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february 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
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contents
inside
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CULTURE M
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Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett
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managing Editor Jamie Solis Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Benjamin Adams, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Keira Fae, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, M. Jay, Heather Johnson, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Meital Manzuri, Sandy Moriarty, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Lanny Swerdlow, Jefferson Van Billiard, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf, Zara Zhi
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Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Tonya Perme, JosuĂŠ Rivas Art Director Steven Myrdahl
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production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designer Tanya Delgadillo
Strength in Numbers Tulare County recently banned cannabis cultivation, but advocates are determined to keep fighting.
7 By the Numbers
bakersfield Jon Bookatz sales manager Account Executives Kim Cook, Eric Bulls, Cole Garrison, Teddy Helms, Beau Odom, Chris Thatcher, Vic Zaragoza
departments 6 News Nuggets
sales director Justin Olson
12 Strain Reviews
14 News of the Weird
general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital content manager David Edmundson Ctv Contributors Quinn Marie Intern Kiara Manns Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
2175 Sampson Ave. | Suite 118 Corona | California | 92879 Phone/Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com
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CULTUREÂŽ Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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NEWS
nuggets Grover Beach Plans to Create a Cannabis Business District The Grover Beach Planning Commission endorsed a plan to create a cannabis business district during a January 11 meeting. The district will consist of 70-acres and will be located in an industrial zone. The city currently permits medical cannabis collectives, and recreational cannabis businesses will also be allowed once the state starts issuing licenses in January 2018. The various types of cannabis businesses that can be expected at this new cannabis business district will include facilities for recreational cannabis cultivation, collectives, manufacturing and testing. The city plan will be presented to the Grover Beach City Council at the February 6 meeting. In addition to deciding on the cannabis business district, the council will also need to decide on a cannabis tax ordinance. The proposed tax would enact a $25 per-square-foot tax on the first 5,000 square feet of a cannabis grow operation. The remaining square feet would be subjected to a $10 per-square-foot tax.
Cannabis Delivery May Be Only Option for Pismo Beach The Pismo Beach City Council made a decision during its January 17 meeting to ban commercial cannabis businesses from operating within the city. The legislation was passed with a 4-1 vote, with only Councilmember Erik Howell opposing it. The council first introduced an urgency ordinance similar to this ban in November 2016 after Proposition 64 was passed by California voters. Pismo Beach City Attorney Dave Fleishman said it would be a “proactive measure” at the meeting. Unfortunately, the ordinance prohibits recreational cannabis cultivation, dispensaries, manufacturing, distribution, labeling, storing and testing facilities. The hope for those who want cannabis available in Pismo Beach is that indoor cultivation of cannabis in a residence is still allowed by Prop. 64, and cannabis delivery was not specifically prohibited in this ordinance.
Recreational Cannabis Remains Illegal at Federal Parks Although California voters showed support of recreational cannabis in November’s election, cannabis consumption remains illegal on federally owned lands, which include national parks like Yosemite National Park. Since legalization, there has been a spike in interest for cannabis consumption at parks, but people remain ill informed about the laws relating to cannabis consumption in public areas, state parks and national parks. Park rangers in Yosemite conducted 123 cannabis-related arrests and gave out 465 cannabis-related citations in 2015 and 2016, and they have stated that they will continue to do so in the future because it is still federally illegal and against the law. Medical cannabis consumption is also a problem on federally owned lands, so consumption of any type of cannabis while you’re hiking or camping in the beautiful outdoors is not recommended. If you’re looking to get out in nature and consume cannabis, make sure that it is permitted where you are, and avoid federally owned land altogether.
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The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that it will cost to obtain a license to grow medical cannabis in Arkansas:
NEWS
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(source: KATV)
The amount of money, in billions of dollars, that recreational cannabis made in the United States during 2016: (Source: The Washington Post)
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The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Rhode Island could generate in cannabis tax revenue during the state’s medical cannabis market’s first year: (Source: Providence Journal)
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The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that Nevada tax officials are willing to pay to four specialty tax officers in order to help create recreational cannabis regulations: (Source: Reno Gazette-Journal)
900
The estimated number of joints that were given out for free in Washington, D.C. during (Source: The Trump’s inauguration: Washington Times)
4,200
The Hemp and Cannabis Fair WHAT: The Hemp and Cannabis Fair. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Feb 4-Sun, Feb 5. Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 South P St. Bakersfield. INFO: Visit thcfair.com for the details. Now that the recreational consumption of cannabis has been passed by the state of California, The Hemp and Cannabis Fair (THC) wants to celebrate with all of Bakersfield’s advocates. Join the cannabis community, and discover the ins and outs of all things cannabis. The two-day fair will have info sessions on a wide range of topics including legislation, growing methods, harvesting and medicinal uses. Among the speakers, Bakersfield will welcome Founder and Creator of The Perfect Pipe, Randal
Barrett, who will discuss proper cannabis delivery methods. He will cover water pipes, edibles and the health implications of each. My Urban Greenhouse is a company that will feature an exhibit on all the products needed to nurture your personal cannabis crops, while SkunkTees will showcase its line of hemp and organic cotton-made clothing. Brace yourself to be overwhelmed with the variety of products and goods available to you. Tickets may be purchased online for just $15 or at a discounted special for veterans. (Kiara Manns) iReadCULTURE.com february 2017
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I started Tulare County Medical Marijuana Society as a way to connect patients in Tulare County to help them get the medications they needed and start a community of cannabis activists.
Persistent Advocacy
Tulare County cannabis society remains strong despite cultivation ban
by Jamie Solis
T
he Tulare County Board of Supervisors decided to extend the county’s ban on recreational cannabis cultivation during a meeting on January 17. The ban was extended for two years through December 1, 2018, by a unanimous vote of 5-0. The ordinance was originally adopted on December 6, 2016. Benjamin Ruiz, the County’s Resource Management Agency Director gave insight into what the county’s ban entails. “It prohibits all commercial, nonmedical marijuana cultivation activity in the unincorporated areas of the county. It prohibits the outdoor cultivation of nonmedical marijuana in private residences within the unincorporated areas of the county,” Ruiz said. “And it also prohibits the indoor cultivation of nonmedical marijuana in the unincorporated areas of the county, except the indoor cultivation which complies with certain reasonable regulations.” These “reasonable regulations” for indoor grows are consistent with the rules outlined in Prop. 64. This means that adults ages 21 and over are permitted to grow no more than six plants a private residence in a
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locked and secured indoor cultivation. Cultivation must not be visible to the public. Indoor grow lights must comply with California building and fire codes. Indoor grows must not be accessible to anyone under 21 years old, and the property owner must give the cultivator written consent, which must be provided to government officials when requested. Finally, cannabis grows must have a fire extinguisher present. There are many activists in Tulare County who were disappointed by the Board of Supervisor’s decision to continue the ban on nonmedical cannabis cultivation. Jeffrey Faure is the Owner of Tulare County Medical Marijuana Society (TCMMS). Faure share with CULTURE more about his organization. “I started TCMMS as a way to connect patients in Tulare county to help them get the medications they needed and start a community of cannabis activists,” Faure said. Faure also stated that he believes extending the ban puts the county at a disadvantage. He shared that many of the county supervisors have conservative views on cannabis, which causes them to fear the plant instead of embracing the benefits recreational cultivation can bring to the community. “In their uneducated view, cannabis is still weed and a source of criminal
activity,” Faure said. “Even though we activists have done our best to reeducate them and try to show them through statistics of other legal states [and how] the crime rates in those states show a different story.” Although the extension of the ban sets TCMMS’ progress backwards, Faure and other activists in the area are not going to stop their fight for cannabis reform in Tulare County. “Voting and running for office is the only way to stop this,” Faure said. “I live in a town called Porterville, which is one of Tulare County’s charter cities. Dawn Jobe, myself and other fellow activists spearheaded a group of patients to protest and re-educate Porterville City Council.” He continued to share how his group noticed taking on the cities as more effective than trying to change the opinions of the county board. “In Porterville we stopped the ban on grows, got a permit program started and are working on get a dispensary in town for easy access for patients.” The fight for allowing recreational cannabis cultivation in Tulare County appears to be quite the uphill battle for activists, however that is not going to stop advocacy groups like TCMMS from fighting for cannabis reform. c
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REVIEWs
strain Available at: Cannibals Medibles Collective in Bakersfield.
Candyland by Gaia Farms Get ready to take a trip to the candy shop with this potent flower from Cannibals Medibles Collective in Bakersfield. When we first popped open our jar, the strong, sour and pungent smell of this dank flower was overpowering. If you were playing the game by the same name, this strain would be like pulling a card and landing on green—a very dark, forest green to match the deep color of these nugs. This batch of Candyland by Gaia Farms was dusted with a layer of crystal-like trichomes with a ton of orange hairs poking through. We started breaking these dense little nugs apart, and they were literally sticking to our fingers. These nugs were so dense, they would surely give any grinder a serious workout. With 23.3 percent THC, consuming Candyland in a water pipe gave us instant relaxation, making this strain a great aid for patients dealing with chronic pain, insomnia, Multiple Sclerosis, anxiety and much more.
iReadCulture.com GET YOUR CLICKS
Available at: Highwater Health Center in Bakersfield.
HERE Butter OG Lactose-intolerant patients can finally experience that same warm, buttery satisfaction that dairy consumers feel after mowing down bread and butter with dinner. The light, giddy effects begin near your lower back and slowly take over your whole body, as anxiety and pain slip away. Ideal for nighttime medicating as well as anytime patients would like to induce sleep or complete relaxation. Aromas of earthy vanilla and slightly sour citrus are noticeable even before inhaling. Aficionados will marvel at the flower’s glimmer trichomes for as long as they can before breaking up the piney buds for consumption.
Phantom OG Prepare for chronic pains and insomnia to “vanish” into thin air when medicating with this classic indica strain. Expect to be slightly surprised upon examining the incandescent, bright orange hairs covering most of the flower. As you break open the bud, you’ll notice Phantom OG boasts a wonderfully ripe scent of fresh picked spring berries and mint, far different than most phenotypes in the indica lineage. What seemed like only minutes actually turned to hours, as the effects kept our euphoric creativity going well past the three-hour mark. Stop in to Phantom Pharm before this strain disappears and you’ll see why it gets a standing ovation from us.
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Available at: Phantom Pharm in Bakersfield.
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REVIEWs
Chuck Shepherd's Available at: V&G in Bakersfield.
News of the
Weird
Louis XIII OG Hear ye, hear ye! The king’s arrived! This powerfully indicadominant strain is noted for both its THC content, and its royal odor of skunk and fresh pine. We love it for its resin-covered flowers and how fun it is to act like a member of the king’s entourage while medicating. Migraines and insomnia are no match against this strain, and neither is daylight—so patients should stick to medicating towards the end of the day. France is a long way away from Bakersfield but we think the King loves his new home at V&G where he sits proudly on his throne waiting to dole out fresh flowers to you, his people.
Available at: CNE in Bakersfield.
Do Si Dos It’s kind of ironic that this strain doesn’t leave patients feeling “light on their feet” as the name would suggest. The effects are more cerebral and felt throughout the body, leaving you stranded on whatever object you’ve chosen as your seat. Perhaps it is more like the second round of Do Si Do, leaving you tired and satisfied after a long first round of that strange and cutesy dance. Dense, trichome-rich flowers weave in and out of dark, almost black colored leaves, while the bud glistens with almost diamond-like clarity. We had a hard time breaking it down after admiring the carefully cultivated nugs, but we did it for science and stuff. CNE in Bakersfield is stocked and ready to grab a partner like you and swing ‘em round. 14
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OH-SO-SWEET DREAMS u The Hastens workshop in Koping, Sweden, liberally using the phrase “master artisans” recently, unveiled its made-to-order $149,900 mattress. Bloomberg News reported in December on Hastens’ use of superior construction materials such as pure steel springs, “slowgrowing” pine, multiple layers of flax, horsehair lining (braided by hand, then unwound to ensure extra spring), and cotton covered by flame-retardant wool batting. With a 25-year guarantee, an eight-hour-aday sleep habit works out to $2 an hour. (Bonus: The Bloomberg reviewer, after a trial run, gave the “Vividus” a glowing thumbs-up.)
THE JOB OF THE RESEARCHER u Humans are good at recognizing faces, but exceptionally poor at recognition when the same face’s features are scrambled or upside down. In December, a research team from the Netherlands and Japan published findings that chimpanzees are the same way—when it comes to recognizing other chimps’ butts. That suggests, the scientists concluded, that sophisticated recognition of rear ends is as important for chimps (as “socio-sexual signaling,” such as prevention of inbreeding) as faces are to humans. SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED u Humanity has accumulated an estimated 30 trillion tons of
“stuff,” according to research by University of Leicester geologists—enough to fit over 100 pounds’ worth over every square meter of the planet’s surface. The scientists, writing in the Anthropocene Review, are even more alarmed that very little of it is ever recycled and that buried layers of technofossils that define our era will clutter and weigh down the planet, hampering future generations. (Don’t just think of “garage sale” stuff, wrote Mother Nature News; think of every single thing we produce.) SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE u (1) Spencer Hanvey, 22, was charged with four burglaries of the same MedCare Pharmacy in Conway, Arkansas, in October and November, using the same modus operandi each time to steal drugs. (Bonus: Oddly, the drugs were not for obsessive-compulsive disorder.) (2) If You See Something, Say Something: Hamden (Connecticut) High School was put into lockdown for an hour on Dec. 15 when a student was seen running in the hallway, zig-zagging from side to side, swinging an arm and leaping into the air. Police were called, but quickly learned that it was just a 12th-grade boy practicing a basketball move and pretending to dunk. THE ARISTOCRATS! u Low-Tech Pervs: (1) A camera-less Alan Ralph, 62, was arrested in Sarasota, Florida, in December after being seen on surveillance video in October in a WalMart stooping down to the floor to peer up the skirt of a woman. (2) John Kuznezow, 54, was charged with invasion of privacy in Madison, Wisconsin, in November after he was discovered, pants down, up a tree outside a woman’s second-floor bedroom window.
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