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contents
inside
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The Host with the Most
Former talk show host Montel Williams combines his entrepreneurial spirit and personal success with medical cannabis to bring awareness and medicine to those who need it.
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features 26
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Instrumental Captivation CHARMS embraces its experimental sound with original music.
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Care and Conversation When it comes to cannabis, every parent should strive to be a responsible consumer.
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Flawless Formula Cannabis companies that are run by friends, couples and like-minded individuals share how they strategically work together to flourish in the industry.
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departments news 12 News Nuggets 13 By the Numbers 16 Local News 18 Legal Corner reviews 20 Store Highlight 22 Strain Reviews 26 Cool Stuff 30 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 44 Growing Culture 46 Destination Unknown 47 Profile in Courage 48 Recipes 52 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d Maryland Registers First
Cannabis Cultivator d Legal Cannabis Outsells Viagra
and Tequila
Vol 8 IssUE 12
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CULTURE M
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Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett creative consultant Evan Senn Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Keira Fae, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Pamela Jayne, M. Jay, Heather Johnson, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Meital Manzuri, Dan Mitchell, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Lanny Swerdlow, Jefferson Van Billiard, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Tonya Perme, Mike Rosati, Josué Rivas, Eric Stoner Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designers Payden Corden, Nathan Hernandez sales director Justin Olson Account Executives Jon Bookatz, Alex Brizicky, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Cole Garrison, Beau Odom, Gloria Santiago, Garry Stalling, Ryan Tripp, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital content manager David Edmundson Intern Kiara Manns Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout Washington. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. 815 1st Ave | #220 Seattle | Washington | 98104 Phone 888.694.2046 | Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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NEWS
nuggetS
University Place City Council Approves Conditional Cannabis Rules The University Place City Council approved conditional rules cannabis businesses on May 1. The council however has yet to officially decide if it will allow cannabis businesses to operate in the city. The conditional regulations, which would allow for retail sales in a limited area in the city, were recommended by the city’s planning commission. Per the recommendation, only production and processing operations would be allowed. Mayor Javier Figueroa asked the city council whether the city should lift the ban on cannabis sales, noting that he’d consider lifting the ban if two or more members stepped forward, but no councilmember decided to sponsor lifting the ban. However, the council did vote 4-3 to pass an ordinance “to incorporate the City Planning Commission’s recommended changes to the zoning and development regulations which would apply to State-licensed and regulated marijuana uses if the Council chooses to allow such uses in the future, providing for severability and establishing an effective date.” The sole business person who currently has a license to sell cannabis in University Place, Christ Stanley, hopes that the city will eventually allow cannabis sales. Stanley would need city approval to open up a storefront shop.
Georgia Governor Signs Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Rep. Allen Peake announced that Gov. Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 16 on May 9. The bill will expand the state’s medical cannabis oil program to add six additional illnesses to the list of qualifying conditions. “With Gov. Deal’s signature today, Georgia’s medical cannabis program takes another positive step forward,” Rep. Peake stated. “As of [May 9], 1,738 citizens and 354 doctors are registered with Georgia’s Low THC Oil Registry program, and I’m confident that the addition of six conditions to this very successful program will allow even more hurting Georgians with debilitating illnesses to have a ray of hope for a better quality of life.” Registered patients are allowed to possess a maximum of 20 fluid ounces of cannabis oil with a maximum of five percent THC. Severe Tourette syndrome, Epidermolysis Bullosa, Alzheimer’s disease, symptomatic AIDS, peripheral neuropathy and hospice patients who have received authorization were added to the list of qualifying conditions. SB-16 also adds medical card reciprocity to the program and removes the one-year eligibility requirement.
Minority Cannabis Business Association Helps Local Expunge Records On May 20, Jesce Horton and the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) hosted a free event in Seattle to help people expunge cannabis-related charges from their records. The event organizers assisted people with court documents and arrangements. Most cannabis charges, including felonies, can be expunged in Washington State with the exception of DUI charges. “The Minority Cannabis Business Association and Marley Natural™ have teamed up to combat the negative consequences of the ‘War on Drugs,’” event organizers stated. “The mission of the Rise Up™ Expungement Program is to help men and women expunge (or ‘vacate’) certain types of cannabisrelated crimes from their record.” Attendees were able to vacate their records, and work through the entire expungement process in about two hours per case. Cannabis charges can prevent job opportunities and block otherwise qualified job applicants from obtaining employment. Minorities are disproportionately arrested under the “War on Drugs,” and the MCBA hopes to help end that injustice by assisting some of them in clearing their names.
Chile is First Nation in South America to Sell Cannabis in Pharmacies Canadian cannabis producer Tilray’s T100 and TC100 cannabis-based products are now available for purchase in pharmacies in Chile, which began in mid-May. Before then, patients could only obtain medicine by import or through one of Chile’s narrow list of dedicated farms. It’s the first time that any nation in South America has moved forward to allow pharmacy sales of cannabis products. The average cost for a month’s worth of treatment will be $310. Tilray is partnering with Alef Biotechnology, a company that is licensed through the government of Chile. Roberto Roizman, Alef board president explained how this will benefit patients in the country. “By importing Tilray’s medical cannabis products to Chile we intend to ease the suffering of those in need by offering pure, precise and predictable medical cannabis products.” The Chilean Congress is currently reviewing a bill that would allow patients to grow their own plants at home. Additionally, the nearby country of Uruguay will begin selling recreational cannabis in pharmacies in July. 12
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The increased percentage of sales revenue that Washington cannabis dispensaries experienced on April 20 in comparison to the preceding 19 days of (Source: Seattle PI) April:
79
The number of extensions that the Thurston City Council has approved its interim cannabis regulations since 2013 while it delays discussion on how to establish permanent regulations: (Source: The Chronicle)
7
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Spokane County collected in cannabis sales revenue (Source: The during the month of April: Spokesman-Review)
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The approximate amount of land, in acres, that Washington-based hemp company HempLogic uses to cultivate its hemp plants in Moses Lake, Mount Vernon, Othello and the Tri-Cities areas: (Source: Capital Press)
200
The projected amount of money, in millions of dollars, that is estimated to be collected in recreational cannabis revenue for the state of Washington during 2017: (Source: U.S. News)
768
The percentage of North Carolinians who stated in a survey that they want to see medical cannabis legalized:
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The approximate amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that cannabis industry clients in Maine paid in lobbying fees between December 1, 2016 and (Source: Portland March 31, 2017: Press Herald)
140
(Source: The News & Observer)
The approximate number of people who attended the Extravaganja festival in Massachusetts in late-April: (Source: Daily Collegian)
10,000
The approximate number of people in Colorado and California who were surveyed as cannabis consumers by BDS Analytics: (Source: Denver Westword)
2,000
The number of medical practitioners in New York who are registered under the state’s medical cannabis program: (Source: WKBW Buffalo)
989
Industrial Hemp in Washington State & Across America
WHAT: Industrial Hemp in WA State & Across America. WHEN/WHERE: Monday, June 5. New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S, Seattle. INFO: Visit hempace.com for details.
Celebrate the cultivation of hemp at this free two-hour event, which consists of updates, exciting news and education on all things related to hemp! Joy Beckerman, the principal of Hemp Ace International, will lead the night’s events regarding the current laws and policies on hemp. Hemp Ace International is based in Seattle and is an advisory, educational and consulting firm for those in the industrial hemp and legal cannabis market. At this event, guests will
learn the many ways hemp can serve our community from nutrition and body care to biofuel and even nanotechnology! What many consider as a greener option in producing several goods, industrial hemp will continue to be grown more as it rises in popularity. This educational seminar will also be a prime opportunity to connect with farmers, investors and like-minded individuals who believe in the power of industrial hemp! (Kiara Manns) iReadCULTURE.com
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NEWS
LOCAL
12th Annual Fenders on Front Street
Sweeping Statute
Recently signed bill brings change to the Washington cannabis industry by Emily Manke
I
n mid-April, Senate Bill 5131, which is also referred to as the “cannabis omnibus bill,” passed the legislature and made it all the way to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk, where it awaited his signature. On May 16, Gov. Inslee signed the bill into law, effectively making a great deal of changes to Washington State’s cannabis industry. So what is this “cannabis omnibus bill?” An omnibus bill is “a proposed law that covers a number of diverse or unrelated topics.” This cannabis omnibus bill does just that, making significant changes to an assortment of issues within the cannabis industry. A bipartisan effort, this bill was sponsored by Sen. Ann Rivers from Southwest Washington, and Sen. Steve Conway from the Pierce County region, before being signed into law by Gov. Inslee. During the time of the bill’s signing, Gov. Inslee shared how he believed SB-5131 may influence other states, as well as the federal government. “I want to thank Senator Rivers and Representative Kloba [sponsor of the companion bill] for continuing to keep Washington in the forefront. There’s a good reason other states are looking to us for modeling in this experience,” Gov. Inslee said. “And we’re looking forward to the Attorney General [Jeff Sessions] meeting with us; I hope he will do so.” SB-5131 has support from both parties in the state, with much support coming from the cannabis industry as well. This is because the all-encompassing law contains no-nonsense regulations that both ease
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and properly control the cannabis industry as needed, and various un-related aspects of the hemp and cannabis industry were addressed in this bill. The bill’s text specified it will make changes to cannabis laws “with respect to privileges for research licenses, local authority notifications, the retail licensing merit-based application process, certain transfers of plants and seeds, licensing agreements and contracts, advertising and jurisdictional requirements . . . ” Here is a quick breakdown of the many changes Washington State residents can expect to go into effect on July 23, 2017. SB-5131 established organic certifications for cannabis, and it also allow Washington State to begin studying hemp production. Cannabis advertising regulations will become stricter as well. Additionally, cannabis retailers will be allowed to open up to five shops, and medical patients will be able to buy seeds and clones from retailers. Under the new legislation, the state will study recreational at-home cultivation of cannabis, and the act of adults sharing cannabis with other consenting adults over the age of 21 will no longer be criminalized. Finally, the bill approved cannabis businesses to operate on tribal land and established a time limit for cannabis business applications. While cannabis legislation remains up in the air at the federal level, it’s refreshing to see all the progress we’re making in Washington. Hopefully Washington State can serve as a shining example of how to regulate cannabis correctly. c
Unlike Mother’s Day, Father’s Day doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Mothers get pampered, receive flowers, chocolates and a variety of other gifts, while dads are often forgotten. This Father’s Day, honor your dad by taking him do something that he will appreciate. The Fenders on Front Street event celebrates dads everywhere with a unique event that showcases hundreds of vintage cars. An estimated 4,000 visitors are expected to explore Front Street, many of whom will travel across the state to attend. The event gives local fathers something cool to check out on their special day, but it can also double as a day out for the whole family. Attendees can expect live music by the Fabulous Roof Shakers, a variety of family activities and an awards ceremony featuring MC Lance Lambert. Cars will compete to win titles in categories such as “Best of Show,” “Favorite Pre-1950,” “Favorite Truck,” “Cuz It’s Cool” and “Hall of Fame.” Plus, attending this event helps support local organizations such as the Downtown Issaquah Association and the LEO Organization. WHAT: 12th Annual Fenders on Front Street Car Show. WHEN/WHERE: Sun, June 18. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Front St., Downtown Issaquah. INFO: Visit www. fendersonfrontstreet. com for details.
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NEWS
an out-of-state licensor, or a licensor that simply would not meet the state’s requirements. Even if state cannabis law reform in Washington makes the state law compliance piece of any trademark licensing deal more straightforward, these deals are still by no means as cut and dry as your typically IP licensing deal. Ownership of IP in the cannabis industry remains a tricky issue, in large part because the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will not issue federal trademark registrations for cannabis-related marks.
LEGAL CORNER
Cannabis Closure Washington’s new requirements for consulting and licensing agreements
Cannabis companies are routinely faced with proposed licensing deals where basic due diligence quickly reveals the licensor simply does not own what it purports to own. As a refresher, if you are looking to get a license for another company’s IP, here are the most basic questions you should be able to answer about that other company and its IP:
by Hilary Bricken •
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he Washington State Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 5131, which updates Washington’s cannabis laws and includes a provision that explicitly addresses IP licensing agreements. The bill has already been signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, and the implications of these new regulations will be wide-sweeping with existing and pending intellectual property licensing deals.
Section 16 of the bill reads as follows: A licensed cannabis business may enter into a licensing agreement, or consulting contract, with any individual, partnership, employee cooperative, association, nonprofit corporation, or corporation, for: •
• •
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Any goods or services that are registered as a trademark under federal law or under chapter 19.77 RCW; Any unregistered trademark, trade name or trade dress; or Any trade secret, technology, or proprietary information used to manufacture a cannabis product or used to provide a service related to a cannabis business,
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•
All agreements or contracts entered into by a licensed cannabis business, as authorized under this section, must be disclosed to the state liquor and cannabis board [(WSLCB)].
On its face, this provision does little to change things for those with existing licensing deals, except that those deals will now need to be disclosed to the licensee’s WSLCB enforcement officer. But the provision does validate the position that these types of licensing agreements were permissible under the rules all along, which provides some level of security to the parties as to the legitimacy of the contracts. The big question that remains unanswered is whether the state’s acknowledgement of the permissibility of “licensing agreement[s]” is also an acknowledgement of the permissibility of standard trademark licensing practices, including royalties. Currently, it is impermissible under WSLCB rules for a licensor to receive a royalty based on sales or profits from a cannabis licensee, where that licensor has not been vetted by the WSLCB as a true party of interest. Undisclosed true party of interest relationships are grounds for license cancellation by the WSLCB, so it’s important to structure these deals so they do not implicate Washington’s true party of interest rules when dealing with
•
•
•
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Does the licensor own any federal trademark registrations? If so, what goods and/ or services do those trademark registrations cover? Was the description of goods and/or services filed with the USPTO accurate and true? Were there possible misrepresentations? Are the trademark registrations based on actual use, or upon intent-to-use? What representations and warranties are the licensor making (or, often more importantly, not making) regarding the marks?
This is not an exhaustive list, and it only scratches the surface of the issues you and your cannabis IP counsel must consider before you enter into any IP licensing deal. Parties are often quick to skip straight to negotiating commercial terms for a deal, without ever assessing whether the rights they are licensing actually exist. Though cannabis IP licensing deals remain complicated, it’s encouraging to see the Washington State Legislature acknowledge and condone their existence. It remains to be seen whether the passage of SB-5131 will result in any changes to the current difficulties surrounding a royaltiesbased payment structure. c
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REVIEWs
store highlight
Top-Selling Strain: Gorilla Glue Hometown Herbs
T Brothers 520 Recreational
Interviewed: Jennifer, Purchasing Agent and Budtender 5740 Ruddell Road, Ste C, Lacey 98503 www.tbrothersmarijuana.com
How and when did your retail store start up? We started on October 31, 2015. Through a business opportunity we acquired a 502 permit. What’s the story behind the name of your retail store? It was the name of the permit holder’s liquor store.
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What does your retail store offer customers that they can’t find anywhere else? We offer a safe and friendly environment with educated budtenders. How has the cannabis industry changed since you have been in the business? Where would you like to see it go? We would like to see the taxes drop before they kill the industry! What are the biggest
challenges you face in this industry as a retail store? Taxes! Other challenges are dealing with the micromanagement of products and rules. What is the one thing you want consumers to know about your retail store? We carry great, top-shelf products at good prices and a nice environment. If someone wanted to open a retail store and get their feet wet in the industry,
Top-Selling Concentrate: Smokey Point Productions - Midnight Sunset Top-Selling Edible: Silica Phoenix Milk Chocolate Mint what advice or counsel would you give them? Don’t do it. It’s not a good investment, and it is too risky with the unlimited number of stores open now. What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the cannabis community? We hope to help the folks that need medical assistance with their products for their health issues. c
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REVIEWs
strain OG Matic by North Coast Growers Available at: Commencement Bay Cannabis in Fife.
North Coast Growers puts out products that are one-of-a-kind. To start, each strain has its own custom, creative and beautiful labels (created by Slow Loris Studio) that often take strain names hilariously literally. OG Matic’s drawing features OG Matic spelled out on an old school looking car’s steering wheel. The label did help to create excitement as we ripped open that silver bag. As soon as we did, something else got us excited too, the fragrance of the OG Matic nugs! Notes of soil and citrus, with a powerful fruity scent took the lead. This OG Matic is impressively dense, dark green and covered in crystals. It’s a one-hitter quitter as they say, leaving the CULTURE team feeling strong enough effects from one good-sized hit out of a water pipe. While this strain is referred to by North Coast Growers as a hybrid, it is definitely an indica-dominant. If you have trouble sleeping, relaxing, eating or are looking for something strong to battle chronic pain, this OG Matic is for you. The potency will keep you happy and healthy for hours, without having to worry about coming back for more. OG Matic by North Coast Growers is the perfect flower for those who are not into concentrates, but need something that will supply them with powerful results.
Blue Fire by 420 Natural You can tell that this Blue Fire by 420 Natural is something special from the minute you set eyes on it. Blue Fire’s parents are Blueberry and Sour Diesel, creating a hybrid that’s both delicious and versatile. The scent is out-of-this-world, with Blueberry’s unique fruity, sugary fragrance front and center, competing for prominence with that citrus diesel aroma. After smelling this flower, you won’t want to wait long before consuming it. Reviewers immediately noted that the flavor matched the fragrance, although the diesel and citrus flavors were much stronger when smoked than when first smelled. The terpenes are definitely represented in a big way with this flower. The effects of this flower were fastacting and powerful. It was more relaxing than euphoric, but definitely not one that leaves you on the couch feeling too lazy to do much other than press “next” on your electronic device. You could accomplish a great deal of tasks with some Blue Fire as a helping hand. Overall it is a great flower for a relaxing night out in or out with friends, or maybe a chill day at the beach, river or lake.
Available at: Green Collar Cannabis in Tacoma.
Black Berry Kush by HempKings
Available wherever: HempKings products are carried.
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What better way to kickoff the summer than with some nice Black Berry Kush? It is refreshing and delectable, just like sipping a Northwest regional favorite, a black cherry soda. Also similar to its soda counterpart: When you pop open a portion of this sweet flower, your nose will thank you. A deep cherry sweetness overwhelms your senses, as does this gorgeous flower’s appearance. Notes of earth, with an underlying sweetness make for a pleasant, well-rounded aroma. Fuzzy and sticky due to the fact that this flower is completely covered in crystals, this flower’s leaves vary in color, from light to olive green. The hairs are a deep, dark orange, indicative of a healthy, ideal level of maturity. After spending time admiring this flower’s intoxicating fragrance and exquisite appearance, the team sampled the flower using a vaporizer and water pipe. The flavor of this flower matches the scent, with a cherry and earthy blend of flavors making for a pleasing experience for the palate. Though one could sample Black Berry Kush from HempKings all day just for the fragrance and flavor, the real key to this flower’s charm is the effects. True to its genetic heritage, this Black Berry Kush brings the indica lineage with a jubilant yet reposing effect. It is perfect for pain relief, helping with sleeping, and of course, any kind of hanging at home. For those with high tolerances, it may be suitable for other activities as well.
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Available at: Greenhand in Puyallup.
Sour Blue Cookie by Calyx & Trichome With the producer’s name being Calyx & Trichome, one would hope this flower would exemplify some pretty spectacular, well, calyxes and trichomes. This Sour Blue Cookie certainly was a superb example of some fine grown cannabis. The fragrance is one-of-a-kind. As you may have guessed from the name, the parents of this strain are Blue Cookies (Blueberry and Girl Scout Cookies) and Sour Diesel. This parentage lends itself to a scent that is truly magnificent, and so strange that you’d never think you’d love it but you do. Sweet, blueberry, citrus and gasoline flavors blend so seamlessly and perfectly you’d think a master chef at a fancy farm-to-table cafe came up with the recipe. And in a way, they did. Another quality the diversity in the genetics of this flower helped foster, is a effect that meets the needs of a wide variety of cannabis consumers. After using a vaporizer and water pipe to sample this flower, the CULTURE team noted that the effect had something for both sativa and indica lovers. A sense of relief and bliss accentuated by a minor boost of energy and creativity was noted. Sour Blue Cookie from Calyx & Trichome is the perfect companion for your summer leisure activities. It is strong enough to get you to your destination and provides enough energy to keep you going.
Available wherever: Treehawk Farms products are carried.
Treehawk Farms OG Treehawk has created a signature strain that is likely to cause many of their consumers to do a double-take when they see this stunning flower. Noticeably large buds, with sugar leaf that contains a camouflage rainbow of greens make for some flower that is as pleasing to the eye as it is the mind. The team unscrewed Treehawk’s uniform, elegant, simple Treehawk packaging with the attractive design and branded lids to sample the flower the company decided to give its namesake. Reviewers knew they were in for a treat the moment that lid came off. That’s because the pungent, musky, earthy fragrance jumps out at you in a loud way. What a pleasure to get to sample this delightful flower! The flavors stay consistent with the fragrance, earthy, pungent and musky, with a more notable hint of evergreen trees making the terpene profile more complex and robust. This fine strain owes its mellow effects to parent strains Blueberry, Cinex and OG Kush. The OG heritage makes for some indica-dominant chill-inducing vibes, perfect for taking the edge off of any situation. This is the ideal bud for those lazy summer days. 24
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REVIEWs
3. For More Products Go To iReadCulture.com
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1. 14er Joint Tip Tired of passing around your preroll only to have it return soggy and unsanitary? Elevate Accessories is offering heirloom-quality wooden joint filter tips. They are perfect for cone joints or cigars. The tips come with an engraved logo and a hexagonal faceted shape that you can easily grip. The tips are made out of black walnut or hard maple. Regular use of wooden tips will help season and condition the wood. In order to make your tip last a lifetime, Elevate Accessories recommends using a crutch every time you use it. The 14er Joint Tip is geared for social consumers who don’t want unnecessary germs and wasted roaches. PRICE: $15 MORE INFORMATION: elevateaccessories.com
2. Goldleaf Grow Planner Cultivators will love Goldleaf’s swank and utilitarian grow planner. The only way growers can remember what victories and failures they encountered in past batches is to jot down information. The planner provides templated weekly entry pages for over 20 weeks. Track down your feeding schedule with spaces for the cycle, week, light and nutrients. With this planner you can record the PH levels and supplies, while planning your garden. You can also fill out the effects, sampling times and flavor wheel according to your garden samples. The cream-colored pages are designed to be seen under HID light. The discrete retro-styled cover is stamped with a Goldleaf gold emblem. It’s a must for any cultivator who needs a little more order to their cultivation routine. PRICE: $16 MORE INFORMATION: shopgoldleaf.com 26
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Robin Wood Hemp Watch Support a healthier, greener ecosystem with one of the most eco-friendly watches available. The 100 percent vegan Robin Wood watch is made with a natural hemp strap and is encased in bamboo. The all-natural aesthetic of wooden products with a visible grain is part of the appeal. Time settings can be adjusted with a diagonal bamboo knob. All materials are hypoallergenic, and no animals were harmed in this watch’s production. The jumbo-sized Japanese quartz mechanism is made by SEIKO/ Hattori and is protected behind highquality mineral glass. The vegetablebased materials are made from sustainable farming. It is also resistant to water splashes, and the product is protected with a two-year warranty. The purchase of a Robin Wood watch supports ecological campaigns, and each watch comes with a thank you note for supporting the ecosystem. PRICE: $103.03 MORE INFORMATION: www.etsy.com/shop/robinwoodco
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OG Four 2.0 RiG Edition When a normal-sized vaporizer pen is not enough, get massive rig-like rips from the OG Four 2.0 RiG Edition from #ThisThingRips. Everything about this pen is oversized, from the mouthpiece to the battery. Exhale eye-popping milky white clouds of vapor that will impress your friends. The patented Lava-Quartz technology works with a full quartz bowl and dual quartz rods wrapped in high-quality titanium coils. The “Set it & Forget it” feature on the large smart battery “remembers” your last setting, and you can even charge the device while it is in use. The low-key silicone-lined jar screws into the bottom of the pen and is almost undetectable. The transparent visual reaction chamber guarantees maximum flow and dwarfs other vape pen chambers. The kit is complete, containing everything that is needed including a hypercharging cable, a stainless steel tool, cleansing wipes, silicone rings and a stand. PRICE: $129.99 MORE INFORMATION: thisthingrips.com
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entertainment
REVIEWs
BOOK
Legal Weed: A Comprehensive Guide to California Cannabis Law & Regulation Pub. Legally-Blunt Meital Manzuri, Michelle Mabugat and Alexa Steinberg of Manzuri Law The promise of California’s upcoming legal cannabis market has entrepreneurs everywhere looking to the future. Legal Weed is an invaluable resource for professionals who are looking to navigate the regulations on medical and recreational cannabis in California. Written for cannabis entrepreneurs of every experience level, this guide provides essential recommendations and best business practices that will answer any possible question regarding California law and federal law, with knowledge and insight that is backed up by the authors’ many years of experience working in cannabis business law and criminal defense cases. (Jacob Cannon) 30
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Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC Release Date: June 2
GAME
Tekken 7 Dev. Bandai Namco Entertainment Pub. Bandai Namco Tekken 7 continues to break the mold of improved fighting games. This installment is the first to be created using the Unreal Engine and is based on the arcade release launched exclusively in Japan back in 2015. This oneon-one fighting game offers two new unique fighting systems, “Rage Art” (which allows critically low-health players to deal 30 percent damage) and Power Crush (which enables attacking even when an enemy is executing attacks), among other modes of gameplay. New and returning Tekken players will have plenty of options while they defeat their friends in-person and online. (Nicole Potter)
MOVIE
Logan
MUSIC
Dir. James Mangold
Mystics 100's
20th Century Fox
Milk Music Dom America
It might be hard to believe, but it’s been almost 20 years since X-Men ushered films based on comic books into the modern era. In the nearly two decades since, audiences have been treated to a tremendous array of comic-based movies loaded with near countless super heroes and brimming with an incredible amount of mayhem and destruction. However, in the most recent installment of the X-Men film franchise, cartoony, big city annihilation has given way to heartfelt drama in Logan. Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart reprise their roles as Wolverine and Professor Xavier respectively, and while the movie still features edge-of-yourseat action, the more human aspects of the characters are explored and laid out to fantastic effect. (Simon Weedn)
The scenes for rowdy punk rock and psychedelic rock and roll are ones that seem worlds apart, yet Milk Music manages to bridge the gap and bring these two styles together to create something extraordinary. On the band’s second full-length studio release, Mystic 100’s, the Olympia quartet continues to blend noisy intensity with fuzzy, soulful guitar riffs and vocals to create some of the most powerful and compelling alternative rock around at the moment. While Mystic 100’s doesn’t see the band overtly pushing its sound anywhere new, the band does sound tighter and stronger than it’s ever been. (Simon Weedn)
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Guided by personal experience,
Montel Williams brings the healing of cannabis to the masses By Dan Mitchell
ontel Williams has filled many roles during his career: Awardwinning daytime talk show host, actor, writer and activist. But above all, he’s a passionate promoter. As such, his word choices near perfection, he has the uncanny ability to speak in public with ease and sway listeners and viewers to feel. Whether he’s rattling off the chemical properties of his new line of cannabis oil products, or telling his own compelling life story, including his time in Naval Academy or his experience suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and how cannabis has eased that suffering, his passion comes through loud and clear. Williams hosted The Montel Williams Show from 1991 to 2008. It was often the standard, daytime-talk fare—psychics, battling couples, troubled teens. But, especially in the show’s later years, Williams focused less on covering the typical stories that other shows did. Instead, he featured guests with inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles, lost loves reuniting and parents finding the children they had put up for adoption. After his diagnosis in 1999, he started devoting shows to MS. The show was later canceled
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in 2008. Williams has worn many hats since then: An advocate for veterans, a commercial spokesman, a philanthropist, cannabis advocate and now, a successful cannabis entrepreneur. After his MS diagnosis, Williams became addicted to the opioids he was taking to control his debilitating symptoms, and he even attempted suicide when things were at their worst. In order to get off the opioids that were wrecking his life even worse than the MS, he turned to a more natural solution, cannabis. When asked about his first experience with cannabis, about what it was like, how it made him feel, and how it changed him, he wept. His passion for this medicinal plant went far beyond the perfect speeches and flawless suits. It was clear that cannabis did in fact save his life. Montel’s most recent passion project is Lenitiv Scientific, LLC, a new company specializing in medical cannabis products that has just released its first new line, available in select areas. LenitivLabs offers a range of edibles and concentrates with various ratios of THC and CBD. Williams uses the word “purity” a lot in discussing the development of the product line, which he says is ongoing. “I’m not gonna talk bad about what’s come before,” he says. “But science has now hit the right mark, and we can get this done. And it’s just going to get better. We’re going to keep purifying to the point where the patients are allowed to titrate themselves to the level they need rather than at the level the dispenser or provider thinks is right.” >>
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When were you diagnosed with MS? I was diagnosed in 2000, but it should have been more like 1980, when I was already having miniepisodes. But back then, MS was thought of as a disease of Caucasian women, of Europeans. It was called a “Viking disease.” What were the symptoms like once it got really bad? I had really, really, really, really severe neuropathy, and I had severe cramping and spasticity. My legs would just be kicking and twitching. I’d wake up every 25 minutes. For 10 years, I didn’t get more than an hour-and-a-half, two hours of sleep in a row.
that I got from very expensive Western medications, I get from cannabis. Did you smoke cannabis recreationally, before you were diagnosed with MS? In high school, I dabbled a little bit—it was the ‘70s, man. But then I was in the military and in the government for 22 years, and I got tested all the time. What was your experience when you finally came upon
You were making yourself crazy, looking for relief and looking to get off opioids. How did you discover cannabis? I chased every single one of the opioids there is, and some that you don’t even know about. We consume far more opiates here in the United States of America than anyplace else, most of them consumed illegally. Why do we do all that? Because we are inundated from birth to death with ads that tell you, “There’s something wrong with you, take a pill.” I’m convinced that the same amount of relief
Soothing Science
Montel Williams demonstrates the purity behind Lenitiv Scientific’s premiere line of medicalgrade cannabis products at a recent demonstration. As a passionate celebrity who has personally suffered from Multiple Sclerosis throughout his adult life, Williams is dedicated to ensuring LenitivLabs’ products, such as CO2 Extracted PURE Refined Oils and Pure All Natural Mini Shot Drinks, are made with top-quality cannabis and no harmful additives. These products are now available throughout California and will expand to other legal cannabis states in the future. photos by Mike Rosati
“I haven’t gone a day without cannabis in 17 years.” 34
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cannabis as a source of relief for your MS? I don’t want to go too deep into some things, but taking opioids does all kinds of horrible things to your body. Like, to your intestinal tract. It was a nightmare. It’s supposed to make you feel better, and all it does is make you drool in the corner and wonder why your shit still hurts. It was time to stop. I went to the doctor after my second suicide attempt and said, “I gotta do something about this; it ain’t working.” He said to me, “I know some people, but I didn’t just tell you that. [And if you say I told you this], I will tell everybody that you are a liar, that I never said that.” So, how did you obtain cannabis, and how did it go when you did? In 2001, I flew to L.A. from New York, where I taped my show. L.A. had a legal program. And immediately, I was in the culture. And maybe six months into it, I started eating [cannabis]. This was before we had all these products we have now, so it was just, like, cupcakes. Then I started cooking in my kitchen. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I started making these poppy seed muffins. I haven’t gone a day without cannabis in 17 years. About 20 of those days, I’ve been on Marinol, unfortunately, because I was traveling to places where I didn’t want to get my hands cut off. Marinol is terrible. Somebody should shut that business down. Or leave it up, but just for people who need cover. But when you first started smoking, to get off opioids ... Let me tell you something: For the first month, I was rolling joints. That went out the window. The second two weeks, I was sticking it into a pipe. That went out the window. >>
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“. . . science has now hit the right mark, and we can get this done. And it’s just going to get better. We’re going to keep purifying to the point where the patients are allowed to titrate themselves to the level they need rather than at the level the dispenser or provider thinks is right.”
Was smoking cannabis working for you? Oh, yeah. But it was destroying my lungs. I went to Vancouver and got a Volcano. I got off the leaf to go to the kief. Let’s see, this was in 2002, I think, when I got a vaporizer. What was it like for you when you first started using cannabis? Was it, like, a revelation, or . . . ? Let me tell you something. Revelation— um—I’m trying to say without, uhhh . . . I’ve been crying all damned day, so I’m tired of crying. I’m not gonna do it anymore. “Revelation” is an understatement. So the difference was pretty much instantaneous? When I hit the right spot, yes. It took about three months of getting my saturation level up, to stop being high, and start getting relief. Now, I have it fined-tuned to the point where if I wake up in the middle of the night with pain, I go in the bathroom—I’ve got five pens in there, and I know which is which in the dark. Bang, I’m back to sleep. I’ve got it all dialed in, absolutely. c
+ www.lenitivlabs.com
SAY WHAT!?
“While researchers wait for marijuana to study whether it helps with PTSD, plenty of veterans will tell you it absolutely does.” - John Oliver, Host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
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“Legalizing marijuana has already created thousands of fulltime jobs, and it’s raised hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue, a lot of which has gone toward public schools.” - Trevor Noah, Host of The Daily Show
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“Research is indicating that CBD-rich strains of the plant actually have anti-tumoral properties. Because the U.S. government classifies marijuana as having no medical value, the clinical research has been blocked.” - Ricki Lake, Former Host of The Ricki Lake Show, Filmmaker of Weed the People
“U.S. marijuana sales might top $2.3 billion this year. I’m not saying I support it. I’m just saying it’s now available in the Ellen Shop.” - Ellen DeGeneres, Host of The Ellen Show
“I just feel like once the government stops the lie the rest of us will be better for it—and the lie is that [cannabis is] a ‘gateway drug.’” - Whoopi Goldberg, Co-Host on The View
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SEE CHARMS LIVE: June 15 @ Chop Suey, Seattle
Far Out Octaves CHARMS captivates Seattle with otherworldly sounds by Emily Manke
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n a region where the indie rock scene has veered toward the melodic, lo-fi, chill, pop side of music, CHARMS stands out. Instead of sugar sweet confessional lyrics, you’ll find complex, layered, experimental instrumentation peppered with sparse yet poignant lyrics set to completely original melodies. Math rock, noise punk, whatever you want to call it—CHARMS sounds different, which is a good thing. In a scene with plenty of musical homogeneity at the moment, CHARMS brings a sound that is refreshingly original. These psychedelic sounds lend themselves to the cannabis-laden ears of Washingtonians. Additionally, CHARMS bassist Josh McCormick is no stranger to cannabis. McCormick works at Jet City Gardens in Georgetown, a boutique producer, and he describes his job as “the best job ever.” CULTURE was able to connect with McCormick, who chatted about the band, its music and of course, cannabis. CHARMS’ newest album, Blood Red comes out June 16 on Killroom Records. If you’re ready to start your summer off with some fresh Seattle rock, this album will help you do it in style.
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How did CHARMS come to be? It’s kind of convoluted, but basically Ray [McCoy], and E.J. [Tolentino], the guitarist and drummer started this thing. It was more of a, I guess you would say “poppy project” when it first started than it is now. It was just the two of them. So, they brought me in basically to just fatten things up and round out the sound. Are all the band members originally from Seattle? EJ and I are. I’m from the Eastside, he’s from the Kitsap Peninsula. Ray was an army brat and moved around a lot, but I think he would probably say he’s from Vermont, Burlington to be exact.
What bands have influenced your sound? They’re pretty all over the place. Honestly I think all three of us are mostly listening to hip-hop these days. When the band was figuring out who we wanted to be, we made a pretty big transition somewhere along the way and evolved a lot, and I think bands like Battles and HEALTH really influenced that transition. Does cannabis legalization and the PNW’s cannabisfriendly culture impact CHARMS? I’m sure it does! The freedom that comes with [Washington’s cannabis culture] is liberating to people, and it allows
photo by Lauren-Rodriguez
people to feel more comfortable to do their thing at a show, smoke a joint outside or whatever, ultimately making it more enjoyable for themselves. What’s your favorite thing to listen to when you’ve consumed cannabis? Old-school rap, basically. Also, underground west coast rap. Like Andre Nickatina, Bay Area rap. It was the music I was listening to when I first got stoned. You know that epiphany moment you have when you listen to music when you first get stoned? I was listening to rap back then. So I like to go back to that when I get high. c
+ www.facebook.com/charms.sounds
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Parental Principles The basics of responsible cannabis consuming parents by Emily Manke
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his time of year, it’s appropriate to consider, discuss and commiserate on the joys and pitfalls of parenting. For those dedicated moms and dads who also happen to be cannabis consumers, parenthood can come with its own special set of challenges. Parenting and consuming cannabis is one of those gray areas that isn’t talked about nearly enough. However, with the stigma surrounding cannabis slowly evaporating, it’s high time we start having the conversation.
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Keep Cannabis Away From Kids “The foster families I license are allowed to have marijuana in their home as long as it is inaccessible to children, per state law,” LeClari says. While this is not necessarily a legal requirement for traditional parents in legal cannabis states, it’s definitely a best practice, and one LeClair and her partner adhere to at home. When not in use, store cannabis in a locked container that kids will not have access to, on the top shelf of your bedroom closet for example. Make sure all cannabis containers are clearly and obviously labeled. For edibles that look like candy, put poison stickers on them if you have young kids in the house. That way in the off-chance they do get their hands on them, they’re clued in that what looks like delicious candy, may actually be dangerous.
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Do Not to Use Cannabis in Front of Children Modeling the use of any substance in front of kids can be harmful. By using cannabis in front of your children, you are subjecting them to adult behavior they may not be ready to process. Additionally, LeClair notes, for kids with a history of trauma, this may be a trigger for them from their past or in their future. The same goes for alcohol. Additionally, while second-hand smoke
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Can you be a responsible parent and a cannabis consumer? Of course you can. But there are some ground rules you and your parenting partner should set to keep your kids safe and sound. CULTURE talked to foster parent licensor, parent of three kids and cannabis consumer, Cori LeClair, about how to consume, store and deal with cannabis safely and respectfully as a parent. “As a licensor for foster homes, and a parent, safe cannabis use is something that is taken seriously in my home and addressed in my work,” LeClair told CULTURE. When asked how to maintain a safe environment in your home if you’re a cannabis consumer, LeClair had five tips to keep kids safe, while keeping parents in compliance with the law. In all instances, be sure to abide by your respective state and local laws.
from cannabis may not be as harmful as tobacco or other drugs, it’s still not ideal for kids to be exposed to in any capacity.
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Don’t Drive with Your Kids If You’re Under the Influence While this may seem like a no-brainer, it bears repeating. If you plan on consuming cannabis, make sure you will not need to transport any children afterwards. This will require planning ahead. LeClair and her partner always either designate a driver, or make sure they are fine to stay home for the evening before using cannabis with kids in their care. In case of emergency, you can always call a friend or family member, a cab or worst case scenario, an ambulance.
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Make Sure One Parent Stays Alert Enough to Operate in an Emergency For the most part, cannabis doesn’t render a person inebriated enough that they’re incapable of acting in an emergency. That said, with kids involved, you can never be too careful. If you’re trying out a new cannabis product and are unsure how you’ll react, make sure one of you doesn’t partake. Stick to light, predictable cannabis use if you have to care for kids. Otherwise, wait until they are with a grandparent or other guardian for the night.
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Find the Right Time to Talk to Kids About Cannabis When your kids are small, there’s really no need to educate them on cannabis at all unless they ask. Even then, it’s probably best to keep the answers somewhat vague, as to maintain their innocence and to avoid overly piquing their curiosity. So when is the right time to talk to kids about cannabis use? LeClair suggests parents wait until they are ready to have “the drug talk” with their kids. Most professionals suggest parents begin these conversations around sixth or seventh grade, depending on the child. Whether or not you decide to disclose your cannabis use is a personal decision. No matter what you choose to tell your kids, or what rules you decide to impose in your home, a good basic outline for a script regarding cannabis use is that it’s a personal choice that requires being a responsible adult to make, like alcohol.
There’s no one right way to be a parent. Some may choose to abstain from cannabis altogether when they become parents—and more power to them. But for those who want to continue consuming cannabis, you can take care to keep your kids safe, happy and healthy, and not have to give up everything you enjoyed preparenthood. c
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Best Buds in the Business Professionals in the by Addison Herron-Wheeler
cannabis industry give insight into how their strategic partnerships ensure success
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o r many, running a cannabis company is a dream job. In which other profession does one get to be an entrepreneur, an advocate, a philanthropist and an industry pioneer? When overcoming obstacles and setting new precedents, strategic partnerships between two or more individuals often ensure continued success. There are plenty of cannabis companies that are run by couples, best friends, families and close-knit pairs or groups of like-minded individuals. Outstanding professionals shared with CULTURE how they work together to run a prosperous company and thrive in a competitive market.
Whoopi and Maya his California-based company is run by none other than beloved actress Whoopi Goldberg and her extremely successful business partner Maya Elisabeth, a woman known for leading the thriving company Om Edibles. Whoopi and Maya offer cannabis products for menstrual relief, providing an outlet for women who need help in an area that is sometimes embarrassing to talk about. Elisabeth told CULTURE some secrets to how the two women
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work together poetically. “Whoopi is amazing; she is truly inspirational and I look up to her so much,” Elisabeth explained. “I think our partnership is really positive. One of the things we have in common is our business, and also our connection being women.” Not only do both women have a positive attitude, but Elisabeth explained that their business ultimately started after they met and hit it off right away. “Being a pair is actually really beautiful because we get along,” Elisabeth said.
Kushmoji olorado entrepreneurs Ben Tyson and Olivia Mannix saw a serious gap in Colorado’s industry that needed to be filled. Marketing and advertising are extremely competitive and move at a fast pace, but because there are so many companies out there, brand recognition and solid associations with companies are hard to come by. That is why buddies Tyson and Mannix decided to work branding into something extremely easy to share—emojis. While similar personalities are one reason some business partners find success, others like Tyson and Mannix find strengths in their differences. “Our relationship is fantastic,
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photo by Timothy White
but intensely complicated, as our personalities and communication styles could not be more different,” Tyson explained to CULTURE. “I regard that in a positive light, though, because our various approaches to problem solving within the business allow us to see things from a variety of angles.” Although they do have many differences and see their relationships as a type of yin and yang balance, over time the two have realized that they may not be as opposite as they once believed. “Ironically, the more we work together, and the more we problem solve together, the more we realize how alike we actually are,” Tyson said. >>
Love’s Oven he idea of cannabis and family values going handin-hand may sound peculiar to some, but it’s prevalence in the cannabis industry cannot be denied. Not only has the plant repaired the lives of many families with sick children, those who recognize its healing properties realize just how beneficial it can be while also bringing loved ones together. At Love’s Oven, Peggy Moore, one of the company’s founding business partners, realizes the importance of community and family. She runs the business along with Teresa Walz, her younger sister, and Joshua and
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Walter Nettles, her two sons. Moore opened up to CULTURE about how the family members are able to keep business problems separate from their family lives. “We’ve certainly had our fair share of business disagreements over the years, but we really set a guideline that we will never allow any business ‘stuff’ to affect our familial relationship,” Moore explained. “A positive that we’ve noticed is the ‘trickle down’ effect of a family-run business, where all employees at Love’s Oven feel like family and really treat each other that way, which makes for a great work environment.”
Our relationship is fantastic, but intensely complicated, as our personalities and communication styles could not be more different. I regard that in a positive light, though, because our various approaches to problem solving within the business allow us to see things from a variety of angles. Kiva Confections lose partnerships are extremely helpful for successful businesses in new and experimental industries, so it makes sense that a married couple who is already committed wholly to one another would make for a great team. Kristi Knoblich married her husband Scott after meeting him in photography school. The two founded Kiva Confections in 2010 from their kitchen at home, with the hopes of making some high-quality edibles for those who need relief. Kristi explained to CULTURE how running a company alongside one’s spouse could be the upmost advantage
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for business and marriage. “Working together has allowed us to spend a lot of time at the office,” Kristi explained. “We joke that it gives us a competitive advantage; anyone who isn’t married to their business partner can’t possibly spend as much time at work and keep a spouse. But seriously, we can accomplish a lot when we are both fully committed to the same goal, which is seeing Kiva succeed.” Together, Kristi and Scott are able to put running a successful business at the top of their priority list, while not allowing their marriage to become neglected as a result. c
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN
by Ed Rosenthal
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started preparing my two-part spring garden in April. The first part was a group of four plants that I was given as small, rooted cuttings. I transplanted them into 6” containers shortly after I received them and had them growing under continuous light from a 400-watt LED for about three weeks. Then I moved them into my small greenhouse. Two weeks after that the roots left their cramped quarters and had filled the container for roomier quarters in fivegallon containers where they doubled in size. Now healthy and thriving, I give the plants four hours of early morning light with 320-watt induction fluorescent lights for about four hours. At 10 a.m. they are carried outside and are placed in the sun close to a wall that reflects the sun back at them. Later in the day that area becomes shady,
so the plants are moved again to another section of the garden that becomes sunny in the afternoon. Then, around 6 p.m. they are placed back in the greenhouse and receive supplemental light until 8 p.m. To keep the plants from flowering and to have them respond quickly when I change the cycle to flowering in late June, I break up the dark period periodically. At night the plants receive light from two four-foot fluorescents for two minutes every hour from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. I accomplished this using a repeating two-dial timer. Sometimes I use plants to test pesticides, so I had a group of plants tested and after the tests were over, they were neglected. There they were, sitting in a tent with lights shining but no water for several weeks. By the time I remembered that they were still there, they were three-quarters dead. I decided to try to save them. First I gave them
some water and started bringing them outside during the day. The next week I set them up in the new moveable space they are now sharing. I’ll describe it from bottom to top. It starts with a moving dolly. A half-inch thick piece of plywood 2’ x 4’ was secured with screws. A rope was attached to the plywood on one of the narrow sides so the unit can easily be pulled. A 9” deep 2’ x 4’ horticultural tray set up with wick systems made from 3/8” braided nylon rope was placed on the dolly. Then I filled it with a mixture of enriched potting soil, coir fiber and homemade compost from kitchen waste and plant material consisting mostly of oak leaves. Next I set the longsuffering plant in place. The two larger plants were placed sideways in the tray with the roots that were at the bottom of the container against the tray side buried half way with the other half
TIP OF THE MONTH Perhaps you or someone you know has some plants that are flowering and are ready to be picked. If some vegetation is left on the plant at picking, and if it is given continuous light, it may regenerate to grow another crop. Feed it vegetative fertilizer, not flowering fertilizer.
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Spring Garden Assessment 2017
making a mound. Each of the root mounds was then covered with half a potting container cut with a small electric saw. The plants’ stems were long enough to leave the center of the tray bare. That’s where I planted the three small specimens, upright. These plants have a regimen similar to the other plants. They spend evenings in a little tent that is lit with 200 watts of fluorescent lights, then they are wheeled out to spend their days basking in the sun. It’s been a little more than two weeks since they were transplanted and the sideways plants have made the adjustment. They’ve come back to life. c
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The greenhouse plants near the wall get sunlight directly.
In the greenhouse the plants get light in the late afternoon and early evening.
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The plants in the unit are basking in the sun.
The plants wheeled into the tent to have cozy nights and a bit of light.
You can see by the dead leaves that these plants weren’t doing well. They are making a good recovery.
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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RECIPES
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Time to Go: June Weather: High 70s, low 50s Budget: $$$$$
if you go:
Pleasantries in Paris With all the blooming flowers and warm weather, Paris softens in June— especially for the millions of cannabis enthusiasts in the City of Light. Yet, June is also the month when Paris feels like it is just starting to rev up for summer’s spirited outdoor energy. Truly, visiting Paris in June is a delight, with the temperatures in the 70s and the throngs of summer tourists not yet at maximum level. This is when locals get out of their tiny apartments and start relaxing as the city’s music, arts and summer festival scenes are jam-packed full of some of the year’s best plein air concerts and events. Plus, many cannabis-loving Parisians are still celebrating the win of France’s new President Emmanuel Macron. Although he does not fully support legalization, Macron did promise to ease France’s restrictive possession and smoking laws. This means the French’s “smoke-but-don’t-tell” philosophy not only still applies, but gives medical cannabis patients ever more courage to be forthright about their cannabis consumption. Where do you stay when visiting one of the most expensive cities on the planet?
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Paris hotels can be costly—especially in spring and summer—so millions of visitors to the City of Light choose to live like a local and rent an apartment or rent a living space through online marketplaces and hospitality services. However, renting apartments and living spaces through websites like Airbnb can be dicey. Remember to ask any host in Paris about important details such as noise levels both day and night as well as things most Americans take for granted such as more than one toilet, dishwashing machines and laundry facilities. One of the coolest happenings in Paris this June is the now annual We Love Green Festival, which features folk, pop and electronica music. Held on June 10-11, this year’s eco-friendly We Love Green Festival takes place in the Bois de Vincennes. Rock to the sounds of Cali-French music artist and cannabis activist April King on June 6 for an evening of transcendental hiphop, house and astral jazz featuring French jazz sax master Julien Lourau at the stylish Club Rayé. c
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Paris is home to approximately 1,803 historical and contemporary monuments and over 150 museums. 1
The famous bell that sits atop Notre Dame Cathedral is so heavy that it weighs over 13 metric tons. 2
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There are a total of 10 Statues of Liberty in France, five of which are located in Paris. 3
With France’s new President Emmanuel Macron campaigning to soften cannabis laws, cannabis culture in Paris seems set to get even more enjoyable. C’est vrais: Any form of cannabis is illegal to grow, possess, smoke or ingest, but Parisian authorities mostly look the other way (as long as you consume respectfully and nowhere near police stations, hotels, boutiques, restaurants, cafés, monuments and the like). Also remember, French consumers predominantly smoke hash mixed with tobacco rather than pure flowers. Traditional European spliffs are almost always mixed with tobacco (and sometimes straw), so buyer beware. Still can’t find any meds while in Paris? Use your nose. If you smell it, ask a friendly bartender, musician or just take a stroll along the Seine River. You are more than likely to run into some consumers enjoying a spliff on a warm spring evening with a view of Notre Dame Cathedral.
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Mia Jane
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Age: 30 Condition/Illness: IBS, anxiety and depression. Using Medical Cannabis since: I have been using medical cannabis since around the time I moved to Denver in 2010.
Why did you start using cannabis? Before coming to Colorado, I was very sick. Being so ill, I was unable to hold down a job, or take care of myself. After years of invasive tests, unsuccessful medical advice and growing frustration with my current doctors, I knew I had to seek out something besides pills and the current therapeutic options for my conditions. When I moved to Colorado, I was searching for another way to get better and actually feel better. I adopted a healthier lifestyle, but incorporating cannabis into my self-care regimen was something that made the most noticeable difference. Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis? I was prescribed an alarming amount of medications from the time my depression and
anxiety began in my teens to my early 20s, when my stomach problems really developed. Being put on numerous cocktails of Rx medications with intense and scary side effects that sometimes were worse than the symptoms was a life I didn’t want to live. I knew I had to find other options, and now I’m happy to say I’m seven years prescription-free. What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? That’s a tough one—there are a lot of important things going on in our government and our community that we need to be aware of as cannabis patients. The one that sticks out the most to me right now is the home grow caps being enforced, and the people who are suffering because of it. What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? People who are still skeptical about this plant’s medicinal qualities need only look to what’s happening here in Colorado. There are people’s lives being changed. Families are moving here with children that are sick beyond hope, and they are finding relief with this plant. People with illnesses of all kinds from PTSD to Parkinson’s disease are finding relief with this medicine. 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
recipes by Keira Fae
Menu: Stuffed Bell Peppers Lemon Bundt Cake Strawberry Lime Smoothie
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Chromatic Cuisine
While we await the official start of summer later this month, let’s not forget that “June gloom” can still turn dreams of warm outdoor barbecues into cozy evenings indoors. While the overcast gloom that typically comes with the beginning of this month is drab and gray, there are plenty of ways to liven up your kitchen and your mealtime with these beautifully bright and healthy recipes. Embrace the lively reds of a strawberry smoothie, the radiant greens and oranges of stuffed bell peppers and the sun-bright yellows of a tangy lemon bundt cake. Add a bit of THC or CBD to each dish, and this summer menu will allow you to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the summer fun without being weighed down.
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Local eateries with similar dishes:
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Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar 1420 12th Ave., Seattle (206) 588-8105 www.barriorestaurant.com Zoe Juice Bar 1851 State Ave. NE #101, Olympia (360) 259-4074 www.zoejuicebar.com Nothing Bundt Cakes 15421 Main St. #H102, Mill Creek (425) 379-0300 nothingbundtcakes.com
Stuffed Bell Peppers 10mg of THC per pepper Ingredients: 4 bell peppers (any color) 4 tablespoons of olive oil
1 medium zucchini, finely diced
8 teaspoons of Pot d’huile cannabis-infused olive oil t
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
8 ounces lean ground beef (90:10)
1 cup cooked rice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 onion, finely diced
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1 cloves garlic, chopped
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1 teaspoon paprika 1 cups grated pepper Monterey Jack cheese
Directions: Preheat the oven to 350˚ degrees F. Cut the tops off the peppers, finely chop the pepper tops and set aside. Scoop out the seeds and membrane. Place the peppers in a baking dish large enough to hold them upright, cut side up. On medium-high heat, heat the 2 tablespoons of infused olive oil in a large skillet. Add beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook beef for 8-10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to get rid of the excess fat. Wipe skillet with paper towel and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of infused olive oil. Add chopped onion and chopped peppers, 1 to 2 minutes. Add garlic and zucchini and cook for another minute. Add the seeded tomatoes and season with salt, pepper and paprika. Cook until everything is heated through and has softened. Add beef and rice. (Season more if you’d like.) Stir in 1/2 cup of pepper Jack cheese. Turn off the heat once melted. Fill the peppers to the tops each sprinkled with remaining 1/2 cup of pepper Jack. Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the baking dish and drizzle 1 teaspoon of infused olive oil on top each filled pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover peppers and bake to an additional 10-15 minutes or until peppers are soft. Let cool and serve. t Additional recipe can be found at iReadCulture.com
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SERVES
PROFILE
IN
COURAGE
DESTINATION
UNKNOWN
RECIPES
growing
culture
8-10
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Lemon Bundt Cake Each ~ 40mg of CBD, per slice 4-5mg CBD Ingredients: Cake:
Icing:
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup powered sugar
Lemon zest
1/2 cup milk
4 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon juice
SERVES
2
2 cups sugar 1/2 cup CBD infused butter (40mg CBD) t
Candied Blueberries:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg white
1 cup blueberries
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups flour 1 cup milk Directions: Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Add the butter and 2 cups of sugar into a large mixing bowl. On medium speed, blend the mix until smooth. In a separate bowl add the flour, baking powder and salt, and mix well. Set aside. Once the sugar and butter are mixed, add the eggs one-by-one, milk, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest. Add the flour in 1/2 cup increments. Once the batter is smooth pour it into a bundt cake pan and bake it in the oven for 40 minutes, or until it is golden brown. While the cake is baking, it’s time to candy the blueberries. In a small bowl add egg white, cover each blueberry in egg white, coat in sugar and let dry. In a medium bowl and powdered sugar and milk, mix until smooth. Add lemon juice and mix well, then set in fridge. Once the cake is golden brown, let sit until cool, stir the cooled icing and pour over top of bundt cake, add candied blueberries and enjoy!
Strawberry Lime Smoothie Each ~ 10mg of THC per serving Ingredients:
2 cups fresh strawberries, halved
1/2 cup 2 percent milk (can use coconut or almond milk) 2 tablespoons infused coconut oil 20mg THC
1 cup vanilla yogurt (substitute favorite flavor) t
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Directions: In a blender, combine all ingredients; cover and blend until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses. Serve immediately. Don’t forget the garnish!
Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
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Chuck Shepherd's
News of the
Weird
LEAD STORY—TRAINING DAY u A June 2016 police raid on David Jessen’s Fresno County (California) farmhouse caused a $150,000 mess when sheriff’s deputies and Clovis Police Department officers “rescued” it from a trespassing homeless man—with the massive destruction leading to Jessen’s lawsuit announced in March. The misdemeanant helped himself to an ice cream bar, some milk and half a tomato, but was otherwise “unarmed”; however, by the time the police standoff ended, the “crime scene” included more than 50 cop cars, a SWAT team (and backups), two helicopters, standby ambulances, a police robot and a crisis negotiation team.
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Windows, walls and wroughtiron doors were destroyed; tear gas and a “flash bomb” were employed. (Jessen suspects that the farmhouse’s isolation enticed police to decide that it presented an excellent training opportunity.) COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS u “Pro-choice” activist Jessica Farrar, a Texas state legislator, introduced a bill in March to create consistency between the state’s rigorous regulation of women’s reproductive functions and those of men (regulation which, by the way, in either case she calls “invasive” and “unnecessary”). Because Texas’s anti-abortion laws highlight “procreation” as a crucial government interest, she believes male use of erectile-dysfunction drugs should be regulated as abortion is. Under her bill, individual use of Viagra or similar drugs must be preceded by “counseling” similar to that required by
abortion laws, and since male masturbation involves the “wasting” of precious sperm cells, it, too, would require “beforehand” counseling. CRIME REPORT u At a time of growing awareness that some people seem almost addicted to their cellphones and instant 24/7 communication, police in Brookfield, Wisconsin, released surveillance photos of a woman in the act of robbing banks on March 25 and 27—while standing at teller counters and talking on the phone during the entire episodes. Acting on a tip from the photos, police arrested Sarah Kraus, 33, on March 28. u College activist Pablo Gomez Jr., 22, was arrested in Berkeley, California, in March and charged with the brutal stabbing death of an elementary school teacher. Gomez, a senior at University of California, Berkeley, is wellknown on campus for insisting
on a gender identity for which (as an example) the pronoun “he” is an inappropriate reference. (Hence, “they” was charged with what is so far the only homicide in Berkeley this year.) u Paul Perry Jr., 39, sound asleep behind the wheel of his car, with motor running, at 6 a.m. on April 2, was in no position to talk his way out of a DUI ticket, but did offer a gentle challenge to the Youngstown, Ohio, police officer. Several times, according to the police report, Perry offered to “thumb wrestle” the officer to get out of the ticket. From the report: “Perry was advised officers would not thumb-wrestle him.” u Wait, What? A father, 43, and his son, 22, argued on April 9 about who would walk the dog at their home on Chicago’s South Side. They apparently thought to settle the issue with a gunfight, and police, who recovered the
two weapons, said both men received multiple wounds. The son was killed, and the father was in critical condition. LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS u The eight elite Ivy League universities are better thought of as “hedge fund(s) with classes,” according to a March report by the activist Open The Books, and thus there is little reason for taxpayers to have given them the more than $41 billion in grants and entitlements they received over a recent six-year period. The schools are already legendary for their $119 billion “endowments” (based on donations from alumni and aggressive investment). Those endowments are enough, according to Open The Books, that (assuming donations continue to arrive at the same pace) schools could provide free tuition to every student in the eight schools—in perpetuity. (Even if no new donations are made, the eight
schools could provide such free tuition for 51 years.) IRONIES u Federico Musto was suspected recently by Wired. com of audaciously inventing academic credentials to help land his job as CEO of the company Arduino (a circuitboard manufacturer popular in the computer industry among coders creating, among other things, robots and motion detectors). Arduino’s work is “open source”—creating hardware that others, by design, can exploit and modify for their own loftier projects. It might thus be said that Musto’s claimed academic “accomplishments” (his socalled MBA from New York University and claimed Ph.D from MIT) are themselves the product of his having “opensourced” his own, previously modest curriculum vitae. BRIGHT IDEAS u In January, local government and sexual-assault critics
unveiled a consciousnessraising exhibit on Mexico City’s trains: A plastic seat onto which is subtly molded contours of a male body, except with genitals sharply exposed. (Men supposedly have been spotted absentmindedly lowering themselves onto the seat only to leap up in shock.) A note on the floor by the body read (in Spanish): “It’s uncomfortable to sit here, but that’s nothing compared to the sexual violence suffered by women on their commute.” THE FOREIGN PRESS u (1) Village police in Bangladesh arrested Yasin Byapari, 45, in January on the complaint of his wife—after she had learned that she was not, as he had told her, his second spouse, but rather the 25th of his 28. (Police found him at the home of No. 27.) The accuser said she had, through sleuthing, tracked down 17 of her “competitors.” (2) A male schoolteacher reported in February that he had been
kidnapped by four women near Lupane, Zimbabwe, drugged with a beverage and sexually assaulted, in what appears to be a return of the “sperm bandits” said to operate in the area; previously, police set up roadblocks and arrested three women with 31 condoms full of semen. THE PASSING PARADE u (1) In same-day competition in March, perennial Guinness Book records jockeys Zoe L’Amore and Ashrita Furman squared off over the record for stopping blades on an electric table fan the most times in one minute using only their tongues. On Italian TV, L’Amore stopped blades 32 times, but Furman, at a different venue, later stopped 35. (2) Norway unseated Denmark as the world’s “happiest” country, according to the UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network. (There was no word on whether Denmark was unhappy about losing the top spot.)
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