musicians from around the world eat with guests and perform on instruments like the Chinese pipa, a type of lute. Gelb himself plays and teaches the Shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese woodwind made from bamboo. “You tend to meet people – they’re very social events,” Gelb says. “It’s very interactive – it’s one room. The kitchen is in the same room as the dining room. You’re interacting with the chef, with the musicians ... everything is extremely social and interactive, which is different than a traditional restaurant experience.”
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on wh at’s in vo r rot ate de pe nd ing Me als at So un d an d Sa s ma riju an ats fro m gu est s. Ge lb say sea son , as we ll as req ues – las t De cem ber n po pu lar in rec ent yea rs the me d din ner s ha ve bee h” eve nt tha t ze: Lig ht up for Ch an uka he ho ste d a “Hi gh Ho lida d bo rsc ht wit h ish me als like lat kes an pa ire d tra dit ion al Jew Pa tch Kid s. Sin ce like OG Ma tic an d Sou r vap ori zer hit s of strain s use his dis hes , a wid ely, Ge lb do es no t inf ed ible tol era nce var ies ND show “Bo ng pu lar ize d by the VIC ELA sup pe r clu b con cep t po Yo rk, wh ere ful l like Ch ica go an d Ne w Ap pé tit.” Eve n in cit ies t pa ir dif fer en t oc cu r, din ne r clu bs tha leg ali zat ion ha s yet to co mm on . As he s are be co mi ng mo re str ain s wit h go urm et dis pro hib itio n, to chi p aw ay at can na bis po pu lar op inio n con tin ues wil l co nti nu e to a pa ssi on for the pla nt co mm un itie s bu ilt on er sha red val ues . inc orp ora te foo d or oth cro p up – wh eth er they the ir pe ers ,” nt to be sur rou nd ed by “We know tha t pe op le wa tec h too ls an d wil l con tin ue to be mo re say s Go ld. “I thi nk the re nn ect ing in an d fac ilita te pe op le co pla tfo rm s to he lp ma tch ove r me als .” ge neral – wh ich inc lud es ret urn us to ing tec hn olo gy co uld Th e ide a tha t ad va nc tru cti ve of the ial izin g is iro nic bu t ins tra dit ion al va lue s of soc are org an ize d r of foo d. Wh eth er the y int ens e com mu na l po we con nec t pe op le p, or a join t, few thi ng s aro un d a con cer t, an ap like a fam ily- sty le me al.
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TOURISM 64
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ENTERPRISING TRAVEL COMPANIES TO SCOPE OUT IN 2019
Y
ou love weed, and you love travel — but combining the two can be difficult. Finding the plug in a new place isn’t always easy. Several enterprising companies have seized the opportunity to make it easy for cannabis lovers to find the perfect getaway by curating tours, retreats and outdoor adventures that take the work out of procuring your smoke, so you can focus on having fun.
WRITER | MARY JANE GIBSON PHOTOS | TBD
WHISK ME AWAY WITH WEED Holiday and tour packages for cannabis aficionados have popped up all over the recreational marijuana marketplace. Based on Vancouver Island, luxury weed tourism company Butiq Escapes caters to the uber-rich. Butiq’s “Highest of Highs” day trip package takes you from Victoria by helicopter to a secret mountaintop location, where you can indulge in the best marijuana strains British Columbia has to offer while the guide fires up a gourmet barbecue to feed you and your friends. The company has plans to roll out more high-end weed escapes in the coming months. In Toronto, Canadian Kush Tours offers several packages, including a $750 romantic night for two, which features dinner, a limo and a vapor lounge tour. Their most popular package is the airport pickup, starting at $600. “People appreciate cannabis after a long flight,” company founder Neev Tapiero says. “We meet them at the airport, smoke one in the parking lot, and then take them on a three-hour dispensary tour.” Sounds like the perfect way to kick off a bachelorette party! Kush Tours also offers two-hour classes in baking edibles and making rosin, dry-sift and bubble hash. Cannabliss Retreats also caters to the canna-curious with experiential and educational getaways in California, Canada and Jamaica. Founder Sari Starr tells us, “Our focus has always been educating as many people about the benefits of cannabis, and creating a safe environment where people can feel free to express themselves and connect deeply with the plant and each other.” Cannabliss events include educational seminars, yoga, sound baths, wellness workshops, wholesome food and, of course, plenty of weed.
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Higher Way Travel is a full-service agency ready to meet all your cannabis adventure needs. Co-owners April and Bobby Black have been traveling the world together on cannabis excursions ever since they met at the 2006 High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam — they got engaged at the 2009 Cup, naturally. The Blacks founded Higher Way Travel in 2016 after receiving an inquiry from a friend needing help booking a trip to the Hawaii Cannabis Expo. April is a registered travel agent, and she and Bobby seized the opportunity to start their own weed-friendly agency. Higher Way offers an annual 420 celebration in Jamaica called “Baked on the Beach,” and a “Surf & Terps” bus tour in Hawaii. “Our primary goal is to create unique, curated travel experiences for average cannabis lovers that are weed-filled and worry-free — allowing them to enjoy their vacations to the fullest,” April tells us. This August, Higher Way is offering its first Higher Health Retreat — a herb-infused wellness weekend taking place in Humboldt County during the Perseid meteor shower. The weekend will include yoga, hiking, massage, soaking, sauna, essential oils, an infused dinner and sacred ceremonies. Soon, the company will offer packages for Los Angeles, Hawaii and Barcelona drawing on the Blacks’ extensive industry connections. “They’ll include exclusive access to cannabis grows, clubs, and walking tours that travelers wouldn’t be able to find or book on their own,” April says. “And by next year, we plan to offer trips to Northern and Central California, Amsterdam and Costa Rica.”
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FOR MORE INFO VISIT BUTIQESCAPES.COM CANADIANKUSHTOURS.COM CANNABLISSRETREATS.COM HIGHERWAYTRAVEL.COM
“CANNABIS TOURISM IS HOTTER THAN EVER, AND BUSINESSES ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE TO FILL THE NEEDS OF CANNACURIOUS TRAVELERS LOOKING FOR A CURATED EXPERIENCE.”
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO (420 TRAVEL TIPS) If you’re planning a cannabis getaway, make sure you do a little research on where you’re going before you travel, and be mindful of the customs and laws of your destination before you arrive. One of the perks of using Higher Way is that any establishment the agency recommends — be it a cannabis club, dispensary, hotel or tour operator — is one they have a good relationship with, April says: “We know that our Higher Flyers will be treated like the VIPs they are.”
TIPS TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL TRIP D ON’T FLY WITH CANNABIS
If you don’t have to. Even if you’re a legitimate medical marijuana patient traveling with your doctor’s recommendation, you never know when an overzealous TSA agent might decide to give you a hard time. And never, ever try to board an international flight with marijuana. CONSUMPTION LAWS VARY
From province to province and state to state. Know your rights, and only smoke where it’s allowed — otherwise you risk the wrath of local law enforcement. D ON’T OVERPACK!
This is a common mistake many travelers make — packing more clothes than necessary. Leave room in your suitcase so you can bring home souvenirs. BRING A SMALL TOWEL
Just like “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” says, it’s a massively useful thing to have at all times, and it doesn’t add much weight to your backpack. TAKE AN EXTRA BANK CARD AND CREDIT CARD WITH YOU
It’s always good to have a backup in case you lose a card, or get robbed. Don’t get stuck in a new place without access to funds. MAKE COPIES OF YOUR PASSP ORT AND TRAVEL D O CUMENTS
And email them to yourself. You never know when you’ll need access to your documentation, and you might not want to carry the original with you when you’re out and about.
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SIX MUST-HAVES ON YOUR NEXT GLOBAL ADVENTURE
“THE ESSENTIAL CANNABIS JOURNAL – PERSONAL NOTES FROM THE FIELD” This journal designed for those curious about healing through cannabis or recreational use is a lightweight 95-page book by Rob Mejia (founder of Our Community Harvest), which includes sections ideal for the cannabis curious traveler. Want to track the strains you try while touring a new land and their effects? How about monitoring how long an edible took to kick in? Need tips for dealing with an uncomfortable high? This book has it all. Plus, it’s small enough to be folded up and shoved into your back pocket, so if you’re traveling to a legal state or a country known for its cannabis culture be sure to stuff this puppy into your carry-on. It’ll act as a great storytelling aid once you’re back home!
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$12.95 US ROB MEJIA COMMUNITYHARVEST.COM | SPRINGHOUSEPRESS.COM
CANNABIS PASSPORT ROLLING PAPERS & FILTERS Featuring 100 hemp papers and soy-printed filters, this mini “passport” will make for a great conversation piece on your travels abroad. The filters themselves feature quotes and headshots from global cannabis activists, anti-prohibition leaders and non-profits like the ACLU. One personal favorite: “When I was a kid, I inhaled, frequently. That was the point.” – Barack Obama
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$4.20 CANNABISPASSPORT.CA @CANNABISPASSPORT @PASSPORTMAGAZINE420 @CANNAPASSPORT
ROSE BOTANICALS ORGANIC HEMP CBD OIL After being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, Sheri Yanez turned to CBD when traditional Western medicine had failed her. Now, Yanez proudly owns her own CBD company, Rose Botanicals based in Santa Clarita, and is the proud mom of two beautiful daughters. This pocket-sized THC-free dropper is one liquid ounce, so it can be transported in your carry-on or checked bag with ease. Many credit CBD with reducing pain, insomnia and anxiety … the side effects often associated with long bouts of travel. Next time you’re packing your toiletry bag, don’t forget Rose Botanicals. Happy flying!
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$49.99 | 500MG CBD | | FOR FREE SHIPPING ENTER “DOPE” AT CHECKOUT ROSEBOTANICALSINC.COM @ROSEBOTANICALS @ROSEBOTANICALS
“HOW HIGH AM I? – A JOURNAL” Less scientific and more playful, this tiny hardback will act as a memory companion on your next adventure. Each page serves as an entry for your cannabis adventure. With prompts like, “Genius idea?” and “What am I Eating,” and plenty of room for daily doodles, this miniature travel partner will let you make the most of your next trip — literally and figuratively.
PRICE WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK
$9.95 CHRONICLEBOOKS.COM @CHRONICLEBOOKS @CHRONICLEBOOKS
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EDITOR’S CHOICE
ADVENTURE IS JUST A FLAME AWAY WRITER | ANDREA LARSON
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oCal-based brand Be Lit offers an abundance of lifestyle accessories, his and hers fashion selects as well as deliciously scented lines of candles and “Be Lit” -cense. Their Worldwide Strain Collection of candles are hand-poured in the USA, made from soy and come in a plethora of cannabis-inspired terpene profiles. Scents include Skywalker OG, Super Lemon Haze and Trainwreck, among others. The Be Litcense displays release fragrant smoke in traditional scents like Egyptian Musk and Dragon’s Blood as well as Sage, Lavender and Jasmine. Be sure to check out their other candle collections: Munchies and the Crystal Collection – the latter includes a solid crystal or gemstone pendant.
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