2 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 3
departments
18
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. 14 Strain & Edible Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 22 Destination Unknown Ditch the tourists, hop on a riverboat and head to Battambang, Cambodia. 23 Profiles in Courage Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you.
features 10 A New Beginning San Diego’s struggle for regulated access continues . . . 12 Frontiers of Science A federal cannabis researcher reveals the “pot patch.”
24 Cool Stuff From the DabR to Luminair Tree Tents, if it’s a cuttingedge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 25 Recipes Think drink! To usher in the warmer months, we’ve got the solution to your thirst. Cocktails for everyone! 26 Shooting Gallery Here are the green-friendly things we saw you doing around town. 28 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture.
4 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 5
letter from the editor
Vol 4 IssUE 12
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Managing Editor RJ Villa
Arts & Entertainment Editor
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
Evan Senn
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Ashley Bennett, Jake Browne, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Carolina Duque, Charmie Gholson, Michael Gifford, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen, RJ Villa, Simon Weedn
Photographers
Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, Eric Fowler, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Seneca Knight, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Mark Malijan, Patrick Roddie, Kim Sidwell
Interns
Joe Martone, Derek Obregon
Art Director
Steven Myrdahl
Graphic Designers
Vidal Diaz, Tommy LaFleur
Director of Sales & Marketing Jim Saunders
Regional Manager Beau Odom
Office Manager Iris Norsworthy
Office Assistant Jamie Solis
Online Marketing Jackie Moe
Account Executives
Jon Bookatz, Gene Gorelik, Shane Harms, Justin Marsh, John Parker, Dave Ruiz, Paulina Porter-Tapia, Kim Slocum, April Tygart
IT Manager
Serg Muratov
Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes 20,000 papers at over 500 locations throughout San Diego. 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. 3047 University Ave | #202 San Diego | California | 92014 Phone 888.694.2046 | Fax 951.284.2596 www.iREADCULTURE.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
6 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 7
Alex Kreit
THE STATE Former SD Medical Marijuana Task Force chair says AB 473 could fix things
Thomas Jefferson School of Law associate professor Alex Kreit—a former chair of San Diego’s Medical Marijuana Task Force—recently said California’s MMJ issues might be resolved by AB 473, a proposed state bill that would put MMJ regulations and enforcement under the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, according to KPBS. “This issue has been up in front of the state Supreme Court a ridiculous number of times,” Kreit says. “When you have this amount of court activity around an issue it points to a problem with state law.”
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner still optimistic about regulated access
California Supreme Court’s May 6 ruling. “I would hope that our city would move to regulated access.” City Attorney Jan Goldsmith concurred with Filner, adding “If someone who is seriously ill and in pain and wants to use it, I’m not going to say, ‘no’ or put you in jail for doing that.” In April, Filner attempted to get his fellow council members to approve his proposed regulations, which allowed dispensaries in commercial and industrial zones and set up annual permit fees and an excise tax, but was rebuffed in favor of stricter regulations originally proposed in 2011.
THE NATION
Anti-cannabis NY Assemblyman Steve Katz cleared of marijuana possession charge
One On One Patient Association reacts to recent DEA raid
One On One Patient Association— one of the few storefronts left in San Diego—was raided by the DEA last month immediately after association president Kenneth Cole testified in favor of Mayor Bob Filner’s proposed MMJ regulations before the city council. “I want the federal people to tell the general public—starting with our lawyers—that they have been lying to us for four years or five years or six years if necessary, by telling us that ‘if you do follow all of the guidelines, you do follow all of the rules, we’re not coming after you. You’re not the bad guys. We’re going after drug dealers.’” Cole did not state whether or not the dispensary would reopen and is in talks with his attorneys.
cancer. 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.
American Urological Association: Frequent cannabis use linked to lower risk of bladder cancer
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
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
Despite the fact that the state’s highest court ruled that cities can use zoning regulations to ban storefront MMJ providers, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner says he’s hoping his local government will end up regulating MMJ, according to Fox 5 San Diego. Filner, who has been pushing for MMJ regulations, said “I don’t like it, but that’s the ruling,” regarding the 8 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
unlawful possession and allowed to drive away. In a mailer to his 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 Colombia 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
Brad Wollack
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
5
9
6
10
The number of indoor cultivation sites that were raided in San Diego last month: 9 (Source: Medical Marijuana Business Daily).
1
The maximum amount (in pounds) of medical cannabis that the San Diego City Marijuana Task Force recommended for authorized MMJ patients to grow or possess in 2002: 3 (Source: NBC San Diego).
A low estimate of the number of growing businesses that currently produce the cannabis for legal purposes: 2,000 (Source: The Wall Street Journal).
3
The maximum number of cannabis plants that this task force recommended for authorized caregivers: 90 (Source: U-T San Diego).
4
The amount (in pounds) of medical cannabis that a patient could possess, according to a San Diego city ordinance proposed in 2003: 3. (Source: U-T San Diego)
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).
11
The approximate percentage of New Mexico MMJ patients who use medical cannabis to treat PTSD: 40 (Source: New Mexico Department of Health).
12
2
The maximum amount (in pounds) of medical cannabis that this task force recommended for authorized caregivers: 9 (Source: NBC San Diego).
The number of MMJ patients in New Mexico: 9,090 (Source: New Mexico Department of Health).
The percentage of young Christians who support legalizing cannabis: 50 (Source: U.S. News & World Report)
7
A high estimate of the number of growing businesses that currently produce the cannabis for legal purposes: 4,000 (Source: The Wall Street Journal).
8
The estimated amount (in billions of dollars) of sales that legal cannabis growing businesses generated last year: 1.3 (Source: National Cannabis Industry Association).
13
The percentage of Christians who say smoking cannabis is not a sin: 70 (Source: U.S. News & World Report).
Brad Wollack is a talented comedian that you certainly don’t want to miss. He got his first big break as the curly red headed man from the roundtable of Chelsea Lately and now is your chance to really get to know him and the rest of the crew on After Lately—a behindthe-scenes show where Chelsea Handler gives her staff (especially Wollack) a lot of crap. Although Chelsea is repulsed by Wollack physically and constantly calls him ugly, don’t be misguided into believing that she actually hates him. Yeah, she may be disgusted by him and his wife attempting to have a child, but all in all she keeps him around because he’s not half bad. In Handler’s new book, Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me, Wollack’s chapter is entitled, “My Name is Brad Wollack and I’m Unattractive” . . . at least he can make fun of himself. When he’s not making us laugh on TV, his effortless quick wit is bringing controversial comedy about drinking and driving live and on stage. If you’re not too politically correct to find him funny—come laugh at the twisted humor of Brad Wollack.
IF YOU GO
What: Brad Wollack. When/Where: June 14-15 at The American Comedy Co., 818 B 6th Ave., San Diego. Info: $18. Go to www. americancomedyco.com. JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 9
FLASH
Peacemaker
The Fight Continues San Diego Mayor Bob Filner Upholds the Voice of the Public {By RJ Villa} San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and members of the City Council have sitting at their desks the newly drafted law regulating medical cannabis establishments in the city of San Diego, a spokesman for the city attorney recently told CULTURE. The newly drafted ordinance would allow dispensaries to operate legally for five years under a conditional use permit. A 100-foot buffer would be required between dispensaries and residential zones. It also would forbid medical cannabis dispensaries within 1,000 feet of child care centers, churches, municipal libraries, playgrounds, public parks, residential care facilities, schools and other
10 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
dispensaries. The proposal also calls for indoor and outdoor lighting, increased security measures and places restrictions on signage. It would place a limit on hours, keeping them open within a 7am to 9pm time frame, seven days a week. The new ordinance would also place a ban on vending machine type dispensing. And Mayor Filner continued to show his support for medical cannabis rights and the will of the people with public statements. Filner became vocal in response to the federal gag order placed on collective operator Ronnie Chang’s defense attorney Michael McCabe, after the San Diego Chapter for Americans for Safe
Since being elected in November, one of San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s top priorities has been allowing the legal reopening of some medical dispensaries. Municipal enforcement actions have all but ceased at year’s end since he became mayor. No new enforcement actions from Neighborhood Code Compliance Department nor the San Diego Police Department had been referred for prosecution, according to the City Attorney’s Office as of mid-May.
Access (San Diego ASA) posted a video of McCabe criticizing the prosecution in the case, stating that Chang believes he “is being singled out as a scapegoat in order to intimidate others.” “Fortunately the gag order doesn’t apply to me,” Filner stated at a press conference to reporters outside the federal courthouse on May 20. Filner reaffirmed his view that at the federal level, in states that have approved the use of marijuana within their borders, prosecution should not even be taking place. “The public doesn’t even want the federal government to step in, they’ve told us with referendum after referendum,” stated Filner. “I hope the people who form our juries will say ‘enough is enough.’” In March, San Diego ASA posted a video depicting Chang’s attorney criticizing the prosecution in the case, stating among other things that Chang believes he “is being singled out as a scapegoat in order to intimidate others. Immediately after the video’s release to the public,
prosecutor Paul Starita filed a gag order to prevent McCabe from speaking in public about Chang’s situation until the case is brought to trial this summer on June 4. San Diego ASA believes Chang is facing “retaliation for fighting a law suit the City of San Marcos filed against Mr. Chang’s collective.” State charges in his case were dropped and were brought instead in federal court. The OB Rag had reported that Mayor Filner conversed with Terrie Best, San Diego ASA’s court support coordinator, and issued the following statement in May 16: “In cases like these, where Ronnie Chang will face a jury of his peers, jurors may be faced with decisions about unjust laws. There is a mechanism for the peoples’ will to prevail. It is called jury nullification and holds that jurors have a right and even a duty to vote their conscience if they feel the government is engaged in injustice. In voting to acquit victims of unjust laws, jurors cannot be punished for their verdicts.” c www.safeaccesssd.org fija.org
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 11
BUZZ
Strain For Pain University of Mississippi researchers are zeroing in on new ways to administer cannabis medicine {By Jasen T. Davis}
You can say that Dr. Mahmoud ElSohly has a unique job. He is the director of the University of Mississippi’s Marijuana Project (UMMP), a research laboratory dedicated to growing and studying cannabis for the purposes of scientific research. And, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this heavily-guarded, incredibly secure installation is also the one place in the entire country where federally-funded officials can obtain cannabis at all. Dr. ElSohly’s current work involves studying tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its effects on the human body, particularly its propensity for pain relief. “There are many indications
for which THC would be a good medicine if you have the right formulations and dosing,” says Dr. ElSohly. THC and other cannabinoids are the chemical compounds largely responsible for the plant’s beneficial effects. But while some rely on smoking for the relief of pain, nausea, anxiety, depression and insomnia, the doctor believes that such methods aren’t advisable. “There’s an inherent problem with the smoking of marijuana as a delivery system,” Dr. ElSohly says. “There are so many variables in the smoking process,” he adds. “It’s ludicrous to think you could come up with a dosage. The problem with smoking marijuana is that when you take even a single puff, you absorb so much
all at once, which rushes into the brain and causes the side effects of smoking marijuana. If the high is too high, then you actually end up with the opposite activity of the high, which is the paranoia, the dysphoria and the problems associated with that.” So while patients across America might be puffing to ease the pain, researchers at the UMMP are studying cannabis in order to isolate the precise compounds that have beneficial properties so that people don’t have to light up. For scientists like Dr. ElSohly, the question of whether or not cannabis is beneficial isn’t an issue. “Does it lower intraocular pressure for glaucoma patients? Yes it does. Does it reduce anxiety? Yes it does,” he says.
Formula For Success
Dr. ElSohly has not only been the director of the UMMP since 1981, he is also the principal investigator for ElSohly Laboratories, Inc., a private organization currently working on patented formulas for various other THC delivery systems. In 2010, the doctor was awarded more than $200,000 in federal funds for his cannabis research.
One recent breakthrough developed by Dr. ElSohly and his UMMP team is a THC patch (similar to a nicotine patch) that can be placed in your mouth, along the gum line, to administer a dose. Because the UMMP’s formula for the patch is much less synthetic than drugs like Marinol (a synthesized form of THC), it is a more reliable way to deliver the medicine. “We’re not really introducing anything strange to the body, other than the THC itself,” he says. “Because of the way it is absorbed it’s almost like it’s absorbed through the lungs, like the smoke. When you smoke, it goes to the lungs, to the whole, entire body before going to the liver. Unlike the oral [which] goes to the liver first and then goes to the rest of the body,” That means that MMJ patients may have another option in finding measurable relief without lighting up. “It looks like we have a successful product with good bioavailability and blood levels,” ElSohly says. “We have observed absorption for up to 10 hours.” For a lot of patients—especially asthma sufferers—that’s a great way to manage the pain without having to go up in smoke. c www.mpp.org/states/mississippi
12 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 13
strain & edible reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Berry Haze The hybrid strain Berry Haze found at Kind Patient Services crosses the hall-of-fame genetics of Super Silver Haze with the well known traits of Blueberry. The taste and effect of Berry Haze is to be respected. Even those with higher tolerances will get what they look for from this strain’s 27.3-percent THC levels. Creating an active mind from its sativa-strong parent, this strain delivers an instant effect. You first feel it in the eyes, then throughout the rest of your body. Berry Haze creates a steady euphoria that helps alleviate anxiety, and increases appetite. The flowers are light green with a few orange hairs peeking out through the trichomes. Breaking open the flower is like opening a package of blueberries; the smell is uncanny. Its flavor is very front-of-the-mouth, pushing your taste buds forward. Placed in a vaporizer, forget about it. It’s almost like dessert.
Canna Products Edible Cannabis Canna Coffee Cake Aloha San Diego’s Finest Care carries edibles that bring that little bit of aloha we all need in our lives, through Canna Products - Edible Cannabis. Its Canna Coffee Cake would be a great way to start your day with your morning cup of coffee or tea. This scrumptious edible produced a soothing body effect, comparable to a long drawn out massage. All of Canna Products’ medicated edibles are made with 151-proof Everclear tincture, canna oils and butters to guarantee its effectiveness. This tasty square-shaped coffee cake crumbled in my mouth, making inhaling it almost impossible. Each bite ended with a light cinnamon-sprinkled crunch. Its effects—mellow and sustained—slowly settled in within an hour, and were never overwhelming. Canna Products, a local company that has been in business since 2011, also makes medicated cookies, jams and candies.
Sour LA Being surrounded by a concrete jungle, while travelling on an asphalt assembly line, can give many a reason to be pretty sour on life. Organic Roots Collective in San Diego has a strain that makes navigating through all this a little bit more bearable. This Sour Diesel crossed with LA Confidential balances the traits from Sour LA’s respective sativa and indica parents. This strain delivers the cerebral effects of Sour Diesel, while delivering the sedating effect sought after in LA Confidential’s Afghani crossed roots. These lime green buds are very indica in structure, with a plethora of Diesel-like orange hairs branching out. The piney and skunky scent is very LA Confidential, but can barely hide the distinct Diesel undertones. Sprinkled with mushroomed trichomes, these dense flowers break off in perfect-sized bowls for medicating. Sour LA’s effects immediately relieve nausea and anxiety, increase appetite and alleviate chronic pain.
14 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 15
16 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 17
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. 18 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
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 19
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.
//ON STAGE// Performing Oct. 6-8 at Sycuan Casino in El Cajon. 20 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
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
paulrodriguez.com V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 21
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 22 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 San Diego 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
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 23
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
24 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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.
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.
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 25
For our complete recipes go to ireadculture.com.
Mix well and serve in small chilled glass over ice
Shooting Gallery GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
The Green Gathering in Bonsall (Photos by Eric Fowler)
San Diego Medi-Cup (Photos by Seneca Knight Photography)
26 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 27
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) 28 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
Donavon Frankenreiter Best known as a world -traveled surfer and the guy who gave Jack Johnson his cool, sweet edge, Donavon Frankenreiter is the one to thank for bringing us the chill, happy-go-lucky songs like “Lovely Day” and “Free.” His music fits into the genre of songs that make you want to roll the windows down and turn the music up in your car while heading down to the beach. Paired up with bassist Matt Grundy, Frankenreiter created the simple folkinspired album Start Livin’ using unconventional means to make a beat. Forgoing the typical drumset, the musicians were clapping their hands and banging pots and pans to create the perfect sound. Frankenreiter is an easygoing songwriter, singer and musician. With a loving wife and two sons back at home in Hawaii, his new album is a true dedication to how much joy they bring to his life. The intimacy of the songs mixed with a folk influence and unavoidable rock ‘n’ roll riffs promote his passion—spreading messages of nonconformity and being true to yourself—which is highlighted in his music video “Move by Yourself.” His cool style and unconventional ways are proof positive that Frankenreiter practices what he preaches in his lyrics.
IF YOU GO
What: Donavon Frankenreiter in concert. When/Where: June 21 at Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Info: $30. Go to www.bellyup. com.
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
Let’s Do This Our picks for the coolest things to do around town San Diego County Fair, opens June 8
Rides! Cotton candy! Deep fried food! Games and prizes! Exclamation points! You know how much fun this fair is—go out and party. Del Mar Fairgrounds, San Diego sdfair.com
San Diego Celebrity 5K Walk, June 15
Watch B- and C-list actors exercise for a fleeting moment of fame—um, a good cause. Yes, it’s all about helping people. Liberty Station Park, San Diego kpbs.org
Alpha Warrior Obstacle Course, June 15-16
Only the MANLIEST of MEN may master this challenge of STRENGTH and TESTOSTERONE. Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego alphawarrior.com
Vans Warped Tour, June 19
Go there for the music you’ve loved since middle school. Leave when you realize you’re surrounded by middle schoolers. Sleep Train Amphitheatre, San Diego vanswarpedtour.com
She & Him, June 21
Zooey Deschanel sings in her own special way with a hipster on guitar. It’s like New Girl, except less intentionally awkward and you’ll be paying to see it. Open Air Theatre, SDSU www.as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena
Loews Surf Dog Competition, June 22
Surfing dogs? Yup, the Internet has invaded the island. Loews Coronado Hotel, Coronado loewssurfdog.blogspot.com
La Jolla Festival of Arts, June 22-23
Original and local fine art is on display here. Embrace your inner art critic and crush the dreams of the original and local artists. Warren Field, UC San Diego www.lajollaartfestival.org
Calendar Girls: Hell on High Heels Burlesque Revue, June 29
Who says art can’t be sexy? Watch this women turn titillation into top-tier art and entertainment. Your wife will totally understand. Brick by Brick, San Diego hellonheelsburlesque.com
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 29
30 CULTURE • JUNE 2013
V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JUNE 2013 • CULTURE 31