Herbage Magazine April 2023

H E R B A G E M A G A Z I N E What is

B y J a m e s B r i d g e s

C E O & P u b l i s h e r - H e r b a g e M a g a z i n e

H e r b a g e M a g a z i n e s t r i v e s t o b r i n g y o u f r e s h c o n t e n t r e g u l a r l y . W e c o v e r a w i d e r a n g e o f c a n n a b i s c u l t u r e a n d m e d i c a l m a r i j u a n a - r e l a t e d i s s u e s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , I t i s o u r m i s s i o n t o b e t h e v o i c e o f t h e g r o w i n g c a n n a b i s i n d u s t r y . T h r o u g h f a i r a n d o p e n d i s c o u r s e w e h o p e t o c o n t i n u e t h e t r e n d o f b r i n g i n g c a n n a b i s o u t o f t h e s h a d o w s a n d i n t o t h e m a i n s t r e a m w h e r e i t b e l o n g s . W e a r e a m u l t i m e d i a b a s e d m a g a z i n e p l a t f o r m . O u r p r i n t e d i t i o n i s a m o n t h l y , f r e e t o t h e r e a d e r , b o o k w h i c h c a n b e p i c k e d u p a t o v e r 5 0 0 l o c a t i o n s i n O k l a h o m a .

W e P r i d e O u r s e l v e s i n s h o w c a s i n g : M o v i n g a n d p a s s i o n a t e f e a t u r e s . P e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t s p o t l i g h t s . H i g h l i g h t i n g p o s i t i v i t y a n d a d d r e s s i n g t h e n e g a t i v e . E a c h c o v e r i s u n i q u e a n d i s c r e a t e d b y a n a r t i s t i n t h e c o m m u n i t y .

H e r b a g e M a g . C o m i s o u r o n l i n e m a g a z i n e . W h e r e w e p r o v i d e : D a i l y b l o g s a n d f e a t u r e s . R e - p u b l i s h o f t h e m o n t h l y p r i n t e d i t i o n . P r o d u c t r e v i e w s . E d u c a t i o n a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t i n a n a r r a y o f d i f f e r e n t f o r m a t s . L a r g e & S m a l l v i d e o p r o d u c t i o n .

W e a r e s t o r y t e l l e r s . N o m a t t e r t h e m e d i u m . . .

O u r t a r g e t a u d i e n c e a r e p e o p l e w a n t i n g m o r e e d u c a t i o n i n t h e c a n n a b i s i n d u s t r y w h i l e b r e a k i n g t h e s t i g m a s u r r o u n d i n g i t t h r o u g h a m p l i f y i n g t h e i r v o i c e . W i t h m u l t i p l e p l a t f o r m s i n o r d e r t o h e i g h t e n t h e i r v i e w o n t h e c a n n a b i s i n d u s t r y , w e h o p e t o c o n t i n u e t o s p r e a d a p o s i t i v e l i g h t o v e r o u r g r o w i n g c o m m u n i t y .

H a v e f u n a n d e n j o y l i f e !

B O N O - A P E C A N N A B I S C O .

ABOUT THE COVER

Can this Oklahoman resident bring cannabis to Costa Rica?

“ H i g h l e v e l s o f T H C i s w h a t o u r c o m p a n y s p e c i a l i z e s i n . W e a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p h e n o h u n t i n g s o m e o f y o u r f a v o r i t e s t r a i n s .

M e d u s a , P i x i e D u s t a r e s t a p l e s i n o u r g e n e r i c l i b r a r y .

W e a r e m o r e t h a n e a g e r t o b r i n g U n i t e d S t a t e s g e n e t i c s a n d c u l t i v a t i o n e x p e r t i s e t o t h e

C o u n t r y o f C o s t a R i c a . ”

h

C a n n a b i s h a s b e c o m e a m a j o r t o p i c o f d i s c u s s i o n a l l a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , w i t h c o u n t r i e s l e g a l i z i n g i t s u s e f o r b o t h m e d i c i n a l a n d r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s . W h i l e s o m e c o u n t r i e s h a v e e m b r a c e d c a n n a b i s w i t h o p e n a r m s , o t h e r s a r e s t i l l h e s i t a n t t o l e g a l i z e i t d u e t o v a r i o u s r e a s o n s . C o s t a R i c a , a c o u n t r y k n o w n f o r i t s b e a u t i f u l b e a c h e s a n d t r o p i c a l c l i m a t e , h a s y e t t o f u l l y e m b r a c e c a n n a b i s a s p a r t o f i t s c u lt u r e . H o w e v e r , S e a n S u h , t h e o w n e r o f B o n o - A p e , a i m s t o c h a n g e t h a t . S e a n S u h i s n o s t r a n g e r t o t h e c a n n a b i s i n d u s t r y . H e i s t h e o w n e r o f B o n o - A p e , a s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t c u l t i v a t i o n f a c i l i t y l o c a t e d i n O k l a h o m a . T h e f a c i l i t y i s k n o w n f o r p r o d u c i n g s o m e o f t h e f i n e s t c a n n a b i s p r o d u c t s i n t h e w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g t h e i r i n - h o u s e M e d u s a s t r a i n , w h i c h b o a s t s a n i m p r e s s i v e

4 2 % T H C l e v e l . B o n o - A p e i s a l s o c a p a b l e o f pr o d u c i n g c o n s i s t e n t q u a l i t y p r o d u c t s m o n t h a f t e r m o n t h , t h a n k s t o t h e i r t e a m o f w o r l d - c l a s s g r o w e r s w h o c o n t i n u o u s l y p u s h t h e e n v e l o p e f o r q u a l i t y a n d q u a n t i t y .

T w o y e a r s a g o , S e a n S u h d e c i d e d t o m o v e t o C o s t a R i c a t o b r i d g e t h e g a p b e t w e e n g e n e t i c s a n d b r i n g i n g t o p - q u a l i t y c a n n a b i s p r o d u c t s t o t h e c o u n t r y . H e r e c o g n i z e d t h a t C o s t a R i c a w a s c u r r e n t l y i n a C B D p h a s e a n d s a w a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n t r o d u c e h i g h- q u a l i t y c a n n a b i s p r o d u c t s t o t h e C o s t a R i c a n p o p u l a t i o n .

S e a n a n d h i s t e a m a t B o n o - A p e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t C o s t a R i c a n s , l i k e O k l a h o m a n s , a d m i r e a n d a p p r e c i a t e q u a l i t y p r o d u c t s . S e a n s a y s , " W e r e c o g n i z e t h e a b i l i t y t o b r i n g h i g h - q u a l i t y p r o d u c t s a t v e r y a f f o r d a b l e p r i c e s , n o t o n l y t o O k l a h o m a n s b u t a l s o t o C o s t a R i c a n s . " H e b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e r e i s a d i r e c t c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s e n s e o f f a m i l y a n d n a t i o n a l p r i d e i n b o t h O k l a h o m a a n d C o s t a R i c a , m a k i n g i t e a s ie r t o i n t r o d u c e c a n n a b i s p r o d u c t s t o t h e c o u n t r y .

B o n o - A p e c u r r e n t l y h a s a n o f f i c e i n C o s t a R i c a t h a t i s d e d i c a t e d t o w o r k i n g w i t h l o c a l a n d n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s w h i l e d e v e l o p i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t o b e t h e f i r s t c a n n a b i s c o m p a n y i n t h e c o u n t r y . S e a n a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t c a n n a b i s i s a c u l t u r e i n C o s t a R i c a a n d i s e m b e d d e d i n t h e i r m u s i c a n d w a y o f l i f e . H e s a y s , " Y o u c a n a l s o s a y t h a t C o s t a R i c a i s t h e J a m a i c a o f C e n t r a l A m e r i c a . ”

T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f c a n n a b i s i n C o s t a R i c a i s n o t w i t h o u t i t s c h a l l e n g e s . I n 2 0 1 9 , t h e L e g i s l a t i v e A s s e m b l y a p p r o v e d a b i l l t h a t w o u l d l e g a l i z e m e d i c i n a l c a n n a b i s a n d a l l o w f o r i t s c u l t i v a t i o n , p r o d u c t i o n , a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s , t h e r e i s g r o w i n g s u p p o r t f o r c a n n a b i s i n C o s t a R i c a A 2 0 1 9 p o l l f o u n d t h a t 5 8 % o f C o s t a R i c a n s s u p p o r t t h e l e ga l i z a t i o n o f m e d i c i n a l c a n n a b i s , w h i l e 3 8 % s u p p o r t t h e l e g a l i z a t i o n o f r e c r e a t i o n a l c a n n a b i s .

S i n c e o p e n i n g t h e o f f i c e i n C o s t a R i c a , S e a n h a s b e e n i m m e r s i n g h i m s e l f i n t h e l a n g u a g e a n d c u l t u r e o f t h e c o u n t r y . H e s a y s t h a t h i s k i d s g o b a c k a n d f o r t h f r o m C o s t a R i c a a n d O k l a h o m a s o m u c h t h a t t h e y e v e n g e t c o n f u s e d a b o u t w h e t h e r t h e y a r e O k l a h o m a n o r C o s t a R i c a n .

T h e c o u n t r y i s s t i l l h e s i t a n t t o f u l l y e mb r a c e t h e p l a n t d u e t o v a r i o u s r e a s o n s , i n c l u d i n g c o n c e r n s a b o u t d r u g t r a f f i c k i n g a n d a d d i c t i o n . H o w e v e r , S e a n b e l i e v e s t h a t w i t h t h e r i g h t e d u c a t i o n a n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , C o s t a R i c a c a n r e a p t h e b e n e f i t s o f c a n n a b i s w i t h o u t t h e n e g a t i v e c o n s e q u e n c e s .

S e a n S u h a n d h i s t e a m a t B o n o - A p e a r e r e a d y t o i n t r o d u c e h i g h - q u a l i t y c a n n a b i s p r o d u c t s t o t h e C o s t a R i c a n p o p u l a t i o n . W i t h t h e i r s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t f a c i l i ti e s a n d t e a m o f w o r l d - c l a s s g r o w e r s , t h e y a r e p o i s e d t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e c a n n a b i s i n d u s t r y i n t h e c o u n t r y . W h i l e t h e r e a r e s t i l l c h a l l e n g e s t o o v e r c o m e , S e a n ' s p a s s i o n a n d d e d i c a t i o n t o t h e i n d u s t r y a r e s u r e t o m a k e a p o s i t i v e i m p a c t a n d b e t h e f i r s t c a n n a b i s c o m p a n y i n C o s t a R i c a

Patients Have Has The

Ailments

IF WE’RE NOT ALREADY ON THE SHELF AT YOUR LOCAL DISPENSARY, LET THEM KNOW TO HIT US UP ON LEAFLINK

By Brannan Bell

“Living and standing in your full divine feminine truth with grace and love is something that no one can take from you”

Meet Mel Cortez. She’s a passionate advocate for the Cannabis plant, a Cannician trainer, a mother and a part of Papa Jesus Farms here in Oklahoma. She’s always spreading the love and it’s noticed and appreciated by many in the community! From my first time ever coming into contact with Mel, and having the pleasure of seeing her at a variety of cannabis events, I've grown to love her and the energy she carries. Mel has all the loving mama bear energy, she cares for people and truly shines her light, with being such an easy soul to connect with.

I had the pleasure to chat with Mel, as she shared her heart with me. I always enjoy digging deep with people and feel that it’s an honor when they choose to open up to me She makes the conscious habit of expressing appreciation on a regular basis, big or small. She embodies her Feminine Divine in more ways than one.

F E M I N I N E F E M I N I N E

D I V I N E D I V I N E

M E L M E L

C O R T E Z C O R T E Z

TO GET TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE MEL, TELL ME ABOUT WHERE YOU GREW UP, HOW YOU WERE RAISED, WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE?

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. We grew up pretty poor and lived in the projects with government assistance, until I was about 11 years old when my mom married my dad. He moved us into Scottsdale, where we lived a modest blue collar family life. I had a pretty challenging childhood to be honest. My mother was manic depressive, bipolar with borderline personality disorder, who was extremely neglectful. My biological father was an addict. I was molested at age 7, put into intensive counseling/hypnosis therapy, and have had to learn how to be a human through my parents’ mistakes. Through my childhood, I learned what not to do as a parent moving forward. I’m thankful for the rough upbringing I had, for it led me to who I am today. My step dad helped to change and save our lives, which I’ll be forever grateful for. He’s actually the only parent I still have and I talk to him and call him dad to this day.

YOU’RE SUCH A GREAT FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM MEL, BECAUSE OF THE UPLIFTING THINGS YOU SAY AND SHARE, WITH A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR. I LOVE YOUR VIBE AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAN SAY A LOT ABOUT WHO WE ARE. HOW DO YOU FOLLOW YOUR OWN INTUITION AND REMAIN TRUE TO YOURSELF?

This was actually a very important thought process to me when I started my canna IG. I’ve had different ones in the past for my hair/makeup business etc, but I felt in my soul this one had to be different. I originally started Mel.purehempstress when the peak of Covid hit and we all went into lockdown. I was managing a dispensary in Claremore, and I had patient after patient coming to me worried, crying about the lockdown and not being able to see each other and connect. So I started a instagram page as a means for us to connect on some sort of level, since we couldn’t have our long daily visits and conversations anymore. I purposely put out loving and funny uplifting posts to ensure others that there was someone that loves and cares about them. I’m HUGE on mental health, and knew that isolation could potentially cause some of my patients to act out of character…by making this page it was a way to express and show love, joy, happiness and a little silliness in a time that was unsure.

WHAT ARE SOME EVERYDAY RITUALS OR ROUTINES YOU HAVE THAT ARE SACRED TO YOU?

I immediately wake up every single day and

before I open my eyes, I think and say several things I am grateful for, then I make my bed, take a morning bong rip and cuddle Aries(my cat). That is literally my ritual. I then like to journal 10 things I’ve been grateful for that has happened within the last 24 hours, ten goals I have for myself (can be realistic or not..what resonates with you will stay), followed by which one of those goals I’m going to work on that day…and/or I just release into my journal about life. This is probably the most sacred to who I am…having an attitude of gratitude mindset on the daily. It has changed who I am today.

GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF LIFE CAN BE A LOT AND IT’S UP TO US ON IF AND HOW WE CHOOSE TO SLOW DOWN. HOW DO YOU TAKE THE TIME TO TURN INWARD AND FEED YOUR INNER CHILD?

To be honest, the inner child really gives me no choice!! I had a pretty traumatic childhood that I’ve had to do a lot of healing work from. I’m extremely thankful for a therapist that has taught me many healthy coping mechanisms to help calm the inner child, when she goes rampant. I have fed the inner child by giving her something she never got enough of: LOVE, ATTENTION, & AFFECTION. Sometimes I just sit in silence and hug oneself, and tell the inner child how much she is loved and how proud I am of her. I often validate the inner child by eating cake for dinner, or going to see a late night movie at the theater alone, or grabbing up my kids and acting like kids, I dance, tell silly jokes…I act like the child I was never allowed to be growing up.

“Sometimes I just sit in silence and hug oneself, and tell the inner child how much she is loved and how proud I am of her”.

Listen to Mel’s episode on The Cannabis Hangout Podcast

WHAT DOES HARNESSING AN ‘ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE’ MINDSET LOOK LIKE AND WHERE DO YOU THINK IT TAKES YOU?

The attitude of gratitude mindset has completely changed my life!! I actually LOVE to talk about this with people! My therapist taught me this way to ‘rewire’ my mindset/brain about 4+ years ago and I’ve never looked back! I feel by truly embodying this mindset, you’re grateful for what happens no matter the circumstances. I feel grace and gratitude go hand in hand. I wake up everyday saying what I’m grateful for, and continue to do so throughout the day. At first, I kind of thought my therapist was joking…like really how will this actually work?! However, after just a few days I noticed differences in how my days went and continued to say, write or think in the constant state of gratitude which I feel has brought me to where I am in life right now.

“I feel by truly embodying this mindset, you’re grateful for what happens no matter the circumstances”.

IF THERE WAS ANYTHING YOU COULD GO BACK AND SAY TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF, THAT YOU NEEDED AT A TIME AND DIDN’T RECEIVE IT, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

I love this question..mostly because I love to connect with my inner child to self regulate. I would tell her, ‘Melina, I love you, please be patient’. I’ve had such a crazy life, I’ve lived life backwards in my opinion. I had neglectful parents, childhood trauma, I was a high school drop out, I had children at a young age, toxic relationships, several jobs, which made me feel lost and alone…like why am I here..why did I through all this?! Now it all makes sense. I had to learn how to be patient and love who I am (and have been) in the now. Everything makes sense now that I’ve come full circle and I’m able to relate and help so many others that have been, are, or could be in the same positions I’ve been in before. For the first time in life, I am proud of who I am and what I’m doing to impact and help others.

HOW DO YOU TAP INTO YOUR OWN DIVINE FEMININE POWER AND EMBRACE IT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

I learned several years ago that to fully embody what I feel divine feminine is: by gracefully loving yourself from the inside out, so much that you’re able to stand by your thoughts, words, and actions no matter the circumstances because they all come from a place of love. To love, honor and cherish yourself enough to set the standard and example for not only how you should be treated, but others as well. I can finally look in the mirror and say ‘I love you’ without feeling weird or crying and genuinely mean that. There is power in self love. Living and standing in your full divine feminine truth with grace and love is something that no one can take from you.

ARE YOU A BOOK READER? IF SO, PLEASE SHARE WHAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING RIGHT NOW! I LOVE TO KNOW WHERE PEOPLE’S MINDS GO.

I’m actually a HUGE book reader!! I love, love, love

to read! Fun fact: I don’t watch television! I own one for guests and kids, but I rarely turn it on. My favorite pastime since I was little has always been reading. It was a way for me to escape life. Then it became an addiction to fuel my brain with knowledge. It’s how I learned to have a healthier mindset and lifestyle. Right now I’m currently re-reading a favorite, (I do this a lot lol) The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It’s SO good! I sometimes forget to stay in full presence and by reading it again, it helps to ground who I am and reminds me that all I can do is Live in the Now. You’re a huge Cannabis advocate. What do you cherish most about this plant?

I absolutely adore this plant and how it’s changed my life, as well as many others. The fact that we get to have the freedom to medicate with it as we please is what I truly cherish!! There are SO many variations of cannabis products these days and it’s absolutely mind blowing what we’re doing with it. I also cherish the fact that I get to help people through several avenues on the daily with plant based medicine!

IS THERE ANYONE ALONG THE WAY IN LIFE THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU DEEPLY TO BE WHERE YOU’RE AT NOW?

My children. They have seen me through it all. I’m extremely thankful for the support that they’ve given me and continued to give on this journey. I’m hoping that I’m able to be a solid example for them throughout their lives. I pray/manifest that we’ll continue to be the best lights we can be to the world.

AS A WOMAN, WHO YOU ARE, AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU EMBODY, HOW HAVE YOU CREATED A LIFE YOU LOVE ON YOUR OWN TERMS?

By having time for solitude and living alone. I know that sounds crazy…but times of solitude have taught me more in this life than anything else. I learned to set boundaries, meditate, exercise, take care of myself, love who I am, I learned what I want, and most importantly what I don’t want or won’t settle for. I had a wild childhood and was thrown into adulthood early. I never got the chance to learn, nor was taught any of these things. I always wanted to be in a relationship and/or married to feel complete. Only to feel the total opposite. I finally took charge of my life and set boundaries. I’m still carving out the life I want to this day with full grace and love at the forefront of it all.

Are you glad you read until the end? What a beautiful soul! I hope you take something away from this conversation, that maybe you need or inspired you in some way!

THIS SUMMER

THIS WILL BE A CANNA-GOLF EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS.

PRE-REGISTER NOW!

Herbage_Golf

An evening of fun, food, friends, & glowing fairways.

CULTIVATION CORNER

Brought to you by Smokey Okies Cannabis

You’ve been waiting for me to talk about the flowering stage, so here we are, just in time for 4/20!

While 4/20 is a ceremonial event for us all, it really has no bearing on our cultivation schedule As indoor growers, we pick and choose when we want to grow, and if we want to grow all year ‘round, so it shall be!

While spring time is great for our brothers and sisters in the greenhouse and outdoor sectors to start planting seeds and sourcing clones, us indoor growers have our own schedule.

In last batch of articles, I have been discussing the importance of setting clear goals and objectives for your annual cultivation plan, as well hammering home the importance of running a strict operation during your vegetative stage As I’ve said before, nail your chore list during veg and you set yourself up for great success during flower

In this article, I want to run down how to transition your plant from veg to flower

Preparing your Plants for the Switch from Veg to Flower

Prior to flipping your plants into flower, go ahead and prune them 1 to 2 weeks prior to the flip. You should really clean them up before switching your light cycle?

Why?

Because of the post-vegetative stretch (or the pre-flower stretch, depending on your preferred nomenclature).

After your plants get used to the additional rest time from the extra amount of darkness…they will blow up! Literally It’s like watching teenage boys go through puberty, but in an even shorter time frame.

During the first three weeks of the 12/12 light cycle, expect your plants to double in height. They will produce tremendous growth, vertically and horizontal. Expect lots of foliage underneath.

Which means get ready for some defoliation and major canopy management!

This is why we advise you to get a head start on this madness by pruning during the last week or two of veg.

The Introduction of High Intensity Light to Immature Plants

Through trial and error, we have found that plants respond best when we don’t immediately hit them with 1,000 watts of HPS lighting the day they are switched from veg to flower.

Instead, we have found it optimal to titrate the light intensity in a linear fashion during the first three weeks. This reduces shock and stress on immature plants going from one extreme to the other. None of which is necessary

Your plants will be just fine under very modest amounts of PPFD during the initial week. Remember, your plants were just under veg lights, which are usually equivalent to 300 or 400 watts.. not very intense. You don’t want to immediately pound them with 1,100 watts!

Hopefully you are using a light that allows you to dial in the exact output/intensity We recommend starting your flowering stage with your lights set around 600 watts. From there, you can increase each week, or every few days.

By the end of second week, you should be around 800 watts or so From there, you will keep increasing You will want to hold peak light intensity between Weeks 3 and 6, and then start cranking down your light intensity in Week 7. (You can also start turning down your temps during this time to bring out maximum color expression)

For more on light cycling, scan the code:

Managing your New Canopy

Canopy management is a big part of achieving huge yields, as well as quality buds. How well (or how poorly) you manage your canopy of flowers will dictate the outcomes, both in quantity, and quality.

Poor canopy management will lead to low yields, larfy buds, and less than ideal bud density and quality. Every seen a bud that just looked like it didn’t finish all the way? Sub-optimal outcomes can be attributed to many things, but most of those can be deduced down to canopy management.

In the next article, we will discuss the importance of tackling defoliation, utilizing trellis netting, and how to coast to optimal outcomes during your flowering stage.

Seed to Buds

by Brannan Bell

Brannan is a regular contributor to Herbage Magazine as well as co-creator of The Cannabis Hangout

photos

by

Jeff Hooten, Creative of Casedgod

Meet Randon. He’s the operator of Well Rooted Genetics here in Oklahoma and he’s a connoisseur of consumption, with food and cannabis! He’s a big time foodie and has a memory with smells that take him back. He has learned about curation and flow with the different experiences he has had, with the plant having more textures and smells than any other species we have. He enjoys a good salad mix and bringing people together, because we’re ALL artists.

I had the opportunity to attend the very first exploration dinner, “Seed to Buds”. Which was an experience where artisans of two separate crafts came together to create. This is where the Underground Ghost Kitchen comes in. It was an experience curated by Randon with Well Rooted Genetics and the UGK team. Roger curates the events and Jesse is the main chef for private dining events.

By providing experiences like this in Oklahoma, we're essentially bridging the gap and blending the two worlds, by elevating the state and opening up new doors for the evolution of plant medicine. The goal of this dinner pairing was to utilize all of the plant in ways that compliment luxury ingredients.

Upon walking into Randon's beautiful home, I was greeted with a cocktail and smiling faces. More people started rolling in, all faces of industry gems. Conversations and laughter flowed throughout the whole night. There was good hash rosin present, along with glass tip joints, that I have to say I need more of in my life! The glass tips are such a game changer when it comes to taste and flow, so take note. Everyone found a seat at the table, with a guided menu on what to expect for the evening and then it began.

There were many intricate dishes that made this experience special, along with the option for mocktails for those that requested them. The UGK team also caters to those with food allergies and different preferences. The dinner menu was set up to complement strains like Zacio, Birkinz, Frosted Waffles, and Gelenade. Here are some descriptions on what I got to taste!

The snacks were a favorite of mine and consisted of Pani Puri, herbed boursin, greens and a lavender clover club cocktail to pair with Gelonade. There was also a cauliflower salad with asparagus, espuma and a Monstro Striga Cerasuolo d’ Abruzzo to pair with Zacio, and for the main course we had an herb crusted loin coated in East Side OG kief, with peas, potato, bearnaise and a Maison Passot Fleurie wine paired with Birkinz. To cleanse our palates, we smoked Superboof that was rolled with a glass tip by Zenoa Cultivation, along with orange granita, mango sorbet and strawberry. (the mango sorbet was a favorite of mine). We then followed that with a dessert that was a creme fresh honeysuckle lemon cake with a Lambrusco drink, paired with Frosted Waffles. All of the signature craft cocktails were made by bartender Paul, with Thirst Wines.

We had Chef Jessie Gomez explaining every dish to us, down to each ingredient and herb used and why. As the dishes were presented at the table, it was something I appreciated so much! It brought an intimate experience for everyone there. The cocktails were all so delicious and I truly enjoyed every one, with every dish!

What an experience this seed to bud dinner pairing was! Such a beautiful thing to be a part of. From all of the yummy and refreshing drinks to pair with the food and different tasty strains from local growers, it was beautifully curated with so much intention and passion poured into it, from the creative minds that brought an experience like this to life!

Cheers to some really good company and really good cannabis. So cool to see it! This is what we need here in Oklahoma and I’m stoked to have been a part of this in Oklahoma City. It’s amazing what all we can do together when we combine the things we all love.

wellness

Exploring Common Cannabis Marketing Terms

Happy April, friends! As we gear up for the always highly-anticipated 4/20 celebrations, it's the perfect time to dive deeper into the marketing terms associated with cannabis products. The Oklahoma cannabis market has a plethora of options available to consumers, and understanding the different ingredients and terminologies is key to making informed decisions about what you want to consume. Let’s dive in!

Delta 9 thc, commonly known as just THC, is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. It is responsible for most, but not all, of the plant's medicinal effects. When inhaled, ∆9 THC is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and swiftly distributed to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body. This rapid absorption means onset time is quick, but the effects aren't as lasting as edibles. When ingested in oil form, ∆9 THC is metabolized by the liver and converted into a new compound, 11-hydroxy-THC.

11-Hydroxy-THC is more potent and longer lasting than ∆9 THC. However, in this case “more potent” and “longer lasting” don’t automatically mean “better” or “more reliable”. With 11-hydroxy-THC the onset and duration of its effects can be more unpredictable than ∆9 THC. This is because the time it takes for the liver to metabolize ∆9 THC can vary depending on the person's metabolism, the dose consumed, and whether they ate shortly before or after.

Full-Spectrum Extract refers to extracts that contain all of the natural compounds found in cannabis plants, such as cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Rather than a single compound on its own, this combination of compounds work together and rely on each other to produce a greater therapeutic effect.

NANO EMULSIFIED / WATER SOLUBLE Cannabis oils can be made more bioavailable by emulsification. This process breaks down cannabinoids into small particles, increasing their surface area for better absorption. Nano cannabinoids can be up to 10x more bioavailable than traditional oil-based cannabinoids, thus improving their therapeutic effectiveness. Nanoemulsions keep THC from being converted to 11-hydroxy-THC, bypassing liver metabolism and entering the bloodstream directly. As a result, the effects are more predictable and consistent, reducing unexpected side effects.

NATURAL FLAVORS + COLORS

Cannabis edibles can be flavored and colored with many natural ingredients. Most of them are made from essential oils, extracts, or distillates of natural ingredients: fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, minerals, and animal products (unless they're vegan!). Natural ingredients are often preferred over artificial because they do not contain synthetic chemicals or artificial additives.

BROAD-Spectrum Extract

The CBD market, defines broad-spectrum cannabis extracts as a type of extract that contains a variety of terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids (minus THC). However in the THC market, broad-spectrum refers to an extract that maintains a variety of cannabinoids, but no terpenes or flavonoids. While terpenes are medicinal compounds, they are volatile oils that often get destroyed in digestion and are better absorbed via inhalation.

ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS + COLORS Synthetic and artificial ingredients can pose processing challenges for the body both in the short and long term. These components have the potential to disrupt the body's metabolic and hormonal functions. Often, artificial ingredients are derived from natural sources and chemically modified to enhance flavor or color. In contrast, certain ingredients such as Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40 are entirely synthetic.

ISOLATE

Extract

To obtain a single cannabinoid from the cannabis plant (like CBD or THC), an isolate extraction is utilized. In this process, all other components of the plant, such as terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids, are removed. Typically, harsh techniques, like solvents, are used to strip the targeted cannabinoid from the rest of the plant material. The end product is a highly concentrated, powdered form of the single cannabinoid. Most of the cannabis products on the market that are formulated with specific ratios of cannabinoids (1:1, 12:1, 1:1:1, etc.) typically rely on cannabis isolates to achieve these exact ratios.

CANNABIS OILS , whether they are full or broad spectrum, are highly concentrated extracts made through various extraction methods. However, when cannabis oil is consumed in an edible form, most of the therapeutic cannabis material is destroyed during digestion as oil and water do not mix, and the human body is mostly made up of water. As a result, only a small amount of the ∆9 THC in the oil can be absorbed by the body. Once absorbed, it is metabolized into 11-hydroxy-thc which is responsible for the “edible high” from oil-based edibles.

SUGARS + SWEETENERS Edibles can be sweetened with natural or artificial options. Fruit puree contains naturally occurring simple sugars, fructose and sucrose, making it a natural choice. Allulose, found in some fruits, is a rare sugar, but not necessarily environmentally sustainable when produced at scale. High fructose corn syrup is a cheaper, commonly used sweetener, but associated with health risks such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Sugar-Free can be beneficial for some patients’ particular needs, however artificial sweeteners are often substituted in place of natural sugar to achieve a sweet sugar-free edible.

MELATONIN Sleep and wake cycles are regulated by melatonin, an essential hormone produced by the body. Supplemental melatonin can disrupt the body's natural production and can sometimes cause unwanted side effects such as daytime drowsiness, headaches, and nausea. Reishi mushroom, which encourages the body's own melatonin production, is a more natural sleep aid.

GELATIN is derived from collagen found in the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals, usually cows or pigs. It's commonly used in the production of cannabis gummies to give them their shape and texture. Because gelatin is derived from animal collagen, it is high in certain amino acids that can be difficult for the gut to break down. Occasionally consuming gelatin is not harmful, but regular consumption can cause health issues such as irritating the lining of the gut, bloating, gas, and constipation.

Written By: Anna Wilder

Anna is a cannabis, psychedelic and wellness educator. She relentlessly researches, tries, and educates on wellness products and practices.

Anna and her husband founded Highest Intent with the goal to help people practively care for themselves through the power of plant medicine

L E T T U C E L E A R N I N G

BY CHET TUCKER LETTUCE SMOKE CANNA CO.

With a saturated cannabis market here in Oklahoma, it's important to understand not a saturated cannabis market here Oklahoma, it's important to understand not only basic economics but also how your product or service fits or outshines. At the only basic economics but also how your or fits or outshines. At the date of this writing, we have over 6,800 licensed growers serving a medicinal market date of this writing, we have over 6,800 licensed growers serving a medicinal market that makes up about 10% of the state's population (aka Med-Rec with the ease of that makes up about 10% of the state's population (aka Med-Rec with the ease of getting a medical card). That number would still be considered high even if it were getting a medical card). That number would still be considered high even if it were serving the 4 million residents (and those traveling in) had the vote gone recreational. serving 4 million residents those traveling in) had vote gone recreational. Obviously, had our vote gone recreational, it would have "bailed" out thousands of Obviously, had our vote gone recreational, it would have out thousands of businesses that are fighting for survival. Add the fact that we have 1,800+ processors businesses that are fighting for survival. Add the fact that we have 1,800+ processors and we all get the picture ... there's no green rush! That ship has sailed for the and we all get the picture ... there's no green rush! That ship has sailed for the foreseeable future which means those that are here for the long haul have to continue foreseeable future which means those that are here for the long haul have to continue finding ways to improve and diversify to remain. finding ways improve and diversify to remain.

Specific to the wholesale vendors, how do your businesses do more than survive in

Specific to the wholesale vendors, how do your businesses do more than survive in such a flooded marketplace? I believe it takes a plethora of angles to do more than such a flooded marketplace? I believe it takes a plethora of angles to do more than make ends meet. First, I believe you have to truly have a passion for what you're make ends meet. First, I believe you have to truly have a passion for what you're producing and selling. Sounds like a no-brainer but like any other business or product, and selling. Sounds like a no-brainer but like any business or there has to be a rooted passion for what you're doing to truly excel but even more there to be rooted passion for what you're to excel even more critical in a market that has nearly 10,000 different businesses competing for critical in a market that has nearly 10,000 different businesses competing for consolidating dispensary shelf space. So, whether you're here producing flower, carts, consolidating dispensary shelf space. So, whether you're here producing flower, carts, edibles, topicals, tinctures, etc., you first have to be all-in with your work ethic and edibles, topicals, tinctures, etc., you first have to be all-in with your work ethic and passion for setting you and your business apart! passion for setting you and your business apart!

Next, you have to determine how you're setting yourself apart from the parking lot full

Next, you have to determine how you're setting yourself apart from the parking lot full of vendors vying for dispensary and patient need and desire. Flower makes up a of vendors vying for dispensary and patient need and desire. Flower makes up a majority of sales, especially if you consider pre-rolls which are followed by carts, majority of sales, especially if you consider pre-rolls which are followed by carts, edibles, concentrates and then to the even tighter market of the variety of products concentrates and then to the even market of the variety of products that make up the remaining 5% of sales. If you're diversified in the space, it could that make up the 5% of sales. If you're diversified in space, it certainly help if you're standing out in a few different product categories. With so many certainly help if you're standing out a different product categories. With so many options for patients and dispensaries to choose from, what makes your product or options for patients and dispensaries to choose from, what makes your product or service stand above the rest? Is it a unique or sought after product or strain? Is it service stand above the rest? Is it a unique or sought after product or strain? Is it backed with product guarantees to the dispensary and patient? Is it professionally with product guarantees to the dispensary and patient? Is it professionally packaged and distributed properly? Is it consistent quality? With the state of the and distributed properly? Is it quality? With the state of market, it really needs to be all the above! market, it really needs to be all the above!

So, how do you even make it in the door? One of the first wins in business is being "first So, how do you even make it in the door? One of the first wins in business is being "first to market". For those that've been here since inception or have expanded from other to market". For those that've here since or have expanded other states, they will have a much higher success rate than those just entering the market. states, they will have a much higher success rate than those just entering the market. Dispensaries and patients have had years to become familiar with and trust the quality and patients have had years become familiar with and trust quality and consistency of the vendors that have established themselves. For the thousands and consistency of the vendors that have established themselves. For the thousands that have come in over the last year or two, it's about all of the aforementioned and the that have come in over the last year or two, it's about all of the aforementioned and the value add of being professional and consistent in your sales approach. In my last value add of being professional and consistent your sales approach. In my last article, I shared that you certainly have to be patient and kind as you understand that I shared that certainly have to be patient and kind as you understand that not every dispensary will carry your product and let's be honest, there are some that not every dispensary will carry your product and let's be there are some that you may not want to be in or that can afford certain tiers because their geography you may not want to be in or that can afford certain tiers because their geography within the state doesn't match the dollars that can be spent. within the state doesn't match the dollars that can be spent.

When the market first took off, dispensaries were scrapping for any and all products

When the market first took off, dispensaries were scrapping for any and all products they could get in and even when trying to build long term relationships and/or they could get in and even trying build long term relationships and/or contracts, most weren't willing to make said deals because of the supply and demand contracts, most weren't willing to make said deals because of the supply and demand and the uncertainty of whether those businesses would last. However, the market is still and the uncertainty of whether those businesses would last However, the market is still lopsided with the supply being high (yes, I said high) and the demand not meeting the lopsided with the supply being high (yes, I said high) and the demand not meeting the level of production that's coming out of cultivation and processing facilities Sadly, level of production that's coming of cultivation and processing facilities Sadly, there's been many frustrated with this flipped conundrum and taking it out on each there's been many frustrated with this flipped conundrum and taking it out on each other That's not good business If you're in a single lane (not vertically integrated), it's other. That's not good business. If you're in a single lane (not vertically integrated), it's important to understand that while some dispensaries may be negotiating at high important to understand that while some dispensaries may be negotiating at high margins, many are passing on the savings to the patients to compete at the retail level margins, many are passing on the savings to the patients to compete at the retail level Retail cannabis spaces don't have the "luxury" of the expense write-offs that other Retail cannabis spaces don't have the "luxury" of the expense write-offs that other cannabis businesses are able to leverage Additionally, they will typically have a higher cannabis businesses are able to leverage. Additionally, they will typically have a higher cost of real estate (lease) and more compliance certifications and fees within their cost of real estate (lease) and more compliance certifications and fees within their respective city limits. Last, they are responsible for the 7% marijuan tax on top of all respective city limits Last, they are responsible for the 7% marijuan tax on top of all other taxes and expenses Let's wrap with some of the basics and etiquette that can be other taxes and expenses. Let's wrap with some of the basics and etiquette can shared between both the retailers and wholesalers shared between both the retailers and wholesalers.

It's important to respect each other's time and business space. For vendors that are out

It's important to respect each other's time and business space For vendors that are out there hustling face to face, store to store, be respectful and mindful of the retail space there hustling face to face, store to store, respectful and mindful of the retail space in which you enter You certainly will always take a back seat to any patients/customers in which you enter. You certainly will always take a back seat to any patients/customers that are in the store and I believe most everyone gets this "rule of thumb". If you do that are in the store and I believe most everyone gets this "rule of thumb" If you do come face to face, bring your professionally packaged samples/products ... and bring come face to face, bring your professionally packaged samples/products and bring your best Too often, I've personally heard, "well this isn't what we currently have" or your best. Too often, I've personally heard, "well this what we currently have" or "this is some older stuff, our new stuff is much better" You will quickly lose any "this is older stuff, our new stuff is much better". You will quickly lose any credibility if you're bringing older samples or stuff that isn't professionally packaged to credibility if you're bringing older samples or stuff that isn't professionally packaged to display/pitch. There are far too many that have it together so you'll be wasting your gas display/pitch There are far too many that have it together so you'll be wasting your gas and time if you're not coming to make the best impression Next, respect the owner, and time if you're not coming to make the best impression. Next, respect the owner, purchasing manager, or budtender that may say "no" to even seeing the product or purchasing manager, or budtender that may say "no" to even seeing the product or declining it. They may have other appointments or they may not be taking in new declining it They may have other appointments or they may not be taking in new products at that time. Shoot for a date and time on a calendar if they are interested. If products at that time Shoot for a date and time on a calendar if they are interested If they do agree to check out your product, make sure you're sharing what you need and they do agree to check out your product, make sure you're sharing what you need and that you're not taking up too much time The good ol' elevator pitch of 2-3 minutes that you're not taking up too much time. The good ol' elevator pitch of 2-3 minutes should be enough to make the impression needed for a small chance at an on-the-spot should be enough to make the impression needed for a small chance at an on-the-spot sale or a chance to come back for a sale and delivery. sale or a chance to come back for a sale and delivery

For dispensaries, I feel it's equally important to be open and honest about where you're

For dispensaries, I feel it's equally important to be open and honest about where you're at with products and needs No need to waste anyone's time if you're not taking on any at with products and needs. No need to waste anyone's time if you're not taking on any new products or if you are only looking for a specific product. Additionally, it's not hard new products or if you are only looking for a specific product Additionally, it's not hard to be kind to the person that's out trying to share their products and earn a living If to be kind to the person that's out trying to share their products and earn a living If they call or come in, be kind and respectful and guide the person for a future date or they call or come in, be kind and respectful and guide the person for a future date or sharing that you will take a card or look them up and get back with them Most sharing that you will take a card or look them up and get back with them. Most importantly, if an appointment or sale delivery was made, someone should be there for importantly, if an appointment or sale delivery was made, someone should be there for the appointment or to call and reschedule ahead of time if they aren't going to make the the appointment or to call and reschedule ahead of time if they aren't going to make the appointment If there is a delivery, it's critical that money is there and the transaction is appointment. If there is a delivery, it's critical that money is there the transaction is completed I've personally experienced deliveries to dispensaries where there was no completed. I've personally experienced deliveries to dispensaries where there was no money or they weren't prepared for the delivery even though it was properly money or they weren't prepared for the delivery even though it was properly communicated. That's unfair to the vendors and the person that's on a schedule of communicated That's unfair to the vendors and the person that's on a schedule of deliveries Last, many dispensaries have websites with customer/vendor contact forms deliveries. Last, many dispensaries have websites with customer/vendor contact forms to make appointments It's a wise use of everyone's time to leverage these for making to make appointments. It's a wise use of everyone's time to leverage these for making appointments or avoiding wasted time with a business that's not interested in taking on appointments or avoiding wasted time with a business that's not interested in taking on new products. All in, it's common courtesy and doing your best to respect your fellow new products All in, it's common courtesy and doing your best to respect your fellow man Next month, we'll dive into the power of online awareness and communications man. Next month, we'll dive into the power of online awareness and communications and how they can streamline and improve credibility and opportunities and how they can streamline and improve credibility and opportunities.

Let’s be blunt. It can be overwhelming, but millions of individuals, like you, are ready to discover the wonderful benefits of cannabis. We are an open and caring dispensary that understands how important it is to educate & offer top quality products to our patients.