Finger Lakes 420

Blazing a Trail

Love Oui’d provides weed for women, by women

by Paula Collins

Smoking Out the Unlicensed Shops

This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans to further empower state and local officials to enforce against the unlicensed cannabis shops that dot the landscape in most urban centers in New York. Hochul’s executive budget includes plans to empower the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and local government agencies to lock up pot shops much faster than presently allowable, through a combination of local laws and broad state-based authorities.

Current mechanisms for enforcement against unlicensed cannabis activity include actions by the Department of Labor, judicial action by cities against landlords using the state’s nuisance laws, action by the enforcement division of the OCM, tax assessments by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and local and county police.

New York passed the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) in March 2021. Since then, New Yorkers have watched as an ever-growing wave of cannabis shops has swept into communities, often confusing the general public as to their legal status.

Additionally, Hochul wants tech companies to stop promoting unlicensed shops and their potentially dangerous products on their platforms. A simple Google search, “smoke shops Rochester

NY” brings up untold numbers of shops. Officials complain that the licensed shops are unable to compete when the unlicensed shops have high search engine rankings in their favor.

Other aspects of the New York cannabis marketing regulations are under fire from industry insiders. Licensed shops are prohibited, per state regulations, from advertising on billboards or other signage, and must follow strict guidelines that restrict visibility of products from the street. Products must use state-approved packaging to wrap and protect cannabis products. The packaging cannot include cartoon characters or other images that might be attractive to children. Licensed cannabis shops cannot offer price reductions or special promotions to encourage sales.

The unlicensed shops are not subject to the strict marketing regulations imposed by the State of New York. Many shops boast bright lighting, with products clearly on display or posted on signage on the sidewalk.

There are currently 78 licensed cannabis shops in New York State, but potentially tens of thousands of unlicensed shops.

The economic impact of the unlicensed shops is staggering. If just ten shops are profiting $1,000 a day – not an unrealistic estimate – and the cannabis tax rate is 13 percent, the uncollected state tax

revenues total $1,300 a day, or $39,000 a month. By statute, 4 percent of that revenue is pumped back into communities. There is currently no pathway for a transition license to bring the unlicensed shops into the licensed market.

Paula Collins, of the Law Office of Paula Collins, is a cannabis tax attorney and adjunct professor at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in White Plains, where she teaches cannabis law and state and local taxation. Collins is a Democratic candidate in the race for U.S. Representative in NY’s 21st Congressional District. For more information, visit paulacollinsforcongress.com.

THE journey

Hello and Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to Spring as much as I am. This is shaping up to be a big year for our region. The OCM has finally started to issue licenses here in the Finger Lakes Region and we could see dozens of dispensaries open in the coming months. Please be on the lookout for new businesses opening

in your area, stop by, get to know them and show them your support. These are trying times for those racing to pass final inspection, and I am sure a little encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

With dispensaries set to open soon, it is more important now more than ever to be responsible and set a good example for the community. Cannabis, unlike most alcohol, is a lot easier to detect, and not everyone is comfortable with the very distinctive smell – we need to be respectful of that. I also want to make sure we remind everyone that using cannabis while operating a vehicle is not only stupid, but more importantly illegal and potentially deadly. You owe it to yourself and those around you to be smart and

be responsible. Let’s make 4/20 a day to show our cities, towns and villages we are good citizens.

Get out and enjoy this most beautiful region, one of the most beautiful in the world in my opinion. We truly live in what I like to call “postcard country” where everywhere you look is like a picture on a postcard. Invite a friend or two to come visit and make a new memory; your future self will thank you. I wish everyone good health and calmness of spirit and hope to cross paths with you soon.

Cannabis Tax Attorney

Licensing Enforcement

Text: 646-467-4646

Nate Kurash

“I

TWELVE

GLENNA

Cannabis Raise Your Glass to

A look how Altua makes infused beverages

by Victoria Ritter

Those looking for an alternative to imbibing alcohol are in luck. Cannabis-infused beverages are starting to enter the market, with a handful produced in the Finger Lakes Region.

Last year, Tom Fernandez, Josh Allyn, Lee Buttolph, Steve VonDeak, Brian Corfield, Brian Benner, Meegan Lynch and Jamie Hunt established Elevated Liquids. The Skaneatelesbased company’s claim to fame is its range of THC-infused beverages called Altua; Elevated Liquids proudly received the Best Edible Award at Cannastock 2023 for its blood orange seltzer.

Altua’s carbonated drinks come in three flavors – blood orange, passion fruit and pomegranate – with 5mg of THC in each 12-ounce can. “With the champagne-inspired base flavor, Blood Orange reminds us of a delicious mimosa from a fancy brunch spot,” said Brian Benner, sales manager of Elevated Liquids. Altua also offers a THC- and CBD-free version called Free.

The decision to focus on THC-

infused drinks came from a desire to provide a “high-quality alternative” to traditional alcoholic beverages and to help destigmatize cannabis use. As Elevated Liquids’ partner, Tap Root Fields, already has a line of CBD products, they wanted to create something unique, Benner explained.

“The cannabis beverage market is only getting stronger and we see the huge potential these types of products have,” he added.

To make the drinks, Elevated Liquids sources the cannabis from a local grower in the Finger Lakes Region. The first step of the process is the nanoemulsification of the cannabis distillate, which makes it water-soluble and rapidly effective.

Next, the cannabis is blended and agitated with a mixture of real fruit juice and natural ingredients.

“This ensures even distribution and suspension throughout the beverage,” Benner said. “We implement a specific formula developed to regulate the amount of THC in each batch. Our manufacturer follows this recipe

diligently to maintain consistency across production runs.”

Altua produces 36,000 cans every three months to ensure it always has product in stock. It distributes to dispensaries across the state; closest sites include FlynnStoned Cannabis Co. in Syracuse and Just Breathe in Binghamton. Additionally, Altua Hemp Infused Spritzers are available for direct shipping in states where legally allowed.

“Looking ahead, we’re exploring options like sugar-free variants and expanding flavor choices for Altua,” Benner said.

To learn more about the Altua product line, visit drinkaltua.com.

The Benefits of Infused Beverages

Elevated Liquid’s Brian Benner highlights how cannabis-infused drinks stand apart.

• First, infused beverages are great for beginners who may not be comfortable with other forms of cannabis.

• They are a health-conscious choice. Altua and other infused beverages tend to be lower in calories and can be consumed in smaller quantities than traditional alcoholic beverages.

• There is no harmful inhalation involved.

• The drinks are precisely dosed. Unlike other edibles such as gummies or chocolates, you can build your buzz based on your tolerance and desired effect by “microdosing” sip by sip.

• Whether drinking straight from the unassuming can, pouring over ice, or mixing into a mocktail, infused beverages like Altua are versatile and can be consumed discreetly.

• Infused beverages typically take less than 30 minutes to feel effects. So, you can more accurately control your dosage and build your buzz based on your desired effects.

• Infused beverages come in an endless variety of flavors, with spritzers being the tastiest! When Elevated Liquids combined its signature champagne-inspired base flavor with real fruit juice and natural sweeteners, they knew Altua was much more than a seltzer.

• Finally, infused beverages can be consumed socially as they allow people to share experiences and be a part of the party.

Just a Breath Away from Opening

by Victoria Ritter photos by Missy Kelly

Daniel Dennis has been holding his breath for months. The Montezuma resident is all set to open his dispensary, Just Breathe Finger Lakes. Now that he’s so close to opening, the feeling is surreal.

“I had to hide what I was doing for all those years,” Dennis said. “Now to be standing at the forefront with people in the community who embraced it, it’s a dream.”

Practice makes perfect

When he applied for a CAURD license in September 2022, Dennis was interested in opening the dispensary in Auburn. However, the city is in Cayuga County, which is considered to be in the Central New York region, so he pivoted. “Low and behold, I got a phone call from the owner of [our current] building, who asked me if I wanted to be here,” Dennis said. “Sometimes life is funny and happens the way you need.”

Just Breathe is located at 2988 Auburn Road, in Tyre. The location turned out to be a blessing, as it is

near del Lago Resort & Casino, five minutes from the Waterloo thruway exit and right across the street from Montezuma Winery.

The building presented its own set of challenges. The last couple of tenants were an illegal dispensary and an antique store who had left the structure in rough shape. It was up to Dennis and a dedicated band of volunteers to revitalize the space. “There wasn’t a square inch of this building that we haven’t had to rub, rebuild, paint or scrub on some level,” Dennis recalled.

Dennis consulted with Damien Cornwell, owner of Just Breathe in Binghamton to get things started. Cornwell allowed Dennis to use the Just Breathe name and presented a growers showcase last December. By the time the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) approved the growers showcase in mid-December 2023, Just Breathe was able operate for 11 days. “The growers showcase was a learning process for me and my staff,” Dennis said. “It gave us an opportunity to see how the wheels worked.”

From left, Paul Thompson, Daniel Dennis and Jenna Jones

Business was “very successful” during the showcase, according to Dennis. Dennis and his staff of eight employees became familiar with the brands, gained an appreciation for cannabis farmers and networked.

In return, Dennis received positive feedback from the wider community. The Seneca County Chamber of Commerce and the owner of Montezuma Winery were “ecstatic” to have the prospect of a legal dispensary open, Dennis said. He added that he’s been in contact with the Cayuga Wine Trail committee in hopes of connecting to the wine trail.

Stuck in a holding pattern

Dennis understood he was taking a gamble applying for a license. The rollout has been a tedious process, as the OCM has re-issued his license three times due to the various state injunctions. Dennis hoped the state would issue a stopgap so they could continue to operate the growers showcase until the OCM gave final approval on Just Breathe.

More than three months later, the display cases remained empty and covered. In mid-March, Just Breathe underwent its final inspection, and the state finalized its license. Dennis is now able to bring in inventory and start operating.

“It’s like rubbing nickels together,” Dennis commented, explaining he has spent thousands of dollars remodeling and paying rent only to wait. “We’ve been waiting for so long and invested so much of our own money without backers and investors. It wouldn’t have been possible without the guys working for me, helping, volunteering their time, literally working for peanuts to help us.”

Dennis regularly provides updates on the store’s Facebook page, Just breathe finger lakes.

Dispensing more than cannabis

Dennis has big plans for Just Breathe. “I’m trying to involve the whole canna community, from food to entertainment and art,” he said.

Upon entering, patrons will present their IDs and enter the 3,600-square-foot showroom. If there’s a wait, they can sit in the lounge to read educational materials

or listen to live bands. As Dennis was in various bands for 30 years, he sees how cannabis and music go handin-hand. The musicians will perform 20-minute sets with 20-minute breaks, giving visitors time to enjoy music as well as peruse the store.

One wall will display pieces from area artists. Dennis plans to showcase three to four artists at a time, rotating art every few months. Current featured artists are Auburn muralist Kevin Burke and tattoo artist Bryan Simmons.

“With the flow of traffic that we’ll have, it’ll be a great opportunity for them to get some exposure,” Dennis explained.

Budtenders will be stationed at an island in the middle of the showroom; Just Breathe will have 400 to 600 products that are New York-produced, tested and approved. Once an order is filled out, an employee will go back into the fulfillment room, bring out the items and ring up the customer at the front counter.

Those who visit Just Breathe on a weekend may find a food truck stationed in the parking lot. One day when a food truck operated during the growers showcase, Just Breathe saw nearly 300 people come through the door, Dennis said. Several vendors have voiced interest in setting up outside of the dispensary, with someone lined up nearly every week.

“What food truck doesn’t want to be outside a dispensary?” Dennis said with a chuckle.

Dennis wants to provide yoga classes on Sundays, host a podcast on Wednesdays and invite artists to create live art and give talks on Thursdays. Other potential activities include partnering with Montezuma Winery and other vineyards for tastings and hosting cannabis farmers for networking opportunities.

For Dennis, Just Breathe is meant to be more than a dispensary – it’s an experience. He is excited at the prospect of opening up shop and engaging with different facets of the cannabis community.

“Everyone who comes here has fun,” he stated. “They want to be informed and we pride ourselves in educating people as best as we can, being part of the community and providing an environment that is fun and comfortable.”

Women in Weed

by Victoria Ritter photos by Ashley Eberhardt

Elegance, efficiency and equality combine in Love Oui’d products

Just as female cannabis plants are central to making a variety of products, Cannandaigua-based processor Bristol Extracts is putting women front and center with its Love Oui’d product line.

Eric and Bree Blazak started Bristol Extracts in 2019, initially hoping to make CBD isolate for manufacturers. After a few adjustments, the processor now makes wellness and recreational products.

Today, their company employs 12 staff members and produces three product lines. While Senior Moments caters to Baby Boomers and Snobby Dankins is geared for sophisticated cannabis enthusiasts, Love Oui’d focuses on products for women.

When they started Bristol Extracts, the Blazaks brought on Corinne Devine and Ani Hadjinian as their cannabis chemist and marketing expert, respectively. Together, they developed Love Oui’d with women as the target audience.

“It was a lightbulb moment. I thought it was an amazing brand name and would resonate with women,” Bree said. “Ani was very instrumental in coming up with the branding, the beautiful packaging and whole story behind the hemp wellness products.”

“Between the two, we ended up with a really effective line of products,” Eric commented, adding that Lisa Moses from Moses Operandi in Honeoye Falls designed the Love Oui’d logo and packaging.

Creating a space for women

When they developed Love Oui’d, Bree and Eric sought not to exclude any group, but to cater to a specific demographic that’s overlooked in the cannabis community. “For women, it’s important they have their own brand, their own anchor in the recreational space,” Bree stated.

“One thing that Bree and I have always talked about is how this brand could become a community,” Eric observed. “We can make it bigger than just cannabis consumption. It can be a community where women can take a look at themselves, find like-minded people and use cannabis unapologetically.”

Love Oui’d consists of seven products – two vapes, two gummies, one mint and two tinctures. Each mint contains 5mg of Delta-9 THC, allowing the user to relax with the ability to get work done.

“Women do a lot,” Eric stated. “They run companies, they run

families, they run marathons, all of the above. They can come home and have a Zen Mint which helps you allow to relax and chill, but also allows you to function.”

The Blazaks’ research revealed several trends, including an increasing focus on wellness. In response, they plan to narrow their focus on health while still exploring the fun side of cannabis.

“The more that you research, it’s dramatic how beneficial this plant is,” Eric said. “That’s why it’s illegal federally to this day, because the pharmaceutical industry is afraid of it.”

More products are being planned for Love Oui’d, including a tincture for women to use during their menstrual cycle. Other items include a THC topical balm, small pre-rolls and disposable vapes manufactured to look like long cigarette holders.

“Cannabis has been largely a male space,” Devine said. “It means a lot to represent female cannabis consumers and make products specifically for them and speak to them.”

A progressive process

The whole manufacturing process – from growing to distribution – is conducted on Bristol Extracts’ 30-acre property.

“We grow our own strains and have quality control in place from the time we germinate those seeds,” Eric said. Last year, Bristol Extracts harvested 3,000 pounds of biomass from 5,000 plants. The processor breeds its own seeds and grows about 18 strains.

Once harvested, the biomass enters the 19,000-squarefoot geothermal building for processing. Bristol Extract’s facilities include a warehouse where they dry, weigh, grind and test biomass; offices; an extraction room; manufacturing rooms; storage areas; and a packaging room.

In the extraction room, weed is secured in bags and washed with cryoethanol to extract the cannabinoids from the biomass. Bristol Extracts utilizes ethanol extraction and have the capacity to process 2,000 pounds a day. The crude extract solution is then run through a solvent recovery machine which cooks off the solvent and reduces it to a concentrated crude extract. The crude finally goes through decarboxylation where it’s heated to activate the psychoactive compounds.

In the manufacturing room, the decarboxylated crude is run through a rolling film system twice to create quality distillate. “Our distillate is at least 85 percent THC,” Devine said. “Sometimes the total cannabinoids are 97 percent. We’re pretty happy with our extracts and results.”

The Blazaks want to support area cannabis farmers who have hundreds of pounds of flower waiting to be processed. Bristol Extracts is offering to split the cost with farmers and turn their biomass into distillate in order to preserve it. “When there is a shortage – which there will be – then they’ll have some distillate in stock,” Eric said.

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Rigorous quality control standards and current good manufacturing practice are implemented at every step of the process. The biomass is tested to make sure it isn’t high in heavy metals or contaminants. The crude is tested for potency, heavy metals and residual solvents. Manifests account for the movement of “every drop of THC,” according to Eric.

The distillate undergoes a few more steps to become edibles, especially for fast-acting edibles. A micro-fluidizer machine and a homogenizer use high sheer forces and high pressure to reduce the extract’s particle size while mixing the extract with a water-soluble formulation.

To make Zen Mints, the oil is encapsulated in a powder and combined with flavoring and other extracts. The mints utilize subliminal absorption, making their effects more akin to a tincture, Devine explained. Bristol Extract’s automated mint press can manufacture tens of thousands of mints an hour. “There’s a lot packed into those little mints,” Eric observed. “It’s crazy.”

Bristol Extracts manufactures about 21 SKUs for its three adult use brands. Once the products are packaged, two drivers deliver the goods to dispensaries across the state; Bristol Extracts has a presence in nearly all the legal dispensaries in New York. “We’re still doing pretty good in terms of shelf space,” Eric said.

“We’re just a very lean start-up right now,” Bree stated. “To put it into perspective, last year Eric put 78,000 miles on his truck delivering to dispensaries around the state. He’s the cofounder and CEO and he’s doing deliveries. Everybody pulls a lot more than their own weight.”

Room to improve

Eric and Bree have high hopes for Love Oui’d. They are looking ways to involve the community and other cannabis brands for community events; one such plan would be a regular Saturday yoga session.

Love Oui’d will eventually expand to include bath bombs and topicals. The Blazaks are hopeful that marijuana will eventually become federally legal, allowing them to bring Love Oui’d to other states. “There really isn’t a niche brand in this industry that is specifically catered to women,” Bree said.

“As you dig into the research, it’s easy to come up with products because there are so many benefits to the plant,” Eric said.

Devine is hopeful that people “wake up to the benefits” of cannabis, overcome the stigma and normalize its use. “People are unapologetic about their martinis, so why not us as well?” she stated. “We’re about broadening horizons and offering alternatives that are effective and not deleterious to health.”

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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

Amsterdam Cannabis

1451 State Highway 5S, Amsterdam damcanna.com

The Bakery Cannabis Dispensary

1099 Loudon Rd., Cohoes 518-213-7714 518bakery.com

Brownies

1686 Central Ave., Albany 518-608-1010 browniesbrand.com

Capital District Cannabis and Wellness

997 Central Ave., Albany capitaldistrictcannabis.com

Dank716

501 Main St., Buffalo 716-277-8493 716dank.com

DOSHA

76 Main St., Oneonta 607-267-4488 doshafarms.com

Exit 31 Exotic 255 Genesee St., Utica 315-982-4274 uticacannabisco.com

FlynnStoned Cannabis

219 Walton St., Syracuse 315-299-9334 flynnstoned.com

Greenery Spot

246 Main St., Johnson City 607-788-1189 greeneryspot.com

Herbal IQ

6055 Transit Rd., Depew 716-602-2557 herbaliq.org

High Points Dispensary

811 Canandaigua Road, Geneva 585-905-1141 highpointsdispensary.net See ad on inside front cover

Just Breathe

75 Court St., Binghamton, NY 607-677-0073 justbreathelife.org

Just Breathe Finger Lakes 2988 Auburn Rd., Tyre

Legacy Dispensary

1839 Central Ave., Colonie 518-387-3310 legacy-dispensary.com

MJ Dispensary

900 Jefferson Rd., Suite 902, Rochester 585-222-9333 mjdispensary585.com

Northern Lights

100 Broadway, Unit 8, Menands 518-472-0278 nldispo.com

Premier Earth Corp 1297 Hertel Ave., Buffalo premierearth.com

Public Flower 232 Allan St., Buffalo 716-201-0711 publicflower.co

Puffalo Dreams

900 Niagara Falls Blvd., Buffalo 716-466-2351 puffalodreams.com

Raven’s Joint 4106 NY-31, Suite 903, Clay 315-409-4600 ravensjoint.com

RISE Dispensary 1675 Route 9, Clifton Park 518-373-4147 risecannabis.com

556 W. Jefferson Rd., Henrietta 585-242-0203 risecannabis.com

Royale Flower 350 Northern Blvd., Albany 518-380-3738 royaleflower.com

A Message from this 4/20

Happy 4/20 from all of us at The Phinest Kind!

Today, we reflect on the journey of cannabis, its roots, its growth, and the vibrant community that has nurtured it into a symbol of nature, healing, and connection.

While we, at The Phinest Kind, are on our own path toward bringing you an exceptional cannabis experience, today is about the collective celebration of a plant that brings so many people together.

On this day, we encourage you to celebrate responsibly, reflect on the progress made, and the paths yet to be traveled. It’s a time to honor the natural wonders of the world and the shared moments that connect us all.

Though we’re not yet at the point of unveiling our offerings or hosting community events, we stand with you in spirit—eager for the future and grateful for the present moment.

Let’s take today to appreciate the beauty of the cannabis culture and the community that makes it all possible.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your 4/20 in spirit. Here’s to growth, understanding, and the many journeys we’ll embark on together.

Warmest regards,

The Phinest Kind Team

Petelongo@thephinestkind.com

Sacred Bloom

1308 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal 607-444-3085 sacred-bloom.com

Stage One Dispensary

810 Broadway, Unit C, Rensselaer 518-451-9540 stageonedispensary.com

Sweet Grass Dispensary

123 Cayuga St., Union Springs 315-889-9077

See ad on inside back cover

TJ’s Cannabis Co.

4205 Long Branch Rd., Suite 5, Liverpool 315-34-6776 tjs-hydroponics. shoplightspeed.com

TreeHead Culture

665 North French Rd., Amherst 716-260-2295 treeheadculture.com

Upstate Canna Co. 1613 Union St., Schenectady 518-280-4289 upstate-canna.co

William Jane Dispensary

119 East State St., Ithaca 607-391-0007 williamjane420.com

Medical Dispensaries

Be. Ithaca 700 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca 607-216-8803 bestores.com

Columbia Care Rochester 200 W. Ridge Rd., Rochester 585-678-8390 cannabistcompany.com

Etain

2140 Erie Blvd., East Syracuse 914-437-7898 etainhealth.com

MedMen

6850 Main St., Buffalo 716-954-8276 medmen.com/ny

MedMen (cont’d)

1304 Buckley Rd., Suite 106, Salina 315-802-5379 medmen.com/ny

RISE Dispensary

1675 Route 9, Clifton Park 518-373-4147 risecannabis.com

556 W. Jefferson Rd., Henrietta 585-243-0203 risecannabis.com

Sunnyside Medical Cannabis

Dispensary - Mohawk Valley 4776 Commercial Dr., New Hartford 518-219-8051 sunnyside.shop

The Botanist

192 Seneca St., Buffalo 716-322-4411 shopbotanist.com

Verilife

10 Executive Park Dr., Albany 518-216-0140 verilife.com/ny

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Verilife (cont’d)

25 N. Pointe Parkway, #30, Amherst 716-210-9496 verilife.com/ny

642 Old Liverpool Rd., Liverpool 315-666-1185 verilife.com/ny

Vireo Health of New York 38 Fuller Rd., Albany 518-249-6350 vireohealth.com

CBD Shops

Above All

372 Exchange St., Geneva 315-781-0122

Acadia Canna & Kratom

1971 E. Ridge Road, Irondequoit 585-563-7186 acadiacanna.com

2137 Five Mile Line Rd., Penfield 585-267-7471 acadiacanna.com

Acadia Canna & Kratom (cont’d)

439 Monroe Ave., Rochester 585-435-4175 acadiacanna.com

140 Phoenix Mills Plaza, Victor 585-433-8042 acadiacanna.com

700 Ridge Rd., Webster 585-787-4020 acadiacanna.com

Allnatural CBD Store 2453 Lyell Road, Rochester 585-247-4367

allnatural-cbd.com

Buddeez LLC 1460 Lyell Ave., #200, Rochester 585-766-7260

Canna Health and Wellness 6075 E. Henrietta Road, Rush 585-533-4067

cannahealthandwellness.com

CBDepot

2300 W. Ridge Rd. Greece 585-623-8776

cbdepotboutique.com

www.humboldtseedcompany.com

CBD ReLeaf Center

3349 Monroe Ave., Rochester 585-485-0017 cbdreleafpittsford.com

CBD Source 360 Grant Ave., Auburn 845-237-6228 cbdsourcecenter.com

1651 Nathaniel Poole Trail, Brockport 585-431-3018 cbdsourcecenter.com

3944 New York 281, Cortland 607-756-2646 cbdsourcecenter.com

6750 Route 31, Newark 315-332-6042 cbdsourcecenter.com

2851 W. Henrietta Rd., Rochester 585-319-4097 cbdsourcecenter.com

1011 W. Genesee St., Syracuse 315-802-7243 cbdsourcecenter.com

Evolve CBD

12 South St., Auburn 315-224-0907 evolvecbd.com

5 Main St., Cortland 607-345-8644 evolvecbd.com

123 W. Broadway, Fulton 315-226-0422 evolvecbd.com

Glenna’s CBD 7979 Pittsford Victor Rd., Victor Eastview Mall, #208 585-223-2378 cbdbestoil.com

See ad on page 6

Glenna’s CBD & Spa

12 Corners Plaza Brighton 1892 Monroe Ave., Rochester 585-442-4223 cbdbestoil.com

Grassroots Wellness NY 350 W. Commercial St., East Rochester 585-694-4960 grassrootswellnessny.com

Hemp it Up!

622-1 Park Ave., Rochester 585-434-4962 hempitupgifts.com

HempSol CBD

1425 Jefferson Rd., #2, Rochester 585-319-3766 hempsolcbd.com

Paper & Leaf Hemp Company

41 New Hartford Shopping Center, New Hartford 315-864-8197

1900 Brewerton Rd., Syracuse 315-412-0979

Phiff CBD

1 East Ave., #575, Rochester 888-271-0495

phiffcbd.com

Stout’s Hemp Shop –CBD Store

821 Danby Road, Suite B, Ithaca 607-319-0276

Syracuse Hemporium

320 Northern Lights Plaza, Syracuse 315-454-3322 syracusehemporium.com

Vaping Bad Canandaigua

185 S. Main Street, Canandaigua 585-905-3614 vapingbadny.com

48 Castle St., Geneva 315-789-8273 vapingbadny.com

Your CBD Store 5843 Transit Rd., East Amhearst 716-458-0075 getsunmed.com

129 W. Commercial St., #1, East Rochester 585-485-0105 getsunmed.com

4154 McKinley Pkwy, Suite 800, Hamburg 716-649-1940 getsunmed.com

Your CBD Store (continued) 3317 Chambers Rd., Horseheads 607-442-0114 getsunmed.com

2012 E. Ridge Road, Irondequoit 585-978-7441 getsunmed.com

308 E. Seneca St., Ithaca 845-244-0868 getsunmed.com

3191 Delaware Ave., Kenmore 716-768-2020 getsunmed.com

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

Give man’s best friend a special treat with the Pet Bacon Tincture 300mg Full Spectrum from Glenna’s CBD. This tincture, manufactured specifically for pets, contains 10mg of hemp extract in each serving. cbdbestoil.com

The Real O.G. Prohibition Prophets Tee from Prohibition Prophets celebrates individuals who helped bring an end to marijuana prohibition. Made of 100 percent cotton. prohibitionprophets.com

The Dub Chamber Electro Etched Water Pipe from Pulsar stands 13.75 inches tall and features a dualchamber water pipe, double jellyfish percolators and a metallic damask design. A matching 14mm male herb slide is included.

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Straws. These customdesigned high-quality, eco-friendly paper drinking straws hold strong and get the job done!

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The Pathfinder Non-Alcoholic Hemp-Infused Spirit from Boisson is one of a kind. Made using copper pot distillation, fermented hemp is blended with botanicals, distillates, extracts, tinctures and oils for a mood-boosting, balancing effect. boisson.co

BudCups from BudTrainer is an earthand root-friendly alternative to singleuse seedling pots and cups. They are dishwasher-friendly, made from 100% recycled and food-grade plastic and designed to be reused indefinitely.

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Ocean Forest Potting Soil from FoxFarm combines aged forest products, sphagnum peat moss, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion and crab meal. Designed for containers and ready to use right out of the bag.

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OG Kush Triploid from Humboldt Seed Company is an upgraded classic. It offers a combination of earthy, pine and citrus flavors, delivering a euphoric and relaxing high.

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Roots Organics Uprising Grow is a nutrient blend of 100 percent natural and organic ingredients that’s specially formulated for maximum results. It can be used in conjunction with Roots Organics Uprising Bloom or Roots Organics Uprising Foundation. aurorainnovations.com

A full spectrum of feminized clones is available from The Budtender. Choose from powerhouse sativa to pure indica and a few happy hybrids, all ready for your garden! Text Cathy at 315-719-8941

Sleep Formula – Strawberry gelatin gummy from Meltto-Make features a fresh, juicy natural strawberry flavor. The sleep formula gelatin base contains melatonin and l-theanine. Available in a 10kg case. melt-to-make.com

Cannabis and the Nervous System

by Tammi Sweet

Cannabis interacts with our nervous system intricately and intimately, coaxing it into a state of relaxation. This wisdom has been known for thousands of years. As such, cannabis has been helping humans regulate their nervous system.

Now, with the insights from western science and its measuring machines, we can fill out the story with facts and chemistry. Let’s explore the latest science to help us understand how cannabis can alleviate suffering in conditions where sympathetic dominance (an overactive fight or flight response) is a causative factor (anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia). Cannabis in this way can also aid anyone wanting to do deep healing work with their emotions, psyche and spirit.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) functions by producing chemicals (the endocannabinoids AEA and 2AEG) which bind many different receptor types within us. The production of endocannabinoids and binding of receptors bring about the broad functions of the ECS: regulating inflammation and protection.

Let’s spend a little time on some background physiology of the nervous system.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Our “automatic” autonomic nervous system functions under conscious awareness and is tasked with overseeing all the biological functions we are not consciously aware of. It is divided into three parts: sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric. For our discussion we will stick to the traditional parasympathetic and sympathetic systems.

Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)

The PNS is charged with allocating resources to the digestive, immune and reproductive systems. When our “rest and digest” system is engaged, we feel safe, are able to rest, heal wounds, fight foreign invaders, digest our food and, if appropriate, create a whole other being. The wisdom gleaned over evolutionary time says that when the PNS is engaged, life is going well and we are safe.

We, like the rest of the animal world, are designed to live in rest and digest and visit fight or flight.

Sympathetic nervous system (SNS)

The SNS is in charge of our fight or flight response. It is a beautifully orchestrated survival response and is absolutely necessary for our survival. The beings who survived long enough to be our ancestors did not sit around the fire at night and say, “Dude, don’t worry about that noise, we’re all good.” No, our ancestors were more like the squirrel you see dashing around, alarmed at every sudden movement or noise.

The big difference between our ancestors and us now is they could shift into rest and digest once the danger passed. Sympathetic dominance is an almost constant state of at least a low level fight or flight.

Unfortunately, much of the

modern world lives in the fight or flight world of the sympathetic nervous system and visits rest and digest. Living in fight or flight does not allow us to allocate resources to resting and healing and is an underlying component of most diseases.

Sympathetic or fight or flight response

Imagine what happens in your body when you’re driving at night and an animal comes to the side of the road and you avoid hitting it. All the instantaneous physiological changes – increased heart and breathing rates, heightened attention, increased muscle force – are your sympathetic responses engaging. Blood is shunted to your big muscles and brain to help you fight or run away (and/or freeze in place like a possum). Blood and resources are not going to all the functions prioritized in rest and digest because we don’t have enough to do everything all at once.

Let’s focus on the initiation of the response in the brain. The ability to raise our trigger threshold for initiating the whole cascade of events is the place cannabis helps the most.

Inside the brain

The amygdala, a region in the limbic brain, is tasked with recording memories anytime there’s a benefit to an emotional charge, positive or negative. It is regulated by the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

The job of the hippocampus is to store short-term memories, help us navigate social cues and provide “just the facts” to the amygdala. It has the ability to regenerate itself. That capability, along with the capacity to make new memories, is diminished or stopped by the high cortisol and glucose levels in the blood that fight or flight produces.

The higher brain center is called

the cerebrum. The prefrontal cortex is the most developed region of the cerebrum. This region shapes our emotions by guiding or regulating our limbic brain and amygdala. A well-developed and functioning prefrontal cortex allows us to mitigate our emotional reactivity (and the initiation of the sympathetic nervous system).

The endocannabinoid system and stress response

In order to initiate the orchestrated physiological events of the stress response, the levels of AEA must be lowered. After the response has occurred and the danger has passed, a healthy person will then raise levels of 2AG to help shut down the body-wide fight or flight response.

Simply put, a healthy ECS is key to the body adapting to stress and recovering after a tense situation. The ECS decreases our acute, hair-trigger responses to stress and lowers our rogue response to perceived threats.

The ECS also controls the creation, consolidation and diminishment of traumatic emotional memory and helps to extinguish fear.

How does cannabis help?

Cannabis helps at every step of the initiation of the fight or flight response within the nervous system and helps shut down the response at the end. Cannabis has the ability to either boost our own endocannabinoids or mimic them depending on what constituents you’re working with.

Not all cannabis cultivars have all the cannabinoids. The first step is to decide which cannabinoids you’re interested in working with and then find the correct cultivar – THC, CBD or CBG.

THC has the ability to mimic our endocannabinoids because it binds the same receptors they do (cannabinoid or

CB 1-5 receptors). Specifically, THC mimics the conditions for shutting down fight or flight (the increasing of 2AG) and makes initiating fight or flight harder by increasing the binding of the cannabinoid receptor AEA binds (remember you must lower AEA to initiate the cascading reactions). Low-dose THC also helps with neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

CBD is really the superstar here. Remember CBD doesn’t mimic the endocannabinoids, but helps the body increase their levels by preventing them from degrading as easily.

Here are the ways CBD helps mitigate the fight or flight response:

• Increases prefrontal cortex activation

• Increases synaptic connections between hippocampus and amygdala

• Increases activation of the hippocampus

• Increases neurogenesis of hippocampus

• Decreases neuroinflammation

• Decreases learned fear expression

• Increases fear extinction

• Lowers stress-related anxiety and anxiety levels after stressful events

It’s important to note here that folks who are provided the most benefit are ones who have lower levels of endocannabinoids.

CBG increases levels of endocannabinoids by delaying their breakdown. While less research has been done with this cannabinoid, we can expect similar results as CBD with the increases of endocannabinoids.

How to work with the medicine

The imbalance of an increased sympathetic dominance most likely took years to create, so folks should not expect a rebalancing to occur within days or even a few weeks. Most people notice gradual changes in three to six weeks. Like other herbal medicines, the change usually appears quietly. You slowly start to notice yourself and the world around you differently. Resetting the balance also requires active participation by us which can take many forms

– journaling, therapy, mindfulness practices and education.

Consistent oral dosing in the form of tincture is the most straightforward, easiest to administer and the most cost-effective form of medicine. When dosing with high THC cannabis medicine, it is not necessary to feel high to obtain beneficial results.

High CBD full spectrum tincture is 2.5 to 5.0 mg CBD three times a day. Yes, this is a low dose. While folks can work up to a total of 50 mgs a day, it is often not necessary. More is not better, especially when working with whole plant medicine.

High THC full spectrum tincture is best worked with in conjunction with high CBD tincture. CBD, along with all its benefits, decreases the anxiolytic effects of THC. Dosing THC would be 0.3 to 1.0 mgs twice a day.

Cultivar selection for THC is critical due to the anxiolytic effects of some terpenes. Cultivars high in

myrcene, caryophyllene and linalool are most beneficial for reducing anxiety. High dose THC can also cause anxiety as well. If you are new to cannabis and considering working with THC, please experiment with your first doses at times where you can create a safe space at home, with nowhere to go and no one to see for four to six hours.

Putting it all together

Anxiety, depression, insomnia and PTSD all share the common thread of an elevated sympathetic response. In sympathetic dominance, the fight

or flight response engages easily and/or remains engaged when the system should be shifting over to the rest and digest response. Cannabis, in the proper dosing, can help us move out of sympathetic dominance and come home to the rest and digest baseline of living.

Tammi Sweet is the co-founder and co-director of The Heartstone Center for Earth Essentials near Ithaca. For the past 30 years she has taught thousands of students in a variety of learning environments. She offers classes in cannabis and herbal medicine, along with a variety of courses in anatomy and physiology both in-person and online. Sweet holds a master’s degree in endocrinology.

To access her free online cannabis world and her upcoming Grow course, visit heart-stone.com/cannabis.

My $50 Home Grow

by Janet S.

It started with a bag seed… actually several. The random assortment of schwag seeds collected over several months was given to me by my sister who, knowing my love of cannabis and gardening (especially cannabis gardening) asked “Do you think you can grow these?”

I had thought about growing my own many times, only in theory as I lacked any of the necessary equipment and resources. I had grown pot before, but with someone else’s professional grade setup. This would be different. However, with seeds in my hand, the gears were already cranking as I excitedly responded “We’re gonna find out!”

This is where anyone who knows me would say “But wait, aren’t you broke as dirt?” Yes, yes I was, but I love a good challenge so I decided to turn to the world wide web to find out how one can grow a weed plant somewhat successfully with little-to-no money. I found a tutorial for building my own grow tent, information on naturally occurring sources of nutrients, and specs for lighting needs. Giving myself a budget of $50, I got to work!

Constructing the tent was tricky and entertaining. All I needed to purchase were two thermal emergency blankets, duct tape, zip ties, and a hula-hoop. I used a wobbly old quilt stand to make the frame, and attached

the Hula-Hoop of Structural Integrity about halfway down. I then awkwardly taped the thermal blankets around the perimeter, leaving an opening to tend to the plant. Luckily, I had a random assortment of a few grow lights from previous gardening adventures to get me started. I began with one light until the seeds sprouted before adding the others. Great skill and creativity were mustered to set up all the lights in a way that didn’t bring the risk of burning my house down with the limited space inside the tent. The whole setup cost $9 to construct, and a timer for the lights was $6 for a total of $15 spent.

Out of the seven seeds I received, three seedlings sprouted, and we were off! Feeding the plants was far more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Any time there were kitchen scraps - fruit and vegetable peels, used coffee grounds, egg shells, etc. – I had an opportunity to research what nutrients they contained and aimed to include a balanced assortment with each feeding. I would soak the scraps in water for 1-2 days and then drain and give the water to the plants.

Feeding them this way felt personal and honestly quite beautiful, like giving nature back to nature. Within less than a month of planting, there was one plant that was clearly thriving far beyond the others, so it was chosen to keep and was transplanted into a one-gallon pot. The pot was labeled “Rosemary” from previous summer planting, so I decided that should be her name (while thinking, “Please let it be a her!”). The others were given to a friend, but sadly they didn’t make it very far into vegetation before perishing.

1. Seeds, 2. The completed grow tent, 3. Seedlings sprouting, 4. The chosen one

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plant, even in addition to the existing lights in the tent. It was exactly $35, the remainder of my budget, so I went for it. The response to the addition of this light was even better than expected! Light measurements were still a little below the ideal for flowering stage needs, but I continued on. Even with the new light addition, temperatures in the tent stayed in a perfect range for the entire duration of the grow.

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The first hurdle was slow growth. It was undeniable that the lighting I had simply would not be enough, especially when I borrowed a light meter to find it was receiving about half the light that was needed in the vegetative stage. I began to bring Rosemary outside when I was able, which seemed to help significantly, but I knew another light was needed before I could switch to flowering. I searched high and low to find the most output for the lowest cost. I finally found an LED lamp with four arms which would theoretically provide BARELY enough lighting to grow a bud-producing

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I played music for Rosemary daily and continued to feed her a balanced diet of kitchen scraps. She began showing some very mild signs of nutrient deficiency, yellowing in the bottom leaves, and I noticed her soil was drying far more slowly than ideal. I adjusted the food mix to add a little extra nitrogen and decided to transplant early into a larger pot with soil that would hopefully provide better drainage. I know someone may stop me here and ask about soil PH. Without the equipment to measure, I was at the mercy of nature, but I did use diluted orange juice regularly in the food mix from start to finish to help keep a slight acidity in the soil. With the adjustments I made, the deficiency cleared up fast and she was plush and green again.

In mid-May (about six weeks after planting) I found female sex organs! By min-June she had grown

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to 21 inches tall and I decided she was ready to make the switch to a 12/12 light schedule to start flowering. Within a week there were already the very beginnings of preflowers! I still continued to have difficulty with soil drainage, although not as much as before. Since I could not water more to feed Rosemary more nutrients, I diced up a mixture of scraps to mix directly into the soil. This seemed to work beautifully. Although I could only water once or twice per week, the leaves stayed soft and green and the buds continued to grow. By the end of July, vegetative growth had all but stopped. The buds continued to thicken up nicely to my delight, even if they were significantly smaller than you’d get from a professional grow. They smelled of pure diesel in a concentration that angered my nose in the best way.

I allowed the plants to flower for ten weeks before cutting them for harvest. The branches hung to dry for two weeks and cured for another two. The anticipation was somehow even thicker than the aroma. Finally, I got to trim and smoke the fruit of my labors. The taste was as pleasant of a surprise as the high. With caryophyllene on the front and a fun aftertaste of pure carrots, she supplied a smooth smoke. I came away from the bowl with a light and giggly yet unexpectedly potent high. Although I only yielded an ounce in total from this plant, both the experience and the bud were satisfying beyond my expectations.

6. The plant spends some time outside, 7. Hanging to dry

THE dank tank We Will Find a Way

Goooooooood Morning Grow Fam!

If you asked me eight years ago where I thought I’d be today, I would have told you rich, dead or in prison. If you asked me five years ago, I’d say rich or in prison. If you asked me three years ago, I would have just said prison. But now I’m getting ahead of myself.

Almost three years ago I read a post on Instagram from the then New York Growers and Processors Association – now known as CANY – saying, “Today is a huge win for small distressed NY farmers.” It went on to state that NY was going to give conditional cannabis cultivation licenses to the current licensed hemp farmers but only allow them to grow outdoors.

At the time, this looked like a way of setting up all the broke, small farmers, who had been going under for decades in Upstate NY, to fail again. It would put them in direct competition with the already established, high quality indoor market, that is illegal but very much publicly exists and is very, very lucrative.

So, I commented something like, “This isn’t a win! You’re f***ing those dudes over.” Little did I know, that was like the bat signal for Damian Fagon – the then-member of NYCPGA, but now chief equity of the OCM. He quickly responded to my comment and we jumped into a private message chat to discuss more.

It was strange for me because I wasn’t used to seeing board members of any organization want to talk to me, besides giving a slight frown from up on their supposed throne of good intentions and little action. But Fagon wasn’t that type

of person, which I quickly realized during our discussion.

Initially we talked about the hemp farmers getting the first cultivation licenses, which we did not agree on. Then we began talking about legacy growers, who we just referred to as “Illegal growers.” Fagon told me he would’ve loved to see us in the industry first, but to legally define someone who has been in an illegal industry – regardless of the industry’s current legal status – was pretty much impossible.

Then he brought up the MRTA mentorship program and how it could be a way in for legacy growers. He told me the program would team up a legacy grower with a current conditional license holder and they could work together and hopefully transition into the legal market.

At first this sounded amazing! But then he explained to me that we would have to fill out an application and pretty much outline all the illegal stuff we’ve done. I can’t remember if I laughed or just said, “Ain’t nobody gonna do that sh*t.” I had been in the illegal cannabis space for most of my life, having just come back from a bid for a non-violent drug charge. It just didn’t seem like something I was going to do.

But I continued to talk to Fagon about this program and other things he believed in within cannabis and the legal industry. I began to trust him, or, at the very least, trust the fact that he was trying to do what’s right from the inside of an incredibly corrupt system. I have a lot of respect for that.

Shortly afterward, we started the Legacy Growers Association (LGA). I didn’t really know what it would become. At the very least, I knew the people in the current industry were not being represented. To me, this culture and industry is like my bible or religion; it’s given me salvation and accepted me when everything else in life turned away from me and left me for dead. It taught me morals and respect that my childhood didn’t. It gave me male role models who would do whatever it took to protect theirs, when my father only shoved me down and left us to fend for ourselves. It taught me how to be responsible for my actions and what a real moral compass was, regardless of what was “legal” or “illegal.”

This goes back to when I said if you asked me three gangsters to governors. I spoke on panels, went through raids and protests, barred all the windows in my house after some threats from big money gangsters and a deranged veteran on an LSD drip. The legal industry doesn’t fully understand is people will die for this community, what it represents, the people who it was helped, and there’s a hell of a lot more people just like me.

We continued to advocate and conversations with

(continued on page 29)

Cultivate Consulting provides cannabis businesses with expert accounting, income tax services, CFO services, and inventory management consulting. From cultivation to dispensaries, we help cannabis operations achieve success and reduce their tax exposure within a stringent regulatory environment.

(continued from page 27)

THE dank

told them it wasn’t illegal. To this the officer replied, “You are all being detained for illegal sale of marijuana,” which I knew was a made-up law; state police can’t arrest you in a cannabis-legal state that has no regulations against the sale of marijuana. I think the police didn’t want to deal with me and the foot race we were about to go on, so they let me and my friend go. We were just in the open room, so from their perspective we were customers, not vendors.

We left and tried to call people we knew to prepare them for whatever happened next. Typically, this meant

A lot of people lost a lot of money and flower, but we did not lose. Three farmers from that day have now been awarded microbusiness licenses and are legal in NY to do the very same thing that those cops busted us for. My mission to prove that NY was just going to throw me back in prison for supporting marijuana ended up with me getting one of the first micro licenses in this state.

@__drdank__

To Include:

• 1,000sf of retail space.

The retail space will include display cabinets, point of sale cabinets, miscellaneous items to accommodate a retail space.

• 120sf vault area.

The vault area will be built with security wire mesh in the walls and ceiling and have a lockable door.

• 500sf work room, 200sf break room, and 120sf office.

• Standard security package as required by OCM to accommodate a retail dispensary.

• Pricing excludes NYC and Long Island and assumes an approximately 3,000sf. Location.

e-mail TheGreenClosetNY@gmail.com $295,000

THE limit

Winner of the Spring “Caption This” contest

A man yelling “Turn off that damn light – you’re messing with the 12/12!” is heard off in the distance.

Congratulations to the winner of the Finger Lakes 420 caption contest, @low_grow_grows.

Honorable mentions go to the following submissions.

“Take us to your weeder.”

“Best grow light ever!”

Thank you to our talented artist Jeffrey Daniel Pierce Sr. and everyone who participated in the contest.

The Smart Place to Grow.

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