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inside
contents 7.2019
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EXTRAVAGANT ENDEAVORS Grammy Award-winning rapper 2 Chainz confidently expresses the highest entrepreneurial passion for his line of cannabis products. ON THE COVER:
PHOTO BY JOHN RICARD
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Embracing Change These top four concentrate-related buzzwords show that the culture of 710 is evolving.
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Health and Happiness Find inspiration in the story of River, a brave young girl who found miraculous relief in medical cannabis.
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The More You Know Educate yourself about the complex world of concentrates with this selection of unique extractthemed books.
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departments news
08 News Nuggets 09 By the Numbers 12 Local News 13 Legal Corner reviews 14 Cool Stuff in every issue 34 À La Carte 38 Growing Culture
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34 Online Exclusive! d Patients Treat Arthritis With Cannabis d
710 Dab Day Facts
VOL 11 ISSUE 1
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jamie Solis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Kern EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Benjamin Adams EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jacob Cannon, David Edmundson. Caroline Hayes, Carl Kozlowski, Alison Malsbury, Kiara Manns, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, Nicole Potter, R. Scott Rappold, Ed Rosenthal, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf ART DIRECTOR Steven Myrdahl PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Aguirre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Angie Callahan, Kim Cook, Casey Roel OFFICE MANAGER Mikayla Aguilar
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.CultureMagazine.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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NEWS
NUGGETS
Marijuana Regulatory Agency Holds First Meeting On June 13, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) held its first meeting at the Williams Building in Lansing. The MRA falls underneath the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and was created to replace the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, after that board was abolished in April by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Executive
Director Andrew Brisbo kicked off the meeting by stressing his Agency’s commitment to outreach, education and collaboration,” a LARA news release states. “Brisbo also announced that the next three scheduled public meetings of the MRA will coincide with work groups and will be held at locations around the state.” The new board functions as a licensing board for both the medical and recreational cannabis industries. In order to be more efficient than the previous board, the MRA created an online application to help speed up the licensing process.
Governor Calls for Sensible Cannabis Banking Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined 18 other governors to call upon Congress on June 13 to approve the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. Banking institutions currently cannot cater to cannabis businesses due to the federal status of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, but the SAFE Banking Act would end that policy. “There is an inherent danger for businesses operating in an allcash business, because financial institutions are unable to accept the risks and penalties associated with 8
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providing service to this industry under current law,” Gov. Whitmer stated. “This letter sends a clear message to Congress that our states are looking for a real solution to a real problem, and we support them to get this done.” There are now 34 states with medical cannabis programs and 10 with recreational cannabis markets, and the SAFE Banking Act would help legitimize the cannabis industries in those states.
Researchers Find Evidence of Cannabis Smoking Dating to 500 BCE In a paper published in Science Advances on June 12, a team of researchers described the “earliest directly dated and scientifically verified evidence for ritual cannabis smoking.” In East Asia, the team found evidence of psychoactive cannabis being burned in crude wooden bowls at a burial site. “This phytochemical analysis indicates that cannabis plants were burned in wooden braziers during mortuary ceremonies at the Jirzankal Cemetery (ca. 500 BCE) in the eastern Pamirs region,” researchers wrote. “This suggests cannabis was smoked as part of ritual and/or religious activities in western China by at least 2,500 years ago and that the cannabis plants produced high levels of psychoactive compounds.” Hemp seeds and fibers are commonly found in archaeological sites, but few have any evidence of cannabis being consumed for its psychoactive properties. The discovery was highlighted in National Geographic, which generated widespread interest.
The number of medical cannabis provisioning centers in Grand Rapids that were approved for a special use permit in mid-June: (Source: MLive.com)
The estimated number of facilities that one cannabis company said it plans to open up in Michigan by the end (Source: ClickOnDetroit) of 2020:
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The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Californiabased cannabis company, Canndescent is spending on expansion into Massachusetts, Nevada and Michigan: (Source: Yahoo! Finance)
25.8
The projected amount of money that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says that each citizen would need to spend on cannabis in order to obtain enough funds to fix Michigan roads: (Source: Splinter)
2,500
The estimated percentage of people participating in a study who said that cannabis’ medical benefits are a very important reason for legalization: (Source: Gallup)
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The estimated amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the New Zealand government announced it would be investing in a company that develops technology for agricultural crops such as cannabis: (Source: The New Zealand Herald)
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The number of votes from the Louisiana House of Representatives, out of 82, that opposed a bill that would allow medical cannabis patients to inhale cannabis, but not smoke it: (Source: The Advocate)
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The approximate number of hemp cultivators that have been licensed in Tennessee by the Department of Agriculture in 2019 as of mid-June: (Source: WREG)
2,900
MICBD Presents: Michigan Patient and Caregiver Conference WHEN: Sun, July 28 WHERE: Radisson Hotel Lansing at the Capitol, 111 North Grand Ave., Lansing WEBSITE: micbd.com
The Michigan Patient and Caregiver Conference encourages guests to get to know the “new players” in the state’s medical, recreational and hemp industries. An array of well-informed seminars will go through the basics led by Michigan’s hemp, CBD and cannabis leaders. This is where you can meet the state’s large-scale cultivators and manufacturers, and witness some of the common practices
behind their workloads. Organizers warn that there is plenty of misinformation out there—but you won’t find any of that here! In the heart of Michigan’s legislative world, Lansing, patients and caregivers will meet the others in the supply chain who make the state’s cannabis programs operational. It’s a place to connect to major cannabis industry experts, from farm to table. Prepare to be impressed! CultureMagazine.com
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NEWS
LOCAL
FULL THROTTLE
Marshall is set to open a massive cannabis manufacturing and processing center
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By Benjamin M. Adams
he city of Marshall is quickly becoming a busy hub for large-scale medical cannabis operations. While over hundreds of communities in Michigan have opted out of medical cannabis, the city of Marshall has been taking an opposite approach—going in at full throttle. Michigan Pure Med and Common Citizen are opening a large manufacturing and R&D facility to serve as headquarters in Marshall with the scale capacity of up to 1.2 million square feet of space. It’s one of the largest facilities of its kind in the state. “Michigan Pure Med is the B2B brand and Common Citizen is the B2C brand. Common Citizen has the ability to scale 1.2 million square feet,” Michigan Pure Med President and CEO Michael Elias told CULTURE. “We have 10 provisioning center [licenses] and two processing licenses. Five provisioning centers will be operational by this year and another five will be operational by the end of next year.” Some of the provisioning centers will open in cities that could use some economic rejuvenation like Flint and Detroit. 12
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On Nov. 8, 2018, the company announced its pre-qualification approval for 45 licenses for its 14 subsidiaries from the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR) under the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA). While LARA continues to stabilize its licensing process, some businesses are moving forward at a rapid pace despite the confusion. The brand has a focus on reaching beyond the normal demographics of the medical cannabis industry. “We have 12,000 years of a harmonious relationship with this plant,” Elias said. “In the last 70 years we’ve been in a state of prohibition and in that time frame we’ve had a lot of misconceptions.” Common Citizen’s goal, he said, is to unravel those misconceptions and bring a little bit more patient-centeredness and education to those he calls the “cannabis curious,” or those who are on the fringe and who are looking for alternatives to alcohol and pharmaceuticals. Elias clarified that his company is not necessarily trying to be the largest facility in the state. He said the reason the 1.2 millionsquare-foot property was chosen is because it gives them an advantage to be able to compete with other operators, so that they can deliver a cheaper product. “In terms of economic impact?” he said. “It’s significant. There’s no question. By the time we get to a stable state environment, we’re looking at 400 jobs minimum. Not to mention the 200 jobs just in our retail portfolio.” Now that recreational cannabis sales arrived in Michigan, over 400 communities have opted out of recreational cannabis businesses. This provides new opportunities for businesspeople like Elias. Large companies have the option of taking their business elsewhere if local municipalities reject allowing medical or recreational cannabis businesses. “The state has spoken and for us to compete, we need to be in municipalities that have opted into rec. Even with the facilities we have in municipalities that decided not to opt into rec, we would have to look very hard at potentially moving out of that municipality,” he said. Elias added that there are nine recreational sales for every medical sale sold, providing a glimpse at the importance of recreational business that he and others are bringing to Marshall. The future looks bright for areas like Marshall that are taking advantage of legal cannabis opportunities. c
Platinum Leaf Cannabis Education Thinking of starting a cannabis business? Aspiring business owners are in for a long, long ride that requires diligence, research and most of all, patience. But relax, because Platinum Leaf Seminars can help you walk through the hoops. The team’s legal and industry professionals will help guide you in the right direction, with the latest rules, regulations and licensing requirements in addition to recreational cannabis business requirements. While Platinum Leaf Seminars are nonconsumption events, they create a more serious atmosphere to learn and develop useful tools that you’re guaranteed to need if you plan on surviving in Michigan’s competitive medical and recreational industries. If you think you’re ready to compete in the world of cannabis, take a leap of faith—attend this informative seminar. WHEN: Thurs, July 18 WHERE: Hagerty Center, 715 East Front St., Traverse City WEBSITE: platinum leafseminars.com
NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
WEIGHING THE OPTIONS
Municipalities across the state consider opting in or out of legal cannabis
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By Matthew Abel
ichigan has 1,773 cities, townships and villages, according to the latest available numbers. Each municipality has the right to opt in or out of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Act and license any number (including zero) of cultivators, processors, provisioning centers, testing labs and secure transporters. To date, only a few more than 100 municipalities have “opted-in” by adopting ordinances allowing any types of facilities. Many more have “optedout,” some taking the position that they will reconsider the issue once Michigan begins to license adult-use (recreational) facilities. That is likely to begin either in the fourth quarter of 2019, or at the beginning of 2020. The purpose of this piece is to offer suggestions for municipalities that are in the process of making determinations about how to draft and implement ordinances allowing cannabis businesses. First, we need to educate people about the effects of having licensed facilities nearby. The major objections voiced by opponents and concerned citizens are:
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What about the children?
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Perceived detrimental effect on local property values.
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Concern about the so-called “gateway effect.”
Through research efforts, three main facts are evident about the state of cannabis and minors. First, access and consumption of cannabis by minors have been reduced in states where cannabis is legal (likely due to reduced illegal market share and increased regulatory market share of entities, which will not sell to minors). Second, property values have increased in neighborhoods with licensed cannabis businesses, both from rehabilitation of blighted properties and the desire of employees to live close to where they work. Finally, the “gateway effect” theory has been debunked by revered entities such as the National Institute of Science. Cannabis has a positive effect on localities, both as an instrument of harm reduction (where cannabis substitutes for inarguably harmful substances) and as an engine driving economic growth. In moving forward, many players in the industry advocate for very restrictive numbers of licenses, presumably to lessen their competition. However, that may not be the wisest course. Many times, those who advocate for low numbers, expecting that they will be among those favored, end up sorely disappointed when they realize that others are treated more favorably, regardless of who was the primary instigator in getting the ordinance passed in the first place. Municipalities often restrict available locations by imposing distance barriers between facilities. This can have the unintended effect of spreading facilities almost everywhere allowed throughout the municipality.
“Above all, what is needed is for consumers to speak up and demand the types of facilities they want in their communities.” Lessons learned from the retail industry should be absorbed in the cannabis space. Co-location of retail businesses has a net positive effect on all participants. For the consumer, it provides a central location where consumers can browse among the businesses without traveling to another location. For the businesses, it provides a larger customer base, where customers can select products based on merit, rather than being restricted to the few products available at any one retailer. As we move forward into adult-use licensing, we may begin to see municipalities design cannabis business parks, including 150 plant micro-businesses, which are set up for cannabis tourism, much like wine-tasting tours, and including consumption lounges, where consumers can spend several hours to sample and learn about cannabis products, and purchase both cannabis and ancillary products, which will add to the bottom line of the business entities and the municipality itself. Above all, what is needed is for consumers to speak up and demand the types of facilities they want in their communities. c CultureMagazine.com
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REVIEWS
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1. Eyce Collector Fly on over this way to buzz like a bee and sip on some nectar— the team at Eyce has you covered. The Eyce Collector’s platinum cured silicone body screams function and durability. With a multi-percolating water filtration, taking a pull of your favorite concentrate will not overpower lungs. Not your average nectar collector, get your buzz on with the Eyce Collector’s built-in container for storage, plus a heat shield. This device comes in green and black, pink and black and blue marble. Get greedy—collect them all! Price: $44.99 More Information: eycemolds.com 2. Aluminum Pipe Vaporizer What do you get when you cross old school swagger with new school technology? Put on your top hat, and get yourself an Aluminum Pipe Vaporizer. This CNC anodized aluminum pipe comes with a stainlesssteel bowl, with your choice of wood or color for the top. If you want to know the secret to this vape tech—all we can say is you’ll have to look into VaporGenie’s patented flame filter. You’re welcome. Price: $65 More Information: vaporgenie.com 14
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3. Envy Glass Dichro Coated Recycler Ready to have all eyes on you? The Envy Glass Dichro Coated Recycler will make sure that everyone within eyeshot stares lovingly at the coolest rig this side of the Mississippi. With dichro coating that resembles a psychedelic oil slick, this recycler was made using the highest quality Boro Schott Glass by Envy Glass Designs. Anyone who steps up to bat with this bad boy will experience a hit delivered with smooth churning action and quick drainage. Price: $399.99 More Information: 420science.com
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4. GRAV Labs Fire-Button Portable E-Nail This universal and portable e-nail will ensure that you’re partying like a rock star this 710. If you’re in a rush to get the celebration started, the fast heat-up and cooldown times won’t slow you down! Plus, its high capacity battery means you’ll be able to pass this baby round and round without having to charge in between sessions. Bring everything you need to dab with friends this 710 on-thego, so you can make it happen quickly, conveniently and no matter where you find yourself this holiday. Price: $169.99 More Information: www.everyonedoesit.com
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FORTUNE AND GLOR 2 CHAINZ DISCUSSES HIS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CANNABIS AND LUXURY B Y B E N J A M I N M. A D A M S
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s a chart-topping artist and beloved television host of VICELAND’s popular series Most Expensivest, 2 Chainz’s continual fascination for luxurious extravagance and fine cannabis has never faltered. Last fall, he partnered with Green Street Agency and Mazel Management Group to launch GAS Cannabis Co., a premium line of cannabis products geared towards connoisseurs of fine cannabis products. Soon after, Green Street Agency began the process of expanding to a massive seven-story, 67,000-square-foot building in downtown Los Angeles, California, which will be one of the largest U.S. buildings dedicated exclusively to showcasing fine cannabis brands including GAS. With to decades of experience in the entertainment world under his belt, 2 Chainz knows exactly what he wants at this point in his career. Over 20 years ago, the rapper and his childhood friend Earl “Dolla Boy” Conyers formed Playaz Circle, and they popularized the sound of southern hip-hop and the style of music coming from greater Atlanta, Georgia. 2 Chainz entered the mainstream charts in 2012 after he signed with Def Jam Recordings, with his first solo offering going Platinum and leading to a long string of hits. 2 Chainz has won numerous awards including a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and five additional nominations, as well as a Soul Train Award and multiple BET Awards. The rapper also boasts several number one albums on the Billboard 200, the
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U.S. Rap and U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop charts. His fifth full length studio album, Rap or Go to the League, released in March, also rose to the top of the U.S. Rap and U.S. R&B/ Hip-Hop charts. Two years ago the veteran rapper began hosting VICELAND’s Most Expensivest, and on each episode viewers are invited on a tour of the shiniest, most opulent and over-the-top luxury items on the market. Spending six figures or more at a time is a challenge for almost anyone else, but not for 2 Chainz. Anyone who knows the rapper knows that he does not settle for anything that is less than top-shelf—from upscale jewelry to lavish clothing and luxury vape pens. Season 3 of Most Expensivest premiered on June 11, and for the first episode, the rapper invited Amber Rose to explore luxury adult products. Tune in to VICELAND to catch 2 Chainz on the rest of his journey this season, which includes appearances from Erykah Badu, Jerry Rice and Mark Cuban. The rapper’s cannabis line is available as pre-rolls and 3.5 ounce packages at select locations throughout California. With three corresponding colors, the line comes in three categories representing grades of gasoline. According to 2 Chainz’s own words, GAS is an acronym for “Good Ass Shit,” but the line incorporates a unique theme centered on refueling at the gas station. Just as you’d select unleaded, unleaded plus or premium gasoline at the pump, there are three grades of cannabis that 2 Chainz himself helped conceptualize and develop. His wise investment in the cannabis industry puts him in a position to collect more revenue. CULTURE was able to catch up with 2 Chainz in a private setting to discuss what he has planned for the cannabis industry.
“IT’S ALL ABOUT LUXURY. IT’S ABOUT TASTE FOR ME. I DON’T WANT TO DUMB NOTHING DOWN FOR NOBODY. THIS IS ABOUT HOW I ENJOY HIGH LUXURY.”
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“I’VE ALWAYS SMOKED CANNABIS. I’VE ALWAYS LOOKED AT IT LIKE THAT. IT’S NEVER BOTHERED ME. THAT’S HOW I WENT ON ABOUT MY LIFE, AND I NEVER DEALT WITH THE CONSEQUENCES AS IT WENT ON.”
The cannabis industry is booming across the nation. What led you to become involved in the cannabis market? My whole thing in life has been to exceed expectations—and I think that’s what I’m doing with my GAS brand. It’s all about legal distribution. It’s about having all the documents that you need together. It’s all about really changing something that used to be taboo or something bad, especially in my community, as far as doing things like trapping and selling weed. It made me come up with my own brand, my own strain of legal cannabis 22
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flower. It’s made up of three very potent levels of flower all stemming from the lingo, which is really about gas. I’m happy to be taking it to higher levels with our marketing ideas and even advertising concepts that I can really have that correlation with my music. That’s why it’s so easy for me. I’m so excited about this, because I did all of this. We noticed that you have GAS flower branded as unleaded, unleaded plus and premium for the theme of your cannabis line. We were really impressed at the strategy that you’ve taken.
We’ve got it stored in a gas can right here! [Pointing to a prop containing GAS cannabis.] This is an actual gas can. This is more for people that want to have a supply of the GAS and serve the monthly subscribers. It’s like you’re at the gas station and you need to know which kind of gas you’re looking for based on what you need. We’ve got the premium. We’ve got the other levels. It’s all about luxury. It’s about taste for me. I don’t want to dumb nothing down for nobody. This is about how I enjoy high luxury.
Everybody’s excited about recreational sales rolling out nationally and internationally. Do you like it better now that the cannabis market is going recreational, or when it was medical-only? Whatever it was, it never bothered me. That was exactly the same thing I was doing. I’ve always smoked cannabis. I’ve always looked at it like that. It’s never bothered me. That’s how I went on about my life, and I never dealt with the consequences as it went on. But I kept on smoking weed and getting into trouble and getting fines. I kind of just kept going on, not worrying about the charges. That’s basically my argument. That’s the only drug that I do, and it’s just like I say to myself, “That’s it for me.” I might have a joint. That’s just my flavor. That’s what I do. And so it feels good now to have it legal and to not being so nervous to just be doing something that you consider normal and something that is not hurting anyone else. Have you always been a daily cannabis smoker? Yes. What do you have planned in the next upcoming few months? I plan on changing my family’s life with this right here. [Motioning towards his GAS products.] Legal cannabis. I plan on making enough money to be able to invest in all the things that I want to do. Just being an entrepreneur and a leader in my community.
Competition is fierce in the commercial cannabis market. Do you have more GAS products that you plan on rolling out? Sure. I have all of that coming. But this right here is about kicking around and making myself comfortable. So that’s what this GAS is, even the concept, the marketing, the colors and everything. It’s about my position in this sort of chill space, whether they want to give me the top shelf or whatever. People will see these colors and know that it’s a representation of me. You’ll know that it has a lot of my personality, and you’ll at least try it. Once you try it, you’ll know where it came from. Can you explain the green, yellow and black color scheme for your product line?
Yes. So the green is 87. We have three different types of gas or octane that we serve. It’s 87, 89 and 93. Eighty-seven will be something that is for like a car that is not a 2018, 2019 model. But at the same time, it’s strong enough to actually get the job done. I like to call it “the morning” or “the wake-up.” I have this hybrid. This yellow one in the middle is our 89. This is in between the others for a reason. It’s as strong as the green but not as strong as the black. It’s something that I think you can do throughout the day, such as when you’re on [a] lunch break. When you’re at work and you don’t want to be totally stoned. This black is more for the really laid back and chill nighttime kind of thing. This one I really enjoy. I smoke the strongest all the time
even in the morning. But that’s me. Some people might not be able to handle that. It’s for those people who really enjoy that super duper body high. That’s what the 93 is for. The color scheme is fascinating. What do these colors mean to you personally? These are actually Jamaican flag colors. So, I just knew that they were colors that would stand out. What kind of cannabis do you prefer to smoke in your own free time? This is my product and what I actually smoke. I smoke my own weed. c www.2chainz.com
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TOMORROW’S TRENDS
These concentrate buzzwords will be trending this 710 By Benjamin M. Adams Looking forward into 2020 and beyond, the trend forecast for cannabis concentrates looks as promising as it ever was. Today, the search for the most potent forms of concentrates is old news. Daytime consumption and concentrate microdosing are more appealing to adult professionals. While products that are infused with cannabidiol (CBD) are quite literally flying off the shelves in drug stores, beauty stores and dispensaries— cannabis consumers are beginning to shift interests to the plant’s other compounds, as well as new forms of delivery. Curt Robbins is an author of more than 500 articles regarding the science of cannabis and hemp. While he no longer uses the moniker
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Gooey Rabinski, has authored or helped to develop several cannabisrelated, science-based books under that handle. As far as the 710 industry is concerned, Robbins predicts a shift away from the oversaturation of the most popular cannabis compounds. “This may be the year that the industry evolves beyond THC or CBD in marketing [techniques],” Robbins told CULTURE. “I think the turning point is when the average middle class American realizes that the plant is much more than merely a single psychoactive cannabinoid.” The new trends might include terpenes, precision dosing, emulsion processes and the lesser known compounds that also have various medical benefits. Here’s a rundown of a few trending buzzwords in the world of concentrates.
Terpenes
CBN-rich Dabs
Experts predict that terpenes will continue to rise in popularity. Many consumers are just beginning to learn about the synergistic effects of combining cannabis compounds—the way nature intended. “The entourage effect, the idea that cannabinoids and terpenes work together synergistically to create additional and greater efficacy is embraced by many, but still—officially—a theory,” Robbins admitted. Robbins helped to popularize #TerpeneTuesday on social media to spread awareness. “Decades ago, it was thought that terpenes merely added aroma to cannabis and hemp and little else,” he said. “Although we need more research, there are literally thousands of research studies that illustrate the medicinal value of terpenes. Most of America knows about one of the more than 400 molecules in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Their mindset is typically limited to THC and thinking of the plant as inherently psychoactive.” The medical properties of terpenes add a whole new facet to cannabis. “The fact that terpenes offer solid medicinal efficacy, beyond merely an attractive aroma, will allow products to be created that go beyond ‘luxurious bathing’ and other creature comforts to deliver true health benefits and wellness.”
A handful of companies have called cannabinol (CBN) cannabis’ “most underrated” cannabinoid. THC transforms into CBN via oxidation, or THC’s vulnerability to oxygen. CBN is touted to be useful for treating insomnia and other ailments. With concentrates, higher concentrations of CBN turn the appearance of the concentrate to a rusty color. While a cultivar may be lower in THC, it may have higher levels of CBN, which in effect has its own benefits. “One trend is going to be away from a focus on THC and CBD to the other 111 cannabinoids manufactured by the cannabis sativa genome,” Robbins reiterated. “Some companies will focus on cannabinoids such as CBN to reduce anxiety and act as a sleep aid.” As Robbins said, the usefulness of CBN is most noticeable in its suggested ability to control and modulate sleep. “A mix of CBN and the terpenes myrcene (the most common in cannabis) and linalool is also good for sleep disorders, which affect 80 million Americans,” Robbins pointed out.
Precision Dosing Until recently, it’s been exclusively up to cannabis consumers to control the size of each dose— but that is now changing. Santa Monica, California-based Dosist offers a product that has the capability of delivering even doses every time. Dosist’s pens vibrate when a consumer has inhaled for three seconds, providing similar hits each time. Obviously, it didn’t take long for celebrity-endorsed brands to follow suit. Last May, Snoop Dogg’s venture capital
“This may be the year that the industry evolves beyond THC or CBD in marketing [techniques].”
firm Casa Verde Capital invested in Indose, a company that makes vape pens capable of delivering precise dosages of THC. The devices have small lights that allow users to control how much THC will be delivered in each hit. They measure THC in increments of 0.5 milligrams, up to 3 milligrams, which is close to an average hit of cannabis, according to the company.
Nano CBD Concentrates Who says that all cannabis concentrates need to be oil-based? CBD nanoemulsification may sound high tech, but it’s simply a way to describe thousands of tiny globules of CBD oil infused into water through microemulsion. It’s created to optimize drug delivery within the body. The tiny beads of CBD can range from 100-1,000 nanometers, or even as small as 25 nanometers. Nanoemulsions allow the sustained, controlled release of CBD. They can be engineered through high pressure homogenization, among other processes. The rise of nanaoemulsificiation techniques confirm that concentrates don’t necessarily need to be oily. Varying emulsion processes have been used to make CBD and other cannabinoids dissolveable in water for edibles, products and concentrates. c CultureMagazine.com
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RAISING RIVER CBD is improving
River’s quality of life By Addison Herron-Wheeler River “Ducky” Barclay’s father, John Barclay, remembers the exact date that his daughter was diagnosed with Batten disease—Nov. 16, 2017. And he remembers when she first had a seizure, on St. Patrick’s Day, after eating junk food for dinner and complaining of a headache. It’s not surprising that he remembers these dates, considering that River’s diagnosis of Batten disease changed the course of his life. At first, River was just complaining of headaches and having vision issues. Her eyes were crossing, and John initially thought his daughter simply needed glasses. Soon, she began having seizures, and John was faced with finding a way to treat his daughter. 26
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River began experiencing frequent seizures that required a lot of medication. She was having small seizures, drop seizures and at times, John observed her having about 300 seizures a day. There were times when she seemed to stop and would almost catch herself seizing, and other times when she would jump or launch herself into the air and would need to be caught and protected from hurting herself. All of this meant she had to be heavily medicated. “There was definitely this sense of taking her spirit,” John explained about the effects of the medications. “The two medicines she was on also took her speech; she stopped swallowing; she stopped doing everything. She was holding her saliva, and I couldn’t get her to go to school or to do anything; she was on the couch all the time. It was just horrific.” Finally, River was taken off the medication and given cannabidiol (CBD). Her family learned about CBD from a doctor who discreetly passed on the knowledge that it was something they could try. And now, despite suffering from a degenerative neurological disorder that is destroying irreplaceable brain cells, she is experiencing fewer seizures. As residents of Washington State, it was easier for Barclay to get his hands on medical cannabis than it would have been in other states. “Michelle, my ex, was an asset manager and worked with a medical marijuana dispensary,” he explained. “They had this CBD tincture, and I thought, ‘It can’t hurt.’ There were supposed to be two milligrams [of CBD] for every 10 drops, which of course is still inaccurate, but she tried it, and we started to see results.” Soon, they began getting more tinctures and trying higher amounts of CBD with River. Although it did not restore their daughter’s health to her previous state before her brain cells were damaged, she could now do things without having to be held or restrained for fear of constant seizing. “She started doing so much better, and we thought this is literally liquid gold,” he explained. “But we still had to keep upping her dose because her condition is so bad. Right now, we’re on about 260 milligrams per day, and she just goes through so much CBD.” “It was getting so expensive, but it 28
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“She started doing so much better, and we thought this is literally liquid gold.” didn’t matter that we were spending $1,000 a month on CBD, because it was helping,” John added. “But then I realized I could grow it too, so I started doing that.” Batten disease is a specifically tragic condition, one that easily makes parents feel hopeless and lost. But John has a message for parents of children with this disease, or other parents with children who are suffering who want to try CBD, “Don’t give up.” “If there aren’t any
results, don’t give up; try another kind of CBD,” he said. “It’s like a headache. You know, if you take a Tylenol for the wrong kind of headache, or aspirin for the wrong kind of pain, you switch and take another medication. It’s the same thing with CBD, for cannabis. Give it a shot; test it a little bit; record the results. Then you can keep track of what actually worked. We started small at first, but when we gave her more, we saw better results. If I didn’t see anything after so much time, I gave up and went on to the next thing. And share the knowledge, because what didn’t work for you could work for someone else.” River is getting help and relief from CBD, and for John and the other people who love her, that makes all the difference. c
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ENGAGING EDUCATION
Explore the wondrous world of cannabis extracts with these useful books By Nicole Potter
The world of cannabis concentrates is vast. If you strive to have a better understanding of anything in this industry—from extraction to business operations—it will either come naturally to you, or you must work hard to educate yourself. Online articles and videos are informative when it comes to brief selfeducation, but nothing beats a good book written by an industry expert. If you’re looking for an educational source on concentrates, look no further than books such as these, which touch on extract processes, concentrates as medicine and so much more. 30
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Beyond Buds: Marijuana Extracts— Hash, Vaping, Dabbing, Edibles & Medicines BY ED ROSENTHAL
No list is complete without a cannabis book written by Ed Rosenthal. This revered cannabis author has written books about every question that one can ask about cannabis. Many of his books explore cannabis cultivation and cannabis flower harvesting techniques, but this particular book educates readers on the various types of cannabis concentrates and how to consume them. Defining everything from sift to hash, and comparing butane hash oil versus CO2 oil and vaping versus dabbing, are just a few examples of the complexities of cannabis concentrates that Rosenthal mentions.
Cannabis Extracts: The Marijuana Handbook BY JAMES HENDERSON If you’re looking for a beginner’s guide to all things concentrates, then this book takes the cake. It contains basic information about the many types of extracts such as kief, hash, rosin and Rick Simpson Oil. Additionally, it presents guides on how cannabis extract can be used, and how readers can safely make their own concentrates at home.
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Cannabis Extracts in Medicine: The Promise of Benefits in Seizure Disorders, Cancer and Other Conditions BY JEFFREY DACH, M.D., ELAINE A. MOORE AND JUSTIN KANDER Cannabis has become especially mainstream thanks to its ability to help treat many people’s medical conditions. Nowadays it isn’t enough to just consume cannabis concentrates but to understand the science behind them. This book teaches of the intricacies of the endocannabinoid system, and how medical cannabis extracts interact with the human body to treat conditions such as seizure disorders, cancer and chronic pain. Best of all, it has an entire chapter dedicated to successful research studies on cannabidiol (CBD), and it also addresses the legal issues and hurdles surrounding the industry as well.
CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medicinal Cannabis--Healing Without the High BY LEONARD LEINOW AND JULIANA BIRNBAUM This book is another great tool geared toward educating readers about the benefits of CBD products in “oil infusions, tinctures, capsules, topicals and extracts.” Specifically geared toward medical patients, it provides a comprehensive look at informing the reader about the biology and chemistry of the cannabis plant, the endocannabinoid system, the most popular medicine delivery methods, dosage guidelines, side effects and so many other things to consider with cannabis medicine.
Essential DIY Cannabis Extracts and Concentrates
is right for them. It also offers how-to guides on simple and safe ways to prepare cannabis extracts at home.
DIY Cannabis Extracts: Marijuana Extraction Guide - Step by Step BY JAY SANDERS Whether you’re a novice cannabis consumer in general, or simply a flower enthusiast ready to take the next step toward concentrates, this book is for you. It’s a short one, about 40 pages, but this quick read provides enough information to help readers understand and choosing which extracts are right for them. Those who are interested in getting this book can learn the basics of making rosin and cannabis oil, so they can be self-sufficient in the future.
Cannabis Oil QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis Oil BY CLYDEBANK ALTERNATIVE One of the best ways to learn about cannabis is to obtain an all-encompassing book that tells readers everything they need to know. This one is a winner under that criteria, offering a variety of information of cannabis, its many uses, the basics of cannabis oil, the complexities of plant cultivation and cannabis as medicine.
Cannabis Extracts: The Ultimate Guide on How to Make Marijuana Extracts For Cooking in Your Home, Including Cannabis Cookbook With 10 Recipes For Tasting Cannabis Cookies BY MONICA JACOBS
BY AARON HAMMOND Those looking for an easy-todigest guide about a variety of extracts will find everything they need to start right in this book. With this tool, readers can educate themselves on the most popular methods of extraction, while exploring which concentrate
Cannabis extracts are potent pain relievers and muscle relaxers, but infusing food with cannabis oil is also becoming a popular way to consume. This particular book targets how to create cannabis oil at home with the specific intention of using it for culinary use. Learn the basics of extraction and how to make it taste delicious by adding it into entrées and desserts. c CultureMagazine.com
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T H E G R E AT OUTDOORS
America has many traditions, but few are more classic than preparing and cooking grilled food. While we celebrate freedom on Fourth of July, we also celebrate our ability to choose specific barbecue sauce, spices, meat choices, methods of preparation and the use of various “herbs.” Best of all—it is all delicious. Mark your Independence Day the right way with these American barbecue recipes, topped through-and-through with cannabisinfused goods. Be sure to exercise extreme caution when cooking with high-heat tools like a grill and consuming cannabis, and you’ll be able to enjoy many of the freedoms that this great country provides.
I N S T R U C T I O N S: 1. Mix all the ingredients for meat marinade in a plastic bag. Cut sirloin steak into one-inch cubes, and place in marinade for at least 1 hour (or a maximum of five hours).
K ABOBS I N G R E D I E N T S:
ME AT M A RIN A DE
SKEWERS
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak
1/8 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons cannabisinfused olive oil
1/8 cup cannabisinfused olive oil
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon black pepper
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1 green bell pepper, cut into cubes 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into cubes
1 red onion, cut into cubes
Salt and pepper
1 red bell pepper, cut into cubes
Skewer sticks (either wooden or metal)
2. Alternate vegetables and meat as desired onto a skewer stick. Cover skewers evenly with infused olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. If there is reserved marinade, use it to cover the skewers as well. 3. On a high-heat grill, cook skewers for 10 minutes. Flip onto different sides throughout cook time.
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GRILLED CORN I N G R E D I E N T S:
I N S T R U C T I O N S:
4 ears of corn
1. Remove corn from husks and strip away remaining silk.
4 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon cannabisinfused butter Kosher salt Pepper 2 limes 1/2 cup Cotija cheese Fresh basil
2. Lather corn evenly with infused and non-infused butter. Season well with salt and pepper. Squeeze lime juice directly onto the corn. 3. Place corn on grill and cook for 15 minutes, turning frequently until grill marks are present on all sides. 4. Sprinkle desired amount of Cotija cheese onto cooked corn. Rip up fresh leaves of basil and place on top.
PULLED PORK SANDWICHES I N G R E D I E N T S:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white onion, minced
1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
I N S T R U C T I O N S: 1. Add salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, minced onion and olive oil into a bowl. 2. Prepare pork shoulder and press the rub mixture all over the protein. 36
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1/8 cup olive oil 1/8 cup cannabisinfused olive oil 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce 1 boneless pork shoulder Buns 3. Place on a grill over indirect heat for 3-4 hours, or until the meat is easily pulled apart. 4. Remove from heat until cool. Shred meat and place on desired buns. Top with barbecue sauce of choice, if desired.
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GROWING CULTURE
GARDEN FE VER
L
By Ed Rosenthal
into their second week of flowering. Then another friend came with some of their excess OG and OG crosses. A third brought some local varieties. It would have been heartless to turn these orphans away, so I decided to give them a home in my greenhouse. I set up a 2’ x 8’ tray for the adoptees. Both feed from the same reservoir. One group of plants is in 6” containers on a wick system in planting mix with supplemental drip sits on a platform above the tray with wicks trailing into the tray. The other group is in 2.5 quart containers, each made from two inexpensive plastic colanders. The bottom third of each sits in water so the plant’s roots can easily migrate into it. Look forward to reading more about this system in my next installment. c
ast month I wrote about setting up a new indoor garden and described the germination method. Since then, most of the seeds germinated but the foam and hydrocorn method I was testing was not ideal. Some of the seedlings had trouble staying in position, because the hydrocorn did not hold the foam in place securely. My solution to the problem was special care— manipulating the foam to give the seedlings better positioning. The seedling did well under the four high output fluorescent tubes, which had an input of 200 watts over the eight-foot tray. Sixteen days after germination, I placed them in their final growing and flowering space. The garden space is a single 4’ x 8’ tray. The bottom of the tray is outfitted with heaters, which turn on when the water temperature goes below 72 degrees, four eight-foot lines of porous tubing connected to a powerful air pump that release air along the length
of the tray and a water pump. The tray is filled to the top with a vegetative growth nutrient-water solution at 750ppm and a pH of just over six. Two double-ended 660-watt hps lamps light the space continuously. The tent has a frame of 2’ x 4’s and is larger than the tray so you can walk around inside. It is covered by panda film, white on one side and black on the other. The black side of the film faces the outside so the inside is reflective white. Each plantlet is growing in a 6” x 6” space. The containers they were started in were fitted into two-inch holes drilled into a one-inch thick Styrofoam board that fits perfectly into the 4’ x 8’ tray. The plants will grow for about two weeks to fill the canopy, then the lights will be turned back to 13 hours of light daily, to induce flowering. About four weeks later the lights will be turned back an hour to promote ripening. After I set up the hydro tray a friend brought over four “Ed Rosenthal Super Bud” single stems that were just going
The greenhouse during the day. The plants get about five hours of direct sunlight, and an additional five hours of indirect bright light.
Greenhouse at night. This photo, taken at night shows how the plants are lit using fluorescent and LED lights. They are on 7 a.m.-10 a.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. to supplement natural light.
The hydro system: Colander containers hold the hydrocorn but allow a free flow of water. Notice that roots are beginning to grow into the reservoir.
Fitting the 2” round pots into the round holes.
The tray, outfitted with seedlings will support vegetative, then with a change of water, flowering. At harvest each plant will be a single stem of bud.
Tray of female only “London Lb. Cake x Watermelon” ready to sit at the big table. 38
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GARDEN TIP
It’s not too late to plant. If you pick up some clones and repot them and place them outside, or in a sunny window they will grow vegetatively for about one month to six weeks and then they will start to flower. You can be smoking your fall harvest in just a few months.
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