Dope Magazine | Washington | May 2014 | The Green Issue

Alzheimers >Can Cannabis Help Cure This Devastating Disease

DOPE CUP JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER

>TJ’S Organic Garden’s “White Label”

THE WINNER IS Mt. Baker Garden’s “Baked Cookies” Wins People’s Choice Award

New Patients Receive Free Half-Gram of Oil With Any Purchase

EDIBLES Chocolate Caramels

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MARIJUANA NEWS DOPE Cup Recap

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GROW Dama Oil

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MARIJUANA NEWS Hemp Legalization

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FEATURE CO-OP Alternative Care Clinic

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FEATURE VENUE Rainier Wellness Center

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MARIJUANA NEWS Green Jobs

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PIECES DOPEn

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ROAD TRIP Humboldt

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MARIJUANA NEWS Drunk & High

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PATIENT Charlie the Dog

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HEALTH Alzheimer’s

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ROAD TRIP The High Road

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HERBAN MYTHS i-502 Background Checks

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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May 2014 The Green Issue

STRAIN OF THE MONTH Green Crack

This Photo & Cover Photo By Allie Beckett

DOPE is a free publication dedicated to providing and 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

JARED MIRSKY

Photography

Art Director

Editorial Director

Sales Director

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sharon Letts Michael Condon Jr Meghan Ridley Heath Laslo

SALES MANAGERS Angela-Jordan Aguilar Devin Patrick Fernando Kuhn Mychal Trawick

COPY EDITOR Jordan Baer

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EMAIL US AT ADS@DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

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EMAIL US AT INFO@DOPEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM Dope Magazine and the entire contents of this magazine are copyright 2013 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

T H E F L AV O U R O F S C I E N C E .

nanassecret.com

STRAIN OF THE MONTH CANNABINOID CONTENT 12.9% THC 0.28% CBD

Tested by Analytical 360

Green Crack

provided by QACC on behalf of Zion Gardens

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR. PHOTO BY ALLIE BECKETT

GENETICS This strain gets its name from a littleknown Dr. Seuss book called, “Green Crack and Smack.”

While that’s not true, what is true is that this sativa will accurately replicate the animation of a crack user, without the associated social stigma. Skunk #1 parentage crossed with a subtle, unknown indica.

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MEDICAL BENEFITS There’s not time for depressing thoughts when starting your morning with a bowl of Green Crack. Nausea will be subdued and creativity will be sparked. Doesn’t leave patients feeling too wild or incapacitated.

Motivating and rousing for those suffering from fatigue. Leave your worries to the ocean.

LOOKS

SMELL

FLAVOR

EFFECTS

I’ve seen a good amount of Green Crack in my day. For one thing…it’s green.

But the green is speckled with dense patches of burnt orange hairs. Like the haggard, redheaded women working at truck stops. Complete with a white, ice-like crystal covering over the entirety of the nug. Beautiful.

Green Crack, unlike its illicit street drug namesake, has no baking soda scent.

Instead it’s laced with a revitalizing, floral snakebite to your nostrils. A delightful pungency that’s both inviting and inspiring.

With only a few brilliant whiffs, you’ll be able to envision your day and create a productive environment.

Similar to the scent, the flavor of the smoke is cranially awakening and leaves a tingling on the tip of your tongue. When sampling, I divided the water pipe hits with subtle sips of a fine, earthy Indonesian coffee to reinstate the flavor of the focus. Sweetness accompanied with a distinct, spicy floral arrangement.

Ba-zing. What a thrill.

While the effects of Green Crack won’t convince you to live under a bridge and spend every penny you earned washing windows on one more hit, it will lift your spirits and may cause you to rethink your way of life. Won’t leave you with itchy skin or any cravings or crashes.

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EDIBLES

DELECTABLE CHOCOLATE COVERED CARAMELS Dynamite Dabs Potent Snack

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR. PHOTO BY ALLIE BECKETT The green box-like package is only the first hint of the painstaking care taken by the folks at Dynamite Dabs to create their delicious chocolate morsels of joy. Opening the box ignites the butterflies in your gut like a child on his birthday. The giddiness causes your toes to tap uncontrollably against the ground and your body to tingle like your first date. A present to yourself or you can slap a ribbon on it and give it to your ma for Mother’s Day on the 11th.

Think the package is the only aesthetically pleasing aspect of these treats? Think again, Galileo. Once the box is carefully opened, you’ll notice the beautiful swirl of chocolate topped with a bright green, stenciled cannabis leaf. Fun and informative for friends who may be raiding your candy stash and stumble upon one of these.

The international warning sign for cannabis infused candy. A truly beautiful edible, worthy of display at the even the finest chocolatier shops in Europe.

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Once you taste it…

That’s when the magic happens. If you can get past consuming a piece of art, you will find a magnificent tongue treatment. The caramel melts is smooth and creamy, not stiff and chewy. As you sink your teeth down upon the you feel the explosion of sweetness leak over your taste buds and you feel like a woman on Dove chocolate commercial. You know…with the sexy smile and overpowering “O” face. Slowly savor the little piece of heaven and after fifteen minutes…maybe twenty…you will feel the medicating power. Not overwhelming, no underperforming. A perfect blend of palatability and potency. Stop by Lucky LadyZ Cooperative along Alki Beach (2628 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116) when you visit on those warm mid-spring days and pick up one of these delicacies. Pick some up for your mama, too.

4/20 eve. The night had a warm wind and a peculiar air. Green lights emitted from the front of the Magical Butter Studio in Seattle.

The line of visitors was forming well before the event was to begin and the anticipation was palpable. As the sun settled and the darkness took over, the party began. Towards the top of the wooden stairs the scene became something out of old Vegas, tables and card dealers, long, frilly dresses and swinging sounds of Sinatra, all with a special twist. The addition, and celebration, of the state’s finest cannabis and cannabis products.

This year’s event was spectacular and exciting. Contestants tiptoed around giddily hoping to take home a coveted DOPE Cup trophy. Flava Flav made an appearance, sans his recognizable clock, and if you looked closely, with the right sort of vision, you might’ve seen Marilyn Monroe and other historic characters. Kick a few beers back (all bar proceeds went to support the Cannabis Coalition of Standards and Ethics) and sample some dabs with

exotic flavors and pick up a few hat pins. What a night. It was a gala of ganja for all in attendance. Smoke filled the air and yet everybody breathed easily.

Then midnight struck and…alas…it was 4/20. The winners of each category were announced. From best edible, best beverage to highest THC concentrate and best Sativa. Boisterous applause erupted as each mammoth trophy was accepted by the smiling contestants. Those who preferred to stay in Seattle rather than fly to Denver were offered an exceptional night to rejoice in the pleasure of the plant. Each year the DOPE Cup continues growing and continues pushing the limits for fun. We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors Canna Law Group, Oil Slick, Hitman Butane, The Solution and Magical Butter. This DOPE Cup ended as it began, with eagerness and unchangeable grins. Want to join in on the fun? We’ll see you at next year’s DOPE Cup.

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PEOPLE’S/ JUDGES CHOICE

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The people and judges have spoken and the winner of the “People’s Choice” award went to Mt. Baker Gardens for their “MBG’s Baked Cookies” and the judges chose TJ’s Organic Garden’s “White Label.”

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NOMINEES FROM TOP LEFT CLOCKWISE: #1: “MBG’S AFGHAN KUSH” (MBG) #2: “HUSTLER KUSH” (GREENWORKS) #3: “BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE” (DAWGSTAR) #4: “MBG’S BAKED COOKIES” (MBG) #5: “WHITE LABEL” (TJ’S) #6: “MTF” (TJ’S) #7: “BLACKCHERRY CHEESECAKE” (MBG) #8: “PLATINUM GIRLSCOUT COOKIE” (LAUGHING LOKI GARDEN) #9: “BEAST MODE OG” (QACC/ZION GARDENS) #10: “PURPLE KUSH” (TJ’S)

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BEST DRINK

Amazing drinks are on the market and we got to see the best-of-thebest. Edging out the competition was Evergreen Herbal’s “Strawberry Lemonade”.

NOMINEES Runner-Up “SUGAR-FREE ROOTBEER” (NANA’S SECRET) “ORANGE SODA” (NANA’S SECRET) “BLACK LABEL ROOTBEER” (LOADED SODA) “WIZARDS GARDEN TEA” (RAINIER XPRESS) “LEMONADE” (PEOPLE’S CHAMPZ)

BEST SWEET

Having a sweet-tooth isn’t a bad thing when you have these amazing cannabis infused goodies. Taking home the gold was Capitol Hill Peanut Butter’s own “Peanut Butter”.

NOMINEES Runner-Up “100 MG BAR” (TJ’S) “CHOCOLATE ORANGE” (KARMA WELLNESS) “ULTRA PURE CHOCOLATE BAR” (LOADED SODA) “QUAD OREO BAR” (CAPN’ COSMIC) “ICE CREAM BON-BON” (MARY JANE’S ICE CREAM)

BEST BAKED

Being an amazing baker is a skill that not many of us posess. Being able to bake with cannabis makes it that much more impressive. Happy Cakes’ “Pumpkin Pie Cookie” was the most impressive this night.

NOMINEES Runner-Up “STRAWBERRY LEMONADE MACAROON” (RAIN CITY) “BROWNIES” (KILLER BEE BROWNIES) “BLACK SHEEP RASPBERRY BAR” (RAINIER WELLNESS) “CHOCOLATE CARAMEL BROWNIE” (3D EXTRACTS) “CAPN’ WHO BROWNIE” (LOADED SODA) “DIRT BOMB BROWNIE” (M’S MEDIBLES) “PEANUT BUTTER DANK BAR” (SKUNK TRAIN EDIBLES) “CAPITOL HILL BAR” (GREENLIGHT BAKED GOODS) “ZUCCHINI BREAD” (TJ’S) “SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIE” (HIGH LIFE ORGANICS/BUD’ERED CHEF) “THE NUKE BROWNIE” (8TH WONDER/HOUSE OF FIRE) “BEAST BROWNIE” (CAPN’ COSMIC)

BEST CBD EDIBLE

Being able to offer patients a CBD enriched edible is great news for those in pain that don’t want to smoke. Congrats to TJ’s “Zucchini Bread” for making a great product.

BEST BHO CONCENTRATE

With the current explosion in the concentrates its no wonder the Best BHO category had the most nominees of any award at the Dope Cup. Peace Farms’ “Lemon Skunk” narrowly pulled out the win this year with their amazing product.

NOMINEES Runner-Up “HAWAIIN DUTCH” (PEACE FARMS) “CANDY KUSH” (DOPE COOKS) “CASPER” (CANNABIS CLUB COLLECTIVE) “GRAPE SAINT” (CANNABIS CLUB COLLECTIVE) “THE HOG” (CANNABIS CLUB COLLECTIVE) “OGRE” (PEACE FARMS) “GREEN CRACK” (3D EXTRACTS) “EWOK” (REFINE BHO) “WHITE NIGHTMARE SHATTER” (KARMA WELLNESS) “UW SHATTER” (KARMA WELLNESS) “UW WAX” (KARMA WELLNESS) “WHITE NIGHTMARE WAX” (KARMA WELLNESS) “TD” (RAINIER XPRESS/HEALING SPACE GARDENS) “CINEX” (RAINIER XPRESS/TETRIS) “SCOOBIE DOOBIE” (A GREENER TODAY) “AGENT ORANGE SHATTER” (A GREENER TODAY) “CACTUS” (DOCKSIDE) “HARLEQUIN” (DR. J’S) “L DAWGS EXODUS CHEESE” (DR. J’S) “CHERRY BOMB” (DR. J’S) “HUSTLER KUSH WAX” (GREENWORKS) “WILLY WONKA” (A GREENER TODAY/HIGH CLASS) “LARRY OG” (HIGH CLASS CONCENTRATES) “CBD” (TJ’S) “PURPLE KUSH WAX” (TJ’S) “PURPLE KUSH” (TJ’S) “DURBAN POISON” (TJ’S) “CBDEVINE” (FWEEDOM) “DYNOMITE SHATTER” (HIGHLIFE/BUD’ERED CHEF) “CHEM SOUR” (RAIN CITY) “TRUE OG” (SHH) “PLATINUM OG KUSH” (SHH) “ALIEN RASCAL OG” (8TH WONDER/HOUSE OF FIRE) “AC/DC” (REFINE)

BEST NON-SOLVENT CONCENTRATE Congratulations to the “Jedi Kush 5 Star Bubble Hash” from A Greener Today for the win in the Best NonSolvent Concentrate category.

NOMINEES “HAWAIIN DUTCH” (JUST ICE WAX) “DEAD HEAD OG” (JUST ICE WAX) “TANGELO” (SOLSTICE/GREEN MASONS) “EXTRA SOUR WITH CHEESE” (GREEN MASONS) “BLUE DREAM” (MZ12X)

BEST C02 CONCENTRATE

Congratulaitons to C02 Organics who’s name fittingly matches the category they won for their “Sour Diesel”.

HIGHEST THC CONCENTRATE

With such amazing testing results the competition was steep but Peace Farms pulled out the Highest THC Concentrate with their “Ogre”.

BEST CBD CONCENTRATE

A winner also for Best ISO Concentrate, Remedy Greenhouse’s “Hesperedis” won highest CBD Concentrate as well.

BEST ISO CONCENTRATE

Remedy Greenhouse’s amazing “Hesperedis” took home the gold for best ISO Concentrate.

BEST SATIVA FLOWER

A large crop of amazing Sativa flowers were entered into the Dope Cup. Coming out on top was “Blunt Brothers Head Cheese” from Greenworks.

HIGHEST THC FLOWER

Last years winners from Greenworks were at it again this year as their “Blunt Brothers Head Cheese” took home the Highest THC Flower.

NOMINEES Runner-Up “DURBAN POISON” (TJ’S) “MBG’S BAKED COOKIES” (MBG) “CINEX” (RAINIER XPRESS/UNLIMITED DEVOTION) “MANNA FROM HEAVEN” (CCC BALLARD) “MTF” (TJ’S) “DYNOMITE” (HIGHLIFE/BUD’ERED CHEF) “DUTCH TREAT” (FREMONT GARDENS) “GHOST” (HANNA INDUSTRIES) “DIRTY DUTCH GIRL” (THE HEALING LEAF) “BUBBLE GUM” (MMS GARDENS)

BEST INDICA FLOWER

The most awards at the DOPE Cup went to TJ’s Organic Gardens and taking home the Best Indica Flower went to their amazing “White Label”.

NOMINEES Runner-Up “MBG’S AFGHAN KUSH” (MBG) “PLATINUM GIRLSCOUT COOKIE” (LAUGHING LOKI FARMS) “MBG’S ALIEN KUSH” (MBG) “MBG’S BUBBA” (MBG) “MBG’S SAN FERNANDO KUSH” (MBG) “MASTER PURP” (CCC BALLARD) “DB COOPER” (DELTA 9) “HUSTLER KUSH” (GREENWORKS) “CBD” (TJ’S) “PURPLE KUSH” (TJ’S) “WHITE LABEL” (TJ’S)

BEST CBD FLOWER TJ’s Organic Gardens know CBD so its no wonder they won the award for Best CBD Flower with their aptly named “CBD”.

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DAMA OIL Processing Progress

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR. PHOTOS BY ALLIE BECKETT Back in March, I had an opportunity to visit the famed headquarters of the DOPE Industry Award-winning Dama Oil. The facility has been featured on various local and national news programs and is simultaneously one of the most advanced warehouses for concentrate production and cannabis cultivation. A societal marvel and worldwide envy. Dama Oil has always led the way in medical marijuana advancement with their packaging, professionalism and performance. More scientifically evolved than your average concentrate creator and more professionally evolved than 80 percent of the medical marijuana entrepreneurs in the state. Now, Dama is working on dual medical and recreational licensing to show us, and the nation, how a legal, legitimate and legendary cannabis business should look. Here’s to the revolution.

The massive space, over 30,000 total square feet of land, comes complete with testing rooms, a quality control center, a packaging and processing area, cloning room, shipping department, trimming tables and quarantine areas. It’s a laboratory and an economy-boosting warehouse. None of that even holds a candle to the awe-inspiring grow rooms. Well, rooms would be an understatement, as I’ve never had two

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separate “rooms” that are a combined 10,000 square feet. They more closely resemble grow “hotel floors” or something. Every plant, from seed to sale, of course, is labeled and digitized using the most up-todate software and tracking equipment known to mankind. It seems cannabis is all grown up now.

Direct quote from author’s notations during visit: “The concrete walls, the forklifts, the wide-open space. Take a long whiff of the air. It’s industry. It’s thriving. This nation’s workforce sits inside walls like this for 40 or more hours a week in order to keep our country moving.”

Dama Oil owner, Dax, admits that helping patients remains the company’s main objective, but they also look forward to guiding the future of recreational marijuana and seizing the opportunity to shine as a model of efficiency for the blossoming industry. They provide close to 30 employees with full-time, well-paying jobs and rise above standards to craft a one-of-a-kind workplace that’s both safe and reliable. The automated gate and barbed wire fence protect the building and are reminiscent of the warehouse fences of Seattle industrial meccas like

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Georgetown and Harbor Island. It’s business and it’s what allows the economic heart of this country to keep beating regularly.

Businesses, for the most part, contribute to the restoration of our society not just by economic means, but with charitable contributions as well. Dama does that and has been doing just that for a long time now.

High-CBD strains (including the AC/DC strain putting up an astonishing 60 percent CBD numbers in concentrate form) are grown meticulously, processed with care by folks in astonishingly white lab coats and then given freely to children in need. That’s not because Dama needs to, but because they want to. In a multitude of manners, our friends at Dama Oil are setting the bar high for marijuana businesses and giving back to those who need this plant to sustain a positive outlook.

Direct quote from the author’s notations during visit: “Walking through the lighted garden, filled with the soft, yellow hue, one felt like a child in a meadow. Galloping with joy through the aisles of flush, green flora that flow gently under the muscular air conditioning unit. A sparkle in the eye is noticed as you strut amongst the leaves and as your nose hairs sift the aroma from the air. That sparkle is the magic

of progress…the magic of freedom.”

If you’ve ever seen warehouses in other industries, you would know what to expect. Erasable white boards with job responsibilities and safety precautions. Eye wash stations and goggles. Racks on racks, stacked to the max. Always something to do, always a way to help the company. Testing units, electrical units. Music playing to keep workers upbeat and excited (as if the cannabis isn’t enough) and a “team-first” atmosphere. That’s how you run a successful warehouse, that’s how you change the outcome of an industry.

Dama Oil is best described as the height of proficiency. Their headquarters are beautiful and should be as admired as when Henry Ford opened up his warehouse, displaying the highest quality and most efficient car-making methods imaginable. That’s what Dama is doing.

That’s what this industry needs. Washington State medical marijuana patients have always admired the careful design of Dama’s packaging and advertising. Now the whole state…nay…the world will see how the friendly folks at Dama Oil will revolutionize the way they see business.

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MARIJUANA NEWS

HEMP LEGALIZATION America’s Argricultural Revolution WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR.

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MARIJUANA NEWS

“Obama legalized an industry that was mistakenly outlawed for decades because of well-spackled misinformation.”

It flew under the radar for many polical observers. Obama signs a seemingly uninteresting “Farm Bill.” But this one was different. With a faithful swooping of his executive pen, Obama legalized an industry that was mistakenly outlawed for decades because of well-spackled misinformation.

This “Farm Bill” had an additional amendment to legalize hemp for “research purposes.” It’s not full legalization, but it’s getting closer. It’s basically a federal “okay, man” to states that already legalized hemp production. So far these states are California, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. Here’s a look at the amendment’s “agricultural pilot program.” in a manner that-(i) ensures that only institutions of higher education and State departments of agriculture are used to grow or cultivate industrial hemp; (ii) requires that sites used for growing or cultivating industrial hemp in a State be certified by, and registered with, the State department of agriculture; and (iii) authorizes State departments of agriculture to promulgate regulations to carry out the pilot program in the States in accordance with the purposes of this section.”

The purpose of this amendment was to discover if the all-powerful hemp plant can be

a viable and profitable option for farmers and American businesses. While most informed people can answer this with a resounding, “duh,” it seems the government needs a little more evidence. Here’s five ways that hemp will benefit businesses, farmers and our environment.

Water Droughts are an issue in many states, especially agricultural states, and have a lot to do with cattle, corn and cotton production.

Hemp is more water efficient, requiring half the amount water as cotton per crop, and is more renewable.

Nuclear Cleanup Hemp seeds were planted around the disaster at Chernobyl because hemp is a “phytoremediating” plant. Meaning it sucks up toxins, like nuclear waste, from the soil.

Effectively scrubbing the ground clean. With nuclear concerns from Japan and New Mexico, this will prove important.

Natural Fiber Hemp has capabilities of replacing concrete, plastics, fuel and more. Hemp has the potential to replace all major nonrenewable raw materials while cutting costs.

Cotton and wood, which are less renewable, can also be supplanted with hemp and hemp products. Say goodbye to deforestation.

Pesticide Usage Not only does hemp use less water than cotton, it also requires no pesticides.

Approximately 50% of all pesticides used in the United States are used on cotton while producing half the amount of fiber as hemp.

Pesticides are a major cause of species endangerment.

Money, money, money As we know the world spins thanks to the winds of flapping cash. The hemp industry has the potential to add trillions to our economic intake and will redefine our exporting industry. While big industries like the paper, pharmaceutical and cotton may take economic hits. Our overall economy will prosper.

Obama may have reneged on his campaign promises on his marijuana policy, this hemp amendment is a positive step forward and indicative of a drastic policy change. Farmers will rejoice, businesses will see the green light and, finally, our citizens will soon experience the most ecologically sound crop farmable.

If you’re a farmer interested in growing industrial hemp, register with your state agriculture department and research state and federally approved pilot programs. Be a part of our bright hemp-filled future. After all, it’s not just about recreation. It’s about the environment. It’s about the people.

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FEATURE CO-OP

ALTERNATIVE CARE CLINIC There Are No Better Alternatives In Georgetown WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR. PHOTS BY ALLIE BECKETT

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FEATURE CO-OP

WHAT’S INSIDE

In Seattle’s treasured Georgetown neighborhood lies a nearly half-decade old business staying steady in the rough current of the medical marijuana industry. This place is discreetly labeled, safe, steady and reliable. To feel safe in any aspect involved with the marijuana industry is the greatest relief and, yet, so difficult to obtain. The Alternative Care Clinic resides on the bustling Fourth Avenue in Georgetown, hosts ample angle parking spots and is a welcoming place for patients in any area.

Many medical marijuana patients are uncomfortable with the “head shop” feel of many local dispensaries and prefer a more clinical atmosphere. This is why Alternative Care Clinic has been quietly one of the most self-sustaining access points this state has seen.

Strains and flavors of edibles are widely rotating as the folks at Alterative Care Clinic strive to bring the right medicine to their patients. With a large network of cultivators to choose from and healthy, but tasty, edible options, it’s no wonder they have remained so steady. A double-locking door security system leads to a clean, maintained and aesthetically appealing lobby with shelves full of accessories. It has clones, cleaning accessories, very local (Georgetown, in fact) glass pieces and any other smoking attachments intended on getting patients comfortable and happy with their medicine.

The fluid rotation of strains allows patients the opportunity to give input on their favorites and try new and exciting strains. During my visit, The Chronic was available, along with an empowering Cloud Nine, an aromatic Pure Kush and many other eye-catching labels. ACC offered its own butane-less, in-house wax.

ACC has also been carrying Ettalew’s powerful edibles since they opened and offers other edibles based on the feedback of the clientele. Consistency and comfort are a rare combination in these early days of industrial growth. Georgetown’s Alternative Care Clinic is a shining example of how MMJ should be seen.

ADDRESS: 5609 4th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98108 PHONE: (206) 629-2122 WEB: www.mmjwa.org

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FEATURE CO-OP

RAINIER WELLNESS CENTER New Location, Same Expertise WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR. PHOTS BY ALLIE BECKETT

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FEATURE CO-OP

WHAT’S INSIDE

Tacoma is awash with cannabis joints. Some have witnessed raids and tragedy, while others have flourished by sticking to the laws and the zoning and creating a safe place for patients to acquire what they need. Rainier Wellness Center opened their first location on Pine Street and, as of January of this year, opened up a second location closer to the downtown area of Tacoma. Near the Dome, near the people, so more Tacoma natives have access to the litany of natural meds they supply.

There’s a long list of strains like Green Dream, Death Star and Lemon Ripper, which are recommended by a well-versed, easygoing staff, along with a fascinating array of other products that allow patients to capture positivity and heighten their enlightenment. Donation rates are stunningly low for the quality of the products, the trustworthy strains in particular, and dashingly marketed edibles of all flavors that cater to a variety of dietary conditions and lay on the shelves of this top-of-the-line dispensary. The new location on S. 24th Ave. was an old Harley Davidson repair shop reinvented for a changing economy. Happy clones are brightly displayed in their case for thrifty patients along with art decorating the walls made by patients.

The products are proudly tested by Analytical 360 for quality assurance. The dog treat edibles are a superb addition to their menu, as not only humans need a mental reset.

The new location adds to the cannabis scenery in the northwest and gives an opportunity for patients to find trust, once again, in the medical marijuana industry. The employees are noticeably happy and that can only cause joy in patients and visitors.

Welcome to the new world of cannabis, brought to you by Rainier Wellness Center.

ADDRESS: 112 S. 24th Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402 PHONE: (253) 327-1572 WEB: www.rainierwellnesscenter.com

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MARIJUANA NEWS

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MARIJUANA NEWS

THE AMERICAN DREAM GONE GREEN

Could Your Career Go to Pot? WRITTEN BY MEGHAN RIDLEY The legitimacy of a job in cannabusiness is officially evolving from black market to black tie before our very eyes. Gone are the days of the only job opportunity being criminality – we now live and work in a world where the producing, processing and selling of marijuana is branching out like never before.

While the roots of the industry are ultimately in the growing and selling of the plant, the newfound space in which marijuana is being permitted to exist in is expanding the arena to far corners of commerce that many never thought possible. But while some may have the know-how and connections to navigate the growing opportunities, others do not.

And many people are simply unaware of the booming creative and ancillary sides to this industry that are just taking their first aboveboard breaths.

A simple Google search of “marijuana jobs available” will give you a mixed bag of results, but when the results include blogs by the likes of Business Insider, it becomes clear that we’re moving towards a drastically different point of view when it comes to letting your career go to pot. BI even outlined their top three ways to score a job in the industry. . .

1. Have a specific, in-demand skill 2. Volunteer for marijuana advocacy groups 3. Have a whole bunch of money and buy a slice of a marijuana business While it is refreshing to know a handful of avenues to get your foot in the door of an opportunity, the tangible act of doing so – connecting the very complicated cannabis dots across this new market – can be a daunting task. Thankfully, there is an increasing number of business organizations designed to help, one of the leaders being Viridian Staffing.

Now while there are a number of pot job postings and whatnot that exist, the clarity

of the mission at Viridian Staffing is clearer than most. In their own words, they created it “to offer our deep experience to help further legitimize and ensure the success of this revolutionary industry.” Here, Fortune 100 recruiters for the cannabis industry

help place highly qualified people into positions they may have otherwise not found.

Perusing the website of Viridian Staffing, it becomes clear that there are a growing number of jobs in the cannabis industry – likely only to increase. They list a small sample of employment available, which still covers a decidedly large spectrum. Common jobs available include: administrative and office/clerical, biochemists, bud tenders, delivery drivers, finance, growers, graphic artists, information technology professionals, legal professionals, marketing, operations, packaging, project managers, researchers, sales, scientists, security, trimmers and web designers.

In speaking with Kara Bradford, Chief Talent Officer at Viridian Staffing , she explained the mission of Viridian as twofold: While our core business is providing opportunities to individuals to find a job in the cannabis/industrial hemp industry and providing cannabis employers with

top talent, we also want to help out families who have been separated due to ttates having laws/restrictions around giving children/family members medical cannabis. Thus, if families need assistance finding jobs in any industry, we will use our network of recruiters/staffing professionals across the U.S. to assist these families in their job search so they are not torn apart for too long.

Needless to say, becoming such an energizing piece of the marijuana industry doesn’t stem from the modern paradigm alone. David Muret, CEO of Viridian, elaborated from a broader perspective: I am proud to lend my skills to this industry because I see the persecution of cannabis for what it is, an unconscionable conspiracy between big pharma, big tobacco and big alcohol (aka the Orwellianly named “Partnership for a Drug Free America”) to suppress this incredibly benign and beneficial plant for fear that it will take a huge bite out of their market share. Not to mention the booming industry of privatized prisons which have successfully lobbied (bribed) state governments to enact laws that increase incarceration rates by criminalizing nonviolent possession of a substance that isn’t a fraction as dangerous to consumers or as harmful to society as alcohol. If anything studies increasingly prove that there’s a significant net benefit to be gained in its responsible use.

Should the aforementioned information not be the ticket to a potential pot job, there is yet another option worth exploring: the pot job fair. With the first ever held in March 2014 in Colorado, more are likely to follow. Overall, due to the efforts of these business organizations, gone are the days of plotting an escape route from your illegal ambitions, having replaced them with a legal plan for your future.

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PIECES

DOPEN Vaping With Style WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR. PHOTO BY BRET CORRINGTON

Find a DOPEn at your favorite co-op or online at www.dopemagazineonline.com

The first couple generations of vaporizer pens have influenced the nation and transformed our smoking habits with both marijuana and nicotine consumption.

The craft of vape pen creation is becoming something of a science and is personally customizable. Now DOPE Magazine has unleashed our lustrous offering to the growing market of vaporizers with the DOPEn! It’s available with cartridges in a variety of flavors including bubble gum, coffee and gummy bears all made with award-winning oil from Refine .Flavoring is important to patients who aren’t fond of the standard taste of oils now obtainable. Take your pick: white on gold or gold on white. The beauty and class of DOPE Magazine is well represented in the new pens, which, when uncapped and inhaled, offer discretion to the user and a certain hip factor when they want to show it off. The beauty of the DOPEn doesn’t mean it is fragile as the sturdy exterior sheath keeps your oil safe from breaking like many previous competitor models have been notorious for.

So whether you are looking out for the safety of your lungs from a possibly harsh smoke from joints or bongs, or if you want to jump on the vaping bandwagon for flavor options, the DOPEn is for you. Keep an eye out for these brand-new vaping accessories and tasty cartridges available from your friends at DOPE Magazine launching this May.

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ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP: HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA Stove Top Remedy: Treating Cancer with Cannabis WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHARON LETTS

“If we had been able to get the oil to him in time, he’d still be with us” Imagine tuning into the six o’clock network news and Brian Williams leads with this story, “California man’s wife cooks up medicine from weed on the kitchen stove, puts his cancer into remission.”

It’s a nice thought, but not a scenario that will happen anytime soon, unless CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta decides to profile a few cancer-free cannabis patients for another groundbreaking documentary.

One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, with men surprisingly leading the way. The American Cancer Society estimates 810,320 women will be diagnosed in 2014, with men tallying in at 855,220 new cases predicted.

HONEY, I HAVE CANCER. Less than a year ago, John and Judy Smith (pseudonyms) listened attentively as the oncologist explained the severity of the situation.

John had prostate cancer and the doctor rattled off the usual traditional treatments: surgery,

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radiation seeds, chemotherapy and more misery than they wanted to hear.

The treatments were all too familiar, as just five years prior Judy’s ex-husband went through the same ordeal for colon cancer. A more than five-year fight that left him without health insurance and drained all his savings then the cancer returned and he was told he had less than six months to put his house in order.

According to the National Library of Medicine, prostate cancer begins in the prostate gland, a small, walnut-sized gland that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system, wrapping around the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body).

When her ex presented with colon cancer, Judy did a simple online search for a “cure for cancer” and found Rick Simpson Oil with a bevy of testimonials from real patients about putting their own cancers into remission.

“It’s amazing the amount of ‘cures’ that pop

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up on the web for cancer,” she explained. “It’s criminal to get people’s hopes up in that way.”

In the 1970s, the concentrated cannabis oil was called “Honey Oil,” and was cooked up for recreational smoking. The oil was recreated by Canadian Rick Simpson more than 10 years ago when he was told to put his own house in order after a diagnosis for terminal skin cancer.

“I first made the oil for my ex-husband’s reoccurrence,” Judy said. “The oil helped him sleep, which is something amazing in itself, as sleep is needed for healing. It also took the pain away and gave him an appetite again – he gained back nine pounds.”

Judy said while her ex’s overall well-being improved with the use of the oil, after everything he had been through, it was too late to turn the cancer around and he passed in peace, helped by the oil.

“If we had been able to get the oil to him in time, he’d still be with us,” she added.

Upon hearing of her current husband’s

ROAD TRIP of CB2 receptors located on B lymphocytes and “natural killer cells,” defined as “a type of white blood cell” or “immune cell” that has small particles with enzymes that can kill tumor cells or cells infected with a virus.”

In other words, the National Institute of Health, a federally funded institution of medical knowledge, reports on studies that show cannabis killing cancer cells on its own website.

diagnosis, with the knowledge gained from her ex-husband’s ordeal, Judy put her apron back on, went back into the kitchen and whipped up another batch of oil.

THE STRAIN GAME When patients first begin research in order to make the oil, the number of strains alone with cartoon or gangster-like names can be daunting, to say the least. Add the debate of cannabinoids vs. tetrahydrocannabinol, or CBDs vs. THC, and it’s enough to scare the novice back to the oncologist’s office and into the chemo chair.

According to oil-maker Rick Simpson, THC is as necessary as CBD. The controversy lies in the amount of THC needed. We now know the Holy Anointing Oil Jesus used measured in at around two to four percent THC, with the hemp oil used in more than 250 over-overthe-counter remedies prior to 1942 measuring in at a percent that was not much higher.

Cannabis was pulled from the U.S. Botanical List of Medicinal Herbs in 1942 – the same year DuPont patented Nylon, spawning the modern-day pharmaceutical company, rich with petroleum by-products. Interesting to note, cannabis was just put back on that list this year with little fanfare or reporting.

Judy found that networking with growers through a local dispensary was helpful, enabling them to find strains high in both THC and CBD. She also found help from Dr. William Courtney of California, a juicing advocate who helped an eight-month-old infant get rid

of a terminal brain tumor by applying the oil several times a day to a pacifier in 2012.

But the most surprising knowledge she gained through the entire process came from a testing lab.

WHOLE PLANT THEORY “When I first began making the oil, I used whole bud,” Judy informed. “When we had it tested at a local lab, it was high in THC. When I made the next batch, I added leaf and that tested with higher CBD. When I added the whole plant, stems, bud, leaf and all, it tested in higher amounts for THC, CBD and CBN.” SC Laboratory is the analytical laboratory in California that tested the oil for Judy and John. According to its website, researchers have identified more than 70 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant that are categorized as a class of chemical compounds that mimics phytocannabinoids or has a similar structure.

Endocannabinoids are found in the central nervous systems of humans and animals and activate our cannabinoid receptors, creating healing and preventing disease and illness.

Among the benefits, SC Laboratory states that cannabinoids exert palliative effects in cancer patients by preventing nausea, vomiting, pain and stimulating appetite – all contributing to healing.

According to the National Institute of Health’s National Cancer Institute website, “within the past 20 years, the neurobiology of cannabinoids has been analyzed, with the first cannabinoid receptor identified as “CB1” in the brain in 1988. In 1993 a second receptor, “CB2,” was identified, with the highest concentration

CANNABIS: DELIVER US FROM ILLNESS John’s stomach proved sensitive to the strong oil and Judy quickly realized that making suppositories would be the best way to deliver the medicine.

“Suppositories are great for people who can’t smoke,” Judy said. “They can be taken anally or vaginally for all kinds of illness and infection. It also clears up the lungs for people suffering from COPD or asthma.”

Treatment with the oil began as soon as the oncologist reported findings from the biopsy. After going through her ex-husband’s traumatic traditional therapies, they decided to skip everything and do the oil. By the first bone scan, they were told there was “increased activity,” but the second scan just two months later showed “no increased activity.”

“It could have been arthritis they were seeing. They really can’t tell too much with those scans,” Judy surmised, stating at the time she was confident the oil would work.

A month after the last bone scan, John received a PET scan and the cancer was completely gone.

As stated by Rick Simpson via his Phoenix Tears Foundation site (www. phoenixtearsfoundation.com) the treatment for cancer is 60 grams of oil in 90 days, with a step-up delivery method allowing the patient to get used to the effects of the THC while delivering as much medicine as possible. Most cancers are reported as disappearing in less than the three-month period.

“John consumed 117 grams of oil in a 13week period,” Judy said. “We really don’t know much about how this works, so we wanted to make sure the cancer was gone and pounded it.”

To date, John is still cancer-free, tested regularly and continues a maintenance treatment of a gram of oil a day in suppository form.

“The federal government tells us this is not medicine,” Judy shared. “We are supposed to trust our government, the police and our doctors. How can we when they are not being honest with us? My husband is alive today because of this plant. It is medicine. It’s our medicine for life.”

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HEALTH

Effects of Alcohol and Marijuana One Plus One Does Not Equal Two WRITTEN BY HEATH LASLO

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HEALTH

“when the two drugs are used together they have synergistic/ additive intoxicating effects on the brain and body with the intoxication much more intense than when used alone respectively.”

Last November here at DOPE we explored the safety differences between using either alcohol alone or marijuana alone as a recreational drug.

Additionally, if you have been following the call to legalize our sacred plant nationally, marijuana is always compared to alcohol from a harm reduction perspective since alcohol and marijuana are two of the most commonly used drugs along with tobacco.

If you look at deaths associated with alcohol vs. marijuana, clearly marijuana wins hand down with no known deaths associated with the green plant vs. 88,000 deaths every year in the US associated with alcohol (between 2006-2010), costing the economy $224 billion, according to a Jan. 10 2014 report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. We have even recently heard the president going on record saying that he believes that alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana with public opinion polls inline with the president’s belief (imagine that…a politician following public opinion).

The effects on the body of smoking marijuana alone or drinking has been extensively studied and reported for many years. However the effect of using both alcohol and marijuana at the same time (A concept called “cross-faded” to be drunk and high) hasn’t received as much attention in the scientific literature and deserves to be explored. This is especially important considering alcohol and marijuana are very commonly used together.

First let us quickly review the basics.

Marijuana contains a number of cannabinoids with THC being the most prevalent & relevant cannabinoid that plugs into the brain’s and central/peripheral (brain/body) nervous system cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & CB2).

In the brain, endocannabinoid receptors are responsible for regulating effects on

central nervous system activities including; movement (muscle/motor skills & function), memory, nociception (perception of pain), endocrine regulation (hormone regulation), thermoregulation (how hot/cold you feel), sensory perception (touch), cognitive functions (thought processes), and mood.

Alcohol on the other hand depresses the central nervous system. If you think of the brain as a central computer that controls all you body functions, then the CNS is like a network that relays messages back and forth to different parts of the body based on perceived input from our environment.

Example, you put your hand on a hot stove, your central nervous system is responsible for telling your brain to pull your hand back dummy that is hot and is hurting me.

Alcohol slows down this “transmission” rate between the brain and the body reaction.

Hence a slower reaction time pulling that hand back after touching the hot stove.

So what happens to your brain and central nervous system when you get “cross-faded” from a users perspective? Well the short answer to that is one plus one does not equal two, but rather five. What the hell does that mean Heath you ask? What I mean is that when the two drugs are used together they have synergistic/additive intoxicating effects on the brain and body with the intoxication much more intense than when used alone respectively.

According to Gary Wenk, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Ohio State University, “Trying to compare alcohol and marijuana isn’t even like comparing apples and oranges, it is more like apples and vegetables. They’re very different drugs.”

So does combining alcohol and marijuana Scott Lukas Ph. D., a Harvard Medical School researcher and teacher who has researched the interaction of various drugs found that “individuals who smoked marijuana and drank alcohol (equivalent to a couple shots), the THC levels in their blood was

nearly doubled compared with people who smoked pot and consumed a placebo (fake) drink.”

This information surprised me, I had no idea that when consuming a couple beers and smoking your favorite green the actual THC levels were doubled in my blood stream, who knew?

So what are the lessons to be learned here and practical applications of this information?

If you decide to smoke, ingest, vaporize, dab, etc. marijuana and drink alcohol you should keep in mind that the two drugs are synergistic and your likely more intoxicated than you realize. Specifically, the THC levels in the blood are much higher than when either drinking or using marijuana by itself. This is important to understand. The likelihood that your blood levels even after a beer and a bowl most likely exceed the states 5ng/ml of blood intoxication levels based on the research discussed previously.

DUI-D laws are stiff and since the December 6th 2012 the “New Approach” to marijuana took effect. Specifically, the crime of DUI/DUI-D has always encompassed legal and illegal drugs, but prior to the new approach, there was never a threshold limit of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Now there is and that level of 5/ng per ml is very low especially for a medical marijuana patient since these folks typically have higher tolerance levels and consume more marijuana. Stay safe, the last thing all of us need is an expensive potentially lifealtering event of getting a DUI/DUI-D or a more serious offense of hurting someone or ourselves in a car accident.

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MARIJUANA NEWS

The May 2014 Edition

by Michael Condon Jr

POT AROUND THE WORLD Washington - Native Weed The historic Suquamish Native American tribe, 10,000-year inhabitants of the Central Puget Sound area, is looking to flourish in the widening cannabis marketplace. In an effort to revitalize a once prodigious sovereign nation, heads of the tribe have reached out to the state Liquor Control Board about cannabis licensing on their federally owned grounds. The LCB is unsure despite the hands-off approach of the federal government. In a press release from the tribe’s board, spokesperson Leonard Forsman said, “At this time, the sale, possession and use of marijuana on the Port Madison Indian Reservation remain illegal under tribal law, but we want to explore with the State, on a government-to-government basis, what the State’s changing views and laws toward recreational marijuana production, sale and use mean for us as a tribe.” The tribe would be unrestricted by licensing deadlines and could avoid the whopping taxes attached to legal marijuana, the same way they treat tobacco.

Making it a possible hotspot for cheaper pot. More information to come.

Milwaukee - NBA Star “Bucks” Pot Suspension We’ve all seen those professional athletes who get busted for a DUI, drug possession charge or positive steroid test, feign sorrow as they apologize to teammates and the children and God. Then they go out and do it again or wind up in some hotel room with a bong and an awkwardly naked woman with Colin Kaepernick. In the case of Milwaukee Bucks player, Larry Sanders, there won’t be any bullshit apology. After his third positive test for marijuana, the NBA suspended Larry for five games as his team’s season finishes without so much as 20 wins. Instead of taking the easy route and following routine, Larry Sanders had this to say about his positive drug test, “I will deal with the consequences from it. It’s a banned substance in my league. But I believe in marijuana and the medical side of it. I know what it is if I’m going to use it.” To drive his point home, he then went on to tell reporters, “The stigma is that it’s illegal. I hate that. Once this becomes legal, this all will go away. But I understand for my work it’s a banned substance. I will deal with the consequences.”

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MARIJUANA NEWS

GuatemalaPresident Calls for Cannabis Legalization and More

Guatemalan President, Otto Perez Molina, a retired army general, has proposed that his country not only follows the lead of Uruguay with pot reform to curb cartel violence, but he’s also got a plan for state-sanctioned poppy (opium) plants. The Central American country of Guatemala has seen an upsurge in Mexican cartel violence leaking through the Mexican border. Perez says an official government commission is looking into the legalization effort. The commission is expected to finish their recommendations by October and possibly have legalization measures into play by the end of the year. The President claims the legal opium trade will be, “controlled and sold for medicinal ends.”

Colorado - Crime Rate Drops Post-Pot We all listened to those delightful inciters of fear that dwell in the dark cave known as the cannabis prohibition camp. The children will become brain-dead and die! The national IQ will plummet! The work ethic of our culture will disintegrate! The heavens will collapse and comets will destroy the earth!

The crime rate will soar! “Thugs put on masks, they come to your house, they kick in your door. They point guns at you and say, ‘Give me your marijuana, give me your money!’” That last one was a real quote by a California sheriff. Yet as it turns out, after the three months of legal smoke in Colorado,

the crime didn’t rise. It actually dropped in almost every category. Property crimes fell over 14 percent. Violent crimes fell a couple percentage points and the whole country is relieved that the zombie apocalypse didn’t begin with some bunk weed altering the minds of children. We have Ritalin for that. The only thing prohibitionists are citing out of Colorado is a single death from one underage college student that decided to jump off a balcony after eating an edible. The twisted fascination with death and violence held by the prohibitionists should be repeatedly subdued with facts and knowledge.

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Patient Profile

CHARLIE

Humboldt Dog Gets Cannabis Cancer Treatment Story and Photos by Sharon Letts The Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center states cancer accounts for nearly 50 percent of all disease-related deaths each year, with our furry friends closer to the ground suffering as much or more than we do from toxins in our environment and dirty food practices.

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PATIENT OF THE MONTH As detailed in an article from Natural News, processed pet foods contain “meat meal,” cooked down at temperatures between 220 and 270 degrees, allegedly sterilizing the contaminated meat used from a stated plethora of “road kill,” euthanized animals from zoos and animal shelters and meat classified as “4-D,” or “dead, diseased, disabled and dying.”

In her book “Food Pets Die For,” Author Ann Martin reveals that some 200 tons of animals are presented to pet-food manufacturers per month in Los Angeles alone, with the sodium pentobarbital residue used for euthanasia still in the mix. Residue from this concoction containing fecal material is dried and pulverized into a brown powder, then used as an additive to pet foods and livestock feed – with farmers referring to it as “protein concentrates.” Martin states that more than five million tons of processed slaughterhouse leftovers are used for animal feed in the United States each year.

Dogs especially get cancers at roughly the same rate as humans (one in three humans diagnosed), with one in four dogs dying of cancer, and more than 50 percent of dogs over the age of 10 succumbing to the

“The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That’s the essence of inhumanity.”

- George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright, 1856-1950) dreaded disease.

The good news is cannabis kills canine and feline cancers and tumors in the same way as in humans; the challenge (just as in humans) is dosing them with our high THC-laden strains.

Dr. Amanda Reiman is the California policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance based in San Francisco. She’s also a devoted cat owner and when her 11-year-old cat, Monkey, was diagnosed with a nonoperable tumor, Reiman added a little cannabis oil to her food.

“The cancer caused her to lose a lot of weight, and she was having trouble sleeping,” Reiman noted in an essay for Peta.org. “I decided to mix a little cannabis oil in with her wet food and was astounded at the difference. She started acting like a kitten again.”

Though Reiman said she ended up losing little Monkey to cancer several months later, she shared that the experience was improved with cannabis, allowing the kitty a comfortable, pain-free passing.

Cannabis Oil for All For the past 10 years or more, the recipe for Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO, has been handed down and passed around, healing humans from some of the most invasive cancers, and putting serious illness at bay.

Some say the treatment is not for everyone, but studies indicate this just isn’t true. If you are a biological being with an endocrine system, then you are also equipped with a sophisticated endocannabinoid

system receiving the cannabinoids, or CBDs, from the plant, as well as the THC, CBNs and many more benefits we’ve yet to fully understand.

According to AnimalEndocrine.com, dogs and cats have an endocrine system identical to humans with the same function, delivering hormones to the blood stream, regulating the body’s glands and organs.

Hormones act as chemical messengers with many critical functions.

The endocrine glands include the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal, ovaries and testes.

Having the same hormonal delivery system enables our pets to reap the same benefits from the plant for myriad illnesses and disorders. Any upset they may have related to infection and/or inflammation can be helped with ingesting cannabis.

Charlie’s Cancer Charlie is a good-natured, 10-year-old, 62-pound Stafford Terrier mix. The first sign of illness was lack of appetite, when tests found bone cancer in his shoulder.

Charlie’s owner is a savvy, California cannabis patient but had serious reservations about treating the family dog with cannabis, specifically nervous about its psychoactive properties. The owner just did not want to get Charlie “stoned” or make him feel uncomfortable in any way, which is understandable.

Too much RSO and a pet could be put into a coma or have other adverse reactions. Pet owners are often timid about getting their pets “high” in the traditional sense, but we do know that the THC is necessary for inducing rest and healing. How much THC is still in debate, but creator of the oil, Simpson, insists it’s vital and encourages patients to get used to the effects – which in actuality do not take long to adjust to (see sidebar on dosing with oil from Rick Simpson).

A local medicine maker helped create capsules for Charlie with part oil and part coconut solid to help digestion and ease delivery.

Charlie’s first dose was one one-hundredth of a gram, with coconut oil caps taken in the morning and again at night until he appeared to be used to the effects, slowly increasing the amount.

The lack of knowledge on dosing makes this process a slow one and Charlie is still very ill, but his owner is painfully aware of not getting him wasted, easing him into each dose. While the owner is hopeful the cancer will disappear, at the very least his pain will be quelled and rest will come easily.

“I believe in this medicine,” the owner stated. “But there is so much we don’t know about how it heals. I’m just grateful we have this alternative treatment, because without it he may not have had such a comfortable time of it going through traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy or radiation.”

Keeping Charlie comfortable is a priority. The owner said whether his fragile system will allow complete healing or not, he will leave this world with dignity.

Aside from his bum leg that won’t come back, he’s happy and playful with a good appetite. One can hardly tell he’s fighting for his life as he bobs around playing with a stick twice his size.

“From everything I’ve read, most dogs lose the fight to cancer – it’s just too much for them,” the owner said. “One thing this experience has taught me is we need to feed our pets better food. I don’t give him tap water any longer and he eats real food now. Charlie is part of our family and is greatly loved. We honor him with this painless treatment. He’ll heal and survive, or he’ll pass without pain and suffering.”

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PIECES

Check out the website and see for yourself www.solarhitpipe.com

SOLAR PIPES The Greenest Way To Spark WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR.

You’d be surprised how much waste goes into those disposable lighters carried by just about everybody on the planet. Along with perpetually being stolen, those lighters are also made of the evil plastic. Littering our streets and taking up a lot of room at transit stations, like straws. So people use hemp wick and other seemingly more environmentally friendly methods of ignition, and those are applaudable, but there is one surefire way to catch flame to your favorite kind of bud. The all-powering, solar monstrosity known as, “the sun.”

The sun has been used by engineering minds that enjoy marijuana for decades. A simple magnifying glass can direct the sun’s powerful force to set fire to ants and plants. Just ask any seven-year old with a magnifying glass. It’s fun and environmentally sound. When it comes to smoking greenery, there’s no gas inhaled and no sulfur aroma. Matches aren’t

for bowls and lighters can be wasteful. Thankfully, there are products that exist to benefit all of mankind and stoners exclusively. Enter, the solar pipe.

Perhaps you first noticed them at tradeshows, cannabis expos and geographically different Hempfests. These solar pipes, complete with a swiveling magnifying glass and a wind guard, are unmatched in design and ecological impact.

Easy to make, easy to use and like no other product. They’re available online in a multitude of colors, including a nifty translucent shade, and are worth the money in quality of workmanship alone. Of course they can also be used with lighters for the cloudier days as you might expect in Seattle.

With spring settling in and this summer promising to be a warm one, you can be the coolest kid on your block, or at least the most convenient person to have around your smoking friends, if you pick up your very own solar hit pipe.

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HEALTH

Potential Benefits of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease WRITTEN BY HEATH LASLO

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HEALTH I know what most of you are thinking: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), that is a disease for the elderly; why should I care with regards to my personal health at my young age?

Or, more likely, you have had or currently have a close family member who has Alzheimer’s disease and you have witnessed the devastating effects of the disease?

It is heartbreaking to watch the slow decline of a mother or grandfather who, a few years ago, was sharp as a tack mentally and now can’t remember your name. This is called dementia, specifically dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

So what is the big deal? Don’t we have more serious life-threatening diseases to research the use of cannabis in and worry about? Well possibly, but let me frame it up for you. In recent years we have learned

in which dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years via the buildup of two proteins in the brain, called beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles. Stay with me here because understanding the pathology of the disease will help you understand some of the positive ways cannabis/cannabinoids are showing promise in the prevention

chemical) responsible for memory and cognitive thinking.

The limited effectiveness of current pharmaceutical therapies against Alzheimer’s disease highlights the need for intensifying research efforts devoted to developing new agents for preventing or retarding the disease process. During the last few years, targeting the endogenous cannabinoid system has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

If the disease is diagnosed early enough, the three pharmaceutical options available to our loved ones are “Band-Aid” therapies at best. The only treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease are a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. They mimic the effects of the endocannabinoid system by boosting levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

They

“cannabis has shown a role in promoting the brain’s intrinsic repair mechanisms by reducing neuroinflammation and increasing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) responsible for memory and cognitive thinking.” a lot more about Alzheimer’s disease than we did even 10 years ago. Specifically, women seem to be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease much more than men. For a woman, the estimated lifetime risk of developing AD at the age of 65 is one in six vs. one in 11 for a man. This is twice as high as developing breast cancer in women at that age.

Alzheimer’s disease is the single most expensive disease we currently have in the United States. In 2014, the direct costs to the American society of caring for those with Alzheimer’s will total an estimated $214 billion with $36 billion coming as out-of-pocket costs to families. Why is this the case? The majority of people with late-onset Alzheimer’s will live on average eight-plus years after diagnosis and will need constant care and/or supervision in most cases. So while other diseases may cause death faster, Alzheimer’s can be incredibly emotionally and financially taxing to patients and family members.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease,

and treatment of the disease.

New clinical research published this year is starting to unveil the potential benefits of medical cannabis, specifically the role of cannabinoids in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. While the idea of using cannabis in the treatment of the disease is still in its infancy, researchers with the Spanish Biomedicial Research Networking Centere (CIBER) published a review in Frontiers of Pharmacology (March of 2014), highlighting the potential benefits of medical cannabis in Alzheimer’s that are very exciting.

What this group of researchers found indicates that the activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors by the use of cannabis may have beneficial effects in Alzheimer’s by reducing harmful betaamyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles. Additionally, cannabis has shown a role in promoting the brain’s intrinsic repair mechanisms by reducing neuroinflammation and increasing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter (brain

can help brain cells work better, but they don’t stop or reverse the destruction of brain cells and loss of acetylcholine that occur in Alzheimer’s disease. Lastly, these medicines don’t make acetylcholine in the brain; hence they become less effective over time as patients eventually slide into further mental deterioration.

Alzheimer’s has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues.

Although current Alzheimer’s treatments cannot stop Alzheimer’s from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset and prevent it from developing. With additional clinical research and trials, the role of cannabinoids from marijuana looks promising.

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GROW

THE PNW PLAGUE

Keeping Your Cannabis Free From Botrytis Cinerea WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAY ROLLER Cannabis growers in the Pacific Northwest (N. California, Oregon, and Washington) have been dealing with a new form of the “plague” for decades. However, this “plague” isn’t black. It’s grey and known as the necrotrophic fungus called Botrytis Cinerea. Botrytis Cinerea is a naturally occurring fungus that affects many plant species, including our favorite plant – Cannabis.

Growers all over the PNW have had to deal with “bud rot” or other outbreaks of Botrytis Cinerea on a pretty regular basis when growing crops here. Many of us however, fail to realize that the problem of Botrytis Cinerea is quite regional, and quite easy to manage and keep at bay. To understand and treat the Botrytis Cinerea fungus, you must first learn why the Pacific Northwest has heavy concentrations of Botrytis Cinerea spores and where they come from.

While it is a naturally occurring organism, in the past 30 years, we have seen a steep increase on Botrytis Cinerea outbreaks. Regionally, these outbreaks tend to be heaviest in concentration (PPM) in the Napa Valley (California), Willamette Valley (Oregon), and Walla Walla (Washington) regions. These areas have more spores in the air than other regions in

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the Pacific Northwest, but most people are unsure as to why.

As it turns out, it is the wine makes in this region who can be blamed for the extra concentration of Botrytis Cinerea and for proliferating this fungal disease. Wineries and wine makers pay thousands of dollars per year for vials of cultured Botrytis Cinerea, and some even purchase lab equipment to culture their own on a as needed basis. The reason for this culturing of the Botrytis Cinerea fungus is late-harvest wines. Wine makers will “paint” their grape clusters with the spores to infect their vines on certain species (usually Riesling) to make Late-Harvest Riesling and/or Ice Wine.

Late-Harvest Riesling is very sweet in nature, as is the dessert wine known as Ice Wine. These are traditional German style wines made from the Riesling grape. The reason that the wine makers will treat the grapes with the Botrytis Cinerea is due to the fact that the Botrytis Cinerea fungus will sap water content out of the grapes, raising the “Brix” (pronounced “Br-EE”) level, the sugar content of the grape, making for more concentrated juices that produce much sweeter wines. The problem with this is the fact that the spores are very mismanaged and

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often spread easily through the air and wind to infect plants and crops that do not enjoy the fungus as much as the grapes do.

There is very little we as farmers can do to stop the spread of the Botrytis Cinerea fungus, but we can treat and manage our crops properly to prevent any outbreaks or loss of product. Using a few simple steps and procedures, you can easily keep Botrytis Cinerea at bay.

First, you must keep the air flowing. Botrytis Cinerea loves stagnant, moist air. It is what it thrives on. To make its environment as unfriendly as possible, lower your humidity below 45% and keep air flow moving.

You can do this with oscillating fans, intake and exhaust systems, and even dehumidifiers.

Secondly, preventatively spray your garden. While some growers believe the myth that getting water on your buds causes bud rot, that is certainly not the case. You cannot get bud rot without the Botrytis Cinerea being present. Preventatively spraying your plants with a solution that kills the Botrytis Cinerea fungus in a natural and organic method is the way to go about doing it without fear of hurting your plants.

Some growers have reported success using a 1:10 ration of Milk/ Water in a foliar application. I do not recommend this for anything other than ornamental plants, as sprayed milk might produce bacteria. There is very little data on this to be found it seems. Instead, a better and even more organic method is available which kills the Botrytis Cinerea spores by lowering the PH, rather than using a poison or fungicide. Simply mix 1 TBS of Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), and 3-5 drops of an organic dish soap (used as a spreading agent), mixed with 1 gallon of room temperature water.

Spray the solution on your plants up to week 5 in flower to kill any Botrytis Cinerea spores that may be resting on the plant waiting for water. Spray once a week or as needed, but make sure that your airflow is good as to not allow standing water to rest inside of flowers. This spray also works very well for Powdery Mildew treatments as well!

So while there isn’t much we can do to stop the wineries from spreading the Botrytis Cinerea fungus, we can certainly do our not help spread it around and let it affect our lives and the medicines of our patients.

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ROAD TRIP

THE HIGH ROAD WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGHAN RIDLEY

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It’s been a week since I’ve smoked weed, and driving alongside Stoner Creek is a welcome respite to the unexpected dose of sobriety I packed during my impromptu exodus from the Mojave Desert a few days back. Somewhere behind me is an altercation for the ages – complete with locked doors, shattered bongs and broken friendships. But for now, my iPhone navigation bounces between slim reception and declarations of “no service,” and I sense the real world rabbit hole of Telluride, Colorado, lurking just beyond these last miles of rugged terrain.

I’ve been on the road for almost two

weeks now, but this morning, Las Vegas was home. After just one night on the strip, I became well aware that I was too exhausted to entertain the bug-eyed stares and nods from the coke dealers that litter Sin City’s grittily glamorous streets.

“I got what you need girl.”

“No, you don’t.”

“My man already hook you up back there?”

“Nope.”

They sensed my fatigue, but even the slightest penchant to party I could summon was silenced by the fact that any artificial stimulation would likely rattle my body and mind in ways I couldn’t handle.

Needless to say, I never thought I’d find myself alone in Las Vegas with all my finest vices unplugged. Thank goodness for the bartender at the Luxor – Steve was his name. He hooked me up with two tall Bloody Marys and the best advice I’d been given in awhile: If you’re a writer looking for a weed story, go to Telluride.

Making the 10-plus hour trek across the vacant lands of Utah to my mountainous destination was slightly arduous. However, to be greeted by the 15 MPH speed limit gently guiding me down the main drag – Colorado Avenue – is glorious. Here, the towering mountains now take a subtle backseat to the charm of this resort town.

It’s the first few days of another offseason, but handfuls of Patagonia-clad individuals with their all-too-genuine eye contact and smiling still wander the streets. I circle back towards the City of Telluride Visitor’s Center, curious as to what the city employees have to say regarding the recently unveiled legalized system of recreational marijuana.

I park and walk my sunburned and somewhat showered self into the building. I’ll need to swap my sandals for boots and put a jacket on, but otherwise should be good to go. I’m thankful this is a ski town and my ragged appearance should adequately blend. Upon entering the building, the friendliness of the old hippie man behind the counter is almost overwhelming to my road-weary state.

He smiles and fills a yellow sticky note with the names, numbers and addresses of the pot shops “he would go to.”

I’m looking forward to washing the remnants of dried-up Mexican schwag from my throat with the flavor of

ROAD TRIP does little to contain the potent smell seeping out of the seams of the plastic.

While no children will likely be able to open it, the smell will be drawing attention wherever it goes.

Colorado’s legal cannabis. A nice man named Carlos gifted me a bag of old, outdoor Sour Diesel when my supply of medical marijuana from Seattle had finally run dry, and, while it was much appreciated, my charred esophagus hadn’t exactly thanked me for my overzealous bong rips.

I decide to go to Delilah’s because it reminds me of that adult contemporary radio show that’s been on for ages.

I always remember it playing too much Celine Dion, but there’s nothing resembling that vibe here. Walking inside of this unassuming pot shop, the shelves are sparse but packed with charm. Friendly gentlemen sit behind a quaint counter, pushing the most potent of the four strains they have on the shelf: Purple Widow Berry with its 21 percent THC content. While the quantity of cannabis available is low – with just four available strains – the quality implied a high that rendered the limited selection irrelevant.

The transaction is simple: a quick flash of my ID and I pay something like $60 for an eighth. It is the first fully legal purchase of cannabis in my life and is quite surreal.

And having not smoked weed in over a week leaves me both excited and slightly nervous to take a rip of this very impressive flower. The pharmaceutical grade container

Something about the fully legal purchase made me immediately extra cognizant of respecting the laws. No part of me wanted to smoke in my car for speed or convenience. In fact, no part of me even wanted the cannabis in the front of the car. For the first time in my life, I put the weed I had with me in the trunk.

I figured my best option for smoking this Purple Widow Berry would be somewhere on the outskirts of town.

There had been several scenic stops and view areas, and certainly one of them would make a fine venue for a smoke break. I find an isolated spot – the only sign of civilization a lone teepee, the only sound a trickling creek. I brush the snow off a rock and sit down. I pack a bowl, spark it, inhale and am higher on cannabis than I’ve been in years. I cough and put my reddening face and watering eyes in my lap. For the first time since the fight that abruptly ended my stay in the Mojave, I am both smiling and have an appetite. I realize I haven’t eaten a meal in three days and that the cannabis I just inhaled is the reason why I can recognize the fact that I’m hungry.

As my first legal weed purchase sinks in like the best medicine the doctor ever ordered, I contemplate the previous few days’ events. I can hear the psychedelic echoes from the Coachella Valley, feel the horrible fight that left me cast from the desert, see the dirty glitter of the Vegas strip and damn near touch the lonely Utah highway. But most of all, I can feel myself. And there are two things I need to do: apologize for the role I played in the horrible fight with my friend and get some godforsaken food. My only lingering question is why I couldn’t come to these conclusions without the cannabis.

I let my high settle in, put the goods in the trunk and head back into Telluride. There had been a place called Brown Dog Pizza that looked to be the perfect lunch spot, and with the weed invigorating my long lost appetite, I’m heading back to find it. Upon my arrival I scan the menu, where I find the fish and chips listed on the pasta menu and promptly order it. The meal is delicious.

I pop in a few of the other pot shops just to see what is available, but don’t purchase anything. It strikes me as strange that I find the lone few grams of cannabis in my trunk an adequate supply, especially with a minimum

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ROAD TRIP of 20 hours still on the road before I’m home. There’s something about that Purple Widow Berry that got to me. The cannabis clarity I realized here in Telluride is enough to send me homeward bound to Seattle with a strange sense of relief. I’m not sure what weed story I was looking for when I first ventured here, but it appears that I got it. And so I head west out of Colorado toward Utah.

The first rest stop I hit, I take the time to email my recently estranged friend an apology for the role I played in our ugly fight that tore us both to pieces and sent me out of her life and onto the road. It is a relief to have replaced the lingering bitterness toward her with my own admissions of guilt. Again, a perspective I hadn’t achieved until I smoked that weed I bought in Telluride.

By the time I finally decide to stop for sleep at a Motel 6 in the middle of nowhere, Utah, I’m very much looking forward to a second bowl of the recreational weed that had brought me so much relief earlier that afternoon. I settle into my creepy, oversized smoking room adorned with two queen beds – a bit more than a single girl looking to smoke some weed under the radar needs, but it’s all good. I smoke a small bowl and walk to the convenience store across the nearly empty truck stop.

Her skin is a leathery brown with maroon-ish scabs, and the rear tire of the Huffy bicycle she’s clinging to is slowly losing air. Her voice sounds scathed from the sand and winds that blow viciously in these parts, but she nonetheless manages an, “Excuse me, ma’am” in my direction. Upon eye contact she asks me if I might have a dollar to spare.

I invite her to walk with me for a moment as I dig through the disheveled mess of

bills that scatters my purse. And that’s when she starts to tell me a story. . .

“I don’t know where my daughter is. I don’t know what to do. The police are always looking for her and I can’t have it be like the one time. The time the police came – not looking, but said they found him. Found my boy cooked and dried up in the desert with a needle in his arm.”

I sense her need to talk to someone – anyone – so we sit on the curb and I listened as she relayed the drug-riddled nightmare that was her family. And it’s that Purple Widow Berry that’s engaging my empathy for this woman all the more.

She looks at me and imparts her final words of wisdom. . .

“Drugs are bad, ma’am. You can’t do too much of them. But I can’t thank you enough for listening to me tonight.”

I tell her to take care of herself and slip her a $20.

She starts to tear up, but successfully pulls them back and says, “I can more than make it through the night with this much money.”

I return to my room, and this two-week misadventure of a road trip is developing slowly like a strange set of Polaroid pictures I never meant to take. Which is when it hit me – while what I wanted was a high-flying two-week party road trip – what I needed was a lesson. Somewhere between the Seattle medical marijuana, the illegal Mexican schwag and the recreational Colorado cannabis, I realized that the high road became much clearer with a healthy dose of sobriety.

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PATIENT OF THE MONTH

BRAVE MYKAYLA Treating Cancer With Cannabis WRITTEN BY SIMONE FISCHER PHOTOS BY BRANDON KRENZLER

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PATIENT OF THE MONTH

On July 14th 2012, at seven years old Mykayla Comstock was diagnosed with intermediate risk T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia that metastasized up to her brain and spinal fluid. This was a parent’s nightmare for both Brandon Krenzler and Erin Purchase, parents of Mykayla. Prior to Mykayla’s cancer, her father

multiple challenges along the way. One of the main issues was dealing with doctors. Mykayla’s first oncologist was not supportive of using cannabis as a treatment option at all. Erin and Brandon talked about the frustrations of dealing with doctors bias (pro big pharma) beliefs around cannabis. Instead of looking at the research being done around the topic of cannabinoids and cancer, doctors still often dismiss cannabis as medicine because of its federal scheduling. At first their family was resistant about using cannabis to treat Mykayla, but once they realized how effective cannabis was at fighting cancer, everyone changed their minds.

Dope Magazine is honored to share Mykayla and her families story about the amazing medicinal effects of cannabis. Although nobody wishes cancer upon their kids, Mykayla’s story and path is saving the lives of both children and adults. One of the biggest issues Erin has with cannabis and cancer treatment is making it a “last resort” option. Who knows how long it could have taken Mykayla’s cancer to go into remission without cannabis, and her parents shudder at the thought. Using cannabis (in tandem with chemo) provides patients with an anti-cancerous medicine

“Controversy still surrounds the topic of children and cannabis, but parents are not waiting for the feds to reschedule or legalize.”

Brandon was an activist in the marijuana community. Unlike Mykayla’s father, mother Erin Purchase was not into cannabis at all. It wasn’t until her second pregnancy that Erin became an OMMP patient in order to combat severe nausea. Before Mykayla’s diagnosis both parents knew if that day came, they would use cannabis products on their children to fight cancer. Unfortunately, that thought became a reality.

Ten days after Mykayla was diagnosed with cancer she began her cannabis treatment. When it comes to serious cancer or seizure issues in children, the OMMP process is rushed in order to start treatment as soon as possible. Alongside chemo, Mykayla’s cannabis treatment regiment consisted of whole extract cannabis oil and cannabis juicing. The type of cancer that Mykayla suffered from is extremely sensitive to THC which causes apoptosis of the cancer cells, effectively killing cancerous tumors. The juicing regiment required using the fan leaves of cannabis plants mixed with other fruits and vegetables. July 30th 2012 was the last time lymphoblasts were detected in Mykayla’s blood, and she has been cancer free ever since.

Despite Mykayla’s incredible story, her family experienced

such as THC, while increasing their quality of life. It is not about getting high, it’s about fighting cancer right off the bat in the most effective way possible.

Controversy still surrounds the topic of children and cannabis, but parents are not waiting for the feds to reschedule or legalize.

Children have, and will continue to die without safe access to anti-cancerous medicine. It makes no sense to call these parents criminals when they are doing their best to save their children’s lives. Brave Mykayla’s story shows us the wonders of cannabis and the power of one little girl’s will against cancer. Whether it be children or adults, this information is vital in order to save lives in the face of cancer. Making cannabis a viable option for all cancer patients could easily mean the difference between life and death. Her story has inspired countless readers to reevaluate treatments options for cancer, either personally or for a loved one.

For more information check out Brave Mykayla’s website for more information: www.bravemykayla.com

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EVENTS MAXIMUM YIELD INTERNATIONAL INDOOR-GARDENING EXPO A Grower’s Irrigation Dream

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CONDON JR. PHOTOS BY ALLIE BECKETT

Within the mammoth walls of the world-renowned Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center was the mecca for indoor growers of all kinds. Notably: cannabis growers. The exposition hosted thousands of attendees during the multiday event and over 100 exhibitors displaying the most advanced products from plasma lights and organic nutes, to soil, grow stones and hydroponic setups that resembled time machines. I was told it could transport authentic Panama Red seeds from the ‘70s, but a glitch in the circuitry couldn’t prove it at the event.

The exhibitors’ booths were all distinctly decorated and decidedly professional. As with many trade shows, free samples were tossed about to the eager, bag-carrying expo goers as they circled and wired around the bright maze of kiosks. A

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higher amount of organic ingredient-based companies were noticed sending a positive message about the future of indoor growing. Natural is better and the market is proving it. Every one of them claimed to be the best and the newest, and seemingly they were all right.

The business of cannabis and indoor growing is expanding each and every day. With the industrial expansion comes great responsibility to openly advance our product line and to become as energy efficient and chemically sound as possible.

This year’s Maximum Yield expo was a massive hit with local growers and industry heads alike. Maximum Yield is hosting other tradeshows in different states around the nation. Check out MaximumYield.com for other expo dates.

EVENTS

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HERBAN MYTHS

HERBAN MYTHS ANSWERED BY

MYTH: The FBI Won’t Perform Any Background Checks into I-502 Applicants.

This is an absolute myth. In April, the FBI agreed to give Washington State access to its background databases to allow Washington’s Liquor Control Board to vet I-502 applicants and existing licensees.

The FBI had previously said that it wouldn’t perform such checks, without telling the public its reasons for abstention. There were a few theories that the FBI refused to do the checks because of the Washington Legislature’s failure to get a bill through this past session that would resolve the apparent conflict between our medical and recreational marijuana industries. Nonetheless, the FBI now plans to play ball. The Liquor Control Board will now be able to take on FBI

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criminal background checks for I-502.

The question remains, though, whether Oregon will see such checks anytime in the future. Since Oregon recently revised its dispensary laws, “national” criminal background checks are required, but apparently not on the level of the FBI. While applicants for dispensary licenses are required to submit their fingerprints to Oregon’s Health Authority, there’s no mention of federal participation.

So, for now, Oregonians can assume that they’ll forego the particular scrutiny of the FBI.

CANNA LAW

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