2 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 3
34
Lady Laughter
Lily Tomlin’s decades-long career never goes out of style On the cover: Photo by Jenny Risher
features
departments
12 TAKING SIDES Are you for or against Amendment 64?
6 letter from the editor It’s a very green time of the year.
14 NO LIFT-OFF Israel’s high-free cannabis is on the cutting-edge. 18 MAMA MIA! How mothers are majorly getting into the movement. 22 BURNING LEARNING Tracking the most cannabis-friendly colleges in the country. 26 AMERICAN PICKERS Steep Canyon Rangers battles banjos with Steve Martin. 28 IDOL MIND Post-American Idol, Casey Abrams is charting his own course.
8 NEWS NUGGETS Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere—and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers 30 Strain & Edible Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 40 DESTINATION UNKNOWN From sandless beaches to Russian tourists— Mũi Né is one quirky destination. 42 PROFILES IN COURAGE Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical marijuana patient near you. 44 LEGAL CORNER Attorney Ann Toney.
55
Our wrap-up of some of the Centennial State’s hellishly cool events for the spookiest night of the year.
46 COOL STUFF From Infyniti CannaPlex supplements to Cousin Mary Jane Toasted Hemp Seeds, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 48 RECIPES Leave the candy for the kids— this Halloween-themed menu is a real treat!
52 | Entertainment Reviews 58 | News of the Weird 4 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 5
Letter from the Editor iREADCULTURE.com
Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
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Year of the Green Harvest is upon us. More states are preparing to join our compassionate family. And it’s an election year. Is it me or is this shaping up to be a year full of potential? Take a look around: our medical marijuana lifestyle and community is thriving. All across this great nation there is movement forward, progress being made and lots of debate. Let’s start with harvest. With a fresh batch of crops arriving at your local access points and collectives, there are a whole host of new strains available to patients and their needs. Go to our website and check out David Down’s story about the latest discoveries being made about what specific strains can be used to treat a specific medical condition. For patients, this type of information is important—if not critical. On the legislative front, the situation is no less different. Voters in Massachusetts will be asked to approve the legalization of cannabis for medical use. The situation’s the same in Arkansas. Kentucky is thinking about becoming an MMJ state. Like I said, our lifestyle is thriving. This November voters will be asked to choose their political leaders. Sure, Obama and Romney
are keeping tight-lipped about MMJ—and Paul Ryan has mastered the art of flip-flopping on this issue—but its refreshing to see the candidates from two other major parties (Jill Stein of the Green Party of the United States and Gary Johnson with the Libertarian Party) speaking candidly and earnestly about the importance of medical marijuana rights. In the halls of Congress, no less than four bills designed to protect patients as well as our compassionate industry are being considered Three states—here in Colorado, Washington and Oregon—will have legalization measures on the November ballot. Our lifestyle continues to be embraced by the mainstream. Case in point: Lily Tomlin—the subject of this issue’s cover story—is starring in a new Reba McEntire show for ABC, playing a mother who uses medical cannabis. Yes, it’s a challenge—our community continues to be afflicted with cease-and-desist letters and pigheaded law enforcement action. But if you read the signs like I do, it’s clear that while we might lose a battle here and there . . . we are most assuredly winning the war. Medical marijuana is here to stay. The rest of the country is just catching up. c
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6 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 7
News Nuggets THE STATE
to dispensaries, giving them 45 days to shut down or face the U.S. government’s wrath. Walsh recently announced in a press release that a fourth wave of letters is forthcoming.
National police groups endorse Amendment 64
Dispensaries rise, teen cannabis use falls
Teen marijuana use in Colorado dropped by nearly 3 percent from 2009 to 2011—the same period in which the state’s medical cannabis industry was exploding, says a newly released report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System looked at data from state and local education and health agencies, measuring everything from youth drug use to the availability of drugs on school grounds. It found that even as the number of dispensaries increased dramatically in the state, teen marijuana use declined 2.8 percent, bringing Colorado’s youth marijuana rate 1.1 percentage points below the national average of 23.1 percent.
Feds force closures of 10 more dispensaries
Ten more Colorado medical cannabis dispensaries have chosen to shut down after receiving letters from U.S. Attorney John Walsh threatening them with federal prosecution for being located too close to schools. The closures bring to 57 the number of cannabis outlets wiped out under the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on the medical marijuana industry, according to the ABC News affiliate 7News. Over a one-year period, Walsh’s office has sent out three waves of letters 8 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
Two national law enforcement groups, representing black and Latino police officers, have announced their support of the Colorado marijuana legalization measure Amendment 64. The September endorsements by the Blacks in Law Enforcement of America and the National Latino Officers Association are the latest sign of discontent among minority groups over perceived racial bias in the enforcement of the country’s marijuana laws. In announcing their support of the Colorado legalization initiative, spokespersons for both law-enforcement agencies cited statistics showing blacks and Latinos are arrested in vastly disproportionate numbers over whites for marijuana violations. The NAACP declared its endorsement of Amendment 64 earlier this year.
THE NATION Statewide legalization measures leading in polls
November is set to go down as one of the greenest months in U.S. history, as several major statewide cannabis measures facing American voters enjoy big leads going into the elections. In Washington, 57 percent of registered voters surveyed said they plan to vote yes on Initiative-502, which would regulate the production and use of small amounts of cannabis for recreational purposes. Some 47 percent of likely voters in Colorado say they’ll support the legalization bill Amendment 64, compared to 38
percent opposed. Finally, Question 3, which would bring medical marijuana to Massachusetts, has gathered the support of 58 percent of likely voters, with just 27 percent opposed. In Montana, a referendum on a 2011 law many see as a de facto repeal of the state’s medical marijuana program appears headed to go down on the side of pro-compassionate use forces. The law registered only 46-percent support among Montana voters in the latest poll.
VP candidate Ryan’s big pot day Both presidential candidates have carefully
avoided the subject of marijuana legalization this election season, but for one glorious day in September, we at least got to hear where one vice-presidential challenger stood on the issue—in fact, we heard all three of his stances. Republican VP candidate Paul Ryan announced his first stance when he told Colorado radio station KRDO that he believed medical marijuana legalization was a matter for the states to decide. The statement represented not only a break with Ryan’s boss, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who doesn’t believe in medical marijuana, but also a 180-degree
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 9
flip by Ryan himself. Just a few months ago, he voted against giving states the right to decide on medical cannabis legalization. Or at least the statement would have represented all that, had Ryan’s staffers not retracted the statement just a few hours later, saying the candidate had misspoken, and provided Ryan’s third policy position of the month on the subject: Apparently, the congressman does not believe marijuana should be legal under any circumstances.
THE WORLD Major cannabis rally squashed in Germany
been planned for weeks and involved multiple cannabis advocacy groups, including the procompassionate-use organization Cannabis Als Medizin. But a local permitting council squashed the plan, saying that by listing major business sponsors on their websites, organizers had turned the event from political to commercial in nature. Several organizers told reporters they believe the council’s decision was made purely to silence unpopular speech.
What could have been the largest pro-cannabis public demonstration in Germany’s long history was shut down last month by a local government agency claiming the event would have been “of a commercial nature.” The Cologne demonstration and parade had
By the Numbers
5
Estimated annual revenue (in dollars) for Colorado should legislators pass an excise tax, as required under Amendment 64: 24 million to 73 million (Source: Yes on Amendment 64 campaign).
6 1
Total cash contributions (in dollars) Progressive Insurance executive Peter Lewis has donated to the Amendment 64 legalization measure: 876,000 (Source: Associated Press).
2
Estimated budget windfall (in dollars) for Colorado should voters pass Amendment 64 this November: 60 million (Source: Colorado Center on Law & Policy study).
3
Estimated annual tax revenue (in dollars) for Colorado school construction should voters pass Amendment 64 in November: 5 million to 22 million (Source: Colorado Legislative Council).
4
Estimated first-year cost (in dollars) to Colorado for implementing Amendment 64: 1.3 million (Source: Colorado Legislative Council). 10 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
Number of dispensaries that would be allowed in Massachusetts should voters there approve Question 3 in November: 35 (Source: Telegram.com).
7
Number of Montana residents registered with the state as medical cannabis patients as of spring 2011: 30,000 (Source: New England Cable News).
8
Number of Montana residents registered with the state as medical cannabis providers as of spring 2011: 4,800 (Source: New England Cable News).
9
Maximum number of patients a Montana medical cannabis caregiver can have under state law passed last year: 3 (Source: Montana Department of Public Health).
10
Ratio of Americans older than 11 who admit to having used cannabis in the previous year: 1 in 10 (Source: Christian Science Monitor).
11
Number of Americans who admit to having used cannabis at least once in their lifetimes: 100 million (Source: Christian Science Monitor).
12
Number of U.S. citizens who have been cited or arrested since 1970 for violating marijuana law: 21 million (Source: Christian Science Monitor).
13
Number of hours in September that GOP vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan was on record as supporting cannabis legalization before he reversed his position: 18 (Source: Westword.com).
Flying Lotus in concert If you wanted top-notch, progressive instrumental hip-hop during the ’90s you could turn to good ol‘ reliables like DJ Shadow . . . or maybe the meta cutand-paste jobs of DJ Spooky would suit your needs. Flash forward to the ’00s and the guy who’s producing the most cosmically-induced, no-rules beatscapes this side of, well DJ Shadow, is the guy warping samplers and drum machines under the alias Flying Lotus— whose new album, Until the Quiet Comes, is slated to come out later this month. Late-night TV viewers are likely familiar with Lotus since he’s responsible for composing Adult Swim’s “bumper music.” But music fans who can appreciate FL’s cerebral loops and squelchy sci-fi noises know him for his groundbreaking IDM-inspired debut, 1983. Subsequent releases have dabbled into free jazz and space funk (Cosmogramma, Patter+Grid World), but Flying Lotus’ strengths have always been grounded in the limitless—and organic—possibilities between his laptop and his sampledelic musings. (Matt Tapia)
IF YOU GO
What: Flying Lotus in concert. When/Where: Oct. 18 at Ogden Theater, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. Info: Tickets $25.25. Go to www.ogdentheater.net or call (303) 832-1874.
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 11
FLASH
To
Legalize Legalize: or Not To
The Pros and Cons of Amendment
64
{By Jake Browne}
On Nov. 7, voters in Colorado will be asked to consider whether or not they want their state to be one of the first to legalize marijuana use by adults—not just patients—and weigh in on Amendment 64 (A64), spearheaded by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. The question on many patients’ minds is: “How does it affect us?” Here are some of the things both sides are saying.
PRO
CON
• The personal use, possession and growing of marijuana would be legal in Colorado for adults 21 and older. • (Non-medical) marijuana would be taxed and regulated. • The sale, cultivation and processing of industrial (non-psychoactive) hemp would be legalized. • Legal marijuana establishments—such as storefronts and cultivation facilities—would be created.
• The local medical marijuana industry will be decimated—or destroyed. • Cities and towns will be allowed to ban marijuana sales. • The excise tax will not stand in court, thus no revenue. • Cannabis will still be illegal under federal law. There is nothing in A64 that will prevent federal intervention.
If A64 passes . . .
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol’s Mason Tvert describes the initiative as one that would “remove all [state] penalties for possession and home growing of limited amounts of marijuana for all adults 21 and over, and would establish a system where marijuana is regulated similar to alcohol.” In a state that is well versed in the ins-and-outs of MMJ sales, Colorado seems like an ideal state to give legalization a shot for those like Tvert. He’s no stranger to the medical side of things, either. In Arizona, Tvert was the campaign director for Arizonans for Medical Marijuana and found his passion for drug policy reform. As co-author of Marijuana is Safer: So Why are We Driving People to Drink? and executive director of SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), he moved into broader territory. He didn’t forget his roots, however. “We ultimately spent six months drafting Amendment 64,” he says, “during which time we sought feedback from dozens of medical marijuana business owners, employees, patients, attorneys who specialize [in] medical marijuana laws.” Tvert says many have told him they would prefer to access cannabis by just showing ID rather than being a state-registered patient.
If A64 passes . . .
Rico Colibri, president of C.A.R.E. (Cannabis Alliance for Regulation & Education) isn’t behind Amendment 64, saying it will demolish the state’s compassionate industry, among other things. In a statement to CULTURE, Colibri says that A64, among a laundry list of things, is designed to shut medical marijuana down, noting that a “A64 fiscal impact white paper predicts a 79 percent defection in registered MMJ patients to the recreational market,” adding, “No MMJ centers can survive such a decline in the MMJ market.” Colibri says he’s also concerned about another issue that has come up for the past two years in the legislature, and one that Sen. Steve King (R–Grand Junction) has promised to put back on the table in 2012: driving under the influence, or DUID. While Amendment 64 doesn’t alter Colorado’s existing DUI laws, the fear is that such laws could be changed (this was attempted twice already) so that sober patients could be considered under the influence just for having small amounts of cannabis in their systems and arrested, which “could prevent MMJ patients and otherwise responsible adults who consume cannabis from legally driving,” Colibri says. The C.A.R.E president is “advising others to do their homework.”
As with most issues on the ballot, there is little black or white. 12 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 13
FLASH
Moment
of Clarity Israel’s new strain: all of the medicine, none of the head change {BY Jasen T. Davis} As effective as cannabis is for treating illnesses and ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, seasonal allergies, asthma, loss of appetite, cancer, migraines, arthritis, cocaine addiction and multiple sclerosis, not everyone who makes use of the plant for its medicinal qualities always wants the psychoactive effects cannabis can cause. Such patients include the elderly, non-smokers and people who have never used marijuana in their lives. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical compound responsible for marijuana’s mindaltering effects. What if we eliminated marijuana’s high from the equation? That’s exactly what Israeli scientists working at Tikkun Olam, a medical cultivator in Tsfat, Israel, have successfully done, having bred a virtually THC-free strain of marijuana that’s effective for treating pain without altering cognitive capabilities. Dr. Zach Klein,
14 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
head of development at Tikkun, is one of the men responsible for a strain called Avidekel that has nearly zero THC, but is enriched with the cannabidiol (CBD), another beneficial ingredient in cannabis. His team created the high-free option for patients who prefer mental clarity. “Sometimes the high is not always what they need,” Klein says. “Sometimes it is an unwanted side effect. For some of the people it’s not even pleasant.” What Avidekel does have is 18.5 percent CBD. This means this strain still has the powerful beneficial effects of cannabis, such as its anti-inflammatory properties. Ruth Gallily, professor of immunology at Hebrew University, is glad that this option is available. Over the course of 12 years she’s studied the effects CBD on medical cannabis patients. She also studied Avidekel, measuring the results in a series of clinical trials. Dr. Gallily is a strong proponent of cannabis, having seen the beneficial effects with all the scientific method she has at her disposal. “The cannabis plant, enriched with CBD, can be used
for treating diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, liver inflammation, heart disease and diabetes,” she says. The fact that cannabis is less harmful than over-the-counter drugs is another reason patients prefer the plant over pills, Gallily adds. Dr. Klein came up with the idea for Avidekel after treating patients in nursing homes with cannabis for their medical issues. “We were using a very high THC plant with almost no CBD,” he says. “For the patients in the nursery, it was sometimes so much THC that they couldn’t cope with the mind-altering effect. Some of them couldn’t use the cannabis at all.” Klein noticed that plants high in CBD (and low in THC) were more effective. “When we started using CBD, the picture changed. Patients who couldn’t stand the effect of THC were able to use this cannabis with CBD,” he says. “One of the things cannabinoids [like CBD] are capable of doing is lowering the psychoactive effect of THC.” Cannabis—Klein adds—also has far less negative side effects than pharmaceuticals, which can be a major plus for patients. “Some painkillers have side effects: They can cause addiction and are poisonous for the human body,” Klein says. “Patients with kidneyrelated problems can’t use the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . . . Avidekel has no known side effects.” As the studies continue, researchers are proving that not only is cannabis extremely effective for treating a variety of serious ailments, it can be “customized” to achieve very specific effects (more antiinflammatory, less psychoactive). Avidekel can be one more option for patients who need all the help they can get. c
Bone Up In many ways, Israel is a medical marijuana pioneer. More than 10,000 patients have received the government’s official approval to use cannabis to treat their diseases or conditions, such as cancer and chronic pain, according to a recent NPR report. Israeli doctors first began using the plan to help patient at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center’s bone marrow transplantation department. “We see many beneficial effects from the medical cannabis and therefore we are very open to use it,” says Reuven Or, the department’s director.
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Not
BUZZ
Kid-ding Around Considering Moms for Marijuana’s membership, children figure prominently in the group’s philosophy. The group believes “our children should be educated on all aspects of cannabis; from the thousands of medical, recreational, industrial, agricultural, environmental, spiritual and economic benefits—to the repercussions, risks and history associated with the cannabis plant.” And good parenting always prevails when it comes to children’s exposure to cannabis: “Marijuana should not be used by developing minds under the age of legal consent, without parental guidance, as well as the recommendation and continuous evaluation by a licensed medical physician.”
Maternal
Instinct Moms for Marijuana lends a hand to show that cannabis cares {By Lainna Fader} Women—mothers in particular—are becoming a powerful new force in the ongoing campaign to legalize marijuana, with 8-year-old international advocacy group Moms for Marijuana leading the way. Founded eight years ago by Serra Frank, a student and mother of two, Moms for Marijuana seeks to educate ignorant lawmakers and the largely misinformed public about the safe use and the multitude of benefits the plant has to offer. The group—which has chapters across Southern California—also seeks to eliminate the stereotype that all marijuana smokers are dreadlocked hippies wasting their life away listening to reggae in their dorm rooms by presenting a more conservative, professional face to the movement. Denver Chapter leader
18 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
Lanette Johnson swears she was staunchly anti-drug until she turned 40. “I knew that it was medically legal here in Colorado, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about that because I grew up so antidrugs,” she explains. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the health care field—I was the kind of person who needed proof. I believed in Big Pharma and scientific research.” But when traditional medications failed to provide her any relief from her chronic pain disorder, she gave medical marijuana a shot. It changed her life. But she decided to be open with her children about her usage, which proved tricky. Her younger son, who was still living at home at the time, aced the D.A.R.E. program while in school, so when she came to him and explained to him that she needed to use marijuana to manage her pain, he
told her, “Wait, I don’t understand.” Seventy-five years of propaganda is still doing its job, Johnson realized. So she decided to offset the “half-assed” truths espoused by the program officers and teach her son about the very real health benefits of medical marijuana. “In Colorado, it’s such a part of our culture now, “ she explains. “It’s part of our lives. We see it everywhere. It’s part of our economy. It might as well be legal—for all intents and purposes.” Moms for Marijuana continues to grow rapidly; its network is now global, which chapters all around the world. Moms for Marijuana has over 25,000 fans on Facebook and 6,000 on Twitter, and its online success has inspired the launch of a second community called Dads for Marijuana. “It was a really good place for me because it’s a really positive group,” says Tricia Smith, leader of
the chapter from Yakima County, Washington. She wholeheartedly believes that marijuana cured her stage-four cancer, which she fought without chemotherapy or radiation 20 years ago. It’s hard to believe, she admits, but it’s true, and she wants others who are in pain to know her story before resigning to suffering. “[Moms for Marijuana is] an informationspreading group and that was important to me because education was lacking in the cannabis field, which is filled with bigotry and hate and special interests.” “There is a need for this, for people who to say, ‘Hey, listen, it’s not just teenagers who use this and it’s not just for recreational usage,’” says Johnson. “We need to be realistic and honest about this plant. It has wonderful opportunities.” c www.momsformarijuana.com
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 19
BUZZ Harold & Kumar . . .
Help Obama? Considering President Obama failed to keep his medical marijuana promises, it seems odd to many that the Commander in Chief recently turned to actors Kal Penn and John Cho— known from the Harold & Kumar movies—to reach out to younger voters. A recent television ad starts with Obama making a serious phone call, counting on the mysterious person on the other end of the line to help America . . . as the camera pans over and reveals Penn on the other end, sitting on the couch with Cho. The two are clearly invoking their stoner icon roles, chilling on the couch, laughing at cartoon sound effects. The connection is very deliberate, but is Obama courting the MMJ vote? On the bright side, at least he’s belatedly acknowledging marijuana culture. Romney can’t even handle alcohol or tobacco, much less marijuana. It’s going to be a sad November. (Joe Martone) c
20 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
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BUZZ
Degree of Success A rundown on some of the most cannabis-friendly campuses in the nation {By Alan schiano}
What is more humorous than discovering that Mrs. Dick Cheney (Lynne) and the South Park creators attended the same university? How about the fact that their school—University of Colorado Boulder—just got named the No. 1 cannabis college in the nation! Based on 122,000 student surveys, The Princeton Review’s college rankings include a “Reefer Madness” section, and campuses in Colorado made the list! University of Colorado Boulder (#1) Following last year’s honors as Playboy’s top party school, UCBoulder now rocks the Reefer Madness at No. 1. This is a surprise since the CU staff used “stinky fish fertilizer” to suppress this year’s 4/20 smokeout. Ironically, the 4/20 site also hosted President Obama last month, though talk of college roof hits was noticeably absent from the speech. As far as alum, only one can say her VP hubby shot a 78-year-old man in the face, but the 26,000-student campus can claim Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, (Sid and) Nancy Spungeon and possible Cartmaninspiration Jonah Hill. Colorado College (#14) No. 14 on the Reefer roll call? Say it ain’t so. Last year’s crowned college dropped 13 spots, but it is still nice to see a Reefer school in Colorado Springs, home to Focus on the Family and more Christian music than the penthouse suite in heaven. The 2,000-student school also ranked No. 12 for “Birkenstock-Wearing,
22 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians,” so how is it we’re name checking the Cheneys again? Mama Cheney and daughters Elizabeth and Mary all did their undergrad here, so forget gay marriage—Dick should be coming out for MMJ! Evergreen State College (#6) Located in Olympia, Washington this 4,500-student school was described as “a hippie college . . . that drew every weirdo in the Northwest” by ’70s alumnus and Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Of course, he attended Evergreen at the same time as Seinfeld’s “Kramer” (Michael Richards), and not every school names its sports teams after a local clam. Evergreen students are more likely to celebrate 4:20 than 4/20, so maybe the school deserved better than a No. 6 ranking? Reed College in Oregon (#20) Back in 2008, The Princeton Review released its latest list of cannafriendly campuses . . . but that list (which featured New York’s Bard College as #1) failed to include
Reed College, a private, left-leaning liberal arts college in Portland that is considered an elite school by some—and very permissive when it comes to student drug use by others. Its annual hippie fest, Renn Fayre, is well-known and was once called “higher education’s Burning Man.” So it should come as no surprise that John Sperling, a businessman and founder of University of Phoenix, got his undergrad degree from Reed (and a master’s from UC Berkeley—another marijuana-tolerant campus, by the way). Sperling—along with Progressive Insurance chairman Peter Lewis and magnate/philanthropist George Soros—is one of the top three contributors to legalization and marijuana-related political campaigns.
Lewis & Clark College (#13) Ranked number six for usage by The Princeton Review, this environmentally friendly college is number one for many young cannabis aficionados right in the heart of Portland. The progressive campus is so pro-weed that, according to CollegeProwler. com, the campus had to create Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) outside of the dorms so the few non-smokers could get some air in edgewise, notably found by conspicuous green umbrellas. They’ve even joined forces with other local colleges to legalize marijuana use statewide. It’s no wonder alumni have turned out like Chief Justice Percy R. Kelly, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and even Monica Lewinsky. c
Getting Schooled
For you trivia buffs, here are the 15 other cannabis-friendly colleges in the country, according to The Princeton Review: University of California - Santa Cruz (#2), Eckerd College in Florida (#3), Skidmore College in New York (#4), Green Mountain College in Vermont (#5), Warren Wilson College in North Carolina (#7), New York University in New York (#8), State University of New York – Purchase College in New York (#9), University of California - Santa Barbara (#10), Bard College in New York (#11), West Virginia University in West Virginia (#12), University of Vermont in Vermont (#15), Guilford College in North Carolina (#16), Ithaca College in New York (#17), Sarah Lawrence College in New York (#18) & Grinnell College in Iowa (#19).
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 23
24 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 25
TUNES
Bluegrass Roots With a boost from Steve Martin, the Steep Canyon Rangers made America rediscover the banjo {By Liquid Todd} The Steep Canyon Rangers is probably most recognized as “the band with Steve Martin,” but the group developed is music reputation way before Martin joined the fun. Woody Platt, Graham Sharp, Mike Guggino, Charles R. Humphrey III and Nicky Sanders released their first album Old Dreams and New Dreams under the Steep Canyon Rangers moniker back in 2001 and continued to release four more records before being nominated for “Album and Gospel Performance of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association—and before Steve Martin jumped on the banjo bandwagon in 2009. It was during a broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion that Martin began playing with the band. Along with actor-turned-musician, the Steep Canyon Rangers took its newly formed show on the road to the Hardly Strickly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco, Carnegie Hall in New York and Benaroya Hall in Seattle and in later years to Bonnaroo and A Capitol Fourth celebration. Last year, Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers recorded Rare Bird Alert and were recognized as Entertainers of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. CULTURE recently chatted with guitarist/vocalist Woody Platt to discuss the group and working with Martin.
Evening Star
Comedian and actor Steve Martin is no stranger to cannabis. One of his oft-quoted bits from his standup during the ’60s was this gem: “I used to smoke marijuana. But I’ll tell you something: I would only smoke it in the late evening. Oh, occasionally the early evening, but usually the late evening—or the mid-evening. Just the early evening, mid-evening and late evening. Occasionally, early afternoon, early mid-afternoon or perhaps the late-mid-afternoon. Oh, sometimes the early-mid-lateearly morning . . . But never at dusk.” Martin also pretended to sell marijuana at a fictional NYC park during a skit earlier this year on The David Letterman Show.
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What have you learned from Steve Martin? We’ve played a lot of shows as the Steep Canyon Rangers but doing it night after night after night you just naturally get more comfortable. And when you watch Steve working on stage it kind of rubs off on you. It just seems like we’ve become better entertainers. Tell me honestly: Is Steve really a great banjo player? Yes he is and I’ll tell you why. It’s because he has his own style. And it’s a great style. He can impress an audience with his speed and with the melodies that he plays. Everything he plays he wrote and when you hear him come on the radio you know it’s him. He’s never copied anybody. He learned how to play his own way and it’s good. It’s really well-executed. How would you say bluegrass is doing in America as a genre? . . . I think—the traditional side of the music is maybe suffering a little bit—trying to maintain that traditional core sound and fanbase. But at the same time I think the way the roots of bluegrass have kind of grown out and turned into these branches and different styles of music . . . there is a lot of that. So in the broad sense it’s doing really well. Every living art form needs to be able to evolve and accept and be influenced by new ideas and new sounds. Otherwise it’s just a museum exhibit. Absolutely. And bluegrass has done that and is constantly doing that. And even the players who grew up in the traditional format—a lot of them have branched out and are taking it in new directions. So I think the genre on the whole is really healthy because of the impact it is having on the music scene on a much larger scale. c www.steepcanyon.com
LIVE IN CONCERT
Appearing March 7, 2013 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College in Durango.
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TUNES
Idol Thoughts American Idol finalist Casey Abrams embraces the simple life {By David Jenison} “Dude, that actually never came up once,” says American Idol finalist Casey Abrams when asked about a drug-referencing song choice on the show. The 21-year-old singer performed “With a Little Help from My Friends,” a Beatles-penned tune that lists getting high as BFF help. “They think about the stage setup before they even start to think about any of the lyrics,” he continues. “I obviously had to change the ‘F-word’ once in a song, but that was small. Maybe
they let it slip, but I thought it was cool that I got to sing ‘I get high’ on American Idol.” Abrams, who appeared on the transformational tenth season (hola J.Lo and Steve Tyler, adios Mr. Cowell), auditioned in his Texas hometown of Austin, but he has also been a West Coast resident. With roots in two political polar opposites, the affable star seems a bit uncomfortable talking about medical marijuana, though he eventually opens up. “I don’t want to get in trouble, but I think it can help people,” he
remarks. “It seems like it helps a lot with cancer patients. I think people can abuse that power and take advantage of it, but why not have it around? That is my stance on things. There are more things to worry about than that, especially in L.A.. It should be the least of our worries.” For Abrams, life is certainly more excitement than worries after finishing in the Top 6 in the 2011 season. He notably survived an earlier round with a rare judges’ save, which should attest to his pure talent. He then hit the road with his unabashed passion for jazz, blues and old-time R&B on that summer’s 2011 American Idols Live Tour. As far as joining the competition, Abrams admits, “There was some cattiness and I did not trust a lot of people during the show, but all of that cleared up as soon as we all went on tour. I still hang out with all the contestants all
Home is Where the Music Is
Overall, Casey Abrams’ diversity and influences reflect the musician/multi-instrumentalist’s upbringing in a home that featured a vintage playlist and extremely creative parents. Abrams’ screenwriting mother plays piano and sings, and his father teaches film production at an arts academy. The son would attend the arts school himself and learn enough instruments to make George Harrison jealous.
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the time—Haley [Reinhart], Jacob [Lusk], all of them. Stefano [Langone] and I are two completely different personalities, but it is actually really fun to hang out with him.” Though he didn’t claim the gold, Abrams recently released his self-titled debut on Concord Music Group, the record company Paul McCartney calls home. The album features dual singles, “Simple Life” and “Get Out,” that highlight the singer’s range. He also recorded a “Hit the Road Jack” cover that would make for excellent American Idol exit music. Though the show exposed him to a wide audience, Abrams wanted to stay true to his ’50sand ‘60s-era influences on the album. Abrams headed to London to record with a trio of top producers, and he co-wrote and played several different instruments, including the bass, acoustic guitar, drums and Wurlitzer. “You have to go with what your gut tells you,” he says of the album. “We tried to put catchy melodies over music that a jazz musician would play. I think that is interesting for a person who does not necessary like pop but who does like cool changes and catchy melodies. It is basically a vibe thing.” Idol fan or not, most everyone can vote for that. c www.iamcaseyabrams.com
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Strain & Edible Reviews
iREADCULTURE.com GET YOUR HITS HERE
MK Ultra
Grape Ape
When he hit the Saturday morning cartoon scene in 1975, Grape Ape was one misunderstood mammal, frightening until people got to know his gentle, playful side. In that way, he shares a lot with medical marijuana and those who don’t understand its effects. We picked this strain up from Advanced Medical Alternatives in Denver and played his sidekick Beegle Beagle for a few days, never wanting to leave his side. While it may not have been the purplest phenotype of Grape Ape we’ve ever seen, the buds were typically tight and rock solid, just like the behemoth himself. One reason patients keep coming back for this strain is the intoxicating smell and flavor, like cracking open a can of Welch’s Grape Soda in an Italian vineyard. At upwards of 90 percent indica, be careful you don’t step on your day by accidently medicating too heavily. Both a creeper and a sleeper, we couldn’t hold it against the ol‘ ape when several reviewers felt a midday nap was in order. This strain worked especially great at night, when lingering pain from arthritis or a bad back can make it hard to crash out and stay that way. Let’s just say we went “ape” for this one.
Project MK Ultra represents the worst of what science can do when left unchecked. Using test subjects from the U.S. and Canada, the CIA performed crazy experiments on humans that included ingesting large amounts of LSD and marijuana. When they realized the relatively small affects that cannabis had on subjects, they switched gears. Fortunately for us, the MK Ultra we picked up at Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine in Golden was much more likely to put us to sleep than deprive us of it. The name likely comes from the OG Kush crossed with G13, the latter of which is rumored to have been developed by the government. While dark, almost forest green in appearance, the trichomes definitely didn’t have their heads messed with due to a delicate hand trim. The smell is undeniably G13, with whiffs of fresh lemon zest and baby spruces. Coming in at 90 percent indica-dominant, the pain and anxiety relief is undeniable and long-lasting, giving off an intense body buzz from the shoulders to toes with zero paranoia. With all of the government intrusion into MMJ, that might be just what you need.
Twirling Hippy Confections Apple Crisp
Few in the scene are as legendary as the Twirling Hippy, a.k.a. Jessica LeRoux, organizer of a recent Bonfils blood drive and member of the original Department of Revenue advisory panel. Or you might have just seen a few shows at Red Rocks and stumbled out to find her sublime confections. Now she’s busy rocking out in a licensed kitchen with her classic cheesecakes, chocolates and, to our surprise, an apple crisp we picked up at Denver’s Groundswell. Twirling Hippy Confections are all about the love, and you can tell as you slide the frozen, ready-to-bake tin into the oven. With all-natural ingredients, including organic apples, and no preservatives, this definitely helps with the shelf life. The mark of an experienced baker is getting more from less, making the simple divine. Eating the crisp felt good for us but tasted oh-so-good for something gluten-free and vegan, as the cane sugar is used sparingly and natural sweetness is drawn out of the apples. Cinnamon and spices are used deftly to mask the definite potency of the 275mg cannabis-infused coconut oil. While the recommended dosage says 2-8, lean towards the latter. Trust us. 30 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
Tahoe OG Kush
Lake Tahoe is known for skiing in the winter, water in the summer and one of the best Fourth of July celebrations in the nation. If you’re there for the exploding 3-D boxes and giant smiley faces in the sky, you’ll only enjoy it more with Tahoe OG Kush, a 60 percent sativa-dominant hybrid. While we were doing a little bud gazing here in Colorado, we found an awe-inspiring cut at RockBrook Inc. in Denver. A great mix of a staff favorite Chem Dog with Lemon Thai and Hindu Kush, this Cali Connection hybrid is great to stare at. Flares of bright orange hairs burst out in every direction from tight, neon green nugs that resemble much thicker firs than those you find in Tahoe itself. Initially, you’ll smell a lot of those traditional “Kushy” elements—earthiness and rubber cement—but there’s a nice citrus finish on the palate that makes for a really enjoyable smoke. Mentally robust, yet great for deep body and chronic pain, this is the perfect strain for setting up a lawn chair and letting your mind do all the work while you watch a pyrotechnic display.
Chai High Tea
Chai has been around for, oh, a couple hundred years, yet it is finally gaining in popularity in America. Popularized in India, it’s typically a tea base with milk, spices, and sweetener added, served cold or hot, depending on your mood. Or the mood of your barista. When we saw “316mg” on a bottle of Chai High Tea at Denver’s Solace Meds, we knew we had to down it, as few boast potency that extreme. Chai High was not joking. We started small, using 2-ounce shot glasses and giving a clink, went down the rabbit hole. The chai has a nice balance, using a spice mix—that we’re dying to get our hands on—to mitigate a strong mix of indica- and sativa-infused milk—a smart infusion as cannabis is only fat- or alcohol-soluble. That was more than enough, as we sat at a movie theater and wondered how we would get home 10 minutes in. When we laughed, we exploded in a cacophony of cackles. When we cried, wait . . . who told you we cried? Our only beef is storing the leftovers, as the dairy gives this a certain shelf life. We’ll let you know how our Chai High ice cube experiment turns out.
Aspen OG
One of the most beautiful times of year in Colorado—if we’re not counting all the snow that’s about to dump by the foot—is watching the aspens change colors in the fall. Let’s face it, we’re not the most colorful state in the union. Leaf peepers heading into the mountains should absolutely check out Green Grass Alternative Medicine in Central City on the way and celebrate the season with their Aspen OG. A cut that’s becoming well known as a signature from 303 Seeds, it’s an intriguing mix of San Fernando Valley OG Kush and Sour Cream, with deep roots in the Sour Diesel/G-13 lineage of the latter. Named after the coating of snow on the famous foliage, the trichome development is positively thick and sticky. For an OG, there is a really pleasant sweetness that you get on each inhale, almost like cherry flavored Fun Dip. With fun upticks in energy coming from the Diesel and Zen-like relaxation from the OG, this is truly a hybrid of hybrids. Whether you’re taking a hike in the cool autumn hills or enjoying Planet Earth from your couch, the Aspen OG has you covered.
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“I don’t know how we can have one law and the feds can have another, and can come in and do whatever they want to do.”
Photo by Brett Patterson
—On the federal crackdown
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9 to 5, the hugely-successful ’80s comedy starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton was on television the night before I interviewed Lily Tomlin. I’d forgotten what a zany flick it was—particularly the scene where the trio share a joint and fantasize about offing their boss. In the blockbuster hit, Tomlin is—as usual—hilarious as the talented but underpaid, underappreciated and, when it comes time to get a long-awaited promotion, overlooked head secretary Violet Newstead. In real life Tomlin may have been underpaid on a few occasions, but she’s gotten lots of appreciation and enjoyed success on the stage and on screens both small and silver over the decades. And the smoky session in 9 to 5 isn’t the only time the comedian/actress—who was named by TIME Magazine as the “New Queen of Comedy” in 1977—has played a marijuana-using character. Just this past year, she played a pot-smoking mother on HBO’s hit Eastbound & Down and Web Therapy with Lisa Kudrow. This fall, Tomlin will play a mother who uses medical marijuana on a new ABC comedy Malibu Country starring Reba McEntire. She is truly a one-of-a-kind talent who has created dozens of memorable characters over her epic career . . . and she’s not done yet. I heard you’re from Detroit originally. Well I was in New York at the time. I would have gone from Detroit to anyplace. So when was this? I guess it was 1962. I got my Equity [theatrical actors’ union] card by getting into a mime show. Of course I was never trained as a mime . . . you better ask me direct questions or I’ll just meander. Sure, but I want to hear more about this. The whole mime thing fascinates me. (Laughs) Yeah, okay! I’d had success in college in Detroit at Wayne State University where I was in pre-med—which was a total joke. So I got into a college play where I had a walk-on, and I had to improve it every night and it was like a sensation. I was just fooling around, you know. Because I put on shows
all my life since I was a little kid in my apartment house. I didn’t know that people did that for a living. So when I got the opportunity to fool around on the stage, it was just normal to me; it just felt right. Seems like it’s worked out. You’ve won just about every award they made. You’ve got Grammys, Tonys, BAFTAs, Emmys and you’ve been nominated for an Oscar. Did I forget any? Yeah, you are. You’re just missing a load of them. Heh-heh. Well it’s a very impressive list of awards, and I don’t think there are that many comedians who have been recognized for their work in so many mediums. Would you say you’re a restless person creatively? Somewhat. (Laughs). Less so than I was when I was 30. I would like to be more creative in my own life. OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 35
How do you choose what you’re going to do next? It’s kind of broken field stride. Some stuff comes to you happily. You want something more off-the-wall or something you haven’t done. The only current things at the moment are I’ve been playing Lisa Kudrow’s mother on Web Therapy [on Showtime], which I really get a kick out of because it’s improv’d and it’s so off-the-wall. It’s very over-the-top. I play a very upper-class Bostonian who’s out of her mind. And then I’m also—I don’t know if you know this show—Eastbound & Down on HBO. Kenny f*#king Powers? Brilliant show. Oh, God. I didn’t even know it was on the air. I got this bid to do [Season 3]. Anyway, so I watched the whole first two seasons and loved Kenny Powers. I just fell in love with him. The first episode is such a classic, when his major-league career is over and they show him in a classroom being trained to be a substitute teacher. The guy behind him is on the phone talking about him and he says, “You’ll never guess who’s sitting in front of me. Kenny f*#king Powers! Yeah, he looks like shit. He looks like a big bag of mashed-up assholes.” I use that one as much as possible. He’s just outrageously great. So I did a couple of those. I see you’re doing your famous one-woman shows around the country this year and into 2013. What do you have planned? It’s kind of my version of standup, but I always do characters. So I do 10 or 12 characters. And I use some multimedia in the show where I put pieces together sort of satirizing being a celebrity or a person who doesn’t know who she is because she does so many people. And I have clips where characters interrelate . . . I just try to make it fun. I wouldn’t mess with Ernestine myself. Your kooky characters are kind of your trademark. Where do you get the inspiration for these crazy creatures? 36 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
“I don’t use everyday. I’m not that fresh and hip.” —On marijuana
I don’t know. Sometimes they’re just wonderful serendipitous surprises. You get a notion for something and it just sort of springs to life. And other times you work like hell to make something make sense. And then of course I’ve done a lot of specials—in the old days with the television specials—and I would get a concept for a special and then I would try to people it. I did one special back in the ’80s, Lily For President?, when Reagan was in the White House. You know— an actor playing the president. I did everything. I was the filmmaker, I was the President, I was the secretary. Not many people can pull off a one-man or one-woman show. Just getting up on stage and letting it rip. The gun goes off and you just start. How do you go about creating one of those? Do you ever get
blank page syndrome? No, but I always say that to Jane [Wagner] my partner. She always says she has to face the empty page, and I say I have to face the full one! Yeah, of course. You think you’ll never think of anything again as long as you live, and you feel totally out of it. But then you get an idea, you get so inspired. I mean every time I decided to try a different culture type I’d be so excited—just on fire. I found an old box of tapes from when I was working on Edith Ann [Editor’s note: one of Tomlin’s characters, a precocious 5-year-old girl]—years and years ago—you know, cassettes. And I thought, “What are these?” And they were nothing but me talking into a tape recorder as Edith Ann. Just improv’ing; trying to create a life for her. And I’m like obsessive [going into character] for hours! Let me ask your opinions about some issues. I know you’re an advocate for marijuana legalization. Yes, yes. Of course. What do you think about the federal crackdown going on right now? I just don’t get it. I don’t know how we can have one law and the feds can have another, and can come in and do whatever they want to do. I wonder why the feds making
dialed In
One of Lily Tomlin’s memorable characters— which appeared on ’70s sketch comedy show Laugh-In—was Ernestine, an obnoxious and arrogant telephone operator who delivered very questionable customer service while manning a switchboard. With a severe hairdo and her “one ringdingy” one-liner, Ernestine was the last person you wanted to pick up the line when you dialed 0.
such a big deal about it. Why do they care? I don’t either. Why do they care about half what they care about? Any favorite kinds of cannabis? Strains? I wish I was that sophisticated. Do you have a doctor’s recommendation? No, I don’t! Can you get me one? I don’t have anything like that. I have to rely on the kindness of strangers. I don’t use everyday. I’m not that fresh and hip. Are you still an Obama fan? Well, I’m more realistic about it because I don’t know how anybody could have done much more. He comes in with a liability, too, because he’s the first black president, and I think he actually thought that what worked as an organizer in Chicago in the neighborhoods would somehow work with Congress. That he could negotiate in good faith? And come to some kind of compromise; some kind of nice understanding. Well, they’re just lethal. You were talking about your partner Jane before. You’ve been together for a while now. Have you ever thought about getting married? No. Not necessary? Well, we’ve been together so long and people tell me it’s wonderful to have these public commitment ceremonies and have your friends over and all that. But we would never even get there on time. And I don’t even want to start. Where do you go with the wardrobe? How long have you been together now? 40 years. So, I guess marriage seems kind of redundant at this point? (Laughs) It does. I think we might like it . . . but it takes so much planning. c www.lilytomlin.com
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Destination Unknown
Story and photos by Dennis Aregenzia and Grace Cayosa
If the exhilaration/terror of being dragged by a kite over deep water and swimming tourists doesn’t appeal, then there are Mũi Né’s red sand and white sand dunes just outside of town. In an ironic twist, the sandiest dunes don’t actually touch water, as Mũi Né beaches are subject to persistent heavy erosion that results in large stretches of concrete-tiled “beach,” thin swaths of real beach, and luxuriously maintained but exclusive resort beach. The red dunes rise up quite suddenly from the roadside and are, not surprisingly, reddish, pounded by wind and manned by cute Vietnamese kids offering plastic sheets for “sand surfing” (at a small
matter that you will continue to discover for several days afterwards, and 2) taking photos of atmospheric sand dunes in a windstorm is guaranteed to sand-blast your camera. The white dunes were more forgiving, if not a little harder to find. For those of us whose sand dune experience is limited to beach berms and movies, the white dunes are pretty amazing. Imagine taking thousands of tons of white sand, dropping them on a giant patch of flat scrub brush, and letting the results ripple beautifully. Granted, it’s not vast like the Sahara or the Gobi, but if you sit strategically between dunes—perhaps resting
bursting culinary experience. As previously mentioned, there’s just one main road going through Mũi Né, and as evening falls, you will find several open air seafood “restaurants” setting up on the beach side of the road. Owing much to its original identity as a fishing village, these dining establishments feature an impressive array of the day’s catch, including giant tiger prawns, shark, eel, periwinkle snails, conch, scallops and, of course, fish. It’s a simple affair: select your [still moving] dishes and then turn away as the barbeque man delivers the death blow via a quick THWAP! on the ground. Drinks are cold, condiments simple, tissues plenty and the seafood, ridiculously cheap and flavorful. When it’s time to medicate, the green is easy enough to find via xe om (motorcycle taxi) drivers—who also gladly offer prostitutes as well—and the cannot-be-specifically-named shishka clubs. However, local quality is generally mediocre, sporting more than the occasional seed, twig and whatnot, and the bribe price can be disproportionately high if the taxi driver you bought your stash from decides to turn around and report you to the police. Thus, many travelers pack their own. The quirks of Mũi Né—wind surfing near sandless beaches; sand surfing on inland dunes; gorging on affordable bounty from the sea;
fee, of course). We learned two very important lessons at the red dunes, both of which are blindingly obvious in hindsight, but hey, we were caught up in the joy of travel: 1) sand surfing is a sure-fire way to fill your netherbits with particulate
from the arduous climb—you could easily convince yourself that a nomad camel caravan is about to crest the hill. Once you’ve worked up a massive appetite cavorting in the sand, head back to town for a gut-
watching leggy Russian beauties catwalk between their 5-star resort and the Russian-owned trinket store in dental floss bikinis and stilettos—combine for a unique Vietnamese-cum-Little Moscow experience. Have at it. c
Double Impact
Vietnam’s MÙi Né mashes up tropical beauty with touches of Little Moscow The storefront sign reads: ТУРФИРМА. Now, one of us is monolingual, the other has a touch of dyslexia, and we’re both standing on the same southern Vietnamese coast, but we’re 100 percent certain that the sign is neither bizarro English nor bad Vietnamese, and that’s because we are in Mũi Né, a one-road resort town defined by gusting sea winds, sand dunes and Russian snowbirds. Located almost exactly between party beach Nha Trang and party city HCMC (aka Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon), Mũi Né has become increasingly popular as a Russian winter getaway (thanks to ТУРФИРМА or “tourist agencies”) and as the wind sport destination in Southeast Asia due to consistently strong sea breezes for more than half the year. Experienced kiteboarders and windsurfers flock to this town between October and May for a chance to launch off Mũi Né’s ever-shrinking beaches and make serious hang time, while beginners simply want to survive the first wipeout with dignity. The surge of the curious has given rise to several kitesurfing schools and shops, all easily identified by the presence of tan, toned instructors effortlessly assisting the floundering.
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Profiles in Courage
Photo by Kristopher Christensen
Patient: Jocelyn Alexis Smith AGE: 32 Condition/ Illness: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ADHD Using medical cannabis since: October 2011
Are you an MMJ patient from Colorado 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 MARIJUANA?
I have been on a lot of medication for my conditions and related complications since I was 15. After taking them for so long, you get familiar with how they affect your body and how harsh they can be. I did some research and sought advice from a friend in the profession of wellness. I decided to try [cannabis] for the first time in over a decade and the results were successful! The main symptoms of both of these conditions are sleep deprivation and pain . . . I have tried both indicas and sativas and found sativa to be more effective. This stimulates me much like Adderall, an ADHD medication, in the evening. It calms down my [hyperactivity] and allows me to focus better. I am also able to get a full night’s sleep.
DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE MARIJUANA? After trying several psychiatric sleep aids, I found myself groggy, depressed and moody in the mornings. I am also steroid dependent due to my adrenal (disorder). If you have ever researched corticosteroids, you will find there are as many side effects as good ones.
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS?
Currently, the government is taking action against dispensaries and related providers to shut them down. Many patients are terminally ill and depend on the current process . . . There is much judgment and criticism against patients and I feel it’s important to educate the population, give demonstrations, show statistics and keep writing films and documentaries wherever permitted.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE? Do your research. Analyze the data. You will be surprised at the results! c
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Legal Corner
By Ann Toney, P.C.
MMJ: The New Political Hot Potato?
How does medical marijuana, or even marijuana, fit into the political spectrum of this 2012 presidential race? First, the federal government could reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug which would enable states to pass their own legislation regulating medical marijuana without the fear of intervention from Washington. In May 2012, the HincheyRohrabacher amendment to H.R. 5326 failed to pass which would have lifted federal prohibition of marijuana. The candidates do not seem to distinguish between medical marijuana and the legalization of marijuana as they all just seem to say they are against any legalization of marijuana whether for medicinal or recreational purposes.
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Recently while campaigning in Colorado Springs vice presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) told a television reporter that it was his own personal opinion that medical marijuana was a states’ rights issue. “What I’ve always believed is the states should decide.” The next day Paul Ryan backtracked and once again was lock step with his GOP presidential running mate Mitt Romney pledging to keep all marijuana “illegal.” Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has said that if elected president he would fight “toothand-nail” against reforming federal marijuana laws. Romney’s approach though during the campaign season is to avoid the subject of legalization of marijuana or even medical marijuana.
When asked about those topics Romney has been seen dismissing the person asking the question and dismissive of the whole marijuana topic. When pushed, Romney has referred to marijuana as a “gateway drug” harking back to the rhetoric of the ’80s. Since then, respected scientists have dispelled this myth. What has been perplexing though to registered voters in Colorado is President Obama’s apparent flip-flop as well on marijuana since his campaigning for office in 2008. During the 2008 presidential campaign the thenpresidential candidate promised to respect the states’ MMJ laws and promised to not use the Justice Department to circumvent them. Unfortunately, this has not
played out as the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Attorneys and other federal agencies have escalated their attacks on cannabis. While marijuana is embattled and a political hot potato, it survives and thrives among the citizens because it’s the little plant that could. If the people lead, the politicians will follow. c Ann Toney, P.C. is a Denver-based law firm that focuses on medical marijuana business law and marijuana defense; and defending people charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI/DUID). Ann Toney can be contacted via phone or web at (303) 399-5556 and www. medicalcannabislaw.com.
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Cool Stuff Cousin Mary Jane Toasted Hemp Seeds
A snack fit for Jack Herer! That’s what your friends will declare when you serve them a handful of these crunchy, toasted seeds. Delicately blended with sea salt, these allergen-free, high-protein vegan treats are a delicious way to discover why hemp is one of the most amazing plants ever. ($2.89, 1.5-oz bag) www.cousinmaryjane.com
CannaPlex Tolerance Reduction & Respiratory Health Supplement
Finally—a “vitamin” for patients! CannaPlex capsules help your body utilize cannabinoids more effectively. In other words: they help keep your tolerance from building up too much so you don’t have to increase the amount you ingest, which is good for your lungs. Why aren’t all vitamins like this? ($14.95, 10-capsule box) www.cannaplex.com
Radio Silenz Headphones
Featuring real wood housing (available in Walnut, Cherry and Black Ash finishes) to provide a more natural sound, Tivoli Audio’s Radio Silenz Headphones offer excellent audio quality to the most pickiest musicphile. Plus the cool Defeat feature allows you to switch off noisecanceling and fade the audio so you can talk to someone without having to remove the headphones. Now that’s genius. (MSRP $159.99) tivoliaudio.com/radiosilenz
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CULTURE Recipes By Aunt Sandy
Why should kids have all the fun? Forget about the costumes and candy— this Halloween-themed menu is bloody delicious all on its own.
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:
Bloody Cocktail Bloody Mary Spider Cheese Ball Paella Pumpkin Bread Honey Canna Butter
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Paella
Makes six servings. 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into medium pieces Salt and pepper 1/2 cup Cannabis Infused Olive Oil** 2 chorizo sausages, sliced 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips 1 yellow onion, diced
4 cloves of garlic, diced 1/2 teaspoon of saffron threads 1 1/2 cup parboiled short grain rice 3 cups chicken stock (more if needed) 12-16 extra large shrimp, peeled and de-veined 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano 1 teaspoon minced fresh chives 3 teaspoon thinly sliced scallions
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a paella pan or large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat and brown the chicken and chorizo on both sides. Reduce heat to medium. Add bell pepper strips and onion and cook until softened. Stir in the garlic, saffron, rice and stock. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the rice is al dente. Add the shrimp, herbs and scallions. Cook until the shrimp are pink and opaque and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Spider Cheese Ball Makes 16 servings.
Bloody Mary Ice 1 shot of Cannabis Infused Vodka 3 shakes of Worcestershire sauce 2 dashes of celery salt 1 dash Tabasco sauce (or horseradish) Tomato juice Stalk of celery Fill glass with ice. Add the vodka, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and Tabasco sauce. Fill the rest of the glass with tomato juice. Garnish with the celery stalk. (Note: to make Cannabis Infused Vodka, add about 1/2 ounce of marijuana buds to a quart of vodka, store in a cool dry place, shake daily, let it soak for about two weeks and strain.)
Bloody Cocktail Sugar (dyed black with food coloring) Ice 1 shot of Cannabis Infused Vodka 1 shot of grenadine syrup 7 Up soft drink Rim glass with sugar, add ice, vodka and syrup. Fill glass with 7 Up.
2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese 8 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 cup Canna Butter* 3 tablespoons apple cider 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/2 cup poppy seeds 1 10-ounce package of refrigerated breadsticks 1 egg white, lightly beaten 6 ripe olives, sliced Assorted crackers
In a large bowl let the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and Canna Butter stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add apple cider and nutmeg. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed. Stir in red onion and red pepper. Cover and chill for 4 hours. Place poppy seeds on a sheet of waxed paper. Shape cheese mixture into a ball and roll in the seeds to coat. Let stand 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. For spider legs unroll the breadstick dough and cut each piece in half. Arrange each piece on the baking sheet bending each piece into a “z” shape. Brush breadsticks with beaten egg whites and sprinkle generously with remaining poppy seeds. Bake for about 10 minutes until browned. Place cheese ball on a large serving plate. Arrange six breadsticks around the cheese ball for spider legs, gently pushing breadsticks into the ball to secure. Use the olive slices as eyes (two or six). Secure the “eyes” with broken pretzel sticks. Serve with crackers. OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 49
Honey Canna Butter
Pumpkin Bread
1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup soft Canna Butter* 2 eggs 1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin 1/3 cup water or milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup coarsely chopped nuts 1/3 cup raisins Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ground cloves. In a large bowl beat the sugar, Canna Butter and two eggs until light and fluffy. Add and beat in the pumpkin. Divide the sifted dry ingredients into three separate batches and add each batch to the egg-sugar-butter mixture, alternating with the addition of the water (or milk) and vanilla. Do not over beat. Fold in the XXXX and raisins. Pour batter into a greased pan and bake for about 1 hour or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Enjoy with your Pumpkin Bread 1 cup Canna Butter* 1/4 cup honey Soften the Canna Butter. Add the honey and whip. Serve with bread.
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.
Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil** 1 cup olive oil 1 1/4 ounces low to average quality dried leaf marijuana 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. 50 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
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 10.6.3 OGX Montage One Stimulus One Music If boring, sold-out rap is an enemy that must be destroyed, Montage One has declared war with 10.6.3 OGX, an album straight from the hip-hop underground that is not the same ol‘ banal dross you’ve heard on the radio too many times before. Produced by MasterKraftsmen, Alchemist and others, Montage One’s latest full-length (release date: Sept. 25) features more than two dozen high-caliber artists including Phil The Agony, Planet Asia, Krondon and Madlib, making the work an instant collector’s item for the fan who wants it all. Montage One’s talent as a decorated lyrical veteran of the Likwit Crew and Gold Chain Military is on full display here, with songs like “Beat2Def,” a roaring blitzkrieg of a single full of groovy ’70s funk organ tones and wicked scratches that knock you down with the rhymes and out with the beats. Track “Return of the Assassin” also delivers with ominous opening acoustics, thunderous bass and that violent gangster-style you know you love. (Jasen T. Davis)
Henry Hemp #1 “Attack of the Spider-Mite Men” Story and art by Mike Tucker Revolutuck Comics Marijuana prohibition is serious business . . . but don’t they say humor is the best medicine (after cannabis)? With a gee-whiz approach to superhero storytelling, splashes of saturated colors and a wry sense of humor, Henry Hemp #1 comic book gleefully mixes Illuminati conspiracies, Jack Herer’s platform, gray aliens—heck, there’s even a black helicopter—into a tongue-in-cheek meta-fable promoting the salvation of the world through hemp and cannabis. The plot: an evil scientist (“Doctor Man-Spider-Mite . . . Head . . . Guy . . .”) attempts to take over the mystical land of Weedom with an invasion of hybrid spider-mites, prompting activist Henry Hemp to transform into Super Hemp to fend off the attack. Blending pulp-era dialogue (“Let me assure you that evil is very real.”), square-jawed optimism (“There will always be dark forces trying to put out the light of love, happiness and joy.”) and the ethos of underground comix, Attack offers comic relief and sobering facts: story of a world under siege by anti-marijuana forces is all too real. (Matt Tapia)
Jimi Hendrix Jimi Plays Berkeley: Berkeley Community Theatre, Saturday May 20, 1970 Legacy Some people are meant to sing. Some people are meant to create. Jimi Hendrix was unquestionably a man born to play guitar. Old fans and new recruits alike will have something to gain from watching this pseudo-documentary on the artist. Presented with footage of the man performing live alongside reactions from audience members, this film encapsulates what Hendrix meant to people and how he affected them. The audience experiences this as well: watching Hendrix perform his classics (“Purple Haze,”“Voodoo Child,” etc.) alongside improvised riffs and the most mind blowing rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” proves that Hendrix was one of the most talented men to walk the planet—he was his music. The special features are scarce here, with only an interview with live-sound engineer Abe Jacobs and the uninterrupted concert performance serving as extras. This DVD has healthy nostalgia for long-term fans, and powerful material for new converts. You owe it to yourself, as a listener of music, to pick this up. (Joe Martone) 52 CULTURE • OCTOBER 2012
National Marijuana Business Conference 2012 Do you own or manage a dispensary or access point? Do you run a company that makes edibles and/or infused products? Are you a lawyer who specializes in marijuana-related legal matters? Or are you simply an investor or entrepreneur thinking about jumping on the next green train? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you, my friend, should make a bee line to the National Marijuana Business Conference. This is no glassware show or cannabis cup—this is strictly business, literally. Dedicated to the business, legal and financial concerns of our industry, this year’s conference will feature a who’s who of speakers including Rob Kampia, executive director and co-founder of the Marijuana Policy Project; Steve DeAngelo, executive director of Harborside Health Center of Weed Wars fame; Betty Aldworth of the Women’s Marijuana Movement and many more. Other panels and discussion on the agenda include “Infused Product Makers: How to Flourish in 2013” and “Top 8 Mistakes Dispensaries Make and How to Avoid Them.” If you’re a mover and a shaker, you’ll be in great company if you attend this conference. (Matt Tapia)
IF YOU GO
What: National Marijuana Business Conference. When/Where: Nov. 8-9 at Sherman Street Event Center, 1770 Sherman St., Denver. Info: Deadline is Oct. 31. Fall discount tickets are $350. Visit www.nationalmarijuanabusinessconference.com.
Liner Notes
By Kevin Longrie
Every year, private collectors buy and sell some of the world’s most valuable pieces of art. Picasso, Rembrandt and others have passed hands in the auction houses of the super rich. But you don’t have to have deep intellectual or artistic taste to want to spend a lot of money in an auction house; you could just buy ELVIS’ soiled underwear. At an auction in early September, several items from the King went up for grabs, including a pair of stained underwear worn at a show in 1977 and a Bible cherished by Mr. Presley for most of his life. The Bible sold for £59,000 (about $94,000) to an anonymous call-in bidder. This was over double the reserve price set on the item. One reason that the item fetched so high a price
is that the pages had annotations by the King about the King of Kings. That’s meta. Cee Lo Green, once merely a voice, now he’s entering his third season as a coach on The Voice. He’s also recently signed a deal with NBC to create a scripted show that is somewhat based on his life: Everybody Loves Cee Lo? They say great minds think alike. Genius is drawn to itself. Hemingway and Fitzgerald were friends. That’s certainly the case with E.L. James, writer of the popular BDSM trilogy 50 Shades of Grey and the members of the Black Eyed Peas. In an interview with The Sun, James said that when she was writing the now famous sex scenes in the trilogy, she would often be listening to sexy songs to psyche herself up. “I have songs that I write sex
to,” she said.” One of them is The Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Sexy.’ That is a very sexy song.” Yes, in order to write sexy things, James decided to listen to “Sexy” by the Black Eyed Peas because it is sexy. It’s a difficult line of logic to follow,
but the results are apparent. One in every five books sold this year was from the 50 Shades trilogy. Though the song itself does not appear anywhere in the trilogy, there is still time to add it to the film’s soundtrack. c
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Devin the Dude Your favorite underground rapper hits the stage this Halloween with a fair group of rising acts. If the hip-hop won’t get you, maybe the $1,000 prize for best costume will. Beats the heck out of trick-or-treating. Oct. 31. www.ticketfly.com/ event/167483/ Superheroes and Villains Sorry fan boys, this isn’t the battle you’ve been waiting for. But there will be performances by Dragon and Jontronm Cognition + R-Rav and Sergio Santana at The FUNhouse. Maybe if you dress up and drink enough, you can have a dance off between the guy who still puts on a Joker costume and the girl who thought she could pull off Catwoman. Oct. 27 www.betanightclub.com Hallow Freak’n Ween Okay, the organizers get points for cleverness but not so much for originality. Dance party + costumes + really loud music = “the biggest annual dance party.” Compiled by Joe Martone
You know, until the next one. Hey, no shame in going there and having a good time. Oct. 27 www.hfwcolorado.com Spirits of Victor If the website’s eyesore design doesn’t scare you, then you can probably stomach the ghost tour. Still, there’s nothing wrong with encouraging the little kid in you that wanted to get a scare by walking through a graveyard at night. A 90-minute ghost hunt probably won’t leave any lasting damage. Oct. 20 www.coloradoghosttours. com Tribe Halloween Dance Party Though they are sadly not called Quest, this Tribe has been rocking the scene for just as long. Its jazz and New Orleans style sound will be filling the Stargazers Theatre, and the best part is that attendees will not be forced to wear gimmicky Halloween costumes! You still can though, it is Halloween weekend. We don’t judge. Oct. 27 www.stargazerstheatre. com/tribe
Coloween Unfortunate name aside, the takeover of the Jet Hotel does seem to be a big bash this year. Yes, there is a theme about the undead celebrities but we see that all the time on VH1. You’ll really be there for the fourfloor party with DJs and truckloads of booze. You know, the true meaning of Halloween. Very Charles Schulz. Oct. 27 www.clubzone.com/ events/551631/denver/ jet-hotel/coloween-the-jethotel Denver Pub Crawl So many Halloween parties exist as an excuse for you to get wasted. This one cuts through the pretense and gets straight to the point instead. Pubcrawls. com wants to break a record again and pull off the biggest bar crawl across Denver. They say if you drink enough on All Hallow’s Eve, you can commune with the world beyond, and by “they,” we mean us. Oct. 27
www.clubzone.com/ events/545213/denver/ lucky-strike-lanes/ halloweekend-pub-crawldenver Haunted Hotel 4th Annual The Hyatt, not to be outdone by the Jet Hotel, has converted itself into the Halloween Hotspot. Some areas scare, some entertain, some are filled with flashing lights and bad dance moves. Oh, and someone with a really good costume might win $2,000. That got your attention, didn’t it? Oct. 27 hauntedhotel4.eventbrite. com Colorado Springs Ghost Tours Is Colorado haunted? You should probably know by now, but the Pikes Peak Ghost Hunters just want to make sure. They have tours every Friday and Saturday this October, because apparently ghosts can’t take a hint. Thru Oct. 27. www. pikespeakghosthunters.org OCTOBER 2012 • CULTURE 55
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Failure is Not An
Option Now, books aren’t just for rolling papers anymore. A new book entitled Too High to Fail by Doug Fine is getting some serious attention from some pretty well-known sources. Noted cannabis advocate and political comedian Bill Maher couldn’t give the book enough praise, and writer Michael Pollan tweeted Fine telling him the book was “very important.” So, what’s this book about? At 300 pages, Too High to Fail goes in-depth about how marijuana could revitalize the economy and how it could change everything. While this sounds like every conversation we’ve ever had with everyone else, Too High to Fail researches the history of the plant, the success of legal medical marijuana and all the potential impacts the crop could have on America. Besides, when has Bill Maher ever been wrong (aside from those few occasions on his show)? (Joe Martone) c
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Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY—INTRUDER (NOT) ALERT
; Are We Safe? In August, Daniel Castillo’s Jet Ski broke down in New York City’s Jamaica Bay, forcing him to swim to the nearest shore—at JFK International Airport. As Castillo roamed the grounds, he somehow failed to disturb the airport’s $100 million, state-of-the-art Perimeter Intrusion Detection System of cameras and motion sensors, stumbling into the Delta terminal before an employee noticed him. This happened two weeks after the now-notorious “peace” pro-
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test of nun Megan Rice, 82, and two colleagues, who cut through fences at the Oak Ridge (Tenn.) nuclear reservation’s Y-12 facility that houses more than 100 tons of highly enriched uranium. They braved numerous (though apparently unmonitored or malfunctioning) alarms and sensors for up to two hours before a lone guard stopped them.
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
; Challenging Business Models: (1) In June, owners of the legal brothel Stiletto in Sydney, Australia, revealed their multimil-
lion-dollar expansion to create the country’s (and perhaps the world’s) first “mega-brothel.” (2) Short-stay “love hotels” proliferate in Brazil, but in July in the city of Belo Horizonte, Fabiano Lourdes and his sister Daniela were about to open Animalle Mundo Pet, which they described as a love hotel for dogs. Owners would bring their mating-ready canines to rooms that feature the dim lighting and heart-shaped ceiling mirrors traditional in love hotels (to appeal to the party paying the bill, of course).
CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE
; The Treasury Department’s inspector general reported in August that the IRS doled out more than $5 billion in fraudulent income tax returns in 2011 (owing to its mission to provide refunds promptly without first vetting the claims). The agency “refunded” $3.3 million to a single address in Lansing, Mich. (supposedly the home
of 2,137 different tax filers) and nearly $4 million to three Florida addresses (518 to one in Tampa, 741 to one in Belle Glade, and 703 to a post office box in Orlando). In all, refunds were claimed by, among others, 105,000 dead people.
SCIENCE ON THE CUTTING EDGE
; In a study published in August, women with the felineoriented Toxoplasma gondii parasite in their systems showed an elevated risk of depression and suicide perhaps caused by the brain’s being deprived of serotonin. Since toxoplasmosis is most often passed via handling of cat feces, women’s fondness for and time spent with cats might thus put them at greater risk than previously believed. (T.gondii is believed capable of reproducing only inside cats’ intestines, and might, hypothesizes prominent Czech scientist Jaroslav Flegr, have learned that the surest route to the intestines is by hacking into the brains of delicious rats and mice.)
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; 100 Pounds or “15 Minutes”? Wesley Warren Jr., 47, of Las Vegas, suffers from rare elephantiasis of the scrotum, which accounts for about 100 of his 400 pounds and severely hampers urination and sex. The Las Vegas ReviewJournal reported in October 2011 that Warren was on the verge of accepting an offer to cover the expensive corrective surgery, but when the newspaper followed up in June 2012, it found him hesitant because he had become accustomed to his celebrity status (TV’s The Learning Channel and “Tosh.0” program and Howard Stern’s radio show). Said he, “It was fun going to Los Angeles (for “Tosh.0”) in the big van they sent for me.”
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
; In July, the U.K.’s Wildlife Aid Foundation took in a dying, parasite-infested cuckoo bird, but by the time it had been nursed back to health, it had missed its species’ winter migration toward Africa. Consequently, according to BBC News, the foundation bought an airline ticket for a handler to carry the bird to Italy, where satellite
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tracking indicated it could meet up with the end of the migrating flock, and the handler released it. ; Latest Orangutan News: (1) Jungle Island zoo in Miami uses tricked-out iPads so that orangutans can order food by pointing at their choices on a screen. As zookeeper Linda Jacobs noted, “They have all the intelligence they need (but not) developed vocal chords and voice boxes.” (2) A Taru Jurug Zoo official in Central Java, Indonesia, reported in July that “Tori,” its famous, 13-year-old cigarette-smoking orangutan, had been moved with her boyfriend to an isolated island with recreational facilities so she could kick her nicotine habit. At Taru Jurug, visitors kept enabling her by tossing her cigarettes.
PERSPECTIVE
; It has been well known to the U.S. Congress that the Postal Service is guaranteed to run an estimated $5 billion deficit by the end of the year. Still, since the 112th Congress was convened in January 2011, no remedial legisla-
tion has been formally offered. However, during that time period, legislators have introduced 60 bills to rename post offices in their districts (passing 38 of them, which represent 17 percent of the legislation passed on all subjects during that time).
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS
; Not Ready for Prime Time: (1) The thief who snatched the brand- new bike from Wheelworks in Belmont, Mass., in August got away, but police saw surveillance
photos of him when he returned to the store two hours later and asked to see some locks (presumably so he could secure the bike he had just stolen). Incredulous employees gave chase, but the thief ran faster. (2) Kristen DeCosta, 30, was charged with 17 recent burglaries around Somerset, Mass., in August. According to Police Chief Joseph Ferreira, DeCosta is perhaps the only perp ever not to understand that, since she was wearing a GPS ankle monitor (from an earlier arrest), all 17 break-ins were tracked.
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