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inside
contents 8.2017
22 Cannabis CowboY
Driven by his newest cannabis-themed song, country singer and musician Toby Keith discusses how songwriting and patriotism have played a role in his career. O n the C O V E R :
andrew southam
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features
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Pro Advice Learn what some of the most successful business people do to maintain a positive and effective impact on the cannabis industry.
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Spreading Awareness Greece has become the latest country to legalize medical cannabis.
departments
news 10 News Nuggets 11 By the Numbers 12 Local News 14 Legal Corner reviews 16 Strain & Concentrate Reviews 18 Cool Stuff 20 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 36 Shooting
08 Letter from the Editor
Gallery 38 Growing Culture 40 Destination Unknown 41 Profile in Courage 42 Recipes 45 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d Cannabis Stigma Harmful to Patient-Doctor Relationships d Medical Cannabis Bill Introduced in Texan Legislature
Vol 9 IssUE 2
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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Keira Fae, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, M. Jay, Heather Johnson, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Meital Manzuri, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Jefferson Van Billiard, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Tonya Perme, Josué Rivas, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Michelle Aguirre Graphic Designer Nathan Hernandez sales director Justin Olson Regional Manager Beau Odom Account Executives Jon Bookatz, Alex Brizicky, Molly Clark, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Gloria Santiago, Garry Stalling, Ryan Tripp, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy digital content manager David Edmundson Intern Sophia Rybicki Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla Publisher David Comden
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 500 locations throughout San Diego. 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/Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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LETTER
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EDITOR
U n i t e d We P r ev a i l
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hen thinking back to our time of youth, everyone can hear and recognize the soundtrack of their lives. From the rebellious punk rock music to the heart-wrenching ballads of R&B, each genre marks an era of personal growth and realizations about life. For me, country music held an important role as the anthem of my childhood, but in recent years, songs by Shania Twain and Garth Brooks are kept buried in nostalgia alongside tunes by Guns N’ Roses and Ace of Base. Even though I have embraced different approaches to music and found new favorites since then, country music has recently re-appeared in my life, as legendary country music Toby Keith just released a new music video about cannabis that features a joint-smoking Willie Nelson. I’ll be the first to say that in the past, not everyone saw a strong connection between cannabis and country music. But in an industry in which I am extremely involved in and passionate about—cannabis is now being promoted and whole-heartedly embraced by the country music world. It was then that I realized that much like music, cannabis transcends all people, regardless of what they believe. Known for his patriotism and support for the military, Keith has produced many conservative songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” and “American Solider.” Keith’s newfound success with this cannabis anthem reminds me of how much the cannabis industry has evolved. Now, conservative and liberal politicians are working together to reform cannabis legislation at the state and federal levels. Although cannabis is notorious for the role it plays in the Rastafarian way of life, cannabis has a way of influencing many
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other cultures and religions around the globe. In the United States, we’ve seen everything from cannabis cultivating nuns to modern cannabis churches that are non-denominational out of respect for all religions. There will always be beliefs and ideologies that continue to separate us. Instead of focusing on those differences, let’s rally all fans of rock, rap and country, as well as every known religious affiliation, and we will continue to work together to reverse the negative stigmas associated with cannabis. Our relentless advocacy and dedication to professionalism and freedom will help us prove how cannabis has the ability to improve the planet and all the people who live on it. c
Cheers! Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
nuggetS
Oceanside Farmers Ask for Legal Medical Cannabis Cultivation About 80 people attended a workshop on June 19 to speak out about the decision of whether or not to allow the cultivation of medical cannabis in Oceanside. Members of the nonprofit San Diego County Farm Bureau as well as Oceanside activists David and Amber Newman spoke at the event. City Councilmember Jerry Kern was also in attendance. “The Medical Marijuana Ad-hoc Committee was created by the City Council on April 19 to specifically address the possibility of new medical marijuana
regulations for the City of Oceanside,” according to Oceanside’s city website. “All work will be completed within six months per city regulations regarding ad-hoc committees and the committee’s report will be presented to the City Council for review and possible action in November 2017.” Carlsbad, Escondido, Poway and San Marcos all currently prohibit dispensaries. Oceanside allows deliveries, but cultivation would be a new concept for the city.
Local School Passes Resolution to Protect Children from Accessing Cannabis The Solana Beach School District Board passed a resolution on June 29, expressing its concern about the prevalence of cannabis businesses in proximity to young children. The San Dieguito Union High School District passed a similar resolution in May. “Board members have requested the Board of Education consider a resolution opposing youth access to marijuana through marijuana storefronts and commercial cultivation,” the resolution read. “The attached resolution was drafted with the assistance of the San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth. While voters approved a ballot initiative decriminalizing the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by adults, the resolution notes the harmful effects
New Hampshire Decriminalizes Cannabis In mid-July, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 640, which officially decriminalized cannabis in the state. The bill reduces the penalties for possession of threequarters or less of cannabis or five or less grams of hash, and it also minimizes the fines. The Marijuana Policy Project’s Political Director, Matt Simon, released a statement about the signing’s approval. “The governor deserves credit for his steadfast support of this commonsense 10
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that the substance can have on young people.” Some of the concern stems from the California Healthy Kids Survey, which claims that more children are now smoking cannabis than tobacco in San Diego County. The resolution served as a statement about the surge of cannabis businesses in the area.
reform,” he stated. “Unlike his predecessors, who opposed similar proposals, Gov. Sununu appears to understand that ‘Live Free or Die’ is more than just a motto on a license plate.” HB-640 also implements a new misdemeanor charge for adults who do not properly store their cannabis edibles in child-proof packaging. New Hampshire is the 22nd state that has implemented cannabis decriminalization efforts. Although the bill was signed, it won’t become law until 60 days have passed since the initial signing.
The maximum amount of garbage, in pounds, that cannabis industry professionals picked up during an Encinitas-based beach cleanup event last month: (Source: PR Newswire)
500
The total number of dispensaries that are currently open or in the process of opening in San Diego: (Source: San Diego Union-Tribune)
10
The number of cannabis industry professionals who attended an Encinitasbased beach cleanup last month: (Source: PR Newswire)
150
The current amount of money, in dollars, that it costs to obtain a cannabis licensing fee to open a dispensary in San Diego County: (Source: San Diego
The number of educational cannabis hearings that State Treasurer John Chiang has held so far, the latest of which was held in San Diego last month: (Source: LGBT Weekly)
11,017
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Union-Tribune)
The percentage of voters who believe that states in the U.S. should be allowed to enact their own medical cannabis programs: (Source: Survey USA)
76 The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that will be taken from New York State funds to boost industrial hemp research and development in the state: (Source: WBFO 88.7)
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The number of new medical cannabis dispensary licenses that were awarded in Pennsylvania:
27
(Source: Philadelphia Magazine)
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Louisiana State University will receive over the course of five years as part of a medical cannabis production contract: (Source:
3.4
San Francisco Chronicle)
Cannabis Business Seminar WHEN: Sat, Aug. 5-Sun, Aug. 6 WHERE: Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego WEBSITE: 420college.org
If you are serious about getting into the cannabis industry, then this event is for you. The seminar will offer a complete breakdown of the Medical Cannabis Regulation & Safety Act and Proposition 64. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the California Attorney General Guidelines for cannabis dispensaries. The seminar will provide information to determine if your business qualifies
for the licensing in your city or county, and resources will be given to begin the actual process of certification. Detailed instructions on banking strategies, tax challenges and packaging requirements will be provided as well. All aspects of cannabis cultivation will also be covered. Experienced cultivators will learn the intermediate tips and tricks while beginners will start with the basics. iReadCULTURE.com
AUGUST 2017
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NEWS
LOCAL
Summergrass San Diego 2017
Fe arless Le ader Cannabis advocates cheer for early retirement of anticannabis DA Bonnie Dumanis By Pamela Jayne
O
n Friday, July 7 Bonnie Dumanis took her final walk through the Hall of Justice as District Attorney of San Diego County, having resigned 18 months before her term was over. Inside, she was applauded by longtime coworkers and friends, and she was given a ceremonial walk-out that led her to a vintage 1940 Ford painted as a police car of that era. Just steps away however, another scene unfolded. The crowd was large, loud and accompanied by a New Orleans-style jazz band, creating a lively, celebratory atmosphere. Local activists and cannabis patients cheered the departure of the notoriously anti-cannabis District Attorney, and they let their feelings be known via signs and chants. Billed as the “Bonnie Bash,” the event was organized by the San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access. Dumanis held the office of San Diego’s top prosecutor for 14 years, and because she stepped down before the end of her term, reportedly to explore the possibility of a run for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, veteran prosecutor Summer Stephan was appointed San Diego County’s
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Interim District Attorney. This appointment means that Stephan will be the incumbent on the ballot in 2018, when Dumanis would have been up for re-election. Many believe this to be a significant and unfair advantage, claiming that Dumanis has essentially handed the office to Stephan. There is hope on the horizon for the citizens of San Diego who are concerned that Stephan will follow in Dumanis’ footsteps in regards to prosecuting cannabis offenses. Geneviéve Jones-Wright, a native San Diegan and Deputy Public Defender for the County of San Diego since 2006, has announced her intention to run for District Attorney. Jones-Wright shared her support for cannabis businesses in San Diego with CULTURE. “I believe that San Diego has a unique opportunity to increase tourism, job opportunities and revenue by becoming cannabis-friendly,” Jones-Wright said. “Cannabis tourism is a real and lucrative industry, and San Diego should take part in it. It is also important to me that we save law enforcement resources and taxpayer money by not wasting time and energy raiding and prosecuting legally operating cannabis businesses.” Jones-Wright went on to explain that much of her platform is a result of the status quo not working, and that the DA needs to prioritize violent and non-violent offenses differently. Jones-Wright believes that the “War on Drugs” has succeeded only in criminalizing communities. “The Trump administration, through Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has signaled a return to those failed policies that hurt our communities and cost taxpayer money,” she said. “Unfortunately, the actions of Bonnie Dumanis’ administration indicate a similar mindset. San Diego County can do better.” Jones-Wright assured CULTURE that she is very interested in meeting with advocacy groups to address their concerns and learn from their experiences. In one short sentence, Jones-Wright said what cannabis advocates have been waiting to hear, and that is, “Prop. 64 was the will of the people of San Diego County, and I will uphold the law.” c
Each year, bluegrass fans converge in Vista to hear a variety of bands jam together to the sweet, lifeaffirming sounds of bluegrass. The confirmed lineup this year includes Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass, Bluegrass, Etc., Sideline, Nu Blu and Chris Jones & The Night Drive. All bands will play on a rustic wooden stage. The event is near the museum food court, which serves impeccable barbecue food. Camping is available in three areas including an area with electricity and a quiet, generator-free area. Children ages six to 16 are invited to learn the fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass at hands-on classes. Children will be placed in classes based on their ability to play and will play onstage themselves on Sunday. WHEN: Fri, Aug. 18Sun, Aug. 20 WHERE: Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista WEBSITE: summergrass.net
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NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
Regul ating Delivery A state and local interest By Kimberly R. Simms, Attorney
W
hat do you know about your favorite cannabis delivery service? Are they licensed and is their product labtested? How do you know the driver approaching your home is safe and legitimate? Unfortunately, most patients in California still aren’t certain about the answers to these questions. This is due in large part to lack of regulation from Proposition 215 and Senate Bill 420. Last month we welcomed a new policy with the passage of Senate Bill 94; one which combines the medical and recreational cannabis licensing systems, and explicitly allows for a new delivery license type. The catch is that local governments are free to legislate precisely how that will happen. Though delivery operators can breathe a temporary sigh of relief that cannabis will continue to be delivered legally throughout California, many localities are simply behind schedule when it comes to self-regulating. The new policy, MAUCRSA, creates a mirrored
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licensing system in which applicants must obtain local licenses prior to consideration for state licensure. Cities and counties who lag behind in rulemaking for their local industries are hindering entrepreneurs from taking the next step, legally—and frankly, putting consumers at risk. In San Diego, delivery services are taking matters of advocacy upon themselves. The San Diego Cannabis Delivery Alliance is a diverse group of owners and operators who are bringing their businesses into the legal realm. Their singular mission is to protect safe access as well as permit standalone delivery services in the city, with the lobbying process beginning as early as this month. To understand why delivery services are so crucial in San Diego, one must first understand the geographical and political context of cannabis policy in this area. San Diego County covers an area of 4,500 square miles, with only 15 legal storefront dispensaries among a population of more than three-million
“Our position is that the City Council must follow suit with the new state regulations, and create a new license type for delivery services.”
people. There is an existing moratorium on new cannabis businesses in unincorporated parts of the county, meaning most stores are located in the central city, far from rural areas. The metro area’s meager legal retail sites are already stretched thin, which will pose an obvious problem when adult use of cannabis is legal across the board come January. Thus the San Diego Cannabis Delivery Alliance was born, after three unique delivery owners met and spoke on a panel together at a local Women Grow event. Each discussed catering to evolving consumers, scalability and preparing for inevitable policy changes. After fielding questions from the audience, the three vowed to form a united front to ensure that all three businesses could still operate in San Diego next year. Their stories should be heard across California to shed light on how essential delivery services are to the cannabis economy. Take Elizabeth Wilhelm, for example. Her operation, Timely Holistic Care, serves a small patient base on a highly personal level. She’s not looking to grow her business into a delivery conglomerate, but it would be nice to be able to obtain a license in her home city. “We’re not asking for a rewrite of the local statute that passed,” says Wilhelm. “Our position is that the City Council must follow suit with the new state regulations, and create a new license type for delivery services.” According to Wilhelm, the need for delivery will never go away because there are too many individuals who require service outside of the traditional storefront setting. The reasons for this are many: From seniors and disabled people with mobility issues, to those who simply live too far from licensed dispensaries and lack transportation— even those with sensitive highprofile careers for whom parking at and entering a cannabis store is problematic. Consumers have a right to privacy and should have the option to purchase cannabis where and how they please. c
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REVIEWs
strain and concentrate Available at: Point Loma Patients Consumer Cooperative in San Diego.
MoonRockets LA 3 Gram Reusable Quartz Blunt The MoonRockets LA 3 Gram Reusable Quartz Blunt is a new and unique product that is perfect for the cannabis enthusiast who already has everything. This reusable quartz blunt is packed with three full grams of top-shelf moon rocks. As it burns, you simply twist the mouth piece to expel the ash. This is a product you have to experience for yourself to truly understand how innovative it is. As you hit this great tasting and very potent product, prepare for lift off, because it will definitely take you on a trip!
The Savage Birthday Cake Wax Infused Pre-Roll Available at: Healing Heart Collective in Escondido.
The Savage Birthday Cake Wax Infused Pre-Poll from Healing Heart Collective is a tight cone perfectly rolled with RAW papers and a sturdy crutch. The stars of this joint are the four generous, evenly distributed dots of infused wax. When unlit, it has an enticing smell of freshly brewed French vanilla coffee. Its flavor is definitely on the sweet side, and true to its name, it tastes like a big slice of birthday cake. The wax infusion amplifies the flavor, making it hard to stop at just a few hits! The hit is a real lung puncher that offers serious expansion and a satisfying cough. A session with The Savage will have you relaxed and couch bound, making it great for pain relief, muscle tension or for use as a sleep aid.
Urbn Farms Clementine The Clementine by Urbn Farms is an all-around top-shelf strain. It is an incredibly dense, heavy nug with mostly bright lime green coloring and a few deep emerald-hued accents. This stunner is coated in shiny trichomes and thick burgundy colored pistils. The aroma is well-balanced, with both a sweet and sour scent, smelling heavily of orange and lemon. The flavor is very similar to the aroma, tasting almost like orange soda, with a hint of lemon. The exhale has a definite sweetness to it. The hit is heavy, but not harsh, and provides a nice, clean expansion. This strain is cerebrally uplifting, and it also offers quick relief from physical ailments. This balance of cerebral and physical effects makes the Clementine an ideal strain for daytime medicating.
Available at: Urbn Leaf in San Diego.
Sour Diesel CBD Living Vape Cartridge
Available at: Healing Heart Collective in Escondido.
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CBD Living Vape Cartridges contain 500mg of C02-extracted oil with 250mg CBD and come in three exquisite flavors. Our sample of the pungent diesel-like aroma of Sour Diesel was a pleasant surprise. The organic 100 percent natural full spectrum CBD oil is triple lab-tested for consistent potency and quality. The full terpene profile blew us away before the healing effects of CBD set in. After a few quick inhales, the anti-inflammatory effect quickly sets in, awarding us with painfree relaxation. Each disposable cartridge comes with a mouthpiece, and CBD Living Vape Cartridges are free of harmful pesticides and metals and contain no potentially unwanted additives such as propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin, the odorless liquids that are common in vape products. The CBD Living Vape Battery + Charger kit companion piece comes with a 350mAH battery and a USB charger. Be sure to check CBD Living Vape Catridges in Tangie and Bubble Gum as well.
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REVIEWs
For More Products Go To iReadCulture.com
3 1. My Rolling Tray My Rolling Tray is a well-built tray that is built to last. The handmade customprinted rolling trays are made in California out of solid wood and quality materials. Each tray is capable of surviving a heat test, which consists of running a flame up and down the tray, as well as a scratch test—and its makers are happy to prove it on YouTube. There are no gaps around the edges in order to prevent herb from getting stuck and wasted during the rolling process. The tray area is also very slick and durable, which is perfect for sticky buds. Designs in the tray area can be customizable—from album covers to your own art. For every sale they make, My Rolling Tray donates 10 percent of your order to various charities. Price: $10-80 MORE INFORMATION: myrollingtray.com 2. JaK D’Rippa This strange contraption looks like the sorcery of H.H. Holmes or Jack the Ripper. The device allows you to “annihilate” your concentrates without leaving the slightest shred of evidence. The JaK D’Rippa is designed for those who are tired of wasting valuable concentrates after moving them from the container to the piece. No blowtorch means no burns and no mess. The Rip-Tip is best for dabbing out of glass or metal containers. The Rip-Receiver is designed for when the substance goes directly the heating surface, which minimizes transfer losses. Feel free to adjust the heating surface to your heart’s desire with an easy-to-use temperature dial. Just plug this baby in using its power adapter, and you will be awarded unlimited inhalations. Price: $140-170 MORE INFORMATION: magic-flight.com 18
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3. ResÖlution Gel It’s time to tackle your toughest glass and metal cleaning projects with ResÖlution’s ResGel. Just tear off the top of the re-sealable bag, and soak resinated stems, elbows, nails, stoppers and pipes, or whatever else needs to be cleaned. The gel automatically coats the pieces, making it more effective than runny cleaning compounds. ResÖlution’s clay-based cleansing formula is nontoxic and free of volatile compounds. Out of all the cleaning compounds that CULTURE has tried, this one impressed, as our pieces were free of any unwanted aftertaste following a rigorous cleaning session. The eco-friendly packaging is made out recycled plastic. The top of the bag also includes a nozzle tap for draining. Price: $11.99 MORE INFORMATION: resolutioncolo.com
4. Knife Hits by Diamond Glass Get the glass pipe that truly “makes the cut.” Diamond Glass redefines what a “knife hit” means with its knife-shaped glass pipe that is guaranteed to impress your friends and scare your enemies. Complete with a convenient carb on the left side, the pipe is 100 percent functional. This whopper of a pipe is about 10.6 inches long including the blade length with a decent-sized bowl at the base of the hilt. The serrated glass blade is transparent and features the Diamond Glass logo and four embossed circle designs. For the handle, the glass is blown in a way that resembles a wood grain, adding to its realism. The handle also features finger depressions for a better grip. This showpiece is great for gifts and special occasions, or to hang over your fireplace mantle to proudly display to your guests. Price: $79.99 MORE INFORMATION: smokingoutlet.net
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REVIEWs
entertainment
BOOK
Marijuana Harvest: Maximizing Quality & Yield in Your Cannabis Garden Pub. Quick American Publishing Ed Rosenthal and David Downs Expert cultivator and CULTURE columnist Ed Rosenthal has joined forces with the acclaimed cannabis editor David Downs to bring cannabis cultivating tips and techniques to aspiring cultivators of all skill levels. Readers will learn how to work smarter, not harder, with detailed chapters of best practices for each step of cannabis cultivation, processing, drying, curing and even storing. This handy book will provide thorough guidelines and information to ensure your cannabis garden flourishes while saving you a little time in the process. (Jacob Cannon) 20
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Available on: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Release Date: August 25
GAME
Madden NFL 18 Dev. EA Tiburon Pub. EA Sports The Madden NFL series arrives like clockwork every August, bringing new players, challenges and modes to the classic game. However this year marks the first where EA Sports implemented a story mode that allows players to cinematically follow the success of the game’s fictional character. Madden NFL 18 also uses the new Frostbite engine, which improves the graphic excellence of of its in-game players. Fans of the series will be excited to see the return of online play, allowing fans to assemble their dream-team with “Mut Squads.” (Nicole Potter)
MOVIE
The Fate of the Furious
MUSIC
Dir. F. Gary Gray Universal Pictures
Need to Feel Your Love
As nice as it is to watch a poignant, thought-provoking drama or a heartwarming comedy, sometimes we all need some mindless action in our lives to make us “ooh” and “ah” over car chases and explosions. Enter The Fate Of The Furious, the eighth installment of the franchise, to draw you in and keep you hooked with all of the gorgeous, fast cars, incredible pyrotechnics and awesome stunt driving that comes expected from the series. Though series’ longtime star Paul Walker is tragically absent, Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson still make an awesome ensemble cast. (Simon Weedn)
Sheer Mag Wilsuns Recording Company Ever since Sheer Mag’s first EP was released three years ago, fans all across the world have been clamoring for the Philadelphia quintet to make a full-length album. Finally, the wait is over, and Sheer Mag has arrived with its debut, Need To Feel Your Love. Pulling no punches and wasting no time, the band swings for the fences on its opening song “Meet Me In The Streets” and never lets up on the ensuing 12 tracks. Blending classic hard rock with ’70s power pop and R&B, Sheer Mag dazzles, delights and kicks the listener in the gut when they need it. (Simon Weedn)
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Authen Pa t r i o t
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Photo by Andrew Southam
tic ism Personally, I’ve always wondered if when they legalized [cannabis] whether crime will go down as a result. So, I’m anxious to hear how much the crime might be going down in the states that have made it legal.
Famous for his role as America’s good ol’ country singer, Toby Keith embraces cannabis By Simon Weedn Country music superstar Toby Keith probably isn’t the first person that comes to mind when thinking about cannabis and music. However, with the recent release of his song “Wacky Tobaccy,” Keith may start standing out alongside his friend Willie Nelson. Though this isn’t Keith’s first cannabisrelated song (he released his song “Weed with Willie” in 2003), it is his first to be released as a single and so heavily promoted. While cannabis and country music isn’t a recent fellowship, the shift in opinion about the plant amongst some of the genre’s most conservative fans could not be more clearly exemplified than by the runaway success “Wacky Tobaccy” is having right now. Country music was ready for a cannabis anthem, and Toby Keith was up to the job. Keith recently returned home to the United States after a historic performance in Saudi Arabia during the President’s diplomatic visit to Middle East. Keith’s new album The Bus Songs will be released September 8 and features seven new tunes including “Wacky Tobaccy.”Recently, Keith took a few minutes away from his Interstates & Tailgates Tour to chat with CULTURE all about his latest album, the challenges of trying to occupy the middle of an increasingly polarized country, his upcoming reception of the Poet’s Award honor from the Academy Of Country Music Awards, as well as some crucial advice for beginner songwriters.
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Do you have any particular feelings about legalization now? It’s funny [. . .] In the legal world they treat it like it’s the devil’s grass, but in the real world I know people who smoke weed that you’d never assume even drink a beer much less smoke. Most people I know who smoke will come home at night, smoke about half of something, and then go lay down and go to bed. It’s just always been funny to me how much weight it carries in the world and how little it actually affects anybody. When I was really young, I had some friends in high school who ended up going to prison over [cannabis], and it was like, “Really?!” They were pretty serious convictions over something that grows out of the ground. Personally, I’ve always wondered if when they legalized [cannabis] whether crime will go down as a result. So, I’m anxious to hear how much the crime might be going down in the states that have made it legal. We watched the video for “Wacky Tobaccy” the other day and absolutely loved it. It seems like the type of song there’s probably a good story behind. Can you tell me a bit about what inspired it? Well, I was at the race track a bit ago, because I own some race horses in Oklahoma City. This older cat I know who’s about as country as cornbread was talking with me about all of this legalization of medicinal weed everywhere and about how it’s kind of coming over the hump. He’s old fashioned and he said to me, “Do you reckon they’re ever gonna legalize that wacky tobaccy in Oklahoma?” I started laughing, and he said I should write a song about it. And I said, “For you, I’ll go write you one!” It sounds like the song came together really organically. It was an easy write, because just the name alone was funny and catchy, and from there I just had to start piecing it together. So, I know in one verse I’m gonna tell you how many different ways you can burn it. In another verse I’m gonna tell you every kind of name for it, you know some folks say, “This is Mexican, this is Jamaican, this is Red Hair Sensimilla, this is Okeechobee Purple, and this is Humboldt County.” Everybody’s got their favorite little things they call it, so I know for one verse I’m going to put that all in there, piece it together, and make it rhyme. Then I said to myself, I need an opening verse to set all of this up. So, I thought I’d start soft so nobody would see it coming and talk about a woman in the office going out at lunch 26
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and then coming back in late and so stoned everybody knows it. It sounds like you had a really good time writing it. It was a fun one to write, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I’ve tried my whole life to love it, but I’m a whiskey guy so it’s just not my high. You could put all [the cannabis] I’ve smoked in my life in a coffee cup, but any time in the last 15 or 20 years I’ve been around Willie Nelson, I just can’t help it because, hey, you’re with Willie Nelson. Now, he’ll drink a little whiskey with me too, but when he fires one up, he just hands it to you, and you’re just not going to tell him no.
“When I was really young, I had some friends in high school that ended up going to prison over [cannabis], and it was like, ‘Really?!’ They were pretty serious convictions over something that grows out of the ground.”
Do you feel like releasing a song like “Wacky Tobaccy,” especially with all of the success that it’s having, will help to take away some of the negative associations that some people, who have probably never smoked the stuff themselves, have with cannabis and people that smoke it? Maybe. We live in a headline world, and you can’t fix that. I don’t even try. I just do my deal, and I just don’t even really care. I can’t talk to 300 million people around a campfire, share a beer with them, and let them all know who I am because in the end they’re gonna get their data, intel and information from wherever they get it from. If you get up every day and read The Drudge and Fox, you’re gonna get that. And if you get up and watch CNN and read Huffington Post, you’re gonna get that. So, I can’t talk them into one thing or the other; there’s just no way. You just have to let people find it on their own or just live in the dark. But, it’s always made me laugh when someone comes up to me with a real strong slant from one side or the other. Believe me, I get hit just as hard from the right as I do from the left because they don’t like that fact that I’m sitting here going, “So, my whole show is about drinking in a bar, hanging out with women, smoking weed with Willie and drinking from red solo cups.” The left doesn’t see it because all they see is my support for the military; they just see “American Soldier” and “Courtesy Of The Red, White and Blue.” While the other side is saying, “What happened to our boy?! He’s smoking weed with Willie! What’s going on here?!”
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To talk about something a bit different, rumor has it that the Academy of Country Music Awards will be presenting you with the Poet’s Award, and that you’ll be honored alongside Willie Nelson and the late Shel Silverstein. How does it feel to have your songwriting recognized like that, especially to be in the company of two other legendary writers? To be on the stage with two of the biggest, Shel Silverstein and Willie Nelson, is magnificent. I’m a huge fan of both of those guys and know everything Willie’s done and most everything Shel ever did—I’m just in awe of them. To even be mentioned on the same ticket with them, I guess it means we’ve done pretty well in the last 24 years. To have a career that’s gone from working in the oil fields to playing honky-tonks in Oklahoma to busking in Nashville to performing in some of the biggest venues around the world and having such tremendous success, is it ever surreal for you looking back on it all? Yeah! You know, I got my record deal when I was in my 20s, and it’s kind of like everything that was before that is viewed in my mind as my childhood. Once my first single hit and was huge, it was like what they call “an overnight sensation.” But really, I’d been playing the clubs for four or five years before that, cutting my teeth, getting my chops, getting to where I could handle audiences and know how to be professional up there and get through the show no matter what. You know, if you can play for three people on a Wednesday night in Podunk, Texas and still stand up there and deliver, then it’s real easy to play for 100,000.
For those interested in getting started writing songs like you do, what kind of advice would you give for a beginning songwriter? Well, the simplest thing is to start with your idea and look at your idea as a wagon wheel; you’ve got the hub, you’ve got the spokes going out, and you’ve got the wheel on the outside. Well, the wheel is your turnaround, let’s just say that’s your chorus, the hub is your idea, you want your hub to be your center of attention, and those little spokes are the color, that’s what you’re trying
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“You could put all [the cannabis] I’ve smoked in my life in a coffee cup, but any time in the last 15 or 20 years I’ve been around Willie Nelson, I just can’t help it because, hey, you’re with Willie Nelson. Now, he’ll drink a little whiskey with me too, but when he fires one up, he just hands it to you, and you’re just not going to tell him no.”
to do in your verses; you’re trying to go out away from the hub, get out to the turn around, get back to another spoke, and then head back to the center again. You know, if you go try to write four verses and then use your idea at the end, people will be tired of listening to your song before you get to your idea. That’s the simplest first grade advice I can give on making your songs better. To wrap things up, are there any other things coming up in 2017 that your fans should be excited for? Through the years I’ve written these things called The Bus Songs
and they’re not really what a label would look for to put out. They’re incorrect, some of them are stupid, some of them are funny, some of them we would never play. Basically, they’re not for everybody. But, we’ve always had these laying around and somebody would say something and they’ll just take off. So for the people that like those kind of songs, they’re all gonna be on one little pile so we can throw that out. Then I’ve got another album in the can, just real songwriter stuff, that’s sittin’ on go. As soon as “Wacky” is done, we’re gonna release a single off of that, put it out and go back into the mainstream again. c
+ www.tobykeith.com
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Principles in Productivity Industry professionals share their habits for success By R. Scott Rappold
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n an industry like cannabis, with its many distractions and colorful characters, it takes effective daily habits to survive and thrive in business. CULTURE reached out to successful professionals in the cannabis industry
each year, Heidl still makes time every day to maintain some normalcy by starting his day by connecting with his wife and children. “Not having a routine is my daily practice. This industry changes constantly and so the people who run it need to as well,” Heidl told
“Not having a routine is my daily practice. This industry changes constantly and so the people whorun it need to as well.” and asked them to talk about their daily routines. From daily habits to coffee and exercise, highly productive business professionals in the cannabis industry tell all. While having a strict schedule may work for some entrepreneurs, Jeremy Heidl, co-founder of O.penVAPE, finds comfort in avoiding the same schedule day in and day out. As he travels around 200 days 30
CULTURE. “Instead of doing the same things every day, I try to just practice some simple life skills that make me a better leader, father, husband and friend.” While daily habits fluctuated between each industry professional we interviewed, exercise stood out as an important habit to many. Todd Winter, cannabis industry attorney at Winter LLP, shared how exercise is paramount to
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Todd Winter Cannabis industry attorney at Winter LLP
Photo by Eric Stoner
his energy and success. “Prior to the last two years, I worked out an average five days per week at CrossFit Vibe in Orange County, [California] where I’m a part-owner. Since the passage of the MCRSA, however, it has been very difficult to find
any time to exercise,” Winter said. “Now that local and state laws are getting more defined and coming online, I’m finding more opportunity to exercise again. The change in my productivity, for the positive, has been dramatic.”
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Kristi Knoblich, Chief Operations Officer of Kiva Confections, also finds exercise to be one of her secrets to productivity. “I have to exercise regularly or people will see me slowly turn into a monster. As of late, I’m trying to think of it as daily stress management instead of exercise and that seems to motivate me to do more of it,” Knoblich said. “With the long days of summer, it’s the most rejuvenating experience to get up early with the sun and take in some nature. Exercise is as important as sleep for me, helping me reset, focus and feel like myself.” Additionally, Martin Lee, Director of Project CBD also attributes his productivity to regular exercise. “Exercise almost daily is very key,” Lee said. “I usually exercise in the late afternoon or early evening when I’m not traveling.” Matt Bodenchuk, co-founder of Toker Poker, starts his days with “Coffee, coffee and more coffee.” After he wakes up, Bodenchuk takes time to have coffee with his wife and kids before heading out to the office. “My mornings are my chance to briefly spend some time with my family, which generally puts a smile on my face,” Bodenchuk said. “Once I arrive at the office, my mornings are my only chance to dictate my workday, so I generally jump right on my emails.” Heidl of Open.VAPE also attributes much of his productivity to remaining grateful and positive. “What’s the point of living if we aren’t as happy as humanly possible?” Heidl asked. Toker Poker’s Bodenchuk also finds the value in optimism in the workplace. “Walking into your workplace with a positive attitude, ready to tackle the day helps me,” Bodenchuk said. “There are a lot of bumps in the road when running your own business, and being able to embrace problems or difficult tasks with an optimistic perspective is one of the primary reasons why we have had success.” While exercise, coffee and positivity are all important attributes, it’s interesting to see how cannabis plays different roles in each of these cannabis business professionals’ lives. Most shared that they consume cannabis solely in the evening, while others shared that they consume cannabis all throughout the day and into the night. Regardless of daily habits, it’s clear that there is no single way to find success. c 32
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Kristi Knoblich Chief Operations Officer of Kiva Confections
Photo by Tonya Perma Photography
Jeremy Heidl Co-founder of O.penVAPE
Photo by Joel Meaders
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Grecian Inspiration Greece moves forward with medical cannabis legalization By Nicole Potter
O
ver the course of history, the Grecian people have been hugely influential members of society whose contributions helped shape the course of today’s culture, philosophy, architecture and science. Now, modern-day Greece is opening up its arms to medical cannabis as well, making it the sixth European Union country to do so (joining the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, Finland and the Netherlands). The decision was made well over 100 years after the country first banned cannabis sales, consumption and importation in the late-19th century. On June 30, 2017, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced in a press conference that a medical cannabis legalization effort has been officially signed. Tsipras’ statement, which was translated from his native language, exhibits the hopeful progress to
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support sick patients everywhere. “From now on, the country is turning its page, as Greece is now included in countries where the delivery of medical cannabis to patients in need is legal,” he said. This decision has been over a year in the making. In 2016, Greek Health Minister Andreas Xanthos issued a Common Ministerial Decision, which set up a special committee to study and discuss the possibility of medical cannabis in the country. According to the Greek Reporter, individuals in a variety of professional categories, such as academics, psychiatrists, scientists and legal advisors were invited to participate in the discussion with the goal of proposing regulations. The group’s proposition was submitted to the Xanthos on October 30, 2016. This time around, the Ministries of Health and Justice were the driving force behind the official legalization in June, who also decided to reschedule cannabis from a “Table A” substance to a “Table B” substance. The “Table A” classification is similar to the Unites States’ Schedule I, as it deems substances to have no medical value. Now, Greece has opened the doors to patient access to medical cannabis by moving
“From now on, the country is turning its page, as Greece is now included in countries where the delivery of medical cannabis to patients in need is legal.” cannabis into a category that also acknowledges some medical value, along with other substances such as methadone, cocaine and opium. According to Neos Kosmos, a Greek newspaper published in Melbourne, Australia, there has yet to be an official announcement issued regarding how the country will obtain its cannabis. However, many believe that Greece will be allowed to provide licenses for cultivation. Other sources predict that Greece will rely heavily on importation from outside the country. So far, only patients who suffer from conditions such as chronic pain, neuropathic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, cachexia and anorexia are allowed to consume medical cannabis. Patients will be required to obtain a doctor’s recommendation in order to gain access to their medicine. Greece has experienced some financial difficulties in the past. The country has encountered numerous bankruptcies, but things could be looking up for Greece if it’s able to successfully launch its legal medical cannabis industry. c
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SHOOTING GALLERY
Rebelution
at Mattress Firm Amphitheater in San Diego
Photos by Eric Fowler 36
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 38
Summer Experiments 2 By Ed Rosenthal
Group One It’s July 13, in the heart of summer, with direct intense light lighting the plants. The fog burns off by 10:30 a.m., and the rest of the day is usually sunny. However, now the trajectory of the sun has changed with more shading than last month. Still, the plants are healthy and right on schedule. The first section is the 2’ x 4’, 9-inch deep tray that holds five Blue Dream plants. They are 3-3.5’ feet tall and have stopped growing in favor of flower production. Their regimen was changed to flowering a month ago. Each evening I pull the cart into its own dark chamber after dusk, which occurs at about 8:50 p.m. The plant stays there until 9 a.m., a dark period of 12-plus hours of darkness each evening. The plants are in the middle of flowering now. In about a month the colas will be ready to harvest. The plants were also pruned yesterday to eliminate bottom leaves and tiny flowers that steal the plants’ energy.
Group Two The second group consisted of four plants from clones including
The plants on wheels in full sun before deleafing. The cart is moved around as the sun and shadows trade places in the yard throughout the day.
Plants on wheels after manicuring. Removing the unnecessary vegetation forces the plants to concentrate more on bud production.
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two Ed Rosenthal SuperBud and two varieties Chocolate Tonic and Blackberry Fire. The first SuperBud reached maturity last week and was cut, but we are trying to regenerate it by giving it near continuous light. The Chocolate Tonic and the second SuperBud were cut today, leaving only the Blackberry Fire, which will be ripe in a few days. After picking them, I hung the branches leaving all their leaves on. The climate here is cool and the RH hovers at about 50 percent. After about five weeks they are both dried and cured, and ready to be stored and packaged.
Group 3 The third group turned out to be 11 female indicas that must be the progeny of a late pollen producing female times itself or another variety. The reason I say that, is that all the indicas were females. One plant is a sativa, and it has not indicated sex. The other plants started flowering with only 9.5 hours of darkness. They are in full flower now and should be ripe in another month. The indicas whose tops were clipped are squatter than the unclipped single-top plants, with more side branching and multiple tops.
A bud from one of the wheel plants. They have been flowering for 31 days.
Plants in 8” containers. They smell orangey so I am calling them Purple Citrus. Tops of half of them were clipped on June 19. All but one are sister indicas with the same parents. They have thick stems and wide leaves with purple flowers.
They are about two feet tall and have filled out as they have flowered. Soon after they started flowering I took cuttings from them and hope to root and regenerate them so I can use them for breeding. I never got to set up the CO2 experiment. The plants started flowering too soon for my schedule to catch up. c
TIP OF THE MONTH By this time, most of the outdoor plants have started to flower. However, there is still time to get in a crop of small plants. For best results, start with rooted clones. If you start with seeds the plants will be a little smaller and may take a little longer to ripen. Place them outdoors in 8” containers. As soon as they are placed outdoors they will begin to flower because of the longer late summer/ fall dark period, and they will ripen in seven to nine weeks. The containers are small enough to be moved easily to follow the sun or indoors for protection during threatening weather or cold nights.
The four plants induced to flower early are ripe. The varieties represented are two Ed Rosenthal SuperBud, one Chocolate Tonic and Blackberry Fire.
Close-up of the bud of Chocolate Tonic that is ready to cut.
Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.
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culture
if you go:
QuébEc City Captivates By Sheryll Alexander
For cannabis enthusiasts who love the look and feel of Europe, but don’t want to go all the way there, cannabis-friendly Québec City, Canada, is absolutely captivating especially during August’s vibrant events and outdoor festivals. Plus, the relaxed attitude towards cannabis in Québec City is as refreshing as this walled fortress town’s stunning views of the Saint Lawrence River. In summer, Québec City is best known for its outdoor festivals, its bodacious gastronomy and its plentiful recreational activities (such as cycling, sailing, canoeing, hiking, whitewater rafting and even soaking at hot mineral day spas). Called a Canadian “signature experience,” Québec City’s New France Festival (Les Fêtes de la NouvelleFrance) is definitely extraordinary. The New France Festival makes visitors feel like they have gone back in time as the city’s cobblestoned Old or Lower Town comes to life as if during the colonial era. Locals (and paid actors) dress in period fashions for a colonial-themed food market, games, music and a daily costume parade.
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Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec calls it “six soirées flamboyantes.” That’s roughly translated to six flamingly flamboyant evenings (August 2, 9, 12, 16, 19, 25) of competitive international pyrotechnics. Each night has a different theme (disco, country, classic, hip-hop, Latin), and there’s literally a long list of ways to enjoy summer’s most beautiful “festival” from standing on just the right romantic street corner to sitting at an observatory with a panoramic view. At the end of the month, from August 31 to September 3, the city revs up again and then relaxes for The Bordeaux Wine Festival (Bordeaux Fête Le Vin à Québec). QC’s Bordeaux Wine Festival attracts wine connoisseurs to participate in tastings of Québec’s regional delicacies and wines along with attending workshops and other food-and-wine activities. Ready for some of the best scenery, nature, food, wine, cannabis and club scenes in North America? Québec City marries the best of the past with the best of today when it comes to cannabisfriendly travel. c
Fun-Filled Facts
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Time to Go: August Weather: Highs 70s, lows 50s Budget: $$$$$
In Canada— including in the province of Québec—cannabis is only legal for medical cannabis patients who have visited their healthcare doctor and obtained a referral to a “licensed commercial producer.” In Québec, medical cannabis is only available via delivery. As for Americans, Québecois medical cannabis delivery services confirm they do accept valid “licenses” from medical cannabis states for purchasing flowers, oil and edibles. And while it seems the Québecois are quite cool when it comes to smoking cannabis, be safe and do not light up around the cops, government buildings, designer shops and family parks. If you don’t want to go the delivery route, then consider making some new cannabisloving friends (who can now legally grow their own) at a hipster club in the trendy Saint-Roch district.
Combine hospitality with history by staying at Auberge Saint-Antoine. This strikingly beautiful boutique hotel was built atop a treasure trove of colonial artifacts, and each of its comfortably chic rooms houses at least one ancient relic. 1
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Want to experience a little bit of Paris while in Québec City? Head to Café du Monde. This waterfront eatery has been serving Parisian-style bistro fare (think steak frites à la Béarnaise and a brunch dish of poached eggs swimming in hollandaise) to cruise passengers for decades. 2
Summer’s sunshine and warmth make Québec City’s historic Terrasse Dufferin the perfect place to take a stroll, jog, cycle or do yoga at sunrise. 3
culture
Mark M. Ward
growing
raised. I found this wasn’t treatment, but a numbing of all life’s feeling and emotion. It was apathy in a bottle, and it wasn’t for me.
Age: 32
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PTSD, agoraphobia, general anxiety disorder, manic depression, cluster migraines, GERD, Diverticulosis When did you start using medical cannabis? I’ve used cannabis for well over a decade, but it wasn’t until 2014 when I joined NORML chapters that I really began to understand medical usage. I used cannabis recreationally without regard of different possible effects by different [strain] and potency. When I truly understood the different potentials, I was able to properly use cannabis as medicine. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I’ve been on a barrage of different benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers and pain pills. I used pharmaceuticals as advised and still became very addicted. Eventually, each medication became less and less effective, so the dosage was
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? Big business and big government are the biggest problems. CEOs that have no history with medical cannabis have no business playing “healer” with their dispensaries. Sub-par products are being sold to sick people with no concern of quality. Mislabeled cannabinoid content, mold ridden product, and product saturated with nonorganic and even poisonous chemicals is not medicine. Also, the stamping out of recreation and medical patient growing by medical lobbyists is not medicine, but an attempt to monopolize a market. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? It’s OK to be cautious of what you consume. And cannabis isn’t for everyone, but it’s never been directly harmful to anyone. And that cannot be said for any pharmaceutical prescription ever written. There’s a reason why so many patients fight for it . . . it works. Who’s making fight for “Big Pharma” that doesn’t have stock? c
Are you an medical cannabis patient with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 42
Bento Bites Photos and recipes by Monica Lo from Sous Weed
Menu: Spam Musubi with Infused Sweet Soy
Miso Cannabutter Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball)
Infused Sweet Soy Glaze
Salmon Onigiri with Infused Sweet Soy
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August is here, and it’s the time of year where most people become sick of summer. We’re over the hot weather and overdone barbecue— it’s time for something new. The world is full of wonderfully unique flavors, and often enough, many of those tastes are specific to certain regions of the world. Enter the Japanese-inspired onigiri, which is also known as a Japanese rice ball. This perfectly portioned ball of rice can be decorated, flavored and infused with a variety of savory fillings. Although there are countless ways to make onigiri, the talented chef of Sous Weed, Monica Lo, has prepared three ways to both elevate and medicate. Learn how to whip up your very own infused sweet soy glaze to top off your fresh salmon onigiri and spam musubi—but realistically, you can use it on anything from chicken wings to grilled salmon!
culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN
Spam Musubi with Infused Sweet Soy Makes 2 servings
1 1/2 cups cooked rice, short grain 1 tablespoons infused sweet soy glaze 1/2 sheet nori Toasted sesame seeds to garnish (optional)
2. Lightly glaze each piece of SPAM with medicated sweet soy glaze. 3. Wet your hands and firmly mold rice into the
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1. In a greased skillet, cook SPAM until brown and crisp on each side.
4. Using scissors, cut a piece of nori with a width of 2” to wrap around the SPAM and rice, like a belt. 5. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, and serve immediately.
Infused Sweet Soy Glaze Makes approximately 1/2 cup Ingredients:
Instructions:
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1. In a small saucepan, mix both sugars, soy sauce, water, and rice vinegar, and bring to a boil.
1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 gram kief
2. Reduce heat to low, and stir in kief.
3. Simmer on low for 15 minutes, until the consistency is syrupy. 4. Remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until use.
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2 slices SPAM, 3/8” thick
shape of the SPAM slice. You can also use a musubi press.
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culture
Miso Cannabutter Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball) Makes 2 servings Ingredients:
growing
1 1/2 cups cooked rice, short grain 1 tablespoon cannabutter, room temperature
Vegetable oil for frying 1/2 sheet nori cut in half (optional)
1/2 tablespoon white miso paste
Instructions: 1. In a small bowl thoroughly mix softened cannabutter, miso paste and sugar until uniform.
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1 teaspoon sugar
Salmon Onigiri with Infused Sweet Soy Makes 2 servings
2. Wet your hands, and firmly mold half the rice into a ball or the classic triangle shape. Keep moistening hands while forming so that the rice doesn’t stick. Repeat with remaining rice. Set aside.
3. In a non-stick pan or cast iron, heat on medium-high with some vegetable oil. Brush each side of the rice balls with medicated miso butter, and grill until lightly brown and crisp. 4. Wrap a strip of nori around the middle of the rice ball, and serve immediately.
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Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups cooked rice, short grain
2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
3 ounces smoked salmon, thinly sliced
Pinch of salt
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1/2 sheet of nori, cut in half
1 tablespoon infused sweet soy glaze
1. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. 2. Cook the smoked salmon slices for about 15 seconds on each side, then remove from heat. 3. Flake the salmon with a fork, and mix salmon into the rice with infused sweet soy glaze, sesame seeds and salt.
4. Wet your hands and firmly mold half the salmon sushi rice into a ball or the classic triangle shape. Keep moistening hands while forming so that the rice doesn‘t stick. Repeat with remaining rice. 5. Wrap a strip of nori around the middle of the rice ball. 6. Serve immediately or wrap with plastic wrap to enjoy later.
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.
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Chuck Shepherd's
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY—THE NEW POWER NAP If high-schoolers seem stressed by active lifestyles and competitive pressures, and consequently fail to sleep the recommended nine to 10 hours a day, it must be a good idea for the federal government to give grants (including to Las Cruces High School in New Mexico) to purchase comfy, $14,000 “nap pods” that drive out the racket with soft music, for 20 minutes a shot during those frenzied classroom days. A May NPR report based on Las Cruces’ experience quoted favorable reviews by students, backed by a doctor and a nurse practitioner who pointed to research showing that adequate sleep “can” boost memory and attention and thus “can” improve school performance (and therefore must be a great use of federal education dollars).
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam argues that his “hands are tied” by “federal food laws” and that fresh, “all-natural” milk with the cream skimmed off the top cannot be sold in Florida as “milk” (or “skim milk”) but must be labeled “imitation milk”—unless the “allnatural” milk adds (artificial) vitamin A to the product. A family farm in the state’s panhandle (Ocheesee Creamery) decided to
challenge the law, and Putnam, who recently announced his candidacy for governor, said he would try to resolve the issue soon. INEXPLICABLE (1) It recently became necessary for Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski to acquire a bigger home in the Los Angeles area because their 33,000 “bunny”-related items (stuffed bunnies, antique bunnies, bunny paintings, bunny dinnerware, etc.) needed more space. (2) The world’s only museum devoted to the “house cat” allows self-guided tours in Sylva, North Carolina, where curator Harold Sims displays 10,000 artifacts including a genuine petrified cat (with whiskers!) pulled from a 16th-century English chimney. (3) Brantford, Ontario, real estate agent Kyle Jansink, speaking for unidentified sellers, said he accepted the challenge of selling the meticulously maintained home “as is”— still packed with the sellers’ clown-related items (dolls, miniatures, porcelain statues, paintings). COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS They’re “therapists,” not “strippers,” argued New York City’s Penthouse Executive Club, creatively characterizing its dancers to avoid $3 million in back taxes, but the state’s appeals board ruled against it in April. Penthouse had insisted that its performers were more akin to counselors for lonely men, and that the club’s “door charge” was an untaxable fee for therapeutic health services. James Pelletier, 46, was arrested in Hollis, Maine, in May after he fired a BB gun
point-blank at his two sons, ages 9 and 11—but only, he said, as a “rite of passage” into maturity (perhaps thinking the experience would help them become as mature as their father). He said if the kids knew how it felt to get shot, perhaps they would not be so quick to fire their own guns. THE CONTINUING CRISIS You Mean Jethro and Abby, Too? In contrast to the exciting work of the TV series (near the top of broadcast ratings for the last decade), real agents in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service have labored over computer screens eight to 10 hours a day for two months now employing their facial-recognition software— just to scour websites to identify victims of nudephoto postings of military personnel that came to light earlier this year. “(Y)ou get pretty burned out,” said the NCIS director. A simple word search of “uniformed military nude” got nearly 80 million hits, according to a May Associated Press dispatch from the Quantico Marine base, where the 20 investigators labor side-byside. MILITARY ALLIES IN ODD PLACES (1) In April, three days after ISIS fighters reportedly executed 25 villagers about 50 miles south of Kirkuk, Iraq, the three murderers were themselves killed (and eight more wounded) when a pack of wild boars overran their position and gnawed them into martyrdom. (2) In April, a Russian naval reconnaissance ship sank in the Black Sea off of Turkey (likely op: Syriarelated) when it collided with a livestock barge flying the flag of Togo. All aboard the
Russian ship were rescued; the much-heavier Togolese vessel suffered barely a scratch. PERSPECTIVE Rights in Conflict: An elderly German man, unnamed in news reports, was fined the equivalent of $110 in May for “terrorizing” neighbors in the town of Hennef by violating a 2015 agreement to lower the sound of his pornographic videos. He demanded sympathy because of his hearing disability, arguing that if he wore headphones, he could not hear the doorbell, or burglars, and therefore would feel unsafe. (At his May hearing, he objected to the characterization that the “sex sounds” were from videos; on the day in question, he said, he had a prostitute in the room. “It was not porn,” he insisted, confusingly. “It was live!”) OOPS! In May, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley apparently mindlessly signed the proclamation designating a special day for the late Tre Hummons (submitted by his grieving father, to honor the son’s “sacrifice”). Tre Hummons was killed in 2015 by a police officer—but only after Tre had just shot and killed another Cincinnati police officer. Winneshiek County (Iowa) Engineer Lee Bjerke said he had no idea how the driver of the loaded 18-wheeler had missed the “Load Limit 3 Tons” sign at the entrance of the small, rickety bridge near Cresco in May, but in seconds, the span was wiped out, and the tractor-trailer had become part of the Turkey River. The loaded grain truck weighed more than 30 tons.
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