Culture Magazine Colorado September 2016 by Culture Magazine

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iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

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iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

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CULTURE M

Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Jamie Solis Managing Editor Addison Herron-Wheeler Editorial Contributors Benjamin Adams, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Anthony Herrold, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Joe Jatcko, David Jenison, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Tyler Markwart, Meital Manzuri, Sandy Moriarty, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designer Tanya Delgadillo Regional Manager Kim Cook Account Executives Rob Bayless, Jon Bookatz, Eric Bulls, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Teddy Helms, Brad Hoffner, Emily Musser, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Chris Thatcher, Vic Zaragoza 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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09.16 Vol 8 IssUE 3

contents 40 DOWN TO EARTH

Actress Lucy Lawless talks about her heritage, her versatile acting experience and her support of medical cannabis.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com SEPtember

ON THE COVER:

p h o t o b y M a le a k re s h o k

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contents

inside

09.2016

32 features 74

Growing Problems Illegal cannabis grows in Colorado harm national forests.

The Re-Scheduling Cannabis Debacle DEA wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t re-schedule cannabis right now, but is pushing for more research by FDA in order to do so in the near future.

Industry Insider Michael Straumietisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; company Advanced Nutrients has become the leading nutrients company in cannabis horticulture.

Best Results Cannabis is essential to the healing process for Swedish UFC Fighter Per Eklund.

Canna-Comediennes Female-led comedies, especially those that feature cannabis, are growing in popularity in television and film.

Electronic Elevation Ghost Dance is riding the electronic movement to success with his enthusiasm and energy.

78 departments

news 12 News Nuggets 16 By the Numbers 18 Local News 20 Legal Corner reviews 22 Dispensary Highlight 24 Company Highlights 30 Advocate Highlight 32 Strain & Concentrate Reviews 36 Cool Stuff 38 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 72 Growing Culture 74 Destination Unknown 76 Profile in Courage 78 Recipes 82 Colorado

online Exclusive! d Texas Wants to Expand Cannabis

Laws in 2017 d Arizona Puts Legal Cannabis on

the Ballot

Now! 84 News of the Weird

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Vol 8 IssUE 3

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NEWS

nuggets

Federal Heights Puts Recreational Cannabis on Ballot Even after statewide recreational legalization, many municipalities in Colorado opted not to sell cannabis, or to sell medical-only, fearing the changes cannabis would bring to their communities. Now that it’s clear those changes are mostly positive, more places are allowing medical and recreational sales. Federal Heights, an area just outside of Denver, recently decided to put recreational cannabis on the ballot in light of their success with medical sales. The plan is to use this money to invigorate the economy and bring new growth to the city. “As we have seen over the past few years, legalizing cannabis has led to many positive things,” Jamie Lewis, Founder of Mountain Medicine, told CULTURE. “I do believe it can save a town and/or state from financial troubles; we have seen the amount of money it has brought the state of Colorado and cities like Denver. Federal Heights has had the opportunity to watch Denver succeed in regulating cannabis responsibly. They can take the idea of generating money to save a city financially to help change the conversation.” New medical dispensaries are already opening their doors in Federal Heights, which will help prepare for a possible shift to recreational sales.

Illinois Becomes the 21st State to Decriminalize Cannabis Governor Bruce Rauner signed SB-2228 into law, which makes possession of cannabis, up to 10 grams, punishable by a citation and fine up to $200. This law makes Illinois the 21st state to decriminalize cannabis. The new bill also outlines specifics to determine whether someone is driving under the influence of cannabis. While Rauner has received some negative feedback from local police forces in regards to this new legislation, he clearly has the support of the cannabis community. Founder and CEO of an Illinois cannabis cultivation company, Revolution Enterprises, and Co-Founder of the Medical Cannabis Alliance, Tim McGraw shared his support for Rauner’s decision with CULTURE, “I think it’s positive overall for the industry and the movement, and [we should] not be locking people up for cannabis. It’s ridiculous. Anybody who gets locked up for a plant that gives them therapeutic value,” he said, “I think that finally the administration is seeing how it can economically help the state.” McGraw and many others who support the bill hope to see it eliminate the negative stigma around cannabis use and keep those who possess small amounts of cannabis from having a criminal record.

Sufferers of PTSD Who Want to use Medical Cannabis Take Their Case to the Court of Appeals Although Colorado has extensive access to medical and recreational cannabis, PTSD is still not listed as one of the qualified conditions for medical cannabis treatment. Despite the fact that studies and anecdotal reports have shown positive results in those who use cannabis to treat trauma, the state of Colorado has repeatedly rejected petitions to include PTSD on the list of treatable issues. “It is tragic to see veterans in Colorado still fighting for access to medical marijuana,” stated Mark Slaugh, Executive Director of the Cannabis Business Alliance in Colorado. “While cannabis is a federally illegal substance, civilians in areas of legalization are granted access to its many benefits, but our nation’s veterans are not provided the same rights. One out of four patients who are prescribed an opiate—the more commonly prescribed PTSD medication—will struggle with severe and crippling addiction. This is just a non-issue with cannabis.” As of this writing, the decision is still being fought in court, before the Colorado Board of Health. The board could have a decision soon, or if oral arguments are requested, three to six months in the future.

Puerto Rico Certifies its First Medical Cannabis Doctor Dr. Michael Soler became the first doctor in Puerto Rico to recommend medical cannabis. Soler originally started his cannabis training in the state of Colorado. Then, once the regulation was approved in Puerto Rico, he complied with all the new regulations that had been enacted by the governor and coincidentally became the first doctor permitted to prescribe medical cannabis. Although Dr. Soler can legally prescribe cannabis, he explained how this is just the first step in the process to get patients high-THC cannabis in an interview with CULTURE, “In Puerto Rico, it is clearly established that anything that is dispensed and provided to patients has to be grown and produced on the island. In that sense, we are basically at the very first stage of the process. Stage two is now starting to become a reality. Crops are being grown, cannabis clinics are starting to be established throughout the island. We still need about six more months for the product to become available on the island.” There are 14 conditions that qualify patients for medical cannabis, which include HIV, cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, migraines and chronic pain, among others. 12

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The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Colorado has made from the sale of cannabis products during the first five months of 2016: (Source: Colorado Department of Revenue)

NEWS

486

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the Roaring Fork School District received from the BEST Grant Program, which was from taxes collected on wholesale sales of cannabis: (Source: 9News)

The percentage of tourists who traveled to Colorado specifically for legal cannabis in 2015: (Source: The Gazette-Colorado Springs)

The number of plants that can be grown in unincorporated Douglas County by a single caregiver, decreased from 99 plants, according to a newly approved ordinance by the Board of Douglas County Commissioners: (Source: Highland Ranch Herald)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the state of Maryland has spent on reviewing applicants for medical cannabis business licenses since January: (Source: The Baltimore Sun)

2.3

The updated cost to apply for a medical cannabis card in Montana, in dollars, decreased from its original price at $75: (Source: San Francisco Chronicle)

The 420 Games Denver

WHAT: The 420 Games Denver. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Sept. 24. Berkeley Lake Park, 46th Ave. and Sheridan Blvd., Denver INFO: Visit 420games.org for details.

With the Rio Olympics having come and gone, cannabis consumers might feel motivated to show off their athleticism. Now, cannabis-loving residents in Colorado at least might get that opportunity. For the first time ever, The 420 Games will be held in Denver. This exciting event features a 4.20 mile Fun Run, which is a unique and exciting way to encourage participants to 16

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get out there and be active. There will be live music performed at the finish line to help pump up participants, and informative speeches will help educate attendees about the many wonders of cannabis. Come get exercise while spreading positive information to help better the public’s perspective on cannabis and those who consume the plant.

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that was given back to Boulder County communities from cannabis sales tax revenue since legal sales began: (Source: The Denver Post)

8.4

The estimated percentage of professional football players who use cannabis to treat their various ailments, according to former running back Ricky Williams: (Source:

International Business Times)

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NEWS

LOCAL

STRICT REGULATIONS

Douglas County puts heavy restrictions on at-home cultivation

by Jamie Solis awmakers in Douglas County have set an extremely restricting ordinance for residential cannabis cultivation in the county. In early August, Douglas County commissioners passed an ordinance to limit the number of plants that can be grown in a primary residence to 12 total and at six plants per patient. Further, the ordinance prohibits outdoor grows completely and does not allow cannabis cultivation in residential rental properties by tenants, unless the tenants receive permission from the property owner. Further, the ordinance states that cannabis grows are only permitted in one designated space per plot that is no more than 1,000 cubic feet. The grow must be contained in a locked, enclosed space. If the locked space is attached to a home, then the house must sit on at least one acre of property. The ordinance also makes it illegal to use compressed flammable gas like butane for cannabis grows. Chief Deputy Steve Johnson of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department has shared reasons why the department believes grow operations are bad for Douglas County. In a release from the Douglas County Sheriff Department in Colorado, Chief Deputy Johnson said, “We have a public safety issue that we believe this ordinance will help us address. Safety concerns associated with home-grown marijuana include fires resulting from improper modifications to electrical systems, chemicals or butane gas stored without proper ventilation, as well as risks of robbery and home invasion,” Johnson said. CULTURE inquired about why the department supported the new ordinance

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with Chief Deputy Johnson. “The loopholes in Colorado’s laws governing marijuana have made it attractive for people in Colorado to set up residential grow operations under the ruse of having a medical marijuana license with an elevated plant count,” Chief Deputy Johnson said. “Before the Douglas County ordinance was enacted, there was hardly anything we could do. Now we feel we have found the balance and still are respectful to people’s rights according to Amendment 20 and 64.” After four Colorado doctors recently faced disciplinary action for over-prescribing a high number of cannabis plants that their patients could grow, which was up to 501 plants in one case, it doesn’t come as a surprise that many counties are cracking down on at-home cannabis cultivation. However, in a county where medical cannabis dispensaries are not permitted, growing cannabis at home is the only way many patients are able to get access to the medicine they need. These strict cultivation guidelines set out by Douglas County will make it really hard for patients to obtain medical cannabis. While the limiting of the plant count to 12 may not prove to be detrimental to the care of patients who own homes on at least one acre of land and do not need to convert plants into concentrates, not allowing outdoor cultivation or cannabis grows in residential rental property could do harm to patients who are not home owners. Even home owners whose houses sit on less than one acre of land will not be allowed to grow cannabis in their residences. Patients should not have to turn to the black market to obtain medicine that they desperately need. Violators of this new ordinance could face a fine of up to $1,000. c

23rd Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Summer is sadly almost over, so get ready to commemorate the end of the season at this killer music festival. The 23rd Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival will feature sensational musical performances and endless brews. The artist lineup includes Joe Walsh, Gary Clark Jr., The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring Rick Vito and Shakey Graves, among many others. While you’re enjoying live music, adults ages 21 and over can enjoy beers and other alcoholic drinks available for purchase. If you have little ones in tow, there will also be a kid’s area with clowns, puppets, face painting, inflatable games and a climbing wall. Those who want to stay the entire weekend can lodge or camp nearby. WHAT: 23rd Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, Sept. 16-Sun, Sept. 18. 500 E. Colorado Ave., Telluride. INFO: Visit tellurideblues. com for details.

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NEWS

legal corner

CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY Cannabis is in for some major alterations to its regulation

by Ann Toney

ave you read lately any of the Colorado regulations for medical cannabis or retail cannabis? Epic and cumbersome. The regs have greatly expanded from the original regulations that once stood, so while it would be difficult to cover all of the changes, we can report to you on significant proposed changes to the industry. “The State Licensing Authority (Marijuana Enforcement Division) intends to replace or revise this rule’s ‘production management provisions’ as early as January 2017, by transitioning to an ‘output-based production management’ model. Existing and prospective licenses should be on notice that the new or revised regulations may impact the production limits provided for in this rule.” What are they talking about? They are talking about production; how to determine the THC content of a mixture. Before, if you took 100mg of cannabis, combined it with brownie mix and got 10 brownies, then the government would say each brownie had 10mg of cannabis in it. That though is not really how it seems to work out so the government

is looking to change how to better measure the amount of THC in each serving of a product. The “output-based” production management looks at everything that goes into production of the product; not just the cannabis. What is going on across the nation is each new state implementing regulations for their new medical or retail cannabis laws, looks at previous regulations from other states and then goes even further passing more detailed and stringent regulations than the last state. So, with each new state the requirements for cannabis seem to get more rigorous. Do we really need all of these regulations? For example, in Nevada the government is talking about now fingerprinting each patient. There is another state that has had medical cannabis since 2014, and they are losing money because they just don’t have the patient base to support the industry. They have come up with so many hurdles and requirements for patients to traverse in obtaining medical cannabis many patients just have not found it worthwhile to climb on board. If you give

people too many hoops to jump through, sometimes they simply decide not to participate. Hard to believe but with the right prohibitions in place, any budding industry’s growth can get choked. Particularly an industry which is powered by the populace and not by the government. So, Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) is working on adding regulations for the medical and retail cannabis industry. A public hearing on the permanent rules is scheduled for September 2, 2016, from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Ralph L. Carr, Colorado Judicial Building, 1300 Broadway, Room 1A, 1B and 1C, Denver, 80203. Members of the public are invited to attend and may testify. In the next couple of

“What is going on across the nation is each new state implementing regulations for their new medical or retail cannabis laws, looks at previous regulations from other states and then goes even further passing more detailed and stringent regulations than the last state.” Legal Corner columns, we will review the new regulations and point out substantial changes proposed by the government. Please stay informed in order to keep this your industry. c

Elevate and Align Ganja Yoga Retreat WHAT: Elevate and Align Ganja Yoga Retreat. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, Sept. 23-Sun, Sept. 25. Aspen Canyon Ranch, 13206 Co Rd., Parshall. INFO: Visit twistedsister.yoga/colorado-yoga-retreats for details. Get ready to find your center and balance at this Ganja Yoga Retreat by Twisted Sister Yoga in the peaceful setting of the Rocky Mountains. Everyone deserves to spend a weekend decompressing and focusing on their overall wellbeing, and this retreat will give participants the ability to do exactly that with cannabis as well. The weekend experience will consist of daily yoga and meditation classes, transformational 20

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exploration, as well as many activating activities like a dispensary tour, mindful coloring, an Ayurvedic Workshop and a Vedic Astrology Reading Workshop. Participants will also enjoy two nights of lodging in a charming ranch environment with a river, outdoor patios, wildlife and even Wi-Fi for those who need to stay connected. There will also be custom vegetarian cuisine to keep the healthfulness of body and mind.

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REVIEWs

dispensary highlight

Buddy Boy Brands, Highlands Interviewed: Ashby (Store Manager) and Kristel (Assistant Manager) 4012 W. 38th Ave., Denver, 80212 (720) 328-9971 buddyboybrands.com How and when did your dispensary start up? 38th Highland started in July 2014 after taking over previous dispensary Pako Lolo. Since then, we have been building our clientele and grew to more than 300 patients to date. Renovation in process to open up for MED/REC coming soon! What does your dispensary offer clients that they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find anywhere else? What do you specialize in, if anything? Top class customer service! Identifying our customer needs and achieving

satisfaction by delivering an excellent shopping experience.

What is the one thing you want patients to know about your dispensary?

What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a dispensary? Biggest joys?

We do our best in looking after our patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs. Our top notch service brings patients back to our store and it is safe and comfortable place for them to ask questions and be well informed.

The biggest challenge is adapting to new regulation and law changes that not only affect our dispensary but all companies in the industry that supply us with quality products and items. Our biggest joy is being rewarded with the opportunity to grow with a new industry that allows us to openly discuss the benefits of marijuana strains and products.

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If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? Remember to get a badge from the Marijuana Enforcement Division and

do not stop till you get the position that you want. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the cannabis community? The most important thing to us is to grow and gain as much knowledge of this industry and to be able to inform people about cannabis and its properties. Also, to help patients and guide them with their medical cannabis needs. We would like to be the top brand/company that patients are looking forward to go to get their meds. c

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REVIEWs

company highlight

iPuff How would you describe your company? What is your specialty? iPuff is a Denver company founded in late 2013 as a cannabis vape brand focused on mobilizing the vaping experience while optimizing the benefits of CBD through our RAW and DRIP products. What do you offer consumers/clients that others don’t? We offer a competent line of Vape Pens and CBD products that contain zero THC making them legal in all 50 states, and enjoyable on the ride wherever home might be. We also offer a local dab and vape lounge for clients to sample the technology as well as

3405 N. Downing St. Ste. D, Denver www.ipuffvape.com 1 (855) 969-PUFF

educate themselves on the benefits within. You know, the kind of cool place to kick back, take a dab and debate about the bullsh*t that comes out of Hillary’s and Donald’s mouth. How and why did your company start up? Started on July 10, 2013, with my wife’s savings! After getting laid off by a company of 10 years she realized she no longer trusted the corporate mentality and wanted to create something of her own. We identified a need for a reputable vape brand in Denver that backed their product and serviced the dispensaries the way they needed to be serviced. She already possessed the network of international manufacturers that would be key in the

process of establishing a reputable vape brand. Quality customer service, and constant upgrades of technology are what have gotten us to where we are today. What words of advice would you offer anyone seeking to enter the world of cannabis business? Follow your heart. Build a sustainable business that your family would be proud of. Create strong bonds in the community, quality products and follow the belief that you are in fact the target audience. There are many great opportunities that still exist, be patient and never quit being a student of the plant. What are the goals and vision moving forward, for

your company? Where do you see your company in five years? The goal is simple: Continue to advance our technology, create endless bonds and ride the wave of positive energy into the canna-future with all the beautiful people on board! What do you hope to accomplish in the MJ industry? We hope to help build an industry that separates itself from other big industries, one that claims its own identity and acts as a beneficial addition to a society that could use some uplifting culture that actually cares about the generations to come. c #iPuffParty2016

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REVIEWs

company highlight

INTEGRA®

by Desiccare Inc. Interviewed: Ben Blankenhorn, Manager of New Business Development 985 Damonte Ranch Pkwy. Suite 320, Reno, NV (775) 393-1500 www.integra-products.com How would you describe your company? What is your specialty? Desiccare Inc. has been in operation since 1994 providing quality atmospheric packaging solutions to a wide variety of Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Food Safety General Packaging and Military applications. Desiccare is well known in and trusted worldwide by many of biggest names in Pharmaceutical and Food Packaging. The INTEGRA™ brand is aimed specifically at cannabis, cigars, produce and other agricultural products which are sensitive to atmospheric conditions 26

in their environment. Our philosophy is simple; provide cost savings by eliminating waste and preventing risk. In the case of Integra™ and the BOOST™ products, the industry and consumers need it. We prevent profit loss for those on the industrial side of the industry, and we preserve the integrity of the cannabis purchased by the consumers. What do you offer consumers/clients that others don’t? A lot of our clients in the cannabis industry have carried similar products in the past but have been burned by their suppliers

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and their questionably unfavorable business tactics. We depend on our worldwide distribution network therefore we understand the importance of loyalty and trust in the business world. Trust and loyalty is ever so important and valued in the cannabis industry. The folks who partner with us really appreciate that. As for our Integra® products, we offer a full line of products which have proven to be perfect for cannabis. We have specialized products for drying cannabis, monitoring humidity, removing oxygen, ethylene control and much more. The most popular product in our lineup is the new BOOST® humidity control pack. This pack absorbs or releases moisture to regulate relative humidity (RH) within a contained environment. This is a salt-free solution that regulates RH in a container. This prevents weight loss, preserves the terpene profile and maintains the integrity of the plant material. It allows for a large outdoor grower to harvest a specialty strain in August and hold on to it into winter or early spring when it can be sold in it’s original state as a premier product. What separates the BOOST® from other humidity control solutions, is that it does not contain silica and it is a saltfree solution. The use of salt is very common as a humidity control solution however we don’t feel it is appropriate in the cannabis world. The leading salt producers advertise on their website, various ways to reduce odors using salts. Considering that cannabis is sold exclusively by weight and scent, we had to find another way to get the job done, and we did. And people are loving it.

How and why did your company start up? Desiccare Inc. was formed in 1994 in Santa Fe Springs, California. Anytime someone asks me in a hotel lobby bar what I do for work, I say, “Do you know those little packs that say “Do Not Eat” in pill bottles and jerky?” That’s what we do and have been doing for over 22 years. In addition to providing atmospheric control to the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms, Desiccare is trusted by America’s largest grocery chains to provide food safety solutions which ad up to 35 days of shelf life to fresh beef. Desiccare is also trusted by major goods packagers, and is an authorized supplier to the United States Military. What words of advice would you offer anyone seeking to enter the world of cannabis business? Enter the industry like you are walking on to the court for game seven of the NBA finals. Keep your head on a swivel and eyes wide open. There is a lot going on, and it is all happening very fast. It will keep you up at night, it will drain you, but it is fun! What do you hope to accomplish in the cannabis industry? We hope to continue to help growers, dispensaries and consumers produce, supply and enjoy the best cannabis products possible. I hope to assist the entire cannabis industry in seeking its legitimacy in the mainstream. To do that, producers and sellers must employ the proper quality control and precautionary measures in place just any legitimate food or pharmaceutical producer in the country. INTEGRA® by Desiccare Inc. can most certainly help the industry become what it struggles to be. c

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REVIEWs

advocate highlight

Ian Barringer When and how did you become an advocate for cannabis? My wife is a medical marijuana patient, and in 2009 she was suffering a terrible flare-up of an autoimmune condition. She was using medical marijuana to manage her pain and the side effects of her prescription drugs, but I realized that there was no real quality control for the marijuana products she was using. The more I looked, the more fascinated I became with the science and technology of marijuana. So I leapt in, and now we’re the oldest and one of the largest marijuana testing labs in the state. How has cannabis benefited your life? I’ve seen first-hand how it has helped my wife, and how it’s helped friends and family with conditions from Crohn’s Disease to epilepsy. For many, it has given them quality of life that they hadn’t had for years. And, of course,

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Occupation: Owner, Rm3 Labs Colorado

it has allowed me to build a thriving business, supporting 20 employees and their families.

If you could change one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would it be?

What’s your greatest achievement for the cannabis cause?

I really think we’re seeing a nationwide shift in how marijuana is being viewed —from a threat to an opportunity. Even my conservative New England family has gone from “what are you thinking?” to asking thoughtful questions about the impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado. That said, I’d love for regulators to make it easier for scientists to conduct the research we need to bring the industry to the next level. Obviously, on a federal level the DEA and NIDA stand in the way of research. But even on a state level, it’s difficult for researchers to get the permission they need to use marijuana in their laboratories and to get access to state-licensed labs for testing. We’ve worked hard over the last couple of years to change that, but there’s still a long way to go. c

I think it’s been a lot of little victories —helping individuals find their ideal products, helping companies grow by maximizing the quality of their products, helping ease the regulators out of their “zero tolerance” attitude for marijuana. Who do you look up to or admire? I truly admire the families who have moved to Colorado to get access to medical marijuana. They’ve disrupted their lives and torn up roots in the hope of being able to get relief. It’s our obligation to help ensure they get that relief, and, ultimately, to get that same access anywhere in the United States.

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REVIEWs

strain & concentrate

Mendocino Purple Urkle Live Resin One of our favorite attractions in Mendocino is the Skunk Train, whose name is so hilariously ironic considering its proximity to amazing cannabis that it shouldn’t be lost on anyone. If you’re not a fan of riding the rails, we’d highly recommend the 100 percent indica Mendocino Purple Urkle Live Resin that Chronic Creations is churning out right here in Colorado. Available at Chronic Therapy, we were hard-pressed to tell the difference between a nug of Mendo Purps we had laying around and their live resin. Positively rubbery, sweet funk, the flavor came through somehow more intense, with sweet notes on every exhale. Lightly golden, we were in awe that it almost had a sparkle in the eye of each fragment, just like that creepy old train conductor. An additional bonus: It was easy to pick up, not sticking to fingers like engine oil. Similar to a horn in the distance, we urge caution when first dabbing the Urkle, as it comes on fast and centers around the eyes. While you may feel tied to the proverbial tracks, there’s still tons of mental activity, so use this when dealing with extreme pain and can afford to take some time to better get to know your couch.

Available at: Chronic Therapy in Wheat Ridge.

Walter White Available at: Urban Dispensary in Denver.

It’s been three years since Breaking Bad left the airways, but leave it to the cannabis community to keep the memory alive with countless tribute strains. Count Walter White among our favorites, a cross of Flo, Sour Diesel and Bubba Kush we picked up from Denver’s Urban Dispensary. Grown by The Mountain Girl, we wouldn’t be surprised if this was grown in a secret underground bunker, as the trichome coverage and structure was superb for such a wild mix of genetics. Richly green with burnt red hairs, it’s hard to see the Kush lineage, although you can definitely smell it. Rubbery as the inside of Jesse Pinkman’s hazmat suit, it also picks up a subtle sweetness from the Flo that leaves you craving another hit. For an indica-dominant hybrid, we were pleasantly surprised with the initial energy rush that hits initially, although smoother than anything Heisenberg cooked up. It’s creative and mood elevating, giving a thoughtful cerebral effect before moving into reviewers’ lower limbs. While you may feel like you’re waist deep in the desert toward the end of your experience with Walter White, it settles down well for a night of binge watching your favorite cable series.

Available at: The Clinic in Denver.

Panama Punch Live Resin Batter When concocted as a drink, you might as well be ordering off of Señor Frog’s “Worst Vacation Hangover Ever” menu. As live resin batter, Panama Punch is the perfect way to spice up about any situation, as the versatile concentrate checked every box off of our dream getaway wish list. Lingering tropical fruit and ripe banana notes had testers thinking they had popped the top on their grandma’s fruit salad. It was a happy accident. The slightly tacky consistency alone can tell you they did a masterful job at The Lab of preserving terps, although we had to warn one staffer to stop playing with it like rubber cement. With a high that felt like a true hybrid, a pulsing sensation signaled the start of the initial head rush, then washed over us like someone had tipped over the Kool Aid man. What we didn’t expect was to be so energized by the Neville’s Haze half of the equation, making this ideal if you’re looking for a little motivation to hit a hike or the gym. Due to the strength, however, you can experience slight anxiety, so start slow until you understand how much punch you can handle.

Available at: DANK in Denver.

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Cinderella 99 Even in one slipper, we have to agree with Beyoncé that girls run the world, especially if that world is covered with plants half as nice as this Cinderella 99. Call her Cindy 99 or C99 (she has a lot of nicknames) but we were glad to see her at DANK in Denver. A sativa leaning powerhouse, the initial sweetness popping open the jar had us thinking of a lemon and berry pie resting on a windowsill, almost powerful enough to lift us off our feet. Expertly trimmed and dense as a dwarf, the eighth we picked up lasted us far past midnight as a well executed cure helped it not disappear like so many pumpkins. While it’s all love around the office, even wicked step-sister-types were transformed by the happy, uplifting nature of the Cindy 99 that makes it perfect for patients dealing with depression. We also couldn’t help but notice that there was significant pain relief considering how light the effect was, helping muscles relax as the effects continued on. In terms of a wellbalanced strain, Cinderella 99 works great for just about everyone but Sneezy.

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REVIEWs

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3. PuffCo Plus

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REVIEWs

entertainment

BOOK

Release Date: September 20 Available on: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Baking To Get Baked MJ Odingreen Ursa Minor Media Ltd. In an innovative infused twist, this cheeky cannabis cookbook teaches homecooks how to use cannabisinfused flour for making baked goods, instead of the more traditional cannabisinfused butter method. Baking with cannaflour can be easier to control dosing and has no cannabis taste. A small selection of classic baked goods and color images make this book a great starter cookbook. Odingreen’s recipes are easy to follow, and his humor and wit make this cookbook entertaining too! (Alex Bradley)

GAME

Destiny: Rise of Iron Dev. Bungie Pub. Activision Fans of Destiny will soon be able to embark on a new and epic journey with Destiny: Rise of Iron. In this fourth expansion, players will follow the guidance of Lord Saladin, the last of the Iron Lords, while exploring a new campaign that revolves around the Fallen, and includes new missions, designated PvP and PvE maps, gear, weapons and of course, a new raid. Rise of Iron is vast and filled with plenty of action, but keep in mind that this expansion is the first to become unavailable on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, unlike previous Destiny games. (Nicole Potter)

MOVIE

Keanu Warner Bros. Pictures Dir. Peter Atencio While many may have worried that the comedic partnership Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele may have worn itself thin by the end of their much beloved sketch show Key & Peele, those fears were handily assuaged by the pair’s big screen debut, Keanu. Revolving around the recovery of an incredibly cute kitten by an incredibly violent, drug trafficking street gang, led by none other than Method Man, Keanu deals big in belly laughs, personal transformation stories and George Michael jokes. Proving that Key & Peele’s charm can be stretched further than half-hour installments, Keanu is the perfect debut film for the two. (Simon Weedn)

MUSIC

Interdimensional Extinction Blood Incantation Dark Descent Records Local death metalers Blood Incantation have been lighting up Denver recently, playing locally and getting national and international attention for their most recent record, Interdimensional Extinction. The album features five blistering tracks of death metal that pull influence from classic bands like Morbid Angel and Suffocation, but with a decidedly unique and modern twist. Its subject matter focuses on cosmic obliteration, and its bleak album art and inscrutable logo perfectly convey this. Check this out if you want to hear modern death metal from the mile-high city. (Addison HerronWheeler)

CORRECTION: Last month, in the review for Big Book of Buds Greatest Hits, we cited the publisher of this book as Green Candy Press, but the publisher of the book is actually Quick Trading Co.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Tenacious Talent Actress and Activist Lucy Lawless is Fierce, Fearless and Will Fight For What is Right by Paul Rogers

“Listen, its being available hasn’t made me start smoking [marijuana] any more than legalized homosexual marriage has made me want to turn gay . . . I don’t know what they’re afraid of!”

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

p h o t o s b y M a a rte n d e B o er

Lucy Lawless thinks before speaking. Only not, apparently, to consider what her publicist or manager might want her to say. For while she’s forever associated with fantasy action roles, the refreshingly opinionated Ash vs Evil Dead actress conveys a defiantly down-to-earth demeanor in her unaffected Down Under brogue. Raised with five brothers (whom she describes, retrospectively, as “dickheads”) in suburban Auckland, New Zealand, Lawless embraced toughness and humor as survival mechanisms in a boy’s world. Her mother recalls a daughter who was not even aware of being a girl until age eight, yet became a teen wife and mom before being crowned “Mrs. New Zealand” at age 21. Following a stint on a domestic television comedy show, Lawless’ portal to pop-icon status was an ostensibly mundane 1995 twist of fate. When another actress fell ill and was unable to travel to New Zealand for filming, Lawless landed the role of a leather-clad warrior called Xena in an episode of fantasy TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The episode was titled “Warrior Princess.” Created by Lawless’ now-husband, writerdirector-producer Rob Tapert, Xena: Warrior Princess grew into a six-season spin-off smash shown in more than 100 countries, making the statuesque Lawless a global sex symbol (declared one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” by People magazine in 1997). While Lawless remains synonymous with Xena, she’s stayed busy ever since, often portraying similarly stoic characters in TV productions including the Starz network’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand; Sci-Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica; WGN America’s Salem; and lately as the mysterious Ruby Knowby in Starz’ wildly popular horror comedy series Ash vs Evil Dead. Not to mention having two more children, an occasional singing career and getting arrested for environmental activism. CULTURE chatted with the affably self-assured Lawless about her disinterest in the fantasy genre, celebrity responsibility, pro-pot tweeting—and nice problems to have. iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Season 2 of Ash vs Evil Dead premieres in October. Without spoiling anything, what can you tell us about the new season? Super-high-octane! It’s like four times the size of last season. I don’t really know how that happened . . . it just evolved that way. The footage that we’re shooting, honestly, it’s like . . . two Spartacus episodes crunched down into [a] half-hour of Evil Dead. It’s super-technical, it’s superrewarding . . . it’s just ferocious this season. And very funny! What are the unique joys of portraying Ruby in the series, compared with your career’s many other roles? I guess I’ve always played sort of outsiders, in a way, but it strikes me

with you. Like, American comedy eludes me. I’ve dabbled in sitcom and things, but it’s not something that I understand on a cellular level . . . I really admire it, and I really like it—I just can’t really do it. A recurring figure in your career is producer Sam Raimi, creator of the Evil Dead universe, producer of Xena: Warrior Princess, and executive producer of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. How would you define Sam’s genius? Sam is the ultimate kook. He’s a very unique individual. He’s kind of like Hollywood’s Mork from Ork—y’know, he’s been pulled out of another time and place. Your husband is Sam’s longtime collaborator Rob Tapert. How is it

I just think it’s twisted that we withhold available medications from somebody in pain—it’s disgusting. Why wouldn’t you give it to them? How completely sick. We’re the ones who are sick—we’re sicker than they are. that she’s the farthest of the outliers I’ve ever played, because she is not liked or trusted even within her own gang . . . It’s funny to play somebody who’s really hated. Your first ever TV job was in a sketch comedy series and Ash vs Evil dead is comedy horror. Are your comedic talents something you’d like to indulge more often, or do you instill subtle humor into most of your roles? Some things are just situationally funny. I mean, I’ve always thought that the parlor games in Spartacus were really funny— really ironic, really painful . . . So, yeah, I do find most of what I do funny, ‘cos life is a divine comedy. I would like to get back to [comedy]. I’d like to be better at it, to be honest 42

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working with your spouse, and how does that blur the line between your personal and professional lives? We work together great, because really our roles do not overlap. My role as an actress—that’s the easy bit. The much more demanding aspect of my, I say “job” in inverted commas, is being spouse of the producer—hearing the download of all the production issues and personnel issues and being supportive . . . not to get involved myself, but keeping everybody calm is what I do. What were your acting ambitions in your teens, and how do these compare with the actuality of your career to date? Oh, I wanted to go to RADA [Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, in London]!

I don’t know what happened—I wanted to play Lady Macbeth, and then I get tricked into this crazy action television, which was a complete assault to my being, because I was never good at sports. My nickname at school was “Unco,” for “uncoordinated,” and here I was getting bloody bashed 24/7 by stuntmen and training and trying to develop some sort of reflexes—which I did, [but] the first couple of years I was black and blue. It was a big shock to me. To be honest with you, I don’t watch fantasy shows, myself. I’m really not into that stuff. At this stage of my life, I wanna see people . . . having real problems like me and my friends—y’know, real-world problems. I’m not into the hunt for the magic bloody unicorn, or whatever. There was an element of fate in your being cast as Xena back in 1995. How different might your life have been today had that not happened? I would have had a different family; I’d probably be living in Italy . . . I would not be living in New Zealand, and I would never have stopped moving. I’m in love with perpetual motion, so had I not married [Xena creator Rob Tapert] I would not have the stability in my life; my children wouldn’t have had that stability—I’d just be a gypsy. Inadvertently or otherwise, you’ve become an icon of “comic-con” culture. That seems to be something you embrace. What am I going to do—crap on it? You should be so lucky to have these “problems!” I’m very good at rationalizing anything I can’t change . . . You better stick with the fans, and they’ll stick with you. I’ve been given this amazing opportunity to have a great life—mustn’t grumble! Would you say you’ve been somewhat typecast over the years? If so, do you necessarily see that as a negative? I suppose if you look at my major characters, I get cast as strong, slightly edgy, twisted people—or at least that’s what I try to bring to every role. No matter how she’s written, I’ll try to find the twist on it and try to make them compelling and make a bad person likeable and a good person a little bit gritty. So in a way I’ve taken fate and run with it and tried to make as much of it as I could.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

How close are those character traits on-screen to your off-screen self? My brothers used to give me assholes about being a show-off and dancing around to ballet and “who do you think you are?” kind of thing. And really punishing me for, I now see, being a girl . . . So I really had to drive all my femininity underground a little bit. It’s taken me to my 40s to start to try to reclaim that and discover some sort of softness. Because being tough and funny was the only way to survive in my house. Even though I am a feminist, I don’t have a hatred of men or a chip on my shoulder about things. I just . . . grew up thinking, in a way, I was one. You’ve also embraced your status as a gay icon, including participating in pride parades, but are a married heterosexual mom. Why are you so supportive of the LGBT community? Cos I like underdogs, and I feel that I relate to the underdog . . . I believe in justice and I feel like many gay people— obviously not all—understand global justice for everyone. You were a teen mom. How did rising to that considerable challenge help form the character that has made your so successful since? I didn’t understand it was a challenge. I think my family thought “oh, there go all her dreams of being an actress,” but within days of coming home from the hospital . . . I was full of energy; I was writing skits and things to produce into a show reel [and] went and filmed it. Jobs started to come from there. I just didn’t know any different, y’know? My parents never told me you can’t do something. Even if they secretly thought it, they didn’t tell me it—and I try to do the same for my kids. 46

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

world in skin cancer, I realized that the actions of people globally can affect people locally.

I don’t think I knew that marijuana could be medical when I was growing Up . . . [but] I know it does a lot less harm to society than alcohol.

You still live in New Zealand. How has impacted your relationship with celebrity and the media compared with living in, say, L.A., New York or London? If you live in L.A., you’ve just got all these comparisons of how “not-cool” you are . . . Living in New Zealand, nobody cares about that stuff anyway, so it’s a non-issue. Also, I like to go it alone . . . I don’t have entourages; I don’t tell people what I’m up to. You have been active with environmental NGO Greenpeace, 48

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including being arrested in 2012 for boarding an oil-drilling ship. Why Greenpeace? I knew the director [of Greenpeace New Zealand], and I knew a bunch of those people from 20 years before when I acted [in] . . . The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior [TV movie about the sinking of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland, by the French intelligence service]. So I had a long-standing respect for them as individuals . . . And, also, because [New Zealanders] lead the

You’re a board member of New Zealand’s Starship Foundation, benefitting children’s healthcare, and have been involved with animal rights organizations such as Paw Justice. Do you see it as your responsibility to use your celebrity for good in those ways? Well, I don’t want it to bloody sell lipstick! That just bores the shit out of me, all that stuff . . . [Celebrity is] currency, y’know— use it for something that does some good for the world. In May, you tweeted a fairly stronglyworded pro-medical cannabis statement. Could you expand upon the sentiments behind this? I just think it’s twisted that we withhold available medications from somebody in pain—it’s disgusting. Why wouldn’t you give it to them? How completely sick. We’re the ones who are sick—we’re sicker than they are. How have your views on recreational and medical use of cannabis changed over your lifetime? I don’t think I knew that marijuana could be medical when I was growing up. My views of marijuana haven’t really changed . . . I know it does a lot less harm to society than alcohol. I certainly tried it as a kid, I do think we have to be really informed about the facts, but it doesn’t bother me if people smoke pot. What are you views of cannabis legislation, both in New Zealand and elsewhere? They should legalize it so they know where it’s bloody coming from. Listen, its being available hasn’t made me start smoking [marijuana] any more than legalized homosexual marriage has made me want to turn gay . . . I don’t know what they’re afraid of! Your work with Greenpeace suggests that you’re very pro-active regarding issues about which you are passionate. Might you become more involved in medical cannabis activism? I doubt it, except to say that I absolutely support—I mean, I really, wholeheartedly support [medical marijuana]. It’s medicine, man—nothing works like it, is what I’m hearing, so it’s very cruel and unusual to deny a palliative medicine from these [seriously ill] people. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Lucy Lawless: A Timeline 1968: Born in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand

1995: Got her big break as Xena, the warrior princess, in 1995 on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as a villain for Kevin Sorbo’s heroic Hercules. The character was so popular though that Lawless’ Xena was given her own show that same year.

1989: Made her professional acting debut on the New Zealand sketch comedy show Funny Business.

1997: Made her Broadway debut as Rizzo in Grease. Named one of People’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.”

1998: Hosted Saturday Night Live, a badge of honor in the entertainment industry. During this year, she also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

2001: After six seasons, Xena is forced to hang up her chakram when the show ends its run. She also narrated and starred in the Discovery Channel documentary, Gladiatrix.

2003: A newly discovered dwarf planet is named after her character Xena. 2005: Joined the SyFy channel remake of Battlestar Galactica as the Cylon D’Anna Biers, aka Number Three.

2002 – 2008: Appeared on a number of popular films and TV shows, including; X-Files, Spider-Man, Eurotrip, Veronica Mars, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boogeyman and Bedtime Stories.

2002: Stated that Xena and Gabrielle (played by Renee O’Connor) were lovers, and lent her support to legislation in favor of same sex unions. Because of this and her stature as Xena, Lawless has become an icon in the LGBTQ community—a badge she wears with pride.

2007: Competed on the show Celebrity Duets, she finished second behind Alfonso Ribeiro.

2010: After Conquering Greece and space, Lawless turns her attention to ancient Rome by joining the cast of Spartacus for three seasons.

2011: Named a “climate ambassador” by Greenpeace, later arrested for boarding and preventing an oil-drilling ship from leaving port.

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2012: Cozies up with Nick Offerman’s iconic Ron Swanson character as his girlfriend and then wife on Parks and Recreation for three seasons.

2015: Fans can now watch Lawless on the Starz horror comedy Ash vs Evil Dead, where she plays the mysterious Ruby Santiago, who is somehow closely related to the Necronomicon. Also in 2015, she joined the cast of Salem, which follows the events of the titular town’s infamous witch trials. She plays Countess Marburg, one of the last remaining survivors of an ancient German coven.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Growing Problems

“An average size marijuana plot of approximately 1,000 plants requires up to 5,000 gallons of water daily.”

Illegal cannabis grows in Colorado harm national forests by Jamie Solis

An illegal grow operation that was happening on about five-acres of the Pike National Forest was discovered by the U.S. Forest Service just west of Colorado Springs, about six miles outside of Woodland Park in early August. Federal authorities removed 18,300 cannabis plants from the illegal grow operation. According to The Denver Post, the U.S. Forest Service stated that it had also seized 2,000 pounds of cannabis growing infrastructure, which included camping gear, chemicals, irrigation pipe, 50-pound bags of fertilizer and tarps. It was also reported that the official agency leading the investigation to find who is responsible for this grow is the forest service, although the Drug Enforcement Administration, El Paso County Sheriff Office SWAT Team and Department of

Homeland Security are assisting in the case. The week prior to this discovery, a different illegal cannabis grow operation was found inside San Isabel National Forest. The agencies who discovered this grow were able to remove 13,450 plants and a loaded shotgun. The task force also confiscated more than 1,000 pounds of growing infrastructure, which included camping gear, irrigation piping, flammable liquids and pesticides. The Forest Service said in a statement in response to this grow, “These illegal activities can also damage sensitive riparian areas, are often harmful or fatal to wildlife, and lead to other environmental problems.” The federal Fire Service works hard to maintain the integrity of the land. This is because forests provide

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us with materials for our everyday life, from lumber to clean air and water. On the U.S. Forest Service website, it says, “We must take care to sustainably manage our natural resources to meet current and future needs. This is one of the main goals of the Forest Service.” A past press release by the Forest Service entitled “Nation’s forests are severely damaged by marijuana grow sites” outlined the various ways the Forest Service and the environment is negatively affected by cannabis grows. “The effects of marijuana sites on natural resources are harsh. Native vegetation is cleared before planting. Thousands of feet of black tubing transport large volumes of water diverted from streams, lake, and public drinking water supplies. An average size marijuana plot of approximately 1,000 plants

requires up to 5,000 gallons of water daily.” The report continued by explaining how it costs tens of thousands of dollars to re-establish streams and restore land to its previous state. Also, when pesticides, rodenticides and herbicides are used in illegal cannabis grow operations in forests, wildlife and natural vegetation are killed. No one has been arrested in connection to either of these large-scale grows in Colorado, which have proven as harmful to the environment and wildlife of our national forests. Cannabis should be grown in a way that is ecologically mindful and sound, and it’s up to cannabis activists to ensure our community is only using responsible and legal methods for cannabis cultivation. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

FDA is the Real Reason that DEA Can’t Re-Schedule Cannabis

DEA won’t re-schedule cannabis right now, but is pushing for more research by FDA in order to do so in the near future by Alex Bradley and Nicole Potter

There’s been a lot of media attention recently revolving around the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which was rumored to be planning a monumental decision to re-schedule cannabis from its Schedule 1 label. However, news broke on August 10 that the agency is still working on rescheduling cannabis, but for the time being, they cannot reschedule it. The DEA must get an official recommendation from the FDA about the evidence and studies related to the substance before it can reschedule anything. The DEA sent out a press release, stating that it has denied two petitions to reschedule cannabis. Before any rescheduling occurs, the DEA has requested that more scientific research be conducted. It also asked for “a scientific and medical evaluation and scheduling recommendation” from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which was already administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National

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Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Based on the legal standards in the CSA, marijuana remains a schedule 1 controlled substance because it does not meet the criteria for currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision, and it has a high potential for abuse,” the DEA stated in the announcement. “The HHS concluded that marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use in the United States, and lacks an acceptable level of safety for use even under medical supervision. Therefore, the HHS recommended that marijuana remain in Schedule I,” according to the 21 CFR Chapter II, Denial of Petition, from the DEA. “Based on the HHS evaluation and all other relevant data, the DEA has concluded that there is no substantial evidence that marijuana should be removed from Schedule I.” “Although the HHS evaluation and all other relevant data lead to the

“What DEA did change was to allow more people to register with us to grow marijuana for researchers to use.” conclusion that marijuana must remain in schedule I, it should also be noted that, in view of United States obligations under international drug control treaties, marijuana cannot be placed in a schedule less restrictive than schedule II. This is explained in detail in accompanying document titled ‘Preliminary Note Regarding Treaty Considerations.’”

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to not move the cannabis plant into another schedule, based on their limited research and trials. There will be more, and the DEA has mandated that. They have updated their policy, to facilitate and foster more research by expanding the number of registered growers for cannabis in the country. “This change illustrates DEA’s commitment to working together with the FDA and NIDA to facilitate research concerning marijuana and its components. DEA currently has 350 individuals registered to conduct research on marijuana and its components. Notably, DEA has approved every application for registration submitted by researchers seeking to use NIDA-supplied marijuana to conduct research that HHS determined to be scientifically meritorious.” Correno assured us in an interview that the DEA is still considering rescheduling cannabis in the future. They just need the official structure and process to fall in line with that, ie. the FDA approving and providing the DEA with proper evidence and studies about the medicinal qualities of cannabis. Currently, the FDA is doing trials for Epidiolex, which could possibly be the third approved cannabis-related pharmaceutical by the FDA. Correno, at the DEA says that if the FDA approves Epidiolex, there is a large possibility that they could recommend the DEA to reschedule the main part of that drug, CBD to be a Schedule II substance. In more detail, the second Denial of Petition to Initiate Proceedings to Reschedule Marijuana, Michael J. Lewis, Office of Diversion Control and Chuck Rosenberg, Acting Administrator of the DEA, state that based on the HHS evaluation and all other relevant data, the DEA has concluded that there is no substantial evidence that cannabis or marijuana should be removed from schedule I.

“DEA has not had a change of heart on rescheduling cannabis—it is going to stay in the same schedule (Schedule I) where it’s been, because the FDA still says it is not a medicine.” The rejected petitions to reschedule cannabis were submitted by Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo, Washington State Governor Jay R. Inslee and Bryan A. Krumm (whose job title and address title were blocked out). DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg responded to it in four-page letter detailing the decision. The DEA does further state in its August 11 announcement that, as according to its new policy, it plans to increase the number of cannabis manufacturers that supply researchers. The only approved cannabis manufacturer is at the University of Mississippi, which is under contract with the NIDA. The DEA hopes to open more manufacturers in the near future that comply with FDA-authorized research. “This change illustrates DEA’s commitment to working together with the FDA and NIDA to facilitate research concerning marijuana and its components,” the statement continued. “DEA currently has 350 individuals registered to conduct research on marijuana and its components. Notably, DEA has approved every application for registration submitted by researchers seeking to use NIDA-supplied marijuana to conduct research that HHS determined to be scientifically meritorious.” CULTURE spoke with DEA representative Barbara Correno, DEA Headquarters Public Affairs Officer regarding the recent update, and provided us with more understanding, and a little more hope for the future, than most regarding this matter at first sight. “DEA has not had a change of heart on rescheduling cannabis—it is going to stay in the same schedule (Schedule I) where it’s been, because the FDA still says it is not a medicine. We schedule all substances jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services. We study a substance to determine if it meets the eight criteria in the Controlled Substances Act for controlling. If it does, we send it to DHHS for scientific studies. After they conduct these studies, they send us a recommendation as to whether to schedule (or reschedule) the substance. If they recommend against scheduling or rescheduling, we cannot do so. If they believe something should be scheduled or rescheduled, then we begin the regulatory process of doing so,” she told CULTURE in a phone interview. “What DEA did change was to allow more people to register with us to grow marijuana for researchers to use. Information on that is in our press release about today’s announcements,” she said. Correno explained that many people don’t understand the process in which a substance becomes a part of the CSA, or how it becomes schedule or rescheduled. As a department of justice for the country, the DEA can only take actions based on research and evidence supplied by other government agencies, such as the FDA. The FDA sent the recommendation

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In short, marijuana continues to meet the criteria for schedule I control under the CSA because: Marijuana has a high potential for abuse. The HHS evaluation and the additional data gathered by DEA show that marijuana has a high potential for abuse. Marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Based on the established five-part test for making such determination, marijuana has no ‘‘currently accepted medical use’’ because: As detailed in the HHS evaluation, the drug’s chemistry is not known and reproducible; there are no adequate safety studies; there are no adequate and well-controlled studies proving efficacy; the drug is not accepted by qualified experts; and the scientific evidence is not widely available. Marijuana lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision. At present, there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved marijuana products, nor is marijuana under a New Drug Application (NDA) evaluation at the FDA for any indication. The HHS evaluation states that marijuana does not have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. At this time, the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Industry Insider “You have to like what you’re doing. You can’t grow it just for the money.”

Michael “Big Mike” Straumietis of Advanced Nutrients by R. Scott Rappold The police had taken everything but the fertilizer. Amid the ruins of a longago bust, Michael “Big Mike” Straumietis was suddenly a cannabis grower with nothing left to sell. So in the spirit of “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” he turned to the nutrient-rich fertilizer, which he had concocted himself over years of cultivating, as a source of income. That decision would bring him riches and fame far beyond that of a cannabis farmer, a life of private jets and bikini models and a “marijuana mansion.” “It’s kind of like you’re pushed in a corner and it’s the only thing you’ve got left, so what are you going to do?” said Straumietis. “You just concentrate on what’s in front of you and it turned out it was a really great thing because Advanced Nutrients turned out to be the number one [cannabis] fertilizer brand in the world.” With more than 200 employees and $65 million in annual sales, Advanced Nutrients is also one of the largest cannabisoriented companies in the world, poised to grow even more as the tide of legalization leads to more home and commercial cultivation. After a lifetime in the shadows, 56-year-old Straumietis is living the high life, in a very public way.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Trial and Error

Straumietis accidentally killed his first grow. “In 1983, there was very little information on growing marijuana, nothing,” he said. He left the lights on but didn’t consider ventilation, and his plants wound up brown and shriveled. In his second attempt, he waited too long to harvest, resulting in buds not in their prime. Despite the missteps, he felt he was onto something and gave up his lawn and tree care business to focus on growing cannabis. “When I first got into growing marijuana, it was for the money. I was 23 years old and had all these things in my mind about what I could buy if I grew so much weed,” he said. “I fell in love with the plant over time. I could watch it go from a vegetative state, where it’s just a plant with branches and leaves, and then it starts forming buds and the buds form colas and it’s, ‘Holy shit! You watch this plant go through this beautiful metamorphosis and it smells terrific and you can smoke it and get different effects.’” Not content with fertilizers on the market, he began mixing his own, boosting yield and bud quality dramatically. Sure, he was breaking the law, but it didn’t feel illegal. There were no guns or turf wars. “Everybody I dealt with was happy. The people I bought the equipment from and all the stuff I needed to grow, they were happy to see me. The people I sold the product to, they were happy, and the people they sold to were happy and they came back and wanted more. They were good people I dealt with,” he said. Unfortunately for him, the authorities didn’t see things that way.

On the Run

Success in cultivating drew the interest of law enforcement, so Straumietis moved to Canada, at the time a more liberal place than the U.S. for cannabis, to escape the heat while he continued to grow. After the aforementioned police raid (charges were eventually dropped), he founded Advanced Nutrients in 1999. His timing was impeccable. Three years earlier, Californians had approved medical cannabis, soon to be followed by other states, which opened the door for the dispensary boom of the late 2000s. Building on his own experiences as a grower for 16 years, he hired scientists to meticulously study this plant and what nutrient mixes made for the best harvest, made possible by a license from the Bulgarian government to conduct the research there. He boasts of having 22 PhD recipients working over a span of 10 years on finding ways to increase THC and plant biomass in hydroponic grows. Having grown through the darkest days of the “War on Drugs,” he had the experience to rise above the competition in an industry just emerging from decades of prohibition. Today Advanced Nutrients offers more than 30 products for different phases of the grow cycle and desired appearances, aromas, tastes and overall plant quality. The company plans to develop a product line for industrial hemp. With recreational cannabis legal in 60

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“I fell in love with the plant over time. I could watch it go from a vegetative state, where it’s just a plant with branches and leaves, and then it starts forming buds and the buds form colas and it’s, ‘Holy shit! You watch this plant go through this beautiful metamorphosis and it smells terrific and you can smoke it and get different effects.’”

several states and poised to be legalized in several more in 2016, Straumietis expects his $65 million company to be a $250 million company within a decade.

Private Jets and Worldwide Success

He is clearly enjoying the success. Straumietis has himself become the face of the brand, posting pictures to social media of him flying in private jets and partying in his mansion with bikini models, the six-foot-seven “Big Mike” living the high life for the rest of us. “My personal life and my business life are just seamless almost. That’s the way I like it because it doesn’t feel like I’m doing work that way,” he said. He points out that he also posts about other things, such as his charitable endeavors. They just don’t get as many “likes” as big buds and bikinis. So yes, he’s enjoying the money and fame, but cultivation for him is still a labor of love, for a plant with so many recreational and medicinal possibilities. He recalled an episode from his black market growing days, when a friend using the same seeds and methods as him couldn’t sell his product. His friend was legitimately confused and vocal about how successful Straumietis had been, and how he couldn’t compete. “I told him, ‘That’s the problem. It’s a plant. It actually needs TLC, and I believe the plant knows if you like it or not. If you’re in love with the plant you’re going to take care of it better and get a better end product. You have to like what you’re doing. You can’t grow it just for the money.’” c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Healthy and Holistic Healing in the UFC

UFC fighter Per Eklund heals naturally, and wants the professional sporting organizations like the UFC to encourage cannabis treatments for athletes by Madison Ortiz

Per Eklund, (born November 12, 1980 in Stockholm, Sweden) has been a natural athlete since his youth. At age 27 he became the first Swedish fighter to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 80, January 2008); also formerly competing for M-1 global (mixed martial arts). Eklund confessed to CULTURE that curiosity led him to initially try cannabis with a friend at age 21, while training in Brazil. Though that experience encouraged him to be more open to the concept of cannabis having medicinal benefits, it was a physical trauma which gave him a whole new perspective on cannabisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medicinal value as he suffered from a broken neck in 2012.

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p h o t o s b y Ste v e n w a l s h

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

“I’ve felt much greater value in using cannabis. I’ve stuck with cannabis, and I’ve been stretching and doing yoga for more than one and a half years, and I’ve had great results; great results.” We were sorry to hear about your injury. When you broke your neck, was that a work related injury? What exactly happened? Per Eklund: Eh . . . I had problems with my neck for a long time and (doctors) asked me to do a surgery in 2011, but I didn’t want to do the surgery so [instead] I did rehab. But then, I had an accident in training where I landed on my head and I broke my vertebrae. I’m really lucky that I’m still able to do

what I’m doing; that everything went fine, you know? People break their neck and end up in a wheel chair, so I’m really happy. I actually enjoy life now more than I did before. I appreciate the small stuff. What was your alternative to medicating with cannabis while recovering? First surgery I had, I was put on a lot of morphine. After that first one, I decided I was never gonna

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ever touch morphine or prescription drugs again. I was on morphine about four months. First week I had it injected into my vein at the hospital, then when I came home I had three to four different prescriptions. It was really horrible. What did that medicated state feel like to you? What were your side effects? That's the funny thing . . . there’s nothing called side effects.

The pharmaceutical industry, they say pills have side effects. No. It’s just effects. It’s just bad effects. I felt like a ghost. I felt totally hollow as a person. Mood changes. Nothing I had ever experienced before. The months of [taking] medication, when I got angry I was almost filled with rage. It was really unpleasant. I had never had those issues before. When you take pills they make you sleepy, they don’t make you motivated, they take your creativity

away. And what more do you need than your creativity when you are injured or sick, or recovering? So I made a decision. I’m not gonna use any of the medicines doctors give me because they don’t help me; they just keep me in a sick state. I’ve felt much greater value in using cannabis. I’ve stuck with cannabis, and I’ve been stretching and doing yoga for more than one and a half years, and I’ve had great results; great results.

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The world’s first cannabis friendly gym Power Plant Fitness is coming to San Francisco by the end of the year. What do you think of this idea? Do you think you would be inclined to check it out? You can consume cannabis and train? Man . . . People with depression, people that are medicated today with all these painkillers, they should go to this gym and consume cannabis together with an experienced user; someone that tells them what kind of strain and what effect it has. When you train your body produces something called endorphins, and endorphins are very powerful painkillers. For me, when I injured my neck, I started training two days after my second surgery without using any painkillers. So training was a great relief of pain because I trained hard enough that I produced good levels of endorphins. But . . . if I would have come off my second surgery and would have been able to go to a gym like this, in Stockholm? That would be the best thing that could happen to me. I think that this concept with gyms and consuming cannabis is going to be very popular. How has cannabis has helped you in your training? The great [physical] value [cannabis has] to me, is the muscle relaxing effect. I did two surgeries [for my neck], afterward I got so stiff in my back; it was like they glued my muscles to my back. It was really horrible; worst feeling I ever had. [While training], sometimes I can be thinking too much; I’m planning everything—I forget about my body, and when I smoke [cannabis] I get more relaxed thinking. I consume cannabis because I get a really good stretch and workout with my body straight away. It’s amazing how it can help me that much [mentally]. What is your typical consumption method? I smoke it in a pipe. Just pure cannabis. That’s how I consume it. I know you can eat it too, but I find it easier to just smoke. If varying forms of cannabis were more accessible to you as a professional athlete, would you be more inclined to learn about tinctures,

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topicals and edibles and the reasons for consuming in ways other than smoking? Yeah, yeah. Of course, of course. That’d be great! I know there are many different ways [to consume] and, I’m sure there are way better ways than smoking.

Thank you for taking time to speak with us about all these issues. Of course! I’m not ashamed. I would be ashamed if I didn’t say anything, you know? If I sat in the dark. Then I would be ashamed of myself when I get old. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

The Female CannabisConsuming Comedy Rise

Women are finally getting more attention in mainstream media and cannabis-centered comedy by Addison Herron-Wheeler

“Stoner comedy” has always been fascinating and compelling style of comedy, albeit somewhat underground until recently—from the stylings of Cheech & Chong to the antics of Pineapple Express, cannabis and comedy go hand-in-hand. But there’s one key point to a lot of these movies–the guys are the stars. The male stars in this genre are often portrayed as dumb and goofy, often always intoxicated, and the women are standing on the sidelines, disapproving. Not only is that sexist,

it’s not really true. According to Pew Research, nearly half of Americans have tried cannabis. So clearly, a lot of women are consuming cannabis. In addition, the cannabis industry is heavily dominated by female executives. That’s why it makes sense to portray real women using cannabis in the media, and that’s exactly what is starting to happen. Here are a few case studies where women are getting their dues in the growing cannasseur comedy spotlight.

Broad City

Grace and Frankie

This show breathes fresh air into female-centered comedy, as it shows a real friendship between two girls who are loyal and hilarious, never catty. In a sense, this is very traditional “stoner comedy”—the two gals are constantly making silly mistakes and ending up as the butt of a joke. Most important of all, this show portrays women smoking, not just with their boyfriends or as part of a crowd, but on their own, getting their own weed and making their own decisions about how to imbibe. It also portrays cannabis use in a healthy way— both ladies are still active and functioning even though they are constantly puffing the ganja— while still making a few jokes at the expense of stoners. (The episode where Ilana has cannabis hidden all over her apartment is priceless.) As The Huffington Post puts it, “this is stoner comedy by women, for women.”

This funny, heartwarming comedy is incredibly groundbreaking in a lot of ways, and brings up many issues many would rather sweep under the rug. From menopause and older women feeling unattractive to the perils of masturbation and the stress faced by those who lived their whole lives in the closet and came out as senior citizens, Grace and Frankie is all about pushing the limits. One of the many issues it breaches is cannabis use in older women. Eccentric hippie Frankie (Lily Tomlin)—the foil to starchy, conservative Grace (Jane Fonda)—is an avid cannabis user. At one point she is having trouble passing her driving test—until she realizes she gets stoned while she studies, so she has to take the test high, too. She is always lighting up a joint or hitting a water pipe. While this is part of her charm and meant to be a bit funny, it also highlights that older women can use cannabis for pain and medication, and still be awesome mothers, grandmothers and professional women. Plus, the stoner comedy dynamic between Fonda and Tomlin is good enough to make the entire show.

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Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates An awesome example on the silver screen, this goofy comedy breaks female stereotypes with the characters of Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza). The ladies are seen throughout the film smoking and drinking, and rather than being the traditional good and pure women fooled by deceitful men, there’s a twist. They aren’t really the schoolteacher and accountant they claim to be and are instead running a con on the gullible guys. This film shows that the old tropes where the women don’t smoke and never get into any trouble are boring and outdated. c

“. . . the old tropes where the women don’t smoke and never get into any trouble are boring and outdated.”

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“Through founding Cultivated Synergy [the company he runs], my energy has gone toward providing a creative and productive space for the cannabis community to work, host events, advocate and elevate the community.”

Intelligent and Layered

Ghost Dance collaborates to create talented tunes and honor cannabis by Addison Herron-Wheeler Denver is a hub for all sorts of emerging and burgeoning music scenes, as more and more people move there all the time to take advantage of all the exciting opportunities the city has to offer. Electronic music is one of the movements that just keeps pushing forward, and one of the DJs and producers leading this push is local artist Ghost Dance. Recently, CULTURE caught up with Ghost Dance to discuss a life centered around music and cannabis. “Growing up, I liked to try and play every instrument possible,” Ghost Dance explained. “As I started recording myself, I wanted to find the most unique sounds, arrangements, and mold them into a style of my own. That drive is what entrenched me into music production.” Citing his influences as Justice, Daft Punk, Digitalism and the Chemical Brothers, as well as Zhu, Jack LNDN, Duke Dumont, Oliver, Autograf and The Knocks more recently, Ghost Dance sets out to make intelligent and layered music that can be enjoyed both on and off the dance floor. He sees the local scene in Denver as a great place to showcase and celebrate his talent.

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“I’m very enthusiastic about the music scene as a whole in Denver,” he explained. “There’s a lot of talent and an atmosphere of collaboration in pushing the scene forward. Denver is really embracing the energy and experimentation of electronic music, and there are great events featuring both local and international talent.” In addition to being a lifelong musician, Ghost Dance is also a dedicated member of the cannabis industry. “My life almost completely revolves around cannabis in both a professional and personal sense,” he told CULTURE. “Through founding Cultivated Synergy [the company he runs], my energy has gone toward providing a creative and productive space for the cannabis community to work, host events, advocate and elevate the community.” He has found a supportive culture in Denver that allows for his legal cannabis business to thrive while he also works towards making it as a musician. “Colorado has done a fantastic job with legalization considering that its infrastructure had to be built

from scratch, but there are definitely improvements that need to be made,” he said. “The dialogue around patient access, safety and quality standards, and consumption laws needs to continue. NORML is doing amazing work, particularly with their Responsible Use Denver initiative right now to allow regulated social cannabis consumption. Although he has never worked cannabis into his music as a theme, except for a few thematic samples used here and there, Ghost Dance feels that the local culture of cannabis and his self-expression as a musician go handin-hand. “The culture and community around cannabis, as well as its personal effect, is also important to me as a musician,” he added. “Its use allows me to cancel out the noise and immerse myself completely into a creative process. It’s my reset button.” Look out for an EP from Ghost Dance during the next few months, as well as local DJ appearances around town. c soundcloud.com/officialghostdance

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN

by Ed Rosenthal

Today was harvest day, and 25 of the 28 Purple Pineapple (PP) plants were harvested. The other three plants were reserved for other experiments or photography. There were three very obvious signs that they were ripe.

1 They were very odoriferous. Over the past week the intensity of their smelliness kept increasing. The pineapple-fruity/sour perfumes were wafting out of the greenhouse and into the yard. 2 The plants had stopped growing, all the stigmas dried and turned color and the glands sparkled in the light. 3 A close-up look at the trichomes showed that their caps were stretching with resin and a few of them had turned color. This was their peak moment. This version of PP is very unusual. It stays in vegetative growth stage as long as it receives no more than three-four hours of continuous

darkness. When it receives more, such as on June 22, the longest day of the year, it received a little more than 9 hours, which initiated flowering. One way to grow this plant is to prep it by growing vegetatively until it reaches the desirable size. To do this the dark period must be interrupted every 6090 minutes with a lamp containing red light. Both HPS lamps and warm white fluorescents can be used for this purpose. The light can be regulated by a timer, and large areas can be covered using a light mover. When using light to regulate photoperiod response think of it as a water spray that much cover the entire plant including all its leaves. The duration of time that the light is used for each plant doesn’t matter. As long as the plant doesn’t experience dark periods of more than four hours, it will keep growing vegetatively. As soon as its regimen changes, so it receives a dark period longer than four hours, its growth changes to flowering and within a week, flowers appear. When I received the plants they were about 10 inches tall. A week later they had grown another inch, but

TIP OF THE MONTH

they were already flowering. They were only 12-15 inches tall at harvest. The plants were selfwatered using nylon wicks that drew water up from a reservoir underneath to the planting mix using capillary action (like a tissue drawing up water), so flushing was a simple task. The tap water here originates as run-off, rather than from a well, so it has a mineral content of only about 70 ppm, which is very low. Twice during the last week, I ran tap water through the 6-inch containers until about 20 percent of it drained out. As it soaked through the containers soluble salts dissolved in the water and drained away, so the roots had a chance to sip clear water. This didn’t remove nutrients from the plants, but they used up what was in their systems. Now the time had come. The buds were ripe— HARVEST! c

Postscript: The water in the reservoir, which contains the extra nutrients from the double flush, has been pumped into a holding container. I will dilute it a bit, and then use to feed my garden plants.

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Midsummer Harvest

The garden is ready to harvest. All the plants were clones so they all matured at the same time.

All the buds on the plants had received light so they were all mature.

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Close-up of a bud.

Cutting the plants was an easy task. A pruner was used.

The plants were hung to dry and cure over five or six weeks. Then they will be manicured. The room stays in the 60s to low 70s, with moderate humidity.

Now is a great time to start an indoor natural light crop. All you need is an unobstructed south-facing window. The sun is lower on the horizon now so it’s light shines right into the window for hours daily. In areas with bright sun, rather than cloudy weather, this may be enough light to support flowering. Since the light duration is fewer than 12 hours daily the plants will start to flower almost immediately will ripen early, so the plants will remain small and will produce small buds, but with little effort on your part. This works best if you can start with plants rather than seeds. Some dispensaries sell “adolescents,” and those are great candidates for a project like this.

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.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

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Time to Go: September Weather: Highs in the mid-60s to lows in the mid-50s, with some cloudy/rainy days. Budget: $$$$$

if you go:

Toronto Sizzles in September by Sheryll Alexander

Toronto is Canada’s second epicenter of cannabis culture (with the first being Vancouver, British Columbia), so a trip to The Six can be a medical cannabis connoisseurs’ North American travel dream come true. Of course, Toronto’s cannabis culture is but one reason for such a Canadian getaway, especially in the spectacularly scenic late summer and early fall. That’s because Toronto is Canada’s most culturefilled urban center. In Toronto, there’s literally more things to do, see, eat, drink and smoke than any visitor can imagine especially when it comes to food, film and theatre arts. Some come to Toronto for the nightlife. No matter the weather, Toronto heats

up when the sun goes down, and its millions upon millions of locals and tourists continue to party through the wee morning hours at some of the world’s hottest music venues and dance clubs. If your Toronto travel focus is on cannabis and the cannabiz, however, then you won’t be disappointed. Toronto is ground zero for some of Canada’s most innovative cannabis entrepreneurs, so there’s a lot to see, do, learn and experience. Definitely don’t miss a day or night time walking excursion to both Toronto’s Kensington Market and Queen Street West sections for a peek inside some of the best cannabisthemed shops in the world. With the rise of

cannabis shops in Toronto and all over Canada, however, has come a surprising crackdown this spring by local governments just as it seemed youthful Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal government would relax its restrictions and decriminalize this miracle medical plant. Much like in the U.S., the cannabiz in Canada— including Vancouver and Toronto—is in a state of uneasy flux. Just remember, cannabis is still only medical and very unfortunately for Canadian residents only. This hiccup as well as other legalities can still potentially land you in prison. Still, anyone can enjoy a travel trip to vibrant Toronto for its cannabinoidloving culture. c

Fun-Filled Facts Hot Box Café has a popular “medilounge” where (licensed in Canada only) medical cannabis smokers can hang and medicate out in a relaxed atmosphere. 1

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For those into shopping, check out The 401 Richmond Street West Complex. This restored industrial building has been dubbed “The Warehouse” by locals and holds around 140 artist studios for some of the best one-off art and culture shopping as well as other eclectic shops, events and festivals. 2

Toronto is located in the southern part of the central Ontario province where medical cannabis, edibles and other cannabis products can be purchased by residents at seemingly endless dispensaries. Unlike the United States, Canada’s central government has classified cannabis as a Schedule II drug, but this unfortunately still makes possession a crime. What this means today to Toronto-bound travelers is a cannabis conundrum. While you will enjoy being in the center of Canada’s cannabiz culture, you can’t legally buy flower buds or edibles even if you are a licensed patient in your home medical or recreational state. This is quite the bummer as Torontonians toke rather freely in public most notably near the pulsating nightclubs of Richmond and Adelaide streets. Hearty and perhaps foolhardy Canadians do smoke outside discreetly and comply politely—if bothered— with the mostly lax authorities although cops do have the right to hit smokers with a hefty fine.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture growing

Melissa Mentele

Age: 39 Condition/Illness: RSD/CRPS, five herniated lumbar discs and a labral tear in left hip

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Using Medical Cannabis Since: 2013

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Why did you start using cannabis? I was severely injured in 2012 and prescribed opiates that I consistently had adverse reactions to. In March of 2013 I had my shoulder rebuilt and my bicep reattached. During the recovery I was diagnosed with RSD/ CRPS. Knowing the diagnosis carried a lifetime of pain meds and medical interventions, I started looking into alternative options. Cannabis lotion has been a miracle for the nerve pain and tactile pain in my arm. It gave me my life back. I was at a point where I couldn’t wear long-sleeved shirts and the breeze going across my arm would drop me to my knees. I traveled to Colorado and started to experiment with options. I was floored by how well it worked. I was also astonished by how I didn’t feel drugged; I could carry on with my day, and I was less irritated with life. After that I started to advocate for cannabis reform in my state. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes, you name an opiate, and I have tried it. I even at

one point was prescribed Fentanyl patches and quick-release morphine together. I was a druggedout mess on them and stopped taking them. What is the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Lack of education in non-legal states and lack of funds to change that. More organizations need to get involved and donate towards states that are struggling to legalize. What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? Each and every one of us knows someone who has battled cancer; we have all seen someone in hospice care and we have seen children struggle with deadly seizure disorders. Ask yourself: If that was your loved one, wouldn’t you want options? Wouldn’t you want a choice? If the answer is yes then sit down, get comfy, and open Google. Enter “medical cannabis uses” and start reading. Read a little every day then when you have read enough patient stories, science and testimonials, get up and get involved. There is an organization in every state that advocates for cannabis reform. Get involved and be a part of history. 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.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION

Invigorate Your September and Spice It Up! Menu: Freaky Fish Tacos with Lime Chipotle Canna-Aioli Hazy Thai Wings

recipes by Jeffthe420Chef September is a great gathering month, where friends and family tend to come together at least a couple of times. It is still warm from the end of summer dragging on, but also can get a little crisp out, in the beginning of the harvest season, offering a great variety of nights, themes and events for folks to come together and eat. Fish tacos are a perfect dinner party meal. These Freaky Fish Tacos are not only really tasty (and authentic), but they’ll knock your socks off if you eat more than two. There is also something really rewarding about making your own salsa, so I included my cucumber avocado salsa in this recipe for you. It’s the perfect complement to this dish. My second recipe for September, the Hazy Thai Wings are an ode to Pok Pok, Chef Andy Ricker’s renowned Thai street-food restaurant. The first time I had authentic Thai wings was at Pok Pok Noi in Portland, while visiting Chef Adrian Hale of Communal Table—and I fell in love! For days, all I could think about was how to re-create these awesome wings with one (or two) added ingredients. And here you have it! You’ll never look at wings the same way again, guaranteed.

Freaky Fish Tacos with Lime Chipotle Canna-Aioli Ingredients: 1/2 red onion, diced 1 half cucumber, diced 1 avocado, diced

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1 large tomato, diced

1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (reserve some for garnish) 1 jalapeño, stemmed and chopped Red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning

1 cup all-purpose or whole-wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 1/3 teaspoons ancho chili powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 pound flaky white fish (such as mahi-mahi or cod), cut into 4 pieces Salt and freshly ground black pepper Olive oil for frying

2 teaspoons lime juice

8 fresh corn tortillas

1 tablespoons

1 cup shredded cabbage (use a mixture of red and green)

canna–olive oil plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 limes, cut into quarters

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Number of servings: 8 tacos Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Approximate THC per Serving* 10%: 3.8 milligrams 15%: 5.7 milligrams 20%: 7.6 milligrams

La’au’s Taco Shop

830 N Tejon St., Ste 110, Colorado Springs (719) 578-5228 www.laaustacoshop.com

Zolo Grill

Put the onion, cucumber, avocado, tomato, garlic, cilantro and jalapeño in a small bowl. Pour in just enough red wine vinegar to cover well. Add a pinch of salt, the lime juice, and the canna–olive oil. Set aside for at least 30 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin. Sift together well with a fork. Season the fish with salt and pepper, then coat the fish with the flour mixture. Preheat oven to 340ºF. At the same time, heat a large skillet over medium-high

heat. Add 1 inch of olive oil. Gently fry the fish for 3 to 4 minutes, then turn over and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Set aside. Stack the tortillas, separating each with a slightly dampened sheet of paper towel. Wrap in foil. Heat in the oven for 5 minutes. Top each tortilla with a pinch of shredded cabbage and some of the cooked fish, then (using a slotted spoon) top with each one with the cucumber avocado salsa. Garnish with Lime Chipotle Canna-Aioli, a lime wedge and cilantro. Dig in!

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2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder (303) 449-0444 www.zologrill.com

culture

Thai Pot Café

1350 S Colorado Blvd., Denver (303) 639-6200 www.thaipotcafe.com

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Local eateries with similar dishes:

*Approximate dose per serving is based on infusing 5 grams of cured/dried/decarbed cannabis into 5 ounces of oil. iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture

Hazy Thai Wings Ingredients 1/2 cup raw cane sugar

Number of servings: 4 (5 wings per serving) Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Approximate THC per Serving* 10%: 7.6 milligrams 15%: 11.4 milligrams 20%: 15.2 milligrams

1/2 cup Asian fish sauce

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3 tablespoons ketchup 11/2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (Sambal sauce) 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon rice vinegar 1 cup cornstarch 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 pounds chicken wings, rinsed and patted dry

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Extra-virgin coconut oil for frying

1 tablespoon canna–coconut oil plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin coconut oil Toasted peanuts and garlic (see sidebar, below) 4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Directions Place sugar in a food processor and grind until very fine. In a medium bowl, add the fish sauce, ketchup, sugar, chili garlic sauce, lime juice and rice vinegar. Set aside. In a shallow dish, sift the cornstarch and garlic powder. Toss the wings in the cornstarch mixture to coat. Heat a large skillet on the stovetop for 1 minute on high. Add enough coconut oil to fry, about 2 inches from the bottom of the pan. Fry the wings until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on brown paper. Preheat oven to 340ºF. Place the fried wings on a lightly greased baking sheet and drizzle each wing with 1 teaspoon of canna–coconut oil mixture. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. In a clean skillet, add the sauce and heat on medium until syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove the wings from the oven and toss with the sauce until evenly coated. Toss in the toasted peanuts and garlic. Garnish with cilantro and serve alongside a cup of carrot sticks and celery curls.

Toasted Peanuts and Garlic 1/4 cup raw peanuts, crushed 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon coconut oil Dash of salt In a small bowl, mix peanuts and garlic with coconut oil and a dash of salt. Spread evenly on a small pan and roast at 325ºF for 30 minutes, until toasted and browned. Remove, let cool and voilà!

Celery Curls Cut celery into 6-inch pieces, slice in half lengthwise, make lengthwise cuts almost to center and repeat to create slivers. Refrigerate in ice water until slivers curl. *Approximate dose per serving is based on infusing 5 grams of cured/dried/decarbed cannabis into 5 ounces of 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.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

colorado NOW! event listings

Sunnyside Music Fest, Sept. 10 Tune in to the killer sounds of Sunnyside Music Fest. Some of the bands include Atomga, Grant Sabin, Porlolo, Hang Rounders and many others. Tons of different vendors will be selling their goods, so whether you find a collectable you can’t live without or are just looking for a unique dish to satisfy your appetite, this music festival will have you covered. Chafee Park, Denver sunnysidemusicfest.org

REEL ROCK Film Tour, Sept. 17 If you want to explore new worlds without leaving Denver, then buckle up for the REEL ROCK Film Tour. This year, five invigorating films will keep you perched on the edge of your seat. The five films for this year’s event will be Young Guns, Boys in the Bugs, Brette, Rad Dad and Dodo’s Delight. Paramount Theatre, Denver www.paramountdenver.com

featured event

Ujama Soul Rebel Festival, Sept. 10 There is nothing but good vibes coming from the 15th Annual Ujama Soul Rebel Festival. With a motto like “Progressively working together toward a constructive solution,” you can expect a musical line-up that matches the mellow and positive vision of this festival. With Black Uhuru, Judge Roughneck, Inna Di Red and more rocking the stage, this is a grassroots reggae, afro pop and world music festival you don’t want to miss. Sunshine Acres, Boulder soulrebelfestival.com

Body Mind Spirit Celebration, Sept. 9-11 This is arguably the largest metaphysical expo in the world, and now you can come and align your center. Learn more about yourself by speaking with astrologers, tarot readers, mediums, psychics and more. There will also be free talks, seminars and exhibitors showing off metaphysical treasures like crystals and more. Denver Mart, Denver bmscelebration.com

Tegan and Sara, Sept. 21 This talented twin duo graced the cover of CULTURE back in 2013, but that doesn’t mean they’re forgotten. Check out tunes, new and old, by this dynamic duo, and it will be a performance you will never forget. Ogden Theatre, Denver www.ogdentheatre.com

Shear Madness, Opens Sept. 22 Get ready for the dramatic performance of mystery and madness that you wouldn’t expect to find in Colorado Springs. When an old woman who lives above a salon is murdered, everyone is dying to find out who is responsible. Watch as the story comes alive onstage. Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs csfineartscenter.org

Laid Back Festival, Sept. 25 Don’t let the name fool you.

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Blink-182, Sept. 13 Possibly one of the best American pop-rock bands of our time, Blink-182 is a household name that can never be forgotten. Made up by bassists and vocalist Mark Hoppus, drummer Travis Barker and guitarist and vocalist Matt Skiba, don’t miss your chance to make your teenage dreams come true by seeing this trio live. Pepsi Center, Denver www.pepsicenter.com This chill festival by Gregg Allman will bring a ton of musical acts that will make you go from laid back to moving and grooving. Get the party started with ZZ Top, Richie Furay Band and many more! Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison redrocksonline.com

Dropkick Murphys, Sept. 27 Dropkick Murphys is a band that is known as an American Celtic punk band that continues to rock out

harder over 20 years after its inception. Get ready to skank in the moshpit to songs that mix Irish music with thrashy punk undertones. Fillmore Auditoirum, Denver fillmoreauditorium.org

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird LEAD STORY—THE POWER OF PRAYER u A 28-year-old woman, unnamed in news reports, veered off the road and into a house in the Florida panhandle town of Mary Esther on July 7. She apparently was free of drug or alcohol influence, but readily explained to police that she must have gone through a stop sign and left the road when she closed her eyes to pray as she drove. (The house was damaged, but no one was injured.)

A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (AUGUST 2012) u New Mexico is an “open carry” state, with otherwiselaw-abiding adults authorized to display loaded handguns in public. However, in the town of Vaughn (pop. 500, about 90 miles east of Albuquerque), perhaps the only people not legally able to carry are the town’s two police officers. A June (2012) KOB-TV report revealed that Chief Ernest Armijo had been convicted in 2011 of criminal non-support of a wife and two sons, and was barred from possessing a gun. Deputy Brian Bernal has his own domestic issue: a conviction for family violence that bans him, under federal law, from carrying. (A month after the News of the Weird story, both men resigned, leaving the town’s police dog the only active “officer.”) TROMPE L’OEIL JUNGLE u A conservation biologist at Australia’s University of New South Wales said in July that his team was headed to Botswana to paint eyeballs on cows’ rear ends. It’s a solution to the problem of farmers who are now forced to kill 84

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

endangered lions to keep them away from their cows. However, the researchers hypothesize, since lions hunt by stealth and tend to pass up kills if the prey spots them, painting on eyeballs might trick the lions to choose other prey. (For the same reason, woodcutters in India wear masks painted with faces— backward—for protection against tigers.) “BIG PORN” GIVES BACK u (1) In June, the online megawebsite Pornhub announced a program to help blind pornography consumers by adding 50 “described videos” to its catalog, with a narrator doing play-by-play of the setting, the actors, clothing (if any) and the action. Said a Pornhub vice president, “It’s our way of giving back.” (2) Later in June, another pornography website (with a frisky name—see bit. ly/29O4G9UURL) inaugurated a plan to donate a penny to women’s health or abuse prevention organizations every time a user reached a successful “ending” while viewing its videos (maximum two per person per day). Its first day’s haul was $39, or $13 for each of three charities (including the Mariska Hargitay-supported Joyful Heart Foundation). CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE u A Government Program That Actually Works: A motorist in Regina, Saskatchewan, was issued a $175 traffic ticket on June 8 after he pulled over to ask if he could assist a homeless beggar on the sidewalk. According to the police report cited by CTV News, the “beggar” was actually a cop on stakeout looking for drivers not wearing seat belts (who would thus pay the city $175). Driver Dane Rusk said he had unbuckled his belt to lean over in the seat to give the “beggar” $3—and moments later, the cop’s partner stopped Rusk (thus earning Regina a total of $178!).

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016