Cannabis by the Sea, Spring 2021

CANNABIS By The Sea

Magazine

Where Neighbors Help Their Neighbors All Year Long

From January to August 2020, the Santa Barbara Unity Shoppe has helped 10,252 people and distributed $645,000 in food supplies to qualified clients.

Unity Shoppe was the only Community Distribution Site open Monday-Friday, January 10 to August 15 in the County of Santa Barbara, while also providing a safe environment. As this pandemic continues and our community members suffer the economic fall out, we are in need of donations to continue our support services. To donate and for more information, please visit our website at unityshoppe.org

Unity Shoppe | 1401 Chapala Street | Santa Barbara, CA | 93101 www.unityshoppe.org | Monday - Friday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Spring 2021

Table of Contents

FEATURES

9

History Lesson: Ritual Uses of Cannabis

The use of cannabis as a sacred element in ritual is deeply rooted in history. It has been used throughout the ages and around the globe in a variety of religions and cultures to strengthen spirituality and continues to do so today.

Amy Steinfeld

Helping and Healing Veterans with Cannabis

Meet Todd Scattini. He’s a West Point graduate and 27-year military veteran dedicated to undoing the harm caused by the prohibition of cannabis. He calls it a paradigm shift in respect to the utilization of the plant and hemp, recognizing that cannabis is medicine.

To Grow or Not to Grow

Dig out the gardening gloves, we’re going to sow some seeds. Alex Robles, founder and creator of the podcast In My Grow, gives step by step guidance to growing one’s own. This is the first installment of his four-part series, which will cover seedlings to harvest. Grab your green jeans and get ready to get your hands dirty.

6

From the Publisher

Welcome letter from the publisher and Here’s Why . . .

Collateral Damange from the War on Cannabis

Cannabis Cares

Community is central to the Hemp Shak’s business plan, even well before the San Luis Obispo store was ransacked earlier this year.

The Cannabis Lifestyle

Chef Coreen Carroll gives new meaning to Green Eggs and Ham with her mouthwatering breakfast (or anytime, really) recipe. You might want to start thinking about the guest list for the brunch you’re going to throw. What would you ask a Budtender? Christina Esp, of Sespe Creek Collective fame, already may have answered it.

We’d Recommend It

Products and services to enhance daily life

24 23 26 Last Look

Resources and References

Where to learn more, how to do more

Pet Project

Catnip or Cannabis - You Make the Call

Marketplace

Find it, Offer it, Sell it

Propaganda . . . Undoing the harm

Cover Shot

Born and raised in Carpinteria, John Schnackenberg took this issue’s cover shot with a Samsung Note 8 looking towards UCSB near the 1000 steps on the Santa Barbara Mesa during a sunset walk with his wife, Leann. “We’re really lucky to live down the street from such a beautiful beach and try to take advantage of it as much as possible,” says John. A fifth-generation Santa Barbara county resident, John is an agricultural consultant specializing in all aspects of fruit tree care, and when he’s not working in an avocado or citrus orchard he’s playing saxophone with his own jazz duo or with Santa Barbara favorite, Spencer the Gardener.

CANNABIS By The Sea

Bie & Bie Productions, Inc.

1072 Casitas Pass Rd., Suite 286, Carpinteria, CA 93013 (805) 881-1218 | info@cbtsmagazine.com

Publisher — Bie & Bie Productions, Inc.

Editorial Director — Amy Marie Orozco

Creative Director — Melinda Bie

Contributors — Peter Bie, The Rev. Mary-Moreno Richardson, Alex Robles, John Schnackengerg, Amy Steinfeld, Justine Sutton, Patti Walters

Published seasonally four times a year by Bie & Bie Productions, Inc., Cannabis by the Sea is a lifestyle magazine dedicated to information on the health and wellness properties of cannabis.

The podcast dedicated to taking the mystery out of cannabis and hemp.

Cannabis by the Sea makes every effort to ensure the published information is correct, informative, and practical. Editorial content is not intended to replace the advice of medical professionals. Cannabis by the Sea advertisements do not imply endorsement of products or services.

We’d love to hear from you. Send your comments and questions to info@cbtsmagazine.com

Send product samples to Cannabis by the Sea, 1072 Castias Pass Rd., #286, Carpinteria, CA 93013. All submissions, editorial and otherwise, become the property Bie & Bie Productions, Inc. Bie & Bie Productions, Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited materials.

COPYRIGHT © 2021 Bie & Bie Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or any electronic or mechanical means without written permission from the publisher.

Hosted by Alex Robles, new shows drop on Sundays

Follow the the links below to watch the “In My Grow Show” podcast on YouTube or listen to it on all the major podcast platforms.

https://www.youtube.com/inmygrowshow http://inmygrowshow.libsyn.com/

GROW | LEARN | TEACH

From the Publisher

Welcome to the 2nd year of Cannabis by the Sea!

Lady Bird Johnson once said “Where flowers bloom so does hope.” Her words couldn’t be more prophetic. This year, spring takes on a whole new light. With 2020 behind us, the hope of a return to normal looms on the horizon like new flowers in the garden.

And yet, how will that return to normal look? More than likely, it will still be from behind a mask for some time. Maybe this is a new normal, who knows. One thing we do know is that we’re all tired, traumatized and more than likely, somewhat apprehensive of moving forward. As we’ve addressed in previous issues, this pandemic has given a great number of people, myself included, a new appreciation for those that suffer constantly with anxiety.

As last year brought us a ton of new challenges, this year will bring its own set . . . most of which will be attempting to slowly unravel from the coil that we’ve become wrapped up in.

I hope you will start by finding a comfortable place to relax and read this issue of Cannabis by the Sea. We are proud to bring you some really great information and insight into this amazing plant and hope that it might help you as you unravel.

We want you to keep in touch, so please let us know if you would like to see something featured in Cannabis by the Sea You can email us at info@cbtsmagazine.com

Oh, and subscribe to the digital copy via our new website cbtsmagazine.com!

Thank you for your continued support. Stay safe. Be healthy. Please get vaccinated, keep wearing your mask and above all, be kind.

Looking forward to sharing our Summer issue with you on June 20, 2021!

- Melinda Bie

Collateral Damage

from the War on Cannabis

By The Rev. Mary Moreno-Richardson

As an Episcopal priest, I have served for more than 25 years throughout California as a chaplain in detention centers, as a drug/alcohol counselor, as a delegate to the United Nations on the issue of trafficking and the War on Drugs, and as a mental health clinician working with victims of human trafficking

I have seen the obscene abuse on the poor and people of color in our courts and jails because of the War on Cannabis.

I heard the stories of so many children who were taken from their parents because of cannabis, resulting in families permanently broken. I have seen the bias of drug policies that fuel mass incarceration for generations of communities of color.

People ask, “But, what about the children?”

Criminalization does not protect our children. NO ONE wants children to use drugs or alcohol, but if you were to send me (a 69-year-old woman) to a public park with a 15-year-old teenage girl, guess who would be offered the free joint? Not me. And that “joint” may very well be full of mold, pesticides, and other toxins.

parties. Not to mention alcohol is offered to children in a chalice. But this is acceptable?

Alcohol, in my experience, is the most violent drug in our society. I have taught court-mandated domestic violence classes for abusers. Alcohol was the major cause of the violence. Ask any law enforcement officer and they will tell you the horror stories of the effects of alcohol on families and communities.

Cannabis growers are eager and able to help. They are a part of the community; however the demonization of cannabis continues.

I have seen seniors, cancer patients with medical prescriptions for cannabis, arrested in their own homes for the use of cannabis. Their homes invaded and destroyed by raids. Infirm and ill seniors, who can barely make it to the front door, slammed to the ground and dragged off to detention centers. Having to hire attorneys to save them from sentencing. All because the state and the federal government are at odds on cannabis.

Santa Barbara County has responsible farmers, cultivating an organic crop for sale in a strictly regulated market. Still, anti-cannabis groups continue coming after every grower in the county.

All of us know all too well how much support is needed for community services. Cannabis growers are eager and able to help. They are a part of the community; however the demonization of cannabis continues.

I have heard, “But it’s too close to churches.” Yet we serve alcohol in many churches as part of the service, dinners, and

Twenty years ago, local residents complained about the wine encroaching on the Santa Ynez Valley. Specific fears were an increase in traffic and drunk drivers. Now the wine industry is an accepted part of the landscape.

The positive opportunities of cannabis for Santa Barbara County, and other localities, include keeping a rich agricultural heritage vibrant, good paying jobs, and a tax base for public services.

In closing I’d like to add, Jesus may have changed water into wine, but God created cannabis. Amen. CS

Cannabis 101: Cannabinoid Receptors

Part of the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid receptors are located all over the body and help regulate physiological processes such as pain sensation, memory, mood, and appetite, among others.

CB1 receptors are primarily found in the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord.

• Highly concentrated in the hipocampus, which is why cannabinoids can have a great effect on memory.

• Specifically involved in the process that takes place within the liver, and maintains the body’s equilibrium.

• Influences concentration, appetite and pain tolerance.

CB2 receptors are mostly found on white blood cells and in the immune system.

• Works within the immune system, affecting function like immune suppression.

• It can also regulate pain sensation.

• Has a role in diseases such as kidney problems and neurodegenerative diseases.

CBD does not stimulate either receptor, so what does it do?

CBD sort of works backwards by inhibiting the effect that THC has on receptors CB1, reducing the psychoactive effects.

• CBD also blocks the body’s signaling that affects the spread of cancer cells.

• It activates other receptors like serotonin - releasing antidepressant effects.

• The same serotonin receptors are also involved in processes such as nausea and anxiety.

• Oil extracted from CBD can be used to slow seizure activity.

History Lesson:

Ritual Uses of Cannabis

By Justine Sutton

Over the eons and around the world, many religions and spiritual teachings have held cannabis as a sacred element and used it to conduct ritual, facilitate meditation, and communicate with spirits.

TIMELINE OF THC TRADITION

HINDU - 1400-2000 BCE

In Hinduism, cannabis is a sacred plant and legends tell how the god Shiva brought it down from the Himalayas for the people’s use and enjoyment. The earliest Indian allusion to its mind-altering influence is in the Atharvaveda, written between 2000 and 1400 BCE. It calls cannabis one of the “five kingdoms of herbs ... which release us from anxiety.”

TAO - 1st Century CE

In the 1st century CE, Taoists added cannabis seeds to their incense burners. Their hallucinations were highly valued as a means to achieve immortality.

GREEK - 500 BCE

Herodotus, a Greek historian in 500 BCE, described a unique Scythian post-war purification ritual where sauna-like tents were raised and cannabis seeds placed onto the hot stones. He said the resulting vapors caused the soldiers to “howl with joy.”

CHINESE - 300-500 BCE

The first incidence of the use of cannabis plants as a “shroud” in a human burial was in northwest China. Radiocarbon dated to between 500 and 300 BCE, the grave contained a man laid out with thirteen large cannabis plants placed diagonally across his body.

THE VATICAN - 1484

The Inquisition outlawed cannabis in Spain (12th century) and France (13th century). In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII targeted healers and other herbalists. Anyone using cannabis in any way was labeled “witch.”

Continued on Page 10

IRELAND - 18th Century

In 18th century Ireland, women who wanted to know whom they would eventually marry were advised to seek revelation through the use of cannabis.

BRAZIL - 19th Century

The Catimbo Indians of Brazil were recorded in the 19th century using cannabis in their practices to receive spirits and induce divination, revelation of secrets, and mystic hallucinations.

JAMAICA - 1930

Ganja (cannabis) became important to the Rastafarian movement, which began to take shape around 1930 in Jamaica, and its use became a religious sacrament.

While it is rare to find cannabis in sacred ceremony today, an elder of the Cinco Putas tribe in California recalls his grandmother’s daily ritual when he was a child. She’d roll cannabis flower in handmade corn paper, light it, and watch the rising smoke, praying, “Oh thank you, Great Mother!”

In modern life, ritual use of cannabis has largely shifted to social gatherings, where the passing of a joint can feel like sacred community-building. More likely during the COVID pandemic, we are lighting up alone—twisting smoke and expansive mindset connecting us with the ancestors and bringing visions of our own personal mysteries.

Justine Sutton graduated from UCSB in 1988 and adopted Santa Barbara as her hometown. She has been a freelance journalist since her editorial internship at the SB Independent in 1991, writing for a variety of local media outlets since then. In addition, she writes fiction, poetry, and memoir, and is working on her first novel. Also trained as a voice actor, Justine is a certified LifeCycle™ Celebrant, performing customized weddings, funerals, and ceremonies for any important moments in life.

CANNABIS

Brent Flatten

Helping and Healing

Veterans with Cannabis

Interview by Peter Bie

Todd Scattini is a West Point graduate, Global CEO of Harvest 360 LLC, and creator of the Athena Protocol, a strategy to mitigate and treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). Todd conceptualized using cannabis to treat TBI victims after the loss of a fellow Army officer and close friend, who sustained a TBI in combat. CBTS magazine sat down with Todd via Zoom to learn more about the Athena Protocol and the work on behalf of veterans.

How does your past many years of military experience play into your desire to actively promote the use of cannabis?

After serving 27 years in the military, I’m doing this with a great sense of purpose and that is to do what we signed up for in the military—to take care of one another. That was drummed into me when I attended West Point and it became part of my DNA. After I learned about the impact that cannabis was having on veterans in the community, I was able to access it and found great benefits from it.

impacts that resulted from cannabis prohibition. What I’ve focused on in my business side and my activist side is to highlight that social justice is changing so that we will no longer be throwing humans in a cage for a plant that has never killed anyone, is incredibly therapeutic—probably the most therapeutic plant that has ever existed—and we now have the opportunity to take advantage of that.

Where did you begin?

I started to do deeper research into the roots of the prohibition of the plant and came to believe it was very unjust and unAmerican. The prohibition of the plant was done for reasons that didn’t seem to be indicative of the country that I felt I had signed up to serve at the age of 19. It just struck me as a great injustice. I felt I needed to be involved in what I saw as a paradigm shift in respect to the utilization of the cannabis plant and hemp. The more research I did I found that this plant is a fiber that runs through the entire history of our nation, with all its good and bad sides. We need to own that, given that we have a responsibility as we implement the legalization of this plant to address many of the negative

We have yet to apply American ingenuity and knowhow and academic excellence to recognize that cannabis is medicine . . . “ “

After 80 years of prohibition, we’re finally able to apply the most advanced scientific technology to this plant. And I speak very fluidly about the use of this plant as both a medicine and a recreational product. Every day we focus on how this plant can greatly impact the health and wellness of so many veterans. When I walked out of the Army after 27 years, I walked into a veterans community nationwide where 22 of the kind of people I served with are killing themselves every day.*

*The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Veterans Administration (VA) studies in the past few years show that, on average, 22 active and/or non-active military veterans take their own lives each day, roughly one every 65 minutes.

Continued on Page 18

Hemp ShakStays SLO and Steady

By Melinda Bie

Raised in Bishop, California, Steven and Katy Hemler are passionate about CBD and its benefits, so much so that when given the opportunity in 2018, they jumped head first into ownership of the Hemp Shak in San Luis Obispo. In addition to offering locally made CBD, this locally flavored store also offers eco-friendly clothing, local art, records, jewelry, fair trade products, crystals, and much more.

Steven, in addition to holding a degree in Herbal Medicine, was a budtender in an Orange County-based dispensary that was voted number one by the Orange County Register in 2010. He is also keenly aware of the social injustice involved in the cannabis industry having served 2 years in jail for operating a legal cannabis collective. “I could have fought my cases and won however they raised my bail so high right at the last minute when I was about to bail out with proof of funds and bail bondsman and everything in place,” Steven recalls. “So I would have had to sit in Orange County Jail for at least 4 full years to fight it and that was not worth it to me.”

He worked as a chef in a Morro Bay vegan restaurant, so it seemed only natural that he would connect his education, his cannabis knowledge, and his vegan/organic cooking talents to develop his own line of CBD salve for Hemp Shak. All of Hemp Shak’s CBD products are made in small, controlled batches using the highest quality CBD extract, organic food grade MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, organic beeswax, and pure organic and wildcrafted essential oils for all of the salves and blends.

Originally established in 1996, Hemp Shak changed locations several times in downtown San Luis Obispo, settling in for some time at the Network Shopping Center, a small

interior mall located on Higuera Street. Before becoming an owner, Katy was a Hemp Shak employee for 5 years and knew first hand the location was not ideal for foot traffic and relocated to their current location of 781 Higuera Street in May of 2020. Right at the beginning months of the COVID pandemic.

As if the stress of a move and a pandemic wasn’t enough, in the early morning hours on January 3, 2021, burglars ransacked the store and stole more than half of its inventory, which included all of the CBD products and merchandise including jewelry, clothing and wallets, many of which were handcrafted by local artisans. To add insult to injury, the security system was non-operational and the insurance coverage was a casualty of the pandemic, being one of the expenses that had to be cut due to budget constraints. In the words of Katy, “It was a low blow.”

Steven and Katy have a deep appreciation of their community as well as the great benefits of CBD. Stephen tells the story of a woman who approached their farmers market booth not too long ago. Quite skeptical of the claims made, she was forthcoming to Steven about her health issues, many involving chronic pain. He provided her with a free sample, telling her “we want this to work for you.” Only a few minutes later, she came back to the booth saying, “I need this. If you only knew how many pain pills I had to take to even come out here tonight.” It’s those kinds of testimonials and success stories that keep Steven and Katy moving and are helping them to navigage through this latest challenge.

CS

The Hemp Shak is located at 781 Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo and offers free local delivery. If so inclined, show your support either by purchasing a product or by making a donation through their webpage, hempshakslo.com.

James Lester

Steven and Katy Hemler, owners of Hemp Shak, San Luis Obispo.

Recipe

Chef Coreen Carroll is a unique young talent in our world’s cannabis culinary scene, with a local and sustainable cooking style that combines the Bay Area’s best ingredients with modern techniques and German flavors. She earned national recognition winning the Netflix television series Cooked With Cannabis.

Carroll has been recognized as America’s Top 10 Cannabis Chef and has received ‘Excellence in Experiences and Services Awards’ by GreenState. She co-authored the best-selling cannabis cookbook EDIBLES: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen (published by Chronicle Books Nov. 2018).

Green Eggs and Ham

Courtesy Photo

Wake n’ bake done right. We would eat these here or there, we would eat these anywhere. These adorable, conveniently portioned egg cups are the perfect brunch offering. If you have access to fresh cannabis leaves, they make a great addition to the herb pesto here—which, by the way, can be used a hundred different ways on its own. Spread it on a sandwich, dollop it over grilled meat, or stir some into pasta or cheesy grits. Oh, the possibilities . . .

INGREDIENTS

Egg and Ham Cups

8 oz | 230 g thinly sliced prosciutto

12 large eggs, at room temperature

Freshly ground black pepper

1 garlic clove, minced

12 tsp | 29 g grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

On the Side

Toast points or buttered and griddled brioche sticks for serving

Special Equipment

12-cup muffin pan

Herb Pesto

½ cup | 40 g packed fresh cannabis leaves or parsley leaves, finely chopped

1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped

1 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped

Zest of ½ lemon

½ tsp kosher salt

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

2¼ tsp | 10 g Canna Coconut Oil, melted (see Dosage Note)

½ cup | 108 g extra-virgin olive oil

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375°F [190°C].

To make the egg and ham cups: Line each muffin pan cup with 1 to 1½ slices of prosciutto, making sure to cover the entire bottom and sides of the cup. The prosciutto will shrink a bit as it cooks, so be generous with the amount of area it covers and don’t try to stretch it.

Crack 1 egg into each cup. Top each egg with a crack of freshly ground pepper, a pinch of minced garlic, and 1 tsp of grated Parmigiano cheese. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the whites have set but the yolks are still runny. If you like your yolks firmer, bake for up to 5 minutes more.

While the eggs cook, prepare the herb pesto: In a liquid measuring cup, combine the cannabis leaves, thyme, rosemary, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Stir in the canna coconut oil until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the cup with a rubber spatula. Add enough olive oil to the measuring cup to reach the ¾-cup [180-ml] mark. With a fork or small whisk, stir the pesto vigorously to combine thoroughly. Evenly divide the pesto among the egg cups—1 level Tbsp pesto per cup. Stir the pesto as needed so each spoonful has an equal amount of herbs and oil.

Serve with toast points or buttered and griddled brioche sticks to sop up all the goodness.

Dosage Note:

This recipe was developed using “Edibles” recipe for Canna Coconut Oil with a potency to yield approximately 5 mg THC per serving.

From the best-selling cannabis cookbook, Edibles by Stephanie Hua and Coreen Carroll (Chronicle Books, 2018).

Ask a Bud tender

Christina Esp was born and raised in Santa Barbara and graduated from Cal Poly with a BS in Agribusiness. Through the years, she has worked with a variety of farms, selling perishable products ranging from tropical fruit to fresh flower bouquets. The “green rush” in California came and Christina joined the Sespe Creek team as a Budtender in 2017 where she is now the Floor Manager/Pit Boss. She lives in Ojai with her husband Jason, son Dylan, and Australian cattle dog Diego.

Do you have a preference of edibles vs. smoking?

I enjoy both methods, but smoking a joint is my favorite way to relax. It wasn’t until I started Budtending at Sespe that I learned how to dose myself correctly with edibles, and now I enjoy a medicated THC treat every evening as a sleep aid and CBD edibles for anxiety.

In general, do you find more people are better educated regarding cannabis or is there still quite a learning curve? We see a diverse mix of customers, some are absolute beginners, others have spent a lot of time on the Internet and know everything! It is really about keeping an open mind and continually learning!

With the continued pandemic and general unrest, have you seen an increase in the need to treat anxiety? Absolutely! Anxiety and insomnia both seemed to really increase this last year. People were coming in for products to help them stay calm, relax, and sleep at night.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about budtenders?

I suppose the biggest misconception is we are just a bunch of stoners having fun all day. Our team is highly educated and extremely passionate. Our jobs are very detail oriented and complex.

What is the biggest challenge of your workday?

My biggest challenge is self control and not buying everything that comes across my desk. Seriously, it is such a dream to work around such quality products and such variety.

If you could let the public know one thing about cannabis, what would it be?

Cannabis is not scary. Our shop is a safe place to explore your options!

How did you gain your canna-knowledge?

I studied Agribusiness at Cal Poly and spent my career working with traditional crops and moving over to cannabis in 2017. It is a combination of education, research and personal product testing.

Any product recommendations?

I love hash infused pre-rolls, gummies, and all things chocolate!

Christina Esp is the Floor Manager/Pit Boss at Sespe Creek Collective, located at 408 Bryant Circle, Unit C in Ojai. Visit sespe.org for more info. — CBTS Staff

Christina Esp

Leighanne O’Brien

• Sustainable

• Inclusive

• Community Based

• Women-Owned

• Award-Winning

“It’s welcoming and bright and you just feel the good vibes from the beginning to the end of your experience.” - Devin B.

408 Bryant Circle, Unit C Ojai, CA 93023 (855) 722-9333 | Sespe.org Mon-Sat 10am-7pm | Sun 10am-5pm State License: C10-0000028-LIC

Continued from page 11

We need to look at that because we will be judged on how well we handled this crisis. Beyond the suicide issue, there are those who die by overdose; 10 veterans per day are reported to have died with a needle in their arm. My goal has always been to have intense research into cannabis as a medicine.

What about the DoD and the VA?

I think the DoD is the ideal organization to do something like this along with the VA, which is the largest healthcare network in the country! It has the biggest patient population in the country [9 million] and along with 150 VA hospitals—which have access to local universities—and 1,200 clinics, all are poised to do this research. We’ve recently recommended to the VA that they utilize the state of Missouri as a research platform for medical cannabis because we have a halfmillion veterans living here and we have a great VA hospital. I believe the military can and should lead the way in this research, much like they have done over the past 100 years with vaccinations, plastic surgery, trauma care, advance amputations--any number of medical advances have been borne out of military necessity.

After some 80 years, the federal government still lists marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug which is defined as a substance that has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. It’s lumped in with heroin, LSD, ecstasy and peyote. Yet, there are 36 states that have either approved cannabis for medicinal and/or recreational purposes. How do we square this oddball equation?

There needs to be strong leadership and vision at the federal level and a clear recognition that there is something incredibly impactful with cannabis being used as a medicine across our country and around the world. We have yet to apply American ingenuity and knowhow and academic excellence to recognize that cannabis is medicine and that it can be used in such unique and myriad ways that we would be derelict in our duty as human beings—as anyone who cares about people—to not look at this critically as a real scientific and academic endeavor and apply the funding to this research.

Our lack of willingness to address this issue of moving down the road away from prohibition as well as decriminalizing pot—as some states have already done—amounts to

Todd Scattini

a failure to truly act on something that could be so meaningful to millions or our own citizens because there is no doubt that cannabis can save lives.

In that respect, you’re very focused with your Athena Protocol about using cannabis as a way to actually help prevent Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI], which became part of the lexicon of battle terms over the past 20 years.

You know, there was a time and place when cannabis was prescribed as part of the medical community’s playbook up until 1937. There are books written by West Pointers in the 1800s about the absolute necessity of bringing cannabis on your mission to treat pain! It was preferred over the use of opium as a pain killer because it was not an addictive drug.

The federal government actually holds a patent [No. 6630507] on a certain type of cannabinoid oil that is being tested to help reduce the effect of such brain injuries. Explain.

It was during my research that I learned about this patent on the use of a cannabinoid that can serve as a neuroprotectant and an anti-inflammatory to mitigate and treat TBI. That’s when we decided to move forward with the concept of the Athena Protocol with which we are publicly promoting to fully open research into this oil in tandem with the VA.

What’s the protocol for that?

The protocol is essentially four phases: Applying the neuro-protectant and anti-inflammatory properties of the cannabinoid to help prevent or reduce the effects of a TBI by having the military personnel use it prior to going on a mission, right along with all their other preparation. Besides prepping on the outside, we need to prep the inside of the body as well with non-impairing cannabinoids so that soldiers are prepared for potential TBI, or a concussion, in order to lower the rate of severe injury. This cannabinoid would actually enter the brain to put a fine protective layer between the brain and the skull, helping to reduce the “rattle around” effect. It can also be used during a mission as an anti-inflammatory to personnel who have been injured.

A third element would be its use when someone is hospitalized for TBI—and especially when they’re being monitored for intra-cranial pressure—so we don’t have to drill holes in their heads to relieve the swelling, which has become a standard TBI treatment. The fourth phase is the rehabilitative part of their recovery, to be able to include a full spectrum of cannabis, not just as an anti-inflammatory and pain remediator, but in tandem with physical therapy and talk therapy sessions. This could be very revolutionary. I’m urging the VA to take a leadership position on this as an opportunity to increase the survivability of soldiers in combat, to ensure the ability of veterans to thrive after their service and to recognize this plant as a medicine and to realize that this is the moment, right now, to address this issue as being of a true societal nature.

How do those who may have never served in the military react to your idea of the Athena Protocol?

Many say they are aware of TBI and are glad that someone is addressing these issues, especially when they relate a story about a friend or family member who served. I tell them that they are serving by their support of the cannabis industry and by supporting the use of cannabis by veterans, especially when it comes to reducing the reliance on opioids for chronic pain or treatment of PTSD.

Continued on Page 20

They also recognize that advances in military medicine benefit the general public, because everyone gets old and everyone hurts at some point. There is an opioid crisis that still has this country in its grip and that worsened by 20 percent since the start of the COVID pandemic. This is another area in which we will be judged on how we handled this crisis. I think we’re on the right side of history.

We are doing something meaningful and impactful that is raising the veteran’s voice, which I firmly believe will break the back of cannabis prohibition and can lead the way to a new future of medicine that is safer and more effective and that shatters the paradigm of what we’ve shackled ourselves to in this day of modern medicine.

In that regard, will the Congress, the FDA, the DEA, the DoD and the VA and other agencies around the country ever see the light on this issue and progressively push for cannabis to be removed as a Schedule 1 drug as well as decriminalize its possession and use, as several states have already done?

There are two things that must happen. That’s leadership and courage to be shown by the [Biden] administration along with all of us wrapping our heads around this plant and looking at it in the framework of a major societal issue

with health and wellness being the key factor.

I ask for leadership and vision from the DoD to stand up in their inter-agency meetings and look to the FDA and the DEA and ask, “Why are we not shining American research on this plant that just saved my kid’s life or allowed my brother to come off opioids or my sister to deal with her PTSD or anxiety?” We have to recognize that there’s a new frontier ahead of us.

Look, three-quarters of the U.S. is currently providing legal, adult access to cannabis! Our only limit is our imagination, because we’re not limited by the science, nor the agriculture. The only limitation we face is by ignoring this plant as a real opportunity.

Interviewer Peter Bie is a U.S. Army veteran, having served from 1967-1970, with two tours in Vietnam, the first as a military journalist and the second as a helicopter door gunner. He spent nearly 45 years in radio and television, much of it as a field reporter, journalist and news director. Peter is currently the president of the Santa Barbara Chapter (218) of the Vietnam Veterans of America and resides in Carpinteria, California with his wife, Melinda.

Shelly Yang/The Kansas City Star

. . . look to the FDA and the DEA and ask, “Why are we not shining American research on this plant that just saved my kid’s life or allowed my brother to come off opioids or my sister to deal with her PTSD or anxiety?”

Continued from page 19

References Resources and

Ask Ed

Ganja guru Ed Rosenthal is credited with saying, “Marijuana may not be addictive, but growing it is.” And he ought to know. He is a co-founder of High Times Magazine and writes the publication’s popular column, Ask Ed. Additionally, he has penned a number of books on growing and has been teaching the subject for more than 30 years. “The Best of Ask Ed: Your Marijuana Questions Answered” is a good starting point for those new to his writing. “Marijuana Grower’s Handbook: Your Complete Guide for Medical and Personal Marijuana Cultivation” and “Marijuana Garden Saver: A Field Guide to Identifying and Correcting Cannabis Problems” are well worth a read, too. The shop on his Web site, edrosenthal.com, has his publications and a deep well of cannabis knowledge and hard earned wisdom.

“It’s

Just a Plant”

Yep, a children’s book about marijuana with illustrations. Ricardo Cortés wrote “It’s Just a Plant” so moms and dads can discuss cannabis and its complexities with their children in a clear and non-judgmental way. The story follows a young girl as she learns about cannabis from different people — her parents, a police officer, a farmer, and a doctor. If the author’s name sounds familiar, maybe you read his popular book “Go The F&*k to Sleep.” “It’s Just a Plant” is available at justaplant.com

“Marijuana Business Daily”

Want a better understanding of the business side of cannabis? Headquartered in Denver, Marijuana Business Daily is a trade journal serving cultivators, retailers, investors, financial services organizations, manufacturers, testing labs, and more. The amount of money ricocheting around the cannabis industry is astonishing, and MJBizDaily helps put it in perspective. MJBizDaily is delivered digitally and a hard copy Marijuana Business Magazine publishes 10 times a year. The company also is the force behind MJBizCon, the annual trade show held in Las Vegas. Visit them at mjbizdaily.com

By Alex Robles

To Grow Or Not To Grow

Part One/Four-Part Series: The Seedling Stage

Welcome to “To Grow, or Not to Grow.” Our goal is to demystify the cannabis growing process and to explain it as simply as possible, not dumbed down but distilled. Growing cannabis at home isn’t hard but it isn’t easy either. Regardless of what the Internet says, there is no single perfect way to grow cannabis. The reason for this is that every environment is different, and every home grower/cultivator is unique.

In this series we’re going to go from germinating a cannabis seed to harvesting your cannabis flower (seedling stage, vegetative stage and flowering stage). We’re going to learn a little bit of science, a little bit of botany, expand our vocabulary, and have fun doing it. Links are provided for further explanations and because some of us learn better through video. Always, if you have any questions, email them to info@cbtsmagazine.

Always remember to check local laws and regulations about growing cannabis at home. You need to know your rights and limitations. Always.

I don’t know about you, but my favorite time of year is the springtime. Happily, my daydreams start to drift towards what fruits and vegetables I’m going to be planting in my garden that year. Along the way, I also start thinking about what varieties of cannabis I’m going to grow that year as well. Let’s talk about cannabis seed selection, germinating seeds, and seedling care along with other important information.

Location — Before we put any cannabis seeds in the soil, let’s talk about the best place in our backyards to put our cannabis garden. One of the things you want to look for are natural breezeways. The breeze is important because

it makes the plant sway or flex back and forth, which helps strengthen the plant. Cannabis loves sunlight, so keep that in mind. Other things to consider can be found here.

Soil — The quality of cannabis depends on the quality of soil. Picking the right premixed, bagged, potting soil can be confusing with all the different types of mixes available. Before I look at anything else, I check to see what the nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potassium (K) ratio is, it should be clearly marked on the bag as NPK. I make sure that the ratios are even (i.e. 10-10-10 or 20-20-20). Since I’m going to be using this soil in every stage of my cannabis garden, I like a 10-10-10 mix because it’s not too high or hot, and I don’t have to worry about burning or killing young seedlings and clones. Other specifics I like to see in my soil are here

Container — I don’t plant seeds directly into the ground because I could wind up with 10- or 12-foot plants. There’s no hiding you’re growing cannabis from your neighbors when your plants are peeking over your fence. One of the ways I control how big a plant will get is by choosing the right size pot or container that it’s in. Drain holes are a must. To terracotta or not to terracotta? Hear that and other suggestions on this video. Go ahead and fast forward to the 20-minute mark.

Choosing seeds and germinating them — I highly encourage all new growers to buy Autoflower Seeds and germinate them directly into the soil. Having said that, I also insist that you purchase from a reputable seed company. If you don’t know of one, ask at a dispensary. Other ins and outs of purchasing seeds can be found here.

Products for you

Nourishing Muscle + Joint Salve from Autumn Brands

The new Nourishing Muscle + Joint Salve from Autumn Brands has put a spring into many a step. This magic ointment contains 400mg full-spectrum cannabis (ratio 1:7 THC rich) grown under the Santa Barbara County sun. The THC gives pain relief and the CBD is anti-inflammatory. Other ingredients include arnica extract, magnesium, MCT oil, coconut oil, and essential oils, among other perfectly pure elements. Powerful healing in a gentle way. autumnbrands.com

Winkin’ Sun Hemp Company

West Virginia-based Winkin’ Sun Hemp Company offers a variety of hemp goods like masks, clothing, paper products, CBD, and accessories such as bags and pouches. Keep it safe, keep it hemp with this mask that is 100% hemp, hand embroidered, and machine washable. We like the company’s commitment to work together with other local businesses and creative artists in supporting the local economy which includes a renewed interest in sustainable consumer goods (hemp!). winkinsunhemp.com

Veterans Cannabis Project

An organization dedicated to advocating for medical cannabis access for veterans, the Veterans Cannabis Project partnered with Curaleaf and created Pre-Roll 5-Packs as a way to highlight the need for and efficacy of cannabis to treat chronic pain and other physical, as well as mental, conditions. The Pre-Roll 5-Packs launch included a $1 from each package sold donated to the Veteran Cannabis Project. Today, the nonprofit has more partnerships working toward the goal of helping veterans. vetscp.org

C

Since cannabis is such a high value seed most home growers and commercial cultivators take great care in germinating them. There are two methods I’ve had the most success with when germinating seeds. One involves a wet paper towel and a ziplock bag. Learn more on this video

Seedling care — Once your seed has given birth to a seedling, the excitement begins. Now you could go out and buy a bag of “seedling soil mix” for your “precious,” but it is not necessary. There are great soil mixes on the market that can be used for every phase of your plant’s growth. Now, we’re going to have to have a little understanding of what pH is and why it matters. If the pH in our water or soil is too high or too low, it could cause our plants not to absorb or uptake nutrients correctly. All of the primary, secondary, and micronutrients, with the exception of molybdenum are best absorbed with a pH solution of 5.5 to 6.5. Anything higher or lower than this will make the marijuana plant struggle to take up nutrients and could easily cause a nutrient deficiency along with other problems. (I don’t like to go lower than 5.5 and not higher than 6.3.) Want to know more on the importance of pH? Read this. How about more on seedling care? Watch this

Watering — This last bit may seem basic and elementary, but I have to talk about “watering.” I’ve killed many seedlings by overwatering. I would get impatient and water every time I saw the surface of the soil dry. Nothing is sadder to me in my garden then a cannabis seedling that drowned. One tool I use is a drip pan. Please watch this video or read this post before you have cannabis seedling death on your conscience.

I hope all this information makes you feel more confident about starting a cannabis garden. In the next installment we’ll look at the Vegetative Stage. Email your questions and comments to info@cbtsmagazine.com.

Don’t forget to always grow, learn, and teach.

Alex Robles has been using cannabis to celebrate and medicate with for the past 30 years. In 2016 he began sharing what he’s learned when he started Inmygrow. com. After California legalized cannabis sales and possession for adults 21 and older, he launched a weekly podcast, In My Grow Show . This year, he helped produce segments for Tiempo de Cannabis, a Spanish language TV show in Mexico City.

Amy Steinfeld

or Cannabis?Catnip

You Make the Call

By Amy Marie Orozco

Though cannabis and catnip bear a remarkable resemblance, they are vastly different. Catnip has been greenlighted by veterinarians as harmless to domestic felines, not so cannabis. Presumably, that is due to the demonization of cannabis, which didn’t allow for research on the plant medicine, and scientists are catching up. On the other hand, it should be noted that cannabis hasn’t been proven to be harmful to cats.

They also may vomit, drool, have a seizure, or be uncoordinated (unusual for cats, right?). Don’t hesitate to call or visit your veterinarian should you be alarmed.

Wondering if your favorite feline could benefit from CBD or THC? Obviously, a conversation with the family veterinarian is in order when considering cannabis to enhance your cat’s life. To begin your own research, check out “Medical Marijuana & Your Pet” by Robert Silva DVM.

After all, cats are just like you and I. They, too, have endocannabinoid systems (ECS).

Quickie refresher: Vertebrates (mammals, fish, reptiles, birds) and invertebrates (sea urchins, nematodes, leeches, and more) have endocannabinoid systems, an intricate cellsignaling system helping to regulate sleep, mood, appetite, and memory, among other bodily functions. The ECS is active even without the use of cannabis.

While catnip is regarded as a harmless giggle for cats as well as the humans observing the ensuing funny 5 minuteshow their pets give them, cannabis with a high THC content may be toxic. CBD, though, proves promising for conditions like cancer, arthritis, and pancreatitis.

Here’s what is definitely harmful: Smoking. While the most common way domestic cats ingest cannabis is through second-hand smoke, nibbling on a leaf and snacking on an edible aren’t unusual.

Cats exhibit similar symptoms as humans for THC consumption: dilated pupils, low blood pressure, sleepiness, and/or excitability.

Something to consider: Just like many humans, some cats may hate the feeling of being high.

Cannabis

Family: Cannabaceae, includes hemp, hops, nettle trees

The high: Comes from THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)

Physical characteristics:

Safety: Consult your veterinarian

Catnip

Family: Nepeta cataria, part of the mint family like lavender and sage

The high: Comes from nepetalactone, which enters from the nasal cavity

Physical characteristics:

Safety: Basically harmless to cats. Poison and/or fertilizer residue may be toxic

Find Something, Sell Something . . .

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CANNABIS CREATIONS

Have you made any cannabis creations? Any story ideas? We’d love to hear from you... email us at info@cbtsmagazine.com

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CHUPPAHS & ARBORS

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CONSULTING SERVICES

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WEDDING OFFICIANT

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Propaganda

Rapper, songwriter, record executive, businessman, and record producer, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, is going to need to update his resume to include cannabis advocate. The media mogul, through his cannabis brand, Monogram, has taken on the hypocrisy of the nation’s marijuana laws in a series of ads that are running as billboards in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Miami, with plans for more cities.

Each ad contains simple white text, with a black and white image, and unbeknownest to many, each of the images are of a person who has been charged for a cannabis-related offense.

In a statement to AdAge, Carter said “I created this campaign to amplify the voices of those who have been penalized for the very same thing that venture capitalists are now prospering from with the emerging legal cannabis market,” Carter added. “Far too often we forget that these are real people whose everyday lives and futures have been affected by this outdated legislature.”

. . .

Undoing the Harm