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contents Vol 8 IssUE 11
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MASTER OF MMA
Revered for his talent in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts, Frank Shamrock dishes about his career, his aspirations and his love for cannabis.
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On the COVER:
p h o t o b y J o h n G i l h oole y
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Mother Knows Best Moms who use cannabis to treat their children’s illnesses are true heroes.
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Exploring Abroad Make your next vacation one to remember by visiting one of many cannabis-friendly locations.
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Executive Expansion Despite Colombia’s history with cannabis, the South American country moves to allow commercial cultivation of the plant.
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Center Stage From supporting cannabis to seeing his name up in lights, comedian Jo Koy tells all about his current enterprises.
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Industry Insider Attorney Todd Winter expands on his long career in cannabis law and his motivations to advocate for the plant.
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Consumer Safety Understand the dangers of powdery mildew and how concentrate manufacturers can avoid it.
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How to Save a Life Young Lillyann’s life improved drastically once she began using hemp oil.
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Musical Mission Rapper Chronixx explains how cannabis is quintessential in every aspect of his life.
departments news 20 News Nuggets 22 By the Numbers 24 Local News 26 Healthy Living reviews 78 Company Highlight 80 Cool Stuff 82 Entertainment Reviews 84 Strain, Edible & Concentrate Reviews in every issue 88 Growing Culture 90 Destination Unknown 92 Profile in Courage 94 Recipes 98 NorCal Now! 100 Shooting Gallery 101 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d West Virginia Legalizes Medical
Cannabis d Cannabis will Soon Surpass
Beer Sales
Vol 8 IssUE 11
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CULTURE M
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Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett creative consultant Evan Senn Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Benjamin Adams, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Keira Fae, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, M. Jay, Heather Johnson, Joe Jatcko, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Meital Manzuri, Jameson McCloud, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Lanny Swerdlow, Jefferson Van Billiard, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Tonya Perme, Josué Rivas, Eric Stoner Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designer Tanya Delgadillo sales director Justin Olson regional manager Cole Garrison Account Executives Jon Bookatz, Alex Brizicky, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Beau Odom, Gloria Santiago, Garry Stalling, Ryan Tripp, Chris Walker, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital content manager David Edmundson Intern Kiara Manns Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
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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NEWS
nuggetS California Supreme Court Committee Decides that State Judges Cannot Invest in Cannabis
A California Supreme Court committee has warned judges to avoid investing in the cannabis industry. On April 19, the Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions (CJEO) said that California judges cannot both maintain interest in medical cannabis and adhere to their obligation to follow the law at the same time. “Judges are prohibited from maintaining an interest in a marijuana-related enterprise because marijuana remains illegal under federal law,” said Judge Ken So, a CJEO member. “This opinion explains that investment in businesses that violate federal marijuana statutes is inconsistent with a judge’s duty to follow the law and advises that judges have an ongoing responsibility to discover if their investments involve a marijuana business.” The committee cited similar rules that have been established in Maryland, Washington and Colorado. In Maryland, for instance, judicial appointees are banned from growing, possessing or dispensing medical cannabis. The guidance was reportedly given in response to a request from a judicial officer or judicial officer candidate.
Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Makes Progress in Iowa Iowa’s Senate approved an expanded measure on April 17 that would allow medical cannabis to be manufactured and dispensed throughout the state. Senate File 506 would permit patients 18 and older to consume medical cannabis if they’ve been certified by a medical practitioner. The bill would vastly expand Iowa’s cannabis oil law, and it would allow the state to license up to four manufacturers and up to 12 licensed dispensaries by July 2018. “We are interested in making law,” Sen. Charles Schneider stated. “This is not just a ‘statement’ bill. This is something that we would like to get through the House and down to the governor’s desk.” The state of Iowa allows CBD-only oil for those with intractable epilepsy, but currently imposes a three percent THC limit, and the oil must be approved by a licensed neurologist. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer said that she hopes the legislature at least lifts the July 1 deadline on Iowa’s CBD-oil law and allows access to Epidiolex®. The bill proposal also includes a reciprocity arrangement, which would allow patients to access medical cannabis from Minnesota.
Marin County Contemplates DeliveryOnly Dispensaries On April 10, Marin County Administrator Matthew Hymel advised the Board of Supervisors not to license any storefront medical cannabis dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county. The board has approved four dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of the county. “This decision illustrates the challenges in finding the right combination of operator and location to provide patients with safe access to medical cannabis locally,” Hymel said in a statement. The county received 10 applications for dispensaries and looked closely at written opposition from neighbors prior to making a decision. Per county law, a dispensary must be located at least 800 feet away from schools, public parks, smoke shops and competing dispensaries. The county is now looking at different options for allowing medical cannabis operations, including the delivery-only dispensary model. According to Inge Lundegaard, a program manager in the county’s Community Development Agency, another option is to allow a separate clinic where cannabis can be recommended by a doctor. A hearing is scheduled for May 9 for anyone wishing to appeal Hymel’s recommendation to oppose storefront dispensaries in the county.
Argentina Legalizes Medical Cannabis Oil Argentina received its final approval to legalize medical cannabis in the forms of oil or concentrate. Argentina’s Senate approved the bill unanimously with 58 votes in favor of the bill. The new law also creates a medical cannabis research program under the Health Ministry. Free access to cannabis oil will be available for those who join the research program. The bill was supported by medical cannabis groups like Mamá Cultiva Argentina, a nonprofit made up of mothers with children who suffer from refractory epilepsy. “It is a historic day in the struggle for rights in our country, a substantial improvement over legislation until yesterday [where medical cannabis consumers and their families were] persecuted, harassed and criminalized to seek relief from their suffering through this plant that helps us have more dignified lives free of disease, suffering and pain,” read a translated post from Mamá Cultiva Argentina’s Facebook page. The organization is already working on expanding the law further by allowing families of patients to grow cannabis as well. 20
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The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that the city of San Francisco projects it can collect from cannabis sales if it increases its cannabis tax to 10 percent: (Source: The
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Daily Journal)
The number of judges on a judicial ethics opinion committee in San Francisco who ruled that it is unethical for judges in the state of California to invest in cannabis businesses: (Source: Napa Valley Register)
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The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that Haight Street merchants in San Francisco raised in order to pay for security, fencing, portable toilets, approved food vendors and medical personnel at the unofficial 420 gathering on Hippie Hill in April: (Source: CBS SF Bay Area)
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The percentage of cannabis business tax that was approved by the San Leandro City Council and will remain in place until June 2019: (Source: East Bay Times)
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The number of commercial properties in Santa Rosa that have been approved to be converted from non-cannabisrelated businesses into cannabis businesses: (Source: North Bay Business Journal)
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The number of votes, out of 15, that were presented by the Dallas City Council in Texas in favor of removing jail time for a person who is found in possession of four ounces of cannabis or less: (Source: DMagazine)
The percentage of medical cannabis facility owners who must be state residents, according to the recently approved rules from the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission: (Source: The Washington Times)
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The percentage of Kansas City, Missouri residents who voted to approve a proposal that will decrease the maximum fine for possession of cannabis and eliminate jail time: (Source: The Kansas City Star)
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The amount of cannabis, in grams, that Canadian adults would be allowed to possess in public, according to the country’s recently introduced legislation to legalize (Source: ABC News) cannabis by July 1, 2018:
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NCIA’s 7th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days WHAT: NCIA’s 7th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days. WHEN/WHERE: Tues, May 16-Wed, May 17. First St. and East Capitol St. NE, Washington, D.C. INFO: Visit thecannabisindustry.org for details. Be a part of the groundbreaking event that promotes change and makes a difference at Lobby Days with the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). This will be the organization’s seventh year lobbying for political progression in the industry. Taking place in the nation’s capital, participants come together at Capitol Hill to share their personal experiences working in the cannabis industry with their representatives, in hopes of creating fair taxes and policy reform. In recent years, the cannabis 22
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industry has seen some incredible progress, but much more work still needs to be done. This year proves especially unique as it is operating in conjunction with the Spring 2017 Marijuana Business Conference and Expo from May 17-May 19. Those who attend the lobby will be offered a $100 discount on conference registration. In order to witness and take part in this influential event, NCIA membership is required. Sign up and register at the organization’s website before it’s too late! (Kiara Manns)
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NEWS
LOCAL
California Roots Music & Arts Festival
Taxation with Representation San Leandro’s new dispensary tax benefits the city and its patients by Benjamin M. Adams
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he city of San Leandro will soon reap the rewards of taxing cannabis sales. On March 20, the San Leandro City Council unanimously approved a six percent tax on cannabis businesses, which is set to increase to eight percent by 2021. San Leandro’s three licensed dispensaries are more than willing to pay the new approved tax. To support this idea, all three have pitched programs to the city that would help low-income families and the community. The new tax will cost business owners more money, but was welcomed with open arms. The tax will be imposed on gross receipts of cannabis businesses through June 2019. On July 1, 2019, the tax will increase to seven percent and then rise again on July 1, 2021 to eight percent. During the November election, 75.23 percent of voters approved Measure NN, which authorized the city of San Leandro to impose a sales tax up to 10 percent. The city’s current six percent tax falls within the middle range of Bay Area city tax rates. Deputy City Manager Eric Engelbart told CULTURE that comparatively, Berkeley imposes a 2.5 percent tax of gross receipts, Oakland imposes five percent, San Jose imposes 10 percent and Hayward imposes 15 percent. Engelbart said that the new tax increase will fix potholes, improve response times of emergency services, while making improvements to libraries, trails, parks and public art in San Leandro.
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The first dispensary chain to become licensed in the area is none other than Oakland’s Harborside. “In September of 2015, the city council awarded its first dispensary permit to Harborside San Leandro. At that meeting, council also directed staff to explore a potential dedicated cannabis tax,” Engelbart stated. Harborside’s San Leandro location holds the permit but has not yet opened. Engelbart also expressed to the council on March 20 the many ways the dispensaries will help the community. Blum Oakland, Harborside and Davis Street Wellness Center are the only dispensaries with permits to operate in San Leandro. “All three permitted [dispensaries] already as part of their proposals when they came in through the door actually voluntarily offered gross receipts contributions at varying levels as part of their proposals. So even if council decided not to move forward with this tax, those three dispensaries are already committed to it . . . ” Assisting those who are in need is a noble cause, but it also helps to clean up the undeserved negative image that cannabis businesses still face. All three businesses offered to help those who are financially disadvantaged or have a program where they can receive cannabis for free if they qualify. “It’s important to note that all three of the dispensary operators have committed to an offer programs to low income, terminally ill or otherwise disadvantaged patients,” Engelbart said. “As part of their business plan proposals brought forward and that your council adopted when you issued the permits.” Patients and the city are set to reap benefits from this new tax. In other cities, dispensaries have been zoned out of operation or have been confronted with unfair or impossible taxes. In San Leandro, the tax is set at a moderate rate, which has been well-received by the city’s permitted dispensaries. The city is taking advantage of the lucrative opportunity that could bring rewards in the near future. The annual tax could generate up to $500,000 for the city, if the tax falls between five and seven percent, according to city staff. The city has not yet approved recreational cannabis sales, but the tax rate is one way the city is preparing for future changes. c
Having made its original debut in 2010, the California Roots Music & Arts Festival has continually grown in popularity, with attendance rising to more than 11,000 reggae fans flocking to take part in the three-day festivities. Taking place at the same venue where Jimi Hendrix infamously set aflame his guitar in 1967, this music and arts festival encourages good vibes and allows attendees to appreciate the sounds and talents of various artists. The line-up includes Rebelution, Nas, the Dirty Heads, Matisyahu, Jurassic 5, Collie Buddz, SOJA, John Brown’s Body, Iration and more. During the day, make sure to stop by the Art and Wine Retreat to check out some unique installations and even take a painting workshop hosted by the Haven Art Sisters. After the sun goes down, meet at Alex’s After Dark Lounge to watch the main stages on LED screens from a comfy couch, or get a glimpse at the fire dancers as they light up the night. Camping permits can be purchased along with single-day or three-day passes. (Kiara Manns) WHAT: California Roots Music & Arts Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, May 26-Sun, May 28. Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Rd., Monterey. INFO: Visit californiarootsfestival.com for details.
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NEWS
HEALTHY LIVING
A Natural Solution
Cannabis is the ideal treatment for stress by Lanny Swerdlow, RN LNC
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omedian Lily Tomlin once sagely observed, “Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it.” Wise words, since being in touch with reality is needed for existence, and we cannot ignore the fact that we are no more likely to get away from the stresses of our day-to-day lives as we are to get away from cars, cell phones or politics. The real-life question is not how do we get away from stress, but how do we biologically prevent stress from doing us in? The answer, of course, is cannabis. In general, most of a mammal’s life is spent eating, sleeping or just hanging around. Stress is only experienced for brief moments when attacked or attacking. In those crisis moments a mammal’s adrenal gland releases the hormone cortisol as part of the primordial evolutionary survival adaptation known as flight-or-fight. When the flight-or-fight syndrome kicks in, the body needs immediate energy, and cortisol provides that energy by turning the protein stored in the liver into the energy-providing sugar glucose. These elevated cortisol levels are good for the short-term as this helps the mammal stay alive, but longterm elevated cortisol levels resulting from chronic daily stress increases blood sugar levels, which lead to diabetes, obesity, immune suppression, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular disease and other problems. Cortisol also plays a role in regulating
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inflammation. A research team from Carnegie Mellon University found that chronic stress causes the immune system, which controls inflammation, to become unresponsive to cortisol’s regulatory effects producing runaway inflammation leading to the development of many inflammatory diseases from Alzheimer’s to ulcerative colitis. The body has an internal harm reduction mechanism for dealing with stress and the production of cortisol—it is a system that internally produces cannabinoids, known as endocannabinoids, that reduce stress by attaching to receptors in the brain that affect cognition, emotion, behavior, pain, anxiety and just plain feeling good. Neuroscientists from the University of Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions found that chronic stress reduces the production of these endocannabinoids produced internally by the body. The researchers found that providing ectocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced outside the body for which cannabis is the only plant-based natural source) is effective in elevating the body’s cannabinoids, thereby mitigating the damage caused by chronic stress. By reducing stress, the ingestion of cannabis lowers the production of cortisol, reducing not just the increase in blood sugar levels, which can lead to the host of ailments described above, but also strengthening and protecting the immune system by aiding in the reduction of inflammation. There are a multitude of nonpharmaceutical ways to treat stress such
as exercise, meditation and yoga. These are effective methods for mitigating the prolonged and seemingly never-ending stress associated with what constitutes life today, but for literally tens of millions of people, these non-pharmaceutical therapies are not adequate. To ignore the benefits of cannabis to mitigate the debilitating consequences of stress out of some misplaced concern about the “reefer madness” dangers of cannabis endangers one’s own well-being. Let’s be realistic about what works to treat stress and what doesn’t. Americans spend over $30 billion a year on pharmaceutical medications to treat stress and ailments directly related to stress like anxiety and depression. These medications all have a litany of negative side-effects from addiction to death. Cannabis is a far better treatment with the added benefits of preventing cancer, facilitating neurogenesis, strengthening the immune system and as an alcohol substitute for socialization, which in and of itself can aid in stress reduction. Humanity has been using cannabis from time immemorially to treat stress dating back to when the major stressors in life was where the next meal was coming from and to avoid becoming a meal. We didn’t stress out over how cannabis did this, we just knew it did. We know now why cannabis provides relief from stress, but we make it stressful to obtain. In today’s modern urban world, it is just about impossible to eliminate the multiple stressors that are part of everyday existence. If you can’t get rid of your daily stressors and exercise, yoga and meditation just don’t cut it, then cannabis is arguably the most effective and safest therapy for relieving stress. c
By reducing stress, the ingestion of cannabis lowers the production of cortisol, reducing not just the increase in blood sugar levels which can lead to the host of ailments described above, but also strengthening and protecting the immune system by aiding in the reduction of inflammation.
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Motherhood and Miraculous Medicine
Courageous mothers turn to cannabis to naturally heal their children by Addison Herron-Wheeler
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t’s that time of year when the country celebrates mothers. From pregnancy and childbirth to a lifetime of personal sacrifice, unconditional love and support, every mother should be honored for what she does for her children. But there are some mothers who are asked to bear a much heavier burden than others. Those whose children fall ill from serious conditions are forced to go through
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experiences and make decisions that most of us can’t even imagine, such as accepting the reality of their child’s struggles, the horrible effects that pharmaceutical medications can have on a child or the staggering cost of medical bills. Fortunately, not all of these mothers have to face an unhappy ending when it comes to their children. Many find relief in what some would consider an unusual place—cannabis. However, the mothers who are brave enough to try anything to make their children well often do so at a cost, be it the criticism they face for
their decision, the lengths they have to go through to get cannabis medically or the trial-and-error process in administering cannabis to their children, due to cannabis still being a Schedule I substance. For Beth Collins, mother of medical cannabis patient Jennifer Collins, cannabis treatment wasn’t something that she was judged for pursuing, but it did cause her entire life to change. Epilepsy can develop in a person at any age, and Jennifer started having epileptic seizures as a young teen. >>
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“I left a quite comfortable corporate career to try and help get sensible medical cannabis laws passed on the state and federal levels,” Beth explained to CULTURE. “It’s incredibly stressful work, but satisfying to know I’m helping to get access to safe medicine to patients in need.” Additionally, Beth has watched her daughter Jennifer overcome the difficulty of living with epilepsy. Jennifer has taken her experiences and bravely spoken about them in public, giving a voice to people living with epilepsy. “She’s been very brave to be so public about her experiences but she’s wanted to speak for those who can’t,” Beth said. “It’s given her a much different outlook than a lot of [other] teenagers have.” Jessica Hooker, mother of Addison “Addi” Hooker, has experienced a similar struggle. Her daughter Addi, age 11, suffers from a severe form of epilepsy and has only found relief with cannabis oil. Addi has been taking Charlotte’s Web oil for relief since December 2016. She has
the medicines did provide was far outweighed by the endless side effects. These children deserve a happy, healthy childhood, plain and simple.” Many mothers in the United States have struggled to get cannabis medicine in their particular location, often uprooting their lives or traveling thousands of miles just to get access to cannabis. However, for Charlotte Caldwell, mother of Billy Caldwell, getting access was even more of a struggle. Because she lived in Northern Ireland, she didn’t even learn about the treatment until she visited Los Angeles to see a pediatric epilepsy specialist and encountered the alternative treatment. Since she discovered medical cannabis, she first administered CBD to Billy, followed by a trial using THC. He is now more than 70 days seizure-free. Upon their return to Ireland, Charlotte and Billy marched 150 miles to a meeting to demand access to a prescription for the medication, seeing that it is the only medication that has been effective in
However cannabis has proven effective at combating many other conditions as well. In the case of Meiko Hester-Perez and her son Joey, cannabis is being used to treat severe autism, and the results are astounding. The oil helps Joey to relax, maintain eye contact and calm down from tantrums. It also has helped him gain weight; previous to the cannabis oil Joey was suffering malnutrition and was diagnosed with anorexia. “I think a lot of people don’t realize that Joey has been diagnosed as terminal,” Hester-Perez told CULTURE. Hester-Perez also shared how her journey administering Joey with lifesaving cannabis medicine has not only benefited her son, but it’s helped her evolve into a pivotal advocate in the cannabis industry. “In 2009 I was just a mom,” stated Hester-Perez. “In 2017, I’m a scientific advisor; I sit on the board of NORML; I work on companies with cannabis safety, I intervene in Child Protective Services cases to make sure
We have followed doctors’ orders, filled the prescriptions, tried the diets and all of those things failed these kids. For some, what little relief the medicines did provide was far outweighed by the endless side effects. These children deserve a happy, healthy childhood, plain and simple. experienced cognitive, communicative and memory improvement since beginning her treatment. Even though the Hooker family received criticism for considering cannabis medicine, they persevered and got Addi the medicine she needed. Jessica now shares her family’s cannabis success story in hopes of helping other families in a similar predicament. “For so many children this is the last option, but it should be the first,” Hooker explained to CULTURE. “We have followed doctors’ orders, filled the prescriptions, tried the diets and all of those things failed these kids. For some, what little relief
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treating Billy’s condition. “I think what is really important, because Billy’s epilepsy was so drug-resistant, is that medical cannabis should be available as an alternative treatment,” Charlotte told CULTURE. “I would never, ever say or declare that it has cured Billy of his epilepsy, but I would definitely advise parents to give it a try if they are in a situation like I was in where the medicine wasn’t working.” When most people think of children using cannabis as medicine, it is becoming more common to hear about parents utilizing CBD oils to reduce seizures for children with epilepsy.
that parents choosing this treatment option have the navigation that goes along with it.” While each of these mothers has had a unique experience ensuring the well-being of their children and the use of medical cannabis, they all have a few key similarities. These mothers have all fought against the odds to gain access for someone they love. Whether they dealt with criticism, struggled to get safe access to cannabis or had to overcome monetary or geographic hurdles, they all preserved—making their children’s lives better because of it. c
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Sweet C Sabbatical
by Sheryll Alexander
Top cannabis travel destinations for your midyear vacations 34
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annabis travel is 2017’s hot trend, with spring and summer set to bring cannabis and its millions of cannasseurs into the hospitality mainstream. In the past, cannabis and travel together were relegated to the stigmatized and “illegal” business of travelers who attended regional and/or global cannabis cup “awards” or the rare cannabis festivals such as the annual MardiGrass festival in Australia’s tiny “weed town” of Nimbin. Some still think “cannabis travel” means snowboarders or surfers who come for the relaxed vibe in the world’s most spectacular recreational locales. And to some extent, all of this is still happening. But if you look at 2017 as “year zero” for the cannabis travel industry to “go mainstream,” then you’d be right. Here are some of the best domestic and international locales that every cannaenthusiast should put on their list of future vacation spots. >>
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Put Denver, Colorado, Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon on your checklist for the first, second and third best places to visit domestically during your spring and summer travels. What could be more fun than visiting a true recreational state where buying cannabis and smoking it in plein air is perfectly legal? Anywhere in Canada is a cannabis paradise even though it is still officially illegal. So, it’s best to stick to this short-summer-season country’s larger metropolises such as Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver when coming out of the cannabis closet.
Barcelona, Spain
Negril, Jamaica
Spain’s Barcelona has overtaken Amsterdam as Europe’s No. 1 cannabisfriendly destination if you can find your way into one of the thousands of private cannabis clubs in and around the city. (Hint: Book a well-reviewed cannabis club tour group before you leave.) Jamaica’s Negril has and will always be the benchmark for cannabis worship. For a totally irie stay, choose a local “bud and breakfast,” where waking and using cannabis on the beach is encouraged. The U.S. Virgin Islands is no stranger to cannabis. Look to its most remote island, St. Croix, as the top spot in this unincorporated U.S. territory for cannabis enthusiasts who truly want to get away from it all in the middle of the Caribbean. Nimbin is basically a cannabis theme park set in a remote
Germany Montevideo, Uruguay
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Australian village, which is set ablaze each spring with a raucous prohibition protest and festival. The entire country of Germany has gone medical with doctors within its statesponsored health system now given the ability to prescribe cannabinoid medications. Of this writing, there’s not yet been a foreign visitor to take advantage of this new development—especially in Germany’s most cannabisfriendly towns of Berlin, Hamburg and Leipzig—but it is now possible to get a doctor’s prescription and buy premium flowers grown in Canada or the Netherlands at just about any German pharmacy. Eastern Europeans have a cultural tradition of growing and preparing their own cannabis-based medications with stunning Prague being today’s epicenter of the region’s cannabis (and beer) culture. The coastal city of Montevideo, Uruguay is a great choice for spring and summer travel, as Uruguay became the first country to legalize cannabis recreationally. Pharmacies in Uruguay will begin dispensing cannabis overthe-counter in July, although this is limited to residents who have signed up with the national registry. Either way, the relaxed vibe toward cannabis in this small South American country will only serve as a benefit to interested travelers.
The cannabis travel and hospitality industries are still in the prohibition womb right now at ground zero: Southern California’s summer festivals. Next year in 2018—when cannabis has gone recreational in California and four other states— cannabis travel will have been born and its nurturing begun. Hopefully, despite political pressures here and around the world, the people will prevail to enjoy the fruits of their many labors. Embark upon a worry-free vacation here or anywhere in the world that includes cannabis as medication and recreation. c
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Progress in Paradise Colombia continues its transformation into a jewel of cannabis cultivation
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by David Edmundson
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ew countries have been ravaged by war more than the South American nation of Colombia, but from the ashes of over 50 years of conflict, cannabis cultivation may be the key to bringing the nation back together and elevating its citizens out of debilitating poverty. Since the 1960s, cartels and drug empires used the immense wealth garnered by trafficking cannabis and illicit drugs to fund an army that they loosed on the nation’s government and rival organizations. Then in 2016, under the
leadership of President Juan Manuel Santos, the warring factions agreed to a ceasefire, ending over a half century of fighting. That same year President Santos overhauled the nation’s outdated drug laws and legalized medical cannabis. The Colombian government’s decision allowed them to reap the financial benefits of the cannabis industry that had funded small guerrilla operations so well that they were able to stand up to the entirety of the Colombian military. In addition to providing medicine to its people, the law also granted authorization for commercial cannabis cultivation for medical purposes. >>
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It is not just developing the cannabis business. This will help generate funds to develop other businesses. Politicians and local communities want to develop the region and cannabis, combined with other agricultural activity will take them out of poverty. Canadian-based PharmaCielo, which was founded in 2014, has a powerhouse board of directors that includes former executives from Phillip Morris and Bayer. The company is requesting that the Colombian government allow it to cultivate cannabis on land previously occupied by rebels who once used it as a base of operations, and where a large portion of Colombia’s cannabis was produced. PharmaCielo is awaiting approval on its cultivation license application, but it is currently licensed in Colombia to process and manufacturer cannabis oil. “Receiving cultivation licenses is the next stage in PharmaCielo’s goal of becoming Colombia’s first fully licensed and integrated grower and manufacturer of cannabis oil extracts,” PharmaCielo President and CEO Dr. Patricio A. Stocker said in a press release. PharmaCielo’s sales pitch includes the promise to pay the growers a better wage than the previous tenants. Under the cartel’s rule, Colombians were forced to work in unbearable conditions for little to no money. The company has chosen the area of Medellín for their Colombian headquarters. “The medical marijuana industry can become bigger than coffee, bigger than flowers,” said Stocker. “Our aim is to help the most [troubled] regions in the country.” “They were in very bad shape in this area, they have a very long history of suffering there,” Stocker added. “It
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is not just developing the cannabis business. This will help generate funds to develop other businesses. Politicians and local communities want to develop the region and cannabis, combined with other agricultural activity will take them out of poverty.” Colombia’s location near the equator also makes it an ideal location for cannabis cultivation. The country receives a steady 12 hours of sunshine regardless of the time of year. This allows farmers in the area to cultivate outdoors year round without the added cost of electricity for lights. Colombia is also rich with natural water sources, so companies can avoid significant water charges as well. When added to the country’s low cost of labor, it is no wonder why companies like PharmaCielo are interested in investing heavily in Colombia. This national shift toward cannabis is something truly unique. Colombia received $10 billion over the last 15 years from the United States to combat the nation’s alarming drug industry. Now North American companies are looking to invest billions of dollars to grow the medical cannabis market in the country. The irony is not lost on Colombia’s president, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for ending
the conflict in Colombia. “It makes no sense to imprison a peasant who grows marijuana, when nowadays, for example, its cultivation and use are legal in eight states of the United States,” he said during his Nobel acceptance speech. He continued that the United States’ “War on Drugs” is creating significant environmental damage and violence to under-developed nations and is forging an ecosystem for black markets to flourish. Many farmers in Colombia are switching their crops over to cannabis. Where traditional plants like tomatoes and mangos have limited sales opportunities outside of local markets, cannabis has a global market and a demand that cannot be satiated. Instead of competing with the big corporations, a group of 53 local cultivators is looking to partner with PharmaCielo. The CauCannabis Cooperative was formed in July of 2016 and applied for a joint license with the Canadian operation. The cooperative hopes the incoming companies will utilize their already operational farms in lieu of starting from scratch with a new facility. c
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I hope federal [cannabis] legalization happens soon; I don’t even know why it’s illegal. I can count 10 drugs off the top of my head that should be illegal . . .
Bright Lights Jo Koy opens up to CULTURE about his successful comedy career and latest endeavors
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by Heather Johnson
C
omedian Jo Koy grew up looking at the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip. He imagined one day performing his stand-up comedy to huge crowds and selling out shows. This dream became a reality this past year when Koy’s comedy tour brought him right back to the city he called home, and every seat in the house was filled. His career really started to take off in 2005, when he
photos by Robyn Von Swank
performed for the world on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and received a coveted standing ovation. Koy has appeared on over 100 episodes of Chelsea Lately, and he is also a regular guest on The Adam Corolla Show. He is currently touring the country, and he just released his third live comedy special and Netflix debut Jo Koy: Live from Seattle. Koy also hosts the weekly podcast, “The Koy Pond,” with new episodes every Thursday on Podcast One. We had a chance to sit down with Koy and chat about his explosive career, his family, and of course, cannabis. >>
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What was your role on Chelsea Lately, and what was it like working with her crew? To this day, people still think that show is on. People call into my show and they’re like, “I watch you every night on Chelsea Lately,” and I say, “That show hasn’t been on in years.” That thing was a daily show, it wasn’t a weekly show, and people watched it every single day. It was being viewed by everyone. That show had so much power and impact in my career, that it really did change everything. It changed the game for me. It just kind of blew up in front of everyone’s faces—I don’t even think Chelsea expected it to do what it did. We would love to hear about your current comedy tour, are you enjoying yourself? I love it. We are hoping to be international next year. I’ve already done Australia, the Philippines and Guam. This year we are staying right here in the states, and it’s been great. I’ve been nonstop; I just did Vegas, my hometown. I played the Mystere Theater at Treasure Island, and I sold out every single seat, which was unbelievable. Imagine just living there and looking at the strip and thinking, “Someday I’ll perform there.” And when it actually happened, I sold the place out. I pinch myself every time I think about it. It’s just one of those things where you pinch yourself and you say, “Is this really happening?” Nevada recently legalized recreational cannabis; what are your thoughts on the growing number of states with legal cannabis? I hope federal legalization happens soon; I don’t even know why it’s illegal. I can count 10 drugs off the top of my head that should be illegal, but for some reason they’re A-OK to have, you know? I think the reason why it’s illegal is obvious. I think that the government can’t control it and capitalize on it the way they really want to. Once you legalize it then, boom, everyone is growing it in their backyard. If your 13-year-old son asked you about smoking cannabis, what would you say? Things are going to happen. I think I’ve done a very good job of showing what drugs can do. And I’m not saying anything bad about cannabis 46
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I think that the government can’t control it, and capitalize on it the way they really want to. Once you legalize it then, boom, everyone is growing it in their backyard.
or anything, but it’s your environment, it’s the people you surround yourself with. It’s your responsibility, as long as he can be responsible and make sure little things are alright, then I’m fine. You talk about your mom a lot in your stand-up. Can you tell us about the influence she has had on your career? My mom indirectly got me into comedy. She was the one who got us onstage in these Filipino talent shows. She was just fulfilling her responsibilities as the entertainment person with the Filipino Association. I don’t think she really saw talent in us, or thought that she was going to make us stars. She had to fill the stage at these events that the association would have. She would say, “Oh my daughter can sing, and my son can dance.” Then when my sister and I both wanted to pursue it, she said, “Well there’s not really any money in it.” She was just like any other mom, trying to get us to go to college and get a job with benefits. But then when stuff kind of started taking off for me and my sister, she was like, “Oh it was my idea, I knew you guys were going to make it.” Your third comedy special and Netflix debut released on March 28, were you excited? Yes! Netflix, baby. My first comedy specials were with Comedy Central and now this one is with Netflix. I’m just so happy to be a part of this family. Man, they are just changing the game, and I’m just happy to be a part of it. They are so good at what they do. Tell us about your weekly podcast “The Koy Pond.” You know what I love about “The Koy Pond”? I like to sit on my improv skills. So when I have a guest come on the show, they will tell their stories. I like to just dig right in and recreate the stories that they just told. Like if they are talking about their mom and dad, I’ll create the character where I become the mom and just start improvising with my guest. We just go with it and see where it takes us. That’s more fun to me, and that’s the kind of podcast I like to listen to, so that’s why I like to do it that way. Anything can happen. c jokoy.com
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Industry Insider
Cannabis law attorney Todd Winter’s courageous spirit continues to benefit the industry by R. Scott Rappold
There were just a handful of us [cannabis] attorneys at that time, and we really wrote the book for how things progressed for the next eight years.
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T
odd Winter didn’t set out to become a cannabis attorney. Like many in this industry, he kind of fell into it through “pure coincidence and happenstance.” In the nine years since he began fighting for cannabis clients, he has become one of the nation’s leading legal advocates, with some of the biggest names in his dossier, including Bhang and Eureka Vapor. Yet he’s rarely had to advertise the fact. You’ll have to dig deep in his website to even find a mention of cannabis. He earned his reputation the old-fashioned way—through word of mouth. “The proudest thing for me is that I [have] held [the trust of] some of the biggest cannabis companies in the world over the years, and they’ve continued to spread my name to other clients to call and retain us, which to me is the greatest compliment you can get,” said Winter, 47, of Costa Mesa, California. >>
photos by Eric Stoner
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It completely changes my frame of mind and allows me to relax from the day, and it just changes everything. Instead of being uptight and worrying about everything in the house, I get down on the floor and play with the kids and it’s an important component of my life.
F.
From Corporate to Cannabis
Winter also took the circuitous route to becoming an attorney. After working for seven years in sales and marketing, he decided to go to night school to earn his law degree. After a stint abroad he landed at a large company, Kittrich Corporation, overseeing real estate transactions, as well as patent and trademark filings. However, it wasn’t the kind of work Winter had imagined doing, so he started his own firm. Around this time, in 2008, he began speaking with a guy he’d met at a coffee shop who just happened to grow cannabis. These were days of uncertainty in California’s nascent medical cannabis industry, a time of police raids and threatening closure letters, when nobody knew what the federal government might do with the plant it had been fighting for 70 years. Many attorneys wouldn’t even touch these cases. Winter decided his training and experience would be a good fit for the industry, so he took the guy on as a client. The next week, two more growers called. Then four. Then eight. “There were just a handful of us [cannabis] attorneys at that time, and we really wrote the book for how things progressed for the next eight years,” said Winter. “A lot of my colleagues almost looked down their noses at us, almost as if we were personal-injury, ambulancechasing attorneys, and now everyone wants in.”
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Trademarks, Banking and More
From the outset of his entry into the hazy world of cannabis law, Winter had a strong belief that trademarks and brands would be the future of the industry. “I was one of the few, back in 2008, who was jumping up and down and telling clients the branding was going to be huge,” he said. In a crowded industry where everyone was basically selling the same base product—cannabis—those who could give consumers a brand to relate to would thrive. Of course, you can’t trademark cannabis or cannabisinfused products, since they’re still federally illegal, so much of Winter’s work has involved trademarks on brands and accessories.
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“One of the things we’ve pioneered . . . We call it the ‘circle the wagons approach,’ where you try to brand a significant amount of services surrounding the cannabis plant itself,” he said. Winter sees plenty of complex issues on the horizon for cannabis, especially as California moves toward regulating what is projected to become the largest legal cannabis market in the world. The lack of banking, for one, remains a thorn in the industry’s side, and the jury is still out on what President Donald Trump’s administration may do about state-level legalization. For his part, he isn’t worried about a federal crackdown. “Cannabis is too big to fail,” he said. He’s motivated in part by a love of the plant. A medium, 10mg dose is his preferred evening cool-down after a day fighting the good fight. “It completely changes my frame of mind and allows me to relax from the day, and it just changes everything,” Winter said. “Instead of being uptight and worrying about everything in the house, I get down on the floor and play with the kids. It’s an important component of my life.” Another factor of motivation for Winter is loyalty to the clients, many of whom he’s had from the get-go. “I’m proud of the fact we still have most of the clients who have started with us,” he said. “It was always about our clients. Our clients are some of the best human beings in the world. They genuinely care about the plant. They genuinely care about people and it’s been an absolutely amazing journey to be on with our clients over the past eight years, to watch them grow and succeed.” c
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Striving for Health G
The dangers of powdery mildew and how it affects cannabis
by M. Jay
rowing cannabis provides consumers and businesses owners with many benefits over the product they control, but D.I.Y. growing can also present a few problems for both first-time and seasoned growers. Powdery mildew (PM) is one of the most common issues that growers face. PM is a fungus that can appear on leaves and stems, and if left untreated, can eventually spread to the buds. If affected, the buds cannot be sold, leaving growers to toss the cannabis or try and salvage it, possibly by using it for concentrates like live resin and CO2 oil. The safety of the consumer has come into question and the community wants to know, is it safe to consume concentrates that were derived from plants with PM? Well, the answer is not simple, nor is there a clear “yes” or “no” in any instance. Some believe there is a way to sift out the PM from the rest of the material with the appropriate filters. Others think it should all just be thrown away. Additionally, there is a belief that you can wash the mold away with certain solvents.
One of the most amazing things about extracting with CO2 is the ability to separate individual compounds as the extraction is taking place.
Solventless Extraction There are several techniques used in solventless extraction. One is the process of making rosin. Heat and pressure are used to make the sticky concentrate, derived from a cured bud. However, if the bud has PM, there isn’t a process for getting rid of
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it before squishing the bud into rosin. Therefore, this is one process that the majority agrees is unsafe to consume if it were made with flowers that had PM. Bubble hash and resin are two solventless extracts in which screens are used to sift out the plant material. Since powdery mildew is less
than 20 microns in size, some would suggest that if you use a screen that is smaller (which most do when making these solventless concentrates), then you can eliminate PM. According to Skunk Pharm Research LLC, “Simply removing all the spores and mold material makes it useable by removing allergens, as well
as the ghastly moldy taste and smell.” It can still be argued that PM may still be present and that it may not completely disappear in the case of bubble hash. With this process, there is no clear conclusion as to whether using cannabis with PM is advisable. >>
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Butane and Propane Extraction While butane extraction has been getting its fair share of criticism lately, the extraction process is what we are concentrating on here. Generally, formal facilities that are using this process are using either propane or a 70/30 combination of propane/butane as the solvent. While this is a popular method of extraction, extractors and cultivators have mixed views on if butane and propane extraction is enough to flush plants with PM. Some say that using solvents like butane or propane will kill any bacteria, mircrobials or mold/ mildew, making it safe to consume after extraction, while others say that there is not enough research and testing to make the extracts safe for consumption.
Ethanol Extraction Ethanol-extracted concentrates are used for a multitude of products; from edibles to tinctures to full extract cannabis oil. CULTURE spoke with Lisa Barrett, CSO of California Cannabis Company. When asked about her knowledge about using plants with PM, she said, “If extracted with [food grade] alcohol, most microbials from the PM are eliminated. We ran a batch
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from a third-party to verify and the lab results came back free of contaminants.” Using a syringe with a 0.2-micron filter is another common suggestion to flush out the PM. The consensus seems to be that ethanol extraction can currently be considered as one way to rid the product of any PM.
CO2 Extraction The CO2 extraction method is trending right now. Companies are making glass-tipped syringes filled with the gold medicine. Edibles made with CO2 derived concentrate have been flying off dispensary shelves as well. Some believe this method is a great way to extract the bad from the good because, according to Eden Labs, “One of the most amazing things about extracting with CO2 is the ability to separate individual compounds as the extraction is taking place. Different molecular weight compounds drop out at different temperatures and pressures, thus allowing for the fractionation to take place in individual separators.” This suggests that this process can even take out contaminants. Honest Marijuana leaves the guesswork out of it, “Running supercritical liquid CO2 through
reefer also kills any microbial bacteria, mold, mildew or insect mites that shouldn’t be in your weed in the first place, guaranteeing that your concentrates will be cleaner and healthier for you to consume.” Although there is no consensus as to the safety of consuming concentrates derived from buds with PM, the cannabis community still wants to know what they are consuming. Dispensaries should be forthcoming about what is happening behind the scenes. They should be actively trying to get rid of all PM as quickly as possible (regardless of the possible loss of capital). Unfortunately, many are not informing theirscustomers. As such, it is the up to the consumer to find out. Consumers should look for dispensaries that list their testing results and find smaller dispensaries with good reputations. It is also advised that consumers should ask dispensaries for a tour of their cannabis grows before deciding if you will sign their plants over. On a side note, if you already have a respiratory issue, stay away from products with mold or mildew of any kind. This industry is still wet behind the ears, but there is one thing we all know: We want to medicate ourselves in the healthiest way possible. c
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Real Scientific Hemp Oil (RSHO) is our miracle, it really is. Since I started giving her RSHO, she’s been seizure-free for over a year.
Lillyann’s mother Cassandra lovingly administers hemp oil.
Effective alternative
Young Lillyann’s life was saved by her parents and hemp oil by Heather Johnson
L
illyann Stephen suffered from a severe brain injury at a very young age. From a coma, to living off of a feeding tube, to having up to 30 seizures every day, it has been a rough road for this little girl. Lillyann’s doctors predicted that she would not have a very good quality of life. Her parents 58
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tried everything their doctors suggested, but nothing offered Lillyann any relief. One day, her mother, Cassandra, made the decision to consider medical cannabis as an alternative treatment, and everything started to change for their family. Now Lillyann is three years old and thriving. CULTURE connected with Cassandra Stephen to ask her about Lillyann’s experience and how hemp oil has changed her daughter’s life. >>
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Lillyann and her mother Cassandra.
It has been life-changing seeing her progress every day. Two days after she started taking her RSHO, she was completely seizure-free. Tell us about your daughter’s brain injury and how your doctors responded. At seven weeks old, Lilly had a traumatic brain injury that caused her to be induced into a coma at the NICU at Johns Hopkins [Hospital]. As they were leading her out of that, they noticed that she was having seizures frequently. She was on two anti-seizure medications, which weren’t working at all. Her neurologist decided, or suggested, to put her on a third medication. That’s when I just said, “Let’s hold off on that for a second.” I did some research, and I started her on hemp oil instead. What was Lillyann’s life like when she was taking these two different pharmaceutical medications? From the time she woke up to the time she went to sleep, it was nothing but seizures. She couldn’t do anything. This may sound horrible but she was pretty much like a Barbie doll, you’d just lay her down.
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And there was nothing we could do, all we could do was just hold her until she came out of her seizure. She’d have maybe an hour break time, and it was right back into another one. The pharmaceutical medications weren’t working. What was it that made you turn to medical cannabis and hemp oil in the first place? I would see articles on social media and on the news about how medical marijuana has helped a lot of people with different diagnosis. So I thought, it’s helped other families, let’s try ours. When we first started trying it, I did have doubts as it didn’t work the first six times. But somebody was watching over us because we found our miracle—Real Scientific Hemp Oil or RSHO. What types of cannabis products have you tried, and which have been successful in helping with the seizures? I tried six different kinds of hemp oil, even Charlotte’s Web, and
nothing would help her seizures. It took me six months to find the one that actually worked. RSHO is our miracle, it really is. Since I started giving her RSHO, she’s been seizure-free for over a year. It has been life-changing seeing her progress every day. Two days after she started taking her RSHO, she was completely seizure-free. Did you face any stigma because of your choice to use the RSHO? We had a little bit of a rocky road because Child Protective Services was called on us for giving her RSHO. That was dropped as soon as they called our neurologist, and he said he agreed with it, and it’s not harming her. It’s been a very rocky road; it’s been a painful thing. When your child goes through something like that, you feel like you’re worthless, like you can’t help her. How does Lillyann take the hemp oil? She takes it orally. I just squirt
a little tiny bit into her mouth once a day and that’s what’s keeping her seizure-free. All it takes is just a little, tiny bit. The only thing that we really had to figure out was how much to give her at first. Four tiny drops keep her seizure-free, so I’m happy. And the best part is that it’s completely natural, you don’t have to worry about any side effects or symptoms that you have to get another medication for; it’s just one natural oil. What would be your advice to other parents who might have children in similar situations? Nothing is impossible. Never give up. Hemp oil could change your life. It’s made a miracle happen for us, and I’m sure it could for others as well. Lilly’s doctors have even been asking me about the RSHO that I give her, for children that they know, or even their own children that have disabilities. Don’t give up, there is always a second chance. RSHO gave my daughter a second chance. c
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Spiritual Sensation Jamaican musician Chronixx opens up about herb as part of his existence
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by Addison Herron-Wheeler
D
ub and reggae music are some of the most timeless sounds in the entire cannon of popular western music. The classic genres have influenced modern musical genres, such as ska, punk, dubstep and hip-hop, but they still stand on their own today. Introspective and deeply connected to the roots of
photo by @CheKothari
Jamaican culture and the healing power of cannabis, Chronixx, also-known-as Jamar Rolando McNaughton, is continuing the rich tradition of bringing dub music into the modern era. At only 24 years old, his career is picking up momentum and breathing new life into a practiced sound. While on tour, Chronixx made some time to chat with CULTURE about the power of music, his upcoming album and why cannabis is bigger than legalization. >>
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How did you get started making music? I got started making music when I was a little child. My father was a musician, I was exposed to the process of writing music when I was a child. Growing up, that’s what I chose to be; it was a fun thing and a cool thing for me to do. I loved it. I did it at times during school when I probably could have been playing football or doing something else. Who are some of your biggest influences? My family, obviously. Growing up I felt that my family members were great musicians. They were always singing and drumming and doing those kinds of things. We were exposed to creating music, and I realized that Jamaican music is such a big inspiration to so many. It inspired me to grow up learning about music. What was your rise to success like? Were there a lot of struggles along the way? Not really struggles—more like lessons. I learned a lot of things that I feel I could have only learned through experience. There is no college that can teach these things, or maybe there is, but I wasn’t lucky enough to learn about these things outside of real experience. There are a lot of lessons I learned that made me more efficient and into a better musician and a better professional. I learned many hard lessons, like who I can and can’t work with. It was hard, but these were great lessons, and I can’t regret these things. Do you have any upcoming shows, releases or projects in the works? We are working on the release of our debut 64
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album, Chronology, which will come out soon. We are currently on tour. We just left Portland, Oregon leading up to the release of the album, and will continue on to Europe after that. On the U.S. tour we just had our most recent show yesterday. There were a lot of sold out nights, and there has been a great energy so far. It’s always a little overwhelming to know we are here making music and to know that we can actually look at what we’re doing and see how much more we need to do. Our music has a mission you know—a great mission of spreading knowledge around the world and supporting the people of Jamaica and people who need to be affected most; those are the people our music is about. Those are the people our music will impact.
The herb is one of the most intricate plants in the plant kingdom. The more you study the more you learn about creation. I try to use a little bit all the time, every day, especially when I am trying to be creative and I need to channel inspiration into the physical world. It’s very good for those times.
How do you feel about the genre you are a part of? What kind of support do you have? I don’t really see myself as part of any genre in terms of the music I make; I’m a Jamaican musician. Jamaican music is one of the most popular genres in the world. Being born in Jamaica and raised in a musical environment—that is so rich. I wouldn’t be true to what I’m doing if I didn’t fully embrace that, and I grew up listening to ska dub and rock steady. I was born in 1992, and by the time I was old enough to start listening to music I wanted to listen to, I was in an era where we had unlimited access to an unlimited amount of music. I was listening to everything all the time. I don’t think it’s true for any artist who is my age to say that they are a part of any one genre. >>
photo by @CheKothari
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Cannabis can’t be “legalized” because it was never illegal. I am not really a politician; I don’t understand politics in detail so I can’t even comment on that part, but as far as herb is concerned, the plant, and the various properties that it brings, it is a thing that could fix a lot of the problems that we are facing. How do you feel about cannabis legalization? Could anything be done better or differently? Cannabis can’t be “legalized” because it was never illegal. I am not really a politician; I don’t understand politics in detail so I can’t even comment on that part, but as far as herb is concerned, the plant, and the various properties that it brings, it is a thing that could fix a lot of the problems that we are facing. However, the legalization of marijuana alone does not signify that you have good intentions to fix any of these problems and these issues. We also need to account for the people who use cannabis for medicine, and the people who use it religiously, as an herb. Have you ever worked cannabis into your music as a theme? If so, how? Rasta music always embraces the full culture of Rastafari and the full culture of the plant, cannabis, marijuana; we call it herb. It has played such a great role in our spirituality over the years. It is one of the single most elements of our spiritual lives. Jamaicans, Rasta, our music has always reflected our culture and because marijuana is always involved, whatever we do, whatever we say, people call it all different things, weed, ganja, marijuana, cannabis, herb, greens, chronic—but everything is a product of the theme of reggae music. Bob Marley says, “Excuse me while I light my spliff.” Damian Marley
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says that it has been a part of his spiritual life. Rasta is what we are right now—one of the most peaceful groups of spiritual people in the world. Some of the most elevated and intelligent people are Rasta and a lot of that can be attributed to cannabis and spiritual, social and nutritional practices. How has cannabis affected your life and creative processes? It’s a part of the family you know; we have found a life in Rastafari and that we identify; marijuana is part of everything. It’s the center piece of my whole life and my whole existence. Whatever I do and whatever I practice must be conducive to that and must help contribute to my creativity and my spiritual life. I try and understand the plant more so I can use it effectively and not abuse it. We acknowledge what we need to use and what we need to be creative. It depends: are you trying to be psychedelic; what kind of message are you trying to have; what kind of vibe are you trying to create? The herb is one of the most intricate plants in the plant kingdom. The more you study, the more you learn about creation. I try to use a little bit all the time, every day, especially when I am trying to be creative and I need to channel inspiration into the physical world. It’s very good for those times. We heard you like to vape rather than smoke. Why is that, and how do you
photo by Joachim Maquet
think that affects you overall as a cannabis enthusiast and advocate? The first time I tried using the plant was when I started to make teas with it. I would use it with other herbs to make tea, anything from mint to rosemary to garlic. I started using it as a tea, and then I tried something called a steam chalice, a thing that you make from coconut shells and bamboo. We use that to steam; it’s like vaporizing except with a water filter, which makes it even more pure, just the raw vapor. I’ve never tried smoking before; I don’t really know the real effects of it. There is someone smoking around me sometimes, especially when I am trying to sing and record and perform, and it’s not the most pleasant thing. c chronixxmusic.com
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Fighting Chance
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photos by John Gilhooley
MMA Champion Frank Shamrock describes his take on cannabis By Paul Rogers
Frank Shamrock quite literally wrote the book on Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), as the author of 2006’s Mixed Martial Arts For Dummies. Born Frank Juarez, he was a troubled California street kid who bounced around
foster and group homes before finding redemption in the ring. Taken in by Bob Shamrock at his boys ranch in Susanville, California, Frank soon gravitated toward a similarly rebellious teen called Ken Kilpatrick, who would go on to become Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Famer, Ken Shamrock.
Officially adopted by Bob at age 21, the now Frank Shamrock joined his fosterbrother Ken’s famously-tough Lion’s Den MMA training school and, just days after turning 22, announced his professional arrival with a shock defeat of top Dutch fighter Bas Rutten at Japan’s King of Pancrase Tournament. Three years later, an underdog Shamrock armbarred Kevin Jackson into submission in just seconds to win the UFC Middleweight Championship (later renamed the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship)—a title he would successfully defend four times before retiring from the UFC, undefeated, in 1999. Now, at age 44, Shamrock is focusing his love for performing and proven entrepreneurial acumen on cannabis, which he’s been consuming recreationally since his adolescence and medicinally, for pain management, since his 30s. His educational and hugely entertaining cannabis talk show, The BakeOut, premiered on BakeOut.tv in January. Co-hosted by celebrity nutritionist Robert Ferguson, it’s a lively, debate-style production that deliberately presents and challenges diverse cannabis-related points of view. CULTURE chatted with Shamrock about The BakeOut, the gargantuan prospects for cannabis business, beating drug tests—and eating out of trash cans. >>
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Frank Shamrock and CoHost Robert Ferguson on the set of The BakeOut.
What’s the story behind The BakeOut? How did the show come about? It really was a continuing conversation about how we impact education and awareness for cannabis and cannabis usage . . . and then it became, like, “wow, we should do a show about this!” Do you mean it was a conversation between you and your co-host, Robert Ferguson? Yeah. I mean, he has a Ph.D. and is an educated nutritionist, and he’s what I think Middle America kind of knows and understands. And I was born and raised in California and have been using cannabis for 25-plus years, as a super-athlete and businessman. There are very opposing views of it—from experience, from education, from 72
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consumption. And we have an open discussion about it. How would you describe The BakeOut? It’s a bit of The Tonight Show meets The View—but with two guys. And we talk about everything— business, science, law, sex, consumption, ideas, spirituality. To me, this is a journey that we’re going on, socially—we’re all kind of learning together. And then we’re backing it up with science. How do you select your BakeOut guests? So far, we’ve been looking for compelling stories that we think will open peoples’ eyes. Our first interviewee was [a Stage IV cancer survivor] Tahnee Shah—I mean, just a miracle! The doctors sent her home to
die—and she didn’t. The only thing she changed was cannabis and the usage of it. And then the second episode was NFL-based, [because] the Super Bowl [was] coming up [and] we’re watching this happening in society with brain injuries, with drug addiction, with [athletes’] efforts to kill the pain from the sport. And it’s just terribly damaging to these athletes, and no one knows about it and that there really are safe alternatives out there. You’ve said that you and your co-host “may not agree on cannabis as medicine.” Can you expand upon that? Robert comes from the world of addiction, meaning that he works very heavily in the nutritional side, in
the psychological side, and then also in the spiritual side of battling addiction. So, from his perspective, he learned what I learned when I was a kid—that [cannabis] is a gateway drug; it leads to addiction. So, the fact that science is butting up against with him is his journey, and he’s willing to go in that journey with us. Did you always see yourself going into broadcasting after you retired from fighting? Yes. I always knew that I’d do this, and I always had the plan that I would become a broadcaster. I thought I would become a movie star, and the broadcasting would just be a very short run, but I found out that [more time was required] to get us to network television. >>
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“[But] I didn’t even think about [cannabis for pain management] until I was into my 30s and then I’m literally struggling with addiction from the pain pills.” Compared with life in the ring and cage, what are the challenges of your professional life today? They’re very similar fears . . . they’re very primal, someone’sgoing-to-see-inside-of-me type fears. But it’s so much better being in front of the camera. It’s so much easier! It’s a skill you can sustain for a long, long time. And, you know, performing anything is amazing, and once I realized my body was wearing out, my focus became my next level of performance, which is my ability to speak, my ability to present [and] to act. So it’s a natural evolution as an entertainer. While still fighting, did you ever fear that you’d feel unfulfilled once you retired? One-thousand percent. Y’know, I set these Guinness World Records and I was, like, [defeating] everybody . . . And when you pull yourself out of that limelight and you try to get on the PTA or be a normal person, it’s really challenging; it’s really hard to re-integrate. What were the highlights of your fighting career? Definitely beating Kevin Jackson, the Olympic medalist in 1992, in 14 seconds, in Japan. That was the absolute highlight of my beginning career, because it [was a] World Champion—all the dreams came true. And then the last few fights, where I was older, I had so many hats on to build companies. I was doing things like when my knee was blown out, and I was still fighting; my shoulder was blown, [and] I was still performing at the 74
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highest level and was really proud of my ability to maintain focus. Aside from The BakeOut, what are you up to these days? I’m mainly doing just charity work. We have an initiative to help at-risk youth, and that comes from us through scholarships for martial arts and scholarships for arts and entertainment programs. And these are kids that are in at-risk communities like I was, where there’s a lack of education, lack of funds and lack of parental guidance. How do you remember your childhood? Was it a struggle? Yeah. It wasn’t good. You know, my mom—we didn’t have money, we didn’t have an education, we were on welfare and it wasn’t pleasant. So I left home when I was 11 years old; I became a ward of state because I had been in that much trouble by then that, to protect me and everybody else, they took me away. You mean trouble with law enforcement? Yeah, trouble with the law. Well, I never knew that you’re not supposed to lock your kids in closets and all this other stuff that was happening to me. I didn’t know that it was not normal. And it was through getting in trouble that I got into situations where I was talking to counselors, and I was talking to people and was realizing what was happening wasn’t right. But the only way that I was getting to those people and getting the help was by breaking the law. >>
Frank Shamrock: A look back in time 1972 Frank Alisio Juarez III was born in Santa Monica, California on December 8. 1980s
Young Frank Juarez bounced around between foster homes, crisis centers and jail.
1998
Shamrock was named “Best Full Contact Fighter” by Black Belt Magazine. In October, he fought Lober again and defeated him in seven minutes.
1999
September 24, Shamrock defeated Tito Ortiz at UFC 22. The fight has been considered the “best fight in UFC history.” It would be Shamrock’s last appearance in the UFC.
1993
At 21 years old, Frank Juarez was officially adopted by Bob Shamrock, who helped wayward teens learn to fight. He would later change his last name to honor the relationship. Also this was the year of the firstever Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event, where Royce Gracie defeated Frank’s brother Ken Shamrock.
1994 Ken Shamrock taught submission fighting to his brother Frank. On December 16, Shamrock surprised everyone and defeated the legendary Bas Rutten. 1997 On January 17, Frank lost to John Lober at SuperBrawl III in Honolulu, Hawaii. Shamrock shifted his focus to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). On December 21, Frank Shamrock became the first-ever UFC Middleweight Champion.
2000
Shamrock defeated Elivis Sinosic on December 10 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final.
2001
On August 11, Shamrock broke former student Shannon “The Cannon” Ritch’s arm at K-1 Kickboxing with a roundhouse kick.
2005 The acclaimed fighter opens the Shamrock Martial Arts Academy to teach MMA in San Jose in December. 2008
Shamrock’s daughter, Nicolette, was born on April 24.
2009
Shamrock was defeated by Nick Diaz by a technical KO on April 11.
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Is that, in part, what drove you to seek out and achieve such success? For sure. I don’t want my children, my family or anybody I know to have to grow up like that . . . I used to eat out of trash cans; I used to sleep at the park. I remember it like it was yesterday. I want people who experience that to know that there’s somewhere, something they can do that will help them make it. And that’s kind of my attraction to cannabis. I’m seeing it like I was seeing Mixed Martial Arts. I was, like, “listen you guys, [MMA] is going to be insanely big, because this is in peoples’ hearts; this is what people want, they just don’t know it yet.” And it’s the same thing with this medicine, and I feel like we’re in that same position, only this medicine’s so much bigger than the martial arts thing. Can you describe your personal journey with cannabis? It started recreationally. It wasn’t until I got into sports that I started experiencing real levels of pain and needing to deal with them. [But] I didn’t even think about [cannabis for pain management] until I was into my 30s and then I’m literally struggling with addiction from the pain pills. At that time I started consuming edibles and the salves had started coming out, [and] I never took pain pills again. I switched entirely to cannabis for my pain management. It saved me, because my biggest fear, and I’m certain it would’ve happened, that at the end of all this I’d be a drug addict. I think it prolonged my career; allowed me to perform at the highest level, and even today I have to consume it. Otherwise I’m not sleeping, I can’t sit down, and I’m in the most horrible pain. How have you seen attitudes toward cannabis change
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amongst professional athletes? All athletes are talking about it, and they’re also beginning to realize [that] what they give you to kill the pain is killing everything—and it’s also addictive. Everybody’s seeing the opportunities here and what [cannabis is] doing. When you were you using cannabis during your fighting career, was there an issue with detection? One-hundred percent, and [there was a] tremendous fear about it, because if it was a championship fight, you had to pass a clean test. So there was three weeks of agony and pain and discomfort, where I could not take my medicine because of fear that it would be caught and my brand image would be ruined.
2010 Frank and Ken Shamrock’s adoptive father, Bob, passed away on January 14. He announced his retirement from fighting on June 26 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum. 2012
Shamrock released his autobiography Uncaged: My Life as a Champion MMA Fighter, on October 1.
2015
On February 19, Frank ended his decades-long public feud with his brother Ken by joining him in the corner during his fight against Royce Gracie.
2017
The first episode of Frank’s new cannabis education TV show, The BakeOut, premiered on January 25.
2013
He was featured in the award-winning documentary on MMA titled Fight Life, which won “Best Documentary” at the United Film Festival.
Do professional athletes, who are synonymous with fitness, health and success, have a special role to play in cannabis advocacy? I absolutely think they do. Because we put ‘em on pedestals, and we follow their leads. I felt tremendous angst that I was taking this medicine and couldn’t share it or talk about it. And I felt terrible that I was doing this in secret. What are some of the biggest misunderstandings about cannabis in America today? That we’re all “getting high,” that we’re “smoking weed.” There’s still this old Cheech & Chong, hang out, smoke-it-up generation, and it’s colliding with the new culture, which is medicinal- and businessthinking. We need to get a line here, because “Big Pharma’s” coming, big money’s coming, big business is coming. And this [cannabis] community is a really nice group of caretakers and supporters and medicine users and activists. If they could get on the same page, that’s a powerful, powerful voice. c
www.frankshamrock.com
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REVIEWs
company highlight
Kush Tourism
Interviewed: Michael Gordon, CEO
3708 Airport Way S., Seattle, 98134 | (844) 587-5874 | kushtourism.com How would you describe your company? What is your specialty?
effectively target the highly lucrative traveler market and save money in the process.
Our goal is to break the social stigma surrounding cannabis through educational and interactive experiences. We focus on creating resources that support tourism, from behind the scenes cannabis tours in Seattle to cannabis B&Bs in all states. We also work with thousands of hotels, visitor centers and tourist attractions to help retailers target the tourism industry through industry ad buys. What do you offer clients that others don’t?
How and why did your company start up?
We are undeniably the number one travel resource for people interested in cannabis. We are able to offer consumers up-to-date advice on how to plan and enjoy their travel. We are also the only company that helps retailers
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Our company started because everyone knows someone who has been to Amsterdam for cannabis. Traditionally Amsterdam has been [against cannabis] tourism. We knew the opposite approach would provide opportunity, so we embraced the culture and help develop cannabis tourism for travelers interested in a unique twist on their vacation. With the changing landscape of medical and recreational cannabis, what do you see as the biggest challenges to your progress as a company? Any advantages? We have learned lessons from banks and credit card processors, and we have
broken down walls to establish new distribution. Policy on cannabis often does not exist. This makes us a front line advocate for the industry, helping develop the business infrastructure for the industry to prosper. What words of advice would you offer anyone seeking to enter the world of cannabis business? If you have a good idea, are a lifelong learner, can work harder and navigate a constantly evolving legal landscape, give cannabis a try. These threats are always present, and we need to quickly navigate issues. Save yourself the stress of worrying about if your business can survive and instead focus on the solution. What are your goals and vision moving forward for your company? Where do
you see your company in five years? Our goal is to be the goto source for cannabis travelers. We promote our vetted travel partners who are ambassadors of the industry. Kush Marketplace is our other big project. This is the “Craigslist of cannabis,” a place where our network of retailers can find products from producers and processors. Our platform is free and is moving down the coast from Washington and Oregon to California in the coming months! What do you hope to accomplish in the cannabis industry? My goal is to continue to build resources that educate consumers and businesses in the cannabis industry. Our ventures such as Kush Tourism or Kush Marketplace serve to bolster the industry as a whole by provide better access to better information while building stronger ties with in our own industry. c
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REVIEWs
For More Products Go To iReadCulture.com
1.
Cone Artist Joint Roller This helpful Swedish device, the Cone Artist, is a godsend to cannasseurs everywhere. This little tool is an all-in-one cone roller, filler and stuffer! A simple device and a handy design make this Cone Artist perfect for people who prefer cones over joints, and everybody can use a little help with the rolling and filling of these delicate and tricky beasts. Grab one, and see for yourself! PRICE: $10.69 MORE INFORMATION: coneartist.com
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JENNY Crackle by Erbanna From the Odor Loc technology to strategically-placed features, every detail of Erbanna’s Jenny Crackle bag has been intentionally executed, making it a safe cannabis storage device, especially for parents. A lockable zipper will keep the little ones from getting inside this trendy bag, and there’s a convenient and removable wristlet, which is stylish and practical when you’re in a rush. The zipper is also waterproof and smell-proof. Inside there is extra padding that’s perfect for protecting glass pieces. An interior zipper compartment is an ideal storage spot for accessories, such as a lighter or a grinder. Overall, Erbanna bags make for a great gift that every cannabis consuming mother would love to receive. These luxurious bags are available in seven styles and offer leather or vegan options. PRICE: $39.99-$49.99 MORE INFORMATION: erbanna.com
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Tafl Table At first glance it appears to be an ordinary side table, but this beautifully designed, fourlegged wooden and circular stone top accent table is in fact, far from ordinary. The Tafl table is fully biofabricated, which means it is grown in just a few days using Mushroom® Materials, agriculture waste and microorganisms. Yep! That’s right! It’s made from living organisms! It is toxin-free and sustainably manufactured, and come on—it’s gorgeous, modern and sleek too! Mushroom accent table? Yes please! PRICE: $299 MORE INFORMATION: ecovativedesign.com
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Ombré Pipe Experience the pastel satin glazes of fine ceramic art. You’ve seen the ombré fade in fashion, and the trend continues with ceramic stoneware. The airbrushed ombré fade on the Ombré Pipe by Haciendaware is designed to evoke the breathtaking and smogenhanced sunsets of smoggy metropolitan cities. The Ombré Pipe is cast stoneware that’s durable and square-shaped, so it won’t roll over. Choose from chic pastel color gradients like mint, salmon, periwinkle or mauve. All pieces are handmade and have the subtle defects of original art. At just under four inches long, the Ombré Pipe will easily fit in your pocket. PRICE: $90 MORE INFORMATION: haciendaware.bigcartel.com
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REVIEWs
entertainment
BOOK
Cannabis for Seniors Beverly A. Potter, Ph.D Robin Publishing Senior citizens often face many obstacles when it comes to finding the best treatment options available for the many ailments that are synonymous with aging. Cannabis for Seniors was written by Dr. Beverly A. Potter, and it gives those of a certain age who are considering cannabis medicine insight into how consuming the plant has the potential to provide a higher quality of living and health. By debunking myths that surround cannabis medicine to discussing the countless options of cannabis treatments and more, this new book contains all the evidence and information senior citizens look toward when considering cannabis to treat their medical conditions. (Jacob Cannon)
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Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC Release Date: May 5
MOVIE
Hidden Figures
GAME
Dir. Theodore Melfi
Prey
20th Century Fox
Dev. Arkane Studios Pub. Bethesda Softworks Prey is a re-imagined sequel to the 2006 title of the same name, and an upcoming first-person action adventure title that melds the best thrilling categories—space and hostile aliens. Players control Morgan Yu who is performing research on the local moon while living on a large space station, where he encounters the Typhone—a group of various violent alien species that hunt players down. Explore the interior and exterior of a vast space station in an open world, collecting essential items and fighting off wave-afterwave of aliens. (Nicole Potter)
Throughout history, celebrity and mainstream recognition are generally only given to a select few individuals when grand achievements and giant leaps in progress are made. Hidden Figures does well telling the story of three behind-thescenes individuals who helped make some grand achievements in American history possible. The film profiles three female African-American mathematicians, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who overcame both racial and gender discrimination while working at NASA in the midst of the space race and became integral parts of the institution’s success in the 1960s. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
DAMN. Kendrick Lamar Top Dawg Entertainment Almost two years exactly since the release of one of the biggest records of hip-hop’s modern era, To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar returns with yet another incredible masterclass in lyricism and production with DAMN., his fourth studio album. While Lamar’s previous material has always showcased the rapper’s stunning lyrical abilities and flow, DAMN. might be the first of his albums that truly hinges entirely on those talents with a nearly flawless production from some of the truly greatest producers of this era. (Simon Weedn)
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REVIEWs
strain, edible & concentrate FloraCal Farms Pre-Rolls The perfect pre-roll pack is here! Featuring five, 0.7 gram joints full of premium indoor bud grown in Sonoma County, each pack is an entire eighth rolled up. Spark up one of these on the beach with a couple of friends, and kick back to enjoy the super relaxing and cheerful effects. A soft and flavorful smoke is detected upon the inhale, which is great for consumers looking to try these pre-rolls for the first time. Even if being enjoyed alone, an extra-long crutch makes it easy to puff on again after being snuffed out once. Next-level thinness in the pack allows consumers to keep one in any pocket without even noticing it there. As expected, FloraCal maintains its reputation of high quality by not putting in any trim or plant matter in these pre-rolls. Available at: Dispensaries throughout California.
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Super Glue Ever think a strain shouldn’t be called what it is because the effects are nothing like the name? Well, that’s definitely not the case here with Super Glue from California Collective Care. Sticky but not icky, breaking apart these adhesive nugs is a task in and of itself but well worth it, because once it’s inhaled, there’s no more work getting done. The pungent and sour aroma is reminiscent of a cross between glue and a den of skunks. Long and wiry calyxes wrap around each other and are bound together by the heaps of tacky trichomes. A breathtaking sage green value is present on the strain and could be stared at for hours on end. Strong diesel tastes overpower the tangy flavors but pair together quite nicely. Bay Area locals know that California Collective Care always offers the best buds, and it’s where to find the Super Glue.
Available at: California Collective Care in Vallejo.
Available wherever: FlavRx products are carried.
FlavRx Lemon White Chocolate Bar This delectable confection pairs creamy white chocolate with tart, tangy lemon flavors. With 180mg of cannabinoid content, you’re going to feel the effects. With the CBD bar, the ratio is 50/50 and each bite-sized piece contains 5mg of THC and 5mg of CBD. This balance helps you the best of both worlds from cannabis. The bars are made with 29 percent chocolate and real lemon zest for a rich flavor. They also contain lemon oil, cocoa butter and active oil. The FlavRx lemon white chocolate bar is perfect for getting medicated when you want the full flavor as well. FlavRx bars come in flavors of tangerine, blackberry, toffee, blueberry and lemon.
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Lumpy’s Lemonade It’s 2017—and any Bay Area local ought to know exactly who Lumpy is and why he is such a special person. For longer than anyone can remember, Lumpy (@lumpstatus) has been cranking out the most fruity and juicy strains in California, and Lumpy’s Lemonade is just that. Bursting at the seams with flavor, this lemonade is chock full of the limonene terpene, which emulates the tangy tartness of traditional lemonade flavors. A personal favorite for getting the morning moving, all of Lumpy’s Lemonade flowers are “Clean Green” certified and some of the best for focus and motivation. All of the nuggets sampled were tender, easy to break down and noticeably grown without additives. A truly exemplary strain from truly amazing grower can be found at the HTP Group. Don’t miss it either—Lumpy’s flowers are flying off the shelves.
Available at: HTP Group in Vallejo.
Private Reserve Granddaddy Purple Flavor should always be the biggest priority in cartridges and the Granddaddy Purple Private Reserve cartridge by Bhang sure has plenty to spare. The Private Reserve line prides itself on only offering oils between 70-90 percent THC and oil so clear one could see right through it. The Granddaddy Purple cartridge falls right in line at 76.59 percent THC, tested via SC Labs. One of the more ideal concentrate cartridges for unwinding and loosening up, there is instant noticeable relief for muscle tension and joint pain. This strain is great to keep on hand to help rejuvenate the body after a long hike or a gnarly surf. Bhang doesn’t cut corners or skimp out on quality; instead the company continues to showcase premier strains inside top-notch hardware.
Available at: Cookie Co. 415 in San Francisco.
Available wherever: Bhang products are carried.
Cookies ‘N Creme Cookie Co. 415 has by far the largest menu of sweet buds that hail from the Girl Scout Cookies strain in the Bay Area, and the Cookies ‘N Creme offering is one of the company’s best. Scrumptious scents just like the smell of a freshly baked sugar cookie are complemented by a sweet and creamy aftertaste. The crispy nug structure of this strain shows how perfectly dried and cured this strain is. Notable for its sedative effects, Cookies ‘N Creme is best used at night, as it certainly packs a punch straight from the sandman. Muscle pain and insomnia are two ailments that just drift away when enjoying this powerful strain. This is not a bud that should be passed up for those looking for the classic couch-lock experience. Cookie Co. 415 in San Francisco is the spot for this top-of-the-line cookie.
Pink Champagne X Chocolate Hash If anyone has ever imagined every color available in an all-inone strain, this is exactly what it would look like. A cornucopia of beautiful forest greens, deep eggplant-purple hues and burnt orange shades make this strain one of the most eye-appealing flowers in California. Rich aromas emanate off of the crystallike nugs that remind consumers of that magical first time they smelled cannabis (it produces an almost an eerily nostalgic scent). Lingering chocolate flavors dance with a burst of a slightly sweet tartness. And to round this strain out as a simply perfect one, all of the buds are long, wide and frosty. This is a quintessential strain for getting work done, and consumers will find themselves experiencing motivation with a side of happiness from all the work they have completed. The Green Door in San Francisco is the spot for this one-of-a-kind medicine. 86
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Available at: The Green Door in San Francisco.
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culture growing
2017 WINTER GARDEN 4
O
ne month ago, I cut the Shark Shock plant in its 50th day of flowering. The plant spread over a nine-square-foot canopy but was less than 24” tall. Once the plant was cut, I hung it upside-down in an unused grow tent in a room that stays between 650-720 with a relative humidity (RH) of 45-55 percent. The room stayed within ideal range of temperature and humidity. Rather than separating the drying and curing stages with clear delineation, I just let the plant hang and slowly reach maturity. A month has gone by and now it’s time to take down the plant and manicure it. Manicuring was easy. First, the colas were removed from the branches using a pair of garden clippers, then the buds were manicured while remaining on the cola. Finally, they were
The plant hung in the tent for almost a month.
Buds were trimmed of leaves and removed from the cola.
Pile of buds.
Close-up of bud covered with trichomes.
TIP OF THE MONTH It’s time for spring clean-up. Whether you are a connoisseur or grower, you probably have some trimmings from buds lying around as well as “emergency” cannabis, or stuff that wasn’t quite up to par. Instead, gather it all up to transform it into something useful. You can soak it in high-proof alcohol for use as a hi-cocktail, sift it through a screen to make kief, make dry ice hash, soak in butter or oil for cooking or grind it up and add it to skin cream. It’s a double win. Your tray and paraphernalia are cleaned up and you have something to show for your efforts.
Enjoying the harvest.
PROFILE
IN
COURAGE
DESTINATION
UNKNOWN
RECIPES
by Ed Rosenthal
removed from the cola. Then a joint was rolled and a small group gathered for subjective testing. Everyone was pleased with the uplifting nature of Shark Shock’s effects and noticed the fine white ash, indicating few excess nutrients in the bud. After the brief respite for testing purposes, the work continued. The next step was to use the trim to make dry ice hash. This is a very fast, simple process and results in some very fine hash, as well as material that can be used for further processing. The trim was placed in a clean fivegallon bucket that already contained about 8-10 pounds of crushed dry ice. Dry ice is frozen CO2 and is very cold negative 109.3˚ Fahrenheit. If you’re replicating this method at home, never mess with it with bare hands. Instead, wear work gloves. Mix the grass into the crushed ice using a wooden spoon. Let it sit for a few minutes waiting for the grass to get cold. Place a dry ice screen over the bucket. Turn it upside down and start shaking it as you slowly move the bucket along an absolutely dry, clean and uncluttered surface such as a table-top. The bucket moves as it is shaken along the surface and the color of the powder falling through the screen gradually changes from the palest creamy yellow to green. The green is powdered vegetation, indicating that a higher proportion of the powder is screened vegetation. Finally, the blonde was separated from the green kief. c
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Specially designed commercial silkscreen was placed over bucket.
Bucket was turned upside down and shaken.
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Glands pour out of the bucket covering the table.
The kief color changed as the shaking continued.
Pile of AA dry ice kief.
Trim leaf was placed in clean bucket filled with dry ice and stirred. 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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culture growing
Time to Go: May Weather: Low 80s, periodic rainfall Budget: $$$$$
Mexico City Flowers in May by Sheryll Alexander
Mexico City has always attracted cannabis enthusiasts, as this ancientmeets-modern city of approximately ninemillion people was literally built from the ground up atop a pre-Aztec Empire temple for a Mayan female called Divinity, who was literally worshipped for her miracle plant medicines. So, when it comes to cannabis travel south of the border and—in particular to Mexico City—there’s always been an underground reverence for the cannabis plant. Mexico has made several preliminary legal moves in the last few years to create the foundation for what may eventually become a medicinal cannabis haven and possibly a future as a recreational country such as South America’s Uruguay. What does this mean to Mexico City’s millions of annual visitors? Firstly, carrying a small personal amount of cannabis flower is
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now legal. This decriminalization has happily eased tensions between local authorities and cannabis enthusiasts who now feel free to casually light up (albeit discreetly) in public. Secondly, public and political opinion toward cannabis as both medicine and a “soft drug” akin to tobacco and alcohol is becoming so commonplace that a Barcelona-style private cannabis club with 2,000 members infamously opened last year. As the political (city, state and federal government all collide here) and financial capital of all Mexico, Mexico City is a whirlwind of “global congress,” finance and corporate conferences as a seemingly never-ending metropolitan mega-wasteland. It is this frenzy of leisure and business activity—plus the city’s millions of diverse residents—that makes Mexico City a vibrant, buzzing hive of cultural treasures now built atop beloved neighborhood districts. c
Fun-Filled Facts
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if you go:
CDMX is the common local abbreviation for both Mexico City as a municipality and a state. Visitors will notice the CDMX acronym on everything from their boarding pass to signage to addresses. 1
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Mexico essentially shuts down for three national holidays in May including Labor Day (May 1), The Battle of Puebla (May 5) and the Feast of San Isidro (May 15). 2
Yes, it is still illegal to grow, sell and distribute cannabis in Mexico. However, a 2009 Mexican law decriminalized cannabis possession in small amounts (no more than five grams), which has made Mexico City more of a cannabis-friendly destination than ever before. But even before the new law, Mexico City’s millions of mota enthusiasts made this a relaxed place where nobody trips when someone lights up in public parks, nightclubs and, of course, outside while taking a sun-filled siesta on a bougainvilleacovered hacienda’s terraza. As is always suggested when going global, the best way to find cannabinoid medication while in any country is to plan ahead. Sign up for a cannabis-friendly tour or seek out a local who can safely guide you. Still, it is Mexico and there are many choices. Interestingly, the most premium (and most expensive) cannabis flowers in Mexico are now imported from Europe or North America. If you do end up being “shaken down” by local police, stay calm. Politely explain to the officer that you understand the legal cannabis possession law.
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culture RECIPES
growing
Sheryll Alexander
PROFILE
IN
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DESTINATION
UNKNOWN
Age: 54
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Condition/Illness: Severe scalp psoriasis, skin cancer and chronic pain.
When did you start using medical cannabis? I started “smoking pot” at 21 recreationally, and because of the lack of medical knowledge, I did not realize it was my pain medicine until years later. For decades, I had to buy my meds on the black market and—as a single mother—worry about having my child taken away because of my “drug” use. I am thankful for California’s and L.A.’s now easy access to premium cannabis products for my pain management and transdermal products. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? No. I made a commitment to myself when I was 17 years old to never use
pharmaceutical drugs for pain or my skin conditions. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Well, it unfortunately still depends on where you live. For some, it is still illegal and access is their big challenge. For others like me, it usually comes down to not being able to afford high-quality organic indica flowers for pain and a lot of top-notch transdermal products. But mostly, I think medical doctors should be prescribing cannabis medicine, not budtenders. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? Firstly, I just state the obvious—cannabis has never killed anyone. Then I go into a long-winded explanation about the endocannabinoid system. By the end, they are usually convinced. c
Are you an MMJ 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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culture growing
A May to Remember Menu:
Bacon & Vegetable Quiche
The Bloody Pearl
DESTINATION
UNKNOWN
RECIPES
Classic French Toast Sticks
Makes
6
servings
COURAGE IN PROFILE
Local eateries with similar dishes: Zazie 941 Cole St., San Francisco (415) 564-5332 www.zaziesf.com The Breakfast Club 1432 W San Carlos St., San Jose (408) 564-7150 www.bcmidtown.com
Bacon & Vegetable Quiche 1 unbaked, unfrozen pastry shell (9 inches)
6 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup chopped fresh broccoli
1 2/3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup chopped fresh cauliflower
1 1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups fresh baby spinach 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheese 4 eggs, lightly beaten MAY 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
Fox & Goose 1001 R St., Sacramento (916) 443-8825 foxandgoose.com
Directions:
Ingredients:
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The month of May is synonymous with hearty brunches, not only because of Mother’s Day, but because the weather alone is perfect for gathering loved ones together to dine and enjoy each other’s company. Embark upon the journey of exploring decadent brunch recipes that are sure to result in a late morning filled with harmonious food and great conversation. We’ve gathered our favorite recipes that offer bold flavors that pay respect to the replenishing gifts of springtime. These fresh recipes utilize colorful fruits and vegetables that are seasonal in May, but also offer savory blends of bacon to create brunch dishes that everyone can enjoy. Grab an armful of cauliflower, raspberries, blueberries and broccoli—it’s a bonus if you find locally-sourced bacon. With these seasonal ingredients, loving company and perfect weather considered, this will be a glorious way to honor mothers everywhere.
1 1/2 teaspoons cannabisinfused olive oil t 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Preheat your over to 400°. Line the crust in heavyduty aluminum foil. Bake until the edges of your pie crust begin to turn golden, approximately 10 minutes. Remove foil, and bake for an additional five minutes. Lower the oven heat to 350°. Heat cannabis-infused olive oil and non-infused olive oil in a large skillet at medium high. Cook the cauliflower, broccoli and onion in the skillet under tender. Add baby spinach, and cook until wilted. Whisk eggs, rosemary, cream, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add cooked vegetables, cheese and bacon to your mixture and pour into your crust. Cover the edges of your crust with foil, and bake the quiche for 35-40 minutes. Continue cooking until a knife that is inserted into the middle of the quiche comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com
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culture
Classic French Toast Sticks
growing
Ingredients: 4 eggs, whisked
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of milk
8 slices whole wheat bread
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
1/4 cup cannabutter
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
Powdered sugar
t
Instructions:
DESTINATION
UNKNOWN
RECIPES
Whisk eggs in a medium bowl, then add vanilla and milk until the mixture is blended. Pre-heat a non-stick pan or griddle to medium heat. Dip your bread, one slice at a time, into the mixture, and place bread onto your pan or griddle. Cook each side of the bread until it is golden brown in color. Spread butter onto each slice of bread, and cut the French toast into strips. Garnish your French toast with fresh raspberries and blueberries and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with maple syrup. Makes
4
servings
The Bloody Pearl
COURAGE IN PROFILE
4
servings
Ingredients: 6 ounces gin
1 cup lemon juice
4 cups Bloody Pearl Mix
1/3 cup Sriacha
2 full droppers of aromatic cannabis bitters t
1 cup horseradish
Cilantro for garnish
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Makes
Bloody Pearl Mix 1 gallon tomato juice
1/2 cup celery salt 1/2 cup toasted ground caraway seeds Salt and black pepper to taste
4 cups Chinese black vinegar Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice to fill and lightly shake. Pour into highball and garnish with cilantro.
Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
MAY 2017 iReadCULTURE.com
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NORCAL NOW! event listings
buffet provided by the crew. Pier 3 Embocardo at Washington St., San Francisco hornblower.com
Cinco de Mayo in San Francisco, May 6 The Mission District will host the Saturday celebration of Cinco de Mayo with traditional Mexican music and other various Latin sounds. Munch on the diverse selection of foods, and enjoy a cultural experience that brings together the community! Valencia St. between 21st St. and 24th St., San Francisco cincodemayosf.org Taiwanese American Cultural Festival, May 13 Step into a world of delicious delicacies and live cultural performances at the Taiwanese Festival as it hits its 25th year of celebration. Discover more about Taiwanese history in California and see how it shapes the Bay Area today. Union Square, San Francisco tafestival.org Mother’s Day Cruise, May 14 Mix it up for Mother’s Day by taking your mom to brunch aboard The Embarcadero for an afternoon of champagne, photo ops and smooth jazz. Gaze across the beautiful San Francisco Bay while your family enjoys the bar and the abundant
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featured event
Free Science Day at Exploratorium, May 14 This Mother’s Day take advantage of free entrance to the Exploratorium museum. Venture through the hundreds of hands-on exhibitions, take part in an interactive activity and even sit in on one of the daily discussions that take place throughout the day. Pier 15 Embocardo at Green St., San Francisco exploratorium.edu Oakland Greek Festival May 19-21 Take part in celebrating a culture that dates back almost 5,000 years ago at Oakland’s Greek Festival. All are invited to indulge in the food, wine and cultural dances that have influenced several parts of the world. Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, Oakland oaklandgreekfestival.com Sonoma County Backroad Challenge, May 20 Three different bike routes at varying lengths will take off at Penngrove Park and finish back at the Backroad Festival. Bike enthusiasts will love the scenic views of the ride and will help fund local non-profits and humanitarian projects with their involvement. Penngrove Park, Sonoma backroadchallenge.com Pop-Up BubblyFest, May 21 Spend your Saturday popping bottles at the champagne celebration known as
Taco Festival of Innovation, May 27
With a selection of over 25 of the best Bay Area taco trucks, foodies and taco lovers can bask in the tasty flavors and savory smells of the 6th Annual Taco Festival. Plates go for $6 or less with unique varieties from short rib tacos to ice cream tacos! History Park, San Jose mvblfeast.com BubblyFest! A ticket purchase includes a souvenir glass, unlimited tasting and tasty hors d’oeuvres. Market and Powell, San Francisco bubblyfest.com Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, May 27-28 In celebration of the
mushroom, the 38th annual Mushroom Mardi Gras will hold cooking demonstrations and an educational mushroom exhibit. This free event offers two stages of entertainment, beer gardens and more. Outdoor Community Center Amphitheater, Downtown Morgan Hill mhmmg.org
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SHOOTING GALLERY
new england cannabis convention Boston, Massachusetts
photos courtesy of NECANN
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Chuck Shepherd's
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY—TP GOES HIGH TECH u China’s public park restrooms have for years suffered toiletpaper theft by local residents who raid dispensers for their own homes (a cultural habit, wrote Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, expressing taxpayer feelings of “owning” public facilities), but the government recently fought back with technology. At Beijing’s popular Temple of Heaven park, dispensers now have facial-recognition scanners beside the six toilets, with pre-cut paper (about 24 inches long) issued only to users who pose for a picture. (Just one slug of paper can be dispensed to the same face in a 9-minute period, catastrophic for the diarrhea-stricken and it requires calling an attendant to override the machine.)
LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES u The church-state “wall” leaks badly in Spindale, North Carolina, according to former members of the Word of Faith Fellowship (reported in February by the Associated Press). Two state prosecutors (one a relative of the church’s founder), in nearby Burke and Rutherford counties, allegedly coached Fellowship members and leaders how to neutralize government investigations into church “abuse”—coaching that would violate state law and attorney ethical standards. Fellowship officials have been accused of beating “misbehaving” congregants, including children, in order to repel their demons. (Among the Fellowship’s edicts revealed in the AP report: All dating, marriages and procreation subject to approval; no wedding-night intimacy
beyond a “godly” cheek kiss; subsequent marital sex limited to 30 minutes, no foreplay, lights off, missionary position.) THE BEDROOM OF TOMORROW u In March, vibrator customers were awarded up to $10,000 each in their class-action “invasion of privacy” lawsuit against the company Standard Innovation, whose We-Vibe model’s smartphone app collected intimate data (vibrator temperature and motor intensity) that could be associated with particular customers—and which were easily hackable, and controllable, by anyone nearby with a Bluetooth connection. The Illinois federal court limited the award to $199 for anyone who bought the vibrator but did not activate the app. PERSPECTIVE u The U.S. House of Representatives, demonstrating particular concern for military veterans, enhanced vets’ civil rights in March by removing a source of delay in gun purchases. A 2007 law had required all federal agencies to enter any mentally-ill clients into the National Instant Criminal Background Check database for gun purchases, but the new bill exempts veterans (including, per VA estimates, 19,000 schizophrenics and 15,000 with “severe” post-traumatic stress disorder). (An average of a dozen veterans a day in recent times have committed suicide with guns.)
intelligence that test after test has shown him incapable of understanding his legal rights, and therefore “incompetent” to stand trial. (Police made multiple “slam dunk” findings of Martinez’s DNA on the victim’s body and also linked Martinez via a store camera to the very bottle of juice left at the crime scene.) EYEWITNESS NEWS u On the morning of March 20 in Winter Park, Florida, Charles Howard, standing outside his home being interviewed live by a WFTV reporter, denied he had committed a crime in a widely reported series of voicemail messages to a U.S. Congressman, containing threats to “wrap a rope around your neck and hang you from a lamp post.” He boasted that “proof” of his having done nothing wrong was that if he had, he would have already been arrested. “Three minutes later,” according to the reporter, agents drove up and arrested Howard.
PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US u Hey, How About a Little “Remorse”: (1) Royce Atkins, 23, told the judge in Northampton County (Pennsylvania) in March that he was so sorry he did not stop his car in 2015 and help that 9-year-old boy he had just hit and killed. However, Atkins had earlier been jailhouse-recorded viciously trash-talking the boy’s family for “reacting like they’re the victims. What about my family? My family is the victim, too.” (Atkins got a four-year sentence.) (2) In February, in a Wayne County (Michigan) court during sentencing for a DUI driver who had killed a man and severely injured his fiancee, Judge Qiana Lillard kicked the driver’s mother out of the courtroom for laughing at the victim’s sister who was tearfully addressing the judge. (Lillard sentenced the mother to 93 days for contempt, but later reduced it to one day.)
FINE POINTS OF THE LAW u Police and prosecutors in Williamsburg, Virginia, are absolutely certain that Oswaldo Martinez raped and killed a teenage girl in 2005, but, though he was quickly arrested, they have—12 years later—not even put him on trial. Martinez, then 33, is still apparently, genuinely (i.e., not faking) deaf, illiterate and almost mute, and besides that, the undocumented Salvadoran immigrant has such limited iReadCULTURE.com
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