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departments 10 Letter from the Editor Concentrates might be the latest trend . . . but they’ve been around for centuries.
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Punk to the Core
Hardscrabble icon Henry Rollins tells it like it is. Just stand back. Photo by Heidi May
12 News Nuggets Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere— and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers. 26 Strain, Edible & Concentrates Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains, edibles & concentrates currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 38 Destination Unknown Morocco’s magic includes the (in)famous “Hippie Trail.” 40 Profiles in Courage Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you.
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features 18 End of an Era A final update from one of California’s premier centers for medicinal cannabis research.
42 Cool Stuff From Sensi Sudz medicated soups to the Hamm Brushland Coriolis Recycler, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 44 Recipes Whether you rock the gas, the charcoal, the electric (George Foreman, anyone?) or the portable, fire that grill up! 46 Shooting Gallery Here are the green-friendly things we saw you doing around town. 52 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture.
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letter from the editor
Vol 5 IssUE 1
Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
GET YOUR CLICK HERE
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Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Arts & Entertainment Editor Evan Senn
Editorial Contributors
Ancient Medicine One of the things that strikes me about medical cannabis is that it is—to quote an old song—“a manysplendored thing.” No matter what your condition, no matter what your ailment, no matter what symptom or disease is affecting your quality of life, there’s a form of cannabis for it. For many patients, smoking flowers is the go-to medicating method. For others who can’t or don’t want to inhale smoke there are edibles. Those who want to keep cannabis’ psychoactive properties at bay can turn to topical creams or perhaps CBD-rich strains that are high in body relief, low in head change. But what about patients who are seriously suffering from heavy-duty ills and conditions, such as neuropathic pain or that down-to-thebone pain from cancer and/or chemo? What then? Patients who need to reach for the big guns also have something to turn to, something that, when all is said and done, has been around for centuries actually: concentrates, glorious concentrates. You see, while budder, wax, oil, shatter and other forms of concentrates seem to have exploded in popularity in our community over the past couple of years . . . really, they are all just new forms of ancient medicine. Hash (or hashish) is the original concentrate . . . or to put it another way, concentrates are the refined, new-school versions of the stuff Nepalese workers have been hand rubbing for centuries. Yes, I said “centuries.” We started with temple balls . . . now we have globs and dabs. In fact, the history of hash being used for medicinal (as well as recreational) use goes back to at least the 3rd millennium BC, according to some scholars. Don’t assume that the popularity of concentrates is something new—it’s not. Consider this: During the 1840s in Paris, a group of writers, aesthetes, poets and similar types would gather to experiment with hashish. And the group was far from shy when it named itself— what else—The Club of Hashish-Eaters (these guys were ingesting edibles!). French writer Charles Baudelaire wrote a book in 1860 that
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detailed his experiences with hashish. American writer Fitz Hugh Ludlow, in 1857, wrote The Hasheesh Eater. In the U.S., roughly between the 1860s and early 1900s, legal hashish smoking parlors (a Turkish influence) became the rage. At one point, hashish was so revered in Arab lands, that one poet lavishly praised its fabulous properties: . . . its intoxicating aroma conveying to you by way of your nostrils its exhilarating effect. No wine or tonic could generate Such a heavenly sensation. “Heavenly sensation.” I like that. We’ve come a long way, concentrates . . . but in a sense, we’re right back where it all started, no? For patients, concentrates (which are just another form of MMJ, remember), offers us relief, healing and the quality of life that no wine or tonic could generate. Enjoy our 710 Issue!!!! c
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taxpayer money and discriminates against African Americans—even though blacks and whites use cannabis at roughly the same Pro-legalization Men’s Wearhouse founder gets the rate, according original research by the ACLU. More than half of all boot drug arrests in this country are He might have guaranteed men related to cannabis, according to they would look good in a suit, the group’s research. Of the 8.2 but apparently there was no job million arrests between 2001 and security for Men’s Wearhouse founder George Zimmer, who was 2010, nearly 90 percent of them Oakland, San Leandro were for simply possession. fired last week. The man behind mayors: Back off, federal The research also indicates the Fremont-based clothing government! that, despite the roughly same retailer—and the famous “You’re Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and rate of usage, blacks are nearly gonna like the way you look. I San Leandro Mayor Stephen four times more likely than whites guarantee it” tagline—was also Cassidy recently joined the to be arrested for cannabis. In a proponent, at least once, for U.S. Conference of Mayors in Iowa, Washington, D.C., Minnesota cannabis legalization. urging the federal government and Illinois, African Americans In 2010, Zimmer donated to respect local cannabis laws, were 7.5 to 8.5 times more likely $50,000 to support California’s according to the San Francisco failed Proposition 19, which would than whites to be arrested. Chronicle’s “Smell the Truth” The ACLU estimates that have legalized certain cannabis blog. The conference passed a about $3.6 billion was spent on activities. Zimmer’s mother had resolution saying “that federal died because of cancer. Her death enforcing cannabis laws. laws, including the Controlled led Zimmer to support research Substance Act, should be into the therapeutic use of MDMA amended to explicitly allow states as well as medicinal cannabis for to set their own marijuana policies people suffering from terminal without federal interference; and conditions and end-of-life issues, that until such time as federal according the ABC News and The law is changed, the United States Huffington Post. Conference of Mayors urges the President of the United States to reexamine the priorities of federal agencies to prevent the expenditure of resources on actions that undermine the duly enacted marijuana laws of states.” The resolution had 18 ACLU: Cannabis-related co-sponsors, including Seattle arrests and enforcement is Mayor Mike McGinn and San racially biased Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who has Arresting people for having been pushing for a reasonable cannabis wastes billions in MMJ ordinance in his coastal community. “The prohibition on marijuana has been ineffective and counterproductive,” Cassidy said, according to the blog. “Voters in states and cities that wish to break the stranglehold of organized crime over the distribution and sale of marijuana in their communities by legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana should have the option of doing so.”
THE STATE
THE WORLD France takes the first step in clearing the way for cannabis-based medicines
Viva le France! The country that gave us the Statue of Liberty and saved our butts during the Revolutionary War has found its compassionate side. France recently modified its public health code to allow the use of cannabis-based medicines, including the plant itself. Up until now, non-industrial uses of cannabis had been prohibited. However, cannabis-based medicines must still be approved by the country’s National Medical Safety Agency. The changes allow “the production, transport, export, possession, offering, acquisition or use of specialty pharmaceuticals that contains one of these (cannabis-derivative) substances.” But even with these changes, observers and cannabis medicine
THE NATION
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Fire by Teresita Fernandez
proponents expect it will be some time before such medicines made their way into the hands of patients and the sick. “The law allows us above all to unblock the process of launching research into cannabinoids,” Philippe Gaertner, a spokesman for a French pharmacists union, told English-language French news site The Local. “I’m not sure we’ll have these medicines on the market quickly.
“Beyond Belief: 100 Years of the Spiritual in Modern Art”
Former Mexican president Vicente Fox supports legalization, regulation
Mexico’s former president (and former Coca-Cola executive), Vicente Fox, publicly announced his support for legalizing and regulating cannabis, arguing that it would deal a blow to violent drug cartels by taking away their profits. The former head of state even suggested he would consider cultivating once the plant was legalized. “I am a farmer,” Fox told reporters at his Fox Center in central Mexico’s Guanajuato state. “Once marijuana is legitimate and legal, I can do it.” Fox was president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006
for the conservative National Action Party. Roughly three years ago, he joined several other former Latin American leaders to advocate for cannabis decriminalization. “Marijuana with adequate controls and with legalization can perfectly well be an operating, legal industry [in Mexico] that would take millions of dollars away from the criminals,” Fox said.
by the numbers
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The number of lives lost in Mexico due to drug cartel violence: 70,000 (Source: The Huffington Post).
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The amount of money (in millions) that former Microsoft manager Jamen Shively raised to create a cannabis business and brand in Washington state: 10 (Source: CBS News).
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The amount of monthly profit (in dollars) Shively’s business plan says each of his “pot stores” would generate: 120,000 (Source: CBS News).
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The number of mayors (including those from Oakland and San Leandro) who signed a pro-cannabis resolution at the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors: 18 (Source: San Francisco Chronicle).
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The number of U.S. cities represented at the conference: 1,309 (Source: The Sacramento Bee).
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The amount of money (in billions) spent on raciallybiased cannabis arrests: 3.6 (Source: Sacramento Observer) The number of votes recently needed to move forward an MMJ regulation bill proposed by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano: 6 (Source: The Associated Press).
The total number of U.S. cannabis arrests (in millions) since 1965, cited by the conference: 22 (Source: U.S. Conference of Mayors).
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The total number of U.S. cannabis arrests since 2011 alone: 757,969 (Source: San Francisco Chronicle).
The percentage of drug arrests in 2010 that were for cannabis: 52 (Source: ACLU). The number of people (in millions) arrested for cannabis between 2001 and 2010: 7+ (Source: ACLU).
The estimated amount of money (in billions of dollars) that U.S. states spend every year on enforcing cannabis laws: 3.6 (Source: Yahoo News).
The length (in months) of the relationship that a qualified patient from New Hampshire would need to have with a physician before being approved for cannabis: 3 (Source: ConcordPatch).
Some art can move you to tears, some art can make you angry or aroused, some art can even evoke an epiphany. This is the kind of art that carries a weight that is difficult to express in words—it is something you have to experience in person, it’s almost spiritual. Standing in front of a painting by Mark Rothko, a light installation by Robert Irwin or a sculptural installation by Teresita Fernandez can change your life if you let it. The power of art is incredible. While SFMOMA is under construction, the museum paired up with their neighbor, the Contemporary Jewish Museum to produce an entire exhibition on aweinspiring artwork. Jointly organized by the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, this expansive exhibition—spanning 1911 to 2011—journeys into the far-reaching connections between the ethereal or spiritual power of some contemporary art. Featuring amazing art installations and works by diverse artists ranging from early 20th-century visionaries such as Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian to leading postwar and contemporary artists including Jay DeFeo, Kiki Smith and Zarina, “Beyond Belief” offers a fresh new vision of astounding works from SFMOMA’s collection.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Beyond Belief” art exhibit WHEN/WHERE: Up thru Oct. 27 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St, San Francisco. INFO: Admission $5-$12, every first Tuesday free. Visit www.thecjm.org. JULY 2013 • CULTURE 15
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FLASH
Medical Frontiers UniverSity of California cannabis researchers wrap up 13 years of study {By Philip Dawdy} In 1999, the published medical literature supporting the medical benefits of cannabis was thin, so California’s State Legislature did something to push back against a federal government that insisted there was no medical value to cannabis: it created the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research and gave it funding to conduct clinical trials. The Center’s charge was to investigate on the efficacy and risks of using cannabis to treat human ailments. Opened in 2000, the Center, at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine, recently published its final study, one of six randomized, clinical trials that it has underwritten over the last 13 years. The studies mostly centered on cannabis’ use as a pain treatment. In the final study published last December in the Journal of Pain, researchers found that low-strength vaporized cannabis (1.29 percent THC) reduced pain in patients with neuropathic pain by 30 percent. Many medical cannabis studies include a small number
of subjects, but this study had 39 subjects. Other Center-sponsored studies have had similarly large sample sizes. But with its original funding now gone, the Center will not be gathering anymore data, certainly not until California’s budget picture improves. In summarizing the six studies, the Center’s co-director took a small swing at the federal government. “The big picture is that there’s enough positive data that this notion of cannabis being a Schedule 1 drug certainly deserves reconsideration,” says J. Hampton Atkinson, the Center’s co-director and a psychiatrist at UCSD. He adds that California is the only state in the U.S. to spend its own money on medical cannabis research. In terms of getting positive attention from more mainstream researchers, Atkinson says it’s still a tough slog. “I don’t know that we’re bending things too much,” he says. “These sorts of results would get more attention if this were [a] Schedule 2 drug and researchers could get research funding. The federal gov-
ernment discourages people.” Atkinson reports that all of the Center’s studies found positive results for medicinal cannabis and no risks. Interestingly, he says that research found the best results at THC concentrations of 2 percent to 4 percent, and that effects were no more profound at 8 percent THC. While many in the medical cannabis world assume that more is better when it comes to THC percentages, Atkinson says the “therapeutic window” appears at lower doses. Keep in mind, however, that the Center had to use cannabis grown at the University of Mississippi under contract to the federal government and Ole Miss cannabis is renowned for being weak in THC. How would today’s super strains of medical cannabis with 20 percent
Prioritizing Since its founding, the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research has worked hard to look at cannabis research that will “enhance understanding of the efficacy and adverse effects of marijuana as a pharmacological agent.” The diseases and conditions that the Center had prioritized for funding and study include—and these should be pretty familiar to longtime MMJ patients—appetite suppression, weight loss and cachexia due to HIV and other conditions; chronic pain, such as neuropathic pain; severe nausea and vomiting due to cancer and its treatment; and severe muscle spasticity, such as caused by multiple sclerosis (this is what Montel Williams has). 18 CULTURE • JULY 2013
and more of THC work medically? That will, of course, need to await further research. Atkinson is not a fan of the old Drug Warrior argument that America cannot have cannabis use of any kind because it’s a threat to children somehow. “We’re talking about treating cancer and HIV patients in their 40s and 50s, not pre-adolescent kids,” he says. For now, the center’s mission is complete but it will remain in existence as a resource for other interested researchers, says Atkinson. c www.cmcr.ucsd.edu
MS IS VERY SERIOUS
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Simply Dab-ulous
One of the fortunate things about the world of medical cannabis is that there is something there for everyone: flowers, edibles, tinctures, topicals . . . and concentrates, glorious concentrates! In honor of this potent, centuriesold form of medicine that patients are turning to in droves, CULTURE presents our inaugural “710 Issue.” While the names, consistencies and types vary, let us never lose sight of one critical fact: concentrates are medicine. Enjoy.
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ISSUE The Traits of a Good Concentrate A Patient’s Guide to Hash, Wax, Budder and Beyond By David Downs Hundreds of thousands of patients across the country are using more and more hash, kief, “wax,” “shatter” and other forms of concentrated medicine. The explosion of concentrates’ popularity is only equaled by how unregulated the market is. As a service to CULTURE readers, we consulted experienced concentrate buyers from leading dispensaries nationwide—as well as the best hash makers and lab managers testing the stuff—to develop a “Patient’s Guide” for determining the traits of a good ‘trate.
+ ANCIENT FUTURE
Hand-rolled hash (charas) as well as dry-screened (kief) and watersieved (bubble hash) concentrates have existed for millennia, historians note. But over the last three years hash-makers have adapted for cannabis industrial processes similar to those used to extract vegetable oil, as well as vanilla or essential oils found in coffee and other food items. These methods all use some medium (a solvent, cold water, C02, etc.) to strip off cannabis’ external glands—called trichomes. Trichomes contain the plant’s psychoactive and therapeutic molecules, like THC and CBD, plus aromatic molecules called terpenes. Terpenes give OG Kush and Grand Daddy Purple their distinctive smell. Concentrates are divided into non-solvent (kief, bubble hash) and solvent. The names of solvent types of concentrates come from their consistency (and, to an extent, appearance): wax, budder, shatter and oil. Patients add concentrates to joints or bowls, or vaporize them on a health stone, nail, skillet or in a vape pen. Ideally, trained chemists in a lab-grade setting are using safe, Class 3 edible solvents like n-butane or isopropyl alcohol to strip trichomes from the plant. Then, controlled heat and atmospheric pressure is used to purge all residual solvent from the concentrate. But the field is unregulated, so in reality, “this stuff is so all over the place,” says Dave Hodges, owner of All American Cannabis Club in San Jose. Hodges buys hash for the 3-year-old collective and uses about a gram of wax a day. “The best concentrates start with the best herb,” notes Rhett Jordan, owner of Native Roots Apothecary, as well as Rasta Bubble and Native Roots Extracts in Denver, Colorado. That means fresh trim or bud that is free of pesticides, fungicides and other contaminants. 22 CULTURE • JULY 2013
+ FLAME TEST
Most club buyers use a flame test to see how a concentrate reacts. The best solvent hash vaporizes in a “smooth boil,” says Jordan. Sizzles, pops and crackles indicate water, residual solvent or other issues. Concentrates should not catch fire—or spark. “I call it fireworks,” says Moore. “That is a bad sign,” Jordan adds. V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
+ SKUNK FUNK
+ FOLLOW THE LIGHT
Even with a great strain, shoddy hash-making can lead to mold. It’s a plague on bubble hash, says Josh Wurzer, owner of SC Laboratories, which tests thousands of California concentrates per month. Mold on hash is often white, furry and appears in a main patch. The smell is a dead giveaway. “It smells like sour milk,” says Paul Moore, manager for The Healing Leaf Collective Garden in Lake Stevens, Washington. Solvent-based concentrates don’t have the same mold problems as bubble hash, says Wurzer, but wax, budder, shatter and oil can come with their own special baggage. “Light color, dry texture and good smell,” is Hodges’ short-hand for good solvent hash.
Pure THC-A is a crystalline solid that is translucent white, amber or cream, and crumbly—and the best waxes are just that. Wax and budder should be as light as possible, and semi-translucent. “Lighter is better,” says Hodges. Strain type and the trichome color can influence a concentrate’s hue, experts say, but if it’s a “dark, black blob,” Wurzer says, something is off. The color may be plant pigment, leaf, dirt, the effect of excess temperature or—worse—mold. Shatter should be as clear as stained glass and have “no bubbles,” says Jordan. “No bubbles, definitely not in shatter,” says Moore. Bubbles mean water or residual solvent, experts say. “And water equals mold,” says Hodges.
+ NOSE KNOWS
The best-made concentrates will “capture the essence of the flower,” says Wurzer. Waxes and budders are the most aromatic and shatter is the least, but will smell like its source strain when vaporized. Shoddy solvent hash makers use cheap butane or propane contaminated with sulfur, mercaptan and other chemicals whose telltale smell is a dead giveaway. “It just stinks like a leaky heater,” Wurzer says. “That smell is an indication that it’s toxic.”
+ GHOST OF THE FLOWER
Great hash should taste “strictly like the strain it came from—whether it be an OG or a Haze, you can tell,” says Moore. Sub-par product can taste stale, bitter, burnt or chemical-laden. And solvent hash should never be stored on wax paper, Hodges notes. “It’ll taste like a f*#@ing candle.”
+ MORE THAN A FEELING
Wax should be dry and crumbly, experts state. Gooeyness or wetness in a wax, budder or shatter indicates the presence of something other than trichomes. Shatter should generally behave like glass at room temperature and shatter or snap. The consistency of different types of oil varies widely. Hodges examines oils by smearing a dab out on a piece of white paper, looking for light color and zero particulates. The best oil is Clear Concentrate, says Rick Pfrommer, manager of Harborside Health Center in Oakland. Totally seethrough with zero residual solvent, “Clear is just phenomenal,” he says.
+ WHERE AND HOW TO GET
Read online reviews of concentrate sellers on Yelp, WeedMaps, StickyGuide and elsewhere, Pfrommer says (CULTURE’s concentrate reviews are also an excellent source of information). Patronize established businesses that test for residual solvents like Harborside Health Center does. And grill your budtender, says Moore. “If you’re asking a lot of questions and your budtender doesn’t know, maybe they should,” says Pfrommer. c
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ISSUE
Concentrates 101 By Charmie Gholson As “dabbing” builds in popularity, concentrates have become more widely available. Many patients find high potency medical marijuana concentrates particularly effective in treating chronic and debilitating conditions. One “dab”—or small glob of concentrate— vaporized in the morning can alleviate the symptoms of Crohn’s disease or multiple sclerosis, for example, for a good part of the day; whereas smoking flowers would be required much more frequently to achieve levels of relief. Throw in the added benefit of a delivery method that offers folks fast, powerful relief without having to combust plant matter and it’s no wonder patients across the country are turning to these highly potent cannabis extracts instead of smoking flowers. Concentrates are produced by separating the active ingredients, trichomes and resins, from the cannabis plant. Three common methods for doing so are dry sift, solvents and solvent-less methods.
+ TYPES
Dry sift methods have been used for thousands of years. Trichomes are extracted by filtering cannabis through silkscreens and collecting the crystals. This substance is called kief, which can be pressed together to form hash. Bubble Hash (a solvent-less method) is made by churning or blending flowers, trimmings and leaves in a large container with ice and water. The cold temperature and vigorous mixing separates the cannabis resin from the plant. Then it’s filtered out, collected, dried and cured. Bubble hash can be vaporized, rolled into a joint or smoked out of a pipe. Solvent extracts: Use of solvents such as alcohol, CO2 and butane to chemically extract cannabinoids. Butane Honey Oil or BHO is one of the more widely available and popular solvent extracted concentrates. According to Dablife.com, BHO is a “concentrated cannabis extract made by pushing liquid butane (which liquefies easily) through a tube packed with frosty buds. The resulting solution is a mix of oils, waxes, cannabinoids, terpenes, and sometimes chlorophyll.” (Note: this procedure is complex and we’re very much over simplifying, so please don’t try this at home without proper instruction and ventilation. Also, in some MMJ states, BHO is illegal to make, but not to possess) BHO can be dried and whipped into “budder,” which is waxy and dry. Wax is made using butane gas as the extraction solvent. Texture and
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color are key factors in determining the quality of the wax—the more golden and crumbly, the better. Wax that’s dark and contains liquid may contain leftover solvent and plant matter. In CO2 extraction or Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) the solvent is pushed through the plant matter at a high pressure and separates the matter precisely, which isolates only the purest essence of the cannabis. The result is pure, transparent, amber oil.
+ DABBA DO
Once the concentrate is made, you can now “dab” which is the term used for dropping or dabbing small amounts of the concentrate onto an astronomically heated surface, and then inhaling the vapors. The special glass pipes used for dabbing are known as oil rigs. The oil is dropped onto a nail (typically made of titanium) heated with a blow torch until it reaches the perfect temperature, then the concentrate is vaporized and smoked. You may also use a vaporizer pen (or vape pen) which is more convenient and easy to use than an oil rig, although both methods produce roughly the same effect. Concentrates do carry some concerns such as: safety during processing; ensuring the product is tested and free of solvents; legality issues, but by taking proper precautions with ventilation while producing the concentrates, as well as ensuring the solvents are all removed from the material, the use of concentrates can provide health benefits and relief to the folks who need it most. c
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strain, edible & concentrate reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
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#STAYCHILLED Brownie This very high-dose indica brownie by Green Ticket Bakery has 324 mg of THC in it, for use with severe medical conditions like chemotherapy pain and withdrawal from opioids and alcohol. All-natural and alcohol- and cannabutter-free, the brownie contains sugar, flour, eggs, hash, salt, vanilla and vegetable glycerin. It smelled frickin‘ phenomenal and it tasted really, really authentic for how many cannabinoids were packed in. Cocoa notes wafted off of it, and the dense, cake-like consistency of a brownie was there, too. This medicament is the equivalent of about 16 full-dose, 20mg Marinol pills (synthetic THC) so it’s important keep it separate from food. Take no more than a third of the brownie and wait one hour. Effect varies by each person. Over-medication can cause nausea and disorientation. #STAYLIFTED, a sativa brownie, is also available.
Wedding Cake The Cookies craze of 2013 continues with Wedding Cake from Greenleaf Solutions in Vallejo, a delectable mix of Cookies and Cherry Pie. It’s sweeter than Cookies while retaining the smell we’ve come to demand. Some kind of mad alchemy occurred when growers over at San Francisco’s The Hemp Center combined OG Kush, Cherry Pie and Durban Poison to make Girl Scout Cookies. The chemmy lemon, hashy berry and grassy fruit merged into a minty, scrumptious bouquet, with a potent indica-dominant effect. Chillaxing had a new synonym, and a craze was born. Cookies took the Los Angeles Cup in 2013, and hybridizing brings us Wedding Cake: dark, dense and pine tree-shaped. Funky, fruity notes topped the complex Cookies balance. Patients report using indica-dominant hybrids for nausea, appetite stimulation and sleep disorders.
Corleone Kush La Vie MMX in San Jose has an offer you can’t refuse—Corleone Kush, a hitman of an indica developed by The Cali Connection. Corleone Kush is reportedly a cross of Pre-’89 Bubba Kush and an infamous San Fernando Valley OG Kush phenotype. We saw the old-world indica parentage in our sample—a big, dark, dusty asteroid of a nug. Ours smelled candy-sweet like a Jack Herer but with berry and spice. Very dense, spiky and trichome-powdered, our Corleone smelled even sweeter and incense-like when ground—not like an OG, like a hyperJack. Smoking revealed those indica hash notes. A great nighttime medicine, Corleone Kush immediately settles into the body, causing muscle relaxation, and drowsiness. Patients report using such potent indicas for insomnia and neuropathic pain. Very tasty, very effective.
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CORRECTION: CULTURE’s NorCal edition for June 2013 incorrectly spelled the name of the Kananga strain available at Medi Marts in San Jose.
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Blue Vortex Don’t worry. Be happy. That’s the message Revolution Health Center in San Jose sends with Blue Vortex, a stronger, sativa variant of Blue Dream that decreases anxiety while adding energy. It’s a cross of mainstream favorite Blue Dream—which is name-checked by Justin Timberlake on The 20/20 Experience—and Vortex, a 2010 Cup-winner from TGA Subcool seeds. Blue Dream is Blueberry and Haze, while Vortex combines Apollo 13 and Space Queen. Our samples were very Blue Dream-like: light green with long orange pistils. The blue spheres smelled really grassy and light—not berry or funky—and very much like Haze. The trichome-dusted, soft, dry medium density nugs were well-cured. Grinding released a hint of berry and lemon. The smoke was light, Haze-tasting and potent without an after-taste. Patients are using cannabis sativas for depression and anxiety.
Big Pete’s Treats Gluten Free Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Oh, Big Pete, this gluten free cookie is amazing; so sugary, and buttery-smelling, with those big chocolate chips. Ours felt homemade as it bent softly in our hands, then crumbled into three moist chunks. We had to resist the urge to pig out on these edibles because they tasted so good. One must go slow, we knew. The cookies come in indica and sativa varieties as well as 40mg and 80mg strengths. One 40 mg cookie can be considered two doses. Aside from THC, sativas and indicas can have different cannabinoid profiles. Consequently, the sativa cookie was generally more energetic and while the indica cookie can be used for sleep. Patients are eating cannabinoids in order to get the anti-pain, nausea and spasticity effects of the plant without exposing their lungs to smoke. Keep away from pets.
Shatterhouse Presents Sour Grapes Shatter One of the best performing shatter we’ve seen in a while, Sour Grapes Shatter from Canna Culture in San Jose lives up to the name. Our sample came as one single amber wafer that was the transparency of stained glass and was so brittle that it broke at room temperature. The Sour Grapes strain is reportedly a mix of essentially Mendocino purples and Chemdawg X Sour Diesel. Someone clearly likes their purpleflavored sour candy. This concentrate produced by Shatterhouse Presents vaporizes exquisitely into an extremely smooth smoke with a hint of sour, earthy, grapeyness. The potent hybrid concentrate decreases ocular pressure, lifts mood and unwinds tension. Medical cannabis patients are turning to such concentrated hybrids for severe back pain, appetite stimulation during chemotherapy, and insomnia.
Platinum Girl Scout Cookies A combination of OG Kush, Durban Poison and Cherry Pie, Girl Scout Cookies is a futuristic global hybrid. OG Kush’ roots run to Colorado, then Thailand. Cherry Pie is Californian, with Afghani roots. And Durban Poison? That’s straight South African. Together, they’re arguably better than the sum of their parts, and Bay Leaf in San Jose does not disappoint with its Platinum Cookies. The sharp, astringent OG notes seemingly cut the air, followed by the berry hash smell of the Cherry Pie. The Durban gives this girl its stretch—our nug was one long, clumpy, bulbous spear with light-green colored leaves and brown pistils. Verdant, microscopic fields of trichomes shimmered in the light. Grinding unleashed musky, earthy incense notes, and the smoke was divine. Patients use such indica-dominant hybrids to treat a wide range of maladies including migraine and arthritis.
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Connoisseur Wax
Super Skunk Wax
Concentrating the active ingredients in cannabis can create medicines much more potent than flowers alone. The use of edible solvents in the last few years has led to a huge uptick in demand for such “waxes,” which now comprise 30 percent of some Bay Area dispensaries’ sales. Wax is the primary type of solvent-based concentrate, and tends to be the most fragrant and flavorful because it contains many of the aromatic molecules that get removed by further refinement. Connoisseur Wax, from MedMar Healing Center in San Jose, gave us loads of hashy, indica notes. This greenbrown sample was generally dry, but a little tacky, making it very easy to dab. We used a hot metal attachment to a waterfiltered pipe called a “nail” to sample the flavorful smoke, which was very hashy and potent. Patients use hybrid concentrates such as these to treat PMS and anorexia.
Holistic Health Care Cooperative in San Jose has one of the largest selections of concentrates in the Bay Area, and even they are stoked on this Super Skunk Wax. This translucent, goldencolored concentrate looks really refined. It has a huge amount of the original sweet, musky, hashy Super Skunk terpenes in it. Super Skunk is a classic from Sensi Seeds in The Netherlands, a vigorous offspring of Sensi’s best Skunk backcrossed with its true Afghani parents to produce a super hybrid for Skunk lovers. Our sample was very, very dry and super crumbly— two good signs. It was also easy to clump up a perfectly sized dab. HHCC’s Super Skunk wax vaporized smoothly on a hot nail into light, pungently skunky smoke. Patients are using these indica concentrates to treat PTSD-related insomnia, and the neuropathic pain associated with cancer.
White Rhino Wax The folks over at the 3-year-old A2C2 in San Jose consider themselves a concentrates-first community. Their founder is also their chief wax buyer and devout consumer of wax. When they pointed us to this White Rhino Wax— we got excited. First off, the color is phenomenal—a chalky, translucent white to match its name. Dutch breeders Green House seeds created the White Rhino strain, which has taken two Cannabis Cups. Its Afghan, Brazilian and South Indian genetics are 60/40 indica-dominant and one of a kind. We still got some of the source flower’s berry-hash notes off this concentrate. The wax was stiff and dry, then broke and crumbled finely under a dabber. It vaporized in a fine, smooth sizzle without residue. The light powerful smoke reportedly treats pain, some types of ADD and nausea.
Palliative OG Shatter
Kandy Kush First off, we love the packaging of this Kandy Kush Shatter from Silicon Valley ARC Healing Center in San Jose. It comes in a little, plastic jewel case with the shatter tucked inside on parchment paper. This stuff looks perfect: very transparent with a golden, amber hue. It even has a few terpenes left in it from of its source material, Kandy Kush. DNA Genetics is on the package but this is actually its award-winning, premium “Reserva Privada” brand strain, mixing OG Kush and Trainwreck. A group called Conscious Concentrates created the shatter, which was a little soft at room temperature. It vaporized exquisitely, with a smooth “ssssss” sound, and the vapor was remarkably sweet, flavorful and strong. Patients report using this 60/40 indica-dominant hybrid for symptoms of glaucoma, Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Sharp, lemony, chemmy and dank—OG has one of those smells you’ll never forget, and for us, cannot live without. Some may feel OG has been done to death, but, leave it to Palliative Health Center in San Jose to remind us why we fell in love in the first place. Their brand name “Palliative OG” represents a perfect example of the strain, and is the source material for their Palliative OG Shatter—a highly refined concentrate. We smelled the OG when we opened the bag—rare for a shatter, and a good sign. Inside was a near-perfect wafer that snapped when we pulled it. The sample boiled evenly and residue-free on a nail and the smooth, flavorful smoke had that solid OG taste. Patients use OG Kush to treat stress and tension.
Legal Disclaimer
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Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical cannabis concentrates. The reviews listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only when medical cannabis is not a violation of state law. Please consume responsibly. Concentrates are legal and covered under Prop. 215 and SB 420, and they are considered a form of medical cannabis (H&S 11018). Without a doctor’s recommendation for medical cannabis, the possession of concentrates in California can be a felony (PC 1170).
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Ever since the death of Mark Twain in 1910, the country has been in constant need of homegrown, brutally honest authors to gaze upon our world with X-ray perception and tell us the real truth of how we are doing things right or wrong, regardless of who we are or the extent of the backlash. Henry Rollins is a musician, performer and writer that has been doing just that with his regular journalistic contributions to magazines such as Details, LA Weekly, Vanity Fair and The Huffington Post. Along with his stand up comedy, spoken word performances and YouTube series, “WordswithMeaning!” Rollins’ critical observations have been the perfect vehicle for a sustained, uncompromising assault on hypocrites, idiots and pundits on both the left and the right at a time when everyone else seems to be lining up to kiss a large amount of corporate and/or government ass to make a buck. Although the term has been used so many times it is nearly a cliché, “Renaissance Man” is the best way to describe the modern American philosopher known to the world as Henry Rollins. He’s been the lead singer of the legendary hardcore punk band Black Flag, and was the frontman for the critically acclaimed, commercially successful Rollins Band. He’s also performed alongside Robert DeNiro in Heat, played a cop hunting down Charlie Sheen in The Chase, appeared on David Lynch’s cult classic Lost Highway, and held his own as a central antagonist on the cable TV epic outlaw biker series Sons of Anarchy. While Rollins was doing all of that he also won a Grammy for Get in the Van: On the Road with Black Flag, and authored the spoken-word classics Black Coffee Blues and Think Tank. After getting his start in radio in 2004, Rollins had been heard many times over the airwaves, where he combines knife-sharp analysis with cutting-edge music for the massively perceptive. What’s next for a man with a career as intricate, illustrious and revolutionary as Henry Rollins?
I am sure you have a lot going on right now. What projects are keeping you busy? The super boring job of proofreading and editing a lot of material. One of the books I have coming out is easy to wrap up, but the others will take a lot of surgery. Editing books takes a lot of time in between working, meetings and auditions. That’s what I do when I’m not touring. I’m also looking for employment. It’s hard to imagine a person as prolific as yourself looking for a job. It’s a non-tour year. Last year I did nearly 190 shows. It gets to the point where shows are still coming in, but the tour is booked so your calendar gets pretty marked up. Now it’s a non-tour year, I’m in this interesting position of having some solid jobs, I have a lot of contract stuff to do, but I still have to look for employment.
That necessitates pitch meetings and auditions. Yesterday I was in a line 30 people long auditioning just for a microscopic role on a television show. We’ve mostly been pitching ideas for shows that I might be plugged into. It is an interesting position, one year you are the guy, you are on the billboard, the marquee and the next year you are in line hoping some casting person who doesn’t know you will throw you a bone. It’s good, though. That it keeps you humble. What kind of show would you want to do? I could easily imagine you as the History Channel equivalent of Anthony Bourdain. I’d like to do a show that tells you where and how the history books got it wrong—just an entire series where we point out the facts and reveal how history is written by the winners, so of course the winJULY 2013 • CULTURE 35
white area. It’s always in the grey. That’s obviously the case in a lot of places. Since we are already there, why not just legalize it? It’s stupid how someone with cancer pain has to worry about being arrested. If marijuana can help, why wouldn’t you want them to feel better? Why would you be okay with them being in pain? If you can help someone, right now, why won’t you? We are supposed to promote the general welfare; it says so in the Preamble to the Constitution.
ners give themselves a white hat. For example, if you tell a person in rural American that we lost the Vietnam War, you’ll be eating your dinner through a straw in your neck because he’ll break your jaw. But if you go over to Vietnam today, the Vietnamese have moved on. They are very sure they won that war, because they survived it. That’s how they think. “We are still alive, so you didn’t beat us.” What I mean is . . . there are a lot of ways to look at any historical event. You don’t touch cannabis, but you support its legalization. What is your honest opinion about this controversial topic? Smoking marijuana, in my opinion, is a monumental waste of time, but I’m not going to slap it out of your hand. But I not only want it legalized, I want it decriminalized. At least then you won’t go to jail for smoking it. I see marijuana as just another stimulant. I fear alcohol. It fuels a guy up so he punches his wife and drives his car into a tree. I’m afraid of a person buying two AR-15s and shooting up a shopping mall . . . that guy should get marijuana. I fear stupidity in America more than I fear someone buying weed. My question is: Will the states 36 CULTURE • JULY 2013
have the intestinal fortitude to retroactively free the black prisoners who are unfairly incarcerated for using marijuana if it’s legalized? Why is it that cannabis is still illegal in America? Because brown-skinned people grow, sell and use it. A lot of those Fox News assholes smoked it in college, but now they use coffee and martinis, so it’s only for faggot hippies. “I’m a responsible chemical dependent. I use booze. It’s just five martinis.” Pot, by comparison, is messy. You are buying a plant from someone that is not in a vacuum sealed, federally-approved package at the local 7-11. Besides, everyone out there is buying weed right now, anyway. Why not just legalize it? What is the cannabis legalization movement doing wrong? [T]he reason why the legalization movement is such a clusterf#@k is because there is no clear political plan. The first time I saw medical marijuana, I was at a friend’s house. His mother would smoke these government-approved medical marijuana cigarettes. My friend would steal them. Medical marijuana is never in a black or
What is your best advice for proponents of cannabis legalization? As a non-smoking, marijuana decriminalization proponent, I would go at in as sensibly and legally as I could. Take into account the people who oppose you. They count on you to be unkempt, sloppy, illegal and high. Don’t go into an intellection battle high. Go in with your facts and figures and stats tattooed on your brain pan. When you do that, an opponent will still have to respect you for it. Fortunately, the world is changing. The President actually mentioned the word “gay.” That set a precedent. In 100 years they will talk about Barack Obama and how he said, “Gay brothers and sisters.” That took a lot of brass. In a political world, if you say that you smoke cannabis you might as well be say you like to make it with little kids and sheep. All the other side has to say is,
“My opponent wants your son to get high at school.” Why can’t someone say, “My opponent likes wine so he wants your son to get drunk at school.”? But they are elected officials. They are in a very precarious position. I get a second chance, if I screw up. They don’t. If someone loses an election, he doesn’t get to come back. You can say you back gay marriage, but that is as red hot as you get. Saying yes to marijuana has to no longer be seen as “He said what!?” Your country is changing very rapidly, though. If I was writing for a cannabis-based magazine, I would be showing that marijuana smokers are not the funny characters the media always depicts, but that they are doctors and lawyers . . . professional, responsible people, just like the people who drink four beers and watch the game after working at the office all day. In this transition to a weed economy, there is going to be a drunken sailor syndrome. When you take a sailor off the boat he’s going to drink his paycheck. There’s going to be a transition. As Joseph Stalin said, “When you cut wood, chips fly.” Someone will abuse weed. It’s going to happen. They are going to drive recklessly, have THC in their blood, and a bunch of people will overreact because of it. But let’s face it, cannabis is already out there. Legalizing it will not change it too much. c henryrollins.com
Henry Rollins activism knows no bounds. Whether it’s championing for gay rights—he once hosted a “WedRock” benefit concert in support of same-sex marriage—to helping out with veterans causes, Rollins is passionate straight down the line. The writer/performer took up the cause of the “Memphis Three”—a case involving the unjust imprisonment of three young men accused of murder. The “Three” were finally released in 2011, after 18 years in prison, with Rollins saying, “My joy at hearing the news is however tinged with frustration that it took so long and that there is a person or persons who still need to be brought to justice.” V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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destination unknown
By David Jenison
Blazing a Trail The “Hippie Trail” and Rif Mountains are just a few examples of Morocco’s magic Back in the day, Paul Bowles, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Tennessee Williams and the Rolling Stones all spent time in Morocco, a popular stop on the infamous 1960s Hippie Trail. William S. Burroughs, who heavily indulged in the ancient cannabis confection majoun while living in Tangiers, even made the Moroccan city a main setting in his epic novel Naked Lunch. Instability during the so-called Years of Lead caused setbacks, but the African country regained its footing in the ’90s, and the New York Times declared “A ‘Hippie Trail’ Stop Goes Mainstream in Morocco” in 2006. The country’s popularity is on the rise, and cannabis culture is a major attraction. Lonely Planet: Morocco writes that the U.S. is the only country to produce more cannabis, and the United Nations says Afghanistan only recently surpassed Morocco as the largest producer of hashish. Today, travelers walking Morocco’s magical streets will repeatedly hear offers of kif or kief, which is local slang for cannabis and hashish. Those who medicate often head to Chefchaouen in the northeastern Rif Mountains, which is where the bulk of the cannabis is grown. Hikers can trek past enormous kif fields, though the response from cannabis cultivators can range from 38 CULTURE • JULY 2013
direct sales to throwing rocks. Production in the Rif region dates back to the 15th century and was tolerated up through King Mohammed V, who took the throne following independence from France and Spain in 1956. Cannabis became illegal in the 1970s, and the U.S. and European Union continue to put pressure on the government to eradicate fields and punish offenders. In 2003, the U.K. Guardian claimed that cannabis is unofficially Morocco’s top foreign-currency earner, so that annoying Starbucks hipster will probably shave his crusty beard before the Moroccan government seriously cracks down on kif. Still, what crackdown does exist can adversely affect careless tourists. Here are the kif-related rules for tourists: Absolutely do not try to take cannabis out of the country, even on boats to Spain, as the international pushback from border seizures forces Morocco to punish “smuggling” with severity. Inside the country, only carry enough that can be easily tossed at the first sign of risk. Police officers tend to excuse tourists with a fine, but jail time is a possibility. Try to avoid buying from city street vendors as they often overcharge or inform the police, and do not buy while already medicated because hustlers like to take advantage of the potentially paranoid. Instead, be proactive in connecting with
like-minded locals (taxi drivers do not count) who can provide assistance in purchases or invites to partake in safe settings. Cannabis culture is huge in Morocco, and locals might even smoke publically in bars, but tourists should always exercise caution and common sense. The Rif Mountains will be high on many readers’ list, but where else should an erstwhile traveler visit? Film buffs might enjoy Rick’s Café in Casablanca, while fans of the Beat Generation should hit Tangiers. Riad-filled Marrakesh is the country’s international tourism calling card and the inspiration for Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Marrakesh Express,” while the rock archways of Legzira make it the country’s most beautiful beach. Several national parks also dot the Atlantic coastline, but those willing to get really sandy can head south to experience the Western Sahara desert by camelback. Just as Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, Morocco is a gateway country for Europe and Africa, and its resurgence continues to attract Western tourists. Moreover, it is an excellent place to experience the kif that inspired many of the 20th-century’s most brilliant literary and musical minds. c www.visitmorocco.com
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profiles in courage Patient:
Gina Garcia
AGE: 39
Condition/ Illness:
Anorexia, chronic pain and severe nausea, panic/anxiety disorder
Using medical cannabis since:
Photo by Kristopher Christensen
April 2007
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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.
Why did you start using medical cannabis?
First and foremost, I’m not someone who wants to take pharmaceutical drugs for my issues. I feel more comfortable using Mother Nature’s gifts of herbs to aid me in my illnesses. I feel grateful to have this alternative to prescription medications, and it has wonders for me and my health.
Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis?
Yes. For many years I was taking prescription medications for my illnesses. I had a negative reaction and horrible side effects to all of them. Twentyseven medications later—and feeling like a guinea pig—it was suggested by my psychiatrist to become a patient. So glad I did!
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? I would have to say the federal government and [its] regulations.
What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine?
I always go back to my teenage years when my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I watched her in so much pain and agony as this disease slowly took her life. With all the meds she was put on, the cannabis was the only thing that allowed her to hold down her food and help her to sleep a little more comfortable. I am grateful cannabis was available to her while she was here. c
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cool stuff Hamm Brushland Coriolis Recycler Master glass craftsman Hamm Brushland, the inventor of the Recycler, has earned his top-shelf rep in diffuser circles, winning many (much deserved) industry awards. Collectors and connoisseurs, take note: This absolutely gorgeous Coriolis Recycler is currently available at Magic Dragon Smoke Shop in San Francisco. ($1,199) waterworksglass.com
Sensi Sudz Some eczema, psoriasis and dry skin sufferers find can relief with topical cannabinoids like those found in Sensi Sudz’ medicated soaps, available at 101 North Collective in Vallejo. Made with medical-grade cannabis, they also smell great, moisturize and invigorate. ($10 per bar)
Titanium Domeless Concentrate Bowl Heat up this mini-cauldron, plop it in the downstem of a water-pipe and dab away. Available at City Rock Smoke Shop in Santa Clara, this bowl’s bendable wire handle accommodates a variety of pieces and styles. ($49.99) www.cityrocksmokeshop.com
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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.
Menu:
Grilled Shrimp Makes 4 servings 25 large uncooked shrimp, unshelled, slit and deveined 3 cups dry white wine Juice of two lemons Black pepper to taste 6 shallots, chopped 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1/4 cup Cannabis Infused Olive Oil* 6 skewers, soaked in water for two hours Combine all the ingredients (except for skewers) in a medium-size bowl. Stir to coat the shrimp thoroughly. Let marinate at room temperature for about three hours. Skewer about four shrimp per skewer. Place on the grill, over medium heat. Turn when sides are pink. Baste with the remaining liquid (marinade) to keep shrimp moist. They are cooked when firm and pink in color.
Cannabis Infused Oil* 1 cup cooking oil 1 1/4 ounces low to average quality dried leaf cannabis or 3/4 ounce average dried bud
Place cannabis in a slow cooker. Add oil. If necessary, add a little extra oil in order to just cover the cannabis. Cook on low for six to eight hours, stirring often. Strain through cheesecloth to remove plant material. For further purity, strain through a coffee filter. Store in the refrigerator for up to three months. 44 CULTURE • JULY 2013
Grilled Shrimp Cheesy Polenta Barbeque Broccoli
By Aunt Sandy
Cheesy Polenta Makes 4 servings 6 cups water 2 teaspoons salt 1 3/4 cups yellow corn meal 3 tablespoons Canna Butter** 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add salt and gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender. Stir often for about 15 minutes and turn off the heat. Add the butter and cheese and stir until melted. Serve immediately.
Barbeque Broccoli Makes 6 servings 3 heads of broccoli 1/3 cup Cannabis Infused Olive Oil* 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1/4 onion, finely chopped Juice of 1 lemon Cut off broccoli stems 1 inch below the florets. Starting at the stem end, slice each broccoli head lengthwise into 3 slabs. In a large baking dish, whisk together the Infused Oil, garlic clove, onion and lemon juice. Coat the broccoli on both sides with the mixture. Let marinate at room temperature for one hour. Preheat the grill to medium heat. Remove broccoli from the marinade, shaking off excess liquid. Grill covered for about 3 minutes on each side, until lightly charred and crispy-tender.
Canna Butter** 1 cup unsalted butter 1 ounce low to average quality dried leaf cannabis 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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For our complete recipes go to ireadculture.com.
Gas or charcoal, sauce or dry rub—no matter what your preference, it’s always a good time to fire up the ol‘ barbecue this time of year. If it’s grillin, expect your weekend get-together to be thrillin‘. Try out this scrumptious, backyardfriendly smorgasbord of delish dishes, courtesy of your neighborhood friendly briquette.
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Shooting Gallery iREADCULTURE.com GET YOUR HITS HERE
High Times Medical Cannabis Cup San Francisco (Photos by David Elliot Lewis)
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High Times Medical Cannabis Cup San Francisco (Continued from page 46)
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The Transplants In A Warzone Epitaph After eight long years, punk rockers Tim Armstrong, Travis Barker and Rob “Skinhead Rob” Aston return with their long awaited third Transplants record, In A Warzone. While the project has always been characterized by a blending of punk rock, hip-hop and at times, dub and reggae, In A Warzone sees the band making more of an attempt at a straight forward punk album by the trio. While the band’s self-titled debut and follow up Haunted Cities could at times be a little heavy-handed with conventional hip-hop’s topics of excess and the high life, Transplants seem to have little time for that on In A Warzone. The record’s style and delivery are more urgent and each song seems to be more about the group’s worried views on society and world events than the guns, girls and drugs that were common themes on previous releases. The music itself is heavy-hitting, insistent and at times a bit abrasive, easily bringing to mind the wars—both literal and metaphorical—that the band sings about. All in all, this is a record that will most definitely appeal more to the fan of the punk rock side of The Transplants’ music. However, fans of its hip-hop flavor need not be disappointed, there are still several tracks that incorporate their brand of rack, just a bit on the heavier end of things. (Simon Weedn)
Protect Your Garden: Eco-friendly Solutions for Healthy Plants By Ed Rosenthal Quick American Publishing When Ed Rosenthal talks, people listen. And when Ed writes a book, naturally, growers sure as hell pay attention. And they should. Rosenthal’s been schooling the masses on how to grow the best cannabis and his latest tome, Protect Your Garden, offers novice green-thumbers an effective tool to keep pests, diseases and environmental stresses from mucking up your lovely crops. As scientifically grounded as a biology textbook, yet easy to follow due to its airy layout, large print and an abundance of photos, protecting your green without harming Mother Nature just got ridiculously easy. Moles messing with you? Try predator urine or castor oil. Want to keep your plants free of the tobacco mosaic virus? Keep cigarette butts far, far away. Say “later days” to toxic pesticides and “hi” to natural solutions for your indoor, outdoor or greenhouse grow. (Matt Tapia)
Swimming to Cambodia Cinecom Pictures Dir. Jonathan Demme Finally, after many years of waiting, Shout!Factory have made writer, actor and monologist Spalding Gray’s masterpiece Swimming to Cambodia, available on DVD. Directed by Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Silence Of The Lambs), the film version of one of Gray’s most famous monologues was originally shot in 1987 and features an interesting score by renowned experimental performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. The monologue itself revolves around Gray’s stories and observations about his experience acting in the role of U.S. Ambassador’s Aide in the 80’s masterpiece, The Killing Fields. The stories see-saw between humorous adventures with a zany film crew, Thai marijuana, prostitutes and deep, heavy, emotional observations and history lessons about the bombing of Cambodia, the rise of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, and the ensuing Cambodian Genocide. At times, the film can get a bit tedious and confusing with Gray’s delivery of this material which comes in his slightly manic, East Coast, mile-a-minute talking style. However, Gray manages to always hold it together, giving breaks and beats at appropriate times to allow the audience to soak in the massive amounts of information he puts out. For the average person that has never seen a one-man show, Swimming to Cambodia might take a bit of getting used to. However, for the patient viewer, one is rewarded with a gripping, captivating story delivered with unparalleled craftsmanship by one of the world’s great monologists. (Simon Weedn) 52 CULTURE • JULY 2013
A$AP Rocky
entertainment reviews Under the Influence Tour Remember when Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter others got together to form the Justice League because they could fight crime better as a team instead of one by one? Well, the rhymeslingin‘ minds behind this year’s Under the Influence of Music Tour seem to have copped the same concept. From the far reaches of the hip-hop galaxy, blunted battle rap buster Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Bay Area bud bestie Berner, B.O.B. and other lyrical assassins have come together to shore up the fight against mediocre beats and bars. Yeah, Wiz is cool, but A$AP Rocky is the one to watch. Don’t believe me? The fact that the 24-year-old Harlem emcee’s Long. Live.A$AP ended up being 2013’s first hip-hop album to go No. 1 (selling 140,000 in a week and beating out Kidz Bop 23, according to hiphopdx.com) speaks volumes about his cred and standing. Still not convinced? Long.Live.A$AP features some juicy collabs from Drake (Amanda Bynes, please don’t read this!), Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz. So, let’s recap. Whiz Khalifa. Berner. A$AP Rocky. Open up the windows, folks. We sure hope the Shoreline’s ventilation systems are working overtime.
IF YOU GO
What: Under the Influence of Music Tour. When/Where: July 17 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View. Info: Call (800) 653-8000 or go to www.livenation.com/ venues/14489/shoreline-amphitheatre. V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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Let’s Do This Our picks for the coolest things to do around town Beast Crawl 2013, July 6
Take the excitement of a beer crawl, hopping from pub to pub to taste various brews of your liking, and just add poets, writers, and performance art. I know, I didn’t think a beer crawl could sound more appealing than it already does either. Telegraph Beer Garden, Oakland sf.funcheap.com
“Occupy Civil Liberties” Protest and Festival, July 13
We as human have taken multi-tasking to a whole new level. Stand up against oppressive laws and regulations, but don’t forget about the DJs, food and live bands. San Francisco Civic Center, San Francisco sf.funcheap.com
Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival, July 13-14
It’s a well known fact that art and wine have gone hand and hand for centuries now. Why mess with a good thing? Between Main and State streets, Los Altos www.downtownlosaltos.org
San Francisco Silent Film Festival, July 18-21
I like to look at history through rose tinted glasses. Some may have to get used to the idea of a film with no spoken dialogue, but I say half the films released in the last decade could have done without speaking poorly executed lines in the first place. They had the right idea in grandpa’s time. The Castro Theatre, San Francisco silentfilm.org
E40 & Too Short, July 20
Bay area rhyme-droppin‘ icons Too Short and E40 are taking the stage together in their very own neck of the woods. Actually, E40 would refer to it as the “Yay Area,” you know this guy has his own dictionary right? www.thephoenixtheater.com
WEKFEST, July 27
Think The Fast and the Furious blockbuster hits, but all condensed down into one massive event. The souped-up cars, glamour and glitz under one roof. San Jose Convention Center, San Jose www.wekfest.com
Berkeley Kite Festival, July 27-28
Go ahead, let your inner kid come out a bit. Feel free to geek out on the sweet aerodynamic little fixtures. It’s a kite festival, this is one place where you are expected to show that you’re having the time of your life. Cesar E. Chavez Park, Berkeley www.highlinekites.com 54 CULTURE • JULY 2013
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Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY— EYE OPENER
; Chengdu, China, barber Liu Deyuan, 53, is one of the few who still provide traditional “eyeshaving,” in which he holds the eye open and runs a razor across the lids’ inner surfaces. Then, using a thin metal rod with a round tip, he gently massages the inside of each lid. Liu told a reporter for the Chengdu Business Daily in April that he had never had an accident (though the reporter apparently could not be enticed to experience the treatment himself, preferring merely to observe), and a highly satisfied customer reported after-
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ward that his eyes felt “moist” and his vision “clearer.” A local hospital official said eye-shaving can scrape away scar tissue and stimulate the eyes to lubricate the eye sockets.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
; One of April’s most popular Internet images consisted of face shots of the current 20 contestants for Miss South Korea—revealing that all 20 appeared eerily similar, and Westernized. Commented one website, “Korea’s plastic surgery mayhem is finally converging on the same face.” Wrote a South Korean commenter,
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“Girls here consider eye surgery just like using makeup.” Wrote another, “I loved this episode of The Twilight Zone.” The country has the highest rate of cosmetic surgery per capita in the world. ; Michinoku Farm of Tokyo finally agreed in May to withdraw its whale meat dog chews, but only after angering environmentalists for having favored the country’s pampered canines over endangered North Atlantic fin whales, which were the source of the chews. The meat was purchased from Iceland, which openly defies the international moratorium on whale meat. (Japan officially disagrees with world consensus on which species are endangered.) ; A marriage-encouraging initiative in the Sehore district of India’s Madhya Pradesh state awards gifts and financial assistance to couples agreeing to wed in mass ceremonies, but the country also suffers from a notorious toilet shortage. Consequently, the district announced in May that to qualify for the government ben-
efits, the groom must submit to officials a photo of himself beside his own toilet to prove that he and his wife will have home sanitation.
LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES
; Recurring Theme (People Purporting to Speak for Islam): (1) A Saudi judge ruled in April that it was finally time for Ali al-Khawahir, 24, to suffer for stabbing another boy in the back when Ali was 14. The victim was paralyzed, and under Saudi justice, Ali must also be struck with paralysis or else raise the equivalent of about $260,000 to compensate the victim. (2) Saudi cleric Abdullah Mohamed al-Daoud in May urged his 100,000 Twitter followers to “sexually harass female cashiers” to discourage them from working outside the home. (He is the one who urged in February that babies be veiled to protect them from sexual harassment.) ; Closer to God Than You Are: (1) Crystal McVea, author of a recent book chronicling her near-death
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experience, told a Fox & Friends TV host in April that among her most vivid memories of the incident was getting so close to God that she could “smell” him. (2) In May, Anna Pierre, a candidate for mayor of North Miami, Fla., announced on her Facebook page that she had secured the endorsement of Jesus Christ. That would be doubly fortunate for her since a month earlier, she had complained that unknown people had been leaving bad-luck Vodou-ritual feathers, food scraps and candles on her doorstep. (Jesus’ stroke is apparently not what it used to be: She finished seventh in the race.) ; Religious Messages From All Over: (1) A catering company in Leicestershire, England, became a holy site in May after the Hindu owner found an eggplant that resembles the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh. He said that he prays to it now twice daily and has so far welcomed about 80 visiting worshippers. (2) As part of his recent U.S. tour, the Dalai Lama, introduced to a University of Maryland audience by
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, greeted the governor on stage by rubbing noses with him.
QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS
; Expectant North Carolina parents Adam and Heather Barrington (who is due in July) have disclosed that they will accept underwater midwifing from the Sirius Institute of Pahoa, Hawaii, which arranges for the mother to swim with dolphins pre- and post-natally. “It is about reconnecting as humans with the dolphins so we can . . . learn from one another,” said Heather. Said Adam: “Dolphins are very intelligent and healing, which . . . calms mother and baby . . . “ Biologists writing for the Discovery Channel, however, reminded readers that underwater births are extraordinarily dangerous and that dolphins are “wild animals” that gang-rape female dolphins and “toss, beat and kill small porpoises.” Said another, the Barringtons’ plan is “possibly the worst idea ever.”
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