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departments 6 Letter from the Editor Concentrates might be the latest trend . . . but they’ve been around for centuries.
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Punk to the Core
Hardscrabble icon Henry Rollins tells it like it is. Just stand back. Photo by Heidi May
8 News Nuggets Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere— and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers. 14 Strain, Edible & Concentrates Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains, edibles & concentrates currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 16 Destination Unknown Morocco’s magic includes the (in)famous “Hippie Trail.” 17 Profiles in Courage Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you.
4 PG. 2
features 10 The Waiting Game? Where’s the new ordinance, Bob? 12 End of an Era A final update from UC San Diego’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.
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28 Cool Stuff From the eGo-T Vaporizer Pen to the Blade Runner Style LED Umbrella, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 30 Recipes Whether you rock the gas, the charcoal, the electric (George Foreman, anyone?) or the portable, fire that grill up! 34 Shooting Gallery Here are the green-friendly things we saw you doing around town. 35 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture. V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
JULY 2013 • CULTURE 5
letter from the editor
Vol 5 IssUE 1
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
Ancient Medicine One of the things that strikes me about medical cannabis is that it is—to quote an old song—“a manysplendored thing.” No matter what your condition, no matter what your ailment, no matter what symptom or disease is affecting your quality of life, there’s a form of cannabis for it. For many patients, smoking flowers is the go-to medicating method. For others who can’t or don’t want to inhale smoke there are edibles. Those who want to keep cannabis’ psychoactive properties at bay can turn to topical creams or perhaps CBD-rich strains that are high in body relief, low in head change. But what about patients who are seriously suffering from heavy-duty ills and conditions, such as neuropathic pain or that down-to-thebone pain from cancer and/or chemo? What then? Patients who need to reach for the big guns also have something to turn to, something that, when all is said and done, has been around for centuries actually: concentrates, glorious concentrates. You see, while budder, wax, oil, shatter and other forms of concentrates seem to have exploded in popularity in our community over the past couple of years . . . really, they are all just new forms of ancient medicine. Hash (or hashish) is the original concentrate . . . or to put it another way, concentrates are the refined, new-school versions of the stuff Nepalese workers have been hand rubbing for centuries. Yes, I said “centuries.” We started with temple balls . . . now we have globs and dabs. In fact, the history of hash being used for medicinal (as well as recreational) use goes back to at least the 3rd millennium BC, according to some scholars. Don’t assume that the popularity of concentrates is something new—it’s not. Consider this: During the 1840s in Paris, a group of writers, aesthetes, poets and similar types would gather to experiment with hashish. And the group was far from shy when it named itself— what else—The Club of Hashish-Eaters (these guys were ingesting edibles!). French writer Charles Baudelaire wrote a book in 1860 that
Evan Senn
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Ashley Bennett, Jake Browne, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Carolina Duque, Charmie Gholson, Michael Gifford, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen, Simon Weedn
Photographers
Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, Eric Fowler, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Seneca Knight, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Kim Sidwell
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Kim Johnson, Derek Obregon
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Steven Myrdahl
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Vidal Diaz, Tommy LaFleur
Director of Sales & Marketing Jim Saunders
Regional Manager Beau Odom
Office Manager Iris Norsworthy
Office Assistant Jamie Solis
Social Media Manager
detailed his experiences with hashish. American writer Fitz Hugh Ludlow, in 1857, wrote The Hasheesh Eater. In the U.S., roughly between the 1860s and early 1900s, legal hashish smoking parlors (a Turkish influence) became the rage. At one point, hashish was so revered in Arab lands, that one poet lavishly praised its fabulous properties: . . . its intoxicating aroma conveying to you by way of your nostrils its exhilarating effect. No wine or tonic could generate Such a heavenly sensation. “Heavenly sensation.” I like that. We’ve come a long way, concentrates . . . but in a sense, we’re right back where it all started, no? For patients, concentrates (which are just another form of MMJ, remember), offers us relief, healing and the quality of life that no wine or tonic could generate. Enjoy our 710 Issue!!!! c
Evan Senn
Account Executives
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Highlands Ranch Village Center, near Sycamore Ridge. One school district trustee, Board President Scott Wooden, said he opposes storefronts around Carmel Valley and Del Mar retail centers but felt that they can be appropriately located in “heavy duty” commercial or industrial areas, Carmel Valley News reports. It is not known when exactly San Diego city officials will revisit passing an MMJ ordinance.
No ordinance, but still hope for patient access to meds
In the wake of San Diego’s efforts to finalize a medical cannabis ordinance to meet the needs of its patients and constituents, providers of the healing plant continue to move forward with caregiving—and a patients’ Del Mar district officials advocacy group says that’s provide input to San legit. While Mayor Bob Filner is Diego’s proposed MMJ pro-medical cannabis and called regulations off any MMJ enforcement a few As San Diego continues to months ago, he recently said work on medical cannabis that, in the absence of a new regulations, the Del Mar Union ordinance, storefronts should School District is seeking to wait before they open. submit its feedback to city Nonetheless, an estimated 25 officials regarding storefronts, the Carmel Valley News reports. In storefronts have opened in the essence, district officials want to city, including about 10 in Pacific Beach, Fox 5 News said. Eugene make sure that any prospective medical cannabis providers and Davidovich, coordinator for the San Diego Chapter of Americans storefronts do not establish for Safe Access, characterized themselves too close to school storefronts as “providing a campuses. service to needy patients at great Other community groups personal risk to their businesses,” in places like Carmel Valley according to U-T San Diego. and Torrey Pines have also sought to ensure buffers between MMJ operations and “neighborhood community zones.” Several months ago, San Diego Bob Filner had proposed an ordinance that would have allowed storefronts in certain industrial zones such as Del Mar Heights Village (near Del Mar Hills School), Flower Hill Promenade and the site of the future Pacific
THE STATE
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THE NATION
THE WORLD France takes the first step in clearing the way for cannabis-based medicines
Viva le France! The country that gave us the Statue of Liberty and saved our butts during the Revolutionary War has found its compassionate side. France ACLU: Cannabis-related arrests and enforcement is recently modified its public health code to allow the use racially biased of cannabis-based medicines, Arresting people for having including the plant itself. Up cannabis wastes billions until now, non-industrial uses of in taxpayer money and cannabis had been prohibited. discriminates against African However, cannabis-based Americans—even though medicines must still be approved blacks and whites use cannabis by the country’s National at roughly the same rate, Medical Safety Agency. The according original research by changes allow “the production, the ACLU. More than half of all transport, export, possession, drug arrests in this country are related to cannabis, according to offering, acquisition or use of specialty pharmaceuticals that the group’s research. Of the 8.2 million arrests between 2001 and contains one of these (cannabisderivative) substances.” 2010, nearly 90 percent of them were for simply possession. The research also indicates that, despite the roughly same rate of usage, blacks are nearly four times more likely than whites to be arrested for cannabis. In Iowa, Washington, D.C., Minnesota and Illinois, African Americans were 7.5 to 8.5 times more likely than whites to be arrested. The ACLU estimates that about $3.6 billion was spent on enforcing cannabis laws.
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But even with these changes, observers and cannabis medicine proponents expect it will be some time before such medicines made their way into the hands of patients and the sick. “The law allows us above all to unblock the process of launching research into cannabinoids,” Philippe Gaertner, a spokesman for a French pharmacists union, told English-language French news site The Local. “I’m not sure we’ll have these medicines on the market quickly.”
LGBT Pride
Former Mexican president Vicente Fox supports legalization, regulation
Mexico’s former president (and former Coca-Cola executive), Vicente Fox, publicly announced his support for legalizing and regulating cannabis, arguing that it would deal a blow to violent drug cartels by taking away their profits. The former head of state even suggested he would consider cultivating once the plant was legalized. “I am a farmer,” Fox told reporters at his Fox Center in central Mexico’s Guanajuato state. “Once marijuana is legitimate and legal, I can do it.”
Fox was president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006 for the conservative National Action Party. Roughly three years ago, he joined several other former Latin American leaders to advocate for cannabis decriminalization. “Marijuana with adequate controls and with legalization can perfectly well be an operating, legal industry [in Mexico] that would take millions of dollars away from the criminals,” Fox said.
by the numbers violence: 70,000 (Source: The Huffington Post).
10
The amount of money (in millions) that former Microsoft manager Jamen Shively raised to create a cannabis business and brand in Washington state: 10 (Source: CBS News).
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The number of MMJ storefronts currently estimated to be open in Pacific Beach: 10 (Source: Fox 5 San Diego).
1
The amount of monthly profit (in dollars) Shively’s business plan says each of his “pot stores” would generate: 120,000 (Source: CBS News).
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One estimate of the number of storefronts currently operating throughout San Diego: 15 (Source U-T San Diego).
3
Another estimate of the number of storefronts currently operating throughout San Diego: 25 (Source ABC 10 News).
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The number of storefronts that were estimated to have been shut down during the past two years: 100 (Source U-T San Diego).
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The number of patients served by one recently raided storefront in San Diego: 13,000 (Source: Fox 5 San Diego).
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The amount of money (in billions) spent on raciallybiased cannabis arrests: 3.6 (Source: Sacramento Observer)
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The percentage of drug arrests in 2010 that were for cannabis: 52 (Source: ACLU).
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The number of people (in millions) arrested for cannabis between 2001 and 2010: 7+ (Source: ACLU).
9
The number of lives lost in Mexico due to drug cartel
The estimated amount of money (in billions of dollars) that U.S. states spend every year on enforcing cannabis laws: 3.6 (Source: Yahoo News).
13
The length (in months) of the relationship that a qualified patient from New Hampshire would need to have with a physician before being approved for MMJ: 3 (Source: ConcordPatch).
The annual San Diego LGBT Pride Parade is the fourth largest pride parade in the U.S., bringing 200,000 cheering spectators and many press outlets to witness and participate in this spectacular event. San Diego LGBT Pride is sponsoring an entire weekend of awesome activities and events, including a two-day festival in Balboa Park with local and international bands and DJs. The Grand Marshals this year include the legendary LGBT activist and celebrity couple Brad and George Takei. As San Diego LGBT Pride gears up there are several parties leading up to and occurring during Pride weekend, July 12-13. San Diego LGBT Pride has given over $1.4 million dollars to local LGBT community organizations and causes! They’ve got an All In Pride Celebration taking place on June 27, a Pride of Hillcrest Block Party on July 12, a Spirit of Stonewall Rally also on July 12, the Pride Festival July 13-14, the Pride Parade on July 13 and the Art of Pride/Ray at Night event in North Park. Show your love.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: San Diego LGBT Pride Parade, Rally and Festival. WHEN/WHERE: July 1214 at various locations, venues. INFO: Free shuttles and parking, but for specific locations and schedules please visit www.sdpride.org. JULY 2013 • CULTURE 9
FLASH
In Limbo San Diego Mayor: Dispensaries Must Wait Until New Ordinance is Final
{By RJ Villa}
Change happens . . . but it takes time. Proponents of medical cannabis in San Diego County who have embraced efforts to legitimize safe access—such as San Diego Major Bob Filner—have a bit of a waiting game on their hands. When the pro-MMJ Filner was recently asked if any dispensary should be operating in San Diego, Filner’s response rang loud and clear. “There should be none,” Filner stated. When U-T San Diego, in its June 12 edition, ran an article on San Diego’s MMJ struggles (“Filner: Med pot shops are illegal”), it underscored the uncertainties regarding the city’s currently operating dispensaries. “It’s still illegal,” Filner said. “There is no [land-use] zone that allows it and we will enforce it,” the U-T reported. “And, in fact, code enforcement is investigating any report that we have of those violations.” The grey area that exists in San Diego leaves dispensaries in a limbo, some argue. Local dispensaries began re-opening around San Diego amidst no action being taken since the start of 2013, when Filner ordered police and code compliance officers to stop investigating collectives. Filner was
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then on record backtracking a few weeks later when he issued a statement with City Council President Todd Gloria and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith stating a new ordinance is coming, but until its adoption, no dispensaries would be allowed. Filner’s latest statements have shown his stance is not favorable for existing dispensaries, until a new ordinance is adopted. “We said it is illegal until a new ordinance is formed and we will enforce it,” Filner added. In April, the City Council revisited the failed 2011 ordinance with minor alterations instead of supporting a new proposal by Filner. The City Attorney’s Office has the drafted proposal for a new dispensary ordinance. It is currently going before local community and planning groups for review
over the next several weeks. Since everything is still on the proverbial drawing board, and as of now still no official date has been set for a council vote, the dispensaries operating in San Diego could be doing so at their own risk. Quoted in the U-T this past month, Eugene Davidovich, local coordinator with the San Diego Chapter of Americans for Safe Access, said he disagrees with the premise that dispensaries are currently illegal. He pointed out that the zoning laws do not address them in any way, and reiterated that the City Council voted unanimously in April to craft an ordinance that would allow them to operate. He considers those dispensaries currently providing medication to patients in need as “admirable and courageous.”
Rules of
“The reason we have so many [dispensaries] out there is because there is a need for sick and dying people to have a place to walk into with safe and reliable access to marijuana,” Davidovich says. Some estimates say there are currently over a dozen medical marijuana dispensary locations operating in the city. Medical marijuana patients are grateful for the safe access to cannabis these locations are currently providing medication in this current time of uncertainty. Until an official date is set for a vote on the new ordinance, whether or not the city will take action against these storefronts that have opened their doors ahead of the implementation of any new ordinances has yet to be determined. c
Engagement
The current drafted proposal for San Diego’s MMJ regulations would limit dispensaries to some commercial and industrial zones, requiring them to be at least 1,000 feet from each other as well as child care, churches, libraries, parks, playgrounds, schools and youth facilities. The collectives must operate as nonprofits, adhering to a set of standard business hours and have security guards for patients’ safety.
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BUZZ
Medical Frontiers UC San Diego’s cannabis researchers wrap up 13 years of study {By Philip Dawdy} In 1999, the published medical literature supporting the medical benefits of cannabis was thin, so California’s State Legislature did something to push back against a federal government that insisted there was no medical value to cannabis: it created the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine and gave it funding to conduct clinical trials. The Center’s charge was to investigate on the efficacy and risks of using cannabis to treat human ailments. Opened in 2000, the Center recently published its final study, one of six randomized, clinical trials that it has underwritten over the last 13 years. The studies mostly centered on cannabis’ use as a pain treatment. In the final study published last December in the Journal of Pain, researchers found that low-strength vaporized cannabis (1.29 percent THC) reduced pain in patients with neuropathic pain by 30 percent. Many medical cannabis studies include a small number
of subjects, but this study had 39 subjects. Other Center-sponsored studies have had similarly large sample sizes. But with its original funding now gone, the Center will not be gathering anymore data, certainly not until California’s budget picture improves. In summarizing the six studies, the Center’s co-director took a small swing at the federal government. “The big picture is that there’s enough positive data that this notion of cannabis being a Schedule 1 drug certainly deserves reconsideration,” says J. Hampton Atkinson, the Center’s co-director and a psychiatrist at UCSD. He adds that California is the only state in the U.S. to spend its own money on medical cannabis research. In terms of getting positive attention from more mainstream researchers, Atkinson says it’s still a tough slog. “I don’t know that we’re bending things too much,” he says. “These sorts of results would get more attention if this were [a] Schedule 2 drug and researchers could get research funding. The federal gov-
ernment discourages people.” Atkinson reports that all of the Center’s studies found positive results for medicinal cannabis and no risks. Interestingly, he says that research found the best results at THC concentrations of 2 percent to 4 percent, and that effects were no more profound at 8 percent THC. While many in the medical cannabis world assume that more is better when it comes to THC percentages, Atkinson says the “therapeutic window” appears at lower doses. Keep in mind, however, that the Center had to use cannabis grown at the University of Mississippi under contract to the federal government and Ole Miss cannabis is renowned for being weak in THC. How would today’s super strains of medical cannabis with 20 percent
Prioritizing Since its founding, the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research has worked hard to look at cannabis research that will “enhance understanding of the efficacy and adverse effects of marijuana as a pharmacological agent.” The diseases and conditions that the Center had prioritized for funding and study include—and these should be pretty familiar to longtime MMJ patients—appetite suppression, weight loss and cachexia due to HIV and other conditions; chronic pain, such as neuropathic pain; severe nausea and vomiting due to cancer and its treatment; and severe muscle spasticity, such as caused by multiple sclerosis (this is what Montel Williams has). 12 CULTURE • JULY 2013
and more of THC work medically? That will, of course, need to await further research. Atkinson is not a fan of the old Drug Warrior argument that America cannot have cannabis use of any kind because it’s a threat to children somehow. “We’re talking about treating cancer and HIV patients in their 40s and 50s, not pre-adolescent kids,” he says. For now, the center’s mission is complete but it will remain in existence as a resource for other interested researchers, says Atkinson. c www.cmcr.ucsd.edu
MS IS VERY SERIOUS
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strain, edible & concentrate reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Velvet Cake The Velvet Cakes offered at Point Loma Patients Association in San Diego are as delectable as they look. This delicate dessert is offered in both green and the more traditional red velvet cake. This moist cake is topped with a creamy frosting. Extra care was taken to stencil a marijuana leaf design to complete this delicate attention to detail. Velvet Cakes are a perfect way to pamper your taste buds, while medicating yourself. Tested at SC Laboratories, this cake delivers a good medicated dose, packing 500mg of bubble hash. It offers a strong euphoric feeling lasting several hours. It is never overwhelming, maintaining a steady, comfortable feeling. A perfect option for medicating during the day, it certainly allows you to maintain being active. These Velvet Cakes can be used to manage anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain migraines or nausea.
Naughty Girl Scout Cookies What is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie? Do-Si-Dos, Samoas, Tagalongs, perhaps Thin Mints? I am a big fan of this indica dominant hybrid strain; Naughty Girl Scout Cookies. You would actually be doing yourself a good turn daily if you add Naughty Girl Scout Cookies to your everyday strain rotation. VIP Buds in San Diego offers a solid four-way cross between Cherry Pie, Durban Poison, Grand Daddy Purple Genetics and its own VIP OG strain. These nugs are very dense and have a similar structure to its VIP OG parent. It has a very sweet and piney smell. The dark green and purple colors really make the orange hairs and frosty trichomes pop. Naughty Girl Scout Cookies is potent daytime medication. Its sativa traits give off an energetic, euphoric and uplifting feeling, perfect for creative fuel.
OG Wax The OG Wax offered at Organic Roots Collective in San Diego is strong. Its flavor and potency can be attributed to the healthy genetics of a pure OG Kush strain. The wax has an amber tint and crumbles like a soft cheese. When dabbed on the skillet or placed in a vaporizer pen the taste is unmistakable; extremely lemony and piney. It melts away, dissolving into a smooth smoke that gives you the intense lung expansive grip you expect from a strong OG concentrate. You can feel it instantly in the front of the head. OF Wax’s effects offer a full spectrum for both head and body. Patients have been using this concentrate for appetite stimulation, arthritis, chronic pain and muscle spasms. It also has a wonderful effect of managing anxiety and silencing the mind.
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Northern Lights Crumble Wax Nature’s Alternative Care in Pacific Beach has a Northern Lights Crumble Wax that will help relax the body and mind. This indica heavy wax comes from straight Northern Lights genetics, giving you the award-winning body effects desired in a strong indica strain. A blondish beige in color, it has a drier, smooth and claylike texture that is very malleable. It is easy to roll into a little ball for dabs. When dabbed, Northern Lights Crumble Wax melts into a smooth hitting smoke that leaves a sweet aftertaste. It has a heavy indica effect on the body that helps treat symptoms of chronic pain, migraines and muscle spasms. Its sedative effects make a great medication for anxiety, insomnia and nausea. This wax is an excellent choice for winding down, or for a night time medication. Everything will seem to crumble and melt away.
Aloha Oil Mahalo to Aloha SD Finest in San Diego for offering its Aloha Oil as a perfect option for refilling most vaporizer pens. You will not be turning heads if the wind catches what you are medicating on. The vapor released when you fire up Aloha Oil is void of cannabis odors. It is a perfect solution when you are in need to medicate, and discretion is paramount. Loaded into a eGo-T vaporizer pen, Aloha Oil gives a strong lung expansive grip as it is inhaled. Upon exhale, the vapor delivers a light cough and the smell lacks the cannabis odor one would normally expect from the dose delivered. Prefilled cartridges at Aloha SD Finest are compatible with mainstream nicotine product vaporizer pens such as the eGo-T, keeping medicating as discreet as possible. Sativa dominant, indica dominant or hybrid prefilled cartridges that work with most vape pens are also available. Aloha!
Legal Disclaimer
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 Prop. 215 and SB 420, and they are considered a form of medical cannabis (H&S 11018). Without a doctor’s recommendation for medical cannabis, the possession of concentrates in California can be a felony (PC 1170).
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destination unknown
By David Jenison
Blazing a Trail The “Hippie Trail” and Rif Mountains are just a few examples of Morocco’s magic Back in the day, Paul Bowles, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Tennessee Williams and the Rolling Stones all spent time in Morocco, a popular stop on the infamous 1960s Hippie Trail. William S. Burroughs, who heavily indulged in the ancient cannabis confection majoun while living in Tangiers, even made the Moroccan city a main setting in his epic novel Naked Lunch. Instability during the so-called Years of Lead caused setbacks, but the African country regained its footing in the ’90s, and the New York Times declared “A ‘Hippie Trail’ Stop Goes Mainstream in Morocco” in 2006. The country’s popularity is on the rise, and cannabis culture is a major attraction. Lonely Planet: Morocco writes that the U.S. is the only country to produce more cannabis, and the United Nations says Afghanistan only recently surpassed Morocco as the largest producer of hashish. Today, travelers walking Morocco’s magical streets will repeatedly hear offers of kif or kief, which is local slang for cannabis and hashish. Those who medicate often head to Chefchaouen in the northeastern Rif Mountains, which is where the bulk of the cannabis is grown. Hikers can trek past enormous kif fields, though the response from cannabis cultivators can range from 16 CULTURE • JULY 2013
direct sales to throwing rocks. Production in the Rif region dates back to the 15th century and was tolerated up through King Mohammed V, who took the throne following independence from France and Spain in 1956. Cannabis became illegal in the 1970s, and the U.S. and European Union continue to put pressure on the government to eradicate fields and punish offenders. In 2003, the U.K. Guardian claimed that cannabis is unofficially Morocco’s top foreign-currency earner, so that annoying Starbucks hipster will probably shave his crusty beard before the Moroccan government seriously cracks down on kif. Still, what crackdown does exist can adversely affect careless tourists. Here are the kif-related rules for tourists: Absolutely do not try to take cannabis out of the country, even on boats to Spain, as the international pushback from border seizures forces Morocco to punish “smuggling” with severity. Inside the country, only carry enough that can be easily tossed at the first sign of risk. Police officers tend to excuse tourists with a fine, but jail time is a possibility. Try to avoid buying from city street vendors as they often overcharge or inform the police, and do not buy while already medicated because hustlers like to take advantage of the potentially paranoid. Instead, be proactive in connecting with
like-minded locals (taxi drivers do not count) who can provide assistance in purchases or invites to partake in safe settings. Cannabis culture is huge in Morocco, and locals might even smoke publically in bars, but tourists should always exercise caution and common sense. The Rif Mountains will be high on many readers’ list, but where else should an erstwhile traveler visit? Film buffs might enjoy Rick’s Café in Casablanca, while fans of the Beat Generation should hit Tangiers. Riad-filled Marrakesh is the country’s international tourism calling card and the inspiration for Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Marrakesh Express,” while the rock archways of Legzira make it the country’s most beautiful beach. Several national parks also dot the Atlantic coastline, but those willing to get really sandy can head south to experience the Western Sahara desert by camelback. Just as Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, Morocco is a gateway country for Europe and Africa, and its resurgence continues to attract Western tourists. Moreover, it is an excellent place to experience the kif that inspired many of the 20th-century’s most brilliant literary and musical minds. c www.visitmorocco.com
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profiles in courage Patient:
Gina Garcia
AGE: 39
Condition/ Illness:
Anorexia, chronic pain and severe nausea, panic/anxiety disorder
Using medical cannabis since:
Photo by Kristopher Christensen
April 2007
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?
First and foremost, I’m not someone who wants to take pharmaceutical drugs for my issues. I feel more comfortable using Mother Nature’s gifts of herbs to aid me in my illnesses. I feel grateful to have this alternative to prescription medications, and it has wonders for me and my health.
Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis?
Yes. For many years I was taking prescription medications for my illnesses. I had a negative reaction and horrible side effects to all of them. Twentyseven medications later—and feeling like a guinea pig—it was suggested by my psychiatrist to become a patient. So glad I did!
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? I would have to say the federal government and [its] regulations.
What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine?
I always go back to my teenage years when my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I watched her in so much pain and agony as this disease slowly took her life. With all the meds she was put on, the cannabis was the only thing that allowed her to hold down her food and help her to sleep a little more comfortable. I am grateful cannabis was available to her while she was here. c
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Ever since the death of Mark Twain in 1910, the country has been in constant need of homegrown, brutally honest authors to gaze upon our world with X-ray perception and tell us the real truth of how we are doing things right or wrong, regardless of who we are or the extent of the backlash. Henry Rollins is a musician, performer and writer that has been doing just that with his regular journalistic contributions to magazines such as Details, LA Weekly, Vanity Fair and The Huffington Post. Along with his stand up comedy, spoken word performances and YouTube series, “WordswithMeaning!” Rollins’ critical observations have been the perfect vehicle for a sustained, uncompromising assault on hypocrites, idiots and pundits on both the left and the right at a time when everyone else seems to be lining up to kiss a large amount of corporate and/or government ass to make a buck. Although the term has been used so many times it is nearly a cliché, “Renaissance Man” is the best way to describe the modern American philosopher known to the world as Henry Rollins. He’s been the lead singer of the legendary hardcore punk band Black Flag, and was the frontman for the critically acclaimed, commercially successful Rollins Band. He’s also performed alongside Robert DeNiro in Heat, played a cop hunting down Charlie Sheen in The Chase, appeared on David Lynch’s cult classic Lost Highway, and held his own as a central antagonist on the cable TV epic outlaw biker series Sons of Anarchy. While Rollins was doing all of that he also won a Grammy for Get in the Van: On the Road with Black Flag, and authored the spoken-word classics Black Coffee Blues and Think Tank. After getting his start in radio in 2004, Rollins had been heard many times over the airwaves, where he combines knife-sharp analysis with cutting-edge music for the massively perceptive. What’s next for a man with a career as intricate, illustrious and revolutionary as Henry Rollins?
I am sure you have a lot going on right now. What projects are keeping you busy? The super boring job of proofreading and editing a lot of material. One of the books I have coming out is easy to wrap up, but the others will take a lot of surgery. Editing books takes a lot of time in between working, meetings and auditions. That’s what I do when I’m not touring. I’m also looking for employment. It’s hard to imagine a person as prolific as yourself looking for a job. It’s a non-tour year. Last year I did nearly 190 shows. It gets to the point where shows are still coming in, but the tour is booked so your calendar gets pretty marked up. Now it’s a non-tour year, I’m in this interesting position of having some solid jobs, I have a lot of contract stuff to do, but I still have to look for employment.
That necessitates pitch meetings and auditions. Yesterday I was in a line 30 people long auditioning just for a microscopic role on a television show. We’ve mostly been pitching ideas for shows that I might be plugged into. It is an interesting position, one year you are the guy, you are on the billboard, the marquee and the next year you are in line hoping some casting person who doesn’t know you will throw you a bone. It’s good, though. That it keeps you humble. What kind of show would you want to do? I could easily imagine you as the History Channel equivalent of Anthony Bourdain. I’d like to do a show that tells you where and how the history books got it wrong—just an entire series where we point out the facts and reveal how history is written by the winners, so of course the winJULY 2013 • CULTURE 19
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white area. It’s always in the grey. That’s obviously the case in a lot of places. Since we are already there, why not just legalize it? It’s stupid how someone with cancer pain has to worry about being arrested. If marijuana can help, why wouldn’t you want them to feel better? Why would you be okay with them being in pain? If you can help someone, right now, why won’t you? We are supposed to promote the general welfare; it says so in the Preamble to the Constitution.
ners give themselves a white hat. For example, if you tell a person in rural American that we lost the Vietnam War, you’ll be eating your dinner through a straw in your neck because he’ll break your jaw. But if you go over to Vietnam today, the Vietnamese have moved on. They are very sure they won that war, because they survived it. That’s how they think. “We are still alive, so you didn’t beat us.” What I mean is . . . there are a lot of ways to look at any historical event. You don’t touch cannabis, but you support its legalization. What is your honest opinion about this controversial topic? Smoking marijuana, in my opinion, is a monumental waste of time, but I’m not going to slap it out of your hand. But I not only want it legalized, I want it decriminalized. At least then you won’t go to jail for smoking it. I see marijuana as just another stimulant. I fear alcohol. It fuels a guy up so he punches his wife and drives his car into a tree. I’m afraid of a person buying two AR-15s and shooting up a shopping mall . . . that guy should get marijuana. I fear stupidity in America more than I fear someone buying weed. My question is: Will the states 22 CULTURE • JULY 2013
have the intestinal fortitude to retroactively free the black prisoners who are unfairly incarcerated for using marijuana if it’s legalized? Why is it that cannabis is still illegal in America? Because brown-skinned people grow, sell and use it. A lot of those Fox News assholes smoked it in college, but now they use coffee and martinis, so it’s only for faggot hippies. “I’m a responsible chemical dependent. I use booze. It’s just five martinis.” Pot, by comparison, is messy. You are buying a plant from someone that is not in a vacuum sealed, federally-approved package at the local 7-11. Besides, everyone out there is buying weed right now, anyway. Why not just legalize it? What is the cannabis legalization movement doing wrong? [T]he reason why the legalization movement is such a clusterf#@k is because there is no clear political plan. The first time I saw medical marijuana, I was at a friend’s house. His mother would smoke these government-approved medical marijuana cigarettes. My friend would steal them. Medical marijuana is never in a black or
What is your best advice for proponents of cannabis legalization? As a non-smoking, marijuana decriminalization proponent, I would go at in as sensibly and legally as I could. Take into account the people who oppose you. They count on you to be unkempt, sloppy, illegal and high. Don’t go into an intellection battle high. Go in with your facts and figures and stats tattooed on your brain pan. When you do that, an opponent will still have to respect you for it. Fortunately, the world is changing. The President actually mentioned the word “gay.” That set a precedent. In 100 years they will talk about Barack Obama and how he said, “Gay brothers and sisters.” That took a lot of brass. In a political world, if you say that you smoke cannabis you might as well be say you like to make it with little kids and sheep. All the other side has to say is,
“My opponent wants your son to get high at school.” Why can’t someone say, “My opponent likes wine so he wants your son to get drunk at school.”? But they are elected officials. They are in a very precarious position. I get a second chance, if I screw up. They don’t. If someone loses an election, he doesn’t get to come back. You can say you back gay marriage, but that is as red hot as you get. Saying yes to marijuana has to no longer be seen as “He said what!?” Your country is changing very rapidly, though. If I was writing for a cannabis-based magazine, I would be showing that marijuana smokers are not the funny characters the media always depicts, but that they are doctors and lawyers . . . professional, responsible people, just like the people who drink four beers and watch the game after working at the office all day. In this transition to a weed economy, there is going to be a drunken sailor syndrome. When you take a sailor off the boat he’s going to drink his paycheck. There’s going to be a transition. As Joseph Stalin said, “When you cut wood, chips fly.” Someone will abuse weed. It’s going to happen. They are going to drive recklessly, have THC in their blood, and a bunch of people will overreact because of it. But let’s face it, cannabis is already out there. Legalizing it will not change it too much. c henryrollins.com
Henry Rollins activism knows no bounds. Whether it’s championing for gay rights—he once hosted a “WedRock” benefit concert in support of same-sex marriage—to helping out with veterans causes, Rollins is passionate straight down the line. The writer/performer took up the cause of the “Memphis Three”—a case involving the unjust imprisonment of three young men accused of murder. The “Three” were finally released in 2011, after 18 years in prison, with Rollins saying, “My joy at hearing the news is however tinged with frustration that it took so long and that there is a person or persons who still need to be brought to justice.” 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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Simply Dab-ulous
One of the fortunate things about the world of medical cannabis is that there is something there for everyone: flowers, edibles, tinctures, topicals . . . and concentrates, glorious concentrates! In honor of this potent, centuriesold form of medicine that patients are turning to in droves, CULTURE presents our inaugural “710 Issue.” While the names, consistencies and types vary, let us never lose sight of one critical fact: concentrates are medicine. Enjoy.
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ISSUE
Over the past few years, there has been an explosion in the use of concentrated cannabis around the U.S. Unfortunately, an actual explosion in San Diego earlier this year has given rise to a lot more prosecutions in California for manufacturing a controlled substance, a nonreducible felony with a possible 3-7 year prison sentence. While many other marijuana states do not have the same severe penalties as California, those who are thinking about making concentrates or extracts like BHO should be aware of the legal and health risks. I wouldn’t be doing you justice if I did not begin by reminding you that cannabis is a Schedule 1 substance under federal law meaning it is illegal all of the time. No exceptions. cannabis is classified on the same level as black tar heroin to the feds. In the 20 states that have MMJ laws and the two states that have adult-use laws, consumers are provided various legal protections which allow them to benefit from the use of cannabis. These laws are constitutional, but do not override federal law. It is advisable to consult with an attorney in your state before doing anything with marijuana to ensure compliance with the law. In California, patients may use, possess, cultivate, transport and purchase cannabis. Patients participating in a collective may cultivate and sell marijuana in aggregate amounts so long as the operation is run in a not-for-profit manner. The
California Appellate Court recently ruled that patients may possess (and presumably use) concentrated cannabis. However, there is currently no law providing for the creation of this lawful concentrated cannabis which begs the question—where does it come from? This past January, a 22-yearold man allegedly blew up his hotel room near SeaWorld in San Diego while trying to make butane honey oil (BHO). According to media reports, the man ended up fighting for his life in the ER, while two others were injured. Police believe several boxes of butane canisters caught on fire from a lit cigarette. The case was submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. There have been many reported cases throughout California of individuals lighting themselves on fire while attempting to make BHO. Law enforcement agencies have seized on these tragedies in the media to push for more enforcement against individuals making all forms of concentrated cannabis. In their ongoing “War on Drugs,” police agencies are twisting the science of marijuana concentrate processing in order to punish individuals with harsh prison sentences and deny them a medical marijuana defense in court. Under California Health and Safety Code 11379.6, any person who “manufactures, compounds, converts, produces, derives, processes or prepares . . . by chemical extraction . . . any controlled
substance . . ” can be punished by imprisonment of three, five or seven years. There is currently no MMJ defense to this offense in California. Enacted in the 1980s, the purpose of this law was to protect people from the chemical explosions caused by meth labs. For that reason, the law only applies to individuals that are manufacturing a controlled substance by chemical extraction process and not through any other method. This is a critical distinction scientifically when applying the law to cannabis. Despite the passage of MMJ laws, cannabis remains a controlled substance under California law. So for purposes of manufacturing laws, it is the equivalent of meth, PCP or heroin. However, as most cannabis consumers know, concentrated cannabis (even if made with butane) is still cannabis. Unlike meth production which utilizes several chemicals to create a new chemical, concentrate is made with the marijuana plant which contains THC. The substance at the other end of the process is still THC, merely in a concentrated form. Importantly, the process of making concentrate is a physical extraction process not a chemical process. This is the critical fact that police often try to mislead the public on. Manufacturing concentrate always utilizes some form of solvent to extract the THC. Some forms of solvents include butters (a lipid), cooking oil or water. Over the past several years, concentrate makers
Lance Rogers is an attorney licensed to practice in California and federal courts. The Law Offices of Lance Rogers, APC is a full-service law firm in San Diego with expertise in business litigation, corporate law, criminal defense and civil rights litigation. Go to www.lrogerslaw.com.
have become more experienced and are using substances such as butane or CO2 to extract the THC. While butane is highly flammable and may contain harmful residue, it is apparently possible to utilize commercial food-grade butane which may have less chemical residue. Whatever the substance that is used (water or butane), the process is the same—THC is physically extracted from the plant by using a solvent. The real question then becomes what is a “chemical” under California law? Is butter a “chemical?” If so, then a seriously ill patient who makes herself some medicated brownies could be sent to prison for seven years. A scary thought. c
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ISSUE The Traits of a Good Concentrate A Patient’s Guide to Hash, Wax, Budder and Beyond By David Downs Hundreds of thousands of patients across the country are using more and more hash, kief, “wax,” “shatter” and other forms of concentrated medicine. The explosion of concentrates’ popularity is only equaled by how unregulated the market is. As a service to CULTURE readers, we consulted experienced concentrate buyers from leading dispensaries nationwide—as well as the best hash makers and lab managers testing the stuff—to develop a “Patient’s Guide” for determining the traits of a good ‘trate.
+ ANCIENT FUTURE
Hand-rolled hash (charas) as well as dry-screened (kief) and watersieved (bubble hash) concentrates have existed for millennia, historians note. But over the last three years hash-makers have adapted for cannabis industrial processes similar to those used to extract vegetable oil, as well as vanilla or essential oils found in coffee and other food items. These methods all use some medium (a solvent, cold water, C02, etc.) to strip off cannabis’ external glands—called trichomes. Trichomes contain the plant’s psychoactive and therapeutic molecules, like THC and CBD, plus aromatic molecules called terpenes. Terpenes give OG Kush and Grand Daddy Purple their distinctive smell. Concentrates are divided into non-solvent (kief, bubble hash) and solvent. The names of solvent types of concentrates come from their consistency (and, to an extent, appearance): wax, budder, shatter and oil. Patients add concentrates to joints or bowls, or vaporize them on a health stone, nail, skillet or in a vape pen. Ideally, trained chemists in a lab-grade setting are using safe, Class 3 edible solvents like n-butane or isopropyl alcohol to strip trichomes from the plant. Then, controlled heat and atmospheric pressure is used to purge all residual solvent from the concentrate. But the field is unregulated, so in reality, “this stuff is so all over the place,” says Dave Hodges, owner of All American Cannabis Club in San Jose. Hodges buys hash for the 3-year-old collective and uses about a gram of wax a day. “The best concentrates start with the best herb,” notes Rhett Jordan, owner of Native Roots Apothecary, as well as Rasta Bubble and Native Roots Extracts in Denver, Colorado. That means fresh trim or bud that is free of pesticides, fungicides and other contaminants. 26 CULTURE • JULY 2013
+ FLAME TEST
Most club buyers use a flame test to see how a concentrate reacts. The best solvent hash vaporizes in a “smooth boil,” says Jordan. Sizzles, pops and crackles indicate water, residual solvent or other issues. Concentrates should not catch fire—or spark. “I call it fireworks,” says Moore. “That is a bad sign,” Jordan adds. V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
+ SKUNK FUNK
+ FOLLOW THE LIGHT
Even with a great strain, shoddy hash-making can lead to mold. It’s a plague on bubble hash, says Josh Wurzer, owner of SC Laboratories, which tests thousands of California concentrates per month. Mold on hash is often white, furry and appears in a main patch. The smell is a dead giveaway. “It smells like sour milk,” says Paul Moore, manager for The Healing Leaf Collective Garden in Lake Stevens, Washington. Solvent-based concentrates don’t have the same mold problems as bubble hash, says Wurzer, but wax, budder, shatter and oil can come with their own special baggage. “Light color, dry texture and good smell,” is Hodges’ short-hand for good solvent hash.
Pure THC-A is a crystalline solid that is translucent white, amber or cream, and crumbly—and the best waxes are just that. Wax and budder should be as light as possible, and semi-translucent. “Lighter is better,” says Hodges. Strain type and the trichome color can influence a concentrate’s hue, experts say, but if it’s a “dark, black blob,” Wurzer says, something is off. The color may be plant pigment, leaf, dirt, the effect of excess temperature or—worse—mold. Shatter should be as clear as stained glass and have “no bubbles,” says Jordan. “No bubbles, definitely not in shatter,” says Moore. Bubbles mean water or residual solvent, experts say. “And water equals mold,” says Hodges.
+ NOSE KNOWS
The best-made concentrates will “capture the essence of the flower,” says Wurzer. Waxes and budders are the most aromatic and shatter is the least, but will smell like its source strain when vaporized. Shoddy solvent hash makers use cheap butane or propane contaminated with sulfur, mercaptan and other chemicals whose telltale smell is a dead giveaway. “It just stinks like a leaky heater,” Wurzer says. “That smell is an indication that it’s toxic.”
+ GHOST OF THE FLOWER
Great hash should taste “strictly like the strain it came from—whether it be an OG or a Haze, you can tell,” says Moore. Sub-par product can taste stale, bitter, burnt or chemical-laden. And solvent hash should never be stored on wax paper, Hodges notes. “It’ll taste like a f*#@ing candle.”
+ MORE THAN A FEELING
Wax should be dry and crumbly, experts state. Gooeyness or wetness in a wax, budder or shatter indicates the presence of something other than trichomes. Shatter should generally behave like glass at room temperature and shatter or snap. The consistency of different types of oil varies widely. Hodges examines oils by smearing a dab out on a piece of white paper, looking for light color and zero particulates. The best oil is Clear Concentrate, says Rick Pfrommer, manager of Harborside Health Center in Oakland. Totally seethrough with zero residual solvent, “Clear is just phenomenal,” he says.
+ WHERE AND HOW TO GET
Read online reviews of concentrate sellers on Yelp, WeedMaps, StickyGuide and elsewhere, Pfrommer says (CULTURE’s concentrate reviews are also an excellent source of information). Patronize established businesses that test for residual solvents like Harborside Health Center does. And grill your budtender, says Moore. “If you’re asking a lot of questions and your budtender doesn’t know, maybe they should,” says Pfrommer.
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cool stuff Blade Runner Style LED Umbrella Finally—the only time it’s good luck to open an umbrella indoors! Ripped straight from Ridley Scott’s existential-sci-fi flick , these futuristic umbrellas are just the thing to keep you dry on the way to the noodle shop. Comes white or blue LED shaft. Say, you look rather Replicant-y . . . ($9.99-$24.99) www.thinkgeek.com
eGo-T Vaporizer Pen The eGo-T Vaporizer Pen found at Vape Aura in San Diego is a perfect tool for medical cannabis patients when needing to medicate in public or a discrete manner. Aloha SD Finest offers prefilled indica dominant, sativa dominant and hybrid pen cartridges void of cannabis odors. The eGo-T is also compatible with nicotine products and oil cartridges. ($69.95-$89.95) www.vapeaura.com
High Altitude Executive Vaporizer Pen The High Altitude Executive Vaporizer Pen is one classy piece of hardware. Resembling the type of fancy plume used to sign high-dollar contracts, patients can mix their hash oil with its fruit flavored emulsifiers (for discrete medicating) or use the interchangeable earwax attachment (if you like your concentrates cannabis flavored). A more efficient way to medicate, and a great way to get the most out of your wax.
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By Aunt Sandy
Menu:
Grilled Shrimp Cheesy Polenta Barbecue Broccoli Pound Cake Barbecue Peaches
Gas or charcoal, sauce or dry rub—no matter what your preference, it’s always a good time to fire up the ol‘ barbecue this time of year. If it’s grillin, expect your weekend get-together to be thrillin‘. Try out this scrumptious, backyardfriendly smorgasbord of delish dishes, courtesy of your neighborhood friendly briquette.
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. 30 CULTURE • JULY 2013
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Grilled Shrimp Makes 4 servings 25 large uncooked shrimp, unshelled, slit and deveined 3 cups dry white wine Juice of two lemons Black pepper to taste 6 shallots, chopped 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1/4 cup Cannabis Infused Olive Oil* 6 skewers, soaked in water for two hours Combine all the ingredients (except for skewers) in a medium-size bowl. Stir to coat the shrimp thoroughly. Let marinate at room temperature for about three hours. Skewer about four shrimp per skewer. Place on the grill, over medium heat. Turn when sides are pink. Baste with the remaining liquid (marinade) to keep shrimp moist. They are cooked when firm and pink in color.
Barbeque Peaches
Cheesy Polenta
Makes 4 servings 4 ripe peaches, cut in half with pit removed 1/4 cup melted Canna Butter** Coat each peach half in Canna Butter and place on a medium grill. Grill until there are grill marks on the flat side.
VARIATION
Barbeque Peach Cake Place the Barbecue Peaches on top of the Barbecue Pound Cake and garnish with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Makes 6 servings 6 cups water 2 teaspoons salt 1 3/4 cups yellow corn meal 3 tablespoons Canna Butter** 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add salt and gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender. Stir often for about 15 minutes and turn off the heat. Add the butter and cheese and stir until melted. Serve immediately.
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Barbeque Broccoli Makes 6 servings 3 heads of broccoli 1/3 cup Cannabis Infused Olive Oil* 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1/4 onion, finely chopped Juice of 1 lemon Cut off broccoli stems 1 inch below the florets. Starting at the stem end, slice each broccoli head lengthwise into 3 slabs. In a large baking dish, whisk together the Infused Oil, garlic clove, onion and lemon juice. Coat the broccoli on both sides with the mixture. Let marinate at room temperature for one hour. Preheat the grill to medium heat. Remove broccoli from the marinade, shaking off excess liquid. Grill covered for about 3 minutes on each side, until lightly charred and crispy-tender.
Cannabis Infused Oil* 1 cup cooking oil 1 1/4 ounces low to average quality dried leaf cannabis or 3/4 ounce average dried bud Place cannabis in a slow cooker. Add oil. If necessary, add a little extra oil in order to just cover the cannabis. Cook on low for six to eight hours, stirring often. Strain through cheesecloth to remove plant material. For further purity, strain through a coffee filter. Store in the refrigerator for up to three months.
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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Barbecue Pound Cake 1 9-inch tube cake pan 1 cup softened Canna Butter** 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar 5 eggs 2 cups sifted cake flou In a bowl, mix softened butter with salt, sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Blend in the flour and mix well. Pour the mixture into a well greased, lightly floured tube cake pan. Place in a cold oven and set the controls to 300 degrees. Bake for two hours and let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn it out on a wire rack to finish cooling. When totally cool, slice a 1-inch thick piece and spread Canna Butter on each side. Place it on a grill at medium heat and cook on each side until slightly crunchy and grill marks appear.
Canna Butter** 1 cup unsalted butter 1 ounce low to average quality dried leaf marijuana or 1/2 ounce average dried bud 4 cups water Bring water and butter to boil in a small pot, lower heat to simmer. Simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours. Mash and stir frequently to extract all THC from the plant material. After cooking, use cheesecloth to strain the butter/water mixture. Pour about 2 cups clean boiling water over the leaves in the strainer to extract every last drop of butter. Squeeze plant material well to remove as much liquid as possible. Chill the butter/water mixture in the refrigerator until the butter has solidified (1 to 2 hours). Separate butter from water and keep butter in the refrigerator (or freezer for longer storage) until needed. 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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Shooting Gallery GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
San Diego Chapter of Americans For Safe Access Meeting (Photos by Seneca Knight Photography)
CULTURE SunDaze w/Sunny Rude (Photos by Eric Fowler)
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entertainment reviews The Transplants In A Warzone Epitaph After eight long years, punk rockers Tim Armstrong, Travis Barker and Rob “Skinhead Rob” Aston return with their long awaited third Transplants record, In A Warzone. While the project has always been characterized by a blending of punk rock, hip-hop and at times, dub and reggae, In A Warzone sees the band making more of an attempt at a straight forward punk album by the trio. While the band’s self-titled debut and follow up Haunted Cities could at times be a little heavy-handed with conventional hip-hop’s topics of excess and the high life, Transplants seem to have little time for that on In A Warzone. The record’s style and delivery are more urgent and each song seems to be more about the group’s worried views on society and world events than the guns, girls and drugs that were common themes on previous releases. The music itself is heavy-hitting, insistent and at times a bit abrasive, easily bringing to mind the wars—both literal and metaphorical—that the band sings about. All in all, this is a record that will most definitely appeal more to the fan of the punk rock side of The Transplants’ music. However, fans of its hip-hop flavor need not be disappointed, there are still several tracks that incorporate their brand of rack, just a bit on the heavier end of things. (Simon Weedn)
Protect Your Garden: Eco-friendly Solutions for Healthy Plants By Ed Rosenthal Quick American Publishing When Ed Rosenthal talks, people listen. And when Ed writes a book, naturally, growers sure as hell pay attention. And they should. Rosenthal’s been schooling the masses on how to grow the best cannabis and his latest tome, Protect Your Garden, offers novice green-thumbers an effective tool to keep pests, diseases and environmental stresses from mucking up your lovely crops. As scientifically grounded as a biology textbook, yet easy to follow due to its airy layout, large print and an abundance of photos, protecting your green without harming Mother Nature just got ridiculously easy. Moles messing with you? Try predator urine or castor oil. Want to keep your plants free of the tobacco mosaic virus? Keep cigarette butts far, far away. Say “later days” to toxic pesticides and “hi” to natural solutions for your indoor, outdoor or greenhouse grow. (Matt Tapia)
Swimming to Cambodia Cinecom Pictures Dir. Jonathan Demme Finally, after many years of waiting, Shout!Factory have made writer, actor and monologist Spalding Gray’s masterpiece Swimming to Cambodia, available on DVD. Directed by Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Silence Of The Lambs), the film version of one of Gray’s most famous monologues was originally shot in 1987 and features an interesting score by renowned experimental performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. The monologue itself revolves around Gray’s stories and observations about his experience acting in the role of U.S. Ambassador’s Aide in the 80’s masterpiece, The Killing Fields. The stories see-saw between humorous adventures with a zany film crew, Thai marijuana, prostitutes and deep, heavy, emotional observations and history lessons about the bombing of Cambodia, the rise of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, and the ensuing Cambodian Genocide. At times, the film can get a bit tedious and confusing with Gray’s delivery of this material which comes in his slightly manic, East Coast, mile-a-minute talking style. However, Gray manages to always hold it together, giving breaks and beats at appropriate times to allow the audience to soak in the massive amounts of information he puts out. For the average person that has never seen a one-man show, Swimming to Cambodia might take a bit of getting used to. However, for the patient viewer, one is rewarded with a gripping, captivating story delivered with unparalleled craftsmanship by one of the world’s great monologists. (Simon Weedn)
Comic-Con International 2013 Face it—you can’t resist dressing in spandex and taking on the identity of your favorite comic book hero for an entire weekend of role-playing fun outside of the bedroom . . . and while this is tempting in and of itself, the fun-filled weekend doesn’t stop there. Time for Comic-Con! Your favorite anime will be featured all four days on the big screen. There’s also a stimulating art show featuring diverse styles of artwork for sale including paintings, drawings, sculptures, jewelry and even more bizarre pieces. The annual pop culture event will be crowning the imaginative winners out of this year’s entries in categories like Comics-Oriented and Science Fiction/Fantasy. For the gamers out there, come see the wide variety of amusement that this convention has to offer. There will be tournaments set up for the competitive types, as well as open gaming for those just looking for a little fun. Special guests and fan favorite celebrities will be located on the top floor, so make sure to stop by and snag an autograph. Big names like Brian Michael Bendis, the successful writer for Ultimate Spider-Man, All New X-Men and much more will be there, as well as Sergio Aragonés (Groo the Wanderer), Tom Batiuk (Funky Winkerbean) and many more.
IF YOU GO
What: Comic-Con International 2013. When/Where: July 18-21 at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Dr., San Diego. Info: $12-42 (4-day badges soldout). Go to www.comic-con.org/ cci for more info. JULY 2013 • CULTURE 35
Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY— EYE OPENER
; Chengdu, China, barber Liu Deyuan, 53, is one of the few who still provide traditional “eyeshaving,” in which he holds the eye open and runs a razor across the lids’ inner surfaces. Then, using a thin metal rod with a round tip, he gently massages the inside of each lid. Liu told a reporter for the Chengdu Business Daily in April that he had never had an accident (though the reporter apparently could not be enticed to experience the treatment himself, preferring merely to observe), and a highly satisfied customer reported after-
ward that his eyes felt “moist” and his vision “clearer.” A local hospital official said eye-shaving can scrape away scar tissue and stimulate the eyes to lubricate the eye sockets.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
; One of April’s most popular Internet images consisted of face shots of the current 20 contestants for Miss South Korea—revealing that all 20 appeared eerily similar, and Westernized. Commented one website, “Korea’s plastic surgery mayhem is finally converging on the same face.” Wrote a South Korean commenter,
“Girls here consider eye surgery just like using makeup.” Wrote another, “I loved this episode of The Twilight Zone.” The country has the highest rate of cosmetic surgery per capita in the world. ; Michinoku Farm of Tokyo finally agreed in May to withdraw its whale meat dog chews, but only after angering environmentalists for having favored the country’s pampered canines over endangered North Atlantic fin whales, which were the source of the chews. The meat was purchased from Iceland, which openly defies the international moratorium on whale meat. (Japan officially disagrees with world consensus on which species are endangered.) ; A marriage-encouraging initiative in the Sehore district of India’s Madhya Pradesh state awards gifts and financial assistance to couples agreeing to wed in mass ceremonies, but the country also suffers from a notorious toilet shortage. Consequently, the district announced in May that to qualify for the government benefits, the groom must submit to officials a photo of himself beside his own toilet to prove that he and his wife will have home sanitation.
; Religious Messages From All Over: (1) A catering company in Leicestershire, England, became a holy site in May after the Hindu owner found an eggplant that resembles the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh. He said that he prays to it now twice daily and has so far welcomed about 80 visiting worshippers. (2) As part of his recent U.S. tour, the Dalai Lama, introduced to a University of Maryland audience by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, greeted the governor on stage by rubbing noses with him.
QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS
; Recurring Theme (People Purporting to Speak for Islam): (1) A Saudi judge ruled in April that it was finally time for Ali al-Khawahir, 24, to suffer for stabbing another boy in the back when Ali was 14. The victim was paralyzed, and under Saudi justice, Ali must also be struck with paralysis or else raise the equivalent of about $260,000 to compensate the victim. (2) Saudi cleric Abdullah Mohamed al-Daoud in May urged his 100,000 Twitter followers to “sexually harass female cashiers” to discourage them from working outside the home. (He is the one who urged in February that babies be veiled to protect them from sexual harassment.)
; Expectant North Carolina parents Adam and Heather Barrington (who is due in July) have disclosed that they will accept underwater midwifing from the Sirius Institute of Pahoa, Hawaii, which arranges for the mother to swim with dolphins pre- and postnatally. “It is about reconnecting as humans with the dolphins so we can . . . learn from one another,” said Heather. Said Adam: “Dolphins are very intelligent and healing, which . . . calms mother and baby . . . “ Biologists writing for the Discovery Channel, however, reminded readers that underwater births are extraordinarily dangerous and that dolphins are “wild animals” that gang-rape female dolphins and “toss, beat and kill small porpoises.” Said another, the Barringtons’ plan is “possibly the worst idea ever.”
; Closer to God Than You Are: (1) Crystal McVea, author of a recent book chronicling her near-death experience, told a Fox & Friends TV
; Local Governments at Work: (1) Washington, D.C., began registering its dogs this year by their primary breeds and, faced with many own-
LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES
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host in April that among her most vivid memories of the incident was getting so close to God that she could “smell” him. (2) In May, Anna Pierre, a candidate for mayor of North Miami, Fla., announced on her Facebook page that she had secured the endorsement of Jesus Christ. That would be doubly fortunate for her since a month earlier, she had complained that unknown people had been leaving bad-luck Vodou-ritual feathers, food scraps and candles on her doorstep. (Jesus’ stroke is apparently not what it used to be: She finished seventh in the race.)
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ers who claimed not to know their dog’s heritage, quixotically settled on the Mexican hairless dog, or “xoloitzcuintli” (pronounced “showlow-eats-QUEENT-lee,” according to The Washington Post) as the breed that will be listed in city records for those dogs. An official said the decision might encourage owners to learn more about their dog’s breed. (2) Of all the businesses that could fall out of favor with a local government, it was the restaurant Bacon Bacon that was shut down in May by the city of San Francisco— because of neighbors’ complaints about the smell! (The fragrance of bacon is widely experienced as entrancing all across America.) A petition to overturn the ruling was underway at press time. ; More than 50 Iowa sex offenders have open-carry gun permits, thanks to a 2-year-old state law that requires any disapproving sheriff to demonstrate “probable cause” in advance that a sex offender will use a gun illegally in order to reject his application. Before that, a sheriff could use a sex offender’s previous felony conviction as sufficient cause. Said Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar, “(J)ust the presence of a gun on a hip could be a threat to get (sex-crime victims) to cooperate.”
PERSPECTIVE
; Congress established the Interagency Working Group in 2009 to set guidelines on advertising healthy foods to children, and public comments on the guidelines are now being posted. General Mills appeared among the most alarmed by the IWG proposals, according to its comments on the Federal Trade Commission website (as disclosed by Scientific American in May). Of the 100 most commonly consumed foods and beverages in America, GM asserted, 88 would fail the IWG standards, and if everyone in America started following the health recommendations, General Mills would lose $503 billion per year in sales—unless, of course, it altered part of its product line.
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Dennis Gholston, 45, with outstanding traffic warrants in
Pennsylvania, decided in May that, even though alone in his car, he could not resist using a high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV) on the New Jersey Turnpike near Carteret. His decision was even more unsound because, according to the officer who stopped him for the HOV violation, Gholston was hauling about $4,000 worth of heroin in the car, and he was charged with intent to distribute.
A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (DECEMBER 2009)
But What If the Device Falls Into the Wrong Hands? A 55-year-old British man whose bowel was ruptured in a nearly catastrophic traffic accident has been fitted with a bionic sphincter that opens and closes with a remote controller. Ged Galvin had originally endured 13 surgeries in a 13-week hospital stay and had grown frustrated with using a colostomy bag until surgeon Norman Williams of the Royal London Hospital proposed the imaginative operation. Dr. Williams, who was interviewed along with Galvin for a November 2009 feature in London’s Daily Mail, wrapped a muscle transplanted from Galvin’s leg around the sphincter and attached electrodes to tighten or loosen its grip.
VERY PERSONAL HYGIENE
; Orestes De La Paz’s exhibit at the Frost Art Museum in Miami in May recalled Chuck Palahniuk’s novel and film Fight Club, in which lead character Tyler Durden’s principal income source was making upscale soap using discarded liposuctioned fat fetched from the garbage of cosmetic surgeons (thus closing the loop of fat from rich ladies recycled back to rich ladies). De La Paz told his mentor at Florida International University that he wanted only to display his own liposuctioned fat provocatively, but decided to make soap when he realized that the fat would otherwise quickly rot. Some visitors to the exhibit were able to wash their hands with the engineered soap, which De La Paz offered for sale at $1,000 a bar. JULY 2013 • CULTURE 37
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