DOPE MAGAZINE COLORADO March 2015 Issue 02 "The Advocacy Issue"

POLITICALLY CHARGED: Kettle Falls Five Defendant Rolland Gregg

MINDFULNESS Expand Your Awareness

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MARCH 2015 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE

STATE DIRECTOR NOTE

ISSUE 02

8 STRAIN OF THE MONTH

9 EDIBLES

12 RECREATIONAL STORE

WANA SOUR GUMMIES

DEATH STAR

ROOT ORGANIC MMC

There is an entire generation of cannabis consumers and enthusiasts who know only of a world in which the speed and size of the device in your pocket or purse dictates knowledge, power and direction. They’ve never written a research paper using The Encyclopedia Britannica for reference or navigated the country with a road atlas.

At the intersection of tech and cannabis, programmers puff joints.

Successful ventures and epic failures have been conceptualized over bowls, knife hits and gravity bongs. The Silicon Valley is rife with cannabis consumption and has been for ages.

Conflict between the two is agonizing and unproductive.

24 FEATURE

DR.DINA

30 MMJ IN THE NEWS

32 GROW

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WHY MEDICAL MATTERS PART 1

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ON THE ROAD WITH MY WEED ATTORNEY

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42 MJ IN THE NEWS

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MMJ IN THE NEWS ROCKY MOUNTAINh ADVOCACY

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MMJ IN THE NEWS

POLITICALLY CHARGED

46 CONCENTRATE OG JACKALOPE

3 REASONS WHY DENVER MIGHT BE MARIJUANA HEAVEN

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78

38

HEALTH MINDFULNESS

Social media has become an extension of identity and personality for many while profiles on Facebook and Instagram routinely are removed simply for promoting and supporting cannabis. When MassRoots, a social network for cannabis advocates was removed from the Apple App store in early January swift action was taken by the intrepid team working out of their Denver office.

In the face of crisis, MassRoots continued the development of their iOS platform and organized a national PR and media outreach campaign. A petition signed on their behalf by tens of thousands and messages sent from across the country to Apple proved the situation couldn’t and wouldn’t be ignored for long.

Heavy Indica nights turned into weeks as MassRoots remained unavailable for iOS download. Good luck struck on Friday the thirteenth when Apple updated their policy that allows for cannabis related apps to be downloaded by users in states that have legalized medical cannabis. The App is back in the store, ready for download and primed for more success.

This is no small victory; two big green thumbs go up to MassRoots, Whaxy, the National Cannabis Industry Association, The ArcView Group and The Cannabist for their hard work, dedication and on the spot action.

Stay Dank, Emmett H.W. Nelson Colorado State Director

WWW.ADVCANNABIS.COM/WHOLESALE CONTACT SCOTT@ADVCANNABIS.COM - (719) 590-1414

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHARON LETTS

JAMES ZACHODNI

R.Z.HUGHES

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DAVID BAILEY

EVAN CARTER

JOHNNY HALFHAND

CFO

DR. KIMBERLY FREE

DAVID TRAN

JOSHUA KRAUS

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

CHRISTI TURNER

TREK HOLLNAGEL

CHRIS MARCUS

SALES MANAGER SHANNON MELICK STATE DIRECTOR

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS ADREAM 3000 NARISSA-CAMILLE PHETHEAN

EMMETT NELSON REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS DANIEL ERICH

NATHAN CHRYSLER

MARK COFFIN

ONLINE EDITOR MEGHAN RIDLEY

JAMIE KRAUS EITAN MISKEVICH AKA FOTOGASM

WANT TO ADVERTISE?

COPY EDITOR ALISON BAIRD

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER DALLAS KEEFE

ART DIRECTOR BRANDON PALMA/8TH DAY CREATE LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

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.

COVER PHOTO BY EITAN MISKEVICH AKA FOTOGASM

ALLIE BECKETT DOPE DESIGN AGENCY

EMAIL US AT ADS@DOPEMAGAZINE.COM QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

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RYAN CATABAY

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 PUBLISHED IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98109

6 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

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EFFECT WIDELY considered one of the stoniest strains available, Death Star is an essential stopover on your path to the dank side. Its highs tend to start with a couch-locking, bodyhugging indica buzz before venturing into more cerebral territory. Feelings of intense euphoria are incredibly common with Death Star, typically tapering down to a mellow, bedtime haze within an hour or two.

SMELL INHERTING its eyewatering pungency from papa Sour Diesel, Death Star broadcasts its presence on the dankest of frequencies.

Big, skunky whiffs of jet fuel and rubber are first out of the launch bay, but subtler notes of lemon, menthol, and sweet herbs aren’t too far behind. Seriously consider double bagging this fella.

WRITER JOSH KRAUS

JAMIE KRAUS

FLAVOR ON THE inhale, Death Star carries a sweet, piney taste, but the exhale can serve up a more astringent, diesel piquancy. It’s a heavy smoke that clings to the back of your mouth long after you’ve puffed and passed.

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MEDICAL BENEFITS DEATH star is a heavy hitter with soothing analgesic effects, making it a valuable poultice for a full range of aches and pains. It’s also a major sedater, and can work wonders for patients seeking relief from stress and hyperactivity. In higher doses, Death Star is a powerful treatment for insomnia and restless sleep.

8 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

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EDIBLES

WANA SOUR GUMMIES Mountain High Infused Products

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OW’S THIS for a cheerful daily dose? Choose from a rainbow of brightly colored, sugar-flecked Wana Sour Gummies. At 12 milligrams of activated THC each, the pineapple, orange, grape, lemon, raspberry and green appleflavored rectangles give you a carefully crafted, potent bite of yummy gummy MMJ goodness. No wonder they’re Wana’s most popular infused treat.

They’re a tasty edible option for those seeking to explore beyond baked goods, or those who can’t eat most baked edibles (like gluten-free’ers, strict vegetarians and vegans). These pectinbased gummies have no gelatin.

Great for newbies, the 12 milligram gummies are an approachable dosage and an easier starting point for most people. Batch to batch and dose to dose, caregivers say Wana sours are some of the most consistent gummies you can find, and well, they’re delicious.

Each 75 gram package provides several doses of sour-sweet medicine. The Boulder-based creators of the sour gummies, Wana - Mountain High Edibles, sell wholesale to dispensaries across Colorado. A package retails for around $16 in store, or about a dollar per gummy, not a bitter pill to swallow.

FIND MORE INFO AT: www.MountainHighEdibles.com dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 9

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For Adults 21+ and Medical Use. Medicate Responsibly. Keep Out of Reach From Children

CAN I BE BLUNT?

RECREATIONAL STORE

ROOT ORGANIC MMC “Patient First. Patient Centered.”

“Sometimes the patient will need a hug, and sometimes that’s what we need to give them – a hug,”

12 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

5420 Arapahoe Ave. Boulder, Colorado 303-443-0240

WRITER & PHOTOS CHRISTI TURNER

ALKING INTO the lobby of Root Organic is not unlike entering a spa. Comforting music, soothing décor and smiling hosts greet you, leading you into the back room to help find what you need to heal.

Root Organic, a Boulder dispensary, is actually the medical branch (plant pun intended) of The Farm, a recreational-use store that was also a medical facility from 2009 through last April. Owned by a single company, Root Organic and The Farm were built on the same foundation of holistic care and clean, artisanal plants.

The Farm became the company’s adult-use store after city regulations mandated that no single cannabis company could own more than one medical dispensary and one retail dispensary in Boulder; Root absorbed The Farm’s patients and became the company’s sole MMC. It’s an intimate, yet bright dispensary. “Rooticorn” the lifesize unicorn graces a chalkboard sign behind the counter, and a lifelike chalk hummingbird decorates the back.

Whimsical glass pipes blown in the shape of animals line the shelves. The welcoming staff exudes almost motherly care, and certainly embodies the company’s primary value, attentiveness. “Sometimes the patient will need a hug, and sometimes that’s what we need to give them – a hug,” Peter says. There are many hugs at Root, the staff agree, and intimate friendships with each and every patient. The folks at Root have vast knowledge and provide holistic consultations to help their patients find the best variety of medicine to suit their physical needs and individual preference.

Root boasts a few trophy offerings, like its popular Hummingbird Cannabis Nectar, a clean CO2-extracted hash oil with a honey-like consistency. Their Alpha Blue, a blend of Blue Dream and Sour Diesel strains that calms the body and uplifts the spirits, won the High Times Medical Marijuana Cannabis Cup Second Place in the sativa category 2011. Strain-specific Hummingbird oil is available to patients, Alpha Blue included.

All Root plants are organically grown without the use of pesticides (same goes for The Farm), which means all products crafted from its strains are guaranteed clean, and for discerning patients in Boulder, it’s a fine place to put down roots.

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 13

HEALTH

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENTS OF SPRING

PRING EQUINOX in the Northern Hemisphere

arrives on March 20th this year and the plants are blooming. Scents of spring fill the air and with them come a lift in mood and a boost of energy. The particles that compose those scent molecules are called terpenoids and they make up the flavors and fragrances of our lives.

Terpenoid compounds or terpenes are essential oil components found in nature, and form the largest group of chemical constituents found in plants. Terpenoid compounds have evolved over time as the earth’s creatures have evolved into ever more complex structures. Plants produce terpenoids for a variety of reasons mainly centering on the principles of attraction and repulsion.

Terpenoids have important effects on the mammalian brain. The Olfactory center, the area of the brain where humans process scents, is located deep in the brain on top of the brainstem and is physiologically associated with the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus. These areas of the brain are associated • D-LIMONENE• is found in lemon peels, lemongrass, and other citrus fruits, providing the lemon scent. It is the second most widely distributed terpenoid found in nature. It is used for the treatment of anxiety and depression, as an anti-fungal due to its ability to increase the permeability of cellular membranes, and as a treatment for gastric reflux and other digestive system conditions. Research has shown it plays an important part in tumor apoptosis or cell death.

•LINALOOL• is found in hundreds of plants including lavender, citrus, and rosewood. It has a mild sedative action and is used to reduce anxiety. Research is being done now to determine if it has anti-epileptic properties. The scent of linalool can be detected by the olfactory sense at only 1 ppm.

WRITER DR. KIMBERLY FREE, ND

with mood, memory, stress, and the ability to concentrate. These areas also control the release of hormones which effect functions such as appetite, sexual attraction, fertility cycles, and body temperature. This is why scents and fragrances can have such profound effectton our thoughts and actions. The sense of smell is also closely linked with the sense of taste. Researchers suggest that approximately 80% of what we taste is actually due to our sense of smell, as without it we would only be able to taste the five flavors - salty, sweet, sour, savory and bitter - that are distinguishable by the taste buds (nerve receptors) on our tongue. Our sense of smell also increases when we are hungry.

The Cannabis plant expresses over 200 different types of terpenoids.

Each variety of cannabis has a terpenoid content that is genetically determined, making the terpenoid profile one way to identify specific varieties. Terpenoid and cannabinoid content are important when determining clinically which varieties or strains will be of benefit for the treatment of specific health conditions. Each variety of cannabis contains multiple numbers of terpenoids whose healing properties can overlap and complement each other in very important ways.

• A-PINENE• is the most predominant terpenoid found in nature. A component of other more complex terpenes, it has anti-inflammatory properties and works as bronchodilator. A-pinene has demonstrated action as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor along with the terpenoid pugelone. Acetylcholine is important to memory formation and retention and these terpenoids prevent the acetylcholinesterase enzyme from breaking it down.

• ß-CARYOPHYLLENE• is found in oregano, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, and black pepper. Research has shown it has anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, anti-fibrotic, and anxiety reducing effects. Topically, it acts as a local anesthetic and taken internally it reduces pain and spinal neuro-inflammation at a dose of 10 – 200 mg a day for a 60 kg human. It also reduces the tissue damage from colitis and prevents nephrotoxicity by acting directly on the CB2 receptor found on cells of the immune system.

• ß-MYRCENE• is a potent antioxidant. Found in mangoes, hops, bay leaves, eucalyptus, lemon grass and others, it easily crosses the blood brain barrier also increasing the ability of the THC to bind to the CB1 receptor.

It serves as an anti-inflammatory, liver protectant, muscle relaxant and sedative.

Terpenoids are delicate, volatile molecules easily destroyed by heat and affected by light and humidity. Terpenoids begin to evaporate at temperatures around 25o C or 77o F. Storing cannabis in a dark glass jar, once dried, will help to preserve the terpenoid content. Terpenoid content can also be increased just prior to harvest by exposing the plants to a relative lack of nitrogen, so flush well. Enjoy the flavors and fragrances of spring and the healing they provide.

14 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

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DOSHWORLD Working With The Flame Since 1997

N AN interview with Dosher of DoshWorld, you quickly realize that he would rather be

blowing glass in his studio than blowing smoke up your ass in an interview, but with glass work as mind-bending as his, he can quite comfortably let his art speak for itself. . .

This featured glass piece was blown for a 2011 competition. Undoubtedly vibrant and tribal, it features splashes of color and texture that will leave your eyes dilated for days.

Indeed, just looking at this piece may get you high. When asking Dosher about his creative inspiration while designing the piece, he simply replied, “Manifesting some wizard shit.”

But Dosher’s work doesn’t end with glass. Although he’s been “working with the flame since 1997”, as an artist and visionary, he has created in many mediums. In his words: “I’ve worked with an abundance of mediums including metal, wood, printmaking, textiles, welding, ceramics, collage and mixed media. Inspired by the Renaissance movement, I want to continue to expand and combine all forms of artistic medium.”

When asked to elaborate on his creativity and what environments are a source of inspiration in his work, Dosher lit up the interview with the explanation, “My spirit is as wild as the fires I work in. I’m churned up by all that surrounds me in this life.”

On the topic of the herb, Dosher says, “I decided and recognized a long time ago that it is good for me and is important to me.” When it comes to sativas, indicas or hybrids, he keeps it real with an “It’s all good.”

INTERVIEWED BY: ANGELA JORDAN AGUILAR 20 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

WRITER

PHOTOS

MEGHAN RIDLEY

JAMIE ZILL

You can find the glass-blown masterpieces of DoshWorld at PIECE OF MIND and at WWW.DOSHWORLD.COM dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 21

IGNITE YOUR PASSION www.thedopen.com

DOPEN

MARK COFFIN Photographer, Videographer, Musician www.markcoffinphoto.com

DOPEN

WRITER

PHOTOS

MEGHAN RIDLEY

EITAN MISKEVICH A.K.A. FOTOGASM

DR. DINA is already a cannabis classic - and a work of art in the emerging world of marijuana’s mainstream push.

Many know her as The Real Nancy Botwin due to the uncanny resemblance her life shares with the hit Showtime show Weeds. You’ve also likely seen her snagging headlines for being a medical cannabis provider and expert cannabis consultant to the stars, with clientele including Snoop Dogg, 2Chainz and Charlie Hunnam - not to mention the plethora of conservative and private patients who will, of course, remain nameless. But when she’s not dodging the pot-parazzi, you’ll find that Dr. Dina is more about power to the people than pop culture.

When it comes to advocacy, Dr. Dina has been at it for a while, having opened up Southern California’s first medical marijuana doctor’s office back in 2003 and managed one of LA’s oldest and most popular dispensaries in the years that followed – hence earning the nickname “Dr. Dina” from Snoop who was one of her first patients. She is not a board-certified doctor, but works along side of one, and is always quick to remind people of such. “When men think I’m a real doctor, the first thing they often want to ask about is their prostate,” she says laughing. “Once Snoop gives a nickname, it sticks. But I always tell people I’m not a real doctor.”

When she entered the cannabis industry with her god-brother Andy after suddenly being forced out of her ex-fiance’s home in Calabasas (where Agrestic from Weeds was filmed), she faced a push back from the predominantly male industry:

“When I first started, I realized no one wanted to take me seriously. I thought at first it was because I was young. Then I realized it was because I was a woman.

But I could always hang with the boys.”

Dr. Dina had her hands full in the early years, whether it was dealing with a male dominated industry, standing up to members of the drug cartel, or dealing with turf wars and street criminals who swarmed the Southern California weed scene. But all of this was really a warm-up for her fight against a much larger and more imposing enemy: the federal government.

She reflected candidly on these early experiences, especially as they prepared her to face three DEA raids between 2007 and 2013. “I’m tough and I don’t take shit from anyone. I got in their faces and threw them off their game. What are they gonna do. Shoot a little girl?”

But that isn’t to make Dr. Dina sound like a thug - although her current playlist is admittedly almost all hip-hop, and she certainly travels in that world. In addition to celebrating a recent birthday on stage with 2Chainz, Snoop has rapped about her in the song “My Medicine” and Fabolous even filmed the video for “We Get High” in her loft. Despite having needed to be tough, she is more likely to put her arm around you than to point a finger in your face.

She unexpectedly entered the industry back in 2002 as a result of helping a friend with cancer find safe access to cannabis, and has been about helping people and following her heart ever since.

Her latest advocacy push is “The Dr. Dina POW Challenge”, which she explains as follows: “Basically, as you know, there are a lot of people locked up in prison for this plant. And for all the people locked up, we’ve found about 1,200 that are currently incarcerated for nonviolent, no-victim offenses. My challenge is for everyone dispensaries, edible companies, hash companies, everyone in the industry - to get involved and sponsor one of these cannabis warriors.”

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 25

SNOOP DOGG

THE DR. DINA POW CHALLENGE is slated for roll out this spring.

It will require a $25 dollar signup and minimum $100 donation to participate. Those involved will be given a plaque to post as a sign of their community involvement, and will be included in other exclusive industry events.

The money raised will benefit both the fight to free these wrongfully-imprisoned individuals, as well as help shape their post-prison lives transitioning them successfully into a world that has long viewed them as criminals. “When they get out, these people won’t necessarily be able to find a job. It’s scary out there. And what about the children of these cannabis warriors?

Their kids need to know that their parents are good people and not criminals.”

26 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

2CHAINZ

WIZ KHALIFA

Dr. Dina doesn’t shy away from speaking out about public policy, especially when it comes to the prosecution of medical marijuana patients, and she is in the process of launching a weekly radio show “Cannabis Confidential” on CannaBizRadio.com. When asked about the case of the Kettle Falls Five in Washington, she said: “It’s reprehensible how they can do this to these poor innocent people, one of whom is dying of cancer. It’s shameful. The government needs to look upon themselves and say ‘we’re screwing up, and screwing up bad’”.

While Dr. Dina may be a relentless advocate for the plant, don’t think she doesn’t make time to kick it. In the coming weeks, she will be featured in a new Trinidad James music video entitled “Palm Trees”, as well as in a special video with 2Chainz. When asked about the 2Chainz project, she just smiled and said “they made me sign a confidentiality agreement, so I can’t say much, except that they think it will break the internet.”

It’s worth noting that many of us wouldn’t know who Dr. Dina was if her good friend Snoop hadn’t outed her during an interview with GQ a few years back. For the first ten years she was in the business, due to the social climate and aggressive nature of the DEA, her goal was to stay completely anonymous. From the beginning, her goal was never to become famous. Quite the contrary. It was to work with the city of West Hollywood to reform the law and provide safe access to cannabis to those who needed it. When Weeds came out two years after she had entered the business, her privacy became even more important. “Many of my friends who entered the public eye became targets for the Feds,” she said, “and even more important, I had to hide what I was doing from my parents and friends who existed in a much more conservative world.”

She recalls the day when all that changed. “I was wandering through a local Target without cell reception, and emerged from the parking lot to countless missed phone calls from Snoop. I assumed it was an emergency and immediately called him back. The reason for the call: he said he was eating BBQ down the street and hit me up because he wanted to smoke.”

The rest is history. Snoop had a GQ writer in tow who soon brought coverage to the plot line of Snoop and his Real Nancy Botwin counterpart. Soon thereafter, she was featured in a full page article in Rolling Stone Magazine crowning her the “Queen of Medical Marijuana in L.A.” and in the Vice documentary “The Real Nancy Botwin”, which featured Snoop. The two have a long history and friendship which goes back to when she was in high school and smoked weed for the first time with him. To return the favor, she helped Snoop get his first cannabis doctor’s note, which his security guard carried around with him for a year in a silver briefcase. Dr. Dina lights up when she speaks of him.

“He’s so magical. So amazing. His energy is just special to be around.”

As the cannabis movement continues to inspire advocacy and activism around the globe, Dr. Dina’s versatile and transformative work will be one of the masterpieces unfolding before our very eyes. However, she summarizes her work more simply: “For me it is about making a positive impact in the world. And, of course, shattering stereotypes.”

If that is Dr. Dina’s mission, consider it accomplished. From her work on behalf of patients and prisoners, to her relevance in politics and pop culture, she embodies a rare blend of infamy, fame, sincerity and class that makes her not just an advocate, but a work of art.

Follow Dr. Dina on Instagram! @DRDINA420 dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 27

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MMJ IN THE NEWS

WHY MEDICAL MATTERS PT. 1 Without A Home There Is Still Hope

30 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

WRITER R.Z. HUGHES

S THIS IS DOPE’s advocacy issue, we should take

time to think of those underrepresented in our daily discourse. Those living on the fringes of society making it through whatever means they can muster, against odds most would consider insurmountable. People without homes are as visible as anyone else, perhaps more so, yet treated with indifference, underserved, and often maligned.

As these individuals generally have little-to-no income it is important that their necessary medicine is available at an affordable price.

A tremendous number of homeless residents in Seattle, and presumably other states and cities with medical marijuana, have their authorizations and rely on medicinal cannabis to help treat a litany of health issues; health issues that are often a catalyst that lands them on the streets in the first place. With reasons ranging from exorbitant hospital bills, addictions to pharmaceutical opiates, to injuries sustained fighting in our military, cannabis is a panacea for many issues plaguing the displaced masses.

It’s no secret that streets and homeless shelters across the country are thick with veterans of our nation’s numerous wars. People who put their lives on the line only to be let down upon their return to native soil by the country that they lovingly fought for.

Deep wounds in both flesh and mind, at times untreatable, can be assuaged by the calming, healing properties of cannabis. Anxiety, rage, and confusion caused by PTSD often subsides after using cannabis products and the pain relief qualities are a boon to those with serious bodily injury.

Medical cannabis has its historical roots in the HIV/AIDS crisis of 1980’s and early ‘90s when patients in California found ganja to be one of the only things that significantly helped to increase appetite, diminish neuropathy, and battle depression. A quartercentury later the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the homeless population is difficult to understate. 50% of cases in the United States are individuals that are homeless or at-risk.

Today we are in the midst of another public health crisis: abuse of and overdoses from prescription painkillers. The people using these painkillers often turn to heroin, a cheaper opiate, when their funds run short or doctors stop filling prescriptions. One thing leads to another and these addicts created in the hospital end up homeless. When you start to consider all of the various mental and physical afflictions suffered, it is no wonder that medical marijuana is such a blessing.

The recent threats to medical cannabis in the legislature are causing patients across Washington to speak up for a variety of reasons, most notably keeping quality medicine economical.

While everyone is worried about the price change, no one seems concerned for the demographic who needs it most. There is no way that seriously sick people on fixed and low incomes are going to be able to receive the medicine they need at the current recreational prices.

It is easy to dismiss homeless people as vagrants, drunks, or not to see them at all, but the easy thing is not always the right thing to do. Often misunderstood, people who are afflicted in one way or another that need a hand up. The positive energy that cannabis provides, both personally and socially, can be that helping hand that helps countless homeless people in making healthy decisions to get off the street and into permanent housing. Pot inhibits many of the risky behaviors associated with homelessness and along with proper self-work, can quell the use of addictive and debilitating hard drugs. People using marijuana are far less likely to overdose on drugs or alcohol, which from a public health standpoint means fewer ER visits, a healthier population, and less people living on the streets.

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 31

GROW

PRUNING FOR PREMIUM How To Make The Most Of Your Yield

WRITER DAVID BAILEY

’M SURE MOST of us grew our first plant in the ever fa-

mous Christmas tree or Jamaican bean pole style; too afraid to top or even prune anything but dead leaves. While it’s always nice to pull down some bud, plants don’t naturally produce to their genetic yield potential. With a few different techniques you can prune and train your plants to better support the enormous weight of the succulent flowers I’m sure you’ll be growing! If yields weren’t enough, pruning helps control: pests, air movement, light penetration, humidity and susceptibility to molds and mildews!

Pruning styles usually develop slowly for ganja growers because it’s a little scary to chop away at something you’ve put all your energy into. While approaching with caution is a must, pruning mistakes are rarely fatal and remember they grow back!

Obviously your first pruning will happen in the vegetative state.

Whether you’re starting from clone or seed, many of the lower leaves will be die back early and should be removed. As the plant grows taller and more full of leaves, you want to trim away any of the small fan leaves not receiving proper light as well as any small side shoots that aren’t at least an inch or two above the soil line.

Not trimming these shoots will slow air movement and lead to diseases at the soil line.

If you’re a sea of green grower, I likely just listed all of the pruning you’ll do in your entire rotation. For the rest of us, we’re just getting started! Topping is something we’re all familiar with, but there are right and wrong ways and certainly a million styles in between. The basic idea is to redistribute the plants hormones more evenly. When it is growing straight up, the majority of the energy is being pushed to the top part of the plant closest to the light. We don’t want to have one main cola and then a bunch of mediocre side shoots, instead we want tons of main colas!

By cutting the terminal shoot, or the top most branch, the plant redistributes that energy to the side shoots, sending them rocketing toward the light. If you’re growing small plants, I suggest topping when they are roughly 8 inches in height in hydro, or 10 to 12 inches in soil. For small plants you’ll only need to take off an inch or two. For larger plants it’s important not to top too early. I often wait until the plants are roughly 2 or more feet in height and then take a massive top of 6 or more inches. This may sound crazy, but it creates much stronger terminal shoots and a lot of them. Most importantly, topping large plants later keeps the branches from splitting later in flower. You may have seen an outdoor plant lose a bottom leg from the weight of its giant colas.

If you haven’t, it’s tragic.

Now that we’ve topped our plant, let’s clean her out. As your tree now develops into a bush, there will be a ton of small stems shooting out on the inside of the plant but not reaching much light.

These branches will never receive sufficient lighting and aren’t large enough to support the growth. As a rule of thumb, remove the first and second nodes of every branch on the bottom third of the plant. For the middle third, only remove the first node. It’s best to remove any other weak branches before flower.

In flower, it’s important not to prune many if any stems and only some fan leaves. A good leaf prune roughly 4 weeks into flower, and another at week 6, should keep light penetration even and good air flow. All of the pruning you did in veg is now paying off.

You have a more efficient canopy with tons of main colas, plenty of air movement and have substantially reduced your risks of pests and molds hiding on the inside!

None of this is rocket science, we’re still growing plants. There are a million different ways to prune plants that get way more complicated. Personally, I listen to Michael Jordon and perfect the fundamentals first. Your slam dunks will come from practice, not a magical new technique. Until next time, happy growing!

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 33

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.

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MJ IN THE NEWS

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ADVOCACY This Is Colorado!

WRITER CHRISTI TURNER

ALL EYES ARE still on Colorado more

than a year after becoming the first state to legalize marijuana. Crime is down, tax revenue is up, jobs are being created and the state hasn’t fallen into a cannabis-induced psychosis.

Citizens, tourists, patients and advocates are routinely forced to defend our plant everywhere we go. From the state house to the steakhouse everyone has got an opinion on cannabis’ place in society today.

Along the Front Range, passionate advocates are showing the world cannabis is not a detriment to society and bringing to our collective conscience a new way of thinking.

Rachel K. Gillette Executive Director Colorado NORML

Rachel’s involvement and influence in the Colorado cannabis community is prodigious. She is a founding member of Women Grow, a small business attorney and committed to ending prohibition.

It’s been more than two years since Amendment 64 passed in the Colorado ballots. What are the greatest positive changes you’ve seen since then, in terms of public perception of recreational marijuana use?

“All and all, the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana in Colorado has been a success. Since we began regulating medical marijuana in 2010, teen use has declined, crime rates have declined, and highway driving fatalities are at all time lows. Our state has seen the benefit of millions of dollars in tax revenue collected, lower unemployment, increased property values, increased tourism, and lower vacancy rates for commercial space in the jurisdictions which have allowed marijuana business licensing.”

I believe generally, the public in Colorado has seen it as a success as well. While there were and remain kinks to work out as a result of such substantive reforms, and such reform is a process that happens over time, the people of Colorado seem to know and understand the prohibition of marijuana to be a failed policy, in desperate need of change.”

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I’ve heard whispers of it still being difficult, within the marijuana industry, to properly regulate things like organic growing and pesticide/herbicide use. What can you say about that? Is it an issue? Are producers saying one thing (e.g., organically grown bud) and doing another?

“The benefit of regulations is that consumers have a choice in the products they purchase and consume. Testing is an important component of our regulations. I think for the most part, producers do adhere to the law and do try to grow or manufacture a clean, safe product. Like in many industries, competition and some regulatory oversight in the market is a good thing. Those who act with disregard of the law or disregard for their customers, will be “weeded” out eventually.”

What are your targets and hopes in terms of marijuana advocacy in Colorado for 2015?

“I hope for substantive federal marijuana law reforms, access to banking for marijuana businesses, and an amendment to 280E to allow marijuana businesses in legal states to be taxed like normal businesses. What can I say? I dream big.”

Max Montrose President Trichome Institute

It has been more than two years since Amendment 64 passed in the Colorado ballots. What are the greatest positive changes you’ve seen since then, in terms of public perception of recreational marijuana use?

“Honestly, more than the economy exploding as crime and prescription overdoses plummeting, the greatest sociological thing to witness is people not caring anymore about people using cannabis. It seems kind of silly, but it’s not; it’s amazing to see business men, cops, and soccer moms walk in front of dispensaries and pass by people smoking downtown or at the park and nobody cares. That’s how it should be and the sense of true freedom is tangible and exciting.”

The state pulled in about $60 million in tax revenues from marijuana sales last year.

What can you say about the economic impact of regulation in the state, and in particular counties? Is the steady revenue changing minds of those who were skeptical of regulation’s potential impact? Are you seeing evidence that it’s being satisfactorily used to the public benefit?

“Forget the taxes and big dollar figures, that’s a given. Think about the fact that a dispensary operation has many special needs in many different fields. So forget the nearly 2500 news jobs in the industry, and think about all the lawyers, doctors, real state agents, advertisers, marketers, designers, packing, science equipment, (and in the grow) expert electricians, HVAC, plumbers, agriculturists, chemists, nutrients, security, farming, medical science. I mean the amount of jobs for other people outside of the industry is simply epic, astonishing, world changing; now think about the economy…”

I’ve heard whispers of it still being difficult, within the marijuana industry, to properly regulate things like organic growing and pesticide/herbicide use.

What can you say about that? Is it an issue? Are producers saying one thing (e.g., organically grown bud) and doing another?

A Denver native, Max is dedicated to increasing public awareness and helping new and experienced consumers enjoy cannabis safely and navigate our new freedom.

“The Organic Cannabis Association has the answer. Understand this industry is brand-spankin’ new so it’s going to take some time to work the bugs out. I have full faith there will soon be different tiers of organic standards and that the cannabis labeled within those levels will be truthful and delicious.”

Jason Lauve

It has been more than two years since Amendment 64 passed in the Colorado ballots. What are the greatest positive changes you’ve seen since then, in terms of public perception of recreational marijuana use?

“Honestly, more than the economy exploding as crime and prescription overdoses plummeting, the greatest sociological thing to witness is people not caring anymore about people using cannabis. It seems kind of silly, but it’s not; it’s amazing to see business men, cops, and soccer moms walk in front of dispensaries and pass by people smoking downtown or at the park and nobody cares. That’s how it should be and the sense of true freedom is tangible and exciting.”

The state pulled in about $60 million in tax revenues from marijuana sales last year. What can you say about the economic impact of regulation in the state, and in particular counties? Is the steady revenue changing minds of those who were skeptical of regulation’s potential impact? Are you seeing evidence that it’s being satisfactorily used to the public benefit?

“Forget the taxes and big dollar figures, that’s a given. Think about the fact that a dispensary operation has many special needs in many different

fields. So forget the Founder and Executive Director nearly 2500 news jobs in Hemp Cleans the industry, and think about all the lawyers, doctors, real state agents, advertisers, marketers, designers, packing, science equipment, (and in the grow) expert electricians, HVAC, plumbers, agriculturists, chemists, nutrients, security, farming, medical science. I mean the amount of jobs for other people outside of the industry is simply epic, astonishing, world changing; now think about the economy…”

I’ve heard whispers of it still being difficult, within the marijuana industry, to properly regulate things like organic growing and pesticide/herbicide use. What can you say about that? Is it an issue? Are producers saying one thing (e.g., organically grown bud) and doing another?

An early advocate of medicinal cannabis, “The Organic Cannabis Association has the Jason now focuses his answer. Understand this industry is brandefforts on implementing spankin’ new so it’s going to take some time regulation for industrial to work the bugs out. I have full faith there will hemp cultivation and soon be different tiers of organic standards and production in the United that the cannabis labeled within those levels will States. be truthful and delicious.”

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 37

MMJ IN THE NEWS

POLITICALLY CHARGED Rolland Gregg Of The Kettle Falls Five

Help put an end to Federal prohibition by supporting the Kettle Falls Five in their upcoming trial, February 25th in Spokane, WA. More info at www.kettlefallsfive.com 38 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

WRITER

ARTIST

MEGHAN RIDLEY

ADREAM 3000

HE MYSTERY SURROUNDING why

the Kettle Falls Five have been targeted with such zealousness by the Feds--for a small-time medical marijuana grow operation in Middle of Nowhere, Washington--has continued to raise eyebrows across the nation.

By now, most people have seen the inhumanity and confusion grabing the headlines. Most recently, it was the dropping of federal charges against just one of the five defendants, 71-year old Larry Harvey.

While sparing this terminally-ill man from facing trial due to his ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer can appear humane on the surface, it leaves four remaining medical marijuana patients dangling by a flimsy thread of the law, facing a minimum of ten years in prison for the exact same charges.

One of whom is defendant Rolland Gregg, whose background in revolutionary energy sciences carries more literal and figurative “charge” than you could likely imagine.

Walking into Gregg’s office at Native Clean Energy, a company he founded seven years ago, you’ll find an abundance of cuttingedge concepts working alongside a crude, on-site laboratory. The company mission is simple: to empower communities with affordable and sustainable energy, food, water and healing. And while the Feds continue to stereotype Gregg as drug trafficker, my humble assessment following our interview is that he’s too educated in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to have a malicious intention in his body. Here we find the antithesis of a criminal--an advocate that has dedicated his life to the science behind making an meaningful impact on the planet.

The philosophy at Native Clean Energy embraces the idea that once basic human needs are provided for and sustainable, higher-level human interactions such as creativity and morality are able to thrive. Up until Gregg’s sudden federal pot charge, he had been focusing on international joint ventures in revolutionary energy technologies. These emerging sciences included a self-recharging crystal battery and a vortex coil designed to harness unheard levels of wattage, just to name a couple. But as Gregg worked alongside some of the leading minds in quantum physics, he now found himself nonsensically entangled with the law. Here, one could speculate as to whether it was these counter technologies, or

a small time medical marijuana grow operation, that brought Gregg to the attention of the Feds. Indeed, he had been achieving notoriety in some of the most advanced energy science and research worldwide--while the state legal medical marijuana should have been lost in the sea of green better known as Washington State.

After a few hours in Gregg’s office, it is clear that the most revolutionary science being conceptualized at Native Clean Energy is the aforementioned crystal battery.

Literally, imagine a battery that will never die, composed of a substance that not even laboratories at UCLA have been able to identify. This is next level shit that likely has Tesla doing backflips in the heavens.

Confession: I belong to the section of society that this science doesn’t make much sense to. How does one create a substance that didn’t previously exist? And then use it to create self-recharging batteries? Thankfully, Gregg was able to articulate a laymen’s explanation of the alchemy involved: “Basically, the crystal cell is a new clean energy source that continually self-recharges from the energy and environment around it. It is the combination of five different materials, which when put through specific heating, cooling and stirring processes, creates a new material that has very unique meta-material properties.”

The crystal cell battery technology was patented in Germany just five months ago, with plans to begin licensing it in the United States in the coming year.

When asked if he felt the pot charges were somehow related to his work in renewable and sustainable energy, Gregg was careful to not be outright accusatory of the Feds. However, the many questions surrounding the forcefulness of the prosecution are never far from his mind: “I can find no reason why we’re singled out like this. It makes absolutely no sense. There has to be another reason than marijuana.”

As the trial looms, Gregg has prepared himself for the complicated fight before him by choosing to not lose sight of his life’s work in the face of criminal prosecution: “Currently, we live in a world where we trade our time for money so we can meet our basic needs. It doesn’t have to be that way. The most valuable thing we have, or

can give, is our time.” In Gregg’s case, time is of the essence, as he faces a minimum sentence of ten years in Federal prison.

Depending on whose side you’re on, the above words are either that of a criminal marijuana grower and drug trafficker, or a medical marijuana patient and energy innovator.

Let’s recap what we now know about the Kettle Falls Five.

On the surface we find a ridiculous overlap of Federal and State pot polices--five defendants growing medical marijuana within the legal limits in a state where medical marijuana has been legal for 17 years. Just why the Federal Government felt the need to go after one of the smallest, most benign grow operations in the weed-friendly state of Washington remains a perplexing piece of the story. And choosing to spare Larry Harvey a week prior to trial is a convoluted addition to an already twisted plot line.

Behind the scenes we find defendant Rolland Gregg, who has dedicated his life to developing technologies that are both counter and disruptive to current culture and industry. Questions linger like the confusing haze surrounding the forcefulness of the prosecution, while in the middle sit three other defendants: Rhonda Harvey, Michelle Gregg and Jason Zucker. All of whom were legitimate medical marijuana patients growing within the legal state limits.

You know what they say: where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And this one has been burning for awhile. Whether or not Rolland Gregg was targeted by the Feds for his involvement in renewable and sustainable energy, anyone should understand why such a brilliant and innovative mind shouldn’t be facing a minimum of ten years in prison for a nonsensical pot charge; in fact no one should spend a day in jail for nonsensical pot charges.

It may be hard to see through the smoke and mirrors surrounding the Kettle Falls Five case, but we should be able to agree that our humanity is in jeopardy when the sick are forced to fight for their medicine and the healthy are silenced for their revolutionary ideas. In the case of the Kettle Falls Five, it will be up to the people to do more than raise our eyebrows--but to finally stand up and demand change.

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 39

GARDEN

KINDMAN GARDENS “There’s Something For Everyone”

ITH OVER 37,000 square feet dedicated entirely to cannabis cultivation, Kindman’s garden facility is an inspiring example of what growers can achieve with the right vision.

After purchasing a defunct General Motors distribution facility in 2009, Kindman founder and CEO Ryan Fox set out to build the most efficient, high yield garden this side of the continental divide. Today the facility houses thirty strains, twelve grow rooms, and a nine-person packaging team. After touring the place, it’s difficult to walk out and not think, “Ah, so that’s how it’s supposed to be done.”

After donning a visitor’s badge and signing into a meticulously kept log book, visitors are ushered into a network of wide, industrial hallways. Meters, dials and pipes carrying important substances decorate the high walls. Gardening tools and big heavy sacks are neatly organized at various intersections. A man pushes a platform truck of healthy young plants past grow room 6, which is packed to the gills with lush, bushy plants on day 22 of their growth cycle. A sign on the wall reads “Arizonas,” an inexplicable relic from its days serving under GM. A short jog from grow room 6 is grow room 8 (the rooms aren’t in numeric order), and although the plants in 8 are just a few days older than those in room 6, they’re already so thick that walking through the aisles feels like an Amazonian expedition. The room is set up so that one light covers four plants, and each individual plant receives eighteen hours of direct light per day. Among the many strains in room 8 are Chemdawg, Diamond Jedi, and White Berry.

The entire facility is automated, Fox explains, and equipped with top of the line irrigation, nutrient management, and air filtration systems. Aside from reducing man hours and maximizing efficiency, full automation allows Kindman to produce reliable, consistent marijuana crops each and every time. Stores will always know the quality of what they’re selling, and customers will always know the quality of what they’re buying.

Committed to covering all his customer’s needs, they breed five to six original strains every year, and will typically run two sativas, two indicas, and one or two hybrids. “You can walk into one of our stores and there’s something for everyone,” Fox says.

Kindman’s impressive operation should come as no surprise to those familiar with the Kindman brand. Their strains are sold in more than 25% of Denver dispensaries, including Kindman’s own dispensary The Grass Station, and their line of pre-packaged cannabis products was the first of its kind on the market.

“We’re trying to give people something that’s more tangible, something they’ll remember,” says Fox. 40 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

WRITER JOSH KRAUS

PHOTOS JAMIE KRAUS

“We’re trying to give people something that’s more tangible, something they’ll remember,”

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 41

PIECES

THE CHONG BONG AND BLOWN

by HVY Glass and signed by the one and only Tommy Chong, the Chong Bong was gifted to Blown Glass & Accessories in 2007, and has been a fixture of the small shop ever since (along with their English Bulldog Bella). As clean and well-kept as the day it arrived, this piece is practically artisanal. Do I hit it or donate it to the Guggenheim?

One thing is for sure: no one should be caught dead storing this beauty under their sink.

The Chong Bong is blown from a single piece of glass, making it thick and durable, with smooth, finger-hugging contours. It measures 18 inches tall and is festooned with a quirky assortment of flourishes and focal points. The neck and beaker base were worked using the old school fume over cobalt method, and the 14mm pipe joint is actually a ground hole.

The piece is also equipped with a diffused downstem and

a heavily worked chamber.

Serpentine patterns in Yellow Submarine color schemes decorate the base and upper neck like a Van Goghian game of Snake. A hypnotically patterned lollipop disc juts out just above the base, and lavish, intensely hued implosion marbles grow right beneath the ice pinch.

One marble houses a suspended blue and black petal flower, another bears HVY’s signature.

Marcus, the owner of Blown Glass, says the piece has sentimental value. In fact, it’s never been used, and will only break its vow of chastity if Tommy Chong himself stops by the shop and wishes to partake.

“He’s the only one who can smoke from it,” Marcus says. That is, of course, unless someone buys it, and Marcus says he might let it go for the right price. At the moment that’s a cool $4,500, but if you’d like to see the Chong Bong in person, all you have to do is come by and ask, they’re even thinking about putting it in a display case.

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WRITER JOSH KRAUS

PHOTOS JAMIE KRAUS

MJ IN THE NEWS

3 REASONS WHY DENVER MIGHT BE MARIJUANA HEAVEN

WRITER CHRIS MARCUS

IN THE same way that Amsterdam has been a natural Mecca for marijuana smokers for decades, Denver, Colorado is making a run at the crown with its recent recreational marijuana legalization. There are a few things that happen here that likely don’t occur in most other places in the world.

• THE LIVWELL $99 RECREATIONAL OUNCE SPECIAL • What a day and age we live in. Here, in the United States of America, we can walk northeast on Larimer Street in Denver and right before you get to the corner of 29th you can turn into Livwell, show your I.D. (must be over 21) and come out smiling with a beautiful ounce of marijuana for $99!! That’s right, go ahead and re-read that last sentence one more time, it’s for real.

Of course not all puffers are alike. Some prefer to sample rare selections from varying menus, while others stick to their favorite strains and rarely deviate. So when you’re getting some party favors together for a big group hangout and want a tasty strain for an amazing price, that $99 recreational ounce might just be your new best friend.

The Zeta Sage currently on special is comparable to any of the best strains found in other cities. Even if you’ve been to Amsterdam you will still likely find this delicious Sativa holds its own against any Dutch, Moroccan, or Jamaican coffee shop strains.

If you’re a frequent smoker who just enjoys relaxing and rolling up joints all day long, Livwell’s $99 recreational ounce can be hard to beat!

44 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

1

2

THE DENVER CONCERT CULTURE

Those who haven’t been to Denver might not realize how proud the city is of its energetic music scene. With the creative marijuana friendly vibe it’s no surprise that the music spectrum varies farther from the mainstream than most American cities. There’s a great jamband culture (this is still the only city where you can hear Phish on the jukebox in a bar) and some amazing mandolin and banjo players can be seen performing in several of the great local bluegrass bands.

To top things off, the growing acceptance of marijuana has reached the concert scene. At times it’s all too easy to remember the days of being frisked at the door, or treated like a convict for smoking a joint at a concert. However here in Denver some concert venues have even designated smoking areas where weed is more than welcome. Many local bars with a backyard area or deck are also happy to look the other way, although its technically still against the rules.

3

FREE AT LAST!!

Speaking of the rules, one of the best parts about decriminalization is that people can finally stop running around like James Bond, trying to score an eighth while praying not to get pulled over.

Fortunately the culture of marijuana around the globe seems to be changing as the people who watch something like Reefer Madness and take it seriously go the way of the dinosaur. It’s amazing how nice it can actually feel when purchasing marijuana is no different than buying a sandwich or a beer.

dopemagazine.com ISSUE 43 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE | 45

CONCENTRATE

OG JACKALOPE

WRITER JOSH KRAUS

Provided By The Giving Tree

PHOTOS JAMIE KRAUS

THC 78% CBC .1% CBN.0%

LOOKS This nugg run wax is golden blonde in color and comes in stable, tightly packed globs. It has a nice cookie dough consistency that’s pleasantly sticky and easy to load onto your dabber. This Jackalope concentrate isn’t too greasy, and comes off the fingers easily.

FLAVOR Dabs of Jackalope explode into pangs of sweet berry and confectionery chocolate. It’s rich and smooth, going down nicely without stinging the lungs.

Just because you’re not supposed to hold it in doesn’t mean you won’t want to.

EFFECT A dance with Jackalope can provide positive mental stimulation and feelings of energy and euphoria. Highs are more cerebral than corporeal, and when the tide washes away you’ll be left with a clear head and a big dopey smile.

This is a get-up-and-go kind of concentrate, and one strategic dab can quickly energize in minutes.

MEDICAL BENEFITS The happy and uplifting Jackalope is notably fast-acting - even more so when dabbed making it well-suited for sudden onsets of anxiety, depression, or fatigue. You may also want to look into this strain’s properties if you suffer from seizures.

GENETICS As its namesake suggests, OG Jackalope is a sativa-dominant portmanteau of the energetic Black Jack hybrid and the coffee sweet Chocolope sativa. Jackalope also boasts some Jack Herer ancestry, giving it a tinge of royal blood. Like alltheir products, this Giving Tree original is processed from 100% organic, soilgrown cannabis crops.

WHERE TO BUY: •The Giving Tree 46 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

SMELL One whiff of this little charmer and you’ll be wishing that someone had the good sense to develop a Jackalope air freshener. Its pungent terpenes produce an incense-like aroma of sharp citrus and fresh pine, and it trickles into your nose, cooling the nasal cavities not unlike peppermint.

50 | ISSUE 02 THE ADVOCACY ISSUE dopemagazine.com

PRODUCT

KUSH BOTTLES

WRITER R.Z. HUGHES

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KUSH BOTTLES

HE BENEFITS of storing cannabis in a jar

instead of a bag are numerous. The herb stays fresher, there is no threat of smashing it, and jars can be reusable for years. Kush Bottles is a company specializing in high quality, child resistant packaging for the burgeoning cannabis industry. They are now offered in all 23 states allowing either recreational or medical marijuana, as well as Canada, bringing consistent and compliant packaging solutions to marijuana retailers everywhere.

Kush Bottles has a variety of child-resistant products including pop top jars, joint tubes, prescription bags, and other necessities for packing and processing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has tested their products and Kush Bottles passed all requirements for children safety, leading the way and setting the bar for regulatory compliance.

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WORLD NEWS WRITER R.Z. HUGHES

AUSTRALIA USA NETHERLANDS

CANADA

JAMAICA

Dutch Homegrows Set to Defrost t seems growers of illegal cannabis in the Netherlands have been getting a little too warm and cozy this winter. Police in Haarlem and other outlying areas of Amsterdam have caught and arrested a handful of urban farmers this winter since their houses didn’t have snow on the roof. In one instance, every unit in the complex except for one was blanketed by snow, leading police straight to the pleasantly balmy grow operation. The police department was nice enough to take to Instagram, warning other growers about their possible issues related to roof insulation, making it clear that lack of snow is a no go.

Top Doc Nods to Pot nited States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently told interviewers on CBS that for “certain medical conditions and symptoms, marijuana could be helpful”. As the highestranking doctor in the nation, Murthy will hopefully become a driving force for policy decisions based on knowledge and reality, rather than antiquated fears about cannabis.

It seems that the medical community can no longer deny the facts being presented by medical marijuana states; cases of children debilitated by seizures being effectively cured, THC inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, and the overall quality-of-life enhanced for thousands of people failed by prescription pills. It’s only a matter of time...

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Canadian Reefer Recall

fficials from Health Canada, the government of Canada’s department tasked with regulating public health and safety, have issued a recall on a strain of medical cannabis for being too potent. The weed from Peace Naturals, an Ontario based organic cannabis company, was labeled at just over 9% THC, but when tested by a third party, was determined to be almost 14%. Buyers “unfortunate” enough to get such potent pot were advised to mix it with kitty litter and water before throwing it in the trash to avoid “adverse events”, although I would suspect most of it has since gone up in smoke.

The Healing of a Nation n February 6th, also known as Bob Marley’s birthday, Jamaican senators amended the Dangerous Drugs Act effectively decriminalizing ganja across the island. Anything under 56 grams is now a cause for a ticket, a slap on the wrist compared to the previous punishment of a five-year jail sentence. In a land that is known for Rastafarians and reefer this seems like sensible policy that should have been implemented years ago. While tourists are generally left alone, Jamaicans have often found their lives ruined for minor marijuana possession charges, killing any hope for a decent job or even travel abroad. Without a doubt, Mr. Marley would have appreciated this national gift.

Father Charged For Daughter’s Medicine n January 2nd, a father of a two-year-old girl with stage 4 neuroblastoma was arrested at a Brisbane hospital with charges of supplying illegal drugs to a minor. Adam Koessler, the father in question, was giving his daughter, Rumer Rose, a non-psychoactive, CBD-rich, medical grade hash oil with her food to help battle the cancer. The success of the treatment was nothing short of amazing. She showed marked improvements in both weight gain and her energy and desire to play, becoming again the little girl she used to be. Australia has no current medical marijuana laws, yet it seems poised to break ground this year with trials in the two most populous states. Even conservative PM Tony Abbott says he has no problem with medical cannabis. Koessler has been released on bail, no doubt in part to a www.change.org petition that was signed by more than 130,000 people imploring the Australian courts to give this little girl not only her medicine, but her father back. Rumer is now on morphine and back in intensive care.

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ROAD TRIP

ON THE ROAD WITH MY WEED ATTORNEY Attorney Profile: Kathleen Bryson, Humboldt County

IKE MANY inLike many in the industry,

my work with cannabis as medicine has changed my life forever. Previously in mainstream media, prior to writing about cannabis, I was not a cardcarrying Prop. 215 patient. I considered myself a “typical covert stoner” when President and CEO of CannaBusiness Law, attorney Kendra Miller, asked me to write about a double-mastectomy survivor, Dr. Mollie Fry, doing time for helping others with the plant in California.

That story turned into many more as I learned about the once illicit plant I grew up with in Southern California during the 1970s. The knowledge I gained helped me put my own breast cancer into remission and assisted me in doing away with more than eight prescription meds and forty extra pounds, turning me into a full-fledge patient. My work now takes me across state lines - putting me into some

precarious legal situations at times.

For the occasional question and possible panic situation, it’s good to have a lawyer in your back pocket. Mine is Kathleen Bryson, weed attorney to Humboldt County for the past eight years and now considered a friend, for it takes strong relationships to wade through the muddy waters of prohibition – and in Humboldt trust is everything.

When she phoned me offering a ride and a room for San Jose’s Hempcon a few weeks ago, I didn’t even have to think about it. Who would pass up a ride of five plus hours of non-billable legal chatter with serious discussions on weed?

I’m there.

Plus, anyone who knows Bryson understands she’s a lot of fun to be around for there’s never a dull moment; she plays as hard as she works.

Born and raised in Palo Alto, home of Stanford

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WRITER & PHOTOS SHARON LETTS

University, and nestled in the South San Francisco Bay area, Bryson was raised in the shadows of two liberal attorneys - her mother and father. It was natural she go into law, attending the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in Sociology, and graduating from Tulane Law School in 1992.

Her first grown-up, paying job out of law school was across the pond in London as the first in-house “solicitor” to Tesco PLC, the world’s third largest retailer. Roots brought her back to California, but family brought her up to Humboldt – a move she’s never regretted.

“Farming is in my soul,” she explained.

“My years in Humboldt have taught me that whatever I am and whatever I hope to be is all due to cannabis farmers. I would not have a pot to piss in without my dear clients, who are now friends.”

After working as Deputy District Attorney for longtime Humboldt District Attorney Paul Gallegos, she worked in-house for weed attorney Manny Daskal as a defense attorney, learning the ins and outs of Humboldt County’s cash crop.

In 2010 she announced she’d run against Gallegos, stating, “You can complain or you can try to do something to change things,” sighting a dysfunctional office in place at the time.

Gallegos prevailed one more term, but Bryson regrouped, helping fellow attorney Maggie Fleming with her win in 2014.

“Maggie campaigned for DA on the promise that violence against farmers is violence, period,” she said. “I have heard judges in Humboldt – judges I deeply respect – blaming victims of home invasions because they were growing cannabis. If the person were in a jewelry business – also considered high risk – would we blame the victim? Does jewelry put cancer into remission? Diamonds are not a girl’s best friend, cannabis is – breast cancer be gone!”

With legalization on the horizon once again for California in 2016, Bryson says the future looks bright for Humboldt’s finest.“For Humboldt, this means we can finally come out of the closet and share the skills we have honed for decades while growing the best medicine in the world,” she shared. “No longer will people have to hide their heads and pretend that they are not a part of an industry that puts food into the mouths of not just their own children, but every child in the County.”

Bryson doesn’t believe Humboldt farmers belong in the court room, and she has added a fresh face to her pot docket, via business law attorney, Lori Varaich to prove the point.

“With legalization we are going to see business needs explode within the industry,” she said. “With Lori’s knowledge we’ll be able to help with every possible agreement and regulatory advice, corporate governance for non-profits, commercial operating agreements, LLCs, trademark, copyrights – you name it. We’ll be teaming with experts helping farmers with permits, and working with government officials to help them open safe access points – something Humboldt has been lacking, ironically.”

A large part of the population of Humboldt is tribal and Bryson is no stranger to its own regulations and different approaches to land stewardship. Add the newly announced right for tribes to grow Cannabis for recreation, and a new set of negotiating skills must be added to the mix.

“The main thing is, we must work with farmers, for farmers, and make it happen for them,” she said. “The future is bright because I hope to represent fewer farmers in criminal court where they clearly do not belong.”

With Colorado’s landslide profit margin making headlines, and the promise of getting California out of the red, Bryson sees nothing but good in the Golden State’s future.“The business possibilities are endless,” Bryson surmised. “Marketing, public relations, branding, retail, logistics, real estate, science and research, tourism, film, and

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artwork – all have a place in the industry.”

The medicinal aspect of the plant is not lost on Bryson as she tears up thinking of a dear friend losing a battle with cancer.“She came to California and put her cancer into remission by juicing and ingesting cannabis leaf,” Bryson explained. “But, then she had to go home to Utah and is now dying for lack of access. When I think of the medicinal applications of this plant, that’s when I need the box of tissue nearby. I have friends who are alive today because of cannabis and without it they would be gone – cancer would have taken them. Others are not so lucky, and we need to change that.”

Bryson said she looks forward to a world without cancer, illness, or home invasions.

She also looks forward to a day when farmers will be able to conduct business with proper security in broad daylight, without fear of persecution, but mostly, she’d just like the negative stigma of the plant to go away for good.“From what I’ve heard, legalization in Colorado and

Washington has brought about education on medicine, not more people getting wasted,” she adds. “Let us not forget that alcohol and cigarettes are the real killers – not just in health issues. Alcohol does more to wreck a family than any other substance I know of. If you don’t believe me, talk to law enforcement – we share the same clients.”

Education in all areas of cannabis as medicine is crucial to our healthy future as a species. Understanding plantbased medicines, attending workshops, conferences, and networking with likeminded people, Kathleen says, helps her be informed and able to help others.“While going to events such as Hempcon can seem like a big party, and networking is fun, learning from the scientists and medicine makers about the wonders of this plant is really what it’s all about,” she surmised.

“Witnessing the energy of young people excited about having a business that can bring so much joy – and financial rewards for their hard work – just makes me want to be a part of it.”

For more information on Bryson & Varaich, LLP, visit www. humboldtjustice.com, or call (707) 268-8600.

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ROAD TRIP

JURY NULIFICATION 101

URY Nullification, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “The acquitting of a defendant by a jury in disregard of the judge’s instructions and contrary to the jury’s findings of fact.”

Nullification comes via a constitutional doctrine allowing jurors to acquit defendants who are technically guilty, but who may not deserve punishment. In nullifying, the juror is given the freedom to state that the law at hand is unfair, either generally or specifically to a case. In other words, if just one juror disagrees with the evidence they can vote “not guilty” ending the entire proceedings with a hung jury and subsequent acquittal.This process can be traced back to the colonies of our founding fathers, and one trial that took place in 1735, with the case of John Peter Zenger’s charges of seditious libel, as stated: “[Juries] have the right beyond all disputes to determine both the law and the facts, and where they do not doubt of the law,

they ought to do so. This leaving it to the judgment of the Court, whether the words are libelous or not, in effect renders juries useless (to say no worse) in many cases.”

The practice was due to the colonist’s need to create their own laws, having been in disagreement with the often brutal mandates continuing to be brought down by British rule an ocean away.

Though not readily known, Jury Nullification is a legal action with a long history in our country’s mapping of rights and wrongs within the judicial system. Northern jurors helped abolish slavery by refusing to convict people “guilty” of helping slaves escape to freedom. Those aiding and abetting slaves to freedom against Federal law were subject to imprisonment in violation of the “Fugitive Slave Act.” When northerners sat in judgment of the said “criminals” they would often acquit, even when the defendants admitted their guilt.

This was felt to be a huge contribution to the

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WRITER & PHOTOS SHARON LETTS

eventual abolishment of slavery altogether.

Nullification also played a part in ending the prohibition of alcohol, which locked people up for selling liquor, creating the same violent market we see today within the failed “War on Drugs.”

Judges have the right to nullify, though it doesn’t happen very often – especially where cannabis prohibition and Federal law trumps State law. Giving jurors the power to acquit sends the message that a juror has the right to judge the law itself, not just evidence provided by the prosecution - who will prosecute until they can’t prosecute any longer – otherwise referred to as just doing their job.

Considering the plethora of evidence that cannabis is beneficial, advocates have been working hard at getting the message to prospective jurors regarding their rights to nullify for a fair trial. The process works well

within the ever growing conflicts of State vs. Federal laws where there are typically no victims, only patients needing good medicine.

According to the Fifth Amendment, once a trial is acquitted via nullification there can be no re-trial. Ignorance of the act abounds, though, as Southern California dispensary owner Jason Andrews discovered after his own cannabis trial was nullified unknowingly by a single juror in 2012.

One challenge is that not enough citizens participating in juror trials are aware of the option. Where Andrew’s case was concerned, a single juror disagreed with his arrest for cannabis in the first place on principal – a perfect platform to nullify, but not knowing, he stated “not guilty,” rendering a “mistrial,” leaving the door wide open for a second trial. If the juror would have known about nullification, and stated it as such, the trial would have been acquitted, end of case.

“The second trail really took place in the courtroom hallway,” Andrews explained.

“They offered to give me all my cash back, with no felony mark on my record, rather than proceed with a second trial.”

His losses are a common tale. After nearly five years of battling, losing more than 20K in legal fees, his dispensary, his home, wife and family, Andrews says he’s just happy it’s all over now.

a “sting operation”, was supposed to go toward an engagement ring for his then finance, and a honeymoon for the couple who, post-trial, no longer speak to each other.

“I’ve done nothing wrong but help patients with this medicine,” Andrews surmised.

“They took it all away. I’m grateful for the juror who believed I was not guilty the first time – I just wish nullification and the details of acquittal from the Fifth Amendment were more well-known or this would have ended two years ago.”

When someone is helped, others learn and the truth is told. Andrew sharing his experience helps to inform others of this process.

“All I can say is the system failed me,” Andrews surmised. “Proposition 215 and legal medicine in California failed me. We went above and beyond to be compliant and we lost everything. California was the first to legalize medicine and the last to regulate, leaving patients and caregivers in harm’s way.”

With legalization expected in California 2016, one can only hope the powers that be are aligning fair and workable ordinances to once and for all protect patients, and the plant. Until then, we have nullification as a viable option. So, spread the word and educate the masses – sometimes all we have right now are our knowledge and our words.

The more than 6K in cash taken the night he was pulled over after transferring poundage from another dispensary in what was called

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HEALTH

MINDFULNESS A Patient’s Secret Weapon

WRITER JOHNNY HALFHAND

Y ARTHRITIS began to cause

significant damage to my hip joints five years ago. At the time I was praying & meditating extensively as a faithful Buddhist monk; over time it became more and more difficult to maintain my concentration as I once did.

Meditation quickly became like torture, my daily mandated time to sit through agonizing arthralgia. I left to better be myself, but also to take time and shed the extraneous, or even toxic orthodox beliefs and practices. I needed to reconstitute a balanced spiritual practice adapted to my particular limitations; simply put, to separate the dharmic wheat from the chaff.

The body decays, its health fleeting, impermanent; chronic pain embodies that, and the patients who feel it have license to take any teaching that will make the embodiment more peaceful. We are also permitted to disregard the teaching on karma, which can be used at times to guilt the sick for past wrongs; I am utterly convinced this is wrong. Sickness is born of physical reasons, not mental reasons, and sickness is not a personal fault.

Today I spend just five minutes on the cushion every other day or so, and try my best to astutely watch my mind’s activities in between. This practice now may be less ornate, but to me, it is much more fulfilling, and feels more authentically suited to my daily needs.

MINDFULNESS IS AN ESSENTIAL SKILL.

It seems everyone wants to talk about mindfulness in the context of metaliteracy these days, but for that segment of the population with chronically recurring pains, mindfulness is of a more immediate importance. We need solace, we need peace, and we need clarity - and we need it now.

Considering 38% of the chronically ill also suffer from clinical depression, the mental

realm needs some tender, loving care; and this niche is where mindfulness is proven to shine. Mindfulness offers a key component of the pain patient’s coping mechanism.

Jon Kabat-Zinn took his experiences in Vipassana meditation and pioneered the application of mindfulness and meditation to stress and chronic pain. The result was Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, or MBSR. In 1979 he founded the

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Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He conducted two clinical studies in the 1980s, and since then has effectively set off the mindfulness revolution. In his 1982 study, 65% of the participants reported some reduction in their mean pain index after 10 weeks of practice. He continues to write illuminating works like Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness.

STARTING YOUR MINDFULNESS PRACTICE IS SO EASY YET SO REWARDING.

This can be as easy as stopping to examine your own mind, free of judgment. See what’s there and notice what you are thinking about. You may be obsessing over your pain, your bills, your work or love life; it can be scary to look at the mind, but just look anyway. Get familiar with the landscape in there.

Chronic pain can surge your mind with emotions like waves. To learn how to control your pain, first start by just observing and learning from your body by focusing on your breath. Getting in the habit of doing this regularly will help develop and improve body awareness.

Set a timer for five minutes. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote in Peace Is Every Step that he loves the church bells in the West; he interprets them as a reminder to just breathe, be present, and smile. If we slow down, perhaps we can find little moments like these to look within and check our mindset. Don’t run from your mind because there’s pain. Learn to love your mind. Become like a young romantic, enamored with your inner workings, and ask simple questions of yourself. Before too long, you might even say on occasion, “Well, that’s not so bad.”

KEEP A WELLNESS LOG

make an entry every day noting your pain level, mood, medicines taken, and a little advice to yourself on how to use your day or adapt to new challenges. You can also include three things for which you are grateful. A wellness log is a great tool to build mindfulness, and it also documents how you’re doing, allowing for you and your medical support team to recognize long-term trends in health. This information can be incredibly helpful, as is the self-awareness that accompanies it.

Control your dosage, and try not to overdo it, especially on normal days. Moderate to severe chronic pain can require a significant

amount of cannabis to treat, which can get pricey. Regular mindfulness is useful when it comes to moderating your tolerance levels; opting to not puff, vape, or dab every time you’re in pain is a good way control your tolerance. As a best practice its wise to work in a detox day once a month, if not once a week, to reset tolerance levels. These days can be great opportunities to test your mindfulness and observe your mindset.

Medicating isn’t the only solution to pain.

While cannabis isn’t addictive, it can be habit-forming for some individuals if indulged in without checks or balances. Make sure you’re in control; autopilot behavior is a

slippery slope into bad habits. Don’t let your habits become your handcuffs.

In time, as we balance our coping mechanisms and find a degree of acceptance, we can gradually learn to stop running from pain.

Mindfulness is a great tool to reduce the perception of pain, and increase the enjoyment found in our hobbies and activities.

Diversify your pain control toolkit to find new, creative ways to adapt because everyone’s chronic pain is different and unique. Your local collective has a critical role in providing the right medicine; how we direct ourselves in between medicating, however, is up to us.

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TRY THESE MINDFULNESS EXERCISES

• BREATHE FOR FIVE MINUTES. • Focus only on your breath. Close your eyes or keep them slightly open to stay awake. If you have trouble concentrating, count each exhale and try to get to ten without letting yourself lose focus on the breath.

• WELL OF GOODNESS.• Imagine you have a little refuge in your heart which you can retreat to; it can look like a rustic mountain cabin, a desert oasis, or a forest glade. It’s really up to you and what imagery you enjoy.

This place has everything you need. Physical problems have no problem in this refuge. Retreat into your heart, and enjoy being in this happy place. Fill up your well of goodness here by simply being present in your heart, and return to your normal activities when your well is sufficiently replenished.

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• SCAN YOUR BODY.. • Take some time and ‘scan’ your body with your mind, from top to bottom, and gently relax away any tension you can in the process. This is a great exercise to learn to listen to the signals in your body without strong revulsion, and to try to subtly undermine our pain’s power.

• MAKE A PEACE SHRINE. • Seriously, shrines need to make a comeback. This is your best option if you cannot even imagine stopping right now. Get a small table, put it in a quiet area and place things on it that make you feel peaceful. I recommend starting with a couple houseplants. You might add a Buddha, a crystal, a candle, some incense, seashells, or mementos from a past adventure in your life that bring a calming effect. Develop a relationship with this little dojo of yours, and learn to rely on it for rejuvenation.

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