DOPE Magazine - Eastern Washington - The Advocacy Issue - March 2018 by DOPE Magazine

EASTERN WA S H I N G T O N

THE ADVOCACY ISSUE MARCH 2018

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PIVOTING FROM THE COURT TO CANNABIS FEATURE

TRAVEL

POLITICS

ADVOCACY

POLITICS

AMAZON: THE NEW INDENTURED SERVITUDE?

ORGANIC CANNABIS CULTIVATION IN MOROCCO

FOCUS ON LOCAL POLITICS, NOT TRUMP

THE ZENDO PROJECT

THE RISE OF SWING LEFT

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MARCH 2018 | THE ADVOCACY ISSUE

EDITOR’S LETTER I

f you’re reading this issue of DOPE Magazine, there is no doubt that you are, in some way, an advocate. There’s no lack of avenues to choose from when it comes to advocacy in this day and age. Whether you’re a political, environmental or social justice supporter, you’re bound to find something in this issue that resonates with you.

TOP VIDEOS

NBA LEGEND JOHN SALLEY DOPE LIFE

Gracing our cover is four-time NBA Champion John Salley and his daughter, Tyla. They’ve partnered up for the launch of their new cannabis business—Deuces! Representing John’s number 22 jersey, Deuces is a top-shelf cannabis line jumping into the brand-new California recreational market this spring. While John has his hand in several cannabis businesses, Deuces is their family business, with Tyla at the helm as CEO. With only a year under their belts as a company, this father-daughter duo are already making serious waves. We take a look at the Zendo Project, spearheaded by Sara Gael (MAPS’ Harm Reduction Coordinator), which seeks to ease difficult drug experiences and create safe havens for festivalgoers who opt to use psychedelics to heighten their experiences. Festival promoters, law enforcement and emergency response teams are taking note of the positive results of implementing programs like the Zendo Project.

DO YOU EVEN VAPE, BRO?

We talk about the ways in which your political involvement on the local level can create effective change beyond what can be done on a federal level. As our writer so eloquently puts it, “You have a better chance of speaking with someone at county hall than at the White House.” Ain’t that the truth. Get motivated, get out and make change! We travel back to Morocco for our second installment of Morocco’s emerging cannabis cultivation methods. In Part II, we explore the decline in traditional organic methods of growing due to a reduction in animal husbandry, as well as changes in land ownership and agricultural practices. We highlight what Moroccan farmers are doing to implement both ancient and modern techniques to reintroduce organic farming. The Advocacy Issue offers up the opportunity to focus on the ways in which we as a cannabis community can think critically about where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re headed. Change starts with you—yes, you, DOPE reader. Small acts of advocacy ring loud and cause ripples that can swell into waves. We welcome this month with an openness and willingness to create and promote positive change.

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DOPE MAGAZINE MARCH 2018 | THE ADVOCACY ISSUE If you’re reading this issue of DOPE Magazine, there is no doubt that you are, in some way, an advocate. We welcome this month with an openness and willingness to create and promote positive change. Gracing our cover is four-time NBA Champion John Salley and his daughter, Tyla. They’ve partnered up for the launch of their new cannabis business—Deuces! Representing John’s number 22 jersey, Deuces is a top-shelf cannabis line jumping into the brand-new California recreational market this spring. COVER PHOTO: JORDAN SWENSON

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20 COVER FEATURE

OHN & TYLA SALLEY PIVOTING FROM THE COURT TO CANNABIS

THE ADVOCACY ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES 30 FEATURE

AMAZON

THE NEW INDENTURED SERVITUDE? 34 ADVOCACY

HAVE A SAFE TRIP! THE ZENDO PROJECT 40 POLITICS

INATTENTIVE COUNTY, POPULATION: YOU FOCUS ON LOCAL POLITICS, NOT TRUMP 44 TRAVEL

MOROCCO, PART II

O RGANIC CANNABIS CULTIVATION IN MOROCCO 50 EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHOICE

PRIDE WELLNESS LEGACY VAPES NEW NAME, NEW PRODUCTS! 52 ADVOCACY

BEYOND GAMERGATE

WILL BULLYING DESTROY THE GAMING INDUSTRY? 56

#SCOUTEDBYDOPE 58 DOPESHOTS

WINNER FRED GUNNERSON 62 POLITICS

THE RISE OF SWING LEFT

REDIRECTING ANGER TO FUEL A POLITICAL MOVEMENT

PHOTOGRAPHY:

JORDAN SWENSON

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F E AT U R E

PIVOTING FROM THE COURT TO CANNABIS DAVID BAILEY JORDAN SWENSON

ASHLEY BELFSKY

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

he NBA is the only Big 4 league to embrace cannabis, even if that acceptance simply means turning a blind eye. It should be no surprise, then, that so many former NBA players have openly embraced cannabis. While it’s one thing to enjoy getting high or using cannabis medicinally, it’s another to invest your money in the industry—not to mention involving your family. Four-time NBA champion, talk show host, husband and father of three, John “The Spider” Salley, has done just that. Health and fitness have been the center of John’s message since before he left the league, publicly proclaiming his vegetarianism in 1999. As John says, “If you’re all about plants, and a plant-based diet, then you have to be about cannabis.” But his new company isn’t an example of yet another celebrity looking to slap their face on a box. John’s entrance to the cannabis space has been making waves, because he’s not doing it alone. Picking someone he knew he could trust, John has partnered with his daughter, Tyla. At twenty one years old, Tyla is the CEO of their joint venture, Deuces, and clearly the head honcho. With only a year under their belt as a company, John and Tyla have managed to draw tremendous attention around their upcoming product line, tirelessly sourcing the best product and running the weekend expo circuit. As a purveyor of fine cannabis, I was eager to meet up with these two to see how Deuces has come together. When you’re interviewing a celebrity, there’s always an underlying nervousness. You really don’t know how you’re going to interact, or what their expectations are. And though everyone I’ve had the opportunity to work with has been nothing but pleasant, we’ve all heard the stories of the rich and famous. The last thing I needed to do was look bad in front of John Salley. Making Tyla and John feel right at home wasn’t hard, considering the forewarning we were given for working with John: have lots of food available! It’s no wonder, seeing as he’s not just a beast of a man, but a lifelong athlete with an appetite equally as impressive as his reputation. Following his motto—“Eat what elephants eat”—the DOPE crew showed up proper with some delicious vegan food: mushroom “carnitas” mission burritos, Indian curry bowls with yams and lentils, and, of course, tons of greens. If there’s one thing we could bond over, it was good food and cannabis.

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The “I started smoking tough when I was 14,” guy is definitely not John. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, in the seventies, John’s approach to life—not just cannabis—has been all about health. It makes sense, considering his past. He excelled in one of the most athletically-demanding sports for thirty years, and has maintained his fitness to the present day. Believe it or not, though he remembers seeing pot around, John didn’t even try cannabis until he was 36! After growing up in NYC, excelling through high school sports and later attending Georgia Tech—where he worked part-time, in addition to being a student athlete— John didn’t have much time for extracurricular activities. The NBA (and America at large) in the ‘80s and ‘90s wasn’t very friendly to cannabis, so neither was John. The health and wellness kick of the late ‘90s, however, was in full-swing, and John was all ears. Thanks to his teammate Adrian Dantley, John began to open his eyes to a new lifestyle, one based around food as fuel. But basketball wasn’t John’s only love. “I wanted to be a late-night talk show host,” he shares. “It was like 1989, it was the All Star Game in Houston, [the show] Inside Stuff, it had just started—NBA TV was just blowing up. My man Don Sperling said uh, ‘Hey!’ and gave me a mic, and I took the camera crew through security. I said, ‘They’re alright,’ as if I [knew what I was doing], and I sat there right before the slam dunk contest . . . So that summer, we win the championship, so of course I grab the mic again, I wanna be in front of the mic. I just knew that was what I was going to do.” And boy, did he. Before finishing his professional basketball career he had roles in two major Hollywood films, Bad Boys and Eddie, which only further demonstrated his onscreen talents before solidifying his legacy as one of the hosts of Fox’s The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

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“

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT PLANTS, AND A PLANT-BASED DIET, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE ABOUT CANNABIS.

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

”

“Quiet on set,” John declares as we cue that we’re rolling. The 1908 Loft is a massive space with vaulted ceilings, where even the tapping of fingers against a cell phone can be heard across the room. To those unfamiliar with video production, John’s intensity could be misinterpreted as stern, but his rarely-concealed smile reminds everyone he’s simply professional to a T. All of our planning and preparation was about to pay off. As I hit John with the first question, Tyla’s still getting her makeup done off-set. With the accuracy of a seasoned professional, John keys in on me as if we’re the only two people in the room. “What was the hardest part in making the transition from basketball to television?” I begin. Your biggest fear as an interviewer is that your questions will fall flat; that all you’ll get is a “Yeah, sure” or “No,” but John jumps right in. He’s a story teller, an entertainer. “To me, it was easy,” John answers. Did I mention he was humble? As we continue, I can’t help but stifle my laughter. John’s jovial delivery falls somewhere between enjoying a great stand-up comic and hanging out with that one uncle who makes you laugh-cry every Christmas. His dive into cannabis has been a successful one, to say the least. Canopy Growth Corp., Canada’s largest cannabis company, was John’s first investment experience in the industry. While he’s got a chunk of other canna-businesses, I can most relate to his favorite investments: glass. “I like the intricacy [of glass rigs], but I like when they involve iridescence, when they involve colors in glass, because a lot of people don’t understand [the complexity],” shares John, likening his passion for high-quality glass to collecting fine works of art. “Jay Z’s got Picasso’s—I got rigs,” he laughs. “I clean it like it’s an old war gun, and we put it back in a safe spot, because pretty soon when I do display it, it’s gonna be in a black room, all the lights are going to be on—it’s going to be an unbelievable art show. Hopefully no one touches the rigs. Hopefully. I don’t want anybody dead that night.”

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From NBA champion to talk show host, renowned health advocate and cannabis mogul, John Salley seems to have it all figured out. From what I can tell, his secret isn’t a secret at all—it’s what he’s professed for years: “I no longer wanted to be fed stuff. I [want] to literally make the best things for myself, for my family, and then pass that out [to the world].” That’s how he gets up and keeps hustling every day. Whether it’s a 15-year professional basketball career or diving head-first into one of the most aggressive markets since the tech boom, it’s his work ethic and family that carry him through. If you care about what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with, you’ll keep marching happily forward, and success will find you.

“Tyla has always been on my hip since she was born,” John remarks, smiling. “She’s been my road dog since forever. The fact that she smoked cannabis and enjoys cannabis in all forms, I said, ‘We shouldn’t just smoke it, we should own it and be in the business with it.’ And that’s been it.” But creating a business— particularly as a father-daughter duo—is no joke. Starting out in the cannabis space is like throwing yourself (and your emotional stability) into hyperdrive. Most businesses don’t get beyond a concept in their first year, but Deuces has nailed down the essentials of their product procurement, marketing and packaging in that same amount of time. But don’t get it twisted—it’s not just John making it all happen. “When we were talking about the pre-rolls,” remembers John, “[at] first they were in [a] tin, it was dope, it was great. And one day, on the phone, Tyla goes, ‘Nah, I don’t want that anymore’—the whole packaging! I thought I was working with Michael Kors or something, she just tripped out, woke up one morning and was like”—he mimes smoking, and stares off into space for effect—“‘You know what? Cars should be electric.’ And she changed the preroll.” But, as John concedes to Tyla, “You were right about the pre-roll!” Their partnership is rooted in a shared passion for quality product and a drive to be the best at whatever they do. As Tyla emphasizes, “I was very, very, very particular about who grew [the cannabis], what paper we use, what filters we use, how it was rolled . . . ” The hurdles she faces are ones you might anticipate; she’s 21 and the daughter of a basketball legend. Everyone still sees her as “daddy’s little girl.” And, as Tyla admits, “I know I’m very fortunate in my opportunities,” but that in no way reduces her contribution to the company. If anything, seeing beyond her privileges adds to her worth. She sums it up best by stating, “I feel like Deuces is my opportunity to prove myself as a business woman, and as a company owner.”

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F E AT U R E

REI O F S O NI T H I T Y E R O N P AWAY W Z A A M G E TS A N D ONYMOUS Y

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KER R O W

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get Mary’s voicemail. Again. Her name isn’t actually Mary, but that’s beside the point. I’m standing outside her office building, Amazon’s Day One South superstructure, located in Seattle’s depressingly concrete South Lake Union. It’s now called the Invictus building, but when I worked there it was Day One South. Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world as of this writing, supposedly has an office in Day One North (now known as the Cricket building) just across the courtyard. One time I saw him in the little plaza separating the two buildings, walking briskly to a silver car so fancy I couldn’t even tell what brand it was. I was tempted to ask him for twenty bucks, just to see his reaction. I didn’t. Anyway. I’m standing outside my old office, Day One South, or Invictus, or whatever the hell it’s supposed to be called, waiting for Her-Name-Isn’t-Actually-Mary. We agreed to meet for happy hour. It’s so far past the time we’d agreed to meet I know she’s ghosting me. I ring her one last time. Voicemail. Again. I start to trudge home. Over a lunch break back when we were coworkers, Mary disclosed to me that she hated her job. She was a regular, full-time employee; I was a contract worker. I asked why she didn’t start looking for something else—she was bright, had good experience. “I can’t afford to,” she admitted. I thought she simply meant the salary was too lucrative to give up, but it wasn’t until later I realized what she was referring to. Mary was from China, here in the United States on a H-1B visa. Amazon, started in 1994, is home to over 500,000 employees worldwide. In its South Lake Union headquarters alone there are around 40,000 employees—a staggering jump from just 5,000 in 2010. There have been many stories about Amazon’s infamous work culture—how it breaks people, how it’s sink-or-swim, the rampant sexism (which was so overwhelming when I worked there, it almost became comical…almost), the incompetent managers who knew nothing about their teams but made staggering amounts of money. We’ve all read the exposés. What we often don’t hear about, however, is how Amazon ropes people—specifically, foreign workers—into their web, making it nearly impossible to leave. I rang up an old friend—who still works at Amazon, and, unlike Mary, returns my calls—who had his own theories about how the company exploits workers from other countries. Let’s call him Charlie. He’s worked at Amazon for nearly ten years in various roles, never making less than six figures, and has no plans on leaving the company any time soon. Charlie works on a team with mostly foreign coworkers, the majority from India and China, but a few from Australia and Europe as well. “H-1B is their visa program,” he explained. “Theoretically, an employer must pay [foreign workers] the same as [American workers] and prove there isn’t an American candidate more qualified for the role under this visa. My guess is that the foreign worker is paid the same as an American, but it’s all about control—foreign workers can’t leave their jobs as easily as their American counterparts.” “There are two general theories about H-1B,” he continued, specifically referencing H-1B visas for roles that involve software coding. “One, that programming is really hard and there aren’t enough people in the world to do it well, let alone in the U.S. Two, that it’s some weird indentured servitude thing to suppress wages and unionization since people on visas will be terrified of doing anything that could lose their visa. I think it’s a bit of both.” To

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make matters more interesting, when regular, full-time employees sign on with the company, they’re awarded a hefty signing bonus. “When I signed on,” he disclosed, “I got 20k—half when I started, half a year later. This has doubled now, from what I hear.” If a H-1B holder wanted to leave Amazon for a competitor, or quit due to job dissatisfaction, their signing bonus must be paid back—a hefty sum for someone new to the country, especially if the money has already been spent.

“

AMAZON IS ALREADY NOTORIOUS FOR PUSHING WORKERS TO THE BRINK; PURPOSEFULLY HIRING WORKERS WHO WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO COMPLAIN SEEMS PERILOUSLY CONVENIENT.

”

The main criticism behind H-1B is the clear monetary preference for employers to hire foreign workers over American ones, but for me this isn’t about Americans losing out on opportunities. Rather, this is a call to examine the preference to hire foreign employees who just so happen to have extremely sticky contracts surrounding their employment, not to mention little incentive to speak up against mistreatment. Amazon is already notorious for pushing workers to the brink; purposefully hiring workers who will be less likely to complain seems perilously convenient. According to myvisajobs.com, “Amazon Corporate LLC has filed 6395 labor condition applications for H-1B visa and 3076 labor certifications for green card from fiscal year 2014 to 2016,” with the highest number of applicants hailing from India and China, followed by Canada, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, South Korea and Turkey. “When an employee renews or transfers his H-1B visa or changes work location under some circumstances, he will also file a new LCA application,” states the website. As there are only 85,000 slots for applications a year, refiling for a new application when you’ve already received your visa is an enormous gamble. Staying in your current role is the only option for most, particularly when visas are awarded via a lottery system due to enormous demand. Is Amazon the only big business to utilize the faulty H-1B system to their advantage? Of course not. My criticism is directed at them solely because I saw firsthand how H-1B can be used to exploit workers while employed there. Companies across the United States take advantage of this program daily; it’s simply easiest to point out that one of the most rapidly-growing companies, helmed by the wealthiest man in the world, has some less-than-flattering issues to tackle. I think they can handle the criticism. But they’re by no means the only company doing it. Immigration is a hotbutton issue with a certain someone in the White House, and the last thing I want is a removal of visas altogether. Instead, we need to revise our visa programs. Foreign workers should be allowed to participate in the American Dream, but not at the cost of their autonomy. No job is worth that sacrifice.

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C U LT U R E

THE ZENDO PROJECT GUIDES FESTIVALGOERS THROUGH BAD DRUG EXPERIENCES SHWA LAYTART

ILANA SUGAR LAYTART, ASHLEIGH CASTRO, AND COURTESY OF THE ZENDO PROJECT

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

ara Gael is the definition of an angel. When you’re at a festival and a psychedelic experience gets too weird or scary—as they tend to do from time to time—Sara and the Zendo Project are there to comfort you. Zendo is the beacon of light when someone’s trip plummets into dark places, and Sara’s soothing, perfectlypitched voice is soul-centering, reaching out to you like the voice of Gaia herself as she comforts you in the palm of her hand, reminding you that it’s all going to be okay. When you’re having a bad trip, it can be the only thing that keeps your psyche hanging on to your third eye. Sara Gael is the Harm Reduction Coordinator at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the Co-Founder of the Zendo Project, a “psychedelic first aid for festivals and events.” She has an MA in Counseling Psychology from Naropa University and a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Hawaii, followed by years of experience as a therapist and counselor. Sara is what I think of when I hear the term “life coach.” The Zendo Project is a peer-to-peer support group that looks to bring harm reduction to festivals and events where psychedelic drugs (and drugs in general) might be used

by those in attendance. Zendo’s goal is to ease a difficult drug experience a person may be having, and creates a safe space that alleviates fear—the key ingredient for numerous bad psychedelic trips. “We talk people through [bad trips], not down,” Sara emphasizes. “At Zendo, we create a culture where we take care of each other, allow difficult experiences and be there to hold space for those experiences, rather than push them away. When that kind of environment is created, people feel safer whether they are taking psychedelic drugs or not.” But that’s not always easy here in America, thanks to former Vice President Joe Biden, who, back in 2002, helped push through The RAVE Act: “A bill to prohibit an individual from knowingly opening, maintaining, managing, controlling, renting, leasing, making available for use, or profiting from any place for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled substance . . .” Since the RAVE Act took effect, concert and festival promoters discouraged groups like the Zendo Project and Dance Safe at their events. Promoters could be fined $250,000—or worse, shut down entirely—if such groups were permitted on the premises.

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ZENDO’S GOAL IS TO EASE A DIFFICULT DRUG EXPERIENCE A PERSON MAY BE HAVING, AND CREATE A SAFE SPACE THAT ALLEVIATES FEAR— THE KEY INGREDIENT FOR NUMEROUS BAD PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCES.

”

Luckily, the tides are turning. Thanks to larger festivals such as Burning Man, Lightning In A Bottle and Envision Festival, promoters are seeing the immense benefits of having harm reduction groups present at their events. Not only do promoters see the benefits, law enforcement and emergency response teams have noted the extensive positive effects as well. As one Burning Man volunteer put it, “If [Zendo Project] weren’t present, we’d have an uncomfortable situation escalate into a bad situation before you could mumble whatever ‘safe word’ you may have.” Essentially, the Zendo Project prevents hospitalization and arrests for those that may have ended up there otherwise. The War on Drugs has failed us. It has failed us as a society, as a country and as a planet. People are going to use substances, and psychedelics will continue to be the drug of choice for those looking to expand their psyche. It’s been a part of our earthling culture since the first stoned ape chomped down on psilocybin mushrooms while hunting and gathering. The least we can do now is give psychonauts a place to feel safe when the whole universe is big-bangin’ in their brains. “It’s the responsible thing for us to do as humans, as a community, as festival culture, to provide psychedelic harm reduction and psychological first aid,” Gael reminds us. You can trip like Ram Dass or you can trip like Hunter S. Thompson, but tr y and make your festival experience a pleasurable one. It’s all a state of mind, and you get to choose your own adventure. Just remember that when the adventure gets too mentally strenuous, walk, wander or crawl over to the Zendo Project. Those angels will help guide you back to the brighter side of life.

The Zendo Project Team trains volunteers for all events they attend. To find out more, go to zendoproject.org/volunteer. Keep an eye out for Zendo Project’s YouTube training videos, and sign the petition to amend the RAVE Act at amendtheraveact.org.

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POLITICS

FOCUS ON LOCAL POLITICS, NOT TRUMP SCOTT PEARSE

eel like throwing your phone in the toilet? Social media driving you nuts with its constant red vs. blue ideological gridlock narrative? Well, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t throw that phone just yet. There are still politics that deserve your attention. Sure, there are many things the White House controls that affect your day-to-day life. Federal taxes, healthcare policy, the red button that shoots the nukes. Besides the threat of all-out nuclear war, it may be possible we give the federal branch of government too much attention in other arenas. A resident of the United States is governed by laws from at least three different levels of government: federal, state and local. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at the local level that voters pay the least attention, despite this level of government being responsible for the majority of services they use. Cannabis consumers have a keen understanding of how the different branches of government exercise their power; we consume a federally illegal substance because your state government has chosen to permit medical or recreational marijuana, and your county has decided to permit marijuana to be dispensed. Of course, maintaining this structure relies upon the federal government to not pursue states for breaking federal law, as is the case currently.

DEMOCRACY

The responsibility for administering our elections falls to local government. Is there a more important responsibility in government? Free and fair elections are the basis of democracy, and local government gets it done.

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ZONING The only thing stopping a shopping mall from popping up next to your house is zoning laws. But who makes these laws, who has the power to change them, and why would they? Through zoning laws, counties and cities control how they grow and make themselves fit to compete in the future. Or, as in the case of our cities shrinking on the tail end of a boom, local government may decide to turn once-residential areas into greenspace.

TRANSPORT This is where local government is most keenly felt. What are the conditions of the roads in your area? What are your transport options? According to the National Association of Counties (NAOC), “By providing efficient transportation and transit options such as buses, trains, light rail and subway systems, counties are the driving force connecting communities.” Counties own and maintain 45 percent of America’s roads.

“

THERE ARE ALWAYS LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO RESPECT THE WISHES OF LOCAL PEOPLE.

”

EDUCATION Do you know people who move to get into a better school district? That’s because your neighboring local government is likely doing a better job than yours, and the power of having the right people in power. According to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 44.8 percent of national total revenue for the 2012 school year was received from local government.

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KEEP IT LOCAL It may not be glamorous, but local governments make our daily lives run smoothly—and citizens rarely think about what they do. According to the National Association of Counties, there are:

38,968+ elected county officials serving 3,069 counties.

482.1 BILLION dollars spent annually on community investments.

3.3 MILLION people employed by local governments.

HEALTH

350 MILLION

We’re always hearing about the healthcare debate in Washington. Whatever side of the aisle you stand on, regardless, it’s your local government who is charged with delivering those services. And though some counties are large and some small, dollars spent on health quickly stack up; NACo concluded that counties spend nearly $70 billion dollars a year on community health and hospitals.

county residents served by locally elected officials.

TAX

Homeowners will be all too familiar with property taxes. Along with sales tax, property taxes are the primary way counties raise tax revenue.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT Counties are crucial in maintaining safe communities, as they operate 911 emergency systems and spend about $28 billion on law enforcement annually. There are 3,105 county sheriff and police departments nationwide, and 2,914 counties own a jail or participate in a regional jail. In most cases, county-level police and firefighters respond to crimes and disasters without assistance from other levels of government.

WEED Ever lived in a city that doesn’t have dispensaries, yet in the next town over budtenders outnumber bartenders? This is the result of a city ordinance. It’s a resident’s right to decide what businesses can operate in their area, and if you want a dispensary and don’t currently have one, you need to reach out to a local representative. It is, of course, the state government that permits medical marijuana. Once the right to access medical marijuana is won, the administration of the system falls to the level of government below: local. There are always local solutions to respect the wishes of local people. When California first permitted medical marijuana, Emerald Triangle counties permitted more plants to be grown than anywhere else, honoring the area’s agricultural past—and planning for its future. The decisions made at your local government level (especially county) have very tangible effects on your day-to-day life. And you can visit these people! I can’t guarantee you an audience, but you have a better chance of speaking with someone at county hall than at the White House. More importantly, a county commissioner will know your area, and likely already be aware of your issue(s). These are the politics that matter to your everyday life. This isn’t ideological; it’s daily, sometimes dull and specific to constituents. Is it time to switch off Washington entirely? Of course not. But it might be time to focus on another arena that matters just as much.

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T R AV E L

ORGANIC CANNABIS CULTIVATION IN MOROCCO JENNIFER MACFARLANE (SESHATA) & PIERRE-ARNAUD CHOUVY PIERRE-ARNAUD CHOUVY

n the January issue of DOPE, we introduced the current situation in Morocco’s cannabis industry. At present, a dramatic evolution in cultivation methods is taking place—and one emerging trend is organic cultivation. Of course, while cannabis remains illegal under Moroccan and international law, it can’t be officially certified as organic. A small but rising number of farmers are nonetheless adopting modern organic and biodynamic techniques along with a range of other state-of-the-art adaptations, such as feminized seeds, drip irrigation and row planting.

HIGHER QUALITY, LESS ENVIRONMENTAL HARM As a result, their crops are not only less harmful to the local environment, but higher in overall quality. “Quality” is a very subjective term, but within cannabis circles is generally accepted to cover aroma, flavor, potency and effect. It’s important to note that the concept of organic, chemical-free cultivation is hardly new in Morocco. For decades, cannabis grown in soils enriched only with manure was considered to be superior to crops grown in artificially-fertilized soil. However, the key factors preventing the universal use of manure are availability and cost. Goat rearing was widespread in the Rif, the fertile, mountainous region of northern Morocco, decades ago; due to changes in land ownership and agricultural practices, animal husbandry declined and manure became less available and higher in price.

PHOSPHATES AND POOR-QUALITY SOILS With low availability of manure and prohibitively high costs, many farmers are forced to use phosphatebased fertilizers. Morocco is the world’s leading exporter of phosphates and the third-largest overall producer, holding 75 percent of global phosphate reserves. Thus, phosphate-based fertilizers are abundant, cheap and widely available¹. Unfortunately, this has led to a scenario in which the majority of farmers utilize synthetic additives on their crops. UNODC reports have estimated that an average of 970 lbs (440 kg) per hectare² of chemical fertilizers are used in the Rif each year. Use, and especially overuse, of chemical fertilizers is associated with loss of local biodiversity in both plant and insect populations, contaminated runoff into the local water supply (leading to excessive algal growth and depletion of oxygen). Overuse of phosphates may lead to reduced soil fertility, as excessive phosphorus can prevent plants from uptaking iron and zinc. Furthermore, the phosphate rock mined in Morocco is known to be very high in cadmium³, a toxic heavy metal that cannabis shows remarkable efficiency in uptaking from the soil 4. Thus, hashish produced from cannabis fertilized with phosphate-based fertilizers could contain excessive levels of cadmium. Of course, due to the illegality of the industry, none of the hashish exported to Europe each year are analyzed for their residual heavy metal content, or indeed analyzed for safety at all.

¹ USGS 2013 Minerals Yearbook, Morocco and Western Sahara. (2013). https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2013/myb3-2013-mo-wi.pdf ² UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). (2003). Maroc. Enquête sur le cannabis 2003, Vienna: United Nations. https://www.unodc.org/pdf/publications/morocco_cannabis_survey_2003_fr.pdf

³ European Commission. (2013). Science for Environment Policy In-depth Report: Sustainable Phosphorus Use. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/IR7_en.pdf 4 Girdhar, M et al. (2014). Comparative assessment for hyperaccumulatory and phytoremediation capability of three wild weeds. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4235884/

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“

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPTS IN ORGANIC FARMING IS ENSURING SOIL RETAINS WATER EFFECTIVELY.

increased water usage Another pressing concern regarding standardpractice cannabis cultivation in Morocco is misuse of water. Cannabis is a thirsty crop, and as Rif farmers have switched from the traditional kif landrace to new hybrid varieties, it’s becoming thirstier still. Farmers are having ever-deeper wells dug on their land to take advantage of diminishing groundwater supplies, and are constructing huge reservoirs and tanks throughout the Rif. Many farms use sprinklers to distribute water to their crop—an extremely inefficient method, which causes huge losses due to evaporation. New cultivation methods emerging include drip irrigation systems that allow precise quantities of water to be piped to individual plants, reducing potential evaporation loss dramatically. But this is not an ideal solution, as such irrigation techniques may also encourage expansion into areas that may not have been previously cultivable.

”

ORGANIC TECHNIQUES, ANCIENT AND MODERN However, organic farming offers other ways to reduce water loss and maximize efficiency. One of the most important concepts in organic farming is ensuring soil retains water effectively. This is typically achieved by spreading a layer of organic mulch such as hay or manure on the soil, which contains abundant moisture and nutrients. As well as directly adding moisture and nutrients to the soil, this layer protects it from the direct rays of the sun, which prevents evaporation of water and desiccation of soil. Use of mulch is one of a handful of traditional techniques designed to limit water loss; another interesting example is the use of stone bunds. These are essentially low dry-stone walls composed of piled stones, which are constructed along the contour lines of slopes and help reduce soil erosion as well as water loss. To complement these traditional techniques, some farmers are now using new and unusual additives such as seaweed, algae sprays, enzymes, mycorrhizae and beneficial bacteria to help improve soil structure and water retention. Of course, many of these substances have added benefits of increasing availability of macro and micronutrients to the plant itself, or boosting the plants’ resistance to pests and disease.

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TLC EQUALS THC! We had the good fortune to visit a farm run by a European and a Moroccan working in partnership, whose cannabis was all grown according to organic principles. As well as growing organically, these farmers are paying close attention to quality control across the board—they grow individual plants in specially-prepared planting holes with a thick layer of mulch, each plant receiving up to one liter of water daily. Of course, the varieties grown are all modern, commercial and high-yielding; it’s very unlikely this degree of expensive, laborious care would be undertaken for a kif crop, given its lower yield and potency. When harvesting, they cropped each plant individually and laid them on plastic sheeting rather than on bare soil; when drying, plants were hung indoors and not on roofs in bright sunshine. The hashish produced was sieved multiple times through stainless steel and nylon screens, using static tech to ensure purity is as high as possible.

RESULTS THAT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES...

On this farm as at most others, plants are lightly sifted to produce the very finest, purest grade of hashish. Next, plants will often be sifted again more vigorously; finally, they will be “beaten” with sticks to break up the flowers and release as much of the remaining resin as possible.

Beaten hashish usually contains more plant material than gently-sifted hashish, and is usually a darker color and of lesser potency. But the sample of beaten hashish (made from Clementine Kush) we saw on this farm was of comparable quality to any of the finest, gentlysifted grades we’ve previously observed. Its color was extremely pale, blondish brown; it had a clean, distinct, citrus fragrance and its texture was soft but firm, with none of the excessive stickiness that “new” Moroccan hash often demonstrates.

A BRIGHT, ORGANIC FUTURE? As the trend towards legalization and regulation of the cannabis industry continues, Morocco will be subjected to increasing socioeconomic pressures. Already, remaining competitive is challenging, and its primary European markets are demanding ever-higher quality for the cheapest possible price. As Europe continues to regulate, allowing for the development of legal domestic markets that will no doubt be subjected to increasingly rigorous quality control, Morocco’s main chance at remaining competitive lies not in the mass production of poor-quality, cheap hashish fertilized with potentially dangerous chemicals, but in the production of highquality, small-batch organic products.

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

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ride Cannabis is now Pride Wellness—the same products you love, just with a more fitting name. For the owners, the name change was a no-brainer. “Our company is a wellness company; it makes more sense,” explains co-owner Buck Angel. “It’s very important that people understand why we started Pride Wellness. We realize our community does suffer from a lot of abuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as anxiety. Nobody is really targeting our community for wellness with cannabis. That’s why we started it—to really help people to understand they can use alternative medication like cannabis, instead of pharmaceuticals.” The community Buck Angel is referring to is the LGBT community. “We give a dollar from every purchase to the LGBT Center in L.A., the largest LGBT center in the world,” co-founder Leon Mostovoy told us, and added that profits also aid their local senior center, “because seniors in our community are really lacking support. Much of our mission is about healing our community.” Legacy Vapes are the newest products released by Pride Wellness. Their Pure CBD Cartridge has the highest CBD content and tests at 19 percent pure CBD—perfect for pain relief. Their THC Full Plant Shatter Cartridge is a full-plant vape cartridge with the medical properties found in Rick Simpson Oil; with a stronger terpene flavor from the shatter, every customer will feel the benefits of THC, CBD, CBN and CBG to create a full mind-body experience. Pride also offers a CO2 option: The Legacy CO2 Cartridge, which won the Mega-Sesh 2017 Best Solventless Concentrate, available in Blueberry Kush, Pineapple, Mango, Sweet Melon and Strawberry flavors—yum. This vape gives you a light, uplifting feeling while enhancing physical relaxation.

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D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

C U LT U R E

WILL BULLYING DESTROY THE GAMING INDUSTRY? ANONYMOUS

t’s difficult to talk about the evolution of bullying without the word “technology” falling from your lips. These days, they go hand in hand. Cyberbullying and trolling, two terms that garnered increased public awareness in the 2010s, come to mind. As technology advances so too does cyber-bullying, which is arguably the most treacherous appendage of the bullying beast, as it is often performed anonymously. The victim’s ability to “escape” the claws of the troll(s) requires more than walking off the playground, so to speak, or removing oneself from a social media platform or website. Technology has enabled trolls to anonymously target victims and ultimately render a victim’s voice into silence, or worse, cause victims to flee their homes and jobs for fear of being physically attacked, raped, killed or, more recently, being “swatted”—having a SWAT team sent to your house, called in by trolls reporting a fake crime. Reminders of these internet atrocities can be found in many technology sectors, including the video game industry. GamerGate is perhaps the most recent (and appalling) example. Chris Suellentrop has written about video games and penned reviews for numerous outlets including The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone and Kotaku. He has likened video games to the most promising form of entertainment since the arrival of the interactive age. In 2014, in a piece he wrote for the New York Times entitled “Can Video Games Survive?”, Suellentrop questions the role that GamerGate and similar movements will play in the future of gaming. GamerGate, an online movement, targeted those who, according to Suellentrop, were trying to “cram liberal politics into video games” and crescendoed into a loud cacophony of violent threats, online shaming, hate campaigns and harassment against women and people of color in the field. Men were targeted as well, but women and people of color have undeniably taken the majority of the blows from trolls. In response to GamerGate, Leigh Alexander wrote a piece for Gamasutra wherein she iterates that “video games themselves were discovered by strange, bright outcast pioneers…” So what happened to these pioneers? Alexander posits that there was a consumerismderived turning point where these so-called pioneers got swept into an undercurrent of believing they were in fact “the world’s most special-est consumer demographic.” And on the surface, invisible to the “chosen ones,” games and their creators were changing, broadening the scope of what the industry and outsiders alike considered good games. The industry was becoming more inclusive, resulting in unrest from those who felt that the industry was theirs to create, own and ultimately decide who was welcome. Those responsible for the GamerGate movement desire the removal of intellectual criticism from games altogether. As Suellentrop notes, these “anti-intellectual players” are up in arms about political and social criticism. They have even gone so far as to request the termination of those who openly critique games which portray women in an unsatisfactory or stereotypical light. Carolyn Petit, a GameSpot critic,

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complained—rightfully so—about the portrayal of female characters in Grand Theft Auto V. Soon after, GamerGate began a petition to have Petit fired. Unsurprisingly, male critics with similar views to Petit weren’t put on the chopping block. The three names most often dropped in connection with GamerGate harassment are Zoë Quinn, Leigh Alexander and Anita Sarkeesian. Quinn, a game designer, was targeted for her design of Depression Quest—a game that made mental illness the focus of the story and was generally well-received. Posited as a “social justice warrior,” Quinn and others like her were targeted for what bullies in the gaming world saw as a threat. Heaven forbid non-traditional gamers desire a more inclusive industry that plugs realistic character portrayals of women and minorities into games. Sarkeesian, interested in exploring tropes in video games throughout history, launched a Kickstarter campaign entitled “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games” with the goal of exploring “five common and recurring stereotypes of female characters in video games” in a video series dubbed Feminist Frequency. Sarkeesian’s initial goal of six thousand dollars was exceeded by roughly 153 thousand bucks. The series saw an outpouring of supporters matched by an equal number of haters. No surprise there. The initial series included five videos which explore the Damsel in Distress trope, among others. What ensued was an onslaught of “digital stoning,” a term penned by Cliff Bleszinski in his article, “If Video Games Are Going to Grow Up, Then the Bullying Needs to Stop.” Post-release of her series, a flash game was created by an internet bully in which you can digitally beat Sarkeesian’s face into a bruised and bloody pulp. While there are numerous “Punch (famous person’s name) in The Face” creations, these flash games are a testament to the bullying atmosphere that has permeated gaming culture. We all have a responsibility when it comes to online abuse. What we do—or rather, what we don’t do—billows the flames of hate in cyberspace. It’s easy to spew hostility behind a screen of anonymity, easy to remain faceless while typing words of detest behind the barrier of your keyboard. The phrase, “Ay, there’s the rub,” made famous by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is appropriate here. This bullying behavior undoubtedly impedes the forward, inclusive momentum of the gaming industry, an industry with the ability to enhance creative expression. Gaming, in some ways, remains captive in the hands of a group determined to bully diversity, cross-culturalism and inclusiveness out of the gaming industry—at any cost.

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TECHNOLOGY HAS ENABLED TROLLS TO ANONYMOUSLY TARGET VICTIMS AND ULTIMATELY RENDER A VICTIM’S VOICE INTO SILENCE…

”

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#SCOUTEDBYDOPE

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THE COMMON SIGN What started as a mother and son project to label rows of seeds in their garden has blossomed into a mother and son business. Handmade and painted on cedar wood, these colorful creations from The Common Sign are perfect for ANY garden. Whether it’s a home grow, backyard produce or simply a playful personalized sign for any occasion, these signs are a necessary addition for every DOPE home. $23.00+ THECOMMONSIGN.ETSY.COM @THECOMMONSIGN

MALIN+GOETZ 9OZ. CANNABIS CANDLE A customer favorite, this candle hums with scents of fresh lemon and orange, as well as middle notes of fig and pepper. The candle’s natural wax blend provides a clean burn for up to 60 hours. Perfect for candle/ cannabis enthusiasts who have green to drop on a product advocating for our favorite green! $54 MALINANDGOETZ.COM @MALINANDGOETZ @MALINANDGOETZ

TWISTED 420 STASH JAR AND HAT I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore! What began as a small startup from Kansas has flowered. Twisted420Glass’ custom-etched, food grade stash jars and 420 fashion are “no longer about keeping it hidden, but keeping it stashed in style,” effectively advocating for and normalizing cannabis. If you’re in a legal state, stash your weed. MMJ patient? Stash your medicine. Non-legal state? Stash your loose change, or anything and everything you can imagine. Kush Queens represent! HAT $28 | JAR $24.99 TWISTED420GLASS.COM @DOCTWISTED420 @TWISTED420GLASS

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TOASTED COLLECTIONS CANDLE Shop owner Shireen Kiadeh started Toasted Collections so she could share her love for candles, crystals and cannabis with the world. Each candle is hand-poured from her home shop in Campbell, California, with all-natural, American-grown soy wax, lead and zinc-free cotton wicks, and phthalate-free fragrance oils, all made with Mother Earth in mind. As Kiadeh explains on her Etsy page, “The earth is our sacred mother and I try and respect her as much as possible.” $16 ETSY.COM/SHOP/TOASTEDCOLLECTIONS @TOASTEDCOLLECTIONS

GOLDLEAF PATIENT JOURNAL This medical cannabis companion is designed specifically for the unique challenges patients and prescribing physicians face when dealing with medical cannabis: product consistency, strain variation, potency and everyone’s unique reaction to various cannabinoids. Goldleaf’s patient journal empowers patients by giving them the tools to accurately chart important factors in their medical journey. Goldleaf’s instructions are useful for those new to medical cannabis, or for someone looking to refine their treatment path. The matte finish and flexible, waxy notebook coat are made from high-quality, sustainable materials. $17.99 SHOPGOLDLEAF.COM @GOLDLEAFLTD @GLDLEAF @GLDLEAF

INDIGO PRO Although vaping has became many people’s alternative to smoking flower there are still kinks to be worked out. Carts leak, pens break, some are hard to draw, taste burnt or the batteries don’t last. Indigo has worked to rectify those issues by providing information about the size of the draw which delivers three times the THC per second than the average vape and vibrates so that you get every drop of oil. The long lasting battery will last you longer than the cartridge and you can hit the pen while it’s charging. One of the best parts about the Indigo Pro is the magnetic cartridges, making for quick and simple changes when you want to switch up flavors or strains of Indigo Pro’s leak resistant cartridges. $45 PUREINDIGOPRO.COM @PUREINDIGOPRO @PUREINDIGOPRO @PUREINDIGOPRO

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DOPE SHOTS

DOPE PHOTO CONTEST WINNER Check out the winner of the DOPE Shots photography contest! Want your work featured in the pages of DOPE? Be on the lookout each issue for your next chance to submit your work.

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POLITICS

REDIRECTING ANGER TO FUEL A POLITICAL MOVEMENT

KAISHA-DYAN MCMILLAN

n November 8, 2016, Brand Strategist M i r i a m S t o n e w o ke u p f e e l i n g energized. The election of Hillary Clinton loomed large, as did the upcoming birth of Miriam’s second daughter; her girls would grow up under America’s first female President. But the day after the devastating blow of Trump’s victory, Miriam’s thoughts were of her grandmother, a Hillary supporter and lifelong political activist. “She would have shrugged and said ‘Ok, well, time to keep fighting,’” Miriam remarks. “Political action was part of my grandmother’s daily life—it didn’t matter who was in power.” But Miriam and her husband, Josh Krafchin, an entrepreneur and developer, lived in the decidedly blue city of Oakland. How could they make a difference? Meanwhile in Amherst, Massachusetts, writer and teacher Ethan Todras-Whitehill was researching swing districts. With Republicans in control of the House and the Senate, Ethan understood that Democrats needed to work towards flipping the House during the 2018 mid-term elections. But finding solid information about swing districts was challenging.

Days after the election, Ethan and Josh, longtime best friends, had a call to discuss developing a solution: a tool that would connect people in blue cities to their nearest swing district. As the concept started taking shape, Miriam was quickly looped in. “Ethan had the initial idea, he was the most politically savvy of the three of us,” she explains. “Josh is the technical guy, the one who was really about bringing the vision to life. I was the branding, marketing and messaging person figuring out the story we should tell and how to tell it.” Eight days after the election, Miriam sent an email with the subject heading “Turn your election grief into action,” seeking volunteers from among the many writers and creatives in her network. Leveraging personal connections, a team was quickly assembled. On January 19, 2017—the day before Trump’s inauguration— SwingLeft.org was live and viral. Within three weeks, they had 17,000 volunteer applications and over 300,000 people signed up, awaiting next steps.

SW IN G LE F T HO PE S TO FL IP TH E HO USE VIA: VOTER CONTACT Learn about districts, connect with local organizers, aid with voter registration in the months and weeks leading up to the mid-term elections.

FUNDRAISING FOR CANDIDATES Donate to District Funds, which are given to the eventual Democratic winner of the primary.

CULTURAL MOBILIZATION Change the cultural narrative to get voters as excited about mid-term elections as they are about presidential elections.

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“

IN DISTRICTS WHERE REPUBLICANS WON SEATS BY SMALL MARGINS, IT’S POSSIBLE FOR A DEMOCRAT TO BE ELECTED INTO THE SEAT, ALLOWING FOR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY OF AN ADMINISTRATION THAT SEEMS INCREASINGLY OUT OF CONTROL.

TAKING BACK THE HOUSE

”

SwingLeft.org helps you find your nearest swing district and participate in campaigns and activities that work towards taking back the House. But why is this important? “Republicans control all three branches of government [currently], and it feels like Trump’s really unchecked,” Miriam cautions. “But we don’t have to wait three years for him to leave; flipping the House is the first thing we can do to put a check on him.” In districts where Republicans won seats by small margins, it’s possible for a Democrat to be elected into the seat, allowing for greater accountability of an administration that seems increasingly out of control. Miriam references the Republican tax bill as an example, stating, “They pushed it through, but it wasn’t something that most Americans wanted. If the Democrats controlled the House, that would have been a lot harder.” Like Flippable, Indivisible and several other organizations powered by the Resistance, Swing Left represents tangible activism that gives people easy ways to effectively donate their time and money. And with last fall’s Democratic successes in Virginia and Alabama, it seems that a blue wave is slowly rising. Still, Miriam is cautious. “If anything, the Trump election taught us that all core wisdom we thought we knew is out the window,” she declares. Regardless of outcome, Swing Left is an example of what can happen when communities mobilize into action. Miriam remains a Senior Advisor on Swing Left’s Leadership team, inspired by her activist grandmother and the pursuit of a brighter future for her two girls. “We just have to fight like hell and hope for the best,” she asserts. SWINGLEFT.ORG @SWINGLEFT

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D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

SPRING INTO THE NEW WITH THE DOPEN

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“

ouged it.” Verb. Once referred to the Washington State University Cougars and their ability to enrage their fans; now indicates exceeding expectations. The radical humans over at Good Good Garden live up to modern meaning of “couging it” with this awesome strain, Cougar Milk. This flower has an amazing nose and a solid cure. With a sticky icky feel after splitting open the emerald green nugget of love, I placed it in its new home—my bowl. I inhaled approximately six marijuana hits out of my water bong, my mouth exhausting billowing clouds of white smoke after each rip of the fire herb. I was soon overrun with waves of mental euphoria. About twenty minutes tick tocked by when the munchies hit me like ton of bricks. A few rips later—and armed with a snack plate full of veggies—I was locked into the couch for the remainder of the evening. Cougar Milk by Good Good Garden is an enlightening, sedating strain that has my two thumbs up!

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D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

THC A

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CRUNCHY CHOCOLATE COVERED ALMONDS SUBLIME PORTABLE SNACK FROM SWIFTS! AARON MILLER TINA BALLEW

reen Labs LLC’s line of edibles, Swifts, has always been topquality. Their vegan and gluten-free Chocolate Covered Almonds are no exception. Coated with a layer of dark chocolate, these almonds have a satisfying crunch, providing a nice texture many edibles lack. It reminds me of the treats I had at my grandmother’s house as a kid. The ethanol-extracted cannabis is smooth and doesn’t affect the flavor at all. Swifts uses 54 percent cacao dark chocolate to coat their almonds, and the quality of the product is evident in every bite. Careful, it’s hard to eat just one bag! At 10mg THC per packet, these discreet, filling snacks are perfect for a hike or on the go.

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BERRY PALETTE BLASTER! 9LB BLUEBERRY BY INFLORESCENCE THE GINJA NINJA EMILY NICHOLS

lb Blueberry—the name says it all. A per fect example of great terps in, great terps out. After opening the container, I was actually overcome with the aroma of blueberries. I could have sworn I was picking fresh ones right off the bush! After my aromatic astonishment wore off, I heated up my banger and went to work, pleased with the perfect icing consistency of this tasty offering from Inflorescence. Even af ter sending my nail to Scorch Town, taking hit after hit, I never received the Cough of Drooling Death. Instead, I was the recipient of solid hits that tasted of freshpicked blueberries, resulting in a nice, hourlong body high that paired nicely with a gym workout. This is a great “all-around” high. My hat’s off to you, Inflorescence, and your perfect 9lb Blueberry!

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STORE

SPOKANE GREEN LEAF CHAMPIONS OF SMALL TOWN CANNABIS WILL KERSTEN EMILY NICHOLS

– TODD BENNATT, SPOKANE GREEN LEAF FOUNDER

“

IT’S LIKE DOG YEARS IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY, THE WAY EVERYTHING CHANGES SO FAST.

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

”

hen Spokane Green Leaf opened its doors in 2013, they became Spokane’s first licensed recreational store. Hundreds of people lined up around the block to be part of history, and the store was instantly a champion of the community and local farms. Since then, they’ve received their medical endorsement and expanded their operation into a larger space, though never sacrificing their humble roots and dedication to small town customer service.

THE PEOPLE Green Leaf was founded by Todd Bennatt, a U.S. Army veteran and former environmental engineer. He’s a self-proclaimed Type A personality who has used cannabis since he was young to calm down and relax—especially at the end of the day. Early on, he took on partners in husband and wife team Kirk and Deanna Haggerty to help with the business side. With their 11 dedicated, outgoing employees, they’re rocking Spokane’s longest running, “first O.G.” recreational store. “Our employees are very happy,” Todd confirms. “We pay them well and give them extensive benefits, holidays off and bonuses.”

THE PLACE When they first opened, the store was a tiny, 600-square-foot space in a strip mall about five miles from downtown Spokane. Then, in February 2017, they moved into a larger, 5,000-square-foot location in the same facility. The vibe is friendly, clean and bright, with a spacious, open atmosphere. The employees are known for being engaging, outgoing and making eye contact. Todd is proud that his team is so passionate and eager to educate. Spokane has a small town vibe; it’s very tight-knit and everybody seems to know each other, so for Green Leaf customer service is hugely important. “This is a place we’d like to shop ourselves,” remarks Todd.

THE PRODUCT Green Leaf has gone from being a one-brand store in the early days to offering over ninety suppliers at the time of this writing. “Some of our top flower growers are Blue Roots Cannabis (a store favorite), Sweetwater Farms and Good Earth, which has a great local following,” Todd notes. “Our biggest supplier is Northwest Cannabis Solutions, which is the biggest seller in the state.” As the industry and its players have evolved, Green Leaf has always listened to its customers when it comes to selection. “It’s like dog years in the cannabis industry, the way everything changes so fast,” he laughs. “We recognize customers, know their names, and listen to their feedback . . . Now, it’s not just about THC percentages, but it’s terpene and cannabinoid profiles. Marijuana just has so many facets of what it can do.”

ADDRESS 9107 N COUNTRY HOMES BLVD #13 SPOKANE, WA 99218 (509) 919-3467 HOURS: MON-SAT: 9AM-10PM SUN: 9AM-9PM @SGLSPOKANEGREENLEAF SPOKANEGREENLEAF.COM

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CANNASOL FARMS SUSTAINABLE, SUN-GROWN PLANTS YIELD HIGHER HIGHS JAKE UITTI EMILY NICHOLS

“

I’VE DONE EVERY SINGLE METHODOLOGY. I LOVE TECHNOLOGY. I’M NOT A LUDDITE. BUT WE’RE STARTING TO LEARN THAT SUNGROWN PRODUCE HIGHER TERPENES AND HIGHER CANNABINOIDS.

– JEREMY MOBERG, OWNER AND GROWER AT CANNASOL

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

”

he loquacious, excitable owner of CannaSol Farms Inc., Jeremy Moberg, wants to get you stoned for longer. And he thinks sustainable agriculture—combined with nature and precise science—is the way there. On his one-acre, three-greenhouse, 14-hoop house Riverside, Washington farm, established in 2014 a stone’s throw from the Okanogan River, Moberg works relentlessly to improve his product and the context within which he grows in Washington State. “I’m an environmentalist,” states Moberg, whose farm produced two tons of plants last year. But, he adds, describing yourself as an advocate for sustainability can falsely give the impression that high-quality product isn’t paramount. “I’m not growing shitty outdoor [cannabis],” he maintains. Instead, Moberg, with precise growing techniques, is trying to

create the highest quality pot possible. But, as any good farmer knows, there are many boxes that must be checked in order to create the right plant. Techniques must be honed, natural elements have to align and, of course, laws must be passed favoring the best methods—not the best lobbyist. “The industr y,” Moberg reveals, “is built upon massive industries like lighting companies. And they have a vested interest in selling a lot of equipment.” Which may lead to more indoor growing methods, he says, which do not involve, say, the sun. Moberg, along with his role growing cannabis at CannaSol, has worked on various boards and in several associations—like the Cannabis Advisor y Council—to promote healthy, sustainable growing methods that utilize the sun and benefit soil. “It all stems

from my years guerilla growing,” he admits. “I’ve done every single methodology. I love technology. I’m not a Luddite. But we’re starting to learn that sun-grown produce higher terpenes and higher cannabinoids.” And the higher the terpenes and cannabinoid count, the stronger and more effective the plant, Moberg says. So, if nature, coupled with sustainable farming, could produce weed this way, why not go for it? “It would be hard to believe that hundreds of thousands of years of evolution wouldn’t play a significant role,” he laughs. “But the smart budtenders— they know.” CANNASOL.NET @CANNASOLFARMS

M A R C H 2 0 18

THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS MARIJUANA. THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. SMOKING IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD NOT BE USED BY WOMEN THAT ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST FEEDING. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGEMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS DRUG. THIS PRODUCT MAY BE UNLAWFUL OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON STATE.

C U LT U R E

DOES SMOKING MAKE YOU A BETTER PARENT? JAKE UITTI

ASHLEY BELFSKY

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

“

eople have been smoking marijuana for hundreds of years. And, inevitably, some of those people have been parents. Today, as cannabis becomes legalized in more states across the U.S., parents are facing the challenges—both privately and publically—of how to talk about the substance with their children, as well as how to orient parenting around their own usage. To get a better sense of how parents make these decisions and to see what they’ve learned on the job, we reached out to a few for insight. “My husband and I,” states Seattle resident Kelly Fleek, “neither one of us believe in lying to our kids. It’s an ineffective manner of parenting. So, we basically made the decision when they were little to answer any questions they had, age-appropriately but with honesty.” Fleek explains she and her husband, Alton, had drastically different upbringings when it came to cannabis, and notes, “We tried to strike a balance between the way both of us had been raised.” The Fleeks didn’t take their decision to be open and honest (though age-appropriate) with their children lightly. And while they never smoked in the house or left paraphernalia around when their kids were small (the Fleek daughters are now 21 and 25), they did use cannabis recreationally and medically—and still do. “We have never been the kind of parents to have ‘The Talk,’” she says. “We didn’t treat our kids like little adults, but we did treat them with a lot of equity. And we stressed communication.”

. . . MY PARTICULAR MARIJUANA USAGE— ESPECIALLY IN HEALTH FROM PHYSICAL PAIN AND CONTROLLING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES—MADE PARENTING VERY POSITIVE. – PARENT AND CANNABIS CONSUMER KELLY FLEEK Now that their kids are out of the house, Fleek says she and her husband’s marijuana use remains the same as it always has. “We didn’t want a separate life from our kids,” she maintains, “because when they find out about you—and if you were lying to them—they would be confused.” Furthermore, Fleek continues, using cannabis helped her be a better parent. “I do feel that, in the end,” she reflects, “my particular marijuana usage—especially in health

” 87

M A R C H 2 0 18

from physical pain and controlling mental health issues—made parenting very positive.” Seattle resident (and DOPE Magazine contributor) Kelly Guava Jelly agrees that cannabis has helped her be a better—and even more engaging—mom to her six-year-old son: “I’m more creative, more down-to-earth and engaged, for sure,” she asserts. Guava Jelly says she grew up around weed, and that she has conflicted feelings about how early she was introduced to cannabis (around nine years old). As a result, she has an understanding of when to talk about weed and how to feature it in her routine as an adult, without making it part of her son’s life. “I try to be honest and forthright about the world with him,” she acknowledges. Guava Jelly says her son has even made comments about her smoking. “He doesn’t like it,” she admits. “He says, ‘Mom, don’t smoke, it’s not good for you.’ So, I recently got a vape pen. I definitely wouldn’t recommend for kids to smoke at all. I wish I didn’t smoke until I grew up. When he becomes a young adolescent, there’s a different conversation.” Her son is also half-Jamaican, she notes, “ So there’s also a kind of spiritual aspect, too, with Rastafarianism.” And while many might disagree with the idea of parents being open and honest about cannabis with their children—as opposed to, say, openly drinking alcohol in front of them—there are others who believe it’s appropriate to enjoy cannabis with their kids when they’re of age. “I waited until my son was 18 to smoke with him,” declares New Jersey’s Karin Gray. “Until he was about 15, he didn’t know I smoked. I always told him I’d rather him smoke than drink, though. Now, it’s a bonding time for us. I just remind him to take care of his responsibilities first.”

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

POLITICS

WE’D SAVE BILLIONS, BUT CONSERVATIVES WON’T BUDGE BEAU GREENER

JEFFREY RINDSKOPF

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

“

YOU START OUT IN 1954 BY SAYING, ‘NIGGER, NIGGER, NIGGER.’ BY 1968 YOU CAN’T SAY ‘NIGGER’. . . SO YOU SAY STUFF LIKE, UH, ‘FORCED BUSING, STATES’ RIGHTS,’ AND ALL THAT STUFF, AND YOU’RE GETTING SO ABSTRACT. NOW, YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING TAXES, AND ALL THESE THINGS YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT ARE TOTALLY ECONOMIC THINGS AND A BYPRODUCT OF THEM IS, BLACKS GET HURT WORSE THAN WHITES . . . ‘WE WANT TO CUT THIS,’ IS MUCH MORE ABSTRACT THAN EVEN THE BUSING THING, AND A HELL OF A LOT MORE ABSTRACT THAN ‘NIGGER, NIGGER.’ – LEE ATWATER, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND ADVISER TO PRESIDENTS RONALD REAGAN AND GEORGE H.W. BUSH, 1981

”

iscal conservatism is important. It’s just unpopular to say so in a political culture whose right wing has, by one elite member’s own admission back in ’81, consciously equated the concept with raciallytargeted tax and immigration policies. Donald Trump has simply made the unspoken connection more explicit than it’s been in decades, to the point where fiscal conservatism is just one of the many terms distorted by the Orwellian administration of climate change denial, alternative facts and “Fake News!” Their latest distortion has been the trickle-down mythmaking used to sell a sweepingly one-sided tax cut that benefits corporate shareholders at the expense of middle-to-lower-class families whose cuts are doomed to expire. Nonpartisan analysts predict the bill will increase the national deficit by at least $1 trillion over a decade, and it’s Paul Ryan’s stated intent to use the situation he knowingly worsened to justify cutting federal healthcare and anti-poverty programs. Ryan and the rest of Big Brother GOP want you to believe fiscal conservatism means policies that hurt the poor and historically disenfranchised. But two plus two does not (yet) equal five, and to prove it here are a few examples of the common-sense federal budget cuts Republicans would make if they cared about saving taxpayer money rather than placating corporate interests. Data from Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW)’s 2017 “Prime Cuts” Summary

1. Eliminate the Sugar Subsidy

This program establishes a minimum price for sugar sold in the U.S., about double that of the world average, and allows a small cartel of sugar processors to limit how much can be sold. As a result, American consumers pay about $3.5 million more each year on artificially-inflated prices, while 132,000 jobs have been lost in sugar-using industries between 1997 and 2014. Five-Year Savings: $6 billion

2. Eliminate the F-35 program

Republicans are happy to attack entitlements, but when it comes to military spending—more than half of the $1.2 trillion federal discretionary budget—they’re unwilling to make the most basic reforms. Case in point: the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, now six years behind schedule, $170 billion over budget and forecast to exceed $1 trillion in lifetime maintenance costs. That didn’t stop Congress from giving the program another earmark (circumventing merit-based fund allocation processes) for four additional aircrafts. Five-Year Savings: $2.5 billion

3. Reduce Medicare Improper Payments

Medicare is subject to the highest amount of improper payments of any federal program. Fortunately, there’s already a proven way to reduce that waste through Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC), which have an accuracy rate of 96 percent, returning more than $11 billion in overpayments to the Medicare Trust Fund. Efforts by Congress to gut RACs led to an increase in improper payments in 2016—which Republicans like Ryan may find useful to justify cutting the program rather than simply reforming it. Five-Year Savings: $20.6 billion

M A R C H 2 0 18

4 . E l i m i n at e J u s ti c e Assistance Grants (JAG)

Here’s how the Bush Administration evaluated JAG, an unfocused law enforcement program that’s become a magnet for earmarks costing taxpayers $1.8 billion since 2001: “There are no meaningful goals for the program. Performance measures are still under development. Grantees are not required to report on performance. As a result, it is difficult to determine what the program is accomplishing.” Five-Year Savings: $2.6 billion

5 . R e p e a l th e Dav i s Bacon Act

This 1931 act requires contractors to pay employees a “prevailing wage” on federal projects, which in practice costs taxpayers $512 million annually by excluding lower-paid, often minority workers (one Democrat lawmaker arguing for the act complained of “cheap colored labor”). The act was already suspended to facilitate reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina, and the Heritage Foundation estimates suspending it again “would allow the government to build more and hire 160,000 new workers without increasing the deficit.” Five-Year Savings: $6.3 billion

6. End the War on Drugs

Considering how often Republicans complain about paying for the health and education ser vices of undocumented immigrants, you’d think they might notice the billions of dollars more we spend annually trying and imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders. The nation spends more than $51 billion each year on a decades-long drug war that has not produced results. The War on Drugs has simply led to more global violence, police militarization, widespread surveillance and disproportionate incarceration rates among minorities, despite figures estimating people of color use illicit drugs at the same rate as whites. Taxing illicit drugs the way we do tobacco and alcohol would raise $46.7 billion in federal revenue annually. It’s difficult to say how much a change as drastic as ending the bloated War on Drugs would save the nation in the long term. Five-Year Savings: Unknown

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

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“Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Should not be used by women that are pregnant or breast feeding For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children “Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug”

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Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons twenty-one years of age or older.

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“HUMANITY THE PLAGUE” RONE GLASS’ INTRICATE ENCALMO PIECE WIND HOME

xtremely talented glass artist Rone Glass created this piece in the summer of 2017. He named the piece “Humanity the Plague,” drawing inspiration from the insane fire season we had last year; he would wake up in the morning to a blood-colored sky and go to sleep to a bloodcolored moon. Rone Glass said it made him sad to see what an impact we humans have on the Earth and, consequently, ourselves. He notes that he particularly enjoyed utilizing his encalmo glass skills for this rig, a technique that results in the unique stacked lines of color seen at the bottom of the rig’s base. Rone Glass first started blowing glass in 2002, and had to occasionally swing a hammer on construction sites to pay the bills when he first started out. After years of grinding away, he’s able to spend all his time on his art and with family. This dedication to a finely-tuned craft shows in his outstanding works of art, including “Humanity the Plague.” This piece is currently available for $3000.

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D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

RECIPE

INFUSED DINNER FOR ONE! REFRESHING BUCATINI WITH GARLIC AND OIL LAURIE AND MARYJANE

ucatini is thick, spaghetti-like pasta that’s extremely satisfying. If it’s not your cup of tea, feel free to use any other shape of noodle; come summer time, an angel hair would be delightful. As always, the ingredients can be changed to suit your taste. Adding shrimp, tofu or chicken could be a nice way to go, but honestly, its simplicity is one of its best qualities! This is a recipe for one. Take a little time and make yourself this yummy dinner—you deserve it. For more of Laurie and Maryjane, visit:

Yield: Serves 1 2 tbsp. 1 tsp. 2 4 1 cup 1 pinch 3 oz. opt.

olive oil canna-olive oil garlic cloves, peeled and sliced cherry tomatoes, halved if large fresh spinach, packed crushed red pepper bucatini pasta parmesan salt and pepper, to taste

LAURIEANDMARYJANE.COM

1 04

INSTRUCTIONS

INGREDIENTS

D O P E M AGA Z I N E .CO M

In a small skillet over medium-low heat, heat the oils. Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes and sauté for 3-4 minutes.

Add the spinach and sauté until wilted, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the crushed pepper, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. When tender, drain and place in a bowl.

4. Add the sauce to the pasta and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. A tasty alternative for Parmesan can be a couple tablespoons of goat cheese and some fresh or frozen peas.

INTERCHANGE

SUMMER 2018

JUNE 6-7, 2018 • RENTON PAVILION IN RENTON, WASHINGTON We received over

$100,000

in orders and commitments at the last event” Kim Harriman, Owner, K&M Growers

The average Interchange grower/vendor saw an INCREASE IN SALES of between for the three months after the event”

15-25%

Brian Yauger, Lemonhaze Analytics

I met 20 new retail customers in two days.

THE BEST trade

event for cultivators”

Roy Arms, 7 Hills Farm

Washington’s #1 trade event for cultivators and retailers Interchange is not just another trade show, it is a buy/ sell event for the legal marijuana industry where buyers meet with new vendors and do business! • • • •

Limited to 40 growers and 40 retailers Two days of face-to-face meetings Industry only. No public. The biggest legal marijuana market in the world

CALL NOW TO REGISTER! • (425) 656-3621 • Interchange@MarijuanaVenture.com