High! Canada Magazine Issue #41 - March 2019

CANADIAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY INFORMATION & EDUCATION

ANGELINA BLESSED TWO. POINT. OH! Cover Photography by Taylor Oakes Productions

FREE - MARCH 2019 - ISSUE #41 - INTENDED FOR A 21+ AUDIENCE

MARCH 2019 - ISSUE 41 HIGH! CANADA MAGAZINE For general inquiries regarding content: editor@highcanada.net For inquiries to our graphic design department: crea ve@highcanada.net or for display adver sing rates and co-ordina on: adver sing@highcanada.net

CONTENTS 07

HOW DO WE TAKE BACK CANNABIS CULTURE?

14

A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF TERPENES AND EXTRACTS

17

CANNABIS & INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

22 HIGH! CANADA MAGAZINE WOMEN IN WEED

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @ganeshd_

31

WOMEN IN WEED SPECIAL FEATURE ANGELINA BLESSED

43

WOMEN IN WEED NEGRIL DEORRAH HARDY

47

WOMAN IN WEED CORAL ROSE CARSON

55

WOMAN IN WEED STEPHANIE JAMES

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HOW DO WE TAKE TAKE BACK CANNABIS CULTURE? AN EDITORIAL RESPONSE We take it back by being proud of our cannabis use. By speaking up and stepping up.

This month, we celebrate Interna onal Woman’s Day and this issue is dedicated to all the amazing women in the cannabis industry.

Special shout outs to our own High! Canada M a g a z i n e w o m e n s u p r e m e : Ta m m i Stanhope, Michaela Freedman, Janine Morra, Rainbow Smithe, Evanghelia K, Miss Lino e, Stephanie Sa va and so many more.

Here is what I want you to remember.

Cannabis culture belongs to everyone. It brings people together on so many levels and the list of things that both THC and CBD can do is staggering. Not that long ago cannabis was illegal in Canada and there were a lot of people working and preparing for the changes that were to come post-legaliza on.

One of those changes was that, sooner rather than later, cannabis culture was going to be opened up to everyone in Canada, equally. In theory, this would allow Canadians to reap in the benefits that so many people thought would come with legalizing such a precious and healing commodity. The whole country is now taking tenta ve steps in a very different world, slowly stepping out of the shadows and peering cau ously at the light of this new legal market.

Do you know what most people who are curious about cannabis see when they look at cannabis culture in Canada? They read news reports on enforcement and decades worth of pot-humour in popular culture. They see, fo r t h e m o st p a r t , s g m a a n d m i s informa on. Do you know what I see when I look at cannabis culture in Canada? I see

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @ganeshd_

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @ganeshd_

MARCH 2019 - ISSUE 41 High! Canada is not responsible for the actions, services or quality of the products and services advertised within. We will not knowingly support unethical practices of any advertiser or contributor. High! Canada does not support the illegal use of any of the products or services mentioned within no matter how cool or life changing they may be.

High! Canada assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this publication. All material presented within is intended for entertainment purposes only unless of course you nd it educational. All rights reserved.

Printed and produced proudly in Canada.

For more information on HIGH! Canada please email us at editor@highcanada.net or visit us online at www.highcanada.net High! Canada is distributed to age verified shops and services and by subscrip on.

High! Canada is intended to educate and inform adults over 18 about the complexi es of cannabis consump on and reflects the mul faceted nature of this new industry.

many people working hard at figh ng s gma who are educa ng and informing Canadians about cannabis every day.

One of the things I love about cannabis is how empowering this plant is to so many w o m e n I h ave m e t t h ro u g h t h e magazine. This par cular issue makes good on a promise I made to a very dear friend of mine - who passed away tragically a few years ago. Our last interview together was with Angelina Blessed and this issue means a lot to me personally. We are following up on the growth Angelina herself has gone through over these last few years. M.E. had always want to do an en re issue on all the fabulous, wonderful and strong thought leaders we knew. There are and have been, so many inspira onal women we have had the pleasure of interviewing or connec ng with over our years of publishing. Narrowing it down to a mere 25 was difficult and honestly I think M.E. would be very heartened to see us both revisi ng Angelina in her professional career as well as pleased that we could only narrow it down to twenty-five.

Cy Williams Publisher/Editor High! Canada Magazine editor@highcanada.net

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HIGH! CANADA MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL TEAM Cy Williams Publisher/Editor

Tammi Stanhope Contributor

Phil Wong Business Editor

Rainbow Smithe Contributor

Miss Linotte Contributor

Janine Morra Editorial Team

Michaela Freedman Contributor

Jason Ward Contributor

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @darnopolis Wardrobe: @thursdayboots

A .C S C I N O P O R D Y .H WWW

A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF TERPENES AND EXTRACTS With concentrate companies leaning away from ever higher THC percentages andmoving towards an emphasis on flavor. Terpenes have taken centre stage. As acceptance of Cannabis grows, the synergis c rela onship between terpenes and cannabinoids has become a popular topic.

Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants.They o en have a strong odor and can act to protect the plants that produce them by deterring herbivores and by a rac ng predators and parasites of herbivores.

Terpenes are the major components of rosin and of turpen ne produced from resin. The name "terpene" is derived from the word "terpen ne", an obsolete form of the word "turpen ne". Terpenes are also major biosynthe c building blocks.

Terpenes and terpenoids are the primary cons tuents of the essen al oils of many types of medicinal plants and flowers.

Essen al oils are used widely as fragrances in perfumery, and in medicine and alterna ve medicines such as aromatherapy.

Most people are familiar with the therapeu c benefits of essen al oils; these are simply plant extracted terpenes. When nonpsychoac ve terpenes are consumed in

conjunc on with cannabinoids they act together to alter the perceived “high”. Terpenes help THC to pass through the blood brain barrier facilita ng faster access to your cannabinoid receptors. They can also have the opposite effect restric ng THC absorp on.

The scents and flavors of terpenes are familiar to everyone and are present in our day to day lives along with flavonoids which also contribute to the flavor of Cannabis and foods we consume every day. Myrcene, the most abundant terpene in Cannabis, has an earthy, musky, clove or some mes fruity smell and is found in high levels in fruits such as mangoes. When combined with THC it amplifies the seda ve effects of Cannabis. Other terpenes that act like this are Terpinolene which has a floral aroma and Nerolidol which smells woody. Limonene, the second most abundant terpene, smells of citrus. Its effects result in an energe c high, most commonly associated with sa va strains.

Borneol, smelling of mint and camphor may increase the psychoac ve effects of Cannabis while Linalool with its lavender fragrance has an -anxiety proper es. Con nued research can only further our understanding of these unique interac ons.

Now that Cannabis has become legalized, many people are dabbling in the various delivery devices and associated ephemera. This has

known as “live rosin”. The end result is the same, how you get there depends on p e r s o n a l preference.

caused an explosion of companies and products.

Due to concentrates only being available in the unregulated market, there is no standardiza on.

Terpenes are vola le so the amount and type found in dry flowers is very different then what is found in fresh bud. The products made from material that is harvested, flash frozen, then processed result in the highest percentages of these aroma c compounds.

These products are considered “full spectrum extracts” because they retain roughly the same spectrum and ra o of desirable compounds as the plant had when it was alive. The lack of standardiza on has resulted in a limited array of products being given an assortment of names making it very confusing for anyone not familiar with them.

“Full spectrum extracts” is the moniker given when the ac ve ingredients are extracted from live cannabis and preserve the natural ra os of terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids. Another name for this is “live resin” This category contains both solvent and solventless op ons. In the solvent catergory BHO/PHO (butane or propane hash oil) are made by closed loop extrac on systems (that run these solvents through the material stripping off the desired products and then evapora ng off butane and/or propane in a vacuum chamber and reclaiming the hydrocarbons).

In contrast, solventless live extracts are produced by applying heat and pressure to fresh plant material and collec ng the viscous liquefied resin. This is a dras cally simpler process than hydrocarbon extrac on, and is

A w i d e assortment of T H C c o n c e n t rate s play with the r a o s o f terpenes and cannabinoids.

With so many companies producing such an assortment of live resins there are bound to be some accidental discoveries.

One such discovery was made when a jar of BHO was uninten onally le in the vacuum oven too long. The vola le terpenes, which acted as a solvent with cannabinoids had evaporated causing the solu on to become supersaturated with THC. The result is referred to as THC-A "diamonds". These are either separated and sold alone or with the terpenes in different ra os. When there is a higher percentage of THC-A it is o en referred to as HCFSE “high cannabinoid full spectrum extract”; when made with a higher percentage of terpenes it is referred to as HTFSE “high terpene full spectrum extract”.

The therapeu c proper es of both essen al oils, which are just plant derived or lab produced terpenes, and Cannabis are well known and widely used. Combining different types and amounts of terpenes in varying ra os will provide insight to the entourage effect and should lead us down some interes ng paths in the future in the recrea onal and medicinal markets.

With the legaliza on and mainstream acceptance of Cannabis in Canada, let's hope we see these products move out of the unregulated market and onto the shelves of our local, legally run dispensaries. I hope you are as excited as I am to see where it goes and what wonders it will bring!

BY: JASON WARD

CELEBRATING CANNABIS & INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY! “ I n t e r n a o n a l Wo m e n ' s D a y (March 8) is a global day celebra ng the social, economic, cultural and poli cal achievements of women.

The day also marks a call to ac on for accelera ng gender parity.”

Interna onalwomensday.com/IWD2019

" E a c h y e a r, M a r c h 8 i s a n opportunity to celebrate the contribu ons of women and renew our efforts in achieving gender equality – in Canada and around the world. Interna onal Women's Day is celebrated around the world – in many countries, it is a na onal holiday. It has grown to become a g l o b a l d a y o f r e co g n i o n o f women's achievements and a call to ac on to support women's rights and advance gender equality.”

Status of Women Canada

“The vape pen has changed my life.

No, I’m not exaggera ng. In fact, her name is Sippy. Yes, she’s a she. And yes, I named her Sippy because I take ny, li le sips — sassy sips, even — from her. And with each sip comes relief — from pressure, pain, stress, discomfort.”

Whoopi Goldberg

"If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a na on".

African Proverb Canada is the first G8 Na on that has legalized cannabis for recrea onal and medicinal use across the whole country - all 10 provinces and 3

territories. This year is the first me women of our diverse country have the legal right to use cannabis as they see fit. Cannabis overcame almost 100 years of prohibi on, 95 years to be exact, and s ll much has to be done to educate the general public in Canada of its mul ple uses and benefits.

Due to its s gma as a formerly banned and illegal substance, celebra ng Interna onal Women's Day with Cannabis es into the 2019 theme: think equal, build smart, innovate for change. Both have been misunderstood, misrepresented and mistaken over the years resul ng in prohibi on on the cannabis side and misogyny on the women's side. This is a day to reflect on and celebrate progress made by women in communi es across Canada.

Women in Canada now have the legal right to choose cannabis for a myriad of reasons including: Ÿ to be informed...an explosion of

cannabis research on everything from biochemistry to homeopathic medicinal uses and much more

Ÿ for health benefits...s mulates the

immune system

Ÿ for wellness... upli or relax your

mind, body and soul plus decrease anxiety

Ÿ for fashion...help the environment

and increase awareness through what you wear

Ÿ for home decora ng...there is a

plethora of objets d'art, books, trinkets, smoking devices and accessories

Ÿ for entrepreneurial

reasons...opportuni es are growing rapidly

Ÿ for medicinal healing..with strains

and extracts of cannabis, there is a homeopathic solu on for almost any ailment

On this Interna onal Women's Day in Canada, we celebrate three courageous women crea ng change with cannabis in their communi es.

Bea is a First Na ons woman from Winnipeg

and a former prison inmate who served me in the old federal maximum security Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario. She suffers from PTSD and severe arthri s as a result of her years served. Nowadays she volunteers in her neighborhood, serving hot meals at a Drop In Women's Center and sharing jokes and tokes from her carefully rolled spliffs.

Recently the recipient of the volunteer of the month award, she wishes to grow her own cannabis plants at home so she may give to the Elders who are poor and sick. A true modern medicine woman who embodies grace and compassion with the heart of a warrior.

"Grandma" wishes to begin a cannabis subs tu on therapy program for the marginalized people in her city in BC. As a volunteer for many non profit agencies, she no ced a large percentage of the homeless popula on had an opioid addic on. With the Fentanyl crisis looming so prominently on the streets, she knew first hand that Naloxone doesn't always work well to reverse an overdose.

She realized that cannabis could be the answer to many of their physical and mental

health condi ons. Currently, Grandma is researching ways to start this benevolent project. She hopes to meet compassionate growers who could donate and give back to a community in need. "Just a joint could change someone's life!"

Grandma's own mother "Great-Grandma" is an Octogenarian who fell and broke her hips. The doctors prescribed powerful opiate based drugs to help her with her pain management. While recovering from mul ple surgeries, she became very frightened and refused to eat the foods and drinks prepared for her. Grandma despaired over this sad predicament for her beloved mother. Luckily through a colleague she met an cer fied clinician who was able to recommend a 1:1 ncture and a effec ve THC/CBD topical.

Within 3 days, Great-Grandma regained her healthy appe te and was able to walk slowly across the floor with the aid of canes. The best result of her taking cannabis was regaining her happy self confidence to be able to give warm hugs and kisses to her great grandkids. These truly powerful benefits provided a miraculous recovery for Great-Grandma and her double hip replacement surgeries.

Inspired to share her story of how she was healed, she is now a cannabis for pain relief advocate for other seniors and pa ents in her neighborhood.

This year on Interna onal Women's Day, women can choose the best cannabis products for their needs.

Methods of using cannabis include:

Vaping Dabbing Rigs with Extracts Edibles Smoking out of pipes, bongs, hot knives etc Ÿ Joints with rolling papers that are elegant colours, shapes and flavours Ÿ Hemp skin care Ÿ Bath bombs with THC, CBD

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Cannabis can also empower women with regard to their body. Women's rights and autonomy over her person include: Ÿ

THC lubes for enhancing her own sexual health and pleasures

Ÿ CBD oils for busy mothers and business

women who need to relax

Ÿ Cannabis suppositories for menstrual

pains

Remember when we grow the cannabis plants it is the female plants' flowers we seek and worship.

Without the advancement and protec on of women or women centric prac ces in life and in cannabis, where would we be?

Women and cannabis go hand in hand on this parallel path to being respected.

Happy Interna onal Women's Day! Be er the balance, Be er the world. #BalanceforBe er #IWD2019

By Rainbow Smithe

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I

n t e r n a o n a l Wo m e n ' s D ay (March 8) is a global day celebra ng the social, economic, cultural and poli cal achievements of women. The day also marks a call to ac on for accelera ng gender parity.

Interna onal Women's Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Prior to this, it was the Socialist Party of America, United Kingdom's Suffragists and Suffrage es, and other groups that ac vely campaigned for women's equality.

Today, Interna onal Women's Day belongs to all groups collec vely everywhere. Cannabis groups included.

Interna onal Women's Day is not country, group or organiza on specific.

Make Interna onal Women's Day your day - everyday. This year, High! Canada Magazine wanted to make it a priority to celebrate some of the ver y wonderful women who work within the current Canadian cannabis space.

These are women who are figh ng s gma and advoca ng for change in major and important ways.

They are leaders and pioneers in this new legal Canadian cannabis industry and they are crea ng something new and inspiringly, uniquely Canadian along the way www.interna onalwomensday.com

jamie shaw Jamie Shaw is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of successful Social and Poli cal change, par cularly in the cannabis field. She lobbied for and consulted on the earliest municipal cannabis retail regula ons in Canada. She is Canada’s only Court-cer fied dispensary expert, Skilled in Nonprofit Organiza ons, Lobbying, Advocacy, Communica on, Educa on, and Entrepreneurship. Jamie graduated from American Musical and Drama c Academy in New York City.

cheryl shuman Cheryl built the largest cannabis media source in the world with Kush Magazine in 2010 as Director of Celebrity, Media & Public Rela ons, taking them from $150,000 in gross revenues to more than $6.5 million in revenue within 18 months.

Known as the “Martha Stewart of Marijuana”, Cheryl now manages a $100 million funding facility to invest in the cannabis sector as well as a personal endorsement contracts with ancillary products in the cannabis industry. In a short me, Cheryl has secured product placements for products in FX’s Wilfred, CBS News, The New Ricki Lake Show, and more.

Cheryl lectures interna onally about everything from seed to sale of the Cannabis Plant and is currently working with the pres gious William Morris Endeavor Agency in Beverly Hills for film, television, book and lecturing deals.

madison banes Madison is an amazing Naked News On-Air Personality, a yoga instructor, a burlesque dancer, canna-ac vist, Karma Cup Judge, host of Naked News Goes Pot and co-host of @babesnbluntz alongside Marina Valmont.

natalie sophia Owner and operator of Na lly A red. Natalie makes Handmade Body Polish & Oils, Bearded Bloke and is a Classic Rock RedNeck kinda chick! Oh yeah...She used to be a Ta oo Model! Na lly A red is a company that is growing quickly in popularity. Her products have recently been featured on the “Women's Network” website.

barinder rasode Home grown social influencer Barinder Rasode’s quintessen al advocacy for Canadian values is na onally renowned. Her leadership, mastery of complex subjects and innova on guides a plethora of issues that impact the everyday life of Canadians Barinder is the CEO of Grow Tech Labs and the co-founder of NICHE, a not-for-profit organiza on that provides impar al, evidence-based research about cannabis produc on and use in Canada. Based in Vancouver with a na onal vision, NICHE was established in 2017 a er discussions with the Federal and Provincial governments, industry, universi es, pa ents, consumers, non-governmental organiza ons, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Fraser Health, which provides governance and vision for the largest health authority in Bri sh Columbia.

Barinder has extensive experience working with senior levels of government, stakeholders and the private sector to find common ground to encourage respec ul, informed dialogue on diverse issues to tackle challenges facing Canada’s future.

alison mcmahon allison mcmahon Alison McMahon is the Founder & CEO of Cannabis At Work. Founded in 2015, Cannabis At Work is the leading source in Canada for cannabis jobs, recruitment services, online industry training, and workplace impairment training. Alison’s work has been featured in High! Canada several mes, the Globe & Mail, Huffington Post, Financial Post, CBC, Business News Network (BNN), Leafly and by many other media outlets.

Cannabis At Work has significant experience working in the regulated cannabis sector with Licensed Producers and Applicants, ancillary businesses and the retail sector.

Cannabis At Work was the first to receive a government contract for retail staffing services from the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corpora on. In addi on to staffing services, Cannabis At Work also provided educa on to employers on cannabis legaliza on and advised on drug policy changes.

Alison was a term instructor for 5 years at the MacEwan School of Business in Edmonton, and she is a former board member with the Human Resources Ins tute of Alberta.

She serves on Board of Directors for Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana (CFAMM) and is a Mentor for the Leaf Forward cannabis incubator. Alison is a Cer fied Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and holds a Bachelor of Human Resources & Labour Rela ons (B.HRLR).

dr sana ara ahmed Dr Sana Ara Ahmed is a visionary who has taken on the challenge to revolu onize the way chronic pain pa ents are treated in Calgary. She is guided by her exper se as an anesthesiologist, by her ultrasound-guided interven onal procedure skill-set, and by her specializa on in cannabinoid medicine to be innova ve, tech savvy, and to not be afraid to advocate for her pa ents and promote medical cannabis use Dr. Ahmed is a prac cing clinical Anesthesiologist in Alberta and Ontario with specialist training in Inter ven onal Chronic Pain Management and Cannabinoid Medicine. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan (2006) and received her FRCPC in 2011 in Anesthesiology and Medicine from the University of Bri sh Columbia. She worked as an academic anesthesiologist (2012-2014) in Toronto at St. Michael’s hospital and completed her Medical Educa on Fellowship from the University of Toronto (2013).

abi roach Abi Roach is the owner & founder of HotBox Lounge + Shop, Hotbox Jamaica Bud & Breakfast, Hotbox Homegrown Hydroponics and Publisher of Spliff Magazine. Abi has been in the Cannabis lifestyle & tourism industry for nearly 20 years. She has dedicated her life to the freedom of cannabis consumers and the normaliza on and now legaliza on of cannabis.

Special es: Marke ng, promo ons, street level marke ng, sales, cannabis culture.

jacqui childs Jacqui Childs is a Social Influencer with an online following into the millions (Over 2 million on her verified Facebook page). Jacqui is a wife and mother and has been modeling for over 30 years, having been published na onally and interna onally. She co wrote an interna onal best selling book “Ignite Your Inner Warrior ” where she shares her ba les with drugs and alcohol.

She works directly with many social causes and brands and shares her experiences on social media. Now living Pharma free she’s chosen to spend her me focused on the Cannabis industry and community as well as “Women’s issues” and chari es. Jacqui feels she owes this community as much exposure and a en on as she can as a thank you for saving her life.

All while trying to end nega ve s gmas and prejudices one post at a me.

You can find Jacqui at industry events, markets and farms across Canada.

Jacqui’s quest for knowledge within the cannabis space doesn’t seem to be slowing down any me soon. Much like cannabis she’s “growing like a weed”.

virginia vidal Virginia Vidal discovered the benefits of medical cannabis more than a decade ago, then faced arrest and criminal charges for using it to relieve her symptoms. As a mother of six concerned about the pungent odor of cannabis smoke, she found her own way to medicate inconspicuously, and turned that discovery into one of Canada’s fastest-growing edibles companies. Vidal launched Mary’s Original Coffee & Teas, a healthy, tasty infused product line available at dispensaries across Canada.

sarah bain Sarah Bain has more than 15 years experience in poli cs, stakeholder rela ons and public engagement. She has provided advice to cabinet ministers, the Liberal Party of Canada, federal and municipal governments, and leading corpora ons and associa ons. Prior to joining Auxly and Nesta, Sarah was Vice President, Public and Corporate Affairs at Hill+Knowlton where she provided strategic advice regarding medical cannabis and the emerging regime of legalized cannabis. She was registered to lobby the government regarding policies and regula ons rela ng to the distribu on of cannabis, and helped her clients understand Health Canada guidelines and the legisla ve process as Canada moved towards implementa on of the Cannabis Act. Sarah holds a Honours Bachelor degree from the University of O awa, which included an Interna onal Exchange at l’Université de Picardie, France.

jenn larry Jenn Larry is President of CBD Strategy Group, a brand strategy and marke ng firm created to help cannabis brands thrive inside the box of regula on. She is a public speaker and has par cipated in mul ple cannabis conferences and media partnerships across Canada and the U.S. Over the past 18 years, Jenn has worked with na onal & interna onal companies across regulated sectors including: Music, Online Gambling, Pharmaceu cal, Tobacco, Payments, Technology, and Consumer Packaged Goods. Her experience has allowed her to successfully create and execute strategies for her clients in markets that ban tradi onal marke ng and branding. Jenn is well known for her ability to forecast trends, and leverage business intelligence to lead change across organiza ons.

stephanie ostrander Stephanie Ostrander a passionate, dedicated, and selfmo vated professional with a strong background selling cannabis-related services and facilita ng profitable rela onships with a wide array of key decision-makers in the industry. Amongst other things, she possesses years of successful experience planning and implemen ng effec ve promo onal strategies to increase sales and achieve revenue goals, and has been consistently recognized for outstanding contribu ons to the bo om line. In addi on, Constantly commended for her business development skills, she possesses a dynamic understanding of MMPR, MMAR, ACMPR and Cannabis Act regula ons, policies, and prac ces.

Karli Thiessen is cer fied clinician and consultant with Living Leaf Remedies which provides medicinal products and pain management services. She provides personal guidance, product introduc ons and therapy planning.

When Karli was diagnosed with cancer, she knew cannabis would heal her. With the late great Gayle Quinn's (Karli's mentor) help in doing the Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) protocol, she was cancer free.

Inspired by her own healing journey, Karli gave back to her community by making cannabis suppositories and capsules for medical pa ents. Karli has recently taken a course on how to treat canines with cannabis. She makes a cannabis cream that changes people's lives!

"Be strong in what you say or do. Be yourself. Be true to who you are” Karli recommends topicals, edibles, smokeables and the educa on that goes with it to heal your body.

tweedledoob Tweedledoob or Marly as she is also known, has been a cannabis enthusiast & medical pa ent for over a decade. She got her start in the industry working in a cannabis lounge while comple ng her Honours Bachelor Degree in Philosophy & Buddhist Studies at the U of T. In 2015 she started the instagram account @tweedledoob and has organically gained 42k followers since. For the last year she has been doing freelance content crea on, paid promo on, and social media consul ng full me & is proud to have recently been contracted by The Supreme Cannabis Company to consult on their 7ACRES recrea onal brand launch. Photo by @fallforvee

tamara jane hirsh With decades of experience in lifestyle design and business development, Tamara Hirsh is now pu ng her transferable skills to use in helping build a ver cally integrated seed to sale group of companies that are playing an ac ve part in helping shape an emerging global Cannabis industry. Tamara has had a successful background in design/build including lifestyle branding, posi oning and niche marke ng. A er 20 years of lifestyle design/build/brand, Tamara had a life altering moment. It’s was a chance encounter with a seemingly harmless Red Snapper fish, that resulted in Tamara contrac ng a painful nerve damaging neurotoxin from a toxic dinoflagellate algae that the fish had consumed. Like many others using conven onal opioid based pharmaceu cals to manage their chronic pain, Tamara was introduced to Cannabis which was the catalyst for a radical career shi . It didn’t take long for her to recognize it’s medicinal value and market poten al. Tamara is now pu ng her skills to use in helping build a ver cally integrated seed to sale group of companies that are playing an ac ve part in helping shape a robust Cannabis industry.

sandra colasanti Sandra Colasan is the VP of Sales and Business Rela ons for Remo Brands Inc. They are a producer of a vegan nutrient line of plant food that has been winning interna onal awards over the last few years. She works with large distribu on channels throughout the world such as Hydrofarm USA, Hydrotek Quebec, and Easy Grow UK. They also supply larger facili es with industrial sized totes and commercial pricing and work with clients to help keep costs in line while providing them with quality assurance second to none.

jodie emery Jodie Emery is recognized worldwide as a high-proďŹ le cannabis advocate and poli cal ac vist. She is o en invited to speak at events and endorse legisla on across Canada, the United States and abroad, and is regularly featured in mainstream media stories about cannabis and legaliza on. A er two B.C. Green Party elec on bids in 2009 and 2013, she campaigned as a Liberal Party of Canada nomina on candidate for the 2015 federal elec on.

loretta eldridge Lore a Eldridge is the Director of Marke ng at Ample Organics, a leader in cannabis tracking and repor ng technology that powers 70% of Canadian licensed producers.

Lore a brings extensive marke ng experience from a decadelong career in book publishing, managing marke ng teams in the development and implementa on of na onal campaigns.

Shannon Ford-Smith has a uniquely diverse background that includes educa on, construc on, consumer goods as well as experience building and leading companies in the sports healthcare sector. Ms. Ford-Smith started her career in healthcare with a focus within the orthopaedic and sports rehabilita on industry. She owned and operated Perpetual Mo on, three mul disciplinary sports rehabilita on clinics in Toronto. Her passion for helping people fueled her desire to grow her brand of clinics. Her clientele included top er athletes, professional sports teams as well as leading hospitals within the GTA.

shannon ford smith

Bridget is the co-founder of Marigold Marke ng and PR, a communica ons strategist and brand expert. She has extensive experience in delivering strategic communica ons, marke ng, and brand programs that achieve results and resonate. Her exper se ranges from developing and managing iconic Canadian brands to refreshed personal brands with eec ve posi oning to ensure relevance and value.

bridget hoffer and katie Pringle pringle

Ka e is the other co-founder of Marigold Marke ng and PR and an integrated marke ng expert. She has a deep understanding of the social and digital landscape and tradi onal media mix. She has extensive experience in lifestyle, entertainment & kids, with a speciďŹ c focus on brands that speak to women. As a marketer, Ka e is forward-looking, delivers beyond expecta on and is always ready for the unexpected. Her peers say she can see around corners.

Val McCulloch from Sha erizer has deep experience in business opera ons, development, communica ons, sales and marke ng. With strong combina on of cross-func onal experience in diverse industries and markets, ahe has recognized ability to crea vely meet business challenges and manage complex projects. A highly mo vated problem-solver, enthusias c and goal-oriented professional, Val is a leader in crea ng and delivering integrated mul dimensional strategies

@southsidemt

@sugotoront

Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

photographic credit taylor oakes productions Taylor is a tiny freckle faced female from Toronto. She began taking photos of naked ladies many years ago and has since transitioned into taking photos of naked ladies and helping them build their businesses. Taylor works with esoteric, o beat entrepreneurs and companies to ind their visual voice in this clusterfuck of collective consciousness we call connectivity.

Social Media Links: www.instagram.com/tayloroakesproductions www.tayloroakesproductions.com/blog

special feature

By Phil Wong & Cy Williams

transitioning into the legal market

angelina blessed Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

W

hat it really comes down to is that people want more than one method of consumption. We know that smoking doesn’t agree with everyone and edibles have proven to hold their ground during the hundreds of pop-up markets over the years.

As athletes, we knew that eating empty calories could spike sugar levels and that leads to increased inflammation. Blessed stood out during the pop-up markets because creating a brand that spoke to the athletic and wellness-minded community was priority number one.

Ingesting cannabis mimics the very natural process of increasing exercise-induced cannabinoids. In order to maximize your output, you need to maximize input, so it only made sense to craft a line of artisan products that were athlete-friendly and checked all the boxes when it came to health and wellness.

#bringthegoodweed

While much is left uncertain with edibles legalization, what we do know is there is a strong demand for gourmet infused goods.

We (blessed) have been in the research and development stage over the last few years, so even though cannabis flower is LEGAL currently in Canada, edibles companies are still waiting to launch. It’s been a mixed bag of emotions but mostly exciting, a bit disappointing and kind of comedic scramble to watching flower legalization unfold with no actual stores in Ontario. Of course, there’s the complete dissatisfaction with the quality and availability from the Canadian legal companies, but Canada has such an amazing variety of incredible craft growers and I look forward to a time when craft cannabis comes to market. We are nothing less than excited but it will take some time.

Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

re inventing passion strength dedication Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions Cannabis crown made by @ladyhayes Hair and makeup by @sandrasyang

Athle cs and Cannabis - the daily blessed regiment TRAIN I train daily by incorporating a mix of running 20-40 km a week with strength training and Muay Thai 5-6 days per week. In order to maximize my training, I prefer to stick to oils, which include custom blends of THC/CBD with adaptogens. I am fully infused, from topicals for my skin, to Epsom salts in my bath, to the coffee I drink. It’s all about finding the right balance of how each of these can add value to my daily process.

TREAT Running is a meditation for me. I have to see the sun, need to run by the water, and feel grounded. Recovery is just as instrumental, so I recover my sore muscles and treat anxiety by taking CBD in the float tank at Float Toronto. Sleep? As much as possible,

but with anxiety and cortisol issues that aren’t always the case. I try for 8 hours, but it’s probably closer 6 on average. After spending years doing unhealthy weight cuts for fights and seeing how that affected my body, I now fuel my body by including higher fats to show my body more love by feeding it with all the good fats, and proteins. I start the day with a green smoothie from Green House and fat-rich coffee with CBD. I drink a ton of water to keep me hydrated and practice intermittent fasting until around 2 PM.

REPEAT When you do it right and keep the inflammation down, you’re ready and prepared to it all again the next week.

personal and professional growth “People always ask me how I do it. Day in, day out. It doesn’t make sense to me how people don’t want to workout first thing in the morning, but it’s all about HOW you do it that makes your attempts successful.”

Blessed was born from real athletic experience from people who push their bodies to the limit daily. In a society of ‘push harder and do more’, learning to find a more relaxed state was the key all along to propel us forward and gives us gains as athletes. Our goal was to always educate the public on the union of cannabis and athleticism so that they would truly understand why it was the perfect marriage.

This company didn’t start as a dream goal, of something I wanted to build. This started because of pain, and concussion symptoms, I needed some rest. But as the word started to spread and more and more conversations were happening about athletic recovery and performance, we knew it was going to need room to grow. With the guidance and

encouragement of two very badass female friends (who made the right introductions to the right people), I slowly found my voice in those board rooms. It was really exciting to find my strength as well and gain the knowledge that these Venture capitalists held. However it did feel like our worlds were colliding at times when we were trying to speak with the same business language, but it all worked out.

It was years of working both jobs. And taking all of the meetings all while working as a hairstylist, training in the gym two hours a day and building a business on the side.

Thankfully and miraculously I never quit. As my good friend, Irie once said to me, “ You will find the money that has the soul, too.

They can exist together, you just have to find it.” I wanted to believe that someone out there would see the Blessed vision and want to grow it, while understanding that the authenticity was integral to what we do and SO grateful that I found just that.

Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

We followed our passion and just kept going. We wanted to talk to everyone about the benefits of healthy edibles, juicing cannabis, and how the sensory deprivation tank @float_toronto can make such a difference in anyone’s life.

Whether training for a triathlon or life in general.

We watched the Canadian craft market “grow up", and now we are ready to jump in and help make history.

Hopes for legalization 2.0 Green + Sports We need to destroy the stigma against athletes who use cannabis and change the system so that it opens up possibilities to medicate naturally.

“We are making incredible progress in Canada with normalizing cannabis consumption throughout our social mainstream. It would be truly amazing to see athletes be allowed to medicate freely with cannabis and not face repercussions for doing so. After all, it is just a plant.”

Next Blessings - hopes for the future Blessed is currently going through a rebirth, both structurally and spiritually. It would be crazy to not reflect on how much blood sweat and (literal) tears it took to get here.

If this has taught me anything, it’s that healing is a journey.

#BeYourBlessedSelf

#BeYourBlessedSelf

Training post-concussion has been a long road back, but I remain thankful and eternally grateful to have a coach (@strikingconcepts) who understands the absolute importance of brain health in sports. Thanks to him, I am finally able to train 100% again and have returned with increased passion, being able to surround myself with like-minded athletes and friends who live this Blessed lifestyle. Thrilled to be able to remain a lifelong student with coaches who live for Muay Thai.

Watching this company be reborn with partners who I'm confident will make Blessed into a top shelf edibles companies worldwide. It’s beyond a dream come true. We are continuing our research and development phase while finishing our first raise. Keep an eye on Blessed.com for upcoming events and conversations. For now, I’ll continue to spread the word of #traintreatrepeat philosophy while visiting gyms around Canada, USA, and Thailand to talk about cannabis, edibles and healing.

“The sensory deprivation chamber has been the most important tool that I’ve ever used for developing my mind” Joe Rogan

Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

angelina blessed Model: Angelina Blessed Photographer: @tayloroakesproductions

ASK FOR THEM BY NAME - BELLA VITA BATH BOMBS

www.beyondsmoking.ca

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deorrah hardy

O

ver the last 5 years I have had the honor and privilege of working with a multitude of women throughout the budding cannabis industry. With backgrounds from housewives to CEOs, these amazing and talented women have balanced careers, children, and family, all the while pursuing personal dreams of a place in the cannabis community.

Some women have transitioned smoothly into legal cannabis companies, some are still balancing daytime careers while pursuing cannabis ventures after hours, and some have decided to take the plunge and completely reinvent their lives in pursuit of personal fulfillment and success.

I myself fall under the category of the Balancing woman. I have a professional daytime career spanning 19 years in finance, and I pursue my cannabis ventures outside of that time. Over the past 5 years I have been able to pursue my passion for cannabis with more seriousness and excitement

than I ever thought was going to be possible.

It's my goal to one day be able to work in cannabis legally, without having to "balance" more than one career. Oh how I admire those women who can just get up and take the plunge and go for it!

Later this month I will be travelling to Negril Jamaica, where I will be sitting down and having some wonderful conversations with some passionate women who are in full pursuit of their dreams, and some with many, many years experience and wisdom.

As we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, I would like to briefly introduce you to One of the amazing women I will be interviewing in Negril, Deorrah Hardy.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a Master of Public Administration (Nonprofit Administration). Her nonprofit career in the United States has consisted of establishing and managing volunteer programs, overseeing volunteer recruitment

deorrah hardy

and volunteer training, connecting people with volunteer opportunities, community outreach, building strategic relationships with organizations and individuals to solicit and leverage in-kind donations.

Most recently, she served in the United States as a Public Affairs Coordinator, responsible for public relations, media outreach, volunteer recruitment, and establishing and leading volunteer programs in the state of Georgia.

In February of 2017, Derroah was laid off from her job and just 5 months later she found herself creating a business plan and making strategic moves to move abroad in a year’s time and completely reinvent her life.

Dee's Tropical Paint Parties offers fun paint classes (puff and paint style) in Negril, Jamaica.

Participants are instructed in creating their very own painting on canvas during an interactive and lighthearted 1.5-hour painting class. Participants have paint party packages to choose from - all with magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea. Derroah says, "The most rewarding part of it all is feeling proud of myself daily for having the courage to actually leave the security of corporate America and chase my dreams in another country.

I hope that the leap that I've taken will show people – particularly women- that they are capable. They are capable of rerouting the trajectory of their lives, capable of starting over as many times as they need, and capable of succeeding beyond their wildest dreams.”

You can check out www.tropicalpaintparties.com and on Instagram @tropicalpaintparties if you are going to be in the Negril area! Be sure to check out the next few issues of HighCanada magazine to follow the full story on Derroah and all the High! Canada vacation coverage of the excitement happening in Jamaica with cannabis!

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them.

May we raise them.” – Unknown

By Tammi Stanhope

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @darnopolis Wardrobe: @thursdayboots

coral rose carson

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @darnopolis Wardrobe: @thursdayboots

H

igh! Canada Magazine was pleased to speak with Coral Rose Carson recently. Coral is a cannabis advocate. She is also well known North American model and an accomplished business woman currently working as a Senior Technology and Event Specialist.

Coral - thank you for speaking with us. Can you tell us about your cannabis origin story, specifically on how you got interested in cannabis and if it has changed your career path in any way?

I have been aware of the medicinal proper es of cannabis from a young age. Many influen al people in my life have PTSD and suffer from physical injuries so I have had a posi ve outlook on the usage of cannabis products before it was introduced to me recrea onally as a teenager. As a teen, cannabis didn't appeal much to me however, as a young adult I began to revisit how cannabis could improve my health. A er playing hockey for 15 years and being in 2 car accidents I began to have

severe neck and back pain. I began to use cannabis products as a healthy alterna ve and cost effec ve treatment. Working in an office environment alongside modelling, my physical health is a main priority to me that some mes is juggled by my taxing schedule. I swear by CBD products that not only help with my physical and mental well being but also aid me in achieving the perfect pose or shot at a photoshoot.

Moving my body in angles that were painful without the use of CBD and other cannabis products. Ul mately impac ng my career path, cannabis has elevated my ability to become a healthier person on and off set when modelling.

Tell us about some of the challenges and or adversity you have faced so far on your chosen path?

Some of the challenges I have faced are the overall acceptance of cannabis. Although it is now legal in Canada, I am o en mes met with adversity when sharing my story with industry professionals. I don't have the cookie-cu er modelling career path and have

really built up my por olio by myself through my connec ons here in Canada but also in the United States and Europe.

The progressive outlook on cannabis is not shared with a lot of people in some of those areas of the world and is some mes diďŹƒcult to hit a 10/10 pose when I am experiencing pain from my athle c history. The challenge is two-fold, the an -cannabis mind set I am met with is diďŹƒcult to debate when it has been a long standing opinion in some of the places where I have photo shoots.

As well as, the legaliza on of cannabis has not been complete in a lot of the regions in the US and Europe.

How did you move past those challenges?

I move past them by explaining the beneďŹ ts when I am met with opposi on and how cannabis has changed my life. The integra on of non-smoking cannabis products such as CBD oil and capsules has changed the game en rely, in my opinion. The #1 concern is about smoking and the nega ve impacts it brings to your health. That has now completely changed and we are lucky to have the op on of using cannabis in alterna ve, more healthy ways.

Advice for other women entering the cannabis industry?

My advice is to be a trailblazer in an unmarked territory.

What I mean by that is, the cannabis industry is so new, fresh and exci ng. This is an opportunity for not only

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @darnopolis Wardrobe: @thursdayboots

coral rose carson

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @darnopolis Wardrobe: @thursdayboots

women to showcase leadership in a mul -billion dollar industry but Canadian women do to so. I love how open the cannabis world is and how story telling becomes such a large part of it. To me, cannabis isn't like any other medicinal product or pill, it actually works and ul mately brings people together to share commonali es through real story telling and sharing their life experiences.

Three things you feel everyone needs?

I feel everyone needs a comfortable, safe, relaxed environment to use cannabis recrea onally and for medicinal purposes. There is something so europhoric about being comfortable and surrounding yourself with good people and great product.

Secondly, CBD oil. This is a must have and try for everyone who is curious about cannabis products, medicinally.

It is also star ng to become part of many cocktail and coee shop menus across Canada as well which is an exci ng opportunity for the food and beverage world and how we begin to explore consump on of cannabis.

Lastly, everyone needs an experience.

Meaning, everyone needs a good understanding of what works for them and what doesn't. You need to explore what cannabis products and strains are most beneďŹ cial for you and your health.

Model IG: @coralrosecarson Photographer: @darnopolis Wardrobe: @thursdayboots

The HempFest Cannabis Expo provides an environment for industry pioneers, as well as new and existing consumers to learn more about one of North America's fastest growing industries, and one of the world's most valuable plants. Come to connect with fellow consumers, patients, industry members, entrepreneurs, job seekers and local leaders. Leave with new relationships built, stories shared, the latest innovative products, and a ton of new knowledge on how the cannabis plant can beneďŹ t you and your community.

www.hempfestcanada.com

The effects of prescribed medication caused me to feel exhausted physically and disconnected emotionally. One night after taking the prescribed sleeping pills I woke up the next morning with my kids in bed with me, not knowing they had crept in. Normally I would be alert to the slightest noise they made, but the pills changed me and I didn’t like it. I was toast, what were these pills doing to me? Something had to change.

I stopped the pills and started doing research.

stephanie james

H

igh! Canada Magazine was honoured to speak with New Brunswick cannabis advocate Stephanie James recently.

Without a doubt, this woman is leading the charge on the when it comes to breaking cannabis stigma and educating as many people as she can.

Stephanie, can you ill us in on your cannabis origin story,? How you got interested in cannabis and if it has changed your career in any way?

I love Cannabis, it saved my life. My relationship with cannabis grew deeper after my divorce. The stress in my life was high, I wasn’t sleeping well and . my network of support was minimal. I needed to ind a way to heal, I didn’t know where to go. I sought out traditional therapy, but talk therapy wasn’t giving me what I needed to regain the level of wellness I knew was deep within me. So, I turned to my family doctor.

My doctor prescribed anti-anxiety medication and sleeping pills. As an elementary school teacher and single mother of two, it was imperative that I had ample energy to be the best mother possible and the best teacher. Those little people were depending on me and I wasn’t about the let them down.

While researching alternatives to anti-anxieties and sleeping pills I found a lot of interesting information on cannabis. I read every book I could get my hands on, and loved the research by Dr. Raphael Meshulam. With my growing knowledge, I knew that cannabis could change my life so I educated myself even more. The research was proving there was hope and that cannabis could help me rather than downing pills that were creating problems on top of my existing problems.

I got a Cannabis prescription, and within a week I received my irst box of medical cannabis products. As any medical patient does, I experimented with strains and doses until I found the perfect combination for my symptoms. I became obsessed with the endocannabinoid system and cannabis research in general. It was helping me and I knew others needed to know what I was experiencing.

As a teacher with a Master’s Degree in curriculum design I was sought out by multiple cannabis companies to help develop cannabis education. I was so passionate about cannabis, education and the historical year of 2018 I accepted the position and took a leave of absence from the classroom.

My career took quite a shift. I went from the classroom to the boardroom. I am truly blessed to be working in my position and am so proud to be part of this industry and this historical time.

Can you tell us about any challenges and adversity you may have faced so far?

Stigma/Reefer Madness: Living in a small city where the stigmas are still rampant made my career change interesting. Being an elementary school teacher for 12 years, a single mother of two and a typical soccer mom, a few heads turned when they found out I was

working in cannabis. I got referred to as a pot pusher, stoner and drug dealer to name a few. Using it medically, I often explained to people that medical cannabis is used to treat symptoms and the intent is not to get high the intent is for the alleviation of my anxiety and insomnia.

Many people I’ve met are accepting of cannabis medically and recreationally.

While some people in my social circle are consumers and non-consumers, it is usually the non-consumers who often have questions or an opinion to share with me about cannabis and I am completely open and receptive to all of it. It gives me an opportunity to share the research, the knowledge.

Knowledge is power.

Dating has been interesting. I’ve gone on dates where the man or woman asks me what I do as a profession. I answer them honestly that I work for a cannabis company developing education. Either they get very uncomfortable or they smile and give me a high ive and pull a joint out of their pocket. I was at a social event recently with a man who told me he didn’t like that I smoked cannabis recreationally and that he didn’t want me to consume any because he didn’t want anyone to judge him for being with me.

I explained that I am a responsible, well-educated person and that my love affair with cannabis goes beyond smoking a joint. I respect, love, and consume cannabis for many reasons. I lit one up and shared it with his friends. I’m not hiding something that’s legal, that I love, and that is good for me.

How did you move past these challenges?

Transparency, communication, adaptation, education.

I am an advocate, and through education I am able to provide people with knowledge. I’ve been sought out socially by medical patients in this area (mostly seniors) to sit down and casually explain cannabis to them. Often they tell me that they are afraid of consuming cannabis because they’re actually afraid of what the euphoric effects of their medication might feel like. I often show them how to grind, roll a joint for them and sit with them while they consume to help alleviate some of their anxiety, assuring them I won’t leave until they’re ready for me to. I’ve had so much success with these one on one cannabis tea parties that I feel people are inally getting it. I am excited to part of the journey that is ending the stigma amongst the general population.

Cannabis is a plant. It’s natural.

Consuming cannabis grown by a licensed producer gives you the power of knowing exactly what you’re putting in your body. Currently people are faced with 3 pillars related to cannabis. Propaganda due to the Reefer Madness Era, information online (much of the information is false or inaccurate) and then there is education. Education and knowledge are power.

Powerful against the stigmas Advice for other women entering the cannabis industry?

Get a mentor. I have several mentors that have guided me through my journey in this industry. We all need mentors to help with networking and professionalization. As we move forward in our careers we need a reliable, stable support system to help guide us in our corporate strategy. Women in cannabis are a tribe of their own. We support, guide and uplift one another. The advice I’ve received from women within my tribe (which extends across the globe) was imperative in order for me to understand the key organizational metrics and the levers that drive them . .

Last Question. What are three things you feel everyone needs in their life?

Self-discipline A good support system (mentors) Knowledge & Education

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