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departments
Top Notch
Slightly Stoopid is on top of the world! ON THE COVER: Photo by Jeff Farsai
features
10 A Closer Look
U of M researchers set out to study our medicine for two years. Finally!
12 Breaking the Mold
Why going with lab-tested MMJ is the best way to go.
6
Letter from the Editor The Greeks were right about a lot of things.
8
Cool Stuff From The Body Shop Hemp Hand Oil Treatment to California’s Finest Premium Grade Marijuana Cigarettes, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it.
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Recipes Time to celebrate Kate Middleton’s new poppet! Who’s hungry for some traditional Brit vittles?
Concentrates Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains & concentrates currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary.
News Nuggets Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere— and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers.
Destination Unknown Siquijor in the Philippines offers visitors a taste of magical moments.
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27 Profiles in Courage
Legal Corner Michigan courts strike a blow for edibles, as attorney Denise Pollicella explains.
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18 Strain &
Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you.
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34 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture.
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Heavy Hitters Lord Dying’s mission: making music to bang your head to.
Photo by MichaelL Wientrob
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AUGUST 2013 • CULTURE 5
letter from the editor
Vol 5 IssUE 2
nandez er H . C Roberto hief C Editor-In-
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Managing Editor Evan Senn
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Ashley Bennett, Jake Browne, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Carolina Duque, Charmie Gholson, Michael Gifford, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Dan MacIntosh, Meital Manzuri, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen, Simon Weedn
State of
Flux
Photographers
Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, Michael Gifford, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Rick Thompson
Interns
Dulce Balandran, Kim Johnson, Derek Obregon
Art Director
E
veryone talks about change and how much it’s part of life. Bob Dylan sang about how “the times they are a-changin‘” back in 1964. In 1972, Black Sabbath proclaimed, “I’m going through changes” in the (appropriately titled) track “Changes.” And that same year, the chameleonic David Bowie drove the point home when he crooned, “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.” The idea of change is hardly new. But before these icons of music proclaimed the nature of constant transformation, Greek philosophers led the earliest call-to-arms about the inevitability of change. If you’ve ever heard anyone say, “The only constant in the universe is change,” you can thank Greek philosopher Heraclitus for inspiring that gem. Famous for the saying, “No man ever stands in the same river twice,” Heraclitus of Ephesus (530-470BCE) challenged us with the notion that everything in nature is in a state of constant flux. Everything is shifting, changing and turning into something new. So, the only constant is change . . . and CULTURE is no different. Every publication must change from time to time if it wants to be successful. We’re all about change and new things—have been since Day 1. This magazine started out as a modest publication covering one MMJ state. Currently, we circulate in four different states, six major metro markets. Change. In the early days, we cut our editorial teeth interviewing the usual suspects for our cover
Steven Myrdahl
Graphic Designers
Vidal Diaz, Tommy LaFleur
Director of Sales & Marketing Jim Saunders
Regional Manager John Parker
Office Manager Iris Norsworthy
Office Assistant Jamie Solis
stories (Cheech & Chong, Kottonmouth Kings, Cypress Hill, et al.). Now these were great stories, but nowadays more mainstream legends and icons like Melissa Etheridge, Lily Tomlin, Roseanne Barr, Tegan & Sara and Henry Rollins show us love. Change. Four years ago, our publisher founded CULTURE on the basic idea of better informing (and entertaining) patients. Now, we’re the No. 1 (!) medical cannabis lifestyle publication in the world. Change. For those of you who have been following CULTURE for years, your favorite magazine is on the cusp of many great changes. Now, I’ve gotta keep the details under wraps . . . but those of you who read your favorite magazines on your tablet or keep up with the latest MMJ trends on your smartphone, CULTURE’s got some amazing stuff in store. The times they are definitely a-changin‘. Enjoy this issue! c
Social Media Manager Evan Senn
Account Executives
Jon Bookatz, Gene Gorelik, Justin Marsh, Beau Odom, Paulina Porter-Tapia, Dave Ruiz, Kim Cook, April Tygart
IT Manager
Serg Muratov
Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes 25,000 papers at over 500 locations throughout Michigan. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark of Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. 700 S. Main St. | #119-124 Lapeer | Michigan | 48446 Phone 888.694.2046 | Fax 951.284.2596 www.iREADCULTURE.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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THE STATE $2 bills used to raise awareness of MMJ’s economic clout Various Michigan medical cannabis and legalization groups recently launched a threeweek campaign using $2 bills to promote the industry as an economic force to be reckoned with, the Detroit Free Press reports. They are encouraging supporters to spend at least one $2 bill for every cash purchase they make in an effort to raise awareness. Once the $2 bills begin surfacing, people “will also realize, if you arrest us, you’re taking that same money out of circulation, and you’re spending tax dollars to put us in jail,” Steven Greene, who hosts a weekly talk show on medical marijuana and other issues, told the Free Press.
MMJ patient and caregiver and had all paperwork on hand that confirmed his status Despite this, he was found guilty of possession and sent to jail. Chambers appealed the conviction, but an appeals court eventually determined that leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant— not edibles containing cannabis— were considered “usable” parts of the plant under the MMMA. All hope is not lost. The appeals court has sent the case back to trial to determine if Chambers conviction should be dismissed. At the time that he was convicted, a provision of the law that allows possession of marijuana in any amount “reasonably necessary to ensure the uninterrupted availability of marihuana for the purpose of treating or alleviating the patient’s serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms” was not in place.
THE NATION
newspaper reported. In New Jersey, children with serious conditions and diseases can legally use cannabis, but current regulations make it very difficult for them to obtain it. A proposed bill that would address these regulatory issues passed the legislature last month and is currently awaiting Christie’s signature. He has until this month to act on it. In the past, The Inquirer reports, the governor has said he is “not inclined” to allow children to utilize cannabis. Two Scotch Plains parents, Meghan and Brian Wilson, have a toddler-age daughter named Vivian who was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome, a rare type of epilepsy often characterized by very violent, long-lasting seizures. The couple, who had been using prescribed pharmaceuticals such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines to stop the seizures, ended up turning to cannabis to treat their girl. Parents from other states, such as California and Colorado, have
reported using medical cannabis for young children in similar predicaments, often in the form of an edible or non-psychoactive tincture or extract. The Wilsons’ daughter has an MMJ card, but there is only one dispensary in the state, and it is not allowed to offer edibles, a form that could have been used to treat the girl. The Wilsons started a campaign, Letters for Vivian, and a website that generates a fax for each person that supports their cause.
Arizona Supreme Court: Cops must return patients’ confiscated meds If you’re an MMJ patient in Arizona and your meds were taken by police—you are entitled to get your meds back, according to a recent state Supreme Court ruling, the Arizona Daily Sun reports. The case stems from the arrest two years ago of a medical cannabis patient from California, Valerie Okun, who was arrested near Yuma by Border Patrol. Although charges were dropped and Okun was never prosecuted (Arizona MMJ law recognizes medical cannabis patients from other states), officers refused to return her medicine, citing its federal status as an illegal drug. An earlier Court of Appeals ruling concluded that Okun had the legal right under Arizona law to possess cannabis Justices for the Arizona
Appeals Court: Edibles are not considered New Jersey parents urge NJ Gov. Chris Christie to ease up safe access “usable” and are illegal Proponents of medical cannabis A recent Michigan Court of Appeals ruling suggests that edibles are not a “usable” form of the plant and, thus, not considered a legal form of cannabis under the state’s current MMJ law, mlive.com reports. However, patients who have or use food items infused with cannabis should still be OK under another section of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA). The controversial decision is connected with a case that started when Earl Chambers was arrested in 2011 during a traffic stop for having cannabis, infused brownies and other related items. Chambers was an 8 CULTURE • AUGUST 2013
are flooding New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s fax machine, urging him to sign a bill that would make it easier for children to access MMJ, The Inquirer reports. Over a threeweek period, the governor’s office received about 1,500 faxes, the
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
Supreme Court rejected prosecutors’ claims that cannabis is strictly regulated by Washington. But Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot told reporters that he’s still not ready to hand over the cannabis and wants to make a Supreme Court case out of it.
THE WORLD
the government would be increasing the number of doctors who are certified to prescribe cannabis. The plan is used to treat, among other conditions, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Tourette syndrome and PTSD. Some patients have also turned to cannabis to treat the PTSD-like symptoms of Holocaust survival and losing loved ones. “What saved me here was the cannabis,” Moshe Rute told Tablet, when describing how hiding from the Nazis in his native France—and the death of his wife—haunted him.
Israel $40-million medicinal cannabis industry is thriving Medical cannabis is flourishing in the Holy Land. Despite the fact that in the U.S. cannabis has been approved for medical use in 18 states (plus Washington, D.C.), federal opposition and obstruction remain a factor. Not so in Israel, according to Tablet Magazine, a Jewish online publication. In this country, a $40-million-per-year industry is prosperous. Although it is illegal for recreational use, medical cannabis is provided to roughly 11,000 Israeli patients, according to the country’s Health Ministry. In May, Health Minister Yael German announced that
FIREPOWER
by the numbers
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The estimated annual value (in millions of dollars) of Israel’s medical cannabis industry: 40 (Source: Tablet Magazine).
7 1
The age of a South Haven area pharmacist who lost his professional license because he was growing cannabis to treat his glaucoma. 71 (Source: MLive.com).
The number of Israelis who were prescribed MMJ in 2009: 1,800 (Source: Israeli Health Ministry).
3
The estimated amount of money (in millions of dollars) that Michigan’s cannabis users spend each year on the plant: 945 (Source: Detroit Free Press).
5
The amount of tax revenue (in millions, 2008 dollars) that Michigan would generate from taxing and regulating cannabis: 96 (Source: Harvard University).
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The amount of cannabis, in pounds, that Israel distributes per month: 880 (Source: Israeli Health Ministry).
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The amount of cannabis, in pounds, that The Netherlands distributes per month: 330 (Source: Israeli Health Ministry).
The percentage of respondents (many were parents) who support medical cannabis legalization: 70 (Source: The Partnership at Drugfree.org).
2
4
In American dollars, the equivalent amount to 370 shekels: 103 (Source: CoinMill.com).
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The number of plants the pharmacist was growing: 15 (Source: MLive.com).
The amount (percentage) of Michigan’s total population compared to the entire country’s population: 3+ (Source: Marijuana Policy Project).
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The number of dispensaries currently in operation in New Jersey: 1 (Source: The Inquirer).
8
The number of Israelis who are prescribed MMJ today: 11,000 (Source: Israeli Health Ministry).
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The amount (in shekels) that Israeli MMJ patients pay each month for a monthly allowance of medical cannabis: 370 (Source: Tablet Magazine).
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The number of pro-MMJ faxes received recently by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s office: 1,500 (Source: The Inquirer).
This August, the Detroit Artists Market (DAM) takes inspiration from the heat of summer and transforms it into FIREPOWER Ceramics 2013. DAM assembled a curatorial team to bring their varied perspectives to consider ceramics from many different angles. This curatorial team includes Tim Mast, an avid collector with an insightful eye; Tom Phardel, an accomplished ceramic artist and instructor; and Linda Ross, an experienced art dealer and consultant. FIREPOWER Ceramics 2013 features a large array of work by some of Michigan’s most talented ceramicists. It will include one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces highlighting the myriad directions an artist can take this medium. DAM will also offer an engaging selection of decorative and functional ceramic works for purchase. A well rounded ceramic point-of-view at the Detroit Artists Market.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: FIREPOWER Ceramics 2013 exhibition. WHEN/WHERE: Aug. 2-30. Detroit Artists Market, 4719 Woodward Ave., Detroit. INFO: Admission is free, parking is $3. Visit detroitartistsmarket.org. AUGUST 2013 • CULTURE 9
FLASH
Informing the Debate U of M Medical School granted $2.2 million for
cannabis study
By Charmie Gholson
A
team of University of Michigan Medical School researchers recently received a fouryear, $2.2 million grant to document “the impact” of medical cannabis. The study will include 800 Michigan patients who want to obtain state certification for MMJ to treat their pain. They will be tracked for two years. Participants will be asked to join the study when they are at their first doctor’s appointment, as they try to obtain medical cannabis certification. Patients may not volunteer for the study; they must be approached by a member
outset, and again every six months over the course of two years. Researchers will look at their symptoms, everyday functioning and use of health care services, among other factors. “With the ongoing policy debate and the growing popularity of medical marijuana programs in the United States, it is essential to understand the ramifications of medical marijuana use for individuals who seek access to it,” Ilgen said via a written statement. “We hope that with this study can help inform the debate.”
“We hope that with this study can help inform the debate.” —University of Michigan psychologist Mark Ilgen, PhD.
of the team in one of the participating clinics. They will answer questions at the beginning of the study, and again every six months over two years. The new study will measure patients’ selfreported pain levels, in addition to other data including drug screens for other substances, everyday functioning and use of health care services, according to study leader Mark Ilgen, PhD., a psychologist who has studied substance use and abuse for 10 years. Ilgen is an associate professor at the university’s Department of Psychiatry, and the principal investigator on the new grant. The funding, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, will pay for a two-year study. Each person who agrees to take part in the study will answer an array of questions at the
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“Marijuana is the most frequently used drug in the nation, and has been legalized for medical use in many ways, yet we have very little understanding of how individuals using medical marijuana do over time,” Frederic Blow, Ph.D., also said. Blow is a co-investigator on the study and an experienced substance abuse researcher who directs the Mental Health Services Outcomes & Translation Section at the university’s Medical School. “We hope this study will help provide much-needed data on the characteristics of those who seek medical marijuana, and the longer-term impact on their health and lives.” Ilgen says the goal is to determine who does better and who does worse with medical cannabis, and what factors make the difference. c
www.uofmhealth.org
Droppin‘ Science The University of Michigan Health System—often just called the University of Michigan Hospital—is no stranger to taking a scientifically rigid approach to the question of medical cannabis. On its own website, it posted an informational page on MMJ that echoes many of the points and facts we’ve already established, saying that some medical experts do recommend cannabis because it “can provide pain relief when normal pain medicines don’t work or have unwanted side effects,” it “can improve appetite and relieve nausea in people who have cancer or AIDS” and it “can decrease eye pressure in people with glaucoma.” Tellingly, the page also makes a more-than-oblique reference to MMJ’s gray area in the eyes of the law: “If you use medical marijuana to treat approved medical conditions, the federal government may not prosecute you. But there’s no guarantee that they won’t.”
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buzz
www.ironlabsllc.co | www.nprusa.com
This is a Test . . . Making sure patients get the most out of their By Jasen T. Davis
T
he importance of analyzing the food we eat, the medicine we need and the beverages we drink is paramount in today’s modern society. The whiskey Jack Daniel’s makes goes through rigorous safety standards just like Bayer’s Aspirin and Cheerios breakfast cereal. Even a Hershey’s chocolate bar must undergo strict quality-control protocols by qualified, trained professionals to make sure the customer gets what they
medicine
are paying for instead of a mouthful of mold. Howard Lutz, CFO and managing partner of Iron Labs, LLC, a medical cannabis testing facility in Michigan, tells CULTURE he believes that testing medical cannabis is a matter of common sense. “I have had several people close to me who had serious, debilitating illnesses that are affecting their immune systems,” he says. “If you end up smoking products
Lab Lingo
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that had mold on it, that could be life-threatening. I knew of an HIV patient that had to be airlifted to a hospital for respiratory stress because he had smoked cannabis that had been infected by mold.” Iron Labs employs cuttingedge, calibrated machines to measure cannabis for a variety of properties using traditional scientific tools and techniques. “We mostly use gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to test cannabis for problems like mites, mold, etc.” Lutz understands that different cannabis products require different techniques if they are to be properly measured. This requires more than just looking at cannabis under a microscope while shining a light on it. “Cannabis products such as edibles, tinctures and candies are best tested using liquid chromatography,” Lutz says. “Our best machine is a mass spectrometer, which we use to test for things like pesticides. Each of our machines measure different standards. Some labs only use one machine,” he says. “We also perform moisture analysis, which is a real problem up here in Michigan because so many caregivers employ indoor hydroponics to obtain medicine for their patients,” he says. And it isn’t about the money. “If we didn’t care we’d be selling out,” he says. “The best way to help everyone is to press for sensible legislation.” Lutz isn’t afraid to get political. “I’ll stand in front
of any legislative body that will listen to me, if it helps patients and caregivers,” he says. Robin Schneider, legislative liaison for National Patients Rights Association, also believes that testing medical cannabis is very important. “I have had several people close to me who had serious, debilitating illnesses that [were] affecting their immune systems. If you end up smoking products that had mold on it, that could be life-threatening,” she says. At one point, she visited a dispensary that had visible mold growing within a jar of cannabis they were offering to patients. “When I told the woman working there about the mold, she just reached inside the jar, scooped out the mold with her bare hand, and put the jar back on the shelf,” she says. Michigan state legislators have spoken with Schneider and the NPRA about the subject on many different occasions. “They are very interested in regular safety standards,” she says. “But forcing dispensaries to test their cannabis through laws and regulations can open a whole can of worms.” Schneider believes that testing cannabis is crucial, but she isn’t militant about it. “We want testing to be available and legal, but we don’t advocate for absolute, mandatory testing. There are people who grow their own medicine, so they are familiar with it already. Our position is just that testing should be available and convenient,” she says. c
Gas chromatography is a common type of laboratory techniques for the separation of mixtures, used in analytical chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. Liquid chromatography is an analytical chromatographic technique that is useful for separating ions or molecules that are dissolved in a solvent. Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that produces spectra (singular spectrum) of the masses of the molecules comprising a sample of material. The spectra are used to determine the elemental composition of a sample, the masses of particles and of molecules, and to elucidate the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and other chemical compounds. Mass spectrometry works by ionizing chemical compounds to generate charged molecules or molecule fragments and measuring their mass-to-charge ratios.
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tu n es
lorddying.bandcamp.com
Metal Mastery The head-banging life of Lord Dying By Joy Shannon
T
he new masters of heavy doom metal riffs are coming your way, emerging from the gloom of Portland, Oregon: Lord Dying. On tour with the fellow doom metal act Howl, Lord Dying is set to take its place amongst the heavy hitters in this scene. I recently spoke with Lord Dying bassist Don Capuano about Lord Dying’s upcoming tour and debut album Summon the Faithless, the follow up to its promising 2012 EP. A relatively new band, Lord Dying formed in 2010 and played its first show with heavy metal veterans Red Fang. While Lord Dying only had written two songs when they were asked to play this first show, Red Fang’s request drove them to write more. Lord Dying bassist Capuano described Red Fang as pivotal in helping its band reach the level of success they are currently at, “They pushed us to get going and they’ve been noth14 CULTURE • AUGUST 2013
ing but totally awesome to us from the beginning,” Capuano says. Since then, the band has been playing live and writing new material constantly. Already having toured with other progressive, sludge, thrash and stoner metal acts including Black Tusk, Red Fang, Lecherous Gaze and Danava, Lord Dying has made a promising
debut on the heavy metal scene. Bassist Capuano described that the band’s ultimate musical goal since forming has been to make music that “makes us bang our heads and hopefully everybody else’s.” While every member of the band “comes from different backgrounds and different musical tastes,” what brought the band together was the love of “heavy riffs and rocking out.” Capuano elaborates, “What got me playing music when I was a kid was Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets.’ All I ever wanted to play was the first four chords of that song. Once I figured
those out, it led to other things . . . (like) Slayer and Iron Maiden.” Lord Dying’s new album Summon the Faithless seems to have evolved as quickly as the band itself. With metal producer Sanford Parker, known for his work with Nachtmystium, Minsk, Yob, Rwake, and Twilight, among many others in the metal genre, Lord Dying recorded the 10 songs for this album in 10 days at Jackpot Recording Studios in Portland. Capuano described producer Parker’s approach to recording the album as particularly unique: “What he likes to do was take two songs a day (and) do everything on the songs each day… I think it’s a great way to record. You don’t get bored. Everybody has to be active and involved.” Summon the Faithless is being released on CD, digitally and in special vinyl editions from Relapse Records available in hot pink, black and pink/green colored vinyl records. Lord Dying loved the album art that visual artist Orion Landau created for the cover because it was “a lot different from (the art of) a lot of bands that you’d see in this genre. (It has) a lot more bright colors … it stands out,” according to Capuano. As Lord Dying prepares for a long tour, bassist Capuano reflected on why they love to do what they do as a band, “We all enjoy doing (music) because of the emotional release of it . . . Not only playing the stuff you think is cool, but also . . . the reactions we get from people we’ve never met before who are locking in with you and loving it just as much as we are.” c
Stoner Metal
Lord Dying are associated with heavy metal acts often called “stoner metal” and when asked about the band’s opinion of medical marijuana, bassist Capuano expressed full support, “I think everybody should be allowed to live a pain-free, productive life and if adults feel that smoking marijuana is what will help them do that, they should be allowed to do it,” he said. “Stoner metal” is a musical subgenre which combines elements of traditional heavy metal, psychedelic rock, blues rock, acid rock and doom metal. “Stoner metal” is typically slow-tomid-tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals and “retro” production. The genre emerged during the early ‘90s and was pioneered foremost by the Californian bands Kyuss and Sleep.
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legal corner
By Denise Pollicella
This One’s Hard to Stomach
Michigan Court of Appeals: Edibles are not a form of medical cannabis
F
or the second time this year, Michigan courts have sucker-punched the medical cannabis community, criminalizing food products containing resin extracts overnight and giving prosecutors the go-ahead to weigh medibles in their entirety when considering charges and penalties. In a July 11 opinion, the People v. Cantrell Carruthers panel used strict interpretation of the MMMA’s flawed statutory language to deal a blow to our medical cannabis industry and yet again abandon a large swath of the state’s sickest and most vulnerable patients. Tinctures, oils and canna butter—products widely and commonly used for the past four years by people with cancer, seizure disorders and other serious conditions—are now contraband. As of now, the only usable cannabis protected by the MMMA are “smokables” and products made from the dried leaves and flowers of the plant. The panel also contemplated weighing the entire medible, stating that it will not take the amount of cannabis contained in a product at face value from its labeling. In other words, a brownie that weighs 5 ounces but only contains 2 grams of cannabis will be counted as 5 ounces of cannabis. This decision may be appealed; however, in light of the legal soundness of the opinion and our Supreme Court’s reluctance to create
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law, it is unlikely to be reversed. In fact, just as the McQueen court did in February, the Cantrell Carruthers court pointed a finger squarely at the legislature, telling Michigan’s citizens that if the law needs fixing, we need to look there. Work has already begun on an amendment to HB 4271, The Provisioning Centers Act, which currently addresses the weighing and labeling of medibles, and now will have to address the significantly more urgent issue of extracts. However, as of now, and for the foreseeable future, this is the law in Michigan. It is unlikely that high up in those appellate
court chambers, the judges that wrote this opinion were thinking about anything other than dissecting the Medical Marihuana Act. Certainly they could not have been contemplating the life of my client’s son’s best friend, a 20-year old with terminal colon cancer, whose chemo treatments are so debilitating that his only option for keeping weight on his frail body is to eat canna butter foods that decrease nausea. This is a person that medical cannabis was meant for, and he and his parents now have to choose between a life with hope and a life of crime. What shall we tell him? Between the well-intentioned but inartfully drafted MMMA, the administration’s intractable refusal to adopt regulations and the legislature’s molasses-slow treatment of all things cannabis, the toll this is taking on Michigan’s citizens is devastating. To provide broad protections for behavior, and then systematically and instantly recriminalize that behavior is, frankly, unconscionable, and as a lawyer and lifelong resident of this state, I shake my head in embarrassment at the public health and safety disaster this has become. 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 cannabis law in Livingston County. She can be reached via email at dpbusinesslaw@yahoo.com.
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strain & concentrate reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Death Star This nicely manicured, well-loved strain (available from the good folks at Michigan Chronic Relief in Detroit) has Sour Diesel and Sensi Star parents, but strongly favors the Diesel in appearance, smell and taste. Death Star’s pungent, sweet skunky fragrance mixed with fuel is unmistakable. Very sticky stuff—it gummed up the grinder. Rolled in paper, all I needed was about three inhalations. The first effect moves in behind the eyes and gives a strong, heady sativa lift. Knocked a headache to La-La Land and stayed there for a while before moving down the body. The strain’s best quality is how well the sativa-indica effects are balanced. About 20 minutes after the initial sativa lift, Death Star moves down the body, relaxing muscles and relieving pain. Used during the day, it’s extremely motivating, yet shifts into sleep aid after about four hours. This is good for arthritis, migraines, insomnia, nausea, PMS, muscle spasms, cancer and chronic pain.
Kandy Kush Providing massive pain relief, motivation without anxiety and fantastic taste, Kandy Kush is truly sweet medicine! The strain’s tight, light green— almost neon—buds come peppered with orange pistils with an exquisite bouquet and heavy trichomes. Kandy Kush— an exclusive strain found only at OM of Medicine in Ann Arbor—has OG Kush and Train Wreck parents, so the aroma is sensational: lemony dank Kush with sour, earthy and, yes, candy overtones. Yum. The taste finishes off real smooth. One patient reported this strain made her heavy lidded, but for me Kandy Kush is ideal for daytime. Smoked through a water pipe and rolled in paper, this strain gave me full-body pain relief without losing focus. Fantastic for treating anxiety. I also experienced a well-defined rush of creativity, a bonus for us writer types. Kandy Kush is a real treat that should be savored. A good medicine for anxiety, depression, Crohn’s disease, IBD and chronic pain.
Bubba Kush Budder Wax This budder is a nice, army green color. Bubba Kush Budder Wax, one of many varieties carried by Shake and Bake in Detroit, is extracted from a Bubble Gum/Kush strain. It looks a lot like Play-Doh and smells faintly of Kush. No hint of Bubble Gum. We vaped three, girly-sized globs in a well pipe. Melts perfectly with no popping or sizzling—it was unbelievably smooth. Clean, earthy taste and comes with a smooth exhale. This is a nice, calming budder that makes everything very clear. Alone, the effect lasts for several hours, but when coupled with smoking flowers, you need less plant material, and the effect lasts longer. Bubba Kush Budder Wax is good for arthritis, anxiety, migraines, PMS, muscle spasms, cancer and chronic pain. Legal Disclaimer
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The publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical cannabis concentrates. The reviews listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only when medical cannabis is not a violation of state law. Please consume responsibly. Concentrates are legal and covered under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (“usable marihuana” is considered the “dried leaves and flowers of the marijuana plant, and any mixture or preparation thereof”) and the Public Health Code Act of 368 (“the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant or its seeds or resin.”).
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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
Photo by Stephen Lashbrook
Few other independent acts have had nearly the same amount of success or made the same level of musical transition than reggae-rock fusion act Slightly Stoopid has had in its nearly two decades as a band. Formed in 1995 and signed to Bradley Nowell’s record label, Skunk Records, shortly before the frontman’s death, Slightly Stoopid has moved on from walking the ska/punk trail—blazed by bands like Operation Ivy and Sublime— to cutting its own path into musical territory. Throughout its journey, the band has found time to record and release five studio albums, two live records (one of which is acoustic), a compilation of rarities and studio outtakes, and the group has garnered legions of fans all over the world. Most recently, the band released fifth studio album Top of the World (plus a live DVD, Slightly Stoopid & Friends: Live at Roberto’s TRI Studios), which continues Slightly Stoopid’s journey of expanding its style and exploring more musical ground. Most notably, the record includes a number of collaborations with everyone from raucous Fishbone frontman Angelo Moore, to legendary reggae and dancehall singer Barrington Levy. Never one to rest on its laurels, Slightly Stoopid hit the road this summer to headline its very own Kickin‘ Up Dust Summer Tour. The cross-country trek will see the band being supported by the likes of Minneapolis hip-hop legend Atmosphere, New York classic funk/soul master The Budos Band, roots rock /reggae group Tribal Seeds and former Living Legends members Eligh & The Grouch. CULTURE recently caught with Slightly Stoopid—right after a blistering set at the Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas—and spoke with band co-founder and guitarist/bassist/vocalist Kyle McDonald for some insight into the life of this legendary band.
the way around, you know? . . . It’s So you guys just started up the Kickin‘ all just definitely nice to, you know . . . have different styles of music in the Up Dust Summer Tour. How did the concert. A lot of people don’t first couple shows go? Are you hoping same really do that. that with Atmosphere in tow that you guys are going to attract an even wider You guys reference cannabis a lot in array of people out to your shows? both your music and your imagery. They went good; it was a packed house, killer crowds—it’s just nice to How do you feel about the medical be back out with the boys. We were cannabis movement that’s going on talking to them about it and that’s exactly what we were saying; we’re obthese days? viously two different types of music but it’s kind of like, just a big melting pot at the show because everyone is there to have a good time, and that’s what everyone’s main objective is to come out and have a good time; you know. It’s just definitely a wider variety of people. Atmosphere fans get a taste of the Slightly Stoopid, and the Slightly Stoopid fans get a taste of Atmosphere, so it’s just good
It’s going in a good direction, I mean, there’s a kind of just singling out all of the people that are living in the past, you know? I mean, it’s 2013 if anyone didn’t get the f*#kin‘ memo already! It’s 2013, you know what I mean?! It’s like, anyone that’s anti “herb” is either, just has a stick up their butt or they’re just old. Or, I can’t really say old but . . . they’ll eventually get singled out AUGUST 2013 • CULTURE 23
Photo by Doug Hac
through time because the next generation is coming up and I don’t think too many in this day and age—too many people, don’t think of it as a bad thing or even think of it as a drug. And it helps so many people these days with so many different ailments, no matter how big or small. Whether you have an illness or diseases or just even if it’s asthma or stress or you can’t sleep or you’ve had a bad day . . . it’s there for the
of recession first of all and it’s like, there’s so many ways the herb can help society in all ways. But then when it comes down to it, people rely on it, you know? And it’s like I was saying; if you have some trouble sleeping, if you want to get some sleep, puff it before you go to bed. There are so many things that doctors prescribe that kill people, you know? I’ve had friends that have passed away from prescription drugs, and friends that have just gone off the deep end or turned into a totally different person because of prescription pills that these doctors are prescribing. But now-a-days we’re in a time where, a day in age where, doctors will actually [recommend] marijuana as the last straw
we’ll just skate, play Xbox, and hang out with the boys and get some, you know, grinds, eat and hang out and play music. So it’s not like a thing where we set out—I don’t ever try to set out and make a record or make a song because it seems when we try to do anything these days it just doesn’t work. But, when you’re having a good time and you’re surrounded by good people and your friends and people you love, just having fun, that’s where all the good stuff comes from and people can definitely hear it in the music.
Just to round things off, do you see the band heading any place in particular in the next five years? Do you guys have any type of long-term goals? I don’t think too far into the future
Whether you have an il ness or diseases or just even if it’s asthma or stress or you can’t sleep or you’ve had a bad day . . . [cannabis is] there for the people . . . people and it’s really, you know, good. It’s a really good thing to have, you know? I don’t know, it’s not necessarily for everyone but I know when I’m having a tough day it definitely helps me relax.
because they’re like well “You know we’ve tried this, that, and the other thing, A, B, C and D and now we’re just going to [recommend] you marijuana when actually that’s what they should have [recommended] them in the first place.”
Do you think that legalization is near or So to kind of tie back around to the right around the corner? There are some states that it probband again, On Top Of The World is ably will be a while or it might not obviously your most recent release, even happen for a long time just because they’re kind of stuck in the did you have any specific goals for the ’80s and they’re just, I don’t know, record when you guys set out for it? I don’t want to say nothing bad, I don’t want to be negative but I will say there are people that are kind of stuck in the past in certain zerotolerance states, but I think those will probably be the last states to legalize it. But every other one seems to be kind of in a mutual agreement where, it’s like, it can help us get out 24 CULTURE • AUGUST 2013
When we do records, we kind of just are in the studio and we record two to three albums’ worth of songs and then we just kind of pick and choose. So it’s more of like a just kind of like a “hanging with the homies,” “hanging with the boys” process, and sometimes we’ll go in there and
about things, I kind of just live in the now and take it as it comes, but, you know, it’s definitely nice to do stuff for different causes and we’re doing stuff for different things. Music is an outlet that gives you the opportunity to help people and, you know, uplift them through music as well as, you know, do certain things for different people that need help. So it’s, you know, it’s an opportunity that you have to take, that you have to use, and it’s there to help people so we feel like we’re, like, almost—I don’t want to say “obligated”—but you are kind of obligated to, you know, when you have an opportunity to help people, to do that—so that’s my favorite reason to play music; is to be able to do it for different causes and help, you know? It’s always nice to play music but when you’re doing it to make a difference for something it is definitely the best feeling. c
Going the Right Way “We’re going to do the United States for this run with Atmosphere, Tribal Seeds and Eli & The Grouch and then I think we’re gonna go to Hawaii and do some island hopping in October with Danny Way, the skateboarder,” Slightly Stoopid guitarist/bassist/vocalist Kyle McDonald tells CULTURE about the band’s future plans. “He’s putting together skate parks in Kauai and he’s doing all these cool skate parks because they don’t really have many skate parks . . . and maybe do a show to help raise money for the skate parks, and then do some island hopping throughout Maui, Kona, Oahu and Kauai.” Way is a professional skateboarder and skateboarding company Plan B co-owner, who has been awarded Thrasher magazine’s Skater of the Year award twice, has won numerous X Games gold medals, multiple world record holder and he was the first person to jump the Great Wall of China (non-motorized jump). Way was also featured in a documentary film about his life, released in 2012 called Waiting for Lightning. 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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destination unknown
Story & photos by Dennis Argenzia and Edengrace Cayosa
Black &
White Head to Siquijor in the Phillipines for a magical mystery tour
The business card read:
W
TOUR GUIDE MASSAGE COLOR WIZARD
e looked up, and the man who had pressed the card into Dennis’ palm smiled a toothy grin. “Welcome to Siquijor!” As one of 7000+ islands in the sweeping archipelago of the Philippines, tiny Siquijor is easily overshadowed by its larger, swankier siblings in the central Visayan region. But Siquijor’s wee size— just 163 square miles of land that can be circumnavigated in four hours—belies its heavy reputation as a seat of black magic inside a devoutly Catholic country. The Spaniards who first laid eyes on Siquijor named it the “Island of Fire.” Although non-Siquijodnon Filipinos love to tell tourists that this catchy moniker was based on the residents’ devil magic, the truth is more science than occult: the Spaniards had simply witnessed the strange nighttime glow cast by Siquijor’s massive firefly colonies. So why does this island get such a bad rap? More on that later. Siquijor can be accessed by puddle-
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jumper airplane or, more commonly, by fast ferry boat. Once you’ve landed, there’s a wide range of lodgings to choose from: on one end are the increasingly popular backpacker dorms, while the other end gets you full-service, luxury resorts. You can opt to rent a car or motorbike for transport, or just grab a passing “trike” (tuktuk-like vehicle powered by a motorcycle) or a “jeepney” (an open-back minibus that you can hop on/off of, like a giddy lemur). Time for a bit of sightseeing! Despite its reputation (yes, we’ll get back to that), Siquijor holds religious festivals throughout the year. You can also visit Catholic landmarks, including the San Isidro Labrador Convent, possibly the country’s oldest and largest convent. If you like your tourism more natural than religious, Siquijor has falls and caves. Cambugahay Falls is a threetiered waterfall with large pools that are popular swimming holes. For spelunking, Cantabon Cave is a must. You are required to pay an entry fee as well as hire guides and rent hardhats plus torches, but the stalactites, stalagmites and other gorgeous mineral formations are worth the cost of entry. Be warned: there are several passages with waist-deep water, so avoid wearing anything you don’t want soaked. For those who prefer white sand and
blue water, Siquijor and nearby environs do not disappoint. Here’s just a sampling of activities: jumping off old concrete waterslides into the turquoise waters of Saladoong beach; snorkeling in the protected marine sanctuary near Coco Grove Resort; scuba dive at adjacent Apo Island. You could also just point your beach towel at the nearest empty stretch of coast, and happily roast your skin in privacy…. …or you could watch a cockfight in a creaky wooden arena. Cockfighting has a long, bloody history in the Philippines, but despite animal activist efforts, it is still a huge draw on Sundays. Each match is preceded by a loud, mostly unintelligible betting phase, where the crowd itself determines the odds. Then the birds, sporting 5-inch long blades on their left claw, are set upon each other. There can only be one winner; the loser is chopped into quarters and distributed to the winner’s human owner. Now, let’s get to the heart of Siquijor’s infamy. Is there magic? Absolutely! To this day, there are two kinds of practitioners: mambabarangs, or black magic shamans/ witches/sorcerers who claim to provide love potions, poisonous spells and accidental deaths for a fee; and then there are mananambals, faith/folk healers/wizards who offer healing through herbal remedies, massage or white magic rituals (like blowing bubbles in “magic” water). Once a year—ironically, during Catholic Lent—mambabarangs and mananambals from all over the Visayan region gather in Siquijor to collect the herbs, roots, cemetery dirt and coconut oil that will become their year’s supply of pampahid, or magical oil. This annual gathering contributes to Siquijor’s dark mystique, although in light of the popularity of this event, Siquijor’s tourism board is pushing a new name: “Island of Healing.” In addition to the shamans’ magical herbs, you can definitely find cannabis or “smokes” on Siquijor. It’s easily grown in the island’s tropical climate, and is casually offered up. However, care should be taken to be subtle, as the Philippines’ Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 promises anything from rehab to jail for nabbed buyers. 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
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?
Patient: Bennett Davison AGE: 48 Condition/ Illness:
Paraplegic, arthritis, carpal tunnel
Using medical cannabis since:
Photo by Kristopher Christensen
1984
I started using cannabis to help ease the nerve pain that I have after suffering a gunshot wound in my spine due to a hunting accident.
Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I have tried almost every kind of pain medication that my doctors have prescribed, and I still rely on medical cannabis.
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? I think the cost is still too high, and insurance companies should consider covering some of the expense.
What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? Everybody who suffers from pain should at least consider trying it once to see if it helps. From my experience, I really do believe people would get positive results c Our “Profiles in Courage” features are intended to highlight the problems—and solutions—that medical marijuana patients face every day.
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cool stuff The Body Shop Hemp Hand Oil Treatment As one of the oldest medicinal plants on earth, it’s no wonder all the best beauty products use hemp in their recipes. The Body Shop Hemp Hand Oil Treatment (with hemp seed oil) provides targeted, long-lasting hydration for all kinds of areas of very dry skin—up to 24 hours of hydration. ($12 for 15ml dropper) www.thebodyshop-usa.com
California Finest Premium Grade Marijuana Cigarettes Remember when we used to dream about the day when cannabis was legalized in this country, and how we imagined being able to purchase a box of joints from the corner store as easily as a pack of Marlboros? That daydream is reality. California Finest has achieved greatness on the strength of its “finest hand rolled California bud.” Each box comes with five 1-gram cigarettes in indica (OG Kush, Grand Daddy Purple), hybrid (Blue Dream) and sativa (Train Wreck) varieties. Talk about California dreamin‘ . . . www.californiafinest420.com
T.U.K. Shoes T.U.K. is a well known shoe company for the punks, goths and creeper-loving fashionistas. Though their hey day may have been in the ’80s and ’90s, T.U.K. has stepped up their game a bit to keep up with the modern day hipster nation. Check out these amazing “Galaxy Sublimation Print Anti-Pop Heels” by T.U.K.—they are bright, feminine and truly out of this world. ($65) www.tukshoes.com
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By Aunt Sandy
Sandy Moriarty is the author of Aunt’ Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook: Comfort Food for Body & Mind and a Professor of Culinary Arts at Oaksterdam University. She is also the cofounder of Oaksterdam’s Bakery.
Menu:
Traditional English Style Roast Beef Groovy Gravy Yorkshire Pudding Best Mince Pie Devon Scones English Tea Pimm’s Traditional Cocktail
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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In lieu of the beautiful new Brit-mom Kate Middleton, we thought it would only be appropriate to celebrate the birth of the new Mountbatten-Windsor. Helping to perpetuate the royal blood line, Middleton has been a busy bee in the last stages of her pregnancy, shuttling between London and her family’s Berkshire home to escape the awful hot weather. The Duchess of Cambridge got to feast in her last stage of pregnancy—but then it was over! Back to lean meals and no more decadent treats, for this pretty Brit. So this month, we’re feasting for her—and her new baby. Enjoy the traditional British grub, with flavors that will take you back to The Big Smoke and make you miss the sounds of that beautiful Big Ben. V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
Traditional English Style Roast Beef 4 lbs sirloin tip roast 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 cup Canna Butter Salt to taste Preheat oven to 350° Trim the fat from the meat and score remaining fat. Rub the surface of the meat with the mixed spices. Heat the Canna Butter to a liquid. Place meat fat side down in melted Canna Butter, and brown all sides. Place meat in baking dish fat side up and pour drippings over the top. Insert meat thermometer and bake 20 minutes per pound until thermometer reads 140° for rare or 170° for well-done
Groovy Gravy 3/4 cup beef stock 3/4 cup water 1 tablespoon cornstarch, stirred together with 1 tablespoon water 1/2 cup Canna Butter Salt and pepper to taste Transfer the juices from the baking pan to a sauce pan. Put baking pan on a burner over medium heat, add Canna Butter, stock and water and deglaze the pan by boiling over moderate heat, stirring and scraping up the brown bits for 1 minute. Add stock mixture to pan juices and bring to a boil. Stir in cornstarch mixture and whisk into pan mixture, then boil while whisking until slightly thickened, about 1minute. Remove from heat and salt and pepper to taste. Serve over the roast and yorkshire pudding.
English Tea The afternoon is tea time in England! Earl Grey or English Tea is the local favorite Add a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon Canna Milk and enjoy!
Best Mince Pie Canna Butter Pastry Dough* Mincemeat: 100g seedless raisins 100g dried cherries 100g dried blueberries 100g dried cranberries 65g citrus peel (1/2 orange and lemon peel) 250g cooking apples peeled and finely chopped 125g softened Canna Butter** Grated zest of half of a lemon Grated zest of half an orange 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon Pinch of nutmeg Pinch of all spice 250g dark brown sugar 250 ml tincture (cannabis infused dark rum)
Make sure all of the dried fruits are finely chopped to around the same size. In a large bowl mix all the fruit, apples, Canna Butter, zest and spices together till well combined Dissolve the sugar in the brandy and pour over the mixture. Cover and let stand overnight. The next day stir mixture again then place in a sterile dry jar for 4 weeks before using in your favorite recipe. Preheat oven to 350°
Take filling out of the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Prepare pastry and cut out circles to line a pastry tin. Stir filling well and pour into base. Top with pastry and make slits or make a star shape on top. Crimp edges. Bake in a preheated oven on low shelf for 40 minutes or until golden brown AUGUST 2013 • CULTURE 31
Devon Scones Makes 8 servings 9 ounces all-purpose flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoons salt 2 ounces butter 1 ounce sugar 150 ml milk 1 medium egg Preheat oven to 450° and lightly grease a baking sheet. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl an cut in the butter until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in sugar. Add all the milk and mix lightly into soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a flowered board and knead briefly. Do not overwork the dough or your scones will be tough. Roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thick and cut rounds. Place on a greased baking sheet. Brush the tops with a beaten egg and bake 7-10 minutes or until well risen and golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Currently served on British Airways! It will go particularly well with a spread of canna butter and strawberry jam! Traditionally the Brits use clotted cream with the strawberry jam.
Yorkshire Pudding Makes 4 servings 3 ounces milk 2 ounces water 1 egg 3 ounces flour Salt and pepper to taste
The Royal family will be celebrating with the Queen’s favorite cocktail! Owner of a London Oyster Bar James Pimm invented the gin sling in 1840. In a tall glass, muddle a slice of orange, lemon, cucumber and mint. Fill half with ice and add one part Pimm’s liquor to two parts lemonade. 32 CULTURE • AUGUST 2013
*Canna Butter Pastry Dough 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 2 teaspoons sugar 3/4 teaspoons salt 1/2 pound of cold Canna Butter cut into cubes 1/2 cup plus 1-4 tablespoon cold water Whisk together flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Blend in Canna Butter with a pastry blender just until most of the mixture resembles coarse meal with small lumps. Drizzle 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water evenly over mixture and gently stir with a fork until mixed, Squeeze a small handful of dough, if it doesn’t hold together add more ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until just incorporated, then test again. Do not overwork mixture or dough will be tuff. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 portions. With the heel of your hand smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute the fat. Gather the dough together with a pastry scraper if you have one and press into a ball. Divide in half and shape into 2 disks to make a pie. Wrap in plastic and place in a refrigerator until firm—at least one hour. V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
For our complete recipes go to ireadculture.com.
Pimm’s Traditional Cocktail
Preheat the oven for 425°. Then get a baking pan and coat it thoroughly with oil. Place baking pan in the oven (with the meat if you’re making it at the same time). Then, place all ingredients in a bowl and whisk, making sure plenty of air is introduced into the mixture. When the baking pan and the oil in it is hot, pour the whisked batter into the pan and place in the oven. Leave it to cook for 30 minutes. Serve with rich cannabis infused gravy as an accompaniment to a roast beef or any traditional Sunday dinner.
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entertainment reviews Franz Ferdinand Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action Domino Records It’s been nearly four years since Scotland’s indie rock princes in Franz Ferdinand have given the world a new record to appreciate. However, the band’s forthcoming fourth record Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, scheduled to release on Aug. 26 shows that these Scots haven’t missed a beat in the intervening years. Drawing on the hard driving rhythms and dynamic guitar riffs that the band built its solid reputation on, Right Thoughts is loaded with an assortment of footstompers that’ll make cutting some rug with a beautiful stranger or lovely date easy. Although the record—production wise—continues in the more polished, poppy trajectory of the band’s previous releases, Right Thoughts contains a bit of the fuzzier, garage-y-er elements of the band’s beginnings as well. The band has kept a low profile while recording this record over the last few years as it felt that the hype and misinformation surrounding their last effort injured its release. The secrecy seems to have paid off as what you get seems to be the perfect marriage of the band’s past and its future that will over joy old fans of the band as well as be the perfect introduction to the band’s sound for new listeners. (Simon Weedn)
Baked Italian: Over 50 Mediterranean Marijuana Meals By Yzabaetta Sativa Green Candy Press “When the moon hits your eye/Like a big pizza pie, that’s amore . . . When the stars make you drool/Just like pasta fazool, that’s amore.” Ah, the praises of Italian cuisine has always plucked the heart strings, eh? Why should patients go without the gourmet, traditional recipes that have made the boot-shaped country famous the world over? Enter Baked Italian. Described as “a high-end marijuana cookbook for the Jamie Oliver generation,” this softcover volume is indispensable for providing proven extraction techniques and tasteful, rich recipes that will make Giada De Laurentiis green (pun, definitely intended) with envy. Sure, there’s a recipe for infused butter here, but you also get the how-to for ‘Oregano’ Oil, Cannabis Campari and Vector Vodka. And with the rich photography highlighting such medicated versions of classics such as Eggplant Parmesan, Capellini with Anchovies and Lemon Sauce and the sinfully sweet Genoise Cake, Jamie Oliver will be just a faded memory. Grab an apron, get the cucina ready and cook—that’s amore. (Matt Tapia)
Arrested Development Season 4 Netflix, Inc. Dir. Mitchell Hurwitz Seven years after its cancellation, a great many of us were thrilled to watch Arrested Development rise from its ashes like a mythical phoenix and soar in the air for an amazing Season 4, thanks to the awesome folks at Netflix. While there has been some criticism that the newest season is not the “same” as the previous three, the only answer to that could be how—after so much time had passed—anybody could have expected it to not have changed some. However, although the feel of the show might be a little different, the returning writers, directors and cast did an amazing job of recreating the humor and atmosphere of the original series while moving it forward to its ultimate goal, the upcoming movie. Diehard fans will enjoy the working in of almost all previous reoccurring guest characters, including Liza Minelli as “Lucille 2,” Henry Winkler as family attorney Barry Zuckercorn and, of course, Scott Baio as lawyer Bob Loblaw, as well as the effortless working in of all repeating sight gags and sound effects. Most of all, Arrested Development Season 4 succeeds where many in the past have failed, they revived an old and beloved franchise, added amazing new twists, turns and characters, and still kept the original spirit of the show which made it addictive and endearing in the first place. (Simon Weedn) 34 CULTURE • AUGUST 2013
Mudhoney in concert Those a tad over the age of 29 will recall Mudhoney as the Little Grunge Band That Could . . . But Didn’t. You see, before Nirvana, before Pearl Jam—around the time of Mother Love Bone, actually—the poster child for what became known as grunge music was this noisy, punky outfit on the Sub Pop label that put Seattle on the musical map before Kurt Cobain strummed the first chords to “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” From the ashes of Green River (another seminal first-wave Northwest band that included future members of the Melvins, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam), sprang the sloppy, funny and always weird group known as Mudhoney (named after a Russ Meyer film) that laid down the kindling for the whole Seattle/grunge explosion in the late ’80s with releases such as the Superfuzz Bigmuff EP and songs like “Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More. Armed with Sonic Youth-inspired distortion-fueled guitar squalls and the DIY aesthetics of college radio, Mudhoney was on the road to becoming the Next Big Thing . . . but then a little-known band called Nirvana ended up capturing all the limelight with an obscure album called Nevermind. Everyone forgot about Mudhoney . . . except the true-blue fans who followed the band’s career through the rest of the 90s, and snapped up still-good releases such as 2006’s Under a Billion Suns and 2008’s The Lucky Ones. This sweet young thing . . . is still sweet. (Matt Tapia)
IF YOU GO
What: Mudhoney in concert. When/Where: Aug. 30 at The Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Easy Action and Protomartyr also on the bill. Tickets $20. All ages. Visit majesticdetroit. com. V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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let’s do this Our picks for the coolest things to do around town Jim Gaffigan, Aug. 2 Dad is Fat is the title of Jim Gaffigan’s new book . . . and we can definitely relate to it already. After a long week of hard work what better way to unwind and welcome the weekend than with a laugh fest. Meadowbrook Music Fest, Rochester palacenet.com
Fine Art at the Village Summer Festival, Aug. 3-4 Fine arts and crafts on a fine summer weekend. Indulge in beautiful art or become inspired to create your own. After all, there is an artist in all of us. The Village of Rochester Hills fineartatthevillage.com
Black Sabbath w/Andrew W.K., Aug. 6 What better band to rock out to than the godfathers of heavy metal, and who better to party with than the “King of Partying?” Let’s get this rock ‘n’ roll party started! DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston www.palacenet.com
Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake Aug. 6 Pop icon Justin Timberlake joins rap icon Jay-Z on stage. Needless to say this might be the “Holy Grail” of concerts this summer and it is a must. Ford Field, Detroit fordfield.com
2013 Rockstar Energy Uproar Fest, Aug. 24 Grab a Free Rockstar drink, enjoy a bite to eat, catch some cool bands and then get ready to rock out when Jane’s Addiction and Alice in Chains take the main stage. You need to be here. DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston www.palacenet.com
Vintage Vehicle Show, Aug. 25 “Cruisin‘ down the street in my ’64” and heading over to this classic car show. Whether you love hot rods or muscle cars or just cars in general, car lovers and the like shall come together in honor of these classic beauties. Royal Park Hotel, Rochester
Arts Beats and Eats, Aug 30-Sept 2 Art, music and food—life’s essentials, right? This 4-day festival is going to have it all, so stop by for a bite to eat, enjoy some artwork and jam out to some good tunes. Royal Oak artsbeatseats.com 36 CULTURE • AUGUST 2013
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's
Newsof the
Weird LEAD STORY—PRIORITIES ; At a June hearing, a Philadelphia judge became so exasperated at defendant Robert Williams’ seeming cluelessness about his need to keep his probation appointments that she ordered him to take “etiquette” classes before returning to court. Williams, a rap singer and budding music mogul still under court supervision on gun and drug charges from 2008, cavalierly defended his inability to find time for his probation officer by explaining that he was a busy man, working with seven “artists,” with a demanding travel schedule, and uninhibitedly using social media (creating posts that, allegedly, led to threats against the probation officer). (Williams, of course, was accompanied to court by a several-man entourage.)
IRONIES ; An atheist “church” in Lake Charles, La., run by lapsed Pentecostal Jerry DeWitt, conducts periodic services with many of the trappings expected by the pious— except for the need to believe in a supreme being. Such “churches” (reported The New York Times and Washington Post in coincidental stories the same day in June) can help soothe the “biological” needs for survival and avoidance of loneliness by congregational rituals (such as celebrating a sabbath) and in helping find meaning “in something other than (oneself).” For example, atheist Sigfried Gold praised a “rigorous prayer routine” (beseeching a “vivid goddess he created”) in overcoming his weight problem. ; War Endangers War Relics: In June, fighting in the Syrian civil
war spread to its west, threatening archaeological digs and already recovered artifacts near the ancient city of Hamoukar— which is the site of history’s earliest known urban warfare (about 5,500 years ago). ; The business website Quartz reported in June that a popular consumer item in North Korea’s perhaps-improving economy is the refrigerator, made in China and increasingly available as a reward to stellar performers among civil servants and other elites. The appliances, however, cannot reliably store food because the country’s electric grid is so frequently offline and are mostly just status symbols. One item Quartz says often gets displayed in the refrigerator: books. ; Robert Dugan, 47, a full-time patrolman for the Delaware County (Pa.) Park Police, was charged in June with illegally impersonating a police officer. According to authorities in Brookhaven, Pa., Dugan had accosted a woman double-parked outside her home to pressure her into moving the car, but she refused. Dugan allegedly claimed he was an Upland Borough police officer (with authority to write parking citations and make arrests, which he did not actually have).
THE LITIGIOUS SOCIETY ; Shower rooms in health clubs are slippery enough, but Marc Moskowitz, 66, cited the one at the Bally Total Fitness gym on E. 55th St. in New York City as especially dangerous, according to his recent lawsuit to recover expenses for a broken shoulder suffered in a fall. Moskowitz claimed that so AUGUST 2013 • CULTURE 37
much gay male sex was occurring in the shower and locker-room area (unsupervised by Bally) that he had probably slipped on semen.
COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS ; Lame: (1) Rodger Kelly was arrested in St. George, Utah, in June for rape of a female neighbor, but he told police that he committed the act only to “save” her, since he had discovered her “cold” and unconscious. He had violated her body only “to try and get her temperature up,” according to the police report. (2) The low-price air carrier GoAir of New Delhi announced in June that in the future it would hire only females for the cabin crew— because they weigh less than men (and expects eventually to save the equivalent of $4 million annually in fuel based on average weights). ; In May, former schoolteacher Kathleen Cawthorne, 33, of Rustburg, Va., successfully negotiated a reduction in her 11-year sentence for having sex with an underage student. Cawthorne’s punishment was set at only four months in prison when she presented the judge with a clinical diagnosis of “hypersexuality,” supposedly showing that she had little ability to control her desire to seduce the boy.
PERSPECTIVE ; Floridians Standing Their Ground: In May, a jury in Tampa decided that Ralph Wald, 70, was not guilty of murdering a 32-yearold man he had shot in the back three times. He said he had caught the man having sex with his wife (successfully claiming that he thought the man was a dangerous intruder in his home). However, Marissa Alexander, 34, of Jacksonville, was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison for “aggravated assault” for merely firing a warning shot during an altercation with her estranged husband. The man, Rico Gray, is a serial domestic abuser and admitted that he was threatening Alexander that night and that she never actually pointed her gun directly at him. However, the judge denied Alexander use of the “stand your ground” defense because she had declined to simply walk away from Gray. 38 CULTURE • AUGUST 2013
FETISHES ON PARADE ; (1) According to Chicago police, Gerardo Perez, 50, broke away while on a tour in May of the Chicago Animal Care and Control Facility because he had been struck with a sexual attraction. He was discovered minutes later on his hands and knees beside a pit bull, “appearing to have just had sex with the animal,” according to a report on WMAQ-TV. (2) Shaun Orris, 41, was charged with disorderly conduct in Waukesha, Wis., in June after raising a ruckus outside the Montecito Ristorante Lounge, harassing passersby by loudly expressing his “constitutional right” to have sex with goats.
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS ; Not Well-Thought-Out: (1) A 64-year-old man was arrested in Geelong, Australia (near Melbourne) in June after carjacking a 22-year-old woman’s vehicle. He was still on-scene when police arrived, as it took him time to load his walker into the car, along with several bags he had nearby when he decided to commandeer the vehicle. (2) A well-dressed, 5-foot-10 man bailed out of an attempted robbery in May of a New York City Bank of America when, after handing a teller his holdup note, the woman panicked, began screaming “Oh my God!” and ran to the other side of the bank, diving under a counter. According to a witness, the robber stood in silence for a few seconds before fleeing.
UPDATE ; When last we checked on Wesley Warren Jr., 49, of Las Vegas, he was delaying his inevitable surgery to repair his permanently inflamed, 140-pound scrotum (“scrotal lymphedema”). He said at the time that he was enjoying the many television and radio appearances discussing his plight and that he feared becoming a nobody again after the surgery. He has now had the 13-hour operation, done pro bono by Dr. Joel Gelman of University of California, Irvine, and will soon be walking without hindrance, but his latest dissatisfaction, he told a British TV show in June (reported by The
Sun), is that the surgery left him with a penis about 1 inch long.
A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (AUGUST 2009) ; Lonely Japanese men (and a few women) with rich imaginations have created a thriving subculture (“otaku”) in which they have all-consuming relationships with figurines that are based on popular anime characters. “The less extreme,” reported a New York Times writer in July, obsessively collect the dolls. The hardcore otaku “actually believes that a lumpy pillow with a drawing of a (teenage character) is his girlfriend,” and takes her out in public on romantic dates. “She has really changed my life,” said “Nisan,” 37, referring to his gal, Nemutan. (The otaku dolls are not to be confused with the life-size, anatomically correct dolls that other lonely men use for sex.) One forlorn “2-D” (so named for preferring relationships with two-dimensionals) said he would like to marry a real, 3-D woman, “(b)ut look at me. How can someone who carries this (doll) around get married?”
COMMUNITY ACTIVISM ; Despite Chicago’s recent crisis of gang-related street murders, the Roseland Community Hospital in a tough south-side neighborhood is on the verge of closing because of finances, and community groups have been energetically campaigning to keep it open. Joining civic leaders in the quest is the Black Disciples street gang, whose cofounder Don Acklin begged in June for the hospital to remain open, explaining, “It’s bad enough we’re out here harming each other.” Besides wounded gang members needing emergency care, said Acklin, closing would amount to “genocide” because of all the innocent people exposed to crossfire.
GOVERNMENT IN ACTION ; Suspicions Confirmed: A warehouse in Landover, Md., maintained by a company working on contract for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, contained “secret rooms” of furniture and equip-
ment described as “man caves” for company employees. The EPA inspector general announced the discovery in May, and the government confiscated TVs, refrigerators, couches, personal photos, pin-ups, magazines and videos that the contractor’s personnel brought in while ostensibly “working” on agency business. ; Update: “(Supermodels) is the one exception (to U.S. immigration policy) that we all scratch our heads about,” said a Brookings Institution policy analyst, speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek in May. Foreign-born sports stars and entertainers are fast-tracked with American work permits under one system, but supermodels were excluded from that and must thus compete (successfully, it turns out) with physicists and nuclear engineers to earn visas among the 65,000 slots available only to “skilled workers with college degrees.” As such, around 250 beauties are admitted every year. (The most recent attempt to get supermodels their own visa category was championed in 2005 and 2007 by, appropriately, then-U.S.-Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York.)
POLICE REPORT ; Rewarding the Breast Disguises: (1) An April crime report in San Francisco, noting that a female driver had rammed another car in a parking-space dispute, noted that the victim gave officers little help. The man could not tell officers the model car that hit him, and certainly not a license plate number, but he “was able to give a detailed description of the suspect’s cleavage.” No arrest was reported. (2) Colombian prisoner Giovanni Rebolledo was serving a 60-year sentence (as a member of the “Los Topos” gang charged with extortion, kidnapping and torture) when he escaped and decided on an extreme identity change in order to move about in the country. He became “Rosalinda,” complete with, according to Colombia Reports news service, “impressive” breast implants, but nonetheless was identified in May in a routine traffic stop and arrested. 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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