Culture Magazine Colorado October 2015 by Culture Magazine

CULTURE // October 2015

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October 2015 // CULTURE

CULTURE // October 2015

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October 2015 // CULTURE

Contents october 2015

GET YOUR CLICK HERE

56 BEN & JERRY www.iReadCulture.com

112

CHILLIN’ WITH

The world famous ice cream duo, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, sat down with CULTURE to talk about ice cream, politics and cannabis. 124

128

ON THE COVER: Photo by David Seaver

Feature

8 . Letter from the Editor

Departments

122 . Growing Culture 124 . Destination Unknown 126 . Profiles in Courage 10 . News Nuggets 128 . Recipes 12 . By the Numbers 18 . Veterans Suing CO over 132 . let’s do this 134 . News of the Weird Medical Cannabis 22 . legal corner 26 . healthy living

NEWS

74 . BON APPÉTIT Prepare your taste buds, because this month we’re celebrating everything edibles! 108 . Public Consumption Woes The ballot battle of cannabis consumption in designated bars and clubs has hit a speed bump.

reviews

112

. INDUSTRY INSIDER Martin Lee of Project CBD is famous for his work as both a journalist and cannabis advocate, and was a proponent for CBD medicine early in the game.

28 . advocate highlight 30 . dispensary highlight 32 . EDIBLE & CONCENTRATE

ReviewS

48 . Entertainment Reviews 52 . liner notes

120 . SURREALIST ADVENTURE Décollage puts on a theatrical show to spotlight its unique, surreal music.

46 SEE MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

CULTURE // October 2015

MMA Women's Champion Ronda Rousey Slams Athletic Commission for Cannabis Prejudice New Tech Set to be Released at the Cannabis World Congress Business Expo

46 . Cool Stuff

116 . Creepy and Creative Local artist Corrina Espinosa makes fascinating works of art.

WEB Exclusive!

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Vol 7 IssUE 4

letter from the editor

/freeculturemag

/ireadculture

Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett

Food is

Editorial coordinator Victoria Banegas, Jamie Durante

Love. A

ll animals eat, but humans are the only animals that cook. Naturally, cooking becomes more than a necessity to survive; it becomes the symbol of our humanity, what separates us from the rest of our natural animal kingdom. Our food is almost always shared; people eat together; mealtimes are events when the whole family or settlement or village comes together. Food is also an occasion for sharing, for distributing and giving, for the expression of altruism. Thus food becomes not just a symbol of, but the reality of, love and security. And because eating is almost always a group event, food is a unique symbol of our human existence. Who doesn’t love sharing a delicious and comforting meal with loved ones? And what about dessert? Our mouths water at the mere thought of our favorite sweet treat—a slice of cheesecake, an ooey gooey rice krispie treat, or a perfect scoop of Cherry Garcia . . . This month is our annual Edibles Issue, focusing on all the pertinent and wonderful innovation in cannabis-infused edible food and drinks, and the sincere appreciation and education in the cannabis culinary arts. Although we are still struggling in many states to organize and legalize cannabis edibles and get them to the people that not only want them but need them, the country as a whole is taking great strides toward this shared goal. This industry has been steadily expanding in reach and in innovation, and we are constantly impressed and thrilled about the edibles market growth. Even with labeling woes, taxes, titration issues and accessibility, the industry is still moving forward. Cannabis-infused drinks, condiments and seasonings are gaining

CULTURE // October 2015

momentum in the previously dessert-dominated market—and our taste buds as well as our bodies are so excited about it. Not everybody can handle smoking cannabis; depending on your condition, eating or drinking cannabis may be the best suited form of this natural medicine for you. However, whether your food is medicated or not, food can be healing. Your diet can affect your mood, your well being and your physical health tremendously. Ice cream innovators Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield started their ice cream company, Ben & Jerry, because of the love they had for this delicious and comforting, sweet and creamy concoction. Their passion and dedication to perfect ice cream creations helped them become multi-millionaires, and one of the most well known ice cream companies in the world. They pride themselves on using their products and success as a means to make the world a better place, investing in organizations, events, campaigns and education in important issues in our world, including climate change and justice, GMO labeling, political justice, marriage equality, cannabis legalization and many others. Ben & Jerry know the power food can have with people, and for people. I hope with this issue, you realize the power food can have as well, raw or cooked, grown or bought, recreationally or medicinally, as a solitary pleasure or a social experiment—food is love. c

Sincerely,

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, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson, Rick Thompson 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 Office Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital media Editor Kimberly Johnson Ctv Video Editor Kristian Quintanilla Ctv Contributors Anna Logan,Chris Salazar Interns Brahim Gousse 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

Evan A. Senn

Editor-In-Chief

CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.

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______________________

State

NEWS NUGGETS

Cannabis home grows in El Paso County limited to 12 plants

Colorado Springs County Commissioners passed a new, temporary regulation for El Paso County, which limits the number of cannabis plants that can be grown on any single property to only 12. Previously, there was no limit as to how many cannabis plants could be grown in their homes for medical reasons. Commissioners stated that this “loophole” of seemingly unlimited cannabis plants needed to be closed in order to prevent people from turning entire houses into grow operations. “Folks are coming in from outside our state and in some cases, outside the U.S., to grow marijuana in large quantities right in our neighborhoods,” stated Commissioner Amy Lathen. “Now, nobody can grow more than 12 plants. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re doing, you can grow 12 and that’s it.” As of this writing, these regulations are temporary, and require one last hearing before becoming permanent.

Slow progress for cannabis tax money to be used for public schools

According to Colorado law, the first $40 million worth of the 15 percent excise tax instituted on cannabis sales to dispensaries will be spent on public schools. Now, voters are finally beginning to see results of that law, albeit at a very slow pace. Although cannabis sales numbers have reflected a major increase in money for this funding, only three of 26 local projects throughout the state will be receiving funding, which will go towards roof replacement, campus renovation and middle school health and safety upgrades, according to Colorado Springs Gazette. Three school districts have also been chosen to receive a piece of that income, which stems from a $2.28

CULTURE // October 2015

million appropriation aimed to pay for behavioral health counseling and drug prevention education, and will be used to hire nurses, psychologists, social workers and counselors. Cannabis taxes cannot be rewarded to every school district though, and when considering the 178 total school districts in Colorado, it could take a long time to ensure they all receive some funds from the excise tax.

__________________________

Nation

cannabis, but illegal to purchase it. However, it should be noted that cannabis use by non-local patients may be very limited, due to private ownership of major hotels in the Las Vegas area. Medical cannabis patients who come from other states may possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis anywhere in Nevada and are required to sign an affidavit verifying that they have been approved to legally use cannabis in their home state.

Early Cannabis Sales Begin in Oregon

The early retail sale of cannabis became official on October 1, as per the state’s approval of Senate Bill 460. Measure 91 made recreational cannabis legal in July, however the measure also gives the Oregon Liquor Control Commission until January 1, 2016 to implement cannabis regulation across the board, for production, processing, and commercial state. As a result, the state has agreed to allow any existing medical cannabis dispensaries to sell cannabis after October 1 as an attempt to keep black market sales from rising. As an added bonus, from now until the end of the year, all recreational cannabis sales will be tax-free.

__________________________

World Out-of-state patients can now buy medical cannabis in Las Vegas and Reno

A new ordinance has made Nevada the first state to allow dispensaries to sell cannabis to out-of-state patient visitors. Now, any patient may visit Nevada’s two current dispensaries, which have only been open since mid-summer (with over 60 more applications for new locations currently being considered throughout the state). So far, a majority of the customer traffic seen at those new dispensaries are patients who traveled from Arizona, where over 80,000 medical cannabis patients are registered. Currently in Arizona, it is legal for out-of-state patients to possess

Colombia decriminalizes up to 20 cannabis plants

A Supreme Court ruling in Colombia last month decreed that having up to 20 plants of cannabis is not a crime. The court’s ruling came as the result of a case involving one man who was sentenced to over five years in prison after being caught by police with a “124 gram” plant, according to Colombia Reports. The current maximum amount of cannabis that can be carried at one time is 20 grams. However, because the man’s plant was to be used for personal use, the court decided that it shouldn’t be considered a crime. Possession of cannabis has already been decriminalized in Colombia, but this ruling further enhances the allowance of small amounts of cannabis. Later this year, the Colombian Congress will reportedly discuss the legalization of medical cannabis. c VISIT US AT

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by the numb3rs

23.9

The estimated amount of money, in millions of dollars, generated by cannabis, that will go towards funding schools this year: 23.9 (Source: The Denver Channel)

117

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Colorado has made through both medical and recreational cannabis sales from excise taxes in the last yearand-a-half: 117 (Source: The Huffington Post)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, worth of cannabis that has been sold in Colorado over the past seven months: 540 (Source: The Cannabist)

The amount of money, in dollars, that was taken off of the price of a mid-grade ounce of cannabis in the Denver area on the one-day sales-tax break last month: 20 (Source: Colorado Daily)

The number of applicants who are currently being considered as candidates to open up medical cannabis dispensaries in New Mexico: 17 (Source: The Washington Times)

The estimated number of patients who qualify for medical cannabis in Georgia: 200 (Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press)

2 12

100

The approximate percentage of growth of cannabis revenue between 2014 and 2015: 100 (Source: The Denver Channel)

The number of dispensaries that will soon be opening in Long Island, New York: 2 (Source: Long Island News 12)

CULTURE // October 2015

200

Champs Trade Shows The trade shows that have history are often the best, and Champs Trade Shows have been operating since 1999. Champs has earned itself the right to be called a premier businessto-business wholesale trade expo, with its many years of experience celebrating the smoke shop industry. The expo will offer everything from accessories, handblown glass and much more from professional exhibitors showing off their waresâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an estimated 700 companies will be in attendance to serve over 15,000 attendees.

IF YOU GO

What: Champs Trade Shows. When/Where: Tues, Nov. 3-Thurs, Nov. 5. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver. Info: Visit www. denverconvention.com for details. VISIT US AT

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Vexed Vets and Victims

PTSD Patients Sue Colorado

R by Addison Herron-Wheeler

Recently, Colorado made a big decision when it comes to medical cannabis laws. They decided not to include PTSD as a condition that can legally be treated with medical cannabis. This debate was certainly marked by controversy on both sides—veterans and victims of assault often claim that cannabis is the only thing that makes them feel safe and sane, but due to the ambiguous nature of mental health issues, and the lack of research and understanding of PTSD in general and how cannabis effects those with mental illness, there was also a lot of opposition to telling sufferers of PTSD that they could count on cannabis. It appears that this controversy is not over just because a decision was reached, as several PTSD patients are currently suing Colorado over their lack of treatment options. According to Russia Today, the plaintiffs in the case include a sexual assault victim, and four war veterans. Each of these individuals claims that they now have less access to the strains that help them the most and that their ability to medicate is suffering due to this new ruling. They also cite the fact that Colorado’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Wolk recommended keeping PTSD as a treatable condition, although the proposal ultimately lost due to a panel vote ruling 6-2 against keeping it on the list. Those who did vote against allowing PTSD for veterans claim that they did so simply because there is not enough science to support that cannabis helps the condition. According to Courthouse News, Dr. Christopher Stanley, who voted “no” claims that “the science piece” of the cannabis and PTSD puzzle needs to be better explained before he is comfortable

CULTURE // October 2015

supporting it as a treatment. However, some of this much-needed scientific research is on the way. Bill Graf, president of Enigami Systems, a company that deals with health software, is currently conducting a study of PTSD, looking at both traditional, prescription medicines and cannabis. “We’re two thirds of the way through it,” Graf explained to Courthouse News. “We track the severity of their symptoms day in and day out, along with the medications they’re taking. Those medications can be traditional, doctorwritten prescriptions, it can be over-thecounter medicines, or it can be medical cannabis.” “I was very surprised that the bureaucracy in Colorado chose not to look into or not to allow treatment for PTSD,” he continued. “I think many people would find that maybe medical cannabis is a much safer alternative to opioids and the abuse and addiction that might come from some of those.”

However, he understands the hesitation, given the unfortunate bad reputation that cannabis still has in many circles. “The Veteran Affairs (VA) reports that a veteran takes his or her own life almost every hour—22 times a day was a recent number I heard,” he stated. “The VA’s hands are tied a little bit now that medical cannabis still has the highest classification for abuse and danger.” The board still has not officially filed their answer, so no date for a hearing has been set. Clearly, more research does need to be done on the topic, and it is fortunate that as residents of a recreational state, these patients can still get some form of cannabis. Still, it would be ideal if they had access to the strains and products that they feel really help them. Hopefully, with a bit more research as the stigma is slowly peeled away, or if these impending lawsuits are successful, PTSD patients in Colorado will once again be able to medicate. c

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C by Ann Toney

r e n r o c l a g e l

Walk This Way T

his edition of CULTURE focuses on edibles. I strongly encourage the use of edibles, as they do not carry the smell of cannabis, which is what genuinely gets the attention of law enforcement. You have read in this column on multiple occasions that when stopped for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs to not submit to the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (roadsides). When you refuse the roadsides, you are withholding from law enforcement valuable evidence they needed to justify them arresting you. The officer must now make up for that loss of evidence and gather it another way. You recall from this column that you have the right to ask law enforcement, “Officer, am I under arrest?” and “Officer am I free to leave?” Well, these questions are also needed when you refuse roadsides. The officer stops your car and comes to the window and talks with you. The officer asks

CULTURE // October 2015

you to step out of the car. You do. Then he or she either asks you to do roadside maneuvers or tells you to do them. You state that you decline roadsides, as they are voluntary. There is nothing the officer can do to make you do roadsides other than threaten to arrest you, but you already know they are going to arrest you even if you do roadsides. What happens next is key. Now that you are out of the car and have refused to do roadsides, the officer says to you, “Step to the rear of your vehicle please.” That is it. “Step to the rear of your vehicle;” or step anywhere else where you need to walk. What they are going to do is make observations of you walking, which are similar to the roadside observations, they would have documented had you done the roadsides. They need to get these observations in prior to arresting you because under the Fourth Amendment, the officer has to

have enough Probable Cause present when they arrest you, and they do not have enough yet. You must practice saying, “Officer, am I free to leave?” and, “Officer, am I under arrest?” Because at the point they say you are under arrest, they will have to show later in court that they had enough Probable Cause to arrest you at that specific time. You can simply say, officer I will stand right here, thank you, until you decide whether you are going to arrest me or not. Do not be defiant and tell the officer that you won’t walk to the back of the car; make it more about what your legal status is at that point in time. Prior to walking to the back of the car, or wherever you are being asked to walk, you need to know whether you are under arrest as you are wanting to leave unless you are under arrest. You could also tactfully ask why they are requesting you to walk to the back of the car. c VISIT US AT

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by Lanny Swerdlow, RN

g n i v i l y h t l a he Treating Pain Safely Just Got More Difficult

on-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used daily by over 17 million Americans to treat headaches, arthritis, sports injuries, menstrual cramps and a litany of other debilitating ailments. The two most commonly used NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen with such familiar brand names as Bayer, Motrin, Excedrin and Advil. Celecoxib and naproxen are lesser-known classes of NSAIDs but they also have recognizable brand names such as Aleve, Naproxin, Naprosyn and Celebrex. Non-aspirin NSAIDs, developed to provide pain relief without the negative consequences of aspirin’s gastro-intestinal complications, became widely available in the 1980s. Over 111 million prescriptions are written in the United States every year for non-aspirin NSAIDs and account for almost 60 percent of all overthe-counter pain medications. Although considered safe, non-aspirin NSAIDs labels warned of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, kidney failure, ulcers and that they “may” cause heart attacks. Underscoring the seriousness

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of these warnings, an article published in the November 2013 online issue of the American Journal of Managed Care reported “each year more than 100,000 patients are hospitalized for NSAIDrelated GI complications” and “that 16,500 persons die annually from these complications.” A significant number of these hospitalizations and deaths may have been caused by non-aspirin NSAIDs as research has found that chronic (i.e. daily) use of these medications can raise a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke significantly more than was originally believed. As a consequence, the FDA has required pharmaceutical companies to drop the word “may” and make it clear on their warning labels that “NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious heart thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use.” People with cardiovascular disease or have risk factors for developing it need to question whether the pain relief they receive from NSAIDs is worth the increased risk for heart attack or stroke.

This is not an easy decision to make. With their debilitating and sometimes fatal side effects, opioids, such as Vicodin or Percocet, are a non-starter as an NSAID alternative. Except for aspirin, which non-aspirin NSAIDs were developed to replace, there appears to no safe and effective alternative to NSAIDs. Nowhere in the medical literature about the newly reported dangers of nonaspirin NSAIDS does cannabis come up for discussion. It seems the medical establishment would rather people suffer from pain or die from continuing to use NSAIDs than buck the iron fist of law enforcement and admit that cannabis has significant medicinal value. Cannabis is a powerful antiinflammatory with none of the debilitating and dangerous side effects of NSAIDs. It follows a different route than NSAIDs to suppress inflammation. Unlike nonaspirin NSAIDs, which work by blocking the production of COX enzymes that produce inflammatory prostaglandins, cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties are achieved by modulating the formation of inflammatory cytokine

molecules and free radical production through the regulation of ion channels. Unlike NSAIDs whose side effects are both debilitating and lethal, the only significant side effect of using cannabis to reduce inflammation is that it makes the user feel good. Studies have shown that states that have medical cannabis laws have significantly fewer opioid overdose deaths as people use cannabis as a viable alternative to the incapacitating and lethal opioids. Now it seems that states that have medical cannabis laws may also have lower heart attack rates as patients will be able to use cannabis as a viable alternative to NSAIDs. The effectiveness of nonaspirin NSAIDs and their easy availability, affordability and perceived safety meant that people were not looking for alternatives. Now many will be. For cannabis to be effective as an alternative to NSAIDs, it needs to be as easily available as NSAIDs. A paper issued by the National Bureau of Economic Research concluded “that providing broader access to medical marijuana may have the potential benefit of reducing abuse of highly addictive painkillers.” It could be reasonably concluded that broader access to cannabis could also reduce the chronic use of NSAIDs thereby improving the health and safety of 17 million Americans. c VISIT US AT

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Advocate HIGHLIGHT

Eddie Jackson and Eryn Walters Occupation: Chemist, and Owner/CFO.

When and how did you become advocates for cannabis? We were at the U.S. Cannabis Cup a few years ago and saw nothing but sweets on the edible market. As cannabis users and as a chemist myself, we thought we could add some savory to the mix. After two years of R&D, we realized there were many things missing from the market. Education, scientific research, grassroots advocacy, testing regulations, product safety and reliability. The list went on and on. We decided that if we were to dive into this venture, we had to be a leader in education and advancement . . . not just making delicious edibles. How has cannabis benefited your life? As a Crohn’s patient, I use edibles to stimulate my appetite and maintain a healthy weight. Smoking cannabis does not give me the “munchies,” and can be harmful to individuals with gastrointestinal conditions. But after consuming a normal meal, infused with cannabis, the edible version stimulates my appetite enough to snack throughout the day. This is one of the reasons we wanted to produce savory items and limit the amount a patient would have to ingest. This in turn lowers the calorie intake. No need to eat candy after your meal to dose. The patient can dose, while at the same time following their physician’s dietary orders. This helps us and other patients maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. For Eryn, after a bad car accident, her choice was either addicting pain pills or to

CULTURE // October 2015

use cannabis as a pain mediator. Edibles give her the long-term pain management she needs to help reduce the back pain and maintain her active lifestyle. Cannabis is also used when she is a passenger in a vehicle to help reduce the anxiety associated with the accident. What are your greatest achievements for the cannabis cause? We are the creators and hosts of the show The Science of Weed and sponsors of Team Pluto. We get a chance to speak directly with patients and help them in ways we never imagined. How did that manifest? I was asked to be on a 420 weekend special on KHIGH’s afternoon show. After being on for an hour, I recognized it as an opportunity to educate and inform. So I just asked the program manager if I could have my own show. Two weeks later we were on the air!

Who do you look up to or admire? Any entrepreneurs that are going for their dream! Take that leap . . . don’t give up! If you could change one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would it be? The image of the edible market as being nothing but sweets for stoners. We are professionals, we are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, grandparents and citizens. We are the ones able to grill up some infused BBQ ribs or chicken wings, we are the ones that like to cook at home and create delicious meals. And now, with August Kitchen at work, you can! c

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Dispensary HIGHLIGHT

Top-Selling Strain: White Fire OG Top-Selling Concentrate: Bolder Extracts Top-Selling Edible: Ganjala Edibles by Alpine Infusions

TRU Cannabis Colorado Interviewed: Justin Staley (Partner)

Multiple Locations (Aurora, Berkeley, Colfax, Mile High, Off Havana). (303) 455-WEED

www.myTRUcannabis.com How and when did your dispensary start up? It all started in 2009, when my business partner David Benlolo and I met the Nassau Brothers at CCF on Colfax. From there, we quickly expanded into the Mile High, Montbello and Berkeley neighborhoods, all of which we had approved for recreational sales day one in 2014. Later on that year, we added our Aurora location when the city granted their coveted licenses in late 2014.

CULTURE // October 2015

What’s the story behind the name of your shop? The story is long, but to sum it up we had five brands operating under one business structure making it impossible to market. After searching long and hard and following the advice of some industry experts, we came up with the simple name, TRU Cannabis. What does your dispensary offer clients that they can’t find anywhere else? What

do you specialize in, if anything? If anything? Seriously, our industry is so competitive with the for profit open market model here in Denver that we have to constantly change our specials, our genetics, our edibles, our concentrates, while maintaining the key relationships with the industry’s leading vendors in an effort to stay relevant! Currently we are offering a $20 You Call It 8th on Broncos’ game days, or $2 Edibles, or both!!! What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a dispensary? . . . Biggest joys? Compliancy is everyone’s biggest challenge, and I would hope that the smile on our customer’s face is our biggest joy! This is still a privilege and we are still the leaders in this rapidly advancing industry as every one of our budtenders displays daily at anyone of our five locations!

What is the one thing you want patients to know about your dispensary? We are a group that is focused on the people we serve and it gives us great pleasure to offer high quality cannabis and a wide variety of overall cannabis-related products at competitive prices to the public. For example, The Dab Stash is our concentrate collection of the industries leading hash and glass manufacturers! If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? Hire a consultant—shooting a moving target can be difficult! What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/ MMJ community? I feel I have accomplished so much already it’s hard to put a goal on this crazy rollercoaster we have all been riding! c VISIT US AT

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EDIBLES + concentrates Canna Medical Edibles Sugar Cubes

Available AT: Canna Meds Wellness Center in Colorado Springs.

If someone asks you if you’d like some sugar in your coffee and then dips their finger in it, sound the creeper alarm. If it’s a cup of tea and they drop one of Canna Medical Edibles’ Sugar Cubes in, they’re a keeper, not a creeper. Available at Canna Meds Wellness Center in Colorado Springs in lemon and orange, these convenient confections are discreet and portable, perfect in your hot beverage of choice. They’re also no slouch, at 50mg per cube, a hefty dose for patients that need extreme relief. We added four cubes to a big batch of sun tea brewing at the office and were pleasantly surprised with the body and head effects considering how monstrous our jug was.

Available WHEREVER: The growing Kitchen products are carried.

The Growing Kitchen Pro Cookie Amateurs need not apply when dealing with this tough cookie. One of our favorites in their line of responsibly crafted edibles, The Growing Kitchen continues to wow with the Pro Cookie. Organic ingredients are a must, but they go above and beyond using their own local honey and whole-flower extract. They’re also pros at getting serious flavor, with the dark chocolate chips shining here as we dipped them generously in milk. Some of our testers with particularly high tolerances were surprised at how well a quarter of the cookie helped decrease anxiety while boosting mood. With the Pro Cookie, it’s just hard to find any cons.

Available AT: dispensaries throughout Colorado.

Edipure ORGANIX Night Crawlers

EdiPure’s ORGANIX Night Crawlers are vegan, gluten-free, nonGMO, organic gummie candies from the highly esteemed EdiPure brand of products. The new ORGANIX line of gummie products from EdiPure are a great way to medicate organically. Keep an eye out for these delicious ORGANIX treats for your next edible purchase. Individually infused pieces make it very easy to control the level of THC consumed. These are sweet, great tasting and also very potent. Expect several hours of intense physical and cerebral effects. These edibles are perfect for insomnia and pain relief.

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Love’s Oven Turtle Brownie

If you ever watched Entourage, it was hard not to pull for Turtle, the most green-friendly character. Show up with some of these delicious Turtle Brownies (no relation) from Love’s Oven and we feel like he’d approve. Moist and chewy, the walnuts on top give a great texture to the individually bagged 10mg bites. The opaque bags and child-resistant container also made this a favorite of parents in the office, as these look irresistible outside of the tub. While you’ll be tempted to eat them by the fistful, we found that couch-lock can set in quickly if you overindulge, leading to a very Turtle-esque night of Xbox for one reviewer.

Available WHEREVER: Love’s Oven products are carried.

Canyon Cultivation Caramel Apple Sucker

The coolest thing to happen to the phrase “Suck it!” since (De) Generation-X was stomping around WWE rings has arrived, and just in time for fall. What makes you think of autumn more than a Caramel Apple Sucker? Available across the front range, this 1:1 CBD to THC sucker has little cannabis flavor at all, which is nice as you’ll want to have it in your mouth as long as you can. Reviewers with frequent migraines and muscle spasticity issues found the effects fast acting, but still provided the THC they need for even relief. Bonus: There was zero bobbing involved.

Keeping Kind Coconut & Almond Chocolate Available AT: Dank in Denver.

In an alternate universe, Walter White and Jessie Pinkman are making delicious edibles for cancer patients and Walt goes into remission. Perhaps they’d call the venture Keeping Kind—one of our favorite new edibles producers—because the Coconut & Almond Chocolate flavor tastes like it was made by a genius. Available exclusively at Dank, high quality chocolate mixed with flakes of coconut and slivers of almonds made us want to melt it over ice cream and pig out. At 84mg total, there’s a lot of medicine in each package. Unlike Pinkman, we had zero anxiety and felt relaxed and sleepy trying these before bed. Then we picked ‘em right back up in the morning.

Available wherever: the “it” products are carried.

Available WHEREVER: Mountain High suckerS products are carried.

Mountain High Sucker Lozenges

For years, the only time you heard about lozenges were from a strange man in the Alps. Fast forward to 2015 and Mountain High Suckers are making them the coolest—and not in a mentholated way. Our pack had three flavors, our favorite being the mouthwatering tangerine that didn’t leave a noticeable weedy aftertaste. Now offered for recreational users, the 10mg packs even boast a little CBD, although you’re predominantly feeling a nice head effect and body relaxation. We had two reviewers split a pack, both noting that it made them feel much better—and different—than the Ricolas they tried earlier.

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Bhang 275mg Pure Oil Sativa Blend Between lighters, papers and jars, we could legitimately use some cargo pockets around here. That’s one of the reasons we love Bhang’s latest pen and its carrying case: We’re not stuck fumbling around in our pants all day. It’s sharp and slick, and we’re not just talking about their fresh packaging. With no additives like propylene glycol, this is pure, CO2 extracted cannabis oil that doesn’t leave you blowing out vape-bro clouds. After picking one up at Pueblo West Organics, several reviewers noted how creative and energetic the effect was, perfect for singing along to some Alanis Morissette and giving a peace sign with the other hand.

POT-O-COFFEE

Available AT: Pueblo West Organics in Pueblo.

A new study found that cannabis and caffeine may go together as well as a horse and carriage. Apparently caffeine reinforces the effects of THC, making it even more pleasurable. Whether you want to literally “wake and bake” or become the office “super-stoner,” the cannabis infused coffee from Pot-O-Coffee can do it. Each easy-to-use K Pod contains the perfect handcrafted blend of premium fresh Arabica coffee and natural cannabis oil. The flavor is full, robust and easily compares with other quality coffees. Tailored to the individual cannabis consumer’s needs, Pot-O-Coffee can provide mild, medium or bold effects with pods containing THC concentrations of either 10mg, 50mg or 100mg. The company also manufactures Pot-O-Tea which contains 10mg CBD derived from agricultural hemp and a truly scrumptious Pot-O-Coco available in the same THC strengths of 10mg, 50mg and 100mg.

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Available AT: dispensaries throughout colorado.

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Watermelon Ganjala Caramel

Available AT: Lodo Wellness Center in Denver.

CULTURE // October 2015

Laffy Taffy jokes are great if your parents still dress you, but we vastly prefer the giggle-fest that ensued after a few bites of a Watermelon Ganjala Caramel. Made by Alpine Infusions in Telluride, we were happy to see it had made its way to LoDo Wellness Center where it stands out as one of the most well-designed packages we’ve seen. If you’re a melon fan, you will appreciate the flavoring used here, as it doesn’t taste like most off-the-shelf, artificial candies. Add in the organic cannabis and we were happy to finish this 10mg dose in one sitting. And hey, if Watermelon’s not your bag–they have 5 other great flavors to choose from. Be prepared, as it hits strong and lasts long–the Ganjala is one of our best bargain finds.

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Dixie Elixirs Crispy Kraken

Move over Nessie: We officially have a new favorite monster from the deep. Also, your bagpipe theme song is awful. There are fewer releases we were more excited to see than the Crispy Kraken from Dixie Elixirs. Crunchy rice cereal pairs excellently with 34 percent cacao, and as a bonus, the packaging didn’t make anyone tear their hair out trying to open it. Our reviewers were also stoked that at 7mg per square, they could grub out on a few chunks and get all of the pain relief and muscle relaxation they were looking for. Think of it as an eight-armed massage for your every ache and pain.

Available WHEREVER: Dixie products are carried.

incredibles Monkey Bar

If you’re looking to take a break from Grape Ape but still want a buzz at the zoo, try bringing a square of incredibles’ popular Monkey Bar. Also, avoid the temptation to go chill with your new gorilla bros. Chocked full of bananas, walnuts and coconut, this bar is more like Noah’s Ark: It has a little of everything going on. While the package warned us to take one of the ten 10mg bites, we couldn’t resist trying a couple. The taste is as smooth as a baboon’s butt, with only a hint of green lingering. We should have listened, though, as the potency was no joke and one tester had to leave early. The gift shop was lame anyway.

Available WHEREVER: incredibleS products are carried.

Gentleman Quinn’s High Class Blunt Maybe it’s our inner Ron Swanson talking, but we love handcrafted wood products as much as we love the taste of fine cannabis. After seeing Gentleman Quinn’s High Class Blunts all over Instagram, we had to get our hands on one of the limited edition boxes. Gorgeous inside and out, we were also relieved to know that each of our three blunts was H2O sealed, not with someone’s strange saliva. We loved the variety too— Banana Kush, Green Crack and Chernobyl—as it covered all of the bases from sativa to hybrid to indica and can definitely imagine giving out a few of these around the holidays.

Available AT: various dispensaries throughout Colorado.

FloGEL

Available WHEREVER: Focused Labs Oils products are carried.

Dr. Scholl’s rocked the world of feet with their infamous “gellin’ like Magellin” commercial and the rap game was forever changed. Unfortunately, they taste awful, so get your fix with Edible FloGEL from Focused Labs Oils. We picked up their raspberry flavor and loved how fresh it tasted, like they were right off the bush. We could have used some custom insoles, as the incredibly active effect had us wanting to cavort in nature with a sativa-like euphoria. Noting pain relief in their necks and their backs, reviewers loved that the body effect didn’t impede their day.

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cool stuff Recipe Dice

Tired of making decisions at the end of your day? We know the feeling. Luckily, we found Recipe Dice! Roll the dice to create your dinner—12 little wooden dice feature more than 60 seasonal vegetables, grains, meats, spices and herbs. Fun and food—double win!

K-Vape Micro-DX

PRICE: $16.50 MORE INFORMATION: www.leafcutterdesigns.com

PRICE: $199.95 MORE INFORMATION: www.vapornation.com

Those who love the original Kandy Pens vape pens will get even more excited to discover the K-Vape Micro-DX—a brand new KandyPens vape pen that comes with advanced temperature control. Not only does the MicroDX sport a sleeker and more portable design (boasting to be one of the smallest currently available on the market) but it heats herbs like a boss without ever making direct contact with the heat source. This device has up to 80 different temperature settings, and can be heated up to 430 degrees with its easy-to-use OLED display, delivering pure vapor every time.

PRICE: $24.95 MORE INFORMATION: thatinventions.com

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Personal Butter Churner

PRICE: $39.99 MORE INFORMATION: www.uncommongoods.com

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Making your own pantry staples is very rewarding—and can help anyone maintain a healthier lifestyle. With this simple design, you can churn your own butter (with or without cannabis) in just 10 minutes, and impress all your dinner guests. Simply pour the whipping cream into the churner, turn the handle, and enjoy a fresh batch of butter with a little personal touch. Try adding your own herbs in there too—rosemary white truffle butter? Yes please!

Scoop That! Heated Ice Cream Scoop No more waiting for the ice cream to thaw a little bit so you can scoop it out with ease. The Scoop That! ice cream scoop uses thermo-ring technology and heat from your own hand to heat up the edges of the scoop for a perfect round of your favorite ice cream every time. Paired with the awesome Scoop That! ice cream bowl—which allows the insulated scoop bowl to keep ice cream in its perfectly frozen state—this will keep your ice cream looking and tasting great, regardless of the temperature around you.

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entertainment Release Date: October 27 Available on: Xbox One

Green Buds and Hash: A PotFilled Parody Dana Larsen Hairy Pothead Press

Halo 5: Guardians Dev. 343 Industries Pub. Microsoft Studios

“Super Indian”

It’s been three years since the world has received a new game from the Halo franchise, but rest assured fanboys and girls, the wait is over. Halo 5: Guardians is one sequel you can count on to bring famous characters, weapons and worlds of the Halo universe to life. Players will get to experience a new story, classic matchmaking and four-player online campaign co-op modes on a beautiful 1080p display at 60 frames per second on Xbox One. Good luck, Spartans!

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Stax

For over five years now, Nathaniel Rateliff has been steadily building a reputation for himself in his home in Denver and beyond for delivering some of the more beautiful, delicate singer-songwriter folk music around. Recently, his popularity has exploded as the leader of the brilliant soul/rock band Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. The Night Sweats’ self-titled debut, out via the legendary soul label, Stax, backs up that growing hype and delivers some of the most stunning, passionate and captivating modern soul that one might have heard in the last five years. (Simon Weedn)

Author Dana Larsen and artist Chip Crumb recreate the format of the children’s book Green Eggs and Ham in a delightful parody. Mister Stash is concerned for his friend, and goes to great lengths to convince him that not only are there many different ways to enjoy cannabis, but that it could help him feel much better. No forcing, pushing or berating, just a friendly and informative conversation, all wrapped up in well-crafted illustrations and clever, poetic verse. (Alex Bradley)

Love & Mercy River Road Entertainment Dir. Bill Pohlad

In many circles, it’s well-known that the Beach Boys’ most visionary member and primary songwriter, Brian Wilson, suffered from prolonged periods of mental instability exacerbated by heavy substance abuse in the ‘60s and ‘70s. It is this period of Brian Wilson’s life which serves as the back drop for Love & Mercy. The film captures all of the bizarre twists and turns in Wilson’s life under the direction of Dr. Landy, while also excellently showing what caused Wilson to need major psychological care in the first place. Love & Mercy is an incredible film. (Simon Weedn)

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It was said that artist Fritz Scholder stated he would never paint Native Americans, even though he was a Native American himself. Despite claiming that his art wasn’t political, Scholder painted many pieces that went against the grain and often portrayed an opposing perspective. “Super Indian: Fritz Scholder, 1967-1980” is gem of an exhibit featuring 40 rare pieces created by Scholder. Although he was influenced by other artists like Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Francis Bacon, Francisco de Goya and Paul Gauguin, Scholder has elevated his own work on a more personal level. The pieces featured in “Super Indian” express the raw reality of being a Native American, ranging between the start of Scholder’s controversial Indian series in 1967 and ending in 1980.

IF YOU GO

What: “Super Indian: Fritz Scholder, 1967-1980” exhibit. When/Where: On view through Jan. 17, 2016. Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver. Info: Visit www. denverartmuseum.org for details.

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liner notes

ome of the biggest music news this week came not from tour announcements or hologram creations (Whitney Houston lives again!), but from late night television. Stephen Colbert, famous for playing a larger-than-life version of a conservative blowhard on his long-running satirical news show The Colbert Report, started his show off with a fantastic week of live music. Taking a page from Jimmy Fallon who, in a move that had many initially scratching their heads and subsequently tapping their feet, asked The Roots to be his house band, Colbert got New Orleans’ own Jon Batiste and his band Stay Human to play him on every night. In late night, bigger and more versatile bands are definitely changing the musical landscape. When he announced Jon Batiste’s position on the show, Colbert said “I just like the guy.” But the musicians at the top of Colbert’s new spot, which he inherited from Dave Letterman, were bookended by fantastic musical guests and performances. Colbert ended his first show with a massive performance of “Everyday People” by Sly and the Family Stone, performed by Mavis Staples. She was supported by Colbert himself, Ben Folds, Aloe Blacc, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, members of Beirut including Zach Condon, Buddy Guy,

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by Kevin Longrie

Derek Trucks and others. Colbert also had Kendrick Lamar, Toby Keith, and most amusingly, a band billed as Troubled Waters, the premiere Simon and Garfunkel cover band. The joke, however, was the band was fronted by Paul Simon himself, who Colbert coerced into admitting that “Paul Simon is kind of a jerk.” Simon played “Julio Down by the Schoolyard” with whistled accompaniment by Colbert himself, who may or may not be indicating to future musical guests that he’d like to get in on the action more than Jimmy Kimmel or even Fallon. Over on Fallon’s show, however, viewers were given less novelty and more tradition. The History of Rap series, a fan favorite in which Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon sing medleys from hip-hop’s storied past (and present). He also had a lip-sync battle with Ellen DeGeneres in which the daytime host sang “Bitch Better Have My Money.” Music didn’t just happen on television, however. It happened in studios and in the streets. It happened in clubs and in arenas. Photos were released of Radiohead recording its new album, a follow up to 2011’s The King of Limbs. The pictures featured a string orchestra, Thom Yorke, and a half-eaten banana. Not much has been said yet about the next Radiohead album—tour dates, release

dates, style. But band member Philip Selway told Pitchfork that the band would have “quite a full schedule” in the coming months. Yoko Ono, to commemorate what would’ve been John Lennon’s 75th birthday, is seeking volunteers and peace-lovers world round (or perhaps just in the tristate area) to flock to Central Park in New York on October 6th (Lennon’s birthday is October 9) to form the world’s largest-ever human peace sign. Ono, who has an exhibition currently at the Museum of Modern Art, may or may not subject the crowd to her singing. Sir Elton John has stated in the press that he wishes to have a long chat with Russian leader Vladimir Putin about his stance on gay rights. Under Putin, Russia has passed several pieces of anti-gay legislation, some even targeting LGBT minors. “I would like to meet him,” Sir Elton said. “He may laugh behind my back when he shuts the door, and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can think I have the conscience to say I tried.” A teenager recently uploaded a six hour video of himself covering, in chronological order, every song by 2020 presidential candidate Kanye West. Watching the video takes as much perseverance and endurance as it does to watch West speak at awards shows. c

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n 1978, Brooklyn-born Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield chose a dilapidated gas station in Vermont to open the first Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop. Frosty weather and shady Häagen-Das dealings sought to thwart their rapid rise, but the childhood friends finished their first decade together as President Reagan’s U.S. Small Business Persons of the Year. Unilever, a European consumer giant with brands like Axe, Dove and Lipton, purchased Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 with an understanding that the company could maintain its social values and activism. Ben and Jerry continue to work at the company, but they now spend considerably more time advancing social issues like cannabis legalization and a better environment. The ice cream moguls recently gave CULTURE the scoop on everything from cannabis-themed flavors to the Stamp Stampede for campaign finance reform.

You recently said you would be game for making cannabis-infused ice cream. What kind of reaction did that provoke? Ben: Our comments were the most widely circulated thing that we have ever said. Jerry: I think Ben said that. Ben: A decision like that at Ben & Jerry’s would not be ours to make, but personally, once it goes fully legal, sure, I would make ice cream that

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has marijuana in it. As with all edibles, it is important that they be properly dosed and labeled so that consumers are aware and a child does not eat them. It has been proven that marijuana is very efficacious as far as medicinal uses, and it is crazy not to allow that use. It has also been proven that recreational marijuana use is a lot safer and better for your body than alcohol. I think it is unconscionable that there is this drug war and prisons overflowing with people prosecuted for marijuana offenses. The

really unfortunate part is that, despite the fact that marijuana is used by a whole lot of rich white people, the prisons are overflowing with poor not-white people. That is unjust, unfair, unAmerican and something that we have to change.

In a 2013 podcast, Ben said you stayed out of the legalization issue because you thought it would be used against your

work to reduce the Pentagon budget. Do you feel cannabis is a stigmatizing issue in political circles?

Ben: Less so than it used to be. The handwriting is on the wall that it is going to be legal. What is it, 19 or 20 states legalized medicinal use, and more and more states are going to make it legal recreationally. A whole lot of law enforcement, former and current officials, favor legalization. I recently asked the campaign director for VISIT US AT

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Stamp Stampede–my major focus lately for getting money out of politics–if it would hurt the cause if I took a public stand in favor of legalization. He said nothing will be more widely distributed than my quote about marijuana ice cream, and that did not seem to hurt us, so take whatever stand you want to take.

An urban legend on the internet suggests you started out selling cannabis green tea ice cream at California music festivals in the ’60s and ’70s. Ben: If only! No truth to that at all. Jerry: I think that is the best rumor I have ever heard about myself. >> Photos David Seaver

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interesting, though, what recently happened in Indiana with that ridiculous law that lets people discriminate against gay people. It is the first time I can remember that companies without a direct stake in the issue took a firm, public and rapid stand opposing a law. Jerry: It is understood in the agreement between Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s that we would be able to take positions on issues that they might not. An example is the issue of mandatory labeling of GMOs in food products here in the United States. That is something that Ben & Jerry’s actively campaigns for in different states. That is a position that Unilever does not agree with, but they recognize that it is within Ben & Jerry’s values.

Free Cone Day is usually within a week of 420, and flavors have included Half Baked, Satisfy My Bowl and Magic Brownies. This is not a coincidence, is it? Jerry: Ha! I never associated Free Cone Day with April 20, and those flavors you mentioned were not flavors that came out on my watch. Ben: Those are flavors that came out since Unilever took over the company.

You temporarily changed flavor names to Hubby Hubby and Apple-y Ever After in certain markets to celebrate gay marriage legislation. Was that under Unilever as well?

Jerry: Those happened inside the company. Ben and I had nothing to do with that.

You must appreciate that Unilever supports Ben & Jerry’s values and activism.

Jerry: It is helpful to understand that Ben and I work at the company, but we are not involved in the management or operations, so we do not really make decisions about those things. People really care about what happened with Ben & Jerry’s since Unilever acquired it. The company has stayed strong

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with issues like marriage equality as a human’s rights issue, and the company transitioned to all fair trade and 100 percent non-GMO ingredients. Good things happened with the company, and it is no different than when Ben and I were running it. Ben: There are occasions in which the parent company can feel–nervous is not the right word–but concerned that Ben & Jerry’s maintains positions that the company does not agree with, and that is not unusual for Unilever. Most businesses shy away from taking any type of position on social or environmental issues unless it is something that will make them more money. It is

You mentioned Stamp Stampede, which involves stamping messages on paper currency. Was this effort started in response to Citizen’s United?

Jerry: A very large movement in the country is focused on getting money out of politics, and several Supreme Court decisions led to the current situation, but Citizen’s United was the straw that broke the camel’s back. That was what catapulted the movement and added a lot of momentum to it. Ben: We are essentially turning money into media. We call it monetary jujitsu, using money to get money out of politics. Every bill you stamp–once you spend it and put it into circulation–is seen by 875 people. One person stamping three bills a day for a year can create a million impressions, and that is very powerful. We are essentially saying that if the Supreme Court said money is free speech, we are going to make our money scream. The corporations and ultra-wealthy are using their money to buy politicians, and the rest of us should make our voices heard to create an undeniable demand to get money out of politics. The idea is to infiltrate the money supply–this is all legal, by the way–and so far we have over 50,000 people stamping, and we are growing at about 100 people per day. By the end of this year, we should have 80,000 people stamping. You can get your very own stamp at StampStampede.org. >>

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Jerry: There is a range of non-profits working on the issue, and they are working on one level. What Ben did, which is brilliant, is to find a way for the average person to get involved and have their voice heard without having to join an organization. More than 80 percent of the people in the country, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or Independents, want to get money out of politics. They understand that all the money in elections comes from these giant corporations and extremely wealthy people, and it is undermining the entire democracy. This is a way for average people to get engaged.

Ben & Jerry’s got a [Tesla] that is going into different markets around the country with the goal of signing up people to join Avaaz [with its 100 percent Clean Power Petition] for the upcoming climate summit in Paris, and they are doing that by giving away free ice cream and talking about the issue. We are trying to use the deliciousness of Ben & Jerry’s to activate people on important issues.

If money were removed from politics, what type of financing structure would you prefer? Public financing?

Ben: Um, uh, you know, I think you are free to speculate.

alas, I think the ideal solution and the one that I would most prefer, but there are various other proposals. One is a voucher system in which everybody in the country gets a voucher on their taxes, like $100, to give to whatever politicians they want, and that would be the only money for the purposes of elections that politicians could use. Another good example is the one passed by the city of New York and the states of Connecticut and Maine, which is basically a small donor match whereby politicians pledge not to take large donations in exchange for having their small donations matched on a six-to-one basis by the government. The cost of public financing is about $6 per person, so getting money out of politics does not cost that much.

The company also has the Climate Justice campaign and Save Our Swirled Tour.

Jerry: This is a campaign the company is doing to engage people into policy issues like climate change. We partnered with the nonprofit Avaaz, one of the big organizers of the climate march in New York City last fall, and they are working towards ending fossil fuel use and getting to all renewables by 2050.

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Ben: Where did you hear that?

Is that still a secret?

So, no denial?

Ben: I would just say feel free to speculate.

Ben, I read that you once did a diet of French bread and butter. How was that supposed to work?

Ben: Ha! It was actually French bread and garlic butter. It was garlic bread. It worked great. It was delicious and cheap, and I was not too fat, right, during that period of time? I think I was reasonable. One time it caught fire in the toaster oven.

“

It has been proven that marijuana is very efficacious as far as medicinal uses, and it is crazy not to allow that use. It has also been proven that recreational marijuana use is a lot safer and better for your body than alcohol. Have either of you ever considered running for office?

Jerry: [In 1993,] I ran for [a seat on the Board of Selectmen] in the town of Williston where I live, and I lost. I think the reality is that I could not get elected as a dogcatcher.

You were both teens living in New York in the 1960s, but neither of you attended Woodstock. How is that possible?

Ben: When the Woodstock festival was happening, I was actually an ice cream man. I was running a truck with a friend of mine where we were ringing bells and going up and down the street in the neighborhoods

“

Ben: Public financing is one solution, and

I heard that you might launch a Climate Change ice cream flavor. Is that true?

selling ice cream to little kids. Jerry: He was a mobile ice cream vendor. He was the Pied Piper man. Ben: I was. That was the brand, the offbrand, the competitor to Good Humor. You know, there was some talk around the yard that we should take our ice cream trucks to Woodstock, but people started to talk about the traffic and how we would resupply. I just kept going up and down the streets in the neighborhood. I didn’t make it to Woodstock.

Jerry: I think we have to say that the diet didn’t catch on.

What is the next thing you would like to do with ice cream? Maybe a Led Zeppelin flavor?

Jerry: Ben and I are not really drawn to celebrity-type flavors or popular cultural things. When we were doing the company, Jerry Garcia [with the Cherry Garcia flavor] was an unusual thing. It happens more frequently at the company now. Ben and I both think that connecting ice cream with social issues and activated people, particularly marginalized people, is the highest use of ice cream. We want to connect with our customers over delicious ice cream and making the world a better place. c VISIT US AT

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Edibles Issue

Your CANNA Cookbook Reading List We’ve got some favorites—now, you will too

Sweet Mary Jane: 75 Delicious CannabisInfused High-End Desserts

By Karin Lazarus Avery Author Karin Lazarus runs Sweet Mary Jane bakery in Boulder, Colorado, but now offers the public access to her amazing and delicious cannabis dessert recipes. Lazarus has won legions of loyal fans with sophisticated treats like Smashing Pumpkin White ChocolatePumpkin Bars, Sweet Temptation Mango Sorbet and Chocolate Almond Delights. Lazarus provides a simple primer on making essential canna-staples like cannabis-infused butter, cannabisinfused coconut oil and THC-infused sugar; a chapter on dosing and how to make sure your edible treat is the exact potency you want; and, of course, 75 delectable and deliciously-infused recipes from one of Colorado’s most beloved cannabis bakery.

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Cooking with Marijuana: Interesting, Delicious and Easy Recipes you can make with the Magical Herb

By Gordon Rock CreateSpace Publishing We are all familiar with using cannabis as medical therapies and treatments, and of course, most of us are familiar with some simple recipes for cannabis cooking. But this book by Gordon Rock focuses on simple and easy recipes that have nutritional value as well as medicinal. He not only explains the recipes clearly and simply, but he also goes into detail about which recipes are best suited for particular ailments and why. In this book, the author focuses on healthy home remedies for a variety of illnesses including anxiety, depression, cancer and autoimmune deficiencies, among others. Best of all, these recipes can be prepared by just about anyone—a great starter guide for any budding cannabis home cook.

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* Wake & Bake: A Cookbook

By Corinne Tobias Wake & Bake Publishing A slightly older cannabis cookbook, but still one of our absolute favorites, this book is unassuming at first glance, but don’t be mistaken, Corinne Tobias is a hilarious and witty writer and chef, and creates an open and healthy atmosphere for any learning canna-chef. Geared toward the health-conscious and veganfriendly audience, this is the first vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free cannabis cookbook that we’ve seen that also comes with a handy conversion table—and gorgeous pictures—so you can make these recipes with dairy or meat too!

* Herb: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis

By Laurie Wolf and Melissa Parks Inkshares Coming out next month, Herb has one major boost over most of the other cannacookbooks we’ve seen—reducing the taste of cannabis in these recipes. Chefs Melissa Parks and Laurie Wolf have developed recipes that specifically complement and downplay the taste of the herb so that each appetizer, entrée and dessert will be enjoyed to the fullest. Herb also goes into detail about dosing, which is essential for cannabis home cooks and is jam-packed with mouth-watering pictures that will make you hungrier as you move through the book.

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Cooking With Marijuana: Mega Munch Recipes

By Sean Riley CreateSpace Publishing Cooking With Marijuana is laid out in a very simple format with very simple instructions. Easy to follow for any level of canna-chef, each dish comes with an easy list of ingredients, followed by numbered, concise, step-by-step directions. No muss, no fuss. These satisfying, munchies-worthy recipes will impress your friends and keep you cooking with love and appreciation for your favorite herb.

* Marijuana Cookbook: 50 Comfort Foods from the Marijuana Chef

By Gordon Rock Amazon Digital Services, Inc. An e-book written by the self-proclaimed “Marijuana Chef,” Marijuana Cookbook: 50 Comfort Foods is a great addition to an already established cannabis cook’s stable of digital cookbooks. It is packed full of easy recipes, tips and tricks to revitalize your canna-cooking. Aside from helping you to transform standard recipes, it’ll help you to breathe new life into your normal go-to recipes and bring them up to a new level.

* The Cannabis Kitchen

By Sandy Moriarty Quick American Archives No canna-cookbook reading list would be complete without our own recipes writer, Aunt Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook. This cookbook compiles Sandy’s favorite recipes with easy instructions, tasty looking photos and even has a chapter on how to cater to dietary restrictions, and alternatives you can use. Sandy goes into great depth about safety in cannabis cooking, the medicinal properties of cannabis, the history behind it, and she even delves into her tips and tricks for better cooking all together! This book is a great starter guide for any cannabis chef—plus it’s the official course book for Oaksterdam University.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence Skyhorse Publishing In The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook, chefs in the know from Amherst to Anaheim share their secrets for infusing everything from oil and agave to soups and cocktails. This book provides step-by-step instructions on preparing cannabis for use in any kitchen, as well as advice on personalizing dosage. The author offers tips for trimming, processing, storing and preserving cannabis too, along with a “buyer’s guide” that sheds light on the many varieties of cannabis flavor profiles, showcasing strains based not only on feel-good levels, but more importantly, taste-good levels. c

Aunt Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook: Comfort Food for Mind and Body

Cookbook: Feel-good Food for Home Cooks

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Edibles Issue

Edible Overdosing Medicated edibles are the media’s new scare du jour By Lanny Swerdlow

n March 2014, a 19-yearold male consumed a small portion of a cannabis-infused cookie. Feeling no effects after 30 minutes, he consumed the entire cookie. From Washington D.C. to Los Angeles, print, broadcast

CULTURE // October 2015

and cable news reported that a short while later, he jumped off a balcony and fell four stories to his death. While researching a story on Colorado’s recently enacted cannabis legalization law, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd ate too much of a cannabis-infused brownie, had a bad trip and millions read about it.

Children eating a cannabis edible is the most sensational of all even though most children who get hold of one of mommy or daddy’s edibles will not have any problems other than getting temporarily disoriented—kind of akin to going round and round on a playground merry-go-round. Like adults, if kids consume too

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much, they may get very disoriented resulting in an emergency room visit. These visits often serve more to assuage adult fears than provide medical treatment to the child. If treatment is needed, the child is provided appropriate observation and medication and goes home. No child has died from eating a cannabis edible, yet the media has made cannabis edibles into a major health calamity, even though the number and severity of problems from cannabis edibles fade into insignificance compared to the deaths and hospitalizations of children and adults from either alcohol, pharmaceuticals or caffeine. That being said, it must be acknowledged that a person can overdose on a cannabis edible—not lethally, but until the overdose wears off, the symptoms can be very disconcerting and uncomfortable. As compared to inhaling, cannabis that is orally ingested produces a

significantly different effect that lasts considerably longer and is potentially more potent. When inhaled, cannabis’ psychoactive ingredient, delta-9-THC, goes directly to the brain, producing effects within a few minutes. Ingesting orally is an entirely different body ball game. Cannabis consumed orally is metabolized in the digestive system. When the delta-9-THC passes through the liver, it is transformed to 11-hydroxy-THC. This new metabolite is significantly more potent than delta-9-THC producing effects of more intensity and longer duration. This secondary metabolite is not produced when smoked and is the reason why eating cannabis can get a person more zonked. How cannabis edibles effects a person depends on their unique biochemistry, genetics, body mass and life experiences. This is something that can only be determined by trial and error. Although an error is not dangerous, it can be very uncomfortable. A person ingesting a cannabis edible for the first time should only consume a small portion and then wait at least one hour to determine its effect before consuming any more. Another variable is the timing of the onset of the effect. When inhaled, these effects are experienced in minutes and decline rapidly over the next half-hour. Inhaling allows consumers to quickly determine the effect and titrate the amount accordingly. Not so with edibles. Due to the length of time it takes to be absorb in the digestive system, cannabis edibles can take 30 minutes or more before being felt and take up to two hours to peak. Complicating the matter, the length of time of onset of a cannabis edible can be considerably longer if an edible is consumed after a heavy meal. In either case, a new user may conclude they have not eaten enough and eat more of the edible, leading to an overdose. Accurate dosing is critical in edibles. Without lab testing, it is next to impossible to gauge potency of homemade edibles, which can lead to an overdose. Although commerciallyproduced edibles usually have their potency listed on their labels, studies have shown the potency to be inaccurate in many products. Usually

they are less potent than listed so that will lessen the chance of an overdose, but significantly higher concentrations have also been found. There are other variables such as a person’s own metabolic processes which can affect the length of time for digestion and absorption to occur. All of this means caution must be exercised when first consuming edibles if an unpleasant experience is to be avoided. “If you want to have better control over the onset, depth and duration, it is better to inhale whether smoked or vaporized,” advises Dr. Donald Abrams, cancer and integrative medicine specialist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and a leading researcher into the therapeutic uses of cannabis for AIDS and cancer patients. Dr. Robert Melamede, retired Professor of Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado and author of the ground breaking study Harm Reduction – the Cannabis Paradox, is a veteran cannabis edible consumer. “I actually prefer the oral route. It’s a different kind of a high. When you smoke it goes right to your head and kind of hits your head in an imbalanced way. Not to say that I don’t enjoy that as well, but it goes up and comes down quick. When you eat an edible you can stay in a nice place longer.” The decision whether to inhale or ingest centers on why cannabis is used. If being used for seizures or feeling nauseous, time is of the essence, so inhaling would be most appropriate. For chronic conditions like arthritis, oral ingestion would allow the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis to provide relief over an extended time period. For getting a good night’s sleep, many people give edibles an edge. Although edibles may take a bit longer to kick in, its longer lasting effects provide a night’s sleep less likely to be interrupted by waking up. Ingestion of edibles is a viable means for obtaining the benefits of cannabis and many people will find it an enjoyable and effective route of administration. The bottom line is that with cannabis edibles, a person cannot self-titrate as easily or as quickly as when smoking or vaporizing, but with care and common sense, the likelihood of going from euphoria to dysphoria can be significantly reduced. c

October 2015 // CULTURE

Canna-

Edibles Issue

Beverages Catching Our Attention and Quenching Our Thirst By Addison Herron-Wheeler

The growing edibles market within the cannabis industry is becoming not only a highly sought after arena, but an innovative cesspool of expert invention with a high-end culinary edge. One of the most enjoyable trends right now is the appearance of infused beverages. These refreshing treats are tasty, lower in calories than eating sweet treats, and easy to treat as medication, or use as a replacement to an alcoholic beverage. Here are just a few of the cannabis drinks that are getting some national attention.

Wana Drink Mixes A really new and exciting way to medicate and relax with cannabis drinks is to use powders and drink mixes instead of purchasing something in a bottle. Wana Drink Mixes offer options for both the cool and hot weather. Wana Hot Cocoa can be mixed with warm milk or hot water for a deliciously decadent winter treat. It is gluten free, and you can sub soy or almond milk to meet with dietary requirements. The packets also come in 200mg doses–that’s some strong cocoa! If that amount is too much, you can break up the contents of a packet and save half of it for later. For summer months, or if you just prefer something cold and fruity, 50mg Wana Drink Mixes come in flavors like lemonade and tropical punch. These can be mixed with cold water in order to dose up and get refreshed on the go.

Chai High For those who prefer coffee and tea to the fruity or soda-inspired drinks, there is Chai High, by Solace Meds. This tasty treat comes in 12oz bottles, and is 100 percent naturally brewed. The drinks are infused with a blend of organic indica and sativa buds, and the flavor is sweet and milky, and a bit like a “dirty chai,” chai with espresso in it. It contains 316 cannabinoids, and is perfect for if you are feeling under the weather and want a sweet, comfort drink with a little pick-me-up, or as a study aid for pulling an all-nighter, due to the small amount of caffeine found in the drink as well. Plus, the name is a catchy pun, and the big drink size gets you a lot of bang for your buck.

CULTURE // October 2015

CannaPunch This drink is one that is making serious headlines in the world of edibles reviews, and it is also sold in almost any dispensary that carries infused products. The kicker with CannaPunch is that this drink is not a soda–it’s a punch-like beverage infused with fruity goodness, like pineapple, black cherry and watermelon. These beverages are super tasty, and range from 30 to 100 and 200mg of THC. If you’re a lightweight, here’s a tip–try putting a shot or two of CannaPunch in sparkling water for a delicious and refreshing beverage.

Dixie Elixirs This Colorado-based brand of delicious beverages is also one of the best if you want to drink your cannabis. With flavors like Wild Berry Lemonade and Sparkling Blueberry, these concoctions are so delicious that your biggest problem will be trying to drink just a few sips and not dosing too heavily. Their most popular drink series is a line of 90mg beverages that are just perfect for a relaxing afternoon or a day when you need to medicate for pain. They also make “Dew Drops” which you can add to other drinks in order to make them tasty, and laced with a little bit of THC goodness.

Canna Cola Sodas For those who prefer straightforward sodas, Canna Cola offers some great options for you. They of course have their classic cola flavor, and they also offer such creative name puns as Orange Kush, Sour diesel for sour apple, Grape Ape, and Doc Weed instead of Dr. Pepper. Each bottle offers up 12oz of tasty goodness. The downside? They don’t list their THC content, and the product is a bit hard to come by. Still, as one of the first ever cannabis colas, it certainly deserves some attention. c

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CULTURE // October 2015

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Edibles Issue

CannabisInfused Edibles Laws: A StateBy-State Breakdown By Jamie Durante

CULTURE // October 2015

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Edibles are in their own league of delivering a unique cannabis experience. For this reason and more, the regulations regarding cannabis-infused edibles vary from state-to-state. Check out our breakdown of where you can enjoy treats as a medical or recreational patient compared to the states that just say no to medicated edibles. >>

October 2015 // CULTURE

Alabama Medical cannabis edibles are not permitted in The Heart of Dixie, although it was the second state to approve CBD oil for patients with severe epilepsy. The medical cannabis bill that was supposed to allow for patients suffering from 25 different conditions safe access to medical cannabis failed in June.

Alaska Considering that Alaska legalized recreational cannabis not too long ago, the state absolutely permits cannabis edibles for recreational or medical use. Recreational users are allowed to grow their own plants, and adults ages 21 and older can possess most cannabis substances from flower to edibles. However, there aren’t regulations in place yet that allow for the legal purchase of these products in the state. Alaska is working toward this goal.

Arizona Arizona has a solid medical cannabis program. Medical cannabis edibles are permitted when they meet strict labeling regulations and are produced by Arizona Department of Health Servicesapproved dispensaries.

Arkansas The only type of cannabis allowed in the state of Arkansas is high CBD, low THC medical cannabis extracts for patients with debilitating seizure disorders. This is not a state that allows edibles.

California

Connecticut Connecticut’s medical cannabis program is finally in working order. Public Act 1255 was passed in 2012, while just this month the first dispensary was up and running. The laws allow medical cannabis in the forms of pills, creams and edibles, given they are in compliance with the Connecticut Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and various Connecticut General Statutes.

Delaware Delaware does have a medical cannabis program, which allows patients to obtain cannabis from state permitted compassion centers, and edibles are permitted for Delaware medical cannabis patients.

Florida The only permitted medical cannabis in Florida is high CBD, low THC oil used to treat severe epileptic conditions. However over 100,000 petitions in Florida aim to get a medical cannabis proposal to voters in 2016, so legal edibles for medical use may be a possibility in the future.

Georgia Edibles are not permitted for medical cannabis use in Georgia. Georgia has only legalized low-grade THC oil to patients who have one of eight qualifying medical conditions, although there are no regulations in place for how a patient should obtain the oil.

Hawaii Hawaii is another state that allows patients safe access to medical cannabis.

Flower is the only permitted form of cannabis currently allowed, until state licensed medical dispensaries are set to start operating in July 2016. Therefore, edibles are not currently permitted.

Idaho Idaho does not have a medical cannabis program, and medical cannabis edibles are illegal. Possession of three-ounces or less of cannabis is punishable at a minimum by a misdemeanor, as well as a fine and one year imprisonment.

Illinois The Cannabis Control Act allows for the sale of edible cannabis-infused products given they follow strict guidelines. Patients in Illinois are facing difficulty obtaining legal medical cannabis, as the state’s program is a work in progress.

Indiana Medical cannabis edibles are not permitted in Indiana, because they do not allow medical cannabis. In recent years, they have lowered penalties against cannabis convictions. Senate Bill 284 would have created a state medical cannabis program failed in February 2015.

Iowa Medical cannabis edibles are not legal in Iowa. Patents with severe seizure disorders are only allowed to possess CBD oil, and the state does not have a system for patients to obtain the oil. Senate Bill 484 would have allowed medical cannabis, including edibles, failed in June 2015. >>

California is seen by many as one of the instigators of medical cannabis laws nationwide. Still on the brink of recreational legalization, Prop 215 does allow patients to possess medical cannabis, which includes edibles.

Colorado Colorado absolutely allows recreational and medical use of cannabis edibles, as they allow the use of recreational cannabis at large. Strict packaging, labeling and potency regulations have been increased even further since cannabis’ legalization in Colorado.

CULTURE // October 2015

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October 2015 // CULTURE

medical cannabis-infused edibles given their production, sale and possession is within strict guidelines. Certain cities in the state permit the recreational use of cannabis.

Maryland Maryland has a medical cannabis program, which allows for medical cannabis-infused products given they meet the requirements outlined by The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.

Massachusetts Medical cannabis is alive and well in Massachusetts, and cannabis-infused products like edibles are okay under the state governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regulations.

Michigan

Kansas Cannabis in general is strictly prohibited in Kansas. They hold strict anti-cannabis policies; therefore, the possession or sale of cannabis edibles is illegal. Two bills that would have allowed for the use of cannabis for specific conditions failed in February 2015.

Kentucky Currently, medical cannabis infused edibles are not permitted in the state. The only cannabis permitted is under Senate Bill 124. This bill started a program to test the results of CBD on patients. Senate Bill 40 and House Bill 3 both set out to create a system for medical cannabis use in the state, however they both failed in March of this year.

Louisiana In June, Governor Bobby Jindal allowed medical cannabis to patients with specific conditions in Louisiana by signing Senate Bill 143. However it could be up to two years before patients can obtain medical cannabis, including cannabis infused edibles.

Maine Maine has a great medical cannabis program, which allows for the use of

CULTURE // October 2015

Michigan allows for medical cannabis, and while cannabis edibles made with flower are allowed, medibles made with oil and concentrates are not permitted. This is because the concentrates are not allowed.

Minnesota Only pills, oils and vapors are allowed for medical cannabis patients in Minnesota, and they have to be suffering from debilitating conditions such as AIDS and HIV, cancer and epilepsy.

Mississippi An extremely limited medical cannabis bill was passed in Mississippi in 2014. This bill allows cannabis extracts with less than 0.5 percent THC and more than 15 percent CBD for patients with epilepsy and other severe seizure disorders.

Nebraska While Nebraska has made some steps toward decriminalization, there is still no medical cannabis program in the state. The bill that was proposed this year for the state to adopt the Cannabis Compassion and Care Act was not passed this year but will carry over into 2016 for consideration.

Nevada Nevadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical cannabis program does allow for edible cannabis products, and they are upheld to strict standards for testing the safety and consistency of edibles in permitted dispensaries.

New Hampshire House Bill 573 allows for the use of medical cannabis in New Hampshire, and cannabis infused edibles are permitted for medicinal use under this legislation.

New Jersey The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act allows for the use of medical cannabis. In March, they expanded their program to allow for the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three qualified dispensaries to make and sell edibles to patients.

New Mexico New Mexico has a medical cannabis program that allows for concentrates and edibles to be sold under specific regulations. >>

Missouri Missouri has a very restrictive medical cannabis policy that only allows CBDonly cannabis; therefore edibles are not permitted.

Montana Medical cannabis and medical cannabis-infused edibles are allowed under the regulations of the Montana Marijuana Act.

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New York New York’s Compassionate Care Act, successfully passed in 2014, allows for the consumption of medical cannabis for qualified patients—users are not permitted to smoke the plant, and rather can only ingest the plant through capsules, oils, liquids and pills. Smoking and edibles are not currently permitted. The strict medical cannabis program officially begins in January 2016, with 20 state-run dispensaries planned for the state.

North Carolina North Carolina’s medical cannabis program permits CBD-only cannabis to certain patients for research purposes. House Bill 78 had hopes of enacting the North Carolina Medical Cannabis Act, however it did not pass in March 2015. As of now, edibles are not allowed in the state.

North Dakota Cannabis of any kind, including edibles, is illegal in this state. The state does not have a medical cannabis program, and House Bill 1430, which aimed to regulate medical cannabis for patients, failed in February 2015.

Ohio All types of cannabis are illegal in Ohio; therefore edibles are illegal as well. A bill for recreational use of cannabis will be on the November 2015 ballot.

Oklahoma Oklahoma does not have a medical cannabis program, and edibles are illegal. The only permitted cannabis is CBD oil, which was legalized in April 2015.

Rhode Island Rhode Island’s comprehensive Medical Marijuana Act does allow for the use of all types of cannabis, which specifies edibles and baked goods as okay.

South Carolina Patients with severe epilepsy can sign up for a clinical trial using CBD oil in the state of South Carolina. Various bills to change the state’s view on medical marijuana failed in June 2015.

South Dakota All types of medical cannabis are not permitted in South Dakota, with no exception made for edible forms of cannabis.

Tennessee The only type of cannabis permitted in Tennessee is through a CBD oil research program. This means that edible cannabis products are illegal.

Texas Texas just signed legislation last June to allow patients suffering from severe forms of epilepsy access to CBD oil. That is unfortunately the current extent of their medical cannabis program, and therefore edibles are not permissible by state law.

Utah Although Utah’s governor sounds favorable toward regulating medical cannabis, the only type of cannabis permitted is high CBD, low THC

cannabis oil for patients suffering from severe seizures.

Vermont Vermont has a pretty established medical cannabis program. Licensed dispensaries are allowed to sell cannabis-infused products such as edibles.

Virginia Although medical cannabis and infused products like edibles are not permitted in Virginia, they did sign a CBD bill just this year to allow patients with epilepsy access to the medication.

Washington In Washington, adults 21 and over are allowed use cannabis recreationally. Edibles and concentrates are permitted but concentrates must have a THC concentration of 0.3 percent or less.

West Virginia West Virginia failed to pass proposed medical cannabis legislation this year, and all types of cannabis, including edibles, are illegal.

Wisconsin Wisconsin only allows for patients with epilepsy access to high CBD extracts of medical cannabis. This means that psychoactive edibles are definitely not allowed.

Wyoming The Cowboy State is not a place you want to consume edibles. Nonpsychoactive cannabis extracts are only permitted for medicinal use by those with severe seizure disorders. c

Oregon Recreational cannabis laws allow for adults ages 21 and over the use of dried cannabis flower. The state’s legal medical cannabis program allows for edibles, but recreationally, edibles can only be baked at home or received as gifts.

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania does not allow for medical or recreational cannabis, so edibles are not permitted.

CULTURE // October 2015

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October 2015 // CULTURE

Edibles Issue

Cooking with Cannabis Comes of Age

Cannabis fine dining is gaining momentum across the country By Sheryll Alexander

annabis is exploding on today’s almost bloated medical cannabis and recreational edibles markets, but what about the herb in fine dining? Mixologists are just beginning to muddle cannabis into iconic cocktails, and chefs in Europe and on both coasts have conquered “hidden” dinners. There’s even been hosted “weed bars” at weddings. With so many states going recreational and a big push to lift federal controlled substance prohibition, it is only a matter of time for cannabis to hit boutique bistro menus, right? Yes and no. Yes, there are truly some remarkable cannabis chefs and bakers who are intent on bringing this medicinal to the plate and to print. No, cannabis in cookery isn’t always tasty, and you still can’t sit down to a nine-course cannabis dinner at your favorite fine dining restaurant. The reasons why are both complicated, yet simple to understand.

CULTURE // October 2015

Firstly, it’s not easy to coax the cancer-fighting and good-feeling chemicals (mostly THC and CBD) out of the cannabis flower and certainly not in exact measured doses. Secondly, each chef has their favorite way to infuse cannabis into a cooking product. It wasn’t until this February that the “standard dose” of 10mgs per serving was set (100mgs maximum) in Colorado, so chefs finally have a target to hit when concocting cannabisinfused dishes. For most foodies, however, cannabis does not make a gourmet meal, because it is just not that tasty. The overpowering taste does not enhance a dish as foodies would expect, but must be masked over somehow. In fact, most cannabis chefs are renowned for their abilities to standardize dosage and to mask the hideous taste rather than coax it into ever more edible splendor as with most “new” culinary ingredients. Still, some chefs are focusing on cannabis because of their love for this humble plant and its seemingly miraculous healing abilities throughout human history. These cannaentrepreneurs are bringing cannabis

back in both old and unexpected new ways. Some are in it for this new health food’s market potential in the billions of dollars and others seem to be truly intrigued by the plant’s healing abilities. Because restaurants have been unable to cook with cannabis (and mixologists handcuffed to mere herbbased simple syrups), the mother of all herbs has been mostly relegated to athome cookery and medicinals. Although cannabis has never killed anyone, no chef nor restaurant wants to feed their guest into a catatonic state. Most certainly, feeding someone vast quantities of cannabis at one meal could lead to a legal nightmare. The result has been secret cannabis dinners by clandestine chefs at undisclosed locations mostly New York, London, Copenhagen and Vegas. But not for long. The cannabis cuisine revolution is about to hit mainstream culture big time with now dozens of prominent chefs and, perhaps more importantly, the release of many illuminating cannabis cuisine cookbooks, including Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and HERB: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis. >>

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Meet the Top

Cannabis Chefs

So, who are these pioneering cannabis chefs? Here’s our short list: Chris Kilham

true ethnobotanist, “The Medicine Hunter” is also the author of 14 books and a cannabis (along with all other indigenous medicinal plants) educator most notably at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. His title really is “explorer in residence” for Naturex, which is the world’s largest botanical extraction company. He’s also on the medical advisory board for The Dr. Oz Show and writes frequently about cannabis in his weekly column for Fox News. Chris started cooking with cannabis in the 1980s. For Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook, he contributed his world-

famous, 20-minute cannabis olive oil infusion along with bonzo butter, highland yogi smoothie, good morning sativa chai, ganja java go-juice, high ho puttanesca, holy mole! and majoon love balls. “Why would you want to get the cannabis flavor out of your foods? I would never recommend such a thing!” exclaims Kilham. “The aroma and fragrance of cannabis offers a profusion of aroma sols, various fruity, spicy, skunk, floral and other emissions that tease the mind through the senses of smell and taste. Embrace the nuances of cannabis as an ingredient. This is a big part of cannabis cookery.”

Herb Seidel

nother Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook contributor Herb “Mota” Seidel has brought together his experience as a Chicago culinary school trained fine dining restaurant chef, a health care consultant and a longtime toker to create what he calls “healing cannabis food.” He started back in the early 2000s by going public of his love for cannabis and cooking with it when the stigma was not only real, but could get you jail time. Based in L.A., Herb now cooks fine cannabis cuisine to private

clients and for special events such as cannabis conventions. He also has a tutorial video series titled Cook with Herb. He contributed no less than 15 recipes to the Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook, including beginner’s oil and butter, cannabis ceviche, smokin’ grilled corn and grilled romaine hearts with olive cannabis dressing. “I believe that the medical uses of cannabis have been barely touched upon at this point, and in the future it should become a major component in the food as medicine and living food movements,” he says.

Scott Durrah

ot only a professional chef, Scott is also a master grower and contributor to Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook. He has run award-winning restaurants in L.A., Denver and Jamaica, but he owes his cooking background to his Boston roots, Italian grandmother and his Rastafarian island “brothers.” He and his wife Wanda ran Apothecary of Colorado until they were forced

CULTURE // October 2015

to close because their burgeoning business was turned down for banking services. Instead, they opened Jezebel’s Southern Bistro and Bar in Denver and Simply Pure Cooking School, which offers cannabis culinary excursions to Jamaica as well as Denver-based chef certification and cooking classes. A former Marine, he teaches people how to maximize cannabis’s flavor and health benefits in gourmet cuisine. >>

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Melissa Parks

contributor to the new HERB cookbook, Melissa Parks is a classically trained Le Cordon Blue and Johnson and Wales trained chef, who has worked for French pastry chefs in Texas, for fine dining restaurants in Minneapolis’ theatre district, as a product developer for General Mills, as a private chef for CEOs and as a custom wedding cake designer. She started cooking cannabis into edibles and baked goods when a girlfriend was stricken with breast cancer. Knowing nothing about cannabis, let along cooking with it, she eventually started cooking what she calls “cannabis-infused artisan edibles” for other sick friends in need of medicinal cannabis from stage four non-

Hodgkin’s lymphoma to migraine and insomnia sufferers. She is famed for developing techniques to cover up the “inherent grassy sage-like taste” of the oils. Melissa uses many methods to infuse cannabis into culinary products such as CBD oils, butters and concentrated extracts. “The changing flavor components of cannabis are what create a chef’s playground,” says Parks. “The advice I would give to any home canna-foodie/cannachef is to figure out what type of effect they are aiming to achieve through their edibles, and safely experiment with the strains in their area. Once they gain an understanding of the plant and its properties, the creation of meals becomes a natural next step.”

Curry Payton

urry Payton has a thriving non-weed restaurant group in Scottsdale, Arizona (Brat Haus and Taco Haus). He is hoping to broaden awareness of what he calls a “nutrient-rich vegetable” by writing the upcoming Nutritional Marijuana Cookbook. He teaches medical cannabis patients how to cook with cannabis and has partnered with the

Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona to provide free cannabis and cannabis cuisine classes to parents of sick children and the sons and daughters of aging parents. Payton has also just launched his Rawvolutionary Edibles line, which Payton says “showcases the abilities of marijuana to oxygenate aging blood cells and improve motor function all without being psychoactive.”

Chris Sayegh

hris Sayegh, who is also known as The Herbal Chef, travels up and down the West Coast cooking cannabis “experiences.” His Herbal Chef brand not only brings pop-up cannabis dinners to your table, but it is also launching a line of frozen dinners, focusing on cancer patients, that are infused with hemp CBD, whole plant CBD or THC (depending on your nutritional and pain management needs). A molecular biology student at the University of Santa Cruz, Sayegh left school to cook with some of the best Michelin-starred chefs in L.A. He fell in love with cannabis during

his college days at Santa Cruz and decided it was a “natural synergy” to put his cooking skills and passion for this powerful plant together as a viable career. On October 30, Sayegh has partnered with the American Cancer Society to raise awareness for cannabis as medicine at a swanky eight-course charity dinner held at L.A.’s LABART space. “Most strains that you are purchased nowadays have been crossed many times and are rarely pure strains,” says Sayegh. “So I really don’t have a favorite strain I like cooking with as long as they are grown and made with love and proper nutrients and care.”

Jeff the 420 Chef

eff the 420 Chef’s claim to fame is that he has somehow magically created “tasteless cannaoils and cannabutters,” which he demonstrates at private parties and cooking classes. Chef Jeff says he has noticed recently that cannabis patients are becoming a lot more discerning about what they are consuming and they want it to taste great too. Jeff is partnering with Harper Collins

CULTURE // October 2015

to publish a cannabis cookbook in June 2016. “I prefer to cook with either pure sativa or indica strains and high-CBD strains,” he says. “The results from pure strains are more predictable than hybrids. Strains that are high in CBD really help medical cannabis patients. It’s rewarding to see them doing better and knowing it’s because of something I made to help them feel better.” c

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Edibles Issue

The

Big

Scare Edibles, Candy and Halloween

By Addison Herron-Wheeler

ast Halloween season, there was a scent in the air besides fall leaves, roasting pumpkin seeds and candy corn. It was the smell of fear. With the recent legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes in some states, many were worried that children would accidently get into edibles on Halloween and mistake them for regular candy. Others feared that menacing, anonymous individuals would give out laced Halloween candy on purpose, hoping to plunge the children who received it into crippling horror. Many news outlets ran outrageous scare stories showing how difficult it can be to tell the difference between edibles and regular candy, and there was a general feeling of panic as the dreaded holiday approached. As the date rolled around, what exactly happened? Nothing. There were no cases of tampered-with candy, or even suspicion of such, reported to the Denver police. In fact, according to a story from Forbes entitled “The Mythical Menace of Marijuana-Infused Halloween Candy,” this has been a potential worry, or at least on the radar of police, since

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CULTURE // October 2015

the first instances of medical cannabis being legalized in California back in 1996. No cases have ever been reported of this, but there are news stories dating back to this year warning about this potential threat alongside razor blades in apples, and all of the other typical Halloween concerns. “Personally, I think there was never anything to worry about in the first place,” Nancy Whiteman, co-founder of Wana Brands, an edibles company based out of Colorado, told CULTURE. “To deliberately set out to hurt a child would obviously be the work of a very sick individual and frankly, there is no way we can ever completely prevent that—but there is also no particular reason to think that such a person would choose edibles as their method to put kids at risk. Many other options would be less expensive and more toxic. It is more likely that anyone who did such a thing would have had the idea put into his or her head by the sensationalized and continuous media coverage.” However, this of course does not mean that you should not practice good safety etiquette. As is always the rule with Halloween candy, a child should never eat anything that has been opened or looks tampered with, and adhering to this simple rule should stop any potential

criminals who want to harm children. Additionally, the introduction of edibles to the legal market does create a new temptation for children, albeit one that would more than likely come to play due to boredom or mischief on the child’s part or carelessness on yours, not evil intentions from an unknown stranger. In order to insure that children don’t get into edibles that you may have purchased for personal use, there are a few precautions you can take. “First, all retail edibles now come in child resistant containers,” explains Whiteman. “Multi-serving products come in child resistant packaging that retains its child resistant properties even after it has been opened. So, for starters, if you want to consume edibles, and you have children, buy legal edibles, as opposed to black market products. Legal edibles are lab tested and in proper packaging so children can’t access the edibles. Secondly, as with any substance that you are concerned about, keep edibles out of the reach of children. That’s just common sense. Lock them up if you are concerned about access. Third, don’t make edibles at home or allow homemade edibles in your home. Unregulated edibles have not been tested for potency and are generally not going to be in child resistant packaging. Unregulated edibles present a much bigger risk to children than legal edibles.” This Halloween, make safety your first priority, but before you lock your kids in for the night with a bag of store-bought Snickers, remember that there have been no reported cases of cannabis-spiked Halloween candy, and that sometimes the media hype can be scarier than the reality itself. c

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101

NEW EDIBLES HIGHLIGHTS

Edibles Issue

Liquid Gold Café K-Cup

G Farma Labs has finally created a great coffee to pair with their great chocolates. Perfect for the working adult, the Liquid Gold Cafe comes in 10mg per cup, 12 cups to a case and $5 retail per individual cup or $50 for a case. All of their edibles are produced in a state-of-the-art kitchen, and the Liquid Gold Café can fit any Keurig coffee maker. The combination of caffeine and cannabis can help a variety of ailments or lifestyles—it has already become a staple for us—and should definitely be on your shopping list. www.gfarmalabs.com

Natural Cannabis Company Ice Cream Sandwiches

These tasty treats from the Natural Cannabis Company are the perfect combination to satisfy your sweet tooth. Made of creamy ice cream sandwiched between two chewy chocolate chip cookies, what more could you ask for? This truly luxurious ice cream took home an award at the Harvest Fair and is even better medicated and paired with chocolate chip-loaded cookies. Natural Cannabis Co. Ice Cream Sandwiches are so rich in flavor that you will forget that each treat is infused with high grade CO2-extracted cannabis oil, and holds 30mg of THC! Available in chocolate or vanilla at all three California locations: OrganiCann, Oakland Organics and MendoCann. naturalcannabis.com

Quigley’s Cannabis Shot Quigley’s cannabis-infused energy shot is different from anything else on the market. Their fast-acting, long-lasting formula is perfect for the busy professional. Quigley’s has worked hard to formulate a reliable cannabis delivery system for people who cannot or do not like to smoke. Their proprietary, fast-acting shot delivers a reliable and wonderful experience in minutes, giving you energy and pain relief! 10mg and 50mg bottles available. www.quigleys.com

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NEW EDIBLES HIGHLIGHTS CONT.

* Jane’s Brew Sweet Tea

House of Jane continues to professionalize the world of edibles with their products, especially their new drinks. The Sweet Tea and Unsweetened Tea both come in 12-ounce bottles, and combine focus and anti-anxiety effects in the infused beverage. Best enjoyed ice-cold and well-shaken, the Sweet Tea taste will transport you to the South and relax away your cares with good ole Southern hospitality. The fast-acting, long-lasting hybrid oil causes pain-relief and relaxation without couch-lock. Each labtested bottle contains 80mg of THC. www.houseofjane.com

* FLO Sweet n’ Flo Sugar

This Focused Labs Oils (FLOTM) Sweet n’ Flo Sugar is one of the coolest medicated products we’ve seen in a while. In either sativa or indica, and is available in 25, 50 and 100mg. This tiny little package is great with coffee, tea, fruit or on cereal! FLOTM applies proven scientific methodologies to the cannabis industry. Their CO2 solvent-free extraction process provides the cleanest and safest extraction methods available and their commercial kitchen ensures premium edibles with consistent dosages. www.focusedlabs.com

*Jolly Meds CBD-OOS

Jolly Meds cannabis-infused lozenge is the perfect candy for patients. This high-CBD and low-THC treat is great for patients seeking medicine without feeling medicated. Easily dosable 4-piece pack contents: 30mg CBD and 15mg THC. Jolly Meds believes a high-CBD/low-THC formulation is key for ongoing physical and mental wellness. CBD-OOS come in organic flavors strawberry, tangerine or ginger. www.jollymeds.com

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We reported a few months ago on the fact that some activists in Denver were trying to get an initiative on the November 2015 ballot that would allow for public consumption of cannabis in some spots in the city, like properly designated bars and clubs. As exciting as this idea was, it looks like it is not going to come to light any time soon, as the activists behind this measure are going to have it pulled from the ballot this year. >>

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“We believe that cannabis users deserve the freedom to congregate and socialize to the same extent as alcohol users.”

According to The Denver Post, they are doing this in order to strike a compromise with business people and city leaders in Denver, and they already have a verbal agreement to do so. In order not to ruffle any feathers with the powers that be, they want to work out an ordinance that can be agreed upon by all parties, and will not cause a stir if it goes through. “We’re not approaching the withdrawal of this initiative lightly,” Mason Tvert, who helps head up the Marijuana Policy Project and was one of the authors of Amendment 64, told The Denver Post. “We believe that cannabis users deserve the freedom to congregate and socialize to the same extent as alcohol users.” This initiative originally had some pretty good backing—activists got plenty of signatures when they put the question of public consumption to the people, coming up with 10,700 total. There is also a clear demand for some kind of solution to the

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no-smoking-in-public problem—Denver is filled with dispensaries, and there is nowhere to publicly smoke. However, this bold new idea raised some red flags with city officials, who were worried this would be too much too soon. Councilman Albus Brooks, the representative for most of downtown Denver, claimed that taking the time to talk this over instead of voting now “ensures we now have the time and ability to include all interested stakeholders to reach consensus on this important issue.” He continued, “I am committed to working on a broadly acceptable solution.” “Our respective industries are committed to working with the proponents and the city to find a solution that reflects the interests and concerns of all stakeholders,” added the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association/Metro Denver Lodging Council and the Colorado Restaurant Association in a statement, agreeing that this wait is for the best.

“We can’t guarantee an outcome on it, obviously, but it’s something we’ve been looking at,” added Ashley Kilroy, who serves as the Executive Director for Denver’s Marijuana Policy. “We do believe that there’s area for conversation around this and that there’s a lot of other considerations.” So far, it is not exactly clear what these talks will entail, or when they will take place. The new ordinance that is worked out could be anything from allowing a few cannabis clubs to open up in the city, to letting restaurant owners allow smoking and vaping outside or in certain areas if they see fit. The idea is to feel out the concerns of all involved parties and see if a compromise will be reached. The initial news that public consumption won’t be coming to Denver in 2016 is a bit disappointing, but due to the momentum legal cannabis has built up in the city so far, it is only a matter of time before some sort of public use is approved. c VISIT US AT

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“It opened up a whole new world to me that I thought was really amazing, and I thought had profound implications for shifting the way society views cannabis.”

CBD—three little letters, so much potential.

These days, we know about cannabidiol, the ingredient of cannabis that doesn’t get you high but has shown such potential for healing, from reducing inflammation to preventing seizures in children for whom every other treatment has failed. But when journalist and cannabis activist Martin Lee began hearing about cannabidiol at scientific conferences eight years ago, it was largely a mystery. Growers had spent by R. Scott Rappold decades breeding strains to be high in THC, the psychoactive ingredient of cannabis. Just finding a strain high in CBD in California at that time was tough. “It was lousy weed. It didn’t get me high,” said Lee. “But it sure helped my back pain.” Impressed with the potential, he began writing about this mostly unknown component of cannabis and actively seeking out strains with more CBD than THC. In 2010 he founded the nonprofit Project CBD to be a clearinghouse of information about the compound and help medical cannabis patients find such strains of plant. “It opened up a whole new world to me that I thought was really amazing, and I thought had profound implications for shifting the way society views cannabis,” said Lee. >>

Martin Lee of Project CBD

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Evolving science

Early on, Lee noticed that while plenty of scientists attended conferences and forums on cannabis, very few medical doctors did. Such scientific research as existed was written in lingo few medical cannabis patients—or patients of any stripe—could decipher. Lee saw the mission of Project CBD to bring all these groups together to share knowledge of the incredible potential of the compound and, with growers, to make it available. CBD studies have shown great promise in treating tumors, nausea and psychiatric

of cannabidiol. Still, CBD may have remained an obscure compound of cannabis, one of over 60 that even most cannasseurs have never heard of, if not for a little girl in Colorado.

A national story

Like many children with epilepsy, medication did little to prevent Charlotte Figi’s seizures. By five years old, she was wheelchair-bound and mostly catatonic from heavy drugs and up to 50 grand mal seizures a day. Her mother, desperate for anything to help, found anecdotal stories online about seizures being reduced

of mainstream cannabis. Here was medicine, something people with no interest in getting “high” could find benefit from. Project CBD’s main mission since has been to educate newcomers about cannabis, cannabidiol and where to find it, “to help guide them through this strange terrain of CBD products,” Lee said. Their website also lets you find nearby dispensaries selling CBD-rich cannabis. Despite the preponderance of anecdotal evidence and stories like Charlotte’s, there is still very little scientific evidence on how CBD works to cut seizures or shrink tumors. That’s

“We just felt at the time, this seemed to warrant a special kind of attention, the fact the medical marijuana community was ready to embrace CBD-rich cannabis.” conditions, as well having anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory affects. The world, he believed, needed to know about this. “We just felt at the time, this seemed to warrant a special kind of attention, the fact the medical marijuana community was ready to embrace CBDrich cannabis,” he said. Of course, cannabis without any psychoactive effects can be a tough sell, and it took a long time to get it available. If Lee heard about a strain high in CBD, he would try to connect CBD seekers with the grower so they could get clones. Project CBD began working with dispensaries to educate workers on use and dosing CULTURE // October CULTURE // October 2015 2015 114114

or even eliminated with a special kind of cannabis. Fortunately, she lived in Colorado, with a robust medical cannabis industry, and was able to find a grower interested in CBD-rich cannabis. The story about how Charlotte’s seizures dropped to only one or two a month made headlines around the world. CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, long skeptical about medical cannabis, featured the Figis and renounced his earlier stance. In 2013, families began moving to Colorado from across the country by the hundreds to get an epilepsy treatment that would be illegal in their states. For Lee, that was the turning point. No longer was CBD a compound on the fringe

because the federal government still considers it a Schedule 1 drug with no medical uses. If and when the federal government reschedules cannabis, Lee expects there to be a huge explosion of CBD products, not just buds or extracts in a dispensary but pharmaceutical products made by massive corporations. The role of Project CBD will be even greater. For his part, Lee doesn’t think the popularity of CBD-rich cannabis will hurt traditional cannabis. “I like THC-dominant strains. I also use CBD too. I think that there’s still a lot to be learned on how to use CBD for the best benefit.” c VISIT US VISIT AT iReadCulture.com US AT iReadCulture.com

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“I think art is incredibly healing, which is how I got started, and incredibly addicting, which is why I have never stopped.”

CreepyCute Creativity The art of

Corrina Espinosa by Addison Herron-Wheeler If you spend any amount of time at all on the internet, especially on a site like Facebook or Twitter, you are bound to be inundated by all kinds of information, from posts about string theory and technological innovations to memes of cute kittens batting at the screen. Such a technological influx can be really fun and entertaining, and it can also be a little bit scary and overwhelming. This blend of the “cute with the creepy,” as she puts it, is exactly the paradox that Corrina Espinosa, local technology-inspired artist, deals with in her work.

IN PERSON 10/20 @ Good Thieves Press Art Studio, Denver

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“An old professor told me once that my artwork smells like electricity,” Espinosa told us. “I do love technology and most of my work reflects that with flashing, colorchanging lights, spinning motors, all things new, clean and exciting. Stylistically my work is surreal; I create fantastical narratives, which often embrace dark humor to criticize politicians, wallow in my sorrows, or to express love, etc. through ironically juxtaposed imagery—for instance, the ‘heartfelt’ with the ‘horrific,’ or the ‘cute’ with the ‘creepy.’ I love to add a sort of a dark, warped twist on real life perspectives.” Espinosa also explains that her art comes from a place of healing. “I grew up in Denver during a time of marked violence, Denver’s notorious summer of violence, and that was something that impacted me deeply,” she explains. “I think art is incredibly healing, which is how I got started, and incredibly addicting, which is why I have never stopped. I always wanted to be a writer, but when I took ceramics as a freshman in high school, I fell in love with carving and dedicated my life to storytelling through objects.” She is currently doing it all when it comes to the art world—going to school, teaching, running an art studio and constantly experimenting with new forms. “I am about halfway done with my Master of Fine Art Degree and I also teach Intro to Studio Art, so that definitely keeps me busy,” Espinosa

says. “I am currently experimenting a lot with kinetics, circuitry, conductive ink, and alternate photography processes. I like to have a variety of projects going at once, so I don’t ever get stuck. Right now I’m building collages on my desk, I have a projection mapping installation design developing on my computer, and a wide array of other projects, in various mediums, even a poetry book, which are taking form all over my studio and even my home!” Espinosa explains that while she never directly works cannabis into her art as a theme, she likes to touch on the psychedelic from time to time in her work, and fully supports the creative cannabis culture in Colorado. “I especially love the bright, saturated colors tied to the genre,” she states of psychedelic art. “One piece in particular I made, is a collage called Mushroom Jaz. It depicts topsyturvy, cloudy, blue skies set on top of a lively scene of green grass, where long-legged women with mushroom heads are casually sprawling. The framed collage itself is a functioning speaker system, which is intended to play Mushroom Jazz, a very specific genre of music that is closely related to cannabis culture. I’m certainly open to exploring almost any topic in my art practice, I love to tackle controversy and the taboo.” Catch Espinosa’s work at her regular gallery showings, and count on her for some telling commentary of the modern world. c www.corrinaespinosa.com VISIT US AT iReadCulture.com

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Oct. 28th @ The Bluebird in Denver opening for Of Montreal

Indulge Your Senses in Sound DéCollage sounds like Salvador Dali smells by Addison Herron-Wheeler

Some of the best artistic expression and experimentation has been born out of artistic collectives–the Beats in the 1950s, the movers and thinkers in Haight-Ashbury in the late ‘60s, the punk movement in London in the ‘70s, and the new-wave art movement in New York in the ‘80s are just a few of the most seminal examples of consciousness-shifting meldings of the mind. It’s

pretty clear that with the renaissance in Denver brought on by legal cannabis and an influx of transplants with new ideas moving to the area, we are poised to be the next producer of such a movement. The collective that is Moon Magnet Studios may go down in history as one of the catalysts for this movement, and if so, DéCollage will surely be at the forefront of this reaction.

Fronted by Reed Fuchs, the visionary behind the art collective and production studio known as Moon Magnet, DéCollage describe themselves as “Surrealist Adventure Music: A crystal prism you twirl around in your mind’s eye, watching, unfolding in sonic Technicolor,” and state that, “If Salvador Dali’s paintings became music, they would sound like DéCollage.” “We are theatrical, and incorporate many different synth hits in the live shows,” Fuchs extrapolates. “We typically have painters on stage that paint along with us, and projections. We also sometimes use incense, and all the audience has space blankets, which makes it get noisy, since space blankets are a little loud. We give those out at each show.” Truly, DéCollage are about indulging all the senses in their

eventually we will release EPs by several different bands that way.” Fuchs is very inspired by the psychedelic vibe and the weirdness that makes Denver great, and he feels like the legal cannabis scene is making things even better. “It’s really kind of affecting Denver as a whole, I guess, because so many people are moving here. I think this is helping Denver in a lot of ways,” he states. “We have a really fast growing tech scene, there is a

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live performances, not just providing aural entertainment. For this reason, they will be releasing their new record in a very unusual format. “Psycholodge, our next EP, will be released via smart phone app, manipulating sound, synesthesia,” Fuchs explains. You’ll be able to visually see representations in the app, and you can change the visuals but not affect the sound. It’s going to be a fun, kaleidoscopic game, released as a Moon Magnet app, and

lot of innovation happening, and things are moving a little faster, which is a good thing. I think this is contrasted by the fact that there are a lot of pot heads here as well, so everything is moving a little slower. There are a lot of people moving here, a lot of creative people. The Denver art scene is really great–it gives a lot back to Denver arts and venues, gives back to the smaller artist. The scene is growing, and there are a lot of opportunities to grow in the arts.” As the Denver art and psych scene expands, we surely have not seen the last of Moon Magnet Studios or DéCollage. Keep up with what they are doing this year in terms of releases and performances, and be sure to grab a space blanket at their next show. c www.decollagemedia.com VISIT US AT

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by Ed Rosenthal

growing culture

EXPERIMENTING WITH

LIGHTING

arlier in the season, I set up an experiment to see whether I could hasten flowering using far-red light at 730nm after dusk to flip the plants’ chemistry. The experiment was not successful, but I think that the results were inconclusive because the lights used weren’t intense enough. However, I had inadvertently created another experiment that I mentioned in my last column. I had placed a 320-watt induction fluorescent light against the wall of the greenhouse, just over the plants, in the center of the garden. The light turned on each day in the afternoon for four hours as the garden phased into shade. It turned off hours before dusk, so all the plants in the room received the same length of photoperiod. However, the plants on either side of this light were powered only by natural light. Last month I noticed that the flowers of the plants receiving the supplemental light were ahead of those of the side plants. Now, it’s the first week in September, one month later, and the plants are showing marked differences based on their placement, rather than on variety. The buds closest to the bulb and in direct contact with sunlight were the first to ripen. Buds on the same plant that received less light were a few days behind, but the side plants, which received no supplemental light, were two weeks or more from ripening. This outcome is consistent with other studies regarding DLI (daily light integral). It represents the total amount of light usable by the plant over

a 24-hour period. The theory is that growth and maturity is dependent upon the amount of light the plant receives. In this experiment neither the enriched light plants nor the controls were receiving the maximum light they could process, but the enriched light plants were receiving considerably more than the controls. Therefore, any difference in growth or maturity not variety related would be attributed to the increase in light of the experimental group. The result was that the experimental group did grow larger and mature faster than the control group. The result of this experiment has practical applications: Supplementing natural light with additional intensity from electrical sources increases the yield while shortening ripening time. The light can be used to supplement the whole garden in the fall, when natural light intensity is diminishing day by day. Increasing light to the shaded part of the garden, especially when the plants are maturing, is even more beneficial. Supplementing the natural light with light from induction fluorescents, white LEDs or metal halides adds brightness, but is usually not noticeable to casual passerby since all of their spectrums are close to natural light. I’ve now harvested all of the plants that were under the lights. They are drying in the drying room. The plants that were growing without supplemental lighting are now maturing under the lighting. In the next few weeks they too, will be hung to dry and cure. c

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM ASK ED® Time for fall planting

f you live in the lower third (latitude wise) of the country, where the sun is still intense in winter, you have greenhouse protection or an unobstructed south facing window, you can plant a fall crop. Place clones in 6-10 inch pots. Use high quality enriched

planting mix. Then place them in the sunniest part of the garden or greenhouse. Because the plants are getting long nights they will immediately start to flower. They will stay small, single bud plants. In about eight weeks, they will be ready to enjoy. Options: If you give them supplemental light, they will grow bigger.

If you break up the dark period with bursts of light a couple of times each night during the dark period the plants will continue to grow larger. When you stop, the plants will start to flower. If you extend the light period to 18 hours, they will grow faster and continue to grow vegetatively. As soon as the light period is decreased to 12 hours daily, the plants will begin to flower.

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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1 The plants receiving additional light from an induction fluorescent were mature September 10. The others needed several weeks to ripen.

2 A mature bud. Since all the buds of the experimental plants were receiving both natural and supplemental light, they matured simultaneously.

3 Bud close-up.

4 Control bud. These received no extra light and are weeks behind.

5 A farmer’s favorite moment—Harvest!

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destination unkNown

Connecticut

by Sheryll Alexander

Autumn Harvest in Connecticut

IF YOU GO:

Fun-Filled Facts 1 Romance is in the air when traveling to

Connecticut during the chilly falling of the leaves season. Cozy B&Bs dot the state to provide romantic respites complete with fireplaces, homemade breakfasts and even couples’ massage. 2 Skip the shore, and head to

the center of Connecticut up river via New Haven and Hartford. This hilly country is not only incredibly scenic, but also full of colonial history, art and architecture as well as such venerable cultural institutions as Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hill-Stead Museum, The New Britain Museum, Yale Center for British Art and the Mark Twain House & Museum.

Surprisingly, Connecticut is home to 25 eclectic wineries, which together form what is called the Connecticut Wine Trail.

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Even when offering New England’s only “pharmaceutical” medical cannabis program where no smoking is allowed, Connecticut’s all-organic powdered and edible cannabis dispensaries have doubled their growing customer base since going legal in 2012, so says Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan A. Harris. In fact, medicinal cannabis patients and their advocates have been lobbying as of late to get three more dispensaries licensed and opened as there’s only six “cannabis clinics” operating at this time. The number of doctors dispensing oral cannabis meds is also expanding although they can only prescribe pills, creams and edibles to those who can conform to a list of just 14 medical conditions.

Time to Go: Fall, spring and summer Weather: Cool and breezy in the fall and spring with hot, humid summers Budget: $$$$$

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et another New England state has gone medicinal thanks to Connecticut’s “pharmaceutical” cannabis program (only pills, creams and edibles are sold). Even though you can’t smoke flower buds, what could be better than orally medicating on a chilly autumn day along a stretch of lonely lake with what seems like millions of orange, red and yellow leaves fluttering in the wind and reflecting back to you upon the still water? Connecticut is the southerly-most New England state, although some of its most southwestern cities near the New York border are considered part of the Tri-State Area. To the south, Connecticut is known for its maritime past and present as it hugs the more peaceful Long Island Sound in such chic seaside towns as Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, Madison, Old Saybrook, Mystic (as in the Julia Roberts’ classic chick flick Mystic Pizza) and, perhaps not so ironically now, Stonington. October is the perfect time to visit Connecticut. September’s country fairs have all but vanished from the scene to be replaced with Halloween happenings and holiday boutiques in charming by-the-sea towns and river valley villages. Fall’s raging colors are in full force by mid fall and so are other enjoyable things to do in this vibrant state such as: Hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, apple picking, art gallery hopping, designer shopping, casino gambling, fine dining, wine tasting and road tripping through quiet and quaint New England-style towns. c

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William Cioci profile in courage

Age: 46 Condition/ Illness: Depression, Anxiety, PTSD

Using medical cannabis since: 2009

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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Why did you start using medical cannabis? I had anger and violence issues that eventually led me to be involved with the criminal justice and mental health systems. I was put on numerous pharmaceutical medications that had multiple negative effects on my health, resulting in me needing in-patient care multiple times per year. At the end of one of my appointments, as my doctor gave me a handful of trial size boxes of pills along with a written prescription for more, he asked me if “I had ever heard of medical cannabis.“ I had smoked a little as a teen, and never thought of it as medicine. I was on probation in a state that had no legal protections for medical cannabis, so I used the next few years to do as much research as I could on the subject. When I got off of probation, I sold all my belongings, left my friends and family, and moved to California. I am now pill-free and haven’t had any need for institutional care for seven years. Did you try any other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes. I was on a multitude of pharmaceutical medications and was involved with therapy and counseling. Most of the pills actually made my conditions worse. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? Educate yourself, talk to patients that use this medicine. If you can’t find a patient, the internet is full of good information. There is no reason to remain ignorant in this age of information. The truth is out there. c

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recipes

Menu: CARAMEL APPLES

CANNA-CANDY CORN SEVERED WITCH’S FINGER COOKIES

CANNA-CANDY CORN 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar 6 1/2 teaspoons nonfat dry milk 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 3 1/2 ounces canna sugar t (about 1/2 cup) 3 3/4 ounces light corn syrup, (about 1/3 cup)

2 1/2 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons unsalted canna butter t (room temperature) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 to 3 drops yellow and orange gel paste food coloring

Directions Combine the powdered sugar, dry milk and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 4 to 5 times until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Set aside. Combine the canna sugar, corn syrup and water in a 2-quart pot. Put over medium heat, cover and cook for 4 minutes. Add the infused butter, clip on a candy thermometer, and bring the mixture to 230°, about 1 to 2 minutes. When the sugar-syrup reaches 230°, take the pot off the heat and remove the thermometer. Add the vanilla and the dry mixture, stirring continuously with a silicone spatula until well combined. Pour onto a half sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat. Cool until the mixture is cool enough to handle, about 10 to 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 piece and knead the dough until the color is consistent throughout. Add 2 drops of orange to the second piece, and knead until the color is consistent throughout. Leave the third piece white. Roll each piece of dough into a strand, about 18-inches long. Cut each strand in half. Roll 1 of the white pieces into a strand that is about 1/2-inch thick and about 22-inches long. Repeat with a yellow piece and orange piece. Lay the strands side by side and press them together using your fingers. Cut the strand into 4-inch pieces. Lay the strands, one at a time, onto the silicone mat and press into a wedge shape, like a triangle. Use a wire butter slicer to cut the candies into pieces. If you don’t have a wire butter slicer, use a knife, metal bench scraper or pizza cutter to slice the dough into small pieces. Repeat the procedure with remaining dough. Lay the finished pieces on a piece of parchment or waxed paper to dry for 1 hour. Store in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer.

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CREEPY CONFECTIONS

Now that fall is in full gear, it’s time to dive into our favorite time of year. This month, it’s all about the sweets. We’re not talking about individually wrapped, “fun sized” candy bars. Instead, put on your culinary cap and embrace some delicious, homemade adult desserts made even sweeter with cannabis. The kids have to work for their candy this holiday, but adults get to consume some nostalgic and timeless treats. Gooey caramel apples, sweet and fun candy corn and severed witch’s finger cookies, now at your fingertips—no doorbell ringing required!

SEVERED WITCH’S FINGER COOKIES Vegetable oil cooking spray 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon fine salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted canna butter t (room temperature)

1 cup sugar 1 large egg, at room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 28 large sliced almonds 1/2 cup raspberry jam

Directions Place your oven rack in the center of your oven. Preheat the oven to 325°. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a standing mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the canna butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed, about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in the flour mixture until a dough forms. Using about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll the dough between your palms into 5-inch-long “fingers,” about 1/2-inch thick. Firmly press a sliced almond into the end of each finger to make fingernails. Make several horizontal cuts, about 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch long, in the center of each finger to make knuckles. Press the dough on either side of the cuts to shape the knuckles. Arrange the fingers on the prepared baking sheet and bake until light golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer the fingers to a wire rack and cool completely. In a small saucepan, heat the jam over low heat until warm, about 2 minutes. Dip the blunt ends of the fingers in the warm jam and arrange on a platter. 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.

t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com

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Local eateries with similar dishes Daffy Apple 11075 E 47th Ave., Denver (303) 288-7830 www.daffyapple.com

CARAMEL APPLES by Aunt Sandy

2 cups sugar 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup infused canna butter t 1 cup milk 1 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 8 apples of your choosing (we prefer Granny Smith Apples) Optional: Nuts, sprinkles, infused-melted chocolate for drizzling, etc.

The Chocolate Therapist 2560 W Main St., Littleton (303) 795-7913 www.thechocolatetherapist.com Scrumptious 7523 Grandview Ave., Arvada (303) 431-2639 www.scrumptiousco.com

Preparation Combine all mixable ingredients, except vanilla, into a heavy 4-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 15 to 20 minutes or until butter is melted and mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking 25 to 30 minutes, or until candy thermometer reaches 244째. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract. Remove stem from each apple and press a craft stick or popsicle stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet. Roll each apple quickly in heated caramel sauce until well coated. Place on wax paper-lined sheet to set.

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event listings

LET’S Catfish and the Bottlemen, Oct. 7

Hailing from Wales, Catfish and the Bottlemen is the epitome of English indie rock. The band has toured through Europe, Australia and North America with one goal in mind—to spread its music everywhere! Gothic Theatre, Englewood gothictheatre.com

Panic! At the Disco, Oct. 10 This band took off so fast that it’s hard to tell where the indie ended and the fame began. Panic! At the Disco’s first album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out became certified double platinum—and that’s all anyone needs to know when it comes to measuring a band’s worthiness. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison redrocksonline.com

Haunted Brew Fest, Oct. 10

You’ll see the usual goblins, zombies, ghosts and other terrifying creatures at the Haunted Brew Fest, but the real thriller is the availability of over 40 different beers ready for tasting! Colorado Springs Event Center, Colorado Springs coloradospringseventcenter. com

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DO THIS

Telluride Horror Show, Oct. 16-18

featured event

Horror fans will scream with delight when they are given the opportunity to view some of the latest and greatest horror, suspense and thriller films. Over 20 feature films and over 30 short films will be screened, many of which will be shown for the first time in the U.S. Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theatre, Telluride telluridehorrorshow.com

Janet Jackson, Oct. 25 Tech N9ne, Oct. 24 If the sound of the best ’90s hiphop excites you, then it’s time to let Tech N9ne reacquaint you with your nostalgia. As one of the most famous rappers of his generation, no fan would be complete without saying they saw him perform live. Fillmore Auditorium, Denver fillmoreauditorium.org

The Jackson family is well-known for its musical genes, but none more than the talent of Janet Jackson. The yougest of the famous Jackson children, she’s been singing her heart out since 1973 and is still as impressive as she was from day one. Pepsi Center, Denver www.pepsicenter.com for wine aficionados. Soak in the beautiful landscape, and taste countless fine wines and culinary treasures. Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield omnihotels.com

Manitou Springs Emma Crawford Coffin Races, Oct. 24

Now 21 years in the making, the Coffin Races are an annual Halloween staple for Manitou Springs. Over 10,000 people come to witness the festivities brought from uniquely decorated coffins being pushed 195 feet to the finish line. Downtown Manitou Springs, Manitou Springs manitoursprings.org

11th Annual Denver International Wine Festival, Oct. 28-30 The International Wine Festival is the region’s finest and most popular gathering

Colorado Horror Con, Oct. 30-31, Nov. 1

Take a different for Halloween this year and embrace art, filmmaking, writing, reading, visual displays, comic books, graphic novels and so many more forms of entertainment that revolve around the beautiful macabre horror genre. Ramada Plaza, Northglenn ramadaplazadenver.com VISIT US AT

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Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird

LEAD STORY—PETS OF THE 1 PERCENT u “The worshipful treatment of

pets may be the thing that unites all Americans,” wrote an Atlantic Magazine blogger in July, describing the luxury terminal for animals under construction at New York’s JFK airport. The ARK will offer shower stalls for traveling horses, “conjugal stations” for ever-horny penguins, and housing for nearly 200 cows (that might produce 5,000 pounds of manure every day)—and passengers traveling with dogs or cats can book the Paradise 4 Paws pet-pampering resort. The ARK is a for-profit

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venture; said one industry source, quoted in a July Crain’s New York Business report, “You hear stories about the crazy money that rich people spend on their (animals) . . . they’re mostly true.”

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION u Officially, now, it is

“unreasonable” for a federal agency (the Bureau of Land Management, in this instance) to fail to say yes or no for 29 years to a drilling permit application. (Before July’s federal court decision, BLM had been arguing that 29 years was not too long).

A company had requested to drill just one exploratory well in Montana for natural gas in 1985, but the bureau had delayed the proceeding six times since then. The judge ordered the bureau to set a deadline for deciding.

Spain (pop. 1,400), officially enacted into law what had merely been custom—a required afternoon siesta from 2 to 5 p.m. Businesses were ordered to close, and children were to remain indoors (and quiet).

u Georgia, one of six states that

POLICE REPORT u At a traffic stop in

u Mandatory Inaction: In July, the mayor of the town of Ador,

u Nathaniel Harrison, 38, was arrested in July in a Phoenix suburb on several charges, including possession of a deadly weapon during a felony, but he

make taxpayers shell out huge fees to access its databases of public records, tries so relentlessly to control its archive that, recently, in a federal lawsuit, it said opposition to its policy was basically “terrorism.” Activists (Public.Resource.org) have been establishing workarounds to free up some databases for citizen use, and Georgia demands that they stop. Georgia even claims “copyright” protection for one category of important legal documents that were initially drafted by state bureaucrats, audaciously calling them “original” and “creative” works.

Rockingham, Vermont, on July 26, both driver and passenger were charged with DUI. Erik Polite, 35, was the driver (clocked at 106 mph on Interstate 91 and, according to police, with drugs in the car), and while he was being screened for intoxication, passenger Leeshawn Baker, 34, jumped behind the wheel and peeled off in reverse across the highway, nearly hitting the trooper, who arrested him.

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escaped an even more serious charge when a second “deadly weapon” failed to engage. Harrison reportedly intended to retaliate against a “snitch” and arrived at the man’s home carrying a rattlesnake, which he supposedly pointed at the man, hoping it would bite him. However, the snake balked, and Harrison’s attempted payback failed.

u Lame Defenses in Lake County, Florida: (1) Daniel Baker, 40, and Robert Richardson, 19, were arrested in Altoona, Florida, in August after getting caught loading appliances from a vacant house. According to the arrest report, both men appeared incredulous to learn that items in a vacant house aren’t just “free.” (2) Six days earlier about 20 miles away in Tavares, Florida, Corey Ramsey, 23, was arrested for burglary when a police officer caught him sitting on a toilet in a vacant, for-sale house attending to a need. Ramsey’s extensive petty-crime rap sheet belied his explanation for being there— that he was contemplating buying the $299,000 house and wanted to try it out first. STILL MORE “INTELLIGENT DESIGN”? u Zoologists at the University

of Basel in Switzerland, publishing recently in a prestigious British journal, reported the likelihood that a certain flatworm species has overcome the frustration of not finding a mating partner in its lifetime. The scientists believe the flatworm exploits its hermaphroditic qualities and injects its sperm into its own head, from which the sperm sometimes migrates to its reproductive facilities. (Flatworm researchers are aided on their projects by the species’ transparent bodies, facilitating the tracking of the sperm).

PROTEST! u About 200 protesters

gathered in front of Hong Kong police headquarters on August 2 to denounce the 3 1/2-month jail sentence given to Ms. Ng

Lai-ying, 30, who was convicted of assault for shoving a police officer with her chest. Women (and some men) wearing bras as outerwear chanted, “Breast is not a weapon.” (Ng was originally protesting the hardly sexy issue of import-export abuses between Hong Kong and mainland China cities).

u The Joy of Protest: An August 1 demonstration outside Britain’s Parliament protesting legislation to curb until-now-legal psychoactive drugs drew about 100 people— consuming their drug of choice, nitrous oxide. As organizers distributed gas-filled balloons for demonstrators to take hits from, “the group erupted in fits of laughter,” according to The Guardian. PERSPECTIVE u Construction on a $1.7 million therapeutic equestrian facility in St. Cloud, Florida, expressly for use by wounded U.S. service members, was delayed in August when a bald eagle nest was discovered on the grounds. Federal law requires at least 330 feet of clearance for the nest, plus additional monitoring to assure the birds’ tranquility. Said one neighbor, “The very animal that symbolizes freedom is delaying therapy for those who fought for it.”

FUNNY OLD WORLD u The Welsh language is such a

severe mutation of the original English spoken in the Middle Ages that, to the inexperienced eye, it is barely distinguishable from, say, Klingon. In fact, in July, the Welsh government, responding to queries about a possible UFO sighting near Cardiff airport, playfully issued its galaxy-friendly response in Klingon—”jang vlDa je due luq,” meaning that further information will be provided. (In Welsh, for example, “I cannot understand Welsh” is “nad oes modd i ddeall Cymraeg.”) (Recently, in Swansea, Wales, alleged drug dealer Dwaine Campbell, 25, adamantly refused to leave his cell for a court hearing because he feared

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being judged in Welsh—until authorities promised to transfer the case to Campbell’s native England).

UPDATE u Despite repeated assurances

by Olympic officials, it appears more certain than ever that 2016 boating and surfing events in Brazil’s Guanabara Bay and Rodrigo de Freitas Lake will be conducted in water so polluted with human sewage that every athlete will almost certainly be struck with fever, vomiting and diarrhea. An August Associated Press report revealed the waters’ virus levels (of fecal coliform and other viruses) are as high as 2 million times the level that would close down a California beach. (Olympic and local officials continue to insist that the water will be safe by next summer, but, as the AP pointed out, their protocols test only for bacteria and not viruses. One U.S. water-quality expert advised all athletes to move to Rio ahead of the games—to try to build up an immunity).

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NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (MAY 2010) u In mid-April (2010), senior

Iranian cleric Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi warned that recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and elsewhere were caused by women’s loose sex and immodest dress. Immediately, Australian Jennifer McCreight responded on Facebook by urging women worldwide to dress provocatively on April 26 (2010), to create a “boobquake” and test the cleric’s theory, and at least 90,000 women promised they would reveal serious cleavage on that date. On April 26, following a several-day absence of earthquakes, a quake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale hit just south of Taiwan. (Slight advantage to the ayatollah, since a Purdue University seismologist observed that a 6.5 quake was not uncommon for that region).

CECIL SPEAKS u The distress across the

Western world in July over the big-game killing of Cecil

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the lion in Zimbabwe was apparently misdirected, according to veteran “animal communicator” Karen Anderson of Elk, Washington, who told Facebook and Internet visitors (www. AnimalCommunicating. com) that Cecil and she had discussed his demise and that he was over it. Also, Cecil apparently speaks in formal, graceful English, as Anderson quoted him (according to London’s The Independent): “Let not the actions of these few men defeat us,” said Cecil, “or allow darkness to enter our hearts.” “I am,” he added, “grander than before as no one can take our purity, our truth or our soul.” (Anderson’s usual fee to speak with deceased pets is $75 for 15 minutes, but she did not disclose whether she had a client for Cecil’s tab).

CHUTZPAH! u In May, three Santa Ana,

California, police officers who had just raided the unlicensed Sky High Holistic medical marijuana dispensary were caught on the facility’s surveillance video eating supposedly seized cannabisinfused chocolate bars, and an “internal affairs” investigation was opened. However, in August, the Orange County Register reported that the cops went to court to have the video suppressed. Their familiar legal argument is that the video violates their right to privacy—in that they had purposely disabled the

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cameras before they began munching the contraband and thus had the requisite “expectation of privacy” that triggers the right. (Possibly, they had missed a camera).

u The mother of three children in Grandview, Missouri, suspected that Dameion McBride, 22, had sexually molested her two daughters (ages 4 and 8) and son (age 3), but McBride indignantly denied it, claiming that he is a childabuse survivor himself, and booked himself on the national “Steve Wilkos” TV show in May to take a lie detector test to clear his name. However, he failed the test as to each child and was subsequently arrested. (The Associated Press reported that McBride insisted on a police lie detector test—and failed that, too).

THE CONTINUING CRISIS u On Aug. 1, one of the

world’s weirdest border disputes came to an end, as India and Bangladesh exchanged more than 160 “enclaves”—sovereign territory completely surrounded by the other country’s sovereign territory (in principle, making travel out of the enclaves impossible unless the enclave had an embassy or another office that issues visas). In fact, there was one Indian enclave (Dahala Khagrabari) completely within a Bangladeshi enclave that is completely inside an Indian enclave inside Bangladesh.

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