2
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
3
inside
contents 8.2017
24 Cannabis CowboY
Driven by his newest cannabis-themed song, country singer and musician Toby Keith discusses how songwriting and patriotism have played a role in his career. O n the C O V E R :
andrew southam
36
18
20 32
features
42
departments
30
Perfected Percussion Mike Hall, former percussionist from the hit theatrical show STOMP, relies on medical cannabis to keep himself focused and on beat.
32
Pro Advice Learn what some of the most successful business people do to maintain a positive and effective impact on the cannabis industry.
36
Spreading Awareness Greece has become the latest country to legalize medical cannabis.
news 10 News Nuggets 11 By the Numbers 12 Local News 14 Legal Corner reviews 16 Collective Highlight 18 Strain & Concentrate Reviews 20 Cool Stuff 22 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 38 Growing Culture 40 Destination Unknown 41 Profile in Courage
08 Letter from the Editor
42 Recipes 46 News of the Weird
4
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Online Exclusive! d Cannabis Stigma Harmful to Patient-Doctor Relationships d Medical Cannabis Bill Introduced in Texan Legislature
Vol 9 IssUE 2
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
5
CULTURE M
A
G
A
Z
I
N
E
Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, Keira Fae, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, M. Jay, Heather Johnson, Emily Manke, Meital Manzuri, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Lanny Swerdlow, Jefferson Van Billiard, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf, Zara Zhi 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 Designer Nathan Hernandez sales director Justin Olson Account Executives Jon Bookatz, Alex Brizicky, Molly Clark, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Casey Roel, Garry Stalling, Ryan Tripp, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy digital content manager David Edmundson Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla Publisher David Comden
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 500 locations throughout Michigan. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 36500 Ford Rd #348 Westland, MI 48185 Phone 888.694.2046 Fax 888.694.2046 www.iREADCULTURE.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
6
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
/freeculturemag
/iReadCulture
/iReadCulture
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
7
LETTER
FROM
THE
EDITOR
U n i t e d We P r ev a i l
W
hen thinking back to our time of youth, everyone can hear and recognize the soundtrack of their lives. From the rebellious punk rock music to the heart-wrenching ballads of R&B, each genre marks an era of personal growth and realizations about life. For me, country music held an important role as the anthem of my childhood, but in recent years, songs by Shania Twain and Garth Brooks are kept buried in nostalgia alongside tunes by Guns N’ Roses and Ace of Base. Even though I have embraced different approaches to music and found new favorites since then, country music has recently re-appeared in my life, as legendary country music Toby Keith just released a new music video about cannabis that features a joint-smoking Willie Nelson. I’ll be the first to say that in the past, not everyone saw a strong connection between cannabis and country music. But in an industry in which I am extremely involved in and passionate about—cannabis is now being promoted and whole-heartedly embraced by the country music world. It was then that I realized that much like music, cannabis transcends all people, regardless of what they believe. Known for his patriotism and support for the military, Keith has produced many conservative songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” and “American Solider.” Keith’s newfound success with this cannabis anthem reminds me of how much the cannabis industry has evolved. Now, conservative and liberal politicians are working together to reform cannabis legislation at the state and federal levels. Although cannabis is notorious for the role it plays in the Rastafarian way of life, cannabis has a way of influencing many
8
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
other cultures and religions around the globe. In the United States, we’ve seen everything from cannabis cultivating nuns to modern cannabis churches that are non-denominational out of respect for all religions. There will always be beliefs and ideologies that continue to separate us. Instead of focusing on those differences, let’s rally all fans of rock, rap and country, as well as every known religious affiliation, and we will continue to work together to reverse the negative stigmas associated with cannabis. Our relentless advocacy and dedication to professionalism and freedom will help us prove how cannabis has the ability to improve the planet and all the people who live on it. c
Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
9
NEWS
nuggetS
Over 100,000 Signatures Gathered for MI Cannabis Legalization Effort Petition gatherers for The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol have already collected 99,209 signatures, plus 3,216 signatures from the organization’s initial volunteer petition, bringing the total to 102,425 signatures as of mid-July. “The support we are seeing across the state has been fantastic,” said Josh Hovey, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol’s spokesperson. “We are getting calls and emails every day from people who understand that marijuana prohibition is a massive failure and asking where they can sign and how they can help. If we can keep up this momentum, we will have all signatures in four
months rather than the six months required by state law.” The campaign must collect a total of 252,523 valid signatures in order to qualify for the November 2018 ballot, meaning approximately 150,000 signatures are still needed. The bill would impose a 10 percent excise tax and six percent sales tax on recreational cannabis. The initiative would also protect consumers with testing and safety provisions.
Kalamazoo Officials Propose Ordinance Changes to Accommodate Medical Cannabis Kalamazoo City Attorney Clyde Robinson recently presented the city’s Planning Commission with the changes that are needed to accommodate the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, which was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in September 2016. The proposed amendments to Section 199 of the City Charter would allow registered caregivers to operate at home. Zoning districts where dispensaries would be allowed would also be defined. “At this time city staff is recommending amending the home occupation ordinance in the zoning code and amending the zoning code to define where facilities can be located,” according to the July 17 Kalamazoo City
New Hampshire Decriminalizes Cannabis In mid-July, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 640, which officially decriminalized cannabis in the state. The bill reduces the penalties for possession of threequarters or less of cannabis or five or less grams of hash, and it also minimizes the fines. The Marijuana Policy Project’s Political Director, Matt Simon, released a statement about the signing’s approval. “The governor deserves credit for his steadfast support of this commonsense 10
august 2017 iReadCULTURE.com AUGUST
Council meeting agenda. “Attorney Robinson explained that there will not be limits on the number of growers, processors, transporters and compliance centers.” Under the proposals, one dispensary would be allowed for every 10,000 residents, which would bring the total to three dispensaries. The Planning Commission is expected to see zoning updates in August, which will then be sent to the City Commission in September.
reform,” he stated. “Unlike his predecessors, who opposed similar proposals, Gov. Sununu appears to understand that ‘Live Free or Die’ is more than just a motto on a license plate.” HB-640 also implements a new misdemeanor charge for adults who do not properly store their cannabis edibles in child-proof packaging. New Hampshire is the 22nd state that has implemented cannabis decriminalization efforts. Although the bill was signed, it won’t become law until 60 days have passed since the initial signing.
The estimated number of medical cannabis patients in the state of Michigan: (Source: Oregon Cannabis Connection)
1,304,000
The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that the Troy-based Smokers Outlet Management donated to the campaign to legalize cannabis in Michigan:
150
(Source: Detroit Free Press)
The estimated number of medical cannabis patients living in Kalamazoo County: (Source: Mlive.com)
4,081
The number of people who will soon be appointed as members of the Marihuana Advisory Panel organized by the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act: (Source: PlanningMI.org)
The distance, in feet, that limits how far away cannabis dispensaries must be located from each other in the city of Marshall: (Source: USA Today)
6,000
17
The percentage of voters who believe that states in the U.S. should be allowed to enact their own medical cannabis programs: (Source: Survey USA)
76 The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that will be taken from New York State funds to boost industrial hemp research and development in the state: (Source: WBFO 88.7)
10
The number of new medical cannabis dispensary licenses that were awarded in Pennsylvania:
27
(Source: Philadelphia Magazine)
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Louisiana State University will receive over the course of five years as part of a medical cannabis production contract: (Source:
3.4
San Francisco Chronicle)
Ribs and R&B Music Festival 2017 WHEN: Fri, Aug. 11-Sun, Aug. 13 WHERE: Philip A. Hart Plaza, 199 West Jefferson Ave., Detroit WEBSITE: ribsrnbmusicfestival.com
It’s nothing short of pure bliss when barbecue ribs and R&B music are combined. This year’s confirmed musical performances include Shelia E, Atlantic Starr, SLAVE and CeCe Peniston, while in past years, the festival has featured artists such as The Mary Jane Girls and The Enchantments. Over 100 vendors are expected and a total of over 20 artists will perform. VIP tickets put you
directly in front of the Main Stage. The festival also boasts an impressive lineup of barbecue experts that will be serving up ribs, brisket and chicken with the best awardwinning sauces that you can imagine. A competition for the “Best Ribs” and “Best Sauce” will be selecting the best offerings. The event has been called Detroit’s most anticipated summer festival. iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
11
NEWS
LOCAL
Ge t ting Greener Restructuring the future of Highland Park as it considers cannabis By Benjamin M. Adams
H
ighland Park spans a small area and is surrounded by the city of Detroit. The city is only 2.969 square miles, but it could see rejuvenation from a new, greener industry that is planned to replace its post-industrial landscape. The metropolitan Detroit area in general is quickly shifting from its traditional backbone automotive industry into the limitless medical cannabis industry. The Highland Park Chamber of Commerce (HPCC) welcomes cannabis businesses and is working with city council and the mayor to draft an ordinance that allows commercial cannabis businesses. Highland Park is known for its autonomous laws that were forged nearly 100 years ago in 1918. Still to this day, Highland Park operates as its own incorporated entity. “Highland Park and Hamtramck are the only cities in the metro area that are completely surrounded by Detroit,” Rodger Penzabene, Chairman and CEO of the HPCC, told CULTURE. “The history of that goes back to Henry Ford, when he founded the Ford Motor Co. here in Highland Park. He didn’t want to pay taxes to Detroit, so he incorporated Highland Park as a city, and the Dodge brothers did the same thing in Hamtramck.” The Chrysler
12
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Chamber of Commerce CEO Rodger Penzabene stands in front of future Chamber of Commerce building before HempCrete renovations
Corporation was also born in Highland Park. Penzabene is ready to get the word out that Highland Park is ready for cannabis. “[Recently] I spoke with the Mayor-elect Hubert Yopp. He personally told me that the city is opting in,” Penzabene confided. “They plan on the December deadline to opt-in with the state of Michigan.” Since the city’s charter is currently under revision, an ordinance can’t be drafted until the charter comes back with an approval from Bill Schuette, the state’s Attorney General. Penzabene has been in negotiations with city officials to bring an industrial grow operation there—a 30,000 square foot building. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification developed by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and rates buildings based on design and construction. “We have a property in Highland Park that is 60,000 square feet, a former nursing home which will be our chamber headquarters,” Penzabene explained. “We plan on going all green with LEED energy. We’re going to use permeable concrete using is HempCrete.” The HPCC wants the building to be a model of what could happen in other construction projects. Due to zoning restrictions and the size of Highland Park, only a handful of medical cannabis businesses would fit inside the city. A few research and development labs are interested is setting up in Highland Park. “I was told that Highland Park would try to support three provisionary centers,” Penzabene added. Highland Park is small, but it is centrally located in a prime area. The chamber wants a more upscale, boutique dispensary and business model. It doesn’t get much cooperation from the city council. The city council has a slightly different vision, but the mayor’s office is on board, according to Penzabene. The Chamber itself is pro-cannabis. “The HPCC supports the cannabis industry in most regards, and we actively represent a consortium of client members and welcome all aspects of the industry to join our Chamber,” Penzabene concluded. c
The Cultivators’ Cup 2017 The Cultivators’ Cup returns to Clio to represent the best in the Midwest. Michigan’s top cannabis producers will battle as they present some of the best strains around. Only one entry is allowed per category, per company. This year, the competitors are the judges—those who enter will receive a judge’s pack, which is the only way to receive one. The event is open to the public, however, a “meditation tent” will be available for those who have a valid medical card. The event will take place rain or shine at “high noon.” The event will stretch until 2 a.m. the next day on both event days, ensuring that judges will have adequate time for judging strains and celebrating cannabis culture. The city of Clio, which is a suburb of Flint, is small, but The Cultivators’ Cup is bound to add some spice to the area. WHEN: Sat, Aug. 25Sun, Aug. 26 WHERE: Clio Cultivation, 12196 N. Saginaw Rd., Clio WEBSITE: theculti vatorscup.eventbrite. com
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
13
NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
Risk and Re ward The persistence of banking woes for the cannabis industry By Denise Pollicella
F
or as long as Michigan managed to drag its feet on regulating the medical cannabis industry, it was not long enough for the Western states, already several years into legal recreational cannabis, to have the banking problem solved for us—the lack of a reliable banking system will continue to be one of the greatest barriers to a successful Michigan medical cannabis market. The problem is that regardless of its legal or protected status in any state, because cannabis is still federally illegal, and more specifically because it is a Schedule I controlled substance, banks still will not take any money that comes from the sale of cannabis (even patient-caregiver transactions). Many financial institutions refuse to loan money to a person or a business for the purpose of funding any cannabis venture. That is because most banks, even state banks and credit unions, are Federal Deposit Insurance
14
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Corporation-insured, and they risk losing their federally insured status if they do. I say “will not” instead of cannot, because considering the amount of power Wall Street wields in Washington, D.C., I really do not
“Even in more progressive areas where local law enforcement supports opting in, the safety of patients engaging in cash transactions at provisioning centers is the primary concern.”
believe that the federal government would do a thing if banks chose to take cannabis money, other than perhaps move more quickly to legalize cannabis. In the meantime, the problems caused by this nascent industry’s inability to rely on the support of a dependable banking system are potentially crippling. First and foremost, it forces even the new state-licensed businesses to use cash, which creates centralized caches of money and the inherent risk of criminal activity. This must not only be mitigated by the industry and the facility owners at great expense, but which has also become a point of contention at the municipal level where locals are trying to weigh out the pros and cons of allowing Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act businesses in their communities. Even in more progressive areas where local law enforcement supports opting in, the safety of patients engaging in cash transactions at provisioning centers is a primary concern. Another disturbing problem caused by the lack of banking support is the inability to secure funding, which creates an incredible advantage for Michigan’s wealthy, who are already well-capitalized and have more access to private equity. This leaves Michigan and all other states without the option of going to a financial institution to get a loan to fund a cannabis business. The lack of solutions has not been due to lack of effort by advocates in the cannabis industry. However, no reliable answer will truly come at the state level. It can only come from the collective political will of a country ready to de-schedule cannabis at the federal level. We must remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, making it a taxable, legal good in commerce akin to tobacco and alcohol and thereby removing all of the banking prohibitions and other restrictions on cannabis. c
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
15
REVIEWs
collective highlight
To p-Sellin g Str ain: Lemon Skunk, Vanilla Kush
To p-Sellin g Co n centr ate:
Got Meds Distillate Cartridge produced by Michigan Clear, Lemon Skunk Rocks (Got Meds: Greek Fire)
To p-Sellin g Edible: HighTech Edibles
Got Meds How and when did your collective start up? Got Meds has been established for approximately four years. We needed a place for caregivers and patients to purchase and medicate in a safe and friendly environment. What’s the story behind the name of your collective? We wanted a name that was selfexplanatory. Got Meds . . . Says it all. What does your collective offer patients that they can’t find anywhere else? We offer our lounge and services 365 days a year and are open until 2 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays. We are also the only dispensary in the Lansing area with such an expansive line of THC/CBD concentrates and infused products. How has the cannabis industry changed since you have been in the 16
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
3405 S. Cedar St., Lansing (517) 253-7468 gotmeds.net
business? Where would you like to see it go? Many more citizens are realizing the medical benefits of our industry. Like in every industry, there are always a small percent of individuals who abuse the privilege, blurring the legitimacy of our advancements and perpetuating negative stereotypes of skeptical conservatives. However, we work hard, every day, to make strides and disprove those skeptics by caring for the health and well-being of our patients, above all else. What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a collective? Biggest joys? The main challenge we’ve faced so far is getting members of our city and state government to realize the health and monetary benefits, among a wide range of other benefits, this industry can bring to the state and individual communities. The biggest joy is being able to help patients find healthier alternatives to damaging, synthetic,
medication. Through our patients, we see tangible proof and evidence of the medical benefits, walking in and out of our doors every day. What is the one thing you want patients to know about your collective? Got Meds’ core values are centralized around our customers. Our patients’ needs are of the utmost importance, and our entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals. If someone wanted to open a collective and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? Go big or go home. Also be prepared for a lot of push-back but, in the long run, there’s always going to be push-back . . . suck it up, and push back yourself! What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the cannabis community? Got Meds is dedicated to the spread of cannabis knowledge and healing, through compassionate care and innovation. c
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
17
REVIEWs
strain & concentrate
East Coast Sour Diesel As a pure, 100 percent sativa, this strain is sure to provide patients with fast-acting mood elevation. This pleasant green nug is fluffy but dense, and is decorated with a good amount of hairs and trichomes. Its terpene profile was earthy, yet sweet like a sour lemon paired with a deep minty fuel undertone. Patients looking to alleviate symptoms associated with stress, depression, chronic pain and fatigue find the effects of this sativa to be extremely beneficial. Yielding 24.46 percent THC and 1.26 percent CBG, reviewers noted experiencing a surge of thoughtprovoking creativity, paired with high-energy. This strain may not be helpful for getting rest, which is great news for anyone looking for a powerful daytime variety.
Available at: Green Planet in Ann Arbor.
Kosher Kush
Available at: We Grow in Flint.
What started as a seed from DNA Genetics, which originated in L.A. as a clone-only, Kosher Kush is an award-winning strain that packs a serious punch. Known for producing nugs that yield staggering levels of THC, this impressive phenotype was grown by @thoroughbred85. Iron Laboratories notes test results of 20.5 percent total cannabinoids (18.9 percent Delta 9 THC & 1.1 percent CBG, with traces of THCV, CBC and CBN). The sampled nug was dense and politely pungent—a familiar OG Kush with an earthy, yet fruity note. Reviewers noted effects that are typical of heavy indicas—relaxation and pain relief was followed up with well deserved rest.
iReadCulture.com GET YOUR CLICKS
HERE
Lemon Rocks This won First Place as the Best Medically Infused Product at the 2017 Michigan High Times Cannabis Cup. Lemon Skunk flower was dipped in Lemon Skunk oil, and then it was rolled in a Lemon Skunk hash. Patients will need to break the Lemon Rocks with their hands rather than popping the medicine into a grinder. We recommend rolling it up into a joint or simply smoking this impressive specimen in a bowl. The strain Lemon Skunk is the result of crossbreeding two different skunk phenotypes that contained exceptionally zesty lemon terpenes. Patients noted a happy, energetic euphoria that will uplift any bad mood and inspire creativity.
18
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Available at: Got Meds in Lansing.
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
19
REVIEWs
For More Products Go To iReadCulture.com
3 1. My Rolling Tray My Rolling Tray is a well-built tray that is built to last. The handmade customprinted rolling trays are made in California out of solid wood and quality materials. Each tray must survive a heat test, which consists of running a flame up and down the tray, as well as a scratch test—and its makers are happy to prove it on YouTube. There are no gaps around the edges in order to prevent herb from getting stuck and wasted during the rolling process. The tray area is also very slick and durable, which is perfect for sticky buds. Designs in the tray area can be customizable—from album covers to your own art. For every sale they make, My Rolling Tray donates 10 percent of your order to various charities. Price: $10-80 MORE INFORMATION: myrollingtray.com 2. JaK D’Rippa This strange contraption looks like the sorcery of H.H. Holmes or Jack the Ripper. The device allows you to “annihilate” your concentrates without leaving the slightest shred of evidence. The JaK D’Rippa is designed for those who are tired of wasting valuable concentrates after moving them from the container to the piece. No blowtorch means no burns and no mess. The Rip-Tip is best for dabbing out of glass or metal containers. The Rip-Receiver is designed for when the substance goes directly the heating surface, which minimizes transfer losses. Feel free to adjust the heating surface to your heart’s desire with an easy-to-use temperature dial. Just plug this baby in using its power adapter, and you will be awarded unlimited inhalations. Price: $140-170 MORE INFORMATION: magic-flight.com 20
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
1
4 2
3. ResÖlution Gel It’s time to tackle your toughest glass and metal cleaning projects with ResÖlution’s ResGel. Just tear off the top of the re-sealable bag, and soak resinated stems, elbows, nails, stoppers and pipes, or whatever else needs to be cleaned. The gel automatically coats the pieces, making it more effective than runny cleaning compounds. ResÖlution’s clay-based cleansing formula is nontoxic and free of volatile compounds. Out of all the cleaning compounds that CULTURE has tried, this one impressed, as our pieces were free of any unwanted aftertaste following a rigorous cleaning session. The eco-friendly packaging is made out recycled plastic. The top of the bag also includes a nozzle tap for draining. Price: $11.99 MORE INFORMATION: resolutioncolo.com
4. Knife Hits by Diamond Glass Get the glass pipe that truly “makes the cut.” Diamond Glass redefines what a “knife hit” means with its knife-shaped glass pipe that is guaranteed to impress your friends and scare your enemies. Complete with a convenient carb on the left side, the pipe is 100 percent functional. This whopper of a pipe is about 10.6 inches long including the blade length with a decent-sized bowl at the base of the hilt. The serrated glass blade is transparent and features the Diamond Glass logo and four embossed circle designs. For the handle, the glass is blown in a way that resembles a wood grain, adding to its realism. The handle also features finger depressions for a better grip. This showpiece is great for gifts and special occasions, or to hang over your fireplace mantle to proudly display to your guests. Price: $79.99 MORE INFORMATION: smokingoutlet.net
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
21
REVIEWs
entertainment
BOOK
Marijuana Harvest: Maximizing Quality & Yield in Your Cannabis Garden Pub. Quick American Publishing Ed Rosenthal and David Downs Expert cultivator and CULTURE columnist Ed Rosenthal has joined forces with the acclaimed cannabis editor David Downs to bring cannabis cultivating tips and techniques to aspiring cultivators of all skill levels. Readers will learn how to work smarter, not harder, with detailed chapters of best practices for each step of cannabis cultivation, processing, drying, curing and even storing. This handy book will provide thorough guidelines and information to ensure your cannabis garden flourishes while saving you a little time in the process. (Jacob Cannon) 22
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Available on: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Release Date: August 25
GAME
Madden NFL 18 Dev. EA Tiburon Pub. EA Sports The Madden NFL series arrives like clockwork every August, bringing new players, challenges and modes to the classic game. However this year marks the first where EA Sports implemented a story mode that allows players to cinematically follow the success of the game’s fictional character. Madden NFL 18 also uses the new Frostbite engine, which improves the graphic excellence of of its in-game players. Fans of the series will be excited to see the return of online play, allowing fans to assemble their dream-team with “Mut Squads.” (Nicole Potter)
MOVIE
The Fate of the Furious Dir. F. Gary Gray Universal Pictures As nice as it is to watch a poignant, thought-provoking drama or a heartwarming comedy, sometimes we all need some mindless action in our lives to make us “ooh” and “ah” over car chases and explosions. Enter The Fate Of The Furious, the eighth installment of the franchise, to draw you in and keep you hooked with all of the gorgeous, fast cars, incredible pyrotechnics and awesome stunt driving that comes expected from the series. Though series’ longtime star Paul Walker is tragically absent, Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson still make an awesome ensemble cast. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
Need to Feel Your Love Sheer Mag Wilsuns Recording Company Ever since Sheer Mag’s first EP was released three years ago, fans all across the world have been clamoring for the Philadelphia quintet to make a full-length album. Finally, the wait is over, and Sheer Mag has arrived with its debut, Need To Feel Your Love. Pulling no punches and wasting no time, the band swings for the fences on its opening song “Meet Me In The Streets” and never lets up on the ensuing 12 tracks. Blending classic hard rock with ’70s power pop and R&B, Sheer Mag dazzles, delights and kicks the listener in the gut when they need it. (Simon Weedn)
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
23
Authen Pa t r i o t
24
august 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Photo by Andrew Southam
tic ism Personally, I’ve always wondered if when they legalized [cannabis] whether crime will go down as a result. So, I’m anxious to hear how much the crime might be going down in the states that have made it legal.
Famous for his role as America’s good ol’ country singer, Toby Keith embraces cannabis By Simon Weedn Country music superstar Toby Keith probably isn’t the first person that comes to mind when thinking about cannabis and music. However, with the recent release of his song “Wacky Tobaccy,” Keith may start standing out alongside his friend Willie Nelson. Though this isn’t Keith’s first cannabisrelated song (he released his song “Weed with Willie” in 2003), it is his first to be released as a single and so heavily promoted. While cannabis and country music isn’t a recent fellowship, the shift in opinion about the plant amongst some of the genre’s most conservative fans could not be more clearly exemplified than by the runaway success “Wacky Tobaccy” is having right now. Country music was ready for a cannabis anthem, and Toby Keith was up to the job. Keith recently returned home to the United States after a historic performance in Saudi Arabia during the President’s diplomatic visit to Middle East. Keith’s new album The Bus Songs will be released September 8 and features seven new tunes including “Wacky Tobaccy.”Recently, Keith took a few minutes away from his Interstates & Tailgates Tour to chat with CULTURE all about his latest album, the challenges of trying to occupy the middle of an increasingly polarized country, his upcoming reception of the Poet’s Award honor from the Academy Of Country Music Awards, as well as some crucial advice for beginner songwriters.
iReadCULTURE.com
august 2017
25
Do you have any particular feelings about legalization now? It’s funny [. . .] In the legal world they treat it like it’s the devil’s grass, but in the real world I know people who smoke weed that you’d never assume even drink a beer much less smoke. Most people I know who smoke will come home at night, smoke about half of something, and then go lay down and go to bed. It’s just always been funny to me how much weight it carries in the world and how little it actually affects anybody. When I was really young, I had some friends in high school who ended up going to prison over [cannabis], and it was like, “Really?!” They were pretty serious convictions over something that grows out of the ground. Personally, I’ve always wondered if when they legalized [cannabis] whether crime will go down as a result. So, I’m anxious to hear how much the crime might be going down in the states that have made it legal. We watched the video for “Wacky Tobaccy” the other day and absolutely loved it. It seems like the type of song there’s probably a good story behind. Can you tell me a bit about what inspired it? Well, I was at the race track a bit ago, because I own some race horses in Oklahoma City. This older cat I know who’s about as country as cornbread was talking with me about all of this legalization of medicinal weed everywhere and about how it’s kind of coming over the hump. He’s old fashioned and he said to me, “Do you reckon they’re ever gonna legalize that wacky tobaccy in Oklahoma?” I started laughing, and he said I should write a song about it. And I said, “For you, I’ll go write you one!” It sounds like the song came together really organically. It was an easy write, because just the name alone was funny and catchy, and from there I just had to start piecing it together. So, I know in one verse I’m gonna tell you how many different ways you can burn it. In another verse I’m gonna tell you every kind of name for it, you know some folks say, “This is Mexican, this is Jamaican, this is Red Hair Sensimilla, this is Okeechobee Purple, and this is Humboldt County.” Everybody’s got their favorite little things they call it, so I know for one verse I’m going to put that all in there, piece it together, and make it rhyme. Then I said to myself, I need an opening verse to set all of this up. So, I thought I’d start soft so nobody would see it coming and talk about a woman in the office going out at lunch 26
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
and then coming back in late and so stoned everybody knows it. It sounds like you had a really good time writing it. It was a fun one to write, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I’ve tried my whole life to love it, but I’m a whiskey guy so it’s just not my high. You could put all [the cannabis] I’ve smoked in my life in a coffee cup, but any time in the last 15 or 20 years I’ve been around Willie Nelson, I just can’t help it because, hey, you’re with Willie Nelson. Now, he’ll drink a little whiskey with me too, but when he fires one up, he just hands it to you, and you’re just not going to tell him no.
“When I was really young, I had some friends in high school that ended up going to prison over [cannabis], and it was like, ‘Really?!’ They were pretty serious convictions over something that grows out of the ground.”
Do you feel like releasing a song like “Wacky Tobaccy,” especially with all of the success that it’s having, will help to take away some of the negative associations that some people, who have probably never smoked the stuff themselves, have with cannabis and people that smoke it? Maybe. We live in a headline world, and you can’t fix that. I don’t even try. I just do my deal, and I just don’t even really care. I can’t talk to 300 million people around a campfire, share a beer with them, and let them all know who I am because in the end they’re gonna get their data, intel and information from wherever they get it from. If you get up every day and read The Drudge and Fox, you’re gonna get that. And if you get up and watch CNN and read Huffington Post, you’re gonna get that. So, I can’t talk them into one thing or the other; there’s just no way. You just have to let people find it on their own or just live in the dark. But, it’s always made me laugh when someone comes up to me with a real strong slant from one side or the other. Believe me, I get hit just as hard from the right as I do from the left because they don’t like that fact that I’m sitting here going, “So, my whole show is about drinking in a bar, hanging out with women, smoking weed with Willie and drinking from red solo cups.” The left doesn’t see it because all they see is my support for the military; they just see “American Soldier” and “Courtesy Of The Red, White and Blue.” While the other side is saying, “What happened to our boy?! He’s smoking weed with Willie! What’s going on here?!”
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
27
To talk about something a bit different, rumor has it that the Academy of Country Music Awards will be presenting you with the Poet’s Award, and that you’ll be honored alongside Willie Nelson and the late Shel Silverstein. How does it feel to have your songwriting recognized like that, especially to be in the company of two other legendary writers? To be on the stage with two of the biggest, Shel Silverstein and Willie Nelson, is magnificent. I’m a huge fan of both of those guys and know everything Willie’s done and most everything Shel ever did—I’m just in awe of them. To even be mentioned on the same ticket with them, I guess it means we’ve done pretty well in the last 24 years. To have a career that’s gone from working in the oil fields to playing honky-tonks in Oklahoma to busking in Nashville to performing in some of the biggest venues around the world and having such tremendous success, is it ever surreal for you looking back on it all? Yeah! You know, I got my record deal when I was in my 20s, and it’s kind of like everything that was before that is viewed in my mind as my childhood. Once my first single hit and was huge, it was like what they call “an overnight sensation.” But really, I’d been playing the clubs for four or five years before that, cutting my teeth, getting my chops, getting to where I could handle audiences and know how to be professional up there and get through the show no matter what. You know, if you can play for three people on a Wednesday night in Podunk, Texas and still stand up there and deliver, then it’s real easy to play for 100,000.
For those interested in getting started writing songs like you do, what kind of advice would you give for a beginning songwriter? Well, the simplest thing is to start with your idea and look at your idea as a wagon wheel; you’ve got the hub, you’ve got the spokes going out, and you’ve got the wheel on the outside. Well, the wheel is your turnaround, let’s just say that’s your chorus, the hub is your idea, you want your hub to be your center of attention, and those little spokes are the color, that’s what you’re trying
28
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
“You could put all [the cannabis] I’ve smoked in my life in a coffee cup, but any time in the last 15 or 20 years I’ve been around Willie Nelson, I just can’t help it because, hey, you’re with Willie Nelson. Now, he’ll drink a little whiskey with me too, but when he fires one up, he just hands it to you, and you’re just not going to tell him no.”
to do in your verses; you’re trying to go out away from the hub, get out to the turn around, get back to another spoke, and then head back to the center again. You know, if you go try to write four verses and then use your idea at the end, people will be tired of listening to your song before you get to your idea. That’s the simplest first grade advice I can give on making your songs better. To wrap things up, are there any other things coming up in 2017 that your fans should be excited for? Through the years I’ve written these things called The Bus Songs
and they’re not really what a label would look for to put out. They’re incorrect, some of them are stupid, some of them are funny, some of them we would never play. Basically, they’re not for everybody. But, we’ve always had these laying around and somebody would say something and they’ll just take off. So for the people that like those kind of songs, they’re all gonna be on one little pile so we can throw that out. Then I’ve got another album in the can, just real songwriter stuff, that’s sittin’ on go. As soon as “Wacky” is done, we’re gonna release a single off of that, put it out and go back into the mainstream again. c
+ www.tobykeith.com
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
29
Make Some Noise Mike Hall, former STOMP percussionist, opens up about his love for energizing beats and cannabis By Madison Ortiz
I
f you haven’t seen a STOMP show live, it’s likely you know someone who has, and even if it happened just once— that performance surely left an incredibly positive impact on your creative spirit. Much more than a display of percussion-based talents, the cast of STOMP rhythmically engages with everyday objects within their staged environment such as brooms and trash cans. Every show has structure paired with natural flow. The same numbers are repeated, but equally so, the cast has freedom, following directional
30
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
queues from their leader—no two shows are ever the same. Mike Hall is a traditionally trained percussionist who moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2015 to pursue a career in the cannabis industry, after a four year international tour with STOMP (August 2011 - July 2015). CULTURE caught up with Hall to learn about his experience stomping and how he’s become professionally integrated into canna-culture working for the L.A. delivery service and dispensary, The Herb Connection, powered by a team of growers called the Hydronauts. When he was 11 years old, Hall officially began to play percussion in
Photos by Alex Wilkerson - AW Media
school and was exposed to STOMP by his brother on a band-class fieldtrip. “I remember sitting in audience watching the show thinking, ‘Hey, I could do that,’ but never in my life did I think I would actually end up doing that.” At 14, Hall began playing the marching snare and continued on throughout high school. He enjoyed competing with his high school’s winter percussion indoor group and was rightfully proud to note they were one of the best in the state, having won state finals several times. After high school, Hall continued on to march indoor drum line competitively with different (nonschool associated) groups, such as “North Coast Academy” based out of Saginaw, Michigan. A week after world finals, Hall’s older brother encouraged him to travel to New York City for STOMP auditions, with a convincing deal that took little consideration. Hall arrived an hour early for sign-ups and saw a line of people wrapped around a New York City block. Little did he know, he would make it through the emotionally grueling week of auditions and call back, to be one of the few people who were selected.
Going into this STOMP experience, Hall says he was the only person who didn’t know how to dance. “It was all really just like monkey see, monkey do kind of stuff. They would show us what to do with our feet, they would show us when to clap our hands. Thankfully being rhythmically inclined from marching and drumming for so many years, it kind of came second nature to me.” Beyond the physically demanding nature of performing musical acts with your whole body on a regular basis, Hall recalls the hardest part about traveling and performing with STOMP while on the road, being the constantly changing time zones. “Your body just never really gets on a set schedule of: This is when I’m supposed to be asleep.” Hall began using cannabis medicinally when he was 21 to aid in anxiety, depression and a severe lack of appetite. While touring with STOMP, he began medicating with heavy indicas to aid in sleep. Pre-dreadlocks, Hall was 50 pounds heavier with a “huge beard.” Lacking the locked element of his current reflection, Hall was grateful
he was still able to find accessible medicine while traveling. He regularly found kind gestures within the medicine trade from people who had watched his performances and later run into him at a pub. Tinctures, edibles and “one hitters” were the most convenient, go-to consumption methods. Between leaving STOMP, Hall began as a patient and customer who placed an order through The Herb Connection. Owner, Ryan Walker, happened to deliver Hall’s order. As finalizing their transaction,
“Your body just never really gets on a set schedule of: This is when I’m supposed to be asleep.”
Hall asked to purchase an extra edible and as Walker was digging around through his backpack, Hall asked Walker about a job. Walker slyly said, “Yeah, I know the boss. I’m pretty sure we can get you a job.” Ecstatic, Hall came back from a fishing trip two weeks later to a job working for Walker via The Herb Connection which is powered by Hydronauts. Even though Hall no longer performs in the athletically demanding STOMP shows, he’s still able to embrace the herb that helped him live through it. Now he assists other cannabis patients by directing The Herb Connection’s drivers to the correct addresses, and communicates directly with patients. c
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
31
Principles in Productivity Industry professionals share their habits for success By R. Scott Rappold
I
n an industry like cannabis, with its many distractions and colorful characters, it takes effective daily habits to survive and thrive in business. CULTURE reached out to successful professionals in the cannabis industry
around 200 days each year, Heidl still makes time every day to maintain some normalcy by starting his day by connecting with his wife and children. “Not having a routine is my daily practice. This industry changes constantly and so the people who run it
“Not having a routine is my daily practice. This industry changes constantly and so the people whorun it need to as well.” and asked them to talk about their daily routines. From daily habits to coffee and exercise, highly productive business professionals in the cannabis industry tell all. While having a strict schedule may work for some entrepreneurs, Jeremy Heidl, cofounder of O.penVAPE, finds comfort in avoiding the same schedule day in and day out. As he travels 32
need to as well,” Heidl told CULTURE. “Instead of doing the same things every day, I try to just practice some simple life skills that make me a better leader, father, husband and friend.” While daily habits fluctuated between each industry professional we interviewed, exercise stood out as important to many. Todd Winter, cannabis industry attorney at Winter LLP, shared how exercise
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Todd Winter Cannabis industry attorney at Winter LLP
Photo by Eric Stoner
is paramount to his energy and success. “Prior to the last two years, I worked out an average five days per week at CrossFit Vibe in Orange County, [California] where I’m a part-owner. Since the passage of the MCRSA, however, it has been very difficult to find
any time to exercise,” Winter said. “Now that local and state laws are getting more defined and coming online, I’m finding more opportunity to exercise again. The change in my productivity, for the positive, has been dramatic.”
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
33
Kristi Knoblich, Chief Operations Officer of Kiva Confections, also finds exercise to be one of her secrets to productivity. “I have to exercise regularly or people will see me slowly turn into a monster. As of late, I’m trying to think of it as daily stress management instead of exercise and that seems to motivate me to do more of it,” Knoblich said. “With the long days of summer, it’s the most rejuvenating experience to get up early with the sun and take in some nature. Exercise is as important as sleep for me, helping me reset, focus and feel like myself.” Additionally, Martin Lee, Director of Project CBD also attributes his productivity to regular exercise. “Exercise almost daily is very key,” Lee said. “I usually exercise in the late afternoon or early evening when I’m not traveling.” Matt Bodenchuk, co-founder of Toker Poker, starts his days with “Coffee, coffee and more coffee.” After he wakes up, Bodenchuk takes time to have coffee with his wife and kids before heading out to the office. “My mornings are my chance to briefly spend some time with my family, which generally puts a smile on my face,” Bodenchuk said. “Once I arrive at the office, my mornings are my only chance to dictate my workday, so I generally jump right on my emails.” Heidl of Open.VAPE also attributes much of his productivity to remaining grateful and positive. “What’s the point of living if we aren’t as happy as humanly possible?” Heidl asked. Toker Poker’s Bodenchuk also finds the value in optimism in the workplace. “Walking into your workplace with a positive attitude, ready to tackle the day helps me,” Bodenchuk said. “There are a lot of bumps in the road when running your own business, and being able to embrace problems or difficult tasks with an optimistic perspective is one of the primary reasons why we have had success.” While exercise, coffee and positivity are all important attributes, it’s interesting to see how cannabis plays different roles in each of these cannabis business professionals’ lives. Most shared that they consume cannabis solely in the evening, while others shared that they consume cannabis all throughout the day and into the night. Regardless of daily habits, it’s clear that there is no single way to find success. c 34
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Kristi Knoblich Chief Operations Officer of Kiva Confections
Photo by Tonya Perma Photography
Jeremy Heidl Co-founder of O.penVAPE
Photo by Joel Meaders
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
35
Grecian Inspiration Greece moves forward with medical cannabis legalization By Nicole Potter
O
ver the course of history, the Grecian people have been hugely influential members of society whose contributions helped shape the course of today’s culture, philosophy, architecture and science. Now, modern-day Greece is opening up its arms to medical cannabis as well, making it the sixth European Union country to do so (joining the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, Finland and the Netherlands). The decision was made well over 100 years after the country first banned cannabis sales, consumption and importation in the late-19th century. On June 30, 2017, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced in a press conference that a medical cannabis legalization effort has been officially signed. Tsipras’ statement, which was translated from his native language, exhibits the hopeful progress to
36
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
support sick patients everywhere. “From now on, the country is turning its page, as Greece is now included in countries where the delivery of medical cannabis to patients in need is legal,” he said. This decision has been over a year in the making. In 2016, Greek Health Minister Andreas Xanthos issued a Common Ministerial Decision, which set up a special committee to study and discuss the possibility of medical cannabis in the country. According to the Greek Reporter, individuals in a variety of professional categories, such as academics, psychiatrists, scientists and legal advisors were invited to participate in the discussion with the goal of proposing regulations. The group’s proposition was submitted to the Xanthos on October 30, 2016. This time around, the Ministries of Health and Justice were the driving force behind the official legalization in June, who also decided to reschedule cannabis from a “Table A” substance to a “Table B” substance. The “Table A” classification is similar to the Unites States’ Schedule I, as it deems substances to have no medical value. Now, Greece has opened the doors to patient access to medical cannabis by moving
“From now on, the country is turning its page, as Greece is now included in countries where the delivery of medical cannabis to patients in need is legal.” cannabis into a category that also acknowledges some medical value, along with other substances such as methadone, cocaine and opium. According to Neos Kosmos, a Greek newspaper published in Melbourne, Australia, there has yet to be an official announcement issued regarding how the country will obtain its cannabis. However, many believe that Greece will be allowed to provide licenses for cultivation. Other sources predict that Greece will rely heavily on importation from outside the country. So far, only patients who suffer from conditions such as chronic pain, neuropathic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, cachexia and anorexia are allowed to consume medical cannabis. Patients will be required to obtain a doctor’s recommendation in order to gain access to their medicine. Greece has experienced some financial difficulties in the past. The country has encountered numerous bankruptcies, but things could be looking up for Greece if it’s able to successfully launch its legal medical cannabis industry. c
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
37
culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 38
Summer Experiments 2 By Ed Rosenthal
Group One It’s July 13, in the heart of summer, with direct intense light lighting the plants. The fog burns off by 10:30 a.m., and the rest of the day is usually sunny. However, now the trajectory of the sun has changed with more shading than last month. Still, the plants are healthy and right on schedule. The first section is the 2’ x 4’, 9-inch deep tray that holds five Blue Dream plants. They are 3-3.5’ feet tall and have stopped growing in favor of flower production. Their regimen was changed to flowering a month ago. Each evening I pull the cart into its own dark chamber after dusk, which occurs at about 8:50 p.m. The plant stays there until 9 a.m., a dark period of 12-plus hours of darkness each evening. The plants are in the middle of flowering now. In about a month the colas will be ready to harvest. The plants were also pruned yesterday to eliminate bottom leaves and tiny flowers that steal the plants’ energy.
Group Two The second group consisted of four plants from clones including
The plants on wheels in full sun before deleafing. The cart is moved around as the sun and shadows trade places in the yard throughout the day.
Plants on wheels after manicuring. Removing the unnecessary vegetation forces the plants to concentrate more on bud production.
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
two Ed Rosenthal SuperBud and two varieties Chocolate Tonic and Blackberry Fire. The first SuperBud reached maturity last week and was cut, but we are trying to regenerate it by giving it near continuous light. The Chocolate Tonic and the second SuperBud were cut today, leaving only the Blackberry Fire, which will be ripe in a few days. After picking them, I hung the branches leaving all their leaves on. The climate here is cool and the RH hovers at about 50 percent. After about five weeks they are both dried and cured, and ready to be stored and packaged.
Group 3 The third group turned out to be 11 female indicas that must be the progeny of a late pollen producing female times itself or another variety. The reason I say that, is that all the indicas were females. One plant is a sativa, and it has not indicated sex. The other plants started flowering with only 9.5 hours of darkness. They are in full flower now and should be ripe in another month. The indicas whose tops were clipped are squatter than the unclipped single-top plants, with more side branching and multiple tops.
A bud from one of the wheel plants. They have been flowering for 31 days.
Plants in 8” containers. They smell orangey so I am calling them Purple Citrus. Tops of half of them were clipped on June 19. All but one are sister indicas with the same parents. They have thick stems and wide leaves with purple flowers.
They are about two feet tall and have filled out as they have flowered. Soon after they started flowering I took cuttings from them and hope to root and regenerate them so I can use them for breeding. I never got to set up the CO2 experiment. The plants started flowering too soon for my schedule to catch up. c
TIP OF THE MONTH By this time, most of the outdoor plants have started to flower. However, there is still time to get in a crop of small plants. For best results, start with rooted clones. If you start with seeds the plants will be a little smaller and may take a little longer to ripen. Place them outdoors in 8” containers. As soon as they are placed outdoors they will begin to flower because of the longer late summer/ fall dark period, and they will ripen in seven to nine weeks. The containers are small enough to be moved easily to follow the sun or indoors for protection during threatening weather or cold nights.
The four plants induced to flower early are ripe. The varieties represented are two Ed Rosenthal SuperBud, one Chocolate Tonic and Blackberry Fire.
Close-up of the bud of Chocolate Tonic that is ready to cut.
Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
39
culture
if you go:
QuébEc City Captivates By Sheryll Alexander
For cannabis enthusiasts who love the look and feel of Europe, but don’t want to go all the way there, cannabis-friendly Québec City, Canada, is absolutely captivating especially during August’s vibrant events and outdoor festivals. Plus, the relaxed attitude towards cannabis in Québec City is as refreshing as this walled fortress town’s stunning views of the Saint Lawrence River. In summer, Québec City is best known for its outdoor festivals, its bodacious gastronomy and its plentiful recreational activities (such as cycling, sailing, canoeing, hiking, whitewater rafting and even soaking at hot mineral day spas). Called a Canadian “signature experience,” Québec City’s New France Festival (Les Fêtes de la NouvelleFrance) is definitely extraordinary. The New France Festival makes visitors feel like they have gone back in time as the city’s cobblestoned Old or Lower Town comes to life as if during the colonial era. Locals (and paid actors) dress in period fashions for a colonial-themed food market, games, music and a daily costume parade.
PROFILE 40
Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec calls it “six soirées flamboyantes.” That’s roughly translated to six flamingly flamboyant evenings (August 2, 9, 12, 16, 19, 25) of competitive international pyrotechnics. Each night has a different theme (disco, country, classic, hip-hop, Latin), and there’s literally a long list of ways to enjoy summer’s most beautiful “festival” from standing on just the right romantic street corner to sitting at an observatory with a panoramic view. At the end of the month, from August 31 to September 3, the city revs up again and then relaxes for The Bordeaux Wine Festival (Bordeaux Fête Le Vin à Québec). QC’s Bordeaux Wine Festival attracts wine connoisseurs to participate in tastings of Québec’s regional delicacies and wines along with attending workshops and other food-and-wine activities. Ready for some of the best scenery, nature, food, wine, cannabis and club scenes in North America? Québec City marries the best of the past with the best of today when it comes to cannabisfriendly travel. c
Fun-Filled Facts
IN
COURAGE
DESTINATION
UNKNOWN
RECIPES
growing
Time to Go: August Weather: Highs 70s, lows 50s Budget: $$$$$
In Canada— including in the province of Québec—cannabis is only legal for medical cannabis patients who have visited their healthcare doctor and obtained a referral to a “licensed commercial producer.” In Québec, medical cannabis is only available via delivery. As for Americans, Québecois medical cannabis delivery services confirm they do accept valid “licenses” from medical cannabis states for purchasing flowers, oil and edibles. And while it seems the Québecois are quite cool when it comes to smoking cannabis, be safe and do not light up around the cops, government buildings, designer shops and family parks. If you don’t want to go the delivery route, then consider making some new cannabisloving friends (who can now legally grow their own) at a hipster club in the trendy Saint-Roch district.
Combine hospitality with history by staying at Auberge Saint-Antoine. This strikingly beautiful boutique hotel was built atop a treasure trove of colonial artifacts, and each of its comfortably chic rooms houses at least one ancient relic. 1
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Want to experience a little bit of Paris while in Québec City? Head to Café du Monde. This waterfront eatery has been serving Parisian-style bistro fare (think steak frites à la Béarnaise and a brunch dish of poached eggs swimming in hollandaise) to cruise passengers for decades. 2
Summer’s sunshine and warmth make Québec City’s historic Terrasse Dufferin the perfect place to take a stroll, jog, cycle or do yoga at sunrise. 3
culture
Mark M. Ward
growing
raised. I found this wasn’t treatment, but a numbing of all life’s feeling and emotion. It was apathy in a bottle, and it wasn’t for me.
Age: 32
PROFILE
IN
COURAGE
DESTINATION
UNKNOWN
RECIPES
Condition/Illness:
PTSD, agoraphobia, general anxiety disorder, manic depression, cluster migraines, GERD, Diverticulosis When did you start using medical cannabis? I’ve used cannabis for well over a decade, but it wasn’t until 2014 when I joined NORML chapters that I really began to understand medical usage. I used cannabis recreationally without regard of different possible effects by different [strain] and potency. When I truly understood the different potentials, I was able to properly use cannabis as medicine. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I’ve been on a barrage of different benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers and pain pills. I used pharmaceuticals as advised and still became very addicted. Eventually, each medication became less and less effective, so the dosage was
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Big business and big government are the biggest problems. CEOs that have no history with medical cannabis have no business playing “healer” with their dispensaries. Sub-par products are being sold to sick people with no concern of quality. Mislabeled cannabinoid content, mold ridden product, and product saturated with nonorganic and even poisonous chemicals is not medicine. Also, the stamping out of recreation and medical patient growing by medical lobbyists is not medicine, but an attempt to monopolize a market. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? It’s OK to be cautious of what you consume. And cannabis isn’t for everyone, but it’s never been directly harmful to anyone. And that cannot be said for any pharmaceutical prescription ever written. There’s a reason why so many patients fight for it . . . it works. Who’s making fight for “Big Pharma” that doesn’t have stock? 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.
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
41
culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 42
Bento Bites Photos and recipes by Monica Lo from Sous Weed
Menu: Spam Musubi with Infused Sweet Soy
Miso Cannabutter Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball)
Infused Sweet Soy Glaze
Salmon Onigiri with Infused Sweet Soy
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
August is here, and it’s the time of year where most people become sick of summer. We’re over the hot weather and overdone barbecue— it’s time for something new. The world is full of wonderfully unique flavors, and often enough, many of those tastes are specific to certain regions of the world. Enter the Japanese-inspired onigiri, which is also known as a Japanese rice ball. This perfectly portioned ball of rice can be decorated, flavored and infused with a variety of savory fillings. Although there are countless ways to make onigiri, the talented chef of Sous Weed, Monica Lo, has prepared three ways to both elevate and medicate. Learn how to whip up your very own infused sweet soy glaze to top off your fresh salmon onigiri and spam musubi—but realistically, you can use it on anything from chicken wings to grilled salmon!
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
43
culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION
Spam Musubi with Infused Sweet Soy Makes 2 servings Ingredients:
Instructions:
2 slices SPAM, 3/8” thick
1. In a greased skillet, cook SPAM until brown and crisp on each side.
1 1/2 cups cooked rice, short grain 1 tablespoons infused sweet soy glaze 1/2 sheet nori
COURAGE
Toasted sesame seeds to garnish (optional)
2. Lightly glaze each piece of SPAM with medicated sweet soy glaze. 3. Wet your hands and firmly mold rice into the
4. Using scissors, cut a piece of nori with a width of 2” to wrap around the SPAM and rice, like a belt. 5. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, and serve immediately.
Infused Sweet Soy Glaze
IN
Makes approximately 1/2 cup Ingredients:
Instructions:
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1. In a small saucepan, mix both sugars, soy sauce, water, and rice vinegar, and bring to a boil.
PROFILE
1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 gram kief
44
shape of the SPAM slice. You can also use a musubi press.
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
2. Reduce heat to low, and stir in kief.
3. Simmer on low for 15 minutes, until the consistency is syrupy. 4. Remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until use.
1 tablespoon cannabutter, room temperature
1 teaspoon sugar Vegetable oil for frying 1/2 sheet nori cut in half (optional)
1/2 tablespoon white miso paste
Instructions: 1. In a small bowl thoroughly mix softened cannabutter, miso paste and sugar until uniform.
Salmon Onigiri with Infused Sweet Soy Makes 2 servings
2. Wet your hands, and firmly mold half the rice into a ball or the classic triangle shape. Keep moistening hands while forming so that the rice doesn’t stick. Repeat with remaining rice. Set aside.
3. In a non-stick pan or cast iron, heat on medium-high with some vegetable oil. Brush each side of the rice balls with medicated miso butter, and grill until lightly brown and crisp. 4. Wrap a strip of nori around the middle of the rice ball, and serve immediately.
culture
1 1/2 cups cooked rice, short grain
growing
Ingredients:
RECIPES
Makes 2 servings
UNKNOWN
Miso Cannabutter Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball)
2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
3 ounces smoked salmon, thinly sliced
Pinch of salt 1/2 sheet of nori, cut in half
1 tablespoon infused sweet soy glaze
2. Cook the smoked salmon slices for about 15 seconds on each side, then remove from heat. 3. Flake the salmon with a fork, and mix salmon into the rice with infused sweet soy glaze, sesame seeds and salt.
COURAGE
1. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat.
4. Wet your hands and firmly mold half the salmon sushi rice into a ball or the classic triangle shape. Keep moistening hands while forming so that the rice doesn‘t stick. Repeat with remaining rice. 5. Wrap a strip of nori around the middle of the rice ball.
IN
Instructions:
6. Serve immediately or wrap with plastic wrap to enjoy later.
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.
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
PROFILE
1 1/2 cups cooked rice, short grain
DESTINATION
Ingredients:
45
Chuck Shepherd's
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY—THE NEW POWER NAP If high-schoolers seem stressed by active lifestyles and competitive pressures, and consequently fail to sleep the recommended nine to 10 hours a day, it must be a good idea for the federal government to give grants (including to Las Cruces High School in New Mexico) to purchase comfy, $14,000 “nap pods” that drive out the racket with soft music, for 20 minutes a shot during those frenzied classroom days. A May NPR report based on Las Cruces’ experience quoted favorable reviews by students, backed by a doctor and a nurse practitioner who pointed to research showing that adequate sleep “can” boost memory and attention and thus “can” improve school performance (and therefore must be a great use of federal education dollars).
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam argues that his “hands are tied” by “federal food laws” and that fresh, “all-natural” milk with the cream skimmed off the top cannot be sold in Florida as “milk” (or “skim milk”) but must be labeled “imitation milk”—unless the “allnatural” milk adds (artificial) vitamin A to the product. A family farm in the state’s panhandle (Ocheesee 46
AUGUST 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Creamery) decided to challenge the law, and Putnam, who recently announced his candidacy for governor, said he would try to resolve the issue soon. INEXPLICABLE (1) It recently became necessary for Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski to acquire a bigger home in the Los Angeles area because their 33,000 “bunny”-related items (stuffed bunnies, antique bunnies, bunny paintings, bunny dinnerware, etc.) needed more space. (2) The world’s only museum devoted to the “house cat” allows self-guided tours in Sylva, North Carolina, where curator Harold Sims displays 10,000 artifacts including a genuine petrified cat (with whiskers!) pulled from a 16th-century English chimney. (3) Brantford, Ontario, real estate agent Kyle Jansink, speaking for unidentified sellers, said he accepted the challenge of selling the meticulously maintained home “as is”—still packed with the sellers’ clown-related items (dolls, miniatures, porcelain statues, paintings). COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS They’re “therapists,” not “strippers,” argued New York City’s Penthouse Executive Club, creatively characterizing its dancers to avoid $3 million in back taxes, but the state’s appeals board ruled against it in April. Penthouse had insisted that its performers were more akin to counselors for lonely men, and that the club’s “door charge” was an untaxable fee for therapeutic health services.
iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
47