Culture Magazine SoCal August 2016 by Culture Magazine

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

Vol 8 IssUE 2

08.16

On The Offensive Retired NFL running back Ricky Williams has become an expert in holistic wellness and tells all about how he turned his life around using cannabis.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

ON THE COVER:

p h o t o b y J o h n G i l h o o le y

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

inside

contents

08.2016

features

112

116

Points for Cannabis Cannabis therapies are beneficial for athletes who want to treat their injuries naturally, despite sports association stances.

Miraculous Journey After prescription medications failed to help young KC Linton’s epilepsy, his family decided to try cannabis and they haven't looked back since.

Industry Insider Dale Sky Jones of Oaksterdam University has developed numerous influential cannabis programs.

Supply and Demand California-based cannabis testing company expands to Hawaii.

Gotta Catch’ Em All The new mobile game Pokémon GO is sweeping the nation, so here’s a few Pokémon-inspired strain pairings to assist you on your journey to catch’ em all.

Profound Impact Amidst the negative events happening across the country, artist Marvin Bing Jr. strives to soothe the suffering with art.

102

Rising Rap Star Hip-hop star Dizzy Wright brings positive vibes from Sin City to your ears.

104

Rebelrouser Musician Rorey Carroll blends bluegrass, folk, country and americana into a beautiful new genre.

departments

online Exclusive!

news 20 News Nuggets 28 By the Numbers 34 Local News 36 Legal Corner 40 Healthy Living reviews 44 Strain, Edible & Concentrate Reviews 50 Cool Stuff 54 Entertainment Reviews 56 Liner Notes in every issue 108 Shooting Gallery 110 Growing Culture 112 Destination

d Archaeological Study

Unknown 114 Profile in Courage 116 Recipes 120 SoCal Now! 122 News of the Weird

Advocates for Cannabis

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Suggests New Origin for Cannabis d UFC Fighter Per Eklund

Vol 8 IssUE 2

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

CULTURE M

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

Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 1,500 locations throughout 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. 2175 Sampson Ave. | Suite 118 Corona | California | 92879 Phone/Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com

CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

/freeculturemag

/iReadCulture

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

NEWS

nuggets San Bernardino to Consider Legalization of Cannabis Collectives

A large number of supporters of a proposed cannabis measure in San Bernardino forced the city council to put it on the November ballot. An estimated 6,000 registered voters signed a petition to allow medical cannabis collectives to operate within the city, with certain restrictions. The city council clearly stated that they personally opposed the measure, but the large number of signatures forced them to either implement the legislation or put it on the ballot for voters to approve. Mayor Carey Davis opened up dialogue about the cannabis measure with negative reports surrounding cannabis and deadly car crashes, crime and pollution. The measure was supported by an Upland-based group called California Cannabis Coalition, however no members of the group were present at the meeting. The president of the coalition, Craig Beresh stated that there was no reason for the coalition to attend when the council wasn’t able to dismiss the measure entirely. Now the council members intend to put a countermeasure on the ballot to manage cannabis in a way more consistent with their opinions.

Illinois Governor Extends the State’s Medical Cannabis Program Governor Bruce Rauner recently signed Senate Bill 10 to extend the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program of Illinois by two years. The bill is now valid through the year 2020 and also extends the state’s program to include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and terminal illnesses to qualifying conditions for medical cannabis. Originally, the bill only allowed for 39 conditions and diseases to qualify for cannabis. Now, the new law allows patients with terminal illnesses not explicitly outlined in the law access to medical cannabis. The law defines a terminal illness as a prognosis of six months or less to live. Last year, Rauner vetoed a bill that aimed to allow patients with PTSD and other conditions access to medical cannabis. In his veto message, Rauner said he didn’t authorize the expansion of adding ailments to the program, because the program was still in its early stages. He didn’t want to expand the qualifying conditions, “before we have had the chance to evaluate it.”

Long Beach Medical Cannabis Initiatives Qualify for Ballot There will be two cannabisrelated initiatives on Long Beach’s November ballot, after supporters of medical cannabis collectives collected enough verified signatures. The Long Beach Collective Association along with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324 are huge supporters of the bill. Board Member of the collective association, Adam Hijazi, told Press-Telegram, “We are ecstatic. We are very happy.” The decision to move forward with these cannabis initiatives followed the announcement of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which could potentially legalize recreational cannabis in California this November. It is a possibility that a third, more restrictive cannabis initiative could be on the ballot, because some lawmakers want to limit the number of legal cannabis deliveries, as well as storefront collectives. However, the council did reject this request for an additional initiative in June. Only time will tell if either of the initiatives prevail.

Canadian Cannabis Producer Begins Legally Exporting Cannabis Tilray, a Canadian cannabis producer, is exporting cannabis liquid capsules to patients in Croatia. The company has created two forms of liquid capsules, one which contains 5mg of THC and 5mg of CBD, and the second contains 2.5mg of THC and 2mg of CBD. The President of Tilray, Brendan Kennedy told a local news source, “Health Canada informally told us that they issued us the first export permit.” He went on to explain that they received the permit following a long application process. Tilray is the first Canadian cannabis producer to get the okay from the government to ship medical cannabis internationally. This is a smart business move for Tilray, because Canada actually has a lower number of registered cannabis patients than what was projected. The ability to ship their product overseas means that Tilray can tap into the fast-growing international cannabis industry. Kennedy said, “Our intent is to build a global company that is investing significantly in global expansion.” Tilray plans to next begin exporting its products to Australia and Europe in the future.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

The number of California cannabis businesses that have joined the National Cannabis Industry Association between January and July: (Source: Fortune)

NEWS

The number of people who signed a petition to get medical cannabis on the ballot in San Bernardino: (Source: San Bernardino Sun)

6,000

115

The number of votes from the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, out of 5, who voted to approve a tax on gross receipts for cannabis growers and retailers to appear on the November ballot: (Source: Times Standard)

The number of “common sense” amendments proposed by the Los Angeles Cannabis Task Force to reform the city’s medical cannabis industry: (Source: CRRH)

The percentage of tax on medical and recreational cannabis in Santa Barbara in an initiative that will be placed on the November ballot: (Source: Santa Barbara Independent)

The numbered state that Ohio ranks on a list of states that have legalized medical (Source: WBNS-10TV) cannabis:

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that a medical cannabis patient in Toronto is suing the city for, after city officials started raiding and closing down local cannabis (Source: Vice) dispensaries:

High Life Music Festival

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

The number of applications that were submitted to be considered for one of eight dispensary openings in the state of Hawaii: (Source: KHON2)

WHAT: High Life Music Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Aug. 20-Sun, Aug. 21. San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, 14800 7th St., Victorville. INFO: Visit www.highlifemusicfestival.com for details.

Get ready to reach a higher level of excitement at the High Life Music Festival. This two-day party brings together two things that help shape the Southern California culture, medical cannabis and hip-hop music. Some of the hottest names in hip-hop will be performing at this festival, so be sure to get your spot in the front of the crowd to see Rick Ross, E40, DMX, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, as well as some 28

The amount of money, in billions of dollars, that the nationwide legalization of cannabis would generate in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments: (Source: Merry Jane)

other special guests. Attendees with a valid state medical cannabis card will get the opportunity to hang out in the Prop 215 medicating area. Some of the best cannabis extract artists, chefs, breeders and growers are bringing their best product for the competition, which is part of this massive celebration, and there will be plenty of vendors for participants to check out over the weekend.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

NEWS

LOCAL

Legislative Ladder The California Supreme Court to review medical cannabis battle in Upland

by Nicole Potter t’s no secret that there’s been a constant struggle between medical cannabis collectives and the city of Upland for some time now. The city has made many attempts to shut down unregulated and untaxed medical cannabis collectives and has spent an estimated $600,000 in legal fees to fight against them. Many other cannabis collectives have been fighting similar battles against their cities that want to keep collectives out, but in this particular instance, the battle between collectives and Upland is rising higher in the ranks of the legislative ladder all the way up to the California Supreme Court. It all started when medical cannabis advocates were joined with the California Cannabis Coalition (CCC) to draft an initiative that would ask voters to approve collectives within the boundaries of the city. The CCC ballot measure, which was announced in late 2014 and eventually put before voters for the first time in June 2015, would lift the ban on medical cannabis collectives, allowing three collectives to operate within the western industrial section of the city, and it would establish a list of regulations and requirements, including a $75,000 annual licensing and inspection “fee.” The petition was able to gather enough signatures, about 6,000, for a special election. However, aside from the city’s normal clash with collectives, it was the “fee,” which they believed to actually be a tax that caused further tension and eventually, a court case to argue whether the terms “fee” or “tax” were applicable. In mid-March of this year, the Fourth District Appellate Court chose to side with the CCC, believing that the $75,000 is indeed a fee, not a tax. According to Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, that would have been the end of the debate, as the city of Upland was ready to give up on the case by May, but then the

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) entered the picture. The HJTA, along with the National Taxpayers Association, Pacific Legal Foundation and seven other groups recently filed amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” briefs, all strongly believing that this particular case could undo tax protections set by Propositions 13 and 218. Prop 13 states that a 2/3 vote from voters must be obtained in order to set a specific tax and Prop 218, called the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act” which was also sponsored by the HJTA, was passed in 1996 and provides protection for voters by requiring that voters be able to make their voice heard regarding local government taxes. The amicus curiae groups believe that the ramifications are much larger than simply disallowing collectives in Upland, asking the California Supreme Court to either review or at least depublish the decision made by the Court of Appeals. The former, of course, was the chosen action from the Supreme Court. The results of this case could have other unintended consequences too, specifically in San Diego. Should the restrictions of Prop 13 and 218 be undone, it could directly affect two initiatives on the November ballot in San Diego. One initiative aims to raise the hotel tax in order to fund the newly proposed stadium, and the other would raise taxes for other purposes. The California Supreme Court’s review could affect the required votes to get those San Diego measures on the ballot, with the possibilities of either a “50 percent-plus-one or two-thirds of the vote,” stated the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. It was on June 30 that the California Supreme Court agreed to review the HJTA’s petition of the previous appellate court ruling. As of this writing, there is no further news as to when the Supreme Court will review the case at hand yet or what the ultimate verdict will be for the Upland medical cannabis community. c

Cannabis Career Institute Event If you want to jump into the medical cannabis industry in California, or if you are currently in the industry as a professional or a patient, then this informational seminar will be very beneficial to you. Spend your day engaging in helpful topics related to the cannabis industry. Potential patients will benefit from topics like how to meet the state requirements in becoming a patient to the potential advantages and disadvantages involved with obtaining your medical card. There will also be many topics that will aid entrepreneurs whether they are trying to get into the industry or are already operating a collective or other cannabis-related business. Some very important topics include “Growing for Collectives and Traveling with Medicine,” “Websites, Marking Materials and Advertising,” “Bylaws and Constitutions” and “Creating Your Business Plan,” among many other topics. There is very little this seminar does not cover in regards to cannabis businesses, so do yourself and your business a favor by attending. WHAT: Cannabis Career Institute Event. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Aug. 27. Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, 555 Universal Hollywood Dr., Universal City. INFO: Visit cannabiscareerinstitute. com for details.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

NEWS

legal corner

BANKING QUAGMIRE The headaches of banking in the cannabis industry

by Meital Manzuri, Attorney at Law The federal government makes it nearly impossible for a cannabis business to enjoy normal banking privileges. In addition to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), there’s also the Bank Secrecy Act requiring banks to be vigilant about any AML (Anti-Money Laundering) law violations, for which banks can file a SAR (Suspicious Activity Report). Cash transactions of $10,000 or more require the filing of a CTR (Currency Transaction Report). As if that weren’t enough, the Know Your Customer (KYC) doctrine requires banks to monitor their customers’ business activities. Believe it or not, this gauntlet of acronyms causes headaches for the banks, as well as a lot of effort and expenses required to fully comply with these regulations. Furthermore, the risk of error is high, and the punishment for penalties is severe. This banking quagmire not only hurts cannabis businesses but also the banks themselves. So what can be done?

The CARERS Act Currently, cannabis is a Schedule I drug; the federal government considers it to have a high potential for abuse and no medicinal benefits. It also clamps serious restrictions on meaningful cannabis research. As long as cannabis stays Schedule I, the banking situation will continue to swallow the industry. Enter the CARERS Act. Known officially as the Compassionate Access, Research, Expansion and Respect States Act, it is federal cannabis legislation designed to correct these issues. Among other things, it would reclassify cannabis to Schedule II, allow for more substantial research, and permit normal banking access for a state-legal compliant cannabis business. Currently, the bill is waiting to be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Innovative Solutions To enterprising thinkers, there is a silver lining—innovative solutions. One option is to establish your own private bank. Don’t laugh . . . It’s not as impossible as you think. Sure, there’s a minimum initial startup fee of $500,000, and your ownership group must comprise experienced bankers who can pass an FBI background check.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

“As more and more states legalize, constituents will up the pressure on Congress members to take action. This will also force bigger banks to become players. For now, the risks outweigh the potential rewards.”

Furthermore, you must show that you have access to at least $10 million in start-up capital. Indeed, the process is arduous, long and expensive. But it can be done, as several flourishing private banking enterprises in Oregon, Washington and Colorado have proven. Another option is to use an online payment system such as PayQwick, the “PayPal for Pot” headquartered in Los Angeles that claims total compliance with banking regulations. Cannabis business owners can use a preloaded PayQwick card to pay vendors, landlords and employees; customers can use it to make cannabis purchases. A quieter option is opening an account at one of the handful of local banks and credit unions friendly to cannabis-related businesses (MRBs) since the big banks won’t deal with them. Due diligence is required to uncover these banks since they still maintain a low profile and avoid undue attention.

Challenges Elsewhere The banking challenges differ from state to state. Washington was proactive in dealing with their challenges. The state’s banking regulatory arm worked tirelessly with federal regulators to find a way to have legalized banking services for MRBs. Consequently, Washington banks are upfront about their business

relations with MRBs, although even the most basic merchant accounts are expensive to maintain and the flood of paperwork is oppressive. On the other hand, Colorado took a different path by encouraging the formation of cannabis banking coops. However, there are plenty of MRBs doing business with banks and credit unions, though there’s much less openness. Just as in Washington, maintaining even a basic merchant account is expensive and cumbersome.

Where Does This Leave California? The hope is that AUMA (Prop 64) and other state ballots throughout the country (Massachusetts and Nevada for recreational cannabis and Florida for medical cannabis) will be the impetus for Congress to act. As more and more states legalize, constituents will up the pressure on Congress members to take action. This will also force bigger banks to become players. For now, the risks outweigh the potential rewards. However, if there is outright legalization for recreational cannabis use, the bigger banks will be unable to disregard the industry any longer. This story will continue to develop as we approach November’s elections. To keep up with these developments, keep in touch with Manzuri Law. c

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

NEWS

HEALTHY LIVING

The Neuro-Protective Properties of Cannabinoids by Dr. Bonni S. Goldstein Cannabis was considered medicine for thousands of years and only over the last 80 years has it been stigmatized as a drug of abuse. Thanks to countless scientists and their curiosity, we now understand that the compounds in cannabis interact directly with a widespread and complex system, named the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which works to maintain homeostasis within our brains and bodies. Almost every physiologic process in the human body is affected by the ECS including our natural protective response to injury and inflammation. The ECS was discovered as a result of scientists searching for the mechanism of action of THC. Working as a “key and lock” mechanism, cannabinoid receptors (the “locks”) that sit in the cell membrane are activated by “key” chemical compounds. The keys include endocannabinoids, compounds that we make internally, phytocannabinoids, compounds made by the cannabis plant and laboratory-derived synthetic cannabinoids, used mostly in research. When the cannabinoid activates the receptor by binding to it, a chemical reaction takes place in the cell, telling the cell to change its message. For instance, if a person suffering from pain uses cannabis medicine, pain is often minimized or eliminated. This happens because the brain cell alters the perception of pain in response to the activation of the cannabinoid receptor by the cannabinoids, which in turn tells the cell to stop sending the message of pain. Knowing where cannabinoid receptors are located allows us to understand the conditions that cannabis medicine can affect. In the brain the 40

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

receptors are located in areas that control pain, nausea, vomiting, learning, stress, memory, appetite, motor coordination and higher cognitive function. In the body, cannabinoid receptors are mostly located in the gut, immune system and liver, and are largely involved in regulation of inflammation. When there is a traumatic brain injury (TBI), damage from the initial insult occurs followed by a number of secondary damage mechanisms. Injured brain cells release a neurotransmitter called glutamate, which is toxic to cells when it accumulates. This overabundance of glutamate leads to a cascade of chemical reactions that produce even more compounds that further damage the brain. Brain injury also causes the release of chemicals that cause blood vessels to constrict, decreasing blood flow that leads to cell energy loss and cell death. Brain inflammation is triggered within hours of injury and adds to the massive destruction of brain cells. These multiple mechanisms that harm brain cells are the reasons why TBI is so difficult to treat. We need treatment that will address all of the different mechanisms— glutamate accumulation, decreased blood flow and inflammation—taking place in the injured brain. Fortunately we have natural protective mechanisms that are triggered to try to save the brain and restore balance after TBI. Research shows that the endocannabinoid system is activated immediately after injury. Endocannabinoids block the release of the compounds that cause secondary damage to brain cells. Endocannabinoids have been found to decrease the intensity and duration of toxicity to brain cells

and they also enhance brain cell survival after injury. Also endocannabinoids are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Simply put, your brain makes self-protective endocannabinoids in response to injury with the goal of minimizing cell damage and death in a multitude of ways. Since both synthetic and plant cannabinoids mimic our endocannabinoids, researchers have investigated them to see if they can provide neuroprotection for TBI and have found promising results. Numerous studies have shown that synthetic cannabinoids given to animals with brain injury protected against cell damage and death. Cannabidiol (CBD) given immediately to animals after interruption of oxygen and blood flow helped to reduce brain cell injury, brain swelling and seizures, and significantly restored motor and behavioral performance in the first 72 hours after the insult. Cannabidiol also inhibits the breakdown of our endocannabinoids, thereby enhancing our own selfneuroprotective mechanisms. THC was found to significantly reduce the release of glutamate in animals with brain cell injury due to stroke. In a threeyear retrospective review of patients presenting with TBI to a trauma center, a positive THC screen at the time of TBI was associated with decreased risk of death in adult patients; in this review, TBI patients who tested positive for THC has a risk of death of 2.4 percent versus 11.5 percent for those who tested negative for THC. These are only a few of the many studies that highlight the incredible neuroprotective role of cannabinoids. As a clinician, I have seen many patients struggling to recover from TBI, and I can attest that cannabis medicine has profound positive effects. Patients report restorative sleep, emotional balance and an overall sense of wellbeing with cannabis. Many report that they can discontinue pharmaceutical medications that are ineffective and causing unwanted side effects. That being said, clinical trials using plant cannabinoids during the acute phase of injury are warranted. TBI patients should not have to suffer for months or years after the injury to reap the neuroprotective, antioxidant and antiinflammatory benefits of cannabis. Researchers and clinicians need to be free to study cannabis compounds and dosing in humans so that with early treatment, we can minimize, and likely prevent, the devastating consequences of TBI. c

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

REVIEWs

strain, edible & concentrate Available at: Cannibal City Collective in Los Angeles.

3C Sasquatch The diesel-like smell emitting from these lush, trichomedusted monsters—along with the bright orange hairs—caught our attention before we had time to put down the pristine jar. The lasting effects from the sativa-dominant flowers can be quite uplifting, and patients will experience a spike in creativity, happiness and energy, as well as complete relaxation of their joints. With all the strains out there we aren't sure what's rarer, flowers that stand out so beautifully or the legendary beast this hybrid gets its name from. Either way, this strain is fantastic on every level and perfect for those seeking to medicate during the day without fear or feeling like a toy with dead batteries.

Malibu's Most Wanted As the jar containing this full-bodied indica was opened the CULTURE offices were filled with two things. One, a smell that was one part citrus and one part fresh dirt. The second is fits of laughter when everybody remembered Jamie Kennedy's B-rated movie of the same name. Despite being a part of the indica family, these flowers don't seem to share the same couch locking effects even with a lab tested 18-25 percent THC. After 10 minutes of medicating, we began to feel a wave of relief, followed by a long afternoon of relaxation. We can tell why everyone in Malibu wants to get their hands on this strain. But you'll have to head over to Malibu Community Collective to get some yourself.

Available at: Malibu Community Collective in Malibu.

Available wherever: Ganja Gold products are carried.

Hellfire OG Live Resin CO2 Oil Cart

iReadCulture.com GET YOUR CLICKS

HERE

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Ganja Gold Vape pens don’t get much more stylish, discrete or more wellmade than Ganja Gold’s Hellfire OG Live Resin CO2 Oil cartridge and battery. Each cart comes in its own gold cardboard packaging with the strain name and THC percentage on it. The cart contains 500mg of CO2 oil from a supercritical extraction of fresh, “live” Hellfire OG—a popular phenotype of OG Kush. The oil is super refined for purity, which gives the oil a higher THC percentage, while making it extremely smooth. The terpene profile is 100 percent natural and well reflected with every draw. Each cart screws onto a standard 510 thread vape pen battery that runs best at either 6 watts or 3.3 volts, and the oil is all-natural with no additives. The thin pen is among the smallest, strongest and lightest on the market and features no buttons— you just sip the steel mouthpiece to draw vapor. Their well-crafted CO2 extraction and purification process really makes the vapor smell like a lighter version of the flower. This is a must have if you can get your hands on them!

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

REVIEWs

Available at: Kush Valley Collective in Los Angeles.

007 We'd like to imagine an alternate universe where, after a long day of blowing up entire cities to kill one man—Bond, James Bond, skips the usual martini and instead reaches for this bright green Kush phenotype. The indica heavy effects are ideal for anyone seeking to manage pain while the sativa side is present enough to ensure you can avoid couch-lock and be productive. Patients affected by anxiety and stress will find this strain to be very comforting as it delivers a sense of full body relaxation and a classic euphoria. Oh and by the way . . . the name’s Collective, Kush Valley Collective.

iReadCulture.com Available wherever: Medizen products are carried.

GET YOUR CLICKS

HERE Cheesy Ranch Sunflower Seeds California’s Medizen brand helps out patients who want to go low-profile with some innocuous, Cheesy Ranch Sunflower Seeds. The seeds are lightly coated in non-GMO, organic white cheddar coating and well as hyper-pure cannabis oil derived by CO2 extraction. There’s no herb scent or taste in this sealed foil pouch, which contains 10 standard doses of THC—cannabis’ main active ingredient. Just suck on the shell to absorb THC in the mouth, then crack the shell and extract the seed for a healthy bit of protein. Oral THC’s effects take effect quicker than fully eating edibles, and Medizen’s Cheesy Ranch sunflower seeds can help manage PTSD-related anxiety and agitation, as well as pain. The seeds are glutenfree and lab-tested by SC Labs.

Venom OG Shatter The sweet venomous sting from this indica-dominant hybrid is only shadowed by the piney, lemon scented bomb it delivers to your nostrils; thankfully, no one needs to suck it out of your skin for you to survive. The almost instantaneous effects began in our foreheads and inched slowly down our backs, leaving us relaxed, slightly scatterbrained and with a bit of dry mouth. This brightly-colored, taffy-like shatter is perfect for a night in and will aid patients seeking relief from chronic pains and insomnia.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Available at: La Brea Collective in Los Angeles.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

3. Kinkajou Bottle Cutter

REVIEWs

For More Products Go To iReadCulture.com

1. Diggit by KOIL

Portable enough to store in your pocket or throw into a small purse, this all-in-one dab tool is the latest advancement to make dabbing all the more convenient. The Diggit resembles a Swiss army knife, however its G2 titanium dabbing tools ensure it is much more durable, heat resistant and lightweight. Its sleek design is relevant to those who can regularly utilize a dabbing wand, shovel and flathead, complete with a carb cap that fits all nails (up to 18mm). Whether you want to treat yourself to effortless vaping or want to give this revolutionary gift to your favorite dabber, everyone is sure to really Diggit. PRICE: $69.99 MORE INFORMATION: www.koilvape.com

4. IntegraTM BOOSTTM

2. Bare Conductive Electric Paint Want the power of technological creation at your fingertips? Then there’s no better material to use but Electric Paint. Bare Conductive’s Electric Paint is a technological marvel that’s a dream come true for engineers, designers and all sorts of creators. The paint is made up of an electrically conductive material that turns any surface into a sensor and, with the addition of a Touch Board, can transform data into any desired output, such as movement, sound and light. Choose one of Bare Conductive’s many products kits that are available to both advanced users as well as beginners, and explore the many possibilities that this paint can offer. PRICE: $7.96-$530.63 MORE INFORMATION: bareconductive.com 50

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

The world is more concerned about recycling and limiting our waste than ever before, and Bottle Cutting Inc. is helping the world recycle glass, one bottle at a time. Exactly as the name suggests, Bottle Cutting Inc. offers the necessary tools to cut your favorite beer and wine bottles into custom glassware. Kinkajou Bottle Cutter is simple—place the desired bottle locked into the cutter device, create a thin cut by twisting the bottle, apply separation ties around the cut, and alternate between pouring boiling water and cold water over the cut until the glass separates. Lastly, wet the provided diamond pads and sand the edge of the exposed glass, and you have a brand new glass cup, vase or whatever else you desire. PRICE: $13.99-$79.99 MORE INFORMATION: bottlecutting.com

Storing cannabis can be a challenge when you’re trying to keep the humidity in cannabis containers at a specific percentage, but IntegraTM BOOST TM is here to help. Utilizing patent-pending technology, IntegraTM products are designed to either release or absorb moisture in the form a tiny packet that you place inside your cannabis container. This allows cannabis strains to stay crisp and fresh, which prevents mold from forming, and is said to also preserve the qualities and flavors of both strains as well as edibles. IntegraTM BOOST TM packets are available with either 55 percent or 62 percent relative humidity control, and both are currently available in either 8 gram and 67 gram packages. PRICE: $4-$5.70 per package MORE INFORMATION: www.integra-products.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

REVIEWs

entertainment

BOOK

Big Book of Buds Greatest Hits: Marijuana Varieties from the World’s Best Breeders Ed Rosenthal Green Candy Press Famed cannabis cultivator, Ed Rosenthal has released his “greatest hits” of buds for the masses. The new Big Book of Buds Greatest Hits takes the best of four volumes, over 400 strains that keep getting planted, year after year. This volume will help you find the strains that work best for different moods, tastes and particular growing conditions. It also provides information about the sensory qualities, the aroma and the effects of each strain. It's a great addition for any cannasseur or grower’s library. (Alex Bradley)

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

MUSIC MOVIE

Rolling Papers Release Date: August 23 Available on: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One

GAME

Madden NFL 17 Dev. EA Tiburon Pub. EA Sports Another year has passed, and another new and improved Madden game is coming to a console near you! Madden NFL 17 allows players to look forward to the upgraded Franchise Mode, called “Ground Game,” and a new Ball Carrier UI Prompt, alongside a massive list of players to choose from for your various games. This year’s title also brings on Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis as announcers to spice up each game. (Nicole Potter)

Denver Documentary Collective, Listen Productions Dir. Mitch Dickman

Plenty of things can happen when a state legalizes recreational cannabis, however one most probably wouldn’t expect a major newspaper, The Denver Post, to embrace legalization and starting a cannabis section in their publication with such fervor. Rolling Papers follows the beginnings of The Denver Post’s new endeavor starting with the hiring its Cannabist editor, and recruiting a writing staff. The film both accurately shows the challenges of introducing new print journalism in a digital age as well as the variety of unforeseen regulatory hurdles and confusion in a new era of legalized cannabis. (Simon Weedn)

AEGES Weightless Another Century Finding upstart, young bands devoting themselves to the post-grunge, alternative rock and roll sound which rose to prominence on the backs of bands like Foo Fighters and Queens Of The Stone Age can be quite a feat. Yet, AEGES take that sound and breathe new air into its lungs and do so without sounding redundant or derivative on their new album, Weightless. The guitars are so heavy it will crush cars and the rhythms so driving one can’t help but move. For all of the hard rockers out there, AEGES is not one to be missed. (Simon Weedn)

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

REVIEWs

liner notes by Kevin Longrie

“N

ow wouldn’t it be just as ridiculous to pay two fiddle players a different wage because one of them is male and one is female?” JACK WHITE asked at a press conference about gender equality. “I think so.” A council has been formed in the city of Nashville to study and report on gender equity. Jack White, drawing on his years of experience keeping THE WHITE STRIPES at a 50/50 gender representation, has been appointed to this council as well. He hopes to do some good for the city of Nashville and for gender equity in general, a problem he sees as paramount in the coming years. “All human beings on this planet, and in this society that we live in deserve to be treated the same," he said in the speech. "They deserve to be treated the same in their social lives, and in their financial and business careers as well.” He used his own company, Third Man Records, as an example of how to make social progress through paying men and women equal wages and by extending to them the benefits that White believes are a necessity in modern life. “Since 2015, all employees that are expecting mothers, can expect six months of paid leave after giving birth," White said. "All fathers of newborn children at Third Man Records can expect three months of paid leave. Nothing is more important than a new life and new soul being brought into the world,

and newborn parents should not have to worry about anything but the health and welfare of their child.” In far less substantive news, FATHER JOHN MISTY, a favorite of the young and hip everywhere (including talented ones like Aziz Ansari), “claimed responsibility” on Instagram for a crystal taken from Echo Park Moon Juice, a juice bar in Los Angeles. He wanted to clarify that he did not believe that what he did (removing the crystal from the store without paying for it or asking to take it) constituted stealing. He called the use of the word “stolen” a “tacit endorsement of the capitalist values that blended superfoods and locally sourced produce stands, ironically, in direct opposition to. The universe, however you may define her, brought this

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com AUGUST

crystal into my life at what can only be described as a ‘pivot moment.’” I’m honestly not sure what to make of this explanation, or further when he goes on to say that he believes there is “a larger lesson to be gleaned from this experience: Namely that material goods, no matter how sacred, WILL come and go from your life.” After this, he name-drops Buddhism and the concept of randomness, saying that “if [the crystal] HAPPENS to find its way into my pocket, and that pocket HAPPENS to leave your store, creating some ownership/theft/ possession narrative will only cause you more pain—as you will be attempting to find significance where there is none.” I mean really, this stuff is just golden. I didn’t even want to cut it up much because

the structure, the language, etc. are all just so delicious. To me, if he’s being ironic or if he’s being sincere, this post and this story is equally entertaining. It feels like something that you’d find shoehorned into the plot of a movie that has a hipstermusician character and it would be the plot you felt was “a bit too unbelievable” or “a bit on the nose.” With these two stories, I see the yin and yang of music news: There are some people who are socially conscious and who are striving through their music or through other actions to improve their communities; however, it’s also fun to just sit back and watch the grand spectacle of the other bunch as well.c

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

by Paul Rogers

In 1999, Ricky Williams received a $9 million signing bonus for joining the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, yet just five years later was living, by choice, at a $7-a-day campground. Despite earning tens of millions over a 12-year pro football career, the Heisman Trophy winner took time out from being a star Miami Dolphins running back to study massage and acupuncture at a strip-mall college. Such biographical snapshots suggest a man

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

who seldom fits NFL-player stereotypes, and since retiring from football in 2012— though he makes “celebrity appearances” and works as an ESPN analyst—is far from an archetypal ex-pro. A cannabis user for much of his professional career, which was blighted by multiple failed drug tests, over just the past year the formerly dreadlocked Williams has evolved from being widely perceived as a stoner NFL underachiever into an outspoken cannabis advocate

and high-profile poster-boy for America’s raging cannabis debate. Growing up in middle-class San Diego, Williams never harbored football ambitions beyond college. Stunning high school stats landed him an athletic scholarship with the University of Texas, where continued sensational form culminated in his being awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1998. Though selected as the fifth pick of the 1999 draft by the Saints, Williams has

said that the happiest time of his NFL career was his first year at the Dolphins, to whom he was traded in 2002. According to Williams, this coincided with his “really” starting to use cannabis, which resulted in his briefly retiring in 2004 and later, while suspended from the league, playing in Canada, before returning to Miami and then the Baltimore Ravens. The now Californiabased Williams has studied everything from Ayurveda to astrology and traveled widely in an apparent journey of introspection and self-improvement. Since first publicly discussing his cannabis use last year, he’s also become increasingly involved in both cannabis advocacy and “cannabusiness,” including becoming a partner in a “cannabis gym” scheduled to open in San Francisco in November. Within seconds, a conversation with Williams reveals an eloquent, extremely intelligent and goal-oriented man who has replaced the constant challenges of pro sports with a plethora of business ventures, lofty personal goals, and stimulating spiritual and philosophical pursuits.

p h o t o s b y J o h n G i l h o o le y

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

“I would use cannabis to de-stress, mentally and emotionally for one, and physically dealing with injuries and allowing my body to get healed.” What does a typical week in the life of Ricky Williams look like? Every few days is different. The past few weeks I’ve been traveling a lot. I was at an investor conference in Oakland, and then I was in Miami for a celebrity charity weekend. Then I was in Boston for an autograph signing and then Pennsylvania for a Fourth of July party. Life as an NFL and college football star must have been full of adulation. Has life away from the game ever felt anti-climactic, or are you glad to be out of the spotlight? At the peak of my career, yeah, I was seeking-out adulation, but towards the tail-end . . . I never really enjoyed the adulation. So I don’t miss it, but I think the one thing that I thought I would’ve missed is just the constant activity and the constant challenge . . . But as soon as I jumped into [new ventures], they’re all so different and so new that they keep me stimulated, and they keep me inspired and, to me, that’s the most important thing. You work as a football analyst for ESPN’s Longhorn Network. Do you ever want to pull on a helmet and join the game? I enjoy the more relaxed role but, especially watching

the University of Texas play football, I feel like I want to jump out there and coach more than I want to put a helmet on. So do you have professional coaching ambitions? I don’t. I coached at a college for a year, and I enjoyed it, I loved it, but it takes up so much of your time at that level that I think I’d get bored. You’re a very spiritual man. How did this help you through the rollercoaster of a pro football career? I think the idea behind spirituality is that you don’t get so attached to the everyday goings-on of your life, and you don’t get too attached to your personality. When times became the most difficult I would rise above the situation and look down and get a better sense of what the right move is . . . I think ultimately spiritual connection or spirituality gives you optimism and faith that you can deal with anything. You’re also a qualified yoga instructor. Why would you recommend yoga? The way our society is, I think it’s easy to become disconnected from your life and from your body—and also from your emotions . . . Yoga is a way to bring those things back together.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

“The first time that I spoke publicly about my cannabis use was less than a year ago . . . I was blown away by how cathartic, how healing it was for me personally, but even more so I realized how much of an impact me speaking honestly about my cannabis use made on other people and it’s been extremely rewarding.” 66

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

You’ve studied Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of holistic medicine. What did this bring to your life and do you still adhere to its teachings? After I retired . . . I needed to find something to do. I needed to develop a skill, and so I started studying Ayurveda, and I just love the philosophy behind it. The tenants and the philosophy are . . . a part of my life, and I think they will be a part of my life until I die. You had glittering careers in both college and pro football, but were the college years the more enjoyable for you? For sure. When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a college football player—I didn’t have aspirations to play in the NFL. Unfortunatelyslash-fortunately I had so much success in college, it became the next logical step to go and play in professional football. But, by far, I enjoyed college much more.

Why was that? The tradition, the genuine love for the game; the fact that it was integrated into school, so it easily integrated into your life. When you go from high school to college, you choose which college to go to, and in the NFL they choose you. So I think the freedom to put myself in an environment that I knew I could thrive in definitely made the college football experience more enjoyable. You’re a partner in what’s billed as “the world’s first cannabis gym,” Power Plant Fitness, which opens in San Francisco in November. Just what is a “cannabis gym,” and why were you keen to be involved? It’s not only a gym—it’s really about wellness, and I think a large part of wellness . . . is exercise. I thought “people don’t have a place to go and practice wellness— cannabis users don’t have a place to practice wellness,” and so I wanted to create one.

“I think that I’m a great example . . . My life was almost ruined and I was able, using cannabis, to turn my life around, and now I stand here as an advocate and am really pushing for reform.” 70

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

What will be your day-to-day involvement with Power Plant Fitness? I’ll definitely be a part of running Power Plant, but more specifically I’ll be teaching classes, and I’ll be offering services—I’m craniosacral therapist, massage therapist, and I’m an astrologer—and I can also see myself even doing some personal training. CBS Sports recently described you as “arguably the most famous pot-smoker in NFL history.” Does this association get annoying for you, or are you now proud to be an advocate for cannabis, particularly in the context of sports? It was annoying for a long time and I think just in the last year I’ve realized, as hard as I try, I’m not going to be able to escape it. So I try to embrace it more. And it’s been overwhelmingly surprising to me—it’s really added a lot to my life. Purely as an athlete, how was cannabis beneficial to you—in terms of, say recovering from injuries, mental focus, and relaxation off the field? Those are the three main benefits that I received as an athlete. I would use cannabis to de-stress, mentally and emotionally for one, and physically dealing with injuries and allowing my body to get healed. I used cannabis before I’d practice yoga at the end of a night—one, to let go of the mental stress, but also to help deepen my breathing practice; my yoga practice. And it really allowed me to put the events of the day behind and get a good night’s sleep and wake up prepared to go and address the next day. You’ve previously expressed that you were deeply fearful, during your NFL career, of your cannabis use being made public, yet these days you’re very public cannabis advocate. Does this shift in your attitude reflect that of American society, or has it been a purely personal journey? I think it’s both. I think society becoming more open to it has facilitated my internal openness to it. The first time that I spoke publicly about my cannabis use was less than a year ago . . . I was blown away by how cathartic, how healing it was for me personally, but even more so I realized how much of an impact me speaking honestly about my cannabis use made on other people, and it’s been extremely rewarding.

You’ve reportedly been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. How has cannabis helped you to curb its symptoms and continue to work in often public roles? I’ve always been a rather reserved, introverted person . . . Using cannabis really helped me to be okay with being introspective—it allowed me to become more skillful at being introspective and to understand that I’m just an aware, sensitive person and not to take things so personally. You’ve been reported as saying that cannabis was a better treatment for you than a major prescription drug because it produced fewer side effects. Would you care to expand upon that? The main side-effect I experienced from using cannabis . . . was the fact that it was illegal and there was a big stigma around it.

“Now that we realize that cannabis isn’t so bad as we were once told and that there are people using it responsibly and using it in ways that allow them to be better football players . . . [the NFL] should reconsider their stance.”

[Paxil] made me more numb and made it difficult to focus . . . It made being a football player more difficult, and I just got tired of feeling out of it. What are your feelings toward attitudes to and rules regarding cannabis use in pro sports, particularly in the NFL? I think their head’s in the right place and what they’re trying to do is right—meaning finding people that have a problem. I was put into the [NFL] drug program and I feel like I was treated like a criminal and wasn’t helped at all. So I think . . . there is a correlation between cannabis use and behavior that’s embarrassing to the NFL [or] criminal behavior. Aside from finding THC metabolites in my urine, I was for the most part a model citizen for the NFL. Now that we realize that cannabis isn’t so bad as we were once told and that there are people using it responsibly and using it in ways that allow them to be better football players . . . [the NFL] should reconsider their stance. What are your thoughts on current cannabis legislation in the United States? It’s moving in the right direction . . . Politicians are having conversations about it [and] there are even politicians that are pro-legalization . . . [They’re] doing a good job of representing their constituents. My guess is in the next 10 years it will be federally legal for adult use, and I think it’s a wonderful thing. You were recently quoted as saying that “my career and life were almost ruined because of a drug test.” But do you now feel that your association with cannabis has also put you at the forefront of a booming business and of a history-making social movement? There was a point where I was on the verge of being, at least it felt for me, forever associated with being the stoner who walked away from millions of dollars and ruined his life. But I used cannabis to actually improve my life and to be able to come back and finish my career. I think that I’m a great example . . . My life was almost ruined and I was able, using cannabis, to turn my life around, and now I stand here as an advocate and am really pushing for reform. c

@rickthelaureate

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

The evolution of cannabis therapies and its legality in the world of sports by Addison Herron-Wheeler

For years, Americans have been claiming that Marx got it wrong; religion is not the opiate of the masses, sports is. According to a recent Gallop poll, about 59 percent of Americans are sports fans. The U.S. defines a great deal of our lives by what sport is in season, and hobbyists and enthusiasts are fanatic about favorite teams. So, it is no surprise that during the drug war days, many good athletes made public statements against cannabis use. After all, they served as role models for children and represent the face of America. However, the reality of life as a professional athlete is not the all-American fairytale people tell little boys and girls. Activities like professional wrestling and football take a serious toll on the body and can result in major and long-term injury. For this reason, many pro-athletes have gotten hooked on prescription painkillers, which can be

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

dangerous and fatal. Not to mention, the sponsorship of many major sports by beer companies who know that their target demographic loves to crack a cold one and watch the game creates a hypocritical double-standard. For these reasons, athletes are starting to be more vocal about their cannabis use. However, the lingering negative stigma of cannabis has still been a hard one to shake in the world of professional sports. Recently, former NFL player Nate Jackson of the Broncos spoke out in favor of cannabis reform. Jackson claimed that about 50-60 percent of NFL players use cannabis, and he explained that it helped keep him off of opiates and other highly addictive drugs when dealing with recovery from injuries. He appeared on the cover of CULTURE in 2014, and talked openly about his support of cannabis as medicine.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

CULTURE also caught up with former San Diego Charger and San Francisco 49er Marques Harris to get his perspective as an ex-NFL-starturned-cannabis-activist. Harris feels so strongly about the benefits of cannabis for athletes that he has started his own non-profit. “I believe cannabis and CBD oil have a huge future in all sports,” he told us. “People like myself don’t just believe in cannabis because we think it’s cool; people like myself believe in cannabis because there have already been so many proven stories that have changed people’s lives.” It appears cannabis could provide a healthy alternative to the use of prescription drugs. However, the NFL still refuses to endorse cannabis or prescribe it as a medical treatment, despite how many players have come out and said that it helps them. Similarly, this kind of denial of a problem and of cannabis as a solution is going on with the MMA. Because fighters sustain so many injuries, it is often necessary to turn to an alternative medicine source like cannabis to treat chronic pain and avoid turning to addictive pills instead. According to MMA Mania, Joe Rogan explained that most MMA players are choosing to use cannabis as an alternative. “A tremendous amount of UFC fighters smoke pot,” he explained to MMA Mania. “I mean, a massive amount where it’s a huge issue with them involving drug tests, you know, where they have to stop smoking weed for the last four weeks or so in order to pass drug tests.” While these UFC-mandated drug tests are meant to catch those using steroids, they do not make any allowances for using cannabis, and those who are caught with the substance in their systems are still subject to suspension and being treated like drug addicts and criminals. Many other professional sports also prohibit the use of cannabis, although the standards are not as strict. In the world of American golf, the PGA’s Anti-Doping Policy considers cannabinoids to be a recreational drug. Although cannabis is not considered to be performance-enhancing, the Tour does hold players who test positive accountable but do not publicly disclose cannabis-related violations. However, the Tour only tests for a certain threshold of cannabis in a player’s system, which discourages use during competition, but not necessarily the use 78

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

“People like myself don’t just believe in cannabis because we think it’s cool; people like myself believe in cannabis because there have already been so many proven stories that have changed people’s lives.” of cannabis many weeks prior. Major League Baseball (MLB) and The National Basketball Association (NBA) may have the most reasonable policies regarding the use of cannabis by their players. NBA lists cannabis as one of its “Drugs of Abuse,” however the penalties for cannabis compared to other listed drugs were more relaxed. While a player who tests positive for a “Drug of Abuse” could be dismissed and disqualified from the NBA, players who test positive for cannabis the first time are subjected to enter a Marijuana Program. Players won’t receive a five-game suspension until they test positive for cannabis a third time. The MLB’s Joint Drug Agreement (JDA) may list THC, hashish and cannabis as “Drugs of Abuse,” however the JDA also gives special treatment to cannabis. Under Section 7.D of the JDA, players will face a 15-25 game suspension for their first violation of drug abuse, however if a player is tests positive for cannabis, they

will instead be placed in the MLB’s drug treatment program. The same can’t be said for the minor leagues, which are still notorious for suspending players who test positive for cannabis. While the rest of the U.S. continues to move towards legalization and acceptance of cannabis, the world of professional sports lags a bit behind, just like the states that refuse to get with the times and at least consider a medical or decriminalization program. However, as professional athletes become more and more vocal about their cannabis use, this issue is going to get harder and harder to ignore. c

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

Crossing Borders and Boundaries for Cannabis and Health KC Linton’s journey to health through cannabis by Addison Herron-Wheeler

stoptheseizures 80

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

The Lintons were poised to raise the perfect, all-American family. Courtney and Kenneth Linton were high school sweethearts and newlyweds living in their home state of Iowa, where they lived near family and friends and had two smart and energetic boys. Their oldest son, KC, sometimes experienced what they called a “shivershake,” where his arm would jolt abruptly or his head would jerk back, but they considered it a minor quirk. When they realized that these shivers were not going away, however, and were in fact becoming far more frequent and severe, everything changed for the Linton family. “KC was failed by medication after medication,” Courtney Linton explained in an exclusive interview with CULTURE. “When we knew he had epilepsy we felt confident things would get better, but it just got worse. We painfully saw KC slip away into a zombielike state.

His eyes were vacant, his learning stopped. He lived in a world revolving around medicines, blood draws and EEGs. He withdrew and developed autistic traits.” From there, things only got more unmanageable. KC could not get a clear diagnosis— doctors claimed he had intractable epilepsy, or “encephalopathy of unknown etiology,” epilepsy with no known cause. The Linton’s were told that KC had a 50/50 chance of SUDEP, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy, and they were in fear for his life all the time. They also tried all kinds of extreme treatments, including the ketogenic diet, a very low-carb diet designed to make the brain use fat instead of glucose as an energy source. No medications were working for him, and KC was having up to hundreds of seizures per day. Doctors recommended a surgery that would sever the connection between the left and right hemispheres of KC’s brain.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

The severity of their situation drove the family to consider cannabis as an option for treatment. They began watching videos of known success stories like Charlotte Figi and Zaki Johnson, and saw hope on the horizon. As a physician assistant, Courtney was well-versed in medical lingo and started reading up on studies to support the validity of these feel-good stories. The information she found clearly showed her that cannabis has a lot of medical capabilities that aren’t being explored by mainstream medicine. They began to plan a trip to Colorado, where they could try the medicine and see if it helped KC. However, just before they left, the Linton family was visited by a social worker concerned with the bruises found on KC at school. Confused, Courtney responded that the bruises were from the seizing and playing, but

“When we knew he had epilepsy we felt confident things would get better, but it just got worse. We painfully saw KC slip away into a zombielike state. His eyes were vacant, his learning stopped. He lived in a world revolving around medicines, blood draws and EEGs.” it was soon revealed that the social worker had been tipped off that the Linton’s wanted to try cannabis as a treatment. “He talked about how KC could be taken away if we even gave this a try,” Courtney revealed about their visit from social services. “I was in shock. My husband and I had devoted everything we had to our son. We then had to painfully go through an interrogation where our love for our child and our parenting skills were held in question; it felt like we were on trial. He left us in a state of extreme fear, and we developed a severe distrust of others. It was honestly one of the worst days of my life.” Spurred to action by this, the Linton family fled to Colorado to live temporarily and try the medicine. KC immediately began showing improvement with Charlotte’s Web

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

oil. The seizures did not magically go away, but KC began having up to five days in a row seizure-free, and also stopped being depressive and withdrawn. He began to hike, run around, play, joke and make comments about the mountains, snow and nature surrounding him. The Linton family then returned to Iowa to be with their family. They have a medical card and are using the strain known as Haleigh’s Hope. Although Iowa limits the potency of the medicine to three percent, and forces families to get the product and bring it across state lines in order to medicate, KC continues to improve and have far fewer seizures than before he began treatment, and he much prefers swallowing a few drops of oil to taking the multitude of harsh medications he was using before. Because of their great success with cannabis, the

family tries to advocate for its use whenever possible. They are trying to help encourage senators to vote “yes” on the CARERs Act that would allow for better access to medical cannabis on a national level. “Marijuana and cannabis are common words in our household,” Courtney explains. “We try to educate whomever will listen. I am certain that with continued education, public support will only continue to grow. In turn, this will fuel government change and research. It’s not easy speak out in small town America where mindsets are slow to change, and you have some people looking at you like you’re a drug addict or pothead for speaking the ‘m’ word.” “We continue to battle epilepsy daily but life has become much more manageable,” she adds. “KC’s seizures are now occurring only during his sleep a few nights per week. Currently, KC has been living a relatively normal life. He has missed barely any school since starting cannabis oil whereas he was absent more than present previously. He is a good kid. He loves his family, pets and home. He has good days and bad, but the runs we have of good days are amazing.” c

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

Industry Insider “It was second nature to develop programs for Oaksterdam University, and we immediately realized we needed to take it on the road as well. Not everyone can get to southern California.”

Dale Sky Jones of Oaksterdam University

by R. Scott Rappold

The doctor was lost somewhere in Compton. It was 2008, during one of the first classes at a fledgling Oaksterdam University, and the lost doctor was supposed to be speaking about the benefits and use of medical cannabis. Dale Sky Jones wasn’t a doctor, nor had she stayed at a Holiday Inn Express the night before. But she did manage a group of medical-cannabis doctors in

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Orange County, and she was asked to step up. “I went through the syllabus and realized it was pretty much what I said to patients all the time, except I got to say a little more, which was exciting for me, and off we went,” said Jones, 41, who was in the classroom as a volunteer facilitator, “a fly on the wall,” as she puts it. “I did not miss another science class in L.A. for the next three years, come hell or high water.”

From that chance beginning, Jones went on to become executive chancellor of a cannabis school with more than 25,000 alumni. She has also become one of the most prominent advocates of medical cannabis in California and around the country. At Oaksterdam University, she says, it’s about a lot more than learning how to grow your own cannabis.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

Cannabis activist Richard Lee had started Oaksterdam in 2007, the first cannabis school in the U.S., inspired by a growing school in Amsterdam he’d visited. But he took it further, adding legal rights and advocacy to the cultivation curriculum. Jones got involved as a volunteer after Lee opened a Los Angeles satellite campus, leading to the aforementioned lost doctor episode. “It was an obvious overlay because training was always my favorite thing to do in the corporations I worked for, developing people. It was second nature to develop programs for Oaksterdam University, and we immediately realized we needed to take it on the road as well. Not everyone can get to southern California,” she said. The curriculum continued to expand as well. A day of legalese preceded the first seed-planting lesson.

Rock ‘N Roll Upbringing

Jones’ first cannabis experience was the smell wafting from her mother’s bedroom—not that she knew it at the time. Her mother, a popular radio host, ran in hippie circles, and when she married Don Brewer, drummer for the classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad, it became a rock-and-roll household. Young people often rebel against their parents, and in Jones’ case, that meant getting a job in the corporate world. She worked for a shoe company, ran her own restaurant, along with other gigs in the service industry. She smoked cannabis from the age of 20, but was very much in the closet. Her career took her to California, where voters in 1996 had approved a first-of-its-kind legalization of medical cannabis. She began to consider the possibilities of this burgeoning industry, and in 2007 left the corporate life to manage a group of medical-cannabis doctors. It became a journey of self-discovery, as one of the doctors in the group helped her understand how cannabis could benefit her. She had long suffered from random vomiting episodes a few times each year, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Cannabis, she learned, could combat the nausea. “After all of these years of getting hooked up to IVs for the vomiting, I realized I actually had a condition. [The doctor] was the one who helped me not only identify my condition but find what the triggers were and to avoid them, and that cannabis could actually keep me out of the hospital,” Jones said. She became a true believer.

Into a Black Hole

Doctors prescribing cannabis in California in these early days, before the explosion of dispensaries and cannabis clubs, had strict legal shackles. Working in the office, meeting the patients, Jones realized just how limited they were. Patients, she said, “walked into a black hole once they walked out of the doctor’s office. The doctors themselves were disallowed from explaining to their patients where to find safe medicine, what medicine to take or how much. They could talk about different methods of ingestion, and that it might help them, but that was the limit.”

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

“These are the folks, the Oaksterdam alumni, who are going out and changing the world, and they are who I am most proud of. They’re the ones who carry the flag.”

Know Your Rights

“When our classes first started, they were geared toward being a qualified patient, what are our rights and responsibilities, how to have successful law enforcement encounters,” she said. “It depended both on where you live and what badge you come in contact with can greatly change your day, your life and your future.” After that session, students could begin what they came for, the planting. “This is one place you can come and get your hands dirty, literally muddy, as you are planting the seeds, a la kindergarten where you’re planting your little sprout. You plant a sprout too. It’s just a cannabis sprout. Having the opportunity to see a living garden and go through it step by step while you’re growing your own garden, our 14 weeks match your 14 weeks, and you get that step-by-step, one-on-one.” But among students, there was a powerful thirst for more knowledge. Lessons were added on cannabis extractions and how to judge bud quality. Then courses were added on how to get a job in the industry and start your own business. Oaksterdam became a place where people networked and met business partners, or in Jones’ case, her life partner. They took the classes on the road, up and down the East Coast, to the Midwest and Jamaica and elsewhere. Oaksterdam launched an online course. The 25,000-plus graduates hail from 30 different countries, Jones said. Many of the alumni became the next generation of cannabis advocates. That’s what Jones is most proud of, even as Oaksterdam became the nation’s premiere cultivation school. “We have trained the gladiators that have gone out into that good night and made it happen . . . The 25,000 people I talked about did not just go back to their closet and grow. They showed up, just like we asked them to, whether it was city council, to vote out a poor elected official and vote in a good one, to help write good policy, whether it’s the young man who is working on the Florida initiative, my graduate from 2010, or the people who helped get New York passed, who were graduates from 2009.” “These are the folks, the Oaksterdam alumni, who are going out and changing the world, and they are who I am most proud of. They’re the ones who carry the flag.” c

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

California-based PharmLabs cannabis testing heads to Hawaii 90

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

cont. from page 90

The state of Hawaii first legalized medical cannabis through the legislative process over 16 years ago, and it took almost two decades to construct a regulatory system to sell medical cannabis in Hawaii. Events in medical cannabis for Hawaii have ramped up since then, with eight possible dispensaries that have been specifically chosen to open up shop after passing a number of requirements. So far, three dispensaries have been approved to open on Oahu, two on Maui and one on Kauai. However, with the growing number of dispensaries opening in legal cannabis states across the country, strict regulations will always follow— and one of the most important practices for cannabis safety

movement towards Hawaii states that it will become available as a main source of cannabis testing in later this summer from its Maui office location. To fit along with the currently approved dispensaries, as well as those still pending approval by the state, PharmLabs will be serving all islands currently approved for the sale of medical cannabis, “PharmLabs Hawaii will provide services on all of the four islands participating in the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program.” The company will test cannabis for levels of potency, terpenes, residual solvents, microbiological contaminations, heavy metals and pesticides. Testing labs such as PharmLabs are essential to the safety and

“PharmLabs Hawaii will provide services on all of the four islands participating in the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program.” and consumption is the trend of cannabis lab testing. Fortunately, at least one testing lab will be expanding its business to take on the Hawaiian market. PharmLabs LLC, which is certified to operate in San Diego, California, is bringing its business to the Hawaiian islands. The company has achieved ISO 17025 accreditation for laboratory testing, which is fully compliant with Hawaii’s medical cannabis dispensary program. The announcement of PharmLabs’

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

well-being of medical cannabis users in Hawaii. Especially coming from one of the country’s very first certified cannabis labs, it’s important to benefits it will bring to Hawaii. The state of Hawaii prides itself in protecting its environment and surroundings to preserve the beauty and natural wonders that the state offers. PharmLabs also offers such pride, as it uses compostable materials, recycling and properly disposes of any hazardous waste materials that are acquired through its operation. c

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

It’s Your

Pokémon GO is even better when paired with cannabis by Nicole Potter

It doesn’t matter if you were born during the explosion of popularity for Pokémon back in the late-’90s or not, Pokémon is making a clear comeback. No doubt you’ve seen people of all ages exploring your local hotspots with the new mobile game Pokémon GO for iOS and Android. While we employ the “don’t knock it before you try it” approach, maybe a bit of cannabis might further incentivize the exploration of your local area. For those who have been living under a rock, Pokémon GO is a map-based exploration game. Players travel in real time, to real points of interest in their area (such as a museum, pieces of outdoor art or historic memorials) to visit PokéStops, which reward items. On the way, 94

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

countless Pokémon will appear, ready for catching—and you can use those Pokémon to challenge local gyms. When Pokémon GO released, it skyrocketed to the top of the app charts during its release in the first week of July. A quick look at the Apple App store reflected a 15 million user download in the game’s first week alone, and according to USA Today, users spent an average of 33 minutes per day playing at the time (compared to the average Facebook browsing session, which lasted about 22 minutes and 18 minutes on Snapchat). Analysis of daily use of the app on both iOS and Android by Recode.net have discovered that there is an average player base

of 9.55 million total daily users. With announcements from Pokémon GO creator Niantic Labs to add more features and more Pokémon generations in the future, and the game being released in multiple other countries now, this is just one of those games that isn't likely to disappear from the spotlight so quickly. Pokémon GO is getting kids and adults alike outside to catch Pokémon while exploring their surroundings—but how can cannabis users take advantage of this? We’ve crafted a list of some of the best Pokémon to try and find, and while you’re exploring your city, use a little themed cannabis to really get into the catching mood: p h o t o s b y W ac h i w i t

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

Pikachu

Snorlax

Drowzee/Hypno

Alaskan Thunderfuck

Critical Mass

Amnesia Haze

As the face of the franchise, this electric-type Pokémon is tiny, adorable and packs quite a shock. If you’re on the hunt for a Pikachu, perhaps a dose of Alaskan Thunderfuck might help inspire you. This strain is well-known for its uplifting sativa effects that help combat stress and depression. Paired with Pokémon GO, which many are hailing as saving grace for their less adventurous nature, you can start your Pokémon journey knowing that nothing can stop you.

There are ways to enjoy Pokémon GO, other than going outside. For the less active folk, players can occasionally catch Pokémon at home. If you’re a homebody that’s into napping but still wants to catch the famous Pokémon Snorlax (which is a massive, heavy creature that often takes unscheduled naps on roads and blocks traffic) then maybe in order to catch a Snorlax, you must be the Snorlax. Critical Mass is a strong indica and often a heavy hitter that will help you sink into a relaxed state that may allow you to doze off for a much needed rest. For moments like these, especially when it’s too hot outside to walk due to the festering summer heat, use a bit of Critical Mass and hope a Snorlax comes your way while doing so.

Drowzee and its evolution, Hypno, are psychic Pokémon that have strong hypnosis abilities. While they aren’t the rarest of Pokémon (although there aren’t any of these guys hanging around the CULTURE headquarters in SoCal) everyone knows that psychic abilities can be “super effective!” If you need a bit of hypnotherapy to overcome your morose mood, look no further than Amnesia Haze. Forget your worries for the time being with this sativa, which is high on the scale of uplift-ability and will send you outside without a care in the world.

Mew

Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan

Charizard

God’s Gift

Headband

Red Dragon

The secret to catching a Mew is: Nothing, there isn’t one (yet). So far, Mew, Mewtwo, and the legendary birds Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos (representing the three teams you can represent after you reach level 5) are currently unobtainable. In Pokémon lore, Mew possesses infinite power and is the creature that all other Pokémon are derived from—meaning one could view Mew as the origin of modern Pokémon. So while you sit on your couch to marvel at the extensive Pokémon universe that stems from Mew that you’ve just discovered (the game series features almost 1,000 different creatures) sit down and relax with a bit of the God’s Gift strain, which will help you relax from a long day out on the town.

Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan are two peas in a pod—they’re the original two fighting Pokémon, one of which is presented as a martial arts-styled fighter with arm and leg wraps, and the other dons boxing gloves. Despite which one you’re after, they both invite a pumped-up play through of the Rocky theme song that pairs perfectly with the hybrid strain, Headband. Don your favorite headband and get ready for some euphoric and happy feelings when using this strain. What better way to get pumped up for a few Pokémon Gym battles?

Charizard is one of the most recognizable Pokémon, aside from Pikachu, and it’s arguably one of the best original fire-type Pokémon as well—plus it’s a dragon too, so it earns extra points on the coolness scale. It takes some dedication to catch or evolve a Charizard, so perhaps a little bit of the Red Dragon strain might inspire you to catch all the Pokémon you can in search of the items you need to level it up. Red Dragon is a great strain that will bring any users out of a state of stress or depression and gives them the ability to awaken the dragon within.

Pokémon GO is a lot of fun, and even more enjoyable when in the company of family and friends. However, CULTURE wants to remind you to take extreme caution both in being aware of your surroundings while playing the game, and also to being aware of any local laws in your area that dictate how and when you can use cannabis in public. With that said, we wish you good luck, and have fun! c

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

Beautifying the World with Compassion and Creativity The art of Marvin Bing by Addison Herron-Wheeler

In the wake of so many recent tragedies, Americans are struggling to cope with a lot of difficult ideasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; institutionalized racism, the profiling of African Americans and the divisions based on heritage and lived experience that still have a profound impact on this country. Many Americans struggle with how to deal with these sensitive yet pressing issues in a way that is cathartic and healthy, but could also yield some change. For Marvin Bing

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Jr., the answer has always been simple: Soothe the suffering with art. Bing is an activist and a painter who has used his experiences growing up, as well as the pain he sees in the media, as a tool to channel positive change through creation. As a cannabis advocate, he recognizes that while cannabis is a wonderful medicine and tool, black Americans are also demonized for their possession of the plant more so than white people.

Speaking through street art, a medium easily accessible to all, he hopes to spread the word about changes needed within society. Recently, a California Collective commissioned Bing to do a mural. His piece incorporates cannabis, along with his usual positive social message. CULTURE caught up with him to ask about his creative process and how he seeks to make an impact with his art.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

“Cannabis has been and is a part of our culture. As a kid who grew up in the streets and immersed in culture, whether that was music, art, fashion or entertainment, cannabis has always influenced or helped create the ideas I come up with in one respect or another.” How did you get started creating art? I started curating and integrating visual art into my work after the Ferguson Protests around the killing of Mike Brown. I felt that a creative response was needed alongside the brave protesters, instead of the same policy-heavy talking heads on TV. How would you describe your style? I don’t know if I have a style. I just go on what my eye and heart tell me. I will say that I believe in the underdogs as it relates to visual arts. So much focus is on “fine arts” and this idea that you have to be in the elite or posh class to have your art respected or even get respect as an artist. In my opinion there are street artists’ work that is much better than some fine art and contemporary art. Who are some of your biggest influences? Hebru Brantley, Joseph Lee, Gregory Siff, Jerome Larrigue, Derrick Adams, Brandan Odums, Sophia Dawson, King Saladeen, and also creatives such as Virgil Abloh, Mike Carson, Jerry Lorenzo, Don C, Elon Rutberg, Nigel Sylvester, Kid Cudi, and many, many others. How has cannabis affected your creative process? Cannabis has been and is a part of our culture. As a kid who grew up in the streets and immersed in culture,

100

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

whether that was music, art, fashion or entertainment, cannabis has always influenced or helped create the ideas I come up with in one respect or another. How do you feel about legalization so far? Could anything be done better, or differently? I think states are dragging their feet with legalizing medical and recreational; not California or Colorado of course. I think one thing that could be done is, don’t make it such a secret: Open the dialogue to all communities and educate everyone about the benefits and the process. One thing that has to change is the fact that black Americans are arrested for marijuana possession far more frequently than whites, and with legalization looming in many states, I hope that changes or ceases altogether. How do you feel about the art scene that you are a part of? It’s like being reborn on a daily basis. The way visual artists see the world from social issues, art, creativity, process, and life is so much different in a good way. The artists I work with on a daily basis are all socially in tune and want to really figure out a way to change the world for the better for marginalized communities. They also happen to be dope artists and creatives. They have accepted me into their community and teach me something new every day. How did you get started interweaving activism and art? How did that come about? When I left juvenile detention when I was 18, I took my first trip to New York City. It was also the first time I saw a Keith Haring mural. The way Haring’s work was dope and also spoke out around pressing social issues touched me. I also met [someone] who would be my mentor, Bill Lynch, who introduced me to his network, [in] which many were doing creative works like Dave Watkins, Gerri Warren Merrick, Dwight Johnson, and others, which would lead to me integrating art and creativity in my work at NAACP and Amnesty International. c @marvinbing

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

101

Get Down with Dizzy Vegas hip-hop rising star Dizzy Wright is all about education, positivity and beautiful beats by Alex Distefano

102

Dizzy Wright will be 26 years old in November, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no stranger to the world of hip-hop music and entertainment. From a young age, he was into rapping and making hip-hop music, and his uncles are Layzie Bone and Flesh-N-Bone from rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Though he is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, he moved throughout his young teenage life to California and parts of the East Coast, before returning back to his home state of Nevada. Wright has been established as a rising talent among underground hip-hop and blends his skills as a lyricist MC and Rhymer with a sense of

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

optimism and positive vibes that are spliced throughout his music. He has collaborated with so many other hip-hop artists and rappers throughout his career and currently released his new 702 EP, which came out in July. He recently took time to speak to CULTURE about his life in Sin City, what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to work on collaborations, versus making music solo, his everlasting positive attitude, and his thoughts on what should be done with the capitol and tax money legal cannabis can raise in the state, if voters pass a bill that would allow for recreational use for adults in the November election.

Can you tell us about your new release, the 702 EP? It is very personal to me. It has a lot to do with growing up in Las Vegas, as I mentioned. There are eight tracks. I have a guest appearance from Reezy and Easy Redd make Skate Maloley. It is just very raw and personal to me but I love the music, and I hope my fans enjoy it too. Timing was an issue. I wanted to continue what I am doing with making unique original music coming out of this town. There is a good scene and sound, not just myself but others that Vegas has to offer musically. I want to bring that out there to let the world hear. With as many collaborations as you have done, do you find it easier to work by yourself or with others? It’s a balance I find between both. If it’s an artist I like and respect genuinely it makes it easier. We all work together. Two brains do work better sometimes when it comes to lyrics and beats. But, I do work well by myself too. Whatever is pertaining to me in my life, I go off those vibes by myself. But I enjoy both working with other artists too. How do you maintain such a positive attitude? I’m naturally a positive person. My mother instilled a lot of good energy in me from when I was a little kid. It’s just always been in there with me. I always try to figure out how to be a better me, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I just find and use positive inspiration when it comes natural. What is the cannabis scene like in Las Vegas? Do you think all 50 states will eventually decriminalize cannabis? Absolutely I do. And as far as the weed scene here in Nevada, it’s half and half right now. Medical cannabis has made a big presence in the city, but there are still a lot of people who have an old way of thinking. They think that

cannabis is a “gateway drug,” and can lead to the heavier harder drugs. Whatever happens if they don’t vote to legalize, medical weed will still thrive in this city. There are lots of people and groups that are for and against it. I personally think it should be decriminalized at the federal level. I think most cops won’t mess with you unless you’re blatant in public or some big time drug dealer or pusher. Other than that medical marijuana is huge here, and there are lots of patients.

“I personally think it should be decriminalized at the federal level. I think most cops won’t mess with you unless you’re blatant in public or some big time drug dealer or pusher. Other than that medical marijuana is huge here, and there are lots of patients.”

What do you think would be some of the positive aspects of the state(s) legalizing and taxing cannabis much like in Washington, Colorado, etc.? Well, in Nevada for sure, I would say we could learn a thing or two from Colorado, in terms of the schools. A lot of people might not know that here in Las Vegas we have one of the richest cities with all the money flowing in, but one of the worst public school educational systems in the country. There is just not enough for kids to learn in school and take with them in life. I feel that leads to the wrong direction. Especially when it’s thrown in with a fast paced city, people just want to go after fast money, the wrong ways often times. But with the tools to be able to succeed in something without criminal activity should be the goal. I feel like the money raised for our schools from cannabis can do a lot of good if they use it and invest it in our students and schools. Plus, the money could be used to give the teachers and staff what they need. The city has a lot of money put into the strip but the local government needs to put more money into the residents and the kids. This isn’t known to be the most kid friendly town but our education systems could be better; I have a family with young children, so that’s just how I think about it. c

wisdomandgoodvibes.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

103

Roaring Passion

The soulful folk-country sounds of up-and-comer Rorey Carroll will make you feel alive again

by Alex Distefano

With a long flowing hair, a youthful smile and a peaceful vibe about her, Rorey Carroll is a young touring musician, singer, songwriter and convicted felon. Years ago, she was busted in Arkansas with 27 pounds of cannabis, taking her to jail, and eventually leading to a conviction. But, that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stopped or slowed down this wandering soul, a traveling and talented musician who plays whenever and wherever she can. Having began playing music at age 18, Rorey blends bluegrass, folk, country and americana

104

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

into her own blend of sounds; her guitar has taken her all across this vast country as a touring musician and more, from Colorado and Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing scene in Humboldt, to Tennessee. She has lived in cars, hiked through forests, and even hiked the Appalachian Trail at age 20. She took time to speak with CULTURE and got candid about her run-in with the law, time in the cannabis growing scene, and current tour, opening for fellow country bluegrass folk rock musician Todd Snider.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

105

by Ed Rosenthal

“I smoke weed before I write. Always, actually. I use a little vape pen or hit a sativa, I find it can expand my mind and release the critic inside me, then I can write without worrying about the judgment inside me.” Tell us about your current tour opening for Todd Snider.

train and made it to Humboldt to do some trimming work while I was there.

I met Todd through different friends. I was living in Colorado in an RV in a backyard where Vince Herman (from the band Leftover Salmon) lived, and after jamming with those guys who were in bands who played with Todd, and knew him, eventually some of my music got around to him. He ended up loving it and asked me to open his tour, and became another friend.

What is the cannabis culture like where you currently reside?

What was the cannabis growing culture like in Humboldt? Tell us about your time spent working as a trimmer. I was in that part of California for a couple of years. This was a while ago. I was kind of a little street kid, I lived in Nashville, and it was before I lived in Colorado. I was hopping freight trains and traveling all over. I hopped a

106

Well I live in Tennessee right now. It’s lightened up in the past few years and it has been decriminalized somewhat for small amounts. But, I am a felon so I am always paranoid. I was busted with a huge amount, so I always have my eyes open and feel paranoid. Do you see a time when cannabis is legal and decriminalized at the federal level in this country? I do see that happening on a certain level with states all having different regulations. Places like Alabama or Arkansas, where I got busted. But, it all depends on the voters and how long it takes for more states to jump on board like Oregon, Colorado, and soon California, hopefully.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

They really need to focus on decriminalization. Do you think that cannabis can open the mind and stimulate creativity? Yes, I do. I would say that is accurate. I smoke weed before I write. Always, actually. I use a little vape pen or hit a sativa, I find it can expand my mind and release the critic inside me, then I can write without worrying about the judgment inside me. I know some people do that with booze but I prefer to smoke weed. Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for anyone who is having legal troubles because of cannabis? Yeah. You have to do the work, and fulfill all the requirements. I was so lucky to have an attorney who cared and fought for me in court. If you can get a lawyer. Also, don’t flake or ignore your end of the deal.

See your parole officer, do everything they ask and stay out of trouble. Having a felony conviction can be tough. You’re in the same category as violent rapists and armed robbers. It’s almost next to impossible to get a day job. My main and most important piece of advice is don’t be an idiot and don’t get busted in the first place! Anything else you’d like to share? Once I release my new album on September 9, I am going on a long tour with Todd throughout October and November. Also, here in Nashville, I am in a rock and roll band, and it’s very different from what I do with Todd. People will hear more about that soon, if they can check my social media sites, I am on Instagram and Facebook. My album will be on Spotify on October 12, and I am very excited. c www.roreycarroll.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

107

SHOOTING GALLERY

High Times Concentrate Cup @ San Bernardino

p h o t o s b y K r i st o p h er C h r i ste n se n

108

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

109

culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN

July garden plus hash making by Ed Rosenthal

The New Plants

It was the end of June and the 4’ x 8’ space in the greenhouse was empty. A friend of mine had some extra Purple Pineapple plants that he passed on to me. This variety has a unique quality; when it gets more than four hours of darkness it initiates flowering. I collected the plants near the end of June. They were in 6” containers. I added nylon wicks to the bottom of each container to make them self-watering by drawing water from the reservoir below. The 25 plants were about 15” high. They were growing outdoors during the day to get the sun’s free rays and then before sundown were placed in an indoor space illuminated by high-pressure-sodium (HPS) lamps. Thus they received light constantly. As soon as I placed them in the greenhouse on June 22, the longest day of the year, the plants started to flower because they were receiving only about 15 hours of light and

nine of darkness. No light deprivation was needed. In order to keep them from flowering I would have had to interrupt the dark cycle with light on an hourly basis. The additional light that I am giving the plants is a 1000-watt HPS lamp on a light mover that is placed about 15” over the canopy. It is supplementing the natural light when the greenhouse is in shade, from 8am to 12noon and then from 3pm-6pm, controlled by a timer. This will help the plants develop bigger, more potent buds. They should be ready to harvest in another six weeks.

Making Dry Ice Hash

One of my favorite concentrates is dry ice hash. It is made from the trichomes that hold the cannabinoids and can be made from leaf trim or bud nugs. The process takes little equipment, virtually no “set-up” time, is very safe, requires little time and effort, uses no chemicals such as butane or other solutes and results in a very pure product. You will need dry-ice, a bubble bag with a 160-200 mesh screen, a pair of thick canvas or cotton gloves

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM ASK ED® Are you growing plants outdoors? Do you have some that are favorites, even while they are growing? Now is the time to start preserving the genetics. If you take clones of each plant, then when you’ve decided the best (after harvest), you can keep those that deserve another chance to enjoy summer. If you are using males for breeding, make sure to clone them too for future use.

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.

PROFILE

COURAGE

DESTINATION

Summer Interlude

and a container that the bag fits over. Aside from the cannabis the only other ingredient used is dry ice. Dry ice is the solid form of CO2. It doesn’t go through a liquid stage just evaporates to a gas, leaving no residue. The ice is very cold (-1090F) and will hurt your skin, so always wear gloves when handling it. I used a small kit that included a plastic container and a screen bag with insulated sides that fits over it and zips up. It had handles attached that came in handy during the process. I placed several ice cubes in the screen bag, and then I added a few ounces of chopped, not ground, trim and nugs. I shook the bag a few seconds, screen up, to mix it. I let it sit for a few minutes so the grass got cold and rigid. Once I started shaking the bag and container the trichomes slammed up against the screen, broke free of the vegetation and fell through quite easily. They landed in a whitish golden pile as the CO2 gas vapors formed dissipating white clouds. As I shook the container three times each for 30 seconds, I kept each pile separate. As they started to turn green I noticed the first pile was the cleanest. After testing, this hash should only be used for edibles. c

110

The plants in the greenhouse get supplemental light during the day.

A. Before pruning.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

B. The plants were pruned of extraneous vegetation to center their energy on growing buds.

Young buds. The plants were forced to flower about two weeks ago.

All the ingredients required to make dry ice hash.

The vapors form clouds as the hash is shaken. The plants will use the CO2 if the shake takes place in the garden.

Instant gratification. Pile of hash ready to use.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

111

PROFILE

COURAGE

DESTINATION

UNKNOWN

RECIPES

growing

culture

if you go:

112

Time to Go: August Weather: Low 70s to high 80s, with occasional rain Budget: $$$$$

Riding the Cannabis Waves in Hawaii by Sheryll Alexander

While Hawaii and cannabis have been synonymous with high potency cannabis strains and a pervasive stoner’s paradise culture, the reality of cannabis-friendly travel today to Hawaii is quite different. That’s because Hawaii became a medical cannabis state way back in 2000 when legislators made it legal for the now 14,000 registered cannabis patients to grow up to seven plants, but did not set up a system of California-like cannabis dispensaries. Until now. In fact, July 2016 will go down as a banner month and year for Hawaii as a long-awaited system of medical cannabis dispensaries are now a go (although most are still awaiting federal inspection and

may not open until summer’s end, fall or even winter). Hopefully by year’s end, Hawaii’s residents can shop at eight brand spanking new state-licensed cannabis dispensaries with lab tested products. Oahu won big with Aloha Green, Manoa Botanicals and Cure Oahu taking the top prize in what seemed to be a Hawaiian “medical marijuana lottery,” which is home to tourist-filled Honolulu and millions of stressed-out locals. The Big Island of Hawaii will soon have two dispensaries: Hawaiian Ethos and Lau Ola. Kona is cannabis central on the big island and is home to legendary medical cannabis strains such as Kona Kush, Kona Gold and Purple Kona.

Maui Wellness Group and Pono Life Sciences Maui will be this island’s first two cannabis dispensaries on what is known as Hawaii’s most romantic and cannabis-friendly island. Maui has also been dubbed a “stoner’s paradise” for its artisanally-grown flower buds. Tiny Kauai was gifted with just one cannabis dispensary, Green Aloha. Reminisce about Kauai and cannabis history with a trip to the North Shore’s Ha’ena National Park that once was part of the ’60s era, clothing optional Taylor Camp. Ready to go legal when traveling to Hawaii? There’s still a long way to go when it comes to Hawaii and legalization, but a more carefree aloha seems to be on its way for all travelers sooner rather than later. c

Fun-Filled Facts Maui is home to a cannabis-based religion. Tourists can visit medical cannabis activist and now Reverend Roger Christie’s THC Ministry for a “cannabis sacrament” based on Biblical sacred anointing oil recipes. 1

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Cannabis is known locally as pakalolo as described by none other than President Obama who mentioned it in his autobiography about his teenhood toking days in Hawaii. 2

While Hawaii has had both a famous and infamous hemp and high-THC cannabis cultivation culture, the Hawaiian Islands are a travel conundrum for medical cannabis patients. Given Hawaii’s remote island location thousands of miles from “the mainland” (aka The West Coast), virtually every tourist flies into just three main airport hubs: Honolulu, Hilo and Kona. This, of course, means flying with your fully legal medical cannabis medications can result in severe consequences including stiff federal fines and potential jail time. However, Hawaii is finally coming around with at least eight legal cannabis dispensaries set to officially open by the end of the year. But with California potentially going legal in 2016, Hawaiian residents, growers, tourists and even the state’s now pro-cannabis politicians are wondering why they are keeping themselves out of the lucrative legal cannabis and hemps markets. It is rather easy to obtain cannabis for travelers, although discretion is advised as driving under the influence can get you a DUI, and possessing less than one ounce can get you charged with a misdemeanor, a $1,000 fine and possible jail time.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

113

culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 114

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Chilton Brown

Age: 28 Condition/ Illness: Depression/ Anxiety Using Medical Cannabis Since: June 2014

Why did you start using cannabis? I started using cannabis daily in 2014 as a result of losing my insurance. When I quit my job to relocate to another state, I was on a daily regimen of Wellbutrin and Xanax to combat severe depression and social anxiety. Shortly after moving, I had a close friend suggest I try medical cannabis, instead of prescriptions. I have found a personal balance of how cannabis helps me cope with everyday life, feelings and emotions. This is something pharmaceuticals never did. Not only have I not fallen back into a hole of depression but I have rediscovered passion and love for life again. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I was taking antidepressants and mood stabilizers per my initial doctor’s recommendations. It was a roller coaster of emotions and balance before finding the right type of medications that worked for me without causing major side effects.

What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? One of the biggest problems medical marijuana patients face is misinformation coupled with the harmful stigma and stereotype it holds. With current federal law stating cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance there is an invisible label of “hard drugs” that has been attached to a harmless plant. By rescheduling cannabis we can start to save valuable time, money and public resources by addressing the flawed judicial system laws regarding non-violent cannabis offenses. What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? With all the misinformation that was taught to us and attached to cannabis from an early age, I understand the secondary view of skeptics. I simply ask for everyone to not judge so quickly and do your research, ask questions, get involved and put yourself in other’s shoes. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but we can start by raising awareness, asking the hard questions and then researching the answers. c

Are you an MMJ patient with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

115

culture growing

Culinary Adventures in August

A United States Army veteran, Chef Nugs found passion in food after his time in the army, and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school. With years of experience as a line cook for world renowned chefs such as Iron Chef Eric Greenspan, Kris Morningstar, Sacha Lyon and Rob Tester, he has crafted his own unique style of cooking and fabricating world class cannabis-infused cuisine. Chef Nugs now owns and operates a line of medicated condiments called Stoney Sauces and a line of medicated seasonings called Stoney Seasonings to help people find new

Menu: Cannabis-Infused Asian Burger

Cannabis-Infused Goat Cheese, Beet and Citrus Salad

This month, Chef Nugs created inspired and interesting summer recipes to enliven your senses and satisfy your palate with a fusion of international and regional recipes. These easy-to-create recipes utilize his line of medicated sauces, and are perfect dishes for any summer night.

4 servings | 150mg

DESTINATION

Cannabis-Infused Asian Burger Ingredients:

COURAGE

1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup chopped green onion 2 tablespoons Stoney Sauce Hoisin Sauce 1 tablespoon Stoney Sauce Cannaracha 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Mix ground beef, green onion, hoisin sauce, sriracha sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, ginger, salt and black pepper together in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Divide meat mixture into quarters; form each portion into a patty. Grill on the preheated grill until meat is browned and light pink inside, about 8 minutes per side. Plate with bun and garnish burger with a green onion, carrot slaw and a fried egg.

IN PROFILE 116

and tasty ways to medicate at home. They range in flavors from olive oil, truffle oil, soy sauce, terpiyaki glaze, bbq sauce, dabatio, cannaracha, dabassco, canna ketchup, wing sauce, to dabjin, carne rub, seasoning salt and garlic powder.

recipes by Chef Nugs

UNKNOWN

RECIPES

Cannabis-Infused Summer Gazpacho

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 consumersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

117

culture

Jinky’s Café Santa Monica

growing

1447 2nd St., Santa Monica (310) 747-6533 www.jinkys.com

Fuji’s Famous Burgers & More

RECIPES

17870 Newhope St., Ste 103, Fountain Valley (714) 437-1570 www.fujisfamous.com

Directions:

UNKNOWN

Preheat oven to 375° F. Wrap each beet in two layers of aluminum foil and place onto a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until the beets are tender, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Allow the beets to cool slightly, and then remove the skins. Let the beets cool to room temperature, or refrigerate until cold. Once cooled, thinly slice the beets. Place arugula into a large mixing bowl. Add the sliced beets, sprinkle with the shallots, pine nuts and goat cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, salt and pepper until emulsified, and pour over the salad mixture. Toss well and serve.

4 servings | 150mg

Cannabis-Infused Summer Gazpacho Ingredients: 1 red bell pepper 2 cloves garlic 1 cucumber 2 stalks celery 1 small red onion 2 plum tomatoes 1 lemon, juiced 1 large bunch parsley

Directions:

1 large bunch fresh basil 1 cup tomato juice ¼ cup balsamic vinegar ¼ cup Stoney Sauce Olive Oil ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper

Roughly chop all vegetables then place in a large bowl with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, tomato juice, salt, pepper and herbs. Toss until thoroughly covered. Transfer to a food processor or blender and puree until just smooth (you can do this in batches). Ladle into bowls and top with fresh basil and an extra drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Gazpacho will keep in a covered tupperware container for up to three days in the fridge. 118

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

DESTINATION

2 shallots, chopped 1/2 cup pine nuts 1 (4 ounce) package goat cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup Stoney Sauce Olive Oil 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice 4 cups arugula Salt and pepper to taste

COURAGE

Ingredients:

La Paella

476 S. San Vincente Blvd., Los Angeles (323) 951-0745 www.usalapaella.com

Cannabis-Infused Goat Cheese, Beet and Citrus Salad

Local eateries with similar dishes:

PROFILE

4 servings | 150mg

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

119

socal NOW! event listings

“Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters,” Opens Aug. 1

Look into the dreams and perspective of Guillermo del Toro. This filmmaker is one of the most imaginative of his time, and now you can experience an exhibition of his collection of paintings, drawings, artifacts, concept film art and more. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles www.lacma.org

hip jazz music and so much more. Catch performances by Michael Franks, Mindless Groove, Dave Koz and David Sanborn, among many others. There will also be a health and wellness focus this year with various vendors promoting foods, healthcare and more. Rainbow Lagoon Park, Long Beach Longbeachjazzfestival.com

featured event

The Comedy Get Down, Aug. 6

Get ready for an evening of hilarity to ensue with some of the funniest guys in comedy. Charlie Murphy, George Lopez, D.L. Hughley, Eddie Griffin and Cedric “The Entertainer” are coming together for a show that cannot be surpassed. The Forum, Inglewood www.fabulousforum.com

Rebelution, Aug. 12

Catch those relaxing vibes of roots reggae music in one of Los Angeles’ most beautiful venues, the Greek Theatre. Rebelution will be sure to keep the crowd swaying with songs off its latest album, Falling Into Place. Greek Theatre, Los Angeles www.lagreektheatre.com

Long Beach Jazz Festival, Aug. 12-14

Get ready to boogie-woogie through the weekend with

120

Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas, Aug. 17

As two of the hottest names in music, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas are touring the country and are ready to share some new tunes with you. Get your body moving to hits of her latest album, Confident, while Nick Jonas will swoon fans with old favorites like “Jealous” and “Chains.” Honda Center, Anaheim www.hondacenter.com

Chocolate & Art Show, Aug. 19-21

It is no surprise that two of everyone’s favorite things—chocolate and art— bring a gathering of over 3,000 people. See what all the hype is about at this show where there is live music, live body painting, food, drinks, vendors and a free chocolate fountain. Attendees must be ages 21 and over.

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

Snoop Dogg performs as Snoopadelic, Aug. 26 It doesn’t matter what name he goes by, Snoop Dogg is a legendary rapper who has been a household name for decades. Now performing live at The Canyon, you might recognize some of his hits like “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Gin & Juice” and “Doggystyle.” The Canyon, Agoura Hills www.canyonclub.net The Vortex, Los Angeles chocolateandartshow.com

L.A. Taco Festival, Aug. 20

This festival is dedicated to the scrumptious and diverse food item that everyone can’t seem to get enough of—the taco. Be sure to bring your appetite and love for tacos to this special event, while music and other vendors will keep you entertained between serious taco eating sessions. Grand Park, Los Angeles www.latacofestival.com

Ohana Festival, Aug. 27-28

With musical performances by Lana Del Ray, City and Colour, Band of Horses and many more notable names, this is a festival you do not want to miss. Get a weekend pass to enjoy the first year of this wonderful event. Craft beer, wine, cocktails and food vendors will be present all weekend to keep you hydrated and happy all weekend long. Doheny State Beach, Dana Point theohanafest.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

121

Chuck Shepherd's

News of the

Weird

LEAD STORY—CASHING IN u By 2009, when Zimbabwe’s central bank gave up on controlling inflation, its largest currency was the 100 trillion-dollar bill—barely enough for bus fare in Harare and not even worth the paper needed to print it. However, that 100 trillion-dollar note (that’s “1” plus 14 zeros) has turned out to be a great investment for several astute traders in London and New Zealand, who bought thousands of them at pennies on the trillion and now report brisk sales to collectors on eBay at US$30 to $40 a note—a sixyear return on investment,

according to a May report in London’s The Guardian, of nearly 1,500 percent. AUSTRALIA! u (1) Yahoo News Australia reported (with photos) a man in Tallebudgera Creek on the country’s Gold Coast swimming with his pet snake. The man, standing chest-deep in water, would toss the snake (apparently a carpet python) a few feet and, according to the videos, the snake would swim back to him each time. (In the man’s other hand, of course: beer.) (2) In April, police in Broome (in Australia’s far northwest) on traffic patrol stopped a 27-year-old man whose “several” children, including one infant, were unrestrained in his car while “cartons of beer” were “buckled into car seats,” according to an Australian Broadcasting Corp. report. He faces several charges, including driving on a suspended license.

NEW WORLD ORDER u Transgender Blues: Ms. Jai Dara Latto, 23, won the title Miss Transgender UK last September in London, but in February organizers stripped her of the title as being insufficiently trans, passing the crown to Ms. Daisy Bell. Officials had spotted Latto (who has worked as a “drag queen”) in a BBC documentary wearing boxer shorts, and since switching underwear is usually such a crucial step for transgenders, officials concluded that Latto must not yet have made a sufficient-enough commitment to qualify for the title. BIRDBRAINS u In a recent book, biologist Jennifer Ackerman noted the extraordinary intelligence of birds—attributed to the dense packing of neurons in their equivalent of humans’ cerebral cortex (according to an April Wall Street Journal review of Ackerman’s “The Genius of Birds”.) For example, the New Caledonia crow, among others, knows how to make and use hooked tools to hide food (and retrieve it from tricky-toreach places), and the blue jay and others, which store many thousands of seeds during autumn, also steal seeds from less-vigilant birds—and they even return to re-hide food if they sense they have been spotted storing it earlier. Additionally, of course, the birds’ equivalent of the human larynx is so finely tuned as to be regarded as the most sophisticated sound in all of nature. PERSPECTIVE u The president of the New England Organ Bank told U.S. News & World Report recently that she attributes the enormous upsurge in donations in recent years to the opiod “epidemic” that has produced a similarly enormous upsurge in fatal overdoses. Now, one

122

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

out of every 11 donated organs comes as a result of the overdosing that in 2014 claimed over 47,000 lives. (An organ-sharing organization’s chief medical officer reminds that all organ donations are carefully screened, especially those acquired from overdose deaths.) NATURE 2, FLORIDA 0 u (1) Nicole Bjanes, casually zipping along Interstate 4 in Volusia County around noon on May 9, saw a red-eared slider turtle come sailing through the air and crash into her windshield, sending her car off the road. The Florida Highway Patrol said the turtle had become airborne after being hit by another car. (It was apparently unhurt and swam away when a firefighter released it into a nearby pond.) (2) On May 10, police in Key West responded to a caller at the scene of a giant banyan tree (common to Florida and featuring vertical roots that thicken, spread and become entangled with the central trunk.) A woman had attempted to climb the tree but had fallen among the vertical roots, making her barely visible. Said a proud police spokesperson, “They popped her out like a cork.” UPDATE u In 2006, a court in Preston, England, apparently weary of Akinwale Arobieke’s repeatedly, unconsensually “touching” men’s biceps in public, issued a Sexual Offenses Prevention Order making any such future contact automatic offenses. Arobieke admitted a longtime fascination with buffed-up physiques and continued from time to time to find biceps irresistible, but in May 2016 he convinced a Manchester Crown Court judge to lift the SOPO based on his assurance that he wanted a “fresh start” and would behave himself. The judge seemed not quite sure, but noted that police could

still arrest him under other sexual or assault statutes. NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (MAY 2012) u At the 10th Arab Shooting Championships in Kuwait in March (2012), as medals were presented and winners’ national anthems were played, officials were apparently illprepared for medalist Maria Dmitrienko of Kazakhstan. Consequently, they cluelessly played, as her national anthem, the humorous ditty from the movie “Borat.” (Instead of such lyrics as “sky of golden sun” and “legend of courage,” the audience heard “Greatest country in the world/All other countries are run by little girls” and “Filtration system a marvel to behold/It removes 80 percent of human solid waste.”) Dmitrienko reportedly kept a mostly straight face, although Kazakhstan later received an official apology. GETTING FANNIES IN THE SEATS u The Bunyadi opened in London in June for a three-month run as the world’s newest nude-dining experience, and now has a reservation waiting list of 40,000 (since it only seats 42.) Besides the nakedness, the Bunyadi creates “true liberation” (said its founder) by serving only food “from nature,” cooked over fire (no electricity.) Waiters are nude, as well, except for minimal concessions to seated diners addressing standing servers. Tokyo’s Amrita nude eatery, opening in July, is a bit more playful, with best-body male waiters and an optional floor show—and no “overweight” patrons allowed. Both restaurants provide some sort of derriere-cover for sitting, and require diners to check their cellphones at the door. CULTURAL DIVERSITY u Milwaukee’s WITI-TV, in an on-the-scene report from Loretta, Wisconsin (in the state’s northwest

backwoods), in May, described the town’s baffling fascination with “Wood Tick Racing,” held annually, provided someone finds enough wood ticks to place in a circle so that townspeople can wager on which one hops out first. The “races” began 37 years ago, and this year “Howard” was declared the winner. (According to the organizers, at the end of the day, all contestants, except Howard, were to be smashed with a mallet.) GOVERNMENT IN ACTION u The Department of Veterans Affairs revealed in May that, between 2007 and last year, nearly 25,000 vets examined for traumatic brain injury at 40 VA facilities were not seen by medical personnel qualified to render the diagnosis—which may account for the result that, according to veterans’ activists, very few of them were ever referred for treatment. (TBI, of course, is the “signature wound” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.) AWESOME! u For the last 17 months, Stan Larkin, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, has gone about his business (even playing pickup basketball) without a functional heart in his body—carrying around in a backpack the “organ” that pumps his blood. Larkin, 25, was born with a dangerous heart arrhythmia, and was kept alive for a while with a defibrillator and then by hooking him up to a washingmachine-sized heart pump, leaving him barely mobile— but then came the miraculous SynCardia Freedom Total Artificial Heart, weighing 13 pounds and improving Larkin’s quality of life as he endured the almostinterminable wait for a heart transplant (which he finally received in May.) (An average of 22 people a day die awaiting organ transplants in the U.S.) iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

123

124

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

125

126

august 2016 iReadCULTURE.com

iReadCULTURE.com august 2016

127