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inside
contents 9.2017
34 EDM Ambassadors Yasmine and Jahan, the two sisters behind the dynamic electronic dance music duo Krewella, talk about new music, their upcoming national tour and cannabis. O n the C O V E R :
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John Gilhooley
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features 44
Powerful Precedent Letter penned by Colorado officials to Jeff Sessions defends state’s cannabis laws.
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Soothing Sounds The musicians of Mama Magnolia sit down with CULTURE to share what motivates them to create beautiful and complex rock music.
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Erotic Avenues Ashley Manta, well-known sex expert, shares everything you need to know about incorporating cannabis into your most intimate moments.
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Industry Insider The man behind CBD Living Water is finding success in healing the nation.
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departments 10 Letter from the Editor
Online Exclusive!
news
12 News Nuggets 13 By the Numbers
16 Local News 20 Legal Corner 22 Healthy Living
reviews
24 Dispensary
Highlight 28 Edible & Concentrate Reviews 30 Cool Stuff 32 Entertainment Reviews
in every issue
56 Growing Culture 58 Destination Unknown
60 Profile in Courage 62 Recipes 68 News of the Weird
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d New Zealand Citizens Want to Vote for Cannabis d Nebraskan University’s Hemp Studies Reveal New Information
Vol 9 IssUE 3
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CULTURE M
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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams managing editor Addison Herron-Wheeler Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Sheryll Alexander, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, Keira Fae, Natasha Guimond, Pamela Jayne, M. Jay, Heather Johnson, Emily Manke, Meital Manzuri, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Tonya Perme, Josué Rivas, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Michelle Aguirre Graphic DesignerS Payden Codern, Nathan Hernandez sales director Justin Olson Regional Manager
Kim Cook
Account Executives Jon Bookatz, Alex Brizicky, Molly Clark, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Monte Lee, Beau Odom, Casey Roel, Garry Stalling, Ryan Tripp, Shayne Williams, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy digital content manager David Edmundson Intern Sophia Rybicki Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla Publisher David Comden 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.CultureMagazine.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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/iReadCulture
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LETTER
FROM
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EDITOR
A Fight Worth Winning “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” - Nelson Mandela
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n an industry that has required a great deal of advocacy and grassroots initiatives to push legislation toward the acceptance of medical and recreational cannabis, it’s frustrating when two steps forward lead to one step backward. And so is the case in many regions where cannabis legalization and progress are often stunted at every corner. Michigan patients and advocates recently felt the sting of worry when former Michigan State Police Sgt. Donald Bailey, an appointee to the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board, stated his belief that all medical cannabis collectives in the state should be closed in anticipation of the state’s new licensing structure. Although no decision has been made, it’s downright ridiculous to witness this example of how the “War on Drugs” continues to be perpetuated despite all the other progress being made in the “Great Lake State.” With two recreational cannabis petitions in circulation and plenty of well-intentioned patients, advocates and lawmakers determined to support cannabis reform, it is clear that despite possible setbacks, Michigan residents will continue this fight and inevitably move the state forward. Michigan is not the first state that is faced with possible negative effects associated with forward progress. Washington’s medical cannabis community took a huge hit when recreational cannabis regulations were enacted. As the state merged the medical and recreational cannabis programs, the regulations were not in favor of the dispensaries that were currently operating. This crippled most medical cannabis dispensaries in the state, forcing them to shut down, affecting over 100,00 patients statewide. Therefore, there is a very real fear that something
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similar to this could happen in California, as officials are merging the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act with the Adult Use of Marijuana Act in preparation for the January 2018 rollout. However, in this budding industry, we have the ability to learn from our mistakes. This gives us hope that California lawmakers at the city, county and state levels are aware of what happened in Washington and are capable of avoiding the same devastating outcome. Across the United States, as our industry continues its forward-moving trajectory, and many other states throughout the nation demand that we deserve the right to safe access to cannabis, let’s not be fearful because the “War on Drugs” continues to present battle after battle in this 80year war. As leaders in recreational cannabis states like Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska fire back at Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his ignorance surrounding legal cannabis, defending their states’ rights to cannabis reform, let’s work hard to embrace one another despite our differences, while focusing on the one true goal we all share. Cannabis reform nationwide has to happen, and we are the driving force that will ensure its success. In the words of Nelson Mandela, let’s remain relentless in our fight, with a clear intention to demand the freedoms we are awarded as American citizens. c
Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
nuggetS
Northglenn Extends Business Hours Northglenn is following in the footsteps of neighboring cities by extending its business hours for dispensaries. Dispensaries within city limits will now be able to stay open until 10 p.m. and are allowed to open an hour earlier at 8 a.m. This change began August 14, and so far Northglenn
business owners are reporting positive experiences. “We have our longest running store in Northglenn, where we have been part of all the changes by the state for over seven years,” stated Kyle Speidell, CEO of The Green Solution, a cannabis company that got its start in Northglenn. “The city has always been progressive with its marijuana laws and stayed at the forefront of access for its citizens.” Recently, Denver and Boulder both made the decision to let dispensaries stay open later as well. Northglenn officials felt it was taking a significant cut in sales because of the early closing time, and now feel it will be able to bring in more tax revenue.
Trinidad Sued Over Cannabis Club Ban Social consumption and the allowance of public smoking spaces is always big news for Denver and major metropolitan areas. But in Trinidad, social consumption is just as important. The owners of Feed Your Head Shop in Trinidad recently sued the city for shutting down a public space that they opened so that visitors would have a place to consume. They argued that because so much of the cannabis business in the state comes from tourism, it is important to have a safe space for tourists to consume cannabis. “All of these smoke lounges, they are not providing cannabis,”
Decriminalization Bill Introduced in Belize The government of Belize introduced eight bills on August 18, which included legislation to decriminalize the possession of cannabis. The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill 2017 would replace punishments for possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis with non-recordable penalties and fines. “I think it is recognized by members on both sides of this House that the present regime, which we have dealing 12
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Kate Mullen, part owner of Feed Your Head Shop and one of the individuals behind the lawsuit, told CULTURE. She and her business partner, Laurie Lyon, were running 420 Smoke Lounge before it was shut down. “The closing of these businesses is a constitutional rights violation, because they aren’t cannabis businesses. We didn’t provide it or sell it or give it away; we provided a venue to educate and inform the public and gave people a place to smoke.” Mullen and Lyon are hoping to either receive financial restitution, or to be able to operate their business again.
with marijuana, is not equitable,” said Wilfred Elrington, minister of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs. “As a matter of fact, it is the view that it is unduly prejudicial particularly to the poorer members of our society, who for one reason or another, use marijuana in smaller quantities.” The bill would also remove industrial hemp from Belize’s definition of cannabis. The proposal would not go into effect until it has gone through all readings in the House of Representatives.
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the state of Colorado has collected in medical and recreational cannabis sales during the first six months of 2017: (Source: Colorado Department of Revenue)
The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that is earmarked to hold a November special election in Fort Collins, which may include a measure to change cannabis regulations in the city: (Source: Coloradoan)
750
150
The amount of money, in dollars, collected from state cannabis tax revenue through the School Health Professionals Grant Program that was provided to Jefferson County Public Schools:
The projected amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Eagle County could generate locally if it implemented a cannabis tax: (Source: Vail Daily)
825,164
2
(Source: Westword)
The number of garbage bags that were filled by Maine volunteers who agreed to pick up trash in exchange for a free gram of cannabis: (Source: The Portland Press Herald)
100
The number of cannabis testing laboratories, out of three, that have been approved in the state of Hawaii, as of August 24: (Source: San Francisco Chronicle)
1
The percentage of polled Utah voters who support the newest initiative to legalize medical cannabis on the 2018 ballot: (Source: The Salt Lake Tribune)
78
The estimated number of currently active cannabisrelated patents that have been filed with the United States Patent Office: (Source: Forbes)
500
Finding Health: A Conference on the Intersection Between Disability and Medical Cannabis WHEN: Sun, Sept. 24-Mon, Sept. 25 WHERE: Denver Marriott South, 10345 Park Meadows Dr., Lone Tree WEBSITE: bit.ly/FHMMJ2017
When considering cannabis as treatment, there are so many considerations to make. Finding Health makes it easy for curious individuals, as it provides answers to all the questions of those who are considering cannabis as a treatment option for a myriad of medical conditions. As a hub of medical cannabis information, attendees of Finding Health will be introduced to medical cannabis by 15 medical professionals and patients who will speak at the event. Sunday will start with a presentation by John Matu, BA entitled, “CBD and THC: What’s the Difference and What’s Right for Me?” A Provider Panel will follow, giving
four medical professionals the opportunity to share their points of view on the efficacy of medical cannabis. There will also be a Patient Panel led by five patients and parents of patients, and they will provide first-hand accounts attesting to the medicinal properties of cannabis. Speakers will also cover quality standards, legal considerations, as well as how to approach cannabis in educational environments, while traveling, in the health care sphere and at home. The second day of this event will give prospective patients a chance to connect with medical cannabis businesses and providers. CultureMagazine.com
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NEWS
LOCAL
Champs Trade Show
An A lt ruis t ic Endowmen t Colorado cannabis tax revenue funds two new mental health facilities By Benjamin M. Adams
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olorado is continuing to prove that cannabis tax revenue can be put to good use with the implementation of a number of statewide mental health and social health improvements. After a long wait, mental health facilities in the towns of Frisco and Montrose will both receive critical funding. Senate Bill 17-207 was signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper on May 18 with a total of $9.5 million in mental health enhancements from Colorado cannabis tax revenue. The amount of $7.1 million was awarded to the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) under the Colorado Department of Human Services, and an additional $2.6 million was awarded to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion pilot, which allows law enforcement to send people to counseling services instead of jail. On August 21, the OBH website announced that two rural mental health facilities would be getting much-needed updates. The lack of proper facilities in rural areas like Frisco and Montrose was specifically earmarked in the bill. Over the course of two years, nearly $2 million will be set aside to expand services in those areas. Initially all of the money was intended for a new eight-bed crisis unit in Montrose, but after considering financial factors, about half will instead be directed to the town of Frisco in Summit County.
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The new facility in Montrose will house four crisis stabilization beds, and the new facility in Frisco will house four to six crisis stabilization beds. The beds will cover needs in rural areas in the Western Slope region. The new buildings will be built as early as next spring. Mind Springs Health President and CEO Sharon Raggio declined to comment to CULTURE on funding sources. But without any improvements, the area’s mental health resources are far from complete. The area has seen a sharp spike in behavioral health incidents over the past three years, because of the lack of services. Mind Springs Health’s current resources includes a substance abuse clinic at the Frisco medical campus, but the organization is in desperate need of additional publicly funded substance abuse and mental health services. “Regarding the mental health services already existing at Frisco’s Medical Building, mental health therapy is offered at the Community Care Clinic,” Chriss P. Flynn, Mind Springs Health Vice President of Marketing told CULTURE. “Summit Safe Haven is a social detox center and Mind Springs Health, as the state-contracted community mental health center serving Summit County, offers a full range of psychiatry, therapies and treatment management for mental illness and addiction, as well as 24/7/365 mobile crisis response and a mental health hotline.” Social services in schools are also being updated, thanks to cannabis sales. A similar funding program is happening in Jefferson County. On August 22, it was announced that Jefferson County Public Schools received $825,164 from The School Health Professional Grant Program (SHPG). SHPG is a similar state initiative that uses cannabis tax revenue to pay for school health professionals. The school will use the funds over the next three years to employ six social and emotional learning specialists for elementary schools as well as three full-time nurses for high schools. Cannabis tax revenue is improving a lot of social services in Colorado, and providing services to those with mental illnesses is making a great impression on those who are on the fence about cannabis in Colorado. c
In 1998, Jeff Hirschfeld and Peter Gage presented and hosted the first small wholesale cannabis trade show. Nineteen years later—Champs Trade Show has solidified itself as an international groundbreaking fixture in the cannabis industry, inviting both merchants and buyers to congregate. Exhibitors, manufacturers, distributors and glass artisans in the cannabis field will be featuring the latest cannabisrelated goods and accessories. Returning for its fifth annual year in Denver, the Champs Trade Show will charm attendees as one of the city’s most anticipated events in the industry. Guests can expand their inventory of cannabis-related goods by visiting over 400 booths selling the best brands and new product releases, ranging from traditional glass assortments and cleaners to clothing. (Sophia Rybicki) WHEN: Tues, Sept. 19-Thurs, Sept. 21 WHERE: Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver WEBSITE: champstradeshows. com
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NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
Competitive Edge How to succeed in competitive licensing By Jerrico Perez, Vicente Sederberg, LLC
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upport for the legalization of cannabis is at an all-time high in the United States. A total of eight states have now legalized recreational cannabis consumption and 29 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico now allow for comprehensive public medical cannabis programs. As each state passes their laws and regulatory agencies begin drafting rules for implementing the programs, men and women from a variety of business backgrounds consider trying their hand in this novel industry. The fact is, that while many individuals vying to enter the industry have extensive business experience, it may not be as helpful as they think in their pursuit of owning and operating a cannabis business. As in any other highly regulated industry, operating a cannabis business requires the acquisition of a business license. The nature of this new industry has resulted in states being conservative in the number of licensed cannabis businesses permitted to operate and highly cautious in selecting who will receive one of those licenses. You can expect the application process
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Build a winning team
for one of these coveted licenses to be extremely competitive and to require an excruciating amount of information and time. While every state’s application process is different, there are several steps an applicant can take to ease the pain of the process and increase their chances of success.
Know the law and the regulations The department or agency responsible for implementing the program will draft and publish rules for operational requirements, forms and methods allowed, and often the information that will be required for the application, even before it is released. Knowing the relevant laws and regulations substantially increases an applicant’s odds of obtaining a license. If information in an application doesn’t at least comply with the law or regulations, it will likely be promptly tossed in the reject pile. Agencies frequently release FAQs after publishing the regulations and/ or application that can be invaluable in successfully putting together the correct information.
Start early An applicant that hasn’t started preparing long before the application is released places themselves at a crippling disadvantage. Many teams that will be competing for a license have been preparing for years and applicants often only have 30-90 days to submit the application once it is released. Financial and criminal background checks, drafting standard operating procedures, creating a business plan and putting together a team, etc., can take months to complete. Not to mention the time it takes to perform redactions and put together the application last minute.
Hundreds of applications for as few as five licenses could be submitted, making this process exceptionally competitive. Often enough, individuals who initially decide to apply don’t know how to cultivate, extract or dispense cannabis. Regardless of how much general business experience a team may have, having individuals with experience in operating a cannabis business in some capacity can be considered a prerequisite to an applicant being selected for a license. Adding notable medical professionals and consultants with experience in pharmaceutical operations, cultivation, extractions, etc. can push a team to the top of the list. States may also allocate extra points to teams made up of residents of the state or diverse individuals.
Engage with the Community The community in which an applicant plans to operate can make or break an application. Applications will frequently require an applicant to demonstrate that they have local approval to operate a cannabis business in the municipality and on the prospective property. This may require zoning meetings, law enforcement introductions and engaging in forums with the public. Local officials may even have to sign off on the application. Even if not required, making connections within and garnering the support of the community where you intend to operate can result in persuasive information to include in your application. And keep in mind that if you do receive a license, you’ll be working with these community members for the foreseeable future. At this point in the regulated cannabis industry’s evolution, states have a responsibility to select only the most responsible and competent operators and their competitive application processes are intended to ensure that happens. The steps above can help an applicant demonstrate they can compliantly and successfully operate in specific areas. c
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NEWS
HEALTHY LIVING
Learning from the Past Examining the history of doctors’ roles in the American cannabis industry By Lanny Swerdlow, RN LNC
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he term “groupthink” is defined as a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. No more egregious example of groupthink can be found then in the response of medical doctors to the federal government’s prohibition of cannabis. One would expect better for a profession grounded in science. Cannabis has been used by physicians for 5,000 years dating back to ancient China where it was used to treat pain, intestinal constipation, female reproductive problems, malaria and many other ailments. In 1851, cannabis was listed in the U.S Pharmacopeia as well as The National Formulary and United States Dispensatory, which noted that cannabis was used as an “aphrodisiac, to increase the appetite . . . it has been found to cause sleep, to allay spasm, to compose nervous disquietude, and to relieve pain.” Eighty years ago, when the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 passed, the American Medical Association (AMA) was the only organization to testify in opposition to its prohibition. Appearing for the AMA was Dr. James Woodward who testified that cannabis is used as “a sedative and antispasmodic” and that “it can be used for psychological, psychoanalytical and psychotherapeutic research.” Most of his testimony centered on denying the
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claims of mayhem and violence put forth by the proponents of prohibition rebuffing their assertions of addiction and harm to children and pointing out they did not provide any “direct and primary evidence, rather than the indirect hearsay evidence.” It wasn’t long though for the AMA to reject Dr. Woodward’s statements and fall in line with the “indirect hearsay evidence” that Dr. Woodward so vehemently objected to. To this day the AMA continues to maintain that “cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern.” Due to the preeminence of the AMA, medical doctors throughout the United States have stood silently aside while this travesty continues to be peddled as medical science even though, as Dr. Woodward noted 80 years ago, the link to its dangers are not shown by any “direct and primary evidence.” Rather there is “direct and primary evidence” that cannabis does have significant benefits, and the peerreviewed evidence has been around for a long time. Over 35 years ago, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, the discoverer of THC, conducted clinical trials on epilepsy and found that all the trial participants had significantly reduced or even no epileptic seizures while they were taking the cannabinoids found in cannabis. In 1995, Dr. Mechoulam conducted another study on children with cancer receiving anti-cancer treatments. Nausea and vomiting, a frequent side effect of anti-cancer medications, all but vanished in the children given
cannabis but continued unabated in the children that didn’t get it. Both studies were published and both were universally ignored by the medical profession. Since 1990 there have been close to 100 peer-reviewed studies documenting the medical efficacy of cannabis in treating Lou Gehrig’s disease, bipolar disorder, cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, Huntington’s Disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, nausea, pain, Parkinson’s, PTSD and arthritis. The fact that doctors have allowed themselves to be intimidated and mislead by the lies of government bureaucrats and police agencies whose financial well-being was intrinsically related to the prohibition of cannabis shows how the power of government can lead even the most compassionate of professions astray. “First, do no harm” is a tenant of the medical profession that has becomes its watchword. The harm that has befallen humanity as doctors failed to uphold Dr. Woodward’s protestations of the marijuana tax act and, with no justification, turned their backs on the physicians who for millennia have instructed and provided cannabis to their patients, has been nothing short of catastrophic. The harm cannot be undone, but there is no reason it need continue. It is time for doctors to publicly recognize the suffering their capitulation to groupthink has caused and take the lead role in expediently and rapidly bringing cannabis back into mainstream medicine. c
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REVIEWs
dispensary highlight
“We believe cannabis is a safe, healthy way to heal yourself.”
Leadership and Longevity The Herbal Cure shares how it has remained a staple of customer service and selection in Denver for almost a decade By Jacob Cannon
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t is no secret that Colorado has set a precedent for the rest of the world in regards to the benefits and best practices of legal cannabis. As the first state in the nation to implement recreational cannabis, trusted cannabis companies and dispensaries have been essential components to the success of Colorado’s cannabis industry.
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In business since 2009, The Herbal Cure in Denver is one dispensary in our state that has stood the test of time. Brandon and Julia Burnham are a husband-and-wife team who are passionate cannabis advocates. With recreational cannabis still on the horizon, the pair set out to accomplish the life-long dream that they shared to provide cannabis to consumers in Denver, and The Herbal Cure was born.
CULTURE connected with Brandon Burnham, owner of The Herbal Cure, to learn more about the roots of his dispensary, as well as how his business has thrived in the market for almost a decade. “At the time we came up with the name The Herbal Cure in 2009, we were the first ‘THC,’ if you can believe that! We believe cannabis is a safe, healthy way to heal yourself, hence the name,” Burnham said.
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“We would like to see the industry move in the direction of the education of consumers, so differentiation and specialization can take place.”
There are many secrets and best practices involved in order to maintain a business for many years, and the team at The Herbal Cure has found the right recipe. Chief Operations Officer Matt Bencivenga shared that one way The Herbal Cure differentiates itself in the market is by offering consumers an experience they cannot find elsewhere. From a knowledgeable and friendly staff to the “largest selection of Essential Extracts solvent-less hash in Colorado,” The Herbal Cure has been able to stand out from the competition. Bencivenga also noted their team offers a strain selection that is unrivaled in Colorado, 26
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REVIEWs
Top-Sellin g Str ain: Do-si-dos Top-Sellin g Co ncentr ate: Quest Concentrates Live Resin Top-Sellin g Edible: Coda Signature Chocolate Bar & Wana Sour Gummies Assorted Mixed
as well as a large selection of various products and brands for the edibles, concentrates and flower that they offer. While selling cannabis products to consumers is clearly an important role for The Herbal Cure in the community, Bencivenga also shared with CULTURE his passion to accomplish even more in the industry. Bencivenga is focused on, “educating/changing stereotypical views that people hold regarding cannabis use, teaching people that they can heal themselves with cannabis and standing out as a quality producer amongst an ocean of price-driven models.” Operating a cannabis dispensary for so many years, Burnham and his team have witnessed the changing landscape of the industry over time. Not only has it become more professional and begun operating more in line with other adultoriented industries, Burnham shared his insight into the ways in which he would like to see the evolution continue. “We would like to see the industry move in the direction of the education of consumers, so differentiation and specialization can take place,” Burnham said. “Additionally, the more educated people are about cannabis, the more beneficial cannabis can be to society as a whole.” The Herbal Cure has become a favorite of consumers all throughout Colorado, and by staying focused on the principles that matter, the future remains bright for the business. Burnham will ensure this happens by never straying from his mission, as he vowed, “We will forever remain focused on quality and customer service above all else.” c
The Herbal Cure 985 South Logan St., Denver www.TheHerbalCure.net
High Elevation Rock Festival For a heavy dosage of loud music underneath the stars, High Elevation Rock Festival has you covered with live music from over 25 noteworthy bands. Appearing for its second year in Colorado at the Greenwood Plaza, the High Elevation Rock Festival will take attendees by storm with some of the best rock musicians around— offering flashing lights, fire and loud music that will enhance an unforgettable night full of fun. Get hypnotized in a sea of rock enthusiasts as Five Finger Death Punch hits the audience with famous songs such as “Wrong Side of Heaven” and “I Apologize.” Witness the electrifying band performances featuring Korn, A Day to Remember, Steel Panther and Beartooth—the range of performances will entice you to sing and dance late into the night. (Sophia Rybicki) WHEN: Fri, Sept. 22Sat, Sept. 23 WHERE: Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Englewood WEBSITE: highelevationfestival. com
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REVIEWs
edible & concentrate
Enlightened Water According to legend, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León set out to discover the mythical Fountain of Youth in vain, but you don’t have to cross the Atlantic to find a “magical” water source. Enlightened Water by Infusiasm is pure Rocky Mountain spring water infused with 50mg of cannabidiol (CBD) and 2mg THC for improved overall wellness. By adding a small amount of THC, the full effect from the endocannabinoids in cannabis is unlocked without unwanted intoxication. The healing benefits of CBD go a long way, and the water has been known to relieve the stubborn symptoms of hangovers. Enlightened Water is also helpful for those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and migraines. Enlightened Water will soon be available in a refreshing cucumber flavor enhanced with electrolytes. The list of healing benefits from CBD grows every day, so enlighten yourself with a swig of CBD-enhanced water.
Available wherever: Enlightened Water products are carried.
Infusiasm Brands makes no claims regarding the health or medical benefits of cannabis in general, or this product in particular. Individual results may vary.
iReadCulture.com GET YOUR CLICKS
HERE
Medicine Man Royal Jelly Shamans, healers and medicine men in pre-colonial America would revel at the potency of cannabis-based medicines today. The popular strain, Medicine Man, is reported to have effects that are excellent for treating migraines and headaches. It’s also an efficient strain for handling stress, which can cause a number of health problems. Taking this prize strain and crafting it into this Medicine Man Royal Jelly, reviewers noted a fruity aroma and taste that was impressively sweet, but followed by a slight sour note. The body effects hailed from one dab of this Royal Jelly instantly awarded strong indica-dominant body effects that reminded us of old school White Widow that many cannasseurs first tasted in Amsterdam’s coffee shops. The orange-gold globular caviar-like consistency is ideal for safe and accurate dabbing titration. The powerful effects are ideal for consumption during the late evening, while you’re warming yourself in front of a fireplace as the leaves begin to turn and fall to the ground outside.
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Available wherever: RM Extracts products are carried.
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REVIEWs
For More Products Go To iReadCulture.com
3 1. Fire Log Grill There is one undeniable rule about camping—anything you need has to be brought in with you. Well that, and “leaves of three, let it be” is an absolute rule and not just a suggestion. But if you’re backpacking, you might have to travel miles to your campsite, and portable stoves and personal burners can weigh you down. Luckily for you Sportes’ Fire Log Grill is only 2.5 pounds and can be used with logs or wood found at your favorite camping spot. Simply forage for logs, connect the grill to said logs and start cooking. Also remember the third law of camping—if you cook, they do the dishes. PRICE: $52.99 WEBSITE: SportesOutdoorTools.com 2. Grow Weed Simply Outdoor Grow Kit Our grandmother could put any seed into any dirt and miraculously something would grow and flourish under her green thumb. This skill was not passed down to us. We once over-watered a fake plant and killed it. Let that sink in . . . We killed something that wasn’t alive. Suffice to say that when we saw this Outdoor Grow Kit, we knew someone was looking out for us. The kit includes everything you would need to start growing cannabis, except for the seeds and the can-do attitude. Don’t be ashamed to start small—get ready to kickstart your cannabis garden with this kit. PRICE: $116.99+ WEBSITE: GrowWeedSimply.com 30
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3. The Homey Hippies Beeswax Candle Let’s bee honest (see what we did there?). At best, bees are a pest; at worst they will sting you even though they know it will kill them. Think about this next time you’re stung—you did something so offensive to a bee, that it decided death was preferable to letting it slide. Bees do however produce delicious honey as well as beeswax, a compound found to have numerous health benefits. Beeswax is a natural stress-reliever and when used in the making of candles, can produce a flame without the harmful soot that accompanies a traditional candle. The Homey Hippies’ beeswax candles also give off a subtle honey scent that won’t leave your home smelling like your clothes do after a long weekend at your in-laws. Sporting a wick that is made exclusively of hemp, this candle is the perfect office or home décor for any cannabis aficionado. PRICE: $14.50 WEBSITE: TheHomeyHippies.com 4. Ink Guard When you finally find something worth permanently adorning your body with, you’re going to want to protect it. There’s nothing sadder than seeing a faded tattoo of ALF (the puppet in the late-1980s sitcom), not only because it’s faded, but because . . . ALF. The good folks over at CannaSmack have you covered though, literally, with a combination of natural ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil and hemp seed to protect your skin and your sick ink. Its SPF 30 lotion also moisturizes your skin. Haven’t found the perfect tattoo idea yet? Ink Guard will protect your virgin skin equally as well. But let’s be honest, your skin would look a lot better with some killer ink on it. PRICE: $7.99 WEBSITE: CannaSmack.com
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REVIEWs
entertainment
BOOK
True Living Organics, 2nd Edition Pub. Green Candy Press The Rev Interested in growing cannabis indoors while avoiding the use of chemicals, synthetics and other non-organic cultivation products? Look no further than True Living Organics, 2nd Edition by The Rev with 100 additional pages in the new edition. With the easy-to-read handbook, interested cultivators will find upto-date information on everything related to your grow operation from advanced soil-mix recipes and watering to composting and recycling. Readers will benefit from following The Rev’s tips and step-bystep instructions. Additionally, there is a helpful troubleshooting section for novice cultivators, as well as a guide to organic hash making and extraction. You’ll have a green thumb in no time. (Jacob Cannon) 32
Console Release Date: September 6 PC Release Date: october 24
GAME
Destiny 2 Dev. Bungie Pub. EA Sports It’s been three years since the arrival of Destiny, and now a sequel is here to improve upon all of the original game’s successes, as well as its shortcomings. Destiny 2 allows for players to customize weapons, with a trio of categorical weapon types that will replace the old primary, secondary and heavy slots. It also offers four new worlds to explore and new abilities for each of the three existing classes. Those looking to dive into the continuation of a glorious, first-person online world, have a lot to look forward to. (Nicole Potter)
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MOVIE
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Dir. James Gunn Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures When Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 1 came out in 2014, it gave audiences a comic book movie blockbuster that managed to both tackle deeper themes and capture emotional moments, while providing one of the most awesome soundtracks in recent memory. As was hoped by many thousands of fans around the world, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 delivers more of the same. The sequel follows the same rag tag quintet of universal outcasts as they save their star system yet again, this time from a cosmic being. The explosions are big, the comedy and action are top notch, and the soundtrack is glorious; see this movie immediately. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
AYFKM Call of the Void Relapse Records 2017 has been a stressful year already, so no one would blame you if you need to blow off a little steam with some good old fashioned grindingly heavy hardcore. While a lot of Denver’s heavier metal and punk groups take a laidback approach to music, Call of the Void (COTV) pummels through its sets with loud, aggressive riffs that will send you reeling. Its latest release, AYFKM, is a brief one with five short tracks, but each song packs a punch that will help you take out your aggression in a healthy way. COTV prove that hardcore isn’t just for those who live on the coasts. (Addison Herron-Wheeler)
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Photos by John Gilhooley
The sisters of Krewella dish about their cultural heritage, upcoming tour and cannabis By Simon Weedn
or 10 years now, sisters Yasmine and Jahan Yousaf, better known to the masses as Krewella, have been steadily climbing to the heights of the international electronic dance music (EDM) scene and developing a reputation along the way for working hard and delivering powerful live performances. The duo’s gorgeously poppy, hook-laden and ridiculously catchy brand of EDM has landed Krewella in top spots at festivals all over the world, a partnership with dance-fitness company Zumba, as well as a veritable army of fans across the globe who affectionately refer to themselves as “The Krew.” Recently, Krewella dropped the first of two highly anticipated EPs, New World Pt. 1, and announced a headlining tour that will lead them all across North America through November. CULTURE had the opportunity to talk to Jahan and Yasmine and hear all about everything that went into the making of the new EPs, as well as their thoughts on cannabis. >>
Congratulations on your EP, New World Pt. 1. Can you tell me a bit about how this EP came together? Jahan: Well, we started working on the songs around a year ago without the intention of it being an EP. Then about six months ago we realized we had dozens and dozens of songs that, once we’d filtered through and picked the best, could make a cohesive body of work. That’s usually how it starts for us, we’ll just aimlessly write in the studio without really thinking about how to package it or box it in. Then it’ll naturally form into something where we hear some type of string of cohesiveness or theme throughout, and we’ll realize that some of these songs together would complement each other. What do you personally see as the overarching themes or strings running through New World Pt. 1? Yasmine: Well, it’s not really a concept EP. Jahan: Yeah, it’s not a concept EP, but the idea of New World actually came from a song that isn’t released yet. Yasmine and I were both raised in a multicultural household, our dad is Pakistani and our mom is American/European, and it’s something we didn’t really talk about and sort of brushed aside in the beginning of our music career. But, in the past few years it’s become something that’s really important to us, and we’ve just been diving deep into who we are and what is more authentic to who we are as people and as artists. This idea of New World is something we talk a lot about in the studio especially considering the fact that we’re in a Trump era. So much is changing that affects people on all levels regardless of what status you are, how much money you make, what religion you follow or what type of household you grew up in. We talk a lot in the studio about these social conflicts we’re having in this country and how the youth and cultural diversity is going to be what fights back against all of these old ways that are really suppressing new ways of thinking and open mindedness.
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that Jahan and I felt like we had to do. We had a lot of things pent up inside of us—everything from bitterness and sadness, anger and frustration, as well as love and happiness; the whole spectrum of everything we were going through. We had to purge it into this one EP, and once we got it out there into the world, we felt a weight off our backs. Moving forward from that, we just wanted to make music freely that flowed out of us without too much thought. I think with the Ammunition EP we let go of a dark passenger and began to move on to making music that was a little more free and a little bit lighter.
I know it has been a little over a year since your previous EP, Ammunition, was released. Were there any major changes between the way you approached New World Pt. 1 versus your approach to Ammunition? Yasmine: I think Ammunition would have to be what I call a purge of emotions, and it was a necessary EP 38 38
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Can you tell us how your song “TH2C” developed? Jahan: Well, with that song the verses actually came first. We had a lot of fun creating an image of a girl lyrically using people we know personally and on the internet as inspiration. So, the verses came first, and then the hook came out almost as a stream of consciousness in the room. We kind of
flowed out, “I’m too high to care, I’m too high to care,” because it just felt like it was what that girl would be singing at a festival or something. We felt like we didn’t have any rules while we were making it, and we could say anything we wanted. Then, once we had the title written up, “Too High To Care,” Yasmine was the one who said “TH2C” and everyone in the room immediately went, “Woah! That is some genius shit! That needs to be the title!” Yasmine: I think this is one of the first songs that we’ve ever released that’s written from the perspective of someone else, and it was really fun creating that persona. We had a joke in the studio where we called the woman in the song “She,” and creating her was almost liberating in and of itself because, like Jahan said, there were no rules when writing the life of this character. It was exciting to feel like we didn’t have to stay in a box with it—“TH2C” was a really fun song to make.
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Jahan: I feel like we need more multidimensional female characters in the media. It feels like sometimes all we have are these few social archetypes where there’s just the stupid party girl who doesn’t have much going on with her life, the fame whore, the girl who hustles really hard and is super serious all the time, or the Instagram model with a million followers. So we decided to create a girl who is essentially the female Diplo—someone who is traveling the world, is culturally exposed, knows how to fucking party (although I’m basing this all off of his persona online) and is a work machine. Women can do that stuff too! It seems like the song is so much about strength and independence, but also about having a good time with one of CULTURE’s favorite things. How do you
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two feel about all of the cannabis legalization going on around the country at the moment? Jahan: A little disclaimer, I’m not so knowledgeable about the legality of everything, but I’ll tell you how I feel about marijuana as a casual smoker here and there. Smoking affects my vocal chords, so I’m not the type of person who just goes in the studio and smokes and writes; sometimes I’ll smoke once in a month, other times it might be every two weeks. However, as someone who is really conscious about health and the purity of our food, body products, and really anything we put in our bodies, I just hope that with the decriminalization of marijuana that certain people won’t exploit this new product and pollute it with fillers and toxic ingredients. I just hope that there are people out there, and I’ve heard there are in California, that are doing their best to run organic dispensaries and farms, because what’s going into your lungs needs to come from a pure place.
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Female artists are taking the EDM scene back by Benjamin M. Adams
It’s safe to say that the electronic dance music (EDM) industry is largely maledominated, considering that all 10 of EDM’s top-earning artists are male, according to Forbes. However, the EDM scene is brimming with female DJs and vocalists, who are relentlessly battling for the recognition they deserve. Sydney-based DJ Alex Sholler goes by the moniker Alison Wonderland and exploded onto the American EDM scene with her debut album Run in 2015, which earned her two ARIA Music Awards’ nominations. The Australian duo NERVO may have begun as models, but the act won a Grammy for its work with David Guetta and Kelly Rowland’s “When Love Takes Over,” as well as the number one U.K. hit “We’re All No One” with EDM giants Afrojack and Steve Aoki. Other notable female Australian artists include Anna Lunoe and Nina Las Vegas. Canadian-born Grimes is a producer, singer, songwriter and DJ whose album Visions was widely acclaimed, helping her win Juno Awards for “Electronic Album of the Year,” “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” and later “Video of the Year.”
Canadian producer and DJ REZZ from Niagara Falls was noticed by Skrillex and was signed by both Skrillex’s label OWSLA and deadmau5’s label mau5trap. The PakistaniAmerican singersongwriter Nadia Ali reached number two on the U.K. Singles Chart with 2005’s “Rapture (Taste So Sweet)” as lead singer of the group iiO. The single was remixed by Avicii in 2010 and released as a solo release. Female EDM artists are carving out a niche on the radio as well. Annie Mac landed her first BBC Radio 1 show in 2004, which is a true honor for emerging new global artists. Rolling Stone magazine listed Annie Mac as one of the “50 Most Important People in EDM.” Last but not least, Krewella is consistently one of the top-earning female EDM acts in the world. Krewella’s single “Alive” was certified Platinum and the band’s full-length Get Wet went straight to number one on the U.S. Dance Chart in 2013. There’s certainly no shortage of female DJs, producers and vocalists who are climbing up the ladder in the world of EDM. It’s quickly becoming the fastestgrowing and most important genre in the recording industry.
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I also think that the medical system legalization is important because we’re only just beginning to discover the wonders of marijuana. My dad always says, “When in doubt, go back to nature.” So, I hope we’re starting to go back to nature instead of creating more artificial chemicals that can hurt people. I mean, it’s so disturbing how easy it is to get a prescription for opioids. It’s such a big problem. I recently fractured my metatarsal in my foot and went to urgent care, and they just wrote me a prescription for Norcos, and I almost wanted to lecture them. I smoked weed a couple of nights later and was totally fine. I’d rather just do that than worry about getting addicted to pain medication. What are your hopes for the overall production of things on this EP? Yasmine: Well, when we were in the beginning stages of making this EP, there were moments where we were thinking, “How are we going to make this go into a crazy drop?” Or “How can we make this feel more electronic?” At a certain point we threw all of that out the window and said, “No. Let’s just make songs!” After that it kind of got to a point we were really just focusing on the songs, the vibe, and spending a lot of time on the percussion because we were trying to bring more of our Pakistani roots into this New World vibe. So, we were concentrating on a lot of Bollywood-inspired percussion, and because of that the foundations of the songs were all there before we even went into making them more dance-y or whatever direction we were going in. I remember one of 42
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the songs, “Love Outta Me,” had an actual track drop on it and we ended up taking it out because it took away from the vision we had for the song. We really just threw out any of our preconceived notions of what an EDM EP should be with New World, and at the end of the day we loved all of these songs. We hope that they really resonate with people, and they end up loving them too. With a new EP out and a huge tour about to get underway, that’s quite a bit to have on your plates. Does Krewella have any other ambitions for 2017? Yasmine: Well, if you think about it,
2017 is strangely more than halfway over, and it’s scary to even think about how quickly time is going. We’ve been in the studio all year making music, so being able to take a look at it all finally is really cool. We have New World Pt. 2 coming out sometime soon, and we don’t know how many songs it’s going to be just yet—probably between six and eight. We have so many cool collaborations coming up that we’re working on and are almost done with. We’ve got this tour about to kick off that will lead to a ton of new merchandise, and the tour itself is going to be a completely new show, and by the end of the tour we’ll be in mid-November. By then 2017 will be pretty much over, so I think we’ve got our work cut out for ourselves. The goals are already in place, we’re just in motion now. It’s all fun though, we’re having the best time making this music. c
+ www.krewella.com
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“Colorado has implemented strong inventory control and enforcement mechanisms to prevent diversion from marijuana businesses, including stateof-the-art seed-to-sale tracking system that has become a model for other states . . . “
Powerful Precedent Officials tell the federal government to back off Colorado’s cannabis industry By Jacob Cannon
C
olorado lawmakers continue to defend our state’s right to regulate cannabis. In response to a critical letter written by United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in which Sessions questioned the legality and efficiency of Colorado’s recreational and medical cannabis programs, Gov. John Hickenlooper and Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman penned their own letter to defend the state’s implementation of cannabis legislation. Sessions’ original letter raised concern about cannabis legalization, as he cited data from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) report, which was released back in September 2016. Sessions wrote in the July 2017 letter, “ . . . please advise as to how Colorado plans to address the serious findings in the RMHIDTA report, including efforts to ensure all marijuana activity is compliant with state marijuana laws, to combat diversion of marijuana, to protect public health and safety, and to prevent marijuana use by minors.” One month after the officials obtained the letter from Jeff Sessions, 44
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they penned their own response letter. Dated for Thursday, August 24, the letter informed Sessions that cannabis regulations in Colorado are effective in ensuring legal cannabis does not cross state lines. “Preventing diversion is among the state’s top priorities,” the letter reads. “Colorado has implemented strong inventory control and enforcement mechanisms to prevent diversion from marijuana businesses, including state-of-theart seed-to-sale tracking system that has become a model for other states . . .” The letter included language to demonstrate how caps on cultivation facilities’ permitted production, required 24-hour surveillance, as well as criminal penalties for unlawful distribution and possession of cannabis are other ways the state prevents diversion. The two Colorado officials also explained how the legal cannabis industry protects public safety and health. They continued to explain how they are constantly working to strengthen the current system. “When abuses and unintended consequences materialize, the state has acted quickly to address any resulting harms,” the letter reads.
The letter also addressed Sessions’ other concerns, ensuring him that the legalization of cannabis in Colorado has not led to an increase in drug abuse by minors. They cited the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, which stated the study that surveys 15,000 participants “found no statistically significant change in youth marijuana use rates following legalization and shows Colorado’s youth use rates in line with the national average.” The letter used additional trusted studies to back up this fact. In regards to an increase of traffic accidents and fatalities being associated with legalized cannabis, the letter not only reminds Sessions of the many preventative actions they have taken to ensure public safety in this respect. The letter also breaks down the credibility of the RMHIDTA report Sessions cited in his letter. “We consider RMHIDTA data, among other sources, when evaluating the effectiveness of our enforcement efforts. However, these findings were not included in RMHIDTA’s most recent publication in March 2017, and RMHIDTA has noted that data collection gaps rendered pre2012 data incomplete.” This is not the first time Hickenlooper informed Sessions and the Department of Justice of inaccuracies about their worries regarding legal cannabis. Back in February, Hickenlooper sent the Department of Justice and Jeff Sessions a 140-page report, which contained information and an analysis. The report showed that in six states that legalized cannabis, there was not a significant increase in negative effects among youth, from substance abuse to juvenile arrests. It also detailed that there was no clear evidence that an increase in car crashes and fatalities are linked to drivers who have cannabinoids present in their systems. As three other states penned similar letters to Sessions, defending their states’ rights to regulate cannabis, Colorado continues working alongside lawmakers across the country in defending our freedom to legalize and regulate cannabis at a state-level. c
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How do you feel about the genre you are a part of? Genres seem so impossible these days— mostly because everyone is influenced by a melting pot of musicians and musical styles, including us. We like to call ourselves the soulful side of rock—because you know we love to rock out, but never without pouring our souls into it first.
Radiant Rock Members of Mama Magnolia embrace cannabis By Addison Herron-Wheeler Sometimes, especially in today’s political climate, it’s necessary just to chill and get down. That’s exactly what Denver’s own Mama Magnolia seeks to do. A group that is largely comprised of music school graduates who really know how to maximize the creative art of crafting music— Mama Magnolia embraces,
“As a user of recreational and medical marijuana, it blows my mind that it is still a felony in other states when it is literally saving the lives of so many people in the world.”
in the band’s own words, the “soulful side of rock” that delivers sultry sounds. CULTURE caught up with Megan Letts, the group’s keyboardist and vocalist, to talk about relaxing, rocking and saving lives with cannabis. 46
How did you get started making music? As a band, most of us, Carrie McCune (trumpet and vocals), Jackson Hillmer (drums) and Thomas Jennings (guitar) met in music school at The University of Denver, but we’ve all been on our personal musical journeys much longer than that. [The group is also comprised of Zackary Jackson on bass and vocals and Alex Cazet on saxophone.] For me, it was never a conscious decision to become a musician. It was just who I was and who I am. I was surrounded by music as a kid, and I never let it out of my life after that. Who are some of your biggest influences? As a band, we really look towards powerful female-led groups—Alabama Shakes, Hiatus Kaiyote, Lake Street Dive . . . but individually we each have such different musical influences, which makes for a very cool and surprisingly cohesive sound. We also are all pretty obsessed with Anderson .Paak and Chance the Rapper. On long tour drives, Coloring Book [by Chance the Rapper] and Malibu [by Anderson .Paak] will be played at least three times. Do you have any upcoming shows, releases or projects in the works? We do! We’re really excited to have a few big shows and a tour on the horizon. We will be playing up at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre on September 16, supporting one of our favorite bands, The California Honeydrops. We will also be headed on the road early October showcasing our soon-to-be released A-side/B-side singles.
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How do you feel about cannabis legalization so far? Could anything be done better or differently? We are all for it! As recreational users, we love the accessibility we have in Colorado and other states when we’re on tour. We wish it was legal in all 50 states. It blows my mind that cigarettes and alcohol are legal in all 50, yet cannabis is only legal in, what is it—26 states? As a user of recreational and medical marijuana, it blows my mind that it is still a felony in other states when it is literally saving the lives of so many people in the world. How many lives has alcohol saved? Have you ever worked cannabis into your music as a theme? If so, how? We have a song called “Something About Fire,” which definitely has a bit of a high theme. It’s the first lyric I’ve written that blatantly says, “Because we’re a million miles high.” And I wasn’t talking about altitude . . . It’s a song about allowing your mind to relax and be stretched to a creative limit that is often hidden, maybe because you’re afraid of it, or maybe because you don’t know it’s there. How has cannabis affected your life and creative processes? I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 15plus years. There was a period in my life where I didn’t take the disease seriously and didn’t expect it to ever affect me—how stupid that was. Although my diabetes is under control, I suffer from a plethora of stomach issues that have really impacted my life, and cannabis has helped an unbelievable amount. Creatively, cannabis can be a great place to turn to, especially if you’re stuck and can’t get passed an idea, just like I wrote about in “Something About Fire.” c See Mama magnolia Live Sept. 14 New Terrain Brewing Co., Golden Sept. 16: Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Bellvue
+ www.mamamagnolia.com
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Sensual Strains Sex expert Ashley Manta navigates through a plethora of options for consuming cannabis in the bedroom
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By Ashley Manta “What’s your favorite strain for sex?” is one of the most common questions I’m asked as a sex educator and resident expert on all things sex and cannabis. I understand the appeal—we want to have an easy, go-to, one size fits all answer so that we can implement it and go on with our day. Sorry to disappoint you, but the answer is . . . it depends. Like most things related to sex and pleasure, there is no universal answer. Factors to consider include tolerance, what kind of sex you want to be having
(the strains or products you might use to facilitate slow sensual sex are not the same products you might choose for frenzied, lustful sex), and most importantly, method of consumption. Since the methods of consumption one chooses affect the body in different ways, it seems prudent to discuss some of the methods along with how they lend themselves to be conducive to various sexual encounters. Remember, consent is mandatory, so negotiate before you medicate! Be clear on what you’re a yes and no to, how to signal that you’re ready to be done and any specific care you might need after sexy times are over.
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“Remember, consent is mandatory, so negotiate before you medicate!”
Flower:
(smoking or vaping) I would say this method is the most versatile but also requires the most experimentation. I appreciate that smoking and vaping can be slightly easier to modulate dosage (you can choose to use a specific amount and also choose to take large or small hits). Depending on the cannabinoid and terpenoid profiles in the strain, you can choose the effects you’re looking for. A strain high in pinene or limonene could be great for active sex and might help facilitate being communicative in the moment. A strain high in linalool tends to be more relaxing, lending itself to slower, more tactileoriented pleasure.
Edibles: Edibles are an excellent option for those who have the time to commit. Since edibles can take up to two full hours (and sometimes longer) to take effect, not to mention that the effects can last four to six hours (and sometimes longer, depending on tolerance), save edibles for days when you have a great deal of time to devote to your “sexploits.” Weekends away with your sweetie, rainy afternoons with nothing to do—these are the situations in which edibles are most useful. The effect is also different than smoking or vaping—I notice that I feel a stronger effect in my body after edibles and less in my head. This could be great for sexy times involving sensation— playing with temperature, impact or teasing touch (for example, hovering your mouth over a partner’s nipple and letting them feel the hot breath, then moving on to another body part, then coming back).
Tinctures: Tinctures could absolutely fall into the edibles category, but I’m giving them their own spot because if a tincture is applied sublingually, the onset time is 10 to 15 minutes rather than up to two hours like an edible. Tinctures are fantastic and are becoming more plentiful as the industry grows. You can choose cannabidiol (CBD) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dominant tinctures, and dosage is easy to determine because most tinctures come in a bottle with a dropper and directions on dosing. I love 1:1 tinctures for helping me get my head ready and set aside any lingering anxiety after a long day of work or any period of stress in my day.
Topicals: Topicals are one of my favorite ways to combine sex and cannabis. Since topicals do not cause psychoactive effects, you can incorporate them regardless of circumstance. There’s a bit of a time delay when applied to a mucous membrane like the vulva— THC-infused sex oils take around 25 minutes to “marinate” before effects are noticeable. You should also be aware that oil degrades latex, so if you’re using oil on any part of the body that will come in contact with a condom or glove at some point in the evening, you need to have non-latex options like nitrile or polyurethane on hand. Topicals can also be used as a way to build intimacy, like offering your partner an infused massage after a long day. I like to use them both ways—apply a THC spray to my vulva and then have my partner give me an infused massage while I wait for the 25 minutes to lapse.
Hopefully this has given you some ideas on the pros and cons of various methods of consumption for sex. I encourage everyone to test both methods of consumption and new strains and products solo before trying them with a partner. Yes, that means I’m suggesting you masturbate. It helps you isolate variables and figure out what feels best for your body. Plus, it’s fun! c 50
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Industry Insider
Thirst Quencher
Bill D. has reached monumental success from merging CBD with water
“I have others very close to me [who] have had health problems, and I have watched them consume CBD and have seen the effects of how it has helped tremendously.”
By R. Scott Rappold
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annabis products high in cannabidiol (CBD) are booming in popularity these days. CBD is a compound of cannabis that doesn’t get the consumer intoxicated, but is known for its medical benefits among a wide variety of conditions, including pain, inflammation, epilepsy and depression. It’s even being investigated for its anti-cancer properties. Like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it can be delivered in flower, oil, foods and many other ways. But until recently, few tried to tackle how to add it to plain water.
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If the overnight success of CBD Living Water is any indication, there is plenty of demand. Though it was just launched in 2015, it’s already available in 45 states and sold internationally. And the water was only the beginning. “It’s not about getting you high, it’s about the medical value of the cannabinoids, and the general public is now becoming more aware of the option of being able to get the benefits of cannabinoids by consuming CBD without consuming THC and the effects of getting high,” said Bill D., the company founder.
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J.
Pallets to Truckloads
Bill is a longtime entrepreneur and business owner, which includes endeavors related to construction companies, offshore fishing boats and motorcycle parts. He also says he has long consumed CBD and that it has kept him free of health problems. “I have others very close to me [who] have had health problems, and I have watched them consume CBD and have seen the effects of how it has helped tremendously,” he said. He said a biochemist came to him with the idea for CBD-infused water. Like THC, CBD does not naturally bond with water molecules. That’s the same reason drinking bong water won’t get you intoxicated. This scientist had an idea how to make it but no idea what to do with it. Bill said he “jumped 54
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all over it and ran with the idea.” Such was the instant popularity that he went from shipping a few pallets in 2015 to shipping it by the truckload. It isn’t the only CBD-infused water on the market, but Bill says the water purity sets it apart. “As we know there are other CBD waters out there or trying to be out there, but many have a terrible taste or smell and are not clear. They do not look or taste like the crisp, clear clean water like CBD Living products.” As for how they accomplished that, that’s something Bill isn’t talking about, saying only that it’s a “proprietary process.”
U.
Why Water?
So what’s so special about water, when there are many, many other ways to ingest CBD? Bill explained, “The Micro
Encapsulated Nano CBD allows the CBD to enter the body at the cellular level giving it 100 percent bioavailability. Consuming CBD any other way, the consumer will lose upwards of 80 to 90 percent of the CBD, as it processes through the digestive system.” You can find CBD Living Water in health food stores, smoke shops, cannabis dispensaries and other locations. The company also makes a host of other CBD products, including gummies, gel caps, chocolate and vaporizer oils. The potential for CBD products, he said, is “endless.” “As awareness of CBD continues to move into mainstream consumers, I believe CBD will be in high demand to be in all types of consumable and topical products, and CBD Living will continue to work hard to be at the for front of this movement, bringing the best CBD products to market.” c
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 56
Summer Experiments 3 By Ed Rosenthal Last month, I wrote about three groups of plants that were in the middle of flowering. Now those plants have all been harvested. The first group consisted of five Blue Dream plants in a 2’ x 4’ container on wheels. I had planted two of them horizontally lengthwise, crossing each other. Then I planted three shorter plants in a row in the middle of the container. By the time the plants started flowering, the entire container was covered with growth that extended out of from three sides. The plants were wheeled into a dark tent area each day for light deprivation, and they were harvested on July 24, after 56 days of flowering. The branches were cut and are now hanging in a slow dry/cure. The second group consisted of four plants that were placed outdoors when the short light period still promoted flowering. By the time the light period got longer, the plants were in the last half of flowering. The increased light period of late spring and early summer failed to turn the plants back into vegetative growth, and they were cut the week of July 9. Three of the four plants were pollinated from a
Unclipped Purple Pineapple had a large top bud that dominated growth. The side bud didn’t develop very much.
Top clipped Purple Pineapple’s central bud did not dominate growth. Instead, without inhibition from hormones produced by top bud, the side buds grew out producing a bigger yield.
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Blue Dream male that had released pollen two months earlier. The pollen had been sitting out in a cool dry place since then, but proved to be viable. Most of the buds were cut from these plants except for some small immature buds and the pollinated cola. Then the cut plants were given natural light during the day and placed under lights at night so they receive light continuously. They are now finishing seed production and reverting to vegetative growth for another round. Meanwhile, their cut buds are hanging, drying and curing. The third group consisted of 10 plants that sprouted unexpectedly. They were all sisters and looked like it. They were variations on a wide leaved Purple Pineapple and all had similar characteristics. The 10 plants all flowered, starting shortly after germinating; they finished flowering on approximately July 27. I performed several demonstration experiments on this group of plants. First, because they started flowering early, they grew to a controlled size. This demonstrated that cannabis could be grown as small row plants, making cultivation easier using conventional farming techniques, rather than as larger plants. In
The 2’ x 4’ tray held five Blue Dream plants. Buds and foliage covered the entire container then spread out further.
Cutting the buds using an electric clipper.
another experiment I paired plants that were about equal in growth and pruned the tops of half of them so that some were topped and some were left uncut. You can see the difference in their growth. The uncut plant grew a larger central bud at the expense of side growth. The cut plants produced several branches that held more buds than the uncut plants. These plants were ready to harvest approximately 90 days after germination. They were cut and hung whole to dry as well. They will all be dried and cured next month. Then they will be manicured. c
TIP OF THE MONTH By now, the outdoor plants are mid-way through flowering. You may have some regrets that you didn’t take clones while the plants were still vegetating. However, all is not lost. You can take cuttings of your flowering plants and root them while having them revert back to vegetative growth. Just take cuttings and prepare them as you usually do for cloning, and place them under constant light with no dark period. The cuttings will begin to root and to grow new leaves, not flowers.
The four plants started flowering early because they were placed outdoors in early spring when the natural light period was too short to maintain vegetative growth.
Bud of Blackberry Fire plant is ready to harvest.
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.
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if you go:
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Time to Go: September Weather: Low 50s, High 60s Budget: $$$$$
Delightful Dublin By Sheryll Alexander
A day in Dublin, Ireland means taking in the sights and ending with a full belly, music, song, conversation and laughter—it truly makes this city a pleasure to visit. Dublin is an ancientyet-modern city that is delightful any time of year. Dublin is a highly walkable destination filled with a history going back to the Vikings along with gorgeous green spaces, castles, museums, theatres, restaurants and shopping districts. The city’s main attraction is by far is the Guinness Storehouse. Now housed in a glass atrium-like building that looks like a black Guinness pint, this is the
brewery tour of all tours. Hordes of tourists learn all about the beer’s four ingredients (water, barley, hops and yeast) as well as the famous founder, Arthur Guinness. The top floor houses the Gravity Bar where the Dublin views are spectacular, especially with a pint of perfectly-poured Guinness in hand. Other not-tobe missed Dublin attractions include Dublin Castle, Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, National Museum of Ireland, Farmleigh House, Old Jameson Distillery and the National Botanical Gardens. Beyond the tourist traps, Dublin can be a
place for travelers to relax in this spectacular seaside city. Take a stroll after breakfast to a park, garden or along the shore. In the afternoon, hit a museum or other historical places of interest. Late afternoons require tucking into some coffee, tea and baked goods at a local coffee shop or tea room after visiting Dublin’s legal CBD dispensary, Capel Street’s The Hemp Company. Dublin has had quite the foodie Renaissance in the past decade too, so dinner in Dublin can be anything from a prix fixe menu at the latest Michelinstarred restaurant to hip neighborhood bistro fare to traditional Irish dishes at a historic pub. c
Fun-Filled Facts The second annual Global Medical Cannabis Summit is returning to Dublin from September 22-24. Held at The Digital Depot on Roe Lane, this weekend-long conference focuses on European medical cannabis perspectives and includes speakers such as legislators, scientists, doctors, patients and activists from around the world discussing such subjects as scientific insights, business development and political activism. 1
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From September 9-24, visitors can experience the Dublin Fringe Festival. Hundreds of “bold, brave, daring” and “cutting-edge” plays, so says Fringe Fest, are held at venues all over the city and is usually where Dubliners magically discover the next big theatrical show. 2
Cannabis is still illegal in Ireland, even though a 2016 medical cannabis bill passed through two stages in the Dáil, but was ultimately squashed recently. Dublin Cannabis Club (DCC)— an online informationsharing network of Dublin cannabis enthusiasts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—says most cannabis-seeking visitors have very limited options. There are no physical social clubs in Dublin, and some sources recommend that visitors try checking out 420-friendly bars or chatting with a local for recommendations. The DCC also recommends buying from “independent lads who are smokers” as flower quality is usually premium (a gram costs around 20-25 euros). If caught possessing cannabis, the Irish police (Garda) must legally take possession of your cannabis, and you may get a misdemeanor ticket and a fine.
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Vanessa I. Soza
Age: 29 Condition/Illness:
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OCD, PTSD, depression, body/gender dysmorphia
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When did you start using medical cannabis? I began using medical cannabis at the tail end of an exclusively medical cannabis state, when I first moved to Portland in 2014. I couldn’t believe the quality of the cannabis in Oregon, the level of awareness education and that cannabis could be used in so many different forms! Imagine my surprise when I made that connection. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Because my anxiety was severe, and I was living in Texas then, medication was the only option laid out for me by most physicians. Seroquel, an antipsychotic typically used to treat schizophrenia, was one of my first and worst experiences I had on a pharmaceutical. I lost control of my body, slept 14 hours at a time and endured what felt like (very scary) sleep paralysis.
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? The single biggest threat to medical cannabis patients is the removal of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) would be doing these people, who might I add are already at a disadvantage, a great disservice. It’s easy for most to forget about special needs when suddenly everybody is allowed in dispensaries. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I don’t tolerate opinions without facts, and there are a lot of people out there with just an opinion and little-to-no facts to authenticate their position. But if I’m approached by friendly skepticism, my message is a simple one. I call it the three R’s—research, re-evaluate and reeducate. If I feel someone may be misinformed, I urge them to seek out more information (and recommend a few books or sites with reliable sources). After the research phase, it’s time to reevaluate the opinion. Once re-evaluated, the idea is to reformulate a stance, no matter the position and use it for the greater good. Keep an open mind, always, and pass on what you learned. c
Are you an medical cannabis patient with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.
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Fall is officially here! The leaves on the trees will soon begin to turn varying shades of red and gold. Our menus turn from light summer salads to the deep, rich and warm flavors of autumn. Soups and comfort foods find their way to our tables. Jackets and scarves will soon appear as we venture out into apple orchards to find those
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A Glimpse of Autumn
Menu: Hot Apple Toddy Chicken Normandy Classic All-American Apple Pie
delicious morsels that remind us not only of back-to-school, but of the quintessential feeling of the seasons changing again. As the temperatures began to dip, warm apple cider transforms the popular Hot Toddy into a delightful autumn drink. The Hot Apple Toddy is ideal with fresh-pressed cider and is the perfect excuse to try a seasonal
beverage enhanced with cannabis. Pair it with a serving of Chicken Normandy, a one-pot meal that is sure to become one of your family favorites. Finally, nothing says “fall” more than a classic cannabis-infused apple pie. (If you’re not comfortable making your own crust, use a store-bought one. We promise not to tell.)
Hot Apple Toddy Ingredients:
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1 tablespoon honey 3 ounces apple brandy 2 1/2 teaspoons simple syrup 1/2 teaspoon cannabis-infused simple syrup 10 ounces hot apple cider Lemon wedge for garnish Cinnamon stick for garnish
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2-3 whole cloves for garnish
Instructions:
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1. Coat the bottom of an Irish coffee glass with honey.
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2. Add the apple brandy, simple syrup and infused simple syrup.
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3. Fill with hot apple cider. 4. Stir well. 5. Garnish with the lemon, cinnamon stick and cloves. SEPTEMBER 2017 CultureMagazine.com
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culture 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon unsalted cannabutter 2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced into wedges. (We suggest Fuji apples or Jonagold apples. Do not use Red Delicious, as they will turn into mush instead of staying firm) Flour for dredging 4 whole chicken legs (with thighs) Salt and pepper to taste 1 large onion, peeled, sliced into wedges 1/2 cup apple brandy (or Calvados) 2 cups apple cider 2 teaspoons dried thyme 1/2 cup heavy cream
4. Sprinkle the apple slices with a little salt. Remove from pan and put them aside on paper towels to drain. 5. Lightly dredge the chicken in flour, and place the pieces in the hot sauté pan, skin side down. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of cannabutter. 6. Fry until golden, about 3-5 minutes on medium to medium-high heat on each side. Remove from pan and set aside. 7. Add onions to the pan, and increase the heat to mediumhigh. Sauté the onions, stirring occasionally, until they just begin to brown, about 5-8 minutes.
10. Return the browned chicken legs in the pan so the skin faces up and is not submerged by the cider-brandy mixture. Place in the oven, and cook at 375°F uncovered, for 30 minutes. 11. After the chicken has cooked, remove the pan from the oven and carefully transfer chicken pieces from the pan to a serving platter. 12. Place the pan with all that delicious sauce, back on a stovetop burner on high heat. Add apples and boil down the sauce by half. 13. When the sauce has reduced, add the heavy cream and turn down the heat. Adjust seasonings if needed. 14. To serve, spoon some apples and cider gravy over the chicken and enjoy! CultureMagazine.com
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3. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large, oven-proof sauté pan over medium heat. Add the apple slices, and sauté until they turn a little brown around the edges, turning occasionally.
9. Let the brandy and onions simmer until the sauce has reduced by about half. Add the apple cider, and return the liquid to a boil. Sprinkle in the thyme. Add just a pinch of salt to taste.
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2. While the chicken is resting, preheat oven to 375°F.
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1. Sprinkle salt over chicken pieces and let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
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In this recipe, the chicken is first browned on the stovetop, then braised in the oven and finished on the stovetop. However, it is possible to create the entire dish on the stovetop. Instead of putting the chicken in the oven, just simmer the chicken on the stovetop (uncovered if skin-on, covered if using skinless chicken pieces), until cooked through and tender, 15-30 minutes. Braising the chicken in the oven will produce a crispy skin that you won’t get by simmering on the stove.
8. When the onions have cooked, add brandy to the pan. Using a wooden spoon, scrape any remaining browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
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Chicken Normandy
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Local eateries with similar dishes: Rioja 1431 Larimer St., Denver (303) 820-2282 www.riojadenver.com
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Backporch Cafe 1101 E Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins (970) 224-2338 thebackporchcafe.com Granny Scott’s Pie Shop 3333 S Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood (303) 986-6240 www.grannyscotts.com
Classic All-American Apple Pie Ingredients:
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3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/8 cups unsalted butter 1/8 cup cannabis-infused unsalted butter 6 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening 3 cups Golden Delicious apples
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3 cups Granny Smith apples 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar
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1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions: 1. First, make the dough. Place flour and 3/4 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse to combine. Add 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the butter and the vegetable shortening and pulse 6 to 8 times, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle 3 to 4 tablespoons of cold water over the dough and pulse a few more times until the dough begins to hold together. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed, until the dough holds together. Form the dough into 2 disks, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 2. While the dough is chilling, make the filling for the pie! Combine the apples, lemon juice, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and remaining salt in a large bowl and toss. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. When you’re ready to bake, drain the apples, reserving the liquid! Toss apples with cornstarch and set aside. 3. Place 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the
remaining butter, bring to a boil, and let simmer and reduce until it becomes thick and syrupy. Do not stir. Add the warm syrup to the apple/cornstarch mix and toss gently to combine. 4. While the syrup is reducing, preheat oven to 425°F. 5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough into a 12-inch round about 1/8-inch thick. Fit the dough into a 10-inch pie plate. Trim dough around the edges and crimp if desired. Fill with the apple filling. Roll out the second disk of dough for the top crust. For fun, you can cut out large leaf shapes and place over the apples, each slightly overlapping the other, to form a top crust, or simply cut out one large apple shape, center on the top, and cut several slits to vent the pie. Be creative! 6. Bake at 425°F until the juices bubble through the slits—45 to 55 minutes. 7. Let cool for at least 4 hours before serving, if you can wait that long. It’s delicious topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
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News of the
Weird
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
LEAD STORY—OH, CANADA What could go wrong? Canadian company Bad Axe Throwing announced in June it is bringing its unusual entertainment concept to Denver. It’s “like darts, but on steroids,” says founder Mario Zelaya. Customers provide their own food and beer and learn how to throw axes at targets. “We’ll be bringing along the competitive league side as well. That means that folks in Denver can sign up . . . and compete at a global level,” Zelaya said.
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SMOOTH REACTIONS Did you say french fries or FRESH fries? Eiram Chanel Amir Dixson, 25, made a point of ordering fresh french fries at a Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Wendy’s drive-thru in May. When the exchange between the dissatisfied Dixson and a Wendy’s worker escalated, the employee threw a soda at Dixson, and Dixson fired back by spraying Mace through the drive-thru window. Police charged Dixson with one count of using tear gas to immobilize. Rachel Borch, 21, of Hope, Maine, was out for a run in June when a raccoon attacked her. Thinking quickly, Borch grabbed the animal and, despite being bitten, ran to a puddle on the trail and held its head underwater until it drowned. (BONUS: Borch’s
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father retrieved the dead raccoon and delivered it for rabies testing in a Taste of the Wild dog food bag.) INSULT TO INJURY It was dark in the wee hours of June 30 in Jacksonville, Florida, and Cedric Jelks, 38, probably never saw the loaded gun on the driver’s seat of his car as he got in, but he certainly felt it after the gun went off, wounding his manhood. When police investigating the report of a gunshot wound arrived at the hospital Jelks was taken to, they added possible firearms charges to his pain after discovering Jelks had a prior conviction for cocaine possession. WHY NOT? A driver in Zhenjiang, China, took drive-thru service to the next level on June 10 when he carefully
pulled his tiny automobile through the front doors of a convenience store, requested a package of potato chips and a bottle of yogurt, paid for his purchase and reversed through the doors with the cashier’s guidance. Surveillance video shows the cashier waving and saluting as the car pulls away. He posited that the driver might have been avoiding getting out of his car in the rain. FINER POINTS OF THE LAW A restaurant owner near Florence, Italy, was ordered to pay 2,000 euros in fines in June after judges in Italy’s highest court declared it illegal to keep lobsters on ice in restaurants because it causes them undue suffering. “The suffering caused by detaining the animals while they wait to be cooked cannot be justified,” the judges ruled.
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