november
PTSD IS RIPPING
the Heart out
of our Nation COULD CANNABIS PREVENT OUR
VETERANS FROM
COMMITTING SUICIDE? LAS VEGAS METRO WEIGHS IN ON CANNABIS
2015
EVERGREEN ORGANIX CULTIVATES HOMEMADE TASTE INTO EVERY EDIBLE THEY MAKE! Powered by the VonDank methodology of Zero Air Exchange Clean Rooms, Evergreen Products promise to have unique quality medical products to choose from.
We make only the highest quality medical edibles for patients, crafted from all natural ingredients and skillfully combined with cannabis, lab-testing every batch to ensure consistent THC potency. We hope you love our confections as much we love making them. Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Blueberry Chocolate and Cherry Chocolate Squares. French Made Medibles! Introducing our EvergreenOrganix EGO Classix! Extraction free, made the old fashioned way with infused butter: A Double Chocolate Brownie, The Seven Layer Bar, Oatmeal Cranberry and Chocolate Chip Cookies and Macaroons. Vegan, GMO Free, Sugar Free Rolls. Who knew medicine could taste so good!? Vapes: Ask for our Ego Elite herb burner or The Ego Puff Wax disposable Wax and Oil Vape. Wax and Oil Vape pens at participating Nevada dispensaries. Critical Co2 extraction - Pharmaceutical grade machines that will produce clean meds in the form of Wax and Shatter. Managed by the VonDank Group, 29 flower strains will give patients choices! Cannabis Cup winners and exclusive strains. EVERGREENORGANIX.COM /EVERGREENORGANIXLV
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Publisher Guy Bertuzzi, guy@elevatenv.com
Editor-In-Chief Beth Schwartz, beth@finetheagency.com
Creative Director Jina Hustler, jina.hustler@finetheagency.com
Contributors and Photographers Derek Connor, Dr. Pouya Mohajer, Rio Lacanlale
Culinary Contributors Johnny Church, Jamie Lockwood, Robert Teddy
Sales Associate Shanna Perry, elevatenv@gmail.com
ELEVATION PUBLISHING LLC President Jonathan Fine
Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Lupo
Vice President of Business Development Kim Armenta
FINE THE AGENCY President Tracey Michels, tracey@finetheagency.com
Director of Creative Services Brooke Bertuzzi, brooke@finetheagency.com
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Social Media Services Anna Loumbrozo, anna.loumbrozo@finetheagency.com Elevate Nevada magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors, false data or omissions. Elevate Nevada assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this publication or in any advertisement. Elevate Nevada magazine does not encourage the illegal use of any of the products or advertisements within. Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.
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As Bob Dylan sang in 1964: The times, they are a-changin’. According to a Gallup poll released on October 21, 58 percent of Americans believe cannabis should be made legal. And things are a-changin’ fast too, that number is up 7 percent from just a year ago when Gallup conducted the same poll. Interestingly enough it was in Dylan’s era that Gallup first asked the question about legalizing cannabis. In 1969, 12 percent of Americans thought marijuana use should be legal, with little change in two early 1970s polls. By the late 1970s, support had increased to about 25 percent, and held there through the mid-1990s. The percentage of Americans who favored making use of the drug legal exceeded 30 percent by 2000 and was higher than 40 percent by 2009. It’s just not the American public that is changing their collective minds. Presidential candidates are also starting to waver. During the Democratic presidential debate held in mid-October, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders became the first-ever major-party presidential candidate to express support for legalizing and regulating marijuana for adult use. When asked how he would vote on an initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol that is set to appear on Nevada’s ballot in 2016, Senator Sanders said he would vote “yes.” When Hillary Clinton was asked her position on the issue during the same debate she said she supports legal access to medical cannabis but still does not have a position on whether it should be legalized and regulated for adult use. Clinton might not have been as definitive as Sanders but she didn’t rule it out. The status quo is changing in the Senate and Congress too, however, not with quite the same alacrity as the American public. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives introduced the Veterans Equal Access Act which would have granted VA healthcare providers the ability to recommend medical cannabis for people who served in the military. However, it was defeated. In May, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted in favor of the Veterans Equal Access Amendment, which is a similar piece of legislation, that still has to pass the Senate floor. But minds aren’t changing quickly enough. Twenty-two of our military’s veterans commit suicide every day due to the effects of PTSD. It’s an unthinkable number and even more horrendous to know it’s considered low because only half of the states participated in the report. Cannabis could be the answer to our vets public health crisis but we won’t know without removing its classification by the federal government as a Schedule 1 drug. Due to its Schedule 1 status, not only can research and studies not be funded or conducted, but the use of cannabis can’t be endorsed by the federal government in the healthcare system. So I leave you with a few lyrics from Dylan’s anthem of change: Come senators, congressmen Please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway Don’t block up the hall
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PUBLISHER As we turn our clocks back an hour this month for Daylight Saving Time, Nevada is starting to move forward with the opening of medicinal marijuana establishments (MMEs) throughout the state. As of this writing there are four dispensaries open in Southern Nevada, which you can read about on page 10 of this issue. I have visited all four dispensaries as a patient and have had some great experiences. The employees at Euphoria Wellness, Las Vegas ReLeaf, INYO Fine Cannabis, and Nevada Wellness Center were all more than accommodating, friendly, and employ the kind of people you want behind the counter when you need to make an educated decision for your condition or ailment. In the near future I will be writing about each one individually, but for the time being I am waiting for the dispensaries to get more product selections to review. The arrival of November also brings with it Veterans Day on November 11, and our chance to acknowledge those brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country and our freedom. Veterans Day is near and dear to my heart since my father served in the Army, my uncle served in the Air Force, and several family friends have served this great nation and put their lives in jeopardy for our freedoms. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a public health crisis that is brutally affecting our veterans and their families. Cannabis is one of the few medicines that give PTSD sufferers relief. As we report on page 16, the federal government is finally allowing research to be conducted to study the effects of cannabis in treating the symptoms of PTSD. And, yet, our politicians still need more convincing that cannabis is an effective alternative to offer relief to PTSD sufferers. Join me in thanking our veterans not just this month, but any time you see our dedicated military personnel. We have our freedom because of them. You can show your appreciation by spending some time helping at a VA hospital or, again, just thanking them. You can also reach out to some of the non-profits that help our veterans, such as Veteran’s Village Las Vegas, veteransvillagelasvegas.org, which offers transitional and permanent housing for U.S. veterans who are homeless. Veteran’s Village is an amazing organization that does so much for our service men and women including staffing a 24-7 crisis intervention center as well as offering medical and mental health services, job referral and training. Last but not least, our Elevate Nevada family wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. Salute,
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elevatenv.com | november
CONTENTS 6 Cooking with Cannabis Infuse your Thanksgiving feast
9 9 Go Out On a Limb 6
This Thanksgiving and set the table with owls, wood accents, and gourmet treats
10 Dispensaries are Finally Open A patient’s guide to Southern Nevada’s medical cannabis dispensaries
16
13 Healing: the Power of Medical Cannabis Overcoming endometriosis and cervical cancer with cannabis oil
16 At War with PTSD Veterans face a deadly public health crisis and cannabis might be the answer
28 26 Metro Weighs In Police emphasize safety as dispensaries open around the Las Vegas Valley
28 Elevate Your State Cannabis updates from across the United States
36 Elevating the Conversation with Matt Griffin
26
g n i k Coo
with
Cannab
Infuse Your Thanksgiving Feast
is
PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING By Jamie Lockwood of Evergreen Organix, evergreenorganix.com CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS: Yield: 24 cupcakes 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground mace 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 6 ounces cannabutter, melted 1/4 cup vegetable oil 4 large eggs, slightly beaten 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree CUPCAKE DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350째 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a bowl of a standup mixer, blend cannabutter, oil, sugar, and eggs. Add dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Mix in pumpkin puree, scrape bottom of the bowl with a spatula to make sure all ingredients are evenly incorporated, mix again until smooth. Line cupcake pan with papers and divide evenly into 24 cupcakes. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool and then frost with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting.
CARAMEL INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS: 1 cup brown sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla Bring butter and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook for 2 minutes. Add heavy cream, cook for one minute. Remove from heat and add vanilla, stir. let sit and to cool to room temperature. CREAM CHEESE FROSTING INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS: 1 pound cream cheese, room temperature 1/2 pound (or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 pound powdered sugar, sifted 1 teaspoon vanilla In a bowl of a standup mixer using a paddle attachment, whip cream cheese until there are absolutely no sign of lumps. Add butter and beat until smooth. Then add powdered sugar, mix; add vanilla and mix again. Finally, mix in the cooled caramel and you are ready to frost.
Please remember that when cooking with medicinal cannabis you are cooking with a drug and the amounts of the drug 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 prepared with medical cannabis.
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CRANBERRY-ORANGE SAUCE SPLASH By Robert Teddy, www.m-antoinette.com INGREDIENTS Makes 8 servings 2 cups of sugar 2 cups of cannabis simple syrup* (or 1-1/5 cups of cannabis honey) 4 cups cranberries (about 1 lb.) 1 tablespoon of orange zest 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 cup orange liqueur or orange juice
ORGANIC MUSHROOM AND BLACK TRUFFLE BREAD PUDDING By Johnny Church, NuVeda, NuVeda.org Serves 2-4 people 3 cups diced brioche in 1/2” cubes (toast at 325° until golden brown and set aside) 1 cup organic mushrooms (sauté till golden in olive oil and set aside) 2 eggs (separate egg yolks and whites, whip whites to stiff peaks, and set both aside) 1 tablespoon black truffle oil 1 tablespoon cannabis-infused oil 1 tablespoon diced black truffles 1/2 cup cream 1/8 cup finely chopped chives 1 teaspoon tarragon 1 teaspoon parsley DIRECTIONS: In a large mixing bowl, combine above ingredients. Mix thoroughly, add salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 300° for 15 minutes.
DIRECTIONS: Combine and bring sugar and cannabis simple syrup to a boil until the sugar is dissolved. Boil the syrup for five minutes, add the cranberries. Simmer the cranberries in syrup gently, uncovered and without stirring until berries are translucent, about 5 minutes. Skim off the foam and add orange zest. Pour berries into a large bowl that has been rinsed in cold water. Chill until firm and serve cold. RECIPE FOR CANNABIS SIMPLE SYRUP OR HONEY Need to sweeten your drink or other liquids but want to give it a medicinal kick while you’re at it? Infusing simple sugar syrups or honey with cannabis is as easy as making tea…a very slooooooooow-brewed tea. *DIRECTIONS FOR CANNABIS SIMPLE SYRUP OR HONEY: 1. For each ounce of cannabis, use 8. Strain out the cannabis by 5 to 10 cups of simple syrup pouring mixture through a fine (or 5 lbs. of honey). sieve and then pour your syrup 2. After removing the stems and into mason jars for storage away seeds from your cannabis, grind from light. or chop it and set aside. 9. To get even more out of your 3. Mix sugar and water at a ratio simple syrup by packing in extra of 2 cups sugar for every cup of flavor, try adding chopped ginger, water. Bring to a boil and reduce peppercorns, mint, or basil. Start to medium heat until achieving with a cup and experiment with desired consistency of syrup. more or less depending on your 4. Add ground or chopped cannabis taste preferences. and simple syrup into crockpot. 5. Cook the syrup up to 24 hours COOKING TIP: Honey is 20% to get as much THC into the sweeter than sugar, so use less mixture as possible. honey when substituting for sugar.
november | elevatenv.com 7
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LE CREUSET STONEWARE Butter Crock, WilliamsSonoma, Rampart Commons
ON A LIMB
STAUB PUMPKIN COCOTTE, Sur La Table, Downtown Summerlin
This Thanksgiving set the table with owls, wood accents, and gourmet treats
BIRCH BARK CANDLES, Cost Plus World Market, worldmarket.com
SALTED CARAMEL Latte Syrup, Sur La Table, Downtown Summerlin
DRIFTWOOD OWL, Pier I, pier1.com
WOOD BARK BOWLS, Cost Plus World Market, worldmarket.com
TRUFFLE RUB, Williams-Sonoma, The District at Green Valley Ranch
ACACIA WEDGE SERVER, crateandbarrel.com
OWL PLACE CARD HOLDERS, Pier I, pier1.com
november | elevatenv.com 9
DISPENSARIES ARE
FINALLY
OPEN
a patient’s guide to Southern Nevada’s medical cannabis dispensaries by Rio Lacanlale
Wellness. Professional. Compassionate. Clean. Patients. Those five euphoriawellnessnv.com words instantly come to mind for Euphoria Wellness’ Managing Director Darlene Purdy when asked to describe the Las Vegas Valley’s first dispensary to open its doors. With healing, education, and safety in mind, Euphoria strives to be the first stop for patients on the road to wellness by offering patients one-on-one treatment, according to Purdy. The Euphoria Wellness experience starts the second the patient walks into the dispensary and is welcomed by its highly trained staff. No matter how long a patient has been medicating, Euphoria’s wellness guides will lead each patient from beginning to end with knowledge and advice. Not only do Euphoria’s wellness guides educate patients on strains and the various products they carry, but the dispensary also provides laboratory test results in order to find the best possible medication. With each visit, patients will better understand their needs. In order to target patients as individuals rather than a general population, Euphoria keeps a wide variety of product on hand, from JUJU joint vaporizers to pre-rolls and concentrates. By the turn of the year, Euphoria’s own cultivation and production center will be complete. With the completion, Euphoria will expand its inventory by adding edibles and Nevada-tested topical creams. The dispensary also hopes to offer more strains such as Kosher Kush, Tahoe OG, Gurl Scout Cookie and Bob Marley on top of their
EUPHORIA WELLNESS
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elevatenv.com | november
existing strains, which include Chem 91, Platinum Blue Dream, Poprox, and RKS. While Euphoria promises every patient a one-on-one experience, it also guarantees safety and security throughout their entire visit. Euphoria claims to provide the highest level of security in the industry, with security escorts offered to every patient. “We’re excited to be able to serve patients in the valley and we can’t wait for our cultivation to open so we can provide our own medicine,” said Purdy.
INYO FINE CANNABIS DISPENSARY inyolasvegas.com
Managing partners David Goldwater and Chris Olsen, along with Director of Education Greta Carter, take pride in their passion for excellence at Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary. Inyo Fine looks at its partnership with the state of Nevada and its patients as a privilege, and through that responsibility they are motivated to dispel the deep-seeded stigma associated with marijuana, according to Carter. Carter is putting education and research at the forefront of the dispensary’s mission. “We look at the test results and see what makes a certain strain effective for a particular illness or condition,” she explained. The research, however, does not end there for Carter and Inyo Fine’s staff. When patients enter Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary, an educational center is made available to them, complete with books specific to medicinal cannabis and an
open computer station for further research. With these tools, Inyo Fine hopes to build a level of trust and comfort with their patients. Inyo Fine takes advantage of the detailed research conducted in Nevada when training its staff, and encourages the team to deliver the same quality education to each patient. But Inyo Fine’s mission is not married to education and research alone. They put a lot of effort into creating an inviting, patient-friendly, safe, and accessible atmosphere. In the coming months, Inyo Fine’s own cultivation and processing center will open. By then, they hope to have up to 30 different purely organic strains on hand at out-the-door prices, including Strawberry Cough, Fire Alien Kush, Lavender, Afterlife OG, LA Confidential and Enzo Kush. Patients can also look out for edibles, topicals, tinctures, concentrates and oils. As the cannabis market develops, Inyo Fine will keep patients updated through mobile phone updates, which patients can set up online through their website. “It is a privilege to be here and a lot of eyes are on us as the market evolves,” Carter noted. Making compassion and knowledge the core of its mission, Las Vegas lasvegasreleaf.com ReLeaf is described by CEO, Edward Bernstein, as “the best in the country.” Bernstein characterized the newly opened dispensary as the best, in part, because of the thoughtful approach the dispensary has taken with regard to patient safety and education. For instance, ReLeaf provides its customers with safe and legal medication by sending new users home with firsttime patient kits to ensure a safe experience from beginning to end. To educate patients, the dispensary provides selfguided, interactive educational features available both online and through its mobile app. Patients can also take advantage of ReLeaf’s onsite budtenders, who are well-versed on the dispensary’s product. Offering a wide range of products, ReLeaf, which is centrally located near the Strip, and stands within 1,000 feet of 12 bus stops and the Las Vegas Monorail, has sativa, indica, hybrids and a range of CBD-based topical creams and lotions. As the market evolves, the dispensary also plans to carry edibles and concentrates. By March, Las Vegas ReLeaf hopes to bring in strains such as Fire Alien Kush, Purple Haze, Enzo Kush, Sage N Sour, Pure Sunshine, Strawberry Cough, Gorilla Glue #4, and Train Wreck from its own cultivation. “We’re really accessible, responsible, professional, and we put patients first,” Bernstein said of ReLeaf’s owners, a combination of doctors, attorneys and businesspeople who, Bernstein, acknowledged “bring a balance of responsible management that’s hard to replicate.”
LAS VEGAS RELEAF
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BROKER/MANAGER | REMAX CENTRAL
SUPPORTING A NEW AND EMERGING INDUSTRY
JOE SCOTT CRS, GRI, CDPE, RRG | Broker/Manager REMAX CENTRAL 8400 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89117 C: 702-858-7943 | O: 702-940-9528 | F: 702-473-8369 www.joescottsellshomes.com
HEALING THE POWER OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS
Finding Her Way One patient’s story of overcoming endometriosis and by Rio Lacanlale cervical cancer using cannabis oil
The relief was instant. The results were immediate... It’s better than any other drug I’ve been prescribed.
M
onique On, 31, is like every young woman in her thirties: active, driven and full of life. But that wasn’t always the case, not even close. By 19 years old, On knew more about pain than most people do in their lifetime. At 14 years old, most girls are entering puberty and discovering their bodies. But for On, that’s when the darkness crept in. Over the next 12 years, the cause of On’s extreme pelvic pain remained a mystery to her and her doctors, until she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 26. But On’s misery did not end there. Between playing hide-and-seek with an autoimmune disease for most of her adolescence, she was diagnosed with the six-letter-word no one wants to hear
from a physician: cancer. When On was 19 years old, she found out she also had cervical cancer. With two illnesses as aggressive as cancer and endometriosis, On was married to prescription drugs and painkillers for far too long. During what she calls her ‘dark days’, On’s physician had her taking prescription painkillers, anxiety medication, antidepressants and hormone treatments for endometriosis—all at the same time. “I was basically a zombie. I fell behind in my life. I even lost friends,” she explains. In other words, according to On, “It really sucked.” On was spending up to a week at a time bedridden, left with only her thenhusband to care for her.
Worried for her health, he suggested a solution, which, at the time, insulted her. On grew up in a home with an addict and had no tolerance for drugs. That is, until she was 24 years old. On only remembers thinking, “I can’t handle the pain anymore. I’ll take anything to feel better. I will do anything to get my health back and to live my life again.” Her first date with cannabis oil was seven years ago. Since that time, On has completely divorced herself from prescription painkillers. “The relief was instant. The results were immediate,” explains On. “It’s better than any other drug I’ve been prescribed.” Now, even in the workplace, she is an activist for medical cannabis. On feels so strongly about the cause, she has even refused job offers where they did not recognize cannabis as a medication. On’s adolescence was stolen from her, but she refuses to surrender to the chronic pain from endometriosis ever again. “I’m still here. I’m so much better and I have my life back. That’s the most rewarding thing about finding [it]!”
november | elevatenv.com 13
Follow your own path to wellness. Euphoria Wellness Medical Marijuana Dispensary is now open. It’s the mission of our highly trained staff to assist you in making informed choices to meet your medical needs. We offer a wide range of cannabis strains and products in a clean, safe environment. To provide comfort. To aid in healing. And to put you on the road to wellness.
Ask about FREE DELIVERY!
702.960.7200 • www.euphoriawellnessnv.com • 7780 South Jones Blvd. (at Jones & Robindale) • Las Vegas, NV 89139
Veterans are finding that seeking treatment for PTSD is a harder proposition than being on the battlefield. Cannabis might be the answer, but we won’t know until more research is conducted. Dr. Sue Sisley has a federal grant, federally grown plant and the approval of the FDA so why can’t she get her study of the efficacy of cannabis on PTSD done?
L
et’s start with the facts, well, as best we know them. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates 22 veterans commit suicide every day from the effects of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). And, sadly, that startling number is most probably higher since death certificates from only 21 states were analyzed in the VA’s 2012 Suicide Data Report conducted from 1999 to 2011. “Twenty-two a day is a horrific number and a true public health crisis. That was shocking to everyone. Nobody knew that it was of that magnitude and, sadly, that was a low estimate. Under half of all the states reported, and some of the big states like California and Texas were left out, and so there’s a lot of missing data. It is just sickening to me that our federal government has not made this a top priority and that a study like ours would not be expedited given the epidemic of veteran suicide in this country.” Enter Dr. Sue Sisley. In fact, when Dr. Sisley does enter a room it’s akin to a rock star making a public appearance. Her admirers stand in line – almost in awe – to have just a second to shower her with gratitude and accolades. She takes it all in stride, receiving her enthusiastic public like a pontiff. And she might as well be a pontiff in the eyes of the military’s PTSD sufferers. Reasons for the awe and appreciation vary. It could be because she is the first scientist with the gravitas to get a
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by Beth Schwartz federal grant and plant to study the efficacy of cannabis on PTSD; it could be because the lifelong Republican was fired from her University of Arizona professorship in 2014 due to her pursuit of the study; or it could be that she not only has the potential to help a lot of veterans suffering from PTSD, but her study could save countless lives. When Dr. Sisley does consider all of the lives that could have been saved -- from the time she received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pursue her study in 2011 until now -- she is incredulous. She wonders aloud if marijuana could have helped curb this epidemic. Maybe so. Dr. Sisley is principal investigator over the Arizona site for the only FDA-approved randomized controlled trial looking at the use of whole-plant marijuana, grown by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in combat veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD. Her study will measure the effects of four different strains of smoked marijuana in treating symptoms of PTSD in 76 veterans ussing cannabis with a ratio of 7% CBD to 7% THC. Sisley had asked the government-run cannabis farm in Mississippi for plant with a ratio of 12% THC vs. 12% CBD but they grew 7%. “It is not close to what we asked for but we didn’t want to wait another grow cycle so we accepted it. It could be an ideal strain, but it’s not what we requested,” relays Sisley.
Dr. Sue Sisley is in search of bigger answers
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Sisley is using federally grown cannabis in her PTSD study.
Dr. Sisley pictured with veterans.
Giving her study additional credibility, private research personally. “I am not part of the industry; I don’t own university Johns Hopkins in Baltimore signed on to become dispensaries or co-own any grows. I am really just interested a study partner in 2014 and will be splitting the protocol, in the science. We owe it to these veterans to collect objective enrolling 38 of the patients. “That will be a terrific opportunity data on how this plant is performing in humans and not just because a multi-center trial is so much better when you in rats.” are dealing with the FDA. For us to have two completely In addition to treating patients, Dr. Sisley is a volunteer independent functioning sites collecting the data with similar Medical Director for five dispensaries in Arizona. But her results is very compelling,” notes interest in studying if cannabis reduces Dr. Sisley. the severity of PTSD came as a result Even as she forges ahead with of seeing what it did for vets, in spite of We owe it to these a $2.2-million-dollar grant from her own bias against cannabis. veterans to collect objective the Colorado Health Department “It was just a gradual flood of to study cannabis, Dr. Sisley is not reports over the last 10 years,” recalls data on how this plant is 100 percent sure cannabis is the Dr. Sisley of vets disclosing to her that performing in humans and cure-all many claim it to be. “I am they used cannabis to manage a variety not sold on this yet because there of symptoms, not just PTSD. Admitting, not just in rats. is still conflicting data. Ultimately, “I was very judgmental. And I say as scientists, we have to look at ‘reluctantly disclosing to me’ because the data, but I am also a human being so I have to weigh they knew how conservative I was, I am a lifelong Republican that against this mountain of anecdotal evidence and these and have never used any street drugs and I don’t condone that incredibly compelling and heart-wrenching stories from these with my patients. I think they understood I was going to be vets and their families.” highly discouraging so they slowly began to persuade me that She continues, further making her point, “I am not a this plant must have some merit. cheerleader for medical marijuana. I am not pro-marijuana, “Keep in mind, these were really credible historians, I am just pro-research. I am trying to enter the study too. These vets who were talking to me came out of a really objectively,” explains Dr. Sisley, who has never used marijuana conservative background and had also never used drugs and
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some of them were even in DEA details and a lot of them were anti-drug. They were desperately seeking relief and had learned about cannabis from their fellow veterans and that was what impressed me. Many years ago veterans started teaching each other how to use this plant and how to save themselves because they realized they weren’t going to get help from me or the VA and that I wasn’t capable of providing the kind of relief they needed. All I have at my fingertips is FDA-approved meds and I can’t veer beyond that. They were the ones who finally enlightened me, it took them years, though, because I was so blocked.” It wasn’t just the vets themselves who enlightened Dr. Sisley. The veterans’ ability to eschew most of their pharmaceutical prescriptions also played a role in changing her mind. “The veterans in my practice have walked away from most or all of their prescription drugs,” she reveals. “They have not visited a VA hospital in years and they are healthy. It’s astounding. They are using cannabis, in many cases, as a monotherapy to treat a myriad of illnesses and not just PTSD, but their TBI (traumatic brain injury), their chronic pain, all sorts of ailments. That’s why I am so fascinated by this plant because I am curious to see how is it that this single intervention is working.” Curious because, the fact is, when vets return from active duty they aren’t finding a cure of any kind -- much less relief for anything from depression to night terrors. “Many of these vets come back from service and we end up putting them on the combat cocktail. We pummel them with all these prescription meds because we don’t know what else to do. Each target a symptom, whether it’s a headache or anxiety, and each is treated with a different prescription. So slowly, they snowball onto 12 or 15 different prescriptions in the course of their first year back and they feel completely useless. With all that polypharmacy, they just become nonfunctional. That’s what is so empowering about the plant, they realize there is a natural God-given remedy that seems to treat most of their symptoms.” Dr. Sisley has spent over five years combating federal government red tape, the stigma of marijuana, and even being fired from her position as clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona to get this study off the ground. Which, of course, begs the question, at this point, is she a scientist or an activist? “In the beginning I just wanted to study the plant. When we ran into these relentless barriers throughout this process it forced me to become an activist. The injustice of science being shackled by politics was so obvious that I just couldn’t walk away, especially with the weight of all these veterans on our shoulders, it was clear that we needed to push through,” Dr. Sisley explains. “Every waking moment when I am
not taking care of patients, I am striving to get this study underway. I am gathering clinical experiences from patients in my various roles as medical director of these dispensaries. When I am not seeing patients, I am trying to move the needle and basically trying to build awareness about the barriers of marijuana advocacy research.” But, at last, Dr. Sisley may finally be done clearing hurdles. The injustice of She’s got the grant science being money, the plant from shackled by NIDA, and now it politics was so obvious appears she has finally that I just couldn’t walk found a place to house away, especially with her study. She had the weight of all these wanted to conduct the veterans on study on a university campus but both our shoulders... Arizona and Nevada begged off. Universities in both states were concerned for their federal funding, in spite of the fact that Dr. Sisley has lined up federal money, federally grown plant, and is being monitored by the FDA. “Nothing nefarious or outside of the legal boundaries is taking place. It shows you that even in the face of real facts, of accurate information, these universities still run scared because nobody wants to stick their neck out for science especially when it comes to marijuana efficacy research,” Dr. Sisley contends. The Arizona portion of the study will be housed at a cannabis grow facility. “In the end we got zoned out of existence because the cities didn’t know what to do it with us. They zoned us worse than a dispensary. They zoned us as a marijuana use because of the fact we had smoking on the premises as part of the study protocol. So we ended up co-locating in a grow facility. It’s my least optimal solution because we are a federally legal study collocated in a federally illegal environment. I don’t want it to look like I am in bed with industry, but the restrictions made it impossible for us to be in an appropriate environment such as in a medical plaza so we ended up there.” The study’s housing at the grow facility should be ready by the end of the year and Dr. Sisley is looking forward to enrolling the first veterans in January and starting to collect objective data. The study will take a minimum of two years so there won’t be any published data for 2-1/2 years. So in spite of Dr. Sisley’s heroic efforts, the public health crisis surrounding our veterans will continue unabated. It will be a few more years and many more lives lost before any definitive research will provide the answers necessary to end our veterans’ fight with the domestic terrorist that is PTSD.
Patient Primer:
PTSD CAN WE SAVE OUR VETERANS WITH MEDICINAL CANNABIS? by Pouya Mohajer, M.D.
After a traumatic event it is common to experience psychological distress. Most individuals recover from such an event without persistent psychological effects. However, some people develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can lead to longlasting aftereffects such as nightmares, hyper-arousal state, difficult memories, trouble sleeping or concentrating, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and emotional detachment.1,2 PTSD is even more prevalent among military personnel because of their participation in warzones. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that PTSD afflicts 31% of Vietnam veterans, 10% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans, 11% of Afghanistan veterans, and 20% of Iraq veterans.3 The consequences of PTSD on the individual, their families, and society can be overwhelming. PTSD places individuals at a higher risk for suicide, substance abuse, depression, and violence.4 The VA estimates that up to 22 former members of the Armed Forces commit suicide per day.5 Furthermore, PTSD has been shown to lead to other health issues such as coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal symptoms, and higher overall mortality.6,7
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CURRENT PTSD TREATMENTS OFFER LIMITED SUCCESS Treatment for PTSD is limited and the success rate remains low. The mainstay of treatment options includes Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Paxil and Zoloft. However, these medications have side effects such as weight gain, decreased libido, drowsiness, and nausea. Second-line pharmaceuticals include Effexor, Prazosin, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants, which tend to have more side effects. A recent review of psychotherapies for military-related PTSD showed suboptimal outcomes.8 The most frequently utilized trauma-focused psychotherapies for military-related PTSD are Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure. Trauma-focused therapies are considered first line therapies, yet they are only marginally superior to non-trauma-focused therapies. A form of cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), trauma-focused therapy is a psychosocial treatment model that helps patients confront their beliefs, emotions, and memories associated with the traumatic event. Non-traumafocused therapies, such as Present-
Centered Therapy (PCT), concentrate on teaching coping skills; for example, stress management, problem-solving, and relaxation. PCT utilizes problemsolving techniques to focus on the patient’s existing skills to cope with stressors associated with PTSD.9
THE TIDE TURNS TOWARD MEDICINAL CANNABIS Another potential PTSD treatment among military personnel is medical cannabis -- although it has proven difficult to use due to government regulations. The VA Hospital system and their physicians must follow federal law, which still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug, with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The tide, however, is starting to change, albeit slowly. The Veterans Equal Access Act was introduced in November 2014. It directs the Secretary of VA to authorize VA healthcare providers to: (1) provide veterans with recommendations and opinions regarding participation in their state’s cannabis programs, and (2) complete forms reflecting such recommendations and opinions. It is currently in the Subcommittee on Health.
How did medical cannabis enter the picture? Since there is a dearth of effective treatment options for PTSD, patients who experimented with medical cannabis started to report improvement in their symptoms. Several studies showed efficacy in reduction of symptoms associated with PTSD and medical cannabis10 including a study on Nabilone (a man-made form of cannabis), an endo-cannabinoid receptor agonist, which decreased nightmares in PTSD patients.11 The endo-cannabinoid system (ECS) is distributed throughout the brain and the body. In the brain, the ECS regulates synaptic release of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. The ECS may play a role in homeostasis by preventing severe cortical excitation and inhibition, and it may be impaired in some mental diseases.12
HOW DOES MEDICAL CANNABIS HELP WITH PTSD SYMPTOMS? Some specific effects of medical cannabis, such as sedation, relaxation, reduction of anxiety and sleepinduction, may explain its use as an attempt to cope with some PTSD
symptoms. Sleep disorders, such as nightmares and insomnia, are reported in over 70% of patients diagnosed with PTSD.11 There are several hypotheses on how some of these effects are achieved. There is a very high concentration of endo-cannabinoid receptors (CB1) in the areas of the brain that are involved in the processing of memory, emotional reactions, decision-making and the fear system (hippocampus, amygdala, limbic system). Endocannabinoids may provide an amnestic effect and have a role in the extinction (“forgetting”) of unpleasant memories.13,14 In response to stress, the body releases the hormone cortisol to help mitigate the biological changes associated with stress. However, repeated exposure to stress and prolonged secretion of cortisol can lead to harmful effects on the body. Research has shown that the ECS regulates structures that are involved in cortisol secretion (Hypothalamic-PituitaryAdrenal Axis).15 In turn, medical cannabis may reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories through a complex set of mechanisms that might facilitate sleep and reduce anxiety in people with PTSD.
Unfortunately, not all the effects from medicinal cannabis are positive. Some people report side effects such as anxiety16,17, paranoia18, and sleep disturbances19, which can all exacerbate the PTSD symptoms individuals are using medical cannabis to treat in the first place. Further research is necessary to illuminate which cannabinoids provide good treatment options with the least side effects; for example, a high cannabidiol and low tetrahydrocannabinol (CBD:THC) ratio. Some of the undesirable side effects have been attributed to THC.20 There has been significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD. However, better long-term treatment options are necessary. As with most psychological issues, combination therapy is the most effective. Pharmacotherapy, by itself, will not resolve the issue. Dr. Pouya Mohajer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology with a subspecialty in pain medicine, and founder of the Nevada Cannabis Medical Association.
REFERENCES 1.2. Kessler RC. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Burden to the Individual and to Society. J Clin Psychiatry. 2000;61(suppl 5):4-12. 3. J.E. LeDoux, T. Keane, P. Shiromani (Eds). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Basic Science and Clinical Practice, Humana Press: Totowa,NJ, 2009. 4. PTSD A Growing Epidemic. NIH Medline Plus. 2009;4(1):10-14. 5. Davidson JRT. Recognition and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. JAMA. 2001;286(5):584-588. 6. Janet Kemp and Robert Bossarte, “Suicide Data Report, 2012” (Department of Veterans Affairs, February 2013). 7. Boscarino JA. Diseases Among Men 20 Years After Exposure to Severe Stress: Implications for Clinical Research and Medical Care. Psychosom Med.1997;59(6):605-614. 8. Boscarino JA. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mortality Among US Army Veterans 30 Years After Military Service. Ann Epidemiol. 2006;16(4):248-256. 9. Steenkamp MM, Litz BT, Hoge CW, Marmar CR. Psychotherapy for Military-Related PTSD: A Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA. 2015;314(5):489-500. 10. Frost ND, Laska KM,Wampold BE. The Evidence for Present-Centered Therapy as a Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. J Trauma Stress. 2014;27(1):1-8. 11. Greer GR, Grob CS, Halberstadt AL. PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. J Psychoact Drugs. 2014;46(1):73–7. 12. Fraser GA: The Use of a Synthetic Cannabinoid in the Management of Treatment-Resistant Nightmares in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CNS Neurosci Ther 2009; 15:84–88. 13. C.H. Ashton, P.B. Moore. Endocannabinoid System Dysfunction in Mood and Related Disorders. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2011, 124, 250. 14. G.Marsicano, C.T.Wotjak, S.C. Azad, T. Bisogno, G. Rammes,M.G. Cascio, et al. The Endogenous Cannabinoid System Controls Extinction of Aversive Memories. Nature 2002, 418, 530. 15. S.C. Azad, K. Monory, G. Marsicano, B.F. Cravatt, B. Lutz, W. Zieglgansberger, et al. Circuitry for Associative Plasticity in the 16. Amygdala Involves Endocannabinoid Signaling. J. Neurosci. 2004, 24, 9953. 17. M.N. Hill, B.S. McEwen. Involvement of the Endocannabinoid System in the Neurobehavioural Effects of Stress and Glucocorticoids. Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 2010, 35, 791. 18. J.A. Crippa, A.W. Zuardi, R. Martin-Santos, S. Bhattacharyya, Z. Atakan, P. McGuire, et al. Cannabis and Anxiety: A Critical Review of the Evidence. Hum. Psychopharmacol. 2009, 24, 515. 19. C.T. Tart, On Being Stoned: A Study of Marijuana Intoxication, Science and Bevavior Books: Palo Alto, 1971. 20. M.J. Zvolensky, A. Bernstein, N. Sachs-Ericsson, N.B. Schmidt, J.D. Buckner, M.O. Bonn-Miller. Lifetime Associations Between Cannabis, Use, Abuse, and Dependence and Panic Attacks in a Representative Sample. J. Psychiatr. Res. 2006, 40, 477.
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EXPERIENCED LAWYERS ASSISTING BUSINESSES AND PATIENTS WITH NEVADA’S COMPLEX MARIJUANA LAWS AND REGULATIONS
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LEGALEASE In a stunning reversal of prior policy, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has summarily revoked medical marijuana patients’ qualification for concealed carry permits in Clark County. The move comes as slap in the face to medical marijuana patients who had hoped for a better relationship with law enforcement as the stigma surrounding marijuana use continues to erode around the country. Prior to the abrupt shift in policy, Clark County’s concealed carry permit application did not ask whether an applicant was a medical marijuana patient. However, recent changes to the application plainly state that
medical marijuana patients do not qualify due to the federal prohibition on marijuana. Consequently, it appears that Metro will not allow any medical marijuana patients to apply for a concealed carry permit within Clark County. It is unclear how Metro would determine whether or not an applicant is a medical marijuana patient as the list of patients is confidential. The only reason Metro or any other law enforcement agency is permitted to access the list is to determine whether or not an individual is allowed to possess marijuana for medical purposes. Thus, if Metro is cross-referencing the list of patients with the names of concealed carry applicants, they
Metro Strips Patients of Concealed Carry Privileges by Derek J. Connor are doing so in clear violation of Nevada law. As such, I expect this matter to end up before the Nevada court system. Nevertheless, applications from other Nevada counties do not ask whether the applicant is a patient, therefore it may be possible for patients to apply in counties outside of Clark. If you have questions regarding your rights as a medical marijuana patient, you should contact a Nevada attorney who is familiar with Nevada’s complex marijuana laws.
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METRO WEIGHS IN Police Emphasize Safety as Dispensaries Open Around the Las Vegas Valley by Beth Schwartz
I
t’s no different than the pharmacy on the corner,” explains Tom Roberts, Deputy Chief of the Investigative Services Division for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. “Medicinal marijuana is legal and so we are going to do what we can to support the businesses that operate in the industry and the people who consume it.” With almost a halfdozen medical cannabis dispensaries now open in Southern Nevada, Chief Deputy Roberts and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
“If you are a medicinal marijuana patient and you have a card, you shouldn’t fear law enforcement. You should be comfortable being a medicinal marijuana user in Southern Nevada,” explained Metro’s Deputy Chief Roberts, especially if patients keep the following in mind when medicating with cannabis. Should you come in contact with law enforcement, explain that you are a medical cannabis patient and have some in your possession. “If the officer has more information on the frontend, than they are more apt to not make judgments or
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(Metro) believe licensing dispensaries is necessary. “I think the dispensaries opening and the ability to have growers and the regulation of the market is a positive step,” says Roberts. “I believe that like anything, the industry will find a cheaper, more effective way
draw conclusions that it’s illegal,” says Roberts. Don’t be afraid to transport medical cannabis in your car. Don’t drive while medicating with cannabis. “Even though you may feel that it is safe, your impairment and your judgment and your reaction time is diminished,” Roberts explains of driving while under the influence of medical cannabis. “It is legal. It’s no different than anything else,” Roberts imparts, adding, “Please just use it responsibly, just like you would anything else.”
to do it, and if it’s regulated, then you know that people are getting what they should be getting. I think that’s a positive for the industry.” Though licensed dispensaries began opening this year, medicinal cannabis has been legal in Nevada since 2000, with access to medicine only available to patients who grew their own plants. “We have had medical marijuana in our state for some time, so our officers are used to dealing with medical marijuana patients. Of course, the change now is we are moving from homegrown and self-medicating to dispensaries. I don’t think our philosophy has changed, we just have to be careful that we educate our employees on what the law is, and what we can and can’t do,” Deputy Chief Roberts notes. As a progressive organization, Metro is proactive in keeping their officers up to speed as laws change and medicinal cannabis regulations are put in place. Metro is training its officers with Powerpoint presentations, including how to identify an official medicinal cannabis patient card. Roberts and his colleagues also met with their law enforcement counterparts in other jurisdictions such as Colorado and Washington to learn what kind of challenges they can expect as the industry opens to the public. Crime, illegal operations, robbery and theft can be expected, but their Colorado brethren also emphasized the challenges Metro might
encounter with regard to edibles. “In Colorado, they were making really potent edibles and people weren’t following the directions, and so they were having psychotic episodes. There were a few murders and suicides associated with edibles,” Roberts says. “That is one of the biggest dangers that I see for public safety -- edibles, oils, extracts and overconsumption. Children ingesting edibles is another problem Colorado ran into. If you are consuming or medicating, keep it out of the reach of children. If you are using edibles, remember what they may look like to somebody else. Don’t leave them lying around,” cautions Roberts. Another unforeseen issue in Colorado has revolved around pets. “Pets were eating this stuff and becoming sick.” Deputy Chief Roberts warns: “It’s like anything else, you certainly don’t leave your prescription pills sitting out. You should have childproof caps. That’s what the industry needs to look at, if it’s all about medicine and public safety -- maybe provide containers that are childproof or offer protection.” As long as patients are obeying the law, Deputy Chef Roberts says they should not be concerned about any interactions they may have with Metro while in possession of medical cannabis. Metro will approach medical cannabis responsibly, treating it like any other legal substance, and urges users to do the same.
ELEVATE YOUR STATE
Medical cannabis updates from across the United States
OREGON: Legal adult cannabis sales began in Oregon on October 1, making it the third state in the nation to initiate a regulated cannabis market. Regulated adult sales are currently taking place in Colorado and Washington, and they are expected to commence in Alaska in 2016. Adults 21 years of age and older are now able to legally purchase up to a quarter-ounce of cannabis and up to four cannabis plant seedlings from certain medical cannabis dispensaries, which are regulated by the Oregon Health Authority. The voter initiative that made cannabis legal, Measure 91, was approved 56 percent – 44 percent in 2014.
CALIFORNIA: Nearly 20 years after California made medical cannabis legal, the state has finally put a framework of regulations in place for the industry. California Governor Jerry Brown signed three bills into law on October 9 creating a system of oversight for the growth, manufacture and sale of medical cannabis in the state. Governor Brown said the new regulations will ensure patients have access to medical cannabis, and will implement a “robust tracking system.” The first statewide operating and licensing rules for cannabis growers, product manufacturers and retail shops are aimed at bringing order and oversight to the state’s approximately $1.3 billion medical cannabis industry, reported the Los Angeles Times.
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COLORADO: The Denver Post reported monthly Colorado cannabis sales have soared past the $100 million mark for the first time, according to the August recreational and medical cannabis sales data from the state’s Department of Revenue. In a continuing trend, cannabis sales surpassed the previous month’s numbers with recreational marijuana coming in at $59.2 million and medical cannabis tallying $41.4 million. The combined $100.6 million in cannabis sales continues the month-to-month record-setting trend for 2015. According to The Denver Post, the most-watched figure in the state’s cannabis tax data is the 15 percent excise tax that is earmarked for school construction projects. In August, that tax brought in $3.3 million, up from $3.1 million in July.
SOUTH DAKOTA: The Santee Sioux tribe is opening the nation’s first cannabis resort on its reservation. Santee Sioux leaders plan to grow their own cannabis and sell it in a smoking lounge that includes a nightclub, arcade games, bar and food service, and eventually, slot machines and an outdoor music venue. The grow facility is already underway with the first joints expected to go on sale Dec. 31 at a New Year’s Eve party. The legalization of cannabis on the Santee Sioux land came in June, months after the Justice Department outlined a new policy that allows Indian tribes to grow and sell cannabis under the same conditions as some states. A marijuana resort open to the public has never been tried in the U.S.
“THE DESTINATION FOR LAS VEGAS MEDICAL CANNABIS.”
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FRIDAY, NOV. 6TH & DEC. 4TH 6PM- 10PM 1800 Industrial Rd. Suite 102 Las Vegas, NV 89102 MICHIGAN: In October the Michigan House signed off on expansive plans to create a highlyregulated medical cannabis industry and allow patients to purchase the drug at storefront dispensaries, which would be taxed. House Bill 4209, approved in a 95-11 vote and now heading to the Senate, would create a new state board to license dispensaries, large-scale growers, processors, distributors and testing facilities in communities that allow them. The House also approved bills to create a “seed-to-sale” tracking system for medical cannabis and extend legal protections to registered patients who prefer to use edibles and oils rather than smoking it.
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PROFILE
MMC Depot develops revolutionary packaging line for cannabis industry
MMC Depot, a veteran in the cannabis packaging arena, is about to take the industry by storm with the introduction of a revolutionary new product this month. “We believe we have identified the perfect storage containers. We have spent over two years in the research and development of our new Evolution line which we have specifically created for the marijuana industry,” explained Dovid Zussman, Director of MMC Depot. “We are launching a brand-new line of products designed specifically for cannabis and will dramatically improve the patient and consumer experience.” With over 500 dispensaries, growers, and edible companies throughout the country making up their client base, MCC Depot has the knowledge and expertise to develop packaging products for the cannabis industry. “We took into consideration many things while developing this packaging line including brandability, ease of use, child safety and environmental concerns such as climate and heat,” said Zussman.“Our Evolution line sets the standard for air and odor resistance
which ensures the product, flower or bud retains its freshness.” American-made using the highest standards of quality, MMC Depot’s Evolution products, which are part of the company’s CoolJarz line, have not been retrofitted from another industry but custom made for cannabis. One particular product in the Evolution line has been made specifically for hash oil. “There’s a negative stereotype associated with the traditional method by which oils have been sold such as oral syringes that has to do with heroin, and because the industry needs to distinguish itself away from that we developed CRringe,” enthused Zussman. “It’s the first of its kind, it’s child resistant,and is unlike anything anybody has ever seen in this industry for the packaging of hash oils. It is patient-friendly, displays very well on the retail level, and takes everything into consideration with regard to compliance and safety issues.”
about. “We are full-service in packaging, printing and design for the cannabis industry,” Zussman emphasized of the company’s all-inclusive, fullservice product offering, “but, most importantly, where Nevada is now, is where we were a few years ago in Denver so we have plenty of experience to draw from.” Based out of Denver, MCC Depot will be able to handle Nevada’s packaging needs locally because they are opening a Las Vegas outpost during the first quarter of 2016.This will allow the company to offer same-day service to their customers. In addition to quick service, MCC Depot also offers branding, product development and design, and a full array of packaging solutions with factory direct pricing. “In other words, we are a full-service packaging supply partner.”
Compliance and safety issues are something MCC Depot knows a lot
november | industry connect | elevatenv.com 33
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PROFILE
Daughter’s illness inspires dispensary owner to give Nevada’s patients ReLeaf
Ed Bernstein (above) of Las Vegas ReLeaf says that he and his partners want to create a dispensary that is compassionate to patients and will give people like his daughter (pictured in inset) their quality of life back.
Dana Marshall-Bernstein, 26, has lived with Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the digestive system, since she was three years old. “I have a very, very severe case that has meant I have had to go the surgical route and have had 10+ surgeries,” Dana says, pausing, “at this point I have lost count. It’s been surgery after surgery of bowel resections where they remove a portion of the intestines. It was during those surgeries when I was at USC that we started to see how sick the narcotics were making me. I couldn’t function at all when I was taking them. And you can’t do it (surgery) without narcotics because it is so painful.” Dana’s multiple surgeries and resulting experience with narcotics was the impetus for her to try medical cannabis. “I was at the point where I was willing to try anything that I could to avoid taking narcotics. I tried acupuncture, herbal remedies, and nothing, unfortunately, worked until I started using medical marijuana,” explains
Dana, who medicated with cannabis using a vaporizer one to two times a day intermittently between 2007 and 2010. Medicinal cannabis took away Dana’s nausea and helped her to sleep. “On top of it, when I would wake up the next morning, I would feel great, unlike when I would take a narcotic,” she adds. There’s no doubt in Dana’s mind that cannabis is a non-addictive substance. “There were periods where I would use it after surgery and then not need it anymore and not smoke it for months up until my next surgery. You can stop on a dime,” notes Dana, unlike the narcotics she took. “I wasn’t walking around stoned all the time but, unfortunately, that’s the stigma. It was the most helpful form of pain control I have ever been on.” As Dana’s father, personal injury attorney Ed Bernstein, began to learn more about cannabis, it became a community issue for him. “Her illness motivated me to understand the positive medical properties of
cannabis,” explains Ed, who is a co-owner of Las Vegas ReLeaf, a dispensary located at 2242 Paradise Road, which opened in October. “I was very interested in having a dispensary that could service sick patients and offer very natural and organic strains that were lab tested,” Ed says, continuing, “I feel that we have the nicest dispensary in the country. We are trying to create a dispensary that is compassionate to patients, that is inviting, that is professional. We have some really knowledgeable staff and budtenders who are very familiar with the different strains and medical benefits.” Currently offering products that include high CBD topicals and tinctures as well as a variety of high THC strains, Ed hopes that the relief he brings to Nevada’s patients through Las Vegas ReLeaf will give people like his daughter their quality of life back. LasVegasReLeaf.com
november | industry connect | elevatenv.com 35
about working on drafting a petition to circulate for signatures in 2014 and to appear on the ballot in 2016. They called me to see if I would work on it and I couldn’t think of a legitimate reason as to why I would oppose the issue. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO WORK ON IP1?
It appealed to me. From a policy perspective this issue is appropriate for direct democracy and a vote of the people. Social issues like this are appropriate for the ballot box. My involvement is to draft petitions for issues that I believe are deserving of a vote.
Elevating the Conversation with Matt Griffin
Having graduated from Carson High School, University of Nevada, Reno, and the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Matt Griffin is undoubtedly loyal to the Silver State. The fifth generation Nevadan, who specializes in initiative petitions, has worked on almost 20 since 2010 that have included a spectrum of issues from the Personhood Amendment in 2012 to Nevada’s Margin Tax for Public Schools last year. But the one most germane to MMEs is IP1 which will appear on the ballot in November 2016 and would tax and regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON MEDICAL CANNABIS?
In my opinion, the science is undeniable, and I believe it helps -- at least some people. I have never been given a legitimate reason why a proven remedy like marijuana should be denied to a patient. No one has convinced me that medical
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marijuana is worse than any prescriptions you get from your doctor.
RECIPROCITY…NOT A LOT OF STATES THOUGHT TO INCLUDE THAT IN THEIR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK?
These things get passed because a lot of people like it. It was a very logical application. Our state depends on tourism and when tourists come here to visit they need to be able to take their medicine legally. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHANCES ARE NEVADA VOTERS WILL PASS IP1 IN NOVEMBER 2016?
This is an issue, by necessity, that must be handled by the states. The HOW DID YOU BECOME people of the state should INVOLVED IN THE CANNABIS have the opportunity to INDUSTRY? vote on it. If voters are My particular focus is ever going to pass it, a government affairs and presidential year is the initiative petitions. Marijuana best chance it has to pass. Policy Project approached me Everybody likes to say
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their state is unique. It’s everybody’s line about their state, but Nevada really is unique insofar as many voters identify with libertarian issues, and marijuana isn’t a Democrat versus Republican issue. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ACTIVIST?
I would characterize myself as someone who philosophically had no objection to the issue. I had a limited role that I could play in bringing the petition to fruition. I wouldn’t characterize myself as an activist or someone seeking social justice or change. In my mind, it’s an issue that the people should vote on and have a say on. DO YOU THINK IN 10 YEARS THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MARIJUANA WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST AND CANNABIS WILL BE THOUGHT OF AS LEGITIMATE MEDICINE?
I have every confidence that within a few years it will be a mainstream business. I think the investment in cannabis is just beginning. First of all, I think as the science around it further develops there’s going to be the ability for people to better gauge the potency and effects of marijuana. That will go a long way in making it mainstream. Secondly, the probability of consuming marijuana by smoking a joint in ten years will be largely a thing of the past.
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