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SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 3
20
JUST CHILLIN‘ With his track record of hit movies, albums and television shows, Ice Cube is still cooler than you. On the cover: Photo by Eric Williams
features 12 REJECTED The Michigan Court of Appeals says a Macomb Township ban is null and void. 14 LEGEND OF THE FALL Harvest time is nearly here—a magical time for patients! 16 OPERA MEN Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey dust off Quadrophenia!
departments 6 letter from the editor The truth shall set you—and the rest of our community—free. 8 NEWS NUGGETS Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere—and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers 18 DESTINATION UNKNOWN It’s not overrun by tourists yet— so enjoy Slovenia’s treasure troves of glacial peaks and medievial. 19 PROFILES IN COURAGE Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical marijuana patient near you. 4 CULTURE • AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2012 2012
24 COOL STUFF From the all-in-one MedTainer to the Icy Tokes water pipe accessory, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 26 RECIPES The leaves are turning color—are you ready for some football?! 30 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture. 32 | Events Calendar 35 | Guide to Advertisers 37 | News of the Weird
SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 5
Letter from the Editor iREADCULTURE.com
Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
GET YOUR HITS HERE
Vol 4 IssUE 3
Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Managing Editor Lynn Lieu
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Ashley Bennett, Jake Browne, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Stacy Davies, Rev. Dr. Kymron de Cesare, Alex Distefano, David Downs, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Jane Mast, Sandra Moriarty, Assia Mortensen, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Paul Rogers, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen
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Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Mark Malijan, Kaitlin Parry, Patrick Roddie, Michael Seto, Kim Sidwell
Nothing But the Facts Here’s a fact: Throughout human history propaganda has been used to push one political agenda or another. Sadly, much of this propaganda has been done for evil and despicable purposes. Think about the Communist witch hunts during the ’50s and how they blacklisted writers and intellectuals and political “undesirables.” Think about the propaganda Hitler and his goons spread against our Jewish brothers and sisters. Think about the propaganda used by the North Korean government to keep its citizens in check. The list goes on and on. Sadly the propaganda against marijuana—medical or otherwise—is no different. I can understand someone disagreeing with me or having a different opinion about medical marijuana—I don’t expect everyone to embrace it like I do. But what I don’t like is when lies and misinformation—that’s what propaganda is, isn’t it?—are used to suggest that marijuana use is inherently harmful or dangerous. Unfortunately, this happens sometimes. Despite medical and scientific evidence that says otherwise, our opponents will ignore those facts and push lies and misinformation. What’s also sad is when the ignorant, pundits or the media seize upon tragic events and link them to cannabis to—what?—suggest marijuana was responsible or played a role? Bullcrap. Just a few days after the Miami face-chewer
incident, media outlets like USA Today and BBC News posted headlines proclaiming that marijuana had been found in the attacker’s system. Sadly, the same thing happened in the wake of the dreadful shooting in Aurora as well as the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Gifford in Arizona. In both incidents, people went out of their way to play connect-the-dots between an atrocious happening and cannabis. The use of marijuana is linked to violence and crime? That is definitely not a fact. Even so-called experts don’t have the facts. Someone who was quoted in USA Today, Dr. Patricia Junquera from the University of Miami, essentially blamed cannabis for the face-chewing episode—or a mixture of cannabis and mental illness. “It could have been the strain of marijuana . . . such as sativa,” she said. Really? Marijuana could cause someone to royally flip out and chew someone’s face off? Really, Dr. Junquera? Bullcrap. To suggest cannabis could cause someone to go all Dawn of the Dead doesn’t know marijuana from margarita. Backed by years of research and science, marijuana can safely treat and bring legitimate relief to people suffering from many conditions and diseases. And that’s a fact. Educate yourself about medical marijuana. Do your homework. Get to the truth. Get the facts. c
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6 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 7
News Nuggets THE STATE
question the legality of similar bans in other Michigan cities. The ACLU recently filed a lawsuit challenging the anti-medical cannabis statutes in those cities.
Senate panel approves changes to cannabis law
Language for Grand Rapids decriminalization measure approved
Grand Rapids officials have approved ballot language for a grassroots initiative that, if passed, would decriminalize cannabis in the city and prevent local authorities from forwarding alleged marijuana crimes to law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Activists with the prolegalization group Decriminalize GR submitted more than 10,000 signatures in support of the measure to the city clerk, who confirmed enough of them were valid to qualify it. Proposal 2, which would amend Grand Rapid’s charter to reduce penalties for possession or use of small quantities of cannabis to an infraction punishable by a relatively inexpensive ticket, will now appear on the November ballot.
State appeals court rules cities can’t ban MMJ
In a decision hailed by the American Civil Liberties Union as a historic victory, the Michigan’ Court of Appeals has ruled “void and unenforceable” a total ban on medical marijuana cultivation and use in the city of Wyoming. The appellate court, ruling on a lawsuit filed on behalf of medical cannabis patient John Ter Beek, declared the city’s ban violates the state’s 4-year-old Medical Marihuana Act. The ACLU, which had joined Ter Beck’s lawsuit against the ordinance, immediately issued a press release saying the decision calls into 8 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
A series of bills aimed at restricting Michigan’s 2008 Medical Marihuana Act has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and now move to full votes on the Senate floor. One of the measures, House Bill 4851, would set a higher standard for patient and doctor interaction before the physician could recommend cannabis. The bill was born out of complaints by Republican legislators that it was too easy under the present standard for patients to receive such recommendations. House Bill 4834 would require registered cannabis patients to show a governmentissued photo ID should his or her patient status be challenged by a law-enforcement official. The bills passed the Judiciary Committee with near-unanimous bipartisan support. Versions of the measures have already passed the House.
THE NATION Study: Cannabis may help in easing bipolar disorder
Patients with bipolar disorder showed significant improvement after using cannabis, according to the results of a new collaborative study by three New York medical institutions. The study compared the cognitive performance of 50 people with bipolar disorder and a history of marijuana use with that of 150 people with the same disorder and no history of cannabis use. Those who had used marijuana showed “significantly better neurocognitive performance, particularly on
measures of attention, processing speed, and working memory” than the other group, the study revealed. The research was conducted by the Zucker Hillside Hospital in Long Island, and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, both in New York.
Facebook allows ads for marijuana legalization Following nearly three years of just saying no to the “Just Say Now” cannabis legalization campaign, Facebook is now allowing ads from the group to run on its pages.
The about-face follows an online petition drive by Facebook users calling for Facebook to reconsider its policy of rejecting ads by Just Say Now, an online legalization campaign by the website Firedoglake.com. More than 15,000 people signed the petition, and the group’s cause was taken up by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California. Facebook originally instituted the ban in 2010, forcing Just Say Now to take down its messages. The social networking shot down the campaign’s advertizing efforts again in 2011. Despite the lifting of the ban, Facebook officials insist the website’s policy prohibiting ads that promote illegal activity have not changed.
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THE WORLD Grandmothers, children grow potent strain in Swaziland
With the working-age population in Swaziland decimated by the ravages of HIV/AIDS, the very old and very young in the southern African nation have turned to growing a valuable new crop: a highly potent strain of cannabis called Swazi Gold. The market in the strain has become so important to the survival of its new growers— mostly grandmothers and orphaned children— that Swaziland is now home to more cannabis cultivation than the vastly larger nation of India, according to a recent report in The New York Times. That’s often made the difference between life and death for the subsistence farmers, most of who have lost family members to the AIDS epidemic. Marijuana cultivation remains illegal in
Harpos 38th Anniversary Party Swaziland, a nation of about 1.4 million people, forcing the growers to walk long distances to secret farmlands and deal with corrupt police officials and ruthless middlemen, the Times reports. The growers are hardly getting rich off their product: An average crop of Swazi Gold will yield the growers under $400, which is about the cost of sending a single Swazi child to school for a semester.
By the Numbers
5
Fine (in dollars) for smoking marijuana in Ann Arbor in 1990, after it was raised under pressures from local Republicans: 25 (Source: AnnArbor.com).
6
Percentage of Ann Arbor residents to vote in 2004 in favor of a medical-cannabis initiative in the city: 74 (Source: Drug Policy Alliance).
1
Number of new medical marijuana patient applications received by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) in March 2011: 16,000 (Source: LARA).
7
Number of marijuana plants eradicated nationwide by law-enforcement officials in 2010: 10.32 million (Source: DEA).
3
Approximate number of registered medical cannabis patients in Michigan as of July: 160,000 (Source: LARA).
4
Fine (in dollars) for smoking marijuana in Ann Arbor in 1971, the year the city became the first in the nation to decriminalize pot: 5 (Source: AnnArbor. com).
Reported number of online accounts created to grant law-enforcement officials and employers access to Arizona’s medical marijuana patient registry: 2,646 (Source: Phoenix New Times).
12 Number of marijuana plants eradicated nationwide in 2011: 6.7 million (Source: DEA).
Reported number of online accounts created for the Phoenix Police Department, granting them access to Arizona’s medical marijuana patient registry: 851 (Source: Phoenix New Times).
9
13
2
Backlog (in days) for processing both new medical cannabis registry applications and renewal requests in Michigan: 14 to 21 (Source: LARA).
11
8
Percentage decrease in the marijuana plant eradication nationwide from 2010 to 2011: 35 (Source: DEA).
10
Approximate number of patients listed on Arizona’s medical marijuana patient registry: 40,000 (Source: Phoenix New Times).
Cost of medical cannabis registration card, valid for two years, in New Jersey: $200 (Source: New Jersey Department of Health).
Bow down to the legendary Anthrax and Worship Music from their newest album as you do your best imitation of Scott Ian’s trademark stomp when you get “Caught in a Mosh.” OK, enough with the Anthrax puns—but consider yourself warned that, along with a few bruises, someone will have their face melted off by a guitar solo coming from one of the other bands who will be sharing stage space with this NYC crossover metal band. Those bands include Testament, Death Angel, plus locals Full Strike Frenzy and Transcending Fate. All these heavier-thanthou outfits have been assembled together as part of Harpos 38th anniversary. If Harpos is heavy metal heaven (and we would agree with you), than consider this anniversary party your trip straight to heavy metal hell. With cheap beer. (Derek Obregon)
IF YOU GO
What: Harpo’s 38th Anniversary Party When/Where: Sept. 28 at Harpos Concert Theatre, 14238 Harper Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $25. Got to www.harposconcerttheatre.com. All ages.
SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 11
FLASH
Wrong Side of the Law The Michigan Court of Appeals says Macomb’s ban is void {By JASEN T. Davis} Despite a ruling from the Michigan Court of Appeals, Macomb Township is extending its moratorium on medical marijuana. Macomb had a medical marijuana ban April 2011, a six-month ordinance that prohibited selling cannabis within the town’s limits, and upheld it in November. The ordinance also prohibits business establishments that want to sell cannabis from getting their permits in the town. However, the Court ruled that this and other similar ordinances across Michigan were in violation of Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Act of 2008. In the past, public officials— like Macomb’s trustees—defended bans or moratoriums by citing that the possession and sales of cannabis was still illegal under federal law. This situation arose in other cities throughout Michigan, such as Livonia, Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. Just last month, officials in Flint extended for six months their own moratorium, which will extend until Feb. 5, 2012, according to The Flint Journal. One city official noted the “uncertainties” that surround the state’s medical marijuana law But in Macomb’s case, the moratorium was not valid since a “city ordinance that purports to prohibits what a state statute permits is void,” according to the court’s ruling.
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Alan St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, says this is wrong for a variety of reasons. “It’s just basic economic common sense,” St. Pierre says. “If something is legal, there should be a marketplace for it. Sure, you may not like liquor stores, but there are still places where you can buy liquor. Voters decided to put the state in charge as a regulatory agency, and yet you have local agencies saying that they don’t want taxes, they favor chaos, criminal syndicates and violence.” The Michigan Supreme Court unanimously said “that the lower courts have been acting with prejudice against medical cannabis patients,” says Greg Pawlowski, activist
for Detroit Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and owner of Woodward Help Solutions, referring to a recent Supreme Court 7-0 ruling that the Court of Appeals, district and circuit courts across Michigan had been denying patients their legal rights by forcing inconsistent and improper rules and restriction upon them—such as not allowing the accused to tell a jury that they are a medical marijuana patient (called an “affirmative defense”). Pawlowski says that the Macomb board is on the wrong side of the law, but the only real fix is simply to vote out of office all who are prosecuting patients. “Law enforcement and public officials are still accountable for their actions,” Pawlowski says. “If they act against the will of the electorate, something should be done.” c
Full Court Press The Court of Appeals also tackled the federal-law-preemptsstate-law issue when it ruled that Michigan cities and townships cannot ban the use or cultivation or medical marijuana. The court ruled that Michigan state law and federal law do not clash because the Michigan Marihuana Act clearly acknowledges federal prohibition while at the same time providing an exemption for its use and cultivation under the state’s authority. “Congress can criminalize all uses of medical marijuana, (but) it cannot require the state to do the same,” the court ruled.
A Recap Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Act allows registered patients to grow up to 12 plants for their own use and possess up to 2 1/2 ounces of dried cannabis. A caregiver who registers with the state is allowed to grow up to 12 plants for no more than five patients. Caregivers are allowed to receive compensation for the services they provide—the legal model cited by collectives and compassion clubs.
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BUZZ
Props For Crops Harvest is coming—get ready for hard work and strains aplenty {By Sarah Diesel} Summer is upon us. The nights are warmer, the days are getting longer and the babies are getting bigger. Outdoor cannabis cultivators and patients are in high spirits because it is almost harvest time! Unlike indoor growing in which you can harvest year round, this is “a magical time of year” that proves patience is a virtue. After tending for months to the growing plants, cultivators and trimmers sit for hours, sometimes days and, if they are lucky, weeks to manicure their buds. Then it’s time to wait a few more weeks—sometimes months— while curing the cannabis like a fine wine. After all of the hard work is done, that is when you will find your local dispensaries flush with a wide variety of strains. When
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this happens it is significant to our community because it means that this influx of strains will make the donations (prices) drop and bring jobs to people who need them.
If you are an outdoor cultivator, by now you should have bright green bushes at least the height of your knee. If your babies are not lush and visibly growing by now, you need to
Tips of the Trade There are a million and one ways to make sure that your cannabis is harvested properly—heck, there are a million books written about them (half of them by Ed Rosenthal)! But here are a few basic, idiot-proof things that some CULTURE readers have found useful: A quick-and-dirty way to know if your crops are ready is to check out the pistils, or long hairs, that cover the buds. When the plant gets close to the end of the flowering period, they will often turn from white to orange to dark red to brown depending on the strain, of course. Another way is to inspect the trichomes with a magnifying glass or microscope. Once they turn milky white or creamy (instead of clear), your plants should be ready.
make some changes. Your soil should be loose, soft and slightly moist. Consider transplanting to a high-grade store-bought medium like coco planting mix if your soil is rough and dense. Weak and discolored plants will get a quick boost from a professional nutrient solution and proper pH adjustment. Talk to your local hydroponics store for personalized advice. (Remember the secret code: Fast growing “tomatoes.”) The long summer days will keep your plants in the vegetative cycle until August, when the shorter days cause the plants to bloom and produce buds. Each growth node that protrudes from the space between the stem and the fan leaf will become a harvestable bud. Plants can get very tall very quickly. Gently bend the plants over and tie them down so that the top growth nodes are at least horizontal with the lower sections of the plants. This will create plants that are low, bushy and discrete. A healthy sativa planted in early summer will stretch high above a 6-foot fence if left to grow untended. A clever way to induce an early harvest (force flowering) is to use a sterilized 32-gallon trash can to cover your babies and create a 12-hour day/12-hour night cycle during the long summer days. It takes some dedication to cover and uncover the plants every morning and every evening, but the reward is well worth the work when you harvest big, fat, resin-dripping buds! Beyond the latest storebought fertilizers, be sure to give your girls plenty of good vibes. The debate is still out whether or not playing music actually helps, but a little love and attention definitely goes a long way. Some of our favorite leisure activities in the garden include (but are not limited to) yoga, meditation, reading and chanting mantras. Outdoor cannabis cultivation is a relationship and bond with the plants that is created with Mother Nature under the sun versus lights. c
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TUNES
Fantastic Four
Regarding the Mod scene, Townshend reflects on The Who’s connection to the British youth subculture it was so strongly attached to in the early days: “Mod was over in the South of England by the spring of 1965, and in a sense the band had changed, too. We were less pure, less an R&B band and becoming more of a singles-oriented pop band. So there is an irony in the fact that, when I decided we needed to reconnect with that vitally important and colorful period of our career, and our lives as young men trying to pursue a dream of becoming famous and respected, I realized I would need a double album [Quadrophenia]. I’m pleased to hear about artists who uphold the album as an art-form.”
The Grand Ole
Rock Opera Classic rock forefathers The Who revisit the album that made music history {By David Jenison} The Who are widely considered the Fathers of the Rock Opera, so with artists now performing classic albums in their entirety, it is time to bring back one of the greatest concept albums of all time. This fall, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will bring Quadrophenia back to the stage with a full North American tour. “I always feel proud of my achievement as the writer, that I put it all together and gave the band a third wind,” says The Who guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend. “The real high point for me is always the final song ‘Love Reign O’er Me.’ Roger and I now stand almost alone together, representing not only the original band, but also its Mod audience, and of course all our other early fans. We are connected by it, in what is the most clear-cut prayer for redemption, and it feels like an acknowledgment that rock music has managed to deal with the highest emotional challenge: spiritual desperation.” Last year, vocalist Roger Daltrey toured the group’s first rock opera, 1969’s Tommy, while Townshend dealt with various hearing ailments. The Quadrophenia tour is that much more special since it features both founding members. The Quadrophenia storyline resolves around the fictional character Jimmy the Mod, a mentally unstable schizophrenic. “In 1972, I was 28 writing about London and Brighton in 1963 and 1964 when the band was just starting,” Townshend says of the album, which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year. “I was still young enough to remember how it felt to be 16 or 17 and at war with my parents, bosses and authority. I could still remember that feeling of struggling to fit in, something that happened to me when I was even younger, around 14, and everyone around me seemed to have got their lives on track. This is such a universal experience for young
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people that it has echoed.” When the album was released in 1973, The Who was arguably at its peak. “We had a really fantastic period of success, and what we needed in a sense was to find our reflection in our fans,” says Townshend. “That is kind of what that album became about. We just went into the studio, recorded the songs, the band was in peak condition I have to say, the songs were good, everything fell into place [and] the mix worked out very well. Looking back at it now . . . we weren’t trying to be Mods, we never felt like we were Mods in the first place, but we reconnected with our audience. I think we really did.” The technology of the time limited The Who’s ability to perform the rock opera as it would have liked, but the group got the chance 26 years later when it staged a Quadrophenia concert at Hyde Park in London. Soon after, the band performed the album for six-straight nights at Madison Square Garden and followed with a full tour. After that, the rock opera was put to bed until 2010, when The Who brought back Quadrophenia for a special Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Townshend recalls listening to the music at rehearsals and still feeling the connection.
“Just as a piece of music, it does stand up, but it offers a journey,” he explains. “There is a poignancy in the way that it connects me to my younger days. It is certainly not nostalgia. I don’t have any nostalgia for the Mod days, but there is a poignancy to being awakened to all those feelings. The Who were very young when we started, in 1963 and ’64, playing to those audiences. We were just kids, and some our audience was even younger. For me, at the Albert Hall, it was like, wow, this is a real connection with having [done] exactly what I wanted to do in the ’70s and we did it again reconnecting with the crowd.” As far as performing full albums, Townshend wonders if modern technology actually contributed to the current trend. He concludes, “Maybe the preponderance of singles on the Internet has made the album feel special again? Maybe the old way of listening to music—in longer sittings—is finding its way back into vogue? A journey, for example, is an opportunity to listen to something longer, and easy-to-carry mobile music has made that possible.” c
IN CONCERT
Appearing Nov. 24 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
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Destination Unknown
Picturesque
Playground
The Slovenian town of Bled offers lakeside fun and gorgeous alpine peaks
The contents of Mitt Romney’s Swiss bank accounts might be the best-kept secret in Europe, but the runner-up could easily be the town of Bled in northwest Slovenia. Save for the last surviving Sasha Vujacic fans, most people wouldn’t know Slovenia from Slovakia, and that is the point. Tourism has yet to overrun this former Yugoslav state like it has neighboring Croatia, even though Slovenia’s natural assets range from Mediterranean beaches to the Julian Alps. Still, the
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idyllic town of Bled, nestled near the Italian and Austrian borders, is the country’s understated star. Surrounded by mountains and forest, the glacial waters of Lake Bled provide the postcard-ready pictures that define the town’s immediate charm. In the summer, the lake becomes a playground for boaters, swimmers and divers, while February attracts would-be “polar bears” for the annual Bled Winter Swimming Cup race. The winter also hosts skiing, snowboarding and even frozen-lake diving (scubaholic.si).
Story by David Jenison Photos Courtesy of Slovenian Tourist Board
Lake Bled features the country’s only natural island, Bled Island, with 99 steps leading from the water to a 15th-century baroque church. For those getting hitched on the island, tradition calls for the groom to carry the bride up the entire stairway, which could make for the most awesome before-after Weight Watchers commercial ever. Still, tradition also says the bride must remain totally silent for the entire ascent, no matter what her new mother-in-law did to offend, so it might be a fair trade. Dating back 1,000 years, the mountaintop Bled Castle is another picturesque gem with a drawbridge and moat seemingly ripped from a Hollywood epic. The medieval castle features a finedining restaurant overlooking the lake, a reconstructed Gutenberg printing press and a wine cellar where tourists can fill and cork their own take-home bottles. While the castle’s wine won’t make Chateau Margaux tremble, Slovenian winemaking actually predates the grape-pressing traditions of France and Spain. Food & Wine magazine heaps considerable praise on vineyards like Edi Simcic, Marjan Simcic, Cotar, Sutor and the Hemingway-loved Movia, though a high national consumption keeps most of the wine inside its borders. Local activities include golf, fishing, thermal springs, rafting, horseback riding and culinary delights (try the famous vanilla-andcream pastry kremna rezina), but the Daniel Boone types should head to Slovenia’s only national
park, Triglav, easily accessible from Bled. The trek features gorgeous alpine peaks, lush scenery and running waters that feed both the Adriatic and Black Seas. Equally impressive is the Vintgar Gorge, a one-mile ravine that cuts through jagged vertical rocks and impressive waterfalls with a user-friendly wooden walkway. The 1,000-foot-long caves of Babji Zob (Hags Tooth), located under a large tooth-shaped pillar protruding from a mountain peak, is another highlight with gorgeous stalactites and spiral formations. Those who party hard will have a better time in the capital city, Ljubljana, or in club-happy Belgrade about seven hours to the east. Lake Bled, on the other hand, is better known for the water’s alleged healing powers, which have attracted Central European emperors and Austro-Hungarian monarchs since the 1800s. This makes Bled an ideal place for patients. Cannabis traditionally comes in from Albania and Morocco, but a homegrown boom is on the rise. A study of 11 European nations published last year in the Croatian Medical Journal found that Slovenia topped the list in perceived marijuana availability. Possession for personal use is typically just a misdemeanor fine, if that, as respectful cannabis use is generally tolerated. This makes Bled the perfect low-key town to unwind, enjoy nature and medicate in peace. c www.slovenia.info
Profiles in Courage Patient: Curtis Jorgensen
AGE: 53
Condition/ Illness:
Photo by Kristopher Christensen
Hypertension, lower back pain
Using medical cannabis since: 2006
Are you an MMJ patient from Michigan 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’m a nurse [and have been one for] about 15 years. [I was] told by a friend to try medical marijuana to see if it would help my lower back pain.
DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE MARIJUANA?
Yes. Taking Vicodin was not for me.
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS? Closing the dispensaries.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE? I have nothing to say [to them]. c
SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 19
Remember the days when rappers just . . . rapped? That’s so old school. Nowadays they are also practically required to produce movies, act, write screenplays, direct and run record labels. Some of them even design clothes or headphones or star in reality TV shows. Chris Brown recently came up with the brilliant idea of selling Pit Bull Terriers online for a $1,000 a pup (He should probably stick to music). And, like so many other successful artists who started in hip-hop, Ice Cube has diversified his repertoire. The nation was introduced to a young artist calling himself Ice Cube (along with future household names Dr. Dre and Eazy-E) with the advent of N.W.A.—the outfit that practically invented gangster rap. In 1986 N.W.A. detonated Straight Outta Compton on an unsuspecting populace and managed to piss off all the right demographics—endearing them to millions. After months of ferocious infighting, N.W.A. expired from largely selfinflicted wounds in 1991, the same year Ice Cube impressed the hell out of everyone with a brilliantly understated performance in John Singleton’s Academy Award-winning Boyz N The Hood. Since then Cube’s boomeranged back and forth from the screen to the studio, appearing in a slew of movies and television shows, releasing nine studio albums and making guest appearances on tracks by dozens of fellow artists. His first attempt at screenwriting spawned the Friday franchise and—yes—he’s even got his own line of clothing. The man gets around. Usually in a convertible with hydraulics. I wanted to talk about your acting career because since your debut as Doughboy in Boyz N the Hood, acting has become a major part of your career. Is acting something you enjoy? Yeah, I do. I like it. For a creative person like [me], it’s a great way to create on a three-dimensional level. Music is kind of straight audio. You get to do a few videos, but nothing like painting on the canvas of a movie screen. I gotta say I thought you really killed it in Three Kings—which
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I had no expectations going in, and has really become one of my favorite films. Yeah Three Kings was real cool in a lot of aspects. You know we see these kinds of shots all the time. You watch CSI or whatever and you see these shots of the camera going inside the body. But Three Kings was the first time you really seen stuff like this. You’ve spent some time behind the camera yourself. You’ve written screenplays and di-
rected. Is that something you want to do more of? Yeah, eventually. One thing I learned about directing is that you have to be totally committed to one project for the duration. That’s one thing that kind of slid me more towards the producing route. And writing and acting. Because then I get a chance to be involved in more than one project. But I definitely will get back behind the camera at
some point because when you see something in your head nobody else can really deliver it for you. I hear that you like to read a lot. What have you been reading lately? You know, I’ve been writing so much . . .
SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 21
22 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
like the corporations that run private prisons, for example. That’s what I’m saying. Since the criminalization of it makes more money for the government than the legalization of it—at this point—it’ll stay a criminal thing. But these vending machine [that dispense medical marijuana to medical marijuana patients] things might be a good idea.
Tell me about what you’re writing. I’m writing the fourth Friday movie, which is funny as hell, and then I’m helping to put together this N.W.A. movie. You’ve been working on that for a while, haven’t you? Yeah, we’ve been working on it for about a year . . . and some change. Because we [are] trying to tell everybody’s story and be as accurate as possible and as entertaining as possible, so it’s taking a little more time—which is cool because I want to get it right. So that’s been occupying my time. But as far as reading . . . Quincy Jones’ autobiography [Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones]. Stuff like that.
What vending machines? They came out with a vending machine where they can get their tax on it. Really? I didn’t know about that. Come on, man. You gotta be up on it! Do you use the medicine yourself? I plead the Fifth.
All by yourself? Yup. Just me and my engineer. And I’ll bring people in as I need them, but I don’t need a crew. I think about all that stuff when I’m at home at my [in-house] studio. I know all my ideas before I get in there. Then I go in and do it how I feel it. It sounds like you have a lot of different stuff going on with the writing, producing, acting and making tunes. But I wouldn’t do them all at the same time. If I’m
Photo by Eric Williams
Your new album, Everything’s Corrupt, is almost completed. Tell me about how you work in the studio. I don’t like nobody in the studio with me.
So, I guess it would be a waste of time asking if you have any favorite strains or if you like any of the baked goods? Nah, I don’t have favorites. They’re like my children.
“For a creative person like [me], it’s a great way to create on a three-dimensional level.” On making movies acting, the record has to wait until I’m done. And if I’m doing music, then the acting has to wait. I’m in the process of doing music and writing this movie so I don’t wanna do nothing but that. I don’t want to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. I’m sure you know all about the federal crackdown on medical marijua-
na. I’m pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but I’m gonna ask it anyway: Where do you stand on the question of legalization? They’ll legalize it once they’ve figured out how to make all the money on it. So you think it’s just a question of economics? Because keeping it illegal makes a lot of people rich too—
Hey, here’s an interesting fact I discovered when I was looking you up online. Did you know the biggest neutrino particle detector in the world is located at the South Pole and they call it IceCube? I don’t doubt it. I think it’s kinda cool you got name-checked in a cutting-edge science experiment. I am science. www.icecube.com
Smoke Signals
When Ice Cube took on the role of Craig in 1995’s Friday, it was a dramatic departure from the Doughboy character he previously embodied in Boyz N The Hood. In Boyz, Doughboy is a high school dropout, ex-con, pistol-packing misanthrope with no redeeming qualities . . . until the very end. Craig, while definitely a layabout, also spends most of his time trying to stay out of trouble and avoid the ghetto pitfalls of his friends and neighbors. But only one flick had Smokey. And you know this! SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 23
Cool Stuff Icy Tokes
Everyone knows that a water pipe is the way to go if you’re looking for a way to filter out the harshness. But how do you make a water pipe better? Lower the temperature, my friends. Just stick Icy Tokes (available in a variety of lengths) in your freezer for 15 minutes, lower it into your pipe and—presto!—your dose just got way cooler. ($15-$89) www.icytokes.com
Darth Vapor T-Shirt
From the same clothing crew that brought you the Weedo Jima T-shirt comes Darth Vapor! A twist on everyone’s favorite Star Wars villain, shock your fanboy friends with the image of Daddy Skywalker making use of a vaporizing volcano. The farce will be with you . . . always. ($19) killyourculture.com
The Med-Tainer
We’ve seen a lot of med containers and jars. A lot. But The MedTainer caught our attention for its two-in-one functionality. Put your meds inside for watertight, airtight and smell-proof storage. But here’s the thing: It doubles as a grinder, too! Double your fun, double your pleasure. ($6.99) www.fkdmedtainer.com
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SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 25
CULTURE Recipes By Aunt Sandy
Sandy Moriarty is the author of Aunt’ Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook: Comfort Food for Body & Mind and a Professor of Culinary Arts at Oaksterdam University. She is also the co-founder of Oaksterdam’s Bakery.
The end of summer might be bittersweet for some, but the onset of autumn is always time to celebrate. Whip up this delish menu—perfect to keep you nourished for the start of the football season (thank you, NFL!) And since Sept. 26 is Johnny Appleseed Day, we’ve added a tooth-teasing Apple Cannabis Crisp just to sweeten the deal.
26 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
Menu:
Happy Trail Mix
Cannabis Crusted Salmon Garlic Mash Fresh Green Beans Apple Cannabis Crisp
Happy Trail Mix 1 cup of Rice Chex cereal 1 cup of Corn Chex cereal 1 cup of Wheat Chex cereal 1 cup small pretzels 1 cup Canna Butter* 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon salt Cannabis (crushed buds) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the Chex cereal and pretzels in a large mixing bowl. In a medium bowl or saucepan, melt the Canna Butter and stir in garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Place the cereal and pretzels on a cookie sheet and pour half the butter mixture over them with a spatula or spoon. Toss the remaining butter mixture well. Bake the trail mix for 5 minutes. Take out of the oven and repeat the previous step using the remaining half of the butter mixture. Let cool and add some crushed cannabis over the top and toss together.
Fresh Green Beans
1 lb. green beans 1 tablespoon melted Canna Butter* 1/4 cup of slivered almonds Salt and pepper to taste Snip the ends off the green beans and cut in half. Drop them into boiling water, reduce the heat once. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes, and drain. Add the Canna Butter, garnish with the almonds and add salt and pepper and serve.
Cannabis Crusted Salmon Makes four servings.
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 cup Happy Trail Mix (crushed to a fine consistency) 3 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon cannabis (crushed buds) 1/4 cup Canna Butter* 4 salmon steaks (about 1/2 lb. per person) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, salt, pepper, Happy Trail mix, cheese and cannabis. Wipe the salmon dry and dredge in the flour mixture, then set aside. In a 9x13 baking pan, melt the Canna Butter in the preheated oven. When the butter is melted and hot, place the dredged salmon steaks into the pan. Baste the upper surface of the salmon with some of the butter in the pan. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Turn over and reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake until tender, about another 15 minutes. SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 27
28 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
Garlic Mash
1 large clove of garlic Olive oil 6 medium-size potatoes (about 2 lbs.) 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons Canna Butter* 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup hot milk or cream Cut the top off the large clove of garlic, drizzle the top with olive oil and place in a baking dish. Bake in a 350-degree oven until tender, about 30 minutes. Set aside. Wash, peel and remove blemishes from the potatoes. Cut into quarters and cook covered for 20 to 40 minutes in 4 cups of boiling water, adding 1/2 teaspoon salt. When the potatoes are tender, drain well and add the Canna Butter, 1 teaspoon of salt and hot milk or cream. Mash with a fork or potato masher until potatoes are creamy. Squeeze the baked clove of softened garlic into the potatoes and mix well.
Apple Cannabis Crisp
Makes SIX servings.
4 cups tart apples, pared, cored and sliced 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup Canna Butter* 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put the apples into a 9-inch pie pan or dish and add the lemon juice. In a large mixing bowl add the remaining ingredients and work the mixture with a pastry blender or your fingers. Lightly blend them so they do not become oily. Spread the crumbly mixture over the apples. Bake for about 30 minutes. Serve hot.
CANNA Butter* 1 cup unsalted butter 1 ounce low to average quality dried leaf marijuana or 1/2 ounce average dried bud 4 cups water Bring water and butter to boil in a small pot, lower heat to simmer. Simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours. Mash and stir frequently to extract all THC from the plant material. After cooking, use cheesecloth to strain the butter/water mixture. Pour about 2 cups clean boiling water over the leaves in the strainer to extract every last drop of butter. Squeeze plant material well to remove as much liquid as possible. Chill the butter/water mixture in the refrigerator until the butter has solidified (1 to 2 hours). Separate butter from water and keep butter in the refrigerator (or freezer for longer storage) until needed.
Legal Disclaimer
Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 29
Entertainment Reviews Tomorrows Bad Seeds The Great Escape UrbanTone Who says the ’90s are dead? Well, the calendar. But if you need a little time capsule with a slight modern flair, you should pick up Tomorrows Bad Seeds new album The Great Escape. Playing the tracks immediately takes the listener back to the age of Sublime and Third Eye Blind. It’s like they never left. However, the title track (the first one) is sort of misleading when it comes to the tone of the album. It’s a rocking rebel anthem that makes you want to kick the ass of any authority figure. Then, the album slips into a somber, far more chill feeling (especially the song “One Way,” which is a must-add for medicated listening) that, while not bad, is really jarring. Despite the change, the rest of the album is a fun, relaxing and sometimes deep experience (especially “Ballerina Girl”). Worth a listen, even in the 21st century. (Joe Martone)
Marijuana Pest & Disease Control Ed Rosenthal Quick American Publishing When it comes to cultivation, there’s no better friend to the grower than Ed Rosenthal. The man’s been doing god’s work for decades, showing us mere mortals how to grow top-quality herb in ways that are effective and easy to follow. And that’s the charm of Marijuana Pest & Disease Control. With the depth of knowledge of a clinical researcher but with the warmth of a trusted friend, Rosenthal breaks down the essentials with clear, lucid prose and practical instructions—all overseen by an ethos he clearly spells out in the book: “One rule of thumb for controlling pests is to begin with the least invasive methods.” In other words, don’t go for the chemical big guns right off the bat. Need a recipe for making compost tea? Ed’s got you covered. Want to know how to avoid root rot? It’s here. Pick up this book. Your plants will thank you. (Matt Tapia)
Marley Magnolia Pictures Dir. By Kevin McDonald In the decades since Bob Marley’s death in 1981, he’s become such an icon that it’s easy to lose sight of the man behind the legend. Marley remedies that, focusing on his biography in exhaustive detail—from his childhood as the mixed-race son of a Jamaican woman and English soldier to the early musical struggles of the Wailers to his eventual stardom and too-sudden death. Marley is heard from in archival interviews but his story is mostly told by those who knew him—family members, bandmates, girlfriends, even a nurse who treated him at a German hospital in his final days battling cancer. The most powerful moments are when we see him perform in concert footage at various pivotal points in his career. A nice coda is also provided with an end-credit sequence showing fans today from one country after another singing and dancing to his songs of freedom. (Omar Aziz)
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Saul Williams in concert Saul Williams’ new album Volcanic Sunlight is hard to categorize because he blurs genres and influences on every song with a style that can only be described as poetry in motion. The alt-hop/verse composer will be accompanied by the talented Dessa as they perform at the Blind Pig this month. Her spoken word, singing/rapping poetry with smooth, classical sounding beats and a voice that is nothing short of intoxicating will instantly make you a fan of the virtues and merits of urban lyricism. These artists have a little something for everyone, but for those of you who crave more, you can get a signed copy of Williams’ new book, Chorus, for an extra 10 bucks when you buy the VIP tickets! If you bring a copy of the DVD Slam, maybe he’ll sign it, too. Wishful thinking? (Derek Obregon)
IF YOU GO
What: Saul Williams w/ Dessa in concert When/Where: Sept. 11 at Blind Pig, 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor. Info: Tickets $15-25. Go to blindpigmusic.com or call (734) 996-8555.
SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 31
Events Calendar iREADCULTURE.com Sept. 1 What: The Atlas Moth with Altar of Plagues, Knife and Hordes in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick Lounge, 4120 Woodward Ave.., Detroit. Info: Tickets $10 advance. Go to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 1 What: Com Truise with Mux Mool and Bogi Grumbles in concert. When/Where: 9pm at Blind Pig, 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor. Info: Tickets $12 advance, $15 at the door. Go to blindpigmusict.com or call (734) 996-8555. Thru Sept. 2 What: “Flip Your Field: Abstract Art from the Collection.” When/Where: Various times at The University of Michigan Museum of Art, 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Info: Go to www.umma.umich.edu or call (734) 764-0395. Thru Sept. 2 What: “Judith Turner: The Flatness of Ambiguity.” When/
32 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
GET YOUR HITS HERE
Where: Various times at The University of Michigan Museum of Art, 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Info: Go to www.umma.umich.edu or call (734) 764-0395. Sept. 5 What: Trevor Hall in concert. When/Where: 9pm at Blind Pig, 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor. Info: Tickets $15. Go to blindpigmusict. com or call (734) 996-8555.
Send Listings to calendar@freeculturemag.com
Royal Oak. Info: Tickets $15. Go to www.comedycaste.com or call (248) 542-9900. Sept. 7 What: Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. When/ Where: 1:30pm at DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston. Info: Tickets $19$49.50. Go to www.palacenet. com or call (248) 377-0100.
Sept. 6 What: The Van Allen Belt in concert. When/Where: 10pm at The Majestic, Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward Ave.., Detroit. Info: Free. Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700.
Sept. 7 What: The Handgrenades with The Future Laureates, Big Mess and The High Strung in coccert. When/Where: 9 pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick Lounge, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $5. Go to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700.
Sept. 6-8 What: Joe Zimmerman. When/Where: Various times at Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St.,
Sept. 7 What: Ann Arbor Soul Club with Brad Hales and Breck T in concert. When/Where:
9:30pm at Blind Pig, 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor. Info: Tickets $5-$8. Go to blindpigmusict.com or call (734) 996-8555. Sept. 8 What: Metric in concert. When/Where: 7 pm at The Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $32$39. Go to thefillmoredetroit. com or call (313) 961-5451. Sept. 8 What: Frontier Ruckus in concert When/Where: 8pm at The Crofoot, Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Info: Tickets $10-$12. Go to thecrofoot. com or call (248) 858-9333. Sept. 8 What: Circus 13—The Return. When/Where: 9 pm at The Majestic, Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $18. Go to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700.
Sept. 9 What: Black Iris presents 5 for $5. When/Where: 8 pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick Lounge, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $5. Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 9 What: Electric Corpse in concert. When/Where: 10 pm at The Majestic, Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Free. Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 11 What: Saul Williams with Dessa in concert. When/Where: 9pm at Blind Pig, 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor. Info: Tickets $15. Go to blindpigmusict.com or call (734) 996-8555. Sept. 11 What: Breton in concert. When/Where: 8 pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick Lounge, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $10. Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 13 What: The Holograms and Pupils in concert. When/ Where: 8 pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $10. Go to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700.
to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 14 What: Antibalas in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Majestic, Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $15. Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 15 What: Glen Hansard and Iron and Wine in concert. When/ Where: 8pm at Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. Info: Go to www.michtheater.org or call (734) 668-8463. Sept. 15 What: Tyga in concert. When/Where: 6:30pm at The Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $35-$58. Go to thefillmoredetroit. com or call (313) 961-5451 Sept. 16 What: Laetitia Sandier in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Info: Tickets $12. Go to thecrofoot.com or call (248) 8589333. Sept. 18 What: Gotye in concert. When/Where: 7pm at Fox Theatre Detroit, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $35-$85. Go to www.olympiaentertainment. com or call (313) 471-3200.
Sept. 13-15 What: Adam Richmond. When/Where: Various times at Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak. Info: Tickets $15. Go to www.comedycaste.com or call (248) 542-9900.
Sept. 18 What: Neil Hamburger in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Info: Tickets $10. Go to thecrofoot.com or call (248) 8589333.
Sept. 14 What: Prophet Massive in concert. When/Where: 9:30pm at Blind Pig, 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor. Info: Tickets $10 advance, $15 at the door. Go to blindpigmusict.com or call (734) 996-8555.
Sept. 18 What: Dropkick Murphys in concert. When/ Where: 6:30pm at The Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $38-$48.50. Go to thefillmoredetroit.com or call (313) 961-5451
Sept. 14 What: Gabriel Iglesias When/Where: 7pm at The Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $42. Go to thefillmoredetroit.com or call (313) 961-5451 Sept. 14 What: Hot Water Music in concert. When/Where: 7 pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $20-$25. Go
Sept. 19 What: Papadisio and Eumatik in concert. When/ Where: 9pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $12-$15. Go to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 19 What: Missy Higgins in concert. When/Where: 8:30pm at The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St., SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 33
Pontiac. Info: Tickets $20-$25. Go to thecrofoot.com or call (248) 858-9333. Sept. 21 What: The Heavy and Silent Comedy in concert. When/ Where: 9pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $5. Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 21 What: The Wombats in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Info: Tickets $13-$15. Go to thecrofoot.com or call (248) 858-9333. Sept. 22 What: Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators in concert. When/ Where: 7pm at The Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $19-$58. Go to thefillmoredetroit.com or call (313) 961-5451. Sept. 22-Jan. 13 What: “Benjamin West: General Wolfe and the Art of Empire.” When/Where: Various times at The University of Michigan Museum of Art 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Info: Go to www. umma.umich.edu or call (734) 764-0395. Sept. 22-Jan. 13 What: “Discovering 18th-Century British America through William L. Clements Library Collection.” When/Where: Various times at The University of Michigan Museum of Art, 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Info: Go to www.umma.umich.edu or call (734) 764-0395. Sept. 23 What: The Soft Moon with Cold Showers in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Info: Tickets $10. Go to thecrofoot.com or call (248) 8589333. Sept. 23 What: Down with Warbeast and HAARP in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Info: Tickets $23-$28. Go to thecrofoot.com or call (248) 858-9333. Sept. 24 What: The Melvins in concert. When/Where: 8pm at 34 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Detroit. Info: Tickets $15 advance, $18 at the door. Go to smallsbardetroit. com or call (313) 873-1117. Sept. 25 What: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes in concert. When/Where: 8:30pm at The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Info: Tickets $30-$35. Go to thecrofoot.com or call (248) 858-9333. Sept. 25 What: Lord Huron in concert. When/Where: 9pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick Lounge, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $10-$12. Go to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 26 What: Ben Harper in concert. When/Where: 7:30pm at Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. Info: Go to www.michtheater.org or call (734) 668-8463. Sept. 26 What: Love and Light, Jaws That Bite ,Ty Beat in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $12. Go to www.majesticdetroit. com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 29 What: Ride the Queen 2012. When/Where: Aboard the AuSable River Queen, 1775 W. River Rd., Oscoda. Info: Featuring South Mad Sabs, Detroit’s Black Sabbath Tribute Band. Go to www. ausableriverqueen.net. Sept. 29 What: Comedy Explosion feat. Rickey Smiley. When/Where: 8pm at Fox Theatre Detroit, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $50-$110. Go to www. olympiaentertainment.com or call (313) 471-3200. Sept. 29 What: Jeecy and the Jungle Record Release Party. When/ Where: 8pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets TBA. Go to www.majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. Sept. 30 What: The Ravonettes in concert. When/Where: 8pm at The Majestic, Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $14. Go to www.majesticdetroit. com or call (313) 833-9700.
Word Up
Cannabinoids
So many people talk about THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, when discussing marijuana . . . but let’s not forget that there is a whole cornucopia of chemical compounds in cannabis that do a body good. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that interact with our body’s cannabinoid receptors. When they bind to these receptors—that’s when marijuana’s impact take hold: pain relief, euphoria, anti-inflammatory effects, reduced tension, etc. Receptor sites are found in the brain—in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, to be specific. Other receptors are found in the organs (spleen) and immune system (white blood cells). Cannabinoid receptors are also important because they help regulate important functions such as motor skills, pain relief, body temperature and heart rate. Not all marijuana strains are alike. Each has its own cannabinoid profile. For example, those seeking cannabis’ psychoactive effects often gravitate towards strains that have been bred to have high levels of THC. For strains intended for therapeutic purposes or for people who want to minimize marijuana’s psychedelic effects, a strain high in CBD (another cannabinoid) might be just the thing. Here’s a quick rundown of three of the most common cannabinoids you might encounter.
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Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
This is the most recognizable cannabinoid . . . and the one that tends to get all the limelight. That’s not surprising since it’s the most psychoactive compound in marijuana. It tends to concentrate in the flowers, or buds. If a head change is just what the doctor ordered, then pay attention to this one.
CANNABIDIOL (CBD)
After THC, this is the most well-known cannabinoid. It has minimal to zero psychoactive effects—so if you don’t want a head change with your medicine (or want to minimize such effects), you’re gonna want to choose a strain with a high CBD count. This cannabinoid can reduce inflammation and anxiety and studies show it may be beneficial to good brain health.
CANNABINOL (CBN)
This is another psychoactive cannabinoid that results when THC breaks down as marijuana gets old. If your strain has high levels of CBN, this may be an indication that it has been improperly stored. High CBN also means weaker medical effects. SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 35
36 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2012
Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY—FREEDOM UNDER ATTACK
; First Amendment Blues: (1) A bar in Horry County, S.C., named the Suck Bang Blow filed a lawsuit in May challenging the county’s new ordinance prohibiting motorcyclists’ “burnouts” (enginerevving with back-tire-spinning, creating smoke—and enormous noise). The bar claims that burnouts are important expressions of its customers’ “manliness and macho” and as such are protected by the First Amendment. (2) Luigi Bellavite complained to reporters in Mountain View, Colo., in July that the theft of his “Vote Satan” yard sign ought to be prosecuted as a “hate crime” under state law—as he is a member of the Church of Satan. Police called it an ordinary theft.
GOVERNMENT IN ACTION!
; Miniature golf is remarkably simple to play, requiring neither experience nor much exertion, and even toddlers can negotiate their own brand of fun on the course. However, in March, a set of “accessible design” standards went into effect, under the Americans With Disabilities Act, governing such things as the “slope” of courses (maximum 1:4 rise on some holes), the maximum length of the blades if artificial turf is used, and the minimum area of the “tee-off” landing (48 inches by 60 inches, with a slope not steeper than 1:48). ; The only unlimited-issue U.S. visa allowing fast-lane entrance for certain foreign workers is the O-1, available to those (e.g., scientists, technology engineers) who,
in the opinion of the State Department, demonstrate “extraordinary ability.” Reuters reported in June that an O-1 recently went to British journalist Piers Morgan, whose extraordinariness seems limited to replacing Larry King on his CNN interview program, and another to Shera Bechard, Playboy’s Miss November 2010, whose other accomplishment seems to be the creation of an online photo-sharing experience called “Frisky Friday.” ; Canadian rap singer Manu Militari was, until earlier this year, sufficiently patriotic to have received more than $100,000 in government grants that originated with the Canadian Heritage department. However, a June video released ahead of his new album L’Attente portrayed Afghan Taliban fighters targeting a convoy of Canadian soldiers, planting a roadside bomb and aiming their rifles at the Canadians’ heads. Over 150 Canadian soldiers have died fighting the Taliban and their insurgent allies.
POLICE REPORT
; New Mexico is an “open carry” state, with otherwise-law-abiding adults authorized to display loaded handguns in public. However, in the town of Vaughn (pop. 500, located mid-nowhere), perhaps the only ones not authorized to carry are the town’s two police officers. Chief Ernest Armijo had been convicted in 2011 of criminal nonsupport of a wife and two sons, and among the conditions of probation was the prohibition on gun possession. Deputy Brian Bernal has his own domestic issue: a conviction for family violence that bars him, under federal law, from carrying. SEPTEMBER 2012 • CULTURE 37
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