DOPE Magazine - Southern California - The Active Issue - October 2017 by DOPE Magazine

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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.

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THE ACTIVE ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2017

INTERVIEW LIFE AFTER THE NFL WITH MARVIN WASHINGTON

FEATURE WHERE RISK MEETS REWARD: FOUR ATHLETES CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS

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

LIFESTYLE DOPE ON THE ROAD WITH JONAH TACOMA

#SCOUTEDBYDOPE

DOPE SHOTS PHOTO CONTEST WINNER - CHRIS ROMAINE

EDITOR’S CHOICE PAX3 VAPORIZER

SOCIAL MEDIA TAG @DOPEMAGAZINE

PROFILE LYNNETTE SHAW, THE TRUE BLUE GODMOTHER OF CANNABIS

TRAVEL AUSTRALIA’S HEMP OLYMPIX

COVER FEATURE SHREDDING WITH ELLIOT SLOAN MEGA RAMPS AND METAL BANDS

PROFILE THE DOPE LIFE OF B-FREE

INTERVIEW

FORMER DEFENSIVE END MARVIN WASHINGTON JOINS ATHLETES FOR CAREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MISSION OF EDUCATION WRITER / WEEDBETTY PHOTO / COURTESY OF MARVIN WASHINGTON

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

ACTIVE

FROM NBA TO CBD WITH AL HARRINGTON WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

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.

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.

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

ACTIVE

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

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.

ARTICLE TITLE

“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

ACTIVE

CHAMPION KICKBOXER AND MMA COACH JOE SCHILLING WRITER / DAVID BAILEY

PHOTO / JORDAN SWENSON

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.

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

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?

ACTIVE

A WINGSUIT PILOTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BASE JUMPING TRAJECTORY WRITER / DAVID BAILEY PHOTO / COURTESY OF MATT GERDES

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

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

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

ARTICLE TITLE

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.”

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.

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.

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PROFILE

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

PHOTO / ASHLEIGH CASTRO

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.

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.”

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.

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

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.

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

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.”

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

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

AUSTRALIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HEMP OLYMPIX T R AV E L

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

“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.”

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

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.

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DOPE ON THE ROAD LIFESTYLE

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

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

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...”

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

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

PHOTOS / ASHLEIGH CASTRO

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

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.”

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.”

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.

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PHOTO / JAY SCHOBER

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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.

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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.

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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!

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URBOLS’ GLOOKIES THE SWEETER SIDE OF THE GORILLA WRITER / UNIVERSAL UNDERGROUND

PHOTO / COOP

os Angeles-based cultivator Urbols has been making huge waves in the Southern California cannabis community, with cupwinning flowers at every turn—and for damn good reason. Their dense line of strains is nothing short of impressive, specifically their Glookies. A cross between Girl Scout Cookies and Gorilla Glue, this indica-dominant hybrid packs a serious punch from two classics we all know and love. The Gorilla parentage brings about a strong diesel undertone but is met with the sweetness of the Cookies strain, resulting in an incredibly delicious smoke. These buds are beautifully frosty, and Glookies is perfect for those suffering from pain, insomnia, PTSD, anxiety or stress.

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PHOTO / ASHLEIGH CASTRO

his Brazilian sativa has mysterious roots. Legend has it that Super Silver Haze is in its genes. This cold water hash rosin comes to us from Brazil through the Caribbean, on to Chicago and then Rasputin’s Garage in Mendocino. Despite its popularity, hash rosin wasn’t entered into The Cannabis Cup until 2013, and one such entry was via French Laundry and another producer. French Laundry’s Red Dragon Hash Rosin is made using “Taffy Tech,” a method in which the extract is slightly heated until workable, then

pulled like taffy and evenly pressed, producing the creamy lime-gold rosin presented to us by FL in origami-inspired triangular packaging. It’s spicy, woody and piney, with a slight sweetness in both essence and flavor. The effects didn’t take long, and are very uplifting in emotion and mood—abundantly sativa. I felt the effects solely in my mind and didn’t even notice my body. Highly recommended to treat low moods, depression or lack of motivation.

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A RED HOT TREAT THAT WON’T LEAVE DRAGON BREATH WRITER / PERRY FEIN

PHOTO / COOP

pon first encounter with Breez Cinnamon CBD Mints, you may underestimate them. While their packaging most closely resembles a tin of breath mints, they pack a punch you can’t miss. Each individual mint contains a mild dose of 5mg THC and 5mg CBD, making them perfect for the casual microdoser. Infused with natural terpenes from cinnamon and peppermint, only the most subtle cannabis flavor emerges. After savoring the mint for as long as possible before it naturally dissolved, it was still another 30 minutes before the effects took hold; a mellow body and head high left me coherent, if not slightly giddy. While the mild dose and unassuming package makes these treats ideal for the discrete patient, the delicious flavor presents a temptation that is not easily resisted.

Warm and delicious, with no adverse side effects. Perfect for medicating anytime, anywhere. Each tin includes 50 zero-calorie mints. Available in peppermint (Original) and vanilla mint (Royal) flavors.

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HUMBOLDT LEGENDS ECO-CONSCIOUS GROWING SINCE THE ‘80S WRITER / BLAZE ROBINSON

PHOTO / COURTESY OF HUMBOLDT LEGENDS

hree hundred miles west of San Diego (and 700 miles north) lies the remote town of Honeydew, California, where farmers and ranchers have lived for generations. Scott Davies, Co-Founder of Humboldt Legends, was backpacking California’s Lost Coast in the 1980s and fell in love with the area. He found a 40-acre parcel along the Mattole River, installed 60 solar panels and a million-gallon rain catchment basin. His farm, Winterbourne Farms, now supports ten 2,000-squarefoot hoop houses with automatic light depravation irrigated with 100 percent captured rainwater. Scott says he has always pushed the envelope on how low of an environmental impact he can have, while dragging as many of peers as he can with him. Scott’s branding company, Humboldt Legends, represents other sustainable cannabis f a r m e r s . Fo r S c o t t , l e g a l i z a t i o n i s a n exciting time of collaboration and forming deeper relationships between farmers and county officials. In fact, Scott’s Winterbourne Farms was the first cannabis farm to be selected for California’s track and trace program, which tracks strains like Sage OG, White OG, Mango, Sour Tangie and Jack Herer (Scott’s favorite) to their final sale point. He is also mastering live resin, which captures the aroma and peak terpenes of freshly cut flowers because it is immediately flash-frozen and shipped to extraction partners. “Our best innovations are in front of us and are being enabled by regulations,” Scott explains. “All the ills of cannabis; t h e p o l l u t i o n , t h e c r i m e , a re re d u c e d through regulation. There is an enormous oppor tunity the state has now to use regulatory practices to reward farmers for best use practices . . . There is an aspect to growing cannabis that links together people that otherwise wouldn’t have much in common—people who love living in nature, whether it be the seventh generation farmers or back-to-landers hippies. Cannabis allows us to make a living and live off the land.” WEBSITE: HUMBOLDTLEGENDS.COM INSTAGRAM: @HUMBOLDTLEGENDS

“THERE IS AN ASPECT TO GROWING CANNABIS THAT LINKS TOGETHER PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN’T HAVE MUCH IN COMMON—PEOPLE WHO LOVE LIVING IN NATURE, WHETHER IT BE THE SEVENTH GENERATION FARMERS OR BACKTO-LANDERS HIPPIES. CANNABIS ALLOWS US TO MAKE A LIVING AND LIVE OFF THE LAND.” – SCOTT DAVIES, HUMBOLDT LEGENDS CO-FOUNDER

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URBN LEAF

AT THE CORNER OF PRODUCT AND PRESENTATION WRITER / PERRY FEIN

PHOTO / COURTESY OF BRAD SONGHURST

THE PLACE

THE BUSINESS

Patients can find Urbn Leaf where Bay Park meets Morena in San Diego. With its own designated parking lot and easy access off the 5 and 8 freeways, locals and tourists alike will undoubtedly make this dispensary their go-to, one-stop shop. Upon entering, guests will be impressed with the chic presentation—many have remarked on its similarity to an Apple store. The waiting room sports an ultra-comfy couch and store literature is available for first-time patients. All in all, Urbn Leaf is what every dispensary should aspire to: a clean, neat and well-stocked establishment with a friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Will Senn, founder and owner of Urbn Leaf, is optimistic about the future of his business. Although the flagship location only opened its doors earlier this summer, when I talked with Senn he was pleased to announce that a second shop would be opening the following day, a third store would follow in the coming months, and they will be breaking ground on fourth and fifth locations by the end of the year. Urbn Leaf is also well-positioned to take advantage of the recreational market, Senn noted, as San Diego became the first city in California to allow for recreational cannabis sales.

THE PRODUCT Specializing in high-end flower, with their top-shelf strains aptly dubbed “Urbn Legends,” patients will be blown away by the selection of potent bud, including strains from notable growers such as Flow Kana, Marley Natural and Terraform Genetics. Most flower costs between $20 and $60/eighth; however, their menu has also recently begun to feature “mini nugs” of OG Kush for $15/eighth and Girl Scout Cookie trim for $10/eighth. Needless to say, patients will have no problem finding medicine at any price point. If smoking is not your preferred method of ingestion, you’ll be happy to find hundreds of distinctive edibles and a wide variety of concentrates and vape cartridges.

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On Sunday, September 10, 2017, the most elite and influential people in the cannabis industry joined at The Majestic in Downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the inaugural DOPE Industry Awards, presented by Pearl 2o. DOPE Magazine brought this illustrious event to the golden coast, and it’s safe to say the cannabis event sphere won’t ever be the same. The elevated black-tie affair, hosted by Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, featured an impressively well-dressed crowd, live music from house band Philly K., complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a celebration of Southern California’s biggest stars! The presenters were a veritable who’s who of SoCal Cannabis, as well as stars from DOPE’s latest issues, including the Seventh Letter’s Chaz Bojórquez, Saber and G1. Winners took home custom crystal trophies fit for the likes of major industry taste makers. Attendees received curated gift bags featuring cannabis swag and goodies, generously donated by supporting sponsors THC Design, Canndescent, Root Sciences, FlavRx, Third Eye Agency, HollyWeed North and personal-sized bottles of presenting sponsor Pearl 2o’s one-of-a-kind liquid emulsion—just to name a few items! An event to remember, the SoCal DOPE Industry Awards set the tone for the future of cannabis events in Southern California.Congratulations to all the winners!

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PHOTO / ASHLEIGH CASTRO

annaderm is an up-and-coming topical company currently producing a rich cannabis body cream. I was lucky enough to try some of this new product, and the first thing I noticed was the heavenly smell. My favorite is their lemongrass topical, but it also comes in mint and floral scents. There are no artificial fragrances, either—only essential oils. The texture is similar to what you could get in a high-end, cannabis-free body butter. Cannaderm contains both THC and CBD, both of which can soothe a myriad of skin conditions including eczema, bug bites, scars and acne. Cannaderm’s body cream can also be used for pain relief on targeted areas, and it even contains the pain-relieving plant arnica for an extra healing boost. I use this cream for deep moisturizing after a shower and to help relieve my lower back pain, which it alleviates in spades. Bottom line: Cannaderm feels and smells amazing, and best of all, it really works! PRODUCED & PROVIDED BY

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Moisturizing Provides pain relief Smells phenomenal

GLASS

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

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)

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

H E A LT H

CANNABIS AND THE CASUAL ATHLETE

THE IMPACT ON EXERCISE WRITER / KELLY VO

n August 5th, I checked an incredible accomplishment off my Bucket List. I finished my first 70.3-mile Half Ironman triathlon in Boulder, CO. It was an epic day, with over 2,000 athletes swimming (1.2 miles), cycling (56 miles) and running (13.1 miles) their way to the finish line. By the end of my five hours and fifty-three minutes I was exhausted and ready to collapse, but I couldn’t have been more proud of myself and every other athlete out on the course. You’d be hard pressed to find a more enthusiastic group of competitors. You might be thinking, “This race happened in Boulder. That means craft beer and legal weed had to be out in full force at the finish line.” And you’d be half right! You can’t have an Ironman race without beer at the finish, but cannabis was nowhere to be found—and for good reason. According to the USA Triathlon governing body, all cannabinoids—natural or synthetic THC and THC-like cannabinoids—are prohibited. The rule

comes from Section 8 of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Athlete Guide, where it states, “[The] USADA strongly advises athletes not to use cannabinoids at any time.” If you’re like me, you might be surprised that cannabis falls under anti-doping guidelines. After all, most of us wouldn’t consider someone who is high to be performance-enhanced, or at least not comparable to an athlete taking testosterone. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), cannabis is known to cause: • Memory and learning problems, including difficult concentration • Perception distortions including vision, touch, sound and time • Impaired eye-hand coordination • Decreased reaction time

“MARIJUANA RELAXES ME AND ALLOWS ME TO GO INTO A CONTROLLED, MEDITATIONAL PLACE . . . WHEN I GET HIGH, I TRAIN SMARTER AND FOCUS ON FORM.” – CLIFFORD DRUSINSKY, ELITE TRIATHLETE

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A recent study published in the 2016 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry shows that cannabis has replaced tobacco as the second most widely used drug among athletes after alcohol. The main reason? Performance enhancement.

So why would anyone get high before a race, knowing the effects to come? Upon closer look, it’s not so cut and dry. A study published on Pharmacol Rev explains that marijuana reduces anxiety, while another study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reveals that cannabis could increase airflow in the lungs by decreasing resistance in the airways. What does this mean for athletes? Gordy Megroz, an Outside Magazine correspondent, performed a few tests to find out. The first test involved a treadmill set at a pace of five miles per hour with the ramp angle increasing 2.5 percent every two minutes. Sober, Gordy kept up the pace for 19 minutes. Stoned, he lasted 19:30—a “substantial performance gain.” Gordy then performed a squat test and found that he got less sore when he was high on cannabis. Not only did Gordy perform better while stoned, he also had better recovery. Clifford Drusinsky, an elite triathlete, found similar results. In a November 2014 Men’s Journal interview, Clifford revealed that he fueled his training sessions with marijuana edibles. “Marijuana relaxes me and allows me to go into a controlled, meditational place,” he revealed. “When I get high, I train smarter and focus on form.” It’s not the type of performance enhancement you typically think

about, but the benefits can’t be denied. Throughout my six months of training, I used marijuana in multiple ways: • Sore Muscles: Cannabis massage oil was a highly effective treatment for burnt-out legs and cramped neck muscles. • Sleep: When you’re working out two hours a day, a good night’s sleep is key. CannaPunch helped knock me out after long days of training for quality, restorative rest. • Pain Relief: It’s impossible to train 15 hours a week and not get hurt. In fact, I got in a bike crash a few weeks before race day. Instead of getting hopped up on opioid painkillers, cannabis was a better, healthier option for treating my pain. The key to staying legal for my race: I didn’t touch cannabis in the weeks leading up to the starting line. Marijuana can stay in your fat tissue for a long time, so the safest course of action was to avoid all consumption prior to my race. For casual athletes like myself, there’s no reason to risk a disqualification for doping because of cannabis, but there’s also no reason not to take advantage of the benefits while you can.

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H E A LT H

EIGHT REASONS WHY SENIORS SHOULD USE CANNABIS TO STAY ACTIVE WRITER / MSKINDNESS B.

espite the stereotype that couch-locked teens take the lead in cannabis use, today the fastest growing cohort of cannabis users are far more mature. Every day, Baby Boomers and seniors are discovering the many benefits of the natural herb, and they’re using it to combat the consequences of age. As the mid-century community approaches retirement, they seek to remain active—and cannabis is helping them do just that! We’ve put together a list of 8 reasons why you should tell your grandparents to add a healthy dose of cannabis to their normal health and wellness routine:

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1. FIGHT INFLAMMATION AND OXIDATION Most of the ravages of aging are caused by inflammation. Cannabis is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that has been shown to regulate our bodies by tapping into our endocannabinoid system. Preventing inflammation and protecting our cells means increased mobility and longevity.

NOTE: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

2. REGULATE WEIGHT AND BMI People who use cannabis have a healthier BMI. More mature adults often struggle with obesity and the issues associated with it. Consuming regular doses of the plant can lower risk of cardiovascular disease, increase HDL cholesterol and prevent diabetes. Remember to eat your veggies!

3. REDUCE PHARMACEUTICAL USE It’s no secret that as we go up in age, so does our prescription drug use (typically). But pharmaceuticals often come with a myriad of unwanted side effects. As an alternative, cannabis can combat many of those issues—without posing a threat to our bodies.

4. PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS Osteoporosis is the most common age-related bone disease. And strong bones are necessary for ease of activity. When regulated with cannabis, our endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in healthy bone growth and density. Who needs milk when you have weed?

5. TREAT INSOMNIA Insomnia is more common in seniors, and a regulated sleep pattern can improve our health in a myriad of ways. A good indica, CBD strain or even a low dose edible can offer lasting rest without harmful side effects.

6. RELIEVE CHRONIC PAIN Chronic pain is the number one reason for immobility, and arthritis is a plague to our aging communities. Recent studies have found that arthritic joints have an unusually high number of CB2 receptors. That means cannabis can be used to activate those receptors and fight the pain!

7. TREAT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND CANCER Alzheimer’s is a progressive illness, and cancer plagues our society like no other disease. Cannabis has been found to show positive results in treating brain tumors, lymphoma and various other cancers that attack the body. And cannabinoids show very promising signs of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

8. ENJOY LIFE AND EMBRACE THE AGING PROCESS Ingesting phytocannabinoids can help restore balance to the body, thereby improving mood and alleviating depression. It makes us laugh, enhances the senses and cultivates social interaction. All reasons to be happy. And when we are happy, we get out and do more!

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FEED YOUR HEAD! PROFILE

AN ENDOCANNABINOID-ENHANCING SALAD BY THE HERBAL CHEF WRITER / CHRIS SAYEGH PHOTO / COURTESY OF THE HERBAL CHEF

hen I first started to smoke weed, I really had no idea what I was doing. I just loved being high. It wasn’t until I went to college that I started to question what I was actually doing to my body. Was weed healthy? Was I going to melt in the couch like those anti-weed ads and lose my passion for being active? Hell no, and shame on the people that perpetuated that stigma! Cannabis is such a great addition to my daily cardio and workout routine. Notice I said addition to my workout—cannabis should not be the workout. I learned through a little bit of research (thanks to the renowned UC Santa Cruz library) that cannabis can help the cardiovascular system in many ways. Desirable effects don’t become noticeable until you’ve built up a cannabis tolerance, unfortunately, but once that tolerance is built up, the improvements are impressive! The ECS (endocannabinoid system) plays a very important role in the cardiovascular system, and although you run the same risks that everyone does for high-intensity workouts, cannabis helps you err on the safer side of that equation. The importance of understanding your body is second to none. We only have one vessel to work with, and we should know how to take care of it. Our ECS is now known to be responsible for regulating many systems of the body which, when functioning properly, can help our bodies reach homeostasis and run more efficiently. The scientific community recently began researching the effects of low doses of cannabinoids to get your system on track, without the overwhelming psychoactivity of large THC doses. Once we as a community educate enough people on this matter, I believe our society will start to view cannabinoids as a supplement rather than a drug or psychedelic, and we’ll see it used more openly.

If you are looking for some healthy recipes to incorporate to your daily diet, check out THEHERBALCHEF.COM/recipes for some delicious treats!

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Here’s a recipe that fits perfectly in line with the upkeep of our endocannabinoid system. I like to make this when I’m craving something filling, yet still on the lighter side. Chickpeas are a staple in the Middle East, so I grew up eating some manipulation of them with almost every meal. I love me some chickpeas in just about anything, but in this recipe we make them the star ingredient! SUMMER CHICKPEA SALAD 1 Pound chickpeas 2 Tablespoons cumin 2 Tablespoons coriander 1 Tablespoon cayenne 1 Tablespoon paprika 3 Garlic cloves (smashed) 4 Sprigs of thyme 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 Teaspoon fresh ground black pepper Salt to taste 1 Grapefruit (or orange), segmented 1.5 Tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar ½ A lemon 5-6 Sprigs of mint 1 Cup cucumber (small diced) ½ Cup parsley (chopped) OPTIONAL: 1 banana pepper (brunoise—cut into strips, then julienne) ¼ cup red onion (small diced) DIRECTIONS: Start by soaking the chickpeas overnight in water. Drain the chickpeas and put them in a pot with two inches more water than where the beans sit. Add the cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, garlic and thyme to the pot and cook the beans for about 30 min on medium-high heat, or until cooked through. Drain the chickpeas and save the liquid for a broth, or for soaking your next batch of beans. Let the chickpeas cool. While the chickpeas are cooling, you can dice the cucumber (and optional banana pepper and red onion). Segment the grapefruit, chop the parsley, pick the mint. Now toss the chickpeas with olive oil and season with the fresh ground pepper and salt. Taste to make sure it is seasoned correctly. Add the cucumber (and banana pepper and red onion, if applicable), fold gently, then add the mixture to your serving dish. Drizzle on the aged balsamic and add the parsley, mint, segmented grapefruit, then squeeze the half lemon on the whole dish. Serve up and enjoy!

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