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TOP SHELF CHEF CULTURE digs in with celebrity chef and travel enthusiast Anthony Bourdain about the newest season of Parts Unknown, his many unique adventures around the world and his advocacy for cannabis.
contents Vol 8 IssUE 4
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ON THE COVER:
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contents
inside
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features 72
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Get Out And Vote The 2016 Cannabis Voter’s Guide has everything you need to know about the current cannabis measures up for ballot in every state in the U.S.
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Cooking With Terps The world of terpenes is vast, and it’s expanding in to the culinary cannabis community.
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Good Taste These up-and-coming female canna-chefs are rising to the top and exploring the many ways to utilize cannabis in high-end cuisine.
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Prominent Practitioners Attorneys Meital Manzuri and Alexa Steinberg are well-versed in the rules and regulations of cannabis.
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Choose Wisely Election season is here, and we’ve got a breakdown of all of the presidential candidates and their platforms on cannabis—so you can make the right choice.
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How to Save a Life Darren Miller is well passed his life expectancy while suffering from cancer, and he calls cannabis the “miracle cure” that saved his life.
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Authentic Attitude With country-rock that sounds like “Dr. Dre meets Johnny Cash,” you can bet Paul Chesne is worth looking into.
departments news
20 News Nuggets 26 By the Numbers 32 Local News 34 Legal Corner
40 Healthy Living
reviews
42 Company Highlight 46 Edible & Concentrate Reviews
72 Cool Stuff 76 Entertainment Reviews 78 Liner Notes
in every issue
140 Shooting Galleries 146 Growing Culture 148 Destination Unknown 150 Profile in Courage 152 Recipes 160 SoCal Now! 162 News of the Weird
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online Exclusive! d U.S. Defense Secretary Wants
Pentagon to Employ Previous Cannabis Users d Nine Cannabis Clubs in Colorado
Springs Ordered to 'Cease and Desist'
Vol 8 IssUE 4
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CULTURE M
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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, Jefferson Van Billiard, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Josué Rivas, Duncan Rolfson Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designer Tanya Delgadillo los angeles Jon Bookatz sales manager Account Executives Rob Bayless, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Teddy Helms, Brad Hoffner, Beau Odom, Justin Olson, Chris Thatcher, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital content manager David Edmundson digital marketing Alazzia Gaoay manager 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.
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NEWS
nuggets
L.A. City Council Moves to Ban Spice After Increase in Overdoses An emergency motion was passed in late August by the Los Angeles City Council to put an end to the sale of spice. Spice is a synthetic form of cannabis that has been causing many people in L.A.’s homeless community harm. On August 19, 38 people were hospitalized after 50 had been determined to become ill after consuming spice. This was following a similar overdose problem of 18 homeless people just days before. In response, a Public Health Issue Warning was given by the County of Los Angeles. The warning read, “There is no specific treatment available for spice poisoning. If you are having side effects of spice poisoning, contact a health care provider right away to prevent serious side effects or death.” It is clear that spice is more dangerous than cannabis, as overdosing from natural cannabis has never led to death, which isn’t the case with spice. The County of Los Angeles has also warned that, “Spice is also incorrectly labelled as a ‘safe’ or ‘natural’ alternative to marijuana, but it usually has no real marijuana. The only natural parts of this drug are the dried plants. Spice is more powerful than the ingredients in marijuana and is dangerous to use.”
Arizonans Will Vote on Recreational Cannabis in November The "Yes on 205" Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) has received a court ruling that allows Arizona voters to decide on recreational cannabis at the upcoming election. The Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative, which is also known as Proposition 205, was placed on the November 2016 ballot. However, those who opposed the initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in Arizona took the initiative to court in opposition. Opponents claimed the initiative backers were using unconstitutional “bait-and-switch tactics.” Luckily, the high court decided that the initiative was compliant with the state laws pertaining to initiatives. CRMLA Chairman J.P. Holyoak stated, “This was a frivolous and politically motivated lawsuit. If these county prosecutors dislike this ballot measure, they should take their arguments to the voters, not to our overburdened court system. We hope they will accept the court’s ruling and return to waging legal battles against dangerous criminals rather than citizen initiatives.” Holyoak continued to explain that about 84 years ago, alcohol prohibition was ended by voters in Arizona, and he hopes to see that they can end cannabis prohibition this November.
Lynwood is the First L.A. City to Permit Cannabis Cultivation Lynwood City Council voted 3-2 in favor of allowing cannabis cultivation and production permits within the city in early September. Following the final reading on September 20, prospective cultivators will soon have the ability to begin the application process. The Lynwood City Council agenda confirmed initial reports to, “Approve Resolution of the City Council of the City of Lynwood demonstrating an intent that the Planning Commission initiate a change in the City’s Zoning Code to allow Medical Cannabis Cultivationand Manufacturing-Related Businesses as a permitted land use in certain districts in the City of Lynwood.” The ordinance will also allow the manufacturing of cannabis products like concentrates, given that the facilities operate within guidelines outlined, such as proper zoning. The statement specified zoning requirements as, “All facilities are required to be 600 feet away from schools, daycare centers or youth centers and 50 feet away from any residential zones."
Medical Cannabis to Be Regulated in Australia Australia is moving forward with plans to legalize the use of medicinal cannabis nationwide, although cultivation, production and consumption of the plant will be highly regulated. The decision was reached in late August following the recent decision by the Federal Parliament to allow the cultivation and production of cannabis for medicinal purposes. According to a statement by the Australian Government Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration, “The Medicines Scheduling Delegate gave notice of the delegate’s final decision on 31 August 2016, following a scheduling proposal for cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinols that was initially refer to the March 2016 meeting of the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling.” The November 2016 Poisons Standard will reflect the scheduling changes to medical cannabis. Once the changes occur, Australia will strictly control the new medical cannabis system, which includes the citizens who are permitted to grow and produce cannabis as a medicinal product. This new program is sure to provide Australia with a new revenue source. Nonmedical cannabis will still be illegal under federal Australian law, for the time being. 20
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NEWS
The percentage of people from Los Angeles who were surveyed by the Public Policy Institute of California in Los Angeles and said they would likely vote for Proposition 64: (Source: LA Weekly)
The number of votes by the Laguna Beach City Council, out of four, that were against a proposal to put a competing cannabis measure on the ballot: (Source: Orange County Register)
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The percentage of California voters that said they are leaning towards voting yes on Proposition 64: (Source: 89.3 KPCC)
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The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that one cannabis grower in Southern California is using to fund a cultivation facility in Desert Hot Springs: (Source: LA Weekly)
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The percentage of Utahans who agree that legal cannabis would have a positive impact on society: (Source: The Salt Lake Tribune)
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(Source: News4Jax)
The estimated number of applications that have been submitted and are currently being considered for the 31 available medical cannabis licenses in Arizona: (Source: AZ Central)
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WHAT: Cannafest. WHEN/WHERE: Fri, Nov. 11-Sun, Nov. 13. Incheba Praha, Areál Výstaviště Praha 67, 170 90 Praha 7, Holešovice, Prague. INFO: Visit Cannafest.com for details.
Returning for another jam-packed year is the world-famous Cannafest, a cannabis-centered celebration based in Prague, Czech Republic that is superior to all other cannabis events. Attendees will enjoy browsing a seemingly endless number of exhibitors and exhibitions. The professional conference aspect will help further all types of cannabis-related entrepreneurs and advocates. However, these great Cannafest offerings are just the beginning. There will also be a Cannafest Stage and Cinema to keep attendees entertained. Be sure to kick back and relax in the Rolls and
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The number of states in the U.S. that will be voting on medical or recreational cannabis legalization at the ballots in November: (Source: The Washington Times)
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that cannabis advocates raised in support of a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical cannabis in Florida:
Cannafest
The number of registered Los Angeles voters that were surveyed by phone on the topic of medical cannabis, Proposition D effectiveness and cannabis delivery in July 2016: (Source: Business Wire)
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Smoking Chillout Zone, which features DJs spinning hypnotic beats all day and night, or take a break and relax in the Cannafest Reading Room. While many will be consuming cannabis, there will also be drinks available at a fully stocked bar. The Cannafest Reading Room is a great place to relax while learning something new about hemp, cannabis and other mind-altering substances. Guests are also welcome to enjoy some delicious food by Hemp Catering that will keep bellies full throughout the weekend. There will also be plenty of after parties that you don’t want to miss.
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NEWS
LOCAL
“Our application Simulator is designed for stakeholders who do not want to wait for every detail to be finalized before they test the pragmatism of their planned marijuana business.”
The 10th Annual Calabasas Malibu Food & Wine Festival
THE PATH TO RECREATIONAL
New simulator makes entering CA’s possible recreational cannabis market easier to understand
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by Jamie Solis rospective recreational cannabis licensees in California now have access to an Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) Application Simulator, which was created by The Green Rush Advisory Group. There is a good chance that AUMA, also known as Proposition 64, could pass in November, which would legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults ages 21 and over in California. Huge financial opportunities for cannabisrelated businesses will essentially be up for grabs, but not without a ton of regulatory requirements. Green Rush Advisory Group has made it much easier for anyone who would like to enter into California’s possible recreational cannabis industry with their AUMA Application Simulator, which mimics the AUMA application process and its various regulatory requirements. The Founder of Green Rush Advisory Group, F. Thurston Pearson, explains who will benefit from this new simulator, “Proposition 64 will likely undergo significant changes before the application window opens,” Pearson explained. “Our application simulator is designed for stakeholders who do not want to wait for every detail to be finalized before they test the pragmatism of their planned marijuana business.” Potential applicants may not have the time or ability to sort through the requirements necessary to become a cannabis-related business for California’s possible recreational industry. The Green Rush Advisory Group has made it possible 32
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for prospective business owners to see if their business plans are in line with the final requirements outlined in the “Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act.” The simulator will point out any part of a prospective business plan that needs to be fixed in order for them to become licensed under Prop 64. “We’ve included every stakeholder requirement in the current 62 pages of AUMA regulations to create an application process similar to those used in other states,” Pearson said. “Stress testing the stakeholder requirements and the regulatory compliancy of a planned California marijuana business helps prospective licensees identify and anticipate their application and regulatory burdens, and gives them time to quickly bolster business characteristic which may be critical to the successful licensure of a California recreational marijuana business.” The simulator not only curates over 600 AUMA regulatory requirements, but it has also incorporated and adds in the best practices from recreational market programs in Oregon and Washington. Overall, its process is the best way for prospective cannabis-related businesses to find out what it takes to become an AUMA licensee. The Green Rush Advisory Group has specialized in aiding cannabis businesses in California, Oregon and Washington. The group is a cannabis enterprise consulting firm who helps cannabis-related businesses to start their businesses, attain licensing and compliancy in addition to many other sales and legal services. c
Get your grub on at this fabulous food and wine event. There will be delicious eats, frothy brews, world class wines and tasty libations for you to enjoy. Take it from us when we say there will be tons of options for all the foodies out there. Some of the participating food vendors include Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-BQue, Scratch Bar & Kitchen, Tender Greens, Ocean Prime Beverly Hills, Nature’s Bakery, PJ Sushi Club, Veggie Grill, Marsatta Chocolate, Fresh Brothers, Pieology and more. Some featured wineries include Davis Bynum, Argyle Winery, Wine Boss, Gagnon Cellars and Turiya Wines. There will be plenty of options for spirits and beers. For those interested in doing a little shopping, vendors like Savannah Jewelry and Cutco Cutlery will be there. Be sure to enjoy yourself for a good cause, because the event benefits the Boys & Girls Club of The West Valley. WHAT: The 10th Annual Calabasas Malibu Food & Wine Festival. WHEN/WHERE: Thurs, Oct. 13-Sun, Oct. 16. The Village, 6220 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. INFO: Visit malibufoodandwinefestival. com for details.
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NEWS
legal corner
THE DEATH OF AB-1575
For-profit or not for-profit—that is the question
by Meital Manzuri, Attorney With the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA) came the exciting prospect of for-profit entities in the California medical cannabis industry. Specifically, MCRSA defines a “person” as an individual, corporate entity or any combination thereof. However, nowhere in the text of MCRSA does it explicitly state that medical cannabis businesses can operate as for-profit entities, thus it is only an implicit assurance that forprofit entities will receive licenses or benefit from the protection of the law. To clarify, legislators introduced Assembly Bill 1575. AB-1575, the first iOS update of MCRSA, aimed to clear up many of the ambiguities in the MCRSA. Specifically, AB-1575 states “A collective or cooperative . . . may operate for-profit, not for profit, or any combination thereof.” Perfect. For-profit entities are now allowed in the medical cannabis industry. Right? Not quite. So what’s up with AB-1575? Actually, nothing. AB-1575 was held under submission in the Senate Appropriations Committee in midAugust and essentially died on the Senate floor. It can be argued that the death of AB-1575 was inevitable after the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (aka Prop. 64) qualified for the upcoming November ballot. With the Adult Use of Marijuana Act casting such a large shadow, word on the street is that
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legislators didn’t want to spend more time and resources redefining MCRSA. So, where does this leave the prospect of medical cannabis businesses operating as for-profit entities?
What the Death of AB-1575 Means About For-Profit Status Looking at the big picture, the death of AB-1575 will have very little impact on the ability of for-profit entities to obtain state licensing and operate medical cannabis businesses in California. Despite only an implicit assurance in the MCRSA, it is likely to be made explicit by administrative or judicial decision during the rollout of the MCRSA in 2018. However, until 2018, medical cannabis businesses must continue to operate solely as non-profit unless their local ordinances specify otherwise.
Transitioning from Non-Profit to For-Profit California law requires medical cannabis businesses to operate as not for-profit. This means that medical cannabis businesses in California don’t have owners, only directors and officers, thereby causing problems in the event the company needs to distribute its
“California law requires medical cannabis businesses to operate as not for-profit. This means that medical cannabis businesses in California don’t have owners, only directors and officers, thereby causing problems in the event the company needs to distribute its assets.” assets. Thus, allowing medical cannabis businesses to operate as for-profit entities will mitigate some of these problems. But for existing medical cannabis businesses operating as nonprofits, how would the transition process work? Though it involves some difficult administrative and legal proceedings, California law will allow you to convert your existing non-profit cannabis business into a for-profit entity. The process takes one of two forms. Either a new for-profit entity is formed and then merged with the old non-profit, or the non-profit amends its articles of incorporation with the California Secretary of State. In conclusion, it is likely that the medical cannabis industry in California will eventually enjoy the benefits of for-profit status despite the death of AB-1575. c
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NEWS
HEALTHY LIVING
The Rise of the Non-Inhalables Cannabis tinctures and edibles are moving on up by Lanny Swedlow, RN LNC Non-inhaled cannabis products are soaring in popularity. Sales are up 53 percent in Colorado this year, and whereas they almost used to be an afterthought in most dispensaries, edibles are now being given prime shelf display. Cannabis cook books are all the rage, with new ones coming out more frequently than cannabis cultivation guides. Although the Food Network has yet to run a show about cooking with cannabis, YouTube is overflowing with page after page of edible filled videos. Although not in the rarified atmosphere that edibles have obtained, tinctures are also rising in popularity as way to introduce cannabinoids into the user’s system. Tinctures are generally taken sublingually, under the tongue, which means through rapid absorption directly into the bloodstream. Although some tinctures are glycerin- or oilbased, most are alcohol-based and should not be inhaled. Edibles take at least 20 minutes or longer to take effect, whereas tinctures are just about as rapid as inhaling smoke or vapors. This ability to provide rapid symptomatic relief without smoking makes tinctures especially appealing to medical cannabis patients. All cannabis cup contests and other cannabis exhibitions have awards and prizes for edibles and tinctures that rival the traditional flower categories in stature as well as in event-goers anticipation. Cooking competitions and tincture making workshops are all de rigueur now, and no cannabis event worth the name is without them. Edibles differ not only in the strains of cannabis used but how the cannabis is incorporated into the edible. Most edibles are made with cannabis oil, keif or hash rather than unadulterated flower as most people prefer just a 40
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hint of cannabis taste, if there has to be any taste at all. So although the line between an oil-based tincture and cannabis oil can be hazy, the effects are very different because the routes of administration are different. Different psychoactive metabolites are produced when edible cannabis is introduced through the digestive system unlike a tincture with its direct sublingual absorption of THC into the bloodstream. With introduction through the digestive system, the liver converts THC into the more potent 11-hydroxyTHC which is stronger with more sedative effects. This is the reason many find enjoying a properly dosed edible at bedtime superior to smoking for insomnia and nighttime pain relief. Although tinctures can be and are extremely potent, administering with a dropper makes them easily quantifiable thereby reducing the likelihood of an “overdose.” With their rapid onset of effects, tinctures can be very accurate and precise in administration. Most edibles are anything but accurate and precise. Even with THC content labeled on the package, inaccuracies abound especially if you have to break it up into smaller pieces to consume an amount of THC that will
“Different psychoactive metabolites are produced when edible cannabis is introduced through the digestive system unlike a tincture with its direct sublingual absorption of THC into the bloodstream.”
be pleasant. With cannabis entering the mainstream of commercial products due to the enactment of laws legalizing its use and production, stricter and codified regulations should reduce this concern. Because of the dosing problems, edibles can easily be used incorrectly and have gotten a mostly undeserved bad rap in the media. The most famous case of the incorrect use of an edible was by Maureen Dowd, columnist for The New York Times. Reporting on Colorado’s legalized recreational cannabis market, Ms. Dowd bought and ate a classic cannabis brownie. Not having done her homework, and the store obviously not providing sufficient instructions about dosage and time to take effect, she ate way too much, way too soon. Her description of the hours she spent on her hotel bed “curled up in a hallucinatory state” was read by millions and went viral online. Although she would rather it wasn’t so, she is now better known for her bad cannabis “trip” story than her Pulitzer Prize winning series on the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the Clinton administration. Edibles get a somewhat deserved bad rap because manufacturers make them into very attractive candies resembling gummies, candy bars and muffins letting anti-drug warriors claim they are being marketed to children. Although having cannabis laced candies look appealing to children is something of a problem, that doesn’t mean that adults should only be able to ingest candies that look repugnant. c
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REVIEWs
company highlight
Applefarms How would you describe your company? What is your specialty? Applefarms Inc. is a wholesale distribution company that provides top shelf, branded products to collectives all throughout Southern California. As many new collectives know, it can be hard to meet high minimums from multiple vendors. That is where we are here to help! We offer everything under one roof with no minimum to help build a very prosperous menu for a start-up budget. We are here to help every collective we can, from delivery to high volume collectives, providing patients with the best medication possible at wholesale donation prices. We pride ourselves in branding quality and strain specific products— 42
from edibles and extracts to flowers. Everything we carry is lab tested and packaged for top quality satisfaction. What do you offer consumers/clients that others don’t? Applefarms offers a wide variety of lab tested products that are strain specific. You may find a few edibles or RSO that may be hybrid or sativa, but knowing exactly what strain that it’s made with is almost unheard of . . . That is until Applefarms came around! Our lab tested Manna Oil, Kottonmouth Kings Blend Beverages as well as Sunshine Chocolates are made in special batches according to strain! Now you are not only limited to flower for this benefit.
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Southern California applefarmsinc.com (951) 396-9810
How and why did your company start up? Applefarms was created to solve its own problems that Applebox Collective could see personally from a large gap in the MMJ industry. Having multiple shops over the past eight years, the owner saw room for improvement and wanted to help others going through the same thing. That was when Applefarms was born! Having the ability to come to a beautiful showroom with extremely knowledgeable staff to help grow any collective from start to finish with only the best medicine the industry has to offer. We wanted to offer collectives something that no one else could and that's exactly what we have done. As a
collective as well, we are now top in the market for offering patients things that no others can at compassionate prices. With the changing landscape of MMJ and recreational cannabis, what do you see as the biggest challenges to your progress as a company? Any advantages? We have always expected a little more from ourselves, which has actually already put us ahead with the new changes that will be coming up. We already strictly lab test and never use mediums that have been grown with harmful pesticides. Everything we offer is always 100 percent organic and 100 percent safe. c
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REVIEWs
edible & concentrate Punch Edibles CBD Dark Chocolate
Available wherever: Punch Edibles are carried.
Born from the idea of providing extremely potent medication in a small package, Punch Edibles takes one thing very seriously—taste. With a line of edibles to fit any patients’ needs and sweet tooth cravings, it's hard not to try every one. Their CBD-packed Dark Chocolate is carefully crafted into 10mg doses for easy measuring and with new benefits of CBD being discovered every day, these morsels are worth their weight in gold. Patients can expect activation time between 30-60 minutes with the effects peaking around 90 minutes. Available at collectives throughout California.
Available at: Various collectives throughout California.
Hubby's Dark Chocolate Bar Hubby's Edibles have nearly a decade of experience in the business of medical cannabis. It's obvious they've spent that time perfecting the art of confections as each product they put out remains reliably potent. Patients with a low tolerance will find that Hubby's Dark Chocolate Bar is sectioned off into measured doses for easy medicating, while the overall taste and texture makes it hard to remember your consuming medicine at all. Activation time for most patients is around 60 minutes with the height of the effects taking hold around 90 minutes.
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Available wherever: Kushy Punch products are carried.
Kushy Punch Recover Find the sweet relief that is only associated with an edible that contains a decent amount of THC and CBD. Each 60mg package of THC-rich gummies comes divided in four easy-to-swallow squares. The citrus flavor is what stands out the most while the faint taste of terpenes lingers on your tongue long after you've finished chewing. This is literally the perfect recovery treat—with body-relaxing potency and mind-calming serenity, you can recover from just about anything with just this one small square gummy. Patients can expect to feel immediate relief from nausea and chronic pain, as well as restlessness and drowsiness. Available at finer collectives across California.
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REVIEWs
Zasp Fruit Drinks
Available at: Various collectives throughout Southern California.
After using nothing but organic products to grow and maintain medical cannabis it seems counterproductive to ruin it with preservatives and fake sugar. Zasp understands this completely and have given patients a very formidable option for their edible needs. Their strawberry lemonade beverage comes in a neat aluminum can that keeps your medication colder longer, and it’s resealable, so you can put it away and save some for later—it is quite potent. The label is minimal and concise with only seven ingredients listed on the side. The taste is wonderfully potent and sour with a sweet strawberry finish. And at 240mg of THC, we are sure you'll be satisfied for a long time after consumption. Available at collectives throughout Southern California. Available at: Various collectives throughout Southern California.
So Kind Monster Cookies Like a good horror movie, So Kind’s latest Halloween themed Monster Cookies are a little kitschy, bright and colorful, kind of cute, a tiny bit terrifying, and beyond entertaining above all else. Born from the philosophy that their medication is, "always consistent, always potent." So Kind doesn't just stop at making a strong cookie, these things are beautifully decorated and baked with the highest standard of ingredients. These monsters are fastacting and reliably strong—the perfect antidote to those annoying trick-or-treaters on All Hallows Eve.
Available wherever: Infused Edibles products are carried.
CBD Gummies Peach Rings As a kid, peach rings were probably in our top five candies of all time behind big league chew and the candy powders you dip into with sticks of sugar. Now as adults with anxiety and stress, CBD-infused peach rings take the top spot. Each ring is packed with 15mg of high quality CBDinfused medication that promises to relieve stress and anxiety, muscle spasms, vomiting and depression without all the common side effects linked to THC use. With an activation time of about 30 minutes depending on each patient’s individual tolerance level, this product should be in your medicine cabinet as soon as possible. Available at collectives throughout California. Check out www. infusededibles.com to locate one closest to you.
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Zenju Lemonade Southern California manages to stay pretty even in temperature throughout the year—last Christmas, CULTURE had our holiday party on the beach. So, with that being said, lemonade isn't really a "summertime" drink, so much as it's an anytime drink. Zenju’s Lemonade isn't just any lemonade either, while patients can use it for quenching their thirst it also happens to be chock full of THC. The faint trace of terpenes coating your mouth is the only evidence that you were even medicating at all. Once you're done with the sweet and slightly sour beverage, expect the effects to activate after about 30 minutes.
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Available wherever: Zenju products are carried.
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REVIEWs
Loud Stix
Available at: Various collective in Southern California.
In an over saturated market of vape pens available today, how does a company stand out? The answer is by standing tall, and that's exactly what Loud Stix does. The company takes pride in offering patients a way to medicate with the use of cheap additives and solvents you'd find in other similar products. Sleek enough to stow away in the smallest of compartments and still "loud" enough to remind you not to let it stray too far. Built with strong metal components to ensure your product remains intact while in a pocket or bag while giving off no telltale scents to anyone in your vicinity to ensure the upmost privacy. Pick these up wherever finer products are sold.
Clean Healing Pizza Sauce Mamma Mia! This pizza sauce had us scratching our heads when it first arrived at CULTURE headquarters. We're no Emeril (or even Chef Boyardee) but with this sauce, you don't have to be a professional chef to make something delicious! We personally think it goes great as a dipping sauce for garlic bread, and if you do have a bit of Martha in you, this is practically begging to be the base of your next homemade pizza. Slightly citrus and full of herbs, just make sure you don't over indulge as the label reminds you it has a whopping 500mg THC in one jar. Order up!
Available at: Various collectives throughout Southern California.
SKUNKY MONKEY Canna Butter
Available at: Various collectives in Southern California.
For patients with a bit of knowledge about baking and the dedication to doing thing themselves SKUNKY MONKEY will help you cut out the middle man. 1,000mg of anything seems like a lot and the same holds true with this superior butter. Ideal for use in both cooking and baked goods, patients can enjoy using this in any recipe that calls for butter or margarine. CULTURE decided to dust off our old chef hat and mom’s recipe book for some oatmeal cookies that were out of this world. You too can "kick it up a notch" at home—and the jar seals easily for airtight storage. Available at collectives throughout Southern California. Just make sure you don't forget to let your masterpiece cool down before consumption.
Bhang Nugum Far from the diabetes inducing zebra stripe gum we grew up with, Nugum is an all-natural (not to mention potent) form of medicating with none of the unnecessary sugars and harsh chemicals usually present in any chewing gum available on the market. Packaged inconspicuously and conveniently in 25mg circles, Bhang uses premium trim and organic mint to allow patients easy access to medication without alerting everyone in the vicinity. Bhang makes a wide range of amazing edible products and has continued to set the bar for edible medication. Bhang Nugum is available at collectives throughout California.
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Available at: Bhang products are carried.
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Triple Berry Goo Pot Rocks Available at: Various collectives throughout California.
What a perfect display of all that the cannabis plant has to offer. A Triple Berry Goo bud, rolled in oil and dusted with kief. This Triple Berry Goo Pot Rock won First Place in the Best New Product category at The Local Sesh, and is available at finer collectives throughout California. Visually, it is definitely unique, and when cut into, a bright lime green bud is revealed, covered in shiny, black oil and finished off with a generous dusting of kief. The aroma is sweet, and the flavor is a triple threat—sweet, piney and earthy. Testing at over 50 percent THC, the effect is equally physical and cerebral, uplifting and creative, with plenty of pain relief also provided. All Pot Rocks are strain specific and available at high-end collectives through California.
VARAVO Dark Chocolate If you’re the tired of your medicine coming labeled like a bag of candy you would buy as a child then VARAVO has the product for you. Simple, sleek and straightforward, VARAVO Dark Chocolate comes in sealed individual packaging for easy access to your medicine without anyone being alerted. Each 125mg morsel melts in your mouth and the effects can be felt for up to four hours. CULTURE recommends taking about half the dosage you'd normally take as these bitesize bits pack a heavy punch.
Available at: Various collectives throughout Southern California.
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HERE California Watermelons by Remedy Plus
Available wherever: Remedy Plus products are carried.
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Bar none, Halloween is the best holiday out there. Ignoring some people’s whiny complaints that’s it’s only for kids, we argue that you can only celebrate properly if you’re an adult. Up your holiday celebration game this year with a dose of California Watermelons—a handful of sweet-and-sour gummy treats that offer some great benefits with the added CO2 oil that they contain. These chewy candies are available in two different packages, either a 15-piece bag that offers a combined total of 150mg per bag, or a bag of 30 pieces that offer 300mg. Best of all, these small pink and green watermelon gummies are the perfect bite-sized serving, which makes it easy to medicate discreetly while on-the-go. We tasted the Remedy Plus California Watermelons, which took about 45 minutes to hit us, and we began to experience uplifting but very mellow and relaxing body effects. These tasty little edibles work great for relaxing after a long day’s work and prove effective for patients with anxiety, nausea and insomnia.
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Edipure Organix Peach Wheels Available at finer collectives throughout California, Edipure Organix Peach Wheels are not only 100 percent organic, they are also vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Each wheel contains 10mg of THC, making for easy dosing. Pop one or two of these sweet, citrusy treats, and expect tension and pain relief to begin in about an hour. For longer lasting, nighttime relief, or for those with a higher tolerance, a double dose will do you nicely. Edipure has once again proven why they are one of the most trusted companies in the edible cannabis business.
Available at: Various collectives throughout California.
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HERE Available at: Union Collective in Los Angeles.
Strawberry Nu Clear Neutron Genetics has consistently developed new and improved ways to offer medical cannabis to their patients. The new, Nu Clear applicator makes refilling your vaporizer pen or Dab rig easy and spill free. Almost completely clear in color this thick sap like substance fills the air with its pungent strawberry fragrance as soon as you open the packaging. Despite the subtle amount of smoke, feelings of euphoria and creativity seemed to take effect almost immediately. Patients will adore this product for its simplicity and effect.
Rainbow Sour Belts Forget your childhood days of munching on endless amounts of sour belt gummies— Infused Creations’ Rainbow Sour Belts are potent medicine. Ringing in at 166.67mg a belt, you definitely don’t want to get carried away with snacking on these magical candy treats. These Rainbow Sour Belts were made with an indica, so we decided to eat our first belt during a late-night Netflix binge. The sweet candy scent was almost overpowered by the sugary candy aroma. Upon first bite, we could clearly taste the earthy cannabis coming through, however the sour and fruity characteristics of the chewy candy were complimentary. The sour apple and tangy blue raspberry flavors were reminiscent of eating classic sour belts as a kid. The warm and tingly effects started creeping up about 30 minutes after we polished off our first belt, making our binge of Chopped all the more relaxing. The effects slowly rose in intensity, ranging from the effect you have after sharing a joint with your friends to a more sedative, sleepy feeling. This reviewer definitely turned in a little early to get a full night’s rest and slept like a baby until the morning. Rainbow Sour Belts would be helpful for patients with insomnia, anxiety, chronic pain, depression and migraines.
Available wherever: Hippo Treats products are carried.
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Available wherever: Infused Creations Products are carried.
Double Chocolate Flourless Cookie Hooray for the low-dose edibles trend. Hippo Treats’ Double Chocolate Flourless Cookie hold just five milligrams of THC per cookie—an amount so low it makes veteran edibles eaters scoff. But the vast majority of the population has little to no THC tolerance and this cookie promises to be a really positive first experience. Hippo Treats’ Munchie Pack of three cookies come in its own box. Each individually wrapped cookie smells delicious and chocolatey but unique. That’s thanks to the flourless mix, which uses oats and oat flour instead of traditional wheat flour—which has gluten. Each cookie has a big dollop of solid chocolate which has hardened in the center. And you can go ahead and feel safe scarfing the whole thing. Coming in at just half of a standard dose of THC, it’s perfect for folks who need to medicate yet stay engaged in life.
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REVIEWs Available wherever: TKO Edibles are carried.
Cookies & Cream Krispie One of the most classic edibles of all time, cannabis-infused rice cereal treats are a sweet, fun way to medicate. TKO Edibles sets the bar high with its Cookies & Cream Krispie that is packing 100mg. This dense, chocolatey bar doubles as either a great way to start your morning or a solid way to end your evening. Upon first bite, this solid, chewy and crunchy treat did not have an overwhelming cannabis flavor. Instead, the chocolate and marshmallow flavors grew with intensity as we chewed until the sugary bite eventually melted in our mouth. Getting slightly carried away by the tastiness and eating half the edible, we were quickly feeling the effects creep up in only 20 minutes. With our feet tingling, vibrating waves of relaxation quickly washed over our entire body. Every beat of our heart brought a warm and comfy feeling that was similar to being wrapped snug in a blanket, and any anxieties we were carrying quickly washed away. The day seemed to slow down just a bit, and we felt euphoric. The powerful, muscle relaxing effect from this edible would prove effective for patients with chronic pain or stress.
Ma Gooch Empanadas
Available at: Various collectives in Southern California.
Here in Southern California, there is never any shortage of good, cheap, Mexican food at any hour. Also, in Southern California there's a collective about every three feet, so thank god someone finally combined the two. Ma Gooch Empanadas don't just medicate either, these fluffy, golden brown, pastries are stuffed with meat and veggies as well as a heaping portion of THC. Perfect for anyone with a microwave, but we find that the toaster oven is the best way to experience the delicious healing power of these baked goods. Just make sure you remember not to accidentally heat them up for a midnight snack or your morning might become mid-afternoon.
The Clear Caramel Corn Fun Fact: "Popped corn" became popular during the Great Depression because it was cheap and easy to make. The Caramel Corn from The Clear first became popular at CULTURE when our office hosted our first annual movie night. Also available from The Clear are Brownie Chips, in bags of 150mg. Packed into a sleek black, vacuum sealed pouch and weighing in at 50mg of THC each, you won't find any of these delicious kernels being carelessly thrown to the floor of a theatre. This is a perfect snack to have on hand, just make sure you don't leave them in the pantry for a non-cannabis consumer to stumble upon during a midnight snack attack.
Available at: Various collectives throughout California.
Mint Black
Available wherever: Korova products are carried.
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Patients can’t get more affordable, high-potency medicine than Korova’s line of medical cannabis dessert edibles, including this 1,000mg THC Mint Black bar. Each one comes in its own sealed, blacked-out plastic pouch that’s well-labeled, so don’t act like you weren’t warned. Inside the pouch is fat, dense, half mint chocolate cookie half mint brownie covered in mint swirl. It smelled super-chocolatey and minty, but there’s no hiding what amounts to 20 grams of cannabis per brownie. We got a strong herbaceous taste when we tried just a nibble off this Korova Mint Black, which is good because you don’t want patients overeating this much THC. One thousand milligrams of THC is equal to 100 standard doses, making Korova Mint Black suitable for the most severe conditions managed by cannabis—including cancer chemotherapy and hospice care.
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Green Hornet CBD Gummy by Cheeba Chews Those unfamiliar with the powerful sting that comes from a hornet might question its potency, but anyone who has had the pleasure of standing toe-to-toe with a hornet knows you'll want to start by ingesting about one fourth to one half of this gummy, depending on your needs. Clocking in at 50mg of body relaxing CBD, patients can expect the euphoric, calm and stress relieving effects to begin 30 minutes after consumption without the "high" you'd normally experience with THC. Check collectives closest to you for available products—this is one to always have on hand, especially if there are actual hornets around. Available wherever: Various collectives in California.
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HERE
Available wherever: Hubby’s products are carried.
California Watermelons by Medizen, Inc. No trick. All treat. California Watermelons from Medizen, Inc. come in a pouch containing 300mg THC—equal to 30 standardized, 10mg “doses” of THC. (Cannabis-naive patients should start with just 2.5mg of THC, or a quarter of a watermelon and wait two hours and judge effects, doctors say.) California Watermelons pouches contain about two dozen little watermelons. They’re pink and green and coated in an orange-looking substance that’s likely CO2 oil, given the resinous, processed smell. The watermelon candies are firm yet fresh and taste really tart and fruity with a spike of CO2 oil that’s very tolerable. Patients ingest THC-edibles to access cannabinoids without smoking or vaping. The effects take about 90 minutes to be felt and last longer than smoking.
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Hubby's Fruit Belt A far cry from the almost inedible fruit belts we used to find tucked away in our lunch boxes in elementary school, Hubby's has given us a product nobody is willing to trade their chocolate milk for. A whopping 150mg of grape goodness comes tucked away in a neatly sealed pouch. The packaging warns of a high dosage and explains that there are six doses contained inside. The smell is somewhat candy-like and the taste reminds you that yes, you are indeed consuming a medical product despite the fact that you wish there were another foot of this magical fruity belt.
Available wherever: Medizen, Inc. products are carried.
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For More Products Go To iReadCulture.com
3. Lékué Citrus Sprayer
1. KGB Glass Donut Pipe You might be tempted to nibble at this adorable, frosted donut covered with sprinkles. However, that is definitely not advised. Instead, you can use this sweet glass pipe to enjoy some of your favorite cannabis flower. What’s even cooler is that this donut pipe is customizable, which means you have the choice of colors for frosting and sprinkles. This silly novelty piece of functional glass art might not satisfy your sweet tooth craving, but it will serve as your new favorite piece. You might even become a trendsetter at the next party you attend if you bring your KGB Glass Donut Pipe—who doesn’t love donuts? PRICE: $139.99 MORE INFORMATION: legalsmokeshop.com
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4. EnChroma Glasses
2. Viva Collection Airfryer Healthy eating has just taken a giant leap into the technological future with the Viva Collection Airfryer. This tool uses a oneof-a-kind Rapid Air Technology to fry, bake, roast and grill your favorite food with no more than a tablespoon of oil. This means that you can get the same taste and texture of fried goods without the extra calories. Hot air circulates around your food item while in the Airfryer, while the bottom of the device circulates air. What’s even better is that the parts that get dirty are dishwasher safe, making for quick and easy cleanup. PRICE: $249.95 MORE INFORMATION: www.usa.philips.com
There is something about using only the freshest ingredients in recipes that really elevates a dish's flavor and aroma. Now you can add spritz of your favorite fruits with the Lékué Citrus Sprayer. Available in two sizes to accommodate both smaller and larger fruits, just screw one of these little nozzles into your favorite fruit. Then, use the nozzle to dress your salads, drinks, cocktails and other recipes. You won’t need to waste your time with a bulky juicer or dirtying any extra utensils. Elevate your next culinary creation with a little fresh juice using this inventive citrus sprayer. PRICE: $15 MORE INFORMATION: www.lekueusa.com
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People who are born color blind are unable to enjoy the beauty of a multicolored flower field or the magnificence of a sunset— until now. Introducing EnChroma Glasses, which utilize special lenses that allow those who suffer from color blindness to finally see the world the way it was meant to be seen. The glasses, which are available in a variety of styles, help enhance color by introducing a filter that targets specific photopigments through a patent pending method of “multinotch filtering.” People who are color blind may not know what their missing, and a pair of these would open a whole new world of exploration. PRICE: $349-$429 MORE INFORMATION: enchroma.com
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entertainment
BOOK
The 420 Gourmet: The Elevated Art of Cannabis Cuisine Jeffthe420Chef Harper Wave Jeffthe420Chef has been creating high end culinary treasures infused with cannabis for CULTURE Magazine for quite some time now, and his new book, Jeff includes amazing recipes with step-bystep instructions for any level of cook, and specifics for dosing as well as expected effects and benefits. From delicious small plates and apps to vegan, gluten-free and kosher meals, Jeff’s recipes and dishes are elevated delights with simple to follow directions. The culinary cannabis experience no longer requires a professional chef—you can do this all yourself! (Alex Bradley)
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Release Date: october 11 Available on: Xbox One, PC
MOVIE
Swiss Army Man
MUSIC
GAME
A24
My Woman
Gears of War 4
Dir. Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Angel Olsen
Dev. The Coalition Pub. Microsoft Studios In Gears of War 4, the human race is doing all it can to stay alive on planet Sera, and now there’s a new threat to deal with. Following 25 years after the events of Gears of War 3, this sequel brings back everything you liked about this third person shooter series with a few added features. Players will gain access to weapons like the Combat Knife (used for precision melee attacks) and “Buzzkill” (which shoots sawblades), and GoW4 also features a unique weather system featuring everything from tame winds to a Category 3 windstorm—which might be the deciding factor of humanity’s survival. (Nicole Potter)
Though it can’t be proven, there is a strong probability that fart jokes are one of the oldest bits of humor in human culture. So it comes as no surprise that someone would make a film which utilizes farts and fart humor in an absolutely profound way. Enter Swiss Army Man, a film which tells an entertaining story of survival revolving around borderline suicidal Hank and the extremely flatulent washed up corpse of Manny. Written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, this film takes the risk that the audience might not take it seriously, but pays off big when they do. (Simon Weedn)
Jagjag-uwar In 2010, Angel Olsen began her recording career with a six song EP of gorgeously lush sounding, yet stripped down and raw folk music. In the ensuing six years, Olsen’s sound has gradually made the transition from acoustic to electric and filled out with full band arrangements. Even with all of the production and polish on her third album, My Woman, Olsen’s songs never lose the edge that made her so captivating to begin with. Her bold, bluesy voice pours like thick honey from the speakers, and even when the songs are more mellow or subdued they sound sharp and to the point. (Simon Weedn)
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liner notes
W
by Kevin Longrie hen Friedrich Nietzsche talked about the “eternal return of the same,” he was talking about pop culture, right? Inundated with sequels at the box office, reunion shows on TV (e.g. Fuller House), and the still-touring ROLLING STONES, it’s hard not to feel like we’ve seen it all before. To be sure, innovation in storytelling is paramount. We want new ways to look at ourselves, to explore our fears and our beliefs, and to communicate through art. But we need not always be forward looking. There are often meaningful blends of old and new, evidenced by the recent Netflix hit Stranger Things. The show, created by the Duffer Brothers, sends up John Carpenter and a whole slew of tropes from horror/adventure films from the ’70s and ’80s. But it never quite collapses into parody or mimicry, as did J.J. Abrams’ Super 8, which channeled Steven Spielberg so heavily that Abrams faded into the background, stylistically speaking. It is important, though, that we examine our inspirations, especially when it comes to music. That’s why it is so fortuitous that two new collections from music legends are being issued this year. In October, ROY ORBISON’s first career-spanning greatest hits album will be available for purchase. With any luck, it introduces a new generation of listeners to “the voice.” The collection is said to include tracks from his early career, including time at Sun Records and Monument Records as well as later hits with the TRAVELING WILBURYS.
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Twenty-six tracks are all they could squeeze onto a single CD, but it’ll do for now. Here’s hoping that discerning youths pick this up and pass around a legacy truly worth revisiting. The month after that, in November, a new box set will be released, Lou Reed—The RCA & Arista Album Collection, Vol. 1. This collection will contain six of Lou Reed’s earliest solo albums: Transformer, Berlin, Rock n’ Roll Animal, Coney Island Baby, Street Hassle and The Blue Mask. Performance artist and musician LAURIE ANDERSON assured fans that the tracks, remastered by LOU REED himself, are “not smoothed out.” Anderson, Reed’s window, said that “sometimes remastering revealed their details and roughness in the most exciting ways. They leap out at you with their original energy.”
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The folklore around Reed’s career is that when the VELVET UNDERGROUND released their first album, only a few hundred people bought it, but they all started bands. Here’s to the bands that will be formed in garages all around the country when people get their hands on this new box set. Looking backwards is not, however, always a good idea. This was, at least, the second thought I had after reading that KORN and LIMP BIZKIT have announced a joint tour, kicking off this December. I can’t actually publish the first thought I had—it’s not fit for print. Other groups have decided to relive their former “glory” include AQUA, the Danish pop group which has decided to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their hit “Barbie Girl” with a tour in 2017. Lastly, it’s worth noting that
sometimes, looking backwards can just be, well, fun. Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, for example, recently announced that their parody-documentary TV series Documentary Now! will include a TALKING HEADS episode. Their band, “Test Pattern,” which performed recently on Late Night with Seth Meyers, certainly looks the part. Armisen, during the appearance, donned a flowing grey suit and surrounded himself, Hader, and drummer JEREMY GARA of ARCADE FIRE with TV screens with faux-messages. Their song, “Art + Student = Poor,” was played with a straight face and upbeat guitar. Some might ask “why?” and I honestly wouldn’t have a very compelling answer for you; but that doesn’t seem to have ever been a motivation for these two SNL alums. They’re just having a great time. c
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“Obviously, if I’m shooting in Morocco or Egypt and I find myself on a sand dune in the middle of the Sahara, looking out over a perfect fucking moonscape, I’m smoking weed.”
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Better with
Bourdain
The renowned television star, celebrity chef and author has changed the way the world looks at food, reality television and cannabis by Paul Rogers Anthony Bourdain is the great Trojan Horse of America’s cannabis movement—and may not even know it. Inadvertently or otherwise, the globe-trotting foodie is one of this country’s most charismatic and influential cannabis advocates. A poetic, philosophical maverick, Bourdain laces his work—ultrapopular TV food and travel shows and best-selling books—with procannabis attitude and anecdotes. In so doing, he’s helped shape the attitudes of millions of people towards cannabis without so much as hosting a rally or posting a meme. “Obviously, if I’m shooting in Morocco or Egypt and I find myself on a sand dune in the middle of the Sahara, looking out over a perfect fucking moonscape, I’m smoking weed,” he said. Bourdain’s million-selling breakout book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, is speckled with fond cannabis references and remembrances. Episodes of his hit CNN series Parts Unknown, in which he also repeatedly alludes to the joys of cannabis, have attracted audiences upwards of 670,000. He’s earned “establishment” recognition including multiple
Emmy Awards and, significantly, a 2012 honorary CLIO Award—which is given to individuals whose work has encouraged people around the world to think differently. This is a man who shares a leisurely dinner with President Barack Obama (as seen on a recent Parts Unknown episode) and travels with household-name celebrity chefs, yet is an unrepentant, eloquent cannabis aficionado. He’s eaten cannabisinfused pizza in Cambodia; explored Copenhagen’s cannabis-infested “Pusher Street;” and (apparently) enjoyed Morocco’s cannabis-infused “majoun” confection—all on national, prime-time TV. “I will tell you, with authority, that the perfect delivery system for marijuana, particularly good marijuana, is a joint; a classic joint,” he said. “I prefer two papers. Purists will say one paper, [but] two papers burns more evenly.” By embracing, joking and reminiscing about cannabis in front of vast, broad-demographic audiences and in such “respectable” company, Bourdain has become a shining star of America’s cannabis community. On the page and on-screen, he’s enthusiastically familiarizing his fans with the plant’s
versatility, cultural roots, societal value and worldwide acceptance. While Bourdain seemingly slipped seamlessly into smallscreen ubiquity in the early aughts (initially with Food Network series A Cook’s Tour), his culinary journey stretches back to the mid 1970s. While attending New York’s Vassar College, he enjoyed a summer working in a seafront restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts, before dropping out to attend NYC’s Culinary Institute of America. Upon graduation in 1978, Bourdain plunged into a rollercoaster, rock ‘n’ roll jobbing journey through upscale NYC restaurants, which he so entertainingly recounts in Kitchen Confidential. The book is a sensuous, sometimes sardonic, belly-beforebrains romp through two decades of often cannabis-fueled cooking. “We were high all the time, sneaking off to the walk-in refrigerator at every opportunity to ‘conceptualize’,” wrote Bourdain in Kitchen Confidential. “Hardly a decision was made without drugs. Cannabis, methaqualone, cocaine, LSD . . . secobarbital, Tuinal, amphetamine and, increasingly, heroine.”
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“Chefs are in the pleasure business, and it’s important to understand your subject.” From sweetening tea with honey-soaked psilocybin mushrooms to igniting brandy to reenact Apocalypse Now explosions, the kitchens of Bourdain’s memory are places of functioning substance abuse and creative debauchery. Introducing the man’s single-minded, eccentric and decidedly lived-in worldview to the general public for the first time, Kitchen Confidential catapulted Bourdain, directly and through the TV career it ignited, from unseen chef to
celebrity multi-millionaire— but not until middle life. “At the age of 44, I was standing in kitchens, not knowing what it was like to go to sleep without being in mortal terror,” he said earlier this year. “I was in horrible, endless, irrevocable debt. I had no health insurance. I didn’t pay my taxes. I couldn’t pay my rent.” A self-confessed former “crackhead,” he was once reduced to selling his record collection on the streets to raise money.
Bourdain’s TV trajectory reflects his burgeoning public appeal. After 35 episodes of A Cook’s Tour he moved on to the Travel Channel for what would become seven years of the very similar No Reservations (and the shorter-lived The Layover). His 2012 leap to mainstream network CNN for Parts Unknown cemented fame that far transcends gastronomy. Indeed, the relentlessly inquisitive, hour-long show will go minutes at a time without even mentioning
Anthony Bourdain: A Timeline by Addison Herron-Wheeler
1956
Was born June 25 in New York City
1973
Graduated from school at the DwightEnglewood School 86
1975
Decided to drop out of Vassar College because of his job working in Provincetown, Massachusetts in seafood restaurants, which prompted
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him to want to be a chef
1978
Graduated from the Culinary Institute of America
1980s
Married first wife,
Nancy Putkoski
1995
Published Bone in the Throat, a culinary mystery book
1997
Published a fiction book
food, while delving also into the culture, history and lifestyles of destinations from Quebec to Colombia, Mississippi to Madagascar. Bourdain’s very vocal association of cannabis and cooking has found him aligned, alongside chefs and restaurateurs like Roy Choi, David Chang and Joanne Weir, with what’s been dubbed “haute stoner cuisine”—in short, classy contemporary cooking informed by, and catering to, the munchies.
titled Gone Bamboo
1998
Became Executive Chef at Brasserie Les Halles
2000
Released book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
2001
Published the book A Cook’s Tour about his travel exploits, which inspired a TV show
2001
Published Typhoid Mary: An Urban Historical, a hypothetical historical investigation p h o t o b y Is a a c Bre k k e n
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“Everybody [in professional kitchens] smokes dope after work. People you would never imagine. There has been an entire strata of restaurants . . . created especially for the tastes of the slightly stoned, slightly drunk chef after work.” “Everybody [in professional kitchens] smokes dope after work. People you would never imagine,” Bourdain said. “There has been an entire strata of restaurants . . . created specially for the tastes of the slightly stoned, slightly drunk chef after work.” As cannabis has become decriminalized in more and more U.S. states and increasingly entered everyday American life, so has its influence become more palpable on progressive restaurant menus. Examples of haute canna-cuisine include breakfast burrito pizza, ice cream mimicking the bottom-of-a-cereal-bowl milk, and all manner of mutant hot dogs. By detailing and subtly celebrating cannabis-based recipes like majoun—a storied Moroccan concoction containing potent kief—on ratings-topping TV, Bourdain has helped propel the evolution of high-end cannabis edibles, while also catching the attention of amateur canna-chefs everywhere. “Chefs are in the pleasure business, and it’s important to understand your subject,” he said. “If you know what it’s like to be stoned and hungry at one o’clock in the morning, it’s helpful when you’re trying to create a menu for people who are stoned and hungry at one o’clock in the fucking morning.” Bourdain’s exploration of mind- and mood-altering substances is in keeping with his curiosity towards “extreme” foods—the ultra-spicy, beyond-slimy and, to Western sensibilities, utterly gross. Calling himself “a very unusual case,” he kicked hard drugs but still enjoys alcohol and, apparently, cannabis. In No Reservations’ Peru episode, Bourdain implied he’d imbibed a shaman’s hallucinogenic ayahuasca brew (which he later discussed, along with his LSD encounters, on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast). His playful embrace of off-piste substances, experiences and just plain fun is encapsulated in an upcoming Parts Unknown scene in which he declares: “It’s perfectly okay to be shitfaced at the [dining] table!” These days, Bourdain is deliberately ambiguous about his relationship with cannabis, apparently out of professional and legal obligation. On a 2013 edition of Parts Unknown he explained, with thinly-veiled sarcasm: “Network Standards and Practices prohibit me from even tasting [majoun] . . . So until I see Christiane [Amanpour] and Wolf [Blitzer] doing bong rips in the Situation Room, I will of course abide by these rules.” Yet in the same episode he described the hashish haze of a Tangier cafe as resembling “my dorm room, 1972.” Arriving in Amsterdam for a 2012 stop on The Layover, he quipped, eyes rolling: “The use of any controlled substance by me or any member of this crew would be absolutely forbidden according to network standards and all rules of human decency.” Referring to that same episode shortly after its shooting, in an interview with Mark Binelli of Men’s Journal, Bourdain said: “Network policy, of course, absolutely precludes any of 90
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their talent getting high on camera. I’ll be interested to see how my editors cut around that.” And after demolishing his Cambodian “happy pizza” on No Reservations, he wondered aloud: “What makes this pizza so happy? Let’s just say there’s a powerful ‘herbal component’ . . . Which is more important: Crispy crust, or crispy diner?” Comments like these have made Bourdain so synonymous with cannabis-enhanced good times that his very name has entered the cannabis vernacular—an “Anthony Bourdain” being the hit that nudges a toker from sober to high (according to the crowdsourced Urban Dictionary).
2001
Named Food Writer of the Year by Bon Appetit magazine for Kitchen Confidential
2001
Published Bobby Gold, a crime novel
2002-2003
World travel TV show, A Cook’s Tour, ran for 35 episodes on The Food Network
2002
A Cook’s Tour was named Food Book of the Year by British Guild of Food Writers
2004
Published Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook
2005-2012
Began hosting Travel channel’s culinary adventure show, No Reservations
2006:
2008
2007:
2008
Published The Nasty Bits, a series of essays centered around food
Re-married to Ottavia Busia
2007:
Wrote No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach
2007:
The Beirut episode of No Reservations, which dealt with the IsraelLebanon conflict, was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding National Programming
2008
Was nominated for a Webby Award for Best Blog – Cultural/Personal when he blogged about Season 3 of Top Chef
Hosted a special, At the Table with Anthony Bourdain, on the Travel Channel
Was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food and Beverages in America
2009
Won a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for Non-fiction Programming
2010
Published sequel to Kitchen Confidential titled Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook
2010
Was one of the main judges on Top Chef Season 8
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CNN appears well aware of its star’s standing in stoner subculture. A six-minute clip devoted to Bourdain discussing hashish in Morocco, which has been viewed over 220,000 times, appears on the network’s own YouTube channel. And it’s perhaps no coincidence that CNN’s cannabusiness docuseries High Profits aired immediately after Parts Unknown on Sunday nights last year. Self-described as “America’s favorite bad-boy chef,” Bourdain has lately curbed his once hard-living, profanity-laced persona. He quit smoking following the birth of his daughter in 2007, earned a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2015, and now seldom swears on camera. While he still constantly references and enjoys alcohol, he appears healthier today, silver-haired at age 60, than he did a decade ago. The beautifully-shot Parts Unknown, now in its eighth season, oozes Bourdain’s irrepressible personality. In its Nashville episode (airing on October 2), its punk rock-loving host chooses hanging out with The Kills over cooking (though he does whip-up some deviled eggs for a party). In the new season’s Sichuan episode (airing October 16), he delights equally in the region’s searingly spicy cuisine and the visible distress this causes his travelmate, chef Eric Ripert. In Japan (airing November 13), he’s more interested in the geisha girls of “ochaya” tea houses than in tea itself.
2010
Was Nominated for Outstanding Writing for Non-fiction Programming
2010
Was awarded honorary CLIO Award (for those encouraging change through thinking differently)
2011-2013
Hosted The Layover on Travel channel
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2011
Started his own publishing line through Ecco Press
2011
Won a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for Non-fiction Programming
2012
Co-wrote the graphic novel Get Jiro! for DC Comics
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2012
No Reservations won Critic’s Choice Best Reality Series Award
2013
Switched to CNN to host Anthon Bourdain: Parts Unknown
2013
Was nominated for an Emmy in Outstanding Host for a Reality or
Lending don’t-look-away allure to his TV work, Bourdain has endured life-threatening close calls (in Lebanon and Libya) and comedic logistical fiascos (in Sicily and Romania). He insists that there are no re-takes or staged walk-ins in Parts Unknown and, true to his spirit of exploration, is prepared to suffer to expand his palate and mind. There’s an almost Fear Factor fascination to watching him consume the likes of unwashed warthog rectum (in Namibia), raw seal eye (Canada) and beating cobra heart (Vietnam). These aren’t mere ratings-boosting stunts, however. Bourdain is also making points central to his gastronomic philosophy: that traditional “street” and “peasant” dishes have way more value and flavor than Western fast foods; that Americans have blinkered appetites; and that there’s much to be enjoyed in animal parts usually discarded in affluent First World cooking (the double meaning in Parts Unknown’s title). The same goes for his incidental championing of cannabis, which asserts: This stuff is harmless and probably good for you; it has myriad medical, culinary and recreational applications; and many of our global kin have already figured this out and are all the happier for it. “Cures glaucoma, too,” he wryly advised, polishing-off his cannabis-sprinkled ‘happy pizza.’ Bourdain’s latest book, Appetites: A Cookbook, which will be published on October 25, returns to his hands-on culinary roots. His first actual cookbook in more than a decade, it reflects a more domesticated lifestyle since becoming a parent. Appetites is about cooking at home, but includes insights from years of worldwide adventure and in hectic, hyper-organized professional kitchens (Bourdain describes himself in the book’s announcement as “a psychotic, anally retentive, bad-tempered Ina Garten”). Looking fitter than ever, with undulled lust for his subject and a network budget and creative freedom which he’s described as “unfettered and spectacular,” the Bourdain brand remains ascendant. And the appetite-enhancing approach he takes to overtly promoting adventurous cuisine continues to be paralleled by implied, irreverent cannabis advocacy. “I wanted people to feel a certain way watching these shows,” he said. “I wanted people to feel hungry when they see all the food I am eating . . . It’s a very manipulative process and I enjoy that process.” c
RealityCompetition Program for The Taste
2013
Won Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series or Special for Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
2014
Describes himself as “chef-at-large” with Brasserie
Les Halles – still has a strong relationship with one of the places where he got started
Outstanding Informational Series or Special for Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
2014
2014
Was nominated for an Emmy in Outstanding Host for a Reality or RealityCompetition Program for The Taste
2014
Won Emmy for
Won Peabody Award for 2013 Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
2015
Bone in the Throat was made into a mystery/drama film
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Washington north dakota
montana
minnesota Oregon idaho
wisconsin
south dakota wyoming iowa nebraska
Nevada
illinoi
utah colorado kansas
california
oklahoma arizona
new mexico
missouri
arkansas
missis
texas louisiana
alaska
hawaii
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maine vermont new hampshire massachusetts
VOTING ON CANNABIS 2016
There are various cannabis-related ballot measures coming up for the November 2016 election to regulate both medical and recreational cannabis at the state level. Here is a breakdown of all the cannabis-related initiatives that will be on the ballot.
new york rhode island michigan
connecticut pennsylvania
is
maryland
west virgina virginia
Medical on state ballot
Nothing new on state ballot
new jersey delaware
ohio
indiana
Recreational on state ballot
washington D.C.
Alabama The state only permits CBD-only medical cannabis oil under HB-61. Possession of any amount of cannabis could result in one year of incarceration and a maximum fine of $6,000.
kentucky north carolina tennessee south carolina
ssippi alabama
Cannabis for recreational use for adults ages 21-and-over is permitted. The state also has an operational medical cannabis program.
Arizona
georgia
florida
Rec Medical Decriminalazation CBD
Alaska
Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative or Proposition 2015 will be on the November 2016 ballot. If passed, it could allow possession, consumption and cultivation of recreational cannabis by adults ages 21 years and older. The initiative would also create a Department of Marijuana Licenses and Control to regulate the industry. A 15 percent tax on recreational cannabis would benefit the state’s education and healthcare industries. Adults would be able to cultivate to six plants in their residence, and local governments would have the ability to further regulate cannabis-related businesses.
Arkansas The 2016 Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act aims to allow a medical cannabis program that is regulated by Arkansas Department of Health, and it will appear on the November 2016 ballot. There is a competing initiative called the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016. This initiative also sets out to permit medical cannabis in the state. If both ballot measures receive a majority vote, the measure with the highest number of votes will be enacted. iReadCULTURE.com october 2016
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Kansas Recreational on state ballot
Medical on state ballot
California The Adult Use of Marijuana Act or California Proposition 64 will appear on the November 2016 ballot. If passed, it will give voters the opportunity to permit recreational cannabis and hemp. Recreational cannabis and hemp would be subjected to a 15 percent sales tax. There would also be a cultivation tax on cannabis growers, which would be $2.75 per ounce of leaves and $9.25 per ounce of cannabis flower.
Colorado Cannabis for recreational use for adults ages 21-and-over is permitted. The state also has a medical cannabis program that allows people with qualifying medical conditions to access cannabis.
Connecticut The state has a medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions. The state has decriminalized the plant to a certain degree, with the possession of less than half an ounce of cannabis yielding a $150-500 fine.
Delaware The state has a medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying medical conditions. The state has decriminalized the plant to a certain degree, with the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis yielding a $100 fine.
Florida Amendment 2 or Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative is on the November 2016 ballot.
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Nothing new on state ballot
It is an initiated constitutional amendment that, if passed, would permit medical cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions or by recommendation of a licensed state physician. If passed, the state’s Department of Health would be in charge of regulating cannabis cultivation, production and distribution. The Department of Health would also be responsible for issuing medical cannabis ID cards.
Georgia The state only permits CBD-only medical cannabis oil.
Hawaii The state does have a medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions.
Idaho Cannabis is completely illegal in the state of Idaho.
Illinois The state does have a medical cannabis program for patients with a large list of qualifying conditions. The state has decriminalized the plant to a certain degree, with the possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis yielding a $200 fine.
Indiana Cannabis is completely illegal in the state of Indiana.
Iowa The state permits CBD-only medical cannabis oil.
Cannabis is completely illegal in the state of Kansas.
Kentucky The state allows CBD-only cannabis oil.
Louisiana The state does have a medical cannabis program. The program needs more revisions in order to be workable.
Maine The Maine Marijuana Legalization Measure or Question 1 will be on the November 2016 ballot. If passed, it would legalize recreational cannabis in the state of Maine for adults ages 21-and-over. The industry would be regulated and taxed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Maryland The state has a non-operational medical cannabis law for people with qualifying medical conditions. The state has decriminalized the plant to a certain degree, with the possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis yielding a $100 fine.
Massachusetts The Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative or Question 4, is on the November 2016 ballot. If passed, it would allow recreational cannabis for adults ages 21 and over, similar to the way alcoholic beverages are permitted in the state. The state currently has an operational medical cannabis program and has decriminalized cannabis to a certain extent.
Michigan The state has an operational medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions.
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Recreational on state ballot
Medical on state ballot
Minnesota The state has an operational medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions. The state has also decriminalized cannabis to a certain degree, where personal possession of 42.5 grams of cannabis can lead to a misdemeanor penalty of $200.
Mississippi The state permits CBD-only medical cannabis oil for qualifying patients. The state has decriminalized cannabis to a certain degree, as first offense personal possession of 30 grams or less of cannabis can lead to a $250 fine.
Missouri New Approach Missouri fought to get medical cannabis on the ballot for 2016, however they fell short with just over 20 signatures. The state permits CBD-only medical cannabis oil for qualifying conditions.
Montana If the Montana Medical Marijuana Initiative or I-182 passes then it would amend the Montana Marijuana Act of 2011, and it will be on the November 2016 ballot. If passed, it would rename the current medical cannabis law to the Montana Medical Marijuana Act. According to the initiative, this measure would finally permit, “providers to hire employees to cultivate, dispense and transport medical marijuana.�
Nebraska The state is still strict on laws regarding cannabis. The state has decriminalized the plant to a
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Nothing new on state ballot
certain degree, with the first offense possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis only yielding a $100 fine.
Nevada The Nevada Marijuana Legalization Initiative or Question 2 is on the November ballot. If passed, it would allow adults ages 21 and over to legally possess one ounce of less of cannabis. The Department of Taxation would regulate and distribute licenses. They would also be responsible for licensing cannabis-related businesses, sales tax would benefit public education.
New Hampshire The state does have an operational medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions.
New Jersey The state does have an operational medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying medical conditions.
New Mexico The state does have an operational medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions.
New York The state does have a medical cannabis program, and medical cannabis is only available in smokefree forms (capsules, liquids, oils and vaporization) for patients with qualifying conditions.
North Carolina CBD oil is approved to treat patients
who suffer from intractable epilepsy. Cannabis has been decriminalized in North Carolina as well, and anyone being caught in possession of 0.5 ounces or less of cannabis will receive a Class 3 misdemeanor with up to $200 fine.
North Dakota The North Dakota Compassionate Care Act 2016 or Initiated Statutory Measure 5 is on the November 2016 ballot. If passed, it would legalize medical cannabis for patients with specific medical conditions. The Department of Health would be responsible for regulating all aspects of the program from caregivers and patients to cultivation, dispensing and even will be required to provide guidelines for corrective action for criminal prosecution.
Ohio The Marijuana Policy Project suspended its campaign for legalizing medical cannabis in the state earlier this year. However, the state’s current medical cannabis law, HB-523, officially went into effect on September 8, 2016. Cannabis is decriminalized in Ohio, with a $150 fine for possession of less than 100 grams of cannabis.
Oklahoma Oklahoma had a medical cannabis bill planned for the ballot, called State Question 788, however, it has now been delayed until 2018. Until then, medical CBD oil is legal through HB-2835 in Oklahoma for patients with qualifying conditions. This new law will take effect on November 1.
Oregon Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use for adults ages 21-and-over. The state also has a medical cannabis program that allows people with qualifying medical conditions to access cannabis.
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Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act, Act 16, was legalized earlier in 2016, which adds 17 different qualifying conditions to access medical cannabis. Cannabis is not decriminalized in Pennsylvania yet.
Rhode Island The state has its own Medical Marijuana Act which offers cannabis as treatment for qualifying conditions. Cannabis is also decriminalized to an extent in Rhode Island, with possession of cannabis up to one ounce and punishable by a $150 violation fee.
South Carolina The state saw recent approval of a medical cannabis CBD law called South Carolina Medical Marijuana Program Act, which will have approved patients who suffer from severe forms of epilepsy to be exempt from state law regarding possession of CBD. Cannabis has been decriminalized in the state, leaving possession of an ounce or less punishable with a maximum sentence of 30 days, along with a $200-$300 fine as a first offense.
South Dakota The South Dakota Medical Marijuana Initiative was originally planned, but there were not enough signatures approved for consideration, thus it will not be appearing on this year’s ballot. South Dakota does not have a medical cannabis program, and possession of two ounces or less of cannabis is labeled a Class 1 demeanor, which nets the violator a maximum one-year prison sentence and up to a $2,000 fine.
Tennessee Medical cannabis is allowed with CBD oil only, and the state holds
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Recreational on state ballot
Medical on state ballot
strict penalties for violating state law. Possession of half an ounce of cannabis will send violators to jail for up to one year with a minimum required fee of $250 for first time offenders (the maximum fine is $2,500).
Texas Medical cannabis is legal with CBD oil only in Texas through SB-339, and can only be used by patients who suffer from intractable epilepsy. The state has not decriminalized cannabis though, leaving anyone who is caught with up to two ounces of cannabis to be sent to jail for up to 180 days and a fine up to $2,000.
Utah Medical cannabis is legal with CBD oil only for patients with qualifying conditions.
Vermont Vermont does have a medical cannabis program. The state has decriminalized cannabis, leaving anyone caught with one ounce or less to receive a civil violation instead of a criminal offense—but anything more than one ounce will still lead to a six-month maximum imprisonment and/or up to a $500 fee.
Virginia The Virginia General Assembly passed SB-701 which allows cannabis oil to be used as treatment for patients who suffer from epilepsy with a doctor’s certification (this bill must be passed a second time in 2017 before any patients can benefit from it). Virginian laws are still strict though.
Nothing new on state ballot
Washington Cannabis for recreational use for adults ages 21-and-over is legal. The state also has a medical cannabis program that allows people with qualifying medical conditions to access cannabis.
Washington D.C. Cannabis for recreational use for adults ages 21-and-over is permitted. The state capitol also has a medical cannabis program that allows people with qualifying medical conditions to access cannabis.
West Virginia There is no medical cannabis program. Cannabis is not decriminalized, and being caught in possession of any amount of cannabis results in between 90 days to six months, and a $1,000 fine.
Wisconsin The state does currently have a tightly restricted CBD law in place that’s available for patients who want to use CBD oil to treat seizures. Cannabis is not decriminalized in Wisconsin, and anyone found in possession will face a maximum prison sentence of six months, and/or a $1,000 fine.
Wyoming The state’s current law allows for limited access to the use of CBD oil as a medicine, but it is only available to help treat seizures. c
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“The word terpene is an exceptionally broad based word, as over 20,000 different molecules can be represented by this single word, which is why the class of compounds are attributed to such broad physiological functions.”
Terpenes For All
Terpenes are in many different plants, not just cannabis, and the growing trend of cooking with terpenes is taking shape within the cannabis and the culinary worlds
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by Jeffrey C. Raber, Ph.D.
e often hear the saying, you are what you eat, but unfortunately that is never really fully detailed or described further. The types of foods you consume have implications on metabolic rates, fat storage system, energy levels, cholesterol levels and even mood. Today we know that these systems are all linked in some fashion through the endocannabinoid system. How exactly all of that works together, which types of food inputs regulate which functions of these systems and which specific molecules are playing which specific interactions with which particular receptors is only starting to be more fully detailed. In food, we often consider broad designations of labeling such as, sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan friendly and the like. That helps us to understand some of the composition of these products. A more recent, and exceptionally interesting, trend emerging in the cannabis market is infused products
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and edibles containing terpenes. We now understand that different terpene compositions can impact patient physiological responses in various ways, and that finding the right terpene combinations can make all the difference in terms of medical effectiveness for the patient. Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers. They often have a strong odor. The FDA and other agencies have generally recognized terpenes as “safe.” Terpenes act on receptors and neurotransmitters, readily dissolve in lipids or fat and have exceptionally diverse physiological interactions. Some may act as serotonin uptake inhibitors; some may enhance norepinephrine activity; others have been shown to increase dopamine activity; and yet others may augment GABA. The word terpene is an exceptionally broad based word, as over 20,000 different molecules can be represented by this single word, which is why the class of compounds are attributed to such broad physiological functions. More specific research is needed for improved accuracy in describing and predicting how terpenes in cannabis can be used medicinally to help treat specific ailments/health conditions. Various researchers have emphasized the pharmacological importance of terpenes and terpenoids, which form the basis of aromatherapy, a popular holistic healing modality. Pungent terpene oils repel insects and animal grazers; others prevent fungus. They can be used to protect the plants that produce them by deterring herbivores and by attracting predators and parasites of herbivores.
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Terpenes, it turns out, are healthy for people as well as useful to plants. Terpenes are natural inhibitors of NFkappaB signaling with antiinflammatory and anti-cancer potential. A September 2011 report by Dr. Ethan Russo in the British Journal of Pharmacology discussed the wide-ranging therapeutic attributes of terpenes, which are typically lacking in “CBD-only” products, and rarely taken advantage of in cooking and everyday health and wellness. An important consideration we need to make is the specific terpene compositions in these cannabis products. Cannabis strain pairings, such as perhaps a Lemon Haze with a
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citrus-based edible product, can help to accentuate the limonene in the end product. Limonene may be useful to promote weight loss, prevent cancer, aid in treating cancer and even bronchitis, but how it interacts when delivered with many other terpenes and cannabinoids at once is still not well understood. Cooking with terpenes is a wide-spread phenomenon among health and wellness professionals and culinary cannasseurs as well. Beta-caryophyllene, for example, is a sesquiterpene found in the essential oil of black pepper, oregano and other edible herbs, as well as in various cannabis strains and in many green,
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leafy vegetables. It is gastro-protective, good for treating certain ulcers, and offers great promise as a therapeutic compound for inflammatory conditions and auto-immune disorders because it binds directly to the peripheral cannabinoid receptor known as “CB2.” When cooking, the use of terpene and terpenoidrich plants can give you added benefits and added flavors and aromas. In 2008, the Swiss scientist Jürg Gertsch documented betacaryophyllene’s binding affinity for the CB2 receptor and described it as “a dietary cannabinoid.” It is the only terpene known to directly activate a cannabinoid receptor.
And it’s one of the reasons why green, leafy vegetables are so healthy to eat. Terpenes and cannabinoids have been shown to be able to both increase blood flow, enhance cortical activity, and kill respiratory pathogens, including MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that in recent years has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Americans. Dr. Russo’s article reports that cannabinoid-terpene interactions “could produce synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections.”
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Innovative cannabis chefs are now beginning to push this frontier and are bringing exciting products to the marketplace. Pairings and profiling of products in this regard will be discussed on upcoming episodes of the Cooking with Keira show, now in production. Jeanne L. D. Osnas, PhD and Katherine Angela Preston, PhD consistently write about and teach about the fun of botany in the kitchen and have great insight into the evolution of terpenes in the kitchen. They create recipes utilizing the wide variety of terpenes in the plant kingdom, and go into great detail in blog posts, magazine articles and classes, about how exactly to replace or reinvigorate terpenes in recipes, both raw and cooked. They update their blog The Botanist in the Kitchen regularly with fascinating articles, recipes and information. Just as cannabis loses some of its terpenes when it is decarboxylated, other plants and herbs lose them when heated too. Osnas and Preston tell us how to replace flavorful and powerful terpenes when lost in cooking. For example, in a post about a peppercrusted beef tenderloin recipe, they explain how the hot oil removes some of the flavorful terpene compounds (specifically pinene and limonene), and how they decide to rectify, by adding rich nutmeg (Myristica fragrans; Myristicaceae) and limonene-rich orange (Citrus x sinensis; Rutaceae) zest to the dry rub, along with the simmered black pepper. In doing so they take advantage of a widespread and diverse array of terpenes and simultaneously increase the concentration of useful ones that may be lost during heating so that in the end more are present than if you didn’t supplement them. Author Harold McGee, PhD has garnered a lot of
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success from his interest in food and science, and has won numerous awards for his book On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, published in 1984, that goes into great depth about how to use terpenes to your advantage in the kitchen, and explains the science of what and how terpenes are made and accessible to plants and humans.
terpenes, and we see that now gaining steam too. Books like The Science of Cooking: Understanding the Biology and Chemistry Behind Food and Cooking is a great resource. As is The Science of Good Cooking, Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking, The Kitchen as Laboratory: Reflections on the Science of Food and Cooking, and
“We now understand that different terpene compositions can impact patient physiological responses in various ways, and that finding the right terpene combinations can make all the difference in terms of medical effectiveness for the patient.” The nutrition of these compounds is not a common topic of conversation within the culinary or cannabis worlds, but this topic is growing in popularity now that so many people are becoming interested and educated in how terpenes can affect their cannabis experiences. The next step in this continuing evolution of interest is cooking with
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The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science. Thorn Street Brewery has introduced a beer, OG HighPA, that smells and tastes like cannabis, and utilized fragrant cannabis terpenes to get their perfect resulting smell and taste. It’s made with a blend of citra, mosaic, and columbus hops, as well as pinene and myrcene for the signature
“dankness” so reminiscent of a fresh, juicy cannabis flower. With terpenes derived from Pineapple Kush and select other fragrant strains, the flavors of pine, grass, and a hint of citrus make this a unique brew. San Francisco-based brewers Cellarmaker Brewing Co. also has a cannabisinspired, terpene-infused beer. Terpene Station is a cask conditioned double IPA with galaxy hops, but doesn’t state which terpenes they have infused back into the beer to make it taste and smell like their cannabis inspiration. When cooking with terpenes, many different plants can be used, and there are different processes to make sure you get everything you want out of them. Limonene can be extracted from citrus. Linalool can be extracted from lavender. Humulene from hops. Myrcene from mangos but there’s also synthetic versions of those molecules that can be created in the lab to provide solely that molecule. While we don’t know which particular composition may be best for which patients, we do understand that terpenes can potentiate and improve the effects of the cannabinoids when they are delivered together. We’re only scratching the tip of the iceberg in finding out which terpenes may impact which patients in which regards, but we are now beginning to be able to more fully explore this with improved product compositions now entering the cannabis and culinary markets. Sophisticated product manufacturers, ones that pay special attention to their entire product composition in terms of terpenes and cannabinoids, will most definitely be the ones to excel in this rapidly expanding product space. The future does look bright, and tasty! c
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The Rise of the Female Cannabis Chefs The cannabis industry is dominated by females in every sector— and now, the cannabis culinary arts are starting to catch up by Natasha Guimond The following cannachefs are at the top of their category, in heart, skill and ambition. They deliver quality work time and time again. It’s no wonder they’re
still considered up-andcoming, because they’re constantly looking for ways to improve their craft. For this particular issue, we chose to focus on the women in
the industry, because they are daftly underrepresented. As women, they’ve faced challenges that men simply don’t have to. As Maya Angelou once said, “If one is
Laurie Wolf www.laurieandmaryjane.com Laurie Wolf grew up in the Bronx, where she met her husband. They moved to Portland from New York less than a decade ago, ready for a new adventure. When Oregon legalized cannabis, her life changed dramatically, “With the changing laws we are seeing a wider range of customers, many who haven’t used cannabis for years, as well as people who were not comfortable with the formerly illegal practice. Now we see happy clients feeling good and excited to try, or retry cannabis.” Every single edible Laurie and MaryJane creates is tested for potency, maintaining consistency as well as deliciousness. Wolf has always been pro-cannabis. “I never talk about my love for cannabis without discussing the impressive medical
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lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.” These women dreamed the dream, took the leap, and now they’re changing the world. One edible at a time.
benefits. Cannabis is a powerful medicine without the worry of addiction and miserable side effects. Seeing people manage severe pain without narcotics is huge.” When her father was nearing the end of his life, she would infuse foods with cannabis to help him deal with pain and increase his appetite. It also helps her to successfully manage her epilepsy. She’s been seizure free since she started daily, mild doses three years ago. When she realized there were many people that didn’t want to smoke, she decided to be the Martha Stewart of cannabis. And what screams Martha Stewart more than dinner parties? An interest thing that Wolf’s company does is host cannabis dinner parties, letting guests try different flower while dining on mildly infused food. They’ve even done terpene pairings. “Cooking with cannabis is like cooking with a new spice. I love a challenge, infusing foods that are unusual and a surprise.”
Monica Lo www.sousweed.com A few years ago, Monica Lo took a wild leap and moved from Brooklyn to San Francisco. That’s where she worked for Nomiku, a company that created the smallest sous vide device. What’s sous vide? Basically marinating and cooking food in a sealed, temperature controlled water bath. This allows for precise cooking. “Since the cannabis is sealed in a jar underwater, there’s virtually no smell—which is another great perk if you live in a tiny apartment.” Lo started her blog Sous Weed as a passion project, marrying her love of food,
Keira Fae www.ambrosiacollective.org Keira Fae has lived in Portland, Tokyo and Irvine, but most recently, she’s moved to Los Angeles. In 2014, she started an edible company which garnered the attention of WeedMaps, “We started filming step-bystep how to infuse and cook with cannabis videos, where I explain Cooking with Cannabis,” Fae says. She’s been pro-cannabis for a few years now. Falling ill in 2013, not wanting to take a sluggish list of meds, she smoked a joint and noticed an instant improvement in her health. “I regained my appetite and I had more energy, and the pain was gone!” Since then, she’s immersed herself in the cannabis community, learning the science behind it and
technology and cannabis. “At the time, I was making healthy Sous Weed edibles as an aid to sleep through the night and relieve my back pain when I herniated a disc.” She’s inspired by her friend Ophelia Chong, the founder of Stock Pot images. Having the chance to collaborate with Chong, she was able to educate and de-stigmatize through her photography, specializing in ganja yoga and edibles. Finding herself more creative when lightly medicated, she still loves to use raw cannabis for all the wonderful health benefits and antiinflammatory properties, even though you don’t get the psychoactive effects. “I find that the herbaceous flavors are fairly mild and can be incorporated into many dishes.”
finding new, innovative ways to infuse and medicate patients. Since entering the cannabis space, she is continually inspired by those around her. “I have met nothing but exceptional, hard working, passionate people, all working to achieve the same goal and that is to bring a light to this wonderful medicine. I am very grateful to be surrounded by such positive energy, there is never a shortage of inspiration!” Fae really likes to work with her hands and be creative in her work. A typical day for her is finding a nice space with a notebook and pencil, rolling a joint, smoking it and thinking on how she can make her products better, what sort of products would maximize patient use and how to keep her products consistent, “It’s all a learning process and I get to teach myself and learn every day.”
Robyn Griggs Lawrence www.robyngriggslawrence.com Robyn Lawrence has lived in Boulder, Colorado for over two decades after growing up in Iowa and trying out Chicago, Virginia and New York. She’s never been anti-cannabis, but when her doctor recommended it in 2009, she was blown away by how much it helped. “I began to explore cooking with it as an alternative to smoking. Cooking is one of my passions, and I was intrigued with cannabis as a wonderful ‘new’ ingredient and superfood.” This launched her cookbook project, which was
her introduction to the cannabis industry, just as it began to explode in Colorado. Some may see Lawrence’s work as a cannabis writer, educator and advocate as a departure from her earlier career as a magazine editor, but she believes it’s a natural extension of that work. Wanting to make healthy, organic dishes, without all that added sugar, she knew the best way to learn was from the pros. “I scoured the country for the best cannabis chefs out there who would be willing to teach me . . . The more I learn about cannabis, the more I see it as a miraculous gift that we must honor and protect from adulteration and exploitation.” c
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Industry Insider
Meital Manzuri and Alexa Steinberg of Manzuri Law by R. Scott Rappold
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t’s easy to forget now, but there was a time not long ago when running a medical cannabis collective in California could be a very risky business. As a young attorney in 2008, Meital Manzuri didn’t know much about cannabis. But in those days of DEA raids on collectives and prosecution of patients, of erratic local regulations and haphazard crackdowns, she saw a glaring need. Many other lawyers wouldn’t even take medical cannabis cases, for fear of prosecution themselves. “I was getting a lot of clients who were being ill-advised by people who weren’t lawyers on how they should operate their business. And a lot of them were kind of set up for failure,”
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said Manzuri, 35, Managing Partner of Manzuri Law Firm. “I realized there was this void for knowledgeable advice on the business side to protect my clients in a preventative fashion so if they ended up in court they had their defense ready to go.” The struggle is still real today. As California plods into the murky waters of cannabis regulation and adult
recreational use, she and business partner Alexa Steinberg, 29, have emerged as two of the most prominent legal and educational advocates in the industry, two energetic young lawyers who aren’t afraid to stand up to the old drug war lords. Because, experience has taught, the War on Drugs, so entrenched in this country for decades, isn’t going down without a fight.
“What motivates me is the reaction when people hear what we do and the reaction our clients give us when we do something for them and for their cause. Each and every one of our clients is an advocate.” p h o t o s b y J o h n G i l h ooley
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A True Believer
The Steele Smith case made Manzuri a true believer. She had worked on other medical cannabis cases, had traveled to Amsterdam and experienced the cannabis coffee houses and had even begun to enjoy the herb herself. She opened her own practice six years ago to focus on cannabis. “I didn’t believe these people should be facing jail times and mandatory minimums in federal prison for a plant. The more I worked as lawyer in the industry, the more passionate I got about cannabis, as I thought about how many people it helped medically and how many peoples’ lives were ruined by the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act,” she said. Smith, her client, was charged with cultivating nearly 1,300 plants for his Los Angeles-area collective. Here was a compassionate man trying to help people, a man who gave out free wheelchairs, facing 10 years in federal prison. For the first time in California, she convinced a federal judge to allow her client to present a medical cannabis defense. Smith eventually pleaded guilty but was sentenced to time already served. “That was a pivotal moment, when I realized how, from a legal perspective, how interesting the issues are, because they span from constitutional to business to corporation . . . And from a personal perspective, how much we needed to help people,” she said. “I’ve always been an advocate at heart; helping people and really resolving this social justice issue became a passion.” She also achieved her share of acquittals. She recalls one case in Pomona when the judge called her to the bench, telling her, “It’s going to be on you when these people go to jail. Marijuana cases lose. You need to plead it out.” It took the jury just 45 minutes to acquit her client. It was, for her, “such a great, small, big moment.”
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An Educational Mission
Manzuri began teaching at places like Oaksterdam University and offering free seminars. The DEA continued to raid collectives and grow operations, seizing everything and all the cash and many times never charging anyone with a crime. If collective owners, growers and patients could be taught how to comply with local officials and regulations, maybe such troubles could be prevented. She hired Steinberg in 2014 as her associate attorney. It was an eye-opening experience for her. “I was really one of those people who still had that vision of what mainstream America looks at and envisions in their minds when they think of cannabis. They think of Rastafarians. They think of somebody completely stoned on their couch,” said Steinberg. “Once I became immersed in this world I was seeing professionals who were involved in this industry . . . and my idea of what this industry was completely turned on its head, and I began to see the incredible things going on with this industry and that it really is an industry itself and not what mainstream America thinks it is.” Along with teaching seminars, the attorneys have printed brochures of patients’ rights, handed out in collectives. They wrote a book about legalization in California. They developed a comprehensive website, legally-blunt.com, about “navigating the weeds of cannabis justice.”
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“I’ve always been an advocate at heart; helping people and really resolving this social justice issue became a passion.” Federal medical cannabis prosecutions have dwindled in California, due to turnover among federal prosecutors and a more hands-off policy by the U.S. government in California and elsewhere. But enforcement on the local level is still a patchwork in California, where it only takes one police chief or district attorney to seize a crop and throw someone in jail. For example, they still get a surprising number of criminal cases out of San Diego. As California implements the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, to finally regulate the industry comprehensively, and as voters look poised to approve recreational cannabis use, the legal hoops ahead for those in the industry are uncertain. Be sure these two attorneys, with years of experience navigating the murky waters of medical cannabis law, are poised to help guide the way. “What motivates me is the reaction when people hear what we do and the reaction our clients give us when we do something for them and for their cause. Each and every one of our clients is an advocate,” said Steinberg. Meital says, “I always want to fight for the person who doesn’t necessarily have a voice. A lot of my clients are very good people but they’re not lawyers. I’ve seen police and prosecutors really take advantage of that lack of education and not asserting their rights and that’s the kind of thing that really gets my blood pumping and drives me to do what I do.” “And we love the plant. We have a lot of fun.” c
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2016 Presidential Candidate Breakdown by David Edmundson
Hillary Clinton (Democrat)
Clinton has always been a “wait and see” type of politician. Her cannabis stance appears to mirror her earlier stance on samesex marriage. She toes the line, until support for it reaches a boiling point, and then she jumps on board.
Medical Cannabis - Yes Recreational Cannabis - No Supports rescheduling cannabis to Schedule II Supports allowing states to make their own cannabis policy Against incarcerating individuals for cannabis Says she has never consumed cannabis
Gary Johnson (Libertatrian)
Johnson has been a longtime advocate for cannabis legalization. He first publically called for decriminalization in 1999 and is an admitted user of cannabis.
Medical Cannabis - Yes Recreational Cannabis - Yes Supports full legalization Admitted to safely and regularly consuming cannabis Endorsed ballot initiatives for recreational cannabis in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington Endorsed by The Marijuana Policy Project
“What I’ve said is let’s take it off the what’s called Schedule I and put it on a lower schedule so that we can actually do research about it. There’s some great evidence about what marijuana can do for people who are in cancer treatment, who have other kind of chronic diseases, who are suffering from intense pain. There’s great, great anecdotal evidence but I want us to start doing the research.” 1 “On [laws allowing adult marijuana use], you know, states are the laboratories of democracy. We have at least two states that are experimenting with that right now. I want to wait and see what the evidence is.” 2
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Ran Cannabis Sativa Inc. which developed cannabis-infused products “Imagine [the Founding Fathers’] shock to learn that the government has decided it is appropriate to tell adults what they can put in their bodies—and even put them in jail for using marijuana, while allowing those same adults to consume alcohol and encouraging the medical profession to pump out addictive, deadly painkillers at will.” 3
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Jill Stein (Green)
Dr. Stein is a Harvard-trained medical doctor who supports full legalization. She regularly argues that cannabis is only dangerous because it is illegal, and that by criminalizing the plant we are feeding the black markets.
Donald Trump (Republican)
Prior to his political career Trump was outspoken about legalizing cannabis so that the government could profit from it. His stance has become a little more rigid since receiving the Republican nomination for president.
Medical Cannabis - Yes Recreational Cannabis - NO
Medical Cannabis - Yes Recreational Cannabis - YES Supports full legalization Supports cannabis as a treatment for substance abuse. “Make no mistake, ending marijuana prohibition would be a huge win for freedom and social justice, and a major step towards the just, Green future we deserve.” 4
In 1990, favored legalizing all drugs, but has since said he opposes recreational cannabis Supports allowing states to make their own cannabis policy “In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state-by-state . . . Marijuana is such a big thing. I think medical should happen—right? Don’t we agree? I think so. And then I really believe we should leave it up to the states.” 5
1. Interview with Hilary Clinton, Jimmy Kimmel Live, March 24, 2016. | 2. Interview with Hilary Clinton, CNN, June 2014. | 3. Gary Johnson 2016 Presidential Campaign Website, accessed May 25, 2016. 4. Jill Stein 2016 Official Presidential Campaign Website, accessed September 2016. | 5. Washington Post, October 29, 2015.
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From the Brink of Death to the Light of Life Patient Darren Miller cured his cancer with cannabis oil by Addison Herron-Wheeler
When he was first diagnosed with cancer last year, Darren Miller was given only a few months to live. He was told to get his affairs in order and finalize a will, because there was nothing left to do but prepare to quietly pass away. Now, in September of 2016, Miller animatedly gave an interview, on speaker phone and spending
combination that doctors usually look at as a certain death sentence. He was bleeding internally, and he had to have heart surgery that involved the blood getting drained from his heart cavity and the empty area being filled with talcum powder. This procedure is not supposed to have a survival rate; it is only to help prolong life and
“I’m seriously just grateful to be anywhere; I’m grateful to be alive right now. Every day is a good day.” time with his brother and a good friend, one of the men who helped get him cannabis oil to save his life. “I’m seriously just grateful to be anywhere; I’m grateful to be alive right now,” Miller admitted. “Every day is a good day.” Miller’s diagnoses when the cancer was first discovered was extremely serious. He had stage four heart and lung cancer, a 130
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ease suffering during final days. Yet Miller is living a relatively normal, healthy life now, apart from the fact that his heartbeat now hurts him, and he has a few other complications from coming so close to death’s door. He attributes his success to cannabis oil, which he claims saved his life.
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“The oil that works best for me, we have found, through our research and helping people, that if you have cancer you need a very high THC strain of oil because THC is what causes inductive cell death.”
“I take little pills of cannabis oil every day. I should not be alive,” he told us. “It feels like a miracle cure.” Yet Miller’s tale is not a blind testimony that all cannabis has universal healing powers. It took a very special kind of oil to help fight the cancer he was suffering from, and Miller had to face trials and tribulations to obtain it. “The oil that works best for me, we have found, through our research and helping people, that if you have cancer you need a very high THC strain of oil because THC is what causes inductive cell death,” he explained. “There are plenty of qualities of cannabinoids in the plant, but what’s really important is to
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get all the THC, CBD, all in one in the plant. It definitely has to be over a certain percentage of THC to cause that cell death.” Miller went on to explain that the best type of cannabis to help fight cancer is made from an indica strain, as the relaxing qualities of indica help the user get some relief and relaxation. Like many medical patients, he also points out the folly of relying solely on CBD as far as medical cannabis goes. While CBD certainly has uses medically, there are many properties found in THC extracts that act in ways CBD cannot. “There are CBDs that are used for the metastization process, but the word can’t get out about it as much
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because the government is pushing the CBD agenda,” Miller explained. “People are being misinformed because there is a legal cannabis medicine out right now that is CBD, but that is not the cancer medicine, and people buy that and spend all their money, but what they got doesn’t work. You need a THC medicine of over 55 percent THC.” Miller initially got his medicine by travelling to California, becoming a resident, and tracking down the treatment he needed. Now, he lives in his home state of Illinois as a legal cannabis patient allowed to use his medicine. His brother is the police chief in his hometown, so Miller operates under
complete legality. Today, despite some wear and tear from extensive surgery for his cancer, Miller is cancer-free, and, as he puts it, “no one can tell [he] was sick.” While Miller still advises anyone diagnosed with cancer to take all their doctor’s advice, he also urges those who are diagnosed to look into cannabis by searching online and word of mouth in order to find treatments that work. “It’s a miracle medicine for me and I’m living proof,” he explained. My family and friends can’t believe the difference, and it’s strictly due to cannabis oil. It has saved my life and un-debilitated me.” c
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HEMP ALL AROUND Will 2017 be the year of industrial hemp? by Nicole Potter
The Industrial Hemp Farming Act never seems to get recognition from congress, leaving hemp supporters hoping for something that has yet to come to fruition. But the time will soon come when hemp will be recognized for the beneficial plant that it is—sooner or later. With 29 states that “have defined industrial hemp as distinct and removed barriers to its production,” according to voteHemp.com, hemp is bound to get the attention it deserves. With every year that ticks by, more people are being educated and understanding of cannabis, industrial hemp and everything in between. There’s a lot that can be expected of hemp in the near future, and it’s all going to start now.
Post Ballot Hemp Awareness Following the end of the election season, we’ll finally have the verdict for many cities and states that voted for medical cannabis, recreational cannabis and more. Awareness is one of the most important tools when it comes the cannabis industry, and despite what people’s stances are on the subject, it’s a hot topic. If recreational cannabis gains a foothold in more states, as many expect
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it will, then hemp is bound to follow suit. With hemp’s ability to make food, clothing, housing material and car frames, there is no downside to legalizing industrial hemp nationwide.
Presidential Dependness The future of industrial hemp could lie in the hands of the next president too. Many promises have been made by presidential candidates, so there’s a reasonable amount of hope riding on support from the White House. President Barack Obama was given the opportunity to sign Section 7606 as an amendment to the Federal Farm Bill in 2014, which now allows universities and state agriculture departments to legally study and research hemp, as long as those institutions are located in a state that has already legalized hemp.
Matters of Congress On January 3, 2017, the 114th United States Congress will end and the 115th Congress sessions will start, and will continue through 2019. As of this writing, it’s too early to tell who will be the various congressional leaders and political party representatives that will be
chosen. Hopefully, the upcoming session will bring about a fresh perspective towards industrial hemp nationwide.
On the State Level Although many states have approved hemp legislation, some states have not properly implemented a way to regulate industrial hemp farming yet. For example, California is one state whose current hemp legislation is not up to par. The California Hemp Act of 2013 does not currently present any legal opportunities for a hemp farmer to begin cultivating hemp, because farmers must first obtain a cultivation permit from the federal government. Like medical and recreational cannabis, hemp is gaining a lot of attention. This year’s voting season is bound to bring a few more states up to speed with embracing modern hemp. Cultivation of industrial hemp would bring countless new jobs to many states, and its removal from the Controlled Substances Act could open up a whole new industry. Be sure to keep updated on the official laws of your state, visit www.ncsl.org or votehemp.com to keep informed about it all, and take up every chance to make your voice heard about the future of hemp legislation. c
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Rooted in Rock Paul Chesne brings out the truth in his music with country-rock flair
by Simon Weedn
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Paul Chesne likes to describe the music he and his band makes as “Dr. Dre meets Johnny Cash.” While that might come off as a bit of an odd choice of musical artistic relations, especially since Chesne’s music seems more rooted to the blues rock, Americana, country side of things as opposed to gangsta rap, it’s actually very truthful. For nearly two decades, Paul has been working hard to hone his particular brand of country, blues rock and roll and one of the things he does so well, perhaps something he picked up from Dre, is to be as honest and truthful. Yet through it all, Chesne delivers a good time, even when he’s singing about the bad times, and his authenticity and character never waivers.
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“I think marijuana, whether it’s recreational or medicinal, is much less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol and should be legal. I don’t necessarily smoke it all the time, maybe every once in a while, but I used to smoke weed every day probably 20 years ago. But I think it should be legalized, regulated and taxed.” You released an album of new material, Heartache & Sin, in January. Can you tell us about it? Yeah! I recorded that one in Nashville over a week in November of last year, finished it up and put it out earlier this year. It’s got all of the studio players who play on a lot of the pop that comes out of that area. If you turn your radio on there’s probably a 15 percent chance that at least one of them is playing on the song, if it’s pop country or alternative rock they’re like the Wrecking Crew of musicians down there right now. Johnny Cash’s bass player, Dave Roe, produced it and recruited the
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musicians, and I stayed at his studio and we knocked out that record. How did it come about that you and Dave Roe would collaborate on a record? He’s actually played on all of my records except for one, not on every song but maybe just background vocals and bass on a song or two. I met him when he was in Dwight Yoakam’s band and the drummer of that band also wanted to play with me too. So whenever I’d need a bass player and they were all in town they’d both show up and we’d jam it out in various dive bars which was pretty cool. Heartache & Sin had an even more pronounced country flare to it compared to your other records. Was that at all planned? It wasn’t necessarily planned, because all of those guys play pretty much any kind of music. I think because I was going into the sessions by myself instead of with my band like I usually am and it was all on me, I was sort of intimidated and didn’t know what to expect. CULTURE Magazine focuses on array of topics, but our main interest is medical cannabis. How do you feel about the growing push for cannabis legalization? Well, I’m for the legalization of all substances basically. I think marijuana,
whether it’s recreational or medicinal, is much less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol and should be legal. I don’t necessarily smoke it all the time, maybe every once in a while, but I used to smoke weed every day probably 20 years ago. But I think it should be legalized, regulated and taxed. Are you looking forward to possibly being able to vote for cannabis legalization in California in November? Yeah! I’ve actually never missed a vote whether it be for city council seats or presidential elections since I turned 18. I always encourage my friends and fans to sign up and register. Besides your upcoming shows, do you and your band have any more projects or ambitions for 2016 or anything on the horizon for 2017? I’m always working on a lot of stuff, all the time I’m writing songs. Basically, I try to write and record something professionally that can be released every year. In the post-summer months when we’re not so busy playing and traveling around, around Thanksgiving and Christmas, is usually when I try and get the band together for a stretch so we can record the next batch of songs. c
www.paulchesne.com
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SHOOTING GALLERY
DabOlition Derby @ Lake PERRIS recreation area
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SHOOTING GALLERY
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure @ fashion island
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SHOOTING GALLERY
Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo @ los angeles convention center
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN
To create female seed, a female plant is induced to produce male flowers.
by Ed Rosenthal
There are a number of advantages to planting all female seed rather mixed seed or using clones: They do not have to be sexed so they can be started in place. Seedlings often have more vigor than clones and this makes dealing with them easier since there are no males to detect. When seeds produce male plants you are wasting time and energy on plants that will be tossed. You don’t have to overwinter plants to create mothers to cut for clones. Instead, you just start seeds in the spring. Seedlings do not carry nearly as many infections that clones do. In addition, the technique can also be used: To make seeds from female only varieties. To create female x female hybrids without having to use a male.
The pollen only has female genetics, so all of the seed created using this pollen will be female. Most propagators use silver thiosulfate (STS), which is available on the internet in the form of two chemicals that are mixed together. I decided to try the STS as well as two other chemicals, available on the internet, 30ppm colloidal silver and also a spray product advertised to induce male flowers. I started with four clones each of four varieties, Blue Dream, Candyland, Sour Diesel and Girl Scout Cookies. Each plant from each variety is being treated with one of the three chemicals or being used as a control. Each chemical is being tested on each of the varieties.
Experimental
All the plants were placed in 6” containers holding coir and peat based planning mix. They are all irrigated using the wick system. The 3/8” nylon wick draws water to the bottom of each container from the reservoir below using capillary action, which also draws water up the soil,
keeping it moist. After planting, the plants were placed in a greenhouse lit by natural light about 13 hours a day. Most of the light is indirect but the plants do receive about four hours of direct sun each day. In addition, a 1000-watt stationary HPS lamp is placed about three feet over the plants. It is on seven hours a day, from 10am-5pm. During the three to seven days from transplanting a fluorescent light providing dim light turned on four times each night for half an hour to break the dark cycle and keep the plants growing vegetatively. One day after the supplemental night lighting was eliminated, each experimental plant was marked and sprayed. According to instructions for the colloidal silver and the commercial product, the plants should be sprayed daily for the next for three weeks. The sodium thiosulfate required spraying just once. If the experiment is successful, within a month the plants should be growing male flowers and producing viable pollen. Within a month, if the experiment is successful the plants will be growing male flowers. c
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The plants are marked by variety and were placed in rows according to their treatment schedule.
These plants of four varieties were all treated with the commercial feminizing spray. Each treatment chemical was assigned a color for easy identification.
Spraying the small bottle of commercial spray on one group of plants.
The clones had just been planted a week before treatment started so they are small. Nevertheless, they are excellent models to work with because they are easy to carry and move, so moving them to an isolated spray area is not much of a chore.
TIP OF THE MONTH
As you harvest and trim your plants save all of the clean green leaf. It can be used for cooking, salves and tinctures or to make concentrates. If you take an ice cooler packed with ice cubes covered with paper or cloth to the field, place cut leaves in the cooler to keep them fresh. Rinse them in cool, not cold water, so the glands remain pliable rather than becoming brittle. Use a wheat grass juicer for fresh juice or freeze them for later processing. Use the juice can be used fresh or freeze it in ice cube trays for individual servings.
Close-up of stem shows that the plants are still in vegetative stage. The light period had just been shortened two days before first spray.
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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Time to Go: Fall Weather: Warm and humid with occasional showers Budget: $$$$$
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if you go: As for medicating in Negril, wrapping your hands around a joint or a bowl is fairly simple as cannabis possession laws were surprisingly relaxed last year, just in time for Negril’s Cannabis Cup. Unfortunately, cannabis is still mostly illegal in Jamaica, but obtaining buds and smoking it are fairly simple at least in and around Negril. In fact, most visitors say the cannabis will find you as everyone from locals on the street to taxi drivers to hotel security workers will nonchalantly sell cheap yet premium flowers to visitors. Toking around town is not usually a problem, however, do not smoke around any authorities as they may shake you down for some American green backs.
Negril, Jamaica Soothes and Energizes in Late Fall by Sheryll Alexander
If you are looking forward to a cannabisfocused vacation or a cannabiz getaway to Jamaica’s West End of Negril, then here’s a quick look at things to do, see, eat, drink along with travel tips, medical cannabis laws and medicating advice. First, fly into Jamaica’s Sir Donald Sangster International Airport (MBJ or Montego Bay Airport). Next, catch a shuttle ride for the 75-minute trip to downtown Negril. Negril’s all-inclusive resorts tend to be situated along the beach’s north end. Smaller, boutique and family-run hotels sit to the south. For the most privacy and the best cliff views, choose a resort
along West End Road. The population of tiny Negril (around 7,000) swells during late fall’s cannabis cup season and throughout winter as cannabinoidloving tourists from North America and Europe flock to its warm Caribbean shores. While in Negril, get up late for breakfast and head to a roadside organic vegan food stand. Then spend the day at the beach or indulge in snorkeling or diving. Negril is also known for its bar and restaurants scenes, which run the gamut from American to French to Italian to modern Jamaican. Whatever you do, make certain you are
properly positioned at sunset on the edge of a rugged West End cliff—hopefully with drink in hand at one of Negril’s top restaurants or bars—to enjoy the spectacular natural show of sunset’s rainbow color display. Music, dancing and medicating round out most evenings in this island paradise. Negril, Jamaica is happily home to some of the most cannabisfriendly people, hotels and businesses on the planet making this tiny town one of the best locations to visit for cannabis connoisseurs who are into relaxing vibes, beautiful beaches, live music, organic eats, icy cocktails and plentiful cannabis. c
Fun-Filled Facts Like many other isolated towns around the world, Negril became associated with cannabis in the 1960s when hippies came to live and smoke on the cheap. In the ’70s, nudity was welcomed at Negril Beach Village (it was later named Hedonism II) and was infamous for its wild toga parties and nude volleyball games. It wasn’t until the ’80s that Negril became a world-class destination thanks to road and other infrastructure improvements. 1
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Christopher Columbus “discovered” Jamaica (he called it St. Lago) and its West End in 1494 when it was populated by the native Arawak tribe. 2
Jamaica’s beaches are a relaxing respite during the day. Just remember: Sand flies start buzzing and biting after the sun goes down and the soft white sands cool. This is why Jamaicans and tourists alike head to Negril’s cliffside bars, restaurants and music halls in the evenings for bug-less fun. 3
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Age: 31 Condition/Illness: Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Using Medical Cannabis Since: 2003
Why did you start using cannabis? Having been born with a rare disability, growing up I always dealt with a lot of pain, from surgeries, and procedures to correct my legs to day-to-day pain. I grew up in Los Angeles where the cannabis industry was always booming. I didn’t try cannabis untill I was 19. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I had several surgeries throughout my childhood, and I would always remember my mom being really good about not giving me too much opiates that the doctors would prescribe for pain,
so I never really ‘knew’ about pain pills. It wasn’t until I was an adult and living on my own that I realized I would always have some type of pain. Tried cannabis, first, then tried opiates and realized cannabis is just so much better for my body with how much I personally needed to take compared to the opiates. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? The biggest issue is our government needs to allow us the option to alternative medicine, especially if we want to grow it ourselves in our own homes. What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? Everybody is different. Some people need it, some don’t. 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.
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culture growing
The highest quality cannabis chefs in the world have come to share some of their favorite recipes with you! These dishes will make your mouth water and will get your creative juices flowing into the kitchen. Sink your teeth in, and enjoy these amazing recipes from the professional culinary masters of the cannabis world.
Fresh Cannabis Chimichurri Sauce
UNKNOWN
RECIPES
You Can Make Top-Shelf Edibles with the Help of these Canna-Chefs
Makes about 2 cups
recipe by Monica Lo from Sous Weed
DESTINATION
INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste 4 garlic cloves 1 small shallot, halved 1 red jalapeño, seeds removed
2 tablespoons fresh oregano 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
COURAGE
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Salt to taste. Serve on skirt steak or roast chicken—or anything really!
IN PROFILE
1/4 cup raw cannabis leaves, stems removed
DIRECTIONS
Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com
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1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, stems removed
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4-5 cups vegetable broth 1/2 teaspoon fresh garlic, chopped
1/2 cup spinach, cut into strips 6 ounces feta cheese, cubed
RECIPES
growing
culture Salt and pepper
UNKNOWN
4 fresh cannabis fan leaves, cut into strips (more for garnish)
6 tablespoons cannabisinfused olive oil t
Serves 2
recipe by Laurie Wolf
INGREDIENTS 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut in chunks
2 teaspoons canna-canola oil
DIRECTIONS
8 brussels sprouts, cut in half or quartered if large
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash fan leaves in equal parts water and vinegar, then rinse with clear water. Quarter pumpkin and place in steamer, over 1 inch of boiling water, cover and cook until tender but firm, about 10 to 15 minutes. Peel pumpkin and cut into small cubes. You should have about 4 cups of pumpkin cubes (a little less is fine). Place pumpkin in baking dish, drizzle with 2-4 tablespoons of cannabis olive oil and toss with your hands until all pieces are evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. While pumpkin bakes, heat 2 tablespoons cannabis olive oil in a saucepan. Cook onion and garlic over low to medium heat until translucent and tender. Stir in rice and continue stirring over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Slowly add vegetable broth one half cup at a time, as liquid absorbs, stirring constantly. Continue cooking over mediumlow heat, stirring constantly, until rice is tender. This will take 20 minutes or more. If rice gets too dry, stir in more vegetable broth. Salt and pepper to taste. When pumpkin is almost done, place feta on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven until it just starts to melt, about 4-5 minutes. Mash half of the pumpkin with a fork or potato masher. Stir into risotto along with fan leaves and spinach. Serve immediately in individual bowls topped with remaining pumpkin cubes and feta. Garnish with fresh fan leaf.
1 small yellow onion, peeled and sliced
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 cups Arborio rice
3 slices bacon, cut in 1-inch pieces 2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 egg, beaten Salt and pepper 2 pounded, skinless, boneless pork cutlets
DESTINATION
1 onion, diced
1-pound pie pumpkin
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons canola oil
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 340°F. In a medium bowl, combine the sweet potato, sprouts, onion, bacon, syrup, oils, salt and pepper. Toss and place all ingredients on a baking sheet with sides. Roast until tender, stirring occasionally, for 45-50 minutes. When the vegetables are done, place in a bowl and allow flavors to mingle. Place the beaten egg in a small bowl. Place the breadcrumbs on a plate. Salt and pepper the chicken breasts. Coat the breasts with the egg and then in the breadcrumbs. Press to adhere the crumbs to the chicken. In a sauté pan, heat the canola oil. Add the cutlets and sauté until deep golden brown, turning once, for 5 minutes per side. Add more canola oil if needed. Place the pork on dinner plates and top with the veg chop! iReadCULTURE.com october 2016
COURAGE
INGREDIENTS White vinegar
Panko Crusted Pork Cutlet with Fall Vegetables
IN
recipe by Robyn Griggs Lawrence
PROFILE
CannabisRoasted Pumpkin Risotto with Spinach, Feta and Fresh Fan Leaf
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION
Whipped Pumpkin Mousse
Salmon Toast
recipe by Keira Fae
recipe by The Herbal Chef
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces fresh King Salmon
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup dark chocolate chip chunks 3 teaspoons cannabis-infused olive oil (5mg each tsp) t
1 Lemon
1 French baguette
1 can pumpkin puree
1 sprig rosemary
Pink Peppercorn Tuile t
1 shallot
Dill Foam t
1 packet of instant vanilla pudding
1/2 teaspoon pink peppercorn
Roasted Garlic Aioli t
1/4 cup sugar
Cattail Pollen Crème Fraiche t
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
2-3 tablespoons cannabisinfused olive oil t
PROFILE
IN
COURAGE
Equipment: Cryovac
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DIRECTIONS Cut the salmon into a 2oz piece that will fit on the baguette you bought. Cut the lemon into very thin slices as well as the shallot. Add everything into the cryovac bag (for sous vide), and make sure the lemon is on top of the salmon but do not stack them. Seal it using the cryovac. Put the sealed salmon into a water bath at 52°C for 25-35 minutes. Take the salmon out of the bag and take all of the congealed fats off of the salmon before sprinkling with a pinch of salt. Heat a cast iron on medium-high heat before brushing the baguette with olive oil and putting it down to crisp up. Place the baguette down first. Add the garlic aioli onto baguette. Put the seasoned sous vide salmon on there, and then pipe a nickel-size dollop of crème fraiche on the salmon. Place the pink peppercorn tuile on the crème fraiche and then add the dill foam last before serving. Enjoy! october 2016 iReadCULTURE.com
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment: Rubber spatula Two medium sized bowls Whisk Stand mixer Measuring cup and spoons
DIRECTIONS Mix the heavy whipping cream until it peaks (about 1-2 min) on low-medium speed. In a separate bowl, add the pumpkin puree, infused olive oil, instant vanilla pudding, sugar and all those spices! Mix well. Using a rubber spatula, fold in 1/3 of the whipping cream with the 1/3 of the pumpkin puree in a separate bowl, this with be the middle section. Fold the remainder of the whip cream in with the rest of the pumpkin puree, this mix will be darker in color and richer in flavor. Add the darker pumpkin mix to the bottom of the bowl or cup, layer chocolate chunks, and then add the lighter pumpkin mixture for the middle section, layer chocolate chunks, at this point put the cup or bowl into the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes, top with whip cream, and viola!
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION
recipe by Aunt Sandy
Majoon Love Balls
INGREDIENTS
Makes about 20 Love Balls Aprox 5mg THC per serving
recipe by Chris Kilham
INGREDIENTS 10–12 dried dates (preferably medjools)
1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon cardamom powder
10 dried apricots, organic and sulfur-free
1 ⁄ 2 cup almonds
1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 ⁄ 2 cup shelled pistachios
1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup Bonzo Butter, softened t
IN
1 1/2 cups crushed coconut
Directions Fine-chop all ingredients by hand, except Bonzo Butter and coconut, on a wooden cutting board. Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Add Bonzo Butter and knead with hands. Roll into balls about 1″ in diameter (larger or smaller will make them more or less potent). Roll balls carefully in crushed coconut until coated. Store in a labeled, airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
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3 cups chicken stock
1 small carrot, finely diced
2 cups half & half
1 small onion, diced
3 cups white corn kernels fresh or frozen
1 cup canna butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
PROFILE
COURAGE
Canna-Corn Chowder
1 pinch of nutmeg, freshly ground
1 clove garlic, minced 1 small stalk of celery, diced
DIRECTIONS
Melt canna butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and salute for 3 minutes. Add the flour and stir to make a roux. Cook until roux is lightly browned. Set aside to cool. Combine the corn and chicken stock in a saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Pour the boiling stock with the corn (a little at a time) into the skillet with the roux, while whisking. Return the skillet to the heat and bring to a boil. The mixture should become very thick. In a small sauce pan, gently heat the half & half and stir it into the thick corn mixture. Add the nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving add the remaining canna butter to enrich the soup stirring until the butter melts. Enjoy with a piece of crusted french bread!
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN DESTINATION COURAGE IN PROFILE 158
Spinach and Feta CannaBoreka recipe by Jeffthe420Chef
Number of servings: 12 large borekas Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes
Approximate THC per Serving: 10%: 3.8 milligrams 15%: 5.6 milligrams 20%: 7.6 milligrams
INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup onions, diced
1/4 cup grated Swiss cheese
1 pound fresh spinach
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
DIRECTIONS Make the filling: Preheat a frying pan for 1 minute. Add the olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Sauté the onions until translucent. Add spinach and sauté until wilted and cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and transfer to a colander. Let it drain for about 10 minutes and then move to a large bowl. Add feta, Swiss cheese, egg, parsley and dill. Mix well, and add salt and pepper to taste. Make the borekas: Preheat oven to 340°F. Combine canna butter and grass fed butter. Use a pastry brush to coat the bottom of a cookie sheet with some of the melted canna-butter mixture. Cut the phyllo dough long ways into 5- or 6-inch strips. Stack them and cover with a towel so they don’t dry out. Working one at a time, brush each strip with canna-butter mixture, fold over lengthwise, and butter again. Place 1 tablespoon of the filling on the end. Fold up like a flag, bottom edge to side edge, then continue folding to form a triangle until you reach the end of your dough. Butter the outside at the end. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough. Beat the egg and brush the top of each boreka and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Place them on the buttered cookie sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Remove, cool and serve. october 2016 iReadCULTURE.com
To finish: 4 tablespoons creamy canna butter t plus 4 tablespoons grass fed butter, melted
1 large egg Black or regular sesame seeds for sprinkling
6 to 8 sheets of phyllo dough, thawed *Approximate dose per serving is based on infusing 5 grams of cured/dried/decarbed cannabis into 11/3 sticks of butter
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socal NOW! event listings
Taste of Soul Family Festival, Oct. 15
L.A. Greek Fest 2016, Oct. 7-9 Get ready to celebrate the international food, beer and wine at the L.A. Greek Fest. Attendees will find an appreciation and celebration of Greek culture that also extends to music, dancing and vendors. St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles lagreekfest.com
Paint Nite, Oct. 9
Sip on some of Angel City’s refreshing craft brew while an artist leads through a twohour, step-by-step painting experience. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, and you get to bring home your masterpiece when you’re done. Angel City Brewery & Public House, Los Angeles angelcitybrewery.com
Sweets ‘n Stories, Oct. 9
This workshop series brings together delicious and healthy versions of your favorite desserts alongside attendees sharing personal narratives. Indulge in the community connection by writing and telling your stories, while enjoying sweet treats. Event location will be shared upon registration. Mid-City Los Angeles, Los Angeles khatijadadabhoy.com 160
featured event
Satiate your appetite to the brim with soul food! This family-friendly event features tons of soul food as well as American, barbecue, Creole, Jamaican and Mexican food. There will also be live entertainment and art on exhibit. Los Angeles Sentinel, Los Angeles tasteofsoul.org
Food on Foot, Oct. 16
Not everyone knows where their next meal is going to come from. Give back to those who need it most in the community, and join Food on Foot as they feed and clothe less fortunate residents of Los Angeles. Whether you want to donate your time or your resources, your altruism will be greatly appreciated. A donation is required to volunteer. Gay and Lesbian Center Parking Lot, Hollywood foodonfoot.org
LA Oktoberfest, Oct. 21-23
Nothing says Oktoberfest like unlimited beer refills and lively tunes. Grab your stein, and get ready for old time drinking songs, tons of beer and traditional foods. Rosecrans Avenue Building, Manhattan Beach laoktoberfest.com
Pasta in Casa! Cooking Class, Oct. 23
Have you always dreamed of learning how to make fresh pasta from scratch? If so, you have to check out this fun and exciting cooking class. You will learn how to make roasted
october 2016 iReadCULTURE.com
The 6th Annual Taste of Mexico Culinary Festival, Oct. 15 Taste the best of Mexico in terms of flavorful cuisine from over 35 restaurants, craft beer, fine wine, unique cocktails and more. Dance into the night with live music, while enjoying the beautiful setting of the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, which is a museum that celebrates the history and culture of Mexico. La Plaza De Culturas Y Artes, Los Angeles thetasteofmexico.org butternut squash ravioli with sage butter, dill fettucine with salmon cream and vodka sauce, plus two other delicious entrees. Plus, you’ll get to drink chardonnay too! Hip Cooks, West Los Angeles westla.hipcooks.com
Food Day 2016, Oct. 25
The Los Angeles Food
Policy Council aims to improve our city’s food system. This day will be dedicated to sharing our need for fair, sustainable, affordable and healthy food with the City Council. This will be followed by food, workshops and more on the South Lawn. Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles goodfoodla.org
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Chuck Shepherd's
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY—Designer Leather u The late fashion designer Alexander McQueen (who dabbled in macabre collections, himself), might appreciate the work of acolyte Tina Gorjanc: She will grow McQueen’s skin (from DNA off his hair) in a lab, add back his tattoos, and from that make leather handbags and jackets. Gorjanc, a recent graduate of McQueen’s fashion school alma mater, bills the project mainly as showcasing the meager legal protections for abandoned bits of human DNA—and fears industrial use of such DNA on a much larger scale.
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WAR IS HELL u (1) Jihadists had a rough year militarily and now suffer further from an array of field reports (such as a new book by retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn) that their most sensitive laptop computers captured in battle by U.S. forces seemed always to be loaded with pornography— including “vile” material involving kids and animals. (Initially, said one analyst, there was so much porn that U.S. intelligence figured its purpose was only to disguise tactical messages within the sex-scene pixels.) (2) On the other hand, jihadists can claim one victory, in that the actor Michael Caine said recently the terrorist-caused airport discomforts had finally convinced him to legally change his name to “Michael Caine”—after tiring of explaining to screeners why he had Maurice Micklewhite’s (his birth name’s) passport.
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