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inside
contents 9.2017
22 EDM Ambassadors
The two sisters behind the dynamic electronic dance music duo, Krewella, talk about new music, their upcoming national tour and cannabis.
O n the C O V E R :
John Gilhooley
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features
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Erotic Avenues Ashley Manta, well-known sex expert, shares everything you need to know about incorporating cannabis into your most intimate moments.
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Industry Insider The man behind CBD Living Water is finding success in healing the nation.
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Cannabinoid Consideration As we kick off football season, CULTURE connects with professionals who would like to see the National Football League allow its athletes to have access to CBD.
departments
news 10 News Nuggets 11 By the Numbers 12 Local News 14 Legal Corner reviews 16 Edible & Concentrate Reviews 18 Cool Stuff 20 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 46 Growing
08 Letter from the Editor
Culture 48 Destination Unknown 49 Profile in Courage 50 Recipes 53 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d New Zealand Citizens Want to Vote for Cannabis d Nebraskan University’s Hemp Studies Reveal New Information
Vol 9 IssUE 3
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CULTURE M
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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, Monte Lee, Casey Roel, Garry Stalling, Ryan Tripp, Shayne Williams 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.CultureMagazine.com CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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LETTER
FROM
THE
EDITOR
A Fight Worth Winning “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” - Nelson Mandela
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n an industry that has required a great deal of advocacy and grassroots initiatives to push legislation toward the acceptance of medical and recreational cannabis, it’s frustrating when two steps forward lead to one step backward. And so is the case in many regions where cannabis legalization and progress are often stunted at every corner. Michigan patients and advocates recently felt the sting of worry when former Michigan State Police Sgt. Donald Bailey, an appointee to the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board, stated his belief that all medical cannabis collectives in the state should be closed in anticipation of the state’s new licensing structure. Although no decision has been made, it’s downright ridiculous to witness this example of how the “War on Drugs” continues to be perpetuated despite all the other progress being made in the “Great Lake State.” With two recreational cannabis petitions in circulation and plenty of well-intentioned patients, advocates and lawmakers determined to support cannabis reform, it is clear that despite possible setbacks, Michigan residents will continue this fight and inevitably move the state forward. Michigan is not the first state that is faced with possible negative effects associated with forward progress. Washington’s medical cannabis community took a huge hit when recreational cannabis regulations were enacted. As the state merged the medical and recreational cannabis programs, the regulations were not in favor of the dispensaries that were currently operating. This crippled most medical cannabis dispensaries in the state, forcing them to shut down, affecting over 100,00 patients statewide. Therefore, there is a very real fear that something
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similar to this could happen in California, as officials are merging the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act with the Adult Use of Marijuana Act in preparation for the January 2018 rollout. However, in this budding industry, we have the ability to learn from our mistakes. This gives us hope that California lawmakers at the city, county and state levels are aware of what happened in Washington and are capable of avoiding the same devastating outcome. Across the United States, as our industry continues its forward-moving trajectory, and many other states throughout the nation demand that we deserve the right to safe access to cannabis, let’s not be blinded by the fact that the “War on Drugs” continues to present battle after battle in this 80-year war. As leaders in recreational cannabis states like Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska fire back at Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his ignorance surrounding legal cannabis, defending their states’ rights to cannabis reform, let’s work hard to embrace one another despite our differences, while focusing on the one true goal we all share. Cannabis reform nationwide has to happen, and we are the driving force that will ensure its success. In the words of Nelson Mandela, let’s remain relentless in our fight, with a clear intention to demand the freedoms we are awarded as American citizens. c
Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
nuggetS
Carlsbad Approves Effort to Legalize Commercial Cannabis Sales A campaign received approval to begin gathering signatures in support of a vote on allowing recreational cannabis sales in Carlsbad. On August 10, City Attorney Celia Brewer and City Clerk Barbara Engleson signed the ballot title and summary, which was just before the August 11 deadline. Before advocates could begin collecting signatures, the Association of Cannabis Professionals, the organization that is sponsoring the initiative, was required to publish a notice of intent in a newspaper. “The Association consists of experienced, passionate activists who work tirelessly to end the black market cannabis trade in favor of a safe, accessible,
San Marcos Extends Moratorium with Urgency Ordinance No dispensaries or cultivation facilities will appear for at least another year in the city of San Marcos. On August 8, the San Marcos City Council voted to approve an emergency ordinance extending a moratorium on cannabis cultivation operations and dispensaries. The moratorium was extended through September
legal cannabis industry in which the adult use of cannabis is taxed and regulated fairly as any other legitimate business,” the group stated. The initiative would legalize the sales, indoor cultivation, delivery and manufacturing of recreational cannabis. Under the proposed changes, retailers and delivery drivers could operate between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The initiative must collect valid signatures from 15 percent of voters to qualify for a special election or 10 percent of voters for a regular election.
Decriminalization Bill Introduced in Belize The government of Belize introduced eight bills on August 18, which included legislation to decriminalize the possession of cannabis. The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill 2017 would replace punishments for possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis with non-recordable penalties and fines. “I think it is recognized by members on both sides of this House that the present regime, which we have dealing 10
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30, 2018. “This urgency ordinance shall take effect immediately upon the expiration of urgency Ordinance No. 2016-1434,” the ordinance reads. It extends “the moratorium on the establishment of marijuana dispensaries, the outdoor cultivation and processing of marijuana, the indoor cultivation and processing of marijuana . . . ” The new ordinance is an extension of Ordinance No. 20161433 and Ordinance No. 2016-1432, which are earlier emergency ordinances. The city council also approved amendments to city code that change fence and wall requirements. The city first banned medical cannabis dispensaries in 2006. San Marcos approved its ban on medical cannabis cultivation, delivery and sale on November 10, 2015.
with marijuana, is not equitable,” said Wilfred Elrington, minister of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs. “As a matter of fact, it is the view that it is unduly prejudicial particularly to the poorer members of our society, who for one reason or another, use marijuana in smaller quantities.” The bill would also remove industrial hemp from Belize’s definition of cannabis. The proposal would not go into effect until it has gone through all readings in the House of Representatives.
The approximate number of pages that detail the current version of the Trailer Bill Language for the California Budget, which the city of Vista is preparing to review: (Source: The Coast News)
The percentage of registered Carlsbad voters’ valid signatures that must be collected in order to allow for a recreational cannabis initiative to qualify for the general election ballot in Carlsbad: (Source: KUSI)
200
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The number of San Diego-based cannabis businesses that filed a lawsuit against San Diego County, claiming that a recent vote in March, which prohibits cannabis business operations, is unconstitutional: (Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The projected amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that it would cost to hold a special election to consider allowing cannabis businesses in the city of Oceanside: (Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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500
The number of garbage bags that were filled by Maine volunteers who agreed to pick up trash in exchange for a free gram of cannabis: (Source: The Portland Press Herald)
100
The number of cannabis testing laboratories, out of three, that have been approved in the state of Hawaii, as of August 24: (Source: San Francisco Chronicle)
1
The percentage of polled Utah voters who support the newest initiative to legalize medical cannabis on the 2018 ballot: (Source: The Salt Lake Tribune)
78
The estimated number of currently active cannabisrelated patents that have been filed with the United States Patent Office: (Source: Forbes)
500
San Diego Cookie Con & Sweets Show! WHEN: Sat, Sept. 16-Sun, Sept. 17 WHERE: San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Dr., San Diego WEBSITE: sandiegocookiecon.com/landing-page Thousands of Californians are expected to attend the largest baking and pastry convention on the West Coast. All things sweet, savory and salty will be sure to satisfy the palates of attendees. Bakers, pastry connoisseurs, researchers, food enthusiasts and simply anyone with a sweet tooth are all invited to meet, greet and eat. Improve your baking skills by attending a variety of classes that offer demonstrations on baking everything from chocolate to ice cream and so
much more. Your baking education won’t stop there—learn more from celebrity chefs such as Duff Goldman from Cake Masters, celebrity Chef Elise Strachan and Ron Ben-Israel from Cake Wars. Meet and greet celebrities like comedian and actor Dr. Ken Jeong (The Hangover) and Burt Ward (1966 Batman TV series). Last year, three of the shows were completely sold out—and this year’s show is expected to attract over 4,000 attendees. (Sophia Rybicki) CultureMagazine.com
SEPTEMBER 2017
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NEWS
LOCAL
S t rong Suit Cannabis Providers File Suit Against County Claiming Violation of Constitutional Rights By Pamela Jayne
“T
hey have paid their dues, literally and figuratively. It is not fair.” Those are the words of Maria Severson, the attorney who represents a group of nonprofit medical cannabis dispensaries and limited liability companies that filed suit against San Diego County on Friday, August 11. They did so in response to the March 15 San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ vote to ban all new cannabis operations in unincorporated areas of the county, as well as to phase out existing ones within five years. Plaintiffs argue that the five year “sunset,” which the board says will allow already operating businesses to recoup their costs, which reach well into to hundreds of thousands of dollars, is not enough time to recover the costs they have incurred. The recently filed lawsuit accuses the county of violating not only contractual rights, but constitutional rights as well. Severson told CULTURE that her clients were denied due process, saying, “They were following all of the county procedures, paying for the permits. They expended funds and gave up their property . . . all without just compensation. They were denied due process in having their permits fully adjudicated, and also, they were denied the Fifth Amendment. There was a taking of their property without just compensation,” Severson added. Severson continued to explain that this lawsuit is not intending to overturn the ban in entirety. Instead, they are looking out for those who have been legally operating and are so far along in the process of operating cannabis businesses. “So, what we’re looking for is to
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Horrible Imaginings Film Festival allow these folks with lawful operations the right to operate, and hopefully to enforce the law against those who benefit,” Severson said. Severson also shared that her preference is to reach a fair resolution, stating, “What we hope is that a fresh look by the county will make them realize that these particular folks are entitled to complete the process that the county started for them, and that they be permitted the lawful operation of a marijuana for medicinal purposes cultivation business.” Plaintiffs in the case whose operations are located in Ramona, Valley Center, Lakeside, and unincorporated areas of El Cajon point out that not only will the ruling negatively impact their businesses; it will put an undue burden on residents of East County who rely on convenient access to medical cannabis. One of the plaintiffs, OutCo Laboratories Inc. CEO Lincoln Fish, told CULTURE he was concerned with how this ban undermines patients’ rights. “Every citizen deserves the right to make their own medical and health decisions, and the stance by the County Board of Supervisors directly threatens this right,” Fish said. “The voters have spoken and that should be respected. If someone in this county gets sick from cannabis grown or extracted with pesticides, chemical solvents or other additives, they will have the County Board of Supervisors to thank for it.” Fish also shared how this ban will do more harm than good in boosting the black market, which will also eliminate patients’ safe access to cannabis. “The public should know that the Board of Supervisors’ actions are actually boosting the unlicensed, black market operators in the county. These unlicensed establishments are not meeting any standards when it comes to product safety and quality,” Fish said. “The smart thing to do is make medical cannabis easily accessible to the public, which would allow for the county to take control, monitor and regulate the market on every level, most importantly the quality and safety of products.” Also included in the complaint are High Sierra Equity LLC, Downwind 27 Inc., Olive Tree Patient Association, LLI Holdings LLC, Bear Flag Group Inc., T&M Real Estate Holdings LLC, San Diego Natural Inc., Management Resource Partners LLC, RRR Investments LLC and Survivormedz Inc. At the time of this writing, there has been no official statement from the county, due to pending litigation. c
Event organizers say that this film festival will be one “hell” of a show! The Horrible Imaginings Film Festival is inviting all filmmakers and film enthusiasts who are interested in the horror genre to gather and explore the darker side of film. This particular film festival will showcase a variety of horror films, many of which are rare. The cast and crew for many horror projects will be around for Q&A including the film crews for Insane, Silk, Cthulhu and horror films of all kinds. Because Horrible Imaginings has grown in popularity since its first hosted event. Those who have an appreciation for horror can attend film discussion panels, question and answer sessions, sponsor booths and other presentations. Experience this horror-filled welcoming to inspire and encourage new talents in the dark side of film. (Sophia Rybicki) WHEN: Fri, Sept. 8-Sun, Sept. 10 WHERE: The Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, San Diego WEBSITE: hifilmfest.com
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NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
Dr awing the Line Cannabis ballot initiatives introduced for cities in San Diego By Kimberly R. Simms, Attorney
I
t’s now fall of 2017. If you are a California cannabis entrepreneur, and your city hasn’t yet opened up licensing, it’s time to become an activist for your venture. At least, that’s what one group of San Diego industry advocates believes. The Association of Cannabis Professionals (ACP) made local news in August when they called for special elections by submitting intent to file six local ballot initiatives in six different cities within San Diego County. Since then, there have been mixed reactions from activists, communities and city regulators. Successful filing of these initiatives would trigger special elections in the cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, Vista, Chula Vista and Santee. Traditionally conservative San Diego politics has been unhurried in realizing the reality that is legal cannabis, whether it be for medicinal or adult use. Many consider it the California metropolitan area that has taken the longest to accept the regulated cannabis industry. That’s
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why the ACP felt compelled to act in surrounding cities. “We want regulations on the books by 2018,” said Dallin Young, executive director of the ACP. “We want to come out of the ‘treehouse’ and become responsible, respected members of the community. Not only that, we want people to be able to access legal cannabis and not feel like criminals.” These campaigns would directly challenge ad-hoc committees in the cities of Vista, Oceanside and Encinitas, which claim they were already well underway with creating rules for dispensaries. However, the ACP firmly believes these particular cities will not have time to fully study the issues and put forth strong policies within four months. As an attorney who has always specialized in California cannabis law, I believe ballot initiatives should be the last resort. It is almost always easier to work with a willing municipal government than it is to work against regulators by forcing their hand, especially when they’re already in the process of writing their own policies. In Santee, where cannabis activity is not yet regulated, it makes more sense to nudge them with grassroots activism. With mere months left to organize, the ACP understandably felt the need to act swiftly in the interest of its members. Shutting down the black market has long been a goal of San Diego’s medical cannabis community, and now that California’s
medicinal and adult-use cannabis policies have been merged together for simplicity, many believe that cities are not moving fast enough to ensure an adequate legal supply in time for January. At bare minimum, San Diego has an ordinance in place to regulate its cannabis shops, which will serve both the medical and adult use markets. The San Diego City Council announced the date for a meeting in order to vote on permitting for other business types. Until then, the edible makers, extractors, distributors and delivery services still operate in a frustrating legal grey area. No matter what happens at this upcoming high-profile public meeting, licensing will still only be open to businesses located within the city limits. With an active moratorium on new cannabis industry activity on the outskirts of the unincorporated county, anyone who wants to join the cannabis industry here must adhere to the zoning laws set forth by San Diego itself— unless these ballot initiatives succeed in creating six new legal cannabis cities. What happens next with the ACP’s ballot initiatives? For now, it’s the organization’s job to draft the full text of their proposals, collect thousands upon thousands of citizens’ signatures in each of the cities they’ve filed in, and once they’ve fulfilled all the requirements, file the official proposed statutes with each city in time for the deadline. One thing is for sure—California cannabis activists have waited 20 years for a functional and legal recreational cannabis system. They will continue to organize against municipal governments until rational regulations are put in place. Whether or not these ballot initiative campaigns succeed, local leaders who ignore cannabis reform can bet on further official challenges from their communities. c
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REVIEWs
edible and concentrate
TerpX Tekkron Sour D Shatter The TerpX Tekkron Sour D Shatter from Point Loma Patients Consumer Cooperative is a beautifully deep amber color with an attractive shine. The terpenes are bright and piney with a slight hint of fuel and a note of lemon. Flavor-wise, it is bright, lemony and refreshing, like a squeeze of freshly sliced lemon in a glass of ice cold water. It also has just a bit of sweetness to balance the tart flavor, much like everyone’s favorite lemon-flavored hard candies. The super expansive hit leads to an instant cerebral euphoria, and it also offers a long-lasting physical effect that proved great for pain relief and appetite stimulation.
Available at: Point Loma Patients Consumer Cooperative in San Diego.
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Available at: URBN Leaf in San Diego.
Slugworth’s Sour Mota Melons Slugworth’s Sour Mota Melons gummy candies are not only tasty, but also perfect for the new trend in the cannabis world—microdosing. One package contains 20 candies that each contain only 5mg of THC, awarding patients the option to microdose with just one or two pieces. However, those who require a stronger dosage can opt to go for the whole bag. There is hardly any medicinal taste in these sweet and sour candies, and reviewers noted that these treats ensured a relaxed and mellow mood all day. Also available in Sour Pot Heads and Sour Faded Fruits, you can expect to go back to try the other flavors once you’ve gone through your bag.
Chillax Cannabis Calming Formula Handle unnecessary and avoidable paranoia by offering your friends some Chillax. In the event that too much cannabis is consumed, a “whiteout” can occur. This is a short-lived wave of panic that happens after someone goes overboard and consumes more cannabis than they can handle. Luckily, Chillax can help combat this unwanted effect. Just pour a Chillax packet into a four- or eight-ounce bottle of water, shake it up, and get ready for a much-needed calmness to wrap you up like a warm blanket in the middle of a winter storm. The packets contain a great deal of amino acids, vitamins and calming herbs, which work together to effectively reduce anxiety. Each packet contains ingredients like lemon balm extract and passion flower extract that help calm the nervous system. After just one sip, the fruit punch flavor will become acquainted with anxiety relief. Chillax doesn’t “un-high” a person, but it will help reduce an unwanted reaction from over-consuming cannabis. With all of the high potency products popular in the market today, novice and expert consumers can experiment confidently knowing Chillax is in their back pocket.
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Available at: Dispensaries throughout California.
REVIEWs Available at: Alternative Patient Care in San Diego.
BUZZD SFV OG Honeycomb Tested at an impressive 70 percent THC, the BUZZD SFV OG from Alternative Patient Care is a very light and bright beautiful golden honey butter with an amazing texture that is very easy to work with. This honeycomb has a nice clean scent, smelling of natural pine and citrus. The flavor offers both a sweet citrus and fuel-esque taste. The hit packs quite a punch followed by feelings of comfort, calmness and relaxation—both physically and cerebrally. This is a top-shelf concentrate with wonderful medicinal value. Many patients can expect relief from pain and tension, a mild case of the munchies, followed by much-appreciated deep sleep.
Available wherever: Cannadips products are carried.
Cannadips Unlike chewing tobacco pouches, which cause cancer, Cannadips smoke-less cannabis pouches do the exact opposite, with the anti-cancer properties that are attributed to cannabinoids. Each pouch contains 10mg of THC, and each canister comes with 15 pouches for a total of 150mg THC. Just insert a pouch in between your cheek and gums and savor the flavor. The pouches are filled with a patent-pending blend of coconut fiber, extracts and THC. The effects from our mint-flavored sample started to manifest in about 15 minutes. The canisters are properly labeled to keep out of the reach of children. Pick up a healthy habit and keep your cannabis consumption on the down-low with Cannadips.
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REVIEWs
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3 1. Fire Log Grill There is one undeniable rule about camping—anything you need has to be brought in with you. Well that, and “leaves of three, let it be” is an absolute rule and not just a suggestion. But if you’re backpacking, you might have to travel miles to your campsite, and portable stoves and personal burners can weigh you down. Luckily for you Sportes’ Fire Log Grill is only 2.5 pounds and can be used with logs or wood found at your favorite camping spot. Simply forage for logs, connect the grill to said logs and start cooking. Also remember the third law of camping—if you cook, they do the dishes. PRICE: $52.99 WEBSITE: SportesOutdoorTools.com 2. Grow Weed Simply Outdoor Grow Kit Our grandmother could put any seed into any dirt and miraculously something would grow and flourish under her green thumb. This skill was not passed down to us. We once over-watered a fake plant and killed it. Let that sink in . . . We killed something that wasn’t alive. Suffice to say that when we saw this Outdoor Grow Kit, we knew someone was looking out for us. The kit includes everything you would need to start growing cannabis, except for the seeds and the can-do attitude. Don’t be ashamed to start small—get ready to kickstart your cannabis garden with this kit. PRICE: $116.99+ WEBSITE: GrowWeedSimply.com 18
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3. The Homey Hippies Beeswax Candle Let’s bee honest (see what we did there?). At best, bees are a pest; at worst they will sting you even though they know it will kill them. Think about this next time you’re stung—you did something so offensive to a bee, that it decided death was preferable to letting it slide. Bees do however produce delicious honey as well as beeswax, a compound found to have numerous health benefits. Beeswax is a natural stress-reliever and when used in the making of candles, can produce a flame without the harmful soot that accompanies a traditional candle. The Homey Hippies’ beeswax candles also give off a subtle honey scent that won’t leave your home smelling like your clothes do after a long weekend at your in-laws. Sporting a wick that is made exclusively of hemp, this candle is the perfect office or home décor for any cannabis aficionado. PRICE: $14.50 WEBSITE: TheHomeyHippies.com 4. Ink Guard When you finally find something worth permanently adorning your body with, you’re going to want to protect it. There’s nothing sadder than seeing a faded tattoo of ALF (the puppet in the late-1980s sitcom), not only because it’s faded, but because . . . ALF. The good folks over at CannaSmack have you covered though, literally, with a combination of natural ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil and hemp seed to protect your skin and your sick ink. Its SPF 30 lotion also moisturizes your skin. Haven’t found the perfect tattoo idea yet? Ink Guard will protect your virgin skin equally as well. But let’s be honest, your skin would look a lot better with some killer ink on it. PRICE: $7.99 WEBSITE: CannaSmack.com
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REVIEWs
entertainment
BOOK
True Living Organics, 2nd Edition Pub. Green Candy Press The Rev Interested in growing cannabis indoors while avoiding the use of chemicals, synthetics and other non-organic cultivation products? Look no further than True Living Organics, 2nd Edition by The Rev with 100 additional pages in the new edition. With the easy-to-read handbook, interested cultivators will find upto-date information on everything related to your grow operation from advanced soil-mix recipes and watering to composting and recycling. Readers will benefit from following The Rev’s tips and step-bystep instructions. Additionally, there is a helpful troubleshooting section for novice cultivators, as well as a guide to organic hash making and extraction. You’ll have a green thumb in no time. (Jacob Cannon) 20
Console Release Date: September 6 Release Date: october 24
GAME
Destiny 2 Dev. Bungie Pub. EA Sports It’s been three years since the arrival of Destiny, and now a sequel is here to improve upon all of the original game’s successes, as well as its shortcomings. Destiny 2 allows for players to customize weapons, with a trio of categorical weapon types that will replace the old primary, secondary and heavy slots. It also offers four new worlds to explore and new abilities for each of the three existing classes. Those looking to dive into the continuation of a glorious, first-person online world, have a lot to look forward to. (Nicole Potter)
SEPTEMBER 2017 CultureMagazine.com
MOVIE
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Dir. James Gunn Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures When Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 1 came out in 2014, it gave audiences a comic book movie blockbuster that managed to both tackle deeper themes and capture emotional moments, while providing one of the most awesome soundtracks in recent memory. As was hoped by many thousands of fans around the world, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 delivers more of the same. The sequel follows the same rag tag quintet of universal outcasts as they save their star system yet again, this time from a cosmic being. The explosions are big, the comedy and action are top notch, and the soundtrack is glorious; see this movie immediately. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
Cost of Living Downtown Boys Sub Pop Records For its third release, New Jersey political punkers Downtown Boys return sounding more polished and confrontational than ever. Working with producer Guy Picciotto (Fugazi) to take its sound to the next level, the band thunders and rumbles with such energy it should make any listener want to take to the streets in protest to bring on the revolution while simultaneously instigating a dance party. The band hits again and again with songs that are fiery and intense, while the sound remains loving and compassionate. On Cost Of Living, Downtown Boys may be frustrated and pissed off, but it is never hateful or bitter. (Simon Weedn)
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Photos by John Gilhooley
The sisters of Krewella dish about their cultural heritage, upcoming tour and cannabis By Simon Weedn
or 10 years now, sisters Yasmine and Jahan Yousaf, better known to the masses as Krewella, have been steadily climbing to the heights of the international electronic dance music (EDM) scene and developing a reputation along the way for working hard and delivering powerful live performances. The duo’s gorgeously poppy, hook-laden and ridiculously catchy brand of EDM has landed Krewella in top spots at festivals all over the world, a partnership with dance-fitness company Zumba, as well as a veritable army of fans across the globe who affectionately refer to themselves as “The Krew.” Recently, Krewella dropped the first of two highly anticipated EPs, New World Pt. 1, and announced a headlining tour that will lead them all across North America through November. CULTURE had the opportunity to talk to Jahan and Yasmine and hear all about everything that went into the making of the new EPs, as well as their thoughts on cannabis. >>
Congratulations on your EP, New World Pt. 1. Can you tell me a bit about how this EP came together? Jahan: Well, we started working on the songs around a year ago without the intention of it being an EP. Then about six months ago we realized we had dozens and dozens of songs that, once we’d filtered through and picked the best, could make a cohesive body of work. That’s usually how it starts for us, we’ll just aimlessly write in the studio without really thinking about how to package it or box it in. Then it’ll naturally form into something where we hear some type of string of cohesiveness or theme throughout, and we’ll realize that some of these songs together would complement each other. What do you personally see as the overarching themes or strings running through New World Pt. 1? Yasmine: Well, it’s not really a concept EP. Jahan: Yeah, it’s not a concept EP, but the idea of New World actually came from a song that isn’t released yet. Yasmine and I were both raised in a multicultural household, our dad is Pakistani and our mom is American/European, and it’s something we didn’t really talk about and sort of brushed aside in the beginning of our music career. But, in the past few years it’s become something that’s really important to us, and we’ve just been diving deep into who we are and what is more authentic to who we are as people and as artists. This idea of New World is something we talk a lot about in the studio especially considering the fact that we’re in a Trump era. So much is changing that affects people on all levels regardless of what status you are, how much money you make, what religion you follow or what type of household you grew up in. We talk a lot in the studio about these social conflicts we’re having in this country and how the youth and cultural diversity is going to be what fights back against all of these old ways that are really suppressing new ways of thinking and open mindedness.
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that Jahan and I felt like we had to do. We had a lot of things pent up inside of us—everything from bitterness and sadness, anger and frustration, as well as love and happiness; the whole spectrum of everything we were going through. We had to purge it into this one EP, and once we got it out there into the world, we felt a weight off our backs. Moving forward from that, we just wanted to make music freely that flowed out of us without too much thought. I think with the Ammunition EP we let go of a dark passenger and began to move on to making music that was a little more free and a little bit lighter.
I know it has been a little over a year since your previous EP, Ammunition, was released. Were there any major changes between the way you approached New World Pt. 1 versus your approach to Ammunition? Yasmine: I think Ammunition would have to be what I call a purge of emotions, and it was a necessary EP 24 24
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Can you tell us how your song “TH2C” developed? Jahan: Well, with that song the verses actually came first. We had a lot of fun creating an image of a girl lyrically using people we know personally and on the internet as inspiration. So, the verses came first, and then the hook came out almost as a stream of consciousness in the room. We kind of
flowed out, “I’m too high to care, I’m too high to care,” because it just felt like it was what that girl would be singing at a festival or something. We felt like we didn’t have any rules while we were making it, and we could say anything we wanted. Then, once we had the title written up, “Too High To Care,” Yasmine was the one who said “TH2C” and everyone in the room immediately went, “Woah! That is some genius shit! That needs to be the title!” Yasmine: I think this is one of the first songs that we’ve ever released that’s written from the perspective of someone else, and it was really fun creating that persona. We had a joke in the studio where we called the woman in the song “She,” and creating her was almost liberating in and of itself because, like Jahan said, there were no rules when writing the life of this character. It was exciting to feel like we didn’t have to stay in a box with it—“TH2C” was a really fun song to make.
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Jahan: I feel like we need more multidimensional female characters in the media. It feels like sometimes all we have are these few social archetypes where there’s just the stupid party girl who doesn’t have much going on with her life, the fame whore, the girl who hustles really hard and is super serious all the time, or the Instagram model with a million followers. So we decided to create a girl who is essentially the female Diplo—someone who is traveling the world, is culturally exposed, knows how to fucking party (although I’m basing this all off of his persona online) and is a work machine. Women can do that stuff too! It seems like the song is so much about strength and independence, but also about having a good time with one of CULTURE’s favorite things. How do you
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two feel about all of the cannabis legalization going on around the country at the moment? Jahan: A little disclaimer, I’m not so knowledgeable about the legality of everything, but I’ll tell you how I feel about marijuana as a casual smoker here and there. Smoking affects my vocal chords, so I’m not the type of person who just goes in the studio and smokes and writes; sometimes I’ll smoke once in a month, other times it might be every two weeks. However, as someone who is really conscious about health and the purity of our food, body products, and really anything we put in our bodies, I just hope that with the decriminalization of marijuana that certain people won’t exploit this new product and pollute it with fillers and toxic ingredients. I just hope that there are people out there, and I’ve heard there are in California, that are doing their best to run organic dispensaries and farms, because what’s going into your lungs needs to come from a pure place.
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Female artists are taking the EDM music scene back by Benjamin M. Adams
It’s safe to say that the electronic dance music (EDM) industry is largely maledominated, considering that all 10 of EDM’s top-earning artists are male, according to Forbes. However, the EDM scene is brimming with female DJs and vocalists, who are relentlessly battling for the recognition they deserve. Sydney-based DJ Alex Sholler goes by the moniker Alison Wonderland and exploded onto the American EDM scene with her debut album Run in 2015, which earned her two ARIA Music Awards’ nominations. The Australian duo NERVO may have begun as models, but the act won a Grammy for its work with David Guetta and Kelly Rowland’s “When Love Takes Over,” as well as the number one U.K. hit “We’re All No One” with EDM giants Afrojack and Steve Aoki. Other notable female Australian artists include Anna Lunoe and Nina Las Vegas. Canadian-born Grimes is a producer, singer, songwriter and DJ whose album Visions was widely acclaimed, helping her win Juno Awards for “Electronic Album of the Year,” “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” and later “Video of the Year.”
Canadian producer and DJ REZZ from Niagara Falls was noticed by Skrillex and was signed by both Skrillex’s label OWSLA and deadmau5’s label mau5trap. The PakistaniAmerican singersongwriter Nadia Ali reached number two on the U.K. Singles Chart with 2005’s “Rapture (Taste So Sweet)” as lead singer of the group iiO. The single was remixed by Avicii in 2010 and released as a solo release. Female EDM artists are carving out a niche on the radio as well. Annie Mac landed her first BBC Radio 1 show in 2004, which is a true honor for emerging new global artists. Rolling Stone magazine listed Annie Mac as one of the “50 Most Important People in EDM.” Last but not least, Krewella is consistently one of the top-earning female EDM acts in the world. Krewella’s single “Alive” was certified Platinum and the band’s full-length Get Wet went straight to number one on the U.S. Dance Chart in 2013. There’s certainly no shortage of female DJs, producers and vocalists who are climbing up the ladder in the world of EDM. It’s quickly becoming the fastestgrowing and most important genre in the recording industry.
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I also think that the medical system legalization is important because we’re only just beginning to discover the wonders of marijuana. My dad always says, “When in doubt, go back to nature.” So, I hope we’re starting to go back to nature instead of creating more artificial chemicals that can hurt people. I mean, it’s so disturbing how easy it is to get a prescription for opioids. It’s such a big problem. I recently fractured my metatarsal in my foot and went to urgent care, and they just wrote me a prescription for Norcos, and I almost wanted to lecture them. I smoked weed a couple of nights later and was totally fine. I’d rather just do that than worry about getting addicted to pain medication. What are your hopes for the overall production of things on this EP? Yasmine: Well, when we were in the beginning stages of making this EP, there were moments where we were thinking, “How are we going to make this go into a crazy drop?” Or “How can we make this feel more electronic?” At a certain point we threw all of that out the window and said, “No. Let’s just make songs!” After that it kind of got to a point we were really just focusing on the songs, the vibe, and spending a lot of time on the percussion because we were trying to bring more of our Pakistani roots into this New World vibe. So, we were concentrating on a lot of Bollywood-inspired percussion, and because of that the foundations of the songs were all there before we even went into making them more dance-y or whatever direction we were going in. I remember one of 30
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the songs, “Love Outta Me,” had an actual track drop on it and we ended up taking it out because it took away from the vision we had for the song. We really just threw out any of our preconceived notions of what an EDM EP should be with New World, and at the end of the day we loved all of these songs. We hope that they really resonate with people, and they end up loving them too. With a new EP out and a huge tour about to get underway, that’s quite a bit to have on your plates. Does Krewella have any other ambitions for 2017? Yasmine: Well, if you think about it,
2017 is strangely more than halfway over, and it’s scary to even think about how quickly time is going. We’ve been in the studio all year making music, so being able to take a look at it all finally is really cool. We have New World Pt. 2 coming out sometime soon, and we don’t know how many songs it’s going to be just yet—probably between six and eight. We have so many cool collaborations coming up that we’re working on and are almost done with. We’ve got this tour about to kick off that will lead to a ton of new merchandise, and the tour itself is going to be a completely new show, and by the end of the tour we’ll be in mid-November. By then 2017 will be pretty much over, so I think we’ve got our work cut out for ourselves. The goals are already in place, we’re just in motion now. It’s all fun though, we’re having the best time making this music. c
+ www.krewella.com
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Sensual Strains Sex expert Ashley Manta navigates through a plethora of options for consuming cannabis in the bedroom
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By Ashley Manta “What’s your favorite strain for sex?” is one of the most common questions I’m asked as a sex educator and resident expert on all things sex and cannabis. I understand the appeal—we want to have an easy, go-to, one size fits all answer so that we can implement it and go on with our day. Sorry to disappoint you, but the answer is . . . it depends. Like most things related to sex and pleasure, there is no universal answer. Factors to consider include tolerance, what kind of sex you want to be having
(the strains or products you might use to facilitate slow sensual sex are not the same products you might choose for frenzied, lustful sex), and most importantly, method of consumption. Since the methods of consumption one chooses affect the body in different ways, it seems prudent to discuss some of the methods along with how they lend themselves to be conducive to various sexual encounters. Remember, consent is mandatory, so negotiate before you medicate! Be clear on what you’re a yes and no to, how to signal that you’re ready to be done and any specific care you might need after sexy times are over.
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“Remember, consent is mandatory, so negotiate before you medicate!”
Flower:
(smoking or vaping) I would say this method is the most versatile but also requires the most experimentation. I appreciate that smoking and vaping can be slightly easier to modulate dosage (you can choose to use a specific amount and also choose to take large or small hits). Depending on the cannabinoid and terpenoid profiles in the strain, you can choose the effects you’re looking for. A strain high in pinene or limonene could be great for active sex and might help facilitate being communicative in the moment. A strain high in linalool tends to be more relaxing, lending itself to slower, more tactileoriented pleasure.
Edibles: Edibles are an excellent option for those who have the time to commit. Since edibles can take up to two full hours (and sometimes longer) to take effect, not to mention that the effects can last four to six hours (and sometimes longer, depending on tolerance), save edibles for days when you have a great deal of time to devote to your “sexploits.” Weekends away with your sweetie, rainy afternoons with nothing to do—these are the situations in which edibles are most useful. The effect is also different than smoking or vaping—I notice that I feel a stronger effect in my body after edibles and less in my head. This could be great for sexy times involving sensation— playing with temperature, impact or teasing touch (for example, hovering your mouth over a partner’s nipple and letting them feel the hot breath, then moving on to another body part, then coming back).
Tinctures: Tinctures could absolutely fall into the edibles category, but I’m giving them their own spot because if a tincture is applied sublingually, the onset time is 10 to 15 minutes rather than up to two hours like an edible. Tinctures are fantastic and are becoming more plentiful as the industry grows. You can choose cannabidiol (CBD) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dominant tinctures, and dosage is easy to determine because most tinctures come in a bottle with a dropper and directions on dosing. I love 1:1 tinctures for helping me get my head ready and set aside any lingering anxiety after a long day of work or any period of stress in my day.
Topicals: Topicals are one of my favorite ways to combine sex and cannabis. Since topicals do not cause psychoactive effects, you can incorporate them regardless of circumstance. There’s a bit of a time delay when applied to a mucous membrane like the vulva— THC-infused sex oils take around 25 minutes to “marinate” before effects are noticeable. You should also be aware that oil degrades latex, so if you’re using oil on any part of the body that will come in contact with a condom or glove at some point in the evening, you need to have non-latex options like nitrile or polyurethane on hand. Topicals can also be used as a way to build intimacy, like offering your partner an infused massage after a long day. I like to use them both ways—apply a THC spray to my vulva and then have my partner give me an infused massage while I wait for the 25 minutes to lapse.
Hopefully this has given you some ideas on the pros and cons of various methods of consumption for sexy fun times. I encourage everyone to test both methods of consumption and new strains and products solo before trying them with a partner. Yes, that means I’m suggesting you masturbate. It helps you isolate variables and figure out what feels best for your body. Plus, it’s fun! c 34
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Industry Insider
Thirst Quencher
Bill D. has reached monumental success from merging CBD with water
“I have others very close to me [who] have had health problems, and I have watched them consume CBD and have seen the effects of how it has helped tremendously.”
By R. Scott Rappold
C
annabis products high in cannabidiol (CBD) are booming in popularity these days. CBD is a compound of cannabis that doesn’t get the consumer intoxicated, but is known for its medical benefits among a wide variety of conditions, including pain, inflammation, epilepsy and depression. It’s even being investigated for its anti-cancer properties. Like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it can be delivered in flower, oil, foods and many other ways. But until recently, few tried to tackle how to add it to plain water.
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SEPTEMBER 2017 CultureMagazine.com Photos by Eric Stoner
If the overnight success of CBD Living Water is any indication, there is plenty of demand. Though it was just launched in 2015, it’s already available in 45 states and sold internationally. And the water was only the beginning. “It’s not about getting you high, it’s about the medical value of the cannabinoids, and now the general public is now becoming more aware of the option of being able to get the benefits of cannabinoids by consuming CBD without consuming THC and the effects of getting high,” said Bill D., the company founder, who was unwilling to provide his last name.
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J.
Pallets to Truckloads
Bill is a longtime entrepreneur and business owner, which includes endeavors related to construction companies, offshore fishing boats and motorcycle parts. He also says he has long consumed CBD and that it has kept him free of health problems. “I have others very close to me [who] have had health problems, and I have watched them consume CBD and have seen the effects of how it has helped tremendously,” he said. He said a biochemist came to him with the idea for CBD-infused water. Like THC, CBD does not naturally bond with water molecules. That’s the same reason drinking bong water won’t get you intoxicated. This scientist had an idea how to make it but no idea what to do with it. Bill said he “jumped 38
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all over it and ran with the idea.” Such was the instant popularity that he went from shipping a few pallets in 2015 to shipping it by the truckload. It isn’t the only CBD-infused water on the market, but Bill says the water purity sets it apart. “As we know there are other CBD waters out there or trying to be out there, but many have a terrible taste or smell and are not clear. They do not look or taste like the crisp, clear clean water like CBD Living products.” As for how they accomplished that, that’s another thing Bill isn’t talking about, saying only that it’s a “proprietary process.”
U.
Why Water?
So what’s so special about water, when there are many, many other ways to ingest CBD? Bill explained, “The Micro
Encapsulated Nano CBD allows the CBD to enter the body at the cellular level giving it 100 percent bioavailability. Consuming CBD any other way, the consumer will lose upwards of 80 to 90 percent of the CBD, as it processes through the digestive system.” You can find CBD Living Water in health food stores, smoke shops, cannabis dispensaries and other locations. The company also makes a host of other CBD products, including gummies, gel caps, chocolate, vaporizer oils and others. The potential for CBD products, he said, is “endless.” “As awareness of CBD continues to move into mainstream consumers, I believe CBD will be in high demand to be in all types of consumable and topical products, and CBD Living will continue to work hard to be at the for front of this movement, bringing the best CBD products to market.” c
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CBD remains a likely treatment against common ailments facing NFL players
By Emily Manke
F
ew athletic professionals take harder hits to their bodies than those in the National Football League (NFL). The physical nature of the game leaves many players with wounds that ache long after players have stepped off of the field. Athletes in the NFL have access to some of the best doctors and medical care around. So, it only makes sense that players in states with medicinal cannabis have access to this revolutionary medicine, right? Unfortunately, NFL policy doesn’t allow players to enjoy the pain relief cannabis offers. However, that could be
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changing—leaving NFL players free to take hard hits on and off the field. In late July, it was widely reported that the NFL wrote to the NFL Players Association offering to study how cannabis could aid athletes with pain management. This comes after the NFL Players Association announced it would be studying cannabis as an alternative for pain management in late 2016. It’s no surprise NFL players would turn to cannabis, and to CBD specifically, to cope with the excruciating pain that comes with their many injuries. Ex-NFL players have already begun embracing and advocating for the use of cannabis for pain management. Now there are special
sports divisions and physicians who see the potential that cannabis, but more specifically CBD, has for treating professional athletes. The sports division at Boulder Botanicals & Biosciences Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado, has been working on introducing CBD as pain relief to the sports world. Shawn Hermanson, who oversees the sports division, works primarily to educate and promote awareness about the healing power of CBD when it comes to pain management, in addition to treating ailments like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, traumatic brain injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression, all of which are common among professional athletes.
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stated. He continued to explain that although opioids have long been the go-to medication for treating the pain of NFL athletes, these pharmaceutical medications are extremely addictive, physically harmful and potentially even fatal. Athletes often see cannabis as a much safer alternative for athletes. “Another beneficial aspect is that cannabinoids are non-addictive and non-habit forming, unlike the opioids that players are now prescribed,” Hermanson said. “We understand the challenge of working to wean players off opioids while bringing real and natural solutions to the players.” Despite the incredible breakthroughs humans have made in medical science in the last century, it seems when it comes to treating pain, Mother Nature still has us beat. With opioid addiction as a national epidemic, and new research confirming the effectiveness of cannabis as medicine all the time, it would be the logical next step for the NFL to allow players to treat their aching bodies with cannabis. Allowing the plant to be studied as treatment is an encouraging first step. c
“Cannabis, and specifically cannabinoids, are a legitimate and safe way for pain management. [CBD has] been shown to provide natural relief from pain, inflammation, anxiety, psychosis, seizures, spasms and other conditions without the psychoactive effects typically found in marijuana use.” One story Hermanson likes to tell is about a professional football player who came to Boulder Botanicals’ sports division, who had never smoked cannabis in his life. The player vehemently opposed using CBD initially. After being extensively educated on cannabinoids, and carefully considering the pros and cons, the player finally agreed. Fast forward to a few weeks later, and that same reluctant player was on the phone with Hermanson “ . . . blown away by the results and wanting to know more about why he was feeling the best he had felt in years,” Hermanson told CULTURE. “Cannabis, and specifically cannabinoids, are a legitimate and safe way for pain management. [CBD has] been shown to provide natural relief from pain, inflammation, anxiety, psychosis, seizures, spasms and other conditions without the psychoactive effects typically found in marijuana use.” Hermanson
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Although the NFL has only recently begun to consider cannabis as an acceptable form of treatment for its players, much of the information confirming the benefits of medical cannabis has already been studied and published. Medical professionals such as Dr. Rav Ivker has worked with nearly 7,000 patients suffering with a variety of common chronic pain conditions, who are using cannabis as treatment. Dr. Ivker reported to CULTURE that after starting on medical cannabis, the vast majority of his patients have been able to either completely eliminate the use of opioids or at the very least significantly reduce their daily dosage. “The cannabis plant contains approximately 80 different cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, which are the best known and most studied cannabinoids,” Dr. Ivker stated. “Within the body are endocannabinoids (almost identical to the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant) and receptors that comprise a neurological network called the endocannabinoid system. Each cannabinoid has a specific therapeutic function which is initiated as it binds to the receptor, a process similar to the way a key fits into a lock.” c
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 46
Summer Experiments 3 By Ed Rosenthal Last month, I wrote about three groups of plants that were in the middle of flowering. Now those plants have all been harvested. The first group consisted of five Blue Dream plants in a 2’ x 4’ container on wheels. I had planted two of them horizontally lengthwise, crossing each other. Then I planted three shorter plants in a row in the middle of the container. By the time the plants started flowering, the entire container was covered with growth that extended out of from three sides. The plants were wheeled into a dark tent area each day for light deprivation, and they were harvested on July 24, after 56 days of flowering. The branches were cut and are now hanging in a slow dry/cure. The second group consisted of four plants that were placed outdoors when the short light period still promoted flowering. By the time the light period got longer, the plants were in the last half of flowering. The increased light period of late spring and early summer failed to turn the plants back into vegetative growth, and they were cut the week of July 9. Three of the four plants were pollinated from a
Unclipped Purple Pineapple had a large top bud that dominated growth. The side bud didn’t develop very much.
Top clipped Purple Pineapple’s central bud did not dominate growth. Instead, without inhibition from hormones produced by top bud, the side buds grew out producing a bigger yield.
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Blue Dream male that had released pollen two months earlier. The pollen had been sitting out in a cool dry place since then, but proved to be viable. Most of the buds were cut from these plants except for some small immature buds and the pollinated cola. Then the cut plants were given natural light during the day and placed under lights at night so they receive light continuously. They are now finishing seed production and reverting to vegetative growth for another round. Meanwhile, their cut buds are hanging, drying and curing. The third group consisted of 10 plants that sprouted unexpectedly. They were all sisters and looked like it. They were variations on a wide leaved Purple Pineapple and all had similar characteristics. The 10 plants all flowered, starting shortly after germinating; they finished flowering on approximately July 27. I performed several demonstration experiments on this group of plants. First, because they started flowering early, they grew to a controlled size. This demonstrated that cannabis could be grown as small row plants, making cultivation easier using conventional farming techniques, rather than as larger plants. In
The 2’ x 4’ tray held five Blue Dream plants. Buds and foliage covered the entire container then spread out further.
Cutting the buds using an electric clipper.
another experiment I paired plants that were about equal in growth and pruned the tops of half of them so that some were topped and some were left uncut. You can see the difference in their growth. The uncut plant grew a larger central bud at the expense of side growth. The cut plants produced several branches that held more buds than the uncut plants. These plants were ready to harvest approximately 90 days after germination. They were cut and hung whole to dry as well. They will all be dried and cured next month. Then they will be manicured. c
TIP OF THE MONTH By now, the outdoor plants are mid-way through flowering. You may have some regrets that you didn’t take clones while the plants were still vegetating. However, all is not lost. You can take cuttings of your flowering plants and root them while having them revert back to vegetative growth. Just take cuttings and prepare them as you usually do for cloning, and place them under constant light with no dark period. The cuttings will begin to root and to grow new leaves, not flowers.
The four plants started flowering early because they were placed outdoors in early spring when the natural light period was too short to maintain vegetative growth.
Bud of Blackberry Fire plant is ready to harvest.
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 PROFILE
IN
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if you go:
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Time to Go: September Weather: Low 50s, High 60s Budget: $$$$$
Delightful Dublin By Sheryll Alexander
A day in Dublin, Ireland means taking in the sights and ending with a full belly, music, song, conversation and laughter—it truly makes this city a pleasure to visit. Dublin is an ancientyet-modern city that is delightful any time of year. Dublin is a highly walk-able destination filled with a history going back to the Vikings along with gorgeous green spaces, castles, museums, theatres, restaurants and shopping districts. The city’s main attraction is by far is the Guinness Storehouse. Now housed in a glass atrium-like building that looks like a black Guinness pint, this is the
brewery tour of all tours. Hordes of tourists learn all about the beer’s four ingredients (water, barley, hops and yeast) as well as the famous founder, Arthur Guinness. The top floor houses the Gravity Bar where the Dublin views are spectacular, especially with a pint of perfectly-poured Guinness in hand. Other not-tobe missed Dublin attractions include Dublin Castle, Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, National Museum of Ireland, Farmleigh House, Old Jameson Distillery and the National Botanical Gardens. Beyond the tourist traps, Dublin can be a
place for travelers to relax in this spectacular seaside city. Take a stroll after breakfast to a park, garden or along the shore. In the afternoon, hit a museum or other historical places of interest. Late afternoons require tucking into some coffee, tea and baked goods at a local coffee shop or tea room after visiting Dublin’s legal CBD dispensary, Capel Street’s The Hemp Company. Dublin has had quite the foodie Renaissance in the past decade too, so dinner in Dublin can be anything from a prix fixe menu at the latest Michelinstarred restaurant to hip neighborhood bistro fare to traditional Irish dishes at a historic pub. c
Fun-Filled Facts The second annual Global Medical Cannabis Summit is returning to Dublin from September 22-25. Held at The Digital Depot Roe Lane, this weekend-long conference focuses on European medical cannabis perspectives and includes speakers such as legislators, scientists, doctors, patients and activists from around the world discussing such subjects as scientific insights, business development and political activism. 1
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From September 9-24, visitors can experience the Dublin Fringe Festival. Hundreds of “bold, brave, daring” and “cutting-edge” plays, so says Fringe Fest, are held at venues all over the city and is usually where Dubliners magically discover the next big theatrical show. 2
Cannabis is still illegal in Ireland, even though a 2016 medical cannabis bill passed through two stages in the Dáil, but was ultimately squashed recently. Dublin Cannabis Club (DCC)— an online informationsharing network of Dublin cannabis enthusiasts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—says most cannabis-seeking visitors have very limited options. There are no physical social clubs in Dublin, and some sources recommend that visitors try checking out 420-friendly bars or chatting with a local for recommendations. The DCC also recommends buying from “independent lads who are smokers” as flower quality is usually premium (a gram costs around 20-25 euros). If caught possessing cannabis, the Irish police (Garda) must legally take possession of your cannabis, and you may get a misdemeanor ticket and a fine.
growing
culture
Vanessa I. Soza
Age: 29 Condition/Illness:
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OCD, PTSD, depression, body/gender dysmorphia When did you start using medical cannabis? I began using medical cannabis at the tail end of an exclusively medical cannabis state, when I first moved to Portland in 2014. I couldn’t believe the quality of the cannabis in Oregon, the level of awareness education and that cannabis could be used in so many different forms! Imagine my surprise when I made that connection. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? Because my anxiety was severe, and I was living in Texas then, medication was the only option laid out for me by most physicians. Seroquel, an antipsychotic typically used to treat schizophrenia, was one of my first and worst experiences I had on a pharmaceutical. I lost control of my body, slept 14 hours at a time and endured what felt like (very scary) sleep paralysis.
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? The single biggest threat to medical cannabis patients is the removal of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) would be doing these people, who might I add are already at a disadvantage, a great disservice. It’s easy for most to forget about special needs when suddenly everybody is allowed in dispensaries. What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I don’t tolerate opinions without facts, and there are a lot of people out there with just an opinion and little-to-no facts to authenticate their position. But if I’m approached by friendly skepticism, my message is a simple one. I call it the three R’s—research, re-evaluate and reeducate. If I feel someone may be misinformed, I urge them to seek out more information (and recommend a few books or sites with reliable sources). After the research phase, it’s time to reevaluate the opinion. Once re-evaluated, the idea is to reformulate a stance, no matter the position and use it for the greater good. Keep an open mind, always, and pass on what you learned. 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
Fall is officially here! The leaves on the trees will soon begin to turn varying shades of red and gold. Our menus turn from light summer salads to the deep, rich and warm flavors of autumn. Soups and comfort foods find their way to our tables. Jackets and scarves will soon appear as we venture out into apple orchards to find those
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A Glimpse of Autumn
Menu: Hot Apple Toddy Chicken Normandy Classic All-American Apple Pie
delicious morsels that remind us not only of back-to-school, but of the quintessential feeling of the seasons changing again. As the temperatures began to dip, warm apple cider transforms the popular Hot Toddy into a delightful autumn drink. The Hot Apple Toddy is ideal with fresh-pressed cider and is the perfect excuse to try a seasonal
beverage enhanced with cannabis. Pair it with a serving of Chicken Normandy, a one-pot meal that is sure to become one of your family favorites. Finally, nothing says “fall” more than a classic cannabis-infused apple pie. (If you’re not comfortable making your own crust, use a store-bought one. We promise not to tell.)
Hot Apple Toddy Ingredients:
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1 tablespoon honey 3 ounces apple brandy 2 1/2 teaspoons simple syrup 1/2 teaspoon cannabis-infused simple syrup 10 ounces hot apple cider Lemon wedge for garnish Cinnamon stick for garnish
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2-3 whole cloves for garnish
Instructions:
IN
1. Coat the bottom of an Irish coffee glass with honey.
PROFILE
2. Add the apple brandy, simple syrup and infused simple syrup.
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3. Fill with hot apple cider. 4. Stir well. 5. Garnish with the lemon, cinnamon stick and cloves. SEPTEMBER 2017 CultureMagazine.com
culture 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon unsalted cannabutter 2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced into wedges. (We suggest Fuji apples or Jonagold apples. Do not use Red Delicious, as they will turn into mush instead of staying firm) Flour for dredging 4 whole chicken legs (with thighs) Salt and pepper to taste 1 large onion, peeled, sliced into wedges 1/2 cup apple brandy (or Calvados) 2 cups apple cider 2 teaspoons dried thyme 1/2 cup heavy cream
4. Sprinkle the apple slices with a little salt. Remove from pan and put them aside on paper towels to drain. 5. Lightly dredge the chicken in flour, and place the pieces in the hot sauté pan, skin side down. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of cannabutter. 6. Fry until golden, about 3-5 minutes on medium to medium-high heat on each side. Remove from pan and set aside. 7. Add onions to the pan, and increase the heat to mediumhigh. Sauté the onions, stirring occasionally, until they just begin to brown, about 5-8 minutes.
10. Return the browned chicken legs in the pan so the skin faces up and is not submerged by the cider-brandy mixture. Place in the oven, and cook at 375°F uncovered, for 30 minutes. 11. After the chicken has cooked, remove the pan from the oven and carefully transfer chicken pieces from the pan to a serving platter. 12. Place the pan with all that delicious sauce, back on a stovetop burner on high heat. Add apples and boil down the sauce by half. 13. When the sauce has reduced, add the heavy cream and turn down the heat. Adjust seasonings if needed. 14. To serve, spoon some apples and cider gravy over the chicken and enjoy! CultureMagazine.com
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3. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large, oven-proof sauté pan over medium heat. Add the apple slices, and sauté until they turn a little brown around the edges, turning occasionally.
9. Let the brandy and onions simmer until the sauce has reduced by about half. Add the apple cider, and return the liquid to a boil. Sprinkle in the thyme. Add just a pinch of salt to taste.
RECIPES
growing Ingredients:
2. While the chicken is resting, preheat oven to 375°F.
DESTINATION
1. Sprinkle salt over chicken pieces and let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
COURAGE
In this recipe, the chicken is first browned on the stovetop, then braised in the oven and finished on the stovetop. However, it is possible to create the entire dish on the stovetop. Instead of putting the chicken in the oven, just simmer the chicken on the stovetop (uncovered if skin-on, covered if using skinless chicken pieces), until cooked through and tender, 15-30 minutes. Braising the chicken in the oven will produce a crispy skin that you won’t get by simmering on the stove.
8. When the onions have cooked, add brandy to the pan. Using a wooden spoon, scrape any remaining browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
IN
Instructions:
PROFILE
Chicken Normandy
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN
Classic All-American Apple Pie Ingredients:
DESTINATION
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/8 cups unsalted butter 1/8 cup cannabis-infused unsalted butter 6 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening 3 cups Golden Delicious apples
COURAGE
3 cups Granny Smith apples 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar
PROFILE
IN
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions: 1. First, make the dough. Place flour and 3/4 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse to combine. Add 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the butter and the vegetable shortening and pulse 6 to 8 times, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle 3 to 4 tablespoons of cold water over the dough and pulse a few more times until the dough begins to hold together. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed, until the dough holds together. Form the dough into 2 disks, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 2. While the dough is chilling, make the filling for the pie! Combine the apples, lemon juice, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and remaining salt in a large bowl and toss. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. When you’re ready to bake, drain the apples, reserving the liquid! Toss apples with cornstarch and set aside. 3. Place 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the
remaining butter, bring to a boil, and let simmer and reduce until it becomes thick and syrupy. Do not stir. Add the warm syrup to the apple/cornstarch mix and toss gently to combine. 4. While the syrup is reducing, preheat oven to 425°F. 5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough into a 12-inch round about 1/8-inch thick. Fit the dough into a 10-inch pie plate. Trim dough around the edges and crimp if desired. Fill with the apple filling. Roll out the second disk of dough for the top crust. For fun, you can cut out large leaf shapes and place over the apples, each slightly overlapping the other, to form a top crust, or simply cut out one large apple shape, center on the top, and cut several slits to vent the pie. Be creative! 6. Bake at 425°F until the juices bubble through the slits—45 to 55 minutes. 7. Let cool for at least 4 hours before serving, if you can wait that long. It’s delicious topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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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News of the
Weird
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
LEAD STORY—OH, CANADA What could go wrong? Canadian company Bad Axe Throwing announced in June it is bringing its unusual entertainment concept to Denver. It’s “like darts, but on steroids,” says founder Mario Zelaya. Customers provide their own food and beer and learn how to throw axes at targets. “We’ll be bringing along the competitive league side as well. That means that folks in Denver can sign up . . . and compete at a global level,” Zelaya said. SMOOTH REACTIONS Did you say french fries or FRESH fries? Eiram Chanel Amir Dixson, 25, made a point of ordering fresh french fries at a Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Wendy’s drive-thru in May. When the exchange between the dissatisfied Dixson and a Wendy’s worker escalated, the employee threw a soda at Dixson, and Dixson fired back by spraying Mace through the drive-thru window. Police charged Dixson with one count of using tear gas to immobilize. Rachel Borch, 21, of Hope, Maine, was out for a run in June when a raccoon attacked her. Thinking quickly, Borch grabbed the animal and, despite being bitten, ran to a puddle on the trail and held its head underwater until it
drowned. (BONUS: Borch’s father retrieved the dead raccoon and delivered it for rabies testing in a Taste of the Wild dog food bag.)
suffering. “The suffering caused by detaining the animals while they wait to be cooked cannot be justified,” the judges ruled.
INSULT TO INJURY It was dark in the wee hours of June 30 in Jacksonville, Florida, and Cedric Jelks, 38, probably never saw the loaded gun on the driver’s seat of his car as he got in, but he certainly felt it after the gun went off, wounding his manhood. When police investigating the report of a gunshot wound arrived at the hospital Jelks was taken to, they added possible firearms charges to his pain after discovering Jelks had a prior conviction for cocaine possession.
In a fit of law abidance, a resident of Yorkshire, England, called that country’s emergency phone number to report that Queen Elizabeth II was not wearing her seatbelt as she departed the Palace of Westminster on June 21 after delivering her traditional speech at the State Opening of Parliament. Police warned that the 999 system is meant to be used only for emergencies.
WHY NOT? A driver in Zhenjiang, China, took drive-thru service to the next level on June 10 when he carefully pulled his tiny automobile through the front doors of a convenience store, requested a package of potato chips and a bottle of yogurt, paid for his purchase and reversed through the doors with the cashier’s guidance. Surveillance video shows the cashier waving and saluting as the car pulls away. He posited that the driver might have been avoiding getting out of his car in the rain.
BRIGHT IDEAS Smoke bombs aren’t just for celebrating our nation’s birth! Mike Tingley of Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, burned his
garage to the ground on July 3 when he used smoke bombs to try to rid the structure of a bees’ nest. When firefighters from three townships arrived, fireworks stored in the garage were shooting into the sky. “We really weren’t going to celebrate the Fourth of July so much,” Tingley said. His home, which was not attached to the garage, was not damaged. OOPS! Jerry Lynn of Ross, Pennsylvania, is continually haunted by the result of a minor mishap 13 years ago while drilling a hole in the wall of his living room. During his project, an alarm clock fell through the hole and to the floor behind the wall. Since then, the alarm sounds dutifully at 7:10 p.m. (standard time) every day.
FINER POINTS OF THE LAW A restaurant owner near Florence, Italy, was ordered to pay 2,000 euros in fines in June after judges in Italy’s highest court declared it illegal to keep lobsters on ice in restaurants because it causes them undue CultureMagazine.com
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