FLX420 is a member of the Cannabis Association of New York and the Legacy Growers Association.
Founder Nate Kurash nate@flx420.com
THE journey
It’s that time of year again for BBQs, lazy days at the beach and traveling to see family and friends. For all of the new licensed businesses that have opened or are getting ready to open, these can be challenging times. When you are out and about, make it a point to stop and show your support. Simply stopping to say “Hi” and window shop goes a long way to help encourage these business owners.
They have carried this industry on their backs, and we are forever grateful.
I often get asked, “What is the best way to get into the industry?” The answer is simple: “Do what you think you’d be good at and most importantly what you’d enjoy.” There is no special path to follow or course to take. Everyone’s path is different – do research, educate yourself, ask questions, try and don’t be afraid to fail. If you follow those five steps, you will ultimately end up not where you thought you would be, but where you are meant to be. The industry may not be for you after all and that’s okay too, but you will never know unless you take that first step.
As always, thank you to our advertisers, readers and businesses that make our magazine available. We sincerely appreciate your support; it has been rough going
Cannabis Tax Attorney Licensing Enforcement
Text: 646-467-4646
at times and we thank you for sticking with us and the industry. The future is bright here in Finger Lakes. We continue to grow as both a premier vacation destination and a place to plant your roots. I often comment that I call our region “postcard country,” as every view is that of a postcard. We look forward to walking down this path with all of you and will do our best to represent this place you love and call home. Make this summer one of your best, yet keep healthy and make a positive impact in someone’s life.
Nate Kurash
THE law Spring in Review
by Gregory W. Lane, Lane Law PLLC
As we now find ourselves in the beginning days of summer here in the glorious Finger Lakes, a reflection on spring activity in the New York State cannabis market reveals an abundance of budding growth with new developments across all areas of the cannabis space.
Spring began with the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) facing the prospect of processing the more than 7,000 applications for retail dispensary, cultivator, processor, distributor and microbusiness licenses that it received in the November 2023 and December 2023 application windows or “queues.” Many of those applications have yet to be reviewed.
In early April, the OCM received another blow from State Supreme Court Judge Kevin Bryant. Judge Bryant presided over the 2022 Variscite I and 2023 Variscite
later settled. In the case of Leafly Holdings v. Tremaine Wright, et al, the plaintiffs challenged the OCM’s advertising and marketing regulations as violating free speech rights protected by the First Amendment. Judge Bryant, in an initial decision released on April 4, shocked the state cannabis industry by declaring all the OCM’s cannabis regulations as being null and void. Judge Bryant quickly revised his decision and issued an order to only strike down the OCM’s advertising and marketing regulations as violating the First Amendment and therefore null and void. The state immediately appealed the decision; the effect of Judge Bryant’s order has been stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. The appeal is expected to be heard in the fall. As a reaction to delays and perceived inefficiencies at OCM, in March, Governor Kathy Hochul ordered
Albany connected with the passage of the state budget,
padlock illicit shops. The new law also provided for fines
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•Dedicated to upholding the highest standards in the recreational cannabis industry
•Expert cannabis advice and premium products in a welcoming environment
•Knowledgeable staff with a strong passion for the cannabis industry
•Proudly serving the Rochester, NY & the Finger Lakes area
Us on JULY 20 at 4:20pm for our FREE Party in the Lot Outdoor Craft Cannabis Festival! • Vendors & Free Giveaways • Live Entertainment by Rock Band “Waking June” • Local Artists, Food Trucks, Tattoo Bus Rain or Shine Bring your own Chairs
THE law
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example, licensure applicants will now have a single point of contact at OCM through the application review and licensure process.
The audit report was issued immediately prior to the CCB’s meeting on May 10 in Albany. Many key developments came out of that meeting. For one, the CCB began the formal denial of license applications. Secondly, the CCB released the geographic restrictions on CAURD provisional licensees. Going forward, CAURD licensees may locate a dispensary in any area of the state and are no longer restricted to the geographic region that a license was issued for. Finally, at the meeting, the OCM and CCB made it clear that, despite Judge Bryant’s ruling in the Leafly case, the current advertising and marketing regulations are still in effect but that the OCM was working on wholesale revisions to the same.
On May 23, the OCM announced the result of a major enforcement action located very close to home for our readers in the Finger Lakes Region. David Tulley, the owner/operator of seven illicit sticker shops in Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne counties, was shut down and received more than $15.2 million in fines, penalties, costs and interest for running (and in some cases reopening and re-operating) illicit shops.
As of this writing, according to the OCM’s dispensary verification tool, there are seven retail dispensaries open in the Finger Lakes Region and five retail dispensaries open in the Southern Tier. There are eight dispensaries open in the greater Syracuse market. If Jeanette Moy’s audit recommendations for speeding the application review and licensure to opening process are effective, there should be many more coming online in those areas in the near future.
So, here we are on the doorstep of summer. Let’s hope for improvements and success for all in our Finger Lakes cannabis market!
Greg Lane has been practicing real estate law and business transactions for more than 35 years. In addition to his work in the cannabis space, he practices in all areas of real estate and commercial and business planning and transactions. For more information, call 585-455-3674 or email glane@lanelawpllc.com.
pot SHOTS from our readers
Masterbudtender shared a picture of a “happy little tree frog” on their marijuana plant.
@wintertide_garden shared an image of their home grow, Tiger Paw.
Jon Mauer posed these questions: “THC beverages: How are beer stores selling THC beverages? And did NYS repeal the original limit on THC per ounce?”
Answer:
According to Business Express, a guide provided by New York State, “A business selling cannabinoid hemp products in the State of New York must first obtain a Cannabinoid Hemp Retail License or a Temporary Retail Permit before selling cannabinoid hemp products to consumers.” The license costs $300 per retail location and is valid for one year. Beer stores are able to obtain a hemp license, confirmed a representative from Beak & Skiff, which produces ayrloom™ brand infused beverages.
In December 2023, CNY Central reported that New York State set restrictions and requirements for businesses selling cannabis-infused products – including THC beverages. Apart from flower and topicals, products must contain a ratio of CBD to THC of 15 milligrams to 1 milligram.
According to the OCM’s Cannabinoid Hemp Regulations Guidance for Licenses – which was revised in January – the limit on THC per ounce in beverages is 1 milligram of THC per ounce and 10 milligrams of THC per package.
The state’s guidance can be found at cannabis.ny.gov/cannabinoid-hemp.
is @716nugs with his homegrow, Mind Melter. It was harvested on May 28 after 67 days in flower.
Canandaigua artist Scott Grove shared a picture of his grow.
@mcfarlane_farms
Genetix at Day 48 of growth. “I feed it only compost teas and Craft Blend by BuildASoil. KNF and lots JLF juice inputs provide maximum funkiness!”
From @fewexotics: This is my cut of Oreoz that I hunted last year in the greenhouse.
Pictured
The Journey of DANK
by Victoria Ritter
This July marks the one-year anniversary of Western New York’s first legal recreational dispensary: Dank. Founder and Manager Aaron Van Camp looks back on his journey, how Dank has made its mark on the cannabis community, his network of supporters and what’s in store – both literally and metaphorically.
A budding ambition
After serving nearly seven years in prison for illegally selling marijuana, Van Camp started a can and bottle return business. Eventually, a new avenue into the cannabis industry became available.
Soon after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state had legalized marijuana in March 2021, Van Camp got to work, staying up to date on the licensing process and news highlights. When the state introduced the Conditional Adult-Use Retail cannabis program, Van Camp saw himself as a candidate.
“Before, I didn’t believe things like this would happen – it’s reserved for someone else,” he recalled. “We filled in the papers and I did fit in. It’s huge. It was a good opportunity. They [the state] are trying to provide an opportunity for people like me who had been in trouble
to get a little get back. For me, it has made it right.”
With the help of his girlfriend, Van Camp filled out the paperwork and submitted his application in Fall 2022. The name of the company is Dank716, LLC while the dispensary is just Dank.
The Office of Cannabis Management awarded Van Camp his license during the control board’s meeting on April 3, 2023. Van Camp likens the experience to winning the lottery. “By the middle of the meeting, my phone was ringing from the news,” he recalled. “By 1 o’clock, we were on every news station.” Receiving the license turned out to be a double win for Van Camp, as an injunction had just begun.
Van Camp is thankful for the warm community response since Dank’s opening last July. “They’ve been really welcoming of us because we’ve been supportive of people who are in the old, unregulated market still,” he stated. “It’s helped us a bunch.”
A look inside
Dank offers 300 SKUs, available online and displayed along one wall in the store. All of the products – from flower, gummies and vapes to tinctures and rosin – are from New York State. Well-known brands including Banana Coast can be found alongside regional brands such as Greenside Cannabis, Real Life Botanics, Pura and Farmer Jim. When considering a product or brand to stock, Van Camp balances the drive to support local businesses and offering the best quality. “We’re still trying to produce a certain amount of quality and provide the best possible thing for our customers,” Van Camp said. He went on to explain that in the grey market, people tended to focus on the smell, taste and look of cannabis; now, the percentage of THC tends to take precedence among customers.
While gummies are trending as sleep
aids, flower is the most popular segment, constituting half of Dank’s sales. The most popular brands are Real Life Botanicals – which offers more economic choices –and the high-end Platinum Reserve.
“People are looking to buy in bigger quantities,” Van Camp stated. “Initially, we only had eighths, but a lot more people are offering an ounce and half ounce, and that’s been going much better. We have Tarot Tokes half ounce and it flies off the shelves. It’s a really good value as it gives you a lot of smoke for a decent price.”
The dispensary provides a boutique atmosphere to customers, with hardwood floors and a polished granitetop counter. Colorful artwork such as Grateful Dead posters, street art and Ricky Powell pictures decorate the walls. “We wanted to connect with social equity, women’s rights and liberal themes because we know that was the intention of the state’s cannabis program,” Van Camp said. “We included counter culture like the Grateful Dead because we feel like marijuana has roots in hippie culture.”
Small, but efficient
Dank has a very small footprint, with just 1,000 square feet – 600 square feet dedicated to the sales floor and 400 square feet in the back for storage and office areas. Van Camp, who has been to dozens of dispensaries across New York, believes his is one of the smallest in the state.
For Van Camp, having a small storefront makes the most sense. The dispensary catered to crowds during its early days and this year’s 4/20, but otherwise it doesn’t see long lines of customers. Van Camp credits Dank’s efficiency to the availability of online ordering and the Dutchie point-of-sale system. Also, the staff of 13 employees are dedicated to being helpful and attentive to customers’ needs.
“We have really good educators,” Van Camp said. “They get customers sold on different products and they understand the CBN, CBG, the different attributes of products.”
Dank’s customer base mainly consists of people in the 35- to 45-year-old age bracket, leans heavily towards women and attracts upscale clientele. “It’s not a cheap hobby to smoke marijuana,” Van Camp observed.
Van Camp went on to explain
that the experience is tailored to patrons’ varying experience levels with cannabis. He wants newcomers to feel comfortable talking with the budtenders and get educated while offering an expedited service for regulars.
“We want to have the option available for customers to be in and out, not hanging around,” Van Camp said. “People have taken advantage of that and like it. They were down for the experience at first. They came in, they checked out all of the products, they’ve seen the website, they’ve gone through the menu 500 times in their head. Now they just want to come in, buy products and go.”
Business is blooming
The past year has been a “totally wild learning experience,” for Van Camp. Business started off strong as Dank was the only dispensary open in Western New York before the injunction. Dank also hosted three locations during the state’s Cannabis Growers Showcase program.
Dank’s customer volume has dropped since its early days (at one point, it welcomed about 500 customers during the weekends). Pricing has gone down on products, which has made the price points more comfortable for customers. Also, basket size is a bit lower than anticipated. Nevertheless, the dispensary continues to exceed Van Camp’s expectations.
“The big question we have been getting recently is how we’re doing now that there are 13 stores open out there,” Van Camp said. “We’re doing fine –we’re making double of what we were projected to make.”
Van Camp continues to build on Dank’s success with events and partnerships. The dispensary partnered
with nearby bars for a block party and offered sales for 4/20. Van Camp hopes to host Dankfest the week of the Buffalo Bills’ opening day; the plan is to feature a big-name performer, collaborate with local businesses and turn it into an annual affair. “It’s a big travel week, as people are coming into the city,” Van Camp added.
“It’s always a high-energy weekend.”
In the meantime, Van Camp will continue to expand product offerings. He wants to support those interested in micro-licensing and is open to partnering with people who are already licensed.
“A lot of micro-licensees are underfunded,” Van Camp observed. “They could use a little boost from retail to help get their grow going.”
Van Camp sees Dank and other independent, legal dispensaries such as Upstate Canna (which was the first dispensary in the Capital Region) as trailblazers and models for upcoming dispensaries to follow.
“Maybe people in the future will look at stores like this and Upstate Canna and say, ‘Hey, we don’t have to follow the national game plan. We can do it like these guys, turn a profit and have a successful small business.’”
Cby Glenna Colaprete
annabidiol (CBD) is known for its potential to calm anxiety, relieve pain and inflammation and promote homeostasis.
But CBD isn’t just beneficial for humans; it may significantly enhance your pet’s wellness routine as well. Animals, like humans, have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that helps regulate various physiological functions.
environment, reducing general anxiety and improving their overall behavior.
Skin care
Incorporating CBD into your pet’s care routine may lead to enhanced well-being. Here is how CBD may contribute to your pet’s wellness as well as a few ways to effectively use CBD for your pets.
To calm anxiety
Pets often experience anxiety due to separation, loud noises or new environments, i.e. thunderstorms, fireworks or visits to the vet. CBD may help reduce their anxiety levels by interacting with the ECS to promote calmness and relaxation. Regular use of CBD may help create a more balanced and calmer demeanor in pets, thus making them more adaptable to changes in their
A 2mg CBD pet chew or baconflavored tincture may help alleviate anxiety. Similar to humans, CBD may help pets by interacting with their endocannabinoid system to promote a calming effect.
Relieving aches and pains
Older pets, or those with chronic conditions, may benefit from CBD’s pain-relieving properties. CBD may help reduce inflammation and relieve joint and muscle pain. This may make a significant difference in their daily activities, allowing them to enjoy walks and playtime without discomfort.
Products like CBD pet chews may be particularly beneficial for older pets with arthritis or those recovering from injury. Regular use may improve their mobility and overall comfort, enhancing their quality of life.
“I
CBD may also aid in digestive health, helping to reduce nausea and improve appetite. This is especially beneficial for pets undergoing treatment or those with gastrointestinal issues. Improved digestive health may lead to better nutrient absorption and overall wellness.
Pets with skin conditions such as allergies or dermatitis may find relief with CBD. Its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties may help reduce itching, redness and irritation, promoting healthier skin and coat. Consistent use may improve the overall appearance and health of your pet’s skin.
Applying a small amount of CBD oil to the affected area may help soothe and heal a pet’s skin. This may be particularly useful for pets that suffer from chronic skin conditions or allergies, providing them with relief from itching and discomfort.
A better sleep
CBD may help pets relax and sleep better, especially those that are anxious or in pain. Adding a few drops of CBD tincture to their food may promote a restful night. This may be especially beneficial for older pets or those with health issues that disrupt their sleep.
Overall wellness
Regular use of CBD may support overall wellness by enhancing the immune system, promoting healthy aging and potentially reducing the frequency and severity of seizures in pets with epilepsy. By supporting the ECS, CBD may help maintain balance in various bodily functions, contributing to a healthier, happier pet.
GLENNA COLAPRETE, OWNER & CEO, GLENNA’S
Understanding CBD and how it works
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) in our bodies is designed to process cannabinoids. CBD, like the body’s naturally produced cannabinoids, binds to ECS receptors, enhancing their ability to regulate functions such as sleep, appetite, pain and immune response. By boosting this system, CBD may initiate anti-inflammatory effects that help alleviate aches, pains and anxiety, promoting overall balance and well-being.
CBD interacts with two main receptors in the ECS: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are more common in the immune system and peripheral organs. By interacting with
these receptors, CBD may influence various physiological processes.
Finding your ideal CBD dose
Dosing for pets may be slightly different based on their size and the condition being treated. Generally, it’s recommended to start with 1-2mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight and adjust as needed.
Before incorporating CBD into your pet’s routine, it is important to consult with a veterinarian to ensure you pet’s safety and well-being. A veterinarian who is knowledgeable about CBD may provide personalized dosing recommendations for your pet.
For more information on CBD products, visit Glenna’s CBD at cbdbestoil.com.
Glenna Colaprete is the passionate visionary behind Glenna’s CBD. In 2015, Colaprete embarked on a courageous path as a patented engineer to create a customer-centric company that not only provides premium, leading-edge CBD products for people and pets but also embraces a sense of compassion and community. Driven by her personal painful battle with chronic nerve entrapment, Colaprete discovered solace and relief through CBD. She is also an adjunct professor in the horticulture program at FLCC where she shares her expertise on cannabis cultivation regulations. She holds multiple licenses as a cannabinoid cultivator, processor, distributor and retailer as well as an adult-use cannabis cultivator, processor and distributor. For more info, go to glennascbd.com.
REAL LIFE BOTANICALS
by Victoria Ritter
NY Cannabis Conference Goes Bigger
With two years of successful shows under its belt, NECANN will host its third annual New York Cannabis Conference in a new, larger location this year. The 2024 conference is moving from Albany to Syracuse.
“We needed more space,” explained Marc Shepard, NECANN founder and show organizer. “The Albany Convention Center was a great host, but we sold out the exhibit hall in 2023 and had to turn people away, so it was time to find a larger site!”
When looking for a new location, Shepard and his team wanted to keep the show’s fall timeline and prioritized locations that were upstate and near cultivators. Their search, which was focused on the Syracuse and Rochester areas, was limited by venues’ availability as most locations were completely booked out a year in advance.
With a bit of determination, they found this year’s site: the Center of Progress Building in the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The center
can easily hold more than 200 exhibitors and 4,000 attendees. With approximately 2,000 attendees at last year’s conference, Shepard is confident that “the space is something we can grow into.”
In addition to being near cultivators, it’s about as close to ‘centrally located’ as we can get, which is great,” he added. “It’s also very reasonably priced for rentals, which allows us to keep our booth rates affordable.”
The New York Cannabis Conference is a two-day event,
set to take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. October 25 to 26. Those who have attended the conference in the past will see the return of business-tobusiness networking opportunities, educational speakers and resources.
The educational portion of the conference will cover a range of topics focused on the cannabis industry. Focuses will include navigating NY licensing; raising capital; NY cannabis tax; advertising, security and employment guidelines; cultivation best practices; investment opportunities; rescheduling; technology, science and the future of the industry.
On the show floor, attendees will receive the “full width and breadth” of the cannabis industry, according to Shepard. Exhibitors will represent different factions of commerce such as construction, security, seeds/genetics, soil nutrients, lighting, grow aids, extractors, automated pre-roll machines, trimmers, consumption accessories, business services, consulting, packaging and more.
“It’s always exciting to go to a new venue, meet the local players and leaders in the region, hear their stories and learn from them!” Shepard said.
As the number of licensees has increased since last year’s conference, NECANN has expanded its offerings. The organization is donating up to 20 booths for social equity candidates and will feature more educational tracks for cannabis business development than last year.
Anyone who wants to be a part of the state’s cannabis industry is welcome to be a part of the show as attendees or vendors. Registration
for both groups is available at necann.com/new-york-convention. Booth rates start at $2,000 while admission is $50 for a full-access, two-day pass. Tickets will also be available the day of the event, cash only.
It’s really the most cost-effective way to network and grow your business in New York,” Shepard said of the exhibitors. “By gathering several thousand local industry people, you can meet and talk to more people in two days than you could in a month by travelling to them one by one.
“Hopefully, everyone will be able to find what they are looking for, be it new customers and business leads, education and information, investment capital or opportunities, or career opportunities.”
THE dank tank
Culture or Vulture
Irecently established Culture Or Vulture as a podcast and video interview series dedicated to exploring the cultural differences between the two societies illegal cannabis has created. The intention of the series is to honestly interview people who are active in the cannabis space, regardless if they are licensed or not. Through honest conversations without agenda or expectation, we all show our true intentions and identities.
Before cannabis was legal, groups of people would gather together to secretly “sesh” together. No one was excluded unless you didn’t participate. Once we were all stoned, we would all talk, not knowing the conversations would mold “the cannabis culture.” People weren’t judged by the individual or subjective perspective but by the sesh through the eyes of the plant. That is our same goal now – to provide the platform where we can all sesh and you decide what the culture is.
One of the first people featured on Culture Or Vulture was Sonny of Rochester, who was born into the culture. She had her first child at age 17 when she was faced with the harsh new reality
more dangerous, but lucrative drugs like cocaine. In the early years of cannabis, there was not much money to be made because the plant was much larger and harder to move around and much less potent and addictive than other drugs, thus making it hard to service solely off selling cannabis alone.
The first time I saw Sonny was on an Instagram livestream. She was speaking on a panel at an event that she had organized called “Women in Weed” at a sort of speakeasy in Rochester. Her event was intended to highlight women who have been in the cannabis industry but had never had the opportunity to be transparent about it.
I’ll never forget watching her speak on that panel. She spoke raw truth that anyone who has been labeled as part of the “drug war” would understand. She sat on that panel, with a crowd full of her community, legislators and city council members – a small, 5-foot Latina/Native American with a fire in her heart. She screamed into the microphone “…and I got myself off Suboxone, because the
Sonny began smoking weed at age 10. “I’m not proud of it, but it is what it is,” she said. She used to sneak her father’s blunt roaches out of the ashtray and smoke them. By age 15, she was what society considered to be a dreaded “stoner.”
Like a lot of people who had grown up in the inner city or around drug culture, she never viewed cannabis as something addictive or destructive – unlike most suburban areas where people believed in programs like DARE and never actually saw this “evil cannabis” first-hand, therefore making them easy targets of misinformation and propaganda around cannabis and the community that represents it. Sonny had her first child very young. Being a single mother in the inner city, she began selling drugs to make money and survive. After becoming successful at her craft, she started to not only sell
up fiend.” For anyone who wants to think twice about that, I was a straight up fiend too – it takes a real warrior to make it out of that sh*t.
In the environment I was raised in, cannabis was treated as crack and was not recognized as medicine or accepted at all. Because of this stigma, people were quick to cast you aside as a dirty junky even if it was only smoking cannabis. When Sonny’s community saw she had hit rock bottom and was doped out, they came to her with shock, concern and support. They encouraged her to get clean, get help and start using cannabis again to stay away from opioids.
Sonny finally went to rehab where she detoxed but never finished the program. The doctors prescribed her Suboxone because they didn’t want her to go back “out on the streets” … the same streets that encouraged her to go to detox and get help in the first place. (Suboxone is a highly addictive man-made narcotic with little research surrounding it. This drug is heavy prescribed as a medicine used to get sober from heroin addiction, but the medicine itself is, as many legally prescribed opioids, far more addictive than street heroin).
She got back and began taking her Suboxone as prescribed. She quickly realized that this legally encouraged and supported drug had a similar effect as heroin but was more addictive. After making this realization and with a goal to not be dependent on anything whatsoever, she went back to her doctors and said, “What do y’all got me on? Take me off this sh*t.” To which they replied, “Oh you can’t just stop taking it.” This was the match that started the fire I saw in Sonny on that panel – the people she had been led to believe would help her were even worse than the dealers she knew on the street. They had tricked her into becoming addicted to something else when the very reason she came to them was to be back in control.
After this visit she told the doctors, “If you won’t take me off it, I will stop taking it myself.” They warned her over and over that it would be too dangerous, and the withdrawals would be so bad that there was no way she could resist running back to the streets for drugs. Well, she did go right back to the streets, sick and going through heavy withdrawals.
Just like those doctors said, the street drug dealers saw her and asked “Sonny, what are you on?”
“I’m coming off Suboxone,” she said, telling them her story. They said they never heard of anyone willingly coming off Suboxone.
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SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
FLCC’s specialized horticulture degree track Cannabis Biology and Cultivation. Learn growing techniques, explore applications, stay updated on the latest regulations, and gain industry-specific training.
THE dank
(Continued from page 21)
“I got something for you,” one of them said.
PAUSE! Mind you this was an “evil drug dealer” who, if you even wander around the hood, will quickly see you out of place and smooth talk you into becoming a drug addict in record time! He pulled out a HP of brick weed and said “Take this and try to get right.”
So, Sonny went home and locked herself in her bedroom and began the three-week journey of mental, physical and emotional torment of withdrawing from something your body has become physically dependent on.
She said the only thing that helped was smoking blunt after blunt of that medicine that a drug dealer off the street gave her to help her get off her legally prescribed recovery medicine. Let that sink in.
Sonny
“After that, I never stopped smoking,” Sonny said. “It’s like I lost my way and then the plant brought me back. I forgot it was about community and acceptance and not greed.”
Sonny is now a staple and a leader in her community. You can catch her throwing a community event or planning the next Women in Weed conference (coming up this August) which is becoming an amazing celebration in New York. If she isn’t doing that, she is working, raising two children and finishing her associate’s degree online. Sonny is an amazing, empowering woman who is destined for great things but needs more than just her community’s support!
The community when cannabis was illegal is no more. It can never be the same, and not many people who were in it before have anyone to represent them in the legal space – the new community that many are being kept from. This is the mission of Culture Or Vulture: to show more than just our small community who we are, what we represent and that it’s for everyone to experience, accept and learn from.
Please give Sonny a follow on her social media accounts (see the QR code) and reach out to see if you can support her on her journey. She doesn’t need much … just the opportunity.
Follow Dr. Dank on Instagram @_drdank_
FLX420 Dispensary Directory
Legal dispensaries and CBD shops in the Finger Lakes Region
Recreational Dispensaries
420 Bliss
740 Hoosick Rd., Troy 518-629-9511 420-bliss.com
716 Cannabis
2053 Electric Ave., Blasdell 716-826-0218 716cannabisllc.com
Air City Cannabis 1707 Oriskany St. W., Utica aircitycannabis.com
Amsterdam Cannabis 1451 State Highway 5s, Amsterdam damcanna.com
Aspire
205 N. Fulton St., Ithaca 607-319-4382 aspirecannabis.org
1901 Vestal Pkwy East, Suite 1B, Vestal 607-444-3048 getsunmed.com
If you know of a legal recreational dispensary, medical dispensary or CBD store in Upstate New York that does not appear in this list, please reach out to us at info@flx420.com.
THE goods
The Gelatin Sample Kit from Melt-to-Make offers a taste of the company’s most popular finished gummy flavors and a gelatin gummy base sample. Accompanying the order is an email with resources and an informational guide. melt-to-make.com
Experience a tropical getaway with the Passion Fruit Hemp-Infused Spritzer from Altua. With real passion fruit juice – and just 5mg THC per can – this beverage offers a hint of sweetness with a refreshing buzz. drinkaltua.com
GOODIES
Going to sleep can be a dream with Grape Dream CBN/CBD Gummies from Glenna’s CBD Best Oil. These full-spectrum gummies contain 20mg of CBD and 5mg of CBN. cbdbestoil.com
GROW
Reminisce of summers gone by Orange Creampop from Humboldt Seed Company. This classic flavor combo features loads of terpenes, is sativadominant and has an average THC of 30 percent. humboldtseedcompany.com
Jolly Roger from Vermont Compost Company is a compost-based mix that’s specially formulated for container cultivation and is ideal for transplanting or finishing cannabis and hemp. All of its ingredients are approved for certified organic production. vermontcompost.com
The Grateful Dead x Pulsar Bolts and Skellies Straight Tube Water Pipe stands 151/2 inches tall and is made of durable borosilicate glass. The pipe features a pattern of dancing skeletons and lightning bolts. Available through Arizona Traders
Celebrate the Buffalo Bills with these sporty Buffalo Sports Straws from Roc Paper Straws. Let’s go, Buffalo! Available in quantities of 130, 300, halfcase or case.
rocpaperstraws.com
Lost Coast Plant Therapy is a concentrate that provides protection against insects and disease without polluting the environment. By applying it every week or so during a plant’s growth phase, growers can give their crops their best chance. Available at Green Merchant Gardening & Hydroponic Supply
Show your support for a local and legal dispensary with a Native Haze t-shirt. Native Haze is Wayne County’s first legal recreational dispensary. The shirt is available in women’s and unisex sizes. nativehaze.com
Zoinks from Horseshoe Genetics is an autoflower that crosses Alaskan Purple and Shaggy Cheese. Treat your senses to notes of berries, flowers and herbs. This strain is great when it comes to terpenes and growth. horseshoegenetics.com
Untamed Beauties
Untamed Beauty Grow Specs
• Tent: AC Infinity CloudLab 866 (5 feet by 5 feet)
• Fans: Four 8-inch oscillating fans, placed in tent corners
• Nutrients: Heavy 16, VEG A & B
• Soil: Foxfarm Happy Frog Potting Soil
• Watering Schedule: Every three to four days as needed
• Water: Tap water which I dechlorinate and aerate 48 hours prior to each feeding
• Water pH: Range from 6.0 to 6.5 (I measure pH after nutrients have been added)
FLX420’s Third Home Grow
by Levi LeGrow
Welcome back to the third official home grow series! If you’re new to the home grow feature of FLX420, you can read about the previous two home grow series in past issues of the magazine at flx420.com/magazine/past-issues.
With each home grow series, I like to change up the process with the idea that I’ll learn something new along the way. As I thought about the previous FLX420 home grows, one thing they all had in common was the constant attention that each one would take. With that in mind, I simplified the entire process to see if I could grow big beautiful buds with minimal effort on my part. The basic premise was to let the plant do most of the work – no trimming or fuss.
On March 29, I popped the seeds using a small amount of water in a 3-ounce plastic cup for 36 hours. Once the seeds sunk to the bottom and the tap roots broke through the shell, I placed the four seeds into individual 16-ounce cups with soil, added a small amount of water and placed a Ziplock bag over the top to create a greenhouse effect like I did with the last grow. I’m a big fan of this mini-greenhouse for germinating my seeds.
After placing these mini-domes in my grow tent with 18 hours of light each day, in no time I had some beautiful little seedlings. I let them continue to grow for a couple of weeks, and then on April 15, I transplanted the seedlings to 3-gallon pots. I let the plants grow in the pots for four more weeks. On May 13, I transplanted the plants (each about 10 inches tall) into 5-gallon pots which would become their final home.
The plants have been growing now for a total of 11 weeks. As you can see, I have not done any topping or trimming to the plants. Not topping or trimming gives the plants a healthy, Christmas tree like look. Occasionally I will remove any discolored leaves, but other than that, the plants are thriving on their own. Remember, “simplify” is the mantra of this home grow.
If there was one other word to describe this grow, it would have to be consistency. My light schedule is 18 hours on, six hours off. The light intensity is set to 70 percent, maintaining a height of 16 inches above the plant canopy. Keeping the light at 70 percent power has helped maintain a temperature within the tent of 78 degrees when the light is on and 69 degrees when off. My humidifier has been maintaining 49 to 52 percent humidity through this process.
I will continue to grow in vegetative stage for a few more weeks until my light is positioned at its highest point in the tent, and my plants are 12 inches beneath it. Then I will flip the plants to the flowering stage – I’ll cover this process in the next issue.
In the meantime, I would love to hear from other home growers who have tried the hands off, “untamed beauty” approach. Were you satisfied with the results? Would you agree that it was so much easier to maintain? What were your thoughts at harvest? Email me your “untamed beauty” growing experiences at homegrow@flx420.com
Until next time,
Let’s grow together!
From seed to
From seed to sale we have you covered.
Whether your business is focused in the medical or recreational area of cannabis, you will face both challenges and opportunities. The success of your business will rest largely on the decisions you make in the early stages. With all the risk you will face on a daily basis, having a comprehensive insurance program with a trusted partner is imperative.
JD Chapman offers special insurance for the Cannabis industry including:
• Marijuana Growers / Cultivators
• Medical / Recreational Dispensaries
• Edible Marijuana Manufacturing
• Testing Laboratories
• Hemp Growers / Cultivators
• CBD (Cannabidiol) Product Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Retailers
Product Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Retailers
From seed to sale we have you covered.
From seed to sale we have you covered.
• Manufacturers of Cannabis-Infused Products and Oils, Waxes, and Tinctures
• Ancillary Cannabis Businesses
Whether your business is focused in the medical or recreational area of cannabis, you will face both challenges and opportunities. The success of your business will rest largely on the decisions you make in the early stages. With all the risk you will face on a daily basis, having a comprehensive insurance program with a trusted partner is imperative.
Whether your business is focused in the medical or recreational area of cannabis, you will face both challenges and opportunities. The success of your business will rest largely on the decisions you make in the early stages. With all the risk you will face on a daily basis, having a comprehensive insurance program with a trusted partner is imperative.
JD Chapman offers special insurance for the Cannabis industry including:
JD Chapman offers special insurance for the Cannabis industry including:
• Manufacturers of Cannabis-Infused and Oils, Waxes, and Tinctures
• Ancillary Cannabis Businesses
• Marijuana Growers / Cultivators
• Lessor’s Risk for Cannabis Related Tenants In this new and growing industry, it’s important to have a partner
• Marijuana Growers / Cultivators
• Medical / Recreational Dispensaries
• Medical / Recreational Dispensaries
• Edible Marijuana Manufacturing
• Edible Marijuana Manufacturing
• Testing Laboratories
• Testing Laboratories
• Hemp Growers / Cultivators
• Hemp Growers / Cultivators
• CBD (Cannabidiol) Product Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Retailers
• CBD (Cannabidiol) Product Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Retailers
• Manufacturers of Cannabis-Infused Products and Oils, Waxes, and Tinctures
• Manufacturers of Cannabis-Infused Products and Oils, Waxes, and Tinctures
• Ancillary Cannabis Businesses
• Ancillary Cannabis Businesses
• Lessor’s Risk for Cannabis Related Tenants
THE limit
Meet Cathy Abbott, aka The Budtender
When did you start The Budtender? What was the inspiration behind it?
This is my third year. I have always loved horticulture and growing things. I’m a gardener for a living; I do private gardens in Rochester, Penfield and all over. Once I realized that (cannabis) was going to be a legal business, I thought I’d make a little money growing seedlings. I’ve been growing my own cannabis for close to 30 years, just in a planter in my garden.
You provide feminized photo clones. Could you explain what are they and what are their benefits?
I start mother plants. The clones are just cuttings from the mother plant. I put the cuttings into a little water system and treat them with a hydroponic solution, which will root them. If you don’t use clones, you don’t know the background of the plant. If you have the mother plant in front of you, you know that it’s going to be the exact same genetics.
How many varieties do you have in your selection?
I try to get one that’s sativadominant (Mother Gorilla), one that’s indica-dominant (Purple Queen) and then I have two hybrids (Royal Gorilla and OG Kush). I have four different
varieties this year. I will definitely do more next year because people are a little bougie about their cannabis – it’s really crazy. They want certain strains and certain effects.
How do you choose your strains?
I read about them and get them from California. There’s so much information you can get online. I try to go with the highest THC because that’s what most people want. I really go through and find what sounds good. People do seem to want a variety of a sativa, indica and hybrid. Some customers come in and get one of each.
How far do people come to buy your clones?
I just had someone come from Albany the other day, which is crazy. They read about me in FLX420 and when they found out that I was based in Manchester, they were like, “Oh, it’s so far away.” Then a few days later they said, “I’m making the drive.”
The Budtender’s Facebook page mentions that you also are a consulting agency. Is that still available?
I offered that the first couple of years and had a couple clients, but I have gone solo with just the cannabis clones. This year, I don’t have anyone
who I’m consulting so far, so I’m concentrating just on my clone business – I think that’s where I’ll continue to focus. Most people want to ask a few questions and want to try it themselves; they don’t want me there growing it for them. I’m making more money off of the clones, anyways. My focus has definitely changed over the last three years.
What tips do you have for homegrowers?
I fertilize with all-natural stuff. I don’t use chemicals, Miracle-Gro or anything like that. I’m a big fish emulsion fan – I use it twice a week – and I suggest it to everyone. I think about what’s going into my body, so I try to be very organic and chemical-free.
What do you enjoy most about growing cannabis?
I’m a big horticulture nerd, so I love to watch everything grow. I do like the fact that I know where [my cannabis] is coming from. I use it, cook with it and make my own edibles. I know everything about the plant and what went into it – that’s what I love the most.
Cathy Abbott can be reached through The Budtender’s Facebook page and website, thebudtender.biz.
