2 CULTURE • September 2012
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features 14 WORD OF MOUTH Why is our government silencing its most outspoken cannabis critics?
26
JUST CHILLIN‘ With his track record of hit movies, albums and television shows, Ice Cube is still cooler than you. On the cover: Photo by Eric Williams
16 PRIVATE PROPERTY Barbara Lee’s got a plan to help out patients and dispensaries from the feds. 18 ROOM TO GROW If only Tomorrows Bad Seeds could add Girl Scout Cookies to its rider.
departments 8 letter from the editor The truth shall set you—and the rest of our community—free. 10 NEWS NUGGETS Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere—and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers 20 DESTINATION UNKNOWN It’s not overrun by tourists yet— so enjoy Slovenia’s treasure troves of glacial peaks and medieval castles. 21 PROFILES IN COURAGE Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical marijuana patient near you. 6 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER September 2012
22 Strain & Edible Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 30 COOL STUFF From the all-in-one MedTainer to the Icy Tokes water pipe accessory, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 32 RECIPES The leaves are turning color—are you ready for some football?! 36 | Entertainment Reviews 38 | Events Calendar 43 | Guide to Advertisers 44 | News of the Weird
September 2012 • CULTURE 7
Letter from the Editor iREADCULTURE.com
Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
GET YOUR HITS HERE
Vol 4 IssUE 3
Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Managing Editor Lynn Lieu
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Sarah Bennett, Jacob Browne, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Stacy Davies, Rev. Dr. Kymron de Cesare, Alex Distefano, David Downs, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Jane Mast, Sandra Moriarty, Assia Mortensen, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Paul Rogers, Jeff Schwartz, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen
Photographers
Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Mark Malijan Patrick Roddie, Michael Seto, Kim Sidwell
Interns
Nothing But the Facts Here’s a fact: Throughout human history propaganda has been used to push one political agenda or another. Sadly, much of this propaganda has been done for evil and despicable purposes. Think about the Communist witch hunts during the ’50s and how they blacklisted writers and intellectuals and political “undesirables.” Think about the propaganda Hitler and his goons spread against our Jewish brothers and sisters. Think about the propaganda used by the North Korean government to keep its citizens in check. The list goes on and on. Sadly the propaganda against marijuana—medical or otherwise—is no different. I can understand someone disagreeing with me or having a different opinion about medical marijuana—I don’t expect everyone to embrace it like I do. But what I don’t like is when lies and misinformation—that’s what propaganda is, isn’t it?—are used to suggest that marijuana use is inherently harmful or dangerous. Unfortunately, this happens. Despite medical and scientific evidence that says otherwise, our opponents will ignore those facts and push lies and misinformation. What’s also sad is when the ignorant, pundits or the media seize upon tragic events and link them to cannabis to—what.—suggest marijuana was responsible or played a role? Bullcrap. Just a few days after the Miami face-chewer
incident, media outlets like USA Today and BBC News posted headlines proclaiming that marijuana had been found in the attacker’s system. Sadly, the same thing happened in the wake of the dreadful shooting in Aurora as well as the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Gifford in Arizona. In both incidents, people went out of their way to play connect-the-dots between an atrocious event and cannabis. The use of marijuana is linked to violence and crime? That is definitely not a fact. Even so-called experts don’t have the facts. Someone who was quoted in USA Today, Dr. Patricia Junquera from the University of Miami, essentially blamed cannabis for the face-chewing episode—or a mixture of cannabis and mental illness. “It could have been the strain of marijuana . . . such as sativa,” she said. Really? Marijuana could cause someone to royally flip out and chew someone’s face off? Really, Dr. Junquera? Bullcrap. To suggest cannabis could cause someone to go all Dawn of the Dead doesn’t know marijuana from margarita. Backed by years of research and science, marijuana can safely treat and bring legitimate relief to people suffering from many conditions and diseases. And that’s a fact. Educate yourself about medical marijuana. Do your homework. Get to the truth. Get the facts. c
Joe Martone, Gabriela Mungarro, Derek Obregon
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Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
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8 CULTURE • September 2012
September 2012 • CULTURE 9
News Nuggets THE STATE
claiming business expenses. The same statute was used by the IRS against Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, saddling the dispensary with a $2.5 million federal tax debt.
THE NATION Study: Cannabis may help in easing bipolar disorder MMJ blood drive a life-saving success
Organizers are hailing the success of a July blood drive organized by San Jose medical cannabis dispensary Med Mar Healing Center. More than 65 pints of blood were collected in the drive, the result of a partnership between MedMar staff and the Blood Centers of the Pacific. That’s enough of the red stuff to save 175 lives, says MedMar representative Douglas Chloupek in a news release. The dispensary hosted a community festival at its location to attract an estimated 400 participants, many of whom gave blood at a Blood Bank of the Pacific mobile blood bus.
Vapor Room loses U.S. Tax Court fight
The proprietor of San Francisco’s celebrated Vapor Room Herbal Center, forced to shut its doors due to federal medical pot crackdown, has suffered another major setback: The U.S. Tax Court ruled owner Martin Olive cannot deduct business expenses from his cannabis operation. Olive had argued the dispensary’s operations were intimately linked to his business providing care-giving services to patients. The court rejected that argument, citing a federal tax statute barring individuals engaged in what the government considers illegal transactions from 10 CULTURE • September 2012
Patients with bipolar disorder showed significant improvement after using cannabis, according to the results of a new collaborative study by three New York medical institutions. The study compared the cognitive performance of 50 people with bipolar disorder and a history of marijuana use with that of 150 people with the same disorder and no history of cannabis use. Those who had used marijuana showed “significantly better neurocognitive performance, particularly on measures of attention, processing speed, and working memory” than the other group, the study revealed. The research was conducted by the Zucker Hillside Hospital in Long Island, and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, both in New York.
Facebook allows ads for marijuana legalization Following nearly three years of just saying no to the “Just
Say Now” cannabis legalization campaign, Facebook is now allowing ads from the group to run on its pages. The about-face follows an online petition drive by Facebook users calling for Facebook to reconsider its policy of rejecting ads by Just Say Now, an online legalization campaign by the website Firedoglake.com. More than 15,000 people signed the petition, and the group’s cause was taken up by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California. Facebook originally instituted the ban in 2010, forcing Just Say Now to take down its messages. The social networking shot down the campaign’s advertizing efforts again in 2011. Despite the lifting of the ban, Facebook
officials insist the website’s policy prohibiting ads that promote illegal activity have not changed.
Law enforcement tracking Arizona patient database
Law enforcement officials—as well as employers—are accessing an Arizona state database that contains information on about 40,000 patients and caregivers, according to Phoenix New Times. The agencies that have created the accounts to check on the validity of patents’ MMJ cards include the Phoenix Police Department (which created 851 accounts), ATF and the Border Patrol. The database was created with the primary purpose of making sure patients, for example, aren’t arrested if they are caught by police with cannabis.
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12 CULTURE • September 2012
THE WORLD Grandmothers & children grow potent strain in Swaziland
With the working-age population in Swaziland decimated by the ravages of HIV/AIDS, the very old and very young in the southern African nation have turned to growing a valuable new crop: a highly potent strain of cannabis called Swazi Gold. The market in the strain has become so important to the survival of its new growers— mostly grandmothers and orphaned children—that Swaziland is now home to more cannabis cultivation than the vastly larger nation of India, according to a recent report in The New York Times. That’s often made the difference between life and death for the subsistence farmers, most of who have lost family members to the AIDS epidemic. Marijuana cultivation remains illegal in Swaziland, a nation of about 1.4 million people, forcing the
The Breakfast Club Screening growers to walk long distances to secret farmlands and deal with corrupt police officials and ruthless middlemen, the Times reports. The growers are hardly getting rich off their product: An average crop of Swazi Gold will yield the growers under $400, which is about the cost of sending a single Swazi child to school for a semester.
By the Numbers law-enforcement officials in 2010: 10.32 million (Source: DEA).
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Number of marijuana plants eradicated nationwide in 2011: 6.7 million (Source: DEA).
7 1
Percentage of Oakland-based Harborside Health Center’s 108,000 patients who are seniors: 20 (Source: The Huffington Post).
Percentage decrease in the marijuana plant eradication nationwide from 2010 to 2011: 35 (Source: DEA). access to Arizona’s medical marijuana patient registry: 851 (Source: Phoenix New Times).
11
2
Percentage of Bay Area dispensaries shut down as of August since the federal government launched its assault on medical marijuana in October 2011: 33 (Source: SF Weekly).
3
Number of medical marijuana gardens in Tulare County in August 2011: 605 (Source: Tulare County Sheriff’s Department).
4
Number of medical marijuana gardens in Tulare County in August 2012, following sheriff’s department crackdown: 304 (Source: Tulare County Sheriff’s Department).
5
Number of marijuana plants eradicated nationwide by
8
Approximate number of patients listed on Arizona’s medical marijuana patient registry: 40,000 (Source: Phoenix New Times).
9
Reported number of online accounts created to grant law-enforcement officials and employers access to Arizona’s medical marijuana patient registry: 2,646 (Source: Phoenix New Times).
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Reported number of online accounts created for the Phoenix Police Department, granting them
Number of New Jersey patients thus far declared by doctors to be eligible to receive medical cannabis: 50 (Source: San Francisco Chronicle).
12
Number of New Jersey doctors thus far to register with the state their intent to register cannabis to patients: 150 (Source: San Francisco Chronicle).
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Cost in dollars of medical cannabis registration card, valid for two years, in New Jersey: 200 (Source: New Jersey Department of Health).
In an age when every movie and TV show we hold near and dear from the ’80s has been remade, rebooted and redone, it’s comforting to know that there are certain things that are held sacred . . . like The Breakfast Club. Ah, Andy (athlete), Claire (princess), John (criminal), Brian (brain) and Allison (basket case)—you all haven’t aged a bit since 1985. In my mind, you’re as young, naïve and uncertain as you were nearly three decades ago. How’s Mr. Vernon treatin‘ ya? Still a hard ass? I know, I know. Well, you still have each other. Isn’t it good feeling that mercenary and money-grubbing studios and filmmakers have left you alone . . . so far? Sure, they snatched up Footloose . . . but 21 Jump Street wasn’t that bad (OK—it was) . . . and The Karate Kid—well, I better keep my mouth shut. No sooner will I be planning to head up to Oakland to catch the screening of my favorite brat-pack flick at The Paramount then I’ll catch wind of some horrible news: They’re remaking The Goonies. Ain’t nothin‘ sacred? (Matt Tapia)
IF YOU GO
What: The Breakfast Club screening. When/Where: Sept. 28 at The Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Info: Tickets $5. Go to www. paramounttheatre.com or call (510) 893-2300.
September 2012 • CULTURE 13
FLASH
14 CULTURE • September 2012
Is marching in a medical marijuana rally akin to consorting with violent neo-Nazis? It is according to the federal government, which is systematically silencing weed war critics with gag orders, travel restrictions and the threat of job firings. The increasing, disturbing trend within the United States is eroding the First Amendment, and giving the American drug war new parallels to communist Russia and China. FIRST AMENDMENT’S END Exhibit A this fall is the gagging of Bryan Epis, arguably one of the first medical cannabis club operators and growers under California’s Prop 215 to be tried and convicted in a federal court. The now-45-year-old, former resident of Chico, received 10 years prison, 10 years parole and a $15,000 fine for growing 458 plants. On July 25, Epis obtained a re-sentencing in U.S. District Court that knocked 30 months off his prison term, so he’ll be out in 2014, instead of 2016. But when Epis gets out, the federal government has specifically barred the popular symbol of drug law injustice from his First Amendment right to “advocate” for reform, according to Epis’ current counsel, Sacramento attorney John Balazs. “Epis agrees not to manufacture, distribute, possess, use, advocate or in any way be involved with marijuana regardless of whether federal or state law prohibit it during his incarceration, and or completion of 10 years supervised release,” the re-sentencing deal reads, Balazs said. Barring drug felons from associating with their old buddies or from using drugs is pretty common, Balazs says. In special cases, the courts have barred convicts from associating with neo-Nazi/ white supremacy groups. But gagging drug policy advocacy? “That’s un-American,” Balazs tells CULTURE. He told Epis’ federal prosecutor Samuel Wong that the condition violates Epis’ First Amendment right to free speech. During the re-sentencing meeting, Wong told Balazs convicts can wave their constitutional rights. The “no advocacy” condition came from above, Wong told Bala-
Bryan Epis
zs. Wong works in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California. Epis—who is locked up at Terminal Island Federal Correctional Institute near Long Beach, and has a family—took the deal. “I’ve been in criminal defense 20 years and I’ve never seen a condition like that. And I was surprised they asked for it,” Balazs says. “I assumed it was an individual, unusual, crazy request.” The request is looking less and less unusual, though. CHOKE MARKS Florida activist and convicted pot smuggler Robert “Black Tuna” Platshorn had been crashing around the country in 2012, agitating for legal medical marijuana with The Silver Tour— aimed at retirees. Platshorn made for compelling copy in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and elsewhere—indicted in 1979 and sentenced to 64 years, he had gotten out in 2008, and has been on “supervised release” (federal parole). For the most part, parole had been going
Attorney General Eric Holder
Robert Platshorn
smooth, he writes in an email from his home in Florida. His parole agent approved advocacy-related travel, and the use of cannabis oil on Platshorn’s newly formed skin cancer. But Platshorn’s parole agent died, and the U.S. Parole Commission’s new officers in 2012 have specifically stated: ‘“You are no longer permitted to travel to promote the legalization of cannabis without the express permission of the U.S. Parole Commission in Washington, D.C.,’” he writes. The U.S. Parole Commission has since denied Platshorn travel, forcing the cancellation of major speaking appearances. “Eighty percent of my meager income comes from out-of-town book signings and speaking appearances,” he says. “I am shackled by what they have started.” The U.S. Parole Commission started drug testing Platshorn again and barred him from using cannabinoids on his skin cancer. Failing a surprise urinalysis screen for cannabinoids could send the 70-year-old husband back to prison.
Former U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent and LEAP spokesperson Terry Nelson
GROUPTHINK Federal officials don’t really need to coordinate to stifle free speech in America. It’s baked into the bureaucracy. Micah McCoy with the American Civil Liberties Union in New Mexico stated Aug. 14 that a First Amendment lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is ongoing, after it was filed on behalf of CBP employee Bryan Gonzalez in January of 2011. CBP terminated Gonzalez in October of 2009 for casually voicing his support for drug law reform to a CBP colleague. The colleague reported Gonzalez to superiors, kicking off an internal affairs investigation culminating in his dismissal, because he held “personal views that were contrary to the core characteristics of Border Patrol Agents, which are patriotism, dedication and esprit de corps,” according to an ACLU statement. Former CBP officer and spokesperson for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), Terry Nelson, said thought-policing is endemic in law enforcement. The rank-and-file can be dismissed for writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper. “They’re firing them for having an opinion,” he states on a video interview on the LEAP website. “Just because you pin on the badge doesn’t mean you give up the right to free speech or the right to participate in government.” Balazs thinks Epis’ case, like Gonzalez’s, should be taken up by the ACLU. Balazs writes, “Putting aside the doubtful constitutional validity of a broad, no-advocacy condition, prohibiting U.S. citizens from lawfully advocating to reform our laws—on marijuana or otherwise—is bad policy and bad precedent.” c
September 2012 • CULTURE 15
BUZZ
A Federal Forfeiture Shield? Rep. Barbara Lee’s law to protect dispensaries faces long odds this fall {By David Downs} Dispensary operators, patients and activists are asking Americans to go to bat for Rep. Barbara Lee’s (D-Oakland) new bill H.R. 6335, which would shield dispensaries from federal property forfeiture attempts. Such forfeiture threats have closed several hundred dispensaries in California alone over the course of the past year, activists report. In July, Harborside Health Center—the largest, arguably most legal dispensary in the state—became the subject of just such a federal forfeiture attempt, highlighting the need for a legal shield. Forfeiture threats have decimated the medical marijuana industry in California, said Aaron Smith, president of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “It’s been really bad,” he says. Currently, the feds can seize property used in a violation of the Controlled Substances Act like selling pot. Though 17 states and Washington, D.C. have medical
marijuana laws, federal law supersedes state law, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. For the cost of a 47-cent stamp, a federal prosecutor can usually get a dispensary’s landlord to evict the tenant and close the business. “That means thousands of patients lose access to legal medications and end up going to the black market,” Smith says. HR 6335 would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exempt real property from civil forfeiture due to medical marijuana-related conduct authorized by state law. HR 6335 is co-sponsored by by MMJ-friendly members of Congress such as Reps. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) and Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts). “We should be protecting and implementing the will of voters, not undermining our democracy by prosecuting small business owners who pay taxes and comply with the laws of their states in providing medicine to patients in need,” Lee wrote in a statement to the press.
A Real Renegade 16 CULTURE • September 2012
Rep. Barbara Lee
“As a long-time supporter of the rights of patients to have safe and legal access to medicine that has been recommended to them by their doctors, this bill will provide clarification to California businesses and security for California patients. The people of California have made it legal for patients to have safe access to medical marijuana and, as a result, thousands of small business owners have invested millions of dollars in building their companies, creating jobs and paying their taxes.” The bill has almost no chance of passing this year, however. Congress returns in late-September for just two weeks before its members fan out to campaign for the November general election. A marijuana bill introduced in the
Republican-controlled House isn’t expected to go anywhere, Smith said. GovTrack.us gives the bill a one percent chance of passing. Smith said HR 6335 still offers an opportunity to raise awareness. “It gets the conversation going. Just having the bill out there puts the spotlight on the issue and puts further pressure on the Department of Justice to follow the administration’s own stated policy not to prioritize enforcement of federal law against lawful medical marijuana use.” “Patients need to call their representatives and tell them not only to support the bill by voting for it, but also to sign on as a co-sponsor and really show that they respect the law of the land in the states they were elected in.” c
This isn’t the first time Oakland’s Barbara Lee has dipped her toes in the pro-MMJ pool. Last year, the congresswoman was the co-sponsor of a bill by staunch MMJ supporter Rep. Barney Frank that would have defunded the DEA and any other federal agency involved with marijuana enforcement. No wonder Lee’s book was titled Renegade for Peace & Justice. Go, Babs!
September 2012 • CULTURE 17
TUNES
What is your favorite strain and preferred method of medication? (Excitedly) I like the Girl Scout Cookies right now! I’m normally a sativa guy so if I have an indica I try to have it in edible form. I’ll do wax every once in a while, like on special occasions sort of like champagne. I prefer joints of Girl Scout Cookies, Medcaps or a Kiva bar if given the choice.
Escape
Artists
Tomorrows Bad Seeds is all about broadening its horizons {By Kristopher christensen}
It’s a picture perfect day and Tomorrows Bad Seeds is a few dates into the Vans Warped Tour. Five dates into a 41-show “gypsy” tour and Tomorrows Bad Seeds is fitting in just fine. CULTURE caught up with lead singer Moises Juarez—or “Moi” as his friends call him—to chat about the band’s brand-new album, Warped and medical cannabis.
So you just dropped a new album recently? Yeah, The Great Escape was just released . . . and we just got the print copies in today so the album is officially out now. I hear a lot of influences on the new album. What inspired you guys? All of our music is still influenced by reggae, you know . . . We have so many styles of music, so many types of people. This album is the first album that we’ve written together collectively. Our new drummer Pat [Salmon] is a phenomenal drummer; he has so many styles he can play—it just broadened our horizons.
What About Bob?
What’s the song “Slow Down” from Sacred For Sale about? It’s a song about having your girlfriend or significant other realize that you love them. It’s about reassuring them that you care about them.
Say What?
How is the Warped Tour so far and what’s after that? It’s like a gypsy thing and makes me feel like a kid again. We’ve done fill-in dates on the East Coast the last two years, but this year we’re doing the whole thing. We’re seeing super bands and tons of kids already. It’s amazing. You meet all types of walks of life on this thing. People you normally don’t hang with become your friends.
“[J]ust legalize it and tax it like we do liquor.” —Morgan Freeman
It didn’t take Tomorrows Bad Seeds long to get noticed—even if the band wasn’t the first to blend equal doses of rock and reggae into a music cocktail. Two years ago, the group was up for a Commercial Success of the Year award (TBS had netted 150,000 paid downloads) during a Paramount Studios industry event. That same year, the band capped off a music festival headlined by Smashing Pumpkins. But whether or not you agree with one critic’s description of the band as “Beach Boys meet Bob Marley”— it’s just beautiful music to our ears.
18 CULTURE • September 2012
What’s your view of medical marijuana? I’m pro marijuana. I think everyone should do it. If you want to get down to it, so many people drink alcohol and to me that’s so much worse, to be honest. I’d rather take a few hits off a joint or do a bong rip before I drink a six-pack of beer any day. Cigarettes are the same thing—awful for you. I use an indica at night sometimes to help me sleep and sativa during the day for mental energy. I also think as a medical patient that you should take a few months off each year from cannabis. It’s a good way to let your body chill and clear itself. If you are a patient that needs it 24/7, then that’s not for you, but if you suffer minor things you should have a cleanse once a year. I don’t think I’ve ever talked about pot so much and so openly before—and this feels good. Anything else you want to say? Yes, grow your own weed! c tomorrowsbadseeds.com
IN CONCERT
Appearing Sept. 13 at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo and Sept. 19 at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz.
September 2012 • CULTURE 19
Destination Unknown
Picturesque
Playground
The Slovenian town of Bled offers lakeside fun and gorgeous alpine peaks
The contents of Mitt Romney’s Swiss bank accounts might be the best-kept secret in Europe, but the runner-up could easily be the town of Bled in northwest Slovenia. Save for the last surviving Sasha Vujacic fans, most people wouldn’t know Slovenia from Slovakia, and that is the point. Tourism has yet to overrun this former Yugoslav state like it has neighboring Croatia, even though Slovenia’s natural assets range from Mediterranean beaches to the Julian Alps. Still, the
20 CULTURE • September 2012
idyllic town of Bled, nestled near the Italian and Austrian borders, is the country’s understated star. Surrounded by mountains and forest, the glacial waters of Lake Bled provide the postcard-ready pictures that define the town’s immediate charm. In the summer, the lake becomes a playground for boaters, swimmers and divers, while February attracts would-be “polar bears” for the annual Bled Winter Swimming Cup race. The winter also hosts skiing, snowboarding and even frozen-lake diving (scubaholic.si).
Story by David Jenison Photos Courtesy of Slovenian Tourist Board
Lake Bled features the country’s only natural island, Bled Island, with 99 steps leading from the water to a 15th-century baroque church. For those getting hitched on the island, tradition calls for the groom to carry the bride up the entire stairway, which could make for the most awesome before-after Weight Watchers commercial ever. Still, tradition also says the bride must remain totally silent for the entire ascent, no matter what her new mother-in-law did to offend, so it might be a fair trade. Dating back 1,000 years, the mountaintop Bled Castle is another picturesque gem with a drawbridge and moat seemingly ripped from a Hollywood epic. The medieval castle features a finedining restaurant overlooking the lake, a reconstructed Gutenberg printing press and a wine cellar where tourists can fill and cork their own take-home bottles. While the castle’s wine won’t make Chateau Margaux tremble, Slovenian winemaking actually predates the grape-pressing traditions of France and Spain. Food & Wine magazine heaps considerable praise on vineyards like Edi Simcic, Marjan Simcic, Cotar, Sutor and the Hemingway-loved Movia, though a high national consumption keeps most of the wine inside its borders. Local activities include golf, fishing, thermal springs, rafting, horseback riding and culinary delights (try the famous vanilla-andcream pastry kremna rezina), but the Daniel Boone types should head to Slovenia’s only national
park, Triglav, easily accessible from Bled. The trek features gorgeous alpine peaks, lush scenery and running waters that feed both the Adriatic and Black Seas. Equally impressive is the Vintgar Gorge, a one-mile ravine that cuts through jagged vertical rocks and impressive waterfalls with a user-friendly wooden walkway. The 1,000-foot-long caves of Babji Zob (Hags Tooth), located under a large tooth-shaped pillar protruding from a mountain peak, is another highlight with gorgeous stalactites and spiral formations. Those who party hard will have a better time in the capital city, Ljubljana, or in club-happy Belgrade about seven hours to the east. Lake Bled, on the other hand, is better known for the water’s alleged healing powers, which have attracted Central European emperors and Austro-Hungarian monarchs since the 1800s. This makes Bled an ideal place for patients. Cannabis traditionally comes in from Albania and Morocco, but a homegrown boom is on the rise. A study of 11 European nations published last year in the Croatian Medical Journal found that Slovenia topped the list in perceived marijuana availability. Possession for personal use is typically just a misdemeanor fine, if that, as respectful cannabis use is generally tolerated. This makes Bled the perfect low-key town to unwind, enjoy nature and medicate in peace. c www.slovenia.info
Profiles in Courage Patient:
Gary L. Hull
AGE: 54
WHY DID YOU START USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA?
It has no side effects compared to pharmaceutical medications. It may not be a cure for my injuries, but it does help me cope with my pain and my agonies.
Condition/ Illness:
DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE MARIJUANA?
Using medical cannabis since:
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS?
Traumatic brain injuries, depression.
Photo by Kristopher Christensen
Are you an MMJ patient from NorCal with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.
Age 12 or 13
Oxycontin three to four times a day, Soma . . . temazepam, lorazepam, Xanax. Everyone one of those pharmaceuticals did something to me that was harmful . . . My saving grace has been music and cannabis and God.
[When medical cannabis became legal in California] in November 1996, right then we should have flooded them with education, we should have opened up the same number of collectives we have now . . . We should have been ahead of the game.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE?
I educate them. You can only tell them so much. People are going to be ignorant no matter what. People are going to have closed minds to alternative medication. c
September 2012 • CULTURE 21
Strain & Edible Reviews
iREADCULTURE.com GET YOUR HITS HERE
Green Ribbon
A mystery and a great find, Theraleaf in San Jose offers this highly lauded, extremely unique lime-green sativa, which mixes Trainwreck, Afghani and Green Crack. If you’re trying to break out of the OG-Chemdawg-Diesel cluster, Green Ribbon offers something completely different. These nugs are veritable Star Wars Mon Calamari cruisers: bulbous and dense, with a thick outer hull of THC. Yet the batch has a soft, inviting, floral scent; all berries, mango and loam. Powdery smooth, the matting of trichomes is thicker than anything we’ve ever seen. A smooth, light, floral smoke, Green Ribbon’s effect packs a Cannabis Cupworthy hybrid effect of energy and spaciness, which patients report can treat depression and ADD.
Diablo OG Kush
We’re running with the devil. New San Jose dispensary Delta Health Center offers the coveted Diablo OG Kush, a more sedative, appetite-stimulating spinoff of the ever-popular OG. This looks like OG, alright—the tinier, dense, spiny nugs, medium-to-dark green color and thick coat of trichomes. But the smell is even more lemon-ey and chemmy than regular OG’s iconic bouquet. The great new notes come from a reported crossing of OG Kush with Diablo. Diablo takes the floral indica Blueberry and ’80s legend Grapefruit and crosses a South African sativa. Resinous and dense, a grinder is a must with Diablo OG. It tastes like it smells, deliciously citrusy, packing a powerful head rush. Patients report using hybrid strains like Diablo OG Kush to dissipate stress, disconnect from anxieties, as well as achieve moderate muscle pain relief.
Raspberry Ripper
A super-heavy dose sugar cookie, this aptly named Raspberry Ripper uses almost pure indica exclusive Godfather Kush as its root cannabinoid source. Available at South Bay CRC, it’s a $15 freaky-red and pink cookie, that smells like a fresh sugar cookie lightly scented with herb. It’s brittle, granularly sweet and buttery with quite a raspberry punch that’ll make you want to have another taste. There’s no mistaking all the cannabinoids they’ve managed to cram in here, though. Each cookie has a total of 9.2 milligrams of THC, .3 milligrams of CBD, according to SC Lab data. That’s plenty for even chronic users of edibles. Designed to take away aches, pains and depression, patients report it actually gave them energy for the day. Have a bite and wait an hour, as anything called Raspberry Ripper is not to be trifled with.
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SFV OG Kush ’88
OG Kush is a dynasty. And in that dynasty few are as beloved as the original ’88 cut of San Fernando Valley OG Kush, a more dank, peppery, indica-infused version of the classic OG. It all started with Chemdawg back in the day; a fabled strain of undisputed strength, that went West to California where growers are thought to have mixed it with a lemon Thai and a Hindu Kush to yield OG Kush. It took the West Coast by storm with its hybrid mix of lemon-pine-fuel smell, and its combination of uplifting and sedative qualities. In the Valley, one grower selected his best OG Kush plant from several hundred and crossbred it with a landrace Afghani #1, a pure indica hash plant. The resulting SFV OG ’88—available at Platinum Clouds in San Jose—is exceedingly smooth, mellow, complex and highly sought after. Treats stress and pain, patients report. We heart the ’80s.
Kiva Chocolates
Hanging out on Mt. Olympus among the other edibles gods watching over mankind is Kiva. Insomnia, back pain or jet lag better fear her. Each gourmet Kiva bar (available at Natural Herbal Pain Relief in San Jose) rocks 180 milligrams of THC, enough to floor even chronic marijuana users. This is not a food. Keep away from children. Tested by CW Analytical labs, these bars (we sampled Vanilla Chai Milk Chocolate and Mint Irish Cream) contains only the best foodie ingredients like pure cane sugar, full cream milk, cocoa butter, cacao beans, vanilla beans and cannabis extract. Perfectly molded and smooth, with a transcendent mint chocolate smell, Kiva tastes rich, and buttery, and not at all like weed. Only a thin, lingering taste of concentrates hints at her power. Start with just a bite. High doses of THC taken orally are used regularly by patients treating serious issues like chemotherapy nausea, chronic neuropathic pain, and symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Cordero Kush Platinum
The lamb is a lion! First-place winner of the High Times Bay Area Medical Cannabis Cup 2012 in the indica category, Cordero Kush Platinum flawlessly executes classic OG Kush. Proudly hosted at SJ Patients Group in San Jose, Cordero Kush Platinum drills down into regular old OG, with no strange crossings. Cordero (Spanish for “lamb”) refers to the grower, who clearly knows his grass. These Cordero Kush nugs look extra large, dark and exceedingly healthy, expertly manicured to reveal their intricate, dense, spiny, fractal bud structure. The buds shimmer in the light, and magnification reveals fat-headed, model trichome formation. Cordero Kush Platinum smells like 100 percent OG, with that lemon, pine, and fuel stank, but skunkier, funkier and more self-assured. Effective on pain and insomnia, Cordero will have you counting lambs in no time.
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Remember the days when rappers just . . . rapped? That’s so old school. Nowadays they are also practically required to produce movies, act, write screenplays, direct and run record labels. Some of them even design clothes or headphones or star in reality TV shows. Chris Brown recently came up with the brilliant idea of selling Pit Bull Terriers online for a $1,000 a pup (He should probably stick to music). And, like so many other successful artists who started in hip-hop, Ice Cube has diversified his repertoire. The nation was introduced to a young artist calling himself Ice Cube (along with future household names Dr. Dre and Eazy-E) with the advent of N.W.A.—the outfit that practically invented gangster rap. In 1986, N.W.A. detonated Straight Outta Compton on an unsuspecting populace and managed to piss off all the right demographics—endearing them to millions. After months of ferocious infighting, N.W.A. expired from largely selfinflicted wounds in 1991, the same year Ice Cube impressed the hell out of everyone with a brilliantly understated performance in John Singleton’s Academy Award-winning Boyz N The Hood. Since then Cube’s boomeranged back and forth from the screen to the studio, appearing in a slew of movies and television shows, releasing nine studio albums and making guest appearances on tracks by dozens of fellow artists. His first attempt at screenwriting spawned the Friday franchise and—yes—he’s even got his own line of clothing. The man gets around. Usually in a convertible with hydraulics. I wanted to talk about your acting career because since your debut as Doughboy in Boyz N the Hood, acting has become a major part of your career. Is acting something you enjoy? Yeah, I do. I like it. For a creative person like [me], it’s a great way to create on a three-dimensional level. Music is kind of straight audio. You get to do a few videos, but nothing like painting on the canvas of a movie screen. I gotta say I thought you really killed it in Three Kings—which
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I had no expectations going in, and has really become one of my favorite films. Yeah Three Kings was real cool in a lot of aspects. You know we see these kinds of shots all the time. You watch CSI or whatever and you see these shots of the camera going inside the body. But Three Kings was the first time you really seen stuff like this. You’ve spent some time behind the camera yourself. You’ve written screenplays and di-
rected. Is that something you want to do more of? Yeah, eventually. One thing I learned about directing is that you have to be totally committed to one project for the duration. That’s one thing that kind of slid me more towards the producing route. And writing and acting. Because then I get a chance to be involved in more than one project. But I definitely will get back behind the camera at
some point because when you see something in your head nobody else can really deliver it for you. I hear that you like to read a lot. What have you been reading lately? You know, I’ve been writing so much . . .
September 2012 • CULTURE 27 SEPTEMBER
like the corporations that run private prisons, for example. That’s what I’m saying. Since the criminalization of it makes more money for the government than the legalization of it—at this point—it’ll stay a criminal thing. But these vending machine [that dispense medical marijuana to medical marijuana patients] things might be a good idea.
Tell me about what you’re writing. I’m writing the fourth Friday movie, which is funny as hell, and then I’m helping to put together this N.W.A. movie. You’ve been working on that for a while, haven’t you? Yeah, we’ve been working on it for about a year . . . and some change. Because we [are] trying to tell everybody’s story and be as accurate as possible and as entertaining as possible, so it’s taking a little more time—which is cool because I want to get it right. So that’s been occupying my time. But as far as reading . . . Quincy Jones’ autobiography [Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones]. Stuff like that.
What vending machines? They came out with a vending machine where they can get their tax on it. Really? I didn’t know about that. Come on, man. You gotta be up on it! Do you use the medicine yourself? I plead the Fifth.
All by yourself? Yup. Just me and my engineer. And I’ll bring people in as I need them, but I don’t need a crew. I think about all that stuff when I’m at home at my [in-house] studio. I know all my ideas before I get in there. Then I go in and do it how I feel it. It sounds like you have a lot of different stuff going on with the writing, producing, acting and making tunes. But I wouldn’t do them all at the same time. If I’m
Photo by Eric Williams
Your new album, Everything’s Corrupt, is almost completed. Tell me about how you work in the studio. I don’t like nobody in the studio with me.
“For a creative person like [me], it’s a great way to create on a three-dimensional level.” On making movies acting, the record has to wait until I’m done. And if I’m doing music, then the acting has to wait. I’m in the process of doing music and writing this movie so I don’t wanna do nothing but that. I don’t want to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. I’m sure you know all about the federal crackdown on medical marijua-
na. I’m pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but I’m gonna ask it anyway: Where do you stand on the question of legalization? They’ll legalize it once they’ve figured out how to make all the money on it. So you think it’s just a question of economics? Because keeping it illegal makes a lot of people rich too—
Smoke Signals
So, I guess it would be a waste of time asking if you have any favorite strains or if you like any of the baked goods? Nah, I don’t have favorites. They’re like my children. Hey, here’s an interesting fact I discovered when I was looking you up online. Did you know the biggest neutrino particle detector in the world is located at the South Pole and they call it IceCube? I don’t doubt it. I think it’s kinda cool you got name-checked in a cutting-edge science experiment. I am science. c www.icecube.com
When Ice Cube took on the role of Craig in 1995’s Friday, it was a dramatic departure from the Doughboy character he previously embodied in Boyz N The Hood. In Boyz, Doughboy is a high school dropout, ex-con, pistol-packing misanthrope with no redeeming qualities . . . until the very end. Craig, while definitely a layabout, also spends most of his time trying to stay out of trouble and avoid the ghetto pitfalls of his friends and neighbors. But only one flick had Smokey. And you know this!
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Cool Stuff Icy Tokes
Everyone knows that a water pipe is the way to go if you’re looking for a way to filter out the harshness. But how do you make a water pipe better? Lower the temperature, my friends. Just stick Icy Tokes (available in a variety of lengths) in your freezer for 15 minutes, lower it into your pipe and—presto!—your dose just got way cooler. ($15-$89) www.icytokes.com
Darth Vapor T-Shirt
From the same clothing crew that brought you the Weedo Jima T-shirt comes Darth Vapor! A twist on everyone’s favorite Star Wars villain, shock your fanboy friends with the image of Daddy Skywalker making use of a vaporizing volcano. The farce will be with you . . . always. ($19) killyourculture.com
The Med-Tainer
We’ve seen a lot of med containers and jars. A lot. But The MedTainer caught our attention for its two-in-one functionality. Put your meds inside for watertight, airtight and smell-proof storage. But here’s the thing: It doubles as a grinder, too! Double your fun, double your pleasure. ($6.99) www.fkdmedtainer.com
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CULTURE Recipes By Aunt Sandy
Sandy Moriarty is the author of Aunt’ Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook: Comfort Food for Body & Mind and a Professor of Culinary Arts at Oaksterdam University. She is also the co-founder of Oaksterdam’s Bakery.
The end of summer might be bittersweet for some, but the onset of autumn is always time to celebrate. Whip up this delish menu—perfect to keep you nourished for the start of the football season (thank you, NFL!) And since Sept. 26 is Johnny Appleseed Day, we’ve added a tooth-teasing Apple Cannabis Crisp just to sweeten the deal.
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Menu:
Happy Trail Mix Cannabis Crusted Salmon Garlic Mash Fresh Green Beans Apple Cannabis Crisp
Happy Trail Mix 1 cup of Rice Chex cereal 1 cup of Corn Chex cereal 1 cup of Wheat Chex cereal 1 cup small pretzels 1 cup Canna Butter* 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon salt Cannabis (crushed buds) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the Chex cereal and pretzels in a large mixing bowl. In a medium bowl or saucepan, melt the Canna Butter and stir in garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Place the cereal and pretzels on a cookie sheet and pour half the butter mixture over them with a spatula or spoon. Toss the remaining butter mixture well. Bake the trail mix for 5 minutes. Take out of the oven and repeat the previous step using the remaining half of the butter mixture. Let cool and add some crushed cannabis over the top and toss together.
Fresh Green Beans
1 lb. green beans 1 tablespoon melted Canna Butter* 1/4 cup of slivered almonds Salt and pepper to taste Snip the ends off the green beans and cut in half. Drop them into boiling water, reduce the heat once. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes, and drain. Add the Canna Butter, garnish with the almonds and add salt and pepper and serve.
Cannabis Crusted Salmon Makes four servings.
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 cup Happy Trail Mix (crushed to a fine consistency) 3 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon cannabis (crushed buds) 1/4 cup Canna Butter* 4 salmon steaks (about 1/2 lb. per person) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, salt, pepper, Happy Trail mix, cheese and cannabis. Wipe the salmon dry and dredge in the flour mixture, then set aside. In a 9x13 baking pan, melt the Canna Butter in the preheated oven. When the butter is melted and hot, place the dredged salmon steaks into the pan. Baste the upper surface of the salmon with some of the butter in the pan. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Turn over and reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake until tender, about another 15 minutes. September 2012 • CULTURE 33
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Garlic Mash
1 large clove of garlic Olive oil 6 medium-size potatoes (about 2 lbs.) 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons Canna Butter* 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup hot milk or cream Cut the top off the large clove of garlic, drizzle the top with olive oil and place in a baking dish. Bake in a 350-degree oven until tender, about 30 minutes. Set aside. Wash, peel and remove blemishes from the potatoes. Cut into quarters and cook covered for 20 to 40 minutes in 4 cups of boiling water, adding 1/2 teaspoon salt. When the potatoes are tender, drain well and add the Canna Butter, 1 teaspoon of salt and hot milk or cream. Mash with a fork or potato masher until potatoes are creamy. Squeeze the baked clove of softened garlic into the potatoes and mix well.
Apple Cannabis Crisp
Makes SIX servings.
4 cups tart apples, pared, cored and sliced 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup Canna Butter* 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put the apples into a 9-inch pie pan or dish and add the lemon juice. In a large mixing bowl add the remaining ingredients and work the mixture with a pastry blender or your fingers. Lightly blend them so they do not become oily. Spread the crumbly mixture over the apples. Bake for about 30 minutes. Serve hot.
CANNA Butter* 1 cup unsalted butter 1 ounce low to average quality dried leaf marijuana or 1/2 ounce average dried bud 4 cups water Bring water and butter to boil in a small pot, lower heat to simmer. Simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours. Mash and stir frequently to extract all THC from the plant material. After cooking, use cheesecloth to strain the butter/water mixture. Pour about 2 cups clean boiling water over the leaves in the strainer to extract every last drop of butter. Squeeze plant material well to remove as much liquid as possible. Chill the butter/water mixture in the refrigerator until the butter has solidified (1 to 2 hours). Separate butter from water and keep butter in the refrigerator (or freezer for longer storage) until needed.
Legal Disclaimer
Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
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Entertainment Reviews Tomorrows Bad Seeds The Great Escape UrbanTone Who says the ’90s are dead? Well, the calendar. But if you need a little time capsule with a slight modern flair, you should pick up Tomorrows Bad Seeds’ new album The Great Escape. Playing the record immediately takes the listener back to the age of Sublime and Third Eye Blind. It’s like they never left. However, the title track (first on the list) is sort of misleading when it comes to the tone of the album. It’s a rocking rebel anthem that makes you want to kick the ass of any authority figure. Then, the album slips into a somber, far more chill feeling (“One Way,” is a must-add for medicated listening) that, while not bad, is really jarring. Despite the change, the rest of the album is a fun, relaxing and sometimes a deep experience ( “Ballerina Girl”). Worth a listen, even in the 21st century. (Joe Martone)
Marijuana Pest & Disease Control Ed Rosenthal Quick American Publishing When it comes to cultivation, there’s no better friend to the grower than Ed Rosenthal. The man’s been doing god’s work for decades, showing us mere mortals how to grow top-quality herb in ways that are effective and easy to follow. And that’s the charm of Marijuana Pest & Disease Control. With the depth of knowledge of a clinical researcher but with the warmth of a trusted friend, Rosenthal breaks down the essentials with clear, lucid prose and practical instructions—all overseen by an ethos he clearly spells out in the book: “One rule of thumb for controlling pests is to begin with the least invasive methods.” In other words, don’t go for the chemical big guns right off the bat. Need a recipe for making compost tea? Ed’s got you covered. Want to know how to avoid root rot? It’s here. Pick up this book. Your plants will thank you. (Matt Tapia)
Marley Magnolia Pictures Dir. By Kevin McDonald In the decades since Bob Marley’s death in 1981, he’s become such an icon that it’s easy to lose sight of the man behind the legend. Marley remedies that, focusing on his biography in exhaustive detail—from his childhood as the mixed-race son of a Jamaican woman and English soldier to the early musical struggles of the Wailers to his eventual stardom and too-sudden death. Marley is heard from in archival interviews but his story is mostly told by those who knew him—family members, bandmates, girlfriends, even a nurse who treated him at a German hospital in his final days battling cancer. The most powerful moments are when we see him perform in concert footage at various pivotal points in his career. A nice coda is also provided with an end-credit sequence showing fans today from one country after another singing and dancing to his songs of freedom. (Omar Aziz)
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Dave Matthews Band in Concert Who the heck gives up pot to help fight global warming? Dave Matthews, that’s who. Well, his heart is in the right place—the Seattle musician and Grammy winner says his puff-puff-give was a contributor to greenhouse gas—so who are we to pass judgment? “When I realized that by smoking pot, I was putting, like, five tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere every year, I totally realized that I had to do something,” Matthews told a Washington state newspaper. But if you still wanna pass judgment, why not consider Matthews’ comments to Rolling Stone when he was asked about the future of the band: “I don’t know,” he said. “There are two sides to everything. I feed this beast that I’m a part of, and in some way I worry that it loses legitimacy. Then there’s the other part of me that says I’m really lucky to be a part of something that turns a lot of people on and still turns us on.” Man, have fans been going nuts ever since Matthews opened his pie hole. Feed the beast, Dave, please feed the beast. At least until this show in Mountain View . . . and the release of Away from the World on Sept. 11. (Matt Tapia)
IF YOU GO
What: Dave Matthews Band in concert. When/Where: Sept. 9 at Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View. Info: Tickets $18-$1,300. Go to www.theshorelineamphitheatre.com or call (650) 967-3000.
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Events Calendar iREADCULTURE.com Sept. 1 What: Yeasayer in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Info: Tickets $25. Go to www.thefoxoakland.com or call (510) 302-2277. Sept. 3 What: Silicon Valley Americans for Safe Access Chapter meeting. When/Where: 7:30pm at MedEx Collective in Central, 2000 Senter Rd., San Jose. Info: Meets every first Monday of the month. Go to siliconvalleyasa.org. Sept. 4 What: San Francisco Americans for Safe Access Chapter meeting. When/Where: 7:30pm at 847 Howard St., San Francisco. Info: Meets every first and third Tuesday of the month. Go to www. sfsafeaccess.org or email David at dcgoldman@yahoo.com. Sept. 5 What: Axis of Love Meeting. When/Where: 4pm at The
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GET YOUR HITS HERE
Women’s Building, 3543 18th St., Ste. 8, San Francisco. Info: Meets every Wednesday. Sept. 6 What: Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission. When/ Where: 2pm-4pm at City Hall, 2180 Milvia St., 6th floor, Berkeley. Info: Meets every first Thursday of each month. Go to www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ ContentDisplay.aspx?id=31260 or call (510) 981-7402.
Send Listings to calendar@ireadculture.com
Broadway, Oakland. Info: The Youth, Siakol, Teeth, Alamid and Loonie are performing. Tickets $55. Go to www.clubfoxrwc.com or call (605) 369-7770. Sept. 8 What: Petty Theft: The Ultimate Tribute to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers in concert. When/ Where: 9pm at The Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Info: The Tone Stonies also performing. Tickets $15. Go to www.clubfoxrwc.com or call (605) 369-7770.
Sept. 6 What: The Tallest Man on Earth in concert. When/ Where: 8pm at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Info: Tickets $30. Go to www.thefoxoakland.com or call (510) 302-2277.
Sept. 8 What: Doug Benson. When/Where: 4:20pm at The Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose. Info: Tickets $20. Go to www. improv.com/comedyclub/sanjose or call (408) 280-7475.
Sept. 7 What: Dekada 90 Pinoy Rockfest 2012. When/Where: 8pm at The Paramount Theatre, 2025
Sept. 10 What: Blondie & Devo in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Warfield, 982 Market St., San Fran-
cisco. Info: Tickets $39.50-$92.50. Go to www.thewarfieldtheatre. com or call (415) 345-0900 Sept. 10 What: The Vibrators in concert. When/Where: 7pm at The Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Info: Pops and Honey Wilders are also performing. Tickets $10. Go to www.clubfoxrwc.com or call (605) 369-7770. Sept. 10 What: The Hives in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Info: Tickets $29.50. Go to www.thefoxoakland.com or call (510) 302-2277. Sept. 11 What: Hot Chip in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Info: Tickets $35. Go to www.thefoxoakland.com or call (510) 302-2277.
Sept. 12 What: Silversun Pickups in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Info: Tickets $37.50. Go to www.thefoxoakland. com or call (510) 302-2277. Sept. 14 What: Bonnie Raitt with Mavis Staples in concert. When/ Where: 8pm at Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley, Hearst Ave. and Gayley Rd., Berkeley. Info: Tickets $39.50-$115. Go to www.facilities.calperfs.berkeley. edu/greek or call (510) 642-9988. Sept. 14 What: An Evening with Mercy Me and Francis Chan in concert. When/Where: 7pm at The Warfield, 982 Market St., San Francisco. Info: Tickets $27.50-$75. Go to www.thewarfieldtheatre.com or call (415) 345-0900. Sept. 14-15 What: Cedric the Entertainer. When/Where: Various times at The Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose. Info: Tickets $45. Go to www.improv.com/comedyclub/ sanjose or call (408) 280-7475. Sept. 15 What: M.I.R.V. in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The
New Parish, 579 18th St., Oakland. Info: Tickets $15-$20. Go to www.thenewparish.com or call (510) 444-7474. Sept. 16 What: Domingo Gigantes: A Night of Stars in concert. When/ Where: 7pm at HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. Info: Tickets $31-$128. Go to www.hppsj. com or call (408) 999-5735 Sept. 17 What: B’z in concert. When/Where: 7:30pm at The Warfield, 982 Market St., San Francisco. Info: Tickets $50-$65. Go to www.thewarfieldtheatre. com or call (415) 345-0900 Sept. 19 What: East Bay Americans for Safe Access Chapter meeting. When/Where: 6:30pm8pm at Oaksterdam Student Union, 1915 Broadway, Oakland. Info: Meets every third Wednesday of the month. Participants usually include residents of Alameda County, Contra Costa Counties, and various people from Sonoma County and Napa County. Go to www.americansforsafeaccess.org or email eastbayasa@gmail.com.
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Sept. 19 What: Zee Avi in concert. When/Where: 9pm at The New Parish, 579 18th St., Oakland. Info: Tickets $12-$15. Go to www.thenewparish.com or call (510) 444-7474. Sept. 19-20 What: An Evening with Crosby, Stills, and Nash in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. Info: Tickets $75.75-$160 Go to www.thefillmore.com or call (415) 346-3000. Sept. 20-23 What: Batman Live. When/Where: Various times at HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. Info: Tickets $41-$122.50. Go to www.hppsj. com or call (408) 999-5735. Sept. 21 What: Bob Mould in concert. When/Where: 9pm at The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. Info: Tickets $35. Go to www.thefillmore.com or call (415) 346-3000. Sept. 21 What: Los Amigos Invisibles in concert. When/ Where: 8pm at The New Parish,
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579 18th St., Oakland. Info: Tickets $12-$14. Go to www. thenewparish.com or call (510) 444-7474. Sept. 21-22 What: Wilco in concert. When/Where: 7:30pm at Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley, Hearst Ave. and Gayley Rd., Berkeley. Info: Tickets $49.50. Go to www.facilities.calperfs. berkeley.edu/greek or call (510) 642-9988. Sept 21-22 What: Frank Caliendo. When/Where: Various times at The Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose. Info: Tickets $30-$35. Go to www.improv.com/ comedyclub/sanjose or call (408) 280-7475. Sept. 23 What: Merle Haggard in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Warfield, 982 Market St., San Francisco. Info: Tickets $45$200. Go to www.thewarfieldtheatre.com or call (415) 345-0900. Sept. 26 What: United Nations Comedy Tour. When/Where: 8pm
at The Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose. Info: Tickets $12. Go to www.improv.com/comedyclub/ sanjose or call (408) 280-7475. Sept. 27 What: Mac Miller in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Info: Tickets $35. Go to www.thefoxoakland.com or call (510) 302-2277. Sept. 27-30 What: Jeremy Holtz. When/Where: Various times at The Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose. Info: Tickets $17-$20. Go to www.improv.com/comedyclub/ sanjose or call (408) 280-7475. Sept. 28 What: Train in concert. When/Where: 7pm at Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley, Hearst Ave. and Gayley Rd., Berkeley. Info: Tickets $39.50-$79.50. Go to www.facilities.calperfs.berkeley. edu/greek or call (510) 642-9988. Sept. 28 What: Jason Mraz in concert When/Where: 7:30pm at HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. Info: Tickets
$39.50-$59.50 Go to www.hppsj. com or call (408) 999-5735. Sept. 28 What: The Cheeseballs in concert. When/Where: 9pm at the Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway St., Redwood City. Info: Tickets $18-$20. Go to www.foxrwc.com or call (605) 369-7770. Sept. 29 What: Citizen Cope in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Info: Go to www.thefoxoakland.com or call (510) 302-2277. Sept. 29 What: Shins in concert. When/Where: TBA at Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View. Info: Tickets $161-$594 Go to www.theshorelineamphitheatre.com or call (650) 967-3000. Sept. 30 What: Furthur in concert. When/Where: 7pm at Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View. Info: Tickets $65-$893 Go to www.theshorelineamphitheatre.com or call (650) 967-3000.
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42 CULTURE • September 2012
Word Up
Cannabinoids
So many people talk about THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, when discussing marijuana . . . but let’s not forget that there is a whole cornucopia of chemical compounds in cannabis that do a body good. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that interact with our body’s cannabinoid receptors. When they bind to these receptors—that’s when marijuana’s impact take hold: pain relief, euphoria, anti-inflammatory effects, reduced tension, etc. Receptor sites are found in the brain—in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, to be specific. Other receptors are found in the organs (spleen) and immune system (white blood cells). Cannabinoid receptors are also important because they help regulate important functions such as motor skills, pain relief, body temperature and heart rate. Not all marijuana strains are alike. Each has its own cannabinoid profile. For example, those seeking cannabis’ psychoactive effects often gravitate towards strains that have been bred to have high levels of THC. For strains intended for therapeutic purposes or for people who want to minimize marijuana’s psychedelic effects, a strain high in CBD (another cannabinoid) might be just the thing. Here’s a quick rundown of three of the most common cannabinoids you might encounter.
cUltURe Magazine
Guide to Advertisers
collectives CAMPBELL
A2C2 / All American Cannabis Club. 408-429-8405
RICHMOND
7 Stars. 510-758-6337
SAN JOSE
A2C2 / All American Cannabis Club. 408-293-0420 Delta Health Center. 408-493-5928 Elemental Wellness Center. 408-433-3344 Green Dragon. 408-271-9594 Holistic Health Care Co-Operative. 408-409-4422 La Vie MMX. 408-289-1329 Magic Health Inc. 408-291-0080 Natural Herbal Pain Relief. 408-283-9333 Nirvana Wellness Center. 408-954-9888 Platinum Clouds Collective. 408-645-5959 Revolution Health Center. 408-289-1694 SJ Patients. 408-295-5411 South Bay CRC. 408-224-6000 Theraleaf. 408-246-4420
SANTA CLARA
Angel’s Care Collective. 408-986-0131
SANTA ROSA
Revolution Health Center. 408-289-1694
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
This is the most recognizable cannabinoid . . . and the one that tends to get all the limelight. That’s not surprising since it’s the most psychoactive compound in marijuana. It tends to concentrate in the flowers, or buds. If a head change is just what the doctor ordered, then pay attention to this one.
CANNABIDIOL (CBD)
After THC, this is the most well-known cannabinoid. It has minimal to zero psychoactive effects—so if you don’t want a head change with your medicine (or want to minimize such effects), you’re gonna want to choose a strain with a high CBD count. This cannabinoid can reduce inflammation and anxiety and studies show it may be beneficial to good brain health.
CANNABINOL (CBN)
This is another psychoactive cannabinoid that results when THC breaks down as marijuana gets old. If your strain has high levels of CBN, this may be an indication that it has been improperly stored. High CBN also means weaker medical effects.
PRoDUcts AND seRvices
Bulldog Lifestyles. www.bulldoglifestyles.com CannCast. www.canncast.com Cones. www.smokecones.com Dixie Elixirs. www.dixieex.com Kind Medicine. www.kindcaps.com Kush Bottles. www.kushbottles.com LA Container. www.420packaging.com Paramount Imports. 408-286-9839 Silver Surfer Vaporizers. www.silversurfervap.com THCjobs. www.thcjobs.com Yerba Buena. 888-539-8470
PHYsiciANs
420 Evaluations. Oakland. 510-832-5000 Sacramento. 916-480-9000 |San Jose. 408-998-0980 PriceLess Evaluations. San Francisco. 415-796-2254 Sacramento. 415-769-2254 Stephanie Higgins, MD. San Jose. 408-493-3376 Vallejo 420 MD. Vallejo. 707-664-1667 September 2012 • CULTURE 43
Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY—FREEDOM UNDER ATTACK
; First Amendment Blues: (1) A bar in Horry County, S.C., named the Suck Bang Blow filed a lawsuit in May challenging the county’s new ordinance prohibiting motorcyclists’ “burnouts” (enginerevving with back-tire-spinning, creating smoke—and enormous noise). The bar claims that burnouts are important expressions of its customers’ “manliness and macho” and as such are protected by the First Amendment. (2) Luigi Bellavite complained to reporters in Mountain View, Colo., in July
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that the theft of his “Vote Satan” yard sign ought to be prosecuted as a “hate crime” under state law—as he is a member of the Church of Satan. Police called it an ordinary theft.
GOVERNMENT IN ACTION!
; Miniature golf is remarkably simple to play, requiring neither experience nor much exertion, and even toddlers can negotiate their own brand of fun on the course. However, in March, a set of “accessible design” standards went into effect, under the Americans With Disabilities Act,
governing such things as the “slope” of courses (maximum 1:4 rise on some holes), the maximum length of the blades if artificial turf is used, and the minimum area of the “tee-off” landing (48 inches by 60 inches, with a slope not steeper than 1:48). ; The only unlimited-issue U.S. visa allowing fast-lane entrance for certain foreign workers is the O-1, available to those (e.g., scientists, technology engineers) who, in the opinion of the State Department, demonstrate “extraordinary ability.” Reuters reported in June that an O-1 recently went to British journalist Piers Morgan, whose extraordinariness seems limited to replacing Larry King on his CNN interview program, and another to Shera Bechard, Playboy’s Miss November 2010, whose other accomplishment seems to be the creation of an online photo-sharing experience called “Frisky Friday.” ; Canadian rap singer Manu Militari was, until earlier this year, sufficiently patriotic to have received more than $100,000 in government grants that originated with the Canadian Heritage department. However, a June video released ahead of his new album L’Attente portrayed Afghan Taliban fighters targeting a convoy of Canadian soldiers, planting a roadside bomb and aiming their rifles at the Canadians’ heads. Over 150 Canadian soldiers have died fighting the Taliban and their insurgent allies. ; Forgetful: (1) USA Today, quoting a Pentagon official, reported in July that, during the last decade, the Pentagon had paid “late fees” totaling $610 million for not returning leased shipping containers by the due dates. (2) A Government Accountability Office report in July revealed that the federal government’s vast properties include about 14,000 offices and buildings that are vacant (or nearly so), but which the government still pays to maintain (at about $190 million a year). (A large building in Washington, D.C.,’s Georgetown— among the most valuable real estate in the city—has sat mostly
unused for more than 10 years.) (3) The Miami-Dade County, Fla., government confirmed in April that it had discovered, in storage, 298 brand-new vehicles that had been purchased in 2006-2007, but which had never been used.
POLICE REPORT
; New Mexico is an “open carry” state, with otherwise-law-abiding adults authorized to display loaded handguns in public. However, in the town of Vaughn (pop. 500, located mid-nowhere), perhaps the only ones not authorized to carry are the town’s two police officers. Chief Ernest Armijo had been convicted in 2011 of criminal nonsupport of a wife and two sons, and among the conditions of probation was the prohibition on gun possession. Deputy Brian Bernal has his own domestic issue: a conviction for family violence that bars him, under federal law, from carrying. ; Most people who call an FBI field office would be in serious trouble if they left an answeringmachine message for a named agent, along with the caller’s name and telephone number, in a message consisting of at least 13 F-word epithets threatening to “break (the agent’s) (F-word) neck.” However, when Thomas Troy Bitter left the message at the San Diego field office, according to a July report in OC Weekly, the agency, after initially charging Bitter, quietly dropped the prosecution with no further repercussions. OC Weekly speculated that Bitter is a confidential informant whom the FBI was late in paying. ; Specialist Perps: (1) In May, Chicago police arrested a man they believed had just minutes earlier used a Bobcat front-end loader to crash through the window of a Family Dollar store and steal two cans of deodorant and a handful of gift cards (and nothing else) and walk away. (2) Police in Lorain, Ohio, were looking in June for a man about 18 years old who had been seen on surveillance video breaking into the same Sunoco convenience store several times recently and taking up to $600 worth of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. September 2012 • CULTURE 45
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September 2012 • CULTURE 47