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contents 10.2019
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BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON
Award-winning comedian Josh Blue has reached a pivotal level of success by embracing his cerebral palsy while crafting hilarious stand-up routines and sweet cannabis-infused treats. ON THE COVER:
PHOTO BY JOEL MEADERS
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The Latest Frontier Cannabis edibles continue to evolve, offering consumers new ways to consume healthy, lowcalorie and no-calorie options.
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Rich Reading Author Robyn Griggs Lawrence uncovers the fascinating, long history of edible cannabis in her latest book, Pots in Pans.
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Industry Insider Rachel King, pastry chef and co-founder of Kaneh Co., creates a variety of sweet edibles that are both potent and consistent.
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Earthly Rituals Influencer Gabriela Herstik explores the intersection of glamour, sexuality, witchcraft and cannabis.
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Funky Town Listen to Lettuce for a healthy dose of good ol’ American funk.
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departments
news 10 News Nuggets 12 By the Numbers 14 Local News reviews 16 Strain and Edible Reviews 20 Cool Stuff 22 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 46 À La Carte 50 Growing Culture 52 NorCal Now! 54 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d University Cannabis Consumption Increases d Spooky Strains for Halloween
VOL 11 ISSUE 4
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jamie Solis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Kern EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Benjamin Adams EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jacob Cannon, Alex Distefano, David Edmundson, Caroline Hayes, Carl Kozlowski, Alison Malsbury, Kiara Manns, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, Nicole Potter, R. Scott Rappold, Ed Rosenthal, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf ART DIRECTOR Steven Myrdahl PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Aguirre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Angie Callahan, Kim Cook, Casey Roel OFFICE MANAGER Mikayla Aguilar
CULTURE® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout the Southern California. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. CULTURE® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
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CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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NEWS
NUGGETS
California Launches Vaping Danger Awareness Campaign On Sept. 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the launch of a public awareness campaign to alert Californians about the dangers of vaping e-cigarettes with nicotine and vaping products containing cannabis. In addition, he announced that state officials will be developing a plan to ban the sale of illicit vaping products that contain harmful additives. “As a parent, I understand the anxiety caused by the deceptive marketing tactics and flavored options
Oakland Cannabis Breathalyzer Company Raises $30M in Funding Oakland-based Hound Labs announced on Aug. 27 that it has raised $30 million in Series D financing, shortly after a University of California, San Francisco study revealed that THC can be reliably detected within a three-hour window after smoking cannabis. Hound Labs developed one of the first breathalyzers that are capable 10
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designed to target our kids,” said Gov. Newsom. “With mysterious lung illnesses and deaths on the rise, we have to educate our kids and do everything we can to tackle this crisis.” Newsom stated that he doesn’t have the executive authority to outright ban all flavored vape products, as in certain other states, but he requested that state lawmakers send him legislation to carry out a ban.
of detecting both cannabis and alcohol. “With the publication of clinical study results validating breath as the new frontier for testing recent use of THC, investors can see the tremendous value that Hound Labs will bring to the market with its first-of-its-kind technology,” CEO and Co-founder of Hound Labs, Mike Lynn, stated. “We are excited to usher in a new era of more meaningful and fair drug testing now that marijuana is both medically and recreationally available to so many people.” The study results helped to lure investors to participate in the latest funding round.
Officials Suspect Vitamin E Acetate as Culprit in Vaping Epidemic A joint investigation published on Sept. 12 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration points the finger at vitamin E oil, or tocopheryl acetate, as one of the compounds that may be linked to six deaths and the hospitalization of hundreds of people who vaped e-cigarettes or vape pens. “Most patients have reported a history of using e-cigarette products containing THC,” the CDC report reads. “Many patients have reported using THC and nicotine. Some have reported the use of e-cigarette products containing only nicotine.” Vitamin E acetate is used as a thickening agent by rogue vape manufacturers. Other common ingredients include propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, polyethylene glycol and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT oil). Even the terpene D-limonene is reported to be a dangerous solvent despite being organic, when it is added in unnatural quantities. Serious pulmonary illness can arise if unregulated or random ingredients are added haphazardly.
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The estimated number of people who attended Outside Lands in San Francisco, which featured a special new “Grass Lands” cannabis section: (Source: SFist)
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that an Oakland-based alcohol and cannabis breathalyzer company raised in funding in late August: (Source: Fox5)
90,000
30
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the state of California will spend on a public awareness campaign about the dangers of vaping: (Source: News12)
20
The initial number of counties in California that have used the Clear My Record program to assist in clearing cannabis convictions, as of early September: (Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
6
The percentage of people living in Scotland who said that they support legalizing cannabis for adult consumption: (Source: The Times)
47
The estimated amount of cannabis, in grams, that the Drug Enforcement Administration wants to be legally grown in the U.S. in 2020: (Source: Forbes)
3,200,000
The estimated number of acres of hemp that were licensed in the U.S. since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill: (Source: Vote Hemp)
511,442
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Nevada-based cannabis businesses paid in excise taxes during the fiscal year 2019: (Source: FOX13)
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Ngaio Bealum WHEN: Tues, Oct. 8 WHERE: The Punch Line, 444 Battery St., San Francisco WEBSITE: punchlinecomedyclub.com American comedian Ngaio Bealum’s name is synonymous with both comedy and cannabis. Bealum writes a column about cannabis and politics for Sacramento News & Review, and he is credited in several films on the topic. After being a frequent guest on Getting Doug with High starring Doug Benson, he also starred on Cooking on High and other cannabis-related projects. He co-hosted Cannabis 12
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Planet and published West Coast Cannabis Magazine. You can frequently find Bealum as a keynote speaker at various cannabis events throughout the year in multiple states. But for now, witness his award-winning comic routine—from someone who knows a thing or two about the cannabis industry. Beyond comedy, Bealum is also an award-winning juggler, crediting his name to his hardcore hippie parents.
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NEWS
LOCAL
New West Summit 5
HAZY HORTICULTURE
West Oakland’s homeless population is battling Oakland city leadership to preserve grow operation
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By Benjamin M. Adams hould the homeless be allowed to cultivate cannabis in vacant city lots? The answer isn’t always as legally straightforward as you might think. Under Proposition 64, adult Californians can grow up to six living plants on private residences—a provision that some individuals who are homeless claim allows them to continue growing. At a previously vacant lot located at Wood Street and West Grand Avenue in the neighborhood of West Oakland, an encampment has become a focal point for the media. Several dozen people live in the lot, mostly in RVs or in mini buses. A handful of them have taken up the hobby of cultivating cannabis in neatly organized planter boxes. As of early September, there were 35 planter boxes filled with manicured cannabis plants. The grow operation remained untouched for at least four months, despite being monitored by city leadership. The seeds were planted in May, with plans to harvest the cannabis in October. Cam McMeel, 51, and several other people living at the lot, requested that the city allow them to continue to cultivate cannabis, even if they have to move the plants to another 14
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location. Surprisingly, the grow operation at Wood and West Grand remains intact as of the time of writing. Further complicating the matter is the fact that between 2017 and 2019, Oakland’s homeless population soared 47 percent— one of the single largest increases of any California city during the same time period. Many of them have jobs or are living with their whole families. Per Section 4.5 of the Adult Use Marijuana Act, or Proposition 64, Section 11362.2 is added to Health and Safety Code to address home cultivation on private residences. “Not more than six living plants may be planted, cultivated, harvested, dried or processed within a single private residence, or upon the grounds of that private residence, at one time,” the language reads. Under McMeel’s interpretation of the law, people who are homeless could technically get away with the operation if they had permission from the property owner. In this case, the owner of the lot is an enterprise called Game Changer LLC., which didn’t respond to media requests. But Joe DeVries, assistant to the city administrator’s office, wildly disagrees with McMeel’s slant of city law. “You’ve trespassed on someone’s property and taken over a huge portion of it to create a large cannabis farm for profit,” DeVries told the San Francisco Chronicle. “No one can smoke that much pot. He did it without getting permission from the city, without getting permission from the owner. No, that is not OK.” Home cultivation in California does not require a permit, but given that those living in the lot are not legal tenants, it’s unclear what kind of permission they would need to seek. According to DeVries, the city has plans to convert the lot into an RV park for the impoverished, with capacity for 50 RVs, but under the watchful eye of city leaders. In his opinion, this would make the situation much safer. While it’s unlikely that the city will allow them to continue the operation permanently on the lot, the saga continues, and city leaders appear to have chosen to focus on other immediate matters. c
The industry event of the year has arrived, and you don’t necessarily have to be a businessperson to attend. New West Summit features the highest quality seminars, exhibitors and conversations about the business behind cannabis and who is leading the march. An outstanding lineup of speakers includes keynotes from Alicia Silverstone, Killer Mike, DJ Spooky, former CULTURE cover celebrity George Zimmer, Ophelia Chong, Dr. Sue Sisley and Paul Rosen. As always, networking, parties, music, food, cannabis and drinks are part of the program. Here you will find if you have what it takes to succeed in the cannabis industry, which can be considered highly competitive and high-risk. WHEN: Thurs, Oct. 10-Fri, Oct. 11 WHERE: Bespoke Event Center Level 4, 845 Market St., San Francisco WEBSITE: newwestsummit. com
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REVIEWS
edibles & strains Available wherever Paradise products are carried.
Paradise THC Infused Lozenges
Whether your plans are to visit the pumpkin patch or dance the night way at a Halloween party this month, Paradise has an edible product that is suitable for your on-the-go lifestyle. Paradise THC Infused Lozenges are a welcomed addition to your many fall activities. Available in a variety pack containing an assortment of sugar-free, hybrid lozenges, these edibles pack a punch of both sour and sweet delightfulness. Flavors include Chill Watermelon, Pure Bliss Pineapple, Amped Apple and Tangerine. Like all Paradise products, these lozenges are crafted using high-quality, lab-tested and organic ingredients—eliminating any worries or second guessing over the safety or quality of these THC Infused Lozenges. Paradise also offers CBD Lozenges, which are available at tasteparadise.com.
Available wherever Honey Pot products are carried or at honeypotproducts.com.
Cookies Glue by WILLIE'S RESERVE
Honey Pot Cannabis Infused Honey
Mother nature had the right idea when she gifted humankind with beneficial substances like honey and cannabis. Honey Pot has embraced these two offerings of nature’s bounty, combining them for consumers as Honey Pot Cannabis Infused Honey. Known for its high levels of antioxidants and antibacterial properties, honey is a perfect food to pair with high-quality cannabis oil. Sourced from apiaries (honey farms) in California, bees collect nectar from beautiful wildflowers to create this delicious honey that is a perfect addition to your morning tea, afternoon sandwich or even atop a heaping scoop of ice cream. And it doesn’t stop there—Honey Pot also offers Cannabis Infused Olive Oil. The company combines California extra-virgin olive oil with high potency cannabis oil. This olive oil can be used with just about any type of food item or as a topical, and it comes in a variety of dosing sizes.
TM
Looking for a strain that will have you slightly glued to your couch while still providing surges of energy similar to a sugar rush? Sounds impossible, right? Wrong. The Cookies Glue strain by Beija Flor Farms, available from WILLIE’S RESERVE TM, is just the hybrid for those looking for a balanced and relaxed body effect alongside a perfectly manageable and enjoyable feeling of euphoria. Cookies Glue is a combination of two of the most favorable genetic lines in all of cannabis with its mother plant hailing from the GSC genotype and its father plant hailing from the GG4 phenotype. The flowers themselves are an olive green color with light and furry amber hairs scattered underneath a coating of chunky crystal trichomes. The flavor yielded from this flower is a mix between piney and fruity, more similar to the flavor profile of GG4 than GSC. Overall, the combination of sedative and motivational effects from the Cookies Glue make this a great after work strain, and with a THC content of 21.45 percent, this is definitely a flower that shouldn't be passed up!
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Available wherever MedMen locations throughout California.
Matcha Tea White Chocolate Bar by Défoncé
Available at Natural Herbal Pain Relief in San Jose.
California, meet Belgium. Belgium, meet California. The Matcha Tea White Chocolate by Défoncé is an utter delicacy crafted from the finest Belgian chocolate and infused with premium California Cannabis and Matcha Green Tea. This is truly a gourmet dessert and should be treated as such. The milky and creamy white chocolate just evaporates on the tongue leaving behind the most wonderfully rich and invigorating flavor. As soon as you open the sleek packaging you will smell the delicious overtones of Matcha Green Tea that blend harmoniously with the subtle scent of sweet, sweet cannabis. The Matcha Tea White Chocolate by Défoncé is parceled into 18 pieces at 5mg THC each totaling 90mg of THC in the entire bar. As there are nearly 20 pieces of chocolate comprising this bar, it is absolutely great for sharing with a few friends after a dinner party. Additionally, the Matcha Tea White Chocolate bar contains spirulina, which is a very popular antioxidant and energy booster that works delightfully well with the infused cannabis. All things considered, the Matcha Tea White Chocolate by Défoncé is a top shelf edible and well worth its weight in not just cannabis but in chocolate too.
Available wherever WILLIE’S RESERVETM products are carried.
Jack Herer by Love Humboldt LLC
This legendary strain always has been and always will be a definite crowd-pleaser. Jack Herer simply holds a place in cannabis lore as one of the greatest of all-time and this variety by Love Humboldt LLC at WILLIE’S RESERVE TM is a contender for the best around. The flowers from this plant really are a sight to see with a bright lime green color juxtaposed against a field of rusty colored hairs. "Skunky" is the first word that comes to mind when describing its aroma. However, one could smell layers of citrus as well. This strain offers a blissful, creative effect that is stimulating and perfect for a night out with friends or working on a project on a weekend afternoon. Also worth noting is the impeccable sweet pine flavor paired with mildly spicy notes that make for a well-rounded and unique flavor profile. Ultimately, the Jack Herer strain by Love Humboldt LLC available at WILLIE’S RESERVE TM a unique take on a classic strain and is one that is worth sampling.
Bhang Dark Blueberry
Available at The Green Door SF in San Francisco.
One of the more popular products available at The Green Door SF is the Bhang Dark Blueberry chocolate bar, thanks to its next-level fruit flavor. This chocolate bar is literally SCREAMING with blueberry flavor and boy is it scrumptious. Compounded by the fact that this edible contains over 70 percent South American cocoa, there is literally nothing in the taste department that is being short-changed. This cannabis confection is vegan and is split into 10 individual servings with 10mg THC in each serving, which adds up to 100mg THC in the entire package. However, there are now mini packages available with one 10mg serving. What is important to note with the Bhang Dark Blueberry is the resealable hard plastic container that the chocolate comes in, allowing individuals to save portions for another time and/or not have to worry about the chocolate getting squished or melting in a pocket. Make sure to stop by The Green Door SF, and grab some of the Bhang Dark Blueberry chocolate before everyone else does! CultureMagazine.com
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REVIEWS
Jack Herer by Jetfuel Cannabis
Ask any experienced cannabis smokers about the quality of the Jack Herer strain and nearly everyone will tell you the same thing— it’s one of the best varieties of cannabis available. This particular offering by Jetfuel Cannabis available at Airfield Supply Co. in San Jose showcases some of the best visual qualities the Jack Herer strain can offer. Its large bristle-like orange hairs burst through a multi-shaded green canopy of flower drenched in a storm of crystal clear trichomes. The aroma that emanates off of this bud is so unbelievably fresh and piquant, it completely renders all other strains scents as inferior. This is thanks to the fact that 1.9 percent of this strain's content is terpenes, an unusually high amount for dried flowers. This strain is one that can be consumed at any time of the day as the cerebral effects are definitely noticeable but not too overpowering. Be mindful, however, as the Jack Herer strain is notorious for having its effects creep up out of nowhere. Grab yourself some of this flower it at Airfield Supply Co. in San Jose before it’s too late.
Available at Airfield Supply Co. in San Jose.
Cann
Available at MedMen locations across California and through Eaze delivery service.
Move over alcohol-infused seltzer waters—Cann is the next biggest thing in terms of social drinking. This cannabis-infused social tonic was designed to allow consumers to drink socially with friends without the negative effects associated with alcohol intoxication. Made with just five ingredients and packing a tolerable 2mg THC and 4mg CBD, Cann is enjoyed by consumers who are looking to experience a similar buzz they would attain from drinking a single serving of alcohol. It’s also a great introductory cannabis drink to those who are new to cannabis, as well as something that experienced consumers can drink into the evening festivities. Available in creative flavors like Lemon Lavender, Blood Orange Cardamon and Grapefruit Rosemary, Cann has your thirst covered for your next social outing.
Available wherever Coda Signature products are carried.
Coffee & Doughnuts
Coffee & Doughnuts are a quintessential part of many Americans' morning routines, and thanks to Coda Signature these early morning pleasures can now be enjoyed any time of the day! These spectacular treats are created using South American Milk chocolate, coffee, toasted milk, cannabis oil and a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar. Every bite of this wonderful bar is reminiscent of a timeless Sunday morning at home, with each taste of doughnut and coffee flavored deliciousness bringing forth a sense of comfort swaddled in a chocolatey blanket of happiness and nostalgia. The taste is an experience unlike anything else. Furthermore, all of the cannabis oil used in the Coffee & Doughnuts bar by Coda Signature is 100 percent CO2-extracted, ensuring the highest quality standard in terms of not just flavor but purity as well. At 100mg of THC per package, this is definitely an edible that can have you down for the count if consumed all at once, but when consumed sparingly the result is very wellbalanced with a stellar pairing of mild cerebral and body effects. 18
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REVIEWS
1. Butter Churner In honor of CULTURE’s annual Edibles Issue, we’re putting a modern spin on the classic. Nothing is more classic to cannabis edibles than infused butter, so let’s elevate this experience by churning your own butter! Skip the gym— your muscles will get quite the workout turning your favorite whipping cream into homemade fat spread to complement everything from your breakfast toast to serving as a welcomed ingredient in those classic fudge brownies. Price: $39 More Information: uncommongoods.com 2. Stirr Automatic Pan Stirrer Who has time to do things like stir soup as it simmers on the stove? Let’s face it—we’ve all seen the viral video of the guy who is appears to be sleeping at the wheel while his Tesla self-drives on a busy freeway, right? Let’s just say this is a much safer way of allowing technology to do the grunt work. Now your eggs, soups, sauces, gravy and more won’t be in harm’s way of sticking to the bottom of the pan, courtesy of Stirr Automatic Pan Stirrer. Price: $23.59 More Information: uutensil.com 20
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3. Orbit Oil and Vinegar Set Get ready for an out-of-thisworld dining experience, courtesy the Orbit Oil and Vinegar Set. The fact that this set doesn’t come complete with oil and vinegar means you can opt for cannabis-infused oil to make your dinner party all the more unforgettable. And at just $20, this is a great gift that looks cool, and it’s sure to be something your giftee doesn’t already have in their kitchen, we almost guarantee it. Price: $20 More Information: uncommongoods.com 4. Colonel Popper Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper Explore the culinary possibilities of popping your very own popcorn using this unique bowl from Colonel Popper. Made with only the best silicone, ditch the unhealthy popcorn bags that may contain questionable chemicals. Plus, storage and portability of this product are a breeze, as this Colonel Popper easily collapses. Drizzle your popped kernels with a little cannabis-infused (and freshly-churned) butter to take it up a notch! Price: $15.97 More Information: shopcolonelpopper.com
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REVIEWS
entertainment
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 25
BOOK
The Complete Cannabis Cookbook: 100+ Marijuana Edible Recipes That Will Get You High
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AVAILABLE ON: PC, PS4 AND XBOX ONE
MOVIE
MUSIC
GAME
Booksmart
Fear Inoculum
The Outer Worlds
Dir. Olivia Wilde United Artists Releasing
Tool RCA Records
Grant Horton Pub. Independently Published
Dev. Obsidian Entertainment Pub. Private Division
It’s time to get biblical! After all, author Grant Horton believes that cannabis “must be God’s way of wrapping a cosmic experience in a little plant.” Horton’s approach to edibles will have you believing exactly that. Hot and fresh off the press—The Complete Cannabis Cookbook: 100+ Marijuana Edible Recipes That Will Get You High delivers right by its name. You’ll find yourself drooling as you daydream about recipes such as Marijuana Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chocolate Nut Canna Bites and more than 100 other appetizing food and drink recipes. (Jacob Cannon)
In The Outer Worlds, you are one of a lucky few who were chosen to colonize the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Along the way, you and your fellow colonists are lost in transit, and you alone wake up decades later to find the colony overridden by corporate greed and a variety of factions seeking power and control over the outpost known as Halcyon. In this single player RPG, players can explore a variety of social interactions with NPCs, increase technical skills, collect a variety of weapons to defeat enemies and protect themselves from the savage wildlife of the planet Monarch. (Nicole Potter)
OCTOBER 2019 CultureMagazine.com
Coming-of-age, teen party comedies are a well-trodden territory. However, it’s been rare over the years that they’ve tried to tell these stories authentically from a female perspective. Booksmart succeeds in this endeavor as it tells the story of two nerdy, over-achieving girls who realize they’ve alienated themselves from their peers and attempt to gain acceptance at a final graduation bash. Though the film immediately drew comparisons to 2007’s Superbad, Booksmart achieves depth and nuance Superbad just couldn’t get to. Helmed by director Olivia Wilde and brought to life with stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, Booksmart is one not to miss. (Simon Weedn)
After 13 years, 1990s prog-metal group Tool has arrived with its highly anticipated fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum. Keeping its feet firmly planted in the complex rhythms and dark atmospheric riffs and melodies that has won it legions of fans over the last nearly 30 years, the new album is everything that a classic Tool fan could ever want. From extremely polished production to virtuosic musicianship to quasi-psychedelic lyrical imagery, all of the most important aspects of Tool’s sound remain intact and unchanged. The band may at this point be writing the same songs over and over again, but at least they’re good songs. (Simon Weedn)
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PHOTOS BY JOEL MEADERS
JOSH BLUE SHARES HIS RISE TO FAME, OVERCOMING DISADVANTAGES AND NOTABLE EDIBLE EXPERIENCES
By Benjamin M. Adams Early on, standout comedian Josh Blue constantly reassured himself that he could accomplish anything that any other person could. In his own words, he “puts the ‘cerebral’ in cerebral palsy,” living with the condition his entire life—but not allowing himself to be limited or defined by it. Blue’s mantra has ultimately steered him to stardom, winning Last Comic Standing on the reality show’s fourth season on NBC, being the first comedian to perform stand-up on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and being named Best Winning Reality Show Guest on Live with Regis and Kelly. As an accomplished comic, Blue has taken ownership of his success. He made appearances on Carlos Mencia’s Mind of Mencia on Comedy Central. He also performed on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson several years ago and delivered a searing pivotal performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last year. Blue also recently filmed his fifth one hour-long comedy special. Beyond comedy, Blue founded the band Josh Blue & The Hooligan Stew Revue, a collaborative project with Zebra Junction, and he is also an international athlete and dabbles in acting. Blue competed in Athens, Greece during the 2004 Paralympic Games as a member of the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team. That endeavor would become the butt of many jokes, providing some of his own stand-up material. Finally, Blue is teamed up with licensed edible company Mountain High Suckers, based in Colorado, to release Josh Blue’s Dream, his own line of lollipops infused with THC and CBD. Unlike rolling a joint, anybody—steady-handed or not—can medicate with complete ease and discretion using Blue’s lollipops. CULTURE snagged Blue to discuss his line of cannabis-infused lollipops, his battles with cerebral palsy and his elusive experiences with edibles.
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At what point did you realize you were born to do stand-up? Was there a specific moment? I studied stand-up in college, and I found the comedy scene pretty shortly after graduating, within a year of moving out of college. I think that I pretty much was hooked by that time. You’ve won comedy contests several times, including first place at the 2004 Royal Flush Comedy Competition and winning season four of Last Comic Standing. What do you think separates the winners from the rest in the comedy world? I mean, there are tons of factors that go into it. In my case—it’s my awardwinning smile! No, it actually comes down to the comfortability on-stage and [who has] a natural feel for it. Last Comic Standing wasn’t just about doing stand-up, because they follow you around for your daily life 26
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for a while. So, they saw me being funny in other ways and saw that I’m a fun dude to hang out with and party with, and they got to see my personality. I feel like that is what it is—a shining personality will prevail. Do you recall any times when you worried if you “went too far” with a joke and offended audience members? Really? I’m a fucking professional, bro. [laughing] I know where the line is, and I’m pretty sure that I’m pretty good at walking along it. And you know, my idea is to bring you right up to that line and make you uncomfortable. But I’ll have a big payoff with the laughs at the end, and you know, have something bigger than that. You have cerebral palsy and often use self-deprecating humor in your stand-up. Do you find that
laughing about it from time to time is therapeutic? Sure, man. I mean, I’ve definitely been laughing at myself my whole life. It’s easier to be sad about it, but it’s better to have a laugh and enjoy yourself. But it’s definitely therapeutic. In your experience, can medical cannabis help improve the quality of life for people living with cerebral palsy? If so, how? Well, I’ve always been a huge advocate for the benefits of cannabis for anyone, really. But for me, what it really did was that earlier in my life I used to be hung up on how people perceived me and how people judged me due to my disability. And then I smoked some weed and thought, “Well, fuck it. Who cares what they think? Have fun for yourself.” It kind of just changed my whole mindset on it.
As far as the physical aspects, I guess that when I first started smoking, I didn’t think about it making my body feel better, but something’s definitely happening in there. You know what I mean? In college, you’re like not really thinking hard about the medical benefits. You’re just getting high, because it’s fun to do. But as I got older, I realized that maybe this is a way of functioning better and that it’s a viable medication that people can take. With all these other overthe-counter bullshit drugs that make you sicker, why isn’t this legal with no side effects? And that’s part of the answer—because they want you to have side effects so you can buy more medication. Do you find specific cannabinoids like CBD or THC to be more effective? What’s interesting for me, and I’ve said this before, is that it’s not that weed necessarily made me feel better. It just made me forget anything that’s wrong. Does that make sense? “Oh, well I don’t need to worry about what they think about cerebral palsy.” Look! I’m going to do it and do it better than you ever could! It’s amazing what they do—pull the CBD and THC from weed. Obviously, both have benefit, but in different ways. I like sativas. I’m more of a get-highand-clean-the-house kind of guy. I smoke weed before my shows, so I definitely don’t want an indica that will bring my mood down. Tell us about Mountain High Suckers. Pretty cool, huh? It’s really been awesome working with these guys. It started when I met the owners John [Garrison] and Chad [Tribble]. Back in the day I was going to a dispensary by my house and their product was in there. I met them there and they knew who I was, and we quickly became friends. I’ve done some stuff with them over the years. Some ads and I’m an advocate of their product. Then it just evolved into the Josh Blue line. Obviously, that was a badass idea.
“ I U S E D TO B E H U N G UP ON HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVED ME AND HOW PEOPLE JUDGE ME D U E T O M Y D I S A B I L I T Y. AND THEN I SMOKED SOME WEED AND T H O U G H T, ‘ W E L L , F U C K I T. W H O C A R E S W H AT THEY THINK?’”
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We heard that Blue Dream is your favorite strain. Is that true? It’s perfect because Blue Dream and Josh Blue share the name. Like it was meant to be! Where can consumers find your products? As of now, my products are only available in Colorado. Over 40 different companies now carry it and online. It’s pretty amazing. Right now, we are in talks with getting into California and a few other states. If it gets into California—it will make a wish come true, you know? It will be 30
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pretty fucking awesome, right? Do you have any edible experiences, good or bad, to share? I do have a couple bad edible experiences. One is about my buddy from the mountains in the Colorado Rockies. You know how they have some backwoods people up in there. He gave me an edible that was maybe twice the size of a Tootsie Roll. A big fat Tootsie Roll. I guess I didn’t listen to the instructions, and I ate half of it. Thank God I only ate half! And then I proceeded to get higher than I’ve
ever been. I called my girlfriend and was like, “Dude, you’ve got to come over right now. I can’t swallow water.” I poured water towards my mouth and it just fell all over my face. I had to run around the block 30 times. Apparently, that little Tootsie Roll was 300mg. I’ve eaten a lot of edibles before, but I’m used to taking around 20mg doses, you know? So I was high for hours, man. There was definitely no sitting down after that. Like I said, I’m a pretty energetic stoner. Let’s just say I had a lot of steps on my step counter that day. Tell us about your involvement in the 2004 U.S. Paralympics soccer team. I was on the national team for eight years. I traveled all over the world representing the U.S. In 2004 I was in Athens, Greece for the Paralympics. And it’s kind of a funny thing to bring up, just because as an Olympic athlete, we were under the same drug restrictions as the able-bodied Olympics. So, we would have random drug tests. People would just show up at your door at six in the morning. And I’d stumble out, all hungover. “Now we’re going to watch you pee in this cup,” they’d say. Oh shit. Thank God there were two separate tests: in-competition and out of competition. For the out of competition test you could smoke and have cannabinoids in your system. I was smoking the whole time, obviously. I had a big tournament coming up, so I had to flush out my system for like a month-and-a-half just to make sure I didn’t get my teammates disqualified or anything. That’s a lot of weight to put on a pothead’s shoulders. The funniest story is I was smoking a fucking jay in my living room when they showed up! I mean they came in the room and they were gassed out for sure. I think after that, I got tested more than any teammate ever. They came to my house monthly once they found out how much weed I had in my system. I got tested for a performance-enhancing drug, but I should have gotten a medal for being able to play in that condition!
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“ W I T H A L L T H ES E OT H E R OV E R-T H E - C O U N T E R B U L L S H I T D R U G S T H AT M A K E YO U S I C K E R , W H Y ISN’T THIS LEGAL WITH NO SIDE EFFECTS? AND T H AT ’ S PA R T O F T H E ANSWER—BECAUSE T H E Y WA N T Y O U T O H AV E S I D E E F F E C T S , S O YO U CA N B U Y M O R E M E D I C AT I O N .” You were born in West Africa. Does that help you see the world differently than other Americans? I can fucking guarantee that, man. I’ve been to 41 countries now. I also lived in Senegal when I was 15 for a year. I gotta say, that experience really influenced who I am in my life. Being disabled, I had a lot of questions and some sadness. “Why me” sort of bullshit. But then I went there to Africa when I was 15, and it gave me a reality check. A kick in the teeth. I may have cerebral palsy, but I do have shoes and food. So, I don’t really have anything to bitch about. You were the first comedian to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Do you consider her to be a pioneer for the LGBTQ and comedy communities? Definitely both of those things. I was a huge fan of Ellen and the fact that she picked me to be the first one? I mean, what an honor. I like to think of this as the way she stepped up for LGBTQ people and brought them to the limelight, I get to do it for disabled people like me and bring awareness. We’re just people, too. She was a huge influence to me. I all of a sudden went from a touring comic to a famous touring comic. I did Ellen and Live with Regis and Kelly back-to-back. I did Regis and Kelly the very next day. The fact that they picked me as the best guest they had is a pretty cool honor. It was affirmation from winning a reality show. 32
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What are your next immediate plans? I do over 200 shows per year, so I don’t really have a tour. I just never stop. All my shows are on my website. I also have my fifth hour special coming out this year. I filmed it in January, and we’re finally done editing it. I’m really happy about it. Five one-hour specials are nothing to balk at. I’m only 40 and have five albums. Anything you’d like to add? I’m a huge advocate of cannabis. It definitely helped change my life for the better. I’m very happy and impressed that our country is moving forward with legalization across the board. I was just in Arkansas last week doing shows. They have medical there now, apparently. Whhhaaaaatt? Everyone’s going to have it soon if Arkansas has it. They told me in Arkansas that due to a legal loophole, everywhere that you can smoke cigarettes, you can smoke weed. So, I heard that some people are smoking joints inside the bars. That’s one dope loophole. c www.joshblue.com
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THE LATEST TREND 34
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No-calorie and low-calorie edibles are changing the industry By Addison Herron-Wheeler Cannabis infusededibles have come so far from the origins of homemade brownies and store-bought gummies. Now, there are countless ways to consume a variety of cannabis-infused foods, especially edibles that don’t contain too many extra calories, if any at all. As a result of this progress, many consumers are opting for healthier infused foods to allow them to adhere to diets, medicate or deal with allergies. This aligns with the growing demand for accurate health information when it comes to edibles and their ingredients. As the cannabis industry in legal and medical states continues to grow, there are more and more available options for those who choose to forego a decadent treat when it comes to cannabis edibles. Here are a few ways that consumers are opting for more health-conscious edibles.
Powders Dissolvable cannabinoid powders are becoming a popular way to indulge in cannabis without having to eat anything substantial. Hydrophilic products, or dissolvable products, are achieved through intense emulsification processes. Powders can be added to water, soda water, tea or other beverages, and they typically add very few calories, if any, to the drinks being consumed. Many feel that this is the future of consumption, because some dissolvable cannabinoids are flavorless, making for a completely seamless ingestion process that just feels like drinking any regular beverage. Powders are both waterand fat-soluble, so they can be easily ingested and don’t need heating in order to work.
Capsules Another way to consume cannabis without adding calories is to simply stick with capsules filled with decarboxylated flower, hash or oil. Cannabis in pill form, while strange to some at first because of the stigma that pills can sometimes carry, is catching on as a very popular way to medicate discreetly without any eating food, drinking, smoking or vaping involved. Companies like Stratos in Denver, Colorado specialize in pills that are good for sleep, relaxation and focus, which takes the guesswork out of choosing the right cannabis product.
Sublingual Strips To keep up with the modern world and also to combat overeating, many consumers are turning to THC- and CBD-infused cannabis strips in order to get a dose of cannabis as medicine or for recreation. Often called sublingual strips, these no-calorie products are simply placed under the tongue or between your cheek and gums, where they quickly and subtly work for the consumer by dissolving directly into the bloodstream.
Tinctures Finally, alcohol-based tinctures are a great way to ingest cannabis by either adding a drop to food or drink, or simply putting a drop directly under the tongue. They act quickly and efficiently, and they’re also extremely easy to control dosage. That’s why even edible creators who have been successful with creating sweets and other decadent products are also dipping their toes into the tinctures market.
In 2019, there are plenty of ways to ingest cannabis that don’t involve eating candy or any extra calories. From fastacting tinctures to drink powders, cannabis consumption is constantly being fine-tuned and elevated. c CultureMagazine.com
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Sensational Storytelling
Best-selling author Robyn Griggs Lawrence’s latest book uncovers the fascinating past of cannabis and food By Jacob Cannon Consuming cannabis is nothing new— in fact, it’s a practice that has been embedded in the human experience since the very beginning. Now, readers can learn more about the history of cannabis as food from acclaimed author Robyn Griggs Lawrence. Inspired by her personal relationship with the plant, Griggs Lawrence has authored two fascinating books that delve into the complex and poetic relationship between food and cannabis. Following her upscale book, The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook: Feel-Good Food for Home Cooks, Griggs Lawrence has recently published Pots in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis, giving curious minds a plethora of information about cannabis and food that is so desperately needed. CULTURE had the pleasure of connecting with Griggs Lawrence to learn more about her as an author, patient and industry professional. 36
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When did you first become interested in the history of cannabis as food? In 2009, I visited my first medical marijuana dispensary in Boulder, Colorado, and was surprised to realize that cannabis was an underutilized food source—actually a vegetable. Back in those days, dispensary shelves were lined with jars of the produce for consumers to choose from (unlike today’s Apple-like stores full of vaping products and concentrates) with culinary names like Blueberry and Chocolope. As a writer and editor, I was naturally curious about this nutritious, medically
beneficial plant that had been kept from us for decades. As a consumer and patient, I had to know more. What is your personal relationship with cannabis? My doctor recommended cannabis in 2009 for dysmenorrhea and associated symptoms. I had been a natural living advocate for decades, and I had tried pretty much every natural remedy—and even a pharmaceutical—to deal with these issues. Cannabis worked when nothing else would. I made it my mission to share this plant with the world and to work to make sure everyone, everywhere, could benefit from it.
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In addition to being a bestselling author, how else are you involved in the cannabis industry? I do presentations and workshops in legal MMJ and adult-use states to teach people how to cook with cannabis. I am a contributing editor for Sensi magazine, helping as the company expands into legal markets across the country. I’m the co-owner of Cannabis Kitchen Events; we prepare cannabis-infused meals for private clients in the Denver area. I also work with Cosmic Sister, a group that champions women’s right to journey with sacred plants, including cannabis. Why is the history of cannabis as a food important to share? What do you hope readers will gain from reading Pots in Pans? I believe we write history books so we won’t repeat past mistakes. Cannabis has been regarded and utilized as one of humankind’s most sacred and valuable plants—providing food, fiber and medicine— since humans’ earliest days. It continues to evolve with us, and when the final chapter is written, our current prohibition will be merely a small stain in a history as rife with feasting and fortifying as with persecution and propaganda. I believe once readers understand how important cannabis food has been to humans down through the ages, they’ll be inspired to right the 38
“CANNABIS HAS BEEN REGARDED AND UTILIZED AS ONE OF HUMANKIND’S MOST SACRED AND VALUABLE PLANTS—PROVIDING FOOD, FIBER AND MEDICINE—SINCE HUMANS’ EARLIEST DAYS.”
supreme injustices that outlawing a useful plant has brought about. In addition to delving into a detailed history of cannabis in general, you also write about the current industry and how cannabis edibles have been affected by legalization in different markets. What do you predict for the future of cannabis edibles? I believe cannabis-
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sales are predicted to hit $4.1 billion in the U.S. and Canada and $32 billion globally by 2022. Consumers are gravitating to edibles because they’re discreet, and the effects can last longer and offer more intense highs and better pain and anxiety relief than smoking. Your book shares different cannabis food recipes from various time periods and regions of the world. How did you uncover such a wide variety of cannabis edible recipes? Is there one recipe that stands out as your favorite, and if so, why? I’m a research nerd, no doubt about it. I found obscure, sometimes ancient books—most in dusty corners of the internet—that contained recipes. My favorite is so simple—an old Polish folk recipe that calls for roasting and bruising cannabis seeds, mixing them with salt, and spreading them on crusty bread. With salad and a kombucha, this makes for a perfect lunch.
infused food and beverages will rule the cannabis market in the 2020s, especially as Big Ag and Big Food move in and scientists form the world’s top food and pharma corporations put their minds to the plant. The Human Genome Project has now mapped the cannabis genome, opening the door to even more sophisticated research. Edibles
PHOTO BY TRACEY ELLER
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? It’s important to point out that it will never be okay that (mostly) white men in suits rake in millions on cannabis while others go to jail over the very same plant. Everyone who is making money in this industry should be working tirelessly to change that. c
www.robyngriggslawrence.com
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In d u s try I n s id er
Delectable Delights
Rachel King’s acclaimed pastry chef experience shines through in Kaneh Co.’s edibles By R. Scott Rappold For most people who enjoy cannabis edibles, taste is secondary to the buzz it packs. It’s on your lips for a few seconds, while the THC inside will hopefully keep you going for the whole Phish concert. But trained pastry chef Rachel King asks why edibles can’t be delicious and THC-infused? “If you’re going to eat an edible, you might as well make it enjoyable,” says King, co-founder and culinary director of Kaneh Co., a San Diego, Califiornia-based gourmet cannabis company. Launched in 2016, the company has grown from three to 65 employees, with edibles sold in more than 200 stores across California, an explosive growth King attributes to meticulous dosing and the belief that edibles customers are looking for a wide variety of sweets that taste just as good as what you’d get in a fine restaurant or candy store. “As our clientele widens and cannabis becomes more and more accepted by people in different walks of life, they will be looking for a product that is not just a vessel for medication.”
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Pastry Chef
King, 36, came into the cannabis industry in a roundabout way. Her first experiences with cannabis—smoking whatever flower her friends had out of an aluminum can—were not positive. “I would usually get way too high, so it was not that pleasant for me,” she said. King was trained at the San Diego Culinary Institute and went on to work at some of the city’s finest restaurants. Pastries were always her specialty and focus; Food & Wine magazine named her one of the best new pastry chefs in 2013. “Pastries hold a special place in peoples’ hearts. You’ll always remember that birthday cake or extra-
extravagant dessert you’ve had,” King said. But restaurant work can be demanding, so when her brother and some friends came to her with a proposition for an infused edibles company, she listened. So, in January of 2016, Kaneh was born. From the beginning, King explained she would not sacrifice the quality of her desserts simply because they would be cannabis-infused. “Considering my background was in pastries and not cannabis, it was really about the food product itself,” she said. “I wanted to make sure people were getting a delicious, good product that would get them high, not just something they’re trying to choke down to get high.” “I didn’t compromise the quality that I was already used to working with in my cooking background.”
“I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE GETTING A DELICIOUS, GOOD PRODUCT THAT WOULD GET THEM HIGH, NOT JUST SOMETHING THEY’RE TRYING TO CHOKE DOWN TO GET HIGH.”
A New Ingredient
Still, adding a major new ingredient to the type of cooking she had long done presented a challenge. There were some hits and plenty of misses. “Working with the product itself, figuring out when to add the medication, how it affects the overall product, was a bit of a learning curve,” she said. Kaneh hit the market with a large array of products—cookies, brownies, snack bars, nuts, dates and cocoa powder. She was one of two kitchen employees. “Now we have a huge professional kitchen staff with people who used to work in bakeries and restaurants,” she said. As of this writing, the company has 22 different products available, from cookies to jellies to caramels to that staple of stoner cooking for decades, brownies. Each is a 100mg product, divided into 5mg or 10mg doses. Kaneh sells as many as 50,000 products a month, according to King. For now, they’re just in California, though the company is exploring
licensing in other states. She attributes her company’s success to “the quality of the taste, and obviously the consistency of the medication.” Ingredients are the same she would use to make desserts in a fine restaurant. When people get an edible, they expect the potency to be exact, and so does King. She’s found a way to finally enjoy cannabis—five milligrams at a time. She believes the future of edibles is in diversity, offering consumers a wide variety of options. “People are getting super creative. The consumer base is widening. People are going to want more things rather than just the same old things. Nothing to disparage the classics, a good chocolate chip cookie or brownie will never get old, but the more people that try edibles, more they will want something different.” That said, she noted that a brownie is Kaneh’s best-seller. “It’s the Best of Both Worlds, a classic fudgy brownie. We press in a piece of chocolate-chip cookie.” “It’s so good.” c kanehco.com
P H O T O S BY B E C C A B AT I S TA
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Witchcraft and Cannabis Cannabis is a ritual worth repeating for author, columnist and selfdescribed witch Gabriela Herstik
By Madison Ortiz Gabriela Herstik, 25, identifies as a solitary eclectic witch, goddess worshiper and Venus devotee. Based in Los Angeles, California, Herstik is an author and columnist whose work explores the intersection of glamour, sexuality, witchcraft and cannabis, with common themes of power, pleasure and purpose reflected in all her offerings. CULTURE interviewed Herstik to gain insight into her work as well as some ways cannabis can be utilized in witchcraft rituals. Herstik shared a ritual she performs before she smokes, explaining, “I set intentions. I ask my guides, goddesses (whatever I believe in), to help me connect with the spirit of the plant, to help me receive the medicine.” Her first book, Inner Witch: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft was released last September in the United States (and in the UK one month prior). Inner Witch is the ultimate guide to witchcraft for women craving to discover their best selves and connect to something bigger, utilizing tools of tarot, astrology and crystals. “My goal was, if you weren’t familiar with witchcraft and you didn’t know where 42
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to start, you could pick up my book, and you’d be able to create your own magical practice by the time you were done reading it,” she said. Herstik just finished writing and editing her second book, Bewitching the Elements: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. The book looks at spirituality through the five elements and is set to be released in April 2020. A living embodiment of the power and purpose she represents, Herstik bestows her witchy wisdom as a freelance writer and columnist for several noteworthy publications. Her column The High Priestess with High Times comes out bimonthly, which explores spirituality and plant medicine with interviews, spells and rituals, as well as including personal insight on her cannabis and spiritual practices. Her passion for fashion and glamour is represented in the photos she styles and models for each new release. Herstik has a column with Nylon Mag called “Ask A Witch” and also writes a column on working with different goddesses for Chakrubs, a crystal sex toy company. With a background in fashion writing, you can find Herstik’s words on PHOTOS BY IVORY WOODS
witchcraft, sexuality and fashion all over the web with sites like Allure, Glamour and The Hoodwitch. Additionally, her ever-evolving offerings include tarot readings, online courses and workshops. “It’s been such a privilege to be able to talk openly about these things,” she said. “I recognize there are literally people who are locked up in jail for years and years, if not the rest of their lives, for this plant that I’m talking about.” Herstik’s practices in utilizing her social media channels goes far beyond sharing her published works. “It’s a fun and beautiful way to connect with my audience, [...] a way for me to offer people magic in a really accessible way,” she explained. Personal boundaries considered, Herstik practices radical vulnerability
“CANNABIS IS A PLANT THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES AS A SACRED WAY TO CONNECT TO SOMETHING BIGGER, OR TO OUR INTUITION. I CONSIDER [CONSUMING CANNABIS] A SELF-CARE PRACTICE. EVEN WITHOUT THE MAGIC.” with her audience, sharing openly where she is on her own journey. “We’re all connected [. . .] as much as we feel like we’re separated,” Herstick said. “One of the reasons I love cannabis and plant medicine is that it reminds us of our innate connections with one another and our innate connection to the earth; to know that if I’m going through something, there’s someone else going through it. So, I post mantras every Monday, and they’re often based on the full moon or new moon, but mostly what I feel like I need in that moment. I feel like that’s something people resonate with because they see that kind of mirror I’m offering them.” Going above and beyond in every capacity, she records a weekly tarot pull for her audience, and writes astrologically-customized ritual guides for all the new moons, the full moons, the Sabbath, the Equinox, the Solstice and many days in between. Herstik found witchcraft on her own at age 11, explaining, “It gave me a purpose. I felt like I discovered myself at a very young age.” She was raised in the “Bible Belt”; her father is a rabbi, and her mother is from a Jewish community in Mexico City, both supportive of dialogue surrounding God, death and the beyond. Recalling that her first experience with cannabis didn’t occur for the first time until she was 18, she said, “The ‘War on Drugs’ was still kind-of the mindset of the deep south. Marijuana was definitely stigmatized, and the idea of a stoner was looked down upon.” A few years later, after moving to California where cannabis was more accessible, she began consuming regularly. “For me, it’s a really good way to get back into my body,” she said. “I am super Aquarius, very air sign, and I’m always thinking, so it’s very easy to disconnect with my body. A big part of my practice and relationship with cannabis is to use it as a tool to be more present, and be more connected to whatever I’m going through in the moment—which I feel is very connected to my spiritual practice, because to be in a space to do ritual or
do magic you have to be present.” While Herstik does work with cannabis in ritual, she explains that cannabis consumption isn’t necessary for anyone’s practice. “It’s just like anything—it has to really pertain to what works for you,” she said. Herstik says that consuming cannabis opens up her psychic senses and allows her to connect with her heart more. “Cannabis is a plant that has been used for thousands of years throughout different cultures as a sacred way to connect to something bigger, or to our intuition,” she said. “I consider [consuming cannabis] a self-care practice. Even without the magic. The ritual itself of rolling my joint, or packing my bowl, or packing my bong, just
working with this plant so intimately. It’s like its own kind of sacred ritual for me. It’s something that helps me remain more present and more conscious of the way I’m moving through the world.” Kind enough to send us off with another example of her craft, Herstik enjoys using cannabis in ritual baths with THC, CBD and salts paired with herbs and oils. “I’ll set an intention and smoke a little bit in the tub to get more into that intention,” she said. You can boost the experience with a cannabis-infused face mask or other beauty products, if you so desire. “I see it as an offering. If I’m in a ritual setting and I’m working that herb, it’s conscious, and it’s intentional.” c www.gabrielaherstik.com
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FUNKY FUSION Lettuce chews up the funk scene with its new record and tour
By Addison Herron-Wheeler
For some, lettuce is simply the quintessential ingredient to any salad or a basic burger topping. But for others, it’s the name of one of the most revered bands in the American jam and funk music scene. This ensemble has been making music since the early 1990s, and if its name doesn’t give you the munchies, the band’s crunchy, smooth sound certainly will. CULTURE caught up with guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff to talk about Lettuce’s new record, Elevate, and current tour. So grab yourself a snack, and check out the latest goings on with Lettuce.
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PHOTOS BY CASEY FLANIGAN
“CANNABIS HAS BEEN A GREAT THING IN MY LIFE, AND DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE BONDED OVER IN LETTUCE.”
it’s a piece of history of where the band is right now and what our sound is currently. I think that’s really what this album represents. It’s about who we are as people right at this moment in time. What do you like most about Elevate? The whole recording process was just really, really fun for me, especially because we recorded it in Denver, Colorado where I live. It’s been a really
How do you feel that cannabis has impacted the bond between you all? Before legality, I think there were moments of paranoia and things like that that sprung from the illegality of it. But, even without the aspect of cannabis, this band is brothers, and there’s a special bond between us.
What is the band working on right now? We’re about to continue our Elevate Tour for our latest record, and I believe we have a bunch of stops on the East Coast like Asheville, Wilmington, and in addition to the North Carolina stops, New York, like upstate New York City and New Jersey. I’m super stoked for this tour, because I get to see some of my family.
Tell me a little bit about the latest album. What do you think makes it stand out from other releases, and how has the reception been so far this summer? I don’t think there’s any real need to make comparisons to other stuff that we’ve done. I think it stands on its own. You know, I like to think about recordings as a piece of history, a piece of life, because you’re just capturing time while you’re in the studio. So, to me,
It feels like there’s a weight off of my shoulders, that I’m not hiding something or doing anything illegal. It really enables you to accept that in reality this is medicine, and once I started to think that way, it has changed my life in such a positive way. It’s helped me manage and get through so many things, and it’s also helped me so much with my creativity. Cannabis has been a great thing in my life, and definitely something we bonded over in Lettuce.
long recording process. It started when my wife was pregnant, and now my child is 21 months. Being at home and able to be with my family during that process was great for me, personally. And I think it enabled me to really give some heartfelt, good performances on the record, because my heart was in the right place. How has living in a city with legal cannabis impacted your career and music?
Is there anything else you want to highlight? We recorded some other songs during the Elevate sessions that should be coming out in the near future. We’re going to continue putting out tracks that we made at that time, so there’s more music to come. Also on this tour, we’re going to get out there, and we’re going to play some new stuff that we’ve never played before, which is always really exciting. That’s why I love playing with these guys; there’s always something to look forward to. And, in general, you know, we’re just grateful to still be out here. We’re grateful to be doing what we’re doing. I can’t wait to see all the faces in the crowd that come to our shows. It makes us really happy; we love our people, and we’re psyched to get out in front of them again. c www.lettucefunk.com
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The Importance of Being Basic
Here’s where to begin if you are pursuing cooking with cannabis in the kitchen
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By Richard Saunders o matter how you like your food cooked— whether it’s baked, fried, sautéed, grilled or simmered—the addition of butter or oil to a dish has a way of turning an otherwise bland and dry meal into a rich and pleasurable experience. This month for CULTURE’s annual Edibles Issue, we’re paying homage to the basics of cannabis cooking by providing two very simple and easy-to-remember cannabis infused recipes. After all, just about every recipe you can whip up, whether it’s homemade lasagna or chocolate chip cookies, calls for one
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of these fundamental ingredients. Once you master the basics of crafting traditional cannabis-infused butter and oil, you’ll find that every dish can be elevated to another level. For the sake of dosage and consistency, be sure to use lab-tested, quality cannabis in order to know how many milligrams of THC your butter and oil contain. From there, you can divide the total milligrams of THC by how many servings you are making—and you’re on your way to mindful cannabis infusion.
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Cannabis-Infused Butter I N G R E D I E N T S:
I N S T R U C T I O N S:
1 cup unsalted butter
1. Bring water and butter to boil in a small pot; lower heat to simmer. Simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours.
1 ounce decarboxylated* and dried cannabis flower, ground 4 cups water
2. Mash and stir frequently to extract all THC from the plant material. After cooking, use cheesecloth to strain the butter/water mixture. 3. Pour about two cups clean boiling water over the leaves in the strainer to extract every last drop of butter. Squeeze plant material well to remove as much liquid as possible.
Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil I N G R E D I E N T S:
I N S T R U C T I O N S:
1 cup cooking oil
1. Place cannabis in a slow cooker and add oil. If necessary, add a little extra oil in order to at least cover the cannabis.
1 1/4 ounce decarboxylated* and dried cannabis flower, ground
2. Cook on low for six to eight hours, stirring often. Strain through cheesecloth to remove plant material. For further purity, strain through a coffee filter.
4. Chill the butter/water mixture in the refrigerator until the butter has solidified (one to two hours). Separate butter from water and keep butter in the refrigerator (or freezer for longer storage) until needed.
*Decarboxylating the Cannabis Before you get started, you need to decarboxylate your cannabis. This will ensure the THCA is converted into THC, which will make your edibles more potent. Decarboxylation happens in three easy steps. 1. Set your oven to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. Place ground or broken up cannabis on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper. 3. Bake the cannabis for about 25 minutes, until all moisture is gone.
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GROWING CULTURE
Garden FeverRipening (Part V)
I
By Ed Rosenthal
t’s mid-September and time to harvest the first plant from my garden: A small Purple Pineapple. The plant is small, no bigger than two feet, with a top bud and a few small side buds. It has been growing in a 10” wide colander container filled with Hydroton (clay pebbles) in the 2’ x 8’ reservoir hydro unit in my small greenhouse. The garden was started in midJune. The plants all started light flowering immediately, because the 10 hours of darkness they received at the shortest night of the year (June 22) was long enough to induce flowering. With no vegetative growth period, the plants put all of their energy into the reproductive stage. This small plant took the light more seriously than its buddies. Ripeness was the result. The other plants in the greenhouse are in various stages of flowering and will ripen by the end of the month. It’s a good time for the plants to mature. In the San Francisco Bay coastal area, where the greenhouse is located, September is one of the warmest months of the year, with clear skies rather than its famous summer fog, and with little chance of rain. Two systems are using the same reservoir in the greenhouse. The group in the back is planted in two to four gallon containers filled with a coir-based planting mix. The mix was enriched with plant meals, which release nutrients over several months. Nylon wicks hang from the bottom holes into the reservoir. The wicks, made using
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3/8” nylon rope, carry water up to the containers from the reservoir underneath. They use “capillary action” just like a tissue drawing up water. It self-regulates water uptake as needed. This action continues up the planting mix, replacing moisture as it is used by the plant and environment. The plants also receive about a pint of water from the top four times daily using a repeating timer that is set to run every six hours for eight minutes. The group in the front use 10” colanders just like the one used to grow the plant harvested today. They sit in about 3” of nutrient water and have a constant flow of it pumped through the hydropebbles. Water is pumped through the main line to the spaghetti irrigation lines directly to the top of the containers without the use of regulating emitters. The third group consists of five plants in two-gallon containers in a 2’ x 4’ try filled with planting mix. The tray was placed against the white wall that gets five to six hours of direct sunlight daily. One of these plants will also ripen and be harvested in 10 days. The other will take two weeks longer. Cannabis is induced to flower when the dark period reaches a critical level, which varies by variety. However, maturity can be hastened by increasing the dark period, signaling to the plant to stop flower growth and start ripening. I decided to use this technique, starting around Aug. 20, to make sure the plants ripened a little early in September under clear skies, rather than in October, when there is always a chance of weather problems. To do this, I devised simple light deprivation curtains that were placed over the gardens 11 hours after dawn, at about 5:45 p.m., rather than sunset at 7:25 p.m., blacking out the garden an hour and 40 minutes early. The difference in darkness was greater earlier in the cover-up, because the days were longer. c
All the plants in the greenhouse are weeks away from ripening. Greenhouse receives natural light only through the roof and the front.
Wicks hanging from the containers reach into the reservoir to draw up water. This is supplemented with water pumped through spaghetti lines to the containers.
Container sitting in reservoir. In addition, water is continuously pumped through the petals. Panda plastic covers the containers creating a moist environment so the roots colonize right up to the top.
The greenhouse under wraps. The curtains go on at 5:45 p.m. and are removed shortly after sunset.
The outdoor garden. These plants will ripen in early October. They will be moved into the greenhouse after those plants are harvested when there is room.
Outdoor garden undercover.
The Purple Pineapple is being harvested today.
Ripe bud of outdoor plant. Variety unknown.
Gelato bud has a few more weeks to reach maturity.
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NORCAL NOW! EVENT LISTINGS
Nick Offerman, Oct. 10 “Marijuana is quite possibly the finest of intoxicants,” Offerman famously said, in a quote that was made into a meme hundreds of times over. Offerman loves cannabis, but his other interests include woodworking, improv comedy and theater, which was his original interest during his early career. The Masonic, San Francisco offermanwoodshop.com
Berkeley Cannabis Commission Meeting, Oct. 10 Discuss medical and recreational cannabis regulations in Berkeley with the lawmakers who are actually making changes. A draft for an official fact sheet on cannabis will be looked at and may be approved at this particular meeting, as well as any legislative updates regarding cannabis in the city. Berkeley City Hall, Berkeley cityofberkeley.info The 2019 Good Sam Show, Oct. 12-13 Are you ready for the “largest miniature show west of the Mississippi”? Over 100 dealers will showcase their varieties of collectibles, and all sorts of painted miniature figurines will be on display for people who like to collect everything from miniature cats and cows to fantasy items. Doubletree Hotel San Jose, San Jose goodsamshowcase. miniature.net 52
Collie Buddz, Oct. 17 “Collie” is Jamaican slang for high quality cannabis, but Collie Buddz is the stage name of Colin Patrick Harper, a Bermudian reggae artist who doesn’t appear to ever shy away from his favorite plant. His latest album Hybrid dropped on May 24 and features Tech N9ne, Dizzy Wright and other artist. Cornerstone, Berkeley cornerstoneberkeley.com/ music-venue
Brews on the Bay, Oct. 19 All aboard the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II merchant ship docked at Pier 45, for local craft beer selections and a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll also get exclusive views of Alcatraz for a truly unique experience over the ice cold waters of the bay. S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien, Pier 45, San Francisco drinkbaybeer.com 25th Annual El Día de los Muertos Community Celebration, Oct. 19-20 Día de los Muertos means “Day of the Dead” in Spanish, which is the Mexican holiday that involves sugar skulls, candles and altars. It is a time when you put photos of loved ancestors on the ofrenda, an altar that is meant to help the dead to temporarily crossover into the world of the living. Oakland Museum of California, Oakland museumca.org
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featured event
WILLIE NELSON, OCT. 16
Willie Nelson is revolutionizing the craft cannabis industry with WILLIE’S RESERVETM. It’s impossible to forget why Nelson became an icon and legend in the country music industry, so brush up on your favorite Willie Nelson classics at the Graton Resort & Casino. Graton Resort & Casino, Rohnert Park willienelson.com/tour San Francisco Greek Film Festival, Oct. 20-26 Witness the greatest film achievements by any actors, directors or producers with Greek blood. This year, Olympia Dukakis from Tales of the City will receive the Honorary Astron Award, and Spyros P. Skouras will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Delancey Street Screening Room, San Francisco grfilm.com The Poetry Brothel: 5th Annual Masquerade!, Oct. 23 Bored of the same types of events, weekend after weekend? The Madame presents a rotating cast of poets in the lush interior of a bordello, featuring
burlesque, live music, vaudeville, aerials, visual art, magic and mysticism for an experience that is definitely unique. The Great Northern, San Francisco thepoetrybrothel.com Tenacious D, Oct. 25 Tenacious D is of course the famous rock duo made up of Jack Black and his best friend Kyle Gass. “A lot of times when you get high it seems super-duper funny and then after you realize—NOPE,” Black told CULTURE in 2014, adding that he rarely gets high anymore these days, but Black is naturally funny even without the cannabis. The Masonic, San Francisco tenaciousd.com
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NEWS of the
WEIRD
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL
LEAD STORY— INEXPLICABLE Jacob Pina, 20, of Westport, Massachusetts, can’t explain his physical oddity, but that’s not stopping him from firmly grasping his 15 minutes of fame. Pina, recently dubbed “Thumb Boy,” unveiled his unusually long (5 inches) right thumb on the TikTok app on Aug. 24, reported Metro News. “There’s no reason it’s so big just an anomaly,” Pina posted. “I feel great about it. It’s always great to be different and embrace your own essence.” Pina has gained 145,000 followers on the app—and he’s never lost a thumb war. DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE The Botox RN MD Spa in Sugar Land, Texas, was the scene of a breaking-andentering caught on camera on Aug. 23, but police are still looking for the slim, youthfullooking culprit. Surveillance video shows a woman testing the locked doors of the spa that evening, the Associated Press reported, then returning in a Mercedes SUV with a battery-powered grinding saw. After cutting through the clinic’s front door, she took an undisclosed amount of anti-aging products and drove away. WEIRD SCIENCE A day of fishing on Lake Champlain became more memorable than most when Debbie Geddes of Plattsburgh, New York, reeled in a trout worthy of 54
a social media storm: It had two mouths. Geddes and her husband were fishing in mid-August when the unusual catch took the bait, WPTZ reported. Geddes’ co-worker Adam Facteau posted pictures to Facebook and said he’s heard many theories about what caused the fish’s deformity— including that it’s an offspring of the lake’s famed monster, Champy. Geddes threw the trout back after snapping some photos. CUTENESS OVERLOAD About a dozen service dogs in Ontario, Canada, took in a performance of “Billy Elliot: The Musical” in August as part of their training through the K-9 Country Inn Working Service Dogs organization. When the actors took their curtain call, nary a whimper or a quiet woof could be heard— music to the ears of head trainer Laura MacKenzie. During such a performance, dogs are trained to sit under the seat or at their handler’s feet, but MacKenzie told CNN that a few of the dogs peeked over the seats to see the action on stage. Dogs are also exposed to subways, zoos and crowded fairs during their training. EWWWWW! Firefighters near Estacada, Oregon, rescued a woman on Aug. 20 who had been trapped in a septic tank on her rural property, possibly for two or three days. The unidentified woman, who lives alone, couldn’t alert neighbors of her predicament because they live out of shouting range. Her daughter found her after becoming concerned when she was unable to reach her mother for four days. Firefighters told KATU that
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work appeared to be being done on the tank—a hole had been dug exposing the tank, which had a rusted two-bytwo-foot hole in its lid. The woman had apparently fallen through the hole and was lying in sewage, with her face just above the surface, when rescuers got to her. They did not see any visible injuries on her, but she was transported to a hospital in Portland. CRIME REPORT Nicholas Redmond, 32, of Philadelphia, had a productive August as an employee of Macy’s at the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania. Not because he sold a lot of merchandise, but because, according to police, he told them he stole about $12,000 in cash from the retailer. His run came to a halt on Aug. 25 when a security system alerted police to an intruder in the store. Around 4:30 a.m., authorities found Redmond hiding in the first-floor ceiling, clutching $7,000. Upper Merion Township police Lt. Brendan Brazunas told WPVI his officers “were very shocked . . . they just couldn’t believe somebody had gone up to that length to hide from them.” Redmond was arraigned and held in jail, failing to post a $10,000 cash bond. A Pennsylvania state appellate court has ruled against Stephen Kirchner, who was convicted in a lower court for disorderly conduct in 2018 for pointing his finger like a gun at a neighbor. In June of that year, KDKA reported, Kirchner was walking past a neighbor’s home in Manor, Pennsylvania, when the neighbor made an obscene gesture with his
hand. Kirchner responded by making a shooting gun gesture with his own hand. A witness called 911, and the unnamed neighbor told police he felt “extremely threatened.” Kirchner argued that his gesture was not a hazard, but the appeals court disagreed. WEIRD FETISH Sebring, Florida, resident Gary Van Ryswyk, 74, has been charged with practicing medicine without a license following a bizarre incident at his home. According to the arrest report, Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a 911 hangup call on Aug. 18 were told by Van Ryswyk he had just removed the testicles of a man he’d met on a “website for those who have a fetish for castration.” Officers found a 53-year-old man from the Tampa area lying on a bed, holding a towel to his groin, with said body parts in a jar nearby, BuzzFeed reported. The victim was flown to Tampa for medical treatment. Police also found a surgery room set up in the house with medical equipment and a camera to record the procedures. Investigators said Van Ryswyk told them he had bought painkillers from England and admitted to performing the surgery on at least one other man and on bulls and other animals while living on a farm growing up. He also said he removed one of his own testicles in 2012. But his most recent procedure went wrong when the “patient” bled profusely, making it difficult for Van Ryswyk to suture the wounds. For now, he’s facing seconddegree felony charges and a $250,000 bond.
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