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contents
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Motion Picture Maven
Kathy Bates is famous for many roles in television and film, but she spoke exclusively with CULTURE about her leading role on Netflix’s Disjointed, as well as her own experiences with cannabis. O n th e C O V E R :
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The Doctor Will See You Now From running a dispensary to consulting for Netflix’s Original Series Disjointed, Dr. Dina is helping make cannabis mainstream.
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Niche Nuptials High-end wedding vendors are offering their services to cannabis-loving couples.
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Industry Insider Get intimate with Ashley Manta, a sex expert who is high on life, love and cannabis.
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Talkin’ Dirty Get the truth from “T&A Talk Sex” Co-Host Christina Myers Hepburn who loves cannabis and keeps it real with discussions about sex.
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Sultry Show Cannabis entertainment goes far beyond film with this cannabis-themed burlesque show.
departments 14 Letter from the Editor news 16 News Nuggets 20 By the Numbers 22 Local News 24 Healthy Living reviews 26 Dispensary Highlight 28 Strain & Concentrate Reviews 34 Cool Stuff 38 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 60 NorCal Now! 62 à la Carte 64 Growing Culture 66 Profile in Courage 68 News of the Weird 8
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Online Exclusive! Candidate for New York Governor Plans to Legalize Cannabis d
d Industrial
Hemp License
Applications Available in Maine
Vol 9 IssUE 8
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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Denise Pollicella, Devon Alexander Brown, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, Keira Fae, Caroline Hayes, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, M. Jay, Heather Johnson, Carl Kozlowski, Emily Manke, Meital Manzuri, Madison Ortiz, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Alexa Steinberg, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Amy Witt, 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, 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 600 locations throughout the Bay area. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
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CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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LETTER
FROM
THE
EDITOR
Li f e s t y l e of
“I
t’s a lifestyle” has been a CULTURE catchphrase since 2009. We don’t just consume cannabis; it’s an important part of our everyday lives. Cannabis allows us to live healthier. It enhances music. Cannabis inspires our creativity, encourages us to work out—it’s even in some of our favorite food and drinks. And finally—physical sensations like orgasms are more intense and pleasurable when cannabis is involved. February is notoriously one of CULTURE’s most intimate times of year, as we unveil our annual Sex Issue. The stories within this steamy issue embrace the themes of love, relationships and sex—and the many roles in which cannabis plays. When it comes to love and relationships in particular, it’s clear that couples who imbibe together, chill together. This is in part due to cannabis’ role in contributing to healthier relationships, which is not a new phenomenon. There are a number of studies that have presented evidence of a positive relationship between sex and cannabis. Back in September 2014, a study published in the Psychology of Addictive Behaviors proved there were fewer instances of violence between partners who both regularly consume cannabis. Additionally, cannabis appears to lead to more sex, according to a groundbreaking study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, which was conducted by researchers at Stanford University in October 2017. The study found that those who consistently consume cannabis have sex 20 percent more often than those who do not. It’s no secret to consumers the ways in which cannabis can enhance the intensity of sexual pleasure and orgasms. Now with increasing research around sex and cannabis, we’re finding that when we masturbate to completion, our endocannabinoid systems are creating endocannabinoids. When we introduce cannabinoids derived from cannabis into our bodies, our endocannabinoid systems release
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more endocannabinoids, which help balance most of our bodies’ functions. A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine in November 2017 found evidence that endocannabinoids play a role in the sexual response cycle. While there is a clear physical reaction our bodies experience when we consume cannabis, which may affect the intensity of our pleasure and orgasms, it’s possible that cannabis also has a way of strengthening the nonverbal and spiritual connections between people. This deepened sense of togetherness leads to better sex overall. There have been countless testimonials by individuals who find that cannabinoids like CBD have the ability to make them feel more comfortable and less anxious. Ultimately, cannabis helps allow many people to embrace intimacy—which can clearly be a benefit both inside and outside of the bedroom. Both catering to adults, cannabis and sex make a poetic partnership. With further research by scientists and cannabis companies providing consumers with titillating, exciting sex products, it’s sure the correlation between these two pleasures will only continue to strengthen. c Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
nuggetS
Calaveras County Bans Cannabis Cultivation Normally cannabisfriendly Calaveras County recently pulled a 180 degree turn and banned cannabis cultivation. The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Jan. 10 to ban all cannabis cultivation. Chapter 17.95 was rescinded and replaced with a new version of Chapter 17.95 “banning or regulating cannabis cultivation and related commercial activities.” Calaveras County’s some 200 permitted cultivators could have only three months to cease operations. Some are multigenerational. “We’re looking at turning
Mountain View City Council Allows Cannabis Deliveries On Jan. 16, the Mountain View City Council voted 7-0 in favor of allowing cannabis deliveries. Cannabis delivery services were allowed to begin operating on Jan. 19. Mountain View is also one of the few cities in Santa Clara County to express interest in allowing cannabis retail businesses as well. "One of the arguments for allowing retail pot shops is that we can collect more revenues . . .” Councilperson Margaret Abe-Koga said, disagreeing about deliveries in the city
the ban.
until they figure out the tax situation first. “But we're going to let this through without figuring out that piece. If we're going to do this, we should do it right from the beginning." The city council also enacted a 45-day moratorium on recreational cannabis sales, giving them more time to address local regulations.
Vermont Senate Passes Recreational Bill On Jan. 10, the Vermont Senate passed H.511, shortly after it cleared the House on Jan. 4. The House voted hours after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions ended federal protections on state cannabis laws, but Vermont sounded its voice loud and clear. Members from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws were ecstatic. “For the second time in two years, Vermont lawmakers have rejected
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the county on the fringe of being a poor county to an even poorer county,” said Bill Hand, a cultivation farmer in Calaveras County. “We make our money here legally. We spend money at the hardware store, grocery store and laundry store.” Four of the new board members’ campaigns hinged upon banning cannabis. Now, farmers in the area are considering qualifying a ballot measure to reverse
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the failed Flat Earth policies of marijuana prohibition. The majority of Vermonters, like the majority of the American public, desire to live in a community where responsible adults who choose to consume cannabis are no longer criminalized or stigmatized. Gov. Scott would be wise to provide Vermonters with this path forward, rather than cling to the failed policies of the past.” The bill was delivered to Gov. Scott’s desk for signature, and he signed it into law on Jan. 22.
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The year-over-year increase in the percentage of baby boomer-age adults who purchased cannabis products from California-based Eaze delivery service: (Source: Eaze)
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The number of recreational cannabis dispensaries that are currently approved to serve the city of Sacramento, as of Jan. 16: (Source: ABC 10)
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The number of supervisor votes, out of five, that were in favor of banning cannabis cultivation in Calaveras County: (Source: San Francisco Gate)
The number of Mountain View City Council votes, out of seven, that were in favor of allowing cannabis delivery services to operate in the city: (Source: Mountain View Voice)
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The length, in feet, that made up a single joint that was created by cannabis advocates in Massachusetts in December 2017: (Source: Los Angeles CBS)
The projected number of cannabis jobs in the United States that would be created immediately if federal cannabis legalization were to occur: (Source: New Frontier Data)
782,000
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The amount of acres that Pennsylvanian farmers will be allowed for cultivating hemp, under revised 2018 state Department of Agriculture guidelines: (Source: PennLive.com)
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Noise Pop Music and Arts Festival WHEN: Mon, Feb. 19-Sun, Feb. 25 WHERE: Various venues in San Francisco WEBSITE: noisepopfest.com Since 1993, Noise Pop has taken over San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, celebrating all things indie. This year’s list of artists includes Ty Dolla $ign, Tune-Yards, Superchunk, Real Estate, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Bahamas and many more. With concerts held at historically renowned venues like The Fillmore, you know you’re going to be in for a ride. The best part is, you can choose either to buy a badge to get into any venue, or 20
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you can purchase individual tickets. In total, there will be over 90 events featuring dozens of indie bands and artists. There will also be visual art shows, happy hour events and plenty of activities. A lot of bands got their start before they were famous at Noise Pop including The White Stripes and Modest Mouse. Even Yoko Ono and Frank Black of The Pixies have played at Noise Pop in past years. This year is bound to carry the tradition.
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NEWS
LOCAL
Hollister Makes Headway C u t t i n g - e d g e C B D - b a s e d p at c h technology is coming to Hollister By Benjamin M. Adams
H
ollister could soon be the home to groundbreaking new cannabisbased medicines—but the city’s progress hasn’t happened without its share of unexpected hurdles, twists and turns. A new business will emerge, with plans of producing an innovative cannabis-based transdermal patch. The Hollister City Council voted 3-1 on Dec. 18, 2017, in favor of allowing a business to obtain a medical cannabis use permit as well as a development agreement for a proposed manufacturing facility. The city council voted in favor of Resolution No. 2017331, which approved a regulatory permit for a single medical cannabis manufacturing facility at 807 Industrial Drive in Hollister. The location was highly disputed, as other cannabis companies were denied permits for the same area. The company, Euphoric Life Inc., will run a cultivation and manufacturing facility capable of making cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) patches and products. The alternative delivery system uses a unique nanotechnology system to deliver CBD and THC more effectively into the bloodstream. Euphoric Life Inc. is also a member of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and is listed at its new location on Industrial Drive. The applicant, Dr. Ahmad R. Rafii, is a board-certified chiropractor. Rafii explained how the road to licensure hasn’t been easy. “Unfortunately in San Benito County, contrary to what they claim, there are more rumors and negative contention,” Rafii told CULTURE. Rafii also explained that local news outlets 22
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focused on negative and often incorrect facts surrounding his venture. Councilmember Karson Klauer was forced to recuse himself from the city council vote, because of an alleged conflict-of-interest for the location at 807 Industrial Drive and a series of hurdles unfolded. Rafii penned his own article in the Gilroy Dispatch on Dec. 15 to dispel untrue rumors surrounding his intentions to manufacture a cannabis product in Hollister. But in the end, Euphoric Life Inc. received the final approval. Recently Rafii created a cannabisdelivering transdermal patch that is designed to help replace opioids. After 25 years in the chiropractic practice, he understands pain. There will be 4,800 feet devoted to cultivation, while 1,740 square feet will be devoted to manufacturing. Other spaces will be used for a drying room, a trim area, a water and nutrient room, product vault and office space. As a manufacturing business, Euphoric Life Inc. shouldn’t be a burden to local neighbors worried about negative effects of medical cannabis businesses. Also on Dec. 18, 2017, the city council unanimously passed an ordinance that prohibits the cultivation, processing or sale of recreational cannabis for at least 45 days, until a permanent decision on recreational cannabis can be made. The moratorium was enacted just before recreational sales began in California on Jan. 1, a move that many other small towns and cities adopted. The city council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 1143, adding Chapter 43 to Title 5 of the Hollister Municipal Code. This urgency ordinance was enacted, despite the fact that San Benito County voters approved Proposition 64 back in November 2016. Hollister is the largest city in San Benito County. Fortunately, the urgency ordinance has no effect on medical cannabis. Several other medical cannabis manufacturing companies have been approved to operate in Hollister on Jan. 1 including California’s Finest Manufacturing, YHL Inc., Hollister Holistics, LLXP Corporation, Traditional Roots and Agripharma Extraction. Other types of businesses have been approved as well. With the addition of Euphoric Life Inc., Hollister could set a precedent for innovative cannabis-based medicine in San Benito County. c
Cannabis Wedding Expo The exciting trend began only a few years ago—but now, couples across the country are incorporating cannabis into their weddings as an alternative to alcohol. Budbars are popping up as a classy and tasteful option in wedding receptions. This 21-and-over event will help walk you through the planning process, and look at open varying cannabis bar options. Over 50 vendors will help you plan you or your associate’s special day. There will be plenty of hors d’oeuvres to satisfy the munchies while you browse through multiple categories of wedding ideas. There will also be live music as well as gift bags and samples from local caterers. WHEN: Sun, Feb. 11 WHERE: The Bently Reserve and Conference Center, 301 Battery St., San Francisco WEBSITE: www. cannabisweddingexpo.com
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NEWS
HEALTHY LIVING
who ejaculated 21 or more times a month had a 33 percent lower risk of prostate cancer.
S t u d ie s D on ’ t L ie
Solitary Transcendence H e a lt h , c a n n a b i s a n d t h e m a s t u r b at o r y e x p e r i e n c e
R
By Lanny Swerdlow, RN LNC omanticized in literature, movies and TV, sex always seems to center on couples. Yet for those who do not currently have a spouse, significant other or romantic infatuation, the unfulfillment of this innate desire can be disconcerting and depressing. However, it shouldn’t be. Sex is not just about couples—in fact, it never has been. Not only is masturbating healthy, but scientifically, our bodies’ endocannabinoid system has a unique partnership with masturbation, and realistically, the cannabis community agrees that cannabis has advantageous affects on the human body while enjoying the masturbatory experience.
E NGAG ING THE MAST UR B AT o ry e xpe r i e n c e More people masturbate every day than those who have sexual intercourse. It is as natural as breathing. Fortunately, many of the age-old denunciations and inhibitions have fallen by the wayside, but even for more reasoning minds, masturbation is still the stuff of jokes and derision. It shouldn’t be—it should be celebrated and encouraged as it provides very real health benefits for both men and women. Multiple studies have suggested that masturbation reduces stress, relieves tension, improves sleep, increases concentration, elevates moods and alleviates pain. Although sexual intercourse can provide these same benefits, masturbation provides these benefits without the fear of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and the myriad physical and emotional entanglements involving copulatory sex. A study published in the Journal of Sex Education and Therapy that compared women who masturbated to those who did not, found “that masturbators had significantly more orgasms, greater sexual desire, higher self-esteem and greater marital and sexual satisfaction and required less time to sexual arousal.” After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that “high ejaculation frequency was related to decreased risk of total prostate cancer” with subsequent studies reporting that men 24
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If an orgasm a day can keep the doctor away, let’s look at how cannabis can make this most healthy and satisfying pastime into a transcendental experience. Masturbation and cannabis are very individualistic pleasures. Each person knows how to please themselves best, as well as how cannabis stimulates their senses. Combining the two and going at your own speed will synchronize your desires with your masturbatory experience, as the cannabinoids in cannabis interact with your body’s neural networks. It is this unique but biologically ancient interaction that makes cannabis a stimulating and intoxicating mixture with profound sensory consequences. There are a handful of studies that identify the connection between enhanced sexual pleasure during intercourse when consuming cannabis. A recent study, which was published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine in November 2017, investigated the endocannabinoid levels in healthy male and female subjects before and after masturbation. Researchers found that masturbation led to an increase in levels of endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (referred to as 2-AG). “Our data indicate that the endocannabinoid 2-AG is involved in the human sexual response cycle and we hypothesize that 2-AG release plays a role in the rewarding consequences of sexual arousal and orgasm,” the study concluded. In summary,
this study provides evidence that endocannabinoids play an important role in the sexual response cycle. Future studies could develop this belief and may one day decipher how consuming cannabis while masturbating can further heighten pleasure.
F u sin g C a n n abis and P e r son a l P l eas u re From eyes-closed, mindexpanding hallucinations to body arousing stimuli, cannabis has profound sensory capacities. Feeling it flow through your body as you begin stimulation is extraordinary. Music has always been enhanced with cannabis and coupled with masturbation, the experience can reach a crescendo of unbelievable proportions. The intensity of pleasures achieved watching pornography while masturbating is legendary. Adding cannabis allows you to experience the passions, pleasures and sensuality of those you are watching. Depending on your mood, you can choose to experience the rapid onset of inhaled cannabis or the more leisurely onset of edibles. Although relatively short in duration, the intensity produced through dabbing is not for the faint-of-heart or for those with weak hearts. Cannabis creates a most profound masturbatory journey, but the destination is the ultimate goal. Enhanced by cannabis’ legendary physiological and mental effects, the moment of orgasm cannot be communicated through mere words. Extending to the limits of your bodily senses for what may seem a climax with no end, it is an experience that will remain with you long after your body returns to its normative and now thoroughly refreshed and healthy state. c
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REVIEWs
dispensary highlight To p-Sellin g Str ain King Cookie Manzanita and BelaBlue To p-Sellin g Co ncentr ate Victory Gardens products To p-Sellin g Edible Rhonda’s own line of Hempress CBD/THC Oils, handmade with love
Homegrown Holistic Collective Inc. A K A H e m p H o p S tat i o n How and when did your dispensary start up? We started in 2010 in Middletown, California. We were invited to move to Vallejo in 2012 because of the success of our Hempress Oils line. Our founder, Rhonda, created the oil line to treat her systemic lupus and get off of pharmaceuticals. After personal success with the oils, Rhonda began sharing them with everyone. What’s the story behind the name of your dispensary? We come from a line of organic home growers. As Homegrown Holistic was formed, we choose the name to honor our past. Hemp Hop Station was the nickname gifted to us by our new partner and artistic collaborator, B-Legit. He has become a real hero in our lives. What does your dispensary offer patients that they can’t find anywhere else? We establish a deeply 26
personal connection with our patients. Our own struggles with illness give us the ability to connect and support our patients in an unparalleled manner. We give our patients a space to feel safe, talk through their illness and educate them. We make sure to send them home feeling stronger. Our oils are specialized to get people off of opiates and pharmaceuticals. Also, we really enjoy our superior strains and getting people stoned out of their brains. How has the cannabis industry changed since you have been in the business? Where would you like to see it go? The shift to a corporate model is really difficult to see. We want to see the mom-and-pop businesses survive. We like that the industry is finally opening up to women and their kind souls. Women are the original healers of our human tribe, the OGs, original goddesses.
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3201 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo | (707) 641-1444 | www.h2c.org
What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a dispensary? . . . Biggest joys? Our biggest challenge, right now, is the regulatory changes and taxation. They’re difficult, but these things are necessary to bring our industry out of the dark and back into the light. Our biggest joy is seeing a woman survive illness with elegance.
“ W e e s ta b l i s h a d e e p ly p e r s o n a l connection with o u r p at i e n t s . O u r own struggles with illness give us the ability to connect and support o u r p at i e n t s i n an unparalleled manner. We give o u r p at i e n t s a space to feel s a f e , ta l k t h r o u g h their illness and e d u c at e t h e m . W e make sure to send them home feeling stronger. Our oils are specialized to get people off o f o p i at e s a n d pharmaceuticals.”
What is the one thing you want patients to know about your dispensary? We care, we’re here to help, and we appreciate their patronage, each and every one of them. If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them? Get a really good psychiatrist, because it’s a rough road. Be ready to take handcuffs for your mission at any moment. What do you hope to accomplish in the cannabis industry? We hope to continue spreading love and accomplishing great works of art and charity, utilizing cannabis as the common thread to bring our tribes together. c
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strain & concentrate
Available at: Airfield Supply Co. in San Jose.
passion by dosist™ Do you know a loved one who has never tried cannabis before and you want to introduce them to it in a safe a meaningful way? The passion by dosist™ is a cutting-edge cannabis oil vaporizer designed to assist users in taking the properly sized dose with cannabis oils targeted to increase pleasure and sensuality. Each pen contains 200 doses of an acutely engineered blend of cannabinoids that lets users know when a proper sized dose has been inhaled by vibrating upon the completion of a full inhalation. This allows consumers to know precisely how much THC (1.61mg per dose) and CBD (0.15mg per dose) has been consumed in each session, helping new users gauge their boundaries and comfort zones. The pre-filled dose pen™ is very discreet as well and can be stowed away for travel very easily. Make sure to visit Airfield in San Jose when gathering Valentine's gifts for your loved one(s), and heat things up with the passion by dosist™.
Available at: 831 Organiks in Santa Cruz.
Quality Gas Fresh out of the Santa Cruz Mountains comes 831 Organiks, home to an exotic and enticing strain known as Quality Gas. This high octane indica doesn't bring shame to its name—the superior quality taste and aroma are certainly sweet with low-key diesel-like notes. The buds are a light green color sprinkled with marmalade shaded hairs and coated with candy-like crystals, while still maintaining an illustrious texture and density. This strain is ideal for just kicking back by yourself or hanging out with the homies, as its relaxing effects are not too overwhelming, and the goofy creative thoughts that come about are definitely quality entertainment. Available in either indoor or outdoor varieties, both selections are topnotch buds, which can be assured by the outdoor samplings test results yielding over 29 percent THC! Keep an ear out for 831 Organiks, as the original strains are definitely something people will not stop talking about.
Faultline OG Kush Always known for carrying groundbreaking products, Capitola Healing Association Inc. (C.H.A.I.) has outdone itself by offering a new selection of concentrates. The cream of the crop, however, would have to be the OG Kush live resin created by Faultline. This perfectly extracted concentrate has all the following quintessential qualities of a topshelf live resin: Transparent golden colors, a slightly squishy crystal texture, a fresh and fruity aroma and of course, a flavor reminiscent of a delectable cup of sherbet on a warm day. The effects are noticeable instantaneously as an immense sense of bodily relaxation and pain relief take over the consumer for an extended period of time. As with most live resin, this is an extremely potent extract, and folks ought to take extra care when choosing a dose for the first time. This Earthshattering offering is not one to be overlooked this winter. Find it at C.H.A.I. in Santa Cruz, and get tectonically lifted.
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Available at: C.H.A.I. in Santa Cruz.
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REVIEWs
Titan OG San Franciscans are known to be connoisseurs of products and thus hold themselves and their tastes to a high standard. So when a leading San Francisco dispensary like The Green Door has a strain from Northern Emeralds in Humboldt that is one of their best selling flowers, in a climate where only the best buds are consumed, it speaks volumes about the quality of the strain. This particularly mighty strain is known as Titan OG and packs a godly punch with its succulent flavors. Offering up an assortment of citrus scents, the Titan OG is more lime-like in smell and more lemony in taste. The buds are an almost alien green color, dusted with caramel shaded trichomes while being assorted in a very romanescaesque structure. It’s truly a remarkable and unique visual spectacle. A very well-balanced strain, consumers will feel both a sense of peace and motivation, a feeling well suited for music and the arts. Stop by The Green Door in downtown San Francisco and check out the selection of amazing flowers including the fan favorite and undisputed champion, Titan OG.
Available at: The Green Door in San Francisco.
Afternoon Delight
Available at: Caliva in San Jose.
San Jose's hidden gem, Caliva, has flown under the radar long enough, and 2018 is Caliva’s time to be recognized by the masses as a great producer of quality extracts. With a wide array of options, it is impressive that every one of Caliva’s cartridges has a unique flavor profile unlike any others, all with varying effects and potencies. A fan favorite is the Afternoon Delight, a mild indica dominant hybrid that really puts the cherry on top of a romantic afternoon between lovers. Bearing sweet citrus and subtle earthy flavors, the juxtaposition of tastes creates a well-balanced fusion that is hard to come by. Scoop up this cartridge on the way to watch the sunset or on the way to your dinner reservation with your Valentine; the lightweight relaxing effects in addition to the general happiness brought about really makes for some chill and sexy vibes. The matching battery is definitely a handy tool as well, with a buttonless design. The cartridge hits when the battery senses inhalation. Find your way down to San Jose, and check out Caliva's great selection of flowers and extracts.
Blue Chip Girl Scout Cookies If anyone invests in the stock market, they know that Blue Chip stocks are year-in and year-out the most reliable, profitable and desirable stocks available. And if you've smoked cannabis anytime since 2012, you probably have an idea of what the Girl Scout Cookies strain is all about—creamy and tart flavors, rich and pungent aromas and world-class potency. So armed with that knowledge, it's not much of a gamble to say the Blue Chip Girl Scout Cookies, available at Purple Lotus Patient Center, are undoubtedly some of the best flowers on the market right now. On the other hand, it might just get its name from the dark bluish/purple "chips" dispersed throughout the otherwise dark green and orange flower. The flavor is absolutely impeccable. A slightly sour but dominated flavor paired with a fresh and sweet taste, which was complemented by a mellow floral aftertaste. This strain is really a great choice when it's time to gather some thoughts and reflect on things, as the meditative and trance-like state that is induced is perfectly suitable for introspection. Purple Lotus Patient Center is the esteemed purveyor of this truly unrivaled strain. 30
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Available at: Purple Lotus Patient Center in San Jose.
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REVIEWs
Forbidden Fruit Say hello to the new kid on the block. Forbidden Fruit is a name that is going to be on your mind all year long, no question about it. This strain is what growers tell stories about and what consumers dream of finding, a specimen in a class of its own. The scent is unlike anything else, a cornucopia of fruits layered with slightly pungent and sour notes, like Sunny D mixed with a Sour Warhead. There's not much more to be said about the taste, it is a tit for tat replica of its entirely awesome aroma. The buds are all behemoths in size, boasting dark purple calyxes, each sprouting out bundles of sugary orange hairs. Manicured as well as it was grown this strain hits a high note in every sensory realm as it truly looks, smells, feels, tastes and even sounds good (well at least the name does), and we couldn't be happier. Definitely a strain reserved for evening use, the effects are inhibiting but not quite inebriating, always fun choice for a night at home. Forbidden Fruit is a next level strain that will be a household name by the end of the year, find it at SFFOGG, but you better hurry before it runs out.
Available at: SFFOGG in San Francisco.
Paper Planes CBD Isolate
Available at: Theraleaf Relief in San Jose.
Just because cannabis was legalized recreationally this year doesn't mean it still isn't one of the best sources of medicine for people all over California. CBD in particular is one of the most effective and extensive cannabinoids in treating patient ailments and can be used daily as a sort of preventative medicine. Theraleaf, a longtime favorite dispensary of Bay Area natives, is currently offering an exceptionally well-crafted batch of CBD Isolate created by none other than Paper Planes. Paper Planes has etched itself as a place among the top extract artists with consistently flavorful, effective and most importantly clean and pure concentrates so they are certainly a brand to be trusted. CBD Isolate can be consumed in a variety of ways, one of which being simply adding the CBD to a glass of water, which can really be helpful in getting the day started on the right foot. Make sure to give CBD the love it deserves in the coming weeks; it will always love you back unconditionally.
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SF Sourdough Pax Pod For those who haven't been made aware yet, Eden Extracts pretty much wrote the book on putting concentrates in cartridges. This company is without a doubt one of the best cartridge extract companies around, so it comes as no surprise that Eden Extracts has collaborated with PAX to develop the SF Sourdough Pax Pod. The robust and enveloping tastes are the first thing noticed about this cartridge, which go down surprisingly smooth thanks to its lack of impurities. Users will notice themselves drifting off into a state of euphoria after just a puff or two; Eden Extracts products’ notorious potency is no joke! A lot of people are excited for this collaboration with PAX as now many consumers can consume their favorite extracts in a discreet and effortless way, which is the true benefit of the PAX pods. Those who are skeptical of the PAX pods or just haven't heard of them yet should try the SF Sourdough by Eden Extracts—they will fall in love. 32
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Available at: Garden of Eden in Hayward.
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3. Easy Grinder
There is no easier way to grind cannabis. Traditional grinders are poorly designed, with no simple way of filling pre-rolls or bowls with finely ground cannabis without making a mess. The Easy Grinder, however, is here to end that struggle. It works electronically or manually, complete with LED lights, a magnetic seal and a manual crank. Just fill up to 2.5mg and dispense how much ground up cannabis you desire. The longer you press the button, the finer your herbs become. Large bulky grinders have become a thing of the past. Price: $99.99 More Information: www.easygrinder.com
1 1. Penis Hand Glass Pipe
Relax the jaw, tilt the head back, open the airway and show off your skills. The highly detailed Penis Hand Glass Pipe makes a great conversation-starter. Made by Empire Glassworks, the Penis Hand Glass Pipe is thick, heavy and is unlikely to shatter the first time you drop it. It’s a modest four inches long and comes in pink, purple or black. The carb is far enough away from the bowl, so you won’t burn your fingers when you take a hit like you would with cheaply designed pipes. Price: $50 More Information: www.empireglassworks.com 2. Fiera® Personal Care Device
Most people aren’t aware that the 1966 hit “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan was—by his own admission—about an electric banana-shaped vibrator. Sex toy technology has come a long, long way since the ’60s. The Fiera® Personal Care Device is a whole new concept developed by OB/ GYNs that applies gentle suction for stimulation. It is ideal for women who struggle with arousal or that want to increase intensity. If the conventional insertable vibrators of the past have left you unsatisfied, then Fiera® is the way to go. Whether it’s for yourself or a Valentine’s gift for your loved one, you can’t go wrong. Price: $199–249 More Information: shop.fiera.com
3
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Dabbers rejoice! They call it the “first-ever pocket nail,” because the Puffco+ is a pen that literally comes with a ceramic nail that does just about everything a full-sized rig can do. There are no fragile coils that come with most other pens. Push the glowing cloud button five times, and take off into the stratosphere. Your hits will taste more like dabs than the metallic taste that is common in pens. This is not a pen that will fall apart within months, due to the quality of its design. Price: $99.99 More Information: www.puffco.com
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entertainment
Release Date: FEBRUARY 13 Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC
BOOK
Sinfully Sweet Cannabis Recipes Jenny and Rick Butler Pub. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Ready to enhance your Valentine’s Day celebration with a little bit of romance and a whole lot of cannabis? Sinfully Sweet Cannabis Recipes is written by a husbandand-wife duo who know how to kick it up a notch when it comes to desserts. By infusing delicious desserts with the sweet gift of cannabis, one of these 75 recipes is sure to tickle your taste buds. You will find all the information you need to know about cooking with cannabis, from how to decarb cannabis to calculating proper THC dosing. A sinfully sweet future most certainly lies ahead. (Jacob Cannon)
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GAME
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dev. Warhorse Studios Pub. Deep Silver The fundamentals of role playing games are pretty standard (with elements like a hero who is labeled as “the chosen one” or the presence of an evil villain), but in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, you’re just a medieval soldier. The game takes a unique historical approach at medieval combat and life, allowing players to see through the eyes of an averagejoe soldier living in the 13th century Holy Roman Empire. Players get to wield classic weapons, wear a variety of armor sets, go on quests, ride horses, explore over 16 square kilometers of land and even listen to some period-relevant music on their journey. (Nicole Potter)
MUSIC MOVIE
IT Dir. Andy Muschietti Warner Bros. Pictures No novelist has had his or her work adapted to film as often as American horror writer Stephen King. Yet, in all of those dozens of movie adaptations very few have managed to make compelling cinema or, even at the very least, the original books justice. However, Director Andy Muschietti’s recent take on King’s clown monster classic, It, manages to not only build well upon its original material, but takes the terror to a whole new level. Featuring a cast of relative new comer child actors and a break-out performance by Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the clown, It is a must see for anyone in need of a good scare. (Simon Weedn)
I Like Fun They Might Be Giants Idlewild Recordings For well over 30 years now, They Might Be Giants has had a reputation for being one of the oddest, endearing and incredibly prolific duos in alternative rock. While the band’s newest studio release, I Like Fun, doesn’t necessarily push in any new directions musically, the record captures songwriters John Flansburgh and John Linnell as witty, smart and engaging as ever. Loaded up with catchy, poppy tunes and thoughtful, vibrant lyrical imagery, I Like Fun demonstrates, yet again, how good They Might Be Giants perfected its sound and style so many years ago. (Simon Weedn)
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FEBRUARY 2018 CultureMagazine.com By Robert Voets / Netflix
U n a b at e d A r t i s t r y
Kathy Bates is a versatile actress who shares all about her career, surviving breast cancer and how cannabis has brought her life full circle
Y
By Benjamin M. Adams
ou probably recognize her enduring performances from Misery, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Blind Side or one of the highest-grossing films of all time—Titanic. In television, her unparalleled career includes
American Horror Story, Six Feet Under, Two and a Half Men, The Stand, The Office and many more.
Kathy Bates’ incredible career in theater, film and television spans decades, recently earning her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—and fulfilling a childhood dream. The Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress, director and activist is currently starring as the lead character of Netflix’s Disjointed, a sitcom set inside a dispensary. Only now has Bates opened up about her own odyssey with medical cannabis to CULTURE—a journey that would lead her to portray Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, a seasoned cannabis activist who runs the fictional dispensary Ruth’s Alternative Caring. It was truly an honor for CULTURE to discuss cannabis, film and PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Bates.
What made you want to work on Disjointed? You know, it’s amazing how when our next 10 episodes dropped on Jan. 12, the timing couldn’t have been more prescient. We knew that things were coming, that [Prop. 64] had passed, and we were all really excited about it. Our show was just starting to begin shooting. We were thrilled. But now considering the fact that we’re getting pushed back, from the Attorney General specifically, it’s going to be a really fascinating journey between state and federal [laws]. What’s going on is the growers who have been there doing it for 60 years don’t want to suddenly be legislated. That’s what I’ve heard. You know, I think we’ll be okay, but I just don’t know if the government is going to start really playing dirty tricks, like muscling in on landlords. So it concerns me—and if there’s a fight, I’ll be right there on the frontline, because the more I’ve experimented, the more
I learn about it, even through the show, it has been a blast. I just really got interested in it as a two-time cancer survivor. I’ve used it to help with nausea and pain, so for me, it’s a real relief. I look at it like Prohibition from the ’20s, which didn’t work. I’m hoping that people will leave it alone. The other thing that bothers me is that they want to reinstate these draconian sentences for people in possession of a small amount of marijuana and send them away. It’s the close-mindedness, the lack of intelligence about marijuana. [Attorney General Jeff] Sessions was quoted as saying that they were, “OK, until I found out they smoked pot,”—but he was talking about the Ku Klux Klan for God’s sake! And that was the only reason he turned away from the Ku Klux Klan is because he learned they were smoking dope! I don’t fuckin’ get it. The bottom line? As you can see, I’ve grown a lot more passionate about the issue.
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In episode 3 of Disjointed, it’s revealed how the dispensary security guard, Carter, suffers from PTSD. The episode resonated with fans, especially those in the cannabis industry. Why do you think PTSD is such a hot issue? I think with the increased awareness of abuse in the last decade, which is now culminated with the pushback against sexual harassment—that those of us who were emotionally abused or were violated in any way—suffer from PTSD. And I think people have not been aware of it until the last few years. Or it hasn’t been out in the open. And I also think it has to do with what we learned about the soldiers coming back from Vietnam and now coming back from the Middle East. I would imagine the immigrants who are trying to find a new place to land and build a home are suffering from PTSD. It’s all over the world. One of the things that makes our show unique is that it’s not just all about laughter and jokes; it’s that storyline. It took a departure, and yet came from the scene of that dispensary and ultimately helped him with viewing with his PTSD, at least on a level to where he could function better during the day. And I think that it’s great to have something that makes you can laugh and cry at the same time. Almost anyone can relate with Ruth, because we all know someone like her who dresses like her and who decorates her living space with drapery, crystals and dream catchers. How did you prepare for the role of a dispensary owner? [Laughing] Well, I guess I went through a period of life like [that]. I’m sure back then I had a couple of dream catchers lying around. You could say it’s just been a natural preparation, for me, coming from a very straight-laced Southern lady wearing hose and gloves in the early ’60s and late ’50s to going into the Summer of Love and going to college and trying things for the first time. I mean, Jesus. I went from being very conservative—the whole nine yards, what we’d consider yuppie—and I became a full-fledged hippie. We were all screwing around all the time with different costumes we wanted to wear in public. And it was great fun. I miss those days. 42
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By Robert Voets / Netflix
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to find our footing in the first season. I’m hoping that the people who are now rushing out to buy marijuana and try it will get wind of our show, no pun intended. We’re living in dark times. So we could get heavy talking about the political side of it ad nauseam, but we need a break. I need a half an hour or five hours. I find myself binging on shows, just so that I can escape to another place. Have you ever felt like you were being judged for consuming cannabis? No, because until now, and doing press for our show, I really haven’t talked about it. So it will be interesting to see if anybody gives a shit whether I smoke or not. We’ll see what happens. You’ll visit me in jail, right? By Patrick Wymore / Netflix
I think that for Ruth, as an adolescent, to start hearing this call to her about this plant and its healing properties, I think that’s why she pushed herself to go to law school. But she never lost any of that, because her whole approach to marijuana is as a healing [aid]. She refers to her clients as patients. I’ve heard that Dr. Dina, who is our consultant, refers to her clients as patients. We’re used to going into a hotel room and putting drapes up and putting our things out. I remember working with an actress by the name of Elizabeth Ashley, early on in my career. She said, “Take everything with you, your pillows, your dogs, your pots and pans, to make it like home, because the road is really rough.” Recently, you’ve been very open about your battle with breast cancer, and it was not your first time facing cancer. Did you use medical cannabis to treat cancer and cancer medication side effects specifically? I used it for pain and nausea, instead of taking a painkiller like oxycodone or an opioid to ease the pain—I really couldn’t tolerate those things well. The thing that I like about marijuana is that you can regulate how stoned you want to get. You’re in control of that. And I think one of the things is, we’re not only going to have the feds fighting. “Big Pharma” is going to be 44
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“I think with the increased awareness of abuse in the last decade, which is now culminated with the pushback against sexual harassment—that those of us who were emotionally abused or were violated in any way— suffer from PTSD.”
pouring millions of dollars through the lobbyists, because it’s a direct threat to the opioid market. Do you feel Disjointed is contributing to the perception of cannabis consumers and the cannabis industry? Well, you know, I hope we will. Right now, our audience is building, and I’m really excited about the next 10 episodes that [just came out]. I thought that it took us a few episodes
What is your favorite way to consume cannabis? I have two favorite ways. There’s an inhaler where you can buy cartridges. It’s PAX Pro. It’s real easy to use—you just slip in a cartridge and carry it with you and you can control the heat, you can control it from the phone app. And then I use a different vape. It’s Puffco. You put the wax in this little oven, you can control the heat. And you can put in shatter or whatever, but mainly wax. I find it’s really easy. The main thing I like about the vape delivery is that you can control it, because I don’t want to be blasted. I want to be able to just ease the pain. I suffer from hip pain and lower back pain. It really helps me. Of course, you know, I never get in my car having had dope. I think that’s incredibly irresponsible. I hope I don’t see people doing that, if they already aren’t. How do we put the amotivational theory to rest? Well, I think they ought to talk to some of the players in the NFL who are fighting the early onset of Alzheimer’s, CTE and other types of injuries and chronic pain. A lot of them now are switching to marijuana and getting off the opioids. It’s like anything else—it’s about awareness. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who think it’s from the devil and who have closed minds about it. I say live and let live.
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“. . . If there’s a fight, I’ll be right there on the frontline, because the more I’ve experimented, the more I learn about it, even through the show—it has been a blast. I just really got interested in it as a two-time cancer survivor. I’ve used it to help with nausea and pain, so for me, it’s a real relief.” [Maclaine] flew all the way down here from Canada to be with me. I just worked with Billy Bob [Thornton]. He’s so sweet. And all of my family and friends.
By Robert Voets / Netflix
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce finally awarded you with a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016. How did that feel? Well, it was especially cool because I had a picture of myself with my Aunt Lee that was taken there around 1960. In was in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. We had gone on a little tour out here. She and my grandmother lived out here, so we drove out here and spent some time with them. It’s a black and white photo of my Aunt Lee and me standing in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre back then. I put it on the cards to invite people to the event because my star is about 30 feet to the right of where we were standing. It was a bittersweet moment. I’m a breast cancer survivor. She died of breast cancer. It was long before they could really help her. I wish that she could have been there with me. It was a very special day for all of us. I was so grateful that Shirley
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As a young pre-fame actress, did you always know deep down that one day you would become a star and that everyone would know your name? No. I was always very dramatic as a child. And then when I got seriously involved in training it was all about theater. I worked in regional theater companies. In the ’70s, we all were very snobby about doing television. I was very focused on the craft. I didn’t think about being a movie star. I just wanted to keep working and doing the best work I could do. So, it was a big surprise to get an Oscar. I didn’t plan to win an Oscar, even though it crosses every kid’s mind. What new projects are you currently working on? As a result of my breast cancer, I developed lymphedema. It’s swelling of glands that’s caused when you remove lymph glands that can move liquid through your body to be expelled. So as a result, the lymphs swelled. My doctor introduced me to someone who runs the Lymphatic Education & Research Network. For the last three years, I’ve been trying to raise awareness. Ten million people suffer from some sort of lymphatic disease. You can get it from an injury or it’s congenital. I just finished a film called On the Basis of Sex. It’s directed by Mimi Leder and stars Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer. It’s about the early days of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I’m very excited. c netflix.com/disjointed
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Kathy Bates and Dr. Dina with David Javerbaum, co-creator of Disjointed
D r . Di n a De l ive r s t he G o o d s Cannabis legend Dr. Dina helps usher in the age of legal cannabis
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By Emily Manke ho is the woman who got Snoop Dogg smoking cannabis legally? And who inspired the character Nancy Botwin from the Showtime series Weeds (though she didn’t approve)? Her name is Dina Browner, but she’s affectionately known by her patients as Dr. Dina. While she is not an actual medical doctor, she earned her nickname when she started Los Angeles’ first cannabis collective. More recently she began consulting for upand-coming cannabis businesses, as well as for cannabis-themed TV shows. Shows like Sons of Anarchy and the most recently released Netflix Original Series Disjointed have both benefited from Dr. Dina’s expertise. CULTURE spoke with Dr. Dina about her career in cannabis and what it’s like working with Hollywood power players like director Chuck Lorre and actress Kathy Bates. 48
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What convinced you of cannabis as a viable medical treatment? I think it’s when you see it with your own eyes. I’m one of those people who [was] like, “Sure there’s anecdotal evidence of it?” I didn’t believe it at first. I remember when it first passed [in California] in 1996, I heard a doctor talking about how medical marijuana had benefits. And I remember rolling my eyes like “Yeah right, people just wanna get stoned.” Then I saw my friend who had cancer, and was unable to hold down his pills because he was so nauseous and couldn’t take his chemo. After taking a couple puffs of this joint, his demeanor changed completely. He went from his face being sallow and so pale, to having a little bit of color back in his skin. And he stopped dry heaving, and his stomach started growling and was able to eat. He actually kept the food down, which was the first time he’d eaten in two weeks. When I saw that I went, “Oh my god, it’s true!” My grandmother had passed away from cancer. And I always wanted to help her. I was so young, I think I was 13 when she passed away. I remember sitting in the waiting room at the hospital thinking, “I wish I had a superpower, I wish I could heal her,” and [cannabis] made me feel like I had that superpower, and I needed to embrace it. What’s it like working with Chuck Lorre and Kathy Bates? Do they consume cannabis in real life? When Chuck walks into a room, he demands your attention. He’s so smart, the way he sees things. He sees it in a way that we don’t see things, because his brain operates on sitcom, sitcom, sitcom. It’s just so interesting to watch him work. I find that so fascinating. Here’s a guy, who is the most successful executive producers of a TV show ever. Of today’s age, he’s like the Norman Lear. Chuck is very famous for being sober. He’s been sober for a long time, and he’s a big advocate of being responsible. So he’s sober, and I’m very proud of him for that, but he is willing to embrace a show about cannabis. So, it just goes to show you that cannabis is stepping out of the shadows, and it is being seen as a medicine, which is really cool. And then we have Kathy, who has very openly said she is a fan of cannabis and has been “practicing” even more since she took the role of Ruth. But she is the cutest thing ever. She carries her little vape pen around with her, and she announced on set that she uses her own vape pen, she likes to bring her own to work. She is so talented. Watching her work, it’s like, this is Misery. When she first came to work, everyone was terrified of her. And she plays it up. When she walks in, she’s real straight-faced and looks like she’s gonna kill you. Then after a second she breaks and smiles and gives you this big hug, and you’re like “Oh my God!” But she is just a boss. She is so classy. She is old Hollywood. c
“ . . . I saw my friend who had cancer, unable to hold down his pills because he was so nauseous and c o u l d n ’ t ta k e h i s c h e m o . A f t e r ta k i n g a couple puffs of this j o i n t, h i s d e m e a n o r c h a n g e d c o m p l e t e ly. ”
+ www.DrDina420.com
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“ T h e b e s t w ay t o ensure a flawless event of any sort is to hire reliable vendors who will go above and beyond e x p e c tat i o n s . ”
,
High-class vendors offer elegant services to couples who dream of cannabis weddings By Addison Herron-Wheeler
Lavish M at r i m o n y
Photography by Jewels
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E
veryone has a vision for their special day. For some, it’s to be the blushing bride in white, the adoring betrothed standing amid a bouquet of fragrant flowers. For others, the pomp and circumstance doesn’t matter as much as the meaningful tradition of exchanging vows with their perfect partner. And for those of us who consider cannabis to be a meaningful, healing part of our lives, that special day can now involve that beloved herb. In states with legal cannabis, enthusiasts are living out their dreams with weddings curated around their tastes and styles— and including cannabis. In addition to premium cannabis products and the opportunity to imbibe them in style, these weddings also offer the same amenities as any classic wedding—lovely scenery and setting, pristine decorations and an overall gorgeous, high-end aesthetic. CULTURE spoke with a few of the vendors who make these types of weddings possible, in order to find out what it takes to have a beautiful cannabis-friendly wedding, and how they make it a reality for engaged couples across the nation.
A ly s s a U f e r , K aya E v e n t D e s i g n s “It is important to hire vendors who are familiar with cannabis regulations. Having a knowledgeable event team to guide you along the way is imperative to having a safe and compliant event.”
“I love highlighting the natural beauty of the plant. Both leaves and flower can be added to the floral, table settings, favors and more! There are so many ways to get creative and have fun incorporating cannabis in weddings. Many people are intrigued by, but weary of, cannabis. Weddings offer a safe and comfortable environment for them to experiment.”
J e w e l s G r ay, Photography by Jewels “I love the way the buds and leaves photograph. They’re so interesting, and I love lots of texture in bouquets!”
“Cannabis weddings are a blast to photograph, and I love how the guests respond to the unique ways it is incorporated. We are so lucky to be able to share this with people who aren’t exposed to it on a daily basis, and it’s fun watching their reactions”
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N ata s h a W i l l i a m s , C l o c k T o w e r E v e n t s “Our unique venue offers cannabis enthusiasts the opportunity to be able to experience the amazing mountain views and the city skyline from the top of the historic Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower. Clock Tower Events is a five-floor venue with two amazing balconies that wrap around the building; guests immediately gravitate to them to take it all in. Our space allows guests to legally consume cannabis responsibly in a private venue not accessible by the public. The sky’s the limit as far as creativity goes for events here.”
Ashley Schriener, Fluorescence “The best way to ensure a flawless event of any sort is to hire reliable vendors who will go above and beyond expectations. For a cannabis wedding, staying compliant and legal is key!”
“As a florist, it’s fun to incorporate cannabis flowers in unique ways. It’s not a plant we get to play with often and adds a beauty, texture and fragrance unlike anything else.”
Andrew Mieure, Top Shelf Budtending “There are a few very important words of advice to those who are trying to book a cannabis-friendly wedding venue. First off, they are actually pretty darn rare. Cannabis-friendly wedding venues change their mind about their policy on cannabis nearly every month. My suggestion to someone looking for venues would be to discover all cannabis-friendly wedding planners and ancillary service providers in the cannabis space.” 52
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Ge t t i n g I n T o u c h A s h l e y M a n ta u s e s c a n n a b i s t o g u i d e h e r c l i e n t s t o m o r e s at i s f y i n g a n d m e a n i n g f u l s e x u a l e x p e r i e n c e s By R. Scott Rappold
C
annabis and sex—they’re two great things that go great together. But in an industry that's becoming more nuanced by the day, cannabis can have many uses in the bedroom beyond simply smoking a joint and turning out the lights. Just ask Ashley Manta, the 31-year-old founder of CannaSexual, who is on a mission to show the world how cannabis can help conquer sexual difficulties and lead to a more satisfying sex life. “In terms of the totality of the potential, I don’t think people give [cannabis] enough thought. We generally operate in a very narrow construct of what sex and sexuality look like, largely based on what we see in porn,” said Manta, a self-described “bubbly buxom blonde” who isn’t shy about sharing her own sexual experiences with the world.
B.
Based on Experience
Manta has been working as a sex counselor for a decade, though she was a late-comer to cannabis, first consuming it “on purpose” when she was 23. She discovered the cannabis stereotype was just that; she’d met people with PhDs who consumed it regularly. In 2013, Manta moved to California and visited a dispensary for the first time. Around this time, she also had her first pleasurable intercourse in a decade. This is because she was facing trauma from being raped a decade before. Cannabis played an important role in relaxing her for the experience and allowing her to feel pleasure instead of pain from penetration. She began to shift the focus of her counseling from sexual violence to enhancing pleasure, with a short stint as a phone sex operator on the way. And she found her niche by offering what few other counselors would—showing individual people and couples how cannabis could enhance their sex lives. Cannabis can awaken, rather than dull, the senses. So around 2015 Manta set out to discover how the plant could enhance sexuality in ways other substances could not.
A.
Awareness, Mindfulness, Communication and Cannabis
If you take one of Manta’s classes or book a private session, the first thing you’ll learn about is communication by staring into your partner’s eyes wordlessly for two minutes. Most people, she says, don’t know how to do it when it comes to sex. “People don’t know how to ask for what they need. They don’t know how to negotiate in the bedroom. People have shame about the bodies, about things they are into, about enjoying pleasure,” she said. “I really kind of help figure out what it is they’re missing or what’s holding them back, using a combination of
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awareness, mindfulness, communication and cannabis to start to adjust these things.” And cannabis can help in many ways. Say someone gets nervous about sexual performance? She might suggest a strain high in CBD to help calm them. Maybe a woman experiences pain with penetration? She suggests cannabis oils combined with toys and gentle touching. Or maybe it’s stress from work, life or a past traumatic sexual experience? “Stress is such an arousal killer and being able to take enough stress away that you can have a pleasurable experience, by yourself or with a partner, is one of the main benefits of cannabis, to get you out of your head and into your body.” She does most of her counseling in Southern California, as well as in Denver, Colorado, but is willing to travel wherever (given the clients provide travel expenses). Manta also writes for several publications, makes media appearances and is never shy about sharing her own sexual exploits to her thousands of Twitter and Instagram followers, so they know the things she suggests have already been tried—by her. Manta is also in the process of developing her own line of sex toys and products. “I want to be an educational resource and a lifestyle brand,” she said. The one wild card, of course, is that cannabis affects every person differently, so it’s often a journey of discovery with clients, sometimes trial and error. “What works for me and my body may not work well for you and your body,” she said. “My approach is, if this is a thing you are curious about, I can help you do that better. If it’s not your thing, you can still have amazing sex.” c
+ www.ashleymanta.com/cannasexual
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L e t ’s Ta l k S e x
From cuddles to cannabis, podcast Co-host C h r i s t i n a H e p b u r n i s c o u r a g e o u s ly c a n d i d By Carl Kozlowski
C
hristina Hepburn is one woman who knows what she wants out of life and isn’t afraid to pursue it, especially when it comes to the arena of sexuality. As the co-creator and co-host of the popular podcast “T&A Talk Sex,” she’s known on-air as “T” because of her amply gifted bosom, and she dispenses a wide range of information on sex and relationships from an
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Photos by Jonathan Saunders
informed yet often hilarious perspective. That’s because Hepburn is also one of the Los Angeles comedy scene’s most vibrant rising stars, having starred, co-written and directed dozens of shorts for the “AutocorrectFU” web series, which based comic scenarios around actual screwed-up text conversations and was selected by Funny Or Die as the new show of the month to discover last April. She’s also a frequent presence at The Comedy Store and other notable stages across the city.
“‘T&A’ is a show that talks about taboo topics with humor and good information. For me, the show was about using my voice as a woman to talk freely about sexuality in our culture,” Hepburn told CULTURE. “To discuss taboo topics without judgment or shame, to act as a symbol to other women who don’t feel entitled to have a healthy sexuality, and to influence our current culture’s perspective on sex in our lives.” “We had a slogan that says ‘Because sex isn’t ever just about sex,’ and we say that because sex acts as the fastest access point to your emotional health,
physical health and your relationships to others. We use sex as a lens to selfimprovement.” Among the taboos that Hepburn has discussed on the program are BDSM clubs, anal sex, sex work, polyamory and open relationships, and how she and her co-host came to love giving blow jobs. She is determined to break societal repression that renders female orgasms controversial, and her surprising hope is that “more people have slower, longer sex.” Hepburn is also a certified professional cuddlist, a gig in which she has learned to give
and receive the value of nonerotic touch to heal the human mind and spirit. While many initially scoffed at the field, she likens it to the simple act of making others feel better by smiling at them. “When people talk about impact with another person on the street, you smile and they smile, and it’s a pay it forward effect,” says Hepburn. “You have the power to bring healing with non-sexual touch.” “Even with sex, for example, one has the power to make a man or woman have physical spasms of arousal and pleasure past the moment of touching them. That shows the impact of sex on another person—it’s deep, profound, and it’s lasting.” “Personally, with sex, I like to be played like a musical instrument,” she adds. “We are inherently musical as humans. There’s rhythm and pacing, speeding up and slowing down, there’s arousal, and it’s musical—it’s like a music score.” A New Orleans native who broke into working in radio during college in New York City, Hepburn has also found that cannabis can be a key component in heightening sexual pleasure. And she’s not just talking about the obvious joy of smoking a joint and then having a romp, either. “I’ve had that experience, and it does create a euphoric buzz; it’s really fun,” she said. “I’ve been turned onto marijuana lubricant lately, because a wonderful woman named Ashley Manta first talked about it in the first year on our podcast, and it was always on my mind,” added Hepburn. “Finally someone gifted me a tube of it, I used it, and it’s absolutely magical and fun. You don’t get high from it all over your body, but feel an intensity in your genitals. In the vulva area, it’s like a throbbing in a good way, a throbbing intensity of pleasure. It will break a latex condom, so be warned, but other than that, it’s a great treat to experiment and play with.” c
“I’ve been turned onto marijuana lubricant l at e ly, because a wonderful woman named A s h l e y M a n ta f i r s t ta l k e d about it in the first year on our p o d c a s t, and it was a l w ay s o n m y mind.”
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Bawdy and Burlesque C l a s s y m e e t s c o m e d y w i t h t h e e d u c at i o n a l b u r l e s q u e s h o w, M a r i j u a n a M a d n e s s By Simon Weedn
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hen most people think of burlesque, they’re probably likely to think more of sexy stripteases, ornate outfits, costume jewelry and comedy than about an educational experience. Marijuana Madness, an event created by veteran burlesque performer Miss Marquez, aims to change that. With a focus on the classiness, humor and the theater of classic burlesque, Marquez has developed a captivating show that traces the origins of cannabis prohibition and includes some of the best burlesque entertainers in California and a stunning live jazz quartet,
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Photo by Gustavo Turner
The Mad Reeefers, delivering the fiery jazz of the era. Additionally, Marquez has partnered with local cannabiscentric fine dining and event planners, Grassfed. Together they create a completely separate “Viper Room” inside of The Three Clubs venue, where attendees can get fully immersed in the experience and enjoy a chic vape bar, health conscious edibles and see a live rosin press. Recently, CULTURE had the opportunity to catch up with Miss Marquez and hear all about her exciting Marijuana Madness show and her own personal experiences with the wonders of cannabis.
“ T h e r e a s o n w h y I f e e l t h at b u r l e s q u e i s s u c h a g r e at p a i r i n g w i t h c a n n a b i s p r o h i b i t i o n i s t h at a l l o f t h o s e a n t i - m a r i j u a n a p r o p a g a n d a c a m p a i g n s i n t h e l at e t h i r t i e s a n d f o r t i e s a l w ay s ta l k e d a b o u t h o w m a r i j u a n a w o u l d affect your moral inhibitions.”
How long have you had the idea to do Marijuana Madness? Was there any key turning point that made you decide it was something worth developing? I’ve been sitting on this concept of doing Marijuana Madness for a long time, but I couldn’t find the right venue to do it, and the timing just seemed off. But, once we voted to make recreational cannabis legal in California, I was like, “Time to light a fire under my ass to do this now, because if I don’t do it someone else will!” That’s why I decided to debut it during the first month of recreational legalization. For those who have never attended a burlesque show before, can you tell us a bit about what folks who are attending can expect? How is your show unique from other burlesque events? As far as Marijuana Madness goes, it’s a mix of burlesque performances, live music and narrative theatre. When you see a burlesque performance, especially of the style that I and the performers I hired do, it’s a really interactive experience so that the audience feels one with the performance. The reason why I feel that burlesque is such a great pairing with cannabis prohibition is that all of those anti-marijuana propaganda campaigns in the late ’30s and ’40s always talked
about how marijuana would affect your moral inhibitions. If you smoked cannabis, there’s going to be wild orgies and parties; I mean we’ve all seen Reefer Madness. When you look up burlesque in the dictionary, one of the chief words used to describe it is “comedy,” and I think comedy and parody are really important to the classic form of burlesque. So, that’s why I chose to use burlesque as a platform in this show—to parody the ludicrous claims that marijuana is going to instantly make you this crazy dope fiend that needs to go to wild orgy parties and all of that crazy stuff. A lot of the show revolves around the history of cannabis prohibition and how socially unethical it is. Is this an issue that resonates with you personally? I am first generation Mexican-American on my mother’s side, and so especially once I started understanding the stigma of the term “marihuana” with an “h” and why people were trying to prohibit it, of course it resonated with me. Additionally, whether you’re Mexican or not, cannabis users have had to deal with the typical stigma of being a stoner for so long, and it’s just ridiculous. I think it’s really important to show people that not all cannabis users look the same or act the same, and that’s another reason I wanted to pair it with burlesque and class it up.
her morphine, and that didn’t work. So, she ended up going home still not feeling good, and I got on the phone with her, told her to go into her kitchen cabinet where I’d left her an edible cookie and to eat it. Thirty minutes later, that migraine that lasted a week was gone. So many people suffer from autoimmune diseases or other health issues where marijuana is really medicine for them. That experience has made me more passionate to get the word out about marijuana’s medicinal purposes. To get back to your show, what kind of experience do you hope attendees will have with Marijuana Madness? What do you hope they’ll walk away from it with? I hope that when people walk away that they feel entertained and that they had a fantastic time, but that they also learned something about the history. By learning the history, you really see the parallels between then and where we are right now. c
+ www.themissmarquez.com
Is cannabis something that’s been beneficial in your life or in the lives of people you know? Absolutely! My mother actually gets bad migraines and has lupus, and only in the last six months have I gotten her comfortable with using it to help her. A couple of months ago there was a week where she had a migraine that was so bad that she went to urgent care, and then the emergency room. They gave
Photo by Christopher Kristensen
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NORCAL NOW! event listings
22nd Annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival, Feb. 9-11 It’s migration time, and over one million shorebirds will be easy to spot overhead including ducks, geese, osprey, hawks and other wildlife. The area is otherwise usually not open to the public except for certain events like the 22nd Annual San Francisco Bay Flyaway Festival. Building 221, Mare Island, Vallejo sfbayflywayfestival.com
Valentine Haunt, Feb. 9, 10, 14 Flashlights will be provided for you and your lover, and you’ll need one, because this haunted house is pitch black and features a chainsawwielding teddy bear and a Cupid from Hell. It’s a date night that will definitely stand out from the rest. Bayfair Center, San Leandro valentinehauntsanfrancisco. com SF Beer Week, Feb. 9-18 If you can get picky about your beer, then this is where you need to be. Enjoy taste testing curated craft beers, complete with musical and visual entertainment at respected craft beer venues around the city. SF Beer Week is guaranteed to give you and your date a good time that you won’t forget. Various venues, San Francisco area sfbeerweek.org 60
featured event
Flower Market Fair, Feb. 10-11 It’s the Chinese New Year, and the Flower Market Fair is where you can find rare and fresh flowers, fruits, candies and supplies from over 120 booths and concession stands. Plus there will be entertainment in the forms of acrobats, folk dancers and more. Grant Ave. from Clay to Broadway, San Francisco www.chineseparade.com Mardi Gras Parade, Feb. 13 The parade starts at Patricia’s Green and will feature brass bands, pedicabs and more. Many other events will be happening at multiple venues in the area to celebrate Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday as well. Brick & Mortar Music Hall, San Francisco brickandmortarmusic.com Aphrodisiacs of the Tropics, Feb. 14 Enjoy complimentary wine while you explore sensual aphrodisiacs of the tropics and learn about the sex lives of orchids, vanilla and more. Bring your loved one for the self-guided tour and to commemorate your
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Bacon and Beer Classic, Feb. 24
Levi’s Stadium will be filled with over 100 beers from regional breweries plus over 30 bacon-infused dishes from local chefs. There will be bacon eating contests as well as a blind beer tasting test for those who claim to be bacon and beer experts. Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara www.baconandbeerclassic.com experience in the photo booth. Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco conservatoryofflowers.org/ Grotesque 300, Feb. 16 Listen to the top trance DJs and acts with a custom 80,000-watt Void sound system featuring acts including Ram, Mark Sherry, Darren Porter, Daniel Skyver and Niko Zografos. Get ready to have your mind blown. The Great Northern, San Francisco thegreatnorthernsf.com Mardi Gras Hangover Party with Bayou Kings, Feb. 23 Bayou Kings will be bringing its own brand of funk to get
your feet moving and to bring the spirit of Mardi Gras for the perfect afterparty celebration. The party doesn’t have to end just yet! Presidio Yacht Club at Travis Marina, Sausalito www.presidioyachtclub.org Chinese New Year Festival & Parade, Feb. 24 The Chinese New Year Festival & Parade is one of the few remaining nighttime illuminated parades in North America, and the tradition has been going on since the Gold Rush of the 1850s. Don’t miss the 268-foot Golden Dragon! Beginning at Second and Market Street, San Francisco www.chineseparade.com
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culture
Romantic and Rousing
gro w i n g
Chef J’s experience as a professional chef has led him to c r e at i n g u n i q u e h i g h dining experiences By Amy C. Witt
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“ I t ’ s a b o u t c r e at i n g a m o o d . Y o u r f e e l i n g s w i l l e l e vat e w h at m o o d y o u c h o o s e t o c r e at e . ”
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ove, food and cannabis are inexorably linked—a diverse variety of complex hormonal reactions that affect our emotional feelings and attachments. Just like Sour Dream or Green Crack, which are euphoric and calming while taking you on sexual adventures, other herbs, foods and ingredients like cacao and magnesium have the same effect. In-kind, Jason Harley, also known as Chef J, and his company OG KITCHEN are combining cannabis and haute cuisine to produce an unforgettably luxurious and cerebral experience. With over 20 years as a private chef, successful restaurateur and entrepreneur, Chef J is taking infused cannabis cuisine to the next level. For many years of his career, he has been hosting glamorous haute cuisine parties and dinners for A-list celebrities, royal families and high profile businesspeople all over the world. With the legalization of cannabis in California this year, Chef J was inspired to marry his love for cannabis and signature healthy cooking style and established his business, OG KITCHEN. “It’s about creating a mood. Your feelings will elevate what mood you choose to create,” Chef J smiled as he explained that he guarantees he will satisfy your taste buds while simultaneously letting your body adventure to a comfortable and exciting new heights.
Based out of Los Angeles, California, OG KITCHEN is an edible cannabis and commercial event company on a mission to provide only the healthiest and most delicious alternative forms of medication and entertainment. All foods and ingredients, including cannabis are compliant, organic, pesticide-free and sourced from local farmers and growers. “OG KITCHEN keeps tabs on the process as the flowers make their way through the closed-loop ecosystem from the farm to table,” Chef J told CULTURE. This Valentine’s Day, OG KITCHEN is hosting an elaborate lover’s affair as Chef J showcases his spin on elevated revamped cuisine. A soldout, private invite-only event, cannasseurs will enjoy a curated menu tailored around pairing only the best and tastiest sativas and indicas with a variety of earthy, citrus and herbal notes around a dazzling luxurious table in an undisclosed mansion in Beverly Hills. While indulging in the different tastes, smells and textures of the dishes, each person gets an average of 70mg of THC and CBD spread throughout the meal, with each course at 10mg. For starters, guests will enjoy a CBD isolated beverage for relaxation, followed by a hors d’ oeuvres paired with a sativa smoke. The first course, something like light lobster bisque with sherry and canna cream drizzle will create a savory amount of pleasure smoked with a hybrid strain joint. A dab to clear the palate, and you will be ready to enjoy the second course. The third course will feature a combination of vegetables and meat, along with an indica strain to chill and prepare to satiate the sweet tooth for the fourth course, dessert.
To heighten the bright party, dessert by OG KITCHEN’S will conclude the meal. At this Valentine’s Day event, Chef J will be serving his newest “Truffles D’ Cannabis” specialty gourmet chocolates. Dosed for pleasure with the world’s most potent natural stimulants, three truffles contain a boost of aphrodisiac herbs and 10mg of THC from the cleanest cannabis and made from the highest-grade FDA-approved herbs that are wild harvested or organically grown in the countries of their origin. Not only will guests enjoy a decadent dinner, they will not leave emptyhanded. Goodie bags are always a welcomed surprise, and cannaseurss will leave with a JRollz pre-roll. Chef J has created an in-house mixed recipe for his premium handcrafted award-winning pre-roll line, JRollz. Known for #holdthetrim, JRollz, a seed-to-sale brand, takes pride in growing top-shelf cannabis while only grinding and rolling bud to create their flower, wax and kief joints. Winning third at the Blazers Cup 2017, JRollz’s High Octane OG pre-roll is filled with an indica, cloneonly strain High Octane OG, also known as Heirloom OG, which provides an extra dose of relaxation while leaving a smooth pungent flavor on the palate. Other pre-rolls like Girl Scout Cookies, Candy Jack and XXX OG are also available. “We strive to create amazing experiences through our edible line, cannabis dinner, events and ever changing smokable products,” he said. The intimacy and ambiance that Chef J creates is born from good intentions, a permanent love and connection with the cannabis community and freed inhibitions over a heartfelt meal. c
G e t a ta s t e o f Chef J’s special Va l e n t i n e ’ s D ay cookies Sexy Ginseng Chocolate Cookies 2.5 dozen servings Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups cannabutter, room temperature 2 cups sugar 2 large eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon Indian ginseng 1/2 teaspoon salt Powdered sugar, for garnish
Instructions: 1. In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar and cream together with a handmixer. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and mix until combined. 2. In a medium bowl, mix the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, ginseng and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients and continue mixing until incorporated. 3. Roll the dough into 2 logs that are about 2-inches high and 1 foot long. Wrap them in waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. 4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 5. Once thoroughly chilled, slice the cookies into 1/2-inch thick rounds and cover with sanding sugar. 6. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. 7. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Chef J’s Cooking Tips • Don’t heat butters or oils too high. You will cook off the THC before you can even use the product. Make sure to use proper thermometers and know your temperatures. • It’s very important you weigh properly to use the right dosage. Not using the correct dosage will affect the food, consumer and experience.
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culture gro w i n g c a rt e la à COURAGE IN P R O F ILE 64
Lessons from a Hawaiian Garden Pa r t 1 By Ed Rosenthal Hawaii is fabled for its fine cannabis. I attended the Hawaii Cannabis Expo in February 2017 in Oahu. I expected to sample some fine entries, and I was not disappointed. The intense sun at latitude 21° (for reference, Key West, Florida is latitude 24°) and the mild island weather create great cultivation environments. I wasn’t a judge when I attended last year, but I did try many of the varieties of cannabis. The samples included several fine sativa and indica-sativa hybrids, which do especially well under the intense sun and are genetically inclined to resist flowering under short days. However, there was better to be had. I was innocently hanging outside the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu where the conference was held, and I was invited to join a small circle of newfound friends. A fellow named Dustin pulled out an extra-wide pre-roll. I understood immediately that he was a successful grower who was confident of his product’s quality. The mildness of the draw, combined with the fine terpenes and high levels of THC and I suspect, THCV, was a recipe for pleasure-creation and key to mind opening awareness and creativity. It was proof that cannabis liberates the wandering mind opening it to emotion, love and beauty. This was certainly excellent weed. Until Hawaii legalized cultivation of medical cannabis,
outdoor growing was policed heavily by law enforcement. Happily, following legalization, the gardens have moved to backyards and other domesticated spaces. Hawaii has a climate similar to some low latitude areas of the U.S. such as Florida, portions of the gulf coast and southern California. It stays warm enough and gets enough light to support plant growth throughout the year. The problem is dealing with day length. The closer a place is to the equator, the smaller the difference between summer and winter light and dark hours. On June 21, the longest day of the year, there is 13 hours and 25 minutes of light. On Dec. 21, the shortest day, there is 10 hours and 51 minutes of light. Cannabis is a short-day plant that chemically measures the number of hours of uninterrupted darkness to determine when to begin to flower. Most varieties require 11 hours or less of darkness to flower. When a plant is placed outdoors under natural light regimen any time in Hawaii, they begin to flower no matter the season. I saw just two gardens while I was there. The plants were in vegetative growth, filling out a bit before they were allowed to flower. This was accomplished simply by using strategically placed fluorescent lights around the garden that were kept on all night. Once the plants grow to desired size the lights are turned off and the plants initiate flowering. Next month, harvest! c
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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Jared, a breeder from Pakalo Seed Company, in the trial garden.
Some of the plants were placed in large containers, while others were in the ground and irrigated using drippers off of irrigation hose.
Some of the plants that were not close to the lights began to flower after they grew past taller than the lights’ reflection.
The fluorescent lights were kept on all night to prevent flowering so plants could get to a larger size.
A view of the garden. Jared selects plants for breeding from several gardens. Each patient is allowed 10 plants. Varieties include Molokai G13, 13 Gorillas and Auntie’s Pie, Molokai Killahs and Crackseed.
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Robert Pearce
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Condition/Illness: Bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorder Consuming medical cannabis since: 2012
Why did you start consuming cannabis? I started using cannabis in social situations and quickly realized that it helped me with my anxiety in those same social situations. When I’m depressed it lifts me up. When I’m manic it helps slow my brain down. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes I’ve tried all kinds of pharmaceuticals, but nothing works like pot.
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Discrimination. I think it will be a long time before a medical marijuana prescription will be looked at the same way as traditional pharmacology. If you don’t think so, go to [a behavioral health agency] and participate in their treatment program with an Oregon Medical Marijuana Program card, and see what they say. What do you say to those who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? They are entitled to their opinions, but don’t knock it till you try it. 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— AWWWWWWWW When five-year-old TyLon Pittman of Byram, Mississippi, saw the Grinch stealing Christmas on Dec. 16 on TV, he did what any civic-minded citizen would do. He called 911. TyLon told Byram police officer Lauren Develle, who answered the call, that he did not want the Grinch to come steal his Christmas, reported the Clarion Ledger. Develle made TyLon an honorary junior officer and had him come down to the station on Dec. 18 to help her lock away the Grinch, who hung
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his head as TyLon asked him, “Why are you stealing Christmas?” Although the green fiend apologized, TyLon wouldn’t release him from the holding cell. Police chief Luke Thompson told TyLon to come back when he’s 21, “and I’m going to give you a job application, OK?” WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME In Gilgandra, New South Wales, Australia, on Nov. 29, sheep shearer Casey Barnes was tramping down wool, and her father and boyfriend were working nearby, when her long, curly hair became caught in a beltdriven motor. Horrifically, the motor ripped her scalp off from the back of her head to above her eyes and ears. Barnes was flown to Sydney, where doctors performed an emergency
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20-hour surgery to save her scalp, but were ultimately unsuccessful. Barnes will have artificial skin attached to her head instead, reports The Sun. A GoFundMe page has been established to help with her medical bills. AN ENGAGED CITIZENRY Pam Bisanti, a 31-year resident of Mount Dora, Florida, has approached the city council more than once about the speeding traffic along Clayton Street, where she lives. On Nov. 27, Bisanti made good on her threat to take matters into her own hands if the council didn’t by wielding a handmade sign reading “SLOW DOWN” as she stood next to the roadway during rush hour wearing her pajamas and robe. “The mothers up the street who send their kids down to the bus stop should have every
expectation that those kids will be able to cross Clayton without being killed,” Bisanti told the Daily Commercial, saying she plans to continue her protest until the city takes action. “I am frustrated, angry and fed up. There needs to be a solution sooner than later. Remember that vision of me in my pajamas,” she added. UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Melissa Allen, 32, was arrested on Dec. 19 after attempting to shoplift more than $1,000 in merchandise from a Framingham, Massachusetts, Target store, reported The Boston Globe. On hand to help in the arrest were more than 50 police officers who were at the store to participate in the annual “Shop With a Cop” holiday charity event.
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