Culture Magazine Colorado July 2016 by Culture Magazine

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iReadCULTURE.com JULY 2016

JULY 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com JULY 2016

contents 07.16 Vol 8 IssUE 1

BEATS AND BASS Berner is a veteran of the rap and cannabis communities who puts great emphasis on positive music, family and cannabis legalization.

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ON THE COVER:

photo by Duncan Rolfson

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inside

contents

07.2016

features

Progress In Pueblo Colorado State University, Pueblo receives $270,000 to study medical cannabis.

Concentrate Novice Everything first-time users need to know about the art of cannabis concentrates.

Evolution In Extracts The evolution of solvent-less extracts has come a long way, but extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plants has been around for centuries.

The Future Of Cannabis The pros and cons of using concentrates versus flowers.

Steadfast South Dakota Women from New Approach South Dakota and South Dakota Coalition for Compassion are making strides for cannabis patients on the east coast.

Industry Insider Chief Technology Officer at United Cannabis, Tony Verzura is helping medical cannabis patients everywhere.

Energetic Expression Dillard, a local dubstep producer, is making a name for himself in the underground music scene.

90 departments

news 12 News Nuggets 18 By the Numbers 20 Local News 24 Legal Corner 26 Healthy Living reviews 28 Dispensary Highlight 30 Advocate Highlight 32 Strain & Concentrate Reviews 38 Cool Stuff 40 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 84 Growing Culture 86 Destination Unknown 88 Profile in

online Exclusive! d Legal Cannabis Hurts ISIS d Insurance Companies

Courage 90 Recipes 94 Colorado Now! 96 Shooting Galleries 100 News of the Weird

Struggle to Give Life Insurance Policies to Cannabis Patients

Vol 8 IssUE 1

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CULTURE M

Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett managing Editor Addison Herron-Wheeler Editorial coordinator Jamie Solis Editorial Contributors Benjamin Adams, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Natasha Guimond, 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 Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson, Damian Weiler Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designers Tanya Delgadillo, Meilani Darby Regional Manager Kim Cook Account Executives Rob Bayless, Jon Bookatz, Eric Bulls, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Teddy Helms, Emily Musser, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Jim Saunders, Chris Thatcher general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital media Editor David Edmundson Ctv Contributors Quinn Marie Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla

Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 1,400 locations throughout Colorado. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 10940 S. Parker Road, #237 Parker | CO | 80134-7440 Phone/Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com

CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.

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/freeculturemag

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NEWS

nuggets Jack’s Law Will Require School Districts to Create Medical Cannabis Policy

New Bill Bans Sale of Novelty-Shaped Cannabis Gummies Colorado’s newest bill, House Bill 1436, was recently signed by Governor John Hickenlooper on June 10, which will prohibit cannabis retailers from selling edible gummies shaped like teddy bears, fruit, people or worms starting July 1. HB-1436 was made as a way to keep cannabis products out of the hands of children. Chewy candies that look very similar to popular non-infused candies could entice children to partake unknowingly. The bill also requires retailers to mark packages with a cannabis warning label and an exclamation mark placed above the letters THC. According to The Denver Post, 19 children have gone to the emergency room as a result of accidentally ingesting cannabis edibles since 2009. State officials hope that HB-1436 will prevent further accidents from occurring.

Medical Cannabis Education Center Established in Pennsylvania Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has created what it is calling the first medical cannabis research education center. The Center for Medical Cannabis Education & Research will be part of the Institute of Emerging Health Professions and will educate physicians and patients on medical cannabis therapies, as reported by the news magazine Philadelphia. Leading the center will be Doctor Charles V. Pollack Jr., who believes that the current dialogue surrounding medical cannabis is highly based off of “hype and advocacy.” Pollack Jr. believes that there is not yet enough scientific research to truly educate anyone properly on the plant’s medicinal properties. This announcement came one month after Pennsylvania became the 24th state to legalize medical cannabis. Funding for the center will come from groups interested in the advancement of medical cannabis.

On June 6, Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill into law that will require school districts to create a policy that will allow students to medicate on campus with non-smokable forms of cannabis. Although a law was passed in Colorado last year allowing students to use medical cannabis in school, not a single district had taken the time to pen down a policy actually allowing medical cannabis. Under the new law, a district can opt out from the newly required policy if it proves that it has lost federal funding because of it, or if it clearly specifies on its website why it has chosen to opt out. The bill signed by Hickenlooper is titled “Jack’s Law” and is the result of efforts put forth by Jack Splitt and his mother, who fought for schools to allow students to medicate after Jack was suspended for accidentally bringing his medicine to school.

Pakistan Spreads Awareness for Cannabis Legalization With the constant political unrest in Pakistan right now, local medical cannabis activists decided to host one of the country’s first ever cannabis meetups last month, at Bin Qasim Park in Karachi. “The idea is to build a community, a society who believes in peace as much as we (the artists) do. This community serves as a bridge between artists, musicians and cannabis/hemp enthusiasts and gives them all a common ground to connect,” stated Agha Nomaan, a cannabis activist and filmmaker who helped coordinate the event. The meetup allowed for peaceful cannabis activists to join together as part of a campaign intended to persuade other Pakistani citizens and government officials to consider cannabis legalization. With online hashtag #420khi for social media to promote the event, the meetup reached an estimated 30,000 people.

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The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that 25 eligible Colorado high school students will each receive this year in grants funded by cannabis taxes: (Source: Fortune)

NEWS

The number of cannabis-related citations that were issued by Denver police at the 420 Rally in Civic Center Park in April: (Source: The Gazette)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, from cannabis taxes that will be used to help the homeless community in Colorado: (Source: High Plains Public Radio)

1.5

The estimated number of people who attended the Denver 420 Rally in April: (Source: Nasdaq)

100,000

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Colorado’s cannabis industry brought in from cannabis-related sales during the first quarter of (Source: The 2016: Denver Post)

270

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the state of Illinois has made in medical cannabis revenue since November 9, 2015:

(Source: The Washington Times)

The number of votes from the Ohio House, out of 97, that were in favor of legalizing medical cannabis in the state: (Source: Cincinnati Enquirer)

The percentage of patients in Israel who reported significant improvements of their ailments after using medical cannabis: (Source: The Jerusalem Post)

The number of signatures that supporters of Initiative 182 in Montana, which would create a medical cannabis program, have collected to get the initiative on the November ballot:

30,000

(Source: KTVQ.com)

The Divide Music Festival

WHAT: The Divide Music Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, July 22-Sun, 24. Colorado Adventure Park, 566 Co Rd. 72, Winter Park. INFO: For tickets visit dividemusicfestival.com. When ski season is over, Winter Park becomes a luscious landscape of mountains, flowers and blue skies, the perfect setting for The Divide Music Festival. Aside from being located in one of the most beautiful parks in Colorado where you can hike, bike, do yoga and so much more, The Divide Music Festival is stacked with a killer musical line-up that includes artists like Kid Cudi, Blondie and Passion Pit. Those who 18

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attend the event can camp in the luscious Colorado Adventure Park so they can relax after a day of outdoor adventures and awesome musical performances. Adding to the convenience of this event are the vendors who will be available for all your food and swag needs. Do yourself a favor and get your ticket for The Divide Music Festival, a fun event that captures the spirit of Colorado’s outdoor lifestyle.

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NEWS

LOCAL

Colorado Irish Festival

Possible Potency Policy

New initiative aims to limit access to recreational cannabis in Colorado

by Jamie Solis arlier this year, lawmakers opposed an initiative that aimed to lower the potency of cannabis in Colorado, because they claimed the state’s constitution allows all forms of cannabis, and limiting the potency would deem many things like edibles and concentrates (at their current states) illegal. Now, cannabis skeptics are trying to change the state’s constitution to impose recreational cannabis potency limits and new packaging requirements. Colorado Supreme Court approved petitioning for a ballot measure that would set new parameters for recreational cannabis. Supporters are now permitted to start collecting 98,000 by August 8 in order to get the measure on the upcoming ballot. Amendment 139 calls for warnings on packaging informing recreational users that cannabis could cause identified health risks such as “permanent loss of brain abilities; depression, anxiety and temporary paranoia; potential for long-term addiction” among others. Supporters of this new bill claim that current warnings on recreational cannabis are not adequate in warning potential users of the health risks associated with cannabis use. They also claim the amount of THC in cannabis is currently too high. The measure aims to ensure the potency of cannabis and cannabis-related

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“The initiative could devastate Colorado’s fastestgrowing industry.” products cannot exceed 16 percent. According to The Cannabist, attorneys in the cannabis industry believe up to 80 percent of the cannabis products currently being sold have a potency over 16 percent, and therefore would be banned under Amendment 139. This was also confirmed by a study conducted by The Colorado Department of Revenue. The study found that, on average, Colorado’s cannabis flower contained 17.1 percent THC and concentrates contained 62.1 percent THC. Roy Bingham is the head of BDS Analytics, a cannabis tracking firm. In a statement he shared, “The initiative could devastate Colorado’s fastest-growing industry.” If passed, this amendment will be the most devastating attempt by cannabis skeptics to limit safe access to recreational cannabis. It could also drive many recreational users to the black market, which would be disastrous to a community benefitting from the profits of legalized cannabis. c

Colorado has been home to a rather large and thriving community of Irish immigrants since the mid-17th century, many of whom often worked as miners or domestic servants. Aside from the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Colorado Irish Festival is the best way to immerse yourself in Irish culture and celebrate the legacy left behind by hard-working Irish immigrants. Now in its 22nd year, the Colorado Irish Festival is a joyous event that showcases true Irish culture from bagpipes and kilts to stepdancing and Irish rock. As with all great celebrations, this year’s festival will include a savory selection of food vendors that will be sure to accommodate for different tastes. Come out and enjoy three full days of Irish celebrations, regardless of your cultural background. WHAT: Colorado Irish Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, July 8-Sun, July 10. Robert F. Clement Park, 7306 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton. INFO: For more information, visit coloradoirishfestival. com.

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NEWS

legal corner

Crumbling Barriers

“Cannabis commerce is like any other industry, expanding Colorado cannabis business is a step in the right direction.”

Colorado’s new bill allows for out-of-staters to own cannabis businesses

by Ann Toney

hile medical cannabis was legal in Colorado prior to 2009, it was in that year that cannabis businesses took off in the state. Colorado has achieved national recognition by the huge profits it has made from legal cannabis industries and by the extraordinary efforts that Colorado government has put into grooming the industry to be the national leader for mainstreaming cannabis. While other states may permit both legal medical and retail cannabis, none have achieved the level of integration that Colorado has to date. It is noteworthy to see the passage of House Bill 16040 which allows ownership by out-of-state citizens of Colorado cannabis businesses. A mainstay of Colorado cannabis law has been that an owner of a medical or retail cannabis business license must have been a Colorado resident for at least two years prior to applying for a cannabis business license. Section 1243.3-104 has been amended to simply say that in order to be an owner you must

either be a one-year resident of Colorado or a United States citizen on the date of the application submitted on or after January 1, 2017. The new law also says that the owner cannot be a “publically traded company.” The law also requires the controlling interest in the company be held by Colorado residents. According to Section 12-43.3-307.5 the law was changed in part to help the cannabis industry get funding for expansion and growth. The legislature has determined that this funding can now flow from investors who live outside of the state of Colorado. Previously there have been investments in the industry by people from out of state. This law though sets statutory guidelines and requirements governing ownership by these investors. Remember cannabis is still a fledging industry finding its way and looking for answers for its growing pains. The Colorado legislature has designated new names such as “Direct Beneficial Interest Owner” which is a “person” or “closely held business entity”

that can own a share of a cannabis business. An “Indirect Beneficial Interest Owner” means a holder of an allowable interest in a cannabis business (such as an employee who can benefit from the profits of a company under an employee benefit plan). A “Qualified Limited Passive Investor” means a natural person who is a United States Citizen and is a passive investor who owns less than a five percent share in a cannabis business. The legislature cites that one reason for this expansion is the need for “access to legitimate sources of capital

helps prevent the opportunity for those who engage in illegal activity to gain entry into Colorado’s regulated . . . cannabis market.” This is essentially the same argument the legislature used to prohibit out-of-state investors; protecting against out-of-state money in order to protect against illegal influences on the industry. This is a historic step towards crumbling barriers to the acceptance of cannabis into our everyday life. Cannabis commerce is like any other industry, expanding Colorado cannabis business is a step in the right direction.c

Rocky Mountain State Games

WHAT: Rocky Mountain State Games. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, July 22-Sun, July 24, Fri, July 29-Sun, 31. Various locations throughout Colorado Springs. INFO: For event locations visit coloradospringssports.org. The Rocky Mountain State Games is a widespread sporting event that features athletes of different ages and athletic abilities who compete in 40 different sports. This year’s event will feature figure skating, cricket and archery, among many other sports. Taking place throughout Colorado Springs, each sporting event will be held at a different venue, to accommodate for the equipment and environment

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needed for each activity. While there are a lot of different events taking place throughout the course of the festival, the opening ceremony allows participants and guests to celebrate this year’s Rocky Mountain State Games together. Free and open to the public, the Rocky Mountain State Games opening ceremony will feature live entertainment, food and other fun activities that the whole family can enjoy.

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NEWS

healthy living

Hemp Seeds and Nutrition by Lanny Swerdlow, RN LNC

Hemp, the non-psychoactive variety of cannabis sativa, is considered by many nutrition professionals to produce the most nutritious seed in the world. With its almost zero THC level, it most assuredly will help you get healthy and stay healthy. Hemp seeds are the safest, most digestible, balanced and complete source of protein, amino acids and essential fatty acids found in the plant kingdom. Hemp seeds are 1/3 protein, packing more of a punch than so-called energy bars. Providing all 20 known amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids which our bodies cannot produce, hemp seeds are ideal to help your body construct the building blocks of life. Significantly, hemp seed protein is 65 percent globular edestin, which plays a significant role in the body’s ability to resist disease and recover from illness. Globular edestin is essential for the development of disease-fighting antibodies and if you do not have enough of it, you will not produce enough antibodies to prevent the onset of disease and infections. Essential fatty acids, such as Omega 3 and Omega 6, are absolutely necessary for our bodies to produce the energy needed to keep us alive and functioning, but since our bodies cannot produce them, they must be taken in externally. It’s not just good enough that our bodies take in these essential fatty acids, they must be taken in the proper ratio. Hemp seeds not only contain bountiful quantities of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids, but just as importantly it is the only seed where the ideal 3:1 balance of Omega 6 over Omega 3 is found. Hemp seeds also have soluble and insoluble fiber, both of which contribute to good health by maintaining healthy bowel movements, preventing constipation, lowering bad cholesterol levels, controlling blood sugar and helping to maintain proper and proportional weight. That’s right—the fiber in hemp seeds can be part of a healthy diet that can help you lose weight and keep it off. The best part of hemp seeds is that they can be utilized in a variety of recipes from simple to gourmet. Like psychoactive 26

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“Providing all 20 known amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids which our bodies cannot produce, hemp seeds are ideal to help your body construct the building blocks of life.”

cannabis comes in different forms—dried flower, tincture, wax—nutritious hemp seeds comes in different forms as well—whole seed, powder and oil. Hemp seeds are ideal for a bevy of culinary delights. Toast them, sprinkle on a salad, bake into a waffle, mix into a cup of yogurt or blend with almost anything you want for a healthy and tasty meal. Hemp powders are also adaptable and can be used in variety of recipes, but are exceedingly wonderful for healthy easy-tomake beverages, sauces and dips. Hemp seed oil is a bit problematic as it is not suitable for high temperature cooking because its burn point—the temperature at which the fats start to break down—is relatively low. You may not be able to fry with hemp seed oil but with its nutty flavor, hemp seed oil makes for healthy and tasty salad dressings and is ideal for hummus, dips, shakes and anything that is not cooked. Mixing the psycho-active properties of cannabis with the nutritional benefits of hemp seeds provides pleasure plus health. How about hemp seed pancakes smothered in canna-butter or cannabisinfused maple syrup? Got the cannabis munchies? Instead of potato chips, opt to satisfy those hunger pangs with a host of delicious and good-for-you, pre-packaged hemp seed snacks. No reason not to be healthy while you’re kicking back and enjoying life. c

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival started 15 years ago as way to honor Asian communities in Colorado. Although event organizers thought its first year would boast a small amount of visitors, it ended up becoming a much bigger celebration than they anticipated and as the years went on, more and more guests attended. This year, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival will feature teams from across the U.S. that will paddle toward the finish line in their decorative dragon-shaped boats. Guests can also enjoy the festival’s Asian market, food courts, five performing art stages and the Cultural Unity Urban Arts Showcase. With over 100,000 people attending the festival now annually, there is no way you should miss one of the biggest celebrations of Asian culture in Colorado. WHAT: Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, July 30-Sun, July 31. Begins at 10am . Sloan’s Lake Park, 1700 N. Sheridan Blvd., Denver. INFO: For tickets and additional information visit www.cdbf.org.

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REVIEWs

dispensary highlight

Ever changing rules and regulations are difficult, but to be expected. Our biggest joy is affecting the community in a positive way, while doing what we love. What is the one thing you want patients to know about your dispensary? We would like our patients to know that we really do care. We go to great lengths to provide patients with the ultimate customer experience and highest quality cannabis products. To us, this is not just our job, it’s our culture.

THE Healing Canna Interviewed: Mark Eccher, Owner

3692 E Bijou St. Colorado Springs, 80909 (719) 637-7645 HealingCanna.com

How and when did your dispensary start up? The Healing Canna was established in September of 2009. We started up with a dream and a staff of four. What’s the story behind the name of your shop? Myself, a friend and cousin were brainstorming names for a dispensary while playing golf at World Golf. We wanted to incorporate helping or healing, and also include cannabis or THC. 28

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The result was “The Healing Canna.” What does your dispensary offer clients that they can’t find anywhere else? What do you specialize in, if anything? Our quality and consistency really set us apart. In this industry, change is the only constant, and we take tremendous pride in being able to evolve without compromising the quality that patients have come

Top-Selling Strain: Mob Boss Top Selling Concentrate: VooDoo Star Wax Top-Selling Edible: Mile High Mint Bar 300mg (Incredibles)

to expect from us. From facility, to staff, to product, we specialize in the complete customer experience. What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a dispensary? Biggest joys? The biggest challenges we face as a dispensary is definitely operating without banking, and the inability to take standard deductions for tax breaks like any other legitimate business.

If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? The advice I would give to someone looking to break into this business would be to first make sure that you have a passion for the industry, and the dedication it takes to run your own business. Being a dispensary owner, you not only have a responsibility to your patients, but you also have a responsibility to the cannabis movement. There is no better job, and sometimes, no harder job. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/ MMJ community? We hope to revolutionize the cannabis industry as a whole. We want to bring a level of professionalism to the cannabis industry that is necessary for National acceptance. We want to dispel the hypocrisies, the double standards, and show cannabis in the positive light it deserves. The personal health benefits, job opportunities, economic stimulus that this entirely new industry brings are undeniable. The naysayers are now the minority, and it is our actions that will wake those who are still asleep at the wheel. c

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REVIEWs

advocate highlight

Chad Tribble Occupation: Co-owner & CEO, Mountain High Suckers

When and how did you become an advocate for cannabis? I was a patient and caregiver in 2009. I started seeing edibles hit the dispensaries and wanted to produce one that would be sought after. After learning how to produce ethanol extractions, I began infusing confections and selling them to dispensaries (the first one being Urban Dispensary). Thus, Mountain High Suckers was born. How has cannabis benefited your life? Personally, I have arthritis that developed from sports and working in construction. However, the greatest benefit has been the knowledge that our products have been helping a lot of people improve their daily lives since 2009. What’s your greatest achievement for the cannabis cause? Ours was the first cannabis company in America to infuse an edible with CBD, two

years before anyone else jumped in. How did that manifest? We create our own hash oil, and in January 2010, we started testing each batch of hash oil. We learned that the genetics we had been cultivating were potent in CBD. We decided from that moment on we would provide THC and CBDinfused products. Who do you look up to or admire? Rick Simpson. He is one of the greatest contributors to today’s understanding of the benefits of cannabis. If you could change one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would it be? We would like to see our tax burden amended away from 280E. Our industry is great at generating a lot of tax revenue for the state and we’re proud of that. We just want the same ability to write off business expenses as every other business. c

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REVIEWs

strain & concentrate Animal Cookies Rosin Budder While the debate over whether or not vegetarians can eat animal crackers continues between corny dads everywhere, Animal Cookies Rosin Budder is definitely dabbable. One of our favorite phenos of Cookies turned out like a masterpiece thanks to Lightshade Labs and Concentrate Supply Co. We could immediately tell it was ice water extracted with superb flavor (earthy rubber and an almost cloying sweetness) from well-preserved terps. The almost putty-like texture was unique, though, leaving us baffled on how they pulled it off. Taking some pulls ourselves, you can’t help but perma-grin for a while as it works its way from your head into your shoulders and back. Great for joint and muscle pain, the more we dabbed, the more we melted into our chairs and lost track of time. Try it out if you need to catch up on some podcasts or are reading by the pool.

Available at: Lightshade Labs in Denver.

Blue Lemon Haze

Available at: Elevations in Colorado Springs.

Bruce Banner x Shark’s Breath Shatter Sometimes a concentrate deserves its own spinoff: Just imagine how much more terrifying The Hulk would be with five extra rows of teeth. Or it might be that this Bruce Banner x Shark’s Breath Shatter (BBxSB) has us ridiculously blissed out. Coming to us from a local dispensary in Colorado Springs, The Cannabliss Company, the BBxSB jumped off the shelf with a perfectly glassy stability and gorgeous yellow tone that looked like Jaws if he was a smoker. Our first dab was filled with more of the Banner’s flavor, earthy with a little diesel behind it. More sativa in effect but overall a hybrid, the euphoria and warmth started behind our eyes and gave a racing mental buzz, quickly moving to the body and filling us with energy. Ideal for those who have the need to be active, we were left wishing there was a beach nearby.

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With fruit hybrids like Pineberries and Limequats all the rage right now, is it too much to ask for a Blumon? No, that’s not a Blooming Onion, but rather a fruit inspired by Blue Lemon Haze from Colorado Springs’ Elevations. Also available in live resin and shatter, the combo of Blueberry and Lemon Haze is mouthwatering with ripe berry and Meyer lemon flavors that come through in every inhale. The structure is impressive considering the haze genetics, with dense light green nugs positively drowning in trichomes. Don’t try biting in or you might lose a tooth. For those who love a nice creeping effect, look no further as we found the relaxation of this strain kept building as we became increasingly more chill. Just try to keep the actual snacks away, as Blue Lemon Haze certainly had us in the mood to munch. Ideal for arthritis and joint pain.

Available at: The Cannabliss Company in Colorado Springs.

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REVIEWs

Available at: Epic Remedy, Elevation’s and Grant Pharms.

Pure Distilled NYCD Oil If you’re in a hot town—perhaps it’s summer in the city—and the back of your neck is feeling dirty and/or gritty, we’d recommend Pure Distilled New York City Diesel Oil from The Refinery to melt away your stress. The combination of Sour Diesel and Afghani/Hawaiian has a solid hybrid buzz you’d expect from an underground band in the Big Apple. A gorgeous hue of yellow that reminds us of thinly spread honey. With top-end THC numbers, we took it easy and found a noticeable head effect initially, perfect for a mosh pit or a Spotify workout playlist. After a half hour, however, the effect became much more body focused, leaving you able to crash even in the seediest of motels. Available at Epic Remedy, Elevation’s and Grant Pharms.

Available at: Cannasseur’s Pueblo West Dispensary in Pueblo West.

Matrix Oil Vaping cannabis oil and watching sci-fi movies could be a college course around here, and this month we couldn’t help but pair the Matrix Oil from The Pat Pen and Pueblo West with a certain 1999 classic. It’s highly recommended, no pun intended. A cross of Mammoth and Citrix, the flavor was truly unique, almost like an undiscovered fruit from the heart of the Amazon. Delightfully clear, we wouldn’t be surprised if a bird tried to fly through it, only to wind up sticky and potent as all get out. It’d be a recommendation on flavor alone if it wasn’t for the balanced effect that left reviewers both mentally stimulated and floating in their own bodies, almost like being suspended in a tank. Equally great for watching a movie or shooting your own; be careful with the stunt work if you’re trying the latter as coordination can become a little impaired. Don’t say we didn’t warn you, young Neo.

Ron Swanson Kush

Available at: Cannabis Connection in Colorado Springs.

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Nick Offerman, famous for his role as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation, is not shy about his pro-cannabis stance, so it only makes sense that someone would immortalize his best-known character with a strain. The folks at Cannabis Connection knocked it out of the parks department with their eponymous Ron Swanson Kush, a cross as mysterious as the man himself. We were impressed with the oversized nugs and great trim, with hairs bursting forth like a bristly mustache from the lime green buds. Also pleasing was light fruit notes and orange citrus, even if Ron would likely prefer pine. At 80 percent indica, testers found it drowsy and heavy—the kind of punch only a strong Kush can give you—and recommended avoiding any woodworking you may have to do. Despite the surly surname, they found a nice mood boost that corresponded well to watching their favorite comedies on TV.

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REVIEWs

Banana Kush Shatter Talk about giving a new meaning to “There’s always money in the banana stand.” Denver Dab Co. truly outdid themselves with their latest run of Banana Kush Shatter—so much so we’d be surprised if it’s still on shelves when you read this. Smelling sugary sweet like griddled plantains and not at all like Laffy Taffy, the light gold shatter held up even in a hot ride back to work. Us, not so much. A giggling, mood-elevating effect befell quite a few of us, with that “back in the day” soaring buzz that we couldn’t get enough of. It’s hard to be stressed when you can’t remember what you were talking about at the start of your sentence, so if you’re looking to relax outdoors or are headed to an awkward social situation, Denver Dab. Co’s Banana Kush has you covered! Now at Fox Cannabis!

Available wherever: Denver Dab Co. products are carried.

Grape God PHO Shatter Packed with huge flavor and an instant onset of desirable effects, get ready to worship the insanely delicious Grape God PHO Shatter from Terptown by Good Meds. Grabbed from their Englewood location, this little slab was terped out to the max, as if they had grabbed the grapefruit dial and cranked so far to the right the knob broke off. Golden and glassy, we loved how easy it was to work with the gram we tried, allowing each of our testers to go at their own pace. Soon, we were equally as slow as the 80 percent indica knocked us on our collective butts, with one bemoaning the lack of futons in the workspace. For those looking for a great night’s sleep, especially if pain is what wakes you, you have to try the Grape God.

Available at: Good Meds Dispensary in Englewood.

Bio Diesel PHO It often feels like our office runs on dabs, making the Bio Diesel PHO even more aptly named this month. It’s also hard to say no to the fire that Craft 710 is churning out lately, so we scooped a gram of the Sensi Star, Sour Diesel and NYC Diesel cross they extracted and weren’t disappointed. Malleable yet a little greasy with terps, we immediately picked up on that sweet diesel with a hint of pine that was surprisingly pungent considering the size of the sample. After a few reviewers stepped up to the plate, they attempted to warn the rest of the squad to go easy on the Bio D. This sample was incredibly potent, so be careful if you’re breaking in your first rig. Mostly sativadominant, you’ll notice an uptick in creative energy and chattiness.

Available wherever: Craft 710 products are carried.

FlavRx Black Label Blackberry Available wherever: FlavRx products are carried.

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The slogan “Experience Higher Value” is a tough motto to live up to, but this sleek, earthy flavored indica-dominant cartridge really holds up against that motto. Easy to store and packed with 500mg of pure bliss, the Blackberry strain is perfect for patients in need of the muscle relaxing effects indicas deliver. For anyone that wants a pure, CO2 extract that is delicious and potent, without alerting everyone in the vicinity, these little beauties will give you everything you could want. Head over to FlavRx.com to find the right strain and product for you.

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REVIEWs

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3. Pot Pocket Recreational and Medical Cannabis Joint Holder

1. KandyPens Gravity Vaporizer It’s concentrate season, so it’s important to make sure you’re equipped with the best tool to take advantage of your high quality waxes. The KandyPens Gravity Vaporizer sticks out in the sea of run-of-the-mill vape pens, offering a unique coilless ceramic atomizer technology and quartz crystal atomizer that allows for some of the cleanest and purest wax experiences imaginable. Its temperature controlled battery has a leg up against competitors too with four preset temperature settings available at 300°, 350°, 309° and 430°. Although the specs are always important, the look and feel of a pen can also be a factor, and this particular style of sandblasted black finish on such a small pen results in a product that’s both sleek and discreet. Best of all, there’s a lifetime warranty on the battery to ensure that users can get the most out of their pens. PRICE: $129.95 MORE INFORMATION: www.vapornation.com

4. CBD Naturals Nano CBD Water

2. Amore Bath Bombs There is a new way to take a bath. Treat yourself to a luscious experience while medicating your muscles, skin and body as a whole, with loving cannabis. Amore Bath Bombs are breaking into the scene as the most sought after high-end bath bombs in bathers all across the country. Made with high quality THC and CBD extracts, and organic essential oils, Amore Bath Bombs tap into chromotherapy, aromatherapy and cannabinoid therapy to give you the best spa experience possible. Get yours and see for yourself. PRICE: $25 MORE INFORMATION: www.amorebathbombs.com 38

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The Pot Pocket is a sleek and organic joint holder. These stylish wooden pocket-sized cases can carry up to three rolled joints at a time and makes sure that they don’t break or bend in your pocket. It’s the size of a business card holder and is discreet in any pocket or purse. The case is also uniquely designed to extinguish a lit joint simply by placing it into one of the self-closing compartments! The Pot Pocket cuts back on waste, odor, time and mess. PRICE: $20 MORE INFORMATION: www.potpockets.us

Water is one of the most important substances on the planet—no life form can live without it. Luckily, there’s a new water product on the market that both hydrates users with essential vitamins and antioxidants, but also contains ample amounts of CBD. CBD Naturals’ Nano CBD Water mixes crisp and clean, purified water with a dose of CBD, which we all know is non-psychoactive and comes from the hemp plant. It also contains d-Ribose (a carbohydrate that gives energy to hearts and muscles) Methylcobalamin (the active form of Vitamin B12 which boosts metabolism) and Coenzyme Q10 (which acts as an antioxidant and helps both metabolism and energy creation). Nano CBD Water is unlike any other water out there, and it’s the perfect way to hydrate and get ready for your daily summer activities! PRICE: $3.99-$5.99 MORE INFORMATION: cbdnaturals.com

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REVIEWs

entertainment

BOOK

The Stoner’s Coloring Book: Coloring for HighMinded Adults Jared Hoffman TarcherPerigee / Penguin Random House Coloring can be a very therapeutic and meditative activity for any adult that needs a mental break or release. Researchers have acknowledged the therapeutic qualities of art for years, and today, art therapy is used to help people express themselves when what they’re feeling is too difficult to put into words, such as when they’re faced with a cancer diagnosis. Art therapy is also helpful among people dealing with a variety of other conditions, such as depression, dementia, anxiety and PTSD. This coloring book adds the particular theme of cannabis to an already fun and helpful activity. It's a must have coloring book for any adult. (Alex Bradley)

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Release Date: JUly 15 Available on: Nintendo 3DS

MUSIC MOVIE

GAME

Monster Hunter Generations Dev. And Pub. Capcom The action-packed Monster Hunter (MH) games have seen great success for over a decade, and a new addition to the series, Monster Hunter Generations, is bringing some great updates to the table. Players will choose one of 14 weapons and set out into the world to hunt down a variety of monsters, from small raptors to massive dragons, to make better armor and equipment. Unlike previous MH titles, this game allows players to play as Felynes, and also adds new combat styles and special attacks—perfect for those who thrive on challenge and improving their skill. (Nicole Potter)

Anomalisa Paramount Pictures Dir. Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson

For those already familiar with Charlie Kaufman’s work both as a writer and director (Being John Malkovic), pushing the limits of modern fiction and storytelling, it shouldn’t be surprising just how different his most recent film, Anomalisa, is. This stop-motion animated film tells the story of a troubled and disconnected man, Michael Stone, who meets a young woman who seems to reinvigorate and restore his purpose. However, like many Kaufman films, nothing is truly as it seems, and audiences will be blown away by both the beauty and impressiveness of the animation, as well as the unique, novel qualities of the script and the performances. (Simon Weedn)

Weightless EP Callie Belo Self-released Local singer/songwriter Callie Belo got her start studying vocals at the University of Colorado, focusing on jazz, rock and soul. Her work as lead singer for local band Syndicate has allowed her to cut her chops in a live setting, and helped prepare her voice for the range and melody it proves itself capable of on her new solo EP, Weightless. Straying outside of her more classic style, this record delves into the realms of pop, hip-hop and electronic music, and incorporates stellar production to highlight her unique voice. If you are a fan of talented vocalists and catchy music, this record makes a great soundtrack for summer. (Addison Herron-Wheeler)

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by Addison Herron-Wheeler It’s no secret that cannabis, hip-hop and an entrepreneurial spirit have gone hand-in-hand for a long time. Hip-hop music about hustling cannabis is as old as the genre itself. Obviously, because of the negative stigma that has unfortunately surrounded herb since the inception of rap music, these songs have largely been criminal anthems. But the year is 2016, where cannabis is largely becoming legal and decriminalized across the U.S., and Berner, aka Gilbert “Berner” Milam Jr., hustles hard. He has his hands in the cannabis business in multiple ways and profits like crazy from the sweet green plant. And, it’s all legal—from his raps about cannabis on Wiz Khalifa’s label and at live shows, to his cannabis accessories store and water company, to his part in popularizing the Cookies family, it has all been one hundred percent above board. He even got his start selling cannabis to fund his career—not out on

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the streets, but in the legal club that he ran before striking it big in the rap game. Having success that is founded in hard work, perseverance and maintaining a good name in the worlds of rap and cannabis have made Berner driven, inspired and loyal. He’s a family man and a father, and is just as likely to pen a song about raising his daughter as he is to write one about smoking a blunt. Berner became successful as a rapper later in life, and he wasted no time putting out dozens of albums and mix-tapes, touring and getting as involved in business as possible. When we caught up with him, he was on the road, taking a moment between gigs to smoke some good herb, write some verses and talk to CULTURE. The pearls of wisdom he dropped about Girl Scout Cookies, his latest album and the realities of the rap world ring as true as the verses he pens on a daily basis. >>

p h o t o b y D u n c a n R o l f s o n | l i v e p h o t o s s h o t b y F a rid

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about the things that can bring you down, real life type stuff, not just the good stuff and how well I’m doing. When did you get signed to Wiz Khalifa’s label, Taylor Gang, and how did that happen? Have you had a good experience with them so far? I got signed by them about three years ago maybe, and it happened really naturally. Wiz was my friend, and we were just smoking and chilling together, and I felt like he had a platform that could help take me to the next level. I think it was a good thing for me for sure, and it’s been working out great.

How did you get your start as a rapper, and when did you experience your initial success? I started rapping in 2003 or 2005, just kind of playing around, but I didn’t really get my first taste of success until 2007 when I put out my first album. That’s when I’d say I first had real success as a rapper. What do you feel is one of your biggest accomplishments since entering the rap scene? Being able to work with all the artists I grew up with and wanted to work with, for sure, is one of my biggest accomplishments. I was able to work with people I genuinely like listening to and really vibe with, and that’s kind of the reason I got into music, was to work with people I like, and with people who put together beats that I really like, people I want to be associated with. How would you describe your sound? What kind of beats do you like to use, and what subjects do you usually rap about? I like melodic sounds, like a real melodic type of beat, something real hypnotizing. That’s what I’m mostly using these days. My sound is chill; it’s real wavy. I talk about shit I’ve been through in my life, my daughter and things that helped me get to where I am today. I speak from the heart. A lot of people say that most rappers talk about their success in the drug business, the glorifying of all that type of stuff, and of crime, and all the good things they have in their lives, but I talk 46

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You also released 20 Lights as a solo record, which features Wiz Khalifa. How active has the collaboration between the two of you been, and how did that come about? It’s a natural thing; we make music when we’re together. People like our chemistry; we vibe out, we make music. We have a good time together. Rap is a genre where the artists tend to put out a lot of records, and you already have an impressive amount under your belt considering you didn’t put out your first record until 2007. What recording are you the happiest with? Which would you choose if you had to pick one to define your career? I would probably say Urban Farmer or Drugstore Cowboy; they are both mix-tapes I worked on that we gave away for free, but they are the first things I put out after hooking up with Wiz. They all have their own vibes and their own sounds though, so it’s hard to choose. I like ‘em all. >>

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How do you feel about the success of your latest album, Hempire? What are you the happiest about with the record, and what were some of the biggest themes of the album? I’m just happy that we built something strong and it’s sticking—we did 11,000 the first week, and that’s bigger than what I’ve done before so I’m happy. I’m just really happy the people enjoy the music–not much has really changed, but the overall feedback is that people really like the album. If you can keep releasing music and people like it that’s really a plus—I didn’t really get anyone saying it’s the same old shit—everyone is really positive. A lot of big artists complimented my album. People are giving me mad props for this album.

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Have you been touring or playing shows lately? I am on tour right now, and I’ve been playing shows lately all across the world. We stay moving. There is a lot to look forward to in the future; I plan to be on the road a lot. What is your creative process like as far as writing and rapping? I write it down when I rap usually, but when I am in a different city around people I don’t really know, it motivates me to be dope and adapt to the city. The city I’m in and where I’m at definitely play a big part in what I write and how I create. You just opened a clothing and lifestyle store in the Bay Area, called Cookies. How did this come about?

The clothing store came from an online store we had for a few years. We sell men’s and women’s street wear and a whole line of creative smoke accessories, our own jars; and we carry a lot of other dope stuff as well. Mostly smoking accessories and clothing. Obviously the big rumor and story surrounding your career is that you helped invent the strain Girls Scout Cookies. How true is this rumor, and how involved were you in coming up with the name? My boy Jive created Girl Scout Cookies and I was there all along being an ambassador, trying to get the name out there. It’s a group effort. The Cookie fam definitely played a big role in that, but I was there from day one.

Is Girl Scout Cookies your favorite strain? Right now, my favorite strain is Gelato—it’s a Skunk and Cookie cross. How else have you been involved with the cannabis industry over the years? Every way possible. I ran a cannabis club when I was 18 years old; I’ve been an activist for it; I own a bunch of companies in that field; I have a partnership with RAW Papers; I’m in it every way I could picture it. I’ve got my hands in it all over the place (laughs). I also have my marijuana consulting business, which is going great. My Hemp2O water company is also doing really well, and the beverages are everywhere—711, CVS, Shell gas stations, etc. >>

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How do you feel about changes to the cannabis industry since legalization began? It’s interesting—it’s very obvious that the feds and the government don’t know how to treat this yet, so they are just letting people open up with different rules in different states, but they are trying to figure out the best way to monetize it, and they don’t necessarily know how. People are watching to try and learn how this works. I think the whole venture capitalist shit is starting to get 50

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annoying; at first it was exciting, but a lot of venture capitalists are coming around and picking people’s brains, getting a lot of knowledge and a lot of information for free and not following through with shit. A lot of real estate gurus and big banking guys—you can’t start a business with money that’s not in the bank and you can’t really put cannabis money in the bank, so you get a lot of these bigwigs who try and come in and help and they can take shit away real quick if they take your money; it’s kind of scary. We just

keep getting closer to legalization, though, which is what I hope is the main goal. How do you work cannabis into your creative process? Do you smoke while writing and rapping or only when relaxing and recreating? I smoke when I write, when I relax, when I eat and when I don’t eat. Right now, my homie just got in the room, and we smoked some Skittles. It’ll make our flavor different, and when I get tired I'll smoke some Snowman. >>

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In the past, cannabis and rappers have always been negatively associated with criminal connotations, but that is changing a lot more now. Do you think you are helping with that, running your store, rapping about Cookies and being so visible? The number one thing people tell me when they meet and see me is, you motivate me to do something great;

you’re a good father; you’ve got your business right. I realize that everybody needs money to get their thing going, but we try not to support getting money in a way that’s not legit. I do rap and I do rap about weed, but I show publically that there are all kinds of things that got me good, so I definitely try to send a positive message. What do you have going on right now, in terms of music, selling clothing or other endeavors? I can’t even wrap it up in one sentence. There’s so much going on; I’ve got my hands in 20 different herbrelated projects. I’m just trying to work. I’m letting the Mexican in me come out right now (laughs). I’m just gonna stay working. What do you hope the future holds for your music and career? I’m trying to retire, but I want to be able to leave a legacy. When I pass away, I want people to care; I want people to know about it; I want people to reminisce on my music and what I did in this world. It’s just trying to find a way to make it last forever–Tupac is gonna be forever, Biggie’s gonna be forever, so the goal is to get to where I can be remembered forever somehow, whether it be through cannabis, the music or whatever. c

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“In the cannabis industry, I think the lowest opportunity lies in the store fronts and retail sales. On the next rung it’s cultivation because it’s a job creator and it’s generating money for the community through imports and taxes.”

HOPE FOR CANNABIS Colorado State University, Pueblo to receive huge sums of money for cannabis research by Jamie Solis

If there is one thing the cannabis industry is lacking, it is more research into the medical properties of the cannabis plant. Luckily, Colorado State University, Pueblo (CSUP), was just approved for up to $270,000 of funding for research into cannabis’ impact on various conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as research into how cannabis cultivation and sales affect the community at large. CSUP will also be receiving an additional $900,000 in funding from Colorado’s Marijuana Tax Cash Fund to use for medical cannabis research. This huge sum of funding is thanks to Senate Bill 191, which was recently signed by Governor John Hickenlooper. As the first four-year, regional comprehensive

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university of its kind to conduct this scale of research on medical cannabis, this will hopefully set a precedent for other regions. The aspects of the community research that will be conducted will look into the how much water and energy resources are being consumed by cannabis cultivation. The studies will also look into the money it costs to regulate the cannabis industry versus the profits earned from the cannabis industry. This should give taxpayers and officials a good idea into the successes or shortcomings of the cannabis cultivation and sales in Colorado. According to The Denver Channel, Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace stated, “This is a momentous day. I am incredibly excited to have real

quantifiable data about how cannabis is affecting our community.” Pace explained that he saw three different levels of economic opportunities for Pueblo in regards to cannabis. He explained, “In the cannabis industry, I think the lowest opportunity lies in the store fronts and retail sales. On the next rung it’s cultivation because it’s a job creator and it’s generating money for the community through imports and taxes.” The third rung is what Pace explains as the top opportunity for economic opportunity for Pueblo. This involves the possibility of bio-medical research and intellectual property on such research. Finding groundbreaking research into medicinal properties of cannabis and having the ability to then patent the new findings could make both Pueblo and the State of Colorado great profits. According to The Denver Channel, CSUP Provost Kreminski stated, “These studies not only have a local interest but statewide and federal interest. It’s an area that has been understudied, and I am appreciative of the taxpayers’ decision to use marijuana tax revenue for this purpose.” In addition to generating funds, these large sums of money for CSUP can ultimately heed research that will help save more lives. c

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A How-To Guide What You Need Dab Rig

Varying in size, this piece resembles a glass water pipe, however the glass bowl is replaced by a nail and glass dome.

Nail and Dome

A nail or skillet made from titanium, glass, quartz or ceramic. This hot plate is usually surrounded by an open-ended glass dome to help hold in the vaporized extract.

Heat Source

You need to secure a way to heat your nail. Electric nails are great, because the nail is its own heat source. Electric nails also appear much safer than the other popular alternative, which is a blowtorch. However, many still choose to safely use a blowtorch with caution and proper ventilation. An experienced friend is also a plus.

Wand

A ceramic, metal or glass tool used to manipulate cannabis concentrate and drop it onto nail/ skillet.

A Vaporizer Pen

for First-Timers by Jamie Solis 58

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Vaporizer pens are a simple alternative to a dab rig, giving you a convenient and discreet way to vaporize your cannabis extracts while on the go. >>

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Choosing the Right Concentrate Options are always a good thing, and when it comes to cannabis concentrates, the options are seemingly endless. From budder and hash to shatter and wax, these different forms of cannabis concentrates are all great for dabbing, while the best cannabis extract for vaporizer pens varies from pen to pen. Choose whatever cannabis extract is going to meet your needs, and be sure the concentrate will be easy to manipulate using a wand. For this reason, something sticky and pliable like budder, shatter or wax is going to work better than an oil when it comes to dabbing. On the other hand, you may have a pen that works best with oil. When buying a concentrate, you definitely want to keep in mind that a little bit of product goes a long way. A gram of cannabis flower is much less potent than a gram of concentrated cannabis. Always start small and build slowly from there.

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Seasoning Your Nail If you have never used your nail before, you have a little preparation ahead of you before you can jump right in. You must “season” your nail, which means you need to burn any harmful fumes from the nail, such as machine oils or polishes. In this process, you want to carefully heat your nail while it is on the rig until the nail is near red hot. Do not overheat your nail. Next, you want to coat the usable part of the nail with some concentrate, and reheat the nail. Once the extract has burned away, use tongs to move the nail into a bowl of water. Let the nail cool, and repeat the process a few times.

How it Works Dab Rig Add an appropriate amount of water to your rig, just enough to filter the vapor. Take your metal or glass wand, and scoop up a small amount of cannabis concentrate onto the end. Put the nail onto the rig, and heat it either electronically or by safely using a blowtorch until it’s just shy of red hot. Then cover the nail with the glass dome. Carefully drop the concentrate onto the heated nail through the opening in the dome. When the cannabis compound hits the heated nail, it turns into a vapor. You will want to gently inhale the vapor through the water chamber of the rig and into your lungs. Prepare to feel instant effects.

Vaporizer Pen Depending upon the type of concentrate compatible with your vape pen, add a small amount of cannabis concentrate into the designated area on your pen. Most pens operate at a simple press of a button. If you’re looking for even more convenience, some collectives sell pre-filled vaporizer pens. c

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CONCENTRATED CREATION

by Madison Ortiz

The history and importance of

solvent-less cannabis extraction

“When finding the right solventless natural extract for yourself, it’s important to consider a few things: Its appearance, its smell, the strain it came from and its meltability.”

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In spirit of the season, we must pay our respects to a key phase in the evolution of cannabis concentrates: Solventless extraction. In order to explore the history of this unique process, CULTURE took great time to research the underground development of solvent-less extraction. When talking about gross development and evolution of any industry, it’s often hard to put ego aside as there’s a constant battle for an invisible crown of pride, however, realistically this drive propels innovation and discovery. No matter what your direct role in the cannabis industry may be, it’s important to remain grounded with a simple fact: Creating concentrates is not new, but technology has allowed us to discover new methods of how to make them. Solvent-less extraction is any extraction method that uses a non-polar or semi-polar solvent. These techniques range from sift, to CO2 and rosin. Though it may seem like bubble

hash was mistakenly left off the list, Kyle the captain at Michiganbased extraction company Loyalty Extracts weighs in on one of the biggest controversies in solvent extraction—“Water is a solvent; therefore, bubble hash is not a solvent-less extract.” While medicinal uses for cannabis date as far back as 2737 BCE, according to Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at Scientific Evidence by Mitch Earlywine, the solvent-less process of sifted hash has also been going on for thousands of years. The process originated in parts of East Asia, making its way throughout India, Nepal, the Himalayas, Afghanistan, Turkey and Morocco dating back as far as the year 100 BCE, where cannabis flowers were rubbed in-between hands to collect the resin glands, producing hand-rolled hashish known as charas. According to journalist Maria Tavernini, who recently wrote on cannabis farmers in National Geographic, charas is still made the same way today. >>

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Medicinally, even the Egyptians were extracting using ether-like substances. Surprisingly enough, despite the country’s current war on drugs, cannabis was even dissolved into some old medicines found in the United States. With its existence and consumption being nothing new, it’s safe to say that cannabis is never going to go away. But people, no matter what, are always going to look for a stronger product that they can smoke less of in order to feel the same effects. The pursuit of creation and consumption of that concentrated form of the plant comes down to one key factor, the removal of the patient’s need to combust plant material. Beyond obvious health benefits, this gives patients the ability to walk into public not reeking of said product because of vaporization. No matter the direct motivation, development has been unstoppable. Back in the late ‘60s to early 1970s, the first example Rosin-like extraction process sprung up. This process has since been modified thanks to some incredibly curious hands, like Phil Salazar from SoilGrown Solventless, who is rumored to be of the first to pick up a hair straightener and publicize a flower rosin technique. The thought process is relatively simple, as it’s basically the same process that has been used to extract essential oils from other plants like lavender or peppermint. Before long, the at-home Rosin-tech 64

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extraction movement spread, and all around the country, hair straighteners have become the newest tool for extraction. A piece of parchment paper is folded around the bud, while a significant amount of pressure is applied at a low heat setting. The result looks like a halo of oil around the outline of the squished nug. This oil is simply scraped off the parchment and eventually consumed by a patient. Kyle from Loyalty Extracts mentioned the importance of the discovery of this process, “The expansion of concentrates is really the expansion of the glass industry—it’s like a spark—it’s almost like the beginning of the universe kind of thing, but with the culture of weed,” he explained. While it seems convenient, using a hair straightener seems obsolete in comparison to using pneumatic dual heatpresses. Many of these machines, which were originally used for printing shirts, have been since adapted for extracting concentrates from cannabis. Although they can be pricey, these machines yield more consistent results in a machine that consists of two enclosed heated plates which can be pressed together and pulled apart using a handle. While professional pneumatic dual heat presses can also cost a pretty penny (ranging from $500-$5,000+), there are also at-home machines that are affordable for the average at-home extractor (ranging from $100-$400).

When finding the right solvent-less natural extract for yourself, it’s important to consider a few things: Its appearance, its smell, the strain it came from and its meltability. Some people prefer solventless extracts because they believe they’re cleaner and more pure in comparison to a product that’s been extracted using BHO, CO2 or alcohol. Others prefer an ice water extractions for their purity and safety. Also, water and ice causes the cannabinoids and essential oils to mechanically separate. This gives the extract a better taste that is high in cannabinoids. While using solvents to extract cannabis concentrates is still wildly popular among industry-leading concentrate companies, there are various organizations who focus primarily on solvent-less extraction processes. Some of these companies include BAMF Extractions, Cannaisseur Extracts, Clear Concentrates, Essential Extracts, ET Extracts and Tree Sap Xtrax. The pure unrefined flavor and smell of solvent-less extracts makes for a smooth smoke, vape or ingestion, unlike anything raw cannabis has to offer. As development of the solvent-less extraction process unfolds, understanding the roots and transformation of the concentrate industry will ensure that the purest of heart will have access to safe medicine. Solvent-less extractions will allow even more cannabis users in the future the ability to rely on themselves to make concentrates. c

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The Benefits, the Drawbacks and the Facts of Vaping “According to a recent study by Chief Medical Officer Perry Solomon of HelloMD, legal consumer sales data indicates that 66 percent of people enjoy vaping and 71 percent prefer smoking the herb.”

by Addison Herron-Wheeler As time goes on, it seems that more and more patients, recreational users and legislators are leaning towards concentrated cannabis vs. actual flower. The new trend in legalization is to allow only vaping—no smoking, and many patients prefer vaping because it gives the needed medical dose in a quick and easy way. Similarly, recreational users favor it because they want to be able to vape discretely and save their lungs from inhaling unnecessary plant matter. But is this really the future of cannabis, or is an all-synthetic cannabis landscape problematic? According to a recent study by Chief Medical Officer Perry Solomon of HelloMD, legal consumer sales data indicates that 66 percent of people enjoy vaping and 71 percent prefer smoking the herb. The study also indicated that it is our younger generations that prefer vaping

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to smoking flower more frequently than older generations. Similarly, anecdotal data supports that more patients and recreational users are turning to vaping as a way to medicate or recreate more and more. Joshua Hindi of Dabble Extracts stated that he has seen a definite trend, as many of his cannabis consumers are purchasing extracts rather than flower. “There are several reasons why patients prefer vaping,” he explained. It’s substantially more discrete, and if you compare flowers and concentrate pound for pound, you probably need a gram of concentrate for an eight of flower. There’s also more likelihood that if users are with someone who isn’t familiar with the industry, they won’t know what the concentrate is—it’s substantially more discrete, and overall just a lot more convenient and a lot easier to use.” >>

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“Concentrates are usually for the more experienced cannabis user or for people working with illnesses like cancer,” Jennifer Price of HelloMD told CULTURE, referring to the strength of the medicine for treating more serious conditions. Many patients seek concentrates like oils and tinctures for their severe ailments, which are much easier to take than a shatter or a wax. While flowers generally range between 10-15 percent THC, a concentrate roughly ranges 50-80 percent THC. However, with the everexpanding and evolving technological side of the cannabis industry, concentrates can be specified for ailments, giving patients only what they want and need. For example, patients can get tinctures that are only high CBD, or a shatter that is 30mg CBD and only 10mg THC. Note: The CBD concentrates are a good place for a newbie to begin. In addition to the medical benefits for patients, healthy recreational users can

degrees, according to The Dab Lab and Seibo Shen of VapeXhale. Though most consumers generally gravitate toward concentrates because of their discretion or their high potency, in recreational markets, the cannasseurs have drifted toward concentrates in search of “flavor hunting.” Cannasseurs who have been using cannabis recreationally or medicinally for a long time are often looking for new flavors and experiences when they smoke something. Ry Prichard from the The Denver Post and The Cannabist explains, “Because well-made concentrates provide concentrated flavor instead of being muddied up by the taste of burning plant material, a properly-done concentrate will provide the pure flavor of the terpenes in that strain, giving a tasting experience like none other,” he says. “If you’ve ever had a flower that smelled amazing but just didn’t taste that great, chances are that it would be much more appealing in concentrate form.”

“In a society that is becoming increasingly digital, fast-paced, and clean, it is no surprise that concentrates are fitting right in as the new and sleek way to use cannabis.”

also benefit from trying concentrates instead. The fact that vapers can avoid inhaling unnecessary plant matter such as pesticides, contaminants and residual solvents, and are only combusting THC or CBD, is a good way to help keep lungs clear and avoid the perils of traditional smoking. It is important however, to keep the issue of temperature at the forefront of your concentrate curiosity. Often times, cannasseurs turn up the heat on their vaporizers to produce an extra thick vapor or smoke, mostly for show. But, this can cause benzene production, which is a carcinogen. Benzene can be found in things like car exhaust and tobacco. Cannabis tends to produce low benzene levels, according to a 1986 study which found that benzene levels in cannabis consumers are lower than those of tobacco consumers, but higher than non-smokers. However, the chemical can still be released when consumers heat their product over 365

“While some people have a preference of an extract’s consistency, what’s important to many people is the solvent used and how compatible that extract is with their preferred consumption method,” Washington-based cannabis advocate and Leafly’s Engagement Specialist, Bailey Rahn explains. “Most concentrates are extracted using CO2, butane, hydrocarbons, propane, water, alcohol, and heat. Solventless extracts made using water (e.g., hash) or heat (e.g., rosin) are excellent choices for those wary of how consuming solvents might affect them.” Gearing more toward concentrates could eliminate health problems associated with smoking and some of the stigma of using cannabis, as vaping is better for patients as well as those who want to recreate in public discretely. However, just because this form of imbibing is gaining popularity and has a lot of benefits, does not mean it is time to out flower completely.

“I find people are moving towards concentrate more today because of all the interesting things happening with them,” added Kelsey Liedman, store manager for Colorado dispensary Verde Natural. “CO2 extractions, adding terpenes for flavors and so much more. It’s new and exciting for many of us out there. However, there’s nothing better than rolling up some sticky, stinky flower and sharing it with your closest friends. As long as you’re doing the research on the grow methodology, source material, strains and extraction methods, it’s simply a personal preference.” In a society that is becoming increasingly digital, fast-paced, and clean, it is no surprise that concentrates are fitting right in as the new and sleek way to use cannabis. However, the cannabis flower can still offer many insights for research and benefits to the smoking experience and is a classic way to imbibe that some people will always love a little bit more. c

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“Education, awareness, advocating—we are not going to stop until there is a full medical bill.”

Care and Compassion Honoring the women who are fighting for access in South Dakota

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by Addison Herron-Wheeler

The struggle for legal medical cannabis has been ongoing across the country, and the patients and caregivers are often on the front lines of this struggle, drafting bills, pushing policy and making change, despite their conditions and the other demands of their daily lives. A great example of that is the work done by the women of New Approach South Dakota

and South Dakota Coalition for Compassion. Both of these organizations were born from the desire to make change, but they both serve very different purposes. Unlike many advocacy groups that roll all issues into one, this group clearly delegates care and patient issues to the Coalition for Compassion, and legal issues to New Approach. This way, families and patients aren’t getting caught in the crossfire of legal proceedings when they are already struggling to access health care and get the help they need. “The family coalition was founded three years ago,” explained Melissa Mentele, Director of New Approach South Dakota. “We do

cannabis education and what we started out to do was teach people with really bad illnesses how they can swap their medication either to use cannabis oil, to vaporize, or to use edibles. We just wanted to teach people that there is a better option out there. We do have a lot of adult patients, but we have a few kid patients, so we educate them on how THC and CBD work. We do a lot of referrals with the coalition—we work with several caregivers in Colorado and send families back and forth. If we have a family with a terminal illness we set them up in Colorado—a lot of it is kind of underground stuff because we live in such an underground state.” >>

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“We live with some of the worst laws in America,” she added, explaining why New Approach South Dakota and South Dakota Coalition for Compassion have to be so careful when it comes to the work they do. “You can get charged with possession very easily—we fought it for years in the legislature and they haven’t removed it or wiggled on it at all. They have no desire to make any cannabis reform in our state.” Despite this overwhelmingly negative climate, Mentele and her group are nowhere near giving up, and refuse to rest when it comes to making change and trying to get laws passed in their state. “We are taking our ballot initiative [for medical cannabis] to court right now because they rejected us,” Mentele explained. “The notary had an error where she just put the month and year on the initiative so we are trying to get it overturned and put it on the 2016 ballot. We will get that passed, then start working on other things. We are going to advocate again up here in January—even a decriminalization would help. It’s just frustrating because our newspaper has a real time Facebook page where they put out police scanners and there are marijuana calls every day; these people are going to jail, but DUI users don’t go to court until the 3rd or 4th time. The [local Native American] tribes are already set up to grow here, and our goal is to work with them and to provide medicine for people statewide, but also provide some kind of income for the tribes and bring them out of poverty. Education, awareness,

JULY 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

“We do cannabis education and what we started out to do was teach people with really bad illnesses how they can swap their medication either to use cannabis oil, to vaporize, or to use edibles. We just wanted to teach people that there is a better option out there.” advocating—we are not going to stop until there is a full medical bill.” Doing all of this sounds like a full-time job, but the women of New Approach South Dakota and South Dakota Coalition for Compassion are all mothers, full-time employees or advocates elsewhere. Most also have serious medical conditions that they treat with cannabis. They all have lives to live, but find time to fit cannabis reform into their busy schedules. The coalitions originally came about because another group in the state that was male-run was sloppy and showed a lazy, “stoner” aesthetic whenever they went to lobby for change, according to Mentele. She and her colleagues saw a need for a more puttogether and professional group to jump in and take over. “So many women have balance,” she explained. “Men can really dedicate themselves to a cause and allow the rest of our life to fall apart—women aren’t like that; we can do that; we can balance our lives; we can go out in the

cannabis community, and then come home and be moms and have families. Women are always given the short end of the stick, and women are the ones who have the innovative ideas— something as simple as a product line, whether it is cannabis facials, massages or a food line that doesn’t appeal to children. We have such a different perspective on things, and I think cannabis women are really great jugglers. You look at women who are jugglers, like Jane West [of Women Grow]—they are doing a great job of it.” New Approach South Dakota and South Dakota Coalition for Compassion are active in their community every day, helping patients gain access and fighting the stigma against medical cannabis. The rapid changes in cannabis reform that this nation is seeing are not due only to politicians in D.C. or highlevel cannabis business executives, but also to the patients who so bravely advocate for cannabis until their voices are heard. c

iReadCULTURE.com JULY 2016

“If you want to help a massive amount of people and get it in the mainstream, if you want insurance to cover it, you have to develop products and you have to prepare yourself for that next wave and that’s kind of what we’ve been doing,”

ndustry nsider

Tony Verzura of United Cannabis by R. Scott Rappold

Back before there were cannabis dispensaries, as far as most enthusiasts were concerned, there were basically two types: “Schwag” and “kind bud.” It was the latter that helped a young Tony Verzura get off oxycodone and finally recover from a debilitating car accident. His appetite and sleep

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returned. The opioid side effects were gone, and eventually, so was the pain. The experience launched a fascination with cannabis as medicine, which 20 years later, has flowered into one of the nation’s most innovative medical cannabis companies. As Chief Technology Officer for Denver-based United Cannabis, today, Verzura is pushing the boundaries of how cannabis can help patients, while at the same time preparing for a time when medical cannabis will come from a pharmacy, not a dispensary. Selling out? More like buying in. “If you want to help a massive amount of people and get it in the mainstream, if you want insurance to cover it, you have to develop products and you have to prepare yourself for that next wave and that’s kind of what we’ve been doing,” said Verzura, 38. “A lot of people misunderstand it and think it’s a sellout of some kind. A sellout would be if I sold out to a big pharmaceutical company, which is not the goal.” “The goal is to create the technology, to create products and get the products into the hands of patients that need it and God willing we can get insurance to cover it and pay for it.”>>

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cannabis in 2012, his partners wanted to expand into that market. So Verzura left and settled in California to start what became United Cannabis. “It was harder to do in Colorado because they really went into a heavily regulated market and people started growing for profit, rather than the patients, in my opinion,” he said.

Holistic Approach When a patient walks into Harborside Health Clinic in Oakland, they can get much more than an edible or a jar of medical cannabis. That collective was the first to integrate the A.C.T. Now Program,

“The industry was evolving and it was amazing. The more people we could help and the more change we could make, that’s why I got into all this.” Three Grow Lights It started with a shed and three grow lights. In 2009, thanks to a loosening of state regulations, Colorado’s medical cannabis industry was booming. Verzura was working as a contractor in postKatrina New Orleans, when he and some friends decided to head west. He’d never stopped using cannabis, micro-dosing during the day for pain and inflammation and smoking at night to relax. Here was a way to put his personal experimentations to work for others. He began compiling data and patient reviews for various medical conditions, from epilepsy to cancer. The cannabinoid sequencing protocols developed at RiverRock Colorado would become the foundation for his work at United Cannabis. “It was like, how do I take this from a flower into some kind of standardized dosing system?” he said. “The industry was evolving and it was amazing. The more people we could help and the more change we could make, that’s why I got into all this.” Eventually the dispensary had some 3,000 patients, investors and a 20,000-square-foot greenhouse. But after Colorado approved recreational

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developed by Verzura and United Cannabis, short for Advanced Cannabinoid Therapy. In this program, patients can get free consultations with a nurse and access to an online portal where they can tailor-make every detail of their treatment. The website is open to anyone anywhere, not just California. The line of products developed by United Cannabis, Prana Bio Nutrient Medicinals, come in capsule, sublingual and topical forms. There are also five types, several of which won’t get you high— THC:THCa; 3:1 CBD; 1:1 CBD; CBD:CBN; and CBD:CBDa. They’re made organically, with no solvents. Dispensary employees are trained in their use. It’s a holistic approach to medical cannabis, and Californians are taking note, with some 15,000 enrolled since its inception. Verzura hopes to have the products available in Oregon this summer and in Colorado in the near future, as well as at 10 more California collectives. For Verzura, it’s an ongoing experiment, as each patient’s experience—once they’ve signed necessary privacy waivers—goes into the ever-growing database of what is working for each condition and what’s not.

The company has filed for a patent for its combination of pharmaceutically active cannabinoids to treat disorders of the immune and nervous systems and cancer. The patent application includes a matrix of cannabis strains rich in CBD and THC, terpene profiles and dosed delivery methods for inactive and active cannabinoids. Verzura sees this work as moving the industry forward for the benefit of all. “I hope to make a difference in patients’ lives. I hope to make a difference in our communities and our industry. And I hope to help progress and mature our industry in leading by example in the products and programs we offer.”

Questions Ahead The year 2016 could be a watershed moment for recreational cannabis, with California and several other states poised to approve adult use. But that makes Verzura worry about the future of cannabis as medicine. He watched as Colorado’s regulatory system created a tax of 25 percent or more on recreational sales, and worries the concept of medical cannabis could someday be lumped in with recreational, forcing patients to pay high taxes. He also wonders what a rescheduling of cannabis would mean for patients. It’s currently on Schedule 1, meaning the federal government considers it to have no medical value. If that was changed, would patients be required to get it from a pharmacy like other controlled substances? Would large pharmaceutical companies take over medical cannabis? For his part, cannabis is and always will be medicine first. He has since been in two more car accidents and blew his knee out playing softball. He credits quick recoveries to cannabis products. He still maintains a daily regime of treatments, a walking testament to the healing power of this plant. “I use my capsules and my sublinguals and my topicals every day. I use my CBD topical on my heels, my ankles, my knees, anything that’s swollen. I use my THC roll-on for any kind of nerve pain in my back or neck or for migraines I would get. I use my non active capsules, the 3:1 during the day just to kind of control inflammation and to manage anything else that would come up, kind of preventative.” c

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“I like to medicate before I dive into a new project. It definitely helps boost some creativity and get the juices flowing.”

Dubstep Dillard

Denver’s underground dubstep up-and-comer opens up by Addison Herron-Wheeler

For many producers and DJs, their career is born out of the desire to create and play music, although they never felt a specific calling to any one instrument or niche within a traditional band. This is the case with local underground dubstep producer Dillard, who started out as a visual artist. “There are a lot of reasons why I started,” he told CULTURE, regarding his history of playing music. “One of the main ones was just to be able to express myself in another format other than just doing things with painting, drawing or ceramics. Dillard never had the opportunity to learn how play a musical instrument to the same degree of mastery that he did with his fine art. But, he realized that being proficient in a musical instrument was not a requirement to make amazing music. In this day and age, technology has become a common creative tool for many musicians and music producers more geared toward beats, hiphop, techno, dubstep, and other syntheticbased genres. “I was one of the most anti-social kids growing up because everywhere 80

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I went I was staring at my laptop with my headphones on, completely tuned out of the world outside the music,” he explained. “Now-a-days, I have been practicing piano a lot more, along with other random instruments, and have been doing a lot of recording of other people’s work as well for collaboration projects.” Dillard currently has some new releases in the works, and is going to be busy this summer and fall playing a lot of shows, both locally and abroad. “I’ve got a lot of underground mountain shows this summer, here in Colorado, and I’m performing at a couple Electronic Tuesdays [promoter Sub. mission’s local parties at Cervante’s Other Side] coming up. Dillard will also be performing at his very first international gig soon at Luminosity Festival in Canada, and is planning on touring the East Coast as well, dates to be determined. Constantly moving and making, Dillard never stops crafting his creations. “I’m also working on a lot of new music. Be on the lookout for a dual sided album later this year, and a lot of collaborative

p h o t o b y E Y E D I O L A P HO T OG R A P HY

projects with good friends and record labels, and hopefully some more physical products too.” When it comes to cannabis, Dillard relies on the cannabis plant for inspiration, as well as a source of musical material for his music. “I have a few pieces where I completely build an entire tune from a piece of glass and a lighter,” he explained. “It’s always nice to experiment with things that normally wouldn’t work as a percussion or melodic instrument.” “I like to medicate before I dive into a new project,” he added. “It definitely helps boost some creativity and get the juices flowing.” Catch Dillard’s set at a local Sub. mission show this summer, and follow him online to hear his latest tunes. c

IN CONCERT: July 26 @ Cervante’s Other Side with Saule and Sektah

soundcloud.com/dillard

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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 84

Testing the Varieties: Part 6

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM ASK ED®

by Ed Rosenthal

Last month, the winter garden was still hanging, taking a long time between drying and curing. Now they are all properly dried and are hanging out in glass jars. The buds were tested using infrared light to determine percentages of cannabinoids. We tested for heated THC and heated CBD for a number of different strains. The THC levels were not high. The main reason is that the plants were receiving only a moderate amount of light during flowering. The total hours of light averaged only about 10.5 hours daily. The winter and early spring sunlight received was weak and mostly indirect. This was supplemented with six hours of HPS light, still too little to produce maximum bud development and to reach THC potential. THC levels differed greatly between strains, showing the relative THC/CBD potentials of the varieties. Except for specialty varieties, all had very little CBD. Varieties differ in effects because they have different ratios of terpenes (odor molecules that affect mood and have medical qualities). About eight weeks ago, I picked up five plants, transplanted them and then let them grow in the greenhouse. They were under lights for an extended period JULY 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

each day, long enough to prevent them from flowering. About four weeks ago, the supplemental lighting was turned off and the plants started to flower. A couple weeks later, the plants were showing the slightest sign of temptation to turn vegetative, some leaf growth and a slight stretching of bud. I had to take action immediately to prevent the plants from returning to a vegetative state. The solution was to increase their dark time to 12 hours or more each day. I decided to use a 5’ x 9’ “utility frame” built for a previous project and covered it using a high grade reinforced opaque polyethylene film. “Panda plastic” is colored white on one side and black on the other. The frame was wrapped white side out, reflecting sunlight to keep the interior cool. The black interior absorbs any stray light that enters. No light entered when the

The dark chamber is used to prolong the dark period, promoting flowering.

flaps were closed. Each of the five plants were in five gallon soft containers, sitting in 4’ x 8’ trays and placed on top of a moving caster, for easy mobility. Each evening towards the end of dusk, the plants are pushed into the dark chamber. Yesterday, that occurred at 9 pm . In the morning, bright and early at 11am , the flaps are opened and the plants are wheeled into sunlight. They receive about 11 hours of light and 13 hours of darkness daily. The long dark time promotes flower ripening. The first of the five plants, a Rom-Grapefruit, is almost ripe. In the last two weeks, it transformed from a softy to a hard ripe bud bulging with trichomes. The other four plants will ripen within the next week or two. The dark chamber is a convenient addition to my tool chest of growing supplies and I intend to use it again for my next crop. c

The flaps are up and the plants are about to emerge.

The tray is resting on a moving caster, making it easy to push around the yard during the day allowing the plants catch the best rays as well as avoid shade.

When you are growing plants in containers with wheels, it’s easy to move them around. Even large plants can be moved without too much effort. This can become an important factor as the position of the sun changes over the season. Parts of the garden that were in sun early in the day or earlier in the season often become shaded later on. Moveable plants can always be in a sunny position.

Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.

The plants are basking in the sun.

Ripening bud of Rom-grapefruit will be picked next week.

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RECIPES

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Geneva and Bern, Switzerland Flower in Summer

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by Sheryll Alexander

Geneva and Bern are Switzerland’s top cannabis-friendly travel destinations, especially in the summer months when toking for the country’s estimated half million medical cannabis patients and recreational users go outdoors during this central European country’s short warm season. In the ’90s and up until a famous bust in 2005, a loophole in Swiss law allowed hemp farmers to grow high-THC flowers (along with fiber and seeds for industrial and artisan hemp-based products). But sadly, long gone are the days when tourists could just stroll through

Switzerland’s urban centers or tiny medieval towns to find a “hemp shop” or “smoke shop.” In 2013, cannabis possession (under 10 grams) was famously decriminalized. However, a recent announcement from Swiss officials this spring reveals the government is gearing up for a “pilot project” in four cities (Geneva, Bern, Zurich and Basel) to legally sell small amounts of medical cannabis to authorized patients. Geneva (or Genève) is the mostly French speaking, yet multinational urban center (The UN and The Red Cross

are headquartered here) as well as the country’s financial center. Situated at the very southern tip of Lake Geneva, where the mighty Rhone River empties, Geneva becomes almost like a beach zone in summer as city is surrounded by miles of lake-front parks. With sweeping views of The Alps and The Jura Mountains in the distance, locals and tourists alike relax, play and dip in these cold lake waters during summer’s hottest days. Bern may be the capital of Switzerland, but it feels more like a village caught in a medieval time warp. Cannabis culture is very much alive in Bern, and politicians are even considering selling cannabis flowers and THC-laced products at pharmacies. Tourism in Bern is at its peak in the summer months as this vibrant city is a designated UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site. Not only does Bern boast one of the world’s first moving time clocks, but also one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe along with hundreds of other historic buildings, fountains, museums, parks and towers. c

HERE

Time to Go: Summer Weather: Light sweater weather with occasional showers. Budget: $$$$$

if you go: Switzerland famously decriminalized cannabis in 2012, which was implemented in October 2013, and allows for anyone 18+ to carry 10 grams or less of cannabis flowers. This important “federal” law unified Switzerland’s previous patchwork of regional policies. Caught with more than 10 grams (or selling any amount), stiff fines and potential prison time is enforced. Growing and selling cannabis is also illegal at the moment although Swiss farmers and cannabis advocates are battling against the pro-pharma system.

Fun-Filled Facts Bern is known in summer for perhaps the most fun and most unusual water recreation in Switzerland. Locals and tourists literally jump into the icy waters of the fastflowing Aare River, which runs right through the town, and float down in a state of summertime bliss. 1

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Perhaps the best jazz music festival on the planet happens every summer (July 1-16) in nearby Montreux. An hour’s drive of Geneva along a breathtakingly scenic route of 45-mile-long Lac Leman, The Montreux Jazz Festival and its stunning shoreline location attracts tens of thousands of jazz lovers and some of the world’s top jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Simply Red, JeanMichel Jarre and Patti Smith. 2

GET YOUR CLICKS

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culture growing

Linda Krystal Lopez

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Age: 26

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Condition/Illness: Cervical Cancer, Epilepsy, Severe Anxiety

Why did you start using medical cannabis? I started using medical cannabis in early 2013, when I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. Later that year, I was diagnosed with late onset epilepsy due to the stress on my body. The epilepsy caused several chronic issues such as insomnia, depression and neuropathy. I was wheelchair- and walkerbound for quite a while. The prescription pills were also causing more harm than good. I decided to go on a strict diet, and made sure to consume as much CBD based products as possible as well as smoke to relieve the pain, stress and regain my appetite. I went into full remission in September 2014; however, I use CBD daily still, to prevent any further cancer. Now, I am able to do all the things I was able to do before my illnesses set in. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? For the cancer, chemo and radiation were offered

to me as well as a full hysterectomy. I immediately declined. I tried some of the basic medications given to epileptic patients, but they were causing neuropathy and pulling my appetite. I lost about 20 pounds in only a matter of months. If it weren’t for this holistic form of healing, I don’t know where I’d be health wise, but I am not sure it would have been pleasant for me. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? I think the biggest issue would be the accessibility and lack of knowledge. General physicians and specialists seem to not give proper information or for the most part not even advocate this safe and effective way of healing. I’ve personally experienced a doctor telling a family member of mine that medical marijuana and CBD is only for nausea. I think patients should always be given options and different forms of help. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I’d say to do some proper research. Talk to advocates, speak to survivors. Research the proven medical benefits. Be open minded. Don’t just dismiss something you know nothing about. Meet patients going holistic and hear the positive responses. If we all become open minded, we can make a change and save or improve some lives. Being a survivor and being able to help is a blessing and I will continue to advocate and share my story! c

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

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culture growing

Summertime Sous Vide Menu: Medicated Shrimp and Mango Fresh Rolls Infused Olive Oil Lemon Curd

I created Sous Weed while I was at Nomiku, a company that makes the smallest sous vide device for precise temperature cooking. I found that the sous vide method lends itself perfectly to cannabis cooking. It’s easy to set up, safe, precise and discreet. The cannabis is sealed in a jar and placed underwater, so there’s absolutely no smell, and you no longer need to babysit a stovetop. Sous vide is French for “under vacuum,” and is a cooking process where you cook food in a temperature-controlled water bath in airtight containers (usually either plastic bags or glass). This process cooks the item evenly and helps to retain moisture. I make lightly medicated meals to enhance my day, manage my chronic lower back pain and reduce stress. Here are some of my favorite recipes for summer.

Makes 1 1/3 cups

Infused Olive Oil Lemon Curd Ingredients: 6 tablespoons cannabis-infused olive oil 3/4 cup granulated sugar Juice of 3 lemons (I used Pink Lemons) 2 tablespoon lemon zest 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 5 egg yolks

Directions:

Warm infused olive oil in a saucepan on medium heat until you see bubbles. Remove pan from heat and whisk in sugar, lemon juice, zest and salt until all is uniform. Whisk in egg yolks until smooth. Place egg mixture back on low heat, whisking constantly until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Immediately pour lemon curd into a clean jar and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

IN PROFILE 90

Monica Lo is an activist and photographer working to change public perception of cannabis users. Monica is the creator of Sous Weed, co-founder of WeedHorn, the co-creator of Asian Americans for Cannabis Education, and a photo contributor at Stock Pot Images. Monica has many years of experience in food styling and photography. She has trained at The Institute of Culinary Education in NYC and with Andrew Scrivani from the New York Times. Monica just wrapped a photo shoot for a Sous Vide at Home cookbook with Ten Speed Press and Nomiku, slated for a November 2016 launch. Monica has also cooked and shot with Top Chef Mei Lin, Dara the Bow Girl from MasterChef Junior, Opening Ceremony, Chef Jacques La Merde, and has been featured on PopSugar.

recipes by Monica Lo from Sous Weed

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Sous Weed (Sous Vide) Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil

Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.

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t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com

iReadCULTURE.com JULY 2016

3 tablespoons peanut butter 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon medicated olive oil 1 garlic clove, mashed 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 teaspoon sriracha

Directions

Oliverde 2027 Broadway, Boulder (303) 442-2199 www.oliverdeoil.com Hopscotch Bakery 333 S Union Ave., Pueblo (719) 542-4467 www.hopscotchbakery.com

*Note: Mangoes have the same myrcene and terpenes found in cannabis. When you consume cannabis and eat a mango, the psychoactive ingredient THC will interact with the terpenes and enhance the effects.

Place sliced shrimp in a small bowl and toss well with sesame seeds, medicated olive oil and a pinch of salt. Next, soften the rice paper by filling a large bowl with warm water. Dip one rice paper very carefully and let it soften for 20-30 seconds. Lay rice paper flat on a clean cloth and start arranging mint leaves, 3-4 shrimp halves, 1 avocado slice, 2 mango slices, 2 cucumber strips and mixed greens. Fold the sides inwards towards the stuffing and then tightly roll the rice paper. The fresh roll should resemble a little burrito. Repeat with the rest of the ingredients. To prepare the sauce, blend all ingredients together. Serve your medicated fresh rolls immediately!

Makes 16 oz

Sous Weed (Sous Vide) Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil

culture

Ingredients for Dipping Sauce:

5 round spring roll rice paper wrappers 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 2 tablespoon medicated olive oil 10 large cooked shrimp, peeled and sliced in half length-wise 1 Persian cucumber, julienned 1 avocado, sliced 1/2 large mango, sliced 1/4 cup mixed greens Handful mint leaves

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Ingredients for Fresh Rolls:

RECIPES

Phở-Natic 229 E. Colfax Ave., Denver (303) 832-3154 www.phodenver.com

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Medicated Shrimp and Mango Fresh Rolls

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Local eateries with similar dishes:

Makes 5 rolls

Pour olive oil in two 12 ounce mason jars. It is important to use jars specific to canning, so please, no repurposed mayo jars. Inspect the jar for cracks. A freezer-safe zip bag may be used as well. Decarboxylate your cannabis to activate the THC. After decarboxylation, pour the cannabis into each jar of olive oil. Seal the jars finger tight. Set your sous vide water bath to 85˚C (185˚F). Once the sous vide water bath has reached its temp, gently place the jars in the water bath. Sous vide for 4 hours. Remove from water bath and strain. Discard the clippings and allow the infused olive oil to cool. Store in a cool dark place, and use at will.

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Directions:

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16 oz extra virgin olive oil 1 oz cannabis clippings/trim or flowers (add more or less depending on desired potency)

COURAGE

Ingredients:

iReadCULTURE.com JULY 2016

colorado NOW! event listings

Gallop in the Garden 5K, Every Thursday Every Thursday, locals are invited to enjoy a free 5K after work, school or any other daily obligation you have going on during the week. At this 5K, you can choose between five routes and even enjoy delicious brews (and ginger ale) at the community Fossil Craft Beer Company. Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, Colorado Springs gardenofgods.com

Live Music at 12Degree Brewing, July 6

Every Wednesday 12Degree Brewing hosts a free live music event, but this Wednesday you’re invited to enjoy the talents of Boulder’s Zach Robinson, who entices guests with original songs and covers like Everclear, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oasis. 12Degree Brewing, Louisville 12degree.com

be time you grow a supply of your own. This course will teach you the basics of growing cannabis in a greenhouse, including spatial organization, ventilation and many other important factors. Clover Leaf University, Denver cloverleafuniversity.com

“Giving Voice” 10th Anniversary Show, July 15

Graphic designers team up with teenagers with mental disabilities to create a variety of creative posters. Now in its 10th year, “Giving Voice” 10th anniversary show will feature posters designed by new artists as well as posters that have been featured in previous “Giving Voice” exhibits. Access Gallery, Denver accessgallery.org

The Comedy of Errors, July 16 The Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) takes one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, The Comedy of Errors and sets it in Paris during the 1930s. The CSF also puts women in charge in this cabaret-style rendition of this classic story of mistaken identity. Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre, Boulder coloradoshakes.org

Canvas & Cocktails: Harry Potter Edition, July 18 Green House Cannabis Cultivation - Grow Outdoor For Full Production, July 13 With all the concerns over unhealthy pesticide use in Colorado’s cannabis, it might

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featured event

Declaration Brewing honors one of the most popular wizards in pop culture at this Harry Potter inspired painting session. Those who purchase tickets will be given the supplies they need to create

Denver International Festival, July 23

As one of the most interesting cities in the U.S., Denver has plenty of cultural diversity and celebrates it with its International Festival. This year’s festival will include over 30 food trucks offering delicious dishes from various cultures, live music, dance performances and more. Civic Center Park, Denver internationalfest.org a masterpiece inspired by Harry’s wizarding world. Declaration Brewing, Denver declarationbrewing.com

Drag the River, July 22

Drag the River is a Fort Collins country band that was created in 1996 and made its first EP in 2000. Since then, the band has gone through many changes, but continues to play fantastic, high-energy shows all across Colorado. Hi-Dive, Denver hi-dive.com

“Raining Cats & Dogs,” Ends July 31

House pets have become just as synonymous in American culture as actual children and this exhibit showcases works by artist across the U.S. commemorating our animal companions. Not only does the exhibit showcase animals, it helps them out by donating a portions of proceeds to the Boulder Valley Humane Society. Dairy Arts Center, Boulder thedairy.org

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SHOOTING GALLERY

California Roots Music and Art Festival 2016

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iReadCULTURE.com JULY 2016

SHOOTING GALLERY

European Medical Cannabis Bike Tour

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iReadCULTURE.com JULY 2016

Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird LEAD STORY—Jail Is Hell u The eye-catching Vietnamese model and Playboy (Venezuela edition) Playmate Angie Vu complained to the New York Daily News in April that her five-plus months in jail in Brooklyn have been “torture” and “cruel” because of her lack of access to beauty care. Vu is fighting extradition to France for taking her 9-yearold daughter in violation of the father’s custody claim and is locked up until a federal judge rules. Among her complaints: “turning pale” in the “harsh light”; lack of “Guerlain’s moisturizer”; inability to look at herself for months (because glass mirrors are prohibited); and “worrying” about being hit on by “lesbians” (thus causing “wrinkles”). At least, she told the reporter, she has found God in jail and passes time reading the Bible. QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS u Chef Mahbub Chowdhury pleaded guilty in April to food and hygiene violations in Swindon (England) Magistrates Court after inspectors found “brown fingerprints” in the kitchen at his Yeahya Flavour of Asia carry-out restaurant. Chowdhury was candid about his “cultural” habit of bypassing toilet paper and using his hand to clean himself. The plastic bottle with the fingerprints, Chowdbury said, contained water that he normally used instead of the toilet paper, and his lawyer argued that since the bottle was never actually lab-tested, the brown spots could have been “spices.”

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u England’s Brighton and Hove City Council, striving to be progressive, issued a directive to parents of new school students (kids as young as age 4) calling on them to mark the gender identity they prefer—and notes that any child who identifies as other than male or female should leave the space blank and consult with officials individually. (Critics, according to The Sun, expressed that school should be for “developing” such identities without the necessity of declaring them so early in life). UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT u “Zero tolerance” claimed another victim, in Charlotte, North Carolina, in April, when Jaden Malone, 12, came to his bullied friend’s aid, was knocked down himself and repeatedly punched in the head by the bully, and pushed the boy off of him to avoid further damage—but was himself suspended for three days by his charter school Invest Collegiate. A school official pointed out that the bully got five days, and besides, the policy against “all” physical violence is very clear. (After having Jaden treated for a concussion, his mother promptly withdrew him from the school). u Ms. Madi Barney, 20, courageously publicly reported her own rape accusation recently in Provo, Utah, and as a result has been disciplined as a student at Brigham Young University for allegedly violating the school’s “honor code.” (She is barred from withdrawing from courses or re-registering). Whether the sex was consensual must be investigated by Provo police, but BYU officials said they had heard enough to charge Barney with the nono of premarital sex. (Critics decried the advantage BYU thus gives rapists of BYU females—since the

women face the additional fear of university reprisals irrespective of the criminal case). LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES u Latest From Evangelicals: (1) Christian political activist David Barton told his “WallBuilders” radio audience recently that Disney’s anthropomorphic characters (e.g., Bambi) are simply gateways to kids’ learning Babylonian pagan worship. (2) Brooklyn, New York, “prophet” Yakim Manasseh Jordan told followers recently that he has arranged with God to bring people back from the dead if they— cheerfully—offer a “miracle favor cloud” of gifts as low as $1,000. (3) James David Manning, chief pastor of the Atlah Worldwide Missionary Church in Harlem, in a recent online sermon, stepped up his usual anti-gay rhetoric, warning “sodomites” that God would soon send

flames “coming out of your butthole.” (A gay and transgender support group is fundraising to buy Atlah’s building and set up a shelter). POLICE REPORT u The Tap Inn bar in Billings, Montana, released April 11 surveillance video of the armed robbery staged by two men and a woman (still on the lam), showing two liplocked customers at the bar, lost in affectionate embrace during the entire crime, seemingly oblivious of danger. The robbers, perhaps impressed by the couple’s passion, ignored them—even while emptying the cash register just a few feet away. u Andru Jolstad, 26, was arrested on April 16 and charged with using a pry bar to break into the cash boxes of four machines at Zap’s Arcade in Mesa, Arizona. Following citizen tips, a cop arrived to find Jolstad on his knees alongside one machine

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