DOPE Magazine November 2014 (OR) by DOPE Magazine

P L A N T

HOW SWEET

MEDICINAL ICE CREAM

Prince Pot

The of

is back

The Return of Marc Emery

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

>GRAPEFRUIT

NOVEMBER

2014

VIII FREE

MARIJUANA NEWS Sirius Extracts

MARIJUANA NEWS i502 Battles

HEALTH The Productive Patient

FEATURE Marc Emery

GROW Cookie Overdose EVENTS High Times CupNEWS Recap MARIJUANA Be Thankful

36 36 40

GROW Testing

HEALTH BCP

PIECES Magical Butter 2

ROAD TRIP The California Coast

ASK DR. FREE Endocannabinoid System

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EDIBLES Medicinal Ice Cream

November 2014 The Past-to-Present Issue

08 08 10

Cover photo and this photo by Allie Beckett

STRAIN OF THE MONTH Grapefruit STRAIN OF THE MONTH Maui BubbleCO-OP Gift FEATURE The Green Front

DOPE is a free 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.

JAMES ZACHODNI Editor-In-Chief

EVAN CARTER

TREK HOLLNAGEL

ALLIE BECKETT

RYAN JOHNSTONE

Editorial Director

Operations Director

Lead Photographer

Oregon Director

JESUS DIAZ

NATHAN CHRYSLER

Graphics/Operations

Sales Director

DOPE DESIGN AGENCY

Advertising Design & Administration

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Sharon Letts R.Z. Huges Heath Laslo Lauren Terry Emmet Fraser Lindsey Rinehart Daniel Erich Johnny Halfhand

COPY EDITOR Alison Baird

WANT TO ADVERTISE?

EMAIL US AT ADS@DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

EMAIL US AT INFO@DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM Dope Magazine and the entire contents of this magazine are copyright 2014 Dope Magazine LLC, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or part without the written permission from Dope Magazine LLC. Published in Seattle, Washington 98109

Wide selection of nutrients and soil Friendly, knowledgeable, experienced staff 100% locally owned

6850 N. Interstate Ave Portland, OR 97217 || 503-285-4768

STRAIN OF THE MONTH CANNABINOID CONTENT 18.8% THC .06% CBD

Grapefruit

Provided by

Ideal Farms

WRITTEN BY LAUREN TERRY PHOTO BY DANIEL ERICH

MEDICAL BENEFITS This thoroughbred sativa mainly offers mental relief. Stress is eliminated right off the bat, with my physical and mental anxieties melting away after the first bowl. There’s an uplifting rush that can at least turn around a bad day, if not ease the pain of someone enduring daily depression.

GENETICS

LOOKS

SMELL

FLAVOR

EFFECTS

With so many hybrids available, it’s almost a novelty smoking quality, pure buds. This strain is the real deal: a rare sativa, and one of Ideal’s best and brightest.

The vibrant colored nugs look like a tropical bouquet: the bright green leaves being surrounded by long, orange hairs, each tendril coated in glistening trichomes. Every layer of fluffy leaf is soft to the touch, shedding sparkly powder on your fingertips. The buds are lightweight, yet substantial enough to form a solid joint.

One whiff of Grapefruit and a burst of citrusscented aroma transports your mind to a sunnier climate. Rich and sweet, with fruity notes straight out of paradise, there are hints of skunk as well, making for one full-bodied fragrance, and a lovely reminder of summer every time you open your nug jug.

There’s no doubt that the memorable grapefruit flavor is truly what makes this strain stand out. It’s nothing like the artificial flavoring in candy; the taste is fresh off the branch. With one exhalation, the citrus tang is so crisp that your mouth is left with an almost minty-cool sensation.

The first bowl sent a wave of sensation through my head, clearing out my worries and leaving a pleasant mental buzz. Grapefruit revived me after a long day at work, waking me up instead of locking me into Netflix. This high is motivating and happy, although that doesn’t mean it’s a light smoke. It’s a heavy head high that keeps you in a good mood all day, without easily distracting side effects.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

SARAH | SMALL BUSINESS OWNER | VINTAGE EXPERT | BACK-PAIN FREE

discounts military/veterans, senior 65+, students, bicycle commuters earn points for free meds with frequent buyer and referral program one source for organic, non-GMO, vegan, sugar free, gluten free and healthy options

north center

southeast center

4312 N Williams Ave Portland, OR 97217 503-384-2955

215 SE Grand Ave Portland, OR 97214 503-477-9532

facebook /bridgecitycollective

Mon—Sat: 11— 9 pm Sun: 12 pm—7 pm

Mon—Sat: 11— 7 pm Sun: 12 pm—5 pm

info@bridgecitycollective.com

instagram @bridgecitycollective

10% OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE

FEATURE CO-OP

The Green Front

Pre-Order from Anywhere, Open 24-Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week WRITTEN BY LAUREN TERRY PHOTOS BY DANIEL ERICH

WHAT’S INSIDE

On the corner of NE Glisan and 68th, The Green Front is a beacon of light when you need midnight medication, but more than just a late night pharmacy, this charming co-op has shelves of high quality products chosen for their medical benefits, a knowledgeable, down-to-earth staff, and the first online pre-order system in the nation. Just about six months old, this patient-centric spot has quickly formed a loyal clientele through their mission to provide convenient, compassionate care to their patients. I met with one of the owners, who co-owns The Green Front with his brother-in-law. When I asked if it’s true what they say about mixing family and business, he responded that it isn’t exclusive for them. “It doesn’t make a difference to me, I’ve always done everything with my family. We’ve both been around weed our whole lives, it made sense.” They haven’t looked back since, and have already elevated the medicinal community with their innovative, mobile-friendly pre-order system. Another significant aspect of their culture is to hold their products to a higher standard than even the most reputable dispensaries. Oregon’s regulations for mold percentages and spider-mites aren’t black and white, and that doesn’t work for The Green Front. The patient comes first: if products are not of the highest quality, they’d rather have less inventory. There’s something to be said for their humble set-up; they focused their resources on affordable, quality product rather than an extravagant waiting room. A couple notable deals included a Golden Xtrx vape pen with multiple concentrates for $22 altogether, and a flawlessly-rolled 7g joint for $30. They care about every patient’s comfort way more than they care about being the coolest dispensary in town. “We always weigh heavy. We want our patients to have the confidence that they’ll be receiving consistent, quality service each visit, whether in person or online.”

ADDRESS: 6814 NE Glisan Portland, OR 97213 PHONE: (503) 252-0036 WEB: www.thegreenfront.com

FEATURE CO-OP

EDIBLES

Available At

Canna Daddy’s 16955 SE Division St Portland, OR

Moo-Meds

Medicinal Ice Cream Couch Lock Chocolate Caramel WRITTEN BY LAUREN TERRY PHOTO BY DANIEL ERICH Though the Indian summer came to an end, rainy days bring about cozy evenings best punctuated with an indulgent bowl of ice cream. During this month’s issue, we review an even more indulgent version: Moo Meds medicated ice cream. At $15 a container, it’s a lot pricier than getting a Drumstick from the corner Plaid Panty, but with none of the preservatives or additives and all of the benefits of natural medicine -- it’s a lot more worthwhile. Canna-Daddy’s Wellness Center donated a sample of the Couch Lock Chocolate Caramel, though they also carry flavors like Puff Puff Peanut Butter and Magic Mint Chip. The chocolate outshines the caramel, but it’s a smooth, rich chocolate. The flavor is reminiscent of the boutique ice cream shops sprinkled across the Northwest: creamy, authentic taste with no artificial flavors left on your tongue. All-natural ingredients, including top-grade cream and ice-extracted marijuana concentrate, make for a softer texture. This dessert (or appetizer, in my opinion) is always spoon-ready, regardless of the freezer’s temperature. With medicated caramel chunks in addition to the concentrate, half of a container is a solid high. However, the label reads “one to two” servings within its sturdy, childproof container. A full container holds about 250 mg of concentrate, tested at 40.64% THC and .16% CBD. I went through a container in a few hours, which isn’t very hard if you like chocolate; I felt mellow, but functional enough. . They don’t resemble typical ice cream mini-pints of any kind, easily camouflaged amongst the frozen steaks and ice cube trays. The plain, black containers may look boring for such a fun treat, but Moo Meds puts the safety of their patients and patients’ loved ones first.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

Clean, Clear, Direct HANDS IN THE DIRT SINCE 1974

slow burning

AVAILABLE AT: LITTLE AMSTERDAM • THE GORGE GREEN CROSS PORTLAND GREEN OASIS • NW HEALTH SERVICES • PURE GREEN NECTAR • LOCAL HERB COLLECTIVE • PACIFIC GREEN

971.276.6100 ecofirmafarms.com

MARIJUANA NEWS

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

MARIJUANA NEWS

Take Them

“safe, pure, and potent cannabis concentrate”

Siriusly

A LEADER IN THE CONCENTRATE MARKET By Lindsey Rinehart Photos Provided By Sirius Extracts Sirius Extracts is a Portland based cannabis extraction company that recently won the Oregon Cannabis Cup for their product, Absolute Amber. Amber is a potent, beautiful, glass looking shard of cannabis shatter. The people that comprise the company’s staff have several years of experience making concentrates, but moved to Portland to begin work on their product in 2010. With the passing of HB3460, they launched Sirius Extracts, to provide a “safe, pure, and potent cannabis concentrate” to the community. I interviewed the owners, Frankie and Erin Wallace, after their big cup win, and this is what they had to say: DOPE: ”I notice the unique spelling of your name ‘Sirius.’ Can you please tell us why?” Sirius: “The name and spelling of Sirius is of course, intentional, carrying the lore of Cannabis origin and legend. It is said and believed by many ancient cultures that the Greek word “Kanna-bis” translates as “two dog”, believed by the African tribe of the Dogon to originate from the “two dog” star or the Sirius A star system. This belief coordinates with the oldest written record by the Sumerians calling the Cannabis plant, ‘A gift from the gods’, a medicinal plant from the stars. Plus, we love the play on words because after all, we are serious about our concentrates.” DOPE: “What is the extraction process used by Sirius that gets those trophy winning shatter sticks?” Sirius: “We create our purest quality concentrates utilizing the Sub-Zero Scientific Closed Loop System, and by beginning our process with the best, highly resinous

cannabis material. Utilizing highly refined hydrocarbon solvents (N-Butane) and techniques that include, winterizing with an organic ethanol wash to remove plant waxes and also safely removing hydrocarbon (N-Carbon) residuals, this method ensures our medicine is extremely potent and safe.”

DOPE: “What services and types of extraction do you provide? Do you process for other people?” Sirius: “At Sirius extracts, we provide a processing service to growers in the OMMP community, only making one product, Absolute Amber. As consumers ourselves, we prefer a smooth and paraffin free concen-

trate without the worry of residual solvents, minimizing the heaviness to the lungs that waxes or plant paraffin’s can cause. We provide two forms of Amber, a smoke-able or vaporizable stable solid of THC acid, and an orally active or decarboxylated Amber for oral ingestion.” DOPE: “Let’s talk about patient safety. I know your company is a huge believer in testing for residual solvents- something Oregon doesn’t force you to do, just yet. Can you please explain why you believe so strongly in this testing?” Sirius: “Safety is our company’s primary concern, for our employees as well as the final consumer. We employ strict safety protocols and welcome the upcoming safety standards and regulations that are soon to come next year. Unfortunately, the regulation of the production of concentrates has not caught up with this fledgling industry. For example, as you mentioned, the state of Oregon does not require residual solvent testing yet, but it will and it should. Nobody really knows how much residual solvent is too much. Hydrocarbon can build up in your system and we don’t know long-term effects of that. Any extraction company, with some effort, can make these products with no residual solvents in the final product. We think it’s important, and that it should be done. As the concentrate market evolves, Sirius Extracts plans to remain a leader in establishing guidelines for producing safe medicine.”

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

Accept Bankcards at Marijuana Dispensaries NO COST Payment Processing Regardless of volume or number of transactions

Merchant Benefits * Allows merchants to accept card payments for FREE as the cardholder pays a small convenience fee that covers the cost of processing each transaction. * Eliminates costly charge backs when consumers shop and then tell their bank the charges arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t theirs. * POB terminals only allow PIN based transactions which helps protect merchants from stolen cards being used. * We offer wireless terminals for delivery services. Greatly reducing delivery driver risks.

Accept Visa and MasterCard in Store

We offer marijuana dispensaries a legitimate credit card processing solution. Our processing enables medical marijuana dispensaries to accept card payments much like traditional swiped card transactions. This program has no processing fees to the merchant, which is a huge savings compared to the traditional 5% rate. Additionally, it is the only legitimate and above board processing solution. Merchants can avoid handling large sums of cash and expensive ATM Machines by having their funds deposited into their account within 3 business days thru the Federal Reserve banking system. As opposed to traditional credit card processing, your account will never be at risk of shut off and your funds will never be frozen. Mazuma Merchant Services sales@mazumams.com www.mazumams.com 800-979-3257 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The leader in marijuana payment processingâ&#x20AC;?

ANALYTICAL 360 is Washington State’s first Cannabis Analysis Laboratory to provide Quality Assurance testing to the Medical Marijuana Community in Washington State. By offering Cannabinoid and Terpene Potency Profiling, Foreign Matter Inspection, Microbial Analysis, and Residual Solvent Testing, ANALYTICAL 360 has helped Collective Gardens provide cleaner and safer products to their Medical Marijuana Patients. Now that Recreational Marijuana is legal, ANALYTICAL 360 is proud to be selected as the first Cannabis Analysis Laboratory certified by Washington State to provide Quality Assurance services to I-502 Producers, Processors, Retailers, and Consumers.

Grown in Washington State

Tested By

ANALYTICAL 360 Cannabis Analysis Laboratory

Western Washington 2735 1st Ave South Seattle, WA 98134

Open Everyday • Courier Service • Counsulting

206-577-6998

www.ANALYTICAL360.com

Eastern Washington 29 North 1st Ave Yakima, WA 98902

MARIJUANA NEWS

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS What I 502 licensees are still battling By David Bailey

You’ve invested several hundred thousand, or perhaps even several million dollars in your new I-502 producer, processor, or retailer licensing, jumped through all of the inspections and certifications, planned and built out your facility, and months later you’ve finally received your permission from the state to operate legally…but your neighbors won’t let you? Believe it or not, many applicants and licensees for new I-502 recreational marijuana shops have passed through all of the hoops allotted by the state but have been kept from operating, or are at risk of being shut down by neighbors, community boards and local land owners. What is most shocking is the tactics being taken to mislead voters toward banning what’s already been approved. In lining out the laws, the state took a tremendous amount of caution to ensure that the residents of this state were not being burdened by this new industry. Limits on proximity to schools, water and electric regulations, smell ordinances, line of sight and security have all been covered in the original laws. What could be left to bother or inconvenience a community? Misleading information. Many of the battles being fought in Snohomish and Thurston counties are defending themselves against accusations and threats that are not only illogical but impossible. Terpines, what makes the pungent smells of not only marijuana but most fruits and flowers and are the base of aromatherapy, are said to be poisoning the water systems. Terpines have been the base of many holistic and natural therapies for centuries and are present in all fruits and vegetables. The thought that these natural compounds with proven medicinal value or any other cancer curing chemicals found in cannabis could taint the ground water is not only absurd but laughable. One example of how far out this has gone?

Local land owners have gone as far as to mislead land surveyors about the intended use of the property, saying it’s a pig farm, dairy etc., to receive a decreased land value assessment. This is then used to argue the business bringing down the value of the community. Due to the infrastructure requirements from the state, all of the facilities, whether indoor, outdoor, or greenhouse, are constructed to code with lavish embellishments that can only increase the property value. In case you missed how well recreational marijuana has done in Colorado over the past year, or even thus far in Washington, property value isn’t the only place these towns are throwing away money. Between medical and recreational sales tax on marijuana, Colorado has a total year to date tax revenue of about $45 million. Washington budgets to net roughly $122 million in the next two years of recreational marijuana tax revenue. Snohomish County alone is looking to lose $500,000 a year in tax revenue by banning legal marijuana. If nothing else, banning the legal market is a direct boost to the black market. I’m sure Snohomish County would love to see $500,000 dollars pushed to the illegal drug market, yeah that’ll fix the schools. Thanks! We all have concern and care for our community, and I believe, due to marijuana culture staying largely underground, the larger populace has lost sight of this. These people feel a threat and are scared of changing the life they’ve worked so hard for. That is an understandable argument. With legality on our side, we can now stand firmly as users of cannabis and say that we too care about our community and we deserve to be a part of it. Stand up and be a part of your local fight, help to educate, and remember the end goal. Our families and our businesses can and will be a part of this community and we’re not looking for opposition but partnership.

Western Washington City Bans: Fife, Sumner, Roy, DuPont, Algona, Mossy Rock, Orting, SeaTac, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Poulsbo, Pacific, Washougal

What next? Though many counties will ban recreational marijuana, the larger majority will gain a solid foothold in the market. As time goes on, the money collected from sales tax will convince many smaller cities surrounding larger locally banned cities to reconsider. While Lakewood may not see a dire need for an extra million a year, I’m sure Fife could use it.

HEALTH

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

HEALTH

The Productive Patient Balancing Well-being with Discipline Written By Johnny Halfhand

APPS Sunrise: This is a gorgeous calendar app that offers lots of sync options. I use Google Calendars and it syncs flawlessly. I set up my calendar at home and can check Sunrise while out and on-the-go for a seamless agenda. Balanced: Stay on top of good habits with this app. Pick a few activities you may need encouragement doing, and how many times you’d like to do them per week. Check this app when you’re bored. 30/30: 30/30 is a timer app with tons of customization options. It works great with the Pomodoro Technique. I like to set mine for 25 minute work bursts with 5 minute breaks. WebMD Pain Coach: Know your disease. Track how well or how poorly you are doing. Knowledge is power; take notice of trends and triggers, and have these reports handy when you visit your doctor.

Living with severe pain is no walk in the park. Since childhood, I have lived with rheumatoid arthritis. Over time my pain, fatigue, and physical degeneration got so bad it left me disabled and out of work. Even my dominant hand has lost most of its functionality. Forced to become ambidextrous, I essentially have a hand and a half. Nonetheless, I refuse to give up, and cannabis has been a revolutionary medicine in my struggle. Getting medicated, however, can make it easy to lose track of time, so I try to limit my usage in different ways. Over time, with self-discipline, and after many mistakes, missed appointments, and forgotten goals, I’m making a comeback from total disability and discovering the way of the productive patient. First: I set simple goals each week. Every Monday I go out, sit down, and make a list of the week’s goals. Perhaps it is paying bills, meditating for ten minutes, learning a new skill, or light exercise. Figure out what you need for your well-being. Don’t overthink it; pick out the three most important on the list, and go for those. If my health roughs me up, I try not to beat myself up over it and just move on. Second: I rely on ritual. A healthy routine is one of the best safety nets. Every day at 9am, I have an alarm that reminds me to make coffee and write the day’s to-do list, and I withhold from puffing herb until noon at least. A nice bit of medicine is a lovely ritual to enjoy at the end of a hard day’s work. Third: I use Google Calendars religiously. I have a series of different color coded calendars: red for health, purple for study, blue for writing, yellow for seeing friends and family, and green for work. This helps me visually intuit how I’m doing and if things are balanced properly. There is a range of great apps that help me stay accountable to myself regarding good habits, tracking my pain, and so on—some of which are listed in the sidebar. And finally: I tinker with my dosage and try to remain in control of my tolerance level. If I need to medicate a lot during a painful flare, then I try halve my dosage over a convenient day the following week in order to detox. Find your body’s balance, where you are experiencing relief yet retaining some clarity. Be aware of your state of mind; love yourself and be gentle.

DAILY ROUTINE 7AM: Wake up, medicate, meditate, shower 9AM: Coffee and snack, write the day’s to-do list 9:30AM: Work on to-do list items, starting with the hardest! NOON: Light lunch & selfcare. Read, play a game, surf social media, light medication if pain becomes bothersome. 1PM: Email or telephone correspondence, take care of bills, work on remainder of list (a good time to call east and west coast) 3:30PM: Honor alarm reminder. Do my part - a mental jolt in the afternoon lull. Self-improvement. Practice language skills, coding, or read up on history. Last business. 6PM: Enjoy dinner and downtime with my partner. 7:30PM: Evening recreational activities. 10PM: Fire up the vape for a nightcap, watch a comedy, disconnect from social media & extra blue light, and silence phone. 11PM: Bedtime!

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day and age...

A security system doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to cost more, to be more...

CannaGuardSecurity.com

1.844.CannaGuard

For more information, email: design@cannaguardsecurity.com

INTERACTIVE SECURITY

over one hundred I-502 and Oregon MMJ applicants and business owners

FEATURE

Life, Liberty and Legal Cannabis The Prince of Pot talks to DOPE Magazine in an exclusive interview. After spending the last five years in a Mississippi Federal prison, Marc Emery is making up for lost time and focusing on the future. There is no rest for the weary as the Emery’s plan to grow the scene in Vancouver and take down the conservative Canadian government of Stephen Harper – all while spreading the word of legalization across the globe. WRITTEN BY R.Z. HUGHES PHOTOS BY ALLIE BECKETT

DOPE: Hey Marc, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us! Can you give us a little idea of what you have been up to since being released in August? Marc: Well... It’s nice to be out at large, that’s for sure! I’ve been traveling through Europe, speaking all over the place at universities in Spain, Ireland, Scotland, and England. I’ll be speaking in Budapest, Prague, and Vienna shortly for 10 days, but after that I’m back here at the store, Marc Emery’s Cannabis Culture, working there daily. It’s very competitive here in Vancouver. We have a wonderful scene with over fifty cannabis clubs, lots of stores and lots of people pushing the envelope, so I actually have to be here and earn a living on a daily basis. Right now, we’re busy getting people to vote in next years election, which in Canada is very pivotal, because we have a candidate topping the polls who has promised to legalize fully and expunge everyone’s criminal record. Jodie and I have pledged all we can to get him elected – Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada. I’m looking forward to this being the last of Stephen Harper’s years in parliament. If Canada legalizes, we’ll be considered cool again and on the cutting edge. So those are some of the plans for now. DOPE: Wow there’s a lot on your plate. How do you find the time and the energy for your activism, speaking engagements and running a business full-time?

from 11:00 until 5:00 trying to draw people in. I’ve only been doing this for a week and I’m getting in the groove of helping run a business and being cognizant of how things have changed in the last 5 years – checking out and observing the competition. Being in the lounge there’s always a lot of pot smoking involved. People everywhere are being real nice to me, so it’s been a nice honeymoon period. I think a thousand people came to my homecoming rally, it was really sweet! DOPE: Speaking of being far away from work, were you able to accomplish anything while in prison? Marc: I educated myself extensively. I read about Canadian politics, American politics; I read a book every 10 days and had 25 magazine subscriptions too. I read the New York Times daily – and I mean thoroughly – and in addition to that I was in a rock ‘n’ roll band playing bass guitar. None of these things I have much time for now, but while I was in prison it was an excellent regime to pass the time quickly. DOPE: You’ve been politically active for over two decades, is that right? Marc: Yes, 1990 was my first campaign. When books and magazines about marijuana were illegal in Canada. DOPE: Pipes too?

Marc: They feed each other, fortunately. The more I go to work, the more ideas, energy, and opportunity I’m going to have. You get the laziest when you’re the furthest away from it, so now that I’m back at work I’m getting more energized, not less. I’m back to a normal routine now, which is nice. Get up early, go to the store

Marc: Yeah, they still are actually. They were totally forbidden when I started out, but we gave people a political angle by which they could exercise their activism with bongs and that tended to work out. So for about 20 years there haven’t been any big

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

FEATURE

“I smoked good weed everywhere, I was shocked! Not that Spain had good weed but... I was shocked that Ireland, England, and Scotland had good weed.” disturbances. There are so many wonderful projects that we’ve worked on over the years trying to push our issue, however it could be done. Whether it was on the ballot, in the courts, with political party – you name it, we tried everything – and some of it worked really well. DOPE: Did you ever study public speaking or community organizing or has it always come naturally to you? Marc: I’ve just been doing it forever. For 35 years I’ve been politically active. Talking, talking, talking. I looove people. I love meeting people, I love talking to people; these things come easy to me, they’re things I enjoy. Most people are terrified about public speaking but not me. DOPE: Do you see an end to the War on Drugs anytime soon? Marc: Very soon for certain jurisdictions. I think the world owes the people of Colorado, and Mason Tvert the most, for passing their initiative. Colorado has really led the way in influencing how people around the world are looking at legalization. You have what’s going on in Uruguay, in Washington State, various experiments unfolding in Europe in Spain that are quite fascinating. But all eyes are on Colorado and people are using them as the basis by which they’re trying to achieve legalization. Right now we’re on a worldwide intellectual wave of legalization. There’s very little pro-prohibitionist fervor anymore. Even in the political classes, it’s way cooler to support some form of normalization or legalization than it is to be in the prohibitionist club. Certainly, the point of view to normalizing marijuana has changed to our favor in Canada. In the long run, that’s more

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

important than whatever tinkering some government is going to do in the War on Drugs. In faith in the fact that one party in Canada is promising full legalization I dare say, it should be a very intriguing time. DOPE: You mentioned pushing the issue however you can – how is Jodie’s run for Parliament coming? Marc: We will know about that quite soon, her nomination papers are in. They have to green light her and they really don’t have any reason not to. She’s a terrific candidate with an impeccable resume, so I’m really curious to see what happens. Either way, we’re going to be campaigning for the Liberal party whether we get that one or not. But, she’s making a very serious attempt and we do have a lot of members signed up to support her, along with the executive of the Riding Association (Canadian electoral district) so things are looking good. DOPE: Now that cannabis is more normalized, do you still plan on distributing seeds as part of your business at Cannabis Culture? Marc: Oh yeah! Seeds will be in the store within a month or two. It won’t be done like the old days when I was the world leader in seeds. The reason I wanted to be that was so that I could fundraise, right? There are hundreds of people selling seeds in Canada and North America now. Hell, everywhere I went in Europe there were seed companies – seed people. There’s probably going to be a seed bubble, truth be told. I’m not sure it’s lucrative at any particular area of our field now. In Canada, every little town has someone wanting to open up a lounge or a dispensary. They aren’t all going to be successful, they won’t all be able to get away with it under the law, but it’s good to have people pushing constantly. DOPE: Did you get to try anything over in Europe? Marc: I smoked good weed everywhere, I was shocked! Not that Spain had good weed but... I was shocked that Ireland, England, and Scotland had good weed. Now it’s very expensive, certainly compared to Vancouver where you can get an ounce of very good marijuana for $175-$200. That same good ounce in England would have been £300, which is roughly $470. DOPE: You were saying that legalization is riding an

FEATURE intellectual wave; do you see the medical side of our field losing steam? Marc: Not in the public’s prominence, I see the use of medical pot as a legal affirmative action diminishing – and it should – in favor of a complete legalization, where it’s legal for all reasons, right? That having been said, I congratulate all those people who are daring enough to push for dispensaries in their community. Medical investigations devoted towards cannabis are going to find tremendous stuff happening, some very sophisticated advancements, within the next five or ten years. All sorts of wonderful applications for cannabis, with improvements for the delivery of cannabinoids to specific sectors of the body and more. We’ve really just touched the surface for the medical potential and delivery of cannabis. DOPE: What is the biggest lesson that you’ve taken away from being on the front lines of legalization for so long? Marc: It’s nice to be near the finish line, let me tell you that. We’re definitely making headway worldwide. Our people are tough, we’re used to going to jail. Better to go to jail as a warrior than a victim. So, prepare the landscape, I say! That’s how you change things! The ballot initiatives are good if you can get one but you need people pushing, agitating, and getting to the forefront of the media and the political establishment. All governments are bad. Our government is bad; your government is bad, governments are supposed to be bad. You don’t ever get good government. What we get is, we determine how much we’re willing to give up in order to fight the government to bring out the things we value: liberty, freedom, and legal cannabis – these types of things. Fortunately, we have a lot of brave people at our altar so that’s showing up now. At the same time, we have more influential donors, more politicians on board, so things are going our way. Even a lot of cops are starting to come around which is unthinkable, really. DOPE: Well thanks for all your time, are there any last words you’d like to add that we didn’t get to touch on? Marc: I would just like to say that I got more support from Americans than anybody in prison. I got 7,500 letters from different individuals, 6500 of whom were from the United States. Most of the support came from

“I congratulate all those people who are daring enough to push for dispensaries in their community. Medical investigations devoted towards cannabis are going to find tremendous stuff happening, some very sophisticated advancements, within the next five or ten years.” rural America. I didn’t get a lot of letters from Denver or Los Angeles. I got letters from Conecuh County, Alabama, places where it’s hard. Where State and County sheriffs are tough. They’re badass on people. A lot of Americans still have it rough. It’s easy to think that wherever you are, if it’s ok, then it’s like that in the rest of America – or the world – and it sure isn’t. Anyways, I’m happy to be home now but I’m grateful for the kind attention I got while I was incarcerated. Additionally, a person I didn’t even know, a 61 year old guy on a disability pension named Len Preslesnik in Holland, Michigan, sent me a letter every day for four and a half years. And not just a letter, telling me what was going on in his interesting town of Holland, Michigan – but a package of great articles, cartoons, and crosswords. Man, it was like a little packet of fun! The guy must’ve spent, like, a thousand dollars on postage in that time, just sending me letters... Some Americans were really, really, really good people and I have no bad feelings. They’re oppressed by their own government; they don’t need my sympathy or pity; I have no anger. In prison, inmates were great to me and people wrote me lovely letters. It was an experience that I was glad to get by with a little help from my friends, that’s for sure. DOPE: Well, thanks again for taking so much time out of your day to talk with us Marc, it has been a pleasure. Marc: Yeah, it was fun, talk to you again!

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

GROW

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

GROW

COOKIE OVERDOSE Will the fad ever fade? By Lauren Terry It’s early for Girl Scout Cookie season, but Northwest patients have been smoking cookies all summer. We’ve seen a plethora of variations recently, from Animal Cookies and Thin Mints, to Cookie Wreck and Cookie Dough...the list goes on. To some, it’s a blessing. Others can’t wait for the fad to fade. One thing for sure, growers are having a field day. Part of GSC’s desirability comes from its exclusive birth certificate, because most aren’t authentic. The real Girl Scout Cookies comes from the Bay Area, created by a network of friends who call themselves “The Cookie Family.” They don’t participate in the Cannabis Cups or release cuts of their concoctions. So why are dispensary shelves brimming with cookie blends? It comes down to GSC’s tendency to have seedy buds. Someone had the right seed from the right plant, and was able to grow a phenotype close enough to the original. That grower may have shared their research, or others may have had the same fortune, resulting in rampant breeding of GSC with every strain in the garden. Earlier this year, Chris Simunek wrote a piece for High Times about meeting the Cookie Family and getting the lowdown on its genetics. Turns out, GSC is based around a secret strain called F1. “It had this pissy funk,” described one of the breeders, “and was one of the best strains around.” F1 was bred with Durban Poison, and then that lovechild got crossed with an epic Kush--the same Kush rapped about by Snoop and B-Real. Low-yielding and fussy to grow, this isn’t an easy strain to harvest. The When Simunek asked the Family how they handled GSC’s quirks, they emphasized a “slow, natural cure.” Referring to their method as “old-school,” they explained how they “hack the plant whole and just remove a few of the fan leaves...slow and easy, a two-week dry.” The already-legendary blend of GSC was later mentioned by the rapper, Alchemist, increasing the buzz around GSC to a high demand.

ANIMAL COOKIES Pure Oregon 15.3% THC 0.1% CBD

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES Oregon’s Finest 21.7% THC 0.06% CBD

FORTUNE COOKIES Flora Portland 24% THC, .1% CBD

This could very well be a momentary phenomenon, though its renown in the hip hop world will last. With more states’ legalization on the horizon, breeders have been in an experimental frenzy as of late, and more strains than ever are at the fingertips of patients nationwide. A spark of interest at this magnitude in a single strain is less likely to happen again. That being said, the rising number of hybridized strains on shelves will maintain the allure of purer nugs in years to come. When asked what pure cuts they hoped to see in the future, multiple Northwest growers answered “Dogwalker”. Similar to GSC, crosses claiming Dogwalker genetics are available everywhere, but a genuine cut is near impossible to find. I can’t deny my excitement at the prospect of that trend catching on, especially for the subsequent strain names. For those patients who rest content among the various cookie jars, there’s nothing to worry about. Girl Scout Cookie is a great strain; it’s flavorful and happy, and it isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

MARIJUANA NEWS

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

MARIJUANA NEWS

Grateful Lets Be

IT’S THE SEASON OF DANKSGIVING! Written By Lindsey Rinehart

What are you most grateful for in the Cannabis world? That is a fun, hard question for many to answer, for patients and connoisseurs alike! This is the time of year that many practice gratitude with Danksgiving right around the corner, so we thought we would make a short, fun, list of things to be thankful for, starting with: CANNABIS: Bud, Herb, Flower, weed, marijuana, cheeba, grass! Whatever name you use for it, it’s in a Universal language of love… errr, cannabis. Everyone can agree that the ladies are Gorgeous! Whether you like flowers that smell like they were sprayed by a skunk, or you like them sweet smelling like candy, you know that the smell matters! Then there are appearances, every shade of green, the purps, the blacks, and the red and orange hair! She is just one succulent lady! GROWERS: Growers bust their asses! Everyone should be grateful for growers, even if you don’t know who they are. Growers bend, lift, and carry stuff all day and their lives are full of worry of timers, fans, lights, humidity, bugs, nugs, transporting, testing! A grower’s work is Never done, and you won’t have those flowers without them. Hug a grower today! TRIMMERS: Oh, you thought your buds came in tight little nugs all on their own?? Have you ever looked at that plant and thought, “That’s not how it looks when I get it.” No, it’s not magic! Some trimmer held that little bud in their hands, risking bleeding their fingers out with sharp, little

scissors to make it pretty just for you to enjoy! Trimmers are badasses! They spend 8-15 hours a day hovering over the buds, trimming and smoking joints listening to music, just to make this plant even prettier. That’s right, their jobs are only because we are vain.

DISPENSARIES: Safe access is AWESOME. If you have never had the joy of being a “criminal” for purchasing cannabis “illegally” before, then you may not understand how freaking stellar it is. For the rest of us, legal dispensaries are just down right exciting and fun! How could you not like walking into a building full of bud and leaving with some of said bud? Safely, without being offered some other drugs? Freaking sweet!

DABS: Concentrates of cannabis are the next best thing to many of people. We’ve have been enjoying hash and tinctures as humans for thousands of years, but we would blow some people away with the shatter, wax, flake, and co2 around these days! PHO, BHO, CO2… Look out! That’s a different, foreign language still, to many of our brethren. Be patient, share, and teach them! EDIBLES: Edibles can remove pain like you wouldn’t believe! Edibles from concentrates are popular these days because it removes some of the cannabis taste from the food, but seriously, some good old fashioned canna-butter, or medicated coconut oil does the body good! Low on cannabinoids? Eat or drink up! Oh yes, drinks are a thing now in Oregon! SPECIAL HOLIDAYS: This is one of the best things ever! 420 inspired times and days. 4:20. 4/20. 4:20 on 4/20. 4:20, on 4/20/20 will likely be the best one though! Hmmm, only 5.5 more years for that one! I don’t know if you noticed, but 7/10 was a thing this year too!! Still don’t get that one? It’s ok! People were learning what 710 was at the 710 Event in Salem. If you look at 710 and the word “OIL” upside down, they bear a striking resemblance. Of course, if we get to basics, 4:20 pm is the most often celebrated, but 7:10 is certainly on its way to being a thing! Have fun in your gratitude, and be sure to share!

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

OREGONMICROGROWERSGUILD.COM

A PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN EUGENE, OREGON. EUGENE

EXCELLENT SERVICE FROM KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF HIGH CBD GENETICS ARTISAN GRADE MEDICAL CANNABIS

1 395 C R OSS ST R E E T E U G E N E , O R 974 02 • 5 41 . 24 6 . 8972

CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH

Golden XTRX Disposable Vape Pens WRITTEN BY LINDSEY RINEHART PHOTO BY DANIEL ERICH

Girl Scout Cookies-Sativa (Black Pen) CANNABINOID CONTENT

EFFECTS

FLAVOR

Girl Scout Cookies: Due to the strong stress relief vibe from this strain, the concentrated form had me almost instantly relaxed. After just a couple of puffs, the tension melted from my body as a pleasant head change set in. I didn’t notice any significant pain reduction, but I did notice a powerful calming, soothing effect. Using the pen throughout my work day, it kept me relaxed without drowsiness.

Girl Scout Cookies: The flavor is sweet with none of the earthy taste that the flower version of this strain normally provides, and it was refreshing and clean tasting. The sweet flavor is very present, but airy enough from the vaporizer that it’s not overpowering.

MEDICAL BENEFITS Girl Scout Cookies is used to treat anxiety, ADD/ADHD, migraines, PTSD, and Bipolar Disorder.

Sour Diesel-Sativa (Blue Pen)

EFFECTS

FLAVOR

Sour Diesel: This pen is strong. I took one draw from it and felt like I had taken a full dab for a second! It even made me cough a tiny bit, but in a good way. I felt a significant high almost immediately, which really surprised me, because usually I need 2-4 puffs for a head change with a pen. This pen struck me as far stronger than the other two, and the testing reflects it. I also felt a pretty significant lift in my energy after two puffs, which was pleasant.

Sour Diesel: This flavor is hard to Sour Diesel is used describe, but it leans to treat anxiety, ADD/ toward sour and ADHD, migraines, sweet. I didn’t taste Bipolar Disorder, and any skunky or diesel PTSD flavors, common in the flower version. The flavor is very present through the vapor, and highly CANNABINOID enjoyable.

THC: 72.16% CBD: .25% Tested by Green Leaf Labs

MEDICAL BENEFITS

CONTENT

THC: 84.37% CBD: .29% Tested by Green Leaf Labs

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

Pre-98 Bubba Kush-Indica (Red Pen)

EFFECTS

FLAVOR

Pre-98 Bubba Kush: At the end of a very long day, this pen put me right where I needed to be, relaxed and ready for bed. It providing a nice head change, a little more “spacey” than I had anticipated, but I welcomed it along with the nice body high and noticed some pain reduction through my limbs and body. For me, this will be a nighttime only pen.

Pre-98 Bubba Kush: This had a very distinct taste when I puffed on it, sweet and earthy, with a faint woodsy flavor. I was impressed how much the terpenes really came through on this one. This pen also hit very strong, so the flavor came through extra fierce, as the flower version has a strong scent as well.

MEDICAL BENEFITS Pre-98 Bubba Kush is used to treat anxiety, migraines, PTSD, PMS, and asthma.

CANNABINOID CONTENT THC: 71.56% CBD: .20% Tested by Green Leaf Labs

GROW

TRAINWRECK; A classic in the cannabis community and a sativa dominant hybrid from the 1970s. Generally, older strains exhibit lower THC because of recent trends in selecting cannabis plants for their THC potency. You will notice that Trainwreck’s maximum THC potency is not as high as Blue Dream, and at an average of 16.9%, it still remains a potent and wellloved variety. BLUE DREAM; An extremely popular variety, known for its high THC potency. Blue Dream holds the highest average value, and has a significant maximum value compared to Trainwreck and Blue City Diesel. These values reflect the inherent genetics in this particular strain and how it naturally trends toward higher THC potency regardless of the cultivation and curing techniques.

LAB NOTES

BLUE CITY DIESEL; A more modern indica dominant hybrid strain that is popular today. Note that Blue City Diesel’s maximum THC potency reaches the lowest minimum value of all three strains. This strain also has the lowest THC potency for the average and maximum values. While this strain tends towards lower THC potency, it is appreciated by many for its unique aroma and effects.

NURTURE THE NATURE Written By Green Leaf Lab What affects the strength of THC: the variety of the strain or its cultivation? While cannabis science is in its infancy, the journey into these unanswered questions has only just begun. What does it mean to you when you score some ‘Trainwreck’, or ‘Blue Dream’? Does the variety of a strain guarantee a consistent THC potency? There are a variety of factors that influence THC potency. Whether the strain is indica or sativa dominant will play a part in the potency. Indica and sativa dominant strains essentially control the phenotype the plant expresses. Part of the plant’s phenotypic expression includes the development of their glandular trichomes which are the site of THC synthesis, as well as other phytocannabinoids, terpeneoids, and flavonoids. We wondered whether an indica or sativa dominant strain has a consistent affect on the end results of THC potency, even across varying cultivation processes. We observed what you might have already guessed; THC potency is a combination of strain genetics and cultivation and curing techniques. Strain genetics provide the blueprint, while the cultivation and curing attenuates the potential expression of that blueprint. By analyzing samples tested at our lab this past spring and summer, we found that each strain exhibits a range of results. We picked three popular strains to compare. We observed that the strain does matter; as our sativa dominant strain had the highest maximum THC potency and the indica dominant strain had the lowest minimum THC potency. Yet still, a Blue Dream sativa dominant strain has the potential to be lower in THC than a Blue City Diesel indica dominant strain (see graph). This can occur through cultivation and curing techniques. Just because you start with a potent seed, does not mean you will eclipse other less potent varieties.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

“Does the variety of a strain guarantee a consistent THC potency?”

MARIJUANA NEWS

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

MARIJUANA NEWS

MORE THAN A POSTER CHILD

The Bigger Implications of Charlo Greene’s Bold Move WRITTEN BY LAUREN TERRY PHOTO COURTESY KTVA Back in September, the Internet was whipped into a frenzy over Charlo Greene’s on-air declaration. We’ve seen triumphant “F*ck it, I quit” videos before, letting them fill us with the desire to surrender to our guts and follow suit. There are few things more interesting than watching average citizens dissent from the norm with such calm composure, and she threw a metaphorical middle finger to a sought after position in broadcasting. However, when the kief settles, what makes this story so irresistible to talk about is the fact that a young woman threw away her career on television for the sake of marijuana legalization. Half of the controversy here is who she is, not what she said. This was no con or marketing strategy, though it did come to pass in a moment of financial risk. Vice magazine’s Patrick McGuire interviewed her the day after her video flashed on every feed, and when he asked her how business was going, she replied: “It’s been going great! Well enough for me to feel comfortable in walking away from a career that I’ve spent all my adulthood building...all [journalists] are replaceable. The people aren’t really going to miss you, or me, or any random reporter for the most part. So why not just use the position I was put in to make sure that my next chapter is wide open for me?” In that second, she realized that the good she could do with the coverage she’d possibly get by quitting live, would make more of a difference than continuing her career as a newscaster. As the owner of the first dispensary in the state, Greene didn’t need much more credit to her name, and now the whole country knows her dispensary, but there’s more going on here than just smart advertising. Greene’s choice to put her business before her career on television shows that women are feeling more empowered to shed gender stereotypes. We are a culture that idolizes

who we see on television, and typically the people we see fit a certain mold. Even in the straight-laced world of morning news, low necklines and heavy makeup define the more popular channels. Though Greene had a job that affirmed her beauty and likeability, she found it more important to prove herself as an advocate and as an entrepreneur. Statistically, less women than men openly smoke marijuana, but who’s to say whether that’s due to a majority of female smokers being afraid of saying so? The influence of this 40 second YouTube clip reaches beyond the satisfying blasphemous resignation to inspire everyone, smokers or otherwise, to reject any discomfort you may feel under oppressive stereotypes. Just by quitting her job and admitting that she smokes weed, Greene beat out Sarah Palin for the most famous person in Alaska. She has no intention to utilize the attention in order to monopolize a future retail presence, and she emphasizes that her medicinal dispensary will stay open regardless of the election results. “The medical side is always going to be running...we need to ensure our medical marijuana patients aren’t screwed over when this vote is passed.” Her perspective is not only that of a business owner but of a patient as well. She describes how weed helped her contain her college binge drinking and excel in her classes, keeping her focused and driven. “I needed something else to do that maybe wasn’t so harmful, and I picked up smoking weed. I went from failing an entire semester, to passing the next semester, and every semester after that, to being on the Dean’s List. I graduated cum laude”. Although her story is one that many share in experience, not enough people talk about it freely, and part of normalizing marijuana will depend on the general public hearing testimonies from high-functioning, motivated individuals who smoke it regularly.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

Your #1 source for everything cannabis Reach thousands of patients and enthusiasts a month

INNOVATION SINCE

1998

COMMERCIAL EDITION NUTRIENTS

A unique nutrient for each popular grow method, indoor and outdoor! Micro, Grow and Bloom with in-built root wetting agent!

AQUA FEED

MEDIA FEED

Water Culture Specific: Use with DWC, aeroponics, flood & drain etc. Hardwater option available

Media Specific: Use with rockwool, perlite, clay balls etc. Hardwater option available

EARTH FEED

COIR FEED

Soil Specific: For use with Mother Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest natural medium

Coconut Coir Specific: A perfect elemental balance for coir growers

ADDITIVV

Formulated to work synergistically with the Commercial Edition nutrients, it's all you need!

P:K BOOM

NUTRI-CLEAR

A super concentrated Bloom-Booster scientifically formulated to significantly increase flower weight, size, density & essential oils.

Designed to optimize perfect root-zone conditions whilst boosting large super healthy, pure white root formation.

FOLIAR SPRAYS

Foliar nutrient spray with in-built wetting agent! Extreme nutrient absorption & superior plant growth!

LEAF TONIC

FLOWER TONIC

Foliar spray for grow cycle

Foliar spray for bloom cycle

For more info and to register your interest, email DutchMaster@CommercialGrowerServices.com

MARIJUANA NEWS

The November 2014 Edition

Times by R.Z. Hughes

POT AROUND THE WORLD

Investment Icon Buffet Looking to Cash in on Green Rush? MiTek, a subsidiary of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has begun offering mezzanine platforms to cannabis growers in Colorado and Washington. While the world’s third richest man is not likely pulling the strings on this specific marketing campaign, it’s doubtful that he sees it as a bad business opportunity. MiTek makes custom standing structures for

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

warehouses and industrial facilities in order to increase available space without increasing the footprint of the building. After being approached by warehouse growers from Denver, and anticipating a lack of grow space in the coming years as the tide turns in favor of legalization, they are looking to step in as the two-tiered grow of the future.

MARIJUANA NEWS

Print Me a Pipe, Please!

“It’s only entertainment!”

Israeli scientists, working for a government-backed company named Syqe, have developed a 3D-printed inhaler for vaporizing cannabis that meets pharmaceutical standards (down to the microgram!) for administering cannabinoids. This, in essence, will allow doctors to feel more confident in prescribing cannabis in a relieving way while avoiding the psychoactive effects. This futuristic story wouldn’t be complete without the fact that your inhaler will connect to WiFi so that doctors – or your facebook friends – can monitor your use. It’s 3D-printed in order to bring it to medical trials sooner, so look for it in the next year – at least if you plan on visiting Israel for your healthcare needs.

TMZ star and part time boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was brought before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on allegations that he not only held unlawful and dangerous training sessions and facilitated illegal gambling in his gym, but also that he used Marijuana – a banned substance – during his Showtime special before his pay-perview fight against Marcos Maidana. His rebuttal? It was all fake, “only for entertainment,” just to put butts in the seats to pay for those views. While not everyone is buying it, it’s encouraging that reefer has become mainstream enough to be used as a national marketing ploy, with Mayweather claiming along with selling a fight he wanted to “sell a lifestyle”. Oddly, the commission was just as concerned with his friends rolling joints in his mansion as they were about potentially deadly sparring matches, the reasons of which may never be clear to most rationally functioning humans.

Rock God Shares Spliff with TV Host Within the rolling hills of Florence, there is a high security lab run by the Italian government that will soon grow cannabis for medical patients. The current situation in Italy sees medical cannabis imported from the Netherlands, which is then sold to patients at around 40 Euros a gram, or roughly 8 times what someone would pay on the streets of Rome. Because of this price disparity, there are few patients willing to sign up under the current system of medical pot – bringing us to the military. They are hoping to provide enough medical-grade grass to supply patients for free. In a nation where Catholic stigma and Mafia ties hold strong, placing the lab under military control is a political decision to assuage worried citizens that it won’t mirror the US system of personal gardens and dispensaries. While medical marijuana laws are young in Italy, this is a strong step forward and will hopefully give affordable, safe access and relief to thousands of suffering Italians.

Rock God Shares Spliff with TV Host Led Zeppelin vocalist, Robert Plant, visited TV funnyman Stephen Colbert’s The Colbert Report on October 9th to talk about a number of topics ranging from his new album to his role as a Commander of the British Empire; the importance of digestive regularity and his love of Pre-Raphaelite poetry. Along with his zany tidbits and new songs, Plant also brought along a doobie – about 6 inches long – as a gift for Stephen who graciously accepted and looked genuinely excited. Due to the fact that this was aired on national network television Colbert stated, while giggling gleefully, “for the purposes of my lawyers and my network, this is a cigarette”, before daintily placing it in his breast pocket for later inspection.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

12.13.14 Voting Starts NOVEMBER 6 presented by

The Biggest Night in the Cannabis Industry

Held at the Iconic Showbox SoDo 1700 1st Ave South, Seattle Doors Open at 7pm

Hosted by Movin’ 92.5’s Jose Bolanos

Special Musical Guests Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme

Join Dope Magazine along with the industry’s leaders as we celebrate all of our accomplishments with a black tie event you won’t soon forget.

FOR TICKETS GO TO WWW.DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

HEALTH

BCP Beta-caryophyllene The Spice of Life WRITTEN BY SHARON LETTS

“What do you love most about Cannabis? The way it makes you feel? The way it makes you feel better? Or is it the fragrance? Breaking open a good bud always begs for a wiff of its delicious aroma prior to smoking. The use of a vaporizer brings the fresh scent of the flower through, minus the carbon. There is nothing quite like the taste and smell of some really dank weed. The goodness of the scent come from the terpenes of the plant – otherwise known as essential oils – the bait that lures us to herbs, spices, and other beneficial plants to use for our own good. Terpenes are crucial to a plant’s survival, and without them, pollinators wouldn’t be able to do their job, food isn’t grown, and medicine isn’t made. In terpenes alone Cannabis sativa L. has the largest numbers to date, with approximately 200 terpenes producing more than 60 terpenophenols that are undetected in any other plants on the planet. Aromatherapy is the tip of the iceberg, and merely smoking the plant is just the beginning of how good the medicine of the plant will make you feel – all over, not just via the high. And therein lay the mystery in the medicine, for terpenes are medicine. That’s the trick of nature and we fall for it every time, nose first.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

HEALTH

“IT’S COMPLICATED” The botanical medicinal herb Cannabis has more than five hundred complex compounds. Organic chemist and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, refers to the cannabinoids of the plant in the British Journal of Pharmacology as “a neglected pharmacological treasure trove,” stating, “Most of the cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. have not been fully evaluated for their pharmacological activity.” It’s known that Dr. Melchoulam isolated THC in 1964, but cannabinoids (specifically CBD & CBN) were first identified in the 1940s, with a bevy of CBD agonists found since. There’s just one glitch, CBDs are such an integral part of the Cannabis plant they are lumped together under Schedule 1 right alongside Heroin. Enter Dr. John W. Huffman of Clemson University in South Carolina, and his list of synthetic CBDs created for study only on U.S. soil in the mid-90s. “Spice,” a synthetic compound often referred to as “fake weed” was derived from Huffman’s work, with all of the mock compounds soon after denied by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) due to unwanted and sometimes dangerous side effects. Education is prevailing, though, and thanks to the good work of Josh Stanley and brothers of Colorado, CBD only strains of Cannabis, brought to light by the now infamous strain “Charlotte’s Web,” are helping to enlighten the masses. Strains rich in CBD are more commonly being hybridized and grown, for good medicine without the high – allowing children to get on board the healing weed wagon with the grown-ups. PASS THE PEPPER Cannabis also contains a little known compound called Betacaryophyllene or BCP, said to closely mimic CBD with no psychoactive properties. BCP is also found in the most fragrant herbs and spices, such as oregano, black pepper, and cinnamon. In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences July of 2008, a team of pharmacology and neurology experts from Switzerland, Italy, and Germany reported that BCP is in fact a dietary cannabinoid, responsive to both CB1 and CB2 receptors within the Endocannabinoid System. The findings named BCP as a “potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammation, pain, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis.” The paper goes on to state, since the team knew Cannabis strains vary wildly (and especially in oil delivery preparations), that five “commercial” Cannabis essential oils lacking CBD were tested in young mice during this controlled study. The conclusion stated that BCP, taken with a dose of 10 to 200 mg. “could be a dietary factor that potentially modulates inflammatory and other pathophysiological processes via the Endocannabinoid System.” In summation, the team informed, “the pharmacokinetics of BCP in humans and its potential impact on health should be addressed in future studies.” LEGAL HEALING Entrepreneur Peter Moon has been on a mission to end prohibition of the plant by finding loopholes in the system for more than two years. A year ago he investigated synthetic CBDs developed by Huffman, thinking if the FDA approved the synthetic CBD “Spice” as a food additive, then CBD only – or at least the synthetic - should be made available to humans if it had any medicinal value at all. He reasoned, by semantics alone, he could find a way to say CBD was approved by default. Then Moon stumbled upon the little known, potential dietary additive

of BCP, and it all came together for him. “I had investors who flew to Israel this past summer to meet with Dr. Mechoulam and talk about BCP,” Moon said. “He ended up inviting them to his home and made them dinner in his loft.” The investors didn’t work out, but Moon said he has been given Dr. Mechoulam’s blessings to tout BCP as a dietary additive and he is actively looking for funding and a way to get the compound to the public for the greater good. “Dr. Mechoulam told me this compound is a game changer for the world,” Moon added, “Every major discovery in human history has to begin somewhere - why not with us?” CBD WITH A CAUSE Author and activist Martin A. Lee is executive director of Project CBD, a non-profit on a mission to educate, promote and publicize research on cannabidiol (CBD) and other components of the plant; while updating doctors and patients in the ongoing science and research. The project’s website hosts a long list of dozens of ailments that CBD only strains help, including upper respiratory, neurological, pain, cardio, digestive, endocrine, and auto-immune diseases. The list of ailments on Project CBD’s website is extensive, and even this writer was surprised at the exclusion of THC for many maladies. After all, we as a species upped the THC levels over the past 40 years and this plant was used for centuries prior without the extremely high concentrations of THC. Remember the more than five hundred compounds in Cannabis? They are not remotely connected to the THC component. And while I personally feel I need the THC for my own depression and sleep deprivation, I understand the need is great for good medicine minus the high. While Lee said he is aware of BCP, he wasn’t entirely convinced the CBD analog could perform as well as its counterpart, or help with as many ailments. “It’s not the same as CBD and doesn’t do everything that CBD does,” Lee said. “It’s a terpene, and binds directly to the CB2 cannabinoid receptor in the peripheral nervous system and immune system, which CBD does not.” RELAX, IT’S OREGANO In January, 2013 The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) added a “formal quality standards monograph for Cannabis” back onto its list of medicinal botanical herbs. The American Botanical Council announced the news on its website via its newsletter “HerbalEGram,” dated January 2014, noting the plant was “vilified by President Nixon’s ‘War on Drugs,” citing “20th Century propaganda” contributing to the plants demise over the following 70 years. Information regarding the power of herbs and spices is all over the net. Dandelion increases urine output; aloe vera soothes inflamed skin; thyme gives relief for a sore throat; cinnamon lowers diabetes numbers; and sage helps regulate body temperature. The extensive list goes on, raising the question of why we ever wandered so far away from the garden in the first place. With new insight regarding the healing properties of cannabis at our fingertips, and our rediscovered knowledge of healing herbs and spices, perhaps Peter Moon is on to something. One thing’s for sure, we need to find a way to get back to the garden, and if all it takes is one little black peppercorn to show us the way, so be it.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

PIECES

For more information on Magical Butter and the MB2, visit www.magicalbutter.com

DOPE REVIEW

Magical Butter machine’s MB2 MAKING MEDICINE AT HOME

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHARON LETTS

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

PIECES Until the industrial revolution, post World War II, people made things at home. Food was grown in a backdoor kitchen garden alongside medicinal herbs, with recipes for remedies passed down through generations. Medicine especially was derived from the kitchen garden, as fragrant herbs provided relief and prevention from a plethora of common ailments with no prescription necessary, just a basic knowledge of plant extraction and infusion using alcohol, oils, and vinegars – common binding compounds that allowed people to access good medicine from plants. My mother grew up on a farm in the Midwest. She buried fish heads at the base of her roses for fertilizer, and used common products from the kitchen to treat pests, because it was a cheap and easy practice she knew how to do and the stuff didn’t reek of toxins. When my daughter was young these remedies stayed with me. Dish soap mixed with water was a mild defense against pests. If we had a cut or scrape a piece of Aloe Vera plant was cut from the garden and the gooey sap inside was applied with good results. Over time chemical companies convinced the masses we could do nothing for ourselves, inundating us with synthetic products and remedies in the name of progress, poisoning our little planet in the process. Housewives and cooks were lured from the garden by convenience, convinced by marketing campaigns that saving time was more important than the healthful options of the past. Entire meals began being procured via a drive-through in the car, or dumped from boxes and bags – no longer cooked, now manufactured. How can the masses be turned around in this environment? How can we get anyone back into the garden after decades of thinking we no longer need to be there? Could simple convenience be re-invented allowing us a relationship with plants and medicine once again? The answer is yes, and it’s happening now. BACK TO THE GARDEN WITH THE MB2 Alice Rodriguez is a 60 year-old mother of four grown children in Washington State. Four years ago she presented with an AutoImmune disorder called “Dercum’s.” Similar to Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Dercum’s us a debilitating disorder causing painful fatty masses, obesity (typically in menopause), weakness and fatigue; and mental disorders such as emotional instability, depression, confusion, and dementia. The combination can also trigger seizures and/or epilepsy.

“I was shocked, as I had enjoyed excellent health my whole life,” Rodriguez said of the diagnosis. “I went from being a boss to being bossed until I had it figured out. One of my kids brought me a salve made with cannabis, and it was game on from there. I figured out how to make it in a crock pot and read everything I could get my hands on. “ Rodriguez said she used a crock pot for months to make her medicine when she read of the Magical Butter machine. “I didn’t even have to think twice when I read about this machine,” she shared. “I got what it meant immediately, as the crock pot method was a huge hassle, having to watch the thing constantly – and it took days to make a decent batch.” Salve is a big part of Rodriguez’s delivery, and she said she has no neuropathy pain at all now. “I rub salve on all day long,” she laughed. “And I use a maple syrup extract for breakthrough pain. I don’t use the machine like most do – I turn it off and let it sit, then turn it back on again – it makes beautiful oil. My favorite is rice bran oil, as it never goes rancid and has the highest heating point. And I don’t bake with cannabis because of weight issues, but I teach others how. I encourage others to get as much cannabis into their system in as many ways as possible.” MODERN DAY APOTHECARY Like Rodriguez, a crock pot had been my go-to for making good medicine. Butter, oils, honey and more have been infused on my kitchen counter over the past few years. It’s a process, but a necessary one, as the plant has done away with more than eight prescription meds for me, and I need to keep the medicine in my system daily to feel well. When the Magical Butter people offered to send me a machine that could cut my apothecary time in half, I was more than a little excited to try it. I liken it to an automatic coffee maker, grinding the beans and brewing a pot of Joe while I lay in bed, wiping the sleep from my eyes, it only lives to serve. That’s what the Magical Butter machine does. It grinds the plant material, mixes and cooks the medicine just a few hours - then self-cleans. On one hand, it’s definitely a modern, onebutton machine of convenience, ready to lure me away from the multi-process method used prior. On the other hand, it’s a way for me to keep a good supply of medicine on-hand, for I no longer have to babysit a simmering pot for many hours, ensuring nothing burns or turns.

PUSH BUTTON PHARMACY The options for batches are listed plainly on the top of the machine via a simple button to push, coordinated to temperature: one for butter, oil, and one for tincture – with a light show to entertain as it cooks. The first batch made was a coconut oil salve, taking just one hour at a consistent 160 degrees. I dutifully dumped in small bud, stems and leaf for the whole plant entourage of THC, CBD and CBN; added the oil, and pushed the button. Soon the machine was whirring with Disco lights flashing. At the end of the cycle the mixture is poured through a mesh that comes with the machine, but I found my old stand-by of pouring through a strainer with cheese cloth into a pourable container worked better for me – doing away with the special safety mitt and mesh bag that came with the machine. The difference in color was notable right away, as the Magical Butter machine retains more chlorophyll than the crock pot method, giving it a darker shade of green. No doubt due to the high heat and extreme grinding done with the material. The next batch made was with honey – a substance that isn’t fully conducive to breaking down the plant material easily. Due to the grinding and heat mentioned, it was the strongest batch of medicated honey I’ve ever made – helping this menopausal woman to sleep like a baby with just one cup of tea at bedtime. CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION After making three batches of medicine the machine stopped working and I’m not sure why. The motor unit can’t be submerged in water or it will go kaput, but it seemed to me the buttons on top may be a tad weak and might have stopped functioning. The good news is the company immediately e-mailed me a UPS shipping label minutes from my call. I had only to rinse the unit out, put it back into the box, and send it back to Seattle. Within days I had another MB2 and was back in the kitchen making more good medicine. In this day and age of everything being done for us, I’m happy to see machines like this one being manufactured for good medicine. Who knows, perhaps the ease of the machine will inspire some to get back out in the garden? I’ve heard oregano tincture works wonders for many ailments – who knows, maybe this little machine will be the start of a whole generation of medicine makers, sharing recipes over the fence for the greater good once again.

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

USER

Reviewed. APPROVED.

Do you know where the best cannabis stores near you are?

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry, we do.

Register today at dopemaps.com The site where user reviews actually count, so you can find the businesses that serve you best.

ROAD TRIP

Touring the California Coast Travels with Stuart

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHARON LETTS

The past four years I’ve covered four states researching cannabis as medicine: Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, with my home State of California a constant go-to. This year I had the opportunity to visit Paris, France for the first time and loved writing, “American Stoner in Paris” for the series. Last year I traveled more than 4,000 miles for good medicine via trains, planes and automobiles, leaving me a bit weary and homesick, to say the least. This year I decided to bring my home with me and acquired a 1972 travel trailer, tricking it out from my coming of age period of the 70s. Avocado green, golden rod, and burnt orange color my tiny house

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

on wheels, with India printed bedspreads as curtains, vintage everything, and shag carpet on the walls around the bed. The black light is pending, but Stuart promises to be the perfect touring hangout, and I’m eagerly awaiting the road, with dreams of patient hangouts (and smoke outs) dancing in my head, and a few medicated campfire meals to lull me to sleep (recipes will be shared). TRAVELS WITH STUART I’ve named my little home away from home “Stuart” from a beloved children’s book, “Stuart Little,” the brave and adventurous mouse, raised

ROAD TRIP by an American family, who went out into the world in search of his love “Marigold,” a canary. With Stuart, I’ll continue my Road Trip series for Dope Magazine in search of good medicine down the Cali Coast - inspired in part by favorite California author John Steinbeck and a favorite tale, Travels with Charley – less the dog. The first stop for Stuart this fall was in my own backyard of Humboldt County, and I set him up in the redwoods, near the pristine and spiritual town of Trinidad. Humboldt Bay was the last area to be “settled” in the 1850s, with Trinidad the last port of call to be taken over, due to its militant natives guarding their homeland to the bitter end. CAMP CANNABIS Local patients I’ve helped were invited to campsite for a chat, along with the occasional phone call from a patient faraway – as I now help people around the world educate themselves on the plant. The week of the campout alone I spoke to people suffering from brain tumors, breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin disorders, severe drug withdrawals, and a dog with cancer – all looking to cannabis for help, either doing away with traditional meds altogether or traditional meds gave up on them. The advocacy I do isn’t just within the confines of lines written for magazines. For once you are helped with this plant it becomes a calling to help others and spread the word. I’ve been dubbed, “Cannabis Evangelist” for this very reason – the Florence Nightingale of Weed, if you will. Patients, and subsequently stories, come to me like spirits to the Long Island Medium, put in front of me everywhere I go – or perhaps they are guided? The young college football player I sat next to on a bus in San Francisco came to me the day after Harvard Prof. Grinspoon sent off the letter to the NFL asking them to stop testing players. The young man was then featured in the magazine’s October football issue. The interviews at campsite were challenging as I had a small production crew shoot the entire process for posterity, and even though this good medicine is legal in California, the stigma continues, with many speaking only of their experiences in the shadows, unwilling to use their names. This has always fascinated me, as when I put my own breast cancer into remission three summers ago, I wanted to shout it from the roof. Luckily, as a writer I had a pretty big platform, but not everyone shares my enthusiasm, with many still hiding use from work, family – even loved ones. A woman who keeps her breast cancer in remission by juicing leaf stopped by to chat over a cup of tea in Stuart, sharing her ongoing maintenance of oil and leaf – when she can find it. She had a lumpectomy prior to doing any cannabis treatments and I failed to ask if she would have made that decision again, knowing what she knows now. Cancer is a frightening diagnosis and I don’t fault anyone for choosing a traditional therapy. Later I posed the question and she said, no, she would only do the oil now – pass the bowl and praise the plant. Another woman called from Southern California while I was at campsite in the woods, asking about dosing with RSO or Rick Simpson Oil. Suppositories were discussed, as that’s the buzz right now. Apparently, sending it through the digestive track is a slower delivery and suppositories put the medicine directly into the bloodstream, and right to the organs – not for processing, but for healing. It’s always nice to speak with those going through what

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

ROAD TRIP

you’ve been through. HUMBOLDT OIL CARTEL IN WONDERLAND Southern Humboldt is where everything began in the world of recreational growing, hosting the largest concentration of outdoor gardening in California. So much so the one dispensary in the little town of Garberville, Wonderland, only moves about an ounce a week, if that. Longtime grower Keven Jodrey is owner and in charge of its hybridization and cloning facility just outside of town. In a market that caters to growers with degrees in plant sciences and micro-biology, you have to know what you are doing. And good medicine is not only prevalent, but understood, with medicine makers focusing on strains, CBD and getting the most from a harvest in the cleanest and smartest way possible. On Wonderland’s countertop patients will find salves, lotions, and strong oil for real illness made by back-to-the-landers living the green dream among in-kind gardeners. It’s a special and sacred place with an understanding of the plant and the lifestyle just not found elsewhere, with a history behind them and another they are making now. TOURING THE EMERALD TRIANGLE From Humboldt County I’ll travel south about four hours or so down California Highway 101 to the Mendocino Coast, kin to “The Emerald Triangle,” comprised of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity counties – birthplace of great weed. My last visit to Mendo found me in a “Bud & Breakfast” in the woods, but I couldn’t report on it for many reasons, as it’s part of an underground green railroad of wellness, helping those in need

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

from all over the country. Covering local dispensaries during my last visit was also impossible as the City of Mendocino enacted a media gag on them for their own safety; raids had been so prevalent in the area. This trip it will be different, as there is a newfound buzz in the air with an impending legalization vote on the horizon in 2016. Then it will be on to Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego – with a brief stop in my hometown of Redondo Beach, located in the South Bay of the county. I’ll find stories along the way and meet with some movers and shakers from each area, sharing the state of medicine as I go. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ The California Coast has inspired California dreaming for decades. It’s temperate climate and spectacular views have brought millions to its shores and surfers to their knees in a love affair that sees no end. The first state in the union to legalize cannabis as medicine, its progressive politics and outspoken citizens have been trendsetters to the country, and champions of the environment. California was the first state to enact an environmental law in 1884 banning hydraulic mining, fast forward to this year’s first ordinance to ban plastic shopping bags statewide by 2015. Residents will tell you there are two “Californias” – Northern California with its greenbelts, green industry and cooler climate; and Southern California with its sprawling suburbs, thriving entertainment industries and sunshine to spare. But both are mine. Both are beloved and understood by this California girl, about to head down the coast, in search of good medicine.

Visit our website to learn where you can purchase the Dopen and Dope Oils! FOLLOW US

RECHARGEABLE BATTERY LUXURY PEN DESIGN

@THED OPE N

CARTRIDGE COMPATIBILITY

#THED OPE N

DURABLE CONSTRUCTION RECHARGEABLE BATTERY

AB OUT GOLDE N LEAF OIL PREMIUM C02 CA NNABI S OIL VAPORI ZER CA R TRIDGE _____

C02 EXTRACTION FOR 100% PURE CANNABIS, NATURALLY • We only use medical grade C02. Butane and other toxic gases are never used • Our products are pure and natural. We never use carcinogens in the production of our extracts • Purity means you can trust our product is right for you and our process is carbon neutralt CONCENTRATED AND DEWAXED • 10:1 ratio, that means 1 gram of Dabbable product equals 10 grams of medical cannabis • Dewaxing means that our personal vaporizers flow well and will not clog or thicken NEVER DILUTED OR MIXED WITH ANY OTHER SUBSTANCEONLY PURE, NATURAL CANNABIS

• We never use glycol or fillers. That means 1g of our product means 1g

• Many cannabis suppliers provide 500mg of extract and 500mg glycol or filler

H DT

FIN

N PS E P -O

O GON C DO E R N E OR

F I OSS T A CR A

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON OUR WEBSITE

WWW.THEDOPEN.COM _________________________________________________ POWERED BY

Pittock M

N O T

O N

M A P CANNAMEDICINE 1527 STATE ST SALEM, OR 97301 CHERRY CITY COMPASSION 2025 25TH ST SE SALEM, OR 97302 HERBAL GRASSLANDS, LLC 1130 ROYVONNE AVE SE, STE 104 SALEM, OR 97302 THE HOLISTIC CHOICE 1045 COMMERCIAL ST SE SALEM, OR 97302

5LMNT, LLC 634 42 N HWY 97 BEND, OR 97701 BLOOM WELL 1814 NE DIVISION ST BEND, OR 97701 CANNABND, LLC 3312 NE HWY 20 BEND, OR 97702 DIAMONDTREE INC DIAMON 2715 NE HWY 20 BEND, OR 97701 DR. JOLLY’S 415 SE 3RD ST BEND, OR 97702 1ST CHOICE CANNABIS FARMACY 4142 LIBERTY RD S SALEM, OR 97302

OREGROWN 1199 NW WALL ST BEND, OR 97701

Washingt

Co lu

te R

ive

7th Ave

NE ALberta St

122nd Ave

162nd Ave

82nd Ave

NE MLKJr Blvd

Moda Center 39th Ave

NW Glisan

Mansion

NW Glisan St E Burnside St

Oregon Zoo

rke

Mount Tabor

SE Hawthorne St

181st Ave

Oregon Museum

of Science & Industry

SE Alder St

SE Division St

SE Powell

Blvd

60th Ave

Riv er

N Mississippi Ave

W illa

S Hi W B lls ea da ve le rto Hw n y

Reed College

Powell Butte Nature Park SE Fo

ster R

190th Ave

ton Square

Portland Community College

ASK DR. FREE

Nourishing the Endocannabinoid System WRITTEN BY DR. KIMBERLY FREE The Endocannabinoid System is a homeostatic control system for the basic regulatory functions of the human body, meaning it keeps the necessary processes of living functioning together appropriately. It works in conjunction with the nervous system and endocrine system to regulate, nurture and balance the basic body functions of eating, digesting, metabolizing, thinking, feeling, resting, sleeping, and healing. The Endocannabinoid system balances our bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abilities to grow, maintain and repair. The Endocannabinoid system consists of three elements; 1: Chemical messengers or ligands called Endocannabinoids, two examples of which are AEA (Anandamide) and 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol). The endocannabinoids NAE, PEA, and OEA are being researched. Endocannabinoids are made by the body and are our internal or endogenous cannabinoids. The microglia, the immune system cells of the brain, produce and release a large amount of endocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids are the cannabinoid molecules that come from plants. They have been found in Cannabis, Echinacea, Flax, and Heliochrysum plants to name a few. 2: The cell membrane receptors the endocannabinoids attach to, the most well-known being CB1 and CB2. Other cell receptors being researched include the TRPV1 and PPAR receptors along with other G protein receptors.

HEALTH

3: The enzymes which metabolize or break the endocannabinoids down, including FAAH and MAGL. The areas of the body which contain the majority of the endocannabinoid receptors are indicative of the importance of this system and its impact on being and feeling well. CB1 receptors are found most pre-dominantly in the brain, located in the areas known as the substantia nigra, globus pallidus, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, putamen, caudate, cerebellum, and the amygdala. These areas affect memory, mood, cognition and balance. CB2 receptors are also found in muscle tissue, on liver cells, fat cells, the lung, heart, adrenal glands, bone marrow, thymus, tonsils, prostate, testis, uterus and ovaries. CB1 receptors have been found primarily on immune system cells and limitedly in the central nervous system. It is important to note that CB1 receptors are not located in any meaningful amount in the brainstem, medulla, or thalamus. These areas of the brain are associated with maintaining the vital functions of the body including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Due to the lack CB1 receptors in these areas, substances which bind to the CB1 receptor do not directly impact these vital physiological functions. This is one of the reasons the phytocannabinoid of the cannabis plant, THC or ∆9 tetrahydrocannabinol, which binds to the CB1 receptor does not cause life threatening effects at high doses. Conversely, opioid receptors are abundant in the brainstem, medulla and thalamus, and substances which bind to these receptors can cause respiratory and cardiac depression leading to death when taken in doses exceeding the body’s ability to metabolize and excrete them. The Endocannabinoid System, just like all other body systems, requires nourishment and maintenance in order to function properly. Providing care to this system is simple and here are some basic feeding instructions; Daily intake of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, like the Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in Krill, Fish and Flax Oil provide very important foundational nutritional elements for the endocannabinoid system and entire body. Essential fatty acids compose the phospholipid bilayer, the outer “shell”, of every cell in the human body. They are a natural systemic antiinflammatory, providing fuel the heart prefers, assisting the liver with hormone and cholesterol processing, and EFA’s are essential to appropriate neurotransmitter, nervous system and endocannabinoid system signaling.

the colon. The CB2 receptors of the Endocannabinoid system have been found to play a large role in immune system activation, modulation and regulation. A large percentage of our immune system is located in the gut, standing guard and continually monitoring all that attempts to enter our bodies through the intestine of the digestive system. The endocannabinoids AEA and 2-AG, along with endogenous immunoglobulins and probiotics, are both present in human breast milk. Decrease daily stress. While this may be easier said than done, studies show that chronic stress decreases levels of both endocannabinoids AEA and 2-AG. Mind-body relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, exercise, meditation, and yoga provide mild cannabimimetic effects stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. This encourages a state of relaxation. Exercise and move that body any way you can. Medium intensity exercise that raises the heart rate to 70-80% of your maximum heart rate increases serum AEA levels, and increases endocannabinoid system signaling. Dancing, kite chasing, hula hooping, dog jogging, and Frisbee throwing all count as exercise if you raise your heart rate high enough! Avoid alcohol, neurotoxins, fungicides, pesticides, molds and toxic drugs, including pharmaceuticals, which harm the kidneys, liver or any other of the precious internal organs. The well that is to give water must have a good inlet stream. Each body system and each body part is a well of its own, seeking the nourishment it needs to reach its optimal function and fulfill its vital purpose. Create your own inlet stream, then protect and nourish it well. Dr. Kimberly Free is a naturopathic physician practicing in Shoreline, WA. Research focus includes immunology, endocrinology and cannabinoid medicine. Treatment plans focus on detoxification and vitality rebuilding therapies which restore health post traumatic, chronic, and debilitating illness. She is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine. Dr. Free sees patients in office and consults nationally and internationally with clients by phone and videoconference. Website: www.drkimberlyfree.com, www. cannabinoidmedicine.info Facebook page: Cannabinoid Medicine Physician

Probiotics, taken as supplements or those found naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt, miso, and kimchi, were found to increase the number of CB2 receptors in

DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

DOPE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 8 “THE PAST-TO-PRESENT ISSUE”