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inside
contents
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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 Benjamin Adams, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Anthony Herrold, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Joe Jatcko, David Jenison, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Tyler Markwart, Meital Manzuri, Sandy Moriarty, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur
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Graphic Designer Tanya Delgadillo
Looking to The Future The Arvin City Council recently voted to allow indoor cannabis growing in preparation for Prop. 64, if it passes.
bakersfield Jon Bookatz sales manager Account Executives Kim Cook, Eric Bulls, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Teddy Helms, Beau Odom, Chris Thatcher, Vic Zaragoza
departments 8 News Nuggets 10 By the Numbers 20 News of the Weird
sales director Justin Olson
general Manager Iris Norsworthy
14 Strain & Concentrate Reviews
Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital content manager David Edmundson digital marketing Alazzia Gaoay manager Ctv Contributors Quinn Marie Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
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CULTUREÂŽ Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
ON THE COVER: p h o t o b y J o h n G i l h o o le y
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NEWS
nuggets
Patients Group One Step Closer to Lifting Ban on Cannabis
Paso Robles’ MMJ Task Force Develops Recommendations for City Council After Paso Robles voted in September to restrict recreational cannabis with hopes of better regulating medical cannabis in the community, the Paso Robles City Council decided to create a fiveto seven-person medical cannabis task force. The deadline to apply to be part of the task force ended October 12. The citizens’ task force is now responsible for examining any issues related to medical cannabis, as well as deciding on recommendations for the city council on how to regulate the market. Applicants had to include their personal and professional involvement in advocating either for or against medical or recreational cannabis, as well as why they would like to be a part of the task force. Members were contacted by October 17 about being selected, and their first weekly meeting happened in late October. However, information regarding who was chosen to be on the task force has yet to be shared with the public.
Kern Citizens for Patients Rights (KCPR) has taken one step closer to lifting Bakersfield’s ban on medical cannabis collectives. The group turned in approximately 33,000 signatures to City Hall on October 18, which is twice the amount they were required to submit. Liz Clarke, the Treasurer from KCPR told CULTURE about the reasons they gathered such a high number of signatures. “We gathered over 30,000 signatures, of course because Bakersfield has a funny patchwork of you can be in the city, and then within the city, there is a block that is in the county,” Clarke said. Being able to determine if someone is a city versus county voter is important, because the signatures only qualify if they come from registered voters in the city of Bakersfield. Now the group is waiting to see what city officials decide to do. “From the day we dropped it off to 5 days later, the city of Bakersfield has to come up with what they want to do, and they have two options at that point,” Clarke said. “They can either adopt the ordinance as it is right now, or they can wait, and it will go to the primary 2018 election.” If the initiative is accepted, then Bakersfield will replace its current ban on cannabis businesses with California’s 2015 Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.
California City is Accepting Applications For Cannabis Businesses California City is gearing up to make millions in tax revenue after it approved the cultivation, manufacturing and distribution of medical cannabis in the city. The city is now accepting applications to award permits to 15 cultivators, two distributors, two manufacturers, two testing facilities and two transporters. The city council decided to amend the “California City Municipal Code Regarding Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation” on September 13, and they added a regulatory section called “Medical Marijuana Businesses and Activity” to the Municipal Code. “The operation of any medical marijuana business within the City is strictly prohibited, unless the owner and/or operator first obtains a medical marijuana business permit, issued by the City pursuant to the requirements of Title 5, Chapter 6 of the City’s municipal code,” the new legislation reads. Under these rules, the owners must all be compliant with applicable state laws and obtain required state cannabis business permits. Other requirements set out by the city on cannabis-related businesses include zoning in either light industrial or heavy industrial areas, which are at least 200 feet away from residential zones and at least 1,000 feet away from schools, churches, parks, day care or rehabilitation facilities. Cannabis businesses must also meet the city’s design requirements. 8
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NEWS
The number of awards for medical preliminary cannabis licenses that were given out by the Arizona Department of Health Services: (Source: Phoenix New Times)
31
The percentage of voters in Massachusetts who stated that they would likely vote for a cannabis legalization measure: (Source: The Washington Post)
53
The estimated amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the New Mexico cannabis industry could make in annual revenue during its first year of legalization, if passed: (Source: O’Donnell Electronics)
412.5
The number of votes, out of 256, that were in favor of opposing a ban on cannabis businesses in Fairbanks, Alaska: (Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
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Bakersfield Bacon and Craft Beer Festival
The percentage of Utahans who support legalizing medical cannabis that is prescribed by licensed doctors: (Source: UtahPolicy.com)
63
WHAT: Bakersfield Bacon and Craft Beer Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Nov. 12. The Park at River Walk, 11298 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield. INFO: Visit www.baconandcraftbeerfest.com for more information. When it comes to expert pairings, this festival really has it figured out. The Bakersfield Bacon and Craft Beer Festival is bringing frothy brews and savory bacon, all in the name of raising money for local nonprofits. Feel free to indulge in bacon and craft beer, as the festival benefits will go to about 15 local charities. Three of those charities are Today I Choose, a non-profit that inspires the youth to make positive choices, Covenant Community Services, which aids children who have been abused or neglected and California Craft Brewers Association, which 10
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is a non-profit that represents specialty and craft brewing in California. There will be a DJ playing some music to set the scene, but that will not take away from the real focus of this event—bacon and brews! Over 30 restaurants will be serving bacon-infused everything from bacon wrapped hot wings to bacon ice cream. There will be 100 hand crafted beers served from over 50 California brewers. As if beer and bacon goods weren’t enough entertainment, this day will also feature games like cornhole, giant Jenga, life-size beer pong and a ladder toss.
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REVIEWs
strain & concentrate
Available at: Bakersfield Gas Co. in Bakersfield.
Gorilla Glue #4 Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorilla Glue is also ground-dwelling, but this strain inhabits the building housing the Bakersfield Gas Co. and is available to anyone looking for a strong, long-lasting medication that will put even the most seasoned patient into a zombie like trance. The “glue” should serve as a warning sign to anyone handling these buds without using a grinder, as they come packed full of gorgeous trichomes and are incredibly sticky to the touch. Patients should seek this strain out for its phenomenal ability to fight depression, insomnia, anxiety and arthritis.
O.penVAPE Craft RESERVE A homage to inspired artisans, O.penVAPE Craft RESERVE is our most potent and flavorful cartridge yet. The oil was crafted using small batches of hand-selected cannabis. Each cartridge uses 100 percent same-strain cannabis terpenes, made possible by a distillation method which creates the quintessential cannabis experience. With indica, sativa and hybrid options to choose from; and cartridges available in 250mg or 500mg sizes, its customized vaping. We were able to try out the sativa vape with oil derived from the NYC Diesel strain. We were instantly overcome with an uplifting, energetic feeling that helped make our daily chores all the more enjoyable. O.penVAPE Craft RESERVE is available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, Nevada and Oregon. Pricing varies by market; contact your local retailer for current pricing.
Available wherever: O.penVAPE products are carried.
iReadCulture.com GET YOUR CLICKS
Available at: Hwy 99 in Bakersfield.
HERE Nugz Imagine a dinner feast where the main course is a turkey stuffed with chicken, duck and beef, wrapped in bacon. That’s the food equivalent of the cornucopia of medical cannabis each patient will endure once this bag has been opened. Bursting at the seams with potent flowers and dipped in CO2 oil, once dried however, it will then be rolled in high grade kief and left to dry once again. The flavorful nugs let off an aroma similar to fresh berries with a slightly tannic grape finish usually found in wine fermentation. The taste is somewhere between sweet and sour with a small amount of diesel at the tail end. Patients can expect effects to be almost immediate and last upwards of several hours. Enjoy this product at the end of a long day . . . or week.
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REVIEWs
Lambs Bread Anyone familiar with the lineage of this true sativa can attest to its seriously potent capabilities. A dose of this high grade flower will ease patients suffering from depression and anxiety. These buds are a perfect 10 in every possible category you can rate them in. The smell is sour and somewhat woody, like a fresh picked tangerine. While the bright neon green colored buds will make it difficult for you to actually stop admiring them long enough to inhale them, you will be glad you did. Effects from the Lambs Bread will leave you euphoric and at ease. Rite Greens in Bakersfield California has the goods, so stop by soon.
Available at: Rite Greens in Bakersfield.
Available at: The Crop in Bakersfield.
Mega Supreme OG
iReadCulture.com GET YOUR CLICKS
HERE
Kid N Kookie Bred from a parent strain of Girl Scout Cookies and crossed with Snowman OG expect this sticky honey-like sap to send your head soaring. The smell is piney and similar to the crisp needles you’d find in forests of North Eastern California where this strain was originally created. Migraines and chronic pain are no match for this nutty yet sour hybrid.
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Crumble concentrate is always in high demand due to the high percentages of THC. Luckily for us, The Crop in Bakersfield has enough for everyone and the Mega Supreme OG doesn’t disappoint in this regard. This strain is somewhat crumbly, yet thick and waxy to provide a unique and pleasurable dosage with effects to help induce hunger as well as fight chronic pain and depression. With strong body and cerebral effects, Mega Supreme OG is a great medication for high tolerance patients. However, too much of a god thing can be bad, so patients unfamiliar with their tolerance should note that a little goes a long way.
Available at: Weedpatch Compassionate Collective in Bakersfield.
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photo by Dan Holm
REGULATING REC Central county gears up for recreational cannabis by Jamie Solis
Proposition 64 will appear on the November 8 ballot, and one city in Central California is gearing up for it to pass. Arvin, California took the first step toward regulating the potential recreational cannabis market if Prop. 64 passes. At a city council meeting on Tuesday, October 18, council members voted unanimously 4-0 in favor of regulating indoor growing of cannabis in the city. The ordinance also prohibits outdoor cultivation. The city council meeting agenda listed this as “Public Hearing to Consider Introduction if an Ordinance of the City Council of the city of Arvin, Amending Title 8 of the Arvin Municipal Code and Adopting Chapter 8.29 Pertaining to Marijuana.” Prop. 64 allows adults ages 21 and over grow cannabis both indoors or outdoors of private residences, but the prop reads, “Not more than six living plants may be planted, cultivated, harvested, dried or processed within a single private residence, or upon the grounds of that private residence, at one time.” Arvin is taking it a step further, making indoor cannabis cultivation even more regulated within the city. In order to grow cannabis for recreational consumption in Arvin, cultivators need to obtain a permit from the city. It has yet to be determined how much a permit will cost people who want to grow cannabis in Arvin. The council also determined that the city would create a form in which growers will also have to provide written permission from a property owner demonstrating they are permitted to grow cannabis at the site. In the case that a residence is used to cultivate cannabis, the person growing it must reside there fulltime, and there has to be at least a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen that is functioning as living quarters only. Although the public did not oppose the ordinance by the city
council, one resident named Salvador Partida shared his opinion on what Arvin must do if Prop. 64 passes in California. “If the state says they need it and want it, well there’s not much we can do,” said Partida. “But in Arvin, we need to control it.” Cities and counties across California are beginning to pass laws to regulate recreational cannabis in their communities for good reason. Polls have consistently showed strong support for Prop. 64 by California voters. A poll was just conducted late September by KPIX 5/Survey USA, which showed that only 42 percent of people opposed the measure in comparison to the majority of 52 percent who were in favor of legalizing cannabis for adult use. Another poll from Los Angeles Times revealed an even higher majority of support with 58 percent of respondents supporting the measure. The plans to regulate cannabis cultivation in Arvin may be a little harsh for people who are looking to grow six plants, but it appears these rules are to discourage much larger and illegal grow operations from occurring. It will be interesting to see if other cities and counties in Central California follow the example that Arvin has set. c
“The council also determined that the city would create a form in which growers will also have to provide written permission from a property owner demonstrating they are permitted to grow cannabis at the site. “
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Chuck Shepherd's
News of the
Weird INSANITY DEFINED u Police and prosecutors in Dallas, appropriately sensitive at having been the site of the 1963 killing of President Kennedy, have apparently taken out their shame on assassination buff Robert Groden. As the Dallas Observer reported in September, Groden has been ticketed by police dozens of times for operating book sales booths near the “grassy knoll” (site of the alleged “second shooter” of the president)—and yet he prevails in court every single time (82 straight, and counting). (Tip for visitors from the Observer: Never publicly utter “grassy knoll” in Dallas, as it seems particularly to offend the police.)
Dari, and the war prospects would be dim were it not for courageous Afghan civilians who aid the U.S. as interpreters under promise of protection and future emigration to the U.S. However, the congressional battle over immigration policy has delayed entry for about 10,000 interpreters, who (along with their families) face imminent death if they remain in Afghanistan. Some in Congress also regard Afghans as riskier immigrants (despite the interpreters’ demonstrated loyalty). SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED u Master baker Stefan Fischer filed a lawsuit recently against Bakery of New York for wrongful firing—because he refused to use “bug-infested” flour to make batches of bread. According to Fischer, when he informed management of the bugs in the facility’s 3,000-pound flour silo, he was told simply to make “multigrain” bread, which Fischer took to mean that fewer diners would complain if they heard “crunching” while eating multigrain.
THE CONTINUING CRISIS u Stephen Mader, 25, native of Weirton, West Virginia, and former Weirton police officer, is fighting to get his job back after being fired for not being quick enough on the trigger. When Ronald Williams Jr., in May, made a ham-handed attempt at “suicide by cop,” it was Mader who, rather than shooting, tried to talk Williams down (based on his Marine Corps and police academy training), but when Williams pointed his unloaded gun at two of Mader’s colleagues, and one of them quickly shot the man to death, police officials fired Mader for having been insufficiently aggressive.
LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS u News Corporation Australia reported in September the enviable success of a 16-yearold British entrepreneur, Ms. Beau Jessup, who has so far earned about $84,000 with a simple online app to help rich Chinese parents select prosperous-sounding English names for their babies. Users choose among 12 personality traits they hope their baby to have, then receive three suggestions (including a list of famous people with those names). Jessup got the idea when living in China and noticing that some babies of the rich were given lame names, such as “Gandalf” and “Cinderella.”
u Can’t Possibly Be True: Few U.S. forces in Afghanistan speak the native Pashto or
u Chinese Management Techniques: (1) About 200 employees at a travel service
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in Shandong Province were fined the equivalent of $6.50 each recently for failing to comply with orders to “comment” (favorably, one supposes) on the general manager’s daily posts to the Twitter-like Internet site Sina Weibo. (2) In June, a motivational trainer working with employees of the Changzhi Zhangze Rural Commercial Bank reportedly told the poor-performing bank personnel (among the 200 at the session) to “prepare to be beaten.” He then walked among the workers, whacking some with a stick, shaving the heads of the males and cutting the hair of the females. WEIRD SCIENCE u Trees talk to each other and recognize their offspring, according to Australian ecology researcher Suzanne Simard (most recently lecturing on the influential video series TED Talks). Trees are not independent organisms but belong to arboreal “families” with characteristics identifying them to other family members. According to Dr. Simard, “mother” trees that ordinarily expand their roots wildly may hold back to give nearby “kinfolk” tree roots a chance to spread. Using “isotope tracing,” she learned of trees passing healthful carbon, via fungi, to neighboring family seedlings, which she said renders the seedlings more resistant to future stress. CAN’T STOP MYSELF u (1) The lifelong pickpocket known as “Auntie Sato,” 83, who has spent nearly 30 years of her life behind bars, was sentenced again (two years, six months) in August for a purse-snatching from a traveler in Tokyo’s Ueno Station. “Why,” asked the judge, does Auntie Sato keep at it, especially since she also owns property and has rental income. Said she, “I
thought about (stopping),” but “gave up.” “It’s hopeless.” (2) Faisal Shaikh, awaiting his cellphone theft case to be called at the Thane sessions court in Mumbai, India, in August (one of several theft charges pending), wandered up to the court stenographer’s desk and swiped her cellphone. He was apprehended shortly afterward near the courthouse. OOPS! u By August, Raymond Mazzarella was fed up with the tree in his neighbor’s yard in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania, as it was continuously dripping sap onto his car—and so grabbed a chainsaw, cut through the 36-inch-wide trunk, and (he thought) fixed the problem. However, the tree fell directly onto Mazzarella’s small apartment house, dispossessing five tenants and, ultimately, forcing inspectors to condemn the entire building. RECURRING THEMES u Popular Fetishes: (1) A middle-aged man was reported in three incidents in the Aberdeen, Scotland, area in August and September to be approaching women and asking for piggyback rides. He was still at large. (2) In September, England’s Derby Crown Court sentenced Sanjeev Sandhu, 29, to six months in jail because of the “extreme” pornography on his phone. One image was of children having sex, but the judge also noted images featuring humans having sex with dogs, a donkey, a bull and in another case, a fish. HOW TO TELL IF YOU’RE DRUNK u Dave Little, 27, vacationing on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza, Spain—and partying hard, apparently—was at press time still haggling with eBay, trying to get out of his “successful” auction
bid (blamed on a fingering misadventure on his phone) of 28,500 British pounds (about $37,000) for a Scania Irizar Century bus. eBay, of course, warns that bids are legally binding. Little believes that his dad had earlier searched bus information on the phone and that alcohol then affected his own navigation between screens. THE PASSING PARADE u (1) A water line in Hood County, Texas, broke in August, 5 feet below ground on Andrea Adams’s property, but Acton Municipal District worker Jimmie Cox, 23, came to the rescue—which involved Cox briefly submerging himself in the mud, face down to his waist, to clamp the line. He said later, “In this line of work, (we) do it a lot.” (photo: http://bit. ly/2bPCt0s) (2) On Sept. 9, a man (who said later he somehow could not stop his car) drove off of a nine-story downtown parking garage in Austin, Texas. The SUV hung upside down (caught only by the garage guide wire that wrapped around one wheel) until passers-by pulled him to safety. (photo: http://bit. ly/2bYnTCc) A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (NOVEMBER 2012) u No Do-Overs: By 2009, James Washington believed he had gotten away with a 1995 murder, but then he had a heart attack, and on his deathbed, in a fit of remorse, told a guard in the jailhouse where he was being detained on an unrelated offense, “I have to get (this) off my conscience.” However, Washington miraculously recovered from the heart attack and tried to take back his confession, but prosecutors in Nashville, Tennessee, used it to augment sparse evidence from 1995, and in October
2012 the now-healthier Washington was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 51 years in prison. WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND u One of the Islamic State’s first reforms in captured territory has been to require adult women to dress devoutly—including the face-covering burka robe, which, in Western democracies famously presents security dilemmas because it hinders identification. Now, after two years of Islamic State occupation in Mosul, Iraq, the security problem has come full circle on ISIS itself. Dispatches from the town reported in September that ISIS has likely banned the burka because it hinders identification of anti-ISIS insurgents who (female and male) wear burkas to sneak up on Islamic State officers. SOUNDS FAMILIAR u (1) Chris Atkins in Denver is among the most recent judicially ruled “fathers” to owe child support even though DNA tests have proven that another man’s semen produced the child. Atkins is in the middle of a contentious divorce/ child custody battle in which his estranged wife wants both custody and support payments, and since Atkins did not contest his fatherhood until the child reached age 11, he has lost legal standing. (2) A high school girl and her parents told the Tallahassee (Florida) Democrat in July that they were on the verge of filing a lawsuit demanding that the school district order the Leon High School cheerleader squad to select her (even though she had fallen twice during tryouts). LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS u Not a Techie: The most recent perp to realize that
cops use Facebook is Mack Yearwood, 42, who ignored a relative’s advice and uploaded his Citrus County, Florida, wanted poster for his Facebook profile picture, thus energizing deputies who, until then, had no leads on his whereabouts. He was caught a day later and faces a battery complaint and several open arrest warrants. SUPER-SIZE ME u Texan Monica Riley, age 27 and weighing 700 pounds, is the most recent “super-sized” woman to claim happiness in exhibiting herself seminude for “fans” (she claims 20,000) who watch online as morbidly obese people eat. She told the celebrity news site Barcroft Media in September that her 8,000 calories a day puts her on track to weigh 1,000 pounds soon, and that her loving boyfriend, Sid, 25 and a “feeder,” is turned on by helping her. Sid, for instance, feeds Monica her special 3,500-calorie “shake”—through a funnel— and supposedly will eagerly become her caretaker when she eats herself into total immobility. (“Safe For Work” website: SSBBW Magazine) NO LONGER WEIRD u Another DIY Overkill: Police in Centralia, Washington, arrested a man (not identified in news reports) for reckless burning in August when, trying to rid his apartment of roaches, he declined ordinary aerosol bug spray in favor of making a homemade flamethrower (the aerosol spray fired up by a lighter). He fled the apartment when he realized he might have taken things too far. (Firefighters were called, but the damage was minimal.) [The Oregonian, 8-8-2016] http://www.oregonlive. com/trending/2016/08/ washington_man_arre sted_ for_go.html
Ugly Christmas Sweater Wine Walk Bells, lights, tinsel and cats wearing Santa hats—nothing says that it’s almost time for the holidays like an ugly Christmas sweater party. Why not make it a party to remember by adding in a great assortment of local and regional wines? Main Street Tehachapi’s 3rd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Wine Walk will have you searching for the most hideous and festive holiday sweater to wear at the event. The evening will be filled with not only hilarious digs, but there will also be an appetizer tasting in Historic Downtown Tehachapi, which will be hosted by local businesses. In addition to wine and food, this evening will have some culture with art and music. Come breathe in the fresh mountain air, and make some new friends in this relaxing and friendly downtown environment. WHAT: Ugly Christmas Sweater Wine Walk. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Nov. 26. Main Street Tehachapi. INFO: Visit www.mainstreettehachapi. org for more information.
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