SanDiego Kush Magazine July 2011 by Randy MALINOFF

kush

san diego’s premier cannabis lifestyle magazine

32 features

inside

24 REFERENDUM UPDATE!

10 | Health Report: Bad Diets by Elaine Ruggieri

The citizens have spoken but is the city listening?

12 | Legislative Roundup

32 Adam Carolla: The Kush Interview

16 | This Month in Weed History: Hunter S. Thompson by Jake McGee

The man never shuts up and we don’t want him to! He even (finally) talks about his first time...

54 Traces of California’s Spanish Past From the swamplands that lie below Rodeo Drive to history’s most important trailer park…a 21st century tour of a 18th century California.

66 The Best Summer Fests

20 | Organics: Beating The Heat by Tyler C. Davidson

52 | Maximize Your Meds by Mull

Kush compiles a list of California’s biggest and baddest (and

56 | Hempful Hints: Hemp Surfboards by Jake McGee

weirdest) Summer Festivals.

58 | Grower’s Grove: The Rain Table Part 2 by Jade Kine

70 Summer Recipes

62 | Connoisseurs of Consciousness Pt. II by Austin Hill Shaw

Chef Herb’s garden fresh recipes to kick off the dog days of summer! 6

68 | San Diego Live Music Preview by Dillon Zachara 75 | The Green Pages: Dispensary Directory

from the editors

kush

san diego’s premier cannabis lifestyle magazine

lthough summer officially begins in June, due to the prevalence of June gloom, it’s

usually not until around the 4th of July that the season truly sinks in - backyard barbeques,

A Division of Dbdotcom LLC

weekends at the beach and fireworks at the pier. With the 4th upon us, we felt it appropriate to use the statement “Freedom for the People” as the cover slogan of the July issue of Kush Magazine. In the month that we celebrate our independence and freedom from the oppressive rule that caused our ancestors to seek a better world to live in, Kush is acutely aware that in order for this industry to overcome the forces that are determined to defeat or ban medical marijuana patient’s safe access to their medicine, we must continuously stand up for our rights as a democratic society. In a nation that is known as “The Land of the Free,” isn’t it time for our nation to recognize the freedom to have safe access to medical marijuana as voted on by the people state by state?

month when over 41,000 signatures were collected (10,000 more than were needed) for a

Director of International Marketing & Public Relations | Cheryl Shuman

referendum that stops implementation of the City of San Diego’s de facto ban on medical

Director of San Diego Sales | Charlene Moran

cannabis collectives. As this magazine goes to press, Kush has learned that while the citizens

Advertising Sales Reps | Amanda Allen, Amy DiIullo,

of San Diego were expecting the city clerk’s office to verify the signatures pursuant to the

Ed Docter, Denise Mickelson, Jason Moran, Ken Weger

This fight for Freedom was perfectly demonstrated by the citizens of San Diego last

referendum protocol set forth, certifying that this issue will go to a vote of the people in a future election, the city clerk was uncertain if it would be able to officially verify the referendum. The city clerk’s potential inaction has left a big question mark for the medical marijuana patients,

Kush is acutely aware that in order for this industry to overcome the forces that are determined to defeat or ban medical marijuana patient’s safe access to their medicine, we must continuously stand up for our rights as a democratic society. collective owners and activists as to what will happen next (see story on page 24). So where does this leave medical cannabis in the city of San Diego? Yet again… stay tuned… On a lighter note, make sure to check out the Kush interview with Adam Carolla on page 32, where, for possibly the first time, the outspoken Guinness World Record holding radiohost/podcaster speaks up on his first experience with cannabis. And as you get into summer mode, be sure to check out this month’s Hempful Hints spotlight on revolutionary hemp surfboards (p 56), get your grub on with some delicious backyard BBQ recipes from Chef Herb on page 70, and then join Superman and Spongebob in the streets of San Diego during this years Superhero Pub Crawl, just one of the many off-site events surrounding Comic-Con that we highlight on page 38. Thanks again for allowing Kush to proudly bring you the latest and greatest in medical marijuana news and culture, and, as always, medicate responsibly! Humbly, Team Kush.

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, Chris Clements, Tyler C. Davidson, Tommy Digital, Jade Kine, Jake McGee, Wasim Muklashy, Mull, Elaine Ruggieri, Danny Savage, Austin Hill Shaw, Kimberly R. Simms, Mike Sonksen, Dillon Zachara Accounting | Dianna Bayhylle Internet Manager Dailybuds.com | Rachel Selan Dailybuds.com Team | JT Kilfoil & Houston SUBSCRIPTIONS KUSH Magazine is also available by individual subscription at the following rates: in the United States, one year 12 issues $89.00 surface mail (US Dollars only). To Subscribe mail a check for $89.00 (include your mailing address) to : DB DOT COM 24011 Ventura Blvd. Suite 200 Calabasas, CA 91302 877-623-KUSH (5874) Fax 818-223-8088 KUSH Magazine and www.dailybuds.com are Tradenames of Dbdotcom LLC. Dbbotcom LLC 24011 Ventura Blvd. Suite 200 Calabasas, CA 91302 877-623-KUSH (5874) Fax 818-223-8088 To advertise or for more information Please contact info@dailybuds.com or call 877-623-5874 Printed in the United States of America. Copyright ©2011. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without the written written permission of Dbdotcom LLC.

Kush Editorial Board, www.dailybuds.com

Retraction: In the April issues of Kush Magazine, Cheryl Shuman was incorrectly referred to as a member of the Board of Directors of NORML. Instead it should have said “Cheryl Shuman was the founder of Beverly Hills NORML, charter member of the NORML Women’s Alliance and serves on the steering committee for Public Relations and Marketing on an International platform.”

HEALTH REPORT

Diet plans have become a multi-billion dollar industry that seems to keep growing. Approximately 45 million Americans go on some sort of diet every year. Unfortunately, 95% of all diets fail causing many to either give up hope or consider unhealthy measures. What most people do not realize is that dieting can be the very cause of the problem. Dieting slows down your metabolism. Eventually your slow metabolism will become a permanent problem making weight loss seem impossible. Your body requires food for energy. If you do not supply your body with enough food, it will store body fat as it goes into survival mode. Therefore, when you burn calories from exercise or daily activities, you will lose muscle mass instead of body fat. Every pound of muscle burns 35 to 55 calories a day. Having a healthy muscle to fat ratio is the key to success. This is why it is important to incorporate strength training into your weight loss program. It is crucial to, at the very least, maintain the muscle you currently have as you lose weight. The average diet plan is designed to put a person on a calorie deficit with the idea that if you eat less than you will lose weight. Actually, this can be counterproductive because if you are on too much of a deficit, your body will store fat and burn through muscle. You may see temporary results but what you may not realize is that you are hurting yourself in the long run. Sooner or later you will stop the diet and merge back into your regular eating habits. Over time, you will notice the weight creep up on you. This is because you have slowed your metabolism down. Unfortunately, the weight you put back on will be made up of fat and not the muscle you lost. Now you weigh more, have a higher body fat percentage and a slower metabolism. So, like most Americans, you will start a new diet and the vicious cycle all over again. How do you know how many calories you should consume without knowing how many you burn each day? For best results, find out how many calories you burn. Once you know that, you can determine how many calories you need each day to lose weight, maintain muscle and reach your overall goal in a healthy and realistic way. Generally, the average person should have five to seven meals a day. Eating within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning will jump-start your metabolism. A breakfast that consists of oatmeal, whole grain cereal, fruit and/or toast is a perfect start. Eat every three to four hours thereafter to keep the body going. Too many hours between meals can slow your metabolism. The meals between breakfast, lunch and dinner can consist

10 10

by Elaine Ruggieri

of simple snacks such as fruit, cheese sticks, protein shakes, yogurt or almonds. The idea that you should not eat after a certain time at night is a myth. Some people find that eating too late keeps them up all night but it is not likely the problem with weight gain as long as you stay within your daily calorie range. In fact, if you are someone who likes to stay up very late, you may want to have a small, late-night snack that is high in protein and low in calories and fat, such as plain tuna (4oz) or a protein shake with water or low fat milk. There is a difference between fat loss and weight loss. Losing fat will likely lead you to a healthy weight that you can realistically maintain throughout your life, whereas focusing on just losing weight will put you on the same path as those who struggle, such as Kirstie Alley and Oprah Winfrey. The yo-yo effect is common - particularly among women.

• • • •

Loss of body fat Losing inches instead of weight Eating five to seven meals a day Knowing how many calories you currently burn each day and going on a slight deficit.

• Eating an hour before you work out to fuel your muscles and prevent muscle loss • Eating/consuming protein within 30 minutes after a workout to help with recovery and replenish nutrients • Strength training to maintain or add muscle along with cardiovascular exercise (Too much cardio can be counterproductive as well. No more than 45 minutes/5-6 days a week.) • Proper supplements when necessary Most of all, it is important not to be so hard on yourself. Create a plan that you will stick with for the rest of your life. Allow yourself one cheat day a week so you do not feel completely deprived of your favorite foods.

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

As the California Legislature shifts into summer mode, the fate of several medical cannabis bills, and the entrenched obstacles faced by pro-Medical Cannabis legislators, have become clear. One lesson that stand out it is that a majority of California legislator’s are not willing to move as fast as the general public on some key issues related to cannabis. Part of the reason, according to Capitol sources, is that law enforcement and prohibitionists have mounted a fullscale campaign to undermine any pro-medical cannabis legislation because it “sends the wrong message.” As evidenced by the disappointing results outlined below, the anticannabis proponents are better organized and financed to fight any significant advancements in medical cannabis law. Contact your representatives, and donate time and money to those politicians that are supportive because the opposition is already one step ahead. Rather than try and pass piecemeal legislation – a reduction to a misdemeanor here; a employment right protection there – this same source says an omnibus bill is in the works for the next legislative session that will make the rules and regulations clear to both patients and law enforcement - something both groups are seeking. From the looks of this year’s legislative track record, however, that is about the only thing these two groups can agree upon at this point.

Here is a rundown on the fate of the various cannabis bills introduced this year:

SB 129

The most far-reaching bill of this legislative session would have ended the discrimination of employed medical cannabis patients. SB 129 died in committee and thus did not even make it to a vote of the full state Senate. Thus, medical cannabis patients are still vulnerable to employer rules on illegal drug use, including the loss of jobs. Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar version of this bill in 2008.

SB 847

A bill with serious ramifications for collectives with storefronts close to family homes passed the Senate and will now move over to the Assembly. SB 847 restricts collectives from operation within 600 feet of a residential zone – unless municipalities have a less restrictive distance on the books. On the other side of the Capitol building, the Assembly addressed two bills related to medical marijuana.

AB 1017

This bill allows judges the discretion to reduce cannabis cultivation from an automatic felony to a “wobbler,” which means local officials have the discretion to reduce it to a misdemeanor. Since a motion to reconsider was granted, AB 1017 has a second chance in January 2012.

AB 1300

The old saying goes that passing a law is like making sausage – you don’t really want to see how it is done. The bill started out as a positive move for the medical marijuana community in that it stated that dispensing cannabis is allowable under state law. Into the sausage maker and the allowance for dispensing disappeared and all that is left is a bill that enables local governments to dictate how collectives operate, including hours of operations and zoning rules, among other things. -Stay tuned, as the fury and flurry of marijuana laws continues to evolve at a pace quicker than your smartphone.

I&I ROOTS

Well known is Thompson’s alt-ego of Raul Duke, the hard-drinking, drug-gobbling, always hallucinating madman brought to life in the seminal Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and perpetuated through movies, biographies, and even the ‘Doonesbury’ cartoon strip. To be sure, Thompson never made a secret of his substance use, be it rolling a joint in front of the camera crew doing a documentary on him, or blatantly writing about getting high as an afterthought in the likes of Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. But at his core, Hunter S. Thompson, born July 18, 1937, was a patriot and an activist, a moral crusader fighting for the good he saw in this world, and the freedoms that we are entitled to as tax-paying citizens of the United States of America. Thompson never backed down from a fight, whether it was battling with land developers who wanted to desecrate his beloved Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado; trying to liberate Lisl Auman (a woman wrongly accused of a murder that occurred while she was handcuffed inside the back of a police cruiser) from prison; or trying to get the public to relax over marijuana laws. Spawned from an obsession with writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Jack Kerouac, Thompson first started writing professionally in the Air Force during the late 50s, though his creative spin didn’t jibe well against the rigid confines of military life. Following his honorable discharge in 1958, Thompson went on to write for newspapers and magazines, eventually working his way up the journalism chain, being published in National Observer and The Nation. A story he wrote about the Hell’s Angels for The Nation resulted in his first published book, Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Though the book is remarkably objective, thorough and professionally assembled, Thompson nonetheless became known as an “outlaw journalist,” producing stories about elements of our society that other journalists were too afraid or pompous to even glance at. While Thompson certainly reveled in this notoriety, his eye was always on the real heart of America, the people who expect to live a life of freedom and harmony. Thompson represented the independent spirit of America, not the glossy consumer-driven facade otherwise pimped out in the media. By the time 1970 rolled around, Thompson had become a leading voice for the weathered souls of the 60s, the downtrodden who still kept fighting for what they believed in. Naturally, this included the idea that drug prohibition was the cause of the drug problem in this country, not the solution. To this end, he decided to run as Sheriff of Aspen, on a plat16

form that included decriminalization of drugs for personal use, tearing up the streets and turning them into grassy pedestrian malls, banning any building so tall as to obscure the view of the mountains, and renaming Aspen “Fat City” to deter investors. In a press conference during this campaign, Thompson said, “marijuana laws are one of the reasons that’s engendered this lack of respect that cops complain about all over the country. When you get a whole generation that grows up as felons, and they know the law’s ridiculous, and they’re told all this gibberish about it, that it drives you crazy and makes your brain soft and your feet fall off...even the police know it’s a silly law. It’s time we either bridge that chasm with either some kind of realistic law enforcement, or else I don’t think it’s going to bridged in this country. We’re going to have a revolution.” While he narrowly missed getting elected into office, his fearlessness and calculated fortitude against the tyranny of the greedy, antiquated drug war won him praise around the world. An ardent supporter of NORML, Thompson ultimately served on their advisory board for over 30 years. Thompson developed close friendships with tons of lawyers, including Keith Stroup (founder of NORML). Even after his death in 2005, NORML continues to use Thompson’s Woody Creek ranch (the legendary Owl Farm) to hold its cookout for the annual Legal Seminar they hold in Aspen. Thompson went on to publish several more books, and write for just about every magazine in the U.S. worth reading, from Rolling Stone to Playboy to Vanity Fair and sundry more. His foresight helped reshape political coverage; he was the first journalist to bet on George McGovern in 1972, and his subsequent Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72 is still considered one of the best pieces of political journalism ever written. He anticipated many events before they happened, and predicted a burgeoning media over-saturation in politics, which has become the gross display of shallow rhetoric hidden by flashy image and trendy catch phrases that now defines political campaigns. This continued with his writing up until the day he died. Hunter S. Thompson is one of the best American writers this nation has yet produced, and moreover, one of the best examples of a true freedom-fighter for all Americans. Far beyond the shallow idea of “Gonzo Journalism,” Thompson was a deeply perceptive visionary, whose insightful prose and alarmingly precise takes on life will continue to resonate for generations to come.

Welcome my cultivating compadres! After all the rain this year, people could be forgiven for forgetting that the season of extreme heat is upon us - and I for one can hardly wait! Outdoor grilling, days at the lake, tubing down the river, waterskiing, windsurfing…

which can then be used to cool the room. This is about twice as efficient as using air conditioners so the initial extra expense will be repaid in the form of electricity savings. You want to buy a unit with at least 50% more cooling capacity as your calculations say you’ll need, so it can cycle off regularly.

funny how so many of our favorite summer pastimes involve some way of

I have always been reluctant to bring in outside air to heat or cool a

cooling off, but what about our precious little green friends? Once again,

grow room, due to uncontrollable temperature swings, but since most

faithful growers, I bring you easy and effective tips to help keep you from

homes already have a built-in HVAC system, why not use it? After all, your

frying your plants, and just in the nick of time!

house is carefully engineered to regulate temperature to comfortable

First, it’s essential to know your local conditions - both in your town and in your grow room. Keep in mind that your growing area is its own little microclimate, affected by the inputs from your equipment, its location inside the building, even which side of the house it’s on. A word about air conditioning vs. evaporative cooling is in order; the differences are many. First, air conditioning cools, and dehumidifies, the existing air in the room; it does not exchange much, if any, air with the outside. A swamp cooler by contrast depends on a large volume of outside airflow, and it does this by ADDING humidity. This is why I recommend evaporative cooling for most arid west applications - cool air and higher humidity are both desirable. If you live where it’s very humid (regularly over 70%) then air conditioning is the better choice. Now in order for a swamp cooling system to work properly, air has to flow through the system in large volumes to get OUT as efficiently as it’s being pumped in. Since hot air rises, your best bet is to place your exhaust vents at or near the top of the room. It is important to have fans pushing air out through these vents, as well as the blower in your swamp cooler pumping air in, to help ensure adequate air turnover. Done properly, this can easily keep temperatures 20 or 30 degrees cooler than ambient!

levels, so drawing air from inside the house and exhausting it outside is a great way to keep costs down while effectively regulating temperature. Another good option is to set your flowering schedule to be on at night, and off during the hot part of the day. Again, be sure there is enough cool air flowing through to keep temperatures and humidity levels stable. Now, how to keep the scent from permeating your home? When designing your air movement system, keep in mind that the airflow of the fans sucking air out of your grow room must be higher than the pressure of fans pushing air into it, or air will inevitably find cracks to push through and transport the smell to the rest of the house. If you’re like me, you don’t want to advertise the presence of a grow room to everyone who walks through the front door, so keeping a relatively high airflow rate through the grow room helps reduce scent buildup and reduces the need for expensive filtration systems - and it’s good for the plants. So, to recap; cool your hot dry air with an evaporative cooling system if your climate allows it, pull it through your grow room reasonably quickly to maximize convective heat transfer, and be sure your exhaust fan is powerful and well sealed to prevent leaks and reduce pressure buildup in the grow room which may lead to odors inside your home. If you live where the humidity is too high to use swamp coolers, your best choice may be air

To keep air on its intended path, you want to be sure that the venting

conditioning and a sealed room setup. For larger commercial operations

system doesn’t leak air between the fan and the actual exit of the grow

the goals remain the same, the equipment necessary to achieve them is

room. The better this seal, the more efficient the system. Typical leak points

just bigger.

include any openings between the fan housing and the exhaust port, like the window frame, or the ducting. Even simple materials such as duct tape and plastic sheeting will work to seal air leaks. Now, back to air-conditioning in more humid climates - because the lights in your room add heat, you need to make some decisions about how to effectively deal with it. The two main options are to either do flow through ventilation or a sealed room approach. If you go with a sealed room setup, keep in mind that the air conditioning has to handle not only the outside heat that seeps into your room, but also all the heat generated by equipment inside, such as lights, ballasts, CO2 burners and the like. I suggest spending the extra money to get chiller units as they cool water,

20 20

That’s it for now, so stay safe and happy growing! Feel free to send any comments or questions to me at indoorcultivationconsulting@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to answer them!

What a difference 2 months can make. Back in May, we were tensely reporting to you about the city of San Diego’s attempts at stomping out patient’s and citizens rights by effectively shutting down dispensaries within city limits. We spoke about the quick and efficient mobilization amongst the business owners, patients, and activists in the community in getting together and hashing out a strategy to protect the rights that the city’s citizens legally voted to uphold. From this effort, The Patient Care Association of California (PCA) was born, and they played an extremely pivotal role in organizing the effort to collect and gather enough signatures to force a referendum on the damaging ordinance. It worked. Last month, we happily reported the success of these efforts. The crucial number 31,129 (the amount of signatures needed to force the referendum) was far surpassed by more than 10,000 votes. Not too bad for a grassroots effort that transpired over the course of less than a month. So we did our job. Now the ball was in the City’s court; the future of the efforts of the medical marijuana community to protect their rights all hinged on the City’s verification of the necessary number of signatures. And guess what…at the time we are going to press with this issue, we have been notified that…wait for it… No one has any idea what is going on! While initial reports were positive and some within the industry were informed that the San Diego City Clerk has verified the required 31,129 signatures and would be announcing the results on Monday, June 27…mere hours before the close of business on Friday, June 24, the near-impossible to interpret smoke signals were pointing to something else… The State. For reasons unclear as of press time, there seems to be some last minute confusion at the City Clerk’s office on whether or not they’d be in position to notify the public that the signatures have, in fact, been verified. Whether or not this is a delay tactic in violation of the relevant

codes governing referendums or if there are conflicting provisions with State law that need to be addressed is yet to be seen. The Patients Care Association of California is seeking legal advice for what steps are needed to enforce the referendum legally and effectively. After all, according to a legal expert closely tied to the case, “there is protocol that says do A, B, C, and D, and E will result, and we have followed that protocol to the letter.” A professional intimately tied to the industry and this recent referendum process finds himself exhausted and exasperated. “What is amazing about this fight is that it’s an uphill battle every single day…but it’s only this industry that they do this to,” he tells Kush Magazine. “They sure as heck didn’t do this with the Walmart decision” (referring to the landmark 2010 situation in which Walmart defeated an effort to require big box superstores to assess the economic and logistical impact of proposed stores within San Diego’s city limits. The current medical marijuana referendum effort was loosely built around this model). So, instead of moving forward to the next step, which would have given the city 10 days to either rescind the ordinance or schedule a special election…a costly time-consuming event that would require the city to pick up the tab mere months before a general election year, there’s good chance they may be deferring the decision, in effect, to avoid any responsibility owed to it’s constituency. “This is just more proof that the fight is far from over,” another major voice in the referendum effort expresses. “Support is needed now more than ever…while we scored victory in a major battle, the fight is far from over, and we need everyone’s support…from the patients, activist groups, collectives, citizens…to ensure that this referendum effort is not just a hollow victory.” In the event the City decides to move forward with the protocol by rescinding the ordinance, they will have a monumental opportunity to work with the city’s willing medical marijuana community in creating a new and fairly balanced ordinance - one that will ensure patient’s safe access to their medication, while simultaneously providing another cash-strapped city with over $5 million dollars in annual tax revenue and millions more into the city’s economy through rent, utilities, and countless other general consumption and business expenses. Instead…we’re once again left hanging by the very people whose salaries we pay.

Choosing a Doctor Wisely by Kimberly R. Simms, Esq. & Alan Shepard

Getting a recommendation for the use of medical marijuana can be relatively cheap, easy, and painless. However, it is crucial to choose wisely when selecting a doctor to perform an evaluation and make a recommendation. Choosing incorrectly can lead to hassles with police and possibly a weakened defense in court. A marijuana recommendation is a part of your legal defense if charged with cultivating, transporting, or possessing marijuana. A legitimate defense requires a valid recommendation. The good news is that there are many upstanding doctors in the community who can provide a valid recommendation, and finding one is as simple as making a couple calls and asking five questions. You can make sure you’ve selected the right doctor by asking the receptionist the questions below. You will find that some clinics are quickly annoyed by questions, while others are happy to answer all of your questions truthfully. Take notes on each conversation, and if something doesn’t seem or feel right, move on to the next clinic. After a couple calls, you will find a suitable doctor who will make a great ally in your medical treatment and back you up if necessary.

1 Who will be doing the evaluation?

California law requires that a recommendation for medical marijuana be made by a licensed physician in good standing with the Medical Board of California. Most clinics are open long hours and weekends, and have several doctors on staff. Make an appointment to visit the clinic ahead of time, and ask for the full name and license number of the doctor who will be there during your appointment. Verify the physician online by entering their name or license number at www.medbd.ca.gov/lookup.html.

Make sure their license is current and there are no limitations on their practice, such as probation. A doctor on probation might not be allowed to practice, and the validity of a recommendation made during probation could make great fodder for the prosecution in court.

2 How long has this clinic been open, and how long has this doctor been seeing patients there?

To ensure that a one-year recommendation will be valid until expiration, a patient should make sure that the clinic is going to stay in business. The best way to foretell the future of a business is to examine its past. A clinic that has been open for a significant amount of time is more likely to remain open. Recently, several clinics in Southern California closed after only being open several months. Many of their patients were then unable to locate their doctors when they needed them most - during the verification process at their local dispensary or worst of all, in court.

3 What is the doctor’s evaluation procedure?

A valid recommendation requires a legitimate physical examination. To recommend marijuana for medicinal purposes a doctor needs to perform a physical examination or certify that an examination was completed and a diagnosis made based on past medical records. A preliminary examination must be done in person. Be very wary of a clinic that will give a recommendation via telephone or web conference. To stand the scrutiny of a jury, a recommendation should be based upon a legitimate examination of the patient. The best evidence that a legitimate evaluation took place is the doctor’s notes and copies of the medical records on which the recommendation was based. Ask how the clinic stores its records to make sure they will be available if ever needed.

4 Do I need anything other than a recommendation to cultivate or possess marijuana for medical purposes?

A “Cultivator’s License” does no more than a typical doctor’s recommendation. A qualified patient may grow 6 mature or 12 immature plants and possess up to eight ounces of cannabis. These limits are known as the California Safe Harbor Limits under SB 420. Exceeding the safe harbor amounts requires the patient to prove that the amount of cannabis possessed reasonably relates to the medical need of the patient. This may be done by using the testimony of an expert physician witness or the recommending doctor. Many clinics are selling an additional “Cultivator’s License” that allows patients to grow up to 99 plants, but it is only an expensive piece of paper. It does not alleviate the burden of proving the patient’s reasonable needs, and does not act as a permit from the City or County to grow outside the safe harbor limits. If a doctor recommends more than 6 plants or more than eight ounces of cannabis, the patient should ask the doctor to write down exactly why the patient requires the increased amount of cannabis. Have the doctor put the recommended amount on your card and the reason for the recommendation in a supporting letter. Remember, it is also wise to obtain a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC). This can be done by making an appointment with the Health and Human Services Agency. The complete application process is documented at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hhsa/programs/phs/mmic/how_to_apply.html

5 If I am arrested what will you do for me?

There has been a recent trend of many doctors refusing to cooperate with defense lawyers. They do not communicate with patient’s defense lawyers and make up excuses to avoid subpoenas to testify in court. They leave their patients out to dry. Your doctor must be willing to testify on your behalf in court. Ask how many times the doctor has testified in court on behalf of his patients, and if he has avoided subpoenas to testify. Last, determine if there is a verification process for authorities to verify the recommendation. A quick verification process can help a patient who is within the safe harbor limits completely avoid arrest, because an investigating officer can quickly use the doctor’s verification system to check if the recommendation is valid. Asking these simple questions can truly make all the difference in the world. Remember to choose your doctor wisely. -The Law Office of Kimberly R. Simms specializes in collective formation, qualified patient representation, zoning and municipal law & criminal defense. For more information about our firm visit our website at www.simmslaw.com

Upon entering the studio I didn’t hear any formal greetings between Adam and his staff, instead Adam began talking to the room (and no one in particular) about the poor design of his key chain car alarm. It seemed to be an ongoing discussion, and like most of his rants, it was not only funny but it was also so simple and logical that I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it myself. What I’ve always heard about Adam Carolla is that he is exactly the same guy off-air as on. That proved it. Part of Adam’s appeal is that when he gets going on a tirade he seems to make himself angrier and angrier and works himself up the more he goes. And he can get just as angry about war in the Middle East as he can about the inefficiency of ketchup packets. But there’s a method to his madness. Behind every rant there is a logic that is so concise that it makes you feel like you’ve always felt the same way even when you hadn’t…or didn’t know how to say it. Adam has often said that what he loves about radio is it enables you to build a relationship between host and audience in a way that television won’t allow. Podcasting has taken that relationship to a new level. It all began when CBS-owned KLSX decided to change formats in 2009 in favor of a top-40 format. This effectively rendered Adam unemployed. His producer and childhood friend Donny Misraje (‘The Weez’) suggested they begin podcasting as a way to keep the connection with the audience while they plot their next move, and it has worked beyond their wildest expectations. By some estimates, his podcast is being downloaded more than 200,000 times a day, a feat that has landed the former host of The Man Show and Loveline a Guinness World Record for most downloaded podcast ever. As a fellow podcaster (www.shoddyradio.com), my co-host Danny Savage and I were excited when Kush Magazine gave us the opportunity to sit down with one of our heroes and a pioneer in this emerging medium. We met with Adam in “The Pirate Ship” (his pet name for his studio) to chat about pot, parenting, and podcasting.

(continued on page 54)

Here’s how it went: Danny: You spent a lot of time talking to teenagers on Loveline. Do you think much about what it’s going to be like when your twins become teenagers? Adam: They’re going to be a disaster in high school anyway you slice it. I mean you’ve got your choice: your son’s going to do some donuts in the parking lot of the supermarket when its closed, your daughter’s going to sneak out and hook up with her boyfriend in the 11th grade, then you have the full-blown junkie, “lets light a hobo on fire!” Or “lets get pregnant and then light a hobo on fire!” So, you know, there’s shades and grades - you know your kid’s going to try pot, he’s going to try a beer, but is the kid going to be a full blown drug addict? Is the kid going to drop out of 10th grade and follow Phish around the country? So what you try to do at this point is you just try to work with them as much as you can so they’re just sort of minor fuck-ups in high school.

Danny: So, as far as your kids trying pot and beer…do you feel it’s inevitable and would you be against it?

die or that there is a difference between pot and PCP, then all of a sudden they look at the people that told them like they’re all liars. That’s why the message should be ‘no, pot’s not going to kill you and no it’s not going to make you go insane. Sure there’s a place for it but, no, you don’t want to get totally baked and get behind the wheel of a school bus. And if you wake and bake every morning you’re probably not going to climb that corporate ladder as quickly as you would have if you didn’t.

Chris: Assuming they’re over 18, would you be opposed to getting high with your kids at some point?

Adam: I would hope that I have the kind of relationship with my kids where we don’t feel like we need to break through to the other side, so to speak. I would kind of hope that me and my kids have a dialogue and that we’re cool and that they look at me as their dad but also as a human being that has a little bit more knowledge than they do. But we don’t have to get to a place where we have to alter ourselves to get to some next level in our relationship. It’s sort of like “I need to rub some of this Ben-Gay on my cock so I can enjoy sex.” I don’t need you to take the Altoid and a mouth full of 7-Up, a blow-job will do. Danny: We’ve been fans of

Adam: No, I don’t have

yours for a long time but we’ve never heard about the first time you got high.

anything against them trying pot, or trying chili fries...

Danny: That’s the order it will go in too.

Adam: (Laughs) Yeah,

Adam: Well it’s hard to tell because pot was so shitty back then (but) my mom had a pot plant in her backyard, and (she) was sort of a hippie and kind of depressed and hung out with other hippie whatever folks. And she kind of self medicated. But the pot was so weak back then there was a lot of shake and leaves and stuff. But, uh, I think she gave me a hit off her joint once when I was like 9 years old or 10 years old or something.

usually it’s never the other way. “Now lets get stoned. I’m full.” I mean obviously it would be great if they didn’t pick it up and run with it, like ‘hey man I’m going to start a reggae band, you know, like that’s my new life.’ But I also don’t want my kids to be scared of things. Fuckin’ beer buzz is awesome, getting high is fun, and part of being an adult and making the transition into adult life is being able to regulate and monitor yourself.

Danny: Wow, really?

Danny: Well we both grew up during the DARE to keep kids off drugs

Adam: Yeah, well, she wasn’t a great parent.

generation. I was scared of pot growing up and if I even smelled pot I got this uneasy feeling in my stomach. It took me a long time to get over it.

Chris & Danny: (Laughing)

Adam: I had the same thing with snuff porn but eventually you evolve.

Danny: You’ve talked openly before about marijuana stories involving Jimmy Kimmel. Do you have any other good celebrity marijuana stories?

Chris & Danny: (Laughing) Danny: But yeah, sort of like if you make something a taboo you give it more power than it deserves by taking it all away.

Adam: You give it a power by creating almost mysticism about it and then…when the people eventually do imbibe and realize they didn’t

Adam: Uh…if you go to one of Sarah Silverman’s birthday parties you will eat a brownie that has more than fudge in it and you will feel differently than you felt before you ate the brownie. And there will be recognizable people around. I mean I never got high with a senator or anything.

Chris: I’m only inclined to believe you because if you did, it’d be all over the internet by now. But while we’re not on the topic…the internet…this is the new element now, the new medium. Adam: It’s how the future works. Every time technology moves forward - before it moves forward you think, oh this would be mind-numbing and then when it does, it becomes passe very quickly. So you were over the cell phone ten minutes after you got your first cell phone, it just became “where’s my phone.” And now all of a sudden “hey man, what the fuck, no canyon reception? It’s bullshit man!” So, you know the internet and all that comes with it, our kids will grow up with it like other kids grew up with indoor plumbing 150 years ago versus shitting in a chamber pot. Chris: Well, if the internet was around when I was 13 years old, every girl at school would have seen my dick.

Adam: As opposed to just the faculty? Danny: While we’re on the topic, you seem to have benefited from the internet and the podcast and its place in the evolution of technology. Can you talk a bit about how it’s affected your approach and the trajectory of your career? Adam: Well, the podcast has enabled me to do what I want to do when I want to do it. I just turned down a multi-year, multi-million dollar terrestrial radio gig.

Chris: (Clapping) Adam: Thank you. Screw the man! For me I just said I don’t want to turn around the pirate ship and head back to port, number one. And number two, you get to do this on your own terms but you also get to do your own schedule. [The] FCC the man all that’s great to avoid, but to me I love the accordion nature of it the way you can do a million different things and keep up with the podcast.

Danny: I’ll tell you why I think podcast’s are so much better then the radio is you can listen to them on your schedule. You know, I work a regular job and I listen to 8 hours of podcast’s a day. You can’t do that with radio. I listen to what I want instead of shitty radio. The accordion goes both ways.

Adam: Sure. Is he saying he’s bi-sexual? I don’t get the accordion reference. Well, we were thrilled to hear that the pirate ship will continue to sail. We look forward to continuing to have our ears raped and pillaged with hilarity. And check out The Adam Carolla Show at AdamCarolla.com If you enjoyed this interview you can download the full audio recording for free at shoddyradio.com. Chris and Danny, along with fellow comic Ben Shields, host Shoddy Radio, a weekly podcast that has been listed by iTunes as a New & Noteworthy Podcast and has been featured on Comedy Deathray Radio. Shoddy Radio has been called the greatest achievement in comedy since ‘Mama’s Family.’ Check ‘em out at ShoddyRadio.com

Every year, the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego gets flooded with more than 100,000 zombies, robots, superheroes,

aliens, rebel fighters, and all sorts of other freaky types, in celebration of the legendary San Diego Comic-Con International. Held at the San Diego Convention Center, Comic-Con is a four-day convention of all things graphic and creative, from comic books, video games, toys, collectible card games, pop culture, to full-out movies. As Comic-Con grows larger and larger every year, the Gaslamp Quarter swells with special events catering to the hoards, resulting in the streets looking like another, very strange world, filled with characters from multiple fantasies and stories, the best that imagination can offer. It’s a celebration of all things weird and wonderful, as this year’s Comic-Con (July 21-24) promises to the best ever. But there’s so much more to Gaslamp than just the Convention, and there are plenty of events going on that don’t require Comic-Con attendance.

Super Hero Pub Crawl

Saturday, July 23 – Sunday, July 24 Starts at Taste & Thirst, 715 4th Avenue -Nothing says Comic-Con like Wonder Woman getting hit on by blackout drunk Klingons. The idea is simple: dress up like your favorite superhero, join the group of like-minded partiers, and go bar to bar, enjoying drink specials and drunken madness. The fact that it starts on Saturday morning and goes through Sunday makes it that much more awesome.

w00tstock 3.0

Thursday, July 21, 7pm Balboa Theatre, 868 4th Avenue http://www.sdcivic.org/eventstickets/eventscalendar. cfm?year=2011&month=7 -Special guests Adam Savage (Mythbusters), actor/author Wil Wheaton (the kid who got a leach on his balls in Stand By Me! And, of course, he was also in Star Trek: The Next Generation), and music-comedy duo Paul and Storm present a high-energy night of music acts, readings, comedy, demonstrations, short films, special guests, and other clever widgets born from and dedicated to the enthusiasms, obsessions, trials and joys of geek pride.

Generation Kill Fan Mixer

Friday, July 22, 8pm Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery www.generationkillinsider.com/”generationkillinsider.com/ -One of the most acclaimed mini-series of all time still has its fair share of devotees, and they can all meet here during Comic-Con. The party includes prizes, and some starts from the show will be in attendance, such as: Rudy Reyes, Evan Wright, Sydney Hall, Jon Huertas, Jason Swarr, and Sal Alvarez.

Zombie Walk

Saturday, July 23, 2:30pm *Meet at fountain outside of Sam Goody, near Horton Plaza, corner of 4th and Broadway. sdzombiewalk.com

--This is the fifth year for the great Zombie Walk! Every year, hundreds of people dress up as the un-dead, and stumble along the main streets of San Diego, threatening the populace with cannibalism and bloodlust. It’s fun for the whole family!

Time Machine (Steampunk Party)

Saturday, July 23, 7pm Queen Bee’s Art and Cultural Center www.brownpapertickets.com/event/163647”brownpapertickets. com/event/163647 -Multimedia Steampunk concert and show featuring Abney Park. Also appearing: Unextraordinary Gentlemen, Steamy Stilters by Zoe Tantrum Productions, Tammy Firefly, Optimistichaos and DJ/MC Professor Greyshade, Bellydancers, Steampunk art and fashion. Dogs aren’t allowed, but there will be booze.

The Casbah

2501 Kettner Blvd. www.casbahmusic.com/”casbahmusic.com -One of San Diego’s premier music venues, bands will be playing here live through the entire Comic-Con period. Bands this year include Ty Segall, The Burning of Rome, Earth and much more.

Dick’s Last Resort

345 4th Avenue dickslastresort.com -Not really sure if they’re doing anything special for Comic-Con, this is just one of the funnest places in the country to eat, second only to wild sushi bars. Their steak & shrimpies platter is orgasmic; their burgers are some of the best on the planet; their dinner menu is surprisingly delicious and fulfilling. All this, with the added bonus of a surly staff, who will insult you non-stop, throw things at you, and overall make you laugh the entire time you’re there. For some offensive reason, there are only a handful of Dick’s Last Resorts in the country, but lucky for Comic-Con fans, San Diego’s location remains.

-by tommy digital

EXPIRES 7/31/11

Henry Hemp is a strange cat, no way around it. Wearing a foam hat shaped like a marijuana leaf, and bracelets made of synthetic reefer leaves, and a big, bright smile on his face at all times, you’re not quite sure what to make of the guy. Then you see him in action, and you quickly realize that Henry Hemp is a modern-day superhero, whose primary goal is to Free the Weed.

way or another, were each fighting to end the war against marijuana.

But like any other superhero worth mentioning, there’s a very genuine element of humanity to Henry Hemp. Standing on the corner of Adams & Crenshaw in South Central Los Angeles on an overcast California morning, Henry confides, “sometimes I wonder if I bit off more than I can chew with this character, being Henry Hemp.”

On the surface, Henry Hemp - aka Magic Ellingson - could very well seem out of his mind, but in reality he’s deeply focused, aware and compassionate about the struggle to fully legalize marijuana. In a city of bullshitters, Henry Hemp walks his talk.

Then right after he says this, he snaps back into character, spreading the good word about cannabis, talking with Traffic Officers, even getting a fire-truck to wail its sirens in support of ending the prohibition of marijuana. We’re there to lead the 13th Annual Million Marijuana March in L.A., an event being celebrated simultaneously in over 300 cities around the globe, but by 10:30, it was looking like we were the only ones dedicated enough to actually make the 2-mile hike down Crenshaw Boulevard to Leimert Park. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was all a big goof, like someone up high was playing a joke on me. Was this my welcome to Los Angeles, to get stuck on Crenshaw with some nut walking around dressed as a pot leaf? If it weren’t for the 8 cars from the City of Los Angeles Parking Enforcement lined up waiting to escort us, I might have succumbed to doubt. Thankfully, people started showing up, and by 11:30 we had about 40 ganja activists and several cars eager to march proudly down the middle of the southbound lane, a parade celebrating marijuana with the rest of the world. Pedestrians stopped and watched; shop workers came out from work, most of them cheering us on. At that point, our tribe included Steve Collett (an upstanding citizen with a huge dog running as a Libertarian for U.S. Congress in California’s 36th District), legendary activist Richard Eastman, various representatives from NORML, and many more. Leimert Park was laid out for a grand 2-day festival. Booths hosted the likes of Chronic Jerky for all their insanely delicious jerky; DJ Kaliman sold his shirts; Union Collective showed up; there were pipe vendors, and all sorts of good food. On stage, lionized musicians from RBX to Ditch to Yo Yo played to a large, diverse crowd of people who, in one

“Part of success,” Henry says, “80% of it is showing up. You got to show up, you got to stand up loud and send a message to the world when things need to be changed, and we definitely need to change the laws and stop prohibition, and we need to free the plant.”

An actor and filmmaker, Ellingson came up with Henry Hemp about three years ago. As he explains, “I was asked to put on the hat and be part of a parade. I was walking home - I lived right off Hollywood & Highland, that famous spot where all the characters hang out - and people started stopping me, taking pictures and handing me money. The wheels started to turn, I bought the domain name henryhemp.com, and I started walking out on Hollywood Blvd.” Soon after, Henry was given a copy of “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” by Jack Herer. The legendary guide to cannabis and its numerous uses had a profound impact on Magic. “Oh my gosh, not only was I having fun and spreading smiles and joy to people just because of a silly hat, now I had the TRUTH put in my hands. I was inspired by that.” He transformed into his new alter ego, and crafted the role of a friendly, positive and well-versed activist. “I am Henry Hemp and I represent the male energy of the Hemp plant!” he declares. He started producing polished and informative video skits enlightening the masses about our beloved cannabis, and quickly became an underground celebrity, frequenting radio shows, protests, and ultimately leading the 420 march at Washington, D.C. this year. “Honestly,” he says, “I think I’m in the process of creating one of the most loved characters of all time, because it’s about a plant that is used in all cultures, all around the world. People from every walk of life look at this character, and they seem to smile.” He’s not just a dude looking for his next bong-rip, though. “I’m actually Henry HEMP. HEMP, that’s food, fabric, fuel, fiber. Quit cutting down trees, quit using oil, let’s save our planet, keep it green for our future, for our children.” Henry Hemp now offers his own line of water pipes, clothes, comic books and more. Check out henryhemp.com

Chocolate…mmmm…sugar…ooohhh. If you don’t have a soft-spot for the deliciousness rooted in the cacao bean and the sugar cane, then, well, quite frankly, there’s unarguably something wrong with you…you’re clearly not human. But for the rest of you, ‘Feel Bliss,’ ‘Grant A Wish,’ and ‘Get The Giggles,’ for this new brand of medicated edibles are about to leave you as Enchanted as their individual slogans suggest.

Butter Cup (Eat Me To Just Be), Maple Pecan Coconut (Eat Me To Go Nighty Night), as well as a myriad of gluten free options, it’s hard to see these in your local dispensary’s case and pass them by…and if looks aren’t enough, the aroma is sure to complete the seduction. “These are…delicious,” tells us Don Duncan, President of The Los Angeles Patients & Caregivers Group. “The most popular selection we have here at the collective.”

Let we introduce to you H&M Enchanted Edibles: There’s the well and there’s the top shelf, and, well, Enchanted Edibles are well on their way to not only trailblazing an untapped path in the gourmet cannabis edible market, but, after seeing and tasting their product, they’re poised to filling that top shelf all on their own. Not surprising, considering Heather, the culinary artist behind these delectable treats (and the individual behind the ‘H’ in H&M), is a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef.

Ok…I’ve had enough! We had to try ‘em…so we reached out to H&M and when I showed up to work a few days later, a personal deliveryman was sitting there already waiting for me with a smile on his face and an elegant truffle box in hand. Good morning!

Why did she decide to go the cannabis route? “I started sampling the edibles currently on the market. After choking down a few nasty brownies I quickly decided that it was my duty to bring enjoyable edibles onto the scene.” Heather has been baking since she was 5, and as her talents grew, her mission became clearer. “Enchanted Edibles are my expression of ‘traditional recipes with a rebellious twist,’” she explains. “I really do love all my flavors. I agonize over the recipes and would never put out a product that I didn’t think was going to knock your socks off. With flavors like Lemon Lavender (Eat Me To Inspire), Peanut

To my chagrin, but my editor’s insistence, I distributed the contents amongst the staff to get the best assortment of professional opinions possible. The comments I got back included things like “Scary delicious! I forgot I was eating a ‘medicated’ treat,” “If Betty Crocker were a patient, this would be her medicine,” and “ZANG!!” So if you want to try them, get your dispensary to carry them. Have them contact The Enchantress by email at enchantress@theenchantededible.com, by phone at 323.656.4714, or through their website, theenchantededible.com

Patients Out of Time George

he first time I saw George was in the summer of 1990.

and included Corrine Millet, Elvy Musikka and Irv Rosenfeld, was broadcast

He was to be on a panel that would discuss the use of

live over C-Span and then repeatedly broadcast for weeks on that channel.

cannabis therapeutically from a patient’s perspective.

The publicity caused an unprecedented number of contacts from all

He was a regular user of cannabis to alleviate the worst

over the US and the five patients and I realized we had hit on a subject

of his symptoms, which included pain, spasm and

ripe for public discussion. The result was the formation of Patients Out of

nausea. He began a medical cannabis protocol on March 16, 1990. George McMahon was the fifth patient admitted to the Investigational New Drug Program (cannabis protocol) and at our first meeting he was

Time (POT), a Virginia corporation founded in April 1995 that included patients, MDs and RNs with expertise in this then emerging therapeutic pursuit.

using crutches and had most of his torso, a leg and an arm in tight braces.

George became POT’s physical presence in state after state. He talked

When George penned the following words 9 years later, he was able to ride

to Senators, law enforcement officers, Congressmen, journalists, church

a bicycle miles for exercise:

groups, students and at fairs across the country. He asked for nothing

“...My particular prescription requires a one month dosage of eight cured

except expenses (after all he was and is disabled and subsisting on Social

ounces of (sic) marijuana. The dosage is administered through inhalation

Security benefits) and some help getting around. Margaret, his wife, was

at various times throughout my professional and private life. I experience

constantly, quietly, at his side. She is another unrecognized individual

no negative or work orientated problems as a result of this dosage. In fact,

trying to help others by physically and verbally supporting George and his

without medication I could not function to my present capacity.”

personal journey of medicinal cannabis education.

I have worked (and still do) with men and women who are quiet

George has a disease called nail patella syndrome. It is a rare genetic

heroes. My military life put me in touch with dozens of such folk, as has

disease that is identified and named because of his lack of fully developed

my advocacy for therapeutic cannabis, and George is in their company.

nail beds and kneecaps and his symptoms include chronic pain, the

He could have taken the federal government’s cannabis and shut up but he

breaking of bones with little stress often caused by out of control spasms,

did not. As a matter of fact, he did the exact opposite…starting the very

and the internal distress of nausea. George will tell you that he doesn’t get

day we met.

“high” from cannabis and that the low-level THC cannabis works best for

The panel referred to above was part of a NORML conference that some members of the Board of Directors thought necessary to inform the attendees

his symptoms. Cannabis successfully treats all symptoms. He has outlived all known patients suffering from this affliction by dozens of years.

about the therapeutic potential of this plant. Serendipity occurred when the

In 2001 George, along with Elvy (federal patient #3), Irv (patient # 2) and

panel presentation, brilliantly moderated by “Patient #1” Robert “Bob” Randall,

Barbara Douglass (patient #14), met with myself, Ethan Russo, MD, and Mary

Lynn Mathre, RN in Missoula, Montana to study the effects of legal cannabis

in this case executed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

on these patients after years, even decades, of daily use. George was reluctant

and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doctors. NIDA and

to enter the study. He had been probed, drained, x-rayed, cut, drugged, and

the FDA begin a medical cannabis program that is forced on them by

observed for years and he did not desire another bout of the same. George

a lawyer (judge), after a lawsuit by a citizen, to provide appropriate

swallowed his grumbling and resistance and submitted himself to three full

medical care to Bob Randall. George qualifies for the program because

days of physical testing along with the others. To do what you do not want to

nothing else in ‘modern science’ is known to help him. Meanwhile,

do - do not have to do - on behalf of others, is noble.

being physicians, the NIDA and FDA are aware that his disease will be

The result is the “Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate New

passed to his children, yet they continue to forbid him from helping

Drug Program: An Examination of Benefits and Adverse Effects of Legal

them with the very medicine he is authorized to take for the very same

Clinical Cannabis” (Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, Vol. 2(1) 2002).

condition. Instead, they cancel the program for new patients, effectively

The study was conducted at the St. Patrick Hospital by Russo, Mathre and

dooming his daughter and grandchild to an early and painful death.

a host of hospital professionals. Tests included MRI scans of the brain,

Furthermore, NIDA does not study the results of George’s treatment

pulmonary function tests (spirometry), chest x-ray (P-A and lateral),

in the “investigational” program; in fact they totally ignore the years

neuropsychological

test

battery,

hormone

of data and the plight of his family. America…

and immunological assays (CD4 counts),

these are the folks in charge of drug abuse in

electroencephalography (EEG), P300 testing

this country. If the behavior of NIDA in this

(a computerized EEG test of memory), and a

instance is not patient abuse and abuse of the

neurological history and examination.

medical creed of “do no harm,” then what is?

After analysis of the data, the primary

These are federal employees who pretend that

authors concluded that cannabis smoking, even

the world-wide research of the eighty years

of a crude, low-grade product (federal grown

past, since cannabis was removed from the

cannabis), provides effective symptomatic

US Pharmacopoeia, does not exist. They insist

relief of pain, muscle spasms, and intraocular

that the dozens of health care organizations,

pressure elevations in selected patients failing

including the American Nurses Association

other modes of treatment.

and

American

Medical

Association,

are

incompetent when they call for their members Other findings include:

to educate themselves about therapeutic

- “These clinical cannabis patients are able to

cannabis. These are federal gnomes that have

reduce or eliminate other prescription medicines

yet to ever mention in public that over 15

and their accompanying side effects.”

years ago, scientists discovered a fantastic and

previously unknown system in all mammalian

“Clinical cannabis provides an improved

quality of life in these patients.”

creatures called the endocannabinoid system.

- “The side effect profile of NIDA cannabis in

It’s been 21 years since that panel in 1990,

chronic usage suggests some mild pulmonary risk.

and over the course of these two decades, George and I have become

No malignant deterioration has been observed.”

good friends. He is now “retired” from his peripatetic journey spreading

therapeutic cannabis education around the states, but continues to

“No consistent or attributable neuropsychological or neurological

deterioration has been observed.”

work with Patients Out of Time to keep our work current, science-

- “No endocrine, hematological or immunological sequelae have been observed.”

based, and free of whimsy-based, rather than reality-based, discussion of the proven clinical use of cannabis.

Despite zzthese promising findings, there is another issue with George that no tests can determine how to handle - nail patella syndrome is

Best,

hereditary. I have met his family many times, daughter, grandkids. All of

Al Byrne for Patients Out of Time

them stand to deal with his illness but none of them can avail themselves

www.MedicalCannabis.com

of his cannabis. The rules state clearly that if George were to give even a gram of his cannabis to another, even his stricken daughter, his medication would be gone forever, leaving him to die. That’s one hell of a penalty for passing less than a joint. Now let’s put all this into perspective…think of the medical mentality

: r e i l p i t l u Force M

Cannabis lovers go to a lot of effort to maximize their buzzes; spending plenty of time, energy, and money to obtain or grow great buds. Yet we often overlook one simple thing we can do to ensure we maximize our buzzes. The secret is not in better nutrients or using a special vaporizer. The secret lies within us, each and every one of us. It acts as a force multiplier, amplifying the effects of whatever bud we are smoking.

attribute it to the cannabis. If we don’t, we blame the cannabis, however, to get the maximum effect from our buds, we need to get back to the basics, and take an active part in creating our buzzes.

One way to do this is by making your first smoke of the day into a ritual, and what is helpful in a ritual is the mindful intent and special attention and care given to the actions we choose. Eventually you can tailor-make your rituals into something perfectly adapted for you, but for now try the following ‘ritual’ and see how it works for you:

Normally, many of us simply light up a bowl without thinking go through the motions almost by habit. If we do get ‘high’ we

Put on some music you like, preferably something instrumental and mellow. Silence is also wonderful and allows one to be more aware of what is going on in body and mind, but if you prefer music, go with it.

Sit in a comfortable chair (or place) and run through a ‘pre- flight’ check list, observing how your body feels. Notice how you feel in general, and any places where pain and tension exist. Begin by ‘scanning’ the body - starting with the head and working down to the toes. Don’t react to the pain - simply take stock of it, notice it - you are simply being present in your body and mind, finding out where you are now before you move on. Look at the bud you are going to smoke as if it was your first time ever seeing one. Observe its beauty and natural symmetry Allow a sense of gratitude to wash over you as you do. You are totally lucky, to be here now, in this particular minute, getting ready to smoke this particular nug. Pick it up, looking even more closely at it. Smell it, savoring the essential and powerful scent. Check out your pipe (if you’re using one), being glad it is not broken, being glad that you chose such a cool pipe. Filling each motion with grace and intent, load a bowl (or roll a joint all the while relishing your freedom of choice). Enjoy the smooth glass of the pipe on your skin, the slightly rough texture and sticky sweetness of the plant as you load it.

Look around you. Be glad you are where you are. Let your awareness expand to all the good things in your life, and your heart beat with the rhythm of new life. Smile. You are one of the lucky ones.

With this feeling of gratitude in mind, light up and take your first hit. Savor the feel of the smoke in your mouth and lungs,

l by Mul

feel its power as it flows into your blood. Close your eyes. As your attention takes a tour through your body, notice the difference in feeling and sensation between the present moment and how you felt at the start. Be glad, relishing the sensations. Allow this relaxed space to imprint itself in your brain and in every cell of your body. With each breath, send more of the gladness and relaxation you feel into every cell of your body. Enjoy this sensation. Send extra attention to any places that feel tight, painful, or uncomfortable. Now send your attention to your mind; observe its workings and thoughts as you would the passing clouds on a summer day. Notice any difference in feeling from when you first took stock, and be glad for the change. You have helped create this change and this space by adding your non-judgmental attention and observation to the process. Allow your attention to relax and just simply feel. Take another hit if you feel the need. Feel how the smoke exits your lungs, how they fill back up with air - the power of life. Feel the buzz slowly begin to creep over you, as your mind and body relax. Slip into the flow of life, allow it to rise in you as you synchronize with the world. Be happy as you smoke and bring that happiness out into the world when you are done. Make a deal with yourself to stay present, to not to ruin your nice buzz with any bad feelings or negative thoughts. Be gentle and kind with yourself and others. Enjoy the feel of the air on your skin, the life throbbing within you, the crystalline clarity of your being.

Now that’s maximizing your experience!

hot days especially, I can’t help but think about

quality. Each Mission shared common activities like the raising of cattle and

California before all of the concrete…before the

sheep, but they also each possessed their own unique qualities depending on

congestion. What was it like before all the people…the billboards…the build-

their landscape and local climate.

ings? After all, it really wasn’t that long ago that California was the wild, wild

Even Beverly Hills has deep roots with the Spanish past. In the late 18th

west. The closest links to this history are the myriad of Spanish missions, 19th

Century, it was called Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas, which translates into ‘the

Century adobe homes and many other historical sites scattered throughout

ranch of the gathering waters.’ Hard to believe now, but before all its plastic

nearly every city in our state, many of which are in our own backyards. I figured,

surgery, Beverly Hills was swampland - a landscape of marshlands and willow

why not take a Saturday afternoon and visit these “Traces of the Spanish past.”

thickets. Even the famous boulevard, “La Cienega,” translates into ‘the swamp,’

The Spanish, and later Mexican, influence dates back to the 21 Spanish Catholic Missions built along the coast under the direction of Father Junipero

and Rodeo Drive, named in honor of the Spanish past, was the main street of Beverly Hills when it was first developed in 1906.

Serra. The missions stretched from San Diego to San Francisco over two Cen-

The Pueblo of Los Angeles Historical Monument in downtown Los An-

turies ago. Connected by “El Camino Real,” much of which comprises today’s

geles is where the original Los Angeles pueblo was founded under Spanish

101 freeway, each one was about a day’s walk apart, roughly 35 miles or so.

Rule in 1781. 44 settlers of Native American, African and European origin

Cities we now know, such as San Juan Capistrano, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara,

established a farming community along the nearby waterway, now known as

San Luis Obispo, San Francisco and much of the California coast derive their

the Los Angeles River. The Pueblo is now a living museum celebrating the

names from this Spanish past.

birthplace of Los Angeles.

Early in my tour-guiding career in 1997 I drove a 15-passenger van from

The northern area of the Pueblo is where Olvera Street resides. Olvera

San Diego to San Francisco. I began seeing as many of the Missions as I could

Street is the infamous pedestrian-only thoroughfare turned Mexican market-

when I passed through cities like Monterey and Ventura. That’s when I learned

place. Named in 1877 after the first judge of the city, Olvera Street has been

that Santa Barbara’s Mission set the archetype for their city’s design codes. As

closed to automobile traffic since 1930. Packed in this cozy block are open-air

a result, the entire city looks like a smaller version of a red-tile adobe mission.

vendors selling everything from sombreros and scarves and sandals to purses,

The mission built in San Francisco in 1776 is the oldest building in the city,

ponchos, piñatas, and puppets. There are several restaurants, cafes and can-

and even managed to survive the 1906 Earthquake and fire. Standing stronger

tinas on Olvera Street. LA Luz del Dia serves authentic Mexican food, offering

than ever it is located at the intersection of 16th and Dolores Street. The Mis-

affordable generous plates. Olvera Street also plays host to The Avila Adobe.

sion San Francisco de Asis, also called the Mission Dolores Basilica, is the very

Built in 1818, it is the oldest home in the city.

reason why that area in San Francisco is called “the Mission District.”

A map from the 19th Century displayed outside of the Avila Adobe shows

Los Angeles itself was founded in 1781 a decade after the Mission San Ga-

how Los Angeles was subdivided during the Rancho era. Once the Missions

briel Arcangel had been built 10 miles east in 1771. In it’s currently restored

lost their influence, the rise of the Rancho Era filled that void. Land grants

state, this, the oldest structure in Los Angeles County, is virtually museum

were dispersed to prominent soldiers and the imperial court by the Spanish

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crown. The names of many of the Ranchos should be familiar to Southern

Gate - the south gate of the property,” explains Kim Cooper from Esotouric

California locals: Rancho San Pedro, Rancho Los Feliz, Rancho Los Alamitos,

Tours. “This fascinating home sits smack dab in the middle of a 65-year old

Rancho Los Cerritos, Rancho Las Cienegas, Rancho LA Brea, Rancho Cu-

trailer park on the banks of the Rio Hondo River in Bell Gardens. Between

camonga, Rancho Santa Anita and Rancho San Bernardino. Furthermore the

the layers of context at this site is the history of migration and growth in the

men who owned these homes ought also be familiar: Sepulveda, Figueroa,

Southland - from Spanish land grants to the dust bowl to the vast waves of

Centinela and Pico.

stucco suburbs.”

One of these men, Pio Pico, is of particular interest. He was the last Mexi-

It’s no exaggeration to say almost every town in California has some

can Governor of California, and his mansion, adjacent to the 605 Freeway,

historic building or site connected to the Spanish agrarian past. One of

lies at the intersection of Pico Rivera, Whittier and the San Gabriel River. Pio

the few tour companies that feature this is Esotouric Tours. Founded by

Pico is one of the few men to have lived under three jurisdictions. He was

wife-and-husband team, Kim Cooper and Richard Schave, they explore

born a Spaniard in 1790, lived as a two-term Mexican governor, and died an

forgotten sites like the Rancho San Antonio and countless other hidden

American citizen.

locales around the Southland.

Some of the other notable Ranchos and adobes include the Sanchez Adobe

Enjoying history within the landscape is about appreciating the moment.

in Montebello, which dates back to 1845, and in the Bixby Knolls area of Long

It’s easy to take for granted the street you use every day or the large old build-

Beach you’ll find the Los Cerritos Rancho House, otherwise known as Ran-

ing you always pass. Southern California’s Spanish history and agrarian land-

cho Los Cerritos. Historians regard it as the biggest and most opulent adobe

scape still remain sprinkled through the wasteland. Watch for the signs along

dwelling built in Southern California during the Mexican era.

the road and don’t be afraid to delve inside to savor a slice of old California.

Move a bit west and you’ll run into Rancho Los Alamitos, or “Ranch of

One final note: Be sure to check the location’s hours online before visiting

the Little Cottonwoods,” which neighbors Cal State Long Beach. Built in 1806,

- budget cuts have cut the hours for most state parks and historic sites, some

Rancho Los Alamitos was assigned by the Spanish Crown to Juan Jose Nieto.

of which are only able to open two days a week. All the more reason to visit…

After Nieto’s time, Abel Stearns, and then ultimately the Bixby family, owned

show the state that these are an important part of our history that the citizens

the home for several generations. It grew into an elegant 18-room ranch

value, and every effort should be made to preserve their important and ever-

house, which the Bixby family eventually turned over to the city during the

important legacy.

Sixties. The location is now a museum that includes a tour of the ranch house, gardens, grounds and livestock. The forest of cottonwood trees and willow thickets surrounding the rancho today stand prouder than ever. Tucked away in the streets of Bell Gardens is the Rancho San Antonio, built in 1808. “One of the oldest adobe structures in Los Angeles County,

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

it was built by the Lugo family, whose rancho spread all the way to South

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Hempful Hints Have you ever surfed

...on hemmmpppp? by Jake McGee

Summer is in full swing here in sunny California, and the swells of the Pacific are far too tempting to ignore. The waves are irresistible this time of the year, and while die-hard surfers hit the water all year, summertime remains the friendliest time of the year to play in the ocean. Surfing isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life. To some, it’s even a religion. Not only is it exciting and invigorating, it’s one of the purest forms of active meditation one can embrace, connecting with the massive sea and being practically forced into harmony with the tide. You become part of the ocean, one with nature as the modern world quickly fades away back on dry land. Yes, surfing takes skill and practice, and even the most seasoned surfer can get hurt or even killed by the pounding water...but that’s the nature of dealing with an untamed sea. You are not in control- she is. This very abandon is what makes surfing so alluring, because while you have to master the sport to fully appreciate it, no matter how good at surfing you get, you’re nevertheless at the will of the ocean. Up until recently, surfing was done on boards made from either wood or some kind of polymerbased foam (polyurethane or polystyrene), and covered with fiberglass. This provides a weird dichotomy for people so deeply in touch with nature, surfing on boards made from materials not so friendly to the environment. But that was then, and now it’s 2011. People have options! Just as some rich executive can tool around the streets of Los Angeles in a gas/ electric hybrid car, surfers now have the choice of using hemp surfboards to ride the tides on.

Hemp Surfboards are built with one form of biofoam or another, coated with hemp fiber. Not only is this move eco-friendly, hemp fiber is stronger and gives a better flex than fiberglass. We could go on and on about how this reduces global warming and what not...and maybe we should, but surf’s up! This leaves little time to preach to the choir. While it’s still a small part of the surfboard market, hemp surfboard makers represents a growing supplement to the longstanding industry. Here are a couple of makers to choose from:

Hemp Surf

hempsurfboards.com Hemp Surf offers the Kaimanu Shapeshifter, hand-built to any size, style and design you want. The basic Eco board is hand-shaped from Greenfoam, hand grassed with hemp cloth (fibergrass) and epoxy, Kaimanu Grass on fins. The Kaimanu Fin is a handmade recycled redwood fin and performs with the integrity of a thousand years of slow growth in the coastal redwood forests of California, the tallest trees in the world. Get the board made specifically for you!

U.S. Hemp Co.

tellthechildrenthetruth.org/Surf Get a 100% Hemp Grassed board with your choice of 50% Sugar Cane blend or EPS core. They sell a wide range of boards for all skill sets, from the classic “Funshape” to thrusters to longboards. The skin is made from 100% hemp fiber, delivering a true bio-based product from renewable agricultural resources, in many stylish varieties.

Growers Grove

The

by Jade Kine

RainTable

Part 2:

High Performance Hydro-Organics Without the Hassle

Is it possible? I certainly think so. Then again, I designed the Rain Table partly out of frustration with traditional hydroponic methods. I think Hydroorganic gardening methods have languished in their applied technologies because growers have forever been trying to imitate styles of hydroponics that were based on the assumptions of conventional fertilizers. We, as an industry, have been trying to make the “organic version” of everything without reconsidering everything from the ground up. That’s where the process of biomimicry comes in. Instead of looking at ways to incorporate organics into non-organic cultivation methods, the Rain Table design looks to the natural world and simply asks, “How does nature do it?” Plants that survive in the wild do so without synthetic fertilizers or human intervention. They have to find a way to get what they need (soluble nutrients) in a world that only supplies them with poop (sounds a bit like the human experience). Actually, nature supplies all kinds of fertilizers like plant and animal debris, but all of it has to get broken down before the plants can use it.

(continued on page 60)

Since the Rain Table supplies water to the plants in a manner that mimics nature, the design can also be used to supply nutrients just like nature does – slowly and evenly. This garden uses primarily dry organic fertilizers applied as “top dressings” – sprinkled over the top of the root zone. Top-dressing plants with dry fertilizers is by far the cheapest and easiest method, although it is a technique usually reserved for outdoor gardens. These products, such as bat guanos, kelp meal and humic acids are drastically cheaper in their original raw forms than when made into the relatively expensive commercial products that growers find in hydroponic stores. In traditional systems, the use of dry organic fertilizers is usually not practical as they will cause clogging failures or require extensive filtering which can be inconvenient. Also, traditional methods of steeping bags of organic fertilizer in the reservoir only allow a portion of the nutrients to be extracted in solution. The true beauty of the Rain Table design is that it uses the medium itself as the filter in the system. By using a loose soilless mix covered with a half inch of pea gravel (for control of gnats and algae) inside fabric pots (in this case, “Smart Pots”), the medium and pot make an ideal filter. As the spray manifold rains over the top of the root zone, it washes small amounts of the organic fertilizers into the medium where they are then digested and made available to plants. (It is very important to note that without microbial digestion, organic fertilizers will break down slowly and be less available to the plants In this garden, two primary types of beneficial microbe inoculants are being used – mycorrhizae fungus inoculants and compost starting inoculants. Before planting, I mix mycorrhizae fungus into the medium and during the crop cycle I sprinkle soluble mycorrhizae over the top of the root zone as well. The application of mycorrhizae fungus benefits plants in many ways, but one of the most significant benefits is that they break down less available forms of phosphorous (very important for flowering) and deliver the potent, soluble form directly to the plant roots. The compost starter inoculants breaks down pretty much everything and consists of various bacteria that are found in healthy soils. These bacteria also digest organic fertilizers into their “lowest common denominators” as I say – basically, the smallest molecule, most readily available forms. This allows growers to get maximum performance out of very small applications of fertilizer because a much higher percentage of the fertilizer is being broken down and made available to plants when applied directly to a root zone that has established colonies of beneficial bacteria and fungi. As the fertilizers break down and become soluble, they leach through the medium and are recovered in the reservoir

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– creating your own easily filtered nutrient solution that doesn’t require expensive commercial liquid nutrients. By checking the TDS/EC of the reservoir (nutrient strength), growers can effectively monitor the amount of fertilizer in the system. Another very important aspect of root zone health and microbial digestion is the role of oxygen in the reservoir. Reservoirs need to have a continuous supply of air bubbling through them at all times in order to remain fresh. Not only do the plant roots require oxygen, but the beneficial microorganisms that are breaking down the nutrients are aerobic organisms, which means they require a constant supply of oxygen as well. Since the roots and all the microorganisms are consuming oxygen, it can be difficult to maintain optimum levels of dissolved oxygen (D.O.) in water. Growers that use only a few air stones in their reservoir won’t be able to sustain optimum levels of oxygen for either the plants or the microbes. However, there is a cheap, widely available alternative for traditional air stones that’s both more effective and more durable – quarter-inch “soaker” hose. Just like the Rain Bird micro sprayers that the irrigation system is based on, this ¼-in soaker hose is a regular landscaping material available at garden centers and hardware stores everywhere. By using the same fittings as ¼ inch drip tubing (barbed elbows and tees), growers can customize the manifold to the shape and size of the reservoir. In the photo, you can see that I’ve made a manifold that is densely spaced with tubing every few inches and covers the entire area of the reservoir. Growers will need to use some type of weights to hold the manifold down. Here, I slid a few large galvanized nuts over the tubing as I was building it to anchor the air manifold (since it’s full of air, it wants to float). Be sure to use galvanized steel, stainless steel or some type of plastic coated weight in order to avoid rust, which can potentially alter your nutrient solution. (Do not use zinc nuts either for the same reason.) When this soaker hose is pressurized using a strong commercial air pump, it makes the solution bubble like Champagne. When it comes to sizing your air pump, I use the same philosophy as when sizing exhaust fans – larger is better. Move lots of air – you can always reduce the airflow but you can’t increase it if you try to get by with a tiny pump. Again, the solution in the reservoir is constantly having oxygen removed from it via the plants and microbes, so you have to keep it coming as much as possible. But you’re not just trying to avoid low oxygen levels – you’re trying to achieve extremely high levels of oxygen. The more oxygen the water has, the more biological activity will break down nutrients and make

them available to plants faster. If you look at methods for brewing compost tea, you’ll see all the same factors coming together to create the best organic fertilizer teas. My question is – Why would you use a separate bucket to brew teas in when you could make your whole system, including the root zone, into an organic fertilizer processor? Why steep organic fertilizers in water only to use a small portion of the nutrients when you could have the root zone completely digest and utilize nutrients? Just as it would occur in a healthy soil in nature, fertilizers watered into the Rain Table are used in the most efficient manner possible. These plants take up a little less than a square foot of space and are fed with ½ tsp to a few teaspoons of fertilizer per application depending on what it is. Fertilizers are applied weekly and the reservoir is monitored to control overall concentration. If you’re ever in doubt regarding your nutrient strength, just empty out your reservoir, refill with plain water and cycle to rinse the plants. If you accidentally apply way too much fertilizer, you can scrape the top layer off the pots, rinse for a day and then start over at an appropriate nutrient level. Remember, fertilizers are not plant “food”; they are plant “multivitamins”. Plants make their actual food – sugars – from light energy, water and CO2. Applying lots of fertilizer in order to make your plants big is like taking lots of multivitamins in order to get big muscles. It just doesn’t work. Ideal environments grow ideal crops that turn into ideal Cannabis. Obviously, some fertilizers must be applied, but you don’t typically need anything close to the amount that the fertilizer manufacturers suggest you use. When it comes to fertilizing in any system, less is more.

Milwaukee SMS122 automatic pH controller in last month’s Grower’s Grove but our discussion of the Rain Table’s hydro-organic capabilities has left me with no more room and I can hear my editor calling me in to deadline. For those who can’t wait to hear about it, drop me a line or come by and see the Rain Table in action inside Medmar Healing Center in San Jose (www.SJMedMar.com). For everyone else, our discussion of high-tech reservoir control will have to wait until part 3 of the Rain Table series. Don’t worry, your patience will be rewarded. I even installed a custom float buoy for the probe. All this and much more on the cutting edge of cultivation next month – the straight dope you can only get here in the Grower’s Grove. --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, 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 articles at JadeKine.com Facebook/Twitter: @JadeKine)

As for the types of fertilizer to use, growers have a lot of options. This particular garden is using bat guanos as the base nutrients – high N for veg, high P for flowering. Even though the system is designed to incorporate dry fertilizers, growers still have the option of using commercial liquid products to supplement their basic program. In this case, Earth Juice Meta K supplies the potassium in the program and Botanicare Seaplex supplies micronutrients in the form of kelp. For supplements, I use a raw, micronized humic acid that comes in a dry powder form. It is significantly more potent than commercially available liquid humic acids and at a mere $5 a pound (Really); it’s one of the most economical additions to a dry fertilization program. It’s sold under the name “Micro Hume” and it’s available from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply at HYPERLINK “http:// www.GrowOrganic.com/”www.GrowOrganic.com. Peaceful Valley has a number of micronized products such as guanos and rock phosphate for much less than commercial hydroponic fertilizers. Future crops in the Rain Table will be analyzing the digestion and uptake rates of micronized versus non-micronized fertilizers.

Now, I know I promised my full review of the

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exploring the origins of consciousness, pondering its mysterious beginnings some several hundred thousand years ago. Take a moment to put yourself in that unknown creature’s shoes. Imagine what it would have been like to go to sleep one evening with only your senses and instincts to guide you and wake up with the awareness of being aware. Imagine what it would have been like for all your sensorial experience—your ability to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel—to be suddenly met with a new capacity that utilized the senses, but was no longer tied to them in quite the same way. It gives me chills just thinking about it. We can never know for certain what actually happened. Did consciousness emerge all at once like a bolt of lightning, or did it come about erratically, starting and stopping through a series of fortuitous mishaps over thousands of years? Was it primarily genetic mutations driving the process or stresses in the environment, or some fateful combination of the two? No one can say for certain. But it happened, and a key ingredient underlying all of human innovation in art, culture, science, and religion was sprung upon the world. Let’s further our exploration of consciousness, this time focusing in on how to better access it. How do we begin to befriend the dynamic lens through which we see the world when we are looking through it all the

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time? How can we get any real perspective on consciousness when we are dependent upon if for perspective in the first place? These are huge challenges but well worth the effort. Drawing from my own experience and from the experience of innumerable others, what follows are various timetested practices that can help us on our journey. Creating intimacy with our own consciousness begins by setting intentions. Setting intentions reminds us to keep paying attention to consciousness itself, and not be entirely distracted by the objects of consciousness. For example, you can say to yourself, “for the next hour I will pay attention to the movements of my mind.” or “This month I commit to befriending my consciousness.” Setting intentions doesn’t mean that you notice your consciousness at all times. That is impossible. But setting intentions does help consciousness move from the background, where it’s busy coordinating the whole show, to the foreground, where you can begin to see it more clearly. Think of how you might ask a shy, but extremely competent stagehand to come out and take bow. Do the same with consciousness. Next, record your observations as a way of keeping both consciousness and your commitment to observe it present in you awareness. Since consciousness itself is the ever present, umbrella awareness governing your experience, when it changes, you do too. Recording your observations will allow you to compare and contrast your various states of consciousness when you’re in the middle of them. Engage in fasts of various sorts, removing certain objects or activities from your routine for a pre-determined length of time. For example you can do a food and water fast for a 24-hour period, experiencing what it is like to not get your basic caloric needs met for a day. Or you can engage in a media fast, experiencing your minds craving for information and entertainment by avoiding all newspapers, magazines, television programs, movies, and internet usage. Or take a vow of silence for a day or two, and see how you react to restrictions on your own self-expression. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do, choose a length of time, and then…commit. By creating holes in your normal activity, and watching how your sensations, thoughts, and emotions change as a result, fasts allow you rare glimpse of your own umbrella awareness at work. Like an archaeologist removing the dirt and debris covering the foundations of an ancient ruin, fasts uncover what is always there but which we’re normally too distracted to notice. Like fasting, regular meditation similarly affects the mind. Meditation is to the mind what enemas are to the bowels. Far from being a sedative, it flushes your mind of unnecessary and distracting mental chatter. When practiced on a regular basis, it provides space, clarity, and contrast from your daily life that helps you to see the working of consciousness directly. A close companion of meditation, and often-used in conjunction with meditation and other practices are breathing exercises, which bring

awareness to our most basic, ongoing exchange with the world around us. By either increasing the rate of our respirations or slowing them down, we alter consciousness itself. Furthermore, by simply noticing our breath we can begin to use it as a tool for expanded awareness. With the breath as a focal object, when we inhale, we can circulate both the breath and our awareness throughout our body, bringing attention to places in our body, maybe the back of our knees or the lobes of our ears, that usually go unnoticed. Breathing out, we rejoin both our breath and our awareness with the world at large. With deep, cross cultural roots in the human experience, drumming and dancing decentralizes the heady, often overused awareness of the intellect through sound, sensation, and movement, extending your awareness throughout the body and beyond, leaving you with an expanded sense of consciousness. Drumming and dancing have been used ritualistically in all corners of the world for thousands of years, allowing one’s sense of individual identity to set sail upon the waves of sound and rhythm,

ultimately surrendering to a broader, more interconnected collective. Older still, as early humans forged for viable food stuffs, they discovered, quite by accident, that certain psychoactive substances have the capacity to alter consciousness directly, their molecules interacting in ways that changed their perceptions of themselves and their relation to the world that surrounded them. These unique substances have not only been one of the driving forces underlying early art, religious experiences, and human innovation, some speculate they have played, and continue to play, a vital role in the emergence and reshaping of consciousness itself. But they are not to be taken lightly. In contrast to all the other practices I’ve mentioned thus far, these substances should only be used with great humility and even greater restraint. When used sparingly, they make valuable signposts along the road to wisdom. When used in excess, they can destroy the road altogether. Finally, as intensely social creatures, it’s important that we invite others to support, reflect, and help us in our explorations of consciousness. One way of doing this through a process called circling. The idea of circling is simple: you gathering a group of people around you, tell them what you’re up to, and ask for honest feedback. The feedback of the other participants is not to come from their heads in the form of judgment or criticism, but from their hearts and bodies, making present time observations such as, “when you said you were tired, what I felt was resentment” or “when you said you wanted to relax, I sensed you wanted to escape.” All of us have shadows and blind spots, areas that are part of our consciousness, yet difficult for us to see, sometimes because they’re painful or because they don’t match the values of the prevailing culture. The reflections we receive through circling, however, along with the insights gained from the other

practices I’ve already mentioned, are a powerful way of gaining access to those hidden areas of our own consciousness. Circling also has the added benefit of building healthy relationships based on honest reflection. Despite its challenges, it is my heartfelt opinion that becoming a connoisseur of consciousness is probably the most useful thing you can do with your time. Here are just some of the benefits: Since consciousness processes all your experiences, the knowledge and clarity you gain by befriending it, and the limiting habits and prejudices you often overcome, affects all aspects of your life. Like wiping clean a blackboard before beginning use the chalk, becoming a connoisseur of consciousness allows your sensorial experiences to be more vivid, your thinking clearer, and your heart more open. Next, your consciousness ceases to behave like some disembodied puppeteer ruling you from a distance and begins to walk beside you like a dear friend. In other words, your consciousness becomes accessible, and something you can begin to engage directly. Finally, the combination of 1) paying attention to what you’re doing while you’re doing it, along with 2) maintaining connection to consciousness itself, leads to bliss; and not just any bliss, not the bliss off flopping down on a comfortable couch at the end of a long day, but an enlivening bliss, an energized ecstatic bliss that allows you to engage the world with ever increasing levels of clarity, empathy, and vitality. Joining what you are doing with your awareness of doing it, simple as though it may sound, is as challenging as it is rare, yet celebrated across all disciplines. In sports it’s known as “the zone.” In art, it’s the mindset (and bodyset) that produces masterpieces. In science, it’s the experience of insight that leads to more exacting explanations of the natural world. In religion, it’s the quintessence of the mystical experience that reveals all things as sacred. In short, consciousness is not only our single most defining quality as human beings; it makes possible our very humanity. With all this in mind, let’s return once again to the mysterious dawn of consciousness, not as something that happened long ago but as something fresh, something that is happening right now. In this moment, as the future becomes the present and the present become the past, the dawn of consciousness is underway. In every moment, like the morning’s breathtaking changes of light and color painted across the eastern sky, consciousness keeps dawning again and again, refreshing our sensations, layering new emotions, illuminating new perspectives, unveiling new insights, and giving us new opportunities to appreciate and to love. In an immense universe that is mostly black empty space, on a planet that is neither boiling hot nor frozen solid, the coming together of our agile bodies with our self-aware consciousness is incredibly rare and unfathomably precious. All of which begs the question, what are you going to do to get to know yours better? Austin Hill Shaw is a writer, architectural designer, and mapmaker of creativity across art, science, and religion. He specializes in helping others tap into and utilize the creative life force in everything they do. He can be reached at austin@austinhillshaw.com

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Long Beach Jazz Festival California is the epicenter of great festivals. Listing them in print is a futile effort, unless we had a magazine dedicated solely to festivals, and even then, we’d certainly miss a great wealth of fun times. So, this is simply a tiny handful of festivals coming up in the next few months, in the Southland and even a few up-state. After all, it’s good to get off the couch every now and then…

Reggae On the River

www.reggaeontheriver.com When: July 16 and July 17 Where: Benbow Lake State Recreation Area, Garberville Cost: $55-$95 No summer in California could be complete without a reggae-filled weekend on the water, and that’s exactly what you’ll get on Eel River in luscious Humboldt County. Come check out some of the world’s dopest grooves, in one of the grooviest places in the state. Lineup includes: Ky-Mani Marley, Gramps Morgan, Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80, J Boog, Queen Ifrica, Bushman, Rootz Underground and plenty more.

L.A. Rising

www.facebook.com/LArising When: July 30 where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Cost: $69-$99 One of the most anticipated events of 2011, L.A. Rising is somehow featuring Rage Against the Machine, AND Ms. Lauryn Hill, AND Muse, AND Rise Against, along with a few other bands, all at the same place. Prepare to have everything you thought you knew about soul-shaking, mind-altering music thrown out the window.

www.longbeachjazzfestival.com When: August 12-14 Where: Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach on Shorleine Drive at Pine Ave. next to the Hyatt Hotel. Cost: $45-$180 Staged on a gorgeous grassy knoll in a beautiful Lagoon setting, the Long Beach Jazz Festival features some of the top artists of the year, with a great selection of food, art and much more. Lineup includes: Brian Culbertson, Smooth Side of Soul (featuring Najee, Howard Hewitt & Alex Bugnon), Kori Withers, The Whispers, Kim Waters & Kenny Lattimore, Charlie Wilson, KEM, Down to the Bone, Al Williams Jazz Society, Jackiem Joyner and more.

Sunset Strip Music Festival

www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com When: August 18-August 20 Where: Sunset Strip, West Hollywood Cost: $16 per show - $250 for 3-day VIP Pass Rock, rock and more rock! SSMF 2011 will include an all-day street festival on Saturday, August 20 between San Vicente Boulevard and Doheny Drive. The street festival includes outdoor stages, live music in the venues, a beer garden, a VIP rooftop lounge, vendors and interactive experiences throughout the day and into the night. Participating clubs include Cat Club, House of Blues Sunset Strip, Key Club, Roxy Theatre, Viper Room and Whiskey A Go-Go. Artists include: Uriah Heep, The Faceless, dredg, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors with vocalist David Brock, Buckcherry.

Rock the Bells

www.rockthebells.net When: August 20 Where: San Manuel Amphitheater, San Bernardino Cost: $37.50 - $210 The greatest hip-hop festival in the world, this show hosts 30 acts on 4 different stages. It starts in LA, then goes to San Francisco, New York, Boston and possibly more. This year, the lineup includes Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nas, Erykah Badu, DJ Premier, Cypress Hill, Common, Raekwon, Ghostface Killa, GZA, and many more.

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Monterey Jazz Festival

America’s Finest Beer Festival

www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2011 When: September 16-18 Where: Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey Cost: $20-$315

Afbfest.com When: Jule 22-24 Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego Cost: $45

Considered one of the best jazz festivals in the world, this year’s lineup includes Poncho Sanchez & his Latin Jazz Band featuring Terence Blanchard, Huey Lewis and The News, Herbie Hancock, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Sonny Rollins, India.Arie, Idan Raichel, and tons more! Over 500 artists will be performing nonstop on 8 stages for 3 nights and 2 days of the world’s best jazz.

3 days of music, food, and, most importantly…120 Craft Breweries…all on tap. This years America’s Finest Beer Festival, at Qualcomm Stadium, might just prove to be the best yet. Not only does the price of the ticket include free samplings, you also get the music of The Greyboy Allstars, Pinback, Blues Traveler, Mike Reilly Band, Sprung Monkey, Buck-O-Nine, and more to help you pass off your stumbling as a dance move.

25th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert

Gilroy Garlic Festival

Jwww.bridgeschool.org/events/concert.php When: October 22 & 23 Where: Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View Cost: $35-$150 (not confirmed; could be more since it’s the 25th Anniversary) Arguably one of the best musical events in the country, the Bridge School Benefit Concert has produced acoustic acts from the strangest sources, including Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Billy Idol, David Bowie, and Foo Fighters. Eddie Vedder, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson and Red Hot Chilli Peppers are frequent performers...and Neil Young plays every year. All proceeds of this legendary event goes to help out the Bridge School (founded by Peggi Young), which assists children with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs. Lineup hasn’t been announced as of press time, but EVERY YEAR it’s amazing. And with this being the 25th Anniversary, there is sure to be one of the most impressive lineups in the event’s history.

gilroygarlicfestival.com When: July 29-31 Where: Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy Cost: $6-$29 All things Garlic collide in Gilroy, for this delicious 3-day event, featuring a wide range of food, from gyros to escargot to everything in between, and culminating in the Grand Garlic Cook Off.

Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival mbsf.com When: August 6-7 Where: Downtown Watsonville Cost: FREE

Tens of thousands of people converge on historic downtown Watsonville every year, to enjoy amazing food, live entertainment, and plenty of strawberries. This year’s event will feature music by Almost Chaos, The Sledge Grist Band, Los Morros del Norte and more; carnival rides; cooking demonstrations by Chef Tyler Stone; and more strawberries than you can imagine!

Insect Festival

Sbdgarden.org/insect When: July 9-10 Where: San Diego Botanic Gardens Cost: Free with admission or membership Ok, here you go San Diegans! Does the prospect of coming face to face with the famous “Madagascar hissing cockroach” freak you out? Perhaps you’ll think differently after sampling cooked mealworm larva (conveniently available in 3 delicious flavors: mesquite, teriyaki, and barbeque) and dabbling in insect arts and crafts. Fun for the whole family. Respect the bug!

Eddie Vedder

7.05.11 @ Copley Symphony Hall

Kush Concert Calendar San Diego’s

Live Music Preview: July

Legendary musician, singer and songwriter Eddie Vedder comes to Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego for a night of nostalgic 90s grunge rock. Pearl Jam’s front man has seen a wealth of success as a member of the band. He left the SoCal scene and moved up to Seattle in 1990 to join Pearl Jam, becoming part of a grunge scene that has shaped the landscape of rock music today. Pearl Jam may not have seen the early pop success of Nirvana, but they have proved to be the longest lasting band from that scene. In 2007, Vedder released his first solo album as a soundtrack for the film “Into the Wild” (2007). His second solo album, Ukulele Songs, along with a live DVD titled “Water on the Road,” was released in May 2011. This should be a wonderful show, with a mix of Vedder’s solo work and a few Pearl Jam classics sprinkled in here and there. pearljam.com

Foster The People

7.06.11 @ House of Blues

Springing to recent success on the back of Hype Machine (hypem.com) and some stellar performances at this year’s SXSW in Austin, indie rockers Foster the People are soon to be a household name. Coming from Los Angeles, the band started up their engines back in October of 2009, and have gotten massive radio play by indie stations with their hit “Pumped Up Kicks.” The trio of Mark Foster, Mark Pontius, and Cubbie Fink only have a single EP right now, named Foster the People EP, but you can bet they’ll have a full album out this year at some point. Coming off the heals of playing Coachella this year, watch out for these boys as they stomp into the House of Blues for this July show that will almost certainly sell out. fosterthepeople.com

Lionel Richie

7.15.11 @ Open Sky Theatre @ Harrah’s Rincon Casino (Valley Center)

Hello, is it Lionel Richie you were looking for? Well you can find him at Harrah’s on July 15th! The world famous musician, producer, vocalist and 80’s heartthrob has seen success all the way back since his 1968 beginnings as a member of the Commodores, a soulful group signed to Motown. Richie made his solo debut in 1982 with a humbly self-titled album and number-one hit “Truly,” followed by several more albums and hits like “Say You, Say Me,” “Hello” and the timelessly sexy song “All Night Long.” This should be a delicious night under the stars with a legend and a gentleman. Perfect show for a date! lionelritchie.com

Train + Maroon 5 + Gavin DeGraw

7.22.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

A pop powerhouse takes billing over Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on July 22nd. Train, Maroon 5, and Gavin DeGraw all put on tremendous live performances, with captivating singers that will sooth your soul. This is a great chance to get outdoors on a Friday in the summer for some wonderful live music. What the hell, why not take the day off of work and head out to Chula Vista for this one? Your bank account might regret it, but your ears surely won’t! trainline.com; maroon5.com, gavindegraw.com

This Page: Slightly Stoopid Right From Top: Eddie Vedder, Train, Natasha Bedingfield, Maroon 5, Lionel Richie 68

A Perfect Circle

7.26.11 @ Open Air Theatre (SDSU)

A Perfect Circle is a rock super-group formed in 1999 by Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan, mastermind of weird-heavy-rock legends Tool. Their latest line-up features former members of The Smashing Pumpkins and a drummer that’s worked with Nine Inch Nails and Devo. Howerdel composes most of the music, while Keenan writes all of the lyrics. They have released three albums to date, all gaining considerable popular and critical success: Mer de Noms, Thirteenth Step and eMOTIVe. The band went on a hiatus in 2004, with the members needing time to work on their many other musical projects. A Perfect Circle is back together now, and comes to sunny San Diego for a show under the stars at the SDSU Open Air Theatre. They seem to be working on some new music, but no release has been announced yet. This will be a good one! aperfectcircle.com

Cults

7.29.11 @ Soda Bar

Cults is a group of darling Californians based in New York, making high quality indie-pop tunes that get under your skin and stuck in your head. They came together in 2010, and 2011 seems to be the year that the world is going to start to know these musicians that formerly/currently go to NYU. The band received a bunch of attention when they put out their Cults 7” EP on bandcamp. Songs like “Go Outside” and “You Know What I Mean” caught a lot of listeners’ attention and have had fans singing/swaying along for the last year as they’ve hit the concert and festival circuit hard. Their debut, self-titled album was released in June, and is really worth a few spins. Cults are joined by the bands Guards and Writer on this late July evening at Soda Bar.... definitely a show worth the effort. cultscultscults.com

Slightly Stoopid

7.30.11 @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre (Chula Vista)

Slightly Stoopid, the reggae/rock boys from Ocean Beach come home for an outdoor show at the end of July. They tend to describe their sound as “a fusion of acoustic rock and blues with reggae, hip-hop, and punk”. The band has released eight albums over the span of their career (two are live.) Their sixth and most recent studio album, Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid, was released in July, 2008. Slightly Stoopid was originally signed to Skunk Records while still in high school, by the late Bradley Nowell of Sublime. Cannabis friendly vibes, along with great music and fresh air, this just might be the best concert of the summer. Get to Cricket on July 30th! slightlystoopid.com

More Great Shows! Natasha Bedingfield : 7.02.11 @ House of Blues Grand Funk Railroad : 7.02.11 @ Del Mar Fairgrounds REO Speedwagon : 7.04.11 @ Del Mar Fairgrounds MAUS HAUS + Tape Deck Mountain + Swahili Blonde : 7.11.11 @ Soda Bar Boyz II Men : 7.17.11 @ House of Blues Chris Isaak : 7.18.11 @ Humphrey’s By the Bay Alkaline Trio : 7.20.11 @ House of Blues Indigo Girls : 7.27.11 @ Humphrey’s By the Bay

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Backya rd BBQ & Summer Pa rty Host your own Chef Herb-style summer party and backyard BBQ!

And for more

Green bean and Pecan Salad

cook with herb

Ingredients For the pecans: 2 tablespoons corn oil 2 cups shelled pecan halves

Chef Herb &

go to www.cookwithherb.com

Fresh and Tasty Broccoli Salad

Ingredients 2 heads fresh broccoli 1 red onion 1/2 pound bacon 3/4 cup raisins 3/4 cup sliced almonds 1 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup THC olive oil 1/2 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Directions Place bacon in a deep skillet and cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Cool and crumble. Cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces and cut the onion into thin bite-size slices. Combine with the bacon, raisins, and your favorite nuts and mix well. To prepare the dressing, mix the mayonnaise, THC olive oil, sugar and vinegar together until smooth. Stir into the salad, let chill and serve.

Lemon Vinaigrette: 1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed (2 to 3 whole lemons) 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 cup grape seed oil 1/3 cup THC olive oil Salt & pepper to taste 2 pounds green beans Directions Heat peanut oil over medium heat. Add pecans and salt to taste. Toast lightly, stirring constantly. (Nuts cook quickly, be careful not to burn them.) Whisk lemon juice, sugar, and mustard together, then slowly drizzle in Grape seed and THC olive oil until emulsified. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Or, use a hand-blender to make the whole thing go quicker and emulsify better.) Trim beans and cut into 3-inch lengths. Place in a microwavable serving bowl and cover with plastic wrap, leaving a slight space for steam to escape. Steam until crisply tender. (You may also use a regular steamer.) Rinse with water to arrest the cooking process. Drain thoroughly. Lightly coat the beans with the dressing, adding only as much dressing as you need, and toss in the nuts. Adjust the salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

Herbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hero Sandwich

Ingredients 1/2 cup THC olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup black olives, chopped 1 cup mushrooms, chopped 1 (1 pound) loaf round, crusty Italian bread 1/2 pound sliced deli smoked turkey meat 1/2 pound sliced Italian ham 1/4 pound sliced salami 1/2 pound sliced mozzarella cheese 6 leaves lettuce 1 tomato, sliced

Directions In a medium bowl, combine THC olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and garlic. Season with parsley, oregano and pepper. Stir in olives and mushrooms. Set aside. Cut off the top half of the bread. Scoop out the inside, and leave a 1/2 inch outside wall. Spoon 2/3 of the olive mixture into the bottom. Layer with turkey, ham, salami, mozzarella, lettuce and tomato. Pour remaining olive mixture on top, and replace the top half of bread. Wrap securely in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

Grilled Shrimp and Tequila Salsa Ingredients Salsa: 1 cup chopped red onion 1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped 1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped 1/4 cup yellow bell pepper 4 cups tomatoes, chopped 1/4 cup jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup garlic, minced 1/4 cup limejuice 1/2 cup THC olive oil 1/4 cup tequila

1/4 cilantro, finely chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano 1/4 cup white wine vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Shrimp: 1 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 tablespoons garlic, minced 1 lemon juiced Directions In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together limejuice, THC olive oil and tequila. Stir in all salsa ingredients to blend well, then set aside. Heat grill to medium high. Whisk together butter, garlic and lemon juice in a small pan over low heat until well blended. Place 4 shrimp on each skewer then brush with lemon mixture, and place shrimp on grill, basting with mixture. Grill each side 2-3 minutes. Remove from grill; stir salsa and drain any liquids. Set shrimp on plate with 1 cup salsa on the side. Garnish with twisted lime slices. Serve with crusty bread.

Grilled Portabella Mushroom Pizza (For My Veggie Friends) Ingredients 2 large Portobello caps, cleaned 4 tbsp THC olive oil 1 tsp of Italian seasoning 1 tsp of garlic powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp fresh black pepper Crushed red pepper, optional 2 tbsp of marinara sauce 2-3 tbsp shredded mozzarella Directions Preheat your grill. Place Portobello caps, gill side up, on a foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle each with a small amount of THC olive oil and spread around with your fingers or the backside of a small spoon. Next, sprinkle on Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add crushed red pepper to your liking of heat level. Place on the grill and roast for about 30 minutes or until fork tender. Remove mushrooms from grill and place a tablespoon of marinara on each and spread evenly. Top with mozzarella and place back in the grill on a top shelf until cheese begins to brown.

Grilled romaine Hearts with Olive Dressing Ingredients 1/2 cup pitted black olives, not too salty 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1/4 cup THC olive oil + more for brushing 4 pieces rustic bread 4 romaine lettuce hearts, halved lengthwise 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced 1 ripe tomato, sliced A few thin slices of red onion or shallot A few shavings of parmigiano-reggiano Fresh ground black pepper Directions In a mini-food processor, thoroughly puree the olives and garlic. Add the lemon zest and juice and process for 20 seconds. Add the 1/4 cup of THC olive oil, 2 teaspoons at a time, processing for 15 seconds after each addition to emulsify. Let rest and then taste and adjust acid and salt before serving. You want it at room temperature for serving. Heat a grill pan over a medium-high flame. Brush the bread with THC olive oil and toast on each side until nicely browned and marked by the grill. Push down a little to get nice marks. Brush the cut side of the romaine and grill for about 30 seconds, pushing down gently. To serve, put each piece of bread on a plate. Top with two romaine halves, some of the cucumber, tomato, red onion, and the parmigiano. Drizzle on the dressing and finish with a grind of black pepper.

Healthy Sweet Treat Gluten Free Ingredients 3/4 sweet rice flour 3/4 gluten-free flour blend 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 cane sugar 1/3 cup THC oil 1 cup water 1 tbsp vanilla extract 3/4 teaspoon sea salt 1 tbsp baking powder Directions Preheat oven to 350F. Spoon flours into measuring cup, level off. Add cocoa powder to flour. Stir in sugar, THC oil, water, vanilla, salt and baking powder. Pour into oiled 8x8” glass baking dish.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Frost with butter cream frosting or sprinkle with powdered sugar for fast brownies! Notes: Frost with vegan butter-cream frosting, or just dust with powdered sugar for fast, super-moist brownies. Sweet rice flour can be found in the Asian section of the grocery store.

Peanut Butter Chocolate cake Ingredients 1 low sugar cake mix 3/4 cup sugar free chunky peanut butter 2 tsp vanilla 1 tbsp sugar free caramel syrup 3 eggs 1 cup water 1/3 cup THC oil Frosting: 2 tbsp butter 3/4 cup no sugar chunky peanut butter, 4 tbsp skim milk 2 tbsp sugar free caramel syrup 1 tbsp vanilla 1 lb powdered sugar Peanuts to sprinkle on top, optional Directions Place peanut butter in a bowl, add THC oil and eggs then beat well. Add cake mix and water, beat well, then add flavorings and mix. Pour into sprayed cake pans, bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until cake tests done. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes then place on racks to finish cooling. To prepare frosting, place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat until creamy and thick enough to spread on cooled cake.

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.

The Green Pages

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The Green Pages

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The Green Pages

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The Green Pages List of Advertisers

2144 Medical Center p 23

I and I Rootz Collective p 13

Americans for Safe Access p 64

Kush Seminars p 50

Anti-Aging p 4 Babylon’s Garden Collective p 19 Balboa Medical Center (B.M.C) p 39

La Playa Collective p 45 Legal Cannabis Institute p 82 Light the Way p 2

Bella Flora p 40 Beneficial Care Collective p 53 Bhang Chocolates p 30 Brave New World p 14

Living Green Pharmacy p 18 Members Only p 14 North County Hydroponics p 80

Calibis Collective p 73

OB Wellness p 21

Cal Med 420 p 7

Ocean Grown p 47

California’s Best Meds p 27

One Love Medical Collective p 40

Calivapors p 37

Organic Aid p 5

Chef Herb p 73 Chi Holistic p 47 Cloud 9 Co-op p 51 Connoisseurs Club p 29 Digs p 29 Farm Associated Collective p 81

Platinum RX p 11 Point Loma Association p 43 San Diego 420 Evaluation p 15 San Diego County Patient Care (SDCPC) p 36 SDDC p 3

Frosty Farms Coop p 37

San Diego Medical Collective p 57

Ginger Grow p 42

San Diego Organic Collective p 83

Green Earth Herbal Collective p 21

San Diego Organic Wellness Asso. p 26

Green Heart p 79

SD Coastal p 57

Green Joy p 5 Greenlady Hydroponics p 17 Green Leaf Wellness p 59

Telesfore Holistic Collective p 31 The Beach Collective p 65 The Healing Cove p 43

Green Rose p 21 Grow 4 Less p 14 GSC Wellness p 25 HB Medical Center p 33

The Herb House Collective (backcover) The Kind Co Op p 17 Tri City Holistic p 40

Healing Arts p 22

Trichome Healing Collective p 41

Higher Level p 9

Unified Collective p 74

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