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P U R E PA S S I O N
As a multi-talented and highly revered singer, actress and entrepreneur, Olivia Newton-John is a proud medical cannabis consumer and advocate. ON THE COVER:
PHOTO BY DENISE TRUSCELLO
features
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The Science of Skin Dr. Jenelle Kim and Jeanette Jacknin M.D. explain how CBD is an excellent addition to your skincare routine.
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Topical Beauty The natural properties of CBD have made it the newest trend in beauty products.
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Patience and Compassion Former Miss Maryland Syanne Centeno turned from beauty queen to cannabis patient in her intriguing story.
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Comedic Approach Amir K is a hilarious comedian who has been consuming cannabis for much of his life.
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departments news
08 News Nuggets 09 Local News 12 By the Numbers 16 Legal Corner reviews 20 Strain Reviews 24 Cool Stuff 26 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 50 À La Carte 52 Growing Culture 53 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d Study Shows Cannabis Increases Motivation to Exercise d North Carolina Files Decriminalization Bill
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jamie Solis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Kern EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Benjamin Adams EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, David Edmundson. Caroline Hayes, Sharon Letts, 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 Angie Callahan, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Casey Roel OFFICE MANAGER Mikayla Aguilar
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.CultureMagazine.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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NEWS
NUGGETS
WSU Researchers are Conducting Tobacco, Cannabis and Youth Study Washington State University (WSU) is currently conducting a study about the effects that cannabis and tobacco consumption can have on youth. Crystal Lederhos Smith, who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Prevention Science at WSU, is the primary researcher for the study. The study’s findings are still to-be-determined, but Smith gave CULTURE a statement on why WSU chose the subject to study. “We chose to study the intersection
of cannabis and tobacco use in youth, because research has indicated that there may be a greater potential for negative outcomes when youth begin their use earlier in life,” Smith said. “Cannabis and tobacco co-users have increased odds of several negative outcomes, such as respiratory distress, increased nicotine dependence, reduced lung functioning, psychosocial problems and some cancers.” Previous research has found that factors such as personality and family life can influence a youth’s choice to consume cannabis and/or tobacco. This study aims to further pinpoint why youth consume cannabis and tobacco so that they can deter consumption until adulthood.
Representative Supports Cannabis Tax Bill to Combat Opioid Abuse The Puget Sound region has been inundated with reactions to a film short by KOMO News Reporter Eric Johnson. Johnson is best known for his uplifting ongoing segment for KOMO News entitiled Eric’s Heroes. The piece, Seattle is Dying, correlates Seattle’s rampant and obvious homeless problem with another epidemic in the region—opioid abuse. One person who was moved by this video was Rep. Andrew Barkis, who bravely chose to be open about his 24-year-old son’s heroin addiction. This experience along with the KOMO piece influenced Barkis, along with several other state 8
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representatives, to sponsor House Bill 1959, which aims to amend the state budget to redistribute a portion of cannabis tax funds to go to law enforcement. “Mr. Speaker, I watched a documentary or a news report the other day. If we don’t take these steps, all we are going to hear in the future, is more bills named in memory of somebody, and I pray to God that it’s not named in memory of my son. Mr. Speaker, help me today in support of this amendment,” Barkis pleaded in testimony to the house. The bill is currently in committee.
Guam Legalizes Recreational Cannabis On April 5, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed Bill No. 32‐35, or the Cannabis Industry Act, legalizing recreational cannabis in Guam. The U.S. territory will allow adults who are 21 and over to cultivate, purchase and consume cannabis. Cannabis will be subject to a 15 percent excise tax, and revenue will go toward efforts like drug rehabilitation and law enforcement. The governor will fill a nine-member Control Cannabis Board, which will set up rules and regulations. “I have to answer this one question: Given all the info, studies done, experiences shared, advice [and] anecdotes about marijuana, what would a responsible community government leader do to protect the interests and welfare of the community?” Guerrero asked at a press conference. Guam joins The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, another U.S. territory that legalized recreational cannabis in 2018. In 2014, Guam legalized medical cannabis, but a viable industry took several years to materialize.
NEWS
LOCAL
CANOPY CONUNDRUM
Washington State cannabis cultivators need to grow larger quantities
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By Emily Manke
n 2017, which is the most recent fiscal year with available cannabis data, Washington State produced literally tons of cannabis each month, which totaled $1.5 billion in annual sales according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). The data certainly seems to imply that there is plenty of cannabis in the “Evergreen State.” So it may come as somewhat of a surprise that the LCB’s Year One Canopy Report indicates that cannabis cultivators aren’t growing enough product under their licenses. The Year One Canopy Report included 792 surveys, with 778 surveys of cannabis production staff and 14 drone surveys. Drones were a preferred method of outdoor canopy measurement for the canopy report team, because outdoor canopy is notoriously tricky to measure, and drones made their task easier. The report found that cannabis cultivators are using less than half the canopy space they’re allowed for their tiers. Cannabis cultivators in Washington are licensed as the following:
TIER 1: 2,000 square feet or less of canopy space. TIER 2: Between 2,000 and 10,000 square feet of canopy space. TIER 3: Between 10,000 and 30,000 square feet of canopy space. These findings mean that the LCB could potentially bump the cultivators who are
growing less than their tier allows down to the appropriate tier. LCB licensees must grow at least half of their licensed canopy in order to avoid having their tier reduced. So why are cannabis producers not growing as much product as they can, despite the fact that “licensees were generally concerned that the LCB may decrease their canopy due to underuse,” according to the report? Licensees point to a flawed rollout of the new seed-to-sale traceability system, Leaf Data Systems, as a reason why cannabis production isn’t at full capacity. Another cultivator gripe was market access and that if they produce more cannabis, there won’t be any retailers to buy and sell it. Producers worry that retailers aren’t opening at the same rate production is increasing, so shelf space is limited. Finally, licensees, such as Jeremy Moberg, the owner of CannaSol Farms, pointed to overproduction as an issue. “The whole canopy count was a funny response to not really wanting to address or admit that there is an overproduction issue,” Moberg told CULTURE. “This was [the LCB]’s response, this kind of wonky canopy count. Then they come out that it’s underutilized, which almost gives the impression that there’s not overproduction. But the underutilized canopy is all just more potential canopy, which pretty much guarantees an overproduction cycle for some time to come.” The LCB does not agree with Moberg’s assessment that Washington has an oversupply issue, however. In fact, Brian Smith, the communications director of the LCB, pointed to the canopy report as evidence that there is not an overproduction issue. Smith confirmed to CULTURE that the LCB is working with BOTEC Analysis, headed by Dr. Mark Kleiman, to “take a look at the overall marketplace.” For the time being, Washington is lacking the data necessary to say conclusively if there is an overproduction problem. While producers and the LCB await BOTEC’s independent analysis of Washington’s cannabis market, there are some other numbers available to help determine the health of the cannabis marketplace in Washington, and that’s the amount of money producers are bringing in. In 2017, cannabis producers sold $67 million worth of cannabis according to 502 Data. So whether or not cannabis cultivators are utilizing their canopy to the fullest extent, or Washington has too much cannabis, it seems that the cannabis industry is still a profitable one. c
Dirty Heads Hailing from Huntington Beach, California, the popular reggae act Dirty Heads was one of the first groups to ever grace the cover of CULTURE. Dirty Heads’ latest album SWIM TEAM is the band’s sixth full-length studio offering, riding on singles like “Vacation” and “Celebrate.” The band also holds longtime associations with similar acts like Sublime with Rome and 311. It’s certainly no secret that the band adores cannabis. Dirty Heads partnered with Stick.E.Vape to create products such as vape pens featuring strains Medusa or Dance All Night. The band is led by vocalists Jared “Dirty J” Watson and Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell, who have taken the group into superstardom—a place that few reggae bands ever see. The band also loves the ’80s, which is evident in songs like “Sloth’s Revenge” with multiple references to movies like The Goonies. WHEN: Tues, May 14 WHERE: Knitting Factory Concert House, 919 W Sprague Ave., Spokane WEBSITE: sp.knittingfactory. com
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The number of recreational cannabis dispensaries in Yakima County that were served with a lawsuit regarding cannabis operations in unincorporated areas: (Source: Seattle PI)
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The estimated amount of unsold cannabis in Oregon, in millions of dollars: (Source: Business Insider)
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The estimated number of years that Oregon’s current yield of cannabis supply will last: (Source: Global News)
The minimum number of hours per week that high school seniors work in Washington, which was linked to an increased likeliness to consume cannabis, according to a study: (Source: Washington State University)
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The number of states in the U.S. that have decriminalized possession of cannabis in small amounts: (Source: Forbes)
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The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada donated to cannabis research in late-March: (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada)
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The percentage of Mexican citizens who said in a poll that recreational cannabis should be legal: (Source: Tech Times)
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The estimated number of CVS drugstores that will be offering topical hempbased CBD products: (Source: Yahoo! Finance)
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Understanding the Relationship Between Cannabis Use and Common Mental Health Conditions WHEN: Fri, May 17 WHERE: South Seattle College Georgetown Campus, 6737 Corson Ave. South, Building C WEBSITE: veteranstrainingsupportcenter.org If you are a veteran and struggle with mental conditions, you don’t have to suffer alone. Learn about the relationship between cannabis and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at this informative seminar course. Presented by the Veterans Training Support Center, this seminar will focus on PTSD, which is one of the most common mental health issues that 12
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veterans face. Anxiety and sleep issues are connected to PTSD and will also be explored, as well as treatment courses, psychoeducation, intervention and the impact of cannabis. Expand your knowledge about PTSD with an open-minded inclusive group as Kendall Browne, Ph.D. breaks down the intricacies of the disorder and how to overcome them.
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NEWS
or conventional foods containing CBD to be lawfully marketed and sold;
LEGAL CORNER
The FDA has updated their website’s FAQ page; and The FDA has sent multiple warning letters to companies marketing CBD products with egregious and unfounded claims that are aimed at vulnerable populations.
GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
The FDA turns its attention to topical CBD products
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By Alison Malsbury n April 2, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release regarding hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD generally. Although the FDA issued a statement in December 2018 in response to the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill, in which it made clear that although the Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the FDA still has the authority to regulate hemp-derived CBD additives to foods, drugs and dietary supplements. Those in the CBD industry have still had a lot of questions regarding the FDA’s position. Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in particular, there has been a proliferation of hempderived CBD products on the market, but very limited enforcement action on the part of the FDA. (It is important to note that lack 16
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of enforcement does not indicate that a product is legal.) The FDA has been working diligently, in part upon the request of certain members of Congress, to provide clarification as to the legal status of CBD and to provide pathways by which consumers can access the CBD products they so clearly demand. In its April 2 press release, the FDA gave a bit of clarification as to what it has been up to: The FDA will host a public hearing on May 31 and will accept written public comments so that stakeholders can share their experiences and challenges with CBD products, including information and views related to product safety; The FDA is establishing a high-level internal agency working group to explore potential pathways for dietary supplements and/
While the FDA has made its position quite clear that CBD cannot lawfully be added to food products sold in interstate commerce, many have wondered whether the same applies to topical products containing CBD, and some have argued that there is less legal risk involved in selling these products. However, in its updated FAQ, the FDA had the following to say about CBD topical products: “If a product is intended to affect the structure or function of the body, or to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent disease, it is a drug, or possibly both a cosmetic and a drug, even if it affects the appearance. (See Question #3 for more information about drugs.) The FDA can take action if it has information that an ingredient or cosmetic product is unsafe to consumers. Consumers can report adverse events associated with cosmetic products via the FDA’s MedWatch reporting system, either online or by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, or by contacting your nearest FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator. For more information, please see the FDA’s webpage on how to report a cosmeticrelated complaint.” While this response still doesn’t provide total clarity, it does indicate that the FDA is prepared to send warning letters to companies selling CBD topicals if those topicals are marketed such that they qualify as “drugs.” Selling any hemp-derived CBD products, whether ingestible or topical, in interstate commerce is not without legal risk, and it is critical for anyone entering this space to consult with legal counsel to thoroughly understand that risk. c
“While this response still doesn’t provide total clarity, it does indicate that the FDA is prepared to send warning letters to companies selling CBD topicals if those topicals are marketed such that they qualify as ‘drugs.’”
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REVIEWS
strain Available wherever: GaGa Edibles products are located.
WiFi OG Rasta Roll If you’re looking for a fun, crowd-pleasing pre-roll, this WiFi OG Rasta Roll is it! Decorated in Rasta colors, and wax-sealed in cannabis lovers’ favorite color—green—this pre-roll is a party in a tube. After popping this colorful package open, the CULTURE team noticed that the pre-roll had a sweet grape scent. After lighting it up, reviewers were happy to discover that scent translated into flavor, along with a powerful and pungent OG taste, making a lovely and complex pairing. This WiFi OG tested at nearly 25 percent total THC, so this little package is all you need to make your spring party lit. True to its indica-dominant hybrid heritage, this flower is relaxing and happy, making it perfect for unwinding on your own or with friends.
Available at: The Kushery in Everett.
Brandywine by High End Farms Some flower announces itself long before it’s consumed, and Brandywine by High End Farms does exactly that. The nitrogen-filled package perfectly preserves this amazing smelling flower so you’ll be blown away with intense herbal and floral fragrance before you even open the package. Once you open the package though, the beauty of this flower will astound you. Deep dark green and purple leaves, covered in crystals and dark orange hairs create a contrast that is always beautiful and impressive. The CULTURE team used a water pipe and vaporizer to sample this flower and noticed the wonderful flavor was equally as tasty as the scent was pleasant and powerful. The package includes a decarb THC percentage of 18.39, which is unique and helpful. The effect was typical for an indica-dominant strain, intensely relaxing both physically and mentally, and it definitely sparked joy. 20
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For More Products Go To CultureMagazine.com
REVIEWS
3. “Sweet Sativa Special” 14kt White Gold Necklace and Earrings Never before has the high-end cannabis-consuming woman had a way to express herself so freely and with so much class. It’s safe to say that GENIFER M’s cannabis-inspired jewelry line has filled a need that has existed within the cannabis community for many years. This stunning 14 karat white gold necklace and earring set will have that special someone in your life shining and sparkling with this set’s beautiful diamond accents. This cannabis-inspired set is also available in 14 karat or 18 karat, white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and sterling silver, making it customizable to the personal style of any and all consumers. Price: $295 More Information: geniferm.com
1 1. Pullover Bralette and High Waist Bottom Treat yourself to a little Mother’s Day spoil session that’s coming right in time for the next heatwave. Rocking these high waisted bathing suit bottoms and comfy cute top not only makes you the most fashionable person at the lake, you’ll also be showing a finer side of cannabis culture with this elevated print. Sporting cannabis on your clothes has never looked more highend and sassier. With bathing suits available for men too, your favorite dude doesn’t have to look like a dud next to your serious summer fashion statement. Price: $100 More Information: maryjane-swim.com 2. Creme Weed Leaf Embellished Sunnies Remember when you thought your future was so bright, you had to wear shades? Let’s bring back that confidence and boost it up a notch with these gold cannabis leaf-embellished shades by Blunted Objects. Handcrafted in the U.S. and protecting your peepers with UV400 lenses, the wearer of these fashionable sunnies will be ready to hit the pool, a music festival or even just to mask their stoney eyes at nighttime while still looking fresh. Price: $45 More Information: bluntedobjects.com 24
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4. Lifted Ladies Box Finally! A cannabis-centric box that is curated to the fiercely feminine consumer. Lifted Ladies Box is a breath of fresh cannabis vapor in a room full of stale smoke. What we mean is this box is not your run-of-the-mill cannabis subscription box. Curated each month with a fun and unique theme in mind, each box contains up to 12 items that range from glass and papers to bath bombs, bags and everything in between. Whether you’re ordering this for youself, a friend or your mom, Lifted Ladies Box is full of goodies that are both everyday necessities and random fun items. Price: $33.95 More Information: liftedladiesbox.com
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REVIEWS
entertainment
BOOK
High Yoga: Enhance Yoga with Cannabis and CBD Treatments for Relaxation, Healing, and Bliss Darrin Zeer Pub. Chronicle Books Never has the intersection between cannabis and yoga been so creative and unique. High Yoga gives cannabis-loving yogis the opportunity to incorporate their two favorite hobbies, courtesy easy-tofollow instructions and simple illustrations of various yoga poses. Poses are given cutesy names like the “Blitzed Bridge Pose” and the “Canna Camel Pose.” Plus, each of the book’s seven chapters connect with our bodies’ chakras (be, energize, feel, open, see, share and free), ensuring that the reader will activate healing energy of their body and mine. Namaste. (Jacob Cannon) 26
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RELEASE DATE: MAY 14 AVAILABLE ON: PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE AND PC
GAME
MOVIE
Rage 2
Vice
Dev. Avalanche Studios Pub. Bethesda Softworks
Dir. Adam McKay Annapurna Pictures
Law and order do not exist in the world that Rage 2 takes place in. Instead, this game features a postapocalyptic world that is nearly destroyed by a massive asteroid, causing a global extinction event. Eighty percent of Earth’s population was destroyed, but survivors have begun to rebuild, which has created a need for new factions and settlements. Players are the lucky few who are trying to survive in this dystopian landscape, roaming an open world to fight mutants, collecting tons of weapons, driving a variety of vehicles and using special abilities called “nanotrites” that make this first-person shooter packed with action. (Nicole Potter)
With politics dominating nearly every second of every day, sometimes it can be hard to remember a time any different from our present. Thankfully, writer/ director Adam McKay (The Big Short) is able to take us back to a time not so long ago when things seemed perhaps simpler, but not all that different with Vice. The film follows the life of former Vice President Dick Cheney (played by Christian Bale) as he rises from a Yale University dropout to the holder of one of the most powerful offices in our country. Dark, funny and informative, Vice is one to see immediately. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
At Moonset Flying Fish Cove Help Yourself Records Almost exactly one year since releasing its debut four-song EP, Seattle’s own Flying Fish Cove has returned with a proper full-length, At Moonset. Containing 12 tracks of raw and bubbly indie rock, the band delivers a sound that manages to be both bouncy and fun as well as warm and intimate. The recordings eschew any fancy studio tricks or over-thetop production and instead come across as stripped down and in favor of letting the music simply speak for itself. The result is a wonderful record that’ll win over a lot of fans with its sweetness and sincerity. (Simon Weedn)
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OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN AND JOHN EASTERLING Growing and Healing Together By Sharon Letts with John Easterling Olivia Newton-John’s musical career has spanned five decades with more than 100 million albums sold, garnering four Grammy Awards, numerous music awards and 10 number one hits, including “Physical,” the number one single in the 1980s; a starring role in the 1978 musical hit Grease, and another in the cult classic, Xanadu; with enough musical accolades to prompt Billboard Magazine to name Newton-John one of the Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Women Artists in 2015. In 1991 she was named the first Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme, serving as National Spokesperson for the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC), now Healthy Child, Healthy World (HealthyChild.org). This honor came after her daughter Chloe’s best friend passed away from a rare form of childhood cancer, inspiring a lifelong concern for cancer patients in Newton-John. Her own first bout with breast cancer came shortly thereafter in 1992, with NewtonJohn doing what any modern woman at that time would do when faced with cancer, she went through surgery and nine months of chemotherapy.
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Once her cancer was in remission, Newton-John dove headfirst into breast health advocacy and helping others. She established a partnership with Austin Campus in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia, opening the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre. The Centre has a focus on providing the same therapies that had helped Olivia through her own cancer journey, such as acupuncture, meditation and yoga. To further the philosophy that good health must include mindful therapies, she opened Gaia Retreat & Spa in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia—a place to renew, refresh and restore; with the resort garnering many awards, including TripAdvisor’s number three spot on its Top 10 Celebrity-Owned Hotels in the World and the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2018 #1 Global Hotel of the Year.
“My husband, John, has been working with herbs for decades, I really don’t do anything but glean from his wealth of knowledge. He makes the pudding, I just eat it.”
PHOTO BY SELAH ESTRADA
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“I had tried cannabis years ago and had a bad experience, so it was a whole new mindset I had to get into in order to realize the plant as an important part of my treatment. With cannabis I was able to substantially reduce my morphine use over time by using John’s cannabis formulation.”
Love, Herbs and Happiness In 2008 Newton-John married her longtime friend, John Easterling, otherwise known as “Amazon John,” for his work with the Amazon rainforest’s rich botanical heritage of beneficial plants and his advocacy to protect it. The union wasn’t just a love match, as Easterling’s knowledge of plant-based remedies took center-stage when Newton-John’s cancer returned in 2013—this time in her shoulder with mets to her lungs. The cancer was found by chance, after she was rearended in a car accident. “It was two traumas, really,” Newton-John explained to 32
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CULTURE. “My sister had just passed away months prior from brain cancer, so I was suffering from emotional trauma. After they did an MRI on my shoulder, then a biopsy, the tumor began to grow. I feel this made things worse, and I committed to a new level of focus on natural treatments after that experience.” After spending the last 30 years importing and formulating remedies from plants from the Amazon, Easterling’s instincts led him back to the garden for Newton-John. Guanábana, camu camu, cat’s claw, Sangre de grado, and some mushrooms are just some of the superfoods from the Amazon that he formulated as a master herbalist for his wife, along with a strong
cannabis tincture. Six weeks into the plantbased treatment, NewtonJohn’s daughter, Chloe, flew into Los Angeles, California for a group viewing of the scans. Where there had been nine spots in her lungs, there were now just four, with her cancer markers dropping substantially. Cannabis or plant-based remedy patients typically wait for the skepticism from whatever technician or doctor standing-by, as they share an alternative treatment, but this time was different. “We expected the radiologist to roll his eyes,” Easterling explained. “But, he asked us to send him all the data! He wanted to know everything we were doing, right down to the plants, formula and dosage.”
P H O T O BY M A R K S U L L I VA N B R A D L E Y AT G A I A R E T R E AT & S PA
And although the Centre doesn’t recommend using cannabis at this time, they do respect patient’s choices concerning the beneficial herb used commonly in the U.S. with cancer treatments. Olivia was able to spend time recovering in the wellness center that bears her name in Australia, albeit, incognito. “I wanted to be able to experience the healing like everyone else—and I didn’t want to draw attention to myself—so, I wore a knit cap and a medical face mask when I walked the hall in my walker,” she mused. “It was such a gift to be there and go through the treatments—not just medical, but through art, meditation, mindfulness, and prayer. We flew home directly from the hospital with me in a wheelchair, using a walker—with seven prescription medications in my possession.” Cannabis isn’t yet legal in Australia. Two years ago the country began a medical cannabis program, but it’s limited in scope, so far. The good news is, Newton-John shared that the center named after her is now planning a clinical study with cannabis and cancer.
Rich in Remedy Another Bout, More Pl ants The couple said things went well after the last bout, and then in 2017 Newton-John began having lower back pain, written off initially as sciatica pain. “We got lazy with my maintenance treatments,” Newton-John shared. “I was doing my Vegas residency and was playing tennis when the back pain started.” Maintenance regimens for plant-based cancer patients require due diligence. By September of 2018, Newton-John
said she was doing a wellness walk in Australia, and the pain in her back worsened. “The pain was excruciating,” Newton-John shared. “That’s when we found the tumor had metastasized to my sacrum, as Stage Four. We did some targeted photon radiation at that point, morphine for the pain, and I kept doing herbs. I was flat on my back in bed for one month, then in a wheelchair, then used a walker for a month, then a cane—and now I’m walking without assistance.” Easterling said they used algae and fucus help chelate the excess radiation out of her system after the treatments. PHOTO BY DENISE TRUSCELLO
When the couple returned to their home in California, Easterling was able to roll up his sleeves and get to work on Newton-John’s remedies from the garden—and the garage, so to speak. “Our garage is full of herbs,” Newton-John laughed, while Easterling rattled off the many superfoods from around the world occupying the couple’s space. “I’ve got hundreds of pounds of medicinal plants from the rainforest and around the world,” he shared, speaking of beneficial plants and superfoods commonly used in Latin America. Aside from the many plants he has been importing form the Amazon, his newfound focus is now on cannabis. CultureMagazine.com
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“The pain was excruciating. That’s when we found the tumor had metastasized to my sacrum, as Stage Four. We did some targeted photon radiation at that point, morphine for the pain, and I kept doing herbs. I was flat on my back in bed for one month, then in a wheelchair, then used a walker for a month, then a cane—and now I’m walking without assistance.”
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P H O T O BY K AT H R Y N B U R K E
Easterling began formulating a cannabis remedy for Newton-John, growing a number of cultivars himself in his research garden. His focus is on the plant as chemovar, a more scientific approach to looking at the many compounds, via terpene and cannabinoid extraction from the whole plant to treat the cancer and the entire body, building the immune system so it can aid in fighting the disease. His process includes running multiple (26) chemovars of flower material in dry ice, separating and concentrating the trichomes, then immediately extracting those in cold alcohol using Extractohol, a 190 proof organic sugar cane alcohol. The extract is then filtered. He calls this formulation Extract One Tincture. This Extract One Tincture is a full profile extract of cannabinoids in their acidic or A-form with their naturally occurring terpenes (there are more than 140 known and researched cannabinoids found in cannabis, out of nearly 500 beneficial compounds). Some of the Extract One Tincture is run in a distiller with heat, decarboxylated and concentrated into an oil, or Extract Two Oil. Extract Two Oil is a fully decarboxylated oil with high concentrations of cannabinoids including tetrahydrocannabinol otherwise known as THC, the compound causing psychoactivity. He then blends the Extract Two Oil, which is highly soluble, into the Extract One Tincture. This formula is the remedy Newton-John takes using a dropper, consuming 1,500 milligrams throughout the course of the day. This works out to about 600 milligrams of THC and 200 milligrams of CBD in both acidic and decarboxylated forms. The mixture is highly psychoactive, and the patient must start with a very low dose and titrate their way up to a therapeutic dose to more effectively deal with cancer cell death and numerous other symptoms, while building the immune system. “Olivia is sensitive to the THC, so by taking small drops throughout the day she was able to acclimate to the higher doses in about six weeks,” Easterling explained. It was difficult for the world’s sweetheart to share her cannabis use, even though it was part of a serious cancer protocol, as the stigma is so great. She just doesn’t fit the stereotypical stoner image. “I had tried cannabis years ago and had a bad experience, so it was a whole new mindset I had to get into in order to realize the plant as an important part of my treatment,” she said. “With cannabis I was able to substantially reduce my morphine use over time, by using John’s cannabis formulation.”
Mainstream media has reported that the cannabis tincture she takes helps with pain, but Easterling eagerly expounds on its many healing properties, including the potential to cause cancer cell death. “Cannabis initiates a number of healing responses that can result in apoptosis, cancer cell death—while healing and strengthening the body,” he detailed. “Another important part of the larger picture is the starting material and how the plants are cultivated. I first grew cannabis in 1970, and every part of Olivia’s medicine is from plants I grew in my research garden.” Easterling has cultivated 26 different types of cannabis plants to date—all grown, as he says, “Bio-harmonically, using a microbial blend of bacteria with a gemstone elixir, and Amazon herbs that go directly into the soil.”
Tending their Garden of Wellness While many may not realize the power of plants involved in Newton-John’s treatment, both are grateful for the research being done around the world with cannabis and other healing plants for serious ailments. At the time of this writing, Easterling is traveling the medical cannabis circuit around the world, speaking out on plant-based therapies and the role cannabis plays in the healing process—especially where his wife and cancer are concerned. “Her markers are going down, the tumors are shrinking and disappearing,” he surmised. “We are just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing, while spreading the word to help others.” Currently Newton-John uses only two prescription medications that block estrogen and 12 milligrams of morphine. This is down from 60 milligrams just three months ago. The rest of her regimen comes from nature’s botanical pharmacy. Her pain is under control, and her mobility has increased substantially. She is back to feeding the horses, driving on her own, meeting with friends and carrying on a full and active life. Even Easterling agrees it’s quite an extraordinary story, from an extraordinary woman. As for Newton-John, she’s grateful that the love of her life is also her own personal apothecary, tending to their garden, her health and the health of the planet. “My husband, John, has been working with herbs for decades, I really don’t do anything but glean from his wealth of knowledge. He makes the pudding, I just eat it,” she laughed. c
Don’t Stop Believin’ Olivia New ton-John Pub. Galler y Books Time and time again, major setbacks like courageous battles with stage 4 cancer and bone fractures haven’t deterred Olivia Newton-John from achieving her goals through her unbridled career in music, film and philanthropy. In the history of music, few entertainers have sold 100 million albums, yielded 10 number one hits, over 15 top 10 hits and won countless awards with the ease and grace of Newton-John. But beyond her domination in pop music and musical film, Newton-John has a heart of gold, and it’s evident in her ongoing environmental, animal and humanitarian efforts including her partnership with Austin Health and the creation of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Newton-John’s recent conquest has been tackling cancer. Just over 40 years after the release of Grease, Newton-John’s retrospective is a timely look at over four decades of fame and triumph over darkness. Her personal journey is a tale of wellness and resolve—beginning in her childhood years and into her post-fame exploration into major philanthropic efforts in Australia and beyond. Newton-John’s tell-all memoir is delivered through her wit and humor that drove her into superstardom in the first place, from when she was undiscovered.
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SMART ABOUT SKINCARE Holistic dermatologists share the secrets to beautiful skin through CBD By Benjamin M. Adams
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“CBD has anti-inflammatory benefits, it’s high in antioxidants, it’s very good for troubled skin. So when you combine ancient formulas with CBD, that’s what we specialize in. That’s why it’s so powerful. They work.” Sooner rather than later, the world of skincare will never be the same. Topical creams, lotions, salves and other products infused with cannabidiol (CBD) are set to appear in a new domain on drug store shelves. It’s quickly becoming easier to sell CBDinfused items, especially topical items, given the rapidly changing legal ramifications behind it. A domino effect is unfolding, culminating with the 2018 Farm Bill and a statement from the Drug Enforcement Administration about reclassifying hemp-derived CBD. Only the Food and Drug Administration stands in the way,
Herbologist and skincare educator Dr. Jenelle Kim
cautioning against health claims. Now drug stores are catching on, with chains like CVS Health Corp., Walgreens and Rite Aid announcing that they will sell CBDbased topical items. CULTURE reached out to medical experts in the field of CBD and skincare to get a glimpse of why this new trend is catching on. “I’m thrilled beyond words!” Herbologist, acupuncturist and skincare educator Dr. Jenelle Kim told CULTURE in regards to the sweeping changes in the drug store industry—and the growing potential for business. The first time Dr. Kim was approached about entering the CBD industry, she hung up the phone. But slowly, she learned about CBD and the purposes behind it, how it helps children and how it helps with inflammation. It didn’t take long for her to see the enormous potential for CBD in skincare. Learning about CBD-based topicals is a good place to start for people who are new to hemp and cannabis or for those who don’t PHOTO BY CMW MEDIA
want the psychoactive effects. “The number one question that we’re all aware of—whether it’s internally or topically—is ‘Will CBD products get me high?’ The answer is [pure] CBD does not have any psychoactive effects,” said Kim, hinting at a whole new world of hemp products. “One of the main things I like to speak on is riding this tidal wave.” Dr. Kim’s company started in 2012 with the pioneers in the industry, before most people knew what CBD was all about. Clients came to Dr. Kim and her lab, JBK Wellness Labs, based on her background specifically in Chinese and East Asian herbal medicine. “I come from a lineage of herbal doctors in Korea,” Kim explained. “Why that’s important is that CBD comes from the hemp plant and hemp has been around for thousands of years in Chinese medicine.” Dr. Kim explained that since 2000 BCE, it was used by herbologists and recorded later for the exact same reasons we use it today. The ancient lore of using herbs to calm and strengthen skin is nothing new. “My mission in life is to help share the understanding of herbal medicine, and natural medicine in this part of the world. There’s a balance between both. Topicals, dietary supplements, medicine—it’s so important for our bodies that we know when to use what. People often ask me what’s best.”
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“The number one question that we’re all aware of—whether it’s internally or topically—is ‘Will CBD products get me high?’” That’s why Dr. Kim incorporates ancient herbal mixtures with CBD, and her blends come from the Far East. “We call them BiBong formulas, which translates to ‘secret formula’ in Korean, and it’s commonly understood in East Asia,” Dr. Kim said. “These herbal formulas have been carried [down] by my family for generations. For centuries. Anyone can put herbs in a formula. True herbal medicine, though, is knowing how to use an ingredient, like CBD, and balance it with other herbs to enhance the function of that ingredient. CBD has anti-inflammatory benefits, it’s high in antioxidants, it’s very good for troubled skin. So when you combine ancient formulas with CBD, that’s what we specialize in. That’s why it’s so powerful. They work.” Cannabis Beauty Defined, Dr. Kim’s line of CBD-infused topicals, has been noted as one of the first luxury CBD skincare lines. “I’m very proud of it,” Dr. Kim said. “It’s headed by a MJMA [Medical Marijuana Inc.], which is one of the primaries in this industry. We’re really interested in helping people.” Dermatologist, author and holistic expert Jeanette Jacknin M.D., also wasn’t sure about cannabis at first. About four years ago, Jacknin broke her ankle leaving her without cartilage and causing several years of excruciating pain—pain that couldn’t be effectively treated with pharmaceutical medicine. “I had a girlfriend come over and say ‘Look. I have this CBD cream, and it really helps with my neuritis. I really think you should try it topically for your ankle pain,’” Jacknin told CULTURE. “I compared it to my lidocaine patch, and I realized it gave me much better pain relief—then I began researching.” There are dozens of other ways CBD can be beneficial topically. Dr. Jacknin was among the first dermatologists to speak as a panelist on topical cannabinoids, including a pivotal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the 38
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Dermatologist and holistic expert Jeanette Jacknin M.D.
American Academy of Dermatology. It worked out great, because she now has much experience presenting dozens of talks about topicals in the holistic space. While CBD products are new, hemp seed oil products are not. “The acceptance of CBD is good, but it’s also led to a lot of misrepresentation and misunderstanding because people are taking hemp oil and calling it cannabis sativa oil, leading people to believe they get the benefits of CBD
out of that,” Jacknin said. “The difference between CBD oil, hemp seed oil and cannabis oil isn’t understood. Hemp seed oil is great as a [moisturizer], and it’s loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, but it generally doesn’t contain significant amounts of CBD.” Choosing a reliable company with solid CBD sources is no easy feat. “I’ve consulted for two CBD companies that I think have good products,” Jacknin said, recommending Sopris Health and Wellness. c
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SOOTHING SKINCARE Embrace the secret to supple skin with hemp and cannabis
It’s time to give your skincare routine a facelift! Navigating the world of hemp and CBD skincare can be challenging when there are so many different types of products available to consumers. Learn more about a handful of trusted products offered in the world of hemp and cannabis skincare.
CBD Infused Acne Treatment Regimen by Healthy Skin CBD According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects approximately 50 million Americans every year—and all of those people are seeking a product that can clear up their skin quickly and safely. CBD is a popular ingredient in skincare, given its strong anti-inflammatory properties, and this CBD Infused Acne Treatment Regimen will help clear up acne-prone skin. The product is a simple three-step system that offers a cleanser, toner and moisturizer for daily application. First, the cleanser is a refreshing mix of hemp-derived CBD, kiwi and watermelon (with the added salicylic acid to help unclog pores). Second, the toner offers more CBD, as well as aloe vera and witch hazel, to remove unwanted oil and dirt. And finally, the moisturizer offers a unique mix of CBD, avocado, apple, lentil and a minimal amount of benzoyl peroxide to eliminate acne-related bacteria. Kiss redness and inflammation goodbye as your skin begins to return to its natural, smooth and balanced state! PRICE: $75 MORE INFORMATION: healthyskincbd.com
CBD Lotion by Grassroots Harvest No matter what time of the year, it’s always important to ensure that your skin is moisturized and protected. If you’re also looking to add in the topical benefits of CBD to your skincare routine, then check out this CBD Lotion by Grassroots Harvest. This hand and body lotion contains 400mg of hemp oil extracted CBD per bottle. Also containing organic peppermint essential oil and organic eucalyptus essential oil, the subtle mint smell of this lotion is just a fresh as the topical effects. Treat your skin and your nose to a true spa experience. PRICE: $45 MORE INFORMATION: grassrootsharvest.com
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The Fixer by Beam Take Beam’s advice with this salve: Heal, hustle and repeat. Customers rave about Beam’s product, The Fixer, a 100 percent organic CBD salve. Get ready to feel your best without the unwanted psychoactive effects of THC. Take a small bit of salve and apply it to problem areas of your muscles and skin as needed throughout the day. Smelling of the organic eucalyptus and lavender oils that are in this salve, the scent will calm your mind and body alongside the properties of the product’s total 500mg of organic pharmaceutical-grade full spectrum CBD oil. PRICE: $64.95 MORE INFORMATION: beamtlc.com
Antioxidant Facial Oil by Mad Hippie Utilizing “genuine flower power,” Mad Hippie’s Antioxidant Facial Oil is jam packed with 18 natural ingredients that are proven to help hydrate and maintain healthy skin. This includes but is not limited to argan oil (which hails from a Moroccan tree and is rich in fatty acids and other compounds that smooth the skin), cara cara oil (an ingredient from the Amazon that has more 30 times more vitamin C than an orange) and of course, hemp seed extract. Not only is it a revolutionary product that treats signs of aging skin, but it also leaves out the harmful chemicals commonly found in beauty products. Plus it’s also vegan friendly, GMO-free, cruelty-free and smells amazing too. PRICE: $24.99 MORE INFORMATION: madhippie.com
CLEAN™ by Rawceuticals® If you’re looking to shield your face against the dangers of the environment, give your skin the protection and moisture it needs with CLEAN TM by Rawceuticals®. Complete with cannabis sativa hemp seed oil, sunflower seed oil and PhytoVie™ Defense urban shield copolymer, this facial cleanser effectively removes dirt, makeup and oil while balancing your skin’s oil production. What’s good for your skin also happens to be good for the environment—emerginC plants a tree for every product sold. PRICE: $48 MORE INFORMATION: emerginc.com 42
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PERFECT POISE AND ADVOCACY
Former beauty queen Syanne Centeno makes the uncommon transition into cannabis By John McClain From pageant queen to cannabis consumer, from walking the evening gown competition to walking customers through cannabis purchases, Syanne Centeno stands tall as a symbol for the broad scope of medical cannabis consumers today. As a passionate advocate, the former beauty pageant winner is using her experiences to create a platform of cannabis reform. Centeno competed in pageants 44
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starting in her early 20s. She won the Miss Maryland World competition in 2015 and was in the Top 12 of the Miss World America competition that same year. Centeno started taking medical cannabis several months ago after being diagnosed with a seizure disorder, tumors and endometriosis. “It’s crazy how quickly I was able to get off of some of my medications, and how there’s been this change in me physically and mentally,” said Centeno, who has also battled mental health issues
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and found that cannabis alleviated those as well. “Everyone has been saying I smile a lot more; I’m getting a lot more done.” Centeno’s life quickly changed as she was presented with opportunities in the medical cannabis space. While visiting a clinic as a patient, she was asked to come to work for a medical cannabis certification clinic. Then, while working there, she was offered a job at Finding Haven in Brandywine, Maryland after being impressed by her work skills.
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“I started as a patient, and it’s really cool to have gotten into this industry coming from a patient’s perspective. I never thought that I would transition to anything cannabis-related from being Miss Maryland World,” she said. Centeno doesn’t wear her pageant crown to work, but even a change in hairstyle and a pair of glasses doesn’t stop her from being recognized a couple of times behind at the cool blue-lit counter of the dispensary. “It’s a little awkward,” she said. “You just don’t expect people to recognize you.” Centeno’s passion for helping others shines not only through her work and her studies in drug and alcohol counseling at the University of Southern Maryland, but it also shows in her nonprofit devoted to honoring children battling serious illnesses. During her reign as Miss Maryland World 2015, Centeno began the Warrior Princess Initiative, an organization that recognizes children with life-threatening diseases. “I would remember about how I would feel when I was crowned,” said Centeno, “and I wanted to make children feel the same feeling of excitement and feel good about themselves.” The nonprofit has been on hiatus while she was in and out of the hospital for the last couple of years, but she is rebuilding the organization while attending school, working and planning a summer wedding. Centeno said that it was crazy that people had such a negative perception of cannabis, but felt education was key to future acceptance and understanding. Her own early conversations about her medical cannabis use brought concern the medication would tarnish her reputation. “Well, isn’t that the reason we need to talk about it? Because, you know, I’m not what people think . . . ” she said. She mentioned her gratefulness that cannabis was legalized for medical use and she was able to use it to change her life, in terms of both her health and her career path. Centeno uses her public image and speaking engagements to advocate for medical cannabis use and to help erase the stigma of cannabis consumption. “I use cannabis and, yeah, I was a pageant queen . . . but that doesn’t mean that I can’t use cannabis. Doctors use it, lawyers use it, all kinds of people use it, and the fact of cannabis is changing, I think we need to showcase that.” “It’s a part of my story now, and I can’t leave it out. It’s become part of me.” c 46
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“I started as a patient, and it’s really cool to have gotten into this industry coming from a patient’s perspective. I never thought that I would transition to anything cannabis-related from being Miss Maryland World.”
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UNIVERSAL HUMOR
Amir K found that comedy helped him acclimate to life in America after immigrating from Iran By David Edmundson When the bubble burst on the housing market in 2008, Amir K decided it was time to stop waiting on his dream of performing stand-up comedy. He moved to Los Angeles, California, hustled his ass off and made his dreams come true. Amir came to the United States when he was five years old, after his father brought his family from a war-torn Iran—a sacrifice that caused Amir to postpone his true calling in life, comedy. But don’t fret, because this story has a happy ending. The actor and writer is perhaps best known for his roles on MADtv and 2017’s Hollywood Said No. CULTURE was fortunate enough to sit down with the energetic comic, and he was very candid about his comedic beginnings, his delay in entering the scene and his experience with cannabis. Spoiler alert, you may never look at LEGOs the same again.
You’ve been doing standup for over a decade now. How did you get into it? I was always a funny kid, and my fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Smith, encouraged me to do some performance things for the class. But I didn’t know what it was, because we’re immigrants. I came here with 48
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my family when I was five years old. I was transplanted into this whole new world, and I had to learn how things worked culturally and how people interact. The miscommunications in those situations provided me with a lot of material. I loved making my friends laugh. If we were all laughing, it helped me fit in, because
PHOTOS BY JON PREMOSCH
we were all together. I learned that my connection to other people was through laughter, because humor can cross all borders. How did your family react to your comic aspirations? I kind of had to skirt around the issue. My dad brought us from Iran,
through a war, sacrificing so much so that his family could have a better life. So, I felt I owed it to him to go to school, so that’s what I did, and I put my real dream and passion on the back burner. I would do the occasional open mic while I was at school at UCLA, but after college it would be another eight to 10 years before I would get back into it. And it’s funny, in hindsight I don’t think they would have ever had a problem with me doing stand-up if I just talked to them. They were just looking out for me and wanted me to be happy and make a decent living. Why the lengthy delay? After I graduated, the real estate market was booming, so I decided to do that. I made a bunch of money and eventually started an appraisal company. The whole time making up excuses not to do stand-up. I would always say I was going to get back to it, but I had a good job. Then the market
tanked in 2008, and I was like “Fuck it! I’m going all in.” I moved up to LA, and I would pass out fliers to get people to come into the comedy clubs. If I got enough people to come in, they would let me do a set on the late show. Society and its acceptance of comedy have changed significantly in the last 10 years. Have you had to augment your performance? It really depends on where you go. I don’t mind playing anywhere, because I feel that if you’re funny, you’re funny anywhere. It transcends everything, and of course some places are more sensitive than others, but I don’t think you should change your show in any way if you are trying to pursue comedy for your personal satisfaction. I don’t want to do a standup set that I don’t enjoy because I’m afraid to upset somebody. I’m doing this because I love doing it, not to fit into somebody’s pre-conceived notion of what I should do or say.
Most comedians have felt it, but I think there is a pushback happening right now in comedy, and in a couple years I think it will go back to normal where we are allowed to say whatever we want. Because we should be, we’re comedians not politicians. I think we are moving past the hypersensitivity. If you don’t like the stuff, don’t go. That’s why I prefer to work comedy clubs. Because the audience knows that they are there for a show and to be entertained. They are paying to hear stories from a different point of view, and most adults are okay with that. Can you tell us about the first time you were introduced to cannabis? I had a cousin who was a few years older than me, and we would always skate together. We were skating at a gas station when I was in sixth grade, and he had a pipe made out of LEGOs, actual LEGO pieces with a piece of foil as a screen. Super unhealthy way to smoke, but we were just
dumb kids trying to get high. I remember being super hyper-aware of everything going on. I was transfixed on watching my foot push my skateboard as I went around and around this gas station. One time my cousin got ahold of some hash, and we smoked way too much. It must have been a combination of the hash and my low tolerance, but I remember getting one of those big jugs of Gatorade, and shaking it after I took off the lid, not realizing what I was doing. So, there’s red Gatorade going everywhere in the kitchen, and I remember thinking that I was out of my mind. And as I got older, I remember a lot of my friends telling me I was the first person they got high with. What kind of role does cannabis play in your life now? I use it now to deal with anxiety, or if I need to get a little extra creativity when I write. Or if I’m doing a late show at a club, I’ll smoke a little to get loose. Not so much that I’m out of my mind, but just enough to take a little of the edge off. It also helps me focus. My mind is like a rat’s nest, and sometimes when I smoke it helps quiet my negative thoughts and anxiety and allows me to be more present in the moment without worrying about a lot of other stuff. That’s what makes cannabis the porthole to my creativity. It also lowers my guard on some things I might be hesitant to talk about on stage. It lets my mind, just go. And when I’m really in the zone, the audience will go with me. c www.amircomedy.com CultureMagazine.com
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CULINARY ARTISTRY
Chef Andrea Drummer brings an important level of advocacy to cannabis cuisine By Caroline Hayes Andrea Drummer uses her culinary expertise to educate people on the joys and benefits of the cannabis plant. Located in Los Angeles, California, Chef Drummer is making her mark on the industry with her exquisite cannabis-infused cuisine, her drive for cannabis justice and her entrepreneurial attitude. Raised in the South, Drummer grew up being told that cannabis would lead you down the wrong path. As a young adult, Drummer began her career as an advocate for nonprofit groups, focusing her efforts on youth and the homeless. She was very much anti-drug and pushed for the “Just Say No” agenda. After her nonprofit work, Drummer studied at Le Cordon Bleu where she earned a Culinary Arts and Chef Training degree. Drummer landed her first job at The RitzCarlton working with Chef Neal Frazer. Due to long hours on her feet as a chef, Drummer started experiencing lower back 50
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pain. A friend gave her medical cannabis to relieve her discomfort, and she slowly began to believe in the healing powers of cannabis. To say Drummer did a complete 180 degree turn would be accurate. “I am eternally grateful to anti-cannabis Andrea. Because of her, my work is all encompassing. I’m familiar with the voice of those that reject cannabis. That voice was me. That proximity of understanding is instrumental in how I navigate the advocacy work that I do today,” Drummer told CULTURE. In 2012, Drummer began cooking with cannabis and formed Elevation VIP Cooperative, a California-based cannabis catering company that serves fine cannabis-infused foods at private events. Drummer is also the food editor at cannabisMD, author of Cannabis Cuisine: Bud Pairings of a Born Again Chef and was seen on Cooking on High, a Netflix original series. She has also cooked for high profile celebrities such as Chelsea Handler and Wiz Khalifa.
Drummer throws one heck of a dinner party and demonstrates excellence in not only her cooking but entertaining as well. “Well, I’m of the Ritz-Carlton ilk. So, I believe in a specific level of service. The food, once mastered, is easy to deliver. It comes down to taking every opportunity to enhance the guest experience. Whether that’s an unexpected enhancement like a researched cocktail, a personalized gift, an on-site massage therapist, a cannabis sommelier. Being a service professional means being the best of service. I’ll forever be exploring ways to perfect that,” she told CULTURE. Drummer designs meticulously thought-out menus with nourishing foods, appropriately infused with cannabis and plated to perfection. It’s an art form that she is dedicated to and has built her career around. She works with a sliding scale when it comes to dosing. “The conversation begins with the recognized standard of proper dosing, which is 10mg. From there, it’s about acknowledging the guest desired experience and their tolerance level. That could mean an enhanced serving for a more advanced consumer or a lowered dosage/strain with added CBD to balance the THC content for novices,” Drummer said. Outside of hiring Elevation VIP Cooperative to cater a private event, we wanted to know where inquiring taste buds could taste Chef Drummer’s cooking. Her response, “Soon enough, guests will be able to make a reservation at the first on-site consumption lounge in West Hollywood. I’ve partnered with an amazing entity that is Lowell Farms. We were fortunate to be one of a few recipients of [an] on-site consumption license given by the city of WeHo. We’re incredibly excited to make infused dining accessible to the general public.” Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Café is set to open in summer 2019. This all sounds like a dream come true, albeit a potential obstacle on the horizon, and that is state health departments around the country are cracking down on the infusion of cannabidiol (CBD) in cuisine. “It’s definitely unfortunate since so many have put great energy into thoughtful and creative CBD programs. Conversely, it is a double-edged sword. While we [are disappointed] now, it’ll benefit us all to have standard regulation
on CBD use moving forward,” Drummer explained confidently. Despite the potential of changing regulations, the future will be busy for Drummer. She told CULTURE, “The goal is a few more on-site consumption cafes, more advocacy, television, a series of B&Bs and whatever I can do to move the needle on global legalization.” Powerhouses like Drummer are helping to shift the negative views and reputation of the cannabis. Chef Drummer is infusing healthy, homemade cuisines with homegrown cannabis and the goal isn’t to get high. It’s to nourish the mind, body and soul with the healing powers of the plant. Cannabis and food revolve around ritual and ultimately bring people of all cultures together. There is no doubt that when intertwining them, the ritual goes deeper, the connection becomes stronger and the message gets louder c
“It’s definitely unfortunate since so many have put great energy into thoughtful and creative CBD programs. Conversely, it is a double-edged sword. While we [are disappointed] now, it’ll benefit us all to have standard regulation on CBD use moving forward.”
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GROWING CULTURE
THE ADVANTAGE OF SMALL PLANTS
A
By Ed Rosenthal large, healthy, flowering cannabis plant is an inspiring sight. It’s the successful culmination of an entire season’s effort. The quest for big plants is an artifact of eased prohibition rules, which allowed cultivation for personal consumption, usually based on plant numbers four, six or 10. Some of these numbers have remained the same with legalization. If you can grow only a limited number of plants, grow as big as you can. However, commercial growers, even microbusinesses, can sometimes grow an unlimited number of plants. This opens up a lot of possibilities. Growing a large plant takes time, labor, energy and space. The first stages of growth are spent nurturing branch and leaf infrastructure. These parts of the plant are not harvested, as only the flowers grown on the branches during flowering are used. When figuring the cost of the active ingredient, whether tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or another cannabinoid, all the costs must be taken into account. This includes the cost of getting the plants ready for flowering. There is a way to speed up production and cut the use of your time, energy and labor: Remove growing plant infrastructure from the equation so the plants spend more time flowering. Usually, vegetating plants grow until the canopy space
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is filled. These plants will keep growing vegetatively as long as they are provided with enough light, about 18-24 hours daily. Assuming you have enough space and light, fill the canopy with plants placed close together, on 6-8 inch centers. Once they are in place, grow them vegetatively until they have five to eight sets of leaves. Using a timer, change the light cycle to 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Make sure not to interrupt the dark period with any light other than green because it will interrupt the plants’ photoperiod regimen, which will result in softer, smaller buds. The plants will start flowering within seven to 10 days. Some varieties with sativa backgrounds will continue to grow for a while even as they flower, doubling in height by ripening time. Other varieties, mostly with indica backgrounds, slow vertical growth almost immediately, growing about 20 percent taller. The plantlets of most varieties will not grow any side branches once they are in flowering regimen. Instead they will put their energy into producing flowers along the stem that ripen into a single bud, or just a few larger buds. This technique can be used indoors or out. Indoors and under lights, it’s easy to adjust the light regimen. Outdoors and in greenhouses use a blackout curtain for light deprivation during the summer. During the fall, winter and early spring there is a long enough dark period to promote flowering. With small plants you save transplanting pruning, staking and other laborious chores. You also cut greenhouse shelf time and save on manicuring, because there are fewer buds, which are larger and easier to manicure. c
Indica-dominant hybrid clones were set in 4” rockwool cubes and placed under a HID light using a 12/12 light/dark regimen. Each produced a single big bud.
In Ketama, Morocco, male plants are removed from the field to feed the goats. In mid-July the male plants’ flowers were opening and the females were two weeks into flowering. The seeds had been broadcast and there were 10-15 plants per square foot. By harvest time the males will be desiccated, leaving half that number of plants to be harvested.
Clones planted in a field in Jamaica. Even during the summer most imported varieties and their hybrids start flowering early because of the long nights. (On June 22, the longest day of the year, dawn to dusk, is 14 hours.) Ten hours of darkness daily is long enough to push many varieties into flowering. The plants are growing buds all along the central stem, rather than branching. These plants grew to three feet as they produced flowers.
Plants were placed two per fivegallon container and were forced to flower when they were about a foot tall. Each plant grew a single bud that stretched 10-12 inches.
Clones with about eight sets of leaves, 10-12 inches tall were spaced about a foot apart in 18” wide rows. The rows were covered late each afternoon so the plants received only 12 hours of light daily. They are near ripe in the middle of July.
Small clones of Ed Rosenthal Super Bud were placed in various size containers and allowed to flower under natural light in a greenhouse beginning in midFebruary. They received only a few hours of direct sunlight. Nevertheless, eight weeks later they are only a few days from harvest. Close-up of an Ed Rosenthal Superbud.
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.
NEWS of the
WEIRD
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL
LEAD STORY—NEW WORLD ORDER In Raleigh, North Carolina, residents of The Dakota apartment complex are stepping out a little more confidently after management engaged the services of a company called PawzLife. The Raleigh News and Observer reported on March 22 that residents were growing disgusted with the amount of dog feces on the sidewalks and green spaces around the complex. So management turned to a high-tech solution: Residents who own dogs are required to bring them to a “pup party,” where PawzLife collects their DNA with a simple saliva swipe and creates a “unique DNA profile” for each dog. The company then visits the neighborhood to pick up any stray poop, and owners whose dogs are a match with the poop DNA are fined $100 per offense. PawzLife owner Matthew Malec said, “We are just trying to make the Earth a little bit better to live on.” NOTHING BETTER TO DO ... Traffic on a street in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles came to a virtual stop as two cars engaged in a legendary standoff over a parking space on April 1. Fox News reported that Mariah Flores, who was positioned across the street, documented the entire two-hour dispute on Twitter, as the “black
car” and the “silver car” jockeyed to parallel park in one open spot along the sidewalk. As horns honked and tensions mounted, a “plot twist” changed the whole dynamic: The owner of a third vehicle, parked in front of the empty space, left, leaving room for both black and silver to park. The drivers quickly settled their vehicles in the spaces but then sat in their cars for some time. “Like are they afraid of each other or is it just awkward now?” Flores wondered. Finally, the driver of the silver car emerged, prompting Flores’ comment, “SILVER takes the gold.” . . . And Too Much Money to Do It With A wealthy San Francisco philanthropist, Florence Fang, 84, is being sued by the city of Hillsborough over the “Flintstones” home and grounds she has created in the suburb. The oddly shaped house was built in 1976, and Fang bought it in 2017. Today it’s painted purple and red, features a large “Yabba Dabba Do” sign near the driveway, and Fang has added dinosaur and mushroom figurines, along with Fred Flintstone himself, to the yard. “We don’t like it when people build things first, then come in and demand or ask for permission later,” huffed Assistant City Attorney Mark Hudak, who told KTVU Fang built without the proper permits and the property is subject to code violations along with offending the neighbors’ aesthetic sensibilities. But Angela Alioto, Fang’s attorney, said the home is Fang’s “happy place.” Fang doesn’t live in the home but
uses it for entertainment and charitable events. “She’s had an incredible life, and I think it’s wonderful that, at 84 years old, she has found something that makes her so happy,” Alioto told the San Mateo Daily Journal. PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US Kaz James, 37, from Salford, Greater Manchester, England, has known since he was a child that he was different from other people. “I didn’t ever feel like a human. I always felt like a dog that was really out of place,” James told Metro News. He first started to understand his peculiarity when he gained access to the internet at 17 years old. “I was known by my friends for . . . grabbing hold of the collar of their shirt in my teeth and biting or licking them, very canine-type behaviors,” James said. Today he eats out of a dog bowl and owns three custom-made dog suits—one a $2,600 fur suit shipped from Canada. “(M) y behaviors were quite doglike in childhood, probably from the age of 6,” he said. “No one ever talked about it. It was never mentioned.” THE ARISTOCRATS! When you purchase a new home, you need new stuff to put in it. So it was for Andrew Francis Lippi, 59, of Key Haven, Florida. Lippi purchased an $8 million private island, Thompson Island, off Key West in early April, which includes a large estate previously owned by philanthropist Edward B. Knight. But on April 6, Lippi was charged with felony grand theft for stealing $300 worth of home goods from Kmart,
including two coffeemakers, eight lightbulbs and a bed skirt. His method was clever: He bought the items, then returned their boxes with other things packed inside, according to The Miami Herald. (For example, a basketball was in the Keurig box.) Lippi, speaking to the Herald, denied the charges and said, “Basically it has to do with a commercial dispute . . . It’s very complicated and I’d rather not get into it.” Lauren Jenai, 47, cofounder (with her exhusband) of CrossFit, has struck up a new romance with an old flame: Franklin Tyrone Tucker, also 47, who resides at the Stock Island Detention Center in Florida, where he awaits trial for first-degree murder and armed robbery. Jenai sold her CrossFit shares for $20 million after her divorce and now lives in Portland, Oregon. She and Tucker, childhood friends, reconnected on Facebook before Tucker’s arrest, and she has risen to his defense, offering to put up his $1 million bond (which was denied in January) and hiring private investigators for his case. She has not been able to see Tucker in person, but they were enjoying video visitation—until, by Jenai’s admission, she “got a little risque . . . I was touching my boobs.” Her account was suspended, so she began using her mother’s account, but it happened again: “My boobs popped out at some point, it happens.” Tucker and Jenai are scheduled to wed in prison, and she told the Daily Mail she won’t ask him to sign a prenup: It feels “a little inappropriate. . . . I trust him. I love him. My house is his house.”
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