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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, Josh Bell, chef Deborah L. Costella, Heather Vanek General Sales Manager: Mark Damkroeger, mark@elevatenv.com Media Consultants: Nicole Verlinich, nicole@elevatenv.com ELEVATION PUBLISHING LLC Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Lupo FINE THE AGENCY Partner Kelli Maruca, kelli@finetheagency.com Graphic Designer James Nigbur, james@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: 702.855.3843 | Email: info@elevatenv.com

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Prior to joining elevate and writing about the cannabis industry, I worked for a luxury lifestyle publication for more than a decade. It was a very glam gig that afforded me access to some of the finest skincare products the world has to offer. Because we published a Health & Beauty issue every year, we covered an insane number of products in the beauty arena. Whether it was La Mer, Lancôme or La Prairie, I had the opportunity to try it all. In all those years of experimenting with various products—dabbing serums under my eyes, patting elixirs on my fine lines, and smearing moisturizers across my face—it was very rare that I would apply a product before bed and wake up the next day to find my face still hydrated. And as we all know good moisturization is a must for desert dwellers. I have a particularly bad patch of dry skin on my face called my nose. Akin to a snake shimmying out of its skin, mine was constantly peeling off in big flakes. And if I drank a little wine or indulged in some spirits the night before, forget about it, it was assured I would be dealing with a flaky nose the next day no matter how many times I applied moisturizer. I was resigned to my flaky fate until a few years ago when I stumbled upon the magical properties of cannabidiol (CBD). I decided to give CBD skincare a try due to the promise of eradicating fine lines and wrinkles. My wrinkles did not completely disappear as promised (although over

time they became less prominent), but after applying the CBD cream to my face at bedtime I woke up the next morning to find my skin was still happily hydrated. It was also the first time the skin on my nose was appealing in the right way. My skin soaked up the CBD with no trace of product left behind—no greasy residue, just pretty dewy skin. For me CBD skincare products were the gateway to my obsession with CBD. I was intent on learning how cannabis or more accurately this cannabinoid could be the secret beauty product I was missing in my skincare regimen. The first thing I discovered is that CBD’s antiinflammatory properties are good for acne and any irritating skin conditions i.e. eczema, dermatitis, rosacea and psoriasis. It also turns out that CBD and THC are both powerful antioxidants—more powerful than vitamin C and E—which protect skin by limiting the production of free radicals. Since antioxidants counter the effects of free radicals, they can play a major role in delaying the signs of aging and keep damaged skin cells, wrinkles and age spots at bay. So, as you decide on your health and wellness resolutions for 2019, consider integrating CBD and all of its beauty benefits into your regimen for a pretty and potent new year.

Coming in March 2019: elevate will be introducing an advice column called Inhale/Exhale with Shoshanna Silverberg, who is an integrative lawyer and business development consultant in the cannabis space. A mover of people and information, Shoshanna holds an MA in Holistic Thinking and a JD from Elon University School of Law. So, if there is a burning question you have or even an ethical conundrum you have been struggling with, please send along your query to info@elevatenv.com so Shoshanna can offer her sage counsel.

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elevatenv.com | october

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Resolutions&Remedies Tamale-making tradition leads to new year’s promise to spread kindness throughout the year By Deborah L Costella

t was always the same at the close of every holiday season. All the women of the family gathered together to prepare a broad assortment of sweet and savory tamales. As each girl grew, so did her responsibilities at the tamale table. The youngest would begin by spreading masa, a corn flour dough, onto the textured sides of dampened corn husks. A few years later came the responsibility of tying strands of husks to the ends of each tamale. Maturity led to assisting in the preparation of fillings and sauces. Once grown, the girls were allowed to participate in overseeing the towers of steamer baskets piled high on all six burners of her mother’s stove.

The day prior to this year’s tamale festivities, Luz ran to check the duties roster. Her heart sank upon seeing her name on the list of “spreaders.” Luz was certain she was old enough to handle the task of tying and securing. Over family dinner that evening she bravely expressed her feelings to her mother. This only led to an admonishment she didn’t understand nor agree with. So, the following day Luz’s attitude was less than festive due to hurt feelings and embarrassment at the scolding she’d received in front of her extended family. But it was New Year’s Day; tamale-making day, so she kept her feelings to herself and dutifully spread masa. Listening intently to the women discuss

The following morning, Luz mindlessly hummed the tune “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” unaware of its meaning and tribute to American youth and wartime. She busied herself adhering oversized flower stickers to the outside of a school notebook while waiting for Titi to finish getting ready. Over a breakfast of cremita topped with blackberry compote they’d decided to take a walk to the Five ‘N Dime. Their goal: purchase a small pet for Luz to care for. By noon Luz and Titi had made their way around the corner and were pushing open a door coated with sticky snow-like spray depicting a Brady Bunch-sized family

of snowmen. The tinkling of a bell sounded its welcoming chime as Luz and her auntie entered. They were thrilled to see they had the entire store to themselves. They excitedly entered the wellstocked market bulging with hardware supplies, art materials, housewares, and a smattering of pets against the back wall. The heavily bearded store owner clapped his hands in glee at the sight of his only customers for the day thus far. Walking up and down every aisle on their way towards the small menagerie, the girls still had not decided what kind of pet they would purchase. The store proprietor allowed the girls to meander and take their time. They stopped to hold every kitten, inhale the scent of every puppy and tickle every lizard. There was even an old, graying tarantula, who had been petted and rubbed so often over the years, he sported a finger-sized bald spot on his back. The merchant asked how the girls were enjoying the holidays and what gifts they’d received for Christmas. He became curious why they were purchasing a pet after such a prosperous holiday. Luz explained she had made her own resolution to be a better person by taking caring of something that couldn’t take care of itself. Though they were already two days into the new year she was going to prove she was neither irresponsible or selfish. The clerk considered this an unusual proclamation for someone so young. He asked Luz if she knew the history of new year’s resolutions. Luz shook her head. Looking at her auntie, she was already shaking her head while lifting her shoulders. Extending his hand, the shopkeeper told the girls his name was Falam and if they had some time, this was a story that needed to be told. Falam began explaining over 4,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians were the first to engage in the practice of making promises or resolutions. These were made to their Gods at the start of each new calendar year and were rather generic and common: Return all things borrowed from others and pay all debts. The Babylonians were also the first civilization to record their new year celebrations, which took place in the month of March. The blank look on the girls’ faces indicated neither knew of this civilization. Falam asked if they’d heard of the ancient Romans. They had; the girls were of Mexican and Italian descent. Uncle Sergio always referred to himself as Roman rather than Italian. Falam decided that might be a better place to begin. He continued as each girl settled herself on one of the many scattered crates with a soft, cuddly kitten in her arms. “It was Julius Caesar,” Falam boomed, “considered the reform-minded emperor of the Roman Empire, who altered the then used calendar. He established January 1st as the oﬃcial beginning of the new year instead of March. Romans began each year by making promises to the God Janus, for whom the month January is named. Janus was a two-faced God, whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches. The Romans believed that this positioning

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their new year resolutions as they frittered about the kitchen, Luz was struck by how many were behaviors she thought adults should already have under control. For example, Tia Laura announced her intention to kick her nasty smoking habit (again). Abuelita Rose stated she could no longer stand looking at herself in the mirror. When had she become “fat and 40?” This year she was really going to stick to her diet. Luz quietly chuckled at this announcement, she was sure Abuelita was actually fat and 50. Cousin Annette’s intention was to find her soulmate. After three failed marriages that special connection continued to elude her. Uncle Sergio popped his head into the kitchen to say he was giving up smoking weed. Uncle O, the self-proclaimed taste tester, simultaneously helped himself to a spoonful of bean and cheese filling while stating he was going to take up smoking weed. This he hoped would remedy the constant anxiety and O.C.D. that had plagued him since his teen years. Upon hearing this, Uncle Sergio leaned back into the kitchen amending his resolution, saying what he really meant was he was going to give up smoking weed but would find a method to still partake of cannabis in another form. “Edibles,” whispered Uncle O. Even Luz’s favorite auntie (Titi) jumped on the self-improvement train by making a resolution to keep her room clean, every day. Keeping it to herself, Luz made a resolution to “be a more caring and responsible person” as suggested during dinner the night before. Frankly, she was still confused by her mother’s comment as she had always been told by her teachers that they considered her a model student. They beamed at Luz, whenever her homework was turned in, consistently on time. They ooh’d and ahh’d at her immaculate desk. She was regularly asked to assist other students whenever they struggled with an assignment. These acclamations were in direct contrast to her mother’s assessment. After seeing the scolding her niece took the previous evening, Titi was struck with an idea. Perhaps a pet would remedy her elder sister’s perceived selfishness of her only daughter. One that was small and low maintenance enough, Luz wouldn’t get into more trouble with her mother when she brought it home.

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Titi found a large glass bowl, placed some colorful rocks on the bottom then filled it with water. As the girls carefully poured the fish into his new home, low and behold there were three fish in the bag. The kindly merchant had given them two extra fish! “What are you going to name them?” Titi asked. In light of the story Luz had been told, she planned to name the one fish, Janus. But now there were three... she thought and thought. “How about Peter, Paul and Mary?” suggested Titi. “They’re the singers of that song you were humming this morning.” So, Peter, Paul and Mary happily swam about their new home while Luz went in search of Abuelita Rose and Uncle Sergio. Luz didn’t have to explain the reasons behind her desire to do something kind for someone every day of the new year. What she did have to explain was how she was going to make food that served as medicine. Sergio understood and loved the idea; Luz’s resolution could be the remedy for what ailed him, Uncle O, and others like them. Using Spanish and his ring-covered hands, Uncle Sergio flamboyantly explained to Abuelita Rose what Luz was offering to do. The following day, after the visiting relatives left, Luz along with Abuelita Rose and Uncle Sergio entered the kitchen and began preparing tamales infused with cannabis. Luz’s first and original edible. Best of all, Luz was allowed to handle every task at the tamale table.

was symbolic of Janus’ ability to look backwards into the previous year, while simultaneously looking forward into the future. Roman resolutions were promises of improved conduct for the upcoming year. Much like today’s resolutions of considering our past mistakes and resolving to do better.” Falam stood smiling satisfactorily, his arms folded over his protruding belly. This made perfect sense to Luz. Inspired, she decided after choosing a pet, there was an even better resolution for her to act upon. Though Luz had been regaled to the baby-task of spreading masa yesterday, she was actually quite capable in the kitchen, thanks to the tutelage of Abuelita Rose and Uncle Sergio. Luz resolved her love of cooking could be the remedy to her being perceived as less irresponsible and selfish. With only one dollar to spend, the options of what kind of pet to purchase was limited. The merchant said they had enough to purchase one mouse, one turtle or one goldfish. A mouse was definitely out of the question. Luz had a turtle once, but it managed to climb out of its shallow container likely in search of water, since she often forgot to give him any. Weeks later the fossilized turtle was found in a corner of her parents’ bathroom. That left only a fish. The girls made their purchase as the store owner placed the water-filled plastic bag into a larger brown bag. Expressions of thanks were made and the girls headed home.

www.kiffcannabis.com // info@kiffcannabis.com Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older.

COSMIC MUFFIN’S STAR-TRAIL TAMALES INGREDIENTS FOR MASA 3 cups masa harina flour ¾ tsp salt 1 Tbsp baking powder ½ cup lard infused + ½ cup infused unsalted butter, room temperature 1 ½ cups infused chicken or vegetable broth 1 bag corn husks, soaked in cold water zest of 1 lime

DIRECTIONS FOR MASA

Test dough by dropping ½ tsp of dough into cup of cold water. If masa floats, it’s ready – if it sinks, continue whipping for another minute.

INGREDIENTS FOR CHICKEN/BEAN/CHEESE FILLING

DIRECTIONS FOR FILLING In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

INGREDIENTS FOR SWEET GUAJILLO SAUCE 6 dried guajillo chiles, soaked in hot water 4 Tbsp infused olive oil, divided 2 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp coriander seeds 1 Spanish onion, diced small 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 14-oz can fire roasted tomatoes, drained 1 cup chicken infused broth 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar

DIRECTIONS FOR SAUCE In a medium skillet, heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil over medium heat until shimmery. Stir in onion, cooking until fragrant. Stir in garlic. Add cumin, coriander seeds and soaked guajillo chiles (torn into bite-sized pieces). Add some of the soaking liquid from chiles to thin mixture a little. Add tomatoes, sugar and dried fruit. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

ASSEMBLE AND COOK TAMALES Begin by spreading about 2-3 Tbsp of masa onto rougher side of soaked husk. Spoon a heaping amount of filling on top of masa. Fold in one side of the husk then the other side bringing to a close. Fold up bottom (narrow) end of husk up and using either kitchen twine or a strand of husk, tie tamale in middle to hold closed. You may prefer to tie both top and bottom end of the tamale closed. Steam in steamer baskets set in a large skillet or wok of simmering water, seam side down. If keeping one end of tamales open, then steam in a large pasta pot, set upright, open end towards top.

Steam for about 45 minutes or until masa dough is firm when checked. Pressure cookers can steam tamales in about 20 minutes. While waiting for tamales to steam, make a resolution that pertains to bettering your health and well-being in 2019. 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.

½ bunch scallions, sliced 2 14-oz cans fire-roasted canned tomatoes 2 15-oz cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 Tbsp dried Mexican oregano 1 tsp chile powder 1 tsp dried cumin seed ¾ lb. cheddar/jack cheese blend, shredded ½ whole roasted chicken, shredded salt & pepper to taste

1 cup dried cranberry or cherries, rehydrated in broth salt & pepper to taste

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In large mixing bowl combine masa harina, salt, zest, and baking powder. Set aside. In bowl of standup mixer, whip together lard and butter until light and fluffy. Reduce speed, slowly adding dry ingredients 1 cup at a time, alternating with broth. Beat well, increasing speed until masa becomes a soft, pliable dough.

Hot Stuff As Newest Products are Introduced, 2019 becomes the Year of the Vape By Justin Alexander

here’s a lot of exciting products on the horizon– with vapes becoming the most predominant. We put out a call to Nevada’s cannabis industry for them to share what’s going to be new on shelves in 2019. In turn, we were inundated with the latest and greatest that the new year has in store for cannabis consumers. Vapes are becoming increasing plentiful, varied

and popular—allowing you to have a slew to choose from so you can find the one perfect for you. Various forms of cannabis will continue to evolve with items that range from moonrock to cured resin crumble. Edibles will get tastier, and beauty products will continue to find cannabis as an essential ingredient. Cheers to 2019 and the industry’s ingenuity!

LAS VEGAS CANNAGARS’ COSMIC CAVIAR For those new to the cannabis experiment known as the moonrock, it is a bud that has been drenched in extract and rolled in kief, packing three times the punch. Changing the moonrock game, Las Vegas Cannagars’ Cosmic Caviar only uses shatter or live resin on its flower. “This makes a solid caviar/moonrock, compared to one that is overly wet with a concentrate that just soaks into the flower, which in turn causes it not to burn as eﬃciently,” explains Marc Baldwin, director of marketing for Exhale Brands. “Our caviar is layered. The flower is in the center so when you break it up, you can see the quality of each product used—a thick solid layer of concentrate, which is then rolled in top-quality kief, hash, or more concentrates, depending on the style of caviar we produce for that particular batch.” No matter how you divy this up, the dose of THC it provides (ours tested at 64.62 percent THC) is strong, potent and effective for myriad ailments. Caviar is recommended for high-consumption patients or for those who are looking for “a little that goes a long way” experience. Use your fingers to break up the powdery, oily texture and then smoke in a glass pipe.

MATRIX NV DISPOSABLE VAPES IN CHEMDAWG 4 AND GREEN APPLE

CANNABIOTIX KUSH MOUNTAINS FLOWER AND LEMON CAKE VAPE CARTRIDGE In 2019 Cannabiotix is planning to focus it lens on two products—which if you haven’t tried, they should be added to your medicinal roster immediately. Exclusive to Cannabiotix and Las Vegas, Kush Mountains flower is high potency at 30 percent THC, and, as a result, is also

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Taste, quality and consistency are the three principles under which Matrix NV is changing the game in 2019 with its line of vape products. Add in some fancy intake technology and these devices are what you should have in your pocket or purse. “Our disposable has been designed with four intake holes that allow our oil to flow easily into the coil making for long, powerful hits,” says Matrix’s Scott Luehring. “Not only are they easy to carry around, but they also have some of the best oil in Nevada inside them. With only all-natural cannabis terpenes, you can be sure that your oil is 100 percent cannabis, and free of any chemical solvents or food-grade terpenes.” If you favor an indica-dominant hybrid, reach for Matrix’s Chemdawg which will calm you all over, ultimately relaxing the body. But first be prepared for the burst of mental ingenuity that comes over you right after smoking. A heavy hitter at 83 percent THC, the taste is akin to a citrus forest with lemon and pine resulting from a terpene mix of limonene (5 mg) and b-myrcene (5.5 mg). “Our disposable pens come in a variety of strains that are sativa, indica, sativa-dom or indica-dom,” he says. “We are also one of the only companies we know of that does exclusive mixers combining two of our oils into a new strain,” Luehring says. “The combination of the two oils creates a unique cannabis experience that we are proud to have.” For its refreshing flavor, the Green Apple mixer, at 83 percent THC, is a delightful, crisp smoke that will carry you through the morning and into your day’s activities without missing a beat. And for sports fans Matrix recently introduced the Kings Kush+Do-Si-Dos=Knight Raider—an homage to the Vegas Golden Knights and future Las Vegas Raiders.

HIGH POTENCY,

PREMIUM GRADE CARTRIDGES. PURE CANNABIS TERPENE PROFILE.

elevatenv.com | january

POLARISVAPE.COM This is a Marijuana Product. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Keep out of reach of children.

in high demand. Tasty and strong, Kush Mountains was bred by crossing White Walker OG with Blue Flame (the Blue Flame being a cross of White Walker OG and Thin Mint Cookies). Tried and true smokers who favor indica will love this strain. “Kush Mountains has dense frosty diamond shaped flowers that are rich with deep purple hues and have heavy kush and candy flavors,” says Cannabiotix’s Megan Little. “Kush Mountains is more of an afternoon and evening smoke with its indica dominant characteristics. A sedative and relaxing, but not overly couch-locking, Kush Mountains is great for after work or days off.” Proprietary is what Cannabiotix is all about—and because of exclusive breeding and cultivation they control every detail to the highest possible standards. “When breeding, we always try to choose our top performers from our stable of genetics to cross with. By starting with the highest quality input, we help maximize our chances of breeding the highest quality crosses,” Little says. Revolutionary for vape enthusiasts, the Lemon Cake vape cartridge is developing a sweet following. Introduced in late 2018, flavor is superb, THC tests at 77 percent, and true to its name gives a clean pull on every puff. “The Lemon Cake vape was not designed solely after a cannabis strain, with that being said the name alone brings in a different demographic of customers who would like to stay away from smoking ‘cannabis.’ Whether it’s for personal reasons, family or work; it allows them to try something new,” Little says. “With Lemon Cake’s two highest terpenes being limonene and ocimene, this vape gives you that nice, sweet, somewhat citrusy flavor on every puff. The consumer has an elevated stress-free feeling throughout the day. It is by far a great day-use vape pen.” Little’s mom even loves it. “Fun fact: it is the only flavor my mother has ever been even somewhat enthused about,” she says with a laugh.

KYND KANJI GUMMIES “Kanji gummies are a game-changer for edibles because we nailed what the market is after— an effective, generously-sized treat that’s so damn good,” says Kynd COO Stacy Castillo. “Our gummies are the perfect combination of mouthwatering flavor and eﬃcacy. We’re offering them in indica, sativa, hybrid and CBD.” Depending on the effect you are looking for, there is a gummy for that. With the hybrid, expect heady tingling; thanks to the indica it’s all about relaxation; the sativa will get you in the mindset to focus; and CBD provides healing and pain relief.

“The common denominator is that these consumers prefer edibles as their method of consumption,” says Castillo. “Taste, obviously, is critical, and we spent ages choosing and then perfecting our pineapple, grapefruit, watermelon and sour apple flavors.” Castillo says, who offers a nod to Kynd’s own Willy Wonka. “We’re so proud of our confectioner. Andy is an absolute candy genius, and his secret recipes are the proud result of tons of burnt sugar and a lot of hard work. He knows firsthand that variables affect everything in the world of infused candy making, and he’s personally ensuring that every piece of candy with Kanji’s name on it is perfectly dosed and hands-down delicious.”

AIROPRO VAPE PEN, THE APOTHECARIUM

NLVO’S MARIJUANAINFUSED REJUVENATING LIP KIT Dry lips are a way of life when you live in the desert. NLVO solves this problem with its new-to-market Lip Kit, a multi-step process that makes your kisser more

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A vape is a vape is a vape? Not anymore thanks to AiroPro. Delivering three times the vapor, AiroPro is redefining the category with its technology, its look, and its strains. “When most people grab a vape pen, they are looking for a convenient way to get a stronger effect, whether it's getting that extra boost in the morning for your workout or relaxing after a hard day's work,” says Hailey Stone, marketing coordinator for The Apothecarium. “AiroPro vapes are the most optimized vaporizer to date in the world of cannabis—with their 20-second cutoff point for their breath activated system, they can provide the closest experience to dabbing high quality concentrates in a closed system.” The Apothecarium carries sativa, hybrid, indica and CBD AiroPros in Berry Gelato, Blue Dream, Bubba Kush, Buddha's Smile, Green Kush, GSC, Jack Herrer, Midnight Moon, Mountain Mist, Night Rider, Northern Lights, Oz's Orchard and Sunset Sherbet. “Most vapes on the market are typical C-Cell 510 thread vapes, and while those are the most popular style, they are prone to malfunction and don't let the cannabis effects shine,” Stone says. “The AiroPro vape systems provide a powerful, and flavorful hit, every time.”

kissable. First, apply the gentle and exfoliating lip scrub. Next, lather your pucker with a 10 mg dose of pure CO2 extracted cannabis oil for a hydrating and relaxing effect. “After you have scrubbed your way to smooth, youthful lips, keep them feeling that way by following up with the Lip Oil,” says product formulator and developer Portia Hornick. “Dosed at 50 mg of both THC and CBD, conditioning, vitamin rich moisturizers are the perfect formula for silky smooth lips.” The two-in-one high-potency topical—at THC 50.5 mg and CBD 56.7 mg—makes it a hit. You might also be tempted to lick it off because it is made of natural, sweet, edible ingredients that also includes peppermint oil and 693 mg of Eucalyptol. “Our goal was to create a luxury lip care product using the finest ingredients, including THC and CBD for the everyday or occasional cannabis consumer or someone just wanting to try it out,” Hornick reveals. “They are for someone who appreciates luxury skin care products and cannabinoid benefits.”

elevatenv.com | january

PLANET 13'S TRENDI

NV CANN LABS IS PROUD TO PERFORM TESTING FOR IS YOUR CANNABIS TESTED BY NV CANN LABS?

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Hot on the heels of opening its mega dispensary this fall, Planet 13 brings Cherry Diesel TRENDI to the evertrendy vape market. Small, streamlined and easy to carry, TRENDI represents the next generation of package design for disposables. “TRENDI specializes in expertly crafted cannabis products that create the trend, not the other way around,” explains Planet 13’s Brandon Zimmer. “Utilizing cutting edge technology and a unique visual approach, we are able to deliver an exceptional product that people would be proud to carry, giving customers that luxurious, extraordinary and prestigious feel. This is the perfect accessory for someone who is always on-the-go.” Cherry Diesel combines Cherry OG and Turbo Diesel into a sweet-smelling and motivating hybrid strain that will lift spirits and put pep in your step at 71 percent THC. What’s inside—THC distillate and cannabis derived terpenes (6.33 mg terpinolene, 2.17 mg cis-ocimene, 2.1 mg b-myrcene, and 1.0 mg d-limonene)—is just as good as the premium hardware on the outside.

KANNABIS MINI KS, THE GROVE Looking for a best-in-class joint to take with you everywhere? Reach for KANNABIS Mini Ks, four half-gram pre-rolls that are a hybrid strain of Gorilla Glue #4. Mini Ks are great for those on-the-go because of the packaging—a

As we approach 2020, the advancements in the cannabis industry are staggering. Leading the charge, Evergreen Organix’ new Black Label Flav Pen tops out at a mind-bending 90 percent THC. “The high THC means that users can get a potent effect, especially for those with high tolerances,” says Evergreen Organix’ Jillian Nelson, who notes the Black Label Flav Pen doesn’t just offer high-blend kicks. “The high THC percentage is a great attraction for many consumers, but the flavor and terpene profile of the Flav brand is unmatched. Flav uses proprietary terpenes that leave users with powerful strain effects and ultimate flavor. Each pen is different based on its strain but can offer a wide variety of indica, sativa, and hybrid effects, from deep relaxation to high energy.” Offering debut flavors that include Tropical Trainwreck, Blue Dream, Strawberry Cough, and Jack Herer, this megaTHC pen is perfect for discreet, high-potency dosing. “It is great for new users because vaping is very controlled and allows [one] to build a high to their comfort tolerance, but experienced users love Black Label Flav products for their high THC levels,” adds Nelson.

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functional case that is a large, indestructible, metal, airtight/ waterproof keychain that can be refilled or used long after the pre-rolls are gone—the goods stay fresh, allowing the medicinal benefits of the flower to shine. “This strain photo credit: Keene Dadian was developed by GG Strains and leaves the user with intense euphoria and relaxation,” says TJ Hoven, general manager of The Grove, of the strain that is a cross of Chem's Sister with Sour Dubb and Chocolate Diesel. This strain is both relaxing and stimulating and alleviates pain of all types including everything from muscle cramping to chronic back and neck pain. If you have had a long day and need to fight off insomnia due to stress, Mini Ks can assist with that. "GG #4 is one of the best strains in Las Vegas. High levels of caryophyllene give it the distinct peppery smell and taste, accompanied by hints of citrus from limonene, make this an energetic powerhouse sure to knock your socks off," says Mike Howard, head grower for KANNABIS, who adds, “GG #4 is not recommended for the novice consumer with THC levels routinely hitting between 27 to 30 percent.”

KABUNKY’S RAK PRE-ROLLS

elevatenv.com | january

From a staple in Nevada’s cannabis consumption arena comes a truly commemorative treat. Kabunky’s RAK product combines five 1-gram premium prerolls cleverly packaged in a tube reminiscent of a stack of Vegas gold—chips, that is. These chips can’t be exchanged for cold hard cash, but they can definitely elevate your day almost as much as winning a stack of RAKs. The sativa prerolls feature the Laughing Laughlin strain, a shout-out to Vegas’s second cousin. At 28 percent THC, it will have you laughing your way out of dodge with its pungent, spicy, rich flavor and instantaneously mood-lightening effects with a terpene mix of humulene (1 mg), terpinolene (3.8 mg), and caryophyllene (2.3 mg).

CITY TREES’ 750 MG THC BLUE AGAVE TINCTURE

The next wave of cannabis infusions is upon us thanks to products like City Trees’ 750 mg THC Blue Agave Tincture. For a totally new way to get your dose of medicine, try this liquid in a cocktail or mocktail. City Trees’ Blue Agave tincture can be taken orally, by itself, or added to any beverage. It can also be used as a substitute sweetener, just like regular agave syrup. “This is one of the strongest ingestible products in the Nevada market,” says City Trees’ COO Don Decatur. “With recreational edibles limited to 100 mg, some consumers cannot get the relief they need. This product delivers a whopping 750 mgs per 2 oz. bottle and provides the user with 60 doses—12.5 mg each.” We find it totally satisfying because of its even effects that dance right on the strong hybrid/indica line. The tincture is for those who use cannabis frequently and who may have been dosed out of other lower THC-potent varietals.

REMEDY/TERPX'S GG#4 CURED RESIN CRUMBLE Recently, there have been many innovations in terms of flavor and texture in cannabis. For those in pursuit of both,

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Remedy/TerpX proffers its GG#4 Cured Resin Crumble, which originates from three parents: two sativa and one hybrid—Chems Sister (sativa), Chocolate Diesel (sativa) and Sour Dubble (hybrid) that were crossbred. “People will be reaching out for this strain for its soft crumble texture that's easy to dab and its amazing flavor profile,” says Thomas Supp, production manager at Silver Sage Wellness. “GG#4 has always been a go-to for flavor chasers. There is something about its gassy pine profile that attracts all.” At 77 percent THC, expect to feel this immediately upon smoking as it first brings on a burst of energy and photo credit: Dope Foto then a pleasant melt from head to toe. This strain is characterized by waves of relaxation that take you deeper and deeper into the void. Drift away into a movie or a book, or just fall into slumber. For those with arthritis, Supp says that at its percentage of caryophyllene (19.6 mg) it has amazing antiinflammatory properties. “Limonene at this percentage (10 mg) will definitely stimulate your nerves and help reduce your stress,” he explains. “With what we know about the medicinal benefits of limonene you can ensure at this amount it's helping to boost your immunity and helping your body stay healthy.” GG#4’s humulene content at 5.79 mg, combined with limonene, “has been known to create a sense of urgency or paranoia but it shall pass and the intoxicating effects of the two will leave you pleasantly medicated,” says Supp, who notes humulene has great anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-pain and antibacterial properties and has also shown to be a good appetite suppressant.

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for Las Vegas’ tourist market,” says Select’s Jordon Rahmil. “Many consumers will come to the city eager to try a vaporizer pen, and this product is an on-the-go disposable option for those who aren't ready to purchase a full battery and cartridge.” Loaded with Select Elite oil, this product is ideal for the weekend warrior and contains about 90 puffs of activated, broad-spectrum cannabis oil. Ranging from 80 to 90 percent THC, there are three varieties available and each caters to a different type of patient. For those looking for an upbeat, tackle-the-day vibe that will keep you focused and engaged, try the Strawberry Cough with an essence of sweet berries. Expect strong mental clarity and lots of energy within minutes of smoking. The Lee Roy is ideal for the end of the day and is a great way to de-stress and relax. This indica has a sweet, pungent, berry flavor as well and is lighter in THC than the Strawberry. For the best of both worlds, fire up the Blue Thai hybrid and enjoy the flavors of earth and wood. Smoke and feel yourself both elevated and grounded at the same time in waves of feel-good relief.

january | elevatenv.com 21

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CANNABIS SUPERSTORE + E N T E R TA I N M E N T C OM P L E X

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Creating Cannabis

CANNABIS-INFUSED SUGAR SCRUB By Heather Vanek, founder, Hot Mess Kushmetics Hot Mess Kushmetics founder Heather Vanek has had a front row seat to the quick rise of CBD in the marketplace. “A year ago, I would ask people outside the industry if they knew what CBD was and most people would be like ‘no.’ Now they don’t just say yes, they say, ‘yes, of course.’ That is a huge massive change in a matter of a year,” says Vanek, who was happy to share her expertise on the topic as well as a recipe with elevate readers. “When choosing a cannabis tincture, you can select a THC/CBD ratio, or all CBD. Though, CBD is more permeable to the skin than THC so the oil you choose should have a majority of CBD. Keep in mind that if you use a full spectrum oil, your sugar scrub will smell like cannabis. If that is something you don’t desire, go with an oil that uses pure CBD such as our Hot Mess Kushmetics CBD tinctures,” explains Vanek. “Also, keep in mind that if the tincture you use has terpenes or flavoring, that could clash with the essential oil you’ve chosen. So, either choose a fragrance and a flavor that go well together or use an unflavored tincture so the only fragrance in your scrub will be from your essential oil,” says Vanek, who prefers to use Hot Mess Kushmetics’ peppermint CBD tincture and a lavender essential oil.

INGREDIENTS: ¼ cup sweet almond oil • ½ bottle of cannabis oil tincture 1 tsp. colloidal oatmeal (optional)* 1 tsp. rose clay (optional)* ½ tsp. essential oil of choice • ½ cup granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS: Combine sweet almond oil, cannabis oil and essential oil, then add the colloidal oatmeal and rose clay. Stir well with a fork to break up any of the little clumps in the dry ingredients. Add the sugar and stir till completely combined. Scoop into a mason jar and use as needed. When ready to use, massage well into skin for 2-4 minutes, then rinse the sugar off and pat skin dry. The sugar will exfoliate your dry, rough skin, while the almond oil will moisturize, and the cannabis oil will soothe and alleviate pain. *A note on the ingredients: All of these items (except the tincture) can be found on Amazon. The colloidal oatmeal and rose clay both serve to detoxify the skin and are optional. Sweet almond oil is a wonderful light oil that won’t be too greasy but shouldn’t be used if you have a nut allergy. Instead, you can substitute with grapeseed oil.

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CBD REBOOT REPLACE EVERYTHING IN YOUR BEAUTY REGIMEN WITH PRODUCTS STARRING CANNABIODIOL For those who have discovered the potent anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant qualities of CBD and want to incorporate it into your beauty regimen, there are an assortment of products in the marketplace that can help you do just that.

Face Case CBD for Life’s Pure CBD Face and Body Cleanser easily rubs into a rich thick lather to clean clogged pores while feeding your skin with the benefit of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties. cbdforlife.us

CBD is enjoying such an explosion in popularity that it’s quickly being incorporated into just about any kind of facial product you might include in your regimen. Not only are CBD products great hydrators, but they can help alleviate and fight inﬂammatory skin issues—from eczema and dermatitis to rosacea and psoriasis—leaving skin even, bright and dewy. Best of all CBD’s therapeutic effect can help you sleep deeper too.

Khus + Khus has developed a formula that combines the healing benefits of hemp extract with Ayurvedic and Western botanicals and resins for a complete skin healing modality with its Modern Herbal Fusion + Sen Face Serum. The serum’s effectiveness is based on our skin’s ability to create cell turnover by growing healthy new cells and discarding old ones for cellular healing. khus-khus.com

Dream Creams

TaskMasker CoSo Beauty’s Hemp Oil CBD Infused Facial Sheet Mask improves the appearance of fine lines and pores for supple and dewy results. Locking in moisture and CBD antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties repair and heal your skin from previous damage. Better yet, long after removal the mask’s moisture lock technology and healing CBD properties (10 mg per mask) continue to work throughout the day. cosobeauty.com

Overnight Success Famed aesthetician Ildi Pekar offers a CBD Vibe facial at her New York salon but since that’s not geographically convenient for West Coasters, she has introduced an overnight skin repair elixir—I. Pekar Sleeping Mask Infused with CBD Oil. Starring CBD oil, it also contains a formula of organic ingredients that address everything from dryness, texture, to lightening and brightening. ildipekar.com

HempWorx Renew Anti-Aging cream and Revive Cream both contain 50 mg of cannabidiol (CBD). Leaving no greasy residue behind, the two products are quickly absorbed through the skin resulting in brighter hydrated skin. Revive Cream is a double threat with the addition of Collagen Retinol, which we all know is the great anti-ager. hempworx.com

january | elevatenv.com

Truth Serum

Nailed it! Totally Tiffany Nails offers a ‘Walking on Air’ CBD pedicure named for the feeling it gives recipients. “All my clients say they are just walking on air after getting a CBD pedicure,” explains Tiffany Kambouris, who started offering the popular pedi at her Henderson nail salon last year. Kambouris’ signature 50-minute ‘Walking on Air’ pedicure costs $60 and begins with a satisfying sugar scrub to exfoliate skin and prepare it to receive all that rich and healing CBD. To follow is the cooling sensation of a soothing mint hydration mask slathered over your legs and feet. The next step is when CBD makes its grand appearance. Choosing from two Apothecanna CBD lotions, pedicure recipients can select the brand’s Circulating leg and foot cream which Apothecanna describes as a warming formula that causes blood flow to instantly energize and activate your body. Or they can choose the brand’s Relieving body cream which is made with anti-inflammatory plant extracts for cooling and invigorating and is encouraged for use on sore muscles, swollen joints and distressed skin. The pedicure’s grand finale is a hot rock massage before your toenails receive a pretty coat of color. Although it’s a proven commodity at her salon, Kambouris still occasionally meets objections from clients who fear they will test or “pop” for marijuana on a drug test. But be assured there is no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in Apothecanna products. totallytifnails.com

elevatenv.com | january

The Eyes Have It Even your lashes can get the cannabis treatment. Milk Makeup has glommed onto the CBD trend and infused its Kush Mascara with CBD-rich cannabis oil. The result is a hemp-derived cannabis oil recipe that creates a creamy texture for smoother application on lashes and wows with big volume. It also conditions lashes offering lasting hydration long after you have removed your mascara. Available at Sephora, it comes in two sizes, $12 and $24. milkmakeup.com

Resolve to Massage the CBD Way Every year a good portion of new year’s resolutions are dedicated to health and wellness. According to the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s 2015 Food and Health Survey, 84 percent of resolutions made in that year pertained to diet or exercise. One new tool that can definitely go a long way in keeping your exercise resolutions on track is cannabidiol (CBD). Among CBD’s many healing benefits is its anti-inflammatory properties which are a boon for post-workout recovery. If you are vowing to start hitting the gym three times a week or perhaps doing Pilates every other day in the new year, then CBD is definitely something to add to your recovery arsenal. A big hurdle to continuing a new workout routine is stiff and sore muscles. Post-workout tissue inflammation slows recovery, limits fitness gains and even causes overuse injuries but can be easily resolved with an application of a CBD topical. It’s a quick fix to rub a salve or lotion onto sore muscles, but might we suggest a CBD massage? With a focus on science and data, Las Vegas-based health and wellness facility Xuberance, https://xuberance.life, customizes programs to improve your overall quality of life. To that end, last summer Xuberance started offering CBD massage. “The recovery for people’s muscles or relief to back, shoulder and knee pain is really good,” explains Xuberance owner Lisa Carrejo of CBD adding that, “the CBD helps muscles heal quicker than a regular massage.” Noting that their 60-minute CBD massage goes hand in hand with Xuberance’s tagline of restoring vitality, Carrejo says the massage is available to both Xuberance clients as well as people walking in off the street. “As part of their process our clients get a massage once a week,” says Carrejo, who selected Pharma Balm Skintopics with 500 mg of CBD by Pharmaxtracts.com as the facility’s topical of choice. The cost to non-members is $99 for the massage and a $20 fee to add CBD. “So far, the CBD massage has been really popular, we doubled our numbers by November,” Carrejo says. “Once somebody does it, it becomes perpetual.”

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BEAUTY QUEEN

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Rachel Zimbelman CEO and creator, CBDNA

“Literally just seeing how people are loving the response they are getting because it is actually treating things -- that is enough for us. That was the whole reason why we started the product line in the first place,” says Zimbelman of the CBDNA line of cannabidiol (CBD) products she launched in the Nevada marketplace last May. Zimbelman launched CBDNA because she wanted to create something that she couldn’t find on the market for a family member who had acne. “I was looking for a product that had to have three things: be cost effective, had to be a clean green product – no chemicals and limited ingredients – and it had to work. I found a couple that were like that but then they didn’t work,” she explains. She got the idea to use CBD as a main ingredient in the line from her own experience. “CBD was the main catalyst. We knew it had to be the main ingredient if we really wanted it to work because it helps heal at a cellular level and that was our main goal. It was literally just a leap of faith – I was thinking if it can cure my Crohn’s, it can help acne.” Zimbelman was diagnosed with Crohn’s six years ago and started using a ½ teaspoon of CBD-infused honey in her tea to treat it. “I have to admit I was a little skeptical,” says Zimbelman of using CBD to control her Crohn’s disease. “I wasn’t taking any pharmaceutical drugs because the side effects were so harsh that I wanted to try something natural first and I was thinking if this doesn’t work then maybe I will have to go to pharmaceutical drugs.” Zimbelman was so sidelined by the autoimmune disease that she wasn’t leaving her house. “I wasn’t going anywhere, I had started working from home. It was debilitating, I wasn’t traveling. Within a week of taking this honey I could leave the house, I was joining my family when they were doing things. It was a life change to the point I knew I had to learn everything I could about CBD because it literally gave me the freedom to get out and enjoy doing stuff that I normally did. It was my last-ditch effort. After that I was like CBD for everyone,” she offers with a laugh. Her experience inspired Zimbelman to take online courses to learn everything she could about essential oils and natural ingredients as well as what works best for various skin conditions

to start CBDNA. Then she got to work developing three products. “Every product we wanted to create was for a certain condition. So, Clear was the first one and it was for acne,” says Zimbelman. Next, she developed Youth for anti-aging. “In addition to CBD, it has beta carotene in it to give your skin a natural bright glow, it makes you look like you have had your 10 hours of sleep and eight glasses of water and it still has limited ingredients and no sulfates or additives.” CBDNA’s third product is Balance which is a skin cream specifically formulated for extreme skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, and psoriasis. “It’s for any kind of inflammation that you have -- even if you have poison ivy -- it immediately treats the inflammation,” explains Zimbelman. “The goal for this product line is to basically balance out your skin so you feel like you were born with normal skin.” As for future products, Zimbelman is very specific about what kind of products will fall under the CBDNA brand. “For everything we do from this point on, we want it to treat something and not just be for purely cosmetic reasons because that really is the benefit of CBD,” explains Zimbelman of the (continued on page 36)

january | elevatenv.com 31

BEAUTY QUEEN

elevatenv.com | january

Heather Vanek founder, Hot Mess Kushmetics

With a tagline of ‘just because it’s medicine doesn’t mean it belongs in your medicine cabinet,’ Heather Vanek started Hot Mess Kushmetics, a line of CBD topicals, in 2017 to fill a hole in the market. “It can be pretty, and it can smell good -- it just doesn’t have to treat your pain. I just saw a hole in the market and a need. I am not one to wait around for other people to get something started. And I already knew how to make body products. So, it was really just a natural next step for me.” Vanek’s discovery of her line’s signature ingredient CBD was pure happenstance. “I was raised by hippies and rebelled by wanting nothing to do with it. It was heavily present in my childhood. We had a greenhouse in our back yard. The way moms drink wine now was how my parents were smoking pot when I was growing up,” explains Vanek, who was scrolling through Instagram one day and came across some cannabis-infused bath bombs and immediately thought of her mom. “I thought she would get a total kick out of it and if it came from me, she would really really love it because how ironic is that?!” So, Vanek made her mom some cannabis-infused bath bombs the old-fashioned way. “I got some flower, cooked it down in a crockpot with some coconut oil to extract all the cannabinoids, and then added that oil to the bath bomb and that was it,” she explains. “I was still thinking of it as a gag gift, not thinking it would do anything. But to my surprise when she took a bath, within 15 minutes it had broken her three-day migraine streak. So that’s when I was like, ‘Oh my god, there is something to this. Mom was right all along.’” Vanek then began her research of cannabis in earnest. “I wanted to how it worked, what it treated, specifically how topicals work, and that’s how I really discovered CBD. That’s when I fell in love with CBD because it’s more permeable than THC. So, when you are looking at topicals, it should at

the very least be a majority of CBD, if not all CBD. “But there were other things I really loved about it. It could treat just about anything THC can without getting you high. I thought that was just fascinating because there are a lot of people who don’t like to get high. So, for them to have the option of still using cannabis but remaining comfortable, that’s beautiful,” says Vanek. Referencing back to the hole in the topical market Vanek discovered, she says, “I started my line because after doing all this research about cannabis I really couldn’t find any topicals that I loved or that I would want to buy or that my mom or girlfriends would want to buy. All of the products that were on the market looked like something you would buy at a farmer’s market. The only choices were either for stoners or something you would buy at Walgreens or CVS.” With a CBD product line that includes bath bombs, body lotion, bubble bath, shower gel, body budder, and CBD oil drops, Vanek notes the most unique thing about Hot Mess is the products don’t smell like cannabis. (continued on page 37)

december | elevatenv.com 33

CANNABIS CINEMA

elevatenv.com | january

EVIL BONG 777 FEATURES LAS VEGAS AS BACKDROP IN LATEST OFFERING FROM STONER HORROR MOVIE FRANCHISE By Josh Bell

B-movie impresario Charles Band has been making lowbrow, low-budget horror movies since the late 1970s, and his Full Moon Features has produced cult franchises like Puppet Master, Demonic Toys and Subspecies . In 2006, Band directed a cheapo stoner horror movie called Evil Bong , and in the years since, the Evil Bong series has become a cornerstone of Full Moon, with multiple installments and successful crowd-funding campaigns. As with most Full Moon productions, it’s probably better enjoyed in a slightly altered state.

Evil Bong (2006) The series kicks off with an amiable, low-key stoner comedy that could only barely be called a horror movie. Nerdy college student Alistair (David Weidoff) rents a room from stoners Larnell (John Patrick Jordan), Bachman (Mitch Eakins) and Brett (Brian Lloyd), and then has to help them out when their souls end up captured by a haunted bong named Eebee (voiced by Michelle Mais). The first movie introduces the concept of the Bong World, a dimension inside the evil bong where people go when they smoke from it and are taken prisoner. Band clearly spent most of his budget on securing Tommy Chong to play a supporting role; the Eebee puppet doesn’t even move, and virtually the entire movie takes place in a one-room apartment. Chong doesn’t return for any of the sequels, but the rushed, cheap aesthetic is here to stay.

Evil Bong 2: King Bong (2009) Suffering from aftereffects of their encounter with Eebee, the four guys (including new actor Brett Chukerman as Alistair) head to the jungles of South America (probably just Band’s back yard) to trace the bong’s

origins, accompanied by annoying delivery guy Rabbit (Sonny Carl Davis), who’ll become an increasingly important part of the series. Terrible sexist jokes abound as the characters encounter the perpetually topless Poontang Tribe and team up with Eebee to take down King Bong, a smooth-talking skull-shaped bong who rules the jungle (or something).

Evil Bong 3: The Wrath of Bong (2011) Alistair, once again played by a new actor (Peter Stickles), now works for the “Space Institute,” and the meteorite he discovers conveniently contains a sentient alien bong intent on enslaving humanity. Larnell is now a ninja, somehow, while Brett and Bachman run a head shop on Venice Beach. This installment really leans into its own awfulness, with multiple characters dismissing the alien bong as “a cheap movie prop,” and actors blatantly stumbling over their lines. Eebee is barely in the movie and is almost entirely irrelevant to the plot, which once again culminates in Bong World, where the characters are tempted by apparitions of topless women (with some green paint to indicate they’re aliens).

Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong (2013) This crossover with fellow Full Moon character Gingerdead Man (a serial killer trapped inside a gingerbread man cookie) is where Band just turns the series into a vehicle for Full Moon cameos and product placement. Only Larnell returns from the original gang, now running his own head shop in Venice Beach (the other characters get written out in a single, tossed-off reference) next door to a bakery run by Sarah Leigh (Robin Sydney), the sole survivor of the Gingerdead Man massacre. The movie is padded out with clips from previous entries in the two series, and the promised fight between the title characters is more like a stern argument.

Evil Bong 666 (2017)

At just 53 minutes, Evil Bong 420 barely even qualifies as a feature film, and it essentially has no plot. The perpetually annoying Rabbit has taken over as lead character, and he now runs a bowling alley, where a bunch of Full Moon characters show up (there’s an entire subplot about selling Full Moon paraphernalia). Larnell is there, with his two competing love interests from previous movies, and the Gingerdead Man is now a regular supporting character. Eebee does nothing of note until the very end, when she traps the remaining main characters in Bong World for what qualifies as a cliffhanger in this underachieving franchise.

Maybe it’s just bong-holm syndrome, but this installment seems like a slight improvement over the last two; if nothing else, it tones down the shilling for Full Moon products. A Satan-worshiper named Lucy Furr (Mindy Robinson) takes over Eebee’s dispensary, using it as a front to collect souls. Eebee and Gingerdead Man return from “Sexy Hell,” which is ruled over by Beelzebud and accessed by a vagina-shaped portal, of course. Larnell is gone altogether, and Rabbit mostly just stands around the dispensary until he teams up with Eebee for the Frankenstein-style creation of the Gingerweed Man. At least Sexy Hell, with its Dali-esque painting of boobs and butts, brings in some visual flair.

Evil Bong: High-5 (2016)

Evil Bong 777 (2018)

Thanks to some trippy graphics, this movie’s Bong World is more fully realized, and it briefly seems like Band might go full-on surrealism and set the whole movie there. Instead, he returns Rabbit and Larnell to the real world to run a weed dispensary at Eebee’s command. It’s just an excuse for another parade of cameos, plus a full-on commercial for Full Moon’s line of “politically incorrect” (read: horrifyingly racist) collectibles. “He loves it in here. He’s got, like, bong-holm syndrome,” Larnell says of Rabbit’s existence inside Bong World, and anyone still watching these movies at this point probably suffers from the same affliction.

The series’ most recent installment randomly brings Eebee, Rabbit and some leftover supporting characters to Las Vegas. There’s virtually no plot here, and Band finally indulges in full frontal nudity, as well as some unpleasant transphobia. At least he shoots most of the movie on location in Vegas, including on Fremont Street, at the Artisan (playing a haunted hotel) and at Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum in Boulder City (Devlin has worked on creature effects for much of the series). As Eebee notes, “These stories are confusing as fuck to keep straight,” but 777 ends without any resolution, which means that Evil Bong 888 is no doubt on its way soon.

january | elevatenv.com 35

Evil Bong 420 (2015)

elevatenv.com | january

(continued from page 30) non-psychoactive part of the cannabis plant. “It’s just going to blow up in the next couple of years because CBD is so multi-beneficial. Your skin is your biggest organ and when people use normal topical treatments, they are just relieving symptoms and treating whatever is happening instead of actually healing it. But when you add CBD as a component you are actually healing it so eventually you won’t even need it and won’t have that problem.” As for having to educate consumers about CBD, Zimbelman is finding that easy to do in Nevada. “With legalization people are starting to learn about the benefits of cannabis as a whole and what about cannabis is beneficial and learning that CBD is a component of it and what it helps with,” she says. “I think by the nature of being in a cannabisfriendly state it’s becoming the new quinoa or it’s the new kale. The fact that there is such a rise in organic healthy living that people are starting to embrace helps too.” As CBDNA gets ready to launch in New York this spring and in Denver and California later this year, Zimbelman has high expectations for the line. “I am hoping CBDNA falls in along that line with someone who wants to have that healthy clean lifestyle. That’s why CBD has gotten so popular because it fits in with the juicing lifestyle and that same genre of selfhealing. That falls in line with the way I live, with the way I think, and the way that’s good for the planet. I think it’s just a really good time for it.”

BEAUTI-FILE

Signature Product(s): It would be our Clear because when you treat someone with acne and you are treating this debilitating thing you can’t get control of and its successful if effects your daily life in a positive way. But Youth is great too because everyone loves having that youthful glow. Balance has the same type of response; we have seen a lot of success with people who deal with rosacea and conditions they have not been able to treat. Beauty Trick: For Balance, we have discovered that it’s great for healing scars. Also, if you want that lighter, no makeup look, and use a heavy foundation, just add a couple of drops of Youth into your foundation before you put it on your face and you will have a no-makeup makeup look. Dream: My retail dream would be to be in a few really wellknown green beauty stores like the Detox Market or Thrive Marketplace that’s online. That way we can start getting not just exposure but getting exposure that is tied into other brands who are sustainable and are really living according to non-toxic beauty, so we can be seen as that level of a beauty line. I want to eventually have one of the best CBD skincare lines on the market. New in 2019: We are developing a natural sunscreen and facial toner.

(continued from page 32)

BEAUTI-FILE

Signature Product: Our bath bombs for sure. Beauty Trick: I use the Sugar High body lotion on my face. Our Bubble Bath doubles as a shower gel. Initially I didn’t think that would provide any healing because it’s only on your skin for a few seconds, but I have had so much good feedback from people that say it actually does help them. When I designed the recipes for the bubble bath, I made it to be super gentle on your skin so it’s not going to dry your skin out. Beauty Secret: One thing I recently discovered is that our lotion works fabulous for bug bites. It’s better than any sort of calamine lotion or Benadryl topical to get rid of the itch. It immediately stops the itch. Dream: We are working on getting into mainstream stores right now. My dream is to be in Sephora and Ulta, and just be more mainstream. New for 2019: We are going to be switching our 750 mg tinctures to 1,000 mg tinctures because we have a lot of requests for it. If you can increase the dose within a bottle, the cost per mg goes down. In the 750 mg bottle you get 25 mg per dropper and in the new size it will be 33 mg per dropper allowing you to use less of the dropper. It ends up being more cost effective per milligram.

january | elevatenv.com

“Unless you were to actually read the label closely, you wouldn’t necessarily know there is cannabis in it. I did that on purpose because I wanted it to be something people didn’t have to hide if they were at work or at their grandparents’ house. I just wanted it to look like a pretty bottle of lotion or a pretty bath bomb without being so obvious.” Pain relief is the main benefit of using a Hot Mess Kushmetics product, according to Vanek. “I have been so amazed at how many people get success from using our topicals and that have really serious conditions. It’s people with fibromyalgia, migraines, endometriosis, MS, and really serious stuff that are getting relief.” Vanek personally uses CBD every day in the form of a sublingual tincture to treat anxiety. “I used to take prescription medication for anxiety and I was able to completely get off of those meds which is great. It’s a feeling that I have never had before. Events that would have caused a panic attack in the past don’t anymore, now my response is ‘well that was shitty, let’s move on,’ which is just amazing.” In addition to Nevada, Hot Mess is also available in Alaska, Michigan, New York, and will be in California next, leading Vanek to predict, “I think 2019 will be the year we really explode.”

DISPENSARY MAP A Guide to Cannabis in Southern Nevada

RENO

PECOS RD

SIMMONS ST

CACTUS AVE

K EP OS .T R HENDERSON S MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

16a

D BLV AS VEG LAS

18 AVE

215

Y RACETRACK RD

PKW AD E ME

29b

HORIZON RIDGE PKWY

HORIZON DR

515

GE SUNRSIDPKWY HEIGHT

16b

6TH ST

MARYLAND PKWY

WES TER NA VE

L RD RIA

IND

HIG

UST

HLA

13b

DESERT INN RD

LAK

PECOS RD

31b

COMMERCE ST MAIN ST 3RD ST

RANCHO DR

AVE

PKWY

PEBBLE RD

HENDERSON

WINDMILL LN

PARADISE RD

NELLIS BLVD

SET

WARM SPRINGS RD

GIBSON RD

BERMUDA RD

SUN

WIGWAM PKWY

SAM BOYD STADIUM

GREEN VALLEY

JONES BLVD

LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH

DECATUR BLVD

HIG SO 15 HL UTH AN ER DS N PK WY

SUNSET COUNTY PARK

SILVERADO RANCH BLVD

515

RUSSELL RD

AMO

E DI

BLU

LLY

SANDHILL RD

MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

E TWAIN

KAREN AVE

D ND R

SAHARA AVE

GREEN DISTRICT

FLAMINGO RD

OAKEY BLVD

9a 14 24 ST. LOUIS AVE

WINDMILL LN

LAMB BLVD

23a

STEPHANIE ST

IP STR THE

30b

SUNSET RD

DESERT INN RD

SAHARA AVE

215

WARM SPRINGS RD

NELLIS BLVD

24 4b

LVD

VEG

SUNSET RD

LAS VEGAS TROPICANA AVE

RUSSELL RD

CHARLESTON BLVD

MARYLAND PKWY

29a

10b

MAI

LAS

10a 28 JONES BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

22 23a

AS B

TROPICANA AVE

10b 1 14

VALLEY VIEW

DECATUR BLVD

DURANGO DR

FT APACHE RD

TOWN CENTER DR

HUALAPAI WAY

31a SAHARA AVE

FLAMINGO RD

PAHRUMP

PECOS RD

N ST

32b 5b 3 20

3 20

SAHARA AVE

BONANZA RD

DESERT INN RD SPRING MOUNTAIN RD

30a

OWENS AVE WASHINGTON AVE

CHARLESTON BLVD

OAKEY BLVD

32b

CHARLESTON BLVD

LAKE MEAD BLVD

EASTERN AVE

ALTA DR

160

WASHINGTON AVE

215

N 5TH

LOS EE

VEGAS DR

DECATUR BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

BLVD

159

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

MARYLAND PKWY

LIN

23b

32a

CAREY AVE

RTH NO LVD NELLIS B AS AIR FORCE VEG LAS BASE

CRAIG RD

CAMINO AL NORTE / MLK

NORTH LAS VEGAS

MESQUITE

CENTENNIAL PKWY

WASHBURN RD

ANN RD

H NC RA

ALEXANDER RD

CHEYENNE AVE

13a

JONES BLVD

DURANGO DR

GRAND CANYON DR

LONE MOUNTAIN RD

LAKE ME AD

215

BOULDER CITY AND LAUGHLIN

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

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

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

9c. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 5765 W Tropicana Ave Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.500.1714

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

29a. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 5347 S Decatur Blvd Ste #100 Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.476.0420

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

10a. Exhale Nevada exhalenevada.com 4310 W Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.447.1250

19. NuWu Cannabis Marketplace Nuwucannabis.com 1235 Paiute Circle Las Vegas, NV 89106 702.844.2707

29b. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 50 N Gibson Rd Ste #170 Henderson, NV 89104 702.476.0420

4a. Blüm LetsBlum.com 3650 S Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.627.Blum

10b. Exhale Nevada exhalenevada.com 1921 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-463-2866

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

30a. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 1541 E Basin Ave Pahrump, NV 89048 775.556.0100

4b. Blüm LetsBlum.com 1130 E Desert Inn Rd Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.536.Blum

11. Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary inyolasvegas.com 2520 S Maryland Pkwy Ste #2 Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.707.8888

21. Pisos Dispensary pisoslv.com 4110 S Maryland Pkwy Ste #1 Las Vegas, NV 89119 702.367.9333

30b. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 4647 Swenson St Las Vegas, NV 89119 702.463.5777

5a. CANOPI canopi.com 6540 Blue Diamond Rd Las Vegas, NV 89139 702.420.7338

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

22. Planet 13/Medizin planet13lasvegas.com 2548 W Desert Inn Rd Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.206.1313

31a. The Source thesourcenv.com 2550 S Rainbow Blvd Ste #8 Las Vegas, NV 89146 702.708.2000

5b. CANOPI canopi.com 1324 S 3rd St Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.420.2902

13a. Jenny’s Dispensary Jennysdispensary.com 5530 N Decatur Blvd North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.718.0420

23a. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 3400 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.475.6520

31b. The Source thesourcenv.com 9480 S Eastern Ave Ste #185 Henderson, NV 89123 702.708.2222

5c. CANOPI canopi.com 2113 Las Vegas Blvd North North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.420.2113

13b. Jenny’s Dispensary Jennysdispensary.com 10420 S Eastern Ave Henderson, NV 89052 702.718.0420

23b. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 1366 W Cheyenne Ave North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.410.8032

32a. Thrive Cannabis Markeplace thrivenevada.com 2755 W Cheyenne Ave Ste #103 North Las Vegas, NV 89032 702.776.4144

6. Cultivate Las Vegas cultivatelv.com 3615 Spring Mountain Rd Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.778.1173

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

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

32b.Thrive Cannabis Marketplace thrivenevada.com 1112 S Commerce St. Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.776.4144

7. Deep Roots Harvest deeprootsharvest.com 195 Willis Carrier Canyon Mesquite, NV 89034 702.345.2854

15. MMJ America mmjamerica.com 4660 S Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.565.9333

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

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

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

16a. Nevada Made Marijuana nevadamademarijuana.com 3195 St. Rose Pkwy Ste #212 Henderson, NV 89052 702.737.7777

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

34. Zen Leaf zenleafvegas.com 9120 W Post Rd Ste #103 Las Vegas, NV 89148 702.462.6706

9a. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 2307 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.978.7591

16b. Nevada Made Marijuana nevadamademarijuana.com 1975 S Casino Dr Laughlin, NV 89029 702.737.7777

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

Cannabiotix products are sold here

9b. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 4300 E Sunset Rd Ste #A3 Henderson, NV 89014 702.978.7687

january | elevatenv.com

1. Acres Cannabis acrescannabis.com 2320 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.399.4200

SAVE TIME SKIP THE LINE ORDER ONLINE FOR IMMEDIATE PICKUP

BEST DISPENSARY OPEN 24 HRS

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AGRIMA.COM

@SWEETCANNABISNV

PROFILE

Why tinctures over pills? Tinctures absorb through your mouth sublingually, quickly getting the product into your bloodstream with little to no digestion. The effects are felt much faster allowing you to enjoy your day or night. Potency & Flexible Dosing Tinctures maintain a high concentration of beneficial cannabinoids (CBD, THC…) from the cannabis plant. The measured dropper allows you to customize your dose. Some days you might have more pain than others, or maybe you’re having a hard time sleeping and need a couple drops to achieve that restful night sleep to refresh for the next day. Taste & Shelf Life Not all herbal extracts are created delicious. With Agrima you don’t have to worry about the bad taste of an alcohol-based tincture or of an added-ﬂavor ingredient overload. Agrima uses the highest quality lemon essential oil and silky-smooth grapeseed oil as the base. Our cannabis is processed to extract the beneficial cannabinoids while

Agrima tinctures are available in these formulations: 1:1 THC/CBD | CBD 20:1, 10:1 | THC

removing the cannabis aftertaste. With high standards of processing and manufacturing, Agrima provides the cleanest, most reliable cannabis products on the market. Customized for your Convenience Whether it’s a CBD kind of day to get you through a stressful meeting, or a 1:1 to manage your inflammation flare-up, or maybe you need a strong THC to get you through a restless night, Agrima’s 1 oz. tinctures are small enough to carry in your pocket, purse or briefcase and are discreet enough to be used anywhere. Just a few drops and you’re on the path to a higher state of pleasure. Did you know? • Agrima tinctures can also be used as a topical. Grapeseed oil is highly absorbable and is an effective carrier for the medicinal properties of the plant. Use directly on your skin or mix with your favorite lotion or cream. • Cannabinoids have been proven to have an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect in numerous studies. CBD engages with the endocannabinoid system in many organs throughout the body, helping to reduce inflammation systemically. • Grapeseed oil makes a wonderful carrier oil for aromatherapy and aromatherapy massage. Customize your tincture to your needs.

Find 300 mg and 600 mg doses at participating Nevada dispensaries, including: NuWu in Las Vegas | The Apothecarium in Las Vegas | The+Source in Las Vegas and Henderson

With the spark of the New Year, optimism is in the air. 2019 is the year of wellness and Agrima is here to help guide you to better living. If your goal is to reach a higher state of pleasure and achieve wholeness in 2019, Agrima tinctures in CBD, THC and a 1:1 ratio are the solution you’re looking for. Agrima is a Sanskrit word meaning captain or leader. “Our aim is to empower the agrima within, equipping you to guide yourself to a higher quality of life, naturally.”

january | elevatenv.com

Make a resolution to guide yourself to a higher quality of life in 2019 with Agrima

elevatenv.com | january

january | elevatenv.com 43

INDUSTY LEADERS MAKE PREDICTIONS FOR CANNABIS LANDSCAPE IN 2019 “It's important to recognize at the outset that much has shifted at the federal level in 2018, and that while there are no sureﬁre ways this is going to impact the cannabis industry in 2019, there is a helluva chance. By that I mean, in addition to there being an upset in the House since the mid-terms, we saw former Attorney General Jeff Sessions have his power pulled completely. Many in the cannabis industry have perceived Sessions as our biggest roadblock to the de-scheduling of marijuana and feel that having a new AG could shift the discourse around legalization in a major way.” --Shoshanna Silverberg, Director of Business Strategy, Pistil + Stigma

“I have a few predictions for 2019. 1. Both county and city will have at least one consumption lounge opened. 2. Banking will not be an issue. The Feds will back off and multiple banks from out of state will come to Nevada and at least one local credit union will jump in too. 3. The 10% excise tax will join the 15% wholesale tax and go directly to schools and not the rainy day fund!

“Las Vegas’ establishment monopolies will continue to soar (squeezing out the little man -- millionaires from the billionaires) with the state of NV doing NOTHING. Note: in the original 2013 legislation of NRS453A there was a max of est. owners only being able to own < 10%. This has NOT happened. Who is governing?” --Juhlzie Monteiro, R.N., Founder/Creative Director at Cannabis Nurses Media

4. Nevada will continue to be the nationwide model for cannabis laws and regulations. --Clark County Commissioner Richard “Tick” Segerblom

“I predict in 2019 we will see the beginning of an educational or awareness program regarding Nevada's marijuana program and the effects of marijuana geared toward the youth of our state, at least I hope we begin to educate our youth on this ever-expanding industry.” --Amanda N. Connor, Esq., Connor & Connor Pllc. “Nevada has experienced amazing growth and success rolling out the medical and recreational marijuana programs over the past three years, and I fully expect that momentum to continue into 2019. I believe we will continue to experience double-digit growth in terms of market growth and tax collections, which could top $100 million in 2019. I am hopeful that we will see state and local governments continue to take steps to curtail the illegal market and support licensed businesses. I’m also very hopeful that we will see major steps at the federal level to protect state cannabis programs, ﬁx the IRS tax code 280e, and lay the groundwork for more banking options. It’s going to be a very exciting year!” --Andrew Jolley, Founder of The+Source

“There will be continued growth within the industry as visitors become more aware of Nevada dispensaries through media and education. More non-cannabis consumers will show an interest as they get comfortable with the evolution of products. Banking will become more available as the Colorado, California and Arizona banks make acquisitions in Nevada to capitalize on the cannabis industry. Cultivation companies will see prices fall as more cultivation facilities come online. Outdoor and greenhouse growers will ﬂood the market with low-cost ﬂower and trim. Consumption lounges will begin to open and we will see some struggle, but some that offer an amazing experience with a solid location will become destinations.” --Jerry Velarde, President, Evergreen Organix

“Jobs will increase by at least 10 percent, but likely more. As of July 2018, there were approximately 6,000 people employed directly by marijuana establishments. While thousands more are employed indirectly by the legalized market in ancillary positions.” --Riana Durrett, Esq., Executive Director, Nevada Dispensary Association “Sales of marijuana to tourists will explode once consumption lounges become legal in late 2019. Medical marijuana sales will also jump when the state begins pushing patients to use marijuana instead of opiates.” --John Laub, President, Las Vegas Medical Marijuana Association