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20 Chatty Kathy Television and comedy star Kathy Griffin earns an A+ On the cover: Photo courtesy of Bravo
features
departments 6 Letter from the Editor I can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store. 8 News Nuggets Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere—and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers 18 Strain & Edible Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 26 Destination Unknown Exotic locales and colorful (literally) adventures can be had in northwest India.
12 Of Two Minds Flint and Grand Rapids take two different approaches to decriminalization.
27 Profiles in Courage Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical marijuana patient near you.
14 Mama Mia! Michigan moms get maternal over meds.
38 Cool Stuff From the FXU Vaporizer to CoolJarz Flipz storage containers, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it.
16 Droppin‘ Science Wu-Tang’s GZA name-drops Stephen Hawking as someone who matters.
40 Recipes Get our your best china, it’s time to serve something extra special for the holidays. 43 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture. 44 Event Listings Our wrap-up of some of Michigan’s best end-of-the-world shakedowns.
E 28 PAG
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45 News of the Weird Yeah, these news tidbits are weird as hell—and absolutely true.
V IV S IITS IUT SU SATATi R e i RaedaCduCl tuul tr u e r. e c .ocm om
DECEMEBER 2012 • CULTURE 5
letter from the editor
Vol 4 IssUE 6
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
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Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Managing Editor Lance Farrell
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, Charmie Gholson, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Jane Mast, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Paul Rogers, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen
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Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, Michael Gifford, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Mark Malijan, Patrick Roddie, Michael Seto, Kim Sidwell
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Steven Myrdahl
The Future’s So Bright I had the pleasure of attending the National Marijuana Business Conference last month. I came away very inspired and very optimistic. Inspired because I had the opportunity— no, the privilege—to speak to some of the medical cannabis industry’s luminaries. You might call them movers and shakers, but I simply call them part of the family. I was inspired because I had a chance to (literally) shake the hands and see the faces of our community’s most talented professionals. I chatted with doctors whose knowledge of medical cannabis and its vast implications for health was truly impressive. I spoke with edibles manufacturers who were already prepared to meet tough FDA standards and advocating for best-business practices. I talked to chemists and scientists about the new frontiers in cannabidiol (CBD) research. I listened to consultants eager to share their views on the future of Massachusetts—our newest MMJ state—and Colorado and Washington, where voters approved state-level legalization. I heard from lawyers talking about Arizona and what people were doing there to ready
this state’s baby steps into full-fledged compassionate mode. I grew optimistic as I realized that I was facing a bright future for our community and our needs and issues. For many of us, this past election was exciting in some respects, frustrating in others. Had Mitt Romney captured the White House, we would have had four years of a President who swore he would fight medical cannabis “tooth and nail.” At least Obama paid it lip service to the idea of letting MMJ states handle their own business. The lesser of two evils, I guess. With our compassionate family growing and with the good people of Colorado and Washington shifting the prohibition paradigm, we’re changing hearts and minds, folks. Just as they did in the now-18 states that allow the medicinal use of cannabis, the voters of this country made change happen. Massachusetts, glad to have you on board! Colorado and Washington, thanks for advancing marijuana rights. Prohibition, you’re on your way out. I can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store. c
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Times Herald asks state officials to fix Michigan’s MMJ law
Citing struggles to come up with and enforce zoning regulations for dispensaries and other issues, The Times Herald recently called for state officials to clarify Michigan’s medical marijuana law. “For much of the medical marijuana law’s life, the application process for obtaining credentials confirming patients’ use of marijuana for medical purposes has been slow—and there’s confusion about who can distribute medical marijuana and where,” the Nov. 16 editorial read. In addition, critics have protested proposed legislation that would make life tougher for patients, Possession of 1 ounce such as allowing law enforcement is now Ypsilanti cops’ personnel to access patients’ lowest priority Seventy-four percent of Ypsilanti’s records and making the definition of a patient-doctor relationship voters approved a proposal more strict. to redirect police efforts away from the use or consumption Charges filed against of one ounce or less of usable Michigan compassion marijuana by adults 21 years or centers older. As the name implies, the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Michigan Attorney General Bill (LLEP) Initiative makes enforcing Schuette filed charges against six people connected to an minor possession the police investigation of Blue Water department’s lowest priority. Compassion Centers in St. Clair, Ypsilanti Police Chief Amy Sanilac and Tuscola counties. The Walker effectively danced both centers were raided last year in sides of the issue. In an email to December. AnnArbor.com on Nov. 8, she said At press time, six people that while her cash-strapped connected to the centers had police department will devote its warrants out for their arrest. “We time to more serious issues, the are making arrangements to have “present state of the marijuana law in Michigan is in flux and I understand that the legal community is waiting for direction from the Michigan Supreme Court. The Ypsilanti Police Department takes all crime seriously, and we are under oath to enforce the law. Because of limited resources, we must devote the most effort to the most serious crimes against people and property.”
them turn themselves in,” Randy Wood, spokesman for Schuette, told The Times Herald. The raids and charges have been decried by activists and advocates.
THE NATION
THE STATE
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Colorado and Washington to face marijuana tourism?
Legalization in Colorado and Washington might open the doors to marijuana tourism. Voters in both states recently approved legalizing small amounts of marijuana possession for all adults over 21 for residents—and visitors. In Colorado, the day after voters approved recreational cannabis by a wide margin, the headline in the Aspen Times asked, “Aspendam?” referring to Amsterdam’s marijuana cafes, according to an Associated Press story. Washington, on the other hand, has already had a glimpse of marijuana tourism. With Hempfest taking place every
summer on the shores of Puget Sound, Seattle is packed with around 250,000 people over three days similar to Amsterdam and its Cannabis Cup, which attracts tourists from all over the globe.
Massachusetts becomes the 18th state to go compassionate
Welcome, Massachusetts! The Bay State last month became the 18th state in the country to pass a medical marijuana law. Massachusetts’ law passed with 63 percent of the electorate in favor of Question 3, and 37 percent against it, according to The Boston Globe. The new law will allow up to 35 dispensaries across the state. Starting next year, patients with serious medical conditions and an approval from a physician will be authorized to purchase medicinal cannabis from statesanctioned centers. Patients with HIV, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C or other conditions can obtain
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a card from the state permitting them to purchase the plant and will be allowed to possess a 60-day supply. They also may appoint a caregiver to obtain cannabis on their behalf.
THE WORLD DJ Shadow and Minnesota in concert
Mexico lawmaker proposes legalized cannabis
Mexico, long seen by wrongheaded drug warriors as the root of all evil when it comes to narcotics trafficking, might have a few more progressive minds than its neighbor to the north. A leftist lawmaker recently introduced a bill that would legalize the production, sale and use of marijuana, according to Reuters. While it’s unlikely that the bill would pass—polls show that two-thirds of Mexicans would oppose the move—it is significant to note the rising number of Latin American
political leaders who have proposed legalizing cannabis and adopting a common-sense approach to drug policy. “The prohibitionist paradigm is a complete failure,” said Mexican lawmaker Fernando Belaunzaran, the author of the proposed legalization bill. c
by the numbers
6
The maximum number of days the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has to issue dispensary regulations, registration cards for patients, etc., starting Jan. 1, 2013: 120 (Source: golocalworcester.com)
7
The approximate population of Israel: 8 million (Source: The Associated Press)
1
The number of votes cast in favor of a proposed Kalamazoo city charter amendment that would establish and regulate dispensaries: 13,569 (Source: mlive.com)
8
The approximate number of registered medical marijuana patients in Israel: 10,000 (Source: The Associated Press).
2
The number of votes cast against the proposed Kalamazoo city charter amendment: 7,542 (Source: mlive.com)
3
The fine (in dollars) for the use or possession of marijuana in Ann Arbor in 1972: 5 (Source: The Huffington Post).
9
5
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The fine amount for violating state marijuana possession laws in Michigan: $2,000 (AnnArbor.com)
The number of nanograms of THC per milliliter that constitute driving under the influence of drugs in Ohio and Nevada: 2 (Source: Detroit Free Press)
12
The number of nanograms of THC per milliliter that constitute driving under the influence of drugs in Washington, as dictated by Initiative 502: 5 (Source: Detroit Free Press)
13
The amount of money (in millions) that a controversial excess electricity-use tax—aimed at large-scale indoor growers—in the Northern California town of Arcata could generate: 1.2 (Source: Times-Standard)
IF YOU GO
4
The fine for possession or use in 1990: 25 (Source: The Huffington Post).
11
Think about the last time you turned on anything related to music and heard some hip-hop. Some of you are probably listening to it right now. You’ve got plenty of people to thank for that, and prominent among them is DJ Shadow. His seminal record Endtroducing… was composed entirely of samples—and many rap artists wouldn’t have a career without this process. He’s been a huge figure in the industry for nearly two decades. Care to pay the man a little respect? Now you have your chance: he’s coming to The Majestic very soon, so claim your tickets before they sell out. He’ll be accompanied by Minnesota; a relatively young DJ who knows the name of the game is diversity and will play plenty of different styles to please the crowd. This juxtaposition of classic and new is bound to play out like no other. History is in the making. (Joe Martone)
Percentage of voters who cast their ballots in favor of Massachusetts’ medical marijuana law: 63 (Source: Reuters)
Percentage of voters who cast their ballots against Massachusetts’ medical marijuana law: 37 (Source: Reuters)
What: DJ Shadow and Minnesota in concert. When/Where: Dec. 8 at The Majestic, 4140 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Info: Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700. $20. 18+.
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FLASH
A Tale of
Two Cities Flint and Grand Rapids grapple with two different takes on decriminalization {By Lance Farrell}
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” So begins Charles Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities. Though written about 19th century social unrest, his story of tension mirrors the crossroads Michigan faces. Grand Rapids and Flint have taken opposite stances to voter-led marijuana enforcement reforms, forming a befuddling two-city contrast that highlights the juncture at which Michigan has arrived. The question is: Which way lies wisdom, and which way is foolishness? Though Flint approved its measure to decriminalize by nearly 57 percent, city administrators say the proposal “is symbolic in nature. The public should fully appreciate that possession of marijuana remains illegal.” City Attorney Pete Bade attenuates his remarks, saying, “It definitely changes our local ordinance, so that isn’t symbolic at all.” However, don’t “make the mistake of thinking you can come in to Flint and smoke marijuana
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in the city and not get charged because you will.” Meanwhile, Grand Rapids administrators offered a more supportive response. According to Grand Rapids attorney Catherine Mish, citizens approved a similar measure and directed administrators to switch to civil infractions for marijuana possession. Police are prohibited from arresting citizens and will instead issue appearance tickets. “I think we’re very different from Flint,” she says. “We’re not saying, ‘Despite what the voters
Punishment Fits the
Crime
Supporters of Grand Rapids’ Proposal 2 had argued that decriminalizing cannabis would save city coffers an estimated $2.5 million in city and jail costs. It would also lessen the police department’s workload so officers can focus on serious crimes, and decrease the number of people compiling a criminal record for minor offenses, WZZN13 reports.
indicated, we’re going to go ahead and do what we’ve planned to do all along.’ We’re taking the results from the election very seriously,” she insists. While, like Flint, the new ordinance will not stop state troopers or sheriffs from enforcing state and federal statutes, citizens of Grand Rapids now tell officers how to deal with petty, non-violent marijuana offenses. Flint’s ballot initiative does not direct local police as the measure in Grand Rapids does. “I hope no one in Flint or the
east side of the state is discouraged by this because this isn’t over,” says Mike Tuffelmire, a combat veteran and Director of Decriminalize GR, the group behind the initiative. “These things take time and sometimes things are a little rough when they are getting set in. We have a great system and it can be used effectively” I think we’re at a time when people realize the War on Drugs hasn’t worked . . . the best thing we can do is admit that we were wrong and make a policy that is right. We did it here in Grand Rapids, and apparently we’re not alone.” Faced with insubordination from their City employees who refuse to do as instructed, voters in Flint may think this is the worst of times. On the other hand, citizens of Grand Rapids are celebrating the return of rationality to their city and may believe this is the best of times. As the Michigan Supreme Court works through the cannabis cases before it, municipalities and voters will gain a clearer sense of which way is foolishness and which way is wisdom. c
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Not
BUZZ
Kid-ding Around Considering Moms for Marijuana’s membership, children figure prominently in the group’s philosophy. The group believes “our children should be educated on all aspects of cannabis; from the thousands of medical, recreational, industrial, agricultural, environmental, spiritual and economic benefits—to the repercussions, risks and history associated with the cannabis plant.” And good parenting always prevails when it comes to children’s exposure to cannabis: “Marijuana should not be used by developing minds under the age of legal consent, without parental guidance, as well as the recommendation and continuous evaluation by a licensed medical physician.”
Maternal
Instinct Moms for Marijuana lends a hand to show that cannabis cares {By Lainna Fader} Women—mothers in particular—are becoming a powerful new force in the ongoing campaign to legalize marijuana, with 8-year-old international advocacy group Moms for Marijuana leading the way. Founded eight years ago by Serra Frank, a student and mother of two, Moms for Marijuana seeks to educate ignorant lawmakers and the largely misinformed public about the safe use and the multitude of benefits the plant has to offer. The group—which has several chapters across Michigan—also seeks to eliminate the stereotype that all marijuana users are dreadlocked hippies wasting their life away listening to reggae in their dorm rooms by presenting a more conservative, professional face to the movement. Michigan Chapter leader Racine Skelton knows how the
group is perceived by citizens and public officials at large, but it doesn’t stop her. “…If I am given the opportunity to raise awareness and educate, most of those whom I have spoken with have changed their misperceptions and are more willing to listen,” she explains. “The reality is . . . once you have learned the truth . . . how can one continue to ignore it? I understand what it’s like to be misinformed and lied to, I was raised with DARE. I was taught marijuana was bad for me, felt like I was bad person because I smoked cannabis.” But when she saw how many people were helped by MMJ, she stood by the fledgling group—which now has about, 1000 members. The Michigan chapter might get a major boost come next February, when the Cannabis Quilt rolls into town. The Quilt is a recent project in which different groups
and organizations come together to raise cannabis awareness by sewing on patches and additions. “I am super excited to a part of the Cannabis Quilt,” Skelton says. “We are bringing the quilt here to Michigan in February 2013. We will be hosting an all-day conference for everyone to come out and see this amazing work of art. Additionally we will have speakers all day, possibly having door prizes/raffle and live music. We just have to wait and see . . . but I promise it will be fun and educational.” Moms for Marijuana continues to grow rapidly; its network is now global, which chapters all around the world. Moms for Marijuana has over 25,000 fans on Facebook and 6,000 on Twitter, and its online success has inspired the launch of a second community called Dads for Marijuana. “People tend to judge others and it seems to be a perception
that cannabis users cannot be good parents,” Skelton says. “Well, I think we are the best parents, but I can only speak for myself. I smoke pot, I have a bachelor’s degree. I smoke pot, I was a single mom. I smoke pot, I never received child support; I smoke pot, I raised two sons. I smoke pot, I worked two jobs while attending college. I smoke pot, I bought my own house without help. I smoke pot. The reality is it didn’t make me stupid and it didn’t stop me from working or from graduating.” “If it did anything, it made me a better mom to my sons, and I have faith that the 75 years of cannabis prohibition is about to be in the history books,” Skelton adds. “…as I woke up this morning and saw Washington and Colorado, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Detroit—change is here!” c www.momsformarijuana.com Lance Farrell contributed to this article
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TUNES
Ties That Bind
Space
Baller
Photo by Kai Reagan/ALLDAYEVERYDAY
Solo tours aside, GZA says the bond between him and the rest of Wu-Tang’s members is unbreakable. He brushes off the subject of infighting. “We’re family,” he says. “There’s no separation. Of course every group is going to have problems. And there’s been stuff in the air. There’s been stuff online. It happens, man. Sometimes you just gotta go through it and deal with it.”
Wu-Tang lyrical swordsman GZA prepares a “galactic adventure” {By Liquid Todd} With a spacy new album set to drop early next year, Wu-Tang Clan founding member GZA is looking towards the future, but on his current tour The Genius is performing songs that came out when most of the people in the club were still learning to crawl. “I’ve been doing the Liquid Swords, mostly,” he explains. “Promoters are hiring me to do that album. The interesting thing about it is the album is 17 years old, and a lot of the times most of the audience is 17 years old. And knowing every word.” When it was released in late 1995, GZA’s second solo album shot
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up the Billboard Hot 100 chart— peaking at No. 9—and was certified gold a few months later. Universal recently reissued a two-CD box set version of Liquid Swords, complete with a mini chess set and an instrumental version of the album. “One of the good things about performing the Liquid Swords album I have every single (Wu-Tang) Clan member on that album, but when I perform it they’re not really missed even if they’re not there because off that album I have nine solos.” As his fans are well aware, besides the occasional WuTang member GZA shuns guest appearances on his solo albums, and his forthcoming release, Dark Matter, is no exception. “I’m used to that,” he says. “Knocking out albums. I come from that era. Nowadays artists have so many guest features that it doesn’t really even seem like it’s their album.” According to GZA, Dark Matter isn’t designed to be performed in clubs—but is instead more of a “listening album.” “It’s a cosmic journey through the universe,” he says. “A galactic adventure. A real interesting story.” But GZA explains that his new album is inspired more by Stephen Hawking than Luke Skywalker.
“I’m not really into science fiction, but I’m into science. I’ve always been fascinated with science. Since I was young,” he says. “On this album I’m not studying it. I’m not coming at you like I’m an astrophysicist. It’s just like me telling cold world stories. It’s just very descriptive.” As you’d expect from an artist often called the “spiritual head” of the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA has an enlightened view on medical marijuana. “Keep hope alive. That’s what’s up. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with marijuana. Even if you smoke too much all it does is make you lazy and laid-back. From what I hear it helps people—as far as medical purposes,” he says. Although he’s currently on sabbatical from the herb (“Every now and then I take breaks.”) he is clearly a man who enjoys the medicine. And when the subject of edibles comes up GZA gets animated. “Man they got brownies and lemonades and teas and velvet cakes! All kinds of stuff,” he says. “And when it kicks in . . . it kicks in. You won’t know it until you’re putting the remote control in the refrigerator. It may not even be anything that extreme. You may just be using the remote from the TV to turn on the radio.” c
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strain & edible reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Root Weird If you like root beer and cannabis, you’ll love Root Weird, a bodacious, bubbly brew. With a two-finger foamy head, Root Weird is a smooth and yummy recipe for a medicating good time. This handcrafted, drinkable medicine abounds with flavors of anise and sassafras with a faint cannabis aftertaste. Available in regular or extra strength, you’ll find a deep body buzz creeping in from this discrete medicinal beverage after 90 minutes or so. While it’s refreshing straight from the bottle, we recommend pouring into a frosty mug and adding two scoops of vanilla ice cream. This is one root beer float that will have you floating for hours.
Chemdawg Chemdawg is a near-legendary cannabis strain in Michigan. A cross of OG Kush and Diesel, this indica-dominant strain came to us from Green Bee collective in Ann Arbor. The crispy and tapered buds shimmered as we rotated them in the light. Green Bee’s generous sample smelled fresh, peppery notes mingling with a near-Lysol scent. When squeezed, the buds were slightly sticky. Each way we sampled Chemdawg—glass pipe, vaporizer and joint—the experience provided immediate and long-lasting effects. Though it’s indica-heavy, the sativa, more cerebral side showed its strength early on. We felt calm and introspective as time passed, with a steady and long-lasting stone settling in by the end of the second hour. Undoubtedly a potent herb, Chemdawg has a mellow finish, which we think would ease insomnia sufferers into a restful sleep.
Death Star Beaming up from Burton’s Hemphill Wellness Center, Death Star is a “force” to be reckoned with. Patients will love the appetite stimulation and pain relief brought on by this sativa-dominant cross of Sensi Star and Sour Diesel. Hemphill’s buds were well cured, with plentiful and easily visible trichomes. Our sample was sage-colored with lots of rustcolored hairs. Death Star has a mild floral scent, with prominent skunk overtones. The buzz was strong with this one, and when smoked, this medicine was smooth and slightly expansive in the lungs. In a glass bowl or in a joint (we recommend the latter), the high was immediate and potent. The sativa side gets you to hyperspace right away, so buckle up for an intense and creative high.
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Kathy Griffin has been taking her clothes off lately. A lot. On Late Night with David Letterman. On the cover of her new video. On New Year’s Eve in Times Square with Anderson Cooper— then she texted him naked photos of herself from his summer home while he was hosting the news on CNN. A “D-lister” no more, the 51-year-old comedian has a prodigious work ethic. She cranked out four cable specials last year, performs her stand-up show around 100 times a year, hosts her own daytime television talk show—called Kathy, of course—and now it looks like she’s got a club hit on her hands as the remixes of the Kathy theme song (which she sings herself, naturally) are moving up the Billboard dance chart. Fast. She’s performing around the country between now and February 2013, but she doesn’t need me to tell you about it because Griffin can promote herself just fine, thank you very much. She’s become a role model for aspiring comedians of the female persuasion by almost single-handedly convincing America that, yes, chicks can be funny too. And when you talk to her you get the feeling that after all she’s done, this redhead is just getting started. So who’s pissing you off right now? Well you know I never met a Kardashian that I don’t like as a comedian. I’m worried that we kind of demean ourselves by even mentioning them. Shouldn’t we be ignoring them? Maybe they’ll go away. I’m sorry but they’re multiplying! I’m looking at basically an old-fashioned metronome or some sort of sands of time to see how long it’s gonna be until Kim gets pregnant. But I’m assuming she’ll at least have one pregnancy by the time I’m at Pechanga and one on the way. I mean if Snooki can be wheeled out of the hospital with her little meatball then Kim can’t be far behind. Your current status with The View is difficult to nail down. So tell me: are you banned or unbanned at the moment? Banned . . . I would say I’ve been banned and unbanned about a half a dozen times. Now are you really banned or do you just like to say that to kick up a little controversy?
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No, you can call them tomorrow and ask them if they’d like to have me as a guest. You really became a household name—in a stroke of delicious irony—when your Bravo comedy special The D-list became a huge hit. So I suppose you really can’t say claim to be a D-lister anymore, can you? No, I have a talk show. I have Emmys. I have Grammy nominations. You have a lot of Emmys. I have a dance hit! I was going to ask you about that next. This is where it gets fun. So—never to be bored—I thought, “What can I do between Season 1 and Season 2 of the Kathy show?” Because taking some time off would be unthinkable for you, right? Because I like to build a bridge and I don’t like to not work for even one second. So one: I sing the theme to my talk show—which is really corny. And two: I’ve got Emilio Estefan and the Cuban mafia behind it to do a dance mix. And then their daughter Emily did another dance mix. And I now have a dance mix hit called “I Say It.”
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Didn’t you have four comedy specials on the TV this year? Last year I did four in one year which has never been done. Do you worry about maybe being a little greedy with the four comedy specials in one year? Can’t you leave some for the other comics? No, I think it’s because I’m a female comic. I have to jump higher and work harder. I still think it’s pretty damn impressive what you’ve done. You’ve changed a lot of minds about the viability of women in stand-up comedy. When you have a landscape that is so saturated with everything from social media to a million cable channels, you can get comedy or drama from so many different sources. I find what I do is the one thing you really can’t change [and that’s] who you are. My comedy comes from my own embarrassing life first, and then my own take on celebrities and I make it very personal. I don’t just talk about
Speaking of politics. Is it just me or the Republican Party just getting more and more regressive, retarded and plain ol‘ batshit crazy? We are pretty much rolling back the clock. I think that’s been happening . . . a little bit with Regan but definitely with Dubya, even more than his father. And now people are refighting the separation of church and state and they’re trying to rewrite the constitution and teach creationism and all this stuff which is completely antithetical to what I grew up with. My mom and dad worked hard to send me to a school where education was paramount. I tease the nuns because they tried to make me a Catholic but it didn’t stick, but certainly not for one minute . . . did those nuns try to teach me about creationism. They never tried to convince you that Darwinism is just a “theory,” and Jesus was riding dinosaurs 5,000 years ago when the Earth had just been created. No! I would have gotten in trouble
It’s just a little hypocritical that people can go and get as drunk as they want. —on those who criticize cannabis use
Well there’s a whole lot of people in jail right now—casualties of our expensive, never ending Drug War, I guess I’d call them. Roughly half of our ridiculously high per-capita prison population is there because of drugrelated offenses. So people getting arrested for smoking a plant or for just possessing a baggie of dried leaves seems to be a pretty big problem to me. I’m much more interested in
Flying the Multicolored Flag
Besides her notoriety in entertainment circles, Kathy Griffin is also a bona fide LGBT activist who often uses her television soapbox to stump for gay rights, such as same-sex marriage. Two years ago, she helped organize a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rally in Washington, D.C., and has supported the nonprofit Aid for AIDS (AFA) annual fundraiser. She won a Vanguard Award during the GLAAD Media Awards in 2009. But considering Griffin’s candid, usually brazen style, it should be no surprise that the comedienne described her advocacy in this way, in an interview with the Washington, D.C.-based Metro Weekly: “I’m building bridges between hot guys, the LGBT community and women everywhere. And isn’t that what’s important?”
random celebrities. I talk about celebrities I have had a personal run-in with. I find that people really like having that mask ripped off. I think it’s great. And it’s proved to be very entertaining. Doing live standup is my favorite thing ever. I really love it. I’m on the road pretty much every weekend. There’s nothing like live entertainment. It is completely no-holds-barred. It is the last bastion of a censorship-free comedic environment. In the live shows I really can and do say things that I can’t even do in my specials.
for that because it’s factually incorrect! Let me ask you about medical marijuana. I don’t even know if it should be just medical. I guess there are issues about it—you don’t want to do it around kids, and I’m not sure I want to be driving behind someone who’s really high. It’s just a little hypocritical that people can go and get as drunk as they want . . . And it’s typical of the conservatives [who] would want to distract you with that conversation.
the lady umpire from the U.S. Open who allegedly killed her husband with a coffee cup. That’s a story I can wrap an act around. Do you partake of the medicine yourself? The last thing I need is something to help me loosen up. Good point. What would happen to you if you did smoke some herb? Spontaneous combustion? What goes on? That’s the thing . . . you know, I’ve never had a drink in my life.
I’ve heard this, yes. Everyone I know who drinks or smokes pot—they do it to loosen up in some way or relax or feel more confident or whatever . . . “Liquid courage,” I think they call it. I’m actually trying to get less courage. Liquid or solid. I’m a little too heavy on the courage side of the scale. What do you do to relax? How do you chill out? What do you do in your spare time—if you ever actually allow yourself some spare time? I actually work out a lot. I hang out with my friends a lot. Shoot the breeze. I love a dinner party. I love smart conversation. And then I love really ridiculous television beyond control. I mean I can watch TV 12 hours a day, no problem. What are your favorites right now? Everything from The Newsroom and Political Animals to Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and everything in-between. I watch all the news cycles and then I’ll watch everything from 24/7 Mayweather [vs. Cotto] to every single one of the Housewives franchises to Bridezillas to Boardwalk Empire. How much time do you spend on the show? Is it a full-time job when it’s on? Well the whole thing is full-time. It’s either the Kathy show or it’s prepping for one of the specials or it’s going on the road or its doing something crazy like a dance mix of the theme song from Kathy. Do you spend time working on ideas that never happen? Not with me. I’m not really in movies so I’m not somebody who auditions for movies or TV shows. It’s my own show or nothing! So you’re not spending a lot of time pitching ideas to studios and stuff like that? No. They come to me! That’s what I’d call an “A-List” attitude, Ms. Griffin! [Laughs] Thanks, Todd! c kathygriffin.net DECEMEBER DEMEBER 2012 • CULTURE 23
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destination unknown
Story and photos by Dennis Argenzia and grace Cayosa
Color and Chaos Rejoice in the pigment-themed cities of Rajasthan and its exotic stimulants Director: I need an exotic location—think forts, temples, palaces with hidden women, the occasional painted elephant, etc.— that’s popular in visually stimulating films with mixed reviews. Location Scout: Yep, got it: Northwest India. When India isn’t stripping down to Eastern European glory in Goa, ripping hamstrings in yoga-saturated Mysore or shaking its thing in Bollywood, it’s starring in foreign films. Outside of the mega-soundstage called Mumbai, the most popular locations are in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, where wistfully romantic filmmakers can choose a colorful and chaotic backdrop from one of the state’s pigment-themed cities: the Pink City (Jaipur), the Blue City (Jodhpur) and the White City (Udaipur). Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and the largest city in the entire state. Nicknamed the “Pink City” for its salmoncolored walls, Jaipur is famous for its textile and gem bazaars. More intriguing to location scouts are Jaipur’s various architectural sights: two palaces (Jal Mahal, anchored in the middle of Man Sagar lake, and City Palace, near city center); one palace attachment (the Hawa Mahal, a five-story screened structure where the lovely-butsequestered royal ladies could view “regular” city life without catcalls); three fortresses (of which the Amber/Amer fort, with its painted pachyderm transports, is hands-down the most impressive); temples (including a cheeky Monkey Temple); and the Jantar Mantar observatory (a UNESCO World Heritage site). The entire city has been featured in films, most recently in John Madden’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel where a group of mature British folks attempt to make
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the best out of a situation clearly born from the “health and medical tourism” movement. Much less recently, but more breathtaking, were the scenes in Tarsem Singh’s The Fall, especially one where a distraught wife takes a perfect 10 leap off one of the Jantar Mantar’s giant sundial observation decks. Also featured in The Fall was the second, decidedly more recognizable city of Jodhpur, or the “Blue City,” a name derived from the bright blue paint on many of its structures. In addition to a bustling handicrafts market and restaurants selling the local dessert makhaniya lassi (a delectably creamy lemon lassi that requires a spoon and self-control), Jodhpur is home to the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort, the largest fortress in the state and the most deserving of the word “awesome” without the Valley Girl accent. So impressive is Mehrangarh that it was featured in Christopher Nolan’s Batman: The Dark Knight Rises as a warning:
if you dare to piss off a man who wears a metal tarantula on his face, you will end up HERE. This massive hilltop fort literally towers over the city. It houses several [party] halls—the Moti (Pearl), Sheesha (Mirror) and Phool (Flower) Mahals—plus a hide-your-women zone (the Zenana Deodi, guarded by trusty eunuchs), a museum and opium paraphernalia displays with staff members smoking, yes, real opium. Here would be a good place to mention that, in addition to opium, green is also available all over Rajasthan. Technically, the leaves of the marijuana plant are legal in the state of Rajasthan; there are even licensed shops that sell bhang lassi, the medicated form of India’s yogurtbased drink. Discretion is still advised, as the potent flowers are illegal. Also, just like in the rest of India, locals don’t usually smoke marijuana straight: it is normally mixed with tobacco. Lastly, hookah (water pipe) shops are aplenty in this region, but travelers debate the merits of mixing marijuana with shisha. We end our cinema color tour in Udaipur, the “White City” or more aptly, the “City of Lakes.” As indicated in the name, Udaipur sits atop what can only be called giant puddles: outside of monsoon season, Udaipur’s three lakes—Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake and Swaroop Sagar Lake—are muddy beds. Once the rains hit, however, Udaipur is transformed into a waterside city, awash in twinkle lights, white paint and romance, giving it its third moniker, “Venice of the East.” It is in Udaipur that James Bond (Roger, not Sean) was held captive in the hilltop Monsoon Palace, and it is where, inside the heritage Lake Palace Hotel on Lake Pichola, Bond meets the woman for whom the film is named, and whose name can now be seen on every one of the city’s “special movie night” posters: Octopussy. c
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profiles in courage Patient:
Stephanie Annis
AGE: 34
Condition/ Illness: Crohn’s Disease
Using medical cannabis since: 2008
Photo by Lance Farrell
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? In November 2008, I returned home from a 45-day stay in the hospital, weighing only 98 pounds. With the first joint, I started to eat again; I had struggled to eat while in the hospital, without medicine to help. DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE cannabis? Yes, I was fed through an IV at one point and at another point was prescribed Marinol [a synthetic marijuana compound]. The IV feeding caused me to gain too much weight and had side effects. The Marinol had the side effect of making me feel as if I had a pit in the bottom of my stomach, and I would actually overeat which created a different type of problem. Marinol was far too strong for me in its lowest dose. Neither of these medical options worked as well as medicalgrade cannabis. WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL cannabis PATIENTS? Finding medicine which is safe and pure and finding a caregiver who knows how to truly produce quality medicine . . . Quality medicine which is free from these harmful substances can only be found in dispensaries which test medicine. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT cannabis AS MEDICINE? Until I [saw] it myself in my own life, I, too, was a skeptic . . . Seeing [cannabis] work in my life changed [my mother’s] lifelong held beliefs. c
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Eclipse Vape
It’s the original, it’s efficient and it’s one of the best plug-in-andplay items around. $98.99 www.vapornation.com
Dab Essentials Domeless Titanium Nail
If smoothness, flavor and minimum heat transfer are important to you, put Dab Essentials’ nifty nail (comes with a built-in diffuser) on your “nice” list. $179.97 www.dabessentials.com
Vector Nitro Butane Torch
Holiday Gift Guide! Shade Glass DabSaber
Strong enough for a Jedi . . . but made for that special patient (and Star Wars fan) on your wish list. $50 store.kultureva.com
CONCENTRATE UTENSILS
When you need to crank it up to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit, let this chromed out little number from Heady Glass heat things up. $64.99 www.headyglass.com
For those who are serious about their meds . . .
Hot Hit Slide
A cunningly designed slide with three small holes instead of the usual central hole—innovative! $60 14.5mm and 18.8mm) www.illadelphglass.com
Skilletools
From the Scoop Dogg to the Flexy, Skilletools’ line of dental-grade stainless steel utensils are made to last all year. $12.99 each www.skilletools.com
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Odorless Pocket Pouch
The name is weird and the image gives away the contents, but this durable storage unit will provide peace of mind when taking MMJ on the go. $10 crystalparadise.org
Lil Ben Backpack
Cobra Bag
With a tablet media holder and hidden stash pockets, the Lil Ben backpack says this iHippie is all about the benjamins. $60 sprayground.com
While it won’t bite people who snoop through your stuff, the multi-functional Cobra case does sport a hidden compartment for 007-like secrecy. $21 vatra.com
RYOT Piper Case
The Rolls Royce of pipe cases has a plush soft-wall interior, a heat-resistant freshness pocket and secondary magnetic closures so your medication always rides first class. $16 1percent.com
Holiday Gift Guide!
BAGS/STORAGE For those who believe you can take it with you . . .
Key Ring Hemp Wallet
This slim-profile hemp wallet comes with an external key ring for those who always lose their house keys. $14 hempys.com
Grenade Case
An egg-crate cushion interior and a this-meanswar shell let people know your medicine’s the bomb. $20 vatra.com
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CaliJars South Park Glass Jar
Doob Tubes
These hard plastic tubes are the perfect, water- and odor-proof way to carry pre-rolls, and they double as storage for those halfsmoked joints. $5.99 five-pack doobtubin.com
Get your nugs out of that natty baggy and into this South Park-inspired line of jars—small enough to hold an eighth, large enough to hold an oz. $9.99 www.calijars.com
Holiday Gift Guide!
Containers & Jars For those who always have something in store . . .
Tightvac Vitavac Pocketvac
Vacuum-sealed food container-maker Tightvac offers these opaque, BPA-free airtight cases, which prevent your nugs from oxidizing. $6.50 tightvac.com
Santa Cruz Shredder
With a new tooth design, this computer-designed anodized shredder is built to last and won’t slice or smash your precious herbs. $22.50 Mini 2-Piece, $75 Large 4-Piece, $140 Jumbo www.santacruzshredder.com 32 CULTURE • DECEMEBER 2012
CVault Containers
CVault containers are airtight, made of stainless steel and perfect for curing and storage (with space for a humidity control pack from Boveda). $19.95 Small CVault, $205.95 Connoisseur Combo 4 www.thecvault.com
CannaFresh Jimi jar
This company’s Collectors Edition Cheech & Chong Series includes this trippy, Jimi Hendrixinspired 22-oz. jar. $32 cannafresh.com
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Sheldon Black SixShooter Bubbler (Black Tree)
Pulse Glass Double to Double Showerhead
This High Times Medical Cannabis Cup first-place winner for Best Glass, Pulse offers this 20-inch tall, 5mm-thick Double to Double stemless with percolator, ice pinch and slide. $550 www.pulseglass.com
Pure Glass Zero XM Swiss
For the chilliest, sickest hit out there, pre-chill the glycerinfilled coil, plop it on top and enjoy the Swiss percolating, water filtration. $669 pureglass420.com/zero-xm
One of the biggest names in boutique scientific glass offers this super diffusion bubbler with a six-branch, black diffusion tree and ultra sleek and smooth hitting. $250 www.sheldonblack.com
Holiday Gift Guide!
Glassware
For those who like to keep things transparent . . .
Snic Mobius Bubbler
Texas-based Snic Barnes ranks among the best heady glass pipe designers in the world thanks to his stunning, steampunkesque electroplating work. Prices vary www.snicbarnes.com
Salt and Snic Custom Heady Bubblers
Heady heavyweights team up on these hyper-ornate, smallish bubblers featuring Snic’s electroplating and Salt’s characteristic biomorphic creature styles. Prices vary www.saltglass.com
Toro Glass Diffusion Bubbler
Toro—a master in the scientific glass domain, with its clean lines and emphasis on functionality— shows off its heady side. MSRP $400 www.everyonedoesit.com 34 CULTURE • DECEMEBER 2012
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Atmos Nuke Dual Cartridge Vaporizer
A small, innocuous vape pen, the Atmos Nuke Dual Cartridge takes herbs, oils and waxes and can switch between double or single cartridge use. $123.49 www.atmosthermo.com
Elite V3 Portable Vaporizer
Capable of delivering more than 400 hits between charges, VaporPenz’ elegant Elite V3 will vaporize everything your heart desires—flowers, concentrates, fluids—to help get you through the holidays. $79.95 www.vaporpenz.com
VaporCone
In need of a perfect stocking stuffer? Try VaporCones’ Discreet—a buttonless vape pen with a ceramic skillet and mouthpiece—or its big brother, the Elite. Each one handles herbs, concentrates or e-liquids. $50 Discreet, $90 Elite themedstick.com
Cloud Vape
Holiday Gift Guide!
Vaporizers For those who like to clear the air . . .
You can refill this travel-friendly little number with your own medicine, and it’ll only take 10 seconds flat to start feeling the vapors. $69.99 cloudvapes.com
Iolite Wispr Vaporizer
An industrial redesign of the standard pocket vape. Load the stylishly colorful box, wait a few seconds for Wispr to heat to 374 degrees and puff. Tres chic. $249 www.iolite.com
Storz & Bickel Volcano
A stone-cold classic, this medical-grade device uses precision-heated air to eliminate the vast majority of nastiness associated with smoking the plant. $539 www.storz-bickel.com DECEMEBER 2012 • CULTURE 35
Octopus Pipe
This hand-blown pipe will cost you, but consider this—friends come over, everyone wants to medicate and you get to say, “Release the Kraken.” $1,000 etsy.com/shop/LoudActions
Cyclops Pipe
This Arizona-based company has one of the coolest collections of glass pipes, especially the Cyclops, which is perfect for cannabis masters who want a new pupil. $56 chameleonglass.com
EZ Pipe Black
Featuring a cap for smokeless use, this discreet pipe is a self-contained unit that can hold most Bic-style lighters. $20 afrosmoke.com
Holiday Gift Guide!
Pipes
The Fumo Pipe
For those who like to spark up a conversation . . .
Made in the Mile High State, The Fumo is a pipe and steam roller hybrid with a sleek design and innovative functionality. $75 1percent.com
Dragon Pipe
Exit the dragon, enter the patient. $20 gorillaglass.com
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Bul-It Pipe
Leave it to the Brits to design an 88mm pipe for the Ron Paul-supporting Republican in your life. Approx. $38 to $44 red-eye.co.uk
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cool stuff FXU Vaporizer Available exclusively from Smokers Alley in Roseville, the FXU Vaporizer is easy to use, plus its eight high-powered LED lights and a secondary aromatherapy tray, this can function as a scented wax heater and nightlight. ($139.95) www.lucyvapes.com
Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection Get your Flock of Seagulls haircut ready, cuz this must-have collection of Quentin Tarantino flicks will deserve a high place of honor in your DVD collection. Next to Street Fighter. ($119.99) www.miramax.com/on-disc/tarantino-xx
CoolJarz Flipz For storage that’s a literal snap, CoolJarz’s new Flipz’ offer flip-top convenience while at the same time providing peace of mind with a tamper- and child-proof design. And they’re recyclable! ($10 Sample Pak) www.cooljarz.com
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By Aunt Sandy
Winter is typically a time when families gather to share a special—and delicious—meal together. This holiday-themed menu is sure to get your loved ones rushing to the dinner table.
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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Menu:
Crown Roast of Pork Pan Gravy Cannabis Apple & Onion Stuffing Mashed Sweet Potatoes Cauliflower in Cheese Sauce Cannabis Infused Brandy
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.
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Crown Roast of Pork 1 crown roast of pork (8 to 9 lbs.) Pan Gravy (see recipe on pg. 43) Cannabis Apple & Onion Stuffing (see recipe below) Remove meat from the refrigerator about 1 hour before cooking. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wipe moisture from the roast. Protect the ends of the rib bones by covering with aluminum foil. Immediately after putting the roast in the oven reduce heat to 325 degrees, roasting 30 minutes per pound. Remove roast one hour before it’s done to stuff the center of the crown with Cannabis Apple and Onion stuffing. Return roast to the oven to complete cooking for the additional hour. Carve between each rib and serve with Pan Gravy.
Cannabis Apple & Onion Stuffing 1 cup of raisins 1 chopped garlic clove 3 cups of diced tart apples 1 cup of chopped celery 1/4 cup of finely chopped parsley 3 cups of diced tart apples 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt 1/4 cup of finely chopped parsley 7 cups of soft bread crumbs 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt 1 cup Canna Butter* 1/4 teaspoon of paprika 1 cup of chopped onion Place raisins in boiling water for five minutes. Blend diced apples, chopped parsley, salt and paprika with the bread crumbs. Drain water from cooked raisins and add the bread crumbs mixture. Sauté with melted Canna Butter and mix all ingredients together.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Cauliflower in Cheese Sauce Makes 6 servings 1 cauliflower 3 tablespoons of Canna Butter* 2 tablespoons of flour
1 cup of milk 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
Cut off the tough end of the cauliflower’s stem. Remove the leaves and soak in cold salted water head down for 10 minutes. Drain and break up the cauliflower into florets. Cut deep slashes into the stalk. Steam the florets (head up) and stalk in 1 inch of water. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook partially covered until the stalk is barely tender, about another 10 minutes. Drain well and place in serving dish. Melt the Canna Butter with the head in a skillet. Add and blend flour over medium heat. Stir slowly in milk with a whisk until thickened and smooth. Add cheese. When the cheese is melted, pour the sauce over the cauliflower. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings 6 sweet potatoes 2 tablespoons of Canna Butter* 1/2 teaspoon of salt Hot milk Drop the sweet potatoes into boiling water and cover. Cook until tender, about 25 minutes. Mash with a potato masher and add Canna Butter. Add salt and a little hot milk, slowly and gradually. Beat the mixture with a fork or whisk until it’s very light and smooth. Serve with Pan Gravy DECEMEBER 2012 • CULTURE 41
Pan Gravy Pan drippings 3 tablespoons of flour 1 cup of water Optional salt and pepper ¼ cup of Canna Butter* Blend pan drippings from the Crown Roast with flour. Whisk the mixture until the flour has thickened and all the ingredients are well combined and smooth. Continue to cook slowly and stir constantly while adding water slowly to reach the perfect gravy consistency. Add salt and pepper for taste. Finish this by adding Canna Butter to make it creamy.
Cannabis Infused Brandy
2 cups of brandy ½ ounce of cannabis buds Pour the brandy into a sauce pan. Cook over a medium heat for three minutes. Add the cannabis buds and simmer them for 20 minutes. Strain the buds from the brandy. Keep warm. Add this to your favorite warm drink (we prefer eggnog), and add a lemon twist for a soothing and delicious beverage.
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. 42 CULTURE • DECEMEBER 2012
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entertainment reviews Boys Noize Out of the Black Boys Noize Records While the name sounds like the opening act on a One Direction tour, Boys Noize gets huge cool points for making a Monster Magnet “Space Lord” dance remix one of his first releases in 2004. Alex Ridha, the German-born DJ making all the Noize, is now an international star with a new full-length album, Out of the Black. Sounds range from digitized guitar and live drum sounds (“Rocky 2”) to new wave-disco hybrids with a native percussion breakdown (“Conchord”), all driven by pounding electro-synth grooves. Tracks like “Circus Full of Clowns” come across as album filler, but EDM fans can cherry pick the standouts like the euphoric “XTC,” the bouncy “Ich R U” and the dynamic, energy-building opener, “What You Want.” Hopefully rap radio will embrace the album closer, “Got It,” which has Snoop Dogg throwing down like he’s trying to bring ’93 back. (David Jenison)
Cannabis Sativa: The Essential Guide to the World’s Finest Marijuana Strains Vol. 2 S.T. Oner Green Candy Press Not content to let the world continue with only one authoritative guide to sativa strains, the ganja geniuses over at Green Candy Press cultivated yet another voluminous volume dedicated to providing a comprehensive overview of the best of the best. If you’re a connoisseur, Cannabis Sativa Vol. 2 should prove to be instructive reading for those with a deep interest in the heaviest and bushiest of marijuana strains (Krane Damage, Nebula, etc.). Genetics-minded patients will find rock-solid lineage descriptions of popular phenos such as Cannatonic and Sour OG. Coming straight from the minds of breeders and growers, Vol. 2’s information is unsurpassed . . . but at the same time not overly technical—often the weakness of some marijuana books. The photos are drool-worthy, but the information—and adroit wit—will keep you coming back. A great stocking stuffer for the patient hungry for colorful and accurate information. (Matt Tapia)
Twisted Sister A Twisted Xmas – Live in Las Vegas Eagle Rock Entertainment A Twisted Christmas, a 2006 collection of metalized holiday standards, became Twisted Sister’s bestselling album since the Reagan years. The band released a live Christmas DVD the next year, but unlike Ghost Rider, this bad boy deserved a sequel. A Twisted Xmas - Live in Las Vegas features Sin City theatrics, Steel Panther-like nostalgia and Radio City Christmas Spectacular production with holiday-adorned strippers replacing the Rockettes. The concert took place at the Vegas Hilton, a.k.a. the house Elvis built in the theater Barry Manilow ruled. Sure, Manilow covered many of the same classics on his Christmas albums, but he didn’t dress like a tranny or radically reimagine songs like Twister Sister’s “12 Days of Christmas” (spoiler alert: they don’t ask for turtle doves). Complete with colorful costumes, fake snow and amped-up arrangements, A Twisted Xmas is a sick holiday treat! (David Jenison)
Tracy Morgan live
If there is a fine line between genius and insanity, and Tracy Morgan seems to rejoice in dancing up and down that line with no issue. The former SNL cast member and star of Emmy award-winning show 30 Rock has been known for being nothing short of unpredictable and gut busting, and he’s coming to the Motor City this month. On network TV, he plays an exaggerated caricature of himself who constantly defiles decency and good reason. That has to be censored. Now, imagine what it would be like to see him in person with no hindrance or filter aside from the money you paid to see him? There’s really only one answer to that, and it’s best to conduct that research on the front lines. Just don’t come crying to us when you forget how to breathe from laughter. No, seriously, we’re not liable for that sort of thing. Enjoy Tracy Morgan at your own risk. (Joe Martone)
IF YOU GO
What: Tracy Morgan live. When/Where: Dec. 27 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. Info: Go to www. motorcitycasino.com or www.soundboarddetroit.com. $40-$50. 21+.
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guide to our advertisers ANN ARBOR Ann Arbor Wellness Collective. 734-929-2602 Arborside. 734-213-1420 Green Bee Collective. 734-929-2553 OM of Medicine. 734-369-8255 BURTON Greenlight Wellness. 877-420-5420 Hemphill Wellness Center. 810-820-3812 Meme’s Green Dream. 810-234-8100 The Barn. 810-742-1500 DETROIT Shake and Bake. 313-340-2253 FLINT Michigan Compassion Center. 970-509-0781 Michigan Organic Solutions. Flint. 810-309-0564 The Green Bean. 810-232-4400 We Grow Education Center & Collective. 209-200-1849 MONTROSE Your Choice Meds. 810-639-6331 WATERFORD Metro Detroit Compassion Club. 248-618-7302
YPSILANTI CannaCure. 734-484-1990 Depot Town Dispensary. 734-340-2941 PRODUCTS & SERVICES American Medical Marijuana Association/AMMA. www.amma-usa.com Beste’s Hydroponic Supply. www.besteshydroponics.com Cloud Vaporizer. www.cloudvapes.com Cool Jarz. www.cooljarz.com Cones. www.smokecones.com Galactic Gardens. Flint. 810-922-6643 Iron Laboratories. www.ironlabsllc.com JD Lightings Hydroponic. www.jd-lightings.com Hydro Kare. Flint. 810-407-8120 Kush Bottles. www.kushbottles.com LA Container Medical Marijuana MedHead. www.mimedhead.com Supplies. www.420Packaging.com Northern Lights Hydroponics & Garden Supply. www.norternlightshydro.net Root Weird. www.rootweird.com Smokers Alley. www.smokersalley.org THC Jobs. www.thcjobs.com
event listings Our picks for the coolest Mayan-inspired end-ofthe-world parties taking place on Dec. 21
The End of the World Concert
Queensrÿch and Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe are hoping to spend their last hours with you. Check out the VIP party after the show—rock stars who think they are going to die do seriously wild things. The Masonic, Detroit www.themasonic.com
End of Days Party with Sander Van Doorn
Skilled DJs Sander Van Doorn and Topher Jones are teaming up to deliver an electronic journey that will take you to the end of it all. Elektricity Night Club, Pontiac www.elektricitymusic.com
End of the World Party
Envision your last day on Earth being entranced by loud music, positive vibes and feel-good beverages. With 44 beers on tap, don’t worry about a hangover because, well—there’s no tomorrow. Shakespeare’s Pub, Kalamazoo www.shakespearespub.com
Shock Top’s End of the World Party
You might see the Grim Reaper creeping above you on stilts. This End of the World Party takes celebration beyond what is expected with acrobatics and other daredevil circus performances. Holiday Inn Gateway Centre, Flint www.showclix.com/events/15848
The End of the World Show!
You’ll find plenty of gourmet foods carefully paired with brews to comfort you while a folk collaboration of Michigan’s finest musicians welcomes the End Times. Bell’s Eccentric Café, Kalamazoo www.bellsbeer.com/eccentric-cafe
Sunglasses After Dark’s End of the World Party
It’s the end of the world with class and sophistication. Give into all your vices—there’s plenty of “Too Good to be True” martinis and specialty cigars to go around. Silky’s Martini & Music Cafe, Dearborn www.silkyslounge.com
Join Us For the End of the World
With bands such as Masnema, Hellenkeller and Crackjaw on the bill—and plenty of liquid courage—this ain’t a bad way to spend your final moments. Mr. Mike’s Lounge, Ypsilanti www.facebook.com/pages/MrMikesLounge/147331511970508
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V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY—FINE POINTS OF FLORIDA GAMBLING LAW
; In October, state alcohol agents, assisted by local police in full riot gear, pointing their weapons, raided a bar in Largo, Fla., to shut down the latest gathering of the venerable Nutz Poker League, even though its players do not wager. (They meet at bars and restaurants, where management gives winners token gifts in exchange for the increased business.) A prosecutor told the Tampa Bay Times that Florida law defines illegal “gambling” as any game that permits players to win something—even if they don’t have to “ante up.” The raid (during which players were ordered to keep their hands where the officers could see them) came after a months-long undercover investigation.
DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD?
; No Do-Overs: By 2009, James Washington believed he had gotten away with a 1995 murder, but then he had a heart attack, and on his deathbed, in a fit of remorse, he confessed to a confidant. (“I have to get something off my conscience,” he told a guard in the jailhouse where he was serving time for a lesser, unrelated offense.) However, Washington miraculously recovered from the heart attack and tried to take back his confession, but prosecutors in Nashville, Tenn., were unfazed. They used it to augment the sparse evidence from 1995, and in October 2012 the now-healthier Washington was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 51 more years in prison.
RECURRING THEMES
; Among the most creative illegal behaviors are those of clever smugglers—or immigrants trying
to enter a country illegally. In September, two Moroccans tried to smuggle a Guinean man into Spain at the Melilla border in north Morocco by disguising him as a Renault car seat. One Moroccan drove, with the passenger perched on a seat in which the foam had been removed to make room for the Guinean. A police spokesman called the attempt “novel.” ; India’s notorious bureaucracy records deaths particularly ineptly, to the advantage of men seeking an alternative to divorce. They find it easier merely to swear out a death certificate on one wife so they can marry another, but that means the first wife will face years, and maybe decades, of campaigning to convince officials that she is not dead. BBC News chronicled the plight of Ms. Asharfi Devi, now 64, in September as she was finally declared “alive” after being deserted by her husband at age 23 and ruled dead at age 40. After Devi finally earned a hearing and brought relatives and evidence to the village council, deliberations took eight more months. Notwithstanding the ruling, the husband stuck to his story. ; Again this year, a serial drowning made the news (where one jumps in to rescue another, and a third is needed to rescue the first two, and a fourth, and none survives.) In Ulster, Northern Ireland, in September, rugby player Nevin Spence, along with his brother and father, died in a slurry tank on the family’s farm, and their sister, who also attempted a rescue, was hospitalized. Officials said they could not determine the order in which the men entered the pit until the sister was well enough to talk. DECEMEBER 2012 • CULTURE 45
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