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Lion King
PAGE 50
Snoop retires his rap rep— and rises as reggae royalty On the Cover: Photo by Matt Carr/Getty Images
14 Double-Edged Sword Spokane puts the brakes on new access points— could this be a good thing? 18 Setting the Stage A breakdown of cancer’s various stages and what they mean. 22 Moving Screen Is it the National Basket . . . bowl Association! 20 Friends With Benefits Los Amigos Invisibles decides to get downright repetitive. 24 Growing Gains If you’re thinking about cultivating on your own property, here are some helpful tips.
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departments 8 10
News Nuggets
Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere—and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers.
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Letter from the Editor
When you’re trying to spread the message of peace—do as Marley did.
Skip the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors, China’s Guanxi Province is the place to be.
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Profiles in Courage
Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you.
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Destination Unknown
LEGAL CORNER
Attorney Hilary Bricken looks into the possibility of a “new Amsterdam.”
Strain, Edible & concentrate Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary.
72 74 Cool Stuff
From Kush Bottles’ Neon Collection to Vans x Metallica Signature Shoes, if it’s a cutting-edge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it.
Recipes
For an extra special day we came up with an extra special menu.
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Entertainment Reviews
The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture.
let’s do this
Our wrap-up of some of Washington’s coolest events.
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letter from the editor
Vol 4 IssUE 10
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Arts & Entertainment Editor Evan Senn
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Stephanie Bishop, Hilary Bricken, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Philip Dawdy, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Carolina Duque, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Dan Macintosh, Meital Manzuri, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Paul Rogers, Jeff Schwartz, Alan Shackelford, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen, Simon Weedn
What
About
Bob?
Photographers
Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Audrey King, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Ryan Mazrim, Patrick Roddie, Kim Sidwell
Interns
Joe Martone, Derek Obregon
Art Director
Steven Myrdahl
Graphic Designers
Vidal Diaz, Tommy LaFleur
When I first heard that Snoop had been “reborn,” I wasn’t surprised. Many musicians and celebrities— rappers are no exception—reach a point in their career where they reinvent or reboot their identity. And when I heard that Snoop was embracing Jamaican culture and music—the Rastafarian movement, no less— and declared himself the reincarnation of Bob Marley, again, I wasn’t really surprised. After all, Marley was arguably one of the globe’s most earnest, credible, culturally relevant and politically steadfast artists of all time. Virtually single-handedly Robert Nesta Marley was the man who “introduced the world to the mystic power of reggae” as Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner wrote in 1994. He was the man who made the world aware of the Rastafari Movement. He was the tireless artist who spread love and understanding—as well as social change and justice—to the world’s stage. If you’re going to say that you are the reincarnation of someone, Bob Marley’s a great choice. It’s easy to understand Bob’s power and legacy. First, Bob Marley taught us about the power of universal love. His own parents literally decided to “get together and feel alright,” as the Third World superstar was the result of
biracial love; his father was White, his mother was black. “Me don’t deh pon the black man’s side nor the white man’s side. Me deh pon God’s side,” is how Marley once reflected on his own identity. Marley, by any definition, was the real deal. After an assassination attempt on his life in 1976 proved unsuccessful, what did Bob do? Two days later, the injured Marley performed right on schedule at a concert aimed at (ironically enough) defusing tensions between Jamaica’s two warring political parties. Marley’s response: “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?” And lastly, Marley reveals something that Rastafarian and MMJ culture have in common: utter respect and reverence for a plant that is the “healing of the nations.” Not only can cannabis help Rastas tap into Jah, the plant is also used as natural medicine. Rastas turn to ganja to treat fevers, colds, stomach aches and pain. It is from Bob Marley’s cultural and artistic legacy that Snoop Lion arises. And so I embrace Mr. Broadus’ reinvention. Some may not. Others will decry it. That’s what happens when you try something risky, or strike out into new territory. Sometimes, little darling, you just need to stir it up. Now it’s time to celebrate—have a happy 420, everyone! c
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THE STATE Large-scale growing proposed for Port of Willapa Harbor
A large-scale cannabis-growing facility is in the works for an old log yard in Raymond, with hopes that such an operation could create up to 40 jobs, the Associated Press and The Olympian report. Marcus Charles, the managing owner of Seattle’s Crocodile Café, has agreed to lease at least three buildings at the Port of Willapa Harbor. The deal is conditional until the state Liquor Control Board finalizes Initiative 502’s laws and regulations—as yet unwritten—that will guide the state retail framework. “That’s one thing that sounds positive, jobs,” Raymond Mayor Bob Jungar told The Olympian. “In a town of about 3,000 people, 30 or 40 jobs is a big jump. It would mean a few more people in the community, and more people spending money.”
Seattle Councilmembers propose prohibiting MMJ from historic districts
propriate areas. MMJ, for example, would be prohibited in historic and landmark districts such as Ballard Avenue, Fort Lawton and the Pioneer Square Preservation District. “The goal here is to actually impose some solid standards so we can properly zone the location of primarily dispensaries,” Licata told the Journal. “We want to assure they can exist in Seattle and do so in a way that they can serve their constituents and be a positive addition.” The city’s Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture Committee will hold a public hearing on the matter on April 24.
Will raising Initiative 502 fees hurt or help consumers and growers?
State Rep. Christopher Hurst is proposing to increase the fees needed to obtain a license to grow, process and sell cannabis under Washington’s work-in-progress retail market established by Initiative 502, the Associated Press reports. Hurst’s bill would create a new “certificate” issued by the state Liquor Control Board with a price set at no less than fair market value (which could range from $1,000 in a rural town to $250,000 in a downtown). I-502’s author and sponsor, Alison Holcomb, said she fears such a proposal will benefit big commercial interests while pushing out others who cannot afford the high fees.
THE NATION
non-criminal infraction will significantly reduce state prosecutorial costs and allow law enforcement resources to be refocused on other, more serious criminal offenses,” NORML stated during the bill’s testimony. The bills aim to move the state’s MMJ program from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Health. One bill contains amendments pertaining to confidentiality, physician requirements, plant transfers and registration requirements.
New York lawmaker Diane Savino pushes new MMJ bill
State Sen. Diane Savino is gaining support for a new bill that could bring medical use to New York, writes the MMJ Business Daily. Savino plans to introduce the measure soon, basing the program on models currently in use in other compassionate states such as ColoHawaii moves forward toward rado and Connecticut. She hopes it would fly through the Assembly but a better MMJ program Paradise just got a little greener, as Hawaii continued to inch closer towards decriminalization and improvements to the state’s 13-yearold MMJ program, according to Maui Time and Hawaii Reporter. Last month, the state Senate approved SB 472 SD2, which makes possession of up to an ounce of cannabis a civil violation subject to up to a $1,000 fine, instead of a criminal misdemeanor. “Amending state law to make these offenses a fine-only,
Two members of the Seattle City Council are proposing to limit where large-scale medical cannabis activities take place, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. Councilmembers Sally Clark and Nick Licata are pro-MMJ officials—the proposed land-use revisions are merely to ensure that MMJ operations occur in the ap10 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
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might meet opposition from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is not an advocate. “This is purely political . . . Nobody wants to be the drug governor,” he announced recently. While New York decriminalized minor possession in 1977, paradoxically, the city had the highest arrest rates for possession than any other city in the world by 2008.
Efforts to legalize medicinal cannabis in Florida gear up
Florida may be enlisting some new medical assistance for its elderly population, according to Bay News 9. State Sen. Jeff Clemens has introduced a bill that would permit those with debilitating medical conditions to use cannabis, with a doctor’s permission. SB 1250, also known as the Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act, is named after the Florida advocate who uses the treatment for her amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The bill was introduced the day after a poll indicated the 70 percent of Floridians support the medical use of the plant. A prominent Orlando attorney, John Morgan, recently announced his efforts to spend $3.5 million to get MMJ legislation on the 2014 ballot. Morgan says
his father used cannabis for a number of medical issues before he died due to cancer.
THE WORLD Copenhagen officials say legalization will mean “decreased gang criminality”
Officials in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, are pushing to legalize cannabis by first launching a threeyear trial, according to The Copenhagen Post. The idea is that “the legal sale of cannabis will result in decreased gang criminality, more prevention and a better life for average cannabis users,” according to the city. The trial may also involve importing cannabis from England as well as Colorado and Washington. “We realize, of course, that there are a lot of international conventions and regulations to deal with, but we think it is possible,” Mikkel Warming, Copenhagen’s deputy mayor for social affairs, told The Post.
by the numbers
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The distance (in feet) that a retail cannabis store must keep away from parks, playgrounds and sensitive areas, according to I-502: 1,000 (Source: The Spokesman-Review).
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The proposed House tax (in dollars) per $1,000 of assessed value of cannabis brand names: 3.60 (Source: Associated Press).
The distance (in feet) that a retail cannabis store must keep away from certain sensitive areas, according to a proposed change to I-502: 500 (Source: The Spokesman-Review).
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The amount (in dollars) of the application fee to become a cannabis retailer under Initiative 502’s still-being-written rules: 250 (Source: The Olympian).
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The distance (in feet) that medical cannabis businesses and activities must keep away from residential districts, etc., in Westborough, Massachusetts: 500 (Source: The Westborough News). The number of registered MMJ cardholders in Nevada: 3,645. (Source: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services).
The number of responses that the Washington State Liquor Control Board received from those seeking to become a state cannabis consultant: 112 (Source: Puget Sound Business Journal). The number of these responses that met the Liquor Control Board’s minimum requirements: 98 (Source: Puget Sound Business Journal).
The percentage of Hawaii residents who feel possession of small amounts of cannabis should not be a criminal offense: 58 (Source: Maui Time).
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The number of patients and supporters that rallied together in Jackson, Michigan to protest the closure of MMJ distribution centers: 200 (Source: The Compassionate Chronicles).
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The percentage of Hawaii residents who support their state’s medical cannabis program: 81 (Source: Maui Time).
The estimated amount of money (in millions) that it would take to bankroll an MMJ constitutional amendment in Florida for the 2014 ballot: 10 (Source: Orlando Sentinel).
Daedelus in concert
Daedelus’ main point of attraction is also his main point of detraction; his unrestrained experimentation and excess, and refusal to stand still for a single second. His back catalogue consists of scores of albums, EPs and singles scattered across countless labels, none of which settle on a specific sound or particular genre. Dressed to impress in a Victorian getup—dress shirt, tie, vest and Napoleonic sideburns—Daedelus is a rare gem of a DJ who’s simply fun to watch perform. He always manages to give his sets the feel of pop music without sounding pretentious, mostly due to the sexy and enticing vocal sampling he involves. Daedelus mixes his vocals with staggering tastefulness, never distracting from the other elements but still existing on their own. His ADD-style of mixing tunes and beats guarantee an exciting live performance to say the least, and his DJ creations evoke originality and experimentation. (Evan Senn)
IF YOU GO
What: Daedelus in concert. When/Where: April 4 at The Crocodile, 2200 2nd Ave., Seattle. Info: For tickets visit www.thecrocodile.com/ events/6918929/daedelus.
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FLASH
Two Sides of the
Coin
A temporary ban on dispensaries in Spokane may be considered good news . . . and bad
Close to Home Despite the pros and cons of
Spokane’s temporary ban on access points, some proponents say the city’s moratorium isn’t a big deal because I-502 will guarantee access to medicine. Besides that, Spokane’s moratorium doesn’t affect the rights patients already have: homegrowing. “According to state law, medical marijuana patients are still allowed to grow up to 15 plants,” Washington NORML Executive Director Kevin Oliver told CULTURE. “If you really are a collective,” Oliver says, “you are going to be fine.”
{By Jasen T. Davis} As state officials here in Washington continue to work out the distribution, taxation and legal details of Initiative 502 and its adult-use provisions, some agencies are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards how they will handle any new incoming MMJ access points. In essence, they are waiting for the I-502 rules are written and set before figuring out how to tackle the medical side of the coin. Such is the case in Spokane, where city officials there enacted a moratorium on any new medical cannabis dispensaries. The moratorium could go on for the next six months—or even up to a year, giving time for the state Liquor Control Board to issue the new I-502 regulations. Kevin Oliver, the executive director for NORML’s Washington branch told CULTURE last month that he believes that the moratorium is a good idea.
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“I don’t think the entire city council is anti-cannabis. They just don’t want 100 more quasi-legal dispensaries to open before they implement a legal redistribution system,” he says. “They don’t want an unregulated system running next to [Spokane’s existing MMJ access points].” Although the moratorium is disconcerting to some, signs are positive that the wait won’t take long. “Yesterday, the city hired the consulting team that would be advising them on how to implement the system,” says Oliver. “Everything indicates that they are moving forward.” What typically happens when cannabis is legalized in any way— be it medical or recreational—by a state, the federal government will typically raid dispensaries or prosecute caregivers, claiming the plant’s illegal status as per the Controlled Substances Act. Does Oliver believe this will happen in
the wake of I-502? “The best way to describe the mood up here would be cautious optimism,’” Oliver says. He believes that once the Liquor Control Board hammers out the details, the federal government will back off. “When all of the legal marijuana is put through a licensed system, there’s a better chance the federal government will relax because they won’t have to enforce anything,” he says. How do the remaining medical dispensary owners feel about the new moratorium? “It’s a good idea,” says Larry, a local collective owner. “We applauded when it happened, because it was the first time we felt officially recognized by the Spokane City Council.” “Washington State hasn’t set up parameters on how to legally distribute and sell cannabis,” Larry says. “It’s best to keep things small until a proper system is set up.”
While Washington NORML isn’t going to protest the moratorium, Oliver believes that the public should pay attention. “We are going to ask supporters to show up for the next couple of Spokane City Council meetings, so they can stay aware and informed.” There are some who do believe that the moratorium is a threat to their legal rights, and they have voiced their concerns. They believe that the feds could sweep in and close the rest of the dispensaries, leaving patients without a legal source of cannabis. Oliver’s professional opinion is that this is not going to occur. “There is definitely a local group that has been vocal about their protest. Their attorneys have warned them that bad things could potentially happen, but I don’t believe that is the case. The sky isn’t falling,” he says. c wanorml.org
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BUZZ
Stage I is where the cancer takes root. It invades neighboring tissue. The cancer is growing and may take the form of a lump. This lump is localized and benign. At this stage, it can be easily treated and removed.
Stage 0 is when a cell becomes cancerous. It can join with other cells and produce a tumor, but this is not always the case. It’s not life-threatening and is referred to as in situ (in one location) or “precancer.” Some cancers never go beyond this stage and they can be easily removed.
Stage IV is the worst-case scenario. Cells from the lump may spread and enter the blood stream. Once there, they can spread and form new colonies. This is when the cancer becomes malignant. There is a slight possibility of recovery with treatment, surgery, and lots of medication, but the outlook is not promising.
Stage III is closely connected to Stage II. In Stage II, a body has a chance of producing an immune response which destroys the cancer cells. It advances to this stage when this fails and the lymph nodes are completely taken. A lump is formed on the nodes. Treatment is a must at this stage.
Stage II is where things begin to get complicated. When a cancer cell has reproduced enough, the newly infected cells can spread. They will head for the lymph nodes, which may become partially infected. The lymph nodes are a huge parts of your body’s immune system, and this is not a good sign.
Some people with Stage IV cancer use cannabis to ease their pain and suffering—underscoring the plant’s ability to help people even under the most dire of medical circumstances. And cancer can be dire indeed. Cancer is, in simplest terms, when a cell refuses to die. One ray of hope is how cannabis can help brief relief to cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemo, or stimulate the appetite of those who would otherwise waste away. Above is a basic explanation about cancer’s various stages. The overall staging system uses Roman numerals to rank the severity of cancer 18 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
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TUNES
They
Love the ON STAGE Performing April 19 at Neumos in Seattle.
Still inspired by retro sounds LOS Amigos Invisibles isn’t afraid of pushing its music {By David Jenison}
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boom, Los Amigos Invisibles emerged in the early ’90s with a street-party sound grounded in acid jazz, disco and funk. Discovered in the states by David Byrne (Talking Heads), the band soon went global performing in over 60 countries and relocating to NYC in 2001. Two decades after their Caracas-based launch, Los Amigos continue to innovate with their new album, Repeat After Me. “We don’t fear anything sound wise,” says Cheo, born Jose Luis Pardo. “We play cumbia, drum ‘n’ bass, house, funk, dance. We don’t have any fears of where we push the music.” Though steeped in the band’s signature disco-funk sound, Repeat After Me expands the musical palate to appeal more to international audiences. The romantic “La Que Me Gusta” is certainly accessible even in Spanish, but nearly the half the tracks are in English. The band even channeled Duran Duran and
Human League on the electrodance “Hopeless Romance.” Band members tracked Repeat After Me during stops in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Caracas. “We spend the whole year playing live,” explains Cheo. “For us, that is more important than radio singles so the songs need to work in the live show, on the dance floor. For example, there is a build up in the middle of the song ‘Sexappeal,’ and we made it longer because it really worked live.”
Whether in concert or on record, Los Amigos masterfully creates a party music vibe, so it’s fitting that Cheo supports medical marijuana. He concludes, “I support it, definitely. People should be able to do whatever they do, and if you are allowed to drink alcohol, you should be allowed to smoke marijuana. I don’t see the difference at all.” c beta.amigosinvisibles.com
Not Commercial Sounding
“When we did Commercial, it was our attempt to do the most pop album we could do,” says Cheo of Los Amigos Invisibles’ Latin Grammy-winning 2009 album. “It worked well in Latin America, but it didn’t really work in the U.S. On [Repeat After Me], we tried to do music that sounds more like the stuff we listen to. We weren’t trying to do Commercial [again], but we did want to reach a more Anglo crowd, which is one of the reasons we wrote more in English. We have lived here for 12 years, and most of us live our daily lives in English, so it feels more natural than it did 10 years ago.”
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Illustration by Vidal Diaz
During the ’70s energy crises, Venezuela was a cosmopolitan country riding high on inflated oil revenues, but the 1980s oil glut crippled the economy and set the stage for the Bolivarian Revolution. This dramatic shift changed the country’s place in the world, but for a group of Venezuelan teens, it sparked an artistic renaissance that inspired Los Amigos Invisibles. “We were such a rich country in the ’70s that artists like the Police, Queen and Michael Jackson all came here, and people preferred to see them than a Venezuelan band,” recalls Los Amigos guitarist and songwriter Cheo. “In the ’80s, the country couldn’t afford to bring as many artists, so people started doing stuff in Venezuela. There was a huge boom of singers, movies and productions, and we suddenly had all these musicians we loved.” Inspired by the ’80s music
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BUZZ
{By Dean Mayorga} Apparently, the NBA’s finest have a weakness for the same herb we use medicinally. Marcus Williams, a former player for the Spurs and Clippers who had most recently been playing for a Chinese league, was recently suspended for testing positive for cannabis. Also, former Chicago Bulls point guard and current ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams recently alleged that his former teammates would puff before games during the 2002-2003 season, according to a report in The New York Times. This isn’t the first time that true ballers and cannabis have crossed paths. Here are a few examples:
Kareem is a legend on and off the court, and we would be very remiss if we failed to mention that the former Lakers center has been very public about his use of the herb to tackle migraines. He was busted in 2000 for suspicion of driving while being under the influence of cannabis.
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In 2011, when Michael Beasley was playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was ticketed for speeding and possession of more than 16 grams of cannabis. While Beasley contests that it actually belonged to a friend, the whole incident begs the question: Where can I find some friends like Beasley’s?
Former Nugget Carmelo Anthony revealed to TSA how he stays so “mellow” when he was cited for possessing less than an ounce of cannabis in 2004 while boarding a plane at Denver International Airport. Once again, the cannabis was claimed to belong to a friend (probably Michael Beasley) and the case was dismissed.
Maybe Corie Blunt—excuse me, Blount—felt underpaid? In 2009, the former power forward (he retired in 2004 from the Raptors) was caught receiving 11 pounds of cannabis by Cincinnati police. Authorities eventually found a total of 29 bags full of green. Who needs lock-outs?
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Illustrations by Vidal Diaz
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destination unknown
Czech
Tranquility Now China’s southeastern Guanxi Province offers natural, serene attractions—but avoid the tourists! Imagine a classic, serene Chinese landscape. What does it look like? If your answer includes Shaolin monks fighting in Snake Style or the Five Deadly Venoms, you are completely AWESOME, but clearly distracted by popular culture. If, however, you imagine a tranquil river running through unusually pointy, fog-draped hills, then you are actually thinking about the city of Guilin, in China’s southeastern Guanxi Province. Guilin and its section of the Li River rank as one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, right up there with the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors. In fact, those oddly angled green hills— made of limestone, and called karsts. The karst topography is the city’s MVP; without it, Guilin is just a medium-sized Chinese city filled with osmanthus trees and really good chili sauce. Elephant Trunk Hill and Camel Hill are limestone hills that—surprise—look like an elephant and a camel, while Solitary Beauty
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Peak has amazing panoramic views from its summit. Inside the karst terrain, Seven Star Cave and Reed Flute Cave were both formed by dissolving limestone, the latter a Vegas-worthy spectacle of neon-lit stalactites and stalagmites. Not far from Guilin is another area attraction: the Longji rice terraces, also known by its more kickass name, “The Dragon’s Backbone.” These terraces are an engineering feat and are seriously
PHOTOs & story by Dennis Argenzia & Edengrace Cayosa gorgeous, especially when filled with water in spring or with young green rice plants in summer. After a visit to the rice terraces, tourists often take the extremely popular boat ride down Li River to nearby Yangshuo. It is this stretch of river that is commemorated on Chinese currency: clear calm water framed by majestic karsts and shrouded in mist. Water buffalo play at the river’s edge. Fisherman fish in contemplative silence, interrupted only by the sound of . . . megaphones on a passing 50-person boat. Word of advice: choose the slower, smaller 6-person “bamboo” rafts (and by “bamboo,” we mean PVC pipe); their lack of speed means that you are eventually left behind to enjoy the amazing scenery and take pictures without being photobombed by a boat hull. Boat (and bus) passengers disembark at Yangshuo, a formerly quaint town whose center is now transformed into a tourist cliché. If the presence of McDonald’s is highly offensive to you, take the initiative and rent a bicycle, or just walk. Yangshuo is blessed with the same beautiful terrain as Guilin, and dirt paths will quickly take you out of the West Street tourist crush and into the serenity of rice paddies, charming farming villages and, eventually, the Yulong River, a small tributary of the Li River. At the photogenic Yulong River, you can opt to either rent a [real] bamboo raft and join the domestic tourists in raft-to-raft water fights, or just stand on the Dragon Bridge, watching newlyweds float by during their raft photo shoot. The more adventurous will push on to Moon Hill, where a steep climb by stone steps or by scaling the rock face is rewarded with stunning views of the Yulong River valley. You can enjoy these views with a bit of cannabis that is peddled in Yangshuo. Strangely, most dealers are not taxi or rickshaw drivers, but little old women who really want to sell you something! As always, please practice common sense and remember that China has some very harsh consequences if you are caught. c
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profiles in courage Patient:
Robyn Bollay
AGE: 51
Condition/ Illness:
Uses a pacemaker, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, stroke/coma survivor, chronic pain, in remission from Addison’s disease.
Using medical cannabis since: 2001
Photos by Kristopher Christensen
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Are you an MMJ patient from Washington 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 when, [at] 15 years old, [I was] directed by [a] doctor to use edibles for asthma. Then I stopped at 23 years old, started again at 40 years old. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I had gotten eight pre-cancerous polyps in [my] colon due to narcotics and other medications. Now I am off 15 medications due to cannabis. I tried epidural steroid injections, radio frequency therapy, medications prescribed by doctors—the whole medical gambit with seven doctors. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? I think that the FDA rescheduling cannabis is one of the most important things, and for the patients to be active in our community, standing for our rights . . . educating those who are in the dark about medical marijuana laws and the benefits of this natural herb’s reality. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I’d like to explain to them that medical cannabis isn’t just for smoking. Cannabis can be ingested orally in cannabutter, sprayed under tongue, vaporized or delivered topically into the skin directly. c
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By Hilary Bricken
Say What?
legal corner
“If marijuana makes him feel better, stimulates his appetite, reduces his nausea from chemo, who am I to take it away from him?” —Dr. Mehmet Oz
WAmsterdam: Cannabis
Tourism in Washington? Among the resulting business opportunities generated by Initiative 502 is the advent of cannabis tourism. While thoughts of Amsterdam-style coffee shops in Pike Place Market might be dancing in your head, reading between the lines of the legislation is required if cannabis tourism is to succeed in the Evergreen State. Under I-502, anyone 21 or older—Washington resident or not—can possess or use up to an ounce of cannabis while within state borders. Use of cannabis in I-502 storefronts is prohibited, and you cannot sell it if you don’t have an I-502 license. Nonetheless, the initiative is entirely silent on whether anyone could establish a private space for recreational cannabis use. While a “Bring Your Own Green” (B.Y.O.G.) policy may not be hugely convenient, the idea could be very attractive to non-residents who come from other states with less liberal laws. One Washington bar is already experimenting with this kind of
cannabis tourism. Frankie’s Bar & Grill in Olympia was the first establishment in the state to develop a B.Y.O.G members-only smoking lounge. The second floor of Frankie’s is called “Friends of Frankie’s.” It’s a private room for recreational cannabis users who pay a $10 annual membership fee. Under Washington’s smoking laws, no smoking is permitted in public places. Frankie’s argues that it’s not in violation of those smoking laws because Friends of Frankie’s is private and because it is only staffed by volunteers (not employees, which would violate applicable workplace smoking laws). Smoking law issues aside, no one in the hierarchy of local, state or federal government will address the legality of Friends of Frankie’s. Tom Morrill, Olympia’s city attorney, states that he was “looking into [Frankie’s],” and that “[t] here are a lot of changes in state law right now.” Mikhail Carpenter, spokesman for the Liquor Control Board, says only that “[t] he board is weighing its options with regard to Frankie’s . . . [I]t’s
not perfectly crystal clear as to who this falls to.” Not surprisingly, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that they “[can’t say] whether what [Frankie’s is] doing is legal or not.” Nevertheless, in his Feb. 12 letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Governor Jay Inslee wrote that: “The prohibition on smoking in public places would apply to smoking marijuana . . . [and it] extends to places of employment, such as private clubs.” Gov. Inslee, however, is not tasked with interpreting state law; he is tasked with enforcing it, and he has not taken any action against Frankie’s. The bottom line for this type of cannabis tourism is that no one with any enforcement authority has tried to stop Friends of Frankie’s and no one with any authority seems to want to touch the issue. In turn, this I-502 penumbra is spurning all kinds of ideas for cannabis tourism, ranging from B.Y.O.G. lounge crawls to Napa-style tours of grows and processing facilities. And, unless and until the relevant authorities say otherwise, this gray area could have adventurous entrepreneurs seeing a lot of green. c
The Canna Law Group is a practice group of Seattlebased law firm, Harris & Moure, pllc. The Canna Law Group focuses on cannabis business law and litigation under both medical and recreational cannabis laws in Washington state. The Canna Law Group can be contacted via phone or web at (206) 224-5657 or www.cannabislawseattle.com.
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strain & edible reviews
PATIENT Sativa
A sativa strain’s cerebral, euphoric effects are often described as energetic or uplifting. Best for daytime use.
www.iReadCulture.com
INFO Indica
Indica strains are often characterized by strong aromas and flavors with heavy sedating effects. Recommended for evening use.
Grape Grand Daddy Purple
Afghan #1
We fell in love with this indica-dominant strain from the jump because of its frosty buds slathered with trichomes against purple-green buds with a deep grape Welch’s odor to it. But then none of that is a surprise when you cross two classics: Grape Ape and Grand Daddy Purple. The only problem is that Grape Grand Daddy Purple—from Green Warehouse in Tacoma—is almost too pretty to break up and combust. Almost. Once combusted and inhaled, a feeling of bliss overtook us, meaning CBD is present. As soon as we realized that Grape GDP was not a mind scrambler on the THC front, we noticed that we didn’t feel an ache or a spasm in our otherwise achy, spasm-y body. It also definitely had us desirous of food, so take note, patients with appetite and nausea issues. This strain also made us feel a bit sleepy and is a good bet for treating anxiety symptoms.
Afghan #1 is a landrace (heirloom) strain and is definitely a medical cannabis classic—and a major genetic polestar for an infinite number of indica-dominant hybrids. So it’s nice to see this strain (available at Woodinville Alternative Medicine in Woodinville) offered in original form since it is a great pain killer and has strong anti-anxiety qualities as well. Afghan #1 is gorgeous with dark green, red-haired buds of a size you usually don’t see in pure indicas. It’s strong, too, with a THC content that’s surely in the 20-percent range. This strain is also useful for treating spasms and arthritis as well being an appetite inducer. This is simply one of the best overall indicas in existence. Patients who need a good strong indica should check into this strain.
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Dragon Crack We’ve long been unhappy with the name “Green Crack” because it sounds far too street druggy for medical cannabis. But it’s also not fair to judge a strain by its name. What we have here in Dragon Crack—from North Seattle Med Co. in North Seattle—is the sativadominant Green Crack, crossed with Black Dragon, an indica-dominant strain. The result is definitely heady but not in the over-activating, mentally confusing manner of Green Crack. You might say that the Dragon calmed the Crack. This is a very strong strain with palpable body effects kicking within minutes of inhalation and sticking around for 90 minutes, including spasm reduction. It also made us quite hungry, ravenously so. In appearance, Dragon Crack is a lovely interplay of dark indica leaves and lime-green sativa leaves with a lovely odor to it that we couldn’t quite place, thanks to a seasonal cold that had taken over our nostrils.
Mississippi Mud Bar We prefer our edibles on the mellow side—sorry, we’ve braved too many overly strong edibles over the years that had us spun up for too many hours—and so we dig this mellow offering from Urban Medicinal Collective Garden in Olympia. It’s a tasty, classic Mud Bar (cookie crust bottom meets cakey top) infused with 80 milligrams of THC (says testing company Analytical 360), so many patients could do well with only half a dose. You’ll find that 40 milligrams of THC plenty to get deep, mellow and non-distracting pain relief. In other words, exactly what many patients want in terms of pain relief. Perhaps more importantly, the folks at Urban Medicinal report that patients with cancer and nausea respond well to this edible. But, for its pain effects alone, we’ll take a dozen of these yumtastic creations.
Pink Panther Permit us to say that this is one of the nicest new-to-us strains we’ve tried in a while. Why that claim? Let’s just say Pink Panther—which is actually Eva Seeds’ Pink Plant slightly renamed—utterly knocked out any sense of pain we were experiencing for a full two hours, a very long effect for smoked cannabis. This is a hybrid of TNT Kush and High Level, resulting in an 85/15 sativa-dominant strain you can find at THC Care Provider in Ballard. This is also yet another example of a sativa that does not make your mind run the Daytona 500 in your head, which is to say it will leave you clear and focused. And deliciously pain free. We’re told it’s also good for migraines and nausea. Our experience with this fruity tasting strain also leads us to believe it has solid anti-anxiety properties as well. Inspector Clouseau would be pleased.
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strain & edible reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Washington’s Chronic Tonic Most sodas do not do very much for us, as they can be very much like diluted tinctures and that simply do not spell relief. That’s why we’re actually thrilled to tell you about Washington’s Chronic Tonic, an in-house creation by the Green Collar Club in Tacoma—just half of one soda has us feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, dashing our physical aches’ hopes of ruining our day. The effect lasted two hours and that’s not something we’ve ever experienced with an infused soda before. Washington’s Chronic Tonic contains 1 gram of THC per bottle in a glycerin extracted base. The folks at GCC tell us that patients with kidney and liver problems have benefitted from this a product, as well as patients who cannot combust cannabis during the day. Sweetened with Splenda.
Allen Wrench This cross of Trainwreck and New York City Diesel straight up rocks our daytime world, and it’s clear that it’s rocking others’ world as well because Allen Wrench—our sample came from Canna Pi in Georgetown—is showing up all over the Puget Sound region lately. It’s an excellent sativa of the almost 100-percent variety with very strong cerebral effects that are not so activating as to make your focus wander. This is a daytime or evening strain. What’s more, it offers plenty of uplift in mood and actually had us giggling to ourselves. Yeah, it’s one of those sativas, and right up there with our revered African sativas for clarity. It’s bound to be great for patients with anxiety issues who are looking for a daytime med. Allen Wrench has anti-depressant and stress relief writ large in its effects as well. Sour fruit in aroma, this strain is a fine example of a great general-use medicine.
OG Dutch Treat #5 We’d never run across an OG Kush crossed with Dutch Treat before, so we were a tiny bit leery of this strain. Would the Kush ruin Dutch Treat’s daytime qualities? The verdict is “No” and another score for A Green Cure Wellness Center, located in both Shoreline and Snohomish County, with this excellent hybrid of OG Kush and Dutch Treat #5, both epic strains in their own right. A sativa-dominant, it tests at 19.7 percent THC and 1.06 percent CBD, according to the collective, and our experience overlaps with those numbers. OG Dutch Treat #5 is strong cannabis and is great for chronic pain, but those CBDs make it a bliss inducer too—something we’re consistently noticing in strains that hit around 1 percent CBD. So this will be an excellent choice for patients with anxiety or depression issues who need a daytime option.
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Deadhead OG There’s nothing Valley Girl about this hybrid from Top Choice Wellness Center in Maple Valley. Instead of being all trashy and teasing, this 60/40 indica dominant cross between San Fernando Valley Kush (an early OG Kush variant) and Chem Dawg provides impactful pain relief that, in our experience, lasts a full two hours. Deadhead OG (the Deadhead bit comes from one of the legends around Chem Dawg’s passage out into the world) is also excellent at treating anxiety and insomnia. In looks, it’s a classic OG Kush with its medium green buds and red hairs, but it sure does have Chem Dawg’s strong THC kick to it. This is definitely an evening or late-night strain that also works well to induce appetite.
Dàmà Oil Dàmà Oil owns the Western Washington market with slick packaging and products that are available in almost every collective in Rain Land USA. You don’t get market penetration like that unless your product works. And, yes, Dàmà Oil works very well. A dollop taken sublingually produced quick uptake and began offering pain relief within 30 minutes—an effect that continued for four hours (Dàmà Oils commonly test at 70 percent and above in THC). Dabbed, effects were even stronger. Dàmà comes in a range of flavors and also works well in an array of vaporizers and vapor pens.
Hawaiian Indica You might be suspicious of anything called “Hawaiian Indica” because, well, Hawaiian strains are classically sativas, all red-haired and full of crazy. But this 75/25 indica-dominant hybrid of Northern Lights (a godhead strain if there ever was one) and Hawaiian Island Sativa—from Green Acres in Olympia—is just about the mellowest thing to come out in some time. It smells like tropical grass and is a fruity green with hardly any red hairs. In effects, Hawaiian Indica is a strong pain reliever and does the job on insomnia too. It’s also good for migraines and nausea as well. This strain can be a bit cerebral—but not in an unpleasant way. More in the “Yay, I don’t hurt but the mind is sure active” kind of way. Super smooth in taste.
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concentrate reviews Romulan Some concentrates send us, old-school Jackie Gleason-style, to the moon, which is not a very medical place to be. Others induce placidity. This lovely strain-specific concentrate from Olympia’s Healing Leaf falls into the latter camp and, even better, is one of the few cough-free extractions we’ve encountered recently. The cerebral effects are not too rush-y, but nice and calm as you’d expect from Romulan, an indica-dominant strain. Cerebral effects last for one hour and then the pain-killing effects are around for a few hours more. This also works well for arthritis, migraines and, we’re told, the strain can help combat nausea.
Hindu Kush Dabbing this Hindu Kush concentrate was an unexpected pleasure. Doughy in texture and easy to handle in dabbing situations, this extract vaporized cleanly and was very smooth on inhalation with a slight sweetness in flavor. It did not cause us to cough—always a plus. Available from Cannatopia (with Tacoma and Olympia locations), Hindu Kush provided very strong yet mellow cerebral effects and slammed our pain symptoms to the ground. It’s also great for insomnia in classic indicadominant fashion.
Firewalker We really do prefer extracts that don’t bring on raging fits of coughing and here’s another example of one that is virtually coughless from SODO Holistic Health in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. It’s a sativa-fueled extract from Firewalker, which is a hybrid of White Fire OG Kush and Skywalker, and the result is a calming one-hit wonder that put a complete end to body pain (even pain deep in our hips) and spasms for several hours. It’s strong in mental effects—but not so distracting that you cannot focus and get things done. Legal Disclaimer
The publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical cannabis concentrates. The reviews listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only when medical cannabis is not a violation of state law. Please consume responsibly. Concentrates are legal and covered under Washington’s State Medical Use of Cannabis Act (Measure 692), SB 6032 and SB 5798, and are considered a form of medical cannabis (WRC 69.50.101). Without a medical professional’s recommendation, possession of concentrates can be a felony (WRC 69.50.204).
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Last summer, the artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg held a press conference at a Caribbean restaurant in New York City. The lanky superstar, who would turn 41 a few months later, reintroduced himself as Snoop Lion and declared, “I have always said I was Bob Marley reincarnated.” Had another artist made this declaration, the Marley family might’ve been up in arms, but that isn’t the case with the reggae icon’s sons. Rohan Marley appeared at the press conference in support, and Damian appears in the Reincarnated documentary about Snoop’s transformation. Even the eldest son, Ziggy, recently said the Dogg-to-Lion change “could be good” on the Grammy red carpet. “I feel I have always been a Rastafari,” Snoop continued. “I just didn’t have my third eye open, but it’s wide open right now.” The documentary hit theaters last month in limited release, and the Reincarnated album debuts April 23, arguably three days later than it should. The reggae project is a creative left turn for the multiplatinum-selling artist, and it begs several questions that Snoop answered for CULTURE last month over the course of an exclusive album-listening party, a documentary screening and interview sessions. 42 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
“Ready to Come Home”
Snoop Lion arrives fashionably late to a West Hollywood recording studio not far from the medical marijuana dispensary he recently made famous (more on that later). In person, the man born Calvin Broadus embodies everything his fans would expect. He has a friendly energy and chill vibe and smokes cannabis faster than Bukowski downed whiskey. As wisps of smoke fill the studio like a fog machine gone awry, Snoop takes CULTURE back to the journey’s genesis and his reason for rolling cameras. “[It’s] because my fans have always been right on my side and always been there with me through the good, the bad and the ugly,” explains Snoop, who reportedly shelled
out $200,000 to document the experiences in Reincarnated. “What I wanted to do was, I found a great spot in my life where I was at and I wanted to take them along with me. I wanted them to be a part of this journey with me so they wouldn’t feel left behind when everything begins to change and it feels a little different. So that way whether they do or they don’t, they know the backlight will be on so that whenever they’re ready to come home, they can come on in.” In 1972, Marley traveled to London and sought help from Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
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Photo by Willie Toledo
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Welcome to the Jungle
The Reincarnated documentary looks at the music-making process, but deeper themes emerge as Snoop explores Rastafarian ideologies, visits the musically significant Trenchtown and joins a holy ceremony at a Nyabinghi temple. He was given the Ethiopian name Berhane, meaning “light,” but that is not the name Snoop ultimately embraced. Bunny Wailer, the 65-year-old core member of the Wailers (with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh), endorsed the “Snoop Lion” name, which made it a lock. “This is the Snoop Lion. Take it two times and pass it around,” says Snoop. “Love is love.” Getting more serious, Snoop adds, “I feel like it is a growth, transformation into a full-grown artist/man/entrepreneur. The Dogg has had his run for 20 years. In a dog’s life, I’d probably be 140 years old now . . . I had my run with the Dogg for a long time to where the Lion is definitely necessary right now for what we’re going through. I feel like we’re living in a jungle, and the only way to deal with the jungle is bring out the King of the Jungle— 44 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
which is the Lion—who is willing to address every situation and still keep the party flowing. But at the same time, [we should] address some real issues that we really have before us that we don’t pay attention to. We as rappers that have a lot of power should use our power in the righteous way to create some awareness; to bring some attention to some things that need to be fixed.”
The Most Powerful Shit
While the documentary traces Snoop’s artistic change, the film has another side that can only be
described as cannabis cinema. On several occasions, participants broke out nugs so big they looked like props from a Peter Jackson film, and Snoop even hiked into the mountains to pick fresh cannabis like a Birkenstock-wearing granola cruncher. The locals lined up to share homegrown goodness, while the Lion doled out California green like the West Coast ambassador he’s always been. “The main issue with cannabis use was trying to function as a human being after smoking Snoop’s weed,” says Andy Capper about his challenges as the documentary’s director. “It’s the most powerful shit out there.” Still, Capper believes the film shows the spiritual and productive side of medicating. “We just showed the film in Mexico City, and a lot of the kids in the crowd told me they thought it was a great political statement in regards to the legalization of marijuana,” Capper continues. “The issue is definitely getting more attention.” Snoop, who claims to have a “platinum” MMJ card, has been an active medical cannabis proponent on the media circuit. In an early 2010 Lopez Tonight appearance, he said, “I feel like [MMJ legalization] is a great situation. I feel like the whole world would be a better place if the whole world
Snoop isn’t the only musical artist to re-tool his/her sound or public persona in response to some new cultural, religious or artistic inspiration. While Bob Marley’s Rasta ways made quite an impression on the now-former rapper, the newly-minted Snoop Lion wasn’t the first to re-imagine himself. Check out these two other switch-ups:
From Prince to The Artist
Fans of His Purple Majesty likely did a double-take when the Man From Minneapolis ventured into unpronounceable realms. Fonts hated Prince.
From Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam
Islam came calling and the singer-songwriter went back to his roots and, for a while, discontinued his pop career.
would just open up and do that.” Snoop rejoined George Lopez later that year and remarked, “I really believe it would take California to another level . . . it is the best piece of medicine that they’ve ever created. I used to go to the store and buy Anacin and Bufferin and Bayer, but it is nothing like this medical marijuana, man.” The rapper also appeared on Chelsea Lately and explained his medicinal needs: “I was having migraine pains and my vision was getting blurry.”
Snoop’s Journey Continues
Snoop’s biggest MMJ endorsement, however, came earlier this year when a GQ magazine writer joined him at a local collective in West Hollywood. “Dr. Dina,” the MMJ pioneer who inspired the Nancy Botwin character on Weeds, runs the dispensary and customized the sativa-dominant strain Snoop Lion Executive Branch just for the rapper. Having known each other since the Doggystyle days, Snoop gave her the “Dr. Dina” nickname, and she helped get him his first MMJ recommendation letter in 2005 (and again every year since). Regarding his reggae reinventiuon, Snoop has had his share of detractors and supporters. Rohan Marley weighed in on some criticism (ironically, from Bunny Wailer) last January telling Eagle 106.3 radio, “I am more than pleased with Snoop’s reincarnation . . . We do and will continue to support him on his journey.” As demonstrated by such positive responses, Snoop seems to value his new perspective as much as his new album. “That’s what it was all about,” the Lion concludes. “That’s what it is to this day—trying to live and learn and trying to become a better person and a better musician. So when I’m making my music, the music that I made I’m proud of in the past. But I want to make music that can get me on stage at the Essence Awards, at the Oscars and possibly in the White House.” President Obama, the ball’s in your court. The Lion awaits. c snooplion.com V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
CULTURE Editor in Chief Roberto C. Hernandez and contributor Jamie Solis contributed to this article.
Forty years later Snoop traveled to Jamaica to record the Reincarnated album in a studio owned by Blackwell, who also dropped by the recordings. Diplo’s Major Lazer team produced the album, and Snoop says the former Philadelphia schoolteacher nailed the sound. “Diplo brought funk,” the Lion roars. “He brought beats that was banging. He brought writers, arrangers, soul. He brought a spirit that could match mine. I could throw ideas off of him that would eventually work. He brought a sense of urgency to create something that I was looking for—not to clash but to complement. A lot of times when you bring somebody in on a project and you tell them to do the whole project from top to bottom, then you start to add your influences and what you feel, it becomes a clash. We never had a clashing moment. We always saw eye-to-eye. I feel like that’s why we got the best out of the project.”
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The woman they now call “Dr. Dina” is a mover and a shaker in the medical cannabis movement and a consultant to the stars, most famously to Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg), who is credited with bestowing the medically-inspired nickname upon her. She’s worked alongside multiple nonprofit dispensaries in three different states, and even inspired the Nancy Botwin character from Showtime’s Weeds. Ironically, Dr. Dina (Editor’s note: Dr. Dina is not a boardcertified physician) was originally staunchly skeptical about the benefits of medical cannabis. That was the case until she saw the good this plant could do—with her very own eyes. Her personal transformation was initialized by an ex-boyfriend that knew a Northern California woman working at a dispensary; one that had convinced him of cannabis’ medicinal value. “You listen to the Grateful Dead,” she ribbed him back then. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She went from being a skeptic
to being a believer a few years later, however, when she witnessed how MMJ improved the life of a friend tragically struck with testicular cancer. That friend asked Dr. Dina to put him in touch with her Northern California dispensary because the nausea prevented him from even keeping down his pharmaceutical meds. Dr. Dina and her friend ended up paying a visit to a Northern California doctor—the friend nauseous and vomiting the whole drive there. “There was a line around the block to see this doctor,” Dr. Dina recalls, describing this memorable journey. “[My friend] couldn’t stand, so we had to buy an office chair down the street at an Office Depot to roll him in because we didn’t have a wheelchair. “ Finally, they got in to see the doctor, obtained a recommendation for MMJ and purchased some at a dispensary. What she saw next, amazed her. “After smoking a joint, instantaneously—within five minutes—color came back to his face. He stopped dry heaving. He
looked at me and he said, ‘Oh my god. Give me the pills. Let me try to take the pill.’ He kept smoking and took the pills, and it was the first time that had happened. So, right there, in front of my, eyes I said, ‘Wow, this is really amazing!’ Here’s someone that’s dying of cancer. There’s no way he should be turned away for this. Right off the bat, I realized that medical marijuana is great for people that are really, really sick. That’s when I realized that people who are
really, really sick shouldn’t have to get in a car and drive to San Francisco to see a doctor so they wouldn’t go to jail.” This experience prompted Dr. Dina to take action. “That’s what inspired me in 2003 to open the first doctor’s office [that could recommend medical cannabis],” she says. “And once we got that open, it was like every patient that came in had a different incredible story that blew me away.” c
Dr. Dina wants to see the Obama administration do more to loosen federal restrictions on cannabis use. “I believe that he absolutely could do more,” she states. “I think that it’s time that we stop taking people to jail for weed. I think that is the No. 1 biggest issue with our country. If we look at the jails, they’re overcrowded with people that you’re making criminals out of because they had a little bit of pot . . . they refuse to admit that there’s any benefit to marijuana.” APRIL 2013 • CULTURE 47
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Missouri
Longtime medical cannabis champ Rep. Mike Colona reintroduced a bill in the state legislature in March that would allow patients with HIV/ AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating conditions to use and possess cannabis for medical purposes if their doctors recommend it. Homegrowing, caregivers and stateregistered dispensaries would provide the plant. The bill would put the question to voters on the November 2014 general election ballot.
Those suffering from severe pain, nausea, wasting, depression, anxiety and numerous other serious medical conditions may see relief yet in a handful of the 32 states where medical cannabis remains illegal. At least nine state bills could alter existing medical cannabis language in states where it is legal, or green light the plant in new states altogether. Below CULTURE highlights pending medical marijuana legislation in the U.S. 52 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
Hawaii
The Hawaiian House passed two medical marijuana bills, House Bills 667 and 668, that could improve the state’s existing medical marijuana program, setting possession limits of five ounces and seven plants.
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Minnesota
A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 65 percent of state voters support medical cannabis. State lawmakers are preparing a bipartisan bill legalize the plant for residents with cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS, and should be introduced in the coming weeks, though a vote is not expected until 2014.
Maryland
Michigan
Thanks to a new bill—HB 4271, the Medical Marijuana Provisioning Center Regulation Act, introduced in the House in February—the situation for patients and dispensaries could change for the better should the measure move forward.
Maryland’s governor’s office suggested it would support a pending medical marijuana bill sponsored by Del. Dan K. Morhaim (D), a Baltimore County doctor, to allow academic medical centers in the state to operate “compassionate use programs” beginning in 2016.
Illinois
Sixty-three percent of Illinois voters support medical cannabis, and in March a medical marijuana bill won a House committee vote. House Bill 1 would allow qualified patients to obtain marijuana from one of up to 60 dispensaries, and license 22 cultivation centers.
Arkansas
Activists are trying to run a medical marijuana ballot initiative in Arkansas this spring, with a vote in 2014. In March, the Attorney General refused to certify the initiative, citing vagueness, and activists responded by suing. A 2012 Arkansas MMJ initiative garnered 49 percent of the vote.
New Hampshire
Twice vetoed by the governor there, activists hope the third time is the charm as the New Hampshire House advanced a medical cannabis bill in March that would allow up to five dispensaries, possession of up to two ounces, as well as homegrowing of up to three mature plants, in a minimum 50 square-foot area.
Florida
Florida defends its reputation as a medical cannabis backwater this spring. Hours after Sen. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) filed medical cannabis bill SB 1250, Florida cops raided the patient advocate the bill was named after, one Cathy Jordan, who illegally grows and uses cannabis to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease—a condition for which a number of states approve the plant for. SB 1250 would exempt seriously ill Floridians from criminal penalties for using cannabis, allow them to possess up to four ounces and grow up to eight plants, as well as license and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities. Seventy percent of Floridians support MMJ.
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MardiGrass (Australia)
Held annually since the early ’90s, MardiGrass takes place in the Australian town of Nimbin and features events like the Bong Throw, Pot Poetry and the Million Marijuana March. This year’s event (May 4-5) features music acts like Anarchist Duck and the Rusty Datsons as well as the first-ever “Let’s pretend we’re in Colorado minute.” Purchase a Golden Bud wristband for entrance to exclusive areas like the Hemp Bar and Mullaways Magic Medicine Tent.
High Times Cannabis Cup (Amsterdam)
Cannafest (Prague)
Last month, we highlighted the Czech capital as the “Amsterdam of the East,” and the city lives up to its rep with Cannafest. Celebrating its third year last November, the event features Dutch seed vendors, art, concerts and workshops. There is even cannabis cinema, which last year included Stoned in Suburbia, Strain Hunters: India Expedition and the acclaimed Super High Me. Thanks to Prague’s more lenient laws, Cannafest draws an international crowd from eastern countries like Ukraine, Slovakia and Poland.
Celebrating its 26th year this November, the Cannabis Cup is the ultimate tasting party. Events happen around the city during the five-day fest, and the Judge’s Pass allows regular folk to assist in picking the best buds. Barney’s and Green House won the most awards as of late, though Wiz Khalifa’s “Daytoday” videos suggest he personally likes The Bulldog.
Full Moon Party (Kho Phangan)
Spannabis (Barcelona)
World Hemp Congress (Slovenia)
Expocannabis (Madrid)
Potential Big Newcomer: High Times U.S. HIGH TIMES US Cannabis Cup (Denver)
Portugal may have decriminalized cannabis, but neighboring Spain has the parties. Celebrating its 10th year last February, the three-day Spannabis event featured the Cannabis Champions Cup and sciencedriven lectures like “Protocol for the Preparation of Medical Cannabis” and “Latest Biomedical Research on Cannabinoids.”
Apparently one cannabis event is not enough for the Spaniards. Each fall, Expocannabis comes to the capital city with vendors, speakers, workshops and nighttime partying. A second event, Expocannabis Sur, takes place in the early summer (May 31 to June 2) in Picasso’s hometown, Malaga, on the shores of the Mediterranean. No, U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to visit Spain. 54 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
Most backpackers know the Thai island for its infamous Full Moon Party, though Kho Phangan throws equally wild parties throughout most of the month. Mushrooms are popular during the night of the werewolves, but the island is always packed with cannabis-loving Australians.
Per the Slovenia Times, cannabis is widely used and tolerated in Slovenia, making this an ideal country to host the World Hemp Congress. The annual event primarily focuses on hemp, though 2012 workshops like “Medical Marijuana” and “Cannabis in Agriculture and Industry” demonstrate its inclusivity. The Congress is held in Lendava near the border of Hungary and returns this summer on August 24 - 28.
April 20 will mark the first-ever U.S. Cannabis Cup! The two-day event, held at the EXDO Event Center in Denver, will feature outdoor medicating areas. The opening night features a Cypress Hill and Slightly Stoopid concert at Red Rocks, while the second night is the awards show. c
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Understanding the history of Washington’s MMJ movement means recognizing the power of public forums and community education. Seattle Hempfest, the largest “pro-testival” as it is referred today, began humbly in 1991 as the “Washington State EXPO” in beautiful Volunteer Park situated in the Capital Hill neighborhood. Originally attended by 500 people, 20 volunteers with the Seattle Peace Heathens Community Action Group made history setting the stage—quite literally—for cannabis activism in the Pacific Northwest. By 1995, the annual event had moved to Seattle’s pristine Puget Sound waterfront where it resides today. Myrtle Edwards Park allowed Hempfest’s core group of organizers to increase the amount of stages, attracting national music acts and internationally renowned speakers and accommodating 15,000 people who attended that year. Hempfest provided a forum for public debate and discussion regarding the prohibition of the cannabis. This allowed campaign organizers to affect regional public perception and created a strong signature-gathering environment for Initiative 692, or the Medical Use of Marijuana Act, adopted into law in November 1998. The initiative allowed an affirmative action defense to be established for qualified MMJ patients suffering from a list of debilitating conditions, should they be charged with possessing or growing small amounts of cannabis for medical purposes. Lifevine Clinical Resources was established in 1999 by MMJ patient Martin Martinez as a not-for-profit network of qualified patients working together to grow and provide safe access to the members of their network. Patients who joined their network received identification cards adding additional legitimacy when dealing with law enforcement officers and legal support for those patients busted for possession or growing—in essence, creating a nonprofit model for what would eventually help shape today’s standards for collective gardens and patient cooperatives in the Pacific Northwest. Lifevine’s network of collective patients still exists today in Seattle. Around this same time, Dr. Gregory Carter, a rehabilitation medicine specialist who works at Providence Hospital in Olympia and Centralia was beginning to write recommendations for his patients to use marijuana as medicine. When I-692 passed, Dr. Carter began collecting data on patients suffering from the symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease—and their reaction to cannabis remedies. In 2001, he published a seminal paper with all of his findings sparking new peer-reviewed studies into cannabis’s potential use in neurodegenerative diseases.
Carter was one of the first physicians in Washington State to write MMJ recommendations for his patients, at a great risk of federal prosecution. It wasn’t until a 2002 federal Appeals Court ruling in Conant vs. Walters that signaled doctors could recommended cannabis to their patients without reprisal. Initiative 694 remained unchanged until 2007, which was all well and good for those working and building businesses in the Pacific Northwest. The ambiguous language of the initiative allowed legal experts to find enough loopholes to open non-profit access points. During this time, several “patient resource centers” had opened in the greater Seattle area and some were attempting to open in the small surrounding townships, such as Issaquah, Kirkland, Kent and Renton. The 2007 amendments intended to clarify the language of the law by establishing conditions for designated providers, setting better perimeters for local law enforcement and offering more security for medical professionals. In 2010, Governor Christine Gregoire signed SB 5798 into law. Sponsored by State Rep. Jeannie Kohl-Wells, the bill expanded the list of medical practitioners able to write MMJ recommendations to include naturopaths, physician’s assistants, osteopathic physicians, their assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners. This allowed residents in remote areas who only see nurse practitioners, and low-income patients ease in obtaining their recommendations annually at less cost. As more businesses opened throughout the area, the need for more clarity increased. By 2011, more than 50 access points had opened in the area and more than 30 delivery services allowed patients to enjoy safe access to medicine in the comfort of their homes. The first Cannabis Farmers Markets had opened in Tacoma and Seattle allowing for grower-to-patient relationships. SB 5073, another bill sponsored by Jeannie Kohl-Welles, would have allowed state agencies to issue licenses to dispensaries and regulate the industry. Just before the bill was set to be signed, then-Gov. Christine Gregoire—threatened by the federal government—vetoed the parts of the bill defining dispensary regulations and quashed a loop-hole that allowed access points. Essentially, this would have shut down access points in Seattle, but luckily King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg and Seattle officials came up with a model they believe works with the new language of the law: collective gardens. The new system tracks the medicine from plant to finished product. So far, most access points have opted for the collective garden model. Throughout this entangled history, Seattle Hempfest remains a place for politicians and advocates to come together . . . and continue writing our rich green history. c For the full story go to www.ireadculture.com
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Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Washington state Senator, 36th Legislative District Jeannie Kohl-Welles has been a long time supporter of MMJ. Representing a district that includes Ballard, Belltown, Blue Ridge, Crown Hill, Greenwood, Magnolia and the Queen Anne Hill neighborhoods of Seattle, as well as the north half of Downtown Seattle. She’s sponsored every MMJ initiative since I-694 was passed in 1998. Serving as a liaison between businesses and lawmakers, Jeannie has made great efforts to work with business leaders to create a model acceptable to community leaders in Washington and, eventually, to the DEA.
Roger Goodman
State Representative, 45th Legislative District Goodman’s district includes parts of Kirkland and Woodinville, Redmond, Duvall, Carnation and the Upper Snoqualmie Valley in King County. He has been a long time proponent of MMJ, noting the economic repercussions of a failed Drug War policy that is currently filling prisons with non-violent offenders, costing taxpayers millions and wasting time and resources.
Pete Holmes
Seattle City Attorney After the people voted not to prosecute citizens for the possession of small amounts of cannabis in 2003, Holmes maintained his resolve to represent the voters who elected him. Quoted at the time of his election in 2009, Pete said, “Under my tenure, I will not charge another minor marijuana-possession offense—either in conjunction with other charges or standing alone. Period.” Since then, Holmes has been a stark proponent of MMJ, refusing to prosecute businesses working within state law and conforming to city policy. He is working with the state liquor board to help implement a reasonable and safe program regulating and taxing cannabis for adult use in Seattle.
Dan Satterberg
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg dismissed all misdemeanor charges related to cannabis possession as soon as voters approved I-502. As prosecuting attorney in Washington State’s most populated county, Satterberg has been working in accordance with voter-approved initiatives since I-694 passed in 1998. After the partial veto of SB 5073, Dan worked with law enforcement, local officials, industry leaders and civil rights attorneys to create collective gardens, a model he believes works within the perimeters of current state law.
Mike McGinn
Seattle Mayor McGinn is a public supporter of regulating and taxing the recreational sale of cannabis to adults as a way to ease the city’s financial problems. Throughout his mayoral tenure, McGinn has also worked with MMJ businesses to create a working model suitable for establishing safe access points. When SB 5073 was partially vetoed by thenGov. Christine Gregoire, McGinn signed a city ordinance similar to the original bill allowing for the distribution of MMJ in Seattle.
Jay Inslee
Washington Governor Jay Inslee has always supported cannabis-related initiatives as a state representative. As governor elected the same term as voters approved I-502, Inslee wanted to make sure what happened with Gregoire’s veto of SB 5073 wasn’t repeated. After he and Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson met with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss the implementation of I-502, Ferguson released this statement: “Today, we had a cordial, successful first meeting. Governor Inslee and I communicated Washington State’s intention to move forward in implementing I-502.”
Sally Clark
Seattle City Council President Sally’s work in HIV/AIDS advocacy shaped her perspective on medical cannabis. Once officials worked out a model post-Gregoire veto, Clark worked with council members to create zoning ordinances suitable for collective gardens. She and Council Member Nick Licata took the model to neighborhood council Meetings for feedback and support.
Nick Licata
Seattle City Council Nick has been working with Sally Clark to build support for new city ordinances allowing for the zoning and permitting of aggregate collective gardens. One of his goals is to create a model the federal government will come to eventually approve based on what has not worked in other states. c
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here is an urban legend that Ben & Jerry’s sold cannabis Green Tea ice cream at California music festivals in the ’60s and ’70s. Heat, flavor and texture issues make this unlikely, but the rumors probably started with the same satirist types who recently claimed Compassion Crunch and Patients & Pralines were the company’s new MMJ flavors. Still, where there is smoke, there is usually fire, and founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield certainly give hints that they enjoy 420. In poll after poll, Ben & Jerry’s is the favorite ice cream of medical cannabis users, and the Vermont-based company comes up with ideal flavors for the MMJ demographic. For example, Bonnaroo Buzz, made for the famous Tennessee music festival, debuted in scoop shops a few years ago on April 20. To quote VH1. com, “Ya coulda just dropped the pretense and called it Eat This, Potty McPotpot (Pot).” The name is being changed to Coffee Carmel Buzz, which suggests the Buzz is more important than the Bonnaroo. According to the Rutland Herald, Vermont leads the nation in marijuana use with nearly half of all young adults smoking at least once a year. The point is that a Vermont-based company doesn’t name flavors Half Baked and Magic Brownies without grasping the larger implications. Plus, consider some of the entertainers the company honored with their own flavors: Phish, Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia, Wavy Gravy and the Dave Matthews Band. What’s next, Dr. Dre’s Chronic Chocolate? 60 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
In an interview with High Times, B&J spokesperson Sean Greenwood admitted that “Ben and Jerry are hippie guys [that] grew up in that peace love kind of time,” but stated that celeb flavors are based on the person’s humanitarian activism. Maybe Bonnaroo Buzz was supposed to be Bono Buzz, but it is true that Stephen Colbert donates all the profits from his AmeriCone Dream flavor to charitable causes. Cohen and Greenfield typically speak out on their political views. They introduced the Peace Pop in 1991 in protest of nuclear arms spending, and the Chubby Hubby flavor was briefly renamed Hubby Hubby in support of gay marriage. This begs the question, if they are pro-420, why would the founders be secret cannabis activists? Last December, in a conference call hosted by the nonprofit Bolder Giving, Cohen explained: “I actually deliberately stayed out of that issue when I was working on trying to reduce the Pentagon budget because I thought that would be used against me. [Legalization] is an incredibly important thing to do. From a point of view of racial justice, it’s [essential].” Cohen also noted, “I thought that, after the election, things were going in a great direction with the two states legalizing recreational marijuana, but then I heard the Obama administration is fighting. All I can say is that I am a big supporter.” The duo will hopefully be more active in the future, but in the meantime, watch for B&J’s annual Free Cone Day, which happens each year around the middle of April. The timing is certainly curious. c 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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“Marriage equality and marijuana laws passed?” tweeted Star Trek actor George Takei last November on election night. “Now we know what Leviticus really meant by, ‘A man who layeth with another man must be stoned.’” Takei is a reliable supporter of liberal causes, which is fitting for a man who entered this world on April 20. Much like being born on Christmas, 420 babies can have twice the birthday fun, and “Mr. Sulu” is not the only celeb with added spark to beam up on his birthday. Oscar-hoarding actress Jessica Lange is the most prestigious 420 star, though Edie Sedgwick is the most appropriate having inspired the likes of Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan. Carmen Electra probably thought every day was April 20 during her marriages to Dennis Rodman and Dave Navarro, while Crispin Glover (Back to the Future) played “Roach” on Happy Days around the time the 420 tradition first began. While it is unlikely that Joey Lawrence’s birthday inspired his music single “Rolled,” 420 could have motivated Andy Serkis to demand “the precious” in the Lord of the Rings series. Latin music legend Tito Puente and romantic crooner Luther Vandross would have turned 90 and 64 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
62, respectively, on April 20, while Swedish House Mafia member Sebastian Ingrosso will turn 30. Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Randy Moss, Michael Vick, Santonio Holmes, Ricky Williams and Olympic gold medalists Ross Rebagliati and Michael Phelps should have been born on April 20, but basketball stars Danny Granger and Allan Houston were. Other 420 pros include Dodgers manager Don “The Hit Man” Mattingly and cosmic daredevil Felix Baumgartner. Since Michele Bachmann missed by two weeks, the most notable 420 politician is Robert F. Wagner, the three-term NYC mayor who famously broke with Tammany Hall (once run by “Boss” Tweed) in the late ’50s. Burmese President Thein Sein, who enacted surprising reforms since becoming the President of Myanmar in 2011, also claims a 420 birthdate. Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr, Catalan painter Joan Miro and college heir William DeVry also celebrate April 20 birthdays, but only one 420 kid topped Leonardo DiCaprio in People Magazine’s 1998 “Most Beautiful People” online poll. Though coming off Titanic, Leo got sunk by the late, great Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf. We can thank The Howard Stern Show for that one. c
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Super Mario Bros Forget the Mushroom Kingdom and the sequel’s “Super Leaf,” Mario tops the list thanks to last year’s Snoop Dogg rap over Super Mario bleeps: “Me and my Super Mario Bros, man, we’re doing our thing/and playing these bitches like a video game . . . Step up in my teepee/smoke a little green leaf/meet my little homeboys, Mario and Luigi.”
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Frweed Pro app Patients stay connected with info on symptoms, strains and effects.
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LittleBigPlanet The colorful visuals, mindbending puzzles and wacky adventures go to a higher level for the medicated player. NBA 2K13 Assemble an all-420 team with Kareem, C-Webb, Carmelo, Iverson and Stoudamire on this year’s title, exec-produced by Jay-Z.
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Guitar Hero Do we really need to explain this one?
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The Stoner’s Handbook app In addition to strain info, this app has recipes, tips, games and a THC calculator.
Highdroid app Do you feel like Einstein when medicated? Post your thoughts, check out other high ideas and vote for the best.
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Mirror’s Edge A female lead, stunning visuals and anti-totalitarian themes make this the ideal fight game for the left-leaning smoker.
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Weed Farmer app When Willie Nelson helped organize Farm Aid in 1985, he probably had this idea in the back of his mind. The sequel, Overgrown, is now in beta.
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Solitaire Dating back at least to the Napoleonic era, this single-player card game is an old-school smoker fave that, appropriately, is best played sloooooow. c
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Sonshine Organics Network, Olympia Ferris Bueller’s legendary day off can’t hold a candle to April www.sonshineo.com 20 in Washington. Hot off legalization in two states—and with Massachusetts joining the MMJ family—let’s celebrate the fruits An Evening with Dark Orchestra of its labors, and gird up for the challenges to come. Here’s just Star What better way to usher in an ode to the a smattering of the ways CULTURE readers will be celebrating leaf than with the legendary music from
April 19 2013 Aroma of Tacoma Medical Cup Awards Party
This year’s 4th annual Aroma of Tacoma Medical Cup Awards Party will be part of the BLAZE 2013 event and feature five stages of EDM, hip-hop and reggae music, plus arts and craft vendors, an awards ceremony, cannabis expo, 21+ lounge and a cannabis/hash bar. Open only to qualified Washington state MMJ patients with a valid recommendation. LTD Warehouse, Tacoma www.facebook.com/ events/159345704221589
April 20
Seattle Hempfest presents 420Fest
Seattle Hempfest is hosting 420Fest in Seattle with musical performances by Stay Grounded, Space Owls and The Herbivores, with DJs provided by Bass Drop Music. Seattle Hempfest members enjoy free entry to this event, which includes food served throughout the day and multiple vendors showcasing the industry’s best. There will be a cash bar with an additional 420-friendly smoking section. The Big Building, Seattle hempfest.org/events/420fest 70 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
CaviGold Records Presents: Legally 420
It’s the 1-year anniversary for CaviGold, so the label is celebrating in fine style—and CULTURE’s helping out (we’re a sponsor). You a fan of hip-hop? Check out the headliners—none other than Grammy-winning Bone Thugs-NHarmony (Layzie Bones and Bizzy Bones will be joined by TA Smalls and Bingx). Other acts on the bill include Sky Pilot, Lacero, December in Red and Black Magic Noize. Don’t forget to hook up with the afterparty, too! Studio 7, Seattle www.studio7.us
A 4/20 Hometown Funk Party
Never heard of Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme? You’re in the minority. The Seattle Weekly called the band “one of the best live shows in Seattle” while The Stranger dubbed its style as “maximal funk and soul maneuvers.” In any case, if this 12-person orchestration of hot-buttered, boogeydown doesn’t get you dancing on the night—we don’t know what to tell you. Neumos, Seattle neumos.com
Washington Farmer’s Market
Washington’s traditional Farmer’s Market— hosted by Sonshine Organics Network—is kicking it up a notch this year, by adding live music, safe access and lots of entertainment. There are vendors and glassblowing demos in the morning and an afterparty slated for Big Daddy’s Lounge.
the best Grateful Dead-inspired band every conceived. Yes, this band is that good. The Chicago-born Dark Star is so legit it’s actually performed with former members of the great Americana roots band, such as Dead keyboardist Keith Godchaux, as well musicians Vince Welnick and Tom Constanten. Showbox at SoDo, Seattle www.showboxonline.com
Monster Energy AMA Supercross
Why not get your adrenaline pumping on this most holiest of holy days. Check out the dirt spraying action that will be par for the course for this wheel-roaring action— part of the FIM World Championship. Will Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto—with four wins under his belt at press time—be the rider to beat? Or is Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps the one to watch? Only time—and the track—will tell. CenturyLink Field, Seattle www.centurylinkfield.com
4:20 Fireball Run 2013
Forget cars—for some, there’s no more elegant way to wheel around town than via the elegant mode of transportation that a classyretro Vespa provides. Just ask the Firkin Scooter Club, “a gaggle of Scooter enthusiasts who also enjoy a penchant for good beer. ”The group welcomes all scooters (“without any snobbery”), and this month the club is holding this Cannonball Run (yeah, that’s a reference to the ’80s movie with Burt Reynolds) inspired run. Start TBD, Tacoma www.firkinscooterclub.com V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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cool stuff Wicked Laser There are laser pointers . . . and there are Wicked Lasers so cutting-edge, even George Lucas got jealous. These are the most powerful handheld lasers commercially available; cool enough to fuel Star Wars fanboy fantasies from here to Episode VII . . . and powerful enough to ignite your favorite medicine. (from $299.95) www.wickedlasers.com
Kush Bottles Neon Collection Keeping your medicine safe and sound is important. Lucky for us, Kush Bottles’ new exclusive Neon Collection offers just the thing to store your flowers with pop-top containers (BPA-free, medical-grade plastic) available in eight different colors. Taste the rainbow. www.kushbottles.com
Vans x Metallica Signature Shoes Be the master of your feet with this shoe collab brought to you by Vans and Metallica. These kicks here were inspired by bassist Robert Trujillo and his easy-going, hard-rockin‘ lifestyle. ($80) www.vans.com/metallica.
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Menu:
By Aunt Sandy
Chicken Cordon Bleu w/Mushroom Sauce Garlic Mashed Potatoes Green Bean Bundles Chocolate Chip Cookies
If we’re going to be celebrating the greenest day of the year, let’s kick it up a notch with this fabulously rich and fulfilling menu. Treat yourself right . . . after all, 420 is a special occasion . . . and only comes once a year.
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. 74 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
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Chicken Cordon Bleu Serves eight 8 chicken breast halves, skinned and boned 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup milk 4 (1-ounce) slices cooked deli ham, cut in half 4 (1-ounce) slices Swiss cheese, cut in half 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/3 cups fine dry breadcrumbs 4 teaspoon Dijon mustard 4 teaspoon softened Canna Butter* Vegetable oil Place each piece of chicken between two sheets of wax paper. Flatten each breast to quarterinch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine eggs, salt, pepper and milk mixture. Spread 1/2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard and 1/2 teaspoon softened Canna Butter over each breast. Place a ham slice and cheese slice in center of each piece. Fold short ends of chicken over ham and cheese and roll up, beginning with the unfolded side. Secure with wooden picks. Dredge chicken in flour, dip in milk-egg mixture and coat well with breadcrumbs. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Fill a heavy skillet with about a half-inch of vegetable oil and heat. Add rolled-up chicken and pan fry over medium heat. Drain well and place in a baking dish in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with Mushroom Sauce if desired.
Mushroom Sauce 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can mushroom sauce 1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream 1/2 cup Canna Butter* 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1/3 cup dry sherry Combine all ingredients, cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until thoroughly heated. Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes Serves eight 5 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 head of garlic 1/2 cup Canna Butter* 1 tablespoon Cannabis Infused Oil** 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened Salt to taste Place potatoes in a pot and cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender. Drain and set aside. Cut garlic horizontally and place in a baking pan. Drizzle with Cannabis Infused Oil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until tender. Using a fork, remove skin and mash garlic. Mash potatoes. Add garlic, Canna Butter, cream cheese, sour cream and salt, blending well. Spoon into a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish. When ready to serve, heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes. APRIL 2013 • CULTURE 75
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Green Bean Bundles Serves eight 3 14 1/2-oz. cans of whole green beans, drained 8 slices bacon 6 tablespoon Canna Butter*, melted 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 cloves garlic, minced
Gather beans in bundles of 10 and wrap each bundle with a half slice of bacon. Arrange bundles in a lightly greased 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan. Mix melted Canna Butter, brown sugar and garlic in a small bowl and spoon over bundles. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 more minutes.
Chocolate Chip Cookies Makes two to three dozen depending on the size. If you want to make an extra special treat, use these cookies and a few scoops of vanilla ice cream to make ice cream sandwiches! 1 cup Canna Butter*, softened 1/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 5 1-ounce packages instant vanilla pudding mix 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 12-oz. package semi sweet chocolate chips
Beat Canna Butter and sugars until light and fluffy, blend in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, pudding mix and baking soda. Add to butter mixture, blending well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls on to ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Place on wire racks to cool.
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.
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.
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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entertainment reviews Iron & Wine Ghost on Ghost Nonesuch Records
Ghost on Ghost, Iron & Wine’s fifth studio outing, is a noticeable contrast to Beam’s last two albums. As Iron & Wine’s last album, 2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean, was essentially Sam Beam’s attempt at what might be considered a mainstream pop album, it’s no surprise that the release might have been an anxious endeavor to create. However, Ghost on Ghost may succeed where Kiss Each Other Clean failed, by creating a highly produced and well polished Iron & Wine album that still sounds as relaxing and unintimidating as Beam’s first two acoustic records. The one true constant through all of Beam’s work that is just as present as ever on Ghost on Ghost is the man’s beautiful—at times ethereal—warm wind on an autumn day voice that appears just as strong and majestically now as it did at the beginning of his career. Additionally, the new record sees Beam still experimenting with his sound by incorporating jazzier influences. All in all, Ghost on Ghost seems to show Beam having a good, fun time on this record. Ghost on Ghost is what Beam described as a “reward” to himself after his experiences with making his last two albums, and that feeling of relaxation and relief certainly shines through. If anyone was concerned about the direction Beam was headed, this release should put those worries to rest. (Simon Weedn)
Rastafarian Children of Solomon: The Legacy of the Kebra Nagast and the Path to Peace and Understanding By Gerald Hausman Bear & Co. If your knowledge of Rastas begins and ends with your worn copy of Bob Marley’s Legend . . . then, my friends, you need a culture bomb thrown at your front door. No, dear friends, the ideas and concepts behind the Rastafarian movement that took root in Jamaica during the 1930s go way beyond reggae music and giant spliffs—though they are connected. Here, author and storyteller Gerald Hausman tells the stories of Rastas, or the “Children of Solomon,” in his and their words. From farmers to healers, to Rasta elders and fisherman, Hausman uses colorful words and first-hand experience to powerfully describe his subjects: “Mackie [McDonough] knows his history, his story; and his face is a finely carved mask of inscrutable character. He can stare down a stump, as the expression is, and he fears no man or woman . . .” Or in the case of Horace “Winston” Churchill: “His twinkle-eye and easy smile could charm a snake, and probably have.” Hausman’s Rastas leap beyond the confines of any mere album cover. Even Bob’s. (Matt Tapia)
Alanis Morissette Live at Montreux 2012 Eagle Rock
Alanis Morissette’s debut international album, 1995’s Jagged Little Pill, was commercially gargantuan (selling over 33 million copies) to the point of overshadowing the thoughtful Canadian-American singer’s very robust career since. Filmed in high-def at Switzerland’s famed Montreux Jazz Festival last July, this 17-song set serves as a reminder both of Pill’s potency (including album standouts “Ironic,” “Head Over Feet” and breakthrough single “You Oughta Know”) and Morissette’s rare staying power (featuring songs from her most recent album, 2012’s Havoc and Bright Lights). Though her very worthy backing instrumentalists can evoke one of those safely “rockin‘” suburban church bands, and the Montreux crowd is more polite than impassioned, this competently-shot concert finds the inner-peace-exuding Morissette in fine, sometimes snarledflecked voice and versatile mood, from a furrowed-brow take on “Oughta Know” to a positively beaming “You Learn.” Choosing to document a performance at a revered jazz fest suggests an ongoing quest for credibility in the lingering wake of a blockbuster pop hit. (Paul Rogers) 78 CULTURE • APRIL 2013
Procession of the Species Celebration The Procession of the Species, Olympia’s yearly one-of-a-kind celebration of the natural world, held in conjunction with Earth Day and Arts Walk, is in preparation for its 19th year of both joyful revelry and serious creative intent. That intention is to bring deep love of life into the very heart, and onto the very streets, of Olympia. People of all ages have been gearing up for the Procession, artfully composing images of the creatures they love and wish to protect in hopes to bring them to life for this Olympia staple. Following their own inspiration, participants create costumes from the donated, recycled and purchased materials they find in the free community art studio. Both children and grownups are being given the gift of getting to see how wonderfully creative, joyful and uninhibited adults can really be. The mission of the Procession is “to invite the community in elevating the ultimate dignity of the human spirit by enhancing connections in the natural world, focusing on imagination, creation and sharing as a cultural exchange as opposed to an entertainment event.” An essential part of Olympia’s artistic and political community.
IF YOU GO
What: Procession of the Species. When/Where: April 27, procession begins at intersection of Legion Way and Cherry Street, Olympia. Info: For details about the exact route, go to www.procession. org.
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let’s do this Our picks for the coolest things to do around town Beard & Stache Fest
April 5 Gentlemen, young and old, rocking facial hair both wild and manicured, have had their portraits pasted onto cans so faithful patrons can place votes throughout bars in Washington, determining which hairy participant will be deemed with the best beard at the Awards Gala. Then there’s the Bearded Lady Competition . . . Chop Suey, Seattle chopsuey.com
Tech N9ne
April 6-7 Known for spittin‘ lyrics as quick as his namesake, Tech N9ne’s flows will hit you fast and hard. Bring a flak jacket as this face-painted hiphop superstar will break it down for you live in concert. Showbox SoDo, Seattle www.showboxonline.com
The Taming of the Shrew
April 10 Any play written by William Shakespeare is beyond classic—and The Taming of the Shrew is no exception. This outlandish tale about taming Katherina (the shrew) into being an obedient wife continues to entertain audiences with its intricate storyline and exciting conclusions. Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham mountbakertheatre.com
‘Mo-Wave Seattle’s Queer Music & Arts Festival
April 12-13 Outwardly pushing the boundaries to challenge the mainstream culture, this festival is one-of-a-kind for the modern queer activist. It will be showcasing artists, comedians, musicians and dancers who are pure visionaries. Chop Suey, Seattle chopsuey.com
World Rhythm Festival
April 12-14 Whether you’re inclined to grab a drum and join the percussionists in a workshop, or you prefer to kick back and soak in over 100 world music performances, you’re in luck at the World Rhythm Festival. Get shakin‘, y’all. Seattle Center, Seattle www.seattlecenter.com
Pancakes & Booze Art Show
April 13 The only pairing that makes chicken and waffles become obsolete: pancakes and booze. With contributions from over 50 local artists covering the walls with an excess of color, an all-you-can-
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eat pancake bar, live music and live body painting—your usual rise-and-shine just got a twist. El Corazon, Seattle elcorazonseattle.com
Bad Religion
April 15 Formed in 1980, Bad Religion continues to lyrically bring messages that promote social and political change. More than three decades of belting out punk rock classics hasn’t slowed this band down one bit. Showbox SoDo, Seattle www.showboxonline.com
The Edge Improv
April 18 This comedy team believes that interaction between the comedians and spectators is the key to a good, fun time. That’s why The Edge Improv’s sold-out shows have been guided by the audience’s direct input for over 16 years. Methinks they need more feedback. Treehouse Café, Bainbridge Island treehousebainbridge.com
2013 Spring Barrel Tasting
April 26-28 There’s no better way to celebrate the fresh and bright season of spring, than by sipping on delightful wines paired with carefully selected treats from 40 participating wineries. Wine Yakima Valley, Yakima wineyakimavalley.org
One-Man Star Wars Trilogy: Written & Performed By: Charles Ross
April 27 Nerd Alert! Charlie Ross is so obsessed with Star Wars that he will never get tired of performing his one-man show of the three episodes. Performing his skit over 1,200 times—and the end isn’t even close to being in sight—Ross switches voices, body movements and sound effects. Hey, Lucas—check this dude out! Triple Door, Seattle tripledoor.net
Crystal Castles
April 30 Crystal Castles’ synths-meet-Gameboy-glitches approach to digital music has made it a headlining sensation among in-the-know EDM scenesters. At times ethereal, at other times blasting with energy, you’ll be transfixed either way by this Canadian duo. Moore Theatre, Seattle stgpresents.org
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CULTURE Quiz HEAD COUNT
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Time to rev up your brain cells, folks. Take this official CULTURE quiz and test yourself to see how much you know about cannabis. For each question you answer correctly, give yourself 5 points.
the federal government for its cannabis policies? pop-punk band 4 Though Green Day’s name was
cannabis inspired, the group’s frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, recently admitted abusing what?
1 cannabis decriminalized in cannabis help cancer 2 IsPortugal? 5 Can patients?
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ANSWERS
the theoretical 3 Name physicist who has criticized
1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3. Dr. John Schwarz. 4. Alcohol and pills. 5. Yes. It can stimulate the appetite and relieve the pain and suffering caused by either the cancer—or the chemo and radiation.
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Did Toni Braxton ever admit to smoking cannabis?
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Now Rate Yourself: 5 points: A few classes at Oaksterdam University won’t even help you. 10 points: Are you even a patient? 15 points: Keep medicating. 20 points: Impressive. Almost ready for the big leagues. 25 points: What do you want—a prize?
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Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY—HOLY HANDGUNS
; One of the many decisions greeting Pope Francis, as Salon. com pointed out, is whether to officially recognize a Patron Saint of Handgunners—as urged by a U.S. organization of activists for more than 20 years. According to legend, St. Gabriel Possenti rescued an Italian village from a small band of pillagers (and perhaps rapists) in the 19th century by shooting at a lizard in the road, killing it with one shot, which supposedly so terrified the bandits that they fled. No humans
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were harmed, activists now point out, signifying the handgun was obviously a force for good. The head of the St. Gabriel Possenti Society has noted that, however far-fetched the “lizard incident” may be, it was rarely questioned until U.S. anti-gun activists gained strength in the 1980s.
CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE
; Though Americans may feel safe that the Food and Drug Administration approves a drug only for certain specific uses, the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York ruled in December that drug
company salespeople have a First Amendment right to claim that drugs approved for only one use can be marketed for nonapproved uses, as well. Doctors and bioethicists seemed outraged, according to the Los Angeles Times, generally agreeing with a University of Minnesota professor who called the decision “a complete disgrace. What this basically does is destroy drug regulation in the United States.” ; Denials of disability allowances in the town of Basildon, England, near London, are handled at the Acorn House courthouse, on the fourth floor, where afflicted people who believe they were wrongly rejected for benefits must present their appeals. However, in November, zealous government safety wardens, concerned about fire-escape dangers, closed off the fourth floor to wheelchair-using people. Asked one woman, turned away in early February, “Why are they holding disability tribunals in a building disabled people aren’t allowed in?” (In February, full access resumed.)
; Among the helpful civic classes the city government in Oakland, Calif., set up earlier this year for its residents was one on how to pick locks (supposedly to assist people who had accidentally locked themselves out of their homes), and lockpicking kits were even offered for sale after class. Some residents were aghast, as the city had seen burglaries increase by 40 percent in 2012. Asked one complainer, “What’s next? The fundamentals of armed robbery?” (In February, Mayor Jean Quan apologized and canceled the class.) ; We Must Kill This Legislation Because Too Many People Are for It: In February, the North Carolina House of Representatives Rules Committee took the unusual step of pre-emptively burying a bill to legalize prescription marijuana (which 18 states so far have embraced). WRAL-TV (Raleigh-Durham) reported Rep. Paul Stam’s explanation: Committee members were hearing from so many patients and other constituents (via phone calls and emails) about the
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importance of medical marijuana to them that the representatives were feeling “harassed.”
INEXPLICABLE
; Two teachers and three student teachers at a Windsor, Ontario, elementary school somehow thought it would be a neat prank on their eighth-graders to make them think their class trip would be to Florida’s Disney World, and they created a video and PowerPoint presentation previewing the excursion. The kids’ exhilaration lasted only a few days, when they were informed that plans had changed and that they would instead be visiting a local bowling alley. Furthermore, the teachers captured the students’ shock on video, presumably to repeatedly re-enjoy their prank. (When the principal found out, she apologized, disciplined the teachers, and arranged a class trip to Niagara Falls.) ; Solutions to Non-Problems: (1) Illinois state Rep. Luis Arroyo introduced a bill in March that would ban the state’s restaurants from serving lion meat. (2) Georgia state Rep. Jay Neal introduced legislation in February to ban the implantation of a human embryo into a nonhuman. Rep. Neal told the Associated Press that this has been a hot issue in “other states.”
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT
; Imprisoned British computer hacker Nicholas Webber, 21, serving time for computer fraud, hacked into the mainframe at his London prison after officials allowed him to take a computer class. Like most prisons, the Isis facility attempts to rehabilitate inmates with classes to inspire new careers, but apparently no one made the connection between the class and Webber’s crime. (One prison staff member involved in the class was fired.) ; Dustin Coyle, 34, was charged with domestic abuse in Oklahoma City in January, but it was hardly his fault, he told police. His exgirlfriend accused him (after she broke up with him) of swiping her cat and then roughing it up, punching her, elbowing her and
sexually assaulting her. Coyle later lamented to police that she and he were supposed to get married, but for some reason she changed her mind. “If she would just marry me, that would solve everything,” but, according to the police report, he would settle for her being his girlfriend again—or a one-night stand.
THE REDNECK CHRONICLES
; Gary Ericcson, 46, was distraught in January at being charged with animal cruelty in shooting to death his beloved pet snake. He told the Charlotte Observer that he is not guilty, as the dear thing had already passed away and that he shot it only “to get the gas out” so that other animals would not dig it up after he buried it. He said he was so despondent (fearing that a conviction will prevent him from being allowed to have even dogs and cats) that in frustration he had shot up and destroyed a large cabinet that housed his Dale Earnhardt collectibles.
PERSPECTIVE
; First-World Products: The DogTread Treadmill is a modification of the familiar exercise machine in homes and health clubs, with special features for dog safety—a helpful invention in a nation in which over half of all pet dogs are too fat. (A somewhat higher percentage of cats is overweight, but it is unlikely that marketing a cat treadmill has ever been considered.) The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention points out that pets can develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis, and that the problem stems from insufficient exercise and overindulgent owners. (The DogTread Treadmills sell for $499 to $899.)
READERS’ CHOICE
; (1) Teri James, 29, filed a lawsuit recently in San Diego against San Diego Christian College because it fired her for being pregnant and unmarried— a violation of specific employee rules. She said the firing was obviously illegal gender discrimination because her job was quickly offered to the next-most-qualified APRIL 2013 • CULTURE 87
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candidate—James’ fiance, who was openly cohabiting with James all along and is the baby’s father. (2) In a Philadelphia courtroom in February, alleged assault victim John Huttick was on the witness stand tearfully describing how miserable his life has become since he lost his left eye in a barroom fight with the defendant. Right then, however, his prosthetic eye fell out. The judge, certain that it was an accident, quickly declared a mistrial (especially since two jurors, seated a few feet away, appeared sickened).
DOPING ON ICE
; Leaders of the ice-fishing community, aiming for official Olympics recognition as a sport, have begun the process by asking the World Anti-Doping Agency to randomly test its “athletes” for performance-enhancing drugs, according to a February New York Times report. However, said the chairman of the U.S. Freshwater Fishing Association, “We do not test for beer,” because, he added, “Everyone would fail.” Ice-fishing is a lonely, frigid endeavor rarely employing strength but mostly requiring guile and strategy, as competitors who discover advantageous spots in the lake must surreptitiously upload the hauls lest competitors rush over to drill their own holes. Urine tests have also been run in recent years on competitors in darts, miniature golf, chess and tug-of-war, and in 2011, one chess player, two minigolfers and one tugger tested positive.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
; A frequent sight on Soweto, South Africa, streets recently is crowds of 12-to-15-year-old boys known as “izikhotane” (“boasters”) who hang out in their designer jeans, “shimmering silk shirts, bright pink and blue shoes, and white-straw, narrow-brimmed fedoras,” according to a February BBC News dispatch. Flashing wads of cash begged from beleaguered parents, hundreds may amass, playing loud music and sometimes even trashing their fancy clothes as if to feign an indifference to wealth. Since many izikhotanes’ families are working-class survivors of apartheid, they are mostly
ashamed of their kids’ behavior. “This isn’t what we struggled for,” lamented one parent. But, protested a peer-pressured boaster, “(Y)ou must dress like this, even if you live in a shack.” ; India’s annual “Rural Olympics” might be the cultural equivalent of several Southern U.S. “Redneck Olympics” but taken somewhat more seriously, in that this year, corporate sponsorships (Nokia and Suzuki) helped fund the equivalent of about $66,000 in prize money for such events as competitive pulling using only one’s ears or teeth. “We do this for money, trophies, fame and respect,” one ear-puller told The Wall Street Journal in February. This year, in the four-day event in Punjab state, the 50,000 spectators could watch a teeth-lifter pull a 110-pound sack upward for about eight seconds and an earpuller ease a car about 15 feet. ; Weird Japan: (1) A generous local businessman recently graced the city of Okuizumo with funding for replicas of two Renaissance statues (Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s David) for a public park. Agence France-Presse reported in February that many residents, receiving little advance warning, expressed shock at the unveiling of “David” and demanded that he at least be given underpants. (2) Fax machines, almost obsolete in the U.S., are still central to many tech-savvy Japanese families and companies (who bought 1.7 million units last year alone), reported The New York Times in February. Families prefer faxes’ superiority to e-mail for warmly expressing Japan’s complex written language, and bureaucrats favor faxes’ preserving the imperative of paper flow.
LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES
; The 14 guests at a jewelry party in Lake City, Fla., were initially incredulous that home-invader Derek Lee, 24, meant to rob them, but when they saw that he was serious (by putting his gun to the head of one woman), the hostess went into action. “In the name of Jesus,” she shouted, “get out of my house now!” Then the guests chanted in unison, APRIL 2013 • CULTURE 89
“Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” over and over. Lee, frightened or bewildered, sprinted out the door empty-handed and was later arrested. ; The president of the National Black Church Initiative told the Associated Press in January that its pastors are generally free to ordain new pastors as they wish, and that consequently Bishop Wayne Jackson of Detroit did nothing wrong in his ordination ceremony (which was surreptitiously video-recorded and uploaded to YouTube), even though it consisted of Jackson in robes, praying while lying on top of the new bishops, who were also praying. (The AP noted that Bishop Jackson had been the target of that’s-so-gay YouTube comments.) ; Yet Another Fatwa: Saudi cleric Sheikh Abdullah Daoud, in an interview in February on al-Majd TV, decreed that female babies should wear full-face veils (burkas) to help shield them from sexual advances. (According to a former judge at the Saudi Board of Grievances, Saudi authorities have issued standards
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for fatwas, thus urging people to ignore “unregulated” ones such as Skeikh Daoud’s.) ; In January, Lhokseumawe City, Indonesia, drafted new ordinances, including one that prohibits women from riding motorcycles with their legs straddling male drivers, since that would tend to “provoke” them. A proponent said the ban “honor(ed)” women “because they are delicate creatures.” Immediately, some authorities denounced the legislation, pointing out that riding “side saddle” is much more dangerous in cases of sudden swerves and collisions. As of press time, the mayor had not decided whether to implement the ordinance.
QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS
; In February, an off-duty Tampa police officer and an off-duty sheriff’s detective from nearby Hernando County were awarded the sheriff’s office’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for exemplary bravery in an October incident in which a 42-year-old naked
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woman was shot to death by the officers. The woman was holding a gun and had made threats, and a 5-year-old boy was inside a truck that she wanted to steal. However, even though a neighbor had simply wrestled the woman down earlier, the officers still thought their only move was to shoot to kill. Said the woman’s brother, “They shot a mentally disturbed, naked woman. Is that valor?” ; In 2011, Julian Pellegrino pleaded guilty to DUI involving serious bodily injury to Mark Costa in Chicopee, Mass., and was sentenced to serve 18 months in jail, but that did not deter Pellegrino from filing a lawsuit in December, demanding $1.1 million for Costa’s somehow “caus(ing)” his car to collide with Pellegrino’s. Pellegrino (with a broken neck) was actually more seriously injured than Costa, who sued back, asking nearly $200,000. (In 2010, while Pellegrino was awaiting disposition of the case with Costa, he pleaded guilty to another DUI.)
FETISHES ON PARADE
; Paul Jamrozik, 63, was arrested in Upper Darby, Pa., in January and charged as the man who lured a 12-year-old boy into his home and, under the guise of pretend-podiatry, spritzed his feet with athlete’sfoot spray and tickled them before performing an exam of his ears and nose with medical equipment. When the kid asked to leave, according to the police report, Jamrozik withheld his shoes until he promised to bring his friends by the next day to be examined.
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS
; Lee Wildman, 35, and Adrian Stanton, 32, pleaded guilty in connection with a burglary at Durham (England) University’s Oriental Museum, in which they heisted artwork worth the equivalent of about $2.7 million and hid it in a field in April 2012. However, they have been unable to help authorities locate the bounty (even with the reward of sentence-reduction)—because they have forgotten exactly where they stashed it. Eventually, hikers unconnected with the case
discovered it and notified police. Said Judge Christopher Prince, “This is not an offense that can be described as sophisticated.”
READERS’ CHOICE
; (1) Two brothers, celebrating a winning lottery ticket in Wichita, Kan., in February, bought a stash of marijuana, but then, attempting to light a bong using butane lighter fluid, one accidentally blew up the family home. That brother was hospitalized with seconddegree burns, and the other was arrested for marijuana possession. (2) Megan Thode, 27, went to trial in February in Easton, Pa., suing Lehigh University, accusing a professor of illegally discriminating against her with a C-plus grade in a class in 2009 in the school’s graduate counseling program, in which a B was the minimum required to continue. Thode demanded $1.3 million for future damage to her career (but not a tuition refund— as she had matriculated for free because her father is a Lehigh professor). Four days after the trial began, the judge ruled against her.
MAKING OUTSOURCING WORK FOR YOU
; A Verizon risk team, looking for data breaches on a client’s computers, discovered that one company software developer was basically idle for many months, yet remained productive—because he had outsourced his projects to a Chinese software developer who would do all the work and send it back. The employee earned several hundred thousand dollars a year, according to a January Los Angeles Times report, but paid the Chinese worker only about $50,000. The risk team eventually learned that sensitive company information was flowing to and from Chinese terminals, leading the company to suspect hackers, but that traffic was merely the U.S. employee (obviously, “ex-employee” now) sending and receiving his workload. The U.S. man showed up for work every day, but spent his time leisurely web-surfing.
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
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ary that she was coming out of retirement to set up a brothel exclusively catering to disabled people and the terminally ill. An ordinary brothel would be illegal in the town of Milton Keynes (45 miles from London), but Becky Adams insists that the government could not shut hers down without illegally discriminating against the disabled. ; Advances in the Service Sector: (1) In January, the Japanese marketing firm Wit Inc. began hiring “popular” young women (judged by the extent of their “social network” contacts), at the equivalent of $121 a day, to walk around with advertising stickers on their thighs. (The stickers would be placed on the erotic “zettai ryouiki”—the Japanese mystical area between the hem of a short skirt and the top of long socks.) The women must be prepared to endure men hovering closely to read the ads. (2) According to news reports in November, New York City physician Jack Berdy was doing a brisk business administering Botox
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injections (at up to $800) to poker players who were hoping to prevent facial expressions that might tip their hands. ; Ingenious: (1) London’s The Independent reported in January that Dean Kamen (who famously invented the Segway, a standing, battery-powered scooter) had developed, along with a Pennsylvania medical team, what appears to work as a “reverse feeding tube” that will vacuum out up to 30 percent of any food in the stomach before it is digested and converted into calories. After installation of the stomach “port,” the diner could operate the device without daily medical help. (2) The Polish cosmetics company Inglot announced in January a nail polish ideal for Muslim women, in that it can withstand the five-timesdaily hand-washing required for prayers. (Normally, devout women wear nail polish only during their menstrual periods, when the hand-washing is not required, but polish thus signals menstruation and therefore embarrasses modest women.)
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