herbage magazine January 2019 by HerbageMagazine

Sarah Lee

Gossett Parrish Excellence. Efficiency. Integrity.

405/820-6205 slgparrish@mac.com www.sarahleegossettparrish.com

lawyer cannabis | litigation oil & gas | insurance

Issue No 3 Of Oklahoma’s Cannabis Lifestyle/News Magazine

contents

James Bridges CEO/Publisher james@herbagemag.com Stefanie Bridges Editor Marise Boehs Design/Creative Scroll3 Media Sales/Marketing james@scroll3.com Contributors Kayla Johnson Levi Parham Brittany Graham Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish Chip Paul Sleepy Advertising 405-487-9728 james@scroll3.com Albany Anderson 405-638-5542 Alissa Selby 918-407-0240

FEATURES 5

Strainology

new monthly feature

Lucky’s Grow Supply

new monthly feature Half Baked News

11 14 16 22

special feature

Carter Sampson

Veterans see hope COVER STORY

Moon Pie

WTF is Kratom?

EVERY ISSUE 20

21 26 28

Cooking with grass Chip Paul Sleepy’s Garden

Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish

Strainology Aries: Slay those goals this month! You are on track when it comes to your career, life goals, and self-reputation out in the world. Keep this ram energy up this month with the help of a sativa like Super Lemon Haze that has a uniquely energetic and lively eﬀect.

Your January 2019 horoscope and what Cannabis strain will help you get through it!

Taurus: Grab a sativa heavy dominant like Jack Herer to start your year, it will help keep you blissful, clear headed, and creative. Be ready for adventure this month, new beginnings are coming your way with travel, career, love, education, or friendships.

by Brittney Graham Scorpio: You are going to have a very busy start to the new year Scorpio. We are talking social gatherings, meet ups, career meetings, and unexpected appointments. Keep your energy as high as your ambitions this month by grabbing some Lucid Dream. This energetic and uplifting sativa is perfect for your busy January!

Gemini: The beginning of the new year marks a big change for you Gemini. Grab a heavy Indica like Grandaddy Purple and let go of what is no longer serving you by putting your mind in a dreamy non-anxious buzz while your body stays in place. Cancer: January might not be the most exciting time for you, but you will make it through it. It is important to use your energy to forge ahead this month but do not overwork yourself. Grab some Indica Dominant OG Kush and crush stress under the weight of its euphoria.

Sagittarius: You will be evaluating your spending habits, ability to make money, possessions, and self-worth this month all in the name of transformation. Make the month a little less heavy by grabbing an Indica like Headband to help you relax and combat your elevated stress levels

Leo: Your new year’s resolution most likely had to do with the balance of your mind, body, and soul. Remember this while you rid yourself of what is no longer needed in your day-to-day routine. To help you take out the trash, grab the hard-hitting sativa Pineapple Express. It will have you in an energetic buzz, along with the promise of a creative escape.

Capricorn: Happy Birthday! Take this time for yourself to relax and recharge. Give yourself extra pampering with an Indica heavy hybrid like Girl Scout Cookies to help you relax, unwind, and stay in a euphoric cerebral state.

Virgo: This is going to be a big year for you Virgo, and it is starting with a BANG! You are ﬁnally going to come face to face with what has been blocking your creativity. Grab the sativa heavy hybrid Phantom Cookies and be ready to be hit with creativity and happiness to be uniquely you!

Aquarius: Your key word for the month is reﬂection. Focus on your place in this world for the coming year and karmic cleansing. Grab a sativa dominant hybrid like Blue Dream and balance your body while invigorating your brain while you reﬂect.

Libra: Spend time with loved ones this month to set a ﬁrm foundation to begin your year. You had a rough end to 2018 but you are slowly ﬁnding your emotional security this month. Crush that anxiety you might be feeling by grabbing some Bubba Kush. This Indica strain will ease your muscles with heaviness as dreamy clouds envelope your mind. That is what we call a spa day!

Pisces: This month will be more social than you are used to Pisces. You will receive recognition for success to start your new year so express yourself freely. To help you out of your shell, grab a sativa dominant like Green Crack to combat fatigue, stress, and depression.

Lucky’s Grow Supply

Growing the Cannabis Community One Mind at a Time Story by Brittney Graham • Photos by Isaac Harper

Lucky’s Grow Supply, 7507 Broadway Extension, is much more than just a cannabis growing supply store. It is a place where the Oklahoma cannabis community can grow, gather, learn, and empower each other. John Degerness, the owner of Lucky’s, dreamed up what his ideal store would look like when SQ788 passed and it involved art, music, nightlife, culture, as well as grow equipment. When John and his partner came up with their business model, they really wanted to stand behind the idea of building a cannabis community here in Oklahoma. John is from the Pacific Northwest and going through the cannabis industry in Seattle was a learning experience due to the industry falling apart rapidly. “It had an opportunity to make a really big impact but it became constant insiding”, he states during our interview. His history with the industry became one of his main drives when growing his business here in the Sooner state. “You know, Oklahoma is filled with strong people, “John explains, “strong willed, people that really kind of want to stay within the state.” When we think of community, we think of the banding together of people pushing towards a common interest or goal. But, what does a cannabis community involve and push towards? “A cannabis community is more about banding a state around a movement and doing our best to build an economy that is going to support us”,

John explains. Thus, Lucky’s Grow Supply was born! Since the beginning of November, Lucky’s has been laying the foundation of education for growers, patients, and creatives. John likes to call it part grow shop and part community center where events are thrown to hit different aspects of cannabis and its medicinal use. Believe it or not, John has gotten a warm reception from conservative neighbors and friends alike. “In fact, I haven’t received any negative feedback on opening my store from anyone that I know, “John states. Which means, there have been people that have stopped by Lucky’s that you would have never guessed to have been interested in growing or medical cannabis in general. “Oh yeah, I have had friends and neighbors who have watched the news recently and have told me how great it was that I opened my store,” John explains. “Then they share their experiences with how it has helped their grandparents, or cousins, or best friends’ sister.” Every Saturday at 1pm anyone from the general public is free to come to

their grow classes. Don’t be shy about dropping in, there isn’t a certain criteria to meet in order to attend these educational brain food sessions. In fact, elderly couples have stopped by the shop to gain some growing knowledge as well as professionals from all walks of life. Bringing in local artists, musicians, glass blowers, and edible chefs are just some of the guests being highlighted at Lucky’s events this year. Last month Lucky’s hosted Canna Laugh, a laughter yoga night on Dec. 12th. It was free to attend the event but donations were welcome. Those donations went to help others who cannot afford medical marijuana recommendations. Most events will be modeled this way, free to come but donations will be welcome for a certain charity or cause. Be sure to check out their calendar on the Lucky’s grow supply website to keep up to date on the latest events. As far as the grow supplies? Lucky’s does not sell seeds, clones, or hydroponic growing supplies, but everything else is covered. Other than gaining really great growing knowledge and a friend within the cannabis community, John has a great deal for his customers as well! Bring in a receipt from a local dispensary where you bought your seeds or plants and receive 10% off your next purchase!

Half Baked News Cannabis News and Trending Topics

785 $7,500,000 22,000 From Red to Green

Brittney Graham

1200

Let’s talk green as in money for a minute, shall we? The Sooner State’s new Medical Marijuana Authority has already brought in more than $7.5 million from registration fees from patients, growers and dispensaries. Which, as of

December 22, 2018 was a staggering 22,000 license approvals with many more awaiting their okay stamp. Last month reported 785 licensed dispensaries in the state and 1200 licensed commercial growers. To give you a comparison on how big that number is, there are 217 reported Mcdonald’s restaurants in the state of Oklahoma. The first revenue from the new 7 percent sales tax on pot sales began dropping into state coffers back in December.

EdibleRules

The state Board of Health voted on Dec.18th to send food safety rules for marijuana edibles to Gov. Mary Fallin for her review. Kim Bailey, chief legal counsel and chief operating officer at the state Health Department, said staff checked with the attorney general’s office to ensure the rules wouldn’t exceed the department’s authority. Because, as we can recall from the last set of rules this office tried to send out, the okay from the attorney general was definitely needed. If the rules are signed, marijuana processors will be required to label all edible products with the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) they contain. Because some of us

want to relax not feel like we are flying a rocket ship! One lot of product each quarter must also be tested for harmful bacteria, mold, metals such as lead or mercury, chemical residues, pesticides and other contaminants. I mean, ai shouldn’t have to explain why this would be important. If a product fails testing, the processor has to work with the Health Department to recall any edibles that already have gone to market. We are wanting to avoid the entire lettuce debacle entirely. Each edible also must list the Poison Control hotline number as we are used to with foods we purchase at the grocery store.

Cannabis Industry

Training JOB FAIR

Ready to become legit?

City Will Rogers Airport to help with these issues and more. The material is presented in a fast paced, 4-hour course with a summary exam at the end to get your certificate of completion. They are offering several other dates this month for the training, you can review the schedule at https://www. Hempstaff.com under the training tab. Tickets are $249.00 online and $300.00 at the door.

When applying for a dispensary position, it can seem a little scary especially if you are a native Oklahoman. What exactly should you disclose on your resume or during your interview? What terms should you already be familiar with? Hempstaff is offering medical marijuana dispensary training on January 26th at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma

420 Think Ahead

It is January and that means April is just around the corner. I mean, wasn’t it just Halloween? Anyway, as a Dispensary owner it is important to stock of on the right strains for the greenest day of the year, 4/20. If you haven’t given it much thought, remember this, it is very important to stock up on what your medical marijuana patients are expecting to find on this very cannabis friendly holiday. I don’t know your relationship with your grower or if you grow your own stock. However, keep in mind that you have enough time to get a

request in for the following to your grower or grow them on your own. Here are the 12 strains that Leafly has compiled by combining the data from the 100 most looked at strains on their website. First are the Hybrids: Blue Dream, Girl Scout Cookies, OG Kush, White Widow, Gg4, and Pineapple Express. Second are the Sativa strains: Sour Diesel, Green Crack, and Jack Herer. Last, we have the Indica strains: Northern Lights, Bubba Kush, and Granddaddy Purple.

Green Comfort Medicinal Dispensary, LLC is a family-owned company and ran by Lauren Geneva and Jodie Hampton. Other team management members are Edward Geneva and Coleman Hampton. Our goal at Green Comfort is to provide our patients with high quality products at affordable prices. We want our patients to feel at home at our dispensary and know that their questions can be answered by any staff member on our team.

300 E. Franklin St. Suite C. Haskell, OK 74436 • 918-938-0869

www.GreenComfort918.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Green-Comfort-Medicinal-Dispensary-LLC-1220268288114032 Find us on Potify at: https://potify.net/dispensary/green-comfort-medicinal-dispensary-llc-haskell Business Hours: Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

One more puff of that worry-be-gone

“So, what’s with all this stuff?” I ask, scanning the walls with my pointer finger. I am referring to the knick-knacks, shell-elephants (shellephants, she calls them) , shell-boats, skulls, antlers, horns, an Elvis shrine, odd pain ngs, blowfish, and coconut monkeys either hung from the walls or clustered onto small bookshelves around the room. There are several musical instruments among the decor, along with what appears to be a box full of thrift store clothes. I’ve just sat down in the living room of Carter Sampson – artist, philanthropist, musician, singer, and songwriter. “Yeah, I have some weird collections. Ya know, it’s just weird stuff that makes me happy. I like treasure hunting. I like thrift stores a lot. I like the stories behind things. For instance, the coconut monkeys. So, one of my first jobs was at Kamps Grocery that used to be on 23rd and Classen. I went to high school in way north Edmond. My first car was this old baby blue Volvo named Minnie, which I loved with all my heart. I wish I still had it. And my mom thought I was insane because I wanted this job that was like 30 miles from where we lived, and I was driving this vehicle that was eating up all this gas. But I didn’t care, because this place was so cool. And like, behind the cash register they had these coconut monkeys. Just rows and rows of coconut monkeys. And I always loved them, it made me think of like tropical

by Levi Parham islands. So yeah, those have become quite the a…(giggles)...a collection. They’re a little out of control.” Despite the chaos of collected treasures on display in her living room, nothing about Carter has ever given the impression of being “out of control”. She comes off completely together, intentional, and thoughful in the endeavors she takes on. And buddy, there are a lot of those. When I first arrived at her place, she greeted me at the door, laptop in hand, e-mail open, venting about booking shows in Europe - a place she’s toured eight times in less than two years.

She recalls, “It’s strange, because it happened really fast. Ya know, like, those eight tours happened really quickly, like within 20 months maybe. But it’s been good, I went in May (2018) with Jesse Aycock and Lauren Barth.” I had the good fortune to cross paths with Carter while touring Netherlands during that time. We started to reminisce about the trip we spent with several other talented Oklahoma musicians (Jesse Aycock, Lauren Barth,

Paul Benjamin, Chris Blevins - all on Horton Records). “Oh yeah, that was fun. We ate that big meal together, on the canal in Utrecht. Paul Benjamin was the happiest man alive. That was such a good day...when that tour ended up being so hard.” We both laugh. “It’s hard. It can be hard. You’re so out of your comfort zone, and I think that’s why that last one was so difficult because afer so many of them, it’s like, oh my god, I’m willing to rough it but come on .” Carter refers to the relentless pace of performances she’s kept up in such a short amount of me. Thankfully, that tour was in Netherlands, where they have Cannabis ‘Coffee Shops’ to cure the stress of the road. She has toured Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, Belgium, Photo by Jason Scott Germany, and Switzerland as well. “But I do love it so much. I can’t wait to get back over there.” “Gah-damned beatniks!” Erik Oftedahl (who sometimes goes by ‘Erik The Viking’, and is Carter’s boyfriend) busts through the front door. “Smokin’ left handed cigarettes, in here talkin’ bout poetry and pot. Fuckin’ hippies.” We all get a good roaring laugh out of Erik’s interruption. The joke hits on the stereotype of the can-

nabis user as a casual, directionless, midday-do-nothing kind of person. Hollywood has portrayed them as the type of people who are unmotivated to serve any greater purpose in their community. Carter Sampson takes that preconception and flips it on its head. That’s when I ask Carter about the non-profit music camp, she founded in 2013, Oklahoma City Rock Camp For Girls. “So, the original camp is in Portland, OR, and it started I think in 2000, maybe the late nineties. I had heard about it when they did this nationally released documentary about the camp called Girls Rock. It featured like four or five girls in their week of camp and one of them was like this teenage girl who was super into metal music and lived in Oklahoma City. They did this story about the documentary and about the girl in the Oklahoma Gazette. And in like the same week I see this story, I walk into Bellini’s and she’s hosting there. And I was like, shut up . So, I start talking to her about it, and I’m like, that settles it, I’m going there. And it was fortunate, because I was just in the position where I could afford to go out to Oregon and volunteer for the week. And, I mean, wow, my mind was blown away by the camp. I met women who were making a living teaching punk rock aerobics, okay? Women making synthesizers and running recording studios. All these things that were just not happening in Oklahoma City at the time. So, while volunteering I meet some women who have a band called Raining Jane, and they started the Los Angeles rock camp, and so I went there two years later to volunteer back to back for two weeks. And that camp was so awesome, I mean it’s Los Angeles, they have all the star power. They had like Katy Perry play for the girls during lunch. I mean, it’s

really cool to see what they’ve done with that camp and how they inspire the girls there. And really, it’s when I volunteered those two weeks, that’s when I thought ‘Man, maybe we could do this in Oklahoma City. But it’s not going to happen unless I just make it happen.’ So, I tried to do it one year and it didn’t happen, I couldn’t find a venue for it. And then, Camille Harp (local singer/songwriter) introduced me to Amy Young, who

making that as fair a process as possible. There’s been a lot of talk about starting one in Tulsa, and I’d really love to. So, I’ve kind of said from the beginning that I want to keep it the way it is for five years, and this will be our fithh year, so we will see how it goes. We have some amazing volunteers that I just couldn’t do it without them. Ya know, we’re a 501 c3 non-profit organization, so it’s a labor of love and we all love it. But we all have careers, and some have families, so it just takes a lot of me to organize everything.” That led to my next question, “Between all the work of writing and performing songs, booking tours across the US and Europe, making art pieces, and running a non-profit organization, how are you able to manage it all?” Carter turns to me and emphatically answers, “Weed.” We both grin and laugh. At this point I tell her what intentions I have for this ar ticle - to showcase her as an Art by Sammy Soso owns SixTwelve.” amazingly talented international artist, SixTwelve is a community center in motivated local community leader, and the heart of the Paseo district of Oklaregular cannabis user, helping break homa City with classrooms, a commer- any stigma some folks may have about cial kitchen, coopera ve garden, and the miracle drug. communal space that provides people “Yeah, the normalization of it, I feel with learning opportunities in the arts, the same way. Especially since I work music, cooking, gardening and sustain- with kids, ya know. Like I also work able local with kids in a really cool atmosphere. living. It’s not like I’m running a church “The minute I met Amy, we were camp. Most parents are pretty cool and both just like, our missions are totally knowledgeable about that kind of stuff. aligned. And like, I couldn’t have ever But I do think it should done camp without Amy. And really, be more normally accepted, because I we’ve kind of outgrown that building, feel like if I didn’t have it in my life... but I just couldn’t imagine doing it which I didn’t…I didn’t even smoke anywhere else. That’s the worst part weed until I was in my thirties. I tried about it, is that we do have to turn it when I was younger, but at the time down a lot of applicants every year I felt like I ate enough, slept enough, just because we have limited space and laughed enough on my own that it just

really didn’t do much for me. But then when I reached my thirties, I feel like if, especially now that I’m in my late thirties, I feel like if I didn’t have it, I would be on all kinds of weird medication.” I relate with her on using cannabis as a healthy alternative to pharmaceuticals, and the added worries life can toss your way as you venture out of your youth and face the new reality of the world today. Carter carries on, “Ya know, the world is just a different place than it was. I mean, it just seems like there’s a lot more worry. Maybe it’s just being more grown up? I don’t know. Seems like there’s a lot more fear and heavier things. Maybe it has something to do with technology and the constant bombardment of it, we just didn’t used to have that. So there maybe was less stress.” I agree and chime in, “I don’t know about you, but for me, when I was younger, I felt like maybe I was more stressed about personal shit that

really didn’t matter as much. It’s like you think the world is ending because you got your heart broken, but then knowing the world may be ending due to climate change…” “That’s a little more to handle”, interjects Carter. We laugh at the severity of it. “It’s like, what’s that Guy Clark song? ‘Gimme one more puff of that worry-be-gone’? It’s true, it really helps me a lot.” There are certainly those big questions we stress over about the future and what it holds, but keeping up with life, work, our friends and family can be a pleasant distraction from all that, Carter says. “It is really nice to have all these other things, so that when it does get overwhelming, I can set that aside and work on rock camp, or work on songwriting, or booking shows, or glue stuff together.” Carter creates celebrity shadowbox art pieces, or shrines. I first saw them on auction at Horton Records’ Chili Cookoff at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. She sold one shrine

of Leon Russell to Teresa Knox, the owner of the historic Church Studios where Leon ran his record label Shelter Records. Teresa is working on renovating the legendary studio and Carter’s artwork will have a special place there. “Ya know, making these shrines, it’s just kind of paying tribute to the musicians that I’ve loved and also gettng to play with hot glue and rhinestones, so that’s always fun.” Whether it’s playing with hot glue, arguing over email with European booking agents, wri ng well-crafted heartfelt songs, or inspiring young girls to dream as big as rock stars, Carter Sampson says she keeps her positivity up by being around motivated friends and community members, and a little help from some worry-be-gone along the way. To learn more about OKC Rock Camp for Girls, go to www.rcgokc. com. To see Carter Sampson live or to see her artwork, go to www.cartersampson. net

Photo by Jason Scott

Veterans see hope By Kayla Johnson

There’s no denying that our veterans go through hell in more ways than one. More often than not, our men and women in the service return to their loved ones wounded, ill, or injured, whether from a service connected incident or just a horrible accident at home. The Department of Veteran Affairs and the United States government make promises of taking care of them when they come home and they need help, or when they’re in a horrible accident on duty in the states, or even in a car wreck. They swear up and down that they’ll do the best they can for our veterans, and that they truly respect the men and women who have served. Every day of every year, they fall short of that promise in some way. Whether it’s a veteran who can’t get in to see his primary care physician without a three month wait or a veteran whose spouse is being unfairly removed from the caregiver program when they’re desperately needed or a veteran who can’t get help for severe pain. There is no shortage of veterans who have been utterly failed by the VA in one way or another. Unfortunately, for many veterans, they can only see one way out. Veteran suicide rates are sky high, with an average of 22 veterans a day committing suicide and, for some states and age groups, the numbers are only going up. Others turn to a different form of self-destruction, poisoning themselves with alcohol, drugs, and anything they can find or do to keep the physical and mental pain at bay and, more often than not, the VA is the one handing out those drugs and prescription painkillers like

candy on Halloween. PTSD, depression, anxiety, physical injuries and physical illnesses are what make up the war at home and, even if you don’t see it firsthand, the battles for these veterans and their loved ones are very real, and very painful. They are even more so painful when the doctor won’t take a condition seriously, or can’t see you for three months. These men and women, each of them having given up their time with loved ones, their energy, and often blood, deserve more than to be shuffled off to the side, ignored until something goes horribly wrong and it’s too late for them. Veterans should not feel as if the only

solution to their chronic pain or mental illness is to take their own life. They should not feel the need to kill themselves sitting in their car with their service records before someone takes them seriously and truly listens to what they have to say. Yet, every day, many feel this way and, every day, so many leave this world that they gave so much in. For the caregivers and loved ones who have to watch as their loved ones struggle to get, at times, even basic care in a timely fashion, it can be a different kind of devastating to feel so helpless. Very rarely does the VA choose to take the spouses of veterans seriously, even if they’re the ones who care for and are around that veteran more often than anyone else. To be shoved to the side when your only goal is to get help for your loved one can make that feeling even worse. They weren’t the ones wounded, injured, or ill, but, for the wars at home, they’re often on the front lines. They deserve better, period. With the legalization of medical marijuana spreading across the country also comes something many veterans and their loved ones have lacked for some time: hope for a healthier tomorrow, for a pain free tomorrow, or even just to see tomorrow at all. Now that Oklahoma has joined the green ranks of the nation for medical cannabis, Oklahoma vets are benefiting, and they’re eager to share those benefits with their brothers and sisters in arms who need it the most.

Daniel Robinson, a resident of Enid, is one of those veterans. An Army Infantry veteran of 14 years, he says he first became ill while he was deployed to Iraq in 2007. “I started to lose weight while I was in Iraq and my doctor could never really find a cause. By the time they medevaced me, I weighed about 115 pounds.” Once in the states, medical tests revealed that Robinson was suffering from severe Crohn’s disease, and his deployment had greatly irritated his condition. The Army medically discharged him, and he began the process of applying for his benefits. “I consider myself lucky. I didn’t have to put up much of a fight for my benefits. I applied and was approved right away.” While the benefits application process went smoothly for him, he realized he was missing something. “I felt this really empty hole in me. Going from a life working to a life not working left me feeling really useless.” Rather than wallow in that emptiness, Robinson decided to get involved with different charities, and ended up going on a survivalist training trip that lasted a month out in the woods. “The people on that trip ended up changing his entire life,” he says. “The guys on that trip were smoking, and they were telling me all about cannabis. I’m from a law enforcement family, and so I had really bought into the ‘reefer madness’.” Talking honestly with the people on that trip in the wilderness

helped open his mind to the benefits cannabis can give to patients who use it. After a trip to Colorado to see the cannabis industry first hand, his nowwife, Alycia, got involved with the 788 movement right away. Robinson says that since getting his medical marijuana card he uses cannabis daily. “It’s completely flipped the switch on my symptoms.” Knowing that he wanted to help veterans get the strains they needed for whatever their injury or illness, both mental or physical, he and his wife set to opening a dispensary in Enid, Urbn Roots. “I want to help others, because this has helped me more than anything.” Despite how easy the benefits process was compared to many veterans, even Robinson can see the VA’s failings. “It’s a rollercoaster of addiction. Their goal isn’t to solve your problem and to make you better. Their goal is to throw pills at you and move you along.” His contact with the VA is minimal, especially now that he’s a legal cannabis patient, but he says it’s easy to see why there’s a problem. There’s no consistency with doctors. You could have an appointment every month and almost never see the same doctor twice. You can’t build that relationship with your healthcare provider that helps them decide the best way to help you, so they just try to move the problem down the road.” Where the VA has failed countless veterans, cannabis is beginning to

help people pick up the pieces of their lives. “I’m permanently disabled, but I’ve been using cannabis instead of the VA, and I’m better than I have been in years. I have my life back, and I don’t have the VA to thank. It is solely the cannabis.” Robinson says he’s still working to find the perfect dosage for him, but he can see the difference in himself, and so can his loved ones. As for the VA, it’s disheartening for veterans to have to struggle so much for basic care. “As an American soldier, we’re willing to do whatever is necessary to complete the mission. All we want in exchange is to be taken care of when we come home.” A fair exchange, considering that less than 2% of the country’s population serves in the armed forces, and that’s if you’re counting those already retired. There are approximately 22 million veterans that are alive today in the United States. That’s 22 million men and women who have likely given more than most citizens realize to serve their country, whether for four years, a decade, or the magic twenty. That’s 22 million men and women who, if the VA can’t take care of them properly, deserve a joint at the very least. Where the VA is known to cause heartache, stress, and even be outright neglectful in severe cases, cannabis heals, soothes, and helps shed light for those who only see darkness in their days ahead.

Moon Pie

Adversity in life, no matter the form, forces every person to choose. How they push through those difficult, trying, or heartbreaking times, either lays the foundation to build themselves back up, or has the potential to lead them to further distress and dismay later when consequences make themselves known down the road. Which path you take is fully up to you and, while it may be more common to hear cautionary tales of bad decisions during tough times, the stories where people choose to use that heartache and struggle as the building blocks to something better are what need to be shared, especially during such a historic time in our state. For many Oklahomans, adversity is no stranger. Between the dangerous springtime storms, wildfires, earthquakes, and being caught in the opioid crisis, some of those people have struggled through more than their fair share. While some give credit to their faith, their family support, or even just their own ability to keep going every morning, one woman who’s been dealt blow after blow by life’s chaos turned to cannabis to help with getting her through the trying times without spiraling into even more destructive behaviors. Pamela Street is a native of Oklahoma - born in the southeast part of the state and raised in Choctaw. “It was a very different time, but I fully believe that without cannabis, I wouldn’t have survived my raising,” she said,” I suffered a lot of tragedies in life.” Street has seen the horrors of addiction wreak havoc on members of her family firsthand, and was exposed to the world of drug use from a young age. “Many members of my family were severe drug addicts.” She bluntly stated that she felt very privileged to not struggle with addiction, considering her upbringing, and she directly

credited cannabis use with safely carrying her through. “I’ve been using cannabis since the 1970s, and it’s taken me through my education, losing my husband, single motherhood, and every other trial I’ve had to face.” Street, a nurse who has worked in home health and seen firsthand how medications affect patients, was dedicated to her education, having earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She notes that the lack of knowledge among medical staff plays a big role in how false information lingers. She questioned a great deal of what she was being taught the entire way. “During the entirety of my time in school to become a nurse, there was absolutely no education on the endocannabinoid system.” Despite the frustrations she felt over this lack of information, she continued on with her nursing career and cannabis use, until the stress of the constant battles was too much for her. “Constantly advocating to doctors who refused to listen on behalf of patients was frustrating.” Like hundreds of other Okies, she was also greatly impacted by the string of violent storms that produced several destructive tornadoes in May 2013. “I lost a ton, and I don’t know how I managed in all honesty, but I do know that marijuana helped me keep going,” she said. To have legal access to marijuana seemed like a far-off fantasy for Street, as Oklahoma has had a nationwide reputation as being especially opposed to cannabis, medical or recreational. So when the efforts towards medical legalization began to take shape, she felt moved to get involved. “After all of the loss, I wanted to go out and help people, to do something to make a difference for people who need cannabis.” The fight for legalization was quite personal for Street, who is now in her 60’s. ”I have been a cannabis

By Kayla Johnson

user since I was a teenager. I’ve been illegal and misunderstood for all of that time, and I told myself that if I have one breath left in me, I will see it changed.” That kind of dedication and determination to see positive change in the state is what helped fuel Street and dozens of others to collect the needed signatures to ensure State Question 788 made it on the ballot. For her, it felt especially appropriate to help in those efforts. “I’m a humble person, but for a 60-year-old woman to stand out on the street corners and gather signatures, it felt like this was a big meant-to-be thing.” The 788 movement inspired her to not only fight and work for other Oklahomans, but for herself. “I felt like I was protecting myself, and 788 gave me the fight I needed.” In addition to volunteering her time and energy to helping gather signatures and give out information, Street spoke at a nursing home before the vote at the request of the residents who wanted more information. “They wanted to make sure they knew what they were voting for and it gave me a chance to dispel some of what they thought they knew about cannabis.” Misinformation is one of the main reasons that “reefer madness” gripped the nation so tightly for so long, and for many people in the older generations, it can be especially hard to break those old habits and thought patterns. “I’ve always been honest. Sharing what I’ve put together and learned is important.” With the passage of the bill in June of 2018, Street was encouraged by what she saw along with the countless other Oklahoma cannabis patients. “I really felt empowered when we passed 788, and it felt like we can finally change the thinking process for doctors and nurses in the state.” As medical stigmas and incorrect information is replaced with the truth and hard ev-

idence, Street, who suffers from severe stress disorders, hopes she and other cannabis patients can help shed light on how cannabis really helps everyday Oklahomans. “I want to disprove what people think is wrong with cannabis by showing them that you can truly excel while using cannabis as medicine.” For most patients, not having to constantly worry about whether or not they’ll be pulled over or arrested with their medicine on their person or in their vehicle has been a massive weight off of their shoulders, and Street is no different. “I drive legally with cannabis now, and the feeling of this freedom is nothing short of amazing.” That freedom has been a long time coming for many people in the state, and that freedom helps patients shake off the decades of stigma and stereotyping, simply because they don’t have to feel like a criminal for choosing a natural alternative. Despite setback after setback and heartache after heartache, Street believes the only way to go is forward,, and being able to access a safe medicine legally gives her, and every other patient, something most of them need desperately: hope. “They have a true hope of healing, something that people with chronic pain or chronic illnesses often don’t have enough of,” she said, “I can see and feel how happy people are when they get their card and have it in their hand, and that makes such a difference. Cannabis is great for helping to reduce your stress, aiding in sleep. And when you’re less overwhelmed and sleeping better, the vicious stress cycle is broken. Your body can rest, and has a chance to help heal some of the things that are going wrong.” Oklahoma, and, indeed, the country, has come a long way in the last decade regarding cannabis law, but Street can see the work isn’t quite done yet. “There’s still a lot that needs to be said, and a lot of ideas and old ways of thinking need to be adjusted.” Part of the solution, in Street’s mind, is to sim-

ply take back cannabis from those who don’t agree with it. “We have to stop letting others define things. By our actions and what we say, we can make it better by simply being better.” Though extremely passionate about cannabis and the medical marijuana movement in the state, Street’s compassion for her fellow man is even more apparent. “In hindsight, cannabis has taken me through trauma upon trauma, and I fully believe I wouldn’t have met the challenges before me without cannabis. It has the potential to heal so much more than what many realize, and it’s important for people to stand up for themselves. Don’t let society try to tell you how to heal.” For those going through a difficult time in life or struggling with any number of medical problems, Street encouraged them to stay focused on the positive. “Within the broken body, there’s potential and there’s hope, especially when you have legal access to a natural medicine to help heal.” Now retired from nursing, Street focuses her time on educating people on cannabis, and hopes to give back more in the future as the cannabis industry continues to expand. “Something really magical is happening here in the state, and there are so many possibilities now.” One of those possibilities includes being able to give back in a unique way to those who’ve

worked hard to see cannabis legalized or who have struggled with severe health problems and are now legal cannabis patients after battling cannabis prohibition. Shortly before that May 2013 outbreak of severe storms, Street purchased a small cabin near the lake in Shawnee, living there while she renovated her main residence. The cabin, dubbed “The Moon Pie Cabin,” has had a profound impact on her despite the setbacks caused by the storms. “Anyone involved in getting this passed and getting this industry going has been under a lot of stress and pressure, on top of the painful situations and major stresses of their daily life, and I realized how important it is to find a way to take a step back.” Street realized she had the opportunity to let others be healed by the quiet, beautiful surroundings just as she had been. “There’s something truly magical about that place and being out by the water, and I saw how much that could benefit people who are struggling, and knew right then that the cabin should be reused somehow.” Street’s ultimate vision is to eventually have a nonprofit established for The Moon Pie Cabin and to offer the location as a retreat for veterans, patients, or anyone in need of solitude and healing that is involved

in the cannabis industry in the state. The cost of the retreat would be a donation to help others be able to travel to the cabin. Organizations would be welcome to donate towards covering the costs of guests in dire need of a break or retreat who perhaps can’t afford to donate themselves. While nothing is set in stone, Street points out the potential opportunity for Oklahomans to really pay it forward and give someone who’s struggling a chance to relax and find peace in nature. Despite the cabin’s secluded, peaceful setting, it’s close enough that guests could drive to the city for an evening of entertainment and

return to the peaceful solitude of the lake. “I felt like finding a way to use this place to give back to the cannabis community was really important, and the location just couldn’t be any more perfect for something like this.” With the relatively close proximity to the city and outlying communities, The Moon Pie Cabin is also within a day’s drive for most Oklahomans who would be interested in staying there. “It’s a place to heal, and being within reasonable driving distance means it’s actually accessible to the people who need it,

rather than being some far off place they could only dream of visiting.” Above all, the cabin has served as a reminder to Street of the importance of being a community and caring for your fellow human. She hopes to eventually share in these thoughts with those who visit there. “After the storms, people I’d never met before, even a group from a Mennonite community, came to help clear storm debris. It was an opportunity to really help others while pulling yourself back up at the same time, and that kind of

feeling is what The Moon Pie Cabin is all about.” Street couldn’t help but see the correlation of the events of the last few years. “Just like our community came together after the storms to repair and rebuild, the cannabis community here in Oklahoma really has the opportunity to help repair and rebuild our communities in more ways than one.” So, nestled in the quiet landscape next to a lake in central Oklahoma, there lies a beautiful cabin that will be there waiting to help repair and rebuild those who’ve poured everything they have into their struggles in life. After decades of being persecuted, ignored and judged for using and being pro-cannabis, Street and other advocates and patients have done what people around the country thought couldn’t be done: they’ve started one of the most conservative states in the nation down a bright green path, and Street gives credit to the perseverance of those supporting the movement. “We’ve been acknowledged. We’ve been heard and seen, and even after all of our experiences, we do what those that judge us don’t: we keep going. We take that last seed of hope, we feed it, and we go forward.”

Cooking with grass By Kayla Johnson

If you’re reading this, congratulations. You’ve survived the holidays. Whether you sprinted to the finish line or you were barely crawling, chances are you’re feeling the post-holiday slump. From the constant rushing around to the seemingly endless barrage of incredible food, alcohol and treats, by the time the new year rolls around, we tend to be running on fumes. With all of the indulgences of the holidays, when January arrives our thoughts turn to our resolutions, and more often than not, that means eating better to help undo some of the damage to our bodies inflicted over the last several weeks. For most people, eating better means fewer carbs and more wholesome, less processed food. For cannabis patients, edibles can be a great asset, but when you’re making an effort to cut back on unhealthier foods, a pot brownie may not be the right choice to fit into your New Year’s resolutions plans. Luckily, if you are making your own own cannabutter/ cannaoil, or have access to legally purchasing from a dispensary, you have more flexibility. Any recipe that calls for butter or oil can become an edible, though it may be harder to get a more precise

dose with certain recipes, so if your doctor has recommended a specific dose, keep this in mind. As always, the potency of the end product depends on how strong you made your cannabutter/oil, and if others who don’t medicate often will be partaking in your meal, make sure they know which side dish is medicated so there are no surprised guests. The recipe we’ve selected this month is exceedingly simple, lowcarb, slightly cheesy, and flat out delicious. Even if your resolutions don’t involve eating better or trying to drop some of that holiday weight, it’s an easy way to eat your medicine without turning to a potentially sugar-loaded cannabis treat. It takes less than half an hour to prepare, and if broccoli and cauliflower don’t float your boat, feel free to swap it for any vegetable you prefer!

Cannabis-roasted Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliﬂower Ingredients: 4 cups broccoli florets 4 cups cauliflower florets 1/3 cup cannaoil or cannabutter (melt the butter if using cannabutter) 4 cloves garlic, minced 2/3 to 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, your preference - Reserve about half to sprinkle on top once it’s finished Salt/pepper to taste

24 minutes, and toss/stir halfway through for more even cooking. Cook until the edges are browned. 4. Before serving, sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese on top and toss. Serve warm and enjoy!

Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400* F. Line a large baking sheet (or two smaller ones if you prefer) with parchment paper or foil. 2. Mix the broccoli and cauliflower florets together in a large bowl. Add the cannaoil/cannabutter and garlic, and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss again. 3. Arrange the veggies in a single layer on your baking sheet(s), and make sure they have plenty of space. Roast for 18-

*If you like your vegetables to have a little extra kick, add sliced bell peppers to the mix, or add just a touch of chili powder when seasoning before it goes in the oven. For a dairy free option, simply leave out the parmesan, and use cannaoil rather than cannabutter.

From the Front Lines

The Oklahoma Medical Cannabis Movement

By Chip Paul You might have seen that Oklahomans For Health began calling for a grand jury investigation based on the actions of the Department of Health (Julie Ezell) and the Oklahoma Pharmacy Board (Chelsea Church) and their behavior toward SQ788. Both before and after the election. Ezell and

Church were exchanging emails and text messages in what appears to be a “pay for play” scenario where Ezell would alter the rules under SQ788 to include a required on site pharmacist and also remove smokable marijuana from the program and in return Church appears to offer Ezell a far better job at the Pharmacy Board. Even more troubling are the absence of any mention of the smokable marijuana removal or the on site pharmacist within ANY of the rules put up for public comment by the Oklahoma State Department of Health both before and after the June 26th election. In fact, in an early July (pre-July 10th board meeting), in meetings with Ezell and Buffy Heater, where all the regulations were reviewed by members of Oklahomans For Health, not one mention was made of removal of smokable

marijuana or a required pharmacist. During the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s July 10th board meeting, we had “memo” being slide to all members of the board and we had one board member introduce the no smoking regulation and another board member introduced the on site pharmacist. So, where did the memos come from? Why is there a “disconnect” between what staff is working on and what pops out at the board level? What was the involvement from the Governors office? What was the involvement of other departments within the State Department of Health? The Attorney General reviewed all rules and signed off on them, only to have to write a letter of censure later. Lots of odd behavior..time we got to the bottom of it.

COMING SOON to Sands Springs

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WTF is Kratom? By Kayla Johnson

It’s no secret that cannabis has been villainized throughout the last several decades. Before it was effectively banned for use or sale with the Cannabis Tax Act of 1937, cannabis was used throughout the world in vastly different cultures as a therapeutic or medicinal aid for thousands of years. Now, just in the last two decades, we’ve finally begun to see a reversal of this, though as we all know, positive change takes time if it’s going to be quality, lasting change. Unfortunately, cannabis isn’t alone in the ‘demonized-by-the-government’ club. Kratom has begun to gain traction as another natural alternative to man made pharmaceuticals, but, like our beloved plant of the cannabis variety, it has faced extreme prejudice. Kratom is not illegal here in Oklahoma, but in other states it is and, while efforts in 2016 to list it as a Schedule 1

drug alongside heroin and LSD failed, there’s no shortage of backlash against stores who sell it, and even patients who try it. Sounds familiar, right? Anyone who’s followed cannabis history has heard this same song before. Kratom, or Mitragyna Speciosa, comes from the rainforests of Southeast Asia, where it has been used for centuries to treat pain, ease stress, anxiety and depression, and help promote focus and clarity. It’s a leafy plant that’s closely related to the coffee plant. Just as cannabis has different strains with different properties that are best used for different ailments, kratom also has a variety of strains, and its properties can vary by region. Kratom contains alkaloids, which are naturally occurring chemical compounds. The two primary alkaloids are Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These bind to opioid receptors in the brain, which

is why kratom has been shown to relieve even severe pain, and why it’s considered an opioid alternative. However, unlike traditional pharmaceutical opioids such as fentanyl or oxycontin, kratom does not recruit what’s called Beta-Arrestin in our systems, which is what causes respiratory depression that, in turn, can cause an overdose. Right now, with a vast majority of the states grappling with an alarming opioid crisis, an alternative to opioids that comes from a natural source with no withdrawal sounds like it could be the answer to the crisis. So why are so many people still opposed? Brett Martin and Mike Shirey, two Oklahomans who have opened a Kratom and CBD store called NAMAH, believe it’s partially due to a lack of knowledge. “Before the big push came for cannabis legalization, we had to get correct, accurate information about the

plant out there for people to be able to find and read. Kratom’s the same way.” Martin was first introduced to Kratom himself after a long, uphill battle with opioids. “I was over-prescribed pain medication, and I got hooked.” Like so many others, his own battle with addiction started in the doctor’s office. When he was introduced to Kratom, he says it changed his life. “It helped me to finally be able to taper off of the medication, and actually have a fulfilling life again. I could be productive and pain free both.” For Shirey, his business partner, it started much the same. “I was prescribed hydrocodone for my knees, and when I realized I was out, I started going through withdrawal, and turned to buying them on the street. I was definitely hooked. “ After almost a year of struggling with his own addiction, he saw an ad on a website for Kratom. “It sounded like a miracle, almost too good to be true, but I called the number and talked to the man and started to do my own research. “ After searching the internet and multiple forums for information, Shirey took a leap of faith and decided to order kratom online. “As soon as I got it in the mail and took it, it started to work. The relief was immediate. My pain, anxiety and those withdrawal symptoms I was struggling with, again, all disappeared, and I even slept better. It really felt like a miracle. I’ve been taking it ever since.” 1/3With that lack of widespread knowledge often comes the vilification, just as we’ve seen with cannabis over the last century. Despite mounting belief that Kratom can be a safe, healthier alternative to many opioid painkillers for many patients, the FDA continues to state that there is no evidence that supports any medical use of Kratom. In fact, they’ve made a significant effort to share information about the possible side effects. The CDC even reported a tenfold increase to calls to poison centers in the United States related to Kratom between 2010 and 2015,

though they’re less keen to share the fact that more than 1/3 of those calls involved kratom use mixed with narcotics or alcohol. Just as any medicinal product should be from a clean, regulated source, people purchasing and using kratom from unsafe sources add fuel to the anti-kratom fire. Kratom that’s not been harvested or processed in a safe environment may not always be pure, or high quality kratom. So as with medical marijuana, it’s important to know where your Kratom comes from. In May of 2018, the CDC reported that almost 200 people over 41 states had become ill from a salmonella infection linked to products containing kratom, though it was undetermined where the product was contaminated. The CDC and DEA both have made efforts to keep Kratom out of the spotlight of the American people, and it’s likely, in part, thanks to the ever-present influence of big pharmaceutical companies. Their profit markets shrink with each person that turns to cannabis or kratom for their pain relief instead of becoming dependent or hooked on potentially dangerous medication they have created. There’s no big money to be made if people are happy and healthy. It’s also widely believed that Kratom’s initial bad impression began when headshops across the country sold it, and it was grouped in with the wave of “reefer madness” that’s just now beginning to break. As people begin to open their eyes and see the truth about natural medicines, whether cannabis or kratom, the stigma and bad reputation will fade. After his success overcoming his own pain and addiction problems, Shirey had initially begun to work at a store that sold Kratom, and says it took off like lightning. “I knew the shop would do well because kratom had worked for me, and I could see that it was working for my customers as well.” While the partnership was eventually dissolved at the other partner’s choice, it gave

Shirey an opportunity. While at the gym one day, he realized that this plant that has the potential to help so many people shouldn’t be all about profits, it should be about people and their health. “That’s the day the name of the store came to me. NAMAH is an acronym: Not About Money, About Health.” For both Martin and Shirey, their past struggles with addiction brought them to Kratom, and eventually brought them together. “We wanted to help people get their lives back together, and to give them hope again if they’re struggling with an addiction from something they got from their doctor.” NAMAH was opened in Shawnee in February of 2018 and has since opened other locations in Tahlequah, Ada, and Midwest City. Martin says his passion for helping people reclaim their lives is rather personal. “I almost lost my family and my kids to my addiction battle, and I wouldn’t be in my position in life without Kratom.” For Shirey, it’s much the same. “We’ve seen family members and friends free themselves from addiction or prolonged use of opioids simply by incorporating kratom into their lives, it’s incredible.” Now that Kratom is slowly emerging into the spotlight, it’s no surprise that documentaries are being made to share information about the plant and its many uses. In 2018, the documentary “A Leaf of Faith” was put on Netflix and for anyone interested in learning more about Kratom, it’s a must-watch. Like with cannabis, the death of kratom’s use as a natural, safer alternative to prescription opioids and painkillers would stem from a lack of education on the plant’s uses. Both Martin and Shirey hope to help educate the public. “The main thing we want people to know about Kratom is that it’s a natural, safe alternative to prescription painkillers. It’s helped me cope with my pain, and it’s helped me see that I CAN live a productive, pain-free life that doesn’t have to revolve around pills.”

Oklahoma’s Premier Medical Cannabis Trade Show Event

GreenGrow EXPO * OKC State Fair Park Indoor EXPO Hall

March 2nd & 3rd, 2019 Network and connect with Oklahoma’s industry leaders - and brands from across the world, like canna law firms, dispensaries, security companies, lifestyle and media companies, growers, equipment manufacturers, hydro stores, tax experts, plant and legalization advocates... and everything in between! It’s all about the people and the plant!

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