Dope Magazine - July 2016 - The Travel Issue - Nevada

T H E T R AV E L I S S U E

J U LY 2 0 1 6

N E VA D A

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D I S P E N SSATROYR E

KUSHISM N E VA D A WELLNESS CENTER

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J U LY 2 0 1 6 | T H E T R AV E L I S S U E

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ummer is here and many of us are packing up and heading out for some fresh air, new experiences and sunshine. This issue is dedicated to the adventurer in all of us—whether that means navigating through Mother Nature’s rugged landscape or exploring the world from the convenience of your own home (yes, this is a thing).

We covered cannabis destinations from Portland to Prague and everywhere in between. Road-Trip with us through Michigan’s cannabis scene. Learn how to travel without stepping foot out of the house through a virtual vacation experience. Hike along the Pacific Coast Trail and maybe share a joint along the way. We are sure you will find something in this issue of DOPE Magazine to fulfill all your summer’s wanderlust!

Our cover story doesn’t necessarily take you on a trip, but it definitely addresses a topic that many of us will deal with while traveling this summer. On any given day, approximately 334 million women are on their periods, which means many of us will be negotiating with our cycles while on the road.

Whoopi Goldberg has been unapologetic about her use of medical cannabis for treatment of glaucoma for years, but it’s safe to say that her launching a cannabis brand designed to treat symptoms of menstruation is a refreshing twist. Whoopi teamed up with acclaimed cannabis-infuser and founder of Om Edibles, Maya Elisabeth, to create a line for anyone with a period. Goldberg summarizes it as an opportunity to, “make a better quality of life.”

The conversation we had with Whoopi was too audacious to have ever been on my bucket list. Growing up knowing I shared a birthday with Goldberg was always a point of pride, but asking her thoughts in regards to cannabis suppositories during her interview with DOPE Magazine was next level.

In an attempt to close out the unfathomable in proper fashion, I concluded with, “We thank you for your time and advocacy Ms. Goldberg.”

Her reply…

“Call me Whoop. Ms. Goldberg is too fucking formal.”

Thanks Whoop. Stay DOPE!

@ D O P E M AG A Z I N E

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D O P E M AG A Z I N E . C O M

J U LY 2 0 1 6 | T H E T R AV E L I S S U E I N S TAG R A M

E D I TO R I A L

ABIGAIL ROSS @abigaileross Content Director MEGHAN RIDLEY @miss_ridley Lead Writer ZACHARY HOLLAND @skipthatrip Copy Editor ANDREA LARSON Copy Editor LAUREN KRZYZOSTANIAK @editorlauren National Editor KAMERLY TYLER @kamfucius CA State Director ASHLEIGH CASTRO @hash_assasin NORCAL Office Manager

DESIGN

JESUS DIAZ National / WA State Director ERICA LEONG @merrrica National Office Manager EMILY NICHOLS E. WA Content Manager MICHAEL FOX @michael_w.fox Oregon State Director NUSHEEN BAKHTIAR @nushwander OR Office Manager MICHELLE GLASSMAN CO State Director JENA SCHLOSSER @fillyoureyes CO Office Manager

SILVIA ALCALA @machetera SOCAL Office Manager

LINDSEY RINEHART @rinehartlindsey JOHNNY HALFHAND JOE SCHOFIELD BRANDON KRENZLER @cannadad LUKE ZIMMERMAN HILARY SAUNDERS LEAH MAURER @duhanna NICHOLAS HAYASHI @lookingglassextracts ROSS CHARLES KEVIN HENRY CHRISTI TURNER ALEX SNYDER MIA JANE JONATHAN HUPPERT RADIOHASH BLAZE ROBINSON DEBBY GOLDSBERRY @debbygoldsberry RON MULLINS THOM HUNTERS @mrforetwenty THOMAS FINELL KIMBERLY CARGILE ADAM RITZ

BUSINESS

BRANDON PALMA @brandonpalma Art Director

DAVID TRAN @fathertran CEO

Graphic Designers JAN DOMACENA @thirdoptic NARISSA-CAMILLE PHETHEAN @narissa.camille

EVAN CARTER President

WEB

GLACE BONDESON @latirlatir Web Director JAZZ WILLIAMS @williams.jazz Digital Graphics Designer DALLAS KEEFE @dallaskeefe Social Media Director

P H OTO G R A P H Y

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

SHARON LETTS @sharoneletts ALEX HALPERIN @weedweeknews DAVID PALESCHUCK MEGAN RUBIO DAVID BAILEY @dmb0227 DAVID HODES SCOTT PEARSE @dopebicycletour REILLY CAPPS @reillycapps BIANCA FOX KELLY VO @kevowriting SESHATA @seshatasensi ROY BINGHAM @BDSAnalytics JESS JAMISON KRIS RICE ERIC SKAAR JOE SCHOFIELD SARAH JANE GALLEGOS @medicinaljanepdx JONATHON FROCHTZWAJG

TWITTER

MARK COFFIN @themarkcoffin KRISTEN ANGELO TINA BALLEW EMILY NICHOLS MIKE DIEP ALEX FALLENSTEDT @alex_fallenstedt CHRIS RYAN @chrisryanphoto MELISSA MANKINS JASON HORVATH @zalparadise MIKE EMMONS @mr_emmons JENA SCHLOSSER JAMIE KRAUS CHRISTI TURNER ASHLEIGH CASTRO @hash_assassin JESSIE HOROWITZ Contributing Photo Stylist MALINA LOPEZ @malinalopez

A RT Contributing Artists JOSH BOULET

JAMES ZACHODNI @james_zachodni Chief Branding Officer DAVID PALESCHUCK @dpaleschuck VP, Licensing & Brand Partnerships NATHAN CHRYSLER Business Development TREK HOLLNAGEL Strategic Advisor CHRISTINA HEINTZELMAN @Xtinagrams Executive Assistant STEVE DELIMA Financial Controller LIANE PETTET Accounting Admin

DISTRIBUTION

KATE KELLY @k8mindset Distribution Manager AMADI N’GOM @whoisamadi Distribution Admin

AD SALES Sales Executives ERIC ERLANDSEN @ericerlandsen ANGEL AHMAD ROSIE BONDY @killaarose TRISTAN POWELL TERRANCE MCDANIEL @t.thedopeman JASON ROSENBERG NICHOLAS FREEMAN JACKSON COZAD BRIAN JORDI VERONICA GUEVARA ZAK HUGHES Web Ad Coordinator

DOPE MAGAZINE is a free monthly publication dedicated to providing an informative and wellness-minded 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.

EVENTS

SANDRA SEMLING Events Director JENIKA MAO @JenikaMimiMao Admin Event Coordinator

ADMIN

KINSEY LITTON @kinseymaei Corporate Office Manager

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SISTER PACT W H O O P I , M AYA & MARY JANE 30-32

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DOPE EVENTS The Medical Unity Conference

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NEWS Pacific Crest Trail

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BRANDING BUD Destination Brand

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P RO D U C T R EV I EW

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DOPE OUTDOORS Climbers For Cannabis

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T R AV E L Jupiter Hotel

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R OA D T R I P Detroit

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NEWS The Art of Virtual Vacationing

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NEWS Lansing: Labor of Love

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P R O D U C T S W E L OV E Lansing: Labor of Love

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NEWS Legal Weed: Are We There Yet?

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#END420SHAME To Smoke Or To Seize

G ROW

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DOPES NE E WES S T R A I N I N58G TO Weed Week THE DIFFERENCE

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C A N N A B I S TO U R I S M Exploring the West End in Negril

T HE ORIGINS OF S ATIVA AND INDICA STRAINS WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

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ITH ALL THE CRAZY and even beautiful cannabis names and strains out there, it makes you wonder: where did all these strains come from?

I mean, if cannabis has been seen in human history for thousands of years, why do we just now have Maui Waui, or more importantly, ACDC? Before we can jump into the complexities of breeding, it would be nice to have a little clarity on the differences between sativa and indica, and even where all these strains came from.

The unique thing about cannabis is we don’t know exactly whether the plant first grew in one place or if it developed simultaneously across multiple continents. What we do know, is that it’s all one species, and it’s been bred and used for different purposes across the globe.

Just as the trees change from state to state and certain varieties of tomatoes thrive in a pot and lie flat in your garden bed, most plants have developed specific characteristics to help them survive their environments. The same is true of cannabis. The long, stretchy plants we’ve come to know as sativas and the short, stubby plants known as indicas developed these differences to adapt to their environments. Within each sub-species, several distinctions exist as well.

Imagine growing in a room that never has less than 60 percent humidity or less than 14 hours of sunlight. Cannabis sativa is what came out of this aggressive climate, and you can clearly see it in the growth. The long, internodal spacing, the tall, lean structure, and airy buds are a direct result of long fall days and especially the prevalence of humidity. This type of cannabis has thrived in such conditions and spreads its fan leaves to maximize solar absorption while minimizing the potential for mold. Something quite important when it rains and shines every day and it’s over 90 degrees!

GRAPHIC / JAN DOMACENA

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TO L E R A N C E B R E A K Safety First, Substance Second

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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE WITH A FRESH TAKE ON THE CLASSICS

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CWCBEXPO 2016

LOS ANGELES - LA CONVENTION CENTER

SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2016

The cannabis industry’s top brands and thought-leaders will be at the premier show in the cannabis industry that

focuses on investment, entrepreneurship, cannabis business owners, business

services and future industry growth.

Will you be there?

The CWCBExpo is the leading forum for: Dispensary Owners, Growers, Suppliers, Investors, Medical Professionals, Government Regulators, Legal Counsel & Entrepreneurs VISIT

WWW.CANNABISMEANSBUSINESS.COM TO REGISTER

EDUCATION Learn how to navigate regulatory, legal, financial and logistical challenges.

DISCOVERY Explore the technology and services that are revolutionizing the cannabis industry.

NETWORKING Meet face-to-face with the top manufacturers and innovators in the industry.

GROWTH Gather the keys that you will need to profit in the cannabis industry.

EVENTS

DOPE EVENTS SUMMER 2016 WRITER / JENIKA MAO

CHALICE CALIFORNIA July 8–10 San Bernardino

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e sure to attend this year’s third annual Chalice Festival and participate in all three days to enjoy fun outdoor festivities! Explore jaw-dropping glass art, have the opportunity to meet your favorite glass blowers, and witness the Chalice California cannabis competition to see the best hash, edible,

topical, and flower. Last year over 12,000 people attended the event and they expect even more for 2016. Don’t forget to book your travel arrangements to Victorville, California!

INDO EXPO TRADE SHOW August 6–7 Portland

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here do you find the tools of the trade, knowledge, and business solutions? Where do you meet and network with professionals in the cannabis industry? Indo Expo is back for another sold out event! With over 250 companies represented, find the latest in lighting, mediums, nutrients, greenhouses, extractors, trimmers, and genetics. Indo draws in growers, dispensaries, collectives, farms, garden centers, investors, and more, so if you’re in the industry, this is the event to attend.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CANNABIS CONFERENCE & EXPO August 6–7 San Diego

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his year, you can find us at the Southern California Cannabis Conference & Expo in San Diego. Check out innovative new products and take advantage of the opportunity to

meet major investors, policymakers, lawyers, health professionals,

and caregivers. Many store owners, entrepreneurs, executives, members of the press, bloggers, and photographers will all be under one roof seeking to improve the cannabis industry and build new relationships. Purchase your two-day pass today!

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DOPE OUTDOORS

E L EVAT I N G O N T H E PAC I F I C C R E S T T R A I L A LE S S O N IN E XPLOR ATION AND C OMMU NITY WRITER & PHOTO / SEAN JANSEN

Possibly one of the hardest days of my life.

Ultra hard physically and extremely difficult emotionally. But when you're greeted with this as a view at the end of the day, the reward Mother Nature intended you to have is clear.

9,000 feet above Highway 10 in Southern California, and a rock that is perfectly shaped for an afternoon nap on the way down from Mount San Jacinto.

Like Mount Saint Helens once did here in the distance, my partner and I enjoy a sunset exhale.

Crossing the border into Oregon was such a breathe of fresh air. We were more than half way done, the terrain was easier, and smoking was legal! Good times on our down days in Odell Lake, Oregon.

I

T WAS NEVER MEANT to be a vacation. It was never a sojourn or a journey, trip, excursion, or trek. It was a dream. I couldn’t think of anything better than to be in nature, spend 150 days in a sleeping bag, and smell so bad that people at McDonald’s couldn’t stand to be within ten feet of me. I wanted to find comfort in the most bizarre locales, find love where I wasn’t looking, and ultimately find that change I was looking for.

Change came as I moved across the landscape and along the trail, but more importantly, I changed both internally and externally—emotionally, physically, and mentally.

There is something very poignant in waking up to discover six new blisters, a sunburnt forehead, and a headache unlike any that had come before. A unique beauty in watching the sunrise over a Joshua Tree in Southern California when I should have been walking if I wanted to beat the heat. A new found strength in carrying eight liters of water for 38 miles in 90-degree heat, enduring the cold at 9,000 feet and laughing at a storm that brought with it snow instead of rain.

After walking through what many said was the most difficult section, I found myself at the doorstep of the Sierra Nevada, itching to open it. The only way to describe what I saw when I opened that door is that the view was nothing shy of breathtaking. When my muscles began hurting more than usual and my most captivating thought encompassed the need of an oxygen tank, I knew I had made it to the Sierra.

I was greeted by granite peaks, extreme altitude, and a view that high-definition wouldn’t know how to handle.

It meant reaching the top of the climbs then hiking slowly down the backside, cheering John Muir for his legendary voyages. I averaged 9.8 miles a day for 20 days going through the Sierras in an effort to make the most of my

precious time there. After Sierra, the next part of the trip connected me to some of the most incredible humans that I’ve ever met. Sharing 20-plus mile days through gorgeous terrain made the rest of the trail fly by.

This was where cannabis became a huge part of my adventure. It was everything from currency to conversation. Trading for food or whiskey, or introducing yourself to a new hiker, made cannabis my most trustworthy companion. The fact that is was legal in both Oregon and Washington made the experience even more moving. Every strain was like the sip of a fine wine from a different country.

Whether it was digested or smoked, the abundance of THC on the trail was apparent—and every traveler was pleased by the fact.

It was a never-ending chase from volcano to volcano in this strange game of cat and mouse. Starting at Lassen Volcanic National Park and continuing to the Three Sisters in Oregon, I finally made it to the luxurious breakfast buffet at the lodge on Mount Hood.

Most importantly, I captured my first glimpse of Mount Rainier as I rounded one of the fingers of Mount Adams.

The snowcapped spires of the North Cascades shot up to the sky and blew all of my expectations away. From dehydration and deprivation to acceptance and accomplishment, there was nothing in my life that had made me feel so grateful for what was in front of me.

I set off from Campo, California on April 13 at around 2p.m. and finished the trail on October 10 at 1:20pm. Over 180 days, I conquered 2,650 trail miles and hiked 2,781, hiked 46 passes, hitchhiked 39 times, lost 34 pounds, got 27 days of rain, took 22 showers, used 15 fuel canisters, got snowed on six times, went through five pairs of shoes, survived for two days in below freezing temperatures, and had one life-changing adventure.

BRANDING BUD

D E S T I NAT I O N : B R A N D CRAFTING A BRAND’S ESSENCE AROU ND A DESTINATION WRITER / DAVID PALESCHUCK, MBA, CLS

GRAPHICS / BRANDON PALMA

PHOTOS / GIAMARIE GARGANESE / MARLEY NATURAL

Part flower, part magic

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DESTINATION IS a multi-faceted composite of products, services, and experiences unified in such a way that they create a unique, memorable experience. Why do we think of reggae and cannabis when we think of Jamaica? Or Champagne from the south of France? Why would a consumer goods company brand itself with such complexity? Because a strong brand insulates itself from the threat of competition by reducing substitutability, and in a marketplace saturated with many (similar) destinations– and brands or products that represent those destinations–differentiation becomes a viable strategy.

What persuades tourists to visit one place over another is the emotional connection they feel towards the destination. A brand elicits emotions and feelings about a product. So too should a destination brand create the same desired emotional associations.

Destination brands offer visitors an assurance of quality experiences, reduce costs, and establish a unique selling proposition. The most cited reasons for branding a destination include image, recognition, differentiation, consistency, messaging, emotional response, and managed expectations.

Would Jamaica be just another Caribbean Island without reggae? Is vanilla from Madagascar really better? Are South African diamonds clearer? Or is it all marketing and branding?

Lola Lola oils:

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Your ticket to Lolandia

LOLANDIA

Part science; part magic, and a touch of mystery

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BRANDING BUD

“DESTINATION BRANDING IS ABOUT IDENTIFYING THE DESTINATION’S STRONGEST AND MOST COMPETITIVELY APPEALING ASSETS IN THE EYES OF ITS PROSPECTIVE VISITORS AND/ OR CONSUMERS, BUILDING A STORY THAT MAKES THE DESTINATION STAND OUT ABOVE ITS COMPETITORS, AND RUNNING THAT NARRATIVE THROUGH ALL MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS.” Part science; part magic, and a touch of mystery, Lola Lola aims to reinvent the cannabis experience for consumers.

One challenge of destination branding is tying together all the different aspects of the location, especially if it is as large and diverse as an entire country. Obviously, certain facets of the destination will be promoted more heavily than others to certain target groups, but they should be able to be tied back to the destination’s brand. A brand identity needs to be translatable because destinations have so many different stakeholders that must relate to it. A translatable brand also makes itself conducive to sub-positioning and focused targeting. A brand should be both inspirational to create emotional attachment; and aspirational to appeal to consumers’ self-actualization needs.

A point of caution about how inspirational a brand should be, is that there is a trade-off between inspirational and credible brand promises. An inspirational offer is exciting, it appeals to a tourist’s aspirations and emotions. A credible offer is more familiar and believable. The more a brand is based around factual attributes, the less emotionally appealing it will be. However, a brand message that appeals to a tourist’s wildest dreams might set the consumer up for disappointment and the brand up for failure.

A LEGEND AND A PROMISE To combat this, some brands and marketers create their own destinations. Lola LolaTM created Lolalandia. According to legend, Lola Lola bestows good fortune upon all who enjoy the fruits of her flowers. By awakening the vitality of the sun and the purity of the soil, Lola Lola infuses the body with health, happiness, and prosperity. Lola Lola is the essence of wonder, whimsy, and enchantment that permeates every blooming bud and beating heart in the universe.

Through creating a fantasy world, brands can alleviate many of the issues relative to balancing “functionality” and “credibility.” Of course, in order to be a successful brand and create customer loyalty, certain minimum requirements are necessary. The point is, a promise of “365 days a year of perfect weather” in Lolalandia is a lot more ‘tolerable’ than the same promise from a tourism board of an island state. Customers are more flexible, and their expectations are better managed when things are promised ‘tongue in cheek’ or far off in an imaginary land.

Lola Lola focuses on enchantment, romance, alchemy, higher state of consciousness, elegant, dreamy, fairytale like state of mind, aesthetic & ethos.

continued on page 22

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BRANDING BUD

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Marley Natural Marley Natural abounds the senses with hints of Jamaica.

“CONSUMERS OFTEN DON’T BUY PRODUCTS, THEY BUY THE IMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTS.”

Marley Natural’s line of hemp-based products bringing a taste of the Jamaican cannabis lifestyle to consumers.

-KEVIN LANE KELLER, STRATEGIC BRAND MANAGEMENT: BUILDING, MEASURING, AND MANAGING BRAND EQUITY, 4TH EDITION

If any destination and/or product intends to remain relevant, it needs to ensure that its offerings address the changing needs and wants on an ongoing basis. Dialing into the emotions of nations and cultures you wish to reach is critical to branding success.

Destinations can be a country, a region, a city, and most certainly, a product. There is a need to encompass both rational and emotional beliefs. Many factors go into the creation of such beliefs. A tourist’s or consumer’s perception of any country or product will be colored by his (her) own personal experience if they have been there before or bought the product before, by what other people say, and what the media has to say about that destination or product.

As a result, branding a destination or a product around a destination can be complex

and multi-layered. More and more countries are marketing themselves aggressively in the global tourism market, making it harder for brands and associated products that do not update their image constantly, or counter any negative perceptions based on ignorance or fear.

The next time you decide to take a trip or purchase a product associated with a destination, stop for a moment and think: Why am I choosing this product, destination, or brand over another? What experience does it promise me? Will it live up to my expectations?

Will I expand myself through this experience or product?

A happy traveler is a well-informed traveler. Safe journeys.

David Paleschuck, MBA, CLS is a Seattle-based writer, entrepreneur, and marketing expert. He has had a long career in marketing, branding, licensing, and partnership development. He has worked for world-class consumer brands, including American Express, MasterCard, PepsiCo, and Microsoft. He is currently writing a book called Branding Bud: The Commercialization of Cannabis, available in late 2016. Contact him at david@newleaflicensing.com or on twitter @dpaleschuck.

EDITOR’S PICK

WRITER / MEGHAN RIDLEY PHOTO / MARK COFFIN

PHOTO STYLIST / MALINA LOPEZ

2 BUDSUDS Feel like soaking and scrubbing yourself with the sweet scent of Pineapple Express? BudSuds provides that option via their handcrafted soaps that feature dry ice extracted kief combined with coconut oil, ultimately designing a very unique experience for those interested in cannabis topicals. budsudsoap.com @budsudsoap.com Price: $8.99

1 KUSHLEY Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys the smell of cannabis. Handcrafted in Connecticut, Kushley products aim to extinguish the odor of cannabis while simultaneously freshening the air around you with a light and invigorating fragrance. Featuring both sprays and candles, these products are a solid buy for the smoker looking for a little discretion. kushley.com @kushleyllc Prices vary

H E A LT H

B E T T Y K H RO N I C I S REDEFINING EDIBLES LEADERS OF H EALTHY ALTERNATIVES WRITER / MEGAN RUBIO

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HE EDIBLE MARKET IS flooded with treats, sweets, and all sorts of delectable goodness. Most seem to be designed to induce feelings of relaxation, often resulting in couch lock and the urge to devour everything in sight. But is that the future of the edible market?

What will people want one year or three years from now? The team at Betty Khronic says they have the answer. They have created a cannabis-infused energy bar, a product that signals the changing winds in our ever-growing health conscious world.

Betty Khronic was founded by Michael Garcia and Katina Morales. Katina, who is mostly referred to as Betty, is a long distance runner who had been creating her own cannabis-infused products. Training for the Boston Marathon prompted Katina to pursue a line of products for high-performance athletes and working professionals. The initial feedback she received from her patients was overwhelmingly favorable and encouraged her to create a product line that would appeal to a network of people that had yet to be tapped into. Mike, on the other hand, spent 12 years in the army, during which he became a certified chef. Following his military career, he decided to channel his passions for plant-based nutrition, which prompted him to launch a raw vegan energy bar company.

Katina and Mike met in September 2015 at the Los Angeles Cannabis World Congress and

PHOTO / COURTESY OF BETTY KHRONIC

Business Expo, where a mutual friend introduced them. Four months later, the new associates launched Betty Khronic. Mike and Katina’s goal was to maximize the relaxing effects of cannabis in partnership with the active high of a sativa. Their cannabis-infused energy bar is made only from high-grade sativa flower. The duo looks for sativa strains with specific effects, such as elevating the mood or enhancing productivity and focus.

Betty Khronic only buys lab-tested flower before the team does their own oil extraction, using coconut oil instead of alcohol as a healthier alternative. The oil then gets tested at two labs to verify that it meets the requirements of compliance. From there, the oil can be used to make energy bars. In the pursuit of a highquality and consistent product, Betty Khronic only processes six bars at a time. The smaller batches assure that quality can be maintained throughout all batches.

Customer feedback so far has consistently highlighted the quality of the product. One of the most frequent reviews is that consumers appreciate that they don’t have to plan for it.

The energy bars won’t leave customers with a heavy comedown and they’re great to consume before a long day of work. In fact, due to their nutritious ingredients, the bars are wholesome enough that they could even substitute as a meal. They have seven grams of protein per bar and only natural sugars. The low glycemic index could allow for people with diabetes to use this product, whereas most edibles would have sugar doses that are too high.

The energy bars are all vegan and comprised of locally sourced, raw materials. The packaging for the energy bars is also made locally in Oregon. It’s the goal of the team at Betty Khronic for all of their materials to be American made.

More specifically, they’re aiming to source their materials from the West Coast alone. With raw vegan materials at the foundation of the ingredients, consumers are more likely to feel energized as a result of the superfoods included in the bars.

The products crafted by Betty Khronic will fill a void within the edible market. The energy bars come two per package and each bar has 40 milligrams of THC. At $20 for the two bars,

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customers are not only getting a great deal, but they can rest assured knowing the product was made with high-quality ingredients. There are many people moving toward health-conscious diets and lifestyles—and Betty Khronic is a market leader.

“THE ENERGY BARS ARE ALL VEGAN AND COMPRISED OF LOCALLY SOURCED, RAW MATERIALS. THE PACKAGING FOR THE ENERGY BARS IS ALSO MADE LOCALLY IN OREGON. IT’S THE GOAL OF THE TEAM AT BETTY KHRONIC FOR ALL OF THEIR MATERIALS TO BE AMERICAN MADE. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THEY’RE AIMING TO SOURCE THEIR MATERIALS FROM THE WEST COAST ALONE.”

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DOPE OUTDOORS

MAR Y JANE ON THE RO C K S WRITER / BLAZE ROBINSON

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T’S A TYPICAL THURSDAY morning commute with fog and steady traffic heading to Silicon Valley. As we drive south from San Jose, the skies clear and the sun comes out, a good omen for our trip to Castle Rock State Park.

Once there, we meet Robbie V., who makes cannabis-infused protein bars with his company Native Seed, and Robert Quesada, a clonetender at the Oakland Harborside Health Center.

The duo met through Instagram and they quickly bonded over their love of cannabis, bouldering, and living in the Bay Area. Together they are Climbers4Cannabis, a group of activists that seeks to educate and draw attention to the medicinal use of cannabis in the climbing community and for athletes everywhere. On the rock wall, Robert is able to show what heights a toking athlete can reach. Through his Instagram, he can connect to like-minded followers around the state and the world. “I can’t wait until there are no international borders to cannabis,” he said. “I can go medicate and educate anywhere and help people find their medicine.”

Robbie and Robert’s primary form of climbing is bouldering, the simplest form of rock climbing.

It needs no gear: only a willing body and mind.

Robbie and Robert come equipped with some climbing aids: a chalk bag for sweaty hands, a Rasta-colored crash pad, a travel dab case, and climbing shoes (although Robert will later complete a climb in his flip flops, truly showing how little gear is needed).

We start the morning off with a dab of Harborside’s Gold Drop Chernobyl at the base of their first bouldering opportunity. Robert says that he uses cannabis while bouldering to boost his creativity and to help reduce muscle inflammation after a rigorous climb. He prefers “encouraging” strains such as Jack, Tangie, and Haze.

PHOTO / ASHLEIGH CASTRO

While Robert often shares the products he uses on his Instagram, correct dosage depends on the individual. When asked if it is dangerous to climb while high, Robert quotes the old adage “everything in moderation.” He gets high and waits to feel the effects before getting on the rock. As a boulderer, his decision to medicate does not affect other climbers. Robbie prefers medicating with cannabis, which he believes is much safer and cleaner than the pharmaceutical options most athletes use.

Many athletes cannot openly use cannabis for fear of jeopardizing their careers or losing their sponsorships, thus necessitating the need for activism and education in the climbing world and beyond. Robert says that many of the climbers he’s met smoke joints. They don’t know about CBD or terpenes, or what strains are better for climbing, turning to his Instagram to ask questions and share stories.

A couple in their mid-30s keeps their distance from our pot-smoking group.

After watching Robert and Robbie’s work

on a particularly challenging under-hang climb, the man comes over to watch and help spot. When he learns that Robbie makes cannabis energy bars, he recalls the last time he smoked, when he got too high at a wedding years ago.

Robert smiles at me and says, “This is what I am talking about.” Robbie explains how his 1-to-1 THC-to-CBD Lift Bar will keep the man fueled, relieve achiness after the climb, and won’t get him too high.

When asked if the man wants to try some, the man hesitates and says, “Not today.”

His wife, who has been listening in the background, pipes up, “I do!”

Robert explains this is how is how Climbers4Cannabis started. He discovered rock climbing a few years ago and would often climb in his Harborside gear.

Sometimes climbers would be put off by his smoking, but once they saw that his bouldering skills were not hindered, they began to ask questions. With his experience working for a dispensary, Robert was able to educate the public on the me-

dicinal properties of cannabis and break stoner stereotypes. When he met Robbie, he found an ally who shared his wellness philosophy and made a product he believed in.

The couple we met ends up climbing with us for the next two hours. When we head out to our next climbing location, we wave goodbye and leave them with the latest copy of DOPE. Our last stop is Castle Rock, an outcropping of towering sandstone boulders with many caves and overhangs to climb. After a particularly strenuous climb, Robert prepares an ACDC dab with Blue River terpenes to “balance out.”

Smoking CBD strains allows him to climb longer, and with fewer aches and pains the next day. He gestures to the birds chirping in the oaks around us. This is how cannabis is meant to be smoked—outside, being active with friends in the forest.

To learn more about Native Seed, go to nativeseedcreations.com. To follow Robert’s climbing adventures, find his Instagram, @climber4cannabis.

F E AT U R E

WHOOPI GOLDBERG MAYA & MARY JANE SISTER PACT WHY WHOOPI WILL WIN A WEED AWARD AND IT’S A VICTORY FOR WOMEN EVERYWH ERE WRITER / MEGHAN RIDLEY

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hoopi Goldberg has been figuratively bleeding for causes across platforms ranging from entertainment to advocacy for decades. Starring in definitive roles and standing up for humanitarian causes has earned her numerous awards—including being one of only 12 artists in the world to receive an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, better known as the EGOT. Now, with the launch of her medical cannabis brand aimed at relieving symptoms of menstruation and co-founded with seven-time High Times Cannabis Cup winner Maya Elisabeth, Goldberg may be en route to adorning her shelves with yet one more trophy—rounding out her collection of accolades in more high-minded and feminist fashion than many ever conceived.

Periods often bring an onslaught of uncomfortable physical conditions and conversations whenever they’re around. Vague concepts of where they come from are often overshadowed by a difficulty to healthily deal with them once they arrive. This directly affects half the population and indirectly affects us all. Here, the notion of the female population being a “niche” market is something that Goldberg openly scoffs at, reminding us that 50 percent of the individuals on the planet is more of a movement than a niche—especially when it comes to the delicate arena of women’s menstrual health.

“I’ve had difficult periods my whole life, and I’m not alone in that,” Goldberg remarked. “Cannabis has always provided relief. Always.”

PHOTOS / TIMOTHY WHITE AND ALLIE BECKET

F E AT U R E

“WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE WONDERFUL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA AND HOW HELPFUL IT HAS BEEN IN SO MANY LIVES. YOU KNOW PEOPLE HAVE UPROOTED THEIR FAMILIES TO GO GET MEDICINAL MARIJUANA THAT THEY KNOW IS GOING TO HELP THEIR CHILD LIVE A MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE.”

Aiming to bring greater access to this natural remedy to more women—in a fashion that both legitimizes and standardizes the issue—the Whoopi & Maya brand launched in California medical cannabis markets in April 2016. High quality is an understatement when describing the new line now available to their fellow females. Undoubtedly comprised of exemplary cannabis and other synergistic ingredients, it encompasses four products featuring themes of relax, rub, soak, and savor. Within the aforementioned are topical treatments for localized pain, a THC infused bath soak, raw sipping chocolate infused with either CBD or THC, and a THC-infused tincture designed to treat higher levels of menstrual discomfort.

For women, a period is far more than something that happens once a month unless we’re pregnant. It’s more than a painful experience until the symptoms subside. In reality, it’s a part of who we are—and a healthy dose of understanding surrounding this inevitable piece of our female framework is a necessity.

Thankfully, with Whoopi taking the mic on our behalf, a new conversation sits poised and ready. On the topic of being vocal in this new role, Goldberg nonchalantly responded, “I have no issue talking about things that we can do better at.”

While Whoopi + weed + periods certainly lays groundwork for transformational conversations going forward, it is important to note that Goldberg has been advocating on behalf of medical cannabis’ capacity to improve the quality of lives around her, including her own, for years:

“We’ve been able to have wonderful discussions about medicinal marijuana and how helpful it has been in so many lives. You know people have uprooted their families to go get medicinal marijuana that they know is going to help their child live a more productive life.

We also know, that nobody is trying to get their kid high. Right? Nobody is trying to get their kid high.”

Goldberg’s openness surrounding her personal use of medical cannabis for treatment of glaucoma is another potent component to her arsenal of advocacy. Between her affectionate references to and use of her vape pen, named Sippy, and her willingness to speak up regarding its effects, Goldberg elevates the dialogue one wellness-based puff at a time.

Alas, she believes everyone deserves the right to explore the potential: “I don’t need a lot of it, but I do my drops, and if I start to get the headache anyway, I can just do a little sip and it takes care of it.

I don’t have to do a lot of it. And I love that, because I’m in control. I know what I need, I know how much I need—if I have this much pain, this is what I need. If I have this much pain I need two sips—if I have this much pain, I need three or four. So, I love it. I love the fact that I can control my pain and how I get rid of it. I like that. I want more people to have access to that ability. For me, I control it very well on a daily basis.”

While the idea of an everyday dose of medical cannabis may sound like overdoing it to some, Goldberg was careful to clarify her approach with a dose of her iconic humor: “I’m very careful with it. I like to know what I’m ingesting. Also, I don’t like being out of my head in the streets. You know, it used to be when I was in my 20s—everybody wanted to be high. It was fun. Now, a lot of people run up to me and I don’t think that it’s a good thing for me to be high when that happens.”

All of the above factor into why you’ll likely only see Whoopi & Maya products circulating the medical cannabis scene for the time being. While recreational markets are expanding in certain pockets of the country, Goldberg’s candid comments on the topic serve as a healthy reminder of why her focus remains medicinally-minded: “I think the difference between the markets is that there are just people that want to get high. And that’s kind of fantastic and wonderful—they’ll always be there. But the emerging market that has become the medicinal market and the discoveries we’re making as to what can be done—you look at the Stanley brothers with what they’ve done with Charlottes’ Web. It’s kind of phenomenal when you look at the discoveries that we’re making in terms of burn patients who have an itch on the bone, which nothing seems to eradicate except marijuana.

You know, you look at something like someone going through the craziness of chemotherapy. And folks who don’t use marijuana find that they are more listless, that they don’t have any energy. But those who use it for relief from chemotherapy are able to continue on with their day, and make the quality of their life better. They are two separate things-both markets are viable, but for me, I’m more interested in how to make a better quality of life.”

Ultimately, talking periods and cannabis with such an iconic entertainer will produce some colorful commentary, but the topic of menstruation remains complicated. However, for the beautiful mess it can be to be a woman, knowing that Whoopi Goldberg and Mary Jane are joining hands in giving a gentle middle finger to the man in the name of menstrual health, makes bleeding on that porcelain throne feel a bit more—victorious?

Perfecting her alter after a hand-rolled joint, Maya Elisabeth shares how Whoopi & Maya’s mission to create an innovative self-care line became a reality.

Labeled with an action word promoting selfcare, the wellness line contains five products geared toward women for use throughout our moon cycle.

W&M launched on 4/20, receiving phenomenal testimonials.

“This line was kind of Whoopi’s idea,” explains Maya, “I am not a star struck person, though Whoopi’s one of the five people I would love to meet and thank…she’s a star to me and I don’t own a TV.” Like most women, Whoopi’s debilitating periods caused substantial discomfort. Collectively, ladies spend about a quarter of their lives menstruating.

Finding balance between self-care and daily-life can feel impossible without much spare time.

“Women don’t get to take time off for their period and it’s super painful,” Maya expresses. She feels bizarrely lucky to have been linked with Whoopi based on common ground, “Whoopi is a visionary person of positive vision. We have future plans for compassion work. She’s come so far and is a WEGOT (Woman Emmy Grammy Oscar Tony). Nobody else got it like that.”

Inspired by women historically using cannabis tinctures for menstruation, Whoopi was recommended to Maya and her female collective, OM Edibles, through an associate at High Times. The collective guaranteed quality infusions, while femininity was crucial for Whoopi’s developing brand.

OM won 2015 NorCal Cannabis Cup for their bliss-inducing CBD Sipping Cacao. W&M cacao is available in CBD and THC medicine; the super-food cacao is vegan and gluten free.

“Raw cacao is one of the highest antioxidant containing foods on the planet and highest in magnesium.” Before, during, and after our period, women crave magnesium—hence yearning chocolate.

Maya, alongside master herbalist Alexis Gandera, brainstormed infusions for multi-herb soak, salve, and tincture medicines. “Analgesics take away your pain. Cannabis is one and so is white willow bark, which is what they make aspirin out of.”

Starting her cannabis career by working for a dispensary, Maya revolved her life around quality service and enjoys working with people. There, she realized how crucial it is to give time to patients.

Beauty is a definitive aspiration, yet a mystery with so many products having damaging materials.

W&M utilizes “beyond organic” processes to develop discreet and classy products in an ecologically sound way. Essential oils used come from other plant terpenes, and OM’s soothing soaks have been reformulated for W&M’s quality assurance. W&M soaks are available in Lavender, Unscented, and Amber Moon.

Debuting with Amber Moon, W&M uses 100 percent pure neroli oil; a mood lifter that calms nerves and has aphrodisiac qualities. Men especially love the aroma, “It’s very unisex-y,” Maya says.

Maya dreams of W&M availability in spas, though in reality feels ,“these products belong in the purse of any woman on the go.” OM are adapting and preparing to merge their line with W&M. Testimonials are priceless and bring inspiration daily. Every day, patients send feedback that confirms the power of herbal medicine.

Women are noticing restoration and regulation in their cycle, organs and body.

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T R AV E L

J U P I T E R H OT E L OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD ACCOMODATION WRITER / MEGHAN RIDLEY

PHOTO / COURTESY OF JUPITER HOTEL

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HE NOTION OF A 420-friendly vacation has outgrown the stoner pilgrimage to Amsterdam, infiltrating the United States alongside its burgeoning industry of legal cannabis. Among the many options to elevate your next trip, a stay at the Jupiter Hotel stands to guarantee a mind-boggling view of how Mary Jane rolls in Portland.

Uniquely artsy and down to party, the Jupiter Hotel has always been on the forefront of having a good time. From large scale public events to intimate bachelor or bachelorette parties, conscious consumption of beverages and consumables has always been encouraged. With the cannabis game having officially changed, the Jupiter Hotel leads the hospitality industry in offering guests opportunities to elevate their travel experiences with their 420-friendly packages.

T R AV E L

TH E PACKAGES

TH E PLACE What began as a restoration project aiming to convert a 1960s motor lodge, the Jupiter Hotel now takes up a whole city block in the very happening Central Eastside District in the heart of iconic Burnside Avenue. The rooms offer guests the option to stay on either the bar side or chill side of the property, with five different room types designed with the preferential traveler in mind. They also go the extra mile and throw in complimentary Wi-Fi and locally roasted coffee—keeping you dialed in to the world and caffeinated with some of Portland’s finest.

Inside the rooms at the Jupiter Hotel, murals create a larger-than-life presence of everything from Spider-Man comic strips to portraits of John Lennon. While the standard single and double bed options exist, should you have the opportunity, the DreamSuite puts the high life on a whole new and rather funky pedestal. Featuring a king-sized bed, living area, wet bar, and a couple of flat screen televisions, you’ll have no shortage of options for crafting an entertaining stay while visiting the Jupiter Hotel. Each room also features a chalkboard door, where you can tap into your creative spirit with some drawing and note-writing that may end up showcased on the Jupiter Hotel’s website.

Beyond what amenities make the Jupiter Hotel a standout destination, the self-described “late night” culture on the property is unique in the Portland hospitality scene. The Doug Fir Lounge is the hot spot onsite, and where the mid-century modern feel of the Jupiter Hotel is accentuated by decidedly Northwest woodwork that encases the chic hideaway. Whether you’re looking for great music, fine food, or a stiff cocktail, the Doug Fir Lounge won’t disappoint. Gallery @ the Jupiter also comes highly recommended as a unique option to familiarize yourself with the emerging art scene in ever-quirky Portland.

The Jupiter Hotel has many packages available that are designed to authenticate your Portland experience. While the PDX Brews and Booze Experience, and VooDoo Doughnuts Package will set you up for some undoubtedly good times, the 420 Experience stands to hook you up in an entirely different way.

Being built around the theme “legally awesome,” the Jupiter Hotel has teamed with local businesses to properly welcome guests to their pot-friendly home away from home. Here, you can add on to your trip with options that include a cannabis-themed “Everything but the Weed” kit, featuring a BridgeTown Weed Tour, taking you to all the best pot stops and shops Portland has to offer. Should you elect to upgrade, the welcome gear includes a vaporizer pen for partaking with discretion, an assortment of apparel to commemorate your stay, discount coupons to score deals on your weed, and a fine array of munchies to stuff your smiling face when you’ve found yourself surprisingly hungry.

At the end of the day, Portland is known for being simply weird. Through their open-minded approach to accommodating others while they visit the Rose City, the Jupiter Hotel will continue to push the envelope and create a space for those looking to stray from the well-beaten path for years to come. As co-owner Kelsey Bunker said, “We wanted a place where you could go as a stranger and end up being part of a community, where the underground became the obvious, and where you were rewarded for looking a little deeper.”

“WE WANTED A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD GO AS A STRANGER AND END UP BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY, WHERE THE UNDERGROUND BECAME THE OBVIOUS, AND WHERE YOU WERE REWARDED FOR LOOKING A LITTLE DEEPER.”-KELSEY BUNKER

R OA D T R I P

D E T RO I T FROM PETROLEUM TO POT WRITER & PHOTOS / SHARON LETTS

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HE AUTO INDUSTRY IN Detroit has been dismantled for decades, leaving the “Big Three,” General Motors, the Ford Motor Company, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US barely standing. Its neighborhoods have become a virtual wasteland of burned-out homes and empty fields. Unions were to blame, they said, but with Third World countries offering up cheap labor, the corporate bottom line, not human need, took precedence.

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LEGALIZE TO EDUCATE Since the knowledge of industrial hemp for fuel and materials has resurfaced, those in the know are looking to the auto industry for real changes in our transportation’s environmental footprint.

In 2013, BMW announced its i3 electric model was made lighter and more efficient by using hemp fibers throughout; while Ford announced its cars will have 30 percent worth of recycled content.

Cannabis as medicine has been legal in Michigan since voters gave it the nod in 2008, with 18 cities decriminalizing its use altogether, including Detroit. Verbiage on Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ (LARA) website states, “The program implements the statutory tenets of this act in such a manner that protects the public and assures the confidentially of its participants.”

Nice words, but not exactly true, as the state nor its cities and counties have adopted workable ordinances to protect those who would help patients with safe access under state law.

Dozens of recent raids have shut down medical storefronts operating without the safety net of a business license. Dispensaries operate under caregiver licenses only, allowing just five patients per license under a drafty umbrella.

Now anticipating legalization for recreational use, cities in Michigan are panicking, enacting bans that would stop further education on good medicine. But the irony of legalization is the lack of persecution actually allows medicine makers to come out of the smoky closet of prohibition, with communities getting healed–not wasted–and less money going to pharmaceutical companies.

PETROLEUM BASED PHARMA In 1949, Morris Allison Bealle penned The Drug Story, tracing the beginning of the petroleum-based pharmaceutical industry to the 1860s and William Rockefeller’s first patent of raw petroleum as a cure for cancer while revealing its frauds.

Father to John D. Rockefeller, William was a farmer in upstate New York until 1850 when he moved to Cleveland and registered as a “physician,” peddling his snake oil of raw petroleum called “Nujol” or “new oil,” with son John’s Standard Oil researchers seeing huge profits from byproduct that would have otherwise been tossed.

Today there are more than 300 cannabis dispensaries within Detroit’s city limits, and while they recently adopted a business license process, it’s limited to “Medical Marihuana Caregiver Centers,” with each employee of said centers requiring a caregiver license. Any retail center operating prior to the new ordinance will be noted as “operating illegally.”

AS DETROIT GRAPPLES WITH ITS EVER CRUMBLING ECONOMY, THE HOPE IS THAT THE EDUCATION OF CANNABIS AS MEDICINE, AND THE BOUNTY THAT HEMP HAS TO OFFER, WILL REACH ITS OFFICIALS IN TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR MANY.

ILLEGALLY H EALED To make matters worse, the lack of education on ingesting cannabis as real medicine–not just smoking to relieve symptoms and getting high–is prominent throughout even the cannabis community.

For along with Detroit’s newfound ordinances allowing licensing, the city simultaneously enacted a ban on concentrates made with Butane hash oil (BHO), leaving many shelves empty–albeit for flower to smoke.

Detroit patients must now travel to other cities for edible or topical products–boosting the economy of more fortunate neighborhoods. Or, they go back to the black market, as was witnessed by this writer during a visit to a Detroit apartment when a guest emerged from a back bedroom, hands full of infused gummy bears, topical salve, and a few cartridges of CBD smoking oil.

The Detroit resident purchasing the products was suffering from myriad side effects from cancer treatments, medicating illegally within his own city limits, in a medically legal state.

As Detroit grapples with its ever crumbling economy, the hope is that the education of cannabis as medicine, and the bounty that hemp has to offer, will reach its officials in time to make a difference for many. Until then, the plant continues to prevail for patients in spite of the Midwestern mindset and the powers that be.

R OA D T R I P

A B R I E F H I S TOR Y OF P LA N T- BAS E D FU ELS AN D M AT E R I ALS IN TH E AUTO M OTIVE I N DUS T RY WRITER / SHARON LETTS

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ENRY FORD AND THOMAS EDISON were close friends. The two owned winter homes next door to each other in Florida, where Edison had a botanical library researching industrial uses of plants. Both were friends of farmers and convinced that the energy from plants and the industrial materials they produced could be used for the greater good.

By 1941 Ford had created a car made of plastic manufactured and fueled mostly from plants.

“It will be a car of darn sight better design in every form,” he announced via the New York Times in February of 1941. “And don’t forget the motor car business is just one of the industries that can find new uses for plastics, made from what’s grown in the land!”

Three hundred pounds lighter than Ford’s steelframed model and said to be more durable than metal, his plastic car from the garden was made from a combination of “strong fibers,” that included corn, ramie, hemp, straw, soy, and slash pine fiber– fueled, in part, by a combination of ethanol made from corn.

Ironically, DuPont had already created the first synthetic material from petroleum in 1935, with its own patent for Nylon registered in 1937. Nylon initially replaced silk for women’s hosiery, but the petroleum-based material was just the start of a plastic industrial revolution that spawned the pharmaceutical industry–successfully replacing plantbased medicines.

Though electric cars had been produced around the world since the late 1800s, saving energy via batteries, combined with a lack of speed, did not make them attractive to the consumer. Ford himself built one as an experiment in 1895 and was said to have had a personal collection of electric cars made at the time.

It wasn’t until 1913 that Ford announced via the New York Times, “Within a year, I hope, we shall begin the manufacture of an electric automobile…The fact is that Mr. Edison and I have been working for some years on an electric automobile which would be cheap and practicable… The problem so far has been to build a storage battery of lightweight, which would operate for long distance without recharging.

Mr. Edison has been experimenting with such a batter for some time.”

An energy plant was purchased in Niagra Falls and a manufacturing plant was set-up in Dearborn, but all was lost by fire in December of 1914. Instead, Ford went into production with his combustion engine that was said to be less costly to the consumer.

Some speculate the drug war was created out of sheer prejudice to minorities, specifically blacks and Hispanics where cannabis, then hemp, were concerned. Did the powers that be use prejudice as smoke and mirrors to demonize hemp, and the use of plant-based fuels and industrial materials?

We can’t change the past, but we can move forward with the newfound knowledge of the power of plants, specifically hemp, and its relationship to the sun and the energy found naturally on our planet.

CANNA-NEWS

T H E A RT O F V I RT UA L VACAT I O N I N G T RAV E LIN G THE WOR LD FROM HOME WRITER / JOHNNY HALFHAND

GRAPHIC / JAN DOMACENA

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ACATIONING IS A CORNERSTONE of the American dream. But what happens if you’re disabled? Dealing with a disability in itself is a full-time job. The day-today of chronic pain is a grueling and soul-crushing job, but one for which we aren’t compensated. If we receive welfare assistance, it covers rent and maybe a portion of one’s food and medical budget. Any vacation is hard to come by, but we deserve them just as much as anyone, to recharge and come back to our problems refreshed and inspired.

THERE’S A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN SEE RIGHT AT HOME FOR FREE. SEEK OUT REJUVENATION AND INSPIRATION IN UNCOMMON PLACES. TO QUOTE TOM AND DONNA OF PARKS & RECREATION , “TREAT YO’ SELF!”

Beyond the material limitations, having a chronic illness or disability can make taking a holiday physically difficult, frustrating, or even outright painful. Last year I had the good fortune to go on a trip to France with my family and enjoy a cruise along the Rhône River, which we thought would be a great compromise for my family’s wanderlust and my limitations of polyarticular arthritis. However, the extensive travel time, being packed into tight seating, and the added stress and fatigue tore several days of exploration away from me. I had to watch from my cabin as elderly tourists ran circles around me. It was a hard lesson to swallow, that disability can make travel so much more complicated. After a few days’ rest and with my girlfriend’s aid, I was able to see some amazing sights at our ports of call, making use of short walks and a friendly Lyonnaise taxi driver.

After that trip, I began exploring everything the internet could tell me about the Inside Passage, a stunningly beautiful maritime route that extends from Puget Sound through the Salish Sea, weaving between the hundreds of islands of British Columbia’s wild coastline up to Alaska. Without a ship of my own, I attempted to recreate a voyage in my mind. It was this experience that uncovered the art of virtual vacationing.

GOOGLE EARTH & GOOGLE MAPS The amount of geographical data Google has accumulated is astounding. Make use of it!

With Google Earth, you can see the texture of mountains, hills, and valleys and fly over them with a bird’s eye view. (You can even fly over the Moon and Mars!) Google Maps also offers a world of information if you don’t want to install Google Earth. Explore the places you’ve always wanted to visit. Follow roads, find landmarks, read about them on Wikipedia, drop the little orange guy on the map, and see vistas others have photographed.

Experience panoramas and 360-degree images of Vancouver, Vienna, or Vladivostok. I loved taking a flight of imagination from the San Juan Islands up to Haida Gwaii, learning fascinating tidbits about the area’s history along the way.

YOUTUBE If you’re like me and miss hiking, then take advantage of the channels on YouTube that provide tours through America’s National Parks. The channel “At Home in Wild Spaces” has a variety of high-quality videos walking one through some of these remote places. No nausea-inducing camera handling here. You can see the depths of Zion Canyon, the Grand Tetons, or the Hoh Rainforest. Another channel worth checking out is “58NationalParks.”

Set video to full screen, sit back with your vape, and let the cameraman take you for a ride.

Rick Steves also does a number of shows on European cities which are available to watch on his YouTube channel, “Rick Steves Europe.”

TRAVELOGUES Netflix has a number of quality travel shows. Anthony Bourdain is a great host who goes above and beyond his job as a food critic, discovering a locale’s culture, history, and people through the lens of local cuisine in shows like "No Reservations" and "The Layover". Ricky Gervais’, "An Idiot Abroad" is a hilarious tour of the world through a dour English pessimist’s point of view, which might make you feel better about some of your own difficulties traveling.

"The Human Planet" and "Wild China" also offer very beautiful looks at far-off places.

VIDEO GAMES Maybe you’re tired of this old Earth and want to see something new. Even if you cannot afford a virtual reality headset, there are a wide variety of worlds to explore. Massive multiplayer worlds like Destiny, Eve Online, and Black Desert Online offer immersion and community. Single-player games like Skyrim or Fallout 4 have stunningly beautiful worlds to explore. Increasingly, research is showing that games reduce the experience of chronic pain by engaging the mind and inducing a state of ease.

It’s a big world out there with many opportunities for everyone. Having a disability is rough and can stifle your curiosity over time, but don’t let it close you off from the world.

Be a part of it. See it, enjoy it, and share what you’ve learned with others. There’s a whole lot you can see right at home for free. Seek out rejuvenation and inspiration in uncommon places. To quote Tom and Donna of Parks & Recreation, “Treat yo’ self!”

G ROW

S T R A I N I N G TO S E E THE DIFFERENCE THE ORIGIN S O F SATIVA AND INDIC A STR AINS WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

W

ITH ALL THE CRAZY and even beautiful cannabis names and strains out there, it makes you wonder: where did all these strains come from?

I mean, if cannabis has been seen in human history for thousands of years, why do we just now have Maui Waui, or more importantly, ACDC? Before we can jump into the complexities of breeding, it would be nice to have a little clarity on the differences between sativa and indica, and even where all these strains came from.

The unique thing about cannabis is we don’t know exactly whether the plant first grew in one place or if it developed simultaneously across multiple continents. What we do know, is that it’s all one species, and it’s been bred and used for different purposes across the globe.

Just as the trees change from state to state and certain varieties of tomatoes thrive in a pot and lie flat in your garden bed, most plants have developed specific characteristics to help them survive their environments. The same is true of cannabis. The long, stretchy plants we’ve come to know as sativas and the short, stubby plants known as indicas developed these differences to adapt to their environments. Within each sub-species, several distinctions exist as well.

Imagine growing in a room that never has less than 60 percent humidity or less than 14 hours of sunlight. Cannabis sativa is what came out of this aggressive climate, and you can clearly see it in the growth. The long, internodal spacing, the tall, lean structure, and airy buds are a direct result of long fall days and especially the prevalence of humidity. This type of cannabis has thrived in such conditions and spreads its fan leaves to maximize solar absorption while minimizing the potential for mold. Something quite important when it rains and shines every day and it’s over 90 degrees!

GRAPHIC / JAN DOMACENA

On the flipside, we have our Middle Eastern desert cannabis. Intense sun, high winds, and drastic variable temperatures forced this plant to stay compact and flower fast.

The amazing density we’ve come to expect stems from the bushy ancestors that we’ve been breeding for decades.

The low humidity, high volume of air exchange, and near non-existence of molds and mildews are what allowed this growth profile to persevere.

Where we have both sides of the fence, there is always an in-between. When humans came across these different phenotypes, or strains of cannabis, there weren’t only two types of the plant. Sativa and indica represent two of the main growth types we see from across the world, but in reality, there were thousands of naturally bred hybrids showing a cornucopia of different traits and blends of the two. Once humans got involved, various strains were bred for different needs. From hemp to high, we made it work for us through strategic breeding over centuries.

Regardless of the phenotype, 27 percent THC wasn’t likely to have been naturally found in any of the strains our ancestors would have come across. In fact, the anecdotal notion that cannabis has gotten stronger over the decades is indeed accurate. An increase in the desired chemical profiles of our favorite plant is exactly what breeders have been trying to do. By crossing plants with desirable traits and weeding out the others, breeders have learned how to target and stabilize the genetics toward a specific goal.

Now that we can finally test and, in some states, research cannabis and its medicinal benefits, we’re seeing the storm of CBD and the lives it can change. While it took over 30 years to breed from 15 percent to 25 percent THC, as a community we’ve managed to breed several strains of high CBD plants in only a matter of years.

Thanks to technology and the changing tides of our legal system, cannabis breeding is finally re-opening itself to the rest of the world. As we explore forgotten methods and discover new ones, we recognize that we are at the cusp of what cannabis can be. The plant has already shifted from its position at the forefront of the War on Drugs to an accepted treatment for cancer. It begs the question: where will we bring cannabis next, and where will cannabis bring us?

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HILE THE LANSING, MICHIGAN cannabis community struggles with a lack of ordinances, business licensing, and a general understanding of cannabis as medicine, Extreme CannaQuest Expo co-organizer Maria Green is choosing to educate the public via a little fun.

Green said the Lansing event that took place at the end of April wasn’t just about cannabis — it was about living a holistic lifestyle comprised of medicinal herbs, eco-friendly products, and getting back to basics. “Our event took into account other natural health and healing,” Green explained. “My mission is to help people see cannabis as the medicinal herb it is again. We pushed so long to get people to see it as medicine, they now see it as a pharmaceutical, and we’d like to reign that in a little.”

Surprising products like hemp-based laundry detergent were available, along with a plethora of medibles, flower, and personal care products. All were judged, with beautiful

hand blown glass trophies given for the first ever Crystal Trichome Awards at event’s end.

Jeremy Hall was on hand from the First Cannabis Church of Logic and Reason, expounding on the endocannabinoid system and the need of bringing spirituality back into the cannabis conversation.

“DUber” Taxi shuttled expo attendees to and from the airport in a well-stocked minivan, promising “DUI-proof mobility for MMMP patients and caregivers,” an indication that Michigan just might be ready for legalization.

Visiting speakers included failed drug war POW Robert Platshorn of Florida’s The Silver Tour, speaking on how to turn the senior vote around; Jeff Mizansky, a longtime cannabis POW from Missouri who shared his story; and patient/activist Adela Falk, advocating for those incarcerated for the plant. Falk’s POW 420 tagline, “No one belongs in jail for a plant,” has gone viral with its simple message.

IT’S PERSONAL Education is what Maria Green is all about. As editor of Michigan cannabis magazine, Hybrid Life, she educates her readers from a personal standpoint. She became an activist after she and husband Steve Green’s home was raided in 2013, and eight month-old Bree was taken

by Child Protective Services.

Maria medicates with CBD cannabis oil for myriad symptoms from Multiple Sclerosis, while Steve medicates for epilepsy. They had a medicinally legal home farm at the time of the raid, but baby Bree — who Maria was nursing at the time — was taken away for several weeks, then returned with all charges dropped with a medical defense acknowledged.

The experience was enough for Maria to dig deeper into Michigan pot politics, creating Extreme CannaQuest in an effort to further educate the masses by bringing an eclectic mix of speakers into the conversation.

NEWS

MARKETING GOOD MEDICINE IN MICHIGAN “IF WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND MENTOR EACH OTHER, THE INDUSTRY HERE WILL GROW IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.” -JAMIE GOSWICK

HOSPICE, H EALING & TH E H ERB Mainstream Michigan nurse Cathleen Graham, RN, CHPN, spoke about her work as a cannabis copasetic case manager with Hospice of Michigan for the past seven years.

Recently promoted to manager, Graham said she advocates on her own time and dime, traveling to Lansing to speak for the first time on palliative care and cannabis.

“As a registered nurse and case manager, I have been directly involved with the care of dozens of Michigan patients whose endof-life journey was significantly helped by medical cannabis,” she shared from the podium. “From my personal experience I’ve seen cannabis accomplish many things, including controlling nausea with chemotherapy; stimulating appetites when facing malnutrition; easing muscle spasms; and decreasing pain, while improving the ability to focus and interact.”

Graham said people are surprised to hear that in all her years of caring for patients using cannabis, only one actually smoked flower with fire. Most ingested tinctures and capsules, used topical lotions, and inhaled via vaporizers.

“The challenges I face with advocating for patient safety for those that use cannabis at the state level is that I am the only medical professional coming forward to educate our elected officials,” she informed. “Currently there are not any medical groups that support the cannabis bills in Michigan because of their lack of patient safety precautions.”

Jamie Goswick is co-founder and CMO of Canna Closet, a lifestyle company based in Michigan offering at-home parties with presentations of products. She, with co-founder Stacey Thompson, are putting an intelligent face on cannabis consumption, while breaking stereotypes of what the typical stoner looks like.

Her talk during the expo was on marketing cannabis in the conservative state, which she said is a “huge challenge” due to the lack of ordinances city to city and no business licenses available in most cities, including Lansing. “Without proper permitting offered to legitimate medical businesses, in the eyes of law enforcement, some businesses are operating illegally,” she explained. “Business owners are hesitant on putting themselves out there. What they don’t understand is how important it is to market themselves before the big legalization boom in Michigan. If they wait too long, then they will be competing with companies who have much larger marketing budgets.”

Goswick said she really appreciated the “business track” at the conference, as it provided a great opportunity for those already in the industry to help those just getting started.

“There are so many people in this state that can be a great resource for those wanting to learn more,” she surmised. “If we all come together and mentor each other, the industry here will grow in a very positive way.”

Overall the expo was informative and much needed in the Midwestern state. Observations from California patients were that the Midwest is about 10 years behind West Coast cannabis mentality on the herb as medicine.

Legalization brings confidence to medicine makers and patients already eager to share their stories. Legalization means education and healing, two much needed things on Michigan soil.

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L E GA L W E E D ARE W E GOOD TO GROW YET? PART I WRITER / MARK M. WARD

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OGETHER WE HAVE FOUGHT ffor legal cultivation in states with recreational and medical cannabis, and the results have been mixed. There are 40 states with medical marijuana laws enacted, and among these are 16 states with laws that pertain to legal, non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD). Several states have passed laws permitting the use of CBD extract containing insignificant amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Often utilized for treatment of epilepsy or seizures in critically ill children, it typically comes in oil form.

For the purposes of this article, we will set aside CBD-specific laws. The reason being that CBD-specific laws do not allow for the use of the cannabis plant itself for medical purposes and these states do not allow home cultivation.

Twenty two states and Washington D.C. have medical legalization that permits patients to possess cannabis. Out of these medical cannabis states, eight do not authorize home growing for patients. To break that down, 41 states and Washington D.C. have some form of medical legislation, 23 states that grant patients access to the cannabis plant, but only 14 states and Washington D.C. allow patients to grow their own medicine. The question is then raised, why is there such a dramatic difference in state-to-state medical cannabis laws?

Possession limits for patients vary greatly from state to state with no apparent rhyme or reason. Alaska has a patient possession limit of one ounce, while Oregon has a 24-ounce limit. State plant count differs just as considerably between states, with no seemingly ra-

tional influence on possession limit. Currently California does not have concrete possession or cultivation limits. To further illustrate how irrational the plant-to-possession counts are, Rhode Island patients can have 12 mature plants and 12 seedlings but may only possess two and a half ounces of usable harvest. It seems either lawmakers do not comprehend basic cannabis cultivation or they made a system designed for patients to fail, thus forcing cultivation to become an exclusively commercial institution.

In many states that authorize patients to grow, state laws do not allow cultivation in a home that is within a certain proximity to a dispensary—in Arizona, home grows cannot be within a 25 mile radius of a dispensary. Rhode Island lawmakers have proposed a tax on every plant a patient grows. “The $350-per-plant fee that Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo wants to impose on growers is an extreme, regressive taxation on this life-saving drug,” said Tony Jones, who ran for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 2014. “Moreover, this tax will be exclusively levied on the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders amongst us: cancer patients, sufferers of multiple sclerosis, paralysis, etc. This is perhaps the most disgusting exercise of raw governmental power that I’ve seen in my time as a political activist.”

It’s clear that until the federal government reschedules cannabis, we’ll continue to see a patchwork of state-led legislative initiatives that are more informed by politics than by public health.

ARIZONA ALASKA

YEAR PASSED: 1998 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: BALLOT MEASURE 8 (58%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 1 OUNCE USABLE; 6 PLANTS (3 MATURE, 3 IMMATURE)

YEAR PASSED: 2010 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: PROPOSITION 203 (50.13%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2.5 OUNCES USABLE; 12 PLANTS (ENCLOSED, LOCKED FACILITY. RESIDENCE MUST BE FURTHER THAN 25 MILES FROM A STATE-LICENSED DISPENSARY.)

CALIFORNIA

YEAR PASSED: 1996 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: PROPOSITION 215 (55.6%) POSSESSION LIMIT: UP TO 100-SQUARE-FEET FOR PERSONAL USE

COLORADO

YEAR PASSED: 2000 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: BALLOT AMENDMENT 20 (53.5%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2 OUNCES USABLE; 6 PLANTS (3 MATURE, 3 IMMATURE)

CONNECTICUT

YEAR PASSED: 2012 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: HOUSE BILL 5389 (96-51 H, 21-13 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: ONE MONTH SUPPLY (MAX 2.5 OZ NO HOME GROW)

DC

YEAR PASSED: 2010 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: AMENDMENT ACT B18-622 (13-0 VOTE) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2 OUNCES DRIED; LIMITS ON OTHER FORMS TO BE DETERMINED (NO HOME GROW)

YEAR PASSED: 2011 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: SENATE BILL 17 (27-14 H, 17-4 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 6 OUNCES USABLE (NO HOME GROW)

MARYLAND

ILLINOIS

YEAR PASSED: 2013 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: HOUSE BILL 1 (61-57 H; 35-21 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2.5 OUNCES OF USABLE CANNABIS DURING A PERIOD OF 14 DAYS (NO HOME GROW)

DELAWARE

MAINE

YEAR PASSED: 1999 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: BALLOT QUESTION 2 (61%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2.5 OUNCES USABLE; 6 PLANTS

MINNESOTA

YEAR PASSED: 2014 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: HOUSE BILL 881 (125-11 H; 44-2 S) (NOT YET OPERATIONAL) POSSESSION LIMIT: 30-DAY SUPPLY, AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED (NO HOME GROW)

MONTANA

YEAR PASSED: 2008 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: PROPOSAL 1 (63%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2.5 OUNCES USABLE; 12 PLANTS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

NEW MEXICO

YEAR PASSED: 2010 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: SENATE BILL 119 (48-14 H; 25-13 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2 OUNCES USABLE PER MONTH (NO HOME GROW)

YEAR PASSED: 2007 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: SENATE BILL 523 (36-31 H; 32-3 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 6 OUNCES USABLE; 16 PLANTS (4 MATURE, 12 IMMATURE)

RHODE ISLAND

VERMONT

YEAR PASSED: 2013 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: HOUSE BILL 573 (284-66 H; 18-6 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2 OUNCES OF USABLE CANNABIS (NO HOME GROW)

OREGON

YEAR PASSED: 1998 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: BALLOT MEASURE 67 (55%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 24 OUNCES USABLE; 24 PLANTS (6 MATURE, 18 SEEDLINGS)

YEAR PASSED: 2006 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: SENATE BILL 0710 (52-10 H; 33-1 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2.5 OUNCES USABLE; 12 PLANTS; 12 SEEDLINGS (INDOOR)

YEAR PASSED: 2000 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: SENATE BILL 862 (32-18 H; 13-12 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 4 OUNCES USABLE; 7 PLANTS

MASSACHUSETTS

YEAR PASSED: 2013 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: BALLOT QUESTION 3 (63.3%) POSSESSION LIMIT: LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 10 OUNCES EVERY 2 MONTHS

NEVADA

YEAR PASSED: 2014 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: SENATE BILL 2470 (46-16 S; 89-40 H) POSSESSION LIMIT: 30-DAY SUPPLY OF NON-SMOKABLE MARIJUANA (NO HOME GROW)

MICHIGAN

HAWAII

YEAR PASSED: 2004 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: INITIATIVE 148 (62%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 1 OUNCE USABLE; 4 PLANTS (MATURE); 12 SEEDLINGS

YEAR PASSED: 2004 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: SENATE BILL 76 (22-7), HB 645 (82-59) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2 OUNCES USABLE; 9 PLANTS (2 MATURE, 7 IMMATURE)

All information found in this table was sourced from ProCon.org and NORML at: www.medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 and www.norml.org/legal/medical-marijuana-2

YEAR PASSED: 2001 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: BALLOT QUESTION 9 (65%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 2.5 OUNCES USABLE; 12 PLANTS (MUST BE 25+ MILES FROM A DISPENSARY, UNLESS SPECIFIC STRAIN ISN'T AVAILABLE)

NEW YORK

YEAR PASSED: 2014 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: ASSEMBLY BILL 6357 (117-13 A; 49-10 S) POSSESSION LIMIT: 30-DAY SUPPLY OF NON-SMOKABLE PREPARATIONS

WASHINGTON

YEAR PASSED: 1998 MEASURE AND PERCENT IN FAVOR: INITIATIVE 692 (59%) POSSESSION LIMIT: 16 OUNCES USABLE; 15 PLANTS *AS OF JULY 1, 2016, WASHINGTON STATE LAW ALLOWS PATIENTS TO ENTER A VOLUNTARY DATABASE WHICH WILL PERMIT THEM TO POSSESS UP TO SIX PLANTS AND EIGHTS OUNCES OF USABLE MARIJUANA, WITH AN ALLOWANCE OF UP TO 15 PLANTS AND 16 OUNCES WITH A DOCTOR'S AUTHORIZATION. ALL PATIENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE DATABASE WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO POSSESS FOUR PLANTS AND SIX OUNCES.

CANNA-NEWS

TO S M O K E OR TO S E I Z E CANNABIS ISN’T A PROBLEM—IT’S A SOLUTION WRITER / KELLY VO

W

HENEVER SOMEONE SPEAKS OUT against cannabis my first thought is, “I wonder if they’ve ever spoken to a user?”

It only takes a few conversations with advocates to realize that all of the stigma and fear associated with cannabis is packed with misinformation. Cannabis has done so much good for so many people. All it takes is a willingness to keep an open mind and listen.

Mylene Delaire is a cannabis advocate who works at Essence Cannabis Dispensary on the Las Vegas Strip—the first and only legal dispensary on Las Vegas Boulevard. She’s also the founder of a small non-profit called the Time Travelers Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting epilepsy and seizure awareness.

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Mylene Delaire was a 16-year-old girl just like any other, except that she suffered from epilepsy. At first, she only experienced one grand mal seizure a year, and so life was pretty normal—until it wasn’t.

In May 2013, she had a grand mal seizure that sent her tumbling down the stairs. As a result of the fall, she cut open her chin and broke her jaw. From that point forward, her seizures increased in frequency until she could no longer hold down a job or drive a car. Her normal life disappeared.

Traditional treatment options didn’t work.

The medications killed her appetite, deprived her of sleep for days, and bombarded her with suicidal thoughts. As a naturally bubbly person, her treatment created a nightmare.

When Mylene went to college in California, she had to deal with her epilepsy on her own for the first time. That was when she had to make a decision: continue to suffer from epilepsy and suicidal thoughts or find something different to help.

Growing up, cannabis wasn’t an option. Born and raised in a strong and opinionated French military family, cannabis was considered a drug, not a medicine. Her boyfriend finally convinced her to give it a try and her entire life changed. “Using cannabis is huge for me,” Mylene said. “It helps me enjoy an almost normal life, and this is priceless.”

Not only does cannabis help stop Mylene’s seizures, it also helps her recover more quickly.

“I typically have small seizures before having a grand mal, but if I can smoke, it usually stops,” she said. “Smoking after a seizure also helps tremendously with the pain. While seizing, all muscles in my body become stiff and tense.

When I wake up, my entire body and head ache tremendously. Smoking cannabis helps with the pain.”

Mylene remembers a particularly bad day at work. She’d arrived at the office at 8 a.m. and immediately began seizing. At first, the seizures

were hardly noticeable, but it was only a matter of time before they became more violent and dangerous. Finally, she took cannabis.

“I fell into a very nice and cozy sleep,” Mylene said. “It was miraculous. I had been seizing for the past four to six hours, and only after smoking did I feel peace!”

From that point forward, Mylene became an advocate. Now she works in the cannabis industry to help patients just like her. “I still can’t believe this drug isn’t legalized everywhere,” she said. “Something people don’t know is that up to 50,000 people die from seizures every year in the U.S. That’s why having something that can safely and instantaneously stop seizures is truly miraculous for us. What is more important than saving lives?”

“When you have epilepsy, you suffer from a plethora of stigmas,” she said. “The great part about working in the cannabis industry is that I can relate to a lot of people. I can relate to people that have trouble with their sleep, with seizures, and with pain. I take immense pleasure in helping others and letting patients know what can help them.”

Unfortunately, since cannabis isn’t legal everywhere, Mylene is faced with some tough choices. “I can’t carry cannabis, nor can I consume whenever I need it,” she said. “So, as of right now, if I feel a seizure coming and I am walking in the middle of the street, I have to choose between the risk of smoking and being arrested, or having a seizure and potentially harming myself or even dying. What would you choose? Do you think it’s fair that patients have to choose?”

When it comes down to it, Mylene takes the approach of living life to the best of her ability.

“Life is too short to worry about cannabis.

There are a lot of important problems in this world, and cannabis shouldn’t be one of them. It should be a solution to some of those important problems.”

“IF I FEEL A SEIZURE COMING AND I AM WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE RISK OF SMOKING AND BEING ARRESTED, OR HAVING A SEIZURE AND POTENTIALLY HARMING MYSELF OR EVEN DYING. WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?” -MYLENE DELAIRE

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T R AV E L

P R AG U E 2016 TH E MILLION MARIHUANA MARCH WRITER & PHOTOS / SESHATA

T

HE 2016 MILLION MARIHUANA March (MMM) is the Czech variant of the Global Cannabis March, which takes place all over the world each May. Over the course of the weekend, the march offered the most up-to-date information about the cannabis scene in the Czech Republic, along with useful tips to help discerning canna-tourists make the most of their experience.

The crowd at the Prague MMM was huge, and the atmosphere was electric throughout the day. As we walked through the historic city, we were greeted by a sea of smiling onlookers, who observed the costumed advocates with friendly expressions and not a hint of disapproval.

Later, we marched over the glittering Vltava River through Letenská Tunnel toward

the vast green expanse of Letna Park. As we marched through the tunnel, tens of thousands of voices whooped and yelled, reverberating through the space and rendering the cavernous atmosphere tribal, fierce, and primal. A deep sense of unity and purpose seemed to pervade the crowd as they strode firmly forward.

After walking over a kilometer through the tunnel, we streamed out like a triumphant army and proceeded on to the final battlefield, known as Letna Park.

An irreverent mood was certainly the order of the day—in fact, one couple were having so much fun that the mood, ahem, overtook them, and they were photographed in a compromising position next to some bushes.

After a while, the heat (along with our aching calf muscles) persuaded us to retreat back

to the relative safety of our Airbnb apartment for a couple of hours of well-earned rest. Later, we ventured back out onto the cool evening streets in search of food and cannabis, as we had consumed our stock of both while sequestered indoors.

We had arranged for a small quantity to greet us when we got to Prague, but as that ran out quickly, we had to take our chances on the mean streets when looking for our next consignment. We assumed naively that this would not present us with any difficulty.

Four hours, a dozen hostile glares, and 20 shaken heads later, we returned to the apartment—full of goulash and dumplings but sadly bereft of anything green and smokeable.

It seems that the cannabis paradise we had been led to expect has been severely compromised in recent years. Spots once known for

T R AV E L

“PRAGUE CERTAINLY STILL DESERVES A PLACE ON THE CANNABIS WORLD MAP, BUT IT DOESN’T MAKE IT EASY FOR TOURISTS.” being “friendly” are now anything but, and in some, tourists are met with open hostility and distrust.

We asked the bartender at a spot called Alternatiff why this was the case, and were told that police controls had been getting extremely frequent, and many bars (including Alternatiff itself) had been forced to stop their under-the-counter sales to avoid fines and closure.

We then checked out one of the after-parties of the march and could not find a single person who could (or would) direct us to a source of herb—on the day of the biggest annual cannabis event in the country! We were even asked (only half-jokingly) if we were police or FBI on more than one occasion.

So did this mean that Prague was to be struck off the list of cannabis destinations?

It was looking increasingly likely, but we weren’t about to quit without a fight. We resolved to find something the next day, no matter what.

Eventually, through a neat little piece of intercontinental networking, we managed to get an up-to-date tip on a friendly bar. The weed was good, and five almost-grams (close enough, given the circumstances) cost us 1,100 Czech crowns (around $45). Not bad, especially on a Sunday!

Things were starting to look up, and the next day, they got even better. When all the grow shops reopened on Monday, we went straight there to ask the most educated people on the subject.

They directed us to two bars within two hundred meters’ distance that would both be happy to supply our needs. Somewhat taken

aback, we asked again about the situation, mentioning what the bartender of the previous night had said about the police controls.

They looked blankly back at us, and said they had heard nothing about it!

So, Prague certainly still deserves a place on the cannabis world map, but it doesn’t make it easy for tourists. If planning a trip out there, we recommend making arrangements before you go.

If you’re not able, the best thing is probably to ask in a grow shop. If you try random bars, you could be looking indefinitely. But if you do have to take your chance asking in bars, look for small, dark, graffiti-covered spaces.

If they have plentiful sofas and fridges well stocked with juices, then you’re probably in the right place.

T

HIS YEAR’S 2016 presidential candidates may be the most 420-friendly ballot ever. Notably, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, served briefly as CEO of a Nevada MED company and is a user, even admitting that he transported Colorado product across state lines.

“I’m one of the 100 million Americans that do this. If that disqualifies me from being president, so be it,” he said. Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, known for being tougher on weed than other Democrats, may be softening on the issue.

W E E D

W E E K

WRITER / ALEX HALPERIN OF WEED WEEK

S

AM ACTION, the political organization associated with anti-legalization activist Kevin Sabet has raised $300,000 to fight the 2016 REC ballot initiatives. To that end, it plans to set up field offices in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Drug Free Florida, the group that defeated the states 2014 MED initiative, is also gearing up for a fight. A big question is whether Sheldon Adelson, a casino billionaire who contributed millions to Drug Free Florida in 2014, will participate again.

ILLUSTRATOR / JOSH BOULET

I

N OAKLAND, some existing businesses oppose the “equity amendment” that will prioritize business licenses for past marijuana offenders and some communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs. Opponents say the amendment will force companies and jobs out of the city. Oakland councilmember Desley Brooks, who pushed for the program, wants to make it stronger.

The East Bay has been a center of cannabis culture for decades and with California set to vote on REC in November, it could become a leading industry hub.

L

OUISIANA BECAME the 25th state, and first from the former Confederacy, to legalize MED. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed a bill passed by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature. Louisiana State University and Southern University will have the right of first refusal to grow the state’s crop. Both universities pursued research funding from the federal government, which has likely stopped many universities from touching the plant. At press time, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) appeared likely to sign a MED bill as well.

I

NDONESIA PLANS to execute 15 drug offenders by firing squad, 10 of them foreign. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo argues that the country’s drug crisis needs “shock therapy.” The country’s narcotics agency has proposed cruel punishments like prisons guarded by crocodiles and executing traffickers by forcing them to eat their supply. In this climate of fear, more addicts are sharing needles and HIV infection is on the rise.

S

INCE LEGALIZATION many more dogs in Denver have had to go to the emergency room after ingesting cannabis or edibles.

Dog owner Kate Pinto came home to find her Great Dane mix drooling uncontrollably and struggling to walk. “It was just so terrifying, infuriating, and sad,” Pinto told a reporter. “I felt so helpless for not being able to explain to [Tembo] what was happening. I can’t imagine tripping as a dog and not knowing when it would end.”

NEWS

E X P LOR I N G T H E W E S T E N D CANNABIS TOU RISM IN NEGRIL WRITER & PHOTOS / LUKE ZIMMERMAN

T

HOUGH I HAVE MET many people who did not enjoy their time in Jamaica, most of them had been to either Montego Bay or Ocho Rios.

The few that had been to Negril and still not enjoyed their travels had stayed on Seven Mile Beach.

However, I have never met anyone who has stayed in the West End of Negril and not fallen in love with Jamaica.

The West End is famous for its cliffs and sunsets which attract people from all over. With sunsets like explosions of bright colors that paint the evening sky, there is a special kind of peace that pervades this secluded part of Negril.

In the past year, I have heard that tourists can use medical cannabis recommendations from other countries to legally consume cannabis in Jamaica. When I asked locals about it, they laughed and asked why I would think that I need a card to consume ganja. I was told that now that cannabis is decriminalized: in Negril, it is plentiful and easily accessible.

The cliffs in the West End are full of unsuspecting gems. While the accommodations are not luxurious, the hotels in the West End have more personality and

offer a unique experience that isn’t accessible from an all-inclusive resort. Catcha Falling Star, Tensing Pen Resort, and Xtabi Resort are all places to consider staying.

This was my second time staying at Xtabi, which means “meeting place of the gods.” After spending an afternoon on the cliff, I understood why. Guests of the resort must sign a waiver for engaging in cliff diving at their own risk. It is possible to sip a Mai Tai, hit a joint, and jump off a 15-foot drop into the ocean in a span of a few breaths.

I cannot say enough good things about Just Natural, a restaurant with an authentic Jamaican breakfast. The gardens of the restaurant are full of flowers and Hummingbirds: a perfect place to start a day of rest and relaxation in the West End. I had the fortune of crossing paths with a Rasta named Armagideon, who told me about the history of cannabis cultivation in the Negril area. He claimed that some of the oldest cultivation sites in Jamaica were located in the West End and explained the traditional process for gathering finger hash and how finding true sensimilla can be difficult in Negril. (Indeed, all of the cannabis I

NEWS

“WHEN I ASKED LOCALS ABOUT [USING A MEDICAL CARD], THEY LAUGHED AND ASKED WHY I WOULD THINK THAT I NEED A CARD TO CONSUME GANJA.

saw while in Negril had at least a few seeds.) He shared a nice sativa with me, but didn’t know which strain it was. That seemed to be the standard; of seven kinds of cannabis I saw on the trip, only two strains were identified.

One of my favorite places to eat in the West End is Ras Rody’s Organic Kitchen, a roadside stand so tiny that it’s easy to miss it driving by. Ras Rody’s serves traditional organic Ital dishes, making it a perfect spot to smoke and snack while exploring the West End. It is currently operated

by Rody’s son Shadrock, who is a wealth of knowledge about the history of the West End and cannabis laws in Jamaica.

I decided to take a boat taxi back to Xtabi so that I could see the cliffs from the water. I met a local named Zafai who agreed to taxi me back. Sharing a strain of ganja with me called Ice, we discussed ganja and how Jamaicans aren’t concerned about the THC content. Instead, they want to know that the plant was grown naturally and is real medicine.

I soon met a nice couple from Denmark who lived just outside of Copenhagen. We discussed the differences between the cannabis scenes in the United States and

Denmark. I was a bit disappointed to hear that the hash market in Freetown Christiania had been experiencing some raids, which had caused the market to take on a more black-market feel. It was great sharing a Jamaican time with fellow cannabis enthusiasts from another country.

During my stay, I also had the opportunity to check out a local curry festival that happens every year close to the West End. The curry was flavorful and authentic—I especially enjoyed the breadfruit curry. Even though the festival was overcast by some rain, experiencing a community event in Jamaica was a unique opportunity.

My travels in Negril lasted long enough that I felt rested and relaxed from the time I had spent, but I still felt as though I could spend another week there without being bored. This was my third trip to the West End in Negril and I know it won’t be my last. As the Jamaican cannabis industry continues to develop, I don’t think it will remain an undiscovered gem for much longer.

TO L E R A N C E B R E A K

S A F E T Y F I R S T, S U B S TA N C E S E C O N D VIGILANT DRUG USE AT MUSIC FESTIVALS WRITER / MEGHAN RIDLEY

M

USIC FESTIVALS HAVE BECOME synonymous with the use of MDMA. Together, they’ve coalesced into a beautiful mess of enlightening breakthroughs and sobering moments, oftentimes leaving the issue of substance use at these events more of a question of “how” to consume than “if” to consume.

Obviously, the purest and simplest piece of advice for avoiding a dangerous situation with drugs—other than sobriety—is to stay hydrated. Heat stroke and dehydration lead the pack when it comes to death and hospitalization at festivals, with MDMA use often a piece of the tragic equation.

It’s important to note that the majority of individuals who go to festivals and get high go home safe and sound. Regardless of what category you may or may not fall into, consider keeping the following in mind when perusing the party scene.

TRUSTED SOU RCE OR STRANGER DANGER?

IS THAT A DRUG COCKTAIL YOU’RE MIXING?

You wouldn’t take candy from a stranger, so why the hell would you buy an anonymous powder parading around by the name of Molly from one? While no one is insisting that the drugs you’ll buy will be bad ones, there is an intelligent way to go about this situation— and there’s one that puts you at risk. Bringing drugs from a trusted source to a festival is a far smarter approach than soliciting from the throes of random people. At the end of the day, are you more scared of having a handful of pills confiscated on your way into a show or from having a seizure because what you thought was MDMA was actually PMA? If you do choose to pick up from a stranger, you should most definitely be packing a pill test kit.

Hate to break it to you, but you’re not Hunter S. Thompson. Tales of the hippie flip (psilocybin mushrooms + MDMA), candy flip (LSD + MDMA), and any other potential concoctions of substances you might come up with—especially if you’re adding cocaine to your arsenal—can get out of hand quickly and just might be out of your league. This is the birthplace of the bad trip. If you insist on taking such an epic drug adventure, a more controlled environment would at least be a step in the right direction. I personally know someone who, in the depths of a gorgeous acid trip, decided to take what he thought was some Molly. Turned out to be more of a methy e-bomb. He spent the rest of the night believing an alien carcass was sleeping on top of him.

“IF YOU INSIST ON TAKING SUCH AN EPIC DRUG ADVENTURE, A MORE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT WOULD AT LEAST BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.“

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AG! YOU'RE IT—and your pictures are the sh*t.

For the Travel Issue of DOPE Magazine, we sorted through what seemed like a suitcase of photos from from lands far and wide. Thanks for sharing and hope you enjoy these images as much as us @dopemagazine did.

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A RT I C L E T I T L E

STRAIN

PURPLE HAZE ALL IN YOU R BRAIN WRITER / JOHN CACCITOLO

PHOTO / BRIE SEAVEY

3 EFFECTS Experienced creative energy Social and waves of happiness Excellent for pain and stress relief

T

HIS CROSS BETWEEN PURPLE Thai and Haze is a true sativa lover’s delight. Smelling super piney and a little berry-licious, the fresh buds reminded me of fluffy little green mountains with dustings of icy trichomes. The taste was earthy, but slightly sweet and fruity. Though I physically felt heavier, I was way more energetic and talkative. My stress faded with the haze, but I was thinking more clearly than I had been all day.

My usual foot pain faded and I rode out the wave of energy for the rest of the night until a gentle sleep carried me away.

26.85

AVAILABLE AT NEVADA WELLNESS CENTER 3200 S VALLEY VIEW BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 89102 ESSENCE DISPENSARY 2307 S LAS VEGAS BLVD.,

0.67

LAS VEGAS, NV 89104 THE SOURCE 2550 S RAINBOW BLVD #8., LAS VEGAS, NV 89146

A RT I C L E T I T L E

EDIBLE

V I P OVA H E R BA L T E A PAIN RELIEF THROUGH INFUSED TEAS WRITER / JOHN CACCITOLO

PHOTO / BRIE SEAVY

BENEFITS

T

HE LINE OF CBD-infused teas by ViPova are not only delicious, but offer pain relief and an awesome night’s sleep as well. The Cherry Black Tea had a potent aroma of fruit mixed with the sweet scent of honey. Though the package lists the ingredients, it didn’t list how much CBD oil is in each tea packet, so I thought it smart to dose with one. Halfway into a 16-ounce cup, I felt very relaxed and the pain in my feet from the day was dulled. There was almost no psychoactive effect at all and an hour after finishing the tea, I was ready for bed.

Good for mild pain relief

Will make you pleasantly sleepy

Helps to relax and unwind

AVAILABLE AT

You might just love the flavor more than your usual teas, but it’s highly recommended that you start out with one packet first, to gauge how you will react to this CBD-infused product.

NEVADA WELLNESS CENTER 3200 S., VALLEY VIEW BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 89102

A RT I C L E T I T L E

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C O N C E N T R AT E

SOUR CHERRY DIESEL DA B B I N G O I L A JUICY FRUIT WITH A BITE WRITER / JOHN CACCITOLO

S

ILVER STATE TRADING HAS crafted a line of dabbing oils that includes the deliciously tart and gooey Sour Cherry Diesel. A healthy hit unleashed a flavor of fresh cherries and after my first exhale, I caught every last drop of the sourness on my tongue.

I immediately felt relaxed, though I felt so happy that I just wanted to talk and laugh. This is definitely a dab for those who need a strong pain reliever and want to swap stories, share laughs, and improve their mood. The sweetness of the high is worth the sour hit.

PHOTO / BRIE SEAVY

75.5 THC

AVAILABLE AT NEVADA WELLNESS CENTER 3200 S., VALLEY VIEW BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 89102 SAHARA WELLNESS 420 E., SAHARA AVE., LAS VEGAS, NV 89104 THE APOTHECARIUM

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S TO R E

N EVA DA W E L L N E S S C E N T E R LAS VEGAS’ FIRST DISPENSARY WRITER / JOHN CACCITOLO

PHOTO / BRIE SEAVY

TH E PLACE

TH E PRODUCT

TH E PEOPLE

When visiting the Nevada Wellness Center in Las Vegas, you won’t have a problem finding the giant beige and white building on Valley View Boulevard that somewhat resembles a castle and is guarded by a dozen or so palm trees in the parking lot. As the first official dispensary in the city of Las Vegas, it opened in October 2015 with a mission to serve patients and the community as a whole. Inside, you’ll find a huge open room complete with computer workstations, helpful literature and forms, and a staff ready to walk you through the entire medical process.

Nevada Wellness Center demonstrates a focus on CBD products. Some unique items include ViPova hemp oil teas, CBD Zone capsules, Endoca cannabis crystals, and fruit and chocolate spreads. Other CBD products range from pain relief sprays, lotions, and even shampoo and conditioner. In a smaller, brightly lit room are display cases that house their 20 strains, like 9 Pound Hammer, VonDank’s Godzilla, and Pure Sunshine. There is also a small selection of concentrates in CO2 oil syringes, dabbing oils, and pre-loaded Blackout X vape pens. They even carry hand-blown glass from Mexico, as well as other smoking and vaping accessories.

While you wait, you can admire their giant trippy art collage or a map of the U.S. that’s dotted with green push pins showing all the places visiting patients have come from—just some subtle touches that remind you this is not a place simply in business for the sole purpose of profit. Nevada Wellness Center is also the only minority-owned dispensary in the state, and all three owners were born and raised in Nevada. Patients are sure to feel that caring vibe resonating as they receive a one-on-one consultation with a staff member to ensure a positive experience.

S TO R E

LOCATION 3200 S VALLEY VIEW BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 89102 (702)470-2077 NVWELLNESSCTR.COM STORE HOURS MON–SUN: 10AM–8PM

T R AV E L

LOV E CA N NA B I S, W I L L T R AV E L W H E N WAS T HE LAST TIME YOU R TR AVEL AGE N T GOT YOU STONED? WRITER / J.F.S. WILHELM

C

ANNABIS TOURISM is now a domestic industry. Just as other well-to-do traditionalists flock to sandy beaches craving light beer and umbrella drinks, people from sea to shining sea are packing their bags and jet-setting for legal cities around the United States in search of rest, relaxation, and recreational cannabis. Unlike said traditionalists though, cannabis tourists are contending with the unfamiliar legality of a still-Schedule I drug and the shifting regulations specific to each state. And while tokers have been flying in the face of the law since you could buy a lid for a dime, newbies to cannabis are looking for an accommodating entry point into a substance they’ve only been able to ingest legally through Seth Rogen movies.

The Travel Joint is a website built to connect cannabis tourists with their intended elevation through industry partnerships that span dispensaries, entertainment, lodging, and beyond. I had the opportunity to connect with Brannon and Rachel Zimbelman, CEO and CCO respectively, and talked people, possibilities, and the “Experience Capital of the World.”

Q A

Q A

Q

A

Q A

J: Let’s cut to the chase! What is The Travel Joint?

BRANNON ZIMBELMAN (B): We are one of the world’s first travel site and only travel sites dedicated to the cannabis consumer. Think of us as the Priceline of cannabis.

Our unique cannabis-friendly platform makes it a one-stop shop for the cannabis community to plan and book their vacations. We provide 420-friendly lodging, transportation, events, and dispensaries as well as your standard commercial or private flights, hotels, car rentals, concert and event tickets, and much more.

Anyone who books a hotel in either Colorado, Washington, Oregon, or our 420 Property in Las Vegas will have a Travel Joint Hot Box awaiting their arrival, complete with featured 420 products.

J: This is an exciting time. How have people responded so far?

B: People want to be part of history. They are curious about cannabis, either for recreational purposes or medical needs, but they don’t know where to start. No two travelers or experiences are the same, so we make the process simple by helping them not only plan the logistics of travel, but also by being a trusted source of cannabis knowledge. We also offer a free concierge service to help customers plan their perfect trip and answer any questions they might have. We connect, we collaborate, we care.

J: Many canna-businesses have found ways to enrich the ethical core of the cannabis community by giving back. Has The Travel Joint managed to do the same?

RACHEL ZIMBELMAN (R): We started the Cannabis Refugee Program last year as a way to raise funds (through Go Fund Me) to help cannabis refugees get access to medicinal cannabis by moving to cannabis-friendly states: http://thetraveljoint. com/cannabis-refugee-program/.

J: Nevada isn’t legal yet, but MMJ patients still get the hook-up, right?

BRANNON ZIMBELMAN (B): The next year is going to be an interesting one for cannabis tourism with ballot initiatives in so many states. Currently, Nevada has reciprocity, which means that if you have a MMJ card from any other state you can legally purchase cannabis in Nevada. Las Vegas is already the entertainment capital of the world. Now it is the experience capital of the world!

“TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROWMINDEDNESS, AND MANY OF OUR PEOPLE NEED IT SORELY ON THESE ACCOUNTS. BROAD, WHOLESOME, CHARITABLE VIEWS OF MEN AND THINGS CANNOT BE ACQUIRED

BY VEGETATING IN ONE LITTLE CORNER OF THE EARTH ALL ONE’S LIFETIME.” -MARK TWAIN, THE INNOCENTS ABROAD AND ROUGHING IT

Like many entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry, Rachel and Brannon recognized an opportunity to connect people. The Travel Joint sees a convergence of entertainment, accommodations, and cannabis as a modern addition to the bacchanalia Vegas is known for, but they also want to raise the bar. “We want to help legitimize the industry by setting the highest standards possible,” Brannon noted. This is honorable, especially as cannabis has pushed North American drug policy to center stage as countries around the world debate the efficacy of legalization.

But day by day, as an intricate tapestry of jet streams crisscrosses the country, people are indulging in a higher—and subsequently more open—state of mind. Cannabis is connecting people in new ways and the internet is helping. Visit The Travel Joint, buy the ticket, and get lifted, your cannabis adventure can go from URL to IRL with just one click.

INSTA/FB/TWITTER: @THETRAVELJOINT WEBSITE: THETRAVELJOINT.COM

I N T E RV I EW

IN FOCUS MARTIN JELSMA WRITER / DAVID HODES

A

T ONE OF THE more crowded and rowdy side meetings of the 2016 Special Session of the United Nation General Assembly on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS), Martin Jelsma spoke on a panel discussing cannabis and the drug reform treaties of UNGASS. Jelsma, political scientist and director of the Drugs and Democracy Programme for the Transnational Institute, is a regular speaker at international policy conferences and advises government officials on developments in drug policy.

With him were Augusto Vitale, president of the Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA) of Uruguay; Kathy-Ann Brown, deputy solicitor-general and director of International Affairs Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers, Jamaica; and David Bewley-Taylor, director, Global Drug Policy Observatory at Swansea University.

The group had their hands full during the question-and-answer session, when outspoken critics of cannabis regulation and hemp legalization riled up the room. One cannabis critic, talking over the panel to express that cannabis was just another addictive product like tobacco, was shouted down. “All lies,” yelled more than one attendee.

At hand is the issue of movements among jurisdictions to enact reforms creating legal access to cannabis for purposes beyond medical and scientific, and how governments and the United Nation (UN) system can address these growing tensions in ways that acknowledge the policy shifts underway and help to modernize the drug treaty regime itself.

I spoke with Jelsma after that panel. The following interview has been edited for space.

PHOTO / MANUEL ELIAS/UN PHOTO

I N T E RV I EW

Q

A

Q

A

DOPE MAGAZINE: Why did that session become so divisive during the question-and-answer section?

MARTIN JELSMA: It was a good demonstration of the elephant in the room, because clearly many people wanted to talk about cannabis and it has been something that has been pushed off the official agenda. There are only two side events that touched on this issue. There are many involved now in these catfights and historical changes in terms of cannabis reforms and this is big because the cannabis reform trend is irreversible. It’s clear that it is creating tensions with the international regime. So it requires an open discussion about systemic changes.

DOPE: With the election coming up in the U.S., is there a chance that the advances in cannabis legalization and regulation could come crashing down, as some have predicted?

MJ: I don’t believe it. It looks like four or five states in November will go in that direction to legalize and regulate, like California.

California is such a big, powerful state.

Even a Republican president wouldn’t have the guts or want to spend political capital to go against Democratic states’ interests. Once California gets into it, I don’t think a Republican president would even consider changing what has already happened with cannabis.

Q

A

Q

A

DOPE: There was one gentleman in the room who argued that cannabis is being targeted to kids through products like gummies and other edibles. What’s your take on that?

Q

A

MJ: When these changes happen with regulations, there are always mistakes made in the beginning. And there may have been some details about edibles that need fine tuning. I personally am more in favor of a cautious regulatory regime. I think we need to be careful about allowing too much commercial production. And I definitely am in favor of submitting state control over the market.

DOPE: How do the UN and international law view the rise of the cannabis business?

MJ: Around the world in many countries where cannabis has been used for almost half a century, they are now entering into the next stage of legal regulation of cannabis. And that moves the level of reform up a notch. Take Jamaica or the Netherlands for example. There is a strong understanding that legal regulation of the cannabis market from seed to sale falls outside of the scope of the UN treaties. But for those countries, this creates an obstacle to making political decisions in the direction of legal regulation. And these tensions will continue on both sides because these countries want to regulate and not feel restricted. The ones who take those steps are struggling with finding a legal explanation of their non-compliance with UN treaties.

Q A

DOPE: How do the UN and international law view the rise of the cannabis business?

MJ: Around the world in many countries where cannabis has been used for almost half a century, they are now entering into the next stage of legal regulation of cannabis. And that moves the level of reform up a notch. Take Jamaica or the Netherlands for example. There is a strong understanding that legal regulation of the cannabis market from seed to sale falls outside of the scope of the UN treaties. But for those countries, this creates an obstacle to making political decisions in the direction of legal regulation. And these tensions will continue on both sides because these countries want to regulate and not feel restricted. The ones who take those steps are struggling with finding a legal explanation of their non-compliance with UN treaties.

DOPE: Will the UN consider reforms regarding cannabis?

MJ: In our report (Cannabis Regulation and the UN Drug Treaties), our group tried to outline several options for reform that could help reconcile these tensions. One of the reasons why there is so much resistance to start opening the discussion about treaty reform is all the difficult legal changes that have led us to this UNGASS. If you want to reach a consensus about a new legal framework in this current polarized situation, you are basically engineering a nightmare scenario. Because of the tensions, the consensus is no longer there. If you are considering re-negotiating a new treaty, it’s very difficult to imagine that something useful will come out of it. That is why everybody shies away from it. But there are options—amendments to the treaty—that do not require a consensus. We think honesty and an open debate about this is the best way to go, and concrete steps after that. We think that an expert advisory group should be formed with a broader mandate to look beyond the current framework of international drug reform treaties.

CANNA-NEWS

T H E 2016 BA L LOT A CANNABIS BATTLEGROU ND WRITER / KELLY VO

I

N NOVEMBER, WILL YOU be dropping a dab or a ballot? Hopefully, you’re doing both. 58 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, according to a 2015 Gallup Poll. That means that 2016 could be the year that cannabis leaves the shadows and shines in the spotlight. 20 states are looking to pass cannabis laws and, even more importantly, cannabis is on the national stage.

Get educated to use your vote to make a difference.

THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BOX 1: HILLARY CLINTON A vote for Hillary is a puff for cannabis. She’s expressed support for legal access to medical marijuana and has promoted the idea of more research on its benefits.

“I absolutely support all the states that are moving toward medical marijuana, moving toward—absolutely—legalizing it for recreational use. Let’s take it off the what’s called Schedule I and put it on a lower schedule so that we can actually do research about it.” -Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, March 2016 BOX 2: BERNIE SANDERS Sen. Sanders is feeling the burn for bud. In November 2015, he stated that he would remove marijuana from the federal drug schedules and ensure states would be allowed to regulate cannabis similarly to alcohol. His plan would allow marijuana businesses to access banking services and apply for standard tax deductions.

“In the year 2015, it is time for the federal government to allow states to go forward as they best choose. It is time to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. It is time to end arrests of so many people and the destruction of so many lives for possessing marijuana.” -Sen. Sanders, National Student Town Hall at George Mason University, October 2015 BOX 3: DONALD TRUMP Maybe being high would make it easier to know what a vote for Trump would mean. In 1990, Trump said he favored legalizing all drugs. However, he has regularly waffled on his stance, most recently claiming a “hands-off” approach to state cannabis laws.

“In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state by state. Marijuana is such a big thing. I think medical should happen.

And then I really believe we should leave it up to the states.” -Donald Trump, The Washington Post, October 2015

STATE-BY-STATE CANNABIS LAWS Even if Bernie gets the vote, it could take a while to legalize nationally. Unsurprisingly, there are 20 states hoping to have cannabis initiatives on the ballot: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Not every state is likely to succeed and some bills have already died, but these are the states with the best chances: Arizona: A campaign by the Marijuana Policy Project of Arizona is looking to legalize the possession and consumption by adults 21 and older. The initiative needs over 150,000 signatures by July 7 to get on the 2016 ballot.

California: Legalization advocates filed the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, the leading initiative in California. They’ve already garnered $2.25 million in campaign finance donations to help collect signatures.

Florida: Two different groups are working to legalize medical cannabis: Floridians for Freedom and United for Care. Look for both on the 2016 ballot.

Maine: Although some areas of Maine have already legalized medical cannabis, the new Maine Marijuana Legalization Initiative seeks to allow all adults 21 and older to possess up to two-and-a-half ounces.

Massachusetts: The state is looking to legalize marijuana in 2016 with the Massachusetts Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Initiative, which would enable cannabis to be regulated like alcohol.

Michigan: The Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Initiative would allow recreational marijuana use for adults age 21 and over. It will need 250,000 registered voter signatures to earn a spot on the 2016 ballot.

Missouri: The New Approach Missouri group filed a petition to legalize medical cannabis, but 160,00 signatures are needed to get on the ballot.

Nevada: The Nevada Marijuana Legalization Initiative is already on the 2016 ballot. It would regulate cannabis like alcohol, and allow possession and sale for recreational use.

Rhode Island: The Marijuana Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act would legalize cannabis entirely and is likely to make it onto the 2016 ballot with 55 percent of the state already in support.

Vermont: Vermont is close to legalized cannabis with S.241. The bill to regulate marijuana has already been passed by the Senate and is heading to the House.

What would legal cannabis look like throughout the country? To get an idea, take a look at Colorado and Washington.

• In its first year, Colorado brought in $63 million in cannabis taxes from the $700 million industry • Marijuana possession arrests have dropped 84 percent in Colorado since legalization • Traffic fatalities in Colorado went down 3 percent • Violent crime in Denver went down by 2.2 percent in 2014 • Filings for low-level marijuana offenses are down 98 percent in Washington • Violent crime rates have decreased in Washington while other crime rates have remained stable • Washington has collected nearly $83 million in cannabis tax revenue •Youth marijuana use has not increased in Washington

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