Elevate june 2018 by Elevate Nevada Magazine

DEBUNKING MARIJUANA MYTHS Shining a neon light on widely believed cannabis narratives

Find your festival groove with the summer’s most harmonious strains Brookings Institution films documentary about “The Life She Deserves”

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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, Kayla Anderson, Josh Bell

Media Consultant: Mark Damkroeger, mark@elevatenv.com

ELEVATION PUBLISHING LLC Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Lupo

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Account Coordinator Kimberly Chang, kim@finetheagency.com elevate nevada magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors, false data or omissions. elevate nevada assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this publication or in any advertisement. elevate nevada magazine does not encourage the illegal use of any of the products or advertisements within. Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. To subscribe to elevate nevada, visit elevatenv.com/subscribe/. 7120 Rafael Ridge Way, Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: 702.855.3843 | Email: info@elevatenv.com

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America’s opioid epidemic continues undiminished down its destructive path. There are 147 deaths related to various opioid drugs every day across the country, according to a report from the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis from last year. That’s comparable to the September 11 attacks happening every three weeks, or a full jetliner crash every three days. As this drug scourge continues unabated taking with it hundreds of lives each day, states are open to any and all options to slow down the lethal overdoses. Even cannabis. Since March two of the U.S.’s 29 states with legal medical marijuana programs have changed their qualifying conditions for cannabis use to include opioid addiction. Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania face such monumental opioid epidemics that each of the states has added it to the list of conditions patients can qualify for when applying for a medical marijuana patient card. New Jersey termed its qualifier as addiction substitute therapy for opioid reduction when the state added it in March. In April, Pennsylvania added opioid-use disorder as an approved condition for medical marijuana patients. “By adding opioid-use disorder as an approved medical condition under the program, we not only give physicians another tool for treatment of this devastating disease, but we allow for research to be conducted on medical marijuana’s effectiveness in treatment,” Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Only approved

conditions under the law can be studied through our research program.” Not only is this a big help to opioid addicts, but it will also open clinical research opportunities at eight Pennsylvania universities that have been approved as Certified Academic Clinical Research Centers in the state’s medical marijuana program. “The research component of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program sets it apart from the rest of the nation,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “Today, medical research is so limited by the federal government that only a few doctors can even have access to medical marijuana. Pennsylvania’s premiere medical schools will be able to help shape the future of treatment for patients who are in desperate need not just here, but across the country.” It’s heartening to see such bold, unconventional and progressive steps in the search for solutions and answers to stem the tide of this insidious plague. Just last month our cover story focused on Nevada’s opioid epidemic and the attempts of Gov. Sandoval and the Nevada Legislature to rein it in through more stringent regulation of physicians and how they write prescriptions. Adding cannabis to treat opioid withdrawal or as addiction substitute therapy for opioid reduction are other potential regulatory options that Gov. Sandoval and our state legislators should give some serious thought to in the ensuing months as we lose one Nevadan to the opioid blight every day.

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BROOKINGS INSTITUTION SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THE LIFE SHE DESERVES IN NEW DOCUMENTARY

By Josh Bell

eleased for free online in April, The Life She Deserves is the first documentary film from renowned nonprofit public policy organization the Brookings Institution. The 21-minute film, directed, produced and co-written by Brookings creative and film director George Burroughs, tells the story of Jennifer Collins, a teenager in Virginia who’s suffered from severe symptoms of epilepsy since she was a child. Prescription drugs typically used to treat epilepsy give Jennifer horrible side effects, including weight gain, fits of rage and suicidal thoughts, but when her family discovers the use of THCA oil, a non-psychoactive

cannabinoid found in raw and live cannabis, as a potential epilepsy treatment, Jennifer’s life changes drastically. The problem is that the oil isn’t legal in Virginia, and the movie chronicles the family’s efforts to obtain the only treatment that allows Jennifer to live a normal life, using that story to lead in to a broader discussion of the inconsistency of medical marijuana policy between state laws and federal regulations. Burroughs worked closely with Brookings senior fellow John Hudak on the story, who fleshes out the story with a quick synopsis: “The film highlights how a husband-wife duo responsibly cultivate cannabis in a heavily regulated system. And the seller is a rabbi

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HOW DID YOU FIRST COME ACROSS THE STORY OF JENNIFER COLLINS AND HER FAMILY? John [Hudak] had met Beth [Collins] through a panel discussion or a talk he had done. When we first started working with John on maybe doing something around marijuana, we hadn’t entertained them yet, until John wrote a piece called The Medical Marijuana Mess, and then we had met the family for the first time. At that time we interviewed [parents] Pat and Beth. Jenn was 15 or going on 16, I think. And we only photographed her.

WAS THE FILM ALWAYS INTENDED TO INCORPORATE A PERSONAL STORY? Yes, although this particular personal story grew out of talking to the family. Brookings has empirical research, they have data, and they have analysis. Which means white papers and research abstracts, as well as data that just gets published. But how do you capture the human story? It doesn’t really jump off the page, so a documentary is the right tool for this. And that’s why we chose a documentary—so you could see the American experience that the Collins have gone through.

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who, inspired by his father-in-law’s decades-long battle with MS, opened a family business where he dispenses cannabis to a wide variety of patients—just a stone’s throw from the same institutions of government that label him a narco-trafficker.” The film is the first of a new initiative for the public policy institute to use documentary filmmaking to present important issues to the general public. elevate spoke to Burroughs from his office at Brookings to learn more about this unique film.

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AS A FILMMAKER HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE PERSONAL STORY WITH CONVEYING POLICY INFORMATION? For the documentary we said, okay, let’s set this up. When you have data, you usually have percentages and numbers, but each percentage and any figure of data represents a human being. So we thought it was the right decision to tell their story first, and set up what they had been going through. And then work it into John toward the end. We actually did reel back some of the information that we could’ve put in there around policy, because we wanted people to see the effect of federal legislation, or lack thereof, on a family. We wanted to show that and not tell that. The beauty, since we are Brookings and we are a think tank, is that someone can watch this documentary, and if they want to learn more, they can go read more blog posts from John on FixGov [Brookings blog]. They could pick up his book, Marijuana: A Short History. They could watch any other interviews he’s done. They could pick up any white papers he’s written on the issue. It’s kind of like this trifecta. (continued on page 33)

elevatenv.com | june

FIND YOUR FESTIVAL GROOVE... with the harmonious strains of summer

elevatenv.com | june

By Justin Alexander

Music is one of the best parts of life—it creates memories, accentuates moments, and burrows deep into our souls to create emotions, both sad and joyful. Hence, the plethora of music festivals that begin in the spring and continue through to the end of summer. There are two schools of thought surrounding the way you should go about choosing cannabis for a music festival. Depending on what kind of festival experience you want to have, you can either go with an indica and fall deep into the nuances of the sound or try a sativa that will keep your energy up and your body moving to the beat. Either way, cannabis and music have always had a synergistic relationship. Many believe that using cannabis with music elevates the experience, opening the mind and its perceptions to all that lies under the surface. “Music can help alter moods and increase senses,” says TJ Hoven, general manager of The Grove. “Add marijuana to the mix and those feelings and senses are heightened.” Senses are heightened to the point that music even sounds different. “Since cannabis can make the user feel as though time is slowing down, it may allow us to hear a song or album differently. We may hear something we've never heard before by taking the time to slowly relax, wind down, and take in what the artist is trying to convey,” explains Laura Schmidt of The+Source. It’s also been said that cannabis signifies a boost in musical IQ—with the mind focusing on new things about old songs. “Complicated time signatures begin to make more sense and subtleties you had never noticed before start to surface, creating a new but uniquely familiar experience,” says Brandon Damman of Euphoria Wellness. Whether it’s a matter of synergy, heightened senses or musical IQ, there’s a slew of cultivators in the Nevada marketplace who have an array of strains that will make your festival going experience quite a melodious one.

FLAVRX FIRE OG AND EVERGREEN ORGANIX SUNSCREEN There’s always a soundtrack to every season and the perfect strains to pair it to as you drift the days away in a cannabis haze. When you want to go for a thumping loud, get-up and get pumped summertime vibe, try FlavRX Fire OG at 60.53% THC. A sativa-dominant hybrid bred from a SFV OG phenotype, the taste hits the palate like a ten on the volume-control knob with flavor notes of skunk, pine and lemon that results from a terpene mix of b-pinene (4.84 mg) and b-caryophyllene (6.90 mg). It will have you listening over and over again—for hours in fact—to your favorite rock jam as the buzz is cerebral and euphoric. Expect a hearty appetite with this vape as well, so when the munchies call set your picnic to music, too.

Also, a necessity to combat the brutal desert sun when outdoors at a music festival is a bottle of Evergreen Organix cannabis-infused sunscreen. While it won’t get you high, it does help with pain and inflammation. Dosed at almost 100 mg THC per bottle, lather up and enjoy the paraben-free, anti-aging and pain relief benefits of this topical cannabis product. With an SPF of 30 it provides ample coverage for all-day musical mayhem and blocking UVA/UVB rays.

8 FOLD 702 BLEND VAPE PEN

STATE FLOWER CANNABIS’S SHAPESHIFTER “About seven years ago I had the good fortune to visit Malawi and trace my family’s history through Southern Africa. The people I met and the places I saw were nothing short of incredible. I smoked freely, and the uplifting euphoric effects had me partying all night to the sounds of Caribbean and African music with the villagers around the lake where the

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“Cannabis and music go together like peanut butter and jelly— they complement one another by amplifying the different sounds that compose a piece,” says Laura Schmidt of The+Source in Las Vegas. “I find that the bass hits a little harder when I'm high. I love when I'm experiencing a heavy cerebral high that makes the fluttering of chimes or shimmering of guitars really pop. We may hear something we've never heard before by taking the time to slowly relax, wind down, and take in what the artist is trying to convey.” Somewhere between the mental expansion qualities of electronic dance music and the calm, cool, collected twang of country, the 702 Blend is a true hybrid comprised of four different strains—Jelly Bean, 24kt Gold, Bruce Banner and Glass Slipper. This blend provides a balanced experience due to the unique terpene mix of b-caryophyllene (4.15 mg), linalool (1.76 mg), and alpha-humulene (1.24 mg). A combination of 81% THC, 2.07% CBN, and 1.35% CBG results in a diversity of taste and effects, much like musical genres.

famed Malawi landrace is grown,” says Daniel Wacks, cofounder and CEO of State Flower Cannabis. “I recognize the same, very unique, clear-headed high in Shapeshifter. It certainly has a bit of a haze and purple indica effect as well, making it more of a full spectrum experience than the Malawi landrace on its own. A strong floral perfume nose gets louder and louder after an extended curing process required to optimize these dense buds.” A four-way cross of Old Man's Purp x Malawi x NL Haze x Memory Loss grown by State Flower, bred and hunted by Cult Classic Seeds and bestowed upon the cannabis community by Purple City Genetics, Shapeshifter, at 17.65% THC, is a sativa best enjoyed in the morning with a cup of coffee. On a musically infused day, begin with Shapeshifter, and bring it along as you bounce between your favorite playlists.

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KABUNKY KWICK STICK FRUIT SALAD VAPE PEN Kabunky’s Fruit Salad vape offers users a quick, disposable deliciousness that delivers a fruity, flavorful punch packed with an array of tasty terpenes including myrcene (8.1 mg), limonene (16.8 mg), linalool (9.2 mg), caryophyllene (33.2 mg), and pinene (7.8 mg). Fruit Salad is an indica-dominant strain that mixes Agent Orange x Banana Kush x Strawberry, so you know the whole jam band is invited to a fruit-forward party in your mouth as you groove to the latest hot tunes. You can expect an uplifting, happy high with a mix of cannabinoids that include 218 mg THC, 2.3 mg CBD, and 23.3 mg CBN and may have you delivering hugs to your fellow music devotees. Share the Kabunky—because everyone loves a groovy fruit salad on a hot summer day!

VIRTUE’S GELATO FLOWER At the end of a day spent racing between sets, dancing nonstop, and expending way more serotonin than usual, the average festivalgoer may be a little fatigued. Enter Virtue’s Gelato flower. A

well-known strain, Gelato “has a strong effect compared to other less potent varieties. I find this variety better to relax than be active,” says Virtue’s Heather Marnell Wallace. Gelato is also very high in THCA, an anti-inflammatory compound that helps ease pain and minimize nausea. “This strain recently tested at over 38% THCA, almost breaking a local lab’s machinery,” shares Wallace. You’re gonna need that THCA—a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in raw and live cannabis—after a long summer day. It doesn’t just pack a medicinal punch, Gelato also has massive THC levels. “It’s a very potent, high-terpene strain that consistently tests over 28% THC with around four percent terps,” says Wallace, who adds, “Gelato alters your perception and, in many cases, allows you to focus on the melody and not be distracted by white noise.”

MATRIX NV DISPOSABLE VAPE PENS

CITY TREES’ ENERGY VAPE PEN Just as its name promises, City Trees’ Energy Vape Pen will give you a burst of energy. Essential to any game plan for attacking a music festival full throttle, this discreet, powerful vape pen packs a punch quickly and effectively. “A festivalgoer may feel like they never want the music to

MINT BLACK 40mg THC BLACK BAR 40mg THC SALTED CARAMEL BLONDIE 40mg THC FIFTY ONE FIFTY 40mg THC MINT DIP 20mg THC PEANUT BUTTER DIP 20mg THC REVERSE DIP 20mg THC CHOCOLATE DIP 20mg THC CHOCOLATE CHIP 20mg THC WHITE CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO 20mg THC GINGER CHEW 20mg THC SATURDAY MORNING 20mg THC

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When lining up the essentials for a full weekend of peak musical enjoyment, Matrix NV has a few items that will make the trip more melodic. To keep the day going, Matrix NV’s Sour Apple Bubba hybrid pen (at 75.98% THC) tastes like a fruit-forward candy that exudes the refreshing qualities of a popsicle on a hot summer day with a terpene makeup of b-myrcene (14.01 mg), ocimene (2.93 mg), and pinene (1.73 mg). Whereas Matrix’s PAX Era Evolution OG Hybrid is an indica-dominant strain that will definitely drive you straight to chill-out mode for some relaxing couch time by the fan. With 72.48% THC, Evolution OG has a terpene blend of limonene (18.01 mg), b-caryophyllene (2.46 mg), and b-myrcene (8.17 mg). Finally, Matrix’s 300mg disposable Do-Si-Dos vape pen delivers a rich cookie essence, maximizing smiles as you add miles to your musical mind expansion with a cannabinoid makeup of 74.45% THC, .01% CBD, and .02% CBN and a terpene mix of limonene (7.6 mg), linalool (4.7 mg), and b-caryophyllene (4.9 mg).

GOURMET TASTE

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stop,” says City Trees’ Kawehi Galuteria. “The Energy vape will let you dance the night away, and keep you going when you need a pickme-up.” This sativa strain has “a delicate ratio between alpha and beta pinene and limonene. These terpenes are often found in sativa strains, but we've balanced them out to allow for an uplifting and focused feeling without the negative or distressed reactions,” adds Galuteria. That means you can keep rocking your socks off without the intense buzz and depressing caffeine come-down of your regular old cup of joe. So, give City Trees a puff instead, your nerves will thank you. Although your ears will definitely need some plugs. “When it comes to cannabis and music together, you're able to tune into the frequencies you might have missed, and it can even deepen the love you already have for music,” says Galuteria.

SUMMA CANNABIS’ GREASE MONKEY AND MOTHER’S MILK FLOWER AT EUPHORIA WELLNESS When it comes the kind of experience you want to have at a music festival, you can either go with an indica and fall deep into the nuances of the sound or you can try a sativa which will keep you going and moving to the beat. Strains that match both these vibes are Summa’s super heavy indica Grease Monkey and its bouncy sativa Mother’s Milk. Mother’s Milk, a cross of Appalachian and Nepali OG, offers a long-lasting mind and body high—if used before going to sleep, it could last into the next morning. “Mother’s Milk can diversify your festival experience and allow the user to benefit from the best of both worlds,” explains Brandon Damman of Euphoria Wellness of the strain that tests at 23.94% THC, 1.39% D9THC, and 25.71% THCA. “A sativa-dominant hybrid tends to be my choice when preparing for a jam/listening session. This strain is unique in the way that the indica leaning effects bring down my anxiety level enough to allow me more enjoyment of the uplifting characteristics, which are what positively stimulates my perception of music.”

A cross between Cookies and Cream and Gorilla Glue 4, Grease Monkey offers a completely different experience from Mother’s Milk, with a heady beginning and a relaxing body finish that tests at 27.986% THC, 2.862% D9THC, and 28.64% THCA.

CANNABIOTIX ORANGE COOKIES FLOWER

SATIVAS FROM REMEDY: KING TUT OG AND ISLAND SWEET SKUNK FLOWER & CLEMTRAILS LIVE RESIN VAPE CARTRIDGE “Few things in life are as great as good music, killer herb and awesome company,” says Randy Villarba, marketing and wholesale manager for Remedy/TerpX. “Cannabis has always been a common thread with music, from musicians to their fans.” And Remedy has many strains that make good companions for the music fest attendee. For quick easy dosing, Clemtrails Live Resin Vape Cartridge is a cross of Clementine and Durban Poison, both popular sativas. “The name is a play on the

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“Cannabis allows us the unique opportunity to not only listen to music in a fresh, unconventional way, but to also help water the creative garden that is already present in ourselves,” says Megan Landers from Cannabiotix. The link between music and cannabis is not just in water but also can be found in basic biology. “Cannabis and music have a long history of intertwined enjoyment, but that's all thanks to the endocannabinoid system already present in our bodies,” notes Landers. “An electroencephalogram (EEG) test, which evaluates electrical activity in your brain, shows that cannabis affects the areas that process what you see and hear.” Cannabiotix’s Orange Cookies smokes as delightful as it sounds and can be summed up as mouthwatering with a long-lasting mellow high. Tangy citrus notes are the best part of this beautiful flower which sports a terpene makeup of limonene (5.1 mg), myrcene (1.6 mg), linalool (.8 mg), pinene (.8 mg), and caryophyllene (2.3 mg). “This is a unique strain due to how it balances both sides of the spectrum,” says Landers. "You are able to receive all the benefits of an uplifting and energetic strain, while also receiving great joint and muscle relief from those pains after dancing all day and night in those shoes that seemed like a good idea at the time. Day or night, you can’t go wrong with this beautifully balanced hybrid.”

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"chemtrails" that most tinfoil hat theorists say we are being poisoned by,” Villarba says of oil that is 79.50% THC, 1.2% CBD, and .557% CBN. “Many a discussion of whether or not chemtrails are real have been had while hitting a Clemtrails live resin pen.” On the flower side of Remedy’s sativa selections, there’s King Tut OG and Island Sweet Skunk, both offering superb pain relief benefits that will keep you engaged in the concert-going experience. “These are perfect choices if you are looking for that euphoric high while headed out to enjoy some live music,” says Villarba.

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THE GROVE’S CITRUS SAP FLOWER

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“Music and cannabis have long gone hand-inhand, helping create a calm, fun, positive environment that complements mind, body and soul,” says TJ Hoven, general manager of The Grove. “Recall and understanding rhythms are all heightened with marijuana. Marijuana can also cause the brain to lose the ability to separate relevant and irrelevant stimuli, which gives the user the ability to arrange things by sound, seeing colors and notes, instead of geometric patterns while smoking and listening. Relaxing of the mind will also play a huge role allowing the user to be in the moment and absorb the beauty and escape of music.” One of the best ways to absorb the music is with Citrus Sap, a cross between hybrid Gorilla Glue #4 and Tangie, a sativa. Like the name suggests, the flavor is a pungent citrus with 22.2% THCA and the effects are everything you want to go along with music: happiness, relaxation, uplifted spirit creativity and euphoria. “Citrus Sap is known to promote laughter and socialization, which alleviate stress and depression,” Hoven says, noting its blend of terpenes [b-caryophyllene (5.09 mg), limonene (4.76 mg), and a-humulene (1.75 mg)] promotes relaxation but also increases energy. “It is known to help with inflammation and pain and allows for the user to relax, which are all beautiful attributes for a consumer to dive into music, and their moments.”

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HEALING THE POWER OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

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relocated so he could be close to his kids. “Once I got there my health started deteriorating. When I got out of the hospital I went from being bedbound Peter Loughead, 42, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in to being in a February 2012, uses cannabis to successfully treat his condition. wheelchair and by the time I left I was using both a walker and a cane. I started the smell, and I still think it smells like a regressing once in Missouri. The winters skunk peed in a tent.” But Loughead’s alternative was were really hard on me,” he relays. traditional pain medications of which However, it was in Missouri that he wasn’t a fan either. “With the kind Loughead discovered cannabis despite

I was really hesitant at first,” Loughead recalls, who is a former police officer, “I’m not a big cannabis fan, I never was. I didn’t like the smell, and I still think it smells like a skunk peed in a tent.” the state not having any legal marijuana legislation in place. “I was really hesitant at first,” Loughead recalls, who is a former police officer, “I’m not a big cannabis fan, I never was. I didn’t like

of conditions I have with neuropathy, I could get pain medications if I wanted them. I could get anything I want from my doctor. I took them and I didn’t like them. I knew the dirty side to them

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“Cannabis has enabled me to unlock normalcy, which is important because I just want to be normal again,” explains Peter Loughead, 42, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in February 2012. “I have been able to restore a large portion of that normalcy to my life. There have been many times where depending on what’s going on with my body and it doesn’t want to work or I am trapped in bed, things can really take a different turn. In 2012 after I got diagnosed there were some serious thoughts about whether I wanted to continue on this journey.” Not only did Loughead decide to continue the journey, he decided to forge his own path which has included Las Vegas. When he was diagnosed with MS, Loughead lived in Texas and was a fulltime student working toward his doctorate in psychology. He realized upon diagnosis that his life would never be the same. “The reality was I was never going to be able to open a practice. It’s too much stress. Even school was a lot of stress which exacerbates MS and can cause flareups,” explains Loughead, who ultimately did not finish his degree. Instead he chose to follow his exwife, her new husband, and children to Missouri where they had recently

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it actually worked more than it just made me feel better. That was the first time I saw it shut down that activity in my body.” It was a defining moment for Loughead who didn’t want to leave Missouri and his children so he became an activist, starting a petition to make medical marijuana legal in the Show-Me state. He worked with other activists to get a constitutional amendment on the Missouri ballot in 2016. This effort would require 167,000 signatures, and they got 260,000. “We figured 100,000 extra was a good safety net because we knew we were swimming uphill,” explains Loughead. “But 12 of the district attorneys from the state of Missouri took us to court to challenge the validity of our signatures. And those 12 DAs and one judge decided the fate of Missouri and they decided we were 23 signatures short because they disqualified those 23 for certain reasons. “And that was it. We couldn’t get it on the ballot. That

from my law enforcement career. I really didn’t even want to try them when they gave them to me in the hospital. But there they were, and you could have them and have as much as you wanted,” recalls Loughead. “They do get rid of the pain, they make everything numb but you are sleeping 17 or 18 hours a day. You are a zombie, you are irritable, you don’t want to be around people, and that’s not a quality of life.” Loughead’s dislike for opioids led him to start looking at other options. As for trying cannabis, “there was no real catalyst, there was not an a-ha moment. It was more like the straw that broke the camel’s back. I started with flower that was all black-market stuff and when I found it, wow, what a big difference,” he relays. It was during a trip to Colorado in April 2017 that Loughead realized how valuable cannabis could be if it was a quality product and not something from the black market. He visited a Denver dispensary and bought some sativa edibles and within 15 minutes of eating them he noticed a difference. “I was having a hard time with the cold, my hands were balled up and drawn close to my chest and my legs were bouncing with muscle tremors similar to Parkinson’s then I ate the gummies and could actually use my left hand and my legs weren’t bouncing,” recalls Loughead. “That’s the first time I ever noticed that

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Loughead and his wife reviewed their options and decided they needed to move to a state with legal marijuana and Las Vegas was their best choice. “The cannabis market in Nevada is not as good for a patient as Colorado by far, but on the flipside the weather affects me when it snows. And I knew being a tourist town, Las Vegas was going to be handicap accessible. Missouri was not handicap accessible. I weighed out a lot of the different things and Vegas won, I am here. The quality of life is much better, my wife and I are much happier.” Since moving to Las Vegas last August and getting access to medical-grade cannabis, Loughead has seen a marked improvement in his condition. “A year and a half ago I was on home healthcare, I couldn’t even go to my doctor’s office, my physical therapist had to come to my house. Less than a year later, I have lost 40 lbs., dropped three prescription drugs, I’m walking again, standing, cooking,” says Loughead. “I have actually been able to get out of my chair with the regular use of cannabis. I now walk around my house. It’s night and day. Yesterday my physical therapist was talking to me about my goals. He asked if I want to be able to go to the store without my walker. I hadn’t even thought that far ahead.” Loughead has experimented with many forms of

june | elevatenv.com 21

was when I had to go home with my tail between my legs and I knew that everything I was fighting for was over. But I didn’t have time to wait until 2018 for us to try again. I was fearful every day that my wife was going to get fired, that we were going to lose our house, I would be cut off from my kids. There were just too many variables.” Instead Loughead decided to see what life would be like without cannabis. “I went off it for six months and I was almost bedbound again and that’s when my wife and I decided we are out of here because I am going to die trying to fight this here in Missouri and that’s not something we were willing to do,” he explains. “I had to flee, and I don’t like the fact that I had to run and hide. I am an upstanding citizen, I was a doctoral student, why the hell am I in hiding? If wanted to get blasted on opiates, I could do that. If I wanted to be drunk every day on Jim Beam, I could do that. It’s a sad state of affairs.”

elevatenv.com | june 22

cannabis to find what works best for him since moving to Las Vegas last summer. “I started using different strains of flower to see what I could get the most effect out of. It’s an expensive and lengthy process and nobody can give you the answer. It’s trial and error,” he explains. “I tried a whole slew of flowers and found indica helps me relax and stops muscle tremors and sativa helps me stay focused.” In his trial and error, Loughead has found that edibles work best for him. “We found a coconut oil and we were able to make cookies. Once I did that the edibles made a night-and-day difference. I wasn’t having to smoke constantly so my throat wasn’t sore and they last so much longer. It’s the difference between eating a multi-vitamin and eating an orange. My body just felt so different. I regained functionality, I wasn’t so drowsy. I didn’t have the haziness from the psychoactives. I wasn’t high so then I could be more normal.” When the coconut oil he had been using was discontinued, Loughead started making his own from cannabis concentrate. “Since I have been making my own edibles with concentrates I have regained even more

function from my hands and feet. I can actually put my feet flat on the floor now and before I could never put my heel all the way down, almost like I was walking around

We found a coconut oil and we were able to make cookies. Once I did that the edibles made a night-and-day difference. I wasn’t having to smoke constantly so my throat wasn’t sore and they last so much longer. ” in high heels. I have recently been able to type with both hands and I haven’t used two hands to type since I stopped going to school. That was an a-ha moment.” Of which Loughead has had many. “In a normal situation, if I go without marijuana for an hour my arm will start to draw up. If we are out for three or four hours and I don’t have a cookie or my vaporizer with me, my leg will start to bounce, I might start to stutter a little bit. Then I eat a cookie and in 20 minutes I am fine,” says Loughead, who adds, “My goal is to recapture normal. You can’t put a price on normalcy.”

THINGS ARE JUST GETTING SPROUTED.

june | elevatenv.com 23

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Debunking Marijuana Myths The truth about widely believed cannabis narratives by Beth Schwartz

Does cannabis cause anxiety? Well, it depends. “There is definitely no evidence that cannabis does cause anxiety in certain people,” explains Dr. Scott Jacobson. “But, certainly paranoia is a side effect of taking too much cannabis, especially for people who are not accustomed to using cannabis.” Dr. Jacobson of Wishing Wellness Medical goes on to describe a study that came out last year that investigated semiregular cannabis users for better insight into cannabis’ effects on anxiety. Dr. Jacobson described the study’s participants as “people who didn’t use every day but used on average a couple of times a week.” The study tested participants by putting them in stressful situations and then had them do some tests to determine whether they did better with cannabis or without cannabis, using several different doses. “They found a dose-

dependent relationship,” explains Dr. Jacobson. “In other words, in low doses, THC actually reduced anxiety. However, if you increase the dose past a certain point, it will actually cause anxiety so it kind of had the opposite effect. So, the answer to the question is it both reduces anxiety and increases anxiety in a dose-dependent manner.” Dr. Jacobson mentions cannabidiol (CBD) as another choice for treating anxiety. “Some of the studies on anxiety have really been positive with CBD which does not cause anxiety,” he notes. “Researchers have found very positive results in reducing anxiety with CBD. I have experienced this a lot in my practice, I recommend a lot of CBD in spray or vape form for anxiety and it helps more in prevention than it does in an acute attack of anxiety.”

june | elevatenv.com 24

here are many widespread beliefs out in the world that everybody clings to when the subject of cannabis comes up in conversation. Of course, one figment that has been greatly dispelled in recent years is the idea that cannabis has no medicinal properties. For those keeping up, we disprove that belief every month in the pages of this magazine as it applies to a whole host of conditions, ailments, and diseases. But there are many other common assumptions swirling like smoke through the universe that may have some basis in fact or perhaps not so much. We think you will be surprised to learn that a couple of beliefs the cannabis community attests to are more fake than real. Read on to find out what you might be falsely spreading and contributing to cannabis’ mythical nature.

Cannabis for treating glaucoma? Not so much.

Is cannabis addictive? Yes, kinda. Addiction is very complex. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM], which is the manual used by clinicians that contains descriptions and symptoms of all mental disorders classified by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), addiction is defined as a substance use disorder. Substance use disorders are in the DSM for many different psychoactive substances: alcohol, cocaine, the whole class of opiates, and psychedelic drugs like LSD and PSP. Cannabis has a distinction as a substance that can cause a use disorder. So as defined in this way, yes, cannabis is addictive. “There is a lot of criteria that can make somebody have a disorder when using a substance,” explains Dr. Scott Jacobson of Wishing Wellness Medical. “One of the criteria for substance abuse disorder says that substance causes you to seek it out. Does it cause you to have cravings for it? Or an urge to use the substance? Do you develop a tolerance to it? Do you have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it? The answers to all those questions can be yes for some people with regard to the use of cannabis.” However, not everyone develops or experiences these. In fact, it’s a pretty low percentage of people who use cannabis that develop substance use disorders. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), nine percent of people who use cannabis will become dependent on it, which is much lower than cocaine (17%), heroin (23%) or alcohol (15%). “Can you use the substance and not be addicted?” asks

Dr. Jacobson, “I think yes. I would say you can definitely be addicted to cannabis but it’s a much lower risk of developing a substance use disorder than any other substances and I think you also have to take into account the potential benefits of cannabis. With every medicine there’s risk and benefits and you always have to weigh those, but I think the risk of addiction is small and the complications with cannabis are pretty small. Most people who use cannabis don’t become addicted to it.” But there is still a significant number of people who can become addicted. In 2014, 4.2 million people ages 12 and up met criteria for a substance use disorder based on marijuana use, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Dr. Jacobson lists cannabis’ telltale signs of addiction as affecting relationships you are in or your ability to function. “For some people it does have a negative impact,” he continues. “Another thing to consider is the chemical or physical addiction. There are also some withdrawal symptoms especially in heavy users. We do see cannabis withdrawal syndrome so people who use heavily and then stop will often have irritability, a hard time sleeping, and these things are considered a withdrawal, and they tend to get better after a few days.” But he clarifies, “None of the withdrawal symptoms are dangerous or would require hospitalization but certainly they can be uncomfortable making it difficult to stop using which incentivizes people to continue using.”

june | elevatenv.com 25

For decades we have heard references to people using cannabis to treat glaucoma, but it turns out it’s not such a good idea. For glaucoma, which is a disease of the optic nerve that is usually associated with high intraocular pressure involving fluid inside of the eye that experts pressure causing gradual loss of vision, there is a much more straightforward treatment option. According to Dr. Jennifer Burke, OD, of Eyediology Vision Care, currently the only way to treat glaucoma is by lowering eye pressure. “Nowadays, the first line treatment for glaucoma is taking an eyedrop which is something that does not adversely affect someone’s quality of life. It depends on the patient, but for most people it’s a once-a-day eyedrop,” says Dr. Burke. But what about using cannabis to treat glaucoma? “That’s one of the myths that patients always ask me about because they hear about it in the movies or on TV,” says Dr. Burke, who explains cannabis is not the most effective treatment for glaucoma. “I’m not a stick in the mud about marijuana -- I do know there are legitimate medicinal properties of marijuana that can help you with a variety of health ailments but as far as glaucoma, it’s really not the most effective treatment.” Although it has been proven that cannabis lowers inner

ocular pressure, it is short acting. “It only lasts for maybe three hours and then you must dose again, and glaucoma is a lifelong condition. It’s not a short-lived situation. You would have to wake up multiple times in the middle of the night because you wouldn’t want to experience pressure highs and lows. Just like you don’t want blood pressure or blood sugar highs and lows because that can actually cause more damage. So, for those patients who don’t have medical insurance and wish to selfmedicate, they can actually do harm by trying to occasionally smoke pot to control their eye pressures. Glaucoma is definitely a medical issue that needs to be managed by a doctor,” explains Dr. Burke. She also goes on to explain that smoking in general is not optimal for your vision because it increases your risk for macular degeneration. “Whether it’s smoking cannabis or smoking a cigarette, that’s an associated risk factor. People who smoke have a higher risk of developing macular degeneration so that’s definitely something you have to weigh,” says Dr. Burke. “A lot of people don’t realize smoking can affect their eyesight, they always think of their lungs and their heart, but eyesight is something to consider as well. If you are a regular smoker, it does increase your risk for problems in your central vision as you get older.”

Munchies: Are they for real? Q: Did you hear about the time Mark Paul Gosselaar got high and had the munchies? A: He was Saved by the Taco Bell. After smoking a bowl, girls just wanna have Funyuns.

elevatenv.com | june

Wake & Bacon. Cannabis’ reputation for causing cravings for junk food is often joked about among users and non-users alike. But is it true or not? “Munchies are definitely real,” confirms Dr. Scott Jacobson of Wishing Wellness Medical. “One of the things that has been studied pretty extensively is the use of cannabis for cachexia or wasting for chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS patients to stimulate their appetite. We know that it has that effect on the body.” As for specific strains, Dr. Jacobson says cannabis’ stimulating effect on appetite is pervasive. “A lot of people ask me if there are certain strains that are better for munchies and I have not found one that does not cause munchies,” he explains with a chuckle. As for why cannabis causes hunger pangs especially for junk food, Dr. Jacobson notes that “cannabis improves or intensifies all of our body’s sensations -- our connection with music, with food, with taste, with sex, everything is intensified. So being on cannabis is going to make that more intense and more pleasurable.”

Shutting the door on cannabis as a gateway drug The term gateway drug was coined over 40 years ago but, surprisingly, not with regard to cannabis. In the early 1970s, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) gave funds to Dr. Denise Kandel to research marijuana as a possible gateway drug. Dr. Kandel’s research suggested it was nicotine, not marijuana, that was most likely to lead to the use of harder drugs because nicotine primes the brain for addiction. “When I did the analysis, I found that there was a certain sequence that young people seem to be following when they got involved in drugs. They did not start with marijuana, but they started with drugs that are legal for adults in the society, such as beer and wine and cigarettes, other forms of alcohol,” Kandel recalled during an interview she gave to NPR in April 2015. Over the decades, Kandel’s research was twisted and marijuana became maligned as a stepping stone to heroin and other illegal substances. There are still people who believe marijuana is a one-way path toward drug addled self-destruction, despite there being no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs concludes a “Marijuana and Medicine” study from the Institute of Medicine.

june | elevatenv.com 27

Cultivating Clean Cannabis

Lab testing brings critical legitimacy to cannabis’ growth in the Silver State

elevatenv.com | june

by Kayla Anderson

There’s an advertisement making the rounds showing two joints that look exactly the same -- except one is supposedly chock full of cadmium, mercury, lead, and nickel. Since cannabis is an accumulator plant (as in, it soaks up everything out of the soil -- the good and the bad), the team at elevate wondered how the lab testing process in Nevada keeps consumers safe from harmful chemicals making their way into cannabis products. As the laws keep changing and the cannabis industry continues to rapidly grow, how clean is the weed that makes it from seed to sale? What do Nevada entities do to protect consumer health? A few Nevada cannabis testing laboratories, the Department of Taxation, and the Clean Green certification program weigh in…

A Snapshot of a Nevada Laboratory Before Nevada’s cannabis products can be sold in dispensaries, they must be tested by a state-approved independent testing lab. There are currently nine licensed labs in operation in Nevada, regulated by the Department of Taxation. As mandated in the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC), the labs test lot sizes that are up to 5 lbs. for flower, 15 lbs. for trim, and 125 lbs. for wet material. Founded by three partners with extensive backgrounds in toxicology, science, chemistry, and even aviation, 374 Labs, LLC in Sparks, Nevada has worked with about 18 cultivators in Northern Nevada and was the first lab in the state to receive ISO accreditation.

374 Labs collects 10 grams of flower in a sterile container to test for pesticides, microbial, micro-toxins, heavy metals, cannabinoids, terpenes, and moisture. “We’re basically taking a subsection of a big lot…we get them as full buds and then grind it up because it’s hard to walk out of here with sawdust in your pocket and also it is beneficial in this form to get a more homogenous sample,” says 374 Labs Managing Partner Alec Garcia. In a sterilized testing room with special instruments, a one-gram sample is dropped into a tube and diluted with a pH buffered formula to help draw out the toxins. After being shaken for at least 30 minutes to separate out the micro-contamination, the sample is plated on specific petri dishes and left in incubators at the specified temperatures for approximately 24 to 72 hours depending on the contaminate being cultured. When it comes out, testers look for substances that include E. coli, salmonella, total coliforms, total yeast and mold. The state has set zero tolerance for E. coli, salmonella, and certain strains of Aspergillus that have recently been linked to respiratory problems. Garcia points out a station in his lab facility where they weigh the samples out for each type of test to isolate specific elements in a strain of cannabis. Metals and organic materials are digested and trace elements are left over, like cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and lead. 374 Labs rarely sees instances of metals in a sample, but it does happen.

“We’ve had few a fails for cadmium or from crazy nutrients; a lot of it depends on what kind of dirt or medium you’re using. One place in Fallon had arsenic in the soil -- not crazy amounts, but it could all depend on where you are growing and if you’re on city water or pulling off a well. But, overall, I think Nevada has been good, mainly because cannabis is grown indoors and many growers use filtered water and tested inputs,” says Garcia. To test potency samples, 374 Labs extracts the plant material then dilutes it in a vial and runs it through an instrument. 374 Labs runs its samples through both gas chromatography and liquid instruments to test for pesticides, using heat and pressure to draw out certain substances or see how they’ve changed. In testing cannabis concentrates, 374 Labs correlates weight percent to unit weight, which means an element found can increase it to 5 mg based on a .01 percent weight change. While this is a quick look at 374 Labs’ testing process, it’s clear the final goal is to meet the state of Nevada’s standards and provide accurate and consistent cannabis testing to its cultivator clients.

Depending on their clientele and volume of business,

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What Happens to Failed Cannabis?

Nevada labs have varying pass/fail rates. Laboratories are in a unique position in that their clients are the cultivators, so failing them is never fun. “We’re the traffic cop that the growers get to select,” Garcia says. At 374 Labs, they average around a five percent fail rate. Microbial is the main thing that a cultivator fails for. “It’s tough because (microbial) are not something that you’re intentionally putting on the plant…it could be caused by growing it indoors with a high level of humidity, or something going wrong with the HVAC system, and it’s challenging to know if there’s rot going on in the root of the plants. But we try to help our clients with their processes; if we can identify an issue and can help fix it as early on as possible -- that’s the role we like to play. Five percent of the samples fail for something, but yeast and mold is the most common. It’s inherent in agriculture and dealing with plants,” says Garcia. In Las Vegas, G3 Labs, LLC, also an ISO-certified testing lab, says their fail rate is not a consistent number but generally hovers around three to five percent, mostly due to microbial issues. “However, we have seen the fail rate improve since the inception of the program because the cultivation practices have improved, resulting in better products,” says G3 Lab Director Chao-Hsiung Tung. Also based in Las Vegas, RSR Analytical Laboratories has

around a 20 percent fail rate because of microbial and some cases of coliform. “Newer cultivators have issues at times, like they haven’t had a facility assessment and then have issues with mold and yeast. We personally did three to four facility assessments and found mold everywhere,” says RSR owner Rick Rushton. “When a sample fails, the lot (flower/trim) it represents fails. This lot will be either destroyed or sent for extraction in a production facility, depending on which test category it failed,” says Chao-Hsiung Tung. The cultivator can then file a request to the State to have the failed lot retested or sent to production.

elevatenv.com | june

Complying with Changing Regulations The cannabis testing regulations have changed over the last few years with its current version released in early 2018 (provisions to NRS chapter 453D). Between August 2017-January 2018, four laboratories got their operating licenses suspended. “We suspended four different labs and all have been reinstated. They were all for different reasons but I can’t disclose specifics. The general idea is that as we transitioned from medical to recreational use, some labs needed help understanding the regulations and getting standardized,”

says Department of Taxation Public Information Officer Stephanie Klapstein. “The permanent adult-use bill just got passed and we tightened lab procedures and medical regulations so they could both align. Ever since the Department of Taxation took over and we’ve added adult-use, we’ve really increased enforcement and quality assurance. We came out strong on enforcing labs, because we wanted to address any issues early on before there is ever a health concern,” she adds. The Department of Taxation looked at what other states were implementing to help create its own limits of chemicals in cannabis, but it is tough not having any go-to national governing body like the FDA or EPA to confirm what’s correct -- a result of cannabis being federally illegal. Fortunately, none of the lab suspensions necessitated a product recall. “We were really comfortable going forward with reinstating the licenses and feel everyone involved has a sincere interest in compliance. The bottom line is that we are aiming for each lab to follow standard testing practices and procedures to get the same consistent and reliable results,” says Klapstein.

Is there such a thing as “organic” cannabis? The short answer is “no.” The U.S. Department of

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fertilizers must have naturally-based ingredients such as chicken manure or oyster shells, pesticides may include clove oil and biological insects. However, Van Hook says that being actively involved in a crop is the best way to turn out the world’s finest and safest cannabis.

The General Consensus Although Nevada’s testing labs only opened in 2015, a lot has changed as testing infrastructure was established and tinkered with for the betterment of the patients. “It’s come a long way but how lab testing is right now is so critical,” says Garcia of 374 Labs. “I think we bring a lot of legitimacy to the industry that wasn’t there before. A failed crop is a big hit to the business; you could be losing $5,000 on a fail but now growers can get real metrics from a lab. I think that the industry sees value in having added information about the plants that people didn’t have before. It’s important that people get a product that’s safe, tested, and clean. It will be interesting to see how industries mature, and I think we’ll see more cross-validation in Nevada.” Tung of G3 Labs agrees, noting that “testing is an integral part of the industry and functions as the front line of protecting/ defending end users. Nevada’s testing requirements are on the vanguard in the country. That being said, the industry often has to play catch up to achieve full compliance.”

june | elevatenv.com 31

Agriculture (USDA) organic certification is under a federal FDA program and it does not certify weed as organic because it is against federal law. As a result, a company called Clean Green created a clean cannabis certification program that mimics the USDA organic program. Clean Green Director and California Medical Cannabis Compliance Attorney Chris Van Hook has been in agriculture his whole life, went to law school, and became accredited through the USDA Organic Program (the sanctioning body that allows companies to put the USDA Organic logo on eggs, apples, zucchini, and other edible products). “We bring agriculture standards into the cannabis industry,” Van Hook says of Clean Green. “There are only 84 entities worldwide that have made it through this accreditation process. In 2004, the organic industry asked me if I could certify cannabis as organic. California said yes, saying that it could be treated like any other product. However, the federal government said no. There was also an issue of changing regulations state-to-state. (Organic labelling on cannabis) created customer confusion.” Instead, he created a program that is as close to “organic” as you can get, offering an accreditation program that promotes responsible agriculture and meets the qualifications any other organic agricultural crop would have to prove to the USDA. For instance, to create an organic cannabis product,

elevatenv.com | june

(continued from page 8)

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM WATCHING THE MOVIE? I hope that if they buy into the stigma around marijuana and what a cannabis user looks like, I hope, for the sake of all the people that rely on cannabis medicinally, that those people watch it and kind of find some middle ground and understanding. That these people are using this to deal with a health condition, and that maybe [viewers] should rethink the idea or the stigma surrounding medical marijuana.

WHAT KIND OF AUDIENCE FEEDBACK HAVE YOU GOTTEN? We’ve been getting a pretty warm reception. We’ve also been getting a lot of people go, “I didn’t know it was used this way.” And they go, “I can get behind this.” The whole idea is to educate. Not tell people how to think, but to show them the facts and let them make up their own minds.

BEYOND MAKING THE FILM AVAILABLE ONLINE, HOW ELSE ARE YOU GETTING IT TO AUDIENCES?

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THIS STORY COULD EXPAND INTO A FEATURE FILM? Yes, absolutely. For us, this isn’t a oneand-done. I’m sitting The Collins family right here in an office with Ian McAllister, who helped produce this. He and I have really built out a lot of what Brookings is doing as far as film. We have Jenn’s picture on the wall here. We’re still very close with the family, and other people that we’ve talked to. We know this issue is not fixed, so it’s not like we’ve made this, we’re going to do a little tour and a couple of screenings and be like, okay, on to the next thing. For us here—and I guess this is one of the differences for us being at Brookings—we want to continue to work on this issue and to continue to educate. Because it’s far from fixed. To watch the film or book your own screening, visit lifeshedeserves.com.

june | elevatenv.com 33

Anyone can request to screen it, and they can screen it for free. If you’re an organization anywhere in the United States or around the world, we can get you the file, and you can have a screening. We’re looking at other possible screenings with policymakers. There is also some interest outside of the country in screening it, in countries where

they don’t even have medical [marijuana] legalized.

elevatenv.com | june

OP-ED

MARIJUANA AND BANKING:

The Next Step in Legitimization By U.S. Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03)

That’s why I’ve co-sponsored the SAFE Banking Act, which would allow banks to offer accounts to state-licensed marijuana-related businesses without the fear of being penalized by the federal government. This bill works to exempt financial institutions from potential penalties, which would empower marijuana businesses to improve how they conduct their business in Nevada. I’ve also co-sponsored the Small Business Tax Equity Act, which would give marijuana businesses that are in compliance with state law the same business-related tax deductions and credits as similar businesses. Marijuana-related businesses are currently unable to take advantage of existing small business tax credits, and that’s just wrong. It’s time for Washington to move forward on solutions to address these problems. Whether it’s tax credits or fair access to banking services, giving our state’s marijuana businesses the level playing field they need to succeed will be one of my top priorities as your representative in Congress.

june | elevatenv.com 35

ince Nevada voters decided to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana in 2016, our state has enjoyed an economic boom around this new industry. Recreational marijuana went on sale in Nevada nearly a year ago, and local marijuana businesses have generated new jobs and tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue for our state. This is a successful and growing industry that is diversifying Nevada’s economy, and we need to take the necessary steps to ensure it continues to thrive. Unfortunately, federal laws still lag behind the needs of this booming industry—and Congress has an opportunity to fix these issues. Nevada’s marijuana businesses have been excluded from the benefits and protections that come with modern banking, forcing this multimilliondollar industry to operate almost entirely in cash. Not having access to the banking system brings an array of problems and safety concerns, and it makes it more difficult to conduct simple business transactions such as paying employees and taxes.

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DISPENSARY MAP A Guide to Cannabis in Southern Nevada

RENO

PECOS RD

JONES BLVD

CACTUS AVE

O .R

ST HENDERSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

PARADISE RD

VEG LAS Y RACETRACK RD

PKW AD E ME LAK

HORIZON RIDGE PKWY

HORIZON DR

515

GE SUNRSIDPKWY HEIGHT

16b

MARYLAND PKWY

D BLV AS

L RD

29b

6TH ST

COMMERCE ST MAIN ST 3RD ST

TER WES

AVE

RIA

HIG

UST

HLA

12b

215

GIBSON RD

STEPHANIE ST

WARM SPRINGS RD

HENDERSON WIGWAM PKWY 16a

RANCHO DR

LAMB BLVD

PECOS RD

SET

PKWY

DECATUR BLVD

HIG SO HL UTH AN ER DS N PK W

SUN

31b

SILVERADO RANCH BLVD

18 AVE

SAM BOYD STADIUM

WINDMILL LN

PEBBLE RD

AMO

E DI

BLU

515

4c DESERT INN RD

D RD

LLY

KAREN AVE

WINDMILL LN

SUNSET COUNTY PARK

SAHARA AVE

RUSSELL RD SUNSET RD

23a

OAKEY BLVD

8a 13 24 ST. LOUIS AVE

E TWAIN

GREEN VALLEY

MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

GREEN DISTRICT

FLAMINGO RD PECOS RD

VEG

LAS VEGAS TROPICANA AVE

DESERT INN RD

22 SANDHILL RD

AS B

30b

SAHARA AVE

STR

23a

215

WARM SPRINGS RD

THE

NELLIS BLVD

EASTERN AVE

8c 29a

RUSSELL RD

SUNSET RD

CHARLESTON BLVD

MARYLAND PKWY

IND

MAI

TROPICANA AVE

9 28

JONES BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

FLAMINGO RD

NELLIS BLVD

N 5TH

EE R LOS

N ST

32b 5b 3 20

3 20

SAHARA AVE

BONANZA RD

4b DESERT INN RD

OAKEY BLVD

32b

CHARLESTON BLVD

OWENS AVE

BERMUDA RD

DURANGO DR

FT APACHE RD

TOWN CENTER DR

HUALAPAI WAY

SAHARA AVE

VEG

WASHINGTON AVE

31a

RTH NO LVD NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE

B AS

LAKE MEAD BLVD

LVD

ALTA DR

PAHRUMP

MARYLAND PKWY

CHARLESTON BLVD

30a

LAS

WASHINGTON AVE

215

160

23b CAMINO AL NORTE / MLK

SIMMONS ST

VEGAS DR

159

DECATUR BLVD

CAREY AVE BLVD

LAS

LIN

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH

CRAIG RD

32a

DECATUR BLVD

NORTH LAS VEGAS

MESQUITE

CENTENNIAL PKWY

WASHBURN RD

OD CH

BUFFALO DR

ALEXANDER RD

ANN RD

N RA

RAINBOW BLVD

LONE MOUNTAIN RD

CHEYENNE AVE

12a

JONES BLVD

GRAND CANYON DR

DURANGO DR

LAKE ME AD

215

BOULDER CITY AND LAUGHLIN

8b. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 4300 E Sunset Rd Ste #A3 Henderson, NV 89014 702.978.7687

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

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

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

8c. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 5765 W Tropicana Ave Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.500.1714

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

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

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

9. Exhale Nevada www.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 1921 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.718.Blum

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

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

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

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

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

21. Panacea Quality Cannabis lvpanacea.com 4235 Arctic Spring Ave Las Vegas, NV 89115 702.405.8597

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

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

12a. Jenny’s Dispensary Jennysdispensary.com 5530 N Decatur Blvd North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.718.0420

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

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

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

12b. Jenny’s Dispensary Jennysdispensary.com 10420 S Eastern Ave Henderson, NV 89052 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8a. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 2307 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.978.7591

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

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

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Elevating the Conversation

with Aaron Ford, candidate for Nevada Attorney General

elevatenv.com | june

aron Ford, who most recently served in the Nevada State Senate and was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Leader during the 2017 Legislative Session, is running for Nevada Attorney General. Armed with a master’s from George Washington University and a Ph.D., a second master’s and a law degree from the Ohio State University, Ford is running for the statewide office “to be a champion for Nevadans who are struggling to pay their bills, battling addiction, growing up in unsafe neighborhoods or being taken advantage by unscrupulous scammers. I’m running for Attorney General to fight for the people who need someone in their corner,” details Ford. “There is no criminal too ruthless and no corporation too powerful that I won’t take on if they are hurting Nevada’s families. I will always be an attorney general who puts our families first.”

Do you have any specific plans with regards to the cannabis industry as it continues to grow? Nevada’s voter-approved marijuana industry has already created thousands of new jobs and generated millions in revenue for our state. As attorney general, I would join a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general to support a bill in Congress to allow banks to serve legal marijuana businesses without fear of prosecution. I was disappointed to learn that the current attorney general was the only attorney general from a state that has legalized recreational marijuana to fail to join this coalition. Creating protections for banks that provide financial services to legal marijuana businesses would not only help the industry grow, but also reduce a public safety threat. Since U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo in January there has been uncertainty in the industry. What would you want patients and the cannabis industry to know about your views on access to cannabis? Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind a policy that protects our state’s recreational marijuana industry from overzealous federal intrusion could cost Nevada millions of dollars in revenue, kill jobs, and hurt our schools and local economy. This clear example of federal government overreach is nothing more than an attempt to infringe on our state’s sovereignty and is a direct insult to the Nevadans who voted in favor of a regulated marijuana industry. As Nevada attorney general, I will do everything within my power to defend our state’s voter-approved and regulated industry and send a clear message to the federal government that they should stay out of Nevada’s business. Although Nevada has legalized adult-use cannabis, there is no place for tourists to legally use it. Is that a state fix or should each jurisdiction handle their own consumption regulations? During the 2017 Nevada Legislative Session, Senator Tick

Segerblom authored a bill that would address this issue but that bill did not pass the Assembly. While a state-wide policy would provide uniformity and guidance to local communities, I believe it is unnecessary. I agree with other legal experts that state law allows local municipalities to authorize these types of establishments locally. Ultimately, local communities can define what works best for them regarding these establishments. In 2016, Nevada voters approved a ballot measure to require background checks for gun sales between private individuals. More than a year later, the resulting law isn’t being enforced. Will you be able to enforce the law? I am a strong proponent of background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. In the Legislature, I supported the 2013 background check measure, which was ultimately vetoed. I also strongly supported the background check ballot initiative that was passed by voters in 2016 but is not being enforced by the current attorney general. As Nevada attorney general, I will work with anyone including the governor, the Legislature and national and state law enforcement to find a solution and begin enforcing background checks on gun sales. What’s the one issue you are willing to lose for? As Senate Majority Leader, I didn’t back down from a fight when it came to protecting Nevadans. I’ve taken on the DC gun lobby, big pharmaceutical companies, and other powerful special interests. As attorney general, there will be no criminal too ruthless and no corporation too powerful that I won’t take on if they are hurting Nevada’s families. And if the federal government tries to target our state, I will act as the first line of defense to stop them from attacking our citizens and the values we hold dear. To read our entire interview with Aaron Ford, visit elevatenv. com/Elevating_the_Conversation

june | elevatenv.com 45