UNLOCKING SECRETS
BUDS & BLOSSOMS
The Mapping of the Cannabis Genome
Beneficial Arrangements to Love
LAGANJA ESTRANJA BALANCING GAY RIGHTS, CANNABIS AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
STRAINS
TAHOE OG & AL’S DREAM SONIC GREEN
GARDEN PHAT PANDA
PRODUCT KUSH CREAMS
CONCENTRATE BLUEBERRY WAX
LIVE THE DOPE LIFE DOPE PREMIUM CANNABIS PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE
Find Dope Products at these 21+ stores
GREEN THEORY • POT SHOP • GREENHEAD CANNABIS • SEATTLE CANNABIS COMPANY • KALEAFA • THE SLOW B WHIDBEY ISLAND CANNABIS COMPANY • GREEN LIFE CANNABIS • GREEN COLLAR • CLEAR CHOICE CANNABIS
BURN
IF YOUR STORE DOESN’t CARRY DOPE PRODUCTS LET US KNOW!
#WEWANTDOPE To get Dope Brands in your store email info@wewantdope.com
www.wewantdope.com
LIFE’S BETTER ON THE GREEN.
Featured Strain:
There are few things better than being happy and active, naturally.
PARMASEED XJ-13
How you define wellness is your choice. Triple C is here to support you, as we have been since 2011. We believe that the most rewarding experiences are the most natural. From the moment you walk in our door, you will feel welcomed, heard and respectfully guided in finding the variety and quality you seek.
2706 6th Ave Tacoma, WA 98406
(Jack Herer x G13 Haze) Cherished for both its therapeutic potency and enjoyable euphoric buzz, this sativa-dominant hybrid exhibits a strong citrus aroma accented by notes of earthy pine.
(253) 507-4725 cannabisclubcollective.com
Sativa
FIND US IN DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE 10697 Main Street Suite 2, Bellevue, WA 98004 I 425-502-7033 GREENTHEORYSTORE
GREEN_THEORY502
GREEN_THEORY
NEW HOURS: Monday-Saturday 10am-10pm I Sunday 10am-7pm (A) THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. ; (B) MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS DRUG. ; (C) THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. ; AND (D) FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITOR’S NOTE
SEPTEMBER 2015 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE ISSUE 49
14 STRAIN OF THE MONTH
RECREATIONAL STRAIN OF THE MONTH
TAHOE OG.
18
16 EDIBLES BUDNAUTS
AL’S SONIC GREEN DREAM
20 CANNA-NEWS MAPPING THE CANNABIS GENOME
22 CANNA-NEWS
THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE OF CANNA BUSINESS LICENSING
38
42
MEDICAL COOP
RECREATIONAL STORE
THE BAKERÉÉ
26 HEALTH
CANNABIS EFFECTS ON SPERM
30 CANNA-NEWS THE BUSINESS OF CANNABIS
48 CONCENTRATE BLUEBERRY WAX
56 HEALTH
PTSD & CANNABIS
SEATTLE TONICS
60 ROAD TRIP
BUDS AND BLOSSOM
^
the
Cannabis
kitchen Cookbook . Fe e l-Go od F ood f or home cooks
52
62 PRODUCT
CANNABIS KITCHEN COOKBOOK Robyn G ri g g s Law re nce Photogra phs by
FEATURE
LAGANJA ESTRANJA
Pov y K en da l Atc his o n
Fo rewo rd by Jan e West
90
76 CANNA-NEWS CANNABIS COUPLES
10 |
CANNA-NEWS THE WEED CLOSET
102 INTERVIEW
BECCA WILLIAMS
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
122 CANNABUSINESS MARIJUANA IN WASHINGTON STATE
This month marks the 4 year anniversary of DOPE Magazine. That’s four years of being a progressive force to reckon with. There have been some rather significant cultural changes since DOPE’s first issue. We’ve seen the legalization of cannabis progress from our bird’s eye view of four states, alongside increased understanding and acceptance of cannabis as a legitimate medicine. We’ve also witnessed societal shifts in another crucial movement--the rights of those individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. In this month’s issue, we highlight the fusion of the two aforementioned cultural movements in our interview with Laganja Estranja. This thoughtprovoking exploration of Mary Jane and the LGBT community is an article you won’t want to miss. Washington has been on board with both these movements for social progress for a lengthy time now-legalizing both cannabis and gay marriage in 2012—and establishing itself as a progressive leader nationwide. Our event coverage this month is solid proof of that, featuring Seattle’s Pride Parade, Seattle Hempfest, and the less provocative but always awesome Bite of Seattle and Capitol Hill Block Party. This month also features patient profiles within the ongoing fight to treat PTSD with cannabis, and the challenges that often come with living with a disability. Toss in some nice strain reviews of Tahoe OG and Al’s Dream, shop reviews of The Bakeréé and Seattle Tonics, and a peek at the massive garden behind the scenes at Phat Panda, and you have yourself a rather dope issue of DOPE Magazine. We also couldn’t help ourselves and included a sex and cannabis article in the anniversary spirit of things, so enjoy! So as the summer draws to a close, do take some time to toke up, read through these pages and embrace some anniversary-themed fun. Much love and thanks to our readership for four amazing years! Stay DOPE!
current strains dutch treat, alpha centauri, sirius kush, nightfire og kandy kush, golden star, dutch thunderfuck, qush super lemon haze, blueberry, deadhead og, 9 pound hammer champagne kush, sunrise sherbet, strawberry diesel
coming soon hustlers kush, stardawg, banana kush, waltz og amnesia haze, space candy, bay dream, velvet kush sour grapefruit, white fire og, platinum gsc, true og
featured retailers
seattle
bothell
quincy
siriusbuds.com info@siriusbuds.com
MEDICAL STRAIN OF THE MONTH
PRESIDENT
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
EVAN CARTER
SHARON LETTS R.Z. HUGHES
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JAMES ZACHODNI STATE DIRECTOR JESUS DIAZ
MEGHAN RIDLEY DAVID BAILEY JOHNNY HALFHAND ABIGAIL ROSS JESSICA ZIMMER
ART DIRECTOR
DAVE HODES STEVE ELLIOTT
BRANDON PALMA ( 8THDAYCREATE.COM )
MELANIE BIGALKE
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
DEBBY GOLDSBERRY
ALLIE BECKETT
BRITTANY DRIVER
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
AD DESIGN
TINA BALLEW
DOPE DESIGN AGENCY MANAGING EDITOR/COPY EDITOR ALISON BAIRD ONLINE EDITOR MEGHAN RIDLEY
MARK COFFIN ANGELA BOGSCH KENTON BRADLEY EMILY NICHOLS SEAN CORBY ART DIRECTOR APPRENTICE NARISSA-CAMILLE PHETHEAN
CFO DAVID TRAN
SALES REPS
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR JONATHAN TEETERS SALES MANAGER MYCHAL TRAWICK REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR NATHAN CHRYSLER
SHAREEF WATKINS OFFICE MANAGER KATE KELLY SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER DALLAS KEEFE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT JENIKA MAO
PROUD MEMBER OF
UNLOCKING SECRETS
BUDS & BLOSSOMS
The Mapping of the Cannabis Genome
Beneficial Arrangements to Love
LAGANJA ESTRANJA BALANCING GAY RIGHTS, CANNABIS AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
STRAINS
TAHOE OG & AL’S DREAM SONIC GREEN
GARDEN PHAT PANDA
PRODUCT KUSH CREAMS
CONCENTRATE BLUEBERRY WAX
DOPE is a free publication dedicated to providing an informative and wellnessminded voice to the cannabis movement. While our foundation is the medical cannabis industry, it is our intent to provide ethical and research-based articles that address the many facets of the war on drugs, from politics to lifestyle and beyond. We believe that through education and honest discourse, accurate policy and understanding can emerge. DOPE Magazine is focused on defending both our patients and our plant, and to being an unceasing force for revolutionary change.
WANT TO ADVERTISE?
EMAIL US AT ADS@DOPEMAGAZINE.COM QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
EMAIL US AT INFO@DOPEMAGAZINE.COM WWW.DOPEMAGAZINE.COM 1818 WESTLAKE AVE N. #106 206-940-4719 DOPE Magazine and the entire contents of this magazine are copyright 2015 DOPE MAGAZINE LLC, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or part without the written permission from Dope Magazine LLC
@DOPEMAGAZINE
COVER PHOTO: “LAGANJA ESTRANJA” BY SCOTT KIRBY COVER DESIGN BY 8THDAYCREATE.COM
PUBLISHED IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98109
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE. Featured Strain:
How you define wellness is your choice.
STARFIGHTER
Triple C is here to support you, as we have been since 2011. We believe that the most rewarding experiences are the most natural. From the moment you walk in our door, you will feel welcomed, heard and respectfully guided in finding the variety and quality you seek.
2706 6th Ave Tacoma, WA 98406
(Alien Tahoe OG x Lemon Alien) A 60/40 indica-dominant hybrid, Starfighter has a reputation for a sweetly aromatic and uplifting experience, boasting its potency with a sparkling coat of star-like trichomes.
(253) 507-4725 cannabisclubcollective.com
Indica
MEDICAL STRAIN OF THE MONTH
Tahoe OG
WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
South Sound Gardens GENETICS A murky history follows the Tahoe OG wherever it goes. Judging by the name, and urban legend, it’s said it was bred on the shores of Lake Tahoe, CA, in the 1980s. A unique and especially potent phenotype of OG Kush, the Tahoe has many of the same attributes, with a slightly different bud structure and a longer lasting effect.
MEDICINAL BENEFITS The uplifting effect from Tahoe OG may help ease depression and anxiety without the sedative qualities that can make daily activities an uphill battle. A great strain for muscle spasms and deep pain relief, the body feels great while the mind is able to keep on track and focused.
LOOKS Dense calyxes are stacked into perfectly symmetrical cone-shaped nuggets. Short rust-colored pistils coat the flowers which are peppered with a layer of numerous tiny resin heads. The bud itself is a rich deep green, a perfect emerald backdrop to the stark white trichomes that encrust this top notch flower.
AROMA Strong pepper and lemon tones abound, not unlike other OG Kush varieties, this cut has the characteristic sour and spicy smell. Pine trees, and a pungent earthy undertone round out the complex aroma indicative of its coveted OG lineage. Beware, this stuff is loud!
EFFECT The mind gets a jump start with this strain, while the body and soul are filled with an elation that lasts for hours.With little to no drowsiness, this Tahoe OG is a great daytime hybrid, helping one feel relaxed and alert, diffusing any anxiety or uncertainty about upcoming responsibilities.
FOUND AT: • Green Solutions Collective
14 |
18.42% THC 1.95% CBD • TESTED AT • Steep Hill Washington FLAVOR The first few inhales have an earthy, slightly lavender taste. Pleasant and light, it isn’t overwhelming and the taste of the fresh herb comes through nicely. The aftertaste is a complex mix of chocolate, camphor, and cinnamon which is unexpected and pleasant as the aroma leans towards a citrus and evergreen profile.
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
PHOTOS ANGELA BOGSCH
RECREATIONAL STRAIN OF THE MONTH
Al’s Dream Sonic Green
WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
PHOTOS ANGELA BOGSCH
FLAVOR The smoke is laden with citrus, specifically tangerines and lemon zest. There is a significant amount of limonene which contributes to the taste as well as the anti-stress properties. The aftertaste has a lingering spice of black pepper and sage which leaves the palate feeling fresh, clean, and happy.
GENETICS Blue Dream, one of the most ubiquitous strains in existence due to its great yield, low maintenance, and stellar effects was crossed with Albert Walker Haze, a lesser known, but highly sought-after cut. With origins in the Pacific Northwest, AWH packs in the flavor and extends the effect of the Blue Dream for hours.
EFFECT Upbeat and cerebral, this bud is the quintessential sativa. After fifteen minutes of lowered eyelids and slight drowsiness, the mind awakens and begins to flit dreamily along from one thought to the next. Al’s Dream offers a carefree euphoria and alertness, a great defense against the malaise of a long work week.
AROMA Intense citrus so sweet and sour it makes the mouth water with just a sniff, with a summertime scent reminiscent of orange soda and candy. This fragrant bud appeals to all of the senses, but the nose is the first notice; always a good sign.
19.09% THC 0.01% CBD
ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY
• TESTED AT • Steep Hill Washington LOOKS A forest of orange hairs curls the sides of the lime green flowers, which are coated in bright white trichomes. A clear relative to Blue Dream, its foxtailing bud structure and the compact flowers are just the right density for joint rolling. Perfectly manicured, without a leaf on it, this is what quality cannabis looks like.
This particular strain is outstanding for those looking for some higher inspiration. Take it on a bike ride or jog and feel the miles fly by beneath you. There is a real laid back vibe as well, making it equally suited for day dreaming in the park or watching the sunset over the Olympics. FOUND AT: •Loving Farms •Clear Choice •Mary’s •Greenside
LIGHT UP THE MOMENT Here’s to the peaks and valleys,
friends both new and old, long hikes and late nights,
big talk and small talk
and the adventures
that lie ahead. for whateer is up next, we’ll be there to light up the moment.
enjoy the finest craft flower,
cultured in the land where it all began.
westerncultured.coM
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty‑one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
EDIBLES
BudNauts
WRITER
Out of This World Space Donuts
R.Z. HUGHES
PHOTOS TINA BALLEW
DID YOU KNOW? Many historians give early 19th century Dutch settlers credit for bringing donuts to America in their earliest form, ‘oily cakes.’ There could be more to the story though, as fossilized remains of what appear to be donuts have been found in Native American archaeological digs throughout the southwest. They are likely a much different recipe than the modern version, but it appears donut history may trace further back than expected.
BOX full of maple-frosted,
chocolate-drizzled, cannabisinfused donuts is truly a beautiful thing to behold. Take one whiff of these and it’s hard, no, impossible, to hold back the yearning for a mouthful of sweet fried dough. With a burgeoning edible market that has seen cannabis infused into virtually every food under the sun, these donuts are a genuinely unexpected treat.
A fresh batch of BudNauts smells like a sugary sweet utopia where it is totally acceptable to mix marshmallows, frosting, maple, chocolate, cookies, and breakfast cereal on top of the tastiest dough around. Admittedly, my sweet tooth is not as strong as it once was, but these donuts have the power to change any average Joe into a sugar-craving maniac. The BudNauts’ worthy slogan, “You deserve a donut”, holds true in most, if not all, instances. You do deserve a donut, and one packed with
FOUND AT: • Fremont Gardens • Capital Cannabis Co-Op
18 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
150 mgs of THC is just what the doctor may have ordered. The dough is soft, airy, and melts in your mouth with a slight crunch from the topping. The marshmallow in the center is a nice touch; the proverbial cherry on top. These are craft donuts, handmade with care, using quality ingredients, and a high dose of cannabis. As these are very potent and taste best fresh, they’re an ideal treat to share with a fellow patient. Great times await those lucky enough to get their hands on a BudNaut and blast off into donut inspired ecstasy.
C O M M E R C I A L
E D I T I O N
N U T R I E N T S F O R M U L AT E D F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L C U LT I VAT O R S
EST.
1998
The first range of cannabis specific nutrients designed exclusively for licensed medical & recreational growers internationally.
AQUA F EED
M E D I A F EED
C O I R F EED
CA L M AG
E A RT H F EED
S I L A - G UA R D
pH Stabilized - No Need to Adjust Hard Water Formulas Available DE FOR
M
Carbs, Vitamins & Aminos all Included
ES
NS
MEDI
CA
TIO LA
D
N
NO
A
DE
D HO
RM
O
EXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED BY
New Root Zone Wetting Agent
U
L
A GR
SAR Activation Technologies Increases Resistance to Pathogen & Insect Attack while Increasing Resin Production U.S. Pharmaceutical & Laboratory Reagent Grade Elements Freeze and Heat Tested for Maximum Solubility Nutrient Doubles as Foliar Spray
V
NOW SELLING DIRECT TO COMMERCIAL GROWERS
For more information contact info@commercialgrowerservices.com
VISIT BOOTH
#215/ 217
GOLD SPONSOR
COMMERCIALGROWERSERVICES.COM
CANNA-NEWS: RESEARCH
Unlocking Secrets:
The Mapping of the Cannabis Genome
OW THAT the cannabis legaliza-
tion genie is out of the bottle, investors and entrepreneurs are churning out binders of business research and plans. There’s clearly no stopping the growth of this brand new industry with its built-in consumer base of millions across the planet. Something is being lost though, amidst all the legislative action, the rush of startups, and the quickly expanding consumer demand. It’s a mystery most in the industry don’t even know exists: What exactly is cannabis and what does the cannabis genome look like? The answer to that question is a big one that the entire industry needs to know. This knowledge will benefit us all as cannabis users, but mostly it will help patients who still rely on
20 |
largely anecdotal information to treat their serious ailments. This will also help regulators and lawmakers who need to have reliable scientific information to discuss the next steps in legalization. With legal constraints hampering much true scientific research, it’s now finally clear that the time for the quantification of cannabis has come, and that’s where evolutionary biologist Dr. Nolan Kane comes in. In a small lab inside the Ramaley Biology building on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Kane has studied what the untrained eye would perceive as mundane plants like sunflowers, mustard, and chocolate to discover their hidden properties. He now also knows more about the inside workings of the cannabis plant than any other scientist in
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
WRITER DAVID HODES
the world as a result of the Cannabis Genome Research Initiative (CGRI). The project will sequence numerous specimens from the three species of cannabis - pure sativa, indica and ruderalis - to examine the relationships between the major lineages within the genus, the spread of cannabis throughout the globe, and the rates of historical hybridization. Dr. Kane and his team of seven evolutionary biologists have joined with graduate students and research assistants to do what no one has done before: mapping the genome of the cannabis plant. “I decided as a professor less than two years ago that I wanted to move in a different direction,” he says. “I still wanted to study sunflowers, but I wanted to do something in a way that was novel and interesting.” Then he heard from a colleague about the changes in the status of the legality of cannabis in Colorado.
“I thought about it, and it sort of took on a life of its own.” Kane wanted to address basic biologic questions about cannabis, such as how the evolutionary aspects of the plant work, the genetics of adaption, and how a wild species was turned into a domesticated crop. The role of hybridization between distant members of the species to create different sub species is also an area of interest. “Those were many of the same questions that I had been addressing in sunflowers for a long time,” Kane says, “But the difference is [with cannabis] there is so much that is so wide open because it’s really understudied, relative to every other high value crop. It’s really complicated once you get into it.” One of those basic questions is the origin of the Y chromosome. “Our own Y chromosome evolved a couple of hundred million years ago,” Kane says. “Whereas in cannabis, it’s clearly quite recent. It’s an incomplete evolution of the Y chromosome, and it’s ongoing, but what that does is enable us to study some things that happening recently [in the plant’s evolution].” “Feminized seeds [in cannabis] is a trait that has evolved very recently, and there are some varieties that are hermaphrodites, and others that are male and female. It’s so recent that it hasn’t become fixed in the whole species,” he says, which may explain why cannabis seeds are so difficult to sex. His 18-month-old CGRI research of cannabis has already helped accelerate the understanding of the plant. One of Kane’s students recently graduated with one of the first PhDs in cannabis, and they are doing research to analyze the sequence of 67 genomes found by both Kane’s lab, and other labs. Kane says, “That really opened the door to understanding the species and how lineages are evolving,” he says.
The sequencing work will also lead to much easier, faster, cheaper and more reliable testing of the plant for THC levels, CBD, and other active compounds. “Another thing that surprised me is we actually don’t know why these plants evolved these compounds,” explains Kane. “We have a lot of ideas, but nobody has really demonstrated what these plants do with these compounds in the wild, what benefit these compounds provide for the plants, and why they make such a diversity of compounds.” His theory about the purpose of these compounds is that they may serve to attract mammalian herbivores in order to disperse the seed. “We have no idea, and to me it’s surprising that it’s such an important plant, used medically for thousands of years, and we don’t really know why the plant makes these compounds.” The work on crossing breeding to create various strains of cannabis for recreational use, usually attributed to California growers in the mid-60s, gives scientists like Kane many interesting questions, and potentially interesting ideas, regarding what is really going on within the plant, he says. “Very little of it has been formally published or quantified. So it’s been a lot of it anecdotal stories where someone says ‘Hey I noticed this’ or something, but those observations haven’t been followed up on rigorously,” Kane says. “Now it’s time to follow up on those things and see what is going on with all of them.” In Kane’s lab, on the campus of a federally funded university not able to allow work on a schedule 1 narcotic, he is only allowed to grow low THC cannabis. To keep his work clearly on the right side of the law, and he defaults to these conservatively low THC varieties in the studies. “What that means is that we can’t really do many of the kinds of studies that we would like to be able to do,” he says.
Other studies would include collaborations with other scientists in psychology and neuroscience, to understand the neurological effects of cannabis and its other properties. “We can exchange information and exchange ideas, and if I know something about the genetics, and they provide me information about some various traits, I could probably place things onto the genetic map,” he says. He says that, for example, right now people are providing him information on all kinds of medical and recreational varieties of cannabis, which is enabling him to place of a lot of interesting traits onto the genetic map that he couldn’t directly assess himself. “But that means I have a lot less control over it because I can’t directly quantify these traits myself, and I have to rely on other people to provide that information.” Dr. Kane finishes by explaining that as they put the cannabis genome together and associate some of the different traits, they will publish a fully mapped genome, placing all of the sequences onto the chromosomes. This will be a momentous occasion when it arrives, and a report on their process and progress of the mapping will publish soon in a scientific journal, but for now, it’s one step at a time. “As far as any ‘A-ha!’ moments, I expect a lot of smaller steps that build on each other,” Kane predicts. “Much of what we are doing now is building tools to understand the plant better. Once we do that, I’m sure people will be applying it in all kinds of different ways, and we will finally be able to understand the Y chromosome evolution and the origins of that important trait.”
“Much of what we are doing now is building tools to understand the plant better. Once we do that, I’m sure people will be applying it in all kinds of different ways” - Dr. Nolan Kane dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 21
CANNA-NEWS BUSINESS
The Roller Coaster of Cannabis Business Licensing
ICENSING YOUR cannabis business – whether serving the recreational side or medical side or both – is still under construction in many states as the industry grows. But the process is slowly changing and adapting to this new industry, and, even more slowly, getting simpler and easier. The licensing process for a cannabis business may be complicated, but in the end it is essentially an endorsement of a business by the state’s department of revenue. Licenses are issued for any cannabis business that operates as a producer, processor, wholesaler or retailer. The eligibility is usually determined by a point system (based on scores after a review of business criteria (type of security, background checks, operation plan, financial investigation), or by rules enacted in tandem with legalization (such as Measure 91 in Oregon). The licensing process can take from six months to a year or more from start to finish, depending on the state. This lengthy process can take the wind out of the sails of
22 |
even the strongest businesses, which is why many are now hiring consultants to help them navigate the tricky ins and outs successfully. Avis Bulbulyan, CEO of Bulbulyan Consulting Group, is a full service cannabis industry consultant, and one of the leading consulting firms in the cannabis business that knows the drill well. In January, 2013, Avis worked with a group to prepare and submit for a license in Massachusetts, where his client was able to score highest on the point system used in that state, being awarded three out of the three available licenses. Bulbulyan says the licensing process in Massachusetts generally takes over a year in Maryland by the time the state approves a license. Hawaii announced recently they will accept applications beginning in mid-January and award winners in April. New York is the fastest, he says, By the time everything is finalized and the application is accepted in New York, it’s less than two months, but it really
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
depends on the state. An applicant needs to start as soon as possible no matter what state.” There are trap doors everywhere in this young industry, “The licensing process can be very difficult,” explains Chelsey Joseph, contract consultant for the nationally recognized cannabis consulting firm, Denver Relief Consulting. Joseph has assisted with cannabis business license applications in Canada, Colorado, Connecticutt, D.C., Florida, Illinois Massachusetts, Nevada and Washington, “It can also be very self-discovering,” she says. Bulbulyan says that the toughest piece of the puzzle for applicants is often property acquisition. “That, and getting the client to the point of really understanding the amount of capital that is needed to participate in this industry,” he says, “Initially they don’t think it’s a heavy lift.” For example, he says, in Maryland, the landlord of a property that was being looked at by a dispensary developer wanted $200,000 to just hold the property until
WRITER
PHOTOS
DAVID HODES
ALLIE BECKETT
Tips about getting a license from Avis Bulbulyan, CEO, Bulbulyan Consulting Group a decision about licensing was given. Bulbulyan says a common mistake for applicants is believing they can, on their own, compete for a license against an organization of twenty or more people who are lined up with attorneys and supported by lobbyists. “You can be the jack of all trades in the cannabis business,” he says, “But that’s not going to go over well on the application. I don’t know of any group that got a license that didn’t have a lobbyist on their side, so I focus on lobbying from the beginning.” Lobbyists help work through zoning rules and other ordinances, among other things, that may affect the availability of the land for use as a dispensary. Peter Schweda, co-founder and master grower at Natural Care Consulting, who operates a large, licensed cultivation center in Illinois, says that people wanting to get licenses don’t think about lawyers or lobbyists, because there is a well-known expense related to working with those professionals. “But quickly you learn that you definitely need to have a lobbyist, because you get tired of false information from the press,” he says. “Everyone has an opinion, and the information you get from your lobbyists or attorneys, I keep saying, is never 100% accurate, but it’s the most accurate information that you are going to be able to obtain.” He says that’s because lawyers are trained to sift through stuff in the process that is not valid, and latch onto the points that are more critical to succeeding in the licensing process. “I quickly learned that lobbyists and lawyers were worth the money,” he says, “Even though the costs are shocking at first.” Schweda explains an applicant should be willing to spend $500,000 to $1 million in consulting fees to those lawyers and consultants.
Understand your financial requirements.
Understand what kind of organization you are putting together.
Understand what you want to accomplish. Are you going for one license or more than one, to take over the state or the region?
Designate one person as your point person. You don’t want “too many cooks in the kitchen.” Background checks of owners and employees can be one of the real sticking points during the licensing process as well, where problems can surface from a shadowy past in cannabis business, creating an obstacle. “Many of these growers today have a dirty background of some kind,” Schweda says. He says that he had several people among his list of employees who didn’t even pass an initial background check. “We started asking them before attempting to get a license, ‘Was there any time in your life that you were arrested? Let’s start with a speeding ticket. Let’s talk about child support’”, he says. Sometimes they will respond with a story about getting busted with a joint at a concert. “And they’ll say ‘Oh, but that was nothing.’
Start with your lobbyist and be upfront with them. You want a comfort level with them, and name recognition, because when licensing officials review those applications, the names that they are familiar with get more interest and more advice. No, that wasn’t nothing. That means everything in this process. So I say to those ‘Nice to meet you. Have a good day. Goodbye.’” In the final analysis, the licensing roller coaster is fundamentally the same as in any other industry, Schweda says, “There is no way around it. If you want to be a real serious competitor and have a serious chance of achieving your goal of getting your license, you have to pay attention to the laws, and have the ability to go with the ebb and flow of challenges along the way. “This is not rocket science,” Joseph says, “Retail and agriculture have been around for years and there is really nothing new here. It’s just that the cannabis industry is so new.”
“This is not rocket science, retail and agriculture have been around for years and there is really nothing new here.” dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 23
CANNABIS AROUND THE WORLD
A Midsummer Night’s Blue Dream
WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
Kentucky’s High Hopes For Self-Snitching In Franklin County, Kentucky, the sheriff’s office is offering “drug dealers” a way to corner the market and get rid of rivals. In what seems like a trap designed to catch only the most gullible among us, a flyer was posted to their Facebook asking merchants of the black market to turn in their competition via mail or text. The pot leaf plastered form looks completely unserious, aside from the fact that they’re asking for a lot of personal information. This tactic – playing off the hugely misguided notion that cannabis users and the people who sell it are spineless rats – has been used by law enforcement elsewhere in the US, and exposes Franklin County’s finest for their ineptitude, laziness, and overall misunderstanding of the community they purportedly serve.
24 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Noted wordsmith and bane of high school students everywhere William Shakespeare, may have enjoyed a higher inspiration from our dear friend, Mary Jane. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis by University of Witwatersrand has revealed residues of cannabis (and coca leaf) on pipe shards excavated from the playwright’s garden in Stratford-upon-Avon. Some experts dispute that the bard would have never used cannabis, blaming the pipes on dastardly neighbor boys, but the evidence is pretty clear. Cannabis is known as a friendly muse that enhances artistic minds and it’s apparently maintained this reputation diligently for centuries, even throughout the stuffy high-society of Victorian England.
Cannabis With No Memory Loss? What was that again? Research done in Barcelona has shed new light on the ways THC interacts with neural receptors and produces certain effects. It turns out cannabinoid and serotonin receptors are part of the same structure – a heteromer – and that many of the negative side-effects associated with cannabis such as short-term memory loss, are actually due
to the serotonin receptor. By blocking this pathway in mice, effectively severing the connection between the two receptors, it was found that the THC still exhibited medicinal benefits, such as anti-nausea and pain relief with no psychoactivity, anxiety, or memory problems.
Mexican Pot Farms Get A Modification A raid in the Mexican state of Jalisco has uncovered over 7,000 pot plants and landed twenty-five people in jail. The authorities found three greenhouses crammed full of clones and what they described as ‘genetically modified marijuana’. The alleged GMO grass had over 10% THC compared to the apparent Mexican norm of 3%. While it is not out of the realm of possibility, it seems unlikely that the cartels have funded research into DNA-splicing. Instead, better genetics from the U.S. and Europe, thanks to selective breeding along with more sophisticated grow techniques, are the likely culprits for the potent mota.
Snoop Dogg No Longer Down With S-weed-en The Doggfather was detained for a short time in Uppsala, Sweden after a performance, and forced to submit a urine sample to police due to suspicions he might have been driving under the influence. Sweden’s draconian anti-drug laws allow for search of property, and they can conduct compulsory pee tests simply over the suspicion that one might be having a good time with the aid of foreign substances. This didn’t sit well with Snoop who, being released shortly after, posted an onslaught of online videos accusing the Swedish police of racial profiling and swearing to never to return there.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 25
CANNA-NEWS: HEALTH
Cannabis Effects on Sperm:
WRITER JESSICA ZIMMER
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
The Research to Date and How to Encourage Better Science
ANNABIS APPEARS to have negative effects on sperm,
which can lead to the failure of a man to impregnate a woman. Sperm with an abnormal size, shape, or speed may have a reduced chance of reaching and penetrating the egg. Some studies indicate that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) causes sperm to swim too quickly and too erratically.
Burkman said research she conducted in 2003 showed the velocity and amount of vigorous swimming of sperm is actually comparatively high in cannabis smokers. “It is possible that the elevated, vigorous hyperactivity may lead to early sperm burnout,” said Burkman.
Dr. Lani Burkman, associate professor emerita of gynecology at the State University of New York at Buffalo’s School of Medicine and founder of LifeCell Dx, a Buffalo fertility clinic, has been researching the effects of cannabinoids on reproductive health for over ten years. She said doctors need to ask more “probing” questions about cannabis use.
Dr. Allan Pacey, professor of andrology (the study of diseases and functions unique to males) at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, published a survey in 2014 on the lifestyle choices of 2,249 men at 14 fertility clinics in the UK. Data indicated men who smoke cannabis have irregularly sized and shaped sperm.
“They don’t have any questionnaires to ask if a patient has used cannabis, in what form, and (whether the woman) had a miscarriage,” said Burkman.
“[Packaging of DNA in the sperm head] is a normal process which happens as sperm are created. [Cannabis use appears to have] influenced the eventual size and shape of the sperm head,” said Pacey.
26 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Burkman says her clinic requires men who are trying to get their partner pregnant stop cannabis use and take a year to recover.
She also states that eggs are less vulnerable to harm than male reproductive organs.
“THC is stored in fat cells. When you exercise, fat cells get reduced in size and number. They release THC into the blood system. It may feel for a while like you’re smoking again,” said Burkman.
“For the most part, eggs are at rest. It is hard to damage them. Men are constantly reproducing sperm, but there are ways to cleanse the male reproductive system that would not be burdensome for most men. One example is discontinuing drug use…before trying to conceive,” says Daniels.
Burkman recommends six months of heavy exercise followed by two full sperm maturation cycles (two and a half months each) to restore sperm quality. Interpreting data about cannabis and reproductive health is a political act. Many individuals who work with businesses, organizations, and educational institutions question the validity of past studies. Ian James, vice president of business development at Canna Advisors, a Boulder-based consulting firm that helps cannabis-related business secure licenses Says, “When you talk about the research that’s dated [from the 1960s and 1970s], you ask, what was the government trying to achieve? It was focused on prohibition.” Dr. Carl Hart, associate professor of psychology and psychiatry at Columbia University, who has conducted research on drugs that people commonly abuse, said, “My concern is that the conclusions drawn about the effects of specific drugs are unjustifiably negative.” Lynn Paltrow, Executive Director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, a New York-based nonprofit that protects the rights of pregnant and parenting women, says the fact that cannabis remains illegal under federal law makes it hard to discuss the drug’s effects.
Burkman said the best way to study the effects of cannabis on reproductive health would be to implement studies on men and women in different age groups of reproductive age who use cannabis, “from teenagers all the way up to women who are 45 and men who are 70.” Burkman said it is important that studies focus on the moments leading up to fertilization. “As the sperm are passing through her cervix, uterus, and then ovary, if she’s using cannabis too, the sperm get washed with a second dose of cannabinoids,” said Burkman. Burkman says studies should look at how sperm affected by cannabis swim, focusing on whether they pursue a direct, speedy route to the egg. “The egg cell has a cover on it called the zona,” said Burkman. “The acrosome, a cap on the sperm head, releases chemicals which dissolve through the zona. The sperm then gets through and touches the egg cell. The egg pulls that sperm inside. That’s when fertilization has happened,” said Burkman.
“In an environment in which drugs are criminalized, people who use drugs are stigmatized,” said Paltrow.
Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority, a D.C.-based advocacy group for cannabis legalization says, “Scare tactics don’t work. We need to have access to good, unbiased information that keeps people safe.”
She expressed concern that research about the effects of cannabis on reproductive health is “often reported without any sense of awareness of how data will be politicized in a highly sensitive environment.”
Sara Arnold, co-founder of The Family Law & Cannabis Alliance, a Massachusetts-based organization that provides non-legal advice about cannabis and family law, agreed.
Cindy Daniels, professor of political science at Rutgers University and author of the 2006 book “Exposing Men: The Science and Politics of Male Reproduction,” says entities that conduct research about cannabis’ effects on reproductive health can act responsibly by explaining what types of studies are needed and what data may reveal.
“Any change that would allow cannabis to be studied in terms of its current and historical uses would be helpful. Scientific inquiry, especially about the benefits of cannabis, has been stifled thus far,” said Arnold.
“Drugs can damage sperm but not negatively impact male fertility. It takes fairly big studies to track cannabis use and its reproductive outcomes,” said Daniels. She says she would be cautious in warning about the effects of drug use. “We’ve exaggerated the negative effects of female drug use, especially occasional or casual drug use. For example, with alcohol, if a woman has a glass of wine but [eats at the same time and] is well nourished, there are not severe negative effects,” said Daniels.
“My concern is that the conclusions drawn about the effects of specific drugs are unjustifiably negative.” Dr. Carl Hart, Associate Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Cholumbia University
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 27
GROW
Keeping It Clean
WRITER DUTCH MASTERS
Avoiding Toxins in Cannabis` ITH MORE nutrient manufacturers and products
appearing on the shelves at every visit to the local garden supply store, it is of the utmost importance a grow enthusiast does their homework to pick the safest and most efficacious plant material for consumables. Not all of these products are created equal, and not all are marketed for use on consumable crops that need to be safe and free of contaminants. Our goal is by the end of this reading, many will be better informed about how to choose the right nutrients and additives for their cannabis grow, based upon their efficaciousness, purity, and safety. Many already operating in states that have legalization bills on the books have grown quite accustom to the stringent (and rightfully so) testing parameters for final product. These tests not only provide a glimpse at potency and cannabinoid/terpenoid content, but also screen for contaminants (i.e. pesticides, heavy metals, microbial contamination, pests and foreign matter, etc.) While states are still enacting more specific testing parameters, it’s important to note that testing for toxic heavy metals will be gaining ever-increasing scrutiny. Why would toxic heavy metals (i.e. Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, etc.) be appearing in our cannabis? A lesser-known fact: Many nutrients and additives, both inorganic and organic, that are currently being applied to plants frequently around the globe, are in fact a hidden source of toxic heavy metals. A quick search on databases provided by state-specific agricultural departments (free and accessible to anyone) yields some surprising results regarding commonly used nutrients and additives, indicating the true content of some “high-grade” products. There are various grades of elements available to nutrient manufacturers and obviously they, and you, get what they paid for. A majority of nutrient companies use stock constituents that are considered “agricultural grade”. This means less testing and less requirements are mandated – often resulting in a lower quality product, possibly containing contaminants. This isn’t a major issue when using fertilizers on a rose garden, but we’re now talking about consumable and smokeable crops. While these less-than-stringent guidelines are great for some nutrient manufacturers’ bottom lines, the long-term health effects for those consuming the final product grown with these products is yet to be ascertained. We do however know the effects of direct exposure to toxic heavy metals, which includes renal damage, anemia, seizure, coma,
Alzheimer’s disease, Wilson’s disease, and cancer, just to name a few. What can be done to ensure that a garden is fit for consumption while providing the best nutrition for the plants? For starters, growers can research the conditions and standards of the manufacturing facilities involved in making the products. What equipment do they mix their chemicals with? Which filtration methods do they use? What are the quality control/assurance measures in place? There are third party standards and protocols that manufacturing facilities can meet, such as those regulated by the International Organization for Standardization. They issue issue ISO Certification, such as ISO 9001, a Quality Management System ensuring standardized quality across all areas of the business including facilities, people, training, services and equipment; ISO 14001 for an Environmental Management System, providing assurance that environmental impact is being measured; and ISO 13485, certifying the manufacture and supply of chemicals meets the requirements of medical components for healthcare customers. Next, look at the grade of materials being used in their manufacturing process. Although agricultural grade material may be more to likely contain contaminants in the form of toxic heavy metals, this isn’t the only culprit to look out for. Yes, “organic” products often have some of the highest heavy metal content – particularly bat guano, a notorious heavy metal accumulator. Be sure the nutrient manufacturer has registered their heavy metals report with organizations such as AAPFCO (Association of American Plant Food Control Officials www.aapfco.org/metals.htm) to qualify acceptable levels. If excessive heavy metals are discovered in a grower’s current nutrient regimen, a serious reassessment of cost versus benefit needs to occur, factoring in human health. As more states begin to wise up to legalization, we will begin to see more mandatory testing requirements surface where consumable products are concerned, particularly around toxic heavy metal content. Once this occurs, a significant shift will occur within the cannabis cultivation community, and we’ll begin to see safe product labels for our plants indicating pharmaceutical grade quality, currently upheld in more typical medical manufacturing and much like pharmaceutical grade compounds produced for human consumption.
“Many nutrients and additives, both inorganic and organic, that are currently being applied to plants frequently around the globe, are in fact a hidden source of toxic heavy metals.” dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 29
CANNA-NEWS
Cannabis Funding
O I have to admit, I have never owned stock in my life. Some-
thing about the whole system just seems so random, arbitrary, and confusing. This month I spent time talking to some of the bright lights in venture capital and asset management who have been targeting cannabis opportunities for investors. According to ArcView’s Market Report (January 2015) the industry expanded by a whopping 74% in 2014—with even the most conservative estimates predicting even more growth in the future. That makes cannabis the fastest-growing industry in the U.S. by about a mile, and an increasingly tempting industry for investors and investment firms. Aside from the fact that it is inherently risky, there is significantly less competition for investors in cannabis than in other cutting-edge industries, and there are significant returns to be made. The opportunity of healthy profits looks even better when combined with the ”fringe benefit of being in the history books as instrumental in ending prohibition,” according to Anthony Davis of Anslinger Capital. Demand is high, and still growing, and there are a lot of passionate entrepreneurs ready to capitalize. The opportunity for investors is clear—and the value proposition grows clearer every day as publically traded cannabis companies gain traction. Company valuations are becoming both more realistic, with higher numbers, and the quality of management teams is on an upswing. As Emily Paxhia of Poseidon shared with me in a phone interview, “The time is now. [Investors] are never
30 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
again going to find the deals at the price points that we are seeing. The talent, drive and passion of the founders entering the market now really has us excited about the future of the industry.” The barriers are equally clear: cannabis is still illegal at the federal level. The role of regulation in creating the market varies wildly from state to state. There are challenges in banking and in access to capital because of this uncertainty. “It’s such a bizarre paradox to have states calling their own shots while on the federal side of things this is still illegal. There are a lot of risks associated with that. There are a lot of unknowns,” said Jessica Geran of Dutchess Capital, “what it really comes down to is the regulations, number one, and the fact that this is still considered an illegal drug, whether it’s medical or adult use. I could go on and on about the variables, but once you sign that check it’s a risk. You cross your fingers and hope for the best. We do tons of due diligence to make sure that we can mitigate as much of the unknown as possible.” Another major barrier is the sluggish rate of change in the social conversation around cannabis, especially for adult use. “Everyone needs to start talking about it, and come out of the closet,” said Davis. “We are taking an industry that has a really negative connotation and demonstrating that it’s a good community. We aren’t taught how to do that in school. It’s really challenging to start organizations with this negative connotation. To walk into family firms and ask for million-dollar investments in cannabis, you get looked at like you are crazy. People are afraid about
the recreational side, and it’s so much less dangerous than alcohol.”
WRITER
Geran sees the change that is taking place: “In regards to the federal aspect of it, this thing is moving so well. The toothpaste is out of the tube. We have to get people to understand that the entrepreneurial type, the employee, the artist, the mom, the dad, the patient… everyone is a potential customer.”
MELANIE BIGALKE
The long and short of it is that venture capital is beginning to make major moves in cannabis. For consumers, this means an expansion of the products available as well as innovation, collaboration and the growth of the industry as a whole. It means that investors have an opportunity right now to make the history books. And it means that I am investing my next paycheck with one—if not all—of these smart, savvy firms, thanks to the advice from Morgan Paxhia of Poseidon: “For those who are looking to get in, funds exist for a reason. It’s a lot of work. There’s so much passion. It’s a really fun industry, and it’s a really great time to get involved.”
Company Profiles THE NEWCOMERS
THE SPECIALISTS
Poseidon Asset Management is a Californiabased cannabis hedge fund that offers wealth management services and invests in innovative, cutting edge cannabis businesses. They offer a significant service in their exhaustive due diligence. According to the company manifesto, “investing in this industry demands exponentially more time and energy than most of our clients would prefer. We aim to remove this “friction” by providing our clients with access to our carefully curated portfolio focusing on the cannabis industry.” Co-founded by Morgan and Emily Paxhia (a brother and sister team), Poseidon is poised to exploit market dislocations—the real undervaluation of companies in the industry. Both Morgan and Emily are world-class competitive sailors, and they are ready to ride this wave all the way. Poseidon is looking to be a visionary fund in the industry—and they have a strong vision. “Cannabis will bring in new technologies and efficiencies to a drought-stricken California and beyond,” said Morgan in a telephone interview. “Farming 2.0 will come out of this movement.”
THE GLOBALISTS
Dutchess Capital is a manager of global investment funds. Founded in 1996, they have made over 400 investments globally—with a total transaction value exceeding $2 billion. Dutchess is not solely focused on cannabis, offering services to start-ups, pre-IPO (initial public offering) businesses, and publically traded companies. This diversified fund has been actively investing in the industry since 2012. According to their website, “Dutchess portfolio companies are uniquely positioned to benefit with respect to the latest data, trends, products, services and ever changing regulatory environment. Further, in the quest for earnings growth, our legalized cannabis portfolio companies have successfully engaged in cross-pollinating with one another, which have resulted in business agreements, strategic partnerships or joint ventures.” Dutchess Capital brings global experience and risk management and expertise to the table. Many investors are attracted by the chance to get their toes wet in the cannabis sea while still investing in other industries. Jessica Geran, Head of Corporate Finance, said “This is the riskiest industry that we’ve ever been involved in— but there has never been an industry, or an opportunity, like it. We were very early on the scene. Dutchess got into it really as a fun little side project…then after some serious research and a lot of due diligence, we realized the scope of where this could go: the actual size of the potential market, and the fact that there weren’t a lot of other investors in it.”
Anslinger Capital, founded in May 2015, is an early stage venture capital fund focused on the emerging cannabis industry. Ansligner is based in Winter Park, Florida with offices in Seattle, Washington and has already completed 3 investments. Co-Founder Anthony Davis is a successful serial entrepreneur who has a proven track record of founding startups in the technology sector. After his recent stint as the CEO of Leafly (“the world’s cannabis information resource”), Davis and partners Christopher Male and Brett Gellein founded Anslinger Capital to create the future of the industry—and to make money. “I am an unapologetic capitalist. People never know how to react when I say this, my partners get a kick out of it—but I’m not joking,” said Davis during a telephone interview, “I use my capitalism for really good things. I am a major donor to three non-profits in the Seattle area and do a lot of advising to and for the startup community. I look for things that make a lot of money, so that I can afford to keep giving. There’s a ton of money to be had in the cannabis industry.”
“This is the riskiest industry that we’ve ever been involved in, but there has never been an industry, or an opportunity, like it.”
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 31
CANNA-NEWS: HEALTH
Living with Disability: Understanding Cripple Punk Culture
WRITER JOHHNY HALFHAND
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
ISABLED PEOPLE have the ironic fate of being simultaneously watched and ignored. In Seattle, when the bus stops to lower the ramp for someone with a wheelchair, it is not uncommon to hear some commuter sigh audibly, and drop their eyes to their phones when the individual finally boards the bus to get situated. In the US, it seems people want to watch and judge, more than smile, accept, or even help. With so little representation in TV or movies, it’s really no wonder that we are such objects of interest to the average bystander.
“They put together a punk philosophy for the disabled folks who are simply fed up with trying to fit everybody’s expectations.”
32 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
We are watched and monitored by a skeptical public. It seems everyone wants to keep tabs on us to safeguard their tax dollars at work and to make sure we’re not all scamming our way to the top. Those with invisible disabilities such as chronic fatigue syndrome and Crohn’s disease have been reporting harassment from bystanders for “not being really handicapped.” Many seem to think a wheelchair is the sign of a bonafide, bluestar disabled person. Perhaps this policing of handicapped folks is meant for the public good, when really, it is simply harassment. Much of the tension comes from the mythos of the ‘Good Cripple’. Similar to the ‘Magic Negro’ archetype, the Good Cripple is always smiling, patient, compassionate, selfless, and because of this, loveable. Good examples of this might be Tiny Tim, who is pitiful yet adorable - or Professor X, whose immense mental powers trivialize his physical difficulties. However, when one is crippled by illness or injury, it is far from a walk in the park. It takes years to find some degree of acceptance, and many people struggle to find it, battling through their lives with rage, depression, or substance abuse issues (Think House, the polar opposite of the Good Cripple). A lifetime of intense struggle is difficult for all but the most resilient soul. Many able-bodied folks hear of such struggles and try to “fix” them by recommending yoga, exercise, whole foods, alternative medicines, and so on. Sometimes it seems like it will never stop. This constant onslaught of “Have you tried…?” begins to feel like an interrogation and a massive invasion of privacy. After all, this is our personal medical history. It’s about time we handicapped folks reclaim our dignity, our freedom, and our individuality.
Physically disabled people wanting to be a part of the movement who are uncomfortable using the slur may refer to it as “cpunk”
In this vein, the Cripple Punk movement was born on Tumblr. User ffsshh, who was fed up with experiencing ableism, laid the groundwork for a new kind of movement for the physically disabled, which doesn’t give a shit about social expectations or pandering to able-bodied observers for pity and adoration. They put together a punk philosophy for the disabled folks who are simply fed up with trying to fit everybody’s expectations. This is more than just folks with disabilities wearing tattered jeans and black hoodies. It’s a philosophy that encourages the handicapped to deal with their limitations in their own way, at their own pace, and with their own personal style. It builds confidence to battle one’s daily struggles, and acts as armor against the ableist attitudes that keep striving to fit the disabled into an ableist mold. The Cripple Punk ethos states they’re for the bitter cripple, the cripple who smokes or drinks, the cripple who doesn’t have the wherewithal to be an inspiration, the cripple who hasn’t “tried everything” or who struggles with denial, anger, or addiction. Cpunk fights internalized ableism, fully supporting those struggling with it. It provokes important conversations with the able-bodied: are handicapped people obliged to smile all the time? Is it improper to ask a disabled stranger about his/ her/their medical history? Is it insulting to respond to uncomfortable facts of disability with ‘Have you tried yoga/reiki/crystal healing?’ The cpunk movement has gained a lot of attention on Tumblr and is beginning to grow beyond it. Commenting on the impact of their work, ffsshh said, “I’m just really happy & proud of how much cripple punk has grown & how many people have
Able-bodied people may never use uncensored slurs themselves (such as cripple, a reclaimed slur) but never censor our language
been touched by it.” In time, hopefully it will help more and more people be free to just be themselves, and this subculture will blossom into a beautiful punk flower. Kick ass fellow cripples, and just do ‘you.’
RULES ‘Cripple’ is a negative slur to many disabled individuals, so refrain from using it if you are not disabled.
Cripple punk is not conditional on things like mobility aids & “functioning levels”
Always listen to those with different physical disabilities & different intersections than yourself. Do not speak over them.
Disabled people do not need to personally identify with the words “cripple” or “punk” individually to be a part of cripple punk.
Able-bodied people wishing to spread the message may only ever amplify the voices of the disabled
Find out more at ffsshh.tumblr.com dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 33
HUGE SE L E CTI O N , LOW PR I CE S, F RIE N DLY SERVI CE A N D L A RGE ST F R E E PA RK IN G I N WAS H I N GTO N STATE Explore our huge 2000-square-foot air conditioned showroom. Home of the $200 oz mix and match. Huge selection of $40 eighths. All cannabis products are tested by Washington state standards. All products are from locally sourced farmers.
GRAMS EDIBLES PRE-ROLLS! 12059 AURORA AVE NORTH SEATTLE, WA
MON–SAT 10AM–10PM
www.SeattleTonics.com
NO
MEDICA L C A R D
REQUIR
ED
SUN 10AM–8PM
206-363-6000
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty‑one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
MEDICAL COOP
The Bakeréé
Cookie Fam Connoisseurs
THE PLACE You’ll find The Bakeréé nestled in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown district, filled with connoisseur cannabis, surrounded by an undoubtedly hipster array of shops and restaurants that define this pocket of the Emerald City. Modeled after a modern art gallery, cannabis is on display as the true art that it is at The Bakeréé. The walls are adorned with uniquely northwest painting and photography, alongside featured sculpture and glass--all swapped out monthly for fresh vibes and eyecatching creativity. The Bakeréé in no way resembles the traditional waiting room/bud room model that most medical shops embody. Here, patients can peruse freely and admire Mary Jane like the Mona Lisa. The mission at The Bakeréé is to be admired. While providing a uniquely connoisseur cannabis experience is evident in all that they do, the owners further elaborate saying, “We see the cannabis community as a totally integrated lifestyle, and we cherish every moment with our clients, vendors and staff.” Any day folks visit The Bakeréé, they just may run into the legendary Cookie Fam guys themselves--a rare treat for cannabis connoisseurs who appreciate legendary genetics.
38 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
1200 S. Angelo St Seattle, WA, 98108 206-659-0574
WRITER
PHOTOS
MEGHAN RIDLEY
ALLIE BECKETT
THE PLANTS We have two words for you: Cookie Fam. The Bakeréé is the first official Cookie Fam location, housing the authentic exquisite cannabis that’s made this name synonymous with mind-boggling chronic. These are the roots of the quintessential cannabis strains you know as Thin Mint Cookies, Sunset Sherbet and Bacio Gelato. “ TheCookie Fam is in constant pursuit of the newest strains specific to consumer needs in flavor, potency and effect“ They explain, “We believe that it all begins with a combination of superior genetics, science, innovation and creativity.” Beyond the wide choice of flower at The Bakeréé, you’ll also find a host of concentrates. Everything from ice wax, to rosin, to solventless extracts glisten on the shelves, and we must say, the Mango Sherbet Truffles you’ll find here are really something special. Not just highly effective, but simply one of the best things we’ve ever tasted--cannabis infused or not.
“The Bakeréé is the first official Cookie Fam location, housing the authentic exquisite cannabis that’s made this name synonymous with mind-boggling chronic.”
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 39
v
We offer: Mixed berry, Hybrid, Sativa, & Indica Dabbing oil
The Finest
Connoisseur Quality CO2 Dabbing Oils, 2
CO
&
Approved Vape Cartridges.
Evergreen Extracts was created from the passion and expertise in treating our patients in Evergreen Health Center. In our health center we are dedicated to providing our patients with a safe and effective way to seek the treatment of the many conditions medical marijuana has been proven to remedy. Our team consists of master growers, highly specialized product engineers, and we source from the finest materials to produce our oils. Evergreen Extracts is equipped with the background, knowledge, and passion to provide you with the highest quality connoisseur grade c02 oils to better your health, tantalize your taste buds and your mind.
360-377-0192 | 360-649-7017 OPEN DAILY | 9AM-9PM 1405 NE MCWILLIAMS RD, SUITE 103 | BREMERTON, WA
v
WHY CHOOSE EGE? We are proven award winning experts with the processing of CO2 cannabis oil. Contact us for your Medical or 502 processing needs for outputs such as dabbing oil, vape pen oil/cartridges, edibles, and many other options.
“Don’t limit yourself to BHO. Quality CO2 is the way to go.” • All organic extraction process • Highest quality medical-grade ingredients used 2015 DOPE CUP BEST C02 THC CONCENTRATE
• Low pressure extraction techniques used to obtain optimal purity • Micro batch blending to maintain high quality, consistency, and flavor • WA premier extraction company • Multiple award winning CO2 oils • Just ask around - people have tried our products and love them!
OUR EXTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE AT 100+ COLLECTIVES (SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW THEM)
info@evergreenextract.com | www.evergreenextract.com
RECREATIONAL STORE
Seattle Tonics Freedom of Choice to the People SEATTLE TONICS, located in North Seattle on Aurora, opened on April 30th, 2015 after what owners say was eight months of “pure blood, sweat and tears.” Their renovation of an old 1950s style motel involved much effort to get it up to code, with most of the work completed in-house. When the building conversion wasn’t occupying their time and energy, they were burdened with nonstop interactions with city, state and federal authorities, “But it was worth it,” the owners told DOPE. “The feeling that we did most of the work with our own hands and will is the best feeling in the world. There were times [of stress] and problems that drove us insane, but we never wanted to give up.”
PHOTOS
MEGHAN RIDLEY
KENTON BRADLEY
Once inside, you’re able to peruse at your leisure, rather than wait for a budtender to help you. You’ll also notice a large presence of small, family farm products that adorn the shelves. Given that Seattle Tonics is a family owned business, they aim to work with as many growers as they can that embody the same vibe. As owners explain, “That feeling of personal accomplishment, pride in growing, and love, shows through in the quality cannabis that smaller farms produce. These growers just want to make a living and grow the best cannabis possible. It’s a dream come true for many of them.”
Seattle Tonics aims to be a very inclusive store, not the boutique vibe that many new shops in the growing cannabis landscape are claiming. They are undoubtedly a stop for anyone and everyone, with an accessible and affordable range of products for all tastes and budgets. Here, the focus is on providing high quality cannabis to their customers. In their words, “People shouldn’t have to go to a parking lot to get their cannabis and wait for their dealer. People should be able to get their cannabis on their own time, within their own budget, whenever they wish to.” Seattle Tonics has a large showroom and equally immense parking lot, with room for a whopping 200 cars.
42 |
WRITER
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
“As owners explain, “That feeling of personal accomplishment, pride in growing, and love, shows through in the quality cannabis that smaller farms produce.”
12059 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 98133 (206) 363-6000 www.seattletonics.com
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 43
Cannabis + Paraphernalia Retailer
Only the Finest
Now With Two Locations! 4820 Yelm HWY SE Lacey, WA
7294 Martin Way E Olympia, WA
Mon - Thurs 10 am - 10 pm Fri - Sat 10 am - 11 pm Sunday 10 am - 7 pm
www.LIVELCD.com
FINE
CANNABIS
11537 RAINIER AVENUE SOUTH SEATTLE
FLOWERS EDIBLES CONCENTRATES 206.457.8301
FOLLOW US www.clutchcannabis.com @clutchcannabisrec
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the inuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
CONCENTRATE
Blueberry Wax
WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
Omega Concentrate
PHOTOS TINA BALLEW
64.91% THC 0.03% CBD • TESTED AT • Steep Hill
FLAVOR
GENETICS
EFFECT
Sweet cream and fresh blueberries dominate, along with bold notes of earthy kush that linger long after the sweet smoke disappears. A flavorful BHO, this blueberry lives up to its name with a vapor that tastes of nectar and fruit that’s surprisingly delicious.
Bred by the masterful hand of DJ Short, the father is a landrace Afghani indica crossed with a female highland Thai hybrid. This crown jewel of Short’s legendary line of flower originated in the early 1980s. Although thought to be predominantly indica, this expresses more sativa-like characteristics.
Cheerfully sedating, some report a feeling like walking on clouds. While mainly an indica, sativa-like attributes still shine through, with an energizing lift that last for hours. Recommended by many patients, its said to dull pain and relax muscles without inducing drowsiness or confusion.
LOOKS
AROMA
ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY
It glistens like a gem when the light plays off its smooth faceted surface. Some call this type of concentrate ‘earwax’ but believe us, this is far prettier, glowing a rich orange color with a golden oily sheen - no Q-Tip required here just your favorite dab rig.
A pleasing floral scent laced with its namesake, blueberries. It’s a swirling fragrance composed of lavender, lilac, and eucalyptus, and with eyes closed, it could easily be mistaken for a scented candle. The eucalyptus adds a slight touch of menthol which leaves cooling sensation on the exhale.
FOUND AT: • Greenside Recreational • The Freedom Market, • Green Theory
48 |
• A Greener Today • and many others
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Searing hot summer temperatures have landed Washington State in the midst of a record blueberry harvest. That makes this a great time to pack up some Omega Concentrates and head out to a local berry patch for some farm-totable, self-picked blueberries to go with this Blueberry, and you should wear blue as well.
dockside|SODO Dockside|shoreline 1728 4th Ave s, Seattle 206.223.6292 Opening soon!
15029 Aurora ave N, Shoreline 206.402.4839
free parking|ATM|friendly service
#livedockside
marijuana for everyone 21+|docksidecannabis.com
pe
DDA WASH I N GTON
OR EG ON
|
COLORAD O
|
NORCAL
goal
et n r e int
dda
dda
|
t p e c con
produce
branding
bis
people identity
Quality
advertising, multimedia, and customer service. Specializing in
Service
the cannabis industry, DDA works with a premiere network of
marijana
DDA
canna
We are a creative agency that understands QUALITY design,
producers, growers, and associates connecting people to plant.
LET US BUILD n Turnaround YOUR BRIDGE. decisio
s i b a n can
s s e c pro
GRAPHIC DESIGN. WEBSITE CREATION. DIGITAL STRATEGY. CONTENT DEV. ADVERTISING.
DDA h c r a rese
decisions
discovery
test
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
(206) 939-0530 info@DopeDesignAgency.com
DDA
DopeDesignAgency.com
strategy test
hi
FEATURE
Celebrity Advocate: Laganja Estranja EXAS TRANSPLANT, California cannabis patient,
and drag queen with a cause, Jay Jackson, is celebrating a big win near and dear to his heart this year, the right for same sex couples to marry on a national level.
“The Supreme Court ruling was historic,” the 26 yearold performer said from his home in Los Angeles. “The fight for equality is something incredibly important to me. The fact that my sister and her wife can now renew their vows and have their marriage legally recognized in our home state of Texas; there’s no greater joy.” The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn DOMA, the “Defense of Marriage Act,” passed by Congress and signed into national law by then president, Bill Clinton in 1996, had the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community dancing in the streets. While progress is being made within the Queer community, Laganja’s other passion, the progression to end the prohibition of cannabis is painfully slow, with persecution still prevailing in legal states, medical or otherwise.
Alright for us, not for you The rights for cannabis patients are being decided on state, county and city levels, with much contradiction. The most recent conundrum being both the addition of PTSD’s to Washington State’s list of ailments, while Colorado announced to disallow it, within days of each other. While veterans of war are typically first in line for a diagnosis of PTSD, followed by anyone else who has experienced trauma, those in the LGBTQ community are very frequently effected from lifetimes of discrimination, abuse, and bullying.
Fearlessly Defending Our Plant One Heel in Front of the Other WRITER SHARON LETTS
52 |
PHOTOS SCOTT KIRBY
ROBIN SLONINA
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
In January of 2014 Laganja was chosen to compete in season six of the Logo TV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. When Jackson showed up for production in his hometown of Los Angeles, he says an intensive search was done of his belongings by the production company. “It wasn’t like a bag check at a concert where they quickly look in your purse and wave you past,” he explained. “I arrived with bins of hair, make-up, accessories, wigs, and costume’s, and they went through all of it, while the other girls told me their search was fairly simple. They made me choose between my career and my medicine, and when faced with that decision, I sacrificed my medicine.” Jackson is all too familiar with discrimination. He’s dealt with it all his life, whether for who he is or how he chooses to medicate, making PTSD situations all too common.
“My point of view is controversial, my medicine has a stigma, my stage name is a trigger – I get it,” he said clearly frustrated, “but the show was filmed in California and I’m a legal cannabis patient here. Prior to filming I attempted to hand the production company my medical card, and let them know that I am a patient and medicate for real issues, but they said it wasn’t enough. I don’t have any bad feelings for RuPaul, the network, or the production company. I will just be happy for the day when my medicine is understood and accepted.” Request for comments on the search itself or information on the company’s policy on medical cannabis in production went unanswered. “Jackson said a producer called him with an additional reminder of its non-disclosure agreement (NDA).” It seems details regarding the way he was treated and the policies surrounding the search is confidential.
Medicating For A Lifetime of Pain Jackson’s ailments are extensive, both emotionally and physically, as he suffers from a childhood of stresses relating to his sexual orientation, on top of physical damage to his body from performing. Without cannabis we can safely assume he would be prescribed anti-depressants and an anti-anxiety medication, at the very least. As a lifelong athlete dealing with pain, he would typically be prescribed painkillers or be addicted to an opiate derivative by now. The amount of medication he’d need prescribed by a doctor to replace the various forms of cannabis he uses as medicine is daunting, to say the least - but it all would have been allowed on national television with no search necessary. “I medicate with cannabis for a number of purposes in many different ways,” he explained. “My initial use came from a dance injury in college, and I now have replaced my western pills with the herb. I no longer regularly take sleeping pills or pain killers, and the herb keeps me calm under pressure, keeps my emotions level, and combats the physical pain of getting into drag.”
ous dance tricks! Cannabis really does help me be my best, most relaxed self – it’s integral to my success and well-being.” Without the herb the participation on Drag Race was challenging. Emotions ran high, tears flowed, her body ached, and Laganja was not at her best. Her medicine would have made all the difference in her performance, but the education wasn’t there. Due to her talent, she “sashayed away” with her chin up and her popularity at an all-time high. The stress of the ordeal sent her to the bottle during a PTSD episode. Eight months ago, Jackson came clean, is now shunning alcohol and is working with fellow Drag Race star Gia Gunn on a #TeamTooMuch tour, with health being a top priority.
The physical torture of drag is little known to the outside world. It’s a way of life, a practice, and takes tons of taping, tucking – and a whole lot of topical cannabis salve. “A tuck is when a female illusionist takes his genitals and hides them from view – partially inside him with tape,” he shared. “It’s something I’ve gotten used to, but it’s especially uncomfortable and painful when done for an extended period of time. Tape is often used on the edges of the face to give a ‘lift,’ and around the hairline to secure the wig. I do crazy tricks when I perform, so my wig has to be on tight! The bobby pins are pressed hard into my skull and the tape is constraining.” Aside from physical changes in appearance leading to pain, Laganja’s performances, her signature “Death Drop,” a move putting her feet above the stage, then plunging her back down to the ground in the splits – all the while wearing eight inch heels and a wig – would send anyone to big pharma begging for help. “Cannabis helps me relax while dancing,” he shared. “If there is too much tension some of the moves I perform are very dangerous. The ‘Death Drop’ and all the variations can be really painful if not done correctly. It takes training, strength, and the ability to relax to accomplish these physical feats. I tuck, I tape, and I wear killer heels, corsets, and do danger-
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 53
Supporting Sisters Laganja made many connections during season six of Drag Race, but “Gia Gunn,” otherwise known as Chicago native Scott Ichikawa, became a partner in advocacy with “#TeamTooMuch,” the duo’s touring production that advocates safety and sobriety within the drag community, and beyond. Ichikawa, who had family support coming out as a teenager, came to terms with his own self-medicating to quell emotions, about the same time Jackson fessed up to abusing alcohol post Drag Race. “I’ve never been a big fan of alcohol,” he shared. “Drugs can be fun, but [they] wear on the body. Being sober and finding clarity has really helped me realize that I need my health to keep going. Recently I started to get that anxious feeling and wasn’t sure where it was coming from. I felt uncentered and had to make a change, so I went to Colorado and discovered natural oils, cannabis, yoga and spiritual healing – all positive ways of selfmedicating, allowing us to ‘escape’ without harming our bodies.” As far as Ichikawa is concerned, acceptance is one thing and understanding is another, but the labeling and judgements that continue, he feels, are a huge problem. “People need to accept that a lot of things are not black and white, yes or no, gay or straight,” he explains.” Sometimes it’s all of those things. I would love people to have a better understanding of themselves, so they can better understand others.” I have found that becoming more open with myself – which has caused great discomfort – has allowed me to be more at peace with others. Especially in dealing with gender issues – the answer is not always ‘right there,’ and that’s alright – we just need to understand the concept!”
The higher the heels and bigger the hair, the closer to God This past month Laganja was invited to be on stage with Miley Cyrus as she hosted the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). Cyrus at just 21 years of age has proven to be a faithful proponent of the plant and an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community, dawning Laganja’s designer jewelry in Instagram posts, and learning a few of her moves. With Cyrus’ non-profit, “Happy Hippies Foundation,” she recognizes the need for support within the LGBTQ community. Her foundation reaches out to the growing number of traumatized and homeless youth on the streets, offering support and services. Inviting Laganja on stage with her to a mainstream event, such as MTV’s VMAs was a statement and show of support, both for the plant and the LGBTQ community. Jackson said he’ll continue to dawn the wig and heels to advocate for his good medicine, dealing with any trauma and stress as the drama plays out. He’s used to it, as he’s been dancing around difficult situations all his young life. “Within the LGBTQ community I’m known as a voice for legalization and the decriminalization of cannabis,” he shared. “However, it has been slightly difficult for me to gain exposure within the cannabis community. I’ve been told it may be due to an imbedded brand of homophobia, but there are exceptions! For my last photo shoot for Dope Magazine (October, 2012), I had the opportunity to stay at a farm owned and operated by LGBTQ women!” Laganja’s hopes are high to someday be included in the world of weed, recently recording a rap song, “Hot Box,” a nasty, playful song that he hopes can build a bridge to connect more deeply with the cannabis community. And while she’s eternally grateful for Dope Magazine for giving her an opportunity to shine (this cover is a first for a drag star in a top weed magazine), she still feels she’s a long way back in the line for dabs, so to speak. “My dream is to perform at one of the cannabis festivals,” Jackson said. “I’ve got my fair share of negative commentators, but who cares? All the honesty, positivity, and healing outweighs the haters. I have great relationships with farmers and dispensaries, and I’m in talks on getting my own branded Laganja ganja. I’m still going to be me. I exist at the crossroads of counter cultures and the tide is changing. I just want to put it out into the universe – I want to be your weed Queen! Let me dance for you!” (and DOPE loves you too, beautiful!
• • • •
Laganja Estranja www.laganjaestranja.com Gia Gunn www.logosrupaulsdragrace.wikia.com/wiki/Gia_Gunn RuPaul’s Drag Race on Logo www.logotv.com/shows/rupauls_drag_race Laganja’s single, “Hot Box” launching Sept. 4 on iTunes
54 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
NG TO N
ND ,W AS HI
KIR KL A
HEALTH
Stressed, Gay & Stoned? Not A Problem.
WRITER SHARON LETTS
Cannabis Provides Support for PTSD in the LGBTQ Community
PAPER published in the Harvard Gazette (2012) recognizes the occurrence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSDs) for those associating as Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, or Transgender (LGBT) as being much more frequent starting at a younger age than with heterosexuals suffering with the same disorders. The study, previously published online in the American Journal of Public Health, states the long term ramifications of these types of disorders stem from years of internal confusion based on sexual orientation, and reoccurring instances of public discrimination founded on misinformation. Lead author, Andrea Roberts, research associate at the Department of Society, Human
56 |
Development, and Health for the Harvard School of Public Health explains, “We looked at a group of people who were at the cusp of adulthood and found much higher levels of PTSDs in sexual orientation minorities compared with heterosexuals. We found that differences in PTSDs by sexual orientation already exist by age 22. This is a critical point at which young adults are trying to finish college, establish careers, get jobs, maintain relationships, and establish a family.”
ability to function normally in daily life. Negative changes in thinking, combined with negative feelings about one’s self or other people starts to come into play and the inability to have positive emotions or feel good about things are common. All sited as being part of PTSD are feelings of being numb, a lack of interest in activities once previously enjoyed, feeling hopeless about the future, problems with memory, and difficulty maintaining close relationships.
“Triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it,” is how the Mayo Clinic describes the disorders that include “flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.” Not all involved with a traumatic event are affected long term by PTSDs, but those who are could be challenged for months to years, with the condition interfering with the
According to the Mayo Clinic’s description of the disorder, changes in emotional reactions, such as irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior is noted, with overwhelming feelings of guilt or shame, trouble concentrating, and being easily frightened. It’s no surprise the Mayo Clinic’s definition of the disorder ends with information for a national suicide hotline.
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Lost-n-Found One year ago, then 18 year-old Daniel Ashley Pierce was beaten, denounced, and thrown out of his home by his Christian parents and grandparents in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. During the intervention gone wrong, Pierce was able to film some of the altercation. It went viral of course, causing an outpouring of support and nearly $100,000 to be donated to a GoFundMe campaign, helping him to start over. Immediate support came from an Aunt, who opened her home to him. But he said he would not have known how to begin without the help of Atlanta non-profit organization Lost-nFound, created in 2011 with a mission to assist Atlanta’s documented 750 homeless youth.
Lost-n-Found’s website informs that 53% of the youth they have helped had nowhere to turn after being kicked out of their home stating, “There are only about 48 hours from the time a kid becomes homeless before 33% of youth begin to engage in risky behaviors such as theft, drug activity or selling their bodies for money to survive.” Pierce is one of the lucky ones. According to a story posted on Lost-n-Found’s website, one year later he is doing well, happy in a relationship, working as a paralegal, and planning a trip to relocate to the West Coast with his supportive partner.
Gender-bending in Utah Twenty-three year old Utah transplant, now California patient, Marval A. Rechsteiner is currently going through a medical transition from a biological male to female. A graduate of Humboldt State University (HSU), Rechsteiner found his medicine in Northern California, and will continue to medicate through myriad compilations from hormone therapy and subsequent surgeries pending. Though Gays, Lesbians, and Bi-Sexually identifying people are somewhat more accepted now, transgender people, often referred to as “gender-benders,” such as Rechsteiner, have been traditionally unable to fit it. This is due largely to being perceived by many people as confused for dressing or acting as the opposite sex in order to feel alright in their own skin. “Growing up in Salt Lake City in the 90s, by my very biology as a gender-bending person, I was an outsider and rebel from a young age,” he shares. “I had crushes on the young girls my age and felt that the boys were often competitive and mean to each other. The strict gender norms of either male or female confused me greatly and caused me stress from a very early
age. I began to disassociate with my body around the onset of adolescence, and high school became a time of secrets; secrets around the core of my identity and gender. Basically, as a teenager, I felt my body had betrayed me.” Stress, anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and eating disorders – all this and more are symptoms most LBGT youth deal with on a daily basis. “I have trigger points in relation to my gender identity,” Rechsteiner shares. “I’ll have a panic attack because of fear and internalized self-hatred that looks very much like a PTSD episode. Other gender-nonconforming people have told me of similar attacks where it feels like the world is about to collapse in on them. Look at it this way, if your very identity is constantly made invisible or stereotyped negatively, you disassociate from integral parts of who you are – and what that means is years and years of unpacking the hatred inside yourself to find yourself again, and find love.” Rechsteiner said Queer people often use cannabis in a negative way, just like
any other substance used to bypass emotional hurting. But he also acknowledges how it has helped him deal with all sorts of issues surrounding his identity. “In the past when the panic attacks began I was prescribed Xanax to calm me down,” he explains. “Now, I use cannabis in specific ways. During my transition with hormone replacement therapy I was smoking, as it lifts your mood fairly quickly. Tincture is by far my best option in terms of calming my fear down. I don’t get blazed out of my mind on it, and it helps me to get into my body and feel good inside it – which is deeply healing for someone like me, who has disassociated [with my body] for such a long time.” With a BFA in Sculptural Ceramics from HSU, Rechsteiner said his future includes using the arts for activism, saying “I’m about to head to a trans conference known as ‘Gender Odyssey’ in Seattle. I’ll be helping its guest artist set up a show to talk about trans and racial intersections of identity. It’s an exciting opportunity - and I get to meet some famous names in the transgender community!”
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 57
Tests, Trials & Lab Rats Both the FDA, and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services have given a green light to Suzanne Sisley, researcher at the University of Arizona, to conduct research on cannabis use for PTSDs. The 10-week study, which would examine fifty veterans, is yet to be approved by the DEA. With more than 7.7 million Americans suffering from PTSDs nationwide, Sisley is hopeful for approval. “Although there is a mountain of anecdotal evidence that cannabis helps with PTSDs, there has been no controlled trial to test how cannabis suppresses the symptoms, including flashbacks, insomnia and anxiety,” Sisley told USA Today (March, 2014). In an article found in the Huff Post’s “Science” blog, Carolyn Gregoire reports findings from a study published in the journal Neuropschopharmacology on the
58 |
dosing of synthetic cannabinoids to rats after a traumatic event and the prevention of behavioral and physiological symptoms of PTSD by “triggering changes in brain centers associated with the formation and holding of traumatic memories.” In other words, the study found that when synthetic cannabis (with a THC component) is administered after a traumatic experience (in this case electro shock to the poor rat’s feet), the incidence of future PTSD episodes from the event were minimized. To realize these findings, researchers gave synthetic cannabis to the rats post electrical impulse, and then prepared a false shock. Those rats treated with cannabis beforehand did not exhibit symptoms common to PTSD, such as “impaired extinction learning, increased startle response, changes in pain sensitivity and impaired plasticity in the brain’s reward center.”
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
The rats not treated with the compound, however, displayed all symptoms. It’s interesting to note, the rats not treated with cannabis were given the SSRI antidepressant sertraline, otherwise known as Zoloft, with “mixed results.” Also surprising to some, cannabis can help the disorder from occurring, and even better to know - another study published in Science Daily (May 2014) shows a 75% reduction in PTSDs while using cannabis when the disorder is already diagnosed. With the national acceptance of same sex marriage, the door was opened for further education and subsequent acceptance of the LGBTQ community and its struggles. Add enlightened cannabis users, and help may just be on its way to begin the emotional healing following decades of misunderstanding on both subjects.
CLOSED-LOOP BUTANE & PROPANE ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTORS • State Certified Butane & Propane Systems • Patent Pending Dewaxing Columns • Quick Recovery Times with Optional Dual Pumps • The Machine of Choice
USED BY AWARD WINNING EXTRACT ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD! SUBZERO .5lb Extractor
• Oil Hunters (Spain) • Southern Humbolt Concentrates (CA) • Looking Glass Extracts (OR) • Sirius Extracts (OR)
Mention this ad and get 10% off the purchase of a full system.
I-502 APPROVED
Colorado Compliancy Peer Review Pending
503-666-3342
SUBZEROSCIENTIFIC.COM
CANNA-NEWS
Buds & Blossoms Beneficial Arrangements to Love
LORIST BEC Koop, owner of Cannabis Concierge
Events and Buds & Blossoms in Denver has been playing with flowers since she was eight years old, helping alongside her mother in her mom’s best friend’s flower shop outside in her chilhood home town of Washington DC.
“I started my own flower business in 2011 while working part time for a dispensary in Alma, Colorado,” she explained. “I had some extra flowers from an event and was cutting down a plant out of my own garden when I had my ‘A-Ha’ moment. I put the two together and have been in love with the fusion ever since!” Koop said she initially used fresh bud in the arrangements, but then began adding dried bud on long stems, allowing the bud to be enjoyed after the celebration. “My motto is, ‘Straight from your bouquet to your bowl!” she laughed. “I also help my clients ‘bring the cannabis theme to any scene.’” This can be done in a variety of ways with a little imagination. Nearly everything necessary for an event can be done using hemp or cannabis, and Koop says she procures hemp wedding dresses, invitations and other paper goods, infused appetizers, entrees, and the wedding cake of course. Custom hand blown glass pieces via jewelry or pipes can also be created for special guests, bridal parties, and party favors.
60 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Koop’s services keep expanding as she and client’s imaginations run wild. “The possibilities are endless,” she adds. “I’ve coordinated dispensary holiday parties, corporate events and conferences; Valentine’s Day celebrations, birthdays, and anniversaries.” As with any cannabis business, legalities in procuring and distributing the plant material are a consideration. Koop said policy dictates her clients purchase their own plant material at their own dispensaries, and then deliver all to her for arranging. Photographers Andrea Burolla and Denise Chambers are co-owners of “Lollylah Wedding Photography” of Denver, and team up with Koop, covering weddings and other events involving cannabis. Neither one partakes medicinally nor recreationally, but they both appreciate what’s happening with cannabis in their home state, and their association with Koop has educated them both regarding the good medicine. “Denise and I have backgrounds in travel photography,” Burolla explained. “One day we were discussing what drives people here – aside from the mountains. We started talking about cannabis, and how every time we leave the state it’s the first thing anyone outside Colorado brings up. We found ourselves fascinated by all the different types of people coming out of the cannabis closet – HR reps, teachers, working professionals – people who definitely didn’t fit the pot smoking mold.”
WRITER SHARON LETTS
The two decided to put together “styled” photo shoots to blow away the perceptions of the “typical stoner.” “After some deliberation we decided to make the shoot more relevant to what we are currently doing,” Burolla continues. “We started pulling together vendors to create a cannabis themed wedding photo shoot that was sophisticated, classic and refined – sure to blow stereotypes out of the water.”
PHOTOS LOLLYLAH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY,
ANDREA BUROLLA
DENISE CHAMBERS
“The amount of research going into this amazing plant is really just starting to get recognized and respected,” she surmised. “With that in mind, I see this movement continuing to grow exponentially. It will be exciting to see our world being helped in so many ways, with food, medicine, fiber, or fuel. I can see my own little businesses expanding, and I’d be willing to consider franchising with anyone interested in this type of company in other states.”
Burolla says the lovely photo shoot gracing the pages of this story took two months to plan, with many vendors involved. Buds were used for a “Budonniere” on the groom’s lapel, the bride’s bouquet, hair pieces, and table top bouquets. Her dress was custom made from hemp, and hemp and cannabis-infused delicacies lined tables with other items offered as well like fancy vape pens, hemp jewelry, and hemp wedding invitations. A patient in her own right, Koop is also a recreational user – with no apologies. “I started using cannabis in college for endometriosis and pain relief from sports injuries,” she says, “but I will never deny I enjoy the high, as well.” According to the National Institute of Health’s website (NIH, www. nih.gov), approximately 75% of women with pelvic pain and as many as 50% of women with fertility problems are diagnosed with endometriosis - a disorder where tissue that normally grows outside the uterus, grows inside, causing extreme pain. Once the lesions heal, nerve pain from scar tissue can be equally painful. The condition includes painfully debilitating menstrual cramps that increase with time, pain during or after sex, pain in the lower abdomen or intestine, painful bowl movements, or painful urination during menstrual periods, with bladder or other chronic gastrointestinal issues. Smoking is Koop’s mainstay for warding off symptoms, but she also ingests medibles, and recently discovered juicing leaf. Working for medible makers, and in-house at a dispensary, has given her a wealth of education on cannabis, and she says it has enabled her to help others. She elaborates, “My professional start in the industry began in 2013, prior to everything going recreational here in Colorado. Working in a dispensary helped me to see just how much cannabis works for patients. I was brought to tears many times watching patients in extreme neuropathy pain and discomfort, barely able to pull money out of their wallets to purchase their meds being instantly helped by this plant.” The future of Koop’s blooming business is looking bright green and with so many other states lined up for legalization, she knows the possibilities will only continue to grow.
“We started pulling together vendors to create a cannabis themed wedding photo shoot that was sophisticated, classic and refined – sure to blow stereotypes out of the water.”
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 61
PRODUCT
Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook
WRITER R.Z HUGHES
Feel-Good Food For Home Cooks
^ ^ e th the
annnCoaokbboisok CCannabis kitche
kitchen. Cookbook . for hom e coo ks Fee F e el-G l- Good o o d Foo F o odd f o r h o m e co o ks
Law ren ce ggs Gri yn Rob R o by n by G r i g g s L aw r e n c e Pov y Kend al Atch ison
Photo graph s P hoto g r a p hs by
P ov y K e n da l Atc h i so n
Fore word by Jane West Foreword by Ja n e West
62 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
PHOTOS ASHLEE BURKE
The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook: Tips for Buying and Dosing Choose a store that’s right for you. With options that range, from Mom & Pop shops to mega-superstores and everything in between, find a place you feel comfortable with.
Follow your nose. Everyone has different tastes and preferences, the best way to find a strain that works for you is to find one with an enticing aroma.
Ask a lot of questions. Is it organic? Has it been tested for mold or pesticides? How long was it cured for? Asking for a personal favorite from a budtender is never a bad idea.
Start low and go slow. No one has ever had a bad experience from taking too little cannabis on their first time and it can take a long time to kick in.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robyn Lawrence Griggs has been teaching America about the beauty of simple living since 1999. As editor-in-chief of Natural Home Magazine, she visited people around the country, learning about innovative and sustainable practices for gardening, building, decorating, and cooking. With previous works published on the beauty of imperfection in home décor, The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook seeks to bring healthful, responsibly prepared meals to tables everywhere.
$19 available at retailers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon or www.cannabiskitchencookbook.com
UTHOR AND advocate for sustainable, natural living Robyn Griggs Lawrence, has graced the culinary world with the Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook; a tome of mouthwatering recipes that incorporate cannabis in exciting new ways. Rather than infusing sugar-laden brownies or unhealthy candy bars, this book views cannabis as a superfood and treats it accordingly, serving it alongside wild-caught salmon and seared Wagyu beef. Gluten-free, vegan, AND raw? There’s something for you too, including fresh juices, guacamole, and plenty of goji berries.
gredients, and how to properly enjoy the recipe with company.
The book features well over one hundred recipes, provided by fourteen renowned chefs, nutritionists, bakers, and barkeeps. The result is nothing short of extraordinary. Photographs of an extensive medley of gourmet fare jump off of the page, inducing stomach growling simply by thumbing through. Each recipe has its own story and The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook not only explains the dish’s conception, it also educates about the importance of nutritious in-
There are gourmands among us who may, indeed, know what furikake is, that pemmican is the early Native American hybrid of jerky and trail mix, or how to properly make a kheer from scratch. For the average home cook, however, this book is a culinary journey across cultural divides. This is a chance to experience cuisine from across the world, honed over the centuries and tweaked by modern masters of the kitchen who have added our favorite organic herb.
When pondering over her favorite dish to indulge in, Lawrence laughs, unable to pick just one out of the immense library. She eventually lands on the trail mix because “It’s so easy to make and take on-the-go,” however, as far as entrees go, “the fan leaf pesto is great for its use of the nutritious leaves normally treated as waste.” All of the plates are crafted with respect for food as medicine, and cannabis as a miraculous bounty from the natural world.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 63
THE QUALITY YOU SEEK. Featured Strain:
How you define wellness is your choice.
WHITEFIRE OG
Triple C is here to support you, as we have been since 2011. We believe that the most rewarding experiences are the most natural. From the moment you walk in our door, you will feel welcomed, heard and respectfully guided in finding the variety and quality you seek.
2706 6th Ave Tacoma, WA 98406
(Fire Kush x The White) A 60% sativa hybrid with uplifting and comfortable cerebrally focused effects. Daytime use of this strain won’t leave the consumer drowsy, making it a good choice for social and creative activities.
(253) 507-4725 cannabisclubcollective.com
Hybrid
425.453.5749 | www.belmarstore.com 614 116th Аve NE Bellevue, WA 98005
BELLEVUE’S MARIJUANA STORE
Prerolls: Over 30 different varieties starting at $9
Concentrates: 20 different flavors starting at $40
Flower: Over 60 different strains starting at just $10/gram
Glass: Over 15 different types starting at $7
Edibles & Drinks: Over 30 different types starting at $9
We’re open later than anyone on the Eastside! Sunday - Thursday 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
|
Friday, Saturday 10:00 am - Midnight
AMPLE, FREE PARKING | DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED | ATM IN STORE | OPEN DAILY | SPECIALS EVERYDAY
Lowest Prices and Best Selection on the Eastside, and we can PROVE it. We will price match any other retail marijuana store. No medical card required. Our products have intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of these products. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
HEART OF THE PLANT The healthier the root the sweeter the fruit Rootworx is a tier two Recreational Producer/Processor located in Mason County on the southwestern tip of the Puget Sound in a state of the art facility. We strive to provide quality over quantity, giving you the best cannabis on the market.
w
t and bes the
rock that ship •
li g
ht
in
RO ng W
•g ro
FEATURING
7-G
l ra 7 lt u - 7 icu 87 7 or t • ed h OM .C advanc
SM A WWW.ROCKETPLA
ROOTWORX CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
Altitude Prosser
Greenway Marijuana Port Orchard
Mister Buds Port Angeles
The Happy Crop Shoppe East Wenatchee
Belmar Bellevue
Herbal Access Port Hadlock
Sea Change Cannabis Port Townsend
The Happy Crop Shoppe Cashmere
Cannarail Station Ephrata
Hwy 420 Bremerton
Spokane Green Leaf Spokane
The Hidden Bush Port Angeles
Cannabis Central Ellensburg
Issaquah Cannabis Company Issaquah
Station 420 Union Gap
TJ’s Cannabis Shelton
Euphorium Dryden
LUCID Lacey
THC High Society Anacortes
Urban Bud Tacoma
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
GARDEN
Phat Panda Welcome to the Jungle HAT PANDA may be a Tier 3 producer/processor, but
that is nothing short of a vague understatement given the size and stature of the operation. They are currently operating at 18,000 square feet, and in the process of adding 3,000 more square feet of grow rooms to reach the state maximum of 21,000. With 18 rooms featuring impeccable cannabis at various stages of flowering, it’s clear the sky is the limit for these I-502 overachievers. An average week at this facility pumps out 40,000 grams of usable cannabis, 15-20,000 joints, and 1000 grams of concentrates. At Phat Panda, the mission is simple: place the highest quality product into the highest quality packaging, then offer it to consumers at the best price possible. Phat Panda is owned by several sets of husbands and wives who are all great friends. The main owners of the company are Katrina and Robert McKinley. Robert describes the collaboration as purely “luck” when discussing how the team was formed. He came up with the name Phat Panda during his earlier work in the marketing field, where he took the strong advice of a mentor and began incorporating animal names into his branding.
70 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
WRITER
PHOTOS
MEGHAN RIDLEY
EMILY NICHOLS
In case you wondered how many employees it takes to run an operation of this size, the current number is 84. And yes, that makes them the largest I-502 employer in the Evergreen State. While they’re a recreational cannabis industry giant, they keep it real, running business like a welloiled machine around the Phat Panda jungle. Their company philosophy embodies a work hard/play hard motto to be admired, “Grow fast, grow big, and don’t grow up!” It’s hard to talk recreational cannabis in Washington without mentioning OG Chem and Golden Pineapple from Phat Panda. These best-selling signature strains are some of the finest flowers in the market. But the aforementioned are not their only focus, as they’ve cultivated over fifty different strains since their operation started. With over 200 different strains in their seed and clone stock, there is a cornucopia of cannabis being cultivated here, and don’t forget their concentrate brand, Sticky Frog. With a name like that, we’re bound to be curious!
“It’s hard to talk recreational cannabis in Washington without mentioning OG Chem and Golden Pineapple from Phat Panda. These best-selling signature strains are some of the finest flowers in the market.”
WWW.GROWOPFARMS.COM
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 71
y
ncy
it
Po
te
r fo
All
d
s are Teste d e M
& Pu
r
lowest donation rates in Seattle
CANNA-LOVE
Couples On Cannabis Is There Love In This Leaf?
OMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS can be uplifting, support you when you need it and provide a sense of deep love and understanding to each partner, or they can royally screw you up. Honestly, it’s the same way I feel about certain strains of cannabis as well. But unless you plan to dedicate yourself to complete isolation (and that’s no fun at all), odds are you’re going to find yourself in a romantic relationship at some point. And the one question that begs to be answered is, “How will using cannabis affect that partnership in the long run?” That was exactly the line of inquiry researchers at the University of Buffalo set out to answer. In the study, which included 634 couples over the first nine years of their marriage, the cannabis using habits of husbands and wives went under the microscope. The partners were examined for frequency of cannabis use and subsequent instances of intimate personal violence (or IPV). As the study progressed it became obvious that there was a correlation between how often couples used cannabis and occurrences of domestic violence, but the nature of this link wasn’t what the anti-pot crowd expected. Researchers found that instead of cannabis truly being “The Devil’s Weed,” leading sensitive husbands to mercilessly attack their wives, cannabis actually creates quite the opposite situation. The study’s abstract details the findings, “Couples in which both spouses used marijuana reported the least frequent IPV perpetration.” Not only are couples that use together the least likely of the pairs to be violent towards each other - the study also showed that a wife was less likely to be violent towards her husband if he had been using cannabis, even if he was the only one of them toking up. This point is proven over and over again in the cannabis industry, and pot power couples now fill the landscape. Jenn Lauder and Chad Dean, co-founders of the cannabis-centric digital media company Weekend Review Kit have been married for fourteen years. Lauder says that she has struggled with anger management issues in the past and estimates she’s done some “shoving, grabbing, and flailing [of] arms,” a few times in their eighteen years as a couple. She has found cannabis to be a great way to abate those tendencies, saying that part of the reason she takes it medicinally is to subdue those urges. “Chad keeps it much cooler,” she says, “[he] hasn’t ever been physically violent,” and they aren’t the only ones putting the proof in the pudding.
WRITER BRITTANY DRIVER
Liz Blaz Fitch and Will Fitch of Green Delta Consulting also work within the cannabis industry together. They manage to stay even keeled with each other throughout the long days and laborious tasks required to insure their client’s applications are approved. They spend most of the day together, and when it’s quitting time, they use cannabis to help relieve the stress that comes with running their own business. “Our strategy and joint approach to all stresses related to our work and marriage is the same - hit it head on, EARLY, or let it explode later,” says Liz, “cannabis plays a large role in our stress relief as well.” They’ve been together for eight years, married last year in August, and say “we’ve never had a violent incident in that time.” The chance that they’d be involved in any kind of domestic violence doesn’t really cross their minds. So does is this meant to imply that every couple should smoke cannabis? No, of course not. It may not be for everyone. It’s likely that cannabis isn’t the only answer to ongoing DV problems a couple has, but it can lead people to some real introspection, unlike other intoxicants people use to relieve stress. People are always comparing cannabis and alcohol, saying, “smoking a joint is just like drinking a glass of wine,” but it’s not the same. According to the Tennessee Association and Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services, research shows that “drinking precedes acts of family violence in 25-50% of all cases of domestic violence.” They also find that the “highest rates of abuse are found in moderate to heavy drinkers,” but if 25-50% seems like a low number, consider the statistics that many women don’t ever officially report their abuse. This makes the actual number inevitably much higher. Cannabis is a cure all, an equalizer, some even call it the great connector. It brings together people of all educational backgrounds, income levels, career paths and political views. You’ll rarely see a physical brawl within a group of cannabis users, and I can’t recall one to date that I’ve seen personally. Perhaps, unlike alcohol, marijuana allows the user the time needed to take a step back, and consider how to avoid a serious argument in the first place. When it comes to arguments, a little perspective (something cannabis never fails to produce) can mean the difference between agreeing to disagree, and a knock down drag out, call the cops because one or the both of you are bleeding, type of incident. So medicate or recreate responsibly, as always, and remember - it might just be saving your relationship.
“People are always comparing cannabis and alcohol, saying, ‘smoking a joint is just like drinking a glass of wine,’ but it’s not the same.”
76 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 77
MON-SAT 9AM - 9PM
|
SUNDAY 9AM - 5PM
7604 S Tacoma Way Suite B Tacoma, WA 98409
253-327-1855 weedmaps.com/dispensaries/left-coast-cannabis
GROW
The New Normal How Recreational Grow-Ops Are Changing the Cannabis Industry
80 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
WRITER ABIGAIL ROSS
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
“The regulations for production are so thorough, they border on the insane. Every plant that enters the facility must be tracked through the state’s designated system. The tracking process requires almost as many man-hours as the grow itself.“
ASHINGTON’S RECREATIONAL grow scene is on
the rise, and it’s becoming abundantly clear there are some changes growers are adjusting to. Some are welcoming the changes, while others are taking more time to adjust, and those who are quick to comply with the changes will likely be the most productive and successful. When walking into a I502 Washington recreational cannabis facility, the first obvious difference is the structural organization and efficient workflow. The legitimization of the cannabis industry allows growers access to real world business tools. Recreational businesses largely reflect corporate culture, from the way a facility runs, right down to the role of the individual. In the past, employees of grow operations wore many hats within the workplace, which was problematic for establishing structure. Recreational facilities are structured in a more corporate fashion than traditional cannabis businesses in that each person gravitates toward mastering his or her perspective field. As a result, he or she has a better chance of moving up within the company, and they gains skills easily transferrable to another employer in the field. In addition to specialization, the most obvious change is the seed to sale oversight. The regulations for production are so thorough, they border on the insane. Every plant that enters the facility must be tracked through the state’s designated system. The tracking process requires almost as many man-hours as the grow itself. Regulating the quality of cannabis is a step in the right direction, but this inefficient system doesn’t seem sustainable to many bright minds. Sometimes overregulation can stifle economic growth. Trimming is possibly the most controversial change within the cannabis workplace. The process of manicuring cannabis flowers, or ‘trimming’, has provided gainful employment within the industry for
decades. Trimming is arguably the most tedious job in a grow operation, and in the past trimmers with this skill set could live comfortably off seasonal pay. The transition from medical into recreational cannabis has required massive pay cuts for trimmers, a new trend that will have to be adapted to in order for businesses to remain competitive. There may continue to be growers who are willing to pay the bounty for a high quality trim job done meticulously by hand, but in a legitimized workplace trimmers take on less liability and are able to receive traditional workplace benefits and taxable incomes. This progression is critical to legitimize the cannabis industry and break the stigmatism associated with it. Make no mistake about it, cannabis legalization is still in its youth and will experience many more growing pains before achieving full maturity. It may be time now, however, for old school trimmers to find a new niche in the industry in order to maintain their previous lifestyle. There are many new trends to adjust to, but some truths remain the same. Cannabis operations retain their family-like bond within the workplace. Growing cannabis grows relationships. Nurturing plants from seed, to clone, to end is a unique experience for a grow team every harvest. As nice as it would be to fit everyone’s jobs into 8-hour workdays, it’s simply not possible because the plants do not stop growing. The amount of love and loyalty required to run a successful garden has not and will not change any time soon, however, the future is unforeseeable and cannabis technology is evolving at a powerful rate. Clearly, there are aspects of the new normal that are worth adjusting to. Recreational cannabis provides peace of mind, with customers knowing the cannabis they’re consuming has been tested with food-grade consistency. Cannabis careers are becoming more legitimized and new jobs are being created left and right. There are still some wrinkles to iron out, but those who hold on through the storm are guaranteed enormous benefits for their patience.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 81
ranked 1 recreational store #
LIST
JULY, 2015
check out our great selection of pre-rolled high CBD premium joints products full ounces R ECR EAT I ONAL
C ANNABIS
425.318.8898
409 RAINIER AVE NORTH RENTON, WA 98057
WWW.THEEVERGREENMARKET.COM
NON-EXPIRED WASHINGTON STATE GREEN CARD HOLDERS *
SAVE 10%
*MENTION THIS AD! DISCOUNT TAKEN AT REGISTER, VALID UNTIL OCTOBER 31, 2015. THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS DRUG. THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS 21 AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
A BIG Thank You from 1st Place Best Cannabis Clallam Co
LARGEST SELECTION in Clallam County Come Check Out What’s New! Sun Sun -Wed -Wed AM -- 88 PM PM 99 AM
Pictured: Helen, Helen, Leeah, Leeah, Naomi, Naomi, Taisen, Taisen, Anthony, Anthony, Randy, Randy, Heather, Heather, Nathan, Nathan, Jeneva Jeneva Pictured:
Thurs Thurs -- Sat Sat AM -- 10 10 PM PM 99 AM
Premier Recreational Cannabis in the
Pacific Northwest for persons 21+.
w w w.hiddenbushwa.com
3230 E Hwy 101, Port Angeles •
360-452-9395
northwest travel destination just minutes from victoria b.c. ferry
paraphernalia over 50 strains huge pre-roll selection
knowledgeable staff • edibles • drinks
PIECE
Degenerate Flame Off – 2015
WRITER
PHOTOS
R.Z. HUGHES
MELITZ X KEISUKE YOSHIDA
MELITZ X NORTHERN LIGHTS X HAPPA
ADAM REETZ
Functional Masterpieces ACH JUNE for the past seven years, Eugene, Oregon has played host to one of the most impressive displays of glass artistry anywhere in the world. The Degenerate Flame Off (or DFO) is a three-day bong-nanza centered around a team glass-blowing competition. Looking over past winners it is clear that this friendly competition fosters an environment where everyone strives to push the limits and break the mold. The Japanese team made especially vibrant pieces this year. The depth of field seems to go on forever the their pieces; in what is obviously a solid piece, the light plays off of the center and looks as if it is infinite. Encased in the starry sky, a cosmic orb hangs in the tube of the bong, entrancing all who gaze upon its surface.
Another piece looks like it’s on fire, and the glass lit up from the inside emits a soft glow. It would seem as if this piece is made of precious gems, an opal perhaps, but most certainly not simple glass. Apart from being mind-bogglingly brilliant pieces of art, these are highly functional pieces for roasting bowls as well. The draw off of the pipes is smooth and effortless and designed to be comfortable in the hand. The glass pieces produced during this weekend are unique works of art in their own right. For lovers of glass or anyone who appreciates a good show, The Degenerate Flame Off is definitely worth putting on the calendar for next year. Or, check out www.jlzill.com/dfo-2015 for more of this year’s contestants.
“Apart from being mindbogglingly brilliant pieces of art, these are highly functional pieces for roasting bowls as well.”
84 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Loving Farms locally owned and operated • se habla español
we have a huge selection of THE BEST buds, hash, keif, wax, cartridges, baked goods, topicals, beverages, local glass and More. COMFORTABLE atmosphere, first hand PRODUCT knowledge
Between Bellingham and Seattle, just seconds from
(360) 419-9700
facebook.com/lovingfarmsmj
2615 Old Highway 99 South • Mount Vernon This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. • Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. • There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. • For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
Cannabis was first used thousands of years ago as a medicine by the ancient Egyptians, who believed their gods came from the brightest star in the sky. They called this The Dog Star. Today we know that its actually two stars, Sirius A and B. According to the legend, a magical plant was brought down from these stars as a gift to mankind. It is believed this is the story of how cannabis got its name. Canna meaning “dog” and bis meaning “two”, the two Dawg Stars. Now thousands of years later Dawg Star will once again share cannabis with the world.
MI ND
B O DY
M OO D
A CR EATI VE SAT IVA
A R E L A XI NG I ND I CA
A N UP L I FT I NG HY BRI D
SATIVA plants can grow upwards
INDICA plants are short, usually
HYBRID cannabis strains provide
of 25 feet tall but most stay under
under six feet, and have fat deep
the best of both worlds. Expert
12 feet. Light green leaves that are
green leaves. The high from a quality
breeders select the top sativa and
long and thin, the stereotypical
indica strain leaves you relaxed and
indica strains and combine them
marijuana icon. The high from
social. The stronger varieties will
into super strains that maintain the
sativa strains are more cerebral,
numb your body and put you to
best aspects from both parents.
often described as energetic and
sleep. Great for relaxation, stress
Depending on the hybrid you pick it
best for daytime use.
relief, and “couchlock”.
will put you into the perfect mood!
AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS Clear Choice 8001 South Hosmer St. Tacoma, WA 98408 253-444-5444
Rainier on Pine 3111 S. Pine St. Tacoma, WA 98409 253-302-3365
whidby island cannabis co 5826 South Kramer Road # A Langley, WA 98260 360- 321-6151
Seattle Cannabis CO 3230 1st Ave S Seattle, WA 98134 206-294-5839
urban bud 112 S 24th St. Tacoma, WA 98402 253- 327-1572
GREEN Life cannabis 3012 GS Center Road Wenatchee, WA 509-663-9980
Cannabis City 2733 4th Ave S #A Seattle, WA 98134 206-682-1332
Green theory 10697 Main St Suite 2 Bellevue, WA 98004 425-502-7033
Sativa sisters 10525 E. Trent Ave. Spokane, WA 99206 509-381-1502
Satori 8411 State Route 92, #6 Granite Falls, WA 98252 425-247-6632
Cinder 1421 N Mullan Road Ste B Spokane Valley, WA 509-241-3726
Local roots 212 W Winesap Rd Bothell, WA 98012 425-673-7420
The Pot Shop 1058 N 39th St Seattle Wa 206-402-6012
grass 14343 15th Ave NE Seattle, WA 206-367-1483
Mary’s 12230 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 206-850-5200
Have A Heart 12833 MLK Jr. Way SSeattle, WA 206-258-3331
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty‑one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
CANNA-NEWS
The Weed Closet
WRITER
Why It’s Time to Come Out to Your Family HE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
is beginning to be recognized in our society as a legitimate career choice. Laws acknowledging cannabis’ economic viability are passing with each election. It’s hard to go into a grocery store without passing a magazine cover with the latest sensational cannabis headline. Our grandparents are watching 420 specials on the news and asking what dabs are. There’s an incredible buzz around cannabis that there hasn’t been for decades, and everyone seems to be excited about it. Yet despite this, many of us involved in the industry (and outside of it as well) are having trouble being open with the most integral and influential people in our life: our parents. It’s worth acknowledging that this is not the case for everyone. Some cannabis entrepreneurs have been very open with their families, and even encouraged in the direction of cannabis since day one. A few are even second or third generation cannabis connoisseurs, but this is not the case for many. The term “cannabis career” is hitting the mainstream, and it’s time to have a conversation around the topic. After interviewing individuals who started cannabis businesses in Washington, one common denominator was apparent. The majority of them didn’t come from homes that one might stereotypically think a cannabis enthusiast would. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Most of these girls and guys came from families where they were encouraged to pursue a more traditional path to success. Their upbringing spans a vast range of socioeconomic classes, yet there is an unmistakable drive that is intrinsic to a cannabis entrepreneur. Until now, it has been an intimidating feat to look the people who raised you in the eyes and tell them you are a part of a cannabis revolution. It’s difficult to explain why the
ABIGAIL ROSS
same plant that may have gotten you in loads of trouble in your youth is now the backbone of your professional career. Using the words cannabis career is sometimes met with eye roles and inquisitive looks of concern. But guess what - the majority of the country believes cannabis should be federally legal. So now, more than ever, it’s important to gain support from family as you step into the final stretch of your fight for cannabis legality. Coming out to family can be empowering and important for success. Although you may have come this far on your own, the support of the people who raised you might set you free. You may be met with uneasiness at first, but as humans we have an uncanny ability for adapting to new ideas. It’s amazing how some people will change their minds regarding controversial topics they have previously dismissed, when someone they know and love is involved with it. The importance of exposing our families really hit home earlier this year after watching a long time cannabis grower walk his father through his I502 facility. This was the first time he was able to share his career after establishing himself for more than a decade within it. The relief that comes from the acceptance of family can be incomparably freeing, so be unafraid to seek it with diligence. Coming out to your family is important for the progression of the cannabis industry as a whole. Opening conversation about your job scope is essential to integrating your cannabis community into the recognized work force. Normalizing cannabis helps de-stigmatize and legitimatize everyone’s careers. Hopefully your families will positively talk to their friends and other family members when cannabis legalization comes up in conversation. At the end of the day, you are a part of changing history for the better and there is nothing but pride in that.
“It’s difficult to explain why the same plant that may have gotten you in loads of trouble in your youth is now the backbone of your professional career.”
90 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
DAILY SPECIALS MUNCHIE MONDAY CO TUESDAY WEDNESDAY FRIENDSDAY THROWBACK THURSDAY PHAT FRIDAY SATIVA SATURDAY COUCHLOCK SUNDAY
EVERETT
CAMANO ISLAND
425-353-1449
360-629-3480
11603 Highway 99 Everett, WA 98204
1137 State Route 532 Camano Island, WA 98282
budhut.net Find us on:
Nature Meets Nurture With Sativa Valley’s Infused Tinctures
ORDER ONLINE NOW @ SATIVAVALLEYESS.COM Our CBD Infusion tincture is naturally formulated, by combining kosher glycerin and 100% medical grade, organic, CBD-dominate, cannabis strains. They combine to create a crisp, fresh cannabis flavor accent with light vanilla overtones. It is perfect for those who don’t want the psychoactive effects of THC, but still need all over body pain relief.
Our THC infusion tincture is naturally formulated by combining 100% kosher glycerin and top-shelf, medical cannabis flower. It possesses unusual flavor depth and complexity, revealing a mixture of fresh cannabis tones which are complimented by one of our many unique flavor blends.
WASHINGTON I502 RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS COMING SOON!
GROW
Operation Genetics
WRITER DAVID BAILEY
GRAPHICS 8THDAYCREATE .COM
The Foundation of Any Grow RACKING OPEN a fresh jar, intense terpenes tingle the inner most senses of our brains and bring deep pleasure and peace only obtained through some deliciously dank herb. What does it take to achieve this quality of potency on a consistent basis? A grower that is willing to constantly learn and adapt, and perhaps most importantly, find and possess the most excellent genetics. When we think of cannabis genetics, ‘strain’ is the first word to come to mind. While scientifically we’re actually referring to phenotypes, strain is the word we have come to use when defining different cannabis profiles. A grower’s selection of strains is key to consistent success, because every strain has genetic codes limiting or allowing it to thrive in a cornucopia of different ways. Consider a Great Dane and a Chihuahua as different strains of dogs. Each dog, just as each phenotype, has different dietary and environmental needs, as well as growth and behavior expectations. It’s not uncommon to see excellent growers tote around mediocre product they’re stuck with just because they were given a bum strain. The hardest thing about selecting good genetics from clones is it’s hard to tell what’s really there until the plants are grown out (unless growing the mother of course). So how does one determine what to keep and what to get rid of? Before a grower gets to play God in the grow room, it must be decided what characteristics are preferred. Quite obviously, everyone is looking to have the best of all worlds; rapid vegetative growth, quick onset of flower, heavy yields, dense cola structures and, of course, lots of resin production. Couple that with a complete resistance to insects, fungal infections and mold and you may just have the ideal woman! In reality, most strains only produce a handful of the preferred qualities, alongside a handful of imperfections. The most famous obviously being those with the right blend of positive characteristics. Selecting plants for
a specific type of region and grow style is key to taking advantage of the different traits presenting in each phenotype. Living in Colorado with extremely low humidity, preferred strains commonly feature massively dense cola structures resistant to powdery mildew. Also, since they have to stand up to the sun, anything extra resinous does exceptionally well. In Washington, humidity is a constant battle, and it’s a plant’s resilience to grey mold (botrytis) that determines if it makes the cut here. Thus, strains with a higher number of branches are also preferred in high humidity, to obtain a more even flower distribution throughout the plant. When growing inside, the decisions regarding methods of growing and strain selection can be made with less concern over climate. The biggest goal inside is obtaining a quality yield. The key word here being ‘quality.’ Big Bud is a perfect strain for this example. I’ve achieved over 2.3 lbs per 1000w lamp with Big Bud indoors, but on average it only tested around 12% THC. On the other hand, my Colorado favorite, Golden Goat, could mimic the yield with an average of 25%+ THC. While they both had amazing growth their entire lives, just smelling and looking at the Golden Goat in late flower shows it has denser buds and a considerably more complex terpene profile. Just the density of the trichomes covering the buds can be a dead giveaway. Knowing what to shoot for and what flavors or smells a grower prefers is all that is needed to select a dream garden. The good strains nearly grow themselves, and varieties that struggle are rarely worth it. Regardless whether it’s a first grow or the hundredth one, we should be actively breeding and selecting the best genetics available. For far too long people have been unknowingly caught up in growing haphazard product. Not because they’re incapable, but because their genetic stock is too limited, or they believe they are carrying a strain that is thought to be much better than it really is. By bringing in new strains into our grow rooms, we can challenge ourselves to fully harness all that the cannabis plant has to offer.
“It’s not uncommon to see excellent growers tote around mediocre product they’re stuck with just because they were given a bum strain.”
94 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 95
ND ,W AS H
KIR KL A
GT ON
IN
伀倀䔀一 ㈀㐀 䠀伀唀刀匀 䄀 䐀䄀夀 㜀 䐀䄀夀匀 䄀 圀䔀䔀䬀 ㌀㠀㌀㌀ 倀愀挀椀昀椀挀 䄀瘀攀 匀甀椀琀攀 䌀 吀愀挀漀洀愀Ⰰ 圀䄀 㤀㠀㐀㠀
㈀㔀㌀⸀㔀㜀㈀⸀㔀㔀㐀㐀 伀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀爀渀攀爀 漀昀 ㌀㠀琀栀 ☀ 倀愀挀椀昀椀挀 䄀瘀攀
圀䔀 一伀圀 䠀䄀嘀䔀 吀圀伀 䴀䔀䐀 匀吀䄀吀䤀伀一匀 吀伀 匀䔀刀嘀䔀 夀伀唀 䈀䔀吀吀䔀刀℀
䠀伀唀刀匀㨀 䴀伀一 ⴀ 吀䠀唀刀 䄀䴀 ⴀ 㤀倀䴀 䘀刀䤀 ⴀ 匀䄀吀 䄀䴀 ⴀ 倀䴀 ∠ 匀唀一 䄀䴀 ⴀ 㠀倀䴀
㘀㈀ 㐀 ㈀琀栀 匀琀⸀ 䔀⸀ ㈀㔀㌀∠㈀㔀㘀∠㐀㈀㔀
DOPE MAP/ SEATTLE 1
A GREENER TODAY SOUTH 9509 Rainier Ave S. Seattle 206-257-0894
3
A GREENER TODAY FREMONT 3601 Fremont Ave N #210 Seattle 206-659-4355
4
ANALYTICAL 360 2735 1st Ave South Seattle
5
CAPITAL CO-OP 10728 Lake City Way NE Seattle 206-582-2411
6
CONSCIOUS CARE COOPERATIVE BALLARD 1701 NW M arket Street Seattle
7
DOCKSIDE CANNABIS (21+) 15029 Aurora Ave N 206-402-4839
8
DOCKSIDE COOP (MEDICAL) 223 N. 36th St. Seattle
9
GREENSIDE MEDICAL 9804 Lake City Way NE SEattle 206-380-3129
10
HAVE A HEART CC 11736 Aurora Avenue N, Seattle 206) 257-4500
11
HOPE CLINIC SEATTLE 1818 Westlake Ave N. Seattle 206-283-4673
13
1
10
6
18 8 3
11 16
HOPE CLINIC SHORELINE 18820 Aurora Ave. #104B Shoreline 98133 206-283-4673 OCEAN GREENS 9724 Aurora Ave. N Seattle 206-453-4145
4
15
SHH! SEATTLE 3232 1st Ave S Seattle 206-257-5074
15
16
STAR BUDS 2315 E John St. Seattle 206-387-4367
19
19
13
SAFE ACCESS 3809 Delridge Way SW Seattle 206-466-5678
18
9
17
14
17
5
7
A GREENER TODAY SHORELINE 16053 Aurora Ave N Ste. B Shoreline 206-801-7756
2
12
12
14
SEATTLE QUALITY COLLECTIVE 13760 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle 98133 206-257-4941 THE JOINT UNIVERSITY 5260 University Way NE Seattle206-283-3333 GREENWORKS 11064 Lake City Way 206-922-3911
2
DOPE MAP/ TACOMA • NOT ON MAP •
1
A GREENER TODAY LYNNWOOD (MEDICAL) 15015 HWY 99 Ste A Lynnwood 425-361-1459
CCC (MEDICAL) 2706 6Th Ave Tacoma 253-507-4725
2
CLEAR CHOICE CANNABIS (21+) 8001 S. Hosmer St. Suite B Tacoma 253-444-5444
3
CENTER STREET COLLECTIVE 4915 Center Street
4
GREEN COLLAR CLUB 10428 Pacific Ave Tacoma 253-267-0675
5
HOPE CLINIC TACOMA (MEDICAL) 4051 Tacoma Mall Blvd Tacoma 206-283-4673
6
LEFT COAST CANNABIS 7604 S Tacoma Way Suite B Tacoma
7
RAINIER DOWNTOWN 112 S 24th St. 253-327-1572
8
RAINIER RECREATIONAL 3111 S. Pine St. 253-302-3365
9
SMC (SEATTLE MEDICAL COLLECTIVE) 8236 Pacfic Ave S
CHRONIC RELEAF CENTER 3765 N Clemons Suite 3 East Wenatchee HYPEHERBALLY 1120 112th St SW Everett 425-582-9385 EVERGREEN EXTRACTS 1405 NE McWilliams Bremerton GREEN THEORY (21+) 10697 Main St. Suite 2 Bellevue 425-502-703 GREENSIDE RECREATIONAL 23407 Pacific HWY S. Des Moines 206-878-6470 PEOPLE OF THE LEAF (MEDICAL) 1326 E. Laurel St. Suite 200 Bellingham 360-733-3838 TOP SHELF CANNABIS (RECREATIONAL) 3863 Hannegan Rd. Bellingham THE JOINT SNOHOMISH 16510 HWY 9 SE Snohomish 360-243-3399 BELMAR 614 114 Ave NE Bellevue, WA 425-453-5749
10
THE JOINT TACOMA 2409 Pacific Ave. Tacoma 253-231-7000
11
THC (THE HERBAL COLLECTIVE) 6204 112Th St E. Puyallup 253-256-4251
1 10
7
3 8 5
2
6
9
4
11
1
7 16
8 18
9 22
9
11 31
36
34
29
37 23 14
32
24
5 28
25
12
19
Lilac City Collective Association 1716 N Ash ST 509-327-2777
17
18
Living Green 909 E Francis
Kouchlock Productions AKA ( PNW Medical ) 1919 E Francis Ave 509-325-7454
19
Green Star Cannabis 1403 N. Division St. 509-922-9227
17
6
Piece of Mind-Valley 12101 East 1st Avenue
35
26
4
27
Puffin Glass Studios 12023 E. Sprague Ave
20
28
Satori Spokane 9301 N Division
Royal’s Cannabis 7115 N. Division St. Ste A
29
Spocanabis 120 E Mission
11
Green Cross 11607 E Trent 509-703-7191
Evegreen Premier 2225 E. Sprague Suite 1 509-808-2800
DOPE MAP/ SPOKANE
1 15 40
Axis Point MMD 11420 E Sprague Ave 509.822.7266
31
Spokane Green Leaf 9107 N. Country Homes Blvd
Smokane 17 North Ralph Street
32
30 NW HeadsGlass Shop 415 N Sullivan RD
33
20
Patients for Patients Medical 12928 E Indiana Ste 2
Northside Wellness Center 4811 N. Market
22
12
Herbal Connection 3812 N Monroe (509) 844-7287
The Green Nugget 1919 E Francis Ave
Spokane Organics 8701 N Divison
Spokane Organics 4823 E Sprague Ave # E1 Peaceful Choice 3401 N Divison
35
34
23
Herb N Pipe 3130 N Division ST 509-892-0661
14
High Society 3258 E Sprague 509-262-6413
24
Piece Of Mind 9303 N Divison
21
15
Holy Rollers 1161 E Main 509-315-9142
Piece Of Mind 4103 N Divison
Herb Nerds 12928 E Indiana AVE 509-808-5080
16
25
13
10
LOCATIONS UNDER LISTING
420 Friendly 1515 South Lewis St (509) 413-2169
3 Cannabis and Glass 6620 N Market St Suite 100 509-326-8400
Alternative MMJ Co-op 1506 N Pines Road 509-534-4055
4 Cinder 7011 N Division
2
5
E. K. Green 21 S Thierman RD Suite C (509) 474-1750
6 7
Eastern Washington Cannabis Market 953 East 3rd Ave 509-241-3091
Cured Cooperative 7826 N Market St. (509) 315-8459
8
The Peaceful Choice 3401 N. Division St.
42
LOCATIONS UNDER LISTING
39
33
30
27
26
21
13
10
3
37
The Spot 7413 E Trent
2
38
The Spot Medical LLC 7412 E. Trent Ave
The Herbal Connection 3812 N Monroe St
39
TreeHouse Club 14421 E Trent Ave
Sativa Sisters 10525 E Trent Ave
Zanies 12928 E Indiana Avenue Suite #5
40
43
42
41
The Top Shelf 1305 S Hayford Rd Suite A
36
LOCATIONS UNDER LISTING LOCATIONS UNDER LISTING LOCATIONS UNDER LISTING
43
• NOT ON MAP •
Green Light Dec 1039 East Trent AVE
Fat Tops AKA ( Joe’s 420 ) 9317 E Trent AVE
Spokane Organics 15916 E Sprague
JD’s Collective Garden 39817 N Newport HWY
Savage THC 4428 Williams Valley Rd
3 Green Thumbs 1875 1st S
The Happy Collective 28114 N Newport HWY Unit A
Station 420 4007 Main ST
Union Gap (509) 420-3430
Green Life Cannabis, REC STORE 3012 GS Center Road Wenatchee 509-663-9980
Have-a-Heart, MEDICAL 3014 GS Center Road Wenatchee 509-470-8642
Chronic Releaf Center 3765 Clemons St Wenatchee (509) 415-1357
Blossom Gardens 437 E Penny Rd Wenatchee
509-860-1382 The Happy Crop Shoppe/Monkey Grass Farms 50 Rock Island RD East Wenatchee 509-860-6542
MCS 591 State Route 821 Yakima 509) 452-5627
Patients for Patients--3 LOCATIONS 15 N Naches Ave #21 Yakima (888) 204-1260
Green Budz Medical Collective 7560 Yakima Valley HWY Zillah (509) 969-6955
SWEET
CO-OP
GREENS
Quantum Kush DubbleBFarmz
WEEKLY SPECIALS Our staff here at Sweet Greens Co‑op are friendly, knowledgeable and devoted in helping Wa MMJ patient’s with the finest cannabis products available
Tuesday
Wax Wednesday
Thursday
Sunday
4g of flower
BHO
Desserted Island Treats
Double Punch for Reward Cards
35
$
30
$
/g ( limit 3 )
$
3
20985 Old Hwy 99 SW Centralia, WA 98531
Sweet Greens Co-op
360-858-7366
@SweetGreensMed
SweetGreensCo.op@gmail.com
Sweet Greens Co-op
INTERVIEW
Marijuana Straight Talk: Celebrating the Culture of Cannabis DOPE: As a former TV news producer and journalist, how well do you think mainstream media is doing in covering cannabis?
ELEVISION
JOURNALISM
is entering a new era, particularly in the era of cannabis coverage. No longer do we have to endure the false equivalency of the pro- and anti-cannabis arguments, which seem to be the rule in the mainstream press. Now we have the option of actual, unbiased and accurate information about the plant we love, thanks to outlets like “Marijuana Straight Talk,” hosted by former TV news producer and journalist Becca Williams. The show, which plans to go weekly in 2016, is available on Dish and DirecTV, where more than 40 million homes have access to its content (Free Speech TV currently pulls about a million views a month).
With a background that includes time as a registered dietician nutritionist, Williams offers a unique perspective on the plant and its people, tackling the realities of a rapidly evolving community and industry as the nation moves towards legalization. DOPE Magazine had a chance to spend a few minutes with the busy Becca and talk about the show, the plant, and the people who love it.
WILLIAMS: What’s happening is predictable. The way mainstream covers stuff in general is essentially formulaic: “On the one hand it (in this case cannabis) is good, and on the other hand, it’s bad,” and the conversation cancels itself out and goes nowhere, imparting no real substance. It just confuses folks and offers nothing. Importantly, a lot of the thought leaders are at the grassroots level. They have been using the plant for years and years, and they know much more about it than the newcomers in the arena. It’s very important to talk to these folks as we decide how this is going to unfold and fit into our culture.
DOPE: Tell us a little about the show’s coverage of cannabis culture and what sets it apart from the mainstream?
WILLIAMS: Cannabis culture is like a brotherhood, eh? We’re drawn to each other, we’re curious as to how each other embraces the plant in our lives. We know when cannabis is in our lives (in a responsible way) it offers an attractive dimension outside the hustle and bustle, rough-and-tumble game-playing so prevalent in our mainstream culture. I believe, with this plant in our lives, we’re more attentive to one another, better listeners, because we slow down and become more focused on our interior selves, and that translates to the world at large. Cannabis cultivates presence.
DOPE: How does cannabis fit into your life? WILLIAMS: Really well. The plant has been
an enduring presence in my life since college.
WRITER
PHOTOS
STEVE ELLIOTT
KELSEY GRENTZER
I started out smoking with my friends and then realized that it helped me deal with the trauma from a very difficult childhood. Over the last few years I’ve started experimenting with cannabis to support me in going deeper into my meditation. It’s amazing what’s come up and what I’ve healed in myself. I hope to share more of that as time goes on. I had a family member in the early 1990s who was sick, who was diagnosed with leukemia. The doctors, conventional medicine, said there’s nothing you can do about it right now; you need to go home and let it get worse, then maybe we can do some radiation or something. Well, that pissed me off. I started looking and researching; I had the chops of a reporter. I came across a whole panoply of alternative and holistic approaches. I came across a macrobiotic diet; I put my family member on that, and in six to eight months, my family member’s blood panels came totally back into the normal range. When we talked to the oncologist, I was so excited to tell him about this, and he basically patted me on the head and said, “There, there, little girl, nutrition has nothing to do with it.” So I thought, this is where the tire hits the road for me. I now know there are alternatives to pharmaceuticals and surgery. I became the editor of a magazine called Conscious Choice, and I started exploring the alternative medical realm. What got on my radar screen in the mid 1990s was that people were using cannabis for their medical challenges. Now this opportunity comes along, and I see it as a chance to really put my expertise as a health care reporter and journalist to work. Both personally, and professionally, the plant works very well for me.
“The doctors said there’s nothing you can do right now; you need to go home and let it get worse, then we can do some radiation or something. Well, that pissed me off.”
102 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
YEARS 210 of combined experience
Over
126 strains All products
high CBD & old school strains
TESTED
INTEGRITY LABS
Franchise & Exotic Genetics
SATIVAS INDICAS HYBRIDS WE USE DAKINE420 NITRO NUTRIENTS EXCLUSIVELY
dakine420.com
SOLD AT THESE FINE ESTABLISHMENTS SEATTLE SMMA + OLYMPIA NWAC & NWACC + GRAND MOUND ACNW HARVESTMOONAGLLC.COM
PRODUCT
Organic Permafrost Kush Creams
WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
PHOTOS TINA BALLEW
USH CREAMS has cultivated a loyal following across the country as makers of some of the highest quality cannabis-infused skin care products in the nation. Their flagship offering, Organic Permafrost, has taken home first place awards at mulptiple High Times Cannabis Cups, and it’s no secret why. Recently featured in National Geographic, their family has been growing organically for generations, and they take special care to ensure their formulations are top notch. Organic emu oil, an impressive anti-inflammatory agent and a deeply penetrating moisturizer, is infused with cannabis and used as a base for their products. Organic Permafrost sets itself apart as the champion of the Kush Creams line for two reasons. First, the refreshing uni-sex fragrance has an alluring minty scent; second, the organic menthol crystals immediately relieve tension by activating opioid receptors, blocking neural stimulation in muscles, which leads to pain-free movement within ten minutes. For first-time users of cannabis, topicals can be a less intimidating way to experience the pain relief and relaxation qualities of cannabis, without the psycho-activity. A creamy, light green color, Kush Cream’s Organic Permafrost has the scent of spearmint, peppermint, and cinnamon. It absorbs easily and deeply into skin, leaving no color or greasy feel. There’s a mere milligram of both THC and CBD per dose, and they recommend using a dollop of the highly effective cream that’s no larger than a dime. This wonderful product acts quickly, and a little goes a long way, reaching chronic muscle pains and helping many do away with their prescription and over the counter pain medications.
$30/1 oz. $60/4 oz.
110 |
More Offerings from Kush Creams Aloe based face and eye cream - Locks in moisture without clogging pores. Great for eczema, rashes, and small wrinkles around the eyes. Shampoo and Conditioner – Hair care products formulated for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment, helping to heal the scalp and hair follicles.
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Throat Spray and Toothache Tincture – Both these ailments are a major pain, and these two all-natural products help to dull throbbing pain in minutes. FOUND AT: • Found at medical shops statewide OR visit www.kushcreams.com
thejointcoop.com
www.rogueravenfarms.com
POLITICS MEDICAL STRAIN OF THE MONTH
Saving America With Cannabis
“Jack believed America needed to shift its consciousness and think differently, and that cannabis was a short cut to cultural acceptance and enlightenment.” • Jack Herer Photo by Eve Lentz
ACK HERER, author of the Emperor Wears No Clothes, inspired the cannabis movement starting back in the 1970’s, which, after all these years and through much hard work, created a new billion-dollar industry for America. “Hemp Can Save the Planet” was his battle cry, and Jack promoted the use of cannabis for food, fuel, fiber, and medicine. But, he also believed that America needed to shift its consciousness and think differently, and that cannabis was a short cut to cultural acceptance and enlightenment.
Herer travelled with the Hemp Tours, which hit the road at the height of the War on Drugs campaign, hosting over 1500 advocacy events between 1989 and 1996. Constitutional protections were at an all time low, and police were profiling people across the nation, looking for cannabis. At the time, police could stop and search people for merely for having a Grateful Dead sticker on their car, or for simply ‘looking like’ they used cannabis. During this time, our nations prison became bloated with people there for nothing more than simple possession of drugs.
As Barry “Plunker” Adams, co-founder of the Rainbow Family, and expert on the constitutional right to gather says, “Cannabis users share a common creed. Basically, it’s simple, we tolerate each other, and we like to share cannabis. Then, we begin to share other things, like coffee and a meal. ”
Many of the leaders of the industry got their start with Herer during this time, including people like Steve DeAngelo and Ed Rosenthal, whose membership in the Youth International Party (the infamous Yippies of the 1960’s and 70’s) inspired the cannabis movement to stay fun, fresh, and radical. If you look closely, you’ll find many people through out the cannabis industry who got their start at Hemp Tour events and in the
114 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
other major advocacy groups. In short, all of these people started in activism to promote a mission, which was, and still is, to make America a better place by ending cannabis prohibition.
WRITER DEBBY GOLDSBERRY
PHOTOS VARIOUS CREDITS
Unfortunately, all of the original cannabis dispensaries have closed, including Dennis Peron’s original dispensary in San Francisco, and their former leadership is largely silenced, worn down by police action after police action. Jack Herer passed away in 2010. Now, with the cannabis industry expanding at lighting speed, many of its new entrepreneurs missed cannabis prohibition all together. Being harassed by the police, arrested for cannabis, and spending time in jail, like how many of the industries pioneers did, created a powerful force for more activism and change. In other words, rather than being crushed by prohibition, our advocates became stronger through struggle. Enter the neuve cannabis entrepreneurs. They see what happened before is laced with stigma, and they want no part of it. Going to jail for cannabis or battling the War on Drugs in the streets for our freedoms is at many times not in their wheelhouse. Instead, their battle cry can often be, “We are here to clean that all up,” somehow without realizing that they are [not only] talking about the existing cannabis industry, but also their [current] clients. This situation would be more worrisome, but cannabis users are perceptive and can spot a fake, because their creed is real. To people with friends in prison, who are still harassed on the streets, and who know people denied cannabis medicines by prohibition, it’s important to build an industry that stays mission and values based, like we have always been. Done right, cannabis legalization will have a long lasting positive effect on America.
• Jack Herer Photo by Allan Erickson
Cannabis, when consumed, gives people the opportunity to interrupt their normal thought processes. People actually start thinking differently, relating facts and ideas together in ways they had not imagined before. This is, in fact, the crux of creativity. But, for the brain to manage these internal thought-based processes, it takes a little more time. Cannabis users like to ponder ideas, often literally hashing things out in their mind. Using cannabis for business may actually give companies a competitive edge, because in entrepreneurial industries, innovation is key. At the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) in Portland last fall, conservative pundit Andrew Sullivan spoke about how the mission and the vision of or first cannabis industry is changing America as a whole. This must stay the goal, while we also build great businesses. As Alex Rogers, ICBC founder says, “Make money and be successful, and no one else has to lose.”
•Alex Rogers and Andrew Sullivan
So, as the cannabis industry builds, let us stay focused on keeping the 44% of Americans who have used cannabis out of harms way from prohibition. People should unite around developing sound businesses, but also around culture, politics, and advocacy…and most important, be kind.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 115
SECURITY ON YOUR MIND?
Meet our Family of Services
SAFES
IT SECURITY
OFFSITE VIDEO MONITORING
SELF INSTALL CAMERA SYSTEMS
PRODUCT TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY GUARDS
Contact one of our representatives for more details
CAMERAS
|
ACCESS CONTROL
|
ALARMS
Follow Us
TRAVEL
Verdant Vashon An Island Paradise for the Cannabis Inclined
WRITER R.Z. HUGHES
PHOTOS SEAN CORBOY
S WE boarded the ferry,
my two associates and I discussed what we might find on the other side. Three natives of the Puget Sound area and we had ever visited the nearby isle. As my cohort aptly put it, Vashon looked to us like an island with a sinister secret, surely home to a super villain. We hardly had time to entertain this notion, docking within fifteen short minutes of leaving West Seattle. Driving up a thickly forested road, it felt unlikely that we were just in the swarming hubbub of Seattle thirty minutes ago. Shango Los is our guide for the day, and the guy to talk to when it comes to Vashon Island’s cannabis scene. He met us on the outskirts of town, a bright man with a genuine excitement for cannabis, Shango runs Vashon Island Marijuana Entrepreneurs Alliance (VIMEA), a trade organization aimed at bringing island canna-businesses to the public.
CBD VASHON
Our rendezvous point as it turned out, was home to Trevor, one of the most highly-regarded medical growers on the island. He runs CBD Vashon, a botanical consulting and home delivery service for patients around the island, and they specialize in plant-based medicine with a heavy interest in CBD. ‘Food as medicine’ is one of Trevor’s mantras, and he grows enough cannabis and veggies to spread the healthful fruits of his labor to patients and friends.
FIND SEEDS FROM VSM AT www.jamesbeancompany.com
118 |
The medicine chest at CBD Vashon is the stuff of legend. With well over fifty strains, along with extracts and salves, it would likely
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
take an entire afternoon just to catalog it all. A few are high in THC, but the vast majority are CBD-rich strains, each fine-tuned for different ailments and effects. CBD Vashon’s botanical consulting focuses on an organic diet and techniques for layering CBD and THC, tailored to individual needs. Life on the island is slower. Considering his move to Vashon as a lifelong native of the Seattle area, Trevor realized that the city was too fast and he needed to pump the brakes. “The only vices I have now are birdwatching and coffee,” he says, a wry smile curling across his face.
VASHON AIRPORT
With some time to kill before our next appointment, Shango took us a for a taste of Vashon folklore. Outfitted with a grassy landing strip, the airport is a local gem; a favorite for picnics and afternoon walks. About 100 yards down, off the side of the runway, is a UFO tucked into the high grass. No one on the island knows how it got there, but it has occupied the post since the ‘80’s – keeping an eye on the comings and goings of Vashon’s air traffic. Our break gave Shango a chance to expound on his work with VIMEA. With over one hundred members, their monthly meetings are attended by industry folks from all over Puget Sound. Their classes, taught by national experts and all-star doctors, cover topics such as extraction methods, probiotic growing, and genetic manipulation. He also heads Vernal Pond, a sister organization hosting speakers in Tacoma and Seattle. Vashon has been a center for cannabis cultivation for generations, with a tightly knit network of underground growers, ‘the grandpas’. It has always been the biggest cash crop on the island but DEA flybys during the prohibition-era pushed grows indoors and underground. This network is still largely in tact today, but it is slowly coming out of the closet, thanks to VIMEA.
VASHON SEED MERCANTILE
Hidden among a thick stand of Douglas Fir on the southern end of the island is Vashon Seed Mercantile, offering a veritable library of purely island-bred genetics. As one of ‘the grandpas’, Mike has been collecting seeds for decades during his worldly travels and he’s been breeding cannabis since 1977. Seated in his smoking porch with an enormously happy dog and countless records, Mike pulls out a doobie of some of his Old Island Indica and begins to divulge his se-
crets. The philosophy for breeding at Vashon Seed Mercantile is simple enough: torture the plants and see which ones are vigorous enough to survive. Once a strain has been stabilized, he puts it through the ringer. From spider mites to fungus gnats, powdery mildew to dehydration; anything that can thrive in his proving ground will be an outstanding producer elsewhere. Before we part, the subject of feminized seeds comes up and Mike lets it be known that he “doesn’t approve of such things,” preferring the strong genetic diversity of natural selection.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 119
Largest selection of flower, concentrates, and edibles in Cowlitz County
We offer a large selection of $10 strains. We are a recreation shop that caters to anyone over the age of 21.
www.freedommarket420.com The Freedom Market 820 Westside HIghway Kelso, WA 98626 360.636.0420
Longview Freedom Market 971 14th Ave Longview, WA 98632 360.703.3229
Check us out on Facebook and Leafly Our products have intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of these products. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
CANNA-NEWS FUTURE
Marijuana in Washington State
WRITER
GRAPHICS
STEVE ELLIOTT
8THDAYCREATE .COM
The Next 5 Years
T WAS the best of times, and it was the worst of times.
One can hopefully be forgiven for invoking Dickens when attempting to describe the advent of recreational cannabis legalization in Washington state – because just how well things are going seems to depend heavily upon whom you ask.
Just what is going on here – and how might it pan out over the next half decade? Rather than asking the usual suspects – you know, the ones who always seem to seek out a camera, a microphone or a spotlight and somehow always end up advocat-
122 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
ing their own financial interests – we decided to ask some of the thought leaders behind the scenes. These folks are major players, but they’d never tell you that; they’re normally too busy creating the future to pontificate much about it. We asked the members of our brain trust to imagine the cannabis scene in Washington state in 2020. Some members of our brain trust saw a potentially perilous future ahead; others were more optimistic, and most fell somewhere between the two extremes.
Aaron Pelley, Attorney who has many cannabis clients, Seattle It seems that the strongest lobbying interests want to regulate and treat cannabis like alcohol, and if we continue to go down that road, we’ll continue to have sort of a juvenile way of dealing with cannabis – as in what has the highest THC content.
Elizabeth Hallock, Cannabis Attorney I anticipate a corporate takeover of what had been superior medical product by inferior goods from the West side. I expect large mega cannabis farms to go bust due to oversupply and the inability to cross into the Portland market. Rural Washington will be flooded with
John Novak, Patient Activist; Founding Editor, 420leaks; Executive Board Member, The Viper’s Club People are waking up to the corruption in the justice system along with the very real costs in tax dollars and human lives. They are seeing the value of cannabis as medicine themselves. However, many jobs are still at stake within the Drug War industrial complex. Corporations
Nobody gives a shit about CBD in the black market; they just want to know about THC, and the same is true of the recreational market. Only the medical market really cares about CBD. Taxing and treating marijuana like alcohol? I hope that trend can be stopped or at least slowed down, and people start to look a little more at what got this whole thing started, which is the medicinal value of the plant.
illegal grows, Oregon homegrown, and 502 grows gone belly up. David Rand will finally be released from prison after opening his I-502 store in defiance of the Sunnyside ban. A Clarkston city councilman – who likened voting for I-502 to the South voting for slavery – is reinstated as incumbent President Donald Trump’s press secretary.
and government are lying to monopolize and inflate the price through taxation and overregulation at the expense of personal choice. It goes one of two ways: Corporations decide and choices are restricted, or the people demand a true, free market system where choices are unlimited. I see the latter eventually winning out and the drug laws changing even faster as the pure, unbiased science and public pressure continues to grow.
Dawn Darington, Choice Wellness Center The old time marijuana farmers, many of whom have grown cannabis for generations, began coming out of the darkness with the increasing education and tolerance gained with the growth of the medical cannabis market. With the passage of SB 5052 in 2015 – and its immediate implementation on many fronts – most retreated back to obscurity. This has resulted in a tremendous loss of cannabis knowledge. “Medical cannabis whole plant medicine” has been replaced with pharmaceutical products. There have been some positive results but
Jeremy Kaufman, Executive Director, The CPC, Seattle, Washington Pro: It will grow! I assume that within the next 24 months, the Washington state cannabis industry will break $1 billion in annual revenue. Washington will sort out a solution for the moratoriums and bans across the state to allow for full state access. I believe you will see some kind of reprieve for sick people against the 37 percent excise tax, as well as the sales tax. I also think you will see huge amounts of innovation in products and the technology used to apply them. Con: The industry’s
focusing on a few select cannabinoids and ignoring the terpenes, flavinoids, waxes, etc., have led to mixed results. The illegal street market is flourishing. It had lost market share during the four years of medical pot shops popping up on every street corner. With the demise of medical, the illegal market quickly filled the void. Farmers who enjoyed a legal standing for a time are once again criminals; the Liquor and Cannabis Control Board continues to be corrupt and for sale. The marijuana stores licensed by the state, after a bumpy start with inferior cannabis, have improved the quality of their products.
growth – though it will happen – will be deeply constricted. Our state’s Legislature has minimal understanding of Cannabis as a plant and its applications. Therefore you will keep seeing “uneducated” legislation pouring from Olympia. This will cripple the advancement of research and the collection of information that would truly be helpful to the human race’s pursuits. You will see mega conglomerates buy out all of the smaller cottage industry businesses, because Washington legislation isn’t designed for cottage industry. This facet alone is the death of a large volume of innovation that could have come from Washington state.
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 123
INTRODUCING DOPE OIL CO 2 CARTRIDGES P R O U D LY P R O C E S S E D B Y
IF YOUR STORE DOESN’T CARRY DOPE PRODUCTS LET US KNOW WITH #WEWANTDOPE
DOPE Oil is ultra refined, highly concentrated pure cannabis oil that is blended with natural terpenes to create the perfect balance of flavor and effect. Find DOPE Oil at your favorite medical access point.
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
SEX
Canna We Get It On?
Cannabis - The All-Natural Aphrodisiac
WRITER
GRAPHICS
MEGHAN RIDLEY
AL MOORE
ARY JANE is one sexy lady, and since this is DOPE’s anniversary issue and we’re basically lucky enough to be married to her we felt the need to do some between-the-sheets sexploration of our favorite all natural aphrodisiac. The following is a mash-up of both anecdotal, and research based findings meant to peak your curiosity and arouse both your body and mind.
SEXY STRAINS & PRODUCTS
NOW THYSELF
First and foremost, Foria sex lube has been making headlines for over a year now in everything from Women’s Health Magazine to cannabis publications. It’s a sexy mix of coconut oil and 2 mg of THC. It’s claim? To lengthen and intensify arousal and orgasm.
Keep in tune with what is being more and more often referred to as ‘stoner sexuality.’ The book Sex Pot: The Marijuana Lover’s Guide to Getting It On by Mamakind, has been heralded by Rihanna as her “new encyclopedia.” Needless to say, it comes highly recommended, and features all the tips and tools necessary to get high, hot and bothered in all the right ways.
Want to get down for a morning or mid-day romp? Sativas, including the rather common Green Crack, and the somewhat rare, Asian Fantasy, have both been reported to have a highly arousing effect for energetic daytime sex.
Understand that female sexuality gets increasingly complicated with age. Even a small dose of Mary Jane can go a long way in lightening the mood, easing the mind, and loosening the body. Know yourself. We all respond differently to sex and cannabis in isolation. Putting them together can be an exciting and potent mix, but keep it safe and stay aware of other’s personal boundaries and your own.
Looking for a more romantic, eveningtime love making session? While rare, the strain Yumboldt is allegedly one hell of a romancer, and it’s said that the legendary Grand Daddy Purple will keep lovers saying “Who’s your daddy?” all night long. .
126 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
DON’T YOU DARE Embrace silly studies that attempt to link cannabis and promiscuity. Get so high you become overly sensitive, orgasm too quickly, and find yourself sleeping on the couch with your bong. Get so stoned you’re a lackluster participant (lacking lubrication and/or being half-hard are surefire signs of a misfire in the bedroom). dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 127
EVENT
EMPFEST 2015 was full of DOPE protestival moments that not even an insanely powerful thunderstorm could extinguish. Despite the first weather shut down in Hempfest history, due to wind battered stands, soaked stages, and a large lightening show, things hit the ground running on Saturday and Sunday with perfectly mild temperatures. Prevailing triumphantly for the remaining two days, speakers and presentations enlightened thousands of folks who turned out to support our favorite herb. Also included, copious amounts of great music, inspiring testimonies of both hemp heroism and cannabis healing, and an amazing array of vendors including Mr. Chong who personally attended both days to rep his brand and chill with fans.
128 |
ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE dopemagazine.com
Seattle Pride Parade Bite of Seattle Capitol Hill Block Party EATTLE IS a rather DOPE
city, and the events that rock its streets during the summer are living proof of that fact. From the rainbow fueled love fest of the Pride Parade, the mouthwatering eats at the Bite of Seattle, and the vivid musical display of the Capitol Hill Block Party, the Emerald City had more DOPE shindigs than it knew what to do with this year!
dopemagazine.com ISSUE 49 THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
| 129
in y a t S . l o r t con ur o y k Drin . d e e w CRAFT ELIXIRS SIMPLE SYRUP
Craft Elixirs creates small batch cannabis infused syrups made from local seasonal ingredients. We produce a complex variety of syrup elixirs that excite the palette with a sophisticated mixology of fruitful and savory ingredients. Our elixirs are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and made with U.S. fair trade organic cane sugar. Craft Elixirs can be used for making drinks, topping for ice cream or any mixology crafts.
10mg THC (Per Serving) 60mg THC (Per Bottle)
MAKE ANYTHING AN EDIBLE!
VIEW OUR FULL LINE OF PRODUCTS AND LOCATIONS AT:
CraftElixirs.com
@craftelixirs
iL v e
p ti U !
BE INSPIRED. BE SUSPENDED. OUR GOAL AT SUSPENDED IS TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT AND ENJOY LIFE RESPONSIBLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FREELY.
PREMIUM CANNABIS PRODUCTS F O U N D O N LY AT S E L E C T P R E M I U M WA S H I N G T O N R E TA I L E R S
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
Cannabis Club Collective is now...
EXPERIENCE CHRONIC WELLNESS. When undeniable health benefits finally opened the door for cannabis, Triple C was there. However, we’ve always been driven by a larger vision of freedom and well-being for both body and mind. For us, it’s not simply about medication or recreation, but a realization that wellness starts with the power to choose a lifestyle of quality, authenticity and respect. Our commitment to local partnerships and exceptional customer service has led our evolution to Triple C, The Original Cannabis Club. This is an exciting step in realizing our vision through new locations in Seattle and beyond starting in 2016.
2706 6th Ave Tacoma, WA 98406
(253) 507-4725
cannabisclubcollective.com