Freedom Leaf Magazine - March 2015

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Editor’s Note

Rallying for the Cause Who doesn’t enjoy a good rally? No, not the car kind. The protest kind. The kind where you congregate with hundreds or thousands of like-minded people to urge a change in policy or to protest police abuses, or simply to remind the powersthat-be that the 99% are paying attention.

Facing the prohibition of a green plant for the last 75 years, marijuana activists have been pounding the pavement for more than a half-century already.

What seemed perhaps fruitless 20 years ago has proven to be successful in four states where pot is now legal, and in two dozen more where it’s medicalized. This couldn’t have happened without decades of protest.

So for Issue 4 of Freedom Leaf, we invite all of our readers to participate in the Stoner Spring offensive, which begins April 4 in Ann Arbor at the 44th Annual Hash Bash, continues on 4/20 nationwide and peaks on May 2 with the Global Cannabis March. Our own Chris Goldstein, who’s had his share of problems with the law at peaceful demonstrations, offers tips on rally do’s and don’ts on page 32.

Hash Bash organizer Adam Brook recounts the ups and downs of the Michigan event, which began as an effort to free Detroit luminary John Sinclair, who was jailed for selling two joints in 1971, on page 36.

Elsewhere in this issue, we zero in on what’s happening in Washington State, with reports on the latest legalization news by David Rheins on page 52, and on Seattle powerhouse Privateer Holdings, which recently made the deal for Marley Natural marijuana products (which should be available later this year), by Matt Chelsea on page 48.

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Steve Bloom and Dr. Carl Hart. Photo by G. Moses

Besides editing and directing Freedom Leaf, my main contribution this month is the interview with widely published Columbia University Professor Carl Hart, who in the last few years has emerged as a leading figure in the drug-reform movement, on page 44. What sets Dr. Hart apart, to some degree, is the color of his skin. A board member of the Drug Policy Alliance, he’s been critical of marijuana organizations for showing little diversity in their leadership and staffing.

In a survey I conducted at CelebStoner.com last year, 88% of staffers and board members at seven major drugreform groups (NORML, MPP, DPA, SSDP, ASA, NCIA and MAPS) were white. While the DPA (at 81%) had the most diversity, Dr. Hart believes they could do better.

FOUNDERS Richard C. Cowan & Clifford J. Perry PUBLISHER & CEO Clifford J. Perry EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Steve Bloom SENIOR EDITOR Chris Goldstein CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dave Azimi EDITORIAL DESIGN Jeannine Crowley NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Ron Dennis SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR Paul Armentano SCIENCE EDITOR Dr. Jahan Marcu FASHION COORDINATOR Lillian Taylor COPY EDITOR G. Moses LEGAL COUNCIL Keith Stroup MARKETING DIRECTOR Carolann Bass CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER Patrick Rhea EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Felipe Menezes

“When I think about progress, I think about Minnesota NORML,” he told me. “That’s a model. Those folks out in Minnesota actually have some real diversity—even more so than what we have at the DPA. But by and large, the industry? No.” Well, congrats to Minnesota NORML, who Dr. Hart has visited. If Minnesota activists can have real diversity among their ranks, then so can every other chapter and organization.

It shows that we still have a long way to go before this movement to legalize marijuana is truly inclusive for all people.

Enjoy Issue 5. Next month, we’ll return with a 4/20 special. Can’t wait!

Steve Bloom, Editor in Chief

Correction In Issue 4 (Jan-Feb. 2015), we erroneously referred to the strain Cuvee as Curvee in the "Mendo Dope's Monster Garden" article.

CONTRIBUTORS Erik Altieri, Adam Brook, Matt Chelsea, Sabrina Fendrick, Andy Gaus, Dan Gibson, Patrick Hall, Mari Kane, Norm Kent, Beth Mann, Doug McVay, Alec Pearce, N.A. Poe, David Rheins, Cheri Sicard, Dru West Content and advertisements in this magazine are for information purposes only and is not representative, in any way, as a recommendation, endorsement or verification of legitimacy of the aforementioned herein.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual writers and may not be those of the publisher or staff of Freedom Leaf Inc. Advertisers and/or their agencies assume responsibility and liability for content within their advertisement. Freedom Leaf Inc. assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained in this magazine.

Reproduction, in whole or in part without written consent is prohibited. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2014 - 2015 Freedom Leaf Inc. – All Rights Reserved

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Contents

16

24

32

CHAPTERS

EDUCATION

RALLIES

4. Editor’s Note Steve Bloom

8. News 9. Events Calendar 13. Across the Green Rainbow Norm Kent

16. NORML Chapter Reports Erik Altieri

20. Smoke vs. Smoke Paul Armentano 6 www.freedomleaf.com

24. Northeast Institute of Cannabis Andy Gaus

28. Cannabis Testing Dr. Jahan Marcu

32. Rally Rules Chris Goldstein

36. Hash Bash History Adam L. Brook

40. Detroit Bud City Chris Goldstein

The Good News in Marijuana Reform

44

59

70

INTERVIEW

MUSIC

FOOD

44. Interview: Dr. Carl Hart Steve Bloom

48. Privateer Holdings Matt Chelsea

52. The Greening of Washington State David Rheins

58. Country Goes Cannabis Patrick Hall

62. Hemp Cremes, Lotions and Oils Lilian Taylor

66. The Too Highs and Lows of Cannabis Oil Beth Mann

70. Smart Munchies Cheri Sicard

76. Products 79. Strain Review: Headband Dru West Cover photo by Chris Goldstein

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NEWS Obama Predicts More States Will Legalize Marijuana

By Steve Bloom During his YouTube interview on Jan. 22, Pres. Obama once again supported states’ rights to legalize marijuana, and suggested there’ll be more to come.

Fielding a pot question from selfstyled YouTube star Hank Green, POTUS replied: “What you’re seeing now is Colorado, Washington, through state referenda, they’re experimenting with legal marijuana. The position of my administration has been that we still have federal laws that classify marijuana as an illegal substance. But we’re not going to spend a lot of resources trying to turn back decisions that have been made at the state level on this issue. My suspicion is that you’re going to see other states start looking at this.”

He went on to explain: “What I’m

doing at the federal level is asking my Department of Justice to examine generally how we’re treating nonviolent drug

Pot Arrests Down in New York and Philadelphia For decades, East Coast cities have been arresting tens of thousands of cannabis consumers every year. That has all started to change, with historic shifts in policy adopted in the fall of 2014.

Philadelphia became the nation’s largest city to decriminalize marijuana possession when the city council voted in favor of a new policy last year. Initially, Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey were cool to the idea. But the mayor eventually came around and signed the bill, and the Philadelphia PD have dutifully implemented the policy. Philly was racking up more than 4,000 arrests each year; the new law allows officers to issue code violation tickets in lieu of handcuffs and holding cells. The fines are now $25 for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana 8 www.freedomleaf.com

and $100 for smoking in public.

Since the measure went into effect on October 20, there’s been a dramatic decline in arrests—just 63 through the end of last year, and 35 code violation tickets for smoking in public issued during that period, compared to more than 500 arrests during the same time period in 2013, a whopping 88% reduction.

The same is happening in New York City, where as many as 50,000 people have been busted annually for marijuana offenses. NYC has not adopted a decrim law, but Mayor Bill de Blasio has directed the NYPD to hand out non-criminal summonses (a $100 fine) rather than make pot arrests for simple possession. The previous policy saw all offenders taken into custody and prosecuted in criminal court, where they faced up to 90 days in

EVENTS offenders. What we’ve done is, instead of focusing on treatment—the same way we focused with tobacco or drunk driving, or other problems where we treat it as a public health problem—we’ve treated this exclusively as a criminal problem. And I think that it’s been counterproductive and it’s been devastating in a lot of minority communities. It presents the possibility, at least, of unequal application of the law, and that has to be changed.

“Now the good news is that we’re starting to get some interest from Republicans as well as Democrats in reforming the criminal justice system. We’ve been able to initiate some changes administratively, and last year you had the first time in 40 years where the crime rate and the incarceration rate went down at the same time. I hope we can continue with those trends because they’re just a smarter way of dealing with these issues.”

jail, and a permanent criminal record.

New York City saw a 42% reduction in pot arrests in November and a 75% decline in December. The 1977 New York State law already makes possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana a noncriminal civil violation. But a loophole in that law states that if the weed is “in public view,” an arrest can take place.

The NYPD has made most of their arrests under the “public view” provision, which has been frequently exploited by police.

If both New York and Philly stay on track throughout 2015, it will mean almost 30,000 fewer cannabis consumers will be arrested. According to the recent RAND report, “Considering Marijuana Legalization,” each arrest costs $1,266. The new policies could save these two cities a combined $37 million this year. – Chris Goldstein

March Mar. 12-15: Reason Weekend, Four Seasons Biltmore Resort, Santa Barbara, CA reason.org/events/ show/91.html Mar. 13-14: CannaGrow Expo EXDO Event Center, Denver, CO cannagrowexpo.com Mar. 13-22: SXSW, Austin, TX sxsw.com Mar. 20-22: Spannabis, Fira de Cornella, Barcelona, Spain spannabis.com Mar. 27-31 National Medical Marijuana Unity Conference, Loews Madison Hotel, Washington, DC safeaccessnow.org/ national_medical_cannabis_unity_conference_2015 Mar. 28-29: Oregon Hemp Convention, Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR oregonhempconvention.com

April Apr. 4:

Hash Bash, University of Michigan Diag, Ann Arbor, MI hashbash.com

Apr. 14-15: Vaporize Expo. Denver Mart, Denver, CO vaporizeexpo.com Apr. 18-20: High Times Cannabis Cup, Denver Mart, Denver, CO cannabiscup.com/Denver Apr. 20-22: Marijuana Investor Summit, Crowne Plaza, Denver, CO marijuanainvestorsummit.com www.freedomleaf.com 9

Is Coconut Oil a Drug?

Last year, the FDA sent a letter to Dr. Bronner’s, best known for their hemp-soap products, stating that their Virgin Coconut Oil is a “drug because it is intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.”

The FDA required compliance with a new rule, resulting in amendment of the label to disclose that Dr. Bronner’s Virgin Coconut Oil contains no trans fats.

The other matter raised in this nowinfamous FDA letter was the prohibition against disclosure of clinical research concluding “that the saturated medium chain fatty acids (MCTs) in [Virgin Coconut Oil], such as lauric acid, actually improve blood cholesterol by increasing the ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol.”

Five years ago, the USDA and HHS jointly released the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which suggested that fat intake should emphasize monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. The guidelines state that oils “are not a food group… they contribute essential fatty acids and vitamin E to the diet. Replacing some saturated fatty acids with unsaturated fatty acids lowers both total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) blood cholesterol levels.” The report also included findings from research on dietary approaches to reduce hypertension, including testing 10 www.freedomleaf.com

of diets containing higher levels of either unsaturated fatty acids or protein. Each “lowered blood pressure, improved blood lipids and reduced cardiovascular disease risk compared to” a typical American diet.

By measure of the Dr. Bronner’s letter, nuts, canola oil, olive oil, high oleic safflower and sunflower oils, soybean oil, walnuts, flaxseed, fish and shellfish,

meat, milk and milk products—all claimed to have an positive impact on health in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines—presumably must be categorized as drugs if any of these health claims appear on food labels.

A near-identical claim to that which was removed by Dr. Bronner’s, but referencing polyunsaturated fats with the same health benefit as coconut oil, may be included on a label without being considered a drug. Perhaps the 2015 Dietary Guidelines, due out this fall, will remedy labeling laws. - Lillian Taylor

High Five: SSDP’s Spring Conference Schedule Over the next few months, Students for Sensible Drug Policy will be hosting five annual regional conferences. Here are the dates and a brief description of each: ◆ Pacific Regional Conference at California State University, Fullerton, March 14-15. Speakers include SSDP alumni and Thomas Jefferson School of Law Professor Alex Kreit, and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) board member Diane Goldstein. ◆ Mid-Atlantic Conference at American University in Washington, DC, March 27-29. Speakers include LEAP Executive Director Neill Franklin, Drug Policy Alliance Policy Manager Malik Burnett and Howard Wooldridge, founder of Citizens Opposing Prohibition.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, April 3-5. ◆ Northeastern Regional Conference at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, April 11-12. Speakers include SSDP founding member Kris Krane, former SSDP board chairman Sam Tracy and LEAP founder Jack Cole. ◆ Southeast Regional Conference at College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, April 18-19. Speakers include MDMA researcher Dr. Michael Mithoefer For more info, go to: ssdp.org/events.

◆ Midwest Regional Conference at the

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National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Across the Green Rainbow With help from the LGBT community, marijuana legalization efforts are moving forward.

By Norm Kent Gay men and women love pot. We know that. We’ve been smoking for years, recreationally and medically.

We know how many of our friends have used cannabis to offset the wasting syndrome of AIDS. When we turn out to vote in states conducting medical marijuana initiatives, we vote overwhelmingly to make cannabis available to patients.

Florida recently conducted a statewide medical marijuana initiative, which needed 60% of the vote to become law.

It drew a total of 58%, but more in LGBT hotbeds: Key West voters supported cannabis, with 72% of the vote. In Wilton

Manors, a suburb adjacent to Fort Lauderdale, which has one of the highest percentages of same-sex couples in the nation, voters also supported medical pot, with more than 70% of the vote.

Gay or straight, here’s my message to all of you cannabis consumers: Hang on.

Persevere. Medical marijuana is not yet legal everywhere, but in 23 states it is.

The last time I checked, America still has 50 states. We have a ways to go, and the LGBT community can lead the way.

AIDS taught gay men that we have to do a lot of things by ourselves. Governments don’t listen. People are apathetic. www.freedomleaf.com 13

We have to make noise. It works. Politicians read polls, see stats and respond.

Whether or not your state is voting on this issue, you can demand that politicians come out of the closet for green medicine. Find out their stance and lock in their commitment. If your state has approved medical marijuana, ask law enforcement agencies to adopt rules and regulations governing its lawful distribution and sale. Get support from doctors, academics and local health departments for the idea that police should not arrest people using pot as medicine.

In most states, cops can still arrest and jail you for possession of even the tiniest amount of cannabis. While you may assert a defense of medical necessity in court, that can only happen after you’ve been arrested and charged. It’s up to a jury to determine if your defense is valid. What if you had your local city commission pass a resolution censuring and condemning police for arresting cannabis consumers? What if you asked lawmakers to reduce the penalties?

There’s still much you can do to save yourself and your friends from cannabis persecution. Congress has yet to reschedule cannabis. The federal government still considers cannabis a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use—even though the Feds have their own, limited program prescribing it as medication. Let’s go to court for sick people using marijuana as medicine, and demand access judicially if we can’t get it legislatively. Find some lawyers with a 14 www.freedomleaf.com

backbone. Maybe that attorney can tell the judge that you need cannabis for the muscle spasms the car crash caused.

The best way to protect your rights is to use them.

The bottom line is that your advocacy is still required. In most states, the laws remain stacked against marijuana users.

Getting high means you can become a victim of the drug war. Don’t let it happen to you, your friends or your family. Stand up, light up and start a flame that burns out American injustice.

Whether you write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or lobby your politicians for change, you can help free the leaf. In states where it’s free already (Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska), know always that preserving freedom

When gays turn out to vote in states conducting medical marijuana initiatives, we vote overwhelmingly to make cannabis available to patients. means being ever-vigilant. We’ve fought to get where we are, but now we may have to fight even more to maintain our rights and continue to make progress. You have a voice, so use it.

Norm Kent is the former chair and president of NORML. Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, he runs a consulting firm for people interested in starting medical marijuana dispensaries, and publishes the South Florida Gay News. Kent can be reached at 954-763-1900.

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DFW NORML members with Afroman (in the middle). Photo by Shaun McAlister

National for the Reform of Marijuana Laws ChapterOrganization Reports: Virginia and Texas

By Erik Altieri One of NORML’s greatest strengths has always been its passionate and dedicated base of supporters organizing at the grassroots level. To accomplish real, tangible results, it’s absolutely critical to have individuals working directly with their fellow citizens and state lawmakers.

Without communicating with legislators, many of the reforms we’ve seen up until this point wouldn’t have been possible NORML chapters all over the country carry the torch to bring about sensible marijuana laws in their communities and create real results in the war against 16 www.freedomleaf.com

marijuana prohibition. Here’s a look at two chapters that are making it happen.

Virginia NORML With an eye focused on the 2015 legislative session, Virginia NORML convened their second annual state reform conference in Williamsburg in the days immediately preceding the 2014 midterm elections. Activists from across the Commonwealth participated in an openformat, collaborative two-day conference, discussing their goals for the state’s marijuana laws. This included a broad

coalition of groups like Virginia NAACP, the League of Progressive Voters and the Virginia Hemp Coalition. Strategies were formed to advance the upcoming bills for decriminalization, medicinal use and industrial hemp, which the General Assembly debated when their session began in January. Battle plans were drawn, and activists were empowered and equipped with the knowledge needed to take the fight to Richmond.

Days after lawmakers returned to work in the state capital, Virginia NORML executed their most successful citizenlobbying day yet. Leading up to the event, members of the chapter participated in numerous conference calls and webinars, learning the ins and outs of lobbying, and the most effective arguments to use in favor of the Senate’s decrim bill (SB 686). More than 80 supporters congregated outside the General Assembly building in Richmond on a chilly January morning, to hear rousing speeches from chapter leaders and receive the materials they’d need to advocate directly to their members of the Senate and House of Delegates. Moments later, they went off to attend scheduled meetings with individual lawmakers. The citizen lobbyists

later regrouped outside to take a photo alongside the bill’s primary sponsor, state Sen. Adam Ebbin.

Virginia NORML also used the occasion to roll out their billboard, prominently seen alongside a main highway leading into Richmond, that calls for the approval of decriminalization, a policy they view as “smart on crime and smart for Virginia.”

While SB 686 was, unfortunately, voted down in a committee hearing, it’s still a major step forward for reform in the state. The legislation drew media coverage, with VA NORML chapter members prominently featured in dozens of articles and TV reports. Many prominent state newspapers, such as the Richmond Sun Times, endorsed the bill.

The committee vote also signified the first time in state history that the issue of decriminalization was debated in the upper house of the state legislature. SB 686 received yes votes from every single committee Democrat, many of whom were initially hesitant to support the issue before the outpouring of support they received from advocates and constituents. Virginia NORML, not missing a beat, is already looking ahead to the 2015 elections, and plans to continue to

Photo by SOS Pact

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pressure candidates for statewide office to support the issue, and to further build the coalition needed to achieve victory in 2016.

“I’m disappointed, but not discouraged by the party-line vote opposing the desire of the vast majority of Virginians,” states Virginia NORML Policy Director Ed McCann. “We did a great job activating our supporters, and we intend to maintain that energy throughout the year and into election season.”

Dallas-Ft. Worth NORML Activism comes in all forms, and the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) chapter of NORML brings a flavor of advocacy that emphasizes community engagement and utilizes social events to empower their members Last year began with two very successful demonstrations, at the Dallas St. Patrick’s Day Parade, in March, and the Global Marijuana March in Fort Worth, in May. After barring DFW NORML from participating in the 2013 St. Paddy’s event, organizers had a change of heart and allowed the chapter to march in 2014.

Two months later, the group hosted their own march, this time through Fort Worth.

They also purchased a billboard on I-20 to promote the event. After hearing speeches from activists, candidates for office and other concerned citizens, the energized crowd marched proudly through the streets of Fort Worth, culminating at the Tarrant County Courthouse, where many engaged in civil disobedience by peacefully consuming marijuana. No one was arrested.

In October, using few promotions outside of their large membership base and strong word of mouth, DFW NORML led a march and rally in Dallas that featured political candidates, activists, lawyers, medical patients and entertainment from several local bands. Shortly thereafter, DFW NORML partnered with 18 www.freedomleaf.com

rapper Afroman (best known for his hit, “Because I Got High”) on two projects— a NORML-sponsored concert that raised several thousand dollars for the organization, and a music video that features many chapter members.

With the Texas legislature back in session, DFW NORML has been actively working to generate support for several important measures, including medical marijuana legislation and a bill that would decriminalize personal possession of cannabis.

In addition to working the traditional routes of media and direct lobbying, DFW NORML has continued to utilize its broad social reach to bring attention to marijuana-related issues in nontraditional ways. For instance, they transformed an old police car into the NORML TruthMobile: Car 420, and named a green-andwhite ski boat “Hydro,” proudly displaying the NORML logo on its sides.

Most recently, about 50 supporters took their pro-pot message to drivers on one of Texas’ busiest highways, I-35, displaying a 30-foot banner on an overpass encouraging drivers to “honk if they support medical marijuana.” In addition to receiving thousands of honks from passersby, some drivers even pulled their cars over and joined the activists in their endeavor.

“Since 2005, DFW NORML has blossomed from a small but passionate group of Texas advocates into an organization with over 1,200 members who are passionate about reclaiming our hemp heritage,” DFW NORML Executive Director Shaun McAlister explains. “Now’s the time for everyone to stand up and be heard.”

For more info on chapters, go to: norml.org/about/how-to-form-a-normlchapter Erik Altieri is NORML’s Communications Director.

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Smoke vs. Smoke All evidence leads to the conclusion that cannabis is safer than tobacco.

By Paul Armentano Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke is demonstrably harmful to health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and chronic exposure to tobacco smoke is linked to increased incidence of cancer as well as vascular disease. Inhaling tobacco smoke is also associated with a variety of adverse pulmonary conditions, such as COPD 20 www.freedomleaf.com

(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Does smoking cannabis pose similar dangers to lung health? According to a number of recent scientific findings, marijuana smoke and tobacco smoke vary considerably in their health effects.

So why are lawmakers in various states now contemplating legislative efforts that would allow for the limited use of cannabis while forbidding anyone from smoking the herb?

Marijuana Smoke vs. Tobacco Smoke

Marijuana Smoke and Cancer

Writing in the Harm Reduction Journal in 2005, noted cannabis researcher Robert Melamede explained that although tobacco smoke and marijuana smoke have some similar chemical properties, the two substances possess different pharmacological effects and are not equally carcinogenic. Specifically, he affirmed that marijuana smoke contains multiple cannabinoids—many of which possess anti-cancer agents—and therefore likely exerts “a protective effect against pro-carcinogens that require activation.” Melamede concluded: “Components of cannabis smoke minimize some carcinogenic pathways, whereas tobacco smoke enhances some.”

Consequently, many studies have so far failed to identify an association between cannabis smoke exposure and elevated risks of smoking-related cancers, including those of the lung, neck and head. In fact, the largest case-controlled study ever to investigate the respiratory effects of marijuana smoking reported in 2013 that cannabis use was not associated with lung-related cancers, even among subjects who reported smoking more than 22,000 joints over their lifetimes.

Summarizing the study’s findings in the Washington Post, pulmonologist Dr. Donald Tashkin, Professor Emeritus at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, noted: “We hypothesized that there

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would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use. What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect.”

In 2009, a Brown University study determined that those who had a history of marijuana smoking possessed a significantly decreased risk of head and neck cancers as compared to those subjects who did not. A more recent meta-analysis of additional case-control studies, published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2014, similarly reported, “Results from our pooled analyses provide little evidence for an increased risk of lung cancer among habitual or long-term cannabis smokers.”

Marijuana Smoke and Pulmonary Function Another new study, this one conducted at Emory University in Atlanta, concluded that the inhalation of cannabis smoke, even over extended periods of time, does not lead to detrimental effects on pulmonary function, such as forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity

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(FCV). Assessing marijuana smoke exposure and lung health in a large, representative sample of U.S. adults aged 18 to 59, they maintained, “The pattern of marijuana’s effects seems to be distinctly different when compared to that of tobacco use.” Despite inhaling the equivalent of one marijuana cigarette per day for 20 years, the subjects didn’t experience FEV1 decline or deleterious changes in spirometric values of small airways disease.

Marijuana Smoke and COPD While tobacco smoking is recognized as a major risk factor for the development of COPD—a chronic inflammation of the airways that may ultimately result in premature death—marijuana smoke exposure (absent concurrent tobacco smoke exposure) appears to present little COPD risk. In 2013, McGill University professor and physician Mark Ware wrote in the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society: “Cannabis smoking does not seem to increase risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or airway cancers… Efforts to develop cleaner cannabinoid delivery systems can and should

continue, but at least for now, [those] who smoke small amounts of cannabis for medical or recreational purposes can breathe a little bit easier.”

Mitigating Marijuana Smoke Exposure The use of a water-pipe filtration system primarily cools cannabis smoke, which may reduce throat irritation and cough.

However, this technology is not particularly efficient at eliminating the potentially toxic byproducts of combustion or other potential lung irritants.

By contrast, vaporization heats flowers or oils to a point where cannabinoid vapors form, but below the point of combustion, thereby reducing the intake of combustive smoke or other pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and tar. Using a vaporizer, you experience the rapid onset of effects while avoiding many of the known respiratory hazards of smoking, like coughing and chronic bronchitis. Clinical trials show vaporization results in the delivery of higher plasma concentrations of THC (and likely other

cannabinoids) compared to smoked cannabis. Authors affiliated with the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research and other institutions acknowledge that vaporization provides a “safe and effective” way for users to inhale herbal cannabis.

Based on this scientific record, it makes little sense for lawmakers to consider legislative bans on inhaled cannabis for medical use, such as those that presently exist for patients in Minnesota and New York where the law forbids the smoking dried marijuana, and others that have been more recently proposed in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Such bans unnecessarily limit patients’ choices and deny them the ability to obtain rapid relief from whole-plant cannabis in a manner that has long proven to be relatively safe and effective.

Paul Armentano is Deputy Director of NORML and also serves as Senior Policy Advisor for Freedom Leaf.

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TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL The Northeast Institute of Cannabis opens in Natick, Massachusetts.

By Andy Gaus For students attending the Northeast Institute of Cannabis, marijuana offers the hope of getting a job. The NIC opened in September in an industrial park in Natick, some 20 miles southwest of Boston, offering a dozen four-hour courses covering all aspects of marijuana, designed to ready students for a bright future in the cannabis industry in New England.

At an evening open-house event, NIC Administrator Cara Crabb-Burnham offers potential students hummus and tabouli salad along with her perspective on the crucial role that training will play in staffing canna-businesses. In 2012, Massachusetts voters legalized access to medical marijuana. The first dispensary is expected to open soon in Salem, 25 miles northeast of Boston.

“Dispensary owners have invested tens of thousands of dollars just to get 24 www.freedomleaf.com

their licenses,” she says. “Things like taking inventory will be crucial. Any diversion of product, and they could get shut down. Safety training will be a big issue, too. You don’t want somebody using propane and butane to create cannabis extracts who doesn’t know what they’re doing. And you have to know the law.

You’re not allowed to give medical advice.

You can only say, ‘Other customers have reported good results with this, maybe you’d like to try it.’”

The legal requirements for working in the cannabis industry are in flux. “Eight hours yearly of continuing education are already required,” Crabb-Burnham explains. “By the end of 2015, cannabis workers may require a license from the state. If so, current and former students will be offered free assistance to prepare for the licensing exam.”

Director of Education Keith Saunders takes the microphone to list some of the jobs that will emerge from “this untapped facet of our economy”: retail sales, growing, shipping, testing, advertising, public relations, website design and maintenance, and more. He emphasizes that NIC’s education is “not a presentation in a hotel ballroom for three hours by people who come to town for one night.

We provide rigorous instruction: 48 hours in our classrooms, covering 12 areas. Our business course instructors have started businesses. Our law class is taught by a lawyer. Our cannabis medicine class is taught by a doctor. Growing classes are taught by people who’ve supervised large growing operations, not just someone who’s raised a crop in a closet.”

Taken in its entirety, the program costs $2,000. Separately, each class runs $249. The courses include History, Safety, Vocational Training, Business, Hemp, Cultivation, Science and Media Training. Pass all 12 classes and you’ll receive a certificate of competency, the closest thing to a diploma the school can

provide at this point. What NIC currently can’t do is certify its graduates as cannabis workers; that requires a license from the state. Saunders reports that NIC has passed the first round of the licensing process, and that its materials are being reviewed by the state for “relevance.”

Saunders and Crabb-Burnham are well known in the state’s cannabis community, as is instructor Bill Downing; all three have longtime associations with the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MassCann), which is the Massachusetts chapter of NORML and the sponsor of the annual Freedom Rally on the Boston Common. Saunders is a past president of MassCann and a current NORML board member; Crabb-Burnham currently runs MassCann and has been on its board of directors for three years. Downing is another past president of MassCann who’s been active in the Massachusetts legalization movement for 25 years. California transplant Mickey Martin, NIC’s founder and Director of Operations, has spent 13 years in the business of developing cannabis edibles.

Cara Crabb-Burham and Keith Saunders. Photos by Andy Gaus

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Almost all the open-house attendees—most of whom prefer to remain anonymous—express interest in dispensaries and working directly with patients.

Several tell of their own experiences with medical cannabis. Others speak of their family connections to the health-care industry, such as a young man who was there with his mother, a hospice nurse. All seem to be making their plans around the medical marijuana system slowly unfolding in Massachusetts, rather than on the recreational marijuana industry that may materialize by 2016, if either voters or the legislature approve legalization.

At press time, dispensaries have yet to open anywhere in the state, and only one has been licensed. Jobs appear to be almost entirely existing in the future, yet the 130 full-time students currently enrolled at NIC and the 16 who’ve graduated since September are presumably eager to position themselves as the most employable candidates when jobs open up.

A ballot initiative in 2016 to legalize recreational marijuana, if successful, could open up an array of new jobs and 26 www.freedomleaf.com

business opportunities all over the state.

Crabb-Burnham, Saunders and Downing are all actively engaged in the legalization campaign.

On another evening, Downing leads a high-energy class on hemp history, from its cultivation as one of the earliest agricultural products to today’s efforts to

‘By the end of 2015, cannabis workers may require a license from the state. If so, current and former students will be offered free assistance to prepare for the licensing exam.’ reintroduce it as an industrial crop. His voice glows with triumph at hemp’s valuable service to the world and rings with indignation as he recounts the needless obstacles placed in its path. Downing shows a picture of a hemp field, with tall

stalks growing impenetrably close and thick, and another of a field of marijuana, with bushy plants spaced at least 10 feet apart for maximum sun exposure.

Media Training Instructor Marcus Johnson-Smith takes a more laid-back approach. He asks if anyone in the class has had experiences with marijuana and police while driving. Five of 12 students in the class respond with nearly identical stories: during each stop, the cops said they smelled weed, ordered them out of the car and searched it thoroughly.

In another scenario, Johnson-Smith presents the class with a potential media nightmare: a patient goes to the hospital, claiming he or she was sickened by marijuana purchased at a dispensary. Students divide into groups; each discusses its response and chooses a spokesperson to deliver it. The responses are not very polished, but the instructor and class are supportive, and the point has

been made: People who deal with cannabis must be prepared to answer hard questions.

One thing noticeably absent at the institute is cannabis itself. By agreement with NIC’s landlord, it’s not allowed on the premises. In a hallway, a tray of demonstration pots for a class on growing contains only gravel and no plants. A display case shows off paraphernalia, but no pot.

This doesn’t appear to bother any of the prospective students at the open house, since they all know what marijuana is and looks like. “Most of you have a background in cannabis,” Saunders says diplomatically. Soon, hopefully, they’ll have jobs, as well.

Go to: instituteofcannabis.com Andy Gaus is a Boston-based writer, musician, and activist, and a former board member of MassCann/NORML.

MAKE REFORM A REALITY It’s California’s time to legalize cannabis.

For legalization to win on the ballot in 2016, we need 6 million votes. We’re building the majority one vote at a time.

Join us and let’s Reform California.

REFORMCA.COM Endorsed by:

/REFORMCA

www.freedomleaf.com 27

Setting the Standard for Cannabis Testing Now that marijuana has its own “monograph,” product safety and quality control can become a reality.

By Dr. Jahan Marcu In recent years, much medical cannabis distribution has moved from private member collectives to commercial enterprises. This has created a need for product-safety and quality-control regulations for cannabis and related products. Right now, there’s no real reference standard for cannabis labs. The potency numbers listed on marijuana products in retail establishments may be correct, but different labs might deliver different assessments for the same product.

Last year, with the release of a cannabis monograph, the nonprofit American Herbal Pharmacopeia (AHP) provided standards and guidance for identifying the quality, purity and botanical elements of marijuana. “The adoption of cannabis as a safe, effective and low-cost botanical medicine is a testament to this humanplant relationship, and a significant footprint on the trail towards acknowledgment as such by a much broader audience,” declared Dr. Michelle Sexton, Medical Research Director at the Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy, and co-editor and technical advisor for the new monograph.

The USDA, FDA, European Union and other bodies that deal with agricultural and natural product regulations are already using the guidance offered by AHP 28 www.freedomleaf.com

monographs. In this instance, the cannabis monograph provides a higher level of confidence for patients, professionals and regulators in the quality of products accessed by qualified individuals. The monograph is a foundation, a tool to be used to ensure that, among other things, laboratory results are consistent and the plants don’t contain contaminants or adulterants.

Cannabis is now one of the 28 therapeutic plants recognized by AHP. These monographs provide a core base of knowledge for naturopaths, physicians and other medical professionals to integrate cannabis therapeutics into their medical practices on the basis of a full scientific understanding of cannabis, its constituent components and biological effects. This adds to a growing body of evidence used by medical professionals to understand the utility of the plant.

The AHP monograph has two parts: The “Standards of Identity, Analysis and Quality Control,” and the “Therapeutic Compendium.” It’s among the largest of all herbal monographs produced by AHP. The monograph’s standards are being implemented through an oversight program, Patient Focused Certification (PFC), a project of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), which certifies cannabis

operations based on criteria from the monograph and best practices from the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). The latter group has issued a series of recommendations for state regulators, providing standards for the medical marijuana industry in the areas of manufacturing, packaging and labeling, dispensary operations and laboratory practices. AHPA has also issued standards for commercial medical marijuana products, as well as for the reliability and quality of related services. Standards established by AHPA and AHP represent the consensus opinion of the world’s leading experts on cannabis and herbal regulation. PFC is the only nonprofit, thirdparty certification program for the medical marijuana industry.

The PFC program is offered in every medical cannabis state, and an increasing number of medical cannabis businesses across the country are now voluntarily applying for PFC certification.

It’s expected that nearly every state with medicinal cannabis laws will adopt these or similar standards as they become mandatory.

The certification process includes a scheduled physical audit, a documentation and staff training audit, implementation of a complaint process and at least one surprise audit annually. When you see the Patient Focused Certification seal it represents the consensus on basic product safety and handling issued by AHPA and the AHP cannabis monograph.

Assuring the accuracy of product labeling is essential for botanical medicines.

“The PFC program is exceptionally important in the absence of state regulations that require mandatory testing,” says Jeffrey C. Raber, Ph.D., President of The Werc Shop, one of the analytic laboratories certified in the program’s beta phase. “We’re exceptionally proud to be a part of this forward-looking program, which is establishing excellent standards

of operations across all organizations involved in the medical cannabis supply chain.”

In addition to certifying the quality and reliability of medical cannabis products sold at licensed businesses, the PFC program also provides training for cultivators, manufacturers, distributors and laboratory technicians. “The PFC program is long overdue,” notes Robert Jacob, Director of both San Francisco’s SPARC cannabis dispensary and the Peace in Medicine dispensary in Sebastopol, CA. “Patients deserve to know that the products they receive are of the highest standard.”

Jacob, who is also a Sebastopol City Councilmember, adds: “I’m excited that patients will be better informed when they choose where to get their medicine. I’m relieved to know that there are product safety standards established by a trusted

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national organization to help guide local governments.�

The initiative to produce the AHP monograph was, in part, due to the need for cannabis quality assurance standards in states that have implemented medical access laws. The Standards of Identity, Quality and Testing are the definitive, comprehensive account of the plant’s botany and constituent components. These standards provide scientifically valid ways for patients, providers and regulators to be sure of

30 www.freedomleaf.com

the identity, purity, potency and quality of cannabis products.

Medical marijuana patients need to know that the cannabinoid levels listed on products are reliable, for the best treatment. A water sample sent to labs in different states will yield the same results. The same should be true of cannabis products.

Dr. Jahan Marcu is Director of R&D for Green Standard Diagnostics and Freedom Leaf’s Science Editor.

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Rally Rules What to wear, how to act and when to smoke at the marijuana protest.

By Chris Goldstein It’s the season to participate in the protests and rally events happening around the country. Call it Stoner Spring, when marijuana activists join together in places like Ann Arbor, MI, where Hash Bash takes place on April 4 (see “Hash Bash History” on page 36). I’ve seen thousands of people march through the streets of Philadelphia, and tens of thousands light up on the Boston Common. It’s an almost religious experience to stand with so many strangers united by a powerful idea.

Here are some tips for how to behave in the often tense situations between protesters and the police.

attire helps add an air of professionalism and breaks down some stereotypes. The downside is that many people mistake me for a narc.

The suit approach is not for everyone.

Most people dress casually in jeans and a T-shirt. In which case: Wear a shirt with a direct message. Break out the classic NORML shirt or something with a big marijuana leaf. You want to be seen! There will likely be lots of cellphone photo-ops, and professional photographers and the media often cover these events. It’s important to wear something that relates to the cause.

What to Wear

What to Bring

My reform uniform of choice is a black or gray pinstripe suit—the same one I wear when I visit political offices. Usually the two-piece ensemble is accompanied by a green tie and a gold marijuana leaf lapel pin. Wearing a suit or business

There are never enough signs at a rally or protest. Get together with your friends the week before and make some signs. Signmaking is fun, cheap and really adds a lot of flavor to the event. With a few pieces of posterboard and some permanent

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markers, your statement can have a real impact.

When you’re making signs, remember that non-participating members of the public will be watching. Legislative bill numbers and calls to action are good messages to include.

Some other favorite signage slogans: • Legalize Freedom!

• I Smoke Weed and I’m a Good Person • No Victim, No Crime • Repeal Prohibition, AGAIN! • Yes, We CAN-nabis!

Susan Montgomery / Shutterstock.com

Try to avoid long statements on your signs.

And make sure the spelling is correct. No spelling mistakes—like “canibus.”

Wear appropriate clothing for outdoor events. Marches always take a bit longer than expected. Staying comfortable is paramount.

How to Deal with Law Enforcement Even at events that have been issued permits, expect there to be police. Be respectful to them. Don’t get in their faces shouting; this just creates unnecessary tension. You’d be surprised how many of the men and women in blue are secretly on our side. But they’ll enforce the law. Still, on the whole, most marijuana events take place without a single arrest.

I’ve lit up dozens of times during public events where police did not intervene. Then again, I’ve also been arrested several times for smoking in public. So be very careful if and when you hit that joint or pipe.

Another thing to watch for are undercover cops. In 2011, I helped to lead the Global Marijuana March in New York City.

Scores of cops showed up to tightly control several hundred marchers. As we made our way down Broadway, I spotted one guy who seemed out of place. He was about 50 years old, heavyset with cropped, gray hair, and dressed in a button-down short-sleeved shirt, cheap jeans and white New Balance sneakers. His eyes were completely hidden

arindambanerjee / Shutterstock.com

Atomazul / Shutterstock.com www.freedomleaf.com 33

by a pair of knockoff reflective shades. He had an earpiece with a cable that led to his cellphone.

Suddenly, an arrest was being made.

I turned and saw a scuffle in the crowd.

Mr. Undercover and two uniformed cops seized one of our marchers. Yelling out another chant, I continued with the march. The next time I looked back, Mr. Undercover was right back in the crowd.

This time, he was holding one of our marijuana rally signs.

I sidled up to him as the peaceful protest continued its slow march through Lower Manhattan. Catching his attention, I said, “Hey man, it sure is great to see you guys marching with us.” Mr. Undercover cut me off with a thick Gotham accent and a deadly serious tone: “You’re not going to bring any attention to me. Do we understand each other?”

“I’m just here marching,” I said.

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“And I’m marching too,” he replied.

“But if you bring any more attention to me, this march will be over for you. Do we understand each other?”

“Look, I …”

“Walk away from me,” he commanded.

“You will not bring any more attention to me today. Do we understand each other?”

“I’ll just keep doing what I do, then,” I told him. Taking a few steps away, I turned around to face the marchers and shouted, “WHO WANTS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN NEW YORK?” Noisy cheers.

“WHO WANTS THE POLICE TO STOP ARRESTING POT SMOKERS?” Louder cheers.

Mr. Undercover glared at me. He’d stopped marching in the crowd. Essentially, I’d busted him. Ha! That’s how to handle an undercover who’s infiltrating your event.

Freedom Leaf Senior Editor Chris Goldstein lights up at Smoke Down Prohibition rally in Philadelphia.

When to Smoke Not every marijuana march, rally or protest includes smoking. Speak with the organizers and get a sense of what’s expected before lighting up.

Usually, there’s a set time for some civil disobedience. At the Boston Freedom Rally, Seattle Hempfest and Smoke Down Prohibition events in Philadelphia, this magic moment is 4:20 p.m. When thousands of people light up at the same time, it’s a safer time to partake. Though a few arrests may occur, the majority of the crowd should be out of harm’s way.

It also matters whether you’re on city, state or federal land. Even in fully legal states, smoking in public can net a fine.

It gets even worse with the Feds. Department of Homeland Security agents and National Park Service Rangers arrested me for possessing less than a gram of weed on National Park property in Philadelphia. The result was two years of federal probation and a $3,000 fine.

While civil disobedience is an important part of the political process, some reformers turn up their noses at this notion. But such actions come from our founding ideals and history as a free nation. “If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it,” Thomas Jefferson

said. “He is obligated to do so.”

Several centuries later, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offered the same sentiment when he declared: “One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.”

King spent time in jail cells willing to accept a punishment for his actions. It’s in this tradition that I’ve accepted my own sentence.

If there is any question of getting arrested at a pot protest, make sure you know your rights and have contacts within the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Lawyers Guild (NLG).

Protest organizers can contact NLG and request observers for an event.

Get Involved Get off the couch and join the fight for cannabis reform. Protests and rallies are great opportunities to network with likeminded people, build membership in local groups and even make some new friends.

So craft an eye-catching sign, put on your marijuana leaf T-shirt and buttons, and get in the game. www.freedomleaf.com 35

Hash Bash History What started as a benefit concert for John Sinclair evolved into one of the most enduring marijuana protests in America.

By Adam L. Brook Any history of the Ann Arbor Hash Bash has to start in 1969 with activist and poet John Sinclair’s 10-year prison sentence, ordered under Michigan’s felony marijuana laws—a punishment so outrageous that Abbie Hoffman interrupted The Who’s set at Woodstock to express his disapproval.

The Dec. 10, 1971 John Sinclair Freedom Rally at Ann Arbor’s Crisler Arena brought together John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Phil Ochs, Bob Seger, Archie Shepp, Allen Ginsberg, Bobby Seale and original Yippies Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, among others, to join Sinclair’s wife Leni to advocate for his release. Lennon even wrote a new song for the occasion, “John Sinclair.”

Three days after the rally and concert, the Michigan Supreme Court ordered Sinclair released from prison on an appeal bond after serving almost two and a half years, while it considered the constitutionality of the law. The court overturned Sinclair’s conviction on March 9, 1972, declaring that the statute violated the state constitution’s equal-protection 36 www.freedomleaf.com

clause by erroneously classifying marijuana as a narcotic.

On the heels of this decision, the Michigan legislature reclassified pot possession as a misdemeanor. But the new law didn’t take effect until April 3, 1972, creating a brief window of time where there was no state marijuana law on the books. To celebrate, anonymous founders jokingly promoted Ann Arbor’s first “Hash Festival,” putting up flyers promising performances by Pharaoh Sanders, Van Morrison and their own fictitious band. None of the three were actually scheduled to appear, but the Michigan Daily picked up the story, and a crowd showed up on the University of Michigan Diag on the designated day, April 1, 1972. According to the Daily, 500 people attended; police estimated 150, and made no arrests at what the Ann Arbor News called an “orderly festival.”

A few months later, the Ann Arbor City Council passed an ordinance making marijuana possession subject to a mere $5 fine, instantly making the city a beacon for proponents of cannabis reform.

The following year, Hash Bash boasted 5,000 participants and featured unabashedly liberal and pro-legalization State Rep. Perry Bullard, who was photographed toking on a joint. Bullard went on to enjoy a successful 20-year career as Ann Arbor’s state representative.

After the ’73 Hash Bash, under a different mayor, the city council repealed the new pot law, but a year later, a citywide referendum to entrench the $5 civil marijuana penalty in the city charter was passed, making it impossible for the law to be overturned by a council vote. More than 1,500 people showed up in 1974.

As early as 1977, the Michigan Daily lamented that the event wasn’t the same as during the “good old days.” Two years later, the paper called for the end of Hash Bash, terming it a “disgusting farce” taken over by “belligerent and hostile” high school students.

Interest continued to wane, and the Michigan Daily and Ann Arbor News soon eulogized the event as dead. After all, it was the Reagan “Say No to Drugs” era.

In 1986, the Daily reported: “At noon, about 130 people lit up, forming a ragged

group that began at the brass M.” But a big change occurred in 1988, when 2,000 people showed up, thanks in large part to a contingent of “Freedom Fighters” from High Times, who entered the Diag dressed as Colonial Minutemen, playing instruments and carrying a banner proclaiming “Pot Is Legal.”

In 1989, the Hash Bash crowd again swelled to 5,000. That night, the University of Michigan men’s basketball team edged Illinois to earn a trip to the national championship (which it would win two days later). The ensuing celebration in the South University area turned into a riot— which UM President James Duderstadt cunningly blamed not only on the Hash Bash, but on Deadheads arriving early for the April 5 and 6 Crisler Arena Grateful Dead concerts. This prompted UM officials to publicly state they would deny the campus NORML chapter a permit to hold the Bash the following year.

UM initially relented under strong pressure, but shockingly reversed course just weeks before the 1990 event, denying a permit. U of M NORML sued and won.

Meanwhile, the university’s newly formed

Protesters get busted at 1973 Hash Bash.

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campus police force vowed to enforce state marijuana law, with its harsh criminal penalties, and the city council placed a measure on the ballot to increase the civil penalty for marijuana possession from $5 to $25, with increased sanctions for subsequent offenses.

In 1991, Hash Bash was moved from its traditional April 1 date to the first Saturday in April. UM once again lost its court battle, and up to 10,000 people converged on the Diag.

During the ’90s, the event ebbed and flowed from 2,000 to 12,000 attendees.

Speakers like Tommy Chong, Chef Ra, Steve Hager, Jack Herer, Ed Rosenthal, Dana Beal, Ben Masel, Elvy Musikka, Gatewood Galbraith, Eric E. Sterling, the Lone Reefer, John Sinclair (who returned to the Bash in ’96) and Stephen Gaskin were the main attractions.

U of M NORML successfully sued the university five times in six years. Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Donald E.

Shelton wrote in his 1993 opinion, after UM’s third straight loss, “The university fails to understand the basic premise of constitutional law.”

At that point, social media did not yet exist, and fax machines enabled organizers to create a media campaign that built on 20 years of history. Since social media has come into play, the event has taken on a new life. The history has very little to do with why most people show up at Hash Bash these days. Most don’t know that it started as a celebration of the temporary absence of state marijuana laws, and continues as a protest of the laws subsequently enacted. They just come to party, and party they do.

See you at the 44th Annual Ann Arbor Hash Bash on Saturday, April 4, starting at high noon on the University of Michigan Diag.

Adam L. Brook is the longtime host and organizer of Hash Bash.

Thousands of marijuana supporters crowd the Diag in 2012.

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Detroit Bud City Michigan’s unlicensed medical marijuana shops continue to fly under the radar of local legislators. But one Detroit councilman wants the state to adopt new rules to ensure their existence.

By Chris Goldstein Detroit City Councilman James Tate made waves in January when he told news media that there were more than 180 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the Motor City.

By providing jobs and paying property taxes, these businesses could be a big help to a city struggling with finances.

There is, however, a catch: Technically they’re illegal.

Michigan voters passed a medical marijuana law with a ballot proposal in 2008, and the measure was implemented in 2009. The law allows for patients to cultivate their own marijuana or designate a caregiver to grow for them. But dispensaries were never regulated under the law.

“There are at least 14 in District 1,” Tate tells Freedom Leaf in an exclusive interview. “I’ve been to a number of them.

I’ve been on tours. One had a waterfall and a kind of spa-type atmosphere.

They’re not little storefronts. Some major investments are being made.”

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Spokeswoman Jeannie Vogel of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), the state agency that oversees the medical cannabis program, says there were 96,408 registered patients at the end of fiscal year 2014; this is a slight decline over previous years.

When it comes to facilities to serve all those patients, the response from Vogel is simple: “Dispensaries are not legal in Michigan.”

Nonetheless, hundreds of establishments have opened around the state to serve this large patient population. Not all of them are over-the-counter shops for medical cannabis, as in California or Colorado.

Matt Abel, Director of Michigan NORML and an attorney specializing in marijuana laws, says a variety of location options are in play for those seeking to serve patients. Many do not really fit the description of a dispensary.

“Some facilities have lockboxes where caregivers leave meds and patients pick them up later,” Abel explains to Freedom Leaf. “That’s legal. Just because there’s marijuana being transferred, there doesn’t show evidence of a crime.”

Abel says criminal penalties are severe for cannabis suppliers. Selling any amount, even a few grams, or cultivating more than 20 plants is an automatic felony. Fines and jail time increase with quantity.

Still, there seems to be plenty of fullservice dispensaries open right now all over Michigan. And many aren’t shy.

A YouTube video produced by Weedmaps and posted in December tours Karma, a shop located in Inkster, a western suburb of Detroit. The crisp, well-lit facility has an upscale coffeehouse feel, with blond wood countertops and display cases full of marijuana buds, concentrates and edibles, and clean-cut workers show off their signature cultivar

of the popular Death Star strain.

Local authorities aren’t in a rush to shut them down. Neither is Councilman Tate. “One location had no signage in particular,” he observes. “I went inside and it was professionally run. There was security [for patients] to and from vehicle.

Their database is sophisticated. I believe in compassionate care to help people’s quality of life. Let’s not go shut them down.” Tate is hoping new state legislation will allow Detroit to regulate dispensaries at the local level.

Just after the law was passed, Abel says, “everyone thought dispensaries were legal. There were about 80 dispensaries in Lansing,” the state capital.

But after changes to the program were enacted by the Michigan legislature in 2013, most shops in Lansing closed—or at least became more discrete.

Tate wants state politicians to pass a new measure that allows for proper licensing, laboratory testing, facility regulation

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Michigan voters passed a medical marijuana law with a ballot proposal in 2008, and the measure was implemented in 2009. But dispensaries were never regulated under the law. and an expanded list of products. Right now, patients are only allowed to get raw cannabis. This means that, technically, edibles, concentrates, tinctures and topical creams can be made at home by patients, but not provided by caregivers.

“It’s important that patients receive the medication they pay for,” Tate maintains. “There needs to be some sort of control mechanism for the individual to know what they’re getting.”

Several Michigan cities, including Detroit, have also decriminalized recreational cannabis possession. A statewide poll recently commissioned by Michigan NORML found that 50% of residents support full legalization.

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Still, as is the case in Washington, Oregon and Colorado, there is a need for a defined medical marijuana system.

Taxing and regulating recreational cannabis can generate revenues both for businesses and the state.

Tate says getting licensing fees from medical marijuana shops is not his priority. “My goal is not to repeal the Medical Marijuana Act,” he adds, “but I don’t think we should have the high numbers [of stores] we have now.”

Medical marijuana in Michigan has been operating as a quiet success for patients. It remains to be seen if state politicians will legitimize dispensaries and create a regulatory framework.

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‘We need to figure out a way to remove criminal penalties from all drugs.’

Dr. Carl Hart on the steps of the library at Columbia University. Photo by G. Moses 44 www.freedomleaf.com

The Freedom Leaf Interview: Dr. Carl Hart

By Steve Bloom Carl Hart, author of High Price: A Neuroscientist’s Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs & Society—it won a PEN Award in 2014—grew up in Miami, where he played basketball and sold marijuana in high school before enlisting in the Air Force. After his stint in the service, Hart attended the University of Maryland and University of Wyoming. Hart is currently Associate Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry—and the first tenured AfricanAmerican professor in the sciences—at Columbia University.

A drug researcher, Hart studies illegal substances. He’s been on the board of the Drug Policy Alliance since 2007, and recently was named to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (the 18-member board that advises the National Institute on Drug Abuse). Known for his iconoclastic views on the drug war, the dreadlocked prof took an hour out of his busy schedule to sit down with Freedom Leaf.

You sold marijuana when you were in high school. What was that like?

I wasn’t making any money. It was just something to do because it was cool. It gave me access to people that were different than me. So I increased my social network. I did it because I had a cousin whose boyfriend had access.

When did you start smoking marijuana?

When I was 15 or 16. Since I was an athlete I wasn’t trying to suck any burning weeds down my throat on a regular basis to disrupt my wind. I did it to be social.

Same with cocaine. That’s how most

people do it. Politicians are told to say it was a “youthful indiscretion.” It was then, and I moved on. But the vast majority of people don’t move on. They still use it in the same, similar way. For most of us, it’s not over.

Do you still use marijuana?

I certainly do. You have to remember, I study drugs. But marijuana has a limited range of effects that I’m seeking. There are other drugs that are better for some things that I’m seeking.

What would that be?

Opiates, MDMA, amphetamines—a wide range of drugs that could be better for the situation. For instance, if I have to perform I’d use amphetamines.

Have you ever been arrested?

No. I was lucky. In the book I describe running from the police, and that sort of thing.

Have you ever been stopped-and-frisked?

Of course. I was subjected to a lineup.

This shit happens in our society. But I can deal. I can pull my middle-class card—the way I talk, Columbia professor, all these things. So they have to be a little more careful. I much prefer that it happens to me. I don’t want it to happen to younger kids. They don’t have the patience that I have.

Why did you go in the service?

Because I was embarrassed that I didn’t get a basketball scholarship.

Was that the right move for you?

It was the move, because it allowed me to continue playing basketball. I played on www.freedomleaf.com 45

Dr. Hart in his office. Photo by G. Moses

the Air Force teams. It also allowed me to go to college.

How did you overcome growing up in a disadvantaged way?

That’s a limited way of looking at it. I was actually advantaged. If you grow up poor and black in this country, all you have to do is pay attention and then you can see the hypocrisy of the dominant culture. So I’m actually at an advantage, because I know white people really well. They don’t know me. I have this sort of dual education. I know what time it is on the streets, and I know what time it is in the mainstream. Going to England in the Air Force allowed me to bring all this together. I started learning the mainstream language and learning how to communicate in a way that would be palatable to the mainstream. But my having grown up in that situation allows me to thrive in this hostile-ass environment in the Ivy League. If I hadn’t grown up in that sort of setting, I would not recognize that in this environment I’m in battle. And I don’t get it twisted and think that it’s not a battle.

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Did you imagine at all that you would be an Ivy League professor, growing up the way you did?

No, I didn’t know the value of being an Ivy League professor, I really didn’t. I just happened to be here so I wanted to excel wherever I was.

Isn’t Columbia associated with an antidrug program?

I’m in the Department of Psychology— that’s where we’re at—but I have an office in the Department of Psychiatry.

Herb Kleber is the director of the division under which I operate. CASA [the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse] is still loosely affiliated with Columbia.

How do you work within that framework?

I don’t. I just try to be the best at what I do. The evidence speaks for itself. If I didn’t know the evidence as well as I do, I wouldn’t be here talking to you now. I wouldn’t be here at Columbia. The evidence speaks for itself—what I’m saying everybody knows.

What are you saying?

I’m saying a number of things. I’m saying, for example, that drug effects are unpredictable. That’s one of the most important things. One of the things people think about marijuana is it’s so dangerous. It certainly can be. But we have given thousands of doses of this drug to people without them losing it. That says that we know how to enhance the positive or decrease the negative effects of the drug.

The evidence is clear. So what we have is hysterical headlines—marijuana causes this and does that—that fly in the face of the evidence. This is not controversial or

that have legalized marijuana. We have the Attorney General saying that we’ve been racially discriminatory in the application of drug laws. All of these things didn’t happen before, so on the one hand, it’s good that this has happened under this administration. As presidents go, he’s been the best—a hell of a lot better than Clinton. They’re not even in the same class. Clinton, for example, had the opportunity to get rid of the crackpowder sentencing disparity and instead he made a hyperbolic statement about how we need to send a message to kids.

Whenever there was an opportunity for

‘The evidence speaks for itself.

What I’m saying everybody knows.’ anything, it’s just the facts. Go look at the literature, it’s all right there.

Clinton to actually do something, he never did anything. He just fanned the flames.

What do you think about what’s going on in professional sports, in relation to drugs and how the athletes are begin treated?

Do you think Obama will reschedule marijuana before he leaves the White House?

The professional sports unions should be fired. They’re not doing a good job of representing these guys. There are people like me who could help the unions represent the players a lot better in terms of these drug-related charges that they’re getting. They’re based on policies in the 1980s, when we had the drug-war hysteria, which we all now know was inappropriate. Professional sports, particularly the NFL, are still operating under the War on Drugs view that we had in the ’80s. We shouldn’t allow the NFL to continue that same sort of policy, but we have.

You’ve said, “I don’t argue for legalizing drugs. I argue for decriminalization because I think we’re too ignorant to legalize drugs. If we decriminalize and have a corresponding amount of education, I’m fine with that. Maybe later, we can legalize. But legalization is not something that I actively advocate for; that’s not what I do.” Is this where you stand still?

What’s your take on Obama’s presidency, especially in regard to the drug issue?

That’s a difficult question for me, because at some level I expected more. But then, under his presidency, the world has changed for drugs. We have the states

Nope. This president is risk-averse.

No. I’ve been doing this for a minute, and I’m learning a lot. We need to figure out a way to remove criminal penalties from all drugs. But a bigger problem is the adulterants with the drugs. When you think about what the drugs are cut with, that’s a far bigger problem. Decriminalization doesn’t deal with that problem. The only way we can deal with that problem is to have some sort of legal system where we Continued on page 78 www.freedomleaf.com 47

Privateer, Naturally Privateer Holdings has emerged as the biggest player on the canna-business block, thanks to deals with the Marley Estate and Founders Fund.

By Matt Chelsea While the wide-scale commercialization of cannabis by a big consumer brand remains on the horizon, a solid frontrunner has emerged with the well-publicized bulking up of Privateer Holdings, the Seattle-based investment firm that recently inked a deal to license Bob Marley’s name for its line of Marley Natural cannabis products.

Privateer CEO Brendan Kennedy’s business has become even more potent with an investment of millions of dollars from Peter Thiel, a billionaire Silicon Valley rock star known for co-founding PayPal, and backing Facebook and SpaceX through his investment firm, Founders Fund.

“We believe there were dozens of partners at private equity, venture capital and investment firms who woke in a panic after absorbing the news that Founders Fund had made such a significant investment in the industry,” Privateer spokesperson Zack Huston tells Freedom Leaf.

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They have “a good shot at being one of the defining companies of the next decade,” says Geoff Lewis, Thiel’s partner at Founders Fund. Before deciding on Privateer, they spent a year and a half studying the cannabis space, which Lewis believes presents a “multibillion-dollar business opportunity.”

In Silicon Valley, longtime finance pros took the cannabis investment by Thiel as further evidence of the growing legitimacy of the business.

“No one has said Peter Thiel is wrong,” a partner at a large San Francisco law firm that handles start-ups, venture capital deals and initial public offerings tells Freedom Leaf. “Since he did it, it’s pretty clear it’s a real business. If Cheech & Chong did it, people would snicker. It’s a good bet that marijuana will get bigger and bigger.”

While the Founders Fund-Privateer Holdings agreement (a dollar amount has not been specified) drew strong media attention, you need more than just a pile of newspaper clippings and blog entries to float shares on a major stock exchange. Privateer will have to demonstrate improved financial performance and a multiyear track record before investors like Thiel would be able to cash out either by selling common stock in an initial public offering, or possibly through a purchase by a large company like AnheuserBusch or Berkshire Hathaway.

The Privateer Team: (from left) CFO Michael Blue, COO Christian Groh and CEO Brendan Kennedy.

To be sure, it’s hard to tell if Privateer Holdings will survive the choppy waters of a young industry. At one time, the U.S. was home to dozens of car companies.

Now there are just four: GM, Ford, Chrysler and Tesla. And out of thousands of dot-com start-ups, only a handful of contenders emerged as Google, Facebook and Twitter.

But Thiel and Privateer may not have to be the next General Motors or Apple to succeed. Investors seem eager to buy a stake in the green gold rush, even in its nascent years.

With new medical and recreational cannabis legislation moving forward in a number of states, MarijuanaBusiness. com estimates at least $2 billion in spending in the industry over the next 18 to 24 months. Penny stocks such as Cannabis Science, Tweed Marijuana and Vaporin Inc. have drawn attention, but the big-league Nasdaq and NYSE have yet to debut a stock from a pure-play cannabis company.

Privateer is certainly putting together a winning team to either get one of its portfolio companies listed on a stock exchange, or maybe go public as a holding company. A suit-wearing triathlete, Kennedy founded the firm in 2010 after earning an MBA at Yale and working at Silicon Valley Bank. He doesn’t fit the counterculture stereotype of a marijuana user and says he’s only partaken about 10 times in his life. Kennedy appeals to the button-down libertarian crowd and corporate types with billions at their disposal to grow the industry.

But Privateer’s biggest coup so far is its deal with the Marley Estate. “The Marley family contacted Brendan directly almost two years ago,” Hutson explains.

“After a series of conversations and meetings, we realized we shared a similar set of values and vision for the future, began extensive due diligence and then finalized the deal.”

Marley Natural is on track to launch in late 2015 with heirloom strains, including www.freedomleaf.com 49

Bob favorite Lambsbread; topical lotions, balms and skin care lotions made with Jamaican hemp, aloe and coconut; and accessories and limited-edition products.

The cannabis will only be sold where it’s legal, while the other products will be more widely available.

Institutional investors are no doubt taking a closer look at the cannabis space now that the Marleys and Thiel have waded in. Sovereign wealth funds, public pension funds and private endowments aren’t sure whether to put cannabis in the same bucket as tobacco, alcohol, guns and other sin stocks, or to categorize it as a health or medical investment.

The big-league Nasdaq or NYSE has yet to debut a stock from a pure-play cannabis company.

While big investors sort these and other issues out, Privateer Holdings has a wide variety of mom-and-pop cannabis businesses out there to add to its portfolio. It’s nearly done raising a $75 million private equity pool, on top of an earlier financing round of $7 million. Along with Marley Natural, Privateer also owns Tilray, a medical cannabis business in Canada, and Leafly, the popular online cannabis information resource on strains and dispensaries.

During the 1849 Gold Rush, those who sold jeans, pickaxes and other gear made the most money. In the Green Rush of the 21st century, the big bucks may be made from selling investors equities or start-ups—the raw materials to help them get rich quick. Privateer Holdings ranks as a leading contender to strike it big on both fronts.

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Inside the Founders Fund and Marley Natural Deals Privateer’s Zack Hutson on the Founders Fund deal: “Founders Fund has been looking at the legal cannabis industry for some time, but was unable to find an investment they liked. Geoff Lewis [from Founders] contacted Brendan [Kennedy] via email in September 2013 about learning more to potentially make an investment. Geoff leads Founders Fund investments in consumer Internet companies. Brendan did not know Geoff prior to this. Through a series of phone conversations, and in-person meetings in Seattle, San Francisco, New York and at our facility in Nanaimo, BC between the partners at Privateer Holdings and the partners at Founders Fund, we got to know each other better, and they conducted due diligence and finalized their investment.

“Prior to the investment from Founders Fund, our investors consisted solely of high-net-worth individuals and family offices.

“The investment from Founders Fund, one of the earliest investors in Facebook and one of the top venture capital firms in the world, with more than $2 billion in assets under management, is a major milestone for Privateer Holdings and represents a watershed moment for the entire legal cannabis industry. It marks the first time an institutional investor

has placed capital in the legal cannabis industry.

“Founders Fund is known for backing founders with audacious visions who want to solve difficult problems and make the world a better place—companies like SpaceX, Spotify, Airbnb, Facebook and Lyft. They’re sector- and stage-agnostic, but expect all of their investments to be leaders in their industry and to capture enormous markets. Like us, they’re taking the long-term view of this industry, and believe that the end of federal prohibition, and the social harms it causes, is inevitable.

“For four and a half years, we’ve been saying that Wall Street firms would have analysts who follow this industry like they do health care, technology and agricultural commodities. With backing from an institutional player like Founders Fund, we believe we’re getting closer to seeing that day, and that it will likely happen in as soon as 6–12 months from now. Founders Fund has been studying the industry for 18 months, and has a strong understanding of the operational, legal, social and political complexities of this industry.

Other firms now have to scramble and play catch-up.

“The Founders Fund investment is a multimillion-dollar investment and part of Privateer Holdings’ Series B round.

Financing from the Series B round will primarily be used to grow our existing portfolio of brands. As we’re constantly evaluating new investment opportunities and new companies, the financing will also be used to make strategic acquisitions and investments, and to launch new ventures. When our Series B round closes, we will have raised a total of $82 million.

Our Series A round was $7 million; our Series B round will be $75 million [which includes a $15 million convertible bridge note and a $60 million raise].”

About the Marley Natural deal: Based in New York City and launching in late 2015, Marley Natural will offer three lines of products: 1. Heirloom cannabis, including some of Bob Marley’s Jamaican favorites.

2. Cannabis- and hemp-infused topical lotions, balms and skin care lotions made with Jamaican botanicals like aloe and coconut.

3. Accessories and handcrafted, limited-edition products inspired by those Bob enjoyed.

The Marley Natural team is expected to grow to 25 people this year, with products launching in several different markets. Topicals and accessories will be available more broadly than cannabis, which will only be sold in jurisdictions where it is legal.

Zack Hutson explains: “Like Founders Fund, the Marley family contacted CEO Brendan Kennedy directly [about two years ago]. Brendan and the Privateer Holdings team met with the Marley Family and/or their representatives in Miami, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. After a series of conversations and meetings, we realized we shared a similar set of values and vision for the future, began extensive due diligence and then finalized the deal.” www.freedomleaf.com 51

The Greening of Washington After a sluggish start to legal marijuana sales, growth is expected in 2015. For the state’s unregulated medical dispensaries, changes lie ahead.

Tom Lauerman from Vancouver, WA in his greenhouse.

Photo by David Rheins/MJBA

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By David Rheins Washington State’s legal marijuana industry is like a toddler’s first steps.

Through fits and spurts, in awkward, clumsy lurches, a new economy is finding its way, slowly but steadily gaining traction. Recreational retail sales are increasing, but excessive taxation and lack of banking and financial support make conducting commerce both cumbersome and unsafe. The state’s laissez-faire medical marijuana marketplace may finally get regulated in 2015, as legislators in Olympia once again attempt to craft a legal framework that serves the needs both of patients and recreational adult users.

The first legal pot shops in Washington opened in early July 2014, a full year and a half after voters legalized the recreational consumption of marijuana by adults 21 and older. Since then the Evergreen State has continued on a slow and steady pace, growing both the number of retail outlets and the amount of, and variety of, product available on the recreational market. In 2014, Washington rang up more than $65 million in combined producer, processor and retail sales.

Analytically Correct forecasts 2015 state sales at between $350 million and $495 million.

At press time, Washington’s Liquor Control Board has issued 110 retail licenses, though not all of these newly minted pot shops are open for business.

According to Washington’s Municipal Research and Services Center, approximately 40% of the state’s cities have issued moratoria banning legal marijuana businesses from operating, and local zoning fights are ongoing.

It’s uncertain whether lawmakers in Olympia will try to tackle local bans or leave it to the courts. “Legislatively, in regards to zoning and moratoria, a line

item could be added to the law, as the Attorney General has suggested, forcing those rogue municipalities that have decided to ban or put a moratoria on state-licensed marijuana businesses to comply with the voter-approved state law,” Washington NORML Executive Director Kevin Oliver tells Freedom Leaf. “Additionally, some of those municipalities are lobbying for revenue sharing of I-502 taxes, thereby competing with the state general fund for those revenues, which were earmarked for the state-sponsored health-care program that was replaced by the Affordable Care Act.” As more legal recreational pot comes onto the market, prices are falling. Some local producers are complaining of a glut of product, and wonder what will happen as more producers and producer/processors come online. Washington State marijuana taxes are very high, and financing and banking remain unresolved challenges to the viability of the industry.

While much of that struggle will take place at the federal level, a possible restructuring of the state’s marijuana excise tax (25%) is being discussed in Olympia, which would provide some relief to producers and manufacturers.

As the recreational marijuana industry grows stronger, Washington’s medical canna-business finds itself at a crossroads. Since 1998, the state has allowed its medical marijuana industry to operate loosely, with no real regulatory oversight. www.freedomleaf.com 53

As long as patients had safe access to the plant, liberal communities and the powers-that-be alike tolerated commercial dispensaries, and operations soon multiplied. Now that recreational marijuana production, processing and sales are all legal, the state has a vested interest in reining in the medical marijuana industry and ensuring the collection of tax revenues on recreational pot.

The common wisdom in the state is that there will be a rationalizing of the two systems—medical cannabis and recreational marijuana—during this season’s legislative session. The result, political insiders predict, is that many existing dispensaries and unlicensed medical marijuana operations will likely go out of business.

“It’s very apparent that the current iteration of medical marijuana dispensaries—unlicensed and unregulated—are not viewed as legal or necessary by lawmakers or law enforcement,” NORML’s Oliver notes. “This will become increasingly clear as the legislature decides the best course of action for unlicensed commercial marijuana operations. The sick and dying deserve affordable access to quality marijuana, and it’s my feeling that the legislature will take steps to ensure that access is provided in a legally regulated market.”

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The Top Stories in Washington State’s Legal Cannabis Industry in 2015 and Beyond ● The Legislative Session: Washington lawmakers began a session in Olympia in January that will continue into April. Competing cannabis bills

by Democrat Jeanne Kohl-Wells and Republican Anne Rivers share many commonalities, suggesting a compromise solution will be found around the topics of licensing medical marijuana under I-502; providing for home grows; and taxation. Ah Warner, CEO of Cannabis Basics, has authored Senate Bill 5493, which provides for the sale of low-THC “topicals” and health and beauty aids in I-502 stores, with hopes of a bipartisan companion bill in the House. ● Women in Canna-Business: If last year was the year of legal marijuana, this is the year of businesswomen in cannabis. Powerful entrepreneurs like Eden Lab’s AC Braddock and Washington Bud Company’s Shawn DeNae Waggenseller are redefining the rules of the modern workplace, driving Washington’s cannabis industry and their respective companies forward in a kinder, gentler fashion. They were part of the MJBA Women’s Alliance’s

“Power in Unity” gathering in January, where Betty Aldworth, Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, led more than 50 participants through a discussion of “Sexism in Cannabis Workplace,” and Tiffany McVeety, author of The Entrepreneurial Edge Small Business Toolkit, provided hands-on tools for “Designing Your Business.”

Washington State marijuana taxes are very high, and financing and banking remain unresolved challenges to the viability of the industry. ● More Pot Jobs: Economic activity stimulates the normalization of marijuana into mainstream society, and nothing says economic vitality better than jobs. “We see an increased level of interest and rate of commitment to enter marijuana as a legitimate industry,” says Weedhire CEO David Bernstein. He predicts dispensary and medical jobs, and administrative and sales positions will be in highest demand.

Most cannabis companies in Washington State plan to hire additional employees when their state licenses are issued. “The marijuana industry could see a hiring bonanza,” observes Jim MacRae from MJ Research.

“Entrepreneurs are confident they can succeed in this business, and they’re eager to hire motivated people.” ● Hempfest Business: The Seattle Hempfest is the largest cannabis celebration in the country. The venerable nonprofit will launch Hempfest Business as a companion event to Hempfest. Organizer Vivian McPeak notes that “economics drive every society, and economics is driving this issue, as well.” According to fellow organizer Sharon Whitson, Hempfest Business was created to connect business owners with suppliers of cultivation equipment, packaging, marketing, insurance, nutrients, other products and ancillary services. ● Washington Industr y Is Coming Together: A year ago, factionalism and lack of trust among cannabis activists and lobbyists torpedoed state legislation designed to protect the rights of medical marijuana patients while providing for much-needed regulation.

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In an effort to avoid a repeat of that situation, 2014 saw the formation of a coalition of cannabis organizations, the Washington Cannabis Commission (WCC). With support from NORML, Cause-M, MJBA, ASA, NCIA and John Davis’ Coalition for Cannabis Standards and Ethics, the WCC has been able to foster a more unified community front. The group recently held the Washington Cannabis Summit, which brought together industry thought-leaders to discuss ways to collaborate on furthering shared political interests.

On the business front, Seattlebased Marijuana Business Association (MJBA) has positioned itself as the legal cannabis industry’s business-to-business trade group, supporting the growth of local cannabis business communities by providing reliable business intelligence, a professional forum and commercial opportunities. MJBA now represents several hundred leading Washington cannabis businesses, and organizes regular MJBA meetups in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and East Wenatchee, in addition to sponsoring job fairs, vendor fairs and professional educational seminars. MJBA Denver launched in January, and MJBA Portland held its first official meetup on Feb. 26. ● Frequent Tommy Chong Sightings: You know your state is at the center of the cannabis universe when Tommy Chong comes to town. The venerable comedian and activist has been visiting the state quite a bit lately. He keynoted the Cannabis Summit, and made the rounds riffing with the local pot press.

Reports are that Chong is in talks with local Washington businesses, and is expected to soon make project plans public.

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● Mainstream Money: Privateer Holdings (owner of the popular Leafly and Marley Natural brands) announced this month that it had secured a major investment from Founders Fund, which is run by the moneyman behind PayPal, Peter Thiel (see “Privateer, Naturally” on page 48). All industry eyes will be watching to see if this will be the call to arms needed to induce those cautious, wealthy bystanders to finally provide much-needed capital to feed the growing cannabis market.

‘It is very apparent that the current iteration of medical marijuana dispensaries—unlicensed and unregulated—are not viewed as legal or necessary by lawmakers or law enforcement.’

This is shaping up to be the year Washington State marijuana grows up.

Consumers can expect an increase in the availability of recreational cannabis products at more reasonable prices, while the medical marijuana community will undergo a radical transformation as legislators finally put together a legal framework for a regulated industry. Entrepreneurs can have reason to hope for some relief in the availability of capital to fund the nascent industry. As the economic muscle of the industry continues to develop, we’ll see a corresponding relaxing of local moratoria and zoning bans, and a gradual normalization of Washington’s legal cannabis industry.

David Rheins is Executive Director of the Marijuana Business Association. The MJBA and Weedhire will host their second Job Fair on March 7 in Seattle.

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Willie’s Kids

A new generation of country & western performers is embracing marijuana, like their forefather Willie Nelson.

By Patrick Hall When I hear the name Willie Nelson, I instantly think about big sticky buds. Willie and weed go together like Lone Star Beer and Texas. As the story goes, back in the early ’70s, Nelson decided to kick his cigarette habit by smoking joints he hid in his Chesterfield pack. Because of his desire to knock nicotine and go public about smoking marijuana, Nelson’s name is now synonymous with the green leafy substance. Little did he know his decision would forever intertwine cannabis and country music, and eventually influence a new generation of singers to support the cannabis cause.

Nelson might have popularized the country music trend of smoking pot, but his misfit friends Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings—who along with Nelson recorded three albums as The Highwaymen—were already publicly known for snorting, popping and drinking whatever they could get their hands on.

Kacy Musgraves - DFree / Shutterstock.com Eric Church - Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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Kacey Musgraves

Eric Church

Brandy Clark

In 1979, Nelson cohort Hank Williams Jr. sang on the title track from his album Family Tradition, “If I get stoned and sing all night long, it’s a family tradition.” The song skyrocketed to No. 1 on the country charts, and the only son of Hank Williams continued to carry the torch through the ’80s and ’90s by including lyrics about marijuana and other drugs in his songs, such as “Stoned at the Jukebox,” “In the Arms of Cocaine,” “OD’d in Denver” and the cult classic “Dinosaur.” His son, Hank 3, is also maintaining the Williams family tradition by writing songs about his favorite seven-leaf plant, including “Whiskey, Weed, & Women,” “Smoke & Wine,” “Stoned & Alone” and “Marijuana Blues.”

Shooter Jennings has carried on his dad’s legacy, as well. In 2005, his first album, Put the O Back in Country, included the song “Busted in Baylor County,” a true tale of the singer getting arrested for pot in Texas.

In the late ’90s and early ’00s, the nowdefunct Cross Canadian Ragweed band from Yukon, Oklahoma took the underground country music world by storm. The band was very public about their love of cannabis, and put marijuana leaves on various Ragweed products. From “Dimebag” on Garage to “Smoke Another” on Mission California, to their crowd favorite “Boys From Oklahoma” on Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon, CCR presaged the modern era of potsmoking country stars.

In the 21st century, there have been more and more songs on country radio that mention weed, from conservative performers like Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Billy Currington and Florida Georgia Line to outlaws like Jamey Johnson— whose single “High Cost of Living” mentions smoking pot in a church parking lot. Chesney’s 2014 single “American Kids” finishes with “Blowing that smoke on Saturday night/A little messed up, but we’re all alright.” On Brown’s 2012 song “Toes,” he visits an island where people are “laying in the hot sun, and roll a big fat one.” Georgia-born Billy Currington teams up with Willie Nelson on “Hard to Be a Hippie” from 2013’s We Are Tonight. Most recently, Florida Georgia Line dropped the high tune “Sun Daze,” which features the lyrics, “All I wanna do today is www.freedomleaf.com 59

Sturgill Simpson

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wear my favorite shades and get stoned.”

It’s not just about the cowboy-hatted stoner dudes of country—many female performers are embracing the kind herb, too. Ashley Monroe talks of toking “out behind the red barn” on the Pistol Annies 2013 radio release “Hush Hush,” and sings about “Weed Instead of Roses” on her album Like a Rose. The song, cowritten by Vince Gill, speaks of a housewife who’s sick and tired of going unnoticed in the bedroom. Her solution? Spice things up with “weed instead of roses, and let’s see where it goes.” The song topped the country charts, just like Kacey Musgraves’ 2014 CMA Song of the Year, “Follow Your Arrow.” The first two choruses on the latter ask, “Roll up a joint, or don’t,” but by the final refrain, the 26-year-old Texan suggests, “Roll up a joint, I would.” Musgraves teamed up with fellow smoker and songwriter Brandy Clark to pen the lyrics.

Clark has a cannabis track of her own on her Grammy-nominated debut album, 12 Stories. Released last October, it includes “Get High,” a brassy ode to marijuana. The women portrayed in the song want “a couple of tokes” so their “troubles don’t seem all that tall.” The song also includes the lyrics, “Sometimes the only way to get by is to get high,” and

“When the to-dos have all been done/ She sits down at the kitchen table and rolls herself a fat one.”

Back on the male side, there’s Eric Church, a cross between Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. His last album, The Outsiders, was one of just four country discs to go platinum in 2014, with sales topping a million. Church likes his Jack black and his herb green. On his 2010 tune “Smoke a Little Smoke,” the North Carolina native advises: “Drink a little drink, smoke a little smoke/Dig down deep, find my stash/Light it up, memory crash.”

Dubbed “Country’s Rowdiest Star”

by Rolling Stone, Church’s 2014 single “The Outsiders” starts with a smokin’ riff by former Black Crowes guitarist Jeff Cease. “They’re the in crowd,” Church sings, “We’re the fighters, the all-nighters/So fire ’em up and get a little higher.”

Talking more about his outsider ways, the country star told Fuse TV, “Some of my favorite music was made by artists who were blasted out of their minds. I’m a big fan of that—the blasting and the music.” Another track on The Outsiders, “I’m Getting Stoned,” is self-explanatory.

In concert, Church is known to break out Black Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf.” He also

sells marijuana-themed merchandise.

Coming out of left field, Kentucky-born Sturgill Simpson is more of an alt-country artist. The son of a narc, he burst on the scene in 2014 with his second album, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, which is all about love and drugs. On the lead track, “Turtles All the Way Down,” he sings: “Marijuana, LSD, psilocybin, DMT, they all changed the way I see/But love’s the only thing that’s ever saved my life.”

(The song is accompanied by a psychedelic video.) Simpson follows with the track “Life of Sin,” which goes, “So every day I’m smoking, my brain hazy/All I can do to keep from going crazy.” Simpson’s startling record made many Best Album lists for 2014.

Because of Willie Nelson, the acceptance of cannabis among country music fans and artists will forever be connected to his decision to go public about smoking pot. At 81 (he’ll turn 82 on Apr. 29), Nelson still advocates for the legalization of marijuana daily, and plays over 150 live shows a year. During his concerts, he appropriately encores with “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” • Patrick Hall hosts the afternoon show on KXKZ—Z-107.5 in Ruston, LA..

Willie Nelson - Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com

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Give Me Some Skin Freedom Leaf reviews hemp cremes, lotions and oils from six cool companies.

By Lillian Taylor Hemp awareness and eco-consciousness tend to go hand in hand. Aside from their ingredients, the hemp skin care products reviewed here all have one thing in common: They refrain from testing on animals and employ energy-conserving manufacturing practices.

The Body Shop By volume, The Body Shop dominates the hemp cosmetics market, having led the hemp beauty product industry since its infancy in the ’90s. Presently the company offers a line (lip conditioner, soap, hand oil, face and foot protectors, hand and body butters) containing fair-trade hempseed oil, sourced from a cooperative of small-scale family farms in England.

The Body Shop gets high marks for social responsibility, with $31.5 million in charitable donations over the last 25 years going to more than 2,770 organizations. In 1990, The Body Shop Foundation was established, and funds human rights and environmental protection groups that are facilitating positive social and environmental change in 109 countries. Their New Academy of Business, established in 1995, offers academic degrees built upon principles of sustainability. The Body Shop was absorbed into the L’Oreal Group in 2006.

Go to: thebodyshop-usa.com/shop-by-line/hemp. aspx#/hemp.aspx

Manveena’s Solutions Manveena’s Solutions goes toe to toe with The Body Shop’s highly impressive social responsibility efforts. Their OPYN Pure Face Oil is the first and only USDA-certified organic face oil. It contains hemp oil, argan oil (from Morocco), geranium oil, sweet orange oil and lemon oil, and is designed to minimize wrinkles, remove dark spots, inhibit acne, aid in collagen formation, reduce redness and restore elasticity. Packaged in recyclables and/or biodegradables in a facility run entirely on wind energy, the product is free of any formaldehyde, petrochemicals, ethoxylates, toxic minerals, heavy metals, silicone, preservatives, GMOs and synthetics. OPYN was created by Manveena Singh, a veteran top-tier cosmetic and perfume industry “nose” who trained with the best (at Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath 62 www.freedomleaf.com

& Body Works and Jo Malone), and has always had a passion for natural ingredients.

Singh raised $40,000 in seed money, then successfully crowdfunded over $35,000 to test-market OPYN on Amazon. In February, OPYN became available at target.com. Look for the new additions of Manveena’s anti-frizz OPYN Nourish & Shine Hair Serum, and Healing Body Oil for bath, and body.

Go to: amazon.com/O-P-Y-N-Manveenas-SolutionsPure-Face/dp/B00IF9VKUW

Nubian Heritage Founded in Harlem, NYC 14 years ago, Nubian Heritage offers a large variety of soap, body wash and lotion lines featuring neem oil, organic shea butter, Indian hemp oil and many other traditional cleansers. These high-quality products are all made from natural ingredients, and don’t contain water, glycerin or mineral oils.

Nubian Heritage is a socially responsible company, showing dedication to alleviating poverty in their supply chain by investing in several women’s cooperatives in Ghana.

From a company statement: “We bring together traditional healing practices, cultural wisdom and indigenous ingredients, remix them and create modern natural solutions for skin and hair. This is our mission: to make cultural exchange the model for transforming the global community.”

Go to: nubianheritage.com

Earthly Body A family-owned business operating since 1994, Earthly Body produces its hemp oil-based products in a solar-powered facility in Chatsworth, CA. Their hemp oil is cold-pressed for the optimal preservation of Omega-3 qualities. Body lotions, bath and shower gels, massage oils sprays, fragrant mists, shaving creams and Marrakesh hair-care products are all available, as well as their Earthly Body Love Button Arousal Balm, a perfect complement to their Edible Massage Candle. Heated, this candle melts into a massage oil of soy, hemp, avocado and mint-flavored vitamin E oils. They’re sure to warm, smooth, and refresh.

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BC Bud Rub On the more therapeutic end of beauty care is Canadian David Faren, whose BC Bud Rub uses nontoxic solvents for the extraction of organically grown and non-GMO materials. BC Bud Rub warms without burning, reduces itch, soothes and protects dry skin and relieves aching joints and sore muscles. It was originally introduced to remedy cold sores, and was subsequently discovered to also reduce skin hypersensitivity from burns, as well as to quell deep aches and pains.

“In the long term, I see the company marketing my sublingual preparations as an alternative to the GW Pharmaceuticals products,” Faren tells Freedom Leaf.

Thanks to new lab equipment, CBD will be added to BC Bud Rub within the next six months.

Go to: bcbudrub.com

Apothecanna Apothecanna offers a targeted array of healing creams made from certified organic and wildharvested (wildcrafted) ingredients grown without pesticides or herbicides, and the products contain no artificial ingredients, fillers, parabens or known toxins. Produced in Colorado, Apothecanna offers four different cremes: Calming (hemp lotion, lavender, chamomile and frankincense); Stimulating (hemp lotion, ginger, capsaicin and grapefruit); Pain (hemp lotion, arnica, peppermint and juniper); and Everyday (hemp creme, mandarin orange, geranium and cedar.

Go to: apothecanna.com There are many more companies offering hemp products to rub, buff, polish, soothe, soak in, relax with and exalt, and we’ll cover them in future issues.

Lillian Taylor is Freedom Leaf’s Fashion Coordinator.

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The Too Highs and Lows of Cannabis Oil What happens when you treat a medical condition with cannabis oil? It can be quite a mind-bending trip.

By Beth Mann It hit me at the Chinese restaurant—that intense, warm feeling of the orally ingested cannabis oil circulating in my system. To suddenly be that high in a social setting can be problematic, to say the least. It’s not the easiest thing to explain away: “I’m sorry if I’m acting weird, but I’m tripping a little right now. Pass the rice, please.”

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The cannabis oil high is not like the pot-smoking high. It can take hours after you consume it before you feel the effects, like I suddenly did at the restaurant. Or on the checkout line at the grocery store, or talking to a client on the phone. That’s when the day takes a pretty radical shift, either for the better or worse.

A year and a half ago, I received a pre-cancerous diagnosis after a breast biopsy. Not prepared to do something invasive, I decided that, instead of chemo, my treatment would be a change in diet and lifestyle (whatever the hell that means), and the addition of cannabis oil, which has proven to be effective for DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ).

The first batch of oil I tried was Rick Simpson’s Phoenix Tears—one of the original recipes for cannabis oil. It was difficult to measure out because of its heavy, sticky consistency. If I accidentally took too much (even a small amount can be too much), I paid the price for it in the form of a pretty serious anxiety attack, dizziness, mild hallucinations and a general inability to simply function. I was bed-bound, basically.

But most of the time I dialed in the right amount and had some mind-expanding, trippy experiences smack-dab in the middle of my average day. Just like the old Calgon commercials, I was whisked off to another world, full of wonder and beauty.

Since I live by the ocean, I had the perfect setting for my daily odyssey. When it hit (usually around midday), I’d wander the beach, enchanted by the splendor of it all.

There was often an emotional component to the experience, too. I’d randomly recall an event from the past and suddenly relive it, almost in too much detail.

Often I’d cry, and feel lighter and deeply content, a state of mind I hadn’t experienced in a while.

But some of the truly bad experiences felt like a mini-death—either like death

was fast approaching, or you had accidentally died and broken on through to the other side without knowing it. Sometimes I could even feel spirits around me, as if the veil that had protected me from recognizing them prior to taking the oil no longer existed.

So I conjured up these sexy guides to protect and guide me (yes, I was that high). They usually resembled random composites of a musician or a celebrity I liked, or my high school English teacher.

These astral beings (or figments of my imagination) would pet my hair, whisper in my ear, calm me down and eventually lull me to sleep.

When I’d finally “land” (usually the next day, after a night of heavy sleep), I’d lie in bed and wonder what other oil users experience. How does the old lady in the Midwest manage what I just went through? What about a child with a lifethreatening disease? Or someone with a mental disorder? Or simply a person who’s never experienced an altered state before?

I’ve tried the CBD-dominant oil. It’s supposed to be non-psychoactive, but that’s not totally true, not across the board. I’ve sampled several different kinds and felt them all. They’re not as ass-kicking as THC-dominant oil, but you still get a distinct high.

After several extreme oil experiences, I got more used to the magic-carpet rides ahead of me. I could handle them with a little less anxiety. Sometimes I’d even appreciate the strange and often scary twists and turns.

I wouldn’t take back any of my little episodes. Each had a particular effect, providing me with insight and healing.

They awakened a lost side of me that believes in the magic all around us and inside of us. They reminded me to be here now.

In a perfect world, all cannabis users www.freedomleaf.com 67

would have access to various levels of guidance, leading them through this often complicated process. Maybe then a deeper healing could occur, beyond just addressing the physical disease. But it’s a risk. Repeated cannabis oil experiences could also compromise an already unstable mind.

Just like the old Calgon commercials, I was whisked off to another world, full of wonder and beauty.

I live in New Jersey, a state with a very limited medical cannabis program. I could’ve been spared some of the mental duress of a near-trip simply by working with a professional. Instead, I played doctor to myself.

In my latest MRI, there was no DCIS seen at the biopsy site. I stopped taking the oil for a while, then recently started again, because I’m not totally in the clear (my likelihood of breast cancer is higher because those cells were found). I use less oil, but also know how to take care of myself.

Here are my nonprofessional pointers, if you or someone you know has taken The author takes a stroll on the beach.

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too much oil or has a THC overdose: ◆ Hydrate more than you thought possible. ◆ Go outside and walk. It’s not easy, but it’s grounding. ◆ Eat fruit: it stabilizes your blood sugar and you instantly feel better. ◆ Breathe slowly and deeply. ◆ Cry if you feel like it—it relieves the anxiety. ◆ Be careful of too much stimulus, like a loud TV or annoying music.

Make your environment as sane as possible.

It’s not often we get to have a glimpse inside ourselves to this degree. Be a Timothy Leary. Ride the wave. Appreciate even the scary parts. Try to embrace the process. If you’re sick, consider it part of your healing.

Do I think the oil has contributed to my improved health? Yes. I’m guessing it’s part of the equation that includes my change in diet, increased exercise and meditation. I can’t quite be sure, but it’s definitely been a trip.

Beth Mann is president of Hot Buttered Media and a regular contributor to Freedom Leaf.

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Smart Munchies It’s not all about Doritos or Ben & Jerry’s whenever you get hunger pangs while high.

Here are three recipes that will satisfy your craving for sweet and salty treats.

By Cheri Sicard Everyone knows that stoners and the munchies go together like cops and donuts. Yes, the mainstream media stereotypes everyone. But just as lots of cops will pass on Krispy Kreme with nary a glance, the snacks of choice for many stoners have no connection whatsoever to Taco Bell or Cheese Whiz.

Today’s discriminating stoners want snacks as sophisticated as their stash. Salty? Sweet? Spicy? Crunchy? Creamy? The tastiest, most tantalizing snacks contain two or more of these attributes. No matter what you’re craving, the recipes below have got you covered.

Let’s start with the seemingly at-odds duo of salty and sweet— which, when combined in just the right proportions, create a delicious flavor combo that teases the taste buds and dares you to take just one more bite to figure out which flavor element you prefer. Salted Caramel Corn is a perfect example. In fact, I highly recommend making a second, unmedicated batch, since everyone is guaranteed to want more. The Sweet and Spicy Nutty Snack Mix recipe adds the element of heat. Lastly, my Salted Lime Tortilla Chips with Mango Avocado Salsa combines all these elements, with the bonus of the salsa’s creamy texture to offset the crunch of the chips.

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Canna-Butter and Canna-Oil How-To Before you can make the recipes in this article, you’ll first need to make cannabisinfused butter and/or oil. Forego the bad advice you often see on the Internet that tells you to grind your plant material in a food processor or coffee grinder before using it to make butter or oil. Those sticky

THC-laden trichomes you want to extract are on the plant, not in it. Ground plant material is more difficult to strain and gives your finished product an unwanted increased herbal flavor and darker green color.

To Make About 1 Cup of Cannabis Infused Butter or Oil, You Will Need: 1-1/4 cups unsalted butter or cooking oil of your choice 1 oz. average- to high-quality trim or low-quality dried bud; or 1/2 ounce average-quality dried bud

About 4 cups water

Why do I include water as an ingredient?

Three reasons: ■

It ensures the cannabis will never reach a higher temperature than the boiling point of 212 degrees F.

■

Chlorophyll and terpenes—the parts of the plant that give it its flavor and color— are water-soluble. In practical terms, this means a lot of unwanted herbal flavor and green color can be flushed away with the water after cooking, instead of infusing them into the finished marijuana butter or oil. Using water won’t eliminate green color and herbal flavor, but it can reduce it.

■

Without water in the mix, the plant material tends to absorb too much of the butter or oil. This means usable product is going into the trash, a problem that’s reduced or eliminated by adding water.

Slow Cooker Method (preferred): Add butter or oil, plant material and water to the slow cooker, and cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours. www.freedomleaf.com 71

Stovetop Method: Add butter or oil, plant material and water to a large lidded Dutch oven on the stovetop. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to very low and simmer for 6 to 8 hours. Take care to monitor the liquid level often, adding water as necessary in order to always keep at least 3 cups in the pot. Simmering marijuana on the stovetop is very aromatic: If you’re worried about nosy neighbors, cook other strong-smelling foods (such as garlic) at the same time. Better still, use a slow cooker.

Drain and Strain: The draining procedure is the same for the stovetop and slow-cooker methods. Place a cheesecloth-lined colander over a large pot or bowl, and pour the liquid through to strain. Before discarding the plant material, pour a large kettle full of boiling water over the full strainer in order to wash through any extra butter or oil clinging to the plant material. Allow the plant material to cool, then squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Discard the plant material. Now chill the water and oil, or water and liquid butter. The fats will rise to the top.

Butter solidifies when chilled, making it easy to simply lift the piece off and discard the water below. Oil will rise to the top of the water, but often won’t solidify. No problem: Use a spoon to skim the oil off the water. Even better is a kitchen gadget called a gravy separator that looks like a small pitcher with the spout originating on the bottom. This unique design allows the water to be poured out while retaining every drop of the oil floating at the top. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, gravy separators are sold everywhere, otherwise you can find them at gourmet shops, or extra-large ones at restaurant supply stores.

Strain the butter or oil through cheesecloth a second time to remove as much sediment as possible (this step is optional). To strain butter, melt it, strain, then chill again until solid. Refrigerate infused butter or oil until ready to use, or freeze for even longer storage. Fats can still go rancid in the freezer, so try to use within three months 72 www.freedomleaf.com

You’re now ready to start cooking with canna-butter and canna-oil.

Salted Caramel Corn Portion out this salty-sweet snack, otherwise eating too much is a guarantee. Use an air popper, regular popcorn maker or the stovetop to make the popcorn for this recipe—follow the directions on the popcorn package and those that came with your appliance. Avoid microwave popcorn (it usually has many added flavors and salts).

3 1/4 1/4 1 1/4 2

quarts (12 cups) plain popped popcorn cup canna-butter cup butter cup packed dark brown sugar cup honey teaspoons salt (preferably sea salt), divided 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla or maple extract Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Pop popcorn and set aside. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or, alternately, grease generously with butter and set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt canna-butter and butter. Stir in the brown sugar, honey and ½ teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring, until mixture comes to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer and, if you have a candy thermometer, cook until mixture reaches 250 degrees F, otherwise you can get close by cooking for about 1-1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and quickly stir in baking soda and extract, which will turn the mixture into a light-brown froth. Working quickly before the caramel cools and starts to harden, pour this mixture over the popcorn in a large bowl, and toss and stir to evenly coat the corn. Spread caramel-coated popcorn in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle on the remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons of salt. Bake for 15 minutes, stir mixture to break up big pieces and return to oven for 15 more minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. For longer storage, cool completely and place in an airtight container for a week or so.

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Sweet and Spicy Nutty Snack Mix Adjust the cayenne pepper amount in this recipe up or down to taste—a nice little spicy bite on the finish is what we’re aiming for.

2 1 3

cups small salted pretzels cup mixed salted nuts tablespoons canna-butter 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon water 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Combine pretzels and nuts in a medium heatproof bowl and set aside. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or, alternately, grease generously with butter and set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine canna-butter, brown sugar, water and cayenne. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook for about 20 seconds. Pour over the pretzels and nuts, and toss to combine and evenly coat.

Spread pretzel-nut mixture in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Stir mixture to break up big pieces and return to oven for 15 more minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. Store for a week or more in an airtight container after cooling completely.

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Yield: 3 cups - Servings: 6

Salted Lime Tortilla Chips with Mango Avocado Salsa Unless you have a high tolerance for (m)edibles, you’ll probably want to opt to medicate either the chips or the salsa for this dish. The salsa is lightly dosed, especially prudent if you plan to serve other medicated foods, or for those with low tolerance levels. The chips are dosed a little stronger.

For Chips: 8 corn tortillas 3 tablespoons canna-oil 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

For Salsa: 1 1 1/2 1 1/3 1/4 2 1 1

large mango, peeled, pitted and finely diced large avocado, peeled, pitted and finely diced large red onion, peeled and finely diced jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced cup finely chopped cilantro cup freshly squeezed lime juice tablespoons canna-oil teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper

Prepare Chips: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Stack the tortillas and cut into 6 wedges. In a small bowl, toss tortilla wedges with cannaoil until evenly coated. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet and bake until chips just begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh lime juice and salt. Set aside.

Prepare Salsa: Place all salsa ingredients in a medium bowl and stir gently to evenly mix all ingredients.

Dosage Warning The dosing amounts in these recipes are only suggestions. Each person should carefully ingest cannabis according to his or her own needs and tolerance levels. For more dosing information go to: cannabischeri.com.

Cheri Sicard is the author of The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook and Mary Jane: The Complete Marijuana Handbook for Women. She’s on the board of directors of Orange County (CA) NORML. www.freedomleaf.com 75

Products Joint and Cone Rollers from Futurola Futurola has revolutionized the joint roller. The Amsterdam-based rolling paper company’s plastic model comes in five colors, two widths (small and cone) and a pouch. It smartly opens and closes (it looks like a harmonica), and isn’t messy like standard models. To make Futurola even cooler, Tommy Chong has his own signature roller with his face on it. A line of aluminum grinders is also available.

Rollers, $14.99–$29.99; Grinders, $18–$36 futurolausa.com

Vaginal Spray from Foria One of the newest products on the cannabis market is Foria, a spray intended to enhance women’s sexual pleasure. Made from coconut oil and carbon dioxideextracted THC massage oil, it’s used as a pre-lube.

Foria was developed in California by Mathew Gerson, of Sir Richard’s condom fame, with help from Dr. Rebecca Kraft. Company spokesperson Brittney Confer says the newer version of the product—now being sold, manufactured and distributed by Native Roots Extracts in Colorado—is stronger then the one initially released in California. One hundred bottles of Foria were recently given out during the X Games in Aspen. $44-$88 (10-30 ml) ForiaPleasure.com

Herbalizer Vaporizer Once upon a time, the Volcano was the highest-rated, most sought-after vaporizer. Fast-forward to today’s ferociously competitive vaporizer marketplace, and you now have highly advanced vaporizer technology engineered

by NASA scientists, such as the Herbalizer. This cuttingedge machine is designed to provide the ultimate in vaportherapy, in a safe, efficient and holistic manner. It uses a bag consumption method, while also providing the option to switch over to a whip. Not only can you use different consumption methods, but you also have the choice between vaportherapy, aromatherapy and free-air modes. One of the big selling points of this unit is its precise temperature control: While lower temps produce mild and uplifting effects, higher temps are more intense. $799 herbalizer.com 76 www.freedomleaf.com

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Dr. Carl Hart continued from page 47 can check out the purity of the drugs, the quality of the drugs. That’s what I’m more concerned with these days.

New York has had all kinds of problems with marijuana arrests. Mayor de Blasio changed the policy in November. How do you feel about the direction New York City is going compared to where it’s been?

We still have a police force that’s too big to rein in, that can have the mayor kowtow to them. I’m happy that fewer people are getting arrested, but they’ll find another way to go after folks. There are 40,000 cops in New York. We are a police state.

With the changes that we’re seeing, are you optimistic?

I am. The young people who are coming up today are seeing the possibilities and how things should be. So when they try to push things back, these folks will give a lot more resistance than my generation—because they see how it should be.

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They see all of these injustices that went into these changes. So I am optimistic.

Progress is not linear. These changes have helped to train new generations of young people how to fight the battles when it’s time for them to be fought. I’m really happy about that. Yeah, sometimes people try to push the clock back. These young people will have the experience to make sure that doesn’t happen.

What are your long-term plans? Do you have any other aspirations?

I hope to continue to write books. I will spend some time in Switzerland, Brazil, around the world, learning about drugs globally. I’m excited about learning. I’m excited about making sure the American public understands that we know quite a bit about drugs already, and we have enough information to do a better job educating people, a better job in terms of policy. I’m not excited about a specific research project. I’m more excited about communicating with the American public.

Strain Review: Headband A truly mystical strain that offers a wide variety of effects, Headband satisfies the most discerning medical or recreational cannabis enthusiast.

By Dru West What do you get when you cross the East and West Coasts’ most famous strains?

One of the most potent marijuana strains in the world. Headband combines the potency and unique funkiness of California’s San Fernando Valley OG Kush with the legendary flavor and cerebral effects of East Coast Sour Diesel. The result is one of the most complex and sophisticated strains around.

Headband is the perfect example of synergistic breeding. All the best traits from the parent plants have been brought together to form the proverbial “super strain.” The sativa-dominant Sour Diesel lends its unique bud structure and vigorous growth rate to the dense, trichomefrosted nugs common to indica-heavy OG Kush. It’s rare to find two strains that pair up so well. I suspect this is due to their common genetic lineage, which both trace back to the original Chem Dawg line.

The odor and flavor of Headband have been described as fishy road-kill with hints of lemons and petrol. Sounds great, right? Perhaps it’s somewhat of an “acquired taste,” and not the best choice for novice smokers who’ve yet to develop their palate. However, growers lucky

enough to possess this elite herb will tell you it’s one of their absolute favorites.

Yields from Headband are usually higher than average. Many indoor growers report up to two pounds per light, while outdoor farmers can achieve up to an astonishing 10 pounds per plant. A very fast-growing variety, Headband plants often triple in size during the budding cycle. Due to this trait, adding the extra support of a SCROG (screen of green) net, in order to keep the massive buds from collapsing the plant, is recommended. It’s also an excellent strain for making concentrates. (Four hundred grams of shake produces 120 grams of concentrated THC, an extraction rate of 30%.)

The effects of Headband are immediate and can seem overwhelming for some smokers. People commonly report a feeling of pressure behind their forehead in the area of the Ajna chakra or “third eye.” This sensation is similar to that of a headband tied on too tight, and is how the strain got its name.

Dru West is the author of Secrets of the West Coast Masters: Uncover the Ultimate Techniques for Growing Medical Marijuana.

Go to: westcoastmasters.com www.freedomleaf.com 79

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