DOPE Magazine - Nevada - The Future Issue - August 2017

THE FUTURE ISSUE AUGUST 2017 FREE

DEFENDING OUR PLANT EVERYWHERE

FEATURE

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S WAR ON DRUGS, REDUX

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SRI LANKA, THE TEARDROP OF INDIA

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AUGUST 2017 | THE FUTURE ISSUE

EDITOR’S LETTER D

OPE Magazine embraces the month of August with one of our most anticipated Issues, the Future Issue. August is a special month for DOPE Staff and our readership, as it’s our birthday! Six years ago, during Seattle’s HEMPFEST, we handed out our inaugural issue to a celebratory audience—a group of supporters, activists and allies who continue to Defend Our Plant Everywhere. Without you, we wouldn’t exist.

So, what makes the Future Issue unique? To start, it features content providers who come from all walks of life—social media moguls, a Green Party co-founder and an Emmy Award-winning Producer, Writer and Editor. This issue has given our writers the opportunity to riff on how future is defined and take their imaginations to another level—and in some cases, another time, space or planet.

Be sure to check out our cover feature with former Mexican President Vicente Fox, a piece on growing mushrooms in space and a long-form story on what The Big 4 (NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB) can learn from action sports.

As we move into our sixth year, we’re looking to continue to uplift the cannabis community, create purposeful and thought-provoking content and maintain meaningful relationships with our readership.

It is truly a ground up approach.

Stay DOPE! The DOPE Editorial Team

RECENTLY CORRECTED ARTICLES National: A Photog’s Travel Bag: Photography credit for this article goes to Anthony Ponce de Leon. We regret the error.

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THE FUTURE ISSUE EVAN CARTER PRESIDENT

NARISSA-CAMILLE PHETHEAN SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER @narissa.camille

TREK HOLLNAGEL STRATEGIC ADVISOR CHRISTINA HEINTZELMAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

TODD TIBBETTS DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

LISETTE MENDES HR SPECIALIST

GLACE BONDESON WEB DIRECTOR

LIANE PETTET ACCOUNTING ADMIN

JIM LANGER CINEMATOGRAPHER/EDITOR JORDAN SWENSON CINEMATOGRAPHER/EDITOR DALLAS KEEFE SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

ANDREA LARSON LEAD EDITOR

KATIE CONLEY COPY EDITOR

ARIZONA DOUGLAS PAYSSE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

N. CALIFORNIA JASON ROSENBERG NORCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

S. CALIFORNIA TASHA NGUYEN SOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

PHOTOGRAPHY

SHONTELLE REYNA STAFF WRITER

COLORADO MICHELLE GLASSMAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

JENNIFER TRAMAGLINO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

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REGIONAL DATABASE/CONTENT COORDINATORS ASHLEIGH CASTRO AZ, NV, CA BRIAHNA NELSON CO, OR, WA

EVENTS

NEVADA

ANTHONY MAIR ANTHONY PONCE DE LEON ASHLEIGH CASTRO @hash_assassin BLUE J STUDIO @bluejstudio CAITLIN CALLAHAN DANNY BELL DESI LOU DOPE FOTO EMILY NICHOLS ERIC ERLANDSEN JASMINE ZEBOSKI JASON HORVATH JAY SCHOBER JEFFREY RINDSKOPF JENA SCHLOSSER JESSE PERRY LAURIE AND MARYJANE RYAN BURKE SESHATA TASHA NGUYEN TINA BALLEW WIND HOME CATINA LESAVOY EVENTS DIRECTOR DANSEN DETRICK WA EVENTS AMBASSADOR COLBY HAYDEN OR EVENTS AMBASSADOR JASMINE SMITH MARKETING ASSISTANT

AARON MILLER ANDREA LARSON BLAZE ROBINSON CHRIS SAYEGH CHRISTIE STRONG DAVID BAILEY E. SOMES ERIC SKAAR JEFFREY RINDSKOPF JEN CLEAR BELL JENA SCHLOSSER JENNIFER TRAMAGLINO JESSE PERRY JONAH TACOMA JOSH NEUMEIER JOSHUA “SHWA” LAYTART KATIE CONLEY KENYA KUSH LAURIE AND MARYJANE LC LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS LJ ROBINSON LOBIE LUNA REYNA MATTHEW CRISCIONE MELISSA JOY P. GOTTI RADIOHASH ROSS MIRKARIMI RYAN BURKE RYAN HERRON SCOTT PEARSE SESHATA SHASTA NELSON THOM HUNTERS UNIVERSAL UNDERGROUND WILL KERSTEN WIND HOME ZAK HUGHES AD SALES MANAGER

SR. ACCOUNT MANAGERS

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DAVID BAILEY COPY EDITOR

MARKETING

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MERCEDES MCCAW FRONT DESK/OFFICE ASSISTANT

DOPE TERRITORIES

JEIA VILLACIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER @_jeia

STEPHANIE DANESE CONTROLLER

FAUSTINE SAMEC DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

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BEAU GREENER GRAPHIC DESIGNER @credendastudios

JOSHUA BOULET CONTRIBUTING ARTIST

D I G I TA L

BUSINESS

NATHAN CHRYSLER PARTNER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

JAMES ZACHODNI CHIEF BRANDING OFFICER

DESIGN

NAZ ALVAREZ CREATIVE DIRECTOR

AU G U ST

2017

DAVID TRAN CEO

ANGEL AHMAD ERIC ERLANDSEN EDDIE KING MICHELLE GLASSMAN RYAN BURKE TERRANCE MCDANIEL

ACCOUNT MANAGERS DAN KUHN JOSH DAVIS RACHEL REYHER

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

While our foundation is the medical cannabis industry, it is our intent to provide ethical and research-based articles that address the many facets of the war on drugs, from politics to lifestyle and beyond. We believe that through education and honest discourse, accurate policy and understanding can emerge. DOPE MAGAZINE is focused on defending both our patients and our plant, and to being an unceasing force for revolutionary change.

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THE FUTURE ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUGUST 2017

20 COVER FEATURE EL PRESIDENTE: VICENTE FOX

16 28 42 58 62 65 66 70 72

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TECH SPORES IN SPACE: CAN THEY HANDLE THE TRIP? SPORTS THE DEMISE OF ACTION SPORTS BUSINESS EYE CHRONIC: EXPANDING YOUR DISPENSARY EXPERIENCE CULTURE THE FUTURE OF HIGH POTENCY EDIBLES AND CALIFORNIA’S ADULT USE LAWS GROW ON THE QUEST FOR THE BEST…BUT WHY? SOCIAL MEDIA TAG @DOPEMAGAZINE #SCOUTEDBYDOPE EDITOR’S CHOICE SOLO II BY ARIZER TRAVEL THE FUTURE OF SRI LANKAN CANNABIS FACES CHALLENGES

POLITICS BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE WAR ON DRUGS, REDUX

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LIFESTYLE DOPE ON THE ROAD WITH JONAH TACOMA

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SCIENCE You Are About to Enter AI IN SCREENS, SEXBOTS Another Dimension...

AND PREGNANCY AI IN SCREENS, SEXBOTS AND PREGNANCY WRITER / ANDREA LARSON, KATIE CONLEY, SHONTELLE REYNA

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A R TTIECCL HE NTOI TL LOEG Y

SPORES IN SPACE THESE MUSHROOM TRIPS LAST LIGHT-YEARS WRITER / RYAN HERRON

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efore Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin wrote Tuf Voyaging, the darkly comic tale of a solo space traveler zipping from planet to planet with his own unique brand of problem solving. His magic weapon? Mushrooms. As far-fetched as it sounds, fungi are the perfect long-distance travel companion. In the right environment, spores keep indefinitely and are small enough that you could pack an entire farm on a postage stamp. Looking toward to the future and our inevitable trek to the outer reaches of space, mushrooms might just be the ticket we need to get off the planet.

In fact, we’ve already given zero-gravity mushroom growing a shot. In 1993, cultures of Flammulina velutipes were sent into orbit on the joint Space Shuttle Columbia/Spacelab D-2 mission. As observed by amateur mycologists, mushrooms tend to grow as a veiled cap atop a long, spindly stem. Remove gravity from the equation, however, and the mushrooms grow in every direction. Gills flipped inside-out like windblown umbrellas, and mushrooms fruited in every orientation imaginable. The results were promising. The mushrooms grew unexpectedly, yet still produced fruit under off-world conditions. Though the experiment lasted just

long enough to make these observations, we’ll need to push our fungal gardening experiments further if we aim to observe how zero gravity affects mushroom growth. Fungi tech here on Earth has grown by leaps and bounds in the past couple decades. Mycoprotein is a vegetarian meat substitute, originally developed to combat food shortages, made from Mycelium—not the fruit, but the tiny white strands that act as a sort of root for mushrooms. Nutritious protein as a blank canvas. For now, you can find it amongst the faux meats in your grocer’s freezers, formed and flavored into shapes like bacon, burgers and chicken-less nuggets.

Fungi also have the amazing ability to transmute their surroundings into more fungi, gobbling up everything from rotting forest logs to actual plastics, transforming them into useful byproducts. Mycologist Ross uses a particularly fast-growing fungus to transform waste into preformed building blocks, constructing super-strong water, mold and fire-resistant building materials. Other researchers have transformed polyurethane waste into artsy and edible serving dishes, using the mushrooms’ natural ability to grow into nearly any shape or form.

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Assuming we’re still utilizing combustion for space flight, we’ll want to pack some Gyromitra esculenta (False Morel) along for the ride. This fungus produces Gyromitrin, which, through hydrolysis, yields Monomethylhydrazine: rocket propellant. Certain species produce more subtle compounds and aromas such as coconut, fenugreek and even maple syrup.

Species like the Candy Cap could even be used to flavor our pancakes, or provide a unique flavor to space-brewed beer. When you think of all the resources the average maple tree needs to produce a mere pancake’s worth of syrup, a small garden of Candy Caps seems like the best green alternative.

Beyond food and utility, there are plenty of examples of mushrooms being used for their medicinal properties. A research paper

by The Department of Medical Nutrition in South Korea details the Chaga mushroom’s ability to protect DNA, act as an antiviral and help with blood clotting. The utilities of the mushroom make it uniquely suited for longdistance travel, and its applications could even help heal us from space travel hazards such as radiation.

And psychedelic fungi could do more than help pass the time on these long voyages. A recent study from Imperial College London found that psilocybin was highly effective at treating depression, with 12 out of 12 subjects

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experiencing a major reduction in depression symptoms, and five of 12 being completely cured of their depression three months later.

Aside from the transcendent experiences that psilocybin can induce, researchers have also found they can be used to treat a variety of mental and behavioral disorders.

Microdosing (taking a just-noticeable dose) has been shown to decrease anxiety, increase focus and enhance creativity.

These substances might even help us stay young or slow the aging process. Findings by the University of South Florida showed that psilocybin stimulated the growth and repair of brain cells in the hippocampus of lab mice.

Pioneering scientists have taken this to heart and are now dosing themselves with small amounts of Niacin, Psilocybin and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, describing invigorated mental states that remind them of their youth.

The mushroom’s ability to cope with space’s weird atmosphere, their positive effect on our health and wellness, ease of growth and never-ending appetite make them the ideal candidate to join our race to outer space. Perhaps someday our great grandkids will be sitting on a seat made of mycelium fibers, munching a mushroom “pepperoni” pizza, hurtling through space on a highoctane fuel of ‘shroom juice.

“PERHAPS SOMEDAY OUR GREAT GRANDKIDS WILL BE SITTING ON A SEAT MADE OF MYCELIUM FIBERS, MUNCHING A MUSHROOM “PEPPERONI” PIZZA, HURTLING THROUGH SPACE ON A HIGHOCTANE FUEL OF ‘SHROOM JUICE.”

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C O V E R F E AT U R E

EL PRESIDENTE:

VICENTE

FOX WRITER / ANDREA LARSON

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n March, former President of Mexico Vicente Fox took the stage to talk with Conan O’Brien. President Fox walked onstage in jeans, a navy and white checkered button-up and casual navy suit jacket. He carried a black bag and pulled out a gift for Conan—whose coiffed red ‘do was somehow taller and wider than when he hosted NBC’s Late Night—an unbelievable feat. From this black bag, President Fox pulled out a pair of sleek black leather boots that read “No Fucking Wall” personalized with a silver applique: “Conan.” Needless to say, President Fox’s stance on Trump’s Mexico wall is that of clear disdain. He goes on to say, quite simply, that “walls don’t work,” citing the Berlin Wall that divided West and East Berlin for 28 years.

A testament to fighting ignorance, the former president of Mexico is probably best known in the US for his abrasive, albeit just, tweets to Donald Trump rather than his tenure in Los Pinos (The White House of Mexico). That said, one thing is for certain: President Fox’s voice is being heard around the globe—140 characters at a time.

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Vicente Fox grew up the second oldest of nine children on their father ’s ranch in Guanajuato. I can’t help but wonder if his birth order played a role in his trajectory as not only a successful businessman in the private sector, but as a politician in the public sector as well. In the ‘80s, Fox received his degree from the Ibero-American University in Mexico City, then a Harvard Business School diploma in Management Skills. After working as Coca-Cola’s Chief Executive in Mexico, he resigned and headed home to Guanajuato.

It was at this time Fox became convinced that Mexico’s struggling economy needed new leadership, and he swiftly entered the political arena. Nearly Twenty years later, Vicente Fox became the President of Mexico.

Since departing from Los Pinos in 2006, the former president has been an advocate of youth and marginalized leadership through his organization Centro Fox, spoken openly about the relationship between Mexico and the United States, discussed NAFTA’s positive influence on Mexico’s economy and people, and has openly taken a stance on the legalization of all narcotics.

Legalizing cannabis and narcotics as a whole Known for being outspoken, Vicente Fox recently met with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO of The Commonwealth Club in California. When asked about his outspoken nature, a smirk appears on his face and he references his age, stating that at 75 you look at things differently—you’ve reached the peak of wisdom.

He also speaks to how his responsibilities have changed since leaving office—he doesn’t have to be as careful or “diplomatic.”

Due to political acumen, he kept his views on the legalization of drugs while president under wraps, but now that he is out of office, he has vocally come out in support of legalizing drugs— specifically cannabis.

A MMJ bill recently passed the House in Mexico City. During a visit to Oakland in May of this year, President Fox acted as keynote speaker at the Cannabis Business Summit & Expo. “It [the MMJ legalization bill] has passed—it’s approved,” Fox said with delight. President Fox championed Uruguay, Portugal and Washington State as influencers of the bill, asserting that their locals have the best practices and cannabis laws. Once the MMJ legalization bill of Mexico is enacted, Fox noted, “the law will happen broadly and internationally. Criminalization has created international conversations. Kids are being killed in the streets under prohibition. Legalization is the answer to reducing crime.

When the underground market raises prices, it invokes crime and empowers cartels.”

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Keeping NAFTA alive and well As for the future of Mexico, the former president has spent a lot of time focusing on economic development—bringing companies to Mexico, reducing Mexico-toU.S. immigration in an effort to boost Mexican business, and emphasizing the importance of keeping NAFTA alive and well.

When NAFTA was first implemented in 1994 (signed in 1992), the gap in income between the U.S. and Mexico was 10:1. You would make one dollar on the Mexico side, and in the U.S. you would make 10. “Why wouldn’t people be incentivized to flee Mexico—we would all take this chance,” Fox explained to Dr. Duffy. We should consider the ideal situation, which is Canada and the U.S., where the income gap is nearly non-existent. With NAFTA in place in Mexico, Fox assuredly explained, the gap of 10:1 has dropped to 5:1; the incentive to leave Mexico has been decreased. President Fox’s forecast is that in one more generation (22-25 years) we [the U.S. and Mexico] will reach the 1:1 ratio. We have to work in that direction—it’s why NAFTA is so important— and it’s narrowing that gap. Fox went on to state that, “Our employment has increased, pover ty in the middle of Mexico is on the decline. Extreme poverty is on the decline in many places. We’re working to create jobs and move ahead. We are also becoming a part of the world’s big trade game. We have 45 international trade agreements.”

California’s economy is currently the sixth largest in the world. “We are at number 11, so we are trading with California and Texas,” Fox stated to Dr. Duffy. “We must legalize [drugs] if we want to reduce violence and drug use.

We are in-between the huge consumer market in the north and the producers of drugs in the south. Mexico doesn’t produce or consume on a significant level, but we are

caught in the middle. I ask Trump, ‘What happens when one cargo of drugs coming from Mexico crosses the boarder? Who lets them move it around. Why is it allowed? Why is Mexico in this trap?’” The former president went on to describe some harrowing statistics: “[Illegal narcotics have] killed 250,000 young kids in the last ten years. They weren’t born criminals; it wasn’t in their genes. And they were killed. Why? Because they never had any opportunities—a good job, a scholarship . . . so they joined the cartels. Drug consumption in the U.S. is partly responsible for this. So I hope the U.S. moves faster to legalize drugs, not just marijuana—let’s legalize everything.”

Recently, President Fox has been very vocal about the relationship between the legalization of cannabis in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. According to Fox, both Canada and Mexico have intentions in becoming leaders in the booming cannabis markets— insinuating that the U.S. may want to beef up its cannabis export game. This statement may have some U.S. cannabis producers and processors concerned. The former president is waiting for the day when cannabis is integrated into the provisions of NAFTA.

Centro Fox There has been a recent push in the United States for youth to get involved in politics.

President Fox is spreading this same message in Mexico as well. The former president founded Centro Fox, which runs out of the first presidential library in San Cristóbal, and whose aim is to act as an educational resource center for the future leaders of Latin America—emphasizing ethical practices, passion, will and leadership above all else in an attempt to provoke and promote change.

Aligning with his mission to advocate for strategic leadership in Latin America, Centro Fox is a beacon of hope and guidance for Latin America’s youth. A “think tank,” as Fox likes

“ . . . I HOPE THE U.S. MOVES FASTER TO LEGALIZE DRUGS, NOT JUST MARIJUANA--LET’S LEGALIZE EVERYTHING.”

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to call it, and social institution “committed to the poor,” Centro Fox aims to align itself with global leaders who share the same mission.

Classes in Democracy, the United Nations and Leadership are made available to interested students. Exercises in problem solving are the norm—and students have opportunities to round-house and solve real world issues with their peers in face-toface talks.

President Fox is a testament to what it means to defend ideals, be courageous and speak up when necessary, no matter the consequences. As a cannabis ally and advocate, President Fox continues to be a beacon of suppor t in his community and ours.

2017

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SPORTS

WHAT PRO SPORTS CAN LEARN FROM ACTION SPORTS WRITER / LC

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fter attempting to kill any and everything from napkins to wine corks to sex, Millennials—the oft-criticized generation born between the early 1980s to 2000—have their sights set on a new target: sports. Once known for being impervious to the drop in TV ratings, sports have seen a decline in viewership and attendance while the median age of fans continues to rise.

Sports media behemoths such as ESPN, Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated have all recently dealt with massive layoffs and downsizing due to the changing climate of the market.

According to a Magna Global Study, the median age for NFL and MLB fans are 50 and 57, respectively.

And while the action sports crowd has gotten older, their median age is still 47—a decade younger than that of baseball’s crowd. In fact, action sports are the fourth most-watched sport by the prized 18-to35 demographic.

And the future of sports has never been murkier than it is today, thanks—in part—to those blasted millennials who aren’t watching sports at the same rate as their elders. Millennials might not be the only reason that sports are on the decline, but the Big 4—NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL—can learn a lot from their tendencies, and how action sports cater to the ever-important youths.

Individuality Major sports, with the exception of the NBA, have struggled mightily in recent years to foster and promote individuals that could help boost their respective sports’ popularity. This challenge is crystal clear in the NFL, where coaches preach day after day that “it’s all about the team,” and when one guy goes down, the next must step up.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick took this a step further by making the “do your job” mantra a theme on his championship teams. Belichick went so far as to have the entire Pats squad introduced as a team before Super Bowl XXXVI, New England’s first Super Bowl-winning team.

This attitude has helped set a precedent that no individual is bigger than the team. While this, in theory, helps 53 men on an NFL roster come together, it hinders any type of individuality that could help propel the popularity of football—and the advertising dollars that come with it. The lack of individuality in the NFL is extremely evident in how the league handled the Colin Kaepernick situation.

The former 49ers QB, who is still looking for a job, broke what seems to be the cardinal rule of football: don’t become bigger than the sport. And now he’s paying the price.

Former Philadelphia Flyer Riley Cote noted that he admires action sports for allowing “an individual athlete [to] stand for a personal belief . . . in a unique [way] without having the league penalize” them. In action sports, even those that obstruct an individual’s face with a helmet (such as football), they too are reliant on the individual for the sport to succeed.

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“. . . THE FUTURE OF SPORTS HAS NEVER BEEN MURKIER THAN IT IS TODAY, THANKS—IN PART—TO THOSE BLASTED MILLENNIALS WHO AREN’T WATCHING SPORTS AT THE SAME RATE AS THEIR ELDERS.”

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ATHLETES FOR CARE The non-profit Athletes for Care is dedicated to bringing awareness to issues that professional athletes face including pain management and alternative medicine. DOPE Magazine sends a bog thanks to AFC for contributing to this article and allowing us to share some of their stories with our readership. Website: athletesforcare.org

Creativity Former NFL wide receiver (and Survivor contestant) Grant Mattos identified a “lack of creativity” that is hurting the growth and innovation of major sports. All of the Big 4 suffer, in part, from complacency due their own success. Why change something that’s been working for decades? The fact that sports gambling hasn’t been legalized for any of the major sports is a huge omission in this day and age.

While the NBA is the most innovative of the Big 4, basketball still needs to think outside of the box. Ice Cube exemplified this creativity when he helped create the Big 3—a 3-on-3 basketball league. How did the NBA not do this first? Especially as 3-on-3 will soon become an Olympic sport. There are a billion swimming events at the Olympics— why isn’t there more than one basketball event?

For their part, the NFL might finally be recognizing that they’ve turned their once-almighty sport into the No Fun League. After banning touchdown dances and fining players such as Ezekiel Elliott for acts that will surely go viral and capture the attention of new fans, the NFL is finally reversing course and allowing more fun and flair.

The major sports could learn a thing or two from Monster Jam truck rallies, of all places. The popular action sport is one of the few growing sports in America, garnering over four million people in attendance ever y year. Monster Jam has multiple events, including freestyle. The sport also offers a “Pit Party” that allows young fans to interact and take pictures with the drivers. Mattos believes that any athlete—major or action—should be able to “express him or herself in any way they want.”

Accessibility, Advertising and ENTREPRENEURS Advertising money is still one of the most important aspects of sports.

And for those in the Big 4, an advertising deal might come before ever stepping on the court or field as a professional athlete. Action sports athletes aren’t so lucky. Professional surfer Kelia Moniz told Sports Illustrated that finding endorsements in the action sports world is “every man for himself. There’s no promise of another year in this industry. You have to work your butt off. It’s definitely not the NBA.” The pay gap forces athletes such as Moniz to become more entrepreneurial. By using branded video, social media and other techniques, action sports athletes are building their brand in a unique way that doesn’t follow the typical athletic path to endorsements.

It’s something that every athlete should think about when building their #brand. Those savvy methods seem to be paying dividends for the athletes, too.

Aaron Calloway, a Senior Brand Building Manager at Unilever, told Forbes that he believes action sports are popular with both the consumer and the advertiser because of the “participatory nature . . . You can’t go play baseball for an MLB team, but you can go climb a mountain.” This increase in popularity has helped some of the more marketable action stars, sure, but will any of those sports ever surpass the Big 4 in fandom? Unlikely. But that doesn’t seem to bother Moniz.

“Do the other sports have what we have?” Moniz mused to Sports Illustrated. “We’re in pretty much the most beautiful places in the world all year long. We make enough to live on. We’re not struggling one bit.”

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Lunchbox Alchemy products available in Oregon. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older

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r. Keep out of reach of children.

“CRAFTED”

Totality Squibbed

What’s in your lunchbox?

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POLITICS

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S WAR ON DRUGS, REDUX WRITER / ROSS MIRKARIMI

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t the height of the Reagan presidency, Americans were consumed by a cresting Cold War with the Soviet Union, an unprecedented, menacing anti-drug campaign, a burgeoning public health crisis known as AIDS, and, oh yeah, a blockbuster of a movie Back to the Future.

If you missed the 1985 flick, just know that Rotten Tomatoes scores it at 96 percent, and it’s considered a comedy classic.

Once a clever movie made in the service of fun, its undertones now reanimate the unbelievable—the Trump administration’s retro ‘War on Drugs.’

In the service of avengement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has coveted a return to the Reagan era, including policies that propelled mass incarceration and funded the private prison industr y. Remarked Sessions, “I realize this may be an unfashionable belief in a time of growing tolerance of drug use. But too many lives are at stake to worry about being fashionable.

I reject the idea that America will be a better place if marijuana is sold in every corner store. And I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana—so people can trade one life-wrecking dependency for another that’s only slightly less awful. Our nation needs to say clearly once again that using drugs will destroy your life.”

Sessions denies the reality that 29 states

and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis and/or cannabidiol for medical purposes, along with the eight states that legalized both the medical and recreational use of cannabis. As a side note, Red and Blue ‘cannabis states’ combined surpass the voter threshold that nudged Trump into office. Just some food for thought.

Sessions ignores the 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report, “ The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.” While the 486-page report provides a comprehensive review of evidence related to the health effects and potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis, it reminds us that the lack of scientific evidence is due, in large part, to the federal government’s restriction of research. Despite the federal lockdown, the Academy ’s report refutes the tired government insistence that cannabis is a ‘gateway drug.’

Similar to the Reagan administration’s crude and thoughtless response to the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, t h e Tr u m p a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s e r i o u s l y fumbles in the face of its own public health crisis. Opioid addiction is claiming the lives of approximately 700 Americans per week. On scale, its numbers rival the HIV crisis. Its complexity cannot be dismissed with political platitudes. Its devastation shows little sign of abating.

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ARTICLE TITLE According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2016 report, “Increase in Drugs and Opioid-Involved Deaths,” death rates from overdose and addiction grew from 12.3 per 100,000 people in 2010 to 16.3 in 2015. This significant increase spans 30 states. Every day, over 140 Americans die due to opioidrelated causes. In contrast, there has never been a corroborated report of a cannabis overdose death.

As an alternative to traditional approaches such as abstinence, there is growing evidence that cannabis can help in ending drug addiction. Applied through Harm Reduction for populations who are opioid addicted, such as military veterans, controlled cannabis use has contributed to a decline in overdose deaths. As the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine noted in 2016, states with legal medical cannabis have up to 25 percent fewer overdose deaths than states without legal medical cannabis access.

While Trump sporadically references the opioid crisis, there’s never been a Tweet calling out the pharmaceutical manufacture’s synthetic assault. White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, signaled in February: “I think that when you see something like the opioid addiction crisis blossoming in so many states around the country, the last thing we should be doing is encouraging people [by regulating the adult-use of marijuana].” ‘Big Pharma’ agrees.

State by state, Election Departments report that Big Pharma is a leading contributor to continued marijuana prohibition.

They don’t hide how they feel about marijuana, yet they are crafty. The makers of Oxycontin and Vicodin were two of the largest contributors to The Partnership for Drug Free Kids and the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America, two groups that oppose marijuana legalization.

It’s no surprise that opioid-ravaged Ohio (a swing state) has stepped up as a new medical cannabis state. It shouldn’t go unnoticed that the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, Mary Taylor, recently shared that her two adult sons have addiction issues, one of whom is seeking an undisclosed treatment regimen. It was brave for her to speak out. Ohio has yet to finalize its rules allowing cannabis as a treatment option, and it will require thoughtful activism to ensure legalization.

And the states push on. In June, Vermont’s Governor signed into law the Cannabis Expansion Bill. The “Feel the Bern” home state may consider adult-use legalization by year’s end. Pennsylvania, too. As of July 1, recreational sales started in Nevada, with California preparing for a January 2018 launch, thus expanding a compelling western states voter block.

None of these forward-thinking milestones dissuaded Sessions from invoking his call to action on March 15. His speech: “Efforts to Combat Violent Crime and Restore Public Safety Before Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement.” Sessions commingled marijuana with the opioid crisis by highlighting three main ways to fight the scourge of drugs: criminal enforcement, treatment (which often comes too late to save users from addiction or death), and preventing people from taking drugs in the first place.

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To think that the cannabis genie is out of the bottle, and that its whiff will float nationwide, vaporizing small-minded opponents, is foolhardy. Nostalgic for a Reagan-era ‘tough on crime’ response, the Trump administration is following a far-right think tank playbook, influenced by the Heritage Foundation. It revives stiff mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenders, emboldens coordination with local and state law enforcement in its use of civil forfeiture against marijuana violations (even in legal states), and reasserts a new War on Drugs—the same colossal failure that cost billions of dollars pursuing phantoms, imprisoning mostly black, brown and poor people, destroying the lives of families who support and wait for those behind bars.

However, the ‘time-continuum’ may just bend in a new direction. Reeling from the decades of devastation wrought by the War on Drugs, California lawmakers advanced a bill declaring a “marijuana sanctuary state” in June—prohibiting state and local police from enforcing federal anti-marijuana laws that conflict with state government.

After all, the Back to the Future Flux Capacitor may just hit some large speed bumps, perhaps in the form of states who know that sequels often fail.

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BUSINESS

EYECHRONIC SCREENS, COMING TO A DISPENSARY NEAR YOU ENVISION THE FUTURE OF RETAIL WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

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PHOTO / COURTESY OF EYECHRONIC

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emember the first time you walked into a dispensary? Full of nerves, excitement, a million questions…and then you forget them all, grab something (or a lot of somethings) you had no intention of buying, and quickly follow the line out the door. It happens to a lot of us, even when we’ve been dispensary patrons for some time. Whether you’re the consumer or the retail store, that’s not exactly the desired rec experience. There’s an excitement to retail pot shopping, but how can we turn this excitement into satisfaction?

There are few things more familiar to Americans than a TV screen. While many companies have scrolling menus, Eyechronic has created a unique way to bring together the cannabis space and the comfort of your living room, all in one. I’m talking about an interactive video screen giving you truly useful information, when and where you need it: the dispensary.

By partnering with your dispensary, the ads and information on the 10-minute loop scroll feed feature products carried in-store, sporting useful information to help you make your purchasing decisions. For the first-time buyer, it can help keep you on track or

show products you may want, without taking up all the budtender’s time or holding up the line. For the experienced, there’s no doubt we can get stuck in a rut. Knowing what’s coming out without having to actually ask for it is key to helping us branch out—after all, we’re creatures of habit.

The business benefits are clear. The ability to utilize region-specific advertising helps both the producer and store continually sell product, while simultaneously educating consumers. The best part?

It’s a proven model. Eyechronic is partnered with and operated by Eyeconic.tv, who specialize in directto-consumer marketing, with tens of thousands of screens worldwide and over 10 years of experience.

Pairing this with their real-time computer technology, technical errors and down-time are minimized, allowing a seamless experience.

Whether you’re a consumer, retail owner or producer, satisfaction in all arenas is what you’re looking for. Creating a consumer-friendly environment is key, and connecting consumers with more brands creates a stronger, longer-lasting bond. After all, we want this industry to continue to grow!

WEBSITE: EYECHRONIC.NET TWITTER: @EYECHRONICTV

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A HYBRID OF STYLE AND DISCRETION

To carry the Dopen in your store email

To purchase the Dopen visit

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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 breastfeeding. For use of 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.

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LIFESTYLE

DOPE ON THE ROAD CANNABIS IN THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN WRITER / JONAH TACOMA PHOTO / CHRONIC IMAGERY

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he clock was encroaching on 10pm, but the sun still shone bright across the frigid waters of the gulf. A small group of 40 or so revelers gathered in the tiny airmen’s lodge outside Anchorage, Alaska, eager for the feast being prepared in the adjacent kitchen. Michele Larissa, local canna chef, was busy prepping her troops as we arrived. “ T h e B o m b s h e l l s ,” a n a l l - wo m e n , ‘50s-themed cooking group led up by Miss Larissa, buzzed around the small kitchen in full regalia, plating and preparing a sixcourse infused feast for the participants of the third annual Northwest Cannabis Classic. This delicious event was set to begin the following morning.

Christopher Chicoine was on hand representing his Fairbanks-based company, Yeti Extracts, excited to see full legalization in

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his home state of Alaska. “We’re Alaskans,” he explained as we took dabs together, “and when we come together to make regulations, we think about what’s best for the people.”

Anchorage has long been the center of cannabis controversy. Back in 1972, attorney Irwin Raven was pulled over by Anchorage police and arrested for carrying a small amount of cannabis. In true Alaskan style, Irwin didn’t take the charge lying down, and instead fought his case all the way to the Supreme Court. He eventually won a landmark decision for the state of Alaska, granting citizens the right to grow and possess small amounts of cannabis.

As day one of the NWCC kicked off, growers from around the giant state came together to see who would claim the title for best weed in Alaska. We got to catch up with

our friend and, owner of Cheeky Monkey, Andrew Campbell outside his booth. “We’ve had the right to grow here since the ‘70s,” Campbell said. “It’s been a long, long road for cannabis. We are a small state in terms of people and a large state in terms of land, so it’s a spread out community of activists moving this thing forward.”

We a s ke d S a m a n t h a R o d g e r s , a n attendee from Valdez, a small town east of Anchorage, what Alaskan cannabis meant to her. “To me,” she immediately responded, “Alaskan cannabis means family and community, this is the last frontier. We have something special up here. Being home-grown and being so far away [from the rest of the states] has made such a huge difference. It’s the way we grew up.”

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FOR MORE OF JONAH TACOMA, VISIT: WEBSITE: DABSTARS.COM INSTAGRAM: @JONAH_TACOMA

As day two closed and the awards were handed out, it was time for us to get out of Anchorage and see what Alaskan cannabis was about—first-hand. There’s a saying here that goes, “Anchorage isn’t Alaska, but Alaska is 30 minutes in any direction.” We headed into the hills to meet Houston, Alaska local producer/processor Ron Bass, owner of Houston’s Calm N Collective.

“I was diagnosed with MS 20 years ago and told I was going to die,” Bass revealed.

“I had never smoked pot in my entire life, but I became a grower and I started to get better with nothing to blame it on but cannabis.”

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He opened a giant steel door, leading to a spacious metal warehouse in the middle of the Alaskan woods. The buzz of 90 bulbs flickering to light, filled the large flowering room. Our first visit to an Alaskan grow.

Large-scale commercial growing came to the state in 2015, and Ron and his wife were among the first to apply for a license. They refinanced their home to begin renovations on a remote machine shop that would eventually become their new HQ. “We’re in a good mood because we have careers now, and we’re growing pot,” Bass exclaimed, smiling, proudly leading us up and down the

rows of cannabis plants. “Other growers need to step up. This industry is real.”

Everyone we met in Alaska seemed to carry the same rugged determination to succeed as Ron and his wife; a community hardened by rough country and brutal winters, but united behind a common cause. Cannabis in Alaska was something for the people, by the people.

As we boarded the plane for Seattle and took one last look out the window, I couldn’t help but wonder if legalization would be good for all the people we had met, and what would be next for cannabis in the land of the midnight sun.

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TECH

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AI IN SCREENS, SEXBOTS AND PREGNANCY WRITER / ANDREA LARSON, KATIE CONLEY, LUNA REYNA

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Your Future Bae or Future Ruler ?

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our years ago the movie Her was released—Spike Jonze’s solo screenwriting debut. A depressed introvert, Theodore Twombly purchases an A.I. operating system voiced by the sultry Scarlett Johansson and subsequently falls in love. SPOILER ALERT… Samantha (Johansson) evolves beyond her need and desire for human companionship and leaves Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Ultimately, Twombly is transformed by the relationship with Samantha and becomes a more affable, accepting and apologetic individual.

If you watched this film in the theatre you most likely came out feeling consumed with the thought that this notion of A.I. wasn’t too far off. In 2006 a group of Stanford University elites started the Singularity Summit—a conference of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI). Why, you ask? Well, to talk about singularity of course. What is singularity? It’s what inspired Jonze to write this film in the first place. MIRI is a non-profit whose entire mission is to “research safety issues related to the development of Strong A.I.” and study the long-term outcomes of artificial intelligence that can perform the full range of human cognitive abilities (just like Samantha). Are you scared yet? Yes, you are— computers are taking over the world and soon they’ll be swooping up your bae for romantic weekend excursions to the coast.

Te c h n o l o g i c a l s i n g u l a r i t y — t h e i d e a that an operating system, like Samantha, could upgrade itself and enter a “runaway reaction” resulting in a series of rapid “selfimprovement cycles” eventually surpassing all human intelligence was first introduced in the 1950s by John von Neumann. Neumann is maybe best known for his work on the Manhattan Project during WWII, but this man wrote over 150 papers during his life on pure mathematics, physics and applied mathematics. His last work, which he wrote on his deathbed is called “The Computer and the Brain.”

Okay, okay, so a group of nerds get together every year to talk technological singularity and compliment one another’s tortoise shell glasses. There is no need to be concerned, right? Well that’s all in the eye of

the beholder—devices already exist with the ability to read your facial expressions and determine your mood.

S h o u l d we b e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e advancement of A.I. technology? Well yes and no. Don’t rush to your kitchen and handshape a tin-foil cap quite yet. There are two sides to every story. Affectiva, a company out of Waltham, Massachusettes spearheaded by Rana el Kaliouby—an Egyptian woman who received a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Cambridge has produced a software program called Affdex. In an article published in The New Yorker, Rana shares that the applications of Affectiva are vast.

Affectiva’s software, which came out of the M.I.T. Media Lab and uses machine learning to interpret data, is used to test television shows on primetime networks, it can predict voting preferences by those watching presidential debates and can be used in business negotiations by reading the faces of those in heated business-driven Skype chats.

The question remains, what are the potential implications of this software and software like Affdex? Well, there is very real concern by many scientists that an OS, like Samantha in Her, could upgrade itself— eventually surpassing all human intelligence.

This is why MIRI meets annually—to discuss the reality of these implications. Technology, on most fronts, has the ability to be used for good or evil—Affdex isn’t any different.

R a n a’s i n s p i r a t i o n b e h i n d b u i l d i n g machine learning software was for assistive technology purposes—like aiding an autistic child in uncomfortable social situations where eye contact is difficult, for example. Or, when put to use in a vehicle, the technology can determine when a driver is too drowsy to be on the road and send a warning signal.

Quite simply, technology is man-made and whether it’s used for good or evil is determined be the operator. When I dove into the research for this article, I expected to be disillusioned. It turns out that much of the energy and research that goes into creating assistive technology is spearheaded by individuals whose aim is to make this world a better, more inclusive space.

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Let’s Talk About Sexbots, Baby

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et’s talk aaaaabout ‘bots. What is the future of sexuality? We’ve seen the effects of pornography on modern relationships, both negative and positive—what if we throw advanced, eerily-lifelike AI (Artificial Intelligence) sexbots into the mix? Will it alter what it means to be intimate, or our views on consent? How will it affect gender roles? Let’s dive in.

We’re currently on the cusp of new sexbot technology—what a time to be alive! There’s no cure for cancer yet, but hey, priorities. At the forefront of this industry is Abyss Creations, the San Marcos-based company that brought us the RealDoll. RealDolls are lifelike, silicone dolls that resemble human men and women, albeit grossly exaggerated versions of the human form. As the majority of RealDoll clients are males who purchase female bots, our examination of sexbots will focus mostly on a heterosexual narrative, and these musings of their effect on society should be taken as pure conjecture, not fact.

The newest RealDoll model is named Harmony.

Her body is based on the RealDoll model, but her head has been souped up with AI features. She talks, she can move her face, and you can even program her to remember your birthday. Oh, and she costs about $15,000. Harmony will be available for purchase at the end of 2017, although the first product launch will spawn only 1,000 dolls—and customers have already eagerly expressed interest with pre-orders.

Jenny Kleeman’s Guardian article, “The race to build the world’s first sex robot,” dives into Harmony ’s creator, Matt McMullen. Who are these dolls for, exactly? McMullen says they are “for the gentle people who have such a hard time connecting with other[s].” But what are the ethical implications of owning something that looks, acts, and could be considered a substitute for a human woman? She’s a machine, according to its creator, nothing more than a device. So why does she need to remember your birthday?

Larry Kummer of Fabius Maximus, a geopolitical site, has his own theories: “What happens to society when many men—even more than today—drop out of the rat race, no longer interested in running to get a wife, house, and kids? . . . Offsetting this might be women’s lessening interest in relationships with men. Their growing economic independence, as more women move on top of men economically, means they find it less necessary to marry in order to have children.”

K u m m e r ’s m u s i n g s p o s e a n i n t e r e s t i n g evolutionary turn—that women will continue to thrive and forgo relationships with men, and

instead progress society to new heights, while men regress, favoring to build a simple life filled with simple pleasures, sexbot (rather than a human partner) by their side. While this idea only considers heteronormative couples, and relies on old stereotypes—women just want families, men just want sex—it’s an interesting avenue to explore. In a society where sexbots become the norm, easily available to any consumer and in uncannily lifelike forms, would men (or, at least, a statistically significant number of men) choose to ‘opt out’ of society?

DOPE’s resident sex columnist, Ashley Manta, had some cheerier thoughts to share with me. She is an educator, coach and activist, and predicts that the future of sex won’t revolve around sexbots, but rather, VR (Virtual Reality) porn. “As a former phone sex operator,” she explained, “I’ve watched the industry shift from phone sex to cam sex to sexting, and now we’ve gotten to VR porn and VR camming . . . I think eventually it’ll get to the point that people in long-distance relationships (or who are traveling for trips) but will able to get into the VR space with their partners.”

Is our desire for connection simply too strong?

Can sexbots dismantle the evolutionary urges that have bound us together for thousands of years?

“I do not think sexbots will replace sex between humans,” Manta told me. “For one thing, [sex] is a lot of fun and feeds our need for connection with other humans, whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual, or all of the above.” I don’t know if a sexbot could ever replace the human touch, except act as an alternative for those who can’t find human partners, or enhance bedroom activities for existing couples. I’d like to think that women can’t be replaced by a robot vagina you can pop out and clean in your dishwasher.

It’s fun (and somewhat terrifying) to ruminate on what the future of sex could look like, particularly as AI and VR technology rapidly develops. The world isn’t a bad ‘80s standup set, however, where women are frigid and sexless, and men only have one thing on their minds. We live in world in which, thankfully, the mainstream narrative is becoming increasingly non-heteronormative; not everyone identifies as a certain gender, sexuality can be a spectrum, and there are no qualities that are inherently ‘male’ or ‘female.’ We are what we are.

Sexbots will change some aspects of intimacy, surely, but will it destroy us? Maybe. Maybe not.

Only time will tell. And if an evil, Terminator-esque sexbot is reading this, I, for one, welcome our sexbot overlords!

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Brave New World: The Future Of Childbirth 56

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ecent scientific innovations are reminiscent of something out of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World rather than reality. In a world where “sex bots” are a reality, computers can recognize and respond to a person’s emotional state, and a 3D-printed uterus has successfully made babies, what is the future of motherhood? Two decades ago there were no baby gift registries, no online support groups for new mothers. The ability to search terms like “colic help” and receive an abundance of instantaneous information wasn’t possible, as the internet wasn’t yet a resource. The Internet didn’t launch until 1991, and since then advancements in technology—although helpful in many ways—have also left many traditions in the diaper genie, possibly forever.

Recently, a team of bioengineers made a discovery that may change the way childbirth is perceived. They were able to use ovarian tissue as ‘ink’ in order to 3D-print mouse ovaries.

After these 3D-printed ovaries were surgically placed in live mice, the mice birthed live babies. If the idea of a 3D-printed ovary that can birth a child doesn’t remind you of something out of a Black Mirror episode, let’s take it a step further: an artificial womb. Nature Communications created a device that mimics the womb with a circulatory system that goes through an oxygenator, allowing blood flow through the “umbilical cord” and a fluid environment that mimics the amniotic fluid of a live mother.

Surrogacy is on the rise, and it would seem technology has taken the next “logical” step with the artificial womb.

Surrogacy comes with a barrage of legal and ethical complications; the commodification of women’s bodies, turning impoverished women into baby mills; the possibility of a black market, or breeding farms that could contribute to the child sex trade; and the inevitable degradation of pregnancy as a service—and the baby as a product. But if history has taught us anything, it is that science and technology do not ask “Should we? ” but rather, “Can we?”

With the introduction of the artificial womb, students from Artez Product Design Arnhem recently introduced the Par-tu-ri-ent, an incubator that would bring a child

into the world completely outside of the womb. Much like the artificial womb, it would eliminate the middle-woman.

The Par-tu-ri-ent pod incubator can be safely kept in your home or nursery so that that parents can observe every moment. Complete with a feeding device that attaches to the incubator, a communication device so that baby can hear the coos, oohs and ahhs of those that await patiently, and even a portable care bag that simulates baby kicks.

Although only a concept, this project, which was presented at the Biodesign Challenge Summit, and challenges every belief we have ever had about pregnancy and motherhood.

Pregnancy has always been thought to be a time that is crucial to bonding and development. According to a study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, even the sound of a mother’s heartbeat and voice can actually help the baby grow. It has also long been known that even the very structure of a woman’s brain changes during pregnancy, increasing the regions that affect empathy, anxiety and social interaction, prompting those maternal feelings of love, protectiveness and worry for the newborn.

The more technological advancements we create, the farther we seem to stray from what makes us human. Is this a natural evolution, or are we slowly commodifying human life, turning natural birth into a commercial transaction for the profits of the elite? One can only hope that we can learn from Huxley’s Brave New World, where embryos are inevitably produced in a Hatchery and casted before birth into Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta or Epsilon classifications, and there is shame in being a parent or giving birth.

Technological advancements have saved many lives and changed many more, certainly. 3-D printed ovaries could help women who have had cancer and undergone radiation conceive again, and the artificial womb could help premature babies grow to term, saving and changing lives for the better.

However, in the spirit of conjecture and this science fiction fan’s speculation, although Huxley’s world is fictional and may seem far-fetched to most, it wasn’t long ago that there was no World Wide Web—not even a lifetime ago. What new innovations await us? And will we be ready for them?

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THE FUTURE OF CALIFORNIA’S ADULT USE OF MARIJUANA ACT POTENCY, PATIENTS, PACKAGING & PRIORITIES WRITER / JOSHUA “SHWA” LAYTART

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PHOTO / ASHLEIGH CASTRO

e can all be gettin’ high LEGALLY in California soon! With the Adult Use of Marijuana Act’s inception just around the corner, the latest debate has been about edible potency and public safety, particularly surrounding our children.

Everyone has (or has heard) a horror story about the consumption of cannabis-infused foods. My personal favorite is the viral 911 recording of a police officer claiming he was dead after eating brownies he made with confiscated cannabis.

Even though the American Public Health Association recently published a study reiterating that “eating cannabis products is better for consumers than smoking,” edibles are still the black sheep of the cannabis industry. If someone who has consumed hurts themselves, or someone else, edibles are often blamed. This hysteria is most likely here to stay, unfortunately.

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The effects of edibles are much different than the effects of smoking cannabis.

Edibles take longer to come on, and the effects can last much longer. Additionally, edibles contain a large concentration of cannabis that, unless tested, is unknown to the consumer; even if you are a daily user of cannabis, an untested edible can floor your ass faster than a Joe Rogan joke, or a Joe Rogan taekwondo dab to the cortex.

Even Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson have edibles-gone-wrong stories.

Thus far, states that have legalized cannabis use have determined their own potency limitations. Colorado and Washington have limited their edibles to 10mg per dose and 100mg per package, whereas Oregon has gone even lower, dictating 5mg per dose and 50mg per package. But who are these regulations helping—or hurting?

In 2014, the Marijuana Policy Group, a Denver-based consulting firm, found in a study that nearly 70 percent of cannabis demand comes from the top 22 percent of users. Heavy users are driving the market.

California-based cannabis company Korova Edibles launched their campaign, “No to 100,” to encourage patients to tell their stories about how high potency edibles have worked for them in response to the 2018 draft regulations. They sent about 500 letters to California lawmakers.

Andrew Del Greco, a representative with Korova Edibles, says the company does not believe there should be a limit for medical patients. “Medical patients need strong edibles to treat their ailments, and in many cases, they need 500mg to 1000mg edibles.

In some cases, patients can benefit from an edible that is more than 1000mg.”

If the limitations cap at 100mg per package and patients need 1000mg at a time, that’s TEN packages per dose.

And if each of those doses is individually wrapped, that’s what’s known in the waste management industry as a “shitton.” In 2014, the EPA reported that about 258 million tons of municipal solid waste were generated by us good ol’ American consumers. That’s great news if you happen to be part of the $118-billion-a-year packaging industry. But for those of us that look toward a sustainable future, this solution is only adding to a bigger problem.

These days, everyone has a ‘Guide to Edibles.’ First timers are always suggested to start with 10mg or less, then wait up to two hours before ingesting more. You can always have more, but never less. This information is out there, and easy to find. Even OSHA has a Cannabis Training Program they’re preparing to launch. The responsibility lands in all of our hands. As a high-dose edibles manufacturer and father, I understand both sides of the issue. As the co-founder of Giggle Therapeutics, I know that proper testing, consistency, safe packaging and education are all a part of branding.

Dispensaries also must educate customers and patients, and, let’s be real here, the end user holds the largest responsibility of all. If you have products in your house that may be hazardous to children, animals or dumb-ass friends who just don’t seem to know any better, then it is up to YOU to be a responsible adult and secure your cannabis.

We shall all soon be a part of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act outcome. Hats off to Lori Ajax, Chief of the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulations. Lori and her team have been working around the clock to digest all the information and produce a smart and safe solution for California.

Everyone should be concerned about public safety and the welfare of others, especially when it comes to children. We also need to remember that no one should suffer, however, and that the patients who truly need this life-changing plant should be able to receive it in the form that works best for them. Today, most pharmaceutical medications come with a booklet filled with serious side effects, some including death, and these medications are not only easily accessible by children, they’re also prescribed. We need to take a deeper look at our priorities, and consider which medicine is truly more ‘dangerous.’

Let’s hope that here in California we can separate adult use regulations for relaxation and pleasure from regulations surrounding medical patients who need the plant to make it through the day.

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ON A QUEST FOR THE BEST BUT, WHY?

WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

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estern culture is obsessed with the idea of the ‘superior derivative.’ We are always searching for the best, the one active ingredient, the fastest, largest or greatest thing. Our entire medical system is even based on the idea of eliminating ‘inactive’ ingredients to find the derivative. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen and, ultimately, our fascination with THC, are all based on this obsession.

The entourage effect, or the idea that many compounds within cannabis act in combination to create its effects, has become widely known and even scientifically confirmed. The past 20 years of legalization efforts in the US have largely been based around this argument, and Marinol’s (dronabinal, a synthetic pharmaceutical THC) poor performance further highlighted the entourage effect’s efficacy. Interestingly, the same underground industry that proved the entourage effect went on to create a legal industry, that, yet again, obsessed over finding the magic derivative. Growers and breeders, who then influence consumers, have sought after ever-higher THC percentages; there’s the ongoing argument of hydro vs. organic; and everyone has a brother, uncle, grandma or cousin that is the self-proclaimed World’s Greatest Grower.

Much like everything else in life, this issue continues to reside in a gray area. Some of the most beautiful things that’ve come to be are blends, even when they’re not recognized.

LANDRACE STRAINS Landrace strains are a great example of this phenomenon. There’s been speculation about a ‘pure’ landrace sativa or indica in recent years, mostly based on misinformation; the idea in itself is rather ludicrous. A landrace strain is simply a local varietal, similar to an heirloom tomato. It’s not a ‘pure’ version of anything, other than hundreds, if not thousands, of years of local weather conditions producing the strongest genetic survivors. That means they are the result of season after season of open-pollinated crossbreeds. This isn’t to say there’s no inherent value in landrace strains, however.

Just as heirlooms are bred to withstand certain environmental conditions or produce a specific type of fruit, indigenous landrace strains carry certain genetics key to breeding and long-term development. If left to their own devices, landrace strains can even potentially create new, useful characteristics.

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GROWING METHODS Another common perception is that any combination of indoor, outdoor or greenhouse grows with hydroponic or organic methods are consistently superior. Beside the arbitrary preferences of any smoker or gardener, every environment and growing regimen is unique, and thus, so is the product. While certain methods are known for producing distinct characteristics, everything is relative and interdependent—one of many reasons why the cut you grew looks nothing like your buddies from the same plant. In medical and recreational states, many of the largest facilities have achieved their most efficient results by blending the best of both the chemical and organic worlds.

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THC AND CBD We all know THC is the most prevalent cannabinoid in a majority of cannabis varieties. This isn’t by chance. Until all too recently, most growers bred towards higher and higher THC percentages. While the cannabis community was certainly a clandestine society of its own, they still used western science to justify their means. Growers bred toward THC because they thought it was the chemical that gave us all of the medicinal and recreational benefits of cannabis.

Time and science have proven, we were wrong. CBD, amongst other cannabinoids, show tremendous medicinal uses without the psychotropic effects of THC. And just as we started to believe that CBD was the new miracle compound, we were once again pushed back toward a gray area. Cannabinoids have been proven to work best, and with the most diverse applications, when in combination with other cannabinoids, as well as naturally occurring terpenes and flavonoids. This should come as no surprise, considering what many in the community have known all along: the entourage effect is real.

In the end, the ‘best’ methods are those that consider their own shortcomings. Whether this is a way of thinking or a physical practice, being one-sided is only divisive, and ultimately self-inflicting. The cannabis industry has a unique opportunity to demonstrate the power of collaboration and progressive research to other industries. Start small, try new things, make new friends and look at everything as objective. Little steps of progress can make big changes and help educate future generations.

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Arizer also has your safety in mind. This new and improved version has a power-on delay and auto shut-off timer. You can adjust these on the easy-to-use LED screen settings. The auto shut-off allows you to vape for up to 15 minutes per session before it shuts off for a safe, all-day vaping experience. Arizer is known for their quality, durable products and the Solo II does not disappoint!

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TEARDROP OF INDIA

T R AV E L

THE FUTURE OF SRI LANKAN CANNABIS FACES CHALLENGES WRITER/PHOTO / SESHATA

D

espite the growing support for cannabis internationally, and—as previously discussed—the rich history of Ceylonese cannabis culture, there are major barriers standing in the way of a legal future for ganja in Sri Lanka. As we’ll see, these aren’t limited to the law itself. For a country with such a long and rich history of cannabis use, it is striking how strict the taboos against it have become since its prohibition, which was first brought into law in 1936, and progressively tightened by a series of amendments in the 1980s.

SOCIAL TABOOS STILL REIGN SUPREME I spoke to a high-ranking government official about the cannabis situation in Sri Lanka, who agreed to talk with me only under conditions of anonymity. According to this official, recreational cannabis use is never seen as acceptable in Sri Lankan society—it is seen as “just another narcotic,” and is heavily associated with “inferior, antisocial, unbecoming behavior.”

He informed us that there has been essentially “no public effort” to promote and legitimize cannabis in Sri Lanka, and that one of the major obstacles ostensibly standing in the way of outright legalization was fear on the part of the authorities that “distribution [would go] out of control.”

He went on: “Nobody supports recreational usage; it need not be recognized in law. Those who are using it, irrespective of social taboo or legal deterrence, will go on using it. The status quo remains.”

The official continued to explain that, in Sri Lanka, social attitudes can be extremely conservative and deeply entrenched. He cited as an example the recent efforts to legalize homosexuality, which were rejected by Sri Lankan lawmakers in January 2017—meaning that gay couples will remain ineligible for the legal protections offered to heterosexual households, and homosexual activity of all forms will remain illegal.

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CHANGE CAN HAPPEN, BUT AT GLACIAL SPEEDS However, the social situation in Sri Lanka may not be quite as dire as it appears. While the proposal to decriminalize homosexuality may have failed, it was agreed that the National Human Rights Action Plan for 20172021 would be updated to include a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This is far from the ideal outcome, but is at least a small step in the right direction.

In terms of cannabis, the situation is highly complex and nuanced. Although social use is heavily frowned upon in “polite” society, medicinal cannabis has never been completely prohibited, and there has been a system in place for years that allocates Indigenous and Ayurvedic doctors a certain amount of cannabis to use in their preparations.

In recent years, the Ministry of Indigenous M e d i c i n e a n d t h e Ay u r v e d i c D r u g s Corporation has made repeated requests to properly legalize, regulate and license the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

S o m e p o l i t i c i a n s , h oweve r, c a l l f o r legalization across the board. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Sumedha G. Jayasena, stated in 2008: “Even Buddhist monks of the area demand that ganja be legalized. These Bhikkhus come to us and request that laws be amended in Parliament to remove legal barriers to allow free cultivation of ganja.”

Ms. Jayasena, widely known for her conservatism as Minister of Women’s Affairs/ Empowerment, has become gradually more pro-cannabis in recent years. If leading conservative thinkers can be persuaded of the benignity and potential of cannabis, perhaps this is a positive indication for wider Sri Lankan society.

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WHAT NEXT FOR SRI LANKA’S CANNABIS FARMERS? The main hubs for the cultivation of cannabis in Sri Lanka are almost all situated in the south of the country—areas that experienced widespread devastation in May this year, due to the most severe floods the country has seen in over a decade.

The floods have also affected areas known for the production of tea, one of Sri Lanka’s principal exports. The Qatar-based news outlet Al-Jazeera recently reported on the impact of the 2017 floods on the tea farmers of Matara district in the extreme south of the country: “For many of the 400,000 small farmers who grow more than 70 percent of t h e c o u n t r y ’s t e a , t h e floods covered their tea b u s h e s b y u p t o f i ve metres with mud and sludge, leading to the rotting of some roots.”

The article quoted Prabhat Bezbaruah, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, as stating that “a l m o s t 3 0 0 tonnes of tea

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and green leaf were destroyed by the floods, while damage to factories is still being assessed . . . the cost of the floods needs to be measured in humanitarian, and not financial, terms. Losses that small farmers have incurred in terms of their lives and property are substantial.”

It seems rather unjust that the plight of Sri Lanka’s tea farmers can be reported openly, while farmers of a different crop are ignored.

It’s very likely that homes, land and lives have also been lost in the cannabis-farming communities dotted around Sri Lanka’s southern provinces—yet these communities have no official body to represent them, and no one to decry their loss.

Furthermore, the long-term environmental health of the south of Sri Lanka may be in serious jeopardy, due to the ongoing efforts to realize a project known as the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP).

This project aims to deliver water to the southeast of the country via a complex system of tunnels, dams and power stations.

However, construction commenced in 2008, before the government received environmental clearance, despite mass p ro t e s t s f ro m l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s a n d environmental lobby groups. By now, it has allegedly caused the destruction of 7,000 homes, the desiccation of 3,000 wells and brooks, the depletion of 80 million liters of groundwater per day, and the devastation of farming land. It is now being dubbed the “worst environmental disaster in Sri Lanka.”

Clearly, the future holds many challenges for cannabis farmers and the agricultural sector in general in Sri Lanka. The need for the protection of cannabis farmers’ rights, and of the delicate environmental balance in Sri Lanka, has never been higher.

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uphoria is located in the southeastern suburbs of Las Vegas, in a strip mall that also contains a dentist and a Japanese restaurant. As such, Euphoria tends to serve a more local clientele. The shop itself is relatively minimal, dominated by blonde wood and well-polished tile. A waiting room with two check-in windows and a half-dozen chairs leads to a sales room with two enormous glass cases full of products. However, Euphoria is in the process of expanding into an adjacent space, and will soon double in size. “A lot more room,” says Darlene Purdy, Managing Director of Euphoria Wellness, nodding at the full waiting area.

THE PRODUCT The store may be small, but the selection is more than adequate, with a wide range of products. “Flower is still the most popular. Edibles are popular for new rec people because maybe they’ve never tried it before; it’s something new,” explains Purdy. “We also have one of the largest arrays of shatter in town.”

Still, Euphoria sells more flower than anything else: “Summa is our cultivation.

It’s definitely the most popular, since we can offer it at a discounted value,” says Purdy, adding that Mother’s Milk is their most popular strain, an indicadominant hybrid. Euphoria also sticks to its medical roots by offering a number of CBD products, including disposable vape pens and even products for pets.

THE HISTORY Euphoria Wellness was the first medical marijuana dispensary in the Las Vegas area, opening its doors on August 24, 2015, to a line of eager patients.

Purdy notes that the shop initially didn’t carry many different strains, and “when we started, we had no edibles, it took about six months for edibles to come on the market.” Nearly two years later, at midnight on July 1, 2017, Euphoria saw another line at their door as they began serving recreational customers for the first time. Before recreational weed, “we saw maybe about 10 patients per hour,” says Purdy, noting that the first rec weekend saw about three times that number of customers. “It’s busier than we had projected.”

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FARMING THE HIGH SEAS F E AT U R E

THE FUTURE OF FLOATING GARDENS WRITER / JESSE PERRY

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G

ardens have been essential to human civilization throughout history. From the Garden of Eden to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to Mother Earth herself, gardens have been part of how we survive and flourish as a species. Since man first planted crops more than 10,000 years ago, agriculture and horticulture have been in our blood, both figuratively and literally.

Today, the world’s population has reached 7.5 billion, according to the 2017 UN Worldometer estimates, growing at an incremental rate of 1.11 percent each year since 1955, putting global projections at a milestone of 10 billion by 2056.

Currently, agriculture consumes 11 percent of the world’s entire landmass, using a mere third of the potential space available to grow crops for food and medicine. The remaining two thirds fluctuates between being ‘usable,’ based on flooding, natural conditions and climate change. From these numbers, the demand for production in usable areas would increase by 70 percent over the next few decades, a seemingly i m p o s s i b l e t a s k , a c c o rd i n g t o t h e Food and Agricultural Organization.

Included in those crops is one of the largest world-trend cultivations, cannabis. Cannabis is used by 147 million people worldwide, or about 2.5 percent of the population, according to the World Health Organization; that number will only increase as time progresses as more

people become exposed to cannabis and additional medical advances are made in the cannabis industry. In fact, there have already been reports in the US of dispensary shortages as demand grows with the influx of new patients, reaching more than 1.2 million in 2016, according to medicalmarijuana.org.

On a certain level, the future is an equation unfolding before us, with numbers acting as clues, giving evidence to the shape of things to come. But science isn’t always about the evidence— it’s about how you interpret the evidence.

What’s being revealed is that we have all the natural resources we need at our fingertips, with the ability to produce enough food and medication for future generations to come.

Analysts, architects and agriculturists around the world are looking to use practical applications and time-tested tactics to ensure a future for us all, and have arrived at the idea of ‘floating gardens.’ No stranger to the chapters of our planet’s history, floating gardens have been utilized around the world, mainly in inhabited areas plagued by flooding or struck by natural disasters, or simply to protect them from animals.

Examples can be seen in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand. These versions are essentially floating rafts, constructed from buoyant plant-life, bamboo, compost and manure, lasting only a single season before needing to be recycled.

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WHAT CAN MODERN TECHNOLOGY TELL US? With advances in modern technology, these single-season floating crops have the potential to become more—much more. Current prototypes visualize the gardens as three-story floating platforms that range from trailer-sized to football field-sized, each with the ability to dock with one another. Each level consists of an integral layer of the engineered ecosystem. The top layer would generate clean energy, consisting of solar panels and rain catchers, while the middle section will produce hydroponic crops. The lower level would maintain aquaculture and house sea life.

As many hydroponic growers know, using less area to grow produces a higher yield per square foot, eliminates weeding, diminishes pests/ disease and reduces a crop’s grow cycle, making more product available faster, all in a highly-controlled environment. Coupled with sustainable water practices and self-digesting pollutants, floating gardens may effectively curb foreseeable production issues for any number of cultivators worldwide, especially cannabis growers.

For now, these first-generation gardens are only concept prototypes.

They are being tested by companies like Smart Floating Farms and Forward Thinking Architecture in still water environments like marinas, estuaries, rivers and lakes, tethered to an adjoining dock, allowing people to visit the vessel and even make purchases. Effectively turning the structure in to a self-sustaining farmers market, these gardens could produce as much as eight tons of produce annually in a 22,500 square foot space. This concept could someday be turned into a fully operational grow, complete with a kitchen, laboratory, dispensary and product floor—in states where cannabis is legal, of course.

GARDENS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS

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Future generations will undoubtedly be tested in open waters, left to survive at sea for extended periods of time. These off-shore garden editions will be of a larger variety, able to provide food and medicine to entire towns, cities, states or even countries. Instead of being tethered to a dock, however, they will be anchored in the open ocean or a vast body of water.

But what if these gardens were stationed in international waters?

To date, no product has ever been produced in these ‘trans-boundary waters.’ Mankind has only hunted, studied and explored, but never harnessed the sea as farmland. The ‘high seas,’ as they are ironically called, make up an area that exists 12 nautical miles (13.8mi) off the coast of every country. Here, there is no sovereign state, no taxes, no tariffs, no maritime law; only open waters and endless possibilities.

North American cannabis sales reached 6.7 billion dollars in 2016, with projections hitting the 20 billion mark by 2021, according to Forbes. Additionally, the Agricultural Act of 2014 authorized 956 billion in nutrition and agricultural programs through 2024 (USDA). With numbers like these, it’s impossible to imagine floating gardens not playing a significant role on a worldwide scale.

As far as the cannabis industry is concerned, there are still some questions about floating gardens that need answering. But an oldworld remedy may be just the ticket for a new world problem as demand continues to blossom in the world’s fastest growing market.

Although this concept might not solve all our agricultural issues, it will certainly play a vital role in the development of our future.

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