HERBAGE MAGAZINE April/May 2022 ISSUE 42

H

erb age

magazine

April-May 2022

Sarah Lee

Gossett Parrish Excellence. Efficiency. Integrity.

405/815-3434 slgparrish@slgparrishlaw.com www.sarahleegossettparrish.com

lawyer cannabis | litigation | oil & gas

ISSUE NUMBER 42 April-May 2022

Table Of Contents James Bridges Owner/Publisher Tarra Quinn Advertising Director Katie Hazen Social Media Director Anna Ervin Associate Designer/Staff Writer Andrew Corbin Associate Producer/ Advertising Amber Roberts Advertising Sales Contributors: Charles “Uncle Chuck ”Duncan Chet Tucker Dr. Pepper Hernandez Jessi Lane Joe Okie Kathy Long-Barker Michael Kinney Advertising Inquiries Stuff@Herbagemag.com NOW OFFERING Herbage Magazine Herbage Social Herbage TV Herbage Events Herbage Collabs

PG 5 / ABOUT THE COVER PG 6 / KNOW LEADGE ENIGTENMENT PG 7-8 / FREEDOM FLOWER PG 11 / CANNABIS & THE NERVOUS SYSTEM HOW CAN WHOLE PLANT, ORGANIC, CBD HELP? PG 12-13 / IT’S A BRICK HOUSE PG 14-15 / LESSONS 27 TAUGHT ME PG 17 / THE CAPTAIN PG 18 / DON’T JUDGE A BOOK… PG 20-21 / FEMININE DIVINE PG 22-23 / THE BUDTENDER DIARIES BUILDING TRUST PG 24-25 / TAURUS SEASON PG 26 / THE HOUSE BILLS OF 2022 PG 30-31 / LOTUS LETTERS PG 32-35 / DR. CARL HART PG 38-39 / MAHRIA

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About The Cover A gifted young artist from Serbia is taking social media by storm with his oil pastels of leaf-munching giraffes, basking butterflies, moonlit waterlilies, poignant portraits and soulful-eyed dogs. With tens of thousands of followers and over a million “likes”, what Viktor Bevanda is accomplishing with his striking use of color is extraordinary, especially when you consider that he’s only 13, non-verbal and autistic.

Viktor was diagnosed with autism at age 5, about the same time his parents became aware of his emerging artistic talent. “It was heartbreaking knowing that he would be different from his peers,” said Viktor’s mother, Andrea. “But my husband, Boris, and I were committed to giving him every opportunity.” And that meant eventually immigrating to America where they could find many more resources for autistic kids.

After a lengthy immigration process, the family finally arrived in the U.S. settling in Aventura, Florida, in 2018. “We absolutely love it here,” said Andrea, a former marketing executive, whose husband works as an elite tennis pro and founder of Bevanda Tennis in Aventura. As for Viktor, his daily learning limitations are continually being eclipsed by his immense creative genius.

As with many kids, his drawings over the years have been largely influenced by the cartoon characters he watched on TV. And then at the height of the

pandemic in 2020, Andrea, who homeschools her kids, decided to try something new. “I wanted to see if I could channel his art into different directions, so I presented several pictures and asked him to choose one to draw. The result was a miracle on paper,” she said. “What’s also amazing is how effortlessly, nearly automatically he makes strokes and selects colors without hesitation or second-thoughts.”

The breadth of his original works using oil pastels quickly expanded to lush landscapes, whimsical underwater scenes, sailboats on turbulent seas, fabulous animal art, including horses, eagles and flamingos -- even portraits of Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe. As his portfolio continued to expand, Andrea created a website to showcase and sell his art. She also established a fast-growing social media presence for Viktor.

And while Viktor has no idea how much people love his art, she says he appears happy when creating. “Our hope is that he has a future in art ahead of him.” And if the enthusiastic reaction to his work is any indication, that future is rapidly approaching.

As one client of his art put it, ‘He proves Autism is no barrier to creativity. He has an extraordinary ability to focus on detail and understand how colors interact.”

To view Viktor’s latest creations, or purchase an original work or high-quality print, go to vichysart. com.

Thank you again: Andrea Bevanda-Kun, Viktor’s mother Boris Bevanda Viktor’s father

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5

Knowledge Enlightenment W

hen I was a kid I often helped my dad work on the family car. We had hardly anything but love and family in those days. That seemed to be plenty. At least enough to distract from the fact that our cars were out of commission regularly.

By James Bridges

I recall being around 15-years-old and working in our garage area. I call it a garage only as a point of reference. My “kind” didn’t have fancy things like “garages” or covered parking. We improvised and let our cars sleep inside with the stray cats and lost chickens. We called it a shed.

nearly required the approval of others in order to operate. I started dating people that I thought would make others happy instead of myself. I started disregarding my own sense of self worth. I wanted nothing more than to have the life of our pet dog. No worries except how to let someone know I have to urinate and watch TV all day. That sounded like a proper life to me.

I completely lost all ambition.

I would push the old rusted hood up on one of our trucks. The hinges would catch on one side as the weight of the old hood barred down on the worn springs. I would shift from side-to-side to wiggle the hood to the top.

Looking back I can see now that it all derives from something.

Not an action. Not a person. No one was at fault. I simply did not know the next step to take to make the leap from one lifestyle to another.

At that time I knew I was going to break free from whatever it was that was holding onto me. I worked and worked on those beaters without ever knowing a damn thing as to what I was actually doing. Eventually I figured it out. I even learned to rebuild some things on engines all on my own. We always had some sort of instruction manual for the work, but it was difficult to see past all of the greasy smudge marks left behind from the many frustrating moments of despair.

There are times when people say that they didn’t even know what college was when they were children and they really mean it. This is one of those times. I had no clue about education or a life after high school. So many of us didn’t or still don’t understand what it means to be comfortable. After having my first real job at age 13 and watching my parents struggle to make sure we had food, “after school future plans” really didn’t compute.

It’s a typical and common story. You can brush it off as that. However I would like to propose an observation.

I would pass the time under the hood listening to 90’s grunge music. I believe I knew every lyric and could pretend to play every riff on the Alice In Chains Dirt album. I felt at that time that the music was talking to me. As if I were actually having a discussion with my “other-self” via the sounds.

It was strange to think of myself as a person of great value during that time. I always wanted to, but I could never seem to become entirely happy with what I was looking at. I always had a lot of friends when I was very young, but once the teen years hit…

I quickly became the sidekick rather than the kick itself. I was headed somewhere. Somewhere I didn’t need to travel. I was headed there and I knew it.

I know that I knew because I can remember the exact moment that people stopped asking what I was up to. They started asking me about someone else’s plans. Hero to zero in a few short months. I took it a little too personally.

I became very co-dependant over the years. I very

I mentioned before that I simply did not know the next step. I actually did not know that there was a step that existed. It’s most likely impossible for you to imagine, but try. You have lost all memory and you are now placed into this society. You would have to learn every single thing from the beginning of your existence, the history of others, and the complexity of the unmapped future. You get tossed into something as chaotic as the trading floor on Wall Street. Could you navigate without the help of others that have been in that same situation? Who can you trust? What do you do to not only survive, but to thrive and prosper?

If you grow up with something so deeply ingrained into your existence and you know of nothing else, then what are you to do to better yourself?

It’s priceless to know that there are steps. It’s not an instantaneous thing that happens.

Well, unless you are extremely fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time.

I’m afraid that there has been a leap of sorts within our train of thought. There seems to be a major shift happening. One from not knowing that there is an actual step to take to improve your quality of life to thinking there is no step and you should simply be able to take the leap.

Personally I believe that it is fortunate that true fulfillment of the human spirit does not work by taking huge leaps. There is no foundation in it. It’s a terrifying house of cards in which our society cannot be supported.

How do we make the leap from knowledge exclusivity to knowledge enlightenment?

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FLOWER

By Chet Tucker

FREEDOM Lettuce Smoke Canna Co.

It's a wonder how we ever got here. Cannabis is one of the highest of medicinal plant for humans. The plant gets demonized, ostracized and even criminalized. How? Why? There are plenty of theories and many are entangled. Many believe there are early big pharma moves, happening in the form of a culturally suppressed control mechanism for minorities. Some even go to say that there is a general governmental step being made to control more of our natural born rights. Let's talk about some statistics and raise more awareness and voices for breaking up a system keen on keeping its grip on a plant via taxation and propaganda.

As of the time of this article, the House of Representatives voted to decriminalize cannabis and this is certainly a long overdue step. We can't allow it to get impeded in the Senate or any vetoes. So, anyone that's reading should take steps to share with their representatives that we must free those ever jailed for consumption or possession. The intent to distribute pieces can be a little tricky given the fact that "illegal" grows could be distributed but this is for another discussion.

Let's first move to understand the hypocrisy of how any state could jail a human for the

possession of a plant that was here as long as man has recorded history.

In an article published by Forbes (June 26th, 2020) over 40,000 Americans were incarcerated for marijuana only offenses. And though that number has been decreasing, and here in Oklahoma changes were made to Oklahoma's drug laws to reduce prison sentences and criminal charges, a tougher push to decriminalize should be completed. The bigger picture is the shakedown in court and law earnings as the ACLU has reported that of 8.2 million drug arrests, over half were cannabis related. Let that number sink in. How much extortion of our citizens should we put up with before we stand up? Why do we allow our "justice" system to keep these archaic and constitutionally inept laws in place?

What we have is a system built on the backs of "free" Americans and the racquet must come to an end. We aren't speaking of those that are wanted for true violent crimes or crimes against humanity, we are speaking of individuals being arrested and incarcerated for a plant that is cultivated from the earth.

The opiate crisis is far more dangerous than any form of cannabis will ever be and we

could not only save more lives from death or disease, we could save more families from unjust incarcerations. Sadly, I lost my father to epilepsy at the ripe old age of 54 and with the laws that were in place 15 years ago, hardcore and mood-swinging pharmaceuticals couldn't do what CBD or cannabis could've done ... and all because of fear based laws here to "protect" us. We all know other substances are far more abusive and deadly to our body than cannabis will ever be so let's not restrict it any more than we restrict alcohol.

In summary, it's time people understand the freedoms to cultivate and trade beyond the governmental strongholds. Our communities and families are served far better when we don't allow governments to witch hunt those with cannabis. Furthermore, the taxation is incredibly too much and pushes the pricing of cannabis based medicinals beyond where they should ever be. Reach out to your local and state reps via www.okhouse.gov and search "Find My District" for a detailed and up to date list. We are the majority but we have to speak up to generate the changes needed.

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CANNABIS & The Nervous System How can whole plant, organic, CBD help?

utilized to treat it. Cannabis has been demonstrated in studies to have neuroprotective properties and to maintain brain and spinal cord health, which aids in the treatment of a range of central nervous system illnesses. Cannabis cannabinoids (such as cannabidiol CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol THC)

By Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, hen discussing the have been demonstrated relief can have on Ph.D., CTC, CNHP, NHC to protect neurons and the nervous system Board Certified and Award-Winning astrocytes from injury, control we need to first begin with how Holistic Health Practitioner inflammatory responses, and aid in the nervous system works and how neuroregeneration. cannabis can affect that. To begin with, CBD, like THC, is a primary cannabinoid electrical impulses and neurotransmitters present in cannabis, however, it lacks the are used by neurons in the brain to interact. The euphoric characteristics of THC. As a result, it’s ideal nervous system is a complex network of nerves and for individuals who, like myself, have a life that requires specialized cells known as neurons that send and receive complete concentration. The full whole plant, organic CBD messages throughout the body. The nervous system, attaches to the cannabinoid type one receptor in the as you may know, is divided into two components. brain, thus it doesn’t produce any of the “altered” The peripheral nervous system, which contains effects that THC does. My anxiety and nervous the nerves and ganglia on the outside of system issues were successfully treated the brain and spinal cord, is the initial beginning with a CBD dosage of 20-40 component. The brain, cranial nerves, mg. and spinal cord make up the central Please with your physician to learn what nervous system. CBD has been shown options are available to you. This article’s through studies and extensive studies content is solely for educational purposes. to protect the neurological system in a Before starting any new diet or lifestyle variety of ways. change, consult your knowledgeable Trauma, extreme stress, infections, primary health care physician, raw food degeneration, congenital difficulties, nutritionist, or other health care expert. structural defects, tumors, blood flow BONUS: To help the central nervous disturbance, and/or autoimmune system, it is recommended that you disorders can all be the cause or can consume magnesium-rich meals on a contribute to a central nervous system daily basis. Magnesium-rich foods include disorder. There are various nutrients, the following: foods, practices, and meditations that *Cocoa: A 3.5-ounce serving of can assist to regulate the neurological a m dark chocolate has nearly 500 mg of o system, in addition to cannabis. I know lah magnesium. © k this very well as I have spent the majority O Ph *Fruit: Banana, apricot, avocado, melon, oto rm of the last decade learning about how to heal Fa plum *Nuts: Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts &F n myself. u arm *Legumes: Peas, lentils, tempeh lS Central nervous system disorders are a large : Ful *Cereal: Brown rice, millet, oats spectrum of diseases that affect the brain or spinal cord. *Seeds: Pumplin, sesame Seizures (which I am quite familiar with), cancer, inflammatory *Potatoes: Red, fingerlings, purple Peruvian illnesses, arthritis, schizophrenia (and other mental disorders), *Turkey Bone Broth (has the highest amount of tryptophan) depression, and neuropathy are just a few of the numerous Other therapeutic herbs, like cannabis, have calming effects forms of central nervous system disorders. While central nervous system illnesses differ widely, they all result in a loss of adequate, on the nervous system and can aid. At night, try combining undamaged nerve cells. Headaches, tension, weariness, tingling them with your CBD concentrate or tea mixture. Here are a few or loss of feeling, muscle weakness, loss of sight or double or examples: *Passionflower blurred vision, memory loss, reduced mental capacity, lack of *Lemon balm *Lemon balm coordination, tremors, and back pain are all common symptoms *Ginkgo biloba *Hypericum *Ginkgo biloba associated with central nervous system problems. *Hypericum A fatty acid called amide hydroxylase (FAAH) exists in *Basil the human body, and it is an enzyme that breaks down the *Lavender neurotransmitter anandamide, which is related to the neuronal Cognition, or mental functioning, such as concentration, creation of motivation and pleasure in cannabis. CBD inhibits decision-making, problem-solving ability, reasoning, and learning, FAAH in the body, resulting in greater levels of anandamide, which binds to Cannabinoid type 1 receptors naturally (known as is obviously critical. Here are the top ten foods for brain and CB1). These are primarily found in our brains and neurological nervous system health that have been shown to aid cognition: systems. There are at least 85 different forms of cannabinoids in *Dark green leafy vegetables *Olive oil the cannabis plant, including CBD and THC. This has the effect *Whole grains *Green Tea of calming the nervous system and assisting it in regaining its *Cocoa (anadamide) *Omega 3 fatty acids equilibrium. CBD effectively promotes the production of 2-AG, an *Nuts *Garlic endocannabinoid that stimulates both CB1 and CB2 receptors All information in this article is for educational purposes only. (known as CB2). These receptors are important for mood, The information provided is derived from research gathered from memory, hunger, sleep, and inflammation reduction in the human body. As a result, CBD topical therapies have been known to external sources. Please check with your Cannabis Educated help lower brain inflammation linked with autoimmune illnesses, Primary Health Care Physician or Cannabis Therapy Consultant before beginning any new diet or lifestyle change. which can lead to fatty coating damage in neurons.

Neuropathic pain is produced by injury to the somatosensory Go forth, Go Cannabis... nerve system, and reducing inflammation in the brain may be Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, CTC, CNHP is a Naturopathic Nutritionist, Cannabis Therapy Consultant, and the Founder and Education Director of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. To find out more about her private practice, educational programs, videos, and other offerings you can find her on the massive inter-webs, social platforms, or at drpepperhernandez.com.

W

11

D

It’s A

Brick

House

by Michael Kinney

© Trichome Pony Photography

riving into downtown Shawnee, the Brickhouse is kind of hard to miss. The large, red brick building stretches into the Eastern Oklahoma sky.

From the day it opened in 1910 the Brickhouse has been a mainstay of the business district in Shawnee. Now, more than a century later it’s considered a historical landmark. But Karla Jennings, the current owner of the Brickhouse, has not only revitalized the building but has a vision for it that its founders could never have imagined.

I would love to see it just be a welcoming place for the cannabis community, and hoping that they can feel comfortable getting out and feeling like they don’t have to be hidden,” Jennings said. “It’s all about coming out and not having the negativities of drinking, but more of the celebration of life and living and feeling good and being happy. I know a lot of people depend on that for the cannabis industry to fill those things, to be able to socialize without having anxiety and without having a lot of the things that come along with that, that cannabis helps with.”

According to historical records, the Shawnee Garment Factory was founded in 1903 to supply overalls to railroad workers for both the Rock Island and Santa Fe railroads. Their original factory was located at 324 E. Main.

But after seven years of operation, the owners moved the factory to the newly constructed building downtown at 113 1/2 N. Bell.

The ground floor was rented to retail businesses while the back, the basement and two upper floors were used to manufacture various garments, including Round House Jeans, which was named for the “round house” railroad repair station. The Garment Factory and Round House Jeans operated out of the Brickhouse for the next 85 years.

It wasn’t until 1995 that the business moved to another location.

Up to that point, the building had been owned by the Nuckolls, Truscott and Antosh families.

It wasn’t until 2014 that Jennings and her father, Travice, purchased the Brickhouse and became the next proprietors of the historic building.

“When we bought the building, there was already a business inside of it, So we bought the businesses also,” Jennings said. “That was Brickhouse Saloon. There was also a little hamburger joint and antique store downstairs. Eventually, I took over running the restaurant but didn’t like that. We started doing the remodeling. It has been a work in progress since the day we bought it.”

The building had fallen into disrepair throughout the years, so Jennings, Travice, and her brother Colton performed a complete restoration.

“We have taken it back to as original as we can get it,” Jennings said. “That is why people are so intrigued by the building. You can see all the exposed brick now. All the tin on the ceilings and all the wood floor. All that original fun stuff you don’t get to see very often anymore.”

Jennings said her main idea when they took over was to model in some ways after City Walk, which was a multi-level club in downtown Oklahoma City. It had five different clubs.

“I always thought that would be cool if I could do something like that with a big build-

ing,” Jennings said. “I have pretty much pulled it off now. Brickhouse Saloon has been the main business part of the building. We added a dance club right off the bat called Vibes.

That is on the second floor.

That was the money source for years.”

Heading into 2022 The Brickhouse was home to Brickhouse Events, Brickhouse Saloon, Vibes, Brickhouse Ground Floor and a karaoke bar, which are all under the Jennings umbrella. Despite running a variety of different businesses out of the Brickhouse, Jennings wasn’t satisfied. She had wanted to open up her own dispensary ever since it became legal in Oklahoma. However, her plans kept falling through.

Herbage Magazine recently moved its headquarters and studio in as tenants inside of the building as well.

“What had happened was COVID came around. My bar business, which is where my income comes from, suffered a lot. So, I panicked and said I don’t want to open my dispensary yet because I don’t know what my money is going to be like. “ After Jennings was able to reopen her saloon and things started to get back to normal, the idea of the dispensary resurfaced. That is when Max Pecina, Jaime Roman and Anthony Alvarez of Firework LLC walked into her saloon.

“These guys, they came into the bar. They had been in town working on some other aspects of the industry,” Jennings said. “We started talking and they told me they were in the marijuana industry. I told them I had been wanting to open a dispensary for three years.”

The trio told Jennings they weren’t really looking to open a dispensary at the time. Their focus was on other places. That didn’t faze Jennings and she made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

“I said come look at my vision anyway and let me give you a tour of the building,” Jennings said. “Everyone loves to look at the building. So, we went down and I started showing them all the things I had envisioned and my thoughts and what we could do. They were overwhelmed.”

Jennings’s vision and the magic of the Brickhouse itself seemed to have an effect on Pecina, Alvarez and Roman and began to have talks with Jennings over the next few months as they all got a feel for each other.

“I just explained to them I already have thousands of people that come in and out of the building,” Jennings said. “We just have got to give them a place to purchase their medicine. I told them I want to provide a place where everybody can come together. They don’t have to go out and sit in their cars. They don’t have to go to allies where they get rained on. To smoke. They don’t have to be treated like their bad.

“I told them I want to provide a place where they can come in and have a large, friendly big room where they can partake and medicate and also have a good time. A full night of entertainment.”

After getting to know Jennings and seeing her full vision, Fireworks LLC was in.

“They were pretty much in from the beginning,” Jennings said. “After I gave them my ideas, and I gave them

the plans and what I wanted to do, where I wanted to put it. They were very, very interested, “Yes. Please, let us do this with you.

Let us be a part of that.” They were pumped to do that. Of course, I stalled it out for a while so I could get to know them a little bit, but decided that they were definitely a good choice to balance me out.”

After working out the details, the Brickhouse Cannabis opened its doors on Jan. 7 of this year. According to Jennings, business has been great.

“We’ve been growing. We’ve been getting a lot of repeat customers,” Jennings said. “My current customers that we have, have learned what we’ve got available and that word is spreading. We just had a big event, where we brought in over 350 people, and they love having a dispensary on-site, and being able to utilize the smoke lounge and to have a smoke-friendly situation, where you can actually see a concert, have a drink, medicate, all of that, together. So, kind of just getting started.”

Just like it was in its early years, Jennings wants the Brickhouse to have a variety of businesses. However, she wants them to be connected. A sort of one-stop entertainment place in the middle of Shawnee.

According to Jennings, it’s an idea the city has gotten behind as well.

“I’m getting a lot of support from the city, with the Visit Shawnee, their departments that kind of promotion for the city itself,” Jennings said. “And they’re supporting us a lot with advertising and sharing posts and social media, things like that.”

In the future, Jennings wants to be able to host cannabis conventions other big events at the Brickhouse and envisions Shawnee becoming the epicenter of the industry in the state.

“We are bringing people from Oklahoma City and Stillwater and Norman and some of these other cities, we’re bringing them down here to show that we have a nightlife and we have something happening down here too,” Jennings said. “In 2014 I never thought that we would be able to incorporate cannabis. What a blessing that we are allowed legally to share this and to do this. It still amazes me honestly all the time that we’re able to do it.”

13

© Photography by Ginny Dorsey | The Herb Chronicles

Lessons 27 Taught Me

by Anna Ervin

I cry every year on my birthday. I know this might sound a little dramatic, but as far back as my 17th birthday, I can’t remember a single year that tears were not shed on this supposedly celebratory day. And while I rarely find myself in mourning or despair all day long, I can’t help but take a moment to just feel the weight of another year of my life passing by.

Until recently, I didn’t really understand why I felt this way. I thought it was just fear, but through further investigation, I’ve found that the heaviness which claims me has much more to do with feelings of love, gratitude, and deep compassion for the experiences I’m granted in life.

It all just feels a bit overwhelming at times.

Twenty-eight should be no different, as throughout the last year I have witnessed myself grow and evolve in ways I never imagined I would be capable of. Some of the memories from this past year are painful to look at, but those moments also brought the most empowerment and light into my life, so I will honor them nonetheless.

On the other hand, many of my memories have carried frequencies of love and joy into my existence and still do, even today. They will be the hardest for me to let go of. It’s difficult for me to even think about it now.

In a way, though, it’s sort of like spring cleaning. I have to allow myself to let go of the moments that no longer serve me, no matter how magical or powerful they felt. It’s all part of my process, spending the day fearfully yet courageously cutting ties with the person I’ve spent the last 12 months nurturing, in order to step into a greater version of Her. A version that’s a little closer to understanding her destiny. To do that, however, I must first honor the lessons I have gained over the last year.

If you know me, or if you’ve read any of my past work, you’ll find that I’m pretty adamant about writing sh*t down.

Much of the enlightenment I have found throughout my twenties has come from reviewing old journals and musings of earlier years. It’s something I believe passionately in, turning my own voice into something tangible, something nearly permanent. So whether you’re still reading this or have skipped to the end, I have chosen to share those words here today. Not because I feel they might resonate with you (though I hope some of them do), but because I will continue to return to and reflect on them for years to come. Despite the emotional responses they may have invoked at one time, these are the memories that I will allow myself to carry into the rest of my adult life,

and I hope to embody the truths they have revealed for years to come.

1.) Pour yourself wholeheartedly into the things that you love. The last thing you want to do is look back on each day and wonder what would have happened had you given more of your time and energy to the matters you hold closest to your heart. I’m not just talking about the people around you, but the work you take on, the hobbies you entertain, and the mundane tasks that help you curate the life you want for yourself. Give those areas of your life as much passion as you would your family or a romantic partner… This brings me to my next lesson in strength and love– self-love.

2.) It’s not only unselfish to take care of yourself first, it’s actually quite necessary if you want to bring positive change into the world around you. I don’t feel the need to reiterate that you can’t pour from an empty cup… we’ve all heard it, and that’s not the point I’m trying to make. The point of putting yourself first is not to be able to readily give back to the people in your life, but to give yourself the space you need to take on the passions I mentioned before. I believe that most of us will make the greatest impact by simply doing the things that make us happy.

For example, I never would have imagined that spending hours turning words into stories would open the hearts of so many, or that sharing my favorite hobbies would inspire exploration and curiosity within my audience (check out my piece on Tarostrology).

3.) A bad decision is just a decision that carries undesirable consequences. You’re not a bad person for making a mistake, and it’s time to stop beating yourself up for being human. Nobody is perfect, and our missteps in life challenge us to grow and become better far more than our successes might. Brush yourself off and make your amends, and know that life is never going to “just be easy.” At times, you may feel like you’re invincible while at others, you find yourself humbled. I think the trick to this is teaching yourself to find gratitude in both the good and the bad.

4.) Nobody is ever going to love you the way you have the potential to love you. You have all the tools you need to give yourself empathy, compassion, and tenderness. It’s okay to be alone sometimes, utilize that space to learn empowering things about yourself and respond to your deepest emotional needs. Write yourself love letters, set the mood in your home, take yourself all the places you’ve ever wanted to go with someone else. You might be surprised to find that sometimes the best company is your own.

5.) Let those who speak over you wonder what they might have learned had they chosen to listen. Stay true to yourself, banana. You have come so far in the last year, and you will continue to blossom into the person you are destined to be, so long as you choose to stay committed to your truth. Your intuition and logic have brought you this far, please don’t start doubting them now.

I love you.

15

THE Captain

By James Bridges

I have been told by several key individuals throughout my life that I am what some call an empath. So I guess that’s what I am. I tend to see myself through others emotions. I dive deep and it gets weird, but I’ve lived with it my whole life. It’s rather difficult to treat myself at times.

A very special person once explained it to me in a way that I could understand. She said that the emotions and toxic energy that flows needs to flow and go somewhere in order to be released. Those that are like myself, mostly bullheaded and so hyper-focused on the end result, tend to capture that energy and have no place for it to be released. So it stays bottled up inside for the “right” moments.

Navigating life with this very common issue leads me right into why I mentioned that it is rather difficult for me to treat myself at times. In order for me to feel like it’s a treat I almost have to slip into old habits.

I decided to have a real day off, At least as much as one could expect when being the owner of an independent multimedia company that changes by the minute. So that morning I turned some tunes on to start off the day. I realized the music selection that I had made was quite interesting. It was the exact soundtrack to my previous life. The life I had before the explosion of legal medical marijuana. It was the soundtrack that I would play when I knew that I was going to be having a “chill-axing” day. I laughed it off.

I felt good. I felt like just a person for a minute. No title. No obligations, other than what was for breakfast. I even had a brand new strain of the best medicine on the planet to try. I was ready.

At this moment I realized that I really had nothing else I wanted to do other than the habit that I had accidentally formed over the past 4 years. So I went to a dispensary to talk with friends.

Maybe even work a little. That’d be great.

One of my favorite pastimes is eating. Laugh if you want. I like to eat. When I found out that my illness was going to affect that part of my life I was really disappointed. I accepted it, but have really missed exploring new cuisines. In the meantime I have resorted to candy… I know. Please stop thinking what you are thinking and just read.

If there’s something with sugar inside I will most likely give it a whirl. I shouldn’t and I know that I shouldn’t, yet I still do. I prefer anything that gives me some sort of rush. If my head feels like crystals of lightly shattered and weightless sugar crystals, then I’ve done something right. Sour is always good, but it holds nothing to a crunchy coated shell with a chewy sweet center. As

I’m typing this I am wondering what the hell is wrong with me…

Let’s just agree that there is an actual issue at hand here.

Luckily, and perhaps fate would have it, while on my “day off” I ran into an old college friend. One that I actually used to acquire top notch medicine from back in the dark ages of the late 90’s.

I had seen him around the cannabis industry from time-to-time and just never added number 2 with that other number 2 over there.

Captain Kirk Reid smiled with his very memorable and near crooked smile. He looked as if he knew something that no one else knew, but really should. The superhero color scheme and vibrance to his logo that surrounded him was form fitting of the hero standing before me. I was happy to see the guy. It brought back some smiles.

After talking with him for a while, I told him of my addiction to candy. He smiled. His “toolbox” was stacked full of wonderful extractions. I told him of my love for skittles. I told him how I thought that they may be one of the best candies ever made.

Writing this allows me to self reflect a smidge. I’m starting to become concerned over this obsession with candy…

Now picture a giant kid with a cool superhero shirt on. Then picture him standing there. He is simply smiling and holding a glass jar with little colorful balls of what looks like candy. He says nothing. He just stands with arm extended and smiles.

“Is this?” I looked at him with wonder. I plucked the jar from his hand and gave it a look. I looked inside and out. What was I looking at? The color of skittles, yet the shape of tiny golf balls?

I quickly took a bite and the captain asked what my thoughts were.

I looked at him and said that I believe I found my replacement.

A new habit quickly formed and an old friendship rekindled.

However “habit forming” the process may be, it’s important to remember that things are never locked into stone. It’s okay to dip back into old healthy habits. It’s also kick ass to know there are healthy and non-life threatening replacements that may be right for you. It’s up to you to find them.

Captain Kirk’s Edibles You haven’t tasted a rainbow this good! Captain Kirk has brought you medicated Freeze Dried Skittles that are sure to take you out of this world! Cosmic Crunchers are crunchy, tasty and will have you wanting more! Micro dosed at 5.5mg each, you can indulge till you feel you’ve met your limit! Don’t miss out on this incredible candy!

17

Don’t Judge A Book…

W

hen asked to list famous cannabis users you will typically hear names like Cheech & Chong, Jeff Spicoli, Eric Foreman, Tom Petty, Snoop and Dre. There are currently many, many more celebrities (and fictional characters) that can stand in the green spotlight more comfortably (numb) than anytime in recent history. Not since the early days of jazz or the later days of the summer of love, have so many famous people been ok showing their love for the herb.

I sincerely hope that this time around we evolve and acknowledge those among us that consume cannabis and are not necessarily the stereotypical “stoner”. As an advocate, it would make my job a hell of a lot easier if cannabis didn’t have the “dazed and confused” stoner persona. Of course that laid back attitude also helped grow the many grassroots programs that have helped propel legal cannabis across the nation. It’s 4:20 somewhere, right?

There are many problems with letting stereotypes be accepted as fact.

People who smoke cannabis are lazy and have brain damage. People with depression are always sad and should just get over it. People with anxiety just want attention. These are no more true than are the claims that cannabis is a gateway drug and leads to hard drug use. None of that is true. But people believe it. And a lot of times the same people I meet at one of my classes or out advocating. You can’t believe the misinformation that still exists out there.

Stereotypes don’t help.

So how do we fight against misinformation? With facts. There is more data coming out everyday to help you in informing the public on the benefits of cannabis. I would argue that informing people about the benefits and advocating for its open legalization are two separate battles. One to win the hearts and one to win the minds. It’s also extremely important that we do not provide rumors or sales hype as facts. This just feeds into the hands of those who still want cannabis to be controlled and/or illegal. Cannabis has enough beneficial properties that it shouldn’t need fake news.

Testimonials are also important. Not just in the fight for legal cannabis but also in the battle against stereotypes. We need to hear from the surgeons and scientists who use cannabis. We need to hear from the moms and dads who use cannabis and still keep the family running. The cannabis users who hold down a 40 hour per week, or more, job. Speak up. Grandma enjoys a joint before bed, you say? Awesome. Let’s tell people about it.

Like announcing your gay (or a vegetarian), announcing you use cannabis might shock people in your family or circle of friends. But it’s time to take a deep breath and inhale some cannabis education classes, like the ones I give at theuccc.com or at your local dispensary. Combine that with your personal experience and get out there and tell the world that you use cannabis and it helps you live your best life. If everyone did that, we would legalize cannabis and smash generations of stereotypes at the same time. A Puff Puff Win if I ever heard one. Thank you again my friends for joining me for my conversations on cannabis. Let’s keep the conversation going. Cannabis legalization on a federal level is within our reach. But there are still many hurdles. Hurdles your testimony can help us jump. Until next month, remember, Educate and Elevate. www.unclechuck420.com

Join High Hopes in welcoming Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND PhD, Becky Brown PharmD, Cannabis Educator and Coach, other leading female Oklahoma cannabis professionals, and top educators as they continue to break the cannabis stigma by offering an afternoon of practical cannabis as medicine education and fellowship to get back to meeting people where they are and providing simplified, quality education.

High Hopes transforms back to the days of living room hospitality by opening our home to you in a modern way. Potential patients can look forward to quality educational lectures, brand engagements with major Oklahoma cannabis brands and giveaways under the charming roof of the historic White House Mansion in enks. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Everyone is welcome. Limited tickets are available now through Eventbrite.

FEMININE DIVINE

by Jessi Lane Patient Advocate

Jessi Lane, Patient Advocate is a writer and Oklahoma cannabis industry professional since 2018. She is a Certified Cannacian III and Trichome Institute Certified Cannabis Consultant with a “full spectrum” Postpartum Wellness background.

mother, Lupe, that Lally would rekindle and reconnect with her customs, opening that legacy lifeline for Theresa and her children. “I will never be a Gatekeeper,” she tells us. Theresa understands her role is to amplify the voices of those who are directly affected by racism and bigotry.

Rise to Shine: a Latina Grower’s Commitment to Environmentally Responsible Practices in the Shadow of Climate Change Crisis and Industry Mayhem

“I was just kayaking, traveling, and getting drunk.”

Theresa left her life of corporate medical malpractice litigation behind her i n

“Good morning, beauties. Rise to shine!” This is the way Theresa Goughenour, owner and operator of The Magic Dragonfly Farm, begins each new day; by inspiring those that lean into her, be it friend or flower.

When you walk into a Latina’s home, you better bring your appetite. This is certainly the case when visiting Harmony Star Farm, the sprawling 80-acre property that includes a private lake. “When I found this house it had no roof, no doors. The wood floors were good, but no water or power,” she tells us. This house and the farm have been a labor of love. Beautiful Avocado toast with fresh spinach, tomatoes, and fruit that looked like it fell right off the cover of Food & Wine was served at a large welcoming kitchen table big enough to comfortably feed 12 people. Big enough for Theresa to unpack the journey and transformation that is The Magic Dragonfly Farm.

Theresa is a spicy mother of 4 from Kent Island, Maryland, with which her Marylander accent still lingers. Born in Guam, Theresa grew up in Southern California and was raised in a holistically practicing home by Patricia Lally, the current Director of Racial Equity Works for the Greater Seattle Area. Lally has served as the Director of the city of Seattle’s Office for Civil Rights and as Assistant US Attorney where she was responsible for over 300 grand jury presentations leading to felony indictments. Lally and her three siblings are very accomplished in the Western sense, all of them becoming doctors or lawyers. While education was clearly very important, they were not brought up with Mexican traditions and were instructed to only use English in the house as they were whitewashed to assimilate. It wasn’t until the passing of Theresa’s Grand-

Maryl a n d when her then spouse was transferred for work. They chose to build a sprawling, marbled home in the Maple Ridge neighborhood of Owasso purely by selecting its location on a map.

“There was water, and there was land,” she recalls. She quickly found she was a - albeit beautiful and rare - fish swimming against the current that is the typical nuclear family Owasso culture. Upon deciding to homeschool she told her son Jack, who happens to be neurodivergent, “I’m not gonna make you change to fit in.”

Theresa found like-minded mothers in crunchy mom groups but wasn’t fond of the cultural appropriation and gatekeeping she witnessed. Theresa was interested in holistic living without the mom-shaming. She had grown to love Great Pyrenees dogs and got the crunchy idea to weave her dog’s hair into a woven wrap. But in typical Theresa fashion, she wanted to learn to use the loom herself, so she purchased one. However, Theresa hated spinning and - ever the environmentalist - she hated the waste this craft produced even more. She created wool dryer balls and learned to extract lanolin, commonly used

in association with breastfeeding and in the cloth diapering community. Theresa was now operating an Animal Welfare approved, Grass-fed certified Lanolin production company she named The Impermeable Shepherdess.

Theresa made the decision to leave Owasso and move her family into a one room in-law suite to learn to garden from a master gardener. “I don’t know if that’s rational,” she tells us with a grin. Theresa spent her first 3 months in Nim’s home learning to use a Thai broom correctly. “She did everything so beautifully,” recalled Theresa. “She wasn’t interested in a rushed job.” Min’s motto was, “do it beautifully always.” Theresa had the ambitions of turning Min’s beautiful garden into a co-op to feed those who are without, as she is a natural nurturer, a humanist. Theresa has been known to give someone a dozen eggs, some silky chickens, puppy cuddles during quarantine, or even a piece of her mind. She is genuine and upfront in her convictions.

“I have felt so disrespected by the [Oklahoma cannabis] industry,” she says, “I am a relevant activist.”

As a member of the National Hispanic Cannabis Coalition and Women Who CANnabis, Theresa is also an established environmental advocate.

“Change happens at a table,” she says, “If you don’t have a lobbyist that is good at what they do you’re fucked.” She has spoken before legislative committees for renewable climate energy with Climate Parents. She told Tulsa Kids Magazine in 2017, “I am motivated by my core beliefs that renewable climate energy, effective and impactful climate laws and funding for innovative science are what will ensure a future for our children’s children.” But Theresa feels the cannabis industry doesn’t see the value in her. “Let’s take out the emotions and just have conversations and we’ll get somewhere,” she believes.

Racism, sexism, and ostracism are prevalent in our high stakes, competitive industry. “A wise grower once told me that if you haven’t had a failed harvest, you haven’t ever commercially grown,” Theresa relayed. Upon the passing of 788 Min and Theresa’s spouses, Marvin and Rustic, partnered and turned the garden into a commercial grow, making The Magic Dragonfly Farm one of the first in the green rush to license in September 2018.

But as is common in our industry, conflict within the team arose following a failed harvest. The two parties amicably parted ways, dissolving their partnership and splitting the assets. Theresa was the owner of her own newfound property, Harmony Star Farm. “This is the land that heals my soul,” she wistfully recounts. Deflated, Theresa kicked Rustic out. Five days later she filed for divorce and with no experience in growing personally, she tearfully turned to the land asking, “what do you want to be, farm?” The land answered her. “And suddenly you just know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”

Theresa’s children’s father, Charles, joined her in Oklahoma and came to the rescue. Where Theresa is scattered, Charles is constant, precise. Not only did he finish her farmhouse - making it habitable - he also designed and produced nearly perfect indoor grow rooms for her, each meticulous detail noted and applauded by the OMMA agent who recently performed their assessment.

It is a modest grow. “There is no closet with money,” she tells us. “I’m not stacking cash under the bed.” There is really very little money coming in currently, but the future looks bright for Theresa, Charles, the kids, and the dogs

of The Magic Dragonfly Farm. “When you are in the grind, your kids are in it with you,” she remarks.

Theresa mentored under Mike Theissen who, she tells us, taught her all she now knows about growing in exchange for two dozen eggs. “She also wildly exaggerates,” Mike jokes. “When she and I first started talking she was really really down. Husband left, crop was shit, and she just wanted to finish out the last harvest and call it quits,” he relayed. “And if it was anyone else, I would encourage them to leave, but Theresa is the type of person this industry needs.” Mike goes on to say, “I wrote her some things to do, and the most important thing was to smile. It’s on the list. The plants know when things are off, and they know when things are good. Now they have a feedback loop of good vibes.” Can all commercial grows just hire Mike Theissen to consult? What happy medicine we’d all have.

All on her own with Charles’ support, and in association with Tenkiller Trees, Theresa and The Magic Dragonfly Farm now provide patients with RSO at an affordable price. They are focusing on one strain at a time in their indoor grow featuring Sueno Bordello, Birthday Cake, Skywalker OG, Frosted Sherbet, and Orange Velvet.

“Dragonflies symbolize change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization,” Theresa says. “In a constantly changing industry, we will always be here growing your medicine.” The Magic Dragonfly Farm clones and RSO can be found currently at Tahlequah Holistic Cannabis Co. Tahlequah Holistic is a Native and locally owned retailer offering their Penny RSO Program to patients with qualifying conditions. “I feel like I’ve been exposed to all the Oklahoma Industry has to offer,” she reflects. And in the future? She tells us, “I won’t look back.”

21

THE

Budtender

Diaries BUILDINGTRUST

By Anna Ervin

Lizzy, Budtender, Brickhouse Canna Co.

I think “I don’t know” might be some of the most unappealing words you could hear come out of a budtender’s mouth. Sure, we all have to use them at times, and hopefully we follow up with a quick “but let me find out for you,” before proceeding to dig for more details… but what happens when those details aren’t readily available to us? Or we’re fed misinformation about the products we’re being asked to sell? I’m convinced that there is no greater shame than being unable to answer a question a patient has asked about the medicine they choose.

I’ve always been naturally self-competitive, so this kind of setback has been a difficult pill for me to swallow. There have been occasions that made me want to melt into a puddle of embarrassment on the dispensary floor after a patient left without making a purchase.

This has little to do with monetary loss for me. Sure, I would want the dispensary I work for to succeed, but at the end of the day the thing that gets me is knowing that I failed to make the process of shopping for medicine easy and transparent for my patients. Looking back at a time when I was just a patient, I can remember feeling pretty discouraged when the people selling me medicine weren’t able to answer my questions about where it came from, or how it was cultivated or processed. I’m now positive that they felt the same.

I think I speak for most budtenders when I say that we want our customers to

leave happy, empowered, and informed. At the end of the day, we need our patients to trust us, and the source of that trust traces back to both our own responsibility to stay informed, and our relationships with the brands that stock our shelves.

Now, I’m not here to whine about the issues I see without proposing at least a few ideas for solutions. I don’t have the type of brain that allows me to recognize a problem without coming up with a million ways to solve it. At the same time, these are just ideas. The goal is simply to offer a new perspective. Hopefully, this is only the beginning of the conversation. So where do we start?

Last month the focus was how cultivators and processors could better provide the resources and tools budtenders need in order to create a solid bond with dispensaries. This month, I’m turning the tables, but that doesn’t mean that both sides of the industry won’t find a little insight here.

I’ve said this before, and I will continue to reiterate for the rest of my career, but it is a budtender’s responsibility to continuously educate themselves about industry standards, as well as the science that goes into cultivation and extraction. I know this is a daunting task for some (like me). So instead of droning on about topics I don’t fully understand (yet), today I’m offering a list of tools budtenders and dispesaries can equip themselves with in order to build a foundation of trust and transparency, furthermore empower their patients to make educated choices when shopping for medicine.

Easily Accessible Lab Results

I know this seems obvious, but hear me out. I have worked in one dispensary, so I can’t speak on how many of the others operate. However, I will say this, it is gut-wrenching how grateful my patients were that I actually had test results on a shelf behind me for literally any of the products they asked for. This shouldn’t be something patients are surprised to see, it should be something they are used to. Having lab results that are easily accessible not only provides valuable information for patients that understand those results, but it gives budtenders a tool to help them sell products they may not know as much about.

Understanding Cannabinoids and Terpenes

Buy a poster for reference, make flash cards, do whatever you need to do, but learn your cannabinoids and terpenes. Though research is sparse, and we’re only just

beginning to understand the effects these components contribute, this is hands down one of the most useful tools you could utilize to help you recommend products to patients. The most important thing to remember is that the research that’s currently available is just a starting point.

Cannabis affects everyone differently, so while you might begin by explaining that terpinolene can provide energy and focus for some, you would also benefit from explaining that it can invoke anxiety or even sedation in others.

This level of transparency with your patients not only empowers them with useful knowledge about cannabis, but it inspires them to pay closer attention to how different components of the plant benefit their experience or overall health.

Knowing the Right Questions

Rather than getting caught off guard on the sales floor, equip yourself with the knowledge your customers may seek before the products you sell even hit the shelves. What were the cultivation methods used? Processing methods? Are the extracts full-spectrum, distillate, or some form of isolate? Were solvents used in extraction? Are the products single-sourced or did they come from a collective of licensed cannabis businesses? The list could go on. These may be a bit on the extreme end, but there’s nothing worse than being surprised by a question that indicates your customer knows what they’re talking about. Talk to your cultivators and processors. Even if you’re not entirely sure what you’re asking yet, keep asking. I promise most of the people investing their time and livelihoods into cannabis are eager to share their expertise with you– and if they’re not, you should definitely ask more questions.

Building trust with our patients begins by building a foundation of trust in our cultivators, processors, employers, and ourselves. Put yourself in a patient’s shoes (this shouldn’t be difficult for most of us). Wouldn’t you want to purchase products from someone who takes the time to educate themselves and research what they’re selling? What are your thoughts? Let me know!

The Budtender Diaries

A monthly column which aims to shed light on important topics within the cannabis industry, and invoke positive change by inspiring empathy, awareness, and independent thinking. If you are a member of this community, you have the potential to help create an industry that benefits both patients and the makers of their medicine. If you have questions, stories, or topics you’d like to add to the conversation, please submit them to anna@herbagemag.com.

23

Taurus Season

APRIL 20, 2022 - MAY 21, 2022

by Anna Ervin

When I think of Taurus season, I picture myself visiting a local lake as a kid and absolutely covering myself in Oklahoma’s cool, red mud. This is one of my favorite times of the year, and not just because opening day falls on my favorite cannabis holiday. April 20th will also mark the part of the year when nothing but forecasts of sunny days and warm weather activities lie ahead (at least in our little corner of the globe). As the atmosphere heats up, I can’t think of a better time to tap into Taurean’s warm, earthy energy and go play outside.

Lately, I’ve found that the card of my rising sign seems to resonate with me the most If you know your rising sign, or ascendant, I recommend reading that first. As for your other major placements, here’s a quick refresher on how to give yourself a deeper reading. Use the following guide to give yourself a deeper reading (for example, the card that falls under your moon sign will apply to your subconscious and emotion).

Sun: identity Moon: emotions Ascendant: personality Venus: love —

Taurus - Two of Wands Planning, energetic expansion

What are your summer plans, Taurus? While many of us are gearing up for busy summer schedules, or perhaps a lazy summer break, the two of wands indicates that you are making plans for major growth. Though still in the beginning phases of this energetic expansion, now is the time to dream big, and start thinking about your short and long-term goals. Where do you see yourself in 1 month? 6 months? 5 years? Expand the horizons of your

imagination and reach for the sky. You have the whole world at your fingertips, and nothing is unattainable.

Affirmation: I am open to expansion. I put forethought and intention toward the direction of my goals.

Gemini - Five of Swords Mind games, intimidation, manipulation

Sweet Gemini, this month you may find yourself wrapped up in conflict. Who’s right or wrong is not for me to determine, but there’s certainly something darker going on beneath the surface here. As swords represent the mind, and fives often point to change or conflict, there could be some form of mental manipulation or psychological warfare going on between you and your opposing parties. Be careful of the effects your actions carry when in pursuit of a “win.” Sometimes it’s better to take the loss than to walk away with a stolen prize.

Affirmation: I allow myself to flow with change and face challenges without force. I love myself enough to walk away from a situation that is not safe or healthy.

Cancer - The Hermit Solitude, enlightenment

Cancer, The Hermit indicates that you have entered a season of personal growth. You may find yourself feeling compelled to make time for solitude and self-reflection, for the sake of enlightenment. Step outside of your daily hustle and bustle, experiment with silence and see what you can find when you allow yourself to explore all of this newfound space. Consider this, maybe loneliness isn’t that lonely until you acknowledge that you’re alone. You’re never truly alone, Cancer. Get to know the soul that lives inside of your human vessel.

Affirmation: I am comfortable in my own presence.

I learn magnificent things about myself when I just spend time with me.

Leo - The Tower Structures collapsing, catastrophe

Fear not, Leo, for when this hellacious card appears it’s likely that you already know the reason for its presence. If anything, it should come as a sigh of relief that you’re finally able to understand where that feeling in your gut is coming from. The tower reminds you that whatever collapses in your life during this time was built upon a shaky foundation. As difficult as it may be to hear, this tumultuous occasion is of your own doing, and the only thing you can do

Affirmation: I am resilient, yet humble. I understand where room for improvement lies, and I allow myself to grow from my experiences.

Virgo - Seven of Pentacles Pause, reflect

Virgo, the seven of pentacles indicates that during this time you may feel obliged to take a step back and re-evaluate your work, or the path your career leads. Find a good stopping point and take a moment to both admire and critique your progress thus far. Are you where you hoped you would be? Is it time to start brewing up something new? Only you can answer these questions, but the point here is that you need not be hard on yourself if you need to take a breather from your daily grind, a task that may not come easily to some of my Virgo friends.

Affirmation: I honor where I am at on my journey today. Even small progress is still progress.

Libra - Knight of Cups Emotional awareness

Dear Libra, not only are your emotions finally beginning to take reign over your logical and intellectual heart, but you may even find yourself adopting a sense of pride and protectiveness over their fluidity.

You’re likely making slow, deliberate advances in the direction of emotional discovery and awareness.

This comes as no surprise as this logical approach to something so fluid is typical of Libra. Continue to nurture and protect the matters of your heart, sweet friends.

Affirmation: I am open to exploring my emotional truth. I am ready to discover the language of my own heart.

Scorpio - The High Priestess Esoteric wisdom, reaching new heights in spiritual awareness Scorpio, if I recall correctly, the card I drew for you last month was the hermit (check out Cancer’s reading this month for a refresher). Was your time invested in self-reflection and enlightenment beneficial?

The high priestess suggests that you have indeed reached new heights in spiritual awareness and esoteric wisdom. If you have no idea what these words mean, just know this card is probably an indicator of your sudden interest in divination, ie. Tarostrology.

Affirmation: Pure light surrounds me as I enter a new realm of spiritual awareness and divine guidance.

Sagittarius - Knight of Wands Taking action, running with ideas

Sweet, brave Sagittarius, this season brings the determination and drive to turn thoughts and ideas into action. If you’ve been sitting on your plans and ideals for some time, the knight of wands is encouraging you to utilize this newfound sense of motivation and initiative to charge forward in the direction of your goals. On the other hand, if you are someone that tends to be rather trigger happy and reckless with your ideas, try to slow down and regain your sense of direction.

Affirmation: I charge forward with passion and deliberate action in the direction of my dreams.

Capricorn - Eight of Wands Quick action, fast progression The eight of wands indicates that my Capricorn friends may feel as though their lives have picked up the pace a bit this month. Things in your life might be progressing quicker than expected during this time.

Whether these progressions are positive or unpleasant is not up to me to decide. Either way, energy and ideas flowing at this momentum might feel a bit overwhelming for a sweet earth sign like you. Just remember, nothing is entirely out of your control.

How you respond to these trials will determine their impact on your life.

Affirmation: I am grounded and safe. Even when it feels like life is moving too fast, I trust that Divine light will protect me.

Aquarius - 6 of Wands Celebration, parading accomplishments

What are we celebrating, Aquarius? The six of wands indicates a season of celebration and reward for your recent accomplishments. Those who know you best have witnessed your efforts and applaud your great success, and you finally get to enjoy your lap of victory. This feeling of pride is not for nothing, sweet Aquarius. Remember to give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy this moment.

Affirmation: I applaud my victories and strengths with humility and grace. My accomplishments have shown me just how much I’m capable of.

Pisces - Five of Wands Conflict in energy and ideas

Dreamy Pisces, this month you might find that something is disrupting the flow of energy in your life. Is someone challenging your ideas? This could look like unsolicited opinions from those around you, opposition in the pursuit of your goals, or a sudden disruption of energy created by someone who just doesn’t understand you. Communication is muddled and you may find it difficult to understand those who disagree with you right now. Stand your ground and hold true to your beliefs.

Affirmation: I have the strength and courage to speak up about matters that are important to me. My voice is powerful.

Aries - The Moon Illusion, dreamstate

What is your subconscious trying to tell you, Aries?

The moon indicates you may be experiencing vivid dreams, or a persistent “gut feeling” lately. Now is the time to try to allow those intuitive thoughts and messages to break through. The universe is trying to make you aware of something that could catch you off guard. Keep a dream journal, pay attention to synchronicities, and trust the natural flow of your subconscious thoughts.

Affirmation: I am open to receiving signs and messages from the Universe. My subconscious allows me to witness the natural patterns and synchronicities that surround me.

TAROSTROLOGY:

now is wait until the dust settles. Don’t resist, just observe. What can you learn from these setbacks?

25

The House Bills of 2022

Change on the Horizon of the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Landscape

By Jessi Lane

T

he Oklahoma cannabis industry is preparing to buckle down in light of the May 26 roll out of METRC, Oklahoma’s contracted seed-to-sale and tagging system, as well as the introduction of several new House Bills designed to tighten up our Medical Marijuana program. As Legislature shifts their gaze to marijuana licensing and commercial grow reporting and closes in on retail counter flower engagement, cannabis industry professionals and patients alike question how these changes will affect them directly.

All state laws originate as bills. On average, roughly 2,500 to 3,000 bills are introduced each session (Farmer 2022). The sessions are held the first Monday in February through the last Friday in May, allowing legislative committees four weeks to consider new bills. Once a bill passes House and Senate, either in its original or amended form, it is known to be “enrolled.” The bill then goes to the Governor and becomes a law once signed (Gerrish 2022). However, only about 20 percent of legislative proposals become law. “When a bill reaches the governor’s desk, he has three options. He can sign it, making it law.

He can veto it, sending it back to the Legislature. Or he can leave it lay. During the legislative session, if he leaves it lay for five days, it becomes law without his signature” (Farmer 2022).

There are a number of House Bills regarding medical marijuana at play this session. While the OMMA catches up on their backlog of pending license reviews, inspections, and investigations, House Bill 3208 places a 2-year halt on any new (non-renewal) dispensary, processing, and commercial grow business licenses to begin August 1, 2022. Upon completion, OMMA’s Executive Director, Adria Berry, may lift this moratorium.

HB 4056 creates a marijuana testing laboratory license category through OMMA. This bill also lays out who can and cannot operate the contracted lab and the ways in which OMMA may oversee said lab. A proposed substitute for HB 2179 suggests a tiered licensing commercial grow fee, determined by the size of the grow. The big guys and the little guys would no longer be required to pay the same fee. HB 4055 requires commercial growers to report

their utilities and allow for data tracking. HB 3530 focuses on state tax revenue for the purposes of inspections. This bill allots five million dollars annually from state marijuana sales taxes to fund a county sheriff’s office grant to implement annual cannabis business inspections by the county Sherriff’s Department.

Another bill to sweep the House floor on Lincoln Boulevard with 8 yeas and 0 nays is HB 4287. This bill - drafted

by District 98 Representative Dean Davis (R) of Broken Arrow, who is a member of the House Committee on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances for the State of Oklahoma - is known as the Flower and Pre-Packaging Act. It directs processors and commercial growers to sell cannabis flower, trim, shake, kief, or other flower-based product not defined as a concentrate to retail dispensaries in prepackaged containers no less than 3.5 grams and no more than one ounce. Engaging with the flower, known as “deli style sales,” is prohibited under the Flower and Pre-packaging Act, however, the packaging -usually drams and mylar bags- is no longer required to be opaque as long as it meets all other state requirements and is in an opaque exit bag, per proposed HB 3019. State compliant allocated smell jars at the retail counter will be allowed (Legiscan 2022).

Considering the nature of open container engagement at the retail counter paired with the current health crisis, and by citing preservation of the public peace, health or safety, the Flower and Pre-Packaging Act has been moved to Emergency status. The emergency clause is a provision that allows the bill to become effective immediately upon the signature of the Governor or at a specified date (Oklahoma Policy Institute 2022) and will “take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval” (Legiscan 2022). As introduced, HB4287 states that upon approval this act shall become effective November 1, 2022 (Legiscan 2022). Representative Scott Fetgatter tells Oklahoma City’s KFOR, “if all goes to the Republican’s plan, the earliest these policies would be put into action would be sometime in June” (2022). Until then, Oklahoma medical marijuana patients and industry professionals will stay tuned.

HIGH HIGHHOPES HOPES

is a platform designed to provide a safe discussion place for special needs parenting, the Oklahoma cannabis industry and support transitioning your pediatric patient from Big Pharma to plant medicine. Tarra is the mother of Henry. Henry is a 7 year old boy that has been diagnosed with Autism, developmental delays and ADHD. Tune in to hear their story and be part of the mission to break the stigmas that surround cannabis.

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Let’s do the Time Jump again

D

earest Daring Divine, Tell me, have you been experiencing strange occurrences lately? Small scale mandela effects that pertain to YOUR awareness, but not necessarily things others would notice? Dates or schedules mysteriously changing that you were certain of? Losing things to the void that were right in front of your face, only moments ago? Congratulations! You’ve made a timeline jump! I’d be willing to bet you feel like you’re in a state of limbo when it comes to your life path. Things aren’t quite as certain as before? Or maybe stagnation is creeping in, and even though you’re ready, nothing else is quite caught up to you. SO now you're just…waiting.

I’ve noticed something, Waiting isn’t something the ego likes to do. It struggles with simply being. Being quiet, being in the now, being within. It’s tough being an energetic colander. We sift and release not only our own unserving energies but the collectives as well. The ego wants us to be safe, and comfortable among other things. Therefore it

By Kathy Barker

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immediately sends off an alarm when we’re not comfortable, I.E. bored.“Distract, distract, distract!” it shouts. Common distractions are sugar and drama. Both poisonous to all.

When we consume sugar we’re numbing the emotions and traumas we’re supposed to be transmuting. The only way to transmute them is to FEEL them. Sit with them. Be sad. Be angry. Be bored. These emotions deserve our attention too. They’re kind of like children who need our help to grow up into something better. Something evolved and released.

If left unattended they could become deadweights to a timeline you were never meant to stay in.

There are more people waking up than ever before, so much so that it’s triggered a tipping point and many timelines are converging into the healthiest and highest good of all. The timeline we’ve landed in now tells us Mama Gaia is ready to ascend, and the evidence is obvious. The balance of the masculine and femenin energies need to reach a neutrality. You remember what happens when the

body heals right? It PURGES. There’s been an overabundance of divine masculine for a long time, so it’s only fitting that it is being released upon the Pluto return in the form of war. It’s been said the last time Pluto was in the United States was on July 4th 1776!

Other famous Pluto returns include the fall of Rome, and England’s great famine of 1315!

Things may get rough, but try and remember, if you give into distraction by way of doom scrolling or being glued to the news, you’re only perpetuating fear, and the narratives that are purging. Don’t feed it. As quantum theory states : nothing observed is unaffected by the observer. Therefore the more you focus on an outcome, the closer you draw it to you. Give gratitude for the releasing of imbalance, and put your focus and intention into a new earth. Put it into Peace, love and neutrality.

Fairfaren dear Starseeds,The YOUniverse

Dr. Carl Hart:

A Scientist on a Mission to Spread Knowledge in Support of Health and Happiness of Drug Users

by Jessi Lane, Patient Advocate

“Whether we like it or not, recreational drugs are part of our society, and it should be our mission to use this knowledge in support of the health and happiness of drug users. Clearly, part of this mission is to try to keep them safe, not push them into the shadows and force them to risk their lives when there are better alternatives,” (p. 83) says Dr. Carl Hart (2022) in his latest book, Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear.

Carl L. Hart, PhD, is a neuroscientist and psychologist studying the behavioral and neuropharmacological effects of psychoactive drugs in humans. Dr. Hart is the Ziff Professor of Psychology in the departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Columbia University and is one of the first tenured African American Professors of Science at an Ivy League institution of higher learning. Hart is a member of the National Advisory Council of Drug Abuse and a board member of the Drug Policy Alliance. He has published a wide variety of scientific literature focusing on dependence, drug-taking behaviors, drug self-administration and the cognitive effects of drug use and has testified before the U.S. Congress serving as an expert witness on the effects of psychoactive drugs (American Psychological Association [APA], 2022). “I see the job of the scientist, in part, as helping to correct the blunders of politicians and journalists. It’s one of the reasons that I became a scientist” (Hart, 2022,

p. 107), he says.

It may be true that Dr. Hart is a renowned scientist and an educator. But first and foremost, he is an activist. He is committed to our nation’s citizens who are “tired of watching their tax dollars fund unethical people and corpora-

tions” (Dr Carl Hart, n.d.). Dr. Hart has shared that this ultimately perpetuates social inequality and does not lead to effective drug policy.

“The privileges afforded to some are acquired at the expense of others” (Hart, 2022, pg. 26), he reminds us. In fact, a 2020 report released by the American Civil Liberties Union showed Black people are 4.2 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession in Oklahoma, despite comparable national marijuana usage rates.

Oklahoma also ranks thirteenth in the nation for the largest racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests (ACLU 2020).

“This characteristically American pattern of cognitive flexibility on drug policy, with harsh penalties for some and sympathetic treatment for others, has a long history” (Hart, 2022, p.

25), he says. This issue of racial bias expands nations. “I have also observed that the enforcement of drug laws, regardless of the country, is frequently carried out in a selective manner. Individuals from despised and marginalized groups are disproportionately targeted, arrested, and imprisoned for drug-law violations, even though recreational drug use is common in every strata of society” (Hart, 2022, p.251).

Dr. Hart believes the US government should not infringe on certain unalienable rights of its citizens as described by the Declaration of Independence, of which he is inspired. Among these are the rights to Life, Liberty, and the

pursuit of Happiness. He feels this document declares governments are created to secure these rights, not to restrict them. “Why is it that guns can be legally purchased but heroin cannot?”

(Hart, 2022, p. 54) he asks. “Why is alcohol legal, whereas heroin is banned?” (Hart, 2022, p. 55) Dr. Hart has stated that adults should be permitted the legal right to sell, purchase, and use recreational drugs of their choice, just as they have the rights to engage in consensual sexual behaviors, drive automobiles, and purchase and use guns.

“If there isn’t vigorous and continuous resistance to governmental intrusions on freedom, the rights guaranteed by our noble founding documents will be steadily eroded. I remind[ed] my students that it is their responsibility to fight each day for these rights. If they don’t, we will lose them” (Hart, 2022, p.

38).

With his expertise in pharmacology and all the pomp and circumstance that accompanies a man of his stature having been published extensively on the topic of drugs, Dr. Hart (2022) relays to us in the simplest of terms and with certainty, “there is no drug that produces addiction after only one use” (p. 94). In his thirty-year career, Hart (2022) says he has “discovered that most drug-use scenarios cause little or no harm and that some responsible drug-use scenarios are actually beneficial for human health and functioning. Even recreational drugs can and do improve day-to-day living” (p.

9). Furthermore, he tells us, “There are virtually no data on humans indicating that responsible recreational drug use causes brain abnormalities

33

in otherwise healthy individuals” (Hart, 2022, p.

96). To account for the relatively small percentage of individuals who do become addicted, Dr. Hart has found co-occurring psychiatric disorders account for a substantial proportion of these addictions. “We need to cut the bullshit,” he says, “and stop pretending drugs inevitably - and only - lead to undesired outcomes” (Hart, 2022, p. 62).

Any old-timer will tell ya, marijuana available today is ten times more potent than the marijuana of the 1960s. This political regur gitation implies “the weed of the 1960s might have been relatively harmless, but the current stuff is dangerous. Well, that’s an oversimplification,” (pp.

73-74) says Dr. Hart (2022). He firmly believes, decade after decade the public has been deceived regarding the real effects of cannabis.

He tells us, “A stream of blatant lies has been promulgated to justify marijuana prohibition” (Hart, 2022, p.164). He goes on to say, “Too many people now have marijuana-use experiences that conflict with the cannabis gaslighting engaged in by public officials” (Hart, 2022, p. 164). According to DEA.gov, Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has a high potential

for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision (Drug Enforcement Agency 2020).

However, the March 3, 2022 OMMA licensing report shows 381,974 Oklahomans have received their license to consume cannabis for medical reasons (Oklahoma 2022). Dr. Hart’s (2022) extensive research can also argue “to say marijuana is a gateway to harder drugs is baseless: correlation, a mere link between factors, does not mean that one factor is the cause of another” (p. 8) While cannabis may not be his primary drug of choice, Dr. Hart himself is a respected, successful drug user and is now, after many years, willing to share his firsthand experiences. “My conscience will no longer allow me to remain silent about my drug use, nor can I remain silent about the absurdity of punishing people for what they put into their own bodies” (Hart, 2022, p. 252). He goes on to say that, with his extensive studies, if he did not come out, he’d be a hypocrite and a coward (Hart, 2022, p.

252). “I should know because I had been living as such for many years, I refuse to do so any longer” (Hart, 2022, p. 252). He recommends that respectable middle-class drug users also stop concealing their use. In doing so it would help to thwart the generalization that all drug users are troubled, irresponsible members of society. Dr. Hart and his spouse, Robin, are in favor of whatever makes one a better person and makes the world a better place for all. “I am simply pointing out that we have found, at least from our perspective, what works for us, in line with who we are and with who we are striving to become- more compassionate and humane people” (Hart, 2022, pp. 116-117).

Dr. Hart understands the immense importance of his position as Guide, if you will, when wistfully reflecting on Gil Scott-Heron’s 2010 song, I’m New Here- “It’s just that the song forces me to think about my responsibility regarding showing others around; to provide drug users with a few important lessons to facilitate their health and happiness. If I had to boil them down to a few tips, they would involve these four topics; dose, route of administration, set, and setting” (Hart, 2022, p. 73). In Drug Use for Grown Ups, Hart provides detailed strategies that a responsible adult drug user can employ to enhance positive drug effects, while minimizing negative ones. These are the same tactics used in his government-funded re-

search designed to keep research participants safe. “Dose is everything” (Hart, 2022, p. 74), he says. “By dose, I simply mean the amount of drug taken. This is perhaps the most crucial factor in determining the effects produced by the drug” (Hart, 2022, p. 73). He explains that generally, larger doses increase the likelihood of harmful effects- this being one of the most basic principles of pharmacology. We know that potency is the amount of drug required to produce a particular effect and have learned the smaller the amount needed to cause the response, the more potent the drug. Dr. Hart (2022) includes, “the route of administration determines the speed at which the drug reaches the brain and, therefore, the immediacy and intensity of the drug’s effects” (p. 75). The set and setting - or environment, mindset, and company - will also affect the user’s individualized results, as well as the user’s tolerance.

“It is not surprising that the highest drug-related mortality rates in the United States are found in regions, including the Appalachia and Oklahoma, with lower rates of university completion and greater economic distress” (Hart, 2022, p. 79), he says. Drug testing facilities would greatly reduce these numbers as Dr. Hart has found that a grave number of ODs are due to contamination, often with illicit Fentanyl. “Imagine if we could provide [drug safety testing services] for communities around the world and give every user the opportunity to test their drugs to ensure they are safe. Deaths from contaminated drugs would be dramatically reduced” (Hart, 2022, p. 81).

In his international travels Dr. Hart (2022) has found fewer drug related deaths where drug testing services are available and believes “if our current government - or any government - were genuinely concerned about the health and safety of drug users, it would ensure that free, anonymous drug-safety testing services were widely available” (p. 250). That may be far and away for Oklahoma - and sadly too late for many of our loved ones who are drug users - however in a feat of social service in April 2021 Kevin Stitt approved Senate Bill 511, allowing drug users to exchange used hypodermic needles for clean needles without fear of retribution.

Recently Dr. Carl Hart visited Tulsa’s own Magic City Books for an in-person author event to celebrate the paperback release of his latest book, Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear. He shared Tulsa’s

evening engagements with Snoop Dog and Ice Cube, who were performing up the street.

“50-year-olds on stage doing hip hop. That’s gonna be interesting,” he smirked to his intimate audience. “We are competing with some aging hip hoppers.” Dr. Hart has visited Tulsa before and was among friends at Magic City Books.

As a knowing audience nodded their heads in agreement he confirmed, “Oklahoma, you’ve been arresting everybody in this state.” He reiterates, “you are really one of those states that really go after your white people.” Familiar characters named in the book proudly took audience with attendees present from various Tulsa communities in almost gleeful congregation. “After reading this book, I hope you will be less likely to vilify individuals merely because they use drugs.

That thinking has led to an incalculable number of deaths and an enormous amount of suffering.

(Dr Carl Hart n.d.)” He goes on to say, “If the ideas expressed in this book are embraced, we can get on with the business of treating each other better and enjoying more meaningful and fulfilling lives. And isn’t that what we all want” (Dr Carl Hart n.d.)?

Today Dr. Hart resides in both New York and Geneva. “I can’t do the American thing anymore,” he told his captivated Magic City audience. “I’ve had enough of the hypocrisy.” He encourages us to go, live our lives openly and out. “There is no such thing as being completely safe. Any life worth living is not without risk. So, I would suggest you live your life as you see fit. At least you will be living” (Hart, 2022, p. 53).

Jessi Lane, Patient Advocate is a writer and Oklahoma cannabis industry professional since 2018. She is a Certified Cannacian III and Trichome Institute Certified Cannabis Consultant with a “full spectrum” Postpartum Wellness background.

35

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When Mahria Baughn first began advocating for cannabis back in 2019, she faced scrutiny from her community and peers who remained unsure of the benefits of the plant. “No one was really doing it at the time,” Mahria remembers, “and I was trying to be super vocal and positive. For me, education was key. Putting the research out there, talking about the terpenes, trying to teach patients.”

Fortunately, Mahria’s valiant efforts to change the hearts of those in doubt paid off when she began to meet like-minded individuals who wanted to grow and learn alongside her.

As she sought out and traded knowledge with some of the industry’s pioneers, people who were sick, or just curious about cannabis, would ask her for more information. Mahria would meet with cancer patients to help them educate themselves on the benefits and safe consumption of RSO, raise money to help patients afford their medicine, and set them up with full RSO regimens by working with processors and cultivators to provide wholesale pricing.

Mahria

By Anna Ervin Staff Writer

“I didn’t realize how uneducated people were on the medicinal use of marijuana,” Mahria says. “It really is amazing. Doing the advocacy work at such an early stage really helped me get my name out

there. It just started with networking and meeting up with people, walking into dispensaries and asking if they were doing events, if I could sell t-shirts, or if I could raise money to help vets get their medical card.”

When it came time for the Cowboy Cup to recruit its judges, Mahria applied with all of the experience and education she had accumulated over time. She was selected to judge the edible category at the first-ever cup. “Judging edibles was a great opportunity and taught me so much about what to look for in products,” Mahria remembers.

“The second year, I applied and was selected for edibles again. We were offered in-depth training from people who had been in the cannabis industry for a long time.”

For last year’s cup, Mahria was offered the opportunity to finally judge sun-grown flower. “I was so happy,” she reports. “The flower was judged based on around 7 different categories, and we were asked to provide at least a paragraph description about each

sample. We received even more incredible training over judging last year.”

In Mahria’s eyes, being a judge for the Cowboy Cup has opened up many opportunities for her. “I have had about three different cultivators reach out, asking me to help them phenohunt or critique their flower. The dispensary I work for receives three times the number of vendors each day than we used to. I get to meet people from all over Oklahoma and see so much product because of my experience with the cup.”

“Oklahoma is so small with such a huge industry,” Mahria adds, “and the sky’s the limit for everyone here. I went from screaming at the top of my lungs, advocating on social media, to simply sitting back and being able to judge cannabis varieties from all over Oklahoma. What a cool industry? It truly is amazing.”

Will Mahria be back at this year’s Cowboy Cup to judge and celebrate Oklahoma’s blossoming cannabis industry? “Absolutely,” she confirms. “ I will keep judging as long as they will let me.”

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