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SEPTEMBER 2017

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Although this is not officially being touted as our Men’s issue it might as well be. The content is definitely leaning in a male centric direction. From this month’s Legalease column by attorney Derek Connor detailing the laws surrounding the carrying of concealed weapons, page 39, to a profile of NFL All-Pro Kyle Turley’s new product line, Neuro Armour, for protecting your noggin’ on page 10, it’s looking more and more like our brains and brawn issue. In addition to testosterone trending topics, we used male writers for the majority of the issue, well, except yours truly. I had to get some writing time in to keep my credibility on the up and up. Danny Axelrod, who penned our cover story in June about hitting the green while high, is back with the next in his interactive series of taking on Las Vegas in an elevated state. This month he explores his artistic bent by taking a Puff & Paint class in his story “High Art” on page 6. He received creative guidance from everybody’s favorite philosopher Stone Tzu. It’s definitely a read you won’t want to miss. We also introduce you to a new writer in the elevate stable, James Bong. Yep, you read that right. The #00710 secret agent has joined the team and

will be enlightening readers with product reviews each month. For this issue, he turns in his Dab Another Day field report on the Firefly 2, you can find it on page 32. Albeit it was a tough mission, Agent Bong overcame to give you the 411 on whether this canna-weapon is something you should include in your arsenal. Because, as we all well aware, there’s a good woman behind every man, my feature this month, “Growing Strains” on page 16, is about a husband and wife team, Hugh and Chris Hempel, who are not only developing medical grade cannabis products, but also endeavoring to create consistency across multi-state jurisdictions. Their arduous journey to build a professional cannabis business from the bottom up has been inspired by their daughters’ ongoing battle with Niemann-Pick disease. It’s an emotional read but one that illustrates not only the power of man, but the power of love. As for my estrogen-fueled readers, not to worry, next month it’s all about you. We will be publishing our firstever Women’s issue so be sure to be on the lookout for that in October.

With an open mind,

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Check out what’s going on in The Grow: In a nod to our men-ish issue, Grower’s Network highlights one of Nevada’s largest cultivations with a feature on the team of Matthew Morgan and Darren Carpenter from Tryke Companies. To check it out what’s going on at Reef, visit elevatenv.com/thegrow.

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Connor & Connor PLLC is a boutique law firm focusing on business formation, transactions, litigation, licensing, and permitting. The attorneys at Connor & Connor PLLC understand cannabis law and its intricacies.

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CONTENTS

High Art

Growing Strains

Field Report: Dab Another Day

Stone Tzu seeks to elevate his inner artist and finds a community of cannabis along the way

10 Armour-All

Ex-NFL star brings hope to future of football with development of product to combat CTE

Reno couple’s game-changing cannabis venture has its origins in daughters’ ongoing medical odyssey

22 A Pot-pourri of Taste and Aroma Whether a patient or a rec user, terpenes are dominating the cannabis experience

HEALING: The Power of Medicinal Cannabis

Terpene Power

‘Patients Helping Patients’ program helps patients get access to cannabis

Forget everything you learned about indica and sativa – it’s all about the terps

Mission: TheFirefly2 & The Icarus OG Kush

39 Legalease: The Second Amendment & Cannabis

A deep dive into how gun rights conflict with marijuana use

42 Dispensary Map

A guide to finding cannabis in the Las Vegas Valley

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High Art

Stone Tzu seeks to elevate his inner artist and ﬁnds the community of cannabis along the way by Danny Axelrod

as Vegas is currently abuzz with the possibilities associated with legal marijuana. It’s like it was the Summer of Weed, with dispensaries flowing and the entrepreneurial energy palpable. One company, Cannabis Tours, gave people a chance to come together for group sessions and walk away with self-made masterpieces. Their weekend Puff, Pass & Paint/Pottery/ Pastry classes allowed guests to bring their own pot and get high while taking a lesson in how to create. The link between marijuana and creativity can be traced back centuries. Recently, ancient cannabis scholars have unearthed a tome of a 5th-century BC Chinese philosopher by the name of Stone Tzu. Entitled The Art of Weed, this relatively unknown treatise explores the link between getting high and high art. As I explore these classes, I turn to the wisdom of this timeless work to guide me on my quest for creativity. I also turn to my friends at The+Source Dispensary for some pre-rolled indica strains to get me super stoned.

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“Creation is a journey the artist makes alone, but that does not mean he should be isolated.” ~Stone Tzu My journey begins with a Lyft ride to a nondescript residential neighborhood on the southside of town. They say there are no accidents in life, definitely with ridesharing, and I am immediately greeted with the pungent skunky scent of high grade weed the moment I sit down in the back seat. The drive across town is serene and uneventful as I make small talk and explain what I am up to. The driver is very interested in the Puff, Pass & Paint program, and I mention his car smelled like he may have already attended a class or two. I arrive at a typical stucco-covered Vegas domicile and I am greeted at the door by a very amicable guy named Mike. The front area of the house is open and tiled with several long tables covered to allow for artistic mess making. He has me sign a waiver explaining that I understand that they are simply an artistic organization and not a licensed dispensary. It also has me affirm that I am just a weed-puffing individual with no

intent to sell anything to anybody during our time together. I am on board with all that, so I sign and take a seat at a table of young people ready to fire up their imaginations. I mean, literally. No sooner do I sit down than a handmade pipe is passed my way. I do accept it, but I draw lightly, knowing that this is going to be an hours-long experience and I need to remember it well enough afterward. From the very beginning, these classes are designed to bring like-minded strangers and groups of friends together for a shared experience. I have come alone, but the ladies at my table are co-workers enjoying an alternative girls’ night out. At another table are a mother and daughter enjoying making art together. Another young couple just heard about it on Facebook and decided to give it a try. Master Stone Tzu’s words ring true as I consider the important connection between creativity and community. “The supreme art of weed is to subdue one’s intentions and let creation guide one’s spirit. Let the art encourage the hands as to how it would like to emerge. The uncarved block always echoes yes.” After everyone has had a moment to get good and baked, Mike and his associate Kristal begin the class by distributing clay and water and shaping tools. Since it’s a Friday night, the class is pottery, with Saturday’s devoted to painting and Sunday brunch

focused on cooking. I’m not sure what was passed around earlier, but all of a sudden I am very into shaping the clay with my hands. I dip my fingers in a cup of water and slowly caress the, as yet, unformed block. The girl next to me is making…big surprise…a pipe. She’s not the only one, and I decide that I need to find my own way with the clay. But where…? “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” That’s actually a quote from another ancient philosopher, Sun Tzu, but it just fits with what happens next. I hear a noise at my feet and look down to see a small pig grunting and sniffing under the table. Her name is Kaos and she is giving me the once over with deep, soulful eyes. I think of my daughter and her love of animals and use my phone to send her a video. At that moment, the pig’s eyes tell me all I need to know and I set about making my piece. “If you know the canvas and know yourself, you need not fear the result of either a hundred eﬀorts or a single one.” I separate my clay out into strips and roll it as if I was making pasta noodles. I then lay out a flat strip and start stacking my layers in hoops one on top of the other. I am creating something that, at best, resembles a chopped off

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beehive, and at worst, might end up looking like a pile of poop. The important thing is that I feel like I know what I am doing. I light up the SFV OG pre-roll from Remedy (Kristal informs me that the “SFV” stands for San Fernando Valley), take a puff and pass it around as I set to making a jewelry box for my little girl. Mike and Kristal are very encouraging to all the aspiring artists. Like the best instructors, they give pointers but let the participants make their own choices. I really like them as people. I am extremely high. They don’t mess around in the SFV. “One feeds the body as the smoke feeds the mind and the hands feed the creation. The art of weed is best achieved on a satisﬁed belly.” Munchies! They are coming on strong and there is a cornucopia of stoner snacks to satiate. There’s also plenty of beverages, including beer and box wine. My tablemates brought their own and are mixing Washington Apple cocktails with whisky and apple liqueur. Typically, I don’t think mixing strong weed and hard alcohol is a wise idea, but what the heck, I’m taking a Lyft home. Cheers! As my piece takes shape I listen to Mike’s repetitive suggestion to just keep adding water and smoothing it out. I

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look around and see that at least two other people are doing more or less the same thing as I am! I begin to get a little peeved, but instead light up the Ultimate Chemdawg91 from Remedy. It’s a deep, dark indica that brings the whole pace of the room down as the group achieves new levels in stoniness. Who cares if we shared a good idea? “Appear high when you are low, and slow when you are high. This is the way of the weed.” As the class wraps up, Mike and Kristal share with us how we can pick up our pieces in a couple of weeks and how all are welcome to try the other classes. They also share how smart it is to call an Uber or taxi to get home, which I am pleased to see everyone thought ahead. It takes a while to get everyone loaded up safe and on their way, and as I am the last one to bid my hosts and their pig farewell, a final quote from Stone Tzu crosses my crisscrossed mind. “The art of weed is applicable to all endeavors. It permeates the senses as sounds, sights, smells, and tastes are joyously fashioned.” It is the art of life, well-lived.

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Armour-All Ex-NFL star brings hope to future of football with development of product to combat CTE By Richard S. Gubbe Former NFL All-Pro Kyle Turley, pictured when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs, is bringing a new weapon to gameday.

Kyle Turley is all too familiar with the stigmas attached to smoking marijuana. Clawing his way into pro football was accomplished without ever smoking a joint. On his way to becoming NFL All-Pro, he embraced cannabis as a way to relieve the pain that came from all the clawing. While he is still very much an advocate and partaker of cannabis, Turley says he has discovered a cure for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease suffered from repeated blows to the head, without using cannabis. Despite advancements in medical marijuana, Turley has circumvented the stigmas that accompany cannabis by creating cannabidiol- or CBD-driven products from hemp. “I knew cannabis was medicinal the first time I smoked it,” Turley told elevate. Along the way he learned about CBD and the entourage effect. But medical cannabis isn’t legal everywhere and using a psychoactive drug isn’t well received by NFL hierarchy. The same ingredients are found in hemp and hemp has a more respectable reputation with its many legal uses. “CTE is why I’m doing this and I can’t deny what CBD has done for me,” Turley said. “It’s been my mission.” A year and a half in the making, Turley put his cannabis knowledge to work firsthand and helped create hemp-rich Neuro Armour products. “I’ve gotten so many of my friends off of pharmaceuticals -- guys I played football with who were in a lot of pain,” he said. “They all deal with suicidal tendencies and rage. When you have grown men, who thought they were bulletproof, calling you in the middle of

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the night and you have to talk them off the ledge, I had to do something more. That’s why I’m doing this.” Not until recently did the truth come to light about what price players pay. While an NFL vet lives longer than the average male in this country, their lives are often a torture chamber from the effects of the concussive blows they have absorbed. They go from physical torture to pharmaceutical torture to, often, suicidal endings. A survey of findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July found that 110 of 111 brains of NFL players studied posthumously suffered from CTE. That’s just one of the tortuous and demeaning fates that await such mental anguish, there’s also PTSD and dementia. While bonding with teammates, Turley learned of the underground network that could supply players pot in the different cities they played in to combat pain. “When I was in college, I didn’t want to risk it,” Turley recalled. “In my second year in the NFL at age 23, I had my first experience with cannabis. When I was playing in all those cities, every now and then something would come along through the pipeline.” The AMA’s recent finding of CTE in 99 percent of brains tested from deceased players has sparked even more interest in the use of natural products such as THC and CBD in the NFL. ESPN reported recently that a letter from the NFL to the National Football League Players Association offered to work together on a study to find ways to combat chronic pain. Turley says researchers at Neuro Armour have found huge benefits by removing any trace of THC and reintroducing the plant’s natural terpenes and other valuable cannabinoids.

Whether it’s hemp or cannabis, Turley wants to bring what he says is a cure for CTE to anyone who has had a concussion, and as a preventative, using liquid CBD. To outsmart the naysayers who will never accept cannabis, he uses the same ingredients but they are derived from a blend of proprietary terpenes he formulated. “Terpenes are definitely a factor but CBD is the key along with rapid absorption,” Turley said. “We have a 50-state legal opportunity and we have to get this to the people.” Turley, while keeping his proprietary secrets, did reveal to elevate that he uses whole strains of hemp that fit the profile he is seeking before adding his preferred ingredients of more terpenes to accompany the full-spectrum CBD in his various mixtures. “If people could understand that even with hemp we can solve this,” he expounded. “You can’t leave out the entourage effect. We use full-spectrum CBD and keep the strain the same.” Neuro Armour products include a sublingual tincture, concentrated MCT oil, a vape product that uses a syringe for cartridge fills, and CBD capsules. Neuro Armour uses no food flavorings. Soon to follow will be a skin product, dab wax for asthma patients, and bottled water. Neuro Armour CBD is lab-tested and 100 percent THCfree. CBD has been shown in studies to have neuro-protective

and antioxidative properties. Turley thinks it will help anyone suffering from chronic pain and adds that it’s never too early for prevention. Prevention for Turley means guarding a child’s brain from any early trauma. “We can potentially stop this disease [CTE] from happening by introducing CBD to our kids as a form of prevention,” he said. He also wants to tackle Alzheimer’s. “There is nothing in western medicine that deals with Alzheimer’s,” he said. “Studies have shown CBD can stop the progression of the disease.” Turley played eight seasons in the NFL, selected 7th overall in the ’98 draft by the Saints’ Mike Ditka. He was All-Pro in 2000 was invited to the 2001 Pro Bowl.

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“Kyle Turley is a great kid,” said Ditka, who serves on the board of Gridiron Greats Foundation with him. “He always has his heart in the right place and looks out for his brothers. If it’s legal and it helps people? We are all in.” “CBD has played an important role in allowing me to personally manage pain, cope with CTE-like symptoms, improve my overall health and eliminate the need for prescription opioids that nearly cost me my life due to longterm use side effects,” Turley said, who played five seasons for the Saints and a year with the Rams before a serious back injury sidelined him in 2004 and 2005. He returned for two years with the Chiefs, retiring in 2007. “If we can allow players and veterans to recover naturally with proper dietary and organic therapies, we should be doing so. Our communities have suffered needlessly with the inherent risks in accomplishing greatness.” Turley relates the story of how his CTE and chronic pain was so bad he couldn’t be around electrical lighting of any kind. He was visiting California dispensaries up and down the state collecting and sampling cannabis profiles “then I hit it – Jack Herer,” he said. “Lighting stopped hurting my eyes. I’ll never forget it. I was standing under a big chandelier and the lights were really bright and I was talking to my wife

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and I found myself staring into the lights saying, ‘look, I can stare into the light.’ Turley looks tremendously fit and pronounced himself cured. He walks with ease and says he has no mental issues. “Jack Herer is the best psych medication,” he added. “I’d like to bottle it up and take it to every doctor and say ‘beat that.’ You can’t.” Neuro Armour products are available at Shango dispensaries. Proceeds from sales go toward Ditka’s Gridiron Greats Foundation. The partnership perpetually commits significant proceeds from Neuro Armour product sales and will include donated product exclusively implemented in programs and studies facilitated by Gridiron Greats and the After The Impact Fund, which serves military veterans, former NFL players and their families by facilitating neurocognitive and behavioral treatment. “We now have the NFL’s support and not from what I’ve said but from what they have seen. It’s the biggest thing to happen to healthcare since cannabis became part of the discussion. If the NFL follows through and they hold to the research and the media holds them to it, medical marijuana and CBD can change healthcare in America,” Turley explained. “I’ve got hope again.”

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HEALING THE POWER OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

CHRONICALLY ILL USE ‘PATIENTS HELPING PATIENTS’ PROGRAM TO GET ACCESS TO CANNABIS FOR TREATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS “Before, I had to eat potatoes for a whole month to be able to get the license, literally, and that ain’t no joke or lie,” explains Ken Zalut, 54, of scrimping and saving to apply for his state of Nevada medical marijuana patient card. “The first year I had to get my license it cost me $500 but now a patient can get it for about $200, depending on which doctor they go to. But considering I get $1000 a month from social security that’s 20 percent of what I get.” This year, Zalut was able to avoid eating a monthlong starch-fueled diet thanks to a local program called ‘Patients Helping Patients.’ The goal of the free program, which was started by ShowGrow dispensary last December, is to financially assist 10 patients each month in applying for and receiving their medical marijuana patient card from the state of Nevada. “We realized a lot of the patients that were coming in here and receiving help for their chronic illnesses had many friends and acquaintances, whether it be at their support groups, pain relief centers or Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Centers, who were going through the same things and were unable to afford a fairly expensive fee to become part of the state’s medical marijuana program,” details James Hammer, manager of ShowGrow dispensary. “They are people with really high medical bills as it is and we wanted to do something to assist those people so they could receive an alternative form of treatment to assist them in actually relieving pain or easing their symptoms.” To date ‘Patients Helping Patients’ (PHP) has been able to aid more than 40 people suffering from a severe disease or condition to receive their medical marijuana patient cards. It’s a group effort for the program to work. Referrals for the program come from nonprofits, pain clinics, cancer centers, or people from support groups. Sun Valley Certification Clinic donates the doctor recommendations necessary to apply for a patient card. “Sun Valley consults with the patient

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and provides them with a free doctor’s recommendation and then the money we generate at ShowGrow pays for the state filing fee of $100,” explains Hammer of the funding sources for PHP. Zalut, who uses medical cannabis to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and to keep lymphoma and testicular cancer at bay, received his patient card in May through the PHP program. “It’s in remission,” Zalut relays of his cancer which was first diagnosed in 2003, “but the MS is raging. It’s a matter of quantities and stress, I have to go into debt right now to pay for my medicine. I am living on credit cards trying to make ends meet. It’s been pretty rough, between money and transportation. Yesterday, I had to take seven buses to get to Canopi just to get a little medicine.” According to PHP participant Stacey Julian, medical cannabis has saved her life. “I now use THC oil daily and I am able to function. On the days I run out, I start going backwards so I never want to stop. The health benefit has made the difference in life and death for me,” she explains, adding, “my experience getting my marijuana card was smooth and with the help of the PHP program I was able to renew my license when I couldn't afford it due to my disability from an assault.”

Elaina, who didn’t wish to disclose her last name, is another cannabis patient who got her card through PHP. Born with cataracts which had to be removed when she was a baby, Elaina developed glaucoma later in life. “I was also born with skeletal dysplasia, scoliosis, and arthritis. My glaucoma was so out of control that even with three different eye drops I became blind in my left eye. My pressures were in the high 50s and the doctors didn't know what else they could do. The pain from all of my other issues was extremely severe even though I was given narcotic medication to help ease the pain,” explains Elaina. After receiving her medical card through ’Patients Helping Patients,’ “the pressures in my eyes are now in the low teens and my pain is bearable. I do not use marijuana to get "high," I use it to help my pain and lower my eye pressures so that I no longer get severe headaches from it,” Elaina explains. “My life has changed for the better and I have this amazing program to thank for it, otherwise, I would have not been able to afford getting the card on my own.” If you know someone suffering from a severe disease or condition who is in need of a Nevada medical marijuana patient card, contact ShowGrow about the ‘Patients Helping Patients ’ program at 702.227.0511.

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september | elevatenv.com

Growing Strains Reno coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game-changing cannabis venture has its origins in daughtersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ongoing medical odyssey by Beth Schwartz

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Twins Addison and Cassidy Hempel, 13, were diagnosed, at almost four years old, with NiemannPick disease type c, a rare progressive genetic disorder often referred to as childhood Alzheimer’s.

ugh Hempel opens his 2015 Ted Talk at the University of Nevada, Reno asking the audience what they would think if he told them his 11-year-old twins were using marijuana? After a pause, he continues, asking how is it possible for 11-year-olds to even get access to pot? Hempel goes on to reveal to a rapt audience in an auditorium where you could hear a pin drop that up until two years ago, he was completely ignorant about marijuana. All of that changed after 2007 when his twins Addison and Cassidy, 13, were diagnosed, at almost four years old, with a fatal disease called Niemann-Pick disease type c, a rare progressive genetic disorder characterized by an inability of the body to transport cholesterol and other fatty substances (lipids) inside of cells, and often referred to as childhood Alzheimer’s. With the rare diagnosis Hempel, 59, and his wife Chris, 48, began a “medical odyssey.” “Many families go through years of trying to get a diagnosis and it could be eight or 10 years before they find out what is wrong with their kids. It took us about 18 months with us being really diligent with medical professionals and trying to get to the bottom of it,” says Chris of the twin’s Niemann-Pick diagnosis. A byproduct of Niemann-Pick disease is seizures, which is where cannabis enters the Hempels’ medical odyssey -- and where the couple “go from propagandized by the war on drugs to being advocates almost overnight,” explains Hugh. “Our main focus since our kids were diagnosed was just looking for anything that was available that we could actually give them,” says Chris. “Prior to getting involved in cannabis, we spent five or six years developing another drug for our twins that then went through the FDA process. “The twins were the first in the world to get a compound called Cyclodextrin. So Hugh and I had already been focused on finding any available option for our twins; whether it be having to make a drug ourselves, which we did with top doctors going more the pharmaceutical route, all the way down to natural types of therapies. “For us it was not really an issue to pursue cannabis, there was enough research on it and its anti-inflammatory effects. If your kids are facing debilitating seizures you will just about try anything, so to us it really wasn’t a difficult decision to make.” Hugh adds, “We had spent six-plus years reading research journals, understanding medicine and biology so we had a big leg up when it came to finding the research that was available on cannabis.” The Hempels were alerted to the medical attributes of cannabidiol (CBD), which is a non-psychoactive cannabis compound with medical benefits, after seeing Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s 2013 “Weed” documentary. “That’s what we were contending with with the twins,” explains Chris of seeing one of the documentary’s main storylines, Charlotte Figi, take Charlotte’s Web, a CBD-dominant cannabis oil, to combat her seizures resulting from Dravet’s Syndrome. “They were having very severe seizures from grand mal, tonicclonic, petit mal, and we were having a lot of trouble controlling those seizures with standard pharmaceutical medications,” Chris compares Addison and Cassidy’s seizures to a natural phenomenon. “We relate seizures to earthquakes, so if you are in an earthquake zone and, obviously, with two kids having seizures every day, you are racing over to deal with one, and then deal with another seizure, it kind of makes the

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Hugh feeding his daughters, Addison and Cassidy.

magnitude of the seizure like an earthquake, maybe a 4.0 versus a 2.0.” Addison and Cassidy were fortunate to experience results from CBD oil “pretty quickly. It was within days, more or less -- either you see results or you don’t,” relays Hugh. Chris continues, “Some people have had really stunning results where CBD has stopped the seizures altogether, but for us it was more of a dampening down of the seizures. You might still have the seizure, but you see some of the intensity decreasing.” Hugh expounds on the earthquake metaphor, adding that “the Richter scale factor played in. They had fewer seizures, the seizures were less aggressive and we were able to remove some amount of the zombie cocktail which made them brightereyed and gave them a better quality of life. In our twin’s case, because they are not Dravet’s kids or kids who are seizing 40 or 50 times a day uncontrollably, the results weren’t as dramatic, but even subtle results are hugely important.” Hugh’s reference to the zombie cocktail is a mix of pharmaceuticals the twins were taking for their seizures and another important consideration regarding cannabis’ effect. “The zombie cocktail thing, don’t underestimate that either. The zombie cocktail made them sleepy and groggy, listless, they didn’t have fire in their eyes or turn their heads when you walked in the room. There’s just a lot of things that became better as a result,” he says of the cannabis oil Cassidy and Addison take, which is a combination of CBD and THC administered at a dose of 35 milligrams twice a day. For many parents giving a child cannabis is a nervewracking proposition, but the Hempels were more fearful about making their daughters’ cannabis use public than actually giving it to them. “It’s scary,” offers Chris. “You heard horror stories in some of the other states where parents were getting arrested and CPS was getting involved. But we felt we needed to stand up and be public about it. The more momentum that was generated, the more people were willing to try it.” “But let’s not forget,” Hugh interjects, “we have only been

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at it for four or five years, there are people who have been at it double or quadruple that amount of time. It felt very scary for us to come out of the green closet even five years ago and now look at the rate at which people are potentially jumping on board and taking a stand. “Ironically, the place where we find the most pushback in some way is the traditionally trained Western medicine types. I think they find it either threatening or on whole, because it’s more complex, something they don’t know about. It’s the fear of the unknown and clearly there is some amount of displacement going on, frequently people are using cannabis instead of Western medicine.” Almost simultaneously to their girls starting to take cannabis, the Hempels considered becoming a part of the very industry that would offer their daughters’ relief. “When Sanjay Gupta did that documentary it fit exactly our scenario and that’s about the time we started seriously considering not only CBD for the kids, but also becoming part of the industry. It just happened to coincide with when they started talking about the licensing and making it formal here in Nevada,” says Hugh of the couple’s idea to set up a relatively small-scale grow and dispensary in Reno in the fall of 2013. Chris and Hugh became interested in the idea of entering the cannabis industry when they “quickly realized there was no professionalism in the creation of the medicine and we thought we were well suited to go there because of our background with technology and medicine and NIH (National Institutes of Health). And, just generally speaking, being business professionals we saw an opportunity to do good for society. That’s a lot of what started it all and at the same time, perhaps, do well financially for ourselves and our investors.”

The Hempel girls have been taking a combination of CBD and THC to control their seizures.

One of the professional considerations the Hempels wanted to bring to the industry included cannabis that was medical grade quality. “A lot of the products are not tested for pesticides, molds and microbials. When you are dealing with kids who are already challenged neurologically, you certainly

don’t want to be putting any medications in them that might have molds or pesticides,” details Chris. Hugh expounds, “Even the most diligent home growers frequently don’t even know what they don’t even know. I would worry that no matter who we would try, we would still have pesticides or whatever that blew in from next door. So we really choose to go the commercial, professional route. The reality is we really didn’t have a ready supply of medicine for our kids locally, which was a challenge.” The Hempels’ dream of a modest marijuana endeavor in Reno quickly evolved into operations in three jurisdictions. “We won licenses here (Nevada), and those were awarded at roughly the same time rec was starting to take hold in Washington and Colorado so we increased our investment levels in those jurisdictions and began building out really world-class facilities,” explains Hugh. Since entering the industry in 2013 with the formation of their cannabis brand management company Strainz, Chris and Hugh's companies in Colorado, Washington, and Nevada are “making similar, if not identical, products in those three jurisdictions and expanding beyond.” Hugh, who serves as CEO of Strainz, sums it up as “one thing led to another and we got licensed in Vegas and we started this national company and everything has snowballed

from there. We have gone from relatively modest ambitions to relatively large accomplishments in the four years we have been at it.” Although their entrepreneurial endeavors grew quickly, it’s still been a tortuous trudge to get to the end product. “The reality is even after all the promises and families that moved to Colorado (seeking CBD oil), I would agree that even today the supply of good CBD medicine is still very difficult. It’s literally taken us four years to get to a place where we can actually offer commercial grade CBD product that has THC in it to lots of folks on a relatively predictable basis,” explains Hugh. “Don’t

The Hempels are using the knowledge they learned from treating their daughters with cannabis to create products that will help others.

september | elevatenv.com 19

forget if you are going to take kids off benzos or the zombie cocktail, you have to know for sure that you have got the marijuana medicine that’s replacing those drugs available to you at all times. You can’t take your kids off that stuff and then not have the medicine.” Hugh continues, “it’s still shocking that the scarcity of high-CBD ratio products like 18 or 20 to 1 is still hard to get. Even to this day, we are finally just growing ourselves in Nevada after being in the industry for four years. We don’t have enough of it to supply what we believe is the strong demand that is out there.” The dearth of cannabis-based medicine was illustrated this past May when the Hempels launched their first products in Nevada. Within three weeks of bringing their Bullet Concentrate brand of hemp seed oil-based tinctures to market, which are almost identical to the products the Hempels have been giving their daughters over the years, they sold out of the distillate-based vape pens made in three different ratios (20:1, 1:1, 1:5). Product scarcity is a result of the challenging environment the cannabis industry operates in. Between the constantly changing regulatory environment and the banking restrictions, not to mention marijuana being federally illegal, making medicine becomes almost a secondary pursuit.

One example is what the Hempels refer to as stickergate, which is the near constant packaging changes required in each jurisdiction. “If you talk to anyone in the cannabis industry, they can tell you about all the costly and very laborintensive stickers and things they have to put on the products due to the constant regulatory changes,” explains Chris, who is co-founder and VP of Communications for Strainz. Both Hugh and Chris have backgrounds in high-tech having worked at Netscape during the Internet’s coming of age in the ‘90s and launching various start-ups in Silicon Valley and, yet, they call the cannabis industry the toughest by far. “There’s not regulatory consistency across the jurisdictions, everybody wants to reinvent the wheel,” explains Hugh. In turn, each jurisdiction has its own idea about everything from containers and labels to packaging symbols. For instance, Washington’s symbol for THC is different from Colorado’s, therefore requiring different packaging. As a brand management company, Strainz endeavors to understand the complexities and struggles of the industry to make short order of the challenges it faces. “We are on the cutting edge of how we are structuring and how to expand into the various markets because we are dealing with so many complex regulations and state line issues,” (continued on page 45)

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W TERPS: A POT-POURRI OF TASTE AND AROMA Whether a patient or a recreational user, terpenes are dominating the cannabis experience by Justin Alexander

elevatenv.com | september

ith the multitude of terpenes available in cannabis, it is important to know what the health benefits are of each. By far the most dominant is myrcene which is well-known for its sedative quality. After that it’s a potpourri of terpenes that provide a potpourri of effects. From anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral and antidepressant properties to analgesic, anti-anxiety and antibiotic effects, there’s a terpene for just about every condition. The industry is becoming more and more aware of the capabilities of terpenes. Don Decatur, director of operations for City Trees, says he couldn’t be happier that the industry and the patients are really embracing the world of terps. “[There are] indicas that have uplifting effects as well as sativas that have relaxing effects,” he says. “The terpenes are what modulate the effects of THC and other cannabinoids. These are much more important than monikers that are more to differentiate growth traits rather than effects.” Those monikers include the categories by which we have been identifying cannabis strains. “Sativa and indica only tell part of the story,” says Daniel Wacks, co-founder of State Flower Cannabis. “Considering that the majority of the commercially viable genetics are hybrids these days, it's important to look to other indicators, such as terpenes and some of the lesser known cannabinoids, for classification purposes.” Read on as elevate checks out some of the market’s terpeneheavy products.

CHERRY AK FROM STATE FLOWER CANNABIS Although rich in the terpene myrcene at 13.24 mg, well-known to be a sedative, don’t be deceived by Cherry AK-47’s aggressive name. “The cherry phenotype of the classic AK-47 strain has many positive qualities,” Wacks says of the strain. “It is an effective analgesic and the terpene medical efficacy is similar to that of opium, only without the addiction. Myrcene is also known to have antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory qualities.” Myrcene’s sleep inducing quality depends on the amount. “Strains containing more than 0.5 percent Myrcene are sedative indicas; strains with less than 0.5 percent Myrcene are typically sativa,” offers Wacks. Another terpene, caryophyllene, also found in Cherry AK and testing in at 4.53 mg, is known as an antioxidant and is good for the treatment of muscle spasms, pain and insomnia. State Flower Cannabis’ philosophy is that terpenes are just as important as cannabinoids and when they harvest their flower, the idea is to preserve both in equal value. “Terpenes are classified as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and they're as delicate as their name implies, which means we take every precaution possible—from harvesting early when trichome and terpenoid production is at its peak—to carefully handling our cannabis so that it never touches a bare hand until you open our packaging,” says Daniel Wacks, co-founder of State Flower Cannabis. Just when you were starting to understand terpenes, the next big thing will be flavonoids, according to Wacks. “The unique smell and flavor of a cannabis strain is actually produced in part by its flavonoids, the aromatic molecules with names like quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol,” he says. “These compounds are found in many plants but cannabis has their own unique class of them called cannaflavins, and they don’t just smell good, they are pharmacologically active as well. For example, cannaflavin A has been found to reduce inflammation by inhibiting the inflammatory molecule PGE2, and it does this 30 times more effectively than aspirin.”

MEDIZIN’S MANGO LIVE RESIN An indica dominant strain testing at 69.25 percent THC,

september | elevatenv.com 23

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Mango Kush Live Resin relieves stress, depression, and pain. With its uplifting effects and delicious tropical mango flavor, it has become a go-to for concentrate lovers. One reason for its popularity is that Mango Kush Live Resin packs lots of the terpene that really delivers best for Las Vegas patients: Myrcene, at a hearty 19.2 mg. “Because of its sedative and relaxing indica-like effects, I do feel people love the medicinal qualities of myrcene after a long day in this city that never sleeps,” says Dave Farris, general manager of Medizin medical marijuana dispensary. Mango Kush also has 5.92 mg of limonene (elevated mood and stress relief) as well as low amounts of B-pinene (1.08 mg) and linalool (1.21 mg). When talking terps, Farris predicts that limonene is on the rise. “Many people love the sweet citrus aroma it translates,” he says. His favorite, however, in the ongoing conversation about the aromatherapy of cannabis, is linalool for its ability to reduce stress and deliver anti-anxiety benefits.

THE+SOURCE’S SIN CITY CBD VAPE Sin City CBD vape embraces the notion that CBD works best in conjunction with THC to reduce negative side effects such as paranoia and anxiety while working in perfect harmony to reduce inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, spasms and many other ailments. It’s all the goodies in one package at a CBD:THC ratio of 1:2. But it’s not without a strong terpene profile of the ever-popular sleep-inducing myrcene with its earthy, clove-like aroma at 6.78 mg as well as caryophyllene (antianxiety and anti-depressant) at 7.17 mg, and 2.98 mg pinene (anti-inflammatory and natural bronchodilator). Terpenes are such an important factor that in taking flower to an oil, they can often be compromised if not treated carefully. “Through trial, error, testing and analytics, we have dialed in a process from extraction through post processing that allows us to preserve much of that original terpene profile that would otherwise be destroyed,” explains Sin City’s extraction specialist Mark Lucas, who notes while they can’t be created, they can be enhanced. “What I can do is use different techniques in the lab throughout the extraction and processing that will preserve as much of the natural terpene profile as possible.” As for other popular terpenes, Lucas points to the interesting borneol terpene with a cool soothing scent that he describes as similar to camphor or eucalyptus. “It’s been used

medicinally for ages as a natural anti-fungal and anti-oxidant. It’s also a natural pest repellent,” says Lucas. “Sometimes terpenes aren't there for their smell and they have some other purpose, in this case, keeping bugs away.” Personally, Lucas is also a fan of linalool for its sweet candylike, floral aroma. “Found heavily in plants such as lavender and cocoa, it has been shown to be a major anti-inflammatory, so it helps with pain and arthritis,” he says. “Research has also shown linalool can help with anxiety and insomnia due to its sedative properties. Linalool also shows promise in helping fight cancer, MS, epilepsy, leukemia, and even acne.”

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GIDDY UP EXTRACTS’ STRAWBERRY FIELDS TERP SAUCE “I have been saying for 20+ years that it is about the whole experience: smell, taste, and high,” says Tony Gentile, Nevada Medical Marijuana’s Head of Production. “Before I was aware of terpenes, I knew there was a therapeutic effect when you inhale and have a sensory overload from the flavor of the weed. Terpenes are a big part of cannabis but not one terpene is responsible for making any strain what it is.” Strawberry Fields, as a strain, is known for relieving anxiety, asthma, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, depression, headaches, insomnia, migraines, muscle spasms and PTSD. With a rich terpene profile of myrcene (sedative) 14.6 mg, caryophyllene (anti-inflammatory and analgesic) 9.7 mg, humulene (anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory) 2.9 mg, limonene (elevated mood and stress relief) 1.3 mg, and linalool (anti-anxiety and antidepressant) 1.3 mg, Strawberry Fields offers users a rich variety of terpenes to treat numerous conditions. As far as looking into his terpene crystal ball, Gentile says there is still so much to be discovered. “Right now, the state of Nevada tests for 21 different terps and last time I checked there are 157 plus terps in the cannabis plant.”

GREEN AND GOLD SUPPLY’S KOSHER KUSH One of the ideal strains to mellow out those who are high-stress all the time is Kosher Kush. It has a rich and varied terpene profile of limonene (4.30 mg), b-caryophyllene (4.12 mg), and myrcene (1.78 mg) that

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september | elevatenv.com

TERPENE POWER Forget everything you learned about indica and sativa – it’s all about the terps By Richard S. Gubbe

Terpenes are the emojis of the cannabis world. The fragrant oils provide cannabis users with a variety of eﬀects from drowsiness (myrcene) to feeling energized (pinene).

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nake oil salesmen used to roam the country selling concoctions of who knows what with the pitch, “It’ll cure whatever ails ya.” The same could be said of marijuana before categories and terpene profiles arrived. Anecdotal and scientific evidence streaming in have shown that certain strains of cannabis can indeed help with specific ailments or needs. This new science, still in its infancy, shows strains of cannabis contain distinctly different cannabinoid and terpene profiles that combat everyday maladies as well as life-threatening illness. Advancements in cultivation and changes in testing procedures have created soaring terpene and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) percentages. Additional terpenes and cannabinoids can be added to concentrates for more dramatic effects. Growing techniques are crucial to testing outcomes, but the process begins with the selection of the seed of the strain itself. Nevadans have the advantage of lab-tested cannabis and with that edge comes a detailed terpene and cannabinoid profile that shows content percentages: THC in percentages and terpenes in milligrams. The results aren’t exact as batches of cannabis can vary slightly and tests aren’t always accurate. Tests supply the guidance necessary to take out much of the guesswork of picking strains for specific purposes as each batch comes with a certificate of analysis. The onset of strain analysis started with two basic categories (indica and sativa) that created a third in hybrids, with myriad choices to crossbreed plants. The coolest part is there is little harm in trying things, with the exception of giving anxiety patients an accelerant.

THERE’S HIGH AND HIGHER The star power for most cannabis smokers is THC count, while most purists and growers point to the terpene profile as more of a healing guide. If the terpene count, measured in miniscule amounts, doesn’t contain a decent quantity of the terpene that synergistically supports the goal, then why smoke it? The novice smoker believes that THC is the key and, yet, it would be a challenge to taste test the difference between 22 and 26 percent THC. The new goal should be terpene stats. All plants have THC so if more THC is necessary, then smoke two joints instead of one. THC percentages have soared, but sometimes testing procedures are altered to create a higher number. After all, THC count dictates the price a dispensary can get for flower. In the past decade, THC percentages have soared over 20 percent to reach as high as 36 percent. Many growers, including Serenity Wellness’s Don Decatur, doubt

their authenticity, adding the methods change from lab to lab. There are 11 licensed labs in Nevada. “The CBD number or the amount of terpenes didn’t matter to most and pricing was dictated by the THC number more than anything else, and still is,” Decatur says. While THC is plentiful in flower, terpenes not so much. If the profile is weak on terpenes, pain relief and nausea that rely on THC will still be effective. Terpenes, however, have been found to be the driving healing force in many strains. Pink Frost, for instance, has a THC count in the teens, but provides significant impact due to terpenes. “Pink Frost is one of the best overall strains we have,” says Matthew Gardner, VP at Shango, “it is a gentle, smooth hybrid with myrcene dominating the terpene profile along with notable amounts of linalool and a dash of limonene. This frosty blend, like others with THC between 15 and 20 percent, is sold at a reasonable price and proves sledgehammers aren’t always necessary.”

SATIVA VS. THE WORLD One Internet description of a sativa claims: “This mighty sativa delivers upbeat effects while relaxing the mind and melting away stress.” Funny, that doesn’t sound like a mighty sativa. How can it be both? In a general sense, pure sativas have an energetic, uplifting effect, yet each strain can vary based on the dominant terpenes in each. The old axiom was more than .05 milligrams per gram of myrcene means it came from an indica or an indica-dominant hybrid. Now there are sativas with high myrcene counts over 2.0. Sativa and indica were divided into whether a plant is an accelerant or provides a calming nature. Myrcene for indica strains and limonene for sativas are the driving forces for those results. Myrcene provides tranquility, helps alleviate stress, aids with sleep and provides pain relief, all very similar traits to an indica. Limonene, a source of nearendless energy, matches well with sativas, which bring energy, creativity and focus. The differentiation of sativa versus indica resulted because both plants differ structurally. “People need to stop categorizing strains in that way only,” Gardner admonishes. Decatur agrees. “There is a lot more to it than the growth pattern or leaf structure,” he says. “There is a lot of miseducation. We can forget about just using these (indica and sativa) classifications.”

VOTED MOST POPULAR New strains are being created weekly, many of which come from California and, in turn, are sold only in

september | elevatenv.com 27

GOOD FOR WHATEVER AILS YA Although the general consensus of the cannabis community is that there are more than 120 terpenes, to follow are the most prominent terpenes found in Nevada:

MYRCENE the most abundant terpene in cannabis, has an earthy and musky smell with a hint of fruity flavors. From miniscule amounts to high doses, it acts as a sedative.

PINENE (A AND B) account for cannabis’ familiar pine tree odor. Pinene acts as an anti-inflammatory and has been used for centuries as a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma. Also said to be an antibiotic and memory aid.

LIMONENE

CARYOPHYLLENE (B)

with its strong citrus smell and taste, is a source of nearendless energy. It can treat gastric reflux and is an anti-fungal agent. Useful in treating depression, it’s also been shown to be an effective anti-tumor agent and immuno-stimulant.

is the only terpene known to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (CB2). It is known for its anti-biological activity against fungus and tumors. It is also an anti-oxidant with analgesic properties.

LINALOOL

OCIMENE

has a floral scent and possesses sedative properties used to fight anxiety and stress. It has also been used as an analgesic and anti-epileptic.

is used in perfumes but also known for antifungal, antiviral, and decongestant properties.

TERPINOLENE

HUMULENE

has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anticancer effects with sedative effects.

is as an appetite suppressant and exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity.

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California since Nevada dispensaries can only sell Nevadagrown plants. As a cannabis expert, Decatur believes the most potent and best healing strains come from California. With generations of crossbreeding and male-female separation, old strains exist in name only. These are popular sellers: Girl Scout Cookie (GSC): Girl Scout Cookies is an OG Kush and Durban Poison hybrid cross whose reputation grew too large to stay within the borders of its homeland. This California creation has won numerous Cannabis Cup awards. “Cookies is the new OG,” Decatur reports, adding, “GSC has become a mega strain.” GSC strains can feature high THC doses for pain relief and nausea, yet still provide energy. The high amount of caryophyllene combined with limonene and humulene form a potent mix of healing and activity that make any cookie strain enticing. Now there’s spinoffs: Platinum, Cookies and Cream, and Thin Mint Cookies. OG Kush: A venerable strain found on the West Coast that is the genetic parent of many since, the strain helps with stress, migraines and, most certainly, anxiety. Durban Poison: Originally from the coast of South Africa, this strain remains in name only. Mentioned in

the Humble Pie song “30 Days in the Hole,” this strain is worldly in popularity with high THC and terpene percentages wherever it may hail from now. Sour Diesel: A sativa-dominant strain that can stimulate the body, relax the mind, and help with stress and anxiety while staying active. Jack Herer: This award-winner from the Netherlands is a global favorite with a sativa-dominated, cerebral high and powerful healing capabilities. Jack Herer is said to enhance creativity, along with Chemdawg, Jilly Bean, Purple and all orange strains. Blue Dream: One of the world’s most popular strains, the sativa-based hybrid comes from California and is found in many Nevada dispensaries. With genetics of Sativa Haze and Indica Blueberry, Blue Dream is a good place for beginners to gauge whether they like the euphoric high from myrcene, pinene and caryophyllene along with a little spring in their step. With its wide profile, availability and big yields, this may be the state’s best seller. Which is a bonus since, according to Decatur, “Blue Dream has great medicinal properties.” Although the following strains aren’t quite as popular, they do have beneficial attributes.

september | elevatenv.com 29

Cherry Pie: The offspring of the venerable strain Granddaddy Purple (GDP) and Durban Poison, Cherry Pie enhances appetite with a fruity flavor and the stress relief of GDP. XJ-13: Combines Jack Herer’s genetics with G13 Haze to create a stimulating strain with mellow overtones. Bruce Banner: Harnessing the punch of the Incredible Hulk with a powerful THC explosion for a daytime buzz that comes with pain relief, Bruce Banner’s genetics are OG Kush and Strawberry Diesel. Gorilla Glue: With four strains of its own, descending from Chocolate Diesel and Sour Dubb, that are hard-hitting indicas and Cannabis Cup Award winners.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Where have you gone Acapulco Gold, Panama Red and Durban Poison? Decatur warns that many of the old favorites appear now in name only. “It’s not true Durban Poison -- that’s been gone for many years,” he reports. “Unless you are a world traveler, you’d have to be an old-timer with a vast collection of seeds.” Acapulco Gold is a dominant sativa and, yet, its profile is myrcene, pinene and caryophyllene. Panama Red is a straight indica and has a sedative effect. Both are not from their native lands. “They are not sought by breeders because they are so unstable,” Decatur warns of indigenous plants. “If they didn’t produce seeds on their own, they would be extinct.” And what if the name doesn’t sell? “Some dispensaries are changing the names to whatever they want if it’s not selling,” Decatur explains. elevate backs up his claim through multiple sources, which makes expanding the profile more important.

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To make strains more potent, genome mapping, DNA sequencing, and early plant testing are new additions to the science of medical cannabis. “The hippies came up with the most popular varieties, now we can advance it so much faster,” Decatur says, adding that he’s been approached by companies seeking certain profiles for concentrates. The state of Nevada tests for 11 terpenes, but there are three key terpenes not on the list: Valencene, Eucalyptol and Citral. Valencene, present in Valencia oranges, contributes to a plant’s citrus aroma and is found in all orange strains. Valencene could be the most dominant terpene in a profile, according to Decatur.

Eucalyptol isn’t a common terpene but can be found in small amounts in Super Silver Haze and is good for treating sinus problems. Citral is the scent used in cleaning agents but also is found in citrus strains. “Citral increases the effect of myrcene by ten times and labs don’t test for that,” offers Decatur. “Several cannabinoids aren’t being quantified in these results, either. Hopefully, they will start testing for those.” Remember, this is just a sampling. The strain just has to be grown here and there are no restrictions as to what can be grown as long as it’s tested. If a favorite healing strain isn’t listed, then keep it a secret. Shhhhhhh! Look at menus online as well as to Weedmaps, Leafly or others for descriptions. Some dispensaries are more secretive than others about terpene percentages and stats often have to be requested. Recently, there have been labels seen with only the top two terpenes listed. If those two are both under 2.0, the strain is weak and should be turned into vape cartridges or used for edibles.

THE FUTURE IS NOW Decatur and others are devising delivery systems such as drinks and tinctures with combinations of terpenes, THC, and/or CBD for ailments and weight loss. Forget having to find a strain with an abundance of humulene when it’s in a bottle, can or vape pen. Decatur is producing terpene water and vape pens without cannabinoids for specific uses that include pain, energy stimulation, relaxation, and bliss for a new company, City Trees, a subsidiary of Serenity Wellness. “It’s botanically derived, non-GMO, organically produced, 100 percent from non-cannabis plants,” he reveals to elevate. Gardner says Shango is mixing terpenes with cannabinoids in new cartridge varieties and others are following suit. Former NFL player and cannabis advocate Kyle Turley has produced a hemp product with CBD and a proprietary mix of terpenes called Neuro Armour that is legal across the United States (see page 10 for full story). He uses the same formula with a range of delivery systems that is promising in the area of treating CTE and PTSD. These innovative products from City Trees and Neuro Armour provide new options for solutions to old problems. “The intricacies of cannabis go deep,” Decatur concludes. “If you are not learning every day, you are falling behind.”

september | elevatenv.com

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elevatenv.com | september

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september | elevatenv.com

elevatenv.com | september

Las Vegas Paiutes to open one of nation’s largest dispensaries later this month by Beth Schwartz

Later this month, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe will be opening the doors of their 15,800-square-foot dispensary, Nuwu Cannabis Marketplace (pictured above), at 1253 Paiute Circle located in their tribal colony in Downtown Las Vegas.

Go big or go home. That sums up the business philosophy of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe. By the end of the month the Southern Paiutes will be opening the doors of their 15,800-square-foot dispensary, Nuwu Cannabis Marketplace, which will house 10,000 square feet of retail space. Located in their tribal colony in Downtown Las Vegas at 1253 Paiute Circle, the dispensary will be one of the largest in the United States. Las Vegas Paiute chairman Benny Tso says that’s the way he and fellow tribal members pursue their business ventures, which include the two largest smoke shops in Las Vegas, and three Pete Dye-designed golf courses as well as a 50,000-squarefoot clubhouse at the tribe’s golf resort on their Snow Mountain Reservation. “With this venture, why not keep that mantra going? If we are going to do it, we are just going to go big.” Tso says this philosophy is a result of trying to increase the tribe’s footprint. “Our Southern Paiute people laid claim to Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Southern Nevada and Southern California – this was all Southern Paiute country and over time that has slowly but surely been taken from us. That’s the whole idea of why we do things. Go big. We left a footprint here in the beginning and we definitely want to leave a footprint going forward for the future.” Leaving that financial footprint has not been without its challenges. One of the biggest was getting buy-in from the rest of the tribe, which numbers 56 members. “The hardest part is educating our tribal membership because of the stigma that cannabis has and going through the process of talking to my relatives and everybody on this council talking to their relatives about this medicine,” says Tso.

That might seem at odds with Native American culture but cannabis has never been significant to the Southern Paiute people. “We had to teach our membership and our elders about cannabinoids and terpenes and that everything about this plant has a healing nature. Everybody knows about the THC part of it but they don’t understand or know about the other makeup of the cannabis plant. Our Creator put things like those medicinal plants here for us to use. Upon research and learning about it, every human being, each two legs that walks this earth, is embedded with cannabinoid receptors so this is where the natural part comes for us, collecting the herbs. We had to reeducate ourselves about it. The whole education process was the hardest part for us.” The opportunity to get involved with cannabis came at a fortuitous time for the Paiutes. “There is a lot of weight on our shoulders now because of things going on with federal legislation, federal grant dollars are starting to fall by the wayside and so this is our way to make our tribe fully selfsufficient. We were once taught opportunities don’t go away, they just knock on other people’s doors, and if you are not there to open it up when they knock, then you just miss it. We decided that this was a chance of risk vs. reward and I think this risk we took was well worth the reward for our tribe,” explains Tso. “That footprint that our ancestors created for us like the smoke shop and golf resort, they left that footprint for us so it’s up to this Council to create more footprints with that,” Tso concludes of the dispensary. “We are creating that footprint to lead our tribe into the future and better our tribe as a whole.”

september | elevatenv.com 35

(continued from page 25) come together to form a symphony that causes stress to slip away with every inhale. “We spend a lot of time with medical patients and adultuse customers explaining terpene profiles and why they are important,” says Thrive Nevada’s Mitch Britten. While he somewhat agrees that the classifying of strains based on indica or sativa to denote the smoking experience is a bit dated, he says that it is still a convenient way for people to understand general categories. “As people start to understand how important terpenes are and the role they play, I think we’ll see the days of indica/sativa as main identifiers fade away.” He isn’t quick though to jump on the idea of strains being named for their terpenes to make it easier for patients to find what they need. “Since I’ve been involved in the industry, I’ve seen fads come and go—people naming products for their effects versus naming them for their lineage, etc. I think the names are here to stay and people identify the feeling they want with a popular strain name,” concludes Britten.

CITY TREES’ TERPENE-INFUSED DISPOSAL VAPE PENS Named for what they are designed to do, City Trees’ vape pens relieve pain, induce relaxation, energize your mood, or inspire a blissful state. City Trees’ newly launched

elevatenv.com | september

terpene-infused disposable vape line features pure distilled cannabis oil mixed with specific blends of terpenes to create and aid specific effects: pain, relax, bliss and energize. “Each one tastes amazing and parodies wonderful effect,” offers Don Decatur, director of operations for City Trees. City Trees’ Relax vape is aptly named with an impressive 54 mgs of myrcene. Other terpenes in its profile include linalool (14.65 mg), also a sedative, and d-limonene (5.95 mg), known for its calming effect. With a- and b-pinene as the dominant terpenes (20.30 mg and 13.61 mg, respectively) in City Trees’ Energize vape, it provides focus and alertness as primary characteristics. Decatur says he couldn’t be happier that the industry and the patients are really embracing the world of terps. “[There are] indicas that have uplifting effects as well as sativas that have relaxing effects,” he says. “The terpenes are what modulate the effects of THC and other cannabinoids. These are much more important than monikers that are more to differentiate growth traits rather than effects.”

elevatenv.com | september

LEGALEASE THE SECOND AMENDMENT & CANNABIS A deep dive into how your gun rights conflict with your marijuana use

By Derek J. Connor, Esq

A significant portion of my law practice is dedicated to providing clients with legal advice regarding Nevadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complex marijuana laws and regulations. One issue that frequently comes up involves the relationship between marijuana, firearms, and the Second Amendment. Our right to possess firearms is protected by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. A mere 27 words long, this simple sentence has perhaps caused more controversy than any other in the entirety of constitutional jurisprudence. No matter where you fall in the firearms debate, the U.S. Supreme Court recently held that the Second Amendment does in fact guarantee the constitutional right of the individual to keep and bear arms, unconnected with service in the militia [see, District of Colombia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008)]. Shortly thereafter, the court held that the individual right to bear arms is incorporated by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment and applies to the states [561 U.S. 742 (2010)]. Since Heller and its related cases, the Supreme Court has been relatively reluctant to take on new cases challenging local firearm laws, denying writs of certiorari in several cases.

september | elevatenv.com 39

THE FEDERAL PROHIBITION OF MARIJUANA While several states have relaxed their marijuana laws in recent years, federal law remains entrenched. Marijuana patients, business owners and recreational users must understand that pursuant to federal law it is illegal to cultivate, possess or distribute marijuana. The federal government does not recognize the medical use of marijuana nor does it recognize state laws legalizing recreational marijuana which are in direct contradiction of federal prohibition. Given that federal law trumps state law pursuant to the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, federal authorities are under no obligation to recognize a medical marijuana patient card or any other state issued certification allowing the bearer to possess, distribute, or produce marijuana.

FIREARMS AND MARIJUANA UNDER FEDERAL LAW It is uncontestable that 18 U.S.C § 922(g)(3) prohibits any person who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to” any controlled substance as defined by section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802) from possessing firearms or ammunition. Quite simply, under federal law, marijuana users are not allowed to own or possess firearms or ammunition. Legally speaking, we need go no further than this. An attorney should advise their clients that they are federally prohibited from owning, transporting, or possessing firearms if they are a marijuana user, whether they have a state issued patient card or if they are in a state where marijuana has been legalized for adult use. Irrespective of the federal prohibition, some individuals are quite undeterred and will continue to use marijuana and firearms no matter what their government tells them.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE POLICY REGARDING FIREARMS AND MARIJUANA In a letter to federal firearms licensees, Arthur Herbert of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) elaborated the Department’s position on medical marijuana patients and firearms in an open letter to all federal firearms licensees in 2011 available at www.nssf.org/share/PDF/ ATFOpenLetter092111.pdf and [hereinafter “Open Letter”]. In a nutshell, the DOJ does not believe medical marijuana users are allowed to possess firearms or ammunition, nor does it permit federal firearms licensees to sell firearms or ammunition to known medical marijuana users. While the 2011 Open Letter speaks mainly to medical marijuana users, it follows that the same logic will be applied to recreational marijuana users as the federal restriction applies to each. Plaintiffs seeking to challenge the federal restriction on marijuana users have met with little success. In Wilson v. Holder, Judge Gloria Navarro of the Nevada District Court

elevatenv.com | september

granted the government’s motion to dismiss a challenge to the federal restriction on firearm ownership by a Nevada medical marijuana patient. Also, United States v. Dugan held that 18 U.S.C § 922(g)(3) did not violate the defendant’s right to bear arms under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Thus, until we have a change in the status of marijuana at a federal level, it appears unlikely that firearm owners who use marijuana will find relief in the federal court system.

PURCHASING FIREARMS AS A MARIJUANA USER Nevada recently mandated background checks for all firearm transfers in the state of Nevada, although enforcement has been delayed under the current Nevada Attorney General. When purchasing a firearm over the counter from a federally licensed dealer, buyers are required to fill out ATF Form 4473. Question “11(e)” of Form 4473 asks buyers whether they are “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” The form was updated to include the following language: “Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.” As stated in the Open Letter, the DOJ believes that patients must answer “yes” to the question and that failing to do so could result in a perjury conviction. Consequently, patients and recreational users who answer “no” to question 11e are taking a serious risk.

FEDERAL SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTS The penalties under federal law for crimes involving firearms and marijuana can be very severe. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), if you are found to be in possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking offense, the mandatory minimum penalty for a basic offense is five years; if the firearm is a short-barreled shotgun or a semi-auto “assault weapon,” the penalty is ten years; if the firearm is equipped with a suppressor, the sentence is 30 years. In addition to the above, convictions of felony marijuana violations could result in the loss of voting rights and prohibition of future firearm ownership among others. As a practical matter, most patients and recreational users are unlikely to come under federal scrutiny for marijuana possession. The federal authorities simply do not have the budget or the inclination to pursue low-level marijuana users. However, in a large western state like Nevada, where much of the land is held by the federal government, patients and recreational users are more likely to have interactions with federal law enforcement officers than in other states.

MARIJUANA AND FIREARMS UNDER NEVADA STATE LAW Surprisingly, Nevada state law is relatively silent on the issue of marijuana use and firearms. There is nothing in Nevada state law that would expressly prohibit a medical marijuana patient from owning or possessing a firearm. However, NRS 202.360, prohibits the ownership or possession of firearms by certain prohibited persons including convicted felons, fugitives from justice, or persons who are an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance. Marijuana patients have relied on this language to argue that they are not “unlawful” users of marijuana under state law and should therefore be permitted to possess firearms under Nevada state law. It follows that recreational users should be given the same protection as their use of marijuana is no longer prohibited.

USE OF A FIREARM BY AN INTOXICATED PERSON It is basic gun safety that you should never be under the influence of any intoxicating substance while using a firearm. While it does not mention marijuana specifically, NRS 202.257 prohibits persons from being in “actual physical possession” of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances to such a degree that would render them incapable of safely exercising control of the firearm. Notably, the statute does not prohibit “the actual physical possession of a firearm by a person who was within their personal residence and had the firearm in his or her possession solely for self-defense.”

even updated its conceal carry application forms to expressly state that marijuana patients do not qualify for conceal carry permits. The county does not provide their reasoning and it remains to be seen if such a denial would survive a legal challenge. It is also unclear how the sheriffs would have determined that the applicants have patient cards as the list of patients is supposed to be strictly confidential. Because there is no such list of recreational users, it is unlikely that recreational users would be flagged on a background check for a concealed carry permit. Pursuant to federal law, marijuana users may not own or possess firearms or ammunition. Federal prohibition notwithstanding, because marijuana use is legal in Nevada, users cannot be considered “unlawful” under state law and should therefore be permitted to possess firearms without the fear of prosecution by state authorities. Although there have been many positive steps towards cannabis legalization in recent years, until there is a change in the scheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, users who choose to possess firearms will continue to face legal risks and uncertainties.

CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS The most common query that comes up more than any other is: Can I get a concealed carry permit if I am a marijuana patient? Pursuant to NRS 202.3657, Nevada residents and non-residents may apply to the county sheriff for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Nevada is what is commonly referred to as a “shall issue” state, meaning that once a person has demonstrated that they are otherwise qualified under the law, the sheriff must issue them a license to carry a concealed firearm. However, the sheriff must deny an application if it is demonstrated that the applicant has within the preceding five years “habitually used intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired.” See, NRS 202.3657(4)(d). It is presumed that a person has so used intoxicating liquor or substances if during the preceding five years, the person has been convicted of driving under the influence or submitted to civil protective custody. Therefore, people whose faculties are not impaired should qualify for a concealed carry permit so long as they are not otherwise precluded. However, some marijuana patients have reported that local sheriffs have denied their concealed carry applications with the sheriffs arguing that the patients are “prohibited persons” under Nevada state law and due to the federal prohibition of marijuana. Some counties (including Clark County) have

september | elevatenv.com 41

DISPENSARY MAP

A Patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guide to Cannabis in Southern Nevada

JONES BLVD

HIG SO HL UTH AN ER DS N PK W

PECOS RD

CACTUS AVE

K EP OS .T R HENDERSON S MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

215

GE SUNRSIDPKWY HEIGHT

15b

LAUGHLIN

PARADISE RD

VEG

Y RACETRACK RD

PKW AD E ME

MARYLAND PKWY

D BLV AS

L RD RIA

LAS

17 AVE

LAK

GIBSON RD

28b

6TH ST

COMMERCE ST MAIN ST 3RD ST

TER WES

AVE

11b

UST

HLA STEPHANIE ST

WARM SPRINGS RD

HENDERSON WIGWAM PKWY 15a

HIG

NELLIS BLVD

SET

30b

NA VE

RANCHO DR

NELLIS BLVD

LAMB BLVD

PECOS RD

SUN

PKWY

DECATUR BLVD

SILVERADO RANCH BLVD

DESERT INN RD

SAM BOYD STADIUM

WINDMILL LN

PEBBLE RD

AMO

E DI

BLU

515

D RD

SUNSET COUNTY PARK

WINDMILL LN

LLY

KAREN AVE

RUSSELL RD SUNSET RD

SAHARA AVE

E TWAIN

GREEN VALLEY

MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

21a

OAKEY BLVD

8a 12 22 ST. LOUIS AVE

GREEN DISTRICT

FLAMINGO RD PECOS RD

VEG

LAS VEGAS TROPICANA AVE

DESERT INN RD

29b

215

WARM SPRINGS RD

N 5TH

LOS EE R N ST MAI

AS B

SANDHILL RD

8c 28a

SAHARA AVE

SUNSET RD

EASTERN AVE

RUSSELL RD

MARYLAND PKWY

JONES BLVD

RAINBOW BLVD

BUFFALO DR

21a

27 26

TROPICANA AVE

STR

FLAMINGO RD

CHARLESTON BLVD

3 18

SAHARA AVE 15

THE

SAHARA AVE DESERT INN RD

PAHRUMP

31b 5b 3 18

BERMUDA RD

DURANGO DR

FT APACHE RD

TOWN CENTER DR

HUALAPAI WAY

30a

WASHINGTON AVE BONANZA RD

CHARLESTON BLVD

29a

OWENS AVE

LVD

ALTA DR

OAKEY BLVD

31b

CHARLESTON BLVD

LAKE MEAD BLVD

MARYLAND PKWY

EGA SV NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE

WASHINGTON AVE

215

160

CAMINO AL NORTE / MLK

SIMMONS ST

VEGAS DR

159

DECATUR BLVD

CAREY AVE BLVD

LAS

LIN

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH

21b

LV SB

CRAIG RD

31a

DECATUR BLVD

NORTH LAS VEGAS

MESQUITE

CENTENNIAL PKWY

WASHBURN RD

BUFFALO DR

ALEXANDER RD

ANN RD

H NC RA

RAINBOW BLVD

LONE MOUNTAIN RD

CHEYENNE AVE

11a

JONES BLVD

GRAND CANYON DR

DURANGO DR

LAKE ME AD

215

IND

RENO

HORIZON RIDGE PKWY

HORIZON DR

515

BOULDER CITY

1. Acres Cannabis acrescannabis.com 2320 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.399.4200 2. Apothecarium apothecariumlv.com 7885 W Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89117 702.778.7987 3. Blackjack Collective blackjackcollective.com 1860 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.545.0026 4a. Blüm LetsBlum.com 1921 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.718.Blum 4b. Blüm LetsBlum.com 3650 S Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.627.Blum 4c. Blüm LetsBlum.com 1130 E Desert Inn Rd Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.536.Blum 5a. CANOPI canopi.com 6540 Blue Diamond Rd Las Vegas, NV 89139 702.420.7338 5b. CANOPI canopi.com 1324 S 3rd St Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.420.2902 5c. CANOPI canopi.com 2113 Las Vegas Blvd North North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.420.2113 6. Deep Roots Harvest deeprootsharvest.com 195 Willis Carrier Canyon Mesquite, NV 89034 702.345.2854 7. Euphoria Wellness euphoriawellnessnv.com 7780 S Jones Blvd Ste #105 Las Vegas, NV 89139 702.960.7200 8a. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 2307 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.978.7591

8b. Essence Cannabis Dispensary (Patients Only) essencevegas.com 4300 E Sunset Rd Ste #A3 Henderson, NV 89014 702.978.7687 8c. Essence Cannabis Dispensary essencevegas.com 5765 W Tropicana Ave Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.500.1714 9. Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary inyolasvegas.com 2520 S Maryland Pkwy Ste #2 Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.707.8888 10. Jardin jardincannabis.com 2900 E Desert Inn Rd Ste #102 Las Vegas, NV 89121 702.331.6511 11a. Jenny’s Dispensary Jennysdispensary.com 5530 N Decatur Blvd North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.718.0420 11b. Jenny’s Dispensary (Patients Only) Jennysdispensary.com 10420 S Eastern Ave Henderson, NV 89052 702.718.0420 12. Las Vegas ReLeaf lasvegasreleaf.com 2244 Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.209.2400 13. Medizin medizinlv.com 4850 W Sunset Rd Ste #130 Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.206.1313 14. MMJ America mmjamerica.com 4660 S Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.565.9333 15a. Nevada Medical Marijuana (Patients Only) nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 3195 St. Rose Pkwy Ste #212 Henderson, NV 89052 702.737.7777 15b. Nevada Medical Marijuana nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 1975 S Casino Dr Laughlin, NV 89029 702.737.7777 16. Nevada Wellness Center nvwellnessctr.com 3200 S Valley View Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.470.2077

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

28a. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 5347 S Decatur Blvd Ste #100 Las Vegas, NV 89118 702.476.0420

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

28b. The Dispensary thedispensarynv.com 50 N Gibson Rd Ste #170 Henderson, NV 89104 702.476.0420

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

29a. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 1541 E Basin Ave Pahrump, NV 89048 775.556.0100

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

29b. The Grove TheGroveNV.com 4647 Swenson St Las Vegas, NV 89119 702.463.5777

21a. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 3400 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.475.6520

30a. The Source thesourcenv.com 2550 S Rainbow Blvd Ste #8 Las Vegas, NV 89146 702.708.2000

21b. Reef Dispensaries reefdispensaries.com 1366 W Cheyenne Ave North Las Vegas, NV 89030 702.410.8032

30b. The Source (Patients Only) thesourcenv.com 9480 S Eastern Ave Ste #185 Henderson, NV 89123 702.708.2222

22. Sahara Wellness 420sahara.com 420 E Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89104 702.478.5533 23. Shango Las Vegas goshango.com 4380 Boulder Highway Las Vegas, NV 89121 702.444.4824 24. ShowGrow showgrowlv.com 4850 S Fort Apache Rd Ste #100 Las Vegas, NV 89147 702.227.0511 25. Silver Sage Wellness sswlv.com 4626 W Charleston Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.802.3757 26. The Apothecary Shoppe theapothecaryshoppe.com 4240 W Flamingo Rd Ste #100 Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.740.4372 27. The Clinic theclinicnevada.com 4310 W Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89103 702.447.1250

31a. Thrive Cannabis Markeplace thrivenevada.com 2755 W Cheyenne Ave Ste #103 North Las Vegas, NV 89032 702.776.4144 31b.Thrive Cannabis Marketplace thrivenevada.com 1112 S Commerce St. Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.776.4144 32. Top Notch THC topnotchthc.com 5630 Stephanie St Las Vegas, NV 89122 702.418.0420 33. Zen Leaf zenleafvegas.com 9120 W Post Rd Ste #103 Las Vegas, NV 89148 702.462.6706

Cannabiotix products are sold here

elevatenv.com | september

(continued from page 20) bottom lines Chris of Strainz. “As you want to bring a tincture from Nevada, Colorado and Washington, you have to deal with people that have other partners who have the licensing, cultivation, production, the right kind of equipment, standardized equipment, etc., in order to make the product consistent across state lines unlike a Coca-Cola, which might have a regional bottling plant that can serve multiple states at once.” Hugh compares Strainz to other brand management companies citing Nestlé and Frito-Lay as examples, noting that, “at that level we make recipes, packaging and provide those branded services to our operating partners in each one of the jurisdictions, and these are completely individually owned and operated companies that are affiliated but there is not cross ownership.” Strainz’ current portfolio includes Bullet Concentrates; Honu, a Washington-based topicals and edibles maker; and Silver State Trading, a cultivator and manufacturer based in Sparks, Nevada producing California Finest, House of Jane, Jimi’s Cannabis Collection and Trokie brands. In spite of the Hempels’ big vision for Big Cannabis there is still a lot to understand. “We have got a lot to learn about routes of administration, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics -- all these things we have learned about in the drug development stage. We haven’t even really begun to scratch the surface of cannabis on that,” shares Hugh. “Both Chris and I super passionate about the next five years because we can actually really begin to find out how to use the medicine, how to make it more intelligently, how to drive costs down, how to make it more available to more people, how to have to take less of it. “That will be the big story of our lifetime, how broadly this plant can help people,” concludes Hugh. “The deeper we dig into it, the more we uncover potential. Every time we scratch the surface, we come across new applications or we stumble across new things that it helps with.” While the future is bright for medicinal cannabis, it is gradually dimming for Cassidy and Addison no matter how much their parents further the potential of the plant. “They are very severely neurologically compromised and every year we see small signs of progression of the disease. So, at some point, they will cease being able to swallow effectively and will succumb to pneumonia or something similar. That’s just reality for us and we just have to face up to that and try and cope with it,” explains Hugh. “Most children in their condition don’t live past 10 years old,” adds Chris. “They are 13 years old so we are just grateful for every day we have with them.”

september | elevatenv.com 45

PROFILE

Using Insider Knowledge of Industry, New Distribution Company Focuses on Customer Service

As the cannabis industry continues to grow, businesses are homing in on the finer points of how the space best operates. One newly launched company, Focus Distribution, is doing just that using their insider knowledge of the cannabis distribution and transportation arena. Operated by owners who have worked in the production and dispensary side of Nevada’s MME space, the principals at Focus know firsthand some of the challenging areas MMEs encounter. One of the most common problems has to do with ensuring the integrity of the product. “I was doing distribution during medical, so I know some of the issues that come into play, especially here in Nevada with the heat,” explains Focus Distribution's Christi McAdams, who also spent three years working in the production space in both Nevada and California. “It was very important that our fleet of vehicles was outfitted with custom refrigeration units so as to keep the integrity of the product -- whether it’s edibles or flower. “Obviously with things like edibles, the integrity of the form of the chocolate is paramount. But delicacy of flower products also

elevatenv.com | industry connect | september

needs to be considered. If you have it out in the heat for a few hours, its microbial count is multiplying and by the time you get it to the actual dispensary, after it has been in the heat for a few hours, that microbial count could have increased to limits that won’t allow it to pass. So, having it in an environment that’s cold and fresh like the one our vehicles are equipped with is vital to keeping the integrity of the product.” Comprehensive knowledge of cannabis is also instilled in every Focus team member. “All of our staff is not just trained in how to be safe and how to deliver things under state regulations, they are trained in all of the cannabis science,” explains McAdams. “They have had extensive training and have gone through what a normal budtender would go through to understand everything from cannabis consumption methods to all of the necessary packaging and state requirements. It was very important to us that we ensured our team understands the special needs of our industry.” Those special needs also include knowing key details about every business Focus works with. “We are unique compared to the other distributors in that we aren’t partnering you with a

FOCUSNV.COM

“

All of our staff is not just trained in how to be safe and how to deliver things under state regulations, they are trained in all of the cannabis science”

traditional delivery person, we are giving each of our customers a designated account representative. That account representative will learn everything about your business -- from your product line to the mission of your company -- so when they are out doing deliveries they are also promoting you,” says McAdams. That knowledge will come in handy for Focus account representatives when they are visiting other MMEs. “We are not just a delivery service, we are your resource for not only buying and selling your products, but also helping to be the liaison between the cultivation, and production and dispensaries,” says McAdams, who continues, “our team members will also know when they go out to cultivations and dispensaries what businesses have excess amounts of, and what they need. Our dedicated account representatives are already facilitating our customers in getting them trim, selling oil, and making those different connections for people.” Focus is also committed to implementing the strictest security measures possible. Their fleet of vehicles is custom built to include three levels of security: locked van doors, a secure vault, and locked transport carriers. Focus vehicles also have GPS tracking with special software allowing for all customers to track their deliveries. “Not only have we outfitted our vehicles with the tightest security features, but we also have a strategic partner, a retired police lieutenant, who trains everyone on our staff,” relays McAdams. Although excellent customer service, comprehensive education, and stringent security measures are all of the upmost importance, there is one feature Focus offers that sets them apart in the marketplace. “We are not a plain Jane delivery service. We are a comprehensive distribution company, providing dedicated account representatives who act as a true liaison between marijuana establishments. We take time with each customer to ensure complete satisfaction,” explains McAdams.

info@focusnv.com I 702.966.3128

september | industry connect | elevatenv.com

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elevatenv.com | september

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nicce.exchange

PROFILE

NICCE Exchange is Solving the Needs of an Unbanked Industry Today The NICCE Exchange uses the future of financial technology to solve the banking problem of the cannabis industry, today. NICCE, which stands for Nevada In-State Crypto-Commodity Exchange, is a digital asset exchange for trading blockchain commodities known as Nevada In-State Crypto-Commodity (NICC). NICC is a custom crypto-commodity that is based on one of the largest enterprise blockchain systems called ONLI®. According to Goldman Sachs, the technology “has the potential to redefine transactions” and can change “everything.” The important thing to understand is that it has nothing to do with bitcoin. ONLI was built specifically for financial institutions and central banks to configure it so they can conform to regulatory frameworks. It’s different from the ground up. NICCs have many features that no other digital system has. NICCs are in-state only, meaning they only work in the state of Nevada. NICCs are private but not anonymous like Bitcoin. NICC is a commodity, not a currency, meaning its

value cannot disappear like most other crypto-currencies, whose value depends on many people trading it back and forth. The NICCE Exchange is a B2B payment system, not consumer based. Some of the largest cannabis and non-cannabis businesses already accept it. Because it is digital, the fees are substantially less than traditional banking fees. Convenient and easy to use, when you need to get your money out, you sell your commodities on the exchange much like you would any commodity, such as gold or copper. The proceeds from the sale of a commodity are wired from the buyer directly to the seller. Confirmation and processing are nearly instant, which is unlike most crypto-coins and even conventional financial systems. Think of NICC as Nevada’s own private state digital money or, even better, like a statewide digital casino chip. If you are a cannabis related company, you must first obtain a compliance ID to purchase NICCs for cash. As one of the leaders in marijuana banking compliance auditing, ICS (icslv.com) provides

customized BSA software for major banks and is designed to meet heightened FinCEN guidelines. ICS integrates with all major seed-to-sale software. Once you have a compliance ID you may become a member of the NICCE Digital Exchange and purchase NICCs for cash. As a B2B platform, you can use NICC to transfer commodities to pay landlords, vendors, wholesalers, growers, payroll and even utilities. Because NICC liquidity is guaranteed, the proceeds from the first sale of the commodity are held in trust so that in the event there isn’t a buyer for the commodity on the exchange, any member can redeem the commodities at any time for those proceeds. NICCE Digital Exchange is a unique combination of features and technology that solve the banking problem and still fit within regulatory frameworks. The NICCE Exchange is using the future of financial technologies to leap ahead and solve the needs of an unbanked industry today.

september | industry connect | elevatenv.com

NVCANN.COM

PROFILE

NV Cann Labs’ Scientific Director Concentrates on Bringing Quality and Customer Service to Nevada Marketplace

The scientific team at NV Cann Labs was the only lab group in the state of Nevada to pass all of its proficiency testings on their first attempt.

Practically a veteran in the industry, Brenda Perkins opened Arizona’s first cannabis testing lab in 2011. Although that doesn’t seem that long ago, measured in cannabis years, it’s eons. “When I started, the cannabis industry was so new there were hardly any labs operating. It was a very new science. We were still using GCs [gas chromatography] because we didn’t fully understand the effects of decarboxylation and the benefits of testing using HPLCs [high performance liquid chromatography]. I have ridden the wave and been persistent and adaptive, improving cannabis testing despite the evolving industry and testing market. I’m well practiced, having owned and operated cannabis labs since prior to the introduction of testing for pesticides and residual solvents, before marijuana was required to be tested and treated as a true medicine and commodity,” explained Perkins. Because Perkins has grown with the nascent industry, she brings an unusual breadth of experience to Nevada’s industry, and specifically to NV Cann Labs, where she is Scientific Operations Director/COO. “Because cannabis testing and laboratory practices are not foreign to me, my knowledge and know-how contributed to NV Cann Labs being the only lab in the state of Nevada to pass all of its proficiency testings on the first attempt. I am excited to share with cultivators and production kitchens to help them better craft their products.” Along with experience, Perkins also brings a new level of customer service to the clients of NV Cann Labs. “I may be a laboratory scientist, but I enjoy educating others about my science. I work with our clients and help them get to where they need to be, and I can assist my client regardless of whether issues arise with the plant, concentrates, edibles, etc. because I have extensive experience in every aspect of cannabis. I’ve

elevatenv.com | industry connect | september

worked hand in hand with all the owners of the dispensaries in Arizona -- from how to rearrange their grow rooms to get a consistent plant, how to then concentrate it, and how to then decarboxylate it to have a desired potency and then eventually put it into an edible form,” detailed Perkins. “If someone brings me in a concentrate sample and they think it should be at 75% THC, and it’s only at 50%, I am going to go back to the producer and suggest we take a step back and go over his process. The bottom line is I want my clients to have the best products. I’m going to do everything in my power to help grow and develop desired products, in an ethical manner.” Perkins also has goals beyond the laboratory setting. She wants to increase the quality of products and processes throughout the industry. “Nevada intentionally has the strictest industry -- we watched and noted the market, business, and consumer issues, etc., with other states. I am excited for the state audits, as they become more defined, to reflect the standards the state sought enforce, to not only ensure safe products for consumers, but also to uphold ethical operations and eliminate and decrease risks and liabilities for the marijuana entity owners. “In the meantime, NV Cann is already practicing and anticipating heightened scientific practices. For instance, the mandated ISO certification will not be our highest standard because I don’t think ISO certification goes far enough. I run NV Cann with a focus on best scientific practices and methods, and ISO certification is a very surface level certification that doesn’t really dive into a standardization that is needed for our quality control and calibrations. I am really trying to take this to a whole new level.”

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september | elevatenv.com

Elevating the Conversation

with Neal Levine, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, LivWell Enlightened Health, and New Federalist Fund Chairman

eal Levine’s philosophy for life has always been focused on the journey, not the destination. “If you try to do the right thing, everything else will take care of itself. I was going to be a rock star and then worked in third-party politics so it’s not like I had a career path really well planned out,” Levine wryly notes of his foray into the cannabis industry. “I was trying to do the right thing and it led me to the place I was supposed to be. It was about being on the adventure.”

HOW HAS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY CHANGED SINCE YOU ENTERED THE SPACE? It didn’t really exist. When I started at MMP (Marijuana Policy Project) in 2003 there were eight medically legal states and the only industry that really existed was the unregulated industry in California, which, at the time, was the subject of active DEA raids. It was nothing like the industry that exists today. Since I started doing this work, the laws have become more and more defined and created an industry with real regulations. THE STIGMA SEEMS TO BE DISAPPEARING, WHY? Demographics and exposure. If you take a look at any polling on the issue, the Greatest Generation is really opposed to cannabis, Baby Boomers are a coinflip, Gen Exers are in favor, and Millennials are really in favor. As Baby Boomers become retirees and Gen Exers become middle-aged, you are just seeing the polling move with the demographics. I think that’s a large part of it. The other part of it is exposure. The Greatest Generation was not exposed to cannabis, whereas Millennials have grown up in a society where more than half the states have regulated cannabis and have been without prohibition in some form. WHY DID YOU FORM THE NEW FEDERALISM FUND (NFF)? As an industry, it all comes down to the fact that we are illegal under federal law. Coming out of the election with the names that were being floated for Attorney General and as a one-party government, we realized that we could be entering a potentially precarious time as an industry. The other thing that we realized was we didn’t see a lot of folks who were out there trying to engage these folks in a positive constructive dialogue. Because they were saying things about us that seemed to be based on misinformation or old tropes, it just became very apparent very fast that they didn’t know who we were and what we were doing as an industry. There was a real need for us to engage in a positive constructive dialogue along the lines of federalism.

elevatenv.com | september

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF NFF? To engage in a constructive dialogue by focusing on three buckets: allowing us to continue to operate, trying to get an equitable tax structure by reforming 280E, and allowing us to use a bank, which is really a public safety thing. It doesn’t serve anybody’s interest to have that much cash on the street and it serves the government interest that they can track the money electronically. We are a very odd industry in that we are asking the government to tax and regulate us. We aren’t asking for special favors, we just want to be treated like everybody else. WHY IS 280E SUCH A HOT-BUTTON TOPIC? There is this stubborn misperception out there that we are marijuana moguls. I can tell you as one of the largest companies in the space, we have the honor of collecting the most money and handing it to the IRS. We are not allowed to take any of the standard business deductions outside of the true cost of goods. A lot of people don’t understand this. What that means in plain English is we have an effective tax burden that is just under 80 percent. There are companies I have seen with a tax burden of around 90 percent. Not only that but if you are audited by the IRS and they disagree with what you call a true cost of goods, there is a 20 percent penalty on top of that. WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN 10 YEARS? We will have an equitable tax structure like any other industry. We will be allowed to use a bank. Federal prohibition will likely end in some sort of 10th Amendment solution that defers to the states. I don’t know if we will ever have cannabis legal federally, but I think we will have it not illegal federally and it will go to the states, which is how it should be. To read our entire interview with Neal Levine, visit elevatenv.com/Elevating_the_Conversation.

september | elevatenv.com 53

Award Winning Flower and Concentrates Based in CA and NV

@CANNABIOTIX @CANNABIOTIX_NV

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