Culture Magazine Oregon February 2016

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contents 02.16 Vol 7 IssUE 8

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HONEST AND OPEN Dedicated actress, dancer and celebrity, Katie Morgan, doesn’t hold back in CULTURE’s exclusive interview.

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ON THE COVER: Photo by John Gilhooley


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contents

inside

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16 features

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Do It Yourself Get kinky this Valentine’s Day and make your own edible Canna-Brief Jerky, Infused Candy Nipple Tassels and more!

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Sexy VDay Edibles This breakdown provides a list of all of the best lovecentric cannabis edibles available!

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For The Love Of Hemp Tara Lynn’s eco-friendly wedding-wear is the next level of hemp support in fashion.

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Canna-Weddings Check out how well matrimony and cannabis mix with these new trends.

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Rescheduling Cannabis This might be the year that cannabis finally gets rescheduled, thanks to the Department of Health and Human Services.

online Exclusive!

departments news

10 News Nuggets 11 By the Numbers 12 Local News

d Smoking on the Clock:

reviews

14 Dispensary Highlight

16 Strain, Edible & Concentrate Reviews 20 Cool Stuff 21 Entertainment Reviews

in every issue

38 Growing Culture 40 Destination Unknown 41 Profiles in Courage

45 News of the Weird

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42 Recipes

Colorado Companies Permit Cannabis Smoke Breaks d Alaska Groups Give

Free Cannabis to Veterans

Vol 7 IssUE 8


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CULTURE M

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

Culture速 Magazine is published every month and distributes 25,000 papers at over 500 locations throughout Oregon. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture速 Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.

Phone / Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com

CULTURE速 Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.

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/freeculturemag

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NEWS

nuggets Bend Receives First Batch of Applications for Cannabis Land Use On Monday, January 4, the city of Bend began accepting applications for cannabis land use. In preparation for high volume submissions, the city set up a table in the Council Chambers and handed out numbers for applicants to be called upon. At the end of the day, the city had received 16 applications, from medical dispensaries hoping to go recreational, become growers, and open a testing lab or an edible bakery, according to The Bulletin. Those who applied were required to show that their businesses could operate in compliance with city zoning regulations. Although many businesses were expected to apply to go recreational, only eight of the 17 in Bend submitted an application on January 4. Those who did apply camped out before Chamber doors opened, to prevent being out buffered by another dispensary. Oregon has been rolling out its recreational cannabis market industry since November 2014. In October 2015, medical dispensaries were able to sell cannabis to anyone 21-and-over, but new regulations gives those not licensed under new laws until 2017 to do so.

NCAA Alleviates Penalties for Athletes Who Test Positive for Substance Use As cannabis use throughout the U.S. continues to increase and views on the plant shift to a more positive light, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) is also changing its stance concerning cannabis and other “recreational drugs.” According to an investigation by the Associated Press (AP), the NCAA has cut back penalties for athletes who tested positive for substances like cannabis to nearly half. Of the 57 schools that the AP analyzed, it was found that since 2005, 23 of those schools have cut back on penalties or allowed athletes to test positive several times before being suspended or dismissed, according to The San Diego Tribune. While recreational cannabis is legal in Oregon and Washington, penalties for athletes at state colleges have been alleviated. According to The San Diego Tribune, in the past, if an athlete tested positive for cannabis three times at Oregon State, they would be dismissed. Now, if an athlete tests positive three times, they are given one more chance. At Washington State, suspension for an athlete testing positive three times used be a year, it is now only 30 days long.

Silverton City Council Votes to Allow Cannabis Cultivation and Manufacturing After a council meeting on January 4, which lasted over two hours, the Silverton City Council voted to allow cannabis cultivation and manufacturing in a 4-3 vote, according to the Statesman Journal. During the meeting, recently changed state regulations had to be addressed to make clear the definition of indoor and outdoor grow facilities as well as address questions concerning security requirements. So far, updated legislation requires grow operations to be concealed with a concrete wall that is 100 feet away from indoor sites and 300 feet away from outdoor operations. Grow sites must also adhere to a 2,000-foot buffer around schools, according to KTVZ. During this reading, Council members requested a change to the ordinance that would allow grow sites to be located in the city’s “general commercial district.”

U.S. Dependence on Mexican Cannabis Drops Due to loosening cannabis regulations in the U.S., growers in Mexico are seeing less profit in cultivating cannabis. In 2008, the cannabis users in the U.S. depended on Mexico for up to twothirds of its cannabis supply, but that amount has dropped, as growers begin to pop up throughout the U.S. Mexico now contributes to less than one third of the U.S.’s cannabis supply, according to the Los Angeles Times. Sinaloa’s agricultural secretary, Juan Guerra, states that although farmers do not want to abandon their “illicit crops,” drops in profit are forcing them to. Over the past four years, the amount of money cannabis growers in Mexico receive per-kilogram has dropped from $100 to $30. With the variety of craft cannabis strains available in recreational and medical markets in the U.S., it is easy for cannabis lovers to let go of Mexican crops which are typically low grade and full of seeds, according to High Times writer, Danny Danko. 10

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The number of applicants who sent in their applications for licenses to grow cannabis in Oregon on the first day that it was allowed:

NEWS

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(Source: The Oregonian)

The estimated amount of money, in thousands of dollars, worth of cannabis that was donated by local cannabis advocates and given to Snoop Dogg when he visited Oregon to perform: (Source: TIME)

5,000

The number of applications that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission received from people vying to open a recreational dispensary on the first day (The Oregonian) it was allowed:

The number of acres of land that the Warm Springs Native American tribe has proposed to use for a medical cannabis production and processing facility in Oregon: (Source: The Oregonian)

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The new number of Oregon products that have tax applied at the point of sale, which as of January 4, now includes cannabis: (Source: KOIN)

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The percentage of Tennessee residents who support the legalization of medical cannabis: (Source: Sun Times)

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The estimated percentage of decline in income for Mexican cannabis farmers due to the decriminalization and legalization of the herb in the U.S.: (Source: Breitbart)

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Cannabis Collaborative Conference

The number of medical cannabis patients that participated in New York’s newest cannabis program on the first day that it became legal:

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(Source: The Washington Times)

What: Cannabis Collaborative Conference. When/Where: Wed, Feb. 3-Thurs, Feb. 4. Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Dr., Portland. Info: Visit www.ccc-con.com for details.

Dedicated to ensuring that the cannabis industry continues to successfully flourish, the second part and “working” phase of the Cannabis Collaborative Conference (CCC) will include workshops on Cannabis Tracking System (CTS) by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) with hands-on group sessions led by CTS vendor, Franwell Metric. Aside from these very important workshops, a

variety of vendors will be at this event including Chalice Farms as well as guest speakers, aiming to enhance your knowledge on the cannabis industry. Not only will guests be able to get hands-on experience in the cannabis industry, there will also be a job fair for those seeking opportunities within this growing industry. “Created for the industry . . . by the industry,” CCC is the must-attend conference to start off the New Year.

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NEWS

LOCAL

“Contemporary Native Photographers and the Edward Curtis Legacy”

Cannabis Regulations Take to the Web

Oregon’s new online cannabis licensing system

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by Heather Johnson

annabis license applications started rolling into state offices on Monday, January 4. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) opened up their brand new online application system for cannabis licenses on the same day. Although government offices were closed due to the biggest winter storm in Portland this year, the launch of the online application system began anyway. Because of the storm, the OLCC wasn’t able to have staff and policy experts working in the government offices fielding questions from applicants. Many applicants were left with unanswered questions, and all the applications who have come in so far are off to a slow start. If you are one of those applicants, you can still send questions or concerns to marijuana@oregon. gov or call (503) 872-6366—but don’t expect a speedy response. Any individual looking to be involved in the recreational cannabis market in pretty much any capacity will need to apply for a license. If you plan to conduct cannabis research, test for pesticides and potency, produce edibles or concentrates, or sell cannabis wholesale or retail—you will most likely be going through this online application process. The OLCC is requiring detailed information about any cannabis-related business, from size and scale of operation to what security measures will be put in place. Hundreds were expected to apply, and many are already applying to grow, process and sell cannabis in Oregon’s newly regulated recreational market. There are four types of licenses being granted by the OLCC through this new online system: Producer, processor, wholesaler and retailer. The first applications to be processed will be from those looking to grow outdoors. Outdoor growers need extra time to get crops in the ground since they

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aren’t depending on hydroponic systems—a nice nod from the state to encourage more environmentally healthy growing practices, perhaps. First priority will also be given to labs who are applying through the state to test cannabis grown in Oregon for potency and the use of chemical pesticides. Licenses for labs will also need to be certified by the Oregon Health Authority, who will require supporting documentation with details about business structure, organization and funding. Since labs will be holding growers and sellers accountable in presenting honest packaging with accurate product information, it is important that there are certified labs in place for testing before the majority of product is grown, and definitely before anything is placed on a dispensary shelf for consumers. The OLCC will license producers and labs starting this Spring, and retailers the following fall, once there are enough labs to do testing and enough suppliers to meet the demand for the recreational market. The state government is busy setting a legal foundation for cannabis businesses to operate. They want to set high standards right from the start for businesses to comply with local and state regulations. Most cannabis businesses in Oregon are looking to legitimize as soon as possible, with dispensary raids still in their memories from less than five years ago. The opening of the cannabis licensing application system is a major step forward in the state’s goal to implement their regulated recreational cannabis program. The Oregon Health Authority, along with the OLCC, spent 2015 laying the groundwork for the industry, and drafting detailed rules for everything from security to facility size. 2016 will be the year Oregon puts these rules into action, and Oregonians will finally see a thriving, legal and honest industry that anyone can enjoy. c

Photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis believed that Native Americans were becoming a dying race and during the turn of the 19th century, he decided to document their culture with his series, The North American Indian. In conjunction with Curtis’ work, contemporary Native photographers, Zig Jackson, Wendy Red Star and Will Wilson present their photographs to encourage viewers to think about the subjective perspectives of Native and non-Native photographers. Although he was nonNative, Curtis was able to capture everyday Native life of more than 80 tribes and because of his dedication; Native Americans have been able to locate their ancestors and cultural artifacts with images from The North American Indian. While Curtis’ work has been praised, it has also been scrutinized for being staged in a way that eliminated any signs of modern life in Native culture at the time. There are many layers to this informative exhibit, allowing viewers to ponder the illusions often associated with photography. WHAT: “Contemporary Native Photographers and the Edward Curtis Legacy” exhibit. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Feb. 6-Sun, May 8. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave., Portland. INFO: Visit www.port landartmuseum.org for details.


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REVIEWs

dispensary highlight Top Selling Strain: Champagne Diesel and ACDC Top Selling Concentrate: Anything by OM Extracts Top Selling Edible: That Taffy

Jayne PDX Interviewed: Robb Arnold, Owner

2145 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, 97212 jaynepdx.com (503) 719-5665

How and when did your dispensary start up? We started up November, 2015. We wanted to get into the industry to provide a modern, comfortable and inviting facility that catered to women and superior customer service for all.

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What’s the story behind the name of your shop? We went through many names, but wanted to have something that was brandable, flowed off your tongue and would be remembered. We wanted to make no mistake that we are a cannabis store. We

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could not do JANE but could do JAYNE and it worked out great that we could incorporate the Y as our logo. What does your dispensary offer clients that they can’t find anywhere else? What do you specialize in, if anything? Well everybody says it, but superior customer service. We want everyone to feel welcome, greeted by name and treated like a part of our family. It doesn’t matter where you come from, you will always be greeted with a smile and a friendly budtender who is willing to answer any and all questions.

What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a dispensary? . . . Biggest joys? Well it’s a pretty fluid business. We watched it in Colorado, Washington and now Oregon. I think it’s just so new that everyone involved is just trying to find the right way to do it. I am excited about the next five years as the rules get firmed up and as a business we have a full understanding of how we can run a fully above board cannabis business. We went into this wanting to be a model and a leader in this industry who can continue to move the cannabis business toward legitimacy.

If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? If you get into this business, you are diving in the deep end of the pool. It is a very expensive investment, and not for the faint of heart. There is a ton of competition in Portland. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/MMJ community? We want to be the model for a legitimate cannabis business. We want to be a name brand and a brand that is associated with quality products and great customer service. Most importantly, we want to be a part of our community and help to make the community better. c


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REVIEWs

strain, edible & concentrate Purple Gorilla Vaporizer Pen Cartridge Urban Pharms has created the hottest new vaporizer pen with an all-glass attachable oil cartridge. Filled with one gram of a CO2 oil called Purple Gorilla, the cartridge itself is refillable, and one of the nicest on the market. Purple Gorilla is a hybrid oil with 51.3 percent THC and shockingly enough, 2.90 percent CBD. Because of the high CBD content, this is a high quality, medical grade oil that can treat many different types of pain, muscle issues and seizures. The flavor of the oil is a rich caramel with hints of sweet vanilla and chocolate. The vapor from the pen is smooth but also hits hard, and the convenient settings make it easy for anyone to create the perfect dab. The pen has a unique color-changing light that covers the whole spectrum from red to pink. If you inhale through the entire color cycle, you definitely get the equivalent effect of a fatty dab of oil.

Available at: Urban Pharms in Portland.

Multnomah Coma This Northwest classic strain was grown in Portland at Forever Dank Farms. It has a citrus-pine smell and a sweet nectar and honey taste, reminiscent of a lemony mint tea. The mint comes in the form of a fresh burst at the back of your throat as you exhale the smoke, creating pronounced flavor combinations. The strain was tested by MRX Labs and found to have 23.79 percent THC and 2.12 percent CBD. Great for simple relaxation or treating a variety of pains and illnesses. Definitely not a clarity-inducing effect, this coma comes with chair-lock, and a lot of introverted thinking. You may experience the jitters at first, but that will quickly fade into a relaxed all over body effect. This strain is also a hard hitter, one big snap and you become comatose.

Available wherever: Forever Dank strains are carried.

Cherry Pie A great tasting strain from Rip City Remedies in Portland. According to MRX Labs it has 20.96 percent THC and .03 percent CBD. The bud smells like a rich port wine, and has a sweet sage taste mixed with a strong cherry flavor, where the strain gets its name. The effect definitely hits hard in the head, relieving head pressure and ache. However, it also makes you hungry and even a little shaky until you get some snacks. A great strain for going to a party or before a meal. It can also be used for treating social anxiety and depression. The buds are covered in a crystal white powder, but once you break them open they are dark green with purple splashes inside. The grind is very dark with a reddish hue. Inhales are smooth and tasty, a good starter strain for someone looking to ease into smoking.

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Available at: Rip City Remedies in Portland.

GET YOUR CLICKS

HERE


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REVIEWs

strain, edible & concentrate Available wherever: Grön products are available.

Grön: Fine Artisan Dark Chocolate Toffee Another delicious medicated creation from the high class chocolate makers at Grön. Their Fine Artisan Dark Chocolate Toffee with roasted pistachios is dusted with sea salt, and totally decadent. Any chocolate or toffee lover will go wild for these amazing treats. And with 183mg THC and 8.6mg CBD in one bag, they are also serious medical grade edibles. The toffee is covered in rich, dark chocolate, and with the pistachios and sea salt on top creating a nice array of textures. The taste is nutty, sweet and complex, taking toffee to a whole new level. The effect, after two small triangles of toffee, was subtle but noticeable, and eliminated a lot of back pain. A stronger effect could be achieved with a larger dose. With Grön’s classy packaging, a bag of this artisan toffee would also be a great gift.

Available wherever: POP Naturals products are carried.

Mango CO2 Oil Time for some tropical relief this winter. POP Naturals hits new heights of flavor and potency with their top-of-the-line Mango CO2 oil. In an era of dodgy, flavored extracts, we count on POP Naturals to serve cannabinoids and terpenes straight-up, with no co-solvents or additives. The Oregon brand is widely respected for using only organic outdoor grown buds and a pure CO2 subcritical extraction process. We got huge Mango tropical fruit flavor (1.1 percent terpenes) and enormous potency (60.62 percent cannabinoids) from this oil, which is perfect for re-filling vape pen carts, or as dabs, or on bowls, or in joints. Mango mixes Thai and Brazil sativas with an indica from Afghanistan for a hybrid indica effect. Patients use indica oil extracts like this in super-portable, discrete vape pens for symptom management anytime and anywhere. 18

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REVIEWs

For More Products Go To www.iReadCulture.com

3. Glance App Make your love life a little more exciting with the Google Glass and iPhone compatible app, Glance. This app allows users to see what their partner sees during intimate moments as well as get alternative angles by utilizing the camera on their phone. Users of Glance will also be able to record with the iPhone app, so they can have a home movie to watch later. The Google Glass feature is easy and convenient to use, all one has to do is say “Ok Glass it’s time” and let the magic unfurl. A fun alternative to the old camera and tripod, helping you get all the right angles. PRICE: FREE MORE INFORMATION: www.glanceapp.info

1. DRUMi: Foot-Powered Washing Machine From Toronto based company, YiREGO comes the environmentally ethical Drumi. Drumi is a 15 pound, 22-inch-tall foot-powered washing machine that uses only five liters of water and no electricity. Sure that doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but according to YiREGO, the typical laundry cycle uses up to 50 liters of water and 500 watts of power. Not only does Drumi use significantly less water and power, it can wash up to five pounds of clothes and each cycle only takes about five minutes! Drumi is the new alternative to washing clothes, allowing users to spend less on water, electricity and save time, with its innovative design. PRICE: $239 MORE INFORMATION: www.yirego.com

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2. AutoBlow 2 Revolutionizing personal experiences, AutoBlow2 allows any guy to sit back and enjoy the pleasures of oral stimulation. Conveniently created so you don’t have to use your hands too much, the AutoBlow2 comes with the option of including a handle for secure grip and it works automatically. Available in three sizes, A, B and C, AutboBlow2 is for guys of all sizes (measure accordingly). When using the AutoBlow2, a water-based lubricant is recommended, followed by a thorough cleaning afterwards, ensuring you get quality pleasure every time. According to customer reviews, this is an upgrade from the original! PRICE: $159 MORE INFORMATION: www.autoblow2.com

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4. Sense by Hello Sense is a remarkable device that monitors your sleep patterns, and provides detailed logs on each night’s sleep that can be viewed on any Smartphone. Simply place Sense on your nightstand, along with a small sleep tracker on your pillow, and it can detect the current room temperature and light levels and recommend what needs to be changed in order to get a quality night of sleep. Your tossing and turning, snoring and any other issues during sleep will be reported, helping you gain knowledge on why you’re not getting restful sleep, and how to change it. PRICE: $129 MORE INFORMATION: www.hello.is

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REVIEWs

entertainment

BOOK

Cannabis in Canada: The Illustrated History Dana Larsen, Patrick Dowers Self-Published In author Dana Larsen’s new book, Cannabis in Canada: The Illustrated History, Larsen offers a fact-filled account of Canada’s relation to industrial hemp dating from the mid 17th century, and to medical cannabis dating from the mid 19th century. Canada has gone back and forth with cannabis’ legal status for centuries and Larsen details the 350 years of legal Canadian hemp in this entertaining illustrated book. Even more entertaining, Larsen sent each one of the Liberal Members of Parliament a copy of the book, and a small gift of one gram of cannabis, in the hopes of sparking a conversation in their offices. (Alex Bradley)

Release Date: March 24 Available on: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

GAME

Far Cry Primal Dev. Ubisoft Montreal Pub. Ubisoft The Far Cry video game series is taking a step far back from its normal first person shooter series. In Far Cry Primal, you’re a human hunter living in the Stone Age left to fight off gargantuan mammoths and sabertooth cats. Players rise up in the ranks of their tribe by crafting classic weapons such as spears, axes and bows and taming many of the animals in this time period, from badgers to owls and saber-tooth tigers. Defend yourself against other enemy tribes, all of which are fighting to survive in this savage land. (Nicole Potter)

MOVIE

Guidance Search Engine Films Dir. Pat Mills What happens when an aging, alcoholic, former child-star living in denial about his sexuality and cancer diagnosis decides to fabricate an identity in order to become a high school guidance counselor? Guidance follows David Gold as he desperately attempts to gain some semblance of control over his life by helping students. As one might imagine, all types of shenanigans ensue when Gold encourages students to be themselves, with a little bit of help from cannabis and alcohol. For some laughs with some substance behind them, Guidance is definitely one to check out. (Simon Weedn)

MUSIC

Emotional Mugger Ty Segall Drag City Ty Segall has built an incredible reputation for himself for not only playing some of the more interesting and powerful psychedelic, garage rock out there, but also writing and releasing it at an incredibly prolific rate. So, it should come as no surprise that Mr. Segall has recently returned this winter to deliver his eighth studio in album in eight years entitled, Emotional Mugger. Listening to Segall attempt to marry pop with garage rock, two somewhat opposing elements of his style, continuing to push his sound in new directions while never losing the qualities that made him endearing to begin with. (Simon Weedn)

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“I prefer smoking to drinking. Like, if I’m going to chill, I’ll either have a joint or a joint and a glass of wine.”

Photos by John Gilhooley Makeup by Aimee Tureaud Hair by Elizabeth Hall Conley

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Getting intimate and talking cannabis with actress

Katie Morgan by Jamie Solis

Cannabis and pornography are two lucrative and sometimes taboo industries with many similarities. Both industries cater to adult appetites; they are both held to different regulations from state to state, but most importantly—cannabis and pornography are two industries that the talented adult film actress, Katie Morgan, knows all too well. Whether or not you watch adult films, chances are Katie Morgan has made an appearance in your living room at one time or another. Best known for her nine HBO specials and a star role in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Katie Morgan has successfully attained mainstream status while still catering to those who enjoy watching her have sex onscreen. Following her role in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Katie took a seven-year hiatus from shooting hardcore adult films to instead focus on other endeavors like hosting parties, doing podcasts, performing burlesque shows all across the country and making special appearances. Last September, Katie Morgan fans everywhere rejoiced as she made her much-anticipated re-entry into the hardcore adult film industry. While many fantasize about this adorable, blonde bombshell trademarked for her highpitched voice and busty figure, Katie also has an outgoing and bubbly personality that is complimented by her affinity for two of our favorite things—animals and cannabis. Katie sat down with CULTURE to discuss her career, views on the ever-changing porn industry and of course, her love for cannabis. Whether you’re following her on Twitter to see hilarious and adorable posts or you are guilty of drooling over her countless adult films, it is time to get a little more intimate with Katie Morgan. >>

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“I don’t grow myself, but if somebody wanted my input or wanted to name [a strain of cannabis] after me, I would be totally down for that. It should be an orange sativa.” You’re back into shooting hardcore adult films after a seven-year hiatus following the release of Zack and Miri Make a Porno. How is it to be back filming adult videos? Oh my God, it’s so much fun. It really is. I just missed it, and I realized that I could do it again. Like, I didn’t think I couldn’t, but I had been gone for so long, and so much had changed. But then I went to AVM Expo last year and met a bunch of new people, and it just felt like it was time to come back. It’s been so much fun! That’s so exciting. How are your fans responding? Oh, huge! I did the Exotica Convention at the end of last year, and we were busy the whole time. I don’t think I’ve ever taken that many pictures right in a row. It was so much fun! You’re one of the only adult film actresses who attained mainstream status with nine HBO specials, your role in a feature film and more. What do you personally consider to be your greatest accomplishments? I think definitely the HBO shows. I had a nine-year relationship with them, and we did nine specials, and that’s really my thing. I’m quite proud to be that naked girl from HBO. 26

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Would you also say your 2013 induction into the Adult Video News (AVN) Hall of Fame is up there with your greatest accomplishments? Oh yes, that was huge. I still can’t believe it when people say that. It’s amazing, and that was such an honor. And actually AVN continues to be awesome. I came back as a performer this year in September, which was not in time for anything to come out for AVN nominations, but they’ve asked me to be a co-host the red carpet for the award show. How was it working with Kevin Smith for filming Zack and Miri Make A Porno? It was amazing. I was and still am a fan from way back. I like Clerks and Dogma and all that. So I was already a fan of his, and then Seth Rogen was an added bonus, and when I first auditioned for it I read lines with Seth and Kevin, and I thought I was going to freakin’ die, and that was before I got the role. It was surreal. Kevin was great. He actually ended up introducing me to the guy I married a couple years later, and he got ordained and married us. You regularly perform sexy burlesque shows across the U.S. What are those like? Well that’s really what I ended up busy doing the last seven years and still; I’ve been on a very extended feature dancing tour where I go out anywhere from one to three weekends a month, and I do big burlesque shows. Lots of poor ostriches died for my costumes, but they’re beautiful, and then I throw them on the floor. So I do a threesong set that starts out really burlesque, and it ends kind of more hardcore rock ‘n’ roll.


Can you tell us about your new affiliation with Nexxxt Level Talent Agency? I was actually really excited to see that there was a boutique style agency happening and that it was two people I have known. I’ve known Andre Madness and Jonathan Morgan like right from the beginning. Jonathan used to come over and play at my poker game when we lived out in L.A. He was like one of my close friends. Then last year, same thing, at the AVN Expo they said they were starting this agency, “We’re only going to take 20 girls. We’re going to keep it small, so everybody gets that extra attention.” And I said, “That’s exactly what I need.” So I signed on with them, and it’s been really great. I have not had a free second. I’m enjoying it—all the back and forth. I haven’t been to L.A. this much in a couple years, and I missed it because I’m from there, so it’s kind of nice. It’s like getting to go home again.

“I’m kind of a functional smoker. I really prefer the sativa like, ‘Let’s do the laundry and write a song,’ as opposed to ‘Let’s eat brownies and watch movies.’ The sativa especially I find really focuses me, because I’m kind of all over the place normally.” Do you spend about equal time between Vegas and L.A.? I definitely spend any free time I have at home because I have all the pets and the family at the house, but when I travel, sometimes I travel cross-country for the shows, but all the adult stuff is in L.A. still. You mentioned you have pets. What kind of pets do you have? I have a little bit of a zoo. I have dogs and cats and parrots and ferrets and a wallaby and some sugar gliders and frogs and turtles. I was a pet store manager before I did porn. What are your views on the legalization of cannabis for medical and/or recreational use? On legalization, I am totally pro both medical and recreational. Pornography and cannabis both have a history of some social and political opposition toward their legalization. Do you see any parallels between the industries that would be the reason for this? I feel like that can be said for anything that society has historically told us is taboo. Even alcohol had an era of prohibition. >>

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I’ve seen on your social media that you’re pretty open about your love for cannabis. What is your preferred method of consuming cannabis? I’m really just getting into the vaping now with oils. For the most part I’m kind of old school. I like the whole process of grinding and rolling joints and stuff. Do you like edibles? Sometimes, but I’m kind of a functional smoker. I really prefer the sativa like, “Let’s do the laundry and write a song,” as opposed to “Let’s eat brownies and watch movies.” The sativa especially I find really focuses me, because I’m kind of all over the place normally. Everyone pictures that you smoke weed and you just lie down and melt, and I have the absolute opposite reaction. Are there any other reasons you choose to consume cannabis? It’s also to relax. I prefer

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smoking to drinking. Like, if I’m going to chill, I’ll either have a joint or a joint and a glass of wine. I don’t like the drunky feeling. I don’t like anything that makes me feel out of control of myself. When did you start consuming cannabis? Is it something you’ve always done? No, well because I had the whole arrest thing back in 2001, and I got the whole federal felony. I was out on bail and probation for like three years with full drug testing and all that—no smokey, no smokey. But then once I was off bail and everything started legalizing, it was kind of awesome. One week ago, I got to play the legal game in Colorado. I happened to go to Denver for a family wedding, and my kid brother and I got weed legally and smoked it. The experience was so weird. Just to be able to land in the city and drive on over to the dispensary was kind of amazing. It was like, the future is now!

february 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

In your experience, is cannabis use is prevalent in the porn industry? It’s kind of funny actually. It used to be a lot more prevalent when I was in the first time, and until the condom laws and everybody really cracking down on stuff, I noticed a lot less people talk about it. They don’t really smoke it on set like they used to. Has the industry gotten stricter in all senses after the new laws? I wouldn’t say strict necessarily, but more professional. We’re trying to make it more like a real work place and not a party. Have you heard about other adult film stars having their own star-branded designer cannabis strains? Is this something you have considered? I would totally be into that. I mean, I don’t grow myself, but if somebody wanted my input or wanted to name one after me, I would be totally down for that. It should be an orange sativa.

Some professionals in the porn industry have crossed over to the cannabis industry. Do you think the two industries go hand in hand? Sort of—I would say [cannabis and porn go hand in hand] the same as it does when people are branding vodka or tequila . . . just like anything extra that you can put your name on and have to promote that’s in the same kind of party vein. I host parties as much as I feature dance. It’s for when you go and you’re the host of the party, you have something to promote like, ‘Here’s my vodka. Here’s my weed.’ Like, of course that goes hand in hand, but I think that goes with celebrities, not just porn. What can our readers look forward to from you in the future? Definitely look for my dance tour. I will probably be coming to a city near you at some point. I go just about everywhere from Fargo to Florida. c

thekatiemorgan.com


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Sexy Edible Fun

Fun and flirty D.I.Y. projects for you and your lover Canna-Brief Jerky Infused edible meat undies for men are pretty strange and hard to come by, but we figured out how to D.I.Y. them, and infuse them with cannabis for a little extra fun! Made from scratch with ground beef, and delicious and custom meat seasonings, these jerky briefs are perfect for a fun night in with your lover, and every part of them can be eaten off! Find the custom D.I.Y. recipe on ireadculture. com.

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Canna-Caramel Panties Instead of the storebought twisted candy rope undies, why not let your partner eat caramel and cannabis-infused candy panties right off you? These panties are delicious, and though the recipe is involved, the final result us well worth it. As your bodies heat up, the stiff caramel becomes warm and easy to eat and gently peels off your most sensitive and delicious parts. Find the custom D.I.Y. recipe on ireadculture.com.

february 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Romantic CannaMarshmallow Rope Handcuffs Looking to do something extra special for your Valentine this year? Try making our cannabisinfused marshmallow rope handcuffs. You can playfully take turns being locked up, and being saved! The recipe takes some time to make, but these make for an unforgettable experience for you and your lover. Find the D.I.Y. recipe at ireadculture.com.

Canna-Candy Nipple Tassels

D.I.Y. Infused Custom Chocolate Penis

Titillate your partner with your ta-ta’s as you wear hunger-inducing, homemade nipple tassels! Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to embrace the sweetness of your relationship, and your lover’s sweet tooth, with this simple but effective way to turn sexy time into dessert time. Feel free to get wild with these infused edible wearables, specifically designed to add extra fun to the bedroom and satiate your appetite. Find the custom D.I.Y. recipe on ireadculture.com.

Nothing is sexier than looking down at your partner when they’re giving you all sorts of oral attention. Return the favor with a twist and make a D.I.Y. Cannabis Infused Edible Chocolate Penis, made from a mold of their very own phallic member. Complete the mold, fill it up with chocolate and when the time is right, have your partner watch as you lick and nibble an identical edible mold of their penis. Before you know it, they’ll be squirming for you to use your moves on the real thing—and in the meantime, you get to eat a delicious infused chocolate treat. Win-win! Find the custom D.I.Y. recipe on ireadculture.com.


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When it comes to romance, sex and edibles— more is not better. So here’s our list for getting the most delectable edibles and not overdoing it. Who wants to become a vegetable in bed when you set out to be a lion/ness? Available at all the finest Oregon retailers is one of our favorites, Cloud 9 Confections. These delectable and gorgeous little artisan chocolates come in an assortment, with three different flavors: Cherry Bomb, Spiced Mocha and Sea Salted Chocolate. At 150mg THC per box, these sweet treats can last you a long time. For your perfect lovers’ night-in, try splitting one or two pieces, sharing each small piece together, and tasting the heavenly organic chocolate slowly. The spiced mocha dives in with Guatemalan coffee and a special spice blend that is sublime, while the sea salted flavor is kissed by the ocean and perfect for sharing. Our favorite however, is the slightly naughty, plump cherryfilled chocolate bomb, that

VDay’s Sexiest Edibles for Just the Right Dose by Sheryll Alexander

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february 2016 iReadCULTURE.com


bursts with ooey gooey cherry center and is perfect for infused foreplay. With a tiny bit of a boost of caffeine, Elbe’s Edibles’ Mocha Express Cake Balls are great little treats to satisfy a small sweet tooth, but can be fun and quick to eat too. Seductively shared with your loved one, these one-bite cake balls are made fresh from local ingredients. The potency varies from each fresh batch, so make sure to check with your provider about dosing before you bite in. Hunny Be Sticks are a fun and flirty alternative for your VDay sweet tooth. These sticks are filled with medicated raw honey from Echo Electuary and is made with organic ginger, cannabis and organic elderberry extract. With 12.5mg THC and 12.5mg of CBD, these lil guys are potent, so suck on them cautiously. Try to share a single stick between you and your lover, or try less for newbies. The combination of 1:1 THC:CBD is an extra relaxing experience, and help shed those inhibitions right when you need to. The seasoned cannasseurs from Grön Chocolates know the ins and outs of the chocolate world, and have prepared a sweet and delicious Milk Chocolate Bar topped with sea salt. These bars are well known for their strength, providing an average of 400mg per bar. Each square is 40mg, so we recommend that practiced cannabis users should split a single square with their lover, for 20mg per person. For beginners, we even recommend taking a 1/4 dose before beginning your love session. Grön also offers multiple variations of chocolate, such as bars with milk chocolate and toasted coconut or almonds, dark chocolate with sea salt, toffee or roasted peanuts, as well as dark chocolate truffles and dark chocolate stars. The colorful Cannavore Fruit Gummies offer the perfect dose, and are a great edible to use while fooling around with your significant other. Each bag of Gummies comes with 10 servings, with a total of 100mg per bag. Drop them lovingly into your lover’s mouth or start your foreplay with a game of tossing—whatever floats your boat, these gummies are sure to help add some fun to the romance. Cannavore also offers a few other delicious edibles that are well suited for a quick bite in the bedroom, including fruit pastilles, salted caramel chews and chocolate caramel kettle corn. Whether you’re ending a romantic meal with some dessert or just getting a pre-sex snack, the Moo Moo Cookies from Green Light Baked Goods are the perfect sweet treat. As a delectable chocolate cookie with both white chocolate chips and macadamia

Making Your Own Edibles?

nuts, each bite will send you to heaven. A single cookie is the perfect portion for a bedroom romp, having 40mg that is best split in half and shared between two people who have a decent tolerance for cannabis. Newbies should start with 1/4 of the cookie, to avoid being too couch-locked to perform for their Valentine. Green Light Baked Goods also offers a delicious White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie too! Can’t get THC-infused edibles in your state? More and more manufacturers are making cannabidiol (CBD) versions of their normally THC medicated edibles because CBD is not psychoactive (and so can be shipped anywhere). How does CBD help when it comes to sex? First, CBD doesn’t get you “high”. Rather, CBD makes one feel more relaxed, less stressed, more balanced and, therefore, more open to feeling joyful and playful. In today’s explosive (and hopefully orgasmic) edibles market, you really can have your THC, your CBD, have it in your cake and eat it next to your beloved too. c

For those who are considering creating their own sexy cannabis confections, the secret is in the butter. Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook puts together recipes from the world’s top cannabis chefs, most notably a big section on each chef’s nolonger-confidential canna butters. Try Cannabis Kitchen’s “majoon love balls” (a round Arabic aphrodisiac treat adapted by renowned chef Chris Killam using honey cannabis butter) or chef Emily Sloat’s “hash hive balls,” which are a no-bake sweet treat made with chocolate, butterscotch, nuts and chow mein noodles ready in a half hour. Colorado’s premiere cannabis bakery, Sweet Mary Jane, came out with a dessert cookbook not surprisingly titled Sweet Mary Jane: 75 Delicious Cannabis-Infused HighEnd Desserts. These sumptuous edibles are available in the bakery’s Boulder shop, online or as a recipe you can bake at home including the bakery’s signature Queen of Tarts, OMG Brownie Cheesecake, Lemon Love Bars and Sweet Temptation Mango Sorbet. iReadCULTURE.com february 2016

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“I look forward to the day I can walk through a hemp field in my backyard, and how fabulous it would be to do a photo shoot of wedding gowns there.”

Majestic Matrimony Tara Lynn’s HempInspired Wedding Gowns by Benjamin M. Adams

Tara Lynn Scheidet has been designing beautiful wedding gowns using hemp, vintage lace and hand-stitched appliqués for over 15 years. Over a decade ago, Tara Lynn opened up her studio on 92 acres in Sutton, Vermont, which enables her to design affordable wedding gowns. Tara Lynn’s projects have included a wedding gown for the Miss America Pageant in 2009 and American Idol’s Crystal Bowersox. Last year, Tara Lynn launched Made in Vermont, her own line of eco-conscious women’s wear.

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february 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Customers love your unique custom designs. What led you to get into the bridal industry? It’s what women were asking me for. Back in 1999, I was working at a hemp store, Hemp Instead, in Hell’s Kitchen, NY (it’s sadly no longer there) and I made custom hemp clothing for some customers. A sweet woman came in and asked me to make her a hemp wedding dress. As I continued making hemp clothing I made wearable art jackets dedicated to endangered

species, customers would see my portfolio and ask for another wedding dress with embroidery and appliqué and so the business naturally grew. You specialize in eco-friendly wedding styles. What hemp styles are popular? I set out to specialize in eco-friendly hemp wedding styles. What started as a hemp clothing based thing for me has expanded to organic cotton, peace silks and any other natural fabrics that

make sense for the cut and style and wear ability of the garment. Fiorella, a unique hand embroidered and floral appliqué hemp wedding gown, has been a popular style over the years. In 2015, I noticed a boost in sales of my more bohemian wedding dress

styles like Athena, the most popular selling style in my collection, is a hemp goddess wedding dress. Farfalla, my butterfly embroidered wedding dress, which was originally my wedding gown, is also a very popular selling hemp silk style.


You’ve got an impressive line of suit styles that utilize hemp. What led you to begin using hemp? Oh that is a long story . . . I was at FIT in NYC studying fashion design and reality set in for me about the dark side of fashion, the toxic dyes, sweatshops, mass production . . . I started to see the world as it was . . . and then I started looking for a shop or company in NYC that sold eco-conscious, sustainable or recycled clothing. This was 1999 and

played. I was studying knit wear and tailoring at the time, I was obsessed taking 21 credits a semester, and at the store I was selling hemp scarves and ties (Woody Harrelson even came in and bought one of my ties) and different clients started to ask me for custom PJ’s, suits, leotards, underwear and wedding dresses. You can imagine at that time there was Mannastash bags, Two Star Dog sold jeans and only a few other labels and products in the clothing

“I am very supportive of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. It is about time hemp be grown on American soil again.” this was hard to find but then I found Hemp Instead and the owners taught me a lot about hemp. I loved working there and loved everything we sold in the store from hemp seed and candles, to lotion, bedding, the books, the smell of the store and the Blood Sweat and Tears album they

selection of our store so I was busy meeting people and sewing whatever they could not find on the market. And the hemp textiles were so limited at that time. Now, there is a lot more available in terms of hemp textiles. But I became very passionate about hemp and stuck

with it, I wanted people to know hemp’s story and to know about how sustainable and versatile it was as a crop. I wanted to help the movement and to feel good about what I was making. Now I try to convince my farming neighbors in Vermont to grow it. What are your thoughts about the current legal status of hemp cultivation in the United States. Are you supportive of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act? I am very supportive of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. It is about time hemp be grown on American soil again. Vermont in particular has been on the forefront of the movement and I am positive I will see the day that farmers in my region will be able to grow hemp without the fear of the Federal laws. I am surrounded by farm land, mostly corn and cow farms. Occasionally I mention hemp to my neighbors and they recently told me they are looking into growing it. I encourage

them, I hear it’s a great rotation crop. I don’t see the legalization of hemp altering where I buy my textiles from, at least not in my lifetime, but in terms of seed and other uses it is a sorely needed market in America’s economy. I look forward to the day I can walk through a hemp field in my backyard and how fabulous it would be to do a photo shoot of wedding gowns there. What’s the secret to looking and feeling fantastic on the most important day in your life? Being comfortable and wearing something that makes you feel like you! Fit, quality and the way the fabric feels and flows against your body are all very important and these are the details I really focus on with my clients. Working together is a very personal experience and I wrap my head around the person I am designing for so they feel like “a Woodland Queen” or a “Bohemian Goddess” or “Fairy Princess” or just simply feel “Beautiful” and in their element. c www.taralynnbridal.com

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CannaWedding Wonder The growing trend of cannabis weddings by Sheryll Alexander

Cannabis at weddings is a fascinating trend in personal expression and enjoyment, and it’s about to become a booming industry. From creating full on “weed bars” with everything from budtenders pairings strains to each meal’s course to cannabis flower buds showing up in the bride’s

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bouquet, the cannabis wedding is definitely an innovative emerging lifestyle trend. Of course, ground zero for the cannabis wedding biz is Colorado, but Washington and Oregon are fast becoming cannawedding innovators. In reality, couples have been exploring cannabis clandestinely at their weddings for decades.

february 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Today, however, legalization is marrying cannabis to the business of getting married. Digital entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker Niki Usbay McDonald saw the trend starting, years ago, and decided to get busy. She created a website catering to couples who are seeking cannabis providers, consultants and services for their upcoming nuptials. So,

she created and branded LoveandMarij.com. At Love and Marij, canna-loving couples can explore wedding vendors who understand their needs when it comes to venues, hotels, florists, photographers, DJs, limos and much more. McDonald says she has helped couples source everything they would need for a bud bar. >>


“The wedding industry is a $300 billion business and— right now—cannabis accounts for zero. We are looking to change that.” For example, her Love and Marij business has helped a Colorado couple outfit a “cigar and herb bar.” Or, how about the Seattle couple who met in a dispensary and had cannabis added to their bouquets and other gifted items because their venue would not allow smoking onsite? One Oregon couple even set up a secret cannabar in the middle of a magical forest for their toking guests. Love and Marij is also a place for wedding guests. Here, family and friends can shop for cannabis-themed wedding items such as goldfoiled rolling papers, hemp bath bombs, mini “hitters,” gold-covered lighters, a sophisticated line of evening bags and accessories to hide your stash in style and a customizable wedding party thank you gift called “pot pockets,” which is an embossed three-joint carrier that extinguishes a lit doobie when the case is closed. However, McDonald is marching confidently towards the entrepreneurial altar with her Love and Marij Cannabis Wedding Registry. Eventually, 21-and-older guests will be able to purchase a couple’s favorite strain as a wedding gift or as part of the wedding party puffing ritual. For now, however, this world’s first cannabis wedding registry is signing up dispensaries who want

to sell to weddings and other offshoot parties. What does this canna entrepreneur see in her crystal ballroom for the future of cannabis weddings five years or even a decade from now? “The wedding industry is a $300 billion business and–right now– cannabis accounts for zero,” explains McDonald. “We are looking to change that.” And she’s not just stopping at a website. McDonald is helping the ignorant media, by holding marketing mixers and even a Cannabis Wedding Expo to educate companies on how to provide wedding- and media-friendly marketing materials to couples, journalists, editors and even venture capitalists. “We want to show the world cannabis really does pair with classy weddings,” she says. For example, McDonald says “mainstream” engaged couples get preferential treatment all along the wedding route from buying the engagement ring to picking out the menu, hotel and cake, among many other “perks” and discounts couples are offered before they sign a contract. Plus, these cannabis experts are also on hand to craft cannabis experiences for all wedding events such as the engagement party, the bridal shower and the bachelor and bachelorette parties. As for now, McDonald

says—at least in legal states—those who are planning weddings may want to consider creating a supportive space for toking guests. “At every wedding, the smokers always miss out because they are not incorporated into the scene,” she says. “It’s time we all celebrated together.” McDonald says she foresees these “weed weddings” as just the beginning. “I think the next level is cannabis food and wine pairings.” In fact, she is working with cannabiz

Cultivating Spirits to craft a “food-and-cannabis tasting experience for venues and dispensaries.” The future certainly seems bright for “weed wedding” providers as five more states potentially go legal in 2016, including the California goldmine. McDonald of Love and Marij calls it a “revolution” and “the turnaround.” Only time will tell if this marketing niche will work well in this groundbreaking, new canna-weddings world. c

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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILES 38

Testing The Varieties: Part 1 by Ed Rosenthal

As a consumer you might have some experience with strains like Gorilla Glue and OG Kush. If not, it’s easy enough to look at their stats and read some reviews before purchasing for consumption, or you can buy grams of each and compare the medicines yourself. It’s a little different when choosing varieties to grow. I live in an area with many dispensaries that sell clones. They have a huge selection of varieties, between 10 and 50 in each shop. So there are about 75 varieties to choose from. When choosing new varieties to grow either for personal use or distribution there will be new sets of concerns. Some of the questions that may come up are: What is its branching habit? How much does it grow after forcing? What’s the time until ripening? Which do best under the methods you use?

february 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Comparative yields. These are some questions that might be answered by conducting a plant trial. The test I am designing is to develop a template and a model for testing. With the proliferation of hybrids and varieties, plant trials are essential for growers to determine what they plan to grow. Other trials may be used to: Choose the best progeny from propagated seeds Test the effect of new cultivation practices on the varieties being grown Choose the best plant to clone from purchased seeds Test different cultivation practices Test different fertilizers and fertilizer regimens

I am developing this model of testing to minimize time, labor, energy and space, making it feasible for ordinary gardeners, small and large, to run a relatively extensive test fairly easily.

The Design The experiment is contained in a five-inch by five-inch garden tent. It has a vertical hanging OG metal halite 860-watt lamp in a sophisticated air-cooled reflector that is controlled by a timer. This limits the heat released into the garden. Excess heat is controlled using a small recirculating air conditioner (AC) installed in the sidewall that sits on a table outside. The air is enriched with CO2 using a 20lb tank regulated by a sensor set to keep the space at 1200 PPM during the lit hours. A small


oscillating fan keeps the air in the space circulating continuously. A recording thermometer, that shows the high and low temperature, is hung from the tubing so it is at canopy level. The temperature is set never to go below 60 degrees. The plants are planted in two-quart six-inch containers that are filled with a mixture of 50 percent coir, and about 25 percent each homemade, aged compost (derived from plant leaf, fruit drop and food waste) plus some used planting mix from previous projects. A double-ended 3/8” braided nylon wick extends from either end of the opposite facing holes at the bottom of the container. It trails into the tray below. The ends of the wick are stopped from fraying using twist-ties. The 35 containers sit on a wooden pallet placed inside a 4’ x 4’ tray that is filled with rainwater that has been pH’d to 6.0. A one-part complete hydroponic vegetative formula 7-9-5 with potassium silicate has been added to the water at 700 PPM. The water is circulated in the tray using two small water pumps, a minimum of 300 to max of 1000 gallons per hour (GPH). It is aerated using four air-stones that are powered by a small aquarium pump. An aquarium heater rated for 40 gallons keeps the water at 70 degrees. The tray sits on a piece of 1/2” thick Styrofoam that creates a barrier between it and the cold cement floor.

Getting the Garden Going Label each plant using a plastic marker that is placed in the container and an additional identifying tag attached to the stem. Mark them with a soft pencil—ink often fades.

The tent is ready to go. It is lit by a 1000w HPS lamp and has AC, CO2, air circulation a hybrid planting mix/hydro system.

Each of the 35 plants is in a 6” container with a wick that draws water up using capillary action.

Place the plants in the containers. The stem should not be placed deeper than it is when you start. If need be, use a skewer or other means of supporting the stem upright. Water after potting with diluted vegetative stage fertilizer water, 400 PPM. This is one of the few times you will do this. In the future, the plants will draw water/nutrient solution up the nylon wick, as they need it. Set the light on continuously for one week. Then turn it off for one day to spur the plants to transition from growing vegetatively to flowering. The next day, turn the light back on, but use a timer so the space receives 12 hours of light and 12 hours of total darkness daily. Keep up this light/dark regimen for the next month. During the dark period the plants require uninterrupted darkness. Do not open the curtain or door or turn the lights on during the dark period—even for a moment. The only light that can be safely used during the dark period is laser or LED green. Add water to the tray as it is used. Instead of using vegetative formula, use a complete hydroponic flowering formula such as 7-9-5 at 700 PPM. Add pH water as needed. At the same time you change the flowering cycle, change the fertilizer to flowering stage formula. Drain the tray and add the new water/nutrient mix. Make sure the heater doesn’t blow or radiate directly on the leaves. During the lit period the ideal leaf temperature is about 85 degrees. Use a surface temperature thermometer to check leaf temperature. Then adjust the AC and heater to keep the leaf temperature between 75 degrees and 85 degrees. During the dark period the temperature should not fall below 60 degrees. Use an electric heater to raise it, if needed. c

Each plant is tagged twice- in the container and on the stem. Use a pencil because inks run and fade.

Plants were placed in their new containers keeping the stem at the same depth it was in the starter cube.

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.

The planting medium is is a mix of coir, previously used mix and homemade compost.

Plant list Ghost OG THC Bond GSC Mendo Kush Kosher Kush Gorilla Glue Dead Head Gorilla Blue #4 Larry OG Candyland Platinum Purple Blue Dream Blue Dream Dream Queen Pruple Urkle ACDC White Fire Alien OG GDP Sunset Sherbet x5-13 Fire OG Purple Diesel Chisel Harlequin LA Fire Harlequin GDP Blue Berry Cookies Black Jack San Fran Valley OG Train Wreck Double Dream Head Band Pure OG Kush Sour Diesel Tahoe Cure

The plants are being watered with diluted nutrient/ water solution with beneficial mycorrhizae added. This helps the cube make close contact and settle in the mix.

Excel Chart helps keep the records orderly.

iReadCULTURE.com february 2016

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culture

iReadCulture.com

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Time to Go: Spring Weather: Mild temperatures, with light breezes and occasional showers. Budget: $$$$$

if you go:

Delaware Sparks Up for Winter Romance

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by Sheryll Alexander

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GET YOUR CLICKS

Delaware finally has a single medical cannabis dispensary, but this tiny state’s pretty peninsula with its romantic town-meetscountry vibe holds a special place for medicating couples during winter’s season of love in February. Given the state’s tiny populous and Delaware’s headquarters to chemical giant DuPont, it’s no wonder “The First State” (it was the first state to ratify The Constitution) took until last year to help its many thousands of medical cannabis patients and their caregivers with an actual legal cannabis-for-sale storefront. Fortunately for travelers ready for a quick romantic getaway, Delaware sits smack dab in the center of what is known as the “Northern Corridor.” This three-state conjunction of what is known as The Delmarva Peninsula can be easily accessed from Northern and Southern states via Interstate Highway

95 (I-95) as well as Washington DC, Baltimore (via Annapolis over Hwy 50’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge), Philadelphia and even New York by riding New Jersey’s coastal city ferries. Southern-style food and high culture go hand in hand in this scenic rolling hills state. During the day, take a road trip to First State National Historical Park as well as some of the nation’s finest museums. Delaware is also home to wildlife refuges, lighthouses and architecture from American Revolutionary times to the great mansions of The Great Gatsby era. This February, check out some of Delaware’s top events such as fivecourse paired craft beer dinners at the historic Cape May Lewes Ferry (February 19), a colorful Chinese New Year Celebration at CITY Delaware Art Museum and don’t miss Wanda Sykes perform at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino (starting February 26). c

The big news is Delaware has its first real medical cannabis dispensary. Wilmington’s First State Compassion Center opened in June 2015 to provide “licensed” patients with mostly premium flower bud strains as edibles are still deemed illegal in Delaware. However, the bigger news may be Delaware’s brand new decriminalization law has gone into effect as of December 17, 2015. The new law will cut down on Delaware’s alarmingly high number of cannabis possession arrests by reclassifying possession from a felony to a misdemeanor for those age 21 (with prior arrests) and over carrying up to one ounce to a civil violation (and a $100 fine) for those with no criminal record. “Personal possession of marijuana paraphernalia” was also decreased from a crime to a civil violation while smoking out in your car and or in public remain misdemeanors.

Fun-Filled Facts The moneyed class from Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York all flock to their mansions and cottages (and luxe boutique hotels) along Delaware’s beach resort towns (Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island) because it is but a short road trip away and yet the peninsula makes you feel like you are on the edge of the world. 1

february 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Although not billed as a cannabis-friendly inn, Rehoboth Beach’s The Homestead Bed and Breakfast is an adults-only property. Located three miles from the beach and the town’s quaint boardwalk, “The Homestead” welcomes pets and a stay here comes with daily breakfast. 2

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Shoppers abound

from neighbouring states in Delaware’s many designer shops and big box stores as this is a rare tax-free state.


culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILES

Emalee Hyde

Age: 25 Condition/ Illness: Jaw bone arthritis, severe allergies Using medical cannabis since: Age 21

Why did you start using cannabis? I began using cannabis in attempt to treat debilitating symptoms caused by an allergy that went undiagnosed for nine years. I experienced chronic and debilitating migraines, for which no pharmaceutical “solution” ever provided relief. A friend suggested cannabis, and it helped relieve my painful symptoms by turning them into at most, a mild discomfort. I knew that I had stumbled upon something much greater than myself and was hungry to learn more about its medical properties and benefits. Later in life, I learned about the allergy and did not need to consume cannabis for my chronic allergic reactions. Once I hit 22, I started experiencing pain in my face and jaw. After seeing a specialist, I was diagnosed with jaw bone arthritis. I became a medical cannabis refugee by leaving Florida to move to Colorado to obtain a legalized, natural medicine. I consume cannabis every day to keep my jaw fully functional and

to keep any discomfort at very minimal levels. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I have tried almost every medication and treatment for migraines and pain management. Nothing works as well, fast, safely or effectively as cannabis. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Legal access to a quality controlled medical plant. Prohibition puts so many people in jail or in the ground due to the political and street warfare that is waged just within a black market system. The legalized market must have strict quality control standards to ensure each crop provides a safe yield with no pesticides or microbial inconstancies that could potentially harm the very patients the plant was grown to help treat and/or cure. What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? If someone is skeptical, education is key. There are many valuable sources, such as NORML or PUBMED, that trumpet the medical benefits of this plant with many studies to back up their claims. c

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

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Hemp Heart Pancakes Passion Fruit Mimosa Heart-Shaped Avocado Toast with an Egg

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Budding Breakfast for Two

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UNKNOWN

RECIPES

This year, Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday which means that there’s no need to rush, in order to celebrate the love. You don’t have to worry about sending flowers to your special someone at their office, or rushing off to a romantic dinner right after work—take it easy this year. Start the day off on the right foot, with a simple and thoughtful breakfast for the love of your life! With the help of cannabis, you can turn this special morning into a full day of relaxation and romance. Begin with a simple heart-shaped avocado toast, made with cannabutter, and impress your lover with some “heartfelt” pancakes, which utilize delicious and healthy hemp hearts, and wash it all down with a romantic and a delicious Passion Fruit Mimosa made with cannabis simple syrup. Valentine’s Day may be an overly commercialized holiday, but there’s plenty of ways to make it uniquely romantic for you and your significant other.

DESTINATION

Hemp Heart Pancakes Serves

2

Ingredients 6 tablespoons hemp seeds 4 eggs 2 bananas, mashed 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

COURAGE

2 teaspoons cannabis-infused vegetable oil t

Instructions

PROFILES

IN

Add the hemp seeds, eggs, banana, cinnamon and vanilla extract into a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Grease a skillet with cannabis-infused oil, and set its heat at medium-low. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of batter into the skillet and allow it to spread out into a flat circle. Cook the pancake for about 1 to 2 minutes before flipping and cooking another 30 seconds. Continue until all batter is used. Serve the pancakes immediately, while they’re still warm. You can serve them with maple syrup or top with raspberries, blueberries or strawberries.

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t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com


Serves

2

Heart-Shaped Avocado Toast with an Egg Passion Fruit Mimosa

Ingredients 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon of cannabutter t

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado

2 tablespoons passion fruit juice

1 teaspoon lemon juice

concentrate or passion fruit juice, to

sea salt

taste

pepper 2 eggs 2 pieces of multigrain bread

Instructions Cut the avocado in half lengthwise, twist to separate, and remove & discard the pit. Scoop out the avocado flesh. Add it to a small bowl, and mash with a fork. Stir in the lemon juice. With either a sharp bread knife, or a large heart-shaped cutter, cut out two heart shapes from the slices of bread. In a non-stick pan, add 1 teaspoon cannabutter, and fry one egg at a time, sunny-side up, to your liking. Set aside eggs when done. In a hot pan (could use the same one), add 1 tablespoon cannabutter. When sizzling, add your heart-shaped bread to the pan and toast on both sides until golden brown. To serve, cut the edges off the fried egg, to create a 3-inch egg-round. Spread your avocado mash on your heart-shaped toast, and place egg-round onto avocado toast; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Serves

2

1 teaspoon cannabis-infused simple syrup t 8 ounces champagne fresh strawberries or raspberries for garnish, optional

Instructions Pour 1 tablespoon passion fruit juice concentrate and 1/2 teaspoon infused simple syrup in each of two champagne flutes. Add 4 ounces champagne to each flute. Garnish (optional) and 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.

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CLASSIFYING CANNABIS 2016 Might Be the Year that Cannabis is Rescheduled by Nicole Potter

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regarding the reclassification of cannabis on the list of controlled substances. As one of the biggest issues in the industry to date, cannabis’ current Schedule I classification by the DEA is a huge road block for the success and growth of the plant. Advocates have fought for decades to remove cannabis’ Schedule I label, and with this news we might just see all of that dedication finally come to fruition. Unfortunately, the only issue right now is that no one really knows what the HHS actually said in its formal recommendation—only that the letter was sent on September 30, 2015. The recommendation was a response to two other petitions that also aim to reclassify cannabis under federal law. According to a letter sent to U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer to the DEA, proof that the HHS’ letter was received and is currently being reviewed by the DEA, “DEA recently received the HHS scientific and medical evaluations as well as a scheduling recommendation

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that the HHS prepared in response to the aforementioned petitions,” stated the letter. A Schedule I controlled substance is the highest rank of “dangerous” substances, especially those labeled as having no medical value. Petitions in cannabis’ favor can’t harm its current status, and it can only increase the chance that cannabis might be lowered into Schedule II or be freed from the Controlled Substances Act completely. If redefined as Schedule II, doctors would be able to prescribe cannabis as a medicine and researchers would be able to access the plant more easily. The Department of Justice provided a formal statement acknowledging that they were currently reviewing the documents sent by the HHS, and that if a decision is made, they will publicly publish all documents in the Federal Register. This isn’t the only move that suggests cannabis should be reclassified. Aside from the ongoing fight by advocates, the most recent CARERS Act also aimed to move cannabis to Schedule II. Unfortunately, although the Act was presented to the Senate, there has been no action

“DEA recently received the HHS scientific and medical evaluations as well as a scheduling recommendation that the HHS prepared in response to the aforementioned petitions.”

to move it closer towards approval. There is also the reliance on promises from presidential candidates promising to support cannabis, such as Senator Bernie Sanders. He has made mention of supporting cannabis more than once, and would try to remove the plant from the Controlled Substances Act entirely—of course, that relies on the many factors in the upcoming presidential race and beyond. It is unknown when the DEA will officially respond to the HHS’ recommendation. As of this writing, no further updates regarding this possible change have been announced by the DEA. However, in early January, the DEA did announce that it would be loosening its restrictions on scientists who wish to study cannabis. As seen even in just the past decade of cannabis advocacy, we’ll continue to take progress one step at a time. c


Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird LEAD STORY—NEW WORLD ORDER u In December, Canada’s supportive organization The Transgender Project released a biographical video of the former Paul Wolscht, 46 and the father of seven children with his ex-wife, Marie, describing his new life as not only a female but a 6-year-old female, Stephoknee Wolscht. She told the Daily Xtra (gay and lesbian news site) that not acting her real age (even while doing “adult” things like working a job and driving a car) enables her to escape “depression and suicidal thoughts.” Among the trans-age’s favorite activities are (coloringbook) coloring, creating a play-like “kingdom,” and wearing “really pretty clothes.” Stephoknee now lives with the couple who adopted her. UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT u Thee, Not Me: American “millennials” (those aged 18 to 29) continue a “longstanding tradition,” The Washington Post wrote in December, describing a Harvard Institute of Politics poll on their views on war. Following the recent Paris terrorist attacks, about 60 percent of U.S. millennials said additional American troops would be needed to fight the Islamic State, but 85 percent answered, in the next question, that no, they themselves were “probably” or “definitely” not joining the military.

EXCEPTIONAL FLORIDIANS u (1) Police in St. Petersburg reported the December arrest of a 12-year-old boy whose rap sheet listed “more than 20” arrests since age nine. He, on a bicycle, had told an 89-year-old driver at a gas station that the man’s tire was low, and when the man got out to check, the boy hopped in the car and took off. (2) A driver accidentally plowed through two small businesses in Pensacola in December, creating such destruction that the manager of one said it looked like a bomb had hit (forcing both—a tax service and a casket company—to relocate). The driver told police he was attempting to “travel through time.” COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS u (1) Breen Peck, 52, an air traffic controller who has been having career troubles in recent years, was arrested during a traffic stop on New York’s Long Island in December when officers found illegal drugs in his car. “That’s meth,” he said. “I’m an air traffic controller.” “I smoke it to stay awake.” (2) In a “she-said/he-said” case, wealthy Saudi businessman Ehsan Abdulaziz, 46, was acquitted of rape in December in England’s Southwark Crown Court, apparently persuading jurors of “reasonable doubt” about his DNA found in the alleged victim’s vagina. Perhaps, his lawyer said, Abdulaziz was still aroused after sex with the other woman in the apartment and accidentally fell directly upon the alleged victim lying on a sofa. IRONIES u Christopher Manney was fired from the Milwaukee

Police Department in 2014 after shooting a black suspect to death in a case bearing some similarity to 2015 shootings that produced “Black Lives Matter” protests—not fired for the shooting (adjudged “not excessive force”) but for improper actions that preceded the shooting (not announcing a valid reason for a pat down and conducting a not-by-the-book pat down). Two days before the firing, he had filed a disability claim for posttraumatic stress disorder from the shooting and aftermath, and in November 2015 the city’s Annuity and Pension Board, following city law, approved the claim. Thus, Manney, despite having been subsequently fired, retired with full disability, with basically the same take-home pay he was receiving when fired. WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME u In November, a 62-yearold customer at Ancient City Shooting Range in St. Augustine, Florida, was hit in the lower abdomen area by another shooter, 71, because the victim was standing behind the target (“for some reason,” was all a fire-rescue spokesman would say). The shooter thought the man was elsewhere on the property. LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS u Oops! (1) Jasper Harrison, 47, working inside the storage unit in Edgewater, Florida, where he grows his marijuana, heard a helicopter overhead on Dec. 9, panicked, and called 911 to turn himself in to preempt what he presumed was a SWAT raid. Actually, the helicopter belonged to a local news station headed elsewhere, but

police later arrested Harrison based on the 911 call. (2) Lloyd Franklin, 34 and suspected in a North Carolina double murder, fatally shot himself in a Bensalem, Pennsylvania, motel room in November when police knocked on the door. However, cops actually had come to arrest another man in the room on a parole violation. THE CONTINUING CRISIS u Elaine Williams, 47, was arrested in December in North Forsyth, Georgia, and charged with trying to buy a baby for her daughter, 14, via an ad on Craigslist. Williams said her daughter said she “wanted a baby and would get one with or without (my) help.” (Bonus: Williams lives near Jot Em Down Road). u Easily Disrespected: Two foreign students at the liberal arts Oberlin College complained in a recent school publication that the cafeteria selections— supposedly “inclusive” of world cultures—were actually denigrating other cultures by offering inferior versions of national dishes. Vietnamese student Diep Nguyen wrote that the correct “banh mi” sandwich should be a “crispy baguette with grilled pork, pate, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs” and not, he complained, “ciabatta bread, pulled pork and coleslaw.” Said Japanese student Tomoyo Joshi, sushi with “undercooked rice and lack of fresh fish is disrespectful.” (Cafeteria managers told The Washington Post they were proud of their commitments to other cultures, to local farming, sustainable foods and animal-treatment concerns).

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