Elevate November 2018 by Elevate Nevada Magazine

NOVEMBER 2018

ARTIFICIAL HIGH: SYNTHETICS BRING WRONG KIND OF INNOVATION TO DRUG MARKETPLACE CANADIAN GROWER TURNS UP THE SUNDIAL IN PLAY, HEAL AND HELP SECTORS OF CANNABIS

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from the editor

Publisher Guy Bertuzzi, guy@elevatenv.com Editor-In-Chief Beth Schwartz, beth@elevatenv.com Creative Director Brooke Bertuzzi, brooke@finetheagency.com Contributing Writers: Justin Alexander, Josh Bell, Amanda Connor, chef Celena Esquer, Richard Gubbe General Sales Manager: Mark Damkroeger, mark@elevatenv.com Media Consultants: Marissa Skinner, marissa@elevatenv.com Nicole Verlinich, nicole@elevatenv.com

ELEVATION PUBLISHING LLC Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Lupo FINE THE AGENCY Partner Kelli Maruca, kelli@finetheagency.com Graphic Designer James Nigbur, james@finetheagency.com elevate nevada magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors, false data or omissions. elevate nevada assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this publication or in any advertisement. elevate nevada magazine does not encourage the illegal use of any of the products or advertisements within. Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. To subscribe to elevate nevada, visit elevatenv.com/subscribe/. 7120 Rafael Ridge Way, Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: 702.855.3843 | Email: info@elevatenv.com

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Superheroes don't always wear capes as we found out in last month’s cover story on non-profit Ink Ribbon Foundation and their mission of aiding breast cancer survivors in getting artfully designed tattoos to cover their mastectomy scars. As someone who throttled breast cancer in 2010 with a mastectomy and, consequently, underwent tattooing, it hit close to home. I put off getting my tattoo for so long that my oncologist threatened to fire me as a patient if I didn’t get it done. For many people it’s a matter of finances but for me that wasn’t a factor. My oncologist believed it was an issue of self-confidence and she was right. I wasn’t feeling at all confident in my body following my mastectomy and so was completely disinterested in doing anything to feel better about the changes to it. However, had I known there was a trend afoot to get a tasteful tattoo such as a lotus flower or cherry blossoms draped across my breast rather than a onedimensional nipple, I probably would have been much more motivated to get tattooed. My boyfriend had joked at the time that I should get a Dallas Cowboys’ star instead of a nipple tattooed on my body. Although a good idea that I didn’t completely reject (after beating breast cancer you are much more open to otherwise outrageous ideas), I wasn’t sure my fandom was deep enough for a silver star to be permanently painted on my right breast. Yet, a lot of women aren’t able to get their confidence back with the help of coverup tattoos due to monetary constraints as it is an expensive

proposition. That’s why the mission of Ink Ribbon Foundation is so vital to a woman’s complete recovery from breast cancer. Beating cancer is just the first step. The next step is to feel good about your body again which sometimes can be just as hard as fighting cancer. You have to learn to love yourself in this new packaging that isn’t quite you anymore. So, I was thrilled to learn of Kim Maddi’s Ink Ribbon Foundation and her desire to help her fellow breast cancer survivors. I checked in with her toward the end of October to see what kind of feedback the article had received. “I’m simply overwhelmed (in a good way) with all the positive feedback I’ve gotten,” Maddi told me. “I received a couple of nice emails from local residents who just wanted to say they love what I am doing for the breast cancer community as well, which touches my heart! The big payoff will be to see the finished artwork on our two new recipients (one of whom read the article in elevate and reached out)! These women are just so appreciative and grateful for what we are doing for them. This is exactly what I had in mind when starting my little passion project, but it’s actually an even better feeling knowing I am helping our survivor sisters feel beautiful and fierce again!” Cheers to Kim Maddi for being a superhero to the breast cancer community and giving women back one of their superpowers – the ability to feel beautiful again.

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elevatenv.com | october

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Cooking Cannabis HOLIDAY PUMPKIN ROLL by chef Celena Esquer, a.k.a. the Blaz’n Chef cannabisfreshfoods.com

elevatenv.com | november

This easy-to-make pumpkin roll recipe arrives just in time for a season that revers infusing pumpkin spice in everything from lattes to cheesecake. A thick slice of this fall-forward dessert will impress everyone you might have in this month -- from Thanksgiving guests to the neighbors you are hosting for a festive cookie baking party. So skip the pumpkin pie this year and just roll with it.

CAKE INGREDIENTS: ¾ cup flour ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice ½ tsp. allspice ½ tsp. ground cloves ¼ tsp. salt 3 large eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup sugar ⅔ cup pumpkin puree (any brand works) ¼ cup of powdered sugar

FILLING INGREDIENTS: 1 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese at room temperature 1 cup sifted powdered sugar ½ cup cannabutter, softened 1 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS FOR CAKE: In a bowl mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, allspice, cloves, and salt. In a separate bowl beat eggs, vanilla, and sugar together till thick and then beat in pumpkin puree. Combine the flour mixture and stir. Spread evenly on a baking pan. Before baking, prepare a pan with

foil and spray with butter spray and thin layer of powdered sugar. Bake for 13-15 minutes or till fully cooked in the middle. When done baking put the cake onto prepared damp towel and carefully pull the foil off. Roll the towel and cake together and cool on a cooling rack.

DIRECTIONS FOR FILLING: In a bowl beat together cream cheese, sugar, cannabutter, and vanilla till smooth. Gently unroll cake and spread the cream cheese mixture onto the cake. Re-roll the cake, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (be sure to sprinkle enough powdered sugar on towel so the cake does not stick). If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy!

Please remember when cooking with medicinal cannabis you are cooking with a medicine and the medicine amount and portions of the food ingested should always be taken into consideration. Always start out with small portions or doses and wait 30 minutes to an hour before eating any additional portions of food that has been medicated.

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n a Friday night in September, even in the midst of both the Life is Beautiful and iHeartRadio festivals, the House of Blues is packed for the latest show in Santana’s ongoing Las Vegas residency, which began in 2009 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel before moving to HOB in 2012. On the surface, legendary guitarist Carlos Santana doesn’t seem like a prime candidate for a Vegas headliner: He may be a well-known classic-rock figure, but he doesn’t have an extensive catalog of massive pop hits, and he’s not a showman like fellow Vegas-resident classic rockers Rod Stewart and Elton John. During the nearly two-hour show, Santana barely speaks, only taking the mic near the end to thank the audience and introduce his band members, and he frequently defers to those fellow musicians, granting them lengthy solo spotlights. But Santana also inspires obvious enthusiasm from dedicated fans, and even during the show’s many extended instrumental jams, the audience is engaged and attentive, proving that it’s a smart move for Santana to let his guitar do the talking. Santana’s guitar skills remain unparalleled, and he’s been one of the best guitar players in rock for more than 50 years. The HOB show opens with video footage of Santana at Woodstock, giving a sense of just how long he’s been bringing his Latin-infused rock music to rapt audiences. The set list covers various phases of Santana’s career, from ’60s-era hits (and perennial classic-rock radio favorites) “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va” and “Evil Ways” to pop-oriented singles “Maria Maria” and “Smooth” from the massively successful 1999 guest-star-packed album Supernatural. The band also serves up cover songs including John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme,” Peggy Lee’s “Fever” and a funky take on John Lennon’s “Imagine” featuring vocals by drummer (and Carlos Santana’s wife) Cindy Blackman Santana. It’s a fluid and lively experience, with various band members taking on lead vocals and different instruments, as songs transition seamlessly from one to the next, often bridged by those stretches of instrumental jamming or soloing. Santana’s band has featured literally dozens of different members over the years, and the current lineup includes some who’ve been playing with him for decades, and some who’ve just joined in recent years. All, however, are extraordinarily talented, making the most of the stage time their bandleader gives them. As gracious as Santana himself is in putting the focus on his bandmates, he doesn’t hold back on his own guitar heroics, and every time he breaks out a solo, it’s a highlight of the show. Although Carlos Santana was born in Mexico and grew up in San Francisco (where he put together the original lineup of Santana in 1966), he’s become increasingly at home

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in Las Vegas since first launching his residency in 2009, and these days he’s pretty much a full-time resident. “Cindy and I like to take beautiful drives up to Red Rock and also go to the dam,” he told the Las Vegas Sun in September. He’s collaborated with local charities including Three Square and the Boys and Girls Club and he has an ongoing relationship with fellow Vegas local Andre Agassi’s Foundation for Education. He’s also a big fan of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson One (which performs at Mandalay Bay just across the casino floor from the House of Blues) and local restaurants Bachi Burger and Mastrioni’s. And, of course, he’s a longtime marijuana advocate, which isn’t exactly surprising for a rock star who emerged out of the Haight-Ashbury scene in San Francisco in the 1960s. “It’s a gift from heaven to human consciousness for healing and for awakening—and to stay awake from the nightmare of separation. I would say it’s the key factor to help humans use divine reason,” he told High Times in 2017. In 2009, he used an interview with the Associated Press to plead with then-President Barack Obama to legalize marijuana in the U.S. “Legalize marijuana, and take all that money and invest it in teachers and education,” he said. “And you will see a transformation of America.” Obama may not have listened, but since the legalization of cannabis in a number of states, Santana has continued to voice his strong opinion. Santana has always been deeply spiritual, and his marijuana advocacy is an outgrowth of that spiritual practice. In 2016, he launched his Santana Smooth brand cannabis inhaler at Marisol Therapeutics in Colorado, making his connection with the cannabis industry official. “We want to affect consciousness with healing and giving people a better quality of life physically and hopefully psychologically,” he said at the launch event. “It’s time for the collective world to wake up and know the difference between medicine and drugs.” The serenity that Santana gets from his spiritual practice and his cannabis use carries over into his live performances. On stage at the House of Blues, he’s dressed all in white, with a shirt covered in colorful designs spelling out words like “joy,” “peace” and “love.” For some products of the ’60s, those ideas have become outdated, but Santana only gets more invested in them as time goes by, and more determined to bring those messages to the people. Asked by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in September about a possible end to his Vegas residency (which he recently extended into 2019), the 71-year-old had no interest in scaling back. “People ask me about retiring,” he said. “Shoot, man. No. I want to do even more concerts.” An Intimate Evening With Santana: Greatest Hits Live returns to the House of Blues November 2-4, 7, 9-11.

elevatenv.com | november

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TURNING UP THE DIAL CANADIAN GROWER SUNDIAL CULTIVATES TRUST TO INNOVATE PLAY, HEAL AND HELP SECTORS OF CANNABIS SPACE by Beth Schwartz

An aerial view of Sundial Growers, an Alberta-based licensed cannabis producer.

elevate spoke with Torsten Kuenzlen, CEO of Sundial Growers, on October 18, the day after Canada began selling legalized recreational cannabis.

which Kuenzlen is very enthused about. “If you look at the combination of variables of those 113 cannabinoids working with each other in different combinations to achieve different things, it is mindboggling what cannabis can do in the heal medical space,” he says. “We’ve all seen the videos of the seizure medicines, particularly for children, and how life changing that is. We’ve seen firsthand from our Chief Medical Officer, who has treated over 3,000 patients, the lifechanging capabilities it has on PTSD sufferers who have been given up on by traditional medicine. There’s even sleep aids or help with anxiety to get out of the house in the morning. There are so many areas that are only beginning to come to the forefront that we are very excited about in the heal space.” The final space Sundial has set its sights on is what the company refers to as the help space. “With the World Health Organization (WHO) looking at CBD differently, the global opportunity associated with that for health and wellness to aid in a healthy active lifestyle is tremendous,” explains Kuenzlen, who is referring to WHO’s recent recommendation* that pure CBD should not be scheduled within international drug conventions. (*WHO conducted a critical review of CBD at its June 2018 meeting and, in turn, announced that its Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) will meet

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The cannabis industry is the innovation industry at the moment,” offers Torsten Kuenzlen, CEO of Canadian cannabis producer Sundial Growers. “We are innovating in a series of sectors simultaneously. There is not really another product that I can think of that can play and will play in so many adjacent categories. If you take a long-term perspective, the opportunities are very evident.” Kuenzlen, who only joined the cannabis industry in February after being appointed CEO at Sundial, goes on to tick off the sectors where cannabis has spread its tentacles – alcohol, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, tobacco, and food and beverage – to invade industries ripe for disruption. “You add all of this up and you have to figure out how do we sequence what we pursue and how do we pursue the biggest opportunities there are nationally and internationally,” wonders Kuenzlen, who spent his career in executive leadership roles with Molson Coors and Coca-Cola prior to joining Sundial. Under Kuenzlen’s guidance, Sundial has charted the cannabis course it plans to pursue. The privately held, Albertabased licensed cannabis producer has decided to go after three spaces in the industry which they’ve identified as play, heal, and help. Play is obviously the recreational adult-use consumption space. Heal is the medical part of the industry

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later this month to conduct a critical review of cannabis. Any recommendations coming out of that meeting will likely be forwarded to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for consideration at the March 2019 meeting potentially impacting U.S. scheduling of cannabis.) Of play, heal and help, Kuenzlen concludes, “Those are three distinct monstrous opportunities which straddle not just cannabis itself, but it impacts food and beverage, it impacts pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, it even has an impact on the tobacco industry.” Now the question is how do you jockey to the front of the pack and set yourself apart from an entire industry. “One of the things we looked at is what is out there, what could differentiate us, what’s important, and what we quickly fell into was trust,” relays Kuenzlen. “A lot of people talk about that, but we take it super seriously. We really do strive to be the most trusted cannabis company in Canada and internationally because we believe there is nowhere more important than in an industry like ours that trust is key.” So committed to building Sundial’s foundation on one of trust, the company deliberately sat out October 17, a hugely historic day in Canada’s relationship with cannabis as the country opened its doors to the recreational legalization of marijuana. “We were just not comfortable that we could commit

to just not quantities, but qualities because when you grow cannabis in new facilities for the first time you don’t really know what kind of THC, CBD and 111 other cannabinoids you are going to get,” explains Kuenzlen. “So, how could we, in good faith, promise the boards and the retailers and the consumers that our brands would be something that we did have full control of yet? We did talk to the boards and put in bids, but we always said we would be coming to the market three to six months later.” For Kuenzlen and his Sundial team the trust they are carefully cultivating hinges on growing the highest quality cannabis in the market. Of which the CEO notes is beginning to be a classified in terms of good, better and best. But Kuenzlen thinks that categorization is probably insufficient. “There is this notion of super premium and super premium really requires a cultivation approach that is different. For example, we believe in modular, small batch individually controlled cultivation. That means we will have 150 individual grow rooms and they are each going to be just under 3,000 square feet so they are sizeable rooms, but they are fully individually-controlled and they won’t have daylight access because any variability in outside factors stress the plant. We think that in that growth environment we can produce a quality that other people literally can’t.”

large facilities are built. They can’t change that, and they are not set up for that and with it also comes operational efficiency. It’s easy to grow a little bit of good cannabis and it’s really easy to grow a lot of not-so-good cannabis and it’s actually really really hard to grow a lot of great cannabis.” The challenge of growing great cannabis leads Kuenzlen back to the topic of finding himself now part of a budding industry. “Can you imagine you do 25 years in slow growing but still exciting industries,” says Kuenzlen, referencing his career at Coca-Cola and Molson Coors, “and then somebody goes here’s a new industry where we are going to flip a light switch and hundreds of millions of consumers who are using this product are now going to be allowed to use it legally, starting with the Canadians here?” He continues, “I think it’s gonna look remarkably similar to the alcohol industry, but it will be so much bigger and that’s such an amazing thing to think about. But the truth is because of the multi-vector functionality of this plant, much of which we don’t even know, and the ability to play into all these different sectors, I think that cannabis is going to be a global, heavily branded, multi-industry opportunity. I have no doubt in three or five years you will fly from this country to another country and buy the same brand maybe in the same retailer. It’s going to be a wild ride and we are very fortunate to be a part of it.”

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Kuenzlen continues, explaining his belief that the quality of cultivation is impacted by four factors. “The first factor is the quality of the capability of your people. Then you need a fantastic grow environment and we believe our small batch cultivation modular in a really controlled environment is second to none. Of our master grower, I always say, ‘we want to give him the best canvas for him to paint his art on’ and that’s how I think about this grow environment that we have produced. “The third part you need is the best genetics. We are very fortunate that we have been able to secure probably the best genetics in the industry and a lot of people will say that but let’s see how that plays out and, in six or nine months, who is winning the cannabis cups and, more importantly, who is winning the consumers’ hearts and minds and pockets because of the product we are bringing to market which is partially the genetics. We will have to wait and see what they will buy and love.” The fourth piece is the cultivation techniques being deployed. “We know we have significant competitive advantages by being able to individually adjust the grow room based on the kind of plant we are growing, based on which stage the plant is in, based on the results we are trying to achieve,” says Kuenzlen. “I think that is going to be challenging for many of the cultivations that exist today and the way many of the

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A NOVEL IDEA

INNOVATION SPROUTS ACROSS NEVADAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CANNABIS MARKETPLACE

By Justin Alexander

erriam-Webster defines innovation as the introduction of something new. The cannabis marketplace in Nevada is nothing if not constantly rolling out new ideas, products, devices and methods for the benefit of its consumers. When we put out the call for the most innovative products in the Nevada landscape we received a slew of exciting items that ranged from topicals and live resins to tinctures and vapes. Not only did we receive novel products, but our curiosity was piqued by the array of inventive creations being dreamt up by forward thinking cannabis crafters. This review contains products with both uniquely curated genetics as well as products that were made to focus on less well-known cannabinoids including delta-8 and CBN. We also profile unique collaborations by local producers that have borne Nevada-only products and we highlight the return to traditional methods to better serve the end-product and, in turn, the consumer. Check out what we have assembled on the innovation front and see if there is not a product to meet the needs of an ailment, condition or symptom you have been trying to heal or find relief from.

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If you are in search of a connoisseur experience of rich flavors that you will not soon forget—consider treating yourself to innovative quality with Remedy’s Live Resin Vape Cartridges. Live resin is considered to be the ultimate concentrate since the flower used for extraction is immediately flash frozen and processed at low temperatures to maintain the heady, pungent profile of the living plant. “I consider our live resin vape cartridges innovative because we reintroduce the actual fresh frozen resin from the cannabis plant with a high-purity distillate,” says Remedy Lab Manager Thomas Supp. “Our cartridge tastes exactly like the live plant smells. There’s a complexity to the flavor profile that you're just not going to find anywhere else. A lot of cartridges on the market are re-created profiles of cannabis, which is still a really good taste, but it doesn't beat the actual thing. There are definitely ways to recreate the strain using non-cannabis-derived terpenes, but there is something unique to the taste, smell and effect of the live resin from the plant that just can’t be re-created yet.” Remedy features 707 Headband, Blue Headband OG, and Clemon Kush in its live resin cartridges. “It is known for a high terpenoid profile, which is desired if you’re going after a high terpene extract. The effects of our strain 707 Headband are relaxing and mentally stimulating. It helps mediate the intake of pharmaceuticals, which I find to be a great plus. It is also great for helping with insomnia, or those nights when sleep seems to just evade you,” says Supp, who notes there are very few live resin vape cartridges in Nevada’s recreational marketplace.

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served others in the past. “During the development of Chunky D, we transitioned from machine-trimming to hand-trimming and the changes were clear. Due to the harshness of the machine a lot of trichomes were being sacrificed in the process. Chunky D was our first batch to be hand-trimmed and the test results proved effective with terpene and THCa levels increasing from what we have seen on previous batches that had been machine trimmed,” says Cait Brooke, brand ambassador for The Grove. “In order to produce the best final product, we know it’s important to tackle all the tedious steps with expertise and finesse. This is why our Chunky D flower has been hand-trimmed and hang-dried. These two processes, although taking longer to execute than other methods, have been effective steps in preserving the cannabinoids and resulting in a higher yield of terpenes as well.” Chunky D pairs the “relaxing and earthy plum features of indica Deep Chunk with the pungent and invigorating aromas of sativa Sour Diesel, creating the genetic genius that is Chunky D,” Brooke notes of the flower that tests in at 28.2 percent THCA, and offers both calming and uplifting terpene experiences. “Working well together, caryophyllene (8.141 mg) and myrcene (4.219 mg), send a warm blanket across the body, softening the limbs and relieving tension,“ says Brooke. “Alongside these tranquil terpenes, Chunky D also produces limonene (3.415 mg) and traces of pinene; both can be effective in giving a brain and mood boost. It truly creates the best of both worlds, stimulating the mind in euphoria while unwinding the body.” Brooke promises Chunky D will invigorate your senses, noting, “the aromas alone will catch the nose’s attention with bold diesel and hints of citrus and pine accompanied by soft and subtle notes of hops. However, the effects are what keep customers coming back. Seemingly taking the best features from both its parents, Chunky Diesel loosens and relaxes the body while awakening and exciting the mind, making it a great strain for a multitude of activities.”

NLV ORGANICS’ KISSABLE SENSUAL MASSAGE OIL Treat both you and your partner’s bodies to hypnotic relaxation this fall with NLV Organics’ Kissable Sensual Massage Oil. “Our Sensual Massage Oil allows users to have extended massage time while providing the skin with a nourishing treat,” says NLV Organics’ Salpy Boyajian. “Our goal was to create a flavorful intimate massage oil that would be an ideal couples’ necessity for those experienced in cannabis products and those not.” This premium massage oil boasts a massive dose

MEDIZIN’S OGKB 2.0 VAPE CARTRIDGE Medizin’s OGKB 2.0 vape cartridge is a potent indicadominant strain with a “sweet flavor that tastes like berry,” says Medizin’s Brandon Zimmer. It is considered innovative among vapes because of its potency at 86 percent THC and 7 percent CBN—you don’t sacrifice any bang for your buck with this vessel. OGKB is a mix of OG Kush and Girl Scout Cookies, two traditionally venerated strains. “It is a stony, cerebral head high and comfortable body effect that leads to sedation,” says Zimmer. With a terpene mix of d-limonene (18.82 mg), b-myrcene (18.15 mg), linalool

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of THC at 242.55 mg, Boyajian said, noting it is the highest available in Nevada’s recreational market. “The high potency dose will leave your body and mind feeling stimulated, blissful, and in a state of pure ecstasy,” says Boyajian. “It has body relaxation and relief properties. It has a silky texture that allows hands to glide over the body with minimal friction. It was created using a blend of all-natural coconut oil and premium-grade cannabis oil and was infused with a delectable tropical flavor. If you don’t want to consume an edible or inhale smoke, topical massage oil is a great way to experience the benefits of cannabis oil.” But, Boyajian notes, you can still consume this massage oil in more intimate settings. “Although not considered an edible, our massage oil is made of natural ingredients that can be considered ‘kissable,’ making it the perfect addition to an intimate massage,” she says. “And it is safe to be used as a lubricant—which makes it that much more blissful!”

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(3.9 mg), b-pinene (3.18 mg), the OGKB 2.0 cartridge will help release stress, insomnia and pain.

CITY TREES’ PURE THC BLUE AGAVE TINCTURE City Trees’ Pure THC Blue Agave Tincture is an innovative mix for the cannabis cocktail connoisseur. “Strong yet flavorful our allnatural tincture is water soluble, so it mixes easily into a variety of food and drinks,” says City Trees’ Don Decatur, who notes agave is a wonderful natural substitute for processed and artificial sugar made from the leaves of the Mexican blue agave plant. “People love the taste and its ability to be used in so many different types of foods and drinks,” relays Decatur of blue agave. “We wanted to give people a strong, yet flavorful all-natural tincture. With most on the market tasting pretty bad and not offering good value, we think we hit a homerun.” This powerful tincture will make your cocktail dreams a reality with 300 mg of THC. The versatility and high potency of this tincture makes it a gamechanger to people who would prefer not to smoke. At 5 mg per dose and 60 doses per bottle, the effects are as strong as you want them to be.

EVERGREEN ORGANIX’S SPF+THC SUNSCREEN An innovator among topicals, protect your (legally of-age, of course) family’s precious skin with something a little extra with Evergreen Organix’ SPF+THC Sunscreen. That’s right—they really are infusing THC in everything under the sun! “Cannabis-infused topicals have become very popular recently but we wanted to offer a topical that was multi-functional,” says Jillian Nelson of Evergreen Organix. “We wanted to create an elevated cannabis

topical that was useful to active people who love the outdoors. Combining the healing benefits of cannabis with sun protection was our goal for our SPF+THC Sunscreen, and it is a favorite amongst the winter sports crowd.” This useful topical is not only a shield against the sun, but “it is also infused with anti-aging serums and is 100 percent paraben-free. It boasts SPF 30 with UVA/ UVB spectrum coverage,” says Nelson. This super sunscreen protects you from the sun while making you feel groovy. “It is also great for helping soothe irritation,” explains Nelson. “We recommend this product not only during summer, but also for winter protection for people on the slopes.”

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When you can’t grab quick green relief, try a unique method of cannabis consumption: Mary’s Medicinal Patches available in sativa, indica and a CBD:THC version. “Most patients don't even think of transdermal patches when they come to us for relief. Our guests are looking for something to smoke or an edible, but many don't realize that patches are a great alternative for those who don't want to feel a typical euphoric high,” says Hailey Stone, the Apothecarium’s marketing coordinator. “Mary's Medicinal Patches are transdermal, which means they will absorb through your skin for full body relief. They actually release the cannabinoids into the bloodstream for a steady effect. One patch can last anywhere up to 12 hours, releasing small doses of cannabis throughout use,” Stone says. “Patches are ideal for someone dealing with chronic pain, anxiety or insomnia. If you need relief over a long period, these patches can truly make a difference in your day-to-day life. The long-lasting effects mixed with a constant stream of cannabis throughout the day can give the user a calming sense of relief without needing to feel a ‘high’.” Mary's Medicinals is also one of the few companies to create CBN products. CBN is a less common cannabinoid, but it has a heavy sedative effect that is great for patients struggling with insomnia. So, if you’re 374_elevate_ad_nov_2018_mjbizcon.indd 1

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When you need muscle relief fast, enter Kynd and their soothing balms with a solidly strong cannabiniod make-up of 114 mg THC and 207 mg CBD. “Our infused balm is a multi-purpose healing salve formulated to address skin, muscle, and joint health issues. The soothing topical supports cell production, anti-inflammation, and vasodilation for faster healing while also penetrating deeply into the skin for effective pain relief stemming from sore muscles, rheumatic joints, and even headaches,” says Kynd COO Stacy Castillo. “The level of effectiveness in the Kynd balm is what makes it stand out. We included 14 additional ingredients over and above our THC and CBD CO2 oil, and every one of them offers a unique benefit. Our balm can be used to relieve general inflammation and pain to the musculoskeletal system to improve skin elasticity and moisture and as a source of beneficial antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids. It’s this thoughtful blend of ingredients that combine for a truly revolutionary topical.” Kynd’s Balm is for more than just achy feels, however: “The balm addresses so many different issues and its efficacy is measurable. People see and feel benefits quickly. Our patients use it for an array of different ailments, including treating skin issues, arthritis, post-surgical healing, menstrual cramps, dark spot correction, and many others,” Castillo says. “We see demand from people of all ages and walks of life—athletes, people with arthritis, people who have just had potentially dangerous sun spots removed (once the wound heals), post-surgical care (once the wounds heal), muscle issues, knee problems, back issues, menstrual cramps, migraine sufferers, massage therapists, and the list goes on.”

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CANNABIOTIX’S L’ORANGE MOUNTAINS TRIM RUN SUGAR Known for producing high quality flower, Cannabiotix takes yet another step into the realm of innovation with the introduction of its L’Orange Mountains Trim Run Sugar. “We took two of our most sought-after strains— (continued on page 56)

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Delta-8 products are a scientific feat because they contain completely different molecules than the more well-known Delta-9 THC—giving patients a new option when it comes to medicinal use of cannabis. “Just knowing that we are doing something so revolutionary is fun but actually finding new user cases and products to offer as a D8 variety keeps us smiling,” says Marc Baldwin, director of marketing for Exhale. “We rearrange the double carbon bond using heat and pressure to change the isomerization and relocate that second double bond to the other side of the molecule. I would say that is fairly innovative.” The Exhale Roar cartridge contains Zkittlez, an indicadominant mix of Grape Ape and Grapefruit. Its benefits are well beyond the standard high with everything from body-centric feels to superb mental clarity. Because it is so versatile you can use it in a variety of both social and business situations when your head feels foggy and it is a supreme product that can help an array of users from cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment to those suffering with sports injuries. “This batch being a Zkittlez means you get the power of an indica hybrid with the controllability of the Delta-8 isomerization. It also gives a powerful case of the munchies,” Baldwin says. “D8 has a high CBC cannabinoid content which is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial. It’s also a reliable pain reliever and it increases your neuroprotective pathways.” For those among us who experience anxiety when consuming cannabis, “Delta-8 is literally the opposite of anxiety, it is anti-anxiety. If you need a higher dosage with Delta-8 you should have no fluttery feelings,” explains Baldwin. “It will calm you down without being overly psychoactive and allow you to keep a clear head.”

LEGALEASE

DRIVING

HIGH

Current system to identify prior marijuana use is flawed

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By Amanda Connor, Connor & Connor Everyone knows the responsible thing to do when going out for a night of cocktailing is to have a designated driver. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sober friend, Uber, Lyft, or a taxi, most people understand the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol could be very severe. Alcohol impairs coordination, reaction time, and awareness, which are the three most important aspects of safe driving. On the other hand, it is not often you hear about someone getting a designated driver when they plan on consuming cannabis. Some people claim they are better drivers when they are high, or that they drive safer because they are conscious of their impairment. Whatever the social perception of driving high may be, the law takes a strict view against stoned driving. Assembly Bill No. 135 is an act relating to public safety that revises the provisions relating to prohibited acts concerning the use of marijuana and the operation of a vehicle. Mainly, it amends NRS 484C.110 to provide that the amount of marijuana in a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s system can only be measured through his or her blood, and urine tests are no longer applicable for any marijuana DUI cases. In Nevada, the law punishes driving under the influence of marijuana the same as DUI with alcohol. Further, due to current sobriety testing, one may still be convicted of driving high even if they are not technically impaired. NRS 484C.110 defines DUI laws in Nevada and states that it is unlawful for any person to drive if their blood contains more than five nanograms of marijuana metabolite (11-OH-tetrahydrocannabinol) per milliliter of blood or two nanograms of marijuana (delta nine tetrahydrocannabinol) per milliliter of blood.

If you use marijuana somewhat consistently it will stay in your blood for weeks, sometimes months. What this means is a driver does not have to be technically impaired for a police officer to arrest him or her for violating marijuana DUI laws. As long as the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood contains the minimum prohibited amount of marijuana or marijuana metabolite in their blood they are guilty per se -- if the individual was legally stopped. If an individual is pulled over for suspicion of impaired driving, the first thing police officers usually look for is the presence of alcohol. Law enforcement tests for alcohol influence by conducting field sobriety tests and administering a breath test. Even if the driver passes the breath test, the officer may still suspect the influence of drugs. The officer may suspect there has been drug use if the driver: fails a field sobriety test, smells of marijuana, or

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exhibits symptoms of being high. Some officers have drug recognition evaluation training and can be called to the scene to evaluate a suspect for further detainment. If the officer believes there is probable cause that the driver has committed marijuana DUI they will arrest the driver and take them to the station for a blood test. Drivers suspected of marijuana DUI must submit to a blood test if a warrant is obtained, unless the driver volunteers to give blood which they are not required to do. Every driver in Nevada is assumed to have given implied consent to take a blood test if they are pulled over under suspicion of DUI. If you refuse to submit to a required DUI evidentiary blood test, the officer would have to obtain a warrant and may then use “reasonable force” in order to administer a forced blood draw. Imagine a scenario where a regular cannabis user has

just legally purchased marijuana from a dispensary. He or she is driving with the marijuana in their car and is planning to smoke marijuana for the first time since the day before. Unfortunately, on the way home, another driver runs a red light and hits the individual on their way home from the dispensary. The other driver dies at the scene of the accident and the individual with marijuana in the vehicle remains at the scene, unharmed, to speak with police. An officer smells marijuana in the individual’s car and inquire about that person’s marijuana use. Truthfully, the individual says that they have not consumed marijuana since the day before and was not at all impaired during the time of the crash. However, the officers believe they have probable cause to arrest the individual on suspicion of marijuana DUI. The person is taken to the police station and given a blood test. The results that come back show the driver’s blood contains more than the “legal” amount of marijuana – over five nanograms per milliliter of blood. This individual who was not at fault in the accident, could now be guilty for involuntary manslaughter due to “driving under the influence” and could potentially serve a lengthy prison sentence. This is likely startling to those who use marijuana regularly and responsibly. How can someone who is not actually impaired by marijuana be arrested for DUI? The current system in place to identify prior marijuana use is flawed. The amount of marijuana in the driver's system depends on the driver's personal tolerance levels, how concentrated the marijuana was, and how much the driver may have ingested, consumed, or smoked within the span of a few weeks. The legal limit of five nanograms of marijuana metabolite per milliliter of blood is not a sufficient indicator to recognize compromised driving ability. While scenarios like the one mentioned above show that there are flaws in the system that make it possible for an innocent person to be convicted of a serious crime, it is a double-edged sword. Lawmakers, advocacy groups like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and citizens want safe streets. Nevada and other states that have legalized marijuana use need to come up with a more precise system for determining if a driver is truly impaired. While there are ways to fight a wrongful marijuana DUI charge, the process is stressful and enduring. And frankly, it is better to be safe than sorry. Thus, if you consume marijuana, you should not drive for the period of time that it may be in your system.

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elevatenv.com | november

By Beth Schwartz

Planet 13 guests will be able to experience a glowing aerial orb show high above the dispensary floor.

here’s a new planet joining the solar system. It’s only fitting it would land in Las Vegas where ‘out of this world’ is a common reaction to the spectrum of otherworldly offerings in the Neon Jungle. And, it’s just as you would expect: colorful, whimsical, and created with the purpose of heightening all of your senses. As its creators intended, arriving at Planet 13 is akin to landing on another planet – one that’s lit in all senses of the word. Outside there’s a rooftop field of 13-foot lotus flowers waving in an array of vibrant colors. While inside visitors are greeted by a parade of floating orbs synchronized to their own mesmerizing dance, an interactive laser graffiti wall, and a sensoryactivated LED floor that leads you forward in a rhythmic dance of your own making.

Visitors to Planet 13 will experience sensory-activated LED flooring that creates an interactive show while guests are walking on it.

As guests approach the Planet 13 complex they will see a field of 13 15-foot lotus interactive flowers on the building’s roof.

Bringing this almost celestial experience to Las Vegas are longtime Southern Nevadans Bob Groesbeck and Larry Scheffler. In spite of Planet 13’s boastful tagline – “the world’s largest cannabis entertainment complex,” the two businessmen are quick to explain “we didn’t set out to become the world’s largest, it just happened,” says Scheffler. As Groesbeck adds, “at that time, we didn’t anticipate we would have a 112,000-square-foot canvas to work off of.” “As we were looking around for a site close to the Strip – it’s as close to the heart of the Strip as you can get – we came upon this building that was 112,000 square feet and our minds are both creative and we talked about having the largest cannabis entertainment complex and how to make it a destination in Las Vegas since Las Vegas is over the top. We felt we needed to just try to out Vegas, Vegas. It’s 40,000 square feet, which in essence became the largest cannabis dispensary in the world,” Scheffler elaborates of Planet 13’s location on Desert Inn Road just off the Strip behind Fashion Show mall and Trump Tower. Scheffler seems to have had very little trouble out-Vegasing the city. “As much as Vegas is one of the most fantastic entertainment cities in the world, nothing we

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What else would you expect from the Entertainment Capital of the World?

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are doing has ever been seen in Vegas before,” he reveals. “This is the first permanent installation in North America of the orbs from Germany, and this is the first permanent installation of laser graffiti in the world. It really is gamechanging not only as a destination, but especially as a cannabis destination.” Creating a must-see destination comes naturally to Scheffler who journeyed the world seeking the most extraordinary attractions in his efforts to ensure Planet 13 would break through the white noise of Vegas to attract the city’s visitors. “I just always want to be ahead of the crowd, I never want to be the same as everybody else. I have always been different my entire life, I always want to be the best. I love innovation and love being the first in everything we do,” he explains. Scheffler continues, acknowledging being inspired by a city of innovators. “Maybe it’s also because of all the things we have seen going on in Vegas. Bob and I together have 100 years in the Las Vegas Valley – growing up with the city and seeing what’s going on,” notes Scheffler. “Seeing how Steve Wynn changed the casino world with all of his new ideas and all the attractions like volcanoes and dancing waters. He really is the godfather of everything you see on the Strip and creating Las Vegas as a destination.”

And with that influence in mind, Planet 13 was born. “This is fully designed to be an attraction – something that the customer needs to see when they are in Las Vegas,” says Groesbeck. “And, again, the experiential components are new not only to the cannabis space, but also to Las Vegas and they will complement what we try to do as a community and bring traffic here from throughout the world.”

Pioneers on a New Planet

Although both novices to the burgeoning world of cannabis, Groesbeck and Scheffler saw the value of being pioneers in a new industry they knew little about. “I had zero experience. I didn’t know much about the industry or have much familiarity with marijuana at all,” offers Groesbeck. “It’s been a very steep learning curve over the last five years. I’ve learned more about cannabis and the industry and about the regulatory side of the business than I ever could have imagined.” Scheffler didn’t know much more, noting the last time he smoked marijuana was in 1970, and that he still has not even tried their own product. “The only thing we are smart enough to know is what we don’t know,” he quipped. Despite the duo’s lack of knowledge, cannabis piqued

to do this we made a commitment to go all in and to do it the right way. In hindsight we are very glad that we did that. It has been very exciting.”

Black Market Gives Nevada Operators a Black Eye

While the nascent cannabis industry has plenty working against it – lack of banking, being federally illegal, 280E tax consequences – there is one big negative in particular that has cropped up in the Nevada market. “We are comfortable working through the government’s rules and regulations because we both have extensive experience there but the biggest issue for us every day is dealing with the black market here in town,” says Groesbeck. “That’s really are biggest competitor. It’s been a real issue. It’s something we as operators can’t solve, it’s going to require a concerted effort by law enforcement and the elected officials at the state and local levels to take this head on, so the industry can thrive and grow and continue being a taxpaying industry.” Groesbeck estimates the revenues being generated in Nevada’s black market are close to what is being sold in the regulated market right now. To give you an idea, taxable sales of adult-use marijuana totaled about $41 million

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their interest in spite of the untenable circumstances of being a federally illegal industry. “If we were having this discussion six years ago even I would probably have said, ‘are you of your mind?’,” says Groesbeck, who adds he and Scheffler spent a lot of time discussing the idea of getting in the industry before jumping in and applying for licenses. “It was so new, so different, it’s kind of like we envisioned the pioneers in gaming, sitting around before it was legalized and knowing it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity much like when you look back to prohibition without alcohol,” explains Groesbeck. “Obviously, it [cannabis] has its challenges, and there are significant federal issues that need to be worked on and resolved but it’s just incredibly exciting to be a part of something that literally came from the underground to being legal, to now growing as a legal taxpaying business.” Scheffler adds, “More than anything, cannabis is one of the last prohibitions, one of the last sin taxes, this is one of the last one of these prohibitions going away which only happens once in five lifetimes. This happened in our lifetime and we were financially able to take advantage of it.” “Like Larry said, you don’t see this opportunity come along very often,” interjects Groesbeck. “Once we decided

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in July 2018. Total combined taxable sales for medical marijuana, adult-use marijuana, and marijuana-related tangible goods totaled $48.4 million in July. “I think it’s huge,” Groesbeck allows of Nevada’s black market. “We get flooded with Oregon, California outdoor grow products and Washington’s overflow. It’s pretty evident when they are dumping product in the Valley. They are pretty creative in how they host events, they have popup events that we’ve become aware of on occasion. Several of those operations have been raided but it’s really just scratching the surface.” Scheffler adds his concerns about the black market’s lack of lab testing. “Their product is not tested so, we don’t know what they put on the plants or if there is mold or if there are 100 different issues with it. It’s dangerous, but we get the black eye even though we are following all of the rules and regulations,” he explains. Groesbeck finishes, “it hurts not only the industry, but it hurts the state because they pay no taxes, they provide nothing to the community, they’re not involved, they are not engaged.” The black market is not the only thing testing Nevada’s cannabis pioneers. “This industry is unique in that it is still a Schedule 1 narcotic, it’s still prohibited at the federal

level which has created a host of additional challenges. For instance, there’s the 280E tax implications and the banking issues that we grapple with every day. That is what sets this industry apart. We are hopeful there will be meaningful changes in Congress here in the near term, but we have to deal with those challenges on a daily basis,” says Groesbeck, who is confident in 2019 the cannabis industry will see banking regulations get support from Congress and the body will pass legislation to address the problem. “It’s been difficult, but it’s one of those things where we have been fortunate to retain a prominent lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. and they are constantly working the issue for our members here in Nevada,” explains Groesbeck. “Sometimes Congress is a little slow in catching up with what the people want and that’s been the case here with marijuana and certainly in banking reform, but we do see positive signs and we are confident we are going to see some meaningful reform.”

A Planet 13 Circling Every City

As for the 10-year plan for Planet 13, Groesbeck envisions the brand being a dominant player in the cannabis space. “In five years, I think it’s reasonable to expect that we will be a billion-dollar plus company,” he

says, adding that, “Nevada is our home base and we are building a fantastic flagship operation here, but we are looking at other jurisdictions and we intend to grow our footprint and platform throughout the U.S.” Plans for growth include moving into other states. “We are branding Planet 13 to have Planet 13 LA, Planet 13 Miami, Planet 13 Boston – you will see that across the nation using a successful platform we have created,” explains Scheffler. “We will have more like mini superstores in all these other cities. We still want to do something special, some special effects but each store will still be cognizant of the flavor of that town and that area and that part of the country to blend in with that neighborhood.”

Leaving an Otherworldly Legacy

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The co-CEOs have both held governing jobs, Scheffler was a Henderson city councilman from 1990 to 1995 and Groesbeck was Henderson’s mayor from 1993 to 1997, and each have been involved in building multiple businesses. But starting a business in the cannabis industry has been the most satisfying venture they have undertaken in spite of the obvious challenges. “I have had my printing company for 40 years and have two or three other companies also,” explains Scheffler. “The

only thing that is so different for us is the regulations. It’s got the most regulations of any other business I have ever been involved with. Otherwise, it really is still just another company. It’s having the expertise of knowing what you don’t know. You just get the right people around you, the most talented people that you can work with and it’s the same as any other company.” For Groesbeck it’s about creating something from nothing. “It’s just been terribly exciting to create a company from a drawing board to what it is now at close to 300 employees. I think we are just getting started. For me that’s always been something I have always wanted to do on a larger scale,” explains Groesbeck. “It’s really exciting to see the level of talent we have brought into this company and the opportunity it has provided for our employees and families and, for me, I just get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from that.” Between the creativity, innovation and job creation that Scheffler and Groesbeck have been able to generate, Planet 13 has become a legacy project for them. “I think we both like to think of ourselves as being the leader in the new cannabis space,” concludes Scheffler. “The high-end way that we are going to create it, the destinations, being the leaders in the world – I like to think it all started here.”

elevatenv.com | october

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ARTIFICIAL HIGH Synthetics bring wrong kind of innovation to drug marketplace By Richard S. Gubbe Synthetics give cannabis a bad name. Synthetics of all kinds – street synthetics, pharmaceutical synthetics, and even synthetic terpenes in concentrates – present a serious danger to all who dare to partake. You probably know them by their street names: bath salts, K2 and spice. They are a three-headed devil that exists merely to mimic the effect of cannabis when legal cannabis

is safer and more effective. Synthetics are created in a lab to mimic medicine because the process is cheaper and legal. Synthetic street drugs are trying to emulate THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabis’ psychoactive property. Synthetic terpenes and synthetic prescription drugs also mirror the THC molecule, but pharmaceutical companies and terpene labs can’t replicate the entourage effect.

elevatenv.com | november

IT’S SPRAYED ON? The first demon is a liquid sprayed on who-knowswhat that doesn’t come close to cannabis, can be addicting, and is potentially lethal. Taking away the true intent and replacing it with something that will harm the brain and who knows what else has greed as a stimulant. Synthetic cannabinoids like K2 are man-made chemicals that can either be sprayed on dried plants and smoked or sold as liquids to be inhaled in e-cigarettes or other devices. The big draw is they can be anywhere from 2 to 100 times more potent than THC, according to researchers. Credit for its existence can be given to a college student at MIT while others point to foreign introduction. The big attraction was a cheap high without getting caught. The stuff is created and packaged in such places as China, Mexico and yes, the good ole US of A. The spawning of fake THC has drawn many names for products in appealing packaging to become incalculable chemical compound forms of K-2 and spice. Can they mimic marijuana? No. Certainly not for this scribe, who sampled the goods back in Illinois ten years ago when finding anything to smoke meant trying stuff that may not be good for you. Not much has changed as far as the eradication of its existence. As a friend noted of his synthetic experience: “I took one hit and said this is enough of this shit, dumped the bowl on the ground and gave the rest of the package away to a guy at work,” he said. “It gave me a headache.” Use of the term "synthetic marijuana" to describe products containing synthetic cannabinoids is erroneous. Dr. Lewis Nelson, a medical toxicologist, calls it a misnomer. Dr. Nelson claims that relative to marijuana, products containing synthetic cannabinoids "are really quite different, and the effects are much more unpredictable.” Research on the safety of synthetic cannabinoids is now being conducted to prove that assertion. One of its attractions is that synthetic cannabinoid consumption does not cause a flagged urine drug test for THC, its metabolites, or other cannabinoids present in marijuana using standard immunological screening procedures. The secret of synthetic formulas is they are always altered slightly to create a chemical compound new to law enforcement, the Food and Drug Administration, and only deemed illegal when the compound is identified and made illegal. Having watched loved ones become drawn to it as a replacement for a better high and seeing friends using it to avoid being fired for testing positive for marijuana, the attraction is clear.

The attraction for a cannabis extractor to use synthetic terpenes is also apparent with money being the motivating factor. That and to boast strong profiles after being tested by the state before sale. Terpenes are extracted in the distillate process and can be re-introduced again, sometimes augmented by synthetic terpenes. The landscape of synthetics gets more difficult to traverse when synthetic terpenes are found because no one knows what effect they can have. Again, altering the entourage effect is risky and makes proper dosing nearly impossible.

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november | elevatenv.com 45

Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of chemicals that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body, but are different from the natural cannabinoids in cannabis plants and contain no proven positive health aspects. Each compound may mirror THC for a brief moment after the chemical attaches itself to the cannabinoid receptors in the body. Street, or black market concoctions, are often called designer drugs but are sprayed or otherwise soaked into a plant or other base material. The blend is sometimes misleadingly referred to as synthetic marijuana and is sold for recreational drug use. When synthetic cannabinoid blends first went on sale in the early 2000s, it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of natural herbs. They lied. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed that this was not the case. Compounds and formulas change to circumvent the law and are sold under various brand names, online, in head shops and where else but the street. In comparison with cannabis, it is inexpensive. Adverse effects from synthetic use include hypertension, tachycardia, myocardial infarction, agitation, vomiting, hallucinations, psychoses, seizures, convulsions and panic attacks. Among individuals who need emergency treatment after using synthetic cannabis, the most common symptoms are accelerated heartbeat, high blood pressure, nausea, blurred vision, hallucination and agitation. Other symptoms included epileptic seizures and acute psychosis. Professor John W. Huffman, who first synthesized many of the cannabinoids used in synthetic cannabis mimics, is quoted as saying, "People who use it are idiots. You don't know what it's going to do to you." A user who consumed three grams of Spice Gold every day for several months showed withdrawal symptoms similar to those associated with withdrawing from the use of narcotics. Doctors treating the user also noted that his use of the product showed signs associated with addiction. The use of synthetic cannabinoids can be associated with psychosis and physicians are beginning to investigate

possible use of synthetic cannabinoids in patients with inexplicable psychotic symptoms. In contrast to most other recreational drugs, the dramatic psychotic state induced by use of synthetic cannabinoids can persist for several weeks after complete cessation of drug use. Individuals with mental illness and high-risk factors for psychotic disorders are often counseled against using synthetic cannabinoids. On the street, the population of users is higher. The degree of the presence of synthetic street drugs appears to hit harder in states with harsher penalties against cannabis who have yet to amend their laws.

elevatenv.com | november

BIG PHARMA GETS ITS PIECE OF THE SYNTHETICS PIE Big Pharma always jumps in when there is a buck to be made, but some of the inspiration to creating synthetic THC in a lab comes from roadblocks to real marijuana research. Israel and Canada are light years ahead when it comes to researching the plant while the United States just keeps producing more prescription drugs. The biggest complaint to legalizing cannabis is that it hasn’t been studied enough. And yet, synthetic cannabinoids are being OK’d by the FDA and produced without any research at all. The most noteworthy pharmaceutical synthetic is Marinol. And yes, having tried that (with a legal prescription) as well -- the drug is powerful, expensive

and can dilate your eyes with a single dose and pose big addiction problems. That was easily noticeable after taking 30 pills in 30 days. But on June 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved GW Pharmaceuticals’ drug Epidiolex to treat two rare types of childhood-onset epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. What makes this approval so different from just any other drug approval is that it marked the first time the FDA OK'd a cannabisderived drug. While synthetic versions of THC have been approved before, this was the first time a cannabidiol (CBD)-based medicine directly from the cannabis plant was given the go-ahead. The FDA approval of a cannabis-derived drug contradicts the definition of a Schedule I substance. In essence, a Schedule I substance has no recognized medical benefits -- yet here comes a quickly approved drug from GW Pharmaceuticals that shows otherwise. Synthetic cannabinoids were often designed for research purposes, in part due to legal restrictions on natural cannabinoids preventing research. Studies are ongoing to examine their therapeutic potential. One study found that while mice developed withdrawal symptoms from THC that was not the case with the synthetic cannabinoid AM-

1710, which was able to relieve neuropathic pain without inducing either tolerance or withdrawal suggesting that CB2 receptors could be a viable target for development of pain-management drugs. The first synthetic cannabinoids were synthesized by Roger Adams in the early 1940s. The first generation of THC analogs (synhexyl, nabilone, nabitan, nantradol) featured slight variations of the THC molecule by substituting nitrogen for oxygen in the benzopyran ring in the 1980s. Synthetic THC (Marinol, Dronabinol) was touted in 1985 as an antiemetic and again in 1991 as an appetite stimulant. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs with THC that are prescribed in pill form (Marinol and Syndros) to treat nausea caused by cancer, chemotherapy and loss of appetite.

THE LOCAL STREET PROBLEM

november | elevatenv.com 47

Synthetic cannabinoids are addictive to the brain but include a broad class of compounds in which neurotoxicity may vary substantially. Jaime Primerano, D.O., Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center’s Chair of Emergency Services, said the easiest way to determine who is on synthetics is to ask them. “The only way to know if your patient is on it is to ask him or her. In general, we see it occasionally, but it is not the most commonly abused drug in Las Vegas,” she said. Testing is next to impossible due to costs and changing formulas. “There are a couple hundred different chemical formulas for synthetic marijuana,” Primerano said. “And, as of yet, no one has devised a single lab to accurately test for it.” Synthetics users certainly mirror many of the same telltale signs of smoking narcotics including dehydration, erratic behavior, dizziness and malnutrition signs pointing to addictive behavior. There are budtenders in Las Vegas who see the addiction firsthand when those strung out on synthetics look to cannabis for help. But it’s hard to replicate the sharp, piercing high of synthetics. They hear stories about their power and the addiction that causes long-term effects. “I tell them that only concentrates can deliver the hit they need to help them get off that stuff,” said one local budtender at a Downtown dispensary. “But they often can’t smoke because their throats are all burned. And they can’t do edibles because they don’t feel them. They have a hard time coming off of it. They can’t eat, and they go through sweats like a meth user, or worse.” The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) reports that large quantities have not surfaced or translated into busts since pot went legal. Local smoke shop outlets were known for selling it slyly over the counter or

elevatenv.com | november 48

out the back door. That, reportedly, has receded. “I haven’t heard anything about this (recently),” said LVMPD Public Information Officer Larry Hadfield. “I haven’t heard of anything regarding shop busts. Heroin and meth are the problem. ...To my knowledge my first instinct is to say we haven’t (seen many arrests).”

SPICE IS NOT NICE All the worst stories about street synthetics come mostly from states where cannabis is able to be legally obtained. • On a single day this past August in New Haven, Conn., 76 people are believed to have overdosed on some form of K2. Officials responded to 19 additional reports of overdoses the next day, bringing the total to 95 cases. Most all of the overdoses occurred in New Haven Green, a large park in the city's downtown amidst churches, family picnic areas and a historical burial ground. Patients, which included people of various ages and demographics, had symptoms of increased heart rates, decreased respiratory rates and a lot of vomiting. Some people were unconscious, others were semi-conscious. • Synthetics caused similar mass hospitalizations last May when 25 people were hospitalized in one area of

Brooklyn, N.Y., after having negative reactions to what was reportedly believed to be K2. • In North Carolina, a vape store clerk was charged after a student at a high school overdosed using a vape product. Police said the vape was sold as “Black Diamond” CBD oil but was a synthetic cannabinoid known by the chemical name 5-Fluoro ADB and FUB-AMB, both of which are controlled substances. • Synthetic cannabinoids were tied to 89 reported cases of severe bleeding, including two deaths, in Chicago and central Illinois this past April. All cases required hospitalization related to coughing up blood, blood in the urine, bloody nose, bleeding gums and other symptoms. Nine of the cases tested positive for brodifacoum, or rat poison, according to a statement from the Illinois Department of Public Health. State officials are working to identify any common synthetic cannabinoid products related to those cases and to determine where the products were obtained. "It's a nationwide problem. Let's address it that way," New Haven Fire Chief John Alston Jr. said of synthetics. "It's a nationwide problem that people are self-medicating for several different reasons, and every agency -- police, fire, medical hospitals -- all are strained at this time. This is a problem that's not going away."

THE BLACK MARKET NOBODY SAW COMING

Theresa A., Anxiety Patient

“As soon as I walked inside, I felt comfortable. The staff answered all my questions and made sure I knew how to use the products before I left. It’s so good to be feeling better.” Visit us at:

7885 W Sahara @ Buffa lo 8 am to 10 pm Ever yday

(702) 778 -79 87 | A p o t h e c a r iu m . co m Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older.

november | elevatenv.com 49

One result of making cannabis legal in Nevada was supposed to be the death knell for illegal cannabis sales as well as other drugs. By making cannabis easy to purchase, the black market would dissipate. But that logic didn’t account for a surplus of marijuana coming out of California, Washington and Oregon and being sold under the radar in the Las Vegas Valley. In Oregon, it is estimated there is more weed available each day than a population of 2.5 times higher than the state population could smoke – and that is if everybody in the state smoked. Growers have been at it for decades there and in the last 15 years have supplied much of the country with recreational smoke. Legalizing cannabis seems to have provided a cloak to hide behind to elude police. “I haven’t even heard of any grow houses being busted. The problem has outdated itself,” PIO Hadfield said when elevate reached out to Las Vegas Metropolitian Police Department on the topic of Nevada’s black market. However, operators in Nevada’s cannabis industry would wholly disagree. Sources that include dispensary operators and budtenders, along with growers and sellers themselves who were interviewed by elevate in the past month have revealed concern that Nevada’s black market is just as big as its legal market. Some estimates include the sale of as much black market weed as the amount sold legally which is $550 million yearly. In mid-September, the Nye County sheriff’s office along with the U.S. Forest Service, the state Wildlife Department, the state Investigation Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration seized $20 million in illegal marijuana, some plants, some packaged already. It was the largest bust ever in that county and resulted from a tip. There were grow materials including fertilizer and two California men were arrested. Why does black market marijuana go largely undetected? Hard to tell illegal from legal growers, hundreds of places to grow in the desert, and cannabis can be trafficked into Nevada easily by cultivators in other states who want to quickly unload product and make a fast buck.

DISPENSARY MAP A Guide to Cannabis in Southern Nevada

RENO

PECOS RD

SIMMONS ST

O .R

ST HENDERSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

GREEN VALLEY

215

HORIZON RIDGE PKWY

HORIZON DR

515

GE SUNRSIDPKWY HEIGHT

16b

MARYLAND PKWY

D BLV AS VEG LAS Y PKW AD

29b

6TH ST

COMMERCE ST MAIN ST 3RD ST

WES TER NA

L RD RIA

HIG

E ME

RACETRACK RD

PKWY

CACTUS AVE

13b

PARADISE RD

RANCHO DR

WARM SPRINGS RD

HENDERSON WIGWAM PKWY 16a

UST

HLA

SET

LAK

BERMUDA RD

DECATUR BLVD

LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH

JONES BLVD

SUN

31b

SAM BOYD STADIUM

WINDMILL LN

PEBBLE RD

18 AVE

HIG SO 15 HL UTH AN ER DS N PK WY

SUNSET COUNTY PARK

SILVERADO RANCH BLVD

515

RUSSELL RD

DESERT INN RD

AMO

E DI

BLU

D RD

LLY

NELLIS BLVD

AVE

MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

KAREN AVE

WINDMILL LN

SAHARA AVE

E TWAIN

FLAMINGO RD

SUNSET RD

LAMB BLVD

PECOS RD

OAKEY BLVD

9a 14 24 ST. LOUIS AVE

GREEN DISTRICT

GIBSON RD

30b

PECOS RD

LAS

DESERT INN RD

23a

STEPHANIE ST

IP STR THE LVD

VEG

AS B

SAHARA AVE

215

WARM SPRINGS RD

NELLIS BLVD

LAS VEGAS TROPICANA AVE

RUSSELL RD

SUNSET RD

SANDHILL RD

29a

CHARLESTON BLVD

MARYLAND PKWY

MAI

22 23a

10 28 JONES BLVD

TROPICANA AVE

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

FLAMINGO RD

DESERT INN RD SPRING MOUNTAIN RD

PAHRUMP

VALLEY VIEW

DECATUR BLVD

DURANGO DR

FT APACHE RD

TOWN CENTER DR

HUALAPAI WAY

SAHARA AVE

IND

32b 5b 3 20

3 20

SAHARA AVE

BONANZA RD

31a

OAKEY BLVD

OWENS AVE

EASTERN AVE

ALTA DR

30a

LAKE MEAD BLVD

32b

CHARLESTON BLVD

WASHINGTON AVE

CHARLESTON BLVD

160

WASHINGTON AVE

215

N 5TH

LOS EE

VEGAS DR

DECATUR BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

BLVD

159

23b

32a

CAREY AVE

TH OR DN V L B NELLIS AS AIR FORCE VEG LAS BASE

CRAIG RD

MARYLAND PKWY

LIN

NORTH LAS VEGAS

CAMINO AL NORTE / MLK

WASHBURN RD

N ST

MESQUITE

CENTENNIAL PKWY

LAKE ME AD

ANN RD

HO NC RA

CHEYENNE AVE

13a

JONES BLVD

DURANGO DR

GRAND CANYON DR

LONE MOUNTAIN RD

ALEXANDER RD

215

BOULDER CITY AND LAUGHLIN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cannabiotix products are sold here

november | elevatenv.com 51

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

elevatenv.com | november

OPEN FOR BUSINESS LAS VEGAS PAIUTES TO OPEN NEW DISPENSARY IN NORTHWEST A second Nevada tribal marijuana dispensary will be operating in the valley in early 2019. The Las Vegas Paiute tribe has plans to open its second Nuwu Cannabis Marketplace on tribal land near the tribe’s golf resort in Centennial Hills, Kevin Clock of Cascade Strategic Investments told the Las Vegas Sun on October 10th. Clock, whose Oregon-based group partners with the Las Vegas Paiutes, said the new dispensary will be about a third of the size of the tribe’s 15,800-square-foot dispensary located near downtown Las Vegas. The new dispensary will also include a 24-hour drive-thru and will carry the same inventory of products as the downtown location, which includes flower, edibles, topicals and concentrates.

NLV ORGANICS SELLS TO FLOWER ONE Flower One has purchased NLV Organics' cultivation for $27.2 million. NLVO is a fully operational, 25,000-squarefoot cultivation and production facility located in North Las Vegas with nine grow rooms capable of cultivating a total of 4,500 plants per cycle. It is fully licensed to grow and process cannabis for both the medical and recreational markets in Nevada. Flower One also announced that it received its cultivation and production licenses from the State of Nevada and is developing the largest greenhouse in Nevada at 400,000 square feet along with a 55,000-square-foot production facility. The greenhouse is expected to have an annual capacity of 140,000 pounds of dry flower and trim. MJARDIN GROUP EXPANDS IN NEVADA WITH ACQUISITION OF FLAGSHIP ASSET In September, Denver-based MJardin Group, a cannabis facility management company, announced its acquisition of the parent company of GreenMart of Nevada LLC, which owns a four-acre site containing two existing indoor cultivation facilities located in northeastern Las Vegas, for approximately $22 million in cash and stock. Located near Nellis Air Force Base, one facility is currently operational and the second is expected to be operational by January

NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS NOVEMBER 2: A SYMPOSIUM ON SOCIAL CONSUMPTION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA The William S. Boyd School of Law and Nevada Law Journal present The Elephant in Nevada’s Hotel Rooms: A Symposium on Social Consumption of Recreational Marijuana on Friday, November 2nd from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the law school’s Thomas and Mack Moot Courtroom. Centered around the Nevada Law Journal’s most recent White Paper, the seminar will analyze the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act and surveys the approaches of other legalizing states, and ultimately proposes legislation to address Nevada’s public consumption problem. To RSVP, https://law.unlv.edu/event/marijuana-white-paper-symposium. NOVEMBER 9: INNOVATION IN MEDICAL CANNABIS THERAPIES GB Sciences will be presenting innovations necessary for plant-based medical cannabis therapies to become available through mainstream channels during its seminar Innovation in Medical Cannabis Therapies. The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 9th at Keep Memory Alive Event Center at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Avenue, and is free to attend. Visit gbsciences.com to register. NOVEMBER 9-10: CBD.IO - THE FUTURE OF WELLNESS This two-day event being held in Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall is formatted for business-to-business networking and providing industry affiliates the opportunity to connect with hemp and CBD brands who are looking to increase their product reach. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in educational seminars. https://cbd.io NOVEMBER 9-11: HERBAN EXPO Herban Expo, a cannabis business to consumer trade show event open to the public, is being held at the Rio Convention Center. The goal of Herban Expo is to inform, educate, and expose the newest products and trends in the market with hundreds of exhibitors. There will also be live art, entertainment, and informational seminars daily. herbanexpo.com

november | elevatenv.com 53

TERRA TECH CORP. EXPANDS FOOTPRINT WITH DISPENSARY IN DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS In mid-October, Terra Tech Corp., a vertically integrated cannabis-focused agriculture company, announced its purchase of a retail property located at 121 North Fourth Street in downtown Las Vegas. Terra Tech plans to convert the building into a Blüm retail dispensary. The 4,541-squarefoot retail building rests on a single 0.16-acre land parcel on North 4th Street, just 100 feet from Fremont Street Experience.

2019. At full capacity the two facilities can produce over 10,000 pounds of finished flower product annually. MJardin plans to invest as much as $15 million into the facility to develop extraction and packaging for its own marijuanainfused products as well as for up to five brands.

elevatenv.com | november

BLACKBIRDGO.COM

PROFILE

november | elevatenv.com 55

BLACKBIRD PLANS TO EXECUTE ON NATIONAL AMBITIONS THIS YEAR AND NEXT “We want to be the UPS of cannabis,” is how Blackbird CEO Tim Conder summarizes his aspirations for the transportation/delivery company he co-founded in 2015. “Our ambitions have always been national. We are looking at expanding into several more states this year. We are trying to move quickly. We want to be the first national cannabis distribution company and I would venture to guess we are one of the only multi-state cannabis distribution and delivery companies.” As the largest distribution company in Nevada, Blackbird offers retail delivery for dispensaries to end consumers as well as wholesale distribution and transportation of product from cultivators and producers to dispensaries. Conder’s entry into the cannabis delivery space in 2015 was a fairly easy transition as Conder had a bicycle messenger service, Bootleg Courier Company, for ten years in Reno prior to founding Blackbird. Conder had a couple of friends who were awarded MME licenses in Reno who reached out to him because of his experience in the transportation/delivery space to see if he had considered getting involved in the cannabis industry. “Because of the relationships we had with license holders in Nevada, we had been thinking about it. Then as they called us and urged us to enter the industry, it solidified in my mind how important a company like Blackbird might play in the market and that was kind of it.” Conder made the transition and has grown Blackbird to a company of 130 employees over the last three years. “Nevada has been a great market for us. We were the first licensed distributor and the only one without significant ties to alcohol. We have had a lot of success in Nevada just based on those facts and based on our relationships with retailers and wholesalers in the state. So, it’s been a great state for us to launch in and establish our business practices.”

After finding solid footing in Nevada, Blackbird started expanding earlier this year -- opening in California this past January and in Massachusetts in September. The company currently holds six cannabis distribution licenses in two states and has an application in a third state for a seventh license. The logistics company is also looking to expand into Illinois, Arizona and potentially Oregon by the end of the year. “We are equal parts software and operations. We built our own platforms in-house to facilitate everything that we do--retail delivery and wholesale distribution,” explains Conder of Blackbird’s business model. “Really we are an end-to-end supply chain solution. For wholesalers, we offer sellable inventory management and delivery tracking and logistics software. For retailers, we offer embeddable ecommerce menus, POS and inventory management.” Fifty percent of Blackbird’s business is built on its software. “Proliferating our software offerings to more states is really important to us. So, we are continuing to build on that platform and ideally in the next year, our goal is to become the first enterprise supply chain software for the cannabis industry.”

elevatenv.com | november

(continued from page 29) L’Orange and Kush Mountains—and Photo by Timothy Marez mixed them together to create a complex palate of terpenes,” says Cannabiotix’s Megan Landers. “With the perfect mixture of a strong indica and strong sativa, it allows for an array of concentrate consumers to enjoy taking dabs in the morning, during a break to release or at night to relax.” With 72 mgs of THC and 79 mgs of THCA, Landers says this sugar trim left her feeling like she was “high on the mountains in a zesty orange field. The team and myself wanted to take two very unique strains and mash them together in hopes of creating a product as unique as the two strains are on their own.” And their vision does not disappoint; this sugar is super sweet and uber popular due to the bursting terpene aroma of limonene (4.6 mg), linalool (3.4 mg), b-caryophyllene (1.6 mg), and myrcene (1.3 mg) as well as the flavor consumers receive right from the start. Sprinkle the sugar on your rig, in your joints or on your pipe for an undeniably satisfying smoke with a crisp autumnal vibe meant to be inhaled.

TSUNAMI STRAWBERRY BANANA SHERBERT LIVE RESIN BADDER, THE+SOURCE

Labs. It’s really exciting to introduce new genetics from our grow to our concentrate consumers first. Generally, flower fans get first crack at new releases from the garden, so it’s awesome to be able to give wax lovers a chance to try this strain in concentrate form first. That is truly a novel notion.” Genetically this strain is a cross between indicadominant hybrids Strawberry Banana and Banana Sherbet. The first unique characteristic you will notice is on the nose—the aroma is bold and fruity with tones of sweet berry and earthy banana and a terpene mix of a-pinene (11.45 mg) and b-caryophyllene (9.89 mg). “This Tsunami badder has bright top notes of tropical fruits like kiwi and pineapple and is held down by base notes of red currant and cassis. It’s ripe to get you in a creative and innovative state of mind,” says Schmidt. The consumption of this product produces some truly magical effects. It is a blend of a body high with bursts of creativity and euphoria at a THC content of 334 mg. This will boost the brain to new heights thanks to some very special and artfully constructed science—and it’s all in the terps as they say. “The robust terpene profile contributes, boasting 48.42mg/g of myrcene, to a unique taste and a palatable treat. It’s physically relaxing and mentally stimulating, I felt less stressed and therefore more open to being artful and explorative with my creativity,” says Schmidt. “I could totally see some innovative or inventive ideas coming from a dab sesh with a friend or business partner stemming from this strain.” Since this is a collaboration done in small batches, look at it as a sort of limited edition and highly artisanal. “Our staff and patients love the collabs, seeing their favorite companies in town working together to continually provide a line of new and reinventive products, that’s innovative by nature,” says Schmidt.

SHANGO’S GRANDPA’S BREATH

“Being innovative means being original, featuring new methods, or a new idea; and this product is certainly that,” says Laura Schmidt, marketing coordinator for The+Source. “This is the debut of one of 8|Fold’s newest strains, Strawberry Banana Sherbert, and the coolest part is that it was processed by the super inventive team over at Tsunami

The smell of “old man breath” is nothing innovative but when it comes from the genetic cross of the highly revered OG Kush and Granddaddy Purple strains, it’s something to take note of. Enter Shango’s Grandpa’s Breath, a groundbreaking way to end your day. “The dankness of this strain is like a big whiff of an old man’s breath that makes you weak in the knees,” says Shango’s Kelli Lebsock. With 19 percent THC, the euphoria starts with the first long hit and then as it continues to smoke, you will feel relaxation increase and a full body takeover tucks you in mentally and physically. With 3 mgs of myrcene, the result is a great night’s rest. “Initially this strain provides a mentally pain-free feeling and quickly becomes very sedative,” Lebsock says. “It is often a great choice to treat PTSD, depression,

KABUNKY’S DARK AND MILK CHOCOLATE

I RAISED $2,500 TO HELP FORWARD THE RESEARCH OF BREAST CANCER

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME IN REAL MEN WEAR PINK An innovator among delicious edibles, Kabunky has a candy store size variety of offerings. Two of our favorites are the brand’s Dark Chocolate (109 mg THC) and Sea Salt Milk Chocolate (85 mg THC). Each has a rich flavor profile true to their non-medicated counterparts. Bites of these easy-to-consume snacks relieve anxiety or pain within the hour. Both contain hybrid properties, so they work with how you are feeling to give you the best result. While chocolate has medicinal properties on its own when uninfused, adding in cannabis gives exponential benefits for both mind and body.

NV Cann Labs, Virtue, Connor and Connor, LP Insurance, Thomas Bruny, MMC Depot, Exhale, Jalayne Grady -Guy Bertuzzi

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insomnia, chronic fatigue, and chronic stress or anxiety.” In developing this strain, the growers at Shango were looking for the most innovative way possible to help patients with sleep issues and assist with relaxation and mental euphoria. “Guests with busy lifestyles, multiple jobs or just trouble sleeping—this strain is great to help you fall asleep to optimize any time allotted to catch your ZZZZs, which is never enough for any of us,” Lebsock says. And that is why we can all use a little help from dear old granddad.

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Agent: #00710 Bong, James Mission: Vapin’ With Attitude

elevatenv.com | november

Status: 00710 Approved

Woke up quick at about noon Just thought that I had to be at NuWu soon I gotta get high before the day begins Before Octokushy starts bitchin' about my friends About to go and damn near went blind Other Double-O-Dabbers at the pad throwin' up smoke signs Ran in the house and grabbed my vape clip It was an Airo-Pro batt’ on the side of my hip Bailed outside and loaded my batt’ Just as I thought, the crew felt that Clipped in th’ Bubba Kush hit the juice on my ride Lovin’ how the Airo-Pro vibrates front back and side to side Then I set the Pax Era free Bumpin' new oil by the Matrix NV It was "Knight Raider" at the top of the list Then I smoked my own shit, it went somethin' like this Cruisin' down the street in my DB5 Need a new Pax, so I stopped at Thrive Went towards the Strip to get some food Gotta Chick-fil-A combo to put me in the mood A car pulls up, who can it be? A fresh stretch limo, a real Double-OG He rolls down his window and he started to say It's all about vapin’ with the Pax E-R-A 'Cause the oil in Vegas is always fire You come vapin' our heat you’ll never be higher Knowin' nothin' in life but to be legit Just quote me boy, 'cause I’m always vapin’ it

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