Culture Magazine Colorado March 2016 by Culture Magazine

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

contents 03.16 Vol 7 IssUE 9

EXCITING AND ELECTRIC AWOLNATIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aaron Bruno speaks exclusively with CULTURE about eclectic inspiration, independence and getting creative with cannabis.

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

ON THE COVER: Photo provided by Red Bull Records

iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

contents

inside

03.16

32 features

Headway in the Fight for Public Use NORML steps in to help cannabis social issues.

The Complexity of Organic Cannabis Regulators begin weighing in on pesticides like never before.

The Emerald Isle Wants Green Too! Ireland is making headway in medical cannabis access.

A Helping Hand The cannabis and LGBTQ communities show support for each other.

Industry Insider Cannabis Attorney Christian Sederberg is one of the pioneers behind Colorado’s legal cannabis scene.

Determination Down Under More people use cannabis in Australia than anywhere else in the world—and legal cannabis has just begun.

Graffiti Master Denver’s own graffiti artist, Duble, has a lot to share about his thriving art career.

Verile And Versatile Rapper Waze enjoys creating music about life—and the Denver scene loves it.

Raw Talent Explore Tron’s beautiful sound and learn more about why she loves cannabis!

online Exclusive!

departments news

12 News Nuggets 18 By the Numbers 20 Local News 22 Legal Corner

reviews

26 Dispensary Highlight 28 Advocate Highlight 32 Strain, Edible & Concentrate Reviews 40 Cool Stuff 42 Entertainment Reviews 44 Liner Notes

in every issue

90 Shooting Galleries

94 Growing Culture 96 Destination Unknown 98 Profile in Courage 100 Recipes 104 Colorado Now! 106 News of the Weird

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d Scientists Isolate

The 'Paranoia Gene' in Cannabis Smokers d Facebook Attacks

Cannabis Collective Pages

Vol 7 IssUE 9

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CULTURE M

Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Victoria Banegas Editorial Contributors Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Anthony Herrold, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Joe Jatcko, David Jenison, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Tyler Markwart, Meital Manzuri, Sandy Moriarty, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designers Tanya Delgadillo, Jonathan Ibarra Regional Manager Kim Cook Account Executives Jon Bookatz, Eric Bulls, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Emily Musser, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Jim Saunders, Chris Thatcher, April Tygart general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson director of digital media Brian Gingrich digital media Editor David Edmundson Ctv Contributors Anna Logan, Chris Salazar Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla

Culture速 Magazine is published every month and distributes 50,000 magazines at over 1,400 locations throughout Colorado. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture速 Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 8156 S. Wadsworth Blvd., #E239 Littleton | CO Phone/Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com

CULTURE速 Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.

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NEWS

nuggets City of Hayden Approves Cannabis Grow Sites Although the city of Hayden does not allow the selling of recreational or medical cannabis within its boundaries, is has decided to allow growing. In August, the Hayden City Council voted in favor of Ordinance 666 which will allow grow sites to operate within the city but conduct sales to dispensaries outside of its territory. This decision was put into a special election that took place on January 26, and was passed with a 52.4 percent vote, according to 9 News. City officials hope that this decision will help boost the city’s economy with grow operations expected to bring in an additional $143,500 in annual revenue. Currently the city is expected to empty out its coffers by 2017 if nothing is done to improve its financial situation. Anyone interested in operating a grow site will have to go through a conditional permitting process.

Pharmacies in Croatia Set to Distribute Cannabis Capsules Cannabis capsules are expected to hit pharmacy shelves in Croatia sometime this month, according to Total Croatia News. With the help of a Canadian manufacturer, the Institute of Immunology will be distributing capsules with small amounts of cannabis oil, at less than one tenth the cost of capsules on the black market. According ˘ to Vecernji List, a monthly dose of capsules on the black market costs 15,000-20,000 kuna ($2,224-$2,965 USD). Director of the Institute of Immunology, Dr. Nevenka Kovac, states that their capsules will only cost patients 1,500 kuna for a monthly dose. Although there is not currently a set price on cost of the capsules, Kovac states that it will be determined based off of transportation costs and profit margins. Medical cannabis has been legal in Croatia since October 2015, however, substances like cannabis capsules will only be available to those suffering from AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, cancer and Dravet Syndrome.

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Less People in Colorado are Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis A report released on February 11, revealed that state police arrested fewer people in 2015 for driving under the influence of cannabis. Although police revealed that they did not keep track of arrests for driving under the influence of cannabis until 2014, when the plant became recreationally legal in Colorado, during the two years, arrests dropped 1.3 percent. Highway experts believe that this is a good indicator that Coloradans are grasping the potential dangers associated with driving while under the influence of cannabis, according to The Denver Post. While some are optimistic about the effects of public safety campaigns concerning cannabis, highway patrol spokesperson, Trooper Josh Lewis states, “We’d certainly like to think education and enforcement action are making our roads safer, but until we have data for multiple years we simply don’t know.”

Senate Bill 73 Will Allow Patients to Legally Medicate in Utah Things are looking up for medical cannabis patients in Utah. With the efforts of Senator Mark Madsen, Senate Bill 73 was approved and will allow patients to ingest cannabis with recommendation from a certified physician. Under SB-73, cannabis can be ingested through vaporizing, oils and edible consumption, but smoking the plant is prohibited. Illnesses that qualify patients to legally use medical cannabis under SB73 include Alzheimer’s, AIDS, ALS, cancer, Crohn’s disease, PTSD, epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis and chronic pain. Senator Madsen tried to make medical cannabis legal last year during a legislative session but was defeated in the senate. This year’s bill was approved because it was equipped with research from stakeholders, state agencies and industry leaders, as reported by KUTV. Like other medical cannabis markets, Utah’s will be highly regulated for patients, doctors and collectives.

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The number of businesses that will make up the cannabis mini-mall set to open in Trinidad: (Source: Sun Times)

NEWS

The number of state troopers that were trained to use a new device that can check saliva for cannabis and other substances, in order to more accurately discover if motorists are driving under the influence: (Source: FOX 31)

125

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Colorado sold in medical and recreational cannabis in 2015: (Source: The Washington Times)

996

The increased percentage of Colorado cannabis sales made in 2015, compared to the previous year: (Source: The Daily Caller)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that was collected in cannabis taxes and licensing fees by Colorado state in 2015: (Source: Fortune)

135

The number of residents in Chicago, Illinois who qualify to receive medical cannabis from medical collectives throughout the state: (Source: ABC 7 Chicago)

4,000

The estimated amount of medical cannabis, in tons, that was consumed last year in (Source: Arizona Daily Star) Arizona:

Trichome Institute: Level 1 Interpening Want to impress your friends with above average knowledge on cannabis quality and effects? Trichome Institutes’ level 1 interpening class will help get you there. If you’re wondering what interpening is, it’s a technical term used to describe someone who is a cannabis sommelier. Fancy, right? In this two-hour class, led by cannabis expert Max Montrose, you will learn how to effectively assess

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

The amount of money, in billions of dollars, that was made from legal cannabis sales in the U.S. in 2015: (Source: CNBC)

5.4

What: Trichome Institute: Level 1 Interpening. When/Where: Mon, March 7. Colorado Free University, 7653 E. 1st Pl., Denver. Info: Visit www.trichomeinstitute.com for details.

bud quality, variety and type. Going on a canna tour or attending a wedding with a cannabis bar? This class will give you the skills needed to determine which bud is best for you. At only $125 for a twohour class, Trichome Institute’s interpening lesson is ideal not only for cannabis lovers but dispensary workers and those in cannabusiness. Check it out and see what one lesson can do for you.

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NEWS

LOCAL

DINK:

Cannabis + Comics

One Great Step for Cannabis Acceptance USDA Approval of Organic Hemp

by Addison Herron-Wheeler

any like to claim that their hemp or cannabis is the most naturally grown, organic and pesticide-free product out there. Up until recently, there was no real way to test these claims, except for actually witnessing the grow. Recently, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finally granted official organic status to a crop in Colorado. According to KUNC, a cannabis farm in Longmont named CBDRx is now home to one of the first USDA-certified cannabis products available in America. The USDA had previously stated that they would not deem anything classified as “marijuana” organic, which includes hemp. Recently, the USDA has changed its tune to allow any hemp grown according to the Farm Bill in a legal state to be classified as organic. While the process is still meeting with some resistance due to the stigma against cannabis and the fine print in American drug law, it represents a giant step forward for the industry. “I think that since the USDA has already recognized imports of organic hemp, it doesn’t make any sense why they fail to recognize domestically produced hemp under the same standards,” Rick Trojan, local hemp advocate and representative of Colorado Cultivars, told Culture in an interview. “The USDA recognition of hemp puts our hemp on par with hemp production overseas. Failing to do that domestically puts our hemp at a disadvantage to the imports, and deters consumers from purchasing domestic hemp.” “I think that getting that USDA certification is monumental for the industry,” Trojan reflected. “I think that now that they’ve 20

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“Having USDA certified a hemp farm provides legitimacy to the industry and will allow farmers across the country to get on board with producing hemp. The pushback is always about the federal government, and now they are recognizing it as organic, they are legitimatizing it the crop.”

opened the door, companies such as mine and other hemp growers, in Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee and other states, can move towards certification as well. Having USDA certified a hemp far provides legitimacy to the industry and will allow farmers across the country to get on board with producing hemp. The pushback is always about the federal government, and now they are recognizing it as organic, they are legitimatizing the crop.” “Colorado has set another pioneering first by being home to the only Hemp operation to meet and receive the USDA’s National Organic Certification,” added Mark Slaugh, board member of the Cannabis Business Alliance. “The fact that the federal government has given this seal of approval for industrial hemp crops meeting these standards is a leap forward and a testament to our state’s regulatory regime. We hope that in modeling these standards for our state’s medical and retail marijuana crops, that the federal government will continue to shift the way they look at legal marijuana and that the USDA will one day certify all cannabis crops in Colorado.” c

Eco conscious and cool, DINK is Denver’s independent comic book fair that celebrates great art, artists, zines, publishers and more! This year, DINK has added an amazing new feature to its selection of events, Cannabis + Comics VIP tour. This event will give participants a chance to visit a local dispensary and grow operation in a luxury tour bus in the company of Cannabist and CULTURE writer Jake Browne. That’s just the beginning, aside from having a fun and informative time with Browne, guest will be able to enjoy a specially curator art show and extensive talk with celebrated underground cartoonist Denis Kitchen. Also, if you purchase a ticket for DINK’s Cannabis + Comics tour, you get weekend access to DINK and a cool swag bag! What are you waiting for? Get your ticket and participate in the first ever DINK Cannabis + Comics VIP tour! WHAT: Cannabis + Comics VIP Tour. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, March 25Sat, March 26. Sherman Street Event Center, 1770 Sherman St., Denver. INFO: To purchase tickets and obtain additional information visit dinkdenver.com.

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NEWS

legal corner

ONE WAY STREET

The Struggle for Accurate Urine Testing by CO employers by Ann Toney

There is a very real roadblock to using cannabis in Colorado, whether it is medical cannabis or retail (recreational) cannabis. Most people either have to or want to work in Colorado and have employers. Under Colorado law, employers can dictate whether or not you can use cannabis while employed by them. It is a “one-way street” in that regard. So you think, “That won’t affect me, I don’t use marijuana while at work or before I go to work, I only use it on weekends or after work.” Simple enough. What happens though is when your urine is tested at work for “drugs” which includes cannabis (THC) they really are testing for inactive metabolites which reveals that sometime in the past you used cannabis. The test results may be labeled as “THC” but that may not be an accurate label. What many labs do is label the test result as “THC,” which is a psychoactive

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

“What many labs do is label the test result as ‘THC,’ which is a psychoactive metabolite of cannabis, when in fact, the lab only tested for inactive metabolites, which are not psychoactive.”

metabolite of cannabis, when in fact, the lab only tested for inactive metabolites, which are not psychoactive. So, what is prohibited? Is it active metabolites (THC) or inactive metabolites (COOH)? What does the employee handbook say? Before you even take a job you need to look at the employee handbook to see how it reads. A major problem with this is that employers who conduct urine teste in labs typically identify COOH as THC, simply because it makes it easier for them to label as they don’t have to explain the difference between inactive and active metabolites. What is convenient labeling and cheap testing for the lab, may be devastating to the employee. Even if the lab says it is testing for THC, you can doubt it. Testing for THC generally requires a blood sample and while it may not be outside the realm of possibility that the lab is using a more expensive method of testing your urine, the probability is they are not. The only way you will know the accuracy of a test is if you have the same urine sent to a private lab for testing. While there are a growing number of businesses dealing with employee use of marijuana without firing the employees, the approach of “zero drug tolerance” is prevalent. The current case law in Colorado regarding the use of marijuana in the workplace is Colorado Supreme Court case 13SC394, Coats v Dish Network, LLC. Coats states that employers can fire an employee who violates their drug policy even if the employee is using the drug (medical marijuana) legally. The Coats case relied on the fact that cannabis was illegal under federal law and using it legally under Colorado law was not enough to overcome the illegal status. This may be revisited once cannabis is taken off the Federal Controlled Substances list as a Schedule I drug, which drugs have no medicinal use. c

IMPACT: Women’s Health and Cannabis As stigmas associated with cannabis are slowly fading, more and more individuals are becoming open to the medical effects of the plant. In order to help those interested in cannabis medicine become more informed on how it can help different conditions, IMPACT is holding its forth free Women’s Health and Cannabis Event. IMPACT is a nonprofit entity, dedicated to accelerating medical research and providing education support for those in need. In this events, a number of panels will be held followed by ten-minute Q&A’s. Not only will medical experts be present to provide information at the event, industry leaders in aging and government will be available to provide insight. Although the event is free IMPACT does welcome any donations that will help the organization continue to hold informative events! WHAT: IMPACT: Women’s Health and Cannabis. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, March 12. Green Labs, 1250 31st St., Denver. INFO: Visit www. eventbrite. com for ticket purchases and additional information.

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REVIEWs

dispensary highlight make sure that each customer is properly educated on dosing and usage before they leave our stores.

Euflora Interviewed: Jamie Perino (owner)

403 16th St., Denver, 80202 (303) 534-6255 6260 S. Gunclub Rd., Aurora, 80016 (303) 766-8677 4343 S. Buckley Rd., Aurora, 80015 (303) 680-1016 www.eufloracolorado.com

How and when did your dispensary start up? Euflora opened up as a medical, by appointment only dispensary in September 2013. We spent many countless hours and days trying to find the perfect location on the 16th Street mall and finally, after all of the hard work and door slamming in our faces we were able to secure a place on the 16th Street mall. To this day we are still the only dispensary with a location on the 16th Street mall. What’s the story behind the name of your shop? The story is an interesting one. We invited our friends 26

and family to come up with names to help expand our creative energies. While we had many great names, we wanted to stay away from the traditional “green,” “meds” or “cross” and think outside the box. After several hours of brainstorm and white boarding about words that describe marijuana, it was decided that the most common word was “euphoric.” Then we added flower or flora. Originally the name was Euphoric Flora, however we decided that was too long and too much of a tongue twister so it became Euflora! We wanted and needed a name that was discrete and non-offensive. We were

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

going to be right on the 16th street mall. Thus, Euflora was born! What does your dispensary offer clients that they can’t find anywhere else? I would say we pride ourselves on customer service and a unique experience. We have been dubbed the “apple store of cannabis” and for good reason. We have iPads next to each strain which is in a small jar so the customer can see and smell the product and learn about it at their own pace. We have found this to be a much more comfortable experience for those that are new to trying marijuana and are uncomfortable speaking face-to-face with a budtender. The feeling of the store is light, airy and comfortable. We have worked to make it comfortable to show to people that it is no different than going to the mall to go shopping. We strive to

What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a dispensary? . . . Biggest joys? There are several challenges in any business and being an entrepreneur is never easy but this industry has a few more challenges than most. I would have to say the biggest one is the banking industry, or lack thereof. It is very difficult, time consuming and dangerous. We, as business owners, want to be transparent and honest and treated as any other business. However, due to the regulations in banking we still feel like we are doing something illegal even though right here in Colorado it is 100 percent legal. Our biggest joy is how it is absolutely rewarding when we get thanked for being a pioneer in the industry and fighting the fight. It is also such an exciting industry that everyone wants to join somehow. I truly get joy from my employees thanking me for giving them a job, their dream job, in this budding industry. On top of that there is nothing more rewarding though than having a customer thank you for helping

them find the proper product and dosing to ease their pain or give them some enjoyment. Even with all of the challenges, which are many, the joys far out way the challenges and as long as you feel that way every day then you are in the right industry. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/MMJ community? I hope to show that marijuana is a safe and viable option for people. It has been given such a bad rap over the years it is time to educate people about the true benefits of this all natural plant. People are afraid of what they don’t know or understand and I feel that this is what happens to marijuana over the years. I also want to show that the people in this industry are hard working entrepreneurs who want to be treated like any other business. We are not scary drug dealers in some dark alley. We are working with the government to keep marijuana out of the hands of underage children and off the streets illegally. We pay our taxes, we volunteer in the communities and we want to leave a positive impact on our communities and this world. c

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REVIEWs

advocate highlight

Jane West

Occupation: Founder, National Events Director of Women Grow

When and how did you become an advocate for cannabis? In October 2013, I decided to start Edible Events Company, combining my passion for throwing a great party with my love for cannabis. I was immediately swept into the media tornado that descended upon Denver on January 1, 2014, the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales. When the cameras stopped rolling and the dust

Canna Lympics

settled, I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. With the public listening and watching, my actions and words mattered. I learned to make the most of that opportunity to be heard. I use my voice strategically, to support legalization, normalization and consumer and industry responsibility. Moving the dialogue forward benefits everyone invested in this movement. How has cannabis benefited your life? Simply put, I am better with cannabis.

At 40 years old, I am healthier and fitter than I have ever been. I am present and embracing my daily life as a wife and mother of two, running two startup companies, and I am dialed in. I consume cannabis in some form every day. It brings me mid-life wellness in times of crisis. It also specifically helps me sleep more soundly, which is something we all need. What’s your greatest achievement for the cannabis cause? With only two years in the industry, I don’t

Who do you look up to or admire? The cannabis industry we see today wouldn’t exist without decades of work invested by activists in the drug reform movement. The system that they created at great

personal risk is now falling into place across the country to end marijuana prohibition. Legalization activists worked tirelessly for a cause they believed in because they were dedicated to drug policy reform and the rights of patients, not because they wanted to cash in on a billiondollar industry. I admire those leaders who remained steadfast and motivated in the face of great adversity and endless change. If you could change one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would it be? I dream of a future where social adult use is completely normalized. Cannabis is magnetic. It brings likeminded people together and creates community. I entered the industry with the dream of producing experiential cannabis events and ended up in a criminal courtroom as a result. Permitting the legal, social adult cannabis use is about liberty, not legalization. I should have the right to alter my own consciousness as I see fit and consume a safer substance of choice outside of the confines of my home. c

What: Canna Lympics When/Where: Sat, March 26. Speak Easy Vape Lounge, 2508 E. Bijou St., Colorado Springs. Info: Visit www.speakeasycannabisclub.com for details.

Colorado has been getting pretty creative with its cannabis events, compiling an awesome list of things to do when rest of the country goes recreationally legal— fingers crossed. From Speak Easy Vape Lounge, the same guys who brought you Chromic Con, comes the Canna Lympics, a special “sporting” event where “athletes” will push their skills to limit to come out on top. Categories in

think I have reached my greatest achievement yet for the cause. I am very proud of the impact of the Women Grow team, who have encouraged thousands of women to join and lead in the legal cannabis industry as we have expanded to 44 cities across the U.S. and Canada. I am also honored to work with Steve Fox, one of the architects of marijuana legalization, pushing social use initiatives forward. He was a key player in our Colorado Symphony Orchestra “On a High Note” Red Rocks Event, which was my greatest milestone thus far. In everything I do, my goal is to combat stereotypes and help people see the benefits of responsible cannabis consumption. Any time I can spark a conversation about cannabis, or inspire someone to question their preexisting notions about consumption, that is an achievement for the cause.

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the Canna Lympics include Best or Fastest Blunt or Joint, Bong Pong and Kushed Out Karaoke, amongst others. If you’re not skilled in any of these rigorous tasks, don’t worry, can enjoy the awesome music, food and other activities included at the Canna Lympics. So, mark your calendar and don’t forget to come out to Speak Easy Vape Lounge for round two of the Canna Lympics.

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REVIEWs

strain, edible & concentrate Available at: The Farm in Boulder.

Ghost Trainwreck Haze 9 If you’re like us, you’ve seen Trainwreck about a dozen times already. Amy Schumer is a kindred spirit to the reviewers here; we are all “trainwrecks” at heart. Well, thanks to The Farm in Boulder, we can help you cope with Amy withdrawals on the reg. This signature strain from The Farm in Boulder is the type of sativa you need to get you through your trainwreck day. Bred from Ghost OG and Neville’s Wreck, there’s a sweet lime aroma that we couldn’t get enough of on top of the usual haze notes. Unlike traditional hazes, however, you’ll love the dense structure that left us amazed there was still more to smoke. Effortlessly energetic and mentally stimulating, this is the perfect strain for a first date, a group study session or a classic cartoon marathon with your other half.

Pre 98 Bubba Kush

Available at: Infinite Wellness Center in Lakewood and Fort Collins.

Lost in the debate over butane and CO2 extraction is the fact that people are still making some of the best bubble hash in history. Case in point: Infinite Wellness Center of Lakewood and Fort Collins is cranking out the fire with their Pre98 Bubba Kush Full Melt Ice Wax. Firm yet pliable, it reminds us of the good old days, with a nice transparency on the edges of the amber hued chunk. Not meant for dabbing, we grabbed our hash pipe and puffed away, loving the relief we experienced in tense muscles, particularly in our backs. A somewhat intense, almost anxious head fog quickly passed as the potency was higher than we expected from even some of the best bubble. Keep in mind that this almost pure indica can be a real couch-locker, perfect for ordering some delivery and zoning out while watching Netflix.

Alpine Infusions’ Strawberry Lemonade Ganjala For young entrepreneurs, spring is right around the corner, and that means lemonade stands. It’s the only reason we carry change anymore. If you’re looking for some refreshment now, give Alpine Infusions’ Strawberry Lemonade Ganjala a shot and you won’t be disappointed. With a brightness not usually found in edibles, we were head over heels for the sharp berry and tart notes infused into this caramel. The 10mg dose was ideal as well, as we wanted to eat the whole thing—and more. It’s also a great cap to a smoking high, as you’ll find yourself chewing on the Ganjala instead of aimlessly munching. No matter what your experience level, it’s a treat that won’t leave you floored and regretting your decision, but instead providing focus and clarity with some giggles on the side.

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GET YOUR CLICKS

HERE

Available wherever: Alpine Infusions products are carried.

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REVIEWs

Keef Cola 80mg Fruit Punch Looking for a delicious beverage that’ll make you feel like bursting through a wall and yell “Oh yeah!”? We’ve got you. Keef Cola has done it again with their 80mg Fruit Punch, a tasty and convenient way to medicate wherever you are. Not only is the fruit flavoring robust, but there’s very little “green” flavor to be found, leaving a great aftertaste that makes you want to go back for more. How they did it with only four calories, no sugar (sweetened with stevia) and no high-fructose corn syrup is beyond us. With eight servings to a bottle, we divied up some shots and were loving the clean and productive high. Reviewers with IBS and stomach related issues loved how quick it worked, soothing upset bellies like a charm. Hours later, the effects were still going strong, making this ideal to start—and finish—your day.

Available wherever: Keef Cola products are carried.

White 99 CBD Wax

Available at: Buddy Boy Brands in Denver.

There’s nothing more disappointing than going to do a dab, only to wind up with half your concentrate all over your tools. Fortunately, Buddy Boy Brands’ latest White 99 CBD Wax has the consistency we’re looking for. A combo of White 99 and the CBD-rich Harlequin, it’s a smart solution for the often sappy results that CBD strains yield. Not to mention the White 99 has a much better flavor profile, with sweet pine and rubber coming through from the jar to the exhale. Testing found that this is best for medical patients with severe conditions, as the combination of a heavy indica plus healing cannabinoids made the high flooring. One hit was enough to send one reviewer to the mat, needing a nap almost instantly. Who doesn’t love a nap?

Available at: Walking Raven in Denver.

Hong Kong Diesel Fun fact: Did you know Hong Kong is just over 420 square miles in size? If you spend all day Googling “420” like we do, some fun stuff comes up, including Hong Kong Diesel. We found the 50/50 hybrid at Walking Raven in Denver, falling in love with the smell as we cracked the jar. Big notes of gas and earthiness hit you in the face, like you were dirt biking through Southeast Asia. The jungle green buds have tons of China red hairs sprouting out from behind trichomes, and we were impressed with the expert trim job that left trich heads intact. While potent and body based, reviewers loved that the high was also very uplifting, providing mental energy suited for a long game of mahjong. Whereas some hybrids can keep your brain rocking, we also found this as an appropriate choice before bedtime, as the relaxing nature of Hong Kong Diesel can make eyelids heavy.

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GET YOUR CLICKS

HERE

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REVIEWs

Available at: Buddy Boy Brands in Denver.

Organic Fruity Bears Who are your top five bears? Yogi. Paddington. Winnie. Fozzie. Gummy. The last one is the most essential, as any good smoke sesh deserves some snacks. Combine the two and you’ve got Organic Fruity Bears by Highly Edible, which we picked up from Buddy Boy Brands in Denver. With swimsuit season around the corner, we’re big fans of the organic and vegan treats as we try to snack responsibly. These low cal snacks come in a variety of flavors and have barely (no pun intended) any cannabis flavor, so be careful not to leave them around unless you want some severely stoned friends. Yes, at 10mg each, these are ideal for popping one or two, as they’re incredibly potent and give a strong, indica-like body effect. Try a few before bed and you won’t even notice a bear rummaging through your tent.

Available at: Kind Meds in Denver.

Lucinda Williams Willie Nelson isn’t the only country rocker to get a strain or two named after him, and we’re glad. Created by Denver’s own Kind Meds, Lucinda Williams is now immortalized in strain history and like her music, it’s a hybrid. The smell is one of a kind, with big berry flavors up front and menthol lurking as well, like a cough drop that you smoke. Nearly monochromatic, there’s so much green and white it almost looks like the Algerian flag. The high is like a passionate kiss, warm and engaging, with amazing stress relief noted by several staffers that were crunched for time. For those that needed an appetite boost, they found Lucinda perfect for getting their munch on while simultaneously making food taste better. If you find yourself at a diner on the side of the highway, don’t say you weren’t warned. 38

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REVIEWs

For More Products Go To www.iReadCulture.com

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3. BULLET Bluetooth Earpiece

North America’s premium hemp apparel brand. From cut and sew to fabric dye, every manufacturing process is done by small business owners in L.A.’s Fashion District. Times Hemp Company is on a mission to utilize and promote the industrial use of hemp and other organic materials with their great hemp apparel. PRICE: $35 MORE INFORMATION: www.timeshempcompany.com

The BULLET Bluetooth Earpiece is said to be the smallest of its kind, featuring lightweight design at 3.5g and it's also comfortable. It will allow you to not only take calls with its built-in microphone, but also stream music when you aren’t chatting up a storm. It uses CVC noise reduction, and has crystal clear sound. While it has a battery that will keep going for about six hours, it makes sure you won’t be without as it comes with a capsule for charging that can juice it up four times over. PRICE: $150 MORE INFORMATION: schatzii.com

2. Neyya Smart Ring Finally, one ring to rule all. The Neyya Smart Ring uses gestures such as swiping and tapping to let you have full control over presentations, calls, music, camera and more. It’s like a universal remote for your life! From your T.V. to mobile phone; and it’s ready to go, right out of the box. It also has the capability to give you notifications through vibration for smartphone alerts and reminders. There are options of silver sterling titanium or a medallion gold finish. PRICE: $139 MORE INFORMATION: www.myneyya.com

4. Thync System 2

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GET YOUR CLICKS

HERE

A wearable technology that can give you relaxation and calm you down or can boost your activity and give you energy. Thync uses neurosignaling to activate specific cranial and peripheral nerves to influence a shift to a state of relaxation or energy in just minutes. From the elegant and curved design and fit of the lightweight module, to the bio-friendly materials used in the strips, to the simplicity and groundbreaking technology of the app, Thync is one of the first to comfortably and effectively aid an active lifestyle through wearable tech. PRICE: $199 MORE INFORMATION: www.thync.com

iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

REVIEWs

entertainment

BOOK

WEED: The User’s Guide: A 21st Century Handbook for Enjoying Marijuana

Release Date: March 8 Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC

GAME

Tom Clancy’s The Division

David Schmader Sasquatch Books

Dev. Ubisoft Massive Pub. Ubisoft

In this busy and growing contemporary canna-culture craze, author David Schmader explores the cannabis culture in every facet, for a new and interested generation and audience. WEED explores the history, the uses, the medical and recreational effects and varieties of cannabis, as well as cannabis etiquette, what to do if you’re not having a good time while using, and what to do to keep yourself entertained while enjoying cannabis. With humor and factual information, this is a great new user’s guide to all things cannabis. (Alex Bradley)

New York is ravaged by a horrible smallpox virus that is spread on the infamous shopping holiday, Black Friday— five days later, the entire U.S. Government collapses. In The Division, you play as a member of a group of tactical agents who must prevent the fall of society at all costs. This thirdperson shooter offers highly detailed setting, including destructible environments and a unique weather system, and free-roaming capabilities that allow players to truly immerse themselves in the world. Team up with friends to take out those who are infected with the virus, as well as those behind its unleashing. (Nicole Potter)

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

MOVIE

Black Mass Warner Brothers Pictures Dir. Scott Cooper Just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day, one of the most brilliant and dark depictions of Boston’s Irish Mob, Black Mass, is on the shelves. With a story that seems almost too scary to be real, Black Mass handily showcases not only its stars’ acting abilities, but truly brings to life one of the most terrifying marriages of law enforcement and organized crime. Featuring such megastars as Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon and Johnny Depp, Black Mass takes viewers on a ride through the seedy bars, dark alleys and criminal underbelly of Boston’s Southie neighborhood circa the 1970s and ‘80s. (Simon Weedn)

MUSIC

KINGSIZED Dressy Bessy Yep Roc Records With nearly two decades under its belt as a group, Denver’s own Dressy Bessy has returned from an eightyear break between records with some fresh tunes on their sixth studio full-length album, KINGSIZED. Tammy Ealom’s vocals find themselves right in her wheelhouse, always sounding wonderfully bright and luminous, and nestling in perfectly amongst the band’s fuzzy, garage-y guitar tones and upbeat rhythms. KINGSIZED not only marks a glorious revivification of Dressy Bessy’s much beloved sound, but also sees a much more rewarding evolution in the band’s style and songwriting. (Simon Weedn)

iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

REVIEWs

liner notes by Kevin Longrie

The early weeks of February were dominated by news from the Western front: KANYE WEST announced an album and retitled it a few times, shared snippets of songs and tracklists and was talked about quite a bit. He also got himself into trouble on Twitter (not unusual) and was made a pecuniary offer from someone almost universally thought of as a scumbag. The album, titled (at time of print) The Life of Pablo, was teased with a challenge to Yeezy’s fans. After he changed it, West released the letters “TLOP” and asked his fans to try to win cash and apparel by guessing the right answer. One 20-year-old fan, Dante Holley guessed the name right according to MTV and Cosmopolitan, but is yet to hear back from Kanye regarding his prize. The fever pitch reached by West’s fans and detractors was hard to match in the first two weeks of February, broken only, perhaps, by the announcement of the Formation tour by BEYONCÉ following her Superbowl appearance. It’s strange to think that there is a slim possibility that none of us will be able to hear the album itself, as of the time of writing. Martin Shkreli, the businessman many may remember from his massive raising of pill prices or from his purchasing of the only copy of the newest WU-TANG CLAN album, offered West $10 million to give him

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

the new album exclusively, stopping the public release altogether. West won’t go for this (given how reviled Shkreli is and how desperate he is for love and attention rather than purely money). It’s as if Shkreli is leaning into his arch-villain, sociopathic public persona. Has anyone checked this guy’s lampshades for women’s skin? Kanye also got in trouble, somewhat, for seeming to declare Bill Cosby’s innocence on Twitter. He tweeted “BILL COSBY INNOCENT!!!!!!!!!!,” but refused to expand on his comments when pressed later. It’s worth noting, too, that Cosby comes up in a recently released track, “Facts.” West raps, “Do anybody feel bad for Bill Cosby? Did he forget the names just like Steve Harvey?” One has to wonder if West is really wrestling with these kinds of questions or if, like so many times before, he’s playing the provocateur. Going back to the Superbowl Halftime Show for a minute, COLDPLAY headlined and was joined by BRUNO MARS and Beyoncé, creating what many are calling one of the event’s best performances. Many spent hours of their one, precious life arguing over who “stole the show” and displayed little joy in the performance itself, discussing “Ad nauseum,” the potential importance or nonimportance of fashion choices, dance moves and lyrics. Some praised, for

example, Beyoncé for becoming more politically conscious in her songwriting. Others, including a group that staged a protest in front of the NFL offices, found her performance offensive. “Do you agree that it was a slap in the face to law enforcement?” organizers posted. “Do you agree that the Black Panthers was/is a hate group which should not be glorified? Come and let’s stand together.” This controversy has continued, generating very little healthy dialogue and quite a few ticket sales. Coldplay, for example, who U.S. fans were largely dismissing as the side-act to “Queen Bey,” saw a bump in their album sales, especially in the U.K., where they reached number one. These same diehard Beyoncé fans are the same that took to Facebook a few years ago to wryly comment (in unison, somehow) “Did anybody notice that football game at the Beyoncé concert?” Deification is nothing new to popular music, but it can be exhausting even for fans of her stellar, smart music. Lastly, JUSTIN VERNON of Bon Iver has come out of his “winding down” period, as he called it three years ago. He is now writing new music, potentially a new Bon Iver record. I’m starting the rumor now that he’s going to get AARON RODGERS and CLAY MATTHEWS to sing harmonies on the single. c

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By Addison Herron-Wheeler

Everyone in the 21st century is familiar with the feeling of

Aaron Bruno is no stranger to being in the limelight, but has

being roped into an awkward social situation and wanting

always preferred the D.I.Y. ethics of underground subgenres,

to leave to work on a craft, see a significant other or just go

an ethos Bruno brings to his high-profile status as leader

home and sit in front of the television. AWOLNATION has

of this wildly successful new band. While AWOLNATION

created an ode to that loner mentality with his musicâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;his

may be experiencing pop stardom, Bruno keeps his feet

very name references the urge to suddenly go AWOL and

planted firmly on the ground. In between hiding out and

disappear, and reaching a whole nation of people who want

making awesome music, Bruno took the time to chat with

that same thing. As a seasoned hardcore and punk musician,

CULTURE about music, cannabis and success. >>

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Photos provided by Red Bull Records | Live photos by Matthias Heschl

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How does having a background in punk and rock inform what you do as the leader of an electronic band? How do you think those influences and the electronic elements of the band work together? I feel pretty lucky that I went down that path—I took that road in a lot of ways because it gave me a completely different perspective than someone who is aspiring to be in a big rock band or a big pop artist. I didn’t ever take those aspirations too seriously, but I felt at home in the hardcore scene and the punk rock scene. At that time, there was no way to really promote your band online; you had to go to local high schools, flier cars and get in trouble for that, or go to other concerts of minor bands, so if

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

nothing else I learned how to operate as a functioning band and how to do everything on my own, so the work ethic of that was great, feeling like it was you against the world. Those are things that are invaluable to me, and on an artistic or more musical tip, I feel there are a lot of great parts in a lot of the songs that I listened to my whole life that people haven’t heard, so I am lucky I have a library from that world of influences that maybe others wouldn’t pull from. I feel like it’s an advantage for sure.

Do you listen to mostly electronic music or rock? Have you always had an eclectic taste in music? I never listen to just one kind of music—I think there

is greatness in all forms and genres of music. I spend a lot of time trying to explore and look for new music—at least new to my ears. I am constantly trying to search for something that will mature my songwriting and craft. That’s always the hardest question to answer; I think it takes time to really decide if something lasts the test of time.

What is it like being signed to Red Bull Records? You’ve referred to that relationship as more of a “partnership” than a typical record deal— what do you mean by that? There are ups and downs just like everything else, but I think there would be a lot more downs if I was with a more traditional label. When they came to me they were

still new and hadn’t had any success with any of their bands yet. It has been really nice to kind of work together and navigate the wild west of the industry while we try to figure out how to have a presence in such an oversaturated marketplace. I didn’t want to do another major label deal because I had been involved in two prior and they didn’t work for me. When they came to me they offered to allow me to continue down this tunnelvision path I had in my mind which was to make a record with no compromises where I controlled the whole thing. It wasn’t that I had ego or wanted to be thought of as a solo artist—I just felt I didn’t want to have arguments and deal with the stress of having >>

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other bandmates. My other band had broken up and I saw that as an opportunity to just go at this alone and really put it all on the line and utilize everything I had seen along the way.

Rumor has it the band name comes from your high school nickname. How did that nickname come about, and what made you decide to use that as the band name? The nickname came from my name being Aaron and a play on the first letter of the word, like a lot of rappers that came up at that time. As a joke, I called myself that, and then it became somewhat relevant when I realized I am bad at saying goodbye and getting out of a social situation where you have anxiety and want to disappear but can’t. I find that your good friends will understand when you are in a situation where you just want to leave and you do. At a certain point I attached “Nation” to it because I thought you might as well go for it and I have this ambitious movement in my mind that I never thought would actually happen, and then six years on we have somewhat of that ambitious dream before us. I just figured there had to be a hypothetical nation of people who had the same feelings on certain issues in life, and that is sort of what the name means to me at this point. But everyone has an interpretation of what the name means, so I don’t want to change what that means to anyone in general. Sometimes it is disappointing to discover the meaning behind names or songs, so I want to remain deliberately vague about it.

Which album do you feel best represents your career, and how do you feel your sound has changed since AWOLNATION first got together? I am in love with the newest record and very proud of it artistically—I think it is one of the best records >> 54

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in years. Why do it if you don’t believe what you are producing is one of the best records of all time? I believe it; I really do; I don’t think anyone else is going to think so, but I still do believe it. I know a lot of artists who say they don’t like their records and I can appreciate that and relate to it, but it can be interpreted strangely because if you don’t think your music is good, does that mean you think your fans are lame for liking the music? I have a philosophy in my mind that I am very proud of the music I put out there.

What do you have in the works now—are you releasing a new album? I am of course producing and working and writing with two different artists—one’s name is Iron Tom and I am halfway done with their record—they are about to get some sort

of record deal and I just love them—I became kind of part of them. I threw everything I have into their songs—it has been a labor of love like everything else and has been my pleasure to mentor these kids who haven’t had the influence or help I had. I am very passionate and excited about the six songs they already have. People can look forward to hearing some of their stuff in spring or summer.

What do you have going on as far as tour plans or other projects? We are about to go on this arena tour with Fall Out Boy—they are so big that I don’t know if I’m even helping promote the tour (laughs). They have had this incredible career through the ups and downs and have lasted for a long time. It will be the first time we’ve played for a pop audience and gained

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

a few fans. I am still trying to get used to us being a headliner—a lot of times when we headline one of these bigger shows I am surprised that we are headlining.

Do any of you use cannabis recreationally or medically? Has cannabis ever been a theme in your music? I was completely sober until I was 21, when I had my first sip of alcohol and smoked weed for the first time. It seems to be the opposite for most people— they get in trouble at a young age and get caught smoking weed when they are 14, where I was too much of a nerd and was too afraid to try mindaltering stuff. It wasn’t until I was 21 and felt comfortable trying that stuff. It was a great experience, and there are so many benefits to it, obviously— but just like anything else, too much of any other thing can dumb down it being good.

It’s a weird question because I’d like to say it’s a good thing for everyone but it doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. Sometimes you are in a good headspace and sometimes you are not. There have been ups and downs, but mostly I find it to be a wonderful thing. And creatively speaking, everybody knows it’s great. Having said that I will tell you there have been many times that I thought something was incredible I had worked on and then listened with a sober mind and it was awful. (Laughs) It’s about finding the balance.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? I always want to thank anyone who took the time to read this or be part of this interview and took the time to care about what I think in any way—it’s a pretty interesting feeling. c

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Headway in the Fight for Public Use

Cannabis and Colorado “We cannot invite visitors to come to our state for legal marijuana and simultaneously entrap their use of marijuana by forcing them to consume in public spaces.”

by Addison Herron-Wheeler

Since cannabis was legalized in Colorado, one of the biggest issues it has faced is the fact that there is nowhere to use it in public. Tourists end up medicating or recreating outdoors due to a lack of cannabis clubs or smoke-friendly hotels, and leave the city with a public use fee to pay off as a memento of their trip. Since it is clear that the Colorado industry is not tapering off in success any time soon, the next logical step is for the state capital to get on board with the idea of being able to go out on the town and use cannabis. Despite this, there are still a few hurdles that stand in the way of this becoming a reality. “It is wonderful that initiatives are finally being formed around the cannabis social use issue,” stated Mark Slaugh, board member of Cannabis Business Alliance, in an interview with CULTURE. “It is an issue that is long overdue. Since 2012 and the passage of Amendment 64, iComply and other CBA members have

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

tried to reason with the legislature on defining cannabis consumption venues, regulating them, and exempting them from the Clean Indoor Air Act.” Some of the issues facing public use are the worry that allowing smoking indoors of any substance would be unpleasant and unhealthy, and the concern for safety at such a venue. “We understand that fundamentally, we must provide a safe haven for legal and responsible adult use,” Slaugh added. However, the rousing outcry to this objection is that as long as the state allows legal recreational cannabis but nowhere to imbibe it, they are inviting people here to get criminal charges. “We cannot invite visitors to come to our state for legal marijuana and simultaneously entrap their use of marijuana by forcing them to consume in public spaces,” Slaugh reinforces. “In the absence of action by state officials

to resolve this problem, we are seeing the emergence of local democracy to petition and pass city and county laws that provide regulated social venues for adults to consume their marijuana safely and responsibly.” As of now, there are many plans in the works to make cannabis clubs legal in the county of Denver, but none that is official yet. One way that the city currently gets around these laws is allowing cannabis clubs in the surrounding counties. IBake, the only cannabis club in the area right now, is technically located in Englewood County rather than Denver, allowing it to operate a club despite its close proximity to downtown. While this process may not happen overnight, it is clear that within the next few years, Denver is due for an influx of even more cannabis users, and will have to come up with the proper facilities to deal with it. c

iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

Organic Rules

Just in time for planting season, state regulators weigh in on pesticides like never before

by David Downs

Washington State regulator Erik Johansen gives lots of public talks to farmers about pesticide use, and he expects a mute shrug or maybe one or two questions in response. Not with cannabis. “The enthusiasm for me to be there is just—they line up afterward to shake my hand, and they thank me,” said the Department of

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Agriculture policy assistant. “Cannabis growers have as many questions as you have time to answer. If you have handouts, every last one will be gone. They’re hungry for information.” Fact is: America’s amateur and professional cannabis gardeners are getting more state guidance than ever before. Medical and recreational cannabis laws in 35 states

have forced officials to weigh in on what should be allowed on cannabis crops—which can be tainted with dangerous chemical sprays. State agencies are responding with unprecedented, official lists of allowable pesticides. These guidelines are rudimentary, but they’re a historic start. State agencies in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and beyond are now routinely posting and updating

lists of approved pesticides. California’s Water Board released a modest, one-page list. Colorado’s allowable pesticides list is 26 pages long, and Washington’s list is 22 pages long. Oregon released a list of 257 allowed pesticides on February 5. America now has a patchwork of cannabis pesticide laws, with two New England states mandating their programs be completely organic. >>

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This guidance is the first minor step in cleaning up America’s cannabis supply. Thousands of consumers will likely sicken themselves or others either applying or consuming pesticides on cannabis. Significant amounts of black market cannabis, as well as medical and recreational supplies are tainted, experts say. Under total prohibition— cultivators face little official consequences for spraying. Some farmers will do anything to save the valuable crop, which is subject to infestation from dozens of pests and diseases.

The United States’ first medical cannabis law in 1996 and adult use law in 2012 have helped ignite efforts to clean up legal supplies. Since cannabis is still federally illegal, no pesticide is federally approved for use on cannabis. So states are guiding growers to the most benign active ingredients already allowed for use on analogous crops like tobacco or herbaceous herbs. They’re adapting EPA guidelines of “minimal risk” natural pesticides exempt from mandatory approval—often essential oils, and beneficial molds, fungus, insects or

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

other animals. “Until things change federally—it’s kind of tough,” said Johansen who developed Washington’s allowed list. “It’s not a perfect system, but it’s a system that at least tried to address [the issue] by allowing things that are fairly low in toxicity.” Legalization regimes have also begun mandating testing of supplies, which have helped reveal commonly banned pesticides in use. Colorado’s mandatory pesticide screening has resulted in 19 product recalls in 19 weeks as of early February, affecting hundreds

of thousands of items in circulation, from vaporizer cartridges to edibles. In January, an Oregon lab caught the pesticide abamectin in supposedly organic “Guardian Mite Spray.” Washington State regulators verified the finding, leading to a national advisory and the pulling of Guardian from store shelves. Washington fined two commercial cultivators in the last year, but guidelines can have the most effect on home growers who now have a concise list of allowed products to use, Johansen said. >>

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Just Getting Started “There’s no reason at this point to open this industry to chemical dependency. That’s where the states should be right now. It’s a huge opportunity. I wish we had these opportunities in some other crops that don’t need pesticides.”

Washington cannabis farmers now have about 80 allowed active pesticide ingredients, versus about 1,000 for an apple farmer. The state is under pressure to add more allowed chemicals. “I think we’re being fairly conservative and there’s a reason for that. We just don’t have data to go any further,” Johansen said. Consumers who want to ensure they are inhaling clean products must either grow their own according to new guidelines, or buy products that come with an independent, third party certification for “organic”grade cleanliness. In Washington, two

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

companies—Certified Dank and Clean Green—provide such certifications. “It’s tough right now, to be honest with you,” said Johansen. “I think we’re beginning to get a handle on it. The industry by and large has been very supportive.” In California, the Department of Pesticide Regulation will help set standards for allowable levels of pesticide residue this year, officials told CULTURE. Jay Feldman at the non-profit Washington D.C. advocacy group Beyond Pesticides said America has a golden opportunity to ensure the next major legal crop is fully organic. Colorado’s 26-page list is already too lax, Feldman said. States are giving users a false sense of security, when regulators should be enforcing federal law that no pesticide has been evaluated, let alone approved, for use on cannabis. Copying EPA recommendations from tobacco “is really un-protective of public health and the environment,” he said. “I would say it’s worse than nothing.” Beyond Pesticides advocates banning all pesticides on cannabis, except organic ingredients listed as OMRI-certified (minus registered pesticides) as well as the EPA’s “minimal risk” “25b” list. Cannabis has a chance to be a global agricultural role model, instead of another dirty crop, he said. “There’s no reason at this point to open this industry to chemical dependency,” Feldman said. “That’s where the states should be right now. It’s a huge opportunity. I wish we had these opportunities in some other crops that don’t need pesticides.” c

Usual Suspects Banned Pesticides Commonly Found in Cannabis Myclobutanil: Fungicide. Active ingredient in notoriously popular Eagle 20 pesticide. World Health Organization (WHO) considers it “slightly hazardous.” Label warns of nervous system problems and toxic fumes.

Imidacloprid: Insecticide. Found in popular Merit and Mellet brand pesticides. WHO considers it “moderately hazardous.” Considered moderately toxic in ingested or inhaled.

Abamectin and the avermectin chemical family: Insecticide. Found in Avid and Lucid pesticide brands. The Pesticide Action Network lists avermectin as a “bad actor,” and Avid is labelled as “harmful if inhaled.”

iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

Medical Cannabis Gains Headway in Ireland Dr. James Linden is working hard to get Irish patients access to medical cannabis

by Victoria Banegas

In last year’s March issue of CULTURE, we told the story of Dr. William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, who introduced cannabis as a medicine in 1839. Over 100 years after O’Shaughnessy revealed to the western world the medical benefits of cannabis, his homeland remains in opposition of his findings, as cannabis is still medically illegal in Ireland. Cannabis became illegal in Ireland and the rest of the U.K. in 1928 following the 1925 Dangers of Drugs Act. However, doctors were able to prescribe cannabis for a while, until 1971 when the Misuse of Drugs Act was passed. Since then, cannabis has remained strictly illegal in Ireland, making access to the plant nearly impossible. Luckily, another Irishman and doctor, James Linden, has been leading the Dublin-based research firm GreenLight Health in a quest to make medical cannabis legal in Ireland, by highlighting its effects on various medical conditions. >>

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With a number of people in Ireland suffering from conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), glaucoma and cancer, the black market is their only source to turn to for medicine. As of last year, being in possession of a substance like cannabis resulted in a €2,750 fine and up to 12 months in prison. Seeing these ludicrous penalties, Linden and his group began working a campaign to address this issue to the government. With hopes of utilizing some fundraiser money for its campaign, GreenLight Health created a page on fundraising Indiegogo, where they were only able to raise €147. Although the amount of financial support shown to GreenLight Health was null, the team has found other investors, Linden told CULTURE. In an effort to revolutionize Ireland’s medical cannabis market, Linden and the team at GreenLight Health have been working hard, “researching and developing effective and affordable cannabis medicines,” according to Linden. As the only Irish pharmaceutical company dedicated to producing medical cannabis products, the team is currently implementing a trial of supplements designed to treat joint and muscle pain, as well as arthritis. Not only does GreenLight Health hope to improve the lives of those affected by conditions that are seemly only treatable with cannabis, the company hopes to create 500 research and development jobs within the next five years. When asked why he decided to start up a cannabis research firm, Linden explained in the podcast Newstalk, “Cannabis gives people relief from symptoms of cancer but it also gives people relief from chemotherapy but there is also research that shows THC, one of the cannabinoids in cannabis . . . directly impacts tumors and can kill cancerous cells.” He finished by saying, “that kind of research is breaking through and we realize that there’s an opportunity in Ireland, an English speaking country, good pharmaceutical exporting country, great knowledge based around research, door steps of Europe and America, to get a very interesting cannabis research and development company going here.” While medical cannabis remains unobtainable for patients, in November 2015, the Irish government revealed plans to move towards decriminalization of substances like cannabis. Chief of Ireland’s national Drug Strategy Aodhán

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“Not only does GreenLight Health hope to improve the lives of those affected by conditions that are seemly only treatable with cannabis, the company hopes to create 500 research and development jobs within the next five years.” Ó Ríordáin, even expressed plans to open injection rooms as a way to show empathy towards heroin addicts. If empathy can be given to addicts of a substance with no known medicinal value, patients in need of medical cannabis in Ireland should not have to suffer much longer. Hopefully, with efforts put forth by Linden and his team, patients will have access to effective and cost affordable medicine without having to pay the penalties. c Photo by Patricia Hofmeester

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UNITED WE STAND

LGBTQ and Cannabis Communities Band Together by Addison Herron-Wheeler

When it comes to shared history, the cannabis and LGBTQ communities have a great deal in common. Both those who identify as other than straight and those who use cannabis have had to face persecution simply for trying to live a normal life by expressing their sexual identities or medicating for pain. And both groups have been called deviant and demonized as evil

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without really having their causes understood. But now, in 2016, all that is changing. Gay marriage is now legal nationwide, and a great deal of states are rapidly moving towards, or have already accepted, recreational or medical cannabis as admissible under state law. So, it comes as no surprise that these two cultures are supporting each other and using their mutual

success to bring each other up. After all, it is now more socially acceptable to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;outâ&#x20AC;? as both a gay or transgender individual and as a cannabis user or medical patient. There are many people in the industry who are seeing these connections, and who are using this mutual uprising as a way to bring more light and success to both communities. >>

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“I think that the two communities have a lot of similarities in the sense that your regular cannabis user and someone of the LGBTQ community knows what it is to have to hide who they are and until recently both communities have had to kind of be under the radar and had to operate discretely.” “I think that the two communities have a lot of similarities in the sense that your regular cannabis user and someone of the LGBTQ community knows what it is to have to hide who they are and until recently both communities have had to kind of be under the radar and had to operate discretely,” Kasey Ferlic, owner of the cannabis business digital craft agency Outlaw International, and out and queer member of the LGBTQ community in Denver, told CULTURE. “I think that changed so there are a lot of LGBTQ people in the cannabis industry, even though there are no officially connected groups that I know of. Because they are so similar they have a lot of things in common and I feel there are a lot of ways we can be advocates for each other and benefit each other in getting the rights that we deserve as U.S. citizens. But in the same sense there are some differences, like in consuming cannabis you wouldn’t come across hatred or violence, but being of the LGBTQ community you wouldn’t face jail time, at least not in the U.S. Still, I think the two communities really should stay connected in order to benefit each other.” In addition to LGBTQ individuals also being a part of the cannabis community, members of the cannabis industry have

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made it a point to give back to the cities they are part of as a way to dispel negative stereotypes, and this includes working with the queer community. “Good Chemistry has sponsored the Aids Walk every year since opening, and for the past four years we have supported the One Colorado Ally Awards,” Matthew Huron, founder and CEO of Good Chemistry dispensary in Denver, told CULTURE. “Good Chemistry has also sponsored the Denver Gay Pride Parade, and for the past two years we have been the exclusive sponsor of the Pink Party at Tracks during Gay Pride Weekend.” Huron’s involvement with the LGBTQ community goes beyond a simple sense of social justice and a desire for change. His work and activism stem from a personal connection. “My involvement with the LGBTQ community and cannabis started when I saw firsthand the benefits that people can experience from cannabis, when my father and his partner— along with many of their friends— used the plant to treat severe symptoms of HIV,” he told us. “Because cannabis became an excellent alternative treatment and offered relief for HIV patients, my father

and I set up a small, nonprofit medical marijuana co-op in San Francisco that served AIDS patients and the assisted living and hospice facilities that treated them.” “When I moved the business to Colorado, I wanted to keep the spirit of my father alive, so we started the Good Chemistry Compassion Program, where we provide free and low-cost medicine to very sick and low-income patients,” he added. “It is very important to me to support the LGBTQ community and show that they have an ally in Good Chemistry. By sponsoring community events such as the AIDS Walk and the Ally Awards, we are able to engage with the community and support important initiatives.” “Because cannabis is such an open minded and accepting environment, LGBTQ people aren’t so scared to hide their identity

because of the nature of the cannabis industry,” Ferlic explained. “So the open mindedness could be the crossover, because I know in all the companies I have worked with, there have been a handful of LGBTQ people in each community and they’ve been really open about that. In the past couple of years with gay marriage and cannabis coming out I feel I can be open and honest from the get-go. I’m a cannabis user and I’m proud of it and I’m also LGBTQ and I’m proud of it, and I don’t have any problems letting people know about that. Two years ago I hid both of those things, especially in the workplace.” “I am proud to be a part of the advances that have been made to legalize marijuana and to bear witness to the progress that has been made by the LGBTQ community,” added Huron. c

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“I believe people in this country should have an option to use a substance that’s objectively less harmful than alcohol and not face the collateral consequences of using that substance.”

I ndustrynsider I Cannabis Attorney

Christian Sederberg by R. Scott Rappold

If you live in Colorado and enjoy cannabis, the next time you walk into a store and make a legal purchase, you can thank a lawyer. Specifically, you can thank Christian Sederberg and Brian Vicente. They’re the Denver attorneys who helped

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guide Colorado from the dark depths of cannabis prohibition to a system of regulation and taxation that is a model for the rest of the nation. Yes, the voters approved medical and then recreational use, but as they say, the devil is in the details, and the lawyers made sure the nascent cannabis industry had a strong voice in how legalization was rolled out. And from the Rocky Mountains to the nation’s capital to the United Nations, the work has only begun. “I believe people in this country should have an option to use a substance that’s objectively less harmful than alcohol and not face the collateral consequences of using that substance,” said Sederberg, 37, whose chrome-domed, bespectacled mug you might recognize from any number of television appearances. “It really should be an individual choice and the people who suffer most are not upper or middle class folks, its generally people of lower socio-economic status and people of color who have taken the brunt of the prohibition model.” >>

Photos by Joel Meaders

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it Began in college It could be argued that Colorado’s cannabis revolution began on the campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder. It was there in 2005 cannabis advocate Mason Tvert coordinated a successful student voter initiative to make the penalties for cannabis the same as for alcohol. That same year Denver voters approved possession of up to one ounce. Sederberg, himself wellacquainted with cannabis growing up in Denver and studying law at CU-Boulder, graduated that year. Though he was strongly procannabis, he went to work for a big law firm, handling corporate and real-estate transactions and all the regulations they entail. Not exactly Perry Mason type of lawyering. He was on a ski trip in 2009 with Vicente, his friend and fellow attorney who had founded Sensible Colorado four years earlier to advocate for legalization. Vicente suggested they start a law firm focusing on cannabis law. Colorado’s voter-approved medical cannabis system was exploding, thanks to a relaxation of regulations on the number of patients dispensaries could serve and the fact the Obama Administration had indicated the federal government wouldn’t interfere if properly regulated. Sederberg sensed the opportunity to be part of something special. “If there was going to be statewide regulatory system they were going to need business lawyers,” said Sederberg. In May of 2010, he quit his job. He hasn’t looked back.

A maze of regulations Corporate law paid pretty well. Sederberg discovered cannabis law did not. “At first there were zero dollars coming in. I had to borrow money from my parents for rent,” he recalled. That didn’t last. Dispensaries and growers were facing tight deadlines to comply with everchanging laws. The requirement

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“I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be able to work with the people I work with.” of vertical integration—meaning dispensaries had to grow most of their own—was resulting in plenty of “shotgun weddings” between the two. Local governments were enacting their own rules or banning dispensaries outright. Along with representing individual businesses, he became a “citizen lobbyist,” testifying at legislative hearings, sitting on task forces and speaking for the industry at city council meetings. “In 2010 our structure was really truly the first full, top-down, state-regulated and locallyregulated system,” said Sederberg. “And a system of collecting taxes and having an enforcement arm that can address licensing issues and putting this in the hands of responsible business owners that are regulated by the government is really the reason why we were ultimately allowed to proceed.” By 2012, Colorado cannabis advocates had decided it was time to take another stab at full legalization. Voters had rejected such a measure in 2006, but much had changed. Hundreds of medical dispensaries around the state had not caused an increase in crime or major societal problems. Attitudes towards cannabis were changing, and a Presidential election year promised a big turnout. If you’re reading this, you probably know how it turned out. Cannabis won.

Devil in the details Sederberg and Vicente were both key players in the legalization campaign and the laborious process of determining what form it would take. Yes, cannabis was legal to possess, but when it came to how >>

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“The thing we’re obviously most proud of is the fact that we were told the sky was going to fall. We were going to get marijuana legalization and it would have such a negative impact on business and the growth of the state and that simply hasn’t been the case.”

it would be grown and sold to the adult public, the devil was once again in the details. Sederberg was appointed to the governor’s Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force. Though Washington had also approved recreational cannabis, Colorado, with its existing medical cannabis infrastructure, was to be the test case, and the world was watching. Four years later, he gives Colorado a grade of A-. “The thing we’re obviously most proud of is the fact that we were told the sky was going to fall. We were going to get marijuana legalization

and it would have such a negative impact on business and the growth of the state and that simply hasn’t been the case,” said Sederberg. “If you look at the way it was rolled out in Washington and Oregon, it went nowhere as smoothly as ours did. Not that it was smooth, but I think people look at our program and say, ‘Wow. They’ve done it in a way that works. Needs work but really does work.’” Some concerns remain, including rules that prohibit former felons from being involved in the industry; a requirement that owners be longtime Colorado residents; a lack of oversight on

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pesticides in grow operations; the lack of banking options for cannabis businesses; and the ban on public use that basically gives tourists nowhere to legally consume.

Taking it global These days, the VicenteSederberg law firm has offices in Denver, Boston and Washington D.C. They travel often; Sederberg has spoken at the United Nations about cannabis and visited Uruguay. He points out that, though lawyers occasionally get a bad name, they have been involved in pretty much every

major policy change in the nation’s history. He’s proud to be part of this one, and for the record, is having much more fun than he did as a corporate lawyer. “I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be able to work with the people I work with . . . To be able to be really at the forefront of something that involves the intersection of entrepreneurship, social justice, criminal justice and really something that is fundamentally changing the way the United States operates. It’s an incredible privilege that I make sure to tell myself not to take for granted.” c

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Australia Fully Accepts Legal Medical Cannabis into Its Culture

“Our cannabis reforms started in the 1980s in South Australia. We have had two decades of creeping liberalization of our cannabis laws at the state/territory level. I think this process will accelerate now, but that it will still take a couple of decades before Australia taxes and regulates cannabis in all states and territories.”

The legalization movement is taking place all across the globe by Victoria Banegas

In 2012, The New York Times published an article stating that Australians consumed more cannabis than any other people in the world. Now in 2016, the country’s love and support of the plant seems not to have changed. A bill was presented to Australian Parliament on February 3, that would allow the cultivation of cannabis for medical and scientific reasons, according to Reuters. Weeks later, on February 24, the bill was approved. While it is a historical moment for medical cannabis in Australia, it has taken time for the country to determine exactly where it stands on the matter. Cannabis became illegal in Australia at the 1925 Geneva Convention, a meeting organized by the League of Nations to discuss the use of cocoa, opium and eventually cannabis. Australia’s Director of Alcohol and Drug Law Reform Foundation stated that the meeting was intended to make each plant illegal, except for scientific and medical purposes. Ben Mostyn, a lawyer and founding member of the Australian Drug Law Reform Initiative at the University of New South Wales told Vice this only happened because no one was

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really familiar with cannabis at the time and Australia gave in to pressure from the U.S. and the League of Nations to make the plant illegal. As years passed, cannabis use in Australia was little known until the 1960s. Substantial use of the plant during this time encouraged Australian officials to consider increasing penalties for those caught in possession of cannabis. Luckily, in 1977 an Australian Senate committee recommended to decrease penalties for those in possession, eventually leading to decriminalization of cannabis in some Australian states in the ‘90s, and the 2000 cannabis cautioning scheme, which allowed authorities to give a warning to first time offenders for possession of cannabis. Fast forward to 2015, the Andrews Government in Victoria legalized locally cultivated cannabis, with the intent to make the plant accessible to children with intractable epilepsy by 2017, according to The Premier of Victoria. Currently, over in Melbourne, The Austin Hospital is currently seeking 60 children volunteers suffering from intractable epilepsy to participate in a study that will analyze the effects of CBD on their condition. Now that medical cannabis has fully been

legalized, patients will no longer fear prosecution and scientists will be able to freely cultivate and study its medical benefits, according to International Business Times. Australia’s Health Minister Susan Ley states “. . . this is the missing piece in a patient’s treatment journey, and [we] will now see seamless access to locally produced medicinal cannabis products from farm to pharmacy.” While Australia has taken a by legalizing cannabis medically, recreational legalization like that in Colorado and Washington will take many years and much effort to achieve in the country. President of Australia’s Drug and Law Enforcement, Dr. Alex Woodak told Australian magazine The Vine, “Australia will not see ballot initiatives on taxing and regulating cannabis like Colorado and Washington states,” adding. “Our cannabis reforms started in the 1980s in South Australia. We have had two decades of creeping liberalization of our cannabis laws at the state/territory level. I think this process will accelerate now, but that it will still take a couple of decades before Australia taxes and regulates cannabis in all states and territories.” c

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Dynamic Duble

Talking street art and influence with Denver graffiti artist Duble

by Addison Herron-Wheeler

When you are a graffiti artist, you already have the perspective that the world is your canvas. For the truly dedicated, this can actually become a legal reality, as you’ll get asked to paint structures all over your city. For local Denver artist Duble, what started out as a career in graffiti has manifested itself as a thriving art career. “I have always been attracted to graffiti; it was my first love and continues to be a source of inspiration to this day,” he told Culture. “I can remember tags on the highway, visiting walls and bridge spots as a kid and wondering how people were able to do that kind of work. As I grew older I had the opportunity to travel and meet practitioners all over the states. I am honored to say that I am part of the RTD crew here

in Denver, and a part of the RAILHEADS crew, a California freight painting crew, all of whom I consider family.” Duble still works in the traditional graffiti medium of spray cans, and draws inspiration from street art into his developed style. “I use aerosol as a medium,” he stated. “In terms of themes, my work over the last five years has been a heavy concentration of cartoon/ animation inspired themes, deriving from my love for the genre I grew up on. The ‘end-to-ends’ I do with my main painting partner, Kovet, are often times pulled from our love for the old school cartoons and shows we spent hours watching. Most are drawn out custom, meaning I make the characters from my own drawings. Then the difficult task is taking that sketch into the yard in the

middle of the night, and actually pulling it off!” Cannabis serves a dual purpose in Duble’s workflow: To enhance his imagination while creating and to keep him focused on the task at hand. “I feel cannabis use tends to enhance the work in many instances; the way you might approach a letter or angle can completely change when using cannabis,” he told us. “Patterns are something that can be fun to explore as well on cannabis, diamond, dot patterns, tiger stripes, brick patterns, cloud patterns, the list goes on and on. But all are fun to explore and analyze through overlaying and underlying them into the piece or the character. Cannabis can also get one motivated and more focused, in a sense tunnel minded towards the task at hand, which for me is a good thing. I get the work done then on to the next task.” Look for Duble’s work all across the West this spring,

“I feel cannabis use tends to enhance the work in many instances; the way you might approach a letter or angle can completely change when using cannabis.” as he has many exciting plans ahead. “I have some HO scale trains in the works for a show called ‘Riding Dirty’ in Seattle this May, some new works for the Tiny Giants store and showcase in L.A. which I believe is in May as well,” he told us. “And some personal works that I have in progress.” With all of these projects in his future, the Denver graffiti and art worlds are about to see even more of Duble. c

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“If I’m writing an up-beat song or a club banger, sativa is perfect. On the other hand, if I’m doing a darker song about the ups and downs of life, then a good indica will do the trick. But cannabis definitely plays a major role in my creative process.”

Photos by Adam V

Locked and Loaded

Denver rapper Waze is coming up in the local rap scene by Addison Herron-Wheeler

It’s said that music is one-part hard work and one-part talent, and that certainly seems to be the case with local Denver rapper Waze. He has the skills to bring himself up in the rap scene, and puts in the work to make it happen. Although Waze has a lot going on in his life musically right now, he recognizes his roots when reflecting on success. “Music runs in my family,” he told CULTURE. “I am the grandson of a piano player and also my dad was a singer. I’ve always known I wanted to do music; it’s in my blood.” When it comes to his accessibility and sound, Waze considers himself an artist who could appeal to many. “I define my sound as versatile,” he told us. “I can do songs for the streets, club-bangers or even songs for the ladies, but I really

enjoy writing about my life, displaying the struggle and reflecting back on my past; that’s where I feel I’m most comfortable.” Waze is currently working on music and trying to play as many shows as possible. “[When it comes to] shows, right now I’m taking them as they come,” he explained. “I know for sure I’ll be doing Denver’s Got Next, which is a showcase that DJ Ktone does every year about this time. I actually just released a single called “Locked and Loaded” which features southern rap legend Project Pat, and I’m currently working on my album, entitled Dante’s Inferno 2.” In addition to being a successful musician with a promising career, Waze is also an avid cannabis enthusiast. “I have worked cannabis into my songs before, and I think it’s about time to do another new cannabis song especially with the culture that we have created

here in Colorado surrounding cannabis,” he told CULTURE. “So fans can definitely expect a good weed song to sit back and smoke, dab or have your favorite edible and vibe to.” “Cannabis has been in my family for years,” he added. “My mom, dad, uncles and aunts all use cannabis so there again, like music, cannabis runs in my blood. (Laughs) They go hand-and-hand in my everyday life. As far as my creative process, I like to have a good sativa. If I’m writing an up-beat song or a club banger, sativa is perfect. On the other hand, if I’m doing a darker song about the ups and downs of life, then a good indica will do the trick. But cannabis definitely plays a major role in my creative process.” Look out for Waze’s new album, Dante’s Inferno 2, dropping in the next few months, and keep an eye out for his name on show fliers in the Denver area. c twitter.com/wazedenver

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“Cannabis

has been a part of my life for a while now, and ever since my first sesh, I have had some of the most creative moments.” Photos by Shelby Jean

Denver’s Singing Sensation Tronczarmee by Addison Herron-Wheeler

There’s a reason that in The Sound of Music, Maria just can’t keep from singing, despite her solemn swear to the nunnery. The beautiful Swiss mountains and sunny skies all around her inspire her to constantly break into song. The same can be said for Tron, the up-and-coming Denver singing sensation with a stellar voice and a ton of drive. “Getting started in any kind of music in any way all started when I was about seven years old,” she told CULTURE, reflecting on her earliest days as a singer. “I remember just listening to ABBA’s ‘I Will Survive’ and ‘Dancing Queen’

on my mom’s karaoke machine, and one night my uncle forced me to start singing. From there on out, it’s just been a movement. I was so nervous but it felt so right.” “When I sing, I get emotional and just down right raw,” she said. “So to categorize what my style is I would have to go with soulful R&B. You can always catch me singing some Lauryn [Hill] on any day. Some of my biggest music influences are Tina Turner, Jhene Aiko, Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse. They always sang with such soul and raw tones that it seemed more inspiring to me as opposed to some auto-tuned, 15 minutes of fame one hit wonder. I love

that you can see the real side of them through their music; they actually want you to be on the journey with them. If that doesn’t say inspiration then I don’t know what does.” When she isn’t belting out passionate tunes or listening to her favorite singers, Tron is always down to advocate for legal cannabis. “For instance, one of my songs is about my first time smoking, and I’m not gonna spill the beans in detail just yet, but I find it easier to write about things you know and love,” she told us. “And one of my loves is cannabis! Who doesn’t love it . . . other than the feds (laughs).” “I became an advocate after a really bad relationship

and had some anxiety about it,” she admitted. “So I found smoking to be more therapeutic than wallowing in my sorrows about a boy. Then the saga began and shortly after that I didn’t reference myself as Desiree, I just started going by Tron. Cannabis has been a part of my life for a while now, and ever since my first smoke sesh I have had some of the most creative moments. So when I’m recording, I’m smoking; when I’m writing I’m smoking; when I’m living I’m smoking!” Look out for Tron’s newest EP, due out in early March, and keep your ears open for her beautiful voice coming from a venue near you. c

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SHOOTING GALLERY

Women Grow Summit

photos provided by Women Grow 90

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SHOOTING GALLERY

CannaCon

photos by Duncan Rolfson 92

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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN

by Ed Rosenthal

Last month, I planted 35 different varieties in six-inch round containers. They include 3/8-inch braided nylon wicks that hang down into a reservoir of water/nutrient solution. This provides passive irrigation, keeping the soil moist by replacing it, as needed using capillary action. I carried out my plan to have the plants grow vegatatively for 10 days, and then force the plants to flower by changing the lighting regimen from continuous light to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness. I kept to the schedule, despite some unanticipated problems. I had prepared the soil using fibrous and chunky coir, previously used planting mix and homemade compost. As soon as the plants came in contact with the mix they began showing symptoms of various nutrient problems including Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Iron (Fe) deficiencies as well as unidentified fertilizer burn. At first I thought it was only a Ca/Mg deficiency, which sometimes occurs even in fertilized water here in the Bay Area, because of the low natural mineral content. This is common in water derived from snow run-off, the San Francisco East Bay’s water source. I decided to add extra Ca and Mg to the water using a fertilizer composed of the two minerals. This solved some of the problems but there were still signs of overfertilization as well as Fe deficiency. Analyzing the symptoms further, I realized that the planting mix was the cause of the problems. The coir had been washed before it was used so I didn’t

Nutrient Problem Symptom Ca-Necrosis of edges and then interior of new as well as older leaves. It appears as brown dried spots. Mg-Leaves in the middle first and then in upper leaves as well, the veins remain green while the tissue between turns yellow. Fe-Upper leaves grow bright pale yellow. Fertilizer burn-Leaves curl downward or upward, sometimes look ultra-dark green.

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Testing The Varieties: Part 2

think that it was excess salts left from the manufacturing process. Other plants were growing in combinations of my aged used planting mix so I didn’t think that was a problem. That left the homemade compost. It had been slow aged for over a year and was crumbly with a healthy earthy odor. However, it was probably absorbing the nutrients from the fertilizer and preventing the plants from getting proper nutrition. The solution: run nutrient water solution through the containers three times over the next few days. This provided extra nutrients to the planting mix so that it would absorb as much as it could use. At the same time, the roots were able to absorb nutrients directly from the water. Within days the new growth showed signs of total recovery. I decided to move the plants to a larger space because they were growing more vigorously than I anticipated, even though they were flowering. I removed them from the grow tent and the 35 plants were placed in a four-foot by eight-foot tray in a greenhouse giving them just a little less than a square foot per plant to finish flowering. Right now they are getting natural light enhanced with eight hours of a 1000W HPS lamp on a track. Another lamp will be added shortly. c

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM ASK ED® Use spring light to enhance your garden. During the spring, south facing windows, sun patios and greenhouses receive light at an oblique angle, so the light penetrates into the space from the side. In the southern tier of the country they can be placed directly outdoors when the temperature rises into the high 60s. If you are just starting plants or are growing just a few plants you can save electricity by moving the plants from the electrically lit grow area and placing them in the sunlit space. The plants are returned to the electrically lit area when they become shaded.

Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/ copyright holder.

PROFILE

Next month: Flowering in full bloom!

The garden, one week the light period was reduced to 12 hours to force flowering.

THC Bomb one week after the light period was reduced. Notice that the plant was suffering from nutrient deficiencies.

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The garden two weeks later.

THC Bomb beginning to flower, and in recovery.

The garden a month from beginning flowering.

THC Bomb in full flowering and recovered.

THC Bomb close-up showing somewhat arrested flower development.

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culture

iReadCulture.com

HERE

RECIPES

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Time to Go: Spring Weather: Mild, cardigan weather $$$$$

if you go:

Illinois Lights Up for Spring Illinois is known for baseball, farm fresh produce and road trips in spring, but this year, the “Land of Lincoln” has one more reason to visit: 25 newly-opened cannabis collectives. Although Illinois’ medical cannabis law went into effect in 2013, it took until late Fall 2015 for about nine collectives to go online in Evanston, Schaumburg, North Aurora, Addison and Ottawa while another dozen have opened in the greater Chicagoland area this winter. In Spring, Illinois comes alive again with loads of outdoor adventures. Baseball used to be the state’s most popular pastime, but new trends are emerging including farm-to-table experiences at top notch eateries such as Elburn’s Heritage Prairie Farm, Fairbury’s Slagel Family Farm,

Caledonia’s Kinnikinnick Farm and Effingham’s Epiphany Farms. Illinois is also a place to explore some of the nation’s best craft breweries and distilleries. In Chicago, check out Revolution Brewing or tour J.K. Williams Distilling in East Peoria. While there’s no mountains to climb in this plains state, Illinois is the perfect place for cyclists, rock climbers and even aquatic escapes and underground cave networks. Don’t miss Savanna’s Mississippi Palisades State Park, Harrisburg’s Garden of the Gods and Madison’s Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Ready to head to Illinois farm land or the urban sprawl of Chicagoland this spring? Illinois has finally weathered its cannabis storm and is heading hopefully into the smooth waters of being a cannabis-friendly state. c

Actual medical cannabis dispensaries are so new to Illinois that it’s hard to gauge how a visitor should react. To get “licensed,” MMJ patients meet with a certified physician, fill out an application, pay $100 (fee is reduced to $50 for veterans) and provide an inordinate amount of documentation including an annoying fingerprint check and passport-sized self portrait. And even though Illinois’ has finally opened its dispensary doors, a historic anti-prohibition law was recently filed in the Illinois General Assembly. State Rep. Ken Dunkin filed House Bill 4276, which would allow adults 21+ to legally grow and consume cannabis. Illinois NORML says the bill also allows for “licensed retailers, commercial growers as well as private non-commercial production of cannabis.” The bill has some political backing as while lawmakers in Illinois are looking to add revenue to their state budgets and finding ways to create jobs, a recent study shows legalization in Illinois could add up to the beleaguered state’s $90 million in annual tax revenues.

Fun-Filled Facts Celebrate Spring’s colorful beauty by attending the annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show. This year, the show heads to Chicago’s renovated Navy Pier from March 12-20. The show features 20 lush and fragrant gardens created by top landscape architects. There’s also art, free activities for kids, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and loads of shopping for garden gadgetry. 1

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by Sheryll Alexander

GET YOUR CLICKS

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Illinois surprisingly has more than 100 wineries and vineyards located all over the state and even in Chicago itself. Just find the official Illinois Wine Country map to road trip through the state’s many vineyards or plan a wine-themed romantic escape to one of the state’s charming winery-based B&Bs. 2

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Carlos Castro

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Age: 27 Condition/ Illness: Lower spine nerve damage, fractured L1-L5 and S1 Using medical cannabis since: 2010

Why did you start using cannabis? I was at home still bedridden from my fractures and injuries and I was on pain medication— vicodin and morphine— and it always left me in depression, always feeling bad and with intense headaches. One day, my brother said “Why don’t you try marijuana? Maybe it will help with your pain.” When I did, not even five minutes later, my pain was subsiding and I wasn’t feeling depressed, and I was able to eat fine. Then, after a while, I let go of my pills and just stayed with the medical cannabis. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. I started seeing significant changes in my mood, I wasn’t

depressed as much and now, I’m able to sleep at night without any pain. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes I was on vicodin and morphine for awhile. I hated the feeling of it. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? The closed-minded people that don’t see past the “stoner” stereotypes. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I would say it works and I’m proof that it can really make a difference for people. Don’t judge so quickly and pick up a magazine, read an article about it, look online for more answers. You will be surprised by the great benefits of medical cannabis. c

Are you an MMJ patient with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.

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culture growing

Canna-Dijon Mustard

Canna-Pickled Vegetable

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Infused Berry Perserves

For more of these recipes go to ireadculture.com

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Infused Roasted Fingerling Potato Salad

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Roasted Red Pepper Canna-Hummus

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Infused Kumquat Marmalade

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Sweet & Spicy Infused Nuts

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101

Menu:

Sweet and Spicy Infused Nuts Infused Kumquat Marmalade All About the Olive Tapenade

2 lemons, juiced 8 cups water, or as needed Directions

Payton Curry has a thriving non-cannabis restaurant called Brat Haus in Arizona, and works with dispensaries coast to coast developing local sourced, organically driven edible kitchens. He is hoping to broaden awareness of what he calls a “nutrient-rich vegetable” by writing the upcoming Nutritional Cannabis Cookbook. He teaches medical cannabis patients how to cook with cannabis and has partnered with the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona to provide free cannabis and cannabis cuisine classes to parents of sick children and the sons and daughters of aging parents. Payton has also just launched a raw cannabis juicing platform, which Payton says “showcases the abilities of marijuana to oxygenate aging blood cells and improve motor function all without being psychoactive.”

Finely chop the kumquats and oranges, combine them into a large pot. Add 3 cups of water per each cup of fruit. Let soak in a cool place for 12 hours, or overnight. Bring the fruit mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the rind is very tender. Remove from heat, and measure cooked fruit. Add one cup of sugar to the pot for every cup of the fruit mixture. Mix in the lemon juice, about 1/4 cup. Return the fruit to the pan, add in infused honey, and bring to a boil once again. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the gel stage is reached (the temperature of the marmalade should be between 220 to 222° when checked with a kitchen thermometer). Remove from heat, and skim foam from the surface. Transfer the mixture to sterile jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace, and seal immediately. Process any unsealed jars in a water bath for 10 minutes. Refrigerate until needed, or after seal has been broken.

All About the Olive Tapenade Ingredients 1 cup mixed olives, pits removed

culture

4 tablespoons cannabis-infused honey

2 oranges, rinsed, sliced and seeded

growing

6 cups sugar, or as needed

Charcuterie boards are classic artisanal creations, with house-made pickles, roasted nuts, pâtés, cheeses and meats. You can usually find them at your local craft cocktail lounge or new hip neighborhood restaurant. Well, these boards are also some of the most fun ways to cater your own party with sophistication and ease. Cannabis Chef Payton Curry created the perfect cannasseur’s charcuterie and cheese board exclusively for CULTURE. Good for both canna-friendly guests and non-cannabis using guests alike, we’ve got the perfect charcuterie and cheese board with a few classic and easy cannabis-infused details like roasted nuts, fruit preserves, artisanal potato salad, pickled vegetables and tapenade. With a little help from your friendly grocer, you can find no-stress, high end breads, meats and cheeses to finish off this versatile platter.

24 kumquats, rinsed and thinly sliced

RECIPES

Recipes by Payton Curry

Ingredients

UNKNOWN

Infused Kumquat Marmalade

DESTINATION

The Cannasseur’s Charcuterie and Cheese Board

Osteria Marco 1453 Larimer St., Denver (303) 534-5855 www.osteriamarco.com Cured 1825 Pearl St., Boulder (720) 389-8096 www.curedboulder.com Catriona Cellar 243 Washington St., Monument (719) 481-3477 www.catrionacellars.com

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes 1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Sweet and Spicy Infused Nuts Ingredients

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 cup raw nuts (your choice of nuts)

Directions

1 tablespoon cannabis-infused olive oil t

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until chunky. Allow to rest overnight before serving.

1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions Preheat oven to 325°. Toast nuts on a sheet pan in your preheated oven for about 7-10 minutes. Once the natural oils have come out, pull nuts out of the oven and drop temp to 225°. Toss nuts in medicated oil, and then the sugar/spice mixture while they are hot. Return nuts to the oven on a parchment-lined sheet pan for 10-15 minutes.

Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.

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t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com

Local eateries with similar dishes

3 tablespoons cannabis-infused olive oil t

PROFILE

2 garlic cloves

COURAGE

2 tablespoons white onion, chopped

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colorado NOW! event listings

Free Game Mondays, Every Monday

Make Monday your new favorite day of the week and enjoy some old school pinball games for free! Not really, there is a $10 cover charge, but you get UNLIMITED game play and Pinball Jones offers up some pretty cheap beer. Pinball Jones, Golden pinballjones.com

Geeks Who Drink, Every Tuesday

Channel your inner geek in this two-round trivia game. Contestants will be asked a number of questions concerning celebrities, wordplay and soundbites from movies and T.V. An added bonus to this event is that Buffalo Rose offers $10 all you can eat tacos! Buffalo Rose, Golden geekswhodrink.com

Third Annual Telluride Tribute Band Fest, March 11

Are you a fan of U2 or The Eagles? Enjoy some of their greatest songs as they are performed by tribute bands, Under a Blood Red Sky and The Long Run. Don’t worry, both of these bands do a wonderful job of recreating an authentic experience, so come out and enjoy the show! Sheridan Opera House, Telluride sheridanoperahouse.com

Self-defined as “dream pop” Candy Claws is a Fort Collins music project with Ryan Hover as the music producer and Kay Bertholf and Karen McCormick on vocals. If you enjoy Melodies Echo Chamber or Mazzy Star, you’ll love Candy Claws Hi-Dive, Denver www.hi-dive.com

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Turner Jackson, March 17

Colorado born Turner Jackson, started out as a hip-hop artist and recently evolved into a more refined musician when he decided to create music that resonated more with his individuality. Now his tunes are funky and somewhat experimental, visit his website to checkout out his latest song “Red Plastic Cup.” Bluebird Theater, Denver www.jacksonturner.com

Lucky Joe’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 12

Candy Claws Album Release Show, March 10

featured event

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Lucky Joe’s Sidewalk Saloon and the rest of Fort Collins. This year’s event will feature over 80 floats and a variety of Irish themed activities and performances. Old Town Square, Fort Collins downtownfortcollins.com

Rogue Co. Presents: PHASE, March 25-26

Colorado native dance company, Rogue, presents PHASE a beautiful observation of how intense emotions are handled differently amongst individuals. Not only does this production inspire through

March 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

movement, it encourages its audience to ask themselves, how they handle catastrophic life events. The Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder thedairy.org

Drag Decades with Shirley Delta Blow, March 30

Shirley Delta Blow is a Denver favorite, with a showbiz background like no other. Enjoy the talents of Miss Blow as she takes you on a journey through the art of drag and its different phases throughout the years. Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, Denver lannies.com

“Rabbit Hole,” March 30-April 3

As part of Boulder’s third annual Art Week, the University

of Colorado puts on a production of David Lindsay Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Rabbit Hole. This play tells the story of a couple looking for a light at the end of the tunnel following a life-altering tragedy. University of Colorado Loft Theater, Boulder bouldercountyarts.org

“Martha Russo: Coalescere,” Opens March 31

University of Colorado alumni, Martha Russo exhibits 25 years worth of work in her first solo exhibit. “Colescere” is the Latin word for “come together,” which Russo felt signified the coming together of her diverse body of work. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder bmoca.org

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Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird LEAD STORY—STREAMING NEWS u (1) The “public art” statues unveiled in January by Fort Myers, Florida, Mayor Randy Henderson included a metal structure by sculptor Edugardo Carmona of a man walking a dog, with the dog “lifting his leg” beside a pole. Only after inspecting the piece more closely did many observers realize that the man, too, was relieving himself against the pole. Carmona described the work as commentary on man and dog “marking their territory.” (2) A recent anonymously authored “confidential” book by a National Football League player reported that “linemen, especially,” have taken to relieving themselves inside their uniforms during games, “a sign that you’re so into the game” that you “won’t pause (even) to use the toilet.” CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE u The popular Nell’s Country Kitchen in Winter Haven, Florida, was shut down again (for “remodeling,” the owner said) in December after a health inspector found that it had been operating for two weeks without its own running water—with only a garden hose connection, across its parking lot, to a neighbor’s spigot. It had also closed for a day earlier in 2015 because of mold, roach activity and rodent droppings (although management insisted that business had immediately picked up the day they reopened). u Oklahoma Justice: In 2004, abusive boyfriend Robert Braxton Jr. was charged

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with badly beating up the three children of girlfriend Tondalo Hall, 20, with injuries ranging from bruises to fractured legs, ribs and a toe. Braxton got a deal from Oklahoma City prosecutors, pleaded guilty, served two years in prison, and was released in 2006. Hall’s plea “bargain” resulted in a 30-year sentence for having failed to protect her kids from Braxton, and she’s still in prison—and in September 2015 (following a rejected appeal and a rejected sentence modification), the Pardon and Parole Board refused, 5-0, even to commute her sentence to a time-served 10 years. GREAT ART! u Mike Wolfe, 35, of Nampa, Idaho, finally brought his dream to life for 2016—a calendar of photographs of “artistic” designs made by shaving images into his back hair. He said it took him about four months each for enough hair to grow back to give his designer-friend Tyler Harding enough to work with. (January, for instance, features “New Year” in lettering, with two champagne glasses; July’s is a flag-like waving stripes with a single star in the upper left). “Calendhairs” cost $20 each (with proceeds, Wolfe said, going to an orphanage connected to his church). UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT u Jamie, 29, and Abbie Hort, 21, an unemployed couple drawing housing and other government benefits, won a United Kingdom lottery prize in December 2014 worth about $72,000, promptly spent it all (including “some” on “silly” stuff, Abbie admitted), and according to a January press report, are angry now that the government will not immediately re-institute their benefits. Abbie said, as lottery winners, she and Jamie “deserved to buy some

nice stuff” and go on holiday, but that now, except for the large-screen TV and Jamie’s Ralph Lauren clothes, the winnings are gone. Said Jamie, this past Christmas was just “the worst ever.” u Public relations spokesman Phil Frame, 61, was arrested in Shelby Township, Michigan, after a Jan. 1 Sheriff’s Office search of his computer and paper files turned up child pornography. The Detroit News reported that Frame had already been questioned about child pornography, in September, by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and for some reason apparently was not intimidated enough (or was too lazy) to clear out his files. (The Homeland Security investigation is still ongoing). WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME (1) Neighbors in Inola, Oklahoma, complained in December and January about a Union Pacific train that had been parked “for weeks” while tracks up ahead were under repair. Not only does the train block a traffic intersection, it triggers the ringing of the crossing signal. “It’s annoying, yeah,” said one resident, apparently a master of understatement. (2) At a ski resort in western Vorarlberg, Austria, recently, as the ski lift was temporarily stopped (to address a problem elsewhere on the lift), one occupied lift basket came to rest directly in front of the industrial-strength artificial-snowmaking machine, drenching the two passengers in a severalminutes-long blizzard (of which, yes, Internet video exists). WAIT, WHAT? u Fort Worth, Texas, firefighters, responding to a suspected blaze in January at a grain elevator, encountered smoke on the structure’s eighth floor—along with a man

“juggling flaming batons.” No explanation was reported (except that the man “did not belong there”). A department spokesman said his firefighters “put (the man’s) torches out.” u In December, animal protection officers in Halland County, Sweden, confiscated two cats that the officers found being “mistreated” in a home—coddled (by two women) as babies in “pushchairs” and spoonfed while strapped in high chairs. Both cats had been encouraged to suck on pacifiers, and one woman reportedly allowed the cats to suckle her breast. The public broadcaster SVT reported that the cats were removed from the home because they were not being allowed to develop “natural animal behavior.” UNDIGNIFIED DEATHS u (1) A 40-year-old man driving a stolen truck was killed after a brief highspeed police chase on Jan. 14 in Alameda County, California. Police noted that the man had pulled to the side of Highway 238 to flee on foot, but fell to his death off a cliff—landing on the grounds of the San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery. (2) A coroner’s hearing in Folkestone, England, in January determined that a 16-year-old boy had died of accidental asphyxiation from spray deodorant. According to the boy’s mother, he preferred massive application of the spray instead of bathing, and police recovered several dozen empty spray cans in his room. UPDATE u Marie Holmes, that 2014 Powerball winner in North Carolina whom News of the Weird had reported in September rapidly running through her winnings by bailing her boyfriend out of jail (alleged drug dealer iReadCULTURE.com march 2016

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Lamarr “Hot Sauce” McDow), had already tied up $9 million on two arrests. In January, Hot Sauce was arrested again (only for “street racing,” but that violated his bail conditions), and Holmes was forced to fork over another $12 million (as bond basically doubles with each violation, but Holmes would get about 90 percent back—if Hot Sauce shows up for court). (Holmes earlier addressed her critics on Facebook: “What y’all need to be worried about is y’all money ....”) A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (OCTOBER 2011) u Refreshing the Witness: A convenience store clerk, Ms. Falguni Patel, was giving testimony in the witness box in the September (2011) trial of a man charged with robbing her in Hudson, Florida, two years earlier when she began shaking and then passed out. A relative of Patel’s approached, removed

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her sneaker and held it to Patel’s face, without success. The relative explained that Patel was subject to such blackouts and that sniffing the sneaker often revived her. (After paramedics attended to her, Patel took the rest of the day off and went back to court the next morning). NEWEST FASHIONISTAS u In January, the upscale Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana introduced stylish hijabs and abayas aimed at Muslim women unafraid to call attention to themselves as they exercise their obliged modesty. D&G’s marketing effort even accessorized models’ headscarves and cloaks with stilettos and oversized, gaudily framed sunglasses. It was clear from the suggested retail prices that D&G would be pitching the line mainly in the wealthy Persian Gulf countries like United Arab Emirates.

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