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inside
contents 3.2018
Ask the CannaSexual Submit your sex and cannabis questions to Ashley Manta. She may answer your question in CULTURE’s 420 issue! Go to: CultureMagazine.com/ askCannaSexual
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Versed Veteran
Slug, the recognizable voice of hip-hop duo Atmosphere, opens up to CULTURE about how becoming a father has played a part in his career over the decades, as well as his personal and political opinions on cannabis. O n t he C O V E R :
A a r o n A u b r e y P h oto g r ap h y
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features 58
Tale as Old as Time Cannabis’ healing benefits helped a young girl named Bella tackle her severe eczema, which led to the creation of a new topical beauty product brand.
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Industry Insider Cam Battley shares about his role as the chief corporate officer at Aurora Cannabis Inc., one of Canada’s leading cannabis businesses.
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departments
14 Letter from the Editor news 18 News Nuggets 19 By the Numbers 24 Local News 28 Legal Corner 34 Healthy Living reviews 38 Concentrate Reviews 42 Cool Stuff 46 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 66 Shooting Gallery 68 à La Carte 70 Growing Culture 73 Profile in Courage 74 SoCal Now! 76 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! Crime Rate Drops in Uruguay Following Legalization
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d Application
Submitted for
First Cannabis Spa in Denver
Vol 9 IssUE 9
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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, Caroline Hayes, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Carl Kozlowski, Emily Manke, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Tonya Perme, Josué Rivas, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Michelle Aguirre Graphic Designers Payden Cobern, John Venegas sales director Joe Larson Account Executives Alex Brizicky, Angie Callahan, Molly Clark, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Lee Moran, Casey Roel, Garry Stalling, Shayne Williams, Annie Weber, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy office manager Mikayla Aguilar digital media Hannah Lemley coordinator Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla Publisher David Comden 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.CultureMagazine.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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L E TT E R
FRO M
TH E
E D I TOR
Re R e f l e c t a n d Re a c t
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efore we kick off with the biggest celebration of cannabis culture and 420 parties, let’s use the month of March to refocus on the progress of our community. Now more than ever, it’s important to take matters into your own hands to ensure the cannabis community continues to move in the right direction. Many products and services often transition from underground and into mainstream, and the transition into legalization for the cannabis industry has not been one that has gone unpunished. In the past decade, we’ve increasingly seen generations of cultivators pushed from the legal industry. We’ve witnessed momand-pop shops and brands running into roadblocks in light of increasing competition, and the threat of federal interference is constantly spreading fear. Rest assured, the reason that cannabis has come so far is because of people who speak out in its defense. Join the countless activists, small businesses and organizations who influence public policy for cannabis reform in their communities. Show up regularly at city council meetings, write letters, gather signatures and educate those around you. Your voice is powerful, and it could make the difference between a family farmer being awarded or not awarded the licenses necessary to operate, or it could help a child with a seizure disorder gain access to medical cannabis oil. One of the best ways to be heard exists within your wallet. Use your money to support those you would like to see succeed within this competitive industry. Shop small. Don’t hesitate to spend a little more cash on small batch cannabis from a local farm rather than opting for the most economical option.
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Join the industry’s response to the rescinded Cole Memo by showing more support for legislation like the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment. As it is set to expire once again later this month, be sure to reach out to your local representatives. Share your positive experience with medical cannabis, show your support for recreational rights, and overall let it be known that you stand on the right side of cannabis reform. Finally, donate to organizations that are doing essential work, and support the candidates who are aligned with your ethics. We can’t wait to let our hair down and party with everyone next month, but until then, let’s remember that this community is strong when it stands together. There are still so many people in this country and across the world who could benefit from cannabis reform. Let’s not forget to take action to make safe access a reality for all, while not squashing those who have built our industry. c Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
nuggetS
Los Angeles Officials Issue Over 100 Temporary Cannabis Authorizations Since the first day of recreational sales in early January, the city of Los Angeles has issued a total of 108 temporary authorizations, as of Feb. 26, shortly after the Los Angeles City Council convened to discuss outstanding issues that weren’t covered when emergency recreational rules were released last December. Sales revenue is also through the roof. “Originally the department was given a budget of $1.3 million, and to date we have collected over $2.2
million in licensing fees, and we have around about $800,000 in outstanding invoices, so it is likely that our revenue projections through June will be $3.5 million,” explained Cat Packer, executive director and general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation. During the meeting, the council also looked at potential restrictions on cannabis advertising, including an 800-foot buffer between sensitive locations and ads.
Proposed Bill Would Allow Limited Medical Cannabis in CA Schools Sen. Jerry Hill recently introduced Senate Bill 1127, which would permit schools to allow limited amounts of medical cannabis to be consumed on school campuses in California. Smokable or vaped products, however, would remain banned. “Existing law authorizes a school nurse or other designated school personnel to assist any pupil who is required to take, during the regular schoolday, medication prescribed for him or her by a physician and surgeon or ordered for him or her by a physician assistant, if the school district receives specified
Singapore to Develop Synthetic Cannabis Strains The punishment for cannabis consumption, importation and solicitation in the Republic of Singapore can result in strokes from the cane, the country’s cruel and legal system of corporal punishment, but things are slowly changing. Medical cannabis research is beginning to take root despite Singapore’s notoriously draconian approach to drugs. A 25 million Singapore Dollars ($19 million USD) research initiative called the Synthetic Biology Research and Development Program has
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written statements from the physician and surgeon or physician assistant and from the parent, foster parent or guardian of the pupil.” Currently, parents of children who consume medical cannabis have to physically remove them from campus in order to administer their medical cannabis regimen. Health and Safety Code 11357 would remain in place, which makes cannabis possession on school grounds an infraction, unless law provides an exception.
been launched. Researchers will develop national synthetic strains of cannabinoids derived from cannabis. The cannabis material will most likely be imported from another country in order to carry out the research. “This will be done by translating selective genetic information provided by overseas partners into potent therapeutic compounds not found in nature through synthetic biology,” reads a press release from the National Research Foundation Singapore. For now, the country prefers to research into creating synthetic derivatives of cannabis instead of natural medical cannabis options.
The number of temporary licenses that have been issued to retailers to sell recreational cannabis in Los Angeles, as of Feb. 14: (Source: The Seattle Times)
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The estimated amount of cannabis, in metric tons, that is consumed in Los Angeles annually: (Source: USA Today)
36.06
The number of temporary authorizations for cannabis businesses in Los Angeles that have been issued since Jan. 1: (Source: Los Angeles Daily News)
108
The number of Los Angeles-based illegal cannabis dispensaries, as of mid-February, that have been shut down by local police since Jan. 1: (Source: Los Angeles Daily News)
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The number of votes from members of the Virginia Senate, out of 40, that were in favor of passing a medical cannabis bill: (Source: News Leader)
The increased percentage of cannabis-related job postings in the United States in 2017, according to a study from ZipRecruiter: (source: Business Insider)
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The estimated amount of money, in billions of dollars, that the United States hemp industry is projected to make by 2020: (Source: Hemp Business Journal)
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The 420 Games Los Angeles WHEN: Sat, March 31-Sun, April 1 WHERE: Santa Monica Pier & Venice Skate Bowl, Santa Monica WEBSITE: 420games.org Help prove that cannabis consumers are not lazy or inactive despite the stigma that still persists today. The 420 Games is here to breakdown those outdated stereotypes—with a 4.20mile course. “When I started The 420 Games what I wanted to do was have it be the polar opposite of what the typical cannabis event is,” The 420 Games Founder Jim McAlpine told CULTURE in January. “What those events do is kind of
propagate the stoner image. What I wanted to do is kill the stoner image.” The main event takes place at The Pier North Lot 1. One-hundred cannabis companies will be exhibiting, plus you’ll hear from former NFL players Eben Britton and Reggie Williams. Frank Shamrock will also be there as well as CBD massage chairs, a Jiu Jitsu tournament, a rap battle and a BMX half-pipe show. CultureMagazine.com
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NEWS
LOCAL
Culinary Flower Expo
A Clean Slate Los Angeles County officials vote to clear cannabis convictions By Benjamin M. Adams
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he history of cannabis prohibition in many areas is riddled with imbalances involving people of color in arrest data. Los Angeles County is no different. On Feb. 13, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to streamline the pathway to reduce or clear minor cannabis-related convictions for residents who live in Los Angeles County. The motion was written and filed by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Hilda L. Solis. The motion, entitled “The Decriminalization of Cannabis and Ensuring Equity in Enforcement,” calls for the county’s Office of Cannabis Management and other departments to develop countywide recommendations to abate cannabis-related arrest disparities, within 120 days of the motion date. The motion also calls for a retroactive action. According to the county district attorney’s office, there are some 40,000 cannabis-related felonies dating back to 1993 that could potentially be reduced or cleared. Joseph M. Nicchitta is countywide coordinator for the Los Angeles County Office of Marijuana Management. “Under Proposition 64, people convicted of a cannabis crime may be entitled to have their sentences reduced or eliminated altogether,” Nicchitta told CULTURE. “In
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Los Angeles County, there could be as many as 40,000 individuals entitled to relief, and potentially many more than that. A prior cannabis conviction can prevent a person from getting a job, student loans or subsidized housing. This can worsen social and economic disparities in communities struggling with high rates of criminalization and incarceration.” A solution includes not only amending cannabis laws, but retroactively fixing the problem at its root. Otherwise, people continue to sit in jail for possessing or selling a plant that is now legal. To address this, Nicchitta said, “On Feb 13, 2018, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion directing the County’s Office of Cannabis Management to work closely with the L.A. County District Attorney, Public Defender and other agencies to create a plan to help people get prior cannabis-related convictions reduced or removed from their record.” The plan will assess how many people are potentially entitled to relief, how effective outreach methods are and how to remove barriers that prevent people from seeking relief. The plan is due to be filed in June 2018. Several more large cities in California are launching similar programs. Just a month ago, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón indicated his intention to look at 5,000 cannabis-related convictions dating back to 1975. San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan also indicated a similar approach. “The L.A. County Board also raised concerns about the disparate enforcement of cannabis laws, post legalization, in communities of color across the nation,” Nichitta said. “Ridley-Thomas and Solis’ motion adopted by the Board cited statistics showing that people of color are still disproportionately arrested or cited for cannabis-related crimes. As a result, in the coming months, Los Angeles County will be looking at data metrics to measure and prevent potential disproportionate enforcement here.” Ridley-Thomas and Solis’ motion could pave the way to legislation in the county that will finally put an end to the corrupted institution that is cannabis prohibition. c
Cannabis and fine dining are two things that are great when they are paired together. The curious trend has caught on nationally. There will be a discussion panel called “The Future of CannaChef and integration into the mainstream Culinary World” as well as classes on titration, cooking, cocktails, cannabinoids, pastries and flower pairing. Each class will last 45 minutes with a 10-minute Q&A session. Best of all, there will be CBD taste testing samples available from some of the best cannabisfriendly chefs around. A variety of cannabis chef authors will be onsite in the Cannachef Book Lounge, and they will be available for autographs and to answer questions. WHEN: Sat, March 17-Sun, March 18 WHERE: Evolve Project LA, 1921 Blake Ave., Los Angeles WEBSITE: evolveprojectla. com
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NEWS
LEGAL CORNER
Monetary Protection
California considers a public cannabis bank in light of federal prohibition By Hilary Bricken
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alifornia is predicted to take in $7 billion by 2020 because of adult-use legalization. Its licensed operators have nowhere reliable to put all of that cash, and you can be sure that the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration doesn’t want those operators trucking hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to Sacramento. Additionally, the cash epidemic was complicated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ rescission of the 2014 Department of Justice (DOJ) Financial Crimes Enforcement Network memo, which allowed financial institutions to offer banking to cannabis businesses in states with “robust regulation,” in concert with the 2014 FinCEN guidelines. Thankfully, those guidelines still exist, but the Department of Treasury is currently looking at them in the wake of Sessions rescinding the Cole Memo at the start of this year. In early February, Treasurer John Chiang announced that his office (along with the California State Attorney General’s office) would undertake a two-part feasibility study around forming a state-backed bank to serve California cannabis businesses. In his office’s November 2017 report, Chiang admitted that creating and supporting a state cannabis bank would be a “formidable” task and that the “definitive solution” is for the federal government to either legalize cannabis or for Congress to create some kind of legal safe harbor for financial institutions that bank the industry. Nonetheless, Chiang’s report proposed two options for a state cannabis bank:
· “A public institution that would either (1) finance public infrastructure and expand banking for underserved groups, including the cannabis industry; or (2) take deposits, make loans, and provide other services primarily to cannabis producers, distributors, retailers, and related businesses.” Or,
· “A privately owned bankers’ bank, supported by the state, which would not take retail or small business deposits, but instead provide financial services, compliance services, and technical assistance to financial institutions serving the cannabis industry.” 28
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“Federal deposit insurers want nothing to do with a bank that is focused on cannabis businesses, regardless of whether it is state-owned.”
Chiang’s report goes into great detail about the pros and cons of choosing either a public financial institution or the banker’s bank model. The report runs the gamut of concerns over federal asset forfeiture risks, industry volatility, special problems with closed loop banking and the Federal Reserve, public costs, profitability, capitalization, federal and state regulatory issues, the inability to secure federal depository insurance and various and complicated ownership structures over either model. Overall, both models sound nearly impossible to create, capitalize, and sustain due to exiting federal regulations that are insurmountable in every way, because cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance. A state-owned, operated and financially-backed bank would have a gargantuan task just to get started—just ask Massachusetts and Colorado. Federal deposit insurers want nothing to do with a bank that is focused on cannabis businesses, regardless of whether it is state-owned. The Federal Reserve also seems unlikely to grant a master account to any newly chartered financial institution whose reason for operation is to serve cannabis businesses. Without that master account, the bank wouldn’t have access to the federal money transfer system, a key aspect of banking. California would be wise to examine state-legal cannabis banking practices in the Northwest. Washington and Oregon boast a small but stable number of banks and credit unions that provide services to state-licensed cannabis businesses. Private banking in those jurisdictions grew slowly as those states developed their regulations, and the vast majority of rules are promulgated by state government. California has only just started, and banks that would serve cannabis businesses there would only now be in a position to start working with California cannabis operators. Additionally, with the level of control that California regulators allow local authorities, cannabis businesses in different, local jurisdictions often face significantly different hurdles from one another. It is more challenging for institutions in California to keep up with the myriad of state and local rules that have been promulgated, most of which are still untested and with new ambiguities being found daily. Now that the 2014 DOJ Financial Crimes Enforcement Memo is gone, it’s anyone’s guess as to what the Treasury will do going forward and whether increased regulation under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act will matter to banks and credit unions in California. If banks are going to participate, regulations need to be significant enough that banks believe that they are as “robust” as the Treasury guidance requires, but simple enough that a bank can feel confident about its ability to judge whether or not one of its account holders is complying with state law. Ultimately, a public bank of any kind is a red herring for the cannabis industry. Instead, existing financial institutions need to be sufficiently supported by the states so that they feel comfortable taking on the risk of servicing cannabis accounts. c
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NEWS
HEALTHY LIVING
Blowing Smoke
F e a r o f s e c o n d - h a n d ca n n a b i s smoke is overblown
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By Lanny Swerdlow, RN LNC hen it comes to considering the many different methods of consuming cannabis, smoking cannabis is often seen as the unhealthiest option. While there are clear and often fatal consequences to smoking tobacco products, should we be just as worried about cannabis smoke? Recent research suggests that when it comes to the lungs and firsthand or secondhand cannabis smoke in particular, there may not be a significant health risk involved, contrary to written warnings of the past. In an article entitled Marijuana and Lung Health, the American Lung Association conflates the known dangers of tobacco smoke with cannabis smoke, warning that “smoke from marijuana combustion has been shown to contain many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.” The report ominously notes that “secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in directly inhaled marijuana smoke in 34
similar amounts if not more.” The article concludes that “smoking marijuana clearly damages the human lung” and that “smoking marijuana leads to symptoms such as chronic cough, phlegm production, wheeze and acute bronchitis.” It sounds extraordinarily gruesome and frightening, considering that it comes from a respectable American health organization. Unfortunately when it comes to cannabis, even the most respectable of organizations can succumb to 80 years of “Reefer Madness” prohibition.
Let’s take a look at a few facts and research Over 400,000 Americans die every year from smoking tobacco, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zero Americans die from smoking cannabis. If people are not dying from firsthand cannabis smoke, it would seem to be totally illogical to conclude that people are in danger from secondhand cannabis smoke. In a study published in the January 2012 Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Donald Tashkin of University of
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California, Los Angeles’ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine reported that although smoking tobacco results in decreased lung function over time, low to moderate consumers of cannabis actually showed increased lung capacity compared to non-smokers. In the abstract of his research published in the June 2015 Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Dr. Tashkin wrote “the accumulated weight of evidence implies far lower risks for pulmonary complications of even regular heavy use of marijuana compared with the grave pulmonary consequences of tobacco.” Looking into the connection between lung cancer and cannabis smoking, Scientific American reported in May 2006 that Dr. Tashkin’s “study of more than 2,000 people found no increase in the risk of developing lung cancer for marijuana smokers.” While many tobacco smokers face lung cancer due to their habit, those exposed to cannabis smoke do not face the same risk. Researchers have also been able to dismantle the idea that many other lung-related side effects and health risks could be caused by exposure to cannabis smoke. Dr. Tashkin’s pioneering research has been replicated by a virtual cornucopia of studies, including a January 2018 study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases by researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health. Contrary to the assertions of the American Lung Association, this peerreviewed evidentiary based study found “Neither current
“Over 400,000 Americans die every year from smoking tobacco. Zero Americans die from smoking cannabis.”
nor former marijuana use was associated with increased risk of cough, wheeze, or chronic bronchitis when compared to never marijuana users,” and that “In agreement with other published studies, we also did not find that marijuana use was associated with more obstructive lung disease.” Although there are fears that cannabis smoke is just as dangerous as tobacco smoke, this study did not show any correlation between exposure to cannabis and health risks to the lungs. A study conducted by Evan Herrmann of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and published in the June 2015 Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that “Under extreme, unventilated conditions, secondhand cannabis smoke exposure can produce detectable levels of THC in blood and urine, minor physiological and subjective drug effects, and minor impairment on a task requiring psychomotor ability and working memory” and that “nonsmokers exposed under ventilated conditions reported no significant subjective effects and did not have impairment in cognitive performance.” Like the misplaced concerns about the impact of second-hand smoke on lung function, concerns about the legendary “contact high” are totally overblown. c
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REVIEWs
concentrate Available wherever: Yummi Karma products are carried.
Love Potion #420 Love Potion #420 will kindle buried romantic feelings and boost arousal, with its aphrodisiac-like ingredients including maca root, guarana, damiana leaf, turmeric and ginseng root. Damiana leaf is great for its noticeable aphrodisiac effects and mild psychoactive effects. Yummi Karma’s tinctures rank among some of the most beautifully-packaged and most effective cannabis-infused droppers CULTURE has ever encountered. It’s ideal for precise titration and microdosing, as each dropperfull (1 ml) contains 5mg of THC and 2mg of CBD, which can be applied under the tongue. It’s also healthier than smoking and tastes like medicated, but pleasantly infused coconut oil.
Available wherever: Gold Drop Co. products are carried.
Gold Drop X STS9 - Golden Gate Concentrate Cartridge & Battery The festival-headlining, Santa Cruz-residing and cannabis-loving psychedelic jam band that is Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) has joined forces with Gold Drop Co. to bring Bay Area residents one of the best extract cartridges on the market. The “Golden Gate” cartridge blends a smooth, yet vibrant taste with the subtle sour and citrusy notes from the Sour Tangie x Trainwreck hybrid that the extract is derived from. The name “Golden Gate” is a shout out to the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area that STS9 recently performed at for New Year’s Eve, and it is also the title of one of its more melodious and pleasant songs that is very reminiscent of this concentrate’s effects. Consumers will find themselves blissfully drifting off to cloud nine after only a few breaths of this delicious and potent cartridge. Easily one of the best flavored extracts available in cartridge form, this collaboration between Gold Drop Co. and STS9 is truly out-of-this-world. 38
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REVIEWs
For More Products Go To CultureMagazine.com
3. High Tea Herbal Wraps
1. Vogue 3 Piece Spray Can Norman “Vogue” Chuck is an American graffiti artist, calligraphist and illustrator. You know Vogue is the original, because as you see on the bottom of this grinder, graffiti artists typically tag “one” after their name to indicate they are the original artist. When it comes to cannabis, if you’re looking for the original, look no further than Santa Cruz Shredder. Every seasoned cannabis consumer knows that daily smokers need a good grinder that will last. The Vogue One grinder from Santa Cruz Shredder is shaped like an aerosol spray can and features graffiti-inspired décor. Its improved aluminum design is built to last. The grinder’s teeth are razor sharp, which makes it strong enough for grinding up Moonrocks. Price: $74.50+ More Information: santacruzshredder.com 2. Utillian 721 This product is utilization at its finest. The Utillian 721 embraces minimalism with its simplistic, yet useful design. Vaporizer products that are complicated usually don’t end up being used on a regular basis, but Utillian 721’s process is self-explanatory. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket and with eight temperature settings, its temperature can be adjusted in five-degree increments. Its 60-minute battery life is double the battery life of other competing convection units. The cap seals your herbs inside, the mouthpiece swivels out, and its one-button design makes vaping cannabis a cinch. Price: $189.99 More Information: utillian.com 42
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Almost any substance would be safer to smoke than tobacco— including tea leafs. More people nowadays are smoking green tea or tea instead of tobacco because there’s no nicotine and tea has antioxidant properties. High Tea Herbal Wraps are also made out of tea leaves. And here’s the kicker: High Tea Herbal Wraps are selfrolling. Yes, you read that correctly! The wraps form a tight curl very slowly once you take them out of the package. Flavors available include Mad Melon, Mango Dream, Juicy Grape and Royal Sweet. Price: $2.49 More Information: highteawraps.com
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4. iKeyp Bolt
Got curious kids? Or roommates with sticky fingers? The iKeyp Bolt can help keep your cannabis goods safe and locked away from unwanted visitors. It is the safe of the future, with WiFi connectivity, 24/7 monitoring and remote capabilities. A smartphone app is also available for iOS and Android phones, enabling you to monitor when it is opened, the number of keypad attempts and battery life. You’ll get reminders if you forget to take things out, such as medication. The kit comes with screws and supplies to mount it on the wall for easy access. Price: $149 More Information: ikeyp.com
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REVIEWs
entertainment MOVIE Release Date: march 20
BOOK
The Cannabis Grow Bible Greg Green Pub. Green Candy Press Become well-versed in the knowledge of cannabis cultivation trade secrets—in Biblical proportions. Complete with over 1,000 photos, The Cannabis Grow Bible is one of the most comprehensive cannabis cultivation guides around. The third edition has been updated to accommodate new innovative technology, which will help you navigate your way through the tedious, and often difficult task of learning to grow high quality cannabis. Everything is covered in depth, from clones to hydroponics to greenhouses, complete with photos and sidebars to help simplify cultivation techniques. With this in tow, you’ll learn how to make hash and various types of extracts as well. (Richard Saunders) 46
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Available on: Xbox One and PC
GAME
Sea of Thieves Dev. Rare Pub. Microsoft Studios Fantasy and science fiction are prevalent throughout video games, but there’s a small niche for people who want to emulate the lifestyle of a genuine pirate. Luckily, Sea of Thieves does just that. Join your friends in this cooperative multiplayer experience where you learn how to man a ship (i.e. hoist sales, navigate the seas, fire cannons) and travel the sea in search of quests, loot and intense seabattles. The playful design of this game doesn’t take itself too seriously, because you are, after all, sailing the seas in search for booty. (Nicole Potter)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Dir. Martin McDonagh Fox Searchlight Pictures For those who prefer their heartbreaking drama with a little laughter mixed in, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is the movie you’ve been searching for. When the investigation into the rape and murder of Mildred Hayes’ teenage daughter begins to slow, Hayes takes extreme measures to inspire motivation in Director Martin McDonagh’s latest film. Helmed by a veteran cast including Academy Award winner Frances McDormand, Academy Award nominees Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell and John Hawkes, and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is an absolute grand slam of a motion picture. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
Onion Shannon & the Clams Easy Eye Sound Shannon & the Clams is hurtling toward a decade together as a band, however the music that it creates sounds just as exciting and fresh as ever. Though the quartet draws much of its inspiration from the girl group, garage pop stylings of the past, it continues to develop a sound distinctly its own. The band’s fifth LP, Onion, finds the group digging deep and putting out some of its most intimate, introspective work yet. Whether grappling with the 2016 Ghost Ship fire tragedy or its own personal dramas, the new album showcases the Clams at its most vulnerable and powerful simultaneously. (Simon Weedn)
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Atmosphere produces c o n s c i o u s h i p - h o p t h at has benefited society for decades By Benjamin M. Adams
Members of the inordinately successful independent hip-hop duo Atmosphere, who have been releasing hits for decades, didn’t ever plan on becoming role models. Since releasing their first major album in 1997, rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/Producer Ant (Anthony Davis) have released eight studio albums plus a capacious library of EPs, collaborations, remixes and various evolving side projects. Atmosphere has topped the U.S. Independent Albums chart multiple times, and the group has achieved numerous top 10 albums on The Billboard 200. Atmosphere’s near-constant presence in the hip-hop world is virtually unheard of— especially for an independent group on the popular independent hip-hop record label in which Slug and Ant co-founded, Rhymesayers Entertainment. Slug was born to a white mother and a black and Native American father—but he ultimately found his true identity in nonviolent, conscious hip-hop culture. CULTURE caught up with the lyricist, songwriter and voice of Atmosphere, to reflect on hip-hop, fatherhood, police brutality and of course, cannabis.
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Photos by Aaron Aubrey | Live Photos by Kristopher Christensen
“I support all uses of marijuana, not just medical. T h at i n c l u d e s t h e r e c r e at i o n a l u s e o f m a r i j u a n a . I ’ d r at h e r see safe spaces for people to selfm e d i c at e a s o p p o s e d t o w h at w e ’ v e d o n e i n t h e p a s t, w h i c h i s very unsafe.”
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Tell us about #DadRap. It exists because there’s a sense of moral obligation to the listeners. You see a lot of younger people just getting hot off of their own shit. Eventually, you start to feel a little bit of pressure to being accountable for this shit. I think this is something that a lot of artists go through, because when you start making art at a young age, you’re pushing, poking and taking these risks and saying, “Fuck everybody, fuck the world,” you know, this rebelliousness. As you
get older, you still have those sentiments, but you are a little bit more aware of the effect that you can have with how you deliver those sentiments. I like the term #DadRap, because someone once accused me of wearing “dad shorts” six, seven or eight years ago. I don’t remember. I had to kind of be like, “You know what, that’s just me,” you know what I’m saying. I’ve kind of become that dude. It was around the same time that I had my second child. All of
Atmosphere: Then and Now Over the years, Atmosphere has released eight studio albums and at least 10 EPs. Several side projects also exist such as Felt and Deep Puddle Dynamics. Slug has appeared on innumerable hip-hop albums as well including artists such as KRS-One, Logic, Berner, Aesop Rock, The Grouch, Brother Ali and Evidence. CULTURE put together some of the most significant milestones in Atmosphere’s history.
1995 – Slug cofounded Rhymesayers Entertainment with Ant, Musab Saad (Sab the Artist) and Brent Sayers (Siddiq).
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1989 – Shy young Slug initially sees himself as a background DJ for other artists. He eventually starts rapping and partners up with Derek Turner (Spawn) and producer Ant to form Urban Atmosphere, which they shorten to Atmosphere.
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these things kind of came together. I’m still mad at the world, but it’s like being mad at the world with a sense of what I’m trying to do about it. At what age did you discover you had a penchant for rhyming? Well, I just embraced the whole shit—because the culture gave me the identity. The neighborhood I grew up in was predominantly children who were involving themselves in hip-hop
1970 (Sept. 6) Producer Anthony Davis (Ant) is born. He would eventually follow in his father’s footsteps and learn to DJ.
through breakdancing, graffiti, rapping, DJing and all those things—but we didn’t necessarily go “Oh, I’m going to do this,” or “I’m going to do that, ” or “I’m going to make a career out of it.” It was just something we did, like playing baseball. But I wasn’t attempting to become a professional baseball player. That’s what kids do. But at some point, if a kid is good at baseball, and someone notices, things are bound to happen. And that’s kind of what happened with us. I would say that when I was in my late teens, that I was like “Oh, I want to be a DJ. I want to be a DJ on the radio. I want to be a DJ in the club.” But even then, I wanted to be a DJ, not a rapper. I thought the DJ was the cool guy. It wasn’t until the late ’80s that it was revealed to us that the rapper is actually cooler than the DJ. That was the image, at least, that was being pushed on to us. Then it was like, “Anybody can be rappers just like anybody can be in a rock band.”
1972 (Sept. 7) - Sean Daley is born. Sean eventually adopts his father Craig Daley’s nickname “Sluggo” and later shortens it to Slug. 1980s – At Washburn High School, young Daley befriends several other fellow rappers and forms a hip-hop collective that focuses mostly on breakdancing and freestyling.
2005 (Oct. 22) You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having peaks at #1 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.
I understand you cofounded Rhymesayers Entertainment. And you’ve been around for decades. What’s your secret to longevity? I think Rhymesayers is a web of creative and business-minded people and adventurous people that are continuing to look for what they can do to keep the life going. The constant touring of Atmosphere was a weird situation. Check this out: When I was a kid, nobody’s dad liked hip-hop. If your hip-hop didn’t scare dads, you weren’t making good hip-hop. Nowadays, it’s a different thing. I still think rap should make older white people uncomfortable—I think that should be a rule. But, there’s something interesting here about how you have 50-year-olds that listen to hip-hop. That never could have happened when I was a kid. Now there’s room for the Neil Young of hip-hop. Do you believe Americans have grown numb to the constant pervasive violence in the news? I can’t really say on behalf of Americans, but for myself, I have to unplug from social media. I have to stop looking at my news feed. I have to stop hearing the news every so often—more often
than when I was younger. When I was younger, it would be because I didn’t have time to keep up with what’s going on in the world. Now that I’m older, I’m intentionally making a decision to keep up sometimes because I’m exhausted. It exhausts me. I don’t know if “numb” is the right word, but I would use the word “exhausted.” I’m exhausted by the violence. I’m exhausted by the stories of police brutality and police misconduct. I’m exhausted by people hurting each other. So maybe the next step is numb. It’s going to exhaust my fucking ability to have empathy— hopefully not, because that’s what connects us all as human beings. I think we really, really, really need to reconsider what all this interconnectivity is doing to us. I don’t know that it’s good. And I’m not trying to be the guy with the tin foil hat. I’m just saying, when someone like me is nervous about empathy levels, that’s not good. Empathy is my superpower. I loved social media for awhile, because it was fun to meet people, make friends and sell records. But now I try to see how far in the day I can go without checking my Twitter.
1997 (Aug. 5) - Atmosphere released its debut independent album Overcast! by Rhymesayers Entertainment. It generated the single “Scapegoat” which helped define the sound of Atmosphere. Spawn quits the group after the first album.
2001 (Feb. 1) - Three of Atmosphere’s EPs, Ford One, Ford Two and Lucy, are released as an LP called Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs. 2002 (June 11) - Atmosphere releases God Loves Ugly, and the single “Modern Man’s Hustle” becomes one of the duo’s most successful singles, peaking at #18 on Billboard’s US Hot Rap Songs chart.
2005 (May 6) - By popular demand, Atmosphere’s 1999 album Headshots Se7en is finally reissued on CD, and fans cite it as the album that solidified the group’s sound. 2004 – Atmosphere hires a live band with a guitar section in order to perform certain songs. 2003 (Sept. 23) - The album Seven’s Travels is the group’s third full-length, but the duo decides to release it on Epitaph Records, a punk rock label typically known for bands like Rancid and NOFX.
2002 (Dec. 10) - Slug’s side project Felt, a duo he formed with Murs, releases its debut album Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci. Felt would go on to release two more albums in between Atmosphere projects.
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“They’re filling prisons up with people who a r e b a s i c a l ly j u s t t r y i n g t o s e l f - m e d i c a t e o r h e l p s o m e o n e e l s e s e l f - m e d i c at e . P e o p l e are trying to deal with how depressing t h i s f u c k i n g s o c i e t y i s. F o r i n s ta n c e , i f y o u p u t m y d a d a w ay f o r d o i n g d r u g s , a l l you’re doing is putting me in a position to do more drugs—because now I have to cope w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t y o u t h r e w m y f a m i ly i n p r i s o n o v e r d r u g s. I t c r e at e s a cyc l e . ” You’re a master at writing breakup songs, such as “I Should’ve Known” or “Fuck You Lucy.” Is songwriting a form of emotional therapy for yourself? I would say it’s had its moments of being cathartic. There’s times when I’ve used it to handle and deal with situations. I’ve always written material to get through shit. Not just breakup songs, but the loss of a loved one. I’ve been fired from jobs, and I’d write about it. You gotta understand that a lot of rappers’ writing never makes it to the record. But if you were to look through the pages and pages of shit that I’ve written, you could kind of see all of the negative shit that’s ever happened in my life. Shit that’s happened to me or shit that I’ve perpetuated myself. It’s a way to vent. It’s a way to get through it. You write your way through your problems. I’ve also used the good things in my life to inspire the writing. It’s always interesting to me when someone says “Yeah, I like Atmosphere when they used to write songs about this, this and this, but now that they’re writing songs about this, I’m not into it.” If you’re not going through 54
the same kind of shit that I am, why would you? Do you believe artists who are in the public eye have a responsibility to speak out on political issues? I would never say it’s a responsibility. People have to do what’s comfortable with them. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking out, because it’s just not who you are, then don’t! Because you could be doing a disservice to the particular movement that you’re trying to help. So no, I don’t think it’s a responsibility. The only thing that any of us are responsible to do is just to do our fucking best. Whatever that means, however you want to interpret that, that’s up to you. Just do your best. Do your best to do your best. I’ve always put political shit in my music. But back in the day, I was insecure about it, so I would be more cryptic. I would tuck it in cryptically. I didn’t want to come off preachy. My heroes were Chuck D and Rakim and KRS-One. Chuck D and KRS-One would cross the line into preachy. I appreciated that, but I didn’t feel confident enough to try to do what they were
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doing because they were my heroes. As of lately, I’ve been a little bit more direct but I think that comes with age. You’re just like, “This is who the fuck I am, and there’s nothing you can say that going to make me feel awkward about it.” Before I would pause as ask myself, “Am I right for the job?” You frequently rap about police brutality. What are your opinions on injustices like the Philando Castile shooting? Here’s the thing: These cops are scared. If we don’t figure out how to address that in an honest and human way, A, the system is going to continue to happen and B, they’re going to continue to disappoint us with their fucking excuses. They should just say, “Look, I was scared, and I acted incorrectly. I did the wrong fucking thing out of fear.” And give them the punishment they deserve. Why was that particular
cop scared? He was scared because Philando Castile was black, period. That needs to be fucking addressed. Everybody needs to be aware and confront the fact that this is what’s happening and this is why it’s happening. For 400-plus years, the black man has been made out to be a fucking scary guy. We have all been conditioned, especially the police. I couldn’t tell you whether or not that particular cop hates black people, but I could tell you that cop is scared of black people. What is this irrational fear they have that makes them overreact? Why are we hiring police that feel that way? We have a very strict way that we do jury selection. Why can’t we approve or disapprove who gets hired to be the police? Why don’t police have to carry an expensive insurance policy like how doctors do?
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What do you think needs to happen in America to handle this overpopulated prison system? If I knew, I would not be rapping, and I’d have a job in the public sector. It’s due time to legitimately decriminalize a lot of drug offenses. They’re filling prisons up with people who are basically just trying to selfmedicate or help someone else selfmedicate. People are trying to deal with how depressing this fucking society is. For instance, if you put my dad away for doing drugs, all you’re doing is putting me in a position to do more drugs—because now I have to cope with the fact that you threw my family in prison over drugs. It creates a cycle. So now I’m next. How do you feel about medical and recreational cannabis? I’m pro-marijuana, but I’m not prodrugs. That means I don’t want to personally do drugs, but I certainly
don’t want to govern other people who want to do drugs. I support all uses of marijuana, not just medical. That includes the recreational use of marijuana. I’d rather see safe spaces for people to self-medicate
2008 (May 10) - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold peaks at number one on the Billboard Tastemakers chart with help from Tom Waits. The album proves to attract a larger, more mainstream fanbase. Its single “You” charts on the Billboard US Alternative Songs chart.
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+ rhymesayers.com
2011 (April 12) - The Family Sign is released, marking Atmosphere’s sixth studio album.
2016 (Dec. 9) - Frida Kahlo vs. Ezra Pound EP is released.
2017 (Aug. 7) Atmosphere kicked off the “Welcome to California” tour beginning at The Fillmore in San Francisco.
as opposed to what we’ve done in the past which is very unsafe. Unfortunately, I don’t spend enough time thinking about solutions. c
2016 (Sept. 3) - Fishing Blues peaks at number one on Billboard Independent Albums chart.
2018 (March 5) Atmosphere’s “Welcome to Canada” tour kicks off with Evidence and will visit at least 10 Canadian cities. After that, Atmosphere will continue with U.S. tour dates.
2013 (April 20) Demosexual 7” is released on vinyl, secretly recorded by Atmosphere.
2014 (May 24) - The album Southsiders peaks at number one on the Billboard Tastemakers chart.
2018 (May 25) - Atmosphere will join 311, Steel Pulse, Iration, Alpha Blondy, Stephen Marley, Slightly Stoopid, Brother Ali, Mike Love and more for the California Roots Music & Arts Festival in Monterey, California.
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“ I s ta r t e d t r y i n g C B D t i n c t u r e s t o s e e h o w t h at w o u l d h e l p, a n d I w a s a b l e t o s e e s h e w a s h e a l i n g m o r e q u i c k ly, a n d t h at ’ s r e a l ly w h e r e w e s ta r t e d . ”
Better for Bella L A mother’s love leads to a feminine cannabis topical line
By Addison Herron-Wheeler
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ike many good business ideas, the concepts behind Altitude were born from necessity. The popular Weekend Boxes produced by Altitude Products fill the needs of the modern cannabis consumer, with everything necessary to have a wellrounded cannabis experience, complete with instructions that detail what strains do and how to imbibe. And its recent premium cannabis topical line, Bella, was born from an even deeper, maternal desire—the need for Founder Krista Whitley to find a healing treatment for daughter’s eczema. “I have daughters, Bella and Mia; they are nine and 10,” Whitley explained to CULTURE. “Bella has had eczema her entire life. It was a real challenge, and we spent all of her toddler years and most of her childhood in dermatologists’ Photos by Shannon Dorn with Dope Foto
offices. We tried light therapy. She was on every steroid; she has been on every type of holistic treatment, anything we could come up with, but it wasn’t working, and she would still get made fun of at school for having ‘snake skin.’” Whitley struggled with watching her daughter feel so much shame about her skin. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, 100-degree days are common, and even in the summer when the heat was unbearable, Bella wanted to wear long sleeves to cover up, because she was uncomfortable showing off her skin. At this time, Whitley was reading about how cannabis can be a pain reliever, and she was using cannabidiol (CBD) as her own method of holistic healing. Whitley decided to try this healing technique on her daughter’s skin.
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“I started trying CBD tinctures to see how that would help, and I was able to see she was healing more quickly, and that’s really where we started,” Whitley explained. “Then I thought, ‘Gosh, it’s so dry here; we have to have some type of moisturizing cream,’ so I started playing with ingredients. It really started in my kitchen, researching holistic options and trying a variety of things. I knew preservatives or things with additives would set off her skin, so I started researching things that worked side-by-side with skin care, playing with different formulations.” After mixing and experimenting in her kitchen for a while, Whitley came up with a lotion that soothed her daughter’s skin and healed her eczema, all using holistic CBD distillate and natural ingredients that worked in tandem with the CBD. She just released the CBD version of the cream nationwide called Crema Elegante, as well as an adult-only THC cream in Nevada. So far, both have been received very well. “It’s exciting to see something that started in my kitchen come to fruition,” she explained. “It doesn’t irritate her skin, doesn’t cause flare-ups. It’s exciting to her, and to me it was always important as an entrepreneur to show her that women can do anything, so it’s exciting that she gets to see a line of products inspired by her.” Her special line of Bella products include disposable vaporizers and spa products like the CBD and essential oil-infused bath bomb, Bomba da Bango and the CBD and Himalayan bath salt, Sale de Bagno. Whitley also produces Weekend Boxes, which are complete kits for a weekend of cannabis consumption. The goal behind these is to educate those who are new to cannabis about the products available and how they should be used. “We walk everyone through a terpene guide so they understand why terpenes are so important, walk them through microdosing and through whatever product is included in that iteration of the box,” Whitley explained. “And the guidance is specific to the type of box. So if it’s our starter box that has an eighth of 60
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“Bella has had eczema her entire life. It was a real challenge, and we spent all of her toddler years and most of her childhood in d e r m at o l o g i s t s ’ offices.”
flower, it includes the cultivator and different phenotypes. If it’s a pre-roll, it will explain the strains used. If it’s infused products it will walk them through the effect they can anticipate. We also include concentrates, and then we walk them through how they can medicate and what concentrates are. Of course, we also include microdosed edibles. So we are really trying to educate them on all the options for cannabis use.” Whitley didn’t try cannabis herself until her 30s, after being involved in a bad car accident. She finally let go of some of the stereotypes about cannabis she had learned while growing up, when a friend suggested she try it as a supplement to replace some of the many prescription drugs she was taking. Whitley found success in using cannabis for pain management, and she realized the importance of celebrating cannabis as an alternative treatment option. Ever since then, she has been committed to being an advocate and educator, even as she makes for-profit products. Bella creams, her latest offering, are an extension of her overall ethos that cannabis products should help people in need. c
+ shopcelebratebella.com
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Industry Insider
T.
World Ta k e o v e r C a m B at t l e y a d m i t s t h at A m e r i c a’ s federal prohibition allows Canadabased Aurora Cannabis to thrive By R. Scott Rappold
W
e Americans like to think we’re in the forefront when it comes to cannabis legalization. After all, nearly 30 states have medical cannabis and nine have approved recreational cannabis for adults, the most significant wave of legalization since the plant was banned seven decades ago. But it’s our neighbors to the north who are quietly paving the way for the future of the industry. Colorado and California may get all the press, but Canada has developed one of the world’s most liberal medical cannabis policies, one that has allowed truly national cannabis companies to develop in ways American companies cannot because the plant remains federally illegal here. As to how this future may shape out, look no further than Aurora Cannabis. While the largest U.S. cannabis companies are valued around $190 million, the Edmonton-based company was recently valued at $2.4 billion—yes, with a “b”—with a stake in nearly every phase of the process from seed to sale. 62
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“The Squarest Guy in the Cannabis Business” Battley doesn’t fit the profile of your typical cannabis peddler. He spent most of his career working in the pharmaceutical industry until a friend in 2014 suggested he look into medical cannabis. While the American government spent years battling and shutting down dispensaries, Canada’s government in 2013 created a legal framework for the industry. “Are you crazy? I do serious stuff,” Battley responded to his friend. Then he began to look at the actual medical benefits of the plant. “What resonated with me is that medical cannabis is used to manage the symptoms of a wide range of health conditions, and I was well aware of the vast unmet medical need with respect to symptom management across this wide range of conditions,” he said. “So a light bulb went on for me immediately, and it was one of those times in life when you’re absolutely delighted to find out you were completely wrong about something.” “Today they call me ‘the squarest guy in the cannabis business’ because of my business background. Plus I’ve been a Scout leader for 10 years and soccer coach for 10 years.” In 2016, he took the job as chief corporate officer at Aurora, making him the company’s public face in dealing with the media, investors, regulators and others. And he won’t even admit to ever enjoying the product. There’s a good reason for that, however. The U.S. Border Patrol in recent years has begun banning non-citizens from entry—in some cases for life— for simply admitting to having consumed cannabis.
Not too shabby, eh? And as Canada moves toward legal use for adults, they’re only getting started. “I have a joke I tell that I wake up every morning and say a prayer of thanks to the DEA for keeping cannabis federally illegal in the U.S.,” said Cam Battley, 49, Aurora’s chief corporate officer. It’s a joke, and he is quick to point out that he thinks it’s ridiculous the plant remains federally illegal here. But behind every joke is a bit of truth. “The huge advantage we’ve got over the U.S. is that in the U.S. cannabis remains federally illegal. It means the companies can’t produce in one state and sell in another. It means they can’t deduct their business expenses so the effective tax rate can be 60 to 70 percent. And they can’t list on public exchanges and have the same access to capital that Canadian companies have used to successfully begin our global growth.” “Not only have we been able to expand across Canada and establish massive capacity, but we’ve been able to expand around the world.”
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“ T h at s a i d , the longer cannabis remains f e d e r a l ly i l l e g a l in the U.S., the more lead time we h a v e t o e s ta b l i s h our global l e a d e r s h i p. ” Growth and Enterprise When Battley joined Aurora Cannabis in 2016, the company had 35 employees and a value of $70 million. Today the company has 480 employees, rivaled in size and value in Canada only by Canopy Growth Corp. The two companies together are valued at $6 billion, which is more than Canadians spent on medical and recreational cannabis in 2017. Battley credits Aurora’s growth to Founder Terry Booth, who used his own money to launch the company’s first 100-acre grow operation in 2013 and has guided it through the sort of growth that would be impossible in the U.S. Take the company’s 800,000-square-foot grow operation at Edmonton International Airport, where they expect to produce 100,000 kilograms of cannabis a year. Said Battley, “The airport authority is our landlord, and that’s a federal body, so effectively Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is our landlord. Can you imagine having Donald Trump as a landlord of a cannabis company?” Alberta’s minister of economic development even showed up at the press conference announcing the airport project. Such government support is just one of many factors that has allowed Aurora and its competitors to reach a size American companies only dream of. The federal agency Health
G.
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Canada has created a nationwide framework for medical cannabis, so unlike in the U.S., patients don’t have to worry when they travel that what is legal at home could be a felony in the province they are visiting. For Aurora, that means the ability to operate across the country, which U.S. companies can’t do. The company also has access to investor money through the Toronto Stock Exchange and does not face limits on vertical integration like many U.S. states have established. That means companies are limited from controlling all phases of production and sale. Lacking such regulations, Aurora has invested in or purchased companies that specialize in extractions, companies that conduct cannabis research, companies that specialize in gardening techniques and companies that design waste digesters. Aurora owns one of Europe’s leading medical cannabis importers, which provides up to 40 percent of the company’s revenue. In anticipation of Canada’s legal recreational market, Aurora purchased 200 liquor stores in order to convert them to cannabis sales. Despite all this growth, it doesn’t do a dime of business in the U.S. So while his joke about U.S. cannabis policy is just that, a joke, nobody at Aurora is laughing. “It’s ironic, because we’re very much aware [U.S. policy]
is prolonging the social harms associated with prohibition in the U.S., and I disapprove of that very, very strongly. The advocate in me gets quite angry at that, because we also know that those social harms associated with prohibition land much more on Americans who are minorities and poor than they do on others.” “That said, the longer cannabis remains federally illegal in the U.S., the more lead time we have to establish our global leadership. It’s an odd situation of public policy, which I strongly disapprove and think is wrong is actually in the shortterm beneficial to leading Canadian companies like Aurora.” c
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SHOOTING GALLERY
One Love CALI REGGAE Fest at THE Queen Mary in Long Beach
Photos by Kristopher Christensen
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culture
Cannabis-Infused Irish Soda Bread By Laurie Wolf | Photo by Bruce Wolf
I
la
Instructions:
à
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growing
rish Soda Bread is delicious, and with the addition of cannabutter, we are keeping things very green this St. Patrick’s Day with this recipe. Wait until the bread cools a bit before slicing; it can be delightfully crumbly. The cannabutter doesn’t receive any green tint once it has been baked—but trust me, it’s in there. If you are longing for a green bread to help you celebrate this Irish holiday, add a drop or two of green food coloring to the liquids before mixing with the flour.
1. Heat oven to 340 degrees F. Prepare a cast iron pan or baking sheet by spreading with oil or parchment. 2. In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and raisins.
Irish Soda Bread
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Ingredients: Canola oil 2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cannabutter*, chill and cut in small cubes
6 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut in small cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup golden raisins
Green food coloring (optional)
4. In a small bowl combine the buttermilk, egg, vanilla and optional food coloring. Stir well. 5. Add the liquids to the dry mix and combine until it just comes together. Shape into a ball. 6. Place in the pan and make an “x” on the top with a serrated knife. 7. Bake for about 40 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Honey Cannabutter 4 ounces cannabutter*, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-4 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
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3. Add the butter and work the butter into the dough, until it resembles coarse crumbs.
8. While bread is baking, mix all Honey Cannabutter ingredients together thoroughly. Enjoy in moderation and #dontfeartheedible!
*Any portion of the cannabutter can be replaced by non-infused butter.
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Hawaiian Garden II growing
culture
there is 10 hours, 51 minutes of light. This is a long enough dark period to induce most plants to flower. To prevent this, my hosts used fluorescent lights, turned on throughout the light to keep the plants from complete darkness. The relatively dim light was sufficient enough to prevent the plants from flowering. When they had grown fairly large, the lights were turned off. With long hours of darkness, they immediately started to flower. I was in the garden around Dec. 4, 2017 when the plants were at the start of the flowering cycle; the lights had been turned off the previous week. I thought it would take two months for the plants to ripen and that I would return in time for the harvest. I should have known that was not to be. I had forgotten that the plants were getting a far shorter light period. Longer nights speed up ripening, so the plants sacrifice bud size for shorter ripening time.
The island sits at 21.14 ° N., close enough to the equator so that there is only a small variation of light length through the year, On June 21, the longest day of the year there is 13 hours, 25 minutes. On December 21, the shortest day
In the first part of this article, “Lessons from a Hawaiian Garden,” I visited two medical gardens on the small Hawaiian island of Molokai.
2017 annual light levels in hawaii
à
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By Ed Rosenthal
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Apr 10 7.0 kWf
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Jun 9 7.6 kWf Sep 3 7.0 kWf
Nov 6 5.0 kWf
5 kWh
Dec 20 4.4 kWf
4 kWh 3 kWh 2 kWh 1 kWh 0 kWh
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Photos by Zach Socher
Source for Charts: 2017 U.S. Geological Society
hawaii CLOUD COVER CATEGORIES CLEARER
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G13 is a heavy, almost couchpotato indica has a high content of pinene, which makes it sedative and relaxing. The Molokai version is lightly sprinkled with sativa genetics. This gives it a bit more
My friend Zach was kind enough to take the photos you see in this column. They were taken on Dec. 6, 2017, shortly before and during harvesting. They were mostly Molokai G13.
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energy and is more conducive to daytime, as well as evening use. Although people think of it as an indica, it has a mostly sativa morphology. It’s a vigorous grower with a lot of spreading lateral
HOURS OF DAYLIGHT AND TWILIGHT NIGHT
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taller and extending branching. At maturity, these plants were 8-9 feet tall and were 8-10 feet wide. (Ed’s suggested to put the following paragraph “in a design box,” or as a sidebar-type thing) G13 has a “mysterious” history of origination. One rumor is that it was bred at a government research facility at the University of Mississippi
branches and it can easily grow 8-10 feet tall. Those characteristics indicate its substantial sativa heritage, but its effects come from its indica side. Another sativa characteristic is continued vegetative growth in during the first half of flowering. The plants fill out with continued stem growth, adding several feet
and was sneaked out. However, with my knowledge of the University’s lab I don’t think that is a credible story. Another tale is that it was developed in Washington State in a federally subsidized laboratory. This rumor is persistent, but vague. The problem with that theory is, there were no labs licensed to grow in the northwest at the time the variety broke out. c
2017 hawaii temperatures
100OF 90OF 80OF
Jul 3 83OF
Apr 8 79 OF
Jan 23 77OF
Aug 24 85OF
Oct 18 83OF
Dec 17 79 OF HIGH
70OF LOW
60 F O
50OF 40OF 30OF 20OF 10OF 0OF Jan
Feb
Mature plants in the field. Molokai skies have about 25 percent cloud cover. Even so, the plants receive intense light and plenty of UV spectrum.
Mar
Apr
Grower in the garden. Each medical patient [in Hawaii] is allowed 10 plants. That’s usually enough to supply medical needs.
May
Jun
Jul
A mature bud. Winter crop buds are on the small side because they mature quickly and don’t have time for more growth.
Aug
Sep
The farmer was happy with his healthy, vigorous plants.
Oct
Nov
Dec
Inspecting a plant’s buds.
Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.
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growing
culture
Don de Leaumont
the cannabis serves as the perfect companion for the meds that I take on a daily basis. Age: 35 Location: Atlanta, Georgia
P RO F ILE
IN
COURAGE
à
la
carte
Condition/Illness: Low Spectrum Bipolar/Anxiety Consuming Medical Cannabis Since: 2016 Why did you start consuming cannabis? I have always been a cannabis smoker but never really put two and two together that it was actually helping me with my mental illness. About two years ago or so, I started getting cannabis from someone who works with medicinal patients, so I was able to actually get the specific strains that I need for my condition. Cannabis offers me a specific feeling of calmness and creativity. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I am currently on meds for my mental illness, but
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? For me, it’s the social and legal stigma. Not all people who smoke or use cannabis do so just to do it. While there are recreational users of cannabis, ask just about any user, and they’ll tell you that it helps them in physically and/or mentally in one form or another. I think if other states would look at the success of states like Colorado and California, they would see that the good far outweighs the bad. What do you say to those who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? I say don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, but do so responsibly. Ask around, and find folks who are using for medicinal reasons, and ask questions. Do your research. Most of all, keep your mind opened. You may just find yourself very surprised at the results. c
Are you an medical cannabis patient with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.
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socal NOW! event listings
Stone Temple Pilots, March 8 Former lead vocalists Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington (also of Linkin Park) may have sadly passed along to the other side, but Stone Temple Pilots is still chugging along. The band is now fronted by vocalist Jeff Gutt. The Rose, Pasadena roseconcerts.com 44th Annual Festival of the Kite, March 11 Attend one of Southern California’s longest-running kite festivals, complete with a 25-foot giant kite, live performances and contests. The historic boardwalk and pier was originally built in 1889 and serves as a great backdrop for the event. Redondo Pier, Redondo Beach www.redondopier.com Cochon 555, March 12 Cochon 555 means five chefs, five pigs and five winemakers. This “noseto-tail” event stresses the importance of flavor, texture, appearance and nutrition of fine pork and pits competing chefs against one another. Viceroy, Santa Monica cochon555.com Lorde, March 14 Twenty-one-year-old New Zealander Lorde is the youngest artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100 since 1987. See her perform live in 74
downtown Los Angeles and hear her latest material. Staples Center, Los Angeles www.staplescenter.com
AWOLNATION, March 15-16 “I was completely sober until I was 21, when I had my first sip of alcohol and smoked weed for the first time,” said AWOLNATION vocalist Aaron Bruno admitted to CULTURE in 2016. See Bruno and his band perform his new album live at The Wiltern. The Wiltern, Los Angeles Wiltern.com Murs, March 16 When he’s not rapping with Slug from Atmosphere as the duo Felt, Murs is busy performing solo. Beyond his lyrical skills, Murs is also a gay rights ally (watch video for “Animal Style”) and a successful solo act. Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles theroxy.com Sketchers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, March 18 The Los Angeles Marathon’s Stadium to Sea course literally runs from Dodger Stadium to the seaside at Santa Monica Pier. Take part
MARCH 2018 CultureMagazine.com
featured event
Orange County Beer Festival, MARch 10
Fifty breweries, 100 beers and dozens of food trucks will be at this year’s Orange County Beer Festival. Live music will be provided as well as discounted designated driver tickets. The Phoenix Club, Anaheim orangecountybeerfest.com in this historic 26-mile run that takes you through one of LA’s most scenic routes. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles to Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica lamarathon.com WonderCon Anaheim ComicCon 2018, March 23-25 You may be familiar with the gargantuan Comic-Con International in San Diego, but its sister convention takes place in Anaheim. This convention will feature a growing list of special guests including MAD Magazine’s Sergio Aragonés
and Ryan Benjamin from Image, Marvel and D.C. Comics. Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim comic-con.org/wca Vegan Street Fair, March 25 Back for the fourth year, the Vegan Street Fair is where vegan-friendly vendors come together. Every vendor will have a $4-orless portion to sample and entrance is free! Chandler Boulevard, (from Tujunga to Vineland) North Hollywood www.veganstreetfair.com
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News of the
Weird
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
LEAD STORY—WEIRD CHEMISTRY In Lawrence County, Tennessee, law enforcement officials are confronting the fallout from a new drug known as “Wasp” (crystallized wasp repellant mixed with methamphetamine). To wit: On Dec. 18, as the Johnson family baked Christmas cookies in their Lawrenceburg kitchen, Danny Hollis, 35, walked into their home and asked for help. NewsChannel 5 in Nashville reported Hollis poured himself a glass of water from the sink before grabbing a knife and cutting across his throat. Teenage son Canaan Johnson said Hollis then ran up to the second floor, heaved an oak dresser down the stairs, and jumped out a window onto a gazebo below, seriously injuring his neck. The Johnsons, meanwhile, had retreated to their car, where they called 911. Hollis chased the car down the street, but got hung up on a barbed wire fence, then stripped naked to free himself and climbed a nearby tree, where officers found him, according to police reports. Hollis fought them off by allegedly throwing his own feces at them, as they tased him out of the tree. Hollis was booked into the county jail on numerous charges. OOOH, WISE GUY, EH? Khaled A. Shabani, 46, a hairstylist in Madison, Wisconsin, was arrested on a tentative charge of mayhem 76
and disorderly conduct while armed after an altercation with a customer on Dec. 22. Shabani scolded the 22-year-old customer for fidgeting, then taught him a lesson by using the “shortest possible attachment” to “run down the middle of the customer’s head,” reported the Wisconsin State Journal, and “leaving him looking a bit like Larry from ‘The Three Stooges,’” police spokesman Joel DeSpain said. Shabani also clipped the customer’s ear with scissors. “While it is not a crime to give someone a bad haircut,” DeSpain noted, “you will get arrested for intentionally snipping their ear with a scissors.” Shabani said the snip was an accident, and his charge was later reduced to a ticket for disorderly conduct. BRIGHT IDEAS Polk County (Florida) Sheriff’s officers responded to an unusual 911 call on New Year’s Eve: Michael Lester, 39, of Winter Haven, started off by telling the dispatcher, “Umm, I’m drunk. I don’t know where I’m at. I’m just drunk driving.” The dispatcher urged Lester to pull over and park, but he explained that he was driving on the wrong side of the road near a Publix and wondered where the police were. WTVT reported that officers finally caught up with Lester, who helpfully explained he’d had several beers, hadn’t slept much and had taken methamphetamine earlier in the day; he was jailed on a DUI charge. Officers later posted on their Facebook page that “in this particular incident, nobody was hurt, so we couldn’t help but LOTO (that means we Laughed Our Tasers Off).”
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Disgruntled driver Matthew Middleton, 49, of Peterlee, England, spotted a speed camera near Hartlepool Rugby Club in October and decided to take a stand. He got out of his car and stood in front of the camera, blocking it, until police arrested him. Middleton further antagonized the officer by calling him a “pig” and giving his name as Elvis Presley. “They acted like what I did was the crime of the century,” Middleton told Metro News. “I know I shouldn’t have done it. People have just been laughing about it . . . well, apart from my wife.” Middleton was fined about $54 plus court costs for his antics. AWESOME! Bertha Vickers of Morgantown, Mississippi, turned 100 on Jan. 9. To celebrate, she bagged a deer. “I was sort of shaking until I got ready to shoot,” Vickers told the Clarion Ledger. “I didn’t think it was all going to go right.” Vickers still lives in her home and mows her own lawn, tends a garden and hunts for squirrels. “I don’t know why everybody is making such a big deal about it,” she said. “It was just a doe. I would love to kill a buck.” LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL When Dustin Johnson, 22, of Minot, North Dakota, tried to steal $4,000 worth of merchandise from a local Hobby Lobby, he failed to take into account that shopping carts don’t have snow tires. The Grand Forks Herald reported that over a seven-hour period on Jan. 3, Johnson
filled a cart then fled the store—where the cart became stuck in snow in the parking lot and flipped over. Johnson fell down, then got up to run, leaving behind his wallet with photo ID matching the shoplifter’s description. Minot police caught up with Johnson at his home. EXTREME CLIMATE NEWS It may be cold where you are, but it’s hot in Broadford, a small town about an hour from Melbourne, Australia, where on Jan. 5, the highway began melting. Temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and higher reactivated an ingredient in the road surface, turning it into a sticky mess on the Hume Freeway, 9News reported. Motorists were warned by Victoria police to avoid the right lane and expect delays over a 10km stretch. Officials also put in place a fire ban and urged people to stay indoors until the heat abated. SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Christians in a Portuguese village carry on a curious tradition during Epiphany: They encourage their young children to smoke cigarettes. Vale de Salgueiro locals told Fox News that nobody is sure what the smoking symbolizes, but the centuries-old tradition persists. And Portuguese authorities don’t intervene, despite the fact that the legal age to purchase tobacco in Portugal is 18. Writer Jose Ribeirinha researched the tradition and said that since Roman times, villagers in the region have done things that were out of the norm during winter solstice celebrations.
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