Colorado Kush Magazine April 2011 by Randy MALINOFF

kush

coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier cannabis lifestyle magazine

52 78 features

46 Spring in the Springs

Right in our own backyard, the beauty of the Spings and Garden of the Gods, what more could you ask for?

52 The Meaning of 420

in 2011 420 stands for freedom from fear, freedom of thought and freedom to associate -- Celebrate wisely!

78 The Boys of Summer are Back

Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best in the West? Depends. You want the coldest beer or the biggest hot dog? Or just a great game of ball.

82 Passing Gas

Here are 10 clever ways to do it without putting up a stink.

104 Atmosphere: The Kush Interview

Slug discusses how an Atmosphere can create its own sustainable orbit.

104

inside

ine

from the editors

ush Magazine has decided to declare the month of April as Weed History Month. After all, not only is it the month of 420, but it’s also the month that Kush celebrates the second anniversary of our Southern California publication and the first anniversary of our San Diego publication. Not only that, but Kush is going stronger than ever. With five monthly magazines and plans to move into several more markets this year, Kush Magazine is proud to be involved in the cannabis industry. We want to thank each and every reader, advertiser, advocate and contributor that has helped make Kush Magazine the premiere cannabis lifestyle magazine. We ask for your continued support, as there is still a lot of work to be done. To many, 420 is a day to celebrate cannabis, gather with friends and enjoy the herb that we know possesses medicinal qualities that still, to this day, are refuted by naysayers. As long as the Federal government continues the misclassification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, the stigma attached to marijuana will perpetuate. Kush has continued to support advocacy groups who work daily to educate the public and who help assure safe access for those who rely on cannabis for their medical ailments. Kush is extremely fortunate to have Cheryl Shuman, considered one of the top 5 women in the cannabis industry, to be part of the Kush family. Be sure to read about Cheryl’s medical cannabis journey on page 60. On the lighter side of 420, check out

Kush has continued to support advocacy groups who work daily to educate the public and who help assure safe access for those who rely on cannabis for their medical ailments. events being held around your area (p. 56) and pay close attention to Rob’s Corner (p. 52), where he discusses the new meaning of 420 for the year 2011. Kush Magazine will be hosting its own 420 celebration at Herman’s Hideaway (p. 76) with great music and prizes, including a raffle that will benefit the Namaste Comfort Fund. Aside from 420 events, April weather is upon the Mile High City, baseball has returned with tickets as low as $4 in the Rockpile, days are longer and many are looking for places to escape to. This month, along with other noteworthy spots in Colorado Springs, we feature the beauty of the Garden of the Gods (p. 46). With gas prices climbing to all time highs (p. 82), staying local and enjoying the beauty of the Rockies by hiking, biking, rafting and camping can provide a great escape without ever getting too far from home. Not quite a vacation, but certainly much more than a staycation. So as you pick up this issue of Kush, be sure to look for all of the 420 specials being offered throughout the magazine by the dispensaries in your neighborhood and surrounding areas (get extra karma points for telling them that Kush Magazine sent you), get outside, and enjoy Weed History Month. And remember…medicate responsibly!. Kush Editorial Board, www.dailybuds.com

kush

colorado’s premier cannabis lifestyle magazine

A Division of Dbdotcom LLC Publishers | Dbdotcom LLC Founder | Michael Lerner Editor in Chief | Lisa Selan Assistant Editor | Wasim Muklashy Chief Executive Officer | Bob Selan Business Development | JT Wiegman Art Director | Robb Friedman Director of International Marketing & Public Relations | Cheryl Shuman Director of Colorado Sales | Denise Mickelson Colorado Sales Manager | Christianna Lewis Advertising Sales Reps | Amanda Allen, Ed Docter, Quinn Micklewright , Charlene Moran, Jason Moran, Fred Rhoades Designers | Avel Culpa, Marvi Khero, Joe Redmond Traffic Managers | Alex Lamitie, Kevin Johnson Ryan Renkema, Jordan Selan, Rachel Selan Distribution Manager | Alex Lamitie Contributing Writers Alex Baker, Alex Brain, Charlotte Cruz, Chef Herb, Jonathan Cutler, Julie Cole, Robert J. Corry, Tyler C. Davidson, Dan Downey, Jay Evans, J.T. Gold, Josh Kaplan, Jade Kine, Noelle Leavitt, Mary Lynn Mathre, Jake McGee, Wasim Muklashy, Mateo Ramirez, Barrett Seller, Austin Hill Shaw, Brian Vicente, Bill Weinberg, Dillion Zachara Accounting | Dianna Bayhylle Internet Manager Dailybuds.com | Rachel Selan Dailybuds.com Team | JT Kilfoil & Houston SUBSCRIPTIONS KUSH Magazine is also available by individual subscription at the following rates: in the United States, one year 12 issues $89.00 surface mail (US Dollars only). To Subscribe mail a check for $89.00 (include your mailing address) to : DB DOT COM 24011 VENTURA BLVD. SUiTE 200 CALABASAS, CA 91302 877-623-KUSH (5874) Fax 818-223-8088 KUSH Magazine and www.dailybuds.com are Tradenames of Dbdotcom LLC. Dbbotcom LLC 24011 VENTURA BLVD. SUiTE 200 CALABASAS, CA 91302 877-623-KUSH (5874) Fax 818-223-8088 To advertise or for more information Please contact info@dailybuds.com or call 877-623-5874 Printed in the United States of America. Copyright ©2011. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without the written written permission of Dbdotcom LLC.

Cannabis industry professionals work to increase the legitimacy of medical marijuana businesses and transform the sale and production of a federally controlled substance into an emerging economic engine. Marijuana is a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This is a fact. It’s also a unique challenge for businesses in the cannabis industry. So, how do businesses successfully navigate the production, sale and use of a federally controlled substance? Many in the medical cannabis industry are finding out, often by costly trial and error. But trials and errors do not a viable business make, particularly when a business is just starting out, or considering an expansion. Investors aren’t going to place money into half-baked businesses operating in direct opposition to Federal laws. Furthermore, navigating legal gray areas can be treacherous and devastating for any sized business. The cannabis industry changes every day. The insight and expertise earned through experience in the industry is indispensible. Legislation, municipal guidelines, national leadership all impact the industry as a whole, probably more so than any other industry in history. In order to address inherent and emerging issues confronting cannabis business owners, a handful of professional services firms have joined together to develop a reliable resource for the cannabis industry, The Business Park. The Business Park partners found that what businesses need are agencies and organizations that understand the intricacies of the industry, professionals who can appreciate the unique challenges cultivators, dispensary operators, product manufacturers and suppliers face in the community and the industry at large. Guardian Data Systems, a founding partner says: “Our clients constantly ask us who to trust for taxes and accounting services. Some even ask who we should use to advertise our business. The Business Park provides that portal, the professional resources our clients are asking for.” So, while common business acumen does not condone a purely “trial and error” approach, State legislation, compassionate use laws and a general acceptance of medical marijuana as a viable alternative medicine, have prompted massive growth in the cannabis industry over the last several years; this in an industry which, according to Federal guidelines, is traﬃcking in contraband. How, then, does an industry go from black market to free market? How do dispensaries, cultivators, caregivers and manufacturers comply with state and local medical cannabis guidelines and operate businesses free of constraint and criminality? They employ the help of industry supporters and experienced service professionals. They look towards The Business Park. The medical cannabis industry is exploding. The massive influx of entrepreneurs and investors flooding the medical marijuana industry might not be unlike the flood of fortune seekers heading West in the middle of the nine-

teenth century. And, not unlike the Gold Rush of the 1850s, there are more than a few speculators, carpetbaggers and snake oil dealers setting up shop in states across the nation. The Medical Cannabis industry yields tremendous opportunity, both for success as well as for failure. Smart business owners and entrepreneurs do their homework, they work with professionals who know their industry and in an industry like medical cannabis, with so many gray areas and legal issues, business owners can’t be too careful. “When dealing with our advertisers on many occasions,” says KUSH Magazine, “we are asked about basic business necessities such as who provides insurance, merchant services, security systems, or other professional services. The Business Park has proven to be a good source of quick and thorough answers to many of these questions.” Every Business Park partner and aﬃliate maintains a standing client base in the cannabis community and understand the changing guidelines and business needs of this burgeoning industry. They also know the inherent dangers. And what better way to combat shortfalls, missteps and potentially catastrophic mistakes than by enlisting the expert advice of those experienced in the industry. According to Mike Aberle, a founding partner, “each member of The Business Park has been qualified and proven to uphold select standards, and partners frequently utilize each other to fulfill their own needs.” Flashfog, a commercial burglary protection company and founding member, has been working with companies from The Business Park for some time. “The professional services offered were just what our clients needed.” Specialists in their own fields, The Business Park partners understand the markets, the vendors and the mutability of this burgeoning industry. As the cannabis industry continues its trajectory towards legalization and decriminalization nationally, and as investors, entrepreneurs and opportunists continue the Green Rush into the medical marijuana industry, one group will continue its support of this legitimacy and work to maintain integrity and honesty in the community. The Business Park will continue to promote the legitimacy and support the viability of the industry and will work to move medical cannabis cultivation, sale and distribution from a black market trend to a legal economic engine. More information about The Business Park and links to Business Park partners is available at www.thebusinesspark.org

first thing that usually happens when you visit any health practioner is the taking of your vital signs, including blood pressure. They strap the cuff on your arm and listen with their stethoscopes as the tension lessens from the cuff and air pressure is released. Unless your blood pressure is abnormal, the nurse or other person administering your test may just spout out the number and say something like, “it’s fine.” Those two words are not to be taken for granted. Blood pressure is the gauge that keeps the body’s central nervous system on track and affects everything and every way our body functions and performs. So if it’s been a while since you have thought about your blood pressure, let’s take a crash course. By Definition Blood pressure pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, bp varies between a maximum and a minimum pressure. The mean bp, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries. The Numbers The blood pressure test monitors the systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure of the blood flow when the heart beats and diastolic pressure is the pressure between heartbeats. Written like a fraction, the top number represents systolic pressure and the bottom number represents diastolic. Normal range for adults is 120/80 or below. Prehypertension begins when blood pressure reaches 120-139 over 80-89. Stage 1 hypertension ranges are 140159 over 90-99. Prehypertension Prehypertension is the precursor to high blood pressure and most people who fall in this range can and will develop high blood pressure unless they adopt healthier lifestyles. When your doctor tells you it’s time to eat better, get more exercise and stop smoking, this is why. High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” so it’s important to stay as far away from prehypertension as possible and get regular readings. Hypertension (high blood pressure) High blood pressure is a common condition and affects most people eventually but can be controlled with medication. Maintaining healthy and normal blood pressure throughout your life is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy. High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart disease and heart failure and can go undetected without symptoms for years - another reason to check your bp regularly. Staying in the Safety Zone Essentially, we control our own destiny when it comes to blood pressure. The most important factors are diet, exercise and stress. A diet full of greens and healthy grains is a good start and you should get at least 45 minutes of exercise 3-4 times a week where you get your heart rate up and break a sweat. Go easy on rich dairy and fatty meats! Meditation is an excellent way to maintain blood pressure. Learning to breathe and focus while relaxing the mind and letting go of anxieties is key to staying clam and keeping your heart beating and blood lowing smoothly. Even if you aren’t a practicing meditator, 20 minutes of silent or quiet, calming relaxation can help. As counter-intuitive as it may sound, you should find the discipline to chill on a daily basis. Blood pressure is serious business and it’s never too soon or too late to take care. Be well.

A new bill making it illegal to operate a vehicle with a certain amount of THC in the bloodstream continues to drive its way through the State Capitol. The Colorado House of Representatives approved the non-partisan bill on March 23, with seven Democrats and seven Republicans voting in favor of the proposed. It has now moved to the full Senate for approval. Rep. Claire Levy, D- Boulder drafted House Bill 1261 with Rep. Mark Waller, R- Colorado Springs in an effort to help define the legal limit of THC allowed in the bloodstream of those driving while under the influence of marijuana. The bill currently states that those who drive with a THC blood content of “5 nanograms or more” are subject to be charged with a DUI. That means that if a driver is pulled over and suspected of being high on THC while driving, the police officer can request that the driver get a blood test. One of the biggest changes to the bill in recent weeks was how a marijuana user is charged if found guilty of driving while under the influence. When the bill was initially introduced, drivers were subject to a 12-point ticket, but the new language states that a person under the influence of THC can be given a much lesser penalty, such as a 4-point ticket. “What we did with this bill is make it a traffic misdemeanor. It gives the driver a little more opportunity to challenge the results,” Levy told Kush Magazine. She also highlighted that anyone being charged with a THC driving violation can have the courts review all evidence involved, where as with a DUI alcohol violation, the blood alcohol content logged by a breathalyzer is not subject to debate. Yet it’s the results and the 5-nanogram number that seem to scare most habitual MMJ users. The Cannabis Therapy Institute, a Boulder-based organization that tracks marijuana policy, has been following HB 1261 closely. In an email to MMJ constituents, the organization said that “HB1261 is unfair to medical marijuana patients and will force patients back on prescription medications that do not have nanogram levels and are not routinely tested for by police.” The organization also wants the state legislature to exempt registered medical marijuana patients from the proposed law. Laura Kriho, director of the Cannabis Therapy Institute, feels that the 5-nanogram limit could be harmful and unfair to those who use MMJ on a daily basis. However, Cynthia Burbach, a Colorado State Health Department toxicologist, told Kush Magazine that the 5-nanogram limit is a fair scientific figure to help determine safe levels of THC in the bloodstream. “The data does support that number,” Burbach said. “It’s a very, very fair number. My recommendation would be wait at least four to six hours before operating a motor vehicle (after

20 20

ingesting marijuana). As long as you don’t re-dose while driving, you will drop below the 5-nanogram level.” That level was derived from a study conducted by Dr. Marilyn Huestis, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse based in Maryland. Burbach spoke about the study and the recommended nanogram levels at the Colorado’s Statehouse last month. The study followed habitual marijuana users, and found that most people who smoke regularly are well below the 5-nanogram level. “I think if you’re a regular medical marijuana user, then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about,” Burbach said. “What people are forgetting is that an officer needs to stop them for a reason.”

28 28

Fertile Ground is a monthly column published in KUSH Magazine highlighting the hottest state and national issues surrounding marijuana reform. This column is brought to you by Brian Vicente, the Executive Director of the advocacy group Sensible Colorado, and a partner at Vicente Consulting LLC, a Colorado medical marijuana law firm.

by Brian Vicente

Since the passage of Amendment 20 in 2000, Colorado has witnessed both heartache and heroism. We’ve watched police return marijuana plants to grateful patients, heard teary-eyed cancer survivors describe how marijuana helped them through chemotherapy, and witnessed the collective joy of mass civil disobedience at the annual 4/20 rallies. We’ve seen great tragedy - in employers firing patients for off-site, medical use and witnessed the heartbreaking loss of reform advocate Ken Gorman.

Why Patients Should Support

34 34

After all these experiences one thing is clear; it’s time for legalization. Over the next 18 months Colorado will engage in a historic conversation about the pros and cons of legalizing and regulating marijuana. Reform organizations, including Sensible Colorado, are determined to place a statewide measure on the ballot in 2012, letting voters decide once and for all whether to regulate marijuana like alcohol. There are many reasons that voters should support such a sensible policy shift. Perhaps the group with the most compelling reasons to support this “mainstreaming of marijuana” are Colorado’s licensed medical marijuana patients.

Legalization

Reason 1: Better medical access Colorado, unlike some other states, does not allow those suffering from mental conditions to use medical marijuana. As such, veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), elderly predisposed to Alzheimer’s, and people suffering from crippling depression face criminal sanctions for trying this medicine. The thought of a veteran, having bravely served our country and witnessed horrific events, being criminally prosecuted for using medical marijuana to treat PTSD is sickening. Only legalization will allow all adults to try this medicinal herb, free of the threat of criminal prosecution.

Reason 2: More protection, less prejudice If voters legalize marijuana, patients will have the opportunity to obtain double protection - by keeping their “red card” and through the shield of a new state-passed, legalization law. Gone will be the days when patients are considered “second class citizens” who must produce papers to possess their medicine. Patients will still retain the power to grow, possess, and travel with marijuana and will likely have the added benefit of paying less for their medicine, which should be exempt from any excise tax.

Reason 3: Jump-start research Colorado has seen serious advances in recent years with the emergence of medical marijuana testing labs and dispensary-driven research. In May, the state legislature is likely to pass a bill to license and regulate laboratories to both analyze and study medical marijuana. Once marijuana is legal and becomes a more accepted, mainstream substance, we are sure to see increased scientific research by universities and the state and local government, greatly benefitting patients by expanding knowledge about the plant they are ingesting.

Reason 4: If not now, when? By the time citizens hit the voting booth in 2012, it will be twelve years since the passage of Amendment 20. The time is ripe to stop making criminals out of responsible adults and allow those 21 and older to access marijuana whether to treat PTSD or simply for relaxation.

To learn more about the 2012 effort to tax and regulate marijuana, contact: brian@sensiblecolorado.org today.

arden of the Gods is a registered natural national landmark in Colorado Springs and one of our local treasures. If you have never been or maybe it’s been since your 4th grade field trip, consider taking an afternoon to explore the vast wonders of nature during this glorious time of year. The park is always free, so get your cameras ready and take an afternoon (or two) to visit the Garden of the Gods.

things to do other than just gawk

Trails throughout the park are designated for a wide variety of activities from hiking to walking to mountain biking and even horseback riding. When the gods were waving their hands at the garden, the god of rock climbing made sure he had enough time to perform some mesmerizing magic. The bizarre and steep rock formations make it a nirvana for climbers (if you intend to climb, you can purchase an annual permit at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center). The rules are fairly simple: read and obey rules of the park, have proper equipment, climb with a buddy and stay on established climbing routes.

what to gawk at

There is so much to see in the Park that it’s recommended that you take a tour if you’re a newbie. Daily nature presentations are offered at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. They last about 20 minutes and give a good overview of geology, ecology, wildlife and history of the Park. Alternatively, you can take a guided tour (also free) that lasts 30 minutes. The naturalist-led walk and talks leave daily at 10am and 2pm and focus heavily on the gold-seekers who first came to the area. Of course you will also learn about the area rattlesnakes, so pay close attention.

check out those rocks!

The geological formations at Garden of the Gods will blow your mind. According to the naturalist expert at the Park, “The outstanding geologic features of the park are the ancient sedimentary beds of red, blue, purple, and white sandstones, conglomerates and limestone that were deposited horizontally, but have now been tilted vertically and faulted by the immense mountain building forces caused by the uplift of the Pikes Peak massif.” Sound crazy? Looks even crazier!

sheer fault is (awesomely) visible where the Tower of Babel makes contact with the Fountain Formation. The name Colorado comes from the color of the sandstone. And of course, you have to spend a few minutes just contemplating the existence of the balancing rock. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the most popular features of the park. While you have probably seen it on several postcards, you really need to see it in person to appreciate the sheer awe that thousands of years of wind and water can do to stone. You can even get your Jurassic fix with various plant, dinosaur and marine fossils. The hogbacks, (they really do look like the spines of a pig!) are ridges of sandstone with titled layers. Some layers are vertical rather than horizontal and span hundreds of feet in length. The North Gateway Rock, the tallest of the hogbacks, raises 320 feet and is the stage for the Kissing Camels that truly eerily resemble two camels sitting face to face with their lips touching! The Park is an excellent place for a picnic or even just to spend a few hours outdoors, and now that all the wildflowers are beginning to awake from their winter slumber, this is the perfect time of year to do it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s springtime in the Springs and the Gods are waiting to show off their garden.

Q: Rob, What is “420” all about? -S.A., DenveR

A: S.A., thErE ArE mAny thEoriES on how people began celebrating 420. Some speculate that 420 was originally

overcoming these irrational and illogical fears and lies, and embracing what they know is the truth.

a police code for marijuana possession or use. Others state that the term

Marijuana users are free thinkers. First, overcoming government

is derived from Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan songs. One hypothesis is

fear-mongering requires freedom of thought. Marijuana users have

that 4:20 p.m. was the set time that students from San Rafael High School,

the flexibility of mind to question policies that do not make sense.

California would gather to partake. However, the origin of the term 420 is

Furthermore, marijuana’s psychoactive properties enhance users’

less important than what it has become to mean today.

thoughts and perceptions and can inspire new thoughts and ideas. 420

In 2011, 420 stands for Freedom. Freedom from fear. Freedom of thought. Freedom to associate.

stands for the freedom to think for oneself. Most importantly, 420 stands for freedom of association. Every year on

Millions of Americans use marijuana for medical and recreational purposes without negatively impacting themselves or others around them. However, for over 75 years, Americans have been told by their government over and over that marijuana is the “devil’s weed.” They have been told that marijuana is a gateway drug that destroys families and lives, leads to antisocial behavior and mental illness, and encourages criminal behavior. For over 75 years, Americans have been wrongly taught to fear marijuana. 420 stands for

April 20th, tens of thousands of freedom-lovers fill Civic Center park in downtown Denver to partake in a protest against unjust marijuana prohibition - the largest permitted 420 rally in the world - one I am honored to serve as General Counsel five years running. The right to congregate and advance political ideas is firmly protected in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The freedom to join together with other like-minded individuals to express political opinions is necessary for the political health of our country. This April 20, join thousands at Civic Center park as we raise the flag of freedom and raze the fears of marijuana prohibition. The 4th of July may be America’s independence day, but it is on 420 that the fruits of our independence are savored. Robert J. Corry, Jr. is an Attorney licensed to practice in Colorado, California, and the District of Columbia. This column does not constitute formal legal advice, and should not relied upon as such. Please submit comments or questions to www.RobCorry.com. Travis B. Simpson, Law Clerk and Third Year Law Student at the University of Denver, J.D. Expected ‘11, made a significant research contribution to this month’s article.

Cheryl Shuman:

The grass keeps getting greener Cheryl and Tommy Chong

Cheryl with ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer

Cheryl with NORML Women’s Alliance Sabrina Fendrick

Cheryl with Melissa Etheridge

by wasim muklashy

She was 3 years old when her parents divorced and separated. And it might have been the best thing that ever happened to her. Cheryl Shuman, mother of two, successful optician to the stars, Forbes Magazine featured self-made entrepreneur, never saw it coming. Cheryl’s parents, who had separated under un-amicable terms, announced they were getting back together and getting married on Valentines Day 2006, more than 4 decades after they had split. Cheryl, who was working in Los Angeles at the time, immediately packed up her stuff and drove cross-country back to her home in Scioto County, Ohio. “I was going to have a family again!!” she remembers excitedly. But this excitement did not last long. Reality has a funny way of slapping you in the face in the most unexpected of ways. In Cheryl’s case, it happened as soon as she walked up to the door. One of the first things her mother said to her was “Something about your color doesn’t look right,” Cheryl clearly remembers. Her uncle had just recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died just three weeks earlier. While she brushed it off as stress and exhaustion from her demanding workload back in Los Angeles, mother’s instinct won the battle and insisted Cheryl go see a doctor. “So I did,” Cheryl remembers clearly. “Just to be safe make mom happy.” But this didn’t make anyone happy. Rather, Cheryl’s entire world was about to be turned upside down. All it took was one ultrasound to immediately determine that tumors had spread throughout her ovaries, bladder, colon, and uterus. “I was rushed into emergency surgery, and the doctors told me I probably wouldn’t live through the rest of the year.” After spending the next several months preparing for her own passing, all the way down to the brutal task of setting up her own cremation, she came to a point where she was getting sick of being, in effect, a dead body. After all, she was still alive. And in a testament to the power of the mind, she made the switch: Cheryl decided that she was going to live. Around this same time, through a chance meeting she ran across an old high school friend, Frederic Rhoades. Rhoades happened to be an organic farmer who was growing produce for clients that included Whole Foods and Kroger, as well as his own Rhoadeside Organic Market. As fate would have it, in addition to produce, he happened to have expert experience as a cannabis cultivator from a previous stint in California so, naturally, he suggested marijuana. At first she was extremely skeptical, for “I had never had a drug in my system. I’ve never even

had a cigarette.” But as she began to take stock of the cornucopia of pharmaceuticals she was ingesting daily “just to stay alive,” and as she thought of the morphine drip that she was depending on to numb her pain, she decided, “it couldn’t hurt. At the very least, I’ll die with a smile on my face.” Over the course of the next couple of months, her use of cannabis helped wean her off the more than 2-dozen pharmaceuticals prescribed to her. Within less than 6 weeks, her outlook began to improve, her activity level was beginning to return to normal, and she began to regain some of the weight she lost through the treatments. While she began to feel and look better, and evidence in the form of CAT Scans and MRIs had shown that the tumors from the initial prognosis hadn’t gotten any worse, her battle had, in a sense, only just begun. The new tests had shown tumors that were not seen before…tumors that had metastasized to her liver. Once again, there was a timestamp on her life. The clock was again ticking…this time, quicker than ever. By this time, The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) had caught onto Cheryl’s story and invited her to the NORML Conference in San Francisco in 2009. This laid the foundation for what would eventually bloom into one of the most prominent and tireless activists in the nation. She had found what she was looking for...a respected community dedicated specifically to the ordeals that she had been facing. Cheryl Shuman was invigorated. She soon found herself as the Director of the Beverly Hills chapter of NORML, which, under her direction, grew bigger and quicker than any chapter in the organizations 30-year history. “Cheryl Shuman is without question one of the most proficient public relations people I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” expresses Keith Stroup, founder and legal counsel of NORML. “She is a delight to work with and always exceeds expectations.” However, all was still far from rosy. In April of 2010, Cheryl suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), in essence, a mini-stroke. More often than not, TSIs are soon followed by a full stroke. While going through the list of medications with her doctor, she was cornered into admitting that she is a legal medical cannabis patient. This was the moment that changed everything. “There’s no way you’re going to ever get a liver transplant Cheryl,” expressed her doctor. “Cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug.” On top of it all,

she was informed that her insurance would also be cancelled. Not exactly what a stroke patient wants to hear. Before he could finish what he was saying, she looked over at Frederic, “we need to get out of here. NOW!” That very afternoon, there was a city council meeting in Los Angeles that was hearing the case for and against closing the city’s dispensaries. Cheryl and Frederic literally left the hospital and headed directly to the meeting. “I had never spoken in front of city council,” remembers Cheryl. “I had to fight back tears and emotions, but when my name was called, I tried to condense a lifetime of experiences into 60 seconds of testimony. I was terrified and intimidated, but felt like I had to say something.” “I had no idea that video cameras were capturing my testimony and I certainly had no idea that the video would be spread virally throughout the Internet and make it to other news outlets.” This, in effect, played a huge role in saving her as well as helping to put a precedent in motion for patients to come. Because of the pressure the media was putting on the insurance giant, Aetna, rather than cancel her policy, helped push her through the red tape and got her into the UC Davis Oncology Treatment program. But Aetna’s ‘goodwill’ only lasted until the media frenzy died down. Once her premiums were raised to almost 3000 a month, Cheryl was forced to drop it… at a time she was requiring 24-hour care. Around this very time, Michigan’s 420 University approached her. She was introduced to various cannabis-based treatments spearheaded by Dr. Robert Melamede, prominent University of Colorado biologist and premiere researcher of endocannabinoids, especially relating to their medical uses in combating cancer. “They told me about all these uses of cannabis I had never heard of including cannabis oil capsules, the juicing, and eating the raw leaves, and all these different diseases that had been cured by employing some of these methods,” Cheryl remembers. “So when he asked me if I would be willing to be a guinea pig for some of his experimental methods, I said certainly.” Once again, she began seeing immediate results. Her strength was regained, her appetite began to come back, her nausea decreased, and she was able to live a semi-normal life again. Kush Magazine was so intrigued by her story, they felt compelled to bring her in and offer her a job. They figured, who better than Cheryl and what better than the success of Cheryl’s story to help propel the movement of medical cannabis to the next level? Her newfound energy and life has quickly catapulted her into the position of being one of the most influential medical cannabis activists alive today. “It appears that people are responding and I’m happy to try to make a difference,” she expresses. “Now I realize that we need to educate the mainstream as to how these laws are truly impacting patients, families, and the community as a whole. The legal system is confusing at best. We need to clarify concise, and consistent legislation.” So, in addition to her full-time work as the Director of International Marketing & Public Relations with Kush, Cheryl is a member of the Steering Committee and Board of Directors for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), she’s a National Ambassador for Americans for Safe Access (ASA), and

has volunteered alongside Sarah Lovering for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), and way too many other accolades to list here. “I don’t know how it works, I don’t know why it works, but I know that it seems to be working and I’ve literally dedicated each and every minute of the rest of my life to educating people about the benefits of this plant and how it’s worked for me,” she manages to squeeze out between tears. “I feel it’s my moral and ethical obligation to do so.” And she’s doing it with a fierce determination reserved for someone who’s life literally depends on it, the very fierce determination that could save other people the harrowing experiences she has been through. As a matter of fact, her case could be the first case in U.S. history to be accepted for FDA clinical trials, leading to legalization, decriminalization, or, at the very least, reclassifying it from a Schedule 1 drug, which says it has no medicinal benefits, to at least a Schedule 2, that states there is at least currently accepted medical uses in the States. “When we have full legalization, with a tax and regulate business model, the world will see the true benefits of this miraculous plant,” Cheryl expresses. “We will see health improved for millions not only through cannabis medicines, but through the funding of educational programs, mental health programs, support for our veterans suffering from PTSD and other health issues.” Until that point, Cheryl will not slow down. In addition to all her activist work, Cheryl Shuman, along with her business partner Frederic Rhoades, have started a small farm in Northern California, where they grow fully organic medicinal cannabis that they provide through their private non-profit medical marijuana collective, “Shaman Therapeutics.” Also, Kevin Booth, director of Showtime’s wildly popular documentary “American Drug War,” has deemed her story so vital to the movement, he decided to prominently feature Cheryl in the upcoming follow-up, “American Drug Wars II – Fight For Your Life.” “We’re really setting out to expose the professional side and look of this industry, and I think Cheryl is a really good spokesperson for this,” explains Booth. “She’s someone that people will take seriously.” Needless to say, Kush Magazine is absolutely honored to have such a fierce and tireless warrior on their side. “Her work ethic is incredible, and it’s a pleasure to have her aﬃliated with Kush magazine,” expresses Editor-in-Chief Lisa Selan. “She fills a void that the industry desperately needs; genuine passion mixed with a professionalism seldom seen these days.” “She’s an absolute go-getter and is the perfect bridge between us and the community,” adds Kush CEO Bob Selan. “Cheryl brings extreme value and legitimacy to the movement and her positive and energetic disposition about life, especially considering her own personal experiences, continues to awe and inspire us on a daily basis.” With films such as “Medical Cannabis and Its Impact on Human Health,” and Len Richmond’s “What if Cannabis Cured Cancer,” along with high quality research becoming more readily pursuable and available, the minds (and pockets) of influential medical, political, & culturally influential forces are opening up, all due in no small part to warriors like Cheryl Shuman, who seems to have taken pleasure in leading the charge.

Cheryl and Joe Rogan

Cheryl and Danny Glover

Cheryl and Governor Gary Johnson

Keith Stroup, Cheryl Shuman

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ground is that the medical marijuana industry faces many challenges from many opponents, whether it be ensuring the survival of existing markets from retraction (Loveland, Co or Montana), fighting to protect patient privacy, or as recently seen in Colorado with the proposal of HB 1250, fighting to uphold the rights for beneficial products (edibles) to exist. These challenges and many others facing the industry, both locally in Colorado and across the country, can appear to be daunting, yet it is these very challenges that have brought out individuals and businesses willing to ignore MerriamWebster’s definition in favor of practicing the virtues of the root word; to come together, to agree, and to be suitable. HB 1250 threatened to legislate the edibles market right out of business and, as reported in the Colorado Springs Independent, was specifically targeted at beverage-based medicinal products. The sponsor of the bill was reacting in part due to the ill-advertising practices and media attention of businesses not currently operating in Colorado. The enormity of the consequences of HB 1250 was apparent to many businesses and concerned individuals, not the least of them being patients.

Compete, (verb/ kəm-’pēt): to strive consciously or unconsciously for an objective (as position, proﬁt, or a prize). (Merriam-Webster.com) By the dictionary’s definition, the inevitable outcomes of competition are either success or failure. Yet the origin of the word does not require a decisive outcome with a victor and a vanquished. The origin of ‘compete‘ is the Latin ‘competere,’ which means to come together; agree; be suitable. The essence of ‘competition’ is, in actuality, to work together, a philosophy that ought to be embraced in the medical marijuana industry above all others. Every morning we at Keef Cola wake up and get to work, striving towards our conscious objective of selling the highest quality medicinal drinks possible. While I cannot speak for the individuals at Dixie Elixirs, I’d be willing to bet that they are working towards that same objective. We are competitors and competition can be fierce, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. After all, competition spurns one to continuously improve; without it life would grow stale and the ills of complacency would take hold. As Keef Cola’s Erik Knutson so succinctly put it, “Competition is the essential component to a healthy marketplace. Competition drives innovation, benefitting manufactures, retailers, and most importantly, patients.” The Medical Marijuana industry, as in all other industries before it, has seen the effects of competition both good and bad. In Colorado it has led to improved medicine and medicinal products, improved business practices, and an improved experience for the patient. In California, the possibility of a wide-open recreational Cannabis market was a frightening thought for many individuals operating within the more confined medical marijuana market. Whichever side of the fence one may reside, the common 64

Erik Knutson (of Keef Cola) and Tripp Keber (of Dixie Elixirs) put aside the competition of business and formed a unified front to come together in this time of need. They agreed on issues to be addressed, and appeared together in front of Representative Acree, arguing that while the industry has made many gains and has greatly benefitted many patients it does indeed still have much work to do, and that best way to accomplish this work was not through constrictive legislation but rather through industry self-regulation and cooperation. Dixie Elixirs and Keef Cola are competitors, but they recognize they’re in this together. Two companies intent to see the Medical Marijuana industry survive and thrive well into the future should be willing to put aside their differences to fight for the good of all, and that’s exactly what they’ve done. “Over the past year so many MMJ related business have fought so hard to build their brands and capture market share. With the arrival of 2011, new opportunities and challenges have emerged that allowed us the opportunity to work with fellow manufacturers, one of which was Keef Cola and Erik Knutson,” expresses Keber. “I have thoroughly enjoyed our loosely formed partnership with Keef Cola, ensuring that we are capable of working together to improve our companies; thereby allowing the Colorado MMJ patients access to more affordable alternative health care.” Tomorrow, as the employees of Dixie Elixirs, a brand named in homage to their founder’s southern roots, will awake to strive in competition with Keef Cola, the employees of Keef Cola will awake to compete with Dixie; continuously striving towards the success of the Orange and Blue, brand colors chosen as an homage to our state’s roots. Throughout this process, the inevitable and welcomed side-effect will be increased quality of product resulting in increased patient satisfaction. A virtuous reason to ‘compete?’ You bet.

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QUESTION: SOMEONE TOLD ME THEY TESTED THE SAME STRAIN AND GOT DIFFERENT REPORTS BACK. WHY? Buckie: If we dragged a whole plant into the FSL testing facility (and we have) to test a bud from the top, middle, and bottom – we would have three different potency test scores. What wouldn’t change much is the cannabinoid ratio. Cannabinoids are like the ingredients and the ratio is the recipe. Flour and water can make glue, but if you add some egg and a few other items you get cookies. Cannabinoid ratio determines the effects of cannabis much like the amount of each ingredient in a recipe effects the taste. Lets say we’ve got a plant like Colorado Dispensary Services’ (CDS) Medical 1024 strain, which tested at a THC ratio of 9.7. A Medical 1024 bud at 21% active cannabinoids provides relief to a patient who smokes about .15g every evening. If provided a bud from the same plant, tested at 15% active cannabinoids, the patient is likely to experience effects similar to the first bud, but may need to smoke a bit more in order to achieve the same level of relief. The problem lies in all the extra stuff the patient is consuming to get similar effects. Plant matter, waxes, chlorophyll, toxins (hey, not everyone is testing yet!), and anything the patient may use to roll their medicine is now coming into the body at higher levels. Think of it this way, if your cold medicine can fit into a shot glass you can either drink it straight from the shot glass or pour it into a full glass of water. You are still consuming the same amount of medicine, but now you are drinking a lot more water with it. Clean cannabis is not just about bugs and chemicals, it is also about maximizing treatment for each patient. Clean means reducing the intake of any non-medicinal substances while maximizing the intake of helpful cannabinoids. For example, a plant that has been attacked by bugs may put up a natural defense by producing more plant waxes to protect itself. This can affect the way a plant smokes. Bet you didn’t see a seed when you packed that bowl, but it did sizzle and pop like there was one? Most likely there were no seeds, and it was just this other stuff the plant produces. When you have a plant with a higher potency %, you have less of these undesired compounds. In past issues, we’ve discussed the hype behind strain names and potency claims. Don’t believe the hype. A patient will notice only a slight difference between buds tested for THC at 18% and 22% but will notice a larger difference between a THC ratio of 9.0 and 9.8, respectively. Sour D from store A is not guaranteed to test the same ratio as Sour D from store B. As smoking remains the medicating method of choice, cannabinoid ratio is the most important FSL test result to understand. The Cannabis Ratio Spectrum Infographic is a visual tool that FSL uses to display ratio information (medical usefulness) about a strain. When a page of numbers gets a little hazy, the color graph makes it easy to identify desirable ratios. Through a little exploration, this system allows patients to begin making quick and informed decisions when choosing the correct treatment. Read about it on our blog under COMMUNITY @ www.fullspectrumlabs.com

When Jim Alekson looks at the medical marijuana industry, he sees a promising yet scattered landscape. He explains, “I think the issue at hand really is that no one, when they originally started approving marijuana legislation, ever gave any thought about just how large the industry is as a whole. I’m talking about the industry, not only the medical marijuana side, but obviously the entire industry of marijuana.” Alekson doesn’t use marijuana, yet he still sees the benefits it gives to society at large. “We believe that there is a place in American society for the medical therapies that are available through the use of medical marijuana. We find that there’s a lot of compelling evidence that it helps. And I know a lot of people that are currently in various states that have medical marijuana cards, and that they use it for pain control, arthritis, and other joint ailments, and it works very well as an augment to synthetic drugs.” With this in mind, Alekson set out with his business partnerChester Soliz- to figure out how to give the industry some consistent organization. This led to them developing the Medicine Wheel Project. “We’re looking at it from a much more business-like approach,” he says, “as opposed to what you normally find in the industry at the moment. There are a lot of excellent business people, there are a lot of entrepreneurial individuals, but they’re not all working together, they seem to be somewhat fragmented. We’re hoping that we’re gonna be able to create a sort of central location, if you will, as a clearing house for all information. We’re wanting to bring it all together under one roof, and then begin to see how the industry can be vertically expanded at the same time that it continues to grow horizontally.”

Their first offering to the industry comes from his other company, Medical Marijuana Delivery Systems, in the form of Tetracan, a skin patch that transcutaneously delivers THC at a certain dosage level over a set period of time. Developed in 2000 by Walter Cristobal, Alekson see it as “a clear departure from the age-old delivery method of smoking. It really begins to move it into a whole different realm. For example, young people who are going through chemotherapy, you can’t very well feed them marijuana in its traditional way. But if you put a patch on, then now they’re starting to feel better, the nausea begins to dissipate, as we all know that happens when using marijuana in its typical modality of delivery. “Or patients who have lung cancer, they can’t very well smoke, and the patch allows them to be able to gain the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana without having to smoke the product. “I just think that there’s a real opportunity for the patch. Not to take over the industry, but certainly to be an augment to the industry, because not everybody likes to smoke.” While the Tetracan patch is still months away from being available in stores, Alekson says they’ve been inundated by dispensaries across the country, wanting to sell the new form of delivery. “For example,” Alekson prides, “in Colorado, we’ve been approached by one particular distribution group that can get it into 300 dispensaries across the state. “We’ve been talking with two major pharmaceutical companies, who are interested in potentially coming with us, and manufacturing the patch for distribution within each of the states that have approved medical marijuana legislation.” Medical Marijuana Delivery Systems expects to have Tetracan ready by year’s end. In the meantime, they’re hoping the Medicine Wheel Project takes off. “I think that it’s time that the industry as a whole began to organize itself. Again, I emphasize that there’s a lot of very well-meaning organizations and very well-meaning people that are involved in the industry, but there doesn’t seem to be any overall organization of all the participants. “Where we see ourselves coming into picture is, we’re brand new to the business. We look at this as an opportunity to be able to take something that’s very fragmented, and begin to give it some organization. “Are we gonna do it right? You know, we’re gonna make some mistakes along the way, but we’re eventually going to accomplish this. One thing about Chester and I is, there is no ‘Plan B’ in our lexicon, so therefore we will prevail as time goes on. It’s just a matter of working hard and getting the right people involved.” http://www.themedicinewheelproject.blogspot.com

HERE WE GO, BASEBALL FANS. IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

and every team has worked out the kinks in Spring Training, the ballparks are open for business and the smell of hotdogs and garlic fries is wafting through the air as we speak. It’s a new season, full of the hope and promise of a clean slate and a few new additions to the roster. It’s time to put the pain of your fantasy football loss in the past and look forward to the grueling pain and torture of 162 games. The National League West is a funny little division. The big east teams hardly notice that we exist it seems. ESPN’s baseball coverage is always about the Yankees or the Red Sox, with the occasional mention of a Dodger or a Giant, in passing. Someone did tell them that the Maybe it’s best this way. Maybe it’s good that the western teams fly under the media radar. A-Rod can do 70 interviews a day while the rest of us play baseball. And this year, the NL West looks tough as ever. Let’s take a look, beginning with the World Series champs from the bay: 78 78

The last time I checked, the Giants still had Lincecum, Cain, Zito, Sanchez and Bumgardener hurling the ball and Buster Posey is still behind the plate. DeRosa is healthy and so is second baseman, Freddy Sanchez. Andres Torres got himself a new full time job in center field and The Panda went all Biggest Loser this winter. The Giants are a team that finds ways to win and coming off of the ultimate coup, the land of misfit boys looks as magical as ever. Division Prediction: 1st place

The team may be still licking its wounds form the bitter divorce and the Manny situation, so it’s likely that 2011 could be a season to build the clubhouse. The Dodgers pitching is excellent and with the return of Kershaw, Lilly and Billingsly, the starting rotation looks solid. The trouble they may run into again is run support. It’s imperative that Kemp, Loney and Ethier return to form if the Dodgers want to make a run for it. The addition of San Francisco hero Juan Uribe may be a good jolt to the lineup. Division prediction: 4th place

The Padres shocked everyone last year by leading the NL West for a long time. Their rough finish was like watching a car tumble down a cliff after skidding over the edge at high speed. This year presents new challenges with the most glaring being the loss of first baseman Adrian Gonzales. Gonzales is expected to do big things in Boston and Padre fans hope that Brad Hawpe can step in to those very big shoes. San Diego always has a tough rotation that includes Matt Latos and Clayton Richard, two of the best in the league. San Diego’s biggest weapon is the outstanding management of Bud Black. Never count these guys out; he sure doesn’t. Division Prediction: 3rd place

The Rockies like to play good ball, then play great ball, and then win every game for weeks on end. This is always a dangerous team. With Troy Tulowitzski and Carlos Gonzales as serious MVP contenders, the offense has the power to gain steam and gain it fast. Dexter Fowler, Ian Stewart and Seth Smith are all in a class of guys who are good on the verge of dangerous. Rockies’ pitching will live and die with Ubaldo Jimenez, the phenom rookie who blew everyone away in his debut. This team just finds ways to win and once they get a taste of it, it’s hard for them to stop. Division Prediction: 2nd place

This team is under construction. Division Prediction: dead last

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Hempful Hints by Jay Evans

Hemp TecHnologies’ Hempcrete - GrowinG StronGer every Day

Hempful Hints is always thinking “green” and looking for every possible attribute of the natural gift of Hemp. It continues to amaze and astound us, and yet with every new product and use for Hemp, it seems the balance of the scales tip towards its revival; its uses and redeeming qualities are too hard to ignore. again and again, it’s been found to be stronger, healthier, and cheaper - certainly longer lasting, more efficient, easier to grow, with added profitability through industries across the gamut. now there’s another adjective to add to its list - breathable. This is the premise for yet another great Hemp product, Hempcrete by Hemp Technologies. What they have created is a thermally efficient, breathable form of insulated wall, created from Hemp and a Lime mineral based binder. This highly sustainable hemp-lime mixture becomes something called “shiv,” a mulch-like solid that replaces concrete. Constructed around a traditional wood frame, recycled plastic shutter-like panels are tightened together to form the cavity that will be filled with Hempcrete, the fibrous clumps which are pushed down and set to dry. The hemp-lime mixture leaves a zero carbon footprint, and will not mold, rot, dry out, or get termites. This has great health benefits for those with respiratory issues. Hempcrete’s insulating properties are exceptional, making it cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter. It has the ability to meter its own humidity, level off and release it back out - literally breathing. It also pulls Carbon Dioxide (CO2) out of the house naturally because of the Lime, making for an even healthier living environment, and while it pulls out dangerous carbons, it becomes an increasingly harder surface due to petrification, allowing it to outlast traditional woods and other construction materials, as well as all of its tenants. With Hemp being grown across Europe, and imported for these great uses, it’s time the U.s.a. finally distinguishes between non-psychoactive Hemp and Marijuana, thus allowing Hemp to be one of our greatest farmable commodities. If all the Tobacco farmers switched to growing Hemp legally, we could save our agriculture industry, live healthier, more economically, and in stronger homes that cost less exponentially, using fewer trees, and lowering power usage. This all sounds rational and ideal, but the reality lies in the corporate interests of just about every industry: tobacco, medical, oil, agriculture, not being the least of them. However, there are many inroads that have been steadily leading us into that direction. There are those investing in and building ”green” structures that have a longer life, healthier tenants, and less of a carbon footprint, certainly showing a hopeful future. This wave of “Green” building could very well become the norm someday. although it might seem out of reach right now in this economy, the future is bright that costs can be kept within reason, and over time the savings in energy bills could exponentially help save money across the board. Hemp, it’s already happening. If you are building a home, or are interested in “Green” construction using Hempcrete and other products, head over to Hemp-Technologies.com

It’s a crazy upside down world out there, especially if you drive a car. Just turn on the news; the Middle East is in turmoil and dictators are dropping like flies, which is a good thing of course, but we’re paying for it at the pump. No matter where you are, the price of fuel is out of control. Gas is going up so fast even the government can’t get a fix on it. Last month, the Federal Energy Information Administration announced the average price of regular gas in the U.S.is$3.19pergallon.Then,adaylater,theAAAFuelGaugeReportsaidthenationalaverageat$3.22.That’sanincreaseofthreecentspergalloninoneday.Atthisrate,we’llallsoon bedrivingourkid’slittleredpedalcartowork....ornot!Maybetherearesomethingswecandosoftentheblowtoourcreditcardstatementandthedwindlingstashofcashinourwallets.

HERE ARE TEN PROVEN WAYS TO KEEP A JAUNT TO THE GROCERY STORE FROM LANDING YOU IN BANKRUPTCY COURT. ONE. If you have a smart phone, download a “gas app.” There are lots available, but I like GasBuddy because it’s free and simple to use. Another is Cheap Gas, (also free) which gives you precise directions to the closest, cheapest station. These are for the iphone, but no worries, there are plenty for you Android types too. TWO. Use cash when possible. Many stations charge a few cents less per gallon if you don’t flex the plastic at their pumps. THREE. What’s up with topping off with premium every time? The fact is most cars don’t need it, despite what it says in the owner’s manual. To be sure, ask a good independent mechanic if it’s safe to use regular or the middle-grade gas in that chick (or dude) magnet of yours. FOUR. Now this is sort of a no-brainer, but…consider carpooling, especially for shopping trips, a day at the beach, etc. Yup, there’s even an app for that! Download the Carpicipate App to find new friends and neighbors who also want to share a ride. FIVE. And speaking of shopping…do it online whenever possible. There’s actually a study out there that shows shopping on the net saves up to 35% in fuel consumption, not to mention ancillary items like parking, bridge tolls and that impulsive “gotta’ have it” latte. Ok, go ahead, have the latte, but don’t make it a special trip. SIX. Also in the no-brainer department, you can assume, if it’s ultra-convenient, then you’re paying through the nose. So, steer clear of gas stations located right off the freeway. Their rents are higher and they charge more, plus they know you want your fill-up to be fast and easy, so they mark it up to whatever the traffic will bear. SEVEN. Next, you’ve heard it before, “sometimes you’ve got to spend money to save money.” Sounds like an oxymoron. But in this case, it’s totally true. Keep your ride tuned up and you’ll get better mileage, and performance too. Clean filters, properly adjusted belts and hoses, good spark plugs and fresh fluids all count, and check the air pressure in those tires now and then. For every three pounds your tires are under-inflated, fuel economy drops by about one percent. It all adds up. EIGHT. And, try to control that lead foot. Aggressive driving, while it might be fun attracting the attention of potential girlfriends and boyfriends, not-to-mention traffic cops…it burns a lot more gas. NINE. How quickly you accelerate and how fast you go makes a huge difference. How huge? Well, for every mile per hour over sixty you drive, you’re spending an extra ten cents a gallon. And, according to Department of Energy studies, erratic driving and hard braking can waste an additional fifty cents per gallon. TEN. Last, do the math. Decide if venturing out on the highway is really worth it. Driving ten miles across town to buy sunglasses on sale probably won’t save you anything. In fact, as the price of petrol continues to rise, those new shades may be a lot more expensive than you bargained for. IN THE END, THE PRICE OF GAS MOVES UP AND DOWN BASED ON WORLD POLITICS AND ECONOMICS, AND THAT PROBABLY WON’T CHANGE. BUT ADOPT SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES, AND YOU CAN SURVIVE THIS MESS.

is one of life’s best treats. It’s been a staple of spring and summertime and is a mandatory freezer addition to anyone with taste buds. Who doesn’t like ice cream? The sound of the ice cream man is a symphony to those who are lucky enough to hear the singsong bells ringing in their neighborhood. Whether you are a gourmet ice cream snob or a drive through soft serve fan, ice cream almost always hits the spot. From the exotic to trusty vanilla, ice cream flavors are as plentiful as the places to find a scoop or a pint. In this terribly challenging task, I set out to find the best ice cream in town. I’m sure I have much more research to do, but for the sake of time and my waistline, here are some instant classics.

Glacier Homemade Ice Cream

4760 Baseline Road or 3133 28th Street Boulder, CO www.glaciericecream.com Glacier creates everything from scratch; even their caramel and hot fudge sauce. They use locally grown produce when available and even make their whipped cream. There are over 300 flavors of ice cream, sorbet, gelato and frozen yogurt and each one is a custom invention of goodness, but Glacier is not just an ice cream & gelato shop. They have milkshakes, malts, hot fudge sundaes, fresh waffle cones, banana splits, root beer floats, and customized ice cream cakes. For the health conscious, they feature over 20 smoothies including 10 non-dairy concoctions…but when you walk into Glacier, consider exploring your gluttonous side. Sometimes that can be more beneficial than you may think.

Josh & John’s Naturally Homemade Ice Creams

111 East Pikes Peak Avenue Colorado Springs, CO www.joshandjohns.com You can’t argue with perfection. Josh and John’s has won the Best Ice Cream award by Colorado Springs media every year since 1986. Their secret is that they make their ice cream in modified machines from the turn of the century, when ice cream was thick and creamy and calories were easily walked or worked off. The ambiance is cool and funky and the flavors are interesting without being outrageous. Girl Scout Chocolate Mint? Yes please.

Sweet Action Ice Cream 52 Broadway Denver, CO www.sweetactionicecream.com

The mother lode of interesting flavors lives at Sweet Action. The first time I ever had green tea ice cream, the whole world opened up and the possibilities of ice cream flavorings was no longer limited to cookies n’ cream as the only “exotic” flavor in my taste lexicon. Sweet Action blew my mind with their Mascarpone Blackberry Chile and Garden Mint. Salted butterscotch and baklava have tempted me and I’m not leaving ever again without a pint of brown sugar banana. This place just might be heaven.

By the early 1970s Bruce Lee

was one of the most famous people in the world. Already the biggest movie star in Asia, the only way he could have become bigger was by making a Hollywood movie or dying. As it happened he ended up doing both, almost simultaneously.

Today, some forty years later, the story of Bruce Lee is almost as well known as his death is mysterious. He was born in San Francisco and grew up in Hong Kong living the double life of a child actor and teen heartthrob who was a street brawling punk in his spare time. After receiving a particularly bad beating he began studying kung fu. A naturally gifted martial artist, Bruce immediately excelled and his unmatched kung fu prowess eventually catapulted him to a level of success on the screen. After toiling for years in bit parts in Hollywood and low budget films in China, Bruce was on the eve of releasing Enter the Dragon, which featured him in his first starring role in a Hollywood film. But on July 20, 1973 Bruce was at his mistress’ apartment in Hong Kong when he died suddenly of an apparent cerebral e d e m a (brain

swelling) aggravated by his use of the painkiller Equesiac. If only he had stuck to cannabis. Cannabis? Uh huh. Bruce Lee? Yup. Bruce Lee was known for his healthy, upstanding lifestyle so it’s hard for some people to accept the fact that he used cannabis. Certainly it’s unlikely that a man of Bruce Lee’s level of fitness fanaticism would have smoked it. But reports from people who knew him indicate that he was fond of eating pot cookies, drinking cannabis tea and chewing on potent Nepali hashish. According to an article by Helen Gent published in Marie Claire in July 2009, while filming Enter the Dragon, “Lee found solace in cannabis. Not wanting to damage his body by smoking it, he reportedly kept a jar of hash cookies on set to munch between takes.” American martial artist Bob Wall, who co-starred in Enter the Dragon, remembers hanging out with Bruce when he would eat a pot cookie and seeing him become “mellow, relaxed and charming.” Bruce Lee also loved music. He had been a Cha-cha champion in Hong Kong before immigrating to America and saw a connection between dance, music and martial arts. In Way of the Dragon, the second to last film he completed, Bruce even contributed to the film’s soundtrack by playing percussion. Bruce also allegedly liked to get stoned and spend hours listening to Indian ragas on headphones, trying to absorb their improvised melodies and fluid rhythms so that he could incorporate them into his martial arts. Lee discovered Indian music in 1969 when, like the Beatles, he traveled to India. However in Bruce’s case he wasn’t seeking spiritual enlightenment so much as potential locations for The Silent Flute, a film he was going to co-star in with his kung fu student James Coburn who accompanied him on the trip. Throughout the journey Bruce constantly sang Beatles songs to himself which reportedly annoyed the eternally laidback Coburn to the point where he lost his cool entirely telling Bruce, “Stop that, you’re driving me crazy!” Coburn however went on to speak at Bruce’s funeral and was even one of his pallbearers along with Steve McQueen, another of Bruce’s actor students who was coincidentally also one of Hollywood’s most notorious potheads. Enter the Dragon represented a giant leap forward in quality from the three Chinese movies Bruce had previously starred in. The film was an instant classic and would have undoubtedly made Bruce the first Asian Hollywood superstar. Enter the Dragon’s success is of course partially due to it being backed by a big Hollywood budget. But it is also certainly due in part to Bruce having broken through to a new level of consciousness, awareness and presence in his life and work. What part cannabis may have ultimately played in Bruce’s selfrealization as a person and an artist is diﬃcult to measure. But it’s perhaps notable that the period when there were the most reports of Bruce Lee using cannabis coincides with when he was doing his best work.

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There’s a beverage battle raging in Colorado, but this time it’s not Coors against Budweiser. When Tripp Keber, owner of Dixie Elixirs, places his competitor’s bottles on his desk, it’s more like he’s staging them as toy soldiers in a tiny battle. “Most of the products out there on the street are utilizing an amber bottle,” he says, repositioning the scene. “That’s generally to hide the imperfections.” At Dixie Elixirs, they’ve thought of it all. It’s clear that Keber isn’t out to trash the opposition, but rather work with them. “I use the term co-opetition. Where there’s Coke, there’s Pepsi. Let the patients decide and help me be competitive.” It hasn’t taken much time for industry to take notice. When Dixie got its start in May of 2010, they were just two people in “less than ideal conditions.” Most of the year was spent completing a $500,000 build-out of their 27,000 square foot facility and working with both food scientists and

All of Dixie’s products go through a three step testing process to ensure quality at every step. Full Spectrum Laboratories, a strategic partner, analyzes raw product, the THC infused oil derived from the raw product, and randomly selected finished products. Through this testing, Dixie has developed what they feel is a consistent experience every time. “Anybody can make a great pot brownie, but even fewer can make 100 pot brownies, and an even smaller percentage can make 100 pot brownies every day,” Keber says. The finished product doesn’t look too different from many alternative sodas on the market today. This reflects a very intense focus on brand strategy that consumed their first year of business. The Dixie Elixirs hieroglyph logo was just one of many options (the rejects still hang on Keber’s oﬃce wall). From nutritional information to QR barcoding, the packaging alone is light years ahead of many

chefs to create a consistent product. “We’re a company that manufactures medicine, and with that comes great responsibility,” Keber notes. One of the most daunting tasks was developing a process that was replicable for tens of thousands of bottles a month. That’s where “Big Bertha”, a bottler the size of an RV, came in. Bottles are labeled, sanitized and sent to the corral, where two operators can generate up to 175 cases of medicated soda in a day. While it all seems too easy to be true, a control panel of colored wires and endless switches that would intimidate a NASA scientist sort of validates that sentiment.“I don’t touch it!” jokes Keber.

competitors. However, regulation by the Department of Revenue’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division doesn’t make it easy. “It’s an evolving platform,” he notes. “I generally don’t print more than 1,000 labels at any time in case product labeling needs to evolve. We’re all learning as an industry. There’s no handbook on how to do this.” If there was a handbook, you’d probably find it in the Dixie facility. Having two parents that have dealt with cancer in nonMMJ states, it’s clear that Keber eyes expanding the brand to help reach those that want an alternative to smoking cannabis. For now, his headquarters happens to be one of the largest infused products manufacturing facilities in Colorado. And as far as he’s concerned…it’s not a bad start.

by Charlotte Cruz

Living Well: Jogging STARTING THE ENGINE As with any exercise, you have got to get the blood flowing and the muscles loose to prevent injury. Weekend warriors are often injured by jumping into an activity without properly warming up the body. If you are new to jogging, it’s a good idea to stretch longer than you normally would since the muscles you use while jogging may have been asleep for a while. The benefits of a stretch are maximized when the circulation is good and the muscles are warm, so it’s advised to start stretching after a 5-10 minute brisk walk. A jogger’s cool down should be very similar or exactly like the warm up and is equally important.

FORM IS EVERYTHING

ome people love it and others would rather swim 14 miles to not have to do it for 10 minutes: Jogging - the

cheapest, easiest way to stay fit (and the trickiest of sports). It seems so simple enough.

While form is vital to staying injury-free, that doesn’t mean that everyone jogs the same, but the basic rules apply. According to running and exercise gospel, a jogger’s foot should make contact in the middle as they stride. Since you’re absorbing all of that shock to your feet, it’s best to try to keep it evenly distributed and mimic how you naturally walk. Jogging is not about lifting the knees; it’s about continual, fluid motion at a comfortable pace (the norm for measuring correct pace is breathing deeply and steadily but still able to maintain a conversation) for a prolonged amount of time. Taking big strides or kicking backwards can cause injury to the joints and leg muscles, so avoid these common mistakes.

We all did it as kids and millions of people continue to strap on their running shoes for a 4-miler before breakfast and actually enjoy it. The tricky part is knowing your body well enough to detect injury, maintain proper technique and have the proper equipment to perform the arduous task of literally pounding the pavement. The basic rules to live by are to properly warm up, keep your form, and, of course, don’t forget to breathe.

DON’T SKIMP ON SHOES If jogging is, or you want it to be, a part of your regular exercise routine, you have got to take care of your feet. While other sports require bulky and expensive equipment, all you really need to jog is a place to do it. Proper footwear, however, can make all the difference in the world and should be considered a worthwhile investment. Go to a runner’s shoe store and let the staff help you determine what shoe is best for your foot. It’s so worth it.

Jogging is free and anyone in good health can do it. It’s a great workout, can be a very social activity and the more you do it, the stronger and better you get. So get off the couch and you’ll be signing up for your first 5K in no time…and completing it just as quickly! 90

This Month in Weed History By Josh Kaplan

To celebrate April, KUSH magazine would like to pass on the obvious celebration of 4/20, and the numerous different theories on how that special number came to be: whether it’s the amount of chemical compounds in Marijuana, or the time in between classes that was designated to the very needed midday session - we don’t care! It’s always 4:20 around here, so we’ve decided to celebrate a man whose work supersedes all Marijuana folklore. A man who has conquered the world of music, books, film, political activism, and entrepreneurism, along the way becoming a spokesman and icon for the legalization and understanding of our beloved plant - Willie Nelson, born April 30, 1933. Willie Nelson started his musical career at the young age of seven, writing songs, and eventually performing them by nine. While early success would propel him to the fast track, Willie refused to get stuck in any rut. As a high school student, he excelled in baseball, football, and basketball. With the Korean War starting, Willie devoted nine months to the Air Force, only to be released due to a chronic back problem. His musical capabilities would prevail though. Songwriting was his true forte, and allowed Willie to write for and/or collaborate with the very best musicians from all genres. With his roots resting in country music, he worked with all the greats including Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Neil Young, and Toby Keith and even joined Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash to form The Highwaymen in the mid-80s. Having great crossover appeal has also allowed Willie to play with the likes of The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Ringo Starr, Al Green, Keith Richards, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ben Harper, Kid Rock, and even, most recently, fellow Marijuana torchbearer, Snoop Dogg. He even landed himself a coveted spot at 2007’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, alongside a lineup that included Rage Against the

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Machine, Bjork, and The Roots. Currently touring as Willie Nelson & Family, Willie surrounds himself with family and friends, both on stage and off, as part of his rolling circus. Since his tax evasion issues in 1990, due to the poor financial management and investments, Willie has been on tour ever since. Taking just three years to pay off his $6,000,000 settlement, Willie has been busing his way through “most” checkpoints across the United States, playing everywhere from stadiums with luxury suites to the mom and pop diners dotting the American landscape to just about every state fair in the land. Turning seventy-eight this month doesn’t seem to slow down this musical genius. Of the many times I’ve seen Willie in concert, he has always been entertaining, and sharp. His band of many years has learned to follow his lead - on their toes, and ready to jump. With a cache of hundreds of songs to choose from, he has his hands on the wheel, and will often take a sharp turn musically, really challenging those sharing the stage to follow accordingly. Willie’s off the cuff style often includes taking requests from the audience, or daisy chaining songs together thematically, just because. His sharpness, and ability to story tell through his scraggily voice and chewed up acoustic guitar (named Trigger after Roy Rogers’ horse) is a truly American sound, possibly above and beyond any other, and his branding as an “American Icon” doesn’t fall short. His philanthropic work forming Farm Aid (along with Neil Young and John Mellencamp) has brought a huge awareness along with financial help to the farmers who need assistance. Since 1985, these concerts have brought together musicians, actors, and politicians, all to help this growing issue. His work doesn’t stop on the road, or in the farmers’ fields. He is also the co-chair on the NORML advisory board. His run-ins with the law over Marijuana possession have become notorious. Willie’s outspoken stance, and admittance to being a pot smoker has brought a lot of welcomed attention. His notoriety has even led him to the White House, where as friends with then President Jimmy Carter, he was admittedly spotted on the roof by the Secret Service smoking what he called a “big fat Austin torpedo.” Is there anyone else that can get away with smoking a joint on the roof of the White House? This man’s life has seen so many miles, met so many people, played so many tunes, and has accomplished too many awards and recording accomplishments to mention. What’s more noteworthy is Willie’s passion for life. He hasn’t slowed down in his elder years, and continues to challenge himself almost nightly onstage. Though he has cut his iconic long braids recently, his power still remains. He captivates every crowd he plays for, and never leaves anything behind. His closeness with his fans leads him to sign anything from posters to guitars at the end of every show. He will literally bend down from the stage to his fans and sign their memorabilia. This is the sign of someone who appreciates his position in life. He is as thankful for his fans, as we are of him. If you haven’t yet, give yourself the gift of experiencing him live. Do it now, while you still can.

GROWERS GROVE

It’s hard to discuss the politics of medical Cannabis without focusing on the issue of money. Who’s making how much? Many theories abound about how lucrative growing pot can be. The truth is that many growers in saturated medical Cannabis markets aren’t making nearly as much as they used to. New growers struggle to compete with older, more established gardens. In part one of this candid look at the price of pot over the last decade, we looked at how the reduction in grower’s margins have led to both a loss of high-quality, longer flowering strains as well as an overall reduction in the quality of Cannabis in many areas. We also looked at how everyone in the emerging Cannabis industry wants in on as much of the grower’s margin as possible. From the hype of the hydroponics industry salesmen to doctors selling overpriced “grow licenses”, there is no end to the number of people circling the grower’s margin like vultures. Even as the rise of closet gardens spike exponentially, large “mega-garden” grows are being planned in many areas. With rising costs, thinning margins and flooded markets already squeezing medium size, “mom-and-pop” gardens, the future of high-quality Cannabis production is suddenly as uncertain as it is promising. A Shifting Economic Landscape The doctors, dispensaries, and hydro salesmen that clamor for the grower’s profits are just some of many examples where the non-growing segment of the Cannabis community has lost sight of what it really takes to grow fine medicine. I could also call out PG&E and everyone else determined to make growing pot the least profitable part of the industry. (GASP!!!) He said the word “profitable”. Yeah, as a side note, there’s absolutely nothing in the current laws that prohibit making a profit on Cannabis. Just so you know. The idea that Cannabis must be non-profit is completely erroneous and is perpetuated by law enforcement agencies eager to keep illegally prosecuting medical Cannabis dispensaries and patients. The claim made by these ignorant task force officials is that pot only costs $500 per pound to produce (WTF are these guys smoking?) and so selling Cannabis for any more than that is illegal, even though there is no legal basis to the belief that medical Cannabis must be non-profit. California law simply states that nothing in the law “condones” profit. Nothing prohibits it either. A crafty wording perhaps, but then again, don’t pharmaceutical companies make hundreds of millions of dollars worth of profit every year? Why can’t growers make an honest living producing quality medicine? 96 96

You know what else? Growers should be paid premium market prices. They should make good money on their hard work. There, I said it. When premium Cannabis is differentiated from the rest and the grower is compensated accordingly, the whole community benefits from better quality medicine. Simply put, the good shit costs more in every other industry out there from wine to chocolate to vegetables to cell phones, so why would it be any different for fine Cannabis? Why would basic economic principles magically stop applying to this industry? I guess dispensaries that carry lots of mediocre cheap herb haven’t considered that this is California and there are already millions of discerning pot snobs out there looking for the premium herbs. It’s not like they’re going to suddenly settle for less when there’s this much pot around. They’ll just keep looking for the chronic and their search may well lead them away from dispensaries unless higher quality standards are held and better growers are compensated more. Growers prefer to work with cooperatives and are willing to exchange some margin for a reduction in risk. But unfortunately, Cannabis growing is still fraught with risks, both financial and legal, and some growers have begun to direct their Cannabis elsewhere since their significantly lowered margin hasn’t been proportional to the slight decrease in risk. In fact, there are so many patients around in saturated markets that some growers have simply gone back to selling at concerts or meeting patients at clubs and then working out deals to sell directly to them. At 4/20 events across California, savvy growers and discerning patient consumers are meeting up to arrange better deals on better medicine. Patient to patient sales are legal in California and for people who don’t need regular store hours, the quality of grower direct buds is often superior. The customer gets the best pot again and the grower gets their margin back. Now, when the garden needs new breakers or an A/C unit or a dehumidifier, or an extra light, or a better veg area, the grower can simply invest in their garden and not feel pressured to take the cheap and easy way out. It’s a small effect now, but I see it growing. In fact, it may even become its own industry within an industry especially as municipalities stack heavier and heavier taxes on medical Cannabis or concentrate the market into a handful of dispensaries. They may find themselves unable to compete with the open market (I guess that’s “black market” to some).

(continued on page 98)

For example, I recently heard of a series of Cannabis “speakeasies” opening in Oakland; I can only imagine that they are sprouting up elsewhere as well. Oakland is one of the largest Cannabis markets in the country, but for the last several years, the patients have been limited to only 4 dispensaries in the entire city. Known for being one of the most progressive Cannabis markets, Oakland is less known for how few outlets there are for Cannabis. There was a brief movement to create a grower-direct “farmer’s market” in Oakland, but that idea was shot down. (Although Craigslist is still the online farmers market of Cannabis for those daring enough to try hooking up from internet strangers.) Perhaps the rise of speakeasies was inevitable. Simple economics has created a situation where directto-market Cannabis has arisen in a heavily controlled Cannabis distribution network. Due to a recent California law that reduces possession of less than an ounce from a misdemeanor to an infraction, many people don’t consider their recommendations necessary (I strongly recommend keeping your doctor’s recommendation current. Get one if you do not already have one). Some people who view full legalization as being right around the corner are catering to this crowd. The risks are greater for them, but again, basic economics shows that the extra incentive creates more motivation and someone willing to fill the role of “better pot for less”. Without the burden of taxes or extensive overhead, a higher quality product goes to market and the savings is passed on to grower and consumer alike. Economy of Scale to the Rescue! (Maybe) Last month, Oakland announced plans to open a handful of new dispensaries as well as take a second attempt at licensing a few 50,000 square foot marijuana farms. The idea here is that the economy of scale will allow higher quality products to retail at lower prices. The grim reality is that the larger the commercial grow is, the less outstanding the product is. Unless, of course, the farmer invests heavily in labor and expensive equipment, which then elevates the cost of production and significantly negates the economy of scale. Plus, massive gardens simply don’t have the flexibility to keep up with new market trends. Let me give you an example. I remember when the purple craze hit Oakland hard in 2003. I was managing 300 lights worth of warehouse production for Compassionate Caregivers (CCG), the largest Cannabis Dispensary in California at the time – the notorious “Third floor” in Oakland. When a competing club opened up literally across the street from CCG Oakland and had half a menu of nothing but top shelf purples, they actually managed to pull business away from what was otherwise an unstoppable Cannabis dispensary juggernaut. Simply offering a different color of Cannabis was enough to get the owner to breathe down my neck about the need for more purples. “Slender!” (Jade wasn’t my moniker back then) “How are those purples coming along?’ he kept asking me. I was pretty intimidated by the guy and usually replied something like “They’re coming as fast as possible.” In my mind though, I’d be thinking something like: “Well, let’s see. We got clones of every purple strain 2 weeks ago. We just now took a few clones off each. We flower in a sea of green method. The batch sizes that we plant range from 200 – 1500 clones at a time. Let me get back to you in several months.” And that’s 98 98

just how long it was going to take just to get it planted. Then add flowering time, drying time, trimming time. Let’s just say it’s not an overnight kind of process on that kind of scale. 80 lights can be cut and hung in just a few hours but it would be a long time before the 6 person trim crew that worked 40 hours a week would finish it. The extra margin gained from the economy of scale didn’t mean as much when the otherwise excellent but green medicine suddenly didn’t sell. Small growers with just a few grow lights, however, could immediately respond to the market shift. They could have ordered and raised seeds of purple varieties and still beaten us to market by several months. Back then there weren’t as many 1 and 2 light growers, but today, the hydroponic industry caters to the smaller grower in search of easy to use, plug and play garden fixtures and there are hundreds of thousands of lights scattered across the market in 1 and 2 light increments. This will drastically change the way that the market can respond to new trends. Now when a particular flavor of Kush becomes the only thing people want; it’ll be the mom and pop growers who can immediately get a few cuttings and plant a light with it. Recently, several articles came out regarding high CBD strains. All of a sudden, people were obsessed with finding high CBD strains and weren’t interested in anything else. With so many unique plants yet to be discovered, I have to think that the only constant in the industry will be change. Cannabis consumers love variety and small scale farmers will always be able to respond to trends faster. Now, don’t get me wrong, there can be advantages to the economy of scale up to a certain point. But there are also many self-limiting factors to Cannabis production as well. High grade, hand trimmed, controlled environment sinsemilla is a product that was born into a particular market scale and is largely a result of the scale on which it originally was produced - somewhere between a closet and a house worth of garden. Bud that comes from a larger scale operation than that is typically commercial grade in quality. Smaller gardens receive better care because they are easier to tend and manage. Also, patients who grow where they live are able to monitor and respond to their crops at all hours of the day and night, which is an important advantage for crop management as well. Growing in houses has received a stigma because irresponsible growers have created house fires from poor wiring. While this is a valid concern and should be addressed, I believe this concern is inflated by hysteria. Anything negative associated with pot is an extremely newsworthy story. Less noteworthy are all the occasions when people start fires by leaving their oven on. We’re not out shutting down people’s kitchens and telling them they now have to buy their cookies from one of the 4 commercial kitchens in town. Also, the influx of plug-and-play lights, tents and other growing equipment along with an emerging market of electricians and tradesmen who cater to the Cannabis growing community are greatly reducing the desire by growers to wire something themselves. While it seems easy to simply scale-up the methods that currently exist, there is a more intrinsic connection between superlative Cannabis and the relatively small scale of the home grower. Still don’t believe me? I’ll give you one more example.

It’s common knowledge amongst growers to shake their nutrient containers before mixing the products with water in order to make sure the nutrients haven’t settled in the bottle. Massive warehouses would require 55-gallon drums of fertilizer that have the same problem of settling. Now invent an OSHA approved way to shake your 55-gallon drum before every use. Of course, it’s certainly possible to invent various ways around this problem, but having done it, I’ll tell you that even the simplest aspects of home growing become very complicated on a large scale. You can put a pump in it, but it better not be a magnetic drive or it’ll pull the micronutrient metals like iron out of solution before they’ve even left the barrel. Maybe a propeller? Ok, but it better be made of plastic or non-reactive metal to avoid reacting with the raw fertilizer’s chemical balance. Plus, you have to be very careful how the assembly gets into the drum. Any openings can allow spores into the drum and you’d be surprised the type of organisms that can actually grow in raw fertilizer. Even if they’re not pathogenic to plants, their growth can change the chemistry of the solution. A simple process that becomes a second nature motion for the home grower is now an engineering challenge on a large scale, requiring time, labor and specialized machinery to adapt to it. So, for the “potrepreneurs” (see also: pot profiteers) who want to take an industry based on small-scale, carefully tended varietals of Cannabis and turn it into an industry filled with cheaply made, mega-store shwag, they should consider that it might not be so easy. I think there will be many, many Cannabis consumers like myself that will pay a little more for premium buds grown with TLC than whatever cheaply made offerings are produced by the Costco of Crap. I mean, Walmart sells wine. But if you asked 100 wine drinkers where they buy their wine, I doubt many of them would say Walmart (and the ones that do probably wouldn’t be proud to admit it). Again, growing Cannabis is a skilled trade. You can have all the business degrees in the world, but if you’ve never worked with lumber in your entire life, you can’t just take a weekend class on woodworking and then suddenly pretend you’re a contractor the next week. You definitely shouldn’t sink everything you have into starting a construction business as though you knew what you were doing. - Jade Kine Tune in next month for the third and final installment of ‘The Price of Pot,’ where Jade Kine talks to us about The Green Rush bubble and how to avoid being caught inside it holding a bag of shwag. (Growers Grove writer Jade Kine is a former greenhouse manager for the medical Cannabis industry with over a million plants worth of experience. He is also the founder of CannAcademy, a trade school dedicated solely to horticultural training for growers. Got a grow question for Jade? Drop him a line at JadeKine@gmail.com Complete bio at JadeKine.com)

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Welcome back! Last month, I touched on some of the basics surrounding using organic growing methods and using beneficial bacteria to your advantage when growing in soil. since I knew the next question was coming, I am using this month’s column to talk about organics in hydroponic systems. There’s a debate currently raging out there about whether it’s best to go sterile in your hydro system or use bennies - and what, if any, advantages the beneficials might provide. another part of this debate is what to do with which kind of hydro system. Well, relax, I’ve done the homework and I am here to give it to you straight! First, a little background about hydro systems - there are several types, and most of them have some sort of interruption in their water delivery specifically to help combat the problem of root rot. That’s why ebb and ﬂow, top drip and nutrient film type systems all have an off period long enough to let the roots dry a bit. The extreme case is deep water culture, where the roots are submerged all the time without any breaks. Because of this, many people shy away from DWC systems, thinking they’re prone to problems. The basics are important here; keep your water cool – 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is best, well oxygenated with airstones, bubblers or waterfalls, and pH balanced within about 5.3 to 6.3, depending on what medium you’re using. also, remember that with nutrients in hydroponics, less is more, so start with your nutes at half strength and work your way up to what your plants can handle. With these basic parameters in place, you’re going to have fewer problems no matter what. second, let me say that people

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have had great results both ways. sterile systems work fine, as long as you stay ahead of the critters and never let them gain a foothold in your water system. Therein lies the rub, however - it doesn’t take long for an infestation to go from barely noticeable to killing your precious plants, and that’s a surprise no one wants! The other problem I’ve heard with this approach is the accidental breeding of superbugs - just like prolonged exposure to herbicides eventually creates resistant disease strains that are much tougher to eradicate, the same thing can happen in your hydro system, leaving you with the scary prospect of superbugs that can tolerate more hydrogen peroxide than your plants can! alas, there is another way. From the time we’re born until long after we’re gone, we humans are a teeming community of literally thousands of different varieties of bacteria, fungi and viruses. so many, in fact, current estimates are that there are 200 times as many microbes living on and in your body than there are cells OF your body! an emerging school of thought in medicine says that it’s not whether we have bugs that cause illness, it’s more about the balance and as long as we maintain that balance, we’re healthy. It’s the same in soil - the hugely diverse micro-ecosystem of microbes in the soil not only act to feed one another and the plant, they also act to control one another, so that unless things are out of whack the disease causing bugs never get the upper hand. so if this is the way things have always been, then maybe there is a way to put the power of bugs to good use in our nutrient solution?

It turns out that people are having great success with doing just that. It seems that making teas out of compost and earthworm castings and then inoculating your hydroponic system with them works to ward off an invasion of disease causing pathogens by both supporting the plant’s own immune system and, in some cases, even by eating them directly! I won’t go into recipes here, they’re easy to find if you look around. They all cover a few points; first, brew your tea for a day or two to build up the numbers of beneficial microbes, and second, do not feed your microbes in your reservoir, rather, brew fresh tea (or keep the batch you whipped up in the refrigerator for up to a week or so) and re-inoculate your system every few days. This saves on buying lots of product and makes the additives more effective. Keep in mind that heavy doses of some chemically based nutes will work against an ongoing colony of anything in your water, and that the jury is still out on exactly how much beneficial microbes will improve the growth of your plants. On the other hand, just keeping the nasty bugs at bay should be reason enough! so, if you’re concerned about taking the hydro plunge because of the horror stories you’ve heard about things going horribly wrong, follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to productivity levels and yields that will blow your mind! That’s it for this month, and happy growing! Feel free to send any comments or questions to me at indoorcultivationconsulting@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to answer them!

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HOW A GUY WITH HIS LEVEL OF RESPECT AND SUCCESS CAN ATTRIBUTE IT TO LUCK RATHER THAN UNDENIABLE TALENT, an insanely grueling schedule and work ethic to match, I’ll never understand. But that simple quote just plays testament to his character…full of humility, tenacity, and an unwavering commitment to his craft almost impossible to find in our ADHDay and age. Hell, when I called him, he answered the phone while it was balancing between his shoulder and chin at the same time he was loading up his truck to go to work. Just another day in the life of you and me. Just another day in the life of Sean Daley. As he prepares for the drop of his outfit’s 12th release, “The Family Sign,” the Atmosphere front man, who we all know and have grown to love as Slug, reflects on the evolution of his style, his lexicon, his views, and his psyche in this revealing interview with Kush Magazine. “To me it’s all a matter of continuing to write music and set moods to reflect how I think, how I feel, how I live,” he tells us. And it’s an evolutionary process that may not please all his fans at once, but pleases different age groups in a Darwinian manner…eventually catching up with everyone through the process of maturity. As for the ones that have grown with him, they get it completely, but because of his cross-generational appeal, you still have “a lot of people, when I read the little comments underneath the YouTubes and this and that, who bring up that we should go back to rapping like we did on ‘Overcast,’ the first record. Then we got a couple that are like, ‘nah, go back to (second album) Lucy Ford,’ then there’s the (third album) ‘God Loves Ugly’ crowd. It goes on with each album and I understand why…but I think that it’s like, don’t you get it? The reason I keep changing is to be who I am that year that I made it.” And he doesn’t get angry or irritated, or even bothered, by these comments and criticisms, but rather embraces them…for he knows where they stem from…he knows the truth. “And the truth is, there is not a 39 year old man commenting on YouTube that ‘Overcast is the illest shit.’ The kid that wrote that was between the age of 17-24 and it makes sense that he’s going to connect to those words because he’s going through some of the same shit right now. And I love that!” What he’s essentially telling us is that, just like everything in life, it’s all a matter of perspective, something, in this case, he possesses through circumstance. “I got a teenage son and I see what he’s feeling and it’s more aggressive music than what I listen to,” Slug admits, “but it makes sense…that’s what you’re supposed to be peeping out when you’re younger and figuring out how to fight the world. So I get it, you know?” And that’s why your Lil’ Jons and Romeos will come and go, while Sean Daley and Anthony Davis have been here the whole time. At the beginning of their recent long and productive 14-year day, Sean Daley was just another man with a dream. A dream that he interpreted through his own words, interpretations that have become realities, realities that have culminated in a successful career as one of underground hip-hop’s most formidable, and steadfast, forces. And it all started with a chance meeting with Anthony Davis, or Ant…the man behind the beats. They’ve managed to create their own time zones, their own galaxies, and their own seemingly indestructible orbit…and it all started because of weed. As a matter of fact, if it wasn’t for our beloved plant, Atmosphere may never have even existed.

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Well, at least that’s the way we see it.

The way Slug tells it, “Me and (fellow rapper) Musab (then known as Beyond) met through another rapper and it just so happens Musab was an ‘environmentalist.’ Upon realizing that, you have a few choices of who to call, but I’d rather support another rapper, especially if he’s a cool dude, so I started hitting him up and we became good friends. From there he was like ‘I want to do a song with you’ so I went over to his producer’s house and his producer was Anthony.” You would assume, after listening to the pairing’s work over the past decade and a half, that they immediately clicked and the rest was history…but it was a bit more complicated than that. A sort of courtship first had to ensue. “I think that Anthony saw the potential in me, but I don’t think he was necessarily trying to work with me. It was me that was like ‘yo, can I start coming to you for beats?’ Now he might tell the story different because in his heart of hearts he was trying to work with me and it was all a mind game to get me to come over there, but from my perspective, whether or not I was coerced into it, I was gravitating towards his beats.” Once they began spending a bit more time together, they fed off of each other’s incredible work ethic. “Everybody else I knew who was rapping was going to parties and kicking it and chasing ass and doing all this other shit. I was in my mid 20s, had a kid already, and was working a full time job that was manual labor, so I was just like ‘man, my time away from my responsibilities, I’d rather come over here and make songs.’ I think he was attracted to my work ethic as well, so we just started banging out shit, right out the gate. None of it was good, but it didn’t matter, it was all about the art of learning how to make.” And make they did. Since those fateful days almost 15 years ago, it’s been 12 albums, all of which have done nothing other than increase their fan-base and showcase their timeless never-ending talents and abilities, year in and year out, performance after performance, verse after verse, kick after kick. His role as one of the co-founders of Rhymesayers Entertainment (along with Ant, Brent Sayers, and Musab Saad) certainly didn’t hurt things. The label, credited with launching some of underground hip-hop’s most formidable careers, including MF Doom, Brother Ali, and Eyedea & Abilities, continues to thrive, even in this seemingly post-apocalyptic music-business decade. “One half of me wants to stay away from (talking about) that because I don’t want to jinx it…you never really know what’s around the corner. Now there’s the other side of me that’s proud of what I’ve accomplished and wants to say that it’s based off of good people working with each

other towards good goals, and that’s probably the most arrogant thing I’ll say to you…I don’t want to work for assholes. Even if you’re the dopest rapper in the world, if you’re an asshole, I don’t really want to deal with you.” Imagine that…integrity lives and works…even in show business. And as you would imagine, it carries over into “The Family Sign,” out April 12 on Rhymesayers Entertainment. Upon first listen, it’s immediately apparent that we’re in for a much more introspective and almost buddha-esque journey than some of the more aggressive behavior of days and years past. There is a much more sophisticated take, lacking an impending sense of urgency, and replaced with thoughtful, patient, calculated analyzation of the world they live in and the world around them. They’re not recording or releasing this record to impress anyone or prove their skills…they’re long past that. At least for Sean, Slug is doing this one for Slug. “The Family Sign” is Atmosphere all grows up, an embrace of growth and maturity and lack of fear of any retribution for it. And as far as the herb? Is that still playing the part now that it did back in the early days? “Not to say that sometimes it’s not involved in the creative process,” he explains, “but I use it more for after I’m done…for studying the stuff afterwards, looking for the flaws and the holes in the story.” But as a father, recently a husband, and, whether he cares to admit it or not, a full grown role model, he prefaces his answer with a caveat: “It can be limiting for artists too. I know plenty of artists that can’t have it anywhere near them. I’d hate for some 15-year old to be like ‘this is what I gotta do’ and the end result being the 15-year old does nothing but play video games and smoke weed on the couch. It’s different for everybody,” he emphasizes. “Do me a favor…put that disclaimer in there…” Duly noted. Check out “The Family Sign” (April 12/Rhymesayers Entertainment) and rhymesayers.com/atmosphere for tour dates and everything else Atmosphere.

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Tell me about your work with Americans for Safe Access. since I started, my goal has been to build dispensaries, train people how to grow, and give them legal training. asa went around to virtually every early dispensary and gave trainings on what we termed “Know your Rights” - which is really just, when the arrest happens, shut up, don’t say a goddamn thing until you’ve seen your attorney.

fter campaigns to shut down the Livermore nuclear weapons lab and the Energy Department’s nevada Test site, he found himself working with the Cannabis Buyers Cooperative of Berkeley or CBC - Berkeley’s first cannabis dispensary - and the advocacy group americans for safe access (asa). Told by doctors he would be confined to a wheelchair for life, he is today walking freely - a testament to the human spirit, and the curative powers of cannabis. Reporter Bill Weinberg spoke with him at a coffeeshop near his home in downtown Berkeley.

I heard you were also dispatched to Montana to try to get things going there. yeah, well I dispatched myself, basically. I have friends who live up there. The [2004 state medical marijuana] law had passed, but nobody had done anything for two and a half years. so I told my friends in Missoula, “OK, I’ll come up.” I started working to build up the scene in Missoula. and I guess Missoula hadn’t had a radical for a while. I got there and set up a table with literature about medical marijuana, and the cops said, “no, no, you can’t do that, we’ll arrest you for that.” and I went, “Well, I’m not really prepared for an arrest today. Hey, I’ll tell you what. We’re going to do this again at both our convenience. I’m going to call you, and say I’m going to be at this corner at a specific time. you can count on that.” so I got in touch with the Wobblies. I’m an old Wobbly, and the first free speech fight ever in the United states started in Montana, with the Wobblies, in 1909! I was like, “That was almost exactly a hundred years ago! This is gonna be great!” so I just put out a blast, I said, “I need freight-train riders, Wobblies, anybody - to Missoula! There’s going to be a free speech fight!” I organized and I talked around town. and we set up a table. The cops saw us from around a hundred feet away. It was only me and another guy, but they had gotten some intelligence about who I was and what I was about, and how bad it would be to (mess) with me on this. so they just decided, “no, no, we’re not going to do anything. It’s now legal.” Do you want to tell me how you became a medicinal user? I broke my neck in December of 1994 and was instantly paralyzed from the neck down. It was a diving accident in Central america. I was in Belize. and I’ll tell you, it did not look good. I was taken to a jungle clinic, where a doctor eventually showed up and poked and prodded me and said, “Can you feel this, can you move that?” I said no. “you’re paralyzed.” He was really smart, I could tell. [Laughs.]

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So you were rescued and taken to a clinic... after I got hypothermic from being in the river, they knew I had to get out. so they went into the village and dismantled the altar from the church - the only large ﬂat board in the village! so they put the board from the altar underneath me and raised me up. now one of the side effects in males of a broken neck is priapism... like guys who get hanged. It turns out it’s true! so I was raised from the river on the church altar with a raging hard-on! Wouldn’t wanna embarrass ‘em! [Laughs.]

Eventually you were medevaced to Florida. How did that happen? They decided I was stabilized enough that they were going to transport me into Belize City. and when I got there, they took an X-ray and showed it to me. I was missing one of my vertebrae. It was gone. you could see spinal chord naked, like a string, and my head was the f’n balloon! Fortunately, my friends in the states went to work and got my ass out of there. I wound up in Bayfront Medical Center, in st. Petersburg. I got decompression surgery and then they put me in a medical coma. When I came to, I was in a mini ICU. My friends had started to ﬂy in. The first one to arrive, every time I saw him for the first two days I was like, “It’s so good to see you! When did you get here?” It was like the first time I’d seen him. Then I started encoding memory. But I was contorting uncontrollably. I was on the maximum dosage of Baclofen, the pharmaceutical anti-spastic. My friends had taken me out of the hospital into this courtyard. and they wanted me to smoke pot. I was completely skeptical. I had just rehabed my lungs so I could breathe on my own. But they were like, “Dude, you’ve smoked pot before. It’s no big deal.” so I was like, “OK, I’ll humor these bastards.” They held the pipe to my lips, and I inhaled. and as I’m exhaling, my body starts to relax. I’d been tense and contorting, and my whole body relaxed— for the first time since I’d broke my neck. all the muscle contortions stopped. and I was like, “OK. so... I’m a believer.” Later, I began to regain function. I started to slowly build back the ability to move and to walk. It took two and a half years, all the way. and this was contrary to the original prognosis...

yeah. The original prognosis had been that I would never move a thing. I was supposed to be in an electric wheelchair for life. To what do you attribute the fact that you’re now walking? you know, it’s complex. some of it is physical, and some of is...maybe spiritual, even. I think the fact that I dove into a river and stayed in until I was hypothermic helped cut down swelling. That was helpful. The fact that I’d smoked pot twenty minutes before I’d broke my neck - that was probably helpful. Oh? yes. I do believe there are neuroprotective properties of marijuana. How far do those neuroprotective properties go? They don’t really know. That’s why researchers are interested in me. And you’d say that cannabis played a signiﬁcant role in your recovery? It at least enabled me to deal with the spasms. you see, when you’re muscles are all firing simultaneously, you can’t really move at will. That’s part of the problem with a spinal injury - for the brain to get a message to the proper muscle. Marijuana helped me do that. I kept taking pharmaceuticals—looking for ways to knock out the pain - Baclofen, Dantrium, Carbamazepine - but the problem with being on those drugs is that you don’t get to use your brain for anything like...thought. about two or three years post-accident, I finally got rid of all the pharmaceutical drugs. now, I just smoke pot. When I wake up the morning, I still contort around. I have to organize the muscles to get out of bed, stumble over and do a bong hit, and then... [sighs] OK, now I can function again. Tell me a little bit about your life before the accident. I’m originally from outside of Detroit. I was adopted. and I had some serious difficulties with my family...to the point that I started living on my own at the age of twelve. and I spent the next year and a half incarcerated. I closed the institution down. That’s where I learned organizing. When did you get to the Bay Area? I got here when I was 22. I’d been squatting in Detroit, and decided that

freezing my balls off in an abandoned building sucked, and it was time to leave. So you started squatting in San Francisco and got involved in the Livermore Action Group... Right. They felt that non-violence involved praying, sitting down, and waiting to be hauled away. But I was like, “What about mobile tactics? Keeping this place closed as long as we can!” They were like, “That’s violence.” I said, “no, violence is violence. This is just having a good time!” This was the mid-80s and your accident was in the mid-90s. What happened in those intervening ten years? Well, we shut down the nevada Test site. seeds of Peace was formed as a logistical group that helped other organizations do really big public events. We provided portable kitchens, shitters, water, trailers. We could set up a city for ten thousand anywhere. and at the Test site, we worked with american Peace Test. and we were successful—we took control of the test site. We disrupted their last test in ‘92. By this time, glasnost was happening, so some soviet generals came over to witness one of our tests - and they got to see us dancing on Ground Zero rather than a test! and the soviets’ test site in Kazakhstan had already been shut down by fifty-thousand people storming it which we helped inspire. So now you’re living in Berkeley... Uh-huh. Causing trouble here. although I might be moving to Washington soon, to start a new dispensary, on a different model. The economy’s for shit. People are desperate for work. so everybody’s growing pot, and the price keeps going down. all agricultural commodities have gone through a cycle of boom and bust. So you’re anticipating a bust. yeah. It will become so not profitable that people will start leaving - and then we’ll go back into another boom cycle. The federal government is looking for a model as a way out of prohibition. If the only model they see out there is the alcohol model, which guarantees that somebody is going to profit and somebody is going to be a consumer, that’s what they’re going to go for. I don’t want to see another big industry. There’s got to be an alternative.

Bill Weinberg is a freelance writer in New York City. His websites are GlobalGanjaReport.com and WorldWar4Report.com

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in a wide, stepped river valley several hundred thousand years ago. Before nightfall, someone or something wedged its way into a crevasse in a rock outcropping near the summit, instinctively settling there for a bit of warmth and protection, sleeping fitfully during the long, cold night. It’s unclear whether this creature is a man or woman, or perhaps a newborn birthed during the night. It’s unclear whether or not the creature ate something unusual before going to bed or was injured by one of the many predators that roam these lands. It’s unclear if the creature dreamt of something significant during the night, or if the creature even possessed the capacity to dream in the first place. It’s also unclear whether the creature is of sound health - a model example of their own species - or some sort of strange mutation rejected by their own brethren but destined to change the world. What is for certain is that the outlook of one who bears witness to the dawn on this particular morning is remarkably different than the outlook of the one who went to sleep in the evening. Not only is the creature aware of its surroundings, but it is also aware of being aware of its surroundings. This creature awakes not only to the feel of the cold morning air and the visual contrasts of light and darkness, but to an new umbrella awareness that includes an abstract sense of time, the desire

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to be warmer and the capacity to do something about it, and a profound recognition of staggering beauty of the coming of day. For the first time on the history of the planet, not only is it the dawn of the day, it’s the dawn of consciousness itself, a newly emergent awareness with incredible capacities and awesome potentials, an awareness that you and I have inherited from our ancestors, an awareness we continue to utilize and wrestle with today. Consciousness is perhaps the single most exciting aspect of our capacities as human beings. More than any of our other qualities, our consciousness - our awareness of being aware - adds an entire universe to our experience, granting us a cognitive freedom that was unheard of anywhere in the pre-human world. Unlike two chemicals that are condemned to interact in a certain way by the natural laws, or a rooted plant at the mercy of the elements, or an animal whose predictable behavior is governed by instincts, consciousness grants us the ability to assess a situation, recognize patterns, think abstractly, remember ourselves in the past, project ourselves into the future, ask others what they think and ultimately, make real choices. No other living organism, no plant, no reptile, no dinosaur, or mammal ever possessed such a capacity. In our daily life, consciousness acts as a sort airport control tower, noticing the myriad of stimuli that enter into our fly space, skillfully monitoring them to see how they might affect us, choosing which sensations, thoughts, and emotions we want to land on our runway and which ones we choose to let fly right on by. In this way, consciousness allows us to fully enter into an experience, or to keep our distance, the former allowing us to feel the world deeply, which fosters creative insight, rapture, and joy, the later allowing us to plan for the future and to carry out those plans without being constantly distracted, ultimately allowing us to make our insights realities. It’s clear that consciousness is incredibly important and something that we use all the time. But what might it mean to be a connoisseur of consciousness? What might it look like to cultivate not just our awareness - our thoughts, emotions, and sensations - but our awareness of our awareness, an intimate understanding of the ways we are processing all those experiences? In other words, instead of fixating on the various objects and events we see unfolding through the window of consciousness, how might it serve us to shift our attention to the window itself? And where might we even begin? Since consciousness is so all encompassing, it is challenging to see. Like the water surrounding a fish deep in the open ocean, it is hard to gain perspective on its vastness and all pervasive nature. As a starting point, however, we can begin to get a sense of it by watching how it changes.

It is readily apparent that the objects of our experience - thoughts, emotions, sensations - are constantly changing. We are hungry one moment, goal oriented in the next, then distracted by a memory of our childhood home or the attractiveness of a coworker. What is less apparent, however, is that our awareness of being aware, the ways in which we are processing information, is also changing. We can see this by looking at the remarkable changes in consciousness we go through in just one 24 hour period, changes occurring as we cycle through the various states of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. Our waking consciousness, which is presided over by a distinct sense of self sometimes known as the ego, allows us to tend to our basic needs, communicate with others, and to actively engage the world around us. Dreaming cuts us off from the physical world but brings important awareness to all the unprocessed stimuli that ends up in that vast repository known as the subconscious, stimuli that we had neither the time nor the capacity to process fully during the day. Deep dreamless sleep is like

consciousness’s daily reset button. During this time all input from both the outside world and from the inner psyche cease, allowing, in a sense, awareness itself to rest, replenish, and wipe the slate clean. Revisiting our airport analogy, waking consciousness describe those times we choose what planes to take off and land, dreaming consciousness addresses other planes we avoided looking at or failed to notice at all, and in deep sleep we allow the control tower, the runways, and all the planes to fall away into oblivion, only to rebuild itself entirely anew when we start dreaming again or wake up in the morning. Taking a closer look at our waking consciousness, we notice that whether we are aware of it or not, we are constantly tweaking it to meet our various needs. When we drag ourselves out of bed, for example, many of us hop in the shower, not because we are particularly unclean, but because the water running over our skin enlivens us, allowing us to feel more present, helping consciousness itself to transition from one state to another. Once in the kitchen we continue the process, eating something to fuel our metabolic functions and, for many of us, choosing a hot, caffienated drink furthers our process of waking up. Then and only then are we willing and able to charge into the tasks of the day. Our behaviors on the other end of the time card are similar. As the work day draws to a close, we grow weary of being productive and begin craving other experiences, either to relax, wind down, or to open up other, more playful parts of our consciousness that aren’t always appropriate in our work environments. Some of us go to the gym, thereby cutting through our headiness and accumulated stress by vigorously activating the body. Some of us go the bar for a beer or a glass of wine, the alcohol loosening the reigns of our task oriented minds. Some of us eat

our biggest meal of the day at that time, the flood of carbohydrates and proteins also altering our mood. And some of us dive into the television or the internet, our awareness drawn into and delighted by the convolutions of scripted dialogues and virtual worlds. In other words, we reverse the process we started in the morning, using a variety of methods to let our waking consciousness unwind and move in the direction of a more dreamlike conscious reality, or to check out all together. These examples bring up another aspect of consciousness: it is linked to all aspects of our being - our physical bodies, our five senses, our emotions, and to our minds - but cannot be fully reduced to any one of these things. Still, we can use any one of these alone or in combination to begin exploring consciousness directly. We can, and do, manipulate the shape of our window of consciousness by using the molecules found in food and other substances, by using sensations, by using the movement of our bodies, and by using thinking itself to alter our conscious states. If you have any doubts, watch carefully what happens when you eat a piece of chocolate, or receive a massage, or walk outside after sitting at a desk all day, or read a poem that moves you. The way in which each of these experiences enters your field of awareness is very different, but all of them alter your consciousness in one way or another. Even more dramatically, notice how your consciousness shifts during trauma, orgasm, the birth of a child, or the death of a loved one. These later experiences pry at the very foundations of our sense of existence, and like the sky, and the space, and the entire cosmos dwarfing our egoic control tower, reveals the vastness of consciousness that is always available, if only we are able to let go. As the salmon was meant to swim and the meadowlark was meant to sing, our consciousness is our most defining feature, a feature worthy of celebration. By deepening our own experiential understanding of the awareness consciousness affords us, we begin to fully claim the rarity and preciousness of our human lives. By better understanding the vehicle through which we experience the world, we better understand the world itself. Cultivating a relationship with consciousness allows for greater perspective and depth of experience. In effect, we lessen the influences of our own hidden fears, idiosyncrasies, and habitual patterns, and begin to engage the world more directly, more intimately, more compassionately, and more creatively. Next month, I’ll begin outlining more specific steps you can take to become your own connoisseur of consciousness. In the meantime, ask yourself how you experience 1) your awareness, 2) your awareness of your awareness, and 3) your awareness of your awareness of being aware. Go deep and we’ll check in next month! Austin Hill Shaw is a writer, architectural designer, and mapmaker of creativity across art, science, and religion. He specializes in helping others tap into and utilize the creative life force in everything they do. He can be reached at austin@austinhillshaw.com

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Colorado Concert Calendar

Live Music Preview April/May

Starfucker + Champagne, Champagne 4.17.11 @ Bluebird Theater

The Portland based indie electronic band Starfucker, or STRFKR for the language sensitive, have been pumping out great music since 2006. Their sound is very accessible for music fans of all kinds, and their live show is really, REALLY good. All members are multi-instrumentalists, making for a very active and energetic stage performance. With two full lengths, three EPs, and one B-side, they just released their latest of the full lenths, Reptilians. They often have bad tour luck, with transport issues and other troubles (Ryan from the band was unrightfully arrested at SXSW and they had to cancel several shows). So, maybe just get your tickets at the door for this one! Fellow Northwesterners, hailing from Seattle, Champagne, Champagne join this bill for what has the potential be a truly amazing and epic night of music. facebook. com/starfucker; myspace.com/champagnechampagne

Duran Duran

4.20.11 @ Ogden Theatre

On a night of the year when many of the standard pot-head variety celebrate, and less of the legit medical patients care about, Duran Duran brings 1980s London to Colorodo for a classic concert. The English new-wave band from Birmingham, England came together at the end of the 70s, and defined the MTV-ified “Second British Invasion” for many fans in the states. They’re getting pretty old, but don’t let that keep you away - they still rock as hard as back in the Decade of Excess. Their own hits are huge, and they have a tendency to play a few covers in their live performance. Should be a good one, on a night with no reason not to celebrate. duranduran.com

Ms. Lauryn Hill

4.23.11 @ Fillmore Auditorium

Miss Lauryn Hill began her career as an actress in the 90s, was then the female voice of the Fugees, and has since been working solo. Launching her promising solo career in 1998 with the release of the acclaimed album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she earned five Grammy Awards, including the coveted Album of the Year and Best New Artist awards. With big gaps between even hearing about Hill of the last decade, it’s sometimes hard to remember that she has seen so much success and fame in her time. She appears to be making some form of a comeback, which hopefully mean that she has more energy and enthusiasm for her live shows than reported in the last 5 years. This could be a risk, but if you used to love her, it’s probably a risk worth taking. lauren-hill.com

TV On the Radio

4.26.11 @ Ogden Theatre

Brooklyn’s TV On the Radio make their way to Ogden Theatre in Denver for a night of post-punk/electro/soul music (just listen). The group has released several EPs and three acclaimed albums since their formation in 2001, including Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (2004), Return to Cookie Mountain (2006), and Dear Science (2008). Upon the completion of their latest album Nine Types of Light, bass guitar and keyboard player Gerard Smith was diagnosed with lung cancer, and will be unable to participate in this upcoming tour due to treatment. Things look positive though, saying on their site that “Gerard is fortunate enough to have health insurance and is receiving excellent medical care. Already we have seen dramatic results.” Some notable contributors to this large family of a band include David Bowie, Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead. If you haven’t seen the band live, get to Ogden for this show. tvontheradio.com

Robert Plant & The Band of Joy 4.27.11 @ Fillmore Auditorium

Robert Plant, the legendary singer and leader of Led Zeppelin, is playing a 12 city North American tour, with Denver taking the April 27th slot. The tour will feature Plant with the ’Band of Joy,’ who are the same diverse group of musicians that appear and play on the album of Plant’s latest project. The new album will be released in late summer or early fall. As Plant puts it: “It’s been a blast working on these new songs…and I’m enjoying such creativity and vitality. It’s been a remarkable change of direction for all of us and as a group we all seem to have developed a new groove.” The album is the first since Raising Sand, the multiplatinum, 6-time Grammy winning collabo with Alison Krauss. It will be exciting to see what Robert Plant has been working on, and this oughtta be a real sweet little preview. robertplant.com

This Page: Starfucker Right From Top: Lauryn Hill, Macklemore, Duran Duran, Of Montreal, Yelle

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Macklemore

4.29.11 @ Bluebird Theater

It’s always great to see someone that you’ve been watching on a local scene for years achieve some broader notoriety. That’s what has happened for me with Macklemore. Seeing him perform for years while living in Seattle, this Northwest native is one of the best rappers I’ve seen live. I didn’t realize until at SXSW in March that he had become pretty “big,” most notably for his work with Ryan Lewis. Macklemore’s flow is pointed and smooth, with intelligent lyrics that you can really feel. His words and what you feel during his performance will stick with you for days, weeks, maybe forever. He represents Northwest rap and could be just the artist who gets you hooked and hungry for more (there’s plenty). With a nationwide tour planned, this is the show not to miss. facebook.com/ macklemore

Of Montreal + Painted Palms 5.08.11 @ Ogden Theatre

Georgia’s Of Montreal come back to Denver on May 8th, and as they are a Kush favorite, you should try to hit this show at Ogden. The Kevin Barnes led group is one of the best ‘indierock’ bands around right now, although it’s tough to pigeonhole them into ‘indie-rock’ (funky psych pop?). They’ve been around for quite a while and their most recent albums are really top notch productions with amazing sound quality and clarity. The Of Montreal live set is very impressive as well, and they certainly won’t disappoint. San Fran’s trippy Painted Palms join the party, one which you might want to attend. ofmontreal.net; paintedpalms.bandcamp.com

Yelle + French Horn Rebellion 5.10.11 @ Bluebird Theater

French electro-pop darling, Yelle is a sweet little singer with a band by the same name. They’ve put together a really nice live set for songs that many would expect to just exist electronically, not in a live performance. So far, she’s become pretty huge in France, and is finally seeing some significant recognition in the states. The dance friendly band French Horn Rebellion, from New York and Milwaukee, has been putting out quality tunes over the past year or so, with a slew of fun remixes to keep their name popping up on Hype Machine. FHR also has a really great live set that often calls for crowd surfing and yes, a horn. This ought to be a really fun night of dancing and music at Bluebird. yelle.fr; frenchhornrebellion.com

More Great Shows! Cypress Hill 4.19.11 @ Ogden Theatre Collie Budz + New Kingston 4.21.11 @ Bluebird Theater Deftones 4.23.11 @ Ogden Theatre KT Tunstall + Robert Francis 4.25.11 @ Bluebird Theater YACHT + Light Asylum 5.09.11 @ Bluebird Theater

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NCIAkushad3_v.4 3/18/11 4:30 PM Page 1

Cannabis industry leaders from across the country have recently come together to form the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), the first cannabis trade association in the U.S. NCIA is already working in Congress to address problems facing the cannabis businesses community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from banking to reforming unfair tax laws to eliminating unreasonable Drug Paraphernalia statutes. NCIA is the only organization representing the cannabis industry on the national stage and we need your help. For as little as $100 a month or $1,000 a year, your business can be part of the growing list of industry leaders that make up the National Cannabis Industry Association. Membership also includes member discounts, access to exclusive industry events, and a listing in our industry directory. Contact us to join or receive more information today. National Cannabis Industry Association Phone: (202) 379-4861 E-mail: info@TheCannabisIndustry.org P.O. Box 78062 Washington, DC 20013

NCIA Board of Directors: Tristan Blackett

Wanda James

420 Science, HI

Simply Pure Medicinal Edibles, CO

Cheryl Brown

Dale Sky Jones

MMBA, CO

Oaksterdam University, CA

Brian Cook

Rob Kampia

Altitude Organics Corporation, CO

Marijuana Policy Project, DC

Troy Dayton

Ken Kulow

The ArcView Group, CA

Chameleon Glass, AZ

Steve DeAngelo

Jill Lamoureux

Harborside Health Center, CA

Colorado Dispensary Services, CO

Becky DeKeuster

Michael McAuliffe

Northeast Patients Group, ME

Sensible Nevada, NV

Adam Eidinger

Erich Pearson

Capitol Hemp, DC

SPARC, CA

Etienne Fontan

Bob Selan

Berkeley Patients Group, CA

Kush Magazine, CA

Jim Gingery

Brian Vicente

Montana Medical Growers Assoc., MT

Sensible Colorado, CO

Len Goodman

Bob Winnicki

New MexiCann Natural Medicine, NM

Full Spectrum Labs

Justin Hartfield

Joe Yuhas

Weedmaps.com, CA

Arizona Medical Marijuana Assoc., AZ

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Spring is a time when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find some of the most tender and juicy fruits and vegetables in our markets. To celebrate, I have compiled some great spring recipes for all to enjoy!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

CHEF HERB COOK WITH HERB

GO TO WWW.COOKWITHHERB.COM

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STRAWBERRY AND SPINACH SALAD

HERBED FISH WRAPPED IN LETTUCE

inGrEDiEntS 2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces 4 cups sliced strawberries 1/2 cup THC olive oil 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon paprika 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

inGrEDiEntS: 3 tablespoons THC butter, softened 2 tablespoons chopped mixed fresh tarragon and/or parsley 1 tablespoon chopped shallots 4 6-ounce white fish fillets, such as flounder, sole or tilapia 4 large green or red leaf lettuce leaves, center rib discarded

DirECtionS In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries. In a medium bowl, whisk together the THC olive oil, vinegar, sugar, paprika, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat.

MIXED GREENS WITH GRAPES & FETA inGrEDiEntS 1/4 cup THC olive oil 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste Freshly ground pepper to taste 8 cups mesclun salad greens (5 ounces) 1 head radicchio, thinly sliced 2 cups halved seedless grapes (about 1 pound), preferably red and green 3/4 cup crumbled feta or blue cheese DirECtionS To prepare dressing: Whisk THC olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl (or jar) until blended. To prepare salad: Just before serving, toss greens and radicchio in a large bowl. Drizzle the dressing on top and toss to coat. Divide the salad among 8 plates. Scatter grapes and cheese over each salad; serve immediately.

DirECtionS Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside. In a large shallow bowl, mix together the cheese, herbs, and pepper. Dip each chicken wing into the THC butter and then dip into the cheese mixture and roll to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, then flip over. Bake for an additional 1015 minutes, or until golden.

GARLIC ASPARAGUS WITH LIME inGrEDiEntS: 1 teaspoon THC butter 1 tablespoon THC olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 medium shallot, minced 1 bunch fresh asparagus spears, trimmed 1/4 lime, juiced salt and pepper to taste DirECtionS Melt THC butter with THC olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and shallots, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in asparagus spears; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Squeeze lime over hot asparagus, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving plate, and garnish with lime wedges.

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SPRING GARDEN SAUTĂ&#x2030; inGrEDiEntS 2 pound(s) asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 8 ounce(s) sugar snap peas, strings removed 3 tablespoons THC butter 1 pound(s) radishes, each cut into quarters Salt and pepper 4 tablespoon(s) snipped fresh chives DirECtionS Heat large covered saucepot of salted water to boiling on high. Fill large bowl with ice water; set aside. To saucepot, add asparagus and snap peas; cook 4 minutes. Drain vegetables; cool in bowl of ice water. Drain vegetables well. Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat THC butter on medium until melted. Add radishes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; cook 10 minutes or until tender-crisp. Transfer to bowl; keep warm. To same skillet, add asparagus, snap peas, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; cook 5 minutes or until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 tablespoons chives. Transfer to serving bowl; arrange radishes around edge. Sprinkle with remaining chives

WALNUT POT BUTTER COOKIES inGrEDiEntS 1 pound of THC butter, softened 4 cups of all purpose flour 3/4 cup of powdered sugar 2 tsps of vanilla 2 Tbls of water 1/2 tsp of salt 8 to 12oz of chopped walnuts Extra powdered sugar for dusting DirECtionS Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a wooden spoon, mix together the THC butter, flour, powdered sugar, vanilla, water and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix together until the mixture forms a doughy consistency. If the dough if too sticky to handle just add a little more flour. Add the walnuts. Pinch the dough and roll it in a long shape about the size of your finger. Curve into a crescent shape and place on a buttered cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Let the cookies cool before dusting them with powdered sugar.

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DIABETIC PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES inGrEDiEntS 1/4 cup THC butter, softened 1 cup creamy style peanut butter 1/4 cup egg substitute 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup Splenda Granular 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt DirECtionS Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat THC butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer until creamy, approximately 1 minute. Add egg substitute, honey and vanilla extract. Beat on high speed for approximately 1 1/2 minutes. Add Splenda and beat on medium speed until well blended, approximately 30 seconds. In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture, beating on low speed until well blended, about 1 1/2 minutes. Mixture may be crumbly. Roll level teaspoons of dough into balls and drop onto a lined sheet pan, about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball with a fork, pressing a crisscross pattern into each cookie. Bake 7-9 minutes or until light brown around the edges. Cool on wire rack.

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List of Advertisers 420 Wellness p 50

Denver Patients Group p 29

Northern Lights Natural

Alive Herbal Medicine p 40

Dixie Elixirs p 89

Rx p 85

Doctors Orders p 33

Pain Management of

zAlpine Herbal Wellness p 93 zAltermeds p 49 Alternative Wellness Center p 43 & 87 Altitude Wellness Center p 48 A Mile High p 19 & insert American’s for Safe Access p 97 Annie’s Dispensary p 128 Apothecare p 29 Apothecary of Colorado p 41 At Home Remedies p 38 A Wellness Centers p 85

Doctors Orders Co. Springs p 95 E3 Trimming Services p 83 Emergency Room p 95 Evergreen Apothecary p 28 Full Spectrum Labs (Insert) Ganja Gourmet p 15 Golden Meds p 21 Good Chemistry p 12 & 13 Good Meds p 32 Grass Roots Organica p 131 Greem Medical p 69

Colorado p 85 Patient’s Choice p 45 Post Modern Health p 53 Organa Labs p 28 Rob Corry, Esq. p 65 Rocky Mountain MMJ Dispensary p 117 Rocky Mountain Wellness Center East p 19 & insert Rocky Road Remedies p 39 Safer p 112 Sense of Healing p 59

B Goods p 11

Green Miracle Medicinals p 19 & insert

Back to the Garden Health & Wellness Center p 127

Greenwerkz p 128

Serenity Moon p 93

Ballpark Holistic p 48

Health Point Wellness Consultants p 19 & insert

Silver Lizard p 75

Bijou Wellness Center p 85

HempEvents.com p 85

BioCare p 54

Herbal Options p 32

Blown Glass p 58

Herbal Remedies (centerfold)

Botica Del Sol p 19 & insert Broadway Wellness p 2 Bud Cellar p 57 BudCrawler.com p 29 & 85 Buddha’s and Goudha’s p 38 Buddies Wellness p 16 The Candy Shop Hydro p 44

Herbs Medicinal p 19 & insert Higher Ground p 31 iVita p 37 Karmaceuticals p 27 Kind Love p 7

Sensible Colorado p 113

Southwest Alternative Care p 91 Sticky Guide p 101 Stone Mountain Wellness p 19 & insert Sweet Leaf p 127 Tender Healing Care p 51 The Cannaseur p 85 The Giving Tree p 29 & 68 The Hemp Center p 26

Canna Mart p 3

Kindness Medical Cannabis Center p 9 & insert

Cannabicare p 36

LA Container p 65

The Pleasure Cafe p 43

Cannabis 4 Health p 17

Levity p 26

The Releaf Center p 83

Canna Club p 18 & 19, Insert

Lil Ballerz Clothing p 53

Cannacopia p 22

Maggie’s Farm p 77

Canna License p 91

Maryjanes p 65

CannaPunch p 29

MarQaha p 86

Caregivers for Life p 55 Cheeba Chews p 5 & 63

Medical Herbs of Fountain p 19 & insert

Top Buds p 19 & insert

Chef Herb p 87

Medicine Man p 16

Trim Solutions p 77

Chronic Wellness p 4

Metro Cannabis p 63

Universal Herbs p 41

Mile Hydro p 53

Urban Dispensary p 26

Mile High Remedies p 19 & insert

Ute City Medicinals p 19

Clear Creek Wellness p 32 Colorado Apothecary p 68 Colorado Cannabis Caregivers p 32 Colorado Dispensary Services p 71 Connect 2 Cannabis p 29 & 85

MMD of Colorado p 38 MMJ America (backcover) MMJ Daily Deals p 130 MMJ Supply p 16

Delta 9 p 30

Natural Remedies MMJ p 103

Delta 9 Tekhnologe p 24

Nature’s Best p 19 & insert

DenCo p 23

NCIA p 113

The Herbal Cure p 129

The Trim Shop p 72 Timberline Herbal Clinic & Wellness Center p 22 Today’s Health Care p 81

& insert Vaper Rx p 25 Walking Raven Dispensary p 77

With Purchase of an 1/8th or more 5/1/11

Wellspring Collective p 73

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