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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 medicated treats. ON THE COVER:
PHOTO BY JOEL MEADERS
features
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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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departments news
08 News Nuggets 09 By the Numbers 10 Local News 12 Healthy Living reviews 14 Strain & Edible Reviews 16 Cool Stuff 18 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 36 À La Carte 38 Growing Culture 39 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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NEWS
NUGGETS
Voters will Decide on Imperial Beach Cannabis Regulations Despite a passionate effort by Imperial Beach officials to invalidate a citizen initiative that would allow for an unlimited number of cannabis businesses, the proposal will be on the November 2020 ballot for voters to decide. The bill is sponsored by the Association of Cannabis Professionals and would allow for dispensaries, manufacturing businesses and lounges with no cap on the number of permits. Imperial Beach City Council voted on Sept. 18 to place the proposal on the ballot.
National City to Draft Ordinance Allowing Cannabis Businesses On Sept. 16, the National City Council approved staff recommendations to draft an ordinance that would allow for three cannabis businesses in industrial zones. The limit on the number of businesses could be raised in the future. Standalone retail businesses are not allowed in industrial zones of National 8
OCTOBER 2019 CultureMagazine.com
Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina called the proposal “crazy,” while Councilmember Ed Spriggs suggested also putting the city’s current cannabis ordinance on the ballot as well as a competing measure. “Councilmember Spriggs stated that one of his big concerns about the amendment is that the city loses the requirement for data gathering analysis, the ability to examine impacts on schools,” the Imperial Beach City Council agenda reads.
City, so businesses may have to be defined as microbusinesses and operate under dual functions with operations such as manufacturing or distribution. However, city leadership has not yet settled on what types of businesses will be allowed, from delivery to retail. “If we’re going to open it up, I think everybody should be affected by the locations,” said Councilmember Jerry Cano. “And I think if we’re going to be considering to have dispensaries, I think we should go to the highest limit that we can do.” The final draft of the ordinance could be ready as early as the end of 2019.
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.
The number of cannabis businesses that National City Council would allow within city limits, according to a recently proposed ordinance: (Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The number of votes from the Oceanside City Council, out of five, that were cast in favor of doubling the number of cultivation licenses in the city: (Source: The Coast News)
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The number of recreational cannabis dispensary license applications, out of 84, that have been chosen as “top contenders” for a license in Chula Vista: (Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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The number of counties in California that have used the Clear My Record program to assist in clearing cannabis convictions: (Source: KPIX)
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The percentage of people living in Scotland who said that they support legalizing cannabis for adult consumption: (Source: The Times)
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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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Metrc Best Practices WHEN: Mon, Oct. 7 WHERE: Austin Legal Group, 525 B St., San Diego WEBSITE: austinlegalgroup.com If you’re involved in any way with a cannabis business in California, you know that understanding Metrc seed-to-sale tracking system is critical for staying within the boundaries of the law. Sponsored by Meadow, this workshop was designed to help licensed operators gain a better understanding of California’s Track and Trace requirements and how to navigate Metrc. Austin Legal Group has been representing cannabis-
related clients for over eight years, so it makes sense that the group’s legal team has learned a few things about operating cannabis businesses in California over the years. Learn about point-of-sale solutions for retail businesses, as well as delivery and sales tricks. Learn how to avoid costly fines. Sales data must be submitted to state authorities, so discover how to do it without the hassle of code enforcers. CultureMagazine.com
OCTOBER 2019
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NEWS
LOCAL
Holistic Healing
San Diego acupuncture and massage school offers medical cannabis certificate
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By Kiara Manns
he Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM) currently stands as the largest college of Oriental medicine in the nation. Now a new course has arrived at its San Diego campus, further distinguishing the college from all others. Students pursuing a profession in healthcare can now earn a certificate in medical cannabis at PCOM. The program comes as the “first accredited, collegelevel medical cannabis certificate in the nation,” as shared on the school’s website. The program aims to teach medical professionals the fundamentals of cannabis, so they can implement that knowledge into their care of future patients. The three-semester course breaks into three main focal points, which are Endocannabinoid System and Pharmacology, Clinical Medical Cannabis Guidelines and Cannabis Care Capstone. Students enrolled in the program will dive into the physiology of the human endocannabinoid system and learn exactly how cannabis interacts with that system, review cannabis-based research, learn to implement cannabis into patient treatment and more. Program Chair Carey Clark told CULTURE that she expects the courses to reach beyond the basics of medical cannabis education. “The Medical Cannabis Certificate program at Pacific College offers students the benefits of access to expert cannabis care clinicians at a college level, and a deep dive into not only the cannabis scientific knowledge base, but also the applied practice of providing cannabis care. Students leave the program with a sense of confidence in their knowledge and skills, and the ability to educate, support and coach medical cannabis patients to safe, effective use of cannabis for healing,” she said.
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Bill Maher The three-course program counts for eight college credits and is taught completely online. Each course takes seven weeks to complete, and students may earn their certification in as quickly as six months. Chief Operations Officer of Pacific College, Malcolm Youngren, also spoke with CULTURE about the growing popularity of the school’s program. “Currently, two of our 200-plus professors teach this course. Due to high demand, we are currently in the process of expanding our Medical Cannabis and Nursing faculty,” he stated. Youngren continued to share that this new program is a natural progression as it fits into the general focus of PCOM. “Pacific College has been a leader in traditional and integrative medicine for 40 years. We are used to [taking] risks and push forward innovation and education in integrative healthcare. We view cannabis as an extension of this tradition,” Youngren shared. “We have championed an evidence-based vision of acupuncture and oriental medicine and we will use that same approach to cannabis. We see a lot of ‘hype’ in this field and aim to bring a balanced and scientific approach to the subject.” In order to enroll, potential students must have a license in a healthcare field, one associate degree in a healthcare field or be a current student at Pacific College who has finished second year comprehensive exams. Students can also take the opportunity to apply for financial aid. While PCOM is the first in San Diego to offer a certificate for medical cannabis, there are other colleges across the nation and locally that have already begun extensive research on the plant’s medical benefits. Physicians and scientists at University of California, San Diego, for example, have been involved in cannabis research for the last 19 years. Youngren recognizes the great potential cannabis has within the medical field. “The legal cannabis market is large and expected to grow from $3 billion to $143 billion by 2025, with jobs in the industry exploding from 70,000 to 700,000 in the same period. PCOM views this certificate as a solid foundation for any healthcare worker who wants to move into this field.” Although the September cohort at PCOM is fully booked, those who are interested can enroll for the next term beginning on Jan. 6, 2020. c
Several years ago, Bill Maher explained that he’s pretty familiar with cannabis compared to the average casual consumer you might come across. “I’m just not a connoisseur,” Maher told CULTURE in 2012. “I know that people are into the sativa and the indica. I know that one is the more upper and one is the more relaxing one. To me it’s all the same. It works.” The latenight comedy host frequently inserts himself into controversy, with varying results. Most recently, Maher criticized “cancel culture,” but his hardball approach is what draws most of his fans to him in the first place. Join Maher for a night which will undoubtedly include references and anecdotes to the current political situation dominating the news today. WHEN: Sat, Oct. 26 WHERE: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego WEBSITE: sandiegotheatres. org
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NEWS
HEALTHY LIVING
The Science of Edibles Edibles interact with the human body differently than inhaling
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By Lanny Swerdlow, RN ven though the perceived effects of inhaled and ingested cannabis can feel so different from one another, it is how the body assimilates and incorporates THC and other cannabinoids found in cannabis that makes for the stark differences between inhaling and ingesting. There is no psychoactive THC found naturally in cannabis plants. What is actually found in the plant is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), which has no psychoactive properties. THCA contains a carboxyl molecule which, when removed by a process called decarboxylation, gives cannabis its famed psychotropic properties. With temperatures in excess of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, the elevated heat from smoking or vaping will instantly decarboxylate the THCA converting it into Delta-9-THC, the famously celebrated psychoactive cannabinoid of cannabis. When inhaled, the Delta-9-THC is immediately absorbed by the lungs flowing directly into the bloodstream and crossing the blood-brain barrier. The psychoactive effects occur within minutes so you can easily titrate and quickly moderate your intake maintaining levels you are comfortable with. The decarboxylation of THCA to produce Delta-9-THC can also take place at lower temperatures such as those used for baking. The conversion is not instantaneous, and thus it requires 15 to 45 minutes depending on the temperature. In addition to producing Delta-9-THC for use in edibles, one of the advantages of heating at a lower temperature is the terpenes, which are
responsible for the aroma of cannabis, are preserved. Edibles are not absorbed through the respiratory system, but rather through the digestive system. Therein is the big difference, which accounts for why the potency and length of time of action is greater for cannabis that is eaten versus cannabis that is inhaled. When Delta-9-THC goes through the digestive system rather than the respiratory system, it is metabolized in the liver and converted to 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC). This form of THC crosses the blood-brain barrier more quickly than Delta-9-THC and is considered to be more psychotropic, because it activates specific cannabinoid receptors in the brain more effectively than Delta-9THC does. This is one of the reasons edibles are believed to be more likely to bring on feelings of anxiety, panic, paranoia and other negative psychotropic reactions. Although this has been the accepted explanation for why edibles are more potent than smoking or vaping, not all researchers agree. Studies done at GW Pharmaceuticals, according to an article in The Atlantic, have found that the two compounds are basically equivalent and point to a far simpler explanation. The author refers to Dr. Ethan Russo and his skepticism for such an explanation. “Russo says the reason edibles affect
“THE BOTTOM LINE FOR EDIBLES IS YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE MORE, BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE LESS ONCE YOU HAVE TAKEN THEM, SO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, AND WAIT AT LEAST TWO HOURS BEFORE CONSUMING MORE.”
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people more strongly is simply because more THC—of any kind—gets into the body when pot is eaten. When a joint is smoked, only 10 to 30 percent of the THC is absorbed into the body, he says. A lot— quite literally—just goes up in smoke,” reads the article. Whether the psychoactive effects of edibles derive from the potency of 11-OH-THC versus Delta-9-THC or the simple fact that you are going to get more psychoactive THC from ingesting than from inhaling, it still calls for more caution when edibles are consumed. This is why knowing the amount of THC in edibles is critical. Eating someone’s homemade edibles with unknown potencies can be especially risky as beginners are advised to limit their intake of THC to between one and five milligrams. Once accustomed to the effects, dosages can be increased up to 10 milligrams. Most states that have legalized cannabis have set 10 milligrams as a single serving size although very experienced consumers can utilize considerably more with no ill effect. Along with potency, the time for onset of the effects with edibles is critical with times of onset running from 30 minutes to two hours. Just because you have not felt anything in 60 minutes doesn’t mean you should take more. Overdosing is not going to kill you, but it is very uncomfortable, with some people going to emergency rooms with panic attacks and other distressful symptoms. The bottom line for edibles is you can always take more, but you can’t take less once you have taken them, so err on the side of caution, and wait at least two hours before consuming more. c
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REVIEWS
edible & strain 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.
Cann
Available at MedMen locations across California and through Eaze delivery service.
Cookies Glue by WILLIE'S RESERVE TM
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.
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 you shouldn't pass up! 14
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Available at MedMen locations across California.
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 is a unique take on a classic flower and is one that is worth sampling.
Available wherever Honey Pot products are carried or at honeypotproducts.com.
Available wherever WILLIE’S RESERVETM products are carried.
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 to create 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.
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. CultureMagazine.com
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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 16
OCTOBER 2019 CultureMagazine.com
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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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OCTOBER 2019
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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 latest 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 24
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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 26
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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!
“ 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.
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 CultureMagazine.com
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THE LATEST TREND 28
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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. 30
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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 32
“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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A
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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The Importance of Being Basic
Here’s where to begin if you are pursuing cooking with cannabis in the kitchen
N
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. CultureMagazine.com
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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.
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 breakingand-entering caught on camera on Aug. 23, but police are still looking for the slim, youthful-looking 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 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. 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 work appeared to be being done on the tank—a hole had been dug exposing the tank, which had a rusted two-by-two-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.
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