Folio Vol. 36, Issue 8

4.20

The changing face of cannabis in Northeast Florida

2022

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VOL. 36, ISSUE 8

INSIDE...

6 Horoscopes Kale Boucher

8 Safe Place - JASMYN Molly Britt

9 Folio Weed Shelton Hull

TERESA SPENCER general manager ROB NICHOLSON sales director CASEY ALIXANDRA account executive/contributor MOLLY BRITT account executive/contributor

10 Women's History Month: Hijabis Omar Aftab

11 Dog Gone!

Emily Nunez

15 The Other Pandemic Jay Mafela

RAIN HENDERSON creative director VINCENT DALESSIO staff writer/photo

18 Paper Gallery

20 Talk Nerdy to Me Jay Mafela

24 "Not Bad" Activism Vincent Dalessio

26 Changing the Demographic One Mile at a Time Lily Snowden

28 Poe Pinson Profile Vincent Dalessio

30 The Grey Area Kale Boucher

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SHELTON HULL contributor KALE BOUCHER contributor HARRY MOORE contributor LILY SNOWDEN intern OMAR AFTAB intern JAY MAFELA intern

Say Gay Molly Britt

33 Green Gentrification: In This Climate?!

Joseph Guiffre

34 March Film Reviews Harry Moore

JOHN M. PHILLIPS, ESQ. publisher KERRY SPECKMAN copy editor/writer

37 Weird, Wild Stuff Shelton Hull

JOSEPH GUIFFRE contributor CASEY CRAIG contributor

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR EVENTS

THE

MAIL

Send us your thoughts, questions and stories stories@folioweekly.com

BOUQUETS + BRICKBATS BOUQUET to Clay County Fair Back at it again for their second year after COVID lockdowns, the Clay County Fair once again provided over a week of fun for North Floridians. Shout-out to all the performers, ride technicians and fair workers who made it great. If you missed it, come back out next year. Folio will be back for another round of speed dating on the Ferris Wheel and judging for Clay County Star Search. Keep your eyes peeled for more on the winners of this year’s Star Search in the upcoming months.

BRICKBAT to Lenny Curry Hidden in the shadows from mainstream media, Lenny Curry signed off on new voting districts that once again diminishes the voting power of Black residents in Duval without making a formal announcement. The legislature passed new lines blocking Black voters into only four districts, and protects city hall incumbents..

Local civil rights groups were looking for Curry to veto the redistricting, but since he signed off on it, they’re now looking to take legal action against the gerrymandering.

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WORDS BY KALE BOUCHER & ILLUSTRATIONS BY EM SPITLER

Aries

Leo

Sagittarius

Toward the beginning of April, you were feeling full

You’re due for some abundance. You'll receive

You’re often stuck reworking the same old ideas.

of energy; this should start to shift. You’re going to

a financial bonus or a positive shift in others’

The end of April should bring some renewed

be feeling more inclined toward a night in. This is

perception of you. Maybe both. Trust that things

inspiration, an exciting time for you. Things should

your tackle-that-reading-list era.

are headed in the right direction.

shift for you in terms of commitment. You’ll be taking stock of your commitment to partners, places and goals.

Taurus

Virgo

Capricorn

Pay special attention to any prophetic tinglings

You’re feeling energized through connections with

It’s a good time to focus on friends and family. Be

or eerie coincidences. You should receive some

others. Spend this energy on yourself and your

intentional in your actions and communication, and

clarity if you’re open to receiving it. Your ability

creative interests. Invest time into growing one of

it will be easier to externalize your authentic self.

to make things happen is at its height, so take

your many talents. But hone in on one and don’t

Share more of your ideas.

advantage.

overwhelm yourself.

Gemini

Libra

Aquarius

This is your window to begin the passion project,

Down and dirty, you’ve faced some serious

Success! Hard work is paying off. Enjoy feeling self-

the one that’s been lingering in the back of your

struggles. However, the rest of your month is

assured. You’ve kept your head down to get sh*t

mind. Make sure to get the ball rolling before May

filled with positivity. This is a good opportunity to

done. Take a moment to take in your environment

comes around. You have some incredible growth

recenter and refocus efforts on the aspirations you

and consider the “why” of it all.

coming your way.

were forced to put aside.

Cancer

Scorpio

Pisces

Expansion is your theme for the tail end of April.

Feeling inundated with connections, situations that

Keep track of fleeting daydreams and document

You’ll consider new possibilities with a calculated

once brought inspiration have you feeling a little

them. Recognize who you are at your core and

eye. Broaden your perspective through art or travel;

lost. It’s okay to turn inward to evaluate. Determine

readjust your outward day-to-day to reflect that

you’ll get some inspiration to better approach your

how your relationships and energy can get you

truth. If you’ve been wanting change, it’s the right

goals.

where you want to go. Though, be mindful walking

time to pursue it.

the line between connecting with vs. using people.

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Dirty Bird & The Flu

Jon Stickley Trio & D ea n Win ter and th e H eat

Katz Downstairz & Mr. A l Pet e

Lunar Vacation & G la z ed

YOU BE BETTER Gainesvillian, Soloman Sanders, made Hobby his hobby.

Designing, printing and shipping his own apparel Sanders has created a recognizable brand for skaters that's loved by all.

I have a pretty solid system for shipping off packages. I buy/print/package all my orders at home and just drop off the orders at the post office. I used to stand in line at the post office and that got old pretty quick. Much love for the USPS workers though. People are d*cks to them. Be nice to your local post office. USPS DELIVERS FOR HOBBY. I want to work for USPS when I grow up.

My name is Soloman, I’m from Fort Myers FL but have lived in Gainesville FL since 2012.

My favorite things to do are thrifting/finding stuff to use for art/inspiration.

Kind of a small skate scene locally but Gainesville has a solid music/art scene. Gainesville is very transient due to it being a college town. People are always leaving and new people are moving in. Very supportive community.

I used to run a clothing company in Fort Myers with a friend called FourFive.

When I moved it was harder to communicate with my partner so I decided to start something new. I wanted to create something of my own that would lend itself to my interest/art style.

I try to print on as much vintage as I can but I also print on new blanks. It’s getting harder to find enough vintage blanks to keep up with my production quantity. I print everything myself at my house. It makes it possible to do smaller runs/I'm able to save all my designs and reprint at any time. I feel like most of my time/energy goes into ideas for Hobby. It's

I have 2 small rooms that I use for my office/screenprinting/storage. The storage

always in the back of my mind when I'm out doing anything. I try to do an equal balance

room is pretty full of vintage/hobby shirts/ blanks. My print room/office fluctuates

between illustration/found imagery with my designs. Balance originality and history/past.

between organized and chaotic depending if i'm in the middle of printing shirts / working on graphics. A lot of fold up tables/shirts covering all surface areas.

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CD: RAIN HENDERSON

It keeps me busy with my free time and helps me with depression. But also stresses me out in its own way. I make money off it but not much for how much time/energy I put into it. It is a full time hobby.

I think it's just approachable. The skate scene has been super supportive and has helped grow interest from “normal” people ahaha. I also try to stay away from making it a “logo/name” based company. Keep more focus on the graphic and try to keep the branding unintrusive. Also try to supply all sizing from kids sizing up to 2XL. I don’t know what I'm doing also.

The secret meaning is whatever you want it to be. If someone asks me I try to just make up the most bullsh*t answer and see what they say hahah. Just something to start a conversation/get a laugh out of someone you might have not talked to without wearing that shirt that day.

It’s all me as far as production/designs. I have friends that help me burn my screens for screen printing. Also have a small team that I sponsor. I was recently thinking of looking for someone local to intern/help me with sourcing higher quality blanks/ production of products other than shirts.

Ahahah I like that. Hobby is both lowbrow and highbrow depending on who is looking at it. It can be interpreted as “childish” or “highly thought out” depending on the viewer's mindset. Open for interpretations/attaching your own ideals.

I’m dyslexic/not so good at spelling/grammar. Some of them are typos that have just made me/my friends laugh. Example - “You Be Better” I think I was trying to type “are you better”. Others are just popular sayings/movie influences that I have mixed/altered. Usually just go into my Notes app and see what I haven written when I was under the influence.

I sewed it myself for a halloween costume a few years back. I think I have used it for at least 4 different halloween parties/events. I think it's in my storage room under a pile of clothes. It got kind of dirty from partying in it so often. A lot of guys hit on me when i'm wearing it ahaha. Chloë Sevigny (the costume designer for Gummo) liked a picture of me wearing it on instagram. That was pretty cool.

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April 1, 2022 Satire Column

TAKE IT FROM THE MATTHEWS BRIDGE Finally, Jacksonville to replace Andrew Jackson statue with a lot of Nu-Metal.

Glenn Michael Van Dyke As Floridians, we’re all used to the long, straight, and unchanging drive

to Khan's fleet won't clear the 152-foot gap between the St. Johns River

from Jacksonville to Miami, from hot to hotter, an apt metaphor for

and the iconic bridge. So when Yellow realized she couldn’t stop the

Florida’s place among our current political climate. The terrain is all too

multi-billionaire, she decided to repurpose the refuse from the Mathews

familiar. It would be “very Florida” to simply crack a beer and watch the

Bridge demolition for public art. “Once I saw how poetic this could be

scene unfold. But that doesn’t really seem to be working in our favor.

for Jacksonville’s cultural history, I couldn't look away.”

For anyone who believes in progress, it’s easy to feel as though we’re

The Mathews bridge, originally constructed in 1953, is referenced in

held hostage on this here penisula. A recent poll (see: the 2020

the opening salvo of Limp Bizkit's 2000 smash, “My Generation” which

presidential election) shows that arguably half the state’s population is

appeared on Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. The

being held here against their will, a stunning and heartbreaking revelation

bridge will soon be melted into a statue of Fred Durst pointing to where

that we can go ahead and blame on Joe Biden. Because why not? I think

it used to span, and replaced finally by a new People Mover that will

it’s safe to say that nobody wants to be stuck in this civil war reenactment

extend all the way to Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. “I just hope they add a

forever, and that change might be coming sooner rather than later.

stop at the stadium,” says Olsen of the ambitious project.

While we were all screaming “Gay!” into Ron DeSantis’ voicemail, a

“Fred Durst captures the true culture of Duval. A selfless man who did it

little piece of good news slipped through unnoticed. The controversial

all for the nookie,” says Christina Kittle, a local teacher, poet, and activist

Andrew Jackson statue, the centerpiece to the Laura Street roundabout

with Jax Takes Action. “This is the type of history our kids won’t learn

in front of Riverfront Plaza (aka The Lawnding, aka Lenny's Lawn), long

in school. Society called it a nu-metal phase, but we call it a nu future.

assaulting passersby and holiday dinner tables alike, will finally be coming down. And who might replace the country's seventh president, city's

The demolition process begins on the 20th of this month, starting with

namesake and Trail-of-Tears architect? True Jacksonville native and rap-

the removal of the Andrew Jackson statue. The statue’s remains will be

rock pioneer, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. In proposed renderings

melted down as part of an overarching project to replace confederate

of the new statue, Durst is depicted in his iconic garb of baseball cap

monuments with castes of better claims to fame. “We’re going to melt

and sleeveless undershirt, microphone in one hand as the other points

Andrew Jackson into a Lynyrd Skynyrd monument,” says Olsen, “We

resolutely toward the Mathews Bridge.

can’t change the past, but we may as well celebrate people who have actually been here.”

“We’ve been advocating for this project for a long time,” says Preben Olsen, owner and operator of Aardwolf Brewery, a local mainstay for craft

We spoke with Cory Driscoll, a local musician and member of the Art in

beer. A self-proclaimed “Do-er of Things,” Olsen has been pushing for

Public Places Committee, about their role in ushering in a new era of

a vision of melting away a controversial past and erecting signifiers of

public art. “When I joined the Art in Public Places Committee six years

unified celebration instead. “[Lenny] Curry approved the project a couple

ago, my vision was to see the Andrew Jackson statue come down and

years ago as part of a package to update Downtown,” but after the sale

[be] replaced with something that represents all of us,” he says. “While

of JEA fell through, the whole project was put on hold.

I might not in my lifetime see the city renamed to Limptown, the least I could do was erect a statue to the seminal bands of our city.” Both Limp

“Even the new football stadium was postponed,” he adds. We couldn’t

Bizkit and Lynyrd Skynyrd are multi-platinum recording artists, selling

reach the Mayor’s office for comment.

over ten million records worldwide, and there is widespread evidence that they both resided in Jacksonville. It’s still undetermined where

Thankfully, Curry isn’t the only one with a vision for downtown. Urban

the Lynyrd Skynyrd statue will be erected, but you can weigh in at an

core advocacy project, Downtown Vision Inc., the purveyors of Jax River

upcoming fundraiser for the project on June 9th at Riverfront Plaza.

Jams, have recently hired a new director of placemaking to usher in an

Dubbed “Doin’ it for the Nookie,” the event will be headlined by Limp

era of growth from within. Kady Yellow, one of Jacksonville’s newest

Bizkit who is rumored to be in favor of the project and has offered the

residents, was brought in from Flint, Michigan, where she helped

suggestion, “You can stick it in your yeah.”

transform controversial public spaces into meaningful meeting grounds for all members of the community.

The new Fred Durst monument is certainly a win for Jacksonville, something we’re not used to. But don’t worry, “Touchdown,” the 15-year-

“I’m known for my resident-driven process and welcome all people and

old bronze jaguar statue guarding the west bank of the stadium, is not on

all ideas for how to unlock the potential of our public spaces,” says Yellow

the chopping block. “This isn’t a mission to rewrite history,” says Olsen. A

of her new role. Yellow understands that for a city to flourish, resources

statement that may make some people skeptical considering the name

need to be provided to the people in the city who are already doing

of the bronze jaguar. But consider this, “Touchdown” may be named as a

the work that can transform something ugly into a place of common joy.

hopeful luck charm and not a delusional revision to the history of a team whose losses add up to 260 since their inception. In any case, we can’t

Originally, Yellow sought to intervene in Shad Khan’s newest plan to

change the past, but we can move forward in the spirit of another quote

tear down the Mathews Bridge. Khan recently upgraded his 311-foot

from same Limp Bizkit song, “Hey kid, take my advice- you don’t want to

super-yacht Kismet 2, with the 413-foot Kismet 3. The newest addition

step in a big pile of sh*t.”

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CONTRIBUTOR: SHELTON HULL

The changing face of cannabis in Northeast Florida

Dr. Chidi Uche cuts a distinctive figure. Tailored suit, Italian loafers,

“I did notice immediately that a lot of patients had almost life-

monogrammed Ralph Lauren shirt with French cuffs and presidential

changing circumstances once they got started with medical

seal cufflinks. Even his stethoscope is fancy; it’s white with rose gold

marijuana,” he said. At the time, Uche was one of only a handful of

where you’d normally see stainless steel. His cool demeanor surely

doctors to get certified for this work here. Since then, that number

inspires confidence among his clients at Timeless Medical Spa and

has grown to 93, just in Jacksonville, and 2,541 doctors statewide

Jacksonville Total Care Medical CenteRX, where he specializes in a

serving a base of 705,169 patients. This works out to about 278

wide variety of cosmetic and aesthetic treatments.

patients per doctor, which really drives home how strong Uche’s own business is going right now. (The Office of Medical Marijuana Use, or

We met with him at his office on Southside Boulevard. It’s actually his

OMMU, keeps exhaustive statistics about the industry from licenses

second office (the other one is on University Boulevard), and it hasn’t

to output, and those numbers are updated weekly.)

been open that long. The rapid expansion of his business has been facilitated, in large part, by medical marijuana. Uche, 54, was one of

Uche first partnered with Surterra, offering his services to people

the first local doctors who became certified to prescribe cannabis,

looking to get certified for medical marijuana and then he began

back in 2018, and he’s since grown his client base to include more

working with Trulieve. “It’s all about the ratios and terpenes,” he

than 4,000 patients, each of whom checks in with him at least once

said. “Just because something works for one patient, doesn’t mean

a year, usually much more.

it’s going to work for another.” Some patients may express religious concerns about using cannabis, which he addresses by explaining

Uche was born in London to Nigerian parents, giving him an

to them how the science works. “There’s a system that we have

internationalist sort of mindset from the very start. “I used to do

in our body called the endocannabinoid system, where we have

general medicine,” he said. “I used to see everyone from pediatrics

CBD1 and CBD2 receptors,” he said, “These are receptors in our

to adults. When I was in London I did internal medicine, then I came

body that these cannabinoids lock in to, and that manifests these

over here and did a residency in general medicine because it gives

different chemical reactions in our body, whether it’s elevating levels

you a broader feel.” He then spent four years as the medical director

of neurotransmitters, countering hormone imbalances, boosting our

for Carnival Cruise Lines before moving to Jacksonville in 2007.

immune systems, lymphatics and all that.” As he puts it, why would it be wrong to use this material, if our bodies are already designed

Uche’s interest in cannabis began almost by accident. While

to do so?

practicing family medicine, he noticed that many of his patients with anxiety and chronic pain were testing positive for it. After talking with

A frequent complaint about the industry is about the lack of diversity

them, he began doing his own research. “That’s when the whole

and representation, which is weird, considering the diversity

state started opening up,” he said. The arrival of medical marijuna

of the client base. Current laws require businesses to be fully-

to Florida provided a massive boost to a medical practice that was

invested in every stage of the process from cultivation to retail and

already thriving and has continued into the pandemic era.

everything in-between, while the actual licenses to participate are highly expensive and tightly-controlled by the state. This system,

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known as “vertical integration,” does create a sort of soft monopoly

Trulieve’s newest location will be hosting the company’s 420 party

involving just a handful of major firms that are all owned and run

on Wednesday, April 20, which includes a DJ, refreshments and

almost entirely by white men. But, if you go slightly down the chain

promotional items galore. Most importantly, that day sees the

of command, demographics switch up bigly.

culmination of their “4.20 For All” NFT project, which was launched on April 1, exactly 420 hours before 4/20. Each of the 14 pieces

Anecdotally-speaking, medical marijuana dispensaries often seem

depicts a person’s hand, holding a different type of cannabis

to have more female staffers than men with minority representation

product. It shows how the culture has spread to encompass all types

similar to the population at large. Other states, starting, of

of demographics, with the diversity of the product line reflecting the

course, with California, are seeing a surge in Black and Latinx

diversity of the communities they serve.

entrepreneurship in that sector. (See the column about Jacksonville’s own Caron Marcelous, from a couple of months ago.) Women also

One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Last Prisoner

appear to work predominantly in the marketing and PR operations

Project, a non-profit organization that works to help expunge

of the various firms, and that particular investment has paid literal

the criminal records of citizens with nonviolent pot possession

dividends in a state that strictly limits their options.

convictions. As the first cannabis company to step formally into the metaverse, it’s uncharted territory, but success is certain. As

Cannabis companies are prohibited from directly advertising in the

said, this isn’t technically “advertising,” in the strictest sense of the

media in Florida, which is highly irritating to alternative media outlets

word, but it is a highly potent promotional tool, one that carries the

like ours, which would surely be pulling down ad loot in the millions

added benefit of helping people, and addressing the themes of civil

from Middleburg to Miami Beach, easy-breezy, automatic for the

liberties, systemic racism and economic disparity.

people. Alt-weeklies in other states can draw up to half of their ad revenue from such companies, and it’s certain that many of the

The 420 event at Trulieve is just one of several events scheduled

papers to go under in the pandemic era might still be in business,

for that day. One of the bigger deals takes place at Shantytown

had these resources been available to them.

Pub, an iconic Springfield nightspot cultivating quirky creatives for well over a decade. That continues on 4/20 with Dillon Vaughan

They can’t advertise, but they can certainly promote, which they

Maurer, a pillar of the underground rap scene in Atlanta and a man

do using merchandise like t-shirts and trucker caps. The products

with long-standing connections to the River City, most notably

basically promote themselves, as each company has their own

through his collaboration with the late great Paten Locke. The two

unique aesthetic, as well as proprietary equipment like vape

gruff gourmands, who founded the Full Plate record label in 2013,

cartridges and strains. It certainly helps to cultivate relationships,

have been vocal advocates for cannabis, which featured prominently

as surely as they cultivate cannabis. Uche has sent thousands of

across the hundreds of tracks they’ve released over the years,

patients to their dispensaries, so the revenue generated by just this

including those on Americancer, Locke’s first posthumous album, as

one connection probably runs deep into six figures, at least.

well as Dillon’s Gardenstrumentals 2 both of which will be available on vinyl at the show.

Folio staff got to tour the new Trulieve facility alongside Uche, who’s been working closely with them from almost day one. Located at

Dispensaries are pretty meticulous about who gets to work there,

8355 Baymeadows Road, this is Trulieve’s seventh location in

for several reasons. At this still formative stage of the industry,

Jacksonville and 114th across Florida, which is more than the next

companies are keen to avoid any negative publicity that could give

two firms combined. (For context, there are over 7,000 dispensaries

credence to the kind of skepticism that has helped keep recreational

in the U.S.) Those 133 locations sold a combined 93,985,557

marijuana off the state ballot, for the second electoral cycle in a row.

milligrams of THC in the first week of April, alone. Oddly enough,

Employees are thus vetted thoroughly.

there were exactly 416 dispensaries in Florida, as of the April 8

Also, it’s a lot of information to keep track of. Trulieve has over 250

update. As current trends go, we will probably hit 420 right around

individual product lines, denoted by stock-keeping units (SKU), the

4/20, if not the week before.

barcodes on the back of every package, and their competitors have as many, or more. In addition, new products debut regularly—new

Trulieve has about 7,000 employees, as of 2021. Their stock price

strains, new substrates, totally new methods of delivery.

currently hovers just above $20, more than any other such company

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by a solid margin. Dozens and dozens of cannabis stocks are

Dispensary employees have to know everything about what their

publicly traded on exchanges around the world, led by the United

company is selling, as well as what the competition is doing, and

States and Canada. The top five traded firms have a combined

then have automatic recall of that information for hundreds of

market capitalization exceeding $20 billion, Trulieve is a very close

individual customers per day, all of whom have their own unique

second, with a $4.84 billion cap, no cap. In first place ($4.93 billion)

and specific needs. Imagine being a librarian, before computers

is Curaleaf, which is also heavily invested in Northeast Florida.

existed. It can be a challenge for even the most Type A employee,

Competition is super-fierce; dispensaries now dot the landscape

but turnover in the industry stays fairly low because, frankly, it’s a

like hedcuts in the Wall Street Journal. (Hello, Noli!)

great job if you have the aptitude and motivation.

“I did notice immediately that a lot of patients had almost life-changing circumstances once they got started with medical marijuana.”

From this journalist’s perspective, it takes real effort to keep up with innovations in that industry, and I’m just writing about it. There are a near-infinite array of books about cannabis, news articles, whole specialty publications, websites, message-boards, reddit threads, YouTube channels, podcasts, social media accounts. Every major social media platform developed to date has been used to cultivate cannabis culture, in its own special way, which really helps delineate the particular qualities of each platform.

There are also dozens of specific cannabis-related smartphone apps that allow people to find doctors and dispensaries, product reviews, mail-order and delivery options, and just plain fellowship. My favorite is WeedMaps, but they all have great names: Leafly, GrowBuddy, Hempire, MassRoot, PotBot, Wiz Khalifa’s Weed Farm, Trym. We also still have Erowid.com, which is without question the greatest drugrelated website that has ever existed.

But ultimately the bulk of business gets done via word-of-mouth, and that is the crucial role that folks like Dr. Uche are playing in the group of Florida’s cannabis industry. It’s been quite the journey, already, and he’s just getting started.

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135 W Monroe Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 | www.JamesWeldonJohnsonPark.org

Folio Best of Jax Winner Broker: Katrina Leek Veteran Owned & Operated

Don’t let your real estate needs spiral out of control

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riverbirchjax.com 904-945-5610 17

CONTRIBUTOR: MOLLY BRITT

FLORIDA VS. WOMEN'S BODIES It seems government officials will stop at nothing to dictate what to do with women’s bodies. As of last month, the Florida Senate passed House Bill 5: Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality. This bill proposes a ban on abortions after 15 weeks except in cases in which the mother’s life is in danger or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. What does this bill affect?

Let’s dive in.

If passed, this Florida bill will only allow abortions up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, instead of the current law allowing abortion up to 24 weeks.

This decision comes after similar bans have passed in Mississippi, West Virginia, Texas and Arizona. The bill now sits on Governor Ron Desantis’s desk awaiting his signature if he decides to sign it into law, which he has alluded to in the past.

Supporters of the bill claim it is reasonable because it is not a complete ban, still offering the pregnant individual “enough time” to consider her options. Supporters stand by the statement even “in cases of rape, incest or trafficking.” Republican Senator Ileana Garcia claimed, “The only thing that we’re asking in this bill is that whatever decision you make, you do it before the 15 weeks.” As the Florida Senate discussed the bill, many discussed their own experiences in support or opposition of the bill.

Republican Representative and supporter of the bill Dana Trabulsy explained she has regretted getting an abortion. Democratic Senator Lauren Book, on the other hand, implored the Senate to amend the bill to allow abortion past 15 weeks in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking.

This plea came after she detailed her own experience of being sexually abused and assaulted multiple times, explaining, “It's not OK to force someone who's been sexually assaulted and impregnated to carry that pregnancy to term if they don't want too; it's just not.” According to Book, individuals who are put through such trauma should be allowed as much time as they need to decide what they want to do.

Many have expressed outrage and discontent with the Senate’s decision to pass the bill, believing women should have the rights to their own bodies without men, who do not have to endure the consequences, interfering. This ban and others around the country also raise concerns for women’s health and safety if passed. If the bill is signed into law, there are concerns women will take measures into their own hands and perform unsafe abortions, which can lead to death. The phrase “keep abortions safe and legal” has been backed by many as they fear history is repeating itself.

If passed into law, House Bill 5 will go into effect July 1, 2022. The proposal passed in the Florida Senate by a 23-15 party line vote, and the governor, who has previously expressed his support of the bill, is expected to sign it into law. Until then and after, women will continue to fight for the rights over their own bodies.

UPDATE: Since the time of this article being written, DeSantis signed the bill.

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Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

SCREEN PRINTING FOR EARTH!

Come revamp your old shirts with a new design! Shirts will also be available for purchase, all donations will be in support of North Florida Green Chamber.

JAMES WELDON JOHNSON PARK APRIL 22 • 10AM - 2PM

We are grateful to be voted Best Pizza by the legion of Folio readers.

1176 Edgewood Ave. South Murray Hill Jacksonville, FL 32205 | 904.389.4442

INTERN: JAY MAFELA

Most movies you see in the theater usually take months, even years to

“It doesn't matter how professional or not professional you are,” said

finish and make distribution-ready. But what if the movie had a much

Monique. “The fact that you're competing to do a film in 48 hours means

shorter production time? Like just two days? That is the premise of

you're gonna instantly grow within that 48 hours. And every time you do

Jacksonville’s 48-Hour Film Project.

it after that, it's just gonna grow and grow and grow.”

The 48-Hour Film Project is an annual competition with events across

The final submissions will be screened May 19-21 at WJCT Studios. The

the U.S. and around the world. The Jacksonville 48-Hour Film Project

winning films will be shown again May 31 followed by an award ceremony.

is headed by local filmmakers Adam and Monique Madrid, who went

Teams earn recognition for the elements in their film including Best Film,

from participating in the festival for 10 years (and winning in 2014) to

Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Story, even Best Use of Prop, Best Use of

coordinating the event.

Character and Best Use of Dialogue.

“It's been a rewarding experience because we understood what the

Jacksonville’s winning film gets entered into the Filmapalooza Festival

filmmakers wanted because we competed,” said Adam. “That was

in Washington, D.C, where the winners compete against filmmakers from

the bonus for us because we had that experience of actually being a

around the world. They can enjoy the festival, network with other people

filmmaker, doing a film in 48 hours and knowing what it takes, the energy

in the industry and have fun in the city. Their film will get screened there

it takes, and then the reward of seeing it on the screen.”

and be up to win awards there as well. The top 12 films of Filmapalooza also get screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

On April 29, the teams meet at The Jessie for the genre drawing, which will determine the kind of film they will make: comedy, coming of age,

Registration for Jacksonville’s 48-Hour Film Project is open until April 29.

drama, mockumentary, period piece, etc. They will also receive specific

For more information and to register, visit 48hourfilm.com/jacksonville.

character details (a name and occupation), a line of dialogue and a prop that must be incorporated into their film.The kinds of required elements they could get are random, thus keeping teams from preparing their entry ahead of time. From there, the teams have to spend the next 48 hours writing, filming, editing and making sure to submit it by the deadline, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.. Once teams have the necessary information, the rest is up to them.

The competition invites filmmakers of all levels to participate from those in the industry to hobbyists to newbies.

WATCH INTERVIEW HERE 20

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22

23

CONTRIBUTOR: MOLLY BRITT

WHAT’S NEW WITH COVID? Since 2020, everyone around the world has had to commit to a new normal. What is our new normal? What have we truly endured these past two years? Well, let’s discuss it.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the entire world has been subjected to so many changes. Of course masks have become the next big thing in the past two years. People took what they were given and made it their own with designer masks, cotton masks, silk masks, etc., all in a way to show who they are without “seeing” who they are. While some made sure to express their discontent with the mask mandates, many took it as an opportunity to raise and make money from home.

Another huge change is the shortages, something everyone has slowly come to realize as a big problem. Restaurants have had to raise prices, glass was in high demand, paper products ran out in local super markets… everyone has experienced it in one way or the other, and it’s become a rising issue ever since job shortages. The trickling effect of having no jobs or not enough employees has greatly impacted how much factories can really produce.

The job market has had a tough go these past two years. First with the quarantines and unemployment, then with working from home and people searching for remote positions only, employers have had to do the best they can with what they have. However, companies have made working in the office, a thing of the past. Nowadays so many employees are choosing to work from home, allowing them more protection from COVID and the luxury of staying home.

While these are some of the normalities we face every day now, we aren’t truly going back to normal any time soon, and it’s time we realize that. Years later, new variants of COVID-19 are still popping up including Omicron, Delta and Alpha. Some are more contagious than others, tricking those with the variant into thinking they just have a cold. Between March 22 and April 4 of this year, 19,542 COVID cases have been reported in Florida—with 642 deaths— and 251,124 new COVID vaccines have been distributed. These stats just discuss what’s happened in the last two weeks. In total, the United States has reported 80,097,539 cases of COVID and 980,648 COVID-related deaths.

So while we adjust to a new normal, let’s not forget that COVID is still very much present. Businesses are still struggling with bankruptcy. Vaccines are still dividing our country. Shortages are spreading all over the world.

We need to work on fixing these issues to fit our normal, not adjust our normal to fit these issues.

For updates and more information, visit covid.cdc.gov.

24

CONTRIBUTOR: MOLLY BRITT

JAX RECYCLES...AGAIN! Back in October of 2021, Jacksonville residents expressed outrage

bin is overflowing and never gets picked up. Remember to keep an

as recycling services were halted throughout the city ‘until further

eye on what you put in recycling bin, those plastic items can really

notice.’ It has been a few months of no news, but recycling is officially

confuse us sometimes. Some changes may come to the list of what

back in Jacksonville!

you can recycle by the end of June, all depending on what there is a market to sell.

Mayor Curry stated recycling was to be halted in order to respond to contractors and crews difficulty during the labor shortage and

Jacksonville residents have expressed their gratuity for bringing

allow them to catch up on missed collections. Not knowing when the

back recycling and are more than happy to no longer drive to drop-

services were to return, many Jacksonville residents expressed their

off sites, but there are still many problems that need solutions to

worries on the effect this would have on their home. They had to

clean up our city. So, Mayor Curry, what is next?

come to terms with the complicated services that take place without recycling services doing the work for them and did not appreciate driving to specialized drop-off sites when they needed to recycle items, all while still paying for curbside services that were not taking place. This could have also lead to residents choosing to throw away recyclable items for an easier, although less sustainable route. Well, there is no need to worry any longer!

Earlier this year, Mayor Curry announced the return of curbside recycling to the city of Jacksonville, which will begin April 4. Until the day comes, the city will finalize plans with contract haulers and make sure residents have the information needed to effectively recycle goods. Drop-off sites will close on March 31 in preparation and residents can look up their exact schedules, depending on location, online. Now that it’s coming back, what do residents need to know?

As always, make sure to use your city-issued cart with the yellow lid and make sure the lid is closed all the way, or your items may not be picked up. I know, sometimes it adds up; maybe a few too many drinks or online deliveries and next thing you know, your recycling

25

TOSS IT IN

Generally anything that was once alive, egg shells, coffee grinds/used paper coffee filters, shredded paper, citrus (avoid in vermicomposting as the acidity can negatively impact the worms), grass clippings, pizza boxes

KEEP OUT

Meat and dairy, dryer lint, tea bags, glossy paper, oils (food cooked in oil or greasy scraps), diseased plants/persistent weeds, produce stickers

While composting aids in environmental health, it is also one of the easiest and most effective ways to influence soil and plant health. While it can be intimidating to begin composting, remember compost isn’t delicate but “resilient and rugged.” Biodegradation is a natural process that doesn’t require constant interference. Rather, our role is to provide maintenance and care when needed.

When food goes to landfills, lack of oxygen makes it impossible for microbes to do their job and break natural materials down properly. The food, instead, is left to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Why is composting important?

If you would like to begin composting but don’t have the time or desire to begin your own at home, Apple Rabbit Compost is a local subscription service that will compost your natural resource materials for you.

Words: Kale Boucher Info: Apple Rabbit Compost

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION & GUIDE FOLDABLE POCKET ZINE

COM POST ING

BOKASHI

Bokashi is an anaerobic method of Japanese origin that uses a matter inoculated with a blend of microorganisms. This inoculated matter is referred to as bran (you can purchase it locally from Apple Rabbit Compost or Standard Feed and Seed). Organic material and bran are layered into a container and pushed down. Bokashi does not involve oxygen so it’s important to get the air out and not mix, you can use a plate to weigh down the matter. Once full, the container is sealed for about 2 weeks.

This style of composting is more of a precompost method as the matter will still need to be traditionally composted after. However, Bokashi significantly quickens the process and also makes your compost unattractive to critters. The method also allows you to compost things like bones, meat and dairy.

Your compost is ready when it smells earthy and looks like soil. You shouldn’t be able to identify the original materials.

The bin or pile method is one of the most popular and well known. One of the most simple methods, a pile of browns and greens is maintained in a pile, at least 3’ by 3’ to ensure the proper concentration of microbes.

Often this pile is kept in some kind of open bin. With this method, you can compost a larger quantity. You will need a pitchfork or auger screw to properly aerate the pile.

Composting can be broken down into a couple major categories, aerobic meaning needing oxygen and anaerobic, involving little to no oxygen. Additionally, thermophilic means utilizing heat producing bacteria and vermicomposting (utilizing worms) is a cool process.

Composting has been around for centuries, taking advantage of the natural biodegradation process to recycle our waste back into matter useful for farming and gardening. It often involves a mixture of brown (sticks, leaves, paper, etc) and green (food and plant scraps).

the process of decomposing organic matter (plants/food) into a nutrient rich mixture that can be used to improve soil.

COMPOSTING

PILE/BIN SYSTEM

Vermiculture is an aerobic method that uses worms to break down compost. You can use any container with holes for sufficient ventilation and drainage. People have used old bathtubs in their backyard or you can start out with something as small as a shoe box.

If you’re serious about maintaining your pile, you can buy a thermometer. The microbes produce heat as they break down the organic matter and a thermometer allows you to monitor the process.

While the tumbler method is often boasted as the easiest way to compost at home, it comes with a host of problems. The mixture can become dehydrated, lack enough oxygen, and doesn’t always mix well. We’d only recommend this method if you are not comfortable with any others.

A mechanical aerobic process, a plastic barrel is loaded with the organic mixture (browns and greens) and can be rotated periodically.

You add some manure, finished compost, or soil to get the process activated. Microbes and other living organisms use oxygen to break down the organic matter; the closed container helps keep critters out.

TUMBLER METHOD

VERMICULTURE

We recommend you buy worms from a reputable source, not Walmart, to know exactly what you’re getting. You can order worms locally from Apple Rabbit Compost or Eat Your Yard Jax.

Photos by Vincent Dalessio

INTERN: LILY SNOWDEN

IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S A SQUARE GROUPER It’s always exciting to hear of large blocks of drugs washing up on the

violent, Florida-based drug smugglers. These small groups were often

coast of Florida and wondering where the pirates or fugitives are that let

mellow and did not take action against other gangs. Many of these

the product slip away. What is often not thought about, however, is how

groups were made up of Florida-based surfer boys in their early 20s.

or why the bale was let go or how it got there. What normal, non-drug smuggling people do not think about is the logistics from a drug dealer's

Though there were dozens of small groups fishing for square grouper,

point of view. “If I drop this package from the air at this coordinate,

many were not serious or organized enough to move their own product.

the boat three nautical miles away will be able to pick it up due to the

In 1973, however, seven men under the age of 25 pulled off the largest

changing tides and distance of the boat from the product.” Though I am

smuggling of marijuana Florida at that time. Steve Lamb, the most famous

not a drug dealer, I have to assume this is what the process might look

member of this group and current Florida resident, was under 20 years

like—and what the process has looked like for over 50 years, especially

old when caught with nine tons of marijuana on a shrimping boat on

just off the coast of South Florida.

the west coast of Florida, near St.Petersburg. The weed had come from Jamaica and a dealer who went by the name of “Boobs.” Though four

The term “Square Grouper” originated in 1970s Florida, right around the

tons of the marijuana was thrown overboard before reaching land—

time cocaine found its way into the beaches and clubs of Miami. This

and six tons had been safely transported to Clearwater—the men were

slang term is rumored to have origins from within the fishing industries,

arrested and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Lamb is now a free

possibly from the Coast Guard or fishermen themselves. It refers to the

man and resides in St.Petersburg.. He has written a book called The

plastic wrapped bales of marijuana dumped off the coasts of Florida from

Smuggler’s Ghost and continues to tell his share of his experience with

planes and boats that were often bartered over between smugglers and

the square grouper to this day.

captains.

Though many of us will never be able to catch a square grouper, the history it has in Florida is one of the most elusive and interesting of its

Though the large bales of drugs are more popularly known to contain

kind.

enormous amounts of marijuana, they also often contain cocaine as well.

It often depends on the origin of the package. In the 1970s, however, the term specifically referred to the bales of marijuana dumped by non27

CONTRIBUTOR: CASEY CRAIG

BETWEEN THE LINES Poetry’s Rhythmic History

You’ve seen it captured in Instagram captions, at open mic in coffee

accessible to the public with the hottest invention of the time, the

shops and throughout the archives of time: the art of poetry. Today,

printing press. As a result, more writers became inspired to write

poetry is undergoing a renewal in popularity across various channels

their own poetry, introducing some of the earliest romantic tropes

of media. Historically, its demand has ebbed and flowed, but the art

we know today.

of the verse has stayed true to its roots.

Following the Renaissance and into the early modern era, poetry began to take the shape as we now know it: soft and emotional.

Poetry’s origins date as far back to prehistoric cave paintings with

Shelley, Byron and Hugo were at the forefront of the romantic poetry

interpretative art and storytelling. The first definitive example of

movement. The fad eventually took a trip across the pond in the

early poetry was pressed on royal clay tablets in Mesopotamia, the

mid-19th century, finding itself crossing over into work that captured

world’s earliest civilization. It’s widely believed that this originated in

humanist themes, such as Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.”

local songs and chants, such as weddings, ceremonies and religious

Humanist and romantic poetry that centered around nature and

practices. In fact, the world’s oldest known poem comes from the

human behavior helped reignite an interest in classical philosophy.

Fertile Crescent: “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” which is estimated to

Many intellectual movers and shakers of the time, such as Neitzche

have been written between 2100-1200 BCE. But if you wanted to

and Freud, took a keen interest in poetry. Soon after, poetry became

get in on the wordplay back then, you’d have to be one of the few

more modernized and became hip, happening and a face of change.

who could— at the time, poetry was only accessible to royalty and the wealthy.

The 1950s and 1960s were marked by the counterculture movement.

The Beatniks, namely Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs and Allen

This exclusivity of poetry extended into Ancient Greece, where the

Ginsberg, were being read in coffee shops and city parks across the

works of Homer and Sappho were enjoyed by the oligarchs. Over

country. Their edgy, abstract social commentary embedded in their

the next several centuries, philosophers and writers tried to spread

works fit with changing times. Musicians, such as Bob Dylan and

the artform outside of class lines. Many of them regarded poetry as

Patti Smith, also emerged during this time, blending their knack for

the most esteemed form of literature: poetry served as a basis for

writing into their songs. Together, these poets changed the cultural

social and early academic analysis among these circles. Eventually,

landscape for years to come, crafting what we know as poetry in

it caught wind across the Mediterranean and gained popularity

the 21st century.

through Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” From there, it grew across Europe.

In the aughts of the 2000s, poetry wasn’t very mainstream, but As the age of classical antiquity dwindled, the Medieval period

with the development of social media and internet access, it’s

emerged, finding the Old World submerged in political turmoil and

experienced its own renaissance online. Today, poetry that’s largely

plague. Sagas and epics, such as “Beowulf,” became legendary

inspired by the last century has made its way onto social pages and

lore that offered comfort and excitement to bleak times. As wars

websites in droves. Contemporary writers, such as Rupi Kaur, made

broke out across the continent, various European armies would use

earnest starts on Tumblr that evolved into New York Times Best

poems to quietly relay information to each other. After centuries of

Sellers with their short form work accompanied by indie-notebook-

somber and melancholy works, for military purposes or otherwise,

like doodles.

the vice grip of darkness over Europe eased. The Renaissance, aka the Golden Age of Poetry, was dawning.

It’s difficult not to encounter a flier or evite announcing a local mic night in the city or a writers workshop at the library. From being

28

Some of the most famous poetry—or what you had to read in your

something that was once a luxury for the literate elite, poetry has

high school English lit class—comes from this time. Shakespeare and

evolved into something that is virtually inescapable and more

his contemporaries dominated the scene, penning narrative poetry

diverse than ever. From pen to the page and word to the stage,

and plays. Their now-classic tragedies and comedies became more

right now, poetry is all the rage.

CONTRIBUTOR: CASEY ALIXANDRA

NATIONAL HUMOR MONTH

Many can agree that laughing feels freeing. It’s this unintentional and

This feeling, so loved and renowned throughout time, nobody

sincere action that our bodies do. While all cherish the memories

thought of celebrating it until Larry Wilde came into the picture.

filled with laughter, the month of April celebrates how laughs begin,

At the age of 93, Larry Wilde is many things. A standup comedian,

with humor.

an actor on both television and the stage, a motivational speaker and an author of 53 published books about humor.

Humor itself is vast and unique. At times, it can feel like a different language due to how many ways humor can be expressed.

So passionate about what humor brings to society, Wilde founded National Humor Month in 1976. From that year on, humor was

There’s polite humor, when people laugh, and you feel the need to

declared appreciated every year in the month of April.

mirror them. There’s dark humor, the kind of jokes that can only be shared with your closest friends or partner. But no matter the level

After National Humor Month’s debut, America welcomed this new

of maturity or how many jokes that are shared, a genuine laugh is

acknowledgment with open arms. Recognized by comedians and

one of the best feelings in the world.

broadcasts, National Humor Month was then put beside April Fool’s Day on the calendar. From media outlets like Huffington Post, Fox

The laugh that keeps going and begins to hurt when you’re not

News and USA Today, the news was spreading and solidifying

getting enough oxygen. A painful description, yet a sought-after

humor’s importance to the country.

feeling.

“The idea of laughing and the use of humor as a tool to lift ailing But why? Scientifically proven, laughing has short term and long-

spirits is growing,” said Wilde. “Scientific research now indicates that

term benefits.

the curative power of laughter and its ability to relieve debilitating stress and burnout may indeed be one of the great medical

When laughing, it exercises your muscles and lungs, allowing blood

discoveries of our times.”

to oxygenate. Laughing increases endorphins, which are then released in the brain. It releases stress, helps with depression, self-

Humor, laughter, whatever you like to call it, it is what gives life

esteem and anxiety. It only does good things!

zest. It has the capability to bring understanding to one another or utter shock. That’s the beauty of humor; it’s unexpected and gives

Even the word, humor, is derived from the ancient Greek word

meaning to people’s lives.

“Humourism,” a chemical system of medicine detailing the makeup and workings of the human body.

Happy Humor Month and hope you all are around people that make you smile and laugh.

A laugh can change someone’s mood for however long they allow it. Yes, laughter isn’t certified contagious, but it is seen regularly

Remember, they’re good for your health.

affecting those nearby.

29

10th Planet by Vincent Dalessio 30

STAFF WRITER: VINCENT DALESSIO

SPORTS MEDICINE Today’s climate around cannabis is ever evolving with national

Brown is the co-owner and head coach at 10th Planet, the area’s top

sporting organizations like the NFL, NBA and MLB loosening

studio for Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts. He opened the gym in 2016

restrictions around cannabis testing. Despite this, the media

and has worked with elite-level fighters like undefeated professional

surrounding last year’s summer Olympics felt as though it was

fighter Steven Koslow. Brown’s coaching style consistently produces

dominated not by the accomplishments of the athletes, but the failed

top tier athletes, and his fighters often beat higher-ranked athletes.

opportunities quashed by the International Olympic Committee and

The studio is decorated with examples of Brown’s success, like the

their antiquated views on cannabis use within athletics.

17 fighting championship belts lining the walls of the studio, but it's his advocacy for cannabis use in athletics that spiked my interest.

Is cannabis really performance enhancing? Why are these athletes using cannabis? Should the gap between cannabis use in

“It's not medically beneficial for me to smoke five blunts a day, but

recreational sporting and professional sports be bridged?

I did it because I was dumb. Cannabis is such a perfect, amazing thing that takes care of a plethora of issues for Jiu Jitsu, like pain,

The current debate around cannabis in athletics mostly surrounds

relaxation or anxiety,” Brown said of his early days using marijuana.

the idea that cannabis can be used as a performance enhancing

“You see guys that are extremely successful and athletic, who are

drug, despite there being little to no research-based evidence

very much not hiding themselves from smoking weed, like Michael

supporting this. If anything, current research points to the opposite

Phelps or Usain Bolt. These guys who are the best athletes in

where it actually reduces athletic ability but does aid in the recovery

the world have admitted, ‘Oh, yeah, we do that.’ There has to be

process.

something to that.”

Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts are examples where participation

Because MMA is a violent sport, there are extreme injuries that

in competitive sports and cannabis use are not mutually exclusive.

come with it. Brown believes cannabis is the perfect elixir for combat

MMA is one example where both recreational and medical cannabis

athletes as he believes it can be used as a performance enhancing

use reaps major benefits. To learn more about the synergistic

drug, but more importantly acts as a recovery tool for bodies that

relationship between the two, I decided to meet with one of the

are pushed far beyond their limits. Cannabis is said to have major

area's top combat athletes using cannabis and a local medical

positive impacts on head injuries such as concussions, one of the

cannabis expert.

sport’s most common injuries.

Considered one of the most extreme competitive sports, mixed

To fact check his opinion, I spoke with Dr. Chidi Uche, aka Dr. Green

martial arts is a blanket term covering athletes from multiple fighting

Relief, one of Jacksonville’s top medical cannabis experts and

disciplines. Combat sports take athletics to the next level where the

advocates.

only objective is to use your skills and body to disable your opponent through points or a knockout, but one thing that is overlooked in this

“If we want our players to heal better, to have less trauma and

world of modern day gladiators is the zen and flow state that comes

stress on the brain, we actually need to be advocating for the use

with the art.

of this medication in athletics,” he said. “It's not really enhancing performance, per se, but it helps the body heal. If anything, it helps

Flow state sports and cannabis use have always been held in similar

to protect the athletes from chronic damage and chronic injury.”

regard (i.e., the stoned surfer).

Whether it be anecdotal evidence or professional insight from top “Jiu Jitsu is the perfect crossover between a hippy and macho-man

medical experts, the tides are shifting in regard to the way athletes

sport,” explained Bryan Brown of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. “It's like, ‘I’m

look at cannabis. Just one more reason to get national legalization

here to chill in a zen space, but I can also kill you need be.’”

on the bill.

31

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CONTRIBUTOR: JOSEPH GUIFFRE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: IN THIS CLIMATE?!

Mushrooms hold a distinct place in society’s collective consciousness, to the untrained eye falling into two major categories: food and poison. It is a delicate line they walk, between a familiar friend and frightening foe. There is a small but motivated group of mushroom enthusiasts out to open the minds of people to the possibilities of the powerful and misunderstood mushroom.

At an unassuming house on Jacksonville’s Westside, fog pours out from the confines bright, crisp air of a spring day. Inside is a zippered door of a tent housing about with hundreds of pink and blue and white mushrooms poking out in an otherworldly

of a small shed into the a dozen tan blocks bouquet. “They

like 99% humidity, as humid as we can get it”, I am told by Noah, whose boyish

enthusiasm is

brimming from his eyes behind his glasses. Taken aback, it is hard to believe

that any living

thing could tolerate humidity higher than what Florida naturally offers. Pointing

out a water-

filled container with a tube running out of it, “This is a humidifier we built for

ourselves”

announced John, the stoic but warm and well-informed other half of the

operation.

As it turns out growing mushrooms is far more complicated than throwing

down some

compost and waiting. It is its own science, one shrouded in mystery.

Currently working out of the kitchen as a lab and the small backyard shed as an John and Noah have made mushrooms the center of their worlds. From seeding the with spores, to maintaining a sterile and hospitable growing environment, and eventually the mushrooms to hungry customers. You may ask how does a person become a mushroom farmer

incubation space, cubes of plant matter harvesting and delivering and hobby mycologist. Like many

great pursuits, Noah’s came by word of mouth. “Actually, when I was working at [a] coffee shop, there was this guy who would come in and get our spent coffee grounds, and he said he was growing mushrooms.” Many people would react with suspicion and so did Noah: “I said, dude, keep your voice down.” The mysterious mushroom man wasn’t growing illicit mushrooms, though. This would be the first time the then full-time barista would hear exotic names like King Oyster and Lion’s Mane. “I had never heard of them before,” Noah said. “It gave me someone to talk to about it, someone who was already doing it.” Just like that Noah had a mycology mentor, a wise experienced master to hand down the ways of the mushroom.

After two years of experimenting and countless taste tests, Noah and John’s hard work has come to fruition. Together they have grown a cult following and have decided to small mushroom cultivators mushroom

varieties.

Mane are among what

open the door to a new venture, Harmony Mushroom Company. Joining only a few other in the state of Florida, they will offer a selection of culinary and nutritional supplement Rarely seen mushrooms like Pink Oyster, Blue Oyster, King Oyster, Reishi and Lion’s is available.

“When ​​people

told me they taste like lobster, I said, ‘Yeah, right, okay’” Noah said of

the Pink Oyster

mushrooms, but they actually do. Once only found in high end restaurants in

big cities and sold

by exclusive distributors, these uncommon culinary treats will be grown and

available right here

in Jacksonville. Not only providing ingredients for amazing meals, Harmony

M u s h r o o m

Company will be making accessible a few varieties typically only found in

specialty

health

being explored by documentary Fantastic taste buds, but they aren’t

stores as well. The health benefits of Lion’s Mane and Reishi are only currently medical science and have exploded in popularity since the release of the 2019 Fungi. John and Noah intend to put out a product that is good for you and your stopping there. They want to make sure Mother Earth is taken care of too.

Sustainability is a core idea for Harmony Mushroom Company founders John and Noah. Every step of the process, the environment and eliminating waste are important goals. From the used growing blocks being composted right away to the amount of energy used in production, everything they do is in an effort to leave Earth better than they found it. Just like the mushrooms themselves, John and Noah are seeking to be in harmony with nature. “That’s a cool thing about the mushroom stuff is anyone can become a scientist, and you see those compost piles out there, they’re basically experiments and that’s something that anybody can do”.

34

Harmony Mushroom Co. by Joseph Guiffre

35

APRIL FILM REVIEWS

36

CONTRIBUTOR: HARRY MOORE

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

The supporting cast is largely forgettable, bar Jessica Williams, who is a

The latest entry into the wizarding world continues the tale of the battle

good comedian and a top 10 Daily Show correspondent, but in this film

between a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and the villainous

gives a uniquely terrible performance, playing a character who seemingly

Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen). With the help of magical animal trapper

walked in from a different film and constantly slipping between a bad

Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and several other helpful witches

British accent and a bad 1920s American accent. Oftentimes it felt like

and wizards, Dumbledore seeks to stop Grindelwald from taking over

watching a Harry Potter-themed Saturday Night Live sketch that was

the wizarding government by capturing a magical deer that decides the

cut for time. Long-time Potter franchise director David Yates brought his

elections of this advanced society.

anonymous and flare-free filmmaking style to this latest work, giving the film a plodding energy and an overreliance on CGI, with every set looking

The film series has taken a few knocks in its post-Potter form. The first

like it was built on a computer. At the film’s end, the plot is returned to

entry, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was a financial success

neutral, with some characters having switched allegiance and ready to

but was met with a shrug by both critics and general audiences. While

fight another day, though, where the series will go and whether anyone

the second, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, was critically

will care to find out, remains to be seen. Only in theaters.

reviled as a grim slog and became the lowest grossing film related to Hogwarts. Not to mention the series of controversies the production faced

Ambulance

which were unrelated to the film—including objectionable comments from

After a bank heist goes wrong, two robbers hijack an ambulance, with

series creator J.K. Rowling and the fall from grace of Johnny Depp, whose

a paramedic and injured cop in tow, and embark on a city-wide police

role as Grindelwald was recast with Mikkelsen. Rather than regroup and

chase through the streets of L.A. Filmmaking menace Michael Bay directs

take a new approach with the franchise going forward, the third film of

the film with his patented migraine inducing style, building a symphony

this prequel series doubles down on self-seriousness and excessively

of car crashes, shaking cameras and bros shouting action jargon cliches.

dark tone, whilst at the same time telling a nonsensical story involving

Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II star as the two robbers

an animal deciding the future political leader.

who have opposing views on how to handle the situation, while Eiza Gonzáles plays the paramedic who’s taken hostage and trying to keep

The plotting and unsavory real-world issues are just the start of the issues

the wounded cop alive. Gyllenhaal brings his usual manic intensity that

this film and the overall series are saddled with. Rowling has taken on

he embodies in many of his performances, such as in Denis Villeneuve’s

scripting duties alongside Steve Kloves, who handled the majority of the

Prisoners or the police thriller End of Watch. Your mileage may vary on

adaptations of the original novel series, and the screenplay is the one

Gyllenhaal’s performance, and he doesn’t bring anything to the table that

of the biggest components of the film’s failure. The convoluted story

you haven’t seen before. Mateen is strong as the level headed member

consists of a series of largely pointless scenes in which characters plan

of the ambulance stealing duo, but he has yet to find a film role that best

out what they will do in the next scene through turgid and uninspired

utilizes the skills he demonstrated in his Emmy-winning performance on

dialogue. The characters are also lacking as engaging individuals stories

HBO’s Watchmen miniseries. Gonzales is also good, giving more to the

worth following, none of whom are as memorable as even the most

character than what was written on the page. Like Abdul-Mateen, she is

peripheral figures in Harry, Ron and Hermione’s adventures. Redmayne

deserving of a role with more substance after playing the badass woman

is miscast as the lead, offering little appeal and making several bizarre

in a string of action films. Bay has garnered a reputation as a filmmaker of

choices in his performance, playing Newt seemingly as though he were

excess but has repeatedly failed to recapture the fun anarchy of his early

on the autism spectrum with the most ham-fisted and clichéd mannerisms

films like Armageddon, The Rock and Bad Boys. Here he brings many

possible that border on offensive. Law doesn’t really bring much to his

of his worst directorial instincts to the film including excessive editing,

performance as Dumbledore, playing him safely down the middle with

a level of shaky cam that is disorienting and often obscures the action

no apparent cues taken from either Michael Gambon’s or Richard Harris’

and actors’ faces in a blur. He also indulges in references to not one,

portrayals of the famous character, leaving little to suggest that this

but two films from his career. But at least there are no leering shots of

young suave Dumbledore would grow into the wise character from the

teenage girls like in Transformers or jingoist attitudes that appear in many

original series. Mikkelsen sleep walks through the film in comparison to

of his other films. Ambulance is an overlong, cliché ridden and migraine

the usual caliber of his performances, but he is still a more compelling

inducing lightshow, but it’s far from the worst film of Bay’s career—and

and threatening version of Grindelwald than Depp’s rendition was, simply

still much better than The Secrets of Dumbledore. Only in theaters.

on the merits of Mikkelsen being a far superior actor than Depp could ever dream of being.

37

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AMERICA’S FAVORITE NUMBER This year, 4/20 falls on a Wednesday. It is the third Wednesday of the

was one of my favorites. The slang was elaborate, whimsical and

month, which happens to be the very same day that Folio’s April issue hits

thoroughly ludicrous in nature, though thankfully stripped of the

the streets. But you already know that, because you’re reading it right now.

alarmist, melodramatic tones that once characterized the genre.

Our cover story focuses on Dr. Chidi Uche, who’s just one among a number

Speaking of law-enforcement, “420” does not refer to cannabis

of doctors working with medical maijuana patients in Northeast Florida

in the police codes for LA, or any other city that I know of. It’s also not a reference to Hitler’s birthday; that’s just a tragic coincidence.

The exact origins of the “420” concept are fittingly ambiguous , but

Speaking of tragic coincidences, “420” has nothing to do with

most available sources indicate that its roots lie–where else?– in

the Columbine Massacre, even though the killers were potheads

California. According to High Times, the preeminent journal of cannabis

and racists. Also, there is no “420” area code in the United

culture (and that is a whole crazy story, for another time), the term was

States, although it is used internationally by the Czech Republic.

created by kids at San Rafael High School in 1971. About a dozen of them met after school, at 4:20pm, to smoke weed around a statue

The kids at San Rafael were just starting college when the first medical

of Louis Pasteur. (Folks here have a variety of statues available for

marijuana patient was registered in 1975, but it would be decades

similar purposes, but their subjects are problematic, so usually nope.)

before that concept was really systematized to any reliable degree.

That pioneering patient, Robert Randall, quickly successfully sued to

By that point, pot had been banned on the federal level for 34 years,

force the feds to establish what was, in theory of not necessarily in

since 1937, and the Drug War as we know it was just then being

practice, the country’s first dispensary, in 1977. It served no more than

formalized under Nixon. The stakes were life and death, down to a

30 patients at any given time, before being closed in 1992. 30 years

single dank doobie. Then, as now, slang has a practical value. It signifies

later, and nothing quite like has ever existed again, although to be fair,

one’s status in the culture, it connotes a sense of community, and the

it’s no longer necessary, as the free market has filled that void ably.

frequent refreshing of the lexicon can be effective in filtering out squares, narcs and infiltrators. In these more tolerant times, the slang terms for

We are now basically four years into our state’s experiment with medical

strains and gimmicks have evolved into legitimate intellectual properties,

marijuana, and even the most hardened cynics will generally admit that most

used to sell countless commercial goods, and “420” is right up there.

of their fears were unfounded, and the results have been overwhelmingly

From there, “420” became ubiquitous within the culture, in

positive. The teenagers responsible for making “420” a thing are now

records and books and more memes than you shake a Thai Stick

basically senior citizens, and they can look back and see their handiwork

at. A previous column, written a few years ago, touched on a

continuing to resonate in the culture, and that will likely never change.

handbook of drug slang circulated within the DEA and ONDCP. It 39

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R E S Y S Y P I P E P Y L R Solve this puzzle like a regular sudoku, but instead of using numbers, use the letters R-I-P-L-E-Y-S (for Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in St. Augustine) to fill each row, column and colored section.

E I P Y R S L

M I D I

B O R N

S M O G

R L E S Y P I

I Y S P L R E

S R L E P I Y A S I F

Y P R L I E S

L E I R S Y P

P S Y I E L R

B A M B I

Texter's "Then again..."

Slightly open The Avenues event Con game Gomer Pyle's rank (Abbr.)

Tractor maker Atmosphere layer The plain in Spain Turn aside Kicks out There are 100,000 in a newton Coggin Honda model Swedish currency Attach a patch SunPass payment Mayberry boy 1492 ship Looped in via email, briefly Old Cup Cafe latte option Snake sound Folio revenue source

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A D E P T

DOWN 1 Skilled 2 Disney deer 3 Like new dollar bills 4 Lions on a Jags scoreboard 5 Fix a shoe 6 Norway's patron saint 7 "Yeah, right!"

8 A ___ pittance 9 Tea brand 10 Singer with the albums "19," "21," "25" and "30" 11 Calf-length skirt 12 "___ in the USA" 13 Urban pollution 21 Kangaroo kids 22 Fairy tale villain 24 Shipbuilders' woods 27 Drive-in chain 28 "She loves me, she loves me not" flower 29 Ms. Minnelli 30 Love god

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Express a view Fashionable Declare Ocean vessel Right on a Florida map Flintstones' pet Minimal amount Bad-mouth Read a bar code

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ACROSS 1 Opening letters 5 Wander 9 Flock members 14 Challenge 15 "If all ___ fails..."

16 Figure of speech 17 Give off 18 Mane stuff 19 Explorer Menendez 20 WJCT net.

21 New president and CEO of 38-Across 23 Walk softly 25 ___ v. Wade 26 Slitherly swimmers 28 Former Dolphins coach Shula 29 Zodiac lion 32 Test for purity 35 Underwood's gemstone 37 Soil 38 Local place to see lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!)

41 Word of woe 42 Pimples 43 Terrier's tether 44 Sleep stage, initially 45 Disney dwarf 46 YYYY on a form 48 Cacophony 49 Some sweaters 53 Recently retired executive director of 38-Across 59 Fury

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ADULT ADVICE SHARI AND TERRY JAYMES

TERRY: I’m sorry you have to go through this Marco. I think we can help here.

Help him Shari.

SHARI: Ha! Thanks Terry. I’m hoping this situation doesn’t end in a Dateline episode. His stalking has me worried.

TERRY: Unfortunately you have to be aware of that. We are not parents but I can pretend that I have a daughter that I actually care about. But first, we need I live in Orange Park, Florida. I grew up listening to Lex and Terry. There were

to remind ourselves how scary and deep that first love thing is. It’s painful and it

always some fun stories about Shari. After listening to your podcast I totally

occupies every thought you have 24/7.

get it now. You two are fantastic.

SHARI: True - this poor sucker is love-struck and doesn’t know how to handle Now, to my question.

it. But since he’s already approached you, Marco, I feel like you have a perfect opportunity to save this guy’s diminishing dignity. I think if you called him and

My 18 year old daughter broke up with the first boyfriend she ever had over

explained that he’s looking pretty pathetic, you would be within your rights as

a year ago. While they were dating we obviously got to know the boy pretty

a father.

well. Well enough for him to feel comfortable talking to his mother and I about any subject in the world. After their breakup he would call me to see

TERRY: I once drove by an Ex’s house and her father saw me. I felt like such a

if there was anything he could do to get back to get back together with her.

loser. I hated that feeling and I never did anything like that again. What I’m most

I didn’t like being put in the middle so I would dodge the questions. I had

concerned about here is that the breakup happened over a year ago and that

hoped that he would get the hint and realize the horrible position he had

fire still burns.

put me in. He didn’t. In fact he's done nothing but gotten worse. It’s almost to stalker status as he drives by the house at all hours and randomly pops

SHARI: Hey, she’s a hot commodity. Marco, please tell this kid he needs to stop

up where she is.

embarrassing himself. Tell him he may even score points with your daughter if he appears self-sufficient.

Do you think I should say something to him? I told my daughter I would, but she didn’t like the idea.

TERRY: Shari is right. You have to say something. It’s beyond troubling and as you said, it’s gone to stalker status and it has to stop. He needs to know every time

Your thoughts.

he shows up uninvited she feels like dumping him was the right decision. I would tell him that if he even accidentally shows up to the same place, he needs to turn

Marco L

around and leave. He needs to know it’s making your daughter uncomfortable and that the next step is not going to be pretty. I don’t envy your position. But as a father, I think it’s time to step up. It’s up to you if you want to tell your daughter you had a talk with him, but I know I would keep it to myself until he attempts to make contact again. Then it’s on.