Culture Magazine Oregon December 2015 by Culture Magazine

CULTURE // December 2015

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December 2015 // CULTURE

december 2015

Contents 12

24 DAPPER AND DOMINATING

Features

16 . STAND FOR THE FUTURE The story of one Belgian family’s journey in discovering cannabis for their sick six-year-old. 30 . Holiday Gift Guide Check out the newest industry products that will make the perfect gift for your loved ones. 34

. lessons from medical Recreational cannabis could learn a lot from the medical industry. 36 . HEMP HISTORY Hemp clothing is on the rise, and the world is ready to learn all about where the verstile fiber comes from.

George Zimmer, suit mogul and overall business professional, dishes all about his 50+ year appreciation of cannabis and how he’s changing the game in suit-buying. ON THE COVER: Photo by Tonya Perme

6 . Letter from the Editor

NEWS

8 . News Nuggets 11 . By the Numbers 12 . Power Grid Overloaded by Cannabis

CULTURE // December 2015

40 . Growing Culture 42 . Destination Unknown 43 . Profiles in Courage 44 . Recipes 46 . News of the Weird

reviews

18 . STRAIN & concentrate

ReviewS

22 . Entertainment Reviews

WEB Exclusive! Canadian Prime Minister Starts the Process of Legalization

14 . Dispensary highlight 18

Cannabis Censorship on Social Media: The Tricky Divide Israel Steadily Rising in the Global Cannabis Market

Departments

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Vol 7 IssUE 6

/freeculturemag

/ireadculture

letter from the editor

Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Victoria Banegas

Presentation Has

Power

recent study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science specifically studies how formal attire changes people’s thought processes. “Putting on formal clothes makes us feel powerful, and that changes the basic way we see the world,” says Abraham Rutchick, an author of the study and a professor of psychology at California State University, Northridge. Rutchick and his co-authors found that wearing formal clothing makes people think more broadly and holistically, rather than narrowly and detail-oriented. People often say dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. Formal menswear mogul George Zimmer knew this psychological fact instinctually, even at an early age. His obsession with suits and the luxury of the perfect fit helped him create an empire of innovation, invention and success, with a lot of style. The cannabis sector has seen this same psychological effect take hold and help shape our growth as a culture and industry. The original “stoner culture” that birthed the bright and shiny cannabis culture we all know now started without much thought into how it appears to others, its presentation or its packaging. Now, the cannabis world is a thriving

CULTURE // December 2015

and booming industry where presentation is of the utmost importance—to change stigmas, misrepresentations and decades of anticannabis propaganda. With countless tragic events occurring every day, all over the world, it is important to consider how the visual presentation of ideas affects people, positively and negatively. In our industry, cannabis legalization and medical access is the most important shared goal— we are looking to help each other, whether it’s through groundbreaking natural medical treatments or through decriminalization of a natural plant, no one in this industry is trying to harm anyone else. It’s all about the betterment of our society, our community and our world. Taking time to shape our message to the world and to each other, with attention to presentation and respect, can only help our ongoing fight for legalization, access and worldwide peace. 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, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designers Tanya Delgadillo, Jonathan Ibarra Account Executives Greg Andes,Callie Belo, Jon Bookatz, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Ryan Dunn, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Yolanda Imoberstag, Emily Musser, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Jim Saunders, Paulina Porter-Tapia, Chris Thatcher, April Tygart Office Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital media Editor Kimberly Johnson Ctv Video Editor Deonica Panlilio Ctv Contributors Anna Logan,Chris Salazar Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes 20,000 papers at over 400 locations throughout Oregon. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 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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December 2015 // CULTURE

C STATE NEWS NUGGETS

a program or limit or interfere with the ability of a health care provider of the department to make appropriate recommendations, fill out forms, or take steps to comply with such a program.”

__________________________

_________________________

Oregon Finds a Better Way to Track Retail and Medical Cannabis

Oregon’s Marijuana Rules Advisory committee approved a movement brought forth by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to accurately collect statistics on the state’s cannabis industry. This would be useful for those in the cannabis industry, policy makers and the general public, revealing the effects of recreational and medical cannabis sales within the state, according to The Portland Tribune. Before this movement was approved, the state relied on the Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association (ORCA) for estimates. Although dispensaries were already required to keep track of sales and inventory, the ORCA was not mandated to collect data from every single dispensary within the state. The OHA however, will have to collect data on all recreational and medical sales of cannabis until late next year when the Oregon Liquor Control Commission takes over tracking sales of medical cannabis. Another responsibility placed on the OHA is coming up with rules for the medical cannabis industry with the deadline to do so in March 2016.

Bend County Planning Commission Sets Buffers for Dispensaries

The Bend County Planning Commission, which consists of members from the cannabis industry, as well as attorneys, a member of the Bend Le-Pine School Board and a doctor, have set forth a proposal that would regulate medical cannabis dispensaries in Bend. The regulations would require dispensaries to be 1,000 feet away from schools and 150 feet away from day care centers, according to The Bulletin. While the commission decided to not create any buffers between dispensaries and parks or between recreational dispensaries, they did decide to keep the state mandated buffer of 1,000 feet between medical dispensaries. Most of the buffers were

CULTURE // December 2015

created in order to keep children away from exposure to cannabis, while the park buffer was dismissed since the district has allowed for alcohol to be sold in parks. The City Council will make final decisions on the matter later this month.

__________________________

NATION New Bill Allows Doctors to Administer Medical Cannabis To Veterans

The Senate has approved the FY2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, which will allow veterans to access medical cannabis. Before the bill was passed, The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) prohibited doctors who worked with veterans from administering medical cannabis, even in the 23 states where it is legal, according to Congress.gov. The bill prohibits the VA from spending money on enforcement of these regulations, stating that it cannot “interfere with the ability of a veteran to participate in a stateapproved medicinal marijuana program, deny any services from the Department to a veteran who is participating in such

World Mexico Supreme Court takes step toward recreational cannabis use

Wednesday, Nov. 5, The Mexican Supreme Court ruled in a 4-1 vote that growing, possessing and smoking cannabis for recreational use is not illegal. The Court decided on this ruling based on the principal that the personal use of cannabis falls under the right of “free development of personality.”Although this is a big step for Mexico in terms of cannabis legalization, the ruling only applies to the cannabis club who took up a case with the court asking for the right to legally utilize cannabis, and does not include sales or commercial production of the substance, according to 9&10 News. President Enrique Pena Neito addressed the ruling on his Twitter account, agreeing to respect the court’s decision but giving orders to the Mexican Government to thoroughly explain the guidelines of the ruling. Following this ruling, a senator from Neito’s governing party introduced a bill that will allow easier access to cannabis-based medicines for patients in Mexico, according to Fox News Latino. VISIT US AT

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CULTURE // December 2015

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by the numb3rs

The number of years that the Hemp and Cannabis Fair has taken place in Oregon: 4 (Source: Willamette Live)

The highest amount of money, in dollars, that cannabis growers will be required to pay annually in order to maintain a state license under the latest draft of temporary rules issued by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission: 5,750 (Source: The Oregonian)

The estimated number of cannabis grow sites that are currently operating in Oregon: 600 (Source: The Oregonian)

5,750

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association reported was made during the first week of recreation cannabis sales: 11 (Source: GoLocalPDX)

The number of people chosen by the Oregon Health Authority to serve on a committee that will create regulations for the cannabis industry: 15 (Source: Portland Tribune)

The percentage of Australians who believe that cannabis should be made legal for medical purposes: 91 (Source: The Guardian)

The estimated number of people who attended the first Southwest Cannabis Conference in Phoenix, Arizona: 2,000 (Source: The Monitor Daily)

2,000

The newly published percentage of Americans who believe that cannabis use should be made legal: 58 (Source: Gallup)

Portland Cannabis Classic Dedicated to recognizing the best growers in Oregon, the Portland Cannabis Classic is throwing its exciting endof-year High Holiday Bash. Growers, dispensaries and delivery services will compete in hopes of being granted an award at this year’s Cannabis Classic. Awards that are for grabs include: Best edible, concentrate, hybrid, indica and sativa. During the bash, guests will have the option to sit in on one of the many seminars, presentations and demonstrations ranging from topics such as organic growing, retail start-ups and Oregon rules and regulations concerning cannabis. As an added bonus to this event, attendees can wander the “Trading Village” where vendors will be selling products at special show prices and the “Tasting Village,” where they will be able to sample some of the best concentrates, edibles and flowers from various Oregon-based growers and processors.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Portland Cannabis Classic: High Holiday Bash. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Dec. 6. 12pm-6pm. Pure Space, 1315 NW Overton St., Portland. INFO: Visit www. nwcannabisclassic.com for details.

December December 2015 2015 // // CULTURE CULTURE

Oregon Power Grid Overloaded Cannabis Grows to Blame

T by Heather Johnson

This past week in Oregon, Pacific Power officially announced that their power plants have experienced seven recent transformer blowouts due to one new industry: Cannabis. Commercial cannabis grow sites are taking a toll on Oregon’s power grid, causing outages in the city, and even equipment damage. A spokesperson for Portland General Electric stated that 10 percent of transformer blowouts at their plants, which happen dozens of times every year, were also caused by new cannabis grows. It took the electric company a while before they were able to pinpoint the cause for all these problems, which started in July. A circuit was shorted in a North East Portland neighborhood this summer. Dozens lost power because of two separate indoor growing operations that were actually inside of people’s homes. It took several hours to figure out that it wasn’t what they would normally look for after an outage. Now, Portland General Electric, along with Pacific Power, is looking for solutions that will help ease the strain on the power grid, not only from commercial grow sites, but in-house grow operations as well. Because the industry has been growing so rapidly since the legalization of cannabis in Oregon, power companies have had to backtrack and get on board with the now legal market. Back in the day, an in-house grower might resort to shoddy electrical work to power his grow site. Now, you can actually communicate with those providing your power to make sure systems are working properly before starting to grow. The grid has been above capacity since summertime in Portland, and power companies need time to deal with the increased usage. Although the amount of outages and transformer blowouts is

CULTURE // December 2015

higher than usual in recent months, electric companies feel confident that the problem can be solved with communication. They want to nip this problem in the bud early. Both PGE and Pacific Power want those who are looking into starting an indoor or commercial cannabis grow site to let them know in advance so they can check into the stability of the systems in that area. They don’t mind people using more power; they just want a little heads up so they can continue to provide regular service to all of their customers. Most outages have been occurring within Portland city limits, but there have also been several in Southern Oregon. Because only one or two in-house grow operations could overload your local grid, it’s really important to ensure that you won’t cause an outage. Each cannabis plant needs enough energy to power about seven or eight refrigerators, so you want to make sure you aren’t taking electricity that should be going to someone else. Some commercial grow sites even have a professional electrician on staff that checks systems regularly. Even at-home growers use 1,000 watt bulbs for their plants, and several of them make it similar to running a dryer or hot tub. So you need

a dedicated circuit just to power your site. Now that cannabis is legal, those looking to grow at home can ask their power provider for advice on how to set up their home-grow energy source. You can ask for information instead of literally being left in the dark about the whole process. Once the proper precautions are taken, you should be able to grow your four plants without a problem. Once power providers know that you are increasing usage; they can make the necessary adjustments. You can also use a better system that gives the main power grid a break, and insulation in grow rooms can always help conserve energy as well. Once you do the preliminary work to set up your grow site, it is also important to keep things legal. Lots of resources are becoming available for those wanting to grow at home, but you need to do it wisely. Only those 21-and-over can grow up to four cannabis plants in their household, which can’t be visible to the public. Outside grows must be kept private, but are a great idea for newbies looking to learn how. The initial investment for growing outside is significantly less than growing indoors, and you won’t have to worry about your power bill going through the roof. Allow yourself a season to become familiar with the growing process, and keep your expectations low at first. In Oregon, we are used to smoking the best cannabis around, but it takes a while to be able to grow green that good. Give yourself time to practice. Most people in Portland are less than two people removed from someone who grows cannabis anyway, so I’m sure there will be plenty to go around while you learn. c VISIT US AT

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Dispensary HIGHLIGHT

Kaleafa Cannabis Company 5232 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, 97206 www.kaleafa.com How and when did your dispensary start up? We started this family-based business in June of 2014 so OMMP patients could get access to their medicine in a safe, clean and friendly environment. What’s the story behind the name of your dispensary? Kaleafa means “success” in Arabic. We wanted something that had the word “leaf” in it.

CULTURE // December 2015

We were a bit uncertain of the name in the beginning, but we love it now. What does Kaleafa offer customers that they can’t find anywhere else? Firstly, our customer service. Our employees are family– when someone is brought into the Kaleafa family, the first thing we tell them is that we back each other up. It’s a true family environment to

the point that our employees all hang out with each other in their free time–and that carries over to our customers. They too are family. Secondly, product selection and variety. We have an array of flowers, concentrates and edibles. We want to have something for everyone. We’re growing our gluten-free and sugarless options, as well as newer cannabis products such as creams and lip balms and even personal care products. How has the cannabis industry changed since you have been in the business? Where would you like to see it go? Well, obviously we’ve had the business move into the recreational space as of October 1 and we’re really looking forward to serving our customers as the rules change and more products are cleared for sale. Along with the legalization has come this new understanding from the general population

that this isn’t an evil or scary thing. People are rapidly accepting this into their daily lives. On the business side of that, it hasn’t quite come around–banks are still reticent to work with dispensaries. But the community in large is embracing it. We’re expanding– becoming fully vertically integrated, seed to sale. If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? Have tough skin. Be ready to have to be the conqueror. It’s a tough industry. Do not go in under-financed. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/ MMJ community? We want to build a great community of customers, patients, and even other dispensaries. We love this industry and want to grow with it. c VISIT US AT

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Another Point For Cannabis

One Belgian Family’s Discovery of the Benefits of Cannabis Oil by Patrick Dewals

elgian’s public opinion of cannabis is currently gaining speed after word of the plant’s healing properties has recently reached mainstream news. Jean-Pierre Voncken, acting spokesman for his sick sixyear-old daughter, Sofie, is currently standing up for the health rights of both his toddler and other sick people after having witnessed the healing properties of cannabis oil firsthand. The Voncken family became a popular topic of conversation in Belgium after they revealed their story on an episode of Koppen on national TV, which showed viewers how Sofie suffers from a severe form of epilepsy which causes frequent epileptic seizures that remain a constant threat to her life. For 45 months, Sofie swallowed one pharmaceutical drug after another, sometimes in combination with excruciating diets prescribed by

CULTURE // December 2015

doctors and professors. Every possible combination of pills and/or doses was tested but without any positive evolution. After three-and-a-half years, the Voncken family was told to prepare for the worst. Their doctors couldn’t think of any other combination of medical treatment or diet that would give hope for Sofie’s improvement. News like that is disastrous, and many other families would be left without any other options to pursue. Fortunately for the Vonckens, JeanPierre has studied epilepsy in recent years online, constantly searching for possible alternative treatments which have proved successful for other young epilepsy patients. Eventually, his research led him to a United States-based family whose child experienced similar suffering. Later on, Jean-Pierre would also meet a Belgian couple in the same situation. Between the two couples that Jean-Pierre learned about, he discovered that their children had already reached a higher level in the survival game by using cannabis oil. When the Voncken family’s doctors confessed they couldn’t think of any other medical paths to explore, JeanPierre knew that the time had come to try out cannabis oil in the hopes that it would help his daughter. He even suggested that the team of doctors should administer Sofie cannabis oil in the hospital under medical supervision, and record the data should it be a successful aid. Unfortunately, the doctors refused because they didn’t want to be involved with any illegal substances. Instead, Sofie received her first drop of cannabis oil at home. Jean-Pierre told CULTURE in an interview about the miraculous effect that the oil had on Sofie, “From the first drop, the effect was spectacular. It’s like we witnessed the rebirth of our daughter. At last, we see a playful child, a child that likes to discover and wonders about the little things of life,” Jean-Pierre stated. According to the family, it was the cannabis oil that brought about this

“From the first drop, the effect was spectacular. It’s like we witnessed the rebirth of our daughter. At last, we see a playful child, a child that likes to discover and wonders about the little things of life.” complete transformation. Their daughter’s health keeps on improving and she is almost medication-free. Sadly, the only “side-effect” of Sofie’s cannabis oil treatment is that her parents are now labeled as criminals. Both parents are facing up to seven years in prison for having and administering an illegal substance to a minor, even if it was a lifesaving decision. Even more shocking is the fact that one physician at the hospital that the Vonckens frequented for Sofie’s treatment is fully aware of the success rate that cannabis oil often provides, and recommended that Sofie use cannabis oil with one percent of THC in order to help her condition. The Voncken’s fate is undecided as of this press, but it’s clear that acceptance of cannabis still has progress to make in Belgium. Fortunately, thanks to cannabis, there is one less little girl who has to worry about further suffering from seizures, for now. c

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STRAIN + concentrate Chernobyl Extract

This extract is a clear amber shatter made by NW Kind and can be found at Brothers Cannabis in Portland. It has 72.68 percent THC, which speaks for itself, and gives you smooth, clean dabs. Make sure you have a big dome over your nail, though, because this oil burns really hot, and can pop and explode a bit. A dab is like a cool, menthol burst of flavor that lingers on your tongue. It lets off a lot of smoke, but it’s not too harsh for taking multiple dabs. This allows you to really feel the effect. It’s great for relaxation, or treating a variety of symptoms, from muscle pains to PTSD. It works best to break off chunks of the oil directly onto a dabbing tool, and those new to dabs should start small with such a potent product.

Available AT: Brothers Cannabis in Portland.

Snoop’s Dream

Mr. Doggy Dog would probably be pleased to have his name on this strain. It is a little harsh but gives solid effects, effects that makes you smile from ear to ear. With 23.06 percent THC and 0.11 percent CBD, it’s also a very versatile strain and great for medical patients. It has a sweet diesel smell with a fruity melon taste, and the smoke is bright white. You can find it at Plane Jane’s Dispensary in Portland. It will make you feel tingly in your nose at first, but will spread to your eyes and the rest of your head. You will be left feeling relaxed and pensive. It’s a very happy strain, so it’s great for making mixtures with other flowers. It is wonderful for treating depression.

Available AT: Plane Jane’s Dispensary in Portland.

Jerry Garcia

Just like being at a Dead show, this strain is all about the experience. It has the most amazing fruity smell, like flowers and peach tea. The flavor is also really nostalgic and is almost reminiscent of a campfire, with an aftertaste like rose water. The effects will take you back as well, making you feel dazed, and making movies way more enjoyable than they were before. You can find the strain that will help you create this experience at Jayne Dispensary on MLK in Portland. It has 27.32 percent THC and .01 percent CBD. It is a classic indica and creates a total body effect, and you will definitely get the munchies. It’s a good strain for those looking to treat insomnia or anxiety. It would also be great for a party or movie night, and will leave everyone saying, “what a long, strange trip it’s been.”

Available AT: Jayne Dispensary in Portland.

Wifi OG

Available AT: ReLeaf Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Portland.

CULTURE // December 2015

This brightly colored greenish-yellow strain is exclusive to medical patients. It has a very high THC content for flower (29.77 percent) and can be found at ReLeaf Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Portland. The smell of the flower has red wine and citrus notes, while the taste of the smoke is very sweet and fresh, almost minty. A good inhale will hit you hard in the back of the throat, but the burning doesn’t last long. At first, the feeling is in your head and at the top of your spine. It then creeps down your back, and slowly envelopes your body. The effect is thoughtful and productive. The nugs themselves are dense but also break up very easily. This would be a good strain for a patient breaking it up by hand, without a grinder. It could also easily be smoked with a spoon pipe.

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Available WHEREVER: Hits prefilled products are carried.

Hits Prefilled Mobile Dabbing Device

Not too long ago, a personal vaporizer made for wax was something you put on a Christmas wishlist that probably shouldn’t fall in mom’s hands. Now, thanks to Hits Prefilled, you can have your wax and vape it, too. The slick, white unit we picked up was ready to go with a push of a button, and in a nice touch, a transparent cap allows you to actually see what’s inside. Unlike clumsy models with dome tops, Hits Prefilled fit perfectly in our pocket or in a small handbag without having to worry about breaking it as we roamed the city. The sativa concentrate our vape came with was smooth and substantial, with several reviewers noting it was a more immediate, stronger effect than other standard liquid cartridges they had tried. Even if you don’t have to ask for a Hits Prefilled for the holidays, it’ll definitely help you survive them.

Available wherever: POP Naturals products are carried.

CULTURE // December 2015

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CBD Softgels

The new standard for “medical” in medical cannabis has to be POP Naturals’ CBD Softgels. Each translucent gold, highquality, pure gel capsule contains 17.6 milligrams of CBD and 2.3 milligrams of THC, and can treat certain types of pain, inflammation and seizure disorders—with very low or no psycho-activity. For some patients with epilepsy, products like these can give them back their normal lives. POP Naturals prides itself on the purity of its process, as well as its precise lab-testing, which had been lacking from many medical cannabis products. The Oregonbased POP Naturals team uses pesticide-free cannabis, and an all-natural carbon dioxide-only extraction method. The high-CBD oil is then processed and placed into grapeseed oil and encased in soft gelatin. One Softgel is one dose, and effects can take up to two hours to be felt.

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entertainment

Release Date: Tues, Dec. 1 Available on: PC, PS4 and Xbox One

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Pub. Ubisoft Dev. Ubisoft Montreal

The Medicinal Power of Cannabis: Using a Natural Herb to Heal Arthritis, Nausea, Pain and Other Ailments John Hicks, MD Skyhorse Publishing

The newest game to release in the Tom Clancy line is Rainbow Six Siege, an intense online multiplayer, first-person tactical shooter game that requires some excellent communication and teamwork in order to win matches. The environment is highly destructible, which opens up many options for how to overtake enemy teams. Thanks to the game’s use of the AnvilNext engine, Siege features amazing level design and realistic gameplay in the different 11 maps that are available at launch.

Fare Thee Well The Grateful Dead Rhino Records

Whether loved or hated, The Grateful Dead’s influence and story is one to be respected, and its latest release, and possibly last of “new” material, is one that is at least worth giving a chance. Fare Thee Well is a double disc worth of highlights from the band’s final set of shows at Soldier’s Field in Chicago, which marked The Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary. The recordings capture spirited, vibrant performances by the veteran musicians who, though aging, have surely not lost their passion for playing. (Simon Weedn)

American Ultra Dir. Nima Nourizadeh Lionsgate Pictures

Dr. John Hicks’ new holistic health book focuses on cannabis and healing, targeting and discussing the root cause of most diseases— inflammation. Hicks illustrates how inflammation progresses into the various diseases and ailments that plague us. He shows how cannabis and CBD can stop the inflammation and heal the issues. With information ranging from easy-to-understand terminology to scientific studies based on Hick’s four decades of experience in integrative medicine, this book can really help patients seeking longterm holistic relief. (Alex Bradley)

Fast-paced action comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart— amongst other talented actors—American Ultra is a cannasseur’s ideal DVD rental. A little distracted, much like its protagonist, the film jumps from scene to scene and plot line to new plot line jaggedly. Unbeknownst to bored and boring Mike (Eisenberg’s character), he is actually a highly trained, lethal sleeper agent. In the blink of an eye, as he discovers his real identity and Jason Bourne-style skills, Mike and his girlfriend Phoebe (Stewart) find themselves in the middle of a deadly government operation and are forced to try and fight for their lives in this intense, slightly awkward dark comedy. (Alex Bradley)

CULTURE // December 2015

“Seeing Nature” Featuring 39 paintings that were created over the span of five centuries, “Seeing Nature” showcases the evolution of landscape painting in Europe and North America. This exhibition has been organized by The Portland Art Museum and Seattle Art Museum in collaboration with the Paul G. Allen family, the owners of the collection. With an impressive selection of artists being showcased, from Paul Cézanne to Gherard Richter, viewers will experience diverse artistic styles and expand their knowledge of featured artists and their contributions to the world of art. Director of Portland Art Museum, Brian Ferriso, stated his excitement in response to the arrival of this exhibit: “‘Seeing Nature’ offers an extraordinary opportunity to perceive the world through the gaze of some of the most important artists in history.” This is the first of three stops the exhibit will make in the Unites States.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Seeing Nature: Landscape Masterworks from the Paul G. Allen Family Collection” exhibit. WHEN/WHERE: On view through Jan. 10, 2016. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave., Portland. INFO: Visit www. portlandartmuseum.org for details.

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CULTURE // December 2015

Photos by Tonya Perme

There’s a fine line between looking average and looking excellent when it comes to formal attire. When men want to look impressive, whether it’s in the realm of the normal office environment, meeting clients or to look dapper for a date, a suit can make or break any situation. Men’s Wearhouse Founder, George Zimmer, knows all too well the power of a good suit. Zimmer found the expressive niché art of personalized suits a profitable industry and a fulfilling endeavor, for all parties concerned. Zimmer founded Men’s Wearhouse in 1973 and 40 years later, he has opened over 1,200 stores across the United States and Canada. Instead of opting to hire an actor, Mr. Zimmer chose to be the commercial personality for Men’s Wearhouse, making his image synonymous with suit-buying in America. Zimmer drove Men’s Wearhouse from a small company into an international empire. Zimmer left his role as Executive Officer at the Men’s Wearhouse in 2013, collecting his holdings of the company which are estimated at $67.45 million. Zimmer owns 1.8 million shares of the Men’s Wearhouse stock which is 3.5 percent stake in the company. Last August, Zimmer told CNBC that he’s smoked cannabis on a regular basis for the last 50 years. Zimmer has publicly pushed for cannabis legalization several times in the past, even in non-election years. Zimmer conceived his second brain child, zTailors on New Year’s Day, 2014. Zimmer launched zTailors publicly in June 2015 and Generation Tux in September 2015. Zimmer describes zTailors as traditional tailoring for the millennial consumer. Mr. Zimmer holds advisory roles in the company. Zimmer created Generation Tux to improve the experience of buying a tuxedo for weddings and prom events. Zimmer shared with CULTURE his insight into his entrepreneurship and how cannabis has played a role in his journey to success. >>

December 2015 // CULTURE

going to be on the ballot next year for responsible adult use, so I think the time is right. You were the keynote speaker at the Cannabis World Congress & Expo in September. What do you have to say to young aspiring entrepreneurs? Well, really what I told them was not to become entrepreneurs like their fathers. What we don’t need in the cannabis business is crony capitalism where people make decisions that only serve themselves and their friends. What they would make for a great example of the type of capitalism that the world would benefit from- is a form of cannabis distribution that respected the individual’s right to personally cultivate for personal use only and to have a fair taxation system so that the tax revenues will be earmarked by states and localities for public education, and not confiscated by the IRS for general federal purposes.

As a businessman, you have founded many companies over the years. What events led you to your very first foray into business? What was the name of the business? Actually the first company I significantly founded was Men’s Wearhouse when I was 24 years old, but after I graduated from college, and before I founded Men’s Wearhouse, I got involved with some college friends who started a company called Fmali, which was the name of somebody’s cat. It went on over several generations to become The Good Earth Tea company, but I was long gone by then. I started Men’s Wearhouse in 1973. That really was the beginning of my business career. I used to say it was the beginning and end of my career, but that’s not true anymore. You have worked in Men’s suits for quite some time. Do you have a personal interest in menswear; what

CULTURE // December 2015

is it that attracts you to that industry? Other than lawsuits, I’m wearing right now a sport coat and slacks. What attracted me to the business was very simple. I only had $7,000 in cash and very few business contacts, so at the age of 24, opening a clothing store was the only thing I could do. In fact, I didn’t even sell suits when we first opened. Just sport coats and slacks. Do you always wear a suit? What’s your favorite item of clothing you wear regularly? I don’t wear a suit every day. I don’t believe that most men should wear suits every day, but most men should wear suits probably more often than they do. You’ve said you have smoked cannabis regularly for 50 years. How did cannabis come into your life? I’m a student of the ‘60s. It was troubling then. As my

life unfolded, and I came to understand both experientially as well as intellectually, there’s far more damage done to the body by the drugs that are being legally promoted. Alcohol, cigarettes and pharmaceutical products—there’s far more damage from those, including deaths. Cannabis, interestingly, even in a state like Colorado, which has legalized as you know, traffic deaths are down. Crime, like domestic abuse, is down. Clearly there is an aspect of cannabis that leans towards nonviolence. We’ve seen CEOs that are now willing to publicly show support for cannabisrelated investment and legislation including Michael Bloomberg, Peter Lewis, Richard Branson, PayPal’s Peter Thiel and Facebook’s Sean Parker. How is it easier to open up about personal cannabis use nowadays? It’s really not any easier, other than I live in California, as you know, it’s

You donated $50,000 towards Proposition 19 in 2010. Why is supporting recreational cannabis important to you? Many years ago, 30 to be exact, my mother died. At that time there was no medical marijuana. I simply said to her, “Why don’t you try marijuana?” She said, “Well, it’s illegal,” and got very irritated and did not try it. She died shortly thereafter. Fifteen years later, I was delighted to be involved in medical marijuana in California. In 2010, a friend of mine literally put that proposition together. I really demonstrated solidarity with him. Even though he knew that most people thought it would be better presented during a presidential election year. So next year, during the presidential cycle, the responsible adult use act will be on the ballot in California. Has smoking cannabis ever changed the way you’ve run an enterprise—for better or for worse? I’m an alpha male, I’ve built a successful business and I >>

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December 2015 // CULTURE

consider myself competitive, sometimes to a fault. In my new company, Friday, I challenged anybody in my office to play a game of ping pong, and offered to pay anybody $100 for beating me. Well, only a competitive jerk does things like that. I think [cannabis] has softened that aspect of my personality. I think it belongs as an adjunct in some people’s lives. Not for children, but alcohol is not for children either. Your method of corporate management has been described as cutting-edge and unique. For example in 2004, a spiritual advocate was nominated onto the Men’s Wearhouse board. Can you tell us about your involvement with that decision and how it affected your business? That would be Deepak Chopra. He and I were friends, then. I brought him on knowing that most of my board members didn’t know who he was, but feeling that capitalism needed a heart and a soul. That’s what I wanted him to bring to the table. Not to mention he’s a brilliant man. I was disappointed, to be candid, that it was during the disturbance that ultimately led to my termination. He was out of the country, but nonetheless went along with the board’s decision.

CULTURE // December 2015

Some business sectors suffer the consequences of the changing times. What makes a business survive through these technological changes? I think that competition is fierce, so we need to bring a combination of high tech and high touch. We really need a hybrid model, in which we combine people with sophisticated technology, because one without the other doesn’t work as well, which is why we created Generation Tux and zTailors, which combines tailors with technology. In other words, renting Tuxedos with the internet so that you never have to leave home. Right now if you rent the tuxedo in a store you make three trips. One to rent it, one to pick it up, and one to return it. If you do in online,

you never have to leave your house, and if there is a tailoring adjustment needed, a tailor can be dispatched to your home, so that you don’t leave home until you get married. You run your new enterprises differently than how you operated in the past. Can you tell us more about Generation Tux and Tailors? I’d love to. The main business is Generation Tux, which of course is tuxedos. It’s very simply an online tuxedo rental business, although we do rent suits as well as tuxedos because so many weddings now involve suits. Most of the business is actually for weddings. Proms are next in importance. Because weddings are the main business, we actually target millennial weddings. What I think makes it very exciting is that in 1999, for a quarter of a century, after I opened the first Men’s Wearhouse, I brought tuxedo rentals inside Men’s Wearhouse stores and over 13 years grew into, quite successfully, into an enormous business, renting millions of tuxedos. Now, what I’m doing is replicating that business but doing it online instead of doing over 1,000 stores. The network in fact, if you will, that we live to create is that we have zTailors, which is a nationwide on-demand tailor service, in which tailors come to your home or office to do alterations. In the event that there are issues with the tuxedos that we rent, we have tailors around the United States that are able to go and make it right, including being available to be hired to attend actual weddings. Instead of hiring an actor for the ad campaign at Men’s Wearhouse, you chose to take on the role of the video personality. How did you come to this idea? It was pretty simple, actually. My team at the Men’s Wearhouse just asked me if I’d appear in the ads, and I said “of course.” Interestingly, the “I guarantee it” line was never scripted. I said it on the set while we were shooting, and it became iconic almost VISIT US AT iReadCulture.com overnight. c

December 2015 // CULTURE

Kannastör® GR8TR™ VAPE Grinder

The Kannastör® GR8TR™ VAPE is an all new grinder design and a must-have for any dry herb vape user. It provides the finer grind preferred by experienced vape enthusiasts, and it’s modular design easily transforms to a pocketable travel puck. The GR8TR™ Vape is made from high quality, medical grade aluminum and includes a limited lifetime warranty. Worldwide patents pending. Visit www.kannastor.com and use Promo Code Holiday420 to receive 20 percent off purchase.

Holiday Vdab200 EverSmooth Portable Vaporizer

Introducing the world’s first “Load n’ Go!” portable vaporizer for heavy oils, waxes and shatters of all kinds, the Vdab200 provides 200 puffs that are truly EverSmooth™. The QanTeq engineers have outdone themselves with a Controllable Dispensing Chamber that holds one full gram and allows you to twist the patent-pending steel top a quarter-turn to fill the dual coil heater cup with NO MESS and NO HASSLE! This unit comes with a heavy duty adjustable battery to get the temps right where you like ‘em. Visit www.vdab200.com to order. $195

CULTURE // December 2015

G UI D E ! 2015

Toker Poker

Get the hottest gift item of the season—the legendary Toker Poker! Finally your poker/dabber, tamper, hemp wick and lighter are all in the same place. This 420 multi-tool has everything you need to vape, dab, roll and toke. Its ergonomic design provides the most basic but essential tools for any smoker. Glow in the dark, chrome and other limited editions now available online. Sure to be a stocking stuffer hero! $7.95 www.tokerpoker.com

The SmokeBuddy

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

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Bhanga Box

Holiday

Bhanga Box is an odor proof, pocket-sized case for your smoking essentials. Whether you smoke joints, blunts or concentrates—the four uniquely sized compartments keep your stash odor-free from the outside world with no risk of cross contamination within the box. The Bhanga Concentrate Kit includes food grade silicone inserts for each compartment. The inserts provide a nonstick surface for your extract; and are completely removable so you can customize your setup, include a vape pen and USB charger, or a combination of herb and extract material. These intelligent products from Bhanga Goods help you smoke smarter, while on the go. www.bhangagoods.com $27.95-$49.95

G UID E !

RYOT® Pack and Protect™ NoGoo® Collaboration Packs.

Magic Flight

Leave the torch at home! Voted “Best Portable Concentrate Vape” at last year’s Kush Cup, the MuadDib from Magic-Flight has a newly engineered screen design that fully vaporizes concentrates in three to five seconds. This batterypowered vape lasts for 50+ uses at a time, making it easy to dab on the go. Upgrade to the optional gold batteries for the perfect pairing. Lifetime warranty included. Visit magic-flight.com and use promo code CULTURE10 at checkout to save 10 percent on the Muad-Dib through January 31, 2016.

As the use of concentrates has expanded, so has the need to better manage the important accessories and super gooey substances. RYOT®, a designer of modern smoke accessories since 2003, now incorporates top quality NoGoo® silicone mats into select styles to create the ultimate concentrate utility cases, able to Pack and Protect™ your glass rig, dab tools and more. Visit www.RYOTcom and use Promo Code RYOTXMAS to receive 20 percent off purchase.

THE CRIPPLE CREEK Dab Kit

This 7” x 7” dab box is made out of beautiful Colorado aspen and beetle kill pine. The CRIPPLE CREEK Dab Kit comes with three 7-mil silicon jars, a 4” titanium dab tool and a 3” x 5” medical silicon dab mat. Only the best products go into our stash boxes. This dab box is made with our with coloradostashbox.com custom airtight lid, which is perfect for a rolling tray. No hinges, no clasp, just that perfect lid to keep your dab rig in one box.

December 2015 // CULTURE

Ankit Dope Lights Need a little ambient lighting to perfect the mood in your living space? Ankit has the solution for all cannabis-loving interior decorators with Dope Lights. These captivating string lights consist of 25 individual green lights, all shaped like cannabis leaves, that comes with a 10-footlong wire that you can wrap around a number of fixtures within your home. The lights run off of three AA batteries, so you won’t have to hide excess wires. $24.99 www.theankit.com

The Stinky Candle Co. Marijuana Scented Candle

If you can’t get enough of the herbal smell of cannabis, this is candle is for you. Handmade in the U.S., this candle will have your home smelling like cannabis without having to partake in a smoke session. It’s legal in all 50 states, and The Stinky Candle Co’s Marijuana Scented Candle will make your home more welcoming with its potent and relaxing aroma. $9.99 www.stinkycandlecompany.com

Holiday

Aroha Silhouettes Thc Molecule Necklace

Display your love for cannabis without having to sacrifice your fashion sense with this chic and light-weight necklace. With a charm shaped like the chemical compound for THC, this necklace is a minimal stainless-steel piece, available in silver and gold, that will go great with many looks. Supported by a double link chain, this necklace was made to last. A great gift for yourself of the cannabis lover in your life. $50-$75 www.etsy.com/shop/ ArohaSilhouettes

G UID E !

2015 cont.

Blundt Cake Mold

Have fun when baking your cannabis-infused goodies with these neat, cannabis leaf-shaped cake molds. A fun take on the word “bundt,” these “blundt” silicone cake molds will get your sweets shaped perfectly without sticking. The Blundt Cake Mold is great for parties when your guests need to differentiate between infused and non-infused sweets, or if you just want to have fun-shaped brownies or cupcakes. Bring out your inner Betty Crocker with these cannabis-friendly baking molds. $11.99 www.perpetualkid.com

CULTURE // December 2015

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December 2015 // CULTURE

What recreational cannabis can learn from the medical movement

by Franco Faraudo

The cannabis industry was born from the act of giving

arly activists like “Brownie” Mary Rothburn brought the medical cannabis movement into public’s consciousness with her generosity. She collected donations and spent her social security money baking infused brownies for San Francisco AIDS patients in the 1980s. Her arrest in 1992 brought international attention, due in part to her age, adorableness and message of compassion. She was subsequently acquitted of her charges because, according to the judge, Rothburn “was able to testify that her deliveries were made to assist others in need, not to advance individual greed, that the nobility of her actions outweighed the

CULTURE // December 2015

reprehensibleness of her offense according to the law.” Since its inception, the medical cannabis industry has evolved greatly, but through all the changes, the spirit of compassion remains. Harborside Collective, one of California’s most successful and well-connected collectives, donates medicine to members that can prove financial hardship. They have free member services that range from yoga to acupuncture and are regularly the biggest corporate contributor to the Alameda County Food Drive. It is hard to find a collective that doesn’t give products or services to members in need. >>

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Now, producers and extractors are following suit. Jetty Extracts, a CO2 extraction company based in California, recently started its Shelter From the Storm Project, which aims to provide cancer patients with all the medicine they need for their treatment. “One for You, One for Cancer” is the slogan printed on a burlap sack hanging in the company’s office. Jetty, like many other companies in the medical space, was created with the idea of helping those in pain. Now, as they look forward towards a for-profit industry, the Jetty team believes that they can make the transition and still help people like Michelle Zagert, a recipient of donations and outspoken proponent of the Jetty’s Shelter From the Storm Project. Zagert uses cannabis products everyday for her Synovial Sarcoma, a rare disease that causes soft tissue tumors. In a recent interview, she told us about her initial struggles to pay for her medicine, “It became so expensive that it was almost the cost of a car bill and I was slowly weaning myself off of it right before I found Jetty Extracts.” Some outreach programs have gone on to change the industry as a whole. In 2013 CNN’s Sanjay Gupta told the world about Charlotte Figi, a five-yearold girl with Dravet Syndrome. Despite a variety of treatments, she suffered

“It became so expensive that it was almost the cost of a car bill . . .” about 300 grand mal seizures a week. Her parents, in their search for a way to help their child, came into contact with the Stanley brothers, five siblings that had succeeded in breeding cannabis with industrial hemp. The result was a new strain of cannabis that had almost no THC, but contains high levels of CBD, a chemical that was being studied for its positive effects on brain function. Physicians noticed a reduction in the number of seizures after the first dose was administered.

Now the strain, named “Charlotte’s Web” after the brave little girl that pioneered its use, is one of the most sought after varieties on the market. Not bad for a product that was originally called “Hippie’s Disappointment.” The Stanley brothers went on to start The Realm of Caring, a non-profit organization that sells Charlotte’s Web products, sponsors research and consults patients thinking about trying the natural treatment. Their contribution to Charlotte, and countless others, have helped create a new product category and have given hope to many who suffer from seizure causing ailments. As legalization and permitting initiatives pass some worry that forprofit companies will not participate in the same types of programs that medical non-profits do. Founders of medical cannabis organizations had to risk a lot in the past decade from police raids and asset seizure to social stigma. To wade into the murky legal waters of a legalization movement without much precedent took a lot of courage. Often times the only people with this type of courage were those willing to risk everything to stand up for something that they believed in, namely, providing medicine. Luckily, new regulations and changing public perception have made it much less risky to be a cannabis entrepreneur. The downside is that we might not see the same kind of organizational cultures focused on altruism as we did with the medical movement. Ultimately, it is the consumer who will decide. Every dollar spent on organizations that give to people in need is a vote toward a compassionate future. To bastardize a great Gandhi quote, “Buy the change you want to see in the world.” We are witnessing a new industry sprout before our eyes, now it is up to us to make it into the type of industry we can be proud of. The type of industry “Brownie” Mary would have been proud of as well. c

December 2015 // CULTURE

The history, invention and innovation in hemp clothing by Addison Herron-Wheeler Hemp has always been in production and use across the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but as soon as cannabis started coming under fire for being a substance that causes altered states, even the non-smokable form of hemp came under fire. Today, as cannabis is starting to be accepted into society once more, we

CULTURE // December 2015

are also embracing the wonderful way that hemp works as a fiber, from hemp backpacks and purses to necklaces and shirts. As we move forward into this bold new world of clothing possibilities, we should also remember the awesome ways that hemp function as a garment fiber in the past. >> VISIT US AT

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December 2015 // CULTURE

How Does it Work? Hemp is a strong, canvas-like fiber (in fact, “canvas” comes from the word “cannabis”)—so while it makes amazing jewelry, purses and backpacks that can stand the test of time, it is not the most comfortable or soft thing to use for clothing that makes contact with skin. For that reason, hemp that is used in clothing is usually blended with either flax, cotton or silk, usually at a ratio of 55 percent hemp and 45 percent of the other material.

A Fiber of Firsts

Middle Ages

Hemp was actually one of the first plants that was processed into fiber for clothing, due to its durable nature and how easy it is to grow. Remnants of hemp have been found as early as 8000 BCE in Mesopotamia, making it one of the earliest examples of human industry. It was also grown to be made into cloth in the Sung Dynasty in China in 500 CE. The emperor of the Sung apparently liked having it around as a textile and ordered his subjects to grow it. By 1200 CE Europe was also cultivating cannabis for fabric.

Hemp served as very important crop during the Middle Ages, when Henry VIII actually declared that all farmers had to use at least ¼ of their land for hemp growing. The fiber was essential as the material for sails and painting canvases, two very important items at the time, and up until the 1920s it is estimated that about 80 percent of clothing in the U.K. were made from hemp fiber.

Annotated Bibliography CRRH. (2011) “Archeologists agree that cannabis was among the first crops cultivated by human beings at least over 6000 years ago.” “Industrial Hemp.” Agriculture and Agrifood Canada. Government of Canada. “The People’s History.” (Sept./Oct. 2000) The Thistle. Volume 13, Number 2. Retrieved from: http://www.mit.edu/~thistle/v13/2/history.html

CULTURE // December 2015

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Early Days of Colonization Hemp was still grown as a major fiber during the early colonials days in the U.S., Jacques Cartier noted when he first got to the new world that hemp grew everywhere as a wild weed, and that the natural hemp that grew in the colonies was of a very strong variety. Hemp was grown in California, Kentucky New York, Oregon, Utah, Texas, New England, Virginia, Massachusetts, Louisiana and Missouri during the colonial days and the early days of the U.S., and was considered and important textile cash crop an one of the major ways that early American clothing was manufactured. The amazing ability of the American continents to produce hemp was not lost on the British– they imported hemp grown in Canada for textile until the 1800s.

“Remnants of hemp have been found as early as 8000 BCE in Mesopotamia, making it one of the earliest examples of human industry.”

Decline in Production Sadly, at the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s, hemp production started to decline. The U.S. embraced the cotton gin and cotton production, and unfortunately, the evil of slavery that came with it. Since cotton was easier and more affordable to produce, it began to weigh out over hemp. Then in the 1930s, the combination of propaganda against cannabis and synthetic textile companies driving hemp out completely suppressed the production of hemp, to the point that it was actually outlawed along with smokeable cannabis. This victory of synthetic textiles over hemp has to be one of the most extreme cases of capitalist competition in history.

Modern Day Luckily, now that we are rethinking the insanity that is complete prohibition of something as helpful and benign as cannabis, we are also rethinking the prohibition of one of the world’s most useful fibers. Today, hemp clothing is back in fashion. Hemp necklaces made of macramé-woven hemp and beads are a great way to practice a hobby and make unique jewelry that is strong and durable but also very affordable. Similarly, hemp can be used to make things like backpacks and tote bags that really last, or woven in with cotton to make hearty clothing. Today, wearing hemp is a multi-layered statement—you are claiming you support the earth and sustainable practices, the legalization of cannabis, and a return to our natural roots. c

December 2015 // CULTURE

by Ed Rosenthal

growing culture

Indoor-Outdoor

WINTER GARDEN

n early October, I asked my friend if he could give me a couple of plants for an experiment. A few days later, my friend dropped off two well-branched “3x Crazy” plants. They were used to test the toxicity of an organic pesticide on their leaves. The results were negative, the pesticide didn’t affect them and I was left with two healthy specimens. At the beginning of October, the plants were receiving approximately 12 hours of natural light daily, with early morning sundown in shade. One month later, they were receiving only 10.75 hours daily. Of course, under this regimen, the plants went into flower immediately. The weather was warm during the entire month of October, so I decided to keep the plants outside and let them flower under the short days of autumn. The plants are in small containers so it’s easy to move them around the yard three times daily as the sunny area shifts. Only now, in early November, has the nighttime temperature started dipping into the high 40 degrees. So I’ve decided on a routine change. Instead of leaving the plants out at night, each evening they are being carried inside and given supplemental light using a 1,000-watt high pressure sodium (HPS) light. The routine goes like this: 7am: Plants are indoors. Light goes on. 10am: Plants are carried outside to sunny section of yard, as long as it is not cloudy or rainy, and the temperature is above 68 degrees.

During those times, the plants are kept indoors with the light on. If outside, plants are moved various times during the day to keep them in sunny locations. 4:30pm: Plants are moved inside. Lights are on. 6pm: Lights go off. On most days, the light will be on only 4.5 hours, and on cold, foggy or rainy days, which are infrequent here in Northern California, the light will be on all day indoor. Plants can also be left inside if you’re away from home. I’ve also installed a UVB fluorescent tube in the middle of the garden so that only a part of each plant receives its light. After harvest, I will check for differences in the potency and terpene content of the buds that received the light and those that didn’t. This requires marking the plants in such a way that they are returned to the same position indoors each time, so the light falls on the same buds. Using this technique, I am minimizing energy use, but still getting light to the plants. I realize that in some areas of the country, it’s just too cold to put the plants out anytime during the fall, going into winter, and the light gets dim during the winter in many parts of the country too. In that case, you might be able to use a southfacing window or a skylight and supply supplemental light to meet the plants light requirements. c

you like, have heard about or have always dreamed of growing. Plants growing indoors or in a greenhouse can be trained into small bushes with a diameter of three to four

2 Close-up of one of the small flowers.

Each branch was developing into a cola.

4 Plants being moved to a sunny area of the yard.

5 With colder nights and dimming sun, the plants started receiving enhanced care: Supplemental lighting in the morning and evening and shelter from the cold.

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM ASK ED®

f you are planning to grow outdoors this spring, now is the time to start selecting varieties and to get the indoor starter garden together. Choose seeds or clones from varieties that

1 The plants were placed outdoors in early October. One month later, in early November, the plants are midway through flowering

square feet for transplanting outdoors in the spring. If it’s warm enough to plant early in the spring, you will be able to get an early harvest because the dark period will be long enough to trigger flowering.

6 Plants basking under 1,000 watt lamp.

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.

CULTURE // December 2015

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December 2015 // CULTURE

Vermont

destination unknown

by Sheryll Alexander

Vermont Lights up as Winter’s Best Vacation Wonderland IF YOU GO:

Cannabis has been legal for only seven “debilitating” medical conditions since 2004, although it took until 2013 for just three not-for-profit dispensaries to open legally in the state with another one going live in 2014 for a total of four cannabis clinics. First, patients should unfortunately start online by finding the Vermont Crime Information Center, which oversees the Vermont Marijuana Registry (VMR). Any MD, DO, PA, PA-C, ND or APRN who has been certified by the state with a “special license endorsement” and a “bonafide health care professional-patient relationship” can prescribe cannabis. Fortunately, there’s dozens of MMJ docs even in this sparsely-populated, yet pro-cannabis state. Next, Vermonters are forced to make an appointment at a dispensary, show up with licensed always in hand and, interestingly, bring a locked box to securely stash justpurchased meds. This heavy regulation makes prices for cannabis products in Vermont sky high, but some clinics use a sliding scale for those in need. Vermont is one of five states that will potentially go recreational in 2016 with two recreational bills still alive in the legislature and pro-cannabis politicians such as Governor Shumlin, State House Speaker Shap Smith, State Sen. David Zuckerman, Sen. Patrick Leahy and Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. Gov. Shumlin and other Vermont politicians now support legalization after a Rand Corporation study back in January revealed that 80,000 Vermonters are regular cannabis users and switching to a recreational status could harvest an estimated $20-75 million annually in tax revenue.

Fun-Filled Facts Solitude is something to discover in this far-flung state as there’s about 626,000 Vermonters in only 251 towns and cities with Burlington being the most populous at around 40,000 yearround residents.

Vermont is the U.S.A.’s No. 1 maple syrup producer. While the sap doesn’t run until spring, Vermonters put their locally-made sweet liquid treat on some of winter’s best comfort foods such as atop pancakes and inside everything from sausages to desserts.

CULTURE // December 2015

Time to Go: Winter Weather: Cold and snowy Budget: $$$$$

Vermont voters are so forwardthinking that it was the first state to legally recognize gay couples by creating civil unions and was the first state to pass a marriage equality act. 2

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or some, medicating amongst snow-laden pine forests can mean only one thing: A winter trip to Vermont. Plus, Vermont provides some of the very best of winter’s snowy mountain and trail activities. However, when it comes to medical marijuana, Vermont doesn’t quite live up to its tourism tagline of “independent, friendly and quaint.” Sure, Vermonters (as they call themselves) are mostly friendly, freedom-loving folks. Perhaps it is the state’s remote location, vast mountainous pine forests, raging rivers and cold winters that have kept Vermont one of the least populous states in the nation. And this isolation certainly makes for tough, independent-minded people who are open to visitors and most especially to their tourist dollars. Tiny and landlocked Vermont, however, has somehow become this country’s best winter playground with no less than 19 alpine ski resorts and 30 cross country touring centers. Outdoor recreation abounds in this stunningly beautiful state with such heart-pumping and body-warming activities as skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice skating. Even culture and food blooms in Vermont’s winter wonderland. Concert halls, opera houses, art galleries and community halls open their doors and then turn the heat up for an eclectic mix of dance, music, festivities and performances. Other seasonal celebrations include costumed galas, holiday bazaars and First Night festivals. Don’t miss the Woodstock Wassail Weekend from December 11-13, Montpelier Christmas Antiques Market on December 22 and First Night Burlington on New Year’s Eve. Vermont makes for a fantastic winter’s getaway for those who love to medicate in crispy clean mountain air. c

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Hoot Gibson profile in courage

Age: 44 Condition/ Illness: Multiple Sclerosis, severe degenerative disk disease, tremors, muscle spasms, stuttering, chronic pain, cognitive difficulty. When did you start using medical cannabis? 2011

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.

Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes; surgery, chiropractic therapy, opiates, sedatives, injections, anti-convulsants, acupuncture and physical therapy. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? I feel the most important issue facing medical cannabis patients today is the limited access created by the current infrastructure of state laws. Medical cannabis is not legal in my home state which forced me to move 2,000 miles to a state which would allow me access to the medicine I needed. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I would ask them if their family member, child or loved one had a serious illness and had tried every medical option available to them without success, wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they want for that person to at least have the option of trying medical cannabis? Everyone does not have to be a believer in the medicinal benefits of cannabis but everyone should have the opportunity to make that decision for their own health. c

December 2015 // CULTURE

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS Wonderful winter eats to satisfy that hibernation hunger recipes

Menu:

Classic Roast Beef Spinach and Gruyere Soufflé Cranberry Vanilla Cheesecake

Like clockwork, the holiday season has snuck up on humanity once again. It’s that time of year when gift shopping is an annual nightmare, but the togetherness caused by that good old “holiday spirit” makes up for the madness. Enjoy the company of friends and family while you dine together this month, enjoying a hearty meal that compliments the occasion. Bust out the fine china, silverware and cannabis ingredients to make a delicious holiday dinner featuring a classic roast beef, cheesy soufflé and a sweet cranberry and vanilla cheesecake. Cannabis makes everything better, and we here at CULTURE hope you enjoy exquisite dishes while you celebrate a safe and happy holiday season!

Spinach and Gruyere Soufflé Ingredients

Cranberry Vanilla Cheesecake Ingredients 4 ounces chocolate graham crackers 3 tablespoons cannabis-infused vegetable oil t Cooking spray 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup Chambord (raspberry liqueur) 3 tablespoons water 1 cup sugar

2 (8-ounce) packages blockstyle 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup (4 ounces) block-style fat-free cream cheese, softened 1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 2 large egg whites

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. Wrap outside and bottom of a 9-inch springform pan tightly with a double layer of heavy-duty foil. Place graham crackers in a food processor; process until finely ground. Drizzle with oil; pulse until combined. Press mixture into bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of prepared pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 8 minutes; let cool on a rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Place cranberries, sugar, liqueur and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 8 minutes or until cranberries pop and mixture is syrupy. Turn off and let cool 20 minutes. Place mixture in a food processor; process 1 minute or until smooth. Combine 1 cup sugar and cheeses in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Beat in yogurt, vanilla and salt. Add whole eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Place 2 egg whites in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until soft peaks form using clean, dry beaters. Fold beaten egg whites into cream cheese mixture. Pour filling over crust. Spoon cranberry mixture over filling. Place springform pan in a 13 x 9-inch metal baking pan. Add hot water to the pan, to a depth of 2 inches. Bake at 325° for 50 minutes or until center of cheesecake barely moves when pan is touched. Turn oven off. Cool cheesecake in closed oven for 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven. Run a knife around outside edge. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and let chill 8 hours.

CULTURE // December 2015

2 tablespoons unsalted canna butter t (room temperature, plus more for baking dish) 1/3 cup plain dried breadcrumbs 5 cups (5 ounces) packed spinach, trimmed and washed 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk (or whole canna-milk t) 1/2 cup grated Gruyere cheese Coarse salt and ground pepper 2 large eggs, separated, plus 2 large egg whites

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a round 1-quart tallsided baking dish and dust with breadcrumbs; set aside. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons water over medium-high. Add spinach and cook, stirring constantly, until wilted, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a strainer to cool; press to release liquid. In a medium saucepan, melt canna butter over medium heat until bubbling. Add flour and whisk until a paste forms. Continue to cook until pale blond in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisking, gradually add milk. Cook, whisking, until lumps are gone and mixture is thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted; season with salt and pepper. Transfer soufflé base to a large bowl. In a food processor, pulse spinach and egg yolks until coarsely pureed. Add 1/4 cup soufflé base; pulse until blended. Stir spinach mixture into remaining soufflé base. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 4 egg whites and pinch of salt on medium-high until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat), about 3 minutes. In 2 additions, gently fold egg whites into the soufflé base. Pour batter into prepared dish and bake until soufflé is tall, golden-browned on top and firm to the touch, about 35 minutes. (Avoid opening oven during first 25 minutes of baking.) Serve immediately.

t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com

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Classic Roast Beef Ingredients 3.3 lbs. quality topside of beef 2 medium onions 2 carrots 2 sticks celery 1 bulb garlic 1 small bunch fresh thyme,

rosemary, bay or sage, or a mixture Cannabisinfused olive oil t sea salt freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Take your beef out of the fridge 30 minutes before it goes into the oven. Preheat oven to 475°. Roughly chop up vegetables. Break the garlic bulb into cloves, leaving them unpeeled. Pile all the vegetables, garlic and herbs into the middle of a large roasting tray and drizzle with olive oil. Separately, drizzle the beef with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper, rubbing it all over the meat. Place the beef on top of the vegetables. Place the roasting tray in the preheated oven. Turn the heat down immediately to 400°F and cook for 1 hour for medium beef. If you prefer it medium-rare, take it out 5 to 10 minutes earlier. For well done, leave it in for another 10 to 15 minutes. When the beef is cooked to your liking, take the tray out of the oven and transfer the beef to a board or pan and let rest for 15 minutes. Cover it with a layer of tinfoil and a tea towel and put aside until you’re ready to serve.

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.

December 2015 // CULTURE

Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird

LEAD STORY—DOING TIME RIGHT u In October, a Harvard

University debate team (threetime recent champions of the American Parliamentary Debate Association) lost a match to a team of prisoners from the maximum-security Eastern New York Correctional Facility. Prison debaters “are held to the exact same standards” as college debate teams, according to the director of Bard College’s Prison Initiative, which coaches the inmates. Prisoners took the “pro” side of public schools having the right to turn away students whose parents had entered the U.S. illegally (though team members personally disagreed). The Bard trainers pointed out that the inmates perfected their presentation despite (or perhaps because of) the prison prohibition on Internet access.

COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS u A black alleged gang member,

Taurus Brown, 19, under arrest in Clearwater, Florida, in September for having a marijuana cigarette casually tucked behind his ear as he talked politely to a white police officer, tried to flee on foot but was quickly taken down. Asked why he ran, Brown replied (according to the police report): “I don’t like white people touching me. White people do weird stuff.”

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT u The Merit Systems Protection

Board is (wrote The Washington Post) “a personnel court of last resort” for federal employees unfairly punished by demotion or firing—which is just what employee Timothy Korb needed when his federal

CULTURE // December 2015

agency suspended him in 2013, allegedly for revealing at a staff meeting that the agency’s actual case backlog was much worse than it was letting on. Korb’s employer, ironically, is the Merit Systems Protection Board, and in September 2015, an administrative law judge upheld his claim of unfairness.

u Philosophy professor Anna Stubblefield (Rutgers-Newark University) was convicted of aggravated sexual assault against a severely disabled man she was discovered having sex with on the floor in a locked office, but at trial in September, she testified that the man had “consent(ed)” and that the two were “in love.” The victim, 34, has cerebral palsy and other ailments, wears diapers, requires assistance for nearly all activities, is intellectually disabled, and does not speak, “except for making noises,” according to a brother. Stubblefield had been working with him on the controversial practice of “facilitated communication,” in which a facilitator reads a patient’s mind via subtleties such as eye movement and articulates the words for him. However, a jury failed to appreciate that facilitated “consent” and quickly convicted her. SHAMELESS u In rare bipartisan action, the

U.S. Senate is preparing a bill to ban taxpayer funds for those military salutes at sporting events. Teams (the legislators believe) already benefit from the fan-friendly staging of heartwarming patriotic displays. (The Pentagon had paid $5.4 million just to the National Football League over the last four years). An NFL spokesman, finally playing catch-up, said in

September, “(N)o one should be paid to honor our troops.”

LEGISLATORS IN ACTION u In a recent resolution,

Blount County (Tennessee) Commissioner Karen Miller called for her fellow commissioners and state officials all the way up to the governor to prepare for “God’s wrath” for recent national policies (samesex marriage, etc). she disagrees with. Though other states might be in for a smiting, Miller’s resolution calls on God to spare Blount County (by the “safety of the Passover lamb”). In October, the commission tabled the resolution, 10-5, but she promised to reintroduce it.

u By September, Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser were finally out of the Michigan Legislature— Gamrat by guard-escorted removal after her formal expulsion and Courser by preemptive resignation—following the pair’s months-long “secret” sexual affair and clumsy handling of its revelation. Courser’s original defense strategy was to plant a bogus story of a gay-sex scandal, hoping to discredit as hysteria any news about his actual affair, but when that failed, he issued a 1,900-word plea, liberally quoting the Bible, acknowledging his hypocrisy and hoping for salvation from his colleagues (who failed to come through). THE WEIRDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY u “Officially” declaring oneself

not subject to the laws of any jurisdiction (i.e., a “sovereign”) opens a wide range of career choices. The FBI and Las Vegas police say that in Rick Van Thiel’s case, once his porn industry career ended (because someone stole his video equipment), he “decided to go into the medical field,” becoming “Dr. Rick” with expertise performing dozens of abortions, circumcisions and castrations (plus cancer treatments and root canals). Proudly avoiding actual licensing, Van Thiel promoted “alternative” remedies, with an office in a Nevada compound of trailers

that one hesitant “patient” described as something out of a horror movie. Van Thiel, arrested in October, nonetheless staunchly defended his ability (acquired, he said, by watching YouTube medical videos). (Bonus entertainment: In court, he will be acting as his own lawyer).

PERSPECTIVE u In June, Tennessee’s much-

publicized program to kick drug users off of welfare rolls (and only from welfare rolls, among all people receiving any type of state subsidy) wound up its first year cutting off fewer than 40 people out of 28,559 people on public assistance (“temporary assistance to needy families”). Nonetheless, the sponsoring legislators said they were pleased with the program and planned no changes. The state paid a contractor $11,000 to conduct 468 drug tests, but did not disclose staff costs of processing applications, deciding who to test and managing cases.

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS u Not Ready for Prime Time:

It was at 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 8 that, according to Dallas police, Kristopher Jones, 18, and a buddy decided it would be Joy’s Donut shop they should rob. As they exited the store (one carrying the shop’s cash register), a uniformed, offduty officer (who apparently had pulled up to the store—for doughnuts) saw the whole thing and arrested Jones (though his partner was able to flee).

u I’m Da Man! John Morgan, 28, and Ashley Duboe, 24, were charged in September with robbing the Savings Bank in Ashville, Ohio—with their apprehension made easier by Morgan’s Facebook photos of himself riffling through (and with a mouthful of) his newly acquired stack of bills (a “McStack,” he wrote) and describing his current elation: “I got six bands bra ... I’m doing rrree=aaaalll good.” (Police were quick to find the Facebook page because Morgan was already on parole from a 2010 bank robbery). VISIT US AT

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December 2015 // CULTURE