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contents 7.2019
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EXTRAVAGANT ENDEAVORS Grammy Award-winning rapper 2 Chainz confidently expresses the highest entrepreneurial passion for his line of cannabis products. ON THE COVER:
PHOTO BY JOHN RICARD
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Embracing Change These top four concentrate-related buzzwords show that the culture of 710 is evolving.
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Health and Happiness Find inspiration in the story of River, a brave young girl who has found miraculous relief with medical cannabis.
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The More You Know Educate yourself about the complex world of concentrates with this selection of unique extractthemed books.
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Industry Insider Susan Hwang’s impact on the industry might just change how people shop for cannabis.
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Luminous Visuals As winner of this year’s 2019 High Art contest, Nick Sullo’s ’90s and cyberpunk-inspiration reveals stunning and creative works of art.
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departments
Online Exclusive!
news 08 News Nuggets 09 By the Numbers 10 Local News reviews 12 Cool Stuff 14 Entertainment Reviews in every issue
d Patients Treat Arthritis With Cannabis
34 À La Carte 38 Growing Culture 39 News of the Weird
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710 Dab Day Facts
VOL 11 ISSUE 1
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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
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NEWS
NUGGETS
Panel Rules that Californian Prisoners Can Legally Possess Cannabis On June 11, a panel in Sacramento overturned the convictions of five prisoners for possessing cannabis while incarcerated, citing the language in Proposition 64. Prop. 64 legalized an ounce or less for all adult residents in the state, and no exemptions or exclusions for prisoners can be found in the law.
While possession of one ounce or less is technically legal in prisons located in California, smoking or consuming cannabis is against prison rules. “The Attorney General uses arcane rules of statutory construction, twists the meaning of the words of the statute, urges us to disapprove of cases directly on point, and makes a host of policy arguments why we should not apply the plain language of the statute,” the court document reads. “The question of law we review de novo is whether the plain language of the statute leads to an absurd result. We conclude it does not. A result is not absurd because the outcome may be unwise.”
Poway Adds Cannabis to its Social Host Ordinance Poway City Council voted on June 4 to update the city’s Social Host Ordinance to include the use of cannabis and other controlled substances. Chapter 9.54 of the Poway Municipal Code was updated to impose liability on residence hosts who are aware or should be aware of underage consumption. The updated ordinance applies to cannabis in a similar manner to alcohol, and it outlines the responsibilities of event or party hosts. “The proposed ordinance recognizes the consumption of marijuana and other controlled substances by minors presents many of [the] same adverse effects as the consumption of alcoholic beverages,” explained City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher. 8
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Civil liabilities also apply, including responsibility for the recovery of enforcement services. All four councilmembers who were in attendance at the meeting voted unanimously in favor of the amendments.
Researchers Find Evidence of Cannabis Smoking Dating to 500 BCE In a paper published in Science Advances on June 12, a team of researchers described the “earliest directly dated and scientifically verified evidence for ritual cannabis smoking.” In East Asia, the team found evidence of psychoactive cannabis being burned in crude wooden bowls at a burial site. “This phytochemical analysis indicates that cannabis plants were burned in wooden braziers during mortuary ceremonies at the Jirzankal Cemetery (ca. 500 BCE) in the eastern Pamirs region,” researchers wrote. “This suggests cannabis was smoked as part of ritual and/or religious activities in western China by at least 2,500 years ago and that the cannabis plants produced high levels of psychoactive compounds.” Hemp seeds and fibers are commonly found in archaeological sites, but few have any evidence of cannabis being consumed for its psychoactive properties. The discovery was highlighted in National Geographic, which generated widespread interest.
The number of votes from the San Diego City Council, out of nine, that were cast in favor of allowing a new cannabis production facility in Linda Vista: (Source: Pacific)
The number of votes from the California Senate, out of 36, that were cast in favor of passing a cannabis banking bill: (Source: NBC Bay Area)
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The estimated amount of money, in millions of dollars, that San Diego-based ZeaKal received from capital funding, which will be used to cultivate cannabis and hemp: (Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that the City Council of National City will pay for an outside firm to help draft an ordinance to regulate cannabis businesses: (Source: Pacific)
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The estimated percentage of people participating in a study who said that cannabis’ medical benefits are a very important reason for legalization: (Source: Gallup)
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The estimated amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the New Zealand government announced it would be investing in a company that develops technology for agricultural crops such as cannabis: (Source: The New Zealand Herald)
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The number of votes from the Louisiana House of Representatives, out of 82, that opposed a bill that would allow medical cannabis patients to inhale cannabis, but not smoke it: (Source: The Advocate)
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The approximate number of hemp cultivators that have been licensed in Tennessee by the Department of Agriculture in 2019 as of mid-June: (Source: WREG)
2,900
CannaFarm Con WHEN: Thurs, Aug. 1-Fri, Aug. 2 WHERE: Paradise Point Resort & Spa, 1404 Vacation Rd., San Diego WEBSITE: cannafarmcon.com Do you want to learn how to be a master cultivator with scientific advantages and what it takes to reach that level of expertise? Or, are you interested in the chemistry and properties of cannabinoids? Look no further than CannaFarm Con. A variety of intense workshops will answer questions about everything from the cannabis genome to advanced agricultural techniques. Organic and biomedical cultivation methods will also be explored.
In addition, cannabidiol (CBD) will be examined for its effectiveness in treating chronic pain and opioid addiction. Dr. Douglas Ry Wagner of DRW Consulting and Amy Ansel of Titan Bioplastics will keynote the event, plus dozens of other industry leaders will speak. Specialty cannabis farming is on the rise, and some of the latest innovations in agriculture can be discovered at CannaFarm Con. CultureMagazine.com
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NEWS
LOCAL
LONG-AWAITED APPROVAL
Kearny Mesa approves large cannabis production facility
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By Jacob Cannon n June 13, planning commissioners voted in favor of allowing a large cannabis production facility in Kearny Mesa. There were dozens of supporters as well as those opposing the decision at the meeting. This decision came as a relief to the owners of THinC Distribution after a tie vote the previous week deadlocked the progress. Four commissioners approved the Conditional Use Permit, while two voted in opposition. The building is located on Ruffner Road, and it’s two stories tall with 21,210 square feet. The site will be used to manufacture and distribute cannabis products. THinC Distribution CEO Doug McCrady gave CULTURE the exclusive on his company’s reaction to the recent decision. “THinC Distribution is excited and proud to be part of a growing and vibrant industry,” McCrady stated. THinC Distribution has been awaiting this final approval for over a year. “We have been licensed to operate the manufacturing and distribution facility since February 2018,” McCrady said. “Since that time we have been granted all our state licenses from the Department of Public Health and Bureau of Cannabis Control. The City’s Conditional Use Permit was our last hurdle.” Based in San Diego, THinC Distribution is a licensed cannabis manufacturing and distribution company with brands Rollers Delight, Holy Smokes, Tru Cali, GreenBox
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Confidence in Cannabiz Launch Party
and Empire Cannabis Co. Like many other neighborhoods in San Diego, the community of Kearny Mesa will see great benefits from licensing additional cannabis operations. “Kearny Mesa has always been the epicenter of innovation and collaboration,” McCrady said. “This veteran owned and operated facility will offer employment for many San Diegans, as well as participate in community fundraisers and events.” The process of being licensed by the city was not without hurdles. The company’s environmental, fiscal and code enforcement impacts were considered in the approval process, among other considerations. The project was determined to be categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act last September. Through it all, McCrady explained that the biggest hurdle was the facility’s neighbor. “His family recently purchased the building next to us, over a year after we had been operating in the location. He was hoping to rezone the property and build housing, unaware that a Marijuana Production Facility was operating directly next to him. Once he realized we were there, he appealed our project to the City and attempted to take us back to the community planning group citing ‘new information’ as the reason,” McCrady said. San Diego’s strict zoning laws and special use restrictions on cannabis production facilities have caused most of these businesses to find locations in neighborhoods like Kearny Mesa. Allowing such businesses will not only create jobs in San Diego, but it will create a legal supply chain that will displace the black market while gaining millions of dollars in tax revenue for the city. c
“This veteran owned and operated facility will offer employment for many San Diegans, as well as participate in community fundraisers and events.”
Celebrate the launch of Confidence in Cannabiz with a lineup of talented speakers, goodie bags, a dab bar and a taco bar! This event was carefully selected to fall on the 710 holiday as the second-most popular cannabis holiday. Confidence in Cannabiz offers a four-module training program that is designed to provide clarity and confidence for aspiring cannabis business owners, and the launch party will go through some of the company’s services. Speakers include MasterChef finalist and founder of Nappi Roots Chef Nick Nappi, Andy Wagner, Scott Byle and Marilyn Jane. The speakers will provide their own personal stories from small startups to major cannabis brands. Further directions to a private consumption event will be provided via email. The event will also be broadcast live to a nationwide audience. WHEN: Wed, July 10 WHERE: University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego WEBSITE: confidenceincannabiz.com
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REVIEWS
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1. Eyce Collector Fly on over this way to buzz like a bee and sip on some nectar— the team at Eyce has you covered. The Eyce Collector’s platinum cured silicone body screams function and durability. With a multi-percolating water filtration, taking a pull of your favorite concentrate will not overpower lungs. Not your average nectar collector, get your buzz on with the Eyce Collector’s built-in container for storage, plus a heat shield. This device comes in green and black, pink and black and blue marble. Get greedy—collect them all! Price: $44.99 More Information: eycemolds.com 2. Aluminum Pipe Vaporizer What do you get when you cross old school swagger with new school technology? Put on your top hat, and get yourself an Aluminum Pipe Vaporizer. This CNC anodized aluminum pipe comes with a stainlesssteel bowl, with your choice of wood or color for the top. If you want to know the secret to this vape tech—all we can say is you’ll have to look into VaporGenie’s patented flame filter. You’re welcome. Price: $65 More Information: vaporgenie.com 12
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3. Envy Glass Dichro Coated Recycler Ready to have all eyes on you? The Envy Glass Dichro Coated Recycler will make sure that everyone within eyeshot stares lovingly at the coolest rig this side of the Mississippi. With dichro coating that resembles a psychedelic oil slick, this recycler was made using the highest quality Boro Schott Glass by Envy Glass Designs. Anyone who steps up to bat with this bad boy will experience a hit delivered with smooth churning action and quick drainage. Price: $399.99 More Information: 420science.com
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4. GRAV Labs Fire-Button Portable E-Nail This universal and portable e-nail will ensure that you’re partying like a rock star this 710. If you’re in a rush to get the celebration started, the fast heat-up and cooldown times won’t slow you down! Plus, its high capacity battery means you’ll be able to pass this baby round and round without having to charge in between sessions. Bring everything you need to dab with friends this 710 on-thego, so you can make it happen quickly, conveniently and no matter where you find yourself this holiday. Price: $169.99 More Information: www.everyonedoesit.com
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REVIEWS
entertainment
RELEASE DATE: JULY 26, 2019 AVAILABLE ON: PC, NINTENDO SWITCH, PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, GOOGLE STADIA
MUSIC MOVIE
Us
Wolfenstein Youngblood
Dir. Jordan Peele Universal Pictures
Lee “Scratch” Perry On-U Sound Records
Ed Rosenthal Pub. Quick American Publishing
Dev. MachineGames, Arkane Studios Pub. Bethesda Softworks
Looking to grow cannabis like an expert? Look no further than the revised and updated version of Marijuana Garden Saver by expert cultivator Ed Rosenthal. This go-to field guide will help you learn how to prevent problems in your grow, while also quickly identifying potential problems if trouble does arise. Whether you’re growing outdoors or indoors, using a hydroponic system or soil, Rosenthal is the most trusted authority in the cannabis cultivation space. Don’t let lack of information be a pest in your garden. (Jacob Cannon)
Wolfenstein games have been around for decades, but the goal always remains the same—eliminate the Nazis. The newest installment in this series, Wolfenstein Youngblood, is a first-person shooter game that takes place in an alternate world where Nazi Germany won World War II. It features two sisters looking for their father in an alternate Paris, France in 1980. This cooperative game allows two players to proceed in the game together and discover an arsenal of new weapons, gadgets and power armor abilities. Get rid of the bad guys, and save your dad! (Nicole Potter)
Us marks comedian Jordan Peele’s second foray into the horror genre and lands with even more scares than his first film, Get Out. The film follows the trials and tribulations of an African American family as they attempt to survive a terrifying encounter with a set of doppelgangers of themselves while on vacation in Santa Cruz, California. Both graphically and psychologically terrifying, Us stands alongside classics of the genre like The Thing and The Exorcist with its ability to not only provide visually horrifying scenery and action, but also go deeper and create an atmosphere of dread that lingers long after the film is over. (Simon Weedn)
In the worlds of reggae and dub, few have shaped the music and style or released as much music as the legendary Lee “Scratch” Perry. Now 83, the icon has returned to release yet another batch of tunes entitled Rainford, which is also Perry’s real first name. Collaborating with famed U.K. dub producer Adrian Sherwood, the new record represents one of the most original, concise and focused releases by Perry in years. Though steeped in the reverb and echo that defines the dub sound, there is enough clarity and polish to reveal new ideas and perspectives from one of the most prolific musicians to have ever lived. (Simon Weedn)
BOOK
Marijuana Garden Saver
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Rainford
GAME
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FORTUNE AND GLOR 2 CHAINZ DISCUSSES HIS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CANNABIS AND LUXURY B Y B E N J A M I N M. A D A M S
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PHOTOS BY NABIL
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s a chart-topping artist and beloved television host of VICELAND’s popular series Most Expensivest, 2 Chainz’s continual fascination for luxurious extravagance and fine cannabis has never faltered. Last fall, he partnered with Green Street Agency and Mazel Management Group to launch GAS Cannabis Co., a premium line of cannabis products geared towards connoisseurs of fine cannabis products. Soon after, Green Street Agency began the process of expanding to a massive seven-story, 67,000-square-foot building in downtown Los Angeles, California, which will be one of the largest U.S. buildings dedicated exclusively to showcasing fine cannabis brands including GAS. With two decades of experience in the entertainment world under his belt, 2 Chainz knows exactly what he wants at this point in his career. Over 20 years ago, the rapper and his childhood friend Earl “Dolla Boy” Conyers formed Playaz Circle, and they popularized the sound of southern hip-hop and the style of music coming from greater Atlanta, Georgia. 2 Chainz entered the mainstream charts in 2012 after he signed with Def Jam Recordings, with his first solo offering going Platinum and leading to a long string of hits. 2 Chainz has won numerous awards including a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and five additional nominations, as well as a Soul Train Award and multiple BET Awards. The rapper also boasts several number one albums on the Billboard 200, the
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U.S. Rap and U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop charts. His fifth full length studio album, Rap or Go to the League, released in March, also rose to the top of the U.S. Rap and U.S. R&B/ Hip-Hop charts. Two years ago the veteran rapper began hosting VICELAND’s Most Expensivest, and on each episode viewers are invited on a tour of the shiniest, most opulent and over-the-top luxury items on the market. Spending six figures or more at a time is a challenge for almost anyone else, but not for 2 Chainz. Anyone who knows the rapper knows that he does not settle for anything that is less than top-shelf—from upscale jewelry to lavish clothing and luxury vape pens. Season 3 of Most Expensivest premiered on June 11, and for the first episode, the rapper invited Amber Rose to explore luxurious adult products. Tune in to VICELAND to catch 2 Chainz on the rest of his journey this season, which includes appearances from Erykah Badu, Jerry Rice and Mark Cuban. The rapper’s cannabis line is available as pre-rolls and 3.5 ounce packages at select locations throughout California. With three corresponding colors, the line comes in three categories representing grades of gasoline. According to 2 Chainz’s own words, GAS is an acronym for “Good Ass Shit,” but the line incorporates a unique theme centered on refueling at the gas station. Just as you’d select unleaded, unleaded plus or premium gasoline at the pump, there are three grades of cannabis that 2 Chainz himself helped conceptualize and develop. His wise investment in the cannabis industry puts him in a position to collect more revenue. CULTURE was able to catch up with 2 Chainz in a private setting to discuss what he has planned for the cannabis industry.
“IT’S ALL ABOUT LUXURY. IT’S ABOUT TASTE FOR ME. I DON’T WANT TO DUMB NOTHING DOWN FOR NOBODY. THIS IS ABOUT HOW I ENJOY HIGH LUXURY.”
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“I’VE ALWAYS SMOKED CANNABIS. I’VE ALWAYS LOOKED AT IT LIKE THAT. IT’S NEVER BOTHERED ME. THAT’S HOW I WENT ON ABOUT MY LIFE, AND I NEVER DEALT WITH THE CONSEQUENCES AS IT WENT ON.”
The cannabis industry is booming across the nation. What led you to become involved in the cannabis market? My whole thing in life has been to exceed expectations—and I think that’s what I’m doing with my GAS brand. It’s all about legal distribution. It’s about having all the documents that you need together. It’s all about really changing something that used to be taboo or something bad, especially in my community, as far as doing things like trapping and selling weed. It made me come up with my own brand, my own strain of legal cannabis 22
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flower. It’s made up of three very potent levels of flower all stemming from the lingo, which is really about gas. I’m happy to be taking it to higher levels with our marketing ideas and even advertising concepts that I can really have that correlation with my music. That’s why it’s so easy for me. I’m so excited about this, because I did all of this. We noticed that you have GAS flower branded as unleaded, unleaded plus and premium for the theme of your cannabis line. We were really impressed at the strategy that you’ve taken.
We’ve got it stored in a gas can right here! [Pointing to a prop containing GAS cannabis.] This is an actual gas can. This is more for people that want to have a supply of the GAS and serve the monthly subscribers. It’s like you’re at the gas station and you need to know which kind of gas you’re looking for based on what you need. We’ve got the premium. We’ve got the other levels. It’s all about luxury. It’s about taste for me. I don’t want to dumb nothing down for nobody. This is about how I enjoy high luxury.
Everybody’s excited about recreational sales rolling out nationally and internationally. Do you like it better now that the cannabis market is going recreational, or when it was medical-only? Whatever it was, it never bothered me. That was exactly the same thing I was doing. I’ve always smoked cannabis. I’ve always looked at it like that. It’s never bothered me. That’s how I went on about my life, and I never dealt with the consequences as it went on. But I kept on smoking weed and getting into trouble and getting fines. I kind of just kept going on, not worrying about the charges. That’s basically my argument. That’s the only drug that I do, and it’s just like I say to myself, “That’s it for me.” I might have a joint. That’s just my flavor. That’s what I do. And so it feels good now to have it legal and to not being so nervous to just be doing something that you consider normal and something that is not hurting anyone else. Have you always been a daily cannabis smoker? Yes. What do you have planned in the next upcoming few months? I plan on changing my family’s life with this right here. [Motioning towards his GAS products.] Legal cannabis. I plan on making enough money to be able to invest in all the things that I want to do. Just being an entrepreneur and a leader in my community.
Competition is fierce in the commercial cannabis market. Do you have more GAS products that you plan on rolling out? Sure. I have all of that coming. But this right here is about kicking around and making myself comfortable. So that’s what this GAS is, even the concept, the marketing, the colors and everything. It’s about my position in this sort of chill space, whether they want to give me the top shelf or whatever. People will see these colors and know that it’s a representation of me. You’ll know that it has a lot of my personality, and you’ll at least try it. Once you try it, you’ll know where it came from. Can you explain the green, yellow and black color scheme for your product line?
Yes. So the green is 87. We have three different types of gas or octane that we serve. It’s 87, 89 and 93. Eighty-seven will be something that is for like a car that is not a 2018, 2019 model. But at the same time, it’s strong enough to actually get the job done. I like to call it “the morning” or “the wake-up.” I have this hybrid. This yellow one in the middle is our 89. This is in between the others for a reason. It’s as strong as the green but not as strong as the black. It’s something that I think you can do throughout the day, such as when you’re on [a] lunch break. When you’re at work and you don’t want to be totally stoned. This black is more for the really laid back and chill nighttime kind of thing. This one I really enjoy. I smoke
the strongest all the time, even in the morning. But that’s me. Some people might not be able to handle that. It’s for those people who really enjoy that super duper body high. That’s what the 93 is for. The color scheme is fascinating. What do these colors mean to you personally? These are actually Jamaican flag colors. So, I just knew that they were colors that would stand out. What kind of cannabis do you prefer to smoke in your free time? This is my product and what I actually smoke. I smoke my own weed. c www.2chainz.com
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TOMORROW’S TRENDS
These concentrate buzzwords will be trending this 710 By Benjamin M. Adams Looking forward into 2020 and beyond, the trend forecast for cannabis concentrates looks promising. Today, the search for the most potent forms of concentrates is old news. Daytime consumption and concentrate microdosing are more appealing to adult professionals. While products that are infused with cannabidiol (CBD) are quite literally flying off the shelves in drug stores, beauty stores and dispensaries—cannabis consumers are beginning to shift interests to the plant’s other compounds, as well as new forms of delivery. Curt Robbins is an author of more than 500 articles regarding the science of cannabis and hemp. While he no longer uses the moniker
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Gooey Rabinski, has authored or helped to develop several cannabisrelated, science-based books under that handle. As far as the 710 industry is concerned, Robbins predicts a shift away from the oversaturation of the most popular cannabis compounds. “This may be the year that the industry evolves beyond THC or CBD in marketing [techniques],” Robbins told CULTURE. “I think the turning point is when the average middle class American realizes that the plant is much more than merely a single psychoactive cannabinoid.” The new trends might include terpenes, precision dosing, emulsion processes and the lesser known compounds that also have various medical benefits. Here’s a rundown of a few trending buzzwords in the world of concentrates.
Terpenes
CBN-rich Dabs
Experts predict that terpenes will continue to rise in popularity. Many consumers are just beginning to learn about the synergistic effects of combining cannabis compounds—the way nature intended. “The entourage effect, the idea that cannabinoids and terpenes work together synergistically to create additional and greater efficacy is embraced by many, but still—officially—a theory,” Robbins admitted. Robbins helped to popularize #TerpeneTuesday on social media to spread awareness. “Decades ago, it was thought that terpenes merely added aroma to cannabis and hemp and little else,” he said. “Although we need more research, there are literally thousands of research studies that illustrate the medicinal value of terpenes. Most of America knows about one of the more than 400 molecules in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Their mindset is typically limited to THC and thinking of the plant as inherently psychoactive.” The medical properties of terpenes add a whole new facet to cannabis. “The fact that terpenes offer solid medicinal efficacy, beyond merely an attractive aroma, will allow products to be created that go beyond ‘luxurious bathing’ and other creature comforts to deliver true health benefits and wellness.”
A handful of companies have called cannabinol (CBN) the “most underrated” cannabinoid. THC transforms into CBN via oxidation, or THC’s vulnerability to oxygen. CBN is touted to be useful for treating insomnia and other ailments. With concentrates, higher concentrations of CBN turn the appearance of the concentrate to a rusty color. While a cultivar may be lower in THC, it may have higher levels of CBN, which in effect has its own benefits. “One trend is going to be away from a focus on THC and CBD to the other 111 cannabinoids manufactured by the cannabis sativa genome,” Robbins reiterated. “Some companies will focus on cannabinoids such as CBN to reduce anxiety and act as a sleep aid.” As Robbins said, the usefulness of CBN is most noticeable in its suggested ability to control and modulate sleep. “A mix of CBN and the terpenes myrcene (the most common in cannabis) and linalool is also good for sleep disorders, which affect 80 million Americans,” Robbins pointed out.
Precision Dosing Until recently, it’s been exclusively up to cannabis consumers to control the size of each dose— but that is now changing. Santa Monica, California-based Dosist offers a product that has the capability of delivering even doses every time. Dosist’s pens vibrate when a consumer has inhaled for three seconds, providing similar hits each time. Obviously, it didn’t take long for celebrityendorsed brands to follow suit. Last May, Snoop Dogg’s venture
“This may be the year that the industry evolves beyond THC or CBD in marketing [techniques].”
capital firm Casa Verde Capital invested in Indose, a company that manufacturers vape pens capable of delivering precise dosages of THC. The devices have small lights that allow users to control how much THC will be delivered in each hit. They measure THC in increments of 0.5 milligrams, up to 3 milligrams, which is close to an average hit of cannabis, according to the company.
Nano CBD Concentrates Who says that all cannabis concentrates need to be oil-based? CBD nanoemulsification may sound high tech, but it’s simply a way to describe thousands of tiny globules of CBD oil infused into water through microemulsion. It’s created to optimize drug delivery within the body. The tiny beads of CBD can range from 100-1,000 nanometers, or even as small as 25 nanometers. Nanoemulsions allow the sustained, controlled release of CBD. They can be engineered through high pressure homogenization, among other processes. The rise of nanaoemulsificiation techniques confirm that concentrates don’t necessarily need to be oily. Varying emulsion processes have been used to make CBD and other cannabinoids dissolveable in water for edibles, products and concentrates. c CultureMagazine.com
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RAISING RIVER CBD is improving
River’s quality of life By Addison Herron-Wheeler River “Ducky” Barclay’s father, John Barclay, remembers the exact date that his daughter was diagnosed with Batten disease—Nov. 16, 2017. And he remembers when she first had a seizure, on St. Patrick’s Day, after eating junk food for dinner and complaining of a headache. It’s not surprising that he remembers these dates, considering that River’s diagnosis of Batten disease changed the course of his life. At first, River was just complaining of headaches and having vision issues. Her eyes were crossing, and John initially thought his daughter simply needed glasses. Soon, she began having seizures, and John was faced with finding a way to treat his daughter. 26
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River began experiencing frequent seizures that required a lot of medication. She was having small seizures, drop seizures and at times, John observed her having about 300 seizures a day. There were times when she seemed to stop and would almost catch herself seizing, and other times when she would jump or launch herself into the air and would need to be caught and protected from hurting herself. All of this meant she had to be heavily medicated. “There was definitely this sense of taking her spirit,” John explained about the effects of the medications. “The two medicines she was on also took her speech; she stopped swallowing; she stopped doing everything. She was holding her saliva, and I couldn’t get her to go to school or to do anything; she was on the couch all the time. It was just horrific.” Finally, River was taken off the medication and given cannabidiol (CBD). Her family learned about CBD from a doctor who discreetly passed on the knowledge that it was something they could try. And now, despite suffering from a degenerative neurological disorder that is destroying irreplaceable brain cells, she is experiencing fewer seizures. As residents of Washington State, it was easier for Barclay to get his hands on medical cannabis than it would have been in other states. “Michelle, my ex, was an asset manager and worked with a medical marijuana dispensary,” he explained. “They had this CBD tincture, and I thought, ‘It can’t hurt.’ There were supposed to be two milligrams [of CBD] for every 10 drops, which of course is still inaccurate, but she tried it, and we started to see results.” Soon, they began getting more tinctures and trying higher amounts of CBD with River. Although it did not restore their daughter’s health to her previous state before her brain cells were damaged, she could now do things without having to be held or restrained for fear of constant seizing. “She started doing so much better, and we thought this is literally liquid gold,” he explained. “But we still had to keep upping her dose because her condition is so bad. Right now, we’re on about 260 milligrams per day, and she just goes through so much CBD.” “It was getting so expensive, but it
“She started doing so much better, and we thought this is literally liquid gold.” didn’t matter that we were spending $1,000 a month on CBD, because it was helping,” John added. “But then I realized I could grow it too, so I started doing that.” Batten disease is a specifically tragic condition, one that easily makes parents feel hopeless and lost. But John has a message for parents of children with this disease, or other parents with children who are suffering who want to try CBD, “Don’t give up.” “If there aren’t any
results, don’t give up; try another kind of CBD,” he said. “It’s like a headache. You know, if you take a Tylenol for the wrong kind of headache, or aspirin for the wrong kind of pain, you switch and take another medication. It’s the same thing with CBD, for cannabis. Give it a shot; test it a little bit; record the results. Then you can keep track of what actually worked. We started small at first, but when we gave her more, we saw better results. If I didn’t see anything after so much time, I gave up and went on to the next thing. And share the knowledge, because what didn’t work for you could work for someone else.” River is getting help and relief from CBD, and for John and the other people who love her, that makes all the difference. c
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ENGAGING EDUCATION
Explore the wondrous world of cannabis extracts with these useful books By Nicole Potter
The world of cannabis concentrates is vast. If you strive to have a better understanding of anything in this industry—from extraction to business operations—it will either come naturally to you, or you must work hard to educate yourself. Online articles and videos are informative when it comes to brief selfeducation, but nothing beats a good book written by an industry expert. If you’re looking for an educational source on concentrates, look no further than books such as these, which touch on extract processes, concentrates as medicine and so much more. 28
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Beyond Buds: Marijuana Extracts— Hash, Vaping, Dabbing, Edibles & Medicines BY ED ROSENTHAL
No list is complete without a cannabis book written by Ed Rosenthal. This revered cannabis author has written books about every question that one can ask about cannabis. Many of his books explore cannabis cultivation and cannabis flower harvesting techniques, but this particular book educates readers on the various types of cannabis concentrates and how to consume them. Defining everything from sift to hash, and comparing butane hash oil versus CO2 oil and vaping versus dabbing, are just a few examples of the complexities of cannabis concentrates that Rosenthal mentions.
Cannabis Extracts: The Marijuana Handbook BY JAMES HENDERSON If you’re looking for a beginner’s guide to all things concentrates, then this book takes the cake. It contains basic information about the many types of extracts such as kief, hash, rosin and Rick Simpson Oil. Additionally, it presents guides on how cannabis extract can be used, and how readers can safely make their own concentrates at home.
Cannabis Extracts in Medicine: The Promise of Benefits in Seizure Disorders, Cancer and Other Conditions BY JEFFREY DACH, M.D., ELAINE A. MOORE AND JUSTIN KANDER Cannabis has become especially mainstream thanks to its ability to help treat many people’s medical conditions. Nowadays it isn’t enough to just consume cannabis concentrates but to understand the science behind them. This book teaches of the intricacies of the endocannabinoid system, and how medical cannabis extracts interact with the human body to treat conditions such as seizure disorders, cancer and chronic pain. Best of all, it has an entire chapter dedicated to successful research studies on cannabidiol (CBD), and it also addresses the legal issues and hurdles surrounding the industry as well.
CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medicinal Cannabis--Healing Without the High BY LEONARD LEINOW AND JULIANA BIRNBAUM This book is another great tool geared toward educating readers about the benefits of CBD products in “oil infusions, tinctures, capsules, topicals and extracts.” Specifically geared toward medical patients, it provides a comprehensive look at informing the reader about the biology and chemistry of the cannabis plant, the endocannabinoid system, the most popular medicine delivery methods, dosage guidelines, side effects and so many other things to consider with cannabis medicine.
Essential DIY Cannabis Extracts and Concentrates
is right for them. It also offers how-to guides on simple and safe ways to prepare cannabis extracts at home.
DIY Cannabis Extracts: Marijuana Extraction Guide - Step by Step BY JAY SANDERS Whether you’re a novice cannabis consumer in general, or simply a flower enthusiast ready to take the next step toward concentrates, this book is for you. It’s a short one, about 40 pages, but this quick read provides enough information to help readers understand and choosing which extracts are right for them. Those who are interested in getting this book can learn the basics of making rosin and cannabis oil, so they can be self-sufficient in the future.
Cannabis Oil QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis Oil BY CLYDEBANK ALTERNATIVE One of the best ways to learn about cannabis is to obtain an all-encompassing book that tells readers everything they need to know. This one is a winner under that criteria, offering a variety of information of cannabis, its many uses, the basics of cannabis oil, the complexities of plant cultivation and cannabis as medicine.
Cannabis Extracts: The Ultimate Guide on How to Make Marijuana Extracts For Cooking in Your Home, Including Cannabis Cookbook With 10 Recipes For Tasting Cannabis Cookies BY MONICA JACOBS
BY AARON HAMMOND Those looking for an easy-todigest guide about a variety of extracts will find everything they need to start right in this book. With this tool, readers can educate themselves on the most popular methods of extraction, while exploring which concentrate
Cannabis extracts are potent pain relievers and muscle relaxers, but infusing food with cannabis oil is also becoming a popular way to consume. This particular book targets how to create cannabis oil at home with the specific intention of using it for culinary use. Learn the basics of extraction and how to make it taste delicious by adding it into entrées and desserts. c CultureMagazine.com
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Industry Insider
LAVISH LOCATIONS
The early beginnings and luxury dispensaries of entrepreneur Susan Hwang By R. Scott Rappold
You’ve heard the phrase “living hand to mouth.” That’s how Susan Hwang was forced to run her first medical cannabis dispensary—taking the day’s sales revenue to Phoenix, Arizona to buy more cannabis to sell the next day, spending eight hours a day driving around. Even when the dispensary was making $1 million a month, she said, home was a one-bedroom apartment, not that it mattered. Who had time to be home sleeping? Such were the hazards of diving into the nascent cannabis business without a big chunk of cash or the backing of wealthy investors. “I had to do what I had to do. I didn’t want to sell ownership to a big investment group,” she said. “I didn’t want to be one of 20 board members. I had a vision, and I wanted to execute it.” Execute it she has. The 32-year-old now owns a chain of medical cannabis dispensaries and associated cultivation operations, as well as cannabis consulting firm SH Management Services—not bad for someone who immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12 with nothing but a suitcase shared with her father and sister. And she’s just getting started. Hwang just might be changing how people shop for cannabis. 30 36
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H.
Humble Beginnings
Hwang didn’t speak a word of English in the late 1990s when her family fled South Korea’s economic crisis that cost them everything. The family moved to Los Angeles, California, then Tennessee, scraping by the best they could, sometimes living with friends and working multiple jobs. She spent nights after school working in the family’s janitorial business. After graduating high school she went to college at Arizona State University, graduating in 2009 with a biochemistry degree. Her parents hoped she’d be a surgeon someday. “They didn’t want me to an entrepreneur, because of what they’d been through. They wanted me to take the safe route,” she recalled. She was studying for a master’s degree when Arizona began implementing voter-approved medical cannabis. Despite her parents’ worries, and despite the fact she’d never even tried cannabis, she had an “innate entrepreneurial spirit” that couldn’t resist the possibilities of this new industry. Arizona implemented a system with stricter limits on the number of dispensaries than states like California or Colorado, so when Hwang was approved for one of the precious few licenses, it was off to the races.
O.
Off the Beaten Path
While many dispensaries were focusing on the population centers of Phoenix and Tucson, Hwang took a different approach. She opened a dispensary in Eloy, population 19,000, about halfway between those two cities. She opened a dispensary in remote Yuma, which is still that city’s only one. Both are named Jamestown. She chose off-the-beaten-path locations because she didn’t want to compete with other dispensaries selling $5 grams. That’s the same reason she hasn’t considered expanding into crowded marketplaces such as Colorado or Washington. “If it’s too easy to get licenses, I don’t go for it,” she said. Since most of her initial money went to licensing and dispensary construction, the pace of growth was necessarily slow. “Because I got into the industry with no money, I couldn’t do what people with money were doing,” Hwang said. “I needed to leverage existing business to continue to build.” Still, she was eventually able to move from her onebedroom apartment to a house, and she was able to actually spend some time there. She obtained a third dispensary in California. Instead of driving around buying product, her chain was growing it. She even tried cannabis, found she liked it and came out of the “cannabis closet” publicly. Through it all, she resisted the urge to pull in
“I’m introducing some different concepts that the market has not seen. The words ‘smoke shop’ and ‘luxury’ don’t always go together.” major investors or become publicly traded, for fear of losing control. “I’m not in it [to] get big, get a high valuation, sell out and retire,” she said. Rather, she wants to use her science background to learn more about the plant and educate others. That’s a mission of her consulting firm, and it’s something she hopes to further with a novel approach to selling cannabis.
L.
Luxury Boutiques
Why, Hwang asks, does society glorify alcohol with expensive wine, fancy craft beer and upscale bars, yet cannabis is often sold out of boring, nondescript buildings, often in the seedier parts of town? So, she wants to bring some luxury to cannabis with high-end cannabis boutiques with top-dollar smoking and vaping implements—think the Louis Vuitton or Neiman Marcus of cannabis. “I’m introducing some different concepts that the market has not seen. The words ‘smoke shop’ and ‘luxury’ don’t always go together,” Hwang admitted. It’s a way to challenge the stereotypes people have about cannabis consumers. She is also eyeing places most sensible cannabis investors aren’t even looking at. She says she is prepared to enter the medical cannabis markets of Georgia, Texas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and even her native South Korea, which legalized medical cannabis nationwide in 2018. Hwang takes a lot of pride in accomplishing so much out of humble beginnings. “I’m very honored and grateful and thankful,” she said. “All the adversities and hardships and challenges I’ve been through as a child and am still going through today are what helped me and molded me and shaped me.” “When people ask me what it feels like to be successful, I don’t know how to answer,” she said. “My definition of being successful is inspiring others and elevating other peoples’ lives and lifestyles. There are so many people I want to inspire. I want to continue to change their lives. I want them living like me but better than me.” c CultureMagazine.com
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“Adjoin” by xsullo
HOVERING HEIGHTS
Award-winning artist xsullo takes High Art to a new plane By Addison Herron-Wheeler Influenced by cyberpunk, anime, the future and the massively trippy, xsullo’s art is everything you want to see in a contemporary artist. It’s no wonder he took the High Art prize this year with his piece entitled “Adjoin.” xsullo, whose real name is Nick Sullo, transforms images of people into futuristic cyborgs who are still very much in touch with spirituality, and his art depicts cannabis culture in a completely uncommonly fascinating way. Too often, the marrying of styles can seem hacky or overdone, especially in the world of cannabis art and when working with contemporary subject matter, but xsullo pulls it off without a hitch. CULTURE talked to Sullo about his art, his recent win and the gorgeous works he hopes to craft for years to come.
How did you first get started making art, and how did that coincide with your cannabis journey? I started getting into art as early as four or five, just doodling, coloring in coloring books, everyday kind of kid things with drawing. When my family and teachers noticed I had an interest in it, they tried to keep it alive. I had a teacher who noticed I had a passion and helped me pick up more of a skill set. I started learning about painting, watercolors, all kinds of art, and just noticed I really had a passion and just absolutely loved it. As I got older, I realized I wanted to do art for a living. Then things started to become more digital, and I started learning even more. This was around the same time I started to learn about and have a relationship with cannabis. I got into Photoshop, which is great, because you can just sit down and use so many tools to create. It all kind of just went from there. How would you describe your style and the kind of art you create? I would say it’s a lot of ’90s, cyberpunk-influenced kind of stuff. There’s definitely an influence of anime, like when I was a kid and
“I think a little more critically and creatively when I smoke. Sometimes I have a kind of breakthrough into a different kind of creative realm artistically.” Dragon Ball Z started to get so big in the U.S. Then it kind of got more surreal when I got into college, so I think the artwork I was creating back then was more like pop, and then I got more into surrealism. That’s kind of what you see me doing now, the marriage between pop and surrealism. Which piece that you’ve created so far are you the proudest of? I think that would have to be the one with the guy pretty much ripping off his face and revealing his skull. It was a really fun, powerful kind of in-your-face piece that I had a lot of fun coming up with; I always think about that because it was always a turning point for me. There has always kind of been an homage in my art to all the things I grew up with, like Northern
California and technology, and a fusion of those things. How did you find out about the High Art contest, and what made you want to enter? They actually reached out to me, which was awesome. I think they reached out to several artists to kind of get the momentum going. I was really excited when I heard there was going to be a technology theme. I thought it would be a great chance to get my art out there. Why do you think this contest is important, both for art and for cannabis? It’s great that some of the award money for the award gets donated, so you get to donate to a great cause. Also, I think cannabis and art definitely go hand-in-hand. For me, I think cannabis is a great creative outlet. It’s a way for me to kind of relax. Everything kind of calms down, and I don’t have as much heavy judgments on myself. I think a little more critically and creatively when I smoke. Sometimes I have a kind of breakthrough into a different kind of creative realm artistically. I also think art can really help with cannabis, because with legalization, it’s great to have a nice piece of artwork attached to the product and a nice logo. That’s definitely what draws the customer’s attention. It creates a nice, positive environment to have artwork associated with cannabis. c www.instagram.com/xsullo CultureMagazine.com
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T H E G R E AT OUTDOORS
America has many traditions, but few are more classic than preparing and cooking grilled food. While we celebrate freedom on Fourth of July, we also celebrate our ability to choose specific barbecue sauce, spices, meat choices, methods of preparation and the use of various “herbs.” Best of all—it is all delicious. Celebrate your Independence Day the right way with these American barbecue recipes, topped through-and-through with cannabisinfused goods. Be sure to exercise extreme caution when cooking with high-heat tools like a grill while consuming cannabis, and you’ll be able to enjoy many of the freedoms that this great country provides.
I N S T R U C T I O N S: 1. Mix all the ingredients for meat marinade in a plastic bag. Cut sirloin steak into one-inch cubes, and place in marinade for at least 1 hour (or a maximum of five hours).
K ABOBS I N G R E D I E N T S:
ME AT M A RIN A DE
SKEWERS
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak
1/8 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons cannabisinfused olive oil
1/8 cup cannabisinfused olive oil
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon black pepper
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1 green bell pepper, cut into cubes 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into cubes
1 red onion, cut into cubes
Salt and pepper
1 red bell pepper, cut into cubes
Skewer sticks (either wooden or metal)
2. Alternate vegetables and meat as desired onto a skewer stick. Cover skewers evenly with infused olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. If there is reserved marinade, use it to cover the skewers as well. 3. On a high-heat grill, cook skewers for 10 minutes. Flip onto different sides throughout cook time.
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GRILLED CORN I N G R E D I E N T S:
I N S T R U C T I O N S:
4 ears of corn
1. Remove corn from husks and strip away remaining silk.
4 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon cannabisinfused butter Kosher salt Pepper 2 limes 1/2 cup Cotija cheese Fresh basil
2. Lather corn evenly with infused and non-infused butter. Season well with salt and pepper. Squeeze lime juice directly onto the corn. 3. Place corn on grill and cook for 15 minutes, turning frequently until grill marks are present on all sides. 4. Sprinkle desired amount of Cotija cheese onto cooked corn. Rip up fresh leaves of basil and place on top.
PULLED PORK SANDWICHES I N G R E D I E N T S:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white onion, minced
1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
I N S T R U C T I O N S: 1. Add salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, minced onion and olive oil into a bowl. 2. Prepare pork shoulder and press the rub mixture all over the protein. 36
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1/8 cup olive oil 1/8 cup cannabisinfused olive oil 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce 1 boneless pork shoulder Buns 3. Place on a grill over indirect heat for 3-4 hours, or until the meat is easily pulled apart. 4. Remove from heat until cool. Shred meat and place on desired buns. Top with barbecue sauce of choice, if desired.
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GROWING CULTURE
GARDEN FE VER
L
By Ed Rosenthal
ast month I wrote about setting up a new indoor garden and described the germination method. Since then, most of the seeds germinated but the foam and hydrocorn method I was testing was not ideal. Some of the seedlings had trouble staying in position, because the hydrocorn did not hold the foam in place securely. My solution to the problem was special care— manipulating the foam to give the seedlings better positioning. The seedling did well under the four high output fluorescent tubes, which had an input of 200 watts over the eight-foot tray. Sixteen days after germination, I placed them in their final growing and flowering space. The garden space is a single 4’ x 8’ tray. The bottom of the tray is outfitted with heaters, which turn on when the water temperature goes below 72 degrees, four eight-foot lines of porous tubing connected to a powerful air pump that release air along the length
The greenhouse during the day. The plants get about five hours of direct sunlight, and an additional five hours of indirect bright light.
Tray of female only “London Lb. Cake x Watermelon” ready to sit at the big table. 38
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of the tray and a water pump. The tray is filled to the top with a vegetative growth nutrient-water solution at 750ppm and a pH of just over six. Two double-ended 660-watt HPS lamps light the space continuously. The tent has a frame of 2’ x 4’s and is larger than the tray so you can walk around inside. It is covered by panda film, white on one side and black on the other. The black side of the film faces the outside so the inside is reflective white. Each plantlet is growing in a 6” x 6” space. The containers they were started in were fitted into two-inch holes drilled into a one-inch thick Styrofoam board that fits perfectly into the 4’ x 8’ tray. The plants will grow for about two weeks to fill the canopy, then the lights will be turned back to 13 hours of light daily, to induce flowering. About four weeks later, the lights will be turned back an hour to promote ripening. After I set up the hydro tray that a friend brought over four “Ed Rosenthal Super Bud” single stems that were
just going into their second week of flowering. Then another friend came with some of their excess OG and OG crosses. A third brought some local varieties. It would have been heartless to turn these orphans away, so I decided to give them a home in my greenhouse. I set up a 2’ x 8’ tray for the adoptees. Both feed from the same reservoir. One group of plants is in 6” containers on a wick system in planting mix with supplemental drip sits on a platform above the tray with wicks trailing into the tray. The other group is in 2.5 quart containers, each made from two inexpensive plastic colanders. The bottom third of each sits in water so the plant’s roots can easily migrate into it. Look forward to reading more about this system in my next installment. c
GARDEN TIP
It’s not too late to plant. If you pick up some clones and repot them and place them outside, or in a sunny window they will grow vegetatively for about four to six weeks and then they will start to flower. You can be smoking your fall harvest in just a few months.
Greenhouse at night. This photo shows how the plants are lit using fluorescent and LED lights. They are on 7 a.m.-10 a.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. to supplement natural light.
The hydro system: Colander containers hold the hydrocorn but allow a free flow of water. Notice that roots are beginning to grow into the reservoir.
Fitting the 2” round pots into the round holes.
The tray, outfitted with seedlings, will support vegetative growth, then with a change of water, flowering. At harvest each plant will be a single stem of bud.
NEWS of the
WEIRD
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL
LEAD STORY—IT HAS COME TO THIS The Pokémon Co. has made Japanese brides’ dreams come true with its announcement that it is collaborating with a wedding planner to offer sanctioned ceremonies with its characters in attendance, dressed as a bride and groom. Yes, Pikachu will stand up with you and your betrothed (as long as you go to Japan to tie the knot), and the icing on the cake is Pokémon-themed food items and a Pikachu cake topper. Finally, United Press International reports, for your scrapbook, you’ll have a marriage certificate decorated with Pokémon imagery—surely an item you’ll want to preserve in a licensed Pokémon photo frame. STAY WITH ME HERE Around 1:40 a.m. on May 9, as an unnamed Cocoa, Florida, homeowner slept in her garage, a black Cadillac crashed into the structure, missing her by only inches, according to the 911 call. The Cadillac was stolen, it turns out, and was fleeing an Orange County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle—which was also stolen and being driven by someone impersonating a police officer. After the crash, WFTV reported, the imposter patrolman continued trying to pull over vehicles before speeding away. The patrol SUV was later abandoned behind a shopping plaza in Cocoa.
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL Police in Lincoln, Nebraska, responded to a call on May 21 about a domestic assault. They didn’t find the suspect, identified as Markel Towner, 26, in the residence, but someone who matched his description was sitting outside in a car. When questioned, the man said his name was Deangelo Towns, but a fashion faux pas led officers to suspect he was lying—a lanyard around the man’s neck clearly bore the name “Markel Towner.” After some resistance, KETV reported, Towner was finally subdued and arrested on a variety of charges. OOPS An unidentified man in Tuscumbia, Alabama, did what so many of us do every day: He went online to Amazon to order some household items. But when his package arrived on May 23, he was alarmed to discover a urine sample from a private citizen, not the shower curtain and rings he’d ordered. “When I reached in and pulled it out (it was) some kind of urine specimen or something like that,” he told WHNT. An Amazon representative said the company was “very sorry” about the mistake and would send his bathroom accessories right away, but declined to have him return the sample. BRIGHT IDEAS May 17 wasn’t the first time Dan Smith of Seattle found a Car2Go vehicle left in the driveway of his rental property, so he erected a fence around it and posted NO TRESPASSING signs
and other warnings. He then informed Car2Go’s parent company, Share Now, that he wanted $65 per day for storage, $300 for the fence and $500 for harassment. Share Now responded to inquiries from KIRO saying seven different customers tried to rent the car a day after it was left in Smith’s driveway but couldn’t because of the barricade. Asad Rasheed, who lives in Smith’s building, said the errantly parked vehicles are a common problem: “People are not made aware of where to park, where not to park and how to use them,” Rasheed said. Share Now has agreed to work with Smith but told the TV station they wouldn’t be paying him. STAR TREATMENT Gwen Lynch, the lone 2019 graduate of the eighth grade at Cuttyhunk Elementary School on Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts, will receive the accolades and advice of a celebrity graduation speaker, actress and comedian Jenny Slate, on June 17. The island, which has a year-round population of only about a dozen people, is familiar to Slate, whose parents live nearby, reported the Cape Cod Times. Gwen has also been working on her own speech. Graduation festivities will include a potluck dinner, and organizers expect a “packed house”: “Most of the town will be there,” predicted Michael Astrue, who secured Slate for the address. QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT While students at Holy Family Catholic School in
Port Allen, Louisiana, took a field trip to Washington, D.C., to learn about our nation’s founding and visit historic sites, their principal, Michael Comeau, had another kind of sightseeing in mind. In the pre-dawn hours of May 31, police were called to Archibald’s Gentleman’s Club in D.C. after “an intoxicated man refused to pay his bill,” according to the arrest report. The Advocate reports that officers found Comeau, 47, standing in a roadway, “refusing to move.” He was arrested for public intoxication and possession of an open container of alcohol. Comeau immediately resigned his position as principal, along with his role as a reserve police officer at the Brusly Police Department. UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT For reasons that remain unclear, a local police officer drove a beach patrol ATV into a marsh on Tybee Island, Georgia, on May 31, where it became stuck in the mud. Officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources say the officer then used a City of Tybee pickup truck to try to free the ATV, but the truck also became stuck. City workers next attempted to pull both vehicles out using two backhoes, which also succumbed to the marsh. An excavator was finally able to free one of the backhoes from the muck, but the Coastal Resources Division of the DNR reported to WSAV that it will likely take a barge and crane to extricate the other three vehicles. Tybee city officials are conducting an investigation.
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