Herbage Magazine May 2021 Issue 32 by HerbageMagazine

magazine

H erb age

Sarah Lee

Gossett Parrish Excellence. Efficiency. Integrity.

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

lawyer cannabis | litigation | oil & gas

Owner and Publisher James Bridges james@herbagemag.com New Media Editor Anna Ervin anna@herbagemag.com Advertising james@herbagemag.com Design James Bridges Contributors Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish Tab Moura Chet Tucker

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4 Who Is He - IVAN 5 Sugar With Coffee & Cream By James Bridges 7-11 TULSA Race Massacre 100 Years Later By Veronica Castillo 17 Restoring By Michael Kinney 18 Straing Of The Month By James Bridges 19 Change By Ann Ervin 22-24 That’s Not a Potato By James Bridges 25 Harborside Decision By Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish

26 28 30 32 34 36 38

Sowing The Seed By Chet Tucker Storms, Stress, & The Brian By Tab Moura The Loaded Bowl By Anna Ervin DJ Eddie Brasco By Michael Kinney Cannabanana & Mom Hope In Action By Anna Ervin Painted Pistols By Veronica Castillo

For story ideas, advertising inquiries, and team building contact James@ herbagemag.com

Cover Artist: RICK WESTON Born and raised in the bay area, Rick Weston has been making art since the age of five. Rick’s characters have made their way into people’s hearts and walls with his art. Ivan was once lost after Rick finally filled that hole left open by love lost. Now Ivan has decided to return to spread love and happiness across the world. IG: @ivanartwork

Who is he? by James Bridges Herbage Magazine

A figment of someone’s imagination. That’s what I was called by most. Not to him. The one that created me. To him I was once a ghost. I was the one. That could speak when you couldn’t. That found the crack in darkness to see the light. Who spread hope that lifted others. Spewed sorrow when you couldn’t get it right. To show you the veil when others could only see a wall. That felt the heartache you felt...oh so much. That wondered what it would be like when I finally fall. The hooks in my cheeks and holes in my chest will never allow me to show you all of the rest of what you might think would be an interesting thing. However, if you are curious enough….I happen to be not just once the imagination or a ghost of the one that created me. You can call me IVAN. That is me.

Sugar with coffee & cream by James Bridges Herbage Magazine

A situation arises in a person’s life when they first venture out into the unknown. I was a young Okie. I was born in some other, most likely gawd awful, state, but I was raised an Okie. In my personal journey I had never, truly, experienced culture other than what I grew up with. So when I turned 19-years-old I hit the road. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but I had a feeling that “different” was going to be interesting. If I were to create a perfect social experiment to see how humans can relate I would cram a bunch of 19-year-old boys from all different parts of the country into one living area for roughly 8 to 9 weeks. Sound familiar? From the day I landed into that “social experiment” I realized the world that I knew my entire life was far more interesting than anything I have ever dreamed. Here was this white as can be Okie tossed into the mix with a surfer/salmon fisherman from Portland, a self proclaimed beatbox master from Jersey, a kid that smelled like he just walked out of the swamp, a Satanist from Arkansas, a super short white dude from Brooklyn that swore he was friends with all of the Beastie Boys, then there were 6 guys in the very back where I was headed. These guys were tall, except one. He had to look up.

Arms folded, looking down the nose, they watched as I dropped some luggage. I was intimidated. They knew who I was just by looking at me. A little scared white boy from Oklahoma. The tension in the air… Laughter instantly broke out from all of them. Crisis averted. I knew this was going to be something I would always remember. Three of my new close, (our sleeping arrangements were very tight) friends were from the west coast. There was Long Beach, Torrance, and Covina, California. The other three were from, that’s right, the east coast. There was the Bronx, Brooklyn, and of course Queens. This was in the early 90’s. Imagine the banter/threats of murder in your sleep that flew around. It was quite interesting. I learned a lot. I learned more about culture during that 9 week period more about the world than I ever learned in any school ever. I discovered a lot of things about people. Culture, fear, anger, brotherhood, and especially about myself. Though I still have yet to discover which group was right. West coast or East Coast. I’m sure that may go on as long as there are coasts to argue about. The congregation of all of those coasts, including from the banks of the farm pond, would not have been possible in a closed minded environment. We must learn from one another. It’s actually fun. If you take away geographical devotion to a human generated power scale structure society that we now live in, the color of one’s skin, and most of all money, the result is simple. Human.

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1921-2021; Remember

Tulsa Massacre 100 Years Later by Veronica Castillo

PHOTO: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

May 31, 2021 marks 100 years since a black teenage boy was lied on, over a possible incident with a white woman, in an elevator in Tulsa Oklahoma. It marks 100 years since his arrest, which wasn’t enough for many white Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma. May 31, 2021 marks 100 years since a group of racist white terrorists showed up at the jail, demanding that police hand over the teenage boy. It marks 100 years since that group of terrorists and others that joined later that night, initiated one of the biggest massacres on United States soil. May 31, 2021 marks 100 years since the 1921 massacre, led by a group racist white domestic terrorists in Tulsa, Oklahoma- in a neighborhood called “Black Wall Street’’, in Tulsa’s Greenwood District. The hateful souls behind the massacre took black lives, injured hundreds of black people, and burned down over 1,000 homes and businesses.

PHOTO: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The Greenwood District- Black Wall Street: Before the Massacre In a story covering Black Wall Street, CNBC describes the Greenwood District as: “one of the most prosperous African-American enclaves in the U.S. before the slaughter of its citizens”. The Greenwood District was known as Black Wall Street because Greenwood Avenue featured luxury shops, restaurants, movie theaters, a library, pool halls, and nightclubs- owned by Black Americans. History.com states that: “the area had been considered one of the most affluent African American communities in the United States for the early part of the 20th century”. The Greenwood district is in East Oklahoma, which was Indian Territory (like almost all of Oklahoma). Before Greenwood was established in 1906, Native Americans (the people already here when the history books say that Columbus “founded” this land) lived there, but were forced to relocate.

Greenwood was established in 1906 through O.W. Gurley, a wealthy Black landowner, who purchased 40 acres of land in Tulsa, naming it Greenwood. Because of his intent to only sell to colored people, Greenwood became what History.com described above, “one of the most affluent African American communities”. Later, many Black sharecroppers fleeing racial oppression relocated to the region as well, because they wanted a better life post-Civil War. Black Americans fled to Oklahoma under the assumption that Oklahoma is safe for them, according to Michelle Place, executive director of the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. Michelle says that at the time: “Oklahoma begins to be promoted as a safe haven for African Americans who start to come particularly post emancipation to Indian Territory”. History.com says: “the largest number of Black townships after the Civil War were located in Oklahoma. Between 1865 and

1920, African Americans founded more than 50 Black townships in the state”. In my opinion, that is the real issue and hate towards Black Americans. Like Beyonce sings: “Being black, maybe that’s the reason why they always mad, yeah, they always mad, yeah Been past ‘em, I know that’s the reason why they all big mad and they always have been.”

May 30, 1921, a young Black teenager named Dick Rowland entered an elevator at the Drexel Building. At some point after that, the young white elevator operator, Sarah Page, screamed and Rowland fled the scene. The police were called, and the next morning they arrested Rowland. A story based on rumors was published in the Tulsa Tribune, accusing Rowland of sexually assaulting Page. As evening fell, an angry white mob was gathering outside the courthouse, demanding the sheriff hand over Rowland. The sheriff said “No”, and his men barricaded the top floor to protect Rowland. Later, a group of about 25 armed Black men, including World War I veterans, went to the courthouse to offer help guarding Rowland. They were told “No”, and were turned away. There were rumors of lynching and so, a group of around 75 armed Black men returned to the courthouse, where they were met by about 1,500 white men, some of whom also carried weapons. Shots were fired, chaos broke out, and the outnumbered group of Black men retreated to Greenwood. Over the next several hours, groups of white Tulsans, some of whom were deputized and given weapons by city officials, committed numerous acts of violence against Black people. With rumors of a large-scale insurrection among Black Tulsans underway; as dawn broke on June 1, thousands of white citizens poured into the Greenwood District, looting and burning homes and businesses over an area of 35 city blocks. Later, Rowland was released and charges were dropped. Officials concluded that it was likely that Rowland simply bumped into Page. According to a Red Cross estimate: 1,256 houses were burned, 215 others were looted but not torched; two newspapers, a school, a library, a hospital, churches, hotels, stores, and many other Black-owned businesses were among the buildings destroyed or damaged by fire. The Tulsa Race Massacre/ The Black Wall Street Massacre still stands as one of the deadliest riots in U.S. history. Many don’t know about this because the system tried to cover it up. History.com says that: “The Tulsa Tribune removed the front-page story of May 31 that sparked the chaos from its bound volumes, and scholars later discovered that police and state militia archives about the riot were missing as well. As a result, until recently the Tulsa Race Massacre was rarely mentioned in history books, taught in schools or even talked about”.

May 31, 1921- The Massacre on Black Wall Street Below is an overview of the massacre, reported by History.com:

According to a Red Cross estimate: 1,256 houses were burned, 215 others were looted but not torched; two newspapers, a school, a library, a hospital, churches, hotels, stores, and many other Black-owned businesses were among the buildings destroyed or damaged by fire. The Tulsa Race Massacre/ The Black Wall Street Massacre still stands as one of the deadliest riots in U.S. history. Many don’t know about this because the system tried to cover it up. History.com says that: “The Tulsa Tribune removed the front-page story of May 31 that sparked the chaos from its bound volumes, and scholars later discovered that police and state militia archives about the riot were missing as well. As a result, until recently the Tulsa Race Massacre was rarely mentioned in history books, taught in schools or even talked about”. The 1914 Narcotics Act’s Contribution to Racism Through Lies About Cannabis Tensions in America between Black Americans and White Americans existed before 1921. But 1921 was met with the existence of: Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, the Reconstruction Era, alcohol prohibition, and a new way to target black people through the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Act. 1921 was met with fuel from laws designed to keep white America up, and black America down, like the narcotics act. And though the narcotics act was focused on opiates and coco plants, cannabis became stigmatized and known as: “a drug of murder, torture, and hideous cruelty”. Cannabis was also tied to immigrants and lower class society. In an article published by Origins, they state:“ the association of murder, torture, and mindless violence with marijuana was not borne out by evidence or actual events- but blossomed thanks to the vivid imaginations of the journalists charged with sensationalizing the tired story of drug use and addiction”. They go on to say: “the fact that marijuana smoking was a habit of immigrants and the lower class, played a role in its prohibition. For the journalists in the 1920s charged with composing annual anti-narcotics jeremiads for Hearst’s famously sensational newspapers, a new “murder” drug must have seemed a gift.” We see from part of Billie Holiday’s story in the movie: The United States vs. Billie Holiday, that it wasn’t just immigrants and lower class that were targeted, being black was simply enough. We can also see from the 1914 Narcotics Act, that Reefer Madness and the association of cannabis making people crazed, violent, and sexually aggressivestarted before 1930, it just didn’t have its title yet. The Cannabis Industry Shares Thoughts on the Greenwood District/ Black Wall Street Massacre: What was Learned, Ways to Heal, a Push for Unity, the Need for Accountability, the Prison System as it Relates to Cannabis, and How Cannabis Can Help Heal Racial Tension. Mehka King, founder of Cash Color Cannabis says: “To begin the process of solving race issues and halting any more race riots begin with conversations about why all this happened in the first place. I learned about the Tulsa race riots when I was in college. It was right after I read the book about Rosewood. It’s a tragic story that shows how far people can go when all you see is anger and bias. Add in power and privilege and you get a powder keg that’s ready to blow. Conversations about race issues have become even more taboo even as things seem to look more diverse. Adding a Black face here and there isn’t the same as having a real conversation about the way systematic racism has affected our community overall. Even that conversation has to land on an empathetic ear who wants to help”.

Dan Isenstein, owner of Hemp Highway of Kentucky, and a hemp historian says: “While May 31st marks 100 years since the Tulsa Massacre, a monumentally horrific atrocity, it is merely a mile maker in the 400-year history of black people being terrorized in North America. When the Tulsa Massacre occurred, the United States was already 25 years into the “Jim Crow” era. In many ways cannabis laws were an extension and remain the last legal remnants of “Jim Crow”. As the prohibition police state emerged, blacks and people of color were disproportionately targeted. The resulting incarceration industrial complex still imprisons black people at an appalling rate.” Sunflower Taliaferro, owner of Sunflower’s Spacecakes say this: “At the time of the Tulsa race massacre, the desperation for resources was at an all-time high. Informed by a sense of scarcity and entitlement, frustrated white Tulsa residents targeted Black residents and businesses as a means to end the progression on Black Wall Street, and thus end the threat that it posed to white businesses. Much like in Tulsa, destruction and violence was widespread in the bombing of MOVE. 65 homes were completely destroyed as a result of the city-sanctioned bombing, displacing numerous Black families, and killing 5 Black children. In both assaults’ city officials played key roles in facilitating the massacres whether firsthand or otherwise.” Justin Young, co-founder of 12 Twenty CBD says: “The one important thing that I learned from the Tulsans who built Black Wall Street brick by brick is the importance of black economics, owning, protecting and controlling your own to create and build generational wealth for our children and grandchildren so that they too can have a seat at the table. What the Tulsans built is a testament to their dedication and brilliance. I also believe that discussing the events of the massacre that destroyed Black Wall Street and many other black economic advancements to a younger generation is critical to understanding systemic racism’s effects on black economics, poverty and the community today Tulsa is one example of many. However, we don’t believe that cannabis will end race wars- only conversation and dialogue will start that process.” Sam De La Paz, managing partner at GreenWave Consulting, LLC says: “The events that took place in Oklahoma in 1921 are evidence of the systemic plague that our communities of color have faced for far too long and that we still face today. I firmly believe that our Cannabis community, our “counter-culture” and the medicines that bring us further into synergy with our natural world - are the pathways to healing for ALL of us. We must lead by example and stay extremely unified in our missions and goals! This is the ultimate challenge; I’ll be the first to admit. Cannabis is a connector, a healer, a third eye-opener (if you believe that kind of stuff). It brings people together to share perspective and insight, with little aggression and much inclusivity. To unravel years of systemic and societal injustices, and to rebuild our relationship with the planet and all living organisms, we must do it together. Together is how we will be able to create true generational wealth for our most underserved and underrepresented. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to course-correct from the path that top-down capitalism has paved. We are the ones we have been waiting for. . .”

Bee Weldon, owner of Bee Kynd says: “My paternal great-grandfather was in his early twenties at the time of the tragic Tulsa massacre. In spite of the tense race relations during that time, my great-grandpa was still able to acquire hundreds of acres of land in the surrounding area. My ancestor always told us that power comes in having your own... building your own. I have set out to build my own in the cannabis industry by educating others on healing our bodies with this plant. Cannabis is a spiritual plant with amazing healing properties and its healing power are not only limited to our body and mind, but can transcend into healing the systemic racism that the cannabis industry is built on. The mere fact that our bodies are uniquely designed with an internal system that works harmoniously with this plant, is vital in helping combat racist stigmas and stigmas against cannabis.” The owners at JustinCredible say: “The burning of Black Wall Street was a tragic event in American history. Many lost their lives over a misunderstanding. Most race wars are started from simple misunderstandings. The Cannabis industry is unique in that consumers all enjoy the same thing. It’s what connects us no matter our race. Cannabis will continue to be a guiding light and cornerstone for change in the world and JustinCredible Cultivation will continue to be the catalyst for transformation 1 strain at a time”. Sal Ali, co-founder of Dr. Terpz Dispensary says: “To me it seems as though when Black and brown people in this country achieve success for themselves, without the need for any outside help, they become perceived as a threat and the powers that be find ways to bring them down. I know cannabis is the ultimate connector that can help people look beyond race and skin color and help us see each other for who we truly are. I moved around a lot growing up in this country. I had the opportunity to live amongst people from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. Every time I found myself in a different environment with people, I had nothing in common with, cannabis always helped me connect with them”.

In Closing

A large portion of American history exists in one word- racism. Many of the issues in America today exist in one word- racism. The way we heal America exists in two words- ending racism. If the government allowed cannabis to be free, maybe we would see a better world. A unified world like the one that the hippies were trying to create in the 70’s, before the government decided that prohibition of certain plant medicines would be better for their agenda. Their agenda has generally been rooted in racism and separation, and the culture of plant medicines like cannabis has been rooted in healing and unity. What can the cannabis industry do to honor Black Wall Street today? Donate to Greenwood Chamber of Commerce who is seeking to raise up to $10 million to restore and rebuild the district that domestic terrorists destroyed: https://www.gofundme.com/f/restoreblackwallstreet.

A Special Message Oklahoma Women Cann Association “I have the privilege to work with many cannabis businesses and patients across the state of Oklahoma. Our mission focuses on supporting a strong and equitable cannabis industry in Oklahoma by providing resources, education and advocacy. As we approach the 100th year anniversary of the “Tulsa Race Massacre” I am reminded of how little progress has been made in Oklahoma in terms of racial equality. In many aspects, we are still experiencing that mentality through laws, treatments and attitudes. Treatment that is so widespread, no one even notices that it’s wrong. That same treatment, unfortunately, is also prominent in our Oklahoma cannabis industry. Although our cannabis program has afforded opportunities for more people of color than many other markets, minorities are still underserved when it comes to resources, support and representation. I do see cannabis as being the avenue to bringing more diversity into Oklahoma, but it is critical that people of diverse backgrounds come together and express their concerns because no one is going to ask them what they want, they are going to have to find their voice. Cannabis is a healing herb in so many ways. I definitely believe it is that component that brings lives together as we unify in the belief that it serves a purpose. I see it every time I attend an event, or support a meeting. It connects young with old, rich with poor and yes, all colors of the rainbow. It’s a beautiful thing! I saw the passage of SQ780 as a pivot point in the step toward better race relations in Oklahoma because it overwhelmingly declared that it’s time to take a serious look at why so many women and people of color are being incarcerated. It is my hope that through the momentum of what cannabis has done for the Oklahoma economy, we will begin to experience a change of perception and a unifying of goals”. ....Arcillia Miller - President- OWCA

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A revolutionary cannabis company specializing in Organic and sustainable practices. The very term “Hermetic” has its very roots in Ancient Greece as well as Ancient Egypt. Hermeticism is based upon and attributed to the teachings of Hermés Trismegistus, a sage based sometime around late antiquity. The very translation of the Hermetic corpus is what boosted The Italian renaissance. People such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were heavily influenced by this philosophical treat. Alchemy sprang forth from these ideologies, giving birth to modern day chemistry, Science, and Western thought. This art form was then transformed into the profane, taking away its very essence, the spiritual wisdom needed to change lead (material spirit) into gold (Sun source or pure spirit). The works of Giordano Bruno, Italian Alchemist and influencer of Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos”, were stumbled upon by mixing Hermetic philosophy with Moroccan hashish...Proclaiming a Heliocentric model and that the universe was many infinite universes. This later had him burned at the cross. It is our belief that by ditching profane science and making our way back to spiritual alchemy, that we are to become one with ourselves and the plant. It is our mission to mix spiritual philosophy with craft cannabis to bring the holy trinity of healing; which is the mind, the body, and the soul. There’s absolutely no questions pertaining around cannabis NOT being a valuable medicine for physical and mental ailments...but what about the spiritual sense? The taboo nature of man itself which raises such questions of, “ why am I here? What are we doing here? What does it mean to be alive” all these have meaning and are being acted upon within the garden of the Hermetic Flower Co. We focus on maintaining a standard of medicine that’s unheard of in the state let alone the south. What else makes hermetic so special? They’re not only organic, living soil....they also make their own compost, on site, via vermicompost, AKA worm POOP! Using a specially formulated worm diet, Alex, the Director of cultivator and science, is able to influence the metaphysical properties of the body; specifically the seven chakras or seven alchemical planets through watering the compost in through a process known as ACT or Aerated compost tea.

This adds the beneficial microbiology and fungi from the high quality compost into the raised beds that team ALPACA cultivate out of. After the tea is complete, we then close the loop by disposing of the waste back into the Vemicompost bins where the process starts all over again. A full life and death cycle and we haven’t even touched on the plants yet!! Alex and his team of Alpacs, plant and harvest around the cycles of the moon. “Nothing on the planet can move water like the moon can” As the Moon influences the water in the plant, we see it as a prime time to harvest and flip our plants into flowers. Even though an indoor grow, it’s important to remember that we’re dealing with nature and respecting and understanding the cycles of nature is of the utmost importance to us. We are also in a vertical rack cultivation system meaning we cultivate on multiple levels instead of just on the ground floor. It allows us to maximize our cubic volume, which is how cannabis grows anyways, through cubic volume! Finally, our last attempt at trying our best to maintain efficiency and sustainability is using LED technology. LEDs make for a more efficient lighting source in the way that it disperses heat, it allows for excess humidity while consuming less power and allows you to manipulate the amount of photons that hit the canopy. This in combination with VPD or vapor pressure deficit, allows us to manipulate and influence our environment to mimic that of the Nepal Mountain ranges; where we believe landrace, heavy medicine comes from. We want to bring out those genetic expressions through each individual cultivar we carry. The Hermetic Flower Company isn’t just a cannabis company, it’s a cannabis lifestyle. From Italian Renaissance smoking Alchemist to every day spiritual seekers the philosophy, integrity and consistency of this company will have you thinking, feeling, and smelling LOUD!

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Restoring by Michael Kinney

Technically, the residents in the Clara Luper Corridor have only been in a food desert for two years. When Smart Saver closed unexpectedly in August 2019, that left thousands of households without a grocery store for miles in any direction. However, in actuality the east side of Oklahoma City has been a food desert for much longer than that, according to Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice. “We’ve all had restless nights because we know people are going hungry,” Nice said. “We’ve had restless nights because we know food access is possible even in a community in which they say it’s not. We’ve had restless nights because people say ‘yeah, we’re going to bring something, but give us time.’” According to Nice that time came and went with none of the promises fulfilled. But the wait came to an end April 21 when the Market at Eastpoint opened its doors for the first time to the public. Just a few blocks from where Smart Saver was located, the new grocery store brings hope to a community that desperately needed it. “We’ve been setting the shelves all week over here with the Homeland team and to see neighbors knock on the door and peek their head in and see the produce just burst into tears,” said Caylee Dobson, Executive Director at Restore OKC. It’s so exciting to see shoppers appreciate that and excited to buy it.” Restore OKC teamed up with the Homeland Grocery chain to create The Market at Eastpoint (1708 NE 23rd). The organizations came up with a plan for a public-private partnership that would allow them to co-operate the grocery store. Restore OKC was able to focus efforts on fundraising and securing product donations and partnerships that could help sustain the store through the early years, while Homeland used its expertise in the grocery industry to streamline the process and provide oversight and infrastructure. “We are thrilled to see our public-private partnership with Restore OKC come to life. We have an opportunity here to serve our community in a deeper way and make an impact on food security and this store is a

great way to do that,” Homeland CEO Martin Jones said. “This is an important project for our employee-owners, and we are proud to work hand in hand with the community to make it a reality.” It took just six months for the plan to come together and for the grocery store to be built. According to Councilwoman Nikki Nice, it just took people willing to invest in the community instead of giving lip service and fake promises. “This is what a six-month commitment to a community looks like,” Nice said. “There have been others who have said we’ll bring you something in six months. It’s been over a year, we’re still waiting. This conversation began with the ribbon-cutting in October. It’s April. That’s what a six-month commitment to a community looks like. This is what happens when you invest in the community that you’re serving. This is what happens when you pull everyone together and say let’s do this together. This is what community looks like.” The Market is a full-service grocery store. Everything from fresh foods to frozen pizzas and water can be found inside the 7,000-square-foot building. It also has a section in the back for ready-to-eat hot foods prepared by Community Chef Brandi Jones of the former Family Affair Restaurant. Much of the organic and healthy food options will be grown at Restore OKC’s 5-acre urban farm which is managed by led by 18 high school students from the northeast Oklahoma City community. But they also have regularly delivered produce as well.

homa City residents had to travel three miles to the next closest full-service grocery store. “What you have is a lack of food access,” Dobson said. “And when that’s anchored in a community that also has a high rate of single-parent households, and they’re very transportation dependent, what you start seeing is just all of the effects of that exacerbate cycles that have been perpetrated by history and by cycles of injustice that just get worse.” The Market is located in Ward 7 of Oklahoma City. Of its 61,674 residents, 50 percent are black and 23 percent are classified as living below the poverty level. Getting residents access to healthy food can be a game-changer for not just northeast Oklahoma City, but throughout the state, according to Nice. “This speaks to what food access looks like. We look at food justice, food insecurity, food apartheid, and people have to realize it’s not just communities that are underserved or purposely ignored,” Nice said. “It’s also your affluent communities that are also in food deserts because it’s about the access to food options. So, it’s now working through the process of having an example, such as this store, to mimic other parts of our community throughout the city and throughout the state.”

“Because food access is important for our communities and we can’t thrive if we’re not being fed,” Nice said. “And it starts with us being able to feed our neighbors. So this was a long work in progress, even though it took a short time for us to get here.” The Market’s business neighbors include Urban Wellness Dispensary, Hybrid Cures and Amazing Cannabis Co. Strainz. According to the USDA, there are more than 19 million people in America who live in a food desert. Their definition of a food desert is any place where at least a third of the population lives greater than one mile away from a supermarket for urban areas, or greater than 10 miles for rural areas. Until the Market arrived, Northeast Okla-

Strain of The Month By James Bridges Herbage Magazine

It started raining. I looked at the clock. After cursing myself for working entirely too late and long into the next day I decided to stop. I recalled stopping another time that week and my fresh hunt was waiting on me in the other room and I nearly forgot. The aroma that oozed from the sac, (that’s right, I said sac), shouted old school. No…not blunt old school. Further... Yeah, there it is. Where are my papers? This grinded up perfectly. I was wondering when the bad would hit. Rolled and…. Still waiting on that bad… Fire makes things happy in my head. Especially the fires at the end of my sticks. The rain kept coming… By the way. I was impressed with my roll. Wiping my eyes I walked back into my dining room for something wet. There was a blur and I was in my happy place. Swirling around in my house I caught glimpses of paintings and colors popping from corner to corner. The bubbles were there. Only a few strains do this for me and this was definitely one of them. Pop. Pop. Pop. I had to take a load off. I felt as if magic were coming from my brain and I just needed a second to restore. I found myself still asking, “When will the bad part hit?” It never did. I threw myself onto the chair, not like a ragdoll, but as if I were actually a rag doll. I didn’t move and it was glorious. That’s when I realized this strain was insanely accurate when being named “WIZARD SHIT” Grower: Hermetic Flower Total THC: 23.27 Indica DOM @hermeticflowercompany

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Change by Anna Ervin Herbage Magazine

When I first started learning about Tarot, cards like Death and the Ten of Swords scared me the most. Today, they are two of my favorite cards in the deck, but only after a little soul searching allowed me to realize their true definitions. The purpose of these cards is not to make you dread or fear your life, and they do not often show up when everything is sunshine and rainbows, only to crash your party with forecasts of doom and gloom. The Ten of Swords usually reveals itself when you are already feeling like you’ve hit rock bottom. It’s actually a reminder that you’ve endured more than you ever thought possible, and through those experiences you’ve managed to learn something about yourself, or your situation, that will soon help you step into a healthier reality. It’s a symbol that not only are you stronger than you imagined, but that the discomfort you feel right now is only temporary. Death, on the other hand, could show up any time you are facing a major change in your life. 99.9% of the time, this card does not mean that someone is going to die (although, if you’ve recently lost someone, it may show up to help you process that). Because of this, it’s easier for me to refer to this card as “Change.” It’s not the only indicator of change in the Tarot deck, but it is certainly the card that taught me the most valuable lesson on the topic. Why does change scare us so much? That’s a lot to unpack, but when some aspect of your personality, your routine, or your external reality must die in order for something new to emerge in its place, the uncertainty regarding what will come next can be debilitating. Venturing into the unknown, leaving everything you know and are familiar with behind, and grieving the loss of those comforts can be a lot to process at once. It can feel overwhelming, but if you’ve ever been dealt this card (either literally or figuratively), the only thing you can do from that point is move forward. I’ve been thinking a lot about change lately, as my life has recently endured a series of major shifts. I think change has always appeared to come easily for me, and I have my stubborn refusal to focus on anything but the positive to thank for that. However, only looking for the good in every situation, or in some cases, leaving the whole situation behind in search of something a little more uplifting can be both a blessing and a curse. I think sometimes I’m so focused on looking for that positive underlying message, that I glaze right over the more difficult lessons that were meant to be processed along the way. Of course, I’m not suggesting that we should dwell on or bask in the things that bring us discomfort. But, we’re always going to have to deal with detours and sharp corners on this journey through life, and I don’t think we’re meant to speed right through them just to find ourselves back on a more comfortable path. Maybe sometimes it’s okay to slow down and take stock of the things that challenge us to dig deeper, or to shift into a new perspective as our external world shifts around us.

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That’s Not a Potato by James Bridges Herbage Magazine

“So we decided to grow the real big buds.” When I was a kid I had a vision of what it would look like to be a wild man. I imagined I would of course own a helicopter, many unnecessary firearms, a pet grizzly or some sort of bizarre animal, the ability to travel at a moments notice, ultimate survival skills, and a beautiful queen to guide the way. I met a man a few years ago that reminded me of that vision. I was nearly jealous of the assumptions popping into my head as he discussed some of his travels. Rocky Fisher is the grandson of Brant Biggerstaff and the son of Brant Fisher. The family has a special tie to the geography surrounding Fort Gibson. The town is located in Cherokee and Muskogee counties in Oklahoma. This family was one of the first five families to settle outside of Fort Gibson before Oklahoma statehood. The family started a potato farm in the bottoms surrounding the area. They were very well known for their spuds. Rocky and his beautiful queen, Sherli, dreamed of one day opening a steakhouse in memory for the family as well as to show off some culinary skills. They would name the restaurant, “Biggerstaff.” It just so happens that Rocky’s guiding queen has led them both to a more fitting business venture. That venture is, “Biggerstaff Buds.” It was 2018 and someone needed some help with some genetics. They needed it bad. The now very successful Arbuckle farms called upon Rocky Fisher and “Brother’s Grimm”. Rocky was already a force in the industry and his name was floating around as one of the heavy hitters with contacts. After four or five months as outside investors, Rocky and his close partners knew they were onto something good, but felt very limited within the Brothers Grimm atmosphere. Rocky and his intuitive wife Sherli made the decision to move forward with the partners and discovered a wonderful threshold which was Seeds Here Now. “Now we are on the premier genetics where the real deal takes place,” Rocky was excited to show the rooms. As we walked through the hall I couldn’t help but notice the attention to detail. Even the bolts in the wooden bed frames looked as if they were carefully placed. If there’s one thing that I am learning about Rocky and his crew. They are running a tight ship. “So with this new build I wanted to know, exactly, how everything was working. Let’s say I took a hands on approach,” there’s that smile. “I was there from the sheetrock to hanging lights. You name it partner.”

“We went through fourty or a million different variations of lighting, soil, and what have you… Everyone had an opinion. Most were different. So, I went with the old tried and true. The way I know.” Rocky seemed proud. I was reluctant to ask for the secret sauce. So I left it at that. During Rocky’s journey he ran into someone special, Luke Dreyer. Luke quickly became the shop’s operations manager. There are people behind the scenes, but this seemed different. “Luke is like a cannabis whisperer,” Rocky laughed. I could tell he meant it. “I work 7 days a week. I follow all of the best genetics online. I stay on top of things like OMMA compliance, and much more. My job is something I love. These plants are like my family. It’s funny because harvest day is always a happy/sad day for me. I’m sad they are all coming down, but I’m super happy to know the medicine is helping people.” Luke quickly exited the room to go to work. “We are a small operation compared to many.” Fisher said, knowing that I know that does not matter when it comes to good medicine. He and his wife, the team, and even his daughter Jenni Leigh Fisher have all found themselves in a very unique situation. They are growing top shelf flower and are able to sell at top shelf prices. That and they are in a pre-order atmosphere. It’s hard to stay mad at anything for long with that kind of juice in my book. Rocky expressed his extreme gratitude for his relationships he has made with whom he considers the best of the best in cannabis. “Come over here James. I want to show you something.” Rocky pointed at the table. He explained to me the elusiveness of some of the strains and seeds in packages. “No one gets to see this kinda stuff James. But I do because of Seeds Here Now.”

Harborside Decision: What It Means for

Oklahoma Cannabis Businesses by Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish, Cannabis Lawyer Harborside was brilliantly briefed and argued before the Tax Court by my International Cannabis Bar Association colleague, Henry Wykowski, an exceptionally talented cannabis attorney headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are in the cannabis industry in Oklahoma or, for that matter, anywhere in the United States, you likely have heard of 280-E and the infamous 2018 Harborside decision of the U.S. Tax Court. If not, you need to know about both, along with a new decision filed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on April 22, 2021, upholding the Tax Court’s Harborside decision.

What is the Harborside Decision? In Patients Mutual Assistance Collective Corporation d.b.a. Harborside Health Center v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 151 T.C. No. 11 (November 29, 2018) 2, the Tax Court determined Harborside, a well-known dispensary and brand based in Oakland, California that was co-founded by cannabis legend Steve DeAngelo, owed approximately $11 million in back taxes because it took business deductions and exclusions “in connection with the sale of a federally illegal substance.” Harborside appealed the decision in Patients Mutual Assistance Collective Corporation, d.b.a. Harborside Health Center v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, No. 19-73078, filed April 22, 2021. On appeal, the issue considered by the Ninth Circuit was whether Harborside, a dispensary that purchases and resells marijuana and uses the cost method to value its inventory, must account for its inventory cost in accord with Section 1.471-3(b) of the Treasury Regulations.

While the issue sounds complicated, the impact on OMMA licensees is simple: for purposes of federal income tax, the only deduction available in calculating gross income is the cost of purchasing or producing the goods being sold (“cost of goods sold” or “COGS”). No standard business deductions are available to cannabis businesses in our country. What is Section 280E and Who Cares?

member of your team. Information contained herein provides general information related to the law and does not provide legal advice. It is recommended that readers consult their personal lawyer if they want legal advice. No attorney-client or confidential relationship exists or is formed between you and Ms. Parrish as a result of this article.

A provision in the Internal Revenue Code known as Section 280E prohibits cannabis companies from claiming deductions and exclusions available to every other business in the country. Section 280E was enacted in 1982 after a U.S. Tax Court decision allowed a drug dealer to deduct expenses associated with his illegal business activities and provides: No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within 2 the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by federal law or the law of any state in which such trade or business is conducted. Since marijuana remains a Schedule I illegal substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), then OMMA licensees doing business within Oklahoma’s medical marijuana system are considered to be “trafficking in controlled substances” under the CSA and, as such, are not allowed any deduction or income tax credit for amounts paid or incurred in the course of their business activities. To simplify how this impacts Oklahoma cannabis businesses, it means that the only deduction available in calculating gross income for purposes of federal income tax is the cost of purchasing or producing the goods being sold by that business (COGS). This would include, for example, the wholesale price of medical marijuana a dispensary owner pays to a grower or processor, or the cost a grower incurs from actually growing medical marijuana. It does not include expenses such as wages or rent. In practice, Oklahoma medical marijuana companies (and cannabis businesses across the United States) often pay a tax rate of 80% to 90% to the IRS, unlike other businesses. Even if an OMMA licensee has a net loss on its books, the company will still incur significant federal tax liability. So…what’s the take-away? The Harborside decision, along with the IRS’s admission it has been training agents for at least eight years “in the finer details of auditing marijuana companies, using PowerPoint presentations that outline everything from legal precedents to questions that should be asked during interviews with business owners” should send you running to your cannabis CPA—which, by the way, is a must-have

Sowing the Seed by Chet Tucker For those just picking up Herbage and reading for the first time, we’re glad you’re here. The monthly editorial, “Sowing the Seed”, is a journey from seed to market and we hope you find it as a simple guide along the way. So, we’ve covered genetics, soil and mediums, “food”, water, and light to this point. Next, we jump forward a bit as we move to the nurturing the nature of cannabis. As the plant moves from a baby, to a teen, to its flowering stage, we’ll dive into what can make or break your harvest at what may be considered the most crucial stage in the process of growing cannabis. From pests to mold to the unforeseen, it “ain’t always easy being green”. First, the long list of pesky pests that can alter or destroy your plants can vary from region to region and certainly tougher to battle with outdoor growing conditions. From aphids, to spider mites, caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, inchworms, fungus gnats, and the many colored flies, it’s important to research what each of these look like both with the naked eye and under a magnifying or microscope glass. The larger the crop, especially outdoor in a region such as the stormier and more humid Oklahoma, the more pest management must occur. Obviously, pest management should never include harmful pesticides which completely goes against the desire

for organic plant based medicinal consumption. Traces of pesticides will show up in testing and should be avoided when managing the pests in your grow environment. Alternative combatants include growing “companion” plants (lavender, dill, basil, chamomile, etc) in the environment, along with the good pests that feed on the bad ones such as ladybugs and praying mantises. Depending on your pest issue, research the best ways to not only quickly identify what pest (they are often microscopic ) is affecting your plants but what organic methods can be used to eradicate them. Next, you have powdery mildew/mold (PM), stem and bud rot, as well as other environmental issues that can cause hermaphrodites (herm) and undesired seeds. One of the first combatants used to reduce or eliminate PM or bud rot is air circulation. Most indoor grows will be stacked with fans and a ventilation system that is consistently removing the hot or humid air and pumping in fresh air, ideally with healthy levels of CO2. You want as many leaves “moving” from the circulation of air and strong enough to help build the strength of the stalks that work to better root the plant. Conditions that remain too damp are big which means you should avoid overwatering and leaving the plants to sit in conditions that are overly humid. Dehumidifiers are a critical piece of equipment to keeping the humidity at proper levels because each stage of the plant reacts differently to its desired environment Defoliating plants properly are also a helpful way to mitigate the risks of PM and rot so be methodical in your methods to keep as air circulation in the grow environment. So, even with the right genetics, soil or alternative medium, light, water, and nutrients, the tough-to-control variables can affect your crops. Light leaks from other rooms, exit signs, radios, and alarm systems can also alter your crops so ensure that your environment is properly sealed and insulated and that when you eradicate pests or PM/rot, ensure that you do a thorough clean between moving your next set of flowering cannabis into the space. It’s a tedious and detailed process but it can be easily managed by maintaining a checklist and keeping an eye on the finer details of the plants and their environment. Next month, we’ll get into the final stages of pulling the crops down and then into the curing, packaging, and taking your harvest to market.

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Storms, Stress and The Brain by Tab Moura I’m sitting here at the table listening to an Oklahoma thunderstorm, thinking about the meaning of life and the ice cream in my freezer. As you know, I have three amazing little girls who just so happen to use our favorite plant medicine, cannabis. Cannabis has been incredibly powerful in helping my daughters articulate how they are feeling while we transition to a new house. Cannabis has also been helpful in reducing the intensity of their anxiety, to be able to use more mental health tools with them. Tonight as the sirens began to sound, my oldest was (and always is) the first one to notice. So I dropped the box I was holding and ran across the house to be the first one to say “time to remember storm safety!” Traditions are important, not just for community, but for safety. Our brains have special traditions for everyday life as well, remembering how to get from A to B like we always have… even the stressful stuff like tonight. We are very sensitive to storm anxiety in our home, because I’ve been through some bad storms in my life. This is also why I respond so quickly. We can be prepared, and confident at the same time. Our brains are designed to quickly sort through information when we are stressed, but not all information. When we encounter stress, our hypothalamus is the first to respond, waking up the pituitary gland, a small structure with a big job. The pituitary gland sends signals to the adrenal glands on the kidneys, which then releases adrenaline. So before we even have a chance to critically process the stress we are experiencing, we already have adrenaline pumping through our bodies— this is how we were designed to respond, you aren’t getting ahead of yourself if your heart races during stress. Your body’s ability to survive relies on its ability to be alert. Adrenaline = alert.

Sometimes we perceive this as anxiety if we don’t know how to respond. How we see ourselves while we’re handling stress makes a big difference in the grand scheme of things, this is where instinct meets critical thinking. After the adrenaline is released, the amygdala is alerted. The amygdala has stress sensors, it doesn’t know the difference between physical and emotional stress, because the only thing it can confirm is that it senses adrenaline. That’s where the prefrontal cortex comes in. The prefrontal cortex is where we assign emotions to our biological response. The prefrontal cortex is here to assess the threat and decide if it needs a greater or lesser response from us… it’s this part of my oldest that I am speaking to when I say “time to remember storm safety!” Just in time for her to decide if her body’s adrenaline means she’s in danger, or if she’s prepared. This is an anomaly called Social Buffering. Researchers did a study that measured the effect of mother and child proximity on stress. It showed that young children, who were in close proximity to their mothers while processing stress, had less activity in their amygdala’s, and more in their prefrontal cortex. What a magic trick right? Hah! None of this is a surprise; mother’s have known how important co-regulation is for centuries. Responding to our children allows them to regulate their responses, and it helps them to learn and retain the plans that keep them safe. Holding space with our children prepares them to process and manage all of life’s storms— real and metaphorical. My daughter is a quick talker when she becomes anxious, so I began spitting out facts about storms, which prompted her to ask more questions. An active mind is an alert mind. “Is it windy? Is there any hail?” Her prefrontal cortex was able to judge for itself if she was safe— she just had to remember what to focus on.

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The Loaded Bowl by Anna Ervin Herbage Magazine

In the heart of OKC lies one of Oklahoma’s best kept secrets, that even in farmer’s country you can find a deep-seeded love for plant-based food. Guests often stumble upon The Loaded Bowl, located across the street from OKC’s Farmers & Antique Markets, expecting the type of establishment that most of our readers are familiar with. However, while the LB has certainly adopted a plant-medicine mindset, you won’t find flower or bongs here. The Loaded Bowl, or LB for short, began serving plant-based dishes to the OKC community in 2013. Initially operating out of a food truck, Oklahoma’s first vegan food truck, they eventually set up a brick & mortar location in the heart of OKC. Once the pandemic hit, LB’s business overwent quite the transformation, so I decided to stop by and see how they have adapted. Side note- this was not my first time visiting their location. I’ve been one of LB’s biggest fans since adopting a plant-based diet several years ago. I actually love their fresh-baked cake donuts so much that I once had my mom pick up an order before making a 10 hour drive to visit me while I lived out of state. My favorite dish? The Mashed Potato Bowl (think KFC’s Famous bowl, only vegan… and better), but I like to change it up sometimes and order it with maple chili “lb chicken.” LB Chicken is a soy-based protein that takes on the flavor and texture of tender chicken strips. It’s obviously not chicken, but it might be better. Business, Social Responsibility, and Mac n Cheese (not necessarily in that order) General Manager, Kaitlyn Burton took time out of a busy Thursday to sit down with me and chat about business, social responsibility, and my favorite topic, mac and cheese. Kaitlyn has been working for the LB since 2016, around the time the company was laying out plans for their restaurant and bar. “Tevin and Jon Grupe started the food truck back in 2013 with a very small menu of five items or so,” Kaitlyn informed me. “Everything has really evolved but the one thing that’s kind of been there from the beginning was the mac and cheese. The cheese sauce is something John, one of the owners, really dug into and perfected to make as delicious as possible.” “It’s crazy the amount of specifics that went into it,” she continued, “and that go into it every time we make it, making sure it’s consistent throughout the years and that it has remained true to what it’s supposed to be.” This is not news to me. I’ve been vegan for nearly 4 years, and in my pursuit to find the perfect cashew cheese recipe, I have all but given up hope that anything can compare to LB’s version. I wondered, is the perfect cashew cheese really the secret to turning one of OKC’s only vegan restaurants into a local hotspot? I had the feeling there was more

to the story. “I meet so many people,” I told Kaitlyn, “who are not vegan and have no interest in vegan food that somehow find their way here and end up loving your menu. Do you feel like there’s a secret to changing their hearts about eating more plants?” “At the end of the day,” Kaitlyn responded, “the reason people want to eat at The Loaded Bowl is because the food tastes delicious. And who doesn’t love mac and cheese?” “We aren’t necessarily preaching at them that this is vegan, or this is why its vegan,” she continued. “We will never guilt anyone for not being plant-based or eating whatever they want to eat. We just want everyone to make their own decision for their life and as long as they are doing what is best for them that is all that really matters. And as long as we keep making really good food, people will keep coming!” My favorite rule to live by is “be the change you wish to see,” a sentiment derived from the teachings of Mahatma Ghandi. The Loaded Bowl, from the way I see it, is setting the bar honorably high when it comes to this, with ethical practices and efforts to give back to the community through charitable contributions. Their mission? “To provide conscious comfort food™ in an accessible and affordable way,” but what does that look like amidst a global pandemic? “We wanted make sure from the very beginning of it all that we were keeping our staff safe,” Kaitlyn said. “That we could be a place where our customers can trust that their food would be safe, and that they would be safe. We did close our doors for about 3 weeks. That gave us the opportunity to actually do some renovations in our building and do some really deep cleaning. We also had to restructure and rethink how we were going to move forward with the current safety regulations.” “So, we have shifted our business model quite a bit. We now have a pickup window and are doing to-go service only. But at the heart of it, our goal has always been to keep our staff safe, keep our customers safe and just keep serving good food.” I couldn’t help but think about all of the people out there upset about wearing a piece of fabric over their face, while this crew literally reorganized their entire business model to accommodate the public in the safest way possible, without a single complaint. That’s when it clicked. While plant-based food might simply be a trend or phase for some, it’s a lifestyle at the Loaded Bowl. And as a lot of Oklahomans (including myself) are still struggling to find the right balance of sustainability, social responsibility, and sanity in their lives, LB is giving us the opportunity to enjoy a meal that doesn’t carry with the weight of the world’s burdens. They have taken all of the guesswork out of “being the change” for us, and through supporting their business, we might even find ourselves inspired to adopt a few of those changes in our own kitchens.

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If you ask DJ Eddie Brasco what he does for a living, it might be best to grab a chair, a cup of coffee and light up a black & mild That is because Brasco is a man that wears a lot of hats in his professional and personal life. “I am a creative. I’m an entrepreneur,” Brasco said. “My title is deejay, but I’m also the founder of Brasco Creative Works. I do graphic design. I do marketing and consulting. I do a lot of things, man, but mostly in the creative space is where I really roam.” While that sounds like a lot, what Brasco has created in just a few short years is a burgeoning enterprise where he is the essential product. He has become an influencer when it comes to music, food, fashion and most importantly cannabis. Someone who has the eyes and ears of the culture following him daily. This skill has allowed Brasco to build his own brand, which now fuels everything he does. “Dope Vibes Only is my brand,” Brasco said. “That is my brand for my DJ, creativity. That’s where that goes because it’s all about the vibe. It’s all about the energy.” However, this is not where Brasco’s career path looked like it was heading in his younger days. When he started deejaying more than two decades ago, he thought he had found his calling. Working clubs and parties while also making a name for himself on the radio, he thought he was set for life. “I’m going to tell you, that was the goal, to get in it and to stay in it and to do it forever. I can tell you probably 10 years into that, I lost that,” Brasco said. “It just became a money thing and it was no longer for fun. It was just a means to an end. The problem is, is when you’re taking something like that and you’re trying to earn a living on it, you can’t do it for the money. You got to do it because that’s what you’re supposed to do and the money will come. It’s going to come.” Brasco doesn’t call it burnout as the reason he stepped away from deejaying but he needed time away and pursued other business interests. Then after a failed attempt at running a wine bar with his wife, he found himself working a 9 to 5 with AT&T in 2016. “I was doing wireless sales, man. Don’t get me wrong, AT&T’s a great company. But I don’t fit in any job. That’s never going to be my thing,” Brasco said. “That’s when I realized, this is a really good job and I hate it, so I’m going to do something else. They gave me the option of getting fired or quitting. I took the one that allowed me to come back if I needed to. So, I resigned. They understood this is not where I need to be. My manager actually told me, he was like, “Look, I’m going to make sure that you can get your job back if you want it back in six months. But I don’t think you’re going to need it.” And I haven’t. I didn’t even look for another job.” According to Brasco, that was the last job he ever had. Since then he has just been living his life and finding ways to monetize it. Regardless of which hat Brasco is wearing on any particular day, he has made the cannabis industry the central character in everything he does these days. Whether he is deejaying at dispensaries or designing his Dope Vibes Only clothing line, the 44-year old is looking to become one of the faces of the industry in Oklahoma. “I put a camera in front of me and said since I’m getting paid to be creative, how about I allow people to be part of that process? Let me take all the experience that I got from radio, to deejaying, to art design, to bar ownership management, whatever the case may be, and just see

what happens with that,” Brasco said. “I haven’t looked back, man. People, for whatever reason, they like what’s in my noodle. And with the cannabis, it allows me, because I am a public figure, so to speak, I guess, I’m able to use that to influence people in the right way. Be an advocate rather than just a user.” Brasco said he has been smoking marijuana since he was in college. It has been a part of his life ever since then. But it wasn’t until Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018 that Brasco decided to incorporate cannabis into his work. “If you’re an entertainer, you’re an entertainer that smokes weed. That’s what it was. Now I’m an entertainer, and cannabis is a part of my brand. That’s the difference,” Brasco said. “When I knew that I could make it a part of my brand because it’s the law now, so I say it’s going to be a part of my brand because I’m for that.”

Brasco had one other major reason for making marijuana part of his every brand. “Just to be real, from a business perspective, the cannabis industry is a revenue stream,” Brasco said. “I’m not going to say it’s just this unlimited amount of money, but it makes a lot of money. People in the cannabis industry understand the value of great marketing, great branding. They understand these things that I hold true, for what I do anyway. It just makes sense for me to align myself with like-minded thinkers and industries that make sense like they need me just as much as I need them.” Much like the cannabis industry, Brasco’s brand has grown throughout the past three years. He has become a mainstay at dispensaries during the day and night clubs when the sun goes down. “Cookies is probably the most popular cannabis brand there is. They have two stores in Oklahoma City. I’ve been able to align my brand up with their brand in terms of the entertainment DJ aspect of what I do,” Brasco said. “The cool thing is I’m a part of that marketing infrastructure every time they do something in the market.”

However, when the Coronavirus pandemic struck in 2020, Brasco found himself sidelined. He wasn’t able to go out in public and do what he does best, which was to entertain people. So he had to find another way to keep himself relevant. “In the beginning of the pandemic is when I really took the streaming and turned that into the main revenue source and got away from the deejaying because the world wouldn’t allow it anyway,” Brasco said. “I can’t go out into the world, so let me bring the world into me. So that’s what I did. The company itself was Dope Vibes Only. That’s what the company was under Brasco Creative Works.” Currently, the podcast can be seen on the platform Restream and on Facebook. He plans for that to change in the future. “if somebody wants to tune into the podcast, man, just imagine them watching a show that’s about music, art, and culture. That’s what Dope Vibes Only is,” Brasco said. “We’re going to talk about what’s seen, what’s heard, and what’s done. If it pops off in the market, if it’s a party, if it’s an artist or something like that and it comes across our radar and we get to personally experience it, we’re going to share that. It’s all about the world through our perspective.”

DJ Eddie Brasco by Michael Kinney

Infused BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sammies with Medicated Broccoli Slaw by Anna Ervin

Cannabanana & Mom It’s that time of year again, either a vegan’s worst nightmare or the season they’ve been most looking forward to. I personally fall into the second category, but not for a lack of many, many awkward backyard bar-b-que’s spent picking through a side salad and, if I was lucky, a few grilled veggies as everyone around me enjoyed their favorite summer flavors. Eventually I learned that if I wanted to enjoy the full cookout experience with my family and friends, I was going to have to come prepared. I have an entire arsenal of sides, entrees, and salads at my disposal, but today I wanted to share the one that grants me the most suspecting looks. “Pulled” jackfruit looks a lot like pulled pork. The flavor and texture may not be spot on, but it’s more than enough to satisfy my craving for familiar comfort foods. Enter a cannasugar-infused BBQ sauce, as well as fresh, crunchy broccoli slaw with a touch of medicated olive oil, and this plant-based sandwich might just become the most popular item at your next outdoor gathering. The best part? No grill required. Although I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to smoke the jackfruit before you marinate!

Ingredients: BBQ Sauce:

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce ½ C apple cider vinegar ¼ C maple syrup 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp cannasugar – I used 100mg of Two Twisted Girls’ Baking Sugar 2 tsp liquid smoke 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp herb seasoning blend try cavender’s + a rosemary garlic salt Sea salt + freshly ground black pepper to taste 4 (14 oz) cans jackfruit Broccoli Slaw: 2 tbsp medicated olive oil – I used 100mg 2 tbsp maple syrup 2 tbsp rice vinegar 1 tsp Dijon mustard Salt to taste 1 bag broccoli slaw 3-4 tbsp pine nuts (toasted) Finishing Touches: Whole wheat buns (toasted) Kosher Pickles – optional Sweet Potato Fries – optional

Instructions:

Make the Sauce. Whisk BBQ sauce ingredients together in a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a low simmer and reduce heat, stirring frequently. Allow to simmer 10-15 minutes, or until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat. Marinate the Jackfruit. Drain and rinse jackfruit before roughly chopping into bite size pieces. Mix chopped jackfruit and BBQ Sauce in a large bowl, cover and allow to marinate in the fridge 4-6 hours, or overnight. Make the Broccoli Slaw. Whisk medicated oil, maple syrup, rice vinegar, and Dijon mustard in a large bowl. Add toasted pine nuts and broccoli slaw, and combine until evenly coated. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Cook the Jackfruit. Add BBQ jackfruit to a large pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat. Cover and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove lid and heat jackfruit over medium-high heat for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Assemble Sammies. Scoop a heaping spoonful of jackfruit onto toasted bun and top with coleslaw. Serve with sweet potato fries and pickles either on the side or on the sandwich.

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Hope in Action by Anna Ervin Herbage Magazine

When I was younger, I used to think Oklahoma’s landscapes were so bland. My family traveled a lot through the years, and I remember visiting states with clear blue ocean waters, or mountains blanketed in aspens and evergreens. I would think, why can’t I live somewhere like this. Somewhere that flaunts such beautiful sceneries within an hour’s drive of my home. Each time our family would return to Oklahoma, I found myself scowling at the red dirt, or rolling my eyes at the never-ending span of wheat fields and the vast horizons that boasted no oceans or mountains or even hills, really. I carried this mindset with me for years, but I recently had an experience that allowed me to see my sweet home state through a fresh pair of eyes. Justin Hope is Oklahoma’s very own weed pimp, volunteer trail guide, and one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. I was lucky enough to meet up with him for one of the most breathtaking hikes I’ve ever seen, through Keystone Ancient Forest. Located in Northeastern Oklahoma, KAF is a small portion of the Cross-timbers area. With over 1,300 acres of forest containing oak and cedar that have been standing for at least up to 500 years, this virgin land might just be one of Oklahoma’s best kept secrets, and Justin was giving me the VIP tour. As we started our journey down the Frank Trail, I could tell that this area meant a lot to Justin, and that he had a deep-seated respect for the forest surrounding us. “I used to run these woods as a kid,” he boasted. “I grew up on the other side of the river, just a few miles away. I always knew this area as the Eagle Reserve. There’s definitely a lot of history trapped out here.” Indeed, what makes Keystone Ancient Forest such a rare gem in our state is that the land has hardly been disturbed by developers, due to it’s rough terrain, proximity to the lake, and various other landscape-related roadblocks. Lucky for us, aside from a few oil wells that went up several years ago, this patch of raw Oklahoma beauty has been primarily untapped by the industrial world. This is what allows “history” to hold such strong roots in the area (literally). “They call this a virgin forest,” Hope continued. “The environment here preserves itself, as long as man doesn’t destroy it. We try to encourage people to stay on the trail.” I noticed as we hiked, that one thing that really set this park apart from others I’ve seen was the cleanliness. Aside from the clearly marked trail, there didn’t seem to be any waste left by other hikers. And, in the off chance that we did stumble upon a cigarette butt, or granola bar wrapper, Justin would quietly pick it up and add it to a plastic bag that he kept in his backpack. “City folk,” he chuckled at one point, “throwin’ trash down.” He collected the leftover item. “Thank goodness there’s more of us, who want to clean up. It’s easy to do, really. If people would just think about it.” When we found ourselves halfway into the 2.8 mile trek, we decided to pause for a break. The trail had brought us to an overlook of Keystone lake. I think each of us had the same idea in mind as we returned from our backpacks bearing snacks and goodies. Justin has a long history with cannabis, and thoroughly believes in its medicinal qualities. Cannabis helped him get off of a sleuth of pharmaceuticals that had been prescribed to him. Pills that felt like they were killing him, rather than healing. As the smoke began to settle and we geared up to head back onto the trail, I suddenly became hyper-aware of my surroundings. I had not medicated before the hike, and up until that point I had felt like I was simply an observer of the beauty that surrounded us. Had the trees been this alive and green the whole time? Were the birds just now waking up to sing the soundtrack of our hike, or had I just not noticed them before? I began to feel so small, like a tiny molecule in this massive, living, breathing organism that surrounded us. Picking up on my quiet observations, Justin commented, “If you think about it, you’re just a grain of rice in this bowl. Just a pebble out here in this world.” He would slow down every now and then to point out the peculiar way the trees seemed to grow. Some appeared to actually grow through the large stones on the ground, while a few of them had trunks that curved to form a near perfect right angle, as if they had been markers set up by

travelers long before our time. Two trees in particular had seemingly wrapped themselves around each other, winding their trunks around the other in a spiraling motion. I sensed that this was not the work of man, only the divine force of nature could create something so pure and beautiful. “They’re holding each other until the day they die,” Hope observed, before excitedly changing the topic. “Have you heard about Cornnabis? Or Cannacorn?” I was intrigued. “One of my plants started showing half white-yellow, half green on the leaf,” he continued. “It showed signs of mutation. And a couple of weeks later, I find that there’s corn growing right next to it. The plants, kind of like the trees that were holding hands, they grew up together.” I admired his unique perspective on nature, and the ways of the universe, and realized that they were not much different from my own. Everything on this floating rock we occupy is so divinely connected. Nature has a way of supporting itself for survival, but in a holistic way. Certain species of trees that are considered invasive, might compete with the other plant species surrounding them. Occasionally, however, when you find something like those intertwined tree trunks, or Justin’s Cannacorn, you realize that two organisms supporting each other can result in something so pure and beautiful. Imagine what the world would look like if humans supported each other, or the environment, in those ways, building stronger foundations, lifting each other up. We approached the Wilson trailhead. “Are you allergic to any poison ivy or poison oak?” Justin asked. “This is a little different from the other trail. We have these tapes up so people don’t get lost.” I knew things were about to get a little more intense, so I packed up my camera and set off to follow him down a slightly rougher and much narrower path. It was difficult to focus on anything other than the ground in front of me, and Justin seemed to move through these woods like he had done it a million times before, and had rehearsed every step. “I’ve got that Indian lightfoot,” he had told me earlier, referring to his Native blood. I began to slide into a meditative state as we trekked forward, feeling my heart rate increase as the trail became increasingly more challenging. It had been cold that morning, but the sun was beginning to peak through the canopy of trees overhead, and before long I felt a small bead of sweat work it’s way down the back of my neck. The Frank trail had felt like a walk in the park compared to this, and I was loving every step of our new path. This was the kind of hiking I had been missing in Oklahoma– slight changes in elevation, challenging routes that forced me to carefully plan every step, and that satisfying feeling of being deep in a forest, far away from society and all its noise. We paused for a break as I caught my breath and took in the scene around us. It was unlike anything the forest had offered so far. Cliffs of oddly shaped rocks towered over us on one side, a waterfall blanketed in dead leaves trickled nearby, and trees upon trees upon trees were scattered around us in every direction. I wanted to climb the rocks, hike into the trees, and dust the leaves off that waterfall and run my hands through the stream. Then I remembered Justin’s comment about staying on the trail, and I realized that the reason this park had been so well preserved, was that people like Justin had enough respect for the environment to protect and preserve it. So, I set my “Jungle Book” fantasies aside and inhaled another deep breath of crisp, cool air. We rounded out the Wilson Trail and headed back to our starting point. On the way, we began to discuss our thoughts on the universe and spirituality. I had previously mentioned the recent new moon to my guide, and, bringing it back up, he asked me if I was sensitive to the moon. I dove a little bit into my views on divinity, and how this hike had shown me the way everything in the universe seems so interconnected, but I was more interested in hearing Justin’s ideals on the topic. “It is all somehow related,” he told me. “I’ve got the red blood in me, the Indian ways, the ways of One. I’m a true flatliner, so I do believe there’s a reason I’m still here.” I wanted to tell him that maybe this was that reason, helping people realize the healing power of cannabis and nature, that the earth provides us with every single thing we need to survive, but I had a gut feeling he already knew that. www.sandspringsok.org

Painted Pistols Cannabis Co. Providing an avenue for the community of Chickasha to experience clean, organic medicinal cannabis. by Veronica Castillo In a city about 35 miles away from Oklahoma City, exists a cannabis cultivation company owned and operated by life-long Chickasha residents- Painted Pistols Cannabis Co. Painted Pistols is located in a stand-alone building in downtown Chickasha on HWY 81, with a large parking lot that can accommodate large motor vehicles, trailers, and RVs. “We are less than 3 miles from the turnpike exit. In the past, it was used for an automotive shop and before that, we believe it was a radiator shop.” About Painted Pistols Based in Oklahoma, with pistols attached to the name may raise some eyebrows, but no need because the name stems from a connection; a message in a song: “Painted Pistols was inspired by a line in Trampled, a song by Turtles- ‘the calm and the crying wind’. While listening, I was praying and contemplating what we should name the shop. The first line in the song was exactly what I needed to hear. All the hairs stood up on my arm and it confirmed to me that was the name we were supposed to use.” The owner of Painted Pistols Cannabis Co. always knew cannabis would be a part of life. With years in the cannabis industry and talks of Oklahoma going legal for medicinal consumption, the owner says: “When talk of legalizing medical cannabis in our state started happening, I knew I’d be involved somehow, I just didn’t know what that looked like but when the opportunity with the building presented itself, I decided to jump on it.” As many have reported, and though it varies from state to state, getting into the legal cannabis industry isn’t an easy task. When asked about the hardest part of the journey into cannabis entrepreneurship, the response was: “The rules and regulations changing so much; medical cannabis had only been legal less than a year when we opened.” Painted Pistols: Team and Mission Painted Pistols has a team that makes its operation possible. Aside from the owner, the team consists of a dispensary manager, a sales associate/ graphic designer/ Budtender (one person handles these roles), and an inventory and bookkeeping specialist (one person handles

these roles). The owner is at the dispensary every day with the exception of a getaway with his fiancé (which we all need!): “We snuck away early last year for a 2-day weekend trip but I have been in the store every other day since we’ve opened. I take pride in being an owner / operator of the store.” The Painted Pistols Cannabis Co. mission is one that can be appreciated: “We are here to provide education and clean meds to patients. When a patient choses cannabis over prescription pills, they are looking for a safer alternative. If that “safer alternative” is pumped full of chemicals, is that really safer?” About the Painted Pistol Dispensary and Strains For those that haven’t visited Painted Pistols Cannabis Co. dispensary, here is what the owner describes as the vibe in the dispensary: “We know that cannabis can be intimidating to new patients. We want them to feel comfortable when they walk into our store and answer any and all questions they have about cannabis and consumption. It is our favorite part of the day when we get to consult with a new patient, find out what their need for cannabis is, and help find a product that works best for their body.” As for brands that Oklahoma cannabis patients can find at Painted Pistols Cannabis Co., the owner states: “Frosty Organics, Resonant Cult, Hermetic Flower Co, King Cannabis, and No Time. We have a huge supply of edibles from companies like Smokiez, Bison Extracts, and RR brothers. Others include: Divine collection, Leaf Logic, Ice Melts, and Vedana Solventless Hash Rosin.” In Closing When asked why a cannabis dispensary in Chickasha,Oklahoma- the answer received was centered in love: “Chickasha is my hometown. I was born and raised here. I wanted to share my passion with those I grew up with and introduce them to clean cannabis. A good friend was moving back to this area to start a grow and we knew it would be a great opportunity to showcase his organic, living soil grown cannabis.” Cannabis is centered in love, healing, and appreciation. The owner closed with something so beautiful that as I type this, I am getting chills. Because of that, it’s only right that I allow him to close the piece. When asked: “what should patients know about Painted Pistols that hasn’t been asked?” The owner of Painted Pistols stated: “I know this seems clique but our patients have become our family. Not only because they know they can trust us, but because of the bonds we’ve formed. It threw me off the first time a patient told me he loved me as he was leaving. Now, it’s kind of become the norm.”

KIERSTON WHITE

STEPHEN SALEWON

JOHNNY MANCHILD

ADAM AGUILAR SEASON 6 COMING SOON

WATCHPLAYITLOUD.COM 777 GRAND CASINO BLVD.

Sugar-Free Jollys Cowboy Cup, OG Cup, Harvest Fest, and Noble Cup winner! @OklahomaMedicine

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Herbage Magazine May 2021 Issue 32

Articles inside

Hope In Action

By Anna Ervin Painted Pistols By Veronica Castillo

Cannabanana & Mom

The Loaded Bowl

By James Bridges Harborside Decision

That’s Not a Potato

Straing Of The Month

DJ Eddie Brasco

TULSA Race Massacre

Sugar With Coffee & Cream

Who Is He - IVAN