DOPE Magazine - Oregon - The Active Issue - October 2017

Page 1

THE ACTIVE ISSUE OCTOBER 2017 FREE

DEFENDING OUR PLANT EVERYWHERE

FEATURE WHERE RISK MEETS

REWARD: FOUR ATHLETES CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS

TRAVEL DOPE ON THE ROAD: COLORADO, A GREEN STATE DIVIDED

LIFESTYLE UFC STARS SHED LIGHT ON THEIR #1 TRAINING MUST-HAVE: CANNABIS

STRAIN REBEL BERRY OG EDIBLE MR. MOXEY’S MINTS CONCENTRATE THC-A CRYSTALLINE STORE MINDRITE GARDEN EAST WIND CANNABIS


www.eviolabs.com - 888.544.3846

TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF CANNABIS. FU LL COM PLIANC E TE STI NG S E RVIC E S .

PORTL AND

EUGENE

MEDFORD

BEND


3


C R E AT E TO I N S P I R E


MERCHANDISING | MARKETING ADVISORY |

(RE)BRANDING

|

We create brands that inspire movements. Inquire for eligibility.

STRATEGY |

Revitalize your brand. Take it national global.

WWW.AURAVENTURES.CO


@PUNCHEXTRACTS

@PUNCHEDIBLES_US

TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU VISIT

PUNCHEDIBLES.COM F O R

W H O L E S A L E

3 2 3 . 9 0 2 . 7 3 2 0



A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

THE FUTURE OF ROLLING

TM


SHRED 3 POUNDS IN 2 SECONDS WITH THE FUTUROLA SHREDDER FILL 100 PRE-ROLLED CONES IN 2 MINUTES WITH THE FUTUROLA KNOCKBOX 2

NEW F U T U R O L A S H R E D D E R + K N O C K B OX 2 AVA IL A BL E N OW

800-651-9598

FUTUROLAUSA.COM


OCTOBER 2017 | THE ACTIVE ISSUE

EDITOR’S LETTER O

ne of the first things you’re taught in Sociology 101 is how exaggerated or distorted generalizations about a group of people can continue to persist, despite evidence to the contrary. Yes, I am talking about stereotypes. The Active Issue gives those in the cannabis community the opportunity to dislodge a tightly held misconception about ‘stoners.’ The belief? You guessed it—that cannabis consumers are lackadaisical, unkempt, goalless couch potatoes who would rather dwell in their parents’ basement with chip crumbs stuck to their face than be contributing members of society. If this issue can teach us one thing, it’s that some of the most celebrated, decorated athletes do in fact use—and recommend—cannabis. In this issue we met up with Brian Freeman, AKA B-Free, an extreme rollerblader out of the Bay Area, to discuss his introduction to the blading world, his work as a Barbary Coast budtender and his preroll company, Bombshell. We flew down to L.A. to interview world champion kickboxer Joe Schilling and extreme athlete Kanya Sesser—two unbelievably strong, humble and dedicated competitors constantly raising the bar in their respective fields. We had the sincere pleasure of catching up with Al Harrington, an NBA veteran of nearly 20 years and current co-captain of Trilogy, a team in Ice Cube’s new 3-on-3 league, BIG3—Al’s team won the championship this year, we might add! Matt Gerdes swung by the DOPE offices, as well. Gerdes is a wingsuit BASE jumper and adrenaline junkie who not only participates in the sport, he helps design the superhero-esque Squirrel suits that allow jumpers to glide through the air. Our cover features skateboarder Elliot Sloan, an X Games gold medalist who braves dropping into mega ramps and shreds in a metal band on the side. Sloan’s mother, who has been one of his biggest supporters, recently fought a tough battle with cancer and used cannabis during her recovery. Sloan has made it his mission to change the perception of cannabis and currently holds a sponsorship from Weedmaps. Each issue of DOPE Magazine is an opportunity to pulverize distorted and flawed conceptions about the role cannabis plays in our lives. Whether you’re new to the cannabis space, a curious spectator, an OG or someone not yet convinced of the benefits of cannabis, this issue is for you. Stay DOPE! The DOPE Editorial Team

RECENTLY CORRECTED ARTICLES We would like to note three errors in our September issue: In our profile of artist Eric Herrmann, Herrmann’s last name was regrettably misspelled in the article title. Our edible feature for Colorado incorrectly reported that Sweet Mary Jane’s Pop Star Caramel Corn is 150mg per recreational bag; 150mg is the medical amount, and the recreational amount is 10mg per bag. We would also like to note that the address for Arizona’s featured store, Earth’s Healing, is located at 2075 E Benson Hwy in Tucson, AZ 85714. We regret the errors.

?!

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? INFO@DOPEMAGAZINE.COM

@DOPEMAGAZINE

WANT TO ADVERTISE? $ ADS@DOPEMAGAZINE.COM

DOPEMAGAZINE.COM DOPE MAGAZINE AND THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THIS PUBLICATION ARE COPYWRITTEN BY 2016 DOPE MAGAZINE LLC. ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM DOPE MAGAZINE LLC.


WORLD LEADER IN CANNABIS REFINEMENT EQUIPMENT UP TO 99.85% TOTAL CANNABINOIDS

rootsciences.com

info@rootsciences.com (206) 452-1130


OC TO BER

THE ACTIVE ISSUE

NATHAN CHRYSLER PARTNER

STEPHANIE DANESE CONTROLLER

FAUSTINE SAMEC DISTRIBUTION MANAGER LIANE PETTET STAFF ACCOUNTANT

EDITORIAL

MERCEDES MCCAW FRONT DESK/OFFICE ASSISTANT

BLAZE ROBINSON CHRIS SAYEGH E. SOMES

ASHLEY BELFSKY GRAPHIC DESIGNER @ashleybelfsky

TODD TIBBETTS DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR @toddtibbetts

CHRISTINA HEINTZELMAN DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS

LISETTE MENDES HR SPECIALIST

BJORN BOLIVAR

BEAU GREENER GRAPHIC DESIGNER @credendastudios

JENNIFER TRAMAGLINO JESSE PERRY

JONAH TACOMA

TREK HOLLNAGEL STRATEGIC ADVISOR

GLACE BONDESON WEB DIRECTOR

D I G I TA L

BUSINESS

JAMES ZACHODNI CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

BEN GARCIA

JIM LANGER CINEMATOGRAPHER/EDITOR @jimlanger JORDAN SWENSON CINEMATOGRAPHER/EDITOR @jordan.m.swenson VANCE ASHWORTH DIGITAL DESIGNER @vancelaroy

ANDREA LARSON EDITORIAL MANAGER

GIANNA SPANGLER STUDIO COORDINATOR

DAVID BAILEY EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

EVAN CARTER PUBLISHER

DESIGN

DAVID TRAN CHIEF BRANDING OFFICER

AARON MILLER

NARISSA-CAMILLE PHETHEAN SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER @narissa.camille

MELISSA JOY

MSKINDNESS B. NATE JACKSON P. GOTTI PERRY FEIN RADIOHASH

RICARDO S. LOPEZ JR. RYAN HERRON

UNIVERSAL UNDERGROUND WEED BETTY

WILL KERSTEN

DOPE FOTO

SCOTT USELDING NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR

EHREN JOSEPH EMILY NICHOLS

ZAK HUGHES SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER

ERIC ERLANDSEN ERICK GARCIA JAMAL EID

CODY NASH SALES OPERATION SPECIALIST

JASON HORVATH

SR. ACCOUNT MANAGERS

JAY SCHOBER JENA SCHLOSSER

SALES

PHOTOGRAPHY

WIND HOME

DAVE SWIFT

ANGEL AHMAD

ERIC ERLANDSEN

NEVADA

LAURIE AND MARYJANE

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

JENNIFER TRAMAGLINO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

SESHATA

OREGON

WEED BETTY

TERRANCE MCDANIEL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

WIND HOME

JOSH DAVIS CARI CARMONAÂ RACHEL REYHER ROBERT ALLEN

REGIONAL DATABASE/CONTENT COORDINATORS

JASMINE SMITH MARKETING ASSISTANT

BRIAHNA NELSON CO, OR, WA

EVENTS

MATT CRISCIONE

JESSE PERRY

ASHLEIGH CASTRO AZ, NV, CA

12

MADELEINE JEAN

MICHELLE GLASSMAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

CATINA LESAVOY EVENTS DIRECTOR DANSEN DETRICK WA EVENTS AMBASSADOR COLBY HAYDEN OR EVENTS MANAGER

JORDAN SWENSON

TINA BALLEW

MARKETING

DOPE TERRITORIES

COLORADO

LUNA REYNA

THE GINJA NINJA

COOP

TASHA NGUYEN SOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

SHWA LAYTART

BEN GARCIA CAITLIN CALLAHAN

S. CALIFORNIA

LAURIE AND MARYJANE

SHASTA NELSON

ASHLEIGH CASTRO @hash_assassin BRIE SEAVEY

JASON ROSENBERG NORCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

LANE RADBILL

SESHATA

ALICE ESPOSITO

SHONTELLE REYNA STAFF WRITER

N. CALIFORNIA

KELLY VO

SCOTT PEARSE

KATIE CONLEY EDITOR

ARIZONA

2017

GEORGE JAGE CEO

EDDIE KING RYAN BURKE

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.


In the emerging legal cannabis industry there

HollyWeed North Cannabis Inc. ™ provides

are many potential hurdles an entrepreneurial

cross-border cannabis product research,

maker or grower might face as they take their

development, licensing and legal production

product to market or attempt to scale up

services for individuals, companies, and

production to meet growing demand.

associations.

Maintaining the quality of a small batch

We specialize in risk mitigation, Best

harvest or production is key even when

Production Practice implementation and

producing larger quantities.

pharmaceutical level manufacturing and

Makers and growers need to be concerned

production of Cannabis containing medical

with quality assurance in a way that they never

and recreational products.

did before. Products need to meet FDA level qualifications and be prepared in purpose

We have extensive networks of producers,

built facilities, packaged according to local

makers, and retailers in all current legal

state requirements and be beautifully branded

jurisdictions to provide full channel

and properly marketed. This is a tall order to

management for our clients. We compare

fill, especially if you’re a small team or a

ourselves to a publishing house. Our maker

solopreneur.

partners are the authors writing their stories and we are the publishing company that prints

One option is to consider partnering with a

and distributes their books to the masses.

group that has a proven track record, a cumulative 30 plus years in the industry, a

Say hi and tell us about yourself.

focus on compliance and risk management

Â

and a company culture that puts our partners first.


THE ACTIVE ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2017

16

INTERVIEW LIFE AFTER THE NFL WITH MARVIN WASHINGTON

20

FEATURE WHERE RISK MEETS REWARD: FOUR ATHLETES CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS

54

ACTIVE UFC STARS SHED LIGHT ON THEIR #1 TRAINING MUST-HAVE: CANNABIS

66

LIFESTYLE DOPE ON THE ROAD WITH JONAH TACOMA

76

#SCOUTEDBYDOPE

78

DOPE SHOTS PHOTO CONTEST WINNER - CHRIS ROMAINE

80

EDITOR’S CHOICE PAX3 VAPORIZER

82

SOCIAL MEDIA TAG @DOPEMAGAZINE

48

PROFILE LYNNETTE SHAW, THE TRUE BLUE GODMOTHER OF CANNABIS

62

TRAVEL AUSTRALIA’S HEMP OLYMPIX

40

COVER FEATURE SHREDDING WITH ELLIOT SLOAN MEGA RAMPS AND METAL BANDS

70

PROFILE THE DOPE LIFE OF B-FREE



INTERVIEW

FORMER DEFENSIVE END MARVIN WASHINGTON JOINS ATHLETES FOR CARE’S MISSION OF EDUCATION WRITER / WEEDBETTY PHOTO / COURTESY OF MARVIN WASHINGTON

16


L

ife hasn’t slowed down much for Super Bowl champion Marvin Washington. He spent 11 years in the NFL as a defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Denver Broncos, respectively, with a Denver Super Bowl win in 1998. Now he is as active as ever—both as a businessman and a cannabis advocate. Most recently, Washington is acting as one of five plaintiffs suing U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Department of Justice on the argument that “classifying cannabis as a Schedule I drug is so irrational that it violates the constitution.” According to Washington, “Right now, cannabis is not an industry, it’s a movement. We are all swimming in the same direction, but until it is adequately regulated and the negative connotations associated w i t h m a r i j u a n a g o a w a y…we a re n o t going anywhere.” Washington is also one of more than 200 former professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, MLB, boxing and other sports leagues who have joined together through Athletes for Care—many of whom have overcome opiate addiction, or witnessed the harm opiates have caused their teammates. Athletes for Care is dedicated to raising awareness on the cadre of issues former professional athletes face, such as head injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and CTE, a degenerative brain disease. “Playing in the trenches of the NFL for over a decade, we all have some permanent injuries,” explains Washington. “I manage my body by staying active.” He suffered many injuries throughout his NFL career and witnessed several of his teammates get addicted to opiates, which is why he wanted to join Athletes for Care’s efforts.

Washington speaks to the NFL and the NFL Players Association, keeping them current on research. He is optimistic they might finally be starting to listen as AFC pushes for reformed penalties regarding player drug testing. Washington pointed to a study conducted by ESPN’s Outside the Lines, which indicated that NFL players are four times as likely to suffer from opiate addiction than the general population. He also points to all the research coming from Israel, the leading cannabis research country in the world. “People are beginning to do the research, they just aren’t doing anything about it,” Washington asserts. “We are behind, and people are suffering.” Washington is also involved in several marijuana-related businesses, including his own line of CBD products called Isodol, as well as UNDOO™ Softgels, a nutritional supplement designed to alleviate the discomfort of an uncomfortable high. “I wanted to help others, specifically my peers, who were suffering and do not know there is a natural, non-addictive alternative to opiates,” Washington says. Post-NFL Washington maintains a regular fitness routine by working out several times a week. “It’s become a part of my lifestyle,” states Washington. He also stays active as both a businessman and a cannabis advocate, continuing his crusade to educate the NFL, declassify cannabis and educate the public on the benefits of the plant for his peers. ATHLETESFORCARE.ORG ISODIOL.COM UNDOO.COM

17




ACTIVE

FROM NBA TO CBD WITH AL HARRINGTON WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

20

PHOTO / JORDAN SWENSON


“B

oy, I ain’t smoking no marijuana, you better get outta my face!” Al’s voice booms across the grow room, mimicking his grandmother’s reaction when he first told her about medical marijuana. His massive stature seems out of place in such tight quarters, but walking through the towering colas and shady leaves Al sports a grin ear to ear. This wasn’t his first grow tour, and definitely not his first time around cannabis plants. But before Al became a successful cannabis entrepreneur, he played 16 years in the NBA. Yeah, I’m talking about Al Harrington. Most recently you’ve probably seen Al’s face all over ESPN and Fox Sports. Ice Cube’s new 3-on-3 league, BIG3, saw Al as co-captain of Trilogy and playing alongside former stars Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, Larry Hughes and Stephen Jackson—just to name a few. Seeing Al play leaves you wondering why he ever left the league, but as he remarks, “One game a week [with BIG3] is perfect, it’s like the NFL!” At 37 years old, playing again only makes sense. His transition from professional athlete to entrepreneur began with a start in real estate, but it was a little family inspiration that led to his venture in cannabis. Which leads us back to his grandmother. When he suggested she try cannabis, she wasn’t too happy about it. While playing for the Nuggets in 2010, amidst Colorado’s medical and soon-to-be recreational market, Al was inundated with news about the benefits of cannabis. Viola, his beloved grandmother, had suffered from glaucoma for years; it only made sense—at least, to Al—to talk to her about it, despite never having consumed cannabis himself, even for his own medical ailments. Viola acquiesced, however, and became a believer after being able to read her Bible for the first time in three years, exclaiming, “I’m healed!” Seeing Viola’s eyes opened to the powers of cannabis inspired Al to find a safe ‘in’ to the market. “In 2014,” Al explains, “obviously things went recreational, so they kinda killed the caregiver model [in Colorado] . . . my cousin Dan had to actually decide, did he want to be a [cannabis] company?” Al’s cousin wasn’t just asking his superstar family member for money, however: “We sat down and came up with a business plan that was actually good enough that I was willing to invest, so I invested in him,” Al smiles. “It’s been a great experience.” The aptly named Viola Extracts, which specializes in shatter, wax and crumble concentrates, has now taken off—an incredible feat, considering he had only recently begun to use cannabis for medicinal purposes. He’s come a long way from his East Coast roots.

21


ARTICLE TITLE Al grew up in Orange, New Jersey, with a lineage of family from the South. As politics have shown, neither the South nor the East Coast is particularly friendly towards cannabis, least of all cannabis use within the Black community. Statistically, the Black community has been specifically targeted by law enforcement, with wildly disproportionate cannabis-related arrest numbers as compared to white offenders. Al chose to stick to what he knew: basketball. “I just think about how many friends and people I know that have felonies on their record for marijuana possession . . . and it affects their lives forever. They cannot get a job at McDonalds, almost,” laments Al. “A [statistic], I believe from 2010, [found that] 52% of all drug related arrests [were] marijuana related,” he continues, “and now there’s an industry where people can potentially make billions of dollars. I think that’s just something that needs to be fixed.” He’s now playing an active hand in changing that status quo. Viola Extracts explicitly seeks to hire nonviolent victims of the war on drugs, and provides tools to employees to help expunge their criminal records. It might seem a little surprising, but “even though I knew [cannabis] helped my grandmother, I didn’t know it was gonna help me after my knee surgery,” Al admits. He endured 14 surgeries throughout his professional career, and he quickly fell in love with CBD as a treatment option after a friend and business partner convinced him to try a few different CBD products. “Ever since then,” shares Al, “I’ve never used a Vicodin, an antiinflammatory—I haven’t used anything. I’ve been straight cannabis.” Al is only now coming to realize how truly normalized cannabis has become, especially in recent years. “Once I say ‘cannabis,’ it’s like all the attention comes to me. They’re like, ‘Oh my god, I think it’s the greatest investment,’ ‘How do I get involved?’ . . . ‘I’ve been smoking since I was twelve’ and ‘I’ve been …’” He trails off, smirking. “These are some of the nerdiest looking parents or people you’ll ever see. Once I started talking about it, I realized it was so accepted,” he laughs. This is the normalization we’ve fought so hard for. From parents at kids’ birthday parties to the halls of Congress, everyone is talking about cannabis. We’re all aware of the difficulties across our nation, and Al is another voice—albeit a big one—saying it’s time for change. The fight is not yet won, and we need more advocates like Al. “I sometimes feel like those people are just made up,” Al notes when discussing anti-cannabis crusaders, “because I never run into that type of opposition when I talk about this industry and this plant.” With more voices like Al’s, we’re guaranteed to inch closer to federal legalization every day.

22


A special thanks to Abe Givins of Starpower Sports Marketing and Entertainment and Cultivar Farms for making this article possible.

23


ACTIVE

EXTREME ATHLETE KANYA SESSER IS UNSTOPPABLE WRITER / DAVID BAILEY PHOTO / JORDAN SWENSON

24


A

ctress, model, motivational speaker, professional winter and summer extreme spor ts athlete, and…entrepreneur? If the last one seems out of place, it’s not. “As an athlete in the Paralympics, we don’t just get money . . . we have to show people what we’re doing and achieving . . . I put myself in a way where I [get] noticed by people and [have] opportunities.” In so many ways, Kanya’s statement epitomizes the success she’s seen today. This is a woman who embraces every challenge thrown her way and knows how to stay in front. And if you haven’t heard of Kanya Sesser, you’re about to—although you’ve probably already spotted her in your favorite shows, sports or ad campaign. Endurance is a word Kanya embodies with a smile. Her energy captivates you the moment you meet her. This same energy and talent has drawn the more recent attention of the CBS show “Hawaii Five-0,” which has her in an entirely new type of role. “When I was playing Rosey Valera,” Kanya reflects, “her and I are different—she lost her legs. I never ‘lost’ my legs, and I get that . . . you need to be like, ‘Alright, gotta be in character, how would I feel if I lost my legs in a war accident?’ . . . I’ve never been to a war, I don’t know what that’s like, that’s for sure.” It was easily her toughest role to date but a chance she couldn’t miss. Most impressively (but not unsurprisingly), Kanya landed this part with almost no formal acting experience—and killed it. To say the least she was honored to have been called for the role and just as excited for the opportunity to surf in Hawaii! She first drew national attention for her swimsuit and lingerie modeling in 2015, working with Panty Prop, Nike and Billabong. To say the least, she came out swinging. Her first major acting gig was on another CBS network program, “Code Black,” which was nothing like her role in “Five-0.” As Kanya recalls, “I didn’t have to say anything. I just [lay] there like I was dying and lost my legs because someone ran me over at the Whole Foods market . . . I was on that hospital bed for hours!” She can’t help but laugh while explaining the experience. There’s not much she doesn’t laugh at, perhaps one of the many reasons she remains not only driven and successful, but the person in the room who everyone gravitates towards. It’s impressive to see her magnetic personality in action.

25


ARTICLE TITLE

26


“I PUT MYSELF IN A WAY WHERE I GOT NOTICED BY PEOPLE...”

L.A. has provided a perfect haven for Kanya. There aren’t many places in the world where you’re surrounded by ample business opportunities, a jungle of concrete and a myriad of beaches, trails and mountains to explore. Since age nine, “right after learning English,” Kanya took to skateboarding and surfing. The many other sports she participates in followed shortly thereafter. The city was also a natural relocation for her Paralympic training. One of the only things she hasn’t come to love about L.A. is the dating scene. “If I see another cupid,” Kanya jokes, “I’m gonna shoot him!” In recent years, motivational speaking has taken a center role in her daily life. Yes, she’s only 25, but has achieved more than many do in their entire life. She’s podiumed mono-skiing events since childhood, narrowly missing qualification for the 2014 Paralympic Games, and at the 2011 World National Championships for track was recorded as the third fastest woman in the world. As soon as she realized her story could help others, she knew the path she had to take. Now back to her entrepreneurship—it doesn’t come out of nowhere. After grinding her way through extreme sports and the battle of acquiring sponsorships, she worked at the Venice Beach Freak Show as a motivational speaker. It was “designed by Todd Ray, my best friend—also my manager and all that. What he does is really amazing, and he definitely supports me [and gives] me opportunities to become a better speaker. I really appreciate what I do,” shares Kanya. But this relationship has taken her well beyond the VBFS. Capturing her already driven spirit, Todd has helped craft her unstoppable drive to direction. There’s even rumors of a new Kanya-directed project-about time, considering she’s steered the trajectory of her own life from a very early age. Kanya didn’t come to the U.S. until she was five years old. She was discovered on the steps of a Buddhist temple in Thailand as an infant, then raised by local monks until she was transferred to various homes. A sweet older couple cared for her for several years until her adoption to a wonderful family in Portland, Oregon, was finalized. Beyond the support of her family, Kanya was embraced by the Portland community. “I put myself in a way where I got noticed by people,” she remembers. “I had opportunities.” Oregon Adaptive Sports facilitated some of her most fruitful connections as a young athlete, not to mention a brand new world of extreme sports, equipment and techniques. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, Kanya has achieved everything she’s set out to do, and she might be the most motivated person we’ve had the pleasure of knowing. If nothing else, there’s a lot to learn from her motto alone: “No legs, no limits.” SEE MORE @ DOPEMAGAZINE.COM

27


ACTIVE

CHAMPION KICKBOXER AND MMA COACH JOE SCHILLING WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

28

PHOTO / JORDAN SWENSON


W

hat type of person becomes a fighter? With the intensity, pain and endurance required to fight, most of us couldn’t survive the training alone, much less a formal bout. What type of person becomes the best kickboxer in their weight class in the world? Joe Fucking Schilling does. He’s not in-your-face, like you might expect. If anything, other than his obvious fighter stature, Joe is down-to-earth, sociable and an overall calm dude. What’s even crazier is that you’ve likely never heard of him. Kickboxing in the U.S. has taken a bit of a backseat to MMA, especially with the rise of the UFC over the past decade. The MMA world, however, has not forgotten this huge subsection of their own sport. For many of them, it’s their background. Though he has no qualms about taking on an MMA fight, Joe states very clearly, “kickboxing has always been my shit, my focus.” After committing 17 years of his life to the sport, he’s mastered more than just his time in the ring as a fighter—he’s honed his ability to train and coach others. Some of the biggest names in the sport call on him to coach and spar with them, specifically at high level MMA striker camps. “I’m kind of the biggest name in a sport that most people haven’t heard about,” Joe laughs. Training superstars—and being one in his own right—didn’t come out of nowhere. He has trained in kickboxing since age 15, and by 18 was fighting Toughman Contests. A passion for the sport clearly hooked him early. At 20, he did what any headstrong and driven young fighter would: “I packed all my shit in the car, I had $400 in gas cards, and I moved to L.A.,” recalls Joe. “The main reason was, as far as I knew in magazines and whatever, the only place I knew about where [kickboxing] could be a real sport was in Los Angeles, and that’s where I went.” Settling in a new town at that age is tough for anyone, but Joe landed firmly on his feet by knocking other people off theirs.

29


Joe worked his way up the rungs as a fighter, but coaching became a regular side gig, as well as his little-discussed partnership in founding The Yard Muay Thai. “When we opened the gym, however many years ago, my coach, my [business] partner, Mark . . . he was always big on treating people right,” and so Joe and Mark created a different type of gym. “Not having enrollment fees, not having monthly memberships and giving people the right attention” separated them from the competition and helped build a community, Joe explains. Choosing to coach, though he may not have known it at the time, honed him into the animal he is today. Reflecting on his coaching tenure, Joe shares, “When you teach somebody the fundamentals, you’re repetitively looking

30

at what mistakes they’re making, and that translates really well into yourself—making sure you do it correctly. When I’m sparring or when I’m fighting, I’m seeing the mistakes they’re making. I think training and coaching is a huge part of my success.” The other part of his success? “There’s a whole other culture of cannabis and martial arts,” reveals Joe. In fact, it’s a daily part of his training regimen. No, he’s not just taking fat rips and hopping in the ring—well, most days, anyway. Jokes aside, getting high in his younger years is a lot different than using cannabis as a supplemental tool. “As I’ve gotten older, the reasons behind [using cannabis] and the more I’ve learned about it have changed quite a bit,” Joe says. “My coach today, before I hit pads with him, asked


“THERE’S A WHOLE OTHER CULTURE OF CANNABIS AND MARTIAL ARTS.”

me if I had any cannabis cream. I put some FlavRx roll-on gel on him and I was knocking the shit out of him—and he’s 65 years old!” Beyond the obvious physical ailments of getting the shit beat out of you daily, the work is stressful. “This is a blood sport we’re in, and in eight weeks this guy is gonna try and kill you and everyone is worried about it . . . It’s a lot of stress, it’s hard to sleep—it’s nice to have a break throughout the day and turn off that stuff.” Watching Joe fight, you wouldn’t know he was feeling an ounce of stress. He exudes pure focus in the ring. Even looking back at his earlier fights, his ring presence is that of a jungle cat stalking its prey. No dancing around, no bullshit. He comes straight for you, eyes locked. It seems he’s tackled his entire life this way, and his family and friends have supported him because of it. How else do you become the best in your division in the world?

31


ACTIVE

A WINGSUIT PILOT’S BASE JUMPING TRAJECTORY WRITER / DAVID BAILEY PHOTO / COURTESY OF MATT GERDES

32


A

s a kid, I remember gazing longingly out the car window as birds flew overhead, wishing I could fly. I think we all had that dream. Once I strapped a sort of pillow-wing system to my arms before barreling head-first off the top bunk—only to have gravity issue a polite reminder of its existence. It’s a captivating thought, after all; the freedom to soar above everything. I think that freedom is what inspired so many of my friends to go skydiving for special events like birthdays, but for me, my face meeting my bedroom floor after the pillow-wing incident left me afraid to even approach a viewing deck. For most of my life I assumed a fear of heights was natural—until I met Matt Gerdes. “A friend of mine showed me a paper photo . . . of a guy in Northern California, a guy named Frank Gambalie, wearing a parachute, jumping through the steel on this bridge. I was just like, ‘That’s possible?’” Matt laughs, continuing, “ . . . it was the first time I realized you could do something like this, and the moment I saw that photo I was like, ‘Ah! That’s for me. That’s my sport.’” For someone who eventually progressed to wingsuit flying and wingsuit BASE jumping (an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth—all things one can jump off), it shouldn’t be too surprising. While most of us would’ve looked at that photo of Gambalie with a mixture of fear and disbelief, Matt felt excitement. But he isn’t some lunatic throwing himself off mountains, though some may argue otherwise. In fact, he’s quite the opposite. Like most outdoor extremists, Matt’s adrenaline-pumping activities started at a young age—albeit ones a lot less intense than his BASE jumps of today. Rock climbing, which involves scouting locations, researching routes and a good deal of material preparation, was sort of a natural starting point. Just as Matt describes many aspects of his life, “it’s a progression.” He didn’t wake up one day and start flying in wingsuits, full-body, aerodynamic suits that allow one to actually glide through the air while descending from a tall jump. In fact, “when you first begin something like this . . . you don’t really know what all is possible, or what opportunities there will be,” Matt clarifies. While the progression may seem a bit aggressive, skydiving was the natural course he had to take to achieve his BASE jumping dreams. There are suggested guidelines for the level of experience one should have before being allowed to BASE, much less pilot a wingsuit. When Matt first saw some of his buddies wingsuit fly, “it looked fun,” he recalls, “but it looked complicated and so much gnarlier than normal BASE jumping that it was kind of back-burnered for me. It took me a few years to get to that point.”

“WHEN YOU FIRST BEGIN SOMETHING LIKE THIS... YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT ALL IS POSSIBLE, OR WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE WILL BE...” – MATT GERDES

33


As you might expect, the sort of person looking to do BASE or wingsuit piloting often doesn’t follow rules or guidelines to the letter. “I didn’t have a ton of skydiving experience before I started BASE jumping,” Matt admits, “which is not exactly the right way to do it. So I definitely had my hands full with my early BASE progression.” This isn’t to say jumpers don’t quickly come to appreciate the delicacy of their craft. Though Matt smiles slightly as he thinks back on his early advances in the sport, his face reveals a quiet reserve; he seems happy with his accomplishments, but perhaps equally per turbed by the risks he took. Considering Matt may be one of the most meticulous people I’ve met, you can see why he’s concerned with the rapid progression of many of today’s jumpers. “We’re seeing people push much harder today. There’s a lot less training and forethought and obsession, and a lot more assumption,” explains Matt. I’ve watched countless hours of BASE and wingsuit videos with no desire to replicate the act, yet I can only imagine what the footage does to a novice athlete hungry for more experience. The difficulty of BASE jumping, coupled with the risks inherent to the sport, often forces pilots to retire—or risk the inevitable. At this point, Matt is considered ‘old’ amongst

many of the star pilots today. In fact, many don’t recognize him as much of a pilot anymore, despite flying weekly and having podiumed several competitions. You could say he even mellowed out a bit. “That’s what happens when you get older, right?” he jokes. Having aligned himself with the equipment manufacturing and modification side of the industry, Matt seems to have found a niche that hosts his passion for the sport and champions safety for the pilots. Squirrel, a wingsuit and BASE supply company, was founded to create “the most advanced wingsuits and freefall equipment in the world,” as per their website. Matt, a Squirrel co-founder, has taken the daring role of Chief Test Pilot and wingsuit co-designer. That means ever y suit sold by Squirrel, including those worn by podium winners, has been made according to the ratios, statistics and results of Matt’s flights. He’s felt the weight of his decisions before, with each and every jump; he now designs equipment that acts as the only separation between jumpers and the earth itself. After meeting Matt, who has lost friends and colleagues to the sport, it’s clear he understands the gravity of his position, and aims to make BASE as safe as it can possibly be. SEE MORE @ DOPEMAGAZINE.COM


“If I had to pick one moment during that jump, even though all the moments are pretty awesome, I would say that initial exit from the cliff, those first few seconds when you go from zero airspeed to terminal airspeed . . . that transition from silence to the wind rushing in your ears is pretty special. That’s a cool feeling.” – Matt Gerdes

35




ALL THE FINEST DOPE ROLLED-UP INTO ONE

NEWS REVIEWS VIDEO SOCIAL LIFESTYLE DOPEMAGAZINE.COM



C O V E R F E AT U R E

SHREDDING WITH ELLIOT SLOAN: MEGA RAMPS AND METAL BANDS WRITER / NATE JACKSON PHOTO / DAVE SWIFT

40


41


ARTICLE TITLE

42


I

n July of 2017, pro skateboarder Elliot Sloan took the cannabis industry higher than it’s ever been. Climbing the ladder of a 75-foot mega ramp at the U.S. Bank Arena in Minneapolis in front of thousands of spectators and TV cameras, he looked down at the drop-in of a lifetime, his final run in the Big Air competition at the 2017 X Games. With all eyes on him, there could’ve been a thousand things swirling around in his mind as he throttled down the ramp over a 45-foot gap at 45 miles per hour to land an unprecedented Indy Tail Grab 900 that would win him the gold medal. Thankfully, he wasn’t thinking about a goddamn thing. “Honestly, I try not to think at all,” Sloan admits. “If you start thinking about every little thing, that usually backfires on you. Seconds before [competition] I’m just trying to stay pumped up, but I’m not really trying to think about too much.” Before the big stunt, one thing he did think to do was throw on a shirt from his most recent sponsor, Weedmaps. As he flew towards the sun, so did the company’s logo—bright, bold and turquoise for all the world to see. When he spun through the air, landed the trick, spiked his skateboard and slid down the ramp on his knee pads with adrenaline surging through his veins, two things happened: one, the 29-year-old skateboarder captured the biggest moment in his career with a trick he’d never even landed before. Two, he showed the world that athletes who publicly endorse cannabis no longer fear the stigma of being associated with the industry. “That’s why I’m so stoked to ride for them, I wanna be a part of changing the perception of it,” Sloan explains. “At X Games, there’s an alcohol sponsor, and right next to the vert ramp there’s a beer garden. That’s ok, but cannabis isn’t? It never made sense to me.”

Sloan’s win at the X Games was more than just a triumph for cannabis culture. It was the culmination of facing—and overcoming—a lifetime of obstacles. From the tragic death of his father to the struggle of watching his mother battle cancer as he trained for X Game gold, personal struggles gave Sloan the drive to complete his herculean training regimen. Through it all, skateboarding and music always helped him deal with life as it came speeding at him. But even the biggest professional moment of his life hasn’t changed this laid-back action sports junkie from Manhattan. “I feel like I’m no different than the next person,” Sloan says. “I just had a dream, and that’s what fueled me to pursue this type of skating when I saw other people doing it. We all have the same chance—it’s just a matter of how bad you want it.” Before winning X Games gold in 2017 and becoming skateboarding’s most high-profile cannabis advocate, Sloan grew up watching the X Games on TV. Inspired by Tony Hawk’s legendary 900, he became a fixture at local skate parks, where he honed his vert (halfpipe) skills that would one day lead to his professional career and getting signed to Hawk’s skateboard company, Birdhouse. He trained to the point of obsession. It was an outlet that gave him comfort in a way he never realized it could when his father, who worked on Wall Street, tragically passed away when Sloan was 16 after succumbing to an addiction to OxyContin. “It was super hard to watch at a young age, not knowing what was really going on until after the fact,” Sloan remembers. “It’s an epidemic that’s turning people into heroin addicts—and the government lets it happen— and we’re still arguing over whether cannabis should be legal or not.”

43


ARTICLE TITLE

After his father died, Sloan got a job to help support himself and his mother. Growing up fast sent him into a depression that didn’t really lift until he relocated to San Diego in 2006. It was in California, at the start of his pro career, where Sloan discovered the magic of the mega ramp while skating with vert legend Bob Burnquist, who has one of the only two mega ramps in the world right in his backyard. “I was eyeing [the mega ramp] for a while. It took me a while to drop in and try it. It’s pretty intimidating,” Sloan confesses. In 2008, he started trying the ramp and was hooked the moment he sailed over its gap for the first time. Gradually, he built his reputation on big air tricks that left his peers slack-jawed. “It was like nothing I’d ever felt before,” Sloan says. “It was a whole different level of going fast, flying and charging shit.” Despite the grandiose nature of this style of skating, there’s only one other mega ramp in the country for Sloan to train on besides the one in Burnquist’s backyard, the second being at a skate camp in Bakersfield. The number of competitions is equally slim. “There’s only a few contests for us vert mega guys,” Sloan says. “It kinda puts a lot of pressure on you. Last year it got canceled, so I was sitting around all year thinking about it. I guess in that aspect, I won this time and I’ve got this confidence all year. That definitely helps. But when it’s the opposite, it’s kind of a bummer thinking about it all year.” This time around, Sloan was skating for more than just fame and bragging rights. Prior to the X Games, his mother was in and out of the hospital battling cancer. “Literally a couple weeks before [the X Games], she was in the hospital and was on 10 days of treatment,” Sloan recalls. “It was a big reality check, and gave me perspective on a lot of things. Made me see the important things in life. Which sucks, that it takes something like that to open your eyes.” Fortunately, his mother’s cancer went into remission, and seeing the way cannabis helped her recovery made Sloan an even bigger advocate. It almost seemed like fate when Eric Sorensen, Action Sports Director of Weedmaps and longtime friend of Sloan’s, came to him with a sponsorship opportunity. “I’ve had an eye on what they’ve been doing,” Sloan says of Weedmaps, “and I think it’s awesome, and I wanted to be a part of it.

44

I had the opportunity one time before, and Rockstar, my energy drink sponsor, wasn’t really cool with it at the time. The opportunity came back up again, and Eric came down to my house and I showed him this [mega ramp] that I’m building. I told him I wanted them to be a part of this, and [asked if Weedmaps would] help me finish [the ramp].” The two made a handshake deal on the spot, right before Sloan left for the X Games. The rest is high-flying history. Since the dust has settled on Sloan’s historic X Games victory, his biggest prize has been the ability to attack life with the same veracity as skateboarding, taking trips around the world and focusing on another major passion of his: making music. As a longtime guitarist and a big-time metal head, Sloan’s always sought to combine his passions for shredding in both the music and skateboarding worlds. That includes a video he put out with the band Thrasher, his magnum opus, “Metal and Mayhem,” featuring split shots of Sloan skating ramps and playing in a band backed by legendary skater Steve Caballero on bass. One thing he does think about—when he’s not defying death on a vert ramp, or rocking out—is what he’s going to do in the future once he decides to move on from professional skating. Though it would be almost too difficult to fathom for most, Sloan’s big dreams don’t stop at skating. “I definitely don’t wanna be competing on mega ramps for the rest of my life,” Sloan says. “I could see something happen with music, doing festivals and shows. I’ve thought about doing some events at my house with the mega ramp, and just touring and playing music. Or hell, maybe I’ll create my own event, who knows.” Whatever Sloan decides to do, at this point in his life, it’s pretty clear that the sky’s the limit.


“WE ALL HAVE THE SAME CHANCE—IT’S JUST A MATTER OF HOW BAD YOU WANT IT.”

45


HIT UP LUNCHBOXALCHEMY.COM AND PICK UP SOME COOL MERCH. FREE SHIPPING ON PURCHASES OVER $25!

PSST

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


d older. Keep out of reach of children.

“CRAFTED”

Float your boat CBD Squibs now available! Pick up Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Cherry, Mango or Strawberry at select dispensaries across the great state of Oregon.

What’s in your lunchbox?


PROFILE

LYNETTE SHAW, THE TRUE BLUE GODMOTHER OF CANNABIS WRITER / SHWA LAYTART

48

PHOTO / ASHLEIGH CASTRO


N

o one sings the blues these days like Lynnette Shaw. In her twenties, Lynnette was Hollywood’s original “Weed Girl,” hooking up celebrities with cannabis and singing back up for the Blues Brothers. It seemed her dreams were just starting to come true until the night John Belushi died from a drug overdose. Even though Lynnette was getting Belushi to use cannabis to replace the harder drugs he was struggling with, she was still accused of being an accomplice in his death. Her dream quickly became a nightmare, and she was forced into the underground. Luckily for Lynnette, the Hell’s Angels hid her and took care of her until the real accomplice, Catherine Evelyn Smith, took responsibility for Belushi’s death. Lynnette slowly began to integrate back into society. In 1990 she met Jack Herer, who helped guide her to her next path with his book, “ The Emperor Wears No Clothes.” Herer’s book confirmed Lynnette’s belief that cannabis is a medicine, and her fight had never felt more important. Soon after that, alongside the legendary Pebbles Trippet, Lynnette began working for the first ever dispensary, Dennis Peron’s Cannabis Buyers Club in San Francisco. AIDS was devastating the gay community, and cannabis helped ease the pain in every way imaginable. It was her work with Peron, Trippet and activists

throughout California that made the passing of Proposition 215 possible. Tax Day, April 15, 1994. The employees and volunteers working in Dennis’ club got a tip they were all going to be arrested, and Dennis wanted everyone to be at the store. So Lynnette joined Dennis and others on a bus headed to the dispensary in the Castro neighborhood to await their fate. As she got off the bus, however, Lynnette saw patients filling the streets, linking arms to protect the staff and the one place where they received the life-saving medicine they so desperately needed. Cheers of support from hundreds of patients rang out. Because of the patient support that day, no one was arrested. Those who Lynnette had helped save were now saving her. It was at that moment Lynnette knew, deep in her heart, that one day they would win the battle for legalization. Unfortunately, the battle had just begun. Dennis trained Lynnette how to lobby, and she headed out to Sacramento to go door-todoor, visiting Senator after Senator, patients by her side describing how cannabis helped them get through the day. With each new tear from a politician, they would inch closer to their goal. This was the very start of The Compassionate Care Act, which would later become Prop 215.

49


PROFILE

On November 5, 1996, Proposition 215 passed with 55 percent of the vote. With mentors like Jack Herer, Pebbles Trippet and Dennis Peron, Lynnette had the passion, drive and guidance to make her dreams a reality. In 1997, working with the Fairfax police chief and the city council, Lynnette created regulations for the very first legal licensed dispensary in the Nation: The Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax. At the time, Fairfax had the second highest rate of HIV/AIDS patients in the nation, and to this day remains number one for breast cancer sufferers. Lynnette now had her own place to work from, and no shortage of patients who needed her. She knew she was risking everything. But she also knew it was the right thing to do. Then, in 2011, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California Melinda Haag forced the Marin Alliance to shut down. Haag was ruthless, threatening not only Lynnette but her landlord, as well; since they couldn’t come after Public Pot Enemy #1, the Godmother of Cannabis, Haag went after her landlord’s plaza. The Marin Alliance had to pack up shop immediately. Lynnette was also barred for life from working in the industry she helped create. Constantly followed and harassed by the Feds, Lynnette was once again homeless, considered a danger to those in the industry,

and needed to go into hiding to protect herself and her friends. This time it was the Wu-Tang Clan that took her in. Living in the underground is lonely, no matter who is hiding you out. While hiding with the Wu-Tang Clan in Los Angeles, depression began to sink in. That is, until the day she got a call from Fairfax. They wanted her back. With the passing of the 2014 Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, there was no longer a budget to prosecute cannabisrelated cases, and the town of Fairfax sent letters to the Feds telling them they wanted Lynnette back. For fifteen years she ran a professional, by the book, problem-free dispensary, and they wanted her to return home to continue her mission. Lynnette now has a Federal Judge order stating that she can legally sell and distribute cannabis. The DOJ finally relented and dismissed the appeal, making the Shaw Decision set in stone in April 2016, not just for Lynnette, but for everyone. Almost twenty years later, Lynnette is now back in her original Fairfax location. And as it says on the door, “Open from 9am till 9pm, FOREVER.” What we’re able to do today in the cannabis industry is all thanks to Lynnette’s advocacy. She invented the licensed dispensary model as we know it, and the Shaw Decision has become one of the most important cases thus far in cannabis

“LIVING IN THE UNDERGROUND IS LONELY, NO MATTER WHO IS HIDING YOU OUT.”

50

history. Lynnette has worked with thousands of patients, can match strains with various illnesses and is considered one of the longestrunning cannabis healers. We all need her. We need healing, and Lynnette is just the Godmother to do it. Lynnette Shaw can now focus on what she loves most: bringing cannabis to those in need, and playing piano and singing the blues with her band, the Blues Champions. If you’re in Northern California, swing by Marin Alliance to pick up some cannabis products and, more importantly, pay your respects to this cannabis pioneer. When the movement began in the early nineties, I was in college and worked as a petitioner. It was Lynnette’s passion, drive and commitment that motivated me to get active and stand up for what I believe is right. Now, twenty years later, I not only get to thank Lynnette in person each time I see her, but I’ve also been able to become her friend. For she is truly my Godmother, as well as yours. Editors’ Note: Due to the wild nature of this story, certain facts are unverifiable. Stories like Lynnette’s are legendary and we wanted to share this story with DOPE readers in the interest of profiling an important and admirable figure in the cannabis movement.


BLUES CHAMPIONS CAN BE SEEN LIVE EVERY FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH at 19 BROADWAY IN FAIRFAX, CA

51



2 THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER

FASTER BETTER BOLDER

SOLO II

AIR II

AVAILABLE AT

VAPORNATION.COM


ACTIVE

UFC STARS SHED LIGHT ON THEIR #1 TRAINING MUST-HAVE: CANNABIS WRITER / LANE RADBILL AND RYAN KINGSBURY PHOTO / JAMAL EID & BEN GARCIA

54


I

t’s a new day. You’ve just climbed out of bed, ready to begin a routine that has proven successful in helping you achieve your daily goals. Is cannabis part of that routine? For millions of people worldwide, cannabis is a key ingredient in their recipe for success. Teachers, lawyers, fisherman, stay-at-home parents and professional athletes all share a common bond. It isn’t their use of cannabis, however—it’s their active lifestyle. Active lifestyles, like those who live them, are not universally the same. A stay-at-home parent who readies the kids for school, does all the housekeeping and prepares meals is arguably no less active than a UFC fighter who trains eight hours a day. Most would agree an attorney who works sixteen hour days is leading an active life. But does that perception change when considering the lifestyle of a fitness instructor or professional athlete? Of course not. Our tendency is to slap labels on people to give us a heightened sense of comfort. If we label people who work all day, eat healthy and exercise occasionally as being “active,” how do we label them if they also use cannabis? Society struggles to accept that cannabis users can be active and productive; these labels conflict historically, but proof that cannabis and active living can coexist is undeniable. It is how we define a cannabis user that needs a facelift.

55


It’s easy to accept that professional athletes like Bas Rutten, Frank Shamrock, Ian McCall and Sean O’Malley live active lifestyles. Each of these athletes is either a current or former contracted fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but that isn’t all they share. These athletes are regular cannabis consumers in a position to shape our understanding of how cannabis and active lifestyles coexist. The UFC was denounced in its early days for a lack of safety regulations and the dangers it posed to willing participants. The sport was outlawed in states across the country; politicians decried it, opponents warned of the impact it would have on our children. Nearly 25 years after the first UFC event, however, MMA is among the fastest growing sports in America, mirroring the arduous rise of the cannabis industry. Some of the same mixed martial artists who helped transform public perception of the UFC are now doing the same for the cannabis movement. Frank Shamrock, the first UFC Middleweight champion, is a cannabis advocate and host of a cannabis talk show. When it came to shedding the stigma of the UFC, “it was about educating the public—that’s when we started to see real movement,” Shamrock says. “There was a lot of misinformation being shared intentionally and unintentionally. Universally, it was just a misunderstood sport.” Cannabis is a misunderstood plant, and although acceptance has been accelerated by stories highlighting its medicinal uses, the perception of cannabis users still relies on stereotypes. “So much of cannabis culture is just regurgitating the stoner message,” adds Shamrock, but his own experience is far from cliché. “I don’t think I could have completed my career without cannabis. I used it for pain management, but now I use it in my pre- and post-training regimens. It helps with inflammation and my overall b o d y d i s c o m f o r t . I s l e e p b e t t e r. I f e e l more rested, especially when I’m doing physical activity.” PHOTO / JAMAL EID

56


Bas Rutten, a UFC Hall of Famer, shared his story of overcoming an addiction to painkillers with the help of CBD. Rutten credits a hemp CBD product from Receptra Naturals for changing his life. After kicking his addiction, Rutten continued using CBD as part of his daily routine. “It makes a world of difference in my training,” Rutten asserts. “It helps remove the lactic acid from my muscles, so I can push harder in training. I look and feel better now than when I was fighting.” The experience motivated him to become a brand ambassador for Receptra and help the company build one of the largest MMA sponsorship programs in the cannabis industry. “The list of research showing the positive effects CBD has on our mind and body is amazing,” declares Rutten. “It’s great for pain, focus, endurance, and it calms you down; if you have to drive in traffic a lot, take some CBD!” Ian McCall, a top-ranked veteran of the UFC, has a long history with cannabis. The 33-year-old fighter didn’t consider cannabis as a medicine until later in his career. It wasn’t until he tore his hip and had seven surgeries on his right arm that McCall started to use cannabis medicinally. “I’ve been using cannabis to manage the pain from my injuries for the last six or seven years. I’m a total Bruce Lee nerd, and I know he used to use marijuana as a pain killer and an anti-inflammatory. That’s the guy I grew up idolizing, so I figured it had to be ok.” M c C a l l d o e s n’ t r e c o m m e n d u s i n g marijuana before training in sports like MMA, but he does concede that sometimes it can be beneficial. “I don’t think fighting or competing while high is the best,” he cautions. “But there are times when I train high, especially Jiu-Jitsu. It’s really fun when you’re stoned. It makes you creative, and helps me think of new ways to submit people—it puts me in the flow.”

57


Newly contracted UFC fighter Sean “Sugar” O’Malley finds himself in a unique position when it comes to representing both his sport and cannabis. Aside from his charismatic “Go Big or Go Home” approach in the Octagon, O’Malley is building an audience around his love for cannabis. O’Malley, who started smoking marijuana at 19, recalls: “I didn’t know much about the medicinal side of cannabis, but I tried it because some of the other fighters at my gym said they smoke during the nights. We put our bodies through a lot, and it seemed to be helping them get to sleep, to be rested for the next day of training. So, I tried it, and it worked for me.” Above all, O’Malley is health-conscious. He’s a vegetarian-turned-vegan who limits his alcohol intake. O’Malley understands that there is a time and a place for the psychoactive effects of cannabis, but he still wants to reap the benefits of the plant even when he cannot get high. Using the same hemp CBD product that his predecessor Rutten first discovered, O’Malley notes that “the quality of my day seems to be better when I take Receptra CBD. I feel more mellowed out; I’m definitely less anxious about what I have to accomplish that day. I like the way it makes me think and feel, especially during training.” Cannabis culture has made strides in gaining mainstream acceptance, but the industr y must embrace this new ‘active lifestyle’ user to broaden public perception of who uses cannabis. Living legends like Bas Rutten and Frank Shamrock use cannabis as a natural supplement for a better training experience, and world-class athletes Ian McCall and Sean O’Malley use it to manage pain and anxiety. These athletes teach us that using cannabis is not a lifestyle; rather, it’s an ingredient within a lifestyle—but you’ve got to create your own recipe. As you wrap up your daily routine, think about how cannabis might play a role in tomorrow’s success. PHOTO / BEN GARCIA

58


“I LIKE THE WAY IT MAKES ME THINK AND FEEL, ESPECIALLY DURING TRAINING.” – SEAN O’MALLEY

59




AUSTRALIA’S HEMP OLYMPIX T R AV E L

WHERE CHAMPION ATHLETES CARRY CHICKEN SHIT AND THROW BONGS WRITER / SCOTT PEARSE

62


“C

hibo went to the mountain, God gave him a couple of tabs—which he dropped on the way down—and he saw the vision.” According to modern-day organizer and commentator of the Hemp Olympix, S Sorrensen, this is how events for the Hemp Olympix were created. Held annually as part of Nimbin’s MardiGrass, A u s t r a l i a’s l a r g e s t c a n n a b i s gathering, competitors descend on the small hinterland town from all corners of the globe to throw a bong or carry chook (chicken) shit around an obstacle course. Just as Chibo, the Olympix’s original creator, intended. Along with his comedy partner Alan Glover, S Sorrensen has been the voice of the Hemp Olympix for 12 years. “We go around the world officiating at different Hemp Olympix, bringing people together in peace and harmony to see great achievements in sport.” Sorrensen does admit, however, that “the history is sort of fabricated, in the way that Lord of the Rings is.”

CHUCK A BONG “The event’s official name, as it has been since 1896—the first modern hemp Olympix—is ‘Bong Throw and Yell!’” explains S Sorrensen. “You have to yell at the same time as you throw. I have to hear you yell, you can’t just mutter something under your breath. And it can’t just be a grunt, it has to have a word in it. The most popular yell over the years has been ‘Free the weed!’” Competitors throw a bong in any manner they choose, with the aim being to throw it as far as possible. “This isn’t your normal bong, this is a sports bong. The stem is constructed from high-grade garden hose.” The sport has its champion in the form of local man, Gary the Plumber. “His technique was just poetry in motion,” S Sorrensen fondly recalls. “He’s an unassuming kinda bloke, but with three steps, a slight swivel of the hips, perfect flick of the wrist, he threw close to 41 meters (134.5 feet). It’s still a record.”

THE GROWERS IRON Growing weed in the mountainous hinterlands that surround Nimbin is no easy task, and Chibo designed the Growers Iron event to showcase the fitness earned through cultivation. “The official Hemp Olympix guidelines and laws are specific about certain course requirements: You have to have the Lantana Tunnel of Fear and Loathing, the Hay Bale Slalom and the Hurdle Jump. You have to complete three rounds of the course: one carrying fertilizing chook shit, one with water and one freehand so you can get your stash and bring it back.” The course makes and breaks champions. “A Japanese guy, Kateshi, a great competitor, he came down the hill and you could hear his knees pop,” S Sorrensen remembers. “He couldn’t carry the bag, he was pushing himself along the ground and pushing the bag. We all had tears in our eyes and applauded, because that’s the true spirit of the Hemp Olympix—such guts and determination.”

63


THE TUG OF PEACE A n d t h o u g h c a n n a b i s re m a i n s i l l e g a l in Australia, the relationship between festivalgoers and the attending police has been restored through sport. “The Tug of Peace came along four years ago,” explains S Sorrensen. “Some years for MardiGrass we’ve had the riot squad turn up. The cops have to wander around in groups as a show of force, but the only thing separating us and the cops is a stupid law. The Tug of Peace was

a great way to release some of the tension. Nimbin has its own policing force, a group of volunteers known as the POLITE squad. The Tug of Peace is contested between the police and POLITE. Just a few rules: the people on the POLITE side of the rope, they’re not allowed to smoke a joint while they’re pulling—no matter how stressful it got. And on the cops’ side, they’re not allowed to use their guns.”

Throughout the history of the Tug of Peace, the police are up 2-1 year to year, but the last tug saw the POLITE squad finally get on the scoreboard. “The last one, the cops put everything they had into it,” recalls S Sorrensen. “They even had their special grip boots on. But bare feet and toes curled up can grip into the slippery ground. Even though the cops lost, everyone shook hands after, and I thought, ‘This is what sports is really about.’”

RESTORING THE SPORTING BALANCE

64

The sporting prowess on display at the Hemp Olympix is unique in that anyone can give it a go. Whatever your size or shape, good technique can result in the most unlikely persons standing atop the podium. “The big fellas have it easy in life,” muses S Sorrensen, “but it’s the little fellas who either become annoying cops or champion athletes, because they have a point to prove.” And Nimbin, being the accommodating town it is, has made room for both.


T HE A L L N EW

NOW AVA I L A B L E W W W.WE WAN T DO P E .CO M


DOPE ON THE ROAD LIFESTYLE

COLORADO, GREEN STATE DIVIDED WRITER / JONAH TACOMA PHOTO / JESSICA LAURU

A

s the lowlands of Idaho gave way to the deserts of Utah, I began to get restless in the front passenger seat of our oversized Suburban. Neither state was particularly friendly towards cannabis—Utah least of all. I’d been arrested for carrying less than a gram here on a previous trip, and we were taking no chances as we made our way down through Ogden into Salt Lake City, eventually turning east through the canyons towards Colorado. Colorado hasn’t always been the cannabis mecca it’s known as today. Medical marijuana came to the state in late 2000, eventually giving way to recreational sales in 2014. For the young stoner growing up in the 1990s, much of Colorado’s cannabis was still imported from south of the border. Compressed by the kilo in a trash compactors, then de-scented and shipped north from Mexico, the seeded brown weed bared little resemblance to the products on today’s dispensary shelves. Jessica gave an excited shriek from behind

66

the wheel as we crossed the border into the now-famously green state. It still looked like Utah, but the deserts of Colorado seemed a bit more friendly as we drove towards the distant lights of Grand Junction. Situated on the border, Grand Junction was a mediumsized college town. I had spent a rather notorious tenure here, eventually being run out of the local university for what I now look back on as forward-thinking business practices in regards to marijuana at the time. The familiar green crosses were nowhere to be seen as we made our way into town. Pulling into the local gas station, some quick recon confirmed our suspicions. The progressive college town, fourteenth largest city in Colorado, was situated in a dry county. Working in the cannabis industry I often found myself in the mile high city, but it had been seven years since my return to the Western Slope, and as we headed further into Colorado my thoughts turned to my childhood.


I grew up in the small mountain town of Ouray, Colorado. Famous for its hot springs, Ouray is nestled in the base of the San Juan mountain range, some 7,700 feet above sea level. A free ski lift took skiers, sleders and snowboarders to the top of the local hill, while ice climbers came from the world over to scale the frozen falls that would form in the canyons at the edge of town. The life I had known there died with my mother, who was tragically taken one fall in a hunting accident outside of town. My father did the best he could, but the tough mountain winters

meant no work for a single dad. Eventually he remarried, moving us from the liberal mountain paradise 70 miles west to Delta, Colorado, a small, conservative town situated on the edge of the desert. Jessica’s excitement began to turn into anxiety. Both of us would likely fall under the classification of ‘heavy users’ by anyone interested in classifying such things. The long trip through unfriendly territory had taken its toll, and we were eager to find a friendly port in the storm that was brewing inside the rented SUV. Cannabis had been voted

into legalization here in 2012, ending the 95year prohibition on marijuana in the state, but many counties here still maintain their conservative leanings. I began to wonder if we would see any pot on this trip at all. I did a quick search, pulling up a map of legalized counties in the state of Colorado. I groaned out loud as the results began to load. More than half the state was blanketed in red—and in particular, the half we were currently in. True to its political leanings, the Western Slope had managed to subvert the will of the voters to its more conservative base.

“THERE WAS STILL A FIGHT TO BE FOUGHT. EVEN HERE, IN THE GREEN STATE OF COLORADO, FORCES WERE DIVIDED; THE BATTLE TO ERASE OLD MISCONCEPTIONS STILL RAGED ON, IN THE STREETS AND IN THE VOTING BOOTHS...”

67


This was not the first time the state had been at odds with itself. Tensions over water rights and the competing interests of agriculture versus the more liberal views of the citizens of the greater Denver metropolitan area often brought things to a boil. Attempts at secession had been lobbied in the past, and looking at the legalization map it was clear battle lines had divided the state once again. It would be another hundred miles of driving before we would eventually spot the small green cross of Rocky Mountain Cannabis, situated on the edge of Ridgway, Colorado, a tiny town marking the entry into the San Juan mountain range. We asked RMC budtender Glenn Bailey why he thought there was so much division in the area regarding cannabis. “There’s not enough stores over here,” he answered. “We service 180 miles—some people come all the way

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

68

from Utah. It’s because it’s much more of a liberal mindset on the Eastern slope, and a much more conservative one here on the West.” As we said goodbye to friends and family and prepared for our trip home, I was reminded of what had prompted a small town boy of 15 to run away from a good home. Growing up I had always felt like an astronaut—able to survive, but wholly outside my element. Always wondering what greater possibilities waited just outside the boundaries of my small town life. Returning home to Colorado, it was clear that my vision of the playing field had been distorted by cannabis mixers and industry award ceremonies. There was still a fight to be fought. Even here, in the green state of Colorado, forces were divided; the battle to erase old misconceptions still raged on, in the streets and in the voting booths...”



THE DOPE LIFE OF B-FREE PROFILE

WHERE BLADING AND BUD COME TOGETHER WRITER / SHASTA NELSON

70

PHOTOS / ASHLEIGH CASTRO


“DOPE LIFE, TO ME, WOULD JUST BE A LIFE THAT YOU THINK THAT’S WORTH LIVING—AND THAT COULD BE ANYTHING.”

B

rian Freeman, also known as B-Free, is a man of many talents. He’s a Barbary Coast budtender, creator of the Bombshell pre-roll and an extreme rollerblader. We meet up at Town Park in Oakland, California to spark some joints and do some blading together. B-Free is dressed head to toe in black: black cap, black hoodie, black jeans. He’s not flashy, though he is repping Intuition Skate Shop on his sweatshirt and Barbary Coast on his blades. His demeanor is humble, and a light smile sits on his face while we talk. It isn’t until he demonstrates some of his skills that he really begins to light up. His smile grows the widest when he’s mid-air. His body moves in the fluid motion of someone who has been on skates their whole life. But his skill isn’t innate—it’s learned. “I had moved into this new house with my parents, and a neighbor across the street, he rollerbladed,” B-Free

tells us. “I was already cool with the skaters at school— rollerbladers at school, everybody—and one of the kids, he started a team, so I asked him if I could try his skates out and that was pretty much it. I was hooked on it as soon as I tried them.” This was when B-Free was fifteen; he’s been skating ever since. Even at such a young age, B-Free was dedicated and passionate about his craft. He skated for different shops and brands, his first being Connections Skate Shop, and eventually found himself in Mexico with Valo Skates. The culture around blading inspired him. “To see how many people there were on blades was ridiculous,” he remembers. “There was no stereotypes about like, ‘Oh, I blade,’ or ‘I do that’—you were shredding. You were just doing something that you love doing.”

71


So how does cannabis play into all this? “I was blessed to have an opportunity to start something like [Bombshell],” B-Free explains. “I’ve been in the [cannabis] industry for about six years, since 2011, when I moved out here to the Bay Area.” You can find him budtending and spreading knowledge at Barbary Coast in San Francisco, and his passion is evident when he speaks about his career in cannabis. “It’s cool to try to get a different kind of demographic, to bring something to the table, and [I] definitely feel blessed to try to do that. Bombshell is exclusively sold [at Barbary Coast], you can only get them there.” Bombshell, B-Free’s pre-roll company, was started at Barbary Coast in October of 2016. Available in sativa, indica and hybrid varieties, each roll is made with love, care and the best medicine around. They’re B-Free’s way of bringing extreme sports and cannabis together—a way of breaking the “lazy stoner” cliché. “I try to keep that word out of my vocabulary,” he says. “That’s one of them. No laziness, no excuses. No complaining. There’s so many things you could be doing with your time, and it’s nice to manage that. It’s a positive step away from that negative stigma.”

72


Our time with B-Free was coming to a close, and we wondered what the DOPE life meant to extreme athletes. “DOPE life, to me, would just be a life that you think that’s worth living—and that could be anything,” he responds with a broad smile. “The ultimate thing I can quote from would be Curren$y, he’s a rapper from New Orleans. He said, ‘[Soon as] I open up my eyes, I’m at my fucking job.’ I feel that is the ultimate thing. Def shout out to DOPE life out there, and jet life, the kush smokers out there, everybody just being a positive influence—and keep spreading that as long as you can.” When your job is to fly high, why wouldn’t you want to wake up there? B-Free’s skate crews are LST and JSF. He skates for Valo Brand, Bladergang Worldwide and Vibralux

Denim USA, and every Wednesday he holds skate seshes at Town Park skate park in Oakland. He encourages anyone and everyone to come and blade with him to help keep the community growing. “It’s hard to come up, but at the end of the day it should all be love, all the same, but different elements, different flavors. You know? You got your indicas, you got your hybrids, you got your sativas. The variety is super important, and these people, they think that this is super important—‘cause this is a platform to showcase that.” Special thanks to the Freeman family for their help in making this story possible.

73


MANAGETHE

MUNCHIES

Appetite Relief , fresh breath. ™

• Relieves and calms excessive appetite, over-eating, and food cravings* • Sugar and stimulant free • 100% natural active ingredients • Safe and gentle to use with no known side effects • Great minty taste that freshens breath and promotes dental health

the relief products

Stay Healthy, Naturally™

managethemunchies.com *These statements are based upon traditional homeopathic practices. They have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.


NEW from Arizer

Premium Build Quality

Incredible Portability

Precision Temperature Control

Engineered for Performance

Always Ready, pre-pack bowls

Easiest to Clean & Maintain

Also from Arizer ...

Arizer Air

Solo

Available now:

V-Tower

Extreme Q

Wholesale Inquiries Welcome Email Sales@arizer.com


HEALING, HEMPINFUSED HONEY #SCOUTEDBYDOPE

SEE WHAT ALL THE BUZZ IS ABOUT! WRITER / LUNA REYNA

PHOTO / JAY SCHOBER

PRODUCED & PROVIDED BY COLORADO HEMP HONEY WEBSITE: COLORADOHEMPHONEY.COM INSTAGRAM: @FRANGIOSAFARMS TWITTER: @COHEMPHONEY FACEBOOK: @HONEYINFUSIONS

76


W

hether it’s added to your morning oatmeal or evening tea, honey, nature’s sweetener, is something we’ve enjoyed for almost eight thousand years. Honey bees were onto something! Honey naturally contains vitamin C, calcium and iron, which regular granulated sugar does not. It’s also a great antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant. Colorado Hemp Honey recognized the natural benefits of raw honey and added their own touch of organic essential oils and hemp extracts to create a line of products that are truly the bee’s knees. Colorado Hemp Honey ’s Frangiosa Farms has dedicated themselves to “creating natural Healing Infusions using raw honey and other natural foods with healing properties.” With the addition of Oregon-grown

hemp comes the added health benefits of amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins and healthy, fatty acids. The cannabinoids found in hemp are known to relieve pain, anxiety, reduce inflammation and help with insomnia. The marriage of honey and hemp has resulted in something of a super food. But don’t take our word for it—see what all the buzz is about for yourself! Colorado Hemp Honey shares numerous testimonials on their website that show just how beneficial this simple, yet innovative product is for users, their families and even their pets, complete with a dosing chart for our furry friends. Acknowledging the bee decline, Colorado Hemp Honey additionally only supports natural, sustainable beekeeping practices in the battle to save the bee.

MANDARIN MAGIC Price: $49.99 Size: 12oz jar

GINGER SNAP CHILL STICKS Price: $29.00 Size: Ten-0.17oz sticks

DOSAGE 1000mg non-psychoactive hemp extract per jar 1 dose (~1tsp) contains 15mg hemp extract Approx. 70 doses per jar

DOSAGE 1 stick = 1 dose Each stick contains 15mg hemp extract

77


PHOTO CONTEST

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.

CONGRATULATIONS,

CHRIS ROMAINE! WEBSITE: KANDIDKUSH.COM INSTAGRAM: @KANDIDKUSH

78


79


PRODUCT

THE FUTURE WILL BE VAPORIZED PAX3 PROVES TO BE PAX’S STRONGEST, SLEEKEST VAPE YET WRITER / RADIOHASH

W

PHOTO / COURTESY OF PAX

hen it comes to portable dry herb vaporization, the stealthy PAX has maintained a reputation for being at the top of its class in consistent quality, flavor and cloud thickness. The PAX3 adds support for extracts, with half the heat-up time of the PAX2, as well as vibration notifications and an expanded accessories kit. Best of all, it’s app-enabled! I was impressed by PAX1’s quality when it first came out, but it was a bit buggy. PAX3 is free of previous bugs, feature-rich, just as userfriendly and sports an elegant, glossy finish. The app adds refined temperature control, various heating modes, device locking and firmware updates. Notable additions to the accessory kit include an extracts chamber, a raised mouthpiece and an oven lid designed for smaller bowls. Ready in twenty-two seconds, the LED leaf turns green and vibrates when heated to optimal temperatures, providing thick, delicious vapor. PAX has been an innovator of quality flower vaporization since 2012, subsequently releasing the PAX2 and the PAX Era for oil cartridges. Who knows what PAX will offer next as the vapor revolution continues!

80

PRODUCED & AVAILABLE AT PAX WEBSITE: PAXVAPOR.COM INSTAGRAM: @PAXVAPOR TWITTER: @PAXVAPOR PRICE: $274.99 SIZE: 5.25 X 2.75 X 5.25 IN. WEIGHT: 0.75 LBS.

WHY PAX? Each cannabinoid becomes accessible at different temp ranges Technology takes vaping to higher efficiency levels The longer the warranty, the higher the commitment to quality


Awarded

Available at all leading hydroponic retail stores. www.emeraldharvest.co


TAG US SOCIAL MEDIA

@DOPEMAGAZINE AND #DOPEMAGAZINE TO HAVE YOUR PHOTOS FEATURED HERE!

82

@prettypotheads

@herbhack

@bloodsweatandweed

@envyglassdesigns

@vortexfarmacy

@brassmonkey_ca

@soil_2_oil

@ismokeseaweed

@nameless_visualz

@natabyte

@refinedflowers

@phantom.farms





YO U R T R U ST E D L O N G T E R M C O N T R ACTO R

Now g! Hi rin

NOW HIRING JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIANS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITHIN THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY Protect your investment with our critical backup technology. We provide everything from consultation to a turn key facility and so much more.

CALL DAVE ANDERSEN (503) 665-4327

DESIGN & ENGINEERING | POWER DISTRIBUTION | LIGHTING PACKAGES | AIR CONDITIONING AUTOMATED WATERING | HUMIDITY CONTROL | CO2 INJECTION | ATMOSPHERIC CONTROLLERS GENERAL CONTRACTING | FRAMING | STRUCTURES | GENERATOR BACKUP SYSTEM

$ DISCOUNTED PAYMENT OPTIONS

CCB 173153

24 7 EMERGENCY SERVICE

dave@andersenelectric.com andersenelectric.com


WANT TO INCREASE YOUR GRAMS PER WATT? CASH INCENTIVES FOR OREGON GROWERS Energy Trust of Oregon offers free technical services and cash incentives for improving the energy-efficiency of your grow facility.

+

Get more from your energy. Visit www.energytrust.org/grow. Serving customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista.


dead man’s part y SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29!

PRESENTED BY


HOSTED BY

WARREN G

FOOD

ENTERTAINMENT

MUSIC

STAVER LOCOMOTIVE

Space Limited | RSVP for FREE | MUST BE 21+ VIP upgrade now available

SUPPORTED BY

OFFICIAL JUDGES

dopecupor.dopemagazine.com

#dopecupor17


STRAIN

NEED TO RELAX? ESCAPE WITH THE REBEL BERRY OG WRITER / AARON MILLER PHOTO / TINA BALLEW

R

ebel Berry OG had me in a fuzzy, yet comfortable, state of mind; stony, without overwhelming the senses. A great strain for someone looking to check out of the world for a bit, sporting a grin the entire time. The genetics of Rebel Berry OG are a mystery, but there is evidence that this sativa hybrid has roots in the OG Kush family. The distinct OG funk aroma mixes with notes of coffee and berries. That funk also dominates the flavor and lingers for a bit. The super tight nugs are light green brimming with sporadic patches of red hairs throughout. PRODUCED & PROVIDED BY

THC

REBEL SPIRIT WEBSITE: REBELSPIRITCANNABIS.COM INSTAGRAM: @REBELSPIRITFARM

21.61% TESTED AT: GREEN LEAF LAB greenleaflab.org

AVAILABLE AT WALDPORT CANNABIS 250 US-101

WALDPORT, OR 97394 SCAPPOOSE 21 PLUS 50178 COLUMBIA RIVER HWY

86

SCAPPOOSE, OR 97056 AND OTHER RETAILERS


REBELSPIRITCANNABIS.COM

/REBELSPIRIT420

@ R E B E L S P I R I T FA R M

REBEL SPIRIT’S FLYING HIGH NOW OFFERING CARTRIDGES TRIPLING PRODUCTION AVAILABLE STATEWIDE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A LIST OF DISPENSARIES

REBEL BERRY OG Come and see us at

1st Place Outdoor Flower

THE 3RD ANNUAL DOPE CUP | PORTLAND, OCTOBER 29


EDIBLE

MR. MOXEY’S MINTS CURIOUSLY ENERGIZING ARTISAN MINTS WRITER / MATTHEW CRISCIONE

A

PHOTO / JASON HORVATH

f ter success in the Washington market, Mr. Moxey’s Mints have finally come to Oregon! These peppermint herbal pastilles (a small medicinal candy or lozenge) are a discreet way to enjoy a five milligram microdose of THC, made with naturally energetic botanicals such as Ginkgo Leaf, Siberian Ginseng and an uplifting sativa blend. With four varieties (including CBD ginger and an indica-based cinnamon mint) there’s a Moxey pastille for any occasion. I love the very familiar tin these mints come in, and have a lot of fond memories using such tins on hiking trips. I decided to relive those memories while enjoying the strong peppermint flavor and slight elevation these mints add to my day. For those looking for a refreshing, uplifting mint with just a dash of THC, look no further than Mr. Moxey’s. Have a mint and carry on! PRODUCED & PROVIDED BY BOTANICA SEATTLE WEBSITE: MOXEYSMINTS.COM INSTAGRAM: @MR_MOXEYS_MINTS AVAILABLE AT OREGON BUD COMPANY 3270 SW CEDAR HILLS BLVD #104 BEAVERTON, OR 97005 CHALICE FARMS TIGARD 16735 SW PACIFIC HWY TIGARD, OR 97224 OREGROWN 1199 NW WALL ST BEND, OR 97701 AND OTHER RETAILERS

88


CRAFTED FOR LOVERS OF LUXURY, PRE-ROLLED FOR ADVENTURE Available soon at select dispensaries /getgoodfortune


C O N C E N T R AT E

SELECT’S 99 PERCENT PURE THC-A CRYSTALLINE NEW WAVE HEAD GAMES

WRITER / MATTHEW CRISCIONE PHOTO / JASON HORVATH

C

TESTED AT: PIXIS LABS pixislabs.com

THC

annabis consumption has come a long way since the days of simply firing up a bowl. We can now isolate specific, targeted areas of the body as we gain a greater understanding of the plant’s various cannabinoids and their effects. This offering from Select is a big jump into that new world: they created a crystalline isolate that is 99 percent pure. The result? Some of the purest hash on the planet. The THC-A Crystalline produces a very precise head high, without any of the body stone—and I mean none. At all. By itself it’s flavorless, and felt almost nonexistent in the lungs after vaporizing. The head high was one of the purest sensations I’ve ever felt; I was super energetic and laser -focused. I also found that sugar coating a dab of Select Strains’ Dabbable Distillate added a familiar stone to that acute head high. This product will bring a big change to your game—novices should sit this one out!

82.6%

PRODUCED & PROVIDED BY SELECT WEBSITE: SELECTOIL.COM INSTAGRAM: @SELECT_OIL

AVAILABLE AT OREGON’S FINEST 1327 NW KEARNEY ST PORTLAND, OR 97209 SWEET LEAF PORTLAND 2367 SE 122ND AVE PORTLAND, OR 97233 MEDIGREEN COLLECTIVE 729 SE POWELL BLVD

90

PORTLAND, OR 97202


Big Foot is wanted for engaging in stealthy distribution of the highest grade turkeys this nation has ever seen. Air, land, and sea are not safe from this elusive renegade. He has found success trafficking from The West to The East and he has a strong affinity towards Left Coast Wholesale's Turkey Bags. The 18" x 24" size, triple seal, and super thick nylon have made it extremely difficult to catch this barefoot bandit. Growers should approach Big Foot with caution... unless those packs are loud.

(800) 681-1757 | LeftCoastWholesale.com




STORE

MINDRITE DISPENSARY THE RIGHT PLACE TO FIND YOURSELF WRITER / E. SOMES PHOTO / CAITLIN CALLAHAN

THE PEOPLE

THE PLACE

In 2015, Shea and Jaime Conley opened MindRite on the corner of 18th and Marshall in the NW Portland neighborhood they love and live in, bringing with them a desire to educate consumers and showcase cannabis in a positive light. As longtime cannabis advocates, they wanted to bring their passion to the marketplace by catering to individual needs and providing a budtender staff rich with knowledge. As a community-minded couple, they have established multiple ways of giving back; their budtenders combine tips, which the company then matches and donates to a different charity every two months.

MindRite is within walking distance of everything Northwest Portland, located just a short walk to the plethora of industrial-chic shops and restaurants in the Pearl District. Entering the shop, one becomes immersed in the comfy boutique aesthetic; rock music plays and monthly-rotating artwork hangs on the walls, coinciding with Portland’s First Thursday Art Openings. High ceilings provide a backdrop for the pipe and wood shelving, showcasing a multitude of flower on the back wall of the dispensary. The free parking around the building is a nice perk, leaving more moolah to spend inside!

94


“DISPLAYING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FLOWERS GROWN IN THE MICROCLIMATES OF OREGON IS ALSO IMPORTANT [TO MINDRITE], FROM THE COASTAL TILLAMOOK REGION TO THE DESERTS OF BEND AND EASTERN OREGON.” THE PRODUCT Product quality is MindRite’s top priority. The Conleys provide a diverse assortment of flower from all over Oregon, wanting to exhibit small-scale organic, live-soil grows, where the focus is on individual attention to plants. Displaying the differences between flowers grown in the microclimates of Oregon is also important, from the coastal Tillamook region to the deserts of Bend and Eastern Oregon. Exciting new products such as Select’s THC-A Crystalline powder—which is the raw, uncarboxylated version of THC—would appeal to seasoned consumers, while tourists and first-timers might enjoy trying an economical, easy-to-use Social Vape Pen.

1780 NW MARSHALL ST. PORTLAND, OR 97209 (503) 477-4430 HOURS: MON-SUN: 10AM-10PM TWITTER: @MINDRITEPDX INSTAGRAM: @MINDRITEPDX_ MINDRITEPDX.COM


GARDEN

EAST WIND CANNABIS FAMILY-RUN, AWARD-WINNING CANNABIS WRITER / MATTHEW CRISCIONE

96

PHOTO / JASON HORVATH


S

ometimes you meet someone whose energy is so tangible you cannot help but be swept away in their excitement. My new friend, Geno O’Neil of East Wind Cannabis, is one such fellow. “I’ve read every book ever written on growing cannabis,” he tells me, “but without people letting you in, to actually teach you hands-on, you get lost. I’ve been blessed to have been taught by the masters.” Located in the beautiful Colton area of the Columbia River Gorge, East Wind sits on the SW-facing side of a steep slope overlooking Mt. Hood. It is simply one of the most beautiful locations I’ve ever visited thus far on a DOPE Magazine assignment. My first view of this freshly OLCC-licensed Tier II farm was their outdoor grow, around 350 plants (with six strain varietals) dancing playfully in the wind. Overlooking the outdoor grow is a two-story, 5000-square-foot barn, converted into a full, state-of-the-art indoor grow, as well as a full CO2 extraction lab, which allows East Wind to offer a full line of concentrates.

“I’VE READ EVERY BOOK EVER WRITTEN ON GROWING CANNABIS... BUT WITHOUT PEOPLE LETTING YOU IN, TO ACTUALLY TEACH YOU HANDS-ON, YOU GET LOST. I’VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY THE MASTERS.” – GENO O’NEIL OF EAST WIND CANNABIS

East Wind won a DOPE Cup in 2016 for Best CBD Medical and Best CBD Concentrate Runner Up, and saw similar success at the recent Cannabis Classic with their CBD-dominate flower, Critical Mass—a personal favorite of mine. East Wind Cannabis has been blessed with a winning grow, but they have yet to rest on their laurels; they are constantly tweaking grow tactics in response to the plants’ needs. Their genetics are supplied by Oregon Green Seed, which specializes in light-sensitive strains specifically bred for our cloudy Oregon climate. Geno’s outdoor grow looked like it was in the fourth week of flower, while my personal grow is barely showing the first signs of life! I know who I’ll be hitting up next February for seeds. East Wind exclusively uses Nectar of the Gods’ nutrient line and soil products—both indoor and out—to ensure all-organic growing solutions. With one other full-time employee, as well as a dedicated family of cannabis trimmers and one very excited father (my new friend, Geno), East Wind Cannabis is putting in the hard work and dedication to “doing it right.” WEBSITE: EASTWINDCANNABIS.COM INSTAGRAM: @EASTWINDCANNABIS

97


@MINDRITEPDX_ @MindRitePDX @MINDRITEPDX

H A P P Y C R O P TO B E R !

1780 NW MARSHALL ST P O R T L A N D, O R 9 7 2 0 9 open daily 10am-10pm 503-477-4430 MINDRITEPDX.COM

T H A N K YO U F O R VOT I N G F O R U S ! “ M A L E B U D T E N D E R O F T H E Y E A R & M O S T C H A R I TA B L E C A N N A B I S S TO R E ” D O P E M AG A Z I N E AWA R D S O R 2 0 1 7



PROFILE

DOPE SITS DOWN WITH MZJILL, CANNABIS BREEDER AND ADVOCATE WRITER / MATTHEW CRISCIONE

PHOTO / COURTESY OF MZJILL

I

had a chance late last winter to meet one of my favorite cannabis breeders in the world, MzJill from TGA Genetics. This amazing woman has transformed herself and the cannabis industry by developing some of the top strains in the world, and has never forgotten why she got into this business in the first place: to make the world a better place. DOPE Magazine: Tell us a bit about yourself, and what you’ve been up to lately in the industry? MzJill: I am the co-founder and head grower/breeder of TGA Genetics. My first creation as a breeder was the infamous strain, Jilly Bean. Jilly Bean has proven to be very effective for those suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression. I also created a strain I named in honor of my friend Brian, who passed from ALS. I hope to bring awareness to this disease through the strain Brian Berry Cough. I also co-created a strain called Agent Orange. This strain is named after my father, a Vietnam vet, who lost his battle to cancer contracted from the chemical Agent Orange. Most recently, my efforts have turned to helping other people through charity with my Donations 4 People campaign. I do ongoing fundraising for those less fortunate, as well as [bring] the cannabis community together for an annual Holiday food/toy drive. I am an advocate for medicinal marijuana . . . Marijuana is a very powerful medicine for many people, ranging from young children to the elderly [who suffer] from all ranges of things, such as cancer, pain, alcoholism, autism . . . the list goes on.

When did you first begin growing cannabis? I first started growing cannabis when my youngest daughter was just a baby—she is now a high school graduate attending college. I smoked cannabis to help alleviate my back pain from scoliosis. What I found was that cannabis helped greatly with the pain, but it also helped bring me a peaceful calmness that [was] hard to find as a single mom of three young daughters. I began growing for myself to help with the cost; being a single mom, I did not have much extra cash. As I learned the process of growing, I also learned that tending the garden was very therapeutic . . . I explained to my children that I was legal with our state but that people may judge us, so it was important to keep it private, but to not feel ashamed and to keep their heads high because I would help change the world, help others in need. I’ve read that women excel at becoming leaders in the cannabis industry, as there isn’t a traditional ‘boys club.’ Does your own experience reflect this? I feel it is much more difficult for women to become a relevant part of the cannabis community and to be taken seriously for our contributions than it is for our male counterparts, as many are part of the ‘boys club’ and desire to keep it that way . . . My advice to the ladies coming into the industry: stand your ground, do not step on toes or take advantage of others—but do not let others walk on you. Be kind, and help those that are in need. You should only look down on someone if you are reaching down to give them a hand up! For more of MzJill, check out: WEBSITE: TGAGENETICS.COM INSTAGRAM: @MZJILLGROWER


“MY ADVICE TO THE LADIES COMING INTO THE INDUSTRY: STAND YOUR GROUND...” – MZJILL, CO-FOUNDER OF TGA GENETICS

101




H E A LT H

TEN THOUSAND STEPS TO CATCHING A BUZZ WRITER / RYAN HERRON

A

t mile seven with sweat dripping and lungs full of fire, euphoria hits. A rush of triumph and strength alongside a dose of warm satisfaction. That moment of elation is a runner’s high—and buddy, you gotta earn it. That rush, to those of us that last ran a mile in P.E. class, is the body’s own reward center releasing ‘feel good’ chemicals. It’s similar to the effect of high-quality cannabis and just as hard to describe. Runners have said it’s like running on a cloud, or a feeling of connectedness with the world around them. Any way you slice it, they’re all describing that feeling of calm satisfaction you get

10 4

from pounding the pavement or pedaling up the side of a mountain. It turns out that what we call an endorphin rush is perhaps not actually caused by endorphins. Scientists recognized elevated levels of these compounds in the bloodstream of distance runners in the ‘80s, and it made sense to declare that they were the root of the buzz. Further studies showed that endorphins, while present, were too big and clumsy to fit through the blood-brain barrier, and the jolt of satisfaction was much more likely a collection of endocannabinoids, released as a sort of reward for getting out of the house and kicking some ass. The molecules we’ve


been blaming for keeping us locked to the couch all these years in fact rely on the same system endurance runners tap into for that extra stamina boost. Endocannabinoids are similar to the cannabinoids found in the plant we know and love, but they are produced by our bodies. Studies have shown these systems light up when we exercise vigorously or eat a decadent dessert, likely making them a reward system for actions that help keep us alive. Okay, chocolate cake isn’t a necessity, but I’m not complaining about the cake—or the mild rush you get from eating a slice. By lighting up our pleasure center, the brain reinforces these activities. We can use knowledge

of this reward system to our advantage by munching on a piece of chocolate after a long run, or relaxing with a joint after the gym. Like most pleasurable pastimes, the runner’s high needs you to increase your racing distance or intensity to achieve the same euphoric results, so get out there and run an ultramarathon or two and enjoy the bliss and the blisters. Alternatively, considering how elastic we know the endocannabinoid system to be, it’s a safe bet that spending a month with your feet in a hammock is a good way to reset your system back to zero. (Though it’s probably a better idea to ride the euphoric wave of smashing your

105


personal bests and getting another well-earned rush of feel good chemicals!) We know it’s not actually endorphins that are responsible for the runner’s high, but likely our own endocannabinoids doing the heavy euphoric lifting. So it begs the question, “Could cannabis play a part in inducing that runningon-a-cloud moment?” Possibly! The entourage effect and synergistic nature of cannabis includes terpenes like Myrcene, which can encourage cannabinoids from any source to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Toking up

106

before a run could reinforce the natural ‘bonuses’ you get from running on the trail. Think about the true nature of the runner’s high the next time you face an endurance challenge. Sure, lighting up some especially potent Durban Poison might make the run more bearable, but push through that side ache and true euphoria is just a mile or two up the road! And it’s available right now. You’re done reading this article, so go on, lace those tennis shoes up and get started!



PRODUCT

THREE UNIQUE PERFUMES GOLDEN GODDESS BOTANICALS WRITER / SHASTA NELSON PHOTO / ASHLEIGH CASTRO

T

he scent of cannabis is one of the most therapeutic elements; the terpenes can be healing to both mind and body. Imagine my absolute delight upon learning that Golden Goddess Botanicals makes a perfume that combines the power of organic, cannabis-infused CBD oil with essential oils! The three unique perfumes, Lucid, Lush and Lumin, are all curated to evoke certain feelings—not just scents. The packaging lists the oil blend of each, along with what you can expect while wearing it. None of them make you smell like you just lit up a joint; rather, they smell of the other essential oils, with just a faint hint of cannabis terpenes.The CBD helped relieve my sore spots, and with a few reapplications throughout the day I was pleasantly uplifted or grounded, depending on the specific scent I was wearing. Each was true to its name and description. I even tried mixing and matching the scents, and found them all very compatible! They work with your natural body chemistry instead of against it, so each one smells different, depending on the individual. So go ahead and try a natural perfume that uplifts, heals and smells amazing!

Light, perfect for springtime.

Scents: Blood Orange, Ginger, Vanilla and Frankincense.

Like standing in a Redwood forest. Relaxing and transcendent. Scents: Rosewood, Patchouli, Turkish Rose and Cardamom.

“Our line of CBD only infused products are made with all organic essential oils to invoke different effects and moods.” Cannabis is extracted the same way as the essential oil. Ingredients: Cannabis CBD oil and essential oil blend. Length of effects: 2-3 hours; reapply as needed.

LUSH

Joyful and awakening.

LUMI N

LU CID

FACEBOOK: GOLDENGODDESSBOTANCIALS INSTAGRAM: @GOLDENGODDESSBOTANCIALS

Floral, but balanced by oakmoss. Grounding and uplifting. Scents: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Clary Sage and Spearmint.


Flower to Shatter in a Day

AWARD WINNING • PATENTED • AFFORDABLE




RECIPE

RAISING THE BAR

LAURIE AND MARYJANE’S EASY, ONE-BOWL ENERGY BARS WRITER / PHOTO / LAURIE AND MARYJANE

I

occasionally start the day with an infused snack. Not often—I tend to be more of an evening indulger— but there are Those Days. I baked up a batch of gluten-free, vegan energy bars and they’re the best, bar none. And it’s a one-bowl event! No need to clean a bunch of dishes. Feel free to change around the ingredients, maybe adding some dark chocolate or cashews instead of walnuts. Variety is the spice of life, after all!

LAURIEANDMARYJANE.COM

112

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Yield: 24 servings

Preheat your oven to 340°F and grease your 9”x13” pan with coconut oil. In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly, ensuring you thoroughly combine the cannaoil. Once combined, pour and level the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake in the oven on the middle rack until golden brown, roughly 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!

Coconut oil spray 5 Cups quick-cook G.F. oatmeal 1 Teaspoon baking soda 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract ½ Cup applesauce ¼-½ Cup canna-coconut oil, melted 1 Cup walnuts, chopped ½ Cup agave or maple syrup ½ Cup raisins ½ Cup shredded coconut ½ Teaspoon cinnamon

Store leftovers in an airtight container or freeze.


WHOLE FLOWER PRE-ROLLS, ALWAYS ASK FOR THE FINEST!

INFO@LEAPFARMS.COM FOLLOW US


GLASS

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK GLASS COLLABORATION SHOWCASES THE POWER OF UNITED ARTISTRY WRITER / PHOTO / WIND HOME

O

utstanding beauty and elegance defines this four-way collaboration piece by some of the best in the glass game. From the gorgeous air trap reticello by Marcel Braun to the stunning design and assembly by Scott Rosinski, this piece screams heady glass. Throw in amazing images by Andy Way and flawless lathe work by Justin L Knรถferl and you have one super-heady, ultra-functional triple recycler with a handmade 10mm female joint. When I asked Braun about this piece, he mentioned it was the first time he and Rosinski had worked together, and that he had been eagerly looking forward to the collaboration. All the artists involved in this piece shine at what they do, and it shows in this mesmerizing finished product.

PIECE MADE BY: SCOTT ROSINSKI (INSTAGRAM: @MRGRAYGLASS) MARCEL BRAUN (INSTAGRAM: @MARCELGLASS) JUSTIN L KNร FERL (INSTRAGRAM: @KNOFORREAL) ANDY WAY (INSTAGRAM: @TURTLETIMEGLASS)

114

This piece is currently available to the right collector through IG @shocknawesmokeshop


AWARD WINNING

CBD CRITICAL MASS 2016

2017

2017

1ST PLACE

1ST PLACE

RUNNER-UP

BEST CBD FLOWER

1:1 (CBD:THC) INDOOR

BEST CBD CONCENTRATE

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS! WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE WE ARE NOW LICENSED FOR RECREATIONAL SALES Please visit our website to submit OLCC wholesale inquiries

@EASTW IND CANNA B I S | E AST W I N D C A N N A B I S .COM Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana. Keep marijuana out of the reach of children.


No trick. All treat.

Phyre premium craft cannabis is always grown in living soil with natural minerals.

CRAFT Find Us www.phyre.us insta: @lightyourphyre

CANNABIS

Available at Fine Cannabis Retailers

Get Phyre sales@phyre.us 1-844-OnPhyre


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.