WELCOME TO ARKANSAS' FINEST
– A DISPENSARY COLLECTIVE
Discover a premier collection of dispensaries in Conway, Clarksville, Morrilton, and Eureka Springs, committed to offering top-quality cannabis products and exceptional service. Each of our locations is focused on providing a welcoming environment where your needs come first.
EXCITING CHANGES AHEAD!
We are excited to announce that our dispensaries will soon be unified under one cohesive brand, elevating your experience even further. Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming rebranding and a refreshed website coming soon
Thank you for choosing Arkansas' Finest Dispensaries, where local products and excellent customer service come together Stay tuned for exciting developments!
Visit Us
Eureka Springs (Osage Creek Dispensary): 101 E Van Buren, Eureka Springs (located inside Osage Creek Lodge)
Clarksville (formerly Enlightened): 131 Massengale Rd, Clarksville
Morrilton (formerly Enlightened): 1601 AR-9, Morrilton Conway (Harvest): 1200 Thomas G Wilson Dr Conway
The winners of our first Big Bud Classic.
Medical marijuana fights opioid addiction.
More
High
"Georgia O'Kief" created by the illustrious Matt Dedman, featuring Natural State Medicinals' strains of Blackwater, Grease Monkey, Jealousy, Nutterfluffer, Rainbow Cake, Sloppy Topper, Tahoe OG Kush and White Widow with a hand-rolled Arkansas shaped blunt.
The
Turning taco
Strain
Unfiltered review of the Big Bud Classic.
Ask Ethel is an endeavor for the people by the people. This is an effort to humanize and educate about medical marijuana in the Natural State, create community and safe spaces for patients to share their journeys with one another, along with provide the cannabis curious the agency to ask questions in an environment that’s both welcoming and engaging.
Check out these sites for upcoming events!
askethel.com
Ask Ethel @ask_ethel
PUBLISHER
Lee Major lee@arktimes.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Mandy Keener
mandy@arktimes.com
ART DIRECTOR/DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
Katie Hassell
ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR
Mike Spain
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Terrell Jacob, Kaitlyn Looney, Evan Ethridge and Mechelle Winslow
DIGITAL MARKETING DIRECTOR
Madeline Chosich
ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER
Roland R. Gladden
IT DIRECTOR
Robert Curfman
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Antira Lovelace
EVENTS DIRECTOR
Donavan Suitt
CONTROLLER
Weldon Wilson
BILLING/COLLECTIONS
Charlotte Key
PRESIDENT Alan Leveritt
CUSTOM CANNABIS
Custom Cannabis is a dispensary in Alexander, AR that focuses on patient care and education on terpenes. Most of our patients are often looking for the “highest” THC products, and we want to help show them that percentage isn’t always the indicator of quality product- It’s the Terps!
Understanding Terpenes: The Unsung Heroes of Cannabis
While THC often steals the spotlight, terpenes play a crucial role in the overall cannabis experience. These aromatic compounds not only contribute to the distinctive smells and flavors of different strains but also work in harmony with cannabinoids to enhance therapeutic effects —a phenomenon known as the "entourage effect." For our patients, understanding terpenes is essential to finding the right strain that suits their individual needs, whether they're managing chronic pain, anxiety, or insomnia.
Tailored Recommendations
During consultations, we encourage patients to articulate their desired effects, lifestyle, and preferences. By examining terpene profiles alongside cannabinoid content, we can provide tailored recommendations that prioritize both potency and the nuanced benefits of terpenes. Instead of fixating solely on THC levels, our approach fosters a deeper appreciation for the complexity of cannabis and its potential.
The Future of Cannabis Education
As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, Custom Cannabis is committed to leading the charge in patient education. We aim to foster a community where patients feel informed and empowered to make choices that benefit their well-being. By prioritizing terpenes, we’re not just changing perceptions; we’re enhancing lives. In a world where the cannabis market is often driven by THC percentages, Custom Cannabis stands out by focusing on the holistic experience that terpenes provide. Join us in redefining what it means to find the right product—not just for the highest highs, but for a healthier, more balanced approach to wellness.
Marijuana is for use by qualified patients only. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana use during pregnancy or breastfeeding poses potential harms. Marijuana is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana.
MATT MCNAIR
Matt McNair is a native Arkansawyer from Marion County. A Little Rock resident since 2013, he spends his time gardening, hunting, and competing in a popularity contest with Chester, the Bella Vita Shop Dog, all with varying degrees of success.
TRICIA LARSON
By day, Tricia Larson is a strategic communication pro; by night, a writer who loves to dig deep and tell people’s stories. Whether strategizing or storytelling, she thrives on capturing the heart of what makes people tick.
SARA REEVES
Sara Reeves is a commercial photographer based in Little Rock. She has been exploring Arkansas with her cameras for over 20 years, telling countless colorful stories of the places we roam and the fascinating people we meet along the way.
STEPHANIE SMITTLE
An Ozark Mountains native, Stephanie is a singer, writer and electric autoharp expeditionist whose history of performances includes ancient chant, folk ballads and new classical works for mezzo-soprano. Find her on Instagram @stephaniesmittle and at stephaniesmittle.com.
JESSICA MAXWELL
Jessica Maxwell is an aspiring writer from Little Rock. She received an M.A. in English from Mississippi State in 2023, where she was traumatized by Charles Dickens. Will write 4 food.
BROCK HYLAND
Brock Hyland is the barbecue editor at the Arkansas Times. When he's not digging into a good pig sandwich, Brock can be found enjoying an Arkansas Travelers ballgame or practicing his extremely rudimentary banjo skills.
GRIFFIN COOP
Griffin Coop, the Cannabiz editor at the Arkansas Times, covers the state cannabis industry. In the past year, Griffin has reported on Arkansas's medical marijuana industry sales, lawsuits and more.
MATT CAMPBELL
Matt Campbell became a journalist after nearly 15 years as a lawyer in Little Rock. In his free time, Matt enjoys creating new recipes, trying new restaurants around the state, and reading about whatever his current obsession happens to be.
PHILIP THOMAS
Philip Thomas is the owner and operator of Novo Studio, a photography, video and graphic design company located in Northwest Arkansas.
HIGH STANDARDS
Some play checkers, Casey Flippo plays chess.
BY BROCK HYLAND
When Paragould native and entrepreneur Casey Flippo first endeavored into the Arkansas cannabis industry with his best friend, Sean, he had no idea his latest business venture would reach the heights it has. Thanks to an impromptu motto, “play chess while everyone else plays checkers,” he’s grown what originally began in 2019 as a small CBD company in Monroe County, to a multistate, regional leader in cannabis product production and retail. The best part? He’s just getting started.
Did your status as Arkansas’s first cannabis processor present a different set of challenges that you might not experience today? Absolutely. For Arkansas specifically, we were licensed to be the first processor in 2021, but the program really got started in 2017 or 2018 with cultivation and dispensaries. Everyone got an aggressive head start on us, so when we came into the market there was a lot of resistance. Nobody knew who these new kids on the block were. There was a lot of uncertainty involved with taking that leap into the medical cannabis market, but after what we went through during COVID and our experience transitioning from a small regional hemp company into the legal market, we were ready. We hit the full send button. It created a sort of moat around our business model because other groups that were looking to do the same thing tended to shy away from it. They didn't see the value, while we took it as a challenge. We saw an opportunity to crack this code and if we could just position ourselves correctly, we saw there was a huge need and a huge opportunity. There were a lot of things that happened to accomplish those goals, and it paid off extreme dividends. That’s how we were able to launch into other markets to become a regional operator with both wholesale and retail applications. It's all about resiliency. Being the dark horse is how we felt coming into this market. We felt like we were behind. We felt we had to prove ourselves and work for every piece of success that we got, and we’re still willing to do that.
How does the evolving legal landscape in Arkansas and beyond shape the way you strategize your business?
Operating within the highly regulated Arkansas cannabis market is hard enough; doing that as a multistate operation multiplies the complexities by the number of states we’re in and makes it that much more cumbersome. It’s always changing — month to
month, quarter to quarter — so it's something we continuously monitor. Otherwise, you run the risk of falling behind. That's really where we saw a niche in our business application with the processing as well as the retail. I can't echo enough my reliance on Sean [business partner] and our legal team at the Rose Law Firm. Without those two groups, I would really struggle with it.
If you could change one thing about the current landscape in Arkansas, what would it be? I believe our governing body as well as the industry do a pretty great job at regulating and selfregulating. I feel blessed to be a member of this industry. I think people in large part recognize the value of cannabis. I just wish there was something that addressed access early on, which would directly correlate with more patient participation. The landscape being what it is now, it's important for us as industry operators to ensure that if a patient wants access to this medicine, whether it be through delivery services or geographically repositioning our stores, we as industry operators are willing to adhere to that. Every patient deserves access to this medicine.
If you could do a celebrity colab for any cannabis product with anybody — living or dead — who would it be? For living … I'm the biggest Eminem fan of all time. I would love to do a collaboration with him. I know he’s clean now, so we would do a non-THC version. I just want to meet him and hang out! For dead … I was a huge Biggie Smalls fan back in the day. I think if I had to weigh it out, the fact that Biggie isn’t around anymore, I think he gets the nudge on Eminem.
What's your favorite stoner film? Gotta love "Grandma's Boy." It came out around my transition into college where I was being introduced to marijuana for the first time. I probably watched it two dozen times in a week.
NOVO STUDIO
What’s your go-to munchy snack? I’m a huge popcorn guy. Some extra movie butter and a flick — I’m here for that.
What's next for Dark Horse? Dark Horse stands by its name. In every new opportunity, in every new industry, in every circumstance, we view ourselves as the underdog. We're going to scratch and claw until we reach a pinnacle and achieve the goals that we've set forth since day one. That said, our approach is conducted in phases. Every new state we try to enter, we try to introduce a wholesale segment to the market — whether that be
What was it like starting a business during the pandemic, and how were you able to achieve such rapid and successful growth during that period? There's a lot of skill associated with what we've accomplished, but there's certainly been a lot of being in the right place at the right time. We had a very successful hemp business when we first started. We were one of the largest production facilities in the tri-state area. We had the largest facility bringing in material from Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Oklahoma on a regular basis. We were flourishing — and then the world shut
Dark Horse stands by its name. In every new opportunity, in every new industry, in every circumstance, we view ourselves as the underdog. We're going to scratch and claw until we reach a pinnacle and achieve the goals that we've set forth since day one.
cultivation, consumer packaged goods or manufacturing. Then we try to come back full circle and start introducing some retail applications. As of late, we're really in the retail phase. In the immediate term, Dark Horse is simply focused on growth in all categories, but we're really focused on honing in the retail.
Where does the name Dark Horse originate? We used to be Dark Horse Medicinals, and the foundational piece to that is our original logo, which was a black knight chess piece that parcels out into molecules, specifically the THC molecule. Early on, whenever we were building our foundational business acumen, I came into our second-ever team meeting and on the whiteboard, I wrote, “Play chess while everybody else plays checkers,” indicating that we were going to make strategic moves while everybody else was focusing on what's right in front of them. That was something that we echoed throughout our growth stages, and that black knight chess piece became a symbol for what we stand for.
down. It's really a circumstance that, until you go through that as an entrepreneur, it's unfathomable to have such immediate success and then get the rug pulled out from under you. One thing that I'm most proud of is in our infancy, the easiest and most realistic thing for us to have done would have been to pack up shop and call it quits. But we didn't do that. We scratched, we clawed, we found ways to overcome short-term challenges to just make it work — with the hopes that we were going to be given an opportunity to showcase our skill sets. Right place, right time. Because of that resiliency, we were one of the first companies licensed in Arkansas as a processor. And because of that adversity, we were able to build a very successful business based on a solid foundation. It just goes to show how resiliency and having faith in yourself can lead to really great things.
CAN't STOP, WON't Stop
MELISSA FULTS Will keep fighting for Medical marijuana Patients.
BY GRIFFIN COOP
Melissa Fults became a cannabis advocate out of necessity.
In 1999, Fults’ 16-year-old son was in a car accident that left him with severe injuries. He needed three neck surgeries, two back surgeries, the replacement of some disks and the insertion of some pins and a cage in his neck. One procedure where doctors inserted a gel into some of his disks required him to lie on his back for weeks with little movement.
The injuries and surgeries also left him on opioids and, several years later, doctors feared his stomach lining couldn’t hold up for much longer. The doctors were worried his stomach would rupture from the opioid use.
It’s a scenario Fults describes in stark terms.
“In 2011, they told him, ‘We’re killing you, but we don’t have an alternative, so we’ll just continue killing you,’” she said.
One of her son’s doctors told him marijuana could get him off the
Melissa Fults, a tireless fighter for medical marijuana patients, also raises goats on her small dairy farm in Saline County.
BRIAN CHILSON
prescription drugs he was taking. There was only one problem: Marijuana use, even for medicinal purposes, was illegal in Arkansas.
Despite the illegality, Fults supported doing what she believed was necessary to help her son.
“Let him use an illegal drug to save his life or let him die because of politics. That wasn’t a very hard decision,” she said. “And we didn’t want anyone else to have to go through that.”
Fults’ life as a cannabis advocate had begun.
Fults and her husband, Gary, relied on the experience they had gained mobilizing and organizing railroad workers while Gary worked as a locomotive engineer.
“It put us in the perfect position to work on this,” she said.
The pair linked up with another advocate who had worked on cannabis reform locally in Northwest Arkansas and wanted to take it statewide, she said. They worked on a statewide ballot measure that would have legalized medical marijuana use in Arkansas and would have even allowed some patients to grow some plants of their own.
The group raised more than $715,000, records show, and got the measure on the ballot before Arkansas voters rejected it 51.4% to 48.6%.
But Fults didn’t give up.
In 2014, she wrote another measure, but she didn’t have the money or volunteers to get that one off the ground and never turned in the required signatures to try to get the measure on the ballot.
Two years later, in 2016, Fults was back at it with a constitutional amendment that would come close to making the ballot before Little Rock attorney David Couch, who was pushing a separate medical marijuana amendment, moved to have Fult’s measure disqualified. The Arkansas Supreme Court agreed with Couch and kept Fults’ measure off the ballot.
Couch’s amendment passed with 53.1% in favor that year and formed the state medical marijuana program that is in existence today.
While Fults and Couch were on opposite sides in 2016, they reunited in 2022 to fight a recreational marijuana amendment they each thought was bad for the state.
Members of the Arkansas medical marijuana industry had sponsored an amendment that year that would have legalized marijuana for adults.
Fults said she isn’t opposed to recreational marijuana if people use it responsibly but she said she could not support that particular amendment.
“It wasn’t that I opposed recreational marijuana,” she said. “That was not it at all. It was the way it was done.”
Fults said the measure would have hurt patients and it would have created an unfair market. Having been an advocate for cannabis reform, Fults said she believed many people were shocked that she was in opposition.
“(The amendment) was too favorable to the industry and it was too unfavorable to the patients,” she said.
Fults’ position on the matter didn’t win her many friends in the marijuana world.
“The entire industry was furious with me,” she said.
Others who had followed Fults’ work as an advocate were upset with her as well. Fults said she would ask those folks to read the amendment to see what it would do. Once they read it, they understood her opposition, she said.
Fults and Couch even teamed up with archconservative Jerry Cox of the Arkansas Family Council to campaign against the amendment. Arkansas voters eventually rejected the amendment 56.3% to 43.7%.
After the election, the same industry that she said had been “furious” with her wanted to work with her to gain her support for another ballot measure in 2024.
Instead of attempting to legalize recreational marijuana, this amendment was a chance to expand the existing medical marijuana program. The amendment would have eliminated the cost of a medical marijuana card, extended the life of cards from one
year to three years and would have allowed patients to grow some plants of their own. The amendment would have also expanded the types of medical professionals who could certify patients for the program and would have allowed those medical professionals to certify patients based on any debilitating condition, not just the 18 conditions currently allowed.
Fults said she would have liked for the amendment to have included the addition of more dispensaries but she said she couldn't complain since the measure included almost everything she wanted.
The amendment hit a roadblock when Secretary of State John Thurston refused to count some of the signatures, but the Arkansas Supreme Court eventually required him to count them and found that there were more than enough.
But there was still one more hurdle: a legal challenge over some of the wording that would appear on the ballot.
In late October, the Arkansas Supreme Court found that the amendment’s popular name and ballot title were misleading. The ruling meant Arkansas voters would not have a chance to vote on expanding the medical marijuana program in 2024.
Fults disagreed with the ruling.
“I feel like the state has failed the patient and the 150,000 people that signed the petition,” she said. “It was all politically motivated and we need to work really hard to change our state government.”
Fults said her involvement with the measure had been “all about the patients” by eliminating the cost of a card and extending the life of the cards, among other things.
“It was pretty heartbreaking,” she said. “And the patients are the ones that are going to suffer for it.”
But Fults isn’t giving up. She said another amendment would be filed soon to give it another shot.
“I’ll continue to fight until the patients get what they need,” she said. “It’s important to make sure none of them get left behind and it’s affordable to get your card.”
“I’ll continue to fight until the patients get what they need.”
THE HARDY GROW
Located about 2 miles north of downtown Hardy, Spring River Dispensary is one of the more farflung of Arkansas’s medical cannabis outposts, but Spring River head cultivator JD Tucker is adamant the cannabis he and his team produce is worth the drive. And while a person familiar with Hardy and its environs might expect to hear a pitch in which the Spring River figures heavily — it’s a standout stream in a state chock-full of them, and the dispensary’s namesake to boot — JD Tucker will talk about dirt. A lot.
the same soil for two-and-a-half years.”
BY MATT MCNAIR PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON
But not just any dirt. Tucker is a committed proponent of “living soil,” an organic-farming term referring to a confined batch of soil that mimics the processes at play in the natural world, with vegetative matter, nematodes, beneficial insects and subsurface fungi existing in symbiosis to form a self-contained, selfsustaining ecosystem.
Self-sustaining in this case is not just another way to say “sustainable,” but a literal description. Much like the seasoning on grandma’s cast iron skillet, the growing medium in Tucker's beds stays the same. The soil requires only minimum inputs, such as organic fertilizer, and is never thrown out.
“My soil is regenerative,” Tucker says. “It doesn’t get replaced. I’ve been growing in
While the soil remains the same, the strains of medical cannabis Tucker and his team produce vary quite a bit. Like all other cultivators operating under an Arkansas dispensary license, Tucker is disallowed from having more than 50 mature, flowering plants at any given time. While Tucker strives for a good variety of product — he generally keeps 10 to 12 strains in flower at any given time (out of 20 to 30 strains in various stages of development) — dividing 50 plants by a dozen strains equals another good reason for heading to Hardy: a limited window of availability for your favorite strain.
“When it’s gone,” Tucker says, “it’s gone.”
Which is not to say it’s gone forever, especially if a strain proves popular or produces a particularly interesting cannabinoid profile, such as a recent plant from a strain called Golden Pupil that contained 1.72% THCva, a minor cannabinoid fascinating to many cultivators for its unusual, almost counterintuitive properties. (THCva acts as an appetite suppressant, producing an effect sometimes referred to as the “antimunchies.”) That’s more than 10 times the amount of THCva Tucker expects from any plant, prompting him to preserve the
JD Tucker, head cultivator, in the grow room. One of Tucker's strains ready for harvest.
genetics of that specimen for future runs.
“There’s more on the way,” Tucker says of this Golden Pupil strain.
Since the cap limiting how much mature flower can be grown on-site will affect the amount and variety of site-grown product at any given time, the dispensary side of Spring River supplements its own products with a wide array of goods made with cannabis sourced from the “Big Eight,” an industry colloquialism for the eight grow operations in the state licensed to produce cannabis at scale.
According to Felice Tiffin, the general manager of Spring River Dispensary, no patient should be concerned about the selection of wares in stock when they make the trip to Spring River Dispensary.
“We have one of the largest inventories of any dispensary in the state,” she says of SRD, noting that along with a wide array of flower, vaporizer cartridges, extracts and edibles, the dispensary carries any and all accessories a patient will find necessary for consuming the cannabis products purchased at SRD. There is also plenty of branded gear just for fun, such as hats, blankets and — apropos for a dispensary named after a river — koozies.
The newest bit of décor in the Spring River showroom is hardware, as Tucker accepted four trophies on behalf of SRD at Cannabis Times’ Big Bud Classic, winning awards for Best CO²/ Raw Vape (“Section A”), Best Concentrate (“O-Dawg”), Best RSO Concentrate (“Spring River Mud”) and Best Hybrid Flower (“Terpgasm”). These are the first wins for Tucker and SRD, and while Tucker is understandably proud of his achievement he is quick to praise Dark Horse Cannabis (which produces SRD’s processed offerings) and his “small but mighty” crew, comprised of trimmer John Mosher and cultivation assistants Terry Guthrie and Jordan Cooper.
“I can’t do what I do without them,” he says.
While Tucker expresses appreciation for the recognition the Big Bud Classic trophies represent, he insists that awards won’t change his approach to the work of producing medical cannabis, including his devotion to a clean and chemical-free growing process.
Averse to self-aggrandizement, Tucker will allow himself one boast regarding the cannabis coming out of his operation at Spring River Dispensary, one that speaks to a commitment to organic-farming principles and complete transparency regarding the process and methods employed in his grow operation.
“We have the cleanest medicine in the state,” he says, and is happy to produce receipts, offering not only the statemandated COA (Certificate of Analysis) affirming the quality and safety of his cannabis to anyone who requests it but the entire report that supports and contextualizes the COA.
Tucker also voluntarily pays for mold and mildew testing — not required by Arkansas law — for each yield he produces, noting that, after all, “we’re in the South.”
A patient himself who uses medical cannabis to manage a chronic ailment, Tucker has a vested interest in the growth and improvement of an industry he and many of his peers see as a calling. That’s a recipe for satisfaction, and if Tucker has any complaint about his station in life it’s not that he wants to do anything else, but rather would like to do more of the same.
“I wish I could provide more Arkansans with quality medicine,” he says. “I just want to help people.”
FREE Delivery to select locations!
This product is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. WARNING: For use by qualified patients only. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana use during pregnancy or breastfeeding poses potential harms. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana.
WE
BELIEVE
in cultivating bumper crops and guard rails
Our multi-disciplinary team of attorneys, led by Erika Gee, helps clients navigate the diverse range of issues raised by the evolving cannabis industry.
We focus on regulatory guidance, corporate and tax issues, legislative lobbying and employment concerns. We offer experienced counsel and representation on every aspect of cannabis in Arkansas and other emerging markets.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE GREEN RUSH.
Erika Gee
The Big Bud Classic, Arkansas’s first-ever cannabis showcase, is the culmination of paradoxically hard work — making what chills us out better than before.
Several months ago, two ginormous bags full of a ridiculous amount of weed were delivered to me at my place of employment. Saks Fifth Avenue came right through the back door of my little spot in Little Rock. I knew I had a job to do. I opened the seductive sacks marked with big letters, M.J.D., to find a treasure trove of little jars, filled with flowers marked with colorful labels and coded letters and numbers. The selection was so vast, you’d have thought I’d robbed the stock room of a dispensary. There were baggies full of cartridges, tanks and round vials of wax and live resin. There were tinctures and balms, there were nuggets of purple and chartreuse, fluffy and condensed flowers I’d never witnessed before.
I was chosen to be one of the judges of the first Big Bud Classic. There were cards included with a judging rubric detailing a 1-5 rating system with one being, “I would honestly avoid this strain,” and 5 being “This will make thinking your thoughts fun.” We were asked to rank the unique aroma and visual appearance of each product and our overall use of it. Were the desired effects achieved? When we lit up that indica to get a good night’s rest, did we sleep soundly or become paranoid that someone was spying on us through the Ring camera on the front porch? Not only did we have to get high, we had to reflect on getting high. The stoner homework assignment of all stoner homework assignments. But not all that glitters is gold. Some of our local growers and artisans’ products outshined the rest. Spring River Dispensary took half of the categories for Best Dispensary. Dark Horse Cannabis swept best processor, taking home five out of seven categories. Natural State Medicinals shone amongst our cultivators. The height of the Big Bud Classic has been its Expo, where local cannabis enthusiasts and artisans came together to celebrate and showcase the fruits of our state and its people’s labor. I didn’t go because, shocker, I’m flaky. But you didn’t have to witness the magic of this impressive endeavor firsthand to understand that we are trailblazing a new industry, in Arkansas by Arkansas and its region, for something that really helps a lot of us — bud.
—Mary Jane Doe
AND THE WINNERS ARE ... JUDGES COMMENTS
BEST SATIVA BY CULTIVATOR Mr. Clean by BOLD Cultivation
BEST SATIVA BY DISPENSARY Durban Poison by Greenlight
BEST HYBRID BY CULTIVATOR Devil Driver by Good Day Farm
BEST HYBRID BY DISPENSARY Terpgasm by Spring River Dispensary
BEST INDICA BY CULTIVATOR Cream Cake by BOLD Cultivation
BEST INDICA BY DISPENSARY Wolverine by Suite 443
BEST TOPICAL BY CULTIVATOR 3:1 Anti-Inflammatory by Natural State Medicinals
BEST TOPICAL BY PROCESSOR Mary’s Medicinals Muscle Freeze by Dark Horse Cannabis
BEST TINCTURE BY CULTIVATOR Natural State Tincture (Indica) by Natural State Medicinals
BEST TINCTURE BY PROCESSOR PPL Blood Orange Drops by Pure Pharma Labs
BEST CONCENTRATE BY CULTIVATOR Do Si Do by River Valley Relief
BEST CONCENTRATE BY DISPENSARY O-Dawg Concentrate by Spring River Dispensary
BEST DISTILLATE VAPE BY CULTIVATOR OG Kush Cart by Natural State Medicinals
BEST DISTILLATE VAPE BY DISPENSARY Wavelength Extracts Cantaloupe Crush Vape by The Source Dispensary
BEST DISTILLATE VAPE BY PROCESSOR The Clear Elite Cart (Blue Razz) by Dark Horse Cannabis
PPL 510 CARTRIDGE - PURE PHARMA LABS (AM8)
"Excellent. Very smoky in a good way. Favorite vape cart of the bunch."
NSMS OG KUSH HT DISTILLATE CART 1G (AB7)
"Very mild taste. Earthy and tea-leaf flavor.The high is heavy for distillate but still enjoyable."
DO SI DO - SOLVENTLESS BUBBLE HASH - RIVER VALLEY RELIEF (Q6)
"I
loved this sh*t! It's like an ivory color which is crazy/ cool. Used it to top off several different strains, to great success."
COMMENTS
MOTORCYCLE COWBOY 1/2 GRAM CART - DARK HORSE CANNABIS (AH9)
"Heady with a healthy side of body relaxation. Get stuff done and then ease on down."
MOROCCAN PEACHES LIVE RESIN CONCENTRATE - GDF (K11)
"Funky! Musky — sativa-like effects. I loved this one!"
BLUEBERRY CHEESE 1G LIVE RESIN BUDDER - CUSTOM CANNABIS SUPERSTORE (AY11)
" I believe this is what the kids call "sugar" never tried it before, but I am an instant fan. Fast-acting and insanely strong." JUDGES
BEST CO2/RAW VAPE BY CULTIVATOR
Purple Sunset by Natural State Medicinals
BEST CO2/RAW VAPE BY DISPENSARY
Section A by Spring River Dispensary
BEST CO2.RAW VAPE BY PROCESSOR PPL 510 Cart by Pure Pharma Labs
BEST RESIN (LIVE/CURED) VAPE BY CULTIVATOR
Strawberry Cookies by BOLD Cultivation
Motorcycle Cowboy by Osage Creek Cultivation
BEST RESIN (LIVE/CURED) VAPE BY PROCESSOR
Motorcycle Cowboy by Dark Horse Cannabis
BEST SOLVENTLESS VAPE BY CULTIVATOR
Dulce De Uva by River Valley Relief
BEST LIVE CONCENTRATE BY CULTIVATOR
Moroccan Peaches Live Resin by Good Day Farm
BEST LIVE CONCENTRATE BY DISPENSARY
Blueberry Cheese Live Resin Budder by Custom Cannabis Superstore
BEST LIVE CONCENTRATE BY PROCESSOR
DH X Custom Cannabis Superstore: Candy Store Budder by Dark Horse Cannabis
BEST RSO CONCENTRATE BY CULTIVATOR
NSMs RSO 2.0 by Natural State Medicinals
BEST RSO CONCENTRATE BY DISPENSARY
Spring River Mud RSO by Spring River Dispensary
BEST RSO CONCENTRATE BY PROCESSOR RSO by Dark Horse Cannabis
BEST SOLVENTLESS CONCENTRATE BY CULTIVATOR
Moroccan Peaches Dablicator by Good Day Farm
GLITTER BOMB
BOLD CULTIVATORS.
Glitter Bomb is one of the most soughtafter strains. Its delicious grape flavor and dense buds moves this strain to the top of your shopping list. If you are looking for an uplifting high that quiets the mind and relaxes the body, this one is for you. Ideal for an end-of-the-day, soft-pants andsnacks kinda night. Known to help medical cannabis patients relieve symptoms of anxiety, chronic pain, depression, headaches and migraines, insomnia, PTSD and stress.
FLOWER POWER STATS 70% Indica, 30% Sativa
LINEAGE Grape Gas #10 x OGKB Blueberry Headband
DOMINANT TERPENES Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Linalool
EFFECTS Calm, Happy, Relaxed, Uplifted
SCENTS Grape, Berry, Spicy, Sweet
BREAKING THE CHAIN
BY Jessica Maxwell
In recent years, medical marijuana has emerged as an unlikely ally in the fight against opioid addiction, with a growing body of scientific research highlighting its benefits. As the opioid crisis continues to claim lives and strain health care systems in the United States, alternative treatments like medical marijuana are gaining attention for their ability to alleviate symptoms and reduce reliance on opioids.
The origin of the opioid epidemic is often attributed to Purdue Pharma and the promotion of the drug OxyContin. Purdue falsely marketed OxyContin to primary care physicians as a safe and virtually addiction-free pain management drug. During the “prescribing boom” of the 1990s, doctors in the U.S. began overprescribing OxyContin as well as other pharmaceutical opioids such as hydrocodone, morphine and codeine to treat acute pain. What followed was a public health catastrophe that remains ongoing. There was an onslaught of addiction-related deaths that occurred as a direct result of overprescription, but the effects became even more widespread. To meet the demand of those newly addicted to opioids, the heroin market expanded, which brought forth an even larger wave of addiction-related deaths. Finally, in the most recent years, the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl has been catastrophically impacting communities of every demographic across the United States. Based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s most recent annual survey, an estimated 6.1 million people 12 and older have or had opioid use disorder (OUD). (1) This is an epidemic, and to begin the healing process, all angles should be explored.
Medical marijuana could be a key player in the healing process for people struggling with addiction. Despite the information that cannabis could be beneficial both for pain management as well as combating opioid addiction, many may still feel unsure. It’s hard not to point out the irony. Stigmas surrounding cannabis
have persisted for decades. Marijuana has historically been categorized as unsafe. Commonly referred to as the “gateway drug,” it has been inferred for years that marijuana has the potential to lead to a lifetime of addiction. Yet, the irony lies in that it is the very drugs prescribed by your family doctor that can so easily plant the seeds of addiction — not the other way around. As more states come around to legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, research on the benefits of marijuana has continued to expand. In a study published by The National Library of Medicine, it was found that cannabinoids, the active compounds in marijuana, interact with the brain's endocannabinoid system in a way that can stimulate the reward system in the brain and potentially curb withdrawal symptoms.(2) This interaction also helps to modulate pain and mood, providing relief without the risk of addiction that comes with opioids. It is noted, however, that further clinical research is needed to assess the long-term effects and potential risks associated with medical marijuana use. Despite promising research, the question of patient access is raised. A common problem for patients seeking certification for a medical marijuana card by their doctor is that their condition is not listed as one of the “qualifying medical conditions.” Only a handful of states have added opioid use disorder as a qualifying condition but have seen positive results. A comprehensive review published in JAMA Internal Medicine analyzed data from states with legalized medical marijuana and found a correlation between the availability of medical cannabis and a reduction in opioid-related deaths. The researchers concluded that states with medical marijuana laws had a 25% lower annual opioid overdose mortality rate compared to states without such laws. As more states consider adding opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, policymakers are urged to create comprehensive frameworks that ensure patient safety and access. (3) Collaboration between researchers, health
care providers, and legislators is essential to developing guidelines that maximize the therapeutic potential of medical marijuana while minimizing risks.
Arkansas anesthesiologist Dr. Brian Nichol has been working with his patients on managing pain with cannabis for several years. Pain management and opioid addiction can go hand in hand if not prescribed appropriately, or if the drug is misused by the prescribed. When he noticed that patients who were using “black-market” cannabis showed massive improvements in their overall quality of life, he became intrigued. He wanted to help patients explore options beyond pharmaceuticals to manage pain. Even if a patient is not an “opioid addict,” but is simply taking opioids to manage pain, the goal might be simply to stop feeling reliant on pharmaceuticals for other reasons. Side effects from opioids such as drowsiness and nausea that some patients experience can be debilitating and inconducive to overall quality of life. For Nichol, the goal is always to improve the quality of life for his patients, and he believes that cannabis can do that for “90% of people.” He humbly boasts that the patients who return to him for their annual follow-up for cannabis almost always report an improved quality of life. He notes that some patients who were previously reliant on opioids were able to begin tapering off and instead substituted cannabis for pain relief. When asked about what his hopes for cannabis in medicine are for the future, he responded that he “hopes for cannabis to be a firstline treatment for patients. Right now, cannabis is often viewed as a last resort rather than a first option to explore.”
As attitudes toward medical marijuana shift and are supported by a growing body of scientific research, a promising avenue for reducing opioid dependence and managing chronic pain opens up. While challenges remain, the potential benefits of incorporating medical marijuana into addiction treatment protocols could mark a significant step forward in addressing the opioid crisis and lead to a healthier population.
1. Wiese B, Wilson-Poe AR. Emerging Evidence for Cannabis' Role in Opioid Use Disorder. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2018 Sep 1;3(1):179189. doi: 10.1089/can.2018.0022. PMID: 30221197; PMCID: PMC6135562. 2. Bachhuber MA, Saloner B, Cunningham CO, Barry CL. Medical Cannabis Laws and Opioid Analgesic Overdose Mortality in the United States, 1999-2010. JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(10):1668–1673. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4005
CLEARING MORE SMOKE
DEBUNKING MEDICAL MARIJUANA MYTHS.
BY JESSICA MAXWELL
In a follow-up to our first issue, we are clearing the smoke yet again by busting even more of the most common marijuana myths. Despite the great strides that medical marijuana research has made in the United States, historical stigmas persist. It seems that even at these moments of historic change, taking the time to research and spread awareness is critical to public perception of cannabis. Previously, we cleared the smoke on three myths. We debunked the long-held credo repeated by grandparents and parents alike that “marijuana is a gateway drug.” We also made sure to clear things up around the myth that marijuana leads to violence. And lastly, we brought forth compelling scientific research that proves that medical marijuana can have therapeutic benefits. In what follows, we present three more myths and raise questions about their validity.
YOU HAVE TO SMOKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BENEFIT FROM IT.
Some of the earliest accounts of marijuana usage document that marijuana plants were burned to “induce trance” (1) sometimes for ritualistic practice, other times for pleasure. In modern movies and television, the droopy-eyed stoner at a party passes around a joint or takes long rips off a bong. For many years, smoking marijuana, or the “flower” appeared to be the only way to experience cannabis. Smoking has several drawbacks. The smell, to name one, but more importantly, the potential health risks associated with inhaling anything. In recent years, the cannabis industry has evolved and has been producing a variety of creative products to allow users both new and old to reap the benefits. One of the most popular ways to try cannabis is by eating an edible. Edibles can mean a variety of things. Some of the more popular examples are soft chews or “gummies” and chocolates. There are also baked goods, hard candy and mints. There are even cannabis-infused “drinkables” like coffee and teas that have arrived on the market as well as cannabis oils for cooking
that allow you to create your edibles at home. Unlike smoking marijuana, when it comes to edibles the golden rule is to start with a low dosage and go slow. When you smoke marijuana, the effects are almost instant as the cannabinoids reach your blood vessels upon inhalation. Edibles can take slightly longer — from 30 minutes up to two hours— to metabolize and take effect. The effects of edibles can also last longer than if you smoked. Edibles are often recommended to people who have trouble sleeping for that reason. Another potential drawback to consider when trying edibles is that the dosage can be hard to regulate, especially if you begin cutting up your edibles at home. If you’re still not sold on inhaling or ingesting cannabis but you still might want to give it a try, cannabis topicals or transdermals might be the best option. Cannabis topicals are absorbed in the skin and tissue, but they are not designed to enter the bloodstream. Therefore, when applied, you will not feel any of the psychoactive properties relative to marijuana. Transdermals, on the other hand, are designed to penetrate the skin barrier and enter the bloodstream, so you may experience some psychoactive effects. Some of the benefits of topicals may include pain management, skin improvements and limited risk of THC detection. There are positives and drawbacks to ingesting marijuana in all its forms. The key is to do your research by speaking to your doctor and your budtender. There is also some trial and error involved. It may take time to find what works best for you to fully reap the benefits, so be patient and trust the process. Happy hunting!
MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A CURE-ALL.
Research in the field of medicinal cannabis has made great strides over the last decade. New studies have found that cannabis can be beneficial when used to treat patients suffering from pain, both physiological and psychological. Patients who have suffered from chronic pain or anxiety have found relief through cannabis, but it is not a cure-
IN ARKANSAS, WOMEN MADE UP 53% OF THE 92,494 PATIENT CARDS REPORTED
IN JUNE 2023.
all. Patient responses can be varied as there are a variety of factors that can influence responses such as genetics, the administration of cannabis or the strain of cannabis used. In many cases, cannabis is used alongside other treatments as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan. For example, Monique Martin-Hickman, a licensed professional counselor based in Arkansas, describes her approach to treating patients suffering from anxiety or depression with cannabis as the efforts of many. Creating a cannabis-based treatment plan for patients with mental health concerns takes several people working together. It takes the patient, their therapist, their primary care doctor and their budtender all working together to ensure the best possible outcome, which may still be imperfect. This sentiment was echoed on the medical side by Dr. Brian Nichol. He states that cannabis should not be thought of as a cure-all. However, he is a dedicated advocate for the use of cannabis as a firstline treatment rather than a last resort. The goal always being the improvement of a patient’s quality of life, according to Nichol, cannabis can certainly do that for any number of ailments. Whether it is used as a part of a treatment plan or independently, the therapeutic benefits of cannabis can’t be denied.
ONLY YOUNG PEOPLE USE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
Before cannabis became more widely accepted into mainstream culture and eventually legalized for purposes both medicinal and recreational, young adults (ages 18-29) were often perceived as the
primary users of medical marijuana due to cultural associations and higher recreational use rates. While it is true that this demographic represents a substantial portion of medical marijuana patients, these demographics have changed rapidly in response to the legalization of medical marijuana. In a study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research on demographics of medical marijuana cardholders in the United States, researchers found that “The average age of patients was 45.5, 54.8% were male and the majority were Caucasian (87.5%). Female patients were significantly older than males (47.0 compared to 44.6).” (3) In Arkansas, “women made up 53% of the 92,494 patient cards reported in June 2023, and Arkansans aged 25-44 years held more cards than any other age demographic, according to the health department.” (4) Cannabis usage rates among elderly patients have also increased. A survey published in JAMA reported that marijuana use among adults aged 65 and older increased significantly from 2015 to 2018 (5). This rise in geriatric cannabis use has been driven by several factors, such as the desire to treat chronic pain without the usage of opioids, which can carry significant risks for the elderly. Certain stigmas surrounding marijuana, particularly among the elderly, still exist. Many older adults and health care providers lack education regarding the benefits and proper use of medical marijuana and as a result may perpetuate misinformation or negative perceptions. Regardless, the demographics of the average medicinal marijuana user continue to evolve, debunking the myth that it is an experience only for the young.
1. Cunliffe, Barry W. (2001). The Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe. Oxford University Press. p. 405. ISBN 978-0-19-285441-4. 2. Hasin, D. S., Saha, T. D., Kerridge, B. T., et al. (2015). "Prevalence of marijuana use disorders in the United States between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013." JAMA Psychiatry, 72(12), 1235-1242. This study discusses the prevalence and characteristics of Cannabis Use Disorder in the U.S., highlighting that while it exists, it is less common compared to addiction to other substances. 3. Mahabir, V.K., Merchant, J.J., Smith, C. et al. Medical cannabis use in the United States: a retrospective database study. J Cannabis Res 2, 32 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-020-00038-w 4. Hennigan, M. (2024, May 13). Industry professionals reflect on five years of medical marijuana in Arkansas. Arkansas Advocate. https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/05/13/ industry-professionals-reflect-on-five-years-of-medical-marijuana-in-arkansas/ 5. Han BH, Palamar JJ. Trends in Cannabis Use Among Older Adults in the United States, 2015-2018. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(4):609–611. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.7517
THE DANK GIFT GUIDE
By MANDY KEENER
IT's THE cAbooDlE For cANNAbIs lovErs.
1
2 handpicked Gifts for the first time toker to the stoner socialite.
DoPEsT AsHTrAY EvEr. 11
3
1. Lockable, air tight and secure, this 7-piece set will keep your stash and accessories organized. It’s aesthetically pleasing, as well. shoptulip.com 2. Load the bowl, turn on the blacklight and crank up the Pink Floyd. This glow in the dark bong will take you back to those high-school basement days. sessiongoods.com 3. For your artsy friend, get them a subscription to Broccoli magazine. They will appreciate the paper, photography, design and illustrations that make this publication one to leave out on the coffee table. broccolimag.com 4. No need to worry about hiding those joints in your socks. Stash them in the shades. Bonus: UV protection to hide your bloodshot eyes. vicerays.com 5. First timer? Get them this book so they don’t embarrass you at the next smoke sesh behind the bar. From the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post (If you don’t
This clutch has a built-in lighter slot, mirror and space for your stash. Ready to burn one? Light this candle up before or even after. dadgrass.com 8. Pretty peas! You might want to just get these for yourself. Table top lighters with built in ashtrays, uh yes. edie-parker.com Who doesn’t love a fun pair of socks? Grab these to stuff their stocking. goodlucksock.com 10. These cones are made fieldtrippapers.com 11. Nobody wants fancy snacks on paper plates. If you are going to serve up something other than Cheetos, get these Puff Puff Pass-ed Bites plates. jonathanadler. com 12. Time to replace that motel ashtray. This limited edition Gloopy ashtray by Seth Rogan is designed for those who love to spark up a joint. arthouseplant.com.
The History of Marijuana
A DOPE TIME LINE OF OUR FAVORITE DATES.
BY KATIE HASSELL
2800 BCE
Hemp’s first industrial cultivation in China.
Ramses II's mummy was found with hemp pollen coating the linen wraps. 1213 BCE
1533
Henry VIII Hemp Mandate states that for every 60 acres, each farmer must set aside onequarter acre to grow hemp or face steep fines.
1971
"420 Louis" was the code used by five students from San Rafael High School in California to signal to meet at the Louis Pasteur Statue to smoke a joint after school.
Pot Culture
1928
Louis Armstrong releases “Muggles”, a reference to cannabis.
1969
1973
BIC starts producing disposable lighters.
Woodstock Festival & “Easy Rider” in theatres.
1973
Pink Floyd releases “Dark Side of the Moon.”
1978
Willie Nelson smokes at the White House.
1996
California becomes the first state to legalize medical cannabis.
2016
2012
Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize recreational cannabis.
Arkansas voted to legalize the medical use of marijuana.
1992
1987, 1997 & 2016
"This is your brain on drugs," an anti-drug campaign by Partnership for a Drug-Free America targeting the use of Schedule I drugs.
(Marijuana was classified as a Schedule I drug in 1970.)
Dr. Dre releases his debut album, “The Chronic.”
1993
Snoop Dogg’s “Doggy Style” & “Dazed and Confused” are released.
1998
“That '70s Show” airs on FOX.
2005
“Weeds” Season 1 premieres on HBO
400 BCE
The earliest known bongs were unearthed in Russia in 2013.
1796
Napoleon gave the Lacroix family permission to produce rolling papers for his troops.
1960s
Apple pipes gain popularity for the DIYer.
Honey bear bong made from the iconic bear shaped bottles.
1970s
Roach clips moved from folded matches and bobby pins to the alligator clips adorned with feathers and beads.
1980s
Glass pipes gained popularity attributed to Bob Snodgrass, who made pipes while following the Grateful Dead on tour.
SMOKE SIGNALS
When it comes to medical cannabis packaging, it’s an aesthetic thing.
By STEPHANIE SMITTLE
Gone are the early days in the Arkansas cannabis industry when patients were sent home from the dispensary with their flower tucked away in a generic, lime green prescription canister, with no signage to denote the strain or origin. These days, dispensary shelves are highly curated real estate, meant to spark delight and interest with vibrant product design. Like the velvety matte finish on a box of couture coffee beans or the clean aesthetic of the bottle your favorite facial moisturizer comes in, cannabis packaging sends clues to the patient about what’s inside.
It’s a nature textbook look for the White Hall-based cultivator. When it comes to the bold golden cannabis leaf that curls gently around Natural State Medicinals’ logo, Matt Dedman said, NSM took a page from drawings from The Explorers Club, the famous New York-based organization whose members, since 1905, have traversed the planet in the name of scientific inquiry. “The same way that the Audubon Club used to go out and draw birds when they first saw them or discovered them, explorers used to do the same thing for plants.” Add to that bit of inspiration Dedman’s playlist — heavy these days on Talking Heads, Fontaines D.C., King Gizzard, Remi Wolf and the “Pure Moods” compilation.
For the reggae artist who inspired the gummies, it’s a state of mind. There’s a playlist you can cue up by scanning the package on The Source Apothecary’s new flavor of THC-CBD-CBG gummies, Island Time. That’s the influence of Rochelle Bradshaw, a reggae musician from Portland, Jamaica, who began as a budtender with The Source and now has her own namesake product on the shelves which, the package quotes Bradshaw, “hits hard, just like I like, without bringing on the munchies.” Like its cannabinoid mix, the mix of flavors is a sort of fruit punch, Caribbean-style. “It's all the fruits that I enjoyed growing up on the island,” Bradshaw told us. “You know, the mangoes, the bananas, guavas, pineapple, coconut.” The combined effect, she told us, “puts me into my island state that I want to share with everyone. It's not downtime. Island time just puts you in that space where you get whatever you need to get done, and you're in a great mood while you're doing it, you know?”
THAT’S A WRAP
A handful of other inventive designs catching the eyes of Arkansas patients.
GOOD DAY FARM, KUMQUAT
Good Day Farm’s citrus-forward strain of flower virtually screams its Sorbet a l’Orange origin story from the shelves.
DIZPOT’s all in on ethical cannabis packaging. John Hartsell, co-founder of a Phoenix-based company called DIZPOT, spent his career in advertising and design before venturing into the cannabis industry, and it shows. This paper tube (yes, that's paper!) just received its U.S. Patent, and it’s biodegradable, child resistant, smell proof and food grade. Oh, and the lid can be recycled, too, making the whole package pretty sustainability-minded. A self-described “passionate cannabis advocate,” Hartsell told us he's long had his eyes on working in the industry. “Now that we have DIZPOT,” he said, “I know this is the industry where I will finish my career.”
Pure Pharma’s clean look is all about being a wellness company. For a certain kind of skincare nerd, Pure Pharma’s dropper bottles look like they might dispense a wrinkle-reducing retinol, maybe, or a refreshing toner. In fact, you might well find CBD tinctures from Pure Pharma’s CBD arm, Pure Pharma Botanicals, at the very same places you get that wrinkle cream — Drug Emporium, Vitamins Plus. Owner and license holder Chris Gibson told us the design was done in-house, spearheaded by one of the company’s original owners, who’s also a pharmacist. “When we first formed as a company,” Gibson said, “she and her daughter came up with the color palette, look, feel, the spiral logo.” The cannabis space at the time, he said, was cluttered with louder, attention-grabbing designs, and they wanted something clean and minimalist. “One of the things this company has always been about is consumer confidence in the products,” he said, and the idea was that people who read the labels at grocery stores would want to know, too, what was in their tinctures. “We’re a wellness company. Our target customer isn’t the person who’s trying to get high for the least amount of money. … We've been teased a little for the name — for including pharma in the name — even though, you know, traditionally, pharmacology is all botanical.”
OUACHITA FARMS, ROSIN RSO SYRINGE
Can’t help but think the artist behind these landscapes should be commissioned for some gorgeous new posters promoting Arkansas’s state parks.
KEEF CLASSIC SODA BLUE RAZZ
Meant to provide swift relief and an alternative to alcohol, the Boulder, Colorado born company’s retro colas come with roughly 100mg more THC than the vintage sodas their logo channels.
BEYOND THE
BUD
RYAN KENAGA, DRIVING CANNABIS EXCELLENCE AT RIVER VALLEY RELIEF.
BY TRICIA LARSON
STUDIO
When you meet Ryan Kenaga, president of River Valley Relief, you quickly realize he’s not just a cannabis entrepreneur — he’s a man on a mission. With a passion for cannabis and a knack for innovation, he’s carved out a unique place in Arkansas’s competitive medical cannabis market. Kenaga’s journey is as winding as the rivers he loves to fish in, and his hands-on leadership has taken RVR from a local company to a standout brand committed to quality, community and care.
But Kenaga didn’t always envision himself in the cannabis world. His first dream? Designing skateboards and wakeboards — anything that screamed "outdoor sports." Life, however, had other plans. After starting in design school, Kenaga pivoted to petroleum engineering, a move that, while unexpected, would prove serendipitous in his later cannabis career.
"In 2002, after school, I moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado," Kenaga said. "While living in Colorado, I met some great individuals who had been growing for years and were planning to bring in investors and get ready to apply for a Colorado marijuana license."
The realization that he could work at a legal grow facility and make a career out of it was all Kenaga needed to hear. “Say no more,” Kenaga said. "I'm all in."
Rapid regulatory changes, new technologies and groundbreaking product innovations marked Kenaga's time in Colorado. Using his petroleum engineering background, Kenaga became skilled in cannabis oil extraction, developing techniques to capture beneficial plant properties and create "beautiful terpenerich cannabis extracts."
This expertise led to a stint in the industry's extraction equipment and manufacturing side, where he worked on a project creating the industry's first fully automated hydrocarbon extraction system.
apart and makes them a leader. "We create the way, not follow," he said.
The company's focus on driving the market is evidenced by its partnership with Wana Brands, the largest gummy brand in the cannabis industry. "We wanted to bring Arkansas patients the opportunity to have a world-class gummy company in The Natural State," Kenaga said.
Kenaga’s approach to the ever-evolving cannabis industry is all about staying ahead of the curve. He notes that patients and consumers are becoming more educated about cannabis. In turn, they are demanding new delivery methods and products.
That patients in Arkansas are becoming more savvy about cannabis is not by chance. River Valley Relief actively supports communitybased education efforts that pair patients, physicians and advocates with the cannacurious public.
"I get to do what I love every day and go home to my wife and kids every night. A true dream come true."
"I spent many days on the road and long hours at cannabis expos all over the country consulting, training, building labs and installing extraction equipment in cannabis facilities everywhere," Kenaga said. It was during this time he began consulting with RVR.
Shortly after forming their partnership, the cultivator asked Kenaga to come on board full time, which Kenaga said was a blessing. "I got the opportunity to get off the road," Kenaga said. "I get to do what I love every day and go home to my wife and kids every night. A true dream come true."
These days, Kenaga's travels have slowed, but his days remain packed. River Valley Relief has become a standout in Arkansas's medical cannabis scene, and Kenaga's hands-on approach is a big part of that.
River Valley Relief's mission is simple yet profound: to empower people facing medical and mental health challenges through safe, high-quality cannabis products. They're not the biggest player in Arkansas, but Kenaga makes it clear they're determined to produce the best flowers in the state. He says River Valley Relief has implemented rigorous production methods and developed its in-house compliance program to ensure that "nothing but the best is produced and received by patients."
Kenaga said River Valley Relief's authentic approach sets them
River Valley Relief's commitment to Arkansans extends beyond extolling the virtues of cannabis. Kenaga says the company's equity holders prioritize community giving, donating to the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Symphony, Fort Smith schools and local animal shelters. Kenaga said the company even donated time and covered expenses to repair youth baseball fields. River Valley Relief also serves as a revenue generator for the community. "We have created many well-paying jobs in Fort Smith and the surrounding area. These are solid positions with solid futures," Kenaga said.
Kenaga is committed to his employees and says surrounding himself with a strong, hand-selected team helps him handle the stress and pressure of running a business in such a competitive and highly regulated industry.
"I hire and train individuals who I feel can help me navigate the complexities of this ever-changing industry and those who can help share the workload," Kenaga said. "Building a solid team I can trust and rely on is crucial in this industry."
What really drives Kenaga, though, is his desire to help patients. One of his most defining career moments in the cannabis industry was helping a young cancer patient during chemotherapy.
"The young patient's parents and family came to us feeling defeated and hopeless with the care that their loved one was receiving and how harsh the traditional chemotherapy was on the young patient's body," Kenaga recalled. "They had done their own research, found out who we were and searched us out to find a method of incorporating cannabinoids in with their daughter's treatment plan."
Kenaga said they created a custom formulation to alleviate her pain and help her regain her appetite. "After eight months on the specific cannabis oil formulation, combined with her traditional treatment methods, she got to ring the bell and was cancer-free," Kenaga said. "This experience solidified my beliefs in the power of cannabis plant medicine and reinforced my commitment to providing the highest quality alternative treatment options for those in need."
TACO TUESDAZE
HIGH(TEN) UP YOUR TEX-MEX.
BY MATT CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA REEVES
Tacos are a great first dish for folks wanting to experiment with culinary cannabis.
For the home chef looking to try a hand at cooking with cannabis, few things lend themselves as well to experimentation as Tex-Mex food.
There are several reasons for this. Tex-Mex recipes do not have to be complex to be delicious, which makes it easier to try slight changes without ruining the finished product. Strong flavors and spices can help cover up certain flavors for people who don’t love the taste of cannabis. The fat content in many classic recipes can help shorten the time from eating to activation of the THC once ingested. Ingredients in Tex-Mex cuisine are frequently cooked separately from one another, or even served without cooking at all, avoiding the risk of overheating the cannabis products, which would degrade the THC content.
Traditionally, cannabutter and cannabis oil have been the most common ways to add THC to regular food. But making those at home can be tedious and smelly. Enter Leafology’s new line of THC-enhanced seasonings.
Armed with one packet of “Terpy Taco” and one of “Chili Lime,” my fiancée, Jess, and I set out recently to have a different kind of Taco Tuesday. First things first, we needed to do a little math. (It’s good that the only math involved came at the beginning.)
Each 36-gram packet contains 30 1.2-gram “servings,” and one serving of the Terpy Taco has 7.5 mg of THC. A serving of Chili Lime has 6.32 mg. We were making classic, crunchy tacos and homemade Cheesy Gordita Crunches and wanted each to have 10-15 mg of THC. We decided to use the Terpy Taco seasoning in the ground beef, the pico de gallo and the spicy ranch sauce (on the gorditas only).
After cooking the ground beef with a normal taco seasoning, we segregated out four tacos’ worth and added 4.8 grams of Terpy Taco, stirring it in completely. We added 2.4 grams of Chili Lime to a quarter cup of premade pico de gallo from Edwards Food Giant, and 2.4 grams of Terpy Taco to four tablespoons of spicy ranch. This worked out to 10.8 mg of THC per regular crunchy taco and about 14.5 mg per gordita, which meant 25.3 mg for each of us.
The average activation time for the seasonings is about 45 minutes, according to the packaging. That was pretty accurate. Jess reported the first tingle of a high 38 minutes after we ate, and it was in full swing well before the 1-hour mark.
We both found the high to be a nice, fairly mellow, full-body experience. It was similar to what you’d expect from an indica-heavy gummy of a similar strength. Gummies frequently give me anxiety as a side effect, but, while your experience could certainly be different, I am happy to report having no trace of any negative effects from these seasonings.
About the only negative thing either of us noted was the high was relatively short-lived when compared to other 25 mg edibles. It was much more akin — in duration, at least — to the high you get from flower or live resin. Of course, when getting high again simply requires eating another taco, maybe a short-lived high is exactly what you want.
RECIPE FOR HOMEMADE CHEESY GORDITA CRUNCH
4 oz. taco meat, seasoned and drained
4 tbsp. sour cream
2 tbsp. Ranch dressing mix
3 tsp. hot sauce
½ of a medium lime
2 tbsp. pico de gallo
2 crunchy taco shells
3 oz. finely shredded Mexican cheese blend
2 small flour tortillas (roughly the same size as the crunchy shells)
½ c. shredded lettuce
For the shell: On a microwave-safe plate, place both soft taco shells and evenly top each with half of the cheese blend. Microwave on high for 10-15 seconds, until the cheese starts to melt. Place the crunchy shells in the middle of each tortilla and fold the sides of the tortilla up to meet the crunchy shell.
For the spicy ranch sauce: In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, ranch seasoning, hot sauce and the juice from half a lime.
Assemble: Spread 2 ounces of taco meat in the bottom of the shell. Top with ¼ c. shredded lettuce, 1 tbsp. pico de gallo and 2 tbsp. of spicy ranch (spoon on or use a small squeeze bottle).
Makes 2.
RARE STRAINS 10 WEED SONGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW
“Gettin’ By, High and Strange”
Kris Krisofferson
“Crumblin’ Erb” Outkast
“I Get Lifted” KC & The Sunshine Band
“Collie Weed” Barrington Levy
“Nobody Dies from Weed” Hayes & The Heathens
“So Hi (feat. Lord Infamous)” Project Pat
“Seeds and Stems (Again)” Commander Cody
“Smoke Again” Chance the Rapper, Ab-Soul
“When I’m Stoned” Jason Boland & The Stragglers
“Champagne & Reefer (Live)” Muddy Waters
WELL BALANCED
Good Day Farm Wellness Gummies
BY CALEB PATTON
The cannabis landscape has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with CBD emerging as a popular and versatile compound. Derived from the hemp plant, CBD offers a wide range of potential health benefits without the psychoactive effects associated with THC. As the demand for high-quality CBD products grows, innovative companies like Good Day Farm are stepping up to provide consumers with exceptional options. Their Wellness Gummies promise a unique and enjoyable way to experience the benefits of CBD. CBD, or cannabidiol, has gained significant attention for its potential to address a variety of health concerns. Studies have suggested that CBD may help with anxiety and stress reduction, pain relief, improved sleep and even epilepsy treatment. However, it's important to note that research is ongoing, and while
CBD is generally considered safe, consulting with a health care professional before incorporating it into your routine is recommended, especially if you have existing medical conditions or are taking medications. Good Day Farm has established itself as a leading cannabis company, dedicated to providing high-quality products and exceptional customer service. Their commitment to innovation and sustainability has set them apart in the industry. The Wellness Gummies are just one example of their dedication to offering unique and effective cannabis products. The Wellness Gummies from Good Day Farm are designed to provide a targeted cannabis experience. Unlike traditional gummies, these innovative treats offer carefully balanced CBD and THC ratios to deliver specific effects. The three available options are:
CALM 8:1
Peach Ginger offers a soothing and relaxing experience, perfect for those seeking relief from stress and anxiety. The combination of peach and ginger flavors creates a delightful and calming sensation.
RELIEF 20:1
Blueberry Elderberry is ideal for targeted discomfort management. This gummy provides a focused approach to pain relief. The blueberry and elderberry flavors offer a refreshing and invigorating taste.
BALANCE 1:1
Pink Pomegranate strikes a harmonious equilibrium between CBD and THC, delivering a balanced and uplifting experience. The sweet and tangy pomegranate flavor adds a touch of sophistication. Crafted with real fruit and available in gluten-free, vegan formulas, Good Day Farm Wellness Gummies offer a delicious and effective way to incorporate cannabis into your wellness routine.
THE BENEFITS OF CANNABIS EDIBLES
Edibles, such as gummies, have become a popular way to consume cannabis. From chocolates to lollipops to THC-infused butter and seasonings, they offer several advantages over smoking or vaping. Some of the advantages include but are not limited to:
• Discreet consumption: Edibles can be consumed discreetly, making them ideal for avoiding smoke or vapor.
• Long-lasting effects: The effects of edibles can last for several hours, providing sustained relief.
• Precise dosing: Edibles allow for exact dosing, making it easier to control the desired effects.
To enjoy the benefits of Good Day Farm Wellness Gummies, start by following the recommended dosage. Begin with a lower dose and gradually increase as needed. It's also important to note that edibles can take longer to take effect than smoking or vaping, so be patient. Every consumer will have a different experience based on their metabolism, age, tolerance and many other physical factors, so it is recommended that overconsumption be avoided. Good Day Farm Wellness Gummies represent a significant step forward in the world of cannabis edibles. By offering carefully crafted CBD and THC ratios, these gummies provide a tailored experience for individuals seeking relief from various health concerns. As the demand for high-quality CBD products continues to grow, Good Day Farm is at the forefront of innovation, offering consumers a new and exciting way to experience the benefits of cannabis.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONSUMERS:
• CBD and THC interaction: While the Wellness Gummies contain both CBD and THC, ratios are carefully balanced to provide specific effects. If you have any concerns about the interaction between CBD and THC, consult with a health care professional.
• Individual response: It's important to note that individual responses to CBD and THC can vary. What works well for one person may not be as effective for another. It's recommended to start with a lower dose and gradually increase as needed.
• Legal considerations: The legality of CBD products varies by jurisdiction. It's essential to check local laws and regulations before purchasing or consuming CBD products.
• Quality and purity: When choosing CBD products, it's crucial to prioritize quality and purity. Look for products that are third-party lab-tested to ensure they contain the stated amount of CBD and are free from harmful contaminants.
Perfect Balance may assist in many areas: The digestive benefits could help symptoms related to Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and severe nausea, reducing inflammation. The ingredients used in the Perfect Balance are intended to relieve gut symptoms by increasing stomach acid, stimulating digestion, and managing bacteria. Along with
balance glucose levels in the bloodstream. This is great news for those who
running high and low.
The Lion Tamer Crystal Clear CBD is formulated to dissolve and prevent struvite crystals which
cause a blockage and keep your cat from urinating. With surgical removal the crystals can come right back, but Crystal Clear will continue to eliminate them and reduce swelling and pain with just a weekly maintenance dose.
Both of these medications will make the pancreas happy, and everything works better when it is happy! We are planning to launch both products by December 25th!
MARY JANE SAYS
CANNABIS CHAMPS
Times are changing. No longer are the days where I am putting myself in precarious situations to pick up bud from Lord-knows-where by some dude named Steen who delivers in an empty pizza box. I’ve come a long way from hanging out for an uncomfortable amount of time while Steen plays PS2 before putting my eighth on the scale. Since then, I’ve progressed into becoming a judge in the stoner Olympics. I and our state’s finest athletes, have been exercising our lungs, minds and diaphragms in order to present to you, high reader, the best of the best of our cannabis experiences.
The Big Bud Classic has been a full-out display of craftsmanship and tender loving care by our local artisans and weed farmers. I am here to deliver my favorite contenders. Now, I tried to be as objective as possible, but ask that of Cheech & Chong.
THE PURPLE FLOWER
It looks amazing. It smells amazing. It tastes amazing. It feels amazing. It is amazing. This was, hands down, my favorite strain of the (big) bunch. Because of its rich indigo color, it was the first strain to catch my eye from the bags of bud I received. This weed must be witchcraft. I had a gut feeling she would be share-worthy, so I anxiously awaited to toke up until I had a few friends over to celebrate a birthday. It had us all feeling giggly and social enough to blast '90s pop country through my vintage Klipsch speakers. The evening ended in us dancing around like absolute hooligans, singing along to Trisha Yearwood like we were getting paid. I ended up utilizing this strain anytime I needed a daytime pick-meup, help with writer's block, stimulation of creativity or a boost in my overall mood. It’s the purple drank of weed (aka Terpgasm by Spring River Dispensary).
Best paired with: A house party you might be hosting, a blueberry muffin, a
coloring book, picking up an instrument for the first time.
THE CHEEKY LITTLE VAPE
I opened up the baggie and gasped. O.M.G. This little guy is posh! It did not look like any vape I’d seen before. It had a glass tip. This vape was art, y’all. I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit nervous to smoke it at first. I had some irrational fear based on no scientific fact that the tip of the vape might get too hot to comfortably inhale? Whatever, it didn’t. It was totally cool to puff on, and seeing the clouds form in the tip had me feeling like I was in a Thich Nhat Hanh poem. It was all fun and games (“O.M.G. LOOK at this vape!) until I left it in the heat of the summer for about an hour. When I went back to show it off again, the wax had kind of seeped out of its crevices, so it ended up covered in goo. Turns out, all that was special about it was just the tip. (Dulce De Uva, Live Rosin Vape by River Valley Relief)
Best paired with: Any social situation in which you want to appear cooler than you actually are, and an environment below 80 degrees.
THE STUFF I SPIKED MY DRINK WITH
Who doesn’t love a little mind-altering substance by a body of water? Pure Pharma’s PPL Blood Orange Drops, winning best tincture by a processor, was the perfect addition to my fizzy water kombucha concoction I sipped by the pool this summer. This little pick-meup and-chill- me-out goes great in any sort of beverage you might be covertly enjoying. It tasted mild enough to be undetected and was easy to dose with the little dropper it comes with. You can ingest it directly under your tongue or dilute it to your liking in whatever drink you like. It had me feeling loose and light, without drowsiness. This is a great alternative for
those of us who’d like to get a little silly while sipping on something.
Best paired with: A Passionfruit Lacroix + Guava Goddess Synergy kombucha + lime mocktail, lounging on a boat that doesn’t belong to you, or a morning tea on a day off.
THE MAGIC BALM
I pray to this balm. To say I was delighted to hear that the concoction I instinctively knew to rub all over my body was deemed the best topical from our processors would be an understatement. Dark Horse Cannabis crafted an effective muscle balm called Mary’s Medicinal Muscle Freeze. I put it on any and every ache and pain and scar on my body. Like magic, it provides instant relief. It’s like Tiger Balm got high. For those of you who aren’t into the experience of being high (I would not know what that is like), don’t worry — it doesn’t go to your head. Your shoulders will just get high as fuck. Or, if you’re me, your ankle. I sprained my ankle one night after haphazardly walking down a stranger’s poorly lit steps, and this balm came in so clutch. I rubbed the balm all over my ankle while it was puffy and green, and it made me feel like I was healing. At the least, it relaxed the area enough to where I couldn’t feel my heartbeat in my foot.
Best paired with: Breezy’s hot yoga class at Barefoot Studio, a self-administered lymphatic massage, rolling around the floor on a foam roller, a nice hot Epsom-salt-trynot-to-fall-asleep-and-drown bubble bath, or a sprained ankle.
Thus concludes the Arkansas Cannabis Times’ first Big Bud Classic. Congratulations to not only our winners, but all those who entered the contest and displayed their valiant efforts to further cannabis and its many forms. You did it. You got us high.
Until Next Time, Mary Jane Doe
