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departments
22
A Deeper Shade of Brown
Latino laugh legend Paul Rodriguez reveals how he stays relevant.
6 Letter from the Editor Keeping patients informed (and entertained) is priority No. 1. 8 News Nuggets Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere— and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers. 16 Strain & Edible Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 19 Legal Corner Attorney Denise Pollicella heads into the zoning zone. 26 Destination Unknown Ditch the tourists, hop on a riverboat and head to Battambang, Cambodia. 27 Profiles in Courage Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you.
features 14 A New Trauma A setback for patients troubled by PTSD and other conditions.
28 Cool Stuff From the DabR to Luminair Tree Tents, if it’s a cuttingedge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 30 Recipes Think drink! To usher in the warmer months, we’ve got the solution to your thirst. Cocktails for everyone! 32 Shooting Gallery Here are the green-friendly things we saw you doing around town.
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letter from the editor
Vol 4 IssUE 12
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
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Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Arts & Entertainment Editor Evan Senn
Editorial Contributors
Inside Information Some say The Gentleman’s Magazine, published in 1731 in England, was the world’s first magazine. There are some that say Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen (Edifying Monthly Discussions), published in Germany in 1663, was the first. Regardless, the history of magazines is a long and storied one that goes back, literally, centuries. Naturally, this publishing trend took root here, too. By the 16th century in America, the magazine
had arrived. Ben Franklin’s General Magazine is a good example. In another era, TIME, Ladies’ Home Journal and Reader’s Digest continued the magazine tradition with slicker, glossier packaging, plenty of photos and articles on a whole host of subjects—even controversial ones. For you trivia buffs, the most successful magazine in the U.S. was The Saturday Evening Post, first published in 1821. Life debuted in 1936. And I ran into a very fitting definition what magazines are: “regularly published storehouses of information.” That is a very apt description. And it’s one that applies wholeheartedly to the magazine you hold in your hands right now. CULTURE’s mission, like that of other respected, credible publications, is to do a masterful job of informing and entertaining its readers. That’s you. Every month, across the country, in every issue, CULTURE illuminates and enlightens patients and professionals. Don’t know what kind of strain is right for you? Check out our reviews. Trying to catch up on your state or city’s latest MMJ laws and regulations? Read our Legal Corner columns. Interested in seeing how our culture is mainstreaming its way into books, music and pop culture? Just pick up an issue, any issue . . . every issue. CULTURE takes its job very seriously. So it’s a concern when I hear about people trying to do cannabis magazines a disservice (just Google “Colorado” and “marijuana magazine” and “first amendment”) and make it harder for reader to get a copy. The last thing patients need is an obstacle to the best source of information out there. Remember, CULTURE is all about creating “storehouses of information.” CULTURE does it right. We show you and tell you stuff you’d likely never think to look for yourself. We take you to places you’ve never been to. We show you the books you want to read and activist groups you want to join. We introduce you to strains you want to sample and medical research you want to share with your doctor. We do this every month. Don’t believe me? Just pick up an issue, any issue . . . every issue. c
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, Dan MacIntosh, Meital Manzuri, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen, Simon Weedn
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Jon Bookatz, Gene Gorelik, Shane Harms, Justin Marsh, Beau Odom, Dave Ruiz, Kim Slocum, April Tygart
IT Manager
Serg Muratov
Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
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between local people and the justice system. State legislators should see a working model of relegalization every day. The Capitol City is prepared to make Lansing at the forefront of cannabis reform.” Last year, voters in several Michigan cities approved charter changes or measures that reduced penalties for cannabis. The Lansing AG Bill Schuette: MMJ patients don’t automatically petition has begun circulating.
THE NATION
THE STATE
lose their kids
If you’re a parent and a patient, that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically lose custody of your kids because you use a plant that grows naturally as medicine. That’s the legal opinion of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, according to The Detroit News. A judge however, Schuette said, can make a determination about whether or not a parent’s use of medical cannabis creates an unreasonable danger to children. Schuette had been asked for his legal opinion by state Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge). His opinion only applies to patients who have been approved by the state to use cannabis or grow it for others.
Davison keeps MMJ moratorium on the books until September
The Flint suburb of Davison has opted to keep its existing moratorium on dispensaries in place until Sept. 12, according to Mlive.com. “City Manager Michael Hart said at that time there was still uncertainty and case law being discussed that made it difficult for council members to make a decision on dispensaries,” the website reports. Councilman Paul Hammond had sought to end the moratorium during the May 13 meeting. Councilman Gary Peppin, however, said he felt the moratorium should Lansing coalition pushes to remain in place. “There are so many questions decriminalize cannabis for to be answered,” he said. “There those 21 and older will be more opinions from the A Lansing coalition just announced a petition drive aimed justice system . . . we’ll be in a better position in September.” at reforming local cannabis law. In February, the Michigan The Coalition for a Safer Lansing Supreme Court ruled that petition seeks to eliminate the legal penalties for possession, use dispensaries were not legal and or transfer of one ounce or less of violated the state’s public health cannabis for adults 21 years of age code. or older on private property. “It’s important for Lansing to take the lead on this issue,” Coalition spokesman Jeffrey Hank told The Daily Chronic. “Polls and surveys tell us the citizens support cannabis reform. The laws as currently written abrogate constitutional freedoms, waste taxpayer dollars and undermine a more healthy relationship 8 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
One researcher expressed doubts over the study, stating that the experiment lacked a control group of nonsmokers for comparison, among other factors. Men have a four-percent chance of developing bladder cancer in their lifetimes, with the odds being one in every 26 people.
Anti-cannabis NY Assemblyman Steve Katz cleared of marijuana possession charge
New York Assemblyman Steve Katz—who serves on his state’s Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee and has voted against medical cannabis, has been cleared of all pot charges after agreeing to 20 hours of community service, according to The Journal News. Katz was found in possession of three and half grams of marijuana earlier this year after he was stopped by state police in southern Albany County. The lawmaker was ticketed for American Urological unlawful possession and allowed Association: Frequent cannabis use linked to lower to drive away. In a mailer to his
risk of bladder cancer
The American Urological Association found a strong link between frequent marijuana use and a lower risk of bladder cancer, reports USA Today. This conclusion comes at the end of an 11-year study. Researchers compared the cancer risk in more than 83,000 men who smoked cigarettes only, cannabis only—or both. Those that only smoked cannabis were least likely to develop bladder cancer.
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constituents, Katz talked about how “our community has been stricken with an increase in drug use and drunk driving by our youngest citizens,” according to the New York Daily News. He has also criticized his community’s “struggle against illegal drug culture and the abuse of narcotics.” Katz has yet to reveal why he had cannabis in his possession to begin with.
THE WORLD Columbia city officials turn to potent strain to battle homeless’ drug addiction
Colombia’s capital city is going to new, progressive lengths to tackle Bogotá’s drug-addicted homeless population, according to The Miami Herald. Many of the city’s poor and destitute are addicted to bazuco, a cocaine derivative that is just as addictive as heroin. Bogotá’s plan? Replace the bazuco with a potent
strain of cannabis. The cannabis is being supplied by a company called Cannamedic, which is run by former bazuco addict Camilo Borrero. The strain is carefully selected for its powerful psychoactive effects (or “high”) to help bazuco addicts deal with the symptoms of withdrawal and transfer their addiction to a benign plant. Bogotá’s homeless population is estimated to be about 9,500, and approximately 79 percent of it is addicted to bazuco.
by the numbers
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The current number of licensed grow facilities in Ypsilanti: 1 (Source: The Ypsilanti Courier). A low estimate of the number of growing businesses that currently produce cannabis for legal purposes: 2,000 (Source: The Wall Street Journal).
The approximate percentage of New Mexico MMJ patients who use medical cannabis to treat PTSD: 40 (Source: New Mexico Department of Health).
The amount of money (in millions of dollars) that Michigan spends each year arresting and imprisoning cannabis offenders: 300 (Source: Lansing State Journal).
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The percentage of young Christians who support legalizing cannabis: 50 (Source: U.S. News & World Report)
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The maximum number of people who may sit on Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Review Panel: 15 (The Compassion Chronicles).
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The current number of licensed compassion centers in Ypsilanti: 6 (Source: The Ypsilanti Courier).
The approximate number of MMJ patients in New Mexico who registered for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): 3,600 (Source: New Mexico Department of Health).
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The length of time (in years) that the City of Davidson’s current moratorium on medical cannabis is expected to last: 1 (Source: mlive.com).
The number of MMJ patients in New Mexico: 9,090 (Source: New Mexico Department of Health).
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A high estimate of the number of growing businesses that currently produce cannabis for legal purposes: 4,000 (Source: The Wall Street Journal).
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The estimated amount (in billions of dollars) of sales that legal cannabis growing businesses generated last year: 1.3 (Source: National Cannabis Industry Association).
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The percentage of Christians who say smoking cannabis is not a sin: 70 (Source: U.S. News & World Report).
Pitbull Mr. Worldwide is heading to Michigan! Pitbull is hands down one of the best guilty pleasures of modern music. There’s no denying that the man has rhythm, he can hold his pace with the best of them. His rhymes, however . . . okay, he rhymed “billions” with “brilliant,” and that was a rare moment when he didn’t rhyme a word with itself. Nevertheless, he has enthusiasm and charisma aplenty, enough to get you on his level of fun and excitement. There’s a lot of fun in being a guilty pleasure, and that might be the reason he teamed up with like-minded musician Ke$ha for this tour. Yep, it’s Mr. Worldwide and the self-proclaimed Queen of Glitter performing together onstage. Auburn Hills is about to have a night they’ll never forget, accompanied with a serious musical hangover for the next morning. Regardless of what happens then though, you’ll just want to feel this moment.
IF YOU GO
What: Pitbull in concert. When/Where: June 7 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills Info: $40-$111. 7:30pm. Go to www.palacenet.com or call (248) 377-0100.
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FLASH
Waiting To
Inhale Efforts to get PTSD qualified as an approved medical condition is thwarted big time Just as hopeful MMJ patients and advocates were waiting final word from the state regarding it’s acceptance or denial of two new acceptable medical conditions—one being Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—for its medical marihuana program, Michigan announced it is denying all petitions—and dissolving the panel—because they didn’t follow state law, citing an improper quorum. In other words, Michigan state officials are dissolving the panel they themselves assembled, because they it doesn’t comply with Michigan law. In a letter dated April 29 that was sent to members of the now-dissolved Review Panel, the director of the Bureau of Health Care Services wrote: “After a careful review of the Medical Marihuana Act and administrative rules promulgated pursuant to the Act, the make-up of the current Medical Marihuana Review Panel did not meet the administrative rule requirements. [State law] requires the review panel to include not more than 15 members and must include the Michigan chief medical executive and seven members of the Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management. These seven members must include four licensed physicians and three non-physicians. Additionally, a majority of the panel members must be licensed physicians. As a result, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will be appointing a new panel that complies with the law. No further meetings of the review panel will be held until the new panel is appointed.” Letters dated May 9 from the director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs were sent to petitioners who requested Post Traumatic Stress Disorder be added to the conditions list, stating, “For the reason that a quorum of the review panel did not concur in the recommendation, the petition to add PTSD to the list of debilitating conditions is denied.” Jennie Vogel, who works in the communications department for the State of Michigan, told CULTURE that the new panel will convene in the next two to six weeks. She said Gov. Rick Snyder has issued executive orders significantly restructuring the organization of health care regulation and other state regulatory activities in Michigan, and, “this should streamline processes and do away with a lot of bureaucracy. The thought is that it will greatly improve licensing and regulatory functions.” She was unsure of all specifics regarding how the panel did not meet the mandated requirements, but did note the Chief Medical Officer was excluded from the panel, most likely be-
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cause the position was vacant for some time. Jamie Lowell, the vice chair for the Michigan chapter of Americans For Safe Access, expressed disappointment about the state’s actions and concern for patients. “The dissolution of the conditions panel is disturbing,” he wrote in an email. “Particularly since they had already held hearings, had recommendations ready for the department and more hearings were scheduled. “Whether or not this amounts to a technical error or sabotage, as some suggest, patients with serious conditions, who could benefit from cannabis use, will have to wait much longer to participate in this process which has yet to function properly.” Lowell also said the process by which patients petition the state for additional conditions was mandated to be in place by 2009, but didn’t convene until 2012. “We hope that the department is working to remedy this problem and that the new panel will act with the same resolve and efficiently work to make determinations on new conditions.” c
The Right Conditions
{By Charmie Gholson}
While some patients can expect to wait for weeks—if not longer—waiting for state officials to begin considering new qualifying medical conditions, some won’t have to wait. Here are some of the conditions already approved by the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, severe or chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
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strain & edible reviews
MedHead Cinni-BD’s Medicated Spice Drops These ruby red, cinnamon gummy squares are sugar coated (like so many of our favorite flowers) and packaged in a lovely little metal tin. By now I’m an expert in medibles, so mark my words when I say MedHead’s Cinni-BD’s Medicated Spice Drops go down easy—they’re delicious—and are perfect for chronic pain. This was my first experience with a high CBD medicine, and all I have to say is, “Where have you been all my life?” With a 2:1, CBD:THC ratio, they’re especially appropriate for patients who don’t want a strong cannabis flavor or too much THC. I was stunned when I ate the Spice Drops—available at compassion centers across Michigan—because there is little to no euphoria or “high” effect, and VERY effective pain control. They’re also gluten-free, and cinnamon flavored.
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Corleone This popcorn-dry little nug smells just like a barnyard. Haven’t experienced that one before. Corleone’s got an impressive, heavy coating of sugary crystals throughout the entire, dark green flower, though. At 40 percent indica, 60 percent sativa, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this strain, available at We Grow in Flint. I’m fighting off a sore throat, so I sampled this strain through a water pipe. Very clean draw with no barnyard taste, just a slightly citrus, piney taste that doesn’t linger. The immediate effect is a clear, uplifting and energizing boost. I’d use this for mornings, absolutely. After 15 minutes and two more hits, my body started to relax and settle down a bit. In addition to working on arthritis, migraines and chronic pain, Corleone increased appetite and eased my anger issues. I was able to “leave the gun and take the cannoli.”
The White Everything about this strain is powerful. I wonder if the ridiculously dense trichomes on this light green flower is how The White (exclusively available at Shake and Bake in Detroit) earned her name, because white she is—even with numerous orange pistils pushing through. It’s just gorgeous. The initial scent is pungent, lemon pine and Kush-like. Squeezing the nugs (80/20, indica/sativa) offers more earthy aromas and a slight sweetness, too. I rolled this in paper and smoked it from a glass pipe. The smoke is so soft, soothing actually, and just one hit lasts for over an hour. The sleep aid components as well as the muscular and neurological pain relief are extraordinary, plus this strain’s on the psychoactive side. Not good for daytime, unless it’s OK to park on the couch, pain free and happy. Good for arthritis, MS, anxiety, migraines, insomnia, PMS and chronic pain.
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Say What?
legal corner By Denise Pollicella, Esq.
Zoned Out
Whenever a client tells me they want to grow marihuana, my first question is always, “What city?” One of the unfortunate consequences of a state regulatory vacuum is that it leaves our approximately 1,850 municipalities to their own devices, which has resulted in approximately 1,850 different zoning ordinances. They run the gamut from stubborn reliance on antiquated 1970s policy to blanket prohibitions based on federal law to verbose, overbroad tripe full of the city attorney’s apocalyptic Drug War rantings. The most troubling part is that not only do many, many of these ordinances violate the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA), but they place blatant restrictions on our constitutional liberties. Zoning restrictions are an old trick used by local governments to keep unsavory activities out of their pristine communities. Think adult book store. I keep a collection of my favorite marihuana ordinances in my office, but I’ll share a sample of the most egregious offenders. One township adopted a rambling, preachy
ordinance prohibiting a caregiver from having more than one patient, requiring the patient to live with the caregiver, and prohibiting the caregiver from being compensated. Huh? Another township prohibits businesses from providing any assistance to medical marihuana patients, which to them means a non-profit cannot provide caregiver-patient matching services. Read strictly, it also prohibits a doctor from certifying a patient’s use of marihuana, and prohibits an attorney from counseling a client who is a patient. One township wrote me a letter forbidding me from giving a seminar because its ordinance prohibits any activities related to marihuana. Okay, so let’s say that again. Another township tried to stop me from freely speaking and its residents from freely assembling. Hello? First Amendment ring any bells? To which my client always responds, “But how can they do that?” with this adorable look of incredulousness and betrayal, like they still think their government plays by the rules. And the answer is: because nobody has stopped them yet. This is what happens when a state government refuses to lead. Our state’s feigned apprehension
“We’re spending taxpayers’ money on putting people away for something so harmless.” —Elijah Wood
of federal drug law has operated as its excuse for paralysis, allowing the Michigan countryside to become a patchwork of inequitable nonsense that traps its citizens instead of guides them. In their efforts, initially aimed at keeping out dispensaries and large commercial grow operations, they have way overstepped their bounds. That is not to say that a municipality cannot appropriately restrict growing and dispensing through zoning. The City of Warren, for example, prohibits cultivation on commercial property, but permits residential and industrial grows. Ferndale’s ordinance is reasonable and flexible, following the state law while creating neutral zoning restrictions. Fair enough. At which point my client almost always asks, “What can I do?” Above all, don’t underestimate your own efficacy. Educate yourself on your local zoning rules, and consult with a competent attorney if needed. Take your civic leaders to task and demand reasonable, neutral ordinances that comply with state law. Community by community, we can affect positive change. Happy growing. 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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Making jokes about a commanding officer in the military is an easy way to get your ass shipped off to someplace freezing. Just ask comedian Paul Rodriquez. “There is an Air Force program called Tops in Blue, and you get to do the USO circuit,” says Rodriquez, who received his conscription notice two months before President Nixon ended the draft. “I did a routine about my commanding officer, who was very highly decorated. He had a limp caused by ejecting out of I think an F-105. Well, I said his limp was sexy, that he had a smooth walk like Ricardo Montalban. Everybody at the Air Force Base laughed, but my next orders were to Keflavik, Iceland.” The Mexico-born, Compton-raised comedian avoided fighting in Vietnam by enlisting in the Air Force, and cold weather aside, he believes his six years of service changed his life. “Getting drafted gave me an opportunity to get out of Compton and travel, and it opened up my ambition to do something,” says Rodriguez, who also lived through the Watts riots as an adolescent. 22 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
Down With Brown “The military was a good experience that I don’t regret at all. Oddly enough, I have been to more war areas as a civilian than I ever did in the Air Force. I have been to Iraq and Afghanistan entertaining the troops. I remember when the USO would come entertain us. I saw Kool and the Gang in Keflavik, and it was appreciated. When I am asked to go, I make the time, and I go out there and do what I can.” Rodriguez, who headlined the 2002 Original Latin Kings of Comedy movie, is currently headlining venues in mostly warmer climates as of late. The Latin star is performing material from his new comedic routine: Fifty Shades of Brown. “Fifty Shades of Brown is just a moniker for the different kinds of Hispanics that are here,” he explains. “I do a routine about how easy it is to take for granted that someone is a Mexican and the surprise when they are not. We are becoming more and more Central American, and the funny [element] is in the customs, the Chicano light as I call it. It encompasses all the things in the media right now… the immigration policies, the amnesty, the anchor
babies, the whole thing. It’s just a view from my perspective of change, which is never easy. It’s all of us trying to get along on this small piece of real estate.” Regarding the literary allusion, he adds, “People recognize the spoof of 50 Shades of Grey, and I touch on that, too, [such as] the differences between how the rich enjoy their sexual proclivities. It is a family show. There are no F-bombs, no profanity. It is a show that I could take my mom. I have done about eight shows now in different places, and it is going good. I am trying to get enough material for a special on one of the networks, and I think it is good to go.”
The Lucky Juan Since his breakthrough appearance in 1983’s D.C. Cab, Rodriguez has been a regular presence on television, the movies and the comedy tour circuit. Over the years, the comedian claimed several “firsts” for Latino comics, even if the ventures were not always successful. Norman Lear, arguably the greatest sitcom producer in history, chose Rodriguez to lead the 1984 ABC series a.k.a. Paulo. Though short-lived, 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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the Smithsonian-enshrined series was the first about a MexicanAmerican family on a major U.S. network. A few years later, he became one of the first MexicanAmericans to host a major TV game show when he replaced Bob Eubanks on The Newlywed Game. On the big screen, Rodriguez appeared in nearly 50 movies, and he became one of the first MexicanAmericans to write, direct and star in his own U.S. feature film, 1994’s A Million to Juan. His cram-packed resume even includes an international Spanish-language talk show on Univision and part ownership of Hollywood’s famed Laugh Factory (of Michael Richards rant fame). Throughout his career, Rodriguez has also been an activist for several causes, including the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, League of United Latin American Citizens and The Leukemia Society, among several others. Most notably, he is a tireless advocate for water conservation, serving as Chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition and earning the Humanitarian of the Year award from the City of Fresno.
prevent something that there is really just no way to control. The only people who benefit are those who use it illegally, those who are benefiting from it. The people who would be most against it are the drug dealers, really. The prices go down, and crime associated with it is taken away from them.” “Marijuana is going to be here no matter how much legislation you pass. People are going to use it, they are going to grow it and some are going to abuse it. I am not an advocate, but I am not against it. I am against the hard drugs. Those things are just devastating.”
Sheer Entertainment Rodriguez also addresses another hot-button issue: immigration. The comedian continues, “I was at the Arnold Schwarzenegger conference this week where Senators [John] McCain and [Michael] Bennett spoke about immigra-
tion. Like I told them, you cannot pass a law in America and expect it to work when the other side of the border is not being patrolled. Mexico is broken. There is a river of money and guns going over there, and it has created tremendous hardship. What happens with money, it corrupts officials on both sides of the border. I watch Border Wars, and I find it ironic that American immigration officers named Gonzales, Garcia and Hernandez are stopping guys named Gonzales, Garcia and Hernandez from coming over. It is really a very difficult problem that neither the Democrats nor Republicans seem to want to face. What the solution is to that I don’t know.” Rodriguez, who recently called attention to kidney transplantation with the 2012 award-winning web series Fixing Paco, might use comedy to help a cause, but he avoids getting political in his
“Traditional Medicine” He also seems happy to express his views on various subjects, including medical cannabis. Asked if legalizing medical use was good or bad, Rodriquez implies it is the wrong question, saying, “It doesn’t really matter if we are for it or against it. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the government said, it is not a drug, it’s a plant. What people don’t understand about Native Americans and Mexican Americans is that marijuana was never looked upon as a drug. It was medicinal. My mom used to use it. She put it in a jar with alcohol and used it for her rheumatism. It has been part of traditional medicine for a long time.” “The problem I see with marijuana is that they really haven’t figured out how to control it, how to tax it,” Rodriguez adds. “As soon as they do that, it will be good. I think it is a gigantic waste of taxpayer dollars to try and
If you’re paying attention to the skating scene right now, you’re probably familiar with Paul Rodriguez. We’re not talking about the comedian, but his award-winning son. Paul Rodriguez III (a.k.a. P-Rod) started skating when he was 12 and got his first sponsor three years later. He went on to become the record holder for most wins in the Street category in the X Games with four gold medals, one silver and one bronze. He later went on to take first place at the Tampa Pro competition, Street League Skateboarding and the Battle of the Berrics, riding goofy in the third. He hasn’t stopped with working on the half-pipe either; he’s a noted entrepreneur with his own brand, retail store and a private training facility. With all of this going on in his life, he still has time to be a father to his young daughter and he’s only 28 years old. The man is dedicated and still has more to offer in years to come.
comic routines. “I am not a preachy guy [on stage],” he adds. “My shows are sheer entertainment.”
Staying Relevant Rodriguez can easily transition between his advocacy and entertainment because he has spent over three decades dividing his talents in productive ways. He is a multicultural, multi-generational star who has performed on stage and on television in both English and Spanish. The first Macintosh computer was not even on the market when he debuted in D.C. Cab, yet he has quickly transitioned into the digital age, which includes competing for search engine hits with his superstar skater son, Paul Rodriguez, Jr. The digital revolution can be difficult for veteran performers, but just like seeing the positives in getting drafted, the elder Rodriguez embraces the challenges of new technologies. “You used to have time to work on a five-minute bit for the Johnny Carson show,” he explains, “but now it is immediate. You are up on stage, and by the time you get home, it is up on the Internet. In a sense it is good because it forces you to think fresh, and it weeds out those who have [old] material. A comic [joke] is not like a song where it becomes your favorite the more you hear it. The first time you hear a joke, it’s funny, and the second time you might giggle, but the third time you wonder why it made you laugh. It all depends on the surprise on the punch line. For an older guy, it is a lot harder to stay hip and relevant and keep up with all the new languages and intricacies. In my case, I try to come up with material that suits my age. I try to explain grey hair, which is God’s way of saying you’re running out of ink.” Nevertheless, the comic whose work spans generations has shown he can reach them all. “My audience has grown with me,” he remarks. “I can look at an audience and tell they used to be the young ones that used to come. Now the baby boomers have bloomed, and they bring their kids to the shows. It really is so rewarding.” c
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destination unknown
Czech
A River Runs Through It Take a boat through western Cambodia to get the most Battambang for your buck We love Cambodia: friendly locals, tons of culture, a bit of grittiness and plenty of pretty sights to frame in the camera lens. There’s no arguing that a first visit to this beautiful country should include a trip to the famous Angkor temple complex in Siem Reap. However, when you tire of the giant crowds vying for the same, never-before-seen camera angle of heavily documented Angkor Wat, or the folks recreating their favorite frame from Mortal Kombat’s final fight scene, or the feeling of being followed by all those carved faces at Bayon Temple . . . go west, to Battambang. Battambang is Cambodia’s second largest city by population and home to well-preserved architecture from its French colonial past. It’s also a relatively short bus or car ride away from Siem Reap. But none of these contributed to our reason for visiting. We went because we heard we could get there by riverboat. The tranquil Sangkae River connects Siem Reap to Battambang. Every morning, between 7am-7:30am, an assortment of 26 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
roofed wooden boats—filled with tourists, locals and stuff—launch from the docks at nearby Chong Kneas. The boats wind their way through floating villages and around massive cantilever fishing nets, acting as both water taxi and sightseeing vessel. There’s a short stop at a floating convenience store for munchies or drinks, and then it’s off through more scenic water vegetation. From June to November, a.k.a. the wet season, this trip takes six hours. That’s the good version of the boat trip. The bad version happens outside of the wet season, when water levels drop and the boat captain must employ a long bamboo pole to push through formerly scenic water weeds. The bad version can stretch out over 12 agonizing hours, baking rooftop riders to a pungent crisp and threatening death by a thousand bored sighs. Toilet-free boats test bladder fortitude, forcing men to pee into their empty water bottles and women to curse their physiology. So, yeah, pay attention to the season or you’ll arrive at Battambang in a shriveled ball of rage.
By Dennis Argenzia and Edengrace Cayosa OK, now you’re in Battambang. What to do? Other than the boat ride, it’s the countryside sights that attract visitors. For transport, renting a bicycle is an option, but most people hire a motorcycle taxi driver, so as to avoid the state of “lost in a foreign country.” First is Wat Banan, a Buddhist temple ruin atop a 350+ stone-step staircase. With five mostly preserved “corncob” towers that were built in the 10th century, it is considered the “Mini Me” of Angkor Wat and is worth the burn in your quadriceps. From Wat Banan, you can see your next location: Phnom Sampeau, or the killing caves. Unfortunately, you cannot separate Cambodian culture from its bloody history; the genocidal Khmer Rouge communist party attempted to eliminate all forms of art or higher learning, and facilitated the deaths of over 2 million Cambodians through execution, torture or starvation. At Phnom Sampeau, thousands of Cambodians were slaughtered by being thrown through the cave skylights, and a shrine housing some of the victims’ skulls is a grim reminder of this horrific past. Understandably, after a visit to Phnom Sampeau, you might opt for something uplifting. If bats put a smile on your face, there’s Wat Baydamram, a Buddhist temple hangout for thousands of fruit bats. For those seeking inner peace, the Battambang Vipassana Centre offers silent meditation for 10(!) days. For the curious, there’s a ride on the infamous bamboo train: basically, the “train” is the equivalent of a bamboo daybed on old tank axles, powered by someone’s scooter motor. There’s just one pair of colonial-era tracks, so when two trains meet head-on, the daybed with the fewest riders has to give way by being disassembled and taken off the tracks. Fun! But for genuine soul sunshine, go to the circus presented by Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS). According to its website (www. phareps.org), the PPS “is a cultural organization . . . that offers young people a way out of poverty by training them to become professional artists and performers.” If bats, meditation, trains and rehabilitated youth don’t do the trick, there’s the “Smokin’ Pot” cafe, where you can get some soothing, cannabis-infused eats. In addition, you can always turn to your moto driver or hotel owner, who would be more than happy to sell you green to end your day. c V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
profiles in courage Patient: Sue Taylor
AGE: 65
Condition/ Illness:
Lower back pain; bulging disc 4 & 5
Using medical cannabis since:
Photo by Amanda Holguin
2010
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 because I believe in alternative natural medicines as opposed to chemically-based drugs. I am deeply disappointed with the pharmaceutical approach to healthcare that focuses on managing symptoms as opposed to wellness of the complete person. Leaving the Vicodin and other harmful drugs behind, I was introduced to cannabis. I am not a smoker and had never used cannabis. I was opposed to it because of my experience with Reefer Madness and the stigma of cannabis. I was excited that cannabis provided an alternative to pharmaceuticals, and even more excited because you didn’t have to smoke it. I use CBD-rich tinctures and topicals, and [an] occasional edible for pain, as needed. I also incorporated yoga and other activities, for a total holistic approach to healthcare. Cannabis is a natural medicine that allows me to live the invigorating inspiring life I desired as I age.
Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis?
Unfortunately, the only methods that were pushed upon me for treatment [were] pills and more pills . . . Something inside of me knew that approach wasn’t going to work and, more importantly, my body wasn’t responding to the pills.
What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine?
When I am doing a presentation about medical cannabis, there are always people who are dis-believers . . . My approach is “Cannabis is not for everyone.” I give information, you determine if it’s for you. If you are happy with your life and your health, so be it. I provide information on the many benefits from cannabis such as [it] relieves pain, insomnia, anxiety, skin conditions and much more. I share the many stories of people moving from death to life, because of the cannabis . . . healing truth is hard to ignore. c
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cool stuff DabR If reliability, durability and versatility are the hallmarks of tomorrow’s portable vaporizers, than DabR has the market cornered today. Capable of vaporizing everything—herbs, flowers, oils, waxes—this pen vape is truly a four-in-one accessory that handles any patients’ needs under all circumstances. Flowers or extracts—DabR goes above and beyond. ($99.95) www.dabrusa.com
Luminair Tree Tents You like tree houses? Well we like Tree Tents! These things are Star Wars quality. Not for weekend warriors, these Tree Tents can be installed as a semi-permanent structures almost anywhere. These tents are lightweight, low impact, durable and really cool. (Prices start from $10,000) www.luminair.co.uk
Mutewatch Svart When Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak bought a Mutewatch, he called it “a masterpiece.” We couldn’t agree more. With its hidden touchscreen (yes, I said “touchscreen”) all of your clock, alarm and timer functions are just a swipe away. And it’s got a vibrate alert! ($299) mutewatch.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: Summertime . . . and the living’s easy. What better way to celebrate the warmest part of the calendar than a refreshing assortment of drinks, cocktails and other beverages destined to chase away the heat . . . bring on the good times. Let the fun start flowing.
By Aunt Sandy
Mint Julep Orangeade Dirty Bong Water Watermelon Sunset
D rin k m e!!!
MINT JULEP WATERMELON SUNSET
3 shots of Infused Bourbon* 1 tablespoon Infused Simple Syrup** Crushed ice Leaves from one fresh mint sprig plus an extra for garnish Put the mint leaves and Infused Simple Syrup into a small chilled glass and mash with a muddler or a teaspoon. Add ice and stir before adding the bourbon. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Hig h s p irit s
1 watermelon, halved and seeded 1/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup Infused Simple Syrup** 1 teaspoon lime juice Watermelon slice for garnish
DIRTY BONG WATER 1 oz. Chambord raspberry liquor 1 oz. Infused Coconut Rum* 1/2 oz. Blue Curaçao 1 oz. sweet and sour mix 1 oz. pineapple juice Ice
Scoop the melon flesh into a blender and add the Infused Simple Syrup, orange juice and lime juice. Blend until smooth and pour into a chilled glass. Garnish with the slice.
ORANGEADE 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 1 cup Infused Simple Syrup** 1 cup water 1 orange, sliced 1 lemon, sliced Fill a pitcher halfway with ice. Stir in the fruit juices, Infused Simple Syrup and water until combined. Add the orange and lemon slices to the pitcher. 30 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
Infused Liquor*
Cannabis Simple Syrup**
Liquor of your choice (rum, bourbon, vodka, etc.) ½ ounce of cannabis buds
1/2 oz cannabis buds 1 cup sugar 1 cup water
Add the cannabis to a glass quart jar and fill with your choice of liquor. Place jar in a cool, dry place, shaking every day. Do this for about four weeks. Strain well and keep jar in a cool, dry place.
In a saucepan, sauté the buds in sugar and water over medium heat for 20 minutes. Strain the buds. Pour the remaining greencolored syrup into a glass container. Let it cool and refrigerate. Pour over fruit or fruit salad and let the syrup fully absorb.
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.
Mix well and serve in small chilled glass over ice
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Shooting Gallery GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Detroit’s Global Marijuana Freedom March (Photos by Rick Thompson)
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entertainment reviews Sigur Ros Kveikur XL Recordings A little over a year since their last release, Iclandic trio Sigur Rós return with its seventh full-length studio release (eighth if you include the soundtrack to the Icelandic documentary Hlemmur), Kveikur. As one might expect, Kveikur is chock full of the beautiful post-rock soundscapes that Sigur Rós has built its reputation on. However, whereas previous albums were known for their ethereal qualities and minimalism, this new record can grow quite intense at times with heavier sonic qualities and even more expansive and enveloping production. Weaving together songs that seem to float as freely as a flock of birds amongst the clouds, and with tunes that blend massive, loaded textures that blanket you like a ferocious winter blizzard, Sigur Rós delivers another substantial record with Kveikur. Long time listeners as well as new comers to the band will delight in the still-dreamy and gorgeous voice and bowed guitar playing by Jón Pór Birgisson, all the while being blown back by the incredible atmospheric rhythm work of bassist Georg Hólm and drummer Orri Páll Dyrason. With nearly 20 years as a band to its credit, Kveikur further exemplifies why Sigur Rós is considered not just one of the best post-rock acts, but one of the greatest international music acts around today. (Simon Weedn)
California NORML Guide to Drug Testing By Dale Gieringer Regent Press Printers & Publishers Dale Gieringer has a political bone to pick with his short new book, California NORML Guide to Drug Testing. Right from the start, the reader knows exactly where Gieringer stands on drug testing. “One of the most insidious intrusions on Americans’ personal privacy and freedom in recent years has been the increasingly pervasive practice of urine testing,” he writes. No matter what your opinion of drug testing may be, however, Gieringer makes a persuasive case to support his opinions, complete with evidential studies to show that—even with the best intentions—today’s most common drug testing techniques fail to “measure fitness or impairment,” as Gieringer states it, “but rather the presence of certain drug residues that may have no deleterious effect at all.” Gieringer is convinced urinalysis—the most common drug testing technique—can’t detect THC. Therefore, Gieringer believes these tests, whether at the workplace or for drivers, may only catch chronic users or those that have used marijuana in the past week or so, instead of just the ones that used right before (or while) driving/working, making them clearly impaired. Gieringer begs the question: What, if any, is the value of a drug test that fails the test? (Dan MacIntosh)
Identity Thief Universal Pictures Dir. Seth Gordon Director Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses, The King of Kong) brings us a slightly twisted take on the buddy comedy genre for his fourth directorial effort, Identity Thief. Starring Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Extract, Horrible Bosses) as the victim, and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, Mike and Molly) as the crook, Identity Thief follows the wild and sometimes convoluted cross country excursion Bateman’s character, Sandy Patterson, must undertake to personally apprehend McCarthy—who plays the titular role—to restore his reputation. While the story can be a bit busy at times, especially with the inclusion of several unnecessary characters and plot lines, the movie makes up for it with the stunning comedic timing and delivery of Bateman and McCarthy. The film’s high points are a series of seemingly off-the-cuff exchanges between Bateman, McCarthy and supporting characters, Tony the Motel Desk Clerk, played by McCarthy’s real life husband Ben Falcone, and dive bar patron Big Chuck, played by Eric Stonestreet. Although, Identity Thief has faults, it delivers more than a few laughs with a nice sized helping of sweetness and humility. All in all, a great flick to throw on for a nice quiet evening in, either by yourself, or with a special someone. (Simon Weedn) 34 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
What Can You Do? with Brenda Hutchinson Brenda Hutchinson is a composer and sound artist whose work is based on the cultivation of openness in her own life and in those she works with, encouraging participants to experiment with sound, share stories and make music. Join Hutchinson as she shares her work through both an artist talk and a special in-house What Can You Do? event. Hutchinson encourages her participants to experiment with sound, share stories and make music. She often bases her electro-acoustic compositions on recordings of these individual collaborative experiences, creating “sonic portraits” or “aural pictures” of people and situations. In addition to her ethnographic pieces, Hutchinson has composed for film (Liquid Sky, 1982, cocomposed with Clive Smith), invented instruments (Giant Music Box, Long Tube, and gestural interface for the Long Tube) and is active as a performer/ improviser. What Can You Do? is her ongoing, socially engaged project in which she builds teams to learn from and share skills with unwitting passersby and MOCAD visitors alike. IF YOU GO What: What Can You Do? artist talk and event. When/Where: June 20, at Museum of Contemporary Art, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Free. Visit www.mocadetroit.org.
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Let’s Do This Our picks for the coolest things to do around town The Lumineers
June 6 If you’ve been rocking out to The Lumineers’“Ho Hey” since last year, now’s the time to check out your favorite new folk-rock act that’s been around since 2005. While the band’s debut album was certified gold in the U.S. and the UK, The Lumineers is far from letting success go to its mandolin. DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston www.palacenet.com
41st Annual International Glass Invitational & Expose’
June 7-9 While a glass exhibit may excite the average medical cannabis patient, we want to warn you that these devices aren’t something you’d want to try and smoke out of. Glass works including vintage bowls, sculptures and vases are available for viewing and purchasing at the glass invitational and expose. This event has been around for 41 years, so you know it’s going to be awesome. Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak www.habatat.com
Orion Music Festival
June 8-9 Metallica. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Deftones. Bassnectar. Dropkick Murphys. Gogol Bordello. Why are you still reading this? Buy your tickets! Still here? Let’s try this again: Metallica. Red Hot Chili Peppers . . . Belle Island, Detroit www.orionmusicandmore.com
“Buddhist Thangkas and Treasures”
Thru June 9 Come witness art that is truly divine—Buddhist thangkas. These are bright and beautiful religious images painted on simple cloth or silk that can be used for ceremonies, rituals or teaching purposes. Often depicting images of deities or mandalas, don’t miss your chance to view these sacred textiles. Museum of Anthropology, Ann Arbor www.umma.umich.edu
Motor City Muse: Detroit Photographers
Thru June 16 Photography has the power to give clear insight into the changes that people, places and things go through over time. This exhibit highlights our beautiful city with over 100 photographs taken over the last 70 years. Come see the many changes to our architecture, auto industry and landscapes that makes Detroit the city we know and love. Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit www.dia.org 36 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
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Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY— CHARMING
; The beauty pageant each April at the Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, requires traditional skills like interview poise, evening-gown fashion and talent, but also some ability and inclination to milk and skin rattlers. High school senior Kyndra Vaught won this year’s Miss Snake Charmer, wearing jeweled boots one night for her country-western ballad, then Kevlar boots and camouflage chaps the next as she took on dozens of rattlers in the wooden snake pit. Vaught expertly held up one serpent, offered its tail-end rattles for a baby to touch, then helped hold, measure, milk and skin a buzzing, slithery serpent. A Los Angeles Times dispatch noted that Vaught hoped to be on her way soon to the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
THE CONTINUING CRISIS
; That there are flea “circuses” is bizarre enough, but in March a cold spell in Germany wiped out an entire troupe of “performing” fleas, requiring the flea whisperer to secure replacements (because, of course, the show must go on). Trainer Robert Birk reached out to a university near MechernichKommern for 50 substitutes, which he apparently worked into the act over one weekend. (Fleas, with or without training, can pull up to 160,000 times their own weight and leap to 100 times their own height.) ; The owner of a restaurant in southern Sweden told authorities in March that the former owner had assured him that “everything had been approved,” apparently including the appliance the
restaurant used for mixing salad dressings and sauces—which was a table-model cement mixer. When health officials told the owner that it certainly was not “approved,” he immediately bought another, “rust-free,” mixer. (Health authorities had come to the restaurant on a complaint that a screw had turned up in a customer’s kabob.)
MODERN ANGLERS
; Chad Pregracke, 38, a Mississippi River legend, spends nine months a year hauling heavy-duty litter out of waterways with his crew of 12. He told CNN in March that he has yanked up 218 washing machines, 19 tractors, four pianos and nearly 1,000 refrigerators—totaling over 3,500 tons of trash—and has collected the world’s largest array of bottles with messages inside (63).
burst into the office, angry at her son for getting into trouble, she saw a pouting boy with his head down and slapped him, thinking he was hers. He wasn’t. (After apologizing, she then managed to locate her son and promptly slapped him around).
ing the Bassmaster Classic, local officials in Tulsa, Okla., announced in April that they were considering preparing a bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. (The Winter Games sometimes get awarded to small venues, but never the Summer Games.)
; When Evan Ebel was killed in a roadside shootout in March, it was clear that he was the man who had days earlier gunned down the head of the Colorado prison system (and his wife) at the front door of their home and then fled (and killed another man while on the lam). Ebel should not even have been free at the time, having been accidentally released from prison in January only because a judge’s assistant had mistakenly marked Ebel’s multiple prison terms to be served “concurrently” instead of one following the other (“consecutively”). (The supervising judge “extend(ed) condolences” to the families of Ebel’s victims.)
; The Discovery Channel announced a new survival show to debut this summer, Naked and Afraid, dropping off a man and a woman (strangers), without tools or clothes, to fend for themselves on an isolated Maldives island. Among the previews: Ms. Kellie Nightlinger, 38, a self-described “ultimate survivalist,” finally thought after two weeks of nearly starving that she could attract fish close enough to be snatched up (as a New York Daily News reporter put it) “us(ing) her ladyparts as bait to catch fish between her legs.” Said a Discovery Channel executive: “Survival shows are so common now that it’s gotten more and more difficult to convince the audience that what they’re watching is something extreme.”
BRIGHT IDEAS
; Apparently feeling feisty after a successful stint in February host-
; Eliel Santos fishes the grates of New York City seven days a week, reeling in enough bounty to sustain him for the last eight years, he told the New York Post in April. The “fishing line” Santos, 38, uses is dental floss, with electrician’s tape and Blue-Touch mouse glue— equipment that “he controls with the precision of an archer,” the Post reported. His biggest catch ever was a $1,800 (pawned value) gold and diamond bracelet, but the most popular current items are iPhones, which texting-onthe-move pedestrians apparently have trouble hanging onto.
OOPS!
; Tyshekka Collier, 36, was arrested in Spartanburg, S.C., in March after she had rushed to her son’s elementary school after a call that he was suspended. As she JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 37
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