Culture Magazine Washington November 2015 by Culture Magazine

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

NOVEMBER 2015

Contents 18

AND FREE 42 FEARLESS A MAN OF MANY TALENTS

Jesse Ventura spills about his fruitful career as an actor, wrestler, governor and his strong passion for cannabis legalization.

Features

ON THE COVER: Photo by Lauren B. Falk

50 . INDUSTRY INSIDER Master Bong is an entertaining professional when it comes to creating DIY cannabis devices out of everyday items.

8 . Letter from the Editor

NEWS

12 . News Nuggets 15 . By the Numbers 18 . Harsh Sentences for Kettle Falls Five Case 23 . legal corner

54 . Harvesting How-To Learn the basic steps for your perfect personal harvest. 56 . IT’S HARVEST TIME

Cannabis use in Pagan rituals has a fascinating history that goes back centuries.

Departments

68 . Growing Culture 70 . Destination Unknown 71 . Profiles in Courage 72 . Recipes 74 . let’s do this 76 . News of the Weird

reviews

34 . STRAIN ReviewS 36 . Cool Stuff

Canada's Newly Elected Prime Minister is ProRecreational Cannabis

38 . Entertainment Reviews

62 . YOUTHFUL VIGOR Seattle-based The Young Evils is as versatile as it gets, using influences from multiple genres to create stunning music. 66 . Holiday Gift Guide The best gift ideas for your favorite cannasseur!

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Portland Wants to Establish a 'Green Light District' for Cannabis

26 . ACCESS POINT HIGHLIGHTS 30 . ADVOCATE HIGHLIGHT

58 . INCREASING AWARENESS The next step for cannabis is establishing a base for “organic” herb.

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Vol 7 IssUE 5

/freeculturemag

/ireadculture

letter from the editor

Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Victoria Banegas Editorial Contributors Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Anthony Herrold, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Joe Jatcko, David Jenison, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Tyler Markwart, Meital Manzuri, Sandy Moriarty, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi

Give Thanks “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”

-John F. Kennedy

ovember is a tumultuous month for nature, for politics, for your emotions, your busy schedule, and even your finances. The weather is changing, throwing your health and body clock into upheaval; you’re preparing for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, juggling family members, cooking, party planning and trying to save some money, all while trying to remain humble and gracious. With Veteran’s Day and Election Day this month, you’re worried about your future, your past and what’s best for your family, your community and the country. In this season of change, we watch the leaves change color, and we watch the politicians fight for our votes as we start to envision hope in our national future. We can see glimmering hints shining through the issues, arguments and strides toward a better tomorrow, taken one step at a time. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both spoke up in favor of medical cannabis access at the Democratic Debate, and Sanders even came out in support for further cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform. Furthermore, many states are revisiting their older medical cannabis regulations, and some states—like Ohio and Maine—may be the next on the legal recreational cannabis train.

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Hemp and CBD are becoming legal and more accessible in the South, and many different states are enjoying the fruits of their very first legal hemp harvest. Even in the chaos of all the events taking place this month, we are given opportunities to be thankful in these busy events and bask in our freedoms, our ever-evolving community and the hope of nationwide legal access to cannabis in the near future. Election Day is a reminder of how hard we all fought for equal rights and the democracy of this great nation, and the inevitability of cannabis legalization; Veteran’s Day is a reminder of our rights in this country, and all our loved ones who sacrificed their lives so that we may continue to have those freedoms; Thanksgiving Day, of course, is a reminder to celebrate community, and give your time, energy and love to people without expecting anything in return, and to be thankful for the lives we lead. Even Black Friday can serve as a reminder to be thankful for the invention of capitalism and competition in this country (and amazing sales). As surprising as it may seem sometimes, November is all about giving thanks, observing the change all around us, and looking ahead into the future. Try to remember to stop every once in a while during your hectic schedule and be thankful. c Sincerely,

Evan A. Senn

Editor-In-Chief

Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson, Rick Thompson Art Director Steven Myrdahl Graphic Designers Tanya Delgadillo, Tommy LaFleur Account Executives Greg Andes,Callie Belo, Jon Bookatz, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Ryan Dunn, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Yolanda Imoberstag, Emily Musser, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Jim Saunders, Chris Thatcher, Paulina Porter-Tapia, April Tygart Office Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital media Editor Kimberly Johnson Ctv Video Editor Deonica Panlilio Ctv Contributors Anna Logan,Chris Salazar Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes 25,000 magazines at over 600 locations throughout Washington. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 815 1st Ave | #220 Seattle | Washington | 98104 Phone 888.694.2046 | Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com

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C STATE _______________________

NEWS NUGGETS

Washington Accepts Applications for New Cannabis Shops

The State Liquor and Cannabis Board in Seattle began accepting applications for new cannabis shops in October, which will eliminate “the distinction between medical and recreational marijuana shops,” according to King 5 Live. This is the first time the state has decided to license new cannabis shops since 2013, which will allow state officials to increase the amount of plants each shop is allowed to grow, as well as grant shops the ability to sell cannabis for medical and recreational use. Although this seems exciting for newly accepted shops, their ability to sell medical cannabis depends on whether or not the Department of Health gives them the green light. Furthermore, applicants who ran or worked in a medical cannabis shop during 2012 are priority applicants, with higher priority being given to those who have stayed current on their taxes and business licenses, according to The News Tribune.

Emergency Cannabis Laws Put into Effect in Washington

The Washington Department of Health has announced the implementation of a set of emergency laws that will “create standards for products that any consumer may rely upon,” according to the official government document. The Marijuana Product Compliance document details the rules for THC dosage in medical cannabis products and how they are to be labeled, the testing of products, safe handling and employee training. The law states that cannabis products must be packaged in servings of up to 50mg of THC and contain no more than 10 servings, while concentrates are allowed to contain no more than two percent of THC, with 25 times more CBD per weight. All flower products must be tested for pesticides and heavy metals, with a sample size of three grams per three pounds. Labels on any medical cannabis products must not have imagery depicted on the packaging that is generally associated with cannabis use, cannot use the words “prescription” or

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“RX” and must state that the product is not FDA approved to treat, cure or prevent any disease. The new law also states that all cannabis facilities must meet standards of sanitation as well as employ only individuals with valid medical cannabis authorizations.

__________________________

NATION South Dakota Tribe to Open World’s First Cannabis Resort A small Native American tribe in Flandreau, South Dakota, known as the Santee Sioux, has already begun making plans to open the world’s first cannabis resort on its land. Due to high competition and the residual effects of the recession affecting the Santee Sioux’s casino business, the tribe was searching for new ways to increase customer traffic, according to the New York Post. As a result, the leaders of the tribe have decided to grow their own cannabis and sell it in a smoking lounge that will feature bar and food service, arcade games and eventually expand to offering slot machines and an outside music venue. The tribe estimates that this venture will bring in $2 million a month, which will add to income generated from casino revenue. The resort is expected to begin business in January of 2016, with the first sale expected to take place on New Year’s Eve.

__________________________

World Cannabis Cultivation Legalized in Victoria, Australia

Victoria has become the first Australian state to legalize the cultivation of medical cannabis for patients suffering from conditions such as cancer, HIV/Aids, epilepsy and chronic pain. This came after the Victoria Law Commission’s Report on Medicinal Cannabis was approved by Parliament. The report includes 42 recommendations on how to safely cultivate, manufacture and transport cannabis within Victoria, as well as patient eligibility and the need for ongoing research, according to Premier of Victoria. While the government only fully accepted 40 of the recommendations, the other two were accepted in principal, which will allow medical cannabis to be conveniently accessible for patients in need. Eligible patients will be granted access to cannabis products such as oils, tinctures and vaporizable liquids but will not be able to legally ingest cannabis in smokable form. Medical cannabis is expected to be fully legal in Victoria by 2017 with children suffering from severe epilepsy given priority access. c VISIT US AT

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by the numb3rs

800 30,000 357 196 20 158.8 The expected number of applicants for new recreational cannabis retail licenses in Washington: 800 (Source: KXLY)

The largest amount of square footage that cannabis grows will be allowed to operate in, increased from 21,000 square feet: 30,000 (Source: The News Tribune)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that has been made by Washington state in cannabis sales over the past year: 357 (Source: The Spokesman-Review)

The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, granted to the University of Washington School of Law to fund its Cannabis Law and Policy Project: 185 (Source: UW Today)

The number of access point licenses that the Liquor and Cannabis Board has granted since recreational cannabis became legal: 196 (Source: KUOW 94.9 FM)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that is being used to help the cannabis legalization campaign in Ohio: 20 (Source: Tribune-Review)

The number of people, in millions, who use cannabis around the world, according to the United Nations: 158.8 (Source: The Telegraph)

The estimated amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Arizona would make annually through taxes if recreational cannabis was legalized: 60 (Source: The Huffington Post)

“Paradox of Place” Asian art is making an appearance throughout museums in America, not just in displaying ancient tapestries and delicate pottery, but more contemporary works that are sure to make a lasting impression on whoever is lucky enough to encounter such artistry. In collaboration with Choi Eunju, curator of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea, the Seattle Art Museum is welcoming its first major Korean contemporary art exhibit in many years. Titled “Paradox of Places: Contemporary Korean Art,” this exhibition will showcase six of Korea’s leading contemporary artists whose works vary in media, such as photography, video art and mixed-media installation, which are all prominent in Korean contemporary art. Each artwork featured in this exhibition addresses some type of pressing issue while complimenting the other artworks, offering Seattle the best example of Korea’s contemporary art world. (Victoria Banegas)

IF YOU GO

What: “Paradox of Place: Contemporary Korean Art” exhibit. When/Where: On view through March 13, 2016. Seattle Art Museum, 1300 1st Ave., Seattle. Info: Visit www. seattleartmuseum.org for details.

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Kettle Falls Five Finale

Harsh Federal Prison Sentences

by Emily Manke

Despite talk of keeping nonviolent offenders out of prison during the first Democratic Debate, the trend continues. Three members of the Kettle Falls Five received their unbelievable federal prison sentences on October 2. It happened just over a month after the passing of Larry Harvey, defendant Rhonda FirestackHarvey’s late husband. Rhonda Firestack-Harvey, was sentenced to one year in federal prison and three years of probation. Rolland Gregg, Rhonda’s son, received the most arbitrary sentence of the three; 33 months in federal prison and three years of probation. Michelle Gregg, who is married to Rolland, was sentenced to one year in federal prison and three years probation, the same as her mother-in-law. After having the majority of their charges dropped during trial, the trio had guessed they wouldn’t face jail time. It’s hard to imagine Washington State residents being forced to live out this nightmare. Currently both of the Greggs and Firestack-Harvey remain free, pending appeal. Additionally, they’re attempting to get signatures for a petition to get a pardon from President Obama. As of now, whether or not they’ll actually serve their sentences remains to be seen. “The fight continues,” family media coordinator Kari Boiter stated regarding the sentencing. “It certainly should have ended before now.” With the case against them, and everything they’ve already been through, it’s hard to imagine this hard-working family spending time in a federal penitentiary on top of the already unpleasant legal battle. The Feds can’t prove that any cannabis sales were made by anyone in the family. The main evidence gathered in the raid on

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the family in August 2012, was four pounds of cannabis and around $700 cash. Anyone who is even remotely knowledgeable on the cannabis trade knows that this doesn’t prove there was a large scale, for-profit cannabis grow in operation, whatsoever. The family’s attorney, Phil Tefleyan, made a statement regarding the brutal sentencing to CULTURE. “The fact that this family has been sentenced to federal prison is an outrageous injustice. These medical marijuana patients have never hurt anybody in their lives; sending them to prison is just the latest example of the failed war on drugs, which destroys

communities while benefiting no one. The federal government’s war against this family was flawed from the outset, and Equal Justice Under Law will continue this fight for freedom throughout the appellate courts.” As you can imagine, the time, energy and money it takes to fight a legal battle this gargantuan is huge. And Tefleyan has taken the case pro bono. So the family, and Tefleyan needs some help, and is accepting donations from cannabis advocates. Hopefully justice will prevail, and the Kettle Falls Five and their attorney will somehow find the strength to keep fighting. c VISIT US AT

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C r e n r co l a g le by Hilary Bricken

local sales and use taxes on all sales of cannabis products in Indian Country unless (1) the sale is to the tribe, tribal enterprise, tribal member business, or an enrolled member of the tribe; (2) the cannabis product was grown, produced, or processed in Indian Country; (3) the transaction is otherwise exempt from state cannabis taxation under state law or federal law; or (4) the transaction involves medical cannabis products used in the course of medical treatments by a clinic, hospital, or similar facility owned and operated by the tribe within Indian Country.

The Suquamish Tribe’s introduction to cannabis

he Suquamish Tribe and the state of Washington recently signed and entered into the first ever cannabis compact to allow a Native American tribe to cultivate, process and sell cannabis within a state’s highly regulated cannabis system. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board negotiated the compact with the Suquamish Tribe on behalf of the state. Here are some highlights from the compact: •

•

For now, the Suquamish will have one retail outlet located at 15915 State Highway 305 NE, Poulsbo, Washington, operated by the Suquamish Evergreen Corporation (SEC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Port Madison Enterprises (PME), an agency of the tribe. The compact does not limit the Suquamish to one retail store. The tribe simply has to notify the Liquor and Cannabis Board if it plans to open more retail outlets on its lands. The compact also does not limit the tribe to three retail storefronts, as is the case for its non-tribal competitors in Washington State. The compact also allows the tribe (through SEC) to process and produce cannabis, though WAC 314-55 and RCW 69.50 et seq. prohibit state licensees from this sort of vertical integration. According to the compact, the tribe’s first production and processing facility

will be at the same Poulsbo address as its retail outlet. •

•

The tribe is not limited to one production facility even though Washington State licensed producers may have a direct or indirect financial interest in only one production facility. To open a new retail, processor or production location, the tribe must give notice to surrounding jurisdictions, but the compact is silent as to what the Liquor and Cannabis Board might do if those jurisdictions call for preventing such an opening. Any cannabis business that wants to locate its operations on Suquamish land must first obtain the express written consent of the tribe, along with whatever additional licensing is required under the Suquamish Tribal Code.

•

The tribe is free to buy and sell cannabis products to state licensed cannabis businesses and state licensed businesses may do the same with the tribe.

•

No state taxes will apply to tribal cannabis sales activity. However, the compact requires that the tribe charge a Tribal Tax equal to “100 percent” of the current state cannabis excise tax (37 percent excise tax at retail) and state and

•

The tribe gets to keep the Tribal Tax and must use those proceeds for “Essential Government Services” (as defined in the compact) within the tribe.

•

The compact sets up several mechanisms (mandatory product traceability compliance, random inspections, etc.) by which the Liquor and Cannabis Board will monitor the tribe’s cannabis activity and its compliance with the compact and with state and tribal-cannabis regulations.

The Liquor and Cannabis Board will almost certainly use this compact as a model for future compacts with other Washington State tribes. This begs the question as to whether the other Washington tribes will choose to sign compacts with the state or look to go outside of the Washington compact system. We see most tribes choosing to sign such a compact because it will be tough to get the federal Department of Justice to sign-off on a tribe creating its own stand-alone cannabis system when Washington State already has a robustly regulated, turn-key state system under which they can operate. c

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Access Points HIGHLIGHTS

Green Collar Club - Recreational Interviewed: Warren Birchard (Manager)

10422 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, 98444

www.greencollarclub.com What’s the story behind the name of your access point? We wanted a name that would portray a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for all demographics of people. We also wanted something familiar and honest, like the phrase blue collar, just a little different. What does your access point offer Patients/ customers that they cannot find anywhere else? First and foremost is our affordable pricing structure. We strive to consistently provide our top-quality line of products for our client-base at a price that everyone can afford. Our vast array of products being offered is something that we pride ourselves on, as well. How has the cannabis industry in Washington changed since you have been in business? And where

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would you like to see it go? Obviously in the beginning, referring to our roots in MMJ, it was scary. As it stands today, I am glad to see the business structure and ethics developing consistently among everyone in the recreational market. In the future, my hope is simple; I would just like cannabis to continue to flourish here in Washington. And yes, the taxes could come down a bit, that would benefit quite a few. What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry? What are the biggest joys? Biggest challenge would definitely be not having the ability to provide every single product requested by every individual. As a business, ensuring our customers enjoy their experience is top of our priority list, so it’s difficult to have to say no. Biggest joy

would have to be just coming in every day and being able to provide the service that we do in our community. What is one thing you would like patients/customers to know about your access point? The customer is number one at our location, and you truly feel that upon arrival. We provide a friendly, welcoming environment so that you can comfortably ask questions and browse products without feeling rushed. What is the most important thing that you hope to accomplish in the MJ/MMJ community? We hope to provide a memorable experience to every single person that walks through our doors. Also, we hope to provide a better alternative to our MMJ community in the near future. c

Top-Selling Strain: Anything from Dawg Star Cannabis Top-Selling Concentrate: “Sticky Ricky” Wax by Silica Phoenix Top-Selling Edible: Magic Kitchen’s entire selection

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Access Points HIGHLIGHTS

Green Solution

Interviewed: Queen (owner) & Emily (manager) 15941 Meridian E., Puyallup, 98375

www.greensolutionco.com How and when did your access point start up? We started back on November 1, 2012, with unbound determination and a love for cannabis as a whole. What’s the story behind the name of your access point? Honestly, we had to work towards it slowly. The first couple of ideas made us sound more akin to a church, i.e. Green Health Natural Pharma Company (laughs), but we landed on something simple, direct and memorable. What does your access point offer patients that

they can’t find anywhere else? At Green Solution, we really strive to provide a clean, professional atmosphere for patients to enjoy their time here. We also have occasional live music, and a dab lounge for our patients to utilize. How has the cannabis industry in Washington changed since you’ve been in the business? Where would you like to see it go? It’s made a monumental shift from being viewed as underground, dirty or stigmatized, to being commonplace amongst baby-boomers, athletes, teachers and all other walks of life. Eventually, we’d like to see cannabis businesses treated just as normally as a coffee shop, or any other structured business in America.

What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as an access point? Biggest Joys? The biggest challenges we faced were overcoming the negative connotations that are associated with what we do, and also our building itself. Being built in the basement of a large building, there were some obvious issues that we had to overcome initially, i.e. lighting, ventilation, security. Biggest joys would be being able to serve the patient community for as long as we have. What is one thing you want patients to know about your access point? We work directly with our patients to find what it is they are looking for. Here we truly hold the patients needs to the highest priority. We are always here for your every need. If someone wanted to open an access point and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you offer? If you have business savvy and product appreciation, prioritize your motives and get a business plan started now. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/ MMJ community? Our hope is that we can provide a certain level of consistency across the board, for not only our patient base, but our community as well. c

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Top-Selling Strain: Dutch Treat or Blue Dream Top-Selling Concentrate: Platinum Extracts Top-Selling Edible: Anything from Sweet Treats

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Advocate HIGHLIGHT

Doreen Bomar

Occupation: Founder & CEO of Propel Strategies SPC, a business consulting firm; Co-Founder and CEO of Spotted Owl Organics SPC, a Washington cultivation (production) and processing company; Vice Chair of The Coalition for Cannabis Standards and Ethics (CCSE).

When and how did you become an advocate for cannabis? I started dabbling in advocacy for cannabis legalization in high school and shortly after. But I didn’t take it very seriously until a few events in my life occurred. First, my husband was seriously injured in a work accident, I found out how truly life-changing cannabis can be for someone who suffers from chronic pain, inflammation and other difficult to treat and manage conditions. He was not having positive results from opiates, muscle relaxers, physical therapy and the like and opted for more natural options. Once he began using cannabis to manage his pain and inflammation, his life changed and returned to what it was like prior to his accident. That was almost eight years ago. Second, my grandfather went to prison for transporting cannabis across state lines. Too many people are in prison, too many lives are ruined with records for something that is safer than alcohol and tobacco. The one thing that is so terrible and devastating to lives about cannabis is the illegality of it. How has cannabis benefited your life? Cannabis has been a huge benefit to my life, especially as of late. For most of the time I have used cannabis, I considered

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myself to be a recreational user. But, I became very sick in the past few years and was put on large amounts of pharmaceutical drugs. My condition did not improve, and the medications caused a lot of damage to most of my organs, including my kidneys, liver, spleen and skin. I have been in treatment from my initial treatments since January of this year, and without cannabis in my life over the last few years, I don’t know that I would be here today. The toll on my body emotionally and physically was managed and limited successfully because of medical cannabis. I am proud to say that I found something that can help with my joint inflammation, chronic pain, severe digestive issues, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, my mood and outlook in one place with negligible side effects. What’s your greatest achievement for the cannabis cause? My biggest interest is finding people that can come together and do greater things than they ever imagined. I have found so many people that shared that same vision and were passionate about cannabis and its future impact on our planet. I truly feel like I’ve built a network that is still expanding every day that is comprised of people that will help change the world for

the better in a substantial way. We are organizing effectively and making political and societal changes. In so many ways, this is still the beginning and there is so much left to do. And I’m not done yet, in fact I feel like I’ve just started. I believe my greatest achievement for the cannabis cause has yet to come. If you could change one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would it be? The negative stigmas that cannabis users are lazy, stupid or worse that is prevalent. I wish that people would understand that they’ve been programmed to believe that and many other stereotypes and that the only thing that needs to change is their perspective. Cannabis helps people, cannabis and hemp are great for the environment if done right, and the time for sweeping change has already begun. It’s going to be a bumpy ride getting through the process of legalization. It’s our job as responsible adult cannabis users to talk to as many people as possible about it openly and honestly and share facts and knowledge. We can change the stigma and can help create more compassion. “Drug users” are not viewed in a very positive light in our society. We need to humanize responsible cannabis use. c VISIT US AT

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STRAIN Four Star General by Fire Brothers

Available AT: 8th Wonder in Parkland.

If you’re looking for a bold flower crafted by Pacific Northwest experts, this is it. Four Star General is a cross between Stardawg and Tres Dawg. Both of which share some variety of Chemdawg as a parent. Stardawg’s other parent is Tres Dawg. Tres Dawg’s other parent is Afghani, which, along with Tres Dawg being an indica-dominant hybrid, is why this strain is labeled as indica-dominant. Four Star General has a pungent, diesel flavor with hints of sweetness and earthiness. While the flavors are definitely distinct, they’re not dominant. Upon consuming this flower in a water pipe, an all-encompassing headspace prevailed. While functioning was still entirely possible, the speed at which things got accomplished did slow down. Four Star General is the perfect strain to enjoy on any kind of day you don’t have to follow a strict itinerary, learn anything new, or of course like all other strains, operate heavy machinery such as a vehicle.

OG Kush

Cedar Creek Cannabis has their packaging game on fleek. Their logo is attractive, and appealing, and of course, their package also features all of the crucial information to help you get the most out of your cannabis experience. This flower tests at an impressive 25.10 percent for THC/ THCA. Dense, light-green and fuzzy with crystals, this flower is pretty to look at, and a good specimen of the strain. OG Kush is known to have an earthy flavor with hints of pine and wood as well. Upon consuming this indica-dominant hybrid, we felt the penetrating effect one would expect from a classic indica. Due to its hybrid nature however, this flower also has a spirited and joyful nature that makes it great for a variety of applications. This OG Kush would be perfect for nighttime pain relief and management, or even a mellow backyard barbeque. As long as you have a ride home, you’ll have a good time. Available AT: Diamond Green in Tacoma.

The White

Available AT: Puget Sound Health Alternative in Seattle.

When an access point gives you a nice container to keep your flower in, it kind of feels like you’re getting an extra gift. And Puget Sound Health Alternative (PSHA) did just that. The suction-sealed jar is cute, super useful, and easily fits an eighth of an ounce of flower. The very official looking label from PSHA also helps indicate strain, and whether it’s a sativa, or indica, and whether or not it’s a hybrid. The White, like most strains, is a hybrid—an indica-dominant hybrid. Upon cracking open the fancy little jar with the nice label, we were shocked to see some of the most gorgeous samples of The White we have ever laid our eyes on. True to the strain’s name, this flower was so crystalline it’s difficult to tell there is green underneath there. We sampled this with a water pipe and personal vaporizer, and the flavors were fresh. Hints of pine and earth gave it a forest-like flavor. The sweet finish of this flower makes it all the more palatable. Though The White is majority indica, the effect is blissful, euphoric and energetic, drawing from its sativa ancestry. The White could even be safe for daytime use, under the right circumstances.

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Perma Frost

Right off the bat, you’ll notice Perma Frost grown by Western Cultured, has attractive branded packaging. In addition to looking nice, the package includes helpful information. For instance, Perma Frost is a Trainwreck White Widow cross. Its potency analysis comes in at 21.6 percent THC. Hand-trimmed and nitro-sealed, this flower was harvested in late August. Once we dug into that baby and got a hold of the flower, let’s just say it lived up to the hype. This sativa-dominant hybrid flower is crystalline and fragrant. The flower looks expertly harvested, with dense trichome formations. With hints of sweet, pine and spice in both scent and flavor, it’s a treat to vaporize and smoke. Immediately upon consuming this Perma Frost in a water pipe, a noticeable uplifting effect took hold. It soon subsided into a relaxed and happy state that lasted for some time. This is the perfect strain for social occasions, small or large. Potent enough to allow you to kick back and unwind, but not so strong that you’ll sit on the sidelines.

Available AT: Greenside Recreational in Des Moines.

Critical Mass

Critical Mass is an indica-dominant hybrid, bred from Afghani and Skunk #1. For November’s issue, we’re reviewing this strain in two forms, fresh flower and rosin. The flower was phenomenal. Dark-green and purple leaves, with long orange hairs vining off of them, give this bud somewhat of a royal color scheme. White crystals dripping off the leaves serve as jewels on this flower’s crown. The fragrance and flavor are heady and complicated, with a diverse array of notes with each whiff. A complex mix of savory and earthy, sweet and citrusy. Some of us noted hints of fruit and even coffee in the flavor. This flower has something for everyone flavor-wise. When it comes to the after-effects of consumption, Critical Mass provides a potent and incredibly chill and happy effect—all of the relaxation, and none of the stress. We used a water pipe to consume this flower, and the effects were instantaneous, visceral and long-lasting.

Available AT: All Natural Wellness Center in Tacoma.

Hippie Crippler

Available AT: Green Kings in Parkland.

This flower came in a non-descript little package, simply labeled with “Hip.” But the contents of that little package were extraordinary. In all honesty, Hippie Crippler is some of the best-looking flower we have ever laid eyes on. Crystals on crystals on crystals. The flower was so dense with crystals, breaking up the flower to consume it was almost like breaking up bubble hash, or kief. Once dissected, the flower has an almost glass-like appearance. You could barely see the lime green color of the leaves, or the long orange hairs poking their way through the snow. We sampled this flower using both a personal vaporizer and a water pipe, and enjoyed both. Both methods allowed us to best enjoy Hippie Crippler’s sweet, citrusy flavor, with notes of fruit and pine. Unlike some cannabis, this flower has a mild and very pleasant flavor—perfect for those who may not love the more skunky varieties. A cross between AK-47 and Blue Satellite, this is a sativa-dominant strain, and the effect reflects this. Despite being powerful, the experience is light, happy and energetic. Hippie Crippler doesn’t really cripple hippies! Not us anyways. But it does satisfy our sativa needs in every way!

November 2015 // CULTURE

cool stuff Small FlowerHouse PlantHouse™

The FlowerHouse PlantHouse™ creates a convenient and effective way to nurture and protect your tender plants against damaging environments. For the green thumb in your life, this little PlantHouse™ will improve and aid in the growth and life of any plants! UV-resistant, waterproof Gro-Tec™ material features rip stop protection as well. Compact and lightweight, the PlantHouse™ allows for optimum ventilation, while also protecting your plants from pests.

Brinno GardenWatch Time Lapse Camera

PRICE: $159.99 MORE INFORMATION: www.brinno.com

PRICE: $28-$350 MORE INFORMATION: www.flowerhouses.com

Now, you can geek out with your own garden! A time lapse camera that will allow you to literally watch your garden grow. The Brinno GardenWatchCam is a weather-resistant, time lapse camera that will help you easily capture cool video of activities that regular snapshot photography takes forever to do. Imagine capturing a flower blooming, a house being constructed or your little sproutlings growing up right before your very eyes.

PRICE: $349.99 MORE INFORMATION: www.mytrimmer.com

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mega CVault

PRICE: $93.95 MORE INFORMATION: www.theCvault.com

CULTURE // November 2015

The ultimate storage solution container for your herb, the mega CVault is made from food grade stainless steel and is airtight and impenetrable by light when secured. This bad boy is durable, super lightweight and commercial quality. This really is the only container you need for curing and storing your green. Each mega CVault comes with Boveda too. Never mold again!

The Magic™ Trimmer

Enough with the high-price, barely effective trimmers of the world. The Magic™ Trimmer is the only trimmer that the professionals trust, and the only one you’ll ever need. The detailed patent-pending design safely removes the trimmings from your plants in a fast and effective way, and its hand held power trimming is precise to your movement, so you can truly control the trim. Seriously, The Magic™ Trimmer stands out against all other trimming machines—it’s affordable, it’s small and handy, cuts all kinds of plants safely and gets the job done fast and right, the first time.

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November 2015 // CULTURE

entertainment Release Date: November 10 Available on: PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Fallout 4 Dev. Bethesda Game Studios Pub. Bethesda Softworks

The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness Steve DeAngelo North Atlantic Books

It’s been many years since the last release of a Fallout game, but the arrival of Fallout 4 has prove to be the most massive title in the franchise yet. Players will venture forth into a post-apocalyptic earth 200 years after war has subsided, complete with radioactive damage that has ravaged the world. Explore the open world setting of Boston to complete quests, collect and make all sorts of weapons, and travel the grief-stricken landscape with your lovable canine companion, Dogmeat!

Tape Loops Chris Walla Trans Records

Chris Walla may be most well-known for being a founder (more or less), of the indie rock institution that is Death Cab for Cutie; however, when Walla walked away from the band late last year, his future with music became a bit hazy and uncertain. With Walla’s first release since leaving Death Cab, Tape Loops, Walla’s ear for tone and texture flourishes and takes the listeners into a world that seems imbued with the cool, foggy climate of his home in Washington. (Simon Weedn)

Jurassic World Universal Pictures Dir. Colin Trevorrow

Helmed by newcomer director/ writer, Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed), and led by rising superstar actor, Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation, Guardians of The Galaxy), Jurassic World rewards longtime Jurassic Park devotees in a major way. Not only does the film take viewers into some strange future, where the world has become so jaded and unimpressed with dinosaur cloning that scientists begin to genetically modify dinosaurs into super-saurs, Jurassic World delivers everything you could hope for in a mega blockbuster, and is by far one of the best monster romps in years. (Simon Weedn)

CULTURE // November 2015

The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness is Steve Angelo’s masterpiece and call to action. The Cannabis Manifesto has reached number one for the categories of Government Social Policy, Politics & Social Sciences and Medicine & Herbal Remedies on Amazon. Steve DeAngelo has co-founded some of the largest companies in cannabisHarborside Health, Steep Hill Lab and The ArcView Group. DeAngelo produces a radical treatise, arguing that there is no such thing as recreational cannabis use. He encourages using cannabis for wellness and the responsibility of cannabis smokers. (Benjamin Adams)

+ Cannafest Prague Going on its sixth year now, the International Trade Fair of Cannabis and Medicinal Herb, or Cannafest, will be especially exciting this year as CULTURE will be one of many exhibitors expected to participate in this year’s celebration. Alongside CULTURE, hundreds of international exhibitors will be featured at this year’s event, offering up an array of cannabis products and resources. Visitors are encouraged to attend various conferences, film showings and live performances, with the option of taking a break and getting a relaxing hemp message or hanging out in the fest’s “Chillout Zone.” For those who can’t get enough of Cannafest, two after parties are taking place during the run of the festival, giving visitors the chance to mingle with cannabis enthusiasts alike. Bigger and better than ever, don’t miss out on this year’s Cannafest, aiding in the growth of the cannabis industry, culture and awareness. (Victoria Banegas)

IF YOU GO

What: Cannafest Prague hemp and cannabis fair. When/Where: Fri, Nov. 6-Sun, Nov. 8. Prague Exhibition Grounds, Výstaviště 67, 170 90 Praha 7, Czech Republic. Info: Visit www.cannafest. com for details.

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November 2015 // CULTURE

by R. Scott Rappold Before there was Trump, “the Donald,” tough-talking celebrity-turnedpolitician, shaking the political establishment to its core, there was Jesse “The Body” Ventura. A Vietnam veteran, actor and former professional wrestler, Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota in 1998, the most successful candidate of Ross Perot’s Reform Party before or since. The man who fought an alien alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator and preferred the bad guys in his heated color commentary on WrestleMania proved just as feisty as governor, battling both major parties for four years before stepping aside. But he was only getting started. Not one to fade into the sunset, he has attacked the partisanship of American politics and exposed government lies and cover-ups in half a dozen bestselling books and several internet shows. He is a staunch advocate of cannabis reform and though he’s been out of office for 12 years, he remains a force in American politics, waiting on the outside for a time when America might again be fed up with the two-party system. And 2016 just might be that time. CULTURE recently caught up with the 64-year-old Ventura by phone from his half-year home in Minnesota. He talked at length about his storied political career, his love of cannabis and how he could be the game-changer in next year’s election. >>

CULTURE // November 2015

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Photos by Lauren B. Falk

November 2015 // CULTURE

“How can the government t e l l yo u w h at o r w h at n ot to use, as far a s w h at yo u want to ingest i n y o u r b o d y, a s l o n g a s yo u don’t harm a n yo n e e l s e ? ”

Could you tell us a little bit about your new book? It’s a rehash of an old one, American Conspiracies, but we’ve added about four more chapters. That’s one good thing in general about the government. If you wait four or five years, you can do four or five more chapters on them because they’re good for about one a year. It seems to be that way. You spend a good part of your time in Mexico? I spend probably half the year or more there. I bet you’re a not big fan of (Mexican-bashing presidential candidate) Donald Trump. I’ve actually known Donald for 25 years now, and I do respect Donald. I don’t agree with him on everything, especially on the immigration policy, but that’s just one issue. I love what he’s doing, the fact that he’s fracturing the Republican Party, and I love what Bernie Sanders is doing to the Democrats. As you know, I’m fiercely independent and I’ve written a book called Democrips and Rebloodicans, where I’ve equated them to being the same as the L.A. street gangs. In fact, I apologized to L.A. street gangs for using their names that way. On certain issues, Democrats are maybe a little bit closer to you. They’re coming around on cannabis legalization and some other issues. Do you identify with them at all? I’m fiscally conservative and I’m socially liberal. That puts me on the conservative side of lesser government because I feel we have far too much government overseeing us. I’m closer to being Libertarian . . . I’m absolutely a believer in ending the war on drugs, which is also a Libertarian viewpoint. The war has been a miserable failure and always will be. In what’s supposed to be a free country, it comes down to this: How can the government tell you what or what not to use, as far as what you want to ingest in your body, as long as you don’t harm anyone else? Did you ever partake in cannabis as a young man? Of course. I grew up in the ‘60s. Anyone that would tell you they didn’t and they grew up in the ‘60s is either lying or they didn’t grow up in the ‘60s . . . I remember one time a friend of mine who sold me an ounce had to apologize six times

CULTURE // November 2015

because it cost $12 instead of $10. The standard thing in those days was $10 a lid, and a lid was an ounce of pot. Can you imagine? Ten bucks. The first time I tried it I said, “This is way better than drinking. They’re not even comparable.” And I drank way before I touched pot. Were you a hippie? No. Not a bit. I enlisted right after high school in the United States Navy and became a frogman and a Vietnam veteran . . . The culture went beyond the hippies. The whole generation wound up (smoking pot.) After you left the military, did you ever partake, like when you were in the wrestling world? Absolutely. I wrestled in Hawaii before they made it illegal and everyone in the nation wanted to get Hawaiian. That was the primo of the primo in the ‘70s. Because it’s grown over there and I don’t know what the volcanic soil does to it but it makes it very good. I’m also old enough today to know that when they spread this stuff about the dangers, that the pot today isn’t like the pot of the ‘60s because it’s more powerful, that’s actually a positive. If it’s more powerful it doesn’t require you to smoke nearly as much, does it? And that makes it healthier, doesn’t it? Were you always political, or was it after the acting slowed down that you decided to get into politics? I think I was always aware politically, because my father made me so. My father had six bronze battle stars in World War II and my mother was also a World War II veteran, so I come from a family of all veterans. My dad was opposed to the Vietnam War before the hippies were . . . I had a father who, at the dinner table, would get worked up. I remember times my mom would send him to the basement because he’d get so worked up over Vietnam or whatever the issue might be, so being from my dad, I can see where it comes from. Was your father a big part of your decision to run for mayor and then governor? No, I had no intention to ever seek office. The run for mayor happened because the city council wanted to access a storm sewer curb and gutter tax and we didn’t need it . . . Then I realized the city of Brooklyn Park had a massive good old boy network, headed >> VISIT US AT

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November 2015 // CULTURE

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

by the 25-year incumbent mayor. As I got more involved locally, one day I was there and I looked at him and I had the podium and I said, “You’re going to make me run, aren’t you?” And his buddy on the council burst out laughing and said, “You couldn’t win.” And I left the city hall that night with the usual attitude that nobody tells me I can’t do something. So I was running for mayor. I ended up beating the 25-year incumbent 66 percent to 33 percent. How do you feel about what you accomplished as mayor and how did that lead you to run for governor? We rousted out the good old boy network. It took us three elections to do so. Then I moved on. Because I don’t believe public service should ever be a career, like most of these guys get re-elected for 30 years. I think that’s ridiculous . . . Then I moved to my ranch out in Maple Grove and I was doing just fine. I was doing morning talk radio four years later and Minnesota had billions of dollars of surplus; too much money. The economy was great at the end of the Clinton years and the state had, I don’t know, three billion dollars more than they budgeted for. And instead of returning it to the taxpayers, they spent it. I got outraged on talk radio, I said, “Wait a minute. They set the budget. They have no right, because the economy is powerful and they’re taxing us too much, then, to just collect this money and spend it above and beyond their budget?” I kind of backed myself in a corner. I kind of threw it out there and said, “Maybe I should run for governor?” And boy that took off like wildfire. Are you going to run for president in 2016? I don’t know. I’ll wait until the pikers are gone. Who’d be stupid enough to jump in now? The Libertarians have their convention next June and that’s where they’ll pick their candidate and if you get in next June you’ll have ballot access for pretty much the whole country and then you only have

CULTURE // November 2015

to run until November. It’s all about timing. So when these other two gangs get down to one, whoever their guy is, then you jump in and you beat them and you steal the election. So you’re considering a run as a Libertarian? Yeah. It’d be the only way I could get ballot access. You’ve got to get ballot access and the libertarians have it. All you have to do is go to their convention in June and if they pick you as the nominee, then you’re off and running. Then the key is to force them to let you in the debates. I was polling only 10 percent (when he joined the Minnesota gubernatorial race) which would not get me into the debates today. And yet in Minnesota, 10 percent at Labor Day and I won the election in November. It took me only two months. Two months and three debates and I destroyed them. Let me do that in the presidency and we’ll see a repeat of it . . . If I ran, I would run on one issue. I would make

the Libertarians agree I’m not part of their party but I’ve got their endorsement to run, and I’m not a member of their party. I could use this to win. I would challenge the American people to elect the first president since George Washington, the father of our country, who does not belong to a political party, and I believe you could win on that alone right now. You’ve been known for so many different things–a wrestler, actor, governor and writer. How do you hope you’re remembered? I don’t care. They were all important to me at the specific times I lived them. I’m 64 now, and if I live to 80 or 85, if I’m lucky, I don’t want to say “woulda coulda shoulda.” I never planned anything out. I just live life and when you come to a Y in the road you make a decision and you go that way and you see what happens. I had no vision ever. I didn’t have a vision that much of even being a pro-wrestler—it just kind of fell into place.

Now that you’re 64, you still feel like you ain’t got time to bleed (the title of one of your books and a famous quote from the film Predator)? Now that I’m 64, I don’t even worry about it. I got an offer to do a film and I turned it down. I don’t feel like acting anymore . . . I’m pretty happy doing my internet show right now. It gives me the freedom to talk about what I want to talk about. I can say anything. Nothing’s censored. You can call bullshit “bullshit” without worrying about being fined. Do you think we’ll ever see national cannabis legalization or do you think we’ll see it go state by state? The federal government should get out of it completely and they should leave up to each state like they do alcohol. Alcohol is governed by each state, whether they have dry counties, what the drinking age is, and how they handle it. There’s no reason to have the federal government involved in any way, shape or form. It’s going well in states like Colorado, Oregon and Washington . . . I’ve been through Colorado quite often because there is a sense of freedom there that I really enjoy feeling. I tip my hat to Colorado and the people of it and for having the courage to do what they did . . . It’s long overdue. It’s too many jobs. And that plant itself has too many uses to be eradicated. I love to say this to all the religious people out there: If you believe in God, then you believe that God created every plant on this planet. Well I don’t think He created marijuana for us to eradicate it. I think He created it for us to use it. Religious people should look at it from that perspective when they take a stance on marijuana. Do you still partake yourself every now and then? Only if I’m in Colorado. (Laughs.) There’s a good political answer for you. Only if I’m in Colorado, that way I can’t get in any trouble, right? c VISIT US AT

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November 2015 // CULTURE

“If you get stuck doing the same thing over and over again, you’re not challenging yourself.”

Decently blazed on his couch on a sunny afternoon, Master Bong dives into his pizza. Some people eat the crust, others give it to the dog, Master Bong produces a drilling tool and after a few minutes of tinkering, loads up one side of the pizza crust with a bud of Animal Crackers and smokes it. “You can eat it, you smoke out of it. Domino’s puts cheese in the middle of it, I hollowed it out and smoked it,” he says after exhaling a cloud of smoke at the camera. Meet the “MacGyver of Marijuana,” a 30-year-old wild child who has turned a love of making pipes out of unlikely items into an internet sensation. With millions of views on his YouTube channel and 91,000 “likes” on his Facebook page, he’s had the marketing know-how to channel this by R. Scott Rappold popularity into a business that pays the bills and allows him to have a slew of employees. “For me, it’s like sometimes you’re going to come into a situation where you’re out in the world and you don’t have (a smoking device) on you,” says Master Bong in a phone interview. “Or you just broke your bong. You lost your pipe. You broke your vaporizer. You need to have the skill set. If you don’t, how do you smoke?” He goes on to say, “It’s also just about being creative. If you get stuck doing the same thing over and over again, you’re not challenging yourself. You’re not switching things up. Life can get kind of boring.” >>

Master Bong

CULTURE // November 2015

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Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Master Bong, whose first name is Jake and whose last name he declines to give, came to pipe and bong-making as a teenager, too young to buy one in a head shop. “I wasn’t quite of age yet. We were always figuring out creative fun ways to make devices to smoke out of. I was the person in my crew who was kind of heading that up,” he says. A few years later, he was in college studying to be a social worker but his heart wasn’t in it. He’d had some success with an internet and social media marketing side business and decided to turn that talent toward his passion: Cannabis. In 2008, he shot a short video of himself carving a pipe out of an apple and posted it to YouTube, sporting an afro and sunglasses. Other instructional videos followed, from a gravity bong to a bell pepper bubbler. After all, this was stuff he and his buddies were doing for fun anyway. People at a party might all be toking up, but when everyone gets together to puff out of a hollowed-out watermelon, they might become friends. “You can see how it just brings people together, especially people who wouldn’t normally kick it together, just like cannabis does,” he says. In 2010, he decided it was time to devote himself entirely to his Master Bong alter ego and dropped out of college.

An Internet celebrity

As his videos grew in popularity along with the rising tide of cannabis legalization, he noticed a change. Rather than having to buy his own gear, companies paid him to feature their products in his videos. People might not know or recognize Master Bong, but the dude with the afro was becoming a cannabis celebrity. “Sometimes now, I wish I didn’t have my brand set up like this because when I go to an event and it’s 100 degrees out, I’m not comfortable,” he says. “But it’s a brand. It’s very recognizable.”

CULTURE // November 2015

With a regular output of a dozen videos a month, Master Bong has expanded his repertoire to celebrating everything about the cannabis lifestyle, from growing tips to recipes to general silliness. In fact, his most-viewed video, with 1.6 million views, is on how to roll a Swisher Sweets blunt. But being the “MacGyver of Marijuana” is still his bread and butter, even if individual projects have been less than successful. For example, there was the golf club pipe. The thing was so slim you had to suck incredibly hard to get a hit. Although his products aren’t always great for smoking with, he always makes them work, even if it takes a couple rips from a sponsored-product bong to get there.“We’ll figure out a way and sit there until it works,” he says.

Never stop dreaming

Master Bong never stops thinking of new ways to smoke. He talks about his desire to turn a swimming pool into a massive bong, or to publish a book—complete with carving tools—on 101 ways to make household smoking instruments. Passionate about his pipes and bongs, Master Bong keeps the non-perishable smoking devices he makes, in hopes of creating somewhat of a Master Bong Museum when he finally buys a house. The day Master Bong can afford a house can’t be far off, if it’s not already here. It all started with him and a “horrible flip camera.” Today he has an assistant to check his emails and someone to operate the camera. He once had to pay his own way to attend industry events. Now he wouldn’t dream of buying his own plane ticket or paying to attend an industry event. While he certainly enjoys making a living out of Master Bong, instead of social work, he also loves being able to inform and entertain people.“No matter what you do . . . Maybe you’re an artist, maybe you’re a musician, maybe you want to play sports, whatever it is, follow your heart and passion and it’s going to work out; and getting paid to do that is the American dream.” c

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The Harvest How-To A step-by-step guide to harvesting your cannabis by Addison Herron-Wheeler

Harvest season is here, and that means it’s time for all the growers who have lovingly cultivated their cannabis plants for months to finally get to reap the benefits of all their hard work. But proceed with caution— cannabis is quite literally a delicate flower, and if treated too roughly or clipped or cured incorrectly, all that love and care could go to waste at the last minute. Here is how to get the best results from harvesting and curing your plants and avoid any nasty mistakes.

1. Cut With Love and Care

Actually harvesting cannabis is by far the simplest part of the harvest process—one simple snip of the stalk is all it takes, and then the hard work begins with the curing and trimming process. Just make sure that you cut in the right place—make the incision below the first intersection of branches, and be sure to cut all the way through the first time.

2. Set Aside Your Initial Trim for Hash

Once you’ve cut off your plant, now it’s time to get rid of the trim so the plant can cure. But don’t just throw all the stuff you cut off away without looking at it carefully first. Any leaves and seemingly useless parts that look crystalized and are covered in trichomes can be sent off to be made into bubble hash, and making hash with the trim will make your yield go a lot further.

3. Dry According to Local Conditions

Once you have done the initial trimming of your plant, it is time to hang it up to dry. If you live at a high elevation during a dry time of year with no snow, the best bet is to leave on some of the bigger leaves until the plant is more dried out. If you live at sea level and 100 miles or less from the ocean, or if there is snow on the ground, then the best bet is to cut off as many leaves as possible so that the plant does not stay too moist and become moldy.

4. Observe and Adjust Accordingly

The drying process can take as long as 30 days, and the plants should be checked regularly during that time to make sure they are curing properly. More leaves might need to be trimmed off if they are too moist, and plants can be hung alongside moister, less cured plants if they are too dry so that they can absorb some of the water.

5. Check out the Final Product

Once all that hard work is done and your plant is properly dried and cured, it’s time for the fun part—testing the product. This is when you’ll learn if the cannabis you grew is truly up to snuff and worthy of being shared. Enjoy, and happy harvesting! c

CULTURE // November 2015

Source: John Hunt, owner of Green and US Healthy Dispensary VISIT AT Wellness iReadCulture.com

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The Ritualistic Harvest Pagan Rituals Involving Cannabis By Addison Herron-Wheeler

Hindu Hemp Lore It’s that time of year when magic is in the air–Halloween is just behind us, the harvest is upon us and we feel the most in touch with our pagan roots. Many of the pagan, ancient and classic religious traditions that still exist today, or cultural rituals involved in harvesting, use cannabis in their practices. Here’s a look at how religions and cultures across time and the planet have used cannabis as a sacrament, a healing herb and a part of their daily lives and rituals.

European Paganism

Cannabis, love and sex go hand in hand, and this has been the case since the days of the ancient Germanic pagans. According to “The History of Hemp in Norway,” an article published in The Journal of Industrial Hemp by Jan Bojer Vindheim, cannabis and fertility have long been associated in ancient Norse mythology. The herb was associated with Freya, the goddess of love, and was consumed and harvested at the ironically titled “High Festival,” where fertility was celebrated. The Norse people believed that Freya’s feminine, erotic energy was contained in the flowers of the plant, which would give sexual power to those who consumed them. The article also points out that two ancient Norwegian women were discovered with hemp seeds in their pouch and a hemp cord on their persons, alluding to more practical uses for the cannabis family as well.

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Many Hindus still embrace hemp as a part of their religion–on the festival day of Holi, bhang or cannabis flowers are ritually consumed. According to Mia Touw’s The Religious and Medical Uses of Cannabis in China, India, and Tibet, Hindu mythology states that Shiva created cannabis from his body in order to purify the elixir of life that helped to kick start the world. Another version of the myth states that when the elixir of life touched the ground, the cannabis plant sprang up. Therefore, as long as you are imbibing cannabis in a ritualistic manner, as a sacrament, some Hindus believe it can cause insights about the future and cleanse past sins.

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Central Asian Mysticism

There is much historical evidence that the people of Central Asia have been turning to cannabis for thousands of years, both in ritual and relaxation. The ancient Greek Historian Herodotus recorded in his book Histories that the Scythians, a group of ancient Iranian Nomads, would make steam baths out of cannabis. They would erect crude saunas out of animal skin stretched around poles, put some hemp seed on hot coals, and then stand inside the booths soaking up the steam and the euphoric effects. Additionally, according to Martin Booth’s Cannabis: A History, Tarim mummies from ancient Northern China have been discovered with bags full of cannabis buried in their tombs. It is believed that these men were shamans, and wanted to bring their sacred herb with them into the next world so they could continue practicing their craft. The shaman mummies have also been found with bowls and various other hemprelated items in their tombs, suggesting that this ancient people ate and imbibed cannabis as well as used hemp for fiber.

Cannabis Rites in Africa

Sikhism and Sacred Smoke

Those who practice the Sikh religion today more than likely abstain from cannabis–the modern Sikh teachings outline that intoxication is a distraction from true understanding of God and something that only gets in the way of faith. However, cannabis is a hugely entrenched part of their history, and there are sects of the religion that still stand by its healing powers today. According to the spiritual blog Amrit World’s interpretation of Sikh lore, the Sikhs who fought in the Second Battle of Anandpur in 1701 were being persecuted and constantly pursued by Mughal forces. Because of this, the warriors were always on the run and did not have good access to food, sometimes having to resort to eating things like tree bark. When this happened, they turned to the plentiful weed, bhang or cannabis, to deal with the pains caused by eating such a poor diet. They also used it to help with pain when they became injured in combat and had to remain on the run. As a result, some Sikhs today still ritually use cannabis, and an exception for imbibing is often made on certain holidays. c

When it comes to the history of Africa and cannabis, the roots go a lot deeper than the relatively recent advent of the Rastafari religion. Alfred Dunhill, the British historian who spent time studying the history of cannabis in Africa and wrote The Pipe Book, claimed that Africans have used gourd pipes to smoke cannabis since ancient times. The Baluka tribe also formed a hemp-smoking cult at one point in time, called the Riamba, in order to smoke cannabis together in community and honor the herb. According to Pogge and Wissman, two explorers who chronicled the Bashilenge tribe in 1881, there were both clubs of hemp smokers and religious cults. The tribe allegedly referred to themselves as “sons of hemp” and used “hemp” as a greeting when addressing each other. Members of the religious cannabis cults would show their devotion by smoking as frequently as possible, and believed that the magic of hemp would outweigh the negative energy they built up when they had to do things like go to war. They also passed around a guard to smoke out of as a kind of peace pipe whenever making important agreements or deals. The continent also has a history of using the plant for healing purposes since ancient times across various countries.

November 2015 // CULTURE

What’s organic? In the cannabis market, that’s a difficult query by Jamie Solis

ow can you know for sure that the natural cannabis plant you are about to consume is organic? To put it simply—you can’t. From the exhaustive efforts of cannabis producers across the nation who uphold pristine cannabis-growing operations that follow what appear to be organic practices to the frauds that have been pushing contaminated cannabis and claiming it is organic, the term “organic” is a complicated subject in the cannabis community. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) organic seal of approval has been around since October 2002. This certification informs consumers which food and agricultural products

CULTURE // November 2015

have been produced with methods that preserve the environment and are free from pesticides, antibiotics, genetically modified organisms and other synthetic materials. Regardless of how it is grown, cannabis is unable to qualify under the USDA’s organic label. This is because cannabis is still a Schedule I Controlled Substance under federal law, and that makes the production of the plant federally illegal. Although state governments like Washington, Colorado and Oregon allow for the recreational consumption of cannabis, state governments still hold no power in certifying cannabis as organic. >>

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November 2015 // CULTURE

“Although state governments like Washington, Colorado and Oregon allow for the recreational consumption of cannabis, state governments still hold no power in certifying cannabis as organic.”

Brian E. Smith is the Communications Director at Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Smith explained why his state agency, among others, is at a stand still until federal regulations change. “ . . . Certifying something as ‘organic’ is a federal process. Because marijuana is a federally controlled substance, it won’t allow the ‘organic certification.’ Washington State can’t certify anything as organic if the federal government doesn’t allow it first. So, we don’t have the ability to change our regulations.” Washington isn’t the only state that is facing this struggle; Colorado State has also been facing hardships due to this lack of regulation, as there have been reports of many dispensaries falsely advertising organic and chemical-free products. Boulder Weekly reported in May 2015 that 10 local dispensaries had been investigated for pesticiderelated violations, and many of these companies had been advertising their contaminated products as organic. This is a perfect example of “buyer beware” and the problem with the limited regulation on the word organic. After receiving many complaints, Roger Hudson from the Colorado Attorney

CULTURE // November 2015

General’s office commented to Harvest Public Media on the state’s current stance on regulating the production of organic cannabis claims, “Is there a legal definition at this point in time? No there is not. But there is a general idea of what ‘organically grown’ is.” Without a legal definition outlining what we already understand as organic cannabis, Hudson shared that Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman is working with fraud investigators to look into the state’s various dispensaries that have complaints against them for falsely advertising organic products. It is unclear if there will be negative repercussions for these businesses. The federal government’s lack of regulating sustainable, natural and safe cannabis has opened the door for private companies to step in. Some of the most popular third party companies who are working to provide agricultural certifications to ensure safe, clean and environmentally conscious agricultural and cannabis grows are California’s Clean Green Certified and Oregon’s Organic Cannabis Growers Association. California’s Clean Green Certified offers The Clean Green Certification Program, which covers everything to help ensure farmers will lower their

carbon footprint while creating the safest product available. They do this by consulting on the best methods for growing the crop to testing the crop for pesticides and other contaminants. Organic Cannabis Growers Association has a partnership with Certified-Kind, giving their clients top tier certification program choices. Their Certified Kind Program is known as “The Gold Standard in cannabis certification,” although it is also popular amongst vegetable growers who value sustainability and organic growing methods. The Naturally Grown Cannabis Program focuses on using the most natural and organic products to produce the best quality cannabis possible, and although they aren’t affiliated with the USDA, some of their standards are stricter than the USDA. Farmers who uphold organic integrity use natural processes and materials in every aspect of the production of their product, from soil to pest management and everything in between, deserve the certification that their product is in fact organic. However until there is proper regulation rolling out from the federal government in the near future, it is uncertain when this right will be given. c

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November 2015 // CULTURE

Young and Not So Evil

Up close and personal with Seattle’s very own The Young Evils by Emily Manke If you’ve had the pleasure of hearing The Young Evils, live or recorded, then you’ll know the band has a classic sound with songs that would be right at home in a John Hughes movie, or at a house party on Capitol Hill. The band’s sound is unique and hard to describe, conjuring comparisons to a range of artists, from The Runaways to The Vaselines. The Young Evils is comprised of vocalist Mackenzie Mercer, guitarist and vocalist Troy Nelson, Michael Lee (an additional guitarist) and brothers Brendon Helgason (bass) and Scott Helgason (drums). The band has transformed and expanded throughout the years, starting out with just Mercer and Nelson, and slowly adding members, starting with Michael Lee. CULTURE was lucky enough to get an inside peek at this hot band’s journey to the top. >>

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

In Concert:

Nov. 20 @ Tractor Tavern in Seattle

When and how did The Young Evils get started? Mackenzie Mercer: Troy and I met in 2008. We both worked at a record store in Seattle. Easy Street Records, the Queen Anne store, R.I.P. Troy heard me singing along to a record that was playing in the store one day, and he was like “Oh, she can kind of sing!” and I sang that at him, kind of in a joke way. And he was like, “Oh, I have this idea for a band, we should play together.” So we hung out, and it started out just Troy and I. And then Michael started later. Where are you guys all from? Mercer: I’m a born-and-raised Seattleite. Michael Lee: I claim Seattle, but I am really Tacoma/Gig Harbor. Troy Nelson: I’ve been in Seattle for like 15 years, so I feel like I’m a native, but originally I’m

CULTURE // November 2015

from the not-so-populated state of South Dakota. What artists have influenced your sound, both growing up and more recently? Mercer: Troy was a really big Nirvana kid, which I think is part of the reason he ended up in Seattle. Nelson: I was a Nirvana kid, but ’80s metal is my core. My very first three favorite artists were Billy Idol, Michael Jackson and Twisted Sister. Mercer: Michael Jackson was definitely my favorite artist growing up. That was the first favorite artist that we all had. Lee: When it comes to influence, we have kind of an ’80s tinge to us. So we were saying earlier, a little bit of Blondie, a little Cars, and a little Ozzie Osbourne. How has cannabis influenced your sound and/or creative process? Mercer: I’m the type of person

whose most magical musical experiences have mostly come from when I was stoned. When you think about having an experience with a record, most of my top five are when I am like, really baked. Nelson: I listened to Appetite for Destruction stoned like a week ago. When he was like “You’re in the jungle baby!” I could hear the streets of L.A., and I was terrified. It was awesome. As I’ve gotten older, my threshold for getting stoned has diminished. I still do it, just not all the time. But I like having controlled small dosage edibles. Lee: Which is why we like candies. I don’t get inside my head. I’m like a 5mg-10mg dose, which I know to some of your readers will sound really lame. But that’s what works for me. You can have a few of those, and enjoy the whole festival. Mercer: There’s this edible company we love called EdiPure

that makes like little Sour Patch Kids, and other little candies. Our friend has a dispensary called Urban Legends, and they sell those little 10mg candies, with tons of different kinds of candies. And we just buy a big bag of them. And in terms of creativity, you can get stoned and play guitar for like a million years I feel like, I mean I’m sure it has kind of aided in that process. I think we all kind of subscribe to the Bill Hicks theory about weed, which is basically, weed isn’t the enemy, alcohol is the enemy. And if weed was legal, people would be pulled over for driving too slow, instead of speeding and hitting someone. Nelson: Or if someone gets in a fight at a show, are they drunk or are they stoned? One and only answer. They’re drunk. Because when you’re super high it’s pretty much impossible to get in an argument. c VISIT US ATyoungevils.com iReadCulture.com

November 2015 // CULTURE

RYOT® Multi Chamber Locking Box

RYOT® Multi Chamber boxes feature an interior (removable) open topped monofilament 100 mesh screened box with additional storage for all your other small smoking accessories. Fully loaded, RYOT® boxes make for the perfect home smoking station with their durable hand crafted wood construction, removable and adjustable storage dividers and sleek and discreet design, load it up with other goodies from RYOT®! (Photo includes RYOT® Grinder sold separately). Visit www. RYOT.com and use Promo Code RYOTXMAS to receive 20 percent off your next purchase.

Gift Holiday

Vdab200 EverSmooth Portable Vaporizer

Introducing the world’s first “Load n’ Go!” portable vaporizer for heavy oils, waxes and shatters of all kinds, the Vdab200 provides 200 puffs that are truly EverSmooth™. The QanTeq engineers have outdone themselves with a Controllable Dispensing Chamber that holds one full gram and allows you to twist the patent-pending steel top a quarter-turn to fill the dual coil heater cup with NO MESS and NO HASSLE! This unit comes with a heavy duty adjustable battery to get the temps right where you like ‘em. Visit www. vdab200.com to order.

CULTURE // November 2015

G UI D E ! 2015

Kannastör® GR8TR™ Grinder

The GR8TR™ Grinder by Kannastör® is the most versatile grinder on the market. Offering not only interchangeable grinding plates for both vape and traditional grounds, but also offering several storage options, Easy Change Screen™, and handy configurations such as a storage puck, and storage sifting jar. The Kannastör® GR8TR™does it all and includes a limited lifetime warranty. Visit www.kannastor.com and use Promo Code Holiday420 to receive 20 percent off your next purchase.

The SmokeBuddy

Just in time for Christmas! The Smokebuddy company has just now released Smokebuddy glow-in-the-dark, available in two sizes, Original and JR; and in two colors: White that glows green, and blue that glows blue! The Smokebuddy is a personal air filter designed to reduce second hand smoke and odor, simply blow your smoke in and clean air comes out on the other side. Original smoke buddy is good for about 300 uses and Smokebuddy JR is good for about 150 uses. Glow in the dark original $24.95 | Glow in the dark Jr $19.95 20 percent OFF use discount code CULTURE Smokebuddy.com

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November 2015 // CULTURE

by Ed Rosenthal

growing culture

EXPERIMENTING WITH LIGHTING —The Harvest

arlier in the season, I set up a garden in a greenhouse that received light only from the front and the top, far less than the total amount of light the plants could use. An induction fluorescent was mounted on a sidewall that delivered light only to the middle of the garden. The plants close to either the front or rear door received no light from the fixture. The plants under the light were harvested September 3rd. The controls were harvested 12 days later but by that time the weather had changed. Oakland, a coastal city, experiences high humidity because the ocean heavily influences it. With the temperature dropping at night to 55° and the plants spending a large part of the time in the 55° to 70° range, it was almost inevitable that the plants would be attacked by powdery mildew (pm). We tried controlling it using a 10 percent milk solution and herbal fungicides, but the attack was overwhelming. The second part of the harvest was not worth our collection efforts because of the looser buds resulting from late September’s lower light levels and widespread attacks of powdery mildew. So, the use of supplemental light resulted in higher yields of the light enriched plants, and also decreased ripening time, saving the crop from the onslaughts of fall weather.

The uncut plants were hung in an unheated room for about three weeks. The temperature in the space stayed in the cool range of about 60°70°. The buds dried but retained some pliability; perfect for smoking- not over-dried to stale and crisp. Then a friend manicured the four plants. The two Jack hybrids weighed 68 grams and 87 grams respectively. Two unknown hybrids weighed 80 grams and 53 grams, respectively, a total of 288 grams, about 10 ounces. All the buds were moderate size but tight and fully loaded with trichomes. The buds were placed in clean glass jars and will be stored in a refrigerator at about 45°, which will keep them fresh. The point of the beginning garden experiment was to see if flowering could be induced using far red light of 730 nm after dusk. This experiment was unsuccessful, but inadvertently I noticed I was conducting another experiment, enhancing light intensity using electrical lights. The result: Plants that received supplemental lighting during the normal light period produced bigger buds and the time to ripening was reduced by two weeks. The upshot: Expect plants grown in shade or under cloud cover to yield less in more time. However, you can improve yield and shorten ripening time with nominal supplemental light. c

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM ASK ED®

he possibly frantic days of harvest are over. The plants have dried and been manicured. Now you might have some time to deal with the leaf and trim that you have saved. There are so many ways that it can be used: Tincture-Make a tincture by soaking the grass in high-proof alcohol such as Everclear or

over-proof rum for a week. Shake occasionally. You can use it as a drink or concentrate it into drops. Salve-easily made by mixing ground leaf or buds in glycerin, aloe and alcohol or into a commercial salve. Use it externally for pain relief. Kief-Rub leaves or buds over a silk or metal screen.

Kief screens are available in many shops. Marijuana Butter or OilMake this by slowly simmering the leaf/trim in butter or oil for a few hours. Strain the leaf and use. Water hash-Shake leaf/ ground bud in a jar with water and ice for 5 minutes. Let settle. Pour out the water and leaf. The THC containing glands remain at the bottom of the container. Dry and use.

Plants hanging in a cool room to dry and cure. The process takes about three weeks.

2 Close-up of buds hanging.

3 Branches trimmed from stem, ready to manicure.

4 Three of the varieties have been manicured. The fourth is about to be transformed.

5 All the buds were tight.

6 The Jack hybrid produced some tight long buds with great color and mixed aroma.

7 The cups runneth over. More jars are needed to store the buds.

Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

Arizona

destination unknown

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by Sheryll Alexander

Arizona Comes Alive A as Fall Cools Down IF YOU GO:

Fun-Filled Facts 1 Arizona has the most ghost towns of

any state (about 275!). Ghost towns are typically free to visit and are mostly concentrated in the central northwest and southeast regions of the state. 2

Starting November 27, visitors can enjoy “Silent Night” or Las Noches de las Luminarias at Scottdale’s pretty Desert Botanical Garden. With the Sonoran Desert as a backdrop, the gardens are set aglow with no less than 8,000 hand-lit luminaria bags for viewing a pop-up outdoor art gallery into the warm serene night.

Surprisingly, Arizona is also a haven for electric vehicles (EVs). The state’s official tourism bureau, Travel Arizona, even provides EV road trip guides with places and tips for charging from L.A. and San Diego as well as points within Arizona. CULTURE // November 2015

Arizona is fast becoming a mecca for medical cannabis patients with legalization on the lips of every cannabusiness out there. The sheer number of dispensaries is quite astounding given the ultra conservative politics of this dry state. Although Arizona went medical in 2010, it took a couple of years for the new pro-cannabis law to form into a Californialike system of medical cannabis doctor recs along with viable and reliable dispensaries to pop up. Now, thankfully, Arizona’s medical cannabis program has taken shape and has blossomed into a rather safe haven for those seeking healing (and legal) relief in the form of just about every cannabis product imaginable from flower buds to edibles to CBD oils. Arizona’s current medical cannabis law also includes a cool grow provision: Residents living more than 25 miles away from a legal dispensary can tend (in a locked, enclosed space) up to 12 plants.

Time to Go: Fall, Winter or Spring Weather: Warm in Fall and Winter with occasional rain in Spring Budget: $$$$$

rizona is truly an inspirational locale to medicate with its almost ethereal skies, mountains, valleys, canyons and waterways and is most especially enjoyed when the heat has subsided in late fall. A medical cannabis state since 2010, Arizona is coming into its own with now hundreds of cannabis dispensaries focused on the more populated cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. One of the best things about a getaway to Arizona is ease of transport. The Phoenix airport (one of the busiest in the nation) is located smack dab in the middle of the state and has some of the most affordable flights anywhere. Snow birds hit their rental car right after getting off the plane because all of Arizona can be yours with your own wheels. In November, Arizona’s top towns burst with foodie autumn harvest energy from farmer’s markets to farm festivals to farm stands to food truck frenzies. The state also celebrates the cool fall season with hiking in the early mornings to hitting lots of outdoor music and arts events such as the Mesa Music Festival (November 12-15). While there, visit the famed Mesa Art Center for no less than five art exhibits of actor, comedian and cannabis activist Cheech Marin’s vast Chicano art collection (free through December 10). Although Arizona is not yet a recreational state, this scenic state is fast on its way to legalization and is certainly a pleasurable place to visit while medicating during the Southwest’s temperate fall season. c

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Seth Green profile in courage

Age: 25 Condition/ Illness: Cerebral Palsy, Seizures, Scoliosis, Stroke, Anxiety, Depression, Multiple Sclerosis.

Are you an MMJ patient with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.

When did you start using medical cannabis? I started using cannabis when I got into high school. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes, seizure medication and anxiety and depression medications. The seizure medications were actually making me have more seizures and the depression medication made me feel like a completely different person. So, I just gathered up all meds and threw them away. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather suffer than take man-made pills that poison my body. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Getting the elected officials that are funded by pill companies out of office. The elected officials control the access of cannabis for so many people, and the pharmaceutical

companies have so many politicians in their back pocket, at this point in time. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? That they need to open up their minds more and think of the big picture. There are millions of people suffering needlessly, or overdosing on pills. There have never been any deaths from cannabis; it is all-natural and helps treat hundreds of illnesses. Cannabis has been proven to be safer than man-made medications. We need to let the people who choose cannabis over pharmaceuticals have a real say in what goes on; they are the ones that are taking a safe medication and want real and safe access to healing, for all. That will not only help in the medical field, but it could potentially bring millions of dollars to states that need it for roads, schools and more. c

November 2015 // CULTURE

recipes

Menu:

Pumpkin Soup with Sage Pesto Turkey meatballs with Cranberry Glaze Spicy Citrus Brussels

Turkey meatballs with Cranberry Glaze 1 pound of lean ground turkey 1 tablespoon cannabis-infused olive oil t ½ cup finely chopped onion (1 medium onion) ¼ cup unseasoned dry bread crumbs 1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 can (16 oz) jellied cranberry sauce ½ cup water

PREPARE TO FEAST KICK THANKSGIVING UP A NOTCH

As we move into the holiday season once again, we’re reminded that it’s that time of year to take a step back and be thankful for everything that life brings to the table—especially when it comes to food! This Thanksgiving, immortalize that warm, fuzzy feeling of happiness that we associate with the holiday with hearty soups, creamy mashed potatoes, tasty stuffing and turkey galore—all of which are classic culinary staples. Take those typical flavors and spice up a few of our modern recipes that come with a healthy dose of cannabis, and enjoy the relaxing, euphoric food coma that you deserve.

In medium bowl, mix all ingredients except cranberry sauce and water. Shape mixture into about 45 (one-inch) balls. Heat infused oil in 10inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs; brown meatballs on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes (or until thermometer inserted in center of meatballs reads 165°F). Slowly stir in cranberry sauce and chicken water. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until cranberry sauce is smooth.

Spicy Citrus Brussels 2 pounds brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise 1½ tablespoons cannabis-infused olive oil t

1 tablespoon red pepper flakes Coarse salt 2 teaspoons lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 450°, with racks in middle and lower third. Divide brussels between two baking sheets and toss each with oil and red pepper flakes. Lightly sprinkle coarse salt over brussels. Roast until browned in some spots and tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes, stirring and rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to a serving dish and top with lemon zest and lemon juice. Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.

CULTURE // November 2015

t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com

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serves

Pumpkin Soup with Sage Pesto

Soup

1 large sugar or pie pumpkin, cut in half and seeds removed and reserved (plus 4 small ones if you are making the pumpkin bowls) 1 tablespoon cannabisinfused olive oil* salt and pepper 6 tablespoons canna butter* 2 small shallots, chopped 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped

4 cups chicken broth 1 cup coconut milk + 1 cup water (or 2 cups water) 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more or less to your liking) 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Sage Pesto 1 head garlic (or you may sub 1 clove raw garlic) 1 cup fresh parsley 1/2 cup fresh sage 1/4 cup shelled pistachios 1/4 cup cannabis-infused olive oil*

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (if you do not like blue cheese, substitute with feta or parmesan) 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preheat the oven to 400Â°. Cut your pumpkin in half or into fourths and de-seed. Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet, rub the pumpkin with 1 tablespoon infused olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Chop off the top portion of the garlic head to reveal cloves. Peel any excess paper/ skin off from the bulb of garlic. Pour about a teaspoon of infused olive oil on top the garlic cloves and cover with foil. Roast both the pumpkin and garlic together on the same baking sheet for 45 minutes, or until the pumpkin is fork tender and the garlic is golden brown and soft. Remove from the oven and allow everything to cool five minutes. Squeeze garlic out of the paper skin into a small bowl, mash well with a fork and set aside. Grab the pumpkin and add it to a food processor (or mash extremely well) and puree with 1 cup of the chicken broth. Puree until completely smooth. Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the canna butter and shallots. SautĂŠ the shallots until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and cook another 30 seconds. Add the pumpkin puree, remaining chicken, coconut milk, water, cayenne, nutmeg, maple syrup and crushed red pepper. Bring the soup to a low simmer and simmer 15-20 minutes. While the soup cooks, make the pesto. Put the roasted garlic, parsley, sage and pistachios in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped and then stream in the infused oil. Add the cheese and pulse a few more time until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls (or your roasted pumpkins) and top each bowl with a dollop of pesto and if desired, drizzle with coconut milk. Enjoy!

Local eateries with similar dishes Rosewood Cafe 3323 N 26th St., Tacoma (253) 752-7999 www.rosewoodcafe.com

The Ridge 7217 Greenwood Ave. N, Seattle (206) 687-7621 www.ridgepizza.com The Scotch and Vine 22341 Marine View Dr. S, Des Moines (206) 592-2139 www.scotchandvine.com

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event listings

LET’S

DO THIS

created the band, CHERUB, that “Doses and Mimosas” was born—and the rest is history. The Showbox, Seattle www.showboxpresents.com

featured event

Seattle Slack Key Festival, Nov. 8

Little Shop of Horrors, through Nov. 15

This musical is an ingenious approach to the classic story about an alien plant who feeds on human flesh. As a musical dark comedy, Little Shop of Horrors is a show full of catchy tunes and hilarious scenes. Second Story Hideaway, Redmond secondstoryrep.org

An awesome lineup of Hawaiian musicians such as Hi’ikua, Melveen Leed, George Kuo and many more will be performing at the Seattle Slack Key Festival this year. Sit back, relax and enjoy some classic island music. Town Hall Theatre, Seattle townhallseattle.org

Seattle International Comedy Competition, Nov. 4-29

This year marks the 36th year of the International Comedy Competition in Seattle, and countless jokes are just waiting to be experienced! The winner of the event will be crowned on the last day of the event. Market Theatre, Seattle seattlecomedycompetition.org

Mac Miller, Nov. 9

American rapper and hip-hop artist Mac Miller has created music under many different aliases, but no matter the name, his work in the hip-hop scene has been a major success. Miller has made four mixtapes since he began performing five years ago—if that’s not determination, then we don’t know what is! Showbox SoDo, Seattle showboxpresents.com

Oyster Fest New Year Bash, Nov. 14 Cherub, Nov. 6

This indie rock duo from Nashville, Tennessee met in college to study music promotion. It wasn’t until they

CULTURE // November 2015

It’s not the New Year quite yet, but if you’re into oysters, there’s no better place to celebrate. Over 30 varieties of oysters will be available for your slurping pleasure, along with a handful

Zombie Run 5K, Nov. 14

The apocalypse can arrive at any time, and so can zombies. Halloween has already come and gone, but this themed 5K run is making sure that zombies are never out of style. Straddleline, McCleary thezombierun.com of wineries and microbreweries to pair up your seafood. Elliot’s Oyster House, Seattle elliottsoysterhouse.com

Yulefest, Nov. 21-22

Many different cultures have

their own celebratory holiday events. For Nordic culture, it’s Yulefest—a celebration of traditional Scandinavian food, music and dancing galore! Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle nordicmuseum.com VISIT US AT

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November 2015 // CULTURE

Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird

LEAD STORY—A PAPER DRONE u The Federal Aviation

Administration recently granted (likely for the first time ever) an application to fly a paper airplane. Prominent drone advocate Peter Sachs had applied to conduct commercial aerial photography with his “aircraft” (a Tailor Toys model with a tiny propeller and maximum range of 180 feet), and the agency, concerned with air traffic safety, accommodated by treating the request (unironically?) under the rules for manned flights (that, among other restrictions, Sachs must not exceed 100 mph and must engage a licensed airplane pilot to fly it). “With this grant,”

CULTURE // November 2015

said the “victorious” Sachs, “the FAA has abandoned all logic and sensibility.”

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS u Because temperatures

were in the high 90s the last weekend in August, tourists visiting the historical Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland were greeted by the outdoor sprinkler system dousing them near the gates. It was intended as relief, said operators, to keep guests from fainting, but, as one Israeli visitor said, “It was a punch to the gut”—too reminiscent of Auschwitz’s gas chamber. (Jewish prisoners had been marched calmly to their

deaths under the pretense that they were only being taken for showers).

NEW WORLD ORDER u Digital World: (1) The North

Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced in July that it would be experimenting with online phys ed courses for high schoolers. Students would watch videos on certain activities, then engage in them, and later self-report their (as the agency calls it) “mastery.” (2) British police warned in August of a brand-new sex crime based on the iPhone app AirDrop. The app sends text or photos instantly to nearby AirDrop users (who choose to receive from “contacts” or from “everyone”). Thus, perverts can “flash” strangers by posting nude pictures of themselves to reach AirDrop users set carelessly (or purposely!) to “everyone.”

NAMES IN THE NEWS u Charged with choking and

punching his fiancee: Mr. Daniel Gentleman, 28 (Prescott,

Arizona, May). Charged with killing her husband and burying his body in a manure pile on their farm: Ms. Charlene Mess, 48 (Attica, New York, April). Charged with sexual assault: Mr. Huckleberry Finn (Keene, New Hampshire, July). And prominent in the news (confusingly so) when the Food and Drug Administration approved the socalled “female Viagra” drug Addyi in August: FDA spokesperson Dr. Janet Woodcock.

LEAST COMPETENT PEOPLE u “Selfies” continue to take

their devastating toll on Americans. On Aug. 30 in Orient, Maine, driver Jordan Toner, 29, attempting to lean into a seven-person selfie among his passengers, crashed into a tree, causing numerous injuries. On Aug. 24, Alex Gomez, 36, of Lake Elsinore, California, tried to take one after draping an angry 4-footlong rattlesnake around his neck. The predictable bite was damaging but not fatal. On

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Sept. 1 in Houston, a 19-yearold man taking selfies while clumsily fondling his handgun is no longer with us.

RECURRING THEMES u In June, News of the Weird

mentioned a drug dealer in Marseille, France, who was distributing loyalty cards to his best customers (fill 10 squares, get a discount). In August, a small-time cannabis dealer in the central France town of Villeurbanne pushed the envelope further by taping 1-gram samples to hand-lettered leaflets (offering home delivery for 100euro orders, along with his first name and phone number). The man was of course arrested, with the local police superintendent musing about the man’s “very special” business model.

u More “Slow TV”: Norwegian

TV viewers have somehow given strong ratings to a series of seemingly interminable programs (a continuous camera on a salmon-fishing vessel, 12 hours of live log-burning

with commentary, five hours of knitters spinning their way to a world record, 100 straight hours of chess-playing, a five-day stretch from a cruise ship), and in August were presented another such gift. The Norwegian caviar company Mills said it would live stream, on a YouTube channel, nearly 11 months of fish eggs aging 24/7 in barrels—7,392 hours of “programming.”

u People With Issues: Alexander

Carlsson, 25, was jailed in Sanford, Florida, in August on federal child pornography charges, but also told agents that he is a “clopper,” which identifies him, he said, as one who masturbates while gazing at figurines and pictures depicting Hasbro’s My Little Pony toys.

READERS’ CHOICE u A thief grabbed the purse of an elderly woman shopping with her husband at a Fred Meyer store in Spokane, Washington, on July 23 and fled through a parking lot. They had no chance to catch the man, but he happened

to run right by hospital nurse Heidi Muat, 42, who surmised the situation and started after him. The thief quickly saw that Muat could outrun him, and he gave up the purse, which Muat returned to the couple. Muat later revealed her alter ego: On her Spokannibals Roller Derby team, she is known as Ms. “Ida B. ChoAzz.”

A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (FEBRUARY 2009) u Though India is recognized

as a world leader in promoting the health benefits of urine, its dominance will be assured by the end of the year (2009) when a cow-urine-based soft drink comes to market. Om Prakash, chief of the Cow Protection Department of the RSS organization (India’s largest Hindu nationalist group), trying to reassure a Times of London reporter in February, promised, “It won’t smell like urine and will be tasty, too,” noting that medicinal herbs would be added and toxins removed. In addition to improved health, he said, India

needs a domestic (and especially Hindu) beverage to compete with the foreign influence of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

YOUR ENGLISH TEACHER WAS RIGHT u In September, Tennessee

Attorney General Herbert Slatery concluded that records of an investigation need not be released to the Memphis City Council— because there was no comma. The law requires the records’ release “only in compliance with a subpoena or an order of a court.” Slatery said if there had been a comma after “subpoena,” a council subpoena would get the records, but without the comma, only court subpoenas. And in July, Andrea Cammelleri prevailed on her parking ticket challenge because there was no comma. A West Jefferson, Ohio, ordinance banned parking of any “motor vehicle camper, trailer.” A state appeals judge ruled that, with a comma after “vehicle,” Cammelleri’s truck would have been banned, but without it, only campers and trailers were.

November 2015 // CULTURE

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE