march
DISPENSING with
OUTDATED ON
? U O Y
/ /
2016
from the editor Publisher Guy Bertuzzi, guy@elevatenv.com
Editor-In-Chief Beth Schwartz, beth@finetheagency.com
Creative Director Jina Hustler, jina.hustler@finetheagency.com
Contributing Writers: Derek Connor, Rio Lacanlale, Sandra Mallut, Launce Rake
Sales Associate Shanna Perry, shanna@elevatenv.com Danielle El Kadi, danielle@elevatenv.com
ELEVATION PUBLISHING LLC President Jonathan Fine
Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Lupo
Vice President of Business Development Kim Armenta
FINE THE AGENCY Partner Kelli Maruca, kelli@finetheagency.com
Director of Creative Services Brooke Bertuzzi, brooke@finetheagency.com
Digital Services Austin Grantham, austin.grantham@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.
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Although Nevada is still very much in the infancy stage of the burgeoning medical cannabis industry, the state’s growers aren’t quite the neophytes many may think. Two Southern Nevada-based growers have already shown their cultivating prowess, winning High Times' much-coveted Cannabis Cup. NevadaPure was the most recent winner, taking home the 20ı6 SoCal Medical Cannabis Cup just last month. The local cultivation, production and dispensary center housed in a 70,000-square-foot facility on Boulder Highway won first place for Best CBD Concentrate with its Goji D.C. and took third place for Best Medical Non-Solvent Hash for Kookies. “It is beginner’s luck,” modestly admitted co-owner Kathy Gillespie of NevadaPure’s Medical Cannabis Cup win, adding, “I think it really puts Nevada, and especially Clark County, on the map.” Gillespie and her team didn’t make it to the Cup because they thought they were too much of a longshot. “We just thought the odds of us winning -- being a newbie, let alone the first one in Nevada to enter -- a first and a third would be unheard of and uncalled for but we have some excellent growers and cultivators down here who have excellent eyes. I didn’t do it on my own.” The team’s expertise shows. “I had been working with our head grower on this for six months to pick a strain that we really liked. One that I had in my home and had been growing and looking at and feeling really warm and fuzzy about,” explained Gillespie, who has a degree in horticulture. But Gillespie had more than awards on her mind when she started developing the winning CBD
concentrate. “There’s a lot of challenges with the existing CBD strains -they don’t yield well, when they are cultivated they grow long and straggly and stringy, which all results in them being very costly for the patients. One of my goals in developing this strain and this germ plasm was to try and develop a higher yielding CBD strain that also yielded a higher CBD concentrate percentage and obviously I got real, real lucky the first time.” Greenway Medical, a cultivation located in North Las Vegas, has won eight Cannabis Cup awards since they started entering the competition in 20ıı from their home base in Denver. Most impressively, Greenway’s Ghost Train Haze #ı3 was the first place winner of High Times’ U.S. Cannabis Cup for Best Sativa in 20ı5. “That’s the granddaddy of them all because the U.S. Cannabis Cup is open to anyone in the country,” explained Corey Buffkin, Greenway’s Director of Cultivation. Although Greenway’s winning sativa, Ghost Train Haze #ı3, will not be available in Nevada, Buffkin promises they plan to grow premium product once they are up and running. “We do a craft beer kind of product, it’s high-end,” said Buffkin, who is hoping to have plants in the ground at their North Las Vegas facility within the next four weeks. Local dispensary CannaCopia is planning to carry Greenway’s flower as well as display the grower’s U.S. Cannabis Cup in a place of honor. “And that’s the only one anybody has won in Nevada for flower,” added Buffkin. And I'm sure it won't be the last. With an open mind,
CONTENTS 6
8
6 Elevate Your State Cannabis updates from across the United States
8 Cooking with Cannabis Guinness Beer Cupcakes with Vanilla Guinness Drizzle
10 Flower + Flour = Yummy Healing Power Evergreen Organix shuns cookie-cutter approach in favor of pure ingredients
10
14 Safe Haven Secure options to keep edibles safely stowed and locked away
16 Healing: the Power of Medical Cannabis Stage 4 renal cancer patient gets his life back
21 Behind the Green Curtain Nevada has shifted the paradigm on what medical care looks and feels like
31 Dispensary Map
21
Patients’ guide to finding medical cannabis in the Las Vegas Valley
32 Legalease Nevada dispensaries put out welcome mat for medical cannabis tourists from across the country
36 Elevating the Conversation with DJ Short
32
ELEVATE YOUR STATE
Medical cannabis updates from across the United States
ILLINOIS: Despite a recommendation from the state’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner decided not to add eight medical conditions to the Illinois’s medical cannabis pilot program. This is the second time the state’s health department has turned down expanding the list of qualifying conditions. The petition included four pain syndromes and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board reviewed relevant studies and heard testimony from patients who could find relief if their conditions were added to the program. The state’s medical cannabis program currently recognizes only a narrow range of conditions, and Illinois is one of very few medical marijuana states that exclude patients with serious pain.
HAWAII: The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) received a total of 66 applications for medical marijuana dispensary licenses during the application period of Jan. ı2-29. The medical marijuana dispensary law, Chapter 329D, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), allows DOH to award a total of eight licenses initially: three licenses for the City and County of Honolulu, two dispensary licenses each for the County of Hawaii and the County of Maui, and one dispensary license for the County of Kauai. Each dispensary licensee will be allowed to operate up to two production centers and two retaildispensing locations. DOH expects to select and announce licensees by April ı5.
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MARYLAND: In January, the Maryland House and Senate voted 86-55 and 29-ı7 to override Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of a bill intended to fix the state’s marijuana law. SB 5ı7, introduced by State Senator Bobby Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), removes criminal penalties for possession of marijuana paraphernalia. The measure also imposes a new civil fine of up to $500 on public cannabis consumption. Gov. Hogan vetoed the bill in May 20ı5, after it was approved 32-ı3 in the Senate and 83-53 in the House of Delegates. Maryland adopted a law in 20ı4 that was intended to decriminalize simple marijuana possession, but it did not include marijuana paraphernalia.
MAINE: The group pushing for cannabis legalization in Maine has collected enough signatures to put the issue on the November 20ı6 ballot. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, which backs a bill that would allow adults 2ı and older to possess cannabis, has collected ı03,ıı5 signatures in its quest to become the first East Coast state to legalize pot for adult use, which is nearly twice the 6ı,ı23 valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The proposed initiative would allow adults 2ı years of age and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow a limited number of cannabis plants in their homes. It would also establish the framework for a tightly regulated system of licensed marijuana retail stores, cultivation facilities, productmanufacturing facilities, and testing facilities.
VERMONT: This past January, the Vermont Senate Committee on Judiciary approved S.B. 24ı (4-ı) which would end marijuana prohibition in the state and regulate marijuana for adult use. The bill would make it legal for adults 2ı years of age and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis and establish a tightly controlled system of licensed marijuana cultivation sites, testing facilities, and retail stores. It would also create a commission to examine issues such as edible marijuana products and home cultivation. It would remain illegal to consume marijuana in public or drive under the influence of marijuana. If approved, the new law would not take effect until January 20ı8.
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Cooking Cannabis
GUINNESS BEER CUPCAKES WITH VANILLA GUINNESS DRIZZLE
By Sandra Mallut, owner/chef of Culinary Butler Consulting Services, culinarybutlerconsulting.com
CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS: ı (ı2 oz.) bottle of Guinness Stout Beer ı/2 cup whole milk ı/2 cup vegetable oil (Crisco)* ı-2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract 3 large eggs at room temperature ¾ cup sour cream ¾ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder (for chocolate cupcake recipe) 2 cups white sugar 2-ı/2 cups all-purpose flour ı-ı/2 teaspoons baking soda *Cannabis infusion would be added to the oil in this recipe
CUPCAKE DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine Guinness, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Beat in eggs one at a time and then mix in sour cream. In another large bowl, mix dry ingredients (cocoa for chocolate), sugar, flour and baking soda. Use a whisk to evenly distribute all ingredients until there are no lumps. Next, slowly add dry ingredients in with wet ingredients. Once incorporated, pour into prepared muffin tin (with cupcake wrappers or butter/spray pan for a non-stick surface) dividing the batter into cups, fill about ¾ of the way, evenly as possible for consistency. Bake for about 25 minutes, IT'S NOT until risen and set JUST FOR (check with a toothpick DRINKING for doneness). Once ANYMORE baked, remove from oven and let cool before adding any icing as it will melt off the cupcake.
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ICING INGREDIENTS: ı cup unsalted butter (room temp.)* 2-ı/2 cups sifted powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar) ı/4 cup whole milk ı/2 whole scraped vanilla bean
G
uinness, an Irish Dry Stout originated by Arthur Guinness, is a staple of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations so why not consider adding it to recipes for some holiday flair? Its dark color and strong burnt taste add an extra special mystique. Many chefs make a Guinness cupcake using a chocolate cake base but I have adapted my recipe to a vanilla cupcake (to follow are both options.) The cannabis infusion would be adding your own butter or oil to this recipe.*
ı/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or
ı tablespoon vanilla extract (you can find clear vanilla extract) ı cup Guinness Stout Beer *Cannabis infusion would be added to the butter.
ICING DIRECTIONS: In a saucepan, simmer Guinness on low heat until reduced and thick (about ı0-ı5 minutes). This will look like a syrup when done (be careful as the beer will foam and can boil over). In a standalone mixer (Kitchen-Aid or handheld works great) cream your butter for about ı-2 minutes and then slowly add powdered sugar (go slow as this will make a mess) in thirds and alternate with a bit of milk each time to keep from creating an airborne mess. Mix until rich and creamy. Add vanilla bean and vanilla extract (or just the extract) then slowly add the Guinness reduction (make sure it is cooled or it will melt your icing) a little at a time. Be sure to taste and determine the flavor strength that you like (you do not have to use the entire reduction). You can put the icing in a piping bag, use a sandwich bag by cutting off the end or even use the back of a spoon to apply icing. Once cupcakes are iced, you can drizzle the leftover Guinness reduction onto the icing for an extra kick of flavor. Enjoy! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Please remember when cooking with medicinal cannabis, you are cooking with a medicine and the amounts of the medicine and portions of the food ingested should always be taken into consideration. Always start out with small portions or doses and wait 30 minutes to an hour before eating any additional portions of food that has been medicated.
Pictured left to right: Aaron Lilla, Madeline Rubidoux and Jamie Lockwood are part of the culinary team at Evergreen Organix.
FLOWER + FLOUR =
YUMMY HEALING POWER Evergreen Organix shuns cookie-cutter approach in favor of pure ingredients for medical cannabis-based edibles by Launce Rake | Photos by Hector Leyva, SugarMill Studios Cultivation centers for medical cannabis are usually tucked into industrial neighborhoods where their anonymity is revealed only by the slight smell of vegetation. At the Evergreen Organix site about a mile west of the Las Vegas Strip, there is a slight, not unpleasant, odor. It is, though, subtly different. Along with the smell of the vegetation maturing somewhere inside, there is something else. A sweet smell.
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Could it be…the aroma of something baking? A pastry, perhaps a cookie? It is indeed evidence of something tasty and edible. We have arrived at the twinned cultivation and production facility of Evergreen Organix, which is distributing edible medical cannabisbased products throughout Nevada. Kurt Barrick, chief executive officer of the VonDank Group and chief cultivator for Evergreen, says the goal of Evergreen is to marry science and
We’re trying to mitigate any kind of issue,” he says of unwanted chemical or byproducts. “It’s one step towards a cleaner medicine for the patients.
With every batch going out to a lab for testing, we know the exact THC and CBD content of everything we create. All these factors set us up for success in the kitchen and make sure that we are providing only the highest quality of products for patients.
aesthetics, purity of ingredients and a philosophy that puts patients first. “We’ve tried to take an organic approach from the beginning,” he says of the effort, which this year saw the first flowering of its cultivation. Barrick, who says he’s not related to the Las Vegas family of Barricks, brings three decades of experience in cultivation to Evergreen’s operation. In addition, the VonDank group has pioneered clean-room cultivation in Colorado and Arizona before partnering with investors in Nevada’s embryonic
medical marijuana industry. Evergreen produces cookies, yes, but does not take a cookie-cutter approach to production of the edibles. To make it work for patients, Barrick explains, Evergreen has to have a range of products. “No matter what, we want to be flexible,” he says. “We have three different style chefs, a diabetic menu, we are health conscious, non-GMO (genetically modified organism-based ingredients), ı00 percent organic ingredients. We have to be able to meet
march | elevatenv.com 11
We have to be able to meet all the needs of different patients. It’s not just one product. It’s a lot of different processes, a lot of different styles for our customers.
Production Supervisor Jamie Lockwood used her personal homemade recipes to develop Evergreen Organix’s Classix line of baked goods.
all the needs of different patients. It’s not just one product. “It’s a lot of different processes, a lot of different styles for our customers.” One element that is consistent throughout both the cultivation and production sides is an absolute emphasis on cleanliness. That’s not just a buzzword for Evergreen, but it is an essential element for a company that is trying to avoid the use of any kind of sprays or treatments – even organic – in the cultivation side, an issue that has reached media recently because of the detection of pesticides or fungicides from cannabis produced in Oregon and other states. The cultivation and production sides of the operation appear very clean indeed – 30,000 square feet of laboratory clean. Barrick says that Evergreen has taken “an organic approach,” but he doesn’t call it “organic,” a term that only the U.S. Department of Agriculture can use to bless products. Since cannabis products, medicinal and otherwise, are
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still illegal under federal law, the term organic is for now, in terms of cannabis, undefined. That doesn’t stop Evergreen Organix from applying the methods that would bring such a certification, if it existed, or when it is available. The focus is on keeping any and all kinds of contamination from the plants and, ultimately, the products. In practice, going into Evergreen’s Las Vegas center means wearing a full bodysuit, hairnet and shoe coverings to keep stray elements from outside from contaminating the cultivation and production sides of the operation.
Workers who come into contact with the medicinal product have to take showers once arriving at work. Evergreen is using a carbon dioxide extraction method – training was ongoing through early February – which produces no byproducts and is, Barrick believes, perhaps the cleanest process to produce THC and CBD available. “We’re trying to mitigate any kind of issue,” he says of unwanted chemical or byproducts. “It’s one step towards a cleaner medicine for the patients.” Evergreen has only been in operation for a few months – licensed in November, the first flowering and
harvesting of its cloned strains ongoing by early February. Jillian Nelson, Evergreen’s operations manager, says the company has a license for ı,960 plants, and had about 200 ready for harvest as of the end of January. A staff of 30 is keeping the cultivation and production process humming. She gives us a look at the 4,000-square-foot production kitchen, where brownies, four kinds of cookies and biscotti are on the menu. Topicals such as lip balm, hand cream and bath bombs will soon be available, along with several kinds of infused candies. And there will be cannabis butter for those who want to cook at home. The goal, Nelson says, is to reach “as many demographics as possible.” Evergreen is now supplying edibles to nine dispensaries in Southern Nevada, two in the Reno area and two more are expected to join them soon, she says.
So far, the reaction has been good, Nelson says, but all comments are considered as the company moves forward. “We’re very big on getting feedback from patients. We’re taking everything into consideration.” One member of the team is Jamie Lockwood, a production supervisor. What that title means in practice is that Lockwood is a head chef, developing recipes, infusing cannabis into butter and then baking cookies, pastries and other edibles. It’s a job that marries chemistry and cooking skills. “I did my culinary training at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Boston,” Lockwood says. “I then worked in American- and French-style bakeries learning to make all kinds of pastries. I really enjoy making the most delicious version of each dessert that I can.” According to Nelson, the recipes start with small test batches, then larger efforts without medicinal cannabis products, with volunteers tasting the
products. (Elevate tried one cannabisfree product, a peanut-butter cookie. It was, indeed, delicious.) Lockwood says they appreciate and depend on feedback from endusers. Again, the focus throughout production is on having a safe, quality medicine that patients can count on for both taste and to be exactly what it promises in terms of content. “The ‘Classix’ line of products is my homemade recipes that have been multiplied into much larger batches using high-quality ingredients,” Lockwood says. “I’m very lucky to be working in such a beautiful and clean facility with top-of-the-line equipment and an amazing team. With every batch going out to a lab for testing, we know the exact THC and CBD content of everything we create. All these factors set us up for success in the kitchen and make sure that we are providing only the highest quality of products for patients.”
COME IN FOR
NEVADA’S BEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOW OFFERING DELIVERY FOR NEVADA PATIENTS!
Visit www.inyolasvegas.com for product updates and specials. 2520 South Maryland Parkway #2, Las Vegas, NV 89109 // (702) 707-8888 // In the Smith’s shopping center Sahara and Maryland Pkwy.
march | elevatenv.com 13
SAFE HAVEN To keep medicine safely stowed and locked away from children and pets, there are many secure options available for patients to consider.
BUDSTOR PREMIUM STORAGE Case has stitched elastic pockets and a secure zippered closure, found at amazon.com. THE AIRTIGHT APOTHECARRY Case is a complete humidor organizational system safely secured with a duel combination and key lock, found at theapothecarrycase.com.
LOCKMED’S VANGUARD HOME medication container has a combination lock and is designed to safeguard medications at home, school, work or during travel and is available at lockmed.com.
LOCKABLE FOOD STORAGE BOX FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS edibles is made by Edibles Safe, available at amazon.com.
Accurate THC results. Ask for DB Labs tested products by name. Independent Analytical Testing Laboratory Specializing in Cannabis Testing and Analytics. 844-5-TESTIN | 702-728-5180 | www.dblabslv.com | 4439 S. Polaris Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89103 CH3 OH
H3C
o CH3
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MEDICAL cannabis cultivation
• Highest CBD strain currently being grown in Nevada. • Enjoyable experience without the THC buzz. • Balanced ratio of THC/CBD. • Accurate and ethical lab testing.
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march | elevatenv.com 15
HEALING THE POWER OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS
CURING CANCER
WITH CANNABIS Stage 4 Renal Cancer Patient Gets His Life Back
Had it not been for a heart attack, Thomas Fillipino, 57, would not have found out he had renal cancer. “If I had not had that heart attack, I would be dead,” Fillipino relays in a matterof-fact manner. “I had a 9-centimeter (cm) tumor on my kidney and it had spread to my lymph nodes, my liver, and my lungs. One of my doctors told me if I lived three months, it would be a surprise. He told me once I got out of the hospital, I should get my affairs in order.” That was June 3, 20ı4 and Fillipino lives to tell the tale. During the last ı8 months he has undergone a double arterial heart bypass, removal of his kidney, femur surgery as well as ı4 sessions of radiation on his femur, ı4 sessions of radiation on his shoulder, ı0 sessions of radiation for lesions found on his brain, and a regimen of chemotherapy that started in December. In January, Fillipino decided to add cannabis oil to his cancer treatment regimen. “I’ve been smoking pot since I was ı2 so I am not unaware of CBDs and what they do but I wanted to allow the conventional methods to work and see what they could do,” he explained of his choice to start with radiation and chemotherapy. Fillipino started taking cannabis oil gel caps on January 8. At the time Elevate interviewed him, Fillipino had
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already seen dramatic results following a CT scan that showed nodules in his lungs had substantially decreased in size and number. In fact, according to the January 26 medical imaging report, one node that measured ı4xı3 millimeters (mm) on October 22, 20ı5 was now essentially absent. Tumors in his lymph nodes had also shrunk. One tumor that measured 3.2 cm x 2.2 cm in October was now ı.8 cm x ı.2 cm. His results almost seem too good to be true. Fillipino would agree, adding,
just want to do things and I didn’t have this kind of energy three weeks ago. “The way I feel right now, I believe someday I will go back to work. In the year-and-a-half I have had this, I have never thought that before. I never thought of going back to work, and now I do,” relayed Fillipino, who is a union electrician. “And it’s because of CBDs, they have taken me from not thinking I would ever be myself again to believing I will be me again.
And it’s because of CBDs, they have taken me from not thinking I would ever be myself again to believing I will be me again." “which is why my doctor was so blown away, because it’s not normal. It blows my mind that I go to half the size of my lesions and some are even gone. I attribute all of that to CBDs. The massive amount of my change over the last month is due to CBDs. I wake up and I
“I have been a biker my whole life, and I haven’t been on my bike in seven months and that kills me to not be able to ride my bike. I got on it yesterday because I finally felt up to it. I just went down the street and back but I did it.”
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Nevada’s dispensaries have shifted the paradigm of what medical care looks and feels like by Beth Schwartz and Rio Lacanlale
A PEEK BEHIND
THE GREEN CURTAIN Per the Silver State’s usual modus operandi, Nevada has cut its own unique path with regard to the evolving medical cannabis space. From being the first state to require lab testing of medicine produced by the state’s cultivators to offering reciprocity to cardholders from other states, Nevada has thoughtfully considered and innovatively implemented what is best for patients and residents.
down to the design of the various spaces. Dispensary proprietors have taken their charge of serving patients seriously and in doing so have shifted the paradigm on what medical care looks and feels like. In other words, these spaces look nothing like your grandmother’s or even mother’s pharmacy or doctor’s office. Instead they look like places that are familiar and comfortable to us but not in a medical way.
As Nevada’s dispensaries have opened over the last six months that same effort of careful consideration has trickled
As Elevate visited the various dispensaries in the Las Vegas Valley we found that the interiors and design of space were
beautifully curated to look like everything from an Apple store, cigar lounge, and coffee shop to an art gallery, ultra lounge, and spa. This was a pleasant surprise since the handful of dispensaries we had been to in Colorado gave us the vibe of being in someone's basement. With that in mind, we decided to dedicate this issue to taking you on a behind-thescenes tour of local dispensaries so you can see how medical cannabis and the space it inhabits will change the way we experience healthcare in the Silver State.
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LOOK
S
LIKE A
CIGAR LOUNGE The Apothecary Shoppe www.theapothecaryshoppe.com 4240 W. Flamingo Road Las Vegas, NV 89ı03 702.740.4372
Photos by Hector Leyva, SugarMill Studios
TOP SELLING STRAIN Girl Scout Cookie from Deep Roots Harvest, Lavender from Green Life Productions TOP SELLING CONCENTRATE Northern Scout and Durban, both from Pure Tonic Concentrates TOP SELLING EDIBLES THC-infused Chocolate Gold bar by NevadaPure and the Apothecary CBD LOTION NevadaPure’s CBD Lavender Lotion XX Strength COMING SOON ChxRx (chemo) syrup and Pain RX syrup from Soothing Remedies by the Apothecary Shoppe
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In addition, Dr. Spirtos and his colleagues emphasize the importance of getting each patient’s medical history and finding out what medications they are taking in order to take cross-reactions into consideration. They also work with patients to make adjustments. “We give them a dose and see where it goes and work with them until we find something that works,” Dr. Spirtos relayed of the patient care offered at the dispensary.
MISSION STATEMENT | Devoted to a higher purpose and the well-being of the medical marijuana community, the Apothecary’s mission is to create a positive cannabis culture in Nevada. The Apothecary Shoppe plans to emphasize guest experience and wellness by matching patients to flower, concentrate, syrups, and edibles best suited for a particular taste or need, to provide accessibility to licensed physicians, and to raise the standard by which cannabis dispensaries should be measured.
UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | Because the Apothecary Shoppe is physician-owned, they plan to research cannabis. Currently, Dr. Spirtos is conducting a study to research the effects of a THC:CBD syrup he has developed specifically for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Now open for enrollment, the study will determine whether THC:CBD syrup will control nausea and vomiting in patients using chemotherapy. Should you be interested in participating, please call the Apothecary Shoppe.
RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Flower, concentrate, edibles, hybrids, indica, sativa, and topicals, as well as rolling papers and E-nails (the future of concentrates).
DESIGN OF SPACE | Featuring cabinetry and woodwork crafted by locally skilled artisans, the Apothecary Shoppe offers an upscale and impeccably stylish environment that reminded us of a cigar lounge. But the proprietors had another inspiration. “We wanted it to reflect a turn-of-the-century pharmacy with both its warmth and local feel. The goal was to convey how people felt going into their local pharmacist,” explained Dr. Spirtos. “We didn’t want it to feel like an Apple store or smoke shop. Frankly, having grown up in the desert, when you go to a place with a lot of wood it is extra warm and that was the whole idea behind the dispensary’s design.”
STAFF EDUCATION | “We offer our concierges physician-directed training with myself as well as the dispensary’s general manager and other physicians,” explained Dr. Spirtos, owner of the Apothecary Shoppe, who added, “that the concierges will be in training until we are comfortable with their progress. We literally walk our concierges through ı,ı00 papers and base their education off of the actual literature.”
LOOKS
LIK
E AN
ART GALLERY Oasis Medical Cannabis
www.oasismedicalcannabis.com ı800 Industrial Road, Rd. Suite ı80, Las Vegas, NV 89ı02 702.420.2405
were bred to create them. The generalized effects have all been researched and we put them in a flashcard deck for every patient consultant to use when they are on the floor to reference. We also want patients to know what farm their medicine comes from and the methods they use to grow it. We want our patients to be informed," explains Ben Sillitoe, CEO/general manager of Oasis.
TOP SELLING STRAIN Tangerine Dream TOP SELLING CONCENTRATE Super Lemon Haze Wax TOP SELLING EDIBLE Evergreen Organix Coconut Macaroons CBD LOTIONS Mary's Medicinal and Apothecanna CBD Pain Relief lotions MISSION STATEMENT | To help elevate the industry to a higher standard and spread knowledge about the
emerging scientific understanding of cannabis. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Concentrates, vape pens, pre-rolls and flower as well as accessories such as vaporizes, grinders, and storage containers. STAFF EDUCATION | "We research the terpenes that are prevalent in the strains we carry. We have also been doing research on the lineage of the different indicas, sativas and hybrids, and what strains
UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | The dispensary has a healing services room called the Community Oasis where they host educational programs and different functions including yoga, meditation and nutrition classes. Oasis also plans to hold regular events in the ı,000square-foot space such as the chance for patients to meet farmers to hear about their growing style or listen to attorneys discuss patients’ rights. DESIGN OF SPACE | “Every strain is so unique and pretty, it kind of makes sense to display them each on their own,” Sillitoe says of the way Oasis has artfully displayed strains of cannabis in glass vials and mounted them to the dispensary’s wall.
march | elevatenv.com 23
LOOKS
LIK
E AN
APPLE STORE the Source www.thesourcenv.com
2550 S. Rainbow Blvd, Suite 8 Las Vegas, NV 89ı46
9480 S. Eastern Blvd, Suite ı85 Henderson, NV 89052
702.708.2000
(Coming Soon)
Photos by Hector Leyva, SugarMill Studios
to patients each month with the schedule of educational programs available at www.thesourcenv.com.
MISSION STATEMENT | To provide a safe, clean, comfortable, respectful and compassionate environment where patients can easily and affordably obtain a host of wellness products and services. The Source is dedicated to helping its patients through the healing process with a variety of wellness programs, education and advocacy, positive encouragement, mutual respect and a safe environment. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Superior and premium flower, concentrates, pre-rolls, kiefs, edibles, tinctures, and topical balms. Accessories also include vaporizers.
STAFF EDUCATION | Dr. Troutt, the Source’s medical director, is the dispensary’s greatest resource for both the staff and patients, according to dispensary owner Andrew Jolley. Each employee, whether a patient advisor or security greeter, is required to complete monthly training courses with Dr. Troutt, who has dedicated a large portion of his professional career to cannabis. “There is a lot of cross-training done here. We have inventory specialists who are hired to package and control inventory, but can also act as patient advisors on the floor,” explains Jolley. Thanks to Dr. Troutt’s detailed employee training, the Source’s on-site staff is well-versed. Dr. Troutt even extends his training courses
UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | Taking pride in its customer service, the Source offers its patients a loyalty rewards program. Each patient is encouraged to sign up for the free program, which features ongoing discounts and allows patients to collect points toward future purchases. DESIGN OF SPACE | The Source is undoubtedly the Apple Store of dispensaries in town. “We wanted to have a clean, modern and industrial feel. But more than that, we are built for efficiency,” Jolley explains. Similar to an Apple Store, the Source’s retail floor offers a hands-on experience catered to patients. Each strain is displayed in a clear box which can be picked up. To enhance the user experience, the clear display boxes are equipped with a magnifying glass for inspection. The removable lids also allow patients to smell and compare the different aromas of each flower. “We really wanted to stay away from the jewelry store vibe,” notes Jolley.
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LOOK
S
LIKE A
COFFEE SHOP Thrive Nevada www.thrivenevada.com
2755 W. Cheyenne Ave., suite ı03 North Las Vegas, NV 89032
ııı2 S. Commerce St. Las Vegas, NV 89ı02 (coming soon)
702.776.4ı44 (opening this month) Photos by Talbot Snow
MISSION STATEMENT | To provide safe, affordable access to medical grade cannabis, while maintaining environmentally friendly methods and inclusive business practices that build toward fun, fulfilling, and diverse communities. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Concentrates, oils, 35-45 different strains of flower, topical lotions and creams, tinctures, salves, and edibles.
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STAFF EDUCATION | Mitch Britten, owner of Thrive Nevada, comes from one of the largest cannabis brands in Colorado, LivWell, which had ı3 retail locations and employed over 475 employees. As the former director of operations for the Colorado company, Britten will be the lead educator of Thrive Nevada’s staff. UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | Thrive’s mission is driven by its main obsession: providing and producing well-grown,
high quality cannabis. Britten refuses to associate Thrive as a dispensary, but rather refers to it as a cannabis marketplace. In that spirit, Britten hopes to be Las Vegas’ one-stop shop, providing a selection of everyone’s favorite strains from cultivators and producers around the state. As the cannabis industry evolves, Thrive maintains its passionate dedication to learning and keeping up with the most recent scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology. Devoted and enthusiastic about growing the highest quality plants and offering patients flawless strains, Britten intends for Thrive to be Nevada’s price leader, offering the most competitive prices instead of stripping affordability from patients. DESIGN OF SPACE | Thrive’s cannabis marketplace sports hints of retail stores REI and lululemon. But Britten’s inspiration came from the idea of sustainability. Featuring dark wood floors and reclaimed oak throughout, patients are met with a comfortable, inviting and familiar coffee-shop-esque feeling of relaxed comfort.
LOOK
S
LIKE A
SPA
Sahara Wellness www.420sahara.com 420 E. Sahara Las Vegas, NV 89ı04 702.478.5533 Photos by Stephen Thorburn
is important for patients who have never used cannabis as a medicine before. THE ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW | “That we care and that’s why we got in this business. We believe wholeheartedly in putting patients before profits,” explains coowner Alex Davis.
TOP SELLING STRAINS 9 lb. Hammer and Lavender TOP SELLING VAPORIZER JuJu Joints’ Steven Hawking Kush TOP SELLING EDIBLES NevadaPure Chocolate Gold Bar, Evergreen Organix Brownies CBD LOTIONS Cannamour, CBD for Life, Trew Balance MISSION STATEMENT | Striving for a healthy balance of mind, body and spirit for patients. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Sahara Wellness plans to carry high quality products that range from high CBD to
high THC strains as well as CBD lotions, topicals, and edibles. WELL-KNOWN STRAINS IN THE SAHARA WELLNESS INVENTORY | Girl Scout Cookies, Lavender, Fire Alien, Strawberry Cough, Cookie Cross, Purple Haze. STAFF EDUCATION | Sahara Wellness brings in professionals, including growers, attorneys and nurses, to educate and make presentations to the staff. Additionally, Sahara Wellness has a private patient waiting room so patients can discuss their conditions freely which, the dispensary’s owners, believe
UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | The dispensary has two unique attributes. Not only is it serendipitously located at an address of 420, which the owners didn’t know the meaning of at the time of purchase, but it is an all-female-owned entity. “Since it’s all women doing it, hopefully we have the compassion to help a lot of people. I know that word is used a lot but that’s why our group got involved. We are committed to the patients and the community and their needs,” explains Brenda Gunsallus, general manager/co-owner. DESIGN OF SPACE | “We went for the spa feel with the rock wall and water fountain to create a calming, serene effect. We wanted to it to be a place where patients would feel comfortable,” says Davis.
march | elevatenv.com 27
LOOKS
LIK
E AN
ULTRA LOUNGE Las Vegas ReLeaf www.lasvegasreleaf.com 2244 Paradise Road Las Vegas, NV 89ı09 702.209.2400
that’s difficult to replicate. “We’re really accessible, responsible, professional. And we put patients first,” said CEO Ed Bernstein. Las Vegas ReLeaf is centrally located near the Strip, surrounded by ı2 bus stops in a ı,000-foot radius as well as being within walking distance of the Las Vegas Monorail.
TOP SELLING STRAIN Strawberry Cough (Sativa) TOP SELLING CONCENTRATE Blue Dream JuJu Joints TOP SELLING INDICA Lavender MISSION STATEMENT | Compassion, knowledge, comfort, and safety and security are at the core of ReLeaf’s mission. In addition, ReLeaf strives to provide a thoughtful approach to patient safety and education, as well as demystify and divorce society from the subculture formed around cannabis. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Flower, concentrate, edibles, and pre-rolls as
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well as topical lotions, cremes, tinctures, patches and muscle freezes. STAFF EDUCATION | ReLeaf’s wellversed budtenders are educated on the dispensary’s wide range of products through interactive educational features. Budtenders, along with patients, also have access to educational resources online at ReLeaf’s website and via their mobile application. UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE | ReLeaf’s management and location make it a prime choice for patients. The dispensary’s combination of doctors, attorneys and businesspeople offer a balance of responsible management
DESIGN OF SPACE | Although we felt the vivid color and lighting palette gave Las Vegas ReLeaf a club feel, every design choice in the dispensary, from the colors and lighting in the waiting area to the menu boards, reflect a desire to create a physical space as warm and as welcoming as the service patients receive at ReLeaf. “Ultimately, we believe that great dispensary design, coupled with unparalleled service and top-shelf medicine, is key to having a great dispensary experience and that Las Vegas ReLeaf provides patients with the total package,” boasted Marketing Coordinator Jacob Silverstein of the dispensary. The dispensary’s design inspiration is not limited to comfort, safety and security were also fundamental to Las Vegas ReLeaf, which has over 40 surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology.
O
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OPEN FOR BUSINESS ESSENCE VEGAS TO OPEN THREE DISPENSARIES Essence Vegas, a medical marijuana dispensary and treatment facility, has announced the opening of three locations in the Las Vegas Valley, including the first and only location on the Las Vegas Strip. Essence Vegas opened its west-side location, located at 5765 W. Tropicana Ave., in mid-February and subsequent locations will open on Las Vegas Blvd. and Henderson this spring. According to a press release, the goal at Essence Vegas is to guide patients toward a complete understanding of the benefits of medical marijuana in healing chronic and debilitating conditions with all services being performed by
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highly-trained consultants and an on-site nurse who will be available to discuss dosing and best practices with patients. Essence Vegas’ three locations include: Essence – West at 5765 W. Tropicana Ave., Essence – The Strip at 2307 S. Las Vegas Blvd. and Essence – Henderson at 4300 E. Sunset Rd. Suite A2 & A3. For more info., visit www.EssenceVegas.com or phone 702.90ı.458ı.
INYO FINE CANNABIS DISPENSARY TO PARTNER WITH VETERANS VILLAGE Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary, which opened last fall, has announced a community partnership with Veterans
Village, a 24/7 crisis intervention facility in Las Vegas for veterans and their families. The partnership solidifies Inyo’s commitment to house a veteran for a full year. “It costs $20 per day to house a veteran and Inyo’s contribution goes directly to benefit veterans in need,” said Arnold Stalk, president of Veterans Village. “We have partnered with Veterans Village for special events in the past and were privileged to see the great work they do with our treasured veterans. We are so pleased to make this commitment and we look forward to continuing to work with our community partner,” said Greta Carter, a partner at Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary.
Elkhorn Rd
nte Pkwy
N Tenaya Way
Charleston
Centennial Pkwy
N Jones Blvd
W Ann Rd
Spe
edw Blvd ay
N Pecos Rd
215
Ann Rd
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Losee Rd
Allen Ln
604
DISPENSARY MAP - A Patients’ Guide to Medical Cannabis in Southern Nevada
E Bonanza Rd 18b
Dr y w
rH
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Anthem Pwky
y rn w he Pk ut ds So lan h ig
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s Ro St
13b
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or WH
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13a
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Rid
N Racetrack Rd
Bo
Henderson
215
E Silverado Ranch
4. Oasis Medical oasismedicalcannabis.com 702.420.2405 1800 Industrial Rd., #180, 89102 5. Las Vegas ReLeaf lasvegasreleaf.com 702.209.2400 2242 Paradise Road, 89104 6. NevadaPure Edibles, Extracts, Flowers available nevadapure.com 702.444.4859 4380 Boulder Highway Las Vegas, NV, 89121
Gibson Rd
15
Windmill Pkwy Wigwam Pkwy
Cactus Ave
1. The Apothecary Shoppe theapothecaryshoppe.com 702.740.4372 4240 W. Flamingo Road, 89103 2. Euphoria Wellness euphoriawellnessnv.com 702.960.7200 7780 South Jones Blvd, 89139 3. Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary inyolasvegas.com 702.707.8888 2520 South Maryland Parkway, #2, 89109
E Sunset Rd
Bermuda Rd
7 9
Blue Diamond Rd
Mts Edge Pkwy
Lake Las Vegas
W Warm Springs Rd
2
S Decatur Blvd
S Jones Blvd
S Rainbow Blvd
160
Ft Apache Rd
PAHRUMP
McCarran Int. Airport
515
N Stephanie St
Sunset Rd
UNLV
ea
Russell Rd
11
E Flamingo Rd S Pecos Rd
12
6
S Eastern Ave
Tropicana Ave
Please call the dispensary before you visit to confirm they are open.
S Nellis Blvd
W Flamingo Rd
Maryland Pkwy
1
5 15 3 E St Louis Ave
17 14
Las Vegas Blvd
S Buffalo Dr
16
S DurangoDr
Hualapai Way
OPENING SOON 9
W Desert Inn Rd
W Sahara Ave
4
Valley View Blvd
Town Center Dr
159
8
Stewart Ave Charleston Blvd
ke M
Charleston Blvd
La
A
147
E
95
10
E Lake Mead Blvd
E Owens Ave
N Hollywood Blvd
215
Las Vegas
Nellis AFB
N Nellis Blvd
E Summerlin Pkwy
St
N Pecos Rd
Vegas Dr W Washington Ave
ain
M
N Eastern Ave
Carey Ave
W Lake Mead Blvd
N Lamb Blvd
18a
Camino Al Norte/MLK
95
N
W Cheyenne Ave
Craig Rd
Simmons St
N Buffalo Dr
W Alexander Rd
N Decatur Blvd Dr ho nc Ra
W Lone Mountain Rd
y Pwk
Laughlin
7. The Green House OPENING SOON thegreenhouselv.com 702.420.7301 6540 Blue Diamond Road, 89139 8. The Source thesourcenv.com 702.708.2000 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd, #8, 89146 9. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 775.556.0100 1541 E. Basin Ave., Pahrump, 89048
10. Apothecarium 11. CannaCopia 12. Essence 13 a/b. Nevada Medical Marijuana 14. Nevada Wellness Center 15. Sahara Wellness 16. ShowGrow 17. The Source 18 a/b. Thrive Cannabis Marketplace A. Getting Legal
GET YOUR MEDICAL CARD BEFORE YOU VISIT THE DISPENSARIES ABOVE WITH GETTINGLEGAL.COM
702-979-9999 *SEE US FOR EXCLUSIVE DISPENSARY DEALS* 2621 WEST CHARLESTON BLVD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89102
march | elevatenv.com 31
95
LEGALEASE
dispensaries put out welcome mat for medical cannabis tourists from across the country RECIPROCITY RULES! Nevada
By Derek J. Connor
D
id you know that your valid out-of-state medical marijuana card allows you to purchase cannabis from a Nevada state licensed dispensary? Through its reciprocity provision, Nevada law specifically allows for the recognition of out-of-state or “nonresident” patient cards. In fact, Nevada is the first state in the country to fully recognize patient cards from the other 23 states that have legalized medical cannabis. Nevada law allows dispensaries to recognize a patient card from another state (or country) under the following conditions:
• The state issuing the card grants an exemption from criminal prosecution for the medical use of marijuana; • The state issuing the card requires a doctor to recommend marijuana to treat the cardholder’s medical condition; • The card has an expiration date that has not yet expired; • The cardholder signs an affidavit on a form provided by the state of Nevada stating that the cardholder is entitled to engage in the medical use of marijuana in their state of residence and; • The cardholder agrees to abide by the laws of the state of Nevada regarding marijuana use and possession limits. If non-resident cardholders meet the above qualifications, they will be able to legally purchase cannabis from a state licensed dispensary. Certain jurisdictions within Nevada even allow patients to have their medicine delivered to them, but patients should be careful to choose a fully state-licensed and legal marijuana dispensary. While in Nevada, non-resident cardholders will enjoy the same level of protection from criminal prosecution by Nevada law enforcement as holders of Nevada issued patient cards do. Nevertheless, patients or businesses with questions regarding the laws pertaining to non-resident marijuana cards, or Nevada marijuana laws in general, should consult with a qualified Nevada licensed attorney.
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CONNECT
INDUSTRY RESOURCE GUIDE
EVERGREEN ORGANIX
LP INSURANCE SERVICES
CONNOR & CONNOR PLLC
Edibles and flowers available. (702) 550.4855 evergreenorganix.com
Las Vegas • Reno • Elko Sacramento • Truckee/Tahoe (702) 365.9800 | LPIns.net
710 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 121 Henderson, NV 89052 (702) 750.9139
420 TOURS
DB LABS
STING ALARM
702-901-2546 dispensarytourslv.com
4439 S. Polaris Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89103 844.5.TESTIN | (702) 296.6929 dblabslv.com
7120 Rafael Ridge Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 737.8464
WE CAN 702
MJARDIN MANAGEMENT
NV CANN LABS
1771 E. Flamingo Rd., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89119 1.844.WeCanLV wecan702.org
Visit us at mjardin.com
BODY AND MIND
NevadaPURE
BaMmarijuana.com aw@nevada-medicalgroup.com
Edibles, Moxie, extracts, flowers available. 4380 Boulder Highway Las Vegas, NV, 89121 (702) 444-4859 nevadapure.com
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industry connect | elevatenv.com | march
6631 Schuster Street Las Vegas, NV. 89118 702.682.7203 Tara@nvcannlabs.com
LAS VEGAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA ASSOCIATION lvmma.org (702) 499.3291 info@lvmma.org
Elevating the Conversation
O
with DJ Short
ffering that he “was just tinkering in the beginning but it qualifies,” America’s preeminent cannabis breeder DJ Short has been growing for 40 years. Short acknowledges that 80 percent of hybrids have his genes in them, adding that, “I have been releasing genetics since the late ’70s, early ’80s so it is not a surprise.” Short’s focus now includes, in addition to writing and speaking, breeding plants strictly for extraction, and leasing and selling strains as he has only released about 30 to 40 percent of his library. Elevate spoke to him about the federal ban, the future of smoking, and his epitaph.
HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH CANNABIS?
It’s in my family. My great-grandmother was a gypsy herbalist. She got busted growing pot in Detroit in ı938. I grew up with that sort of knowledge always in the background. As a matter of fact, they used to joke, the grandparents and what not, that if the house catches fire, stay in there longer and take a few puffs before you go out because apparently the things like the curtains, tablecloths and linens were made from hemp. So for me, that aspect of it was always there. I didn’t realize it was a drug until I was ı0 or ıı years old because of all the media attention pointing that fact out with everything (president) Nixon was doing. DID YOU MEAN FOR CANNABIS TO BECOME YOUR LIFE’S WORK?
I thought it would be one of them. I have been an activist pretty much all my life so anything toward peace efforts or sustainable resources, those types of things, I was always interested in. But early on, due to the oppression, it could only be a hope or a dream. It actually becoming a reality was an impossibility because we are just coming out of that fog now. AS MORE STATES START TO MOVE TOWARD LEGALIZING CANNABIS, MOST RECENTLY OHIO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
36
Ohio was a mixed blessing. I used to not care how the ballot measures were written and was much more interested in just getting it legalized, but now we can dicker and say ‘no, this doesn’t work.’ I am glad the media is focusing on it and that it wasn’t anti-pot, necessarily, that defeated it and it was anti-monopolization, which is a good sign. It just takes enough mavericks in this industry, who, if we keep the leashes long enough, will be able to set the standard so to speak. I am very much in favor of the smaller operations, mom and pops. I see no reason for this to go over one acre, one acre is 42,000 square feet and is capable of producing one million grams of resonated plant material a year. And with ratios of 20 percent – so basically a quarter million grams of extract off of an acre – that’s a good living. It’s not labor intensive especially if it’s being grown for extract, it’s something a small family operation can handle and I would like to see as many of those as is humanly possible. WHAT IS YOUR SELLING POINT ON LIFTING THE FEDERAL BAN ON CANNABIS?
The big talking point I have been pushing for the last several years is very simply this: cannabis is the safest substance known to human beings, which is a hugely bold statement. How
industry connect | elevatenv.com | march
do you back that up? You don’t have to. You add another statement and that second statement is name something that is safer? You can’t do it. You can drink enough water to kill yourself. It’s the only thing we know of that is a nontoxic inebriate that does not allow us to put enough of it in our systems to harm ourselves. WILL SMOKING BECOME PASSÉ?
For me, it slowly is. I will indulge somewhat, I think, but I am more into tinctures and edibles myself. We are dealing with a human population that we have never had before -- seven to eight billion people -- so there’s room for all kinds of fads and interests. DO YOU THINK A SUDDENLY REGULATED ENVIRONMENT IS THE RIGHT STEP FORWARD?
It’s the safest substance known to human beings, why are we regulating it at all? I think a seven-year-old kid should be able to grow it in their front yard and sell it like it was a damn lemonade stand. It’s not going to harm anybody and that’s where we have to grow up and get rid of the boogie man concept. The more of this plant we get out into the world, the better off everybody is going to be. WHAT WILL YOUR HEADSTONE SAY?
Finally.