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inside
contents 3.2018
Ask the CannaSexual Submit your sex and cannabis questions to Ashley Manta. She may answer your question in CULTURE’s 420 issue. CultureMagazine.com/ askcannasexual
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Versed Veteran
Slug, the recognizable voice of hip-hop duo Atmosphere, opens up to CULTURE about how becoming a father has played a part in his career over the decades, as well as his personal and political opinions on cannabis. O n t he C O V E R :
A a r o n A u b r e y P h oto g r ap h y
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Tale as Old as Time Cannabis’ healing benefits helped a young girl named Bella tackle her severe eczema, leading to a new topical beauty product brand.
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Industry Insider Cam Battley shares about his role as the Chief Corporate Officer at Aurora Cannabis Inc., one of Canada’s leading cannabis businesses.
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Fruitful Fertility CULTURE connects with the lead researcher behind the latest study to look into the relationship between cannabis and fertility.
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departments 08 Letter from the Editor news 10 News Nuggets 12 By the Numbers 14 Local News 16 Legal Corner reviews 18 Strain Reviews 20 Cool Stuff 22 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 40 à La Carte 42 Growing Culture 45 Profile in Courage 46 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! Crime Rate Drops in Uruguay Following Legalization
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d Application
Submitted for
First Cannabis Spa in Denver
Vol 9 IssUE 9
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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, Caroline Hayes, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Carl Kozlowski, Emily Manke, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Tonya Perme, Josué Rivas, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Michelle Aguirre Graphic DesignerS Payden Cobern, John Venegas sales director Joe Larson Account Executives Alex Brizicky, Angie Callahan, Molly Clark, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Lee Moran, Casey Roel, Garry Stalling, Shayne Williams, Annie Weber, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy office manager Mikayla Aguilar digital media Hannah Lemley coordinator 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.CultureMagazine.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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L E TT E R
FR O M
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EDITOR
Re R e f l e c t a n d Re a c t
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efore we kick off with the biggest celebration of cannabis culture and 420 parties, let’s use the month of March to refocus on the progress of our community. Now more than ever, it’s important to take matters into your own hands to ensure the cannabis community continues to move in the right direction. Many products and services often transition from underground and into mainstream, and the transition into legalization for the cannabis industry has not been one that has gone unpunished. In the past decade, we’ve increasingly seen generations of cultivators pushed from the legal industry. We’ve witnessed momand-pop shops and brands running into roadblocks in light of increasing competition, and the threat of federal interference is constantly spreading fear. Rest assured, the reason that cannabis has come so far is because of people who speak out in its defense. Join the countless activists, small businesses and organizations who influence public policy for cannabis reform in their communities. Show up regularly at city council meetings, write letters, gather signatures and educate those around you. Your voice is powerful, and it could make the difference between a family farmer being awarded or not awarded the licenses necessary to operate, or it could help a child with a seizure disorder gain access to medical cannabis oil. One of the best ways to be heard exists within your wallet. Use your money to support those you would like to see succeed within this competitive industry. Shop small. Don’t hesitate to spend a little more cash on small batch cannabis from a local farm rather than opting for the most economical option.
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Join the industry’s response to the rescinded Cole Memo by showing more support for legislation like the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment. As it is set to expire once again later this month, be sure to reach out to your local representatives. Share your positive experience with medical cannabis, show your support for recreational rights, and overall let it be known that you stand on the right side of cannabis reform. Finally, donate to organizations that are doing essential work, and support the candidates who are aligned with your ethics. We can’t wait to let our hair down and party with everyone next month, but until then, let’s remember that this community is strong when it stands together. There are still so many people in this country and across the world who could benefit from cannabis reform. Let’s not forget to take action to make safe access a reality for all, while not squashing those who have built our industry. c Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
nuggetS
$3.2 Million Investment Planned for Egelston Township Sparrow Consulting announced on Feb. 1 that a $3.2 million dollar investment for a medical cannabis project in Egelston Township is underway. The project is set to include two new medical cannabis storefronts, one remodeled storefront, 37 acres of land development and 75,000 square feet of industrial space. “Sparrow Consulting is very proud of client commitments to support Egelston Township economic development. In just five short months, passionate
Anti-Cannabis Committee Gathers $150K While the Michigan Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has raised at least $651,486 in contributions to legalize recreational cannabis in Michigan, prohibitionists have raised money as well. Virginia-based Smart Approaches to Marijuana donated $150,000 to Healthy and Productive Michigan, an anti-cannabis group raising funds to fight against cannabis legalization. “While the polls are leaning in our
local entrepreneurs have created eight new medical marijuana facility startups; it’s very exciting!” stated Connie Maxim-Sparrow, principal of Sparrow Consulting. Sparrow launched the woman-led firm with medical cannabisrelated clients specifically in mind. The company expects that the project will create 39 full-time positions as well as 47 long-term construction positions. Construction is expected to begin within the next six months.
Singapore to Develop Synthetic Cannabis Strains The punishment for cannabis consumption, importation and solicitation in the Republic of Singapore can result in strokes from the cane, the country’s cruel and legal system of corporal punishment, but things are slowly changing. Medical cannabis research is beginning to take root despite Singapore’s notoriously draconian approach to drugs. A 25 million Singapore Dollars ($19 million USD) research initiative called the Synthetic Biology Research and Development Program has
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favor, there’s no telling what the prohibitionists will throw at us,” the Michigan Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol posted on social media. “That’s why we need your help. Prohibitionists will try to scare voters with lies about the sky falling if we legalize. We need your help to make sure the truth makes it into the minds of undecided voters.” According to Michigan Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Spokesman Josh Hovey, none of the anti-cannabis funding has come from within Michigan.
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been launched. Researchers will develop national synthetic strains of cannabinoids derived from cannabis. The cannabis material will most likely be imported from another country in order to carry out the research. “This will be done by translating selective genetic information provided by overseas partners into potent therapeutic compounds not found in nature through synthetic biology,” reads a press release from the National Research Foundation Singapore. For now, the country prefers to research into creating synthetic derivatives of cannabis instead of natural medical cannabis options.
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The percentage of tax that is being proposed on all medical cannabis transfers between a licensed caregiver and their patient in Michigan: (Source: State of Michigan Department of Treasury)
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The estimated number of potential cannabis patients who would currently qualify for medical cannabis in Michigan: (Source: GreenWave Advisors)
850,000
The combined amount of land, in acres, that makes up 10 lots that were sold in a cannabis industrial park in Windsor Township: (Source: Forbes)
63
The percentage of voters in Michigan who expressed support of a proposal to legalize recreational cannabis for the 2018 November ballot: (Source: Detroit News)
56.6
The number of votes from members of the Virginia Senate, out of 40, that were in favor of passing a medical cannabis bill: (Source: News Leader)
The increased percentage of cannabis-related job postings in the United States in 2017, according to a study from ZipRecruiter: (source: Business Insider)
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445
The estimated amount of money, in billions of dollars, that the United States hemp industry is projected to make by 2020: (Source: Hemp Business Journal)
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Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade WHEN: Sun, March 11 WHERE: Michigan Ave. between 6th St. and 14th St., Detroit WEBSITE: www.detroitstpatricksparade.com The year 2018 marks the 60th happening of the Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade—and it might leave you feeling even luckier than a leprechaun. This year, Dave and Erin Keem will serve as the Grand Marshalls. The Corktown neighborhood in Detroit is named after Cork, Ireland, as the Irish were one of the largest ethnic groups of newcomers in Detroit. In fact, the first St. Patrick’s Day 12
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celebration in Detroit happened in 1808, when America was still in its infancy. The parade is sponsored by the United Irish Societies. Irish-themed band Madigan’s Attic will perform in the Family Fun Zone. Finally, whether you’re able to attend or miss the opportunity, the parade will be captured in a drone video that will be available for purchase.
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NEWS
LOCAL
Making the Cut
Medical cannabis businesses i n M i c h i g a n p r e pa r e f o r s tat e licensing By Benjamin M. Adams
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ll existing medical cannabis businesses in Michigan that wish to remain open must acquire local approval before obtaining a state license. Feb. 15 was the deadline of applications for a state license and the required prerequisites, but not all businesses proved ready for the cutoff date. Last Dec. 4, 2017, The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) released emergency administrative rules for Michigan’s medical cannabis businesses. The Medical Marijuana Facility Licensing Act rules took effect on Dec. 15, 2017. On Feb. 8, LARA released a time-sensitive reminder on changes to Michigan’s medical cannabis industry. The department reminded all Michigan medical cannabis license applicants that Feb. 15 was the last day that businesses with local approval could apply for a state license. Under the emergency rules, proposed medical cannabis facilities that have continued to operate with local approval must cease operations if they are facing any of the following: A completed prequalification application— including the local attestation form—is not turned into LARA by Feb. 15, 2018. The applicant has been denied state licensure. The applicant has not been issued a state license by June 15, 2018. 14
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“Noncompliance is grounds for disciplinary action and referral to law enforcement for unlicensed a c t i v i t y. ” Not completing the necessary steps could result in a phone call to the state police or to federal agents. “Noncompliance is grounds for disciplinary action and referral to law enforcement for unlicensed activity,” the reminder reads. “Until a license is received from the state, the operation of a proposed medical marihuana facility should be considered a business risk by the operator. Unlicensed activity may be forwarded to the Michigan State Police and the Attorney General.” CULTURE reached out to LARA to get a better idea of how many businesses have taken the required steps for a state license. “The last available numbers are as of Feb. 3, 2018,” LARA Spokesperson David Harns told CULTURE. As of Feb. 3, 189 total applications had been submitted. Of those 189, 146 were for Prequalification, three for Grower A, two for Grower B, 21 for Grower C, six for a Processor, 10 for Provisioning Centers and one for a Safety Compliance Facility application. As of Feb. 3, 674 total online applications were still in the application process. Of those 674, 618 were for Prequalification, 15 for Grower A, five for Grower B, 11 for Grower C, seven for Processor, 12 for Provisioning Centers and six for a Secure Transporter application. Clearly, not every medical cannabis business is going to make the cut. There is no limit to the number of state licenses that can be issued, although nearly every local ordinance passed in a township, village or city places caps and restrictions on the number of licenses. State licenses are expected to be considered for approval during the Michigan Medical Marihuana Licensing Board’s March 22 or April 19 scheduled meetings. Both meetings are scheduled to take place at the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing, and many people are expected to attend. June 15 will be the final day that state licenses will be issued to existing businesses. c
8th Annual THC Expo It’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend, but you won’t find a four-leaf clover at this event. Here you will likely find five, seven and nine-fingered cannabis leaves instead. The theme of this year’s event will be “Commercial grows and the legislature, How do I become a part of it?” The Magic Vapor Bus will escort guests to a secured medicating site. Certified doctors will also be onsite to accommodate new medical cannabis patients. With a new medical cannabis regulation system in place, it’s an exciting and critical time for Michigan’s medical cannabis industry—so don’t miss this year’s THC Expo and the networking opportunities it can provide. WHEN: Fri, March 16-Sat, March 17 WHERE: Roostertail, 100 Marquette Dr., Detroit WEBSITE: americanexpo pros.com
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NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
Clarifying Rules New cannabis bill amendments emerge
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By Matthew Abel
he Michigan Legislature recently passed a cleanup bill amending the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act in several ways. Effective after Jan. 30, the bill now has become Public Act 10 of 2018, amending Public Act 281 of 2016. The bill provides for transfer from growers to other growers, and processors to other processors, and allows the testing labs— “safety compliance facilities” to receive cannabis from a caregiver for testing, as well as from the licensed growers and processors. It also provides that the labs may collect random testing samples from growers, processors and provisioning centers. Growers may sell plants to other growers transferring them only by means of a licensed secure transporter. Caregivers may sell seeds, seedlings or tissue cultures to a grower, with no requirement to use a secure transporter for those transfers. The new law adds definitions of the words like “cutting,” “seed,” “seedling” and “tissue culture.” Transfer is allowed between colocated facilities (grower, processor or provisioning center) without using 16
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a secure transporter if the transfer uses only private property and provided that each transfer is entered into the statewide tracking system. The act adds legal protection for any C.P.A. who engages in accounting work for an applicant or licensee who is in compliance with the facilities act or medical cannabis act. The protection covers criminal penalties under state or local law, civil prosecution, property seizure or professional sanction. Financial institutions receive the same protection from state and local penalties, prosecution, seizure or sanction. Violations of federal law currently still are not justified, excused or preempted by state law. Cities have been relieved of the requirement to provide a copy of their applicable authorizing ordinances to the Michigan Department of Medical Marihuana Regulation. That provision has been replaced by a form to be signed by the clerk of the municipality attesting that the municipality has adopted an authorizing ordinance and describing any applicable zoning regulations. Annual renewal forms are authorized, which would include a description of any violations of the act, the administrative rules, or the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act and any changes to the ordinances. The Board now is authorized to establish monthly purchasing limits for patients and caregivers, in addition to the daily limit of 2.5 ounces (or infused product equivalent) per patient. Until the end of 2018, upon issuance of a license to a grower, they may transfer plants, seeds and seedlings from an individual formerly registered as a
primary caregiver who is an active employee of the grower for a period of 30 days immediately following issuance of the license. Likewise, upon issuance of a license to a processor they may accept plants or usable cannabis under the same conditions. The law made clear that secure transporter licensees may travel through any municipality, allying any fears of hostile local ordinances attempting to block such transport within their boundaries. Finally, the new law modified the requirement that the members of the cannabis advisory panel already have licenses before being appointed. That requirement alone delayed some of the appointments pending licensing. Other members of the advisory panel were appointed months ago. Gov. Rick Snyder is set to appoint the remaining members by March 1 (after this story has been printed) with the Director of the Department to call the first meeting of the panel within one month of the panel being appointed, and with the panel meeting at least two times each year. The advisory panel is just that, and does not have the decisionmaking authority granted to the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board. The Medical Marihuana Licensing Board meets again March 22 at 9 a.m. at the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing, at which time the first facilities licenses may (or may not) be issued. Those engaging in operations under the temporary operations provisions have a certain deadline of June 15 when those temporary facilities licenses expire and full approval will have been decided. At that point, full compliance with all the laws and rules will be required, including precise and extensive testing, tracking and labeling requirements. 2018 is a watershed year in the growth of the licensed cannabis industry in Michigan. Things are getting interesting. c
“The law made clear that secure transporter licensees may travel through any municipality, allying any fears of hostile local ordinances attempting to block such transport within their boundaries.
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REVIEWs
strain Available at: Herbal Solutions in Ypsilanti. Available at: People’s Choice Alternative Medicine in Ann Arbor.
Wedding Cake Lambo Though the name of this strain was changed for sake of appealing to copyright laws, it’s still the same great strain coming from the reputable company T.H.Seeds. The parent strains responsible for these hybrid (50/50) genetics are Super Afghan x Jamaican Purple x Jamaican Haze. The combination of these genetics delivers a vibrant sweet and tropical-lemony blast to the senses, providing an extremely flavorful experience from the moment you sniff. Patients looking to alleviate chronic pain, headaches, nausea or stress are likely to find this euphoric and relaxing strain appealing to their relief. Lab tests for this phenotype showed 22.183 T.P.A.C. (Total Percent Active Cannabinoid) percent concentration when the product if fully cooked; 0.069 percent of the concentration is CBD.
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Parent strains Cherry Pie and Girl Scout Cookies were crossbred to serve up this decadent slice of heaven. Wedding Cake, also known as Pink Cookies, is quite a treat! This fruity and floral hybrid (60/40) boasts with a broad “cookie” undertone. This particular phenotype was cultivated by @superior_flowers and tested high in the ranks for this strain, at 26.9 percent THC. Patients looking for appetite stimulation, or who have a desire to alleviate symptoms associated to arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, insomnia, nausea and PMS, are likely to enjoy this strain’s balanced cerebral and body effects. Though, with this heavy potency, it’s recommended that novice consumers ease their way into consumption until they understand how this strain may affect them.
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REVIEWs
For More Products Go To CultureMagazine.com
3. High Tea Herbal Wraps
1. Vogue 3 Piece Spray Can Norman “Vogue” Chuck is an American graffiti artist, calligraphist and illustrator. You know Vogue is the original, because as you see on the bottom of this grinder, graffiti artists typically tag “one” after their name to indicate they are the original artist. When it comes to cannabis, if you’re looking for the original, look no further than Santa Cruz Shredder. Every seasoned cannabis consumer knows that daily smokers need a good grinder that will last. The Vogue One grinder from Santa Cruz Shredder is shaped like an aerosol spray can and features graffiti-inspired décor. Its improved aluminum design is built to last. The grinder’s teeth are razor sharp, which makes it strong enough for grinding up Moonrocks. Price: $74.50+ More Information: santacruzshredder.com 2. Utillian 721 This product is utilization at its finest. The Utillian 721 embraces minimalism with its simplistic, yet useful design. Vaporizer products that are complicated usually don’t end up being used on a regular basis, but Utillian 721’s process is self-explanatory. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket and with eight temperature settings, its temperature can be adjusted in five-degree increments. Its 60-minute battery life is double the battery life of other competing convection units. The cap seals your herbs inside, the mouthpiece swivels out, and its one-button design makes vaping cannabis a cinch. Price: $189.99 More Information: utillian.com 20
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Almost any substance would be safer to smoke than tobacco— including tea leafs. More people nowadays are smoking green tea or tea instead of tobacco because there’s no nicotine and tea has antioxidant properties. High Tea Herbal Wraps are also made out of tea leaves. And here’s the kicker: High Tea Herbal Wraps are selfrolling. Yes, you read that correctly! The wraps form a tight curl very slowly once you take them out of the package. Flavors available include Mad Melon, Mango Dream, Juicy Grape and Royal Sweet. Price: $2.49 More Information: highteawraps.com
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4. iKeyp Bolt
Got curious kids? Or roommates with sticky fingers? The iKeyp Bolt can help keep your cannabis goods safe and locked away from unwanted visitors. It is the safe of the future, with WiFi connectivity, 24/7 monitoring and remote capabilities. A smartphone app is also available for iOS and Android phones, enabling you to monitor when it is opened, the number of keypad attempts and battery life. You’ll get reminders if you forget to take things out, such as medication. The kit comes with screws and supplies to mount it on the wall for easy access. Price: $149 More Information: ikeyp.com
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CULTUREMAGAZINE.com GET YOUR CLICKS
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REVIEWs
entertainment MOVIE Release Date: march 20
BOOK
The Cannabis Grow Bible Greg Green Pub. Green Candy Press Become well-versed in the knowledge of cannabis cultivation trade secrets—in Biblical proportions. Complete with over 1,000 photos, The Cannabis Grow Bible is one of the most comprehensive cannabis cultivation guides around. The third edition has been updated to accommodate new innovative technology, which will help you navigate your way through the tedious, and often difficult task of learning to grow high quality cannabis. Everything is covered in depth, from clones to hydroponics to greenhouses, complete with photos and sidebars to help simplify cultivation techniques. With this in tow, you’ll learn how to make hash and various types of extracts as well. (Richard Saunders) 22
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Available on: Xbox One and PC
GAME
Sea of Thieves Dev. Rare Pub. Microsoft Studios Fantasy and science fiction are prevalent throughout video games, but there’s a small niche for people who want to emulate the lifestyle of a genuine pirate. Luckily, Sea of Thieves does just that. Join your friends in this cooperative multiplayer experience where you learn how to man a ship (i.e. hoist sales, navigate the seas, fire cannons) and travel the sea in search of quests, loot and intense seabattles. The playful design of this game doesn’t take itself too seriously, because you are, after all, sailing the seas in search for booty. (Nicole Potter)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Dir. Martin McDonagh Fox Searchlight Pictures For those who prefer their heartbreaking drama with a little laughter mixed in, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is the movie you’ve been searching for. When the investigation into the rape and murder of Mildred Hayes’ teenage daughter begins to slow, Hayes takes extreme measures to inspire motivation in Director Martin McDonagh’s latest film. Helmed by a veteran cast including Academy Award winner Frances McDormand, Academy Award nominees Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell and John Hawkes, and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is an absolute grand slam of a motion picture. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
Onion Shannon & the Clams Easy Eye Sound Shannon & the Clams is hurtling toward a decade together as a band, however the music that it creates sounds just as exciting and fresh as ever. Though the quartet draws much of its inspiration from the girl group, garage pop stylings of the past, it continues to develop a sound distinctly its own. The band’s fifth LP, Onion, finds the group digging deep and putting out some of its most intimate, introspective work yet. Whether grappling with the 2016 Ghost Ship fire tragedy or its own personal dramas, the new album showcases the Clams at its most vulnerable and powerful simultaneously. (Simon Weedn)
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Atmosphere produces c o n s c i o u s h i p - h o p t h at has benefited society for decades By Benjamin M. Adams
Members of the inordinately successful independent hip-hop duo Atmosphere, who have been releasing hits for decades, didn’t ever plan on becoming role models. Since releasing their first major album in 1997, rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/Producer Ant (Anthony Davis) have released eight studio albums plus a capacious library of EPs, collaborations, remixes and various evolving side projects. Atmosphere has topped the U.S. Independent Albums chart multiple times, and the group has achieved numerous top 10 albums on The Billboard 200. Atmosphere’s near-constant presence in the hip-hop world is virtually unheard of— especially for an independent group on the popular independent hip-hop record label in which Slug and Ant co-founded, Rhymesayers Entertainment. Slug was born to a white mother and a black and Native American father—but he ultimately found his true identity in nonviolent, conscious hip-hop culture. CULTURE caught up with the lyricist, songwriter and voice of Atmosphere, to reflect on hip-hop, fatherhood, police brutality and of course, cannabis.
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Photos by Aaron Aubrey | Live Photos by Kristopher Christensen
“I support all uses of marijuana, not just medical. T h at i n c l u d e s t h e r e c r e at i o n a l u s e o f m a r i j u a n a . I ’ d r at h e r see safe spaces for people to selfm e d i c at e a s o p p o s e d t o w h at w e ’ v e d o n e i n t h e p a s t, w h i c h i s very unsafe.”
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Tell us about #DadRap. It exists because there’s a sense of moral obligation to the listeners. You see a lot of younger people just getting hot off of their own shit. Eventually, you start to feel a little bit of pressure to being accountable for this shit. I think this is something that a lot of artists go through, because when you start making art at a young age, you’re pushing, poking and taking these risks and saying, “Fuck everybody, fuck the world,” you know, this rebelliousness. As you
get older, you still have those sentiments, but you are a little bit more aware of the effect that you can have with how you deliver those sentiments. I like the term #DadRap, because someone once accused me of wearing “dad shorts” six, seven or eight years ago. I don’t remember. I had to kind of be like, “You know what, that’s just me,” you know what I’m saying. I’ve kind of become that dude. It was around the same time that I had my second child. All of
Atmosphere: Then and Now Over the years, Atmosphere has released eight studio albums and at least 10 EPs. Several side projects also exist such as Felt and Deep Puddle Dynamics. Slug has appeared on innumerable hip-hop albums as well including artists such as KRS-One, Logic, Berner, Aesop Rock, The Grouch, Brother Ali and Evidence. CULTURE put together some of the most significant milestones in Atmosphere’s history.
1995 – Slug cofounded Rhymesayers Entertainment with Ant, Musab Saad (Sab the Artist) and Brent Sayers (Siddiq).
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1989 – Shy young Slug initially sees himself as a background DJ for other artists. He eventually starts rapping and partners up with Derek Turner (Spawn) and producer Ant to form Urban Atmosphere, which they shorten to Atmosphere.
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these things kind of came together. I’m still mad at the world, but it’s like being mad at the world with a sense of what I’m trying to do about it. At what age did you discover you had a penchant for rhyming? Well, I just embraced the whole shit—because the culture gave me the identity. The neighborhood I grew up in was predominantly children who were involving themselves in hip-hop
1970 (Sept. 6) Producer Anthony Davis (Ant) is born. He would eventually follow in his father’s footsteps and learn to DJ.
through breakdancing, graffiti, rapping, DJing and all those things—but we didn’t necessarily go “Oh, I’m going to do this,” or “I’m going to do that, ” or “I’m going to make a career out of it.” It was just something we did, like playing baseball. But I wasn’t attempting to become a professional baseball player. That’s what kids do. But at some point, if a kid is good at baseball, and someone notices, things are bound to happen. And that’s kind of what happened with us. I would say that when I was in my late teens, that I was like “Oh, I want to be a DJ. I want to be a DJ on the radio. I want to be a DJ in the club.” But even then, I wanted to be a DJ, not a rapper. I thought the DJ was the cool guy. It wasn’t until the late ’80s that it was revealed to us that the rapper is actually cooler than the DJ. That was the image, at least, that was being pushed on to us. Then it was like, “Anybody can be rappers just like anybody can be in a rock band.”
1972 (Sept. 7) - Sean Daley is born. Sean eventually adopts his father Craig Daley’s nickname “Sluggo” and later shortens it to Slug. 1980s – At Washburn High School, young Daley befriends several other fellow rappers and forms a hip-hop collective that focuses mostly on breakdancing and freestyling.
2005 (Oct. 22) You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having peaks at #1 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.
I understand you cofounded Rhymesayers Entertainment. And you’ve been around for decades. What’s your secret to longevity? I think Rhymesayers is a web of creative and business-minded people and adventurous people that are continuing to look for what they can do to keep the life going. The constant touring of Atmosphere was a weird situation. Check this out: When I was a kid, nobody’s dad liked hip-hop. If your hip-hop didn’t scare dads, you weren’t making good hip-hop. Nowadays, it’s a different thing. I still think rap should make older white people uncomfortable—I think that should be a rule. But, there’s something interesting here about how you have 50-year-olds that listen to hip-hop. That never could have happened when I was a kid. Now there’s room for the Neil Young of hip-hop. Do you believe Americans have grown numb to the constant pervasive violence in the news? I can’t really say on behalf of Americans, but for myself, I have to unplug from social media. I have to stop looking at my news feed. I have to stop hearing the news every so often—more often
than when I was younger. When I was younger, it would be because I didn’t have time to keep up with what’s going on in the world. Now that I’m older, I’m intentionally making a decision to keep up sometimes because I’m exhausted. It exhausts me. I don’t know if “numb” is the right word, but I would use the word “exhausted.” I’m exhausted by the violence. I’m exhausted by the stories of police brutality and police misconduct. I’m exhausted by people hurting each other. So maybe the next step is numb. It’s going to exhaust my fucking ability to have empathy— hopefully not, because that’s what connects us all as human beings. I think we really, really, really need to reconsider what all this interconnectivity is doing to us. I don’t know that it’s good. And I’m not trying to be the guy with the tin foil hat. I’m just saying, when someone like me is nervous about empathy levels, that’s not good. Empathy is my superpower. I loved social media for awhile, because it was fun to meet people, make friends and sell records. But now I try to see how far in the day I can go without checking my Twitter.
1997 (Aug. 5) - Atmosphere released its debut independent album Overcast! by Rhymesayers Entertainment. It generated the single “Scapegoat” which helped define the sound of Atmosphere. Spawn quits the group after the first album.
2001 (Feb. 1) - Three of Atmosphere’s EPs, Ford One, Ford Two and Lucy, are released as an LP called Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs. 2002 (June 11) - Atmosphere releases God Loves Ugly, and the single “Modern Man’s Hustle” becomes one of the duo’s most successful singles, peaking at #18 on Billboard’s US Hot Rap Songs chart.
2005 (May 6) - By popular demand, Atmosphere’s 1999 album Headshots Se7en is finally reissued on CD, and fans cite it as the album that solidified the group’s sound. 2004 – Atmosphere hires a live band with a guitar section in order to perform certain songs. 2003 (Sept. 23) - The album Seven’s Travels is the group’s third full-length, but the duo decides to release it on Epitaph Records, a punk rock label typically known for bands like Rancid and NOFX.
2002 (Dec. 10) - Slug’s side project Felt, a duo he formed with Murs, releases its debut album Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci. Felt would go on to release two more albums in between Atmosphere projects.
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“They’re filling prisons up with people who a r e b a s i c a l ly j u s t t r y i n g t o s e l f - m e d i c a t e o r h e l p s o m e o n e e l s e s e l f - m e d i c at e . P e o p l e are trying to deal with how depressing t h i s f u c k i n g s o c i e t y i s. F o r i n s ta n c e , i f y o u p u t m y d a d a w ay f o r d o i n g d r u g s , a l l you’re doing is putting me in a position to do more drugs—because now I have to cope w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t y o u t h r e w m y f a m i ly i n p r i s o n o v e r d r u g s. I t c r e at e s a cyc l e . ” You’re a master at writing breakup songs, such as “I Should’ve Known” or “Fuck You Lucy.” Is songwriting a form of emotional therapy for yourself? I would say it’s had its moments of being cathartic. There’s times when I’ve used it to handle and deal with situations. I’ve always written material to get through shit. Not just breakup songs, but the loss of a loved one. I’ve been fired from jobs, and I’d write about it. You gotta understand that a lot of rappers’ writing never makes it to the record. But if you were to look through the pages and pages of shit that I’ve written, you could kind of see all of the negative shit that’s ever happened in my life. Shit that’s happened to me or shit that I’ve perpetuated myself. It’s a way to vent. It’s a way to get through it. You write your way through your problems. I’ve also used the good things in my life to inspire the writing. It’s always interesting to me when someone says “Yeah, I like Atmosphere when they used to write songs about this, this and this, but now that they’re writing songs about this, I’m not into it.” If you’re not going through 28
the same kind of shit that I am, why would you? Do you believe artists who are in the public eye have a responsibility to speak out on political issues? I would never say it’s a responsibility. People have to do what’s comfortable with them. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking out, because it’s just not who you are, then don’t! Because you could be doing a disservice to the particular movement that you’re trying to help. So no, I don’t think it’s a responsibility. The only thing that any of us are responsible to do is just to do our fucking best. Whatever that means, however you want to interpret that, that’s up to you. Just do your best. Do your best to do your best. I’ve always put political shit in my music. But back in the day, I was insecure about it, so I would be more cryptic. I would tuck it in cryptically. I didn’t want to come off preachy. My heroes were Chuck D and Rakim and KRS-One. Chuck D and KRS-One would cross the line into preachy. I appreciated that, but I didn’t feel confident enough to try to do what they were
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doing because they were my heroes. As of lately, I’ve been a little bit more direct but I think that comes with age. You’re just like, “This is who the fuck I am, and there’s nothing you can say that going to make me feel awkward about it.” Before I would pause as ask myself, “Am I right for the job?” You frequently rap about police brutality. What are your opinions on injustices like the Philando Castile shooting? Here’s the thing: These cops are scared. If we don’t figure out how to address that in an honest and human way, A, the system is going to continue to happen and B, they’re going to continue to disappoint us with their fucking excuses. They should just say, “Look, I was scared, and I acted incorrectly. I did the wrong fucking thing out of fear.” And give them the punishment they deserve. Why was that particular
cop scared? He was scared because Philando Castile was black, period. That needs to be fucking addressed. Everybody needs to be aware and confront the fact that this is what’s happening and this is why it’s happening. For 400-plus years, the black man has been made out to be a fucking scary guy. We have all been conditioned, especially the police. I couldn’t tell you whether or not that particular cop hates black people, but I could tell you that cop is scared of black people. What is this irrational fear they have that makes them overreact? Why are we hiring police that feel that way? We have a very strict way that we do jury selection. Why can’t we approve or disapprove who gets hired to be the police? Why don’t police have to carry an expensive insurance policy like how doctors do?
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What do you think needs to happen in America to handle this overpopulated prison system? If I knew, I would not be rapping, and I’d have a job in the public sector. It’s due time to legitimately decriminalize a lot of drug offenses. They’re filling prisons up with people who are basically just trying to selfmedicate or help someone else selfmedicate. People are trying to deal with how depressing this fucking society is. For instance, if you put my dad away for doing drugs, all you’re doing is putting me in a position to do more drugs—because now I have to cope with the fact that you threw my family in prison over drugs. It creates a cycle. So now I’m next. How do you feel about medical and recreational cannabis? I’m pro-marijuana, but I’m not prodrugs. That means I don’t want to personally do drugs, but I certainly
don’t want to govern other people who want to do drugs. I support all uses of marijuana, not just medical. That includes the recreational use of marijuana. I’d rather see safe spaces for people to self-medicate
2008 (May 10) - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold peaks at number one on the Billboard Tastemakers chart with help from Tom Waits. The album proves to attract a larger, more mainstream fanbase. Its single “You” charts on the Billboard US Alternative Songs chart.
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+ rhymesayers.com
2011 (April 12) - The Family Sign is released, marking Atmosphere’s sixth studio album.
2016 (Dec. 9) - Frida Kahlo vs. Ezra Pound EP is released.
2017 (Aug. 7) Atmosphere kicked off the “Welcome to California” tour beginning at The Fillmore in San Francisco.
as opposed to what we’ve done in the past which is very unsafe. Unfortunately, I don’t spend enough time thinking about solutions. c
2016 (Sept. 3) - Fishing Blues peaks at number one on Billboard Independent Albums chart.
2018 (March 5) Atmosphere’s “Welcome to Canada” tour kicks off with Evidence and will hit at least 10 Canadian cities. After that, Atmosphere will continue with U.S. tour dates.
2013 (April 20) Demosexual 7” is released on vinyl, secretly recorded by Atmosphere.
2014 (May 24) - The album Southsiders peaks at number one on the Billboard Tastemakers chart.
2018 (May 25) - Atmosphere will join 311, Steel Pulse, Iration, Alpha Blondy, Stephen Marley, Slightly Stoopid, Brother Ali, Mike Love and more for the California Roots Music & Arts Festival in Monterey, California.
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“ I s ta r t e d t r y i n g C B D t i n c t u r e s t o s e e h o w t h at w o u l d h e l p, a n d I w a s a b l e t o s e e s h e w a s h e a l i n g m o r e q u i c k ly, a n d t h at ’ s r e a l ly w h e r e w e s ta r t e d . ”
Better for Bella L A mother’s love leads to a feminine cannabis topical line
By Addison Herron-Wheeler
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ike many good business ideas, the concepts behind Altitude were born from necessity. The popular Weekend Boxes produced by Altitude Products fill the needs of the modern cannabis consumer, with everything necessary to have a wellrounded cannabis experience, complete with instructions that detail what strains do and how to imbibe. And its recent premium cannabis topical line, Bella, was born from an even deeper, maternal desire—the need for Founder Krista Whitley to find a healing treatment for daughter’s eczema. “I have daughters, Bella and Mia; they are nine and 10,” Whitley explained to CULTURE. “Bella has had eczema her entire life. It was a real challenge, and we spent all of her toddler years and most of her childhood in dermatologists’ Photos by Shannon Dorn with Dope Foto
offices. We tried light therapy. She was on every steroid; she has been on every type of holistic treatment, anything we could come up with, but it wasn’t working, and she would still get made fun of at school for having ‘snake skin.’” Whitley struggled with watching her daughter feel so much shame about her skin. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, 100-degree days are common, and even in the summer when the heat was unbearable, Bella wanted to wear long sleeves to cover up, because she was uncomfortable showing off her skin. At this time, Whitley was reading about how cannabis can be a pain reliever, and she was using cannabidiol (CBD) as her own method of holistic healing. Whitley decided to try this healing technique on her daughter’s skin.
“I started trying CBD tinctures to see how that would help, and I was able to see she was healing more quickly, and that’s really where we started,” Whitley explained. “Then I thought, ‘Gosh, it’s so dry here; we have to have some type of moisturizing cream,’ so I started playing with ingredients. It really started in my kitchen, researching holistic options and trying a variety of things. I knew preservatives or things with additives would set off her skin, so I started researching things that worked side-by-side with skin care, playing with different formulations.” After mixing and experimenting in her kitchen for a while, Whitley came up with a lotion that soothed her daughter’s skin and healed her eczema, all using holistic CBD distillate and natural ingredients that worked in tandem with the CBD. She just released the CBD version of the cream nationwide called Crema Elegante, as well as an adult-only THC cream in Nevada. So far, both have been received very well. “It’s exciting to see something that started in my kitchen come to fruition,” she explained. “It doesn’t irritate her skin, doesn’t cause flare-ups. It’s exciting to her, and to me it was always important as an entrepreneur to show her that women can do anything, so it’s exciting that she gets to see a line of products inspired by her.” Her special line of Bella products include disposable vaporizers and spa products like the CBD and essential oil-infused bath bomb, Bomba da Bango and the CBD and Himalayan bath salt, Sale de Bagno. Whitley also produces Weekend Boxes, which are complete kits for a weekend of cannabis consumption. The goal behind these is to educate those who are new to cannabis about the products available and how they should be used. “We walk everyone through a terpene guide so they understand why terpenes are so important, walk them through microdosing and through whatever product is included in that iteration of the box,” Whitley explained. “And the guidance is specific to the type of box. So if it’s our starter box that has an eighth of
“Bella has had eczema her entire life. It was a real challenge, and we spent all of her toddler years and most of her childhood in d e r m at o l o g i s t s ’ offices.”
flower, it includes the cultivator and different phenotypes. If it’s a pre-roll, it will explain the strains used. If it’s infused products it will walk them through the effect they can anticipate. We also include concentrates, and then we walk them through how they can medicate and what concentrates are. Of course, we also include microdosed edibles. So we are really trying to educate them on all the options for cannabis use.” Whitley didn’t try cannabis herself until her 30s, after being involved in a bad car accident. She finally let go of some of the stereotypes about cannabis she had learned while growing up, when a friend suggested she try it as a supplement to replace some of the many prescription drugs she was taking. Whitley found success in using cannabis for pain management, and she realized the importance of celebrating cannabis as an alternative treatment option. Ever since then, she has been committed to being an advocate and educator, even as she makes for-profit products. Bella creams, her latest offering, are an extension of her overall ethos that cannabis products should help people in need. c
+ shopcelebratebella.com
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Industry Insider
T.
World Ta k e o v e r C a m B at t l e y a d m i t s t h at A m e r i c a’ s federal prohibition allows Canadabased Aurora Cannabis to thrive By R. Scott Rappold
W
e Americans like to think we’re in the forefront when it comes to cannabis legalization. After all, nearly 30 states have medical cannabis and nine have approved recreational cannabis for adults, the most significant wave of legalization since the plant was banned seven decades ago. But it’s our neighbors to the north who are quietly paving the way for the future of the industry. Colorado and California may get all the press, but Canada has developed one of the world’s most liberal medical cannabis policies, one that has allowed truly national cannabis companies to develop in ways American companies cannot because the plant remains federally illegal here. As to how this future may shape out, look no further than Aurora Cannabis. While the largest U.S. cannabis companies are valued around $190 million, the Edmonton-based company was recently valued at $2.4 billion—yes, with a “b”—with a stake in nearly every phase of the process from seed to sale. 34
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“The Squarest Guy in the Cannabis Business” Battley doesn’t fit the profile of your typical cannabis peddler. He spent most of his career working in the pharmaceutical industry until a friend in 2014 suggested he look into medical cannabis. While the American government spent years battling and shutting down dispensaries, Canada’s government in 2013 created a legal framework for the industry. “Are you crazy? I do serious stuff,” Battley responded to his friend. Then he began to look at the actual medical benefits of the plant. “What resonated with me is that medical cannabis is used to manage the symptoms of a wide range of health conditions, and I was well aware of the vast unmet medical need with respect to symptom management across this wide range of conditions,” he said. “So a light bulb went on for me immediately, and it was one of those times in life when you’re absolutely delighted to find out you were completely wrong about something.” “Today they call me ‘the squarest guy in the cannabis business’ because of my business background. Plus I’ve been a Scout leader for 10 years and soccer coach for 10 years.” In 2016, he took the job as chief corporate officer at Aurora, making him the company’s public face in dealing with the media, investors, regulators and others. And he won’t even admit to ever enjoying the product. There’s a good reason for that, however. The U.S. Border Patrol in recent years has begun banning non-citizens from entry—in some cases for life— for simply admitting to having consumed cannabis.
Not too shabby, eh? And as Canada moves toward legal use for adults, they’re only getting started. “I have a joke I tell that I wake up every morning and say a prayer of thanks to the DEA for keeping cannabis federally illegal in the U.S.,” said Cam Battley, 49, Aurora’s chief corporate officer. It’s a joke, and he is quick to point out that he thinks it’s ridiculous the plant remains federally illegal here. But behind every joke is a bit of truth. “The huge advantage we’ve got over the U.S. is that in the U.S. cannabis remains federally illegal. It means the companies can’t produce in one state and sell in another. It means they can’t deduct their business expenses so the effective tax rate can be 60 to 70 percent. And they can’t list on public exchanges and have the same access to capital that Canadian companies have used to successfully begin our global growth.” “Not only have we been able to expand across Canada and establish massive capacity, but we’ve been able to expand around the world.”
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“ T h at s a i d , the longer cannabis remains f e d e r a l ly i l l e g a l in the U.S., the more lead time we h a v e t o e s ta b l i s h our global l e a d e r s h i p. ” Growth and Enterprise When Battley joined Aurora Cannabis in 2016, the company had 35 employees and a value of $70 million. Today the company has 480 employees, rivaled in size and value in Canada only by Canopy Growth Corp. The two companies together are valued at $6 billion, which is more than Canadians spent on medical and recreational cannabis in 2017. Battley credits Aurora’s growth to Founder Terry Booth, who used his own money to launch the company’s first 100-acre grow operation in 2013 and has guided it through the sort of growth that would be impossible in the U.S. Take the company’s 800,000-square-foot grow operation at Edmonton International Airport, where they expect to produce 100,000 kilograms of cannabis a year. Said Battley, “The airport authority is our landlord, and that’s a federal body, so effectively Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is our landlord. Can you imagine having Donald Trump as a landlord of a cannabis company?” Alberta’s minister of economic development even showed up at the press conference announcing the airport project. Such government support is just one of many factors that has allowed Aurora and its competitors to reach a size American companies only dream of. The federal agency Health
G.
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Canada has created a nationwide framework for medical cannabis, so unlike in the U.S., patients don’t have to worry when they travel that what is legal at home could be a felony in the province they are visiting. For Aurora, that means the ability to operate across the country, which U.S. companies can’t do. The company also has access to investor money through the Toronto Stock Exchange and does not face limits on vertical integration like many U.S. states have established. That means companies are limited from controlling all phases of production and sale. Lacking such regulations, Aurora has invested in or purchased companies that specialize in extractions, companies that conduct cannabis research, companies that specialize in gardening techniques and companies that design waste digesters. Aurora owns one of Europe’s leading medical cannabis importers, which provides up to 40 percent of the company’s revenue. In anticipation of Canada’s legal recreational market, Aurora purchased 200 liquor stores in order to convert them to cannabis sales. Despite all this growth, it doesn’t do a dime of business in the U.S. So while his joke about U.S. cannabis policy is just that, a joke, nobody at Aurora is laughing. “It’s ironic, because we’re very much aware [U.S. policy]
is prolonging the social harms associated with prohibition in the U.S., and I disapprove of that very, very strongly. The advocate in me gets quite angry at that, because we also know that those social harms associated with prohibition land much more on Americans who are minorities and poor than they do on others.” “That said, the longer cannabis remains federally illegal in the U.S., the more lead time we have to establish our global leadership. It’s an odd situation of public policy, which I strongly disapprove and think is wrong is actually in the shortterm beneficial to leading Canadian companies like Aurora.” c
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“ T h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h o u r r e s u lt s were influenced by mis-reporting of marijuana use is unclear.”
Exploring the Truth A n e w s t u d y c h a l l e n g e s t h e w i d e ly - h e l d b e l i e f t h at c a n n a b i s h a s a n e g at i v e i m p a c t o n f e r t i l i t y By Emily Manke
S
cience has long indicated that when it comes to fertility, cannabis may not be your friend. Studies on animals have suggested that when it comes to reproduction for both males and females, cannabis has damaging effects—but when it comes to studies on humans, the research is less consistent. Most of the existing research indicates that consuming cannabis may not be a wise choice if you’re 38
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struggling to conceive a baby. A recent study challenges this body of knowledge, however. The Boston University study, called “Marijuana use and fecundability in a North American preconception cohort study,” headed by Dr. Lauren A. Wise came out in December 2017. Unlike previous studies, this one’s findings suggest that cannabis has essentially no effects on fertility, negative or otherwise. Despite her extremely busy schedule, Dr. Wise made time to answer some questions for CULTURE about her recent findings, and how they relate to existing research on this subject.
Dr. Lauren A. Wise
Were you surprised at your initial findings that indicate cannabis seemed to have an essentially benign impact on fertility? Dr. Wise: Yes, we were somewhat surprised. Animal studies have reported adverse effects of the active ingredient marijuana on reproductive hormones and sperm morphology. Studies among humans have also suggested adverse effects of marijuana use on reproductive hormones (both sexes), ovulation and semen quality, but results have been less consistent. And some studies indicate that humans may develop tolerance to the adverse reproductive effects of marijuana over time. So, we went into this thinking we would find an adverse effect of marijuana use on fertility for both females and males. Where did the previous belief that cannabis lowered sperm count come from? Were there previous studies that supported this or is it basically just a myth? No, it is not a myth. Several animal studies
have shown inhibition of Leydig cell function, reductions in testosterone, gonadotropins and testicular size and abnormal sperm morphology following acute exposure to the active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9THC). In humans, some studies of men report that chronic marijuana use in men is associated with lower testosterone and LH levels and poor semen quality, but many studies have not confirmed these findings, and reversible effects have been observed five to six weeks after initiation. A large population-based Danish study actually reported an increase in testosterone levels among recent marijuana smokers (which we would expect to be associated with better semen quality). So the results are somewhat mixed even for semen quality. It was a strength that we studied fecundability directly, instead of semen quality (a more indirect measure of fertility), because several studies
have shown that poor semen quality is only weakly associated with fecundability. How does cannabis affect female fertility? In our paper, we summarized the research on cannabis and females as follows: “In female animals ranging from rodents to non-human primates, delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, has been associated with reduced gonadotropin levels (via suppression of luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatile secretion), disrupted ovulation and menstrual irregularities. However, in one study of primates, normal menses returned after 3–4 months of chronic exposure. In women, studies are more conflicting. One study found a 30 percent decrease in LH levels among marijuana smokers in the luteal phase, but little effect in the follicular phase. In another study, exposure in the periovulatory stage was associated with increased LH levels. While intensive marijuana smoking was associated with normal menses in one study, other studies have shown increased anovulation, longer follicular phases and shorter luteal phases. Finally, recent marijuana use has been associated with reduced oocyte retrieval and fertilization among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and an increased risk of ovulatory infertility.” Where do you see the future when it comes to cannabis and fertility? More research is needed to see whether a consistent finding of no effect emerges from other studies of marijuana use and fertility. The extent to which our results were influenced by mis-reporting of marijuana use is unclear. Future studies with day-specific data on marijuana “ I n h u m a n s , use might better be able to s o m e s t u d i e s distinguish acute from chronic o f m e n r e p o r t effects of marijuana use, and evaluate whether effects t h at c h r o n i c depend on other factors, such m a r i j u a n a u s e i n as marijuana dose, mode of m e n i s a s s o c i at e d ingestion, duration and recency of use, and timing of use relative w i t h l o w e r to phase of menstrual cycle.
testosterone a n d LH l e v e l s and poor semen q u a l i t y, b u t m a n y studies have not confirmed these findings, and reversible effects have been observed five to six weeks after i n i t i at i o n . ”
As Dr. Wise stated, more research must be done on this fascinating subject before there are any definitive answers one way or the other. Still, it’s encouraging to hear that with more research, there is a possibility we may find evidence to support what many cannabis users likely already believed—of all the substances that may impact your ability to reproduce, cannabis is pretty low on the list. c CultureMagazine.com
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culture
Cannabis-Infused Irish Soda Bread By Laurie Wolf | Photo by Bruce Wolf
I
la
Instructions:
à
carte
growing
rish Soda Bread is delicious, and with the addition of cannabutter, we are keeping things very green this St. Patrick’s Day with this recipe. Wait until the bread cools a bit before slicing; it can be delightfully crumbly. The cannabutter doesn’t receive any green tint once it has been baked—but trust me, it’s in there. If you are longing for a green bread to help you celebrate this Irish holiday, add a drop or two of green food coloring to the liquids before mixing with the flour.
1. Heat oven to 340 degrees F. Prepare a cast iron pan or baking sheet by spreading with oil or parchment. 2. In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and raisins.
Irish Soda Bread
P RO F ILE
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COURAGE
Serves 10-12
40
Ingredients: Canola oil 2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cannabutter*, chill and cut in small cubes
6 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut in small cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup golden raisins
Green food coloring (optional)
4. In a small bowl combine the buttermilk, egg, vanilla and optional food coloring. Stir well. 5. Add the liquids to the dry mix and combine until it just comes together. Shape into a ball. 6. Place in the pan and make an “x” on the top with a serrated knife. 7. Bake for about 40 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Honey Cannabutter 4 ounces cannabutter*, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-4 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
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3. Add the butter and work the butter into the dough, until it resembles coarse crumbs.
8. While bread is baking, mix all Honey Cannabutter ingredients together thoroughly. Enjoy in moderation and #dontfeartheedible!
*any portion of the cannabutter can be replaced by non-infused butter.
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Hawaiian Garden II growing
culture
there is 10 hours, 51 minutes of light. This is a long enough dark period to induce most plants to flower. To prevent this, my hosts used fluorescent lights, turned on throughout the light to keep the plants from complete darkness. The relatively dim light was sufficient enough to prevent the plants from flowering. When they had grown fairly large, the lights were turned off. With long hours of darkness, they immediately started to flower. I was in the garden around Dec. 4, 2017 when the plants were at the start of the flowering cycle; the lights had been turned off the previous week. I thought it would take two months for the plants to ripen and that I would return in time for the harvest. I should have known that was not to be. I had forgotten that the plants were getting a far shorter light period. Longer nights speed up ripening, so the plants sacrifice bud size for shorter ripening time.
The island sits at 21.14 ° N., close enough to the equator so that there is only a small variation of light length through the year, On June 21, the longest day of the year there is 13 hours, 25 minutes. On December 21, the shortest day
In the first part of this article, “Lessons from a Hawaiian Garden,” I visited two medical gardens on the small Hawaiian island of Molokai.
2017 annual light levels in hawaii
à
la
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By Ed Rosenthal
DARK
BRIGHT
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9 kWh
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8 kWh
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Apr 10 7.0 kWf
7 kWh 6 kWh
Jan 31 5.0 kWf
Jun 9 7.6 kWf Sep 3 7.0 kWf
Nov 6 5.0 kWf
5 kWh
Dec 20 4.4 kWf
4 kWh 3 kWh 2 kWh 1 kWh 0 kWh
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Photos by Zach Socher
Source for Charts: 2017 U.S. Geological Society
hawaii CLOUD COVER CATEGORIES CLEARER
100% 90%
0%
Jan 18 79%
10%
OVERCAST
80%
MOSTLY CLOUDY
Apr 18 69%
70% 60%
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20%
Dec 7 69%
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Oct 31 59%
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G13 is a heavy, almost couchpotato indica has a high content of pinene, which makes it sedative and relaxing. The Molokai version is lightly sprinkled with sativa genetics. This gives it a bit more
My friend Zach was kind enough to take the photos you see in this column. They were taken on Dec. 6, 2017, shortly before and during harvesting. They were mostly Molokai G13.
Sep
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energy and is more conducive to daytime, as well as evening use. Although people think of it as an indica, it has a mostly sativa morphology. It’s a vigorous grower with a lot of spreading lateral
HOURS OF DAYLIGHT AND TWILIGHT NIGHT
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taller and extending branching. At maturity, these plants were 8-9 feet tall and were 8-10 feet wide. (Ed’s suggested to put the following paragraph “in a design box,” or as a sidebar-type thing) G13 has a “mysterious” history of origination. One rumor is that it was bred at a government research facility at the University of Mississippi
branches and it can easily grow 8-10 feet tall. Those characteristics indicate its substantial sativa heritage, but its effects come from its indica side. Another sativa characteristic is continued vegetative growth in during the first half of flowering. The plants fill out with continued stem growth, adding several feet
and was sneaked out. However, with my knowledge of the University’s lab I don’t think that is a credible story. Another tale is that it was developed in Washington State in a federally subsidized laboratory. This rumor is persistent, but vague. The problem with that theory is, there were no labs licensed to grow in the northwest at the time the variety broke out. c
2017 hawaii temperatures
100OF 90OF 80OF
Jul 3 83OF
Apr 8 79 OF
Jan 23 77OF
Aug 24 85OF
Oct 18 83OF
Dec 17 79 OF HIGH
70OF LOW
60 F O
50OF 40OF 30OF 20OF 10OF 0OF Jan
Feb
Mature plants in the field. Molokai skies have about 25 percent cloud cover. Even so, the plants receive intense light and plenty of UV spectrum.
Mar
Apr
Grower in the garden. Each medical patient [in Hawaii] is allowed 10 plants. That’s usually enough to supply medical needs.
May
Jun
Jul
A mature bud. Winter crop buds are on the small side because they mature quickly and don’t have time for more growth.
Aug
Sep
The farmer was happy with his healthy, vigorous plants.
Oct
Nov
Dec
Inspecting a plant’s buds.
Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.
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MARCH 2018 CultureMagazine.com
growing
culture
Don de Leaumont
the cannabis serves as the perfect companion for the meds that I take on a daily basis. Age: 35 Location: Atlanta, Georgia
P RO F ILE
IN
COURAGE
à
la
carte
Condition/Illness: Low Spectrum Bipolar/Anxiety Consuming medical cannabis since: 2016 Why did you start using cannabis? I have always been a cannabis smoker but never really put two and two together that it was actually helping me with my mental illness. About two years ago or so, I started getting cannabis from someone who works with medicinal patients, so I was able to actually get the specific strains that I need for my condition. Cannabis offers me a specific feeling of calmness and creativity. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I am currently on meds for my mental illness, but
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? For me, it’s the social and legal stigma. Not all people who smoke or use cannabis do so just to do it. While there are recreational users of cannabis, ask just about any user, and they’ll tell you that it helps them in physically and/or mentally in one form or another. I think if other states would look at the success of states like Colorado and California, they would see that the good far outweighs the bad. What do you say to those who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I say don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, but do so responsibly. Ask around, and find folks who are using for medicinal reasons, and ask questions. Do your research. Most of all, keep your mind opened. You may just find yourself very surprised at the results. c
Are you an medical cannabis patient with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.
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News of the
Weird
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
LEAD STORY—WEIRD CHEMISTRY In Lawrence County, Tennessee, law enforcement officials are confronting the fallout from a new drug known as “Wasp” (crystallized wasp repellant mixed with methamphetamine). To wit: On Dec. 18, as the Johnson family baked Christmas cookies in their Lawrenceburg kitchen, Danny Hollis, 35, walked into their home and asked for help. NewsChannel 5 in Nashville reported Hollis poured himself a glass of water from the sink before
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grabbing a knife and cutting across his throat. Teenage son Canaan Johnson said Hollis then ran up to the second floor, heaved an oak dresser down the stairs, and jumped out a window onto a gazebo below, seriously injuring his neck. The Johnsons, meanwhile, had retreated to their car, where they called 911. Hollis chased the car down the street, but got hung up on a barbed wire fence, then stripped naked to free himself and climbed a nearby tree, where officers found him, according to police reports. Hollis fought them off by allegedly throwing his own feces at them, as they tased him out of the tree. Hollis was booked into the county jail on numerous charges. OOOH, WISE GUY, EH? Khaled A. Shabani, 46, a hairstylist in Madison,
MARCH 2018 CultureMagazine.com
Wisconsin, was arrested on a tentative charge of mayhem and disorderly conduct while armed after an altercation with a customer on Dec. 22. Shabani scolded the 22-year-old customer for fidgeting, then taught him a lesson by using the “shortest possible attachment” to “run down the middle of the customer’s head,” reported the Wisconsin State Journal, and “leaving him looking a bit like Larry from ‘The Three Stooges,’” police spokesman Joel DeSpain said. Shabani also clipped the customer’s ear with scissors. “While it is not a crime to give someone a bad haircut,” DeSpain noted, “you will get arrested for intentionally snipping their ear with a scissors.” Shabani said the snip was an accident, and his charge was later reduced to a ticket for disorderly conduct.
BRIGHT IDEAS Polk County (Florida) Sheriff’s officers responded to an unusual 911 call on New Year’s Eve: Michael Lester, 39, of Winter Haven, started off by telling the dispatcher, “Umm, I’m drunk. I don’t know where I’m at. I’m just drunk driving.” The dispatcher urged Lester to pull over and park, but he explained that he was driving on the wrong side of the road near a Publix and wondered where the police were. WTVT reported that officers finally caught up with Lester, who helpfully explained he’d had several beers, hadn’t slept much and had taken methamphetamine earlier in the day; he was jailed on a DUI charge. Officers later posted on their Facebook page that “in this particular incident, nobody was hurt, so we couldn’t help but LOTO (that means we Laughed Our Tasers Off).”
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