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inside
contents 6.2019
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ROCK ON
Country rock group frontman Lukas Nelson shares his perspective on songwriting, his newest album debut this month, as well as the mainstream evolution of cannabis legalization. ON THE COVER:
PHOTO BY JOEY MARTINEZ
features 40
Historic Talent Jack Tempchin, a well-known songwriter who became famous for crafting tunes for The Eagles, explains how cannabis is an essential creative tool.
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Industry Insider Bhang COO Jamie Pearson excels as a mother and cannabis industry professional.
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departments
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news 10 News Nuggets 14 By the Numbers 18 Local News reviews 20 Company Highlight 22 Cool Stuff 26 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 48 À La Carte 50 Growing Culture 52 NorCal Now! 54 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d CBD May Treat Heroin Addiction d Germany Issues Cannabis Cultivation Licenses
VOL 10 ISSUE 12
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jamie Solis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Kern EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Benjamin Adams EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jacob Cannon, David Edmundson. Caroline Hayes, Carl Kozlowski, Alison Malsbury, Emily Manke, Kiara Manns, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, Nicole Potter, R. Scott Rappold, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf ART DIRECTOR Steven Myrdahl PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Aguirre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Angie Callahan, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Casey Roel OFFICE MANAGER Mikayla Aguilar
CULTURE® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout the Southern California. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. CULTURE® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
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NEWS
NUGGETS
Oakland to Drop Tax Rate on Small Cannabis Businesses On May 21, Oakland City Council voted unanimously to lower the gross receipts tax on cannabis businesses that make $500,000 or less from 10 percent to 0.12 percent. The new rate will be levied on the 2019 earnings of small cannabis businesses in the city. “We love Oakland and share your vision to make the town a cannabis destination, and to make this industry more inclusive and equitable for all Oaklanders,” Mark of Magnolia Wellness in West Oakland said at the meeting. “However, cannabis
Study Suggests Suicide Rates Dropped in California After Legalization A new study published in Archives of Suicide Research on May 13 indicates that the number of suicides in California dropped after Proposition 215 was approved by voters over 20 years ago. Researchers gathered data from non-gun suicides from 19702004 and compared California rates 10
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taxes are higher than any other city in the entire state. When Oakland’s taxes went up, our dispensary lost close to $1 million dollars in sales.” As for cannabis businesses that make more than $500,000, the Oakland City Council will vote on lowering the taxes for larger businesses on June 4. Compared to other cities, Oakland’s rate is high. Berkeley’s cannabis tax rate is at five percent, while Emeryville’s and Santa Rosa’s tax rates are at three percent.
with the 41 states that didn’t have a medical cannabis program at the time. “The 1996 legalization resulted in mean annual reductions of 398.9 total suicides, 208 gun suicides and 135 non-gun suicides. The effect estimates for total and gun suicides were statistically significant (p<.05) but the effect estimate for non-gun suicides was not (p≥.488).” When researchers began the study, they could not rule out if laws that block citizens who use controlled substances from purchasing a firearm contribute to the decline of suicide rates in the state, which is why non-gun suicides were observed. They also acknowledged that medical cannabis may lower the symptoms of depression, and depression can lead to suicide.
Delaware Lawmakers Introduce Recreational Bill Delaware Rep. Ed Osienski reintroduced House Bill 110 on May 16. This bill aims to allow adults ages 21 and over to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis. An earlier version of the bill was defeated on June 27, 2018, but efforts to legalize recreational cannabis haven’t slowed down. The bill calls for authorities to issue 15 retail cannabis store licenses within 16 months of the bill’s effective date. If passed, it would allow 50 indoor and outdoor cultivation facilities of varying sizes, plus 10 product manufacturing facilities as well. It wouldn’t allow any cultivation athome as seen in other states. “On Thursday, [May 16,] I introduced a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, which would establish a new industry that could create hundreds of good-paying jobs throughout the state while striking a blow against the marijuana black market,” Rep. Ed Osienski stated. The new version of the bill follows a task force study on the impact of legalization.
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The newly established percentage of local tax on cannabis businesses in Oakland if they make less than $500,000 annually:
The estimated number of cannabis jobs that are being created in the city of Oakland with the opening of Coda Signature’s first California-based production facility: (Source: The Mercury News)
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(Source: The Mercury News) The number of cannabis convictions that were dismissed by the Sacramento District Attorney with help from an organization called Code for America: (Source: ABC10)
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The number of votes from the California Senate, out of 36, that were cast in favor of a bill that would allow private banks and credit unions to offer their services to cannabis businesses: (Source: CNBC)
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The number of attorneys general from various states in the U.S. who agreed that Congress should approve a cannabis banking proposal: (Source: North Bay Business Journal)
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The percentage of women who said that they consume cannabis to ease PMS pain, depression and anxiety: (Source: Daily Mail)
The amount of money, in billions of dollars, that a recent report projects the hemp industry will be worth in 2026: (Source: GlobeNewswire)
13.03
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The estimated percentage of New Zealanders who support recreational cannabis legalization: (Source: 1 News Now)
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High Times Cannabis Cup Bay Area 2019 WHEN: Sat, June 22-Sun, June 23 WHERE: Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City WEBSITE: cannabiscup.com
Over 30 years ago, the first Cannabis Cup took place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Today, the time old tradition carries on in American states that allow it. Headlining acts include Capital Cities, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and Sol Seed. The main event, of course, is the tournament. Find out who will win the
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crown this year in multiple categories including Best Glass, Best Edible, Best CBD Flower, Best Indica Flower and Best Sativa Flower. As always, top-of-theline entertainers will enchant the crowd and create a celebratory mood. Anyone who is 21 or older with a valid state ID from any state is welcome to attend.
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NEWS
LOCAL
TAXATION TROUBLES
California Appropriations Committee declined approval of cannabis tax solution
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By Benjamin M. Adams alifornia’s black market cannabis sales are thriving. About twothirds of California cities blocked recreational retail shops from opening through preemptive measures, and the state has opened only 621 licensed retailers as of late-May—just onetenth of what was expected. But by far, the strongest push back into the black market has been Proposition 64’s unreasonably high cannabis tax rates. And on May 16, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee shot down one of the best solutions to the tax problem currently at hand. The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), enacted when Proposition 64 was approved in 2016, imposes a 15 percent excise tax on the gross receipts, a cultivation tax of $9.25 per dryweight ounce on cannabis flowers and $2.75 per dry ounce on cannabis leaves. And once all these taxes are added up on top of any local taxes, California consumers are paying up to 35 or 40 percent tax—far more than is required in nearly any other industry. Famously cannabis-friendly Assemblymember Rob Bonta of Oakland recently introduced a bill that was intended to help California’s legal cannabis market survive. Assembly Bill 286, or the Temporary Cannabis Tax Reduction bill, would have temporarily cut cannabis sales tax from 15 percent to 11 percent and suspend cultivation taxes for two-and-a-half years in order to help legal retailers compete with California’s robust black market. The temporary reduction in taxes would help the legal cannabis market catch up 18
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Stoner Comedy Jam
with the illicit market. AB-286 cleared the Business and Professions Committee with a 16-1 vote in favor of the bill and the Revenue and Taxation Committee by a 10-1 vote. At a hearing on May 1, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee expressed concerns about the bill, showing signs of hesitation. “AB-286 aims to combat the illicit cannabis market by suspending or temporarily reducing cannabis taxes,” Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair Lorena Gonzalez stated in a bill analysis. “Supporters argue this will allow legal businesses to offer more competitive prices in order to bring in customers currently buying from illicit market operations. In light of the pending [Legislative Analyst’s Office] report exploring the issue of cannabis taxation, the committee may wish to consider whether this bill is premature given that the legal industry has been operating for just a few years.” Assemblymember Bonta responded by agreeing to eliminate the sales tax portion of the bill with hope that it would garner enough votes to get it out of committee. But even after amendments, the bill didn’t clear the committee on May 16, narrowing its chances of moving forward this year to nearly zero. Bonta explained later that any bill that “could reduce California’s tax revenue” is extremely hard to pass, possibly explaining why the latest committee hearing didn’t go so well. On a positive note, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced Senate Bill 51, which would create a cannabis charter bank and a charter credit union to serve cannabis businesses. Because of the federal status of cannabis, these financial institutions would have to issue specialpurpose checks. For now, Californians will continue to pay steep taxes until something is done to readjust tax rates that continue to push cannabis consumers back into the black market. The black market may be tempting because of its low prices, but paying taxes helps to fulfill the promises that were made before Proposition 64 was approved by voters. c
Everyone knows that cannabis enhances comedy, and San Francisco is a mecca for both! Only at Punch Line Comedy Club in San Francisco, Stoner Comedy Jam merges two of your favorite pastimes. San Francisco’s best comedians—from Cobb’s, VICELAND, NBC and ABC—will perform some of their most epic cannabisrelated routines. All shows are 18 and over with a valid ID. Punch Line has been operating since before some of us were born. Beginning in 1978, the comedy club has given birth to superstars including the late Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, Ellen DeGeneres, Wanda Sykes, Drew Carey and Chris Rock. Then came the second generation of stars including Hannibal Buress, Gabriel Iglesias, Aziz Ansari and Chelsea Handler. You never know what comic will be the next big thing. Don’t miss out on this cannabisthemed comedy show in the heart of downtown San Francisco. WHEN: Tues, June 18 WHERE: Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St., San Francisco WEBSITE: punch linecomedyclub.com
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REVIEWS
company highlight
HONEYDEW FARMS Honeydew, Humboldt County, California
that is hand-grown with passion, knowledge and sustainability.
www.honeydewfarms.com
What do you offer consumers that others don’t? Not many companies can say that they have been part of the cannabis industry for 28 years. The knowledge alone that comes with that is immeasurable. Additionally, being family owned and operated, we are involved in every single step along the way. From hand-selecting each strain, to hand-cultivating, watering, harvesting and packaging, we are part of every process, and our passion and attention shows in the end product. We are able to keep the craft quality on a larger scale.
Interviewed: Alex and Miranda Moore, Owners
How would you describe your company? What is your specialty? Honeydew Farms is Humboldt County’s first permitted cannabis farm. Located in the highly coveted Mattole Valley, our family-owned, 900-acre agricultural preserve lies in the foothills of the Lost Coast King Range. We specialize in award-winning, sun grown flower 20
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How and why did your company start up? After moving to Humboldt in 1991, Alex got an opportunity to care take a piece of land in Honeydew. This is where he first learned to grow. He immediately discovered the undeniable medical benefits of cannabis and growing quickly became his passion. The passing of Prop. 215 in 1996 opened the door to cultivating cannabis legally, and Honeydew Farms collective was created. It wasn’t until 2016 that Humboldt County started issuing permits, and Honeydew Farms received the first seven conditional use permits in the state of California. We had a vision of what our authentic cannabis brand could become, and we continue to work on that vision every single day.
With the changing landscape of medical and recreational cannabis, what do you see as the biggest challenges to your progress as a company? Any advantages? Being a self-funded company, a big challenge we face is competing against large corporations that have raised millions in capital and can sustain operating at a loss for long periods of time in order to capture market share. On the flipside of that, being an authentic company that has been in this industry for over 28 years gives us the advantage in that we have the knowledge and adaptability to make quick necessary changes. We actually work our farm daily and have eyes on what is going on at all timesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;plus we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a boardroom to answer to.
What words of advice would you offer anyone seeking to enter the world of cannabis business? Be stubborn about your goals, but flexible about how you get there. What are the goals and vision moving forward for your company? Where do you see your company in five years? We hope to have built a foundation in California that will be our platform for national, and eventual global, legalization. We would like our product to be accessible to all consumers no matter their location. What do you hope to accomplish in the cannabis industry? We hope to be a sustainable brand that can continue to, and expand, giving back to our community. c
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REVIEWS
1. ScopeAround Flexible If there are two things we know about dad, it’s that although it’s near impossible to find him a Father’s Day gift that he’ll love, he is always working on at least 50 random projects around the house at any given time. Just imagine the look on your favorite dad’s face as he unwraps the ScopeAround Flexible. You’ll see the look of childlike wonder in his eyes as he considers the impossibleto-reach areas he is going to explore with this flexible camera that is only 5.5mm in diameter. Price: $189 More Information: scopearound.com 2. Datsusara Hemp Gear Bag Pro Need a durable bag that will hold a boot-load of gear this summer? In honor of Hemp 2 History Week happening this month, we found the Datsusara Hemp Gear Bag Pro. Constructed out of environmentally-friendly and extremely durable hemp canvas, this bag is also anti-microbial and breathable. Complete with tons of pockets and clocking in at 5,000 cubic inches of total internal volume, dad will stay organized with no storage shortage. Price: $150 More Information: dsgear.com 22
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3. The Path Don’t know which path to take in life? That’s okay—we have the perfect path for you. No matter if your future is in shambles, follow the journey The Path takes you on. The smoke travels down the device’s windy path, allowing smoke to cool down and filter before reaching your lips. Pack the bowl, and secure your cannabis for transport with the sliding cover. All-in-all, this attractive design is exactly what consumers need to have a more fun and enjoyable smoking experience. Available in black or silver, this will be a welcomed Father’s Day gift for the most awesome dudes in your life. Price: $75 More Information: smokehonest.com 4. Dulytek® 7 Piece Rosin & Wax Tool Set Looking to dab, scrape, slam dunk or scoop cannabis concentrate into your favorite rig? Look no further than the Dulytek® 7 Piece Rosin & Wax Tool Set. Five double-sided food-grade stainless steel tools were expertly crafted to fill every rosin and wax consuming need imaginable. Complete with a set of silicone finger protectors, don’t worry about your wax sticking to your fingertips. When you order it through the product’s official website, the set comes with a product warranty, and satisfaction is guaranteed. This means you can gift this set without any worry of disappointing your giftee. Price: $20 More Information: dulytek.com
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REVIEWS
entertainment
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 21 AVAILABLE ON: NINTENDO SWITCH, PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE
BOOK
American Hemp Jen Hobbs Skyhorse Publishing Curious to learn more about the sheer potential of the hemp plant? American Hemp delves into what makes hemp a superior product and its various uses from farming to 3D printing. Find out the ways that hemp can benefit the planet, including its ability to remove toxins in the soil and being an ecofriendly replacement for plastics and fossil fuels. Readers will also uncover the many medicinal uses of hemp, plus the complicated legal history of the plant. Complete with a foreword by former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, American Hemp will give you insight into why it’s high time our nation embraces hemp. (Jacob Cannon) 26
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MUSIC MOVIE
GAME
Crash Team Racing NitroFueled Dev. Beenox Pub. Activision Crash Team Racing (CTR), a PlayStation exclusive that was originally released in 1999, was one of the only decent contenders to Nintendo’s powerhouse kart racing game, Mario Kart—but CTR was a thrilling way to compete with your friends while sabotaging their success (for those who didn’t own a Nintendo console anyway). That excitement is now being replicated in an official remake that comes with a complete overhaul of character and level design, plus a few extra surprises for longtime fans such as online multiplayer and customizable vehicles. (Nicole Potter)
Blaze Dir. Ethan Hawke IFC Films When singersongwriter, country artist Blaze Foley was shot to death at the age of 39 during a confrontation over stolen pension checks, all but a small handful of other musicians and close friends took notice. Over the years though, Foley’s music has become more and more well-known and his popularity grew enough to warrant a biographical film directed by none other than Ethan Hawke. Blaze traces Foley’s turbulent life and musical career as he struggled with substance addiction, homelessness and small successes as a songwriter. The film exceptionally does well introducing viewers to one of country songwriting’s least known geniuses. (Simon Weedn)
Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Fantasy Recordings A year-and-a-half since its self-titled Fantasy Records debut, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real returns with a stunning follow up, Turn Off The News (Build A Garden). The record finds the band honing in on perfection of its classic rock meets alternative country style and captures the band at its tightest. Though the album wears the influence of bands like The Traveling Wilburys and Tom Petty proudly, the songs merely use those artists as guide posts to create something wholly new rather than attempting to recreate the past. (Simon Weedn)
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Lukas Nelson talks songwriting, inspiration and his new album release happening this month
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By Simon Weedn For over a decade, Lukas Nelson and his band Promise of the Real have been hard at work honing a country rock ‘n’ roll sound that has roots planted deep in the past but keeps its eyes forward and feet moving into the future. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real’s bluesy, country rock style manages to sound both vintage and contemporary, and the band draws on many influences but never simply impersonates them. The last five years have seen Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real do everything from recording with Neil Young, appear in, cowrite and co-produce the music of last year’s hit film, A Star Is Born, release two albums of original material with a third out in the next few weeks, and tour extensively all over the world, in addition to also backing Neil Young or performing with Lukas’s father, Willie Nelson. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real’s self-titled 2017 album rose to number two on the Billboard U.S. Country chart and was nominated for Duo/Group of the Year at the Americana Music Awards, while the soundtrack for A Star Is Born opened at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. CULTURE had the opportunity to catch up with Nelson recently and hear all about his band’s new album Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) available on June 14, his experience working on A Star is Born, his activism and of course, his excitement about all things cannabis.
PHOTOS BY JOEY MARTINEZ
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How did you all find the time to get this album completed? The actual tracking only took us about 10 days at most. We went into the studio and basically recorded it live; we did three takes of each song and picked the best ones. There was also about an hour of pre-production beforehand where we decided how we were going to arrange the songs and everything. So we actually ended up with 20 tracks done in our first six-day session at ShangriLa Studios. Then we went and did another three-day session at The Village Recorder, where we did our last record, and ended up with another eight or nine tracks. So, we had about 30 total to choose from. Then we just had to narrow it down, pick the tracks and mix 32
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those—and that all happened in the span of the last year-and-a-half. Were the songs on this album written in the last year-and-a-half, or are some of these older tunes you’ve been working on? The song “Mystery” from the record is one that I put out on our first EP ever back in 2009. But that recording was actually the second version of the song, and the one that we’re putting out now is the way I originally wrote it back when I was 18. The only ones we revisited were that one and the song “Something Real” because I really wanted to get another recording of that one down too. The rest of them are new. One big thing that happened for you in that time frame was your
work on A Star Is Born. Was sitting down and writing with a pop star like Lady Gaga a radically different experience for you? Interestingly, when Gaga and I were writing together we seemed to see ear-to-ear, so to speak. She comes from her world, and I come from mine, but she knows jazz music, blues and the roots of music in general. When you know that language, you love a good song, and that’s what I pride myself most on— good songwriting. I don’t like to limit myself to a certain genre when it comes to that. I like a good melody and lyrics that speak to me, and if that’s the case then it doesn’t matter what instrumentation necessarily surrounds the song, how you produce it, or how you present it to the world. It’s all a matter of taste.
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You decided to work with John Alagia again for this album. It seems like every release prior to this one and the one before have had different producers. What made you decide to continue working with him? Well, I love John. He’s a good friend of mine, and I like his approach. We’re pretty raw as a band and are more on the Neil Young or The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street end of things. I like his ability to put a polish on our sound when we work together; it really balances out into something great. I think that’s why we work so well together. We both have our approaches, but we both come from the same place and love the same types of music. We both love great songs, and John is an incredible songwriter. In fact, for our new single, “Bad Case,” John and his friend Jamie Hartman, who is also a great songwriter and works at The Village, gave some ideas that I wouldn’t have necessarily thought of to make the song more accessible to people. I want to reach all types of worlds, though not the ones without soul, but I’d like to reach the soul of all genres. From a production standpoint, was there a particular type of sound you wanted to achieve? You know, when I wrote “Bad Case,” I felt Tom Petty. I felt him in my spirit, I was missing him, and it really came out that way. We got Adria Petty to do the music video for it, and it’s going to be fantastic; it’s beautiful. I miss all of the songwriter rock ‘n’ roll of people like The Beatles and Tom and all of the other folks who inspired me. Even 34
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“I don’t think there’s a marijuana enthusiast in the world that isn’t at least a little bit happy now that things are going our way.”
Clapton and Jimi Hendrix had these amazing songs with rock ‘n’ roll in them. They weren’t just great sounding guitars with lyrics masked by production that you couldn’t really hear which seems to be the style happening in this age. I’m not a fan of it. I want to hear what people are saying, and I want the lyrics to touch me the way a good poem does.
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On the topic of lyrics, with a title track like “Turn Off The News (Build A Garden),” was it your intention for this record to be more of a direct commentary on the world we’re in today than some of your previous albums? Oh yeah! But in a way that’s hopeful. My idea while we’re touring on the release of this record is to reach out to all of the farmer’s markets in the towns we play as much as we can and go to the farmer’s market, play for free and encourage the people who attend our concerts to come out and support their local farmers. As a public figure, I feel that I have a way to create the world that I want to see in the way that I can. I’m not advocating turning off the news completely and being ignorant. It’s putting down your phone, turning off your TV for a minute, going out and getting involved in your local community. That way you can be consciously a part of what’s happening in your community, and you can make efforts to ensure that on a local level, things are going well. I think that will trickle into the macrocosm of our society and create a domino effect if we all work that way. Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) is really a call to action. Is it at all challenging for you to find your creativity with so much unrest happening in the world around you? I don’t know if it’s a challenge, no. Creativity is born of inspiration, right? And you can get inspired by something very small. Depending on your level of observation and connectivity to the world you could get inspired by just the way someone looks at you one day. I think creativity is about being present in the world and observing. If things are going well around you, then that’s something else to be writing about. Some of the greatest Motown songs are about being happy. Songs don’t have to be born of unrest. But I actually think unrest provides more material, because it provides the challenge of overcoming challenges. 38
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I’d imagine at the very least it must bring a little bit of solace to see something like cannabis legalization gaining such mainstream acceptance on a national level? Yes. I don’t think there’s a marijuana enthusiast in the world that isn’t at least a little bit happy now that things are going our way. I imagine it’s kind of like the way prohibition was back in the day—when you couldn’t drink, people still drank, and when you couldn’t smoke, people
people won’t be getting arrested and thrown in jail for this little plant like they used to be, especially minorities. I think that’s the best part of the national decriminalization that’s happening as well as the exploring of the medicinal qualities too because it’s really good for you. But really, I think the worst part of it was that people from minority communities were being thrown in jail for something as small as having a joint. Unfortunately, they’re still being thrown in jail for silly things,
“As a public figure, I feel that I have a way to create the world that I want to see in the way that I can. I’m not advocating turning off the news completely and being ignorant. It’s putting down your phone, turning off your TV for a minute, going out and getting involved in your local community.”
still smoked. The irony is that probably a lot less people smoke now because a lot of times people want to do things that are illegal just to feel like they’re giving the finger to the man, especially young kids. I think we’re growing up in a time now where a lot of kids don’t smoke weed, because their parents were stoners, and they want to do the opposite of what their parents are doing. I’m just glad that hopefully
but at least that’s one thing that can’t happen to them anymore. As a son, does it make you proud to see something that your dad has been harassed for and working so hard as an activist on for so long finally being taken seriously as a social issue? Oh absolutely! It’s a complete vindication for him! WILLIE’S RESERVETM is doing fantastic and to have that company now, I’m really proud of him!
Speaking of your dad’s company, I’ve heard you’ve got your own strain out through them. Can you tell me about it? Well yeah, WILLIE’S RESERVETM put out a “Promise of the Real” sativa strain of weed, and it’s great! To get back to the music, you have an all-star lineup of collaborators on this record including Kesha, Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, Lucius, Neil Young and your dad. How did you decide who you wanted to work on with? You know, our friends just kind of came along. We worked with Kesha on a great song that might be coming out on her next record, became friends during that process, and she heard my song “Save A Little Heartache” and asked if she might sing on it. I said, “Yeah! Absolutely!” I’m just really grateful to have a relationship with her, because she’s a super sweet person. I love her very much, and she stands for what’s right. One of my favorite quotes is, “A rising tide lifts all ships.” When you’ve got a community of people of like minds and intrinsic values of how they want to see the world, the music, and the love, it almost doesn’t matter what genre it is; if you can lift each other up then you can make the world a better place with art. c lukasnelson.com CultureMagazine.com
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PEACEFUL AND EASY
Jack Tempchin on songwriting, collaborating with The Eagles and cannabis By Benjamin M. Adams Jack Tempchin is the writer or co-writer of dozens of familiar classic rock songs, including many of The Eagles flagship hits like “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone.” That foray would lead to a decadeslong songwriting partnership with vocalist Glenn Frey, and he co-wrote many of Frey’s most massive hits like “You Belong to the City” that was written for Miami Vice and peaked number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. His composition “Slow Dancing,” his favorite, was covered by many artists including Olivia Newton-John, and it peaked in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with a cover by Johnny Rivers. The Songwriter Hall-ofFamer chatted with CULTURE about how songs are formed, the music industry and how cannabis can be a creative tool. 40
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How did it feel to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame into 2019, the same year as Cat Stevens, John Prine and other songwriters? It’s been really great. Everybody makes a list: What am I going to do today? What am I going to do this year? What are my life goals? Being in the Songwriters Hall of Fame was never in any of my lists. It didn’t occur to me. But it’s been a big boost getting in there. This is who I am, I suppose. All the crazy things that I did in my life went into these songs. When you were in the middle of writing “Slow Dancing,” did you know deep down that it was going to be a huge hit? After I’d written it, I played it for some people, and I could feel it when I played it myself. I thought maybe it was a hit. I feel that I really hit the nail on the head. At the time that I wrote the song, I was falling in love with the person that I’m still with. Other songs like “Peaceful Easy Feeling”—I had no idea that could ever be any kind of a hit song. What began your long partnership with The Eagles? About five years before The Eagles existed, Glenn Frey and JD Souther formed a duo called Longbranch Pennywhistle. They had some gigs in San Diego. So when I met them in San Diego, I asked them to stay at my house, which was a large hippie pad with five bedrooms and a candle shop in the garage. They stayed with me, and we became really good friends. My joke is if you want to get into music, just meet a superstar about five years before he gets famous. When Glenn Fry, Don Henley and the others went their separate ways to establish their solo careers, what was your reaction? Well it worked out for me because Glenn said, “Let’s get together and write some songs.” We’ve been really good friends. He had recorded a couple of my songs with The Eagles, but we had never written a song together at that point. That started a 14-year career of me writing songs with Glenn for all of his albums. It was incredible because my friend turned out to be one of the greatest writers of our time. As far as The Eagles, I was never in favor of them breaking up. I always felt like if they get back together, that will be great. 42
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“We thought [cannabis legalization] would happen so much quicker. It took 50 years from the time I started smoking until the time it happened. It’s still not legal. It’s not federally legal, anyways.”
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When Glenn Frey passed away, did it feel like a void was left there? It was tough because we’d been friends for 47 years. I was sitting on the cliff above the ocean, where I go to write songs. I wrote a song about him called “Never Had the Chance to Say Goodbye.” Everybody has people that they lose. It was just so great to have gotten to know him. Your music has crossed over from rock ‘n’ roll into the country industry. How do the industries compare? They’ve always been totally different. In the early days, country was one-tenth of the sales as rock. So when you went to do a show in Nashville, they expected you to record it and mix it in one day like a factory, whereas in rock ‘n’ roll, you’d show up to the studio three hours late and spend two days recording— until SoundScan came on. Then overnight, people realized the actual record sales were different than what was being put on. What comes to you first, the lyrics or the melody? Usually it’s the idea that comes first. You have an idea for a song. Then you think of the title and the music comes with it and you put it all together. The idea—to me—comes first. Have you ever used cannabis as a creative tool when writing songs? Well yeah. Not so much intentionally, but most of the time, for a period of maybe 40 or 50 years I was high for a good percentage of the time. I would write songs when I was high, and then I would write songs when I was not high. I didn’t, however, have to be high in order to be able to write songs. Pot [has] been my friend. Tell us about your line of wine from South Coast Winery. I had trademarked the name “Peaceful Easy Feeling” for wine, and I found the South Coast Winery. They are an award-winning wine 44
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brand out of Temecula, California. They put my name on it, and my wife did the artwork for the label. Right now, I’m looking for an established marijuana producer with a high quality product that is interested in using the name “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” I have a song, and it’s called “I Want Everybody to Light a Joint.”
I rambled down the rainbow road to the Promised Land. A peace sign necklace and a joint burning in hand. They said, “Hey Longhair, you look like a girl.” I said, “I’m get ting free love and changing the world.” I want everybody to light a joint. Are you surprised by cannabis legalization? We thought [cannabis legalization] would happen so much quicker. It took 50 years from the time I started smoking until the time it happened. It’s still not legal. It’s not federally legal, anyways. Why was it illegal in the first place? A mysterious question indeed. None of the reasons make any sense. It’s strange that it took this long. So what’s next? I have a new album I just made with Jerry Nicholson producing. He’s won two Grammys for producing. I used a lot of famous musicians. I think it’s my best album and it’s got a few Glenn Frey songs that I co-wrote with him, one of which no one’s ever heard, [called] “One More Time With Feeling.” I’m pretty excited because I sent two of the songs to Jimmy Buffett’s label, and he heard them personally. He signed me on to Jimmy Buffett’s Mailboat Records. He’s probably having a “Coral Reefer” right now. c www.jacktempchin.com
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Industry Insider
“My belief is that the world is abundant. I believe there is enough for all of us; I believe that if we work together, we lift each other up, and we make friends. We’re not competitors; we’re colleagues.”
EMPOWERED PRO Motherhood is a defining role of Bhang COO Jamie Pearson
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By Megan McClain Jamie Pearson is a cannabis executive who raised her children in a similar environment she herself lived in, and rebelled against, while growing up during the “War on Drugs” era. After being lifted PHOTO COURTESY OF BHANG
up into the cannabis industry and becoming a mother herself, she is using her position, experience and knowledge to support others in the industry— especially other women who are in leadership roles. “My belief is that the world is abundant,” said Pearson. “I believe there is enough for all of us; I believe that if we work together, we lift each other up, and we make friends. We’re not competitors; we’re colleagues.”
S.
Solid Roots
Pearson is the chief operating officer of Bhang, which includes overseeing Cypress Hill’s venture Cypress Hill Bhang. She also owns a cultivation operation with DJ Muggs, her cousin. She is a member of the advisory board at Liberty Leaf Holdings Ltd. and most recently, she was asked to join the advisory board of the Herer Group. “That just happened,” Pearson explained. “[Jack Herer] is the legend in cannabis. His son Dan is carrying on his legacy, and it was an absolutely unbelievable huge honor for me to be asked to help guide them.” Pearson credits Leah Maurer—Oregon cannabis activist, consultant, editor of The Weed Blog and mother—as someone who really introduced her to cannabis and led her education when she was new to the industry. Maurer champions parents who consume cannabis, and Pearson echoes the belief that parents should have open conversations about it in order to continue breaking down the stigma. “I’m with Leah. We need to start treating our kids like they can handle this information,” said Pearson. “We’re going to have a massive generational change.” “The stigma already doesn’t exist the way it was in the ’80s when I was a kid,” she said. Pearson herself had experience growing up around cannabis. Her father and uncle grew cannabis, and her cousin, DJ Muggs of the rap group Cypress Hill, drew massive attention for lighting up a joint on Saturday Night Live in 1993. “When I tell you cannabis has been a part of my life, I wasn’t smoking it, but I couldn’t avoid it,” she said. Pearson reflected on how she bought into the anti-drug campaigns “hook, line and sinker” when she was growing up, but now recognizes her father’s wisdom about cannabis and wants to raise her own children with an open mind as well.
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Open and Honest
Pearson was honest with her children about her work in the cannabis industry and the legal status of cannabis in their home state of Montana and federally, but she also asked them to be cautious with the information. She told them that some people in the community wouldn’t understand her business role and would view her, as she had once viewed her father, as a drug dealer. “I always talk to my kids like they’re capable of understanding what I’m saying, and they
“We’ve got children, we’re creating life, we’re responsible for human beings, we’re powerful beyond measure. And if we see that in each other, and lift each other up, not in a super crunchy cliché way, but in a really deliberate way, magic happens. And I’m living proof of it.” always rise to the occasion,” said Pearson, whose children are now college-aged. “With them, it’s been fantastic.” Bhang is going public, and Pearson is finding herself running a globally-distributing company and equipped with knowledge and connections— tools she wants to use to lift others up in the cannabis industry. “I feel like that mentality and that model of doing business really fits in cannabis. It fits the industry,” said Pearson. “It’s what we should be doing anyway, in the world and in the universe, and it’s absolutely how I operate.” Twenty-seven percent of cannabis executives are women, according to Marijuana Business Daily, compared to 23 percent for the national average. At Bhang, 90 percent of the executive team members are women—many of whom are mothers. Parenthood is acknowledged as a priority at Bhang, and Pearson knows women who feel their employer takes their motherhood seriously will feel valued and be able to prioritize about both their families and their careers. “Ultimately, your job’s important, but there’s room for both. It’s all going to balance itself out, because I’ve hired a person who is passionate about their work and allowed to be passionate about being a mom,” said Pearson. Along with Bhang CEO Scott J. Van Rixel, who has a young daughter, Pearson acknowledges the role that women and mothers should have in the cannabis movement and the collaborative approach women bring to the workplace. She referred to an advertisement Bhang released with an image of a cannabis leaf and the words, “Respect Her.” “We’ve got children, we’re creating life, we’re responsible for human beings, we’re powerful beyond measure. And if we see that in each other, and lift each other up, not in a super crunchy cliché way, but in a really deliberate way, magic happens,” said Pearson. “And I’m living proof of it.” c gotbhang.com CultureMagazine.com
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COURAGEOUSLY COFFEE Forest Coffee Trading Company sets the bar high with top-quality beans and CBD Cold Brew
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By Alex Distefano
With just four employees, Forest Coffee Trading Company is finding success and gaining a fan base, thanks to diligence, hard work and a true passion for artisanal coffee—including the company’s special CBD Cold Brew and fresh beans, which are available for purchase online, as well as throughout
the Denver area and other parts of Colorado, at places like Whole Foods Market and Marczyk Fine Foods, as well as numerous local mom and pop coffee shops. What truly makes this Cold Brew coffee special is the beans. Owner Olivia Kidd explained that the idea and concept came from her husband Garrett after a 2012 trip to Thailand. “He came across this village in northern Thailand called Chiang Rai,” she said. “The villagers told him that they used to be poppy farmers for opium until the government made it illegal decades ago, so they had to switch to become coffee bean farmers.” Kidd said her husband was amazed by this story, and once he tasted the coffee, he knew he found something special. “He was just amazed at the flavor profile of the beans and wanted to know where he could find it in the U.S,” she said. “But he found out they didn’t import it into the U.S. So, when he came back, he was obsessed and convinced me about this coffee. We spent a year researching and learning about coffee, importing and learned as much as we could.”
Within three years, the Kidds had found a way to import these coffee beans from Thailand, but made a conscious effort to be direct traders. “We work directly with the village; there is no third party,” she said. “We have a closer relationship; our customers are getting a higher quality product. We have both been there. We can both with certainty say this is exactly where the coffee came from, it’s all 100 percent handpicked, and it makes a difference.” In 2019, Forest Coffee Trading Company is in the early phases of expanding regionally, according to Kidd. “We’re pretty much available only in Colorado, but we just got into a national distributor, so we will be soon available in New Mexico, Utah and other states in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. Right now, we just sell coffee beans and Cold Brew." With this expansion comes the addition of CBD Cold Brew Coffee, which sees a partnership between Forest Coffee Trading Company and Evo Hemp. “Evo Hemp created a water-soluble CBD that is the coolest thing because there is no taste,” she said. The CBD is purchased from Evo Hemp and specially blended into the Cold Brew Coffee. “My whole concern was that it would [ . . . ] have an aftertaste, which it does not.” Kidd said Evo Hemp and Forest Coffee Trading Company share a similar business model as well. “They are a great company they direct trade their products like we do, so we have a lot in common.”
“People love the CBD Cold Brew. We get a lot of feedback [that] it’s a perfect combo of being mellow and having the energy to get your work done.” Despite its size, Forest Coffee Trading Company sees huge potential and future for the company in the world of high-quality coffee beans and cold brew coffee. “Right now, we are the only single origin cold brew in this region,” Kidd said. “We are the top cold brew in most [of] the grocery stores we are located; our Cold Brew has a distinct flavor profile of cinnamon cocoa and dark berry, because it is from one place.” These coffee aficionados have goals, and bringing CBD consumption and coffee culture together is among one of them. “I didn’t use too much
CBD before,” said Kidd. “But this is perfect, because you get the energetic jolt from the caffeine, but the relaxing effects of the CBD, so it’s a nice balance. People love the CBD Cold Brew. We get a lot of feedback [that] it’s a perfect combo of being mellow and having the energy to get your work done.” Kidd said Forrest Coffee Trading Company seeks to expand at the national level. “We have a goal to be in more retail chains and go national, we want people to find our coffee in California, Florida, Texas, New York and everywhere in between,” he said. “This includes all our coffees and CBD Cold Brews. We want to be known as one of the top cold brew producers in the country.” c forestcoffeetrading.com CultureMagazine.com
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GROWING CULTURE
HIGH ENDS AND NE W BEGINNINGS By Ed Rosenthal
Enjoying the Harvest It’s been more than seven weeks since the winter/spring crop of “Ed Rosenthal Super Bud” has been harvested. It was left to dry in an unheated room with ambient temperatures in the low 60s. After it dried, the plants remained in the room under the same conditions. During this time, the smaller plants disappeared under suspicious conditions, leaving in their place only ashes and temporary conditions of stoned joy. The result: Only the four “larger” plants now remain. These plants will be manicured and destroyed using controlled burns. Expert manicurist, Darcy, soon completed the task. Testing
The four plants were part of a larger group that were just past clone stage when they were replanted and placed in a natural light greenhouse in February. Since the dark period was more than 12 hours, they were triggered to flower immediately and were ripe about eight weeks later. They didn’t have a chance to grow branches before budding. 50
followed. The testers’ evaluations: Marisa: “A deliciously pungent nose: Pine, citrus and melon; sweet and spicy. It has a weird upper high, uplifting, cerebral, in-the-clouds feeling.” Darcy: “Sweet and tangy. One of the totally unique varieties. Now when I smell it, I know what it is, because it’s unlike anything else. Newer strains have lost something that’s in this. It’s more funky, has more terpenes. It’s more crystally and more potent. It tastes like an individual strain. It’s good.”
Starting the New Garden Today we’re germinating an unnamed cross of feminized seed, London Pound Cake x Watermelon, by Loud Seeds. I’ll be testing an oxygenated water system that I built and will describe in more detail next month. For now, we are covering germination. One-hundred-andthirty seeds were soaked for 12 hours in a solution of two ounces of tap water and one tablespoon of three percent hydrogen peroxide for sterilization purposes. The solution was switched to a very
The dried buds being manicured.
The seeds were placed in pieces of rockwool.
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diluted compost tea for another 12 hours before being inserted into a small piece of rockwool so it would stay put, rather than fall through the large spaces between the pebbles. The seed holding rockwool was pushed into a twoinch cup a filled with pea-sized hydro-clay pellets. These pellets hold a small amount of water on their surface, but they also have colloidal action, meaning that they wick up water, much like a tissue. As they lose water to roots or evaporation, they can pull it up from a pool below and transfer it between pellets. I’ve placed the cups in a two-foot x fourfoot tray that was filled one-inch deep with a three-part germination solution, as recommended on the fertilizer label. A four-foot, four-tube HO (high output) T5 fluorescent reflector hangs over the table and provides bright, but not intense light. I’ve placed a cover consisting of plastic wrap over the top of the tray to keep the germination area moist. It will be removed after as soon as the seedlings appear. In a few weeks the plants will be ready for more intense light and a stronger fertilizer mix. c
The pile of dried buds. A nice little treat that took virtually no effort.
The rockwool was positioned between pebbles in the cup.
Jarred buds with a moisture pack to keep them fresh.
The cups were placed in the tray and one inch of nutrient/water solution was added. The water will travel up the hydro-corn using capillary action.
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NORCAL NOW! EVENT LISTINGS
DJ Quik, June 9 Who could ever forget the early rap classics of DJ Quik like “Tonite” and “Born and Raised in Compton.” Around the same time that groups like N.W.A. became famous, DJ Quik ruled the early sounds of the West Coast rap world long before the next generation of rappers came around. Yoshi’s Jazz Club, Oakland yoshis.com
Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World, June 15 Both Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World were massively successful in the alternative rock scene of the 1990s and 2000s, gaining their own fan bases. See them both perform at one venue this month for a summer concert that you won’t ever forget. Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco billgrahamcivic.com
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, June 9 The San Francisco Belle will take you on an eight-minute cruise and drop you into the chilly 55-degree water of the San Francisco Bay for a 1.5-mile swim. Then, you’ll take an 18-mile bike ride and finish it off with an eight-minute run. Only the most intrepid athletes will be able to handle this event. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay escapealcatraztri.com
Rebelution, June 22 Santa Barbara, Californiabased band Rebelution redefined the reggae rock fusion genre, becoming one of the most popular modern reggae bands today. All five original band members studied at University of California, Santa Barbara, and the college town’s vibe comes out through the band’s music. Greek Theatre, Berkeley rebelutionmusic.com
San Francisco Black Film Festival, June 13-16 Celebrate diversity and equal representation at a film festival centered on African American achievements in film. Official selections for 2019 include The Fisherman, Doe, Wheels, The Reckoning and more, which will be screened at various theaters in the area. Various theater venues, San Francisco sfbff.org
Judas Priest, June 24 Led by Rob Halford, the boys of Judas Priest have been offending parents since 1969, becoming one of the earliest heavy metal bands in existence. Drawing inspiration from Black Sabbath, Judas Priest defined the look and feel of metalheads—complete with spiked leather, skin-tight pants and R-rated lyrics. The Warfield, San Francisco thewarfieldtheatre.com
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featured event
HAIGHT ASHBURY STREET FAIR, JUNE 9
Since 1978, Haight Ashbury Street Fair has exposed the art, crafts, gifts, sights and sounds of the hippies that have dominated the area. While you’re here, you might as well stop by Amoeba Music, buy some records and browse through Haight Street’s various head shops for smoking accessories and more! Haight Street, San Francisco haightashburystreetfair.org Machine Gun Kelly, June 28 Named after American gangster and thug George “Machine Gun Kelly” Barnes, rapper Machine Gun Kelly rose to fame as a respected artist in the genre. He dared to challenge Eminem in a recent diss track “Rap Devil” that eventually garnered over 250 million views on YouTube and charted despite being a parody diss song. The Warfield, San Francisco thewarfieldtheatre.com
San Francisco Pride, June 29-30 One of America’s largest and oldest pride events is back for another year of guaranteed mayhem. Headlining acts include the world-famous drag queen Pabllo Vittar plus Amara La Negra, and there will be over 20 community-run stages and venues with various entertainment and plenty of refreshments to keep the spirits high. Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco sfpride.org
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NEWS of the
WEIRD
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL
LEAD STORY—FLORIDA! Police officers in Indialantic, Florida, responded to at least seven calls about a man disturbing the peace on April 7. Patrons of Starbucks and Sassy Granny’s Smoothies, among others, were startled when 61-year-old Thomas Devaney Lane started yelling, calling himself “the saint” and threatening to unleash his army of turtles on the community. According to WKMG, Lane went along with an officer to the police station, where he screamed at the dispatcher and pounded on the walls, but then left the building. He was located later at a 7-Eleven, verbally assaulting customers. As officers stood by, Lane called 911 and told the dispatcher, “I need to leave now or you will all be sorry you (expletive) with the saint.” Lane was charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest without violence and misusing 911. THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS In Nashville, Tennessee, as the NFL Draft was taking over the town, brides and bridesmaids celebrating bachelorette parties were confounded by the crowds. WZTV reported on April 25 that the influx of crazed football fans was cramping the style of several groups: “We come here to listen to country music, not hang out with football boys,” pouted a bride named Cara. 54
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“I’ll tell you who’s going to pay for this. My husband. No football next season,” threatened a bridesmaid named Cyndi. But a bride named Savannah was more Zen about the situation: “We’re gonna make the best of it. It is what it is.” INEXPLICABLE The Lankenau Medical Center in suburban Philadelphia was the site of a break-in on the morning of April 20, but it was the stolen loot that leaves us scratching our heads. Two men and a woman stuffed several colonoscopes worth $450,000 into three backpacks. The scopes are used to examine colons during colonoscopies. “This is not something that a typical pawn shop might accept,” said Lower Merion Police Det. Sgt. Michael Vice. “My feeling would be that it was some type of black market sales.” He also told WCAU that it’s not yet clear whether it was an inside job. YOU KNOW YOU’VE THOUGHT OF IT United Press International reported on April 25 that the Arizona Department of Public Safety arrested yet another driver using a dummy in the passenger seat to cruise in the HOV lane along State Route 202. “Don’t let this be you,” the department’s Twitter feed warned. The mannequin in this case was dressed as a woman. AWESOME! Idahoans embraced the Big Idaho Potato, a 28-foot-long steel-andplaster potato constructed in 2012 to mark the Idaho Potato Commission’s 75th anniversary. It’s been
traveling the country ever since, promoting Idaho’s biggest crop, and the plan was for it to be retired this year, when Big Idaho Potato 2.0 arrives. But Kristie Wolfe had better idea. The tiny house builder has converted the sculpture into a single-room hotel (aptly called the Big Idaho Potato Hotel), reported USA Today. It features a queen bed, two chairs and a bathroom with a whirlpool and skylight for stargazing; Wolfe lists it on Airbnb for $200 per night. “It’s a way of inviting people to experience Idaho in a unique way,” remarked Frank Muir, CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission. THE HIGH PRICE OF VANITY A “vampire facial” is a procedure during which blood is drawn with a needle and then “spun” to separate the plasma, which is then injected into the face. For customers of a spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, though, the most lasting effects may come after a blood test. The state’s Department of Health is urging customers of VIP Spa, which closed in September 2018, to undergo HIV testing after two people were infected following treatment there. Dr. Dean Bair of the Bair Medical Spa said people should always make sure they’re going to a licensed facility for such procedures. “This is just the worst example of what can go wrong,” he told KOAT. The spa closed after inspectors found the spa’s practices could potentially spread bloodborne infections, including
hepatitis B and C as well as HIV. SMOOTH REACTIONS An unnamed Ogden, Utah, woman who accused her boyfriend of cheating added emphasis to the charge in a most unusual manner on April 27, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. The 23-year-old was with her boyfriend in the parking lot of a strip mall in Sandy when she “took her clothing off as she accused the boyfriend of cheating . . . The incident took place in a busy public area with constant vehicle and pedestrian traffic.” KSL reported the woman told police she stripped because “her boyfriend doesn’t want her anymore.” She was arrested for disorderly conduct and lewdness involving a child. FAMILY VALUES A 33-year-old man from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was arraigned April 29 on two counts of abuse of a corpse and one count of criminal mischief after he flushed his grandparents’ ashes down the toilet. The Tribune-Review reported that Thomas Porter Wells was living at his mother’s house when she became fed up with his drinking and cannabis use and asked him to leave last September. Denise Porter told police she learned from a relative in February that Wells had disposed of her parents’ remains, which had been stored in a box as part of a memorial in her bedroom, before leaving. Wells denied flushing the ashes, but he later texted his mother that he would flush her remains, too, after she died.
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