Dope Magazine - The Dopest Issue - Winter 2020 by DOPE Magazine

STOP THE SHAMING How do we shed the stigmas surrounding cannabis and weight?

THE HOTTEST IN ENTERTAINMENT Here are 2019’s most unforgettable films and albums.

THE ROARING TWENTIES Experts agree – the

T H E DOP E S T ISSU E

MEGAN RAPINOE

political future of cannabis knows no bounds.

CHANGING THE GAME, ON AND OFF THE FIELD

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

T H E DO PE S T I S S U E

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From the Editor he start of a new year often sparks hopes and dreams of new possibilities, but inevitably we are bound to look back and reminisce about the most epic accomplishments of 2019. To usher in the new millennium’s version of the Roaring Twenties, it’s time once again to highlight last year’s highs in our annual DOPEst Issue.

the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she represents the peak of our country’s spirit and athleticism. Rapinoe stands up politically for what she believes in despite overwhelming opposition. As a powerful role model of the LGBTQ community, she inspires our audience to courageously face the insurmountable challenges that may lie ahead.

Our cover is a representation of what 2019 meant to us in the cannabis community, as well as the world at large — strength and courage. Iconic soccer champion, Megan Rapinoe, stands for all aspects of advocacy and determination that we celebrate in our community including equal pay and female representation. Leading the U.S. Women’s National Team to victory at

There were many of changes with positive outcomes for cannabis last year. Our feature written by Raj Chandler takes a look back at the greatest accomplishments of the industry in 2019, while Benjamin Adams penned a piece that uncovers the limitless possibilities that surround the politics of cannabis in 2020. The entertainment industry is also abuzz with plenty of new game-changing films and albums. In true DOPE fashion, we couldn’t forget to rate the hottest releases in arts and entertainment from 2019. Uncover our Top 10 Films and Top 10 Albums to see if you agree with our resident experts on our favorite forms of entertainment.

Everyone has the opportunity to revinvent themselves and tackle new challenges in 2020. No matter what you envision for the year ahead, remember that this decade is full of untapped potential, and we look forward to taking this wild ride with you. Cheers to staying DOPE! The DOPE Editorial Team

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BUSINESS Executive Chairman Adam Levin Chief Executive Off icer Stormy Simon President Paul Henderson VP of Corporate Development Maxx Abramowitz VP of Content Jon Cappetta VP of Events Sameen Ahmad Director of Events & Competitions Mark Kazinec Staff Accountant Liane Pettet

EDITORIAL Managing Publisher Jamie Solis Associate Editor Ashley Kern Editors Benjamin Adams, Joseph Schafer Editorial Contributors Raj Chander, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Taylor Logan, R. Scott Rappold, Scott Recker, Jeffrey Rindskopf

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Contents

14 DOUBLING UP

American soccer champion Megan Rapinoe, along with her twin sister Rachael, is dominating the cannabis scene with the hemp-derived CBD brand, Mendi.

Photographer : Gareth Cattermole - FIFA

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WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP IT’S BEEN 40

The cannabis industry’s most recent accomplishments are more impressive than ever.

LISTENING IN

BODY POSITIVITY

Shedding the stigmas about cannabis and weight in favor of embracing selflove.

The Top 10 Albums of 2019 are a legendary salute to the end of the decade.

GOING OUT IN STYLE 62

Feel the thrill, shock, sexuality, femininity and theatrical force of these top films.

NEW YEAR, WHO DIS? 72

With the 2020 election around the corner, this year is going to be one for the history books.

LOVE OF THE LAW 82

THE PRESENCE OF OPPORTUNITY

The hemp industry could be just what American agriculture needs.

Attorney Dave Rodman made the right choice when he traded in becoming a professional snowboarder to practice cannabis law.

EMBRACE THE NEW 88

LIPTRUCE rebranded its sexy and emotional image to poetically match its pop-rock sound.

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THE RAPINOE SISTERS SHARE ALL ABOUT CBD, POLITICS AND SPORTS Megan and Rachael Rapinoe’s mission to bring equal representation to the hemp industry By Benjamin M. Adams

reaking record after record as captain of Reign FC and the U.S. Women’s National Team, Megan Rapinoe led the U.S. to monumental victories in the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments and earned numerous awards for points scored and various other achievements. The Olympic gold medalist’s name became synonymous with “the resistance,” or the refusal to accept the state of women’s and minority rights in the United States,

Photographer: Gareth Cattermole - FIFA

through conscious acts of defiance such as her controversial choice to kneel during the national anthem. She also joined her teammates to sue the U.S. Soccer organization for equal pay for women. Like Colin Kaepernick — whom she calls an “inspiration” — Megan put her own career on the line with her unique brand of activism and set the bar for other athletes to follow, at a time when politics in America seems to be more divided and polarized than ever before.

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Flashback to the Beginning Before dominating the soccer field with Reign FC, Megan played for the Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, MagicJack in Women’s Professional Soccer and Olympique Lyonnais in France’s Division 1 Féminine. Megan led the U.S. to win the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London during the women’s football tournament. Over the years, her honors include the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year award, the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award and being inducted into the Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame. Recently, Megan took home the coveted Golden Boot as the team’s top scorer and the Golden Ball as top player at the Women’s World Cup in France. In 2016, Megan attracted media attention after kneeling during the national anthem at a Chicago Red Stars and Reign FC match, marking one of her first major political statements. Then, in 2019, Megan was invited to meet President Donald Trump after her latest World Cup win. But Megan wasn’t comfortable visiting the White House under an administration that she doesn’t approve of. Trump unleashed a rapid-fire tweetstorm targeting Megan

after her refusal to visit. “I’m not going to the fucking White House,” Megan tweeted last June. President Trump rained down insulting tweets in retaliation. Following the fiasco, Megan gained nearly a million followers on her Twitter account, likely boosted by her conflict with the president. “I am flattered that it even appears I am keeping up with the media frenzy,” Megan humbly admits to DOPE. “I am just trying to enjoy the ride, stay authentic to myself and inject as much passion, humor and empathy into whatever I’m doing. This is truly a special time in my life, one that will alter my life forever, and I’m loving every minute of it.” These days, Megan’s whirlwind life consists of waking up in a new city multiple times per week, doing constant high-profile interviews and being chased by the paparazzi at all hours of the day. Megan and her twin sister Rachael are fraternal twins. At times, their lives appear to be very similar. Both were star players at the University of Portland and took home various championship trophies and titles such as Rachael’s 2005 NCAA national championship win. They also rose to fame as star soccer players despite suffering ligament injuries and established esteemed careers in the field of professional soccer.

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“It all comes down to basic human rights. Every person has a right to be who they are and live free from fear.” – Megan

Photographer: Gareth Cattermole - FIFA

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Megan Rapinoe takes a kick against the Korea Republic during a game at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 3, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photographer: Streeter Lecka

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“I absolutely have a personal conviction that CBD works. As an athlete, I am no stranger to pain, injuries, time zone changes, long flights, sleeping irregularity, etc. I have just about tried everything under the sun, both pharmaceuticals and natural, and I 100 percent stand by the benefits of CBD. I made it part of my life and routine about three years ago and recommend it to anyone.”– Megan

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Mendi Megan and Rachael saw a need for equal gender representation of women in the hemp industry and took it upon themselves to make a change. Rachael co-founded Mendi, a woman-led hemp-derived CBD company with a line of products that are tailor-made to meet the needs of career-oriented athletes, and serves as CEO. Megan serves as Mendi’s ambassador, given her recent explosive notoriety in the media. While Megan continued to expand her career in professional sports, Rachael earned a Master’s degree in Health and Exercise Science at Portland State University, expanding her knowledge about athletic health maintenance. Rachael’s first company, Rapinoe SC, a soccer performance training company and lifestyle apparel brand, was also supported by her sister Megan as a brand ambassador. But soon, the interests of both sisters gravitated to the world of hempderived CBD — the only cannabinoid that professional athletes can realistically turn

to without facing potential reprimand from strict anti-doping rules. With Mendi, both sisters are entering the CBD market, knowing full well how popular the compound has become. Explaining that CBD doesn’t generate a high is “definitely something we need to touch on 100 percent, as well as the difference between marijuana- and hempderived CBD, and full-spectrum products,” explains Rachael. “There’s a lot of educating to do with athletes. We want to make sure that they know what they’re taking and that they’re not scared of taking it.”

DD OO P E M A G A Z I N E . C OO MM

“Aside from the products themselves — which are high quality and all-natural — we have a very clear voice and positioning.” – Rachael

Megan’s schedule makes jet lag, stress and nagging pain problematic, and CBD helps in those departments. After observing success in her own health routine, Megan now swears by the beneficial effects of CBD. “I absolutely have a personal conviction that CBD works,” says Megan. “As an athlete, I am no stranger to pain, injuries, time zone changes, long flights, sleeping irregularity, etc. I have just about tried everything under the sun, both pharmaceuticals and natural, and I 100 percent stand by the benefits of CBD. I made it part of my life and routine about three years ago and recommend it to anyone.”

The Products

Megan and Rachael Rapinoe Photo: Courtesy of Mendi

“Stigmas don’t just break down overnight. It’s going to take some time for that to normalize and for athletes to feel comfortable taking hemp-derived products during competition.”– Rachael

Mendi offers products infused with 100 percent hemp-derived CBD isolate, which includes gummies, all-natural gummies, gel caps and an array of merchandise. “We definitely [are aware] that the CBD space is crowded,” says Rachael. “We came up with the concept three years ago, and at that point, there was really no sports brand in that space. If you look at it with a super narrow lens, who are the brands that had a clear voice, vision and design? And who are the ones who to the market with current, high-profile athletes? That cuts down a lot of people. That’s where we decided to differentiate ourselves. Aside from the products themselves — which are high quality and all-natural — we have a very clear voice and positioning.” Mendi’s branding looks and feels premium. The company is coming to the market and aligning itself with high profile athletes that have a voice and a platform.

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Rachael suffered torn knee ligaments — twice — but that wasn’t what initially led her to CBD. “My journey with cannabis has been very organic,” says Rachael. “Unfortunately, I was exposed to over-the-counter meds long before I was ever open to the idea of using cannabis. Looking back, it’s really unfortunate, because my career was riddled with injury and I was recovering from pretty severe and invasive injuries and surgery that I had. I was not putting health-promoting products in my body. I was so much more fearful of using cannabis, especially in college — but I was totally OK using Vicodin and Percocet, because that’s what the doctor prescribed, and that is what our status quo is today. I think my sister said in a recent interview that even still today, it’s easier for her to get a prescription to Vicodin and play on Vicodin than to be able to use CBD and cannabis. Obviously, the status quo definitely needs to change, because we all know that’s not great for athletes.” Megan also has suffered torn ligamentrelated injuries during her career.

On Nov. 8, 2019, a federal judge granted the players class status for their unequal pay lawsuit, signaling another victory for Megan and her teammates.

Mendi offers soft gel capsules and natural gummies that are ideal for training, regardless of skill level. Mendi’s salve stick is used for treating bruises, scrapes and scars. The salve doesn’t necessarily have to be rubbed on, and it can also work to prevent future injuries. “I’ve noticed that CBD helps with anxiety and stress, particularly around work,” says Rachael, who isn’t currently training for any elite sport events. “I have another company, and we just started Mendi, and the train never stops. You get anxious. I have investors and advisors. For me, CBD helps a lot with staying calm throughout the day.”

Commentators — it must be said, many anonymous, cisgendered white men on the internet — often tell Megan to keep kicking and stay out of politics, due to her bold stance on female representation. When asked what she would say in response, “No,” declares Megan. “I would tell them no. I am a citizen in this country, in the world, and I believe it is my responsibility to do what I can to make the world a better place. So no, I will not stick to my sport, rather I choose to stick to making the world a better place.”

The Need for Equity in the Hemp Industry Last March, Megan and the U.S. women’s national team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer organization, their own governing body, to promote equitable pay. What they saw was a blatant example of “institutionalized gender discrimination.”

Both Rapinoe sisters are champions for equal pay for women and efforts to improve social equity in the hemp space and beyond. “Absolutely women in the hemp industry are underrepresented,” Rachael asserts. “It is still very white male-dominated. I think that’s a result of the fact that the landscape hasn’t been equitable. We want to have a strong foothold in this industry because we want to change that. Our whole position outside of just taking care of athletes is leveling the playing field. We are really taking that to heart, and every position we take with the company is going to do that. We need to be an equitable place for everyone to enter into. We hope that 40 or 50 years down the road that we’ve done our work to make sure that it’s an inclusive industry, unlike some other industries that we’re seeing today.”

Megan Rapinoe celebrates after winning the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United State of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 7, 2019 in Lyon, France. Photographer: Jose Breton

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Defending the Disadvantaged The resistance goes beyond equitable pay for women, as LGBTQ people have also been oppressed historically. The Rapinoe sisters want to defend not only women but disadvantaged people from all walks of life, regardless of sexual orientation. Both sisters identify as lesbians and are proud to represent the LGBTQ community as a whole. “We’re both lesbians, but just to clarify, Megan is a lesbian goddess — according to the news,” says Rachael. “I’m just a lesbian. It took some time [to come out]. We’re from a small town, and for things to normalize, it takes time. There wasn’t a big LGBTQ community where I grew up, and we didn’t really talk about it. It wasn’t until we came to Portland, and very shortly after landing here, we discovered the streets of Burnside, and we realized, ‘Oh, we might be gay.’ But it took a little bit of time.” In 2018, Megan and her girlfriend, Seattle Storm player Sue Bird, became the first same-sex couple to grace the cover of ESPN’s The Body Issue.

“We are definitely [are aware] that the CBD space is crowded. We came up with the concept three years ago, and at that point, there was really no sports brand in that space.” - Rachael

Photos: Courtesy of Mendi

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Top left: All-Natural Hemp CBD Gummies Top right Assorted Mendi products Bottom left: Mendi CBD Primer Guide booklet front cover Bottom right: Level Unisex Tee

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“Absolutely women in the hemp industry are underrepresented. It is still very white male-dominated. I think that’s a result of the fact that the landscape hasn’t been equitable. We want to have a strong foothold in this industry because we want to change that.”– Rachael

Megan is using her elite status to help others who come from similar backgrounds. Glamour named Megan Woman of the Year in November 2019, a title she hopes will represent women across the world on a broad scale. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of my teammates, and women all around the globe who are doing amazing work to change the world around them,” Megan says. “As I said in my speech, I do not and will not stand on this platform alone. This was an honor for ‘us,’ not just for me.” The Rapinoe sisters are tackling oppression at every level, promoting women-led and LGBTQ-led businesses through Mendi, Rapinoe SC and their prominence in the spotlight. “It all comes down to basic human rights,” says Megan, adding that “every person has a right to be who they are and live free from fear.”

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“Our whole position outside of just taking care of athletes is leveling the playing field. We are really taking that to heart, and every position we take with the company is going to do that.” – Rachael

Photo: Courtesy of Mendi

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“With our product, we’ve isolated the CBD, so [Megan] can use CBD during competition.” - Rachael

Photos: Courtesy of Mendi

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Anti-Doping Restrictions Due to the constraints of competing in professional soccer, the risk of having traces of THC in the bloodstream is a common concern for athletes. Strict drug restrictions from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) make any type of cannabis consumption tricky. “Under my knowledge, USADA follows WADA, and WADA has obviously lifted the CBD ban, but not THC or other cannabinoids,” explains Rachael. “Athletes do have to make sure that whatever cannabis products they’re using only have CBD in them, which is something significant to know. With our product, we’ve isolated the CBD, so [Megan] can use CBD during competition. But I’m not going to lie — there still is a level of fear. Because it has been so highly stigmatized in sports, even knowing that our products are CBDonly, there’s still a little bit of fear. Athletes have to work through that. Obviously, all of our products are lab tested with numerous checkpoints.” Through Mendi, the Rapinoe sisters hope to do their part to unravel the glaring lack of female representation in the hemp industry, as well as equal pay for women in sports. They also hope to break down the stereotypes about people who consume CBD and other cannabinoids. “Stigmas don’t just break down overnight,” says Rachael. “It’s going to take some time for that to normalize and for athletes to feel comfortable taking hemp-derived products during competition.”

Top right: All-Natural Hemp CBD Gummies Middle left: Mendi CBD Primer Guide booklet back cover Middle top right: Mendi CBD Primer Guide booklet inside Middle bottom right: Mendi Logo Unisex Tee

Bottom left: Equal Pay buttons Bottom middle: Mendi CBD Primer Guide booklet mission statement Bottom right: Assorted Mendi products

Photos: Courtesy of Mendi

Megan Rapinoe during the 2019 FIFA Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Cup France Final match between USA and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 7, 2019 in Lyon, France.

Photographer : Jose Breton

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SHOTS CONGRATULATIONS

DANIELLE MILLION “Untitled”

INSTAGRAM: @cannabizarre

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CURVY CANNABIS

On health and wellness without the stoner stigmas or fat shaming By Addison Herron-Wheeler

hen it comes to cannabis and health, there are two schools of thought: One maintains that cannabis makes you fat and lazy and gives you the “munchies,” while the other attempts to prove that the right kind of cannabis can keep you thin. Both sides of the conversation engage in shaming, and neither is realistic. So, how can we talk about cannabis and food in a healthy, positive way?

The first step is getting rid of the stigma that cannabis and health are only for the fit, ablebodied and slim.

Photo: Courtesy of Faro Cannabis Kitchen

“Faro Kitchen aims to break the stigma that ‘active lifestyles’ belong to only the thin and physically fit, or that cannabis belongs only to certain groups,” says Paige Kazazian, one of the founders of Faro Cannabis Kitchen edibles. “My Co-founder Stacie Nagy and I are both thick individuals and suffer from chronic pain, but we love hitting the trails and exploring the beautiful state we’re in. Cannabis allows us to participate more fully in these activities, even if we don’t look like stereotypical Coloradoan outdoor enthusiasts. If cannabis can help people experience more and participate more, then we hope people can more fully embrace self-love regardless of age, fitness level, size, disability, mental health or anything else that may currently make them feel marginalized or unable to engage in activities.”

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“If cannabis can help people experience more and participate more, then we hope people can more fully embrace self-love regardless of age, fitness level, size, disability, mental health or anything else that may currently make them feel marginalized or unable to engage in activities.” Paige Kazazian, Co-Founder of Faro Cannabis Kitchen

Weight Loss, Not Self-Hate Unfortunately, Kazazian is not the only woman of size who has experienced negative stigma in the cannabis world, even though she focuses on health with her products. Jaime Lewis, founder and CEO of Mountain Medicine, found weight loss benefits from cannabis, but wishes more people could celebrate that relief without body shaming. “I was close to 350 pounds almost three years ago, and over a period of two-and-a-half years, I focused on my wellness, and cannabis was a huge part of that,” Lewis explains. “I’ve actually lost a substantial amount of weight, which is pretty crazy. But I will say that I’m nowhere near a size two, nor would I want to be. I would also say that if anything, when you look at anybody in the cannabis industry, we have to work so hard. It would be insane to call us lazy. I think that cannabis certainly can provide

relaxation and downtime, but it definitely does not take away motivation.” Lewis, like Kazazian, also stresses that the most important step to celebrating cannabis and health without body shaming is to love yourself.

“I think for me personally, as far as the stigma of being overweight, I was a thick girl, and I carried it well,” she says. “I loved the curves and wore whatever the hell I wanted. I just sort of embraced who I was as a woman. I think the important thing is to appreciate your body for what it is.” She also explains the impact that cannabis can have on working out, from providing motivation and strength during a workout to being a helpful tool during cooldown periods. This is a common theme within the cannabis world, the concept that the plant can help with exercise and activity. Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean getting skinny.

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Killing the Game, Curves and All “The ‘lazy stoner stigma’ is so ancient, because we know it’s just a stereotype, but it’s definitely alive and well,” explains Ru Johnson, a freelance consultant and public relations mogul who works within the cannabis industry. Johnson, an active cannabis enthusiast, also celebrates her identity as a black woman of size. “Even in professional spaces where cannabis consumption is totally ‘normalized,’ people still make jokes about being ‘stuck to the couch.’ Just as ancient of a concept is the idea that people who aren’t ‘small’ or ‘skinny’ are in some way sluggish or ‘lazy,’” she says. “We know people can be active without being skinny, and we also know there are many ways you can consume cannabis that make you feel energetic, clear-minded and ready to take on the day.” Like Kazazian and Lewis, Johnson enjoys the health benefits of cannabis and wants to do so without fixating on a number on a scale. “On a personal front, consuming cannabis has improved my health by lessening the use of pain medication during PMS and also providing a clear, focused, level-headed approach to work during high times of stress,” she adds. “We can celebrate what the plant offers us without body shaming by simply understanding the benefits of the plant without our own opinions involved. And yes, if you want to get stoned and eat some ice cream, get stoned

Ru Johnson, a freelance consultant and public relations mogul

“We know people can be active without being skinny, and we also know there are many ways you can consume cannabis that make you feel energetic, clear-minded and ready to take on the day.” -Ru Johnson

and eat some ice cream! Do whatever you want and focus on yourself. Like the plant, everything else will come naturally.” While it’s clear that fat shaming and cannabis

shaming aren’t issues that can be solved overnight, diverse voices within the industry agree that the best way to beat the stereotypes is to excel and prioritize health without sacrificing self-love or body positivity.

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JUST HOW DOPE WAS CANNABIS LAST YEAR? Remembering one billion dollars in recreational sales and other cannabis accomplishments from 2019

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By Raj Chander

efore making 2020 another landmark year in cannabis, it’s essential to reflect on the massive achievements of 2019. The “blue wave” in the 2018 midterm elections that saw Democrats gain 40 seats and control of the U.S. House of Representatives ushered in several historic cannabis firsts in 2019.

Here are a few of the most important things that happened in cannabis last year:

The Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in Cannabis Passes the House Introduced and championed by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) in March, the SAFE Banking Act was created to protect banks, contractors and others who do business with cannabis companies from federal prosecution. After spending the summer in the Judiciary and Financial Services committees, where the bill picked up support from legislative heavy-hitters like Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), the SAFE Banking Act passed in a landslide House floor vote, 321-103. While the bill is still awaiting a hearing in the Senate at the time of this writing, if passed, experts believe it could pour gasoline on an industry that is already growing at an inferno’s pace. Critics of the SAFE Banking Act argue that it doesn’t make sense to pass a bill to help financial institutions, while hundreds of thousands are still arrested for marijuana possession every year. “We believe it is a mistake for the House to pass an incremental industry bill before passing a comprehensive bill that prioritizes equity and justice for the communities who have suffered the most under prohibition,” says Matt Sutton, director of media relations at the Drug Policy Alliance, via a written statement. “The marijuana banking bill cannot be the end of the road for marijuana reform.”

“But like the SAFE Banking Act, the MORE Act’s future is up in the air.”

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act Passes House Committee Introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), head of the House Judiciary Committee, the MORE Act is a sweeping piece of reform that would go much further than merely legalizing cannabis and expunging marijuana arrest records. The act would establish the creation of a fund for government investment in training and business loans for cannabis entrepreneurs, under the jurisdiction of a new department called the Bureau of Cannabis Justice. These and other community reinvestments would be funded by a five percent tax on cannabis sales. After a markup session that included some grumbling by ranking GOP member Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), the MORE Act passed the House Judiciary Committee 24-10 on Nov. 20. It is the first time in history that a congressional body has voted to pass legislation legalizing marijuana. Two Republican Congressmen, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), crossed party lines to vote with House Democrats.

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“Not only does the bill reverse the failed prohibition of cannabis, but it provides pathways for opportunity and ownership in the emerging industry for those who have suffered most,” says Justin Strekal, political director at NORML. But like the SAFE Banking Act, the MORE Act’s future is up in the air. Many voices in the media and on the right have thrown cold water on the idea that such a progressive bill could ever pass the upper chamber of Congress, which is still firmly under GOP control. “I would just suggest that we deal with other bills that we can get a much larger bipartisan support from,” says Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO). Rep. Collins echoed this complaint, arguing that it made no sense to rush the bill through committee during the holiday season while the House was simultaneously holding impeachment hearings. “We’re now here dealing with, frankly, some bills that at best are conversation starters, and at worst are simply political statements,” he says. “To schedule all of this in a week because we know we are going to rush it in is really a detriment to those members who have actually worked on legislation on both sides of the aisle.” The next step is for the bill to pass a House floor vote. The bill’s Senate companion was sponsored by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), although unlike its House counterpart, the Senate version is still awaiting a hearing.

Three More States Decriminalize (New Mexico, North Dakota, Hawaii) and Illinois Legalizes In 2019, New Mexico, North Dakota and Hawaii became the 13th, 14th and 15th states to decriminalize — but not legalize — adult possession and use of cannabis. In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a decriminalization bill in April, which went into effect

in July. Possession of fewer than 14 grams of cannabis in New Mexico is now punishable by a $50 fine. In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum signed a decriminalization bill that similarly classifies possession of fewer than 14 grams of marijuana as a civil infraction without the possibility of jail time. “North Dakota has previously been ranked among the highest in the country in per capita marijuana possession arrests, so this move is a huge step forward,” notes Carly Wolf, North Dakota state policies coordinator for NORML. Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) decided not to veto a bill decriminalizing the possession of three grams or less of cannabis. Although his actions ultimately allowed the bill to become a law that went into effect in July, it’s notable that Ige did not actually sign and endorse the bill — he simply did not veto it. The state that made the most positive progress on cannabis law in 2019 was Illinois. In July, Gov. J. B. Pritzker signed a bill making Illinois the 11th state to legalize the adult use of recreational cannabis. The new law, which took effect on Jan. 1, will allow cities and counties to opt-out of establishing a retail market if they choose. Gov. Pritzker also announced that 25 percent of Illinois’ revenue from marijuana taxes would be reinvested into cannabis entrepreneurship opportunities for communities of color, while 20 percent of the revenue would be set aside for substance abuse and mental health treatment.

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Michigan Sales Begin After voting to legalize cannabis in the 2018 midterm elections, Michigan’s recreational market went into effect on Dec. 1, 2019. While advocates lauded the step, the state has much work to do. USA Today reported that about 80 percent of counties are opting out of recreational sales, and on opening weekend, only three recreational dispensaries were open for business — all located in Ann Arbor. With the call for equity in cannabis becoming louder, advocates were still excited about achieving legalization

in the first midwestern state, one that’s also home to the country’s second-largest African American population.

“Michigan will be the first state in the Midwest to end marijuana prohibition and replace it with a system in which marijuana is regulated for adult use. Adults will no longer be punished for consuming a substance less harmful than alcohol,” says Marijuana Policy Project Deputy Director Matthew Schweich. Michigan also became the second-most populous state to legalize cannabis, after California, but dropped to the third-most populous after Illinois’ recreational market went into effect in January 2020.

Recreational Sales Hit $1 Billion in Colorado Thanks to its first-mover status — Colorado became the first U.S. state to legalize cannabis way back in 2014 — the “Centennial State” also became the first to surpass 10 figures in recreational cannabis sales in June of 2019. According to CNBC, private companies have done even better in Colorado’s cannabis trade, raking in a combined $6.5 billion since adult legalization began. And the legal marijuana market in the state now accounts for three percent of its total budget. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis expressed pride in Colorado’s position as a trailblazer in the legal cannabis sector.

“The marijuana banking bill cannot be the end of the road for marijuana reform.”

“A lot of the Colorado technology and know-how will help power the industry as more states come online,” he says. “From our point-of-sale systems and chemistry and business systems, we’re well-positioned.” As federal legislation languishes in Congress and other states struggle to realize the full potential of legal cannabis, industry experts look to Colorado as an example of what could be possible with a mature market.

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National Institutes of Health (NIH) Earmarks $3 Million to Study Cannabinoids One of the unfortunate hallmarks of cannabis science is a lack of conclusive medical research to help us understand the potential positives and negatives of cannabis. In September, the NIH announced nine new research grants that will take a significant step in changing the status quo. According to its official press release, these grants “will investigate the potential pain-relieving properties and mechanisms of actions of the diverse phytochemicals in cannabis, including both minor cannabinoids and terpenes.” It’s long been thought that terpenes and minor cannabinoids besides THC play a significant role in the way cannabis affects the body. These NIH research grants will be used to study the way cannabinoids and terpenes interface with each other in the brain and body to determine their potential for pain relief and other medical applications.

What’s in Store This Year? These highlights are all impressive but could pale in comparison to 2020. Depending on the result of November’s elections and whether or not any of the bills in Congress get hearings, this year could see the most significant legislative step of them all: Full legalization of cannabis at the federal level. “We’ve never seen this level of progress in a single year before,” says Morgan Fox, spokesperson for the National Cannabis Industry Association. “I think 2019 will be remembered as the year that politicians finally started listening to the majority of Americans who want sensible cannabis policies, and when the global business and financial communities started taking the cannabis industry more seriously.” So while 2020 may be the beginning of a new year, a new decade and a new era in cannabis, the future will be built on the accomplishments of 2019 made possible by advocates who continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice for our plant and the people who use it.

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How nonpsychoactive cannabis could impact farming and food

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Michael Bowman, co-founder of First Crop

By Jeffrey Rindskopf

or decades, Michael Bowman’s family farm has relied on subsidies to turn a profit growing corn, and also relied on coal power to extract water from the Great Plains’ Ogallala Aquifer.

“It’s just an unsustainable system,” says Bowman. About 19 years ago he learned of another way, one he’s still working towards. While studying grassland management in Zimbabwe, he heard about India’s transition from traditional hemp production to GMO cotton, resulting in the collapse of local economies and farmers taking their own lives by the same chemicals they were now mandated to apply to their crops. Today, America may be making the opposite switch, thanks in no small part to Bowman. Nicknamed “Mr.

Hemp” — or “Dung Beetle” if you’re in Africa — he authored Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill, which partially legalized U.S. hemp production for the first time since 1933, paving the way for full legalization in the 2018 update. Today only four states have yet to draft frameworks for legal hemp, its national acreage has exploded from zero to more than 75,000 and cannabis (the plant from which non-psychoactive hemp is derived) is projected to become the nation’s highest value agricultural commodity within a decade. In the past year, Bowman has helped facilitate the planting of more than 150 acres of hemp throughout Colorado and New Mexico as a co-founder of First Crop, a “public benefit company” whose purpose extends beyond maximizing share value.

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Photo: Courtesy of First Crop

“I see this as an opportunity to bring back the discussion and practice of regeneration, in this case not only of soil but in building a system that works better for medium- and small-sized farmers,” says Bowman. “Because we have a plant now that can be used for thousands of products, as opposed to a couple of onetrick ponies, we can create revenue streams that will benefit the farmer, the consumer and the environment all at the same time.”

The Trouble(s) with Modern Agriculture Hemp presents a myriad of advantages over current staple crops and livestock, whose production and related land-use changes account for the second most carbon emissions of any industry, after energy. It’s also highly effective at removing toxic chemicals from soils and recapturing carbon from the atmosphere through a process called phytoremediation. Like the concept of a public benefit business, the resurgence of hemp could shift the industry away from petrochemical dependence

and toward a more holistic approach, wherein the goals of strengthening economies and environments can be one and the same. “I think an agricultural-based economy, where we’re engaging farmers to grow more of the industrial resources we utilize in our daily lives, as opposed to mining or drilling for them, is something we should lean into,” says Chad Rosen, CEO of Victory Hemp Foods, which creates hemp protein concentrates and seed oils for sale to food or skincare product manufacturers. Since moving to Kentucky — American hemp’s historic heartland — in 2014, Rosen has already witnessed a “tectonic shift” in the state’s agricultural landscape. A profitable and pest-resistant new crop to diversify the rotation has reduced farmers’ reliance on federal supports and artificial fertilizers to compensate for market volatility and depleted soil health, not to mention attracted young blood to a rapidly-aging, decidedly un-hip profession.

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The government’s go-ahead has also spurred a flood of interest in hemp from once-reticent major brands and investors, but the singular focus on CBD so far has made it difficult for hemp’s other applications to get a fair shake. First Crop, for example, relies on sales of CBD topicals as the only supply chain developed and wellfinanced enough to ensure a return for their farmers.

Chad Rosen, CEO of Victory Hemp Foods

earth-friendly diets must be plant-based, the hemp food market stands to grow from approximately $3.9 billion worth in 2018 to $4.9 billion in 2026, according to Zion Market Research.

“If we’re going to see this crop have significant impact on acreage, looking to the 190 million acres of corn and soy we grow every year, we’re going to need more investment applied to the grain and fiber market,” says Rosen.

Hemp products currently occupying shelf-space trend toward cereal mixes and wellness bars. However, hemp’s unique nutritional and binding properties make it a food formulator’s wet dream for all kinds of applications now in the works, from sustainable (and thus marketable) livestock feed and fish-free oil vitamins to shelf-stable drinks, frozen desserts and meat substitutes.

Though not commanding as much attention, there has been a surge of innovation in other hemp commodities, including food products. With dietary restrictions and consumer interest in alternative protein sources rising in conjunction with scientific findings that the most

Rosen summarizes that the perception of hemp foods is advancing from “how many Americans can we get to sprinkle hemp seeds on their salad, to taking a bite of a Beyond Meat® burger and not being conscious of the fact you’re eating a mouthful of hemp protein.”

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the word about regenerative values and aggregating small producers to better compete in the marketplace.

The Advantages of Hemp When existential concerns of

Hemp Helps but Is No Cure-All Though a potent symbol, hemp, in and of itself, is not a miracle cure — more like the economic flashpoint for deeper cultural shifts. If American agriculture keeps relying on industrialized practices like monocultures and chemical fertilizers, it won’t matter how much of what we’re growing is cotton, soy or hemp. The vast majority of U.S. hemp (and cotton, soy etc.) is still grown using techniques, which deplete water and soil resources while emitting more carbon than the plant naturally captures. The U.S. Hemp Authority trade group hasn’t required brands to label whether products use GMO products or are domestically sourced, so consumers are lost in distinguishing between genuinely regenerative cannabis products and their corporate “greenwashed” counterparts. With a speculation craze drawing parallels to the 2007 housing collapse and late ’60s Silicon Valley, there’s a lot of justifiable fear among advocates that the commercial system may transform hemp more than hemp transforms it. Luckily, this only seems to energize the efforts of companies like Victory and First Crop in spreading

“We can’t keep those disastroustype models from happening — that’s just the way U.S. market capitalism works,” says Bowman. “What we can do is make sure we’re doing it right, and we’re supporting others who are doing it right. That’s how we win the long game.”

environmental and economic collapse come up, and people wonder, “What can we do?” more and more are looking to what might seem a deceptively simple answer — hemp. Here are just a few ways hemp can help humanity excel nutritionally, agriculturally, economically and environmentally.

Nutrition: Hemp contains all 10 essential amino acids, making it a complete

Just as state and local leadership

protein source, but without the allergens

wagged the dog in pushing for hemp legalization and given the concentration of entrenched interests at the federal level, Bowman suggests the same grassroots approach should apply in building the commercial hemp economy for long-term sustainability rather than easy profits.

and absorption-inhibiting factors other

“Policy is still important, but the changes being forced in the marketplace right now, are being driven by a tech-savvy consumer who now has tools they didn’t a decade ago [. . .] who knows what they want and how to go get it,” he says. “I think it’s fair to say they’re turning the food supply chain upside down.”

plant-based sources entail. It’s also rich in vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids, which aid brain and heart health.

Agriculture: Versatile, hardy, pest-resistant and fast-growing, hemp uses less water to yield greater quantities of biomass than any competing plant. One acre produces as much fiber as two to three of cotton, for example, with added bonuses of strength and softness. It’s uniquely skilled at vacuuming toxic chemicals out of soil, having been used to reduce contamination even around the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters. It’s also uniquely profitable at present, earning farmers an estimated $20k per acre vs. $600-800 for corn, soybeans and potatoes.

Applications: Hemp’s uses number in the tens of thousands by some counts, including textiles, building materials or biodegradable plastic from its stalks, culinary oil or biofuel from its seeds and medicine from its endocannabinoidrich flowers. It’s estimated to have more potential as a clean, renewable energy source than any other biomass crop, which has the potential to supply up to 100 percent of U.S. energy needs if cultivated widely.

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THE TOPALBUMS 10 DOPEST OF 2019 The best music of last year, from melancholy crooners to country musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s psychedelic frontiersman

By Scott Recker

egendary soul singers and their contemporary counterparts. Melancholy crooners from multiple generations. A shock-rap public enemy who turned to honest introspection. A reclusive folk icon. Country musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s psychedelic frontiersman. It was a strong year for music across the board, although a streak of sadness and searching seemed to run through it all. Here are The Top

10 DOPEst albums of 2019.

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Sheer Mag “A Distant Call”

With supercharged riffs and enormous vocals, Sheer Mag has established themselves as one of the current torchbearers of metallic garage-rock. The Philly five-piece leans into punk fury and slick power pop, but on “A Distant Call,” their sound is a little more soulful and wandering as they explore new territory. But, as you would expect, punchy and rebellious anthems about a corrupt system, as well as introspective songs about personal hardships, define the album, which merges waves of muscular rock and progressive thoughtfulness. They’re sort of like Mötley Crüe, but with brains.

Mavis Staples “We Get By”

Mavis Staples scored her first hit in 1956 and has seen decades of unrest since. Her message in 2019, both anxious and positive, combines hesitance and hope, envisioning a better world while understanding we have a long way to go. At age 80, she hasn’t lost her voice, her passion or her ability to craft anthemic choruses, and on “We Get By” — her fifth album of the decade — she shines as bright as ever. This record is a testament to her astounding, uncanny staying power.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy “I Made A Place”

Will Oldham has been creating sharp, stylistic folk under the Bonnie “Prince” Billy moniker for two decades, but this is his first album of originals since 2011’s “Wolfroy Goes to Town.” “I Made A Place” is packed with poetic life, bouncing from sardonic to serious, from breezy humor to staring at the inevitability of

death. It’s Oldham at his finest, from the evocative, zany storytelling of “Look Backward On Your Future, Look Forward To Your Past” to the climate anxiety, yet silver-lining searching on “This is Far From Over.”

Tyler, The Creator “IGOR”

We’ve watched Tyler, The Creator grow up, evolving from shock-rap edgelord to someone with much more thoughtful uses of his anger, and “IGOR,” his breakup record, is a fluid and deep entry into his discography. Balancing hip-hop, R&B and soul, Tyler experiments with his singing here, playing with cadence and style, twisting and turning his voice in multiple directions. While “IGOR” is wildly ambitious, it’s also carefully produced, settling into a solid rhythm via tone and textures. With Tyler, it was always evident that there was an abundance of talent; he just had to drop the different masks he was hiding behind to realize it.

Better Community Oblivion Center “Better Community Oblivion Center”

A story-based meditation on mental illness, the debut and self-titled album from Better Community Oblivion Center — a collaboration between singer-songwriters Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst — is a striking, clear-eyed look at personal struggles that usually get hidden or ignored. These sorts of quick partnerships mostly don’t produce something so bold and unique, but the duo complements each other extremely well — their hook-heavy melancholy folk has versatility extracted from different styles, but their warm harmonies sound like they’ve been singing together for years. They’re partners in sad honesty, but they make it inviting.

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Sturgill Simpson “Sound & Fury”

When Sturgill Simpson launched his solo career in 2013, he was quickly crowned the next Waylon Jennings, the savior of country music and all of those other well-meaning clichés that get bestowed on a different ruggedsounding, yet thoughtful anti-establishment-type every few years. But Simpson transcended the confined expectations, twisting his sound in bold directions, and on “Sound & Fury” he dove straight into the psychedelic abyss he’d been flirting with for years. The album’s dense atmospheric production is as anxious and volatile as the place he’s singing about, but his masterful writing holds everything together. It might take 10 listens to click, but when it does, you realize what’s rattling around Simpson’s head is bottled lightning.

Lana Del Rey “Norman Fucking Rockwell!”

Over gentle piano, Lana Del Rey’s latest album opens with the line, “Goddamn man child, you fucked me so good I almost said I love you.” It’s quintessential Lana Del Rey — open, honest and irreverent, turning transparent popcrooning about messy subjects into high art. She’s taken a significant amount of unnecessary flak, but Del Rey’s also been a trend-setter, who other singers have been clearly imitating, which is a high form of flattery. On “Norman Fucking Rockwell!,” she expertly captures the darkest moments of dysfunctional relationships.

Lizzo “Cuz I Love You”

Lizzo was born in Detroit, Michigan, grew up in Houston, Texas and relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota as an adult, and the influences from those cities seem to run through her veins, as she mixes soul, hip-hop, gospel and indie rock into a singular, seamless style.

She has pop prowess, experimental leanings and a commanding voice, which she navigates through heartbreak, confidence and all of the other highs and lows. On “Cuz I Love You,” Lizzo hit her stride, almost creating her own genre in the process. It’s not surprising that she once collaborated with Prince.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “Ghosteen”

An intricate, sonically beautiful, deeply sad and intense album, “Ghosteen” is Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds grappling with grief, working through the sudden death of Cave’s son (which technically predated the release of his last album, but occurred after it was written) and searching for meaning in the middle of emotional turmoil. Cave has always had a knack for crafting ominous, biting songs, but there’s a heaviness to “Ghosteen” that’s on its own level, making “Murder Ballads” seem like light listening by comparison. It’s a concept-based fever dream full of evocative scenes and thick symbolism. Cave sounds exhausted and devastated, but also as motivated and full of poetry as ever. He’s mourning, yet optimistic, searching for the other side of sadness.

Angel Olsen “All Mirrors”

Angel Olsen’s voice is so powerful that it doesn’t need to be anywhere near full volume to effortlessly pierce through lush, atmospheric instrumentation — something that “All Mirrors” makes very clear. Through a gripping, cinematic sound that bounces from idea to idea with agility, this record threads together noir-ish goth-folk, melancholy pop power and experimental surprises. Each song feels like a scene in a thriller. “What It Is” is a melodic pop rush, while the next track “Impasse” has an ominous cloud that hangs over it, which would be right at home in a particularly intense episode of “Peaky Blinders.” “All Mirrors” creates a vast soundscape, but it also lives in its own universe.

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THE TOP 10 DOPEST FILMS OF 2019

Stripper Heists, Punk Rock Breakdowns and Other Cinematic Highlights

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By Logan Taylor

very year, different kinds of films resonate with me, often for personal reasons. But this past year felt more political. In 2019, I grew exhausted of male-centric storylines — all iterations of the same cis white male navelgazing of many years’ past — even when dressed up in new costumes. So, you’ll likely observe some glaring omissions from this top 10 list. I’m not naming names; I’m not here to skewer well-made films simply because they didn’t speak to me. I’m here instead to celebrate the tremendous voices who’ve cleverly and uniquely explored toxic masculinity, class struggles, sex positivity, family dysfunction, everlasting friendship and addiction. 2019 was a good year for new perspectives.

“Last Black Man in San Francisco” Dir. Joe Talbot

While I was initially wary that Joe Talbot’s feature debut would turn into a Spike Lee copycat, he finds his own voice quickly and beautifully. It’s a lushly filmed piece of grand, poetic storytelling with heartfelt performances and complex love for its eponymous city and the vibrant creative world there being dissolved by gentrification.

Please note, I’ve yet to catch many films that could easily alter my list: “Little Women,” “Marriage Story,” “Uncut Gems,” “Bombshell,” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” to name a few, are films that I eagerly await. While on the subject of exclusions, this list also doesn’t include any documentary features, except for “For Sama,” “Apollo 11” and “Red Dog.” It’s also worth noting that my blessed life on the festival circuit affords me the chance to see great films that have yet to be released. For example, I can predict that the greatest film coming to you in March 2020 is likely the empathetic portrait of a lost, lonely housewife, “Swallow.” Similarly, my favorite movie on the 2018 festival circuit was widely released this year, so shout out to the dizzyingly perfect “Climax,” to which I’m tempted to award a second number one spot but will leave in 2018 where it belongs.

“The Dead Don’t Die” Dir. Jim Jarmusch

I genuinely don’t comprehend the apathy surrounding this film. It’s such a tonally assured horror-comedy with the most charmingly affected dialogue, a perfect cast and a refreshingly offbeat interpretation of zombie lore. Maybe it’s not highbrow enough for opening night at The Cannes Film Festival, but it’s Jim Jarmusch doing his thing, and I am fully here for it.

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“Her Smell” Dir. Alex Ross Perry

Long live the collaboration between director Alex Ross Perry and Elisabeth Moss! Here, she embodies a complex, ugly and vulnerable rock starlet with such ease, you’d think she was actually having a breakdown while filming. I was similarly fooled and floored by her performance in “Queen of Earth,” and I will forever worship at the altar of their creative partnership. Perry’s manic, swirling camera plus a badass supporting cast make this the movie of my girlish punk rock dreams.

“Booksmart” Dir. Olivia Wilde

My happiest surprise of South by Southwest (SXSW) 2019, Olivia Wilde’s debut feature has more spunk, charm and tenderness crammed into its brief runtime than most teen television series fit in five seasons. But more importantly, it’s raunchy, messy, fucking hilarious, and it features one of the most heartfelt female friendships put to screen since “Thelma & Louise.”

“The Souvenir” Dir. Joanna Hogg

Joanna Hogg’s careful drama has such rich, stylish texture, you can almost smell the dusty pages of the books from which her characters often recite passages. Starring Tilda Swinton’s daughter, Honor Swinton Byrne (who almost manages to steal the show from her featured mother), Hogg’s film is based loosely on her own experiences at film school. It chronicles with aching familiarity the slow descent into the type of abusive, manipulative relationship creative and romantic minds can easily fall into — and often only realize when it’s far too late.

“The Art of Self-Defense” Dir. Riley Stearns

Another stunner out of SXSW, Riley Stearns’ second feature is a masterclass in balancing tone. Somehow simultaneously outrageously funny and deeply disturbing, “The Art of Self-Defense” takes down toxic masculinity in a few artful, shocking karate chops.

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“High Life” Dir. Claire Denis

I apologize in advance — this film is not at all about what you’d hope from just the title DOPE reader, but I promise it’s a wild ride despite the misleading title. Claire Denis consistently delivers atmospheric, sexy masterpieces, but I never expected to be so turned on by outer space. That setting, which so often reads frigid, is given a fleshy, lurid makeover thanks to a very committed Juliette Binoche, a steamy Robert Pattinson and a sex bot.

“Hustlers” Dir. Lorene Scafaria

DOPE’s countdown enters medal territory (and continues my love of a good pelvic thrust) with “Hustlers,” the feelgood stripper-heist-true-crime-buddy-comedy I didn’t know I needed. I didn’t know a movie with that descriptor could make me cry tears of joy numerous times but call me a sucker for an easy Bechdel test passing comedy that unapologetically celebrates the female body and — most importantly — the feminine spirit.

“Atlantics” Dir. Mati Diop

I’ve been praising this movie to anyone who would listen since I caught it in The Cannes Film Festival, and I’m so grateful Netflix has put it into the world. What initially feels like an intimate retread of “Romeo and Juliet” slowly morphs into an epically romantic and sharply political tale about economic disparity in Senegal and teenage female sexuality with an unforgettable supernatural touch.

“Parasite” Dir. Bong Joon-ho

Though it’s been said repeatedly in the film’s trailers and reviews, nothing can possibly prepare you for this film’s grand twist. An expertly crafted masterpiece by Bong Joon-ho, one of South Korea’s great contemporary directors, “Parasite” manages to thrill, shock and entertain in equal measure while making a timely statement about our world’s broken class system. This is a movie I could re-watch any day, in any state of mind and always find something new to cherish.

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CANNAFLORIA ESSENTIALS Inhale the Experience ike cannabis, aromatherapy has been renowned as effective for improving certain health conditions. At DOPE, we can get behind the ever-growing trend of topical essential oils, especially when they’re infused with hemp terpenes and hemp seed oil. This brings us to feature just one category of Cannafloria’s many classy wellness products—Roll-Ons. Strategically formulated to create relaxing, stress-free experiences for users, Cannafloria’s Be Sensual, Be Calm and Be Refreshed Roll-Ons contain common essential oils like lavender or sandalwood, complemented with the boundless benefits of hemp seed oil and terpenes.

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WHAT CHANGES WILL TRANSFORM THE AMERICAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN 2020?

Industry experts provide 2020 predictions on the cannabis market, politics and finances By Benjamin M. Adams

hat are the odds of major organizational changes taking place in the way the cannabis industry operates? Who will dominate the 2020 election primaries, and will cannabis serve as a political football? Industry experts from across the spectrum weigh in on some of those potential changes that could occur over the new year. Federal cannabis reform is becoming a real possibility, with an actual piece of legislation being voted on in the House floor — a first for a nation over 80 years deep into cannabis prohibition. Industry experts can’t predict the future, but they can judge the likelihood of industry-wide changes. Those changes could include a slowly stabilizing market, consolidation and several significant legislative changes. Licensing hurdles plague the industries in several states, but progress marches forward.

But one thing experts can say with absolute certainty is that America’s largest cannabis markets will continue to be dominated by black market sales, a reality that represents the difficulty of stabilizing large cannabis markets. High tax rate hikes in states like California ensure the survival of illicit markets.

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“We hope to see Congress finally listen to the American people and enact a comprehensive bill to reform our broken federal marijuana policies.” – Matthew Schweich

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Due to the rising number of cases of pulmonary illness related to vape products, insurance experts warn that cannabis businesses that overlap with the vape industry can expect higher product liability premium rates in 2020, with the threat of pulmonary illness lawsuits left and right. The cannabis industry’s financial forecast, however, looks lucrative. Cannabis-related stocks on the OTC and NASDAQ marketplaces are projected to flourish. KushCo Holdings, Sundial Growers and The Green Organic Dutchman, for instance, are all expected to triple in value. While Canadian giants like Aurora Cannabis and Canopy Growth struggle with setbacks, American stocks have the potential to grow and rebound in the 2020 fiscal year. CBD, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, is more popular than ever in drug stores. Despite warnings about health claims and safety from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are no signs of a slowdown regarding hemp-derived CBD products. All of these changes could take place, but what are the odds of the changes taking place? Take a look at what we can hope for, expect and not expect to happen in 2020, which all hinge upon the upcoming 2020 election.

The 2020 Election The 2020 Election season could accelerate cannabis reform and

will strongly affect the health of the national cannabis market. Republicans have historically been resistant to cannabis reform — that era is changing. Cannabis is now arguably a bipartisan issue with support coming from both sides of the aisle. Democratic presidential candidates Michael Bennet, Cory Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders,

Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang all support legalizing recreational cannabis at the federal level — only Joe Biden’s platform falls short of legalization and seeks only decriminalization. Biden’s allusion to the gateway drug theory about cannabis, which has been debunked, generated criticism. Nearly a dozen other candidates haven’t publicly announced their stances on cannabis, many of whom will likely drop out.

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On the GOP side, President “Given the Donald Trump has partisan rancor generally agreed to allow in Washington, individual states to legalize recreational and medical it’s questionable cannabis despite little whether the Senate movement at the federal will pass it or any level. Bill Weld — the first Republican candidate other substantive to challenge President measures next year.” Trump — sits on the board – Dale Gieringer of directors at Acreage Holdings and is known to hype the lucrative benefits of cannabis reform. Contender Joe Walsh said, “marijuana should be legalized in every state.” Rocky De La Fuente said he supports legalization, but also believes we need to study the long-term effects of cannabis. As many as nine states could vote to legalize recreational cannabis in 2020. Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota and South Dakota all are poised to vote on recreational cannabis next November, regardless if they have already “One, the SAFE Banking Act, won bipartisan approval in implemented medical cannabis or not. the House and is waiting to be heard in the Senate Banking

What We Wish Would Happen Federal cannabis reform will play a major factor in the upcoming election season. Two bills in particular— The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act and Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019 — could open the doors finally to federal cannabis reform, depending on the U.S. Senate’s willingness to move a bill through the Senate floor. While the more liberal MORE Act would de-schedule cannabis and remove it from the Controlled Substances Act altogether, SAFE Banking Act would provide access to banking — a luxury critical to a stable market. Hemp’s most unlikely ally, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, is also one of the biggest roadblocks to federal reform of almost any kind.

Committee,” California NORML Director Dale Gieringer tells DOPE. “That Committee is chaired by Sen. Crapo of Idaho, one of the only three states that have no marijuana reform laws of any kind. Sen. Crapo has nonetheless expressed interest in the bill, probably because it’s endorsed by the American Banking Association. However, its fate is ultimately in the hands of Mitch McConnell.” “Given the partisan rancor in Washington, it’s questionable whether the Senate will pass [the SAFE Banking Act] or any other substantive measures next year,” he continues. “If so, however, the SAFE Act would be the first substantive marijuana reform bill ever approved by Congress, not counting the Rohrabacher/ Blumenauer amendments, which didn’t actually change any laws and were passed as budget amendments, not separate bills. I put the odds on that happening as less than 50-50.”

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“A second, more far-reaching bill, the MORE Act, which would effectively repeal federal marijuana prohibition, was recently passed by a bipartisan majority on the House Judiciary Committee,” explains Gieringer. “The MORE Act faces a tougher road since it must still be voted on by the House before being heard by the Senate. The MORE Act is also a more radical measure, with spending and expungement provisions that are apt to be opposed by Republicans.

Given the Republican control of the Senate, it is highly unlikely that the MORE Act will become law next year. Therefore, the most that can be hoped for in 2020 is the passage of the SAFE banking act, which would make financial services more readily available to the industry. Should the Democrats pick up strength in next November’s elections, though it is conceivable that Congress could pass stronger measures, including outright legalization, in 2021 or 2022.”

What We Expect To Happen In the financial sector, prospects look promising despite rising tax rates and corporate monopolization. Caroline Kowalski, Associate Director of Marketing & Communications, provided DOPE with a statement on behalf of financial firm New Frontier Data. “Consolidation and retrenchment will also be a key trend in 2020,” the company states. “With the significant reduction in

investment growth in cannabis, as investors have become more cautious, or irrational exuberance has been replaced by much more practical views of the opportunity around cannabis. Businesses that have relied heavily on investors are being forced to demonstrate effective paths to profitability. During this period of turbulence, we expect to see the reprioritization of lowin-turn initiatives and layoffs amongst organizations that have

grown too quickly, as well as the transition of the senior leadership of organizations that have been ineffectively managed.” Examples of consolidation seem ubiquitous, even beyond California. Illinois-based Green Thumb Industries and Cresco Labs have gone public, PharmaCann and Verano are selling out to public companies elsewhere, while privately held Grassroots Cannabis and Revolution Enterprises are scouting for acquisitions. Coloradobased The Green Solution also was purchased by Columbia Care. The trend of consolidation often crosses over the border into Canadian territory. Over the summer, Aurora Cannabis acquired MedReleaf. Shortly after, Constellation Brands bought a hefty 9.9 percent stake in Canopy Growth. Business growth in the cannabis sector relies heavily on statewide bills because each new state translates to a new market. In the political arena, reform at the state level is almost guaranteed in multiple states. “It is likely that voters in multiple states will pass marijuana reform ballot initiatives on Election Day 2020,” Marijuana Policy Project Deputy Director Matthew Schweich explains to DOPE. “We will see both medical marijuana and adult-use legalization victories. It is possible that more states will approve these ballot initiatives than in any previous election.”

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42O.com COMING SOON!

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Schweich also pointed to bills like the SAFE

Frontier Data analysts hope for, but find unlikely

Banking Act or the MORE Act, which could translate to movement at the federal level and

in the year 2020. “Access to medical cannabis for veterans or reduction of barriers for cannabis use

unlock critical banking services. “We hope to see Congress finally listen to the American people and enact a comprehensive bill to reform our broken federal marijuana policies,” says

amongst veterans and a significant commitment by the U.S. government to investigate potential therapeutic and industrial applications for hemp” are also on the top of the data firm’s wish list.

Schweich.

What

Probably Won’t Happen

The industry probably won’t see stabilized recreational cannabis markets in 2020, especially in large states that recently legalized recreational cannabis such as California, Michigan and

The industry can expect more prominent players to enter the cannabis cultivation business. Even the Drug Enforcement Administration authorized the cultivation of 3.2 million grams of cannabis at its only farm at the University of Mississippi — representing a 30 percent increase.

Illinois.

You can also expect that at least several more states will join the ranks of recreational or medical states that provide access to cannabis in

One thing that definitely won’t happen in 2020 is an end to the illicit cannabis market. According to New Frontier Data, the illicit market thrives

one form or another. “We expect the explosion of legal hemp cultivation to continue into 2020 as more farmers and stakeholders from

in America’s largest cannabis markets — in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas,

the agricultural community explore potential applications for CBD and other non-CBD

the illicit market outnumbers the legal markets by seven-to-one or higher. In Los Angeles, California, one of the largest markets in the world, licensing problems continue to delay sales, and the black market continues to dominate. Another unlikely event is a slowdown of the growth of the cannabis and hemp industries. New Frontier Data estimates that the cannabis market is currently legal states will reach $30 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14 percent over the next six years. Many individual brands expect their CAGRs to rise as well and will gladly inform the public via press releases. “Addressing the banking issue that is currently not sustainable, a greater consensus in Congress around the future status of cannabis and a greater movement towards what federal policy will ultimately look like,” are changes New

applications,” added New Frontier Data. A growing amount of financial growth is coming in 2020. The 2020 election will also play a role in how fast the market grows over the next upcoming year.

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LEADING THE CHARGE

Attorney Dave Rodman’s law practice helped established precedent in the nascent cannabis industry By R. Scott Rappold

“In my opinion [the] FDA is failing their mandate right now.”

or much of recent history, being

a cannabis attorney meant one thing: Defending alleged criminals for possessing, growing or selling cannabis. Times have changed and a new generation of lawyers are charting a legal course through the murky waters of conflicting local state and federal laws and an utter lack of precedent. Denver, Colorado Attorney Dave Rodman is among those leading the way. Founder of The Rodman Law Group, he does everything but defend alleged criminals, running the gamut from local zoning issues to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s policy on CBD products. It’s a vocation that didn’t even exist 20 years ago, so there was a fair amount of making it up as he went along. For Rodman, that’s the fun part.

Photos: Courtesy of Attorney Dave Rodman

“Put me in a room with a bunch of cannabis business executives and I’m probably, from a legal standpoint, the most conservative person in the room,” says Rodman, 34. “But put me in a room with a bunch of lawyers and I’m probably the least conservative person in the room, because of the nature of cannabis law.”

From Snowboarding to Law Rodman almost became a professional snowboarder. Growing up in Aspen, he competed on the U.S. Snowboard Team with an eye on the Olympics. Then his parents gave him a choice: Go to college and they’d pay for it or pursue snowboarding and he’d be on his own. “I knew some people who had gone that route and they were hanging dry wall in summer and competing in the winter on a shoestring budget and they would start the season with a lower ranking because they didn’t compete in the southern hemisphere,” he says. “I said, ‘I’m going to hate it when I’m 40 and say I could have made the Olympics but I’ll have a college education.’” So he went to college, graduating with a degree in history. He went to work on Wall Street, didn’t like it and moved back to Colorado for law school, which he graduated from in 2013. Rodman had an on-and-off again relationship with cannabis, then stopped entirely when using it began to give him anxiety and paranoia. But he found that he enjoyed products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive ingredient from hemp used by many for inflammation, anxiety relief, pain and a host of other conditions. Colorado had just legalized cannabis for adult use. Rodman knew the nascent industry would need lawyers experienced not in criminal defense but business. So, he started his own firm.

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“The idea of being able to create my own law to get thrown into an area where I had an advantage and also to see how it was impacting people in a positive way was a perfect combination to get me in the industry and make me excited to go to work.”

No Precedent For most lawyers, precedent is their bread-and-butter, their rock foundation. Past legal decisions and rulings guide everything. But there was no precedent for what was happening in Colorado in 2014, when the first legal sales in decades anywhere in America began. “It really just appealed to my nature. The dichotomy between this weird federal and state collision course was fascinating. The fact I never really, even now, had to look at precedent [. . .] as a lawyer, that’s weird,” he says.

Plus, he says, his background in securities and intellectual property law gave him an edge that other lawyers focusing on cannabis — usually criminal defense lawyers — lacked. “The idea of being able to create my own law to get thrown into an area where I had an advantage and also to see how it was impacting people in a positive way was a perfect combination to get me in the industry and make me excited to go to work.” Much of his early work dealt with the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED),

which was also making it up as it went along, with new regulations that were often confusing and unnecessarily strict. For example, an entire application to open a dispensary might be rejected for one minuscule paperwork issue. “It was like doing battle with the enemy and I’m happy to report it’s no longer like that. It’s a kinder and gentler MED,” he says. These days, he is far more concerned with what the federal government is — or is not — doing about cannabis.

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Taking on the FDA Last month, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) set the CBD industry into a frenzy by sending 15 companies manufacturing CBD products letters accusing them of “illegally selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD) in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).” It was more such letters in one day than had been issued in the previous two years, and many worried it signaled a new crackdown on CBD products, which are sold far and wide. On Wall Street, CBD stocks plummeted. Rodman has been trying to calm those fears while at the same time urging the FDA to adopt comprehensive CBD regulations. Though the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp for CBD production, it did not legalize CBD products, a legal grey area every bit as confounding as the state-versus-federal legal status of marijuana. Companies that were targeted by the FDA, Rodman says, were making too many claims of the benefits of CBD. “Every single one of those warning letters, the companies they cited, 15 of them, either mentioned one of multiple things: helping with cancer, helping with Hepatitis C, helping with anxiety, helping with inflammation [. . .] all sorts of things you couldn’t say about any kind of a dietary supplement you would get at the store,” he says. While there may be truth to such claims, there is not sufficient scientific evidence for companies to legally make them, he says.

“I have not yet seen a warning letter that didn’t reference somebody’s ridiculous claims on their website or on their social media,” Rodman says. “Marketing departments hate me but I don’t let my clients, to the extent I have any impact on my clients, do this stupid shit.” He says the FDA needs to take steps to take the CBD industry out of this grey area, including scientific research and federal regulations. He was one of seven attorneys to testify before the agency earlier this year. “In my opinion [the] FDA is failing their mandate right now,” he says. “There were two years between no one really knowing about CBD and it being a Schedule 1 substance and it not being a Schedule 1 substance and everyone knowing about it. There are no studies. There’s no track record the FDA will want to see. They aren’t equipped to handle it and they’re obviously throwing their hands up in the air. The problem is they’re mandated to protect citizens from what we put in our bodies.” He urges people to contact the agency and file a Citizen Petition to encourage the agency to begin studying CBD and to fast-track federal regulations. As he said in a recent press release, “Last year there were between 30-40 of these petitions filed, none of them on the topic of CBD. If FDA receives a million of these this year, I do not think it can continue to punt on this issue.”

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“We often pass around a little inspiration smoke when writing — but usually our partaking of any sort happens once the work is done.”

NEW ASPIRATIONS

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LIPTRUCE manifests new emotional sounds By Addison Herron-Wheeler

ocal music in Denver,

Colorado isn’t your typical scene — it’s more

like a family that shows support to each other and promotes good bands and music. LIPTRUCE was once known as SIR Band, but has since grown from its youthful roots into a band with a new vision. As the band moves from old to new, LIPTRUCE is ready to expand outside of the city limits with its unique, emotional pop/ rock melodies and downtempoelectronic sounds. The trio is made up of vocalist Sarah Angela, guitarist Kim O’Hara and percussionist Luke Mehrens, all of whom celebrated the release of its debut album of the same name, in mid-November last year. DOPE caught up with LIPTRUCE’s vocalist about the band’s new Photos: Courtesy of LIPTRUCE

album, its rebranded image and what’s in store for the future.

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“Thankfully, Denver was one of the first to ‘recreationalize’ cannabis, sparking a huge increase in population, which ultimately leads to larger crowds and more fans. Thank you Mary Jane!”

How did you all first get started making music together, and how has the band changed over the years? I moved to Denver on a mission to one day perform at [the] Red Rocks [Park and Amphitheatre]. The three of us share goals that large, and I think that will keep us together all these years. Luke was a drummer I’d wanted from the moment I saw him play in his former band, so it was manifestation in the making when he waltz[ed] up to me a couple years later and asked if I

was in the market. Kim, a multiinstrumentalist, was one of the first musicians I met in Denver, and I’ve basically had her handcuffed to me since. We’ve changed an insane amount. Our style, my vocal strength, our full on performance, from different band names and members to just the three of us, [is] finally finding OUR thing after years of it all. How would you describe your new sound, and why the new name? What else has changed? LIPTRUCE’s sound is SexyEmotional-Rock-Pop. Specific, but true. The new name and all of our changes are simply because, well, we changed. We really grew up from the baby band we once were and wanted a name and a performance that fit who we are now. We’ve been through so much and stuck by each other through it all. What are you most excited about in 2020? I’m stoked to see what comes of our hard work on this album.

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Our self-titled album represents a plethora of stories that we are going to tell throughout the next few months, launching a “behind the music” campaign, as well as some target market shows in select cities around the country, maybe even internationally. We just wrapped the shooting of a music video for “You Think You’re Hollywood.” There’s tons of cool work happening this year; I’m just excited to see what we get away with. You all are connected to the queer community. How supportive have the local communities — both the queer and music community — been to your music? The first article written about me when I moved to Denver was in an OUT FRONT Magazine, back when I was just “Sarah Angela.” The queer and music community have both had open arms for years now. We have yet to really “break” out of the darkness that most pop musicians live in (specifically in Colorado), but we feel the buzz beginning since releasing the album. Not to mention the very successful album release show we had on Nov. 15, 2019 at the Marquis Theater.

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How do you all use cannabis, either for recreation, medicine or musical inspiration? We often pass around a little inspiration smoke when writing — but usually our partaking of any sort happens once the work is done. We have a fairly strict rule of rewarding ourselves rather than eating dessert first. For me, personally, there’s a special

saved her from prescription drugs that were harming her mind and body.

gratitude I have for cannabis; I even got a sweet little leaf tattooed as a sign of thanks. It has been a saving grace for my mother and her health defects for most of my life, which

you Mary Jane! I’d like to see the legalization take place nationally so that our out-ofstate visitors aren’t penalized for supporting the economy here in Colorado when they

What would you like to see that look like in five or 10 years? Thankfully, Denver was one of the first to “recreationalize” cannabis, sparking a huge increase in population, which ultimately leads to larger crowds and more fans. Thank

“[Cannabis] has been a saving grace for my mother and her health defects for most of my life, which saved her from prescription drugs that were harming her mind and body.”

leave our state with “legal” product. The time has come. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Listen to LIPTRUCE. We are real and write about real things that matter. We hope to affect lives in the best way and want to help others feel not alone. Follow our Spotify. Add our music to playlists. Share the love on social media accounts so we can continue to bring you and others all the feely-feels. liptruce.com

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