Culture Magazine SoCal July 2018 by Culture Magazine

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JULY 2018

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contents 7.2018

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The King of Kush

Famous rapper Wiz Khalifa talks about his evolution as an artist through his upcoming tour and album dropping this month, as well as his unwavering affinity for cannabis. O n t he C O V E R :

P h o t o b y P a me l a H a n s o n

22 40

34 CULTURE ’s 710 Guide

Learn about the art of concentrates, get tips on the hottest trends and understand all the lingo you need to know in anticipation of the upcoming oil holiday on July 10. 40

Great Responsibility Take advantage of these safety tips as you begin your celebratory 710 sesh.

Get a Whiff The relaxing scent of lavender, the bright citrus aroma of lemon and the soothing smell of pine have one thing in common—terpenes.

Death Metal Domination The Black Dahlia Murder’s vocalist, Trevor Strnad, opens up about the role of cannabis in the band’s two-decade reign.

departments 13 Letter from the Editor news 14 News Nuggets 15 By the Numbers 16 Local News 18 Legal Corner 20 Healthy Living reviews 22 Concentrate Reviews 24 Cool Stuff 25 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 48 À La Carte 50 Growing Culture 52 SoCal Now! 54 News of the Weird 6

JULY 2018 CultureMagazine.com

Online Exclusive! d Demand for Cannabis in Italy Rises d Arkansas Medical Cannabis Program Moves Forward

Vol 10 IssUE 1

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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, Caroline Hayes, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Carl Kozlowski, Emily Manke, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Michelle Aguirre Graphic Designer John Venegas Associate Publisher & Bob Waters Advertising Director Account Executives Rebecca Bermudez, Alex Brizicky, Angie Callahan, Molly Clark, Kim Cook, Eric Bulls, Rocki Davidson, Matt Knuth, Casey Roel, Rick Schwartz, Annie Weber, Vic Zaragoza office manager Mikayla Aguilar Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla INTERN Cole Graves Publisher David Comden

Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout the Bay area. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.

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L E TT E R

FROM

THE

EDITOR

S tay i n g C o o l a n d C o n c e n t r at e d

here are plenty of reasons to love the month of July. First of all, it’s our nation’s birthday month (242 years and counting). Second, relaxing summer vacations to tropical destinations are in full swing. And finally, we’re keeping cool poolside with blended drinks and vape pens in hand. But of course, it’s also the cannabis community’s time to celebrate the ever-evolving world of concentrates. Cannabis concentrates, from the original choice of hash to more modern developments like distillates, are important staples in the cannabis community. Serving as some of the strongest forms of medication for the sick, as well as the most potent or discreet recreational tools for everyday consumers, we have so much to celebrate on July 10, also known as 710, the famous oil-based holiday. At CULTURE, we’ve had the pleasure of dedicating our annual July issue to the art of concentrates, year after year. From educating beginners to keeping you up-to-date with the hottest trends in dabbing, vaping, tools of the trade and everything in between, there’s no end to the way concentrates are progressing. As one of the most epic issues of the year, we present an

exclusive interview with one of the most iconic hip-hop artists whose name is synonymous with cannabis culture—the one and only Wiz Khalifa. As Khalifa gets ready to drop his album this month, Rolling Papers 2, as well as kick off his summertime “Dazed & Blazed” tour, July couldn’t be a more perfect time to celebrate one of the biggest names in rap music. As always, our Oil Issue will entertain and educate you about all things concentrates. Discover the hottest new tools that serve to elevate your 710 celebrations. Further your understanding of how and why terpenes are the biggest trend in consuming oils and sauce. Appreciate the beauty of concentrates courtesy the artists and professionals who take the craft to a whole new level of artisanship. Let our beginner’s guide ensure you’re in-the-know about the latest developments in concentrate trends and technology. Most importantly, it will help you focus on safety and responsibility during this special holiday. c

Happy dabbing, friends!

Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief CultureMagazine.com

JULY 2018

NEWS

nuggetS

Costa Mesa Approves Tenth Medical Cannabis Business On June 11, the Costa Mesa Planning Commission unanimously voted in favor of granting Leaf Concepts LLC with a conditional use permit, which is the 10th medical cannabis business in the city to be approved. “I have faith that this is just a medical processing facility, and it’s not going to have the same sort of people

that you would normally see around an unlicensed dispensary or any sort of unlicensed facility,” Planning Commissioner Carla Navarro Woods stated. Costa Mesa’s Measure X allows for manufacturing, research, testing and distribution businesses in an industrial area of the city. A few neighboring establishments opposed the dispensary, including the nearby St. Barnabas Orthodox Church. However, Leaf Concepts presented city officials with a sound plan of how they would respect neighbors and prevent unwanted odors from being detected in the surrounding area, which in part led to the dispensary’s approval.

Five Danish Political Parties Call for Cannabis Legalization Five political parties in Denmark have called for the legalization of cannabis. The parties explained that banning cannabis forces the plant into the hands of criminal groups, since illegal cannabis activity hasn’t fallen due to Denmark’s laws. Several political groups drafted a public letter, which was translated from Danish. The letter stated that banning cannabis wastes the resources of the Danish police and

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Ban will Remain in Place on Cannabis Businesses in Unincorporated L.A. County Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors decided on June 19 to continue the ban on cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas of the county. While plenty of cannabis businesses have been approved or are in the process of approval in many other cities in the county, such as Los Angeles or Long Beach, the county government sees things differently. “The Board of Supervisors has decided not to rush this issue and, by taking no action on the report today, has allowed the ban on commercial cannabis in the

that the black market thrives. “It’s an unfair fight,” the parties stated. “Therefore, the Alternative, Red Green Alliance, Socialist People’s Party, Social Liberal Party and Liberal Alliance now take the lead in developing a Danish model for the legalization of cannabis that takes the drug and the profits out of the hands of criminals and gangs, introduces age limits and discusses funds for prevention.” The political party members plan on discussing the issue further in the Danish Parliament.

unincorporated areas to stay in place,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn stated. “However, this ban does not affect residents’ ability to use cannabis recreationally or grow plants on their property for personal use as guaranteed under Proposition 64.” The board cited how much work would be involved in regulating cannabis, including setting up a commission, setting up an advisory board and being forced to amend several existing pieces of legislation as part of the reason they chose to continue the ban.

The number of cannabis businesses and advocacy groups that petitioned Gov. Jerry Brown to extend the deadline to sell cannabis products that do not meet the state’s testing requirements: (Source: KTLA)

128

The estimated number of cannabis convictions in eight pre-selected California counties that are expected to be expunged by 2019: (Source: Los Angeles Times)

250,000

The number of votes from Los Angeles City Council, out of 12, that supported drafting an ordinance for the November election called the Cannabis Reinvestment Act: (Source: L.A. Watts Times)

The number of medical cannabisrelated businesses that have been approved for conditional use permits to operate in the city of Costa Mesa: (Source: Los Angeles Times)

The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that was approved to fund a national database of hemp genetics: (Source: Forbes)

500

The number of medical cannabis patients who will be added to a national patient registry and whose results will be studied at the Pennsylvania-based Thomas Jefferson University’s Lambert Center: (Source: The Lambert Center)

100,000

The maximum projected amount of cannabis, in metric tons, that is consumed annually in Uruguay: (Source: The Washington Post)

The amount of money, in millions of Canadian dollars, that Canopy Growth donated toward opioid addiction research: (Source: Canopy Growth Corporation)

2.5

SLAB Life: Inland Empire, Paint & Puff Sesh WHEN: Thurs, July 19 WHERE: Phat Inc. Magazine Studio, 491 Wildrose Ave., Ste G, Colton WEBSITE: thepaintsesh.com/public-sesh/420-friendly-paint-sesh-colton-ca-slab-life Cannabis and creativity go together like peanut butter and jelly—and now you can embrace your inner artist while enjoying the soothing scents and flavors of your favorite cannabis strain. The Paint & Puff Sesh is heading to the Inland Empire for a 710-themed evening. Taught by enthusiastic instructors, the complete painting experience is brought to you with all the necessary materials for a truly high-end

sesh. The only thing attendees need to bring is their own cannabis (preferably a strain that gets your creative juices flowing) and smoking materials. Fancy art skills aren’t necessary either—just show up and let your creativity flow onto the canvas. With the guidance of the sesh instructors, everyone will be able to create a masterpiece that they can be proud to hang on their wall. (Cole Graves) CultureMagazine.com

JULY 2018

NEWS

LOCAL

Recreational Rights Long Beach officials vote to r e g u l at e r e c r e at i o n a l c a n n a b i s By Benjamin M. Adams

ong Beach will reconcile its laws to rightfully reflect what the majority of its citizens voted for when they approved Proposition 64 in 2016. On June 19, Long Beach City Council voted to regulate recreational businesses including dispensaries, distributors, cultivators and testing labs in the city. Councilmembers voted 7 to 1 in favor of the bill. Councilmember Stacy Mungo, representing District 5, voted “no” and Councilmember Al Austin was absent from the vote. “About 64 percent” of Long Beach residents approved recreational cannabis in 2016, Long Beach Vice Mayor Rex Richardson told CULTURE. Mayor Robert Garcia, who is the first openly gay person to be elected Mayor of Long Beach, stated that the decision by Long Beach voters to approve recreational cannabis was “pretty clear.” Long Beach—once a sanctuary for countless cannabisfriendly musical acts—is almost synonymous with cannabis to a generation of music fans. Long Beach citizens have consistently supported medical and recreational cannabis throughout history. “Every time this issue has been presented to Long Beach voters, they’ve expressed that they want the city to grapple with this issue, to provide recreational access. The conversation started with medicinal, so we’ve learned a lot of lessons over the years,” Richardson said. The ordinance amends the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 5.92 and establishes Zoning Code Amendment (ZCA18-003) and Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA17-009) to amend Title 21 (a zoning ordinance), relating to the regulation of adult-use commercial cannabis activity in Long Beach, according to city documents. Throughout the years, Long Beach has seen its ups and downs when it comes to dispensaries. Long Beach’s 2016 initiative, Measure MM, set the cap on medical dispensaries at 32. Those dispensaries will be able to apply to sell recreational cannabis. “Those 32 can apply for recreational, but there are a number of other business categories from manufacturing— which actually creates jobs—to cultivation, lab-testing, and 16

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there is no cap on those types of businesses,” Richardson explained. No new dispensaries, however, will be allowed to open unless one of the medical dispensaries closes. In addition to facing no cap in the number of licenses, non-dispensary businesses will enjoy fewer regulations. Those businesses will be able to apply for medical, recreational or both types of licenses. Many of the rules for medical dispensaries will remain intact for recreational dispensaries, such as the 600-foot to 1,000-foot buffer zones. “Some things we’ve done differently [than other cities.] Businesses need to submit a community reinvestment plan and describe how they intend to work with adjacent neighborhoods and lowincome areas across the city,” Richardson said. “We’ve thought about how these businesses interact with every type of neighbor there is.” Like a handful of other major Californian cities, Long Beach also plans to roll out a social equity program. “A lot of this has been outlined in our cannabis equity program,” Richardson said. “That’s really the focal point and heart of the recreational cannabis ordinance.” Richardson is personally proud of the inclusion of the social equity program, an aspect of the ordinance that he’d like to highlight. “I think what is special about our ordinance is the fact that

“Every time this issue has been presented to Long Beach voters, they’ve e x p r e s s e d t h at they want the city to grapple with this issue, to provide r e c r e at i o n a l access.” we’re able to bring the community together and the industry together, who have very diverse opinions to agree on cannabis equity,” he said. “It ensures that local folks, and people who have been impacted by cannabis enforcement laws, have an opportunity to right some of the wrongs in the past with economic opportunities.” The benefits of allowing recreational cannabis sales include economic rejuvenation, given the popularity of cannabis in 2018. “We already anticipate about $4.4 million in general fund revenue from medical cannabis for next year. So, having recreational, we could potentially see $750,000 on top of that, bringing it over $5 million dollars per year—and that’s a conservative, modest estimate.” Long Beach is set to become a potentially large market, now that city officials have made the decision to regulate recreational cannabis rather than ban it. c

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NEWS

“This lack of bank access in t u r n c r e at e s d e s p e r at i o n , which hucksters and fraudsters then prey upon . . . ”

LEGAL CORNER

Banking Blunder O Beware of the illusion of safe banking for cannabis businesses

JULY 2018 CultureMagazine.com

By Hilary Bricken

f the many issues that prevent cannabis businesses from operating like regular businesses, lack of access to banking is probably the most hindering. Since commercial cannabis activity remains a federal crime, the federal Bank Secrecy Act prohibits financial institutions from accepting cannabis-generated dollars. Most cannabis businesses therefore must operate on an all-cash basis. This makes them targets for actual criminals and helps further the need for access to a bank account. This lack of bank access in turn creates desperation, which hucksters and fraudsters then prey upon (especially in California where the regulated cannabis market is still emerging). This article aims to help

cannabis stakeholders avoid those who blow smoke about “marijuana banking.” Because cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance, proceeds from cannabis sales trigger anti-money laundering laws for banks. The Bank Secrecy Act requires banks to combat fraud and money laundering and protect against criminal and terrorist activity. Certain banking laws require that national banks and credit unions file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), when the financial institution knows or suspects an account holder is engaged in or trying to cover up illegal activity. Consequently, banks routinely deny or shut down cannabis business bank accounts (and cannabis-based financing) even in cannabis-friendly states.

In 2014, new FinCEN guidelines for cannabis banking provided that financial institutions could provide services to state-legal cannabis businesses without running afoul of federal regulations so long as they do the following:

What are the specific red flags to look for if you’re being pitched on a “solution to the marijuana banking problem”?

Verify with state authorities that the business is duly licensed and registered. Review the state license application and related documentation the cannabis business used to obtain its state license to operate its cannabisrelated business. Request from the state licensing and enforcement authorities available information about the cannabis business and related parties. Develop an understanding of the normal and expected activity for the cannabis business, including the types of products to be sold and the types of customers to be served.

If the third party does not discuss the FinCEN guidelines or the level of reporting you will need to do with your financial institution or the level of due diligence with which the financial institution will put you through, you are almost certainly dealing with a hack.

Huge fees to third parties, which are unrelated to opening a legitimate bank account. The third party will tell you that you need to pay them a large premium for them to get you a coveted bank account, but there is rarely any reason why this should be the case.

Running money through various accounts and third parties that are supposed to be acting as wardens of your cannabis money without direct verification of a vendor relationship with the ultimate financial institution. The FinCEN guidelines don’t bar a bank or credit union from using third parties to provide account marketing or due diligence support, but full transparency between banks and cannabis customers is mandatory.

Out-of-state bank accounts require significant caution. For banks and credit unions to comply with FinCEN, they need to have a due diligence system that is tailored to each specific state. Cannabis businesses need to verify not only that a bank is willing to take cannabis customers but also that the bank has the due diligence and cash handling resources to take customers in the specific state.

Monitor publicly available sources for adverse information about the cannabis business and related parties. Periodically refresh information obtained as part of customer due diligence using methods and timetables commensurate with the risk.

These guidelines are still in place, despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ rescission of the 2013 Cole Memo, and the Department of Justice›s Guidance Regarding Marijuana Related Financial Crimes. Banks acting under the FinCEN guidelines must file SARs for all their cannabis business customers. There are no direct consequences arising from these SAR filings, but this means that the federal government knows exactly who is involved in the cannabis industry and with whom they’re banking. The FinCEN guidelines demand transparency and strict due diligence of cannabis customers. Because of this, in states like California that are just coming online with a regulated cannabis regime, there are a host of fraudsters who claim to have access to “marijuana banking,” when all they are really doing is opening bank accounts with shell companies and/or obscure offshore entities and then running cannabis operators’ money through those accounts. This clearly violates the FinCEN guidelines, and it puts both the financial institution and the cannabis company at great risk. Harris Bricken law firm’s California cannabis lawyers are seeing a lot of this in California, to the point that many cannabis companies are convinced that what they are doing is legal.

A refusal or inability to disclose the actual financial institution is the biggest red flag. There’s no reason why the financial institution that will hold your cannabis funds cannot be disclosed to you by the person pitching you. And any third party that’s telling you otherwise is probably illegitimate and not planning to operate in line with the FinCEN guidelines.

At least twice a week, one of Harris Bricken law firm’s cannabis business lawyers will be contacted by an ancillary company trying to pitch us on referring our clients to them for “marijuana banking services,” claiming they’ve cracked the code on cannabis banking. We routinely ignore these solicitations and all cannabis stakeholders should do the same. c CultureMagazine.com

JULY 2018

NEWS

HEALTHY LIVING

Now there has been a flood of other research papers exhibiting evidence of how cannabis can inhibit the development of prostate cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, lymphoma and more. The cancer-fighting properties of cannabis are due to a medicine’s inherent cannabinoids, which selectively target and work to eliminate cancer cells. Unlike FDA approved anti-cancer medications, it does so without damaging the surrounding non-cancerous cells. These cannabinoids are such powerful anti-cancer agents that Dr. Taskin’s study found that they can actually inhibit the development of cancer in the presence of cancer causing agents such as the carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. How this comes about is still being studied, but apparently when the cannabinoid THC connects to the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptor site on a cancer cell, it causes the death of the cancerous cell, but will not cause the death of a normal nonreviewed scientific research cancerous cell. This is the basis for RSO—a super suggesting that cannabis concentrated cannabis oil. In an exclusive interview is an effective anti-cancer for CULTURE Magazine, Simpson stated “All the oils agent. Released in the I produce have extremely high THC levels. THC is Journal of Cannabis Research the cancer killer.” 2004 by Dr. Manuel Guzman To understand how RSO is made and its proper of Complutense University of use to treat cancer, Simpson explained his process Madrid in Spain, he found that in detail, explaining that “the oils I produce are in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the 90 percent range and some are even higher. It inhibited the development is an extremely strong extract but it is harmless. If of brain tumors in laboratory you produce these extracts from the sleepy sedative mice. Additionally in 2006, indica strains what happens is that the person takes Dr. Donald Tashkin from their dose and usually an hour later the oil is telling the David Geffen School of them to go lay down. I tell them just take your Medicine at UCLA, whose dosage and when you get that sleepy feeling, don’t study was funded by the fight it. Just go to bed, lie down and enjoy the ride.” National Institutes of Health’s Dosing with RSO is not rocket science. Simpson National Institute on Drug recommends that “people ingesting a gram or Abuse, found that smoking one milliliter a day—like three doses a day—early cannabis did not cause lung in the morning, mid-afternoon and about an cancer and there was also hour before bed” for a period of 60 to 90 days. evidence of a “protective However patients must start effect.” much lower levels with RSO “ T h e c a n c e r at Even the American cautioning that it can take f i g h t i n g about four to five weeks to Cancer Society recognizes the validity of these studies, p r o p e r t i e s o f safely increase their dosage. addressing the evidence on There is a bevy of more c a n n a b i s a r e d u e information on RSO, and its its “Marijuana and Cancer” webpage: “ . . . Scientists t o a m e d i c i n e ’ s uses and cautions can be reported that THC and at Rick Simpson’s official i n h e r e n t found other cannabinoids such website phoenixtears.ca. cannabinoids, as CBD slow growth and/ Meanwhile, the U.S. or cause death in certain w h i c h t h at government should get out of types of cancer cells growing the way and let the research s e l e c t i v e ly proceed to confirm what in lab dishes. Some animal studies also suggest certain ta r g e t a n d w o r k Rick Simpson and tens of cannabinoids may slow of cancer survivors t o e l i m i n at e thousands growth and reduce spread of already know—cannabis can c a n c e r c e l l s . ” cure cancer. c some forms of cancer.”

Investigating the miraculous properties of Rick Simpson Oil By Lanny Swerdlow

an cannabis treat cancer? With an estimated 610,000 Americans who are expected to die in 2018 from cancer, and an estimated expenditure of $150 billion for cancer care services, this is truly the multi-billion dollar question that is a matter of life and death. Cannabis medicines like Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) have proven to be substantial and effective treatments used by cancer patients. In 2008, RSO creator Rick Simpson unveiled a documentary entitled Run From The Cure, which detailed his experience and discovery of how cannabis could treat cancer with a concentrated cannabis oil (aka RSO). Since then, many medical cannabis patients have used the oil to treat cancer. It is all anecdotes, and anecdotes are not science, but due to the hostility of the U.S. government by making it illegal to do research on cannabis, a scientific inquiry into the purported cancer curative potential of cannabis has never been undertaken. However, there is peer-

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REVIEWs

concentrate

Skywalker OG

Available wherever: Pure One products are carried.

It’s clear that the force is especially strong with the Skywalker OG indica cartridge from Pure One. Offered in classy packaging that one could mistake for a product from the Apple store, reviewers knew they were in for a treat. Tested by SC Labs, this product rings in with a whopping 86.28 percent THC, which could prove to be enough power to defeat the Galactic Empire. Regardless of your affinity for Star Wars, this product from Pure One is sure to be your go-to cartridge for any 710 celebration. Rest assured you’re getting nothing short of what the name promises, as it’s free from all solvents and pesticides. Reviewers found this indica offering to be extremely smooth on the draw, with subtle notes of lemongrass and a floral lavender aftertaste. Skywalker OG was enjoyed in moderation throughout the day, but reviewers really let it rip for some after work relaxation. If you’re looking to bring peace to the galaxy, then get your hands on Skywalker OG from Pure One before it’s too late.

G Pen GIO Cali OG Cartridge

Available wherever: Caliva products are carried.

With all the different vape pens models out on the market right now it can be quite a challenge to find a pen that truly works as it is intended to. With the G Pen GIO these worries are instantly mitigated. Featuring a proprietary cartridge design to ensure maximum airflow and vapor thickness, there may not be a pen that draws smoother and rips bigger hits out there. Furthermore, as the cartridges are proprietary, only top-of-the-line extracts are able to be made into a GIO cartridge, and the Cali OG from Caliva is no exception! An extremely effective indica extract, the Cali OG is notorious for knocking patients out in a flash. Expect to feel drowsy when consuming this concentrate as it is potent, but it can still be used throughout the day as it is not too inhibiting. Splashes of citrus pair perfectly with a floral aroma to create an intriguing taste and odor. Definitely one of the best vape pens available, the G Pen GIO should be added to your wish list, pronto.

Lemon Tree CBD Gold Drop Co. once again is working with the esteemed folks over at Lemon Tree to create a vape pen that is easy to use and chock full of CBD. Thus they have created the Lemon Tree CBD pen and it sure is a cool little tool. The buttonless and single use cartridge is the definition of easy-to-use and is ready to use straight out of its package or its consumers pocket. The flavor tastes exactly as it sounds—mostly lemony, although there are some more earthy flavors that are just not as pronounced. The high CBD content makes this a great pen to use in the morning to get things started on the right foot. Expect to feel an uptick in creativity and a general lift in mood, most consumers have reported a generally better outlook on life when they’ve consistently used this pen. As with all extracts made by Gold Drop Co., this product is of superior quality and worth every penny. 22

JULY 2018 CultureMagazine.com

Available wherever: Gold Drop Co. products are carried.

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REVIEWs

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1. Empire Glassworks Genie Lamp Dabber Ever wonder what it’s like to have magic at your fingertips? Or to have a spellbinding smoking experience? If you came across a genie lamp, what would you wish for? Possibly an endless supply of cannabis concentrates? This enchanting dabber tool is designed with Gold Dichroic Infused Glass, which gives a captivating and sparkling look and is only five inches long. Although it won’t give you three wishes, this Genie Lamp Dabber tool will get some people excited about dabbing with its magical theme. This dabber tool is designed by Empire Glassworks to bring delight and a little magic to your dabbing sessions. Price: $49.99 More Information: empireglassworks.com 2. VECTOR Torpedo Quadruple Flame Torch Lighter Who says good things don’t come in small packages? Standing at just about three inches tall, this little torch is ideal for taking on-the-go to your upcoming 710 kickback. Perfect for use with smaller 10mm nails, this quadrupleflame torch does not waste any time in getting your tools to the perfect dab-ready temperatures. Available in Gunmetal Satin and various other sleek colors like Rose Gold, you’ll be sure to bring the class while bringing the heat as well. As an added bonus, this underestimated torch features a foldout cigar punch. Price: $30 More Information: www.thedablab.com 24

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3. Dr. Dabber Diamond Rig Smoke in style with the largest rig in the Dr. Dabber Diamond Glass series. Featuring top-of-the-line, hand-blown borosilicate glass and a unique “flowerbud” percolator, the Dr. Dabber Diamond Rig is an excellent choice when looking to upgrade your smokeability. Made entirely in the United States, this piece of art provides a premium smoking experience that anyone would enjoy. With an innovative design and oneof-a-kind percolation system, this all-American rig will complement any smoker’s arsenal, and it even comes with a dome-less 14mm male quartz nail to help you get started. Price: $199.95 More Information: drdabber.com

4. Linx Ares You don’t need to be a bear or even a honey badger to slurp up some honey. With the Linx Ares vapor straw, all you have to do is simply insert the vapor straw into your concentrate and hold the button. No more having to use a blowtorch to heat up your nail or being confined to a desk to rest your rig on. The Linx Ares vapor straw is designed to be taken along with you by being the same size as a pen and even discreetly camouflaged as one with a mouthpiece and atomizer covers. Even better, there’s no more waiting for your nail to heat up; with the coil-less ceramic rod atomizer, the Linx Ares will be ready to rip when you are. Price: $109.95 More Information: linxvapor.com

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entertainment Release Date: JULY 13 Available on: PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

BOOK

Cannabis in Spiritual Practice: The Ecstasy of Shiva, the Calm of Buddha Will Johnson Pub. Simon & Schuster Hitting the shelves this month are pages binding the possibility of a spiritual awakening. Cannabis has been a sacrament across countless religions and cultures throughout history. With the end of cannabis prohibition slowly becoming a future reality, author and teacher Will Johnson dives into the ways cannabis can be embraced as part of modern Buddhist practices. Discover how you can integrate cannabis into your own spiritual practices and journey with this enlightening guidance. (Jacob Cannon)

MUSIC GAME

MOVIE

Bay Dream

Earthfall

Love, Simon

Dev. and Pub. Holospark

Dir. Greg Berlanti 20th Century Fox

Culture Abuse Epitaph Records

Those who have spent hours fighting alongside three other players in survival games like Left 4 Dead will find kindred spirits in the developers at Holospark. Their newest game, Earthfall, pits four players against endless hordes of aliens who have come to take over the world, and you only have guns and basic defenses to make it out alive. Players use in-game 3D printers to make their weapons, as well as a variety of defense tactics (from chain link fences to turrets) to keep aliens at bay. You may not survive the endless waves of aliens, but you’ll have a ton of fun trying. (Nicole Potter)

Whether you’re coming of age soon or did so many years ago, stories about growing up, discovering one’s identity and coming to grips with the good and bad of a more grown-up world are always interesting for cinematic storytelling. Dealing with the trials and tribulations of high school life and coming out of the closet, Love, Simon tells one such tale brilliantly and beautifully. Loaded up with a cast of burgeoning stars and a handful of veterans and helmed by director Greg Berlanti, Love, Simon will draw out both laughter and tears in any audience. (Simon Weedn)

Two years after the grungy, white knuckle ride that was Peach, Culture Abuse delivers its most accessible, but no less heavy, album yet with, Bay Dream. Though the record comes across as less raw, chaotic and abrasive than any of its previous catalog, Bay Dream still shows hints of the dark, back alley brutality of the band’s previous work even as it comes through a more sunny, smoky filter. More than anything the new record shows Culture Abuse more than willing to push itself and its sound in new directions while never losing sight of itself and the band’s origins. (Simon Weedn)

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JULY 2018

Rap Royalty Wiz Khalifa is sparking up this summer with a hot new album and blazin’ tour

By Addison Herron-Wheeler annabis and hip-hop are a perfect pairing, but never has the deal been sweeter than it is with Wiz Khalifa. Although there have been countless rappers before him professing the benefits of cannabis or decrying the illegality of the plant, and there will be many after him—Khalifa landed in the oh-so sweet spot. First gaining popularity in 2006 as an up-and-coming rapper trying to make a name for himself in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Khalifa coincidentally rose to fame just as the mainstream popularity of cannabis legalization has grown. His lyrics are the perfect blend of hardened fervor and reverent control—he wasn’t going to shy away from even the illegal or demonized side of cannabis. This wasn’t rap about cannabis for the sake of being cool and mentioning taboo topics; it was because Khalifa genuinely loves the plant. While he was by no means the first rapper to take such an approach, he did so in a unique way that captured the attention of consumers and rap enthusiasts everywhere. Recording rap since the age of 14, Khalifa has always been known as an

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herb enthusiast who had an affinity for writing lyrics, songs, mixtapes and albums—many of which are named after cannabis. In 2010, Khalifa dropped the mixtape Kush & Orange Juice, followed by Rolling Papers on Atlantic Records the following year. After two more wildly successful studio albums, Khalifa takes it back to the roots in which he towers over the rest. With the latest release of his next album, Rolling Papers 2, scheduled for release on July 13, Khalifa continues to reign on top of the worlds of rap and cannabis. And music is just one avenue in which his life interacts with the herb. Khalifa also helped design and innovate an interactive game available at iTunes App Store or Google Play called Wiz Khalifa’s Weed Farm, and he has partnered with several companies on cannabis deals. Reef Dispensaries in Nevada and Arizona joined forces with the rap star to pioneer Khalifa Kush, a special strain perfect for those seeking a heady buzz. He has also worked with RiverRock Cannabis, a Colorado-based company, to come out with cannabis products under his name, and has famously partnered with his favorite rolling paper brand, RAW. While all of this is impressive, it’s not exactly a surprise. Khalifa is bold and brazen about his love for the green plant, and shares this whenever

Photos by Sebastian-Maldonado

possible, be it through music, spoken word, video games or partnerships. What is more surprising is the wide variety of partnerships and musical pairings he takes on. His collaborative The Boys of Zummer Tour with Fall Out Boy put emphasis on both of their musical stylings and the wide range of talent that Khalifa truly possesses. He has also co-headlined tours with more obvious companions, like Snoop, another rapper who gives plenty of love to cannabis and is no stranger in its industry. Fans across the nation will get a chance to fall in love with new tracks in person throughout this summer, as Khalifa is kicking off the Dazed & Blazed Summer 2018 Amphitheater Tour alongside Rae Sremmurd. The tour starts in Detroit, Michigan on July 21 and is set to visit countless venues across the nation through the end of August and continue through September. Khalifa is not slowing down any time soon, and he’s ready to continue reaping the rewards of major success. CULTURE spoke with Wiz Khalifa before he hits the road and drops his record to talk cannabis, fatherhood and making music for the future.

“ [ Legalization is ] going in the right direction; they are starting to let people out of jail on weed charges. There is weed everywhere; you can walk up and down the street and smoke pot. I’m digging it.”

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You’re kicking off the Dazed & Blazed 2018 Amphitheater Tour this month. What can fans expect if they catch you on tour? Where are you most excited to perform? It’s gonna be crazy! I haven’t been on my own solo tour; I co-headlined with Snoop in the past, and opened for Fall Out Boy, so it’s been awhile since I had my own experience. I’m just excited to get back out there, tear it up. I have my new album coming up, so I’m going to be performing a lot of the new music, getting it in everybody’s heads.

“The album is coming out July 13, and I’m gearing up to drop more music off of the album before the album comes out, so fans can look forward to that.”

Fans are looking forward to hearing the tracks on your upcoming

1987 – September

1990 – Khalifa’s parents divorced, and as a

2004 – Rostrum

8, Khalifa was born Cameron Jibril Thomaz in Minot, North Dakota to military parents.

self-proclaimed “military brat,” he traveled the U.S. and the world with his family. He earned his nickname, “Wiz” for wisdom and “Khalifa” from the Arabic word for “successor,” because of his above-average intellect.

Records learned about Khalifa from a mixtape of various artists from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and signed him shortly afterward.

2006 – September 6, Khalifa released Show and Prove, his first fulllength studio album. He was declared an “artist to watch” by Rolling Stone.

2007 – He signed to Warner Bros. Records and released mixtapes entitled Grow Season and Prince of the City 2 on Rostrum Records. His single, “Say Yeah,” made it onto the Billboard charts, further solidifying his fame. 30

album, Rolling Papers 2. What can we expect from the album, and what are some of the lyrical concepts? You can expect the album to be really my most current, best work. Of course, the production is crazy. I really just wanted to make an experience for people to know what my music sounds like, but I also want to know what it would sound like five or 10 years down the road. A lot of the music on here is definitely going to set things up for later, for what my sound is going to be down the road. [It’s] something that everyone is going to enjoy, so that everyone can see how much work I put in.

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2005 – Khalifa released his first mixtape, Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania.

2008 – September 17, Khalifa released the mixtape Star Power.

“It definitely helps me deal with people for real for real; a lot of creative people don’t want to give out too much of their secrets or really socialize too much. But being that pot is so social, I feel like everybody’s got to spread the love with the weed.” CultureMagazine.com

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2013 – Khalifa announced plans for a new album, Blacc Hollywood. He married Rose, who gave birth to their son, Sebastian Taylor.

2009 – Khalifa left Warner Bros. Records due to album release delays. He dropped Deal or No Deal and more mixtapes.

You’re also known for being a loving father. How do you balance a life with your son and your busy music career? I just make a conscious effort; my son is the most important thing to me. So while I always have to stay on top of my business, my son’s activities and what’s important to him are very important to me. How did you first start smoking cannabis? How did it become such a big part of your life? I really just started smoking by hanging out with the homies, being in the studio. [There was] pot getting passed around and eventually you are going to end up hitting it, but for me I always felt like it was

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a safe thing. It was never bad to me. I never saw the downsides of it. I never wanted to go past smoking weed, never thought of it as a gateway drug or anything like that. It brought people together, made people happy. The best things that I do are on pot. Obviously cannabis has impacted your creative life. How would you say it has impacted your private life behind the scenes? It definitely helps me deal with people for real for real; a lot of creative people don’t want to give out too much of their secrets or really socialize too much. But being that pot is so social, I feel like everybody’s got to spread the love with the weed.

2012 – The hip-hop artist becomes engaged to Amber Rose. 2012 – December 4, Khalifa came out with another record, O.N.I.F.C.

2010 – April 14, Khalifa released Kush & Orange Juice mixtape, which becomes one of the top trending topics on Twitter. He also played South by Southwest®, toured with Yelawolf and was named “Rookie of the Year” by The Source.

2011 –Wiz also began dating Amber Rose, a well-known model.

2011 – March 29, Khalifa released Rolling Papers, which hit number one on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Rap Albums charts, plus it hit the top 10 on additional charts.

How do you feel about legalization so far, and what could be done better or differently? It’s going in the right direction; they are starting to let people out of jail on weed charges. There is weed everywhere; you can walk up and down the street and smoke pot. I’m digging it. I just think that while it’s taking time to cross over and become more mainstream, they should loosen up on motherfuckers, which they have been, but it’s not gonna happen overnight. Still, it’s moving in the right direction. Your music may be fun and tongue-in-cheek, but you are still sending a message about cannabis. What do you most want to tell the

2014 – August 19, Khalifa released Blacc Hollywood.

world about the plant? Mainly that it’s not as scary as it was made out to be in the past, and just show people the up sides of it, the benefits, how it helps people more than it hurts and how even if you don’t smoke pot, you can grow it, or you can be in some kind of field where it’s not “us versus them.”

writing, recording, releases or tours go? The album is coming out July 13, and I’m gearing up to drop more music off of the album before the album comes out, so fans can look forward to that. Mostly, I’m just focused on the tour and the new album. c

Is there anything else you want to announce as far as upcoming

www.wizkhalifa.com

2014 – Khalifa was arrested for cannabis possession, posted a jail selfie and started a trending #FreeTrapWiz hashtag. Khalifa announced that he no longer pays for cannabis, as he is sponsored by a dispensary called “The Cookie Company.”

2018 – Khalifa kicks

2017 – Khalifa

off a tour, releases Rolling Papers 2 and prepares for the next chapter of his career.

started training for UFC fighting and began learning Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu.

2016 – He sued former label Rostrum Records for $1 million over unpaid royalties that he claimed were owed.

2016 – February 5, Khalifa came out with another fulllength, Khalifa.

2015 – Khalifa was featured on a Fall Out Boy song “Uma Thurman” and toured with the band. Rose filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. Both parties gained joint custody of their son, Sebastian.

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JULY 2018

CULTUREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Oil Issue is finally here! From skimming over the basics to diving into the hottest trends of 2018, novices and experienced consumers alike will benefit from this helpful guide. 34

JULY 2018 CultureMagazine.com

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JULY 2018

Understanding Concentrates

A Beginnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide By Benjamin M. Adams

Concentrates are the cannabis of tomorrow. As flower sales begin to top out or even dwindle in some states, concentrate consumption is on the rise. Understanding the intricacies of concentrates is critical, as they contain

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Photos courtesy of Oleum Extracts

much more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) than flower. Concentrates are typically geared more for the experienced cannabis consumer who has graduated from basic flower.

Types of Concentrates

Hash/Hashish Hash usually has a more peppery, spicy flavor. It is made by applying varying amounts of pressure or heat to kief or dry sifted trichomes.

Kie f / D ry S i f t Kief is known in The United States as dry sift and the root of the word means “pleasure” in Arabic. Kief, as many of you already know, is what accumulates at the bottom of your grinder. It’s made by letting the resinous trichomes fall through a sieve or mesh screen.

F u l l Me lt Full melt is made by refining or melting trichomes after using the dry sift or ice water method. Full melts melt completely because there is no plant matter left in the concentrate.

Many concentrates begin as butane hash oil (BHO) or a raw concentrate and are further refined using various methods. Most concentrate types are defined simply based off of the consistency of the sample. Others begin as propane hash oil or CO2-extracted concentrate and are refined using the supercritical fluid extraction method.

Sh at t e r Shatter is a stable concentrate that is identifiable by its clear and hard glass-like or pull-andsnap properties. Unlike wax or budder, shatter is not malleable, and it is considered one of the purest (and most expensive) forms of concentrate available.

T rim Run Since only the trimmings are used, trim run extracts are cheaper and less potent than more expensive offerings. Trim run usually looks like a slightly browner slab of shatter or wax.

Crum ble Crumble is a dry form of concentrate that is the preferred concentrate for some cannasseurs. It is made by purging cannabis for a longer amount of time, but at a lower heat, which preserves terpenes.

Budder Budder is known for its thick, peanut butter-like consistency and incredible taste. It’s halfway between wax and crumble. Budder is made by whipping sap or shatter until it is broken down into budder.

Oi l/Errl/Sap Oil is the smoothest and thinnest form of concentrate. Nowadays, the inevitable messiness of oils can be abated with the use of plastic syringes. Thick oil is called sap.

Ti ncture Wax / Da b Most dabbers begin with wax and work their way up to shatter and more expensive forms of concentrate. It feels like earwax to the touch and will stick to almost any surface.

Unlike cannabis-based oils, tinctures are alcohol-based. The often dark-green liquid is stored in droppers. Tinctures are typically consumed medicinally and are administered sublingually.

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Tools of the Trade Use the right tool for the right job. Also, don’t use tools without research or training first.

Da b R i g A dab rig or an oil rig is a bubbler designed specifically for concentrates instead of flower. You’ll also need a torch, nail and other accessories.

B ange r The removable cup that holds the concentrate in a rig, like a bowl, but designed for runny concentrates.

N ai l s

2018 Concentrate Trends Dab Straw

Rosi n

Dab straws, honey straws or dab pens are designed to enable you to dab while you’re on-the-go.

Rosin is a solventless concentrate that can easily be made at home using a hair straightener or a rosin press. There are no harmful chemicals used in the process.

Vape Pens There are countless varieties of vape pens on the market, and for good reason. Vape pens can be used with a variety of concentrates, and they are one of the most discreet and mess-free ways to consume concentrates.

I solate An isolate is a stabilized pure crystalline that looks like a clear rock or an off-white powder. Other cannabinoids can be isolated using a complex process. Isolates are becoming more popular for cannabis purists as a preferred method of consumption.

Nails are nail-like tools used to apply sticky concentrates to dab rigs.

CBD Wax T or ch e s Torches heat glass or metal nails for dabs. Concentrates vaporize at very high temps— 315°F-440°F to be exact, and glass or metal heated at these temps will melt your skin right off, so use with care.

One of the more recent trending topics is dabbing with CBD. Like THC, CBD can also be concentrated as tincture, crumble or shatter.

Terpene Addi t i v es Da b Mat Usually made out of silicone, these mats really come in hand given the ultra-sticky nature of almost every kind of concentrate.

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Companies such as Drizzledab, FreshTerps and True Terpenes sell terpenes, which are organic compounds that add flavor and aroma, that can be added to concentrates. c

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JULY 2018

Safety First

Tips to ensure your 710 c e l e b r at i o n g o e s o f f without a hitch

By Jacob Cannon Longtime members of the cannabis community are not known to shy away from celebrations. After all, having an excuse to celebrate is one of the reasons why we’ve embraced our own cannabis-loving holidays. So when it comes to getting down this July 10 for the annual oil holiday of “710”, it’s important to proceed with caution before you, or your friends and family, get too carried away. Although it was Marvel’s OG Spider-Man comics that made the quote “With great power there must also come—great responsibility” famous, it can wholeheartedly be attributed to many facets of life—but none more so than playing it safe when consuming concentrates. Make sure you celebrate 710 with a little caution and safety in mind. From securing safe concentrates, to consuming safely, CULTURE hopes you have a safe and lively July 10 with these tips.

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Photos courtesy of Mammoth Labs

Tips to Overcome OverConsumption Saf e Co n c e n tr ate s Step one to having a successful 710 is getting your hands on some topquality concentrates. When CULTURE looks for quality, we’re examining not only a product’s potency, but we’re also ensuring that our concentrates are free from unwanted contaminants and solvents. Securing lab-tested concentrates that are free from harmful impurities from a licensed collective or dispensary is the only way to be sure the products you’re dabbing and vaping are safe for the celebration.

Co n s u m i ng S a f e ly Don’t Be a Too l Consuming concentrates requires a more intricate process depending on the tools that you use—and your experience is only satisfying when you have the best tools at your disposal. But 710 isn’t the best time to try out concentrates for the first time unless you familiarize yourself with them ahead of time. When it comes to doing dabs in particular, tools like blow torches and e-nails can give you a pretty serious burn if you’re not careful. That being said, handle your tools with precision and care. It will both guarantee a longer lasting product, and keep you safe from harm.

Avoid DRIVING by Planning Ahead This tip is obvious, but necessary to repeat—don’t consume and drive. Instead, a little planning ahead will go a

Eliminate and avoid any situations that may trigger stress or paranoia.

“When it comes to getting down t h i s J u ly 1 0 , i t ’ s i m p o r ta n t t o p r o c e e d with caution before getting carried a w ay. ” long way. Find someone who is willing to be your group’s designated driver. If all your friends want to partake in the festivities, and staying in isn’t an option, then plan to use a ride share app or old school taxi service to get where you need to go. If it’s the munchies that are driving you out the door, try opting in for food delivery through a local restaurant or one of the many handy delivery apps that are on the market.

Drink some water, reduce the effect with peppercorns or eat a sugary snack.

Consume CBD.

Distract yourself with a game or movie.

S ay “No” to Ov e r co ns u m pti o n Like with all holidays, sometimes the trend many fall into is to over-consume. Avoid this altogether by taking things slow and steady on this concentrate holiday. In the case that you do overconsume, here are some tips that may help you overcome. This does not in any way constitute medical advice, and as always, seek proper professional help if needed. c

Exercise.

Take a nap.

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JULY 2018

An Emerging Essential Consumer demand for c a n n a b i s c o n c e n t r at e s drives industry market for terpenes

By Caroline Hayes

ave you ever wondered what gives OG Kush its distinct taste and smell? What about sap from a pine tree or the scent of lavender flowers? Why do our fingers smell like an orange after peeling one? The answer is terpenes. Terpenes are the characteristic compounds of plants, flowers, trees and fruits that give each their distinct scent and flavor profiles. They exist in the leaves, stems, flowers, buds and skins of a variety of trees and plants. In the cannabis industry, manufacturers are increasingly isolating and extracting specific terpenes for use in concentrates and even edibles. CULTURE chatted with David McLean, marketing director of True Terpenes and Oren Cohen, founder of Terpene Experts to better understand the reasons for this growing trend. “We like to say [it’s] the oldest new technology. Whether it’s a strain of Pineapple Express or a red rose, each plant has its own unique blend of terpenes and essential oils,” McLean said. “These

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compounds can be extracted from plant material using methods, such as CO2 or steam distillation, to create full plant essential oils.” True Terpenes in Portland, Oregon is a prominent

“Flavor and aroma c r e at e t i m e a n d p l a c e i n s ta n t ly. T h e y b y p a s s t h e e g o a n d t u g r e l e n t l e s s ly at y o u r e m o t i o n s without a chance for the conscious mind to intervene. Terpenes are the key to this deeper interaction and c o n n e c t i o n t o a p r o d u c t. ”

provider of botanical terpenes for the cannabis industry. Terpenes exist within cannabis naturally. “One can think of terpenes as being an essential part of the unique aromatic mix that make a given strain special. Terpenes are what make cannabinoids special and unique. They’re the aromatic drivers behind the sativa and indica subspecies, and the more you learn about each isolated compound, the more you can funnel your cannabis experience,” said McLean. With certain types of cannabis concentrates growing in popularity, the demand for terpenes is on the rise as well.

The G r o wi n g T r e n d We are seeing terpenes added to concentrates more and more, increasingly to distillates, according to Cohen of Terpene Experts, a company that supplies terpenes for various cannabis companies. THC or CBD distillate is an odorless, flavorless concentrate that has been refined and stripped of all its impurities to create a clean, residual-free product. Many consumers appreciate the taste and smell of cannabis and don’t want a flavorless product, yet want the pureness of the distillate. Manufacturers are reintroducing specific terpenes to achieve desired taste and smell. By stripping a concentrate of its flavor and smell, one might argue that part of the ritual is missing. Would you want an orange that is flavorless and odorless just because it was free of toxins and pesticides? Maybe not. “Flavor and aroma create time and place instantly. They bypass the ego and tug relentlessly at your emotions without a chance for the conscious mind to intervene. Terpenes are the key to this deeper interaction and connection to a product,” said Cohen.

As the market becomes more competitive for concentrate manufacturers, the role of terpenes has also become more prominent. “Terpenes have become one of the few qualitative components left for manufacturers of distillate cartridges to separate themselves from the pack. Five years ago you were a rock star if you could get crappy oil and put it into a cartridge for people to vape. Now the space is crowded,” Cohen said. “Everyone makes good oil now, hardware is better, packaging is top-notch. Your flavor profile is your brand identity.” Most connoisseurs want tasty products and often; it’s what keeps people coming back and your brand memorable.

F u tu r e o f T e r pe ne s While the trend is on the rise, professionals in the industry are certain that the demand for terpenes will only continue to grow. “The evolution is still in its infancy. People will seek greater exclusivity and creativity in their terpene profiles,” said Cohen. “While we still consider basic terpene knowledge to be at a nascent stage, awareness of their

impact is gaining momentum as cannabis becomes more readily available and budtender knowledge continues to rise. As consumers continue to learn how to guide or enhance their cannabis experiences, the subject of terpenes and aromatics can only continue to flourish,” said McLean. While terpenes aren’t psychoactive like THC, we are finding out that they may still produce physical or psychological effects. “I think our understanding and practical application of terpenes will mature as our industry does,” said Cohen. Energizing and uplifting terpenes include alpha pinene, limonene and terpinolene, where the relaxing properties come from isolates such as beta caryophyllene, myrcene and linalool.

A Pr o f e s s io na l Pr actice Terpene extracts are available for purchase online from companies like Terpene Experts and True Terpenes, among others. However, it’s wise to leave the addition of terpenes to the manufacturers. “Never consume them undiluted or in their pure form,” Cohen advises. “Dipping your buds or dabs in pure terpenes is probably not wise. They’re hydrocarbons, most are highly flammable.” If you’re feeling unsure about what to do with a bottle of them, leave it up to the professionals and buy products that are already infused. McLean said to keep the heat below 600°F as to not damage their delicate profiles. The industry is constantly evolving and new technologies are emerging. Because of this, practices like terpene extraction are coming to light. The use of terpenes in cannabis is meant to enhance the consumer’s experience. Begin your flavor fueled terpene journey and see what kind of benefits you can unlock. c

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JULY 2018

Heavy Hitters

The Black Dahlia Murder continues t o d o m i n at e t h e d e at h m e ta l s c e n e w i t h i t s l at e s t a l b u m By Alex Distefano

bassist Max Lavelle and vocalist

Trevor Strnad. Over the years, The or over 16 years, Michigan-

Black Dahlia Murder has toured with

based death metal band The

everyone from Cattle Decapitation

Black Dahlia Murder has been

and King Diamond, to Napalm Death

on a relentless mission of

and Slipknot. The band’s fan base has

bringing its macabre, epic and

grown steadily over the years, and last

technical brand of melodic-yet-evil

year, it released its most accomplished

sounding death metal to the masses—

studio album, the eighth full-length,

one show at a time. The band has

entitled Nightbringers. Aside from

undergone numerous lineup changes

death metal, one of the band’s

but has always prevailed. Touring is a

hobbies and interests has always been

lifestyle to The Black Dahlia Murder,

cannabis. Strnad took time to speak

which plays hundreds of shows a

with CULTURE about the band’s

year. The band currently features

current tour, the difficulties of living

guitarists Brandon Ellis and Brian

on the road, his passion for extreme

Eschbach, drummer Alan Cassidy,

metal and cannabis.

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What are the differences between performing at bigger outdoor festivals versus smaller, more intimate club shows? I actually like both, but I think it’s cool at the smaller shows we play to be able to touch the crowd and stick the microphone in people’s faces and let them scream, as well as the crowd surfers. We like to break down the fourth wall at those types of shows. The bigger festivals are pretty cool too. It’s awesome to play in front of a huge crowd with lots of people who don’t know who you are. We love seeing tons and tons of metal horns up in the crowd. Both big shows and small shows are awesome in their own way. Are there any difficult parts of life on the road? It’s really boring a lot of the times, honestly. The shows are amazing, but the rest of the tour is boring. It’s just a long wait doing nothing, a lot of time in the van or bus literally on the road. In some ways, it’s like camping for a long time. That’s why we’ve had a lot of members in our band honestly; it can get rough out there. But lately, we are doing well. We are fortunate enough to have had a bus for the past couple of years; that’s a luxury for us [because] we are used to driving in a van. Either way, we love what we do. It is fun to travel and play music.

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Have you ever had any legal troubles because of cannabis? Yeah actually. Well almost, not quite. Years ago we got close, this one time. We were meeting up with Hatebreed for the first day of a tour, and the cops pulled our van over and one of our band members had a giant jar of weed. The cops searched the car and made us smash our pipes in the road, and took all of our weed. Then, they took the guy who had it, and put him in a cop car; and we all thought we were fucked. But in the end, [the cop] was just trying to scare him, and they let us all go with no charges. It sucked, but we were lucky.

Tell us about the current tour and how the band is playing the new album, Nightbringers live in its entirety. Yeah, we felt confident with that choice, this has been a huge album for us in so many ways, one of the biggest we’ve ever made. We wanted everyone to hear their favorite songs from this one live. But it has been challenging. The music is more difficult compared to our prior albums, but we are used to stepping it up each time around and always changing things up technically. It’s fun to challenge yourself. It’s been fun so far. We love the sound and tempo these songs bring live. We hope the fans enjoy the experience as well, and so far they have. Does cannabis help with the creative process of writing music? Oh for sure, it definitely helps you look at what you are creating with different eyes. To me it’s necessary. To me it’s simultaneous with music; it makes things sound so great. It’s super-tied into our band for this reason. Also, it helps when you have a lot of downtime on tour, as I was saying. It helps achieve laughs, we eat good food, listen to music and there are good vibes for everyone. 46

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“To me [cannabis i s ] s i m u lta n e o u s with music; it makes things s o u n d s o g r e at. It’s super tied into our band for this reason. Also, it helps when you have a lot of downtime on tour, a s I w a s s ay i n g . ” As a traveling band, are there places in the U.S. that are still uptight about cannabis in 2018? I think the “Bible Belt” and places in the South yeah, and maybe they will be that way for a while. But overall, in most parts of the country we travel, it’s not a big deal anymore, which is great! So in that regards, we have seen lots of positive changes. It feels a lot less dangerous—we can tell you that.

What is the cannabis scene like in your home state of Michigan? Oh, it’s great. There are a bunch of stores and delivery services with good quality buds all over Michigan and the Detroit area. Lots of people are growing their own crops too. We love it—it’s everything we ever wanted here, after all these years. When we are not on tour, we enjoy it. What area of the U.S. has the best cannabis scene? California, of course, has always had some of the best quality, both in northern and southern California. But this is now true in the northwest in general; Seattle, Portland and all those areas along the Pacific. There is a lot of progress, and they all know what they are doing in that part of the country. Those parts of the U.S. are where we have all tried some of the dankest weed for sure. Tell us about the future plans after this tour. Well, we’re definitely going to be milking this new record for a bit longer. There is still one more U.S. tour in the works we are making happen. We go to Europe after this tour for some killer music festivals, then we will have some other tours up our sleeves in the near future, that we will announce when we can. There is no sign of slowing down for us at all. c

+ www.tbdmofficial.com

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JULY 2018

Brooklyn’s Charm C h e f B u d s bri g h te n s t h e kitc h e n wit h N Y C r o o t s a n d cu l i n ary acume n By Devon Alexander Brown

ave Wais, aka Chef Buds, is as unpretentious as they come. He frequents Trader Joe’s. He has a soft spot for pizza. And, like most Americans, he starts his mornings with a cup of hot coffee, only he drinks instant, and with little more than a microwave prepares it like a latte you’d find at your favorite coffee shop—a technique he picked up in Israel that seemed to stick. His penchant for cooking with cannabis concentrates came, largely, the same way. 48

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Wais was inspired to cook by the flavors of his childhood and the influence of his Eastern European mother and late aunt, but he never intended to make it more than a hobby. He didn’t attend culinary school or work his way up the ranks of New York City kitchens. Rather, Wais envisioned practicing dentistry and briefly enrolled in a pre-dental program before dropping out and forming an in-house entertainment company with three friends. It was here that he developed the networking skills that would open the doors to his 420 future.

When he started cooking with cannabis seven years ago, Wais says it was like the Wild West. The process was secretive. New York cannabis laws were antiquated. And sharing a bowl with friends was the extent of its social reach. Yet he wanted more like elaborate dinner parties, centered around cannabis. So, he began experimenting. He found success preparing extracts with trim and soon after modified the Eastern European comfort foods he grew up with. Once its popularity among friends and family was cemented, he decided to legitimize his craft and made the move to the Bay Area of California. After canvassing a few cannabis events, he made friends that turned him on to food grade THC and CBD oils and hit the ground running. Soon he was making his own concentrates with fat-soluble coconut and avocado oils. And that cup of joe he likes to start his day with? He began infusing that with his newfound taste for concentrates. He’s partial to Gorilla Glue, an indica-dominant strain. After teaming up with Aaron Lynton, a photographer and filmmaker from Hawaii, Wais began targeting social media more aggressively. He adopted the moniker, “Chef Buds,” started to take advantage of the fresh produce of California and, for the past four years, has amassed a sizeable social media following. Cannabis oil companies, like Pot d’Huile and LEVO, have also taken notice and frequently sponsor his creations, like organic scallion pizzas with homemade dough, sweet basil pizza sauce, Colby Jack cheese and infused olive oil drizzled on top. “I grew up in Brooklyn, and I had the pleasure of being around Di Fara Pizza, the pleasure of being around L&B Spumoni’s, Grimaldi’s, there’s a ton of bomb pizza all over Brooklyn,” Wais said. “When I moved to California I found it so hard to find a good pizza spot so I thought, ‘why not perfect, as best as I can, my pizza?’ And it’s so easy to grab some [cannabis-infused] olive oils and infusions and enjoy it that way.” Wais says he loves the simplicity of cannabis concentrates and appreciates the lack of smell and

“When I moved to California I found it so hard to find a good pizza s p o t s o I t h o u g h t, ‘ w h y n o t p e r f e c t, a s b e s t a s I can, my pi zza?’ And i t’s so easy to grab some [cannabis-infused] olive oils and infusions and e n j o y i t t h at w ay. ” ease of proper dosing. Although he began consuming cannabis recreationally, since learning about concentrates he’s come to appreciate the extensive medicinal benefits of the plant. “Cannabis is much better than alcohol and harder substance abuse,” Wais said. “A lot of my friends have passed away from pills. I worked seven years in the pharmaceutical industry, and I see how cannabis is helping people with the pain they got from pharmaceuticals. My family has a history of Crohn’s disease and other stomach issues, and I’ve been fortunate to introduce my mom and others to infused coconut oil capsules and Delta9 Extracts, which seem to help people with those illnesses.” Although Wais has an indisputable

passion for food, he’s always had a special love for the camera and was often the comedic star of his household. And it’s not hard to see why. He’s charming. And his New York accent and genial vibe are reminiscent of modern food icons Action Bronson and Matty Matheson. An inspection of his Instagram accounts, @Chefbuds and @Chefdwais, reveals his easygoing persona resembles a fusion of the two personalities and looks equally at home in the kitchen. But if Chef Wais is anything, he is a hard worker. And every day he’s busy posting new content, precisely at 8 a.m., because content creation demands routine. But he credits his passion for his rising success and often turns to his mantra, “Do what you love, and show people that you’re having a great time.” The rest just seems to fall into place. Chef Wais is currently working on a vlog that he plans to launch on YouTube by the end of the summer. He’s also in the editing stage of a cannabis lifestyle show he hopes to pitch called, “Badooz with Buds,” a nod to his years dodging Brooklyn police with his friends over cannabis. In addition to his educational and entertainment projects, Wais will be releasing his own spice rubs and infusions and looks forward to future collaborations with fellow cannabis chefs and content creators. c

chefbudsofficial.com

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JULY 2018

GROWING CULTURE

TIP OF THE MONTH

Experimental Conclusion By Ed Rosenthal

hen we left our experiment in the June issue, we were waiting for seedlings to flower. In that experiment, I was trying to replicate the same process performed by Sister Marie Etienne Tibeau in 1936 when she tested hemp plant seedlings growing in a non-nutritive medium with different fertilizer formulas minus one essential element. Tibeau also

The tray of seedlings, which have been given tap water that contains no nitrogen.

had a control group that she didn’t give fertilizers to. The plants were then forced to flower by changing the light cycle to 1212, light on, light off. She reported that the plants in the control group, and the ones receiving no nitrogen produced only males. In my own experiment, I set seedlings in a tray with previously unused rockwool cubes and gave them 70 parts per million (ppm) tap water that contained no nitrogen. In last month’s issue of CULTURE, the plants were just beginning to show flower growth, but the sex was undeterminable, for most, even under a 6x photographer’s loupe. Now, one month later, the sex of the plants can now be determined. About eight of the plants had died from failure to thrive because of the nutrient environment. There were nine males and 11 females left. Obviously, my results differed from Sister Tibeau’s. Next, I will try overdosing seedlings with nitrogen to see if I get the same results that she did, the results of which were to receive only female plants. However, her experiment was only partially successful. The rate of nitrogen was so high that the plants first indicated with limpness and extremely dark green leaves, and then died. c

The author inspecting the seedlings with a 6x photographer’s loupe.

Male flowers on a seedling.

It’s not too late to set plants outside to enjoy the sun. If your plants are clones or just small in size, you may want them to grow a bit before flowering. Do this by breaking up the dark period at least once a night for a few hours by exposing the entire plant to light. (You can use a flashlight with a broad beam.) The light only has to touch the plant for a moment. Once you cease to expose the plant to a moment of light repetitiously, the plant will start to flower. It will take about two months for the flowers to grow and ripen.

Female seedling.

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.

JULY 2018 CultureMagazine.com

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JULY 2018

SOCAL NOW! event listings

Long Beach Vegan Festival, July 7 Vegans and vegetarians unite! The festivities of this event include a Vegan Chili Cook-off, judged by a panel of fellow vegans, plenty of vendors and live music by England’s own Baz Francis, Slushbox and Alarma. CSULB, Walter Pyramid Lawn, Long Beach www.lbveganfest.com

Intimate Illusions, July 14 Master magician Ivan Amodei never bores his audience—his awardwinning shows are worldfamous! While he performs, you will hear classical masterpieces from artists like Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart, as Amodei warps your mind. Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills ivanamodei.com

2018 Salsa Festival, July 7-8 It’s a fiesta! The Salsa Festival is a weekend filled with spice and iced beers, mild to wild salsas and traditional food to set the mood. So, get your dancing shoes ready, because there is sure to be live music and salsa dancing all weekend long. Pershing Square, Los Angeles www.latinsalsafestival.com

Becoming a Cannabis Entrepreneur, July 18 If you’re thinking of a career in the cannabis industry, look no further! This is a community discussion forum on obtaining a career involving cannabis and the necessary steps to be successful in this new trending industry. You will receive important advice from professionals who have made it in the industry already. WeWork Gas Tower, Los Angeles wework.com/buildings/ gas-tower--los-angeles--CA

The 2018 OC Fair, July 13-Aug. 12 Calorie-packed fried food, pot-bellied pig races, janky-looking roller coasters, demolition derbies and live musical performances from tribute bands covering of some of the biggest names in music history. If that doesn’t get you excited we’re not sure what will. There’s fun for the whole family at the annual OC Fair. 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa ocfair.com 52

JULY 2018 CultureMagazine.com

SCCBIG Member Meet-up, July 18 If you are invested in the cannabis industry or considering joining the ranks, you won’t want to miss this event. The Southern California Cannabis Business Investment Group (SSCBIG) will host its monthly meetup where cannabis entrepreneurs, investors and other business people

featured event

Los Angeles Mac & Cheese Beerfest, July 7

Everyone loves a gooey bowl of macaroni and cheese with a cold beer on a hot summer afternoon, but Los Angeles and Rock Star Beer Festivals are taking it to a new level. Over a dozen of LA’s top restaurants will be serving up their signature macaroni and cheese creations while guests enjoy live bands and a massive selection of over 60 craft beers. Globe Theatre, Los Angeles globetheatre-la.com discuss updates in market trends, preview new products and hash out more efficient business solutions together. Cool Warehouse, Los Angeles centralcanna.com/sccbig Midsummer Scream, July 28-29 You don’t have to wait until October for some horror-themed fun! See how you fare in the Hall of Shadows and meet plenty of horror celebrities, such as Tom Holland, director of Fright Night and Child’s Play, Mick Garris, screenwriter of Hocus Pocus or Cassandra

Peterson, better known as Elvira. Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach midsummerscream.org Love Long Beach Celebration, July 28-29 The 5th annual Love Long Beach 2018 is spreading the local love once again. DJs, live music performances from local artists, arts and crafts and plenty of unique food vendors will all be present. This is the perfect summer occasion to get out in the sun and spend time with family and friends. Shoreline Aquatic Park, Long Beach lovelongbeachcelebration. com

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JULY 2018

News of the

Weird

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

LEAD STORY—IT’S A DEAD LANGUAGE In Charleston, South Carolina, Cara Koscinski and her whole family were looking forward to her son Jacob’s May 19 graduation party. The Post and Courier reported he had excelled in his Christian-based homeschool program, earning a 4.79 GPA and the summa cum laude distinction, an honor Koscinski included in the wording on the cake she ordered online from her local Publix store. When the software informed her “profane/special characters (are) not allowed,” Koscinski made clear that phrase was Latin, meaning “with the highest distinction,” and even included a link to a website explaining it. Still, when the cake arrived, it read: “Congratulations Jacob! Summa --- laude Class of 2018.” Jacob was embarrassed, and Koscinski had to tell her 70-year-old mother why the store had censored the word. Publix offered to remake the cake, but as Koscinski noted, “You only graduate once.” IRONIES Police officers in North Ridgeville, Ohio, were sure the man who called them at 5:26 a.m. on May 19 to report being followed by a pig was impaired and hallucinating. But sure enough, the Associated Press reported, officers on the scene found a completely sober man, walking home from 54

JULY 2018 CultureMagazine.com

the Elyria Amtrak station with a pig trailing behind him. The department’s Facebook page reported that Patrolman Kuduzovic wrangled the oinker into the back seat of his cruiser and later secured it in the station’s dog kennels, where the owner later retrieved it. “Also,” the post noted, “we will mention the irony of the pig in a police car now so that anyone that thinks they’re funny is actually unoriginal and trying too hard.” Touche. OOPS! Lyons, New York, resident Jesse Graham, 53, must have been surprised when deputies of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department appeared at his door on May 11. WHEC TV reported that Graham, a fugitive wanted by the Mooresville (North Carolina) Police Department, had apparently accidentally dialed 911, summoning the deputies himself. Graham was charged with being a fugitive from justice and possession of cannabis, and he awaits extradition to North Carolina. In Lawrence, Kansas, architecture students designed a new bike rack for the Prairie Acre Ribbon Classroom, the first outdoor classroom at the University of Kansas. The metal rack features the letters P-A-R-C, but viewed from another vantage point, they spell C-R-A-P. Social media lit up after a photo was posted May 13, including, “It’ll make a fine bike rack. Crap a diem!” Project PARC KU responded: “The photograph shown is not the intended vantage point, nor is it the message of our project,” but at press time, the university had not announced any

action, according to the Wichita Eagle-Beacon. ANGER MANAGEMENT Frustration with the cable company boiled over in Ridgewood, New Jersey, on May 7, when a dispute between an Optimum employee and a woman left the cable worker stranded on high. While the employee was in an elevated bucket working on lines, northjersey. com reported, a 59-year-old woman turned off the truck and “took utility property” before walking away, making it impossible for the worker to lower the bucket. Ridgeview police charged the woman with harassment, false imprisonment, disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. Dymund Ellis, 19, was charged with stabbing and killing her roommate, Jace Trevon Ernst, 25, in North Las Vegas, Nevada, after a May 4 argument. According to North Las Vegas Police, Ellis became upset after Ernst repeatedly talked while she tried to watch a TV show, telling him to “shut up.” When he responded with an expletive, she went to the kitchen for a knife, reported Fox News. Police said Ellis had threatened Ernst with a knife about 10 times in the last couple of months, but he had been able to get the knife away from her. Ellis told an officer that “she has anger problems and she just got extremely upset tonight.” LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Comrades in arms Mike Mulligan, Michael Martin and Emma St. Claire made the mistake of leaving their burglary booty visible in their car in Nevada City, California. So on May 16,

when they were stopped by a Grass Valley Police officer, the prosthetic arm officers spotted pointed the finger at them as the perpetrators of a Nevada County home burglary the previous week. On its Facebook page, the Nevada County Sheriff’s office described the limb as “the exact arm that was stolen in the burglary.” All three were booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City, Fox News reported, and the arm has been returned to a “very appreciative owner.” Deputy Henry Guzman with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida made his first mistake when he shoplifted—three days in a row—from a Lauderdale Lakes Walmart. His second, and perhaps more devastating, mistake was wearing his uniform while doing so. Guzman, a 13-year veteran of the department, stole DVDs and “Star Wars” action figures valued at about $200, WSVN reported. He was arrested on May 21 and charged with three misdemeanor counts of petty theft. WHAT A CROCK! As it negotiated a roundabout in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, a dump truck filled with manure lost its balance on May 21 and tipped over, spilling its load onto a Peugot 208 with the driver inside. A witness said he “couldn’t believe anyone got out alive,” but the male driver was able to crawl through the pile of excrement and was unhurt, if stinky, Metro News reported. The car, however, “was crushed,” according to a Police Scotland spokesman.

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JULY 2018