Sativa & Savasana by Elevate Nevada Magazine

APRIL 2017

SATIVA & SAVASANA Say Namaste to the latest offering in the cannabis space

Laws of Extraction: A Look at the Popularity and Potency of Concentrates

“I’ve worked with Amanda Connor since the inception of The Grove. The regulatory knowledge she has with regards to cannabis, compliance, etc., is bar none. She exudes professionalism and I’m honored to call her a friend, as well as a valued colleague.” – TJ Wright, General Manager of The Grove

Connor & Connor PLLC is a boutique law ﬁrm focusing on business formation, transactions, litigation, licensing, and permi ing. The a orneys at Connor & Connor PLLC understand cannabis law and its intricacies.

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from the editor Publisher Guy Bertuzzi, guy@elevatenv.com

Editor-In-Chief Beth Schwartz, beth@elevatenv.com

Creative Director Brooke Bertuzzi, brooke@finetheagency.com

Contributing Writers: Justin Alexander, Amanda Connor, Richard S. Gubbe, chef Brandi Wren

Media Consultant: Mark Damkroeger, mark@elevatenv.com Sean Sonner, sean@elevatenv.com Cover Photography by Karen Michelle Netterfield, Infinite Imaging Photography

ELEVATION PUBLISHING LLC President Jonathan Fine Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Lupo

FINE THE AGENCY Partner Kelli Maruca, kelli@finetheagency.com Executive Director Paula Pettit, paula@finetheagency.com

Graphic Designer James Nigbur, james@finetheagency.com

Digital Services Austin Grantham, austin.grantham@finetheagency.com Peter Chen, peter.chen@finetheagency.com elevate nevada magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors, false data or omissions. elevate nevada assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this publication or in any advertisement. elevate nevada magazine does not encourage the illegal use of any of the products or advertisements within. Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. To subscribe to elevate nevada, visit elevatenv.com/subscribe/. 7120 Rafael Ridge Way, Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: 702.737.8464 | Email: info@elevatenv.com

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When I reflect on the past two years and elevate’s entry into the cannabis space, I am a little bit in awe of the progress that has been made – not just within the industry but also with the American public. When we started this magazine in April 2015, finding a doctor to interview who had actually treated a patient using cannabis was like finding a unicorn. Even finding patients who wanted to speak about their medical journey using cannabis was rare. When I did find patients who would were willing to tell their story, it was usually on the condition that they share it anonymously. I am not the only one to notice the progress. When I interviewed Dr. Bonni Goldstein for the March issue of elevate, she shared with me that she had been treating patients with cannabis for nine years and in the last two years she had more referrals from her fellow physicians than in the previous seven years combined. Clearly the tide has turned. I think that has been helped by the fact that cannabis has become a mainstream topic that is no longer taboo. It has become a part of the entertainment culture with TV shows like HBO’s “High Maintenance,” Viceland’s “Weediquette,” and MTV’s “Mary+Jane,” which was cancelled last year after one season. Premiering this year will be a Netflix sitcom called “Disjointed” starring Kathy Bates. The big screen will also get some

cannabis culture of its own with upcoming drama “Humboldt” starring John Malkovich. But, of course, Showtime’s “Weeds” kicked it all off in 2006, running for eight seasons. With cannabis becoming more and more a part of the cultural Zeitgeist, people aren’t afraid to tell friends, family and neighbors that they have been using a cannabis salve for their arthritis, taking a gummy to combat an unforgiving migraine or giving CBD oil to their child to treat epilepsy or a seizure disorder. In addition to finding its way into our homes via the small screen and hearing our neighbors discuss its medical benefits, the sky certainly has not fallen and disaster has not struck as cannabis has become legalized in some form in 28 states. Its slow roll into communities across the nation has brought relief to both our military veterans suffering from PTSD resulting from combat and to those communities in the heartland being ravaged by opiate addiction. Perceptions have changed, acceptance has grown, and stigmas are diminishing. At elevate, we are proud to be a part of that change and continue to educate about the healing properties of cannabis. Thanks for reading and celebrating two years with us. With an open mind,

Check out what’s going on in The Grow: In a nod to Earth Day on April 22, this month’s feature delves into choosing the right commercial cannabis greenhouse with Shane Hutto of Horticultural Solutions Ltd. To check it out, go to elevatenv.com/thegrow.

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WE’RE USED TO #1.

Nevada’s #1 dispensary is celebrating its first birthday on 4/20. - Ranked Leafly No. 1 dispensary in Nevada 2016

™

The Grove invites you to enjoy special offers and can’t-miss deals as we celebrate our first birthday. It’s our way of saying thanks to our loyal patients. We appreciate you — and the chance to take the notion of what a Nevada dispensary can be even higher.

TheGroveNV.com

CONTENTS

Cooking with Cannabis

A Yendica for Indica

Legalease

Banana Bread with Nutella Ganache

10 HEALING: The Power of Cannabis

Rest, relax, and revere Mother Earth on the fruits of a dreamy indica

Patient diagnosed with Chiari malformations finds relief with CBD cannabis oil

Sativa & Savasana

Dispensary Spotlight

Laws of Extraction

Mynt Cannabis Dispensary

Say Namaste to the latest offering in the cannabis space

The potency of concentrates makes them popular but they do come with a few explosive downsides

The Right Stuff: Are cannabis patients covered by a Patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bill of Rights?

36 Dispensary Map

A patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guide to finding medical cannabis in the Las Vegas Valley

44 Elevating the Conversation with Dr. Chao-Hsiung Tung

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ELEVATE YOUR STATE

Medical cannabis updates from across the United States

MINNESOTA: Minnesota House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Jon Applebaum (DFL-Minnetonka) has filed a bill to end cannabis prohibition and regulate marijuana like alcohol for adults ages 21 and up. If passed, bill HF927 would go into effect on January 1, 2018. It would allow adults to possess and purchase up to an ounce of marijuana, and to grow six plants. Rep. Applebaum hopes that all revenues generated by such a program would go toward Minnesota’s public schools. His bill would not permit driving under the influence of cannabis or consumption in public.

COLORADO: The Colorado Department of Revenue announced that $1.3 billion in regulated marijuana sales took place in calendar year 2016, generating nearly $200 million in state tax revenue. These figures do not include revenue generated by local taxes on marijuana. Monthly sales in Colorado topped $100 million in eight of the 12 months. “To put the state’s third year of regulated recreational marijuana sales in perspective, Year One totaled $699.2 million (combined with medical sales) and Year Two jumped up to $996.2 million. The trend should continue in Year Four, but beyond that? It’s a murkier proposition,” reported the Cannabist. In December, dispensary sales were a little more than $114.7 million, a 13 percent increase from the $101.3 million recorded in December 2015.

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KANSAS: A proposal to make Kansas the 29th medical marijuana state has been introduced by Senator David Haley (D-Kansas City). SB 155, the Kansas Safe Access Act, would allow seriously ill Kansas residents with certain qualifying conditions to access medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. Sixty-eight percent of Kansans believe that marijuana should be legal for medical purposes.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to pass HB 640, a bill that would decriminalize possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. The vote, 14-2, was overwhelming, and it appears very likely that the House will also pass HB 640 with a huge margin of support. The Committee also voted to “retain” HB 656, a bill that would make marijuana legal for adult use.

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WEST VIRGINIA: Legislators in the West Virginia House and Senate introduced bills that would create a medical marijuana program in the state. In the House, Delegate Mike Pushkin and 11 co-sponsors introduced HB 2677, a comprehensive medical marijuana bill titled the “Patient Freedom Act.” In the upper chamber, Senator Richard Ojeda and 11 co-sponsors introduced SB 386, which would make medical marijuana legal and create a Medical Cannabis Commission to administer the program.

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Cooking Cannabis BY CHEF BRANDI WREN, BITES BY BRANDI @BITESBYBRANDI PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNON DORN, DOPE FOTO

BANANA BREAD WITH NUTELLA GANACHE INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

1-¼ cups of all-purpose flour 1 tsp of baking soda ½ tsp of salt ½ tsp of vanilla bean paste 2 ripe bananas ½ cup of infused butter (1 stick) ¾ cup of sugar 1 egg 1 egg yolk

Pre-heat oven to 350°. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl to blend. Mash bananas and vanilla together and set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add egg and egg yolk and beat until well blended. Add flour mixture in two additions, alternating with the banana and vanilla mixture. Beat until just blended. Pour mixture into a greased bread pan (standard size 8” x 4 ½”). Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour at 350°. Remove from oven and cool completely on a rack. Remove bread from pan and slice.

NUTELLA GANACHE INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

¾ cup of Nutella ½ cup of heavy cream 1 tsp coarse sea salt

Put Nutella into a medium bowl. Heat heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat, bring just to a boil. Pour cream over Nutella, whisking until smooth. Stir in sea salt, let cool. Pour over Banana Bread and enjoy!

Please remember when cooking with medicinal cannabis you are cooking with a medicine and the medicine amount and portions of the food ingested should always be taken into consideration. Always start out with small portions or doses and wait 30 minutes to an hour before eating any additional portions of food that has been medicated.

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HEALING THE POWER OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

PATIENT DIAGNOSED WITH CHIARI MALFORMATIONS

FINDS RELIEF WITH CBD CANNABIS OIL In 2008 Paula Medina was suffering from anxiety, nerve pain, severe migraines, dizziness, numbness, difficulty swallowing, blurry vision, and tingling throughout her body. She went to two different physicians during the course of 2008 and 2009 for treatment. Both ordered MRIs and upon receiving the results each told her “it was all in her head,” recollects Medina, who is 48. Because her symptoms continued to persist she went to a third doctor in 2011 who ordered another MRI. Upon receiving the results, Medina’s doctor delivered a diagnosis of Chiari malformations (CMs), which, very simply, are structural defects in the cerebellum. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke, CMs may develop when the space in the lower rear of the skull is smaller than normal, causing the cerebellum and brain stem to be pushed downward into the foramen magnum and into the upper spinal canal. The resulting pressure on the cerebellum and brain stem may affect functions controlled by these areas and block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—the clear liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord—to and from the brain.

Even though there is no cure for Chiari, surgery is recommended to help with the debilitating symptoms. “It’s not guaranteed that it will work. In my case it worked for six months and then all my symptoms came back,” Medina says of her December 2011 surgery. Chiari is a tough diagnosis to make as it is often mistaken for multiple sclerosis (MS) and even when it is diagnosed the treatment options are limited. “From the very beginning when I became symptomatic, they tried many pharmaceuticals on me including Gabapentin and Lyrica. I tried several antidepressants and they almost sent me into a comatose state. So I wasn’t on them very long and, to be honest, I am not one to go on any kind of opiates. I would rather deal with pain than put poison in my body,” Medina says of the From the very beginning when I became symptomatic, pharmaceuticals she took to they tried many pharmaceuticals on me including treat Chiari. Medina decided to Gabapentin and Lyrica. I tried several antidepressants give cannabis a try at the and they almost sent me into a comatose state. So I wasn’t on them encouragement of her son who thought it would help with her very long and, to be honest, I am not one to go on any kind of opiates. I nerve pain and anxiety. She would rather deal with pain than put poison in my body." rebuffed him at first as she was raised anti-drug. “I was against it but now I am all for it. People look at me like I am crazy but Not only did Medina finally have a diagnosis, but she also hey, if it works, what can I say?,” Medina explains. had a five-millimeter herniation so she had to schedule brain Medina tried smoking cannabis but wasn’t a fan. She surgery right away. Her neurologist told her that she had very “didn’t care for the psychoactive part so I found Mary’s little spinal fluid flow because it was being blocked by her Medicinal patches in Colorado which worked well, I had a cerebellum. “He told me the sooner the better for the surgery little bit of the psychoactive and it took my pain away for a few because the damage was already done but I needed to do the hours. I will do a patch or the salve intermittently, it’s really surgery so I could start to feel better,” recalls Medina.

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helped. Cannabis offered a different kind of relief than with pharmaceuticals. With the pharmaceuticals I had all the side effects.” Now Medina takes a capsule of CBD cannabis oil every night to keep her symptoms at bay. In February, Medina started Chiari Neurological Project (chiarineuro.org) to help others with the disorder. “I hate that I have this but I am glad that I am able to live day by day and still have hope and be able to help other people. This is my passion, this is what I am supposed to be doing,” she says of giving awareness, consultation, emotional and physical support for those diagnosed with Chiari through the newly formed non-profit. But Chiari Neurological Project is not just for those who are suffering from Chiari. Medina also welcomes people with other neurological issues. “I just want it to be a place where people can go and do some kind of natural holistic healing therapy to keep their mind off of it for a few hours,” she enthuses. As for the doctors Medina consulted with in ’08 and ’09, who chocked her symptoms up to being in her head, she paid them each a visit post-brain surgery. “I told them I wasn’t a hypochondriac, this is what I have and it was on my report when you did my MRI. You were telling me it was all in my head, and it really is all in my head,” she relays with an expression of irony.

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DISPENSARY SPOTLIGHT Mynt Cannabis Dispensary myntcannabis.com 132 East Second Street, Reno, NV 89501 775.538.MYNT

MISSION STATEMENT | As both a company and a dispensary, Mynt works tirelessly to make cannabis legally accessible and socially acceptable. Believing in patient dignity, Mynt is committed to supporting the community members they serve. BACKGROUND | The team at Mynt has spent their lives building and nurturing relationships and opportunities in Nevada. As Nevadans, born and raised, the leadership team at Mynt has turned their attention to medical marijuana for the purest of reasons: they believe in the therapeutic value of cannabis, and its service to not only patients, but to the community as well. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Mynt carries premium flower, concentrates, extracts, edibles, tinctures, capsules, topicals, suppositories, pet treats, and dab pens. Mynt’s focus remains making the many therapeutic benefits of cannabis available to those in need. To that end, Mynt offers high-potency CBD and THC products, including tincture, capsules, suppositories and edibles, all designed to alleviate symptoms associated with various medical conditions. ON-SITE PHYSICIAN | Mynt works closely with Dr. Sean Devlin

who, during the last decade, has compassionately and actively recommended medicinal cannabis, and continues to educate his patients on its safe and appropriate use. Mynt is planning to host the first of many upcoming seminars relating to cannabis education with Dr. Devlin as a featured presenter. MEDICINE SOURCE | Mynt has partnered with a trio of northern Nevada companies -- Tahoe-Reno Botanicals, Tahoe-Reno Extracts and Kynd Cannabis Company -- to source its medicine. The dispensary also carries medicine from other licensed cultivation and extraction facilities from throughout the state. UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | In addition to a team comprised of local professionals, Mynt sought out individual experts from the cannabis space to create a group that is second to none in knowledge and expertise. Pair that with the highestquality products in the market, and patients can be confident in every purchase and every experience made and had at Mynt. Additionally, Mynt is the only dispensary in downtown Reno. CUSTOMER SERVICE PHILOSOPHY Mynt places the needs of its patients first. To that end, they’re building customized

programs that will empower their patients through thoughtful education and the most extensive product line in the state. Knowledge is power, and Mynt believes in making the right information easily accessible to those who need it. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | Mynt is in the planning stages of scheduling monthly education seminars that will be open to the public. They are also scheduling regular vendor spotlights during which vendors will be invited to educate patients directly on the benefits of their products. In addition, Mynt is planning a 4-20 event featuring a series of speakers and industry vendors. STAFF EDUCATION | All staff members must complete an extensive budtender training program, which includes education from both vendors and industry professionals. Dr. Devlin also spent time educating Mynt’s staff about the benefits of cannabis. CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS | Mynt works closely with Mainstream Marijuana Association, which endeavors to educate veterans on the benefits of medicinal marijuana for PTSD and other combat-specific issues.

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A YENDICA FOR INDICA REST, RELAX, AND REVERE MOTHER EARTH ON THE FRUITS OF A DREAMY INDICA By Justin Alexander

or those who plan to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with a nod to cannabis and Mother Earth, a straightfrom-the-heavens indica is one way to go. Indicas are what to reach for at the end of a stressful day when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to space out or when you need high-level pain relief and a mental break to take you out of this world. It is a

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sit-on-the-couch, zone-out inducer that creates a full cerebral and body high. In addition to offering different advantages to patients than sativas and hybrids, physically indica plants grow shorter and bushier and have a higher yield in a shorter period of time. To follow is a round-up of the top indicas available at dispensaries in the Las Vegas Valley.

GDP BY STATE FLOWER CANNABIS Granddaddy Purple, also known as GDP, is the stuff of legend thanks to its colorful creator. “Ask Ken Estes—Mr. Granddaddy Purple himself—about the origins of GDP and he will tell you some fantastic story about how he was gifted his GDP cut from a Native American tribe in Humboldt County roughly three decades ago,” says Daniel Wacks, co-founder of State Flower Cannabis. “What we do know for a fact though is that GDP is a distant descendant of Afghani.” Also, this is the strain that patients think of when they hear about “purple weed,” thanks to its stunning color. State Flower Cannabis has been growing this strain since 2005 and at that time it was the most popular varietal on the West Coast by far and most aptly represented Bay Area marijuana culture. “If there was ever a fragrance engineered to smell like the Bay Area in 2005, it would smell of GDP and Swisher Sweets,” Wacks says. On the nose, deeply whiff the scent of dark chocolate and grape, similar to a rich red wine. On the eyes, take in the dark purple color—genetically inherent to the strain—big juicy trichomes and copper colored hairs. On the mind, imagine the sensation of what it feels like to be rich dark chocolate coursing through a cascading dessert fountain. You will be one step closer to living this delicious dream after smoking GDP. A very potent indica, the couch-lock comes on almost immediately and the heavy high at 19.21 percent THC works well when coping with pain, both mild and severe. GDP is the epitome of chill, assisting with sleep disorders, migraines, pain relief, muscle relaxation, appetite stimulation and nausea, according to Wacks.

KYND’S CADILLAC PURPLE SAP CO2 DAB OIL Sweet in smell and golden in color, a dab of the Cadillac Purple Sap will do you well. A long-term high, this outstanding product intensifies as time goes by even when consumed in the smallest quantities. The tongue twister of a name pays homage to its parents Blackberry Kush, the Black and Purple Urkle. “Cadillac Purple is an intense indica strain known for full body relaxation and pain relief,” says Dave Zimmerman, director of extraction

at Kynd Cannabis Company. “It lacks the heady cerebral impact of sativa-heavy hybrids. Its effects, which tend to be soothing to the body and calming overall, often lead to high-quality sleep. The buds of Cadillac Purple are a rich green with splashes of purple, and the aroma is mild and quite floral.” Preferred by those looking for relief from pain, stress, anxiety, lack of appetite and insomnia, you might find yourself chewing on the potent and lingering terp aftertaste before running into the kitchen for a snack, and then crashing into a cloud of sweet dreams. “You can taste the plant’s composition quite clearly. We add no additives of any kind, so this is Cadillac Purple in its purest form,” Zimmerman says. “Dabbing is recommended for high-tolerance patients looking to alleviate symptoms quickly.” At 71.25% THC/.21% CBD, expect a euphoric body high and a pleasing happy/hungry/sleepy hybrid feeling.

THE+SOURCE’S MASTER KUSH Originally called High Rise, Master Kush obtained its name from the growers who created it in the towering residential blocks of Amsterdam, says Tommy Ballman, director of cultivation at The+Source. Origins can be traced to Hindu Kush and Skunk and it is a favorite of many celebrities including rapper Snoop Dogg. “We've been growing this for one year, and it's a popular strain with great attributes,” Ballman says of Master Kush, which has 20 percent THC. The first and most noticeable expression of this strain is in its taste, which is as down to earth as the high. Deep and sweet, this will bring you into your body and take away all the physical stresses while still remaining alert. Recommended for patients who are fighting cancer, anxiety, depression, insomnia and lack of appetite, after smoking, the body becomes gooey and the yawns may emerge more quickly than you initially anticipated—once these two things occur it can be said that you are well on the way to a coherent, mellowed out bliss. Master the mind and body with Master Kush.

REMEDY’S BIO-JESUS There’s a large community of patients who favor strains in the Diesel family due to their intoxicating smell and pungent gasoline flavor. A spawn

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of Gumbo and Bio-Diesel, Bio-Jesus is definitely of this variety. “It starts with a nice strong head high that moves into a more relaxing body high as more is consumed,” says Chris Welch, cultivation manager of Remedy. “[It’s] high octane.” With a THC level of 28.64 percent, turn to Bio-Jesus for superb relief from insomnia and pain and for when you need that happy, relaxed feeling with brain haze. For experienced consumers, Bio-Jesus is good for making that transition from the daytime you to the nighttime you. It turns off the lights from woes and work and allows you to regain a sense of positive self while reveling in deep relaxation.

MEDIZIN’S OGKB 2.0 Characterized as having the essence of “berry cream funk” by Chris Wren, Medizin’s vice president of operations, the flavor and smell of OGKB 2.0, which supposedly stands for OG Kush Breath, is tremendously unique. Even the smoke is delightful as it wafts away and fills the room with a pleasurable odor of earthy pine. “We started growing this variety at the end of 2016,” Wren says. “Her immediate success can be attributed to the overall desirable characteristics—dense, round purple indica buds covered in trichomes and THC that tests over 25 percent—that seems to be what the current customer base is looking for.” Stellar for anxiety, pain and insomnia, this indica is true to form in its effects but not in its grow. Unlike other indicas, “it's a real slow plant to grow and isn't what you would consider a high yielding strain,” Wren says. Smoke, reflect and appreciate this meditative state thanks to OGKB 2.0.

DO-SI-DOS FROM MATRIX With THC in the 23 to 29 percent range, Do-Si-Dos is an indica-dominant hybrid strain that blends Girl Scout Cookies with Face Off OG. Matrix’s Evan Marder sings its praises for a variety of reasons—starting with the aesthetics. “It has an amazing look and it is one of the most beautiful strains I have seen,” he says, pointing to

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the array of colors encapsulated on each bud such as lime green and lavender leaves. The nose is just as interesting, emanating both an earthy pine and a “floral funkiness. The taste is very Kush-like and it has a wonderful berry exhale,” offers Marder. Do-Si-Dos is like a relaxing cup of sleepy time tea, taking away the stress and anxiety that leads to insomnia. The buzz starts off strong and then melts down over the body with time into a sedative level of relaxation. If you want to end the day hungry, happy and in the calm zone, reach for Do-Si-Dos — a true force of greatness in the world of indicas.

KABUNKY’S SKYWALKER OG The force will definitely be with you when using Skywalker OG, a cross of Skywalker and OG Kush, to medicate a range of ailments from body pain to insomnia that bring you heavily into a full body and mind high. “Skywalker OG is the perfect balance between the cerebral and physical highs, just like the dark and light side of the Skywalker family. Not only does Skywalker bring you to a galaxy far, far away with euphoric thoughts, but it also cuts your pain like a light saber through Anakin's arm,” says Kabunky’s Chris DeGraff. “Skywalker OG, just like the family's midi-chlorians full of The Force in the famous saga, is full of terpenes including Caryophyllene, the happiness terpene, paired with the Limonene, a natural anti-depressant and anti-anxiety which adds to the euphoric and happy feeling, and the Myrcene brings the smoker into full body relaxation as well as helps with falling and staying asleep.” With 21.94 percent THC, Skywalker OG takes away anxiety, depression and puts an overall sunny hue—with its spicy/citrus flavor—on even the most difficult days. Seasoned smokers delight in the strength of this experience and even though there is an abundance of couch-lock, you will find your way to the snack drawer thanks to this appetite stimulating indica-hybrid. Use caution when operating your light saber.

THE GROVE’S STARKILLER The Grove’s StarKiller is also an ode to “Star Wars.” According to Kevin Biernacki, director of cultivation for The Grove, StarKiller is

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named for Galen Marek (also known as The Apprentice), who is the Dark Jedi anti-hero protagonist of the “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” project. “We started growing this strain in February 2016 when we opened the doors to our cultivation facility as one of our premium strains,” says Biernacki. Comprised of 70 percent indica and 30 percent sativa, its origins are the original Skywalker OG Kush and the Rare Dankness #2 produced by Rare Dankness seed company. Used for insomnia, pain relief and PTSD, among other ailments, it tests at 27.5 percent THC. A strong citrus aftertaste is one of the hallmarks of this flavorful experience, but upfront you will be hit by pine on your palate. Those who love OG will quickly pick up those notes as well. A smooth high with no peaks and valleys, StarKiller will induce a deep sleep and a complete mental tune out. Although great as a concentrate, first, we recommend enjoying it in this lovely flowery form.

WHITE WALKER OG BY CANNABIOTIX Snowy, golfball size buds make the White Walker OG a true beauty. But then you take a taste and hear the backstory and you will most likely fall even deeper in love. “The name came about because it’s an extremely frosty strain,” says Cory Calcagno, head cultivator at Cannabiotix. “The team is a big fan of “Game of Thrones”—it is super snowy, really frosty, winter is coming...” Since Cannabiotix started growing this strain in 2012, it has not only become a popular consumer choice, but has achieved top honors in various contests. Calcagno calls it a Michael Phelps strain “because it has won a lot of gold. I think that it has become a fan favorite because it is one of the gassier, crystal-laden, original-Kush smelling and [tasting] OGs out there,” he says, noting, “It has always had a very strong lemon-gas smell and a very potent, couch-loving indica high. It is a quintessential indica—heavy-hitting OG Kush.” With 27.8 percent THC, patients should look to White Walker OG for relief from insomnia, chronic pain and anxiety. It doesn’t take long after the first hit to realize that this is an intense stoned feeling with tremendous couch melt. The next thing that follows will be eyelid droop and then you know you are well on the way to total relaxation—get ready for a nap within 45 minutes.

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SATIVA & SAVASANA

Say Namaste to the latest offering in the cannabis space by Beth Schwartz

Combining two of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most ancient healing practices, CannaYoga owners Irena Jacobson and Madelaine Beckett have started oďŹ&#x20AC;ering CannaYin and CannaYinFlow classes at their Las Vegas studio.

Photography by Karen Michelle Netterfield, Infinite Imaging Photography InfiniteImagingPhoto.com

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“When people ﬁrst hear about it, most of the time the responses we get are: ‘I have been doing that for years. It’s great I can do it with other people now,’” explains Irena Jacobson. “Everybody does it but now we get to do it together. There’s no hiding it, there’s no judgment.”

Jacobson, who is one of the co-founders of CannaYoga, is referring to elevating your mind and body while practicing yoga with a little bit of cannabis to help you find your center. She and Madelaine Beckett offer CannaYin and CannaYinFlow classes at their Wishing Wellness studio as well as at various pop-up locations around the city. Although it was slow when they first started offering classes in August, there was a spike in attendance once Nevada legalized adult-use cannabis following the election in November. “There’s still a stigma associated with cannabis but I wanted to create a space for patients to experience this together because everything is so new, especially here in the city. I work with a lot of patients so that’s what geared me in this direction,” offers Beckett, who works with her husband, Dr. Timothy Beckett, as manager of Valley Center for Cannabis Therapy. Initially, Beckett’s husband thought she was crazy when she suggested pairing yoga and cannabis. But she reasoned that patients might be more inclined if they could “combine the two and we could get them out of their comfort zone to come and try this.” Certainly CannaYoga’s tagline -- combining two of the world’s greatest ancient healing practices -gets to the heart of the matter. “I was sending the patients to the studio because they were coming to Valley Center for Cannabis Therapy to treat some kind of pain. Whether you have cancer or PTSD, cannabis isn’t the only thing that’s going to get you better -- it’s a whole change in lifestyle of not just doing yoga but changing your way of eating. I was also encouraging our patients to introduce some sort of workout to get their bodies more active,” continues Beckett. “Not only for them to workout but to get them in the right mindset to work on issues they are dealing with.” “We like to try and get to know our clients and have them open up to us and provide them with that safe space so that they are comfortable and feel that they are actually getting health benefits, which is the main goal. It’s not just a social hour where you would do what you would do in a frat house,” says Jacobson, who is also coincidentally married to a physician also in the cannabis space, Dr. Scott Jacobson, of Wishing Wellness Medical. Each one-hour class is $25 ($20 for industry professionals when they scan their agent card online) and begins with a quick discussion on a topic that could be anything from vaping to the difference between a sativa and an indica. “We make it nice and fun and light,” explains Beckett, who has been practicing yoga since she was 16 and her especially bendy physique shows it. “We set up ashtrays and lighters by the mats. We all pass around whatever there is to pass around. Everybody partakes or not,” says Jacobson, who has been practicing yoga for 25 years with a passion for Acroyoga. “Sometimes couples come and one may be in a job where they get tested so they don’t partake and their partner does. It’s not weird if you don’t.” But they don’t encourage novice cannabis users to attend. “We don’t think you have to have done yoga before. Our classes are great for all levels but we don’t think it’s a good idea for clients to be trying cannabis for the first time at our class. So far we’ve never had anyone sign up who has never tried cannabis before. Everyone +21 and older is welcome but we expect our clients to know their limitations,” explains Jacobson. For yoga beginners, the classes aren’t especially rigorous or hard to pick up. “Classes are very good for your elevated state of mind. They aren’t like hot yoga classes where they are quick moving,” says Jacobson. “For the CannaYin classes, the philosophy is you don’t have to get up off your mat. You can sit and lay down and the most we would do is a cat-cow kneeling on your mat, otherwise, it is all passive, on-your-mat poses.” Beckett elaborates, “There’s not as many active poses in CannaYinFlow. You are still doing active poses but I move you through them very slowly to warm up our bodies. Then during the last 30 minutes of the class we go into yin, it’s very restorative and relaxing. You are able to zone out with the music or with your own breath.”

april | elevatenv.com

“With the Yin class, where you hold the pose for three to six minutes on any given side, it’s not really that you are doing that many poses in the course of an hour but you are holding them and you are able to relax and able to get into those deep tissues and let your mind concentrate and try to be very meditative. When you find that your mind is wandering, bring your mind back and if there is a stretch where you feel uncomfortable breathe into that stretch. Everybody feels so amazing after class. We had one client say that she felt two inches taller afterward, which is always how I feel,” Jacobson explains with a satisfied smile. The relaxed approach fostered at CannaYoga seems to work well. “The feedback has been amazing from patients,” enthuses Beckett. “One of the patients who came, texted me when she got home and said it was one of the first times she felt relaxed enough to get in bed and go to sleep because she didn’t feel her pain. She said she had never been pain-free in five years and now she was. And that’s what we want, to help.” Class sizes at CannaYoga depend on the location and theme, but the studio caps classes at 40. For larger classes, Jacobson and Beckett work as a team with one leading and the other helping to provide adjustments, massage, water, and pre-roll relighting. CannaYoga also offers popup classes at local dispensaries and medical clinics as well as special workshops

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such as one they held recently on edibles that lasted two hours and featured 10 milligram gummies. Many of the pop-up classes are in collaboration with other small business and non-profits. Special events scheduled this month include a Yindica class as well as an Earth Day class, of which a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local environmental non-profit. Special classes and workshops are advertised at cannayogalv.com. As for appropriate canna-yoga etiquette, you can partake in what is available at the class, bring your own cannabis or just enjoy practicing with your fellow yogis sans cannabis. The CannaYogis recommend a hybrid or indica for the CannaYin class and suggest a sativa for the CannaYinFlow class. To make sure attendees are completely comfortable, teachers don’t indulge when they are instructing. “We join everybody but, yet, we are working and our job is to cultivate a safe experience for our students,” offers Jacobson. “The patients I do speak with about cannayoga, this is new for them so I don’t want them to come into a space where they are uncomfortable. I want the space to be very welcoming to everyone, not just one demographic. We try to appeal to everyone by focusing on education,” explains Beckett, who adds in conclusion, “Yoga is my medicine and cannabis is my medicine.”

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elevatenv.com | march april

LAWSOFEXTRACTION THE POTENCY OF CONCENTRATES MAKES THEM POPULAR BUT THEY DO COME WITH A FEW EXPLOSIVE DOWNSIDES By Richard S. Gubbe

Budder, badder, honeycomb, flower, kief and oil sound like ingredients in a culinary creation from Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. All that’s needed for this concoction is a can of bisque to get started. The above are actually the many varieties of concentrates that make up more than one-third of the buying power at a Nevada dispensary, which is now more than the flower and edible categories. That figure is likely to rise as the industry gets safer, more environmentally friendly and more creative in separating oil from plant to create a very concentrated form of the plant’s active ingredients. While there are many pluses, there are potential perils as well, with risks shared by both manufacturers and consumers. A line is being drawn with the thinking that solvents, no matter how little remain in the final product, have left their mark during the process. The addition of a toxin or the altering of the original profile of the flower has consequences for the plant profile with benefits to the patient. There are advantages to all extraction methods, such as using altered profiles in a pharmaceutical way to affect change for certain illnesses.

A CONCENTRATED HISTORY The most basic way to extract began when the first human hand rolled a cannabis bud around and around to separate the

plant from the oil. This “system” gave birth to hashish and that method is still used today. In the Netherlands, for instance, black hand-rolled Nepalese hash from India and Nepal is supplied to more than 250 coffee shops. Hash oil from heated cannabis was prominent in the states in the early ‘70s and was heated in a glass pipe. When open butane systems came along, the cost and risks were high to obtain the precious oils of CBD, THC and terpenes combined in one mixture. The open loop system of pushing butane through a tube of flower and taking out the oil while the butane was released into the atmosphere was stone-age thinking reserved for people who don’t mind an explosion or two. The closed-loop system followed and was safer. But butane, although contained and recycled in the closed loop, is dangerous to inhale. Most of the butane is recaptured while the oil separates to become what is commonly called shatter. Shatter can be manipulated to form budder, batter, honeycomb or wax and packaged to sell. The oil can then be filtered further to eliminate all foreign chemical agents for distillate concentrates, edibles, body oils and CBD-only or CBD dominated products used in vape pens and creams. The extraction of butane after the initial separation of oil is separated into THC, CBD, and terpenes. The elements can be mixed or used separately. Cartridges can then be filled for

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vaporizing pens, but chemicals for texture along with flavoring and food additives are sometimes added, causing health concerns. Now the industry has come full circle, providing solvent-less products although higher in price.

YOUNG AND RESTLESS CHEFS Extraction expertise is the realm of the young. While patients cover all ages, those in the manufacturing side are predominantly under 25. Kyle Feria, chief of extraction at EPC labs, and Alec Blaeser, head of the extraction room for Shango, are two examples of those forging careers from street knowledge into positions of stature in Nevada. Both lab wizards have worked in labs in other states and spend their days tinkering with gadgets, temperature, and pressure to separate plant from product. EPC is an earth-friendly MME producing only organic products, while Shango is a full-service facility from flower to cookies. They differ on the use of butane. Shango has a high customer demand for concentrates and also makes like Willy Wonka with an array of edibles, all created at one site. While butane extraction leads specific profiles, there is the constant threat of explosion. “The whole job is dangerous most of the day,” Blaeser says of working in an extraction facility. “It takes a lot of focus and dedication.” Think of an extraction facility as a group of Keebler elves working hard and creating new products as they go, while simultaneously conforming to stringent statemandated regulation. The reasoning is easy to understand: vapor and liquid ingestion is better than the evils that accompany smoking anything. Hard to explain to someone who is ill that they have to smoke something to feel better when they can eat it, vaporize, or apply it to their skin. Before flower makes a trip to the lab to be tested it is cured and flash frozen. The most ideal way is to freeze the product while it grows, but most often the freezing comes after the stalk is cut down. Some wait until the bud is separated to freeze it, but that isn’t an optimum procedure for quality assurance. This will disturb the trichomes prior to extraction. The leaf from the plant is more valued these days. Rather than using it in prerolls, the leaf is full of trichomes and kief that can be harvested to make hash, bubble hash and more. The entire plant is used in some capacity.

PLEASE PASS THE SOLVENT Once the buds are separated, they are put into a long cylinder and loaded into the extraction system. A supply of butane is then cooled into a vapor

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and sent through the cylinder. The oils extracted from the plant material are collected into a separate chamber. The hardened oil can be packaged and sold as shatter, which is a popular consistency to use for vaporizing in small amounts or “dabs.” “Everything starts out as shatter and then you can turn it into anything you want,” Blaeser says. “You’re taking out most of the butane to get as close to zero as possible.” According to state testing agents, excessive amounts of butane are typically found in extractions. Extractions can contain up to 500 parts per million (called RSA on a state label) with an average of 25 to 250 found on most shatter. “I’m worried about what that does to you in the longterm,” says Feria. “There is not enough research or history on the health aspect.” The industry is concerned too. Matthew Gardiner, VP at Shango, notes, “You are going to see a lot more solvent-less products in the future.” Rosin is the best example of an easier method of extraction but with a lower return on oil. A hair straightener was one crude way to extract oil, now the method is more advanced but not that large of a yield when using butane. Rosin is a relatively new extraction technique utilizing mechanical separation involving precise heat, pressure and timing to create terpene-rich oils similar to extracts created using hydrocarbons. “I prefer badder because there are a lot more terpenes in badder and less of them evaporate,” Blaeser says, noting that “it’s like scooping ice cream.” By taking the process one step further with CO2 extraction, called distillate, it contains no butane but is separated into terpenes, CBD, and THC.

APOTHECARY STYLE “It takes a lot of practice but you can create your own ratio,” says Blaeser, who started as a medical patient and, at age 24, has years of manufacturing experience from Colorado. He is working on HCSFE (high cannabinoid full spectrum extract) and HTFSE (high terpene full spectrum extract) methods for mixing products to order. Blaeser created a CBD-dominant mixture called Charlotte’s Cherries, using coconut oil as an additive. With all their licenses, Shango has the flexibility to fill a

customer order for a specific illness. “We would love to fill something and have the evidence it worked,” Gardiner says. Feria, despite his age, is more old-fashioned. “You’re playing God at this point,” Feria explains of mixing elements. “Besides destroying the structure, you are losing the full spectrum and capability of what that plant can do. We don’t destroy that structure.” EPC makes rosin chips using food-grade pressing screens. They also produce whole plant cannabis capsules made with organic virgin coconut oil as well as temple ball hash as high as 80 percent THC without solvents, and ice water sieve to collect ripe trichome heads. EPC also utilizes heat press and low-temp vapor distillation. “For people medicating with hash, you get more of your life back -- you don’t have to medicate as often,” Feria relayed to elevate. To further avoid butane, “I light a hemp wick with a lighter and hover it above the ball until it bubbles.” Feria often goes to the harvest of plants to assure the process is performed in the same day. “We eliminate the need for solvents and expensive machinery and are able to provide the community with the highest quality clean concentrates,” says EPC boss Rick Stierwalt. “The way he (Feria) does it is more enriched than going through cutting and stripping machines. It’s like a hand-crafted Bentley versus a Ford.” When Steinwalt submitted his temple ball hash for the first time to the state for approval, “The state said, ‘Wow, this in on

point and at a whole new level,’” Stierwalt recalls. “Cannabis products need only meet state standards and earth-friendly derivations have been welcomed thus far.” For EPC, they use nothing but organic right down to the packaging. “The mandate is to make good medicine and we think solvent-less is the best way to make medicine,” Stierwalt says. “We don’t want to enter any process into the medicine.” Or be a polluter. “We believe so much in the environment that we package temple balls with hemp and you can light it with hemp and not let butane touch your product. Our philosophy is being respectful of the earth and the people on the earth,” explains Stierwalt. “We use recycled bags, recycled water, and packaging that will stamp into the ground and sprout flowers.” Feria says it’s easy to bypass solvents when medicating. “You can put some crumble on top of a bowl or put a fuse of pressed rosin in the core of a joint. Those are simple ways to get the full effect of a concentrate using familiar tools,” he offers. “A hash pipe can take a few different forms but is essentially a pipe with a very fine screen.” The more steps taken in extraction, generally, the more the product costs, but for most, $30 of cannabis disappears faster than smoking a half-gram of concentrate.

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YOU SAY RESIN, I SAY ROSIN: Let Us Count the Ways By Richard S. Gubbe Organic • Hand-rolled hash: Rolling flower until only oil remains dates back thousands of years. • Heat extract: Take a flat curling iron and heat up some flower until oil comes out. Not efficient and rather crude, but it does work. • Rosin press: A rosin press uses pressure and heat to extract a concentrate that forms a hydrocarbon extracted shatter. Flower, trim and whole plant are used as raw material. THC potency can reach upward of 90 percent. Rosin can also be made from dry sieve or cold water extraction. • Dry sieve: Once again filters are used to separate plant matter and the desired extract. Most dry sieve extracts are performed in cool environments to make the trichomes brittle. The trichomes are collected after they are filtered and a variety of products can be made or the kief can be consumed as is. • Cold water: Ice water freezes the trichomes, which are then separated from the plant matter and filtered. Yields are typically 50 percent of available cannabinoids and potency ranges up to 90 percent depending on the method used. Butane • Shatter: Solvents, or hydrocarbon extraction, are used as the primary process of extraction for products entering the dispensary. Butane, the most common, is used as a solvent in a closed-loop extraction system that manipulates temperature and pressure to extract the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Yields are typically 90 percent of available cannabinoids and terpenes with potency in the 60 to 90 percent range depending on varying factors such as the machine, operator, raw materials and making of finished product. Shatter is semi-transparent, usually with a yellow or amber color and comes in a thin layer, which ‘shatters’ when you break a piece off, hence the name. • Wax is created by whipping hash oil during the initial extraction process. • Budder, batter, crumble, honeycomb, resin, and sap use heat, freezing, vacuums and other methods to eliminate butane. Most often, a single strain of cannabis is used for shatter. Crumble is whipped on a hot plate to allow the solvent to offgas. Many consider wax and crumble to be the same product. • CO2 extraction or distillate: “The Clear,” as it is called, comes from using pressurized CO2 to extract the butane from the shatter with fractal distillation, making it pure and more potent. There is zero butane and yields go down, but potency increases to upward of 90 percent. Because this takes an extra step to process, finding distillate can be a challenge and more expensive.

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common method is from a “rig.” The rig can be an elaborate or compact glass apparatus that resembles what old-timers call a bong. But to heat the "nail" or "bucket" (quartz, ceramic or titanium) that a dab is inserted on, a blow torch, small as it is, is necessary. The rig will stop most Baby Boomers from doing this procedure on their own, although there’s evidence even grandma dabs (search “dads with dabs” videos). For the experienced dabber, the rig is not a big deal, although technological advancements will lead to a better way in the not-to-distant future. “The Volcano”: Ground fresh flower heats up in a glass bowl above the element in the vaporizer. There are many kinds of vaporizers, but the Volcano is the most efficient and versatile. A coupler is placed over the heat element and air is sucked through a tube. The flower is heated anywhere from 260 up to 300 degrees, hot enough to separate the oil to breathe in without lighting the flower on fire. This may be overall the safest system in play. No torches and no smoke, only vapor and electricity. Dab pens: They have a compartment for flower or concentrate and a more powerful battery. Syringes: A thinner, syrup-like substance is easier to handle and more easily diluted. Vape pens: “For the beginner, I recommend a pen – it’s a lot less complicated and more accessible,” suggests Blaeser. This

portable, ingenious system uses a new type of battery that can heat oil into vapor. They are discrete, not smelly, and last long. There are disposable units that start around $22 for a quarter gram of extract. A full gram is priced between $50 to $75. Vape pens can contain any mix of THC, CBD, and terpenes. Clear oil is CBD only, with a food additive often added to give the vapor a white color to resemble smoke. A solvent is usually added for less expensive pens to achieve proper viscosity. Vape pens can contain propylene glycol, also called propane-1,2-diol, a synthetic organic compound that is a colorless liquid with a faintly sweet taste that “winterizes” or thins the oil. Chemically it is classed as a diol and is miscible with a broad range of solvents, including water, acetone and chloroform. It is used in the production of polymers as well as used in food processing and as a process fluid in low temperature heat exchange applications such as vape pens. “Our vape pens are uncut and we don’t add anything to it. Others add a solvent for viscosity of the oil in order for a cheap cartridge to burn it. We use a high-end without glycerin,” explains Feria of EPC’s solvent-less pens. “I don’t believe in flavoring.” Can’t I just take a pill? Soon. The race is on to perfect the extraction process while also improving on the delivery for consumption. All that’s needed is a formula. See the March issue of elevate for the story (page 30) on forthcoming pharmaceuticals. Until then, yabba, dabba doo or don’t – it is your choice.

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elevatenv.com | april

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uestion 2, which allows for the product because of the cartoon or packaging. It is anticipated that similar restrictions will be in effect under the adult-use market. Furthermore, the industry has already taken steps to protect children from accidental ingestion of marijuana edibles. The Nevada Dispensary Association and its members have agreed to not carry edible products that are in the shapes of animals, cartoons or characters that may be more attractive to children. This means items such as marijuana-infused gummy bears are no longer available in most dispensaries as the industry is imposing restrictions upon itself. In addition to all the current restrictions that are in place to protect children from accidental ingestion of edibles, some legislators are calling for even stricter requirements and perhaps even barring some products altogether. At the upcoming 2017 Nevada Legislative Session, the packaging, shape and markings of edibles,

as well as the prohibition of certain types of edibles and education on edibles will most likely be discussed. Nevada may look to states such as Colorado for guidance. Colorado now requires all edibles to be marked with a symbol that indicates the product contains marijuana. Also, Colorado hental ingestion of marijuana edibles. Thus, while there are additional measures that can be taken, under the current regulations, it is unlikely that our children will unknowingly consume edible marijuana products next Halloween.

april | elevatenv.com 31

LEGALEASE THE RIGHT STUFF

ARE CANNABIS PATIENTS COVERED BY A PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS? By Amanda Connor, Connor & Connor

here are multiple perspectives on the “Patient’s Bill of Rights.” The term has been floating around for decades, typically when outlining the rights of a patient regarding their healthcare. More recently, in 2010, President Obama announced his version of the Patient’s Bill of Rights for the Affordable Care Act. But the Patient’s Bill of Rights, in whichever version or form, has many goals (both explicitly and implicitly within). The original goals of the Patient’s Bill of Rights were to: 1. Enhance patient confidence in the healthcare system; 2. Show importance of the relationship between patients and providers; and 3. Stress the roles of patients and providers in maintaining health. These goals are pretty straightforward however, they can be interpreted broadly. For example, assuring the fairness and equality in our healthcare system is inherent in these goals. The right to feel safe and respected is also inherent. Additionally, the goals can be read to encourage patients to address problems, questions, and issues and encourage patients to stay active and informed about their health. Other patient rights include the right to access information, meaning the patient has a right to easily understand information and full disclosure about their health. Patients also have a right to choose their healthcare providers and have access to emergency services, as well as to be free from discrimination. This particular patient right was highlighted in the Affordable Care Act and President Obama’s take on the Patient’s Bill of Rights – making it clear that healthcare providers could not discriminate against pre-existing conditions. Patients also have a say in their treatments and medical decisions, including the right to refuse treatment. Lastly, patients have a right to confidentiality over their medical history. The right to confidentiality was highlighted in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a 1996 Act to protect patients’ privacy.

PATIENT’S RIGHTS APPLIED TO THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY When medical marijuana was legalized in Nevada, it made recipients of marijuana into patients. Those purchasing marijuana are often suffering from chronic pain, debilitating diseases, and other ailments that affect daily life. So naturally, it

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would seem the traditional Patient’s Bill of Rights (applying to all “patients”) also applies to medical marijuana patients. However, it is not that simple. The Patient’s Bill of Rights is most often seen on the federal level, and the federal government does not recognize state-approved medical marijuana. But the general patient’s rights could still be applicable to the marijuana industry and many of these rights are presumed to still apply. For instance, medical marijuana patients can choose their dispensary and their healthcare provider from which they wish to obtain a patient card. Patients also have a say in their treatment by discussing strains and courses of treatment with experts and doctors. Additionally, patients do have some privacy rights regarding disclosure about medical marijuana status, however, this is a more limited right due to drug testing and some employment requirements. Lastly, and most importantly, patients have the right to access marijuana, which was a previously prohibited type of medicine.

NEVADA SPECIFIC: SENATE BILL 329 Nevada does not have an official Patient’s Bill of Rights for medical marijuana yet. A codified version does not exist but there are some versions floating around that typically vary with each medical center. So while there are some rights inherent in the law, they are not enumerated into a formal document. During this legislative session, Nevada State Senator Segerblom is attempting to formalize the Medical Marijuana Patients’ Bill of Rights starting with the introduction of SB 329 in the Senate on March 20. However, until that is passed, current law (despite no Bill of Rights) could be read to include some rights for medical marijuana patients, including: the right to access medical marijuana for qualifying medical conditions; the right to be free from criminal prosecution for ingestion or possession of medical marijuana for valid cardholders; the right to home cultivation in limited circumstances; the right to a caregiver if necessary; and the right to access medical marijuana dispensaries in Nevada. While these are limited, it is definitely a start, and it can be presumed that patients’ rights will only continue to grow in Nevada as legislation is made.

april | elevatenv.com

OPEN FOR BUSINESS WISHING WELLNESS MEDICAL OPENS TWO LOCATIONS

Dr. Scott Jacobson has opened Wishing Wellness Medical. Formerly the medical director of Iora Health’s Turntable Health in downtown Las Vegas, Dr. Jacobson’s new practice, which opened in mid-March, specializes in functional medicine. “I have been doing a lot of functional medicine, which is kind of a more holistic medical approach using some of the herbs and botanicals to treat patients, and cannabis is just another herb in the arsenal,” explains Dr. Jacobson. “There’s been a lot of talk about cannabis in the functional medicine community and so I started doing some research on it. We started going to dispensaries, talking to budtenders, learning more, reading the National Academies, which just published a big compendium of all the research on medical cannabis.” Noticing a void in the marketplace, Dr. Jacobson decided rather than returning to the status quo of

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traditional healthcare he would charter a different path. “I really wanted to have a place for people to go because a lot of people get their patient cards and then they are just kind of shoved out into the world to figure it out on their own. They really don’t have the guidance and that’s a void I really wanted to fill." Some of the gaps he would like to fill include, “having somebody to actually talk about your medicine, how to titrate it, what is it you are actually looking for, what you need, and how can we get you on the best medicine – these are all practicalities that need to be addressed.” Wishing Wellness Medical has two locations: 10120 South Eastern Avenue in Henderson and 10161 Park Run Drive. wishingwellnessmedical.com

CLARK COUNTY APPOINTS GREEN RIBBON ADVISORY PANEL

Clark County Commission has assembled a 12-member Green Ribbon Advisory Panel to make recommendations regarding zoning and businesses licensing of the recreational marijuana industry. Members from the marijuana industry, the gaming and retail industries, and professional associations related to recreational and medical marijuana, were selected in early March and include: Nevada Gaming Control Board/Gaming Commission: Dr. Tony Alamo, Nevada Gaming Commission chairman Nevada Resort Association: Virginia Valentine, Nevada Resort Association president Local casino interests: consultant Lucy Stewart, and Andrew Abboud of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Medical Marijuana Dispensary: Frank Hawkins, owner of Nevada Wellness Center Medical Marijuana Cultivation, standalone: Howard Starr, managing member of Las Vegas Natural Caregivers/ House of Herbs Medical Marijuana Cultivation, integrated: Armen Yemenidjian, Integral Associates CEO Medical Marijuana Laboratory: Dr. Chao-Hsiung Tung, CEO and scientific director of G3 Labs Medical Marijuana Production Establishment: Jay Matos, lobbyist Medical Marijuana Patient Advocate: Carmen Jones, pediatrician and physician consultant for Wellness Center Medical Marijuana Industry Association: Andrew Jolley, Nevada Organic Remedies CEO Nevada Retail Association: John DiBella, Nevada Pure/ Shango owner and Nevada Retail Association member

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DISPENSARY MAP

RENO

A Patients’ Guide to Medical Cannabis in Southern Nevada 7. Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary inyolasvegas.com 2520 S. Maryland Pkwy Ste #2 Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.707.8888

2. Blackjack Collective blackjackcollective.com 1860 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.545.0026

8. Jardin jardincannabis.com 2900 E. Desert Inn Rd Ste #102 Las Vegas, NV 89121 702.331.6511

3a. Blüm LetsBlum.com 1921 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.476.2262

9. Jenny’s Dispensary Jennysdispensary.com 5530 N. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.718.0420

3b. Blüm LetsBlum.com 3650 S. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.627.Blum

10. Las Vegas ReLeaf lasvegasreleaf.com 2244 Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.209.2400

3c. Blüm LetsBlum.com 1130 E. Desert Inn Rd Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.536.Blum

11. Medizin medizinlv.com 4850 W. Sunset Rd Ste #130 Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.206.1313

4a. CANOPI 6540 Blue Diamond Rd Las Vegas, NV 89139 702.420.7301

12a. Nevada Medical Marijuana nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 3195 St. Rose Pkwy Ste #212 Henderson, NV 89052 702.737.7777

4b. CANOPI NOW OPEN 1324 S. 3rd St Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.420.2902

12b. Nevada Medical Marijuana nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 1975 S. Casino Dr Laughlin, NV 89029 702.737.7777

4c. CANOPI NOW OPEN 2113 Las Vegas Blvd North North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.420.2113

13. Nevada Wellness Center nvwellnessctr.com 3200 S. Valley View Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.470.2077

5. Deep Roots Harvest deeprootsharvest.com 195 Willis Carrier Canyon Mesquite, NV 89027 702.345.2854

14. NuLeaf www.nuleafnv.com 430 E. Twain Ave Las Vegas, NV 89169 702.297.5323

NOW OPEN

6. Euphoria Wellness euphoriawellnessnv.com 7780 S. Jones Blvd Ste #105 Las Vegas, NV 89139 702.960.7200

15. Oasis Medical Cannabis oasismedicalcannabis.com 1800 S. Industrial Rd Ste #180 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.420.2405

16. Pisos Dispensary pisoslv.com 4110 S. Maryland Pkwy Ste #A Las Vegas, NV 89119 702.367.9333

24b. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 50 N. Gibson Rd Henderson, NV 89104 702.476.0420

17a. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 3400 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.475.6520

25a. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 1541 E. Basin Ave Pahrump, NV 89048 775.556.0100

17b. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 1366 W. Cheyenne Ave North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.410.8032

25b. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 4647 Swenson St Las Vegas, NV 89119 702.463.5777

18. Sahara Wellness 420sahara.com 420 E. Sahara Ave Las Vegas , NV 89104 702.478.5533

26a. The Source thesourcenv.com 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd Ste #8 Las Vegas, NV 89146 159 702.708.2000

19. Shango Las Vegas goshango.com 4380 Boulder Highway Las Vegas, NV 89121 702.444.4824

26b. The Source thesourcenv.com 9480 S Eastern Ave Ste #185 Henderson, NV 89052 702.708.2222

20. ShowGrow showgrowlv.com 4850 S. Fort Apache Rd Ste #100 Las Vegas NV 89147 702.227.0511

27a. Thrive Cannabis Markeplace thrivenevada.com 2755 W. Cheyenne Ave Ste #103 North Las Vegas, NV 89032 702.776.4144

21. Silver Sage Wellness sswlv.com 4626 W. Charleston Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.802.3757

27b.Thrive Cannabis Marketplace Thrivenevada.com 1112 S. Commerce St. Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.776.4144

22. The Apothecary Shoppe theapothecaryshoppe.com 4240 W. Flamingo Rd Ste #100 Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.740.4372

28. Top Notch THC topnotchthc.com 5630 Stephanie St Las Vegas, NV 89122 702.418.0420

23. The Clinic theclinicnevada.com 4310 W. Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.447.1250

29. Zen Leaf zenleafvegas.com 9120 W. Post Rd Ste #103 Las Vegas, NV 89148 702-462-6706

24a. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 5347 S. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.476.0420

215 TOWN CENTER DR

1. Apothecarium apothecariumlv.com 7885 W. Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89117 702.778.7987

160

RENO

12a

MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

12b

215

LAUGHLIN

WES

D VEG LAS

PARADISE RD

L RD

BLV

AVE

RACETRACK RD

PKW AD

24b

MARYLAND PKWY

VE NA TER

DESERT INN RD

E ME

HENDERSON

GIBSON RD

WARM SPRINGS RD

6TH ST

COMMERCE ST MAIN ST 3RD ST

RANCHO DR

ND HLA

UST IND

HIG

NELLIS BLVD RD

GE SUNRSIDPKWY HEIGHT

. HENDERSON

LAK

PECOS RD

SANDHILL RD

MARYLAND PKWY

CACTUS AVE

26b

RIA

ST MAI N

IP STR THE

PEBBLE RD

AVE

NELLIS BLVD

PECOS RD

LAMB BLVD

N 5TH LOS EE R D

SET

WINDMILL LN

MARYLAND PKWY

JONES BLVD

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BERMUDA RD

DECATUR BLVD

KAREN AVE

SAM BOYD STADIUM

SUN

WIGWAM PKWY

S RO

HIG SO HL UTH AN ER DS N PK W

SUNSET COUNTY PARK

GREEN DISTRICT

CANOPI

SILVERADO RANCH BLVD

18 ST. LOUIS AVE

PAHRUMP

AMO

E DI

BLU

D ND R

LLY

OAKEY BLVD

SAHARA AVE

E TWAIN

515

WINDMILL LN

FLAMINGO RD

SUNSET RD

17a

RUSSELL RD

215

WARM SPRINGS RD

25a

MCCARREN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SUNSET RD

DESERT INN RD

25b

SAHARA AVE

STEPHANIE ST

RUSSELL RD

GREEN VALLEY PKWY

2 15

SAHARA AVE

CHARLESTON BLVD

LAS VEGAS TROPICANA AVE

24a

TROPICANA AVE

17a

23 22

JONES BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

FLAMINGO RD

WASHINGTON AVE

LVD

3b DESERT INN RD

CANOPI BONANZA RD

27b 4b 2 15 3a 10 18

AS B

26a

1 SAHARA AVE

OAKEY BLVD

27b

CHARLESTON BLVD

OWENS AVE

VEG

FT APACHE RD

DURANGO DR

CHARLESTON BLVD TOWN CENTER DR

SIMMONS ST

S EGA SV NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE

LAKE MEAD BLVD

EASTERN AVE

RTH

WASHINGTON AVE ALTA DR

HUALAPAI WAY

17b CAMINO AL NORTE / MLK

PECOS RD

DECATUR BLVD

VEGAS DR

LAS

LIN

CAREY AVE

BLVD

LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

D BLV

CRAIG RD

27a

DECATUR BLVD

MESQUITE

NORTH LAS VEGAS

CENTENNIAL PKWY

WASHBURN RD

HO NC

CHEYENNE AVE

ANN RD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

LONE MOUNTAIN RD

ALEXANDER RD

JONES BLVD

GRAND CANYON DR

DURANGO DR

LAKE ME AD

215

HORIZON RIDGE PKWY HORIZON DR

515

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april | elevatenv.com

DBLABSLV.COM

PROFILE

DB Labs & Grow for Vets USA have partnered to provide veterans with safe medical cannabis and CBD products

Known across the industry for providing cannabis testing that reveals whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really in your marijuana, DB Labs has partnered with Grow For Vets USA to provide complimentary testing of the medical cannabis products that Grow For Vets provides free of charge to veterans. As two companies committed to delivering a safe alternative to prescription drugs to veterans suffering from PTSD, chronic pain, and other serious medical conditions, the partnership was a natural fit. DB Labs conducts analytical cannabis testing that yields accurate, detailed reports. Supplying veterans with cannabis that has been safely tested and cleared of any possible mold, heavy metals, pesticides, or other contaminants is very important to DB Labs, according to President Susan Bunce. As a family member of several veterans and an active community member, Bunce reportedly sought out an opportunity to help our heroes

elevatenv.com | april

who are suffering from the lasting deleterious impact of service. Roger B. Martin, Founder and Executive Director of Grow For Vets, is excited that the partnership will benefit their growing community of veterans. As a veteran who has suffered with pain for more than 40 years, Martin credits cannabis with saving his life by allaying his dependency on Oxycotin and Ambien. He was inspired to launch the national nonprofit Grow For Vets in early 2014. Grow for Vets has helped thousands of veterans overcome prescription dependency and life-long pain by providing them with more than $1.2 million dollars worth of free medical cannabis products. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Grow For Vets aspires to save the more than 50 veterans who die each day from suicide and prescription drug overdose. Working together with DB Labs, Grow For Vets will continue to

improve the lives of American heroes who all too often are forgotten, in pain, and who are in need of help. If you or a friend or loved one are a veteran with PTSD, depression, or any other medical condition, please reach out to Grow For Vets to learn more about obtaining free medical cannabis. For those companies interested in analytical cannabis testing that dispels the mystery of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really in your cannabis, please reach out to DB Labs for more information and a consultation.

1-844-5-TESTIN or Connect@DBLabsLV.com

Contact@GrowForVets.org

If it passes during the current legislative session, Nevada will be one of the first states to add opiate addiction as a qualifier for a medical marijuana card. On March 15 State Senator Pat Spearman of Senate District 1 introduced Senate Bill 228 which will add opiate addiction to the list of “qualifying conditions.” Current qualifying conditions a patient must be suffering from, according to a physician, include cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, seizures, severe pain and nausea, persistent muscle spasms (including MS) and cachexia. Senator Spearman’s bill, if it passes, will allow physicians to recommend marijuana use as a treatment for opiate addiction. Several doctors testified in support of the measure. Dr. Spirtos, a Las Vegas oncologist, stated that he was conducting a clinical trial in which he was treating 12 patients suffering from active opiate addiction with medical marijuana. He stated on the record that he was achieving successful results with 10 of the patients. Dr. Scott Martin also

2017

LEGISLATORS CONSIDER ADDING OPIATE ADDICTION TO QUALIFYING CONDITIONS FOR MMJ PATIENT CARD by Riana Durrett

emphatically supported the use of medical marijuana to treat opiate addiction as a cost-saving measure that would greatly increase public health. “I have seen over 30 variations of narcotic medications brought to the US market in the past 12 years -- 99 percent

of these narcotics have the potential for overdose related death. To my knowledge not a single patient has ever died from a cannabidiol (CBD) overdose,” testified Dr. Martin. “Losing over 600 men, women and children every year to narcotic overdose related deaths is unacceptable. Before we, as medical professionals, condemn another patient to inevitable narcotic dependence, I believe we owe it to our community to consider a holistic alternative.” Combat veteran Boone Cutler, who is vocal about his use of medical marijuana as a substitute for pharmaceuticals, also supported the bill, testifying that he and many similarly situated veterans have found marijuana to be a less dangerous and harmful medication than the pharmaceuticals and opiates they were prescribed to treat PTSD and other conditions resulting from their military service. To follow SB228, go to: www.leg. state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/79th2017/ Bill/5119/Overview

april | elevatenv.com 41

elevatenv.com | april

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thesourcenv.com

Elevating the Conversation

with Dr. Chao-Hsiung Tung, CEO and scientific director of G3 Labs

rmed with a doctorate in plant/environmental sciences as well as 25 years of governmental compliance experience, Dr. Chao-Hsiung Tung is in charge of cannabis testing at G3 Labs. Having worked at both Yucca Mountain and the Nevada Test Site, he not only brings his scientific expertise to G3, but also to the state’s Independent Lab Advisory Committee (ILAC). Dr. Tung’s knowledge of the intricacies of government compliance made him an obvious choice to serve on the Clark County Commission’s recently created Green Ribbon Advisory Panel.

TELL READERS ABOUT THE MAIN FOCUS OF CLARK COUNTY COMMISSION’S GREEN RIBBON ADVISORY PANEL. County staff will present their view on the regulations or provide technical expertise that supports the industry and after that the committee will discuss it and make recommendations to the Commission. The main focus will be any land use requirements and retail marijuana licensing issues. All aspects will be discussed and reviewed so County codes will be realistic and not something created in a vacuum. LAB TESTING CANNABIS IN THE U.S. IS IN ITS INFANCY. HOW HAS NEVADA DONE SO FAR? When we started two years ago, testing in Nevada was a newborn baby. We have evolved a lot. We have become a toddler and now we are learning to walk. We are actually walking pretty well so far. We have learned and implemented many measures to improve and enhance our program. But, all in all, the most significant lesson we have learned and are able to share with the rest of the country is during the implementation of the regulations you have to hold the safety standard. Right now Nevada holds the standard. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ILAC HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP THE STATE IMPLEMENT? ILAC has worked with the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Division) to include the Department of Agriculture in regulating pesticide use and testing. They are the authority and they have the expertise -- that’s number one and I think that’s a big one. They can regulate all the pesticides sold in the state and they also have the authority and expertise to go into any cultivation or any agriculture entity that’s using pesticides to do inspections. Also, we, on the ILAC board, advised and recommended that the state implement a round robin test, which is an inter-laboratory comparison. The state issues a sample and all the labs will test it at the same time, turn in the results then the state can evaluate our results, and identify the spread and if there are any outliers. We just started the first round, but it’s a landmark idea for the cannabis industry.

elevatenv.com | april

WHAT IS ILAC CURRENTLY WORKING ON? Our title is Independent Lab Advisory Committee, but it happens to be the only platform for the whole industry to voice any concerns regularly. So ILAC is not only the voice for the laboratories, we see ourselves as representing the whole industry and the public. Therefore, we are constantly soliciting ideas from across the industry and public and we recommend subjects for the agenda on how we can improve and enhance this program. In my personal view, the biggest issue on the table right now is how to continue holding the standard or enhancing the program to protect the end-user because, after all, public safety is number one. WILL THE STATE REQUIRE ADULT-USE CANNABIS TO BE TESTED? Yes it will be tested, and it should because a patient has the advantage of their doctors, their physicians or their caretaker monitoring their medication’s dose and effect; whereas the adult-use consumers have none. They usually rely on their own limited knowledge that rarely is based on education or any program support. With that in mind, if the adultuse program doesn’t have solid safety testing, or sufficient information to educate them, then the result will probably not be optimal. When people in the state voted for Question #2, it was with the idea that we can’t relax on public safety. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING DISCOVERY ABOUT THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? So many people not treating this as a real business surprised me. There are a certain number of people who are carrying the baggage from those shady days before legalization. They are not treating this as a legitimate business that must be operated in full compliance. I was astonished by that and there are so many individuals claiming they have experience in the industry and, yet, are not able to perform up to the standards of our regulations. To read our entire interview with Dr. Tung, visit elevatenv.com/Elevating_the_Conversation.

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