San Diego Kush Magazine August 2011 by Randy MALINOFF

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kush

san diego’s premier cannabis lifestyle magazine

78 74

features

inside

The people have spoken and the City Council was forced

18 | The Legal Corner by Stephen M.

to listen!

22 | This Month in Weed History: Jerry Garcia by Bud Lee

54 Rival Sons: The Kush Interview

26 | Maximize Your Meds by Tyler C. Davidson

The blues rockers’ drummer Mike Miley talks blues n’ buds n’

34 | Patients Out Of Time: William B. O’Shaughnessy by Al Byrne

writing n’ recording on the fly.

40 | Living Well: Detox by Elaine Ruggieri

62 Wilfred: The Kush Experience

42 | The End of the World As We Know It? by Jessica C. McElfresh

The story behind Kush Magazine’s date with a dog and a

48 | SoCal Travel: Coastal Hikes by Mike Sonksen

30 REPEALED!!!

hobbit. How and why we got involved with FX Networks’ latest work of genius.

74 Case Report: Fry & Schafer A doctor and a lawyer go to jail. The lawyer needs a doctor. The doctor needs a lawyer. The doctor and the lawyer need marijuana.

78 The Haag/Ogden/Cole Memo Marijuana!?? Yes you can no you can’t unless you can’t know if you can. Can you? Maybe. 6

14 | The Health Report: Annual Physicals by Elaine Ruggieri

52 | San Diego Travel: Elfin Forest by Wasim Muklashy 60 | Strain Review: Green Ribbon 66 | MPP Liberty Belle Party by Jake McGee

70 | Growers Grove: The Rain Table Pt. III by Jade Kine 82 | San Diego Concert Round Up by Dillon Zachara 86 | Delicious Picnic Recipes by Chef Herb 91 | The Green Pages: Dispensary Directory

from the editors

kush

san diego’s premier cannabis lifestyle magazine

n the heels of the repeal of the San Diego city medical marijuana ordinance (p 30), we can look back at where all of this misinformation about marijuana stems from. Perhaps you can remember (or if you’re too young you can ask your parents or your grandparents) President Nixon, aka Tricky Dick, aka the-scandal-ridden-leader-of-the-free-world-that-resignedbecause-he-was-about-to-be-impeached. The same guy who was basically behind classifying marijuana the same way the federal government classifies Heroin and LSD - a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This is all part of the failed War on Drugs that has done nothing more than perpetuate the conspiracy of marijuana prohibition. Let’s not forget about the millions of medical marijuana patients in this country that rely on cannabis as their primary choice of medicine for treating numerous illnesses and related symptoms. The latest battle, but certainly not the end of the “war” against prohibition, came July 8th when the DEA formally rejected a petition to reschedule marijuana to a lower classification, a petition that had been filed eight years prior. The request to reschedule came from the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis, which also included patient advocacy groups, ASA and Patients Out of Time. But surprisingly (or maybe not), also sitting on the sidelines were the big pharmaceutical companies…waiting to jump on the bandwagon and profit from the cannabis plant. Can we assume that it was also a coincidence that right on the heels of the denial of rescheduling of cannabis came threats from federal prosecutors to enforce federal law and trump state medical marijuana laws passed by their voters? Is this all part of the federal, dare we say…conspiracy, to keep states from passing laws that their citizens support? Cocaine, amphetamines and oxycontin all have a lower classification under the CSA than marijuana. Who’s kidding who? Not only has research been conducted by UC San Diego and a myriad of major universities in this country (as well as around the world), concluding what others have been aware of for thousands of years - the positive therapeutic benefits of marijuana - but even big pharma has already introduced artificial versions of marijuana for treatment of certain medical conditions. Can the voters in all of the 16 states and the District of Columbia that have recognized marijuana’s medical use and the considerable scientific research confirming its medical benefits all be wrong? This takes us right back to Nixon and the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, which prompted the administration to commission a study on marijuana, the results of which were dubbed the Shafer Report, entitled Marijuana, a Signal of Misunderstanding. It was represented to Congress and the findings were clear: The risks of using cannabis were minimal; ingestion of cannabis did not jeopardize health; the use of cannabis did not lead to experimentation with other drugs; people who utilized cannabis did not participate in other criminal activity; and finally the report specifically recommended the decriminalization of marijuana for personal use. (full text available at SafeAccessNow.org) As pointed out by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), “rather than follow any of the recommendations of the Shafer Report or even commission further research, President Nixon left cannabis in Schedule I with Heroin and LSD. Since the Shafer Report, other federally funded reports have been issued by the Institute Of Medicine in 1982 and 1999, both concluding that there is sound medical and scientific basis for using cannabis to treat a variety of serious and medical conditions.”

The two leading associations that regulate medicine and doctors in this country, The American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians have both reached out to Congress, strongly suggesting that a review be done to reconsider the current Schedule 1 classification of marijuana. So back to our cover message - with all of the above evidence, and without even getting into the thousands of years that the cannabis plant has been used by countless numbers of people to treat varying medical situations - can anyone (even its opponents) honestly say that marijuana has no medical accepted medical use? Well, it will now be up to a judge to decide the issue. On a lighter note…be sure to check out the Kush interview with blues rockers Rival Sons on page 54, where drummer Mike Miley discusses buds and the blues. And for those of you looking to milk as much of these hot summer months as possible, we have a few options: you can go and find yourself on a beautiful beach hike (p.48), cruise on down to the Elfin Reserve (p.52), and, for those looking for great summer concerts see a roundup of what’s coming to San Diego on page 82…and if you want to bring a medicated picnic along, Chef Herb provides great recipes on page 86 … so no excuses for summer fun!!! Thanks again for allowing Kush to bring you the latest and greatest in medical marijuana news and culture, and, as always, medicate responsibly!

Humbly, Team Kush. | Kush Editorial Board, www.kushmagazine.com

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Publishers | Dbdotcom LLC Editor in Chief | Lisa Selan Assistant Editor | Wasim Muklashy Chief Executive Officer | Bob Selan Business Development | JT Wiegman Art Director | Robb Friedman, Joe Redmond Director of International Marketing & Public Relations | Cheryl Shuman Director of San Diego Sales | Charlene Moran Advertising Sales Reps | Amanda Allen, Amy DiIullo, Ed Docter, Denise Mickelson, Jason Moran, Ken Weger Designers | Avel Culpa, Marvi Khero Traffic Managers | Kevin Johnson, Alex Lamitie, Ryan Renkema, Jordan Selan, Rachel Selan Distribution Manager | Alex Lamitie Contributing Writers Al Byrne, Chef Herb, Tyler C. Davidson, Dragonfly de la Luz, Jade Kine, Bud Lee, Sharon Letts, Stephen M., Jessica C. McElfresh, Jake McGee, Wasim Muklashy, Elaine Ruggieri, Cheryl Shuman, Mike Sonksen, Dillon Zachara Accounting | Dianna Bayhylle Internet Manager Dailybuds.com | Rachel Selan Dailybuds.com Team | JT Kilfoil & Houston Founder | Michael Lerner

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.

Many of us take that annual physical examination that we probably should be getting for granted. We feel healthy so the thought of taking an afternoon off of work and sitting in a waiting room for an hour and a half makes it easy to pass up. There is also the issue of insurance coverage and affordability. But how important is it really and who benefits the most? Considering a physical gives your doctor the ability to examine your body for possible signs of diseases, it is safe to say they are extremely important for some people. With today’s medical technology, detecting health problems early enough while treatment is still an option can make all the difference in the world - it can even be life-saving. About 70 million adults feel the need to check in with their doctor yearly, but not everyone agrees that a yearly physical is necessary. There is an ongoing debate and some people would argue that it is somewhat of an antiquated thought and that the average, healthy person can skip a few exams. Isn’t there value in just checking in with your doctor even just to motivate yourself to eat better, exercise and stay informed? In fact, at the very least, you could use the time to discuss your risk factors. With that in mind, here are a few indications that it might be time to book that appointment: • Hereditary Considerations: If you have family members who have had a heart attack or certain types of cancer, for ex ample, you may be at a higher risk for these diseases. The health of your parents and grandparents can reveal a lot. • Medical History: If you have had medical problems in the past or if you have been taking medication for a long period of time, you should be evaluated. • Age: Most people in their 20s are likely to come up clean during an exam. Unfortunately, as we age, so do our body parts. • Lifestyle: If you are someone who eats poorly, smokes, never exercises or has a weight problem, you may be more prone to disease.

During your physical, your doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats or any other signs of heart disease such as Aortic Valve Stenosis (AS). AS is the narrowing of the aortic valve opening. Your doctor should also listen to your lungs for crackles, wheezing or any other unusual breathing sounds, which could be indicative of lung disease. And by just tapping the abdominal area or listening for bowel sounds, your doctor can detect abdominal fluid and liver size. A routine visit could also involve a cholesterol and colon cancer screening, as well as an evaluation of your vital signs - blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate and temperature. • Blood Pressure: 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic) is normal. This is your maximum and minimum pressure during each heartbeat. Anything greater than 140 over 90 is considered high blood pressure or hypertension. • Heart Rate: This is the number of heart-beats per minute (bpm). A healthy resting heart rate is 60-80 bpm. However, it would not be unusual for an athlete to have a resting heart rate far below 60. • Respiration Rate (also known as Pulmonary Ventilation Rate): This is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. The average respiration rate for an adult is 12-20 breaths per minute. • Temperature: This is the measure of your body’s ability to generate and release heat. When you are hot, your blood vessels expand carrying excess heat to the skin’s surface. When you are cold, your blood vessels narrow, reducing the blood flow to your skin. Your body temperature changes throughout the day but the average “normal” is 98.6 °F. A woman’s check-up should include a gynecological and breast examination. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in this country, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. And starting at the age of 40, men should have their prostate checked every year. Every three minutes, a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States. How often you should see your doctor for a physical is a personal decision. But it is important to see your doctor at some point. After all, if mammograms, pap smears, cholesterol screenings, colon cancer screenings and prostate cancer screenings are all known to save lives… -Elaine is the former host of “The Shape Fitness Show” on 97.1FM and 980AM in Los Angeles. Check out her site at GodaiFit.com

the LEGAL CORNER by Stephen M.

“There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious—makes you so sick at heart— that you can’t take part…and you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all.” -Mario Savio

hile the passion and commitment of the 60s radicals may have dissipated with the passage of time, the power of the “machine”- that three tiered industrialgovernmental complex that determines the fate and fortunes of so many - grinds on, mindlessly chewing up the lives of those brave enough to challenge the status quo. Given recent medical cannabis political developments at the federal, state, and local levels, patients and the industry they support may be the next to suffer needlessly upon the sharp-toothed gears of the machine. While the billion dollar federal machine may be slow in ramping up to full speed, the counter-offensive launched by the Obama administration signals that it is all systems go at the federal level. The Drug Enforcement Agency, led by Bush-era holdover Michelle Leonhart, just rejected a request to remove cannabis from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act. While this allows a legal challenge to the ruling to now go forward, the Obama administration just missed a critical opportunity to end federal prohibition. Leonhart claims, “the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy.” Everyone who pays half-way attention to this issue knows that she has in the past not only undermined attempts to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cannabis, but is also studiously avoiding existing evidence submitted to and supported by a ruling DEA administrative law judge that shows evidence contrary to her position. As a matter of fact, that same judge recommends policies contrary to her recent decision.

Welcome to the machine, indeed, Mr. Floyd. On the other federal front, Obama’s chief law enforcement officers have sent letters, apparently at the behest of state officials, threatening everything from prosecution of state officials for carrying out state law (a dubious legal concept but effective in giving opponents an excuse to undermine sensible cannabis legislation) to increased federal involvement in medical cannabis crackdowns. “Such conduct,” Asst. Attorney General Neronha wrote, “is contrary to federal law and thus, undermines the federal government’s efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing and trafficking of controlled substances. Accordingly, the Department of Justice could consider civil and criminal legal remedies against those individuals and entities who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries.” To counter this onslaught, Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, introduced a bill in Congress to remove marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances and treat cannabis like alcohol, which is the exclusive domain of the states. This bill will most likely not pass, but is an indication that some within the machine are attempting to alter the rules by which it operates. To illustrate the interrelated nature of the various government levels, recall that the explosion of collectives in Southern California was at least in part a response to a belief that the feds wouldn’t be prosecuting those in compliance with state law. But local collectives may soon have more to worry about than federal agents: Your local compliance and zoning officer might show up soon with a tape measure in one hand and a cease and desist letter in the other if recent legislation speeding through the California legislature is eventually signed by Gov. Jerry Brown SB 847, sponsored by State Senator Correa (R-Santa Ana) and presently parked in an Assembly committee, is all but guaranteed to have the political momentum to land on

the governor’s desk. SB 847 restricts any collective from being within 600 ft of a residence unless a local ordinance is already in place or a local government ordinance supersedes it. “While appearing reasonable, it is nearly impossible to find any place in San Diego that is 600 feet from a residential zone or residence,” expresses Cynara Vasquez, a political consultant familiar with the situation. Estimates show that “less than 10% of all collectives in the city would be in compliance with this new law.” The ordinance is so sweeping that it has the potential to be a complete ban on state compliant medical marijuana collectives not only in San Diego, but a host of “other cities without local ordinances across California, including Fresno, Bakersfield, Chico, Irvine and others. It would force medical marijuana collectives deep into industrial zones, eliminating safe access to patients around the state” Vasquez explains. The other bill, AB 1300 Sponsored by California Assemblyman Bob Menfield (D-Van Nuys), has already passed by the Assembly and is currently sitting on the floor of the Senate and poised for passage. AP 1300 empowers cities and counties to enforce local law related to the location, operation, or establishment of collectives. This bill is seen as a way for local governments to get around state protected rights of collectives under the Compassionate Use Act (CUA). Medical cannabis supporters argue that this is a de facto ban – and hence a law that violates the safe access provisions of the CUA. If Governor Brown signs this law, it will surely end up in litigation as well. If discussion of the parade of ABs and SBs marching through our collective minds dulls the reader’s sense of outrage at the willful abuse of a system designed to protect the people’s rights, a quick look at the unfolding fiasco in Dana Point provides a harrowing story of petty tyrants with municipal treasures at their disposal to fight collectives and their patients. As reported in the Orange County Registrar, three collectives in the beach city south of Los Angeles have been ground down by the gears of power in posh Dana Point. City officials have shut them down without due process, used the courts in an attempt to drain their resources, and now the collectives are going toe to toe with the city in court. At this point in the unfolding drama, a judge ordered The Point Alternative Care to close and says its founder must pay Dana Point $1.9 million in damages. Beach Cities Collective – the collective with the most egregious assaults on its legal rights - has sued the city, along with city officials, for $20 million, alleging violations of due process, plus defamation, and conspiracy. This past May, another judge ordered Holistic Health to close and ordered its founder to pay Dana Point $2.68 million in damages. Holistic Health fired back and sued Dana Point for $30 million, alleging violations of due process. (The entire time line of this abuse of power can be found at the O.C. Registrar’s website). So, as the Dana Point situations illustrates, the machine has kicked into high gear. The recent shifts in policy stance at the federal level, coupled with overly restrictive and muddled state legislation, only emboldens those with their hands on the levers of power to ratchet up the pressure and squeeze what they can from citizens simply exercising their rights. Apparently, the gears need oiling.

here is only a short list of bands that I can truly say “I’m really glad to have seen them at least once.” Topping that list is arguably the greatest American Rock Band in history, the Grateful Dead. Godfathers of the Jam Band Scene, The Dead started in 1965 and officially disbanded in 1994 when their original co-founder and “face” of the band Jerome John “Jerry” Garcia passed away. For This Month in Weed History, KUSH magazine would like to not only acknowledge Jerry’s passing on August 9, 1994 - but his life, and birth on August 1, 1942. Without Jerry’s existence on the planet, the world as we know it today would have missed one of its greatest singers, songwriters, guitarists, artists, humanitarians, and icons of the peace movement. Jerry’s kind persona and gentle soul transcended beyond the stage, out into the stratosphere and beyond. His energy and aura are still alive today, through the continuation of his music, the jam band scene, and, of course, his personal and professional legacy. His status among his fans is just short of God-like, and posthumously has grown to be that of mystical legend. Few artists of any medium reach the level of adoration by any fan base the way Jerry had with loyal “Dead Heads.” This roaming pack of devotees would follow the band, from city to city, tour after tour, and year after year. Some Dead Heads never got off tour, making what was known as “Shakedown Street,” (the impromptu city that would pop up in the parking lot of each concert venue) their own viable marketplace, where everything from food, drinks, tickets, clothes, 22

art, jewelry, novelties, and substances of all kinds could be bought, sold, traded, or even given away. For as far back as I, or anyone alive today, can re member, the Grateful Dead’s “Steal Your Face” logo (a red, white and blue skull, dissected by a lightning bolt) has become an iconic symbol that has permeated the very thread of our entire country. The Dead’s heavy presence on FM radio, with songs like “Truckin’,” “Uncle John’s Band,” and “U.S. Blues,” made it easy to maintain a peripheral ear on the pulse of this down-home-rhythm and blues-band of characters. And while Jerry always repelled the leadership role as the bands spokesman, it just so happened that he was possibly the most interesting, engaging, and thoughtful of the band members, often free flowing in interviews, jumping from one thought to another, yet somehow being totally cohesive in some creative way. His thirst for musical knowledge has lead him through almost every genre, working with the best in each field, from Dylan, to Merle Saunders, to Willie Nelson, and countless others. It took me years to immerse myself in this amazing band’s catalog, to understand how lucky I was to see the Grateful Dead. Now that there’s a satellite radio station devoted to the band, I can go 100% Grateful Dead when I want to (and have for months at a time), or just pop in for a song or two. There’s not a day that goes by that someone’s not thinking of you Jerry. We may miss your physical presence, but your spirit lives on…forever.

any plants, cannabis included, were biologically driven by nature to survive and thrive by growing taller and faster than their competition. This is why cannabis, when left to its own genetic devices, grows tall like a Christmas tree. While this strategy works well in sunlight, a grow room is in fact a completely artificial environment, requiring you the grower to alter the plant to adapt it to its new indoor habitat. In this installment, I will give all you faithful indoor gardeners some tips that will help you get the most from your limited and expensive indoor spaces- after all, efficiency is the name of the game, right? First, it’s important to remember that indoor light loses its intensity as the square of distance from the source, meaning that the light twice as far from the bulb is only one quarter as intense, not just half. For this reason, the optimum distance between too close and burning your plants and too far away and seeing them get spindly is often only a few inches! So how do you get optimum lighting to the entire plant instead of just the very top of it? Simple; use time honored training techniques borrowed from bonsai gardeners, tobacco farmers and fruit tree growers and adapt them to suit your purpose! First, when your plant is a few inches tall and has four or five good leaves growing from the central stem, top it to remove the central growing bud. This will cause the plant to put its energy into the side branches- and don’t worry, if you don’t see any now, you will in a few days! The next step is to start actively managing your plant’s shape by tying the resulting side branches down to keep them from bunching too closely together and shading one another out. When the side branches get to be a few inches long, gently tie them down so they are roughly horizontal. Do not tie the string tightly around the branches so you don’t choke off essential nutrients, and don’t use too thin a twine for similar reasons. When these four branches (keep the best four near the top and trim off any others) get longer (4”-6”), top them as well. You’ll see that the process of side branches starting- and bud sites multiplying- continues on these branches just like it did on the main stem.

As the plant gets bigger, top or tie down those growing branches that grow faster than the others, in order to encourage the plant to develop a broad, level top and to direct its nutrients evenly to all its budding sites. With practice, you can end up with a plant that’s less than two feet tall from the top of its container, yet spreads out two or even three feet across and has 16-32 buds! Now when you put your masterpiece into the blooming cycle, you’ll watch all those budding sites you carefully created go ballistic with thick, heavy, productive buds - nothing like the single cola and scrawny, spindly side buds generally found on indoor plants not given this treatment. In this way, just one plant can easily yield upwards of four to six ounces of finished dried medicinal grade product! When this technique is done properly, a lot of the post-harvest trimming is unnecessary as well, saving time and money. Notice also that this approach helps the patient growing his own to stay well within plant count guidelines and still be able to harvest a meaningful amount of medicine. Keep in mind that over-trimming a plant - that is, taking too much off at any one time - will stunt its growth, so keep your trimming to less than ¼ the plant’s mass at any one time. In fact, you should not have to take off nearly that much. Also, when you notice that leaves towards the bottom of the plant start to yellow and turn brown, take them off. There’s no magic here - what you’re doing is training the plant to take maximum advantage of the artificial light in your indoor space by putting as much of the plant’s growing mass in the optimum distance zone from your lights as possible. Alternative techniques that achieve similar results include simply pulling the entire plant over so that it looks like it’s growing sideways, or employing a trellis net - the so-called ‘screen of green’ approach - to train your plants to spread out at the optimum distance from your light source. This is useful no matter what type of lighting you use, and is in fact about the only way to get reasonable yields from fluorescent lighting. Until next time, enjoy! Feel free to send any comments or questions to me at indoorcultivationconsulting@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to answer them!

Hopefully the PCA now has the full attention of the city legislators as well as the city attorney and will be invited to participate in meaningful negotiations to draft a fair and reasonable ordinance that respects the rights of patients and their collectives to operate within city limits. “This victory sends a clear message to politicians in San Diego and throughout California that collectives and their patients will not stand for laws that attack some of our most vulnerable citizens,” says a PCA spokesperson, “We now have the people, the organization, and a successful model of political action to push back against the prohibitionists in power in cities across the state. While starting here, we are committed to creating safe and sane regulations that protect patient access in every community across the state.”

“

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Meade

“

ignaling the emergence of a new force in California’s medical cannabis community, the Patient Care Association of California (PCA) achieved a stunning victory on July 25th when the San Diego City Council voted 6 – 2 to repeal its own ordinance that effectively banned collectives from the city. The repeal now sets the stage for city council to proffer a new, more reasonable regulatory scheme to govern the locations and operations of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of San Diego. According to advice given by the City Attorney’s office to council members, any new MMJ ordinance put forward by the city council must be significantly different to withstand judicial scrutiny based on the referendum of the voters and the city council’s repeal.

The road to this victory began when San Diego passed two ordinances that forced all Collectives to shut down before starting an overly burdensome application process. Several collective directors held an emergency strategy session, and the PCA emerged from these conversations ready to take on those in City Hall attempting to limit their rights under California law. With the impending shut down of all collectives only 30 days away, the PCA quickly organized 60 local collectives and together raised the $140,000 necessary to fund the signature petition drive required for the referendum to halt the ordinance. With dozens of people and collectives working long hours gathering signatures from patients, the PCA ,with the help of other organizations such as the California Cannabis Coalition, gathered 46,141 valid signatures in 26 days, stopping the city in its tracks. The city verified the required 30, 129 signatures to qualify for repeal, leading to last month’s victory. “This is an unprecedented achievement - not just for the medical cannabis community but for any citizens’ movement,” Said Cynara Velazquez, a political consultant, “The only other recently successful petition drive was by WalMart so that they could build big box stores in San Diego.

I think the PCA was just as effective as the professionals Wal-Mart hired to manage their campaign.” While the war against medical marijuana is far from over in San Diego, the PCA is focusing some of its attention and resources, toward working with other collective directors and grass roots organizations in California that are under similar attacks by their local governments. “San Diego may be the tipping point for a new type of movement within the medical cannabis community. The old activist model is exhausted and running on empty,” said a spokesperson for the PCA, “We firmly believe that directors of collectives are bringing a new voice, renewed energy, and focused policy goals aimed at making positive changes for our community.” Bob Selan, CEO of Kush Magazine and the only non-Collective board member of the PCA said “These are new legal businesses operating in compliance with California laws, and medical cannabis patients should not have to read the newspaper every morning to find out if and where they can acquire their doctor recommended medical cannabis. An important part of this equation is having legally regulated collectives be in a position to treat their patients the same safe way prescription drug pharmacies deal with their customers.” It is apparent from the PCA victory that collective directors have common interests and goals, focusing their efforts and resources on coherent policy objectives. The longterm goals of the PCA is to protect the rights of patients by ensuring the collectives can operate in a predictable market environment that is safe and free from the threat of government raids and are consistent with state law. The repeal victory in San Diego is only another step in a long journey to protect patients and collective directors across the state. The PCA can be assured that the rest of California and other hot medical cannabis jurisdictions have been closely watching San Diego and surely applaud the efforts and the outcome achieved with the appeal. The steps are to continue the organized effort to come up with best practices and compliance procedures so that collectives in San Diego can become respectable long term, good standing businesses in the eyes of the not only discerning city council members but all of the citizens of San Diego. The next step is to plan events and seminars to educate the public about medical cannabis and the collective model for distribution of medical marijuana in San Diego and the state of California.

EXPIRES 8/31/11

At a time in human history when the “British Empire” existed, part of the land grab was India. The British occupied the country, massed thousands of regular Army troops on Indian soil and installed a form of governance titled the British Raj. The British ran India, all of it. The Medical College of Calcutta was no exception. Supplementing and administering Indian trained doctors were physicians sent from the British Isles to care for British subjects and, as doctors anywhere do, also care for their local, in this case, Indian “subjects.” One physician so detailed to Calcutta was a young Irish doctor, William B. O’Shaughnessy (1808-1889). His tour of duty was to change what was then modern medicine and ultimately he will have changed our modern medical approach to health as well. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MD degree in 1829. O’Shaughnessy may have been young but he was smart and inquisitive and a man of many talents. In 1831 he discovered the fluid electrolyte treatment for cholera. Eight years later, he discovered for the European world therapeutic cannabis. Cholera kills by dehydrating the patient by the processes of vomiting and diarrhea until fatal. The electrolyte treatment was a major step in overcoming the dehydration but many patients still died. In India he observed that local physicians, both Hindu and Mohammedan scholars, used a cannabis product to halt the dehydration and increase survival. His past research experience he put into play again. Ever cautious he experimented with a variety of hemp preparations on various animals and

concluded that cannabis was not toxic to them. From this, he theorized that it would not be toxic to humans either. He was right. In 1973 Dr. Tod Mikuriya wrote, “O’Shaughnessy successfully relieved the pain of rheumatism and stilled the convulsions of an infant with this strange new drug. His most spectacular success came, however, when he quelled the wrenching muscle spasms of tetanus and rabies with the fragrant resin.” When word reached London in 1840 that a drug had been found that could save a cholera victim from death the island rejoiced. The London Times proclaimed cannabis a “miracle drug.” It was now understood that cannabis was an antiemetic in Europe while other parts of the world had understood that action of the cannabis plant for centuries. Today the antiemetic (deters vomiting) properties of cannabis are well understood by oncology nurses, physicians and patients who are involved in chemotherapy treatment. The knowledge of cannabis then seems much like today. Parts of humanity knew about and used cannabis for a variety of ailments in the 1800s while others either ignored or simply were unaware of its healing traits. In 2011, under federal U.S. law, cannabis is prohibited for any purpose, including, by default, the elimination of human suffering. As of this writing, a whole tincture of the cannabis plant is used in 23 countries around the globe. The product is called Sativex ® and has been developed and produced in – Britain. In the U.S., cannabis has been declared by government ideologues at both the state and federal levels as having no medical value. None. The rest of the world is wrong and the US is right. It’s sort of like saying my god is the right one and your god sucks. But there is irony on display.

Aidan Hampson was the lead author on a U.S. patent, “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants.” The assignee on the patent was Hampson’s employer, “The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services.” Between 1840 and 1900 in Europe and North America, over 100 articles about the therapeutic value of cannabis were published. In the U.S. major pharmaceutical companies, Parke-Davis and Eli Lilly among them, produced medicinal “Cannabis Americana” for men, women and children. Cannabis became a staple for animals suffering from colic. Then came the 1930s. And with the 1930s came “Reefer Madness.” Cannabis was kidnapped, held hostage, and renamed marijuana and marijuana became prohibited. All a deception, all a lie and all based on ignorance stemming from the powerful Hearst and DuPont lobbies against hemp production, which was beginning to be more and more efficient, in effect threatening their own business empires. Now, cannabis researchers around the world are disparaged by pundits and U.S. federal government propagandists. The unenlightened talking heads, placed on your TV screen by the funds that paid for advertisements of pharmaceuticals that kill your liver or make your nose fall off, never talk of O’Shaughnessy and the thousands he saved giving them cannabis; of the research he spawned that led to the discovery of cannabinoid receptors in all animals; and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) that world-wide science has recently discovered. Far from being maligned as a quack, O’Shaughnessy would later be knighted by Queen Victoria for yet another major accomplishment, the establishment of a telegraph system in India. Yesterday I listened to our President say that as far as decisions about same sex marriage, the states should decide. I can’t quote him but he left the room with me believing that the President thought that decisions that are totally personal, like who you can love, should be a decision made by citizens that are not elected to the federal level of authority and that these “same sex” folks should enjoy freedom of choice and the equal benefits of citizenry. I agree. So why are the states and DC, which have reinstalled cannabis into their medical pharmacopeia, being harassed, their citizens jailed, their patients denied a medicine? Why aren’t the people of our states and territories able to decide about their personal health as they can with whom love and marry, Mr. President? Doctors and nurses in the U.S., Israel, Spain, Canada and more have and are leading patients and their health care peers into the 1840s again. An excellent source of the current medical findings about medicinal cannabis use is “O’Shaughnessy’s” The Journal of Cannabis in Clinical Practice, a newspaper that is published in California as necessary to update current cannabis research from all countries. The journal began in 2003 and should be required reading for every employee of every cannabis dispensary in the US. It summarizes in detail the numerous advancements in therapeutic cannabis knowledge with experts commenting on and explaining results from around the world. Why cannabis worked on hydrophobia or stilled tetanus was not a concern on 1840 London. It worked and did no harm. A wonder drug indeed. In 21st century medicine, with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, it once again looks like cannabis is a wonder drug. The cannabinoids found in the plant have an assortment of therapeutic properties such as: anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, antioxidant, antibiotic,

neuroprotective, analgesic, appetite stimulant, relaxant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and more. The historical medical texts of multiple cultures, some far richer in community and altruism than our present society, ages old and spread over four continents all found cannabis a reliable, gentle, medicine. Aspirin, derived from another plant, the willow tree, only made its appearance in the 1880s. Before the age of pharmaceuticals, humans used cannabis and other natural herbs exclusively. I have a hard time imagining what the naysayers of herbal medicine are thinking when they decry herbal treatment. How do they think the human race got here? What do they think our fore-bearers used to survive the diseases and traumas of the past? In the early 1900s U.S., cannabis was the most prescribed medicine. The tinctures, salves, cigarettes and patches containing cannabis were available in every pharmacy in the country dispensed by doctors without worry of overdose or toxicity. Medical school courses on therapeutic cannabis use were as prevalent as instruction on washing your hands for cleanliness. Nursing manuals emphasized cannabis safety and it’s far ranging usefulness. I may have missed it but some 20 years after the discovery of receptors in the human body for cannabis compounds, some 15 years after the discovery of the endocannabinoid system that is responsible for homeostasis, there is not a medical school or nursing school in the US that even mentions the ECS in its educational curricula. For nurses that’s four years of school, for MDs about 8. Not a word about cannabis. Instead they learn about marijuana as a drug of abuse. Did W. B. O’Shaughnessy, MD make an error? Did the British troops he saved just get lucky? Were his Indian medical cohorts delusional? Did humans survive in India for centuries before the British showed up using “bhang” because their physiological make up is different from ours now? No. What is delusional is the current debate flowing through our political class about using cannabis medically that bases its “talking points” not on validated science and clinical success, but rather the warped and avaricious greed of pharmaceutical companies, law enforcement cabals sustained by a pogrom on cannabis patients and recreational users, and other drug companies such as Seagram’s and Coors. Dr. O’Shaughnessy would be appalled I think by the behavior of his peers in medicine in this modern era. He did the work, he found an answer, he told the world that he lived in and that world felt relief and hope from a relentless list of killers. Most of his modern medical peers stand dumb to that knowledge and those results. The US government can continue to try to change history and censor old knowledge but the world is waking up to the new science that supports cannabis as medicine. We need to build on the old knowledge of O’Shaughnessy and allow the “wonder drug” to do it’s healing. Al Byrne for Patients Out of Time

You may be one of those people who have developed a need for caffeine to get your day going. Or maybe you are starting to notice you get sick more than your friends and co-workers. You may even look in the mirror and find your skin doesn’t quite look as good as it should for your age. These are pretty good signs that it may be time for a cleanse. The toxins we accumulate just by living our lives day to day contribute to low energy, poor health and premature aging. Let’s face it, we all need to get the trash out of our bodies every now and then. A toxin is a chemical or poison known to be harmful to your body. Unfortunately, they are everywhere including in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Your body will process toxins and release them through the lungs, skin, kidneys and gastro-intestinal tract. But they continue to add up from the toxic metals in the water we shower and cook with to the pesticides used to protect fruits and vegetables from insects to the antibiotics and hormones used to plump chickens and get more milk from cows. More than 100,000 toxic chemicals are found in the environment these days. They enter the body and are usually stored in the fat deposits. All this puts a tremendous burden on the body, which was never really designed to handle today’s lifestyle challenges. When the body is burdened with too many toxins your organs are unable to do their job such as filtering waste, absorbing nutrients or resisting infection. Men and women are also at risk that exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment can create a hormonal imbalance. Chemicals can mimic estrogen (known as xeno, or foreign, estrogenic compounds) and cause reproductive disorders. So what can we do to help our bodies release these problem-causing toxins? Detoxification

There are many simple ways to detox or cleanse your body in your everyday life. Juice Fasting: Juicing is one of the best ways to detox because it

enables you to get all the nutrients you need without consuming too much, therefore, your body can focus on releasing toxins and not digesting heavy foods. This is a realistic and comfortable way to detox for anyone.

Raw or Vegetarian Diet: Raw foods such as fruit and vegetables are

easily digested and minimize any burden on the body also allowing it to focus on eliminating toxins and healing. (see our previous article on the Vegan Cleanse in the May edition of Kush magazine).

Fasting: Fasting has been practiced by many cultures. Taking a day periodically and drinking only water gives your body a break from working hard and will promote elimination. This may be more difficult for some as it is a more aggressive approach. You may want to check

with your doctor before fasting if you are taking medication or are in the middle of any kind of treatment.

Sauna: Sweating is a great way to eliminate toxins. Most people have

access to a sauna at a local gym. If you are healthy, you can sit in a sauna a couple of times a week for about 30 minutes. You may need to ease into this as it can take time to build up a tolerance to the heat. Be sure to drink at least 8 ounces of water an hour before you go in and replenish when you get out.

Colonic: A colonic flushes the colon using water. This is a very gentle process that provides a way for your body to eliminate toxic bile.

Exercise: Walking, running, yoga and even dancing can help rid the body of toxins. When you exercise, you actually clean your internal organs. Because you breathe deeply, you take in more oxygen which helps your cells to perform optimally and that includes detoxing.

Dry-Skin Brushing: Dry brushing with strokes toward the heart promotes healthy blood flow, which contributes to the release of toxins. You can purchase a dry brush at most health food stores. You can also find many detox programs available at health food stores and online. These can be very intense for the average person. Many experts feel that it is better to make detoxification a part of your lifestyle rather than participating in a program a couple of times a year.

There are many advantages to detoxing: • Cleaning your kidney, liver and blood • Lose weight • Increased energy • Eliminate excess waste • Younger looking skin • Relieve acne problems • Enhance your immune system Everyone is exposed to toxins. Depending on geography and lifestyle, some people may be exposed to more than others. A few changes in your routine can make a tremendous difference in how you look and feel. And the benefits of detoxification as a preventative measure are priceless. -Elaine is the former host of "The Shape Fitness Show" on 97.1FM and 980AM in Los Angeles. Check out her site at GodaiFit.com

Is It the End of the World As We Know It, and Should We Feel Fine? Interpreting the New Federal Memo on Medical Cannabis, Congressional Bills to Reschedule Cannabis, Senate Bill 847, and Assembly Bill 1300 By Jessica C. McElfresh, Esq. for Lake APC Amid the joyous news this week that San Diego’s City Clerk Liz Maland has certified the referendum against the City’s de facto ban on medical cannabis collectives, many have lost track of the potentially significant changes taking place in state and federal law. These changes include a new memo from the U.S. Department of Justice advising United States Attorneys on whether to prosecute operators of medical cannabis collectives and cooperatives in federal court; H.R. 2306, introduced on June 23, 2011 in the House of Representatives, which proposes to essentially allow each state to pass its own laws regarding marijuana; and California Senate Bill 847, which would prohibit many collectives and cooperatives from operating within 600 feet of a residence or residential zone.

Cole Memo On June 29, 2011, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a new memorandum for United States Attorneys to clarify the Department of Justice’s policy on whether U.S. Attorneys should prosecute qualified patients, primary caregivers, and collective and cooperative operators, including those in compliance with state law. This memo does not replace the Holder Memo – actually authored by Deputy Attorney

General David W. Ogden, not Attorney General Eric Holder that the Department of Justice released on October 19, 2009. Rather, the Cole Memo allegedly seeks to clarify the Holder Memo. The DOJ issued the Cole Memo to clarify the Holder Memo after several U.S. Attorneys, state officials, and local governments asked the Obama Administration and the DOJ to make clear whether they desired for medical cannabis collective and

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cooperative operators to be prosecuted. Government officials of all stripes, as well as the medical marijuana community, also wanted the administration and the DOJ to state whether state government officials in states such as Washington, Arizona, and New Jersey could face federal prosecution for administering state medical cannabis licensing and registry programs. People desired for the administration and the DOJ to state plainly whether they intended to crack down on the medical marijuana industry nationwide after several U.S. Attorneys sent letters threatening prosecution to state and local officials if they licensed medical marijuana operations. The most famous of these letters was sent by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Melinda Haag, to John A. Russo, the Oakland City Attorney. In that letter, Ms. Haag stated that Oakland’s plan to license industrial cultivation facilities could trigger federal prosecution. Oakland promptly decided to shelve plans for such large cultivation facilities. People also wished for the DOJ to clarify whether a federal crackdown was coming in light of that the federal government has raided more medical cannabis collectives and facilities during the Obama Administration than during the last four years of the Bush Administration. Despite the desire of many for a clearer and more supportive federal policy toward medical marijuana, the Cole Memo represents a small step backwards. The memo states that while U.S. Attorneys should not dedicate resources to prosecuting individual qualified patients and primary caregivers who provide care beyond cannabis to qualified patients. However, the memo also states that the federal government believes that those who engage in the “commercial cultivation, sale, distribution and use of marijuana for purported medical purposes” violate the Controlled Substances Act, and could be prosecuted. Immediately after this statement, the memo cites huge, industrial-scale cultivation of tens of thousands of cannabis plants as one example. Clearly, the memo is referring to the large industrial grows that Oakland considered allowing. Even more chillingly for most people in the medical cannabis community, the Cole Memo states, “People who are in the business of cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana, and those who knowingly facilitate such activities, are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.” This sentence could describe many collectives and cooperatives, their operators, their members, and those who assist in their formation and operation, including government officials. It is particularly chilling that the Cole Memo does not distinguish between for-profit and not-for-profit cultivation, sales, and distribution of medical marijuana. By contrast, the Holder Memo stated that “prosecution of commercial enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana for profit continues to be an enforcement priority of the Department [of Justice],” suggesting that not-forprofit medical marijuana operations that complied with state law were a poor target for federal prosecution.

Yet, though the Cole Memo takes a harder line than the Holder Memo against medical cannabis operations, we must remember that the Holder Memo also warned that commercial enterprises – by which the DOJ meant medical marijuana operations that extended beyond a small network of qualified patients and primary caregivers – could attract federal prosecution. As for whether we should expect a federal crackdown in San Diego or in California, the medical marijuana community should proceed, though perhaps with more caution than before. The Cole Memo seems primarily targeted at stamping out any more plans for huge, tens of thousands of plants cultivation enterprises, such as those considered by Oakland. The Cole Memo will also further discourage state government officials from formally endorsing, licensing, and permitting medical cannabis operations in states such as Arizona or Washington. By contrast, California does not have a central registry of patients, or a statewide licensing or permitting system for medical cannabis operations. Because California’s medical marijuana industry does not depend on state government officials to function, it can continue to thrive without fearing that state government will begin dismantling the industry because of fear that the federal government will prosecute state officials for regulating the medical cannabis industry. As for medical cannabis collectives and cooperatives operating in California, we must remember that anyone entering this industry accepts the risk, however remote, of federal prosecution. As always, those who work in this industry must remember to comply strictly with state law and act professionally. If there is a federal crackdown, most likely the federal government will target massive operations, such as those with thousands of plants, or those that flout federal law by evading taxes, dealing in other drugs, or engaging in recreational sales.

Congressional Legislation: While the Cole Memo has given us little to celebrate, new federal legislation to reduce the threat of federal prosecution and to essentially remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act offers hope. The most groundbreaking of these bills is H.R. 2306, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011. Introduced on June 23, 2011 by Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Representative Ron Paul of Texas, Representative Jared Polis of Colorado, and several others, H.R. 2306 would essentially remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. While it would remain illegal under federal law to transport marijuana from one state to anovther, if H.R. 2306 became national law, each state would set its own marijuana laws, free from federal interference. In short, the federal government would no longer regulate marijuana, be it recreational or medical.

H.R. 2306 joins several bills introduced in Congress in May 2011. Entitled the States’ Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, H.R. 1983 sought to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III or lower, potentially allowing for medical use nationwide and permitting medical marijuana states to be largely free from federal interference. Entitled the Small Business Banking Improvement Act of 2011, H.R. 1984 would make it easier for medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives to bank. The bill states that if the governor of a state certifies to the Secretary of the Treasury that a business is legitimate and legal under state law, the Secretary of the Treasury cannot then require a bank to report suspicious transactions of that business to the Treasury. In English, banks could allow collectives and cooperatives to open accounts without fearing that federal regulators will interfere with or audit the bank for doing business with collectives and cooperatives. The last federal bill, the Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2011, or H.R. 1985, would exempt medical cannabis collectives and cooperatives from Internal Revenue Code Section 280E. Section 280E disallows virtually all overhead deductions for medical cannabis collectives and cooperatives, resulting in crippling federal tax bills. Unfortunately, there is little hope that any of these bills will get out of committee, let alone be passed by Congress. House Judiciary Committee Chair Lamar Smith has stated that he will not allow H.R. 2306 to ever leave committee. No doubt H.R. 1984, H.R. 1985, and H.R. 1986 will suffer similar fates. Nevertheless, it is a tremendous victory that these bills were introduced. The federal government is slowly acknowledging and embracing the medical cannabis industry. It is proof that what the medical cannabis community has long known shall come true: medical marijuana will someday be legal nationwide.

Senate Bill 847 and Assembly Bill 1300 Though federal legislation has given the medical cannabis community hope, the California legislature is on the verge of passing bills that could cripple the medical cannabis industry. Senate Bill 847 would prohibit medical cannabis collectives from operating within 600 foot radius, measured property line to property line, of a residence or a residential zone. S.B. 847 does not preempt any local ordinance that was adopted before January 1, 2011. This means that a licensed collective in a city such as San Francisco that had an ordinance regulating medical cannabis collectives before January 1, 2011, is unaffected. That collective can continue to operate, even if it is on top of or below a residence.

By contrast, collectives in cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles, where the ordinances are unsettled, challenged, may be subject to S.B. 847. This means that many collectives in San Diego may have to move. Collectives in San Diego that are within 600 feet of a residence or a residential zone would have to move because the City did not have – and still does not have – an ordinance that went into effect before January 1, 2011. S.B. 847 has passed the California State Senate, and is now in the State Assembly. Though medical cannabis activists are trying to stop the bill from passing or to amend it to make it less destructive, most likely Senate Bill 847 shall pass the Assembly. Then, it is up to Governor Jerry Brown. It is unknown whether he could be persuaded to veto the bill. If Governor Brown signs S.B. 847, medical cannabis collectives up and down the state will challenge it in court, particularly as local governments begin to enforce it. In addition to challenging S.B. 847 in court, the medical cannabis community can also lobby local governments to lessen the restrictions of S.B. 847. S.B. 847 allows local governments to pass ordinances that are more or less restrictive than the distance requirements of S.B. 847. This means that in the City of San Diego, for example, the City Council could allow existing collectives to remain in their current locations, regardless of proximity to a residence, or allow collectives to be closer to residences than 600 feet. Though the likely effect of S.B. 847 on the medical cannabis industry is clear, the effect of Assembly Bill 1300 is harder to predict. Assembly Bill 1300 would amend state law to say that cities and counties can adopt and enforce ordinances regulating “the location, operation, or establishment of a medical marijuana cooperative or collective” and use civil and criminal law to enforce these regulations. Some cities are already applauding A.B. 1300 as the means to ban collectives without any fear of that a court will overturn the ban. Other cities view A.B. 1300 as a way to use not only civil law, but also criminal law to prosecute those who operate collectives in defiance of bans. However, A.B. 1300 does explicitly stating that cities can ban collectives. One can reasonably argue that A.B. 1300 simply allows cities to regulate collectives, but does not allow them to ban. In short, though A.B. 1300 is likely meant to stamp out collectives, and is another hurdle that the medical cannabis community shall have to overcome, it will remain a live question whether cities and counties can ban collectives, if A.B. 1300 passes. -Lake APC is a San Diego law firm representing nearly 200 medical marijuana collectives. Contact managing partner Jeff Lake at jlake@ lakeapc.com or (619) 795-6460

coastal hikes:

California is home to more people than any other state in America, and the Pacific Ocean is why. Even though most beach communities are developed and commercialized, there are still a few places along the coastline where you can camp or snorkel or just enjoy the landscape for itself. All due respect to the many great seafood eateries out there, but it heals the soul to walk on an empty beach, or at least a quiet one, without parking structures and fast food franchises vying for your attention. Though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to believe, a

few choice quiet slices of Southern California coast are still holding their ground from San Diego through Malibu. Put on your hiking shoes and enjoy California! Torrey Pines State Reserve in North San Diego is a botanical wonderland where three major plant communities thrive together on over 1700 acres. The sage-scrub, chaparral and salt marsh plant communities all intermingle over three miles of gorgeous coast-

Nestled between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach along Pacific Coast Highway is Crystal Cove State Park. Stretching over three miles of wooded coastline, Crystal Cove, like Torrey Pines, is a rare slice of uncut California. The landscape is one of the few undeveloped pieces of coast left in Orange County. Crystal Cove’s scenic bluffs, ravines, ridges and canyons will battle for your attention with the underwater park living in Crystal Cove’s waters. With tide pools, rocky reefs, kelp forests, sea lions, harbor seals, and occasional migrating grey whales, Crystal Cove’s archipelago proves a vibrant ecology. The backcountry area of the park is a large expanse for hiking. The Native Americans (Juanenos) that once inhabited this coast gathered wild berries, seeds and acorns in this area. A short walk reveals willow thickets, elderberries, sycamores, live oaks and shallow caves. Crystal Cove is an incredible place to explore the coast or watch the sun dip into the ocean. Head north about 100 miles, and you’ll run into Point Dume, on the northern tip of Santa Monica Bay. The long bluff is crowned with rocks and forms a narrow pointed shape on the coast. Point Dume is the northern terminus for the coastline that is bookended on the south by the Palos Verdes peninsula. Like Palos Verdes, Point Dume’s distinct shape makes it visible from long distances. The distinct formations provide a great stop for rock-climbers, and the point’s swells have been praised and honored by surfers of all generations. Tube snails, sand castle worms, shore and hermit crabs, anemones and sea stars can be found within Point Dume’s vibrant tide pools. If you come at the right time of the year you might even see migrating grey whales. And for a short homage to the location’s history, make sure to visit the small monument saluting British naval commander George Vancouver, the man who gave Point Dume its name when he sailed by in 1793. It’s no secret that the further north you travel up the California Coast, the more engaging it becomes: the rolling hills of Lompoc, the massive boulder at Morro Bay, Big Sur’s redwood trees, Carmel conifers amidst Cliffside cabins, Monterey’s cypress trees on wind-torn ridges and fog hanging over houseboats in Sausalito, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The coastline in Stinson Beach and Bolinas is so epic that locals don’t want the secret to get out (ooops…sorry…). They purposely tear the sign down from the highway.

line. The landscape is a photographer’s paradise packed with Torrey Pine trees on coastal bluffs, fields of wildflowers, jagged cliffs and long sweeping vistas. The Torrey Pine is a rare tree that only grows in two places on Earth. One is the Torrey Pines State Reserve and the other is Santa Rosa Island, one of the Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara. The Torrey Pines are California icons on par with other symbolic shrubs like Joshua trees, cypress trees or Arizona’s Saguaro cactus. The Torrey Pines growing amidst the diverse ecosystem make the State Reserve especially popular with San Diego hikers and nature lovers. Be advised about occasional high tides and seasonal danger that intermittently occurs here. After all it’s the millions of years of constant pounding by the Pacific that have made the cliffs at Torrey Pines so picturesque.

Bolinas is technically only 15 miles north of San Francisco, but due to the winding roads and tucked away topography of Bolinas, navigating this route, chalk full of hairpin turns that hug thousand foot cliffs, takes almost an hour. Bolinas is famous for being off the grid. Sure enough, the one time I was there I couldn’t even get cell service…and that was a good thing. After all, the California coast is a bastion for those in need of beauty, peace and quiet, so the next time you feel the need to clear your head, get out…take a hike! New landscapes and environments energize fresh eyes, and fresh eyes give birth to new ideas.

Mike the PoeT aka Mike Sonksen is a Spoken Word Artist, Tourguide, Educator, Journalist, and Historian based in The City of Angels. mikethepoetla. tumblr.com/ www.youtube.com/user/MikeThePoet1

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Billed as “one of San Diego County’s most precious natural resources,” it’s hard to believe such a small slice of the city’s residents have actually visited it, let alone heard of it. Located in the midst of Escondido, just about 30 miles from downtown San Diego, The Elfin Reserve is an outdoor paradise. Boasting “11 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, as well as primitive picnic areas and scenic mountain viewing points,” summer makes for an ideal time to spend a day in this idyllic getaway setting. First opened in 1991, the 784-acre reserve, which was developed by Olivenhain Municipal Water District with cooperation from the San Diego County Water Authority and the U.S. Department of Interior, was designated as an emergency water storage project for the County, but its unique landscape and back country feel makes it an alluring destination for day trippers of all kinds. If you’ve come to hike or bike, you’re in extreme luck, as there are several main paths to choose from (as well as small off-shoot trails from these paths). For those that so desire, there is a semistrenuous uphill jaunt, but those who brave the terrain are rewarded with expansive overlooks (each of which is equipped with shade and picnic tables) providing a magnificent vantage point to view the Pacific Ocean, the Channel Islands, the Coronado Islands, the Laguna and San Bernardino mountain ranges, as well as the Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir. A very peaceful bird’s eye view of Lake Hodges is also worth checking out. Additionally, there is a trail that serves as a sort of botanical path, and yet another trail, which takes you to and across a section of the Escondido Creek, which flows freely through the park yearround. One thing we were surprised to see was

the box of ‘hiking sticks’ at the trailhead. While some may prefer to still seek out their own, this proved a nice, subtle charming touch to the experience. Enough for us to remember it… In addition to the hiking and biking and walking that can take up the entire day in and of itself, the natural offerings of the Reserve include such native plant communities as “oak riparian, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub and chaparral,” making the Reserve an ecological daydream, one that can be explored at the patron’s pace. For those with dogs, you’ll be happy to learn you don’t need to leave them at home, for this Reserve is a very pet-friendly facility. As a matter of fact, dogs are even allowed off-leash in designated parts of the park. So once you and the dogs have burned off a few calories, it’s time to replenish. There are five picnic areas provided for your convenience, as well as portable restrooms and running water at the trailhead. If you’d like an official tour with a Ranger as your guide, you can arrange this by calling the park. They’ll be honored to give you a detailed history, education and look at the Reserve’s offerings. So get out of the house, and (sort of) out of the city, and head into a section of the hills that your attention, for whatever reason, may have never honed in on. This hidden gem of a Reserve is beautiful, reinvigorating, close-by, and, perhaps best of all, free. -Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve 8833 Harmony Grove Road Escondido, CA 92029 760-632-4212 olivenhain.com/parks

Since forming in 2008, Rival Sons has busted through the gate, blasting their fresh take on blues to audiences across the globe. They have the fever of a strong, young band of this contemporary era, with the soul and gritty depth of Muddy Waters. More than any other genre or classification of music, blues-heavy rock has maintained its sound through the generations. While you could trace its origins as far back as you want (even cavemen sang the blues), once Muddy Waters helped pioneer the modern sound of the blues in the 60s, those most successful blues acts have typically kept the same basic format...one that has held up over time. The good modern blues acts play it well, and keep the tonic feeling like new every time they pass it around. Rolling Stones and Credence Clearwater Revival made blues even cooler; Clutch pioneered a harder edge to the blues; now we have Black Keys and Jack White bringing a New Millennium sensibility to the arena. This is where Rival Sons have stepped in, to take the reigns with the best blues record of the year, Pressure & Time. Indeed, Rival Sons sounds a lot like the hard, rockin’ blues of old, but with a modern flavor. The SOUL of their music resonates powerfully through the 10 tracks, and while on the surface you could imagine this being played live in some Chicago bar in 1963, the spirit of the music is sheer 2011.

“I think what remains the same is the blues,” says drummer Mike Miley. “The sounds change by the people who play the instruments, and what amps they're playing through. The Black Keys are playing through old gear; Jack White is playing through old gear. It's those tones from the 50s and 60s that are the best.” To maintain the raw, urgent feel necessary for a good blues record, Rival Sons recorded Pressure & Time in 20 days, from scratch. “We wrote, recorded, mixed, mastered it in 20 days,” Miley tells us. “We wrote a song a day, recorded it.” However, unlike similar experiments in the past - like when Neil Young and Crazy Horse went into the studio in 1973 to record Tonight's The Night, with no practice and tons of booze and weed - Rival Sons took a more calculated approach to this record. As Miley puts it, “We really didn't really coop ourselves up. We went in fresh. We wanted it to be visceral; we intentionally went into the studio without any put-together songs, to keep that kind of fresh, alive quality to it. To us, that's kind of the backbone to rock & roll, it's loose and from the gut.”

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Of course, this is not to say they didn't party a little bit while making the record. They're rockstars! Of COURSE there was that delicate balance! Miley laughs in agreement, “I'd say every night, probably was nightcapped with a joint or five.”

“What's funny, though, is I know so many people that are Republican, and they smoke weed. But the Republicans that are in office are really against it. And even the Democrats too, they're a bunch of pu***s, they can't get behind it.

Miley points out the realities and joys marijuana brings to music. Marijuana “opened up my entire brain a whole new world. My first year in college, I had a roommate in college, one of my best friends, who turned me on to Yes, Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, all these psychedelic bands that I had heard before, but never with the ears I had after I started smoking weed. Music comes alive on weed, man!

“I think Dennis Kucinich is like one of the only politicians that's cool with it. He's rad: he's vegan, he's got a hot model wife, he's a rad dude, man. I love Kucinich; every time he's in the primaries, I vote for him.”

“People just have to admit it: music sounds a lot better, from a piano concerto to Grateful Dead live at Hampton Theater in 1979, to Topographic Oceans by Yes. They all come alive when you've smoked a bowl. “Weed - or intoxication in general - has been attached to music since the inception of western music, which was around in the 15th Century. I know Beethoven and Mozart and all those guys were taking something. The idea of being high and listening, writing, composing, playing music high, is a godsend. It's definitely a gift from nature…I mean, I'm all for it. We could make aspirin out of it, it's the strongest fiber on the planet, we can make paper (and end deforestation). There's so much we can do with weed, so I'm all for legalization.” Miley adds that it's the propaganda that has kept cannabis illegal for so long. “Initially it was propaganda, and it was pounded into the American psyche, leading up to the illegalization in 1937. With William Randolph Hearst, all the Chicago banks and those people that were lobbying for it...that was the main thing. And it just got ingrained into the American psyche, kind of like the Russians, we're all still kind of afraid of the Russians, even after the Cold War's over for like 20 years. “Propaganda is a really powerful tool. If you're a part of NORML or any of these organizations that are for the legalization, you're just some dumb hippie. There are some really smart people that are behind the marijuana legalization movement, but they don't get the voice because of the propaganda machine, FOX News, Republicans, all of them.

As the band is currently touring Europe, Miley's access to marijuana is somewhat limited...but not devastated. “There's somebody in every town, every city, every place, every festival or whatever, somebody’s got weed. It's funny to see the different kinds of weed. You meet connoisseurs, and then you meet some dude who just has shake in a bag and wants to roll a joint for you. We'll be in the Netherlands on Friday...but so far, in Europe, I haven't seen really great, great weed.” While they're enjoying playing gigs on the other side of the pond, Miley already has plans for his return to Southern California. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything better than California…first, I'm going to get a New York Sour Diesel and a Master Kush, so that I have a daytime and a nighttime. Maybe some Blue Dream, but New York Sour Diesel has never done me wrong, and it's a great, creative high. I want to write poetry, I want to practice my drums, I want to vacuum the house. “The Master/OG Kush are great for when you're winding down your day. But I can't talk when I'm on indicas, my speech goes out the window pretty much, so I reserve that for nighttime. Or after a show, a good indica gives a good body high after a show, it kind of helps the body unwind. With my arms- being the drummer - I'm really wound up after playing.” Then he nods, “You always gotta have some good Kush in your stash.” __ Jake McGee is the editor in chief of Kotori Magazine (www. kotorimagazine.com), an online arts/culture/politics venue. His work has appeared in sundry outlets, from Associated Press to Village Voice to Modern Dog Magazine, and everything in between.

The Midwest has their prize livestock, NASCAR and Funnel Cakes to die for. The East Coast has its Tony Award Winning Broadway shows, Fifth Avenue, the Yankees, and, well, pretty damn good canolis! The West Coast? Well, the West Coast has top grade, award winning medical cannabis. Leave the Blue Ribbons to the rest of the country, but the Green Ribbon? Well, the Green Ribbon belongs to us. Green Ribbon is definitely a winner when it comes to top shelf strains. A very potent cross between Afghani, Green Crack and Trainwreck, this bud is aesthetically one of the most pleasing strains we’ve seen in recent times. Bright orange hairs with leaves that exude subtle purple hues peek through the crystalline white blanket of trichomes. When it comes to the aroma, it’s hard not to first notice the distinct sweet citrus before the deeper hints of a cheese and hash poke their way through. Forgo the coffee and pick up the pipe…for this sativa dominant hybrid strain is mostly known for

its uplifting feeling, leaving its user with a sense of energetic euphoria. The smooth and steady expansion within the lungs makes this one a bit of a creeper, but a highly effective one at that! Mood elevation is a welcome effect, making this an understandably highly sought-after strain for treating depression, anxiety, post-traumautic stress disorder and nausea, as well as the pain associated with symptoms that typically accompany arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia, HIV/AIDS, gastrointestinal disorders, and muscle spasms. So if you’re looking for something that has been tested and tried amongst an elite panel of judges…the medical cannabis community…go and pick up a few doses of Green Ribbon. Thought that funnel cake tasted divine before? Wait til you try it after medicating on Green Ribbon. You’ll be back for seconds. Or perhaps a canoli?

Ray Mickshaw/FX

by Cheryl Shuman and Wasim Muklashy

Ok…the secret is out…product placement has become an almost integral piece of the ever-evolving marketing puzzle that our great country’s entire economic standing has very consciously propped itself up upon. There’s no getting around it and there’s no longer even an attempt at hiding it. From the ever-present GMCs in Michael Bay’s Transformers dynasty and the blatant Coca-Cola vending machines in the final shoot-em-up sequence in Zombieland (not to mention Woody Harrelson’s shameless search for Hostess Twinkies) to the Dodge Chargers in the wildly popular Grand Theft Auto video games and EA Sports’ all too obvious affairs with everyone from Snickers to Casio and beyond. While the practice itself isn’t all that new, and the idea isn’t exactly revolutionary (heck, some of the earliest examples date back to the publication of Jules Vernes’ 1873 classic “Around The World In 80 Days” in which he craftily named various shipping companies throughout the prose, as well as 1927’s Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, the silent film ‘Wings,’ which included a plug for Hershey’s), it has certainly become a much more present, almost vital, part of the machine for every venture from films to video games to publications and beyond. Everything from funding to promotional tieins…the whole nine… Marketing, advertising, repetition, exposure, and repetition. We’ve seen soft drinks (American Idol’s carefully placed Coke cups), tech companies (“The Social Network’s” not-so-subtle Sony Vaio fetish), fast food restaurants (The “Need for Speed” video game franchise’s obsession with Burger King), clothing and sporting goods manufacturers (Marty McFly’s Nike fascination anyone?), alcohol (Red Stripe in “The Firm,” Finlandia Vodka in Bond’s “Die Another Day”).

Or so we thought. One thing that has remained taboo enough to carry a ‘promote at your own risk’ tag almost wherever it popped up, was our beloved mary jane. Granted, we’ve seen countless stoner flicks and shows that make absolutely no attempt to hide the fact that they’re, well, stoner flicks and shows… everything from Dave Chappelle’s “Half-Baked” to “Pineapple Express,” and the weed-centric Showtime hit “Weeds,” but we have yet to see conscious brand product placement of cannabis related products, companies, and organizations come anywhere near the mainstream media. This, however, is beginning to change, keeping in line with the evolving perceptions of the medicine across our great land.

Ray Mickshaw/FX

Heck, we’ve seen it all!

There’s no point, other than re-affirmation (and context), in pointing out that these United States have, in recent decades, become the hotbed of marijuana reform and, in a sense, re-branding. It takes a lot of work to unravel decades of misinformation and propaganda, but as evidenced by 17 states, and many more following suit in coming elections, the prevailing attitudes towards marijuana, especially on the medical side, are shifting. The pendulum is in mid-swing from the confines of a prohibition, fear based norm, to more open and medically sanctioned prairies. Seeing as how the acceptance of medical marijuana and the brands and products associated with it is becoming more and more mainstream by the state, so is the idea of promoting it through both conventional and non-conventional channels. And as the nation’s premier cannabis lifestyle magazine, Kush magazine recently proudly found itself at the throes of this quiet, yet powerful revolution… Enter David Zuckerman…Hollywood uber-producer/writer who possesses a resume that includes Family Guy, King of the Hill, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Last summer, Cheryl Shuman, Kush Magazine’s Director of Celebrity, Media,

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and Public Relations, received a call from old friend Zuckerman, asking if he could “borrow” several large live cannabis plants from her personal garden for a new television pilot he was shooting. He went on to explain: FX Networks had approached Zuckerman to adapt a critically acclaimed Australian series for American eyes. This was no small task. Wilfred is a half-hour, live-action comedy about ‘Ryan,’ a young man played by Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Happy Feet) struggling unsuccessfully to make his way in the world until he forms a unique friendship with "Wilfred," his neighbor’s canine pet, played by Jason Gann, who co-created and starred in the original Australian series. The premise goes a bit like this - everyone else sees Wilfred as just a dog, but Ryan sees a crude and somewhat surly, yet irrepressibly brave and honest Australian bloke in a cheap dog suit. While leading him through a series of comedic and existential adventures, Wilfred the dog shows Ryan the man how to overcome his fears and joyfully embrace the unpredictability and insanity of the world around him. While absolutely intrigued by the story, Zuckerman had to wonder how he was going to take an overseas success and make it America’s own - especially considering an underlying storyline that we have yet to mention…Wilfred smokes marijuana. A lot of it. Yes, Wilfred, the dog… eh…person, smokes pot. So, based on this story vein, he figured why not use the country’s burgeoning medical marijuana movement’s accolades as a fresh angle to the American version of the show. And this, our loyal readers, is where Kush came into play. While the network’s legal department shot down the idea of using real plants for the pilot, Cheryl’s integral role was only just about to be discovered. David’s sister and Cheryl’s close friend Dori gave her a call. “Remember when you did the product placement for my Karma Dolls? I have a huge project for you and we need this done yesterday! You’re the only person for the job!” “Wilfred” needed an entire “medical marijuana patient collective” built from the ground up within the next 48 hours - complete with medicine, accessories, edibles, publications, wall decorations…basically, the whole enchilada! Cheryl was none too happy to jump back into the entertainment community that had provided her with so much success before her harrowing and welldocumented battle with cancer led her to become a full-time activist for

medical marijuana. She was feeling better…and she was back! This was the perfect opportunity to combine her two passions into one united project. Needless to say, Cheryl immediately jumped into action. After consulting with the Kush team, a plan was hatched. A cross-section of Kush Magazine’s advertisers and clients and KushCon exhibitors were contacted, ideas and products were gathered, and the doors to an opportunity to prominently display medical marijuana in its fully glory were wide open before us. The movers and shakers behind this 1.7 billion dollar industry, which is still, in many a sense, at its infancy, are getting their first real micro-taste of mainstream media advertising. CaliVapor and Vortex water pipes (who had already experienced an appetizer of TV success in Showtime’s “Weeds,”) filled the accessories category, Bhang Chocolates took care of the edibles, Dope on a Roap Soap, Doob Tubes, and Green Clean & Gack Attack provided ancillary products, Greta Gaines CDs provided the music, and even Henry Hemp’s infamous foam leaf hat was on display. And, of course, prominently spattered about the space were copies of Kush Magazine and numerous framed iconic Kush Centerfolds. “This green revolution is happening all over the country,” explains Davyd Field, owner of Vortex Water Pipes. “TV shows like Wilfred carry the movement into the living rooms of people across the country.” And it’s because of the efforts of deeply impassioned and dedicated activists like Cheryl Shuman that these opportunities are becoming more readily available. “Her deep passion for the medical marijuana industry is evident in every aspect of her professional life.” “Cheryl has been an absolute pleasure to work with. Her knowledge and passion is electric and contagious,” expresses Chris Boden, President of CaliVapor. “When Cheryl first asked us to get involved with FX’s ‘Wilfred’ we were ecstatic.” “She has been able to open the doors to great marketing opportunities, but also helped shed light on using that marketing to help promote and further the MMJ cause,” adds Bhang Chocolate’s Scott J. Van Rixel. “This raised bar has opened new doors.” Who would have thought…words like sativa, indica, Kush...would be part of everyday dinner conversation? A household name? A legitimate brand? A prime-time television show? What next? How about decriminalization… Now, there’s a thought...

From left to right: Wilfred (Jason Gann), Cheryl Shuman, Elijah Wood, and David Zuckerman

On Thursday, July 7, 2011, the Marijuana Policy Project threw

the best party of the year, with their Liberty Belle Ball at the iconic Playboy Mansion. Sadly, Hugh Hefner was not in attendance, nor were there any orgies in the Grotto during the party. There were, however, tons of industry leaders and other luminaries in the battle to legalize marijuana, e n - joying live music from Fishbone and various DJs, amazing food spreads, and overall having a great time. Indeed, an impressive lot of notables turned up to celebrate MPP’s progress including Jason Gann - from the Australian (and now FX) smash hit “Wilfred”- who accompanied Kush Magazine’s very own Cheryl Shuman. Bob Selan, CEO of Kush and Board member of NCIA, the first cannabis industry trade association, was also in attendance. Additional notables in attendance included Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Reed Diamond, and Breckin Meyer from TNT’s “Franklin & Bash.” Guests were very interested in talking to people from the cannabis industry including The 420 Times, Canna Bank, Vapor Room, Bhang Chocolates, Berkeley Patients Group, WeGrow, LA Weekly, and the main sponsor of the event, GreenLife Medical Systems LLC. Greenlife Medical Systems is the largest provider of verification services for medical cannabis recommendations across the United States and, after just 4 years since its founding, finds itself in a unique and coveted position. “4 years ago, we found Rob Campia and MPP and talked about what we were trying to do, bring more standardization and accountability to this emerging market, which fell right in line with what they were trying to promote,” explains Greenlife’s Alain Gazaui. With over half a million patients being serviced in California alone, Greenlife has managed to fill a very necessary void in the continually emerging medical marijuana industry, helping to break taboo and allow doctors to feel more comfortable in recommending a medicine they are confident can help their patients. Not only does Greenlife provide the most advanced verification services in the industry, forcing a necessary accountability noticeably absent before their arrival, but, according to Gazaui, they also provide “protection from law enforcement agents 24 hours a day.” Plain and simple, “We’re here to make sure patients get the medicine that they 66

need.” Playing testament to their increasing influence in the medical marijuana community, Greenlife finds itself as the title sponsor of this year’s event. Additional sponsors, including WeGrow, have also seen monumental strides in recent years. “We just got our 1,000th application for a franchise,” glows WeGrow’s Mike Garcia. According to him, WeGrow is the only cannabis related business that has been given the permission to start franchising throughout the country. Garcia said his business is flourishing because they have the moxie to stand tall and proud, as they offer a grand superstore for everything one needs to grow medical marijuana. “Everyone else (other hydro shops) is hiding, and we’re the ones saying, ‘step out.’ Somebody has to step out there, and take the risk ahead of everybody else. We’re doing that thing; we’re taking the risk.” Thanks to organizations like MPP, the movement to abolish marijuana prohibition has gained more and more energy over the years, and the past year was no different. “I think it’s going really well right now,” Kampia noted. “We’ve had four significant state victories in just seven months: Arizona, Delaware, Maryland, and Vermont. We’ve had this explosion of state-level victories, which would have been unheard of a couple years ago. “So I think we’re doing really well, in terms of laws changing on the state level. On the federal level, it’s a give and take. You know, we have obviously our best legislation ever in Congress, but it’s not so clear on the federal level that things are going in the right direction. It’s not a disaster and it’s not a dream, it’s somewhere in the middle.” Randy Welty from San Diego, and one of the board members of the newly formed Patient Care Association of California (PCAC) also had good news to share. “The PCAC successfully executed on a referendum to stop the ban against collectives as a result of an onerous City of San Diego medical marijuana ordinance. Over 46,000 signatures were gathered in less than 30 days.” Welty exclaimed, “We’re very happy to report that it is going to end up passing as a referendum.” The next steps according to Welty are to prepare and initiative that will instruct the City Council as to how the medical marijuana (continued on page 68)

community can partner with the city to allow for straight forward regulations that will also assure that patients will have safe access. Welty stated that, “hopefully before it gets to the next initiative stage we will have the opportunity to sit down with the city council and negotiate an acceptable resolution.”* The struggles that are facing San Diego are not unique but are commonplace among many cities and states where MPP has been proactive in. To this end, Kampia and the MPP are showing no signs of slowing down. As Kampia continued - during breaks between performances by the hypnotizing Fire Groove - “Our flagship project over the next year and a half is the legalize marijuana initiative that is being promoted in Colorado, to end marijuana prohibition entirely, and to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. That’s the #1 most imvportant project for November 2012.” Kampia further stated that, “In addition, we will continue to work on lobbying in Illinois, New York, Maryland and a couple of other states. We will of course assist in California and the state of Washington, with their two ballot initiatives. But we can’t do everything everywhere. One of the things that we pride ourselves on at MPP for the past 16 1/2 years is picking and choosing our battles. This means saying ‘yes,’ but also saying ‘no.’ We can’t say ‘yes’ to everything. In the next year and a half, we are saying ‘yes’ to Colorado, and then we’re going to help everywhere else that we can.” As the party dwindled down, and guests were shuttled out of the Mansion grounds, a sense of true victory hovered over the area. We are winning this silly yet dreadful war. *At press time, the San Diego City Council voted to repeal the medical marijuana ordinance.

Part 3:

Advanced Applications and Reservoir Automation

By mimicking nature’s irrigation and fertilization methods, the Rain Table design focuses on innovation through simplicity. The use of “rain” in this system allows growers to irrigate more evenly and fertilize more efficiently. But what about the rain itself? In order to keep the water stable, this design also incorporates modern hydroponic technologies to engineer a better rain – a rain whose pH, EC and dissolved oxygen levels automatically stay within the desired parameters even under changing conditions. In this final installment of my Rain Table series, we’re going to (finally) examine the Milwaukee SMS122 - a relatively inexpensive device for automatic pH control. We’ll also look at my new Rain Table where I’ve adapted the design to a very different application. I’ve (creatively) dubbed it “Rain Table 2.0” and it features an internal grid to support tall, one-gallon tree pots. Using the same irrigation style of the first Rain Table, this 2.0 version grows “Tree-Trees” - foot tall starter plants with foot long root systems. Although the considerations vary greatly between the two Rain Tables, the irrigation design performs well despite different plant sizes, plant numbers, root zone depths and pot spacing. On the day this article was submitted, the original Rain Table started day 1 of flowering on its 3rd crop and, thus far, the automatic pH control unit has been performing like a champ. Although the whole table design was new when I started to build it, my biggest concern was whether or not the automatic pH control would work. As much as I (and every other grower)

want to forget about adjusting the pH in a hydroponic system each day, I also know how automating anything can be disastrous. At the CannAcademy, I always encourage my students to avoid automating any process (watering, pH, etc.) that they haven’t done manually for at least 3 crops, if not more. If you’re not intimately familiar with the process on a

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manual level, the odds of miscalculating on your automated settings is very good. So, for those of you who are halfway through your first crop and already looking up where to get automatic pH control: good luck, and don’t say I didn’t warn you. But for growers with a good amount of previous experience at pH-adjusting reservoirs, (you know: adjust, check, adjust, check, adjust, curse at yourself for adding too much, pH-up adjustment, check, repeat, etc.) let me tell you about my favorite new toy. The Milwaukee SMS122 is a constant-read pH monitor that incorporates a set- point alarm and a regular 110-outlet trigger. When the pH of the reservoir drifts above the grower’s desired set point, the SMS122 turns on the attached trigger outlet. Growers can have a separate bucket of very acidic solution with a small (see: very small) pump in it. When the SMS122 turns on, the outlet turns on the pump and the acidic solution is pumped into the reservoir (hopefully very slowly, hence the intentionally small pump) to lower the pH. The most important note to consider when using the SMS122 is that the tubing that supplies the acidic solution has to be mounted very close to the probe that’s measuring the pH. This way, each little squirt is immediately registered by the probe and subsequently turns off the pump. Don’t worry if the pH temporarily falls below your intended set point after the pump is triggered, that acidic solution will dilute into the reservoir. The point here is to add your adjuster slowly (presumably pH down, since most hydroponic reservoirs tend to drift from slightly acidic toward neutral/alkaline). If the inlet for pH-down solution is too far away from the probe and/or if the pump is too big, then the device has the potential to unload too much pH down before the probe registers the acid, thereby leaving the reservoir at too low a pH. Overall, the crux of the SMS122 is its ability to provide a great deal of control to growers who know what to do with it. However, that control is a double-edged sword. I think one of the primary reasons that the SMS122 has proven reliable thus far is that it’s design is simplistic – it’s just a solid pH meter with one dial and a trigger cord outlet for a pump. Calibrating the meter is also easy and uses one recessed screw for adjustment. However, calibrating the size of the pump to the reservoir, or the size of the tubing for pumping the water in, or the amount of pH down to put in the “prereservoir” is all up to the grower to figure out according to their needs. That having been said, the device itself is, at least in my experience so far - f*%#ing awesome. This garden uses a 15 gallon reservoir, a fountain pump (super tiny – 60 GPM) and a ¼’ hose inlet to supply very small amounts of acidic solution to the reservoir. Even with a large reservoir, I wouldn’t want a larger inlet hose or pump since the drift of pH from slightly acidic toward alkaline happens very slowly anyhow and only small but regular

amounts of acid are necessary. So long as the delivery system for the acidic solution is kept very small (in both pump and tubing) and the inlet for acidic solution is close to where the probe hangs, then the SMS122 seems to be a very nice addition to an experienced grower’s hydroponic garden. Now, I probably wouldn’t put a large garden on one giant reservoir and trust it all to a single device worth of automation when it comes to something as fundamental as pH. But if you are a care provider for several patients and manage larger gardens, you could consider using more reservoirs, then automate each one so as to not put all your eggs in one basket. In this little garden, the acidic solution is pretty strong so I still have to add water to the reservoir (every 3 – 5 days in this case). In theory however, a grower with precise calculations and a stable cropping situation could probably fine tune a ratio of pH down to water that would add acidic solution at the same general rate as the crop drank water out of the reservoir, thereby keeping the reservoirs “topped off ” for longer periods of time. To avoid adding too much water, reservoirs can also be equipped with a drain hole near the top edge (like a sink) so that excess water into the reservoir can be drained away via tubing to a drain or overflow bucket. Alternatively, growers can simply use a second reservoir of water connected via float valve to the first one in order to keep the solution level constant. If you’re topping off the reservoir manually, then the water level will change over time. In order to keep the probe constantly submerged in water, I built a simple “buoy” out of reused Styrofoam and stuck the probe through so it sticks out the bottom an inch. Two pieces of plastic coated wire serve as guides on the float buoy to keep it in line with the acidic solution inlet instead of just floating to the far side of the reservoir. The continuous aeration supplied by a commercial air pump through a ¼ inch soaker tubing manifold (as discussed in last month’s Rain Table Part 2 article) keeps the reservoir highly oxygenated to maintain freshness. Ideally, reservoirs would be covered as much as possible, but with little clearance and lots of equipment going in and out of it, this res needs to stay open although you may notice the mesh propagation tray that has been mounted across the front in order to keep the shop dog from drinking the nutrient solution. (Yes, he has fresh water, he’s just.... not the sharpest tool in the shed. Sorry, Tank.) Still, despite the intimidating amount of hardware mounted onto the reservoir, this system (once built) is the archetype of a user-friendly garden. Besides the occasional addition of a bucket of water or a quick top dressing with some fertilizer, I do almost nothing to the garden between the first and last day of flowering. Not that this level of automation ever replaces the grower or the importance of them inspecting the garden daily, it just makes the daily tasks associated with the garden easier and faster.

The Rain Table 2.0 was developed to produce what have been dubbed “Tree-Trees”. This Rain Table can also be seen in action at my CannAcademy San Jose Campus located inside MedMar Healing Center at 170 S. Autumn st. in San Jose. This 2 x 4 tray was first fitted with a custom support grid to hold 14” tall “Tree Pots”. These pots are specifically designed to produce tree transplants for forestry applications. These pots feature internal ribs down the length of the pot to prevent root circling (and for Mary Jane’s enhanced pleasure....sorry, I can’t resist a bad joke). Instead of circling, roots hit the sides of the pot and are forced downward creating a deep root system. This allows transplants to have a better success rate and take off faster because the roots can be planted deeper where the soil is cooler and moister. This is especially important in hot areas or when transplanting mid-season when it is drier. Due to the significant pot height of the crop being produced, much taller sidewalls were built onto the tray. In order to keep the system easy to maintain, these sidewalls are slightly recessed into an acrylic guide track that holds it in place while still allowing it to be lifted off for easy cleaning and maintenance. Because the Rain Table 2.0 uses many planting sites stacked very close together, it takes full advantage of the fact that the water is being supplied without any physical attachments to the pots themselves, as this would be entirely impractical in this application. Being able to just grab, shuffle and organize plants without touching the irrigation system is fantastically convenient for a system that is still essentially a hybridized top feed drip system. The first crop grew very nicely and growers reported excellent success when transplanting despite a recent heat wave. From production to propagation, the Rain Table design of using micro sprayers to create a flat layer of rain above the planting sites has proven itself to be efficient, convenient, flexible and reliable. The fact that anyone can build it out of ordinary landscape irrigation materials and some plastic is just icing on the cake. For more pictures of the Rain Table as well as the previous 2 parts to the article series, check out my wonderful new website (Thank you, Brandon!) at www. JadeKine.com With a little biomimicry and some plastic, you too can turn your garden into a “Rainforest”. — Jade Kine 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 (www.CannAcademy.com), 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 and previous articles at www.JadeKine. com Facebook/Twitter: @JadeKine

When a raid goes down on a Medical Marijuana operation, photos depicting bales of bud are linked to staggering dollar amounts served up as street value. But, more often than not, that bud is medicine, and the people thrown down on the ground and handcuffed are patients with real ailments, now facing months to years of neglect and suffering in an unsympathetic and unbalanced legal system. Voters gave Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Proposition 215 a nod in 1996, making Medical Marijuana, or MMJ, legal to grow and use medicinally in the state. However, Federal prohibition laws trump Caliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compassionate care laws, and the couple was denied a medical defense. 74

Trial and appeals

lasted more than six years after arrest, stemming from a 2001 FBI sting and subsequent raid of the family home in 2005. “This was the best undercover operation I ever had,” El Dorado County Sheriff Robert Ashworth told the Sacramento Bee after three years of failed appeals. “I never had to hide the fact that I was a policeman.” It’s on record; the couple never grew more than 40 plants a year - well below the State mandate of 99. Federal laws mandated a minimum of 100 plants in a five year period. “The jury could not hear I had cancer, or I had both my breasts removed,” Fry said, running her hands over her chest. “They weren’t allowed to hear I was a doctor, that I helped patients, or that in California we can do this, we can use this plant, it’s alright. We had no defense.” Fry discovered MMJ while suffering through a double mastectomy and matching chemotherapy treatments in 1998. She and Dale began growing cannabis initially to get her through the grueling chemotherapy treatments that came with each diagnosis. Already a respected attorney in the community, Dale learned everything he could about the medicine that saved his wife’s life. The two became experts, testifying to MMJ’s benefits at California cannabis trials, and Dale, assisting Fry’s patients with legal issues stemming from MMJ use. While Fry is doing as well as can be expected in the Dublin Federal Correctional Institution, Schafer is suffering at the hands of a system that, according to family, is seemingly bent on torture. “We thought all doctors shared the same oath,” Fry said recently in an e-mail from prison. “We thought they would do the right thing and care for us here.” Updates for both Schafer and Fry are posted by the couple’s daughter Heather Schafer (www. mindbodyandsoul.com). A recent entry suggests neglect of her father by prison authorities. “He did not receive any medications today!” she blogged. “The doctor in charge of the Sacramento County Jail’s Medical Ward disagreed with the treating physician and decreased his pain medications by more than one third. He was placed in a cell with no pillow and a blanket incapable of covering even a small amount of his body.”

The “treating physician” referred to is Jerry Powell, the leading hematologist and oncologist in the country and head of both Oncology and Hemotology at U.C. Davis. Fry later conferred in an e-mail from Dublin, her husband was being treated inhumanly. Begging for help, Fry said it was the equivalency of torture. Schafer was going through opiate withdrawl from a drastic reduction of medication, had lost forty pounds, and hadn’t slept in days. Schafer was born with classic Hemophilia A in 1954. He almost bled to death during a tonsillectomy at six years of age. In his youth he fell and bled through to his left hip, leaving him with 75

degenerative arthritis. Other injuries followed, leaving him arthritic in not just his hip, but both knees and left shoulder. Treatment wasn’t developed until the 1960s and 70s, but entailed using plasma from donors, fraught with the threat of disease, as blood pools weren’t checked until 1985 with the threat of AIDS. Despite his condition Schafer was drafted in 1975. The military removed all his wisdom teeth the next year, causing a severe bleed. The blood used was tainted, giving him Hepatitis C and an honorable discharge. “He became an attorney to use his mind and save his body,” Fry said from prison. “He learned to take care of himself and avoid situations where he might bleed. Dale is one of the oldest Hemophiliacs in the world.” His luck ran out in 1994 and a disabling disk injury led to back surgery. Weakened, and re-injured in 2002, Fry said by then she had discovered Medical Marijuana. “We developed a serious cannabis pain treatment,” Fry explained. “He needed extremely high oral doses. So, we chose Kief from high grade buds and he ate one quarter to half a cup in the morning and the same dose at night.” Fry said Schafer was not only able to control his lifelong pain, he kicked the highly addictive pharmaceuticals he had needed for years. “His daily pain level was six. On his worst days it was nine out of 10,” Fry added. “Cannabis provided him with an acceptable pain level of two to three with no side effects. The only time he needed narcotics at all was as needed, at night for sleep.” After the arrest, cannabis was taboo. Fry said Schafer was forced to go back on prescription drugs. Powell testified to the necessity of Marinol use in lieu of morphine for Schafer’s pain. The U.S. Attorney’s rebuttal included, not a doctor or specialist for cross examination, but an article published in a 1999 issue of Playboy magazine, which revealed marijuana users may abuse Marinol prescriptions as a cover for Cannabis use, since there was no difference in the results of a drug test. President of the El Dorado County patient advocacy group, American Alliance for Medical Cannabis, or AAMC, Mitch Fadel said the irony was that most of the Playboy article favored a situation such as Dale’s, sighting the substitute is legal, accepted by public opinion, and prescribed in all 50 States. “The Government’s argument stated that Dale had an ‘almost impossible burden’ in proving he should be treated differently than ‘every other drug dealing defendant who comes before the Court.’ In that statement they referred to Dale as a drug dealer! I thought we were innocent until proven guilty?” Fadel said with disbelief. The “drug dealer” reference didn’t go away the entire length of the trial. In fact, Sacramento Bee reporter Peter Hecht raised the question in a pre-surrender article titled, “Martyrs or Drug Dealers?” 76

“I wouldn’t use those two words when talking about Medical Marijuana in a million years,” Fadel continued. “Heroin, cocaine, and meth? Yes. Cannabis? No. This has nothing to do with drug dealers.” At the day of surrender, Schafer’s pain management system included 600 milligrams of morphine in divided doses. “My husband had to take 22 milligrams of Dilaudid every three hours for breakthrough pain, 15 milligrams of Dexedrine to get him out of bed, and other pills to control the side effects of nausea, depression, and muscle spasms,” Fry explained. At last word, Schafer was being held in Honolulu, Hawaii in a special housing unit for his own safety, while awaiting the delivery of Hemophiliac medications. Daughter Heather reports his pain is back up to a level 10, with prison authorities continuing to cut his meds. At this writing, Schafer was receiving Tylenol with Codeine, further threatening his already weakened liver from Hepatitis C. Due to confidentiality, Powell is forbidden to discuss his patient’s medical situation. And, though he is the leading expert in the country on Dale’s condition, the Federal prison authorities have reported its own doctors will evaluate Schafer to see if he really needs pain medication at all. Stephanie Landa spent 41 months in the Dublin Federal Correctional Institution, where Fry is now. Run over by a car in 1999, Landa said she is in constant pain. She said she screamed when Federal agents attempted to handcuff her from behind, when a State sanctioned collective she ran with a partner in San Francisco was raided in 2003. She created the Landa Prison Outreach Press, or LPOP, as a lifeline to MMJ prisoners. Through her newsletter she reports about the conditions of life inside, and rally’s others to write letters and send books and magazines to inmates. “You are totally helpless in there,” Landa shared. “No one gets medical care. They completely disregarded my medical records and put me on a work team. It took two years for them to send in a surgeon to evaluate me, and this was after weeks and months of filling out forms, and them telling me one excuse after another.” Landa said the surgeon that came after two years said she needed a great surgeon, and it wasn’t him, so subsequently, she received no medical attention. “There were lines three times a day for psychiatric medications, but I was given aspirin for my pain that reached a level 10 everyday,” Landa added.

Desperate for relief, Landa said she smoked marijuana smuggled in by visitors, a common practice. When she was caught, they added another year to her stay. San Francisco Criminal Defense Attorney Kali S. Grech of Pier 5 Law Offices in San Francisco has offered to file a petition under 42 USCS 1983 on Schafer’s behalf. “We will need to show that Dale has a ‘sufficiently serious’ condition and that the prison has exhibited ‘deliberate indifference,’” she explained. This means, they are aware of his serious condition and are still refusing him acceptable medical treatment.” With the national debate currently raging over Federal laws crushing compassionate growers in every state where MMJ is legal, all Grech can do is log more probono hours on Schafer’s behalf, file yet another motion for “acceptable” medical treatment, and hope while a Presidential Pardon is requested. Tony Serra has been defending the rights of cannabis growers since the 1960s, logging more hours than Grech will dream of, long before Prop. 215 became an option, stating Schafer’s case “resonates with martyrdom to bad law and ignorance.” “The case is a shocking disgrace with respect to the discretion of the federal government in charging matters,” Serra said. “It is contra bonos mores; it alters the landscape in terms of state rights versus federal dominance. It is a victory of ignorance over medical reality.” Serra refers to MMJ as a “miracle drug,” and Schafer’s “life-blood, bringing relief from gross pain.” “There is no legal right to ‘adequate’ or ‘competent’ medical care in the FCI system, according to most commentators,” he continued. “The civilian doctors don’t count; drugs that were previously prescribed don’t count. The federal system is autonomous and self-protective.” July 17 of this year marked the fortieth anniversary of the War on Drugs. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter penned an Op-ed for the New York Times, reporting that the Global Commission on Drug Policy has made what he called “profoundly important recommendations” in a report declaring the campaign a “total failure.” “Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself,” Carter wrote. “Not only has this excessive punishment destroyed the lives of millions of young people and their families (disproportionately minorities), but it is wreaking havoc on state and local budgets.”

Quoting former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carter continued, “In 1980, 10 percent of [his] state’s budget went to high education and three percent to prisons; in 2010, almost 11 percent went to prisons and only 7.5 percent to higher education.” From prison, Schafer recently wrote that the majority of inmates were minorities, and to him, were just kids, with nearly all of the crimes perpetrated traced back to drugs. “It is difficult to describe the horror of a young man who if facing at least ten years behind bars because of the failed drug war,” he informed. “That doesn’t even account for the families that are ruined by all of this,” he said, knowingly. “I have come to the conclusion that drug crimes should be treated as a medical issue rather than a law enforcement issue.”

Updates on Dale Schafer and Mollie Fry, as well as an option to make a donation and receive a “Doc Fry” t-shirt can be found on the couple’s Web site, www.freedocfry.com. Those wishing to advocate, please write your State Senators, copying both the Federal Bureau of Prisons, CCM Sacramento Community Corrections Office, 501 I St., Suite 9-400, Sacramento, CA 95814. Please copy Obama’s Pardon Attorney - Ronald L. Rodgers, as follows: U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001

ix months after the Haag Memo caused widespread confusion regarding the Obama administration’s stance on medical marijuana and initiated a wave of dispensary raids across the country, the long-awaited clarification memo has finally been handed down from the Justice Department. And it isn’t good news. Not only does the clarification memo fail to protect state-compliant, non-profit dispensaries that grow medicine on behalf of their patients, it makes dispensaries fair game for prosecutors by categorizing them as commercial enterprises and disavowing their non-profit status. From 2009 until the beginning of this year, the medical marijuana industry had been operating under the guidance of the Ogden Memo, which, as evidenced by the explosion of dispensaries that popped up soon after its release, many in the movement interpreted as a “handsoff” policy on the part of the Obama administration. But contrary to popular assumption, while the Ogden Memo explicitly condemned for-profit commercial enterprises, it never actually protected or even mentioned non-profit commercial enterprises, which dispensaries whose prices are often listed as donations - are generally considered to be. Still, the Ogden Memo stated that “prosecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources” (italics added). This caregiver clause left the door open for implicit acceptance of dispensaries - particularly since states typically grant dispensary owners the right to grow medicine on behalf of their patients - and an air of federal legitimacy was created in the grey area in which dispensaries have long survived. With the release of this policy-setting clarification memo, however, caregivers are defined as individuals, not commercial operations. Dispensaries are thus definitively excluded as caregivers, meaning the grey area just became more black and white, and providing medicine to patients has reverted to a federally intolerable act. In so doing, and by omitting the non-profit aspect of commercial distribution, the clarification memo lumps dispensaries in the same category as industrial, for-profit mega grows, and insinuates that such mega grows - and, by extension, medical marijuana dispensaries - are operating under a false pretext of medical marijuana (which, in most states, is required to be non-profit). “There has been an increase in the scope of commercial cultivation, sale, distribution and use of marijuana for purported medical purposes,” the clarification memo states. “For example… multiple large-scale, privately-operated industrial marijuana cultivation centers. Some of these planned facilities have revenue projections of millions of dollars based on the planned cultivation of tens of thousands of cannabis plants. The Ogden Memorandum was never intended to shield such activities from federal enforcement action and prosecution, even where those activities purport to comply with state law. Persons who are in the business of cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana, and those who knowingly facilitate such activities, are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, regardless of state law,” the new memo says (italics added). But every state-compliant, non-profit medical marijuana dispensary is, by definition, in the business of distributing marijuana; the ramifications of this federal clarification are therefore grave. Contradicting the Ogden Memo, the clarification memo states that these groups will not be tolerated, even if they are in compliance with state law. And since most patients rely on dispensaries to grow and distribute their medicine, this shift in federal policy equates to patients’ safe access being severely jeopardized.

Although one would be remiss to suggest that the Ogden memo represented a “hands-off” policy on medical marijuana, it certainly seems that we are now witnessing something akin to a “gloves are off” policy. Granted, federal prosecution of medical marijuana dispensaries never ceased even with the release of the Ogden Memo. In fact, the number of raids carried out in just the first two years of Obama’s presidency amounts to double the raids executed under the entire eight-year Bush administration. Nevertheless, since February, threats and raids have been dramatically on the rise. If the Ogden Memo reflected a somewhat sympathetic stance of the Justice Department in 2009, what prompted the current shift in policy, and what’s behind the recent spate of federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries across the country? Over the past few months, several federal prosecutors have sent threatening letters to officials in eight medical marijuana states - Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Washington - prompting at least one of them - Washington’s Governor Chris Gregoire - to veto a voter initiative that would have allowed dispensaries for the first time since the state legalized medicinal use of the plant in 1998. What provoked this new wave of hostility? The answer is shockingly ironic. The 2009 Ogden Memo, which set official federal policy, came directly from the US Attorney General’s office, and was sent to federal prosecutors in all 50 states. Although the Memo essentially called for respect of state medical marijuana laws, it could not demand it, because ever since 9/11, federal prosecutors have been given the broadest discretion in the exercise of their authority. Still, more than a year passed in relative calm, until February of this year. That’s when a letter that became known as the Haag Memo was released, not directly from the Obama administration’s Department of Justice, as the Ogden Memo was, but from the San Francisco office of Melinda Haag, US Attorney for the Northern California district. Vowing to “enforce the CSA [Controlled Substances Act] vigorously against individuals and organizations that participate in unlawful manufacturing and distribution activity involving marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state law,” the Haag Memo was widely, though not necessarily correctly, considered to clarify the Ogden Memo. It has since emboldened federal prosecutors throughout the nation to compose similarly threatening letters directed at state officials in fully half the country’s medical marijuana states, causing many to reconsider or even change their medical marijuana laws. Only four days after the Haag Memo was released, the DEA raided several dispensaries in California, followed by more than two-dozen raids in Montana. But after the long period of the Justice Department’s tacit acceptance of medical marijuana, what prompted the Haag Memo? This is where the irony sets in. The Haag Memo was not an unsolicited threat to a state that was quietly complying with its medical marijuana laws. On the contrary, it was a very directly solicited threat, to a city that was blatantly attempting to contravene state medical marijuana law. A little-publicized fact is that the Haag Memo was issued in response to a letter written by John A. Russo, Esq., Oakland’s City Attorney, on behalf of the Oakland City Council. In his letter, Russo informed the US Attorney that Oakland had approved a licensing scheme that would allow for the creation of four industrial, corporate marijuana “mega grows,” and essentially asked Haag for clarification on the law surrounding this idea. The Haag Memo—which served as a template for other federal prosecutors to send similar pugnacious letters to state officials, and which prompted the call for federal clarification that is poised to prove detrimental to the medical marijuana movement—is her response.

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Mega grows came into public consciousness with last year’s Prop. 19 initiative to tax and regulate recreational cannabis. Jeff Wilcox, retired businessman who sat on the steering committee for the failed initiative, had a very ambitious plan to supply a large segment of the California population with recreational and medical marijuana if Prop. 19 were to pass. Whereas the state’s medical marijuana industry is mandated to be non-profit, Wilcox was repeatedly quoted in major media sources as acknowledging that he intended to bring some “corporate structure” to the marijuana industry, and that his mega grow’s expected profit margin was “extremely high.” Furthermore, this venture into the corporatization of cannabis was projected to make $59 million a year off producing a mind-boggling 58 pounds of marijuana per day. When the clarification memo denounces “large-scale, privately-operated industrial marijuana cultivation centers… [that] have revenue projections of millions of dollars based on the planned cultivation of tens of thousands of cannabis plants,” it’s referring to Oakland’s proposed mega grows. This industrial marijuana scheme was a clear departure from medical marijuana’s non-profit—and thus, tolerated—roots, and, as we will see later, it was also a flagrant violation of the Ogden Memo’s fragile truce. According to Wilcox, he landed a seat on the Prop. 19 steering committee when he approached Richard Lee, bankroller and mastermind behind the initiative, with “a check for $10,000 and said, ‘I want in on anything I can do.’” (Some news sources say he later doubled that donation.) He hired a lobbyist, made some strategic political donations, and won over City Council in spite of strong resistance from statecompliant medical marijuana growers whose livelihood depended on supplying the Oakland market. Marijuana activists perceived the ordinance - which prohibited any other collective indoor grows over 96 square feet and was adopted alongside a resolution that demanded a crackdown on “unregulated” (not “illegal”) small grows - as creating a monopoly. The entire Prop. 19 team - which mostly consisted of millionaire Richard Lee (co-author), Jeff Jones (co-author), and Dale Sky Claire Jones (official spokesperson and Jones’s wife) - loudly endorsed for-profit mega grows, with Jeff Jones telling the New York Times, “It’s big business; you’re talking about manufacturing gold.”

marijuana law. Still, City Council insisted that Russo write a letter detailing Oakland’s plans to California US Attorney Haag, asking for guidance on how to proceed with what was very obviously a plan to industrialize, corporatize, and capitalize on cannabis under the false pretext of a non-profit medical marijuana model. And they roused a sleeping dragon. The letter that Haag wrote in response was in some ways a definite departure from the Ogden Memo. But, as regards for-profit grow operations masquerading as non-profit medical organizations, it actually echoed what the Ogden Memo said in 2009: “[N]othing herein precludes investigation or prosecution where there is a reasonable basis to believe that compliance with state law is being invoked as a pretext for the production or distribution of marijuana for purposes not authorized by state law.” Since California does not authorize for-profit marijuana manufacture and distribution, and since Oakland’s mega-grow scheme was clearly intended to be a for-profit venture, Haag’s response on that point was not inconsistent with the Ogden Memo. The Ogden Memo further reinforces its stance against for-profit marijuana dispensaries in its principle statement: “[P]rosecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources. On the other hand, prosecution of commercial enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana for profit continues to be an enforcement priority of the Department” (italics added). The Ogden Memo even clarifies that one characteristic of conduct that is not in clear and unambiguous compliance with state law would be “financial gains or excessive amounts of cash inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law”—a category that Wilcox’s proposed $59 million mega grow unquestionably falls under.

Four months before Prop. 19 would fail, when the Oakland City Council approved his mega grow proposal, a cocksure Wilcox boasted, “In essence, you could say big business is here… Look at me. The only thing I was, was a fan of the plant, really, a year and a half ago. And now I’m probably one of the top ten guys in California in this business. And you know why? Because I know how to move a little policy.” But he wasn’t able to move enough people to vote for Prop. 19, many of whom were leery about the prospect of corporatizing cannabis.

The City of Oakland presenting Haag with such a proposition might well have been interpreted as a deliberate act of dishonesty that undermined the federal government’s tenuous truce with medical marijuana. Russo seems to have been sensitive to this; just days after the Haag Memo was released, when the City Council insisted on redrafting the initiative to allay federal concerns, he abruptly withdrew his legal advice and told the them to find a new attorney. Although Russo did not specify which section of Rule 3-700 he was using to terminate his relationship with the City Council, section C (1) states that an attorney may withdraw legal representation if “the client seeks to pursue an illegal course of conduct.”

Although Oakland approved the plan for mega grows when the city was at the epicenter of a legalization effort that they assumed would succeed, even after Prop. 19 was defeated, City Council was still seeing the dollar signs they had hoped taxing recreational marijuana would bring. So instead of putting the idea of industrial mega grows to rest along with the failed initiative, the city persisted in its efforts to create a corporate licensing scheme, now under the guise of medical marijuana, from which they still intended to gain millions in tax revenue. The ordinance was altered to require that Wilcox open a medical marijuana dispensary in order to operate his mega grow, and that he re-registered his corporation as a non-profit. But all of his media appearances flaunting his projected earnings and corporate aspirations had already revealed his for-profit intentions.

The effects of the Haag Memo reverberated swiftly into the halls of the Department of Justice. Shortly after it was released, Justice Department spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said in a statement that prosecutors will not look the other way while “drug-traffickers” try to shield their illegal activities through the pretext that they are medical dispensaries. And what would make the DOJ think that organizations might be trying to illegally profit from cannabis under the pretense that they are medical dispensaries? How about a mega grow originally conceived of to provide recreational cannabis, that plans to pocket $59 million a year off of 58 pounds a day? If anyone doubts that Oakland’s Prop. 19-inspired mega-grow concept is entirely to blame for this federal backlash, the Haag Memo states very plainly that it is:

Oakland City Attorney John Russo himself acknowledged that the venture was intended to be for-profit in his post-Prop. 19 statement to the City Council: “Because Proposition 19 failed, you can’t do things that you might have done. And that is certainly the case with for-profit licensing of the production of cannabis.” He also reportedly advised them that their proposal was incompatible with California medical

“The Department is concerned about the Oakland Ordinance’s creation of a licensing scheme that permits large-scale industrial marijuana cultivation and manufacturing as it authorizes conduct contrary to federal law and threatens the federal government’s efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances. Accordingly, the Department is carefully considering civil and criminal legal remedies regarding those who seek to set up industrial

“

...the mega grows ignited a brutal federal backlash, and now that the corporate aspirations behind them have gone up in flames, patients in all medical marijuana states are getting burned.

”

marijuana growing warehouses in Oakland pursuant to licenses issued by the City of Oakland. Individuals who elect to operate ‘industrial cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facilities’ will be doing so in violation of federal law. Others who knowingly facilitate the actions of the licensees, including property owners, landlords, and financiers should also know that their conduct violates federal law.”

Now, due entirely to Oakland’s mega-grow attempt to cultivate illegal for-profit marijuana under the pretext of non-profit medical marijuana, the lines have been blurred with regard to which dispensaries are genuinely operating as legal medical marijuana collectives and which are merely pretending to be. The Ogden Memo sought to stop prosecution of individuals operating in “clear and unambiguous compliance” with state law. But an industrial-scale corporate mega grow with projected earnings of $59 million annually is not so obviously compliant, and is causing the legitimacy of medical marijuana dispensaries everywhere to be called into question. Federal prosecutors have therefore been roused like never before to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries. It is worth pointing out that the Haag Memo was never intended to be construed as setting federal policy, like the Ogden Memo—to the extent that it was sent down from a federal department to all federal attorneys beneath it—was. The Haag Memo was CC’d to no one outside of California, and was written in response to a question of the legality of a city ordinance, not state law—and an ordinance that flies in the face of state law and is in clear violation of the Ogden Memo’s conditions, at that. Nevertheless, since its release in February, Haag’s response has set off an ominous trend among federal prosecutors in medical marijuana states. Colorado’s US Attorney sent out a similar memo saying that the DOJ maintains “full authority to vigorously enforce federal law against individuals and organizations that participate in unlawful manufacturing and distribution activity involving marijuana, regardless of state law”—and the italics, it should be noted, are in the original letter; not added by me for emphasis, but added by the Colorado federal prosecutor to highlight the fact that it is a direct quote from Haag. The letters from US Attorneys in Hawai’i, Montana, Rhode Island, and Washington also directly quote large segments of the Haag Memo. In fact, every single letter that followed the Haag Memo is not only similar, but virtually identical to the Haag Memo, excerpting and repeating entire paragraphs. And they have culminated in an unprecedented attack on medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the country. Oakland’s actions blatantly opposed the Ogden Memo, which encouraged federal law enforcement to go after groups like the ones Oakland was trying to create, because such groups claim compliance with state law although their operations are actually inconsistent with the terms of those laws. A corporate, industrial mega grow designed for massive profits operating under the guise of the non-profit medical marijuana model is a clear example of a “claim of compliance” that actually “mask[s] operations inconsistent with” state law. And the Oakland City Council essentially wrote a letter to Northern California’s US Attorney to tell her so. Now Haag’s response, which was never intended to set federal policy, has been misconstrued as doing just that, giving federal prosecutors a fresh excuse to come down hard on medical marijuana states.

that effectively disavows the one morsel of perceived protection that medical marijuana patients and dispensaries had been relying on since 2009. Whereas the Ogden Memo states: “As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities should not focus federal resources in your States on  individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana”(italics added)—which could include the use, cultivation, and distribution of state-compliant, non-profit medical marijuana—the Haag Memo makes a very different and distressing declaration: “[W] hile the Department does not focus its limited resources on seriously ill individuals who use marijuana as part of a medically recommended treatment regimen in compliance with state law as stated in the October 2009 Ogden Memorandum, we will enforce the CSA vigorously against individuals and organizations that participate in unlawful manufacturing and distribution activity involving marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state law (italics added).” This distinction—“even if such activities are permitted under state law”—is a critical one, and is the single phrase that is seen to reverse the Ogden Memo. While the Ogden Memo deliberately made an effort to acknowledge and respect state marijuana laws, Haag patently ignores them, at least where cultivation and distribution are concerned. It appears that the disregard for state law initiated by the Haag Memo is a direct attempt to undercut Oakland’s legislation that itself undermined state law and clearly contradicted the Ogden Memo. Never mind that Haag herself apparently does not grasp the fact that it is inconsistent to condone the “use” of marijuana medicinally while simultaneously condemning the manufacture and distribution of it, when in reality the three components are inextricably linked. Her lack of faith in the notion that medical marijuana dispensaries can distribute medicine without turning a profit or perverting the spirit of state law has only been reinforced by Oakland’s insistence that a $59-million-ayear corporate industrial grow intended for recreational use is actually non-profit and for medical use. Now that it is understood how the medical marijuana movement landed in this quandary, it is worth noticing the stark difference in the way the feds respond to medical marijuana versus perceived recreational commercial activity. Life for patients has never been worry-free since medical marijuana has been legal, but until the prospect of recreational marijuana loomed, the Department of Justice at least encouraged that state laws be respected and federal resources be directed away from innocent patients and those who supply them, toward groups out to illegally profit from cannabis. But now that the Haag Memo has forced the Obama administration to take a more decisive stance on the matter, the grey area in which the overwhelming majority of the medical marijuana industry operates is now more clearly defined—as fertile ground for federal prosecution. For a controversy that has relied so heavily on the phrase “clear and unambiguous,” so far, the only piece of the puzzle that truly is “clear and unambiguous” is that the mega grows ignited a brutal federal backlash, and now that the corporate aspirations behind them have gone up in flames, patients in all medical marijuana states are getting burned.

*Dragonfly de la Luz is a ganja critic/chronnoisseur and medical marijuana activist. When not following Radiohead on tour, she chases solar eclipses and endless summer around the world*

While much of the Haag Memo is in fact not a departure from the Ogden Memo, there is one critical phrase which Haag introduces

Kush Concert Calendar San Diego’s

Live Music Preview: August Kid Rock + Sheryl Crow

8.02.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre (Escondido)

Sharing hundreds of awards and millions of album sales between the two, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow are a pairing that will always draw attention, and for good reason. Crow has won 9 Grammy Awards and Kid Rock has released and sold a ridiculous amount of music, coming together in 2002 on the infectious country duet “Picture.” Both continue to tour and record, staying polished and ready to melt your heart and rock your face on this Born Free Tour. Cricket Wireless is a perfect place to be on this warm, August, weekday night. Good for a date or just a night out with friends. kidrock.com; sherylcrow.com

Katy Perry

8.09.11 @ Valley View Casino (Valley Center)

Katy Perry, the world’s current Queen of Pop, is on fire and hasn’t slowed down one little bit. Her latest #1 single, “Last Friday Night,” has only added to her short career that has skyrocketed her to the top of popular music fame. Many fans see her music as a “guilty pleasure” and reserve listening to the car and headphones. But that’s silly, this is a talented woman with a tremendous voice and catchy, fun songs. Celebrate her awesomeness with fellow fans at Valley View Casino in Valley Center this August. It’ll be a true musical production, that will leave you singing along and dancing in your seat. If you didn’t manage to snag tickets to this show, be persistent and look around; there are sure to be a few of those silly fair weather fans too embarrassed to go, that you can buy tickets from at a reasonable price. katyperry.com

Sia + Oh Land

8.11.11 @ House of Blues

Sia Furler, the longtime singer for Australian band Zero 7, accomplished solo artist and skillful songwriter, pairs up with Denmark’s wonderful singer Oh Land for a summer North American Tour. This could be Sia’s last tour for a while, but Oh Land will be active and rising to international prominence over the coming years. Sia is currently operating out of LA, but seems more focused on songwriting recently, while Oh Land is functioning out of Brooklyn and has their energetic live show down solid. Expect a mixture of upbeat, dance-friendly tunes and slower, spine tingling numbers. These are two strong and powerful women with tremendous voices, and the House of Blues will be the sweet spot for a good concert on August 11th in San Diego. siamusic.net; ohlandmusic.com

Death Cab For Cutie

8.16.11 @ Rimac Arena (UCSD)

Hailing from the Great Pacific Northwest, Death Cab for Cutie is led by the musical mastermind and lyrical genius, Ben Gibbard. His first album, You Can Play These Songs with Chords, was released as a demo, and led to a record deal with Barsuk Records. After that, Gibbard decided to expand his project into a complete band, and recruited members to join him. Death Cab for Cutie was born, and Gibbard has never looked back. They’ve released six studio albums, five EPs, and one demo to date. Death Cab released Codes and Keys on May 31st, with the single ‘You Are A Tourist’ flooding the air-wavess and plenty of other really good songs on the album. They’ve never lacked a great live performance, and this will be a really good rock concert at Rimac Arena. Be there. deathcabforcutie.com

311 + Sublime with Rome

8.19.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

Here are two acts that have been inspiring marijuana enthusiasts through song for years. Sublime and 311 just seem like the perfect pairing for an outdoor summer concert with a joint in one hand and beer in the other. 311’s latest album, Universal Pulse, was released on July 19th, proving that they’re not going anywhere just yet. Sublime with Rome is the same group of guys from back in the 90s, minus lead-singer and heart of the band Bradley

This Page: Katy Perry Right From Top: Lil Wayne, Sheryl Crow, Sia, Kid Rock, Death Cab for Cutie 82

Nowles. His “replacement,” although it’s hard to really say he’ll ever be replaced, is Rome Ramirez, a young guy with a voice that sounds eerily similar to Brad’s. They still play all the hits that made you fall in love with them, and it’ll be a great show. Get to Cricket on August 19th! 311.com; sublimewithrome.com

Sade + John Legend

8.23.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

Sade is no new kid on the block, with her smooth, soulful, jazz, R&B stylings first released back in the 80’s. The British legend joins up with a man of a similar name, John Legend, for a string of concerts this summer. This is the type of show that you just close your eyes and listen to the music pour over you for several hours, ideally with a little THC running through your veins. Plenty of hits will be played at this show, and it will be a joyous event for music enthusiasts of all ages. Great chance to catch this billing in August, don’t miss out! sade.com; johnlegend.com

Lil’ Wayne + Rick Ross + Keri Hilson + Far East Movement

8.25.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

Weezy, baby. In the last 20 years there isn’t a rapper who has made such a miraculous, yet deserved, climb to super-duper stardom. Lil’ Wayne trots into Cricket Wireless with Rick Ross, Keri Hilson and Far East Movement, making for a concert of epic proportions. Wayne just released the already huge hit song “How To Love,” apparently a track inspired by Tupac. I’ve personally been lucky enough to see Weezy’s performance live on several occasions, and would be honored to see the man many more times. Recently serving a brief stint in jail, the (only?!) 28 year old Dwayne Carter is going to blow minds on April 25th, along with the rest of the amazing talent on this bill. Make sure one of those exploding domes is your own. lilwayne-online.com; teflonross.com; kerihilson.com; fareastmovement.com

More Great Shows! Chicago : 8.01.11 @ Humphrey’s By The Bay Peter Frampton : 8.02.11 @ Balboa Theatre Hippiefest 2011: 8.03.11 @ Humphrey’s By The Bay Yes : 8.04.11 @ Humphrey’s By The Bay Matisyahu + Tea Leaf Green : 8.07.11 @ Humphrey’s By The Bay Warped Tour : 8.09.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Colbie Caillat : 8.09.11; 8.10.11 @ Humphrey’s By The Bay Snoop Dogg : 8.12.11 @ Open Sky Theater (Harrah’s Rincon Casino) Joe + Kaci & JoJo + Jagged Edge + Bel Biv Devoe : 8.13.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Adele : 8.18.11 @ Open Air Theatre (SDSU) Miranda Lambert : 8.20.11 @ Open Sky Theater (Harrah’s Rincon Casino) Goo Goo Dolls : 8.23.11 @ Humphrey’s By The Bay The Butthole Surfers : 8.26.11 @ 4th & B

Chef Herb has created some of his favorite recipes for his classic days of summer time fun. Check out cookwithherb.com to see how he can help you learn to cook with, and make, THC oils and butter. And for more

Chef Herb cook with herb

go to www.cookwithherb.com

Shrimp Cocktail

If you are using frozen shrimp, the safest way to defrost them is in a bowl of ice water in the refrigerator. I like to buy tail-on, shell-on, deveined shrimp. Of course, use what you can find at the markets. Ingredients For the shrimp: - 2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning - 1 teaspoon granulated garlic - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder - 1 teaspoon salt - 24 extra large tail-on raw shrimp (more if you are using smaller shrimp) For the cocktail sauce: - 1/2 cup chili sauce - 1 cup ketchup - ¼ cup THC olive oil - 1 tablespoon horseradish - 1 dash Worcestershire sauce - Juice of 1/2 lemon - 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco - 1/2 clove garlic, finely minced - 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped * The chef specifically recommends Heinz chili sauce – it’s not very spicy and has a nice sweet taste. If you use other type of hot chili sauce, just start with a couple tablespoons first, then taste and adjust.

Preparation 1. To prepare the cocktail sauce, mix all the cocktail sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve. 2. Have a large bowl of ice water ready and set near the sink. Add the Old Bay, lemon, granulated garlic, garlic, chili powder, and salt to an 8-quart pot of water. Bring to a boil. Add the shrimp to the pot and when the water returns to a boil, the shrimp should be done! The shrimp should be bright pink. 3. Immediately drain and place the shrimp into the ice bath to cool for 2 minutes. Peel the shrimp (leaving the tail-on.) Drain and serve with the cocktail sauce.

Traditional Ceviche Ingredients - 2 lbs of firm, fresh red snapper fillets (or other firm-fleshed fish), cut into 1/2 inch pieces, completely deboned - 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice - 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice - ¼ cup THC olive oil - 1/2 red onion, finely diced - 1 cup of chopped fresh seeded tomatoes - 1 serrano chili, seeded and finely diced - 2 teaspoons of salt - Dash of ground oregano - Dash of Tabasco or a light pinch of cayenne pepper - Cilantro - Avocado -Tortillas or tortilla chips Preparation 1. In a non-reactive casserole dish, place the fish, the onion, the tomatoes, the chili, the salt, the Tabasco, and the oregano. Cover with THC olive oil, lime and lemon juice. Let it sit covered in the refrigerator for about an hour, stir occasionally, making sure all the fish gets exposed to the acidic lime and lemon juices. Let sit for several hours, giving time for the flavors to blend.

2. During the marinating process the fish will change from pinkish grey and translucent to whiter in color and opaque. 3. Serve with the chopped cilantro and the slices of avocado with heated tortillas for ceviche tacos or with tortilla chips

Crab Claws with a Classic Cajun Romulade Ingredients - 1 qt Mayonnaise; (not salad - 4 Eggs; hard boiled - 3 tb Creole or dark mustard - ½ cup THC olive oil - 4 tb White vinegar - 4 tb Fresh parsley; chopped - 2 tb Worcestershire sauce - 3 tb Horseradish sauce - 4 Cloves garlic; chopped - Salt and pepper; to taste

mix, cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes. Just before serving, stir in the cilantro and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

Moms Picnic Chicken Salad Ingredients - 3 peaches - 1/4 Cup THC olive oil - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar - 1 lb cooked chicken - 2/3 cup hazelnuts - 1/2 cup cilantro - salt - pepper - 8 cups spinach leaves Preparation 1. Peel the peaches: this is easier if you blanch them first by putting them in a pan of simmering water for a minute. (If you use nectarines, it is unnecessary to peel them).

Preparation Whirl all the ingredients in blender or processor; add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate 12 hours before using. Will keep several weeks in refrigerator. This sauce is basically for use with Crab Claws, as a cocktail, but can be used for many other things.

2. In a medium salad bowl, whisk together the THC olive oil and vinegar. Add the chicken, peaches, hazelnuts and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Add the spinach leaves and toss again. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to a day; it gets better as it sits. Remove from the fridge half an hour before eating.

Asian Tomato Cucumber and Onion Salad

Pineapple and Jicama Salad

Ingredients - 1 large cucumber - 2 tomatoes, seeded and cut into wedges - ¼ red onion, thinly sliced - ¼ THC olive oil - 1/4 cup rice vinegar - 2 tablespoons lime juice - 1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste - 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro - 3 tablespoons chopped peanuts (optional) Preparation Peel the cucumber in stripes lengthwise with a vegetable peeler, alternating skinned stripes with peel for a decorative effect. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise, and then thinly slice. Place the cucumber in a salad bowl with the tomato and red onion, and mix together. Pour the rice vinegar, THC olive oil, and limejuice into a separate bowl, and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Pour the dressing over the salad;

Ingredients - 1 fresh pineapple - 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips - 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips - 3/4 cup finely diced jicama - 2 scallions, thinly sliced - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1/4 teaspoon pepper - ¼ cup THC vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar Preparation 1. Peel pineapple and cut away core. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Place in a large bowl. 2. Add green and red pepper strips, jicama and scallions. 3. In a small jar, shake together salt, pepper, vinegar and THC vegetable oil. Add to salad and toss to coat. 4. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad Ingredients - 1/2 c. dry white wine - 1/4 c. THC olive oil - 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard - 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice - 8 oz. fusilli (corkscrew) pasta - 1 head radicchio, torn into bite sized pieces - 3/4 lb. smoked salmon, cut julienne - 1/4 c. raspberry vinegar - 2 eggs - 1 shallot, minced - Salt and pepper - 2 heads curly endive, torn into bite sized pieces - 10 Italian olives, pitted - 1 tbsp. snipped fresh chives Preparation Mix wine, vinegar, THC olive oil, eggs, mustard, shallot and lemon juice in blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain in colander. Cool completely under running water. Drain. Mix pasta with endive and radicchio in large bowl. Add tomatoes, olives and dressing to taste; toss well. Divide salad among plates. Sprinkle with salmon and chives. 6 servings

Extreme Medicated Blondies Ingredients - 4 cups all-purpose flour - 2 teaspoons baking powder - 1-1/2 teaspoons salt - 1-1/3 cups (2-1/3 sticks) unsalted THC butter at room temperature - 3 cups packed light-brown sugar - 4 teaspoons vanilla - 4 eggs - 2-1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts - 1-1/4 cups white chocolate chips Preparation 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9 x 9 x 2-inch square baking pans with foil, extending over two sides. 2. Mix together flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Beat THC

butter, sugar, and vanilla in large bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. On low, beat in flour mixture. Stir in 2 cups walnuts and 1 cup chips. Divide batter into pans. Divide remaining nuts in half; sprinkle over each pan. 3. Bake in 350 degrees F oven 40 minutes, until toothpick tests clean. Remove pans from oven. Sprinkle tops with remaining chips; lightly press down chips with spatula to melt slightly. Cool in pan on rack. Cut in squares

Blueberry Cupcakes Ingredients - 1 1/4 cups flour - 2 cup sugar - 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 1/3 cup THC butter - 1 egg, beaten - 3/4 cup milk - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla - 2/3 cup blueberries - 1/3 cup chopped unblanched almonds, toasted Preparation Sift dry ingredients together to mix well. Cut in the THC butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Whisk egg vigorously to incorporate air and make the eggs light. Stir in egg, milk and vanilla and combine thoroughly. Add to dry mixture and stir together (some lumps should remain) and add the blueberries. Fill well greased muffin tins with batter until two thirds full. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 20 minutes or until done. Makes 18 large muffins.

Make sure to check out CannabisCookoffChallenge.com, where some of the top cannabis chefs, including our own Chef Herb, will compete for the title of ‘Best Medicinal Chef.’ Event will take place in Los Angeles, California on August 25 2011.

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2144 Medical Center p 41

Lake APC p 38

Anti-Aging p 11

La Playa Collective (centerfold)

ASA p 84

Legal Cannabis Institute p 50

Babylon’s Garden Collective p 57 Balboa Medical Center (B.M.C.) p 21 Beleaf in Nature p 32 Bella Flora p 16 Beneficial Care Collective p 29 Brave New World p 71 Cal Med 420 p 2

Light the Way p 10 Living Green Pharmacy p 51 Members Only p 90 Mom & Pops Meds p 89 NCIA p 71 North County Hydroponics p 3

Calibis p 16

OB Wellness p 43

California’s Best Meds p 37

Ocean Grown p 32

Cheeba Chews p 96

One Love Medical Collective p 16

Chi Holistic p 28

One World Collective p 65

Cloud 9 Co-op p 19

Organic Aid p 7

Connoisseurs Club p 59 Digs p 59 Farm Associated Collective p 16 Frosty Farms CoOp p 28 Ginger Grow p 12 Green Earth Herbal Collective p 43

Platinum RX p 9 Point Loma Association p 47 San Diego 420 Evaluation p 15 & 97 SDCPC p 47 SDDC p 5

Green Exodus p 59

San Diego Medical Collective p 20

Green Heart p 95

San Diego Organic Collective (SDOC) p 98

Green Joy p 7

San Diego Organic Wellness Asso. p 36

Green Leaf Wellness p 27

SD Coastal p 20

Green Life p 85

SDHC (backcover)

Green Rose p 43 Green Zion p 39 GSC Wellness p 53 HB Medical Center p 46 Healing Arts p 67 Higher Level p 4 I and I Rootz Collective p 13

Strain Genius p 24 & 25 Telesfore Holistic Collective p 69 The Beach Collective p 23 The Fire Station p 99 The Healing Cove p 90 The Kind Co Op p 32

Inda-Gro p 33

Tri City Holistic p 31

Kushmagazine.com p 58

Trichome Healing Collective p 61

LA Container p 38

Unified Collective p 17

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