Culture Magazine NorCal September 2016 by Culture Magazine

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09.16 Vol 8 IssUE 3

contents 54 DOWN TO EARTH

Actress Lucy Lawless talks about her heritage, her versatile acting experience and her support of medical cannabis.

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ON THE COVER:

p h o t o b y M a le a k re s h o k

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contents

inside

09.2016

features

The Re-Scheduling Cannabis Debacle DEA wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t re-schedule cannabis right now, but is pushing for more research by FDA in order to do so in the near future.

Industry Insider Michael Straumietisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; company Advanced Nutrients has become the leading nutrients company in cannabis horticulture.

Best Results Cannabis is essential to the healing process for Swedish UFC Fighter Per Eklund.

Embracing the Full Spectrum Jaw Gems takes electronic music to a whole new level.

departments news 18 News Nuggets 20 By the Numbers 22 Local News 26 Healthy Living reviews 62 Company Highlights 66 Cool Stuff 68 Entertainment Reviews 70 Strain & Concentrate Reviews in every issue 80 Growing Culture 82 Destination Unknown 84 Profile in Courage 86 Recipes 90 NorCal Now! 92 News of the Weird

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online Exclusive! d Texas Wants to Expand Cannabis

Laws in 2017 d Arizona Puts Legal Cannabis on

the Ballot

Vol 8 IssUE 3

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CULTURE M

Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Jamie Solis Editorial Contributors Benjamin Adams, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Anthony Herrold, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Joe Jatcko, David Jenison, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Tyler Markwart, Meital Manzuri, Sandy Moriarty, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Duncan Rolfson Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designer Tanya Delgadillo Regional Manager Gene Gorelik Account Executives Rob Bayless, Jon Bookatz, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Cole Garrison, Teddy Helms, Brad Hoffner, Emily Musser, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Chris Thatcher, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital media Editor David Edmundson Ctv Contributors Quinn Marie 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. 2175 Sampson Ave. | Suite 118 Corona | California | 92879 Phone 888.694.2046 | Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com

CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.

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NEWS

nuggets

Department of Justice Must Stop Fighting Against State Medical Cannabis Laws The Department of Justice (DOJ) was told by the largest federal appeals court in the United States to back off state-compliant medical cannabis. According to a press release from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, “. . . [the Court of Appeals] prohibits the Department of Justice from spending funds to prevent states’ implantation of their medical marijuana laws.” The panel also instructed the DOJ that if they do wish to continue prosecuting medical cannabis, they must determine that the defendants of the hearings were not operating within their states’ medical cannabis laws. While this is a huge win for medical cannabis states in the country, it doesn’t mean the fight against the federal government for medical cannabis is over. In the same court document, Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain warned, “But Congress could restore funding tomorrow, a year from now, or four years from now, and the government could then prosecute individuals who committed offenses while the government lacked funding. Moreover, a new president will be elected soon, and a new administration could shift enforcement priorities to place greater emphasis on prosecuting marijuana offenses.”

Illinois Becomes the 21st State to Decriminalize Cannabis Governor Bruce Rauner signed SB-2228 into law, which makes possession of cannabis up to 10 grams punishable by a citation and fine up to $200. This law makes Illinois the 21st state to decriminalize cannabis. The new bill also outlines specifics to determine whether someone is driving under the influence of cannabis. While Rauner has received some negative feedback from local police forces in regards to this new legislation, he clearly has the support of the cannabis community. Founder and CEO of an Illinois cannabis cultivation company, Revolution Enterprises, and Co-Founder of the Medical Cannabis Alliance, Tim McGraw shared his support for Rauner’s decision with CULTURE, “I think it’s positive overall for the industry and the movement, and [we should] not be locking people up for cannabis. It’s ridiculous. Anybody who gets locked up for a plant that gives them therapeutic value,” he said, “I think that finally the administration is seeing how it can economically help the state.” McGraw and many others who support the bill hope to see it eliminate the negative stigma around cannabis use and keep those who possess small amounts of cannabis from having a criminal record.

Humboldt County’s Proposed Tax May be Good for Cannabis Growers Voters in California’s notorious cannabis-growing county of Humboldt have passed a cannabis excise tax to appear on the November ballot. The tax rate would be the first of its kind in California, taxing cannabis growers between $1 and $3 per square foot, which varies with types of grows. CULTURE spoke with Ellen Komp, the Deputy Director of CA NORML to get her insight into Humboldt’s proposed tax. “I think for one thing, Humboldt is actually one of the more reasonable taxes around,” she told us. “A lot of places are just going hog-wild and putting 15 percent, 25 percent maybe up, all kinds of different retail taxes as well as cultivation taxes. I even saw one come through as high as $25 a square foot, and I think one came in at $35 [per square foot]. So Humboldt actually kind of broke the ground, so to speak, with a workable licensing scheme I think, certainly compared to the other one.” Other counties like Mendocino County may tax up to $100 per plant, which is not ideal for cannabis growers struggling to feed their families. If Humboldt’s excise tax passes, it will hopefully set precedent for other counties in California.

Puerto Rico Certifies its First Medical Cannabis Doctor Dr. Michael Soler became the first doctor in Puerto Rico to recommend medical cannabis. Soler originally started his cannabis training in the state of Colorado. Then, once the regulation was approved in Puerto Rico, he complied with all the new regulations that had been enacted by the governor and coincidentally became the first doctor permitted to prescribe medical cannabis. Although Dr. Soler can legally prescribe cannabis, he explained how this is just the first step in the process to get patients high-THC cannabis in an interview with CULTURE, “In Puerto Rico, it is clearly established that anything that is dispensed and provided to patients has to be grown and produced on the island. In that sense, we are basically at the very first stage of the process. Stage two is now starting to become a reality. Crops are being grown, cannabis clinics are starting to be established throughout the island. We still need about six more months for the product to become available on the island.” There are 14 conditions that qualify patients for medical cannabis, which include HIV, cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, migraines and chronic pain, among others. 18

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The number of locations in Berkeley that were recently approved by the Berkeley City Council to be used for medical cannabis collectives: (Source: Berkeleyside)

NEWS

The number of physicians in the state of California who have already taken the eight-hour online certification course that allows them to write a cannabis prescription for medical cannabis patients: (Source: Fox 13)

The number of votes, out of seven, that the Merced City Council voted in favor of passing a medical cannabis ordinance: (Source: ABC)

The number of judges who unanimously ruled in the U.S. appeals court in San Francisco in August that cannabis growers and/or users can’t be federally prosecuted if they comply with their state’s established medical cannabis laws: (Source: SF Bay)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the state of Maryland has spent on reviewing applicants for medical cannabis business licenses since January: (Source: The Baltimore Sun)

2.3

The updated cost to apply for a medical cannabis card in Montana, in dollars, decreased from its original price at $75: (Source: San Francisco Chronicle)

B2B Networking with Canna Professionals

WHAT: B2B Networking with Canna Professionals. WHEN/ WHERE: Thurs, Sept. 29. La Rosa Lounge, 500 4th St., Santa Rosa. INFO: Visit www.scgalliance.com for details.

When it comes to running a successful business, it really pays to know the right people. Luckily, this B2B Networking with Canna Professionals event will make sure each attendee has a supportive network of cannabis professionals to aid in their endeavors. Get ready to elevate your success in “cannabusiness” by networking with some leading cannabis industry

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experts in a comfortable and casual environment. The bar will be swinging, the appetizers will be delicious and you will also enjoy an upstairs patio and DJ spinning some tunes at this social mixer and intimate networking event. Don’t forget to bring your business cards and a big smile, because you never know who you will meet and what opportunities may lie ahead.

The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that the California Sixth Appellate District Court ruled that a medical cannabis dispensary in San Jose must pay the city in taxes and late fees:

767,058

(Source: NBC Bay Area)

The estimated percentage of professional football players who use cannabis to treat their various ailments, according to former running back Ricky Williams: (Source:

International Business Times)

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NEWS

LOCAL

Moving On Up

Berkeley increases number of permitted cannabis collectives

by Jamie Solis edical cannabis has been regulated in the city of Berkeley for over a decade now. The City Council first ruled to allow three collectives in the city in 2004. Four years later, Measure T increased the number of allowed medical cannabis collectives to four, although it took six years for the council to grant the fourth business necessary approval. Now, six years later, the City Council has not only named the fourth cannabis business who could open a collective, but they have also approved an increased number of collectives. On July 12, Berkeley City Council increased the permitted number of cannabis collectives to allow two more than previously allowed by the city. Before May, Berkeley had only granted three licenses of the four allowed within Berkeley’s Municipal Code to operate within city limits—Berkeley Patients Group, Cannabis Buyers Club of Berkeley (CBCB) and Berkeley’s Patient’s Care Collective (PCC). In a release by City Manager Dee WilliamsRidley, the first step toward making the change was outlined, “On May 10, 2016 the Council directed the City Manager to draft amendments to Municipal Code Section 12.26. 130 to increase the number of permitted dispensaries from four to six.” Now with up to six collectives permitted in Berkeley, potential cannabis businesses will have to wait until September 20 for the council to announce who will receive approval to operate. The city clearly sees an opportunity for increased profits, considering how much money the three operating collectives brought the city last year. A release by City Manager Williams-Ridley stated, “Increasing the number of dispensaries would generate additional revenue through sales tax. In 2015, the existing three dispensaries and their providers 22

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(businesses that sell product through the dispensaries) paid a total of $978,686 in City business license fees. The amount to be expected from additional dispensaries would depend on the size of the new businesses.” The vote on July 12 was not a surprise. In May, the fourth and final cannabis franchise was determined to be iCANN Health Center on Sacramento Street. There were two other finalists competing with iCANN for approval. One of the cannabis collectives competing for approval was Berkeley Innovative Health, which hoped to be located on San Pablo Avenue. The other was Berkeley Compassionate Care Center (BCCC), which hopes to operate on Telegraph Avenue next to Amoeba Music. The owners of BCCC also own Amoeba, and they believe that selling cannabis will support the operations of their record stores. While there is a team of people working feverishly to get Amoeba approved to run a collective, they have received unlikely opposition from another cannabis collective, PCC. The Co-Founder and President of PCC, Martin O’Brien, wrote a letter to Mayor Tom Bates of Berkeley, explaining why Amoeba opening a cannabis collective could destroy their business. In his letter, O’Brien explained how PCC is the oldest collective operating in Berkeley, and they are only 612 feet away from Amoeba. The collective is already struggling, and he claimed Amoeba opening a collective nearby would be disastrous. His letter read, “Locating BCCC in Amoeba Music is analogous to a new Walmart opening a few hundred feet from a mom and pop retailer.” An announcement by Berkeley City Council on September 20 will decide whether or not Amoeba and other businesses will get their chance to run a cannabis collective. c

Oktoberfest by the Bay Get ready for a traditional German party at one of the top 10 Oktoberfests in the country! Keeping with the authentic spirit of Oktoberfest celebrations, participants at Oktoberfest by the Bay are encouraged to come dressed in their Bavarian best. Costumes are only one aspect of the festival that help set the scene for days of beer drinking. This festival also features authentic Munich foods to keep participants full throughout the weekend. In addition to great foods and ice-cold brews, there will be plenty of activities to keep the energy level at top notch. Liquid courage may help you participate in non-stop singing, while dancing the chicken dance to oompah music will ensure every attendee has a weekend to remember. Get ready to make new friends at one of the best Oktoberfests around. Bottoms up! WHAT: Oktoberfest by the Bay. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, Sept. 23-Sun, Sept. 25. Pier 48, San Francisco. INFO: Visit www.oktoberfestbythebay.com for details.

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NEWS

HEALTHY LIVING

MICRODOSING Can less be better than more?

by Lanny Swerdlow, RN LNC In medicine, dosing is critical—too little and the medicine is not effective. Too much and it can kill you or at least make you feel excruciatingly nauseous. Cannabis doesn’t fit that rule as it is so safe that there is little concern over proper dosing with many people taking the attitude if a drop is good, a bathtub full is better. Just because you can’t overdose doesn’t mean how much you consume is not critical. Cannabis is bi-modal meaning that low doses can have one effect while high doses can have an opposite effect. This becomes a critical component in the ability of cannabis to provide symptomatic relief for a variety of ailments but especially in the treatment of pain which is the number one reason patients cite as their reason for the use of cannabis medicinally. Enter the concept of microdosing where a patient consumes a significantly lower amount of cannabis than what has been used previously. That a lower dose can be as effective as a higher dose has been found in a number of studies including a recent study undertaken by the University of California, San Diego’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. Patients in the study being treated for neuropathic pain reported that cannabis with 1.29 percent THC provided as much pain relief as cannabis with a 3.53 percent THC level i.e. no loss of pain relief properties 26

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while providing a significant reduction in psychoactive effects. Why a lower dose may provide as much or even more pain relief than a higher dose is explained by the biphasic dose-response curve—a scientific term noting that people have a specific individualistic threshold for cannabis effectiveness. Cannabis use below their specific threshold can provide an increase in health benefits, but if used above that level diminishing benefits will be experienced as a tolerance is developed to increasing concentrations of THC and other cannabinoids. What is happening is that lower doses of cannabinoids can upregulate or increase the response of the cannabinoid system to a stimulus, whereas the development of a tolerance caused by higher doses of cannabis can cause the cannabinoid system to downregulate and become less responsive to stimulus resulting in a reduction of pain relieving properties. Not only can higher doses cause a reduction in pain relief, but it can also cause extensive discomfort. In the clinical trials of Sativex, a cannabis based spray used for treating pain and insomnia associated with cancer, GW Pharmaceuticals found that high doses resulted in greater discomfort resulting in a 22 percent dropout rate as compared to just five percent in the low dose group and seven percent in the medium dose group.

“Complicating the picture is that it is nearly impossible to develop a standard cannabinoid dosage as every person has their own personal response to the ingestion of cannabis due to the complexity of the endocannabinoid system and the resultant individualistic responses to cannabis ingestion—one person’s low dose could easily be another person’s high dose.” Complicating the picture is that it is nearly impossible to develop a standard cannabinoid dosage as every person has their own personal response to the ingestion of cannabis due to the complexity of the endocannabinoid system and the resultant individualistic responses to cannabis ingestion— one person’s low dose could easily be another person’s high dose. Each person needs to determine their own specific threshold level in order to determine their optimum dose. One thing is fairly certain though—the more out of balance or sicker a patient is, the more they will most likely need higher dosing. As health improves and a return to a balanced physiological state progresses, lower dosing would be effective. Micro-dosing is but one avenue to consider when deciding on the amount of cannabis to consume as the reasons for ingestion will play a big role in the decision. At one time a person may want to use cannabis for pain, another time for insomnia and another time for its legendary recreational properties. Although it might take a bit of experimentation to discover what cannabis doses work best, unlike all other medications and social stimulants, there is no danger in finding out. c

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FDA is the Real Reason that DEA Can’t Re-Schedule Cannabis

DEA won’t re-schedule cannabis right now, but is pushing for more research by FDA in order to do so in the near future by Alex Bradley and Nicole Potter

There’s been a lot of media attention recently revolving around the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which was rumored to be planning a monumental decision to re-schedule cannabis from its Schedule 1 label. However, news broke on August 10 that the agency is still working on rescheduling cannabis, but for the time being, they cannot reschedule it. The DEA must get an official recommendation from the FDA about the evidence and studies related to the substance before it can reschedule anything. The DEA sent out a press release, stating that it has denied two petitions to reschedule cannabis. Before any rescheduling occurs, the DEA has requested that more scientific research be conducted. It also asked for “a scientific and medical evaluation and scheduling recommendation” from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which was already administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National

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Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Based on the legal standards in the CSA, marijuana remains a schedule 1 controlled substance because it does not meet the criteria for currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision, and it has a high potential for abuse,” the DEA stated in the announcement. “The HHS concluded that marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use in the United States, and lacks an acceptable level of safety for use even under medical supervision. Therefore, the HHS recommended that marijuana remain in Schedule I,” according to the 21 CFR Chapter II, Denial of Petition, from the DEA. “Based on the HHS evaluation and all other relevant data, the DEA has concluded that there is no substantial evidence that marijuana should be removed from Schedule I.” “Although the HHS evaluation and all other relevant data lead to the

“What DEA did change was to allow more people to register with us to grow marijuana for researchers to use.” conclusion that marijuana must remain in schedule I, it should also be noted that, in view of United States obligations under international drug control treaties, marijuana cannot be placed in a schedule less restrictive than schedule II. This is explained in detail in accompanying document titled ‘Preliminary Note Regarding Treaty Considerations.’”

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to not move the cannabis plant into another schedule, based on their limited research and trials. There will be more, and the DEA has mandated that. They have updated their policy, to facilitate and foster more research by expanding the number of registered growers for cannabis in the country. “This change illustrates DEA’s commitment to working together with the FDA and NIDA to facilitate research concerning marijuana and its components. DEA currently has 350 individuals registered to conduct research on marijuana and its components. Notably, DEA has approved every application for registration submitted by researchers seeking to use NIDA-supplied marijuana to conduct research that HHS determined to be scientifically meritorious.” Correno assured us in an interview that the DEA is still considering rescheduling cannabis in the future. They just need the official structure and process to fall in line with that, ie. the FDA approving and providing the DEA with proper evidence and studies about the medicinal qualities of cannabis. Currently, the FDA is doing trials for Epidiolex, which could possibly be the third approved cannabis-related pharmaceutical by the FDA. Correno, at the DEA says that if the FDA approves Epidiolex, there is a large possibility that they could recommend the DEA to reschedule the main part of that drug, CBD to be a Schedule II substance. In more detail, the second Denial of Petition to Initiate Proceedings to Reschedule Marijuana, Michael J. Lewis, Office of Diversion Control and Chuck Rosenberg, Acting Administrator of the DEA, state that based on the HHS evaluation and all other relevant data, the DEA has concluded that there is no substantial evidence that cannabis or marijuana should be removed from schedule I.

“DEA has not had a change of heart on rescheduling cannabis—it is going to stay in the same schedule (Schedule I) where it’s been, because the FDA still says it is not a medicine.” The rejected petitions to reschedule cannabis were submitted by Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo, Washington State Governor Jay R. Inslee and Bryan A. Krumm (whose job title and address title were blocked out). DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg responded to it in four-page letter detailing the decision. The DEA does further state in its August 11 announcement that, as according to its new policy, it plans to increase the number of cannabis manufacturers that supply researchers. The only approved cannabis manufacturer is at the University of Mississippi, which is under contract with the NIDA. The DEA hopes to open more manufacturers in the near future that comply with FDA-authorized research. “This change illustrates DEA’s commitment to working together with the FDA and NIDA to facilitate research concerning marijuana and its components,” the statement continued. “DEA currently has 350 individuals registered to conduct research on marijuana and its components. Notably, DEA has approved every application for registration submitted by researchers seeking to use NIDA-supplied marijuana to conduct research that HHS determined to be scientifically meritorious.” CULTURE spoke with DEA representative Barbara Correno, DEA Headquarters Public Affairs Officer regarding the recent update, and provided us with more understanding, and a little more hope for the future, than most regarding this matter at first sight. “DEA has not had a change of heart on rescheduling cannabis—it is going to stay in the same schedule (Schedule I) where it’s been, because the FDA still says it is not a medicine. We schedule all substances jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services. We study a substance to determine if it meets the eight criteria in the Controlled Substances Act for controlling. If it does, we send it to DHHS for scientific studies. After they conduct these studies, they send us a recommendation as to whether to schedule (or reschedule) the substance. If they recommend against scheduling or rescheduling, we cannot do so. If they believe something should be scheduled or rescheduled, then we begin the regulatory process of doing so,” she told CULTURE in a phone interview. “What DEA did change was to allow more people to register with us to grow marijuana for researchers to use. Information on that is in our press release about today’s announcements,” she said. Correno explained that many people don’t understand the process in which a substance becomes a part of the CSA, or how it becomes schedule or rescheduled. As a department of justice for the country, the DEA can only take actions based on research and evidence supplied by other government agencies, such as the FDA. The FDA sent the recommendation

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In short, marijuana continues to meet the criteria for schedule I control under the CSA because: Marijuana has a high potential for abuse. The HHS evaluation and the additional data gathered by DEA show that marijuana has a high potential for abuse. Marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Based on the established five-part test for making such determination, marijuana has no ‘‘currently accepted medical use’’ because: As detailed in the HHS evaluation, the drug’s chemistry is not known and reproducible; there are no adequate safety studies; there are no adequate and well-controlled studies proving efficacy; the drug is not accepted by qualified experts; and the scientific evidence is not widely available. Marijuana lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision. At present, there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved marijuana products, nor is marijuana under a New Drug Application (NDA) evaluation at the FDA for any indication. The HHS evaluation states that marijuana does not have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. At this time, the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy. c

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Industry Insider “You have to like what you’re doing. You can’t grow it just for the money.”

Michael “Big Mike” Straumietis of Advanced Nutrients by R. Scott Rappold The police had taken everything but the fertilizer. Amid the ruins of a longago bust, Michael “Big Mike” Straumietis was suddenly a cannabis grower with nothing left to sell. So in the spirit of “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” he turned to the nutrient-rich fertilizer, which he had concocted himself over years of cultivating, as a source of income. That decision would bring him riches and fame far beyond that of a cannabis farmer, a life of private jets and bikini models and a “marijuana mansion.” “It’s kind of like you’re pushed in a corner and it’s the only thing you’ve got left, so what are you going to do?” said Straumietis. “You just concentrate on what’s in front of you and it turned out it was a really great thing because Advanced Nutrients turned out to be the number one [cannabis] fertilizer brand in the world.” With more than 200 employees and $65 million in annual sales, Advanced Nutrients is also one of the largest cannabisoriented companies in the world, poised to grow even more as the tide of legalization leads to more home and commercial cultivation. After a lifetime in the shadows, 56-year-old Straumietis is living the high life, in a very public way.

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Trial and Error

Straumietis accidentally killed his first grow. “In 1983, there was very little information on growing marijuana, nothing,” he said. He left the lights on but didn’t consider ventilation, and his plants wound up brown and shriveled. In his second attempt, he waited too long to harvest, resulting in buds not in their prime. Despite the missteps, he felt he was onto something and gave up his lawn and tree care business to focus on growing cannabis. “When I first got into growing marijuana, it was for the money. I was 23 years old and had all these things in my mind about what I could buy if I grew so much weed,” he said. “I fell in love with the plant over time. I could watch it go from a vegetative state, where it’s just a plant with branches and leaves, and then it starts forming buds and the buds form colas and it’s, ‘Holy shit! You watch this plant go through this beautiful metamorphosis and it smells terrific and you can smoke it and get different effects.’” Not content with fertilizers on the market, he began mixing his own, boosting yield and bud quality dramatically. Sure, he was breaking the law, but it didn’t feel illegal. There were no guns or turf wars. “Everybody I dealt with was happy. The people I bought the equipment from and all the stuff I needed to grow, they were happy to see me. The people I sold the product to, they were happy, and the people they sold to were happy and they came back and wanted more. They were good people I dealt with,” he said. Unfortunately for him, the authorities didn’t see things that way.

On the Run

Success in cultivating drew the interest of law enforcement, so Straumietis moved to Canada, at the time a more liberal place than the U.S. for cannabis, to escape the heat while he continued to grow. After the aforementioned police raid (charges were eventually dropped), he founded Advanced Nutrients in 1999. His timing was impeccable. Three years earlier, Californians had approved medical cannabis, soon to be followed by other states, which opened the door for the dispensary boom of the late 2000s. Building on his own experiences as a grower for 16 years, he hired scientists to meticulously study this plant and what nutrient mixes made for the best harvest, made possible by a license from the Bulgarian government to conduct the research there. He boasts of having 22 PhD recipients working over a span of 10 years on finding ways to increase THC and plant biomass in hydroponic grows. Having grown through the darkest days of the “War on Drugs,” he had the experience to rise above the competition in an industry just emerging from decades of prohibition. Today Advanced Nutrients offers more than 30 products for different phases of the grow cycle and desired appearances, aromas, tastes and overall plant quality. The company plans to develop a product line for industrial hemp. With recreational cannabis legal in 36

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“I fell in love with the plant over time. I could watch it go from a vegetative state, where it’s just a plant with branches and leaves, and then it starts forming buds and the buds form colas and it’s, ‘Holy shit! You watch this plant go through this beautiful metamorphosis and it smells terrific and you can smoke it and get different effects.’”

several states and poised to be legalized in several more in 2016, Straumietis expects his $65 million company to be a $250 million company within a decade.

Private Jets and Worldwide Success

He is clearly enjoying the success. Straumietis has himself become the face of the brand, posting pictures to social media of him flying in private jets and partying in his mansion with bikini models, the six-foot-seven “Big Mike” living the high life for the rest of us. “My personal life and my business life are just seamless almost. That’s the way I like it because it doesn’t feel like I’m doing work that way,” he said. He points out that he also posts about other things, such as his charitable endeavors. They just don’t get as many “likes” as big buds and bikinis. So yes, he’s enjoying the money and fame, but cultivation for him is still a labor of love, for a plant with so many recreational and medicinal possibilities. He recalled an episode from his black market growing days, when a friend using the same seeds and methods as him couldn’t sell his product. His friend was legitimately confused and vocal about how successful Straumietis had been, and how he couldn’t compete. “I told him, ‘That’s the problem. It’s a plant. It actually needs TLC, and I believe the plant knows if you like it or not. If you’re in love with the plant you’re going to take care of it better and get a better end product. You have to like what you’re doing. You can’t grow it just for the money.’” c

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Healthy and Holistic Healing in the UFC

UFC fighter Per Eklund heals naturally, and wants the professional sporting organizations like the UFC to encourage cannabis treatments for athletes by Madison Ortiz

Per Eklund, (born November 12, 1980 in Stockholm, Sweden) has been a natural athlete since his youth. At age 27 he became the first Swedish fighter to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 80, January 2008); also formerly competing for M-1 global (mixed martial arts). Eklund confessed to CULTURE that curiosity led him to initially try cannabis with a friend at age 21, while training in Brazil. Though that experience encouraged him to be more open to the concept of cannabis having medicinal benefits, it was a physical trauma which gave him a whole new perspective on cannabisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medicinal value as he suffered from a broken neck in 2012.

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p h o t o s b y Ste v e n w a l s h

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“I’ve felt much greater value in using cannabis. I’ve stuck with cannabis, and I’ve been stretching and doing yoga for more than one and a half years, and I’ve had great results; great results.” We were sorry to hear about your injury. When you broke your neck, was that a work related injury? What exactly happened? Per Eklund: Eh . . . I had problems with my neck for a long time and (doctors) asked me to do a surgery in 2011, but I didn’t want to do the surgery so [instead] I did rehab. But then, I had an accident in training where I landed on my head and I broke my vertebrae. I’m really lucky that I’m still able to do

what I’m doing; that everything went fine, you know? People break their neck and end up in a wheel chair, so I’m really happy. I actually enjoy life now more than I did before. I appreciate the small stuff. What was your alternative to medicating with cannabis while recovering? First surgery I had, I was put on a lot of morphine. After that first one, I decided I was never gonna

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ever touch morphine or prescription drugs again. I was on morphine about four months. First week I had it injected into my vein at the hospital, then when I came home I had three to four different prescriptions. It was really horrible. What did that medicated state feel like to you? What were your side effects? That's the funny thing . . . there’s nothing called side effects.

The pharmaceutical industry, they say pills have side effects. No. It’s just effects. It’s just bad effects. I felt like a ghost. I felt totally hollow as a person. Mood changes. Nothing I had ever experienced before. The months of [taking] medication, when I got angry I was almost filled with rage. It was really unpleasant. I had never had those issues before. When you take pills they make you sleepy, they don’t make you motivated, they take your creativity

away. And what more do you need than your creativity when you are injured or sick, or recovering? So I made a decision. I’m not gonna use any of the medicines doctors give me because they don’t help me; they just keep me in a sick state. I’ve felt much greater value in using cannabis. I’ve stuck with cannabis, and I’ve been stretching and doing yoga for more than one and a half years, and I’ve had great results; great results.

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The world’s first cannabis friendly gym Power Plant Fitness is coming to San Francisco by the end of the year. What do you think of this idea? Do you think you would be inclined to check it out? You can consume cannabis and train? Man . . . People with depression, people that are medicated today with all these painkillers, they should go to this gym and consume cannabis together with an experienced user; someone that tells them what kind of strain and what effect it has. When you train your body produces something called endorphins, and endorphins are very powerful painkillers. For me, when I injured my neck, I started training two days after my second surgery without using any painkillers. So training was a great relief of pain because I trained hard enough that I produced good levels of endorphins. But . . . if I would have come off my second surgery and would have been able to go to a gym like this, in Stockholm? That would be the best thing that could happen to me. I think that this concept with gyms and consuming cannabis is going to be very popular. How has cannabis has helped you in your training? The great [physical] value [cannabis has] to me, is the muscle relaxing effect. I did two surgeries [for my neck], afterward I got so stiff in my back; it was like they glued my muscles to my back. It was really horrible; worst feeling I ever had. [While training], sometimes I can be thinking too much; I’m planning everything—I forget about my body, and when I smoke [cannabis] I get more relaxed thinking. I consume cannabis because I get a really good stretch and workout with my body straight away. It’s amazing how it can help me that much [mentally]. What is your typical consumption method? I smoke it in a pipe. Just pure cannabis. That’s how I consume it. I know you can eat it too, but I find it easier to just smoke. If varying forms of cannabis were more accessible to you as a professional athlete, would you be more inclined to learn about tinctures,

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topicals and edibles and the reasons for consuming in ways other than smoking? Yeah, yeah. Of course, of course. That’d be great! I know there are many different ways [to consume] and, I’m sure there are way better ways than smoking.

Thank you for taking time to speak with us about all these issues. Of course! I’m not ashamed. I would be ashamed if I didn’t say anything, you know? If I sat in the dark. Then I would be ashamed of myself when I get old. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

SHAKING THE FOUNDATION

Jaw Gems produces electronic tunes with a new twist

by Addison Herron-Wheeler

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Electronic music has taken many forms in the past decade, as the genre has seen a resurgence all across the spectrum, from underground dubstep and drum-and-bass to electropop and rock. One of the ways in which this form of music is being resurrected is through live bands playing music that sounds like electronic production. Jaw Gems is one of those up-and-coming groups, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been making waves in the underground electronic scene. Not only is Jaw Gems making a name for itself as a touring and releasing band, it also has its hands in the cannabis industry. In addition to being advocates and smokers, one band member is an insider to the industry. Recently, CULTURE caught up with drummer and trimmer DJ Moore of Jaw Gems to chew the fat about the comradery of music, cannabis and creating something new.

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a lot of bands. It’s not your typical situation.

“I think [cannabis] should be legal, absolutely. I think it’s ridiculous for people to get in trouble for something that shouldn’t even be against the law . . . It’s something we use to relax when we’re hanging out, writing music. It’s a big part of our lives.”

How do you feel about cannabis legalization so far? Could anything be done better or differently? I think it should be legal, absolutely. I think it’s ridiculous for people to get in trouble for something that shouldn’t even be against the law. Have you ever worked cannabis into your music as a theme? If so, how? No, we just smoke a lot. We don’t include it really as far as imagery or lyrics. We just use it a lot when creating music. How has cannabis affected your lives and creative processes? I wouldn’t say it’s really affected our lives; it’s kind of just something that we do when we’re writing, when we’re playing. It’s something we use to relax when we’re hanging out, writing music. It’s a big part of our lives.

How did you get started making music? We actually started because a friend of ours was bartending at this restaurant and had a jazz background and an interest in music, so he got us a night there and we all started to play there as a monthly gig. Every month we got a little more weird, added more keyboards, and we did that for like six years, and here we are today (laughs). How would you describe your sound? Our sound comes from

producers; that is mostly who it is influenced by. It comes from chopped up old soul and funk, with a new twist, with a swing on it. I’d also classify it as ambient hip-hop, pretty much. Who are some of your biggest influences? J Dilla, Lettuce, Knxwledge, Hi-tek: A lot of producers; that’s what we like to listen to. Do you have any upcoming shows, releases or projects in the works? We have a new EP that came

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out on August 26, 2016, on 1320 Records. It’s called Heatweaver. We will be going on tour with Lettuce during the next couple of months. How do you feel about the local and national music scenes you are a part of? I think it’s great, but what we are trying to do is something different. It’s usually producers; it’s not usually a live band setting. We are trying to do both the live band scene and lots of stuff with would-be producers, so we are a little different than

What do you do in the cannabis industry, and how does that tie in with your work as a musician? I work in a grow shop as a trimmer. It’s called Unit3, and we provide full spectrum caregiving. As far as jobs go, it’s pretty relaxed and low-key; we pretty much just trim when we’re around. That makes it easier to go and play, and then come back, and it makes it easier to work in that environment and do that job. What do you consider your greatest musical accomplishment so far? I think we are just kind of all of each other’s favorite musicians; we just all really look up to each other, so any time we work with each other it’s better than the last. We are making new and exciting music all the time, and we can’t wait to share it with everybody. c

www.1320records.com

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iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Tenacious Talent Actress and Activist Lucy Lawless is Fierce, Fearless and Will Fight For What is Right by Paul Rogers

“Listen, its being available hasn’t made me start smoking [marijuana] any more than legalized homosexual marriage has made me want to turn gay . . . I don’t know what they’re afraid of!”

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p h o t o s b y M a a rte n de B o er

Lucy Lawless thinks before speaking. Only not, apparently, to consider what her publicist or manager might want her to say. For while she’s forever associated with fantasy action roles, the refreshingly opinionated Ash vs Evil Dead actress conveys a defiantly down-to-earth demeanor in her unaffected Down Under brogue. Raised with five brothers (whom she describes, retrospectively, as “dickheads”) in suburban Auckland, New Zealand, Lawless embraced toughness and humor as survival mechanisms in a boy’s world. Her mother recalls a daughter who was not even aware of being a girl until age eight, yet became a teen wife and mom before being crowned “Mrs. New Zealand” at age 21. Following a stint on a domestic television comedy show, Lawless’ portal to pop-icon status was an ostensibly mundane 1995 twist of fate. When another actress fell ill and was unable to travel to New Zealand for filming, Lawless landed the role of a leather-clad warrior called Xena in an episode of fantasy TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The episode was titled “Warrior Princess.” Created by Lawless’ now-husband, writerdirector-producer Rob Tapert, Xena: Warrior Princess grew into a six-season spin-off smash shown in more than 100 countries, making the statuesque Lawless a global sex symbol (declared one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” by People magazine in 1997). While Lawless remains synonymous with Xena, she’s stayed busy ever since, often portraying similarly stoic characters in TV productions including the Starz network’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand; Sci-Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica; WGN America’s Salem; and lately as the mysterious Ruby Knowby in Starz’ wildly popular horror comedy series Ash vs Evil Dead. Not to mention having two more children, an occasional singing career and getting arrested for environmental activism. CULTURE chatted with the affably self-assured Lawless about her disinterest in the fantasy genre, celebrity responsibility, pro-pot tweeting—and nice problems to have. iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Season 2 of Ash vs Evil Dead premieres in October. Without spoiling anything, what can you tell us about the new season? Super-high-octane! It’s like four times the size of last season. I don’t really know how that happened . . . it just evolved that way. The footage that we’re shooting, honestly, it’s like . . . two Spartacus episodes crunched down into [a] half-hour of Evil Dead. It’s super-technical, it’s superrewarding . . . it’s just ferocious this season. And very funny! What are the unique joys of portraying Ruby in the series, compared with your career’s many other roles? I guess I’ve always played sort of outsiders, in a way, but it strikes me

with you. Like, American comedy eludes me. I’ve dabbled in sitcom and things, but it’s not something that I understand on a cellular level . . . I really admire it, and I really like it—I just can’t really do it. A recurring figure in your career is producer Sam Raimi, creator of the Evil Dead universe, producer of Xena: Warrior Princess, and executive producer of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. How would you define Sam’s genius? Sam is the ultimate kook. He’s a very unique individual. He’s kind of like Hollywood’s Mork from Ork—y’know, he’s been pulled out of another time and place. Your husband is Sam’s longtime collaborator Rob Tapert. How is it

I just think it’s twisted that we withhold available medications from somebody in pain—it’s disgusting. Why wouldn’t you give it to them? How completely sick. We’re the ones who are sick—we’re sicker than they are. that she’s the farthest of the outliers I’ve ever played, because she is not liked or trusted even within her own gang . . . It’s funny to play somebody who’s really hated. Your first ever TV job was in a sketch comedy series and Ash vs Evil dead is comedy horror. Are your comedic talents something you’d like to indulge more often, or do you instill subtle humor into most of your roles? Some things are just situationally funny. I mean, I’ve always thought that the parlor games in Spartacus were really funny— really ironic, really painful . . . So, yeah, I do find most of what I do funny, ‘cos life is a divine comedy. I would like to get back to [comedy]. I’d like to be better at it, to be honest 56

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working with your spouse, and how does that blur the line between your personal and professional lives? We work together great, because really our roles do not overlap. My role as an actress—that’s the easy bit. The much more demanding aspect of my, I say “job” in inverted commas, is being spouse of the producer—hearing the download of all the production issues and personnel issues and being supportive . . . not to get involved myself, but keeping everybody calm is what I do. What were your acting ambitions in your teens, and how do these compare with the actuality of your career to date? Oh, I wanted to go to RADA [Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, in London]!

I don’t know what happened—I wanted to play Lady Macbeth, and then I get tricked into this crazy action television, which was a complete assault to my being, because I was never good at sports. My nickname at school was “Unco,” for “uncoordinated,” and here I was getting bloody bashed 24/7 by stuntmen and training and trying to develop some sort of reflexes—which I did, [but] the first couple of years I was black and blue. It was a big shock to me. To be honest with you, I don’t watch fantasy shows, myself. I’m really not into that stuff. At this stage of my life, I wanna see people . . . having real problems like me and my friends—y’know, real-world problems. I’m not into the hunt for the magic bloody unicorn, or whatever. There was an element of fate in your being cast as Xena back in 1995. How different might your life have been today had that not happened? I would have had a different family; I’d probably be living in Italy . . . I would not be living in New Zealand, and I would never have stopped moving. I’m in love with perpetual motion, so had I not married [Xena creator Rob Tapert] I would not have the stability in my life; my children wouldn’t have had that stability—I’d just be a gypsy. Inadvertently or otherwise, you’ve become an icon of “comic-con” culture. That seems to be something you embrace. What am I going to do—crap on it? You should be so lucky to have these “problems!” I’m very good at rationalizing anything I can’t change . . . You better stick with the fans, and they’ll stick with you. I’ve been given this amazing opportunity to have a great life—mustn’t grumble! Would you say you’ve been somewhat typecast over the years? If so, do you necessarily see that as a negative? I suppose if you look at my major characters, I get cast as strong, slightly edgy, twisted people—or at least that’s what I try to bring to every role. No matter how she’s written, I’ll try to find the twist on it and try to make them compelling and make a bad person likeable and a good person a little bit gritty. So in a way I’ve taken fate and run with it and tried to make as much of it as I could.

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How close are those character traits on-screen to your off-screen self? My brothers used to give me assholes about being a show-off and dancing around to ballet and “who do you think you are?” kind of thing. And really punishing me for, I now see, being a girl . . . So I really had to drive all my femininity underground a little bit. It’s taken me to my 40s to start to try to reclaim that and discover some sort of softness. Because being tough and funny was the only way to survive in my house. Even though I am a feminist, I don’t have a hatred of men or a chip on my shoulder about things. I just . . . grew up thinking, in a way, I was one. You’ve also embraced your status as a gay icon, including participating in pride parades, but are a married heterosexual mom. Why are you so supportive of the LGBT community? Cos I like underdogs, and I feel that I relate to the underdog . . . I believe in justice and I feel like many gay people— obviously not all—understand global justice for everyone. You were a teen mom. How did rising to that considerable challenge help form the character that has made your so successful since? I didn’t understand it was a challenge. I think my family thought “oh, there go all her dreams of being an actress,” but within days of coming home from the hospital . . . I was full of energy; I was writing skits and things to produce into a show reel [and] went and filmed it. Jobs started to come from there. I just didn’t know any different, y’know? My parents never told me you can’t do something. Even if they secretly thought it, they didn’t tell me it—and I try to do the same for my kids. 58

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world in skin cancer, I realized that the actions of people globally can affect people locally.

I don’t think I knew that marijuana could be medical when I was growing Up . . . [but] I know it does a lot less harm to society than alcohol.

You still live in New Zealand. How has impacted your relationship with celebrity and the media compared with living in, say, L.A., New York or London? If you live in L.A., you’ve just got all these comparisons of how “not-cool” you are . . . Living in New Zealand, nobody cares about that stuff anyway, so it’s a non-issue. Also, I like to go it alone . . . I don’t have entourages; I don’t tell people what I’m up to. You have been active with environmental NGO Greenpeace, 60

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including being arrested in 2012 for boarding an oil-drilling ship. Why Greenpeace? I knew the director [of Greenpeace New Zealand], and I knew a bunch of those people from 20 years before when I acted [in] . . . The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior [TV movie about the sinking of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland, by the French intelligence service]. So I had a long-standing respect for them as individuals . . . And, also, because [New Zealanders] lead the

You’re a board member of New Zealand’s Starship Foundation, benefitting children’s healthcare, and have been involved with animal rights organizations such as Paw Justice. Do you see it as your responsibility to use your celebrity for good in those ways? Well, I don’t want it to bloody sell lipstick! That just bores the shit out of me, all that stuff . . . [Celebrity is] currency, y’know— use it for something that does some good for the world. In May, you tweeted a fairly stronglyworded pro-medical cannabis statement. Could you expand upon the sentiments behind this? I just think it’s twisted that we withhold available medications from somebody in pain—it’s disgusting. Why wouldn’t you give it to them? How completely sick. We’re the ones who are sick—we’re sicker than they are. How have your views on recreational and medical use of cannabis changed over your lifetime? I don’t think I knew that marijuana could be medical when I was growing up. My views of marijuana haven’t really changed . . . I know it does a lot less harm to society than alcohol. I certainly tried it as a kid, I do think we have to be really informed about the facts, but it doesn’t bother me if people smoke pot. What are you views of cannabis legislation, both in New Zealand and elsewhere? They should legalize it so they know where it’s bloody coming from. Listen, its being available hasn’t made me start smoking [marijuana] any more than legalized homosexual marriage has made me want to turn gay . . . I don’t know what they’re afraid of! Your work with Greenpeace suggests that you’re very pro-active regarding issues about which you are passionate. Might you become more involved in medical cannabis activism? I doubt it, except to say that I absolutely support—I mean, I really, wholeheartedly support [medical marijuana]. It’s medicine, man—nothing works like it, is what I’m hearing, so it’s very cruel and unusual to deny a palliative medicine from these [seriously ill] people. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

REVIEWs

company highlight

INTEGRA®

by Desiccare Inc. Interviewed: Ben Blankenhorn, Manager of New Business Development 985 Damonte Ranch Pkwy. Suite 320, Reno, NV (775) 393-1500 www.integra-products.com How would you describe your company? What is your specialty? Desiccare Inc. has been in operation since 1994 providing quality atmospheric packaging solutions to a wide variety of Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Food Safety General Packaging and Military applications. Desiccare is well known in and trusted worldwide by many of biggest names in Pharmaceutical and Food Packaging. The INTEGRA™ brand is aimed specifically at cannabis, cigars, produce and other agricultural products which are sensitive to atmospheric conditions 62

in their environment. Our philosophy is simple; provide cost savings by eliminating waste and preventing risk. In the case of Integra™ and the BOOST™ products, the industry and consumers need it. We prevent profit loss for those on the industrial side of the industry, and we preserve the integrity of the cannabis purchased by the consumers. What do you offer consumers/clients that others don’t? A lot of our clients in the cannabis industry have carried similar products in the past but have been burned by their suppliers

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and their questionably unfavorable business tactics. We depend on our worldwide distribution network therefore we understand the importance of loyalty and trust in the business world. Trust and loyalty is ever so important and valued in the cannabis industry. The folks who partner with us really appreciate that. As for our Integra® products, we offer a full line of products which have proven to be perfect for cannabis. We have specialized products for drying cannabis, monitoring humidity, removing oxygen, ethylene control and much more. The most popular product in our lineup is the new BOOST® humidity control pack. This pack absorbs or releases moisture to regulate relative humidity (RH) within a contained environment. This is a salt-free solution that regulates RH in a container. This prevents weight loss, preserves the terpene profile and maintains the integrity of the plant material. It allows for a large outdoor grower to harvest a specialty strain in August and hold on to it into winter or early spring when it can be sold in it’s original state as a premier product. What separates the BOOST® from other humidity control solutions, is that it does not contain silica and it is a saltfree solution. The use of salt is very common as a humidity control solution however we don’t feel it is appropriate in the cannabis world. The leading salt producers advertise on their website, various ways to reduce odors using salts. Considering that cannabis is sold exclusively by weight and scent, we had to find another way to get the job done, and we did. And people are loving it.

How and why did your company start up? Desiccare Inc. was formed in 1994 in Santa Fe Springs, California. Anytime someone asks me in a hotel lobby bar what I do for work, I say, “Do you know those little packs that say “Do Not Eat” in pill bottles and jerky?” That’s what we do and have been doing for over 22 years. In addition to providing atmospheric control to the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms, Desiccare is trusted by America’s largest grocery chains to provide food safety solutions which ad up to 35 days of shelf life to fresh beef. Desiccare is also trusted by major goods packagers, and is an authorized supplier to the United States Military. What words of advice would you offer anyone seeking to enter the world of cannabis business? Enter the industry like you are walking on to the court for game seven of the NBA finals. Keep your head on a swivel and eyes wide open. There is a lot going on, and it is all happening very fast. It will keep you up at night, it will drain you, but it is fun! What do you hope to accomplish in the cannabis industry? We hope to continue to help growers, dispensaries and consumers produce, supply and enjoy the best cannabis products possible. I hope to assist the entire cannabis industry in seeking its legitimacy in the mainstream. To do that, producers and sellers must employ the proper quality control and precautionary measures in place just any legitimate food or pharmaceutical producer in the country. INTEGRA® by Desiccare Inc. can most certainly help the industry become what it struggles to be. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

REVIEWs

company highlight

TetraLabs How would you describe your company? What is your specialty? TetraLabs started in 2007, which makes us one of the oldest manufacturers in the industry. We specialize in pharmaceutical-grade, high-purity, contaminantfree, smoke-free products intended for the medical patients. We pioneered the first softgel capsules in the industry with our own inhouse softgel manufacturing equipment. We made the first THC oral spray, and still offer the only single-drop gelatin dabber. Subsequently, we introduced vaporizer cartridges in two sizes and five flavors. We also offer CBD products that include softgel capsules, oral sprays and vaporizer cartridges. For 10 years, TetraLabs has been the industry benchmark for innovation, quality and dependability. Many others imitate our products and packaging, 64

Northern and Southern California TetraLabs.com, TetraLabsCBD.com (800) 991-0624

but never quite achieve our attention to detail.

How and why did your company start up?

What do you offer consumers/clients that others donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t?

It was an accident. Two retired engineers needed a project in 2007 and decided to see if they could produce cannabinoids that were more highly refined, hence more pure, than had previously been achieved. They did not have a business plan or even a profit motive. After achieving success on the scientific end, patients discovered us and convinced us to start a collective to serve them.

For 10 years, we provided the most highly refined cannabinoids and precise dosages. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never find contaminants in our products. And, our THC or CBD content never varies. Unlike others, we have full-time PhD chemists and our own in-house analytical lab with a Shimadzu HPLC testing machine. This allows us to test each step in the process, as well as the end product, and dial in dosages with high precision. Lastly, we have a Proposition 215 collective at www.tetralabs.com so we can deliver our products to patients who are unable to drive or otherwise leave their homes. We even have a Gold Relief program for patients who need financial assistance.

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With the changing landscape of MMJ and recreational cannabis, what do you see as the biggest challenges to your progress as a company? The complex, inconsistent and ever-changing regulatory environment is a huge barrier. Whereas the DEA was a constant threat in the past, now

local jurisdictions with their confusing patchwork of regulations, bans and busts are an extreme headache to even the good actors in the industry. The inability to conduct commerce across state lines like any other industry caps growth and tamps down the industry. What are the goals and vision moving forward, for your company? In time, we will re-engineer to respond to the recreational market that will descend on all of us sooner or later. Currently, we are introducing on a line of strain-specific CO2 vaporizer cartridges that are less highly refined but with a customary CO2 aroma. We will also continue to develop our ultra-pure CBD line with more dosage and quantity choices. We will continue our popular medical products and offer that reliability and consistency for years to come. c

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

REVIEWs

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3. PuffCo Plus

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4. CannaSmack HappyTokes Peach Natural Hemp Lip Balm

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REVIEWs

entertainment

BOOK

Release Date: September 20 Available on: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Baking To Get Baked MJ Odingreen Ursa Minor Media Ltd. In an innovative infused twist, this cheeky cannabis cookbook teaches homecooks how to use cannabisinfused flour for making baked goods, instead of the more traditional cannabisinfused butter method. Baking with cannaflour can be easier to control dosing and has no cannabis taste. A small selection of classic baked goods and color images make this book a great starter cookbook. Odingreen’s recipes are easy to follow, and his humor and wit make this cookbook entertaining too! (Alex Bradley)

GAME

Destiny: Rise of Iron Dev. Bungie Pub. Activision Fans of Destiny will soon be able to embark on a new and epic journey with Destiny: Rise of Iron. In this fourth expansion, players will follow the guidance of Lord Saladin, the last of the Iron Lords, while exploring a new campaign that revolves around the Fallen, and includes new missions, designated PvP and PvE maps, gear, weapons and of course, a new raid. Rise of Iron is vast and filled with plenty of action, but keep in mind that this expansion is the first to become unavailable on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, unlike previous Destiny games. (Nicole Potter)

MOVIE

Keanu Warner Bros. Pictures Dir. Peter Atencio While many may have worried that the comedic partnership Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele may have worn itself thin by the end of their much beloved sketch show Key & Peele, those fears were handily assuaged by the pair’s big screen debut, Keanu. Revolving around the recovery of an incredibly cute kitten by an incredibly violent, drug trafficking street gang, led by none other than Method Man, Keanu deals big in belly laughs, personal transformation stories and George Michael jokes. Proving that Key & Peele’s charm can be stretched further than half-hour installments, Keanu is the perfect debut film for the two. (Simon Weedn)

MUSIC

Real Lydia Loveless Bloodshot Records In the world of country music, few things are as important to a good song as authenticity and honesty. Fortunately, Ohio country singer songwriter Lydia Loveless has both of those aforementioned characteristics in grand supply on her latest album, Real. Drawing from an array of influence which includes everything from modern pop to hints of classic New York punk, Loveless delivers a performance on Real which is as powerful as it is nuanced. Both lyrically and sonically, Real finds Loveless at the top of her game blurring genre boundaries and delivering an album which contains so much while never feeling unfocused or busy. (Simon Weedn)

CORRECTION: Last month, in the review for Big Book of Buds Greatest Hits, we cited the publisher of this book as Green Candy Press, but the publisher of the book is actually Quick Trading Co.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

REVIEWs

strain & concentrate

Jack Herer 5 Pack Tin Pre-roll lovers are in for a treat at Barbary Coast, which is rolling out Jack Herer 5 Pack Tins from Humboldt Legends. These pre-rolls are great for nights out when you want to manage your conditions in a portable, shareable, easy-to-use format. The product starts with authentic Humboldt bud that’s grown sustainably and organically. Focused on the perfect pre-roll, Humboldt Legends de-stems their flowers in three stages, and uses pharma-grade grinders to achieve consistency and control flower humidity. The final, stubby mini-prerolls go into an elegantly designed protective tin. The label includes effects, aroma, strain and grower information. Jack Herer is a classic sativa that’s sweet and uplifting, and these pre-rolls were tested by CW Labs to 17.9 percent THC, making them accessible to newer patients while still being effective for seasoned patients.

Available at: Barbary Coast in San Francisco.

Available wherever: Gold Drop products are carried.

Blueberry Vape Cartridge Super-sleek, low-profile, strong and tasty—Gold Drop’s Blueberry Vape Cartridge is perfect for travel medicating. The pre-filled cartridges of cannabis oil screw onto 510 “vape pen” batteries, the kind you see on e-cigarettes. Consequently, it’s impossible to distinguish the two, which makes medicating super-easy. The cart comes in a tube labelled with potency and strain. The oil is extremely refined and a pure translucent gold color. Once screwed onto the battery, the cart actuates when you inhale, generating a lovely blueberry flavored mist that’s 66.73 percent THC, plus two percent CBD and CBG. Inhalation is fast-acting, so it’s very easy to titrate the pen and stop when at the desired effect. It’s great for unwinding in the hotel room on a business trip. Patients are using indica extracts like this to manage stress, pain and insomnia without smoking.

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HERE Purple Trainwreck Another mashup of classics, Purple Trainwreck combines two NorCal all-stars—the purple family of indicas and the mysterious sativa Trainwreck. Think of it as similar to Blue Dream: a balance of opposing forces that yields a versatile medicinal flower. The Cookie Co 415 on Mission Street at Cesar Chavez in San Francisco is a widely loved local spot that specializes in deep connections to Bay Area growers. Those growers have been working Purples and Wreck for decades now. Purples are sweet grape-smelling indica hybrids that can treat pain. No one knows Trainwreck’s genetics, but it’s a fast-flowering sativa cultivators love. Our sample was pristine— an exquisitely trimmed, highly resinous mix of medium-green leaf with dapples of rusty red, near purple pistils. It smelled like sweet grape soda tea with a nice and balanced light smoke that led to a versatile relaxing—but not sedative—effect. 70

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Available at: The Cookie Co 415 in San Francisco.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

REVIEWs

Artisan Canna Cigar - Purple Punch Patients can get their entire party highly medicated with these artisanal cannabis cigars from South Sacramento Care Center. A huge talent pool goes into these things, including grower and rosinmaker @_thevillage, and ice wax maker @rezheads215. These guys care about their craft, which in this case is Purple Punch (a mix of Larry OG and GDP), grown indoors in Cloud Coir Coco, with Botanicare nutrients, under Gavita lights. Made of 100 percent cannabis, and 100 percent tobacco-free. It takes four weeks to handcraft the Canna Cigar, rolled in fan leaf that is infused with terpenes from Blue River Extracts, and packed with seven grams of flower, 1.5 grams of sift-rosin, one gram of ice wax. You unroll the hempwick, pull out the stick and use a torch to get the canna cigar going. The beast will burn for 90 minutes and can cause feelings of being a total baller.

Available at: South Sacramento Care Center on Saturday 9/3

Brass Knuckles Clear Concentrate We aren’t sure what impressed us more, the fact that this company has yet to release a sub-par product or the wonderful, tropical smell this particular concentrate gives off once the container has been opened. The bright iridescent glow from this indica-dominant hybrid is only shadowed by the almost tiki-like flavor that assaults your taste buds upon immediate inhalation. As strong and resilient as its namesake weapon, this concentrate won’t let you down. Lab tests have confirmed that this Banana x OG Kush phenotype clocks in at around 90 percent THC and is ready to relieve anyone suffering from insomnia and/or chronic pain.

Available at: Various collectives throughout California.

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HERE Dankman Gelato

Available at: HTP Group in Vallejo.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

You don’t need to venture into the belly of the Bay Area beast to find the best flowers. HTP Group in Vallejo offers a convenient access point for North Bay Area patients looking to scoop up the latest flavors. And there’s few flavors more current than Gelato. Hailing from the “Cookies” family of indica hybrids, Gelato is a breed of Mr. Sherbinski’s mixed with Girl Scout Cookies and later crossed with Sunset Sherbert. At its best, Gelato tastes creamy, berry and fuel-spiked, with a serious punch of THC. Longtime Sherbinski collaborator Dankman brought HTP Group this cut—which is less dense than lots of Gelatos but otherwise on-point. It’s highly resinous, with loads of purple leaf and Gelato’s trademark smell. Patients are smoking indica hybrids to manage PTSD, pain, insomnia nausea and other conditions.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

REVIEWs

Available at: First Hemp Bank San Lorenzo

OG Wreck San Lorenzo’s First Hemp Bank is kicking it old school with OG Wreck—a cross of two classics, OG Kush and Trainwreck. This indoor flower tests at 23.53 percent THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis, making it among the most potent. Parent OG Kush is a very popular indica hybrid, while Trainwreck is a mythical sativa. Both came from California. Our sample had a medium density, was small to medium-sized, with the lightgreen leaf of Trainwreck and light blond-orange pistils. It had an OG Kush’s lemon piney fuel smell, but sweetened by the Trainwreck. Grinding the buds releases more OG terpenes that are brightened up by the Wreck, along with a sweet herbal tea note. The balance of indica and sativa makes this strain versatile for lovers of both parent strains.

Available wherever: Alchemy products by Dark Heart are carried.

Inspire Alchemy Pride Pack In celebration of Silicon Valley Pride and Oakland Pride on September 11, Alchemy is offering a Pride Pack which includes their “Awaken” and “Inspire” aromatic vape carts, commemorative battery and a FREE rainbow inspired lanyard and fanny pack! Alchemy also gives five percent of proceeds to benefit 40 LGBTQ services across five counties through the SF AIDS Walk as well as the Pulse community tragedy fund. Awaken is a sativa blend that contains citrus terpenes, which helps to relieve stress and anxiety and mint to naturally energize. Inspire is a hybrid mix of cannabis plus terpenes extracted from orange, vanilla, cardamom and literally tastes like you are sipping on a chai tea. This blend is known to promote creativity and imagination. Tested by CW Analytical, the clean, pure CO2 oil is a manageable 30 percent THC, making this pen perfect for new patients and moderate-THC microdosers. This vape pen is the answer to on-the-go medicating! 74

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

REVIEWs

W Vapes Sativa Tangie Vape Cartridge

Available wherever: W Vapes products are carried.

W Vapes is continuing to raise the bar with their ultra-distilled pure cannabis vaporizer cartridges. Lab-tested at over 60% THC, this discrete Tangie cartridge is perfect for anyone looking for a subtler medication experience. This strain is a sativa, so it’s great for daytime vaping, giving a potent cerebral effect, and high energy while numbing all the stress and pain away with ease. The parent strains used in the production of the Tangie strain (Cali Orange x Skunk #1) are known for their strong terpene profiles as well as their euphoric effects, and are further enhanced in a process of reintroducing the natural terpenes in post-production after separating them from the original flower. W Vapes natural cannabis oil doesn’t irritate the throat or lungs while vaping. The vapor is smooth and consistent, and the cartridge is sleek and streamlined. You will not be disappointed by this product. W Vapes is the ideal choice for anyone looking for an uplifting, creative and energetic vaping experience without any additives or fillers. Available in 300mg and 500mg sizes. Check the dispensary locator at wvapes.com to find W Vapes products near you.

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HERE

Available at: Airfield Supply Company in San Jose.

Sweets San Jose’s elite Airfield Supply Company has a rare hybrid cross of Jack Herer and Afghani that’ll make you say, “sweeeeet.” Jack Herer is a Dutch delight and a winner of countless cannabis prizes. Afghani is the descendant of thousands of years of breeding in Afghanistan, a cradle of indica genetics. This cut was grown indoors, in-house at Airfield Supply Company and came out beautiful. It takes most of its look from Jack Herer, with light-green leaf, medium size and decent density. It had a fruity, super-sweet, aroma with a sharp bite of the Ghani. It smoked very smooth and well-flushed with a sweet, biting smoke that caused rapidonset, long-lasting body and mind relaxation without couch-lock. Patients are smoking high-THC hybrid flowers to manage dozens of conditions, primarily nerve-related pain, chronic stress, anxiety and insomnia.

Available at: Caliva in San Jose.

Sour J1 The always-classy Caliva of San Jose brings together to beloved classics for South Bay patients. Sour J1 is a cross of Sour Diesel and J-1. Sativa hybrid Sour Diesel is the New York blockbuster descendant of Chemdawg. Sativa hybrid J-1 is a mix of Dutch powerhouse Jack Herer and classic Skunk #1. Our sample took most of its visual cues from Jack Herer, with a medium density, light green leaf and pale pistils. It smelled like classic Diesel but sweeter. The strain tasted like a sweetened Diesel. Sour J1 causes fast-acting high-THC pain relief and mental energy. It can ease nausea or help certain patients with ADD focus. Patients are smoking or vaping sativa hybrids for daytime management of dozens of indications including arthritis pain or migraine.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

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REVIEWs

Available through: Amsterdam’s Garden Delivery.

Jack’s Cleaner And the award for the biggest nug in recent memory goes to Amsterdam’s Garden Delivery in San Jose for their comically large cut of Jack’s Cleaner—a classic from TGA Genetics. This sativa hybrid is a real mut, crossing award-winning sativa Jack Herer to a mix of Pluton, Lambsbread, Purple Haze and Northern Lights. The strain got its name from its pungent lemon “cleaner” aroma. Our cut was so massive, it could be used as a large tree in a model railroad setup. This Cleaner twinkled with beautiful cannabis resin all the way to the core, and we felt bad even breaking the majestic bud up. We really got a lot of Jack Herer’s terpenes here—especially its candy-sugar-sweetness with a touch of lemon. It’s a versatile sativa used during the day for ADHD, PTSD, Crohn’s and other conditions.

Headband POPCart and Battery Available wherever: POP Naturals products are carried.

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HERE

Finish your summer strong with the Headband POP Cart and battery from California extract leaders POP Naturals. This is a fully functional vape pen that pairs a POP Naturals custom battery base to their vape cart, which comes pre-filled with hyperpure CO2 extract of the awesome strain Headband. Everything is high-quality here. The Headband (OG Kush and Diesel) was grown organically and tested for potency and terpenes, mold, mildew and pesticides. POP Naturals specializes in nothingbut-CO2 extraction to yield a pure, thick, opaque oil, which they then put into a pyrex, dual coil cartridge. Their new battery comes in a sleek carrying case and is 4.2 volts for consistent big hits. Click the battery button five times fast to turn the device on, then press the button and inhale to sip ephemeral wisps of 56 percent THC vapor. Can help manage dozens of indications for which hybrid cannabis is appropriate.

Black Diamond Be warned, once you’ve experienced the black diamond the bunny slopes just won’t do. The top-shelf growers at Buddy’s in San Jose have some of the best flower in the world on their hands. Black Diamond is a cross of the trending strain of 2016, and Buddy’s cut is flawless. It’s a mix of Gelato and Sunset Sherbert—two reigning champs of the Cookie family of indica hybrids. These are beautiful, twinkling, totally purped-out nugs. They smelled like an extremely fuel-drenched Sherbert. This strain was dense as all get-out, rock hard, spiky and resinous—perfectly dried and cured. We got massive gobs of creamy berry fuel that’ll satisfy the snobbiest terpene hunters. Smoking Black Diamond causes instant pain and tension relief and deep, satisfying sedation. Patients use these high-THC indica hybrids to shut down insomnia late at night.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Available at: Buddy’s in San Jose.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN

by Ed Rosenthal

Today was harvest day, and 25 of the 28 Purple Pineapple (PP) plants were harvested. The other three plants were reserved for other experiments or photography. There were three very obvious signs that they were ripe.

1 They were very odoriferous. Over the past week the intensity of their smelliness kept increasing. The pineapple-fruity/sour perfumes were wafting out of the greenhouse and into the yard. 2 The plants had stopped growing, all the stigmas dried and turned color and the glands sparkled in the light. 3 A close-up look at the trichomes showed that their caps were stretching with resin and a few of them had turned color. This was their peak moment. This version of PP is very unusual. It stays in vegetative growth stage as long as it receives no more than three-four hours of continuous

darkness. When it receives more, such as on June 22, the longest day of the year, it received a little more than 9 hours, which initiated flowering. One way to grow this plant is to prep it by growing vegetatively until it reaches the desirable size. To do this the dark period must be interrupted every 6090 minutes with a lamp containing red light. Both HPS lamps and warm white fluorescents can be used for this purpose. The light can be regulated by a timer, and large areas can be covered using a light mover. When using light to regulate photoperiod response think of it as a water spray that much cover the entire plant including all its leaves. The duration of time that the light is used for each plant doesn’t matter. As long as the plant doesn’t experience dark periods of more than four hours, it will keep growing vegetatively. As soon as its regimen changes, so it receives a dark period longer than four hours, its growth changes to flowering and within a week, flowers appear. When I received the plants they were about 10 inches tall. A week later they had grown another inch, but

TIP OF THE MONTH

they were already flowering. They were only 12-15 inches tall at harvest. The plants were selfwatered using nylon wicks that drew water up from a reservoir underneath to the planting mix using capillary action (like a tissue drawing up water), so flushing was a simple task. The tap water here originates as run-off, rather than from a well, so it has a mineral content of only about 70 ppm, which is very low. Twice during the last week, I ran tap water through the 6-inch containers until about 20 percent of it drained out. As it soaked through the containers soluble salts dissolved in the water and drained away, so the roots had a chance to sip clear water. This didn’t remove nutrients from the plants, but they used up what was in their systems. Now the time had come. The buds were ripe— HARVEST! c

Postscript: The water in the reservoir, which contains the extra nutrients from the double flush, has been pumped into a holding container. I will dilute it a bit, and then use to feed my garden plants.

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Midsummer Harvest

The garden is ready to harvest. All the plants were clones so they all matured at the same time.

All the buds on the plants had received light so they were all mature.

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Close-up of a bud.

Cutting the plants was an easy task. A pruner was used.

The plants were hung to dry and cure over five or six weeks. Then they will be manicured. The room stays in the 60s to low 70s, with moderate humidity.

Now is a great time to start an indoor natural light crop. All you need is an unobstructed south-facing window. The sun is lower on the horizon now so it’s light shines right into the window for hours daily. In areas with bright sun, rather than cloudy weather, this may be enough light to support flowering. Since the light duration is fewer than 12 hours daily the plants will start to flower almost immediately will ripen early, so the plants will remain small and will produce small buds, but with little effort on your part. This works best if you can start with plants rather than seeds. Some dispensaries sell “adolescents,” and those are great candidates for a project like this.

Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

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Time to Go: September Weather: Highs in the mid-60s to lows in the mid-50s, with some cloudy/rainy days. Budget: $$$$$

if you go:

Toronto Sizzles in September by Sheryll Alexander

Toronto is Canada’s second epicenter of cannabis culture (with the first being Vancouver, British Columbia), so a trip to The Six can be a medical cannabis connoisseurs’ North American travel dream come true. Of course, Toronto’s cannabis culture is but one reason for such a Canadian getaway, especially in the spectacularly scenic late summer and early fall. That’s because Toronto is Canada’s most culturefilled urban center. In Toronto, there’s literally more things to do, see, eat, drink and smoke than any visitor can imagine especially when it comes to food, film and theatre arts. Some come to Toronto for the nightlife. No matter the weather, Toronto heats

up when the sun goes down, and its millions upon millions of locals and tourists continue to party through the wee morning hours at some of the world’s hottest music venues and dance clubs. If your Toronto travel focus is on cannabis and the cannabiz, however, then you won’t be disappointed. Toronto is ground zero for some of Canada’s most innovative cannabis entrepreneurs, so there’s a lot to see, do, learn and experience. Definitely don’t miss a day or night time walking excursion to both Toronto’s Kensington Market and Queen Street West sections for a peek inside some of the best cannabisthemed shops in the world. With the rise of

cannabis shops in Toronto and all over Canada, however, has come a surprising crackdown this spring by local governments just as it seemed youthful Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal government would relax its restrictions and decriminalize this miracle medical plant. Much like in the U.S., the cannabiz in Canada— including Vancouver and Toronto—is in a state of uneasy flux. Just remember, cannabis is still only medical and very unfortunately for Canadian residents only. This hiccup as well as other legalities can still potentially land you in prison. Still, anyone can enjoy a travel trip to vibrant Toronto for its cannabinoidloving culture. c

Fun-Filled Facts Hot Box Café has a popular “medilounge” where (licensed in Canada only) medical cannabis smokers can hang and medicate out in a relaxed atmosphere. 1

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For those into shopping, check out The 401 Richmond Street West Complex. This restored industrial building has been dubbed “The Warehouse” by locals and holds around 140 artist studios for some of the best one-off art and culture shopping as well as other eclectic shops, events and festivals. 2

Toronto is located in the southern part of the central Ontario province where medical cannabis, edibles and other cannabis products can be purchased by residents at seemingly endless dispensaries. Unlike the United States, Canada’s central government has classified cannabis as a Schedule II drug, but this unfortunately still makes possession a crime. What this means today to Toronto-bound travelers is a cannabis conundrum. While you will enjoy being in the center of Canada’s cannabiz culture, you can’t legally buy flower buds or edibles even if you are a licensed patient in your home medical or recreational state. This is quite the bummer as Torontonians toke rather freely in public most notably near the pulsating nightclubs of Richmond and Adelaide streets. Hearty and perhaps foolhardy Canadians do smoke outside discreetly and comply politely—if bothered— with the mostly lax authorities although cops do have the right to hit smokers with a hefty fine.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture growing

Melissa Mentele

Age: 39 Condition/Illness: RSD/CRPS, five herniated lumbar discs and a labral tear in left hip

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Using Medical Cannabis Since: 2013

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Why did you start using cannabis? I was severely injured in 2012 and prescribed opiates that I consistently had adverse reactions to. In March of 2013 I had my shoulder rebuilt and my bicep reattached. During the recovery I was diagnosed with RSD/ CRPS. Knowing the diagnosis carried a lifetime of pain meds and medical interventions, I started looking into alternative options. Cannabis lotion has been a miracle for the nerve pain and tactile pain in my arm. It gave me my life back. I was at a point where I couldn’t wear long-sleeved shirts and the breeze going across my arm would drop me to my knees. I traveled to Colorado and started to experiment with options. I was floored by how well it worked. I was also astonished by how I didn’t feel drugged; I could carry on with my day, and I was less irritated with life. After that I started to advocate for cannabis reform in my state. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Yes, you name an opiate, and I have tried it. I even at

one point was prescribed Fentanyl patches and quick-release morphine together. I was a druggedout mess on them and stopped taking them. What is the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Lack of education in non-legal states and lack of funds to change that. More organizations need to get involved and donate towards states that are struggling to legalize. What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? Each and every one of us knows someone who has battled cancer; we have all seen someone in hospice care and we have seen children struggle with deadly seizure disorders. Ask yourself: If that was your loved one, wouldn’t you want options? Wouldn’t you want a choice? If the answer is yes then sit down, get comfy, and open Google. Enter “medical cannabis uses” and start reading. Read a little every day then when you have read enough patient stories, science and testimonials, get up and get involved. There is an organization in every state that advocates for cannabis reform. Get involved and be a part of history. 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.

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION

Invigorate Your September and Spice It Up! Menu: Freaky Fish Tacos with Lime Chipotle Canna-Aioli Hazy Thai Wings

recipes by Jeffthe420Chef September is a great gathering month, where friends and family tend to come together at least a couple of times. It is still warm from the end of summer dragging on, but also can get a little crisp out, in the beginning of the harvest season, offering a great variety of nights, themes and events for folks to come together and eat. Fish tacos are a perfect dinner party meal. These Freaky Fish Tacos are not only really tasty (and authentic), but they’ll knock your socks off if you eat more than two. There is also something really rewarding about making your own salsa, so I included my cucumber avocado salsa in this recipe for you. It’s the perfect complement to this dish. My second recipe for September, the Hazy Thai Wings are an ode to Pok Pok, Chef Andy Ricker’s renowned Thai street-food restaurant. The first time I had authentic Thai wings was at Pok Pok Noi in Portland, while visiting Chef Adrian Hale of Communal Table—and I fell in love! For days, all I could think about was how to re-create these awesome wings with one (or two) added ingredients. And here you have it! You’ll never look at wings the same way again, guaranteed.

Freaky Fish Tacos with Lime Chipotle Canna-Aioli Ingredients: 1/2 red onion, diced 1 half cucumber, diced 1 avocado, diced

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1 large tomato, diced

1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (reserve some for garnish) 1 jalapeño, stemmed and chopped Red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning

1 cup all-purpose or whole-wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 1/3 teaspoons ancho chili powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 pound flaky white fish (such as mahi-mahi or cod), cut into 4 pieces Salt and freshly ground black pepper Olive oil for frying

2 teaspoons lime juice

8 fresh corn tortillas

1 tablespoons

1 cup shredded cabbage (use a mixture of red and green)

canna–olive oil plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 limes, cut into quarters

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Number of servings: 8 tacos Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Approximate THC per Serving* 10%: 3.8 milligrams 15%: 5.7 milligrams 20%: 7.6 milligrams

Nido

444 Oak St., Oakland (510) 444-6436 www.nidooakland.com

Thai Square Restaurant

Put the onion, cucumber, avocado, tomato, garlic, cilantro and jalapeño in a small bowl. Pour in just enough red wine vinegar to cover well. Add a pinch of salt, the lime juice, and the canna–olive oil. Set aside for at least 30 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin. Sift together well with a fork. Season the fish with salt and pepper, then coat the fish with the flour mixture. Preheat oven to 340ºF. At the same time, heat a large skillet over medium-high

heat. Add 1 inch of olive oil. Gently fry the fish for 3 to 4 minutes, then turn over and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Set aside. Stack the tortillas, separating each with a slightly dampened sheet of paper towel. Wrap in foil. Heat in the oven for 5 minutes. Top each tortilla with a pinch of shredded cabbage and some of the cooked fish, then (using a slotted spoon) top with each one with the cucumber avocado salsa. Garnish with Lime Chipotle Canna-Aioli, a lime wedge and cilantro. Dig in!

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21267 Stevens Creek Blvd. Ste. 311, Cupertino (408) 777-0199 www.thaisquarecupertino.com

culture

Garaje

475 3rd St., San Francisco (415) 644-0838 www.garaje475.com

growing

Local eateries with similar dishes:

*Approximate dose per serving is based on infusing 5 grams of cured/dried/decarbed cannabis into 5 ounces of oil. iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

culture

Hazy Thai Wings Ingredients 1/2 cup raw cane sugar

Number of servings: 4 (5 wings per serving) Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Approximate THC per Serving* 10%: 7.6 milligrams 15%: 11.4 milligrams 20%: 15.2 milligrams

1/2 cup Asian fish sauce

growing

3 tablespoons ketchup 11/2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (Sambal sauce) 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon rice vinegar 1 cup cornstarch 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 pounds chicken wings, rinsed and patted dry

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Extra-virgin coconut oil for frying

1 tablespoon canna–coconut oil plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin coconut oil Toasted peanuts and garlic (see sidebar, below) 4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Directions Place sugar in a food processor and grind until very fine. In a medium bowl, add the fish sauce, ketchup, sugar, chili garlic sauce, lime juice and rice vinegar. Set aside. In a shallow dish, sift the cornstarch and garlic powder. Toss the wings in the cornstarch mixture to coat. Heat a large skillet on the stovetop for 1 minute on high. Add enough coconut oil to fry, about 2 inches from the bottom of the pan. Fry the wings until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on brown paper. Preheat oven to 340ºF. Place the fried wings on a lightly greased baking sheet and drizzle each wing with 1 teaspoon of canna–coconut oil mixture. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. In a clean skillet, add the sauce and heat on medium until syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove the wings from the oven and toss with the sauce until evenly coated. Toss in the toasted peanuts and garlic. Garnish with cilantro and serve alongside a cup of carrot sticks and celery curls.

Toasted Peanuts and Garlic 1/4 cup raw peanuts, crushed 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon coconut oil Dash of salt In a small bowl, mix peanuts and garlic with coconut oil and a dash of salt. Spread evenly on a small pan and roast at 325ºF for 30 minutes, until toasted and browned. Remove, let cool and voilà!

Celery Curls Cut celery into 6-inch pieces, slice in half lengthwise, make lengthwise cuts almost to center and repeat to create slivers. Refrigerate in ice water until slivers curl. *Approximate dose per serving is based on infusing 5 grams of cured/dried/decarbed cannabis into 5 ounces of oil.

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.

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

NORCAL NOW! event listings

alternative Americana, complete with a guitar, mandolin, harmonica and banjo. Partnered with the honkey-tonk of Sam Outlaw, this is sure to be a night you will never forget. The Fillmore, San Francisco thefillmore.com

California Home, Garden & Design Show, Sept. 9-11 Get hands-on inspiration on how to transform your home and garden into your personal sanctuary. Experts, vendors and contractors are all available at this unique event, all willing to help you transform your home dreams into realities. Whether you dream of a water-wise garden or an indoor patio or anything in between, this is the place to test out your vision. Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara santaclaraconventioncenter.org

Wanda Sykes, Sept. 10 Is there anything Wanda Sykes can’t do? She is known as a hilarious comedian, actress, writer and voice artist. Now you can see as this hilarious lady takes the stage and delivers a topnotch comedic performance. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa lutherburbankcenter.org

The Kacey Musgraves Country & Western Rhinestone Revue with Sam Outlaw, Sept. 16-17 Kacey Musgraves is America’s sweetheart. This country music singer was born in Texas, and now she travels the world spreading the sweet sounds of her 90

featured event

Luna Park Chalk Art Festival, Sept. 17 Grab a pail of chalk, and get ready to impress at the Luna Park Chalk Art Festival. Over 3,000 people attend this creative and colorful day where over 150 pieces of chalk art are created in front of your very eyes. There is also live music, food trucks and vendors. Backesto Park, San Jose lunaparkchalkart.org

Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival, Sept. 17-18 Soak in the positive energy from the sun, and head over to the Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival. Friday’s entertainment includes Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, G Love & Special Sauce, Steve Kimock and Third World. Saturday is just as promising with Pimps of Joytime, Katdelic and Sheila E., among others. There will also be food and drinks available for purchase during the two-day fest! Roaring Camp Meadows, Felton santacruzmountainsol.com

Jenny Lewis, Sept. 22 Whether you fell in love with Jenny Lewis back in her Rilo Kiley days or have idolized this female singer, song-writer and actress

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Drake, Sept. 24-25

Fans everywhere will jump at the opportunity to see Drake as part of the Summer Sixteen Tour with Future. Although he started out as an actor, Drake is now a sensational rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Don’t miss as he drops lyrics from his latest album, Views. SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose sapcenter.com throughout her latest solo career, Jenny Lewis is a force to be reckoned with in the American music scene. Bringing her indie-folk tunes to the Bay Area, don’t miss your chance to swoon over this talented female musician. The Masonic, San Francisco sfmasonic.com

WellREDComedy Tour, Sept. 29 Trae Crowder, Drew Morgan and Corey Ryan Forrester are hilarious comedians who work together to bring stage shows that are consistently sold out! Get your tickets to see hilarity ensue onstage,

and hurry before it’s too late! Cobb’s Comedy Club, San Francisco www.cobbscomedy.com

REEL ROCK Film Tour, Sept. 29 If you want to explore new worlds without leaving Seattle, then buckle up for the REEL ROCK Film Tour. This year, five invigorating films will keep you perched on the edge of your seat. The five films for this year’s event will be Young Guns, Boys in the Bugs, Brette, Rad Dad and Dodo’s Delight. Castro Theatre, San Francisco castrotheatre.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird LEAD STORY—THE POWER OF PRAYER u A 28-year-old woman, unnamed in news reports, veered off the road and into a house in the Florida panhandle town of Mary Esther on July 7. She apparently was free of drug or alcohol influence, but readily explained to police that she must have gone through a stop sign and left the road when she closed her eyes to pray as she drove. (The house was damaged, but no one was injured.)

A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (AUGUST 2012) u New Mexico is an “open carry” state, with otherwise-

law-abiding adults authorized to display loaded handguns in public. However, in the town of Vaughn (pop. 500, about 90 miles east of Albuquerque), perhaps the only people not legally able to carry are the town’s two police officers. A June (2012) KOB-TV report revealed that Chief Ernest Armijo had been convicted in 2011 of criminal non-support of a wife and two sons, and was barred from possessing a gun. Deputy Brian Bernal has his own domestic issue: a conviction for family violence that bans him, under federal law, from carrying. (A month after the News of the Weird story, both men resigned, leaving the town’s police dog the only active “officer.”) TROMPE L’OEIL JUNGLE u A conservation biologist at Australia’s University of New South Wales said in July that his team was headed to Botswana to paint eyeballs on cows’ rear ends. It’s a solution to the problem of farmers

who are now forced to kill endangered lions to keep them away from their cows. However, the researchers hypothesize, since lions hunt by stealth and tend to pass up kills if the prey spots them, painting on eyeballs might trick the lions to choose other prey. (For the same reason, woodcutters in India wear masks painted with faces— backward—for protection against tigers.) “BIG PORN” GIVES BACK u (1) In June, the online megawebsite Pornhub announced a program to help blind pornography consumers by adding 50 “described videos” to its catalog, with a narrator doing play-by-play of the setting, the actors, clothing (if any) and the action. Said a Pornhub vice president, “It’s our way of giving back.” (2) Later in June, another pornography website (with a frisky name— see bit.ly/29O4G9UURL) inaugurated a plan to donate a penny to women’s health or abuse prevention organizations every time a user reached a successful “ending” while viewing its videos (maximum two per person per day). Its first day’s haul was $39, or $13 for each of three charities (including the Mariska Hargitaysupported Joyful Heart Foundation). CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE u A Government Program That Actually Works: A motorist in Regina, Saskatchewan, was issued a $175 traffic ticket on June 8 after he pulled over to ask if he could assist a homeless beggar on the sidewalk. According to the police report cited by CTV News, the “beggar” was actually a cop on stakeout looking for drivers not wearing seat belts (who would thus pay the city $175). Driver Dane Rusk said he had unbuckled his belt to lean over in the seat to give the “beggar” $3—and moments later, the cop’s partner stopped Rusk (thus earning Regina a total of $178!).

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND u (1) In May, the Times of India reported the death of a man known only as Urjaram, in Rajasthan, India, when, while hosting a party, he forgot that while he was enjoying himself, he had left his camel in the sun all day (during a historic heat wave) with its legs tied together. When Urjaram finally went outside, the enraged camel “lifted him by the neck,” “threw him to the ground” and “chewed on his body,” severing his head. (2) The thief who ransacked a community greenhouse in County Durham, England, in July got away, but, according to residents, among his bounty was a bottle of rum that is usually offered only as a constipation remedy, in that it contained a heavy dose of the aggressive laxative “lactulose.” Said one resident, “Maybe (the thief has) left a trail” for the police. SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED u Many website and app users are suspected of “agreeing” to privacy policies and “terms of service” without comprehending them (or even reading them), though most judges routinely assume the user to have consented to be bound by them. In a controlledtest report released in July, researchers from York University and University of Connecticut found that 74 percent skipped the privacy policy altogether, but, of the “readers,” the average time spent was 73 seconds (for wordage that should have taken 30 minutes), and time “reading” terms of service was 51 seconds when it should have taken 16 minutes. (If users had read closely, they might have noticed that they had agreed to share all their personal data with the National Security Agency and that terms of service included giving up their first-born child.)

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016

september 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com september 2016