Grass Roots America Magazine - December 2020

A N A M A ZI N G Y E A R

TOMMY HOLLY CHONG BELL

DEC E MB E R 2 0 2 0

KEITH STROUP

THE FLOWERY

FLORIDA'S NEWEST ADDITION TO THE CANNABIS MARKET

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WELCOME In our January 2020 issue we featured Keith Stroup, founder of NORML, and Tommy Chong, legendary cannabis advocate. We caught up with them recently to see how they have fared in 2020 and what is on their minds as they look to the future. Check it out on pages 24 and 30.

As 2020 comes to a close, we can celebrate that many states had success with plant medicine laws in the November election. Read more on page 10.

We halted delivery of print issues in March due to the pandemic. As the world went into lockdown this spring, we found our international online readership was growing. We could tell which countries were in lockdown based on our growth of readership in that country.

Our team continued to put out amazing issues through the summer with our COVID-19, and BLACK LIVES MATTER issues. Check them out at our website.

Recently we began interviewing the guests you read about in our magazine. GRAM is learning to adapt to the situation in the world and we continue to endeavor to bring you information on plant medicine.

Please like and subscribe to our new Youtube Channel.

Look for more from GRAM in 2021.

Stay Safe + Well, Nancy Moss

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DECEMBER 2020 FEATURED 20 HOLLY BELL 24 KEITH STROUP 30 TOMMY CHONG 36 THE FLOWERY 39 2020 GIFT GUIDE HOT TOPICS 10 ELECTION 2020 44 DECRIMINALIZE NATURE THE USUAL 12 MEDICAL MINUTE 14 SALUTE TO NURSES 16 CBD 50 AYAHUASCA - DIS-LIST 52

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DISCLAIMER: This publication is designed as a reference and is made available to the public with the knowledge and understanding that the publisher and the author are not rendering medical, legal, or other professional advice. You should not use the information contained in this publication as a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical doctor. You should consult a medical doctor to address any health concerns specific to you. We suggest that you consult a legal professional to assess the legality of any described remedies.

Mention of specific products, companies, or organizations does not imply that the publisher and author of the publication endorse such products, companies, or organizations.

Nothing contained in this publication should be taken as an endorsement for any legislative action.

The author and publisher disclaim any liability whatsoever with respect to any loss, injury, or damage arising out of the use of the information contained in this publication or omission from any information in this publication.

Natural plant medicines and herbs can interact with medications or affect some medical conditions.

You should always check with your prescribing medical doctor before using any of the herbal remedies and natural plant medicines described in this publication.

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ELECTION 2020 Plant Medicine Results

2020 was a major year for plant medicine. Voters in red and blue states voted for changes in state law about cannabis for recreational and medical use. In every state that cannabis was on the ballot in November, it passed!

HERE AT GRAM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHANGES COMING IN 2021!

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CANNABIS LEGALIZED FOR ADULT RECREATIONAL USE ARIZONA

MONTANA

Proposition 207

Initiative 190

SOUTH DAKOTA

Amendment A

NEW JERSEY

Question 1

CANNABIS LEGALIZED FOR MEDICAL USE MISSISSIPPI Initiative 65

SOUTH DAKOTA Measure 26

OTHER PLANT MEDICINE ELECTION RESULTS OREGON

Legalized Psilocybin- Measure 109

WASHINGTON D.C. Initiative 81

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In this column our readers have the opportunity to ask our staff nurse anything they want to know about using plant medicine for health and wellness. She will provide quick and concise answers to big questions. This month we shift our focus from cannabis only based information and we discuss plant medicine as a whole. Throughout the country, plants other than cannabis are starting to receive more attention thanks to their powerhouse potential. In this month’s magazine we cover various natural plant medicines and their effects.

WHAT IS NATURAL PLANT MEDICINE? There are many herbs and plants that may have therapeutic effects. They are classified as natural plant medicines. These therapeutic effects may maintain or improve health, and are intriguing to those individuals wanting to get away from pharmaceuticals.

Various parts of medicinal plants are used for their effect, smell, or flavor. Natural plant medicines come in many forms of fresh or dried applications including capsules, lozenges, tinctures, poultices, extracts, and teas.

WHAT PSYCHOACTIVE PLANT MEDICINES ARE THERE BESIDES CANNABIS? IN WHICH STATES ARE THOSE PLANT MEDICINES LEGAL? Most commonly when you hear the term psychoactive plant, you may quickly think of psilocybin mushrooms or ayahuasca. These natural compounds are becoming so popular that we have dedicated GRAM articles going into detail about both of these psychoactives later in this issue. For now, let’s go over some other plant medicines that cause natural highs.

According to a study done in 2017 in Current Neuropharmacology, these herbal highs were once used in ceremonies of religious nature and now can be found on websites for purchase all over the world.

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Kratom - A tree originally found in Southeast Asia from the same family as the coffee plant. Recent studies have shown that there are at least five different strains of this plant. The colors of the veins on their leaves may be indicative to their potential healing and hallucinogenic properties. The leaves of kratom can provide either a stimulant or sedative effect depending on the dosage.

In 2016, the DEA attempted to ban kratom in the United States and then surprisingly withdrew its plans for the hearing. Kratom is legal in the majority of the U.S with the exception of Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin where it remains illegal. Adverse effects from kratom are possible and may cause death when mixed with certain medications. Use caution.

Kava Kava - Originally known as the national drink of Melanesia and Polynesia for religious and political purposes, kava kava is a root. It is from the same family as the black pepper plant. Now, kava kava is more commonly known as a pharmaceutical free way to relieve anxiety and opiate withdrawal. Depending on the dose taken, effects felt will be different. A small dose may lead to euphoria, whereas a large dose may provide deep sleep. Long term use of this natural plant medicine can have detrimental effects to the liver. Kava kava is legal in the United States. Right here in Denver, Colorado, there are three kava bars within 30 minutes from my front door.

WHAT SHOULD PATIENTS KNOW ABOUT HERBAL PLANT MEDICINES? Not all herbal supplements and medicinal plants are created equal. Meaning, some are more potent than others. It is important to do your research. Make sure the products you are purchasing come from quality sources. Read reviews and ask questions directly to the ordering source. You can also try working with an Herbalist in your area.

Another important thing to remember before beginning any herbal regimen, is that it is best to check with your physician to see if there are any contraindications with any pharmaceuticals you are taking. Although herbs may seem safe because they are coming from a natural source, it does not mean that they are going to mix well with other medicines you may be taking. Herbal remedies are not meant for everyone. Since the liver synthesizes both pharmaceuticals and plant based medicines, it is always better to be safe than sorry, and ask your doctor.

Do you have questions for Nurse Jordan?

Submit questions to info@getgramnow.com

Your question may be published in an upcoming issue.

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SALUTE

TO C AN N A BIS

NURSES

BY DR. DAWN HAYFORD

FEATURING

TAYLOR HAYES

Taylor Hayes is a psychiatric registered nurse with a passion for psychedelic plant medicines that she has used to found the new International Association of Psychedelic Nurses (IAPN).Taylor’s journey to plant medicine use began through her own exposure and the benefits she received. One trip changed the trajectory of her life.

As a college student at Auburn University, Taylor had no idea what she wanted to do in addition to struggling with depression and PTSD for almost a decade.

“I had never gotten help before. So I went to counseling services. I thought I would try this out and see what mental healthcare is like. And I received some help there. I was inspired by some of the people who helped me through that time period. It inspired me to want to help people as I recovered from my own depression and PTSD, I wanted to be there to help other people through their struggles, so I chose nursing school and knew I wanted to go into psychiatry since I started. I fell in love with psychiatry and all the psych patients that I have worked with mostly inpatient kids, adults, adolescents, teenagers.”

Taylor’s first exposure to a psychedelic plant was in college, and she didn’t take it with the anticipation that it would have any huge effect. “It was a mushroom, I had a psychedelic experience and it completely changed my life. I went to my psychiatrist and I told him that I didn’t feel like I needed my medications anymore; I didn’t feel depressed; I had made significant lifestyle changes following this one experience: started exercising and eating better and just caring about my life.” With the approval of her psychiatrist, Taylor was able to come off of her medication.

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Throughout her journey with plant medicines, Taylor has participated in research studies and expanded her own knowledge through study in South America. “I signed up to be a participant in a psilocybin research study down in Jamaica. [...] I kept following plant medicines, it became very important to me. I took a semester off school to go stay at an ayahuasca research center in Peru. I studied in San Pedro with the indigenous healers of Peru. I just had so many life-changing experiences throughout the course of that. It made me want to further study the plants and their applications within Western psychiatry: treating addiction, mental health, depression, PTSD, trauma.

I actually learned throughout this journey that a significant portion of western medications originated in the Amazon Rainforest Basin, which means there’s probably countless medicines left to derive from the plants there.”

As we continue to profile cannabis nurses, GRAM recognizes the power that nurses have. Taylor says, “Nurses have taken the lead as far as self-care in the way of medical cannabis. They’ve started writing standards of care. I think that is because the nursing practice is more pinpointed. Nurses are powerful; they’re the hands of healthcare and the heart of healthcare and they’re a significant portion of the whole body of healthcare. So if nurses get behind plant medicines and there’s no telling what kind of changes could happen.”

In February 2020, Taylor launched IAPN, which currently has about 200 members. They are “Nurses and nursing students who are interested in learning more about psychedelics and the plant medicines and how to fit this into healthcare appropriately and insightfully determining best practices and stan-

dards.” The goal is, “Increasing our database of information, increasing our membership, increasing awareness, compiling the research so that we can start putting the research into practice and into best practices for the field.”

Taylor definitely thinks plant medicines should be legal, accessible, and regulated. “I think people should be able to possess whatever plant. As far as administering or hosting ceremonies, I definitely do think there should be some regulation around that, because it can be unsafe with people who don’t know what they’re doing or aren’t medically trained. If we promote a culture of education and safety around proper use of these plants and medicinal use of these plants, I don’t see why anybody shouldn’t be able to use them.”

In order to allow people to have safe access to psychedelic plant medicines, Taylor has also launched Hope Network Health. In coordination with licensed medical professionals, they work to provide psychedelic plant medicine care in a controlled, legal environment. They are scheduled to have their inaugural psilocybin group healing session in January 2021.

Taylor has a lot of hope for the future of plant medicine. “I am really looking forward to the future of what can be done in this space if we work consciously and with a good intention. There’s lots of potential for a new wave of healing or medicine.”

Psychedelic medicine has the potential to revamp and expand the mental health care system in the U.S. Taylor tells us, “We have a very good system in the U.S. as far as some parts of mental healthcare, but I think that our system can be expanded and improved upon. I’m advocating for an expansion, for adding new substances to medical practice, so that people can have options especially people who have tried the traditional therapy and it’s not working, now perhaps they can have access to a breakthrough therapy psilocybin or MDMA. There’s such high demand for healthcare workers because there’s so many sick people. If we can get better medicines perhaps we can improve our healthcare system, see fewer patients, less personnel on staff, less stress in everyway on the system itself, less stress on society in general, if we could get mental healthcare under control, our opiate and alcohol addictions under control, you might see less DUIs, less domestic violence, all these things are related to each other so if we have better medicine options, I think we would have a much happier and more productive country altogether. I want to see our country well.”

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C BD + PLANT MEDICINE

BY BEN OWENS

Herbal medicines are defined as "the art or practice of using herbs and herbal preparations to maintain health and to prevent, alleviate, or cure disease.” By this definition, cannabinoids derived from hemp and cannabis plants would be classified as herbal plant medicines. Cannabinoids and other compounds found within the cannabis plant have been proven to work better when used together, but what other plant medicines contain natural benefits that work synergistically with CBD? While the research has a long way to go on synergistic efficacy of plant medicine combinations, herbalists and naturopaths have long recommended specific herbs and plants for certain symptoms.

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY ABOUT CBD ALONG WITH OTHER NATURAL PLANT MEDICINES? As of this writing, there is not much research on CBD’s role in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), nor on its synergistic effects when combined with other herbal remedies. While there is no specific research on which herbs are most beneficial when combined with CBD, there has been research done on specific herbs’ benefits as well as research on the benefits of using CBD that we can use to make educated guesses as to which herbs would provide synergistic effects. Additionally, traditional herbalism practitioners and naturopaths who have been trained in herbal remedies and natural medicines can recommend specific combinations based on the symptoms being treated.

5 HERBS RECOMMENDED FOR USE WITH CBD While scientific studies may have some ground to cover when it comes to herbal CBD combinations, naturopaths, herbalists, and CBD brands are already combining herbs in products like tinctures and topicals. ”Pairing herbs or natural plant medicine with cannabinoids just makes sense,” explains Jordan Person, fellow GRAM writer, herbalist and CBD manufacturer. “Often the plant medicine that you are working with provides a synergistic affect or often even the same effect that a cannabinoid can.”

These points are reiterated by naturopaths like Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, CNHP. These herbal recipes and recommendations are based on existing research on the benefits of CBD as well as traditional plant medicines that would work well with CBD, including common herbs like lavender, rosemary, echinacea, holy basil, and ginger.

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LAVENDER Lavender’s main terpene is linalool, a terpene that is also present in hemp and cannabis, and known to be effective at helping with anxiety. “Anxiety is higher than ever and lavender is rich in the terpene linalool,” explains Person. “This terpene has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety. CBD has also shown to lessen these stress-filled symptoms. Combining this cannabinoid with this herb may provide a beneficial effect for anxiety.” Studies back up these claims, suggesting that tinctures and infusions that combine lavender with CBD may help mitigate anxiety.

ROSEMARY According to Hernandez, rosemary may pair well with cannabinoids as hemp, cannabis, and rosemary plants all contain beta-caryophyllene, a terpene known for its analgesic effects and ability to help reduce inflammation.Rosemary is known to offer similar benefits as well as possessing anti-cancer properties similar to those of CBD. As both rosemary and CBD offer similar benefits, it would be logical to infer their synergistic interaction with one another.

CBD

ECHINACEA

Both Hernandez and Person recommended echinacea in combination with CBD. Echinacea, or purple coneflower, contains “certain endocannabinoid-like fatty acid N-alkylamides” that can “potently activate CB2 cannabinoid receptors.”

Additionally, evidence suggests that plants with high concentrations of these alkylamides and fatty acid amides could have synergistic interactions with cannabinoids like CBD. GINGER

Studies have shown that both CBD and non-psychoactive cannabinoids may be effective in the treatment of nausea. Herbs known to help with nausea work great in conjunction with cannabinoid regimens. “Ginger, for example, is great for relieving nausea the same way that THC and CBD can,” explains Person, and research backs up these claims, further indicating that ginger and CBD would be an effective synergistic combination for treating nausea.

HOLY BASIL As with rosemary, holy basil or Tulsi, possesses many anti cancer properties like THC and CBD. Additionally, both CBD and tulsi possess anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antioxidant properties that parallel known benefits of cannabinoids, suggesting a highly synergistic relationship between the two plant medicines.

While the research on specific combinations may still be in its early stages, traditional medicines and herbal teachings suggest that what we know about certain herbs like ginger, holy basil, and lavender, may work well in combination with cannabinoids like CBD, as we learn more about the effects of these cannabinoids. For now, looking for herbs whose benefits parallel those of cannabinoids like CBD will be your best bet at finding synergistic combinations that work for your needs.

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HOLLY BELL

BY JORDAN PERSON

GOOD NEWS FOR PATIENTS 20

Recently GRAM sat down with Holly Bell, Director of Cannabis for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

We wanted to learn more about her and the important job she performs for the state of Florida and for medical cannabis.

Holly has not always been the savvy industry leader she is today.

She has researched and spent time truly learning about the plant she now represents. A graduate of Perdue with a BS in Agricultural Economics, Holly spent the first part of her career in finance and consulting.

“I am a retired banker, and for many years I specialized in entertainment banking. Through that niche, I was exposed to cannabis.

Through that exposure, clients and some coworkers would bring me business plans and ask me to look at them. They would talk to me about my thoughts on them entering this industry. So, I had to start doing a lot of research and networking and that led me to Florida, eventually. A client/friend was interested in receiving licenses in Florida. So, I met the Commissioner on some calls during that time and got to know her. She then ran for Agricultural Commissioner. So I reached out and offered my assistance if she should ever need it.”

That was the door that opened and brought Holly from Tennessee to Florida. She started in her position in 2019. “What I do for the most part, day to day, is run the hemp program. The medical cannabis program is run through the Department of Health. We at FDACS also assist with the edibles piece of that. So I do work with that side of the industry as well,” Holly explains.

WHAT I DO FOR THE MOST PART, DAY TO DAY, IS RUN THE HEMP PROGRAM. Speaking of edibles, can we talk about how great it is that Florida will finally have legal, medical access to cannabis edibles?! As a patient myself, this author could not be more happy for my home state. Edibles are one of the only things that help me sleep. Regulations in Colorado (where I transplanted to 10 years ago specifically for medical cannabis) regarding cannabis edibles have changed over the years and it made me wonder what Florida is going to look like when patients will have access.

According to Holly, “There are two sets of rules. First, we have the food safety rules, which requires that the kitchens that the edibles are made in, must pass food safety standards that we set for any food manufacturer in Florida. Four of the companies wanting to make products reached out and had their kitchens approved as soon as our initial rules were rolled out in March of this year. They are pretty basic and straightforward in that there are no classes required. You just have to maintain your food safety permit the same way any food manufacturer would.

Then, they have to be compliant with the OMMU’s (Office of Medical Marijuana Use) list of rules too.

That is what everyone has been waiting on.”

“Recently they (OMMU) released five pages of simple rules and guidelines. Holly tells us, “They can’t look like candy, or like recognizable treats, no frosting or sprinkles, they can’t be primary colors, or bright colors. They are pretty straightforward edibles, with the goal that they are not attractive to our youth. They also need to have a stamp on it, the high THC symbol, also known as the universal symbol for THC. Both the candy and the packaging must contain the symbol. There are also label sizing instructions and requirements as well.

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Approved Edible Shapes

Approved Edible Forms

● Square ● Circle ● Rectangle ● Triangle ● Parallelogram ● Oval ● Diamond

Edibles are not the only big change for Florida’s medical cannabis program. Third party testing also has new regulations. This is more great news for registered patients.

This means clean medicine for everyone, and patients have a right to clean plant medicine.

“Up until two months ago when the emergency rules came out for third party testing, how the testing went was, whatever you submitted with your license application was what you were obligated to do. It was a very non-regulated, self-reporting type of system. There was no consistency about how things were tested from licensee to licensee, so it really was a huge disadvantage for patients. It was also hard for the patients to understand what anyone was testing for because these licenses have to

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● Lozenges ● Gelatins ● Baked Goods ● Chocolates ● Drink Powders

submit literally thousands of pages sometimes. So, when the emergency rules came out, you now had to test using a OMMU approved tester. It has taken a few months to approve three labs so products can now be properly tested. Now, there is a set standard that everyone must fall under. There seems to be a situation right now where a lot of products are not passing testing,” Holly tells us.

At the time of writing this article, GRAM submitted a records release to the OMMU requesting the test results for all the products that have been third party lab tested so far in Florida. When we receive that information we plan to publish it so patients can be safeguarded.

“We have the consumer to consider, we are the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Legal Dosing Limitations ● Single serving dosing shall not exceed 10mg of THC ● Multi serving edibles shall not exceed 200mg of THC

The Commissioner I work for (Nikki Fried) has said all along that we need to consider the safety of the consumers,” Holly says.

Safety for the consumers also includes knowing what pesticides are in use. Hemp farmers and medical cannabis cultivation centers have all been provided with a five page list of approved pesticides for usage. This is so incredibly important. Just because a pesticide is safe for tomatoes or oranges, does not mean that it is safe to mix with a solvent to make concentrated hash. The list of pesticides is considered a public record. Please feel free to share the information with anyone you know that is considering cultivating cannabis as a professional.

What's next for Florida’s cannabis program, you may wonder. The answer somewhat surprised me as Holly explained a situation that began a few months back. “High amounts of lead were found in various hemp products. Regulators want a better understanding on where this contaminant is coming from. Researchers are studying if it is possible that the lead is coming from the bottles and droppers the CBD is being placed into,” she explains. We at GRAM plan on keeping you informed with how the research unfolds.

FYI: The symptoms of lead intoxication include ● Acute colic ● Peripheral neuropathy ● Nausea and vomiting ● Chronic fatigue and exhaustion ● Loss of appetite and weight loss ● Encephalopathy ● Lead seam along dental margin

GLAD THAT THE PROGRAM IS FINALLY GETTING THERE; IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE PATIENTS, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE FOR BETTER PRODUCTS FOR THE PATIENTS IN THE LONG RUN

Medical cannabis patients often have compromised immune systems. These patients are at risk to become symptomatic if they were to ingest a cannabis product made with tainted CBD or hemp. If you feel you or someone you know may have experienced these symptoms from a CBD product, please report that product to the Florida Department of Health as well as the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This is one of the many reasons that third party testing is so incredibly important. In closing, Holly tells us she is “glad that the program is finally getting there; it's a great day for the patients, and it's going to make for better products for the patients in the long run.”

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CHANGES IN CANNABIS + POLICY with KEITH STROUP

BY JORDAN PERSON

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As 2020 has shaped itself into one of the weirdest years in our history as human beings, many things have changed. One of those changes is that, for the first time ever, cannabis became essential. Any state that had a medical or adult use program deemed the workers of the cannabis industry to be just as essential as grocery workers and restaurants. This came as a shock to some, but to all the patients and consumers nationwide, they were able to let out a sigh of relief and “it’s about time!”

According to the most recent Gallup poll, two thirds of Americans have shown support for adult use legalization. This is the most support cannabis legalization has ever had. The growth of the industry remains steadfast, and while becoming a part of this new industry may not be as easy as it once was, its growth potential is limitless. GRAM wanted to close this year by sitting down with Keith Stroup, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). NORML is a grassroots organization that is celebrating 50 years of pushing cannabis reform.

50 years ago, a younger Keith never saw cannabis becoming his life's work but now, in 2020, he can be proud of how far we have come. “I didn’t think it would take this long,” Keith tells GRAM. But as the political climate feels like one continuous hurricane, more and more states are still trying to create medical cannabis and adult use laws. On the ballot for November 2020 - South Dakota, New Jersey, Arizo-

na, and Montana are all trying to legalize adult use cannabis, and Mississippi and South Dakota have medical cannabis on the ballot.

It’s not just at the state level, Congress is seeing a record number of bills in regards to cannabis. In our conversation with Keith, we learned that there were more than 30 bills in regards to cannabis introduced for this session, and he reminds us, “of course those will all go away, and we will have to start new again next year, and that is exactly what we will do.” We also learned a bit about the MORE Act, introduced

by Senator Kamala Harris. According to Keith, “The MORE Act would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act.” That is something that is long overdue.

By removing cannabis from the CSA, scientists would be able to research the plant here in the United States using human participants, not just lab rats. This would provide more inclusive data to be used on cannabis patients.

Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019 or the MORE Act of 2019. (Introduced in Senate 7/23/19) This bill decriminalizes marijuana.

Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana.

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THE BILL ALSO MAKES OTHER CHANGES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: ● Replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis ● Requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees ● Establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs ● Imposes a 5% tax on cannabis products and requires revenues to be deposited into the trust fund ● Makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers ● Prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions ● Prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction) ● Establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses

Policy is not the only thing that has changed in 2020.

The cannabis industry as a whole has made some interesting transitions as a result of the pandemic. “If people are looking to find a niche in this industry, it’s not as easy now as it would have been a year ago.

This is because it’s hard to travel, everyone is in a mask, in some places people are still under quarantine and afraid to leave their homes to go to the dispensary. But then on the other hand, we have record sales numbers coming out of every dispensary, and that's not just for one state, it's for all of them!”

Keith explains.

Since the only constant is change and the cannabis industry changes daily, we asked Keith what the best plan of attack should be for those of us at home, feeling helpless, unable to go to our state Capitol’s to lobby, no town hall meetings to attend; what can we do? “It all starts at the state level,” Keith explained.

“We will take care of the Federal level within a year or two. That sort of has to be done with lobbyists in Washington D.C. anyways. Of course, we encourage the folks at home to write to their legislators, and we make it easy for them to do so via our website www. norml.org.

A problem we have seen nationwide is the lack of 26

one concise plan to follow when it comes to crafting laws for both medical and adult use programs. “That is why work being done at the state level is so important,” says Keith. “There are states that have set great examples, Colorado being one of them, but there are still no set standards for anyone to follow.

One thing I feel makes a lot of sense is to not limit the number of licenses, let the free market determine that. As long as people have the money to start a new business, and they have the ability to apply for a license, then they should do so. Not everyone that applies will pass, some, of course, will fail to meet the requirements.”

“The thing we have to keep in mind is, states like Colorado have already demonstrated that the sky did not fall when legalization takes place. It proved all of the original theories of naysayers wrong when the amount of DUID accidents and deaths did not skyrocket, and the predicted spike in youth usage never happened; it showed the rest of the country what is possible,” said Keith. As new states pass regulations, they have an opportunity to add things to their laws from the beginning that places like Colorado are still working on. One of the biggest issues states are dealing with that have medical and adult use programs is employer rights.

According to Keith, “What our focus needs to be now is a valid test to measure impairment, not the presence of THC, actual impairment. We need this so we don’t discriminate against people unnecessarily. No one should lose their job because they have THC in their system. If the person is in an impaired condition, then fine, then of course disciplinary action should be taken. Employees should already know that they should not go to work drunk or stoned, or impaired in any way.”

As companies continue to change their drug testing policies and more states continue to legalize, it is this writer's hope that states can adopt measures to use a company like Predictive Safety. They have been working on an application for active impairment for a few years now and several businesses have begun using their platform to measure impairment.

IF CANNABIS POLICY AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IS SOMETHING YOU FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT, YOU SHOULD SEE IF THERE IS A NORML chapter NEAR YOU AND GET INVOLVED. ANYONE CAN CHANGE AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO SO TOO.

A workplace drug testing bill would be a good kind of change that the cannabis industry truly needs. Another change that is long overdue and desperately needed is records need to be expunged. Something that is bringing more awareness to this than ever is the Black Lives Matter movement that is currently taking place. “The movement has focused attention on the fact that the black community has paid a higher price than any other community for marijuana prohibition.

Expungement is the most basic of steps. There are other policies that are important such as creating space for licenses to be received by the communities most affected by prohibition. They deserve a space in this industry,” says Keith.

27

CATCHING UP

with

TOMMY

CHONG

BY NANCY MOSS

When GRAM last spoke with Tommy Chong in the fall of 2019 he was heading out on the O’Cannabis Tour, a cross country tour of Canada with long time partner Cheech Marin.

GRAM caught up with Tommy recently, and he updated us on the tour and what he has been working on during quarantine in 2020.

The O’Cannabis Tour was their first tour in Canada after cannabis legalization. They began on the east coast and traveled across the country ending in Vancouver. His perception of their cannabis industry was that the Canadian government still treats cannabis like alcohol and tobacco, instead of the medicine it is. He is encouraged by their progress but notes they still have a long way to go.

30

After the tour, he returned to California, where he has been since the start of the pandemic. Tommy says growing up in Canada has helped him get through the quarantine. He remembers growing up isolated from people; social distancing was the norm, and they never hugged anyone. Not everything has been tough for Tommy during lockdown. During a cleaning spree, Tommy found bags of weed farmers had given him when he was at the Emerald Cup; he had set them down and forgotten them. It was an unexpected treat to come upon such high quality cannabis in the midst of a quarantine.

31

Tommy has been busy making plans to do a tour to open their Cheech & Chong Dispensaries.

Reminiscing, he tells about when he and Cheech were first in the business touring in New York City. He said they bombed and realized their comedy was at home more in California where the population understood their humor. This tour will be different. They have partnered with Jerome Baker Glass and will hold glass art shows with fine glass pipes. One pipe on the tour is encrusted with jewels and when first created in 2003 was valued at one million dollars. Tommy told me it now is worth one billion dollars!

They have also entered into a licensing partnership with Five Points Holdings Inc., which includes opening dispensaries in 5 states. They will start with dispensaries in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Their plans include expansion in California, Nevada, Arizona, Illinois, and Washington. With further hopes to open dispensaries worldwide. They are focused on bringing the best medicine to the communities they serve.

32

Their intention for their dispensaries is to continue their legacy with long term goals of community, not just profits. Tommy recalls when he was growing up in Canada, towns had a community center the kids could go to after school. The local ice rink was there; they played hockey with leagues that ranged all ages. They envision their community centers alongside their dispensaries to help the community with education, job listings, and even a place to purchase Cheech & Chong clothing and memorabilia.

Prospering through rough times is not new to Tommy or his family. While he was in prison, Shelby, his wife, made as much money as he had prior to going to prison. Prospering and making plans for the future in 2020 for Tommy seems to have given him more ideas than just cannabis dispensaries; he hopes to get the movie industry to film a couple documentaries to highlight immigrant children in cages and homelessness.

Circling back to his time in prison, Tommy says. “It showed me you can’t tell a book by it’s cover. When I was there I met so many interesting people. It was kind of sad to leave, but not that sad.”

33

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BY NANCY MOSS

36

Last week as I was searching the cannabis inventory in Florida, I came across a name I hadn’t seen before except in mentions of licensing, The Flowery.

A quick search found their website and an abundance of strain photos. Being from Florida, we are not usually blessed with an abundance of strains from one company. Thinking they were showing everything they may have in the future, I pursued a conversation with their online Chat representative. She assured me that The Flowery was selling 8 varieties, and encouraged me to take part of their 15% first timer discount when I placed my order for delivery.

Checking out their website further, I found The Flowery’s offers their testing certificates online. I could now review how a product tested prior to purchasing it.

I was intrigued by the company coming into our market with what appeared to be top shelf cannabis flower, with high terpenes and THC, third-party tested, all from a family owned and operated business. Another chat online told me a bit of their story and how to reach their office for further information.

Again, I was delighted to have an intelligent Chat with an online representative that successfully answered my questions without giving a pre-written sales pitch in order to get information.

I then entered my address for delivery of my order only to be told my address was “out of area”. My third Chat explained their delivery

process to receive my order in two days. By this time I was embarrassed that it took three Chats to place an order, and thanked the Chat agent profusely.

Two days later, I drove to the pick up location and picked up my order at a local physician’s office. I was in and out within 10 minutes.

Next door at another dispensary, people had been waiting for hours to pick up placed orders, only to be told their orders were not confirmed or able to be filled.

Now for the real test, was the product as good as it looked. The first obstacle was the packaging.

The Flowery has a unique packaging for their containers which are more childproof than most. Once you get it, you appreciate the security of the lids. Finding out that their containers are biodegradable was the cherry on top.

37

Being science nerds, we put the flowers under a microscope and were pleased with the results.

We then ground and tested via a process called interpining: when inhaled deeply and exhaled, as if tasting fine wine, what were the tastes? Did they differ on the inhale and the exhale or the same note? Where did the medicine go in your body - the head, stomach, aches and pains, or did it travel to more than one spot? Then the ultimate test, we consumed it via vaping and smoking. The products were very good and provided exceptional medicinal results.

The following day, I had the opportunity to speak with Steph Frohock, The Flowery’s Vice President of Marketing & Sales. They

38

got into the cannabis business because of Steph’s brother, Matthew, who returned from the war in Iraq with severe PTSD. Matthew was prescribed pharmaceuticals for his insomnia, depression, and anxiety. He had heard that cannabis could help him and urged his family to get into the business not only for himself but others suffering like he was. Matthew passed four years ago. I got the sense they are a family proud to honor their son/ brother by pursuing and obtaining a license, then offering great medicine to patients in Florida.

It was a tough road for them to get to where they are today. Eventually suing the State of Florida to win their license. The Flowery was allotted their cannabis MMTC li-

cense on April 19, 2019. They obtained their grow permits on May 5, 2020. By mid October 2020 they began selling their flower to Florida’s medical patients.

Based in Homestead, Florida the family has been involved in Florida agriculture for the past 100 years.

Her brothers have been in the nursery business there for almost 40 years. They have taken their knowledge of Florida agriculture and combined it with cannabis grow experts to grow quality cannabis medicine. They are all about consistency in their products, and only producing top shelf products.

This is truly a Florida family-run, family-owned business that specializes in the growing of great cannabis flower.

2020 GIFT GUIDE

BY NANCY MOSS

39

THE FLOWERY For the first time a Florida MMTC has made this list. The Flowery is the latest MMTC in the state of Florida. They are based out of Homestead, and offer statewide via delivery events.

Why they made the list: Florida family owned, Organically grown Cannabis, Testing results posted on website, quality of the flower, terpene profiles, medicinal value.

Check them out at: www.Theflowery.co NUGTOPIA When Kole Trent first started the Nugtopia series his initial goal was to create weed art that people could relate to and to help push the ignorance out of the industry…It has grown into so much more since then.

Why they made the list: Who else creates art that uses cannabis nuggets as the characters in their paintings. Beautiful 3D art.

They offer art at any budget.

Check them out at: www.nugtopia.net INVINCIBOWL When our copy editor told the GRAM team about an unbreakable downstem and bowl, I jumped on the website and ordered. After trying our first set, we promptly ordered sets for all our glass pipes.

Why it made the list: The savings from not having broken downstems and bowls. Let alone when the glass breaks sometimes you can’t smoke.

Check them out at: www.invincibowl.com

FRERE CHERMIE PIPES Quality designer glass ice pipes and bongs made deep in the bayou of Louisiana.

Why it made the list: I’ve owned their ice bong for 2 years and it has never disappointed me, and I love the large decorative water bongs for the coolness of the pull.

Check them out at: www.frerecheramie.com THE KUSHNESS COLORING BOOK Most adult coloring books are boring and not as intricate as The Kushness Coloring Book. It has been delightful to have in 2020 as we spent many long hours in the house.

Why it made the list: I love the art showcasing women of all styles and sizes enjoying their medicine. It gave me something to look forward to during quarantine.

Check them out at: www.thekushness.com

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DLI N G

NATURE 44

BY BEN OWENS

DECRIMINALIZE

With election season in full swing and initiatives and legislative efforts being discussed nationwide, you may have heard of Decriminalize Nature, an effort to reduce legal penalties for plants that contain psychoactive chemicals. We sat down with Carlos Plazola, Co-Founder and Board Member of Decriminalize Nature, and Larry Norris, PhD and Board Member of Decriminalize Nature, to learn more about their work, how their backgrounds have helped spur this grassroots effort, and how the psychedelic underground has evolved into a mainstream entheogenic movement of more than 100 chapters in the United States and abroad.

45

REBRANDING PSYCHEDELICS When you hear the term “psychedelic,” your mind may wander to intricate visuals and vibrant color patterns, combined with the music of the 60s and 70s, and you wouldn’t be alone in these associations. During the rise of the counterculture, in opposition to political actions such as war and legal rights, psychedelic use became more popular, especially substances that altered the mind and caused hallucinations, such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms). Yet, Decriminalize Nature does not mention “psychedelics,” instead referring to them as “entheogenic plants.” “We shifted away from the word psychedelic because we wanted to give a fresh start to the conversation,” explains Plazola, “Away from the 60s and 70s model of psychedelics and all the connotations with that which is why we went in the direction of entheogenic plants. Most people have no idea what that means, so that allowed us to have a fresh conversation about our intentions.”

According to their website, “Decriminalize Nature refers to en-

46

theogenic plants, fungi, and natural sources (as defined herein), such as mushrooms, cacti, iboga containing plants and/or extracted combinations of plants similar to ayahuasca; and limited to those containing the following types of compounds: indole amines, tryptamines, phenethylamines.”

While initial discussions within the group had suggested focusing on one particular plant such as mushrooms, the decision was made to focus on all entheogenic plants to increase accessibility and approachability, form broader alliances within the community, as well as align with the focus on the natural benefits of all plants.

This also helped to discredit arguments that the effort was solely about getting high on a particular substance.

“It allowed a greater conversation that was more profound and philosophical, which is ‘where have we gone wrong as a society?’” explains Plazola. “Through scientific reductionism and other practices, we have made things about individual species or individual compounds and we have lost the broad

connections to ecosystems. So for us, it was really about recognizing that our trauma as humanity stems from our disconnection from the ecosystem that we live in and our attempts to be the controllers of it and now we are seeing how that has gotten us into trouble. So going to the ‘all entheogenic plants and fungi’ approach really enables us to bring together broad alliances but also a bigger discussion about our relationship to nature in general.”

“Before we started, we heard from about everybody…that said that you can only do mushrooms. It’s never going to pass as this other bigger thing. And now, we’ve actually had more cities pass with all the plants than have passed with mushrooms. So I think it speaks to the fact that people are ready for this bigger conversation,” imparts Norris. “…The headlines of the articles, they never really mention the other plants. So we might as well go for all the plants because all they ever report on is mushrooms. So we might as well free as many plants as we can.”

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH PLANT MEDICINE The Board Members and volunteers that are driving the Decriminalize Nature movement are no strangers to firsthand experiences. Plazola had his first experience with mushrooms in October 2018, taking approximately five grams of dried mushrooms. As a member of the Chicano community, he didn’t really do psychedelics and hadn’t really been exposed to them. After his trip in late 2018, he found that he was finally able to process and work through deep internal issues that had been weighing him down.

“My first response was to be in awe,” Plazola recalls. “My second response was to be pissed off that it had been made illegal.”

Norris had a similar path towards entheogenic plants. While studying in Michigan, he began experimenting with these plants. During an 11-year sabbatical, he discovered ayahuasca, which helped him see things differently than mushrooms. Norris went back to school in 2009 and has since defended his PhD on integration surrounding the ayahuasca experience for westerners. During his later years in academia, there was a noticeable interest in entheogenic research, and a student-led group, Entheogenic Research, Integra-

tion, and Education (ERIE), began hosting events to facilitate the discussion on these plants. Given their legal status, students were unsure of whether there would be interest, but eventually each event was packed with more than 100 people in attendance. Around this time, the United States was seeing a rise in what they both describe as “integration circles,” or peer sharing circles often comprised of community members, scholars, speakers, academics, and medical practitioners, who sought to learn about the insights were being gained during this time while assisting in the implementation of practice.

“I think one of the catalyzing moments was when we all came together...we had a meeting and discussed who we each were,” recalls Plazola. “Someone said let’s move forward with a resolution, and we all decided to do that. It was a bit more profound than that; we made choices like we will always come from love, we will focus on compassion and healing and ritual over profit and greed. And then we decided to launch it.”

WHAT IS DECRIMINALIZE NATURE? As mentioned, integration circles led to more interaction and unification among those that were a

part of the “psychedelic underground” that existed in places such as The Bay Area in California. The goal was to help with the implementation of the insights that these academics and professionals had gained and to remain “students of the plants.” According to the website, their mission is “to decriminalize entheogenic plants, restore our root connection to nature, and improve human health and well-being.”

The movement started with a sole focus on decriminalizing entheogenic plants in Oakland, CA. The measure passed with a unanimous city council vote. “[The] approach has been to [proceed] not too hard and fast, but allow it to emerge dynamically,” Plazola explains. He notes that the city council is made up of a diverse group of members representing a variety of communities, many of whom have historically been underserved, and that the council’s unanimous vote “sent a message to those communities who are not traditionally part of psychedelic movement” and opened up the discussion to a larger group of citizens.

After Oakland and Denver passed, interest in decriminalizing these plants began to pop up in other cities and countries. Plazola and 47

Norris recall many of these groups reaching out to congratulate them, but also to ask for help.

From there on, they decided to focus on supporting these other movements in a way that maintained their grassroots structure but helped offset the costs associated with political reform.

“GRASSROOTS UP” Similar to cannabis reform, the effort to decriminalize entheogenic plants started with a local-first focus. Plazola explains that the initial effort for a local decriminalization initiative was due to the ease; it is easy to grasp, makes sense locally, and easy to explain to friends and neighbors. Unlike typical top-down initiatives, Decriminalize Nature sought to avoid taxation and exclusivity-based frameworks that typically weren’t embracing the communities and citizens that were most vulnerable. By focusing on local efforts, local voices were heard and represented.

Many local groups do not always have the funds to have a lawyer write new language, and having documents and resources available for free that could be repurposed and adjusted locally without these burdensome set-up costs has allowed the grassroots movement to flourish. It also encouraged groups to work with their local politicians to build relationships and encourage an open dialogue based in entheogenic research rather than psychedelic stigmas of the past. Places like Dallas have evolved the language further, to be broader and include cannabis.

Other places, like Chicago, are attempting to use the language to tackle specific local issues such as the opioid crisis.

BEYOND OAKLAND: THE DECRIMINALIZE NATURE MOVEMENT While Decriminalize Nature is a registered nonprofit that assists others, each city’s group acts autonomously in support of the group’s three principles: “Open source (all shared without cost), transparent (principle of openness), decentralization ([to] not control what local groups did in their own municipalities but support them,” Plazola explains. According to Norris, there are over 100 chapters operating currently, including a handful of international chapters in places like Chile, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

With their open source framework and shared ideology, these independently-operated chapters prove that a grassroots framework works. The Decriminalize Nature team provides regular support, including a support packet with multiple documents for help managing their movement, legal language that can be used, as well as bimonthly webinars to provide insight and access to leading researchers, academics, and professionals. “We actually have a template here that is really easy for people to take our name out and put their name in and it has already been vetted by one city council and the city attorney’s office and so it saves people a lot of energy and time,” explains Norris. “People can just work on the educational steps instead of having to go through the legal stuff and the cost of lawyer fees and those kinds of things.”

48

WHAT’S NEXT: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK More cities are taking note and the wave is spreading. Since Oakland and Denver passed their initiatives, Santa Cruz has passed their efforts, Berkley and Chicago’s efforts are in progress but on pause due to COVID-19, and other areas like Ann Arbor and South Florida are pushing ahead as well.

As momentum has gained, the Decriminalize Nature Oakland (DNO) team is turning their sights to regulated access to these plants. Shortly after the historic unanimous vote, calls from citizens began coming in asking where they could legally procure some of these plants that had been decriminalized. Right now, no one can legally sell it, and while the group is drafting a potential framework, they are continuing their efforts to spread education and help people understand that these plants have healing properties but are also very powerful, potent substances. “We don’t just stop at integration,” Plazola says. “We start talking about how do we build community?”

Decriminalize Nature’s effort for a regularity model relies primarily upon agreed upon protections from local and state authorities, guaranteeing that as long as specific conditions are met that legally-operating individuals and businesses would be free from prosecution. Once they get the city to approve the framework, then they will create a basic framework and defend it against prosecution, intending to ask state officials for the approval of a pilot project that maintains state-level protections for those that opt in. “Our intention is that other cities can look at what we are doing and just as Decriminalize Nature Oakland is emerging, our regulatory model can serve as a model for other cities,” says Plazola.

“We believe that sustainable change with respect to plant healing use all emerges at the local level because it requires the shepherding and the stewardship of local leadership.”

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED You don’t have to start with a large audience; you can get involved and support the effort to educate others simply by being open about your own experiences with plant medicine with those in your social circles. As you get more comfortable with expressing your knowledge and understanding how to communicate with others about these experiences, you could consider joining the Decriminalize Nature movement. They will have the resources that Decriminalize Nature provides and may already have efforts in place to bring change to a city or country near you. Local connections with your representatives and community can make a big difference. “Feel confident in your ability to make change happen on a local level and that it is your unalienable right to have a relationship with nature,” Plazola reminds. If you are passionate, you can effect change and help educate a larger community about the benefits of entheogenic plants.

49

AYAHUASCA

BY JORDAN PERSON

Ayahuasca is a powerful psychedelic from South

America. It is traditionally made by the prolonged heating or boiling of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, with the leaves of the Psychotria viridis shrub and is used for healing, ceremonial, or religious purposes.

It is served as a reddish brown, strong smelling and tasting drink. One of the active chemicals in ayahuasca is DMT (dimethyltryptamine) and it is found in the Psychotria viridis shrub. DMT has low bioavailability so it must be mixed with an MAO inhibitor and the Banisteriopsis caapi vine has that capability. The psychedelic effects that are felt are dependent on the dose taken. Other factors such as the person’s size, what they have been eating, and if they are on any other substances may all play a role in what affects the person may feel.

Many who consume this natural plant medicine can experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. The action of becoming physically ill is not considered a side effect, but more so part of the purging process. After consuming ayahuasca strong visual and auditory hallucinations and euphoria will also be felt. Shaman Juan Mutumbajoy Jacanamijoy suggests, “These resources should be recognized as visualizers better than as hallucinogens.” According to his point of view, visualizer is a term that must be used to avoid the discrimination of the indigenous communities that use it, instead of the term hallucinogen.”

50

According to a study done in 2017, published in Current Neuropharmacology, repeated exposure to ayahuasca may cause structural differences in the brain, and consequently a shift in attitudes and interests towards materialistic possessions, as well as superior open-mindedness. Ayahuasca is not addictive and has not been associated with psychopathological, personality, or cognitive deterioration. In consecutive human studies, no toxic effects were noted from long term use. Not only is ayahuasca reportedly assisting many people to bring more joy into their lives, this incredible plant medicine combination is scientifically showing promise with Parkinson’s disease and depression.

Treatment resistant depression is a type of depression that has been treated with at least three pharmaceuticals with little-to-no effect. It is also a diagnosis that ayahuasca may be able to treat according to a study published in the Spring of 2019. Scientists at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom looked at the rapid antidepressant effects of ayahuasca. It was noted that a significant reduction in depression severity was found in the first few hours after dosing, an effect that remained significant for 21 days.

This study provides fantastic new evidence supporting the therapeutic value and safety of psychedelics when given the proper dose.

Ayahuasca’s healing potential may also include neu-

rodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease that affects movement. According to research from 2010, using the extract of Banisteriopsis caapi for neurodegeneration showed that the functions of ayahuasca's components include antioxidant activity and the inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme activity, as well as its neuroprotectant capabilities.

Ayahuasca remains illegal in the United States, however there are places in America operating as churches offering ceremonies using ayahuasca as

a religious sacrament which is legal in the U.S. The locations include: the Soul Quest Ayahuasca Church of Mother Earth in Orlando, Florida, Oklevueha Na-

tive American Church of the Peaceful Mountain Way in Richmond, Kentucky, and the Brazilian Ayahuasca Church, aka Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal (UDV) which is known as a Christian Spiritist religion that originated in Brazil with reported locations in Colorado, New Mexico, California, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, and Washington.

PREP DIET FOR AN AYAHUASCA JOURNEY ● No salt

● No sugar

● No dairy ● No oil

● No spicy food ● No sex

For individuals seeking the path to enlightenment, ayahuasca may be the natural plant medicine you seek. It is important to remember, if you are using any pharmaceutical medications be sure to tell the facility or person that you are using to assist you with your journey. Certain medications such as SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and certain foods can interact with the experience.

Many facilities and shamans will recommend a prep diet for an Ayahuasca journey. This diet is generally followed for 2-4 weeks before the ceremony and rids the body of any toxins. If you make the decision to try ayahuasca, listen to the instructions you are given and open yourself to the infinite possibilities.

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GINKGO BILOBA

BY KAITLIN DOMANGUE

Ginkgo biloba is an ancient tree; its roots originate in China. The ginkgo biloba tree is also sometimes known as the maidenhair tree or the Japanese silver apricot, and it produces a foul-smelling fruit commonly harvested for its seeds known as “ginkgo nuts". Ginkgo nuts are popularly used in Asian cuisine.

The ginkgo biloba tree's fan-shaped leaves are used to make ginkgo biloba extract, a supplement traditionally used in Chinese medicine, but has since garnered the attention of cultures worldwide. The supplement comes in liquid extracts, capsules, and tablets. The leaves can also be dried to make tea. The type of ginkgo biloba extract supplement someone takes is all a matter of personal preference, and depends on the user's already existing regimen. If you do not already drink tea, a ginkgo biloba tea may not implement easily into your lifestyle, thus a greater chance for inconsistency or erratic results.

But if you take vitamins or other supplements regularly, after a doctor's approval you can easily incorporate an additional capsule or tablet into your daily routine.

The 16th-century Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu is revered as the most comprehensive text ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine. This text reveals that ginkgo biloba seeds were used as a topical extract for antimicrobial purposes on the skin. Traditional Chinese Medicine also uses the leaves for tea and attributes it to soothing coughs and activating blood circulation, as well as other benefits like respiratory and digestive ailments.

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A common use for ginkgo biloba is to preserve memory and prevent cognitive decline. Dr. Hiroko Dodge of Oregon State University at Corvallis and his research team followed 118 people for three years aged 85 years and older, in good health, and showing no signs of dementia or memory loss at the beginning of the study. Half took ginkgo biloba and half took a placebo over three years. The patients taking it regularly had a 70% lower risk of developing dementia. According to the study, the other variables included considered "basic demographic variables including age, sex, years of education, and living arrangement (living alone vs living with someone).�

The National Center for Biotechnology and Information published a study exploring ginkgo as a potential remedy for anxiety and, “The authors reported a significant improvement in psychopathological symptoms. Response rates were 44% in the highdose group, 31% in the low-dose group, and 22% with placebo. Additionally, the percentages of clinically significant responses were 81%, 67%, and 38% for the high-dose, the low-dose, and the placebo groups, respectively.�

A 2008 study reinforced the idea behind Traditional Chinese Medicine that ginkgo biloba improves blood circulation. The study shows ginkgo biloba extract to improve coronary artery circulation in patients with coronary artery disease. The study notes, "GBE (ginkgo biloba extract) treatment demonstrated a significant improvement in maximal diastolic peak velocity (MDPV), maximal systolic peak velocity (MSPV) and diastolic time velocity integral (DTVI) compared with controls." In other words, ginkgo biloba extract is a great contender as a treatment to improve blood flow.

Like cannabis and other medicinal plants, ginkgo has terpenes and flavonoids. Both of these compounds have therapeutic properties, and can provide anti-in-

flammatory benefits as well as being packed with antioxidants. Anti-inflammatory effects can serve many different ailments, especially relieving pain of various kinds. Antioxidants are thought to protect our bodies from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause harm to the body. Terpenes are also responsible for giving plants their unique and flavorful smell. Flavonoids are the compounds that give plants their vibrant and diverse colors, and are the largest group of phytonutrients. There are approximately 6,00 different types of flavonoids.

A few years back, the National Toxicology Program released a detailed report on ginkgo biloba extract. It dissects the toxicity and carcinogenic properties of ginkgo biloba using rodent test subjects. The report made its rounds as proof that ginkgo biloba causes cancer, because the rodents developed cancer at high-rates over two year periods. Per the American Botanical Council, "Adjusted for bodyweight, dosage levels given to the animals were up to 55 to 108 times higher than levels of ginkgo normally ingested by human beings taking ginkgo supplements." Many people have been using this report to warn against the supplement, but Bill J. Gurley, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Arkansas School for Medical Sciences, Little Rock said, "Almost anything will create cancer in rats and mice when it's fed to them at high doses for two years." The American Botanical Council also claims the ginkgo biloba extract used in the rodent experiment was of lesser quality, and not meeting European standards.

Though this seemingly negative research on ginkgo can be explained, it is still important to discuss any kind of supplement addition with your doctor, especially if you are on other supplements or pharmaceutical prescriptions.

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PSILOCYBIN + MAGIC MUSHROOMS

BY BEN OWENS

When many think of plant medicine, specifically those plants with psychoactive effects, they think of “magic mushrooms,” or fungi containing psilocybin and psilocin that can cause hallucinations depending on the dosage consumed. In many states, there are active efforts to decriminalize these otherwise scheduled substances, lowering penalties for their use and possession. But what value do psilocybin-containing mushrooms offer? New research suggests a range of therapeutic and psychological value ranging from the treatment of substance abuse to anxiety and depression management.

PSILOCYBIN & PSILOCIN: THE “MAGIC” IN MAGIC MUSHROOMS

WHAT ARE MAGIC MUSHROOMS?

HOW ARE MAGIC MUSHROOMS USED?

Magic Mushroom use dates back to 10,000 BCE and references continue throughout the era. Their modern popularity began when the term “magic mushroom” was coined by two etnomycologists who learned of a Harvard study on local doctors in Mexico using these substances, noting the substance’s ability to affect the nervous system. These findings were eventually published in Life magazine in 1957, and the term became the universal reference for psychoactive fungi and truffles, specifically those containing high concentrations of psilocybin and psilocin.

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Psilocybin and psilocin are part of a family of psychedelic compounds found in magic mushrooms.

Psilocin is pharmacologically active, and psilocybin is converted into psilocin when consumed or activated. Similar in structure to serotonin, there are more than 50 species of mushrooms and a variety of truffles that produce both the precursor, psilocybin, and the psychoactive compound, psilocin. Unlike LSD, magic mushrooms do not affect dopamine receptors, solely targeting serotonin sites.

Magic mushrooms are often used for recreational, therapeutic and medicinal reasons. “Effects range from mild feelings of relaxation, giddiness, euphoria, visual enhancement (seeing colors brighter), visual disturbances (moving surfaces, waves), to delusions, altered perception of real events, images and faces, or real hallucinations.” Recreationally, this is often known as “tripping.” As an alternative health option, these fungi are being used for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma, as well as psychological disorders such as substance abuse disorders, and science is beginning to back the potential for these applications.

RESEARCH ON MUSHROOMS

BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO CONSUME?

Evaluations of currently available scientific studies suggest a growing number of therapeutic benefits and treatment options. "In the past few years, a growing number of studies using human volunteers have begun to explore the possible therapeutic benefits of drugs such as psilocybin...looking at psilocybin and other hallucinogens to treat a number of otherwise intractable psychiatric disorders, including chronic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and drug or alcohol dependency.”

When it comes to the consumption of mushrooms, advice on dosage is about as specific as it was with cannabis under prohibition. Consumers must purchase on the black market and are subject to whatever may be available.

Magic mushrooms have been respected as a “safe & natural healing sacrament for millennia throughout Mexico, Central America and the world,” and are known to be beneficial for depression, recidivism (the tendency to repeat past transgressions), and encourages openness, creativity, as well as personal and spiritual growth. UCLA and NYC have done studies on the applications of magic mushrooms in the treatment of end-of-life anxiety and other studies have backed up the use of psilocybin and psilocin in the treatment of substance use disorders, depression (especially in cases of terminal conditions like cancer as well as treatment-resistant depression), and reducing depression and anxiety overall.

"Recreational doses range from 1–5 grams of dry mushrooms depending on the species and individual strength of the specimens... After ingestion, the psilocybin is enzymatically converted to psilocin.

Absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract, hallucinogenic effects usually occur within 30 minutes of ingestion with a duration of effect of 4–6 hours.”

My recommendation as someone who has used magic mushrooms both for recreational and therapeutic purposes, is to grind the mushrooms into a fine powder and either encapsulate them in small increments and/or combine with lemon juice. Capsules will allow you to titrate your dosage as needed with a recognizable increment, while lemon juice will expedite onset time.

THE LEGALITY OF MAGIC MUSHROOMS In the United States, psilocybin is a Schedule I controlled substance, with no accepted medicinal value and a high potential for abuse. In contrast, the Drug Policy Alliance states that “Physically, psilocybin mushrooms are considered to be one of the least toxic drugs known.”With that being said, local efforts such as Decriminalize Nature - Oakland and Decriminalize Denver have pushed for and successfully passed initiatives and legislation to reduce penalties and make enforcement a low priority, as was done in the early days of cannabis activism. This has spurred multiple local and international efforts to “Decriminalize Nature,” efforts that we learn more about in this month’s feature.

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TURMERIC

BY KAITLIN DOMANGUE

Turmeric is a root vegetable commonly used as a spice in various Indian and other cultures' dishes. Turmeric is in the zingiberaceae family, as is ginger. The turmeric plant is native to the southeastern region of Asia and commonly harvested in places like India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan. It is responsible for curry's signature orange color, and its vibrant pigment will give essentially any meal an orange hue.

Turmeric contains a substance called curcumin, and curcumin has been shown through research to offer anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic benefits. The scientific name for the turmeric plant is Curcuma Longa, and likely where the name curcumin comes from. When people are talking about the health benefits of turmeric, they are referencing curcumin so you may hear the two names used interchangeably. Curcumin is part of a group called curcuminoids, with curcumin being the most active and the most beneficial for health. Flavonoids are another substance found in various plants and give these plants their color. Curcumin is a flavonoid and is responsible for providing that bright orange color to turmeric. In addition to providing aesthetic value, flavonoids are also strong antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

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The Journal of Biological Chemistry published a study done by Sanjaya Singh and Bharat B. Aggarwal of the Cytokine Research Laboratory at the world-renowned cancer hospital, M.D. Anderson. The study found that curcumin suppressed NF-κB, a protein complex responsible for controlling inflammatory responses. In other words, turmeric shuts off the body's inflammatory response. Anti-inflammatories can be beneficial for many different ailments, including chronic pain and digestive disorders. A lot of CBD companies even put curcumin in their products because of its benefits.

It is believed to be a synergistic pair with complementary therapeutic properties. The thought is that the two plant medicines are powerful on their own; as a combination, they can deliver even more anti-inflammatory and medicinal benefits.

Many people simply add turmeric to their dishes as a way to easily incorporate it into their daily routine.

It is pretty mild in flavor and can be added to many dishes without changing the overall taste too drastically. Some say that turmeric isn't strong enough on its own to receive the anti-inflammatory properties that curcumin provides, and therefore recommend a curcumin supplement. Research varies on that, so in the end it is just up to personal preference and your doctor's approval. Curcumin supplements come most available in capsules. Pregnant women can safely use turmeric as an addition to their food, but should avoid taking high-dosage supplements. Those who are interested in supplementing with curcumin products should talk with their doctor first.

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center did another study in 2007 exploring curcumin for cancer treatment. The study found that curcumin inhibits ovarian cancer growth and angiogenesis (the development of new blood vessels). It does this by targeting and manipulating the NF-κB pathway, the same protein complex responsible for controlling inflammatory response.

According to a report published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, "The nuclear factor NF-κB pathway has long been considered a prototypical proinflammatory signaling pathway, largely based on the role of NF-κB in the expression of proinflammatory genes including cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules."

The trend with curcumin seems to be it's ability to control inflammatory responses in the body. It does this by multiple pathways, but a commonly researched one is the NF-κB protein complex. Because this pathway is able to be manipulated by curcumin to encourage anti-inflammatory expressions, its potential for successfully treating various ailments is there.

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