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P UR SUI T OF H A PPINES S
Comedian, actor and cannabis cultivator Jim Belushi talks about his diverse career, memories of his brother and his passion for cannabis cultivation.
features
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Industry Insider BLOOM FARMS Founder Michael Ray leads the charge for quality and awareness in his cannabis products.
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Reaching for the Reset Button Cannabis tolerance affects many frequent cannabis consumers, but taking a small break can actually help reboot your tolerance level.
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Moving Forward March Madness inspires progression in the realm of cannabis consumption in college sports.
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Straight Edge Legendary frontman of heavy metal band Soulfly, Max Cavalera, expresses his camaraderie with other musicians and his support of cannabis.
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departments news
08 News Nuggets 10 By the Numbers 12 Local News 14 Legal Corner 16 Healthy Living reviews 18 Cool Stuff 20 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 42 À La Carte 44 Growing Culture 46 SoCal Now! 47 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d Florida may Allow Smokable Cannabis d Alaskan Crime Bill to Affect Rec Cannabis
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ashley Kern EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Benjamin Adams ASSISTANT EDITOR Ayesha Rahman EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, David Edmundson, Caroline Hayes, Carl Kozlowski, Alison Malsbury, Emily Manke, Kiara Manns, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf ART DIRECTOR Steven Myrdahl PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Aguirre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Alex Brizicky, Angie Callahan, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Casey Roel, Vic Zaragoza OFFICE MANAGER Mikayla Aguilar
CULTURE® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout the Southern California. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. CULTURE® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
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NEWS
NUGGETS
LA County Sheriff’s Deputy and Others Charged with Staging Fake Cannabis Robbery Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Marc Antrim and at least five other men were arrested for allegedly conspiring to stage a fake raid and steal 1,200 pounds of cannabis and $645,000 in cash, totaling over one million dollars. Last October, Antrim and two men, Eric Rodriguez and Kevin McBride, allegedly arranged a fake robbery at a downtown Los Angeles warehouse and left
with the product and money. On Feb. 21, three more men, Matthew James Perez, Daniel Aguilera and Jay Colby Sanford were arrested on federal charges and signed plea deals for their participation in the conspiracy. “Deputy Antrim allegedly was able to use his law enforcement expertise and his access to Sheriff’s Department gear to stage a robbery that netted over a million dollars in marijuana and cash,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna in a press release. “We cannot tolerate this type of behavior from sworn officers, and this case demonstrates our commitment to quickly address corrupt behavior by law enforcement.”
Survey Indicates Californians Trust Cannabis Industry More than Social Media Portions of the 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report, which measures how much people trust various things, were released on Feb. 13. According to the report, Californians said they trust the cannabis industry more than social media. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they trust that cannabis businesses are doing the right thing. While 44 percent said they trust dispensaries, and 43 percent said they trust cannabis cultivators, only 33 percent said they trust social media. “This year’s results reveal Californians’ 8
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increasingly complex view of the tech sector and their expectations that businesses will do more to improve local issues,” the report reads. “The findings are further underscored by growing employee expectations for their employers to take action to address societal concerns.” The findings reflect the growing stability of the cannabis industry and how people now perceive it.
World Health Organization Recommends Reclassifying Cannabis According to an official letter dated Jan. 24, The World Health Organization (WHO) called for cannabis and cannabis resin to be removed from Schedule IV of the 1961 drug convention, which was signed by countries from around the world. WHO officials provided the recommendation for cannabis and cannabis resin “to be deleted from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961).” The letter was written by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director general, and the letter was sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The organization also recommended to remove cannabis extracts and tinctures from Schedule I of the 1961 drug convention and to remove dronabinol from Schedule II, among other recommendations. Cannabis and cannabis resin, however, would remain under Schedule I of the 1961 drug convention, as it is designated under two schedules. Schedule I, unlike the U.S. federal system, is the least restrictive category.
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The number of misdemeanor cases that the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Marijuana Enforcement Unit filed against commercial cannabis businesses for operating without a license in 2018: (Source: Los Angeles Times)
170
The total amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the state of California collected in sales and tax revenue in 2018: (Source: The Washington Times)
345.2
The total number of cease and desist letters that the state Bureau of Cannabis Control sent out to cannabis businesses, as of late February: (Source Los Angeles Times)
The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that the city of Fontana paid in legal fees for a court case regarding home cultivation within city limits violating state law: (Source: Dover Daily News)
106,916
2,842
The estimated number of people who are currently enrolled in Arkansas’ medical cannabis program: (Source: Fox16)
7,000
The amount of money, in dollars, that Ohioans spent on medical cannabis during the first 12 days of legal sales: (Source: Dayton Daily News)
The estimated amount of money, in billions of dollars, that the United States cannabis industry is expected to collect in sales revenue during 2019: (Source: Forbes)
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333,592
The rising percentage of the average cannabis employee compared to the U.S. median salary: (Source: CNBC)
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Infused Product Conference WHEN: Thurs, March 21-Fri, March 22 WHERE: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, 6101 W Century Blvd., Los Angeles WEBSITE: dola.com/events/2019/3/21/infused-products-conference There are plenty of cannabis trade shows around, but few focus on edibles only. The Infused Product Conference is being touted as the “must-attend” edible event of spring, covering all things edible-related. Learn the science of extraction, plus Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and upcoming trends in the edible industry. Learning GMP will keep your business, well, in business. You’ll also get a full regulatory update with information on manufacturing 10
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compliance. This is also an ideal event for novice business entrepreneurs who simply want to learn the basics of beginning an edible-related company. Infused product licenses, the event explains, is the least understood of all primary cannabis businesses license types. Whether you’re going into extraction, production, manufacturing or retail, there is important information waiting for you at this conference.
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NEWS
LOCAL
LESS IS MORE
California lawmakers introduce b i l l t o l o w e r t h e s tat e ’ s c a n n a b i s e xc i s e ta x By Benjamin M. Adams
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alifornians pay far too much in taxes on cannabis. Beyond the 15 percent excise tax that consumers see at the counter, the state’s cannabis is also subject to a cultivation tax at $9.75 per ounce, the standard sales tax base at 8.75 percent, plus any applicable local sales or excise taxes. What this means is that cannabis taxes at the counter could soar as much as 35-45 percent—much more than you’d see on any other agricultural product. The exorbitant taxes that California levies on cannabis businesses have forced lawmakers to act—lest the industry returns to the un-taxed black market. On Jan. 28, lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 286 to amend Sections 34011 and 34012 of California’s Revenue and Taxation Code and lower California’s cannabis excise tax rate from 15 percent to 11 percent. The bill was introduced by Assemblymembers Rob Bonta, Ken Cooley, Reggie Jones-Sawyer and Tom Lackey, plus California State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Rep. Lackey pointed out that California’s cannabis tax revenue fell about $100 million below what former Gov. Jerry Brown’s office projected in 2018. Rep. Bonta stated that legal cannabis businesses that pay the high taxes “are not able to compete with the black market.” Ma also stated publicly that the 15 percent excise tax in particular is far too high, and that California doesn’t burden start-ups in any other industry as much as the cannabis industry.
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Fitch Ratings “This bill would estimated that r e d u c e t h at Californians e x c i s e ta x r at e who purchase their cannabis to 11 percent on at law-abiding and after the dispensaries are paying as high as o p e r at i v e d at e o f 45 percent in total this bill until June taxes. It’s a rate 1 , 2 0 2 2 , at w h i c h that you wouldn’t see anywhere time the excise else. Beer and ta x r at e w o u l d wine vendors, revert back to 15 for instance, are subject to a tax of p e r c e n t. ” $0.20 per gallon plus the general state sales tax and applicable excise taxes. But it’s still not comparable to what cannabis businesses are subject to. The California Highway Patrol seized almost eight tons of illegal cannabis between January and November of 2018, which was nearly double the amount seized in 2017. The bill would help solve the problem of the persistent black market. “This bill would reduce that excise tax rate to 11 percent on and after the operative date of this bill until June 1, 2022, at which time the excise tax rate would revert back to 15 percent,” the bill reads. “This bill would suspend the imposition of the cultivation tax on and after the operative date of this bill until June 1, 2022. This bill would make specified findings and declare that its provisions further the purposes and intent of the AUMA. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy, but its operative date would depend on its effective date.” On Feb. 19, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration released its totals for cannabis sales and excise tax receipts for the fiscal 2018 year. California raked in $345.2 million, but it was far less than early estimates and about $100 million below more recent estimates. Do high taxes really generate more revenue for the state when the taxes up pushing people into the black market? Probably not. That’s why lawmakers are desperately trying to solve the problem, beginning with a lower excise tax—a tax that is more realistic in nature and that doesn’t place a much higher burden on the cannabis industry compared to other industries. c
Women and Cannabis Across the Lifespan with Dr. Michelle Sexton Meet Dr. Michelle Sexton, who is a midwife, certified herbalist and naturopathic doctor practicing at Uttermost Health in San Diego. More importantly, she’s also a medical researcher and owner of PhytaLab—an independent cannabis testing laboratory. Here you will learn about how cannabis affects women’s health specifically, from reproductive health to positive daily choices and supplements. For women, cannabis is believed to have effects on oxytocin production, cramps, inhibiting milk production and more. You’ll also learn about the elongated history of women healers, such as how female and medicine were condemned as witches in the past. This seminar is divided between three parts and you can pay for the individual classes if you don’t want to attend all three. WHEN: Sat, March 30 WHERE: Women’s True Healing, 2512 Artesia Blvd., Ste. 110, Redondo Beach WEBSITE: msextonnd.com
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NEWS
interest holder rules was that all agencies would apply the same standards for vetting.
LEGAL CORNER
Changes in ownership Again in contrast with the BCC, the MSCB is going to be much easier on changes in ownership of licensees. Under BCC regulations, if there’s a full buy-out of all existing owners, the entity can no longer operate while the change of ownership is being reviewed and processed by the BCC. The MCSB however has no such standard, at least not one that’s codified under the new regs. Specifically, for any changes of ownership or changes to financial interest holders, the MCSB expects to implement a dedicated protocol.
Regulation Education
Breaking down CDPH manufacturing rules By Hilary Bricken
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he state of California finally adopted permanent cannabis regulations in January. This article details many of the main changes regarding the California Department of Public Health Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch’s (CDPH-MCSB) permanent regulations.
N o m o r e Fa r m B i l l h e m p CBD ingredients or additives It’s no secret that the California Department of Health Food and Drug Branch (FDB) has an issue with hemp-derived cannabidiol CBD. Specifically, an FAQ issued by the FDB last year made clear that it prohibits hemp-derived CBD in “food” for humans and pets. Now, CDPH-MCSB is following suit. Pursuant to new regulation 40175(c), “a manufacturer licensee shall only use cannabinoid concentrates and extracts that are manufactured or processed from cannabis obtained from a licensed cannabis cultivator.” What this means is that using Farm Bill hemp-derived CBD as an ingredient or addictive 14
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to cannabis manufactured products is not allowed unless it comes from a licensed cannabis cultivator. The protections of the Farm Bill won’t apply.
Owners and financial interest holders It’s still unclear as to how far the state will now go in finding and vetting entity owners and entity financial interest holders, especially since the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) articulates in its rules that it intends to locate and vet every human possible in pretty much any ownership structure. But what about MCSB? MCSB entity owner regulations now state that “if the owner . . . is an entity, then the chief executive officer and members of the board of directors of the entity shall be considered owners,” and for financial interest holders, MCSB rules mandate only that “financial interest holders shall be disclosed on the application for licensure.” The BCC’s owner and financial interest holder rules are much more aggressive than MCSB, and the BCC’s comments to its owner and financial
Labeling Labeling is still just as intense and comprehensive as it was under the emergency regulations. Even now, manufacturers need to ensure that, if a product container is separable from the outer-most packaging (e.g., a container placed inside of a box), the product container includes the following: (1) For edible cannabis products, topical cannabis products, suppositories or orally-consumed concentrates, all information required for the primary panel except for cannabinoid content, and (2) for inhaled products (e.g., dab, shatter, and wax), the universal symbol (which is the black triangle with a cannabis leaf and an “!” with “CA” underneath). We also now have specific labeling requirements for pre-roll and packaged flower that didn’t exist before outside of the statute, itself.
Pack aging Until 2020, manufacturers are off the hook for providing child resistant packaging (CRP). Until then, retailers will bear the burden of CRP through the continued use of CRP exit packaging. Once CRP for manufacturers kicks in though, they’ll need to adhere to a litany of requirements, including compliance with the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 Regulations.
C h a n g e s t o o p e r at i o n s t h at n o w r e q u i r e s tat e a p p r o va l As the state moves along with licensing and enforcement, it was inevitable that certain licensee actions would first require state approval. What this usually means is that major changes to your business or SOPs can’t go down without the state’s blessing, which can take weeks or months to secure. Specifically, for the MCSB, licensees will now have to report to and clear with the state the following action items before the licensee pulls the trigger on them (all to the tune of a $700 change application fee, which is non-refundable). c
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NEWS
HEALTHY LIVING
Cannabis as a Celebrant By Lanny Swerdlow, RN LNC
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ne of the holidays that is most notorious for the consumption of alcohol is St. Patrick’s Day, but celebrating with alcohol is de rigueur for many other holidays as well. Considering all the problems that alcohol causes, the practice of celebrating holidays by binging on it is ludicrous—especially when considering how cannabis is a great substitute for alcohol. Alcohol can cause lifethreatening health problems, from cirrhosis of the liver to cardiovascular disease, with almost 90,000 deaths a year, making it consistently one of the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. Intrinsically linked to domestic violence, sexual assaults, homicides, anti-social behavior and property crimes, violent aggression is twice as likely to occur with the use of alcohol than with any other drug. Add it all up and alcohol abuse costs the U.S. almost $250 billion a year. One thing for certain is that the answer to alcohol abuse is not prohibition—the U.S. tried that in the 1920s and 1930s and not only did it not lead
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to any significant decrease in consumption, it was rather responsible for the rise of bigtime organized crime with a 24 percent increase in criminal offenses, 78 percent increase in murders and the corruption of public officials on a national scale. To top it all off, poisonings from dangerous moonshine skyrocketed with arrests for drunken driving increasing by over 80 percent. The failure of alcohol prohibition to stem the problems associated with alcohol consumption calls for a more rational and realistic approach. For starters, we need to recognize that very large numbers of people like to alter their consciousness. Wanting to alter one’s consciousness seems to be so intrinsically a human behavior that it could reasonably be hypothesized that there is a genetic predisposition at its base. Logic and common sense dictate that another solution to the problems caused by alcohol be found. Cannabis contains properties that can alter one’s consciousness, and it is one of its greatest attributes. Rather than being maligned, prohibited and criminalized, cannabis consumption should be encouraged and extolled. Cannabis is the very definition of what holidays stand for—fostering camaraderie, socialization, connectedness
and tolerance as well as promoting mind and body consciousness expansion—to bring individuals, families and communities together in peace and goodwill for joyful and celebratory events. Cannabis is communally shared with the passing of joints, pipes, hookahs and vaporizers. Although a person might momentarily wince from a germ point of view from passing around a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, hardly anyone turns down a hit from a joint because someone had it between their lips a moment before. Cannabis kindles an extraordinary bonding experience. Part of the communal experience of cannabis is sharing one’s prized stash. People may bring store bought wine and spirits, but few bring their own home made brews. With cannabis many bring their own home grown crop, proud of their cultivation skills and wanting to share their bounty with family and friends. Sumptuous meals is another aspect of holiday celebrations bringing to the fore another aspect that is unique to cannabis— its ability to be incorporated into foods. For St. Patrick’s Day, serve infused corned beef and cabbage, mix hash into burgers for the July 4 barbeque, blend cannabutter into the stuffing in the Thanksgiving turkey, and use kief as a glaze on Christmas ham. Like alcohol, cannabis comes in different strengths so for those who want a mild celebratory experience, there are strains perfectly attenuated for that experience while those seeking hallucinogenic psychedelic experiences can try dabbing. For the upcoming celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and for all holiday celebrations throughout the year, now that cannabis is legal recreationally and/or medically for over 200 million Americans, health agencies should be urging the substitution of cannabis for alcohol. Not only will the celebrations be more “ R at h e r t h a n fun and communal with b e i n g m a l i g n e d , a far less likelihood of brawls and incapacitation, p r o h i b i t e d a n d celebrants will be more c r i m i n a l i z e d , prone to return home safely and wake up the c a n n a b i s next day bright-eyed c o n s u m p t i o n and bushy tailed even if they had celebrated s h o u l d b e by consuming vast e n c o u r a g e d a n d quantities of cannabis and communally dabbing until e x t o l l e d . ” the cows came home. c
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REVIEWS
1. AirSelfie While we’re all living in 2019, the makers behind AirSelfie are living in 3019. You would never realize you needed a pocketsized aerial HD camera like the AirSelfie until you try one. It’s a drone and an HD camera, all in one, and flies up to 20 meters into the air. The camera captures 12 MP high quality photos, and it comes with anti-vibration shock absorbers for non-blurry photography. Just imagine what you could accomplish with a device like this. It’s also very lightweight, so it won’t crash and damage priceless photography when it lands. Price: $199.95 Website: airselfiecamera.com 2. Complete Classic Vaportini Just exactly what kind of dark sorcery is this? The Vaportini is a curious, retro-looking device that converts spirits into vapor that can be inhaled through a straw. Why drink shots of alcohol when you can inhale hits instead? Just pour a 1 ounce shot of hard liquor through a funnel into the mysterious Vaportini orb and heat up the sphere by placing it over a candle in a glass. The orb traps the vapor. In five minutes, the spirit evaporates into a vapor that will last about 30 minutes. The Complete Classic Vaportini comes with a specially designed glass and straw. Price: $44.99 Website: vaportini.com 18
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3. Hello, Calm™ Relaxing & Hydrating Face Mask Infused with cannabis sativa seed oil, this ultra-hydrating mask also gives your skin the topical benefits of cannabis seeds, which are rich in essential omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. There is no THC, so you can enjoy this mask during the daytime or when you’re in the middle of a project. It visibly reduces wrinkles, crow’s feet and lines on your skin and is formulated without parabens and synthetic ingredients that you don’t want rubbed into your face. Just apply it and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then peel away the impurities! Price: $28 Website: origins.com 4. LEAF Grow cannabis or any other herb with the least amount of effort using this automated wonder. Just plant a germinated seed in the soil and let the LEAF system do the rest. Nutrients are fed through an automated dispensing system, and the pH level is closely monitored. The LEAF system handles everything else as well, including complex lighting cycles, timed watering and air control. You can even view your plant’s progress (and security) remotely via its HD camera. There is also a convenient mobile app for iOS and Android that lets you control just about every aspect of the growing system remotely. Price: $2,990 Website: getleaf.co
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REVIEWS
entertainment
MOVIE BOOK
The Cannabis Spa at Home Sandra Hinchliffe Pub. Skyhorse Publishing The Cannabis Spa at Home: How to Make Marijuana-Infused Lotions, Massage Oils, Ointments, Bath Salts, Spa Nosh, and More is an avantgarde book that explores the external use of cannabis when preparing topical items such as lotions, bath salts and poultices. It boasts around 75 cannabis spa recipes, all of which utilize wholesome ingredients that can be easily prepared in any home kitchen or spa facility. Those who seek an in-depth guide on how to prepare these topicals at home will learn more about how the inclusion of cannabis can help with pain management and skin issues, among other conditions. (Ayesha Rahman) 20
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RELEASE DATE: MARCH 15 AVAILABLE ON: PC, PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE
GAME
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 Dev. Massive Entertainment Pub. Ubisoft Action role-playing games can take many forms, but in the case of Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, players are set on a path of multiplayer bliss. Taking place seven months after the events from the first game, fans of the series once again get to complete objectives together to improve their arsenals and proceed through the campaign. Endgame raids will also be featured, which allows up to eight players to band together. And of course, endless hours of glorious playerversus-player content await you. (Nicole Potter)
The Sisters Brothers
MUSIC
Dir. Jacques Audiard Annapurna Pictures
Ladytron
Living in a time when so much media seems to focus on futures either wrapped in wild, advanced electronics or dystopian and survivalist, it can be nice to be taken back to a past where things were more simple and gritty. Enter the dark comedy western The Sisters Brothers to satiate such an appetite. Directed and co-written by Jacques Audiard and brought to life with a stacked cast of John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed and Rutger Hauer, the film excellently and hilariously tells the story of two brothers in the murder-for-hire business whose deal to kill a man becomes more harrowing and complicated than originally planned. (Simon Weedn)
With a new self-titled album, synth-pop legend Ladytron marks two decades as a band and easily demonstrates why it is considered one of the best of the genre. Brimming with all of the dancey, hip-shaking grooves and enveloping, atmospheric production longtime fans could want, the new record sees the quartet continuing down the dusky, electronic path that it started 20 years ago. The beats are heavy, the analog synthesizers are thick and dynamic, and the vocals are as ethereal and eerie as they’ve ever been. Yet, the new record doesn’t ever sound like a rehashing of past hits or sounds, instead the record is wonderfully crisp and fresh. (Simon Weedn)
Ladytron !K7
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Chasing the Magic Jim Belushi makes the cannabis world better through his charm, humor and philosophical approach By David Edmundson
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S O , I ’ M N O T S AY I N G T H I S I S T H E O N LY M E D I C I N E , I ’ M J U S T S AY I N G I T ’ S B E T T E R T H A N O P I O I D S A N D I T ’ S B E T T E R T H A N A L C O H O L . I T ’ S S A F E R , I T ’ S C L E A N E R , I T ’ S N O N V I O L E N T, I T ’ S P E A C E F U L , I T ’ S E N L I G H T E N I N G .”
J
im Belushi is exactly what the cannabis world needs right now. On the surface, the multi-talented comedian is extremely likable and can instantly put you at ease,
but underneath the surface beats the heart of an activist and poet for cannabis. His passion for the medicinal, spiritual and psychological benefits of cannabis is second to none. Unlike a lot of celebrities who are happy to put their name on a cannabis strain or product, Belushi is taking it a step further by starting his own farm in Oregon and using his fame to shepherd in those who have been fed misinformation on the plant for so many years. The Baby Boomers suffering from arthritis might not want to trust an up-and-coming musician, but they will trust Jim Belushi, the man they watched every week for nine years on ABC. One thing is for sure, Belushi is not here to make a quick buck in the cannabis game. He explained to CULTURE that he is here to disrupt the status quo in the cannabis industry and is having a blast doing it.
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When did you know you wanted to be in show business? Well I was in football, and I was a tackle, but none of the girls were dating the tackles. I don’t know why. They say your name over the loudspeaker when you got a tackle. But in the theater, there were 25 girls and five guys, and I just liked the numbers. And then I got on stage, the adrenaline just rushed. And when I got laughs, it just kept coming, and I was hooked. It was what I call “chasing the magic.” I was never like, “I want to be rich,” or “I want to be a star.” I was just chasing the magic. In an industry that likes to put people in boxes, you’ve done it all: Films, TV, voice acting, singing and theater. Is diversity important to helping you flourish creatively? I just chase the magic, buddy. There’s magic in all of it. I mean when I’m singing with Dan Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers, with a 10-piece band, you know, three organs, three horns, two guitars, three backup singers, harmonica player . . . It’s like strapping on F-16 engines and just flying. When I’m on Broadway doing eight shows a week or whether I’m doing my improv group with these guys I love, we’re jamming. So, you know, what it really is, I think the magic comes in collaboration. Ensemble. You know? Everything I do has jazz in it.
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On the flipside, you were on a very successful sitcom, According to Jim, for nine years. Was it difficult to keep your performance fresh after almost 200 episodes? Oh, that was magic. Larry Joe Campbell and Courtney and Kim, we had a ball. I mean we captured magic all the time. We didn’t want to do what every other show was doing at the time. I had a very strong conversation with the creators when they wrote the pilot. At the end, the last scene was me apologizing to my wife. And I said, “Look, can you write this scene where there is no apology? Can you write this scene where they come to an understanding and a respect and love for each other without having to apologize?” Look, that formula works, and people have been very successful, but what happens is the wife turns into a bitch and the husband turns into an idiot? I didn’t want to do that one. I just don’t think that’s a great model to put out for men or women, in the world. There’s a way to make up with somebody without saying, “I am wrong.” Because you keep making a person wrong, then they start to hate themselves, and then they start resenting the other person. 182 episodes, I never apologized. We just passed what would have been your brother John’s 70th birthday. How do you think he would have reacted to cannabis legalization? Danny’s [Aykroyd] quote is the best one and that is, “If Johnny was a pothead, he’d be alive today.” You know. I believe John was a product of a generation filled with PTSD. There were friends dying in Vietnam, people who went to Vietnam. Separation from the parents was rough. You know, the movement. I think he expressed it beautifully, his work satirizing in Saturday Night Live and The Second City. But I think he really suffered from CTE, he was a middle linebacker, and he got all the tackles. And he was five-seven and he just jammed his head in there all the time. And I think when he went to college and he smoked a joint, I think he found his medicine. 28
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But it wasn’t known as a medicine, it was known as a drug. And since it was considered a drug, everything fell under that label: Mescaline, cocaine, everything. All of sudden you’re in the drug world. But I think he was searching for medicine. I think if we knew what we know about marijuana today, in the ‘70s, the healing, the help it gives, I think there would be a lot more people alive today. What’s your earliest memory of cannabis? The first time I got high on marijuana, I tried to take my pants off over my head. And I did it. It’s a very creative experience. Tell us more about your farm in Oregon. It’s beautiful. It’s a spiritual vortex, right along the Rogue River, and right in the middle of the banana belt which is the prime location for growing grapes, pears and cannabis. The loamiest soil, which we mixed into our soil. The river has almost a perfect pH. Clean, right from the mountains. It’s in this like hidden valley, there are mountains around us, no houses, just farmland, it’s beautiful. I have a sweat lodge that the Native Americans made for me. We have these beautiful ceremonies in there. It’s just . . . I found myself. And the farm is very Oregonian. I mean Oregon to me is the greatest state of cannabis in the country. A friend of mine in Denver has a cannabis business, and I said, “You know, when those borders come down . . . ,” he goes, “I don’t want the borders to come down!” I said, “why not?,” But he goes, “I don’t want none of that Oregon and California weed coming into my state, because it’ll eat them up.” Because I don’t care what indoor grow you have, it’s not as a good as Oregon or Northern California. Period. We’re in the same parallel as Burgundy and Bordeaux. From Napa to about 15 miles past me is that same parallel. And on the seventh day, you know, God was taking a stroll and he just dragged his hand all the way across that parallel.
“SO, THE BIG MISSION S TAT E M E N T I S THE WELLNESS OF CANNABIS HELPS PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S, SEIZURES, H E A D A C H E S , A N X I E T Y, BACK ACHES, PTSD. IT ALSO ENHANCES, AND S P A R K S C R E AT I V I T Y, ENHANCES THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE TOUCH OF YOUR LOVER’S SKIN, AND ALSO BRINGS A FEELING OF JOY AND EUPHORIA T H AT W E S H O U L D N E V E R F E E L G U I LT Y ABOUT EXPERIENCING. T H AT ’ S A L L T H E WELLNESS OF CANNABIS. I FEEL I’M IN THE RIGHT PLACE F O R M Y H E A R T.”
So how did all of this get started? It started years ago. My good friend John owns a 2,500-acre ranch on the Rogue River, and he would invite us up there twice a year. I’m kind of a water guy, so I took all my clothes off and dove into the river. They all thought I was crazy, and when I came out, it was like I was baptized. I told Dennis, who was the caretaker, to let me know if something came up. A couple months later he tells me, “I found something that you’re either gonna hate or you’re gonna love.” It was 1,800 feet, but thin. And it was a mess, and I went, “I see it.” Later we purchased the adjoining property bringing our farm up to 93 acres.
Has the cannabis world been welcoming to you? I wasn’t chasing the money, so I didn’t really put my name on it. I just called them Rogue’s Lair Farms, and we put it out in local dispensaries. I’ve visited probably 30 dispensaries. I do like two-hour visits, hang with them and do photographs and talk about the pot. They’re like, “Wow,” and the marijuana was such great quality, people really started liking the marijuana. And then it was kind of a whispered thing, “Belushi started it.” So I felt good, I felt like I earned my place. Then I put my name on it. I wasn’t slapping my name on it, trying
to license it and make money. I’ve become part of the Oregon family. I’m very welcome there, people are very nice to me. I’m working with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission in the city of Portland. I’m meeting with them to create an opiate trade program in downtown Portland. There are some difficulties in it because you can’t really trade opiates, but we’re working with other growers to give away cannabis, so they can use it for medicine in lieu of alcohol or opiates. How do you reverse the stigma that has plagued cannabis for several generations? People that watched According to Jim are gonna say, “Belushi’s a good guy, a nice guy, he’s not apologizing but you know what? If he says it’s all right, I’ll microdose and see if it helps my arthritis.” Like I said, you know, I’ll stand and treat them. My mother-inlaw, they all looked at me with some sense of honesty and credibility. And they see that I’m not chasing the money. You know, all of it goes back to John, [and] brings it full circle. It’s like . . . It’s just meaningful. CultureMagazine.com
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Tell me about your cherry pie strain, and why people are calling it the “Marriage Counselor”? It happens every evening. My wife will ask, “You hungry, honey?” I’ll tell her yes. She’ll ask, “What do you have a taste for?” “Well, like a cheeseburger.” “That’s a little heavy for me. Is there anything else you’d like?” “Well, you know what I really have a taste for then is sushi.” “I know but I had sushi with my mom last night. Anyplace else?” Then I’ll get agitated and say, “Why are you asking me what I want for dinner, when you know we’re just going where you want to go and we’re gonna eat what you want to eat! Why are you wasting my damn time?” Well now, before I come downstairs, I take a little hit of Cherry Pie. My wife will ask, “Hey Jim, you hungry?” “Yeah.” “Where do you want to go?” “Baby, we can go to Taco Bell as long as you’re sitting across from me.” It makes me empathetic, it makes me charming. She doesn’t even know I’m high, because I’m not really that high. I’m just a really nice good guy. And so I said I call it the “Marriage Counselor.” Are you interested in expansion, or are you happy with your current footprint? I talk to a billionaire a week that wants to expand my business. And I’m just taking my time, I mean there are eight legal states and we live in a country that has 50. This isn’t going anywhere, it’s just growing. I want to make sure, because it’s such a young industry, which partners to partner up with that’s gonna keep it alive with the quality control that I’m interested in, the message. 30
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“I THINK IF WE KNEW W H AT W E KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA T O D AY, I N THE ’70S, THE HEALING, THE HELP IT GIVES, I THINK THERE’D BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE ALIVE T O D AY.”
Do you use cannabis for creativity, or do you use it more for recreation? I use it not to fight with my wife before dinner. I do a little chocolate when I’m taking a long flight. I do a little bit to sleep. I never do anything before I perform, whether it’s alcohol or cannabis. Because why would I try to enhance something that’s already magic? So I don’t compound it. I use it for kind of a mood stabilizer, when I start getting uptight or anxious or start feeling old PTSD rushes of like anger, or start getting down on myself. I’ll take a little bit of Cherry Pie until I get a perspective. Instead of letting my mind and my ego run me into the ground, which is caused from trauma. You know, whether it’s the collapse of my family, the death of John, divorces that I’ve had. The number one fear in life is death, the number two fear in life is the collapse of family. I believe that everybody has a trauma that they’re experiencing and needs some kind of medicine. By the way, medicine can also be yoga, or jogging. You know, these great physical things that bring the endorphins and the endo cannabinoids in line with homeostasis of the body. So, I’m not saying this is the only medicine, I’m just saying it’s better than opioids and it’s better than alcohol. It’s safer, it’s cleaner, it’s nonviolent, it’s peaceful, it’s enlightening. So, the big mission statement is [that] the wellness of cannabis helps people with Alzheimer’s, seizures, headaches, anxiety, back aches, [and] PTSD. It also enhances, and sparks creativity, enhances the sound of music, the touch of your lover’s skin, and also brings a feeling of joy and euphoria that we should never feel guilty about experiencing. That’s all the wellness of cannabis. I feel I’m in the right place for my heart. c CultureMagazine.com
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Industry Insider
Opportunities Abound
B l o o m F a r m s F o u n d e r M i c h a e l R ay e m b r a c e s t h e i m p o r ta n c e o f q u a l i t y a n d c o m m u n i t y By R. Scott Rappold
O
nce upon a time, in the dark ages of cannabis prohibition, you probably didn’t know who grew your cannabis, but if you did, they sure didn’t have their name and a smiling photo on the bag. At California’s BLOOM FARMS, they want customers to know who grew the cannabis, whether it’s flower, tincture or oil form. You can find their name on the label and in some cases customers can even read a profile of the product on the company’s website. It’s just one of the many things that makes BLOOM FARMS a different kind of cannabis company, one that donates a meal to a food bank for every
product purchased. “We’ve got to give something back. We’ve got to provide for the community,” says BLOOM FARMS Founder Michael Ray. “We’re focusing more around the reasons why people enjoy cannabis versus just focusing on getting as high as possible for as cheap as possible. A lot of the brands out there seem to be focused just on the highest potency and lowest price.”
“I wanted to make products I ’ d f e e l c o m f o r ta b l e g i v i n g m y grandmother and 90 percent THC d i d n ’ t f a l l i n t h at c at e g o r y. ”
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Photo by Evan Thompson
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C.
C i r c u i t o u s P at h T o C a n n a b i s
Ray, 39, was raised in foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Calaveras County wasn’t quite the heart of California’s black market cannabis industry, but Ray says it was “Humboldt County’s kid brother, little cousin.” Many families lived off cannabis cultivation, lived in constant risk of being raided and arrested. While Ray enjoyed his share of the local agricultural product that supported so many friends and neighbors, he saw a different path for himself. He left the family farm—known as the BLOOM FARM—for college, dropped out and, in a radical change of directions, went to work on Wall Street. The year was 1999, the economy was booming and the internet was transforming the stock market trade. His brother, who had already made the move there, told him “they were pretty much hiring anyone willing to mash buttons.” “It was definitely a culture shock but everything I wanted to do when I was young,” says Ray. “You grow up in the country and you want to go live in the big city.” But as boom times transformed to bust times, of taxpayer bailouts and the housing market collapse, he grew cynical about the stock market and it wasn’t fun anymore. So he went home in 2009. Back in California cannabis circles, plenty had changed.
C.
Cannabis Boom
Reconnecting with old friends, Ray found many were now second- and third-generation cannabis farmers. And they were doing it legally, under the auspices of California’s revolutionary medical cannabis legalization. And the first time he walked into a dispensary, it was
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Photo by Kelly Ginn
the classic “kid in a candy store” feeling. In New York, he was used to a bicycle delivery guy with three kinds of weed: Brown, kind of brown and green. “There were 40 strains and they all had names and they were lab tested,” he says. “The light bulb went off in my head and said to me, ‘This is the next big industry.’” So in 2009 he began to learn how to cultivate. Since people were still getting raided by the feds those days, he kept the operation small, selling to a handful of dispensaries and learning the methods and technologies that were changing how cannabis is grown and how consumers enjoy it. The more he learned, the more he grew fascinated with extraction and vaporizer technology. He saw how crude butane extraction was leading to home explosions and residual butane in the oil. He began to consider starting his own brand, with clean, safe and responsible practices. So BLOOM FARMS was born.
N.
Not All About Potency
Ray believes in four essential tenets of cannabis use: Relief (from pain), relaxation, creativity and fun. These are the focus of the BLOOM FARMS brand, and Ray doesn’t believe delivering the most potent dose of THC every time, which he says is what many products do, is necessarily in line with these outcomes for the user. “I wanted to make products I’d feel comfortable giving my grandmother and 90 percent THC didn’t fall in that category,” Ray says. That sense of responsibility is also why the company adopted it’s “1-For-1” policy of donating a meal to a food bank for every product purchase, providing 1.4 million meals to date. “We are first and foremost a mission-driven company. It’s really important to focus on the double bottom line, not just the financial bottom line of the company but the bottom line of the positive impact we are making in the community and for our employees,” says Ray. “Our goal is to improve the quality of life for all people.” Most BLOOM FARMS products tend to range in the 60 to 85 percent range, which Ray believes is more conducive for many people to actually enjoy cannabis. Their cannabis is sourced from growers all over California thought not, ironically, from the namesake BLOOM FARMS. That’s because Calaveras County officials in 2018 banned cannabis cultivation. For now, their products are only available in California and Nevada, though they just released a CBD tincture that can be sold throughout most of the country. Ray plans to expand to other states with legal cannabis in the future. It’s based on his love for the plant and how it can help people. “I believe (cannabis) is making the world a better place,” he says. c
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Tolerance Over Time
U n d e r s ta n d i n g h o w h e a v y c a n n a b i s consumption affects personal tolerance 36
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By Benjamin M. Adams
P
eople who devour large amounts of cannabis on a regular basis are inevitably subject to diminishing effects over time. That is why first-time smokers get a much more serious kick when they smoke cannabis in comparison to experienced connoisseurs, and conversely, cannabis consumers who have smoked for a long time must consume larger amounts of cannabis in order to get the same effect.
Research suggests that tolerance builds up in people who consume cannabis on a regular basis. One team of scientists in particular spent a great deal of time during the 1990s exploring cannabis and dependence. Beginning with a 1990 study led by Dr. Miles Herkenham of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), researchers found that the effects of cannabis are time and dose-dependent, “suggesting diminishing effects with greater levels of consumption.” Herkenham noticed that mice that received excessive amounts of THC were catatonic at first, but eventually regained their motor abilities—even while continuing to receive the high dose of THC. Their bodies had adapted. Scientists learned that the mammal body adapts to exposure of huge amounts of THC by lowering the number of available cannabinoid receptors and thus reducing the effects over time. Similarly, consumers who smoke large amounts of cannabis aren’t going to get the same effect over time as their bodies adapt. That said—cannabis tolerance differs from other situations like opioid or nicotine tolerance, because it doesn’t appear to have any effect on dopamine production in the brain, which could lead to a more serious situation. Most experienced smokers, however, don’t need a study to confirm that tolerance affects cannabis smokers over time. It’s evident everywhere you look. There is a very easy solution to the cannabis tolerance problem. Some people call them tolerance breaks and others call them t-breaks, but the concept is simple: Take a small break from consuming cannabis to reset the body’s endocannabinoid system. It re-sharpens the effects of cannabis. Taking a break for as little as three days can reset your
“I used to quit every February for tolerance. I also had an episode a few years back where I quit for a little bit because of anxiety due t o w h at I b e l i e v e w a s a n o v e r s at u r at i o n o f m y endocannabinoid receptors.”
body and your cannabinoid receptors so that you get the same effect as you got the first time you lit up. Heavier smokers, of course, need more than a few days to reset the body—perhaps a month or even longer for some people. Adam iLL boasts nearly 75,000 followers on Instagram and hosts a show called Getting High With which focuses on material that is pretty much about getting high with extremely potent dabs, extracts, strains of cannabis and so forth. Episodes were broadcast every Thursday on BREAL.tv. Adam iLL got into broadcasting at CBS Radio at 97.1 KLSX, before launching The PotCast and partnering with numerous projects such as The Secret Sesh and the High Times Cannabis Cup as a host or panelist. He was also interviewed for a Q&A with CULTURE in 2017. If anyone knows anything about consuming too much cannabis—it’s Adam iLL. After all, he calls himself “the highest host.” Regularly smoking and dabbing for a living can wreak havoc on the balance of the endocannabinoid system. Tolerance can get so bad that even a huge dab will fail to cause a noticeable effect in the heaviest of smokers. CULTURE asked Adam iLL if he’s ever gone through periods when he smoked so much cannabis that he couldn’t get high. “Yaaa” Adam iLL quickly admitted. “I used to quit every February for tolerance. I also had an episode a few years back where I quit for a little bit because of anxiety due to what I believe was an oversaturation of my endocannabinoid receptors.” Other heavy consumers can take Adam iLL’s advice and participate in a short fast from cannabis, if your tolerance is out of sync. “I can’t think of anything significant in my life that isn’t related to or influenced by cannabis,” he said. Heavy consumers should examine their own lifestyle and consider whether or not a tolerance break is needed. Eliminating cannabis from your lifestyle for a short amount of time isn’t easy— but it’s the only way you can reset your tolerance so that you can get as high as you did the first time you smoked. Consider a tolerance break the next time you notice that you aren’t getting the same effect that you used to when smoking cannabis. c CultureMagazine.com
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annabis legalization has been spreading rapidly through the United States over the past few years. It has been legalized for recreational use in 10 states and legalized for medical use in 33. However, cannabis is still federally illegal and also still not allowed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA),
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even in states that allow legal cannabis. March Madness, one of the biggest NCAA events of the year, will ensure the NCAA and its antiquated rules against cannabis (among other problems) will be a topic of discussion. The NCAA can trace its beginnings to 1905, when 62 universities became charter members of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United
States (IAAUS). The IAAUS was officially established in 1906 and took its present name, the NCAA, in 1910. The NCAA has banned cannabis for over 30 years, although it only tests for cannabis during championship events, such as football bowl games and basketball tournaments. School athletic departments can also administer their own tests on top of the NCAA’s.
Potential draft prospects have seen their draft stock plummet due to cannabis consumption. Laremy Tunsil was the projected 1st overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but fell to the 13th pick after a video surfaced of Tunsil smoking with a bong attached to a gas mask, and was posted to his Twitter account minutes before the draft started. Tunsil missed out on an estimated $10-$12 million in potential contract earnings. C.J. Harris, walk-on defensive back for Auburn University, was ruled ineligible to play due to his use of cannabis oil to treat his epilepsy. Auburn, which has its own rules against cannabis use, informed Harris that he wouldn’t be able to compete, not the NCAA. The NCAA has already taken baby steps at changing how positive cannabis tests are handled, saying in 2014 “street drugs are not performance-enhancing in nature” and reducing the penalty for a positive test from a full season suspension to half a season. Universities such as Rutgers University in New Jersey have already started making amends to their cannabis policy for athletes. According to Rutgers’ policy, athletes won’t face any game suspensions until his or her third positive cannabis test, and it takes a fifth positive test to be kicked off of the team. The World Anti-Doping Agency removed cannabidiol (CBD) from its list of banned substances last year, allowing professional fighters to use CBD for recovery without fear of suspension. Professional fighter Nate Diaz can be seen as a catalyst for allowing fighters to use CBD after his post-fight interview where he infamously puffed on a CBD vaporizer while speaking about the medical benefits of CBD. Many former and current professional athletes have come out in support of cannabis legalization in sports, particularly the use of CBD. CBD has been hailed as a new “wonder drug,” offering a multitude of health benefits without the high of THC. In addition to preventing epileptic seizures, CBD can help treat anxiety and depression, help with pain management and may help alleviate cancer symptoms and cancer treatment side effects. However, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) doesn’t fully endorse cannabis as a cancer treatment. With opiate abuse running rampant in locker rooms across the country, athletes are calling for legal cannabis and CBD as a way to combat the rigors of a long season without having to take handfuls of pills a day. In 2016, the University of Miami was given a $16 million grant to study the effects of using CBD to treat concussions, with researchers believing a “concussion pill” can help treat the post-injury
brain cell inflammation, headaches and other symptoms associated with concussions. Retired professional players have recently come out saying that they were consuming cannabis not only during the season, but most of the time during the day of a game. Matt Barnes, who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 14 seasons, has said that he was medicated for all of his best games and former National Football League (NFL) player Shaun Smith said he would smoke two blunts before a game. Other former NFL players, such as Eben Britton and Eugene Monroe, have vocalized their support for allowing cannabis to treat injuries and others, like Joe Montana and Jack Ham, have invested in the cannabis industry. Former NBA player Al Harrington
now owns his own cannabis company, Viola Extracts. In a 2017 interview regarding cannabis use by NBA players with David Stern, NBA commissioner from 1984 to 2014, Stern told Harrington that he believes cannabis should be removed from the banned substances list and that Harrington had persuaded him. As legalization continues to sweep the United States, the stigma surrounding cannabis is beginning to dissipate. More research has come out demonstrating the positive effects cannabis and CBD can have on athletes. As studentathletes prepare for life after college sports, the NCAA should look into cannabis as a healthy alternative rather than giving athletes handfuls of pills and causing long-term health problems. c
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Sweet Collabor ation S o u f ly c r e at e s e p i c m u s i c with fellow rock, punk a n d m e ta l m u s i c i a n s By Alex Distefano
M
ax Cavalera is a living heavy metal guitar legend. Cavalera co-founded the seminal Brazilian thrash band
Sepultura with his brother Igor in the mid-1980s; since his time with that band ended in the late ’90s, he has fronted Soulfly for the past two decades, as well as the previous bands Nailbomb, and the more modern Killer Be Killed and Cavalera Conspiracy with his brother. Throughout his musical career, he has collaborated with hundreds of rock, metal and punk icons, ranging from Fred Durst to Sean Lennon (son of Beatles member, John Lennon). With the new album Ritual, Soulfly
has been reborn with a lineup that features former guitarist Marco Rizzo, bassist Mike Leon, and Cavalera’s son Zyon behind the drum kit. Cavalera took time to speak with CULTURE about the band’s latest album, the 11th in its career, his love of punk rock, what it’s like to work with so many musicians and how despite the fact that he has been straight edge for a decade, he fully supports cannabis consumption at concerts. Soulfly will be on a nationwide North American Tour with death metal band Kataklysm, through March 1.
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On Soulfly’s new album, Ritual, you feature guest appearances from Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) and Ross Dolan (Immolation). What was it like to work with these two metal musicians? It was great. We didn’t actually write “Death Behind The Eyes” track for Randy. I work mostly with my son, and originally, we worked this song out and just jammed on it. It was our producer, Josh who is good friends with Randy, that played him some of the song and the dude fell in love with it and ended up singing on it. It was very cool, I am a huge Lamb of God fan. I love their sound. The other song, “Under Rapture” was written for Ross. I knew I wanted to work with him from a long time ago before I started working on this album. I toured with Immolation back in like the early ’90s maybe, and we actually met for the first time in 1989 with Sepultura in New York. We have known each other for a long time. I love Immolation and their music, what they do with the underground death metal sound. He loved the song and it came out great, I loved his vocals. Soulfly has had guests musicians on each album from the beginning. Is there one in particular that stands out to you? Yeah, we have guests on all the albums and I see other bands doing that now and it makes me happy. Soulfly didn’t invent that but we pushed forward to keep that idea alive. To see other bands doing it is cool. I get to work with my friends and my idols it’s a lot of fun it’s a blessing. But years ago, when I was doing the album Primitive, I met Sean Lennon years [while] flying to a festival on a plane to Australia. We sat across from each other, and then at the fest we were at the same hotel and we kept bumping into each other. We formed a friendship; he was a fan of the first Soulfly album and I asked him to be a guest on primitive and he was down for it. He is a cool dude, a very down to earth guy. It was a special experience working with him.
“I do like the vibe of weed. It is so much better than alcohol or other drugs.” You have been friends with and worked with Jello Biafra from the Dead Kennedys, during your time in Sepultura. What was that like? Oh Jello is an awesome guy we had a great time working with him. He knew Sepultura back then, in the ’90s, it was for the Chaos A.D. album, and we worked with him on the song, “Biotech is Godzilla.” He sent us a tape with him singing, and we sampled it on the song, there is part is him singing “Godzzilllla”! I love Jello’s music, the song lyrics are amazing, and that sarcastic humor he puts into his songs sounds great. Me and Igor love punk rock, it’s music we grew up with. Bands like The Ramones, Black Flag, The Clash, Bad Brains and the Dead Kennedys of course. How do you feel about legalized cannabis in the U.S. and Canada, as a touring band in North America? Well, I have been straight edge for 10 years by choice, it’s a healthier lifestyle, but even though I don’t
smoke, I do like the vibe of weed. It is so much better than alcohol or other drugs. It’s such a mellow drug. To be honest, I’m not even fully convinced it’s an illicit drug, it’s a plant from the earth. I am glad more people are smoking weed. I welcome it, I don’t mind at all. I get weed from fans on tour all the time, and I give it to some of Soulfly’s crew because some of them they like to smoke. I think it’s cool and the right way to go with it being legalized by governments; and they are making money off it so that’s good too. What does Soulfly have planned for the rest of 2019 after this North American tour with Kataklysm? We are going to be doing a ton of touring. After this tour, we go to Europe and play festivals and our own shows. Plus, we are doing 70K Metal Cruise Ship as well, and after we get back from Europe, we might do another US tour maybe a cool package tour type thing. But I want to take time off from being in the studio and just tour. We are all super excited for this tour and I am glad to be taking a break from making records for at least one year and just tour as much as we can with Soulfly. c www.soufly.com CultureMagazine.com
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LIFE OF THE PART Y
Most holidays are cause for celebration, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. These days it is just an excuse to party and have fun, and with that comes a lot of alcohol consumption. But numerous studies have found that cannabis can actually be a suitable replacement for alcohol, while also providing some of the psychoactive properties that may contribute to a unique experience. No matter if you choose to drink alcohol or consume cannabis infused beverages, one thing is certain—you’ll need to fill your stomach with the right kind of food. These hand-selected cannabis-infused recipes are bound to get you in the mood to party!
S w e e t a n d S p i cy C h i c k e n W i n g s Ingredients: 3/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce 4 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions: 1 teaspoon cannabis infused olive oil*
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking pan with oil.
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 tablespoon red chili flakes
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together chili sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, lime, garlic, infused oil and sesame oil. Cook until fully heated, then remove from pan and let cool.
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 pounds chicken wings
3. Season raw chicken with salt and pepper. Then coat
1/4 cup soy sauce 4 tablespoons white wine vinegar
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1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
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each wing with chili sauce mixture, and add them into the pan in a single layer. Lower saucepan heat to medium with remaining sauce, and let simmer. 4. Bake chicken for 10 minutes until crispy on the outside (flipping chicken about halfway through). Remove pan from oven, and coat chicken. 5. Switch oven to broil, and return chicken to oven for another 5 minutes. 6. Once chicken is finished, top with sesame seeds, red chili flakes and a little salt.
Homemade Infused Supreme Pizza Ingredients DOUGH 1 cup warm water, between 100-110 degrees F 1 1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon cannabis infused olive oil* 1 teaspoon salt 3 cups flour TOPPINGS 1/2 cup green bell pepper 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced 1/2 cup pepperoni 1/2 cup sausage 1/2 cup olives
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Leave pizza stone or pan in oven as it heats up. 2. To make the dough, mix warm water with sugar and yeast. Let yeast activate by leaving the mixture untouched for 5 minutes. 3. Add infused olive oil, flour and salt to the bowl until a dough ball forms.
1 cup mozzarella cheese Your choice of red sauce
4. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead
until it gains elasticity, about 10 minutes. Roll out into desired shape and size. 5. Bake dough for five minutes and remove from oven. 6. Spread an even amount of red sauce onto the dough. Next, add ample amounts of mozzarella cheese. 7. Decorate pizza with bell peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, sausage and olives. 8. Bake pizza for 20 minutes.
Irish Buck Ingredients 1 1/2 ounce cannabis-infused Irish whiskey* 1/4 ounce fresh lime juice 2 ounces ginger ale 1 lime wedge for garnish (optional)
Instructions 1. Combine all liquid ingredients into a glass with ice. 2. Add lime wedge to the edge of glass. CultureMagazine.com
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GROWING CULTURE
LESSONS FROM A JAMAICAN WINTER GROW By Ed Rosenthal
T
he dream and demand, “Legalize It!” has finally come to Jamaica. People aren’t going to jail for cannabis. It is used freely in more places. However, licensing legal cannabis companies is a different story. As in many states in the U.S., it can be costly to go legal, so there is still a large alternative market. And naturally, the retail market is but the tip of a vertical alternative supply chain. It all starts with the farmer. In February I took a trip to Jamaica and happened to be walking in the woods in one of the island’s agricultural areas. As we made our way through brush, my guide casually mentioned that there was a squatter grow nearby. I decided to make a detour and visit the pop-up farm. The garden’s perimeters were marked by barbed wire that was only symbolic—it was only four feet high. Inside there were rows of plants spaced about 30 inches apart and the plants were spaced four to six inches apart in the rows. There were two groups of plants in the garden. The first group was planted from seed three to four weeks ago. The plants were all under a foot tall, but were beginning to show the first signs of flowering. The second group were plants that
The field was about an acre. There were two sets of plants. The ones close-up were about a month old and were transitioning to flowering. For the first weeks the long night was interrupted by lighting the plants for a few moments by walking a portable light along the rows. 44
Cows walk in the field with the mature plants. They avoid eating the buds.
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were about half way through flowering and would be ready in three or four weeks. These plants had straight stems that ranged in height from one and a half to two and a half feet. None of the plants looked particularly vigorous. The reason was that they were growing in an alkaline clay-loam soil that was not particularly fertile with nutrient insolubility and lockout caused by the clay’s high pH. The field was flood irrigated and little fertilizer, if any, was used. Jamaica has a 12-month growing season, because the weather stays warm and the sun shines most of the time. However, it is close to the equator so it has far less seasonal variation in day length than high latitude areas. It ranges between 15 hours and five minutes on June 22, the first day of summer, and nine hours and 15 minutes on Dec. 22, the first day of winter. Most varieties respond to the long night period by changing growth from vegetative to flowering all year. This commercial garden was not sophisticated and had lots of room for improvement. However, there are things to be learned. First, close planting discourages plants from branching out. Instead, the plants put their energy into growing a single straight stem. When they flower all their energy goes into growing bud along it. Because the plant puts little time into vegetative growth it takes less time from seed to maturity, about 90 days. This can be duplicated outdoors using light deprivation, and indoors by limiting the vegetative period once the plants grow 10-15 inches tall depending on variety. c
The rows were about 30” apart and the plants were spaced 3-4 inches apart in the row.
The single stems of the plants grow a bud 8”-15” long.
TIP OF THE MONTH Are you planning to grow an outdoor garden this year? Here are some ideas you can start now. If you live in the southern tier of the U.S., where the temperature consistently rises to 65 degrees daily in spring you can plant outdoors now. If the plants are large enough for you to consider placing them into flowering just put them outdoors and the long dark period (more than 10.5 hours daily) will induce them to flower. Toward the end of flowering they may need to be covered to increase the dark for an hour or two every day to maintain the 10.5 hour dark period. If you want big plants that flower later in the season, grow the plants vegetatively outdoors, or indoors in the northern tier with cool weather. Outdoors, break up the dark period by flashing red or white light at the plants several times each dark period so the plants receive fewer than six hours of uninterrupted darkness. Indoors give the plants 18 hours of continuous light daily. Or, an alternative is to give them fewer hours of light, but to break the dark cycle as described above.
The single stem plants started flowering within three weeks of planting.
The plants would have fatter buds and more potency had the soil been improved with organic matter an been fed adequate amounts of fertilizers.
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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SOCAL NOW! EVENT LISTINGS
G. Love and Special Sauce, March 8 In November 2013, and much to our delight, G. Love and Special Sauce graced the cover of CULTURE and discussed cannabis. The band’s ultra-unique sound, which sounds bluesy, airy and laid back, is really what sets it apart from other bands. Troubadour, West Hollywood philadelphonic.com Gordon Lightfoot, March 8 Fans of classic rock and folk will instantly remember Gordon Lightfoot’s deep voice in songs like “Sundown,” and “Carefree Highway.” Lightfoot’s warm, inviting and enduring music has attracted recording artists like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton to become fans. The Canyon Santa Clarita, Santa Clarita gordonlightfoot.com
Dennis Quaid & the Sharks, March 8 If you didn’t know that seasoned actor Dennis Quaid is also a singer in a band, now you know. Quaid’s band is best known for performing oldfashioned classic oldies, rock n’ roll and country soul, with influences like Buddy Holly, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. The Mint, Los Angeles themintla.com 46
Action Bronson, March 16 Action Bronson is a multitalented anomaly, performing as a rapper and as a VICELAND series host, among other projects. Bronson’s latest album, White Bronco, was released in 2018, followed by a tour beginning in November 2018 and making its way to the Los Angeles area. The Novo, Los Angeles actionbronson.com
Too $hort, March 21 Too $hort’s net worth is in the ballpark of $15 million, and he’s also a big fan of the green leaf. Since his early days—which includes collaborations with Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.—he’s become one of the most prolific rappers to hit the stage. The Canyon Agoura Hills, Agoura Hills wheremusicmeetsthesoul. com Beyond Wonderland, March 22-23 Grab your light sticks, pacifiers, parachute pants and whatever other rave gear you may need for this otherworldly extravaganza. The huge lineup includes Deadmau5, ZHU, Flux Pavilion, Armin Van Buren, Rusko and dozens of other EDM, alternative and hip-hop artists. NOS Events Center, San Bernardino beyondwonderland.com
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featured event
STEPHEN MARLEY, MARCH 15 “Cannabis is an herb just like mint or sage that can heal many medical ailments, as well as offer spiritual enlightenment,” Marley told CULTURE last May. See the Grammy Awardwinning producer and artist perform material from his highly-acclaimed albums and collaborations with artists like Bone Thugs N Harmony and Pitbull. Garden Grove Amphitheatre, Garden Grove stephenmarleymusic.com Vegan Street Fair, March 23-24 Vegan-friendly restaurants, cooks and vendors will offer bite-size portions of cruelty-free food in one place. Attendees can have unlimited small portions or you can purchase a large dish or item at will, plus the event is free! Chandler Blvd., between Tujunga and Vineland veganstreetfair.com Los Angeles Marathon, March 24 Confront your fears, train hard and race to the finish line at the Los Angeles Marathon. The 26-mile course begins at Dodger Stadium, and takes you on a beautiful journey through Downtown Los Angeles, Echo Park, Silverlake,
the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Sunset Strip, West Hollywood and finally ending in Santa Monica near the Pacific Ocean. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles lamarathon.com WonderCon Anaheim, March 29-31 Sponsored by Comic-Con International, WonderCon brings San Diego’s comic book and fantasy celebrations to the Los Angeles and Orange County area. Special guests include Sergio Aragonés of MAD Magazine, penciller Greg Capullo, Jim Lee of DC Comics and countless comic book writers, artists and actors. Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim comic-con.org/wca
NEWS of the
WEIRD
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL
LEAD STORIES—FASHION FOIBLES Because white shoes are so distracting when you’re lining up your putt? According to Time magazine, Nike will be mowing over the competition with its new Air Max 1 golf shoes, which feature uppers covered with a green material that resembles grass. Matching green laces will further disguise your dogs as you play a round, but lest you think you’ll disappear altogether, fear not: The trademark Nike swoosh on the sides is bright white. The sneakers, yet to be released, are expected to retail for $140. Just when you thought there was nothing new under the blue jeans sun: A Ukrainian designer is asking $377 for a pair of jeans that have one fitted leg and one flared leg. Ksenia Schnaider, who calls her design the Asymmetric Jean, told DazedDigital.com: “It’s good to get people talking, and they’re definitely going to make people turn their heads as you walk by!” PEOPLE WITH(OUT) ISSUES Rachel Childs, 29, of Pearland, Texas, is not autistic and doesn’t have a twin autistic sister, according to the Houston Chronicle. Nevertheless, she hired a caregiver for her (fake) twin sister who is (not)
autistic. The elaborate plot, which played out in early January, involved the caregiver picking up the “twin” at Childs’ house and taking her to the caregiver’s home, where he was hired to care for her overnight. But when Childs’ “twin” exhibited sexual conduct toward the caregiver, he became suspicious and investigated Childs, then contacted police. Childs was charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit assault and indecent exposure. PRECOCIOUS Employees of John J. Murphy Elementary School in Round Lake Park, Illinois, were surprised on Jan. 9 when a car drove into the dropoff lane and an 11-yearold student exited the driver’s seat. Witnesses alerted police, who issued an arrest warrant for the front-seat passenger, 31-year-old Khafilu M. Oshodi of Round Lake, for two counts of child endangerment; a 9-yearold was riding in the back seat. Police Chief George Filenko told the Lake County News-Sun the situation could have “resulted in any number of tragic scenarios.” The children have been placed with other relatives, and police are still looking for Oshodi.
was a toddler and started perfecting her skills three years ago. For her part, Alijah says cutting hair comes naturally to her; she practices on friends and family (with her dad supervising) and has already faced off in barber competitions across Texas. WHAT’S THAT UP IN THE SKY? The rare super blood wolf moon of Jan. 20 was so captivating to some skywatchers on Florida’s Ponte Vedra Beach, that they didn’t notice when the tide rolled in and waterlogged their Honda CRV. The St. Johns County Sheriff ’s Office told News4Jax the occupants were able to get out of the car and move to safety, although the vehicle itself wasn’t
recovered until the next day. A photo showed water up to the windshield on the front end. Meanwhile, in West Palm Beach, Florida, two unnamed 24-year-olds chose to view the Jan. 20 eclipse by lying prone in the middle of a dark road near the Apoxee Wilderness Trail. Which would have worked out fine, except around 11:30 p.m. a West Palm Beach police officer patrolling the area ran over the pair. Fortunately, reported the South Florida Sun Sentinel, he was cruising at just 5 mph, and the human speed bumps sustained only non-lifethreatening injuries. The officer was put on paid administrative leave while the incident was investigated.
Alijah Hernandez of Houston is a skilled barber in her father’s shop, reported KTRK-TV on Jan. 17—which wouldn’t ordinarily be newsworthy. But Alijah is only seven years old. Her dad, Franky, says she’s been watching him since she CultureMagazine.com
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