26 minute read
New York, New Jersey, Cannagather, The Johno Show
from CANNABIS
Preston Peet MARIJUANA ACTIVISM IN NEW YORK CITY
There are numerous organizations working in NYC to reform marijuana laws today, networking with other activists, and reaching far more communities than ever before. The driving factor for many is not solely human rights or justice, but also a rather distinct “how can we cash in on this legalization” vibe. No longer the purview of the strictly tie-dyed, long haired radical, today the marijuana activist’s image is more likely that of a clean-cut capitalist and entrepreneur.
“I was going to lead marijuana activists and supporters in the Gay Pride March in June,” says Arlene Williams, better known as Ganja Granny. At 80 years of age, standing just barely five feet tall, she still cuts a striking figure at protests and events. “I kept telling my doctors in the hospital that I had a prior engagement. They not only got me out in time, but three of them marched in Gay Pride along with us.” Williams works non-stop all over the globe to reform the public image of marijuana with her Green Ribbon World and the International Grannys Association. She observes, “Here, people are not so together. In other countries, people manage to put their differences aside. [Americans] too often have their own agendas. We need new blood, new ideas. We need this new generation. We have to do it together. It’s time for the younger people, and they are doing it. Health issues have slowed me down in the past four years, [but] I continue to travel internationally and encourage supporters to join established reputable organizations, to contribute in any way they can to legalize cannabis around the world and especially in New York.”
This writer’s first-ever cannabis assignment came from High Times magazine and concerned the annual Million Marijuana March in 1999 (today known as the Global Marijuana March). At the time, some heated debates ensued between marijuana policy reformers and activists about the effectiveness of loud, raucous street parades and protests, as opposed to putting on a suit and tie and lobbying the government directly. Not only that, but what exactly reformers wanted was in question as well. Was outright legalization of marijuana the goal? Or should activists focus solely on medical marijuana, as its eventual legalization was more likely to be implemented?
“Things have changed,” says Steve Bloom, editor at Freedom Leaf magazine and Celebstoner.com. “The focus used to be Cures-Not-Wars and Dana Beal (founder of the ongoing yearly Global Marijuana March events), but now there are many more organizations, more groups putting on events. Many are trying to get in on the business front, NYC being the business capital. New York doesn’t have a ballot initiative, so we’re still at the mercy of the legislature.”
Citizens of New York do not have the option to vote directly whether or not to legalize marijuana, instead having to rely on their representatives in government to do it legislatively. “But there’s not a lot of business opportunities yet in New York,” says Bloom. “The crowd has gotten younger. It’s not so much just older white guys. I’ve seen a lot of progress in the last three years.”
Women Grow, founded in 2014, is a glaring example of just how much things have changed. A national organization that stresses women’s place in the marijuana business world, the group holds a variety of monthly events in 35 cities around the U.S. and Canada for both men and women. At these meetups, newcomers to the movement are introduced to entrepreneurs, speakers and others already knowledgeable about the marijuana reform movement and the cannabis trade.
“I feel activism is evolving,” says Tanya Osbourne, Market Leader for Women Grow NYC. “The Freedom of Expression movement has come to join with the new advancements in medicine acknowledging what we have always believed, that cannabis is medicine. The movement is being led by those who see cannabis as a strong and profitable vehicle for entrepreneurship. We must make it fair and accessible for all people. We are at the point where cannabis activism has voices from many demographics and communities, from long-time supporters to Millennials. The voices are loud and growing: from women who want equality, parents who want access, people of color who want fairness and inclusion, from the medical community who want new advancements, and entrepreneurs who want opportunity!”
With the passing of the Compassionate Care Act in 2014, medical marijuana is today legal in New York,
with some restrictions (smoking medical marijuana is not legal, nor are edibles). This has opened up the market to a small degree. Currently there are just five licensed medical marijuana companies allowed to do business in NYC. “Most of the activism is around business opportunities,” says Empire State NORML’s (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) Douglas Greene. “There are people around who want to change the laws. but most are the people who see a business opportunity. It really depends on how you want to define activism. We in the coalition (the various groups backing Start SMART New York, a campaign to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol is today) are proposing a progressive, open structure in general for adult use. If that were taxed, it would produce a lot more opportunities. Now, there are a lot of venture capitalists funding the industry.” These groups backing the Start SMART NY campaign are interested in steering at least some of the money brought in by a legal, taxed marijuana market back into communities hardest hit by the War on Some Drugs today. The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP), the Cannabis Cultural Association, and Latin Justice are just some of the groups concerned with the social impact the War on Drugs has had on minority communities. They want to be sure those communities profit from any legalized markets, be they in the current medical marijuana market or from an eventual recreational market down the road.“ “It’s easier to focus on making money,” says Greene. “Back in the day, we would see most of the money for reform coming in from Drug Policy Alliance, and the Marijuana Policy Project (both still very active), with their big backers Peter Lewis and George Soros having a lot of say in things. It’s a lot more diverse funding stream today.”
“I think that the pot movement is too large to stop,” said Dana Beal, after observing there are many activist groups in NYC seemingly working against one another, or at cross purposes. “But it’s a lumbering behemoth. No one can predict what will happen next.” Photo by Tony Brescia
PHIL MURPHY: NEW JERSEY UPDATE
As Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy is giving cannabis communities a lot of hope. In a recent press conference, the Democrat ordered a 60-day review of the state’s “constrained” medical marijuana program, explaining his intent to amend it by expanding the number of licensed dispensaries and consider allowing both home delivery and purchases over two ounces to increase patient access. Murphy also detailed plans to expand the availability of edible products and permit New Jersey’s six approved dispensaries to open retail locations throughout the state. This is a radical departure from the state government’s previous stance on medicinal cannabis under Republican Chris Christie; Murphy believes it’s past time that “patients be given the compassion they deserve.” But these compassionate strides are only part of the governor’s exciting policy reform efforts. In just the first weeks of his “honeymoon period” in office, Murphy has filed a multi-state legal action to challenge the constitutionality of the GOP tax bill; rescinded a rule adopted by the Christie administration that moved to weaken standards of “justifiable need” to carry a handgun; and signed an executive order to gear New Jersey back into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a carbon trading pact designed to fight climate change. Most strikingly, Murphy has consistently proclaimed his desire to legalize and tax recreational cannabis. If he does so, the industry could generate $1 billion of revenue for the state. Among those most likely to benefit from Murphy’s plans are the state’s resident veterans, many of whom use medical cannabis as treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). New Jersey native Leo Bridgewater, who served three tours of duty with the Army and as a Defense Department contractor, is a co-founder of the New Jersey Cannabis Commission. In addition to his activism throughout the East Coast, Bridgewater spoke at Murphy’s “A Fairer New Jersey” press conference in support of helping expand patient access to the plant—especially for those suffering from PTSD. Another notable New Jersey native helping to push legislation is Rani Soto. If Governor Murphy has his way, it may not be long before New Jersey provides a shining example to the rest of the country: living green, safe upon the shore. Let’s dare to hope.
RONIT by Sam C. Long
New Jersey has been the key state for cannabis developments in 2017. As Governor Murphy assumes office, local advocates are speaking up about cannabis’s power to combat the national opioid epidemic, which particularly affects Jersey communities. Brandon Chewey of Asbury Park, founder of Shoreganix— a Jersey Shore Cannabis Collective—is also a former heroin addict. He shared the following on the broken rehabilitation/recovery systems:
Chewey says getting clean from heroin is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do and is still “haunted by my past to this day.” During his eleven years as an addict (now five years sober) he tried every path to sobriety, including going cold turkey and taking the narcotic buprenorphine; before finding success in a Methadone clinic and then sustaining it with the use of medical marijuana.
While there’s a stigma against Methadone, he swears by it. “As a person that has been through the trenches of addiction, I can tell you that Suboxone [a combination painkiller medicine] maintenance and methadone maintenance are the best ways for an addict to achieve sobriety.”
However, the biggest obstacle in recovery is staying sober, not necessarily getting sober.
With no life skills, or much education, he says all he knew was what he learned in jail and from other addicted friends.
“Rehab facilities told us the 12- step program was it. So if you are the type of person that does not conform to 12-step programs, such as myself, you are left to squander and find your own way to acclimate to a new life of responsibility. I can’t stress enough how difficult the transition from jails and rehabs to the streets is. Doing
what it took to get drugs and nothing else for ten years. Your mindset and comprehension of regular life and responsibility are extremely difficult for someone who is unexpectedly released from jail or not ready to leave rehab. They will relapse if they do not have a strong plan to recover.”
For Brandon, it took three years on Methadone before he got clean. “The Methadone allowed me to stay off of drugs and go to work without being sick or craving heroin or any other opiates.”
Medical cannabis helps in ways that Methadone or other rehabilitation programs can’t. Such as with anxiety from years of drug abuse, night terrors and PTSD—the latter caused from seeing friends overdose, death and trauma at a very young age.
New legislation in New Jersey keeps Brandon hopeful for legal medical use, particularly for opiate addicts, where it is both criminalized and stigmatized. However, he remains skeptical of President Trump’s recent declaration of opioid as a national crisis.
Chewey says it could be excellent or extremely detrimental. “If Trump takes his policies toward the opioid crisis from Governor Chris Christie in any form, we will all be doomed and relive a system similar to the War on Drugs, which would focus on outlawing marijuana and enforcing harsher penalties. Hopefully enough research has been done to show that our government is aware that forced rehabilitation is often a failure and waste of tax dollars.
“If they use the money to invest into policing the drug dealers and imposing more money and fines into our court system, they’re going to ruin an entire generation of Americans. It is a huge problem, especially here in New Jersey where the ports of Newark are flooded with heroin. It’s not biased, it’s all over the state from the upper class to the housing projects here in Asbury Park. The disease of addiction does not discriminate. Still, I’m extremely happy that they are taking a look and spending funds on the opioid epidemic.”
One convert, his mother, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a strict, churchgoing conservative in “the Nancy Reagan mold.” She was adamantly opposed to cannabis all her life, but has changed her opinion toward pro-medical cannabis after witnessing how it changed Chewey for the better.
“She always believed a drug is a drug is a drug, and cannabis is no different. But the improvements my father and I made as medical patients convinced her, and she now embraces cannabis as a healing medicine. Today she speaks at nursing conventions, testifying as a parent who saw me go through my worst pain, not knowing what to do, or how to help my addiction when it was at its worst. If she can change her opinion, there’s hope for the rest of the country.”
WHY CANNA WE CANNAGATHER?
The networking organization CannaGatherhas become the go-to forum for New York cannabis industry pros to fi nd each other. Founder Josh Weinstein, a professional angel investor, spoke to Honeysuckle’s Naomi Rosenblatt and Jaime Lubin about powering up the East Coast legalization movement… and why working with this community is simply good business.
Given your tech and business background, what drew you to the cannabis industry? What was your vision and motivation for founding CannaGather?
Josh Weinstein: In 2004, I got the domain name NYCHigh.com to start a social network for high school students, nothing to do with cannabis. Eventually I realized legalization would be inevitable and tried unsuccessfully to get the domain back [after it had lapsed]. I tried again a few years later (2013) and secured similar, better domain. Although I’m a nonconsumer, cannabis is a triple-bottom line industry: money, medicine, and social justice. The vision was to create a community analogous to the New York Tech Meetup, but for the cannabis industry. My cofounder Gary and I hosted a few events to this effect and we’ve tried to serve as a connective tissue for industry folks.
How would you describe the CannaGather community? Who joins and attends events, and why? Do other industries in NY State overlap with CannaGather? What kind of entrepreneurs tend to be drawn to CG?
JW: The CannaGather community is composed primarily of entrepreneurs across a wide variety of industries—engineering, healthcare, growers, media, chefs and more— plus service providers — law, real estate, accounting, investors, patients, and activists.
What is CannaGather’s mission? What kinds of events does CannaGather sponsor and host? What are some of CannaGather’s benchmarks in attaining its goals?
JW: CannaGather is the access point for those looking to learn more about and get involved in the legal cannabis industry. We also aim to connect the industry leaders. We host monthly education and networking events in the middle of the month. We’ve scaled our community to over 3,000 members and consistently hold events with over 100 people.
Honeysuckle Founder Ronit Pinto, Managing Editor Jaime Lubin, CannaGather founder Josh Weinstein and Rani Soto at MJBizCon, Las Vegas. Photography by Thomas Rachko.
Do you ever feel trepidation when you plan and hold events? Do you fear that participants might sneak an edible or smoke, and imperil the legality of the organization?
JW: The only trepidation I have with the events is making sure that they are well run and people have a good time. Our community is full of professionals, business and otherwise; as such, smoking at our events is out of the question as our members wouldn’t do that and we would kick them out pretty quickly [if they did]. We haven’t had a problem thus far and hope this continues.
CG was formed in 2013. How has it changed in response to the Trump administration? How does the country’s political shift potentially impact the future of legalization and the cannabis industry in the US?
JW: Not much change post-Trump, although we did have a session in November to discuss the ramifications of the election. I personally have been more mindful of the great work being done by NCIA, MPP, and DPA to name a few as they aim to push for broader legalization of cannabis.
Since you have taken ventures to a national and global level previously, why is CannaGather specific to New York State, rather than to the Northeast region or the country at large?
JW: It’s definitely something that could expand beyond New York, but New York is my hometown and place of residence. Moreover, NY is the financial capital of the world, so if we can turn the tide here, that will have a ripple effect across the country and abroad. I think you’re seeing this right now with the cryptocurrency space. We hosted an event in Los Angeles a few months back that was well attended. We’d love to continue to host more there and in other hubs, but our focus is making sure we execute and scale in New York. It’s exponentially harder to scale a venture as the number of locations increases: variables conflate, resources spread but I hope we’ve normalized the conversation about the power of the plant, enabled folks to make solid connections to get into the business or between business, and motivated people to take action or at least get educated. We still have a long way to go, and hopefully we can continue to serve this role.
What states currently serve as good models for NY State, and why?
JW: California is the ideal model. I’m definitely for full legalization, but it seems our state government is taking an incremental approach. Though conservative, it is moving in the right direction. Hopefully it continues down this path and quickly.
What upcoming events would you like our readers to be aware of?
JW: We’d love the Honeysuckle readership to come to upcoming events! Sign up at CannaGather.com and check out the next event at nextevent.CannaGather.com
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
thin, and it’s tiring. The lesson from previous attempts is to focus resources until you build something that is scaled (or at least scalable) and self-sustaining before expanding. Once you nail down the mechanics in one venue, you can then think about infrastructure beyond. How do you feel CannaGather has changed the status of cannabis in NY State?
Citizen Jay Daily THE RESURRECTION OF THE MRP
What goes around comes around, and there’s nothing new under the sun. These are timeless words, never so true as we face the political realities of 2018. With looming impeachment and criminal investigations at the highest levels of our federal government simultaneously competing for our attention with super-expanding markets and the unbelievable upshot of blockchain currencies, the state of Cannabis legalization seems like a small blip on the national scene. But with the changing of the old (and fat) guard in New Jersey, legal adult-use Cannabis is fast to become a new reality across the river. And that will force some hands.
Re-enter the Marijuana Reform Party. Originally founded in 1997 on an obvious platform, the party ran candidates for statewide offi ces in New York-- including for governor-- in both the 1998 and 2000 elections, garnering over 15,000 votes both times. Practically defunct since 2002, a movement is afoot to resurrect the party.
The time seems ripe. As legal Cannabis continues its march across the country, New Yorkers are facing a new paradigm shift. The shell has already been somewhat cracked with the sale of medical Cannabis beginning in New York in 2014, but New York’s Cannabis program leaves much to be desired. That keeps away many who might benefi t from the program. Resistance to medical Cannabis has been staunch since before the inception of the program. The Marijuana Reform Party wants to change all that.
Jerome Dewald and Neil Kaufman are working to make that happen. Dewald, a 66-year old investor, is excited to guide the party back from the brink, but is not aiming to lead the Marijuana Reform Party himself. Dewald is affi liated with Restrict and Regulate New York (RRNY), a campaign to legalize adult-use Cannabis through a state constitutional convention. He underscores the camaraderie among Cannabis users that crosses political lines and believes it can be useful.
According to Dewald, the results of the 2016 elections—both in regard to what happened with Bernie and the Democrats and Trump with the Republicans—are symptomatic of the same thing: both parties are like “stagnant dinosaurs” rotting from the inside on their own internal philosophies. The draw to third party candidates is palpable and will likely have a similar effect on the next round of national elections.
While Dewald understands the critics of a single-issue party, he thinks New York is in a unique position to allow the Marijuana Reform Party to draw power—most likely by co-opting votes from both the Green and Libertarian parties. At the local and state levels, this kind of draw can drive the winds of change to tip the scales of power. In 2018 that wind will whisper, “Mary…”
Dewald thinks Neil Kaufman is the kind of person we need to lead the charge and the party. Kaufman has been practicing corporate and securities law for more than 30 years and has been actively involved in the Cannabis industry since 2014, when he helped represent an applicant for a New York medical marijuana license. Since then, his Cannabis practice has grown as he has participated in over $100 million in cannabis industry fi nancing transactions for issuers and investors.
Kaufman and Dewald worked on and state levels, this kind of draw can drive the winds of change to tip the scales of power. In 2018 that wind
Dewald thinks Neil Kaufman is the kind of person we need to lead the charge and the party. Kaufman has been practicing corporate and securities law for more than 30 years and has the Proposition 1 campaign to hold a constitutional convention in New York in an attempt to legalize Cannabis in the face of opposition from the state legislature and Governor’s offi ce. Prop 1 failed, but the efforts continue under the direction of the recently restructured Marijuana Reform Party. If Dewald is right, Kaufman may just have the draw he needs to mount the Governor’s seat and sway the legislature.
Says Kaufman: “I have advised [Dewald] that if the party can be revived legally in an operationally and fi nancially sound manner, I would consider accepting its nomination as candidate for governor—if we determine that we will be able to mount a credible statewide campaign. The social justice, humanitarian, fi scal, anti-crime and anti-opioid crisis benefi ts of legalized cannabis are extremely compelling, and deserve the attention that a strong campaign would bring.” humanitarian, fi scal, anti-crime and anti-opioid crisis benefi ts of legalized cannabis are extremely compelling, and deserve the attention that a strong campaign would bring.”
RaspberryLemonade
Father ELnakar Allah-ade CANNABIS: HARMFUL OR HEALING
“universal acceptance of the plant... and that is what Babylon come with now, ’dem want accept part of the plant...ALL the plant good bredren.” — intro. Perfect Tree by CHRONIXX feat. Eesah Many folks in the N.Y. city and state regions are considered “recreational pot users,” as most in the movement to legalize marijuana will tell you. Thus, it is hard for the medical campaigners to get support. Cannabidiol (CBD) or pure hemp, is being regarded as the “alternative to CBD is derived from agricultural hemp and does not contain illegal amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary intoxicant in Marijuana. This facet makes it popular with industrial hemp farmers and should be a welcome aspect to medicinal farmers and dispensaries. Hemp, which contains less than 0.3% THC, is grown for its fi ber and is used for food, textiles, oils, to make rope, fi berboard, paper and manila hemp for envelopes. Considering all these benefi ts, there should be an abundance of support for the legalization of marijuana. We just need to spread the word of its value. medical marijuana,” and this is due to its legality and multifaceted benefi ts. CBD is a non-psychoactive element of cannabis that has a wide array of therapeutic benefi ts that the plant itself, even when used for intoxication/meditation, purposes; it has been used for centuries in other countries as a healing agent. These benefi ts include: 1. Acting as an anti-infl ammatory 2. Anticonvulsant 3. Antioxidant 4. Antiemetic 5. Antipsychotic agent and 6. According to research, there are NO KNOWN NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS. [emphasis added by editors] NO KNOWN NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS. [emphasis added by editors]
Past and present scientifi c research supports the consumption of CBD from hemp oil for its general health benefi ts. It has excellent nutritional and economic value, which include: • Nearly every part of the plant is usable. • It doesn't require herbicides to grow or thrive. It's renewable and fast-growing. • It provides essential elements of fatty acids that the body doesn't naturally produce and must be consumed in diet • Leaves soil in a better condition than before it was planted. • Overall, it offers patrons a natural organic (NON-GMO) way to relax, reduce pain and maintain a healthy life. Past and present scientifi c research supports the consumption of CBD from hemp oil for its general health benefi ts. It has excellent nutritional and economic value, which include:
Nearly every part of the plant is It doesn't require herbicides to grow or thrive. It's renewable and It provides essential elements of fatty acids that the body doesn't naturally produce and must be Leaves soil in a better condition Overall, it offers patrons a natural organic (NON-GMO) way to relax, reduce pain and maintain a
SBSE x Hazy Kush SBSE x Hazy Kush
Check out The Johno Show After Hours YouNow.com/TheJohnoShow weekdays from 7am to 9am and occasionally 9:30 to 10:30pm; where you can see Johno lighting up and talking with fans
JOHNO WEED QUIZ with host Jonathan Goodman
Photo by Ronit Pinto
Last fall we interviewed Jonathan, host of popular YouTube channel The Johno Show.
Curious about all things cannabis culture, Johno discusses products, trivia, and different strains during his “strain review.” However, we pulled a “reverse-Johno” and interviewed him. Our own Sam Clemens Long underwent a “strain review” Johno-style, getting to the heart of what makes this super stoner tick – a mix of politics, activism, lightheartedness and fun. (And stay tuned, because 2018 will see The Johno Show, a cannabis infused cultural talk show for the cannacurious, interviewing more artists, writers, politicians, activists, musicians, and actors.)
Here are a few excerpts from Sam's experience:
Sam's eyes widen as Johno pulls out a huge joint. “Bubblegum's a great strain, it smells great.'
Sam asks, ‘How do you prepare a strain review?’ Much of it is research. He doesn't light up before he goes live. “A lot of my audience's interest is in the historical, where strains origi
nated. In Bubblegum's case, it's from Kansas and then it went to Maine, then it went to Holland to be perfected, and then it came back and won like three Cannabis Cups.” While he's not an activist per se, he's very passionate about the cause, believing in decriminalization and destigmatization. For Johno, cannabis is simply a way of life – and when he's having so much fun, who can argue with that?
Johno says his IQ goes higher when he's high, as evidenced by his “Stump the Guest” answers (which he got mostly right – 4 out of 5!):
1. The average Cannabis plant has a maximum of how many leaflets? a. 10 b. 13 c. 15 d. 12
2. Which historical figure made the oldest written reference to Cannabis? a. Herodotus b. Aristotle c. Plato d. Cicero
United States, believes that Cannabis is. a. a gift from God b. What will save humanity c. the Eucharist or d. Fuckin' awesome
4. Which president grew his own hemp? (No options because Johno got this right away!)
5. The movie musical Reefer Madness gender-flipped one of its actors from the stage version. Which actress played that part? a. Neve Campbell b. Kristen Bell c. (I can't read cause I'm really high) d. Brittany Murphy
Answers: 1. B, 13 He didn't pick the correct number because of superstition... wrong 2. A, Herodotus The first visualization of the Cannabis plant was Egyptian... right 3. C, The Eucharist Well, it's fucking awe- some, but they also probably use it for the Eu- charist. 4. George Washington! 5. Neve Campbell
That Pot in the window Naomi Rosenblatt
HOME GROWN by Alex Harsley
“What made you snap the shutter?”
He shrugs. Speaking with master photographer Alex Harsley, I get the sense that he prefers to convey as little exposition as possible and there by require images to speak for themselves. Still, I hunt for narrative.
“Did you know the grower who lived there?” “Not at all.” “So you just saw that weed in the window…”
“I wasn’t even sure what it was. I needed my 22 mm telephoto lens…”
“How high?”
Harsley smiles at the double entendre. “Third floor.”
“Well then, a cruising cop wouldn’t necessari ly notice, but a hawk-eyed photographer might catch wind?” “It faced the back.”
“Still … plastered against the pane—that’s begging for bust.”
Harsley shrugs and says matter-of-factly, “It needed a lot of light.”
But the vinyl shade in the next pane is drawn, as though the window itself is winking at us.
“I have a fascination with windows,” he tells me. “How they separate public from private life.” Like a camera lens?
“I still think it’s risqué or at least a little exhibi tionistic,” I persist.
He shakes his head. “Ordinary East Village scene, of the time.”
“Would it be of this time too?”
“No … people nowadays don’t want to wait for it to grow, when it’s so readily available.”
