CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta by Elevate Nevada Magazine

JANUARY 2017

CNN CORRESPONDENT

DR. SANJAY GUPTA TALKS TRUTH, IMMORALITY, OPIATES, AND ABOUT FILMING A NEW “WEED” DOCUMENTARY THIS YEAR

Will Nevada adopt an Early Start program for adult use cannabis? Spark your 2017 resolutions with our sativa guide Industry insiders divine cannabis’ future

Chocolate Therapy

VETERAN OWNED AND OPERATED ReleafWellness.com

Where science and cannabis collide january | elevatenv.com 1

january | elevatenv.com 3

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

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

Creative Director Brooke Bertuzzi, brooke@finetheagency.com

Contributing Writers: Justin Alexander, Maria Collazo, Riana Durrett, Mark S.A. Smith, Julie Vigil Media Consultants: Mark Damkroeger, mark@elevatenv.com Sean Sonner, sean@elevatenv.com Cover photography by Amanda Sloane

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

The DEA’s midDecember surprise to reclassify cannabidiol (CBD) oil as a Schedule I drug was a Christmas present nobody wanted. The cannabis industry already felt like it got a big lump of coal in its stocking when President-Elect Trump picked Alabama Senator Jeff “Good people don't smoke marijuana” Sessions as his presumptive nominee for U.S. Attorney General. It will certainly be a December to remember, but not just for the industry. The DEA’s new ruling really won’t have much effect on Nevada medical marijuana establishments that grow, produce and sell CBD-based products within the state’s borders. It’s the patients living in states with no legal cannabis laws who will suffer. Prior to the DEA’s ruling, CBD products, such as Charlotte’s Web most commonly used by patients in the epilepsy and autism communities, were available to patients across the U.S. no matter if they resided in a state that had legalized cannabis or not. With the new ruling those patients, as of January 13th, which is a Friday by the way, will no longer be able to procure the medicine they need to treat the life-threatening seizures they must endure, in most cases, on a daily basis.

But it’s just not the ailing children who will be most affected by the blowback of the DEA’s rule change. CBD oil has anti-emetic, anti-convulsant, antipsychotic, anti-cancer, anti-depressant, antiinflammatory effects on patients with nausea, vomiting, seizures, chemotherapy, etc. With properties like that, CBD oil hardly belongs in the same scheduling class as heroin and LSD, of which it will now reside. I spoke with one local dispensary owner who, calling the DEA’s decision a shame, was planning to stock up on the CBD products she gets from outside of Nevada before the January deadline makes it illegal to transport it over state lines. One has to wonder what machination was behind the DEA’s sudden decision to reclassify a medicine that has no psychoactive effect and plenty of anecdotal evidence for bringing tremendous healing and relief to those who are suffering. All I can think of is that with Christmas in the air and “It’s a Wonderful Life” playing in the background, the DEA must have found the idea of living in Pottersville more attractive than Bedford Falls. With an open mind,

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

ElevateNV

ElevateNevada

NEW AT ELEVATENV.COM IN 2017: elevate, in conjunction with the Growers Network, will be offering a new section on our website specifically designed for cultivators. This month’s feature looks at integrated pest management using a holistic approach to pests, pesticides, and other factors. Check it out at elevatenv.com/thegrow

CONTENTS

HEALING: The Power of Cannabis

Spark your goals in 2017 with a sativa

Divining Cannabis’ Future

Toddler beats terminal diagnosis with CBD oil

8 Combat PMS with CBD and THC for a little TLC Whoopi and Maya celebrate sacred femininity with new medical cannabis line

14 Cooking with Cannabis

Grilled Wild Alaskan Halibut with Sautéed Apple and Shallot Farro

Consider the power of sativa to aid in accomplishing resolutions that require focus and creativity

21 Open-Minded

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks truth, immorality and "Weed" 4

26 Dispensary Spotlight Blüm

Industry insiders conjure up mystical visions for 2017

36 Disrupt, Innovate & Elevate

Planning for adult use cannabis in your medical marijuana business

38 Dispensary Map

A patients’ guide to finding medical cannabis in the Las Vegas Valley january | elevatenv.com 5

HEALING THE POWER OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

TODDLER BEATS TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS OF SCHINZEL GIEDION SYNDROME WITH CBD OIL

When Sadie Higuera was only eight months old, her parents were presented with a dire proposition. Sadie’s pediatric neurologist told the Higueras that they could be a “hero” to their infant daughter, who was experiencing approximately 300 life-threatening seizures a day, by agreeing to give her ACTH (Adrenocorticotropin). “It’s a very, very heavy drug that would basically shut her down,” Sadie’s father, Brian Higuera, said of ACTH. “It was going to end her life. Fifty percent of the kids she’s ever treated with that drug had passed away. The doctor said in Sadie’s condition she thought it would be about a month. They told us we needed to be her hero and give it to her because there is not anything in the medical community

elevatenv.com | january

Sadie Higuera is pictured with her father on her first day of pre-school. Photo credit: Christian Rodas/ CMW Media

that she knew of or anybody else knew of to help her.” Within a few hours of leaving the neurologist’s office, the Higueras decided to be the hero their daughter, who was born with a rare genetic disorder called Schinzel Giedion syndrome (SGS), needed. Higuera had read an article about CBD oil and decided to eschew the neurologist’s advice and pursue medicinal cannabis instead. The next day, after contacting eight doctors, he finally found one willing to meet with them. Higuera explained Sadie’s situation and the doctor agreed to meet with them but explained he wasn’t making any promises that he could help. After a consultation the doctor gave them a threemonth recommendation for medicinal cannabis, suggesting they try RSHO (Real Scientific Hemp Oil). Higuera immediately picked it up at a dispensary and went straight home to put two drops under Sadie’s tongue and a quarter of a milliliter into her g-tube, which delivers nutrition directly to her stomach. “After about 10 minutes I didn’t think her eyes were fluttering but I wasn’t sure because I was telling myself you just want to see this. Then in about 20 minutes her arms weren’t twitching anymore. After about 30 minutes, I tried to talk to her and she was looking at me and it was clear she was hearing me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” recalled Higuera. Unable to watch her husband give Sadie RSHO for the first time, Higuera’s wife, Damaris, had taken their other two children to the park. She phoned 45 minutes later to check in. “I told her, ‘You need to come home’,”

Higuera said of his wife who immediately panicked. He assured her, ‘Everything is fine, I just don’t want to put any ideas in your head. You need to get home and take a look at Sadie.’ She came back and looked at her for about 20 seconds and then started crying and said, ‘I got my baby back.’” “It was profound to be told just three days earlier there is nothing that will help your baby to it all stopping,” Higuera incredulously observed. “It was a huge turnaround.” Indeed, when Sadie was born her parents were told she would live six months to two years and that there was no known treatment for SGS. Sadie turned three last May and is now almost seizure-free, interacts with her family, shows progress and brain development, and attends a special needs class at her elementary school in Ramona, California.

A week after the Higueras started giving Sadie CBD Photo credit: Christian Rodas/CMW Media oil, they returned for a follow-up appointment with the neurologist who recommended ACTH. According to Higuera, when the physician walked in the exam room she took one look at Sadie and said, ‘What are you guys doing? She’s completely different. I can tell she’s not seizing.’ The Higueras revealed they had started giving Sadie RHSO. The neurologist asked why they hadn’t discussed it with her. “Well you were telling us to be her hero and end her life seven days ago and so we talked to a medical marijuana doctor instead,” Higuera told her. The neurologist was in total disbelief, but still had the presence of mind to ask for the Higuera’s phone number so she could give it to another patient whose child was also born with SGS. Sadie Higuera poses for a photo with her “heroes,” Brian and Damaris Higuera.

GET IN-YO & OUT-YO FAST AT INYO FINE CANNABIS DISPENSARY *CONVENIENT PARKING *EXPRESS SERVICE *ONLINE ORDERING FOR DELIVERY OR EXPRESS PICKUP

702.707.8888

2520 SOUTH MARYLAND PARKWAY #2, LAS VEGAS, NV 89109 (IN THE SMITH’S SHOPPING CENTER ● SAHARA AND MARYLAND PKWY)

For product updates and specials:

/InyoLasVegas

@InyoDispensary

@InyoLV

@InyoDispensary january | elevatenv.com 7

Photography by Timothy White 2015

COMBAT PMS WITH CBD AND THC FOR A LITTLE TLC Whoopi & Maya celebrate sacred femininity with new medical cannabis line By Julie Vigil

elevatenv.com | january

Photography by Allison Beckett

No one really likes to talk about it and no one really likes to go through it. It’s messy and inconvenient and it comes with a slew of unwelcome side effects: abdominal and lower back pain, headaches, weight gain, nausea, diarrhea, inflammation, swelling, bloating, depression, aggression, and moodiness, to name a few. Worst of all, it’s too-often stigmatized, even in our modern world. It’s not spoken of in polite conversation, and those who suffer and dare complain are either gas-lighted and expected to deal with it, offered some over-the-counter pills and banal comfort tactics, or — worst-case scenario — are candidates for any number of expensive, invasive surgeries. It’s no secret we’re talking about menstruation. Periods can be a bitch but they’re also a beautiful gift that lets women know we can make babies. And that truly is a miracle. But when women — for the better part of 40 years, from puberty to menopause — have to endure a week-long, once-a-month thrill ride, is it too unrealistic to expect our 21st century technology and healthcare to offer some actual relief, let alone offer us a true remedy?

POWER THAT DOESN’T STOP WITH A PERIOD Our periods are supposed to be this beautiful thing, but who else is thinking Aunt Flo could use some better PR? She needs spin, a slogan, a positive image — and some serious products that will comfort and soothe us, ya know, stuff that’ll give ladies some TLC when we’re in our PMS world. Or better yet, give us some THC when PMS symptoms flare. We don’t think that’s too much to expect. Thank the goddesses, Whoopi and Maya don’t either. Comedienne, actor, “The View” host, and medical marijuana user and advocate Whoopi Goldberg joined forces with award-winning Om Edibles canna-business owner and infuser Maya Elisabeth to create a signature line of products designed specifically for relief from menstrual discomfort. Called Whoopi & Maya Medical Cannabis (whoopiandmaya.com), the line of period pleasers come in four applications: Soak, Savor, Rub, and Relax. “The whole line was Whoopi’s idea,” says Elisabeth. “She realized that more than half the population — 51 percent approximately — are experiencing an extreme discomfort one week out of every month, on average. And what an opportunity that is for us to create a product line for women to find relief and enjoy, have self-care, truly take care of themselves, and participate in something that is actually good for them, all while relieving menstrual discomfort. Cannabis is such a great ally for women. It’s such a powerful women’s herb and so many women I know, myself, of course, included, rely heavily on it for relief.” The Whoopi & Maya products are created by women for women and their unique needs during their cycles; however, that’s not to say these products can’t be enjoyed by men, too. Each one is made with all-natural, organic ingredients without any preservatives or synthetic fragrances. “Cannabis does not discriminate,” muses Elisabeth. “She is so unconditionally loving and giving and generous and healing, whoever should decide to partake in any of these products will find relief — and I promise you won’t get a period from it. “Our fragrance, Amber Moon, is so appealing to both sexes, it is very unisex-y; men love it, women go crazy,” Elisabeth continues. “The chocolate, there’s nothing wrong with men

january | elevatenv.com 9

HIT THE

trail Peanut Butter Blazin’ Trail Bar also available: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Introducing the new BLAZIN’ TRAIL BAR from VERT, delicious granola goodness infused with high-quality cannabis. It’s part of our collection of all-natural creations made by our own master chef – all with consistent dosing to elevate your experience in every possible way. Look for VERT Blazin’ Trail Bars and VERT Bites at your favorite dispensary.

loving chocolate. I actually offer it under Om, it’s not a genderspecific product. The salt will bring anybody and everybody relief. Even the tincture will totally bring you relief and have some health benefits too, although I do believe the tincture is better for women because of the herbs that are in there.”

HERB’S THE WORD The duo’s medical cannabis products are focused on easing targeted period needs by blending the best of traditional comforting practices — like soaking in a hot bath or applying a soothing muscle rub — with the healing help of either CBD or THC and specific essential oils and herbs. The essential oils and herbs divined for the proprietary blends come from the creative endeavors of partner and herbalist Alexis Gandara. On the company’s website, Gandara explains how herbs play an important role in our well-being: “Herbalism has a big effect on the mind, the body, and emotions. Herbs can help us in a variety of ways: by granting relaxation, offering pain relief, reducing muscle cramping, strengthening immunity, and stimulating the senses. These physical effects also improve our mood and well-being. They invite us to honor ourselves. Feeling good and smelling good always help this out.” Combining cannabis with all these powerful essential oils and healing herbs are intentional because they each bring benefits to the table. And since we have more than 200 cannabinoid receptors all over our bodies, cannabis is the ideal ingredient to relieve so many of our cycle symptoms. “Cannabis is an analgesic — when used topically — which means it helps with pain,” Elisabeth explains. “And when you take it internally, it changes your relationship to pain, the way your body is perceiving pain. On top of that, it’s great for mood stabilization, anxiety, and depression. It is also helpful for nausea. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory and can help you sleep. It’s such a miracle cure-all! All with no negative side effects. What are the side effects? Happy, hungry, tired?”

BATH BALM Like your own mother might suggest, Elisabeth says a nice Soak is good for relieving stress and anxiety associated with menses. Hydrotherapy combined with aromatherapy ease PMS, aches and pains while lavender calms your entire nervous system. Plus the heat from the water makes your body release melatonin, which makes you tired, and the magnesium in the salts draw the toxins out, the ones that make you sore. One of the most efficient ways to receive magnesium is through an Epsom salt soak.

A HIGHER STANDARD VertEdibles.com

elevatenv.com | january

“Your colon is like a sponge and it’s constantly absorbing so when you sit in these magnesium salts, Epsom salts — which have been bringing athletes relief for thousands of years because

they relax the muscles — it literally is like applying a topical to your uterus. “I think these baths are in a category of their own,” she adds. “A topical affects you locally, an edible affects and alters your whole system, but the soak is doing both. It’s not really getting your head high, but it’s relaxing you, taking away anxiety, and the effect on the body is super. You just get so relaxed.”

SAVOR THE FLAVOR

Top Shelf Is Our Only Shelf.

Medicinal cannabis chocolate is genius. First of all, what woman doesn’t like chocolate, especially at that time of the month? We crave it because there’s iron in chocolate and our bodies are losing iron from blood loss during our periods. Chocolate is also full of micronutrients and it stimulates the release of serotonin and endorphins, both associated with feelings of comfort. “Raw cacao is the highest antioxidant-containing food on the planet. Plus, it is delicious and decadent. Savor is available in THC and CBD,” Elisabeth says. “It is six ingredients that you can pronounce: raw cacao butter, raw cacao powder, raw agave, coconut oil, sea salt, and cannabis. They are all organic, fair trade, gluten-free ingredients. “You can make it into a drink,” she adds, “it’s very versatile. We like to add hot water mixed with hot hemp milk (or any milk or milk alternative of your choice), but we ask that people don’t boil it or microwave it because it is a raw, living superfood and that will kill its magic. You can also put it on fruit, nuts, toast, you can eat it plain with a spoon. We have not been disappointed with any of the creations so far.”

RUB FOR RELIEF The tincture and the salve are multi-herbal creations. The salve is a beeswax base and it’s made with White Willow Bark, which is an analgesic just like cannabis (it’s actually the first herb that was used to make aspirin); it also contains Cramp Bark, which targets cramping; St. John’s Wort, which is great for mood elevation; and chamomile, which is very calming in an aroma-therapeutic way. Plus you get that whole layering of essential oils.

Introducing KANNABIS, top-grade marijuana cultivated in an eco-friendly environment with no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Because you should never have to settle for anything less than the gold standard.

“Topicals have an incredible ability, when combined with the proper carrier oils, to go really deep and penetrate your system,” Elisabeth says. “Studies have found that cannabis topically can help treat things like endocarditis and go deep inside your internal organs. We do a proprietary blend of carrier oils that are also health beneficial and carry the medicine deep within your body.”

A TINCTURE FOR TODAY The tincture is a versatile product all on its own. You can

As a discerning patient, inquire about KANNABIS at your dispensary of choice. january | elevatenv.com 11

use it sublingually or add it to a beverage of your choice. It is designed as an analgesic to take away pain so you can work and stay active. Depending on how much THC you want, which is clearly marked on the bottle, you can decide your serving size. Alongside the cannabis are a powerful combination of herbs, such as Raspberry Leaf which is a uterine toner; Motherwort and Passionflower, both of which are very relaxing and sedative; Elderberry, which enhances the immune system; and Cramp Bark, which as its name implies, relieves cramping. “The tincture holds an extremely special place in my heart,” Elisabeth says, “because we’ve gotten multiple testimonials back from women saying that their next cycle has been improved. When a women’s next cycle is shorter in duration, with brighter blood and less cramping and less pain — that blows my mind because you’re moving from acute symptom relief to an overall lifestyle enhancer and that is definitely attributed to the herbs that are in that tincture.”

MIXING ELIXIRS Choosing which Whoopi & Maya product to use, whether to include THC or CBD, and how much medicine you use, are individual decisions. The CBD products and the topicals are

elevatenv.com | january

not psychoactive while the THC cacao and the THC tincture are psychoactive. The Whoopi & Maya line is about versatility and options and relief on all different levels, and it’s made so you can use a product alone or in harmony with the others. “There’s nothing wrong with drinking the chocolate while you’re in the bath...and then applying the salve,” she says. “There’s nothing wrong with using the tincture and the salve. Depending on what your day is looking like, if you’re at work and you’re in a lot of pain and you don’t want to feel altered and have a big meeting coming up, then the CBD chocolate would be a great choice.” With Whoopi & Maya products on the market in California (with the possibility of branching out to other states including Nevada), there’s hope on the horizon for more women and their monthly visitor. Anything that can effectively address so many symptoms and can even anecdotally hint at making your next period easier is a big win in any woman’s playbook. “Cannabis miracles are real and sometimes all it takes is a topical,” sagely advises Elisabeth. Looks like Aunt Flo found her new slogan.

january | elevatenv.com 13

Cooking Cannabis GRILLED WILD ALASKAN HALIBUT WITH SAUTÉED APPLE AND SHALLOT FARRO BY MARIA COLLAZO, EXECUTIVE CHEF, SHANGO LAS VEGAS Chef Maria Collazo not only cooks with cannabis, but she is also a patient. After a grueling stint working in a restaurant at a fishing and hunting lodge in the Alaskan bush, Maria developed ligament and tendon issues from standing and working 15- to 18-hour days. “Medicating with cannabis got me through it all. But, after three seasons, I had done so much damage to my body that my doctors advised me it was time to make a career change,” she explains. “I was devastated. I still had a passion for cooking, and couldn’t imagine that it would no longer be a part of my everyday life.” Maria moved to Las Vegas and became a medical cannabis patient to treat not only her physical pain, but also her new anxiety about finding a different career. One day, her caregiver visited a local dispensary and picked up an employment application for Maria thinking it would be the perfect solution for her. “So, I went for it and, much to my surprise, I was hired. My pain has all but subsided and I’m still involved in Culinary Arts. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the Shango team and doing meaningful work that really helps other patients like me.”

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS FOR FARRO:

6 oz. Alaskan halibut filet 3 shallots, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 Granny Smith apple, diced small 3 Granny Smith apple slices (for garnish) 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 1 Tablespoon of red wine vinegar 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped 2 oz. pine nuts, toasted 3 Tablespoons of dried red currants 1 cup cooked farro (Israeli couscous can be substituted) 2 oz. cannabis-infused olive oil plus 3 separate Tablespoons (total THC potency: 20 mg) salt and pepper to taste

In a large sauté pan over medium-low heat, sauté shallots, garlic, red currants and diced apples with 2 Tablespoons of cannabis olive oil. Cook until the shallots are translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the vinegars and stir. Fold sautéed mixture and diced apples into cooked farro along with the chopped herbs and 2 oz. of cannabis olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

DIRECTIONS FOR GRILLED HALIBUT: Season filet with salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Place on a greased pre-heated grill. Cook for 4 minutes and turn a quarter of the way (to get those beautiful grill marks) and cook another 4 minutes or until it reaches desired doneness. Place grilled halibut over the farro and brush it with the remaining 1 Tablespoon of cannabis olive oil. Garnish with apple slices.

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.

elevatenv.com | january

“Amanda Connor is a consummate professional. She is respectful of other people’s time and money. Her subject matter knowledge is unparalleled. I always want Amanda Connor on my team.” --David Goldwater, Managing Partner, Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary

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

www.connorpllc.com | 702.750.9139 /ConnorConnorPllc

@Connor_pllc

Connor & Connor Pllc

january | elevatenv.com 15

SPARK YOUR RESOLUTIONS WITH A SATIVA WHETHER YOU WANT TO GET IN A DIFFERENT STATE OF MIND OR NEED THE ENERGY TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS, HERE ARE NINE SATIVAS TO CONSIDER. By Justin Alexander

If you are new to the cannabis scene and interested in medicating with it, the best place to start is by understanding the difference between indicas and sativas. From flower to concentrate, sativas are a great way to jumpstart the day by giving you not only the energy to keep you going, but also a “cerebral” high that is filled with creativity and uplifting thoughts. Great for fighting depression, sativas offer feelings of well-being and stimulation. If you are treating body pain, migraines, seizures, or stress and anxiety, than indicas are what you need. Indicas will make you sleepy and provide deep relaxation. For those who are resolving to get a lot done in 2017, want to try something new for increased focus, or fight off depression, here are a few variations to explore the happiness high that is pronounced in sativas.

elevatenv.com | january

EVERGREEN ORGANIX’S SKYWALKER OG VAPE OIL Vape oils are the preferred method when you need medicine fast and smoke-free. Priding itself on employing clean oil, not cut with any fillers or additives, Evergreen Organix uses a refined CO2 extraction process. With the Skywalker OG strain, all of the exemplary characteristics of the flower are there—sweet, earthy and pungent—since the extraction method preserves most of the original terpenes. Skywalker OG is best used for pain relief and deep, yet, focused relaxation with 72.25% THC and .26% CBD. Every puff takes you deeper into the day’s journey.

KYND’S SOUR DIESEL DISPOSABLE VAPE PEN One of the top selling strains of all time, Sour Diesel is the go-to for many ailments that include pain management, migraines, depression, and general stress. It’s known for its euphoric and calming vibe, washing away all the woes and casting a pleasant hue on the day’s activities. In the form of a vape pen, the benefits are multiplied due to a supercritical CO2 process that allows for the selective extraction of whole plant compounds. The characteristics of the strain really pop in this form with the flavor and effects magnified in smaller dosages and in a more discreet consumption method. Kynd’s Sour Diesel is 63.1% THC and .23% CBD. The pungent diesel notes are an undeniable and delicious bonus. photo by Dope Foto

MATRIX’S STRAWBERRY LEMONADE FLOWER The Matrix team takes pride in its cultivation techniques as all products are flushed a minimum of 10 days prior to harvest and each bud is hand trimmed. Like its name implies, Strawberry

january | elevatenv.com 17

Lemonade is a sweet, yet refreshing flower with heavy notes of lemon, strawberry and citrus. It brings joy like a bright summer day and produces an overall relaxed, happy and energetic high with a THC count of 30% and less than one percent CBD. Stay hydrated to prevent dry mouth and also practice moderation to avoid an opposite effect—couch lock. Those battling depression and stress will greatly benefit from the sunny disposition this strain offers.

THE+SOURCE’S THC DISTILLATE SYRINGE

recirculating irrigation system that requires less than 1/10th of the water consumption of conventional agriculture,” Daniel Wacks, co-founder of SFC, says of Green Goddess, which he notes is free of pesticides and plant growth regulators. Shorter than most sativa plants and with dense buds, Green Goddess has a super smooth, earthy taste mixed with sweet notes that tests 21.6% THC and .07% CBD. “Bright green flowers, crystalline cannabinoids, and distinctive orange pistils, mingle to create a perfectly pleasing pop of fresh pineapples and mango flavored bubblegum,” describes Wacks of Green Goddess, which is available at The Apothecarium Las Vegas.

MOXIE’S ORANGE CREAM DISTILLATE VAPOR PEN In need of immediate pain relief, reach for a frothy treat like a creamsicle and if one of those isn’t available,

Thanks to a sativa-dominant hybrid distillate you can boost your flower with an extra dose of pure THC testing in at 80%. Distillate is a game changer when it comes to dabbing and cooking, as it is potent and highly refined. Made by taking a concentrate and distilling it into an even more isolated form of THC, patients can drip it on hits or add to shatter and resin for the ultimate dab. The+Source’s THC distillate syringe packs an exuberant punch with a consistency that is thick, like glue, with no odor but hits you with an earthy pine note in the back of your throat after ingesting it.

STATE FLOWER CANNABIS’ GREEN GODDESS, A.K.A. GREEN CRACK OR DREAM QUEEN Green Goddess reached pop culture infamy thanks to Snoop Dogg dubbing it “green crack” for its uplifting high.

A fatigue fighter, this strain is grown hydroponically at State Flower Cannabis’ (SFC) Las Vegas headquarters. Taking a lead role in sustainability, SFC—helmed by two friends who have been cultivating cannabis for more than 12 years—reclaims and filters “100 percent of the condensate water from our HVAC system and uses a

elevatenv.com | january

try Orange Cream Liquid Moxie. This distillate lives up to its dreamy, evocative name and while it’s not really a sativa—since distillates are not strain specific—the taste and effects are super awesome, super sweet and citrusy, and very strong—achieved through a fractional distillation process that creates clean oil. “Our distillate oil is generally from trim,” says Moxie’s Mike Tulimero. “Plant fats, lipids, terpenes, and other contaminants are separated out during our distillation process. So even if it were extracted from a specific strain, those strain-resembling traits would have been filtered out. This process results in a clean, potent oil with around 95% activated THC. After we add our vaporizing agent, MCT or Medium Chain Triglyceride, which is organic and water soluble, and our terpene profile, which are all naturally derived terpenes found in cannabis, you are left with a 50 to 60% potency pen that tastes clean and vaporizes well.”

CANNABIOTIX’S TROPICANNA FLOWER Garnering numerous awards for its taste and quality, Cannabiotix’s

Tropicanna is a cross between Pineapple/Kali Mist and Northern Lights #5/Haze. Sweet and citrusy, like a burst of juicy pulp, the high is buzzy and gives beautiful cerebral alertness with a THCA of 33.6% and CBDA of .11%. Taking pride in products that are free of plant growth regulators and flushed for 14 days, Cannabiotix is one of the cultivators to watch in Nevada’s medicinal cannabis industry. Tropicanna is sure to become a classic on the scene, much like its iconic Strip-based hotel namesake.

SILVER SAGE WELLNESS’ JILLY BEAN FLOWER A dose of tropical flavor with notes of orange and mango, Jilly Bean induces a feeling of freedom with a blissful and elated vibe testing at 18.78% THC and .03 CBD. Jilly Bean is highly recommended for those engaging in creative pursuits who need focus and euphoria bundled for long-term engagement. Its genetics can be traced to Orange Velvet, Romulan, and Cindy 99, but this strain is definitely 60/40 sativadominant with radiant effects.

KABUNKY’S GORILLA GLUE #4

e v i r Th downtown!

open january 2, 2017

thrive downtown is your dab headquarters. shatter, wax, oil, honeycomb, oh yeah! (there's flower too)

thrive with us as we open the doors to thrilling deals on cartridges & concentrates.

patient party jan. 6 first friday 7-10pm

thrivenevada.com | (702) 776-4144 1112 S. Commerce St. (Downtown) Las Vegas, (Charleston & Commerce)

8AM - 8PM 7 DAYS A WEEK

2755 W. Cheyenne Ave. #103 OPEN 24 HOURS North Las Vegas, (Cheyenne & Simmons) 7 DAYS A WEEK #THRIVECANNABIS

@THRIVENEVADA

promotion subject to change/end without notice. not to be combined with any other offer/discount. valid while supplies last.

painting by antuan robinson • courtesy of guerrilla artz

A hybrid that has a tendency to glue you into whatever you need to do, Gorilla Glue #4 helps with loss of appetite and shreds through pain and depression leaving a relaxed, happy and uplifted feeling. One of the new classics, Gorilla Glue’s earthy flavor is a must-try for those who love Diesel strains and prefer to medicate with a potent 20.06% THC cannabis flower. A pale green color, the buds are thick and pillowy, resembling clouds of moss with an earthy smell to match.

it's time to

january | elevatenv.com 19

New patients receive a FREE gram, FREE vape pen battery or FREE Cookie. Plus, learn about cannabis at our New Patient Orientation held monthly by our Director of Medical Education, Dr. William Troutt. See the schedule at thesourcenv.com/events LAS VEGAS 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd (Sahara & Rainbow) 702.708.2000 20 elevatenv.com | january thesourcenv.com

Open-Minded CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks truth, immorality, opioids and “Weed” 4 By Beth Schwartz

“I’m here to tell you, as a doctor, that despite all the talk about the medical benefits of marijuana, smoking the stuff is not going to do your health any good.” Those are the words of Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a column he wrote for Time magazine eight years ago. It seems hard to believe now as Dr. Gupta has become almost synonymous with cannabis as a result of his "Weed" documentary series on CNN (although he begs to differ about the synonymous part, but more on that later). He was emphatic in the Time piece, surmising of those voting to legalize marijuana in 2009 in Nevada and Colorado that “many of them just want to get stoned legally. That’s why I, like many other doctors, am unimpressed with the proposed legislation, which would legalize marijuana irrespective of any medical condition.” Three “Weed” documentaries later (2013, 2014 and 2015) and with a fourth on the way later this year, having clearly changed his stance, Dr. Gupta is, today, just as emphatic about the medicinal and healing value of cannabis. “Not only can it be of benefit, but sometimes it can be the only thing that is of benefit as we saw with the very refractory epilepsy and, maybe, even some of these cases of neuropathic pain. That’s powerful,

january | elevatenv.com 21

funding or labs that are outside of the U.S., a very different picture emerged.” Even with a lack of particularly compelling research, the premise behind the first “Weed,” which took 18 months to create, was to put a spotlight on medical marijuana because it was increasingly finding its way onto state ballots, and so as CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Gupta believed people should be informed. Surprising and, yet, not surprisingly there was no detailed framework laid out before Dr. Gupta began filming the first

Charlotte Figi, who Charlotte’s Web is named for, started using CBD oil to treat Dravet Syndrome when she was five years old and was featured in Dr. Gupta’s 2013 “Weed” documentary.

that’s really really powerful to me. And forget that I am doctor, it’s probably immoral to not allow people to have relief from something -- especially when they can’t find it in any of the existing modalities that are being prescribed to them. I think it probably borders on immoral, or maybe it just is immoral,” he concludes. When the neurosurgeon reflects on his journey with cannabis from non-believer to someone who’s “goal is to keep this very important conversation going,” Dr. Gupta is disconcerted by the idea that initially he didn’t take cannabis seriously as a medicine. “The idea that the substance could be a medicine was the most surprising, and it sounds silly to almost say that, because to me, now that I have spent years really looking into this, I am a little embarrassed to have had that realization because -- what the hell was I doing before?,” he candidly wonders. “But I do think that there is a culture inflection with science in the sense that even if you are learning about the cannabinoid system and learning about the substance and the various neurotransmitters, it is still done under the context of this as a substance that is demonized and disparaged and I fell into that camp.” Dr. Gupta reasons he fell into that camp because U.S. studies were never designed to find the benefits of cannabis. “The system was designed to find the harm and those were the studies getting funded, not studies that were designed to look for the benefit. But the point is you had a distorted picture of what marijuana could do. When you start looking at labs that aren’t dependent on some sort of state or federal

elevatenv.com | january

“THE IDEA THAT THE SUBSTANCE COULD BE A MEDICINE WAS THE MOST SURPRISING, AND IT SOUNDS SILLY TO ALMOST SAY THAT, BECAUSE TO ME, NOW THAT I HAVE SPENT YEARS REALLY LOOKING INTO THIS, I AM A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO HAVE HAD THAT REALIZATION BECAUSE -- WHAT THE HELL WAS I DOING BEFORE?” “Weed.” “Frankly, when we first started thinking about “Weed” 1, I thought it was going to be looking at the science and the science still wasn’t particularly compelling. I did not have a real preconceived notion other than what I had learned before about medicinal marijuana and I was not particularly impressed by the literature at that point. It was more of an eyes-wide-open experience, certainly for the first documentary.” He didn’t foresee the story of Charlotte Figi, who Charlotte’s Web is named for, would dominate both the first “Weed” documentary and the ensuing national conversation about medicinal cannabis. “We were following these people along with some of the scientists. Some of the studies were ongoing and some of the data came back even during the filming of our documentary so there was a lot we didn’t know other than the biggest, sort of broadest brushstroke of what we wanted to pursue,” Dr. Gupta further explains. “Even with the other ones (“Weed” 2 and 3), I didn’t know how the stories of these cannabis refugees were going to play out. I didn’t know if people were actually going to move, leave their homes and go to a different state.” When “Weed” first came out, Dr. Gupta thought people

DO YOU KNOW WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN YOUR CANNABIS?

E Coli

Coliform Yeast and Mold Bacteria Pesticides

Bringing integrity and transparency to lab testing

Ask for DB Labs-tested products for your safety 4439 S. Polaris Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89013 844-5-TESTIN | 702-728-5180 | connect@dblabslv.com

LAS VEGAS’ 1st DISPENSARY

would “challenge, criticize and ridicule it,” he also believed at the time “that there would be some people who would get something important out of this. My thinking was maybe it influences somebody with a child with Dravet syndrome and all hope is not lost and that, maybe, there is something else.” Although Dr. Gupta was prepared for criticism, he didn’t foresee how quickly the dark shadow of stigmatization would begin to fade after the first “Weed” aired in 2013. “I didn’t think we would start to see the political movement around it and, to be fair, there was

GO WITH THE ORIGINAL!

PROUDLY FEATURING PREMIUM STRAINS FROM

THE TOP-SHELF

FINEST QUALITY CANNABIS BIGGEST SELECTION HIGHEST THC

FREE DELIVERY | OUT-OF-STATE WELCOME Mon-Sat 10am-8pm & Sun 10am-6pm 702.960.7200

@EuphoriaWellnessNV

7780 South Jones Blvd. | Las Vegas, NV 89139

@LVMarijuana

elevatenv.com | january

www.EuphoriaWellnessNV.com

Dr. Staci Gruber, director of Boston’s McClean Hospital’s Brain Imaging Center, appears in Dr. Gupta’s 2013 “Weed” documentary to discuss the effects of marijuana on the brain.

already political movement around it -- it wasn’t like I started it by any means. But I do think that the acceptance of states in the south, like Georgia and Alabama, where I would not have ever thought that this would remotely pass, or that it would even be on the ballot, has been pleasantly surprisingly.” As for the content of the fourth “Weed” documentary slated to come out later this year, Dr. Gupta is still working on it but thinks the fact that eight states passed some form of legalized cannabis during the November presidential election will definitely factor in. “Our bend is going to be changed because of this election, but still very much predicated on evidence-based science. “You can’t completely disentangle those two issues, they are entangled. But, if anything, I think we are still going to be leaning toward more of the evidence-based science behind this issue to the extent that evidence-based science can and should inform policy. I think that’s going to be a big part of what we talk about and whether or not that is presenting things to the cabinet or elected officials and seeing what happens with the CARERS Act (The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act introduced in March 2015) will be really important.” Moving away from cannabis policy, which can be exasperating on its own, Dr. Gupta continues to be

flummoxed by the lack of research in the field, especially for queries as simple as: is cannabis a preventative medicine? After a long pause considering the question, he works his way to an answer. “I struggle with these questions a little bit and it’s frustrating because we, I, should be able to answer that question without hesitation. This plant has been around a long time and we have had decades to be able to answer this question, but because of the system we have not been able to do those sorts of studies. “Yet, the idea of healthy people using it,” he pauses again thoughtfully, “...it’s a Schedule I substance so how do you go from saying it’s a Schedule I substance to, by the way, we would love to try this in healthy people? It’s totally doable but, again, there’s not enough evidence.” The problem with research, though, is finding scientists and researchers who will put up with the hassles of cannabis’ classification as a Schedule I drug. “I think there’s a lot of really smart young scientists who are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives, where they want to make their mark in terms of scientific progress who are very interested in this topic, but are probably not going to do it because they will get looked at sideways from their professors or worried that they can’t get the funding to get it done.”

Dr. Sanjay Gupta meets with pharmacologist Mahmoud ElSohly, who runs the federal government's marijuana farm at the University of Mississippi, for “Weed.” However, once federal prohibition gets lifted, which Dr. Gupta estimates a five-year timeline as being realistic, the culture will shift. “When the signal comes, in terms of an end to federal prohibition, I think there will be a lot of obvious things that happen in terms of access and research dollars. I think there will be some less intuitive things that will happen as well and I think a lot of that will happen among my colleagues in the scientific community who will be much more likely to study this and progress it.” (continued on page 42)

The marijuana industry is risky enough. Stay profitable by staying compliant. Minimize your risk by calling us today for your FREE consultation at (702) 631-7555.

www.NVMJLaw.com (702) 631-7555 @ASHCRAFT_BARR

Ashcraft-Barr-LLP

january | elevatenv.com 25

DISPENSARY SPOTLIGHT Blüm letsblum.com 1921 Western Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89102 3650 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89103 1130 E Desert Inn Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109 1085 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89502 (opening soon) 855-LETS-BLUM

UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | Blüm believes the distinctive selling point that separates its dispensary from others in the market is their patient-focused customer service with a guiding philosophy that the patient always comes first. When a patient visits a Blüm dispensary, they won’t be coerced into buying the highest THC product. The first thing they’ll be asked is what they are looking for and Blüm’s knowledgeable budtenders will narrow down their best options based on cannabinoid and terpenoid profiles of the products carried in the dispensary. Blüm also offers one-onone consultation when patients require more education about the dispensary’s products. PATIENT EDUCATION | Blüm holds classes twice a month to showcase new items to the market as well as host experts who speak about the most popular topics as requested by patients.

TOP SELLING STRAIN(S) | Sin Mint Cookies from BAM, Head Cheese from Polaris, 2010 Cookies from Deep Roots, White Walker OG from Cannabiotix, Super Blue Dream from House of Herbs, and Cookies and Cream from Green Life Productions TOP SELLING CONCENTRATE(S) All Moxie products, Honeycomb from Cannavative, and O.pen cartridges TOP SELLING EDIBLE(S) | Cheeba Chews from Deep Roots, 4Twenties from AMA, Vert cookies by O.pen, and chocolate bars by Incredibles TOPICAL(S ) | CBD products from Charlotte’s Web, and BAM’s pain relieving spray MISSION STATEMENT | Following their philosophy that patients come

elevatenv.com | january

first, Blüm’s mission is to provide quality products at affordable prices by a knowledgeable, friendly staff. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Catering to a wide range of patient needs, Blüm prides itself in carrying something for everyone. The dispensary carries all types of products ranging from CBD tinctures and creams to a wide range of THC-testing edibles, concentrates and flowers in its four Nevada locations. SOURCE OF MEDICINE | Blüm has recently broken ground on a state-of-theart cultivation and production facility in Las Vegas which will cultivate locally grown flower and produce its IVXX concentrate line. Blüm’s facility will be operational later this year so for the time being they are purchasing product from different Nevada cultivators.

STAFF EDUCATION | Continuing education is very important to Blüm, in turn, its staff is always kept up to date on the latest trends, strains, products and techniques of administering medicine so that they can share their knowledge in helping patients find the specific product to fit their ailment. CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS | Blüm is in the process of forming a 501©3, non-profit organization called The Blüm Foundation. Blüm will donate a portion of its sales to this foundation. The Blüm Foundation will create a board where schools, teachers, or students can submit a funding request for academic need. For example, if a school needs new computers, a teacher needs supplies, or a student is looking for a scholarship for an academic trip, the charity’s board will disperse funds accordingly. In addition to the newly formed Foundation, Blüm offers a 20 percent discount to veterans as well as gives substantial discounts to patients in critical care on a case-bycase basis.

january | elevatenv.com 27

CANNABIS’ FUTURE WORLD What’s in store for Nevada’s cannabis industry and patients in 2017

DIVINING CANNABIS’ FUTURE Industry insiders conjure up mystical visions for 2017

elevate NV asked industry insiders to look into their crystal balls and forecast what they thought the next year would bring to the cannabis space. Many of last year’s predictions were on target as quite a few of our prognosticators were confident Nevada voters would legalize adult-use marijuana. There were also a few optimistic advocates who predicted the DEA would reschedule cannabis and the industry would have some form of banking, but those hopes will have to be saved for another year. This year’s predictions mainly revolve around the timeline implementation of adult-use and potential for private cannabis clubs. We welcome your cannabis predictions too, so please share them with us at info@elevatenv.com. "The most important development for Nevada's cannabis industry in 2017, and the total US cannabis industry, will be the ways in which President-elect Donald Trump's administration treats state-legal marijuana businesses. His nominee for Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, is not a fan of medical or adult-use cannabis and believes that the existence of the industry and President Obama's 2013 Cole Memorandum sends the wrong message to American youth about the dangers of drugs. If Senator Jeff Sessions becomes Attorney General Jeff Sessions, it will be very very important that the Nevada cannabis industry, and marijuana businesses across the country, lobby the Trump administration to retain the current Department of Justice memos." --Andrew Livingston, Director of Economics and Research, Vicente Sederberg LLC

elevatenv.com | january

“I am hoping that in 2017 the consumer starts to seek truth about cannabis and pursue knowledge and that the stigma of this plant not being medicinal is finally done away with. As this industry becomes more mainstream, some other not so great things I see happening is the involvement of Big Pharma and Big Agriculture. We have already started to see their involvement and it is worrisome. This is the biggest reason I hope the general public begins to understand that this plant is medicine and learn about their endocannabinoid system.” --Lance Parvin, co-founder and lead researcher, Compassion Awareness Project

“As we all know, Las Vegas' drug of choice is alcohol. Mixing cannabis and alcohol does not lead to good things. Naive users, especially tourists who are not use to the potent cannabis available, may create an increase in drug related police calls and hospital visits. One death or serious accident, because of these naive users mixing alcohol and cannabis or misusing edibles, will cast a pall on the entire industry and provide fodder for critics of legalization. It is incumbent on public health officials and the industry to educate people on the risks associated with being intoxicated and then consuming marijuana.” --Stephen McCamman, co-founder of the Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium “The biggest surprise of 2017 will be that the cannabis industry, even with adult-use approved, is not a getrich-quick scheme. It’s a challenging, high-risk business that requires significant capital, dedication and very hard work.” --John Ritter, advisory board member of TGIG, LLC “With the legalization of adult-use cannabis, I see tourism in Nevada being elevated to a whole other level.” --Jonathan Fine, President, Elevation Publishing “I predict Nevada will initiate an “early start” program allowing medical dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana pending the implementation of question 2, hopefully no later than June 1, 2017. I also predict Nevada will allow for public use of marijuana in social clubs, bars, nightclubs and concerts, becoming the first state to do so.” --Nevada State Senator Tick Segerblom

“Even though possession of one ounce of cannabis is now legal, there will be no way to legally purchase adultuse marijuana until dispensaries are licensed to operate. Therefore, we will see a surprising surge in black market sales, unless the current medical dispensaries are quickly licensed to sell recreational marijuana, as was accomplished in Oregon. Also, it may be a surprise to some because it feels like we are in the dark about how to develop and implement legalized marijuana programs, but Nevada will continue to be a leader in the country for its regulation and compliance.” --Riana Durrett, attorney and Executive Director of the Nevada Dispensary Association

“Marijuana being available recreationally for adult use will be the most defining change in the overall cannabis industry in Nevada in 2017. With this new legislation, we also need to remain focused on maintaining a robust medical marijuana program in Nevada, which can be accomplished through lowering taxes for medical patients and reducing the time and cost necessary to obtain a medical patient card.” --Andrew Jolley, CEO of The+Source

“Obviously, the most important thing that happens in 2017 will be adult-use marijuana. Two important variables stand out: when will we be able to sell and what happens to medical? My prediction is that because Nevada’s medical program has been executed successfully by the State and the licensees, adultuse will build on the current medical infrastructure at the State and local level and successfully launch in mid-2017. I also predict that rather than throw away the medical program or legislate it into obscurity, Nevada will use a combination of reform and tax rates to preserve the program for the benefit of patients in our State (at least I hope so!). Next year at this time, I hope we are six months into a temporary adultuse program, getting ready for a permanent one that looks very similar. I hope we have a vibrant and accessible medical program running alongside a similarly vibrant adult-use business.” --David Goldwater, Managing Partner, Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary

“I predict that the FDA will finally acknowledge the medical benefits of cannabis and remove cannabis from the Schedule I classification.” --Liz McDuffie, director, Medical Caregivers Institute

january | elevatenv.com 29

“Since the DEA did not reschedule marijuana this summer, I believe the next best thing, given the circumstances, would be passage of the Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2016. If this passes, there will be a huge number of research projects and hopefully the tide would change and DEA would have the research necessary to reschedule marijuana. As for Nevada, there will be development of standardized testing for marijuana impairment similar to blood alcohol concentration. Almost every one of my patients asks what would happen if they use marijuana and get tested a couple of days later during a moving violation. The development of a standard correlation between body fluid concentration of marijuana and level of impairment is necessary.” --Dr. Pouya Mohajer, founder, Nevada Medical Cannabis Association “2017 is going to see the establishment of Las Vegas as a global brand leader in the legal cannabis industry on a worldwide basis. We will see the launch of brands in Las Vegas -- realizing that Las Vegas gives exposure to 45 million tourists a year from an international audience -showing how other cities can do it right. In 2017: • Las Vegas surpasses all other legal cannabis destinations for travel searches and cannabis tourism. • Las Vegas establishes private cannabis clubs for both tourists and residents to be able to come to and be social and entertained in a high-end atmosphere. • Las Vegas becomes the global brand commercial center for the entire legal cannabis industry. If you do not launch your new product in Vegas, it may as well happen in a cave. • Las Vegas will be the brand ambassador of adult-use cannabis to see how it can be regulated properly." --Leslie Bocskor, Founding Chairman, Nevada Cannabis Industry Association

“I believe 2017 will be a big year for cannabis in Nevada. There will probably be some improvements to the medical laws during the spring legislative session. The first legal sales to adults over 21 years old will probably be sometime around July. The state will want to start collecting taxes on sales as quickly as possible, so they have incentive to get it going quickly. I believe the Department of Taxation will want to rely on the regulatory infrastructure created by the Department of Public and Behavioral Health as much as possible.” --Ben Sillitoe, Oasis medical marijuana dispensary cofounder and CEO “Au! It is adult-use, not exactly gold yet. The industry, of course, wants to see the adult-use side implemented as early as possible. One of the significant reasons is to curtail the possibility for the black market to move in and profit from the “loop-hole gap” before an adult-use program is implemented. We are all working together and hope the regulatory entity will mirror-image the existing medical marijuana program as they “bridge” the adult-use program and allow MMEs to apply and operate in the adult-use market. Independent laboratory testing will catch more attention than before because product liability will become one of the focal points in both medical and adult-use markets. Public education will have to be emphasized by both sides of the industry. The industry will work with patients to dispense correct and powerful information.” --Dr. ChaoHsiung Tung, Laboratory Scientific Director for G3 Labs

“I predict in 2017 Nevada's legislature will be forced to address many issues relating to cannabis legalization, including patients’ right to grow, public consumption and cannabis DUI laws.” --Amanda N. Connor, attorney, Connor & Connor

elevatenv.com | january

“The key will be getting in the trenches and making the eight states that have recently approved some form of marijuana legalization and the other states that have preceded them into a success. There are other goals that I have: I want the marijuana industry by the end of 2017 to be paying fair taxes with a check, but the most important thing in the short and the intermediate term is to make the implementation of the successful state ballot measures work as well as possible. The most powerful advertisement for further fundamental reform is getting what we already have right.” --Congressman Earl Blumenauer, 3rd District of Oregon

“I predict adult-use will be implemented in July and by September there will be a massive shortage of cannabis, specifically top shelf. The most surprising thing that will happen in the Nevada market is that even though the industry knows adult-use is coming, we will not initially be able to keep up with demand. I also predict that the Blue Man Group and Carrot Top will collaborate and introduce a proprietary cannabis strain called Blue Carrot.” --Scott Dunseath, VP Marketing, Kynd “Las Vegas will have its first real 420 party on the Strip as a precursor to having the largest 420 party in the world in the near future. Las Vegas will become the new Amsterdam as marijuana tourists come to Las Vegas for the food, shows, and lights. Las Vegas will have party buses that will drive up and down the Strip, in which tourists can smoke. Las Vegas will be the place where America goes to party.” --John Laub, President, Las Vegas Medical Marijuana Association “Merging cannabis consumption with more socially common events is on the horizon. I'm hearing of cannabis-inspired dinner parties where dishes infused with cannabis are served and all are able to enjoy while connecting on completely new levels. There's Canna Yoga, where the lovers of breathing, meditation, and disciplined poses are now communing with others to sample cannabis before, during, and after class. It's only a matter of time before the Smith Center is hosting cannabis-inspired classical concerts or popular art galleries are hosting shows where patrons experience and discuss art. I, myself, cannot wait to discuss Julius Caesar while "elevated."” --Dr. Timothy Beckett, Valley Center for Cannabis Therapy

䴀䔀䐀䤀䌀䄀䰀䴀䄀刀䤀䨀唀䄀一䄀䌀䔀刀吀䤀䘀䤀䌀䄀吀䤀伀一匀䴀䔀䐀䤀䌀䄀䰀䴀䄀刀䤀䨀唀䄀一䄀䌀䔀刀吀䤀䘀䤀䌀䄀吀䤀伀一匀

䘀唀䰀䰀匀䔀刀嘀䤀䌀䔀 ⴀ 匀䄀䴀䔀䐀䄀夀倀刀伀䌀䔀匀匀䤀一䜀

䴀䔀䐀䤀䌀䄀䰀䌀䄀一一䄀䈀䤀匀倀䄀吀䤀䔀一吀爀椀最栀琀猀䴀䔀䐀䤀䌀䄀䰀䌀䄀一一䄀䈀䤀匀倀䄀吀䤀䔀一吀爀椀最栀琀猀

␀㈀㔀䄀䰀䰀ⴀ䤀一䌀䰀唀匀䤀嘀䔀

嘀䔀刀匀唀匀刀䔀䌀刀䔀䄀吀䤀伀一䄀䰀氀愀眀猀嘀䔀刀匀唀匀刀䔀䌀刀䔀䄀吀䤀伀一䄀䰀氀愀眀猀

䴀攀搀椀挀愀氀䴀攀搀椀挀愀氀㈀─ ㈀─ 䔀砀挀椀猀攀吀愀砀㈀─ ㈀─ 䔀砀挀椀猀攀吀愀砀

一伀䠀䤀䐀䐀䔀一䘀䔀䔀匀一伀䠀䤀䐀䐀䔀一䘀䔀䔀匀

㜀㈀ⴀ㐀㈀ ⴀ㈀㈀㔀㈀㔀㔀匀刀䄀䤀一䈀伀圀䈀䰀嘀䐀 ⌀㄀㈀䰀䄀匀嘀䔀䜀䄀匀Ⰰ 一嘀㠀㤀㄀㐀㘀

倀刀䤀䌀䔀匀倀刀䤀䌀䔀匀

刀攀挀爀攀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀刀攀挀爀攀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀㄀㔀─ 䔀砀挀椀猀攀吀愀砀㄀㔀─ 䔀砀挀椀猀攀吀愀砀

倀伀匀匀䔀匀匀䤀伀一倀伀匀匀䔀匀匀䤀伀一䰀䤀䴀䤀吀匀䰀䤀䴀䤀吀匀㈀⸀㔀漀稀㈀⸀㔀漀稀

㄀漀稀㄀漀稀

䌀伀一䌀䔀一吀刀䄀吀䔀䌀伀一䌀䔀一吀刀䄀吀䔀䰀䤀䴀䤀吀匀䰀䤀䴀䤀吀匀㌀⸀㔀最㌀⸀㔀最

㜀㈀最㜀㈀最

䄀嘀䄀䤀䰀䄀䈀椀氀椀琀礀䄀嘀䄀䤀䰀䄀䈀椀氀椀琀礀䄀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀一漀眀℀ 䄀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀一漀眀℀

唀渀欀渀漀眀渀愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀椀氀椀琀礀搀愀琀攀唀渀欀渀漀眀渀愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀椀氀椀琀礀搀愀琀攀

䄀琀匀甀渀嘀愀氀氀攀礀Ⰰ 眀攀✀瘀攀琀甀爀渀攀搀琀栀攀漀渀挀攀最爀甀攀氀椀渀最琀愀猀欀漀昀最攀琀琀椀渀最礀漀甀爀䴀䴀䨀䌀愀爀搀椀渀琀漀䄀琀匀甀渀嘀愀氀氀攀礀Ⰰ 眀攀✀瘀攀琀甀爀渀攀搀琀栀攀漀渀挀攀最爀甀攀氀椀渀最琀愀猀欀漀昀最攀琀琀椀渀最礀漀甀爀䴀䴀䨀䌀愀爀搀椀渀琀漀愀挀氀椀渀椀挀愀氀愀渀搀瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀椀漀渀愀氀攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀℀ 圀攀✀爀攀愀渀愀氀氀ⴀ椀渀挀氀甀猀椀瘀攀挀攀爀琀椀昀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀愀挀氀椀渀椀挀愀氀愀渀搀瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀椀漀渀愀氀攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀℀ 圀攀✀爀攀愀渀愀氀氀ⴀ椀渀挀氀甀猀椀瘀攀挀攀爀琀椀昀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀挀氀椀渀椀挀猀琀爀椀挀琀氀礀搀攀搀椀挀愀琀攀搀琀漀琀栀攀渀攀攀搀猀漀昀挀愀渀渀愀戀椀猀瀀愀琀椀攀渀琀猀⸀ 挀氀椀渀椀挀猀琀爀椀挀琀氀礀搀攀搀椀挀愀琀攀搀琀漀琀栀攀渀攀攀搀猀漀昀挀愀渀渀愀戀椀猀瀀愀琀椀攀渀琀猀⸀

氀攀愀爀渀洀漀爀攀⸀ 嘀椀猀椀琀眀眀眀⸀猀瘀洀洀樀挀挀⸀挀漀洀氀攀愀爀渀洀漀爀攀⸀ 嘀椀猀椀琀眀眀眀⸀猀瘀洀洀樀挀挀⸀挀漀洀 january | elevatenv.com 31

elevatenv.com | january

OPEN FOR BUSINESS ‘PATIENTS HELPING PATIENTS’ PROGRAM INTRODUCED TO HELP LOCAL CANCER PATIENTS

ShowGrow Las Vegas, Sun Valley Certification Clinic and elevate NV have joined forces to form a program called ‘Patients Helping Patients’ to aid local cancer patients. The free program will assist 10 cancer patients each month in getting their medical marijuana card, which can be a costly endeavor. To raise the necessary funds, 100 percent of all house pre-roll sales at ShowGrow will go to the ‘Patients Helping Patients’ program and Sun Valley Certification Clinic will donate doctor’s recommendations. “Sun Valley will consult with the patient and provide them with a free doctor’s recommendation and then the money we generate at ShowGrow will go to pay for the state filing fee of $100,” explained ShowGrow Manager James Hammer of the program which began in December. “For every $100 raised a patient will receive their card. Our goal is to do 10 a month to start with and hopefully we can expand in the future to create more cards for the patients.” Hammer’s idea for ‘Patients Helping Patients’ was inspired by his family’s support of charitable causes. “Both

my parents were involved fairly heavily in philanthropy for cancer, they raised somewhere near $70 million for the Nevada Cancer Institute when that was built. That’s always been something we have tried to help promote within our family,” said Hammer. “Because cancer patients are probably one of the top three types of people who really need medical cannabis, in addition to going through one of the biggest hardships in terms of financial costs, we are trying to mitigate anything we can for them to help ease their pain and find relief through cannabis.” If you know someone with cancer who is in need of a Nevada medical marijuana patient card, please contact ShowGrow about the ‘Patients Helping Patients’ program at 702.227.0511.

LATEST DISPENSARIES TO OPEN IN SOUTHERN NEVADA

Jenny's Dispensary, in conjunction with Waveseer LLC, has opened two locations in Southern Nevada. One is in North Las Vegas at 5530 North Decatur and another is located in Henderson at 10420 S Eastern Avenue, jennysdispensary.com. New Amsterdam Naturals has opened in Downtown Las Vegas at 823 S 3rd Street, nanwla.com.

Upgrade Your Strategic Executive Skills and Attitudes to Realize Your Vision and Radically Increase Profits Specifically created for profit-and-lossresponsible executives of companies, operations, or divisions from $5 million to $100 million in revenue, this 2.5 day event brings executive skills and insights to founders and staff who have been promoted to the executive suite. What makes this executive event different is the holistic view of business, not just sales or marketing or leadership, but everything required to operate a sustainable, scalable, profitable, and salable business. Executive Strategy Skills Summit January 19-21, 2017 | Las Vegas $500 off summit tuition for Elevate readers ExecutiveStrategySummit.com/elevate

Key outcomes: • Develop your executive skill stack — what it is, how it’s radically different from a managerial skill stack, and how to intentionally develop it • Gain a deep understanding of the Seven Business Pillars™: Product, Marketing, Sales, Service, Infrastructure, Finance, and Culture, which give you a holistic view of your business to understand the impact of strategy decisions across pillars • Master critical executive business concepts that apply to B2B and B2C, for goods and services, for commercial, non-profit, and governmental operations • Develop your own Monday-ready phased plan to improve results and sustainably and profitably grow your company • Your satisfaction is guaranteed

Can’t attend this time? Sign up for the free Executive Strategy Insights newsletter to get alerts about the next event. ExecutiveStrategySummit.com/insights

january | elevatenv.com 33

LEGALEASE WILL NEVADA FOLLOW OREGON’S LEAD IN ADOPTING AN EARLY START PROGRAM?

By Riana Durrett

enator Tick Segerblom recently embarked on a legislative fact-finding mission to meet with Oregon legislators and regulators to discuss the state’s “Early Start” program. Senator Segerblom has expressed an interest in allowing legal sales of adult-use marijuana prior to the time Initiative Petition 1 (a.k.a. Question Two) would allow adults to legally purchase marijuana in a dispensary. Passage of IP1 allows for possession of one ounce of marijuana as of January 1, 2017, but legal sales may not occur until much later.

Senator Segerblom recently invited Nevada legislators and stakeholders to join him in a roundtable discussion with the Oregon Liquor Licensing Commission, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon state representatives and others to gather information on the benefits and challenges that may accompany an “Early Start” program in Nevada. Senator Segerblom was joined by four Nevada legislators, medical marijuana establishment owners, Nevada tribal members, Nevada Dispensary Association members and its Executive Director Riana Durrett, Legislative Counsel Bureau staff, and others. The Nevada State Legislature will convene in February and, in turn, has the opportunity to put regulations in place that would allow legal marijuana sales to possibly occur earlier than required by Initiative Petition 1 (IP1).

Q: When can dispensaries legally sell marijuana in Nevada? A: The Nevada Department of Taxation (NDOT) is required, under Initiative Petition 1 (IP1) to adopt permanent regulations by January 1, 2018 and to start accepting applications by that date. NDOT is required to accept or reject those applications within 90 days of receipt. Therefore, facilities shall be licensed by spring 2018, but NDOT is not required to allow the facilities to actually start sales by that deadline. Senator Segerblom would like for Nevada’s residents and tourists to be able to access retail marijuana much sooner. When retail marijuana was legalized in Oregon through ballot measure 91, as it was in Nevada through Question Two, the Oregon Legislature decided that retail marijuana should be available for purchase as soon as the Legislature could pass a measure allowing retail sales and adopt rules regulating those sales. Senator Segerblom has expressed his intent to submit a Bill Draft Request (BDR) to allow the retail sale of marijuana in a timeframe that allows for sales to occur as early as this summer. Q: Can Nevada follow Oregon’s lead in allowing retail sales sooner than contemplated under Question Two? A: Senator Segerblom organized the recent fact-finding trip to analyze Oregon’s approach to allowing retail sales that took place before their ballot measure was

elevatenv.com | january

regulated. “Just like in Oregon, an Early Start program is a viable option in Nevada. It would actually be easier to implement than it was in Oregon because we have such a robust regulatory system for our existing medical marijuana industry,” remarked Senator Segerblom after meeting with the Oregon LiquorLicensing Commission. “We literally could flip a switch and sell and track recreational sales through our medical dispensaries tomorrow.” Q: How did Oregon allow retail sales earlier than its ballot initiative contemplated? A: Oregon voters passed Measure 91, which legalized recreational marijuana possession as of November 2014, which became effective on July 1, 2015. However, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) would not start accepting applications to operate recreational marijuana establishments until January 2016 and the businesses would not be licensed to operate until fall of 2016. The Oregon Legislature found that public safety was at risk because the delay between legalization of marijuana and operation of state-licensed establishments would encourage black market sales. In 2015, the Oregon Legislature passed SB 460, which allowed dispensaries to sell limited amounts of marijuana flower to any person over the age of 21. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which regulates the medical marijuana industry, was required to

adopt rules that would allow for the sales to commence October 1, 2015. In 2016, the Oregon Legislature expanded the Early Start program to allow for limited sales of edibles, concentrates, and infused products. Q: Would Nevada still collect the taxes required under Question Two? A: The tax rate for “Early Start” sales in Oregon is higher than the “commercial program” adopted under Measure 91. Sales under “Early Start” are taxed at 25 percent while recreational sales under the “commercial program” will be taxed at 17 percent. The Division of Revenue was tasked with collection of the taxes accrued in Oregon’s Early Start program. Oregon collected over $54 million in the first 10 months the program operated. If Nevada adopted a similar program, than the State would be able to capture tax revenue even earlier than is contemplated under IP1 and there are likely to be higher sales in Nevada than Oregon, given Nevada’s thriving tourism industry. If Nevada does follow Oregon’s lead in early adoption of retail sales, Nevadans and Nevada’s tourists could purchase retail marijuana legally sooner than contemplated under Question Two, but the change will still not be immediate. Nevada’s legalized marijuana industry, patients, and tourists will need to

stay tuned for more information on dates and information on what is allowed under Nevada’s Early Start program, if it is adopted. Q: How would Nevada benefit from early sales? A: Benefits of an Early Start program include: • An Early Start program would discourage the black market sales of marijuana that are likely to occur now that possession is legal as of January 1, 2017, but sales are not. • The State can begin to collect the taxes that it will eventually be collecting from the sales of marijuana. • Oregon collected $54 million in the first 10 months of its Early Start program. If Nevada doesn’t follow suit, it would most likely lose that amount in tax revenue, if not more. As Nevada’s legislators assemble to begin the 79th Legislative Session next month, those consumers interested in accessing adult-use marijuana should stay abreast to find out when they can begin making legal purchases.

“What Happened in Amsterdam, Came to Vegas”

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN STRAINS AVAILABLE

30% OFF

ON FIRST ORDERS FOR DISPENSARIES

702-224-2691 january | elevatenv.com 35

{

DISRUPT, INNOVATE & ELEVATE

}

PLANNING FOR ADULT-USE CANNABIS IN YOUR MMJ BUSINESS By Mark S.A. Smith

Adult-use cannabis is coming to Nevada and as we anticipate the Nevada Legislature acting quickly so as to begin collecting the willingly-paid tax revenue, you can begin to adjust your business plans to capitalize on the correction of a failed prohibition on cannabis.

CONTINUE FOCUSING ON MEDICAL CONSUMERS

While you may be tempted to rapidly shift focus to recreational users, keep in mind that we don’t know how long the Legislature will take to issue retail licenses. Until then, work on growing your medical patient market. Medical patients will most likely be more frequent buyers and more consistent customers as they seek relief and benefit from cannabis’ curative properties. They can be a dependable, consistent base on which to grow your recreational business. This means continuing education about terpenes for specific health outcomes, various dosing methods for differing social and medical situations, and helping those who have been resistant to using cannabis because of its legal status learn how to find relief and healing. Develop brands that target middle-age consumers and seniors. While a hip granny will be down with smokin’ a bowl of OG Gold Kush, she may be more willing to share her experience with a reserved sounding brand and conventional consumption method. Sweet Slumber, Rhum Relief, or Appetizer might be more appealing, especially when provided as a small-dose edible or topical. For many potential medical users, smoking isn’t an option. They don’t want to “smell like a stoner” and they don’t like the harshness, especially if they aren’t tobacco smokers. Helping them understand alternative administration methods is the key to them embracing medical cannabis.

BUILD ON MEDICAL FOR THE ADULT-USE MARKET

What’s the difference between weed and cannabis? Lab testing. With Nevada’s stringent requirements for lab analysis, we’ve set the standard on what high-quality cannabis means. It translates into a predictable, pleasant experience instead of an unpredictable and potentially un-fun outcome. And with active ingredient labeling, a customer

elevatenv.com | january

no longer needs to guess what the results will be: Am I going to have a great time or get couch locked? You can create true branded experiences with your products by educating adult-use customers on the generally expected effects of terpenes, CBDs, and THC dosages. While each person’s experience will vary, you can finally lead them in the right direction. Sophisticated customers don’t just want to get high, they want to enhance their social experiences. With the elimination of most of the unregulated growing practices, customers experience few deleterious aftereffects common to poorly grown product. After your customers have tried the high-quality growth that Nevada raises, they won’t settle for other moldy, weedy product.

THE CANNABIS COCKTAIL LIFESTYLE

Many of your prospective customers want to use cannabis like they use alcohol to relax and enhance their social experiences. They’d much rather enjoy a controlled dose of cannabis then do cheap shots. Even the very best cannabis is way less expensive than a typical Vegas bar tab -- and you’ll feel so much better in the morning. When you consider the drink selection at a cocktail bar, every bottle behind the bar contains ethanol, the alcohol that makes us feel good. The difference between the least expensive and most expensive drink is everything else that’s in — or not in — the bottle that enhances the ethanol. That’s why a glass of red wine makes you feel different then a shot of tequila, and a fine whiskey feels different from a shot of cheap vodka. You may wish to draw parallels to the cocktails customers enjoy with the products you offer. Most cocktail drinkers know how much they can consume for the effect they want. With dosing information, in short order, your cannabis consumers can have the same predictable experience. Mark S.A. Smith helps business executives create disruptive and comprehensive business strategies and marketing plans. He publishes weekly business articles on LinkedIn (http:// MarksOnLinkedIn.com) and is writing his 14th book “Selling Disruption.” Contact him at Mark.Smith@BijaCo.com

january | elevatenv.com 37

DISPENSARY MAP

A Patients’ Guide to Medical Cannabis in Southern Nevada 1. Apothecarium apothecariumlv.com 7885 W. Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89117 702.778.7987

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

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

25a. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 5347 S. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.476.0420

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

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

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

25b. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 50 N. Gibson Rd Henderson, NV 89104 702.476.0420

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

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

18a. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 3400 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.475.6520

26a. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 1541 E. Basin Ave Pahrump, NV 89048 775.556.0100

18b. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 1366 W. Cheyenne Ave North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.410.8032

26b. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 4647 Swenson St Las Vegas, NV 89119 702.463.5777

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

27a. The Source thesourcenv.com 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd Ste #8 Las Vegas, NV 89146 702.708.2000

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

27b. The Source thesourcenv.com 9480 S Eastern Ave Ste #185 Henderson, NV 89052 702.708.2222

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

28. Thrive Cannabis Marketplace thrivenevada.com 2755 W. Cheyenne Ave Ste #103 North Las Vegas, NV 89032 702.776.4144

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

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

3b. Blüm LetsBlum.com 3650 S. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.627.Blum 3c. Blüm LetsBlum.com 1130 E. Desert Inn Rd Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.536.Blum 4. CannaCopia cannacopialv.com 6332 S. Rainbow Blvd Ste #105 Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.487.6776 5a. Canopi OPENING SOON 6540 Blue Diamond Rd Las Vegas, NV 89139 702.420.7301 5b. Canopi NOW OPEN 1324 S. 3rd St Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.420.7301 5c. Canopi NOW OPEN 2113 N. Las Vegas Blvd North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.420.7301 6. Deep Roots Harvest deeprootsharvest.com 195 Willis Carrier Canyon Mesquite, NV 89027 702.345.2854

10. Jenny’s Dispensary Jennysdispensary.com 5530 N. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.718.0420 11. Las Vegas ReLeaf lasvegasreleaf.com 2244 Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.209.2400 12. Medizin medizinlv.com 4850 W. Sunset Rd Ste #130 Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.206.1313 13a. Nevada Medical Marijuana nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 3195 St. Rose Pkwy Ste #212 Henderson, NV 89052 702.737.7777 13b. Nevada Medical Marijuana nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 1975 S. Casino Dr Laughlin, NV 89029 702.737.7777 14. Nevada Wellness Center nvwellnessctr.com 3200 S. Valley View Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.470.2077 15. NuLeaf www.nuleafnv.com 430 E. Twain Ave Las Vegas, NV 89169 702.297.5323

23. The Apothecary Shoppe theapothecaryshoppe.com 4240 W. Flamingo Rd Ste #100 Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.740.4372 24. The Clinic theclinicnevada.com 4310 W. Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.447.1250

215 159

160

SIMMONS ST

PECOS RD

MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

NELLIS BLVD

515

E SUNRIDPGKWY HEIGHTS

LAUGHLIN

ZON HORIE PKWY RIDG

AS B VEG LAS Y RACETRACK RD

PKW AD E ME

25b

LAK

HENDERSON

GREEN VALLEY PKWY

6TH ST

MARYLAND PKWY

LVD

AVE

BL VD SILVER BOWL STADIUM

GIBSON RD

WARM SPRINGS RD

13a

13b

COMMERCE ST MAIN ST 3RD ST

VE NA TER WES

L RD RIA

UST IND

HIG

HLA

AVE

LAMB BLVD

PECOS RD PECOS RD

EASTERN AVE

MARYLAND PKWY

Y KW EP OS HENDERSON R .

27b

PARADISE RD

NELLIS BLVD

N 5TH

LOS EE R N ST MAI

IP STR THE

LAS

VEG

BERMUDA RD

DECATUR BLVD

LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH

JONES BLVD

CANOPI

SET

WIGWAM PKWY PEBBLE RD

CACTUS AVE HIG SO HL UTH AN ER DS N PK WY

SUN

WINDMILL LN

DESERT INN RD

SILVERADO RANCH BLVD

SUNSET COUNTY PARK

PAHRUMP

SUNSET RD

LLY

KAREN AVE

5a 26a

E TWAIN HO

19 ST. LOUIS AVE

WINDMILL LN

BLUE DIAMOND RD

GREEN DISTRICT

FLAMINGO RD

RUSSELL RD

215

WARM SPRINGS RD

TROPICANA AVE McCarran Int. Airport

DESERT INN RD

18a

OAKEY BLVD

SUNSET RD

26b

515

STEPHANIE ST

RUSSELL RD

SANDHILL RD

SAHARA AVE

CHARLESTON BLVD

2 16

OAKEY BLVD

WASHINGTON AVE

CHARLESTON BLVD

CANOPI

LAS VEGAS

25a

TROPICANA AVE

24 23

JONES BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

FLAMINGO RD

18a

LVD

DESERT INN RD

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE

OWENS AVE

AS B

RTH

LAKE MEAD BLVD

5b 2 16 3a 11 19

DECATUR BLVD

DURANGO DR

27a

1 SAHARA AVE

EGA

BONANZA RD

CHARLESTON BLVD

FT APACHE RD

MARYLAND PKWY

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

ALTA DR

TOWN CENTER DR

18b

WASHINGTON AVE

D BLV

RANCHO DR

215

HUALAPAI WAY

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

MESQUITE

CRAIG RD

VEGAS DR

NORTH LAS VEGAS

LIN

WASHBURN RD

CAREY AVE

BLVD

CENTENNIAL PKWY

ANN RD

CHEYENNE AVE LAKE ME AD

DECATUR BLVD

JONES BLVD

DURANGO DR

GRAND CANYON DR

LONE MOUNTAIN RD ALEXANDER RD

215

CAMINO AL NORTE / MLK

RENO

HORIZON DR

515

BOULDER CITY

CONNECT

INDUSTRY RESOURCE GUIDE

EVERGREEN ORGANIX

GIDDYUP

VERT EDIBLES

KABUNKY

Extracts and hash

(702) 419.4455

Edibles and flowers available. (702) 550.4855 evergreenorganix.com

giddyuphash.com

Edibles, extraction and flower. kabunky.com

KABunky

extracts

LAS VEGAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA ASSOCIATION lvmma.org (702) 499.3291 info@lvmma.org

KYND

REMEDY

O.PENVAPE

Flower. Pre-Rolls. CO2 Oil Cartridges. Tinctures. Capsules. Sap. Wax www.kynd.com

Flower, Extracts, Topicals, tincutures and more (760) 636.9551

(702) 629.2075 openvape.com

WE CAN 702

ASHCRAFT AND BARR

CONNOR & CONNOR PLLC

DB LABS 4439 S. Polaris Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89103 844.5.TESTIN | (702) 296.6929 dblabslv.com

1771 E. Flamingo Rd., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89119 1.844.WeCanLV wecan702.org

NEW HEIGHTS LABORATORY

LP INSURANCE SERVICES

702.879.8698 newheightslaboratory.com

Las Vegas • Reno • Elko • Phoenix Sacramento • Truckee/Tahoe (702) 365.9800 | LPIns.net

(702) 631.7555 ashcraftbarr.com

710 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 121 Henderson, NV 89052 (702) 750.9139

RELEAF WELLNESS

MOXIE

ReleafWellness.com

Concentrates and Extracts moxie710.com info@moxie710.com

G3 LABS, LLC.

TERPX

STING ALARM

702.749.9715 www.g3labsllc.com

Shatter, Wax, Live Resin, and Solventless Extracts (760) 636.9551

7120 Rafael Ridge Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 737.8464 stingalarm.com

Full Line of CBD Products 702) 857.8516

elevatenv.com | january

january | elevatenv.com 41

(continued from page 25)

40+ STRAINS 30+ CONCENTRATES 20+ PRE-ROLLS

Oasis provides private consultations at no cost, and assistance with patient cards. • Safe and discreet Private parking lot • Free delivery with minimum order for entire Las Vegas valley

60 min delivery

EE G U AwitRhA2N0%T rder off nextlao te if its

1800 Industrial Road, Suite 180 Las Vegas, NV 89102 info@oasismedicalcannabis.com oasismedicalcannabis.com

702.420.2405

elevatenv.com | january

One of the areas in most dire need of research is the nation’s opioid epidemic. New statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released in December show that overdose deaths rose 11 percent in 2015, to 52,404, which is the most ever. “It’s a horrifying statistic to think about the number of people who die from opioid overdoses. It’s the number one cause of unintentional death, of which 60 percent are made up from prescription opioids,” Dr. Gupta incredulously points out. He continues, “At some point, somebody is going to come to us from another planet and look at us and say, ‘Let me get this straight, you guys are literally killing yourselves, accidentally, using a medication that is supposed to relieve suffering and pain?’ It makes no sense.” Also senseless to Dr. Gupta are the moral implications of keeping cannabis illegal. “In none of my documentaries did I ever get into the concept of moral equivalence because I thought it was too easy, too cheap, right?,” he questions. “I wanted everything to stand on its own merits. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t believe we have this substance out there that kills somebody every 19 minutes, and, yet, something that could have real benefit for people, and we could not find evidence of deadly overdose from, could not even be studied. That just wasn’t right. “I think the fact that there was data from other places around the world -- and there was certainly a lot of anecdotal data within the United States -- and the alternatives people were left with were opioids or even, frankly, the anti-seizure medications, which can also be very toxic, were so accepted and, yet, this was not even allowed to be studied. That didn’t sit well.” Dr. Gupta sees a benefit to using medicinal marijuana for those patients caught up in the opioid epidemic. “Sometimes it’s a result of an injured nerve and that’s very hard pain to treat and opioids aren’t particularly good at treating that kind of pain. Not only do I think that medical marijuana can be helpful in reducing opioid dependence and aiding first time users, but I also think it can actually be helpful in treating a type of pain that opioids just aren’t that good at treating. It’s doing something that the existing ladder of treatments doesn’t do very well.” Cannabis has the potential to be a game changer for opioid abusers, however, it will be up to leaders like Sanjay Gupta to get the message out into the world. He just has to figure out how to get people to open their minds. But it’s not like he doesn’t have firsthand experience with that. “I think the idea of being synonymous with something is in a way being synonymous with the ability to, first, admit that I made a mistake in not digging deeper earlier and, also, synonymous with the idea that I am open-minded.”

Elevating the Conversation with Congressman Earl Blumenauer, 3rd District of Oregon

or more than 40 years Congressman Earl Blumenauer has been supportive of ending marijuana prohibition, first voting in the Oregon legislature to decriminalize small quantities in 1973. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, Blumenauer has worked tirelessly for cannabis reform. In 2013, Blumenauer along with fellow Congressman Jared Polis co-authored a report “The Path Forward: Rethinking Federal Marijuana Policy,” which outlines several opportunities to reform and clarify marijuana law at the federal level.

WITH THE RECENT TIPPING POINT THAT NOW ALLOWS FOR SOME FORM OF LEGALIZED CANNABIS IN 28 STATES, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT PORTENDS FOR FEDERAL PROHIBITION? I think the elections in the fall of 2016 were the cresting of this wave, it has been building for some time but we won eight out of nine elections. Cannabis got more votes than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. This is not just a left coast, Oregon, Washington, California hippie new-age thing, this is a national phenomenon. The Florida vote was overwhelming at over 70 percent, but it also passed in Arkansas and North Dakota. I think this means that Congress is going to be even more favorably disposed and we are also seeing action in the Senate for the first time. Now with the issue cresting in all these other states, I think there is going to be even more energy, interest and progress in Congress. AS A MEMBER OF THE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, DO YOU FORESEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A BANKING FIX FOR CANNABIS? Yes, I do. I think we have good bi-partisan legislation in both the House and Senate to make it possible for state legal businesses to have access to bank accounts. There are also developments taking place to make it easier even within the existing framework. In Oregon for instance, we have a system to follow from seed to sale which might raise the confidence level of some financial institutions. But, regardless, I think there is an opportunity for us, as legislation starts moving, to find a vehicle to attach it to. WITH SENATOR SESSIONS AS PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP’S PICK FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL DO YOU THINK THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY WILL STALL? As I mentioned, cannabis got more votes than Donald Trump in every state when they were both on the ballot together. He has famously said that he thinks the state experiments should be allowed to continue. I think his instinct is right on that, we will be working to try and encourage him to remember what he said and to respect it. It would be an epic mistake for a new

elevatenv.com | january

administration that already is taking office with the lowest approval ratings in history to all of a sudden reverse himself, again, from what he said during the campaign and pick a fight with the American public and many of his supporters. In the long run he won’t win and whatever short-term dustup there might be with Senator Sessions, this train has left the station and history is going to deliver a victory for a rational marijuana policy and repeal the failed approach of prohibition. OREGON IMPLEMENTED AN EARLY START PROGRAM ONCE ADULT-USE HAD BEEN LEGALIZED. NEVADA IS ALSO CONSIDERING AN EARLY START PROGRAM SIMILAR TO OREGON’S, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT? The sooner you start to discourage the black market the better. Also, it takes time to just put the regulatory structure in place to get people to be involved with the different way of doing business. Enabling people to start earlier, slower, to acquaint the state regulators, the business, and the public with the new approach makes sense. I don’t think anybody will complain about a few million dollars more that’s available for treating people with substance abuse issues, helping mental health, education, law enforcement. Both Oregon and Nevada could use a little extra money for things that the public cares about. And I would much rather have this be paid legally to businesses that are operating under the law than have the profits disappear into the black market or worse to foreign drug cartels. WHAT KIND OF TIMELINE DO YOU SEE FOR RESCHEDULING CANNABIS? The days of the federal prohibition of marijuana -- scheduling it like a Schedule I controlled drug, unfair taxation -- they’re numbered. Whether it’s two years, four years or six years, those policies will be changed. I am willing to go on record stating unequivocally that within five years most of America will have access legally to medical marijuana and I think the states will be able to treat marijuana how they would like, just like with alcohol.

elevatenv.com | january