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Lion King
Snoop retires his rap rep—and rises as reggae royalty On the Cover: Photo by Matt Carr/ Getty Images
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6 Letter from the Editor When you’re trying to spread the message of peace—do as Marley did. 8 News Nuggets Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere— and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers. 16 Legal Corner Attorney Denise Pollicella examines the Provisioning Centers Act—flaws and all. 18 Destination Unknown Skip the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors, China’s Guanxi Province is the place to be. 20 Profiles in Courage Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you. 22 Strain & Edible Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary.
12 The Tradition Continues . . . Let’s summon the spirit of John Sinclair once again—time for Hash Bash! 14 Moving Screen Is it the National Basket . . . bowl Association!
46 Cool Stuff From Kush Bottles’ Neon Collection to SFX Co2 Caps, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 48 Recipes For an extra special day we came up with an extra special menu. 50 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture.
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letter from the editor
Vol 4 IssUE 10
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Arts & Entertainment Editor Evan Senn
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Ashley Bennett, Jake Browne, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Carolina Duque, Charmie Gholson, Michael Gifford, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen, Simon Weedn
What
About
Bob?
Photographers
Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, Michael Gifford, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Mark Malijan, Patrick Roddie, Kim Sidwell
Interns
Joe Martone, Dean Mayorga, Derek Obregon
Art Director
Steven Myrdahl
Graphic Designers
Vidal Diaz, Tommy LaFleur
When I first heard that Snoop had been “reborn,” I wasn’t surprised. Many musicians and celebrities— rappers are no exception—reach a point in their career where they reinvent or reboot their identity. And when I heard that Snoop was embracing Jamaican culture and music—the Rastafarian movement, no less— and declared himself the reincarnation of Bob Marley, again, I wasn’t really surprised. After all, Marley was arguably one of the globe’s most earnest, credible, culturally relevant and politically steadfast artists of all time. Virtually single-handedly Robert Nesta Marley was the man who “introduced the world to the mystic power of reggae” as Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner wrote in 1994. He was the man who made the world aware of the Rastafari Movement. He was the tireless artist who spread love and understanding—as well as social change and justice—to the world’s stage. If you’re going to say that you are the reincarnation of someone, Bob Marley’s a great choice. It’s easy to understand Bob’s power and legacy. First, Bob Marley taught us about the power of universal love. His own parents literally decided to “get together and feel alright,” as the Third World superstar was the result of
biracial love; his father was White, his mother was black. “Me don’t deh pon the black man’s side nor the white man’s side. Me deh pon God’s side,” is how Marley once reflected on his own identity. Marley, by any definition, was the real deal. After an assassination attempt on his life in 1976 proved unsuccessful, what did Bob do? Two days later, the injured Marley performed right on schedule at a concert aimed at (ironically enough) defusing tensions between Jamaica’s two warring political parties. Marley’s response: “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?” And lastly, Marley reveals something that Rastafarian and MMJ culture have in common: utter respect and reverence for a plant that is the “healing of the nations.” Not only can cannabis help Rastas tap into Jah, the plant is also used as natural medicine. Rastas turn to ganja to treat fevers, colds, stomach aches and pain. It is from Bob Marley’s cultural and artistic legacy that Snoop Lion arises. And so I embrace Mr. Broadus’ reinvention. Some may not. Others will decry it. That’s what happens when you try something risky, or strike out into new territory. Sometimes, little darling, you just need to stir it up. Now it’s time to celebrate—have a happy 420, everyone! c
Director of Sales & Marketing Jim Saunders
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THE STATE Burton lawyer suggests new dispensary model to bypass ruling
If you don’t like the way the game is played, change the rules. That seems to be the basic principle behind the latest attempts to keep dispensaries going despite the Michigan Supreme Court’s recent McQueen ruling, according to The Flint Journal. Grand Blanc-based attorney Bruce Leach has come up with a new business model that, while described as complicated, is designed to allow caregivers to provide medical cannabis to five patients each through a locked locker set-up at a dispensary. Burton Mayor Paula Zelenko is among the skeptics, but would consider the plan if it was able to keep the dispensaries open and not illegal. In February, the state Supreme Court recently determined that patient-to-patient sales were not covered under Michigan’s MMJ law—essentially making access points illegal.
benefits. An Ingham County judge has ruled that using medical cannabis should not disqualify anyone from collecting unemployment benefits, according to the Lansing State Journal. The new ruling, reversing a prior decision by a state-run appellate commission, was tied to a case involving a former Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital employee, Jenine Kemp. Kemp—a patient who suffers from lupus and neuropathy—failed a workplace drug test because of her cannabis medicine use. Judge William Collette openly supported Kemp, stating that the test “merely demonstrated what she had informed her employer of prior to the test—that she uses medical marijuana.”
Jackson and Flint hit with access point closings and bans
Over 200 patients and activists protested the decision to shut down dispensaries in Jackson, according to mLive.com. The protest took place at the Jackson County Tower Building and was organized by Joe Cain, the owner of Jackson Medical Marijuana Farmer’s Market. Cain said he organized the protest at the building to emphasize the issue to the city and county officials, as the Tower is across the street from City Hall. Patients and advocates in Flint are also reeling from a ban that was recently extended for 180 days as of late February. The ban in Flint
is intended to be temporary, until a new ordinance is inacted.
THE NATION
a fine-only, non-criminal infraction will significantly reduce state prosecutorial costs and allow law enforcement resources to be refocused on other, more serious criminal offenses,” NORML stated during the bill’s testimony. The bills aim to move the state’s MMJ program from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Health. One bill contains amendments pertaining to confidentiality, physician requirements, plant transfers and registration requirements.
New York lawmaker Diane Savino pushes new MMJ bill
State Sen. Diane Savino is gaining support for a new bill that could bring medical use to New York, writes the MMJ Business Daily. Savino plans to introduce the measure soon, basing the program on models currently in use in other compassionate states such as Colorado and Connecticut. She hopes it would fly through the Assembly but Hawaii moves forward toward might meet opposition from Gov.
a better MMJ program
Paradise just got a little greener, as Hawaii continued to inch closer towards decriminalization and improvements to the state’s 13-yearold MMJ program, according to Maui Time and Hawaii Reporter. Last month, the state Senate approved SB 472 SD2, which makes possession of up to an ounce of cannabis a civil violation subject to up to a $1,000 fine, instead of a criminal misdemeanor. “Amending state law to make these offenses
Ingham Court: Patients are eligible for unemployment benefits
Unemployed patients can breathe easier—they’re still eligible for 8 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
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Andrew Cuomo, who is not an advocate. “This is purely political . . . Nobody wants to be the drug governor,” he announced recently. While New York decriminalized minor possession in 1977, paradoxically, the city had the highest arrest rates for possession than any other city in the world by 2008.
Efforts to legalize medicinal cannabis in Florida gear up
Florida may be enlisting some new medical assistance for its elderly population, according to Bay News 9. State Sen. Jeff Clemens has introduced a bill that would permit those with debilitating medical conditions to use cannabis, with a doctor’s permission. SB 1250, also known as the Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act, is named after the Florida advocate who uses the treatment for her amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The bill was introduced the day after a poll indicated the 70 percent of Floridians support the medical use of the plant. A prominent Orlando attorney, John Morgan, recently announced his efforts to spend $3.5 million to get MMJ legislation on the 2014 ballot.
Morgan says his father used cannabis for a number of medical issues before he died due to cancer.
THE WORLD Copenhagen officials say legalization will mean “decreased gang criminality”
Officials in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, are pushing to legalize cannabis by first launching a threeyear trial, according to The Copenhagen Post. The idea is that “the legal sale of cannabis will result in decreased gang criminality, more prevention and a better life for average cannabis users,” according to the city. The trial may also involve importing cannabis from England as well as Colorado and Washington. “We realize, of course, that there are a lot of international conventions and regulations to deal with, but we think it is possible,” Mikkel Warming, Copenhagen’s deputy mayor for social affairs, told The Post. c
by the numbers
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In days, how long Flint’s temporary ban on dispensaries—approved Feb. 25—lasts: 180 (Source: Mlive.com).
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The maximum fine (in dollars) for violating a proposed Kalamazoo ordinance that would require patients, when transporting cannabis, to store their meds in the trunk of their car: 500 (Source: Mlive.com).
The number of patients and supporters that rallied together in Jackson to protest the closure of MMJ distribution centers: 200 (Source: The Compassionate Chronicles).
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The percentage of voters in Nevada who approved MMJ legislation in 2000: 65 (Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal) The number of registered MMJ cardholders in Nevada: 3,645. (Source: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services).
The maximum prison sentence (in days) for violating this proposed Kalamazoo ordinance: 93 (Source: Mlive.com).
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The estimated amount of money (in millions) that it would take to bankroll an MMJ constitutional amendment in Florida for the 2014 ballot: 10 (Source: Orlando Sentinel).
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The number of registered MMJ patients in Wayne County as of Sept. 30: 14,736 (Source: The Oakland Press).
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The number of county prosecutors that Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says he is training to shut down dispensaries: 83 (Source: Lansing State Journal).
The distance (in feet) that medical cannabis businesses and activities must keep away from residential districts, etc., in Westborough, Mass.: 500 (Source: The Westborough News).
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The number of registered MMJ patients in Macomb County as of Sept. 30: 8,319 (Source: The Oakland Press).
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The percentage of Hawaii residents who support their state’s medical cannabis program: 81 (Source: Maui Time). The percentage of Hawaii residents who feel possession of small amounts of cannabis should not be a criminal offense: 58 (Source: Maui Time).
The Original Funkfest: Featuring George Clinton and the Parliament P Funk Allstars The hottest names in Funk will unite together for the “Original Funkfest“ including legendary Funkmaster, George Clinton Parliament P Funk Allstars, the Ohio Players and United We Funk featuring Barkays, Mary Jane Girls, Confunkshun and Dazz Band. George “Dr. Funkenstein” Clinton giving birth to the sound known around the world as “funk,” a melting pot of rhythm & blues, jazz, gospel, and psychedelic rock, prefiguring everything from rap and hip-hop to techno and alternative. Clinton is still praised as one of the grandfathers of funk and is active in this musical community. He has more than 40 hits and three platinum albums to his credit, and his incredible live performances are that of legends.
IF YOU GO
What: George Clinton and the P Funk Allstars in concert. When/Where: April 27, 7PM at Fox Theater Detroit, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $49, $69, $79 and $89. Go to OlympiaEntertainment.com, the Fox Theatre and Joe Louis Arena box offices, Hockeytown Authentics in Troy (without service charge), at all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster. com. To charge tickets by phone, call (800) 7453000. APRIL 2013 • CULTURE 11
FLASH
Flower “Power” Ann Arbor’s 42nd annual Hash Bash just keeps getting better—and bigger! {By Charmie Gholson} The 42nd Annual Hash Bash Rally on the University of Michigan campus—the state’s longest running cannabis reform rally—will be held this year on the Diag in front of the Business School on April 6. Known as the “One Hour of Power” to attendees and event organizers, the event is a rally of speakers, music and civil disobedience united to bring about one common goal: cannabis freedom. This year’s lineup includes an unprecedented number of national speakers and legislators, including: Mason Tvert, the co-director of the successful campaign to decriminalize adult-use of cannabis in Colorado; renowned growing expert and author Ed Rosenthal; NORML co-founder and attorney Keith Stroup and worldrenowned geneticist DJ Short. In all, speakers are expected to address a crowd of 8,000 people.
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This massive gathering has its roots in the arrest, conviction and subsequent release from prison of John Sinclair, a cultural activist, poet and White Panther Party leader. Sinclair was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1969 after giving two joints to undercover narcotics agents. Outrage over Sinclair’s conviction prompted the creation of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor on Dec. 10, 1971. In support of the rally, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Bob Segar and many other musicians performed at the event. Three days after the rally, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled the law used to convict Sinclair was unconstitutional and the activist was released from prison. Eventually, Ann Arbor organizers threw a very public party, and the city’s longstanding annual tradition, a pro-legalization Hash Bash, was launched and first held
Photos by Leni Sinclair, from the John and Leni Sinclair Collection of the Bentley Historical Library
on April 1, 1972. The rally also contributed to a drive to decriminalize cannabis under the Ann Arbor city charter, and the city is currently known nationally for its lenient cannabis laws. The second Hash Bash held the following year attracted approximately 3,000 participants. The annual event didn’t encounter significant police interference until the Bash in 1978, when local police booked, cited, photographed and released participants allegedly for using illegal substances. In 2009, Hash Bash celebrated the passage of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. It was the largest gathering in years, with an estimated 1,600 participants.
Last year, that number swelled to 6,000. Crowds came to support longtime Hash Bash organizer and activist Adam Brook, who had been sentenced to two years in prison on cannabis charges, and to hear Steve DeAngelo, co-founder and executive director of Harborside Health Center (Weed Wars), deliver the keynote address. The Monroe Street Fair—a.k.a. “The Party After The Party”—is held just a few blocks away from the Bash. This all-day event includes live bands, vendors, reform info and speakers. c www.facebook.com/ events/518233644860325, monroestreetfair.com
Speaking Out This year, with four national speakers and the movement to end cannabis prohibition rapidly gaining steam, organizers expect record crowds for Hash Bash 2013. Two elected officials, House state Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Ann Arbor City Council member Sabra Briere, will speak from the steps of the U of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, along with representatives from the following organizations: Americans For Safe Access, Michigan NORML, Michigan Moms United, Michigan HEMP, Students For Sensible Drug Policy and the Ann Arbor Medical Cannabis Guild.
State Rep. Jeff Irwin
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BUZZ
{By Dean Mayorga} Apparently, the NBA’s finest have a weakness for the same herb we use medicinally. Marcus Williams, a former player for the Spurs and Clippers who had most recently been playing for a Chinese league, was recently suspended for testing positive for cannabis. Also, former Chicago Bulls point guard and current ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams recently alleged that his former teammates would puff before games during the 2002-2003 season, according to a report in The New York Times. This isn’t the first time that true ballers and cannabis have crossed paths. Here are a few examples:
Kareem is a legend on and off the court, and we would be very remiss if we failed to mention that the former Lakers center has been very public about his use of the herb to tackle migraines. He was busted in 2000 for suspicion of driving while being under the influence of cannabis.
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In 2011, when Michael Beasley was playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was ticketed for speeding and possession of about 16 grams of cannabis. While Beasley contests that it actually belonged to a friend, the whole incident begs the question: Where can I find some friends like Beasley’s?
Former Nugget Carmelo Anthony revealed to TSA how he stays so “mellow” when he was cited for possessing less than an ounce of cannabis in 2004 while boarding a plane at Denver International Airport. Once again, the cannabis was claimed to belong to a friend (probably Michael Beasley) and the case was dismissed.
Maybe Corie Blunt—excuse me, Blount—felt underpaid? In 2009, the former power forward (he retired in 2004 from the Raptors) was caught receiving 11 pounds of cannabis by Cincinnati police. Authorities eventually found a total of 29 bags full of green. Who needs lock-outs?
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By Denise Pollicella, Esq.
Say What?
legal corner
“If marijuana makes him feel better, stimulates his appetite, reduces his nausea from chemo, who am I to take it away from him?” —Dr. Mehmet Oz
A First Look at the Provisioning Centers Act It is unlikely that the recently introduced HB 4271, the Medical Marihuana Provisioning Centers Act (PCA), will look exactly the way it does now when it becomes law, but it is worth getting to know—particularly for those planning to someday operate or use a center. At its core, the PCA is a platform upon which Michigan can provide safe access to medical cannabis for the thousands of patients stranded after the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in McQueen. It creates “provisioning centers,” formerly known as “dispensaries,” and provides significant protections for their operation, without impairing the private caregiver-patient relationship. For all that it does do, the PCA is not the prettiest piece of legislation. It was drafted prior to McQueen and therefore does not address the inconsistencies presented by that case. It also potentially conflicts with the decriminalization of
cannabis possession passed by some Michigan cities, and it gives overly-broad regulatory authority to municipalities. It only grandfathers in those dispensaries currently operating under municipal ordinances, which is about eight or so in the entire state, and I am bereft of an explanation for the onerous transportation provisions, which allow a municipality to ban the transport of cannabis within its borders. One loophole this writer is particularly chagrined about is the lax restriction on out-ofstate center ownership. In a state where dispensary owners have braved raids and an overreaching, overaggressive law enforcement community in order to bring MMJ safely to patients, it makes no sense not to protect these pioneers from outside commercial competition. But for all of its flaws, the PCA is an urgently needed fix. It allows the commercial sale of medical cannabis through provisioning centers, without which, arguable, the original Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) is useless. It also allows for testing labs, and finally closes the much-lamented
loopholes of seed sales, clones, medibles, etc. The bill also exempts provisioning centers from state or local civil prosecution and seizure, which should put a large dent in policing for profit. It is important to remember when reading HB 4271 that cannabis law is unchartered territory, and that, like most developing law, getting it right is going to take a while. Cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance both at the state and federal levels, and so this is a state decriminalization bill. It does not amend the MMMA, and therefore will only require a simple majority vote to pass. Optimistically, we can expect passage out of the House this summer, and then we will have the more difficult task of getting it through the Senate. It is difficult to understate the importance of this bill’s passage, as constitutional amendments and favorable court cases seem out of reach. And while it seems inevitable that this will all be sorted out someday, that day cannot come soon enough for Michigan’s patients, caregivers and dispensary owners. c
Denise Pollicella, founder of Cannabis Attorneys of Mid-Michigan and a graduate of Wayne State University Law School, practices corporate law, business transactions and medical marihuana law in Livingston County. She can be reached via email at dpbusinesslaw@yahoo.com.
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destination unknown
Czech
Tranquility Now China’s southeastern Guanxi Province offers natural, serene attractions—but avoid the tourists! Imagine a classic, serene Chinese landscape. What does it look like? If your answer includes Shaolin monks fighting in Snake Style or the Five Deadly Venoms, you are completely AWESOME, but clearly distracted by popular culture. If, however, you imagine a tranquil river running through unusually pointy, fog-draped hills, then you are actually thinking about the city of Guilin, in China’s southeastern Guanxi Province. Guilin and its section of the Li River rank as one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, right up there with the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors. In fact, those oddly angled green hills— made of limestone, and called karsts. The karst topography is the city’s MVP; without it, Guilin is just a medium-sized Chinese city filled with osmanthus trees and really good chili sauce. Elephant Trunk Hill and Camel Hill are limestone hills that—surprise—look like an elephant and a camel, while Solitary Beauty
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Peak has amazing panoramic views from its summit. Inside the karst terrain, Seven Star Cave and Reed Flute Cave were both formed by dissolving limestone, the latter a Vegas-worthy spectacle of neon-lit stalactites and stalagmites. Not far from Guilin is another area attraction: the Longji rice terraces, also known by its more kickass name, “The Dragon’s Backbone.” These terraces are an engineering feat and are seriously
PHOTOs & story by Dennis Argenzia & Edengrace Cayosa gorgeous, especially when filled with water in spring or with young green rice plants in summer. After a visit to the rice terraces, tourists often take the extremely popular boat ride down Li River to nearby Yangshuo. It is this stretch of river that is commemorated on Chinese currency: clear calm water framed by majestic karsts and shrouded in mist. Water buffalo play at the river’s edge. Fisherman fish in contemplative silence, interrupted only by the sound of . . . megaphones on a passing 50-person boat. Word of advice: choose the slower, smaller 6-person “bamboo” rafts (and by “bamboo,” we mean PVC pipe); their lack of speed means that you are eventually left behind to enjoy the amazing scenery and take pictures without being photobombed by a boat hull. Boat (and bus) passengers disembark at Yangshuo, a formerly quaint town whose center is now transformed into a tourist cliché. If the presence of McDonald’s is highly offensive to you, take the initiative and rent a bicycle, or just walk. Yangshuo is blessed with the same beautiful terrain as Guilin, and dirt paths will quickly take you out of the West Street tourist crush and into the serenity of rice paddies, charming farming villages and, eventually, the Yulong River, a small tributary of the Li River. At the photogenic Yulong River, you can opt to either rent a [real] bamboo raft and join the domestic tourists in raft-to-raft water fights, or just stand on the Dragon Bridge, watching newlyweds float by during their raft photo shoot. The more adventurous will push on to Moon Hill, where a steep climb by stone steps or by scaling the rock face is rewarded with stunning views of the Yulong River valley. You can enjoy these views with a bit of cannabis that is peddled in Yangshuo. Strangely, most dealers are not taxi or rickshaw drivers, but little old women who really want to sell you something! As always, please practice common sense and remember that China has some very harsh consequences if you are caught. c
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profiles in courage Patient:
Robyn Bollay
AGE: 51
Condition/ Illness:
Uses a pacemaker, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, stroke/coma survivor, chronic pain, in remission from Addison’s disease.
Using medical cannabis since: 2001
Photos by Kristopher Christensen
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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 cannabis? I started using cannabis when, [at] 15 years old, [I was] directed by [a] doctor to use edibles for asthma. Then I stopped at 23 years old, started again at 40 years old. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I had gotten eight pre-cancerous polyps in [my] colon due to narcotics and other medications. Now I am off 15 medications due to cannabis. I tried epidural steroid injections, radio frequency therapy, medications prescribed by doctors—the whole medical gambit with seven doctors. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? I think that the FDA rescheduling cannabis is one of the most important things, and for the patients to be active in our community, standing for our rights . . . educating those who are in the dark about medical marijuana laws and the benefits of this natural herb’s reality. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I’d like to explain to them that medical cannabis isn’t just for smoking. Cannabis can be ingested orally in cannabutter, sprayed under tongue, vaporized or delivered topically into the skin directly. c
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strain & edible reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Cherry Bomb The presentation of this edible is impressive. Nestled atop red paper confetti, in a tiny black box topped with a 3-dimensional appliqué of a cherry, this Cherry Bomb made by Smashmellow Kitchen and available exclusively at Top Shelf Organics in Detroit—looks remarkably like its namesake. The “Bomb” part is actually the stem of a whole cherry sticking out from the baked portions. This edible, which contains 41.6 mg of THC, comes with tons of cherry flavor, but the taste of cannabis is subtle. The first Cherry Bomb I ate made my face tingle, which was exactly what I was looking for—pain relief, no questions asked. After that, it gifted me with a full night of uninterrupted sleep. I split the next Cherry Bomb into quarters and consumed one every two hours. This offered pain and headache relief, without the face tingling/deep sleep effect. Perfect for day use.
Shark Attack I’d heard about this strain. I’ve got a veteran buddy who loves Shark Attack, so I was eager to see what the hype is all about. I wasn’t disappointed. The sample I tested—from Arborside Health Center in Ann Arbor—had tight green buds and auburn pistils that were covered throughout with a white layer of resin. This powerful, indica-dominant (70/30) hybrid has a subtle pungent smell. When twisted up and pulled through a water pipe, Shark Attack has a mild pine/orange flavor, with a skunky aftertaste, followed by a bit of a bite, but nothing I would call an attack. With White Widow and Super Skunk parents, this strain immediately alleviated a sinus headache, then couch-locked me. I wasn’t feeling any pain, anxiety or sinus discomfort, and this strain helped immensely with sleep. The effects lasted almost two hours. Shark Attack works well on pain, arthritis, anxiety and anorexia.
Lemon Skunk In case you’re thinking of moving to Michigan, don’t. Everyone I know has passed one nasty, debilitating virus after another back and forth for months. It’s like living with a bunch of drunks—everyone is sick to their stomachs and crying. The only salvation I have is the promise of spring and medical cannabis. Fortunately, Lemon Skunk from the Metro Detroit Compassion Club in Waterford worked immediately on the nausea. This sativa-dominant hybrid beauty has a Lemon mother from Las Vegas and a Skunk father from The Netherlands. It gave me hope, which we will call relief from depression. The tight, lime green buds harbored amber pistils coated in trichomes, and were slightly sticky. Lemon Skunk has a sweet candy/citrus smell. The strain tastes just like it smells, too, with a subtle skunky aftertaste. Good for PMS, chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and waiting out these agonizing last weeks of Michigan’s dark winter.
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Illustrations by Vidal Diaz
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Last summer, the artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg held a press conference at a Caribbean restaurant in New York City. The lanky superstar, who would turn 41 a few months later, reintroduced himself as Snoop Lion and declared, “I have always said I was Bob Marley reincarnated.” Had another artist made this declaration, the Marley family might’ve been up in arms, but that isn’t the case with the reggae icon’s sons. Rohan Marley appeared at the press conference in support, and Damian appears in the Reincarnated documentary about Snoop’s transformation. Even the eldest son, Ziggy, recently said the Dogg-to-Lion change “could be good” on the Grammy red carpet. “I feel I have always been a Rastafari,” Snoop continued. “I just didn’t have my third eye open, but it’s wide open right now.” The documentary hit theaters last month in limited release, and the Reincarnated album debuts April 23, arguably three days later than it should. The reggae project is a creative left turn for the multiplatinum-selling artist, and it begs several questions that Snoop answered for CULTURE last month over the course of an exclusive album-listening party, a documentary screening and interview sessions. 26 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
“Ready to Come Home”
Snoop Lion arrives fashionably late to a West Hollywood recording studio not far from the medical marijuana dispensary he recently made famous (more on that later). In person, the man born Calvin Broadus embodies everything his fans would expect. He has a friendly energy and chill vibe and smokes cannabis faster than Bukowski downed whiskey. As wisps of smoke fill the studio like a fog machine gone awry, Snoop takes CULTURE back to the journey’s genesis and his reason for rolling cameras. “[It’s] because my fans have always been right on my side and always been there with me through the good, the bad and the ugly,” explains Snoop, who reportedly shelled
out $200,000 to document the experiences in Reincarnated. “What I wanted to do was, I found a great spot in my life where I was at and I wanted to take them along with me. I wanted them to be a part of this journey with me so they wouldn’t feel left behind when everything begins to change and it feels a little different. So that way whether they do or they don’t, they know the backlight will be on so that whenever they’re ready to come home, they can come on in.” In 1972, Marley traveled to London and sought help from Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
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Photo by Willie Toledo
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Welcome to the Jungle
The Reincarnated documentary looks at the music-making process, but deeper themes emerge as Snoop explores Rastafarian ideologies, visits the musically significant Trenchtown and joins a holy ceremony at a Nyabinghi temple. He was given the Ethiopian name Berhane, meaning “light,” but that is not the name Snoop ultimately embraced. Bunny Wailer, the 65-year-old core member of the Wailers (with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh), endorsed the “Snoop Lion” name, which made it a lock. “This is the Snoop Lion. Take it two times and pass it around,” says Snoop. “Love is love.” Getting more serious, Snoop adds, “I feel like it is a growth, transformation into a full-grown artist/man/entrepreneur. The Dogg has had his run for 20 years. In a dog’s life, I’d probably be 140 years old now . . . I had my run with the Dogg for a long time to where the Lion is definitely necessary right now for what we’re going through. I feel like we’re living in a jungle, and the only way to deal with the jungle is bring out the King of the Jungle— 30 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
which is the Lion—who is willing to address every situation and still keep the party flowing. But at the same time, [we should] address some real issues that we really have before us that we don’t pay attention to. We as rappers that have a lot of power should use our power in the righteous way to create some awareness; to bring some attention to some things that need to be fixed.”
The Most Powerful Shit
While the documentary traces Snoop’s artistic change, the film has another side that can only be
described as cannabis cinema. On several occasions, participants broke out nugs so big they looked like props from a Peter Jackson film, and Snoop even hiked into the mountains to pick fresh cannabis like a Birkenstock-wearing granola cruncher. The locals lined up to share homegrown goodness, while the Lion doled out California green like the West Coast ambassador he’s always been. “The main issue with cannabis use was trying to function as a human being after smoking Snoop’s weed,” says Andy Capper about his challenges as the documentary’s director. “It’s the most powerful shit out there.” Still, Capper believes the film shows the spiritual and productive side of medicating. “We just showed the film in Mexico City, and a lot of the kids in the crowd told me they thought it was a great political statement in regards to the legalization of marijuana,” Capper continues. “The issue is definitely getting more attention.” Snoop, who claims to have a “platinum” MMJ card, has been an active medical cannabis proponent on the media circuit. In an early 2010 Lopez Tonight appearance, he said, “I feel like [MMJ legalization] is a great situation. I feel like the whole world would be a better place if the whole world
Snoop isn’t the only musical artist to re-tool his/her sound or public persona in response to some new cultural, religious or artistic inspiration. While Bob Marley’s Rasta ways made quite an impression on the now-former rapper, the newly-minted Snoop Lion wasn’t the first to re-imagine himself. Check out these two other switch-ups:
From Prince to The Artist
Fans of His Purple Majesty likely did a double-take when the Man From Minneapolis ventured into unpronounceable realms. Fonts hated Prince.
From Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam
Islam came calling and the singer-songwriter went back to his roots and, for a while, discontinued his pop career.
would just open up and do that.” Snoop rejoined George Lopez later that year and remarked, “I really believe it would take California to another level . . . it is the best piece of medicine that they’ve ever created. I used to go to the store and buy Anacin and Bufferin and Bayer, but it is nothing like this medical marijuana, man.” The rapper also appeared on Chelsea Lately and explained his medicinal needs: “I was having migraine pains and my vision was getting blurry.”
Snoop’s Journey Continues
Snoop’s biggest MMJ endorsement, however, came earlier this year when a GQ magazine writer joined him at a local collective in West Hollywood. “Dr. Dina,” the MMJ pioneer who inspired the Nancy Botwin character on Weeds, runs the dispensary and customized the sativa-dominant strain Snoop Lion Executive Branch just for the rapper. Having known each other since the Doggystyle days, Snoop gave her the “Dr. Dina” nickname, and she helped get him his first MMJ recommendation letter in 2005 (and again every year since). Regarding his reggae reinventiuon, Snoop has had his share of detractors and supporters. Rohan Marley weighed in on some criticism (ironically, from Bunny Wailer) last January telling Eagle 106.3 radio, “I am more than pleased with Snoop’s reincarnation . . . We do and will continue to support him on his journey.” As demonstrated by such positive responses, Snoop seems to value his new perspective as much as his new album. “That’s what it was all about,” the Lion concludes. “That’s what it is to this day—trying to live and learn and trying to become a better person and a better musician. So when I’m making my music, the music that I made I’m proud of in the past. But I want to make music that can get me on stage at the Essence Awards, at the Oscars and possibly in the White House.” President Obama, the ball’s in your court. The Lion awaits. snooplion.com V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
CULTURE Editor in Chief Roberto C. Hernandez and contributor Jamie Solis contributed to this article.
Forty years later Snoop traveled to Jamaica to record the Reincarnated album in a studio owned by Blackwell, who also dropped by the recordings. Diplo’s Major Lazer team produced the album, and Snoop says the former Philadelphia schoolteacher nailed the sound. “Diplo brought funk,” the Lion roars. “He brought beats that was banging. He brought writers, arrangers, soul. He brought a spirit that could match mine. I could throw ideas off of him that would eventually work. He brought a sense of urgency to create something that I was looking for—not to clash but to complement. A lot of times when you bring somebody in on a project and you tell them to do the whole project from top to bottom, then you start to add your influences and what you feel, it becomes a clash. We never had a clashing moment. We always saw eye-to-eye. I feel like that’s why we got the best out of the project.”
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Missouri
Longtime medical cannabis champ Rep. Mike Colona reintroduced a bill in the state legislature in March that would allow patients with HIV/ AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating conditions to use and possess cannabis for medical purposes if their doctors recommend it. Homegrowing, caregivers and stateregistered dispensaries would provide the plant. The bill would put the question to voters on the November 2014 general election ballot.
Those suffering from severe pain, nausea, wasting, depression, anxiety and numerous other serious medical conditions may see relief yet in a handful of the 32 states where medical cannabis remains illegal. At least nine state bills could alter existing medical cannabis language in states where it is legal, or green light the plant in new states altogether. Below CULTURE highlights pending medical marijuana legislation in the U.S. 34 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
Hawaii
The Hawaiian House passed two medical marijuana bills, House Bills 667 and 668, that could improve the state’s existing medical marijuana program, setting possession limits of five ounces and seven plants.
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Minnesota
A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 65 percent of state voters support medical cannabis. State lawmakers are preparing a bipartisan bill legalize the plant for residents with cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS, and should be introduced in the coming weeks, though a vote is not expected until 2014.
Maryland
Michigan
Thanks to a new bill—HB 4271, the Medical Marijuana Provisioning Center Regulation Act, introduced in the House in February—the situation for patients and dispensaries could change for the better should the measure move forward.
Maryland’s governor’s office suggested it would support a pending medical marijuana bill sponsored by Del. Dan K. Morhaim (D), a Baltimore County doctor, to allow academic medical centers in the state to operate “compassionate use programs” beginning in 2016.
Illinois
Sixty-three percent of Illinois voters support medical cannabis, and in March a medical marijuana bill won a House committee vote. House Bill 1 would allow qualified patients to obtain marijuana from one of up to 60 dispensaries, and license 22 cultivation centers.
Arkansas
Activists are trying to run a medical marijuana ballot initiative in Arkansas this spring, with a vote in 2014. In March, the Attorney General refused to certify the initiative, citing vagueness, and activists responded by suing. A 2012 Arkansas medical pot initiative garnered 49 percent of the vote.
New Hampshire
Twice vetoed by the governor there, activists hope the third time is the charm as the New Hampshire House advanced a medical cannabis bill in March that would allow up to five dispensaries, possession of up to two ounces, as well as homegrowing of up to three mature plants, in a minimum 50 square-foot area.
Florida
Florida defends its reputation as a medical cannabis backwater this spring. Hours after Sen. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) filed medical cannabis bill SB 1250, Florida cops raided the patient advocate the bill was named after, one Cathy Jordan, who illegally grows and uses cannabis to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease—a condition for which a number of states approve the plant for. SB 1250 would exempt seriously ill Floridians from criminal penalties for using cannabis, allow them to possess up to four ounces and grow up to eight plants, as well as license and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities. Seventy percent of Floridians support MMJ.
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“Marriage equality and marijuana laws passed?” tweeted Star Trek actor George Takei last November on election night. “Now we know what Leviticus really meant by, ‘A man who layeth with another man must be stoned.’” Takei is a reliable supporter of liberal causes, which is fitting for a man who entered this world on April 20. Much like being born on Christmas, 420 babies can have twice the birthday fun, and “Mr. Sulu” is not the only celeb with added spark to beam up on his birthday. Oscar-hoarding actress Jessica Lange is the most prestigious 420 star, though Edie Sedgwick is the most appropriate having inspired the likes of Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan. Carmen Electra probably thought every day was April 20 during her marriages to Dennis Rodman and Dave Navarro, while Crispin Glover (Back to the Future) played “Roach” on Happy Days around the time the 420 tradition first began. While it is unlikely that Joey Lawrence’s birthday inspired his music single “Rolled,” 420 could have motivated Andy Serkis to demand “the precious” in the Lord of the Rings series. Latin music legend Tito Puente and romantic crooner Luther Vandross would have turned 90 and 36 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
62, respectively, on April 20, while Swedish House Mafia member Sebastian Ingrosso will turn 30. Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Randy Moss, Michael Vick, Santonio Holmes, Ricky Williams and Olympic gold medalists Ross Rebagliati and Michael Phelps should have been born on April 20, but basketball stars Danny Granger and Allan Houston were. Other 420 pros include Dodgers manager Don “The Hit Man” Mattingly and cosmic daredevil Felix Baumgartner. Since Michele Bachmann missed by two weeks, the most notable 420 politician is Robert F. Wagner, the three-term NYC mayor who famously broke with Tammany Hall (once run by “Boss” Tweed) in the late ’50s. Burmese President Thein Sein, who enacted surprising reforms since becoming the President of Myanmar in 2011, also claims a 420 birthdate. Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr, Catalan painter Joan Miro and college heir William DeVry also celebrate April 20 birthdays, but only one 420 kid topped Leonardo DiCaprio in People Magazine’s 1998 “Most Beautiful People” online poll. Though coming off Titanic, Leo got sunk by the late, great Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf. We can thank The Howard Stern Show for that one. c
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Nov. 4, 2008 The MMMA Passes
lawsuit challenging the legality of the MMMA. She also recommends that municipalities adopt moratoriums on the establishment of new land uses, pursue “appropriate enforcement of existing criminal laws” to prosecute those who decide to grow, posses and distribute cannabis and challenge the law up until it reaches the Michigan Supreme Court.
Proposal 1 passes with 63 percent of the vote, making Michigan the 13th state to legalize medical cannabis. The law allows Michigan residents with qualifying medical conditions to apply for an ID card through a state registry. Qualified patients may possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable plant material and up to 12 plants December 2010 kept in an enclosed, locked facility. Registered ACLU Sues Cities That Have caregivers may possess the same amounts for each patient under his/her care. Enacted Bans The ACLU of Michigan sues the cities that adopt MMJ bans. Six days later, the Grand Rapids June 2009 suburb of Wyoming bans medical cannabis.
Patient Applications Roll In, Overwhelming the State
The Department of Community Health, the arm of Michigan’s state government charged with managing the Medical Marihuana Program, approves 1,902 medical marijuana applications in the first two months of the act’s implementation in April 2009.
December 2009
January 2011 Attorney General Gives DEA Confidential Records
In a precedent-setting move, Attorney General Bill Schuette releases the confidential records of seven registered caregivers to the DEA. The DEA raids and prosecutes these caregivers.
February 2011
the McQueen case that a Mount Pleasant dispensary is a public nuisance and can be shut down. Raids across the state follow. Later, the Michigan Supreme Court rules that Wyoming’s ban “is void and unenforceable.”
April 2012 Zero Tolerance Upheld
The Court of Appeals upholds the Kuhn ruling, which makes it illegal for anyone to operate a motor vehicle with any amount of cannabis in their system, even if they are patients.
May 2012 Medical Defense is A-OK
The Michigan Supreme Court rules that a doctor’s diagnosis can be used as a defense for someone charged with possessing cannabis without an MMJ card.
December 2012 The MMMA is Amended
A package of bills amending the MMMA require a patient ID card to have a photo ID, extends Cities Begin Banning The Act the registry ID cards to two years rather than The city of Livonia is the first to pass an outright Federal Judge rules MMJ Patients Can one, defines a doctor-patient relationship, ban on MMJ by amending its zoning ordinance be Fired from Jobs. requires that MMJ be transported in car trunks to provide that “uses for enterprises or purposes Joseph Casias—who suffers from inoperable and creates penalties for selling cannabis in that are contrary to federal, state or local laws brain and sinus cancer—was fired from his job violation of the act. or ordinances are prohibited.” Birmingham and at a Battle Creek Walmart after testing positive Bloomfield Hills, all located in Oakland County, for cannabis. Casias was the store’s Associate of February 2013 follow suit. the Year in 2008.
September 2010 The Strategy To Undo The Act is Unveiled
Grand Rapids City Attorney Catherine Mish encourages city officials and others to join a
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August 2011 Court of Appeals gets Compassionate Apothecary Shut The Michigan Court of Appeals rules in
State’s Highest Court Weighs In
The long awaited 4-1 McQueen decision arrives, and causes challenges for patients and dispensaries. Fortunately, and more importantly, a proposed “Provisioning Centers” bill could benefit the MMJ community.
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Super Mario Bros Forget the Mushroom Kingdom and the sequel’s “Super Leaf,” Mario tops the list thanks to last year’s Snoop Dogg rap over Super Mario bleeps: “Me and my Super Mario Bros, man, we’re doing our thing/and playing these bitches like a video game . . . Step up in my teepee/smoke a little green leaf/meet my little homeboys, Mario and Luigi.”
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Frweed Pro app Patients stay connected with info on symptoms, strains and effects.
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LittleBigPlanet The colorful visuals, mindbending puzzles and wacky adventures go to a higher level for the medicated player. NBA 2K13 Assemble an all-420 team with Kareem, C-Webb, Carmelo, Iverson and Stoudamire on this year’s title, exec-produced by Jay-Z.
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Guitar Hero Do we really need to explain this one?
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The Stoner’s Handbook app In addition to strain info, this app has recipes, tips, games and a THC calculator.
Highdroid app Do you feel like Einstein when medicated? Post your thoughts, check out other high ideas and vote for the best.
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Mirror’s Edge A female lead, stunning visuals and anti-totalitarian themes make this the ideal fight game for the left-leaning smoker.
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Weed Farmer app When Willie Nelson helped organize Farm Aid in 1985, he probably had this idea in the back of his mind. The sequel, Overgrown, is now in beta.
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Solitaire Dating back at least to the Napoleonic era, this single-player card game is an old-school smoker fave that, appropriately, is best played sloooooow. c
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Photos by Roxanne Haynes
Photographer Roxanne Haynes recently visited Jamaican, where the globe-trotting journalist had time to get up close and personal with the island nation’s culturally rich people. “The 20th Anniversary of Tony Rebel’s Rebel Salute Festival was a great start to my 30-day journey in Priory, St. Ann, Jamaica,” Haynes writes. “I could feel the presence of the legendary Bob Marley everywhere as several reggae artists were hitting us with music. Celebrations of Bob Marley’s birthday were taking place all over the island. I spent his birthday at his home in Kingston surrounded by people that loved him as they shared stories remembering the history of Bob. Music was going on at Emancipation Park, Culture Yard and a stage show in Trench Town.
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I met some incredible women, children, Rastas and musicians as they danced, sang and played the music of Bob. I tried to be a wallflower but was so moved by the ambiance I kept clicking my shutter to capture the spirit of the people and the heart of Jamaica. I walked the streets of Trenchtown, hanging out with my friends and the people in da yard. Then my last week I trekked over to Port Antonio where I took a beautiful 8-mile ride down the Rio Grande on a bamboo raft. Enjoyed Somerset Falls and swimming and in the sea in the mystical waters of the blue lagoon. Everyone should experience Jamaica and pick up on the island’s irie vibes.” c
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Ferris Bueller’s legendary day off can’t hold a candle to April 20 in Michigan. Hot off legalization in two states—and with Massachusetts joining the MMJ family—let’s celebrate and gird up for the challenges to come. Here’s just a smattering of the ways CULTURE readers will be celebrating.
April 5-6 Michigan NORML Annual Spring Meeting
There’s nothing like feeling at home with people who get you, and NORML has always been one of those groups for the MMJ community. The event (free if you’re a member) features food, dancing and music by local band The Outlets. Clarion Hotel, Detroit www.minorml.org
April 6 Monroe Street Fair & Hash Bash Festival
These events may not be on the actual day, but they still keep to its spirit. Run, don’t walk to the Diag, the storied gathering has been the iconic celebration of all things cannabis for more than 40 years: MMJ, full legalization, hemp awareness and green business in full swing. Be part of history. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor www.monroestreetfair.com
April 20 9th Annual 4:20 Art & Music Festival
This celebration will feature headliner and 44 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
comedian Rob Cantrell (The Marijuana-logues) as well as performances by The Howling Diablos and the 4:20 Allstars. Representatives from testing labs, cultivation stores and smoke shops will be participating. Tangent Gallery/Hastings Street Ballroom, Detroit
420 Natural Releaf w/Satta Don Dada, MuzzY & Friends
Boasting an extensive line up of DJs and emcees, both imported and homegrown, Natural Releaf is looking like a mini-festival in the works. Those performing, such as Don Dada, are known for mixing various genres but expect a heavier emphasis on the sweet sounds of reggae. Blind Pig, Ann Arbor www.blindpigmusic.com
Cheech & Chong
As if we need to remind you who these guys are. The dynamic duo canna-comedy resolved all its past issues and is back together and better than ever. If you come to see the show though, you better make sure you know where Dave is. Everybody else will. Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant www.soaringeaglecasino.com
Bob Dylan
The man is literally the voice of a generation: he still resonates with boomers across Amer-
ica, his lyrics have been dissected by college professors and like his generation he shows no signs of stopping. Learn a lesson from living music history—everybody must get stoned. Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo wingsstadium.com
Medikal Recordz 5th Annual 420 Smoke-A-Holicz Show
No better way to chill and go with the flow than the guys who drop rhymes and bars. Medikal Records has a hell of a lineup this year to commemorate the biggest holiday. Krazee the Eastside Ninjah, Tre LB from Chop Shop, Spitzer and more will help you celebrate. The Ritz Detroit facebook.com/theritzvenue
Dead Again (Grateful Dead Tribute)
Deadheads can never get enough of a great act. Many tribute bands have been spawned from the fall of the Grateful Dead, but none of them are quite like Dead Again. Watch out, Dark Star Orchestra, you’ve got some serious competition. Magic Bag, Ferndale www.themagicbag.com
April 24
Kottonmouth Kings
Yes, we know that this one is a little later but the Kottonmouth Kings are a great band for any patient or advocate of cannabis rights. This is the group that brought us, as they call it, “psychedelic hip hop punk rock.” What’s not to like? St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit saintandrewsdetroit.com V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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cool stuff Wicked Laser There are laser pointers . . . and there are Wicked Lasers so cutting-edge, even George Lucas got jealous. These are the most powerful handheld lasers commercially available; cool enough to fuel Star Wars fanboy fantasies from here to Episode VII . . . and powerful enough to ignite your favorite medicine. (from $299.95) www.wickedlasers.com
Kush Bottles Neon Collection Keeping your medicine safe and sound is important. Lucky for us, Kush Bottles’ new exclusive Neon Collection offers just the thing to store your flowers with pop-top containers (BPA-free, medical-grade plastic) available in eight different colors. Taste the rainbow. www.kushbottles.com
SFX Co2 Caps Who says your medicine can only be smoked or eaten? The great minds at Special FX Labs have perfected their CO2 extraction method to come up with pure, powerful single-dose capsules that are tailor-made to provide relief, convenience and peace of mind. Available in 10mg and 25mg doses. ($20 eight 10mg caps, $25 four 25mg caps) www.specialfxlabs.com
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Sandy Moriarty is the author of Aunt’ Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook: Comfort Food for Body & Mind and a Professor of Culinary Arts at Oaksterdam University. She is also the co-founder of Oaksterdam’s Bakery.
Menu: If we’re going to be celebrating the greenest day of the year, let’s kick it up a notch with this fabulously rich and fulfilling menu. Treat yourself right . . . after all, 420 is a special occasion . . . and only comes once a year.
By Aunt Sandy
Chicken Cordon Bleu Green Bean Bundles Chocolate Chip Cookies
Green Bean Bundles Serves eight 3 14 1/2-oz. cans of whole green beans, drained 8 slices bacon 6 tablespoon Canna Butter, melted 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 cloves garlic, minced Gather beans in bundles of 10 and wrap each bundle with a half slice of bacon. Arrange bundles in a lightly greased 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan. Mix melted Canna Butter, brown sugar and garlic in a small bowl and spoon over bundles. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 more minutes.
Serves eight. 8 chicken breast halves, skinned and boned 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup milk 4 (1-ounce) slices cooked deli ham, cut in half
4 (1-ounce) slices Swiss cheese, cut in half 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/3 cups fine dry breadcrumbs 4 teaspoon Dijon mustard 4 teaspoon softened Canna Butter Vegetable oil
Place each piece of chicken between two sheets of wax paper. Flatten each breast to quarterinch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine eggs, salt, pepper and milk mixture. Spread 1/2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard and 1/2 teaspoon softened Canna Butter over each breast. Place a ham slice and cheese slice in center of each piece. Fold short ends of chicken over ham and cheese and roll up, beginning with the unfolded side. Secure with wooden picks. Dredge chicken in flour, dip in milk-egg mixture and coat well with breadcrumbs. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Fill a heavy skillet with about a half-inch of vegetable oil and heat. Add rolled-up chicken and pan fry over medium heat. Drain well and place in a baking dish in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. 48 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
Chocolate Chip Cookies Makes 2 to 3 dozen depending on the size. If you want to make an extra special treat, use these cookies and a few scoops of vanilla ice cream to make ice cream sandwiches! 1 cup Canna Butter, softened 1/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 5 1-ounce packages instant vanilla pudding mix 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 12-oz. package semi sweet chocolate chips Beat Canna Butter and sugars until light and fluffy, blend in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, pudding mix and baking soda. Add to butter mixture, blending well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls on to ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Place on wire racks to cool. Legal Disclaimer
Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
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For our complete recipes go to ireadculture.com.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
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entertainment reviews Iron & Wine Ghost on Ghost Nonesuch Records
Ghost on Ghost, Iron & Wine’s fifth studio outing, is a noticeable contrast to Beam’s last two albums. As Iron & Wine’s last album, 2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean, was essentially Sam Beam’s attempt at what might be considered a mainstream pop album, it’s no surprise that the release might have been an anxious endeavor to create. However, Ghost on Ghost may succeed where Kiss Each Other Clean failed, by creating a highly produced and well polished Iron & Wine album that still sounds as relaxing and unintimidating as Beam’s first two acoustic records. The one true constant through all of Beam’s work that is just as present as ever on Ghost on Ghost is the man’s beautiful—at times ethereal—warm wind on an autumn day voice that appears just as strong and majestically now as it did at the beginning of his career. Additionally, the new record sees Beam still experimenting with his sound by incorporating jazzier influences. All in all, Ghost on Ghost seems to show Beam having a good, fun time on this record. Ghost on Ghost is what Beam described as a “reward” to himself after his experiences with making his last two albums, and that feeling of relaxation and relief certainly shines through. If anyone was concerned about the direction Beam was headed, this release should put those worries to rest. (Simon Weedn)
Rastafarian Children of Solomon: The Legacy of the Kebra Nagast and the Path to Peace and Understanding By Gerald Hausman Bear & Co. If your knowledge of Rastas begins and ends with your worn copy of Bob Marley’s Legend . . . then, my friends, you need a culture bomb thrown at your front door. No, dear friends, the ideas and concepts behind the Rastafarian movement that took root in Jamaica during the 1930s go way beyond reggae music and giant spliffs—though they are connected. Here, author and storyteller Gerald Hausman tells the stories of Rastas, or the “Children of Solomon,” in his and their words. From farmers to healers, to Rasta elders and fisherman, Hausman uses colorful words and first-hand experience to powerfully describe his subjects: “Mackie [McDonough] knows his history, his story; and his face is a finely carved mask of inscrutable character. He can stare down a stump, as the expression is, and he fears no man or woman . . .” Or in the case of Horace “Winston” Churchill: “His twinkle-eye and easy smile could charm a snake, and probably have.” Hausman’s Rastas leap beyond the confines of any mere album cover. Even Bob’s. (Matt Tapia)
Alanis Morissette Live at Montreux 2012 Eagle Rock
Alanis Morissette’s debut international album, 1995’s Jagged Little Pill, was commercially gargantuan (selling over 33 million copies) to the point of overshadowing the thoughtful Canadian-American singer’s very robust career since. Filmed in high-def at Switzerland’s famed Montreux Jazz Festival last July, this 17-song set serves as a reminder both of Pill’s potency (including album standouts “Ironic,” “Head Over Feet” and breakthrough single “You Oughta Know”) and Morissette’s rare staying power (featuring songs from her most recent album, 2012’s Havoc and Bright Lights). Though her very worthy backing instrumentalists can evoke one of those safely “rockin‘” suburban church bands, and the Montreux crowd is more polite than impassioned, this competently-shot concert finds the inner-peace-exuding Morissette in fine, sometimes snarledflecked voice and versatile mood, from a furrowed-brow take on “Oughta Know” to a positively beaming “You Learn.” Choosing to document a performance at a revered jazz fest suggests an ongoing quest for credibility in the lingering wake of a blockbuster pop hit. (Paul Rogers) 50 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
Kid Ink in concert
In the world of entertainment, Kid Ink is a diamond among rocks. Slick and shiny, Kid Ink sparkles in his decorative glory with heart pumping beats, a dedication to art of hip-hop and R&B that is impressive and catchy, to say the least. Covered in (appropriately enough) ink from head to toe, the LA-based artist gained his popularity and virality from his online presence via Youtube, Facebook and Twitter. Kid Ink started as a production genius behind the scenes, but has skyrocketed to the tops of the charts to wow us all. His debut album, Up & Away, was released last June, and since then he has gained more than 300,000 Twitter followers and 527,000 Facebook fans, and has already begun touring. His rhymes and tunes are smooth, and his physical presence dominates any stage. His tattoos may be how he earned his moniker, but his skills will keep you coming back for more, time and time again.
IF YOU GO
What: Kid Ink in concert. When/Where: April 17 at The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. Info: Tickets $18.Go to www. theloftlansing.com for more info.
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Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY—ONE FOR THE ROAD
; Cliche Come to Life: The Kerry, Ireland, county council voted in January to let some people drive drunk. The councillors reasoned that in the county’s isolated regions, some seniors live alone and need the camaraderie of the pub, but fear a DUI arrest on the way home. The councillors thus empowered police to issue DUI permits to those targeted drivers. Besides, reasoned the councillors, the area is so sparsely populated that such drivers never encounter anyone
else on the road at night. (The councillors’ beneficence might also have been influenced, reported BBC News, by the fact that “several” of the five voting “yea” own pubs.)
CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE
; Spare the Waterboard, Spoil the Child: William Province, 42, was arrested in Jefferson County, Mont., in December and charged with waterboarding four boys, two of whom were his own sons, at his home in December. (Also in January, Kirill Bartashevitch, 52, was charged with making
“terroristic” threats to his highschool-age daughter after he allegedly pointed his new AK-47 at her because her report card showed 2 B’s instead of all A’s. He said he had recently purchased the gun because he feared that President Obama intended to ban them.) ; Emma Whittington, of Hutchinson, Kan., rushed her daughter to the ER in December when the girl, 7 months old, developed a golf-ball-sized lump on her neck. Two days later, at a hospital in Wichita, a doctor gently pulled a feather out of the lump and hypothesized that it had been in the midst of emerging from her throat. Doctors said the girl probably swallowed the feather accidentally, that it got stuck in throat tissue, and that her body was trying to eject it through the skin. ; As if 9/11 and the resultant air travel restrictions had never happened, travelers for some reason continue to keep Transportation Security Administration agents busy at passengers’ carry-on bag searches. From a TSA weekly summary of confiscations in January: 33 handguns, eight stun guns and a serrated wire garrote. Among highlights from 2012: a live 40mm grenade, a live blasting cap, “seal bombs” and six pounds of black power (with detonation cords and a timing fuse).
THE REDNECK CHRONICLES (TENNESSEE EDITION)
; (1) Timothy Crabtree, 45, of Rogersville, was arrested in October and charged with stabbing his son, Brandon, 21, in an argument over who would get the last beer in the house. (2) Tricia Moody, 26, was charged with DUI in Knoxville in January after a 10-minute police chase. The officer’s report noted that Moody was still holding a cup of beer and apparently had not spilled any during the chase. (3) Jerry Poe, 62, was charged in a roadrage incident in Clinton on Black Friday after firing his handgun at a driver in front of him “to scare her into moving” faster, he said. (Poe said he had started at mid52 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
night at one Wal-Mart, waited in line unsuccessfully for five hours for a sale-priced stereo, and was on his way to another Wal-Mart.
SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE
; Twin brothers Aric Hale and Sean Hale, 28, were both arrested on New Year’s Eve in Manchester, Conn., after fighting each other at a hotel and later at a residence. Police said a 27-year-old woman was openly dating the two men, and that Sean thought it was his turn and asked Aric for privacy. Aric begged to differ about whose turn it was.
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT
; Voted in December as vice presidents of the U.N. Human Rights Council for 2013 were the nations of Mauritania and the Maldives, both of which permit the death penalty for renouncing Islam. In Mauritania, a person so charged has three days to repent for a lesser sentence. (An August 2012 dispatch in London’s The Guardian reported widespread acceptance of slavery conditions in Mauritania, affecting as many as 800,000 of the 3.5 million population. Said one abolitionist leader, “Today we have the slavery (that) American plantation owners dreamed of (in that the slaves) believe their condition is necessary to get to paradise.”) ; Non-medical employees of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have been campaigning for union representation, suggesting that their current wages leave many workers dangerously close to poverty. Though raises have not materialized, UPMC (according to a November Pittsburgh City Paper report) has now shown sympathy for its employees’ sad plight. In a November UPMC newsletter, it announced that it was setting up “UPMC Cares” food banks. Employees (presumably the better-paid ones) are urged to “donate nonperishable food items to stock employee food pantries that will established on both (UPMC campuse).” One astonished worker’s response: “I started to cry.” V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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