Culture Magazine Colorado November 2015 by Culture Magazine

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

NOVEMBER 2015

Contents 70

108

112

AND FREE 56 FEARLESS A MAN OF MANY TALENTS

Features 66 . Dispensary Fined $160,000 for Selling Synthetic Cannabis

Jesse Ventura spills about his fruitful career as an actor, wrestler, governor and his strong passion for cannabis legalization.

70 . Colorado Springs Approves Cannabis

ON THE COVER: Photo by Lauren B. Falk

Moratorium

72 . CO’s MMJ rules are getting a few new changes

8 . Letter from the Editor

NEWS

Departments

106 . Growing Culture 108 . Destination Unknown 10 . News Nuggets 110 . Profiles in Courage 12 . By the Numbers 112 . Recipes 18 . New cannabis 116 . let’s do this regulations are coming 118 . News of the Weird to Boulder this month 22 . legal corner 26 . HEALTHY LIVING

76 . INDUSTRY INSIDER: Master Bong 80 . the harvest how-to guide 82 . Cannabis use in Pagan rituals has

a fascinating history that goes back centuries

86 . The next step for cannabis is establishing a base for “organic” herb 90 . Illinois celebrates its first legal medical cannabis harvest

reviews

94 . North Carolina passes new bill to legalize the growth of industrial hemp

38 . STRAIN, edible &

30 . ADVOCATE HIGHLIGHT 34 . dispensary HIGHLIGHT

100 . Loudpvck has brought electronic music to new heights 104 . holiday gift guide for your favorite cannasseur!

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CULTURE // November 2015

Portland Wants to Establish a 'Green Light District' for Cannabis Canada's Newly Elected Prime Minister is ProRecreational Cannabis

concentrate ReviewS 46 . Cool Stuff 50 . Entertainment Reviews 52 . liner notes

96 . outstanding artistry: erica day

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Vol 7 IssUE 5

/freeculturemag

/ireadculture

letter from the editor

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, Scott Rappold, Randy Robinson, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi

Give Thanks “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”

-John F. Kennedy

ovember is a tumultuous month for nature, for politics, for your emotions, your busy schedule, and even your finances. The weather is changing, throwing your health and body clock into upheaval; you’re preparing for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, juggling family members, cooking, party planning and trying to save some money, all while trying to remain humble and gracious. With Veteran’s Day and Election Day this month, you’re worried about your future, your past and what’s best for your family, your community and the country. In this season of change, we watch the leaves change color, and we watch the politicians fight for our votes as we start to envision hope in our national future. We can see glimmering hints shining through the issues, arguments and strides toward a better tomorrow, taken one step at a time. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both spoke up in favor of medical cannabis access at the Democratic Debate, and Sanders even came out in support for further cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform. Furthermore, many states are revisiting their older medical cannabis regulations, and some states—like Ohio and Maine—may be the next on the legal recreational cannabis train.

CULTURE // November 2015

Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson, Rick Thompson

Hemp and CBD are becoming legal and more accessible in the South, and many different states are enjoying the fruits of their very first legal hemp harvest. Even in the chaos of all the events taking place this month, we are given opportunities to be thankful in these busy events and bask in our freedoms, our ever-evolving community and the hope of nationwide legal access to cannabis in the near future. Election Day is a reminder of how hard we all fought for equal rights and the democracy of this great nation, and the inevitability of cannabis legalization; Veteran’s Day is a reminder of our rights in this country, and all our loved ones who sacrificed their lives so that we may continue to have those freedoms; Thanksgiving Day, of course, is a reminder to celebrate community, and give your time, energy and love to people without expecting anything in return, and to be thankful for the lives we lead. Even Black Friday can serve as a reminder to be thankful for the invention of capitalism and competition in this country (and amazing sales). As surprising as it may seem sometimes, November is all about giving thanks, observing the change all around us, and looking ahead into the future. Try to remember to stop every once in a while during your hectic schedule and be thankful. c Sincerely,

Evan A. Senn

Editor-In-Chief

Art Director Steven Myrdahl Graphic Designers Tanya Delgadillo, Tommy LaFleur Regional Sales Manager Kim Cook Account Executives Greg Andes,Callie Belo, Jon Bookatz, Eric Bulls, Ryan Dunn, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Yolanda Imoberstag, Emily Musser, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Jim Saunders, Chris Thatcher, Paulina Porter-Tapia, April Tygart general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital media Editor Kimberly Johnson Ctv Video Editor Deonica Panlilio Ctv Contributors Anna Logan,Chris Salazar Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla Culture® 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® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 8156 Wadsworth Blvd | #E239 Littleton | Colorado | 80128 Phone 888.694.2046 Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com

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C STATE _______________________

NEWS NUGGETS

Pueblo Board of Water Works Working on New Rules for Cannabis Cultivators

Pueblo County is experiencing an influx of cannabis cultivators settling down in the area; with them comes the need for an abundance of water. One water dispensing station, the Pueblo Board Water Works, is feeling the strain of such demand and has decided to make a few slight changes to accommodate for the large trucks cannabis cultivators bring to fill at the station. Currently, the trucks fill up their tanks during the same time of day when most residential customers visit, resulting in unnecessary wait times. Although seven cannabis growers are leasing water from Pueblo Board Water Works, its Director of Operations, Matt Trujillo, says his main priority are residential customers, stating, “If we see one person, I’ll say, monopolizing the water station, we have the ability to try to move them to off-peak hours where nobody is filling, so it’s not a strain on our system at that time.” Trujillo also stated that the Board is working on managing the use of the facility, with interest in not overtaxing water and supporting their existing customers.

Coloradans to Decide if State Gets to Keep $66 Million in Cannabis Taxes

Colorado citizens get to vote this month on Proposition BB which will decide whether or not the state will get to keep $66 million in excess tax money generated from the sale of cannabis, or give it back to taxpayers. The proposition has already received support from Governor John Hickenlooper, who believes that the excess revenue will help fund education and regulation efforts, according to 9 News. If the proposition is approved by voters, $40 million will go towards school construction and $12 million will go towards cannabis education. While Hickenlooper believes that the money going into cannabis education will help prevent use by minors, those who oppose the proposition believe that Coloradans will take home less money due to the tax hike. If Proposition BB does not pass, $25 million would be refunded to tax payers,

CULTURE // November 2015

amounting to a whopping $6-$8 refund each. The rest of the money would go to cannabis cultivators ($24 million) and those who purchased cannabis ($17 million), through a temporary sales tax reduction.

__________________________

NATION South Dakota Tribe to Open World’s First Cannabis Resort A small Native American tribe in Flandreau, South Dakota, known as the Santee Sioux, has already begun making plans to open the world’s first cannabis resort on its land. Due to high competition and the residual effects of the recession affecting the Santee Sioux’s casino business, the tribe was searching for new ways to increase customer traffic, according to the New York Post. As a result, the leaders of the tribe have decided to grow their own cannabis and sell it in a smoking lounge that will feature bar and food service, arcade games and eventually expand to offering slot machines and an outside music venue. The tribe estimates that this venture will bring in $2 million a month, which will add to income generated from casino revenue. The resort is expected to begin business in January of 2016, with the first sale expected to take place on New Year’s Eve.

__________________________

World Cannabis Cultivation Legalized in Victoria, Australia

Victoria has become the first Australian state to legalize the cultivation of medical cannabis for patients suffering from conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy and chronic pain. This came after the Victoria Law Commission’s Report on Medicinal Cannabis was approved by Parliament. The report includes 42 recommendations on how to safely cultivate, manufacture and transport cannabis within Victoria, as well as patient eligibility and the need for ongoing research, according to Premier of Victoria. While the government only fully accepted 40 of the recommendations, the other two were accepted in principal, which will allow medical cannabis to be conveniently accessible for patients in need. Eligible patients will be granted access to cannabis products such as oils, tinctures and vaporizable liquids but will not be able to legally ingest cannabis in smokable form. Medical cannabis is expected to be fully legal in Victoria by 2017 with children suffering from severe epilepsy given priority access. c VISIT US AT

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by the numb3rs

100

The estimated number of people who attended a Colorado Springs City Hall meeting to discuss their opposition to a six-month cannabis dispensary moratorium: 100 (Source: Colorado Springs Gazette)

5.4

The amount of revenue, in millions of dollars, that Aurora estimates it will make in recreational cannabis sales for 2016: 5.4 (Source: Aurora Sentinel)

The number of cannabis grows that the county of Pueblo leases its water reserves to: 7 (Source: KOAA 5)

The amount of cannabis sales revenue, in millions of dollars, made in August, in Colorado: 59.2 (Source: Yahoo! News)

The number of people, in millions, who use cannabis around the world, according to the United Nations: 158.8 (Source: The Telegraph)

60 12

The number of licensed medical cannabis dispensaries operating in Colorado as of September: 515 (Source: Watchdog Arena)

515

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that is being used to help the cannabis legalization campaign in Ohio: 20 (Source: Tribune-Review)

158.8

The estimated amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Arizona would make annually through taxes if recreational cannabis was legalized: 60 (Source: The Huffington Post)

CULTURE // November 2015

Denver Marijuana Management Symposium A lot has changed since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Colorado, but the state of law is always in flux. The Denver Marijuana Management Symposium brings insight and news regarding the growth of cannabis in the state, offering a single place to share its progress with industry professionals and other state governments. Two days of non-stop speakers, panels and breakout sessions give attendees everything they need to know in order to both understand how Colorado succeeded without any example to fall back on, and how to succeed themselves. Topics range widely from production and manufacturing to public health and safety. There is even a separate tour related to the symposium that takes attendees outside of the convention center to explore some of Denverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prominent cannabis businesses (the tour takes place on Wed, November 4).

IF YOU GO

What: Denver Marijuana Management Symposium. When/Where: Thurs, Nov. 5-Fri, Nov. 6. Denver Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver. Info: Visit www. denverconvention.com for details.

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Boulder Keeps Moving

Updated regulations on cannabis in Boulder

by Addison Herron-Wheeler

Boulder has always faced struggles when it comes to how to regulate their cannabis industry and what is and isn’t allowed, and now a new set of regulations are being put into place to control how local business is conducted. While regulations are key to keeping any successful cannabis trade far above the black market, and some of the new rules will be beneficial, these arbitrary changes could also hurt existing businesses. As such, local businesses are demanding the right to be able to appeal their cases in hearings if their licenses are suspended or revoked under these new rules. According to The Denver Post, Boulder City Council voted 6 to 3 to add this provision to the new ordinance about cannabis. The final decision for the ordinance will be made at the next City Council meeting, to be held November 10. “Right now these businesses have no recourse for a neutral hearing, and I think that’s really important,” Councilwoman Lisa Morzel said. The final decision regarding another amendment, which would allow advertising and sponsoring community events, will be decided on November 10. This would allow for dispensaries to give back to their community by providing sponsorship, but many city council members voted “no” because they didn’t like the idea of imposing new rules at the last minute, and wanted more time to decide about this issue. The full ordinance to impose these new rules, however, passed unanimously, meaning that these changes to the local cannabis industry will definitely take place. Some of these new changes will actually bode positively for local businesses. The ordinance changes the language

CULTURE // November 2015

Photo by Tang Yan Song

that any dispensary found in violation of local rules will be given “zero tolerance.” Now, dispensaries that break rules will be subject to a judicial trial and fair assessment of the situation, just like all other businesses. Additionally, the ordinance will get rid of the deadline of December 31 of this year for medical dispensaries to become recreational. Now, if a medical dispensary decides they want to become recreational further down the line they can do so without worrying about an arbitrary deadline that could potentially ruin their future sales.

The ordinance will also allow for facilities that make infused products to get their supplies outside the city. It also frees up stores to sell cannabis seeds, and allows cannabis to be transported between cultivation facilities. While new regulations always bring hurdles that businesses must overcome, they can also bring positive change and represent a growing and advancing industry. If the council decides on November 10 to allow businesses to appeal any charges brought against them by these new regulations, then this will truly be a victory for this budding industry. c VISIT US AT

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C r e n r co l a g le by Ann Toney

PROGRESS OF THE REGISTERED TRADEMARK

am reminded of how far Colorado has come in incorporating cannabis into our society. Take a minute and go to the Colorado Department of Revenue website: www.colorado.gov/revenue. Click on “Marijuana” and it opens up a whole world of comprehensive information for consumers, business people and citizens to look at how we have adapted cannabis to be a legal part of our culture. Who would have dreamed 10 years ago that the government would have such a comprehensive website. It even tells us which counties and cities allow cannabis and how much money the government is making off of taxing cannabis. When I first opened my law practice to include medical cannabis in 2009, there were just a few attorneys working in that area. Nowadays, with medical cannabis and retail cannabis in Colorado and other states, it is big business among many large and small law firms. With the multi-faceted world of legal cannabis now in business, real estate, regulatory law, patents and trademarks,

CULTURE // November 2015

international law, accounting, tax issues, licensing, employment and other areas of the law there are myriad of legal issues to address. You can see trade shows and conferences springing up in multiple states throughout any year. Cannabis is arriving and the genie will not be put back in the bottle. Even with the flood of cannabis businesses throughout the country, it remains difficult to get trademark protection for the many cannabis products sold in the many states. One entrepreneur recently announced that she was the first female-run company able to obtain a trademark registration from the federal government. Miss Ah Warner, owner and operator of the company stated, “My company, Cannabis Basics, was awarded not one of the first but ‘The’ first TM Registration for a logo with both the leaf and the word cannabis covering a cannabis product, not a service or educational institution. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted this based upon my hempseed oil line having nothing to

do with CBD or THC but will by default protect my THC/CBD line that is only available in the great green state of Washington.” So this is a cannabis company granted a trademark for hempseed oil, but the logo and name of her company, which also sells products containing CBD and THC, will also be protected. The Stanley Brothers, who are known extensively for their development of a CBD oil administered to children with epilepsy, has federal trademark protection for “Charlotte’s Web Hemp Products.” Obtaining federal trademark protection on cannabis-related products and names are prohibited because cannabis remains as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA, 21USC863(d)). Under federal law it is not lawful to place into commerce a Schedule I drug as they have been found to have no medicinal value and are highly addictive and therefore, a federal trademark will not be issued to a name or product. It is just a matter of time before this will change. c VISIT US AT

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C g n i v i l y h t l hea by Lanny Swerdlow, RN

E-Cigs Exonerated

ased on fear rather than fact, 21 states and 438 municipalities have enacted total or partial e-cigs bans. Although California has not passed a ban, it has not been for lack of trying. At the California legislature’s Second Extraordinary Session on Public Health, the Senate passed a restriction loaded bill, but with too little time left in the session, the bill never came up for a vote in the Assembly. The feds had jumped into the fray back in 2009 with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), claiming that e-cigs were an unapproved drug delivery device. In a lawsuit filed by e-cig manufacturers, the FDA was rebuffed from that approach when the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. ruled that e-cigs do not come under the purview of the FDA as long as they are not marketed as a smoking cessation product. The ruling means that e-cigs can only be regulated in the same way that tobacco products are. Manufacturers can market them as a tasty trendy way to get nicotine stimulation, but not for what e-cigs would be most important for—getting people to stop smoking tobacco. In CULTURE’s July 2014 column, I wrote that e-cigs, “By not creating smoke, eliminate the carbon monoxide

CULTURE // November 2015

and all the carcinogens” and noting “it’s the smoke that is mostly responsible for the 400,000 American deaths each year from tobacco use.” Although I had no proof that e-cigs were significantly less dangerous, I put it forth as a good hypothesis based on common sense. Turns out my common sense hypothesis was right on target. Using recent reports and studies to set the record straight, England’s Public Health Service issued a joint statement in September 2015 stating “We all agree that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than smoking.” Commenting on the statement, Public Health Professor, Kevin Fenton explained “E-cigarettes are not completely risk-free but when compared to smoking, evidence shows they carry just a fraction of the harm.” That fraction turns out to be a phenomenal 95 percent less harmful. England’s Public Health Service was concerned that, “millions of smokers have the impression that e-cigarettes are at least as harmful as tobacco.” They were fearful that this mistaken impression could lead people to resume smoking and that it was their “duty to provide reassurance for the 1.1 million e-cigarette users who have completely

stopped smoking to prevent their relapse.” Contradicting a University of Southern California study suggesting that e-cig use might lead teens to begin smoking cigarettes, author Professor Ann McNeil pointed out,”There is no evidence that e-cigarettes are undermining England’s falling smoking rates. Instead the evidence consistently finds that e-cigarettes are another tool for stopping smoking,” E-cigs can significantly reduce smoking and by reducing smoking can significantly reduce the negative health consequences (like death) of smoking tobacco. Yet

lawmakers fall all over themselves making it harder rather than easier for people to use e-cigs. Admittedly, the nicotine found in e-cigs has zero medical use, but if e-cig users can only use e-cigs in the same places where tobacco is smoked, it is questionable whether e-cigs can give them enough of a nicotine fix to overcome the temptations of cigarettes set aflame just a few feet from them. With zero dangers from second hand vapors, e-cig restrictions don’t do anyone any good. This is especially true for cannabis consumers as laws curtailing e-cig use almost always treat cannabis the same as tobacco. The effects of vaporizing cannabis comes on within minutes. Cannabis consumers who use it medically need to be able to use it where they are. If they are undergoing bouts of anxiety, stress, seizures or nausea, they shouldn’t have to search out a place where tobacco smoking is allowed in order to medicate with an e-pen vaporizer. Rejecting science is par for the course for legislators who deny man-made climate change and evolution, but legislators who accept the science behind climate change and evolution somehow just fold when it comes to the science of e-cigs and cannabis. Reefer madness meets e-cig madness. Nothing good ever comes when decisions affecting public health are based on morality instead of science. c

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Advocate HIGHLIGHT

Zachary Cohen

Occupation: Co-Founder and Creative Director of Blank Space. When and how did you become an advocate for cannabis? I don’t think I can truly pinpoint a single moment or “epiphany.” It was a natural process that happened over time; it certainly accelerated when I first started to experiment with cannabis myself. That is when I saw, and felt, that most everything I had thought or been taught about the plant, was dead wrong. That was a holistic shift that influenced how I looked at and experienced the world around me. Why

would our society choose to suppress and lie about something as benign as cannabis? Not only was cannabis benign in terms of the physical danger attributed to it but potentially so powerful, so restorative, so special. Understanding the truth of cannabis causes one to confront the failings of a society that would lie about it. How has cannabis benefited your life? Cannabis has and continues to

benefit me in numerous ways. Right now, with the acceleration of legalization and the loosening of outdated cultural taboos, cannabis is providing an economic opportunity for me, the people I work with and the clients and communities we touch. We intend to help bring cannabis to anyone who might want it and many more who don’t yet know they do. Turning people on to the plant is something we just love doing no matter what. What’s your greatest achievement for the cannabis cause? I think my greatest contribution to the cannabis cause, and that of my firm, lies ahead of us and not behind us. We are a new firm and therefore it would be immodest and premature to take any sort of victory lap. For now, we’ve built the foundation of an agency that will enable us to achieve many great things with and on behalf of cannabis. We’ve done some exciting work that has turned some heads and we’ve asked people to consider new approaches to marketing cannabis. How did that manifest? I took a leap of faith and moved to Colorado—the center of the cannabis revolution, launched Blank Space and started using my talent, experience and passion to identify the partners, clients, and really, the people that we want to build this industry alongside. If you could change one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would it be? If I could wave a magic wand and reverse 80 years of propaganda, lies, deception and misinformation that has surrounded the cannabis plant, I would do it in a heartbeat. Then at least we could start from square one. As it stands now, we are working at a serious disadvantage. The cannabis stigma runs deep, not only with older Americans but across age, racial and socio-economic divides. I’m always stunned when I interact with someone who talks with authority about the limits and dangers of cannabis, but has little to no experience with the plant itself. The propagandists’ success should not be underestimated. c

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Dispensary

HIGHLIGHT

Today’s Health Care

Interviewed: Natalie Romolt (Director of Operations) 286 S. Purcell Blvd., Pueblo West, 81007 975 W. Fillmore, Colorado Springs, 80907 2103 E Platte Ave., Colorado Springs, 80918 225 S 8th St., Colorado Springs, 80905 (719) 633-1300 todayshealthcaremeds.com How and when did your dispensary start up? We opened in Colorado Springs in 2009. We lost a close friend to cancer but saw first hand the real value of marijuana and what an important part it played in her battle with this disease. Our friend did not have the option of purchasing medical marijuana in a dispensary and we saw there was a real need to provide patients access to medical marijuana in a safe and professional environment so It became an important industry for us to be involved in. What’s the story behind the name of your shop? Todays Health Care – T. H. C! What does your dispensary offer clients that they can’t

CULTURE // November 2015

find anywhere else? What do you specialize in, if anything? I have always felt one of the things lacking in this industry is professional employees. We strive for excellent customer service and have a very low employee turnover. Our patients enjoy seeing the same friendly faces each time they shop with us. What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a dispensary? . . . Biggest joys? The industry as a whole is more accepted however, the issues of it’s federal illegality still causes challenges for us, such as banking and the overall perception of people who work in and operate

medical marijuana businesses. Biggest Joys? We have the best patients! It’s great to see new patients excited over their first visit and I love seeing folks that have been shopping with us for four and five years. They are all like family; their loyalty blows me away. What is the one thing you want patients to know about your dispensary? We offer affordable meds to Colorado patients in a safe and friendly environment. If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? Not sure, it’s been a tough road but if you have the passion you can make it work. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/ MMJ community? We have worked very hard to maintain professionalism in a challenging industry and I hope this lends to seeing more credibility and legitimacy of the industry. c

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STRAIN + EDIBLES + concentrates Mother’s Finest

Frank Zappa said of the 10 joints he tried in the ‘60s, “. . . they’ve given me a sore throat, a headache and made me sleepy.” You’d think the legend would have had access to better herb. If only he had tried Mother’s Finest from Wellness Center of Denver—named after his band, Mothers of Invention—he would have changed his tune. A gorgeous Jack Herer relative, this is a must try for Haze fans. Delightfully buttery with vanilla and citrus tones, it’s a rock star for those looking to get over writer’s block and crank out a new hit single. Endlessly creative, it’s also a great mood booster if you feel like the road is getting you down. Mother’s Finest is a one-hit-wonder in the best way, and it’s sativa you’ll need to kick start your day.

Available AT: Wellness Center of DENVER in Denver.

Louis XIII

Available AT: Quality Choice in Colorado Springs.

GET YOUR CLICK HERE

With his flowing black hair and porn-esque mustache, paintings of Louis XVIII made him look more like a ‘70s drug dealer than the king of France. Seriously, Lou: You’re creeping everyone out. For a much more chill time, try out Louis XIII, the strain everyone is talking about this fall. We grabbed a sample from Quality Choice in Colorado Springs that fit the bill, one of the few that looks exactly like the pheno that Southern California has come to love. The OG Kush descendant has lots of those rubber and pine notes, with a nice floral touch that will remind you of the Gardens of Versailles. While you won’t feel locked to your chaise lounge with this indica-dominant hybrid, there’s a solid body effect that you’ll feel less in the head. Perhaps Marie Antoinette would have been a more fitting name.

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Chem Giesel

Move over Kimye and Brangelina: Chem Giesel belongs on any list of great name combos and could walk the green carpet in our office any day. This portmanteau of Chem and Giesel from Denver’s Groundswell Cannabis Boutique wowed us as some of the stickiest of the icky we saw this month. Every jar should come with a grinder alert, as it’s dusted generously with trichs. Spice and ammonia notes mix well with the fuel, almost like a gas powered floor cleaner. Leaning indica but still feeling very hybrid in nature, the potency of Chem Giesel isn’t to be underestimated. One reviewer who took a few extra hits became anxious and definitely wouldn’t have fared well in front of the paparazzi. For most, it was highly euphoric and was perfect for putting on a favorite record or relaxing in front of the TV.

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Available AT: Groundswell Cannabis Boutique in Denver.

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Vader Glue

Sure, the new Star Wars trailer may have been all that and a Wookie to boot, but have you ever watched it while consuming cannabis? If you somehow answered “no,” we need to get you on the first Tauntaun to Urban Dispensary, where their Vader Glue is on point. Processed in house, the mashup of Vader Kush and Gorilla Glue #4 is a smart one, giving this a heavy indica body relaxation to go with an out-of-this-world head effect. If your mask was on backwards, you’d think there was flower in the jar: They’re one of the best at preserving terps. Make sure the force is strong in whoever tries Vader Glue, as the potency can be a bit much for amateurs. Several reviewers who don’t dab frequently were feeling as couch-locked as Jabba the Hutt, but it’s a testament to the quality they’re churning out.

Available AT: Urban Dispensary in Denver.

Stratos Energy

Available AT: various locations throughout Colorado.

The most popular substance in the world isn’t cannabis, but rather caffeine, consumed by millions of Americans every day. If you’re looking to kick the coffee habit, try Stratos Energy, one of the most innovative products on the market. While also available in Sleep and Relax, we wanted to see how much pep they could put in our step. At 50mg a pill, it’s an ideal pick-me-up for those with higher tolerances that still need to function during the daytime. With virtually no cannabis taste and looking like a non-descript supplement, it’s hard to tell it’s infused at all. That is until it kicks in. Mentally active and engaging, reviewers found focus and clarity were the biggest benefits of Stratos Energy, allowing them to blow through task lists with ease. It’s the high functioning buzz you need to get over the distractions of aches and pains while still being discreet.

Nebulae

Not to be confused with Paradise Seeds’ Nebula, Nebulae is a testament to the solid breeding being done right here in Colorado, courtesy of the mad scientists at Pure. And by mad, we mean “a lot” of scientists—“They got mad scientists, yo!” A proprietary cross of Blue Dream and Hell’s Angel, the star of the Nebulae is how they managed to coax so much fresh fruit out of the Dream, making this a favorite for tastings. Dark green leaves are coated with resin, contrasting nicely against the light orange, almost peach colored hairs. The Hell’s Angel is definitely felt more in the smoke, as reviewers felt a release of tension in their shoulders and backs. Like the cosmos, the effect felt like it stretched on forever, great for patients that need a strain to get them through the day.

GET YOUR CLICK HERE Available wherever: Dr. J’s products are carried.

Available AT: Pure in Denver.

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RXTraction Co2 Oil

Dr. J’s is no stranger to the “slam dunk,” creating dozens of our favorite products over the last few years. While best known for their potent yet tasty edibles, we’re jumping for joy over their foray into the world of vaping with the RXTraction CO2 oil. It’s tough to please an entire office, so we went with a hybrid cartridge over the indica or sativa, but we’re guessing any choice would have been well received. A golden amber color, the first hits were clean and easy on the lungs, leaving none of our team hacking as cold season quickly approaches. Initially focused in the body, there was a lightness in our limbs that had several of us feeling like dunking was a real possibility if only we had brought our gym shoes. Moving later into the head, it’s a big anxiety reducer that’s perfect for the pressure of deadlines or the game winning free throw.

CULTURE // November 2015

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Available AT: Generation Health in Denver.

k-puff pink

It’s the heart of football season, which means constant ads for beer and that little blue pill grandpa takes. We were refreshed to see k-puff pink roll out from GH Labs recently because there’s no product like it on the market, even if you won’t see a commercial for it any time soon. The disposable 300mg pen is actually being tried in clinical studies to help with libido issues in women using cannabis instead of pharmaceuticals. While we’re no FDA, our review team found that the smooth drawing pen we picked up at Generation Health was a winner on all counts. With a hybrid effect that starts in the head, it definitely moves across your whole body—if you catch our drift. Most who sampled only needed a few hits to feel a noticeable uptick in energy levels and mood, while the small size is ideal for a purse or a nightstand.

Available at: Universal Herbs in Denver.

Stanky Leg

The Whip/Nae Nae might be the hottest dance out there, but even Silentó can’t help but reference the Stanky Leg, the funniest name for busting a move since Peanut Butter Jelly Time. Our favorite tribute, however, comes from Universal Herbs’ Stanky Leg, a funky cross of Blueberry and Purple Skunk that we picked up from their Denver location. Huge fruity notes of berries and citrus mask the more skunky undertones, making perfect partners to tango. Well manicured to boot, the trim left plenty of trichomes glistening like tiny disco balls. As a 50/50 hybrid, you can still turn up without feeling like you’ve tuned out, with solid energy an hour in. If you went too hard the previous night, Stanky Leg still provides great pain relief and helps fight nausea.

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cool stuff Small FlowerHouse PlantHouse™

The FlowerHouse PlantHouse™ creates a convenient and effective way to nurture and protect your tender plants against damaging environments. For the green thumb in your life, this little PlantHouse™ will improve and aid in the growth and life of any plants! UV-resistant, waterproof Gro-Tec™ material features rip stop protection as well. Compact and lightweight, the PlantHouse™ allows for optimum ventilation, while also protecting your plants from pests.

Brinno GardenWatch Time Lapse Camera

PRICE: $159.99 MORE INFORMATION: www.brinno.com

PRICE: $28-$350 MORE INFORMATION: www.flowerhouses.com

Now, you can geek out with your own garden! A time lapse camera that will allow you to literally watch your garden grow. The Brinno GardenWatchCam is a weather-resistant, time lapse camera that will help you easily capture cool video of activities that regular snapshot photography takes forever to do. Imagine capturing a flower blooming, a house being constructed or your little sproutlings growing up right before your very eyes.

PRICE: $349.99 MORE INFORMATION: www.mytrimmer.com

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mega CVault

PRICE: $93.95 MORE INFORMATION: www.theCvault.com

CULTURE // November 2015

The ultimate storage solution container for your herb, the mega CVault is made from food grade stainless steel and is airtight and impenetrable by light when secured. This bad boy is durable, super lightweight and commercial quality. This really is the only container you need for curing and storing your green. Each mega CVault comes with Boveda too. Never mold again!

The Magic™ Trimmer

Enough with the high-price, barely effective trimmers of the world. The Magic™ Trimmer is the only trimmer that the professionals trust, and the only one you’ll ever need. The detailed patent-pending design safely removes the trimmings from your plants in a fast and effective way, and its hand held power trimming is precise to your movement, so you can truly control the trim. Seriously, The Magic™ Trimmer stands out against all other trimming machines—it’s affordable, it’s small and handy, cuts all kinds of plants safely and gets the job done fast and right, the first time.

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entertainment Release Date: November 10 Available on: PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Fallout 4 Dev. Bethesda Game Studios Pub. Bethesda Softworks

The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness Steve DeAngelo North Atlantic Books

It’s been many years since the last release of a Fallout game, but the arrival of Fallout 4 has prove to be the most massive title in the franchise yet. Players will venture forth into a post-apocalyptic earth 200 years after war has subsided, complete with radioactive damage that has ravaged the world. Explore the open world setting of Boston to complete quests, collect and make all sorts of weapons, and travel the grief-stricken landscape with your lovable canine companion, Dogmeat!

Weddings, Floods and Funerals Danny Shafer Tolstar Prodcutions

Taking only a couple years off from recording since his last release, 2013’s Wherever You Are, Colorado’s Danny Shafer returns to flesh out his sound and unload a diverse array of songs with his fifth album, Weddings, Floods and Funerals. The new record sees Shafer exploring strong, old-style story-telling narratives and delivers it with a beautiful,soft yet powerful, Neil Young-esque sound and style, that is both captivating and endearing. (Simon Weedn)

Jurassic World Universal Pictures Dir. Colin Trevorrow

Helmed by newcomer director/ writer, Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed), and led by rising superstar actor, Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation, Guardians of The Galaxy), Jurassic World rewards longtime Jurassic Park devotees in a major way. Not only does the film take viewers into some strange future, where the world has become so jaded and unimpressed with dinosaur cloning that scientists begin to genetically modify dinosaurs into super-saurs, Jurassic World delivers everything you could hope for in a mega blockbuster, and is by far one of the best monster romps in years. (Simon Weedn)

CULTURE // November 2015

The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness is Steve Angelo’s masterpiece and call to action. The Cannabis Manifesto has reached number one for the categories of Government Social Policy, Politics & Social Sciences and Medicine & Herbal Remedies on Amazon. Steve DeAngelo has co-founded some of the largest companies in cannabisHarborside Health, Steep Hill Lab and The ArcView Group. DeAngelo produces a radical treatise, arguing that there is no such thing as recreational cannabis use. He encourages using cannabis for wellness and the responsibility of cannabis smokers. (Benjamin Adams)

+ Cannafest Prague Going on its sixth year now, the International Trade Fair of Cannabis and Medicinal Herb, or Cannafest, will be especially exciting this year as CULTURE will be one of many exhibitors expected to participate in this year’s celebration. Alongside CULTURE, hundreds of international exhibitors will be featured at this year’s event, offering up an array of cannabis products and resources. Visitors are encouraged to attend various conferences, film showings and live performances, with the option of taking a break and getting a relaxing hemp message or hanging out in the fest’s “Chillout Zone.” For those who can’t get enough of Cannafest, two after parties are taking place during the run of the festival, giving visitors the chance to mingle with cannabis enthusiasts alike. Bigger and better than ever, don’t miss out on this year’s Cannafest, aiding in the growth of the cannabis industry, culture and awareness. (Victoria Banegas)

IF YOU GO

What: Cannafest Prague hemp and cannabis fair. When/Where: Fri, Nov. 6-Sun, Nov. 8. Prague Exhibition Grounds, Výstaviště 67, 170 90 Praha 7, Czech Republic. Info: Visit www.cannafest. com for details.

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liner notes

oston Mayor Marty Walsh is on a roll. Full disclosure: I know nothing of his politics or his political decisions, but I do know that he (or his interns) have really trotted out their support for female-driven rock lately. He declared (on Twitter—School House Rock needs to update their song about passing bills to include social media) that October 10 will hereafter be known in the City of Boston as Patti Smith day, “I urge my fellow Bostonians to join me in celebrating her enormous artistic contribution to the world,” Walsh said. Walsh’s office also recognized April 9 as Riot Grrl Day in honor of Kathleen Hanna and general badass girl rock-dom. Smith also recently released her newest memoir, “M-Train,” which follows her highly successful and well-received memoir “Kids” by a few years. While at Dominican University promoting “M-Train” last month, Smith received a huge surprise from an audience member. Noreen Bender, a decades-long fan of Smith, approached her after the show and returned some items stolen from Smith back in the late ’70s. The items, including the shirt that Smith wore on a 1978 issue of Rolling Stone, were stolen by a then U-Haul employee and divided up amongst Bender and her friends. “I just thought, ‘Oh my god, these are her clothes and they still have sweat on them,’” Bender said in the Chicago Tribune. She went on to say how great it felt to make her hero happy. She avoided mentioning how it felt to make her hero sad in the first place. Jay-Z is being sued for the alleged illegal use of a sample from a 1950s Egyptian love ballad in his 1999 song “Big Pimpin,” which the estate of the Egytpian artist Baligh Hamdy claims is a breach of the artist’s “moral rights.” The lawsuit has been ongoing for four years, but Jay-Z has just recently testified, discussing his massive influence of the realm of music and entrepreneurship (though

CULTURE // November 2015

by Kevin Longrie

strangely forgetting to mention that he owns Tidal, the music streaming service he’s been giving most of his attention to lately). Jay-Z claims that he had no knowledge that a sample was being used and that the beat was delivered to him by producer Timbaland, who allegedly paid $100,000 to settle out of court with the record company who held the rights to the song. There are still likely to be several months before a verdict. Speaking somewhat about streaming music, services like Spotify and Apple Music have been making headlines recently as artists support or (more often) descry them. Taylor Swift was able to convince Apple Music to change some of their policies and able to avoid being included in Spotify altogether. The leaders of Apple and Spotify have been getting into dustups about their competition for market dominance on social media. Joanna Newsom, harp virtuoso and powerful lyricist, has also been critical of Spotify, saying that it is, “the banana of the music industry.” If this is out of context or difficult to understand, it’s okay. It still makes a great headline. Really let it soak into your mind before I explain it to you. Okay? Good. She said it’s the banana

because it gives off a distinct fume of repugnance, “You can just smell that something’s wrong with it,” she said. She referred to steaming services as a “villainous cabal of major labels” and said that “the business is built from the ground-up as a way to circumvent the idea of paying their artists.” Newsom also gave interviews recently voicing her disapproval for the way that many (usually male) critics have written about her through a “lens of sexism.” They’ve “infantilized” her, using coded language when discussing her music in comparison to her male contemporaries. Devendra Banhart, she offers as an example, is seen as “eccentric” or “psychedelic” where “for [Newsom] they’d use “fairytales” and “unicorns.” Kayne West had an interesting week last month. He performed at the Democratic National Convention and was given some campaign advice from President Obama himself. “Do you really think this country’s going to elect a black guy from the South Side of Chicago with a funny name to be President of the United States?” Obama joked. After that, he flew to Los Angeles to audition for the final season of American Idol. The world is truly a strange place. c

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by R. Scott Rappold Before there was Trump, “the Donald,” tough-talking celebrity-turnedpolitician, shaking the political establishment to its core, there was Jesse “The Body” Ventura. A Vietnam veteran, actor and former professional wrestler, Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota in 1998, the most successful candidate of Ross Perot’s Reform Party before or since. The man who fought an alien alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator and preferred the bad guys in his heated color commentary on WrestleMania proved just as feisty as governor, battling both major parties for four years before stepping aside. But he was only getting started. Not one to fade into the sunset, he has attacked the partisanship of American politics and exposed government lies and cover-ups in half a dozen bestselling books and several internet shows. He is a staunch advocate of cannabis reform and though he’s been out of office for 12 years, he remains a force in American politics, waiting on the outside for a time when America might again be fed up with the two-party system. And 2016 just might be that time. CULTURE recently caught up with the 64-year-old Ventura by phone from his half-year home in Minnesota. He talked at length about his storied political career, his love of cannabis and how he could be the game-changer in next year’s election. >>

CULTURE // November 2015

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Photos by Lauren B. Falk

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“How can the government t e l l yo u w h at o r w h at n ot to use, as far a s w h at yo u want to ingest i n y o u r b o d y, a s l o n g a s yo u don’t harm a n yo n e e l s e ? ”

Could you tell us a little bit about your new book? It’s a rehash of an old one, American Conspiracies, but we’ve added about four more chapters. That’s one good thing in general about the government. If you wait four or five years, you can do four or five more chapters on them because they’re good for about one a year. It seems to be that way. You spend a good part of your time in Mexico? I spend probably half the year or more there. I bet you’re a not big fan of (Mexican-bashing presidential candidate) Donald Trump. I’ve actually known Donald for 25 years now, and I do respect Donald. I don’t agree with him on everything, especially on the immigration policy, but that’s just one issue. I love what he’s doing, the fact that he’s fracturing the Republican Party, and I love what Bernie Sanders is doing to the Democrats. As you know, I’m fiercely independent and I’ve written a book called Democrips and Rebloodicans, where I’ve equated them to being the same as the L.A. street gangs. In fact, I apologized to L.A. street gangs for using their names that way. On certain issues, Democrats are maybe a little bit closer to you. They’re coming around on cannabis legalization and some other issues. Do you identify with them at all? I’m fiscally conservative and I’m socially liberal. That puts me on the conservative side of lesser government because I feel we have far too much government overseeing us. I’m closer to being Libertarian . . . I’m absolutely a believer in ending the war on drugs, which is also a Libertarian viewpoint. The war has been a miserable failure and always will be. In what’s supposed to be a free country, it comes down to this: How can the government tell you what or what not to use, as far as what you want to ingest in your body, as long as you don’t harm anyone else? Did you ever partake in cannabis as a young man? Of course. I grew up in the ‘60s. Anyone that would tell you they didn’t and they grew up in the ‘60s is either lying or they didn’t grow up in the ‘60s . . . I remember one time a friend of mine who sold me an ounce had to apologize six times

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because it cost $12 instead of $10. The standard thing in those days was $10 a lid, and a lid was an ounce of pot. Can you imagine? Ten bucks. The first time I tried it I said, “This is way better than drinking. They’re not even comparable.” And I drank way before I touched pot. Were you a hippie? No. Not a bit. I enlisted right after high school in the United States Navy and became a frogman and a Vietnam veteran . . . The culture went beyond the hippies. The whole generation wound up (smoking pot.) After you left the military, did you ever partake, like when you were in the wrestling world? Absolutely. I wrestled in Hawaii before they made it illegal and everyone in the nation wanted to get Hawaiian. That was the primo of the primo in the ‘70s. Because it’s grown over there and I don’t know what the volcanic soil does to it but it makes it very good. I’m also old enough today to know that when they spread this stuff about the dangers, that the pot today isn’t like the pot of the ‘60s because it’s more powerful, that’s actually a positive. If it’s more powerful it doesn’t require you to smoke nearly as much, does it? And that makes it healthier, doesn’t it? Were you always political, or was it after the acting slowed down that you decided to get into politics? I think I was always aware politically, because my father made me so. My father had six bronze battle stars in World War II and my mother was also a World War II veteran, so I come from a family of all veterans. My dad was opposed to the Vietnam War before the hippies were . . . I had a father who, at the dinner table, would get worked up. I remember times my mom would send him to the basement because he’d get so worked up over Vietnam or whatever the issue might be, so being from my dad, I can see where it comes from. Was your father a big part of your decision to run for mayor and then governor? No, I had no intention to ever seek office. The run for mayor happened because the city council wanted to access a storm sewer curb and gutter tax and we didn’t need it . . . Then I realized the city of Brooklyn Park had a massive good old boy network, headed >> VISIT US AT

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by the 25-year incumbent mayor. As I got more involved locally, one day I was there and I looked at him and I had the podium and I said, “You’re going to make me run, aren’t you?” And his buddy on the council burst out laughing and said, “You couldn’t win.” And I left the city hall that night with the usual attitude that nobody tells me I can’t do something. So I was running for mayor. I ended up beating the 25-year incumbent 66 percent to 33 percent. How do you feel about what you accomplished as mayor and how did that lead you to run for governor? We rousted out the good old boy network. It took us three elections to do so. Then I moved on. Because I don’t believe public service should ever be a career, like most of these guys get re-elected for 30 years. I think that’s ridiculous . . . Then I moved to my ranch out in Maple Grove and I was doing just fine. I was doing morning talk radio four years later and Minnesota had billions of dollars of surplus; too much money. The economy was great at the end of the Clinton years and the state had, I don’t know, three billion dollars more than they budgeted for. And instead of returning it to the taxpayers, they spent it. I got outraged on talk radio, I said, “Wait a minute. They set the budget. They have no right, because the economy is powerful and they’re taxing us too much, then, to just collect this money and spend it above and beyond their budget?” I kind of backed myself in a corner. I kind of threw it out there and said, “Maybe I should run for governor?” And boy that took off like wildfire. Are you going to run for president in 2016? I don’t know. I’ll wait until the pikers are gone. Who’d be stupid enough to jump in now? The Libertarians have their convention next June and that’s where they’ll pick their candidate and if you get in next June you’ll have ballot access for pretty much the whole country and then you only have

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to run until November. It’s all about timing. So when these other two gangs get down to one, whoever their guy is, then you jump in and you beat them and you steal the election. So you’re considering a run as a Libertarian? Yeah. It’d be the only way I could get ballot access. You’ve got to get ballot access and the libertarians have it. All you have to do is go to their convention in June and if they pick you as the nominee, then you’re off and running. Then the key is to force them to let you in the debates. I was polling only 10 percent (when he joined the Minnesota gubernatorial race) which would not get me into the debates today. And yet in Minnesota, 10 percent at Labor Day and I won the election in November. It took me only two months. Two months and three debates and I destroyed them. Let me do that in the presidency and we’ll see a repeat of it . . . If I ran, I would run on one issue. I would make

the Libertarians agree I’m not part of their party but I’ve got their endorsement to run, and I’m not a member of their party. I could use this to win. I would challenge the American people to elect the first president since George Washington, the father of our country, who does not belong to a political party, and I believe you could win on that alone right now. You’ve been known for so many different things–a wrestler, actor, governor and writer. How do you hope you’re remembered? I don’t care. They were all important to me at the specific times I lived them. I’m 64 now, and if I live to 80 or 85, if I’m lucky, I don’t want to say “woulda coulda shoulda.” I never planned anything out. I just live life and when you come to a Y in the road you make a decision and you go that way and you see what happens. I had no vision ever. I didn’t have a vision that much of even being a pro-wrestler—it just kind of fell into place.

Now that you’re 64, you still feel like you ain’t got time to bleed (the title of one of your books and a famous quote from the film Predator)? Now that I’m 64, I don’t even worry about it. I got an offer to do a film and I turned it down. I don’t feel like acting anymore . . . I’m pretty happy doing my internet show right now. It gives me the freedom to talk about what I want to talk about. I can say anything. Nothing’s censored. You can call bullshit “bullshit” without worrying about being fined. Do you think we’ll ever see national cannabis legalization or do you think we’ll see it go state by state? The federal government should get out of it completely and they should leave up to each state like they do alcohol. Alcohol is governed by each state, whether they have dry counties, what the drinking age is, and how they handle it. There’s no reason to have the federal government involved in any way, shape or form. It’s going well in states like Colorado, Oregon and Washington . . . I’ve been through Colorado quite often because there is a sense of freedom there that I really enjoy feeling. I tip my hat to Colorado and the people of it and for having the courage to do what they did . . . It’s long overdue. It’s too many jobs. And that plant itself has too many uses to be eradicated. I love to say this to all the religious people out there: If you believe in God, then you believe that God created every plant on this planet. Well I don’t think He created marijuana for us to eradicate it. I think He created it for us to use it. Religious people should look at it from that perspective when they take a stance on marijuana. Do you still partake yourself every now and then? Only if I’m in Colorado. (Laughs.) There’s a good political answer for you. Only if I’m in Colorado, that way I can’t get in any trouble, right? c VISIT US AT

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“Now we know the truth—synthetic cannabis, sometimes referred to as ‘spice,' is actually much more dangerous than cannabis, has been associated with many serious medical complications, and outlawed.”

A DANGEROUS

SUBSTITUTE Denver Shop Sentenced to Pay $160K for Selling Synthetic Cannabis by Addison Herron-Wheeler

CULTURE // November 2015

or a while, as part of the crazy fallout of prohibition, fake, synthetic cannabis was actually produced and sold as a “safer” alternative to real cannabis, or as a way to still get the effects of cannabis while being drug tested. Now we know the truth—synthetic cannabis, sometimes referred to as “spice,” is actually much more dangerous than cannabis, has been associated with many serious medical complications, and outlawed. Now, a shop in Denver is being fined $160,000 for selling synthetic cannabis. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office has decided that this is a punishment that fairly fits the crime. O’s Pipe & Tobacco, owned by Orlando Martinez, will pay off the fine in installments over three years. To date, this is the largest settlement in the U.S. related to selling spice or synthetic cannabis. The store was outed for selling spice when undercover investigators

purchased product at the shop during a covert operation back on September 9, 2013. The investigators then seized 1,319 packages of spice to use in their case against the store. The Colorado Bureau of Investigations then tested the packages, and discovered that they were in fact definitely synthetic cannabinoids. In fact, some of the products tested were found to be part of the same infamous batch of spice that sent 221 people to emergency rooms back in 2013. While this is a steep price to pay for a small shop, spice has actually been proven to be the dangerous substance that people have accused cannabis of being for so many years, so it is important to keep it off the streets and out of the hands of people who might buy it because it is easier to access then cannabis. Also, the fact that Colorado embraces legal cannabis is an even better protection against the threat of spice. When you have access to the real deal, who needs a dangerous substitute? c VISIT US AT

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“It’s not about violations of the regulations. It’s about whether we’re happy with the regulations we already have.”

CO Springs Places Bans on City’s Cannabis

by Randy Robinson olorado Springs city council approved two moratoriums on Tuesday that directly impact the city’s cannabis industry. Both moratoriums will last for six months, and one may potentially sink many medical dispensaries. The first moratorium bans new cannabis clubs, or “consumption facilities,” from opening. These are private clubs that permit customers to consume cannabis on the property. Consumption in public spaces, bars and restaurants is a civil infraction in Colorado, so residents and tourists are only permitted to smoke in their home or at a cannabis club. The club moratorium passed 7-2. The only two dissenting votes came from councilmembers Bill Murray and Helen Collins. Neither city council member believed there was evidence to warrant the club moratorium. Collins said the state was already

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drafting regulations for the largely unregulated cannabis clubs, so there was no need to pass a city ordinance. The second moratorium hits the city’s medical cannabis operations. No new dispensaries, MIPs or grows will be allowed to open during the moratorium. Any contracts, leases or licenses for new operations will be put on hold. Furthermore, all existing licensed medical businesses are banned from moving locations or renovating their buildings, a move that could put a lot of dispensaries out of business. Several dispensary owners expressed their concerns to the city council. Some of their leases will end during the moratorium, meaning they’ll be unable to renew their leases or secure new leases during that time. The medical ordinance would also prevent dispensaries from moving to another building if their current place of business sustains irreparable damage,

such as from fire or flooding. Councilmember Don Knight spearheaded both moratoriums. He drafted the club ban after receiving a complaint from one of his constituents which regarded a rumor that a cannabis club was planning to open in a neighborhood strip mall. During the meeting, he cited a lack of regulations for requiring the ordinance. Knight’s support for the medical moratorium was due to zoning laws and “land use.” He and the other supporting councilmembers were worried about “intertwined” zoning regulations for dispensaries, MIPs and grows. “It’s not about violations of the regulations,” Knight told the council. “It’s about whether we’re happy with the regulations we already have.” Currently, all three kinds of medical cannabis operations can be located in the same type of zone. Knight believed this gives unfair advantages to medical dispensaries, since alcohol

manufacturing, distribution and sales are subjected to stricter zoning regulations. The medical ordinance passed 5-4. Councilmember Tom Strand was the one swingvote on the council, and he shared his gratitude with the activists and business owners who showed up to the meeting. Strand said, “I didn’t know how I was going to vote until I listened to everybody. I think the citizens don’t realize the impact they have by showing up. Showing up is very important, and your presence has been critical to one of the nine members—and that’s me. And it’s made all the difference in how I’m going to vote on this moratorium.” Strand was joined by Jill Gaebler, Helen Collins and Bill Murray as the dissenting votes. The medical moratorium hasn’t completely cleared yet. The city charter requires that it pass a second round of votes in order to become law. c VISIT US AT

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Medical Crackdown in Colorado

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For starters, medical consults must be conducted in person; telehealth consults are prohibited. Before signing off on a medical card recommendation, physicians must review a patient's medical records and medical history.â&#x20AC;?

State Medical Board Rolls Out New Regulations

by Randy Robinson

CULTURE // November 2015

tarting November 17, Colorado will implement new rules for issuing medical cannabis cards. A memo from the Colorado Medical Board dated on September 22 lists the new regulations. For starters, medical consults must be conducted in

person; telehealth consults are prohibited. Before signing off on a medical card recommendation, physicians must review a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical records and medical history. In the past, doctors could assign recommendations without reviewing medical records, although reviews were advised by state regulators. >> VISIT US AT

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As part of a risk assessment, physicians will consider any drug interactions between cannabis and the patient’s ongoing pharmaceutical regimen. The patient’s past history of drug abuse, history of mental or physical abuse, and history of mental illnesses must be factored into the risk assessment. Physicians are encouraged to coordinate with the patient’s other healthcare providers in order to minimize adverse reactions or misuse of medical cannabis. There is also an additional assessment for pain, which is the most prevalent qualifying condition according to the state’s medical registry. To date, over 90 percent of the state’s medical card holders are approved for severe pain. The pain assessment must document the severity of the patient’s pain, its patterns of behavior, and how the condition impedes the patient’s ability to function. Doctors may also order imaging studies or laboratory tests as a prerequisite for a proper diagnosis. Doctors can even request urine tests to check if patients are complying with the physician’s recommendations. For women, pregnancy

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tests may be administered to ensure there is no risk to the fetus. After the initial assessments, lab tests and diagnosis, doctors are required to educate the patient on the risks related to cannabis consumption–up to and including death. Patients will be informed of their recommended dosages, methods of consumption, as well as review any alternatives to cannabis therapies that could treat their conditions. Finally, all patients must be available for follow-ups with their physician in order to monitor their progress with medical cannabis treatments. The new rules were drafted after the passage of SB-15-014, which addressed the state’s potential loss of tax revenue from medical cannabis sales. Recreational sales are taxed on a tiered system totaling 25 percent. Medical dispensary sales are taxed at 10 percent, and transactions between patients and caregivers are taxed at 2.9 percent. SB-15-014 was sponsored by Sen. Irene Aguilar, a practicing physician and Democrat from Denver. Aguilar pushed the bill due to her concerns that some patients

were claiming pain as their qualifying condition but did not require cannabis out of medical necessity. According to the bill’s language, SB-15-014 was designed to limit medical cannabis only to patients with “debilitating conditions.” The bill also sought to prevent the state from being “deprived of valuable tax revenue” by transferring patients with non-debilitating pain to the recreational market. Unlike recreational grows, home grows aren’t tracked under a seed-to-sale system. SB-15-014 restricts caregivers to five assigned patients, and they’re capped at a 90-plant maximum. As of last year, 4,600 out of the state’s 116,000 registered patients assigned their plant counts to caregivers. However, doctors still have the final word on a patient’s plant counts. The new regulations comply with Amendment 20, the medical cannabis bill approved by Colorado voters in 2000. Doctors may increase a patient’s plant counts from the standard six plants to any number deemed appropriate by the consulting physician, so long as the physician can provide a rationale for the increase. c

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“If you get stuck doing the same thing over and over again, you’re not challenging yourself.”

Decently blazed on his couch on a sunny afternoon, Master Bong dives into his pizza. Some people eat the crust, others give it to the dog, Master Bong produces a drilling tool and after a few minutes of tinkering, loads up one side of the pizza crust with a bud of Animal Crackers and smokes it. “You can eat it, you smoke out of it. Domino’s puts cheese in the middle of it, I hollowed it out and smoked it,” he says after exhaling a cloud of smoke at the camera. Meet the “MacGyver of Marijuana,” a 30-year-old wild child who has turned a love of making pipes out of unlikely items into an internet sensation. With millions of views on his YouTube channel and 91,000 “likes” on his Facebook page, he’s had the marketing know-how to channel this by R. Scott Rappold popularity into a business that pays the bills and allows him to have a slew of employees. “For me, it’s like sometimes you’re going to come into a situation where you’re out in the world and you don’t have (a smoking device) on you,” says Master Bong in a phone interview. “Or you just broke your bong. You lost your pipe. You broke your vaporizer. You need to have the skill set. If you don’t, how do you smoke?” He goes on to say, “It’s also just about being creative. If you get stuck doing the same thing over and over again, you’re not challenging yourself. You’re not switching things up. Life can get kind of boring.” >>

Master Bong

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Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Master Bong, whose first name is Jake and whose last name he declines to give, came to pipe and bong-making as a teenager, too young to buy one in a head shop. “I wasn’t quite of age yet. We were always figuring out creative fun ways to make devices to smoke out of. I was the person in my crew who was kind of heading that up,” he says. A few years later, he was in college studying to be a social worker but his heart wasn’t in it. He’d had some success with an internet and social media marketing side business and decided to turn that talent toward his passion: Cannabis. In 2008, he shot a short video of himself carving a pipe out of an apple and posted it to YouTube, sporting an afro and sunglasses. Other instructional videos followed, from a gravity bong to a bell pepper bubbler. After all, this was stuff he and his buddies were doing for fun anyway. People at a party might all be toking up, but when everyone gets together to puff out of a hollowed-out watermelon, they might become friends. “You can see how it just brings people together, especially people who wouldn’t normally kick it together, just like cannabis does,” he says. In 2010, he decided it was time to devote himself entirely to his Master Bong alter ego and dropped out of college.

An Internet celebrity

As his videos grew in popularity along with the rising tide of cannabis legalization, he noticed a change. Rather than having to buy his own gear, companies paid him to feature their products in his videos. People might not know or recognize Master Bong, but the dude with the afro was becoming a cannabis celebrity. “Sometimes now, I wish I didn’t have my brand set up like this because when I go to an event and it’s 100 degrees out, I’m not comfortable,” he says. “But it’s a brand. It’s very recognizable.”

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With a regular output of a dozen videos a month, Master Bong has expanded his repertoire to celebrating everything about the cannabis lifestyle, from growing tips to recipes to general silliness. In fact, his most-viewed video, with 1.6 million views, is on how to roll a Swisher Sweets blunt. But being the “MacGyver of Marijuana” is still his bread and butter, even if individual projects have been less than successful. For example, there was the golf club pipe. The thing was so slim you had to suck incredibly hard to get a hit. Although his products aren’t always great for smoking with, he always makes them work, even if it takes a couple rips from a sponsored-product bong to get there.“We’ll figure out a way and sit there until it works,” he says.

Never stop dreaming

Master Bong never stops thinking of new ways to smoke. He talks about his desire to turn a swimming pool into a massive bong, or to publish a book—complete with carving tools—on 101 ways to make household smoking instruments. Passionate about his pipes and bongs, Master Bong keeps the non-perishable smoking devices he makes, in hopes of creating somewhat of a Master Bong Museum when he finally buys a house. The day Master Bong can afford a house can’t be far off, if it’s not already here. It all started with him and a “horrible flip camera.” Today he has an assistant to check his emails and someone to operate the camera. He once had to pay his own way to attend industry events. Now he wouldn’t dream of buying his own plane ticket or paying to attend an industry event. While he certainly enjoys making a living out of Master Bong, instead of social work, he also loves being able to inform and entertain people.“No matter what you do . . . Maybe you’re an artist, maybe you’re a musician, maybe you want to play sports, whatever it is, follow your heart and passion and it’s going to work out; and getting paid to do that is the American dream.” c

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The Harvest How-To A step-by-step guide to harvesting your cannabis by Addison Herron-Wheeler

Harvest season is here, and that means it’s time for all the growers who have lovingly cultivated their cannabis plants for months to finally get to reap the benefits of all their hard work. But proceed with caution— cannabis is quite literally a delicate flower, and if treated too roughly or clipped or cured incorrectly, all that love and care could go to waste at the last minute. Here is how to get the best results from harvesting and curing your plants and avoid any nasty mistakes.

1. Cut With Love and Care

Actually harvesting cannabis is by far the simplest part of the harvest process—one simple snip of the stalk is all it takes, and then the hard work begins with the curing and trimming process. Just make sure that you cut in the right place—make the incision below the first intersection of branches, and be sure to cut all the way through the first time.

2. Set Aside Your Initial Trim for Hash

Once you’ve cut off your plant, now it’s time to get rid of the trim so the plant can cure. But don’t just throw all the stuff you cut off away without looking at it carefully first. Any leaves and seemingly useless parts that look crystalized and are covered in trichomes can be sent off to be made into bubble hash, and making hash with the trim will make your yield go a lot further.

3. Dry According to Local Conditions

Once you have done the initial trimming of your plant, it is time to hang it up to dry. If you live at a high elevation during a dry time of year with no snow, the best bet is to leave on some of the bigger leaves until the plant is more dried out. If you live at sea level and 100 miles or less from the ocean, or if there is snow on the ground, then the best bet is to cut off as many leaves as possible so that the plant does not stay too moist and become moldy.

4. Observe and Adjust Accordingly

The drying process can take as long as 30 days, and the plants should be checked regularly during that time to make sure they are curing properly. More leaves might need to be trimmed off if they are too moist, and plants can be hung alongside moister, less cured plants if they are too dry so that they can absorb some of the water.

5. Check out the Final Product

Once all that hard work is done and your plant is properly dried and cured, it’s time for the fun part—testing the product. This is when you’ll learn if the cannabis you grew is truly up to snuff and worthy of being shared. Enjoy, and happy harvesting! c

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Source: John Hunt, owner of Green and US Healthy Dispensary VISIT AT Wellness iReadCulture.com

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The Ritualistic Harvest Pagan Rituals Involving Cannabis By Addison Herron-Wheeler

Hindu Hemp Lore It’s that time of year when magic is in the air–Halloween is just behind us, the harvest is upon us and we feel the most in touch with our pagan roots. Many of the pagan, ancient and classic religious traditions that still exist today, or cultural rituals involved in harvesting, use cannabis in their practices. Here’s a look at how religions and cultures across time and the planet have used cannabis as a sacrament, a healing herb and a part of their daily lives and rituals.

European Paganism

Cannabis, love and sex go hand in hand, and this has been the case since the days of the ancient Germanic pagans. According to “The History of Hemp in Norway,” an article published in The Journal of Industrial Hemp by Jan Bojer Vindheim, cannabis and fertility have long been associated in ancient Norse mythology. The herb was associated with Freya, the goddess of love, and was consumed and harvested at the ironically titled “High Festival,” where fertility was celebrated. The Norse people believed that Freya’s feminine, erotic energy was contained in the flowers of the plant, which would give sexual power to those who consumed them. The article also points out that two ancient Norwegian women were discovered with hemp seeds in their pouch and a hemp cord on their persons, alluding to more practical uses for the cannabis family as well. >>

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Many Hindus still embrace hemp as a part of their religion–on the festival day of Holi, bhang or cannabis flowers are ritually consumed. According to Mia Touw’s The Religious and Medical Uses of Cannabis in China, India, and Tibet, Hindu mythology states that Shiva created cannabis from his body in order to purify the elixir of life that helped to kick start the world. Another version of the myth states that when the elixir of life touched the ground, the cannabis plant sprang up. Therefore, as long as you are imbibing cannabis in a ritualistic manner, as a sacrament, some Hindus believe it can cause insights about the future and cleanse past sins.

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Central Asian Mysticism

There is much historical evidence that the people of Central Asia have been turning to cannabis for thousands of years, both in ritual and relaxation. The ancient Greek Historian Herodotus recorded in his book Histories that the Scythians, a group of ancient Iranian Nomads, would make steam baths out of cannabis. They would erect crude saunas out of animal skin stretched around poles, put some hemp seed on hot coals, and then stand inside the booths soaking up the steam and the euphoric effects. Additionally, according to Martin Booth’s Cannabis: A History, Tarim mummies from ancient Northern China have been discovered with bags full of cannabis buried in their tombs. It is believed that these men were shamans, and wanted to bring their sacred herb with them into the next world so they could continue practicing their craft. The shaman mummies have also been found with bowls and various other hemprelated items in their tombs, suggesting that this ancient people ate and imbibed cannabis as well as used hemp for fiber.

Cannabis Rites in Africa

Sikhism and Sacred Smoke

Those who practice the Sikh religion today more than likely abstain from cannabis–the modern Sikh teachings outline that intoxication is a distraction from true understanding of God and something that only gets in the way of faith. However, cannabis is a hugely entrenched part of their history, and there are sects of the religion that still stand by its healing powers today. According to the spiritual blog Amrit World’s interpretation of Sikh lore, the Sikhs who fought in the Second Battle of Anandpur in 1701 were being persecuted and constantly pursued by Mughal forces. Because of this, the warriors were always on the run and did not have good access to food, sometimes having to resort to eating things like tree bark. When this happened, they turned to the plentiful weed, bhang or cannabis, to deal with the pains caused by eating such a poor diet. They also used it to help with pain when they became injured in combat and had to remain on the run. As a result, some Sikhs today still ritually use cannabis, and an exception for imbibing is often made on certain holidays. c

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When it comes to the history of Africa and cannabis, the roots go a lot deeper than the relatively recent advent of the Rastafari religion. Alfred Dunhill, the British historian who spent time studying the history of cannabis in Africa and wrote The Pipe Book, claimed that Africans have used gourd pipes to smoke cannabis since ancient times. The Baluka tribe also formed a hemp-smoking cult at one point in time, called the Riamba, in order to smoke cannabis together in community and honor the herb. According to Pogge and Wissman, two explorers who chronicled the Bashilenge tribe in 1881, there were both clubs of hemp smokers and religious cults. The tribe allegedly referred to themselves as “sons of hemp” and used “hemp” as a greeting when addressing each other. Members of the religious cannabis cults would show their devotion by smoking as frequently as possible, and believed that the magic of hemp would outweigh the negative energy they built up when they had to do things like go to war. They also passed around a guard to smoke out of as a kind of peace pipe whenever making important agreements or deals. The continent also has a history of using the plant for healing purposes since ancient times across various countries.

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What’s organic? In the cannabis market, that’s a difficult query by Jamie Solis

ow can you know for sure that the natural cannabis plant you are about to consume is organic? To put it simply—you can’t. From the exhaustive efforts of cannabis producers across the nation who uphold pristine cannabis-growing operations that follow what appear to be organic practices to the frauds that have been pushing contaminated cannabis and claiming it is organic, the term “organic” is a complicated subject in the cannabis community. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) organic seal of approval has been around since October 2002. This certification informs consumers which food and agricultural products

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have been produced with methods that preserve the environment and are free from pesticides, antibiotics, genetically modified organisms and other synthetic materials. Regardless of how it is grown, cannabis is unable to qualify under the USDA’s organic label. This is because cannabis is still a Schedule I Controlled Substance under federal law, and that makes the production of the plant federally illegal. Although state governments like Washington, Colorado and Oregon allow for the recreational consumption of cannabis, state governments still hold no power in certifying cannabis as organic. >>

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“Although state governments like Washington, Colorado and Oregon allow for the recreational consumption of cannabis, state governments still hold no power in certifying cannabis as organic.”

Brian E. Smith is the Communications Director at Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Smith explained why his state agency, among others, is at a stand still until federal regulations change. “ . . . Certifying something as ‘organic’ is a federal process. Because marijuana is a federally controlled substance, it won’t allow the ‘organic certification.’ Washington State can’t certify anything as organic if the federal government doesn’t allow it first. So, we don’t have the ability to change our regulations.” Washington isn’t the only state that is facing this struggle; Colorado State has also been facing hardships due to this lack of regulation, as there have been reports of many dispensaries falsely advertising organic and chemical-free products. Boulder Weekly reported in May 2015 that 10 local dispensaries had been investigated for pesticiderelated violations, and many of these companies had been advertising their contaminated products as organic. This is a perfect example of “buyer beware” and the problem with the limited regulation on the word organic. After receiving many complaints, Roger Hudson from the Colorado Attorney

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General’s office commented to Harvest Public Media on the state’s current stance on regulating the production of organic cannabis claims, “Is there a legal definition at this point in time? No there is not. But there is a general idea of what ‘organically grown’ is.” Without a legal definition outlining what we already understand as organic cannabis, Hudson shared that Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman is working with fraud investigators to look into the state’s various dispensaries that have complaints against them for falsely advertising organic products. It is unclear if there will be negative repercussions for these businesses. The federal government’s lack of regulating sustainable, natural and safe cannabis has opened the door for private companies to step in. Some of the most popular third party companies who are working to provide agricultural certifications to ensure safe, clean and environmentally conscious agricultural and cannabis grows are California’s Clean Green Certified and Oregon’s Organic Cannabis Growers Association. California’s Clean Green Certified offers The Clean Green Certification Program, which covers everything to help ensure farmers will lower their

carbon footprint while creating the safest product available. They do this by consulting on the best methods for growing the crop to testing the crop for pesticides and other contaminants. Organic Cannabis Growers Association has a partnership with Certified-Kind, giving their clients top tier certification program choices. Their Certified Kind Program is known as “The Gold Standard in cannabis certification,” although it is also popular amongst vegetable growers who value sustainability and organic growing methods. The Naturally Grown Cannabis Program focuses on using the most natural and organic products to produce the best quality cannabis possible, and although they aren’t affiliated with the USDA, some of their standards are stricter than the USDA. Farmers who uphold organic integrity use natural processes and materials in every aspect of the production of their product, from soil to pest management and everything in between, deserve the certification that their product is in fact organic. However until there is proper regulation rolling out from the federal government in the near future, it is uncertain when this right will be given. c

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CULTURE // November 2015

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llinois is typically known for its corn harvests, but soon it will be known for its medical cannabis harvests as well. It is now among 23 states that allow cannabis to be used to treat certain diagnosed medical conditions. Even though the state is having its first harvest, the medical cannabis bill was officially passed in August of 2013. Now, the harvest that patients have been waiting over two years for has finally arrived. It will be interesting to see what develops in a state that has been very cautious to make sure everything is being “done right,” according to Representative Lou Lang, D-Skokie, who has been a strong advocate for medical cannabis legalization since 2009. There are more than 3,000 patients who have waited patiently, 16 of them who are children in desperate need of the type of palliative relief that only cannabis can provide. The care they could be receiving from cannabis cannot be denied. To be so close to the finish line, which in a sense could also be considered the starting line for so many people, is an invigorating feeling. For now, patients suffering from PTSD in Illinois are excluded from the list and aren’t able to qualify for a medical card, unless they can qualify with another illness, like cancer or AIDS. Chronic pain also isn’t on the list. Unlike in other states, patients in Illinois cannot grow their own cannabis. Only cultivation centers that are approved by the state can do that. Those centers are also under very strict guidelines and require the utmost scrutiny when it comes to solid

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security systems and other requirements. One of these cultivation centers is called Ataraxia and it was the first center that was ready for harvest. In Grown is another cultivation center that was ready to start helping patients and experienced their first harvest at the beginning of October as well. With over 60 plants around six feet tall, the president and CEO of In Grown told the Journal Standard, “It looked fantastic for our very first harvest . . . we’re very pleased, very excited and very honored to be part of the program.” Some growers, like In Grown, have already run into some minor issues, like preparing itself for a much higher demand than what reality reflects. Eventually, the industry could boast well over 100,000 patients, but until then they need to stop counting their chickens before they hatch or they’ll be left with a fully catered party and only a few guests. The University of Illinois has the first medical cannabis lab in the state and it’s ready to start testing strains to make sure they are clear of any harmful microbes, pesticides, solvents and fungal poisons, according to the Associated Press. The first dispensary that opened in Illinois is called The Harbory, which opened at the beginning of October, although though cannabis was not available yet. Eager to open their doors and start helping patients, they began, offering counseling, massage and acupuncture. Approved patients have already started receiving their cards and will be able to start medicating very soon. c

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Newly Green North Carolina The Old North State welcomes SB-313

by Jackie Piper

ven though the South has been quite resistant to legalizing cannabis, even for medical reasons, the region is slowly opening up its arms to hemp. North Carolina just saw monumental support from assembly members in both the House and Senate with both passing Senate Bill 313. The new bill would make it legal to grow industrial hemp, and would also create an industrial hemp commission that would help manage growers across the state. Technically, the term “industrial hemp” is defined as the plant cannabis sativa L., with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. In layman’s terms, it contains very little of the

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psychoactive substance that will get users “high.” Hemp’s destiny reaches far beyond being a mindaltering substance. It is a valuable crop that, because of its strength, according to the National Hemp Association, can be used for composite materials that could be used to make anything from skateboard decks to car and stealth fighter bodies. The seed can also be used as food and is especially palatable in granola. Many farmers that grew tobacco are now looking to hemp as a way to fill the void that declining tobacco sales have left. Not everyone is convinced that industrial hemp will help, especially because of its tarnished reputation as a derivative to cannabis, but as James Comer, Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner said about it, “It’s

not the replacement, but it’s part of the solution.” Because of the looser federal laws that are set in place now, states have more freedom to decide whether or not they want to get involved with industrial hemp. Last month, when law enforcement groups backed off, it passed the legislature by a very large margin: 101 to 7 in the House and 42 to 2 in the Senate. North Carolina state Senator Stan Bingham remarked, “They had some very conservative members that I would’ve thought would’ve voted against this no matter what, but they didn’t. They saw the job opportunities. There’s just a lot of things that can be done with this and I hope we’ll have a bright future.” Although the benefits might seem obvious, industrial hemp

cultivation is not on everyone’s radar. It’s a huge opportunity that many still need to hop on board with. It’s such a high-yielding crop; it produces twice as much oil as peanuts, and nearly four times as much paper as trees. Even Levi’s originally used hemp in their jeans to provide sturdy pockets for carrying gold. Now the bill is sitting on Governor Pat McCrory’s desk, waiting to be vetoed or blocked. If he doesn’t take any action, it will be approved. This would then establish an Industrial Hemp Commission which would naturally oversee a hemp pilot program. That program would be tasked with granting licenses to cultivate industrial hemp and studying the immense benefits that come along with industrial hemp cultivation. c VISIT US AT

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Realistic

Revelry Local artist

Erica Day recreates her own world through paint and passion

by Addison Herron-Wheeler Art is nothing without

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted to make paintings about cannabis because I believe in the movement. I was witness to the benefits, and I wanted to do my part to contribute.â&#x20AC;?

self-reflection and selfconsciousness, and this is something that local Colorado artist Erica Day knows very well. Her style of realism and painting makes her stand out from other contemporary artists getting their MFA at University of Colorado Boulder, and her favorite topics to explore are the gaze of narcissism, self-reflection and intimate looks at moments that might otherwise stay behind closed doors or go unnoticed. Her eye for detail has helped her to capture some intense moments and truly vibrant scenes, and it has also helped her ground herself as an artist in a style of realism that straddles absolute reality with a slightly skewed view. >>

CULTURE // November 2015

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November 2015 // CULTURE

“I am pretty representational, and that is something I’ve talked a lot about in terms of what styles I want to do, what I want my paintings to work with,” Day explained. “I will have people tell me, ‘oh that’s amazing, it looks just like a photo,’ and that is not necessarily what I am striving for. The goal in photo realism is to leave no trace of the artist’s hand and for me that is not satisfying. I went to school with some people who are great at photo realism, but the process is not for me. I love the drawing process, and I don’t mind if things are a little bit off. I just see the world that way–I love realism. I am trying to get a little looser because I think I have the tendency to get very detailed. In certain areas I want to be tight, and I want to leave other areas a little looser.” Day features many different subjects in her work, and lately has been dealing with themes of eroticism and narcissism, focusing on the idea of couples and how their intimate gazes shape the way they are viewed. She has also worked cannabis into her paintings in the past – a topic close to her heart because of how the healing power of cannabis has affected her family. “My father started growing cannabis for his own chronic pain, and for my

mother’s stage four breast cancer, back in 2007” she explains. “He’s a registered caregiver back in Michigan, and has several other patients who benefit a lot from using medicinal cannabis.” In response to her father’s work, Day has tried to be an advocate herself by featuring cannabis in her paintings, including one of her father tending to the cannabis plants in the basement of his Michigan home. “I wanted to be an advocate,” she explains. “I wanted to make paintings about cannabis because I believe in the movement. I was witness to the benefits, and I wanted to do my part to contribute.” Day recently relocated from Michigan to Colorado to attend school in Boulder, and so far she’s overwhelmed with the welcoming atmosphere around both art and cannabis in this state. “I like living in a place where people are not getting arrested for using cannabis, where I don’t have to worry about being arrested,” she adds. “I am more of a social smoker and I don’t imbibe all the time, but I am pro legalization and hopefully I will see that happen within my lifetime across the country.” c www.ericaday.net

Upcoming Event:

November 13 @ The New House Hotel in Denver

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Electronic Evolution

Local duo Loudpvck is dedicated to making boundary-pushing, experimental, awesome beats by Addison Herron-Wheeler

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Electronic music has definitely been the driving

into the giant arena by DJs like Loudpvck and

aural force for the 2010sâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;its massive resurgence

their contemporaries. The two dudes who make

in popularity has given an entire generation a

up the Loudpvck duo, Kenny Beats and Ryan

reason to dance. The sounds of trap, mainsream

Marks, recently opened up to Culture about

dubstep and reclaimed, modernized club music

making it big, keeping it lighthearted, and their

are being brought out of the small dance hall and

favorite strains. >>

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How did you all get started making music? Ryan Marks: We’ve both been playing instruments the better part of our lives. We started out with a more classical, jazz, rock background. We both went to Berkeley College of Music in Boston to pursue songwriting, producing and playing our instruments. We were also very interested in beat making and production, and there weren’t many other kids there doing that at the time, especially not at our school. Kenny Beats: It was exciting when we first met because we could show each other different music and titles. It all kind of just spiraled together into Loudpvck after we became friends. What role does cannabis play in your creative or personal lives? Beats: Cannabis is how me and Ryan met. Our friendship was formed over cannabis, and

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our interest and obsession has grown over the years. We met outside our local weed dealer’s house in college. We started talking music, and we’ve been best friends ever since that day. We started getting high, fucking around, we never planned to be a duo; we just started making songs. We were super high when we made them, and we never really knew this would turn into us having our own strain, playing in cannabis cups, and being so heavily involved in the industry. Marks: I can’t really fall asleep without smoking weed, and I also smoke it all day every day. We like smoking weed, getting high; it’s something you can do simultaneously while making music. If we were statisticians we wouldn’t be getting that high (laughs). Beats: And we don’t get in the studio and get high—we start to make music and then we take a break and smoke weed and keep

going. It keeps the work flow at the best possible rate. What role does cannabis play in your music or public image? Beats: Our songs might have to do with partying, getting lit, which can be a weed term—but it’s not necessarily a theme or focus in the music. It is more like the online presence and who we are. We have a strain of wax, and right now we have Loudpvck OG, which was us trying a bunch of OGs and picking the ones we liked. The Lemon OG ended up winning a bunch of awards, and we picked that one, took the name, made it Loudpvc OG, and we are stoked to be able to promote someone’s product that way. How do you all feel about legalization so far? How is it being handled, and what do you think could be done differently? Marks: I think it is great—I think weed should definitely be legal;

I don’t believe in prohibition of anything, any drug. Tax revenues have gone through the roof; we can rehabilitate people who actually have problems with drugs, and we don’t have to spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars on people who are arrested for drugs. I think it is naturally happening at a state by state rate at first, and it is happening at an extremely fast rate now, like a tidal wave. I would compare it to the marriage equality movement; once the country’s sentiments changed about it, it almost immediately became a federally passed law. What exciting things do you all have coming up in terms of plans for releases or mixes? Beats: We have a mix in the work right now, a single with 12th Planet, a split with Major Lazer, a few things in the mix with Nightmare, Soy Sauce—they are all going to be one-off singles. c VISIT US AT iReadCulture.com www.loudpvck.com

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G UI D E ! 2015

Kannastör® GR8TR™ Grinder

The GR8TR™ Grinder by Kannastör® is the most versatile grinder on the market. Offering not only interchangeable grinding plates for both vape and traditional grounds, but also offering several storage options, Easy Change Screen™, and handy configurations such as a storage puck, and storage sifting jar. The Kannastör® GR8TR™does it all and includes a limited lifetime warranty. Visit www.kannastor.com and use Promo Code Holiday420 to receive 20 percent off your next purchase.

The SmokeBuddy

Just in time for Christmas! The Smokebuddy company has just now released Smokebuddy glow-in-the-dark, available in two sizes, Original and JR; and in two colors: White that glows green, and blue that glows blue! The Smokebuddy is a personal air filter designed to reduce second hand smoke and odor, simply blow your smoke in and clean air comes out on the other side. Original smoke buddy is good for about 300 uses and Smokebuddy JR is good for about 150 uses. Glow in the dark original $24.95 | Glow in the dark Jr $19.95 20 percent OFF use discount code CULTURE Smokebuddy.com

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by Ed Rosenthal

growing culture

EXPERIMENTING WITH LIGHTING —The Harvest

arlier in the season, I set up a garden in a greenhouse that received light only from the front and the top, far less than the total amount of light the plants could use. An induction fluorescent was mounted on a sidewall that delivered light only to the middle of the garden. The plants close to either the front or rear door received no light from the fixture. The plants under the light were harvested September 3rd. The controls were harvested 12 days later but by that time the weather had changed. Oakland, a coastal city, experiences high humidity because the ocean heavily influences it. With the temperature dropping at night to 55° and the plants spending a large part of the time in the 55° to 70° range, it was almost inevitable that the plants would be attacked by powdery mildew (pm). We tried controlling it using a 10 percent milk solution and herbal fungicides, but the attack was overwhelming. The second part of the harvest was not worth our collection efforts because of the looser buds resulting from late September’s lower light levels and widespread attacks of powdery mildew. So, the use of supplemental light resulted in higher yields of the light enriched plants, and also decreased ripening time, saving the crop from the onslaughts of fall weather.

The uncut plants were hung in an unheated room for about three weeks. The temperature in the space stayed in the cool range of about 60°70°. The buds dried but retained some pliability; perfect for smoking- not over-dried to stale and crisp. Then a friend manicured the four plants. The two Jack hybrids weighed 68 grams and 87 grams respectively. Two unknown hybrids weighed 80 grams and 53 grams, respectively, a total of 288 grams, about 10 ounces. All the buds were moderate size but tight and fully loaded with trichomes. The buds were placed in clean glass jars and will be stored in a refrigerator at about 45°, which will keep them fresh. The point of the beginning garden experiment was to see if flowering could be induced using far red light of 730 nm after dusk. This experiment was unsuccessful, but inadvertently I noticed I was conducting another experiment, enhancing light intensity using electrical lights. The result: Plants that received supplemental lighting during the normal light period produced bigger buds and the time to ripening was reduced by two weeks. The upshot: Expect plants grown in shade or under cloud cover to yield less in more time. However, you can improve yield and shorten ripening time with nominal supplemental light. c

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM ASK ED®

he possibly frantic days of harvest are over. The plants have dried and been manicured. Now you might have some time to deal with the leaf and trim that you have saved. There are so many ways that it can be used: Tincture-Make a tincture by soaking the grass in high-proof alcohol such as Everclear or

over-proof rum for a week. Shake occasionally. You can use it as a drink or concentrate it into drops. Salve-easily made by mixing ground leaf or buds in glycerin, aloe and alcohol or into a commercial salve. Use it externally for pain relief. Kief-Rub leaves or buds over a silk or metal screen.

Kief screens are available in many shops. Marijuana Butter or OilMake this by slowly simmering the leaf/trim in butter or oil for a few hours. Strain the leaf and use. Water hash-Shake leaf/ ground bud in a jar with water and ice for 5 minutes. Let settle. Pour out the water and leaf. The THC containing glands remain at the bottom of the container. Dry and use.

Plants hanging in a cool room to dry and cure. The process takes about three weeks.

2 Close-up of buds hanging.

3 Branches trimmed from stem, ready to manicure.

4 Three of the varieties have been manicured. The fourth is about to be transformed.

5 All the buds were tight.

6 The Jack hybrid produced some tight long buds with great color and mixed aroma.

7 The cups runneth over. More jars are needed to store the buds.

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.

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Arizona

destination unknown

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by Sheryll Alexander

Arizona Comes Alive A as Fall Cools Down IF YOU GO:

Fun-Filled Facts 1 Arizona has the most ghost towns of

any state (about 275!). Ghost towns are typically free to visit and are mostly concentrated in the central northwest and southeast regions of the state. 2

Starting November 27, visitors can enjoy “Silent Night” or Las Noches de las Luminarias at Scottdale’s pretty Desert Botanical Garden. With the Sonoran Desert as a backdrop, the gardens are set aglow with no less than 8,000 hand-lit luminaria bags for viewing a pop-up outdoor art gallery into the warm serene night.

Surprisingly, Arizona is also a haven for electric vehicles (EVs). The state’s official tourism bureau, Travel Arizona, even provides EV road trip guides with places and tips for charging from L.A. and San Diego as well as points within Arizona.

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Arizona is fast becoming a mecca for medical cannabis patients with legalization on the lips of every cannabusiness out there. The sheer number of dispensaries is quite astounding given the ultra conservative politics of this dry state. Although Arizona went medical in 2010, it took a couple of years for the new pro-cannabis law to form into a Californialike system of medical cannabis doctor recs along with viable and reliable dispensaries to pop up. Now, thankfully, Arizona’s medical cannabis program has taken shape and has blossomed into a rather safe haven for those seeking healing (and legal) relief in the form of just about every cannabis product imaginable from flower buds to edibles to CBD oils. Arizona’s current medical cannabis law also includes a cool grow provision: Residents living more than 25 miles away from a legal dispensary can tend (in a locked, enclosed space) up to 12 plants.

Time to Go: Fall, Winter or Spring Weather: Warm in Fall and Winter with occasional rain in Spring Budget: $$$$$

rizona is truly an inspirational locale to medicate with its almost ethereal skies, mountains, valleys, canyons and waterways and is most especially enjoyed when the heat has subsided in late fall. A medical cannabis state since 2010, Arizona is coming into its own with now hundreds of cannabis dispensaries focused on the more populated cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. One of the best things about a getaway to Arizona is ease of transport. The Phoenix airport (one of the busiest in the nation) is located smack dab in the middle of the state and has some of the most affordable flights anywhere. Snow birds hit their rental car right after getting off the plane because all of Arizona can be yours with your own wheels. In November, Arizona’s top towns burst with foodie autumn harvest energy from farmer’s markets to farm festivals to farm stands to food truck frenzies. The state also celebrates the cool fall season with hiking in the early mornings to hitting lots of outdoor music and arts events such as the Mesa Music Festival (November 12-15). While there, visit the famed Mesa Art Center for no less than five art exhibits of actor, comedian and cannabis activist Cheech Marin’s vast Chicano art collection (free through December 10). Although Arizona is not yet a recreational state, this scenic state is fast on its way to legalization and is certainly a pleasurable place to visit while medicating during the Southwest’s temperate fall season. c

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Seth Green profile in courage

Age: 25 Condition/ Illness: Cerebral Palsy, Seizures, Scoliosis, Stroke, Anxiety, Depression, Multiple Sclerosis.

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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When did you start using medical cannabis? I started using cannabis when I got into high school. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes, seizure medication and anxiety and depression medications. The seizure medications were actually making me have more seizures and the depression medication made me feel like a completely different person. So, I just gathered up all meds and threw them away. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather suffer than take man-made pills that poison my body. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Getting the elected officials that are funded by pill companies out of office. The elected officials control the access of cannabis for so many people, and the pharmaceutical

companies have so many politicians in their back pocket, at this point in time. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? That they need to open up their minds more and think of the big picture. There are millions of people suffering needlessly, or overdosing on pills. There have never been any deaths from cannabis; it is all-natural and helps treat hundreds of illnesses. Cannabis has been proven to be safer than man-made medications. We need to let the people who choose cannabis over pharmaceuticals have a real say in what goes on; they are the ones that are taking a safe medication and want real and safe access to healing, for all. That will not only help in the medical field, but it could potentially bring millions of dollars to states that need it for roads, schools and more. c

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recipes

Menu:

Pumpkin Soup with Sage Pesto Turkey meatballs with Cranberry Glaze Spicy Citrus Brussels

Turkey meatballs with Cranberry Glaze 1 pound of lean ground turkey 1 tablespoon cannabis-infused olive oil t ½ cup finely chopped onion (1 medium onion) ¼ cup unseasoned dry bread crumbs 1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 can (16 oz) jellied cranberry sauce ½ cup water

PREPARE TO FEAST KICK THANKSGIVING UP A NOTCH

As we move into the holiday season once again, we’re reminded that it’s that time of year to take a step back and be thankful for everything that life brings to the table—especially when it comes to food! This Thanksgiving, immortalize that warm, fuzzy feeling of happiness that we associate with the holiday with hearty soups, creamy mashed potatoes, tasty stuffing and turkey galore—all of which are classic culinary staples. Take those typical flavors and spice up a few of our modern recipes that come with a healthy dose of cannabis, and enjoy the relaxing, euphoric food coma that you deserve.

In medium bowl, mix all ingredients except cranberry sauce and water. Shape mixture into about 45 (one-inch) balls. Heat infused oil in 10inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs; brown meatballs on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes (or until thermometer inserted in center of meatballs reads 165°F). Slowly stir in cranberry sauce and chicken water. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until cranberry sauce is smooth.

Spicy Citrus Brussels 2 pounds brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise 1½ tablespoons cannabis-infused olive oil t

1 tablespoon red pepper flakes Coarse salt 2 teaspoons lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 450°, with racks in middle and lower third. Divide brussels between two baking sheets and toss each with oil and red pepper flakes. Lightly sprinkle coarse salt over brussels. Roast until browned in some spots and tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes, stirring and rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to a serving dish and top with lemon zest and lemon juice. 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

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serves

Pumpkin Soup with Sage Pesto

Soup

1 large sugar or pie pumpkin, cut in half and seeds removed and reserved (plus 4 small ones if you are making the pumpkin bowls) 1 tablespoon cannabisinfused olive oil* salt and pepper 6 tablespoons canna butter* 2 small shallots, chopped 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped

4 cups chicken broth 1 cup coconut milk + 1 cup water (or 2 cups water) 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more or less to your liking) 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Sage Pesto 1 head garlic (or you may sub 1 clove raw garlic) 1 cup fresh parsley 1/2 cup fresh sage 1/4 cup shelled pistachios 1/4 cup cannabis-infused olive oil*

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (if you do not like blue cheese, substitute with feta or parmesan) 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preheat the oven to 400°. Cut your pumpkin in half or into fourths and de-seed. Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet, rub the pumpkin with 1 tablespoon infused olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Chop off the top portion of the garlic head to reveal cloves. Peel any excess paper/ skin off from the bulb of garlic. Pour about a teaspoon of infused olive oil on top the garlic cloves and cover with foil. Roast both the pumpkin and garlic together on the same baking sheet for 45 minutes, or until the pumpkin is fork tender and the garlic is golden brown and soft. Remove from the oven and allow everything to cool five minutes. Squeeze garlic out of the paper skin into a small bowl, mash well with a fork and set aside. Grab the pumpkin and add it to a food processor (or mash extremely well) and puree with 1 cup of the chicken broth. Puree until completely smooth. Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the canna butter and shallots. Sauté the shallots until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and cook another 30 seconds. Add the pumpkin puree, remaining chicken, coconut milk, water, cayenne, nutmeg, maple syrup and crushed red pepper. Bring the soup to a low simmer and simmer 15-20 minutes. While the soup cooks, make the pesto. Put the roasted garlic, parsley, sage and pistachios in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped and then stream in the infused oil. Add the cheese and pulse a few more time until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls (or your roasted pumpkins) and top each bowl with a dollop of pesto and if desired, drizzle with coconut milk. Enjoy!

Local eateries with similar dishes Oak at Fourteenth 1400 Pearl St., Boulder (303) 444-3622 www.oakatfourteenth.com

Lala’s Wine Bar + Pizzeria 410 E 7th Ave., Denver (303) 861-9463 www.lalaswinebar.com The Rabbit Hole 101 N Tejon St., Colorado Springs (719) 203-5072 www.rabbitholedinner.com

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event listings

LET’S

38th Denver Film Festival, Nov. 4-15

Over 200 films are brought to light at this year’s Denver Film Festival, celebrating a variety of different amazing approaches to the medium. Plus, attendees can truly feel like a part of the action while checking out premiers and parties and special celebrity appearances as well. Sie FilmCenter, Denver www.denverfilm.org

DO THIS

opening up to celebrate talented local artists in the scene. Various locations, Denver www.denver.org

featured event

All Colorado Beer Festival, Nov. 7

Almost 150 different local beers are going to be showcased at this year’s Beer Festival, produced by 70 unique brewers. This weekend, it’s all beer all of the time—bottoms up! Mortgage Solution Financial Expo Center, Colorado Springs www.mortgagesolutionsfinancialexpocenter.com

Moon Taxi, Nov. 5

These Nashville natives have got major talent in the progressive rock department. Check out this up-and-coming band live, and experience hit tunes like “The New Black.” Gothic Theatre, Englewood www.gothictheatre.com

Denver Arts Week, Nov. 6-14

Spread throughout Denver, the Denver Arts Week event takes place in over 300 locations. Galleries, local theatres, museums and other venues are

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Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, Nov. 13-15

Known as Colorado’s longest running women’s film festivals, the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival celebrates and honors the success of women everywhere. Each year, 1012 filmmakers are featured, bringing a unique variety of movies that are free to the public. Various locations, Colorado Springs www.rmwfilminsttitute.org

5K Turkey Trot, Nov. 26

So maybe you feel that sleepy, bloated feeling coming on just by thinking about eating all of that delicious Thanksgiving food this year. It may be difficult, but

Kottonmouth Kings, Nov. 9

We’ve kept tabs on this popular rap rock group Kottonmouth Kings ever since we got to interview its members back in 2012. Check out what the band has been up to with live music from its newest album, Krown Power. Moxi Theater, Greeley www.moxitheater.com be sure to drag yourself out of bed and try out the 5K Turkey Trot to make yourself feel like less of a fat plump turkey. Estes Park Center, Estes Park www.visitestespark.com

Denver International Wine Festival, Nov. 28-30 Over 400 wines will be

featured at the Denver International Wine Festival, along with educational seminars, gourmet food samples and travel experts. Oenophiles will enjoy getting to taste wines of the world—it’s the must-see wine event of the year. Omni Interlocked Resort & Spa, Broomfield www.denverwinefest.com VISIT US AT

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Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird

LEAD STORY—A PAPER DRONE u The Federal Aviation

Administration recently granted (likely for the first time ever) an application to fly a paper airplane. Prominent drone advocate Peter Sachs had applied to conduct commercial aerial photography with his “aircraft” (a Tailor Toys model with a tiny propeller and maximum range of 180 feet), and the agency, concerned with air traffic safety, accommodated by treating the request (unironically?) under the rules for manned flights (that, among other restrictions, Sachs must not exceed 100 mph and must engage a licensed airplane pilot

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to fly it). “With this grant,” said the “victorious” Sachs, “the FAA has abandoned all logic and sensibility.”

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS u Because temperatures

were in the high 90s the last weekend in August, tourists visiting the historical Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland were greeted by the outdoor sprinkler system dousing them near the gates. It was intended as relief, said operators, to keep guests from fainting, but, as one Israeli visitor said, “It was a punch to the gut”—too reminiscent of Auschwitz’s gas chamber. (Jewish prisoners had

been marched calmly to their deaths under the pretense that they were only being taken for showers).

NEW WORLD ORDER u Digital World: (1) The North

Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced in July that it would be experimenting with online phys ed courses for high schoolers. Students would watch videos on certain activities, then engage in them, and later self-report their (as the agency calls it) “mastery.” (2) British police warned in August of a brand-new sex crime based on the iPhone app AirDrop. The app sends text or photos instantly to nearby AirDrop users (who choose to receive from “contacts” or from “everyone”). Thus, perverts can “flash” strangers by posting nude pictures of themselves to reach AirDrop users set carelessly (or purposely!) to “everyone.”

GOVERNMENT INACTION u The streets of Jackson,

Mississippi, apparently have potholes that rival the worst in the country, but without adequate budget to fix them, according to Mayor Tony Yarber. His remedy, offered earnestly to constituents in August: prayer. “I believe we can pray potholes away.” (Yarber, elected in 2014, was pastor of the Relevant Empowerment Church).

NAMES IN THE NEWS u Charged with choking and

punching his fiancee: Mr. Daniel Gentleman, 28 (Prescott, Arizona, May). Charged with killing her husband and burying his body in a manure pile on their farm: Ms. Charlene Mess, 48 (Attica, New York, April). Charged with sexual assault: Mr. Huckleberry Finn (Keene, New Hampshire, July). And prominent in the news (confusingly so) when the Food and Drug Administration approved the so-called “female Viagra” drug Addyi in August: FDA spokesperson Dr. Janet Woodcock.

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LEAST COMPETENT PEOPLE u “Selfies” continue to take

their devastating toll on Americans. On Aug. 30 in Orient, Maine, driver Jordan Toner, 29, attempting to lean into a seven-person selfie among his passengers, crashed into a tree, causing numerous injuries. On Aug. 24, Alex Gomez, 36, of Lake Elsinore, California, tried to take one after draping an angry 4-footlong rattlesnake around his neck. The predictable bite was damaging but not fatal. On Sept. 1 in Houston, a 19-year-old man taking selfies while clumsily fondling his handgun is no longer with us.

RECURRING THEMES u In June, News of the Weird

mentioned a drug dealer in Marseille, France, who was distributing loyalty cards to his best customers (fill 10 squares, get a discount). In August, a small-time cannabis dealer in the central France

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town of Villeurbanne pushed the envelope further by taping 1-gram samples to handlettered leaflets (offering home delivery for 100-euro orders, along with his first name and phone number). The man was of course arrested, with the local police superintendent musing about the man’s “very special” business model.

u More “Slow TV”: Norwegian TV viewers have somehow given strong ratings to a series of seemingly interminable programs (a continuous camera on a salmon-fishing vessel, 12 hours of live log-burning with commentary, five hours of knitters spinning their way to a world record, 100 straight hours of chess-playing, a five-day stretch from a cruise ship), and in August were presented another such gift. The Norwegian caviar company Mills said it would live stream, on a YouTube channel, nearly 11 months of fish eggs aging 24/7 in barrels—7,392 hours of “programming.”

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u People With Issues: Alexander Carlsson, 25, was jailed in Sanford, Florida, in August on federal child pornography charges, but also told agents that he is a “clopper,” which identifies him, he said, as one who masturbates while gazing at figurines and pictures depicting Hasbro’s My Little Pony toys. A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (FEBRUARY 2009) u Though India is recognized

as a world leader in promoting the health benefits of urine, its dominance will be assured by the end of the year (2009) when a cow-urine-based soft drink comes to market. Om Prakash, chief of the Cow Protection Department of the RSS organization (India’s largest Hindu nationalist group), trying to reassure a Times of London reporter in February, promised, “It won’t smell like urine and will be tasty, too,” noting that medicinal herbs would be added and toxins removed. In addition to improved health, he said, India

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needs a domestic (and especially Hindu) beverage to compete with the foreign influence of CocaCola and Pepsi.

YOUR ENGLISH TEACHER WAS RIGHT u In September, Tennessee

Attorney General Herbert Slatery concluded that records of an investigation need not be released to the Memphis City Council— because there was no comma. The law requires the records’ release “only in compliance with a subpoena or an order of a court.” Slatery said if there had been a comma after “subpoena,” a council subpoena would get the records, but without the comma, only court subpoenas. And in July, Andrea Cammelleri prevailed on her parking ticket challenge because there was no comma. A West Jefferson, Ohio, ordinance banned parking of any “motor vehicle camper, trailer.” A state appeals judge ruled that, with a comma after “vehicle,” Cammelleri’s truck would have been banned, but without it, only campers and trailers were.

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