elevateNV July 2019 by Elevate Nevada Magazine

JULY 2019

HIGHER EDUCATION

Cannabis Goes to College

Profiles in Education meet the Believer, the Visionary and the Biochemist

Home Grow 101: 10 steps to starting your medical marijuana home garden

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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, Aden Jacobson, Josh Kasoff, Shoshanna Silverberg, Julie Vigil Account Executives:

Mark Damkroeger, mark@elevatenv.com Jocelyn C Rossi, Jocelyn@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

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When I decided to take the editorship at elevate in 2015, I knew next to nothing about cannabis. So clueless was I about cannabis that I didn’t even know what 420 was. I remember sitting in the interview before taking the job and being told the magazine would launch on April 20, 2015. I was mystified by this and asked why they would launch the inaugural edition of a magazine toward the end of the month. The response was, “Well, it’s 420, our holiday.” That was the moment when I realized how very little I knew about cannabis culture. I’ve certainly come a long way over the last four years. At this point, I feel like I have earned a Ph.D. in cannabis. I can remember being astounded to find out we all have endocannabinoid systems in our bodies and wondering how that had escaped me because after all that’s a part of my body regardless if I use cannabis or not. Or when I realized it’s not as easy as selecting just any pre-roll or flower when you visit a dispensary, there’s indica, sativa and hybrid to consider based on what your needs are. I know avid cannabis users who weren’t familiar either and looked at me like a deer in headlights when I asked which they preferred. One of my favorite topics that I discovered once I began my cannabis education is terpenes. Again, terpenes aren’t just a cannabis thing. They are part of plants, fruits, and vegetables and I didn’t even know of them until I became involved in the cannabis industry and learned about the medicinal effects each of them possesses. My real awakening to the medicinal properties of cannabis came upon my discovery of CBD or cannabidiol. I learned about CBD while preparing for the second issue of the magazine when

I interviewed a little girl named Avery Spadafora who was using a CBD oil called Haleigh’s Hope to control her seizures resulting from epilepsy. Before researching and writing that story I had no idea there was any cannabinoid other than THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive part of the cannabis plant that gets you high. Finding out about CBD was a gamechanger for me and led to a 2016 cover story devoted to questioning the lack of CBD in Nevada’s marketplace. Guaranteed I am not the only one who has found cannabis to be a much bigger and more scientifically involved study than at first glance. After all there are at a minimum 113 cannabinoids that have been identified in cannabis. And as far as terpenes Dr. John S. Abrams, who is the subject of our ‘Elevating the Conversation’ this month on page 44, believes there are whole classes of terpenes yet to be discovered. It’s with this in mind that we tackled our Education issue this month. Just as fast as the regulatory framework surrounding medical and recreational cannabis has been built in Nevada, so too has the necessary education been developed. UNLV, CSN and a host of other educational outlets have stepped up to create classes and curriculum to meet the needs of an entire industry that has formed over the last few years. In her story on page 17, elevate writer Julie Vigil takes a comprehensive look at the educational opportunities available for those interested in making a career in cannabis. Because as I discovered, there’s a lot more to cannabis than meets the high.

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CANNABIS KLATCH A SUMMER ROUNDUP OF CANNA-CULTURE THROUGH THE LENS OF FILM, GRAPHICS AND VIDEO by Josh Bell Cannabis is more prevalent than ever in pop culture, from movies to graphic novels to video games. Here’s a look at some recent cannabis culture releases you may have missed.

Movie: The Beach Bum

Movie: Grass Is Greener Rapper and TV personality Fab 5 Freddy directed this comprehensive if overstuffed Netflix original documentary about the history of cannabis persecution in the U.S., through the lens of the connection between marijuana and music. Not surprisingly, the strongest aspect of the movie is its exploration of how musicians (particularly in jazz and hip-hop) have been influenced by marijuana, whether through using it to spark creativity, or directly referencing it in their lyrics, or promoting it via their platform as artists. Freddy talks to a who’s-who of cannabis-connected performers, from Snoop Dogg to Damian Marley to Kermit Ruffin. The film takes on a bit too much over the course of 97 minutes, though, charting the development of anti-cannabis laws, delving into specific cases and tackling the inequalities that have come with legalization. It’s a slickly produced, mostly entertaining film with good intentions, but its reach sometimes exceeds its grasp. Streaming on Netflix.

Movie: How High 2 The 2001 cult comedy How High certainly isn’t a top-tier stoner movie, but it benefits from the chemistry between stars Method Man and Redman, and it has a few goofily inspired moments. The story of a pair of stoners who get into Harvard thanks to a mystical strain of marijuana that provides them with all their test answers (via the ghost of their dead weed-smoking pal) offers a tiny bit of social commentary and a lot of dumb jokes. The belated in-name-only sequel just has dumb jokes, and not a single one generates a laugh. Rapper Lil Yachty and comedian DC Young Fly star as cousins who discover a recipe for superpowered pot and then have to track down the people who stole it from them. Yachty is awkward and mumbly, Young Fly does a second-rate Kevin Hart impression, and Mary Lynn Rajskub embarrasses herself as the faux-woke corporate villain. Meth and Red seem like geniuses by comparison. Available on DVD and digital download.

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Matthew McConaughey reaches the apotheosis of his onscreen stoner image with Harmony Korine’s impressionistic character study of a constantly high Florida poet named Moondog. Once a highly acclaimed writer, Moondog now spends his time in a permanent haze of pot, booze and laid-back vibes, even after his gorgeous (and rich) wife (Isla Fisher) dies in a car accident and a judge orders him into rehab. A picaresque journey through Miami and the Florida Keys, The Beach Bum doesn’t really have a plot, just a series of encounters between Moondog and various oddball stoner characters, including a musician named Lingerie (Snoop Dogg), an inept boat captain (Martin Lawrence), a spoiled rich kid with unfortunate facial hair (Zac Efron) and Florida legend Jimmy Buffett (playing himself). It’s amiable and weird if not exactly compelling, and Korine provides McConaughey with the perfect encapsulation of his persona (he even gets to play the bongos). Available on DVD, VOD and digital download.

Graphic Novel: “Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America” Cartoonist Box Brown has previously created acclaimed, bestselling nonfiction graphic novels about Andre the Giant, Andy Kaufman and Tetris, and his latest work traces the evolution of government prohibition of cannabis, going back to the discovery of cannabis in early civilization in India. Brown’s clean, reader-friendly style, with large panels and simply drawn figures, makes it easy to digest all the information he conveys in just under 250 pages, running through the highlights (or lowlights) of policy decisions that gradually criminalized marijuana following its migration into the U.S. Brown mostly gives a straightforward presentation of the facts, although his activist perspective and dry sense of humor shine through at times, in the depiction of certain people or in little asides. The book ends with a surprisingly extensive bibliography, which emphasizes just how good Brown is at distilling so much material into a breezy, engaging read. Available at major booksellers.

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Video Game: Weedcraft Inc. In the vein of video games like RollerCoaster Tycoon and Theme Hospital, this title from Polish indie developer Vile Monarch and edgy games publisher Devolver Digital puts players in charge of building, maintaining and promoting their own business, only this time it’s a marijuana operation. Various story options can put players at the head of an illegal drug empire or a legitimate corporate enterprise, depending on what character they choose to play and what choices they make during gameplay. Although they could have produced a jokey game for stoners, the developers take the cannabis business seriously, and players must successfully manage their crops, serve their customers, navigate ever-changing laws and even propose legislation in order to succeed. Some platforms have refused to advertise the game, but its thoughtful approach has won over a number of skeptical videogame critics. Available for Mac and PC on Steam and OGG.

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CANNABIS FOR DUMMIES AND PROFESSIONALS

WHETHER YOU’RE A NEWBIE OR AN AFICIONADO, THERE’S PLENTY TO LEARN ABOUT NEVADA’S ARRAY OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS

elevatenv.com | july

By Justin Alexander

ith our focus on education this month, it only seemed fitting that we provide you with a product guide that played off the tongue-in-cheek line of books developed for instructing the beginner. But not wanting the more experienced users to feel left out, we also sought out products for the more well-versed cannaseurs among our readership. We reached out to cultivations and dispensaries across Nevada for their picks to compile an assortment of products that run the spectrum across all levels of use. Geared to the novice, the pro, and everybody in between, in our review we share some old standbys as well as some brand-new products that will be of interest to all users no matter how much experience they possess. Read on and prepare for learning about cannabis to be made easy.

FOR THE NOVICE: MOXIE DART Created with an innovative pod design, the Moxie Dart is positioned for those who are just getting started with a cannabis treatment regime. Easy to use, it dispenses consistent terpene and cannabinoid profiles. “Start with small hits and gradually increase as necessary,” advises Moxie’s Alex Christensen. “The Moxie Dart has a superior delivery system and allows for larger doses. It’s battery life and delivery system are superior. The easy-to-use magnetic pods make it convenient on the go.” The Dart was created by vape leaders C-Cell and it is the first of its kind to allow for increased vapor and optimal taste. “We aimed to create a product that could be enjoyed conveniently and discreetly with a delivery system that can support larger vapor production and preserve flavor,” Christensen says.

FOR THE NOVICE: FLEUR'S FIRE ANGEL PRE-ROLL Great for those seeking relief from pain and stress without a sleepy effect, the Fire Angel pre-roll from Fleur is low in THC and good for beginners. You also get a high dose of CBD with this product as it is a 2:1

sativa-dominant strain. “Fire Angel is a 2:1. It means the THC percentage is low, but the CBD is higher than regular strains,” says Fleur Brands’ Amber Jansen. “This is a great strain if you are active, as a pre-workout and post-workout strain. Also, if you are looking for a tolerance break, Fire Angel is good for this.” Favored by patients, Fire Angel’s integrity as a wellness product starts at its origin. “It is grown in no-till living organic soil,” Jansen says. “Medical patients want their cannabis grown like this because there are no chemicals used in the growing process making Fire Angel stand out from other CBD strains on the market.” When you see this product at the dispensary make sure and grab it because due to its popularity it is frequently on backorder because 2:1 strains are not all that common.

FOR THE NOVICE: STARGAZER CAMP SOLVENTLESS ROSIN COIN For those on the hunt for a wellrounded cannabis experience, try Camp’s Rosin Coin from NV Organic Remedies. “High cannabinoid content is key. We’re always trying to create products for the consumer that provide not only a medicinal experience, but an experience that's more than just ‘getting really high,’” says NV Organic Remedies’ Kara Roessner.

In this instance, the rosin is pressed into a coin-like shape and no solvent is used in the process, so it is just like smoking flower at the highest, most concentrated level. “This product is meant to be consumed on a low temperature battery to experience the true flavor profile. A slow four-second draw is recommended for a consistent dose,” advises Roessner. If you are more of a cartridge person, there are plenty of those to go around too. “We have low-THC testing cartridges with high CBD content that won't get the consumer overly medicated and we also produce high cannabinoid content,” adds Roessner.

FOR THE NOVICE AND THE PRO: EVERGREEN ORGANIX EGO ELITE

FOR THE NOVICE AND THE PRO: CITY TREES CALM VAPE Calm is recommended for novice users because it only has 50 percent THC so there is less of a psychoactive kick. But let’s not count out the appeal of this product to the pros who are curious about the benefits of CBD. “The pro may not normally purchase CBD products so this unit will re-introduce them to the benefits of the balance that a 1:1 ratio gives,” says City Trees’ Russ Johnson. A City Trees’ top seller because it is 100 percent cannabis with no additives and not cut with anything, you can expect a mild natural cherry taste when CBD is vaporized at an optimal temperature—even though no terpenes are introduced. Also due to its unique coil system you will never get a burnt flavor.

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Looking for the ultimate device that can administer all types of medicine? Enter the EGO Elite. Designed for just this purpose, it is simple, compact and can be used for flower, wax or oils. Its 3-in-1 capacity is convenient, so you don’t have to commit to multiple devices for multiple product types. “Most vaporizers are exclusively used for one type of product,” says Jillian Nelson of Evergreen Organix. “The EGO Elite comes with multiple attachments and accessories to offer users a versatile experience.” Experimentation with different consumption methods when you are just starting out is a necessity and the EGO Elite offers all that plus the ease of being rechargeable and reusable. “This vaporizer is a great learning device. It is simple and can easily help a novice user control their experience,” says Nelson, who adds even pros can get into this wunderkind. “Its versatility for waxes and oils is a great option for advanced users with high tolerance.”

Like its name promises, the effects cast a lovely calming hue over your day or night with tranquility and focus as two of its hallmarks. “Our underlying goal in creating this product was to provide an equal ratio of CBD and THC, allowing the endocannabinoid system in your body to reap the benefits of the entourage effect,” Johnson says.

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FOR THE NOVICE AND THE PRO: VERT APPLICATOR IN GOLDEN BERRIES FROM TGIG

Photo by Keene Dadian

Whether you are a novice or more experienced, versatility is the Vert Applicator’s top attribute. “The daily cannabis consumer can use them as an edible, topical, concentrate, long-term treatment option, and potency enhancement for flower, while beginners are able to consume something without the hassle of a lighter and smoking apparatus,” says Margaux Hansberry, Nevada sales manager for TGIG. The CO2 oil Vert Applicator also fills the bill for those who love terps. “The most unique thing about the Vert Applicators is how many different uses you can get out of them and how potent the strain-specific terpene content paired with a high potency preactivated oil can feel,” says Hansberry, who notes their fluid consistency is much easier to dispense than a thick distillate applicator. “You can [even] make your own edibles out of this oil as it is easily homogenized into coconut oil at a low temperature, preserving the valuable terpene content. “In addition, the Golden Berry specifically would be a great option for anyone looking to make their own topicals and suppositories because it has some very powerful antibacterial cannabinoids and terpenes with the trans-nerolidol acting to increase the permeability of your epithelial membrane (skin) for these beneficial healers to absorb,” Hansberry says. “With a cannabinoid profile including—from greatest to least—Delta-9 THC, CBG, CBC, THC-V, CBN, and CBD, you can’t quite find as beneficial a lineup elsewhere.”

FOR THE NOVICE AND THE PRO: HOUSE OF HERBS KING LOUIS XIII FLOWER

Photo by @dorenmalik

Offering something for everyone, the King Louis XIII strain is a perfect balance for those just starting out as well as for those who consume their medicine daily. “This product encapsulates the balance between the two. Although quite sedative, King Louis XIII may also be

enjoyed by those who are less acclimated to THC due to its lengthy, grounding terpene profiles, commonly rich in the anti-anxiety terpenes myrcene and caryophyllene,” says Curaleaf’s head grower, Mo Mahfouz. For the novice the best method of consumption is to smoke it from clean glass to get the full effect of its outstanding and long-lasting flavors. Just be prepared with lots of snacks nearby as King Louis has been known to cause a serious case of the munchies. For the pros, Mahfouz says that King Louis XIII balances well with whatever else you consume as part of your daily medicinal routine. “King Louis XIII offers supreme leveling effects to even the most intense sativas to provide a seamlessly smooth, meditative yet synergizing experience via your own "hybrid" concoction,” he notes.

FOR THE NOVICE: LEAF & VINE GVK GRAPE VALLEY KUSH DISPOSABLE VAPE FOR THE PRO: MEDIZIN IRENE VAPE

FOR THE PRO: KABUNKY #9 LIVE RESIN BADDER AND SHATTER Experienced medicinal cannabis users will love Kabunky’s Live Resin Badder from the brand’s newly launched Kabunky Labs line because it offers an authentic dabbing experience for those who are well versed in the product and the process. The R&D on this new brand line has been extensive. “We've been extracting concentrates for years here at Nevada Made and can confidently say these are the

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Cannabis superstore Planet 13 carries a multitude of products including their own in-house Medizin line as well as Leaf & Vine. Both of these brands offer something for patients who are just beginning to medicate as well as for those who have been using it for a while. For the former, Planet 13’s Brandon Zimmer recommends the Leaf & Vine Disposable Vape, which contains CBD to help reduce the psychoactive effects of a high, but also contains THC to calm the body. “Women love the way it looks and the way it makes them feel due to the CBD. It isn’t too heavy,” Zimmer says. For the latter, Zimmer recommends Medizin’s Irene Vape, which contains an indica suited for heavy consumers who have a high tolerance and crave flavor. “Medizin’s cartridges pack a punch with the amount of terpenes they carry. You won’t find another cart like this,” he says.

Happy r e t Af Hours

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finest concentrates we've ever made,” says Josh Ranck, marketing director of Nevada Made Marijuana, who notes they are the only dispensary carrying #9 Live Resin, which is also available in badder, shatter, and live resin krumble. Ranck recommends taking low-temp dabs with this one in order to honor the integrity that the extraction team has taken to preserve the essence of the plant. For less experienced cannabis users who are eager to try, Ranck recommends taking it slow as this high potency gem tests between 65 and 85 percent THC and to the delight of those who partake, the effects are extremely euphoric. “Not just because of the THC,” he says. “But because of the other cannabinoids and terpenes that the extraction process retains. This is as close to smoking the fresh plant as you can get.”

FOR THE PRO: KANJI CONCENTRATES PB BREATH HYBRID SHATTER, ALIEN DAWG INDICA CRUMBLE, AND SOUR DIESEL SATIVA BATTER Boasting specific flavor profiles, Kanji Concentrates are highly concentrated, and the effects are heavy hitting. For frequent concentrate users, KYND has different consistencies to try thanks to the individual processing factors used to create diverse textures and unique profiles. “We wanted to create premium quality products that were clean, pure and potent. No one should have to worry about things like residual solvents or byproducts, so we’re making sure they don’t,” says KYND’s David Robison. “Our production method and unique processing machine allows us to provide extremely flavorful and high-quality terpene profiles while providing peace of mind that you are only getting cannabinoids and terpenes.” For those new to medicinal cannabis, Robison recommends starting with an edible like gummies and working your way up as KYND’s concentrates are extremely potent and were designed for those with a high tolerance. “Concentrates are pure cannabinoids and terpenes and rushing the process can make you feel a little too medicated right out of the gate,” advises Robison.

FOR THE PRO: RSO + GO THE ORIGINAL RSO DISPENSER The health benefits of cannabis oil are welldocumented and one of the leaders in the category is the eponymously named Rick Simpson Oil, a full-spectrum oil developed by the renowned Canadian cannabis advocate to treat cancer. “Rick Simpson Oil is a product

for anyone looking for the true medicinal effect and it’s highly potent,” says The Apothecarium’s Hailey Stone. “With strain specific oil like this, you can look at the terpenes and really gauge what type of effect you’ll be getting. For instance, if you’re someone dealing with pain and your RSO is mainly derived from a sativa plant, you may not receive as much pain relief as you could if it had more indicadominant terpenes.” Being able to pick the strain of your oil is extremely important and allows you to really use the product correctly. “Most RSO on the market doesn’t specify what strain it’s being derived from, which can make it more of a gamble on what type of effect you might receive,” says Stone, who recommends doing research first. “Do not try this product without instruction. It will most likely be used incorrectly and you won’t achieve the desired effects.”

Perfect for the first timer, Remedy’s 20:1 Antidote is easy to dose and has minimal to no psychoactive effects, providing relief from pain, anxiety, tension, insomnia, migraines and inflammation. Even with a CBD rich product, it is important to follow the dosing on the package. “This tincture has an excellent combination of THC to activate the CBD,” says Remedy’s Anne E, who advises to wait 40 minutes to an hour before increasing dosage. “High in CBD, this tincture provides pain relief without the “high” sensation.” For the pros, Anne E. suggests two must-try products from Remedy. “Jillybean Live Resin oil gives you the potent terpene profile you crave without sacrificing any integrity of the strain’s structure and taste,” she says. When in need of overall euphoria with bursts of energy and creativity, the Jillybean strain, with a taste similar to jelly beans, is a go-to as it’s a cross between Space Queen and Orange Skunk. Brand-new to the concentrate category is Remedy’s Sour Purps Cured Crumble, which is high in THC and perfect for those experienced users who know how to accurately dose and dab. “Some users like to use crumble concentrates for sprinkling on top of joints,” says Anne E. of Sour Purps, which combines classic strains Sour Diesel and Cadillac Purple. “Many prefer crumble over live resin because of its more stabilized consistency.”

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FOR THE NOVICE: 20:1 ANTIDOTE FROM REMEDY FOR THE PRO: REMEDY’S JILLYBEAN LIVE RESIN VAPE, SOUR PURPS CURED CRUMBLE

CANNABIS GOES TO

COLLEGE

Higher education lends legitimacy to booming job sector, opens doors to personal, professional enrichment By Julie Vigil Don’t be surprised if the next college grad you congratulate says she’s heading off to work at a job that didn’t exist before. It’s not that unusual. Life in 2019 is full of things we swear we’d never live to see: Virtual digital assistants? Seriously. Self-driving cars? You bet. Legal weed? Yaasss.

Yup, life as we knew it way back in the dark ages of the 20th century surely has changed. Cannabis is quickly moving out of the basement and into the boardroom and with that move it is incrementally gaining popular acceptance all over the country. To date, 33 states support a medical program, 11 states allow recreational or adult-use

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cannabis sales, and two out of three Americans poll in favor of legalization. That cultural shift is not only promoting positive personal health and wellness over negative stigma and stereotype, it’s legitimizing a long-crucified super plant that can feed you, clothe you, house you, and heal you. Another plus? It can employ you, too. Cannabis and everything surrounding it is refueling a soft job market and creating jobs. Lots of ’em. In states where cannabis is allowed, 259,000 planttouching jobs were supported last year, according to a report by New Frontier Data, an independent analytics company specializing in the cannabis industry. As a state, we are ranked no. 7 for people working in cannabis. That distills down to 3,979 direct employment jobs and 1,559 related employment jobs, reports Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics. That’s more than Nevada’s utilities and residential construction industries, says Las Vegas-based RCG Economics, and it is on par with the number of jobs in the state’s accounting and payroll industries. But don’t think cannabis as an industry is atypical. Just like most mainstream jobs, cannabis gigs require skills in a variety of backgrounds with increasing levels of experience and education, such as management, marketing, finance, operations, human resources, IT, and sales, to name a few, and even some specialty areas like chemistry, culinary arts, agriculture, and horticulture. “Most of the people who come through our door want to be part of this industry,” said Kim Lester, HR director for The+Source, a Southern Nevada-based cannabis company that operates two dispensaries, two cultivations, and a production lab. “It’s their passion and they’re hungry for it so they come prepared.” “The stigma of having ‘stoners’ running this evergrowing industry is evolving daily and has been since the conception of medical marijuana,” said TJ Hoven, Director of Operations at The Grove, a vertically integrated cannabis company that operates cultivation, production, and retail facilities in Clark and Nye counties. “Cannabis is losing its negative stereotype as companies take weed to corporate levels with multi-millions in backing, all while producing products for the market that require extremely strict testing to ensure the products are the healthiest and the best on the market.” So, ditch that clichéd notion that anyone who associates with pot must be a basement dweller or dim bulb; that’s just residual propaganda we need to shake. In fact, cannabis is serious big business. The Nevada Department of Taxation reports combined adult-use and medical cannabis sales hit $580 million with nearly $70 million in tax revenue—that’s about 140 percent of what the state anticipated in 2018, the

first full year of legal recreational sales. Plus, cannabis is a highly regulated industry—something Nevadans know a thing or two about—that requires educated and skilled people to ensure compliance, provide accurate information, and offer top-shelf service. That’s where organizations like the Nevada Dispensary Association (NDA) and Trim Ready come in to play. The nonprofit trade association and canna-industry support business offer a variety of classes that promote best practices, regulation compliance, and support current and future employees and interested consumers. “From what I’ve seen, our education is more comprehensive on the regulations,” said Riana Durrett, NDA executive director. “There are classes available in other states that are more about customer service and knowledge on the products, but ours are more about the rules that everyone has to know to keep out of trouble and to keep the system in compliance.” Jen Solas, president and founder of the nonprofit group WeCan702 (Wellness Education Cannabis Advocates of Nevada), says they formed in 2008 to educate consumers but also because they understood the need to train industry employees, as well. Last year, WeCan702 partnered with Trim Ready to expand its educational services and outreach. “We have graduated over 3,500 students in the state of Nevada and at last count we had 2,800 people employed as a direct result of taking our classes,” said Solas, who is also compliance director for Trim Ready. “There are 11,200 people employed in the state of Nevada in the medical marijuana industry, so about 20 to 25 percent of all employees in Nevada have gone through our program.” Both the NDA and Trim Ready present students with a certificate upon course completion. The NDA offers comprehensive online courses heavy on the regulation and compliance subjects, and it also hosts frequent, live training courses taught by industry experts that cover a wide variety of topics such as inventory control, financial compliance and anti-money laundering, OSHA regulations, recordkeeping and canna-banking. Trim Ready hosts dispensary, cultivation, and production courses that fulfill NRS 543A (Medical Use of Marijuana state regulations) and, as a big bonus to its students, is the only program in Nevada that is licensed to work on the actual plant. “When you are in our cultivation class, you will be working on live hemp plants,” explained Solas, “and when you are in our production class, you will be working with CBD.” Last month, Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill creating a Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) that will bring more changes to the industry and how it’s regulated. The CCB will be modeled after the Nevada Gaming Control

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Board, which oversees Nevada’s well-regulated gaming industry. “Our marijuana industry is now a key part of our state economy, and to make sure it stays that way, we must hold it to the highest standard while empowering the industry to continue thriving,” Gov. Sisolak said in a statement. “Nevada’s first-ever Cannabis Compliance Board will ensure this critical part of our state’s economy is positioned to become the gold standard for the nation.” Complementing the regulatory educational offerings at NDA and Trim Ready are courses through UNLV Continuing Education and CSN’s Division of Workforce & Economic Development. Each institution offers a variety of certificate programs that help prepare people for entry-level careers, typically in retail cannabis. “We started by offering the Cannabis Professional class, it’s a primer for the industry to help people get their arms around some of the history, science, anatomy of the plant, product knowledge, methods of ingestion, appropriate dosing—all sorts of things as a baseline of knowledge,” said Trey Reckling, instructor and founder of the Academy of Cannabis Science, the online cannabis education provider that partners only with accredited colleges and universities like UNLV. “We did that just as the market was relatively new, recognizing the need that people who are selling products should do it in a way that is responsible, safe, and well informed.” The Academy of Cannabis Science also offers courses geared more toward personal knowledge than job training yet, remain grounded in science-based learning: “Cannabis & The Opioid Epidemic” and “Pets & Cannabis,” each examining in its own way how some patients are using less prescription pain management because of effective cannabis therapy. Both classes are taught by doctors in their respective fields. “This is an increasingly growing field and we know we have a lot to learn still, all of us, about cannabis as a medicine,” said Reckling. “And we want to make sure retailers don’t forget to include patients in the conversation. We wouldn’t have what we call recreational or adult-use cannabis if it wasn’t for the medical-use patients who preceded us, for dozens of years in some cases. We want to make sure the folks who helped start this revolution continue to benefit from it.” The College of Southern Nevada’s programming complements UNLV’s continuing ed, purposefully not competing with what’s offered there. CSN’s classes are

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designed to help meet the needs of area businesses as well as adult learners seeking new skills, educational opportunities, and career advancement. Opposed to only online learning, CSN’s offerings are all in-person and hands-on, and some even come with fieldtrips. Their foundational classes focus on the folklore, history, and science behind cannabis, as well as overviews of the business, regulations, and customer service. “We’ve talked with businesses and noted they’re looking for people in the field who can meet the customer service requirement,” said Lillian Babcock, coordinator for the Community and Personal Enrichment program at CSN. “We are really looking at where is demand. We don’t want to just have a class, we want to have classes where people can gain employment.” Not everyone is on a new career path, however, so community-based, academic learning also plays an important role in bringing awareness and legitimacy to cannabis. A lot of people simply want access to learn more about the plant and the benefits they keep hearing about to use on themselves or for their loved ones, while others may want to bring a higher level of cannabis knowledge into existing careers. Many established farmers, physicians and healing practitioners—like doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists and reiki specialists—are some of the professionals taking advantage of the classes offered through University of Nevada’s Cooperative Extension and UNLV’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, better known as OLLI, that is geared toward semi-retired and retired adults. “I’m really excited about hemp education, real education, not bud-tending, in Nevada,” said Tisia Stemp, chair of educational programming for OLLI and its hemp class instructor. “I’m not criticizing the industry courses—I think it’s wonderful that we have job opportunities for folks who would like to be in the cannabis industry. For the folks here, because of the age group, they’re not necessarily looking for a career, they’re looking to supplement the career they already have or they’re looking for personal growth. OLLI students are a pretty educated, hip group of folks!” “Cooperative Extension’s whole mission is reaching out to the community,” said M.L. Robinson, a professor and horticulture specialist for UNCE. “Originally just the farm community but now the community as a whole and extending the university to people who may not take classes or get a degree but can have science-based learning.”

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PROFILES IN TEACHING:

The Believer, Tisia Stemp

elevatenv.com | july

By Beth Schwartz

When I arrive, the class is buzzing. The room is quickly filling up and Bob Dylan’s 1964 anthem “The Times They are a-Changin'” is playing as students greet one another and chit-chat. I survey the room noticing that it’s not your typical student body. The majority of the students have grey, white or no hair and aren’t sporting books and backpacks, but instead orthopedic shoes and there are even a few walkers. It’s the last class of the spring 2019 semester in a noncredit course offered by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNLV’s Paradise Campus, where the courses are designed specifically for retired and semi-retired adults. But most interesting is the topic: “Hemp, Cannabis & CBD: The History, the Hype and the Healing.” The hunger for a class focusing on the topic was so sharp this past spring that OLLI’s first foray into the subject matter at UNLV quickly reached its maximum enrollment at 140 students (OLLI’s summer course, titled “Hemp, Cannabinoids and a Deeper Dive,” in session June 6-July 25, 2019, is also at capacity). “I’m from New York so I have kind of a skeptical personality so when I saw there was a good response, I thought all these people want to come and heckle me but that

wasn’t the case at all,” instructor Tisia Stemp tells me with an infectious laugh. In fact, Stemp’s students were so genuinely interested in the subject matter she was presenting that she had to adjust how she conducted the class. “I started having to slate 45 minutes before and after class to answer questions,” explains Stemp, whose educational pedigree includes a B.A., B.S., and M.Ed. “We had all these different students who were just looking for good information about CBD and cannabis.” Stemp believes that the popularity of her class has to do with people searching for different and untraditional options their physicians may not be presenting to them. “People are really hungry for the hard sciences and want to find alternatives to take care of themselves,” says Stemp, who taught in the Clark County School District for 16 years. “At OLLI I found that none of the students wanted to be slaves to pharmaceuticals. Either they were there because they were trying to find an alternative or because they don’t want to take opioids or they wanted to find something that will allow them to live the life they would like to.” A few of the topics Stemp covered throughout her

Stemp had certain takeaways she definitely wanted her students to carry with them as they hit the real world to visit dispensaries. “To me it was important for them to understand the difference between psychoactive and non-psychoactive

“Of course, age has its way of forcing you to do things you wouldn’t have considered before,” she says of people becoming open to cannabis use for medical reasons. parts of the plant. Also, I wanted them to know how to read labels and how to tell a good product from a bad product,” says Stemp of buying products like CBD in a nonregulated industry. “We need to know what we are looking for and if we can’t decipher that then we need to ask questions. I loved hearing about the 70-year-old ladies from my class going into the dispensaries and asking about batch numbers and expiration dates. I was so pleased they were so empowered to advocate for themselves. That was one of my goals.” As the last class of the semester begins to wind down, a few of the students share that they, feeling encouraged by Stemp and their newly acquired cannabinoid knowledge, finally felt comfortable enough to ask their physicians about using CBD as a treatment option. When Stemp inquired how that went, the students relayed that their doctors either didn’t know much or would poke fun at them for asking about cannabis wondering if they just wanted to get high. Needless to say, the students were incensed that a physician would not take their medical inquiry seriously. Stemp is unfazed by their negative experiences but that’s because she takes more of a practical approach to life. “Of course, age has its way of forcing you to do things you wouldn’t have considered before,” she says of people becoming open to cannabis use for medical reasons. “Ten years ago, if you would have asked me if I would be teaching a class on cannabis, I wouldn’t have believed it. But I am in education and that’s what I have been doing all my life— giving people information to show them how to shop better or to allow kids to discover the wonders of the world or help people who are in the fourth quarter of their life become informed so they can take better control of their health and live the kind of life they want.”

july | elevatenv.com 25

spring class included the history of cannabis, the body’s endocannabinoid system, Dr. Ethan Russo’s research (Director of Research and Development for the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute), Raphael Mechoulam’s research (scientist well known for discovering THC), and the difference between shopping for and making your own cannabis products at home. As for subject matter that was off limits, “oddly, discussions around paraphernalia couldn’t be used. And they (UNLV) preferred to limit any content regarding THC or cannabis’ psychoactive property, tetrahydrocannabinol. It’s important for us at the university not to teach a biased curriculum,” says Stemp, who is more than just an educator. She is also a believer, using her background in psychopharmacology and knowledge of naturopathy and holistic health practices to start a product line of hemp- and CBD-infused oils, body butters and creams with business partner Manny Arizala in 2017 called Abakka Fine Hemp and CBD. Stemp had to be careful not just in developing the course’s curriculum, but also in choosing her language appropriately when in class. “I needed to make sure when I spoke, I didn’t come across as promoting the use of psychoactive substances.” In addition to inviting in lecturers and guest speakers throughout the semester that included everyone from Reiki masters to chiropractors discussing cold lasers, “we would also watch documentaries and shows with Dr. Oz or Dr. Gupta. Although it was confusing because they would use hemp and cannabis interchangeability. They didn’t have a grasp of the genus and that there’s a difference between cannabinoids, which was an important part of the curriculum I wanted the students to leave with a very good comprehension of.” Understanding the differences between the various cannabinoids led to plenty of vigorous discussions during the semester. “We had scientists, integrative practitioners, there was excellent debate,” offers Stemp of the makeup of her students. “For some of my students who were retired from the pharmaceutical world, they were wholly about THC and knew nothing about CBD (cannabidiol) and they couldn’t differentiate between the two. It had been ingrained in them for so long that cannabis is THC that no matter how many times I explained the difference between THC and CBD, they couldn’t separate those cannabinoids because they had been bombarded so much with the evils of THC.” During the semester Stemp also taught her students how to interpret research. “When examining research studies, we looked at why they were doing the study, who funded it, how was it released, who stood to gain, etc. A lot of them were looking around at studies and started to be able to discern a hemp study from a THC study from a CBD study,” she explains.

elevatenv.com | july

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PROFILES IN TEACHING:

The Biochemist, Francis Jordan

elevatenv.com | july

By Josh Kasoff

“What brought me to cannabis is the plant itself,” said 30-year-old chemist Francis Jordan. “This plant is so complex and interesting that it’s still being researched today, and new things are being discovered about it.” Jordan is not the only one who has found himself fascinated with all that we don’t know about cannabis. As it becomes increasingly popular and legalized across the country—evolving into a medical alternative for a number of physical and mental conditions, the demand for research-based education surrounding cannabis is at an all-time high. During the spring 2019 and current summer semester, College of Southern Nevada (CSN) began offering a number of cannabis courses for their students interested in gaining knowledge from an accredited institution in the rapidly expanding industry that generated a kushy $70 million in sales tax and licensing revenue during its first year of retail sales in Nevada alone. Two of the cannabis classes being offered at CSN, “Cannabis 101: Industry Insight” and “Cannabis 102: Intro to Cannabinoids and Terpenes,” discuss both the history behind the plant and the framework of the regulated legal market as well as the intricacies of cannabis botany and chemistry sciences. Both of these courses are taught by Jordan whose day job is Lab Manager at Las Vegasbased cannabis testing facility MA Analytics.

From the beginning of his educational pursuits, Jordan had a deep interest in biochemistry. “It combined biology, chemistry and mathematics into a major with a good blend of all three subjects,” described Jordan, who earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Claflin University and received his master’s in chemistry at UNC Charlotte. Following his graduation from Claflin University in 2011 and a nearly year-long position as a Laboratory Assistant for the Orangeburg, South Carolina-based university, Jordan began his career in analytical chemistry, focusing on environmental issues. “My experience as a biochemist was used in environmental and production industries where I analyzed heavy metals and pesticides in various samples dealing with the environment— storm water, drain water, oils, sludge,” explained Jordan, a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, who ended up at MA Analytics due to his experience with heavy metals and pesticides, which are two of the tests that labs are required by the state of Nevada to perform on cannabis. Jordan has always had an interest and fascination with the complexities of the millions of microscopic interactions happening simultaneously within the bud of the cannabis plant. “As biochemists, we look at the chemical makeup of

The academic takeaway Jordan most hopes to instill in his students is a comprehensive understanding of the plant as a whole as opposed to only focusing solely on THC levels of a particular strain. “I’m trying to have people not forget about potency, but focus on the terpenes as well. Terpenes have the healing factors of the plant. In the 101 course we touched the surface,” said Jordan. “In 102 we’re going to break ground on the surface. I’m diving deep down into cannabinoids and terpenes. In the 101 course we touch on the 10 main terpenes and the five cannabinoids that the state talks about, but there are so many other terpenes and cannabinoids in the plant that the class could actually be a full semester.” Regarding his future plans in Nevada’s burgeoning cannabis education space, Jordan mentioned creating a full “cannabis curriculum,” consisting of the many subjects that MA Analytics, coincidentally, specializes in and routinely tests for. But at this time, these academic plans remain an aspiration. The advancements in technological and scientific cannabis research that both Jordan practices and MA Analytics conducts will ultimately prove to be groundbreaking for processes in the legalized industry—along with changing the national discussion surrounding the medical usefulness and accompanying properties of cannabis.

COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA SUMMER CLASSES csn.edu/workforce-development Dispensary Customer Service: Cannabis Products & Modes of Ingestion Training in dispensary customer service, types of products, and modes of ingestion. Instructed by cannabis consultant Jason Sturtsman at CSN Henderson campus, 1 session, $99. July 20 from 1-3 p.m. Cannabis 101: Industry Insight Learn the folklore of this plant, its anatomy and historical relevance. Introduction to the science behind the plant, its medical use and effects, plus insight into laboratory testing. Instructed by Francis Jordan of cannabis testing laboratory MA Analytics, at CSN Sahara West Center campus, 4 sessions, $89. July 16 – 25, T/TH from 7-8:30 p.m. Cannabis 102: Intro to Cannabinoids and Terpenes Part two of a two-part class looks at the endocannabinoid system and how cannabinoids correlate to the body. Covers the science behind terpenes and the entourage effect. Instructed by Francis Jordan of cannabis testing laboratory MA Analytics, at CSN Sahara West Center campus, 4 sessions, $89. July 15 – 24, M/W from 7-8:30 p.m. Cannabis Green Collar Jobs Basic overview of the cannabis industry and understanding of the structure, types of licenses, regulatory body and legal versus illegal. A cannabis facility tour is included. Instructed by Riana Durrett of the Nevada Dispensary Association, at CSN Sahara West Center campus, 5 sessions, $230. 7/26 - 8/23, Fridays from 9 a.m. -12 p.m.

july | elevatenv.com 29

medicines and products like that, but we also focus on cancer research. So that’s on line with cannabis. I’m not saying that cannabis cures cancer but cannabis can help suppress cancer symptoms. That was my interest with being a biochemist in cannabis. The research behind it and that led me to MA Analytics,” further explained Jordan. A combination of his professional and educational background in biochemistry along with his experience at MA Analytics led to the academic opportunity at College of Southern Nevada. “The class (Cannabis 101) started out as an education forum that was going to be for the public. I reached out to different individuals, and a fraternity brother of mine recommended turning the forum into a class and gave me the information to CSN’s Division of Workforce and Economic Division. Once the class was approved, I did apply to be a parttime instructor,” said Jordan. The syllabus for “Cannabis 101” provides information and research into cannabis with a goal of students becoming informed about the knowledge necessary to both increase their personal education on the use and science behind cannabis while potentially gaining an upper hand in employment within the industry. Throughout the two-week course, Jordan discusses scientific research and academic studies surrounding the botanical properties of the cannabis species. The course dives into the nomenclatures of cannabis and the physical characteristics of the plant so as to differentiate between the types. The anatomies of the plant species are also discussed, including the biological differentiations between male and female plants and the factors as to why the potency and variations of cannabis have increased so drastically over time. As for the “Cannabis 102” syllabus, it’s still a work in progress but Jordan hinted that there will be a heavy focus on the endocannabinoid system and the relationships that every cannabinoid has with the body’s central nervous system receptors, known as CB1 and CB2. The course will also cover the phytochemicals that are “the true heroes of the plant” as Jordan refers to them. Jordan hasn’t encountered many difficulties in teaching about this controversial plant. According to the biochemist, the only challenges he has experienced so far lie in which cannabis subjects to teach over others with only two weeks to capture his students’ attention. As for the demographics of his students, Jordan describes a student body as diverse as the cannabis industry itself, with students of all ages, ethnicities and levels of previous knowledge on the subject with a noticeable percentage of his students either already employed in the industry or aspiring to do so. “Then there were those who were not in the industry, nor trying to get into the industry, but instead who just wanted to learn about cannabis,” said Jordan.

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PROFILES IN TEACHING:

The Visionary, Trey Reckling

elevatenv.com | july

By Josh Kasoff

“Your path doesn’t always make absolute sense until you look back,” offered Trey Reckling, who holds the titles of Director of The Academy on Cannabis Science, and Training and Development Manager of the Seattle-based Have a Heart chain of dispensaries, of his unique journey in the field of education. Regarding his personal and professional path, even Reckling’s in wonder of the nontraditional path he’s taken. Reckling began his journey in a far more traditional field of higher education. For nearly two decades he worked at Savannah College of Art and Design in the roles of ombudsman and Director of Student Involvement. As ombudsman, Reckling taught conflict/problem resolution skills to the parties whom he acted as a mediator between by “helping students with their co-curricular activities that help make them more employable,” said Reckling. “We were always looking for ways to make sure the classroom became a practical experience or a practical application.”

Longing for a new professional opportunity, Reckling decided not only to change coasts, but also change subject matter. “We moved to Seattle because we loved the city and expected it to be ground zero for incubation of this new industry,” he recounted of seeking to get involved in cannabis. After his initial arrival to The Emerald City in 2014, Reckling became involved in almost every aspect of Seattle’s cannabis industry. Holding many positions throughout the past half-decade, Reckling has been a sales and marketing consultant for Kush Tourism, served on the board of directors of the Washington Marijuana Association, and became a cannabis writer/columnist in publications that included The French Toast, Out.com, Men’s Health, and Salon. Through all his advocacy and work in a fledging industry, Reckling noticed an area within the cannabis

Reckling teaches a variety of cannabis courses at UNLV’s Cannabis Academy. Two of the courses include the science behind cannabis’ possible benefits for veterinary medicine and how cannabis could assist in the public health battle against the nation’s opioid epidemic. “We talk about the opioid epidemic and what helped to lead us to be here culturally. We talk about the role that some pharmaceutical companies and some physicians have played in that, the risk that is posed to the public and obviously the tragedy that it’s led to. And then we talk about cannabis and how for some opioid patients, cannabis is a replacement therapy,” explained Reckling. “But we always encourage people to talk to their physicians and to never diagnose themselves and change their therapy. But we do want to give them enough information to go to their physician and mention their concerns with going on an opioid regimen or that they’d like to cut back on usage. This crisis is too serious to not consider all options and so we’re happy to engage with people who may have never considered this for themselves.” Even with the popular subject matter and the preconceived notions that the class is just about “getting high,” Reckling is crystal clear that the course isn’t meant to advocate for use of cannabis or alter anyone’s current medicine regimen. “We’re not trying to convert people or to try to encourage use. The school and I are in agreement on that. Sometimes, people might think our intent is something else and to us it’s all about public safety and helping people bring up their knowledge base.”

UNLV CANNABIS ACADEMY CONTINUING EDUCATION SUMMER COURSES register.edoutreach.unlv.edu Cannabis & the Opioid Epidemic, 7/22-8/23 Learn how some patients are using fewer opiates as a result of effective cannabis therapy. Instructed by Trey Reckling and Dr. Jake Felice, N.D., L.M.P., online class, 2 sessions, $99. Cannabis Professional, 7/22-8/23 Prepare to work in the cannabis industry. Discuss anatomy of the plant, cannabinoid science, development of cannabis industry, and discussions on the law and current regulations. Instructed by Trey Reckling, online class, 2 sessions, $99. Pets & Cannabis, 7/22-7/29 Join veterinarian Dr. Tim Shu and RVT Kate Scott as they present the options cannabis may offer to help alleviate conditions experienced by pets. Instructed by Trey Reckling, Dr. Tim Shu and RVT Kate Scott, online class, 2 sessions, $99.

july | elevatenv.com 33

community that was sorely lacking. “Education [in cannabis] was unfortunately one of those things that wasn’t being addressed. Our regulators and regulators in other states go to a lot of trouble to create a framework, and education often is not part of that conversation, especially in the early days. So, we found a part of the market that really needed us.” In January of 2016, Reckling founded the Academy of Cannabis Science. “There was no standard of cannabis education and so we set out to establish that. It was a prime time to grow up a little bit and try to do our best to raise the bar and bring the cannabis IQ up of everybody that we worked with,” explained Reckling. The Academy offers a number of classes that range in subject matter from a course that separates facts from widely believed fiction surrounding cannabis usage entitled “Beyond Folklore and Pseudoscience” to teaching consumers the proper methods to cultivate quality cannabis in their home garden. “Here in Washington, we were the first program approved by the Washington Department of Health to train medical marijuana consultants, those who would work with patients. So, we were fortunate enough to get a partnership with Seattle Central College for that and help them to found their Cannabis Institute,” said Reckling. With classes that include “Cannabis Strain Science” and “Medical Marijuana: Qualifying Conditions and Product Selection,” the subject matter of Seattle Central College’s Cannabis Institute’s selection of courses are wildly different in scope yet are equally as important for those aspiring to be either medical marijuana consultants recognized by the Washington Department of Health or hold other positions within the industry. Understanding the need for quality cannabis education in other legal states, Reckling and the Academy of Cannabis Science reached out to the Continuing Education department of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “They (UNLV) said it’s legal in our state now. What more responsible thing to do than to help prepare these people who are going to be serving the public. They recognize when we talk about keeping the community safe, one of the best things you can do is help people understand the risks, the rewards, the possible contraindications with medicine, appropriate dosing and all the rest,” Reckling said of partnering with UNLV’s Cannabis Academy. “A few years later, we’re fortunate enough now to have this additional partnership with UNLV. The Director of Continuing Education has been brave and committed and helped us to expose a lot of people who might not have had that experience or might not have taken that experience until they saw it was offered by an accredited university.”

Home Grow 101

10 Steps to Starting Your Medical Marijuana Home Garden By AJ,

budshots_nv

I became a medical marijuana patient in Nevada in 2009 and as a result have been growing medical grade marijuana at my home for the last decade. I have learned a lot through trial and error as well as from some of the best growers in the country. Over the last three years I have also worked at three different commercial cultivations in Las Vegas. I decided to start this column to help Nevada medical marijuana patients either start or better cultivate their home grows. A lot of medical marijuana patients want to grow their own medicine but don’t know where to begin. Starting a home grow can be accomplished in 10 steps. You just need to abide the 12-plant limit, stay legal and you will enjoy your own garden for years to come.

elevatenv.com | july

First you must acquaint yourself with the legalities of medical marijuana home grows in Nevada. I live in a condominium so during harvest time, the intense smell of fresh cannabis being cut and trimmed can travel through walls, floors and ceilings. On December 30, 2015, there was a knock on my door. When I looked through the peephole, I counted five plain-clothed guys with badges hanging from their necks. They knew my name and knew I was a medical marijuana patient (MMP). They asked to come in and check my cannabis grow. It was four officers from Metro's cannabis squad and one DEA agent. To summarize, they looked to see what I had just harvested two days before. They looked for signs of me trafficking cannabis illegally. After 40 minutes of searching they realized I wasn't the type of grower they were looking for. They complimented me on my grow and told me I was well within the state’s legal parameters. I will never forget that night. I now jokingly tell everyone my home grow is the only one I know of that is DEA-approved. Under Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 453A.200, MMPs are allowed to grow 12 plants total, mature or immature if: • All of the medical marijuana dispensaries in the county of residence of the person who holds the patient card are unable to supply the quantity or strain of marijuana necessary for treatment of that person’s medical condition. • A patient is ill or has lack of transportation. • No medical marijuana dispensary is operating within 25 miles of the residence of the person who holds the patient card at the time the person first applied for his or her patient card. Finally, you must either own your residence or have permission from your landlord to grow cannabis.

#2 Next, you must decide how much room you have for growing and where in your residence is the best place to grow. If

you have options on where to grow, always pick the coolest part of the residence. The lights give off heat and you want to keep your grow room under 80°. As far as space necessary, this should give you an idea. In a 5’ x 5’ tent you can grow 4 to 6 plants. In a 5’ x 10’ tent you can grow 8 to 10 plants.

I suggest using an indoor grow tent because they are designed with everything you need. They are completely reflective inside, including the floor and ceiling. Also, you can hang lights and fans in a tent without drilling holes in your ceiling. It is easier to control heat and humidity in a tent than in a whole room. The tents are easy to put together and are very sturdy.

Also, you will need to determine how much medicine you need to grow. One small to medium size cannabis plant, depending on the strain, will yield between 1 and 4 ounces of dried flower.

You should also establish a growing season. I grow twice a year: October - January and January - April. I easily grow enough in the cooler months to shut my grow down during the heat of the summer.

#6 Next, I recommend using coco coir as a grow medium. I

used it as a beginner grower then tried a lot of other mediums and ended up going back to coco, which is a byproduct of coconut fiber. It is a very "forgiving" medium for new growers.

Lighting is another important factor. Use cheaper and hotter Metal Halides (MH) for vegging and High-pressure Sodium (HPS) bulbs for flowering. These do a great job, however, they give off a lot of heat and you WILL need air conditioning in that room. The other option is relatively new in cannabis home grows, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Good LEDs give off very little heat. They will run you more up front but save you money on energy bills in the end.

july | elevatenv.com 35

Nutrients may be the most important factor in growing top shelf cannabis plants, other than starting with great genetics. It gets extremely expensive for a large cultivation to use top nutrients on a large level, however, when you are an MMP and have your own personal garden, the best nutrients on the market are affordable.

Although my medication is grown without pesticides, there are pesticides that have been approved by the state of Nevada. If you go to: agri.nv.gov/Plant/Environmental_ Services/Pesticide_Use_on_Medical_Marijuana, you will find a current list of over 75 pesticides that Nevada allows licensed commercial cultivations to use on cannabis flowers.

#10 Last is acquiring genetics, which is a very gray area. If

you know people who grow and like what they are growing, ask them for a cutting or clone, as we call it. Getting clones or cuttings from another MMP is legal. In future articles we will discuss cloning and how to easily make your own clones. You could also start with seeds, there are thousands of strains out there you can choose from. If you do decide to start with seeds, get feminized seeds if possible. This means they will all grow to be female with flowers, you don't want male marijuana plants. Otherwise, you will need to locate any male plants and get rid of them, or they will pollinate the females and you will end up with flowers full of seeds. In upcoming articles, I will be interviewing seasoned Nevada MMP home growers about growing medical marijuana. If you are an MMP in Nevada, grow at home and would like to be interviewed, or if you have any questions about growing cannabis at home, reach out to me at rookies123@aol.com.

BEKYND

INHALE/EXHALE

elevatenv.com | july

Mother-daughter duo want to spread gospel of cannabis by starting a product line Dear Shoshanna, I have had an utterly magical experience with cannabis. It has improved my life beyond words. I sleep better, I have much less anxiety, and I am just an all-around calmer person. I believe so strongly in its healing abilities that in addition to shouting about it from the rooftops, I’ve been playing with the idea of starting my own line of cannabis products so that I can help others. My mom thinks it’s a great idea and wants to partner with me so our friends and family can enjoy its benefits. What do you think? How much of an undertaking is this going to be for us? We have no experience in this arena but are deeply passionate about this plant. Dear Reader, Carl Sagan, the American scientist, author and thought leader, is to have said he found the illegality of cannabis “outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world." It sounds like you, your mother and I, would all agree. And so, thanks for your advocacy, first of all. There is still a lot of work to be done around de-stigmatizing cannabis and expanding access to folks who are not able to purchase it for themselves (for some the cost of legal weed is prohibitive, while others simply do not live in a jurisdiction where there are dispensaries or delivery services available). Granted, it is getting easier for consumers to purchase hempbased products—those that contain .3% or less THC which are labeled “hemp-based” CBD—but what if you are looking for treatments that contain more than trace amounts of THC? And what if you are a stickler for knowing that the products you are consuming—THC-containing or pure CBD—are what their packaging says they are and have been lab tested, certified by

the state, etc.? What if you are contending with a compromised immune system and need to ensure that your product is not being treated with certain pesticides or fungicides? As you’ve discovered, one option is to grow your own. As always in the world of cannabis policy, there are a number of ways that we can get confused. The important piece though, is to be clear about what we are discussing. With that said, whether we are talking about hemp (.3 THC or less) or marijuana (.3% THC or more), we are in general terms looking at a system that requires a license from the state in order to grow for commercial purposes. Hemp laws are very different at this point from the laws governing marijuana, so we’ll start there and then get to what it means for you to be growing (and preparing) cannabis at home. As far as hemp goes, to grow it for commercial purposes you need to register your activities with the state. And in a number of states, hemp licensing programs are in place much like they are for marijuana. These licensing programs, for both hemp and marijuana, are now in place in about half of the country. There are separate application processes for medical versus adult-use (“recreational”) marijuana businesses, and while in some states it’s an incredibly competitive process to achieve licensing by the state, in others it’s not. All you have to demonstrate is the general ability to do what you say you are going to do, in compliance with all rules and regulations… Note: I did not say this was easy, I just said some states are more or less competitive. So, if what you wanted to do was be part of a team that was going after a license in a jurisdiction that has legalized and implemented a permitting process, theoretically, this is possible. The caveats, though, are many. For one thing, these are capital intensive endeavors. We are talking about A LOT of money just

to get to the point of submitting an application (just the fees to the state, let alone the fees needed so that experienced application writers can work on your behalf can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars). Then there are the costs associated with demonstrating you have enough capital on hand to finish the project if you do get licensed, and the costs of actually building out and operationalizing your facility. We are talking millions. And that’s regardless of whether you are “vertically integrated” (where you grow, process and sell your own stuff, rather than just engage in one of those activities along the supply chain).

The next question in Nevada, and in every state, is what you are allowed to do with those plants once you’ve grown them. And the conditions under which you are allowed to share your flower, or products you’ve created with them (such as salves, soups or brownies). This leads to the rules around manufacturing. What is considered “manufacturing” activity that requires a license? Across the board, creating extracts is considered activity that must be licensed. When you see oils and other substances at dispensaries that consist of cannabinoids that have been extracted from cannabis, those are products that may not be derived at home, unless you are a licensed facility. Concentrates are a bit of a different animal though. Making

july | elevatenv.com 37

Let’s be clear though—what you are proposing is that you become involved commercially in the cannabis space and not go through a permitting process, which is NOT legal. What you are describing is growing and manufacturing at home and selling those products to others. This is NOT something you should do. However, there are some other ways to think about your participation in this burgeoning marketplace, and, if sharing what you are growing at home is what you would like to do, there are also avenues for this depending on the specific laws of your state. In Nevada, if you live farther than 25 miles from a

licensed dispensary, and especially, if you cannot afford or there are no delivery services that can supply you with what you need, there has been a safe harbor carved out since cannabis was first legalized. Nevada law says that if you are a registered patient, you can grow up to 12 plants at home. Under the adult-use policy that went into effect after the ballot initiative of 2016, even if you are not a registered patient, you may grow up to six plants at home, if you live 25 miles or more away from a licensed dispensary.

brownies or a salve for yourself is not an extractive process and may be considered part of the scope of what you are allowed to do with your marijuana plants within the privacy of your own home.

elevatenv.com | july

In this situation, we are also looking at a fairly gray area of law. In states where recreational cannabis is legal, if you were to have guests over to your house and you shared your â&#x20AC;&#x153;infusedâ&#x20AC;? brownies with them, you are safe. If, however, you charged any of your friends for these brownies (beyond the cost of what it took to bake them), you would very possibly be engaging in commercial activity that is prohibited under law. And because consuming cannabis in unpermitted public spaces is also illegal, if you were to bring these brownies to a potlatch barbeque in a park and you or others ate these brownies, you would also be committing a crime. While commercial cannabis activity is reserved for licensed operations at the state level, it remains illegal at the federal level. This means that trafficking marijuana carries hefty criminal penalties and not having all your paperwork in line is more than

a white-collar offense. Marijuana is still a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance and any effort to expand the reach of your products with friends or establish a brand may be interpreted as signs that you are endeavoring to engage in commercial activity. For these reasons, my best advice is to continue sharing your story with friends and family, advocate for brands and specific products that you love, activate your network via social media so that you can play a role in de-stigmatizing cannabis further, and do not engage in unlicensed commercial activity. Should you have a question or ethical conundrum you have been struggling with, please drop Shoshanna a line at info@elevatenv.com so she can offer her sage and practical counsel. Shoshanna is a partner and Director of Strategy for a national consulting firm in the cannabis space, Pistil + Stigma. She holds a Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law, a Master of Arts in Holistic Thinking, and a bachelor's degree from Hampshire College. She is a true believer that compassion and critical thinking, together, are what drive positive social change.

DISPENSARY MAP A Guide to Cannabis in Southern Nevada

RENO

PECOS RD

SIMMONS ST

JONES BLVD

ST HENDERSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

13b

D BLV PARADISE RD

AS VEG

18 AVE

215

29b

RACETRACK RD

PKW AD E ME

HORIZON RIDGE PKWY

HORIZON DR

515

GE SUNRSIDPKWY HEIGHT

16b

6TH ST

COMMERCE ST MAIN ST 3RD ST

TER WES

L RD RIA

HIG

LAS

DESERT INN RD

LAK

PECOS RD

PKWY

CACTUS AVE

O .R

RANCHO DR

AVE

WARM SPRINGS RD

HENDERSON WIGWAM PKWY 16a

UST

HLA

SET

GIBSON RD

SUN

31b

SAM BOYD STADIUM

WINDMILL LN

PEBBLE RD

MARYLAND PKWY

NELLIS BLVD

LAMB BLVD

PECOS RD

BERMUDA RD

LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH

DECATUR BLVD

HIG SO 15 HL UTH AN ER DS N PK WY

515

SILVERADO RANCH BLVD

SUNSET COUNTY PARK

AMO

E DI

BLU

LLY

KAREN AVE

D ND R

24 ST. LOUIS AVE

WINDMILL LN

E TWAIN

RUSSELL RD SUNSET RD

GREEN DISTRICT

FLAMINGO RD SANDHILL RD

MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

215

WARM SPRINGS RD

OAKEY BLVD

SAHARA AVE

IND

STR THE

23a

STEPHANIE ST

IP LAS

30b

SUNSET RD

DESERT INN RD

SAHARA AVE

LAS VEGAS TROPICANA AVE

RUSSELL RD

GREEN VALLEY

29a

MARYLAND PKWY

JONES BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

TROPICANA AVE

10a 28 15

LVD

22 23a

AS B

VEG

SAHARA AVE

FLAMINGO RD

PAHRUMP

VALLEY VIEW

DECATUR BLVD

DURANGO DR

FT APACHE RD

TOWN CENTER DR

HUALAPAI WAY

31a

10b 1 14

CHARLESTON BLVD

NELLIS BLVD

20 3

10b

MAI

32b

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

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

BLVD

159

23b

32a

CAREY AVE

RTH NO LVD NELLIS B AS AIR FORCE VEG LAS BASE

CRAIG RD

MARYLAND PKWY

LIN

NORTH LAS VEGAS

CAMINO AL NORTE / MLK

WASHBURN RD

N ST

MESQUITE

CENTENNIAL PKWY

ANN RD

HO 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

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

17. Nevada Wellness Center nevadawellnesscenters.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

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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 1736 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89104 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

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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 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

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elevatenv.com | july

(continued from page 20) In the few years that cannabis has been legal in Nevada, so much has changed in the law books, in our economy, and in our systems of education. Looking forward, it’s certain we’ll have to continue adapting to evolving regulations and the growing needs of practitioners and people hungry to learn more about what this plant has to offer. “My ultimate goal is to have a Hemp Advisory Committee,” Robinson said, describing the advisory committee as a live monthly webinar that would be archived so anyone could watch the library of informational videos at their leisure. “It would be like YouTube but with some good information.” Stemp included her wish list for the future of cannabis education in Nevada, too: “I’d like to see (Nevada’s higher education institutions’) health sciences, human services, and social sciences schools have elective courses in hemp, including the endocannabinoid system, the history, and the political and cultural impact that hemp has, especially in a state where we are really ahead of the curve.” Without higher education choices supporting so many individual needs, the cannabis industry would still be stuck in the dark, dank basement. Luckily for Nevadans, we have plenty of curated and professional courses and educators to enlighten us along the way. “The more people are educated on an industry that has had a negative stigma hovering over its head for many years,” said Hoven, “the more we can start to break that barrier down to see the truth of this beautiful plant, starting with the medical benefits.” And given the changing attitudes in our society and our knowledge of cannabis history, it’s so important to remember that cannabis, above all else, is a social justice issue. There are people who are incarcerated today—for non-violent offenses—who did very much the same sort of things people are doing legally and with a license today. “This has crushed some communities, particularly communities of color, so we don’t want to let a day pass where people just think this is all just fun and games,” Reckling emphasized. “This has meant everything to some folks and a lot of people before us have risked a lot and taken a lot of chances to get where we are. Sometimes all people want to talk about is the money and the opportunities, and while all of that is great, if we leave our responsibility in this movement out, then we’re missing a chance.”

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Elevating the Conversation

with John S. Abrams, Ph.D.

ith over 40 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, Dr. John S. Abrams brings his expertise to the cannabis arena specializing in Metrology and Chemotyping. Dr. Abrams invented a patent pending, icon-based system that communicates natural product content complexity simply and easily to consumers as well as spearheaded The Dosing Project, a web-based observational clinical study platform.

elevatenv.com | july

What about cannabis attracted you to its study? I’m 67, and I’ve been a fan of cannabis since I was about 16. It’s been a lifelong affinity. As a scientist you want to explore and understand what attracts you. For my “last turn at the wheel,” I get to pursue and do what I want with my interest and passion. I turned to cannabis science for this opportunity. Are we moving toward identifying cannabis through terpenes? That’s very much the question and what I believe is being answered in our work. Folks have become mightily interested in the different groupings, the different effects, how to make choices, how to guide decisions, whether it’s recreational or medical. It’s pretty clear that there are differences between the phytocannabinoids whether it’s THC, CBG, CBGA, THCV, etc. Then kind of overlaid on top of that is terpene differences. Varying terpene profiles potentially giving different effects may help to explain the perceived differences between “sativa” and “indica” effects. Will we move away from labeling cannabis as sativa and indica? That would be my desire and goal. It’s quite complex, it’s much easier for folks to dichotomize with a word or two. There’s a whole underlying set of rules, a whole underlying grammar, but what we need is a symbology. We have come up with this chemotype fingerprinting icon strategy and we think it’s very accessible for consumers to be able to identify different chemotypes with it—rather than stringing a whole bunch of words together that describe a set of terpenes. Wouldn’t it be better if we could just look at an icon symbol? And that’s what we have done. Have all the terpenes been identified? That question is incredibly timely for what I am doing right now. I think folks chose what terpenes to analyze because the herd was doing it and not because of anything deliberate or systematic. I think we may have missed whole classes. It looks to me like there is a hole; and I would like to rule in or out the existence of this potentially missing piece.

Do we have a good handle on each terpene’s healing properties? Terpenes are not unique to cannabis. They are across most terrestrial plants whereas cannabinoids are unique to cannabis. There is a lot of knowledge, literature, historical interest in terpenes—it goes back to a lot of botanical medicine. It’s a very deep knowledge base if you tap into it. My pet peeve with cannabis scientists in general is they don’t read the literature and they don’t do deep dives into other areas. I think the information is there, it just has to be collated and associated better with what is happening in the cannabis plant. Have we identified all of the cannabinoids? I am a big fan of the Depeche Mode song “Everything Counts (in Large Amounts).” So, I advocate looking at what is there the most of. We better characterize the big content ones first. There’s going to still be a gold mine of lots of lesser content, minor ones to deal with, but let’s understand how the big content ones work first and then we can understand how the smaller content ones work. What discoveries are you hoping to make from The Dosing Project? The goal was to try and figure out what are effective doses for cannabis as medicine by taking an observational approach. My illustrious colleague and the founder of MediCann Dr. Jean Talleyrand has a clinical approach and style where he listens and seeks to have the patient tell the clinician what to do. The patient has that information if you just listen—it’s the inverse of a lot of medical practice. We ask people what they are actually using and correlate it in a statistically meaningful manner. We wanted to establish some valid guidelines for what people are using for pain and disordered sleep in terms of smoked or vaped cannabis flower. We came up with an approximate dose of 1mpk (one milligram THC per kilogram body weight) for what most people seem to be using for an effective dose for pain and a little bit higher for sleep. We think this is paradigm-breaking, in terms of how to do clinical investigations.

july | elevatenv.com 45

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